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 After convicting Prof Michael Kpessah-Whyte for contempt of court on his own plead of guilty, the Supreme Court on Tuesday cautioned and discharged him following his apology and withdrawal of the words used. He has accordingly been discharged after the Supreme Court had convicted Professor Michael Kpessah-Whyte for contempt of court for scandalising the court. Prof Kpessah-Whyte initially pleaded not guilty to the charge of scandalising the court but later changed it to guilty with explanation and then finally guilty, reports Graphic Onlines Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson from the Supreme Court. A five-member panel of the court, presided over by Justice Mariama Owusu, convicted Prof Kpessah-Whyte on his own plea of guilty. The court is currently in chambers to decide his fate after listening to a submision of mitigation by his counsel, Dr Justice Srem Sai. His counsel pleaded with the court to have mercy on his client, submitting that he has apologised and retracted the said contemptuous comments. Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson reports that the Supreme Court after considering Prof Kpessah-Whyte's fate in chambers returned to caution him. He was accordingly discharged afterwards. The court decided to discharge the contemnor after showing mercy on him and taking into consideration his apology as well his pleas of mitigation by his lawyer. The court, however, advised him to be of good behaviour as many people look up to him. Source: graphiconline.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 Sixteen people perished in a ghastly accident at Gomoa Okyereko on the Accra-Cape Coast road Tuesday dawn. The accident involved a bus with registration number GT 5866-L and a fuel tanker with registration number WR 2063-10. Injured About 20 others who sustained various injuries in the dawn accident [May 30, 2023] are receiving treatment at the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital. Information received by Graphic Online indicates that the passengers on board the bus were traveling from Liberia to the Buduburam camp while the fuel tanker was traveling to Apam. Both drivers are alive and receiving treatment at the Winneba hospital. The Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, Division Officer I, Abdul Wasiu Hudu indicated that the Winneba Fire Station received a distress call reporting an accident at Gomoa Okyereko at around 5:15 am on Tuesday. DOI Hudu indicated that the cause of the accident was still being investigated. The rescue team from GNFS and the Ghana Ambulance Service spent about three hours at the scene rescuing trapped persons which caused a lot of traffic on that stretch of the road. DOI Hudu appealed to motorists and other road users to be cautious and cooperate. Source: graphiconline.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 NIGERIA; Osun State High Court on Tuesday, May 30, sentenced popular owner of Hilton Hotels, Ile-Ife, Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, to death by hanging for the murder of Timothy Adegoke. Adegoke, a former postgraduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, was murdered inside his hotel room at Hilton Hotels in November 2021. Adedoyin and six of his workers were arrested and arraigned in connection with the murder. The court presided over by Chief judge of Osun State, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, found Adedoyin and two of his staff, Adeniyi Aderogba and Kazeem Oyetunde, guilty of murder and conspiracy. Ojo, while delivering her judgement on the case, held that the circumstantial evidence available to the court, pointed to the killing of Adegoke while being a guest at the hotel owned by Adedoyin. According to her, Adedoyins decision not to enter the witness box did not help him, as the circumstantial evidence had shifted the burden of proof on him. Justice Ojo also said Adedoyins decision not to enter the witness box meant he agreed to the murder charge pressed against him by the prosecution, dismissing the alibi pleaded on his behalf by his counsel, who said the hotel owner was in Abuja for many days around the time the death of the late Adegoke occurred. Justice Ojo, however, discharged and acquitted three of the staff, Magdalene Chiefuna, Lawrence Oluwole and Adedeji Adesola, while the seventh defendant is to hear her sentencing on Wednesday, following pleas by both the prosecution and defendant counsels. Source: LIB Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video This fusion of ideologies in the newly formed Republican Party was, ironically, primarily driven by a Democratic-supported effort. Namely, the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, a piece of legislation that allowed slavery to expand into western territories. After it passed, a period of violent anti- and pro- slavery confrontations arose known as Bleeding Kansas an antecedent to the Civil War. The debate over slavery intensified over the next several years as a young Abraham Lincoln was beginning to get his political footing. Lincoln vehemently opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act and would steadily bring his anti-slavery rhetoric into his political speeches in ensuing years. By 1860, Lincoln won the Republican Party's presidential nomination and soon the presidency. Then in 1861, seven states declared secession, with four more states joining the Confederacy several months later. You know the rest. The Civil War ended in 1865 when Confederate generals surrendered. Advertisement But back to the GOP. A few years earlier in 1859, Kentucky's Democratic Governor Beriah Magoffin a staunch neutralist during the Civil War harkened back to his party's Democratic-Republic Party origins in his inaugural address by saying, "The Grand Old Party has never changed its name, its purposes or its principles, nor has it ever broken its pledges." And in 1858, a Democratic newspaper in New Haven, Connecticut, also alluded to the Grand Old Party in reference to Democrats, publishing the phrase "this Grand Old Party is divided and in danger of defeat." But by the 1870s, the moniker had become solidified to the Republican Party. Politicians and newspapers began referring to the Republican Party as the Grand Old Party and the gallant old party a salute to its role in preserving the Union during the Civil War. Now That's Interesting Many individuals opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act because of the human rights issue of slavery, but the truth is that a number of politicians at the time were primarily concerned with the expansion of slavery into western territories because it would grant slaveholding states too much power in the Senate and Electoral College. " " Kyle Rittenhouse, center, was found not guilty on all charges Nov. 19, 2021. Sean Krajacic/Pool/Getty Images In a two-week trial that reignited debate over self-defense laws across the nation, a Wisconsin jury acquitted Kyle Rittenhouse for shooting three people, two fatally, during a racial justice protest in Kenosha. The Wisconsin jury believed Rittenhouse's claims that he feared for his life and acted in self-defense after he drove about 20 miles from his home in Antioch, Illinois picking up an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle in Kenosha in what he claimed was an effort to protect property during violent protests. The lakeside city of 100,000 was the scene of chaotic demonstrations after a white police officer shot Jacob Blake, an unarmed, 29-year-old black man, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Advertisement In delivering its verdict, a Wisconsin jury decided that Rittenhouse's conduct was justified, even though the prosecution argued that he provoked the violent encounter and, therefore, should not be able to find refuge in the self-defense doctrine. As prosecutor Thomas Binger said in his closing argument: "When the defendant provokes this incident, he loses the right to self-defense. You cannot claim self-defense against a danger you create." The Wisconsin jury disagreed, and its decision may portend a similar outcome in another high-profile case in Georgia, where three white men are on trial for the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery after they claimed the Black man was a suspect in a rash of robberies. Like Rittenhouse, the three men claimed they were acting in self-defense. Self-defense arguments are often raised during trials involving loss of life. Juries are then asked to determine whether a defendant's conduct is justified by principles of self-defense or whether the offender is criminally liable for homicide. Complicating matters is that each state has its own distinct homicide and self-defense laws. Some states observe the controversial "stand your ground" doctrine, as in Georgia or not, as in Wisconsin further clouding the public's understanding on what constitutes an appropriate use of deadly force. " " Kyle Rittenhouse testifies during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Wisconsin on charges in the shootings of three people, two of them fatally. Mark Hertzberg/Pool/Getty Images Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) Flight operations mounted by local airlines will not be affected even as Philippine aviation authorities issued a precaution to pilots amid North Koreas plan to launch a satellite between May 31 to June 11, officials said Tuesday. Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) spokesperson Eric Apolonio said the notice to airmen (NOTAM) was issued following reports of North Korea's upcoming satellite launch. Apolonio said there will be no affected flights as the area is far from the flight path of commercial airlines operating in the Philippines. He also provided a photo showing an area in the Pacific Ocean. Japans Defense Ministry on Monday warned it would destroy any North Korean missile that enters its territory after Pyongyang notified the country of plans to launch a satellite between May 31 and June 11, CNN reported from Tokyo. READ: Japan warns it will destroy any North Korean missile that enters its territory after Pyongyang signals satellite launch imminent The report said North Korea plans to launch its satellite toward the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and east of Luzon, Philippines. CAAP Deputy Director General for Operations Edgardo Diaz said flight rerouting is possible. The CAAP did not specify which airspace or zones would be covered by the NOTAM, but added the area is in the Pacific Ocean. Cebu Pacific and AirAsia Philippines, in separate statements, said their operations are not affected despite the CAAPs notice. Flag carrier Philippine Airlines, meanwhile, has yet to respond to a request for comment. CNN Philippines Correspondent Gerg Cahiles contributed to this report. 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 working principle of CVBAM operating in 1.82.2 THz with tunable focal length from 736.25 m (NA = 0.62) to 861.02 m (NA = 0.56). Credit: Journal of Science: Advanced Materials and Devices (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jsamd.2023.100560 Metalenses, comprising one of the most prominent applications of metasurfaces, demonstrate promising abilities to replace traditional lenses. By manipulating the phase distribution of metalenses composed of appropriately arranged meta-atoms, the wavefront of incidence can be arbitrarily controlled to achieve desired purposes. Broadband achromatic metalenses (BAMs) that correct chromatic aberration in broadband applications have found practical applications. However, existing BAMs are limited to a single functionality, which impedes potential applications after fabrication. Producing continuously varifocal metalenses for broadband achromatic focusing is still a challenge. To overcome this challenge, a research team led by Prof. Dr. Fan Wenhui from Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics (XIOPM) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) proposed a metalens for designing tunable BAMs, a continuously varifocal and broadband achromatic metalens (CVBAM). The study was published in the Journal of Science: Advanced Materials and Devices. The researchers selected the semiconductor material indium antimonide (InSb) with tunable responses to design meta-atoms for accomplishing phase compensation required by CVBAM with the operation frequency range of 1.8 to 2.2 THz. The CVBAM was designed to converge the focal spots to a preset spatial location over the operation frequency range. By varying the external temperature, the focal length of the CVBAM can be dynamically tuned from 736.25 m to 861.02 m, while the achromatic focusing can be maintained, as well. The proposed metalens can significantly enrich the capabilities and potential applications of current meta-devices, which may facilitate the development of THz near-field imaging and spectroscopy systems. More information: Xiao-Qiang Jiang et al, Continuously varifocal metalens for broadband achromatic focusing of terahertz waves, Journal of Science: Advanced Materials and Devices (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jsamd.2023.100560 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: With the help of citizen scientists, astronomers discovered what may be the last three planets that the Kepler Space Telescope saw before it was retired. This illustration depicts NASA's Kepler Space Telescope, which retired in October 2018, and three planets discovered in its final days of data. Credit: NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory More than 5,000 planets are confirmed to exist beyond our solar system. Over half were discovered by NASA's Kepler Space Telescope, a resilient observatory that far outlasted its original planned mission. Over nine and a half years, the spacecraft trailed the Earth, scanning the skies for periodic dips in starlight that could signal the presence of a planet crossing in front of its star. In its last days, the telescope kept recording the brightness of stars as it was running out of fuel. On Oct. 30, 2018, its fuel tanks depleted, the spacecraft was officially retired. Now, astronomers at MIT and the University of Wisconsin at Madison, with the help of citizen scientists, have discovered what may be the last planets that Kepler gazed upon before going dark. The team combed through the telescope's last week of high-quality data and spotted three stars, in the same part of the sky, that appeared to dim briefly. The scientists determined that two of the stars each host a planet, while the third hosts a planet "candidate" that has yet to be verified. The two validated planets are K2-416 b, a planet that is about 2.6 times the size of the Earth and that orbits its star about every 13 days, and K2-417 b, a slightly larger planet that is just over three times Earth's size and that circles its star every 6.5 days. For their size and proximity to their stars, both planets are considered "hot mini-Neptunes ." They are located about 400 light years from Earth. The planet candidate is EPIC 246251988 bthe largest of the three worlds at almost four times the size of the Earth. This Neptune-sized candidate orbits its star in around 10 days, and is slightly farther away, 1,200 light years from Earth. "We have found what are probably the last planets ever discovered by Kepler, in data taken while the spacecraft was literally running on fumes," says Andrew Vanderburg, assistant professor of physics in MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research. "The planets themselves are not particularly unusual, but their atypical discovery and historical importance makes them interesting." The team has published their discovery today in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Vanderburg's co-authors are lead author Elyse Incha, at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and amateur astronomers Tom Jacobs and Daryll LaCourse, along with scientists at NASA, the Center for Astrophysics of Harvard and the Smithsonian, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Data squeeze In 2009, NASA launched the Kepler telescope into space, where it followed the Earth's orbit and continuously monitored millions of stars in a patch of the northern sky. Over four years, the telescope recorded the brightness of over 150,000 stars, which astronomers used to discover thousands of possible planets beyond our solar system. Kepler kept observing beyond its original three-and-a-half-year mission, until May 2013, when the second of four reaction wheels failed. The wheels served as the spacecraft's gyroscopes, helping to keep the telescope pointed at a particular point in the sky. Kepler's observations were put on pause while scientists searched for a fix. One year later, Kepler restarted as "K2," a reworked mission that used the sun's wind to balance the unsteady spacecraft in a way that kept the telescope relatively stable for a few months at a timea period called a campaign. K2 went on for another four years, observing over half a million more stars before the spacecraft finally ran out of fuel during its 19th campaign. The data from this last campaign comprised only a week of high-quality observations and another 10 days of noisier measurements as the spacecraft rapidly lost fuel. "We were curious to see whether we could get anything useful out of this short dataset," Vanderburg says. "We tried to see what last information we could squeeze out of it." By eye Vanderburg and Incha presented the challenge to the Visual Survey Group, a team of amateur and professional astronomers who hunt for exoplanets in satellite data. They search by eye through thousands of recorded light curves of each star, looking for characteristic dips in brightness that signal a "transit," or the possible crossing of a planet in front of its star. The citizen scientists are especially suited to combing through short datasets such as K2's very last campaign. "They can distinguish transits from other wacky things like a glitch in the instrument," Vanderburg says. "That's helpful especially when your data quality begins to suffer, like it did in K2's last bit of data." The astronomers spent a few days efficiently looking through the light curves that Kepler recorded from about 33,000 stars. The team worked with only a week's worth of high-quality data from the telescope before it began to lose fuel and focus. Even in this short window of data, the team was able to spot a single transit in three different stars. Incha and Vanderburg then looked at the telescope's very last, lower-quality observations, taken in its last 11 days of operation, to see if they could spot any additional transits in the same three starsevidence that a planet was periodically circling its star. During this 11-day period, as the spacecraft was losing fuel, its thrusters fired more erratically, causing the telescope's view to drift. In their analysis, the team focused on the region of each star's light curves between thruster activity, to see if they could spot any additional transits in these less data-noisy moments. This search revealed a second transit for K2-416 b and K2-417 b, validating that they each host a planet. The team also detected a similar dip in brightness for K2-417 b in data taken of the same star by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), a mission that is led and operated by MIT. Data from TESS helped to confirm the planet candidate around this star. "Those two are pretty much, without a doubt, planets," Incha says. "We also followed up with ground-based observations to rule out all kinds of false positive scenarios for them, including background star interference, and close-in stellar binaries." "These are the last chronologically observed planets by Kepler, but every bit of the telescope's data is incredibly useful," Incha says. "We want to make sure none of that data goes to waste, because there are still a lot of discoveries to be made." More information: Elyse Incha et al, Kepler's Last Planet Discoveries: Two New Planets and One Single-Transit Candidate from K2 Campaign 19, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2023). DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stad1049 Journal information: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society This story is republished courtesy of MIT News (web.mit.edu/newsoffice/), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching. 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 China is an important economic player in Africa. In 2021 alone, China accounted for nearly US$5 billion in foreign direct investment in African countries. The rapidly increasing Chinese presence across Africa has become a contentious issue both for Beijing and African governments. In particular, mega projects funded by China have resulted in public controversies about the relationship between external investments and public debt. China is Africa's biggest bilateral lender. In 2020, it held over US$73 billion of Africa's public debt and nearly US$9 billion of its private debt. Due to this, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has accused China of leaving countries "trapped in debt". Kenya has been no exception. China's involvement in the construction of Kenya's Standard Gauge Railway is a typical example of controversies brought by China-supported investments. These include issues of increasing socio-economic inequalities between different population groups advanced by large-scale investments, local labor mistreatment by Chinese managers, accusations of neo-colonialism, and the long-term sustainability of loans issued by the Exim Bank of China for projects. In 2022, with a total debt of US$6.83 billion, China was Kenya's biggest bilateral creditor. Out of this amount, US$5.3 billion was advanced by the Exim Bank of China to finance the Standard Gauge Railway. It is against this background that our study asked if Chinese actors indeed determined how mega-infrastructures are realized in African countries. We examined the specific ways in which Chinese state-owned enterprises are involved in the construction of Kenya's Standard Gauge Railway. We analyzed how infrastructure development was realized on the ground and how Chinese construction companies shaped the process. The study showed that the decisions of Chinese state-owned enterprises in Kenya do not necessarily present a grand Chinese strategy. Instead, they result from changing political and economic circumstances in China, and reflect both state and private Chinese interests. Acknowledging these dynamics is important because it demonstrates how narratives about China's involvement in mega-infrastructure development might overemphasize the power of the Chinese state. Simultaneously, this highlights that African governments have more power to influence their industrial development and the sustainability of large-scale projects than mainstream narratives acknowledge. Flagship projects Alongside other large projects, such as the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor, the Standard Gauge Railway is central to Kenya's national development program Vision 2030. This is supposed to industrialize the country and advance socio-economic development. But the sustainability of the railway project and its contribution to government debt has been widely debated. In 2022, according to the National Treasury, Kenya's debt stood at KSh9.15 trillion (US$74.1 billion), equivalent to 67% of the country's GDP. There are also concerns whether Chinese contracts protect national interests. We took a closer look at the project to see if these fears were well founded. Between May 2019 and September 2020, we conducted interviews during multiple visits to Chinese construction camps alongside the railway construction sites. We interviewed managers and employees in construction and operational departments of China Road and Bridge Corporation, the main railway project contractor. We interviewed informants from the public sector in Kenya, including from Kenya Railways Corporation and Kenya Ports Authority. We also spoke to local government workers, private sector representatives, lawyers and scholars. Our research is unique because we directly engaged with the Chinese actors that built Kenya's new railway. Their perspectives have been lacking in both public and academic debates. This is because public engagement of Chinese contractors is usually strictly guarded due to the state ownership of these enterprises. Our interviews revealed that in Kenya, China Road and Bridge Corporation constantly shifted its strategies. It also adapted to local circumstances in the country and across East Africa, rather than only imposing its strategic priorities. This compromised its own interests of economic productivity and its public image. Our finding runs counter to any grand visions of transformative infrastructure development, the lens through which Kenya's rail project has been interpreted. The trade-offs We found that the Chinese entity had adopted a method called the "Early Entry Scheme" to resolve issues of delayed land compensation. This involved direct, case-by-case negotiated payments to landowners. As a result, owners vacated land for project construction before the land settlement was officially approved by the National Land Commission of Kenya. This is uncommon among international contractors. Land compensation for a national infrastructure project is usually a responsibility of national governments. But with the delayed national compensation process, the China Road and Bridge Corporation resorted to the Early Entry Scheme. In Kenya, this scheme was driven by various concerns. Cost-saving was one. The Chinese company had learnt from the first phase of the project that the late delivery of even a small parcel of land could raise the cost of the project if labor and equipment were idle. Another concern was political. For a flagship project funded by the Chinese government, on-time delivery was crucial to promote China's image as an efficient development partner. Another interesting aspect of the project was how the Chinese company became the main operator of the Standard Gauge Railwaynot just the construction contractor. According to our interviews, operating the railway would not benefit the company financially. But the stakes were too high to leave it to chance. Operational challenges that a new company could experience might have affected the public image of the project, as well as the corporation itself. Therefore, the company had to balance its short-term financial interests with long-term reputational concerns. So far, there hasn't been clear evidence of the Standard Gauge Railway contributing to Kenya's national economic development. The current investment in the railway between Mombasa and Naivasha (120km away from Nairobi) is not enough to boost the economy. This could only be realized if the railway connected global maritime trade to the hinterland of East Africa, to accelerate transport efficiency at a regional scale. But the Kenyan and Ugandan governments did not manage to agree on financing terms to extend the project. For this reason, in 2018, the Exim Bank discontinued funding for extending Kenya's railway line to Uganda. This shows that Beijing's strategies of infrastructure development are not set in stone but change, and can even be reversed, due to shifting circumstances in overseas regions. Still, there are clear winners. Though the long-term profitability of Kenya's Standard Gauge Railway remains in question, China Road and Bridge Corporation managed to enhance its global market position. In Kenya alone, despite the controversies that surround the new railway, the corporation was given new tenders to complete other key national projects, such as the Nairobi Expressway. As we show in our study, this is not necessarily an outcome of a grand strategy in Beijing. Instead, this is a result of dynamic and ever-changing efforts of Chinese companies that try to align multiple demands between their own economic interests and various political priorities in China and across Africa. This highlights that African countries are not passive recipients of Chinese-funded projects. They have an important role to play in counterbalancing Chinese actors to shape how these projects are realized on the ground. 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 Long March rocket carrying a crew of Chinese astronauts in a Shenzhou-16 spaceship lifts off at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein China launched a new three-person crew for its orbiting space station on Tuesday, with an eye to putting astronauts on the moon before the end of the decade. The Shenzhou 16 spacecraft lifted off from the Jiuquan launch center on the edge of the Gobi Desert in northwestern China atop a Long March 2-F rocket just after 9:30 a.m. (0130 GMT) Tuesday. The crew, including China's first civilian astronaut, will overlap briefly with three now aboard the Tiangong station, who will then return to Earth after completing their six-month mission. A third module was added to the station in November, and space program officials on Monday said they have plans to expand it, along with launching a crewed mission to the moon before 2030. China built its own space station after it was excluded from the International Space Station, largely due to U.S. concerns over the Chinese space programs' intimate ties with the People's Liberation Army, the military branch of the ruling Communist Party. China's first manned space mission in 2003 made it the third country after the former Soviet Union and the U.S. to put a person into space under its own resources. On the this latest mission, payload expert Gui Haichao, a professor at Beijing's top aerospace research institute, will join mission commander Maj. Gen. Jing Haipeng, who is making his fourth flight to space, and spacecraft engineer Zhu Yangzhu. A Long March rocket carrying a crew of Chinese astronauts in a Shenzhou-16 spaceship lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein A Long March rocket carrying a crew of Chinese astronauts in a Shenzhou-16 spaceship lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein Chinese astronauts for the Shenzhou-16 mission, from left, Gui Haichao, Zhu Yangzhu and Jing Haipeng wave as they attend a send-off ceremony ahead of their manned space mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein Chinese astronauts for the Shenzhou-16 mission, from left, Gui Haichao, Jing Haipeng and Zhu Yangzhu wave as they arrive for a send-off ceremony ahead of their manned space mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein Spectators cheer as Chinese astronauts prepare to board for liftoff for their Shenzhou-16 manned space mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein Chinese astronauts for the Shenzhou-16 mission, from left, Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao wave as they prepare to board for liftoff for their manned space mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein Jing Haipeng, mission commander for the Shenzhou-16 mission waves during a send-off ceremony for his manned space mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein Chinese astronaut Gui Haichao waves during a send-off ceremony for his manned space mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein Jing Haipeng, mission commander for the Shenzhou-16 mission waves during a send-off ceremony for his manned space mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein Chinese astronauts for the Shenzhou-16 mission, from left, Gui Haichao, Zhu Yangzhu and Jing Haipeng wave during a send-off ceremony for their manned space mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein Spectators cheer as Chinese astronauts prepare to board for liftoff for their Shenzhou-16 manned space mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein Chinese astronauts for the Shenzhou-16 mission, from left, Gui Haichao, Zhu Yangzhu and Jing Haipeng wave to spectators during a send-off ceremony for their manned space mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein A Long March rocket carrying a crew of Chinese astronauts in a Shenzhou-16 spaceship lifts off at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein A Long March rocket carrying a crew of Chinese astronauts in a Shenzhou-16 spaceship lifts off at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein A Long March rocket carrying a crew of Chinese astronauts in a Shenzhou-16 spaceship lifts off at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein A Long March rocket carrying a crew of Chinese astronauts in a Shenzhou-16 spaceship lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein The crew will stay aboard the station for around five months, during which they will conduct scientific experiments and regular maintenance. The mission comes against the background of a rivalry with the U.S. for reaching new milestones in space. That has been largely friendly, but also reflects their sharpening competition for leadership and influence in the technology, military and diplomatic fields. American spending, supply chains and capabilities are believed to give it a significant edge over China, at least for now. China has broken out in some areas, however, bringing samples back from the lunar surface for the first time in decades and landing a rover on the less explored far side of the moon. The U.S., meanwhile, aims to put astronauts back on the lunar surface by the end of 2025 as part of a renewed commitment to crewed missions, aided by private sector players such as SpaceX and Blue Origin. In addition to their lunar programs, the two countries have also separately landed rovers on Mars, and China plans to follow the U.S. in landing a spacecraft on an asteroid. 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A Long March rocket carrying a crew of Chinese astronauts in a Shenzhou-16 spaceship lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein China sent three astronauts to its Tiangong space station on Tuesday, putting a civilian into orbit for the first time as it pursues plans to send a crewed mission to the Moon by 2030. The world's second-largest economy has invested billions of dollars in its military-run space program in a push to catch up with the United States and Russia. The Shenzhou-16 crew took off atop a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China at 9:31 am (0131 GMT), AFP journalists saw. They docked at the space station's Tianhe core module on Tuesday afternoon, more than six hours after taking off, state broadcaster CCTV said. The launch was a "complete success" and the "astronauts are in good condition", said Zou Lipeng, director of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Dozens of employees from the space program, many of whom live year-round on the huge site, attended the launch, snapping selfies with the rocket in the background. Children played as they waited for the launch, some waving Chinese flags as they sat on their parents' shoulders. Spectators let out a loud "wow", shouting "good luck" and waving as the rocket took off in a cloud of ochre smoke. Leading its crew is commander Jing Haipeng on his fourth mission, as well as engineer Zhu Yangzhu and Beihang University professor Gui Haichao, the first Chinese civilian in space. China was the third country to put humans in orbit and Tiangong is the crown jewel of its space program, which has also landed robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon. Shenzhou-16 is the first mission to Tiangong since it entered its "application and development" stage, authorities said. The crew will meet their three colleagues from the Shenzhou-15 flight, who have been at the station for six months and who will return to Earth in the coming days. Shenzhou-16's crew will carry out a number of experiments during the mission, including in "high-precision space time-frequency systems", general relativity, and into the origin of life, China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) spokesperson Lin Xiqiang told reporters on Monday. The space station was resupplied with drinking water, clothing, food and propellant this month in preparation for Shenzhou-16's arrival. One expert told AFP that Tuesday's mission represented "a regular crew rotation flight", but even that was significant. "Accumulating depth of experience in human spaceflight operations is important and doesn't involve new spectacular milestones all the time," said Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer and astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. 'Heavenly palace' China's "space dream" has been put into overdrive under President Xi Jinping, and the construction of a moon base is planned. "The overall goal is to achieve China's first crewed landing on the Moon by 2030 and carry out lunar scientific exploration and related technological experiments," the CMSA's Lin said. The final module of Tiangongwhich means "heavenly palace"successfully docked with the core structure last year. The station carries several pieces of cutting-edge scientific equipment, state news agency Xinhua reported, including "the world's first space-based cold atomic clock system". Tiangong is expected to remain in low Earth orbit at an altitude between 400 and 450 kilometers (250 and 280 miles) for at least 10 years. It is constantly crewed by rotating teams of three astronauts. China has been effectively excluded from the International Space Station since 2011, when the United States banned NASA from engaging with the countrypushing Beijing to develop its own orbital outpost. China's space agency reiterated on Monday it is actively seeking international cooperation in the project. China plans to send two crewed space missions to Tiangong every year, according to the CMSA. The next will be Shenzhou-17, with an expected launch in October. 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: OMU researchers found that Japanese and Chinese, who are considered to have high-context cultures, code-switch from high-context cultures to low-context cultures when communicating with people from each others countries. Interestingly, it was found that the Japanese do not engage in much code-switching with Chinese students in Japan. Credit: Osaka Metropolitan University Osaka Metropolitan University scientists found that Japanese and Chinese, who are considered to have high-context cultures with a high degree of reliance on information shared by the speaker and listener, are code-switching from high-context cultures to low-context cultures when communicating with people from each other's country. Furthermore, the scientists found that the Japanese do not engage in much code-switching with Chinese students in Japan. When people communicate, speakers and listeners use information shared by both the parties, which is referred to as context. It is believed that there are cultural differences in the degree of reliance on this context, with Westerners having a low-context culture, i.e., they speak more directly, and Easterners having a high-context culture, i.e., they are subtle and speak less directly. Although Chinese are assumed to be in a high-context culture, Yamashina (2018) found that Chinese people are viewed as more direct speakers i.e., low-context cultural communicators by Japanese. A research team led by Professor Hiroshi Yama, from the Graduate School of Literature and Human Sciences, Osaka Metropolitan University, interpreted the results as that Chinese who know Japanese people try to be less context-dependent when communicating in Japanese. This is called "code-switching." Generally, a low-context situation tends to arise when people engage in intercultural communication and interaction. The team found that Japanese and Chinese, who are considered to have high-context cultures, are code-switching from high-context cultures to low-context cultures when communicating with people from each other's country. Furthermore, it was found that the Japanese do not engage in much code-switching with Chinese students in Japan. This study provides empirical evidence that low-context cultural situations may arise when people engage in intercultural communication. This study also suggests that low-context cultures are more likely to be formed in environments with substantial intercultural interaction. "The results of this research can be developed as a socioecological explanatory theory of how cultural differences between low-/high-context emerge," explained Professor Yama. "The findings also provide hints for improving efficiency in actual communication situations. In the future, we will continue to examine the relationship between people's ability to adapt to life, contextual dependence, and code-switching ability." Their findings were published in Global Networks. More information: Changyi Wu et al, How do Japanese and Chinese view each other? Understanding the meaning of lowcontext culture in intercultural communication, Global Networks (2023). DOI: 10.1111/glob.12440 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 calibration and testing platform of the sun sensor. Credit: Space: Science & Technology A spacecraft can estimate the attitude state by comparing external measurements from attitude sensors with reference information. CubeSats tend to use 4-quadrant analog solar sensors which have the advantages of extremely low power consumption, minimal volume, low complexity, low cost, and high reliability as attitude sensors, considering the limitation of satellite volume and payload. The performance of the sensor can be importantly improved by the calibration procedure and compensation model. However, the various error sources affecting the calibration of the 4-quadrant sun sensor lead to a complicated process of compensation model establishment. Deep learning, which is widely used in the aerospace field in recent years, is able to approximate any continuous function on a bounded closed set, providing new ideas for solving the traditional problem. In a research paper recently published in Space: Science & Technology, authors from Northwestern Polytechnical University, German Aerospace Center, and Dalian University of Technology together propose a method to calibrate sun sensors by deep learning, which not only is able to integrate the influence of various errors but also avoids the need of analyzing and modeling every single error. Authors first explain the calibration process of sun sensor based on cubic surface fitting. The calibration and testing platform of the sun sensor includes a solar simulation light source, high-precision 2-axis turntable, and servo controller. The outputs of the sun sensor are the incidence and azimuth , whose theoretical values are obtained from the angle of the turntable and actual values are measured by the sun sensor. There are large errors between the theoretical and actual values, up to 3. By substituting the theoretical and actual values into the 3-order surface fitting formula, the cubic surface fitting model are obtained. The output value of the analog sun sensor is corrected by the cubic surface fitting model and the error is effectively reduced. However, there're larger errors close to the edge of FOV (field of view) of the sun sensor. Then, authors introduce the learning and training of the deep neural network model, which approximates the actual error model and is used for error correction. In the calibration experiment of the analog sun sensor, the deep feedforward neural network is selected to fit the error model, where ReLU (linear rectification function) is selected as the activation function, a full connection as the connection mode between 2 adjacent layers, and the mean square error (MSE) as the loss function. The neural network is trained through gradient descent algorithm and the backpropagation algorithm. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified using experimental data. In the calibration experiment of an analog sun sensor, the training of the network model is divided into two stages: the dataset is generated by the cubic surface fitting model in the initial training stage while the deep network model adopts the measured data for learning in the final training stage. Additionally, learning data are normalized to the magnitude between 0 and 1 via the maxmin method. After network learning in the initial stage, the error between the output of the network model and the estimated value of the cubic surface fitting model is concentrated within 0.02, indicating that the deep network model at this time can better map the cubic surface fitting model. In the final training stage of the feedforward neural network model, the calibration error of the incident angle can reach 0.1 (1) and 0.25 (3), which greatly improves the calibration effect of the cubic surface fitting model. These results shows that the method can effectively eliminate deterministic errors, including spot distortion and assembly errors. More information: Qinbo Sun et al, Deep Neural Network-Based 4-Quadrant Analog Sun Sensor Calibration, Space: Science & Technology (2023). DOI: 10.34133/space.0024 Provided by Beijing Institute of Technology Press Co. 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: Pathogenicity of North American HPAI Influenza A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b Wigeon/SC/21 and Eagle/FL/22 viruses in ferrets. A Experimental design of ferret pathogenesis and transmission. At 0 dpi, ferrets (n = 9 per virus) were inoculated with 106 EID 50 units of A(H5N1) virus. Three inoculated ferrets were individually co-housed with 3 naive contact ferrets beginning 1 dpi. Clinical course of infection was monitored, and nasal wash samples were taken at indicated time points from both inoculated and contact ferrets. The remaining inoculated ferrets were euthanized at 3 dpi and 5 dpi (n = 3 per time point per virus) for viral titration in tissues. B Survival and C weight changes of inoculated ferrets (n = 3 per virus). Ferret weights every 48 h were used to calculate percentage of weight change from the initial mean weight at 0 dpi. Ferret weight values are the average SE for each group. P values for weight change were calculated using an unpaired t-test. **P < 0.01. D Infectious viral titers from nasal washes (n = 39 ferrets per virus, mean virus titer [log 10 TCID 50 /mL] SD) and E infectious viral titers from tissues (n = 3 ferrets per virus, mean virus titer [log 10 TCID 50 per g of wet tissue]). Symbols represent each individual animals titer. Dashed lines indicate the lower limit of virus titer detection (1.0 log 10 TCID 50 /mL). P values for viral titers were calculated using two-way ANOVA with Tukeys multiple-comparison post hoc test. ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001. Credit: Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38415-7 St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists discovered how the current epizootic H5N1 avian influenza virus (bird flu) gained new genes and greater virulence as it spread west. Researchers showed that the avian virus could severely infect the brains of mammalian research models, a notable departure from previous related strains of the virus. The researchers genetically traced the virus' expansion across the continent and its establishment in wild waterfowl populations to understand what makes it so different. The study was recently published in Nature Communications. "We haven't seen a virus quite like this one," said corresponding author Richard Webby, Ph.D., St. Jude Department of Infectious Diseases. "In 24 years of tracing this particular H5N1 flu lineage, we haven't seen this ability to cause disease but also be maintained in these wild bird populations." When the scientists tested the newer avian flu strains for their ability to cause disease in mammals by infecting a ferret model, they found an unexpectedly high amount of pathogenicity. "Some of these are really nasty viruses," Webby said. "There's a huge amount of the virus in the brain of infected animals. That's the hallmark of what we saw with these flu strainsincreased pathogenicity associated with high virus load in the brain. That's not the first time we've seen H5 viruses in the brain, but these are probably some of the most virulent we've looked at over 24 years of following these viruses." H5N1 avian influenza spread from Europe to North America, then throughout the continent via wild birds. Inset shows clusters of infections detected on the East Coast from 2021-April 2023, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Credit: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Previous influenza viruses that caused severe disease in North America "burned out" in their main host bird population, and the outbreaks ended quickly. This current strain was detected at high levels in sick chickens but has expanded into other species. "This is not just a chicken virus now," Webby said. "It's also infecting other avian and mammal species in the U.S. It's a higher exposure risk for humans and other mammals than we've ever had in North America. We've never really been exposed to this level of circulation of these highly pathogenic flu viruses." A low risk to humans (for now) While the newer strains of this H5N1 influenza show a greater ability to cause disease in mammals than earlier viruses, the scientists found it to be low-risk to humans. This is because the virus appears well-adapted to transmit between birds rather than between mammals. "Overall, their risk to humans is still low," Webby said. "But that risk does seem to be changing, and these viruses are doing things that we haven't seen H5s do before. They've come into the continent's wild bird population, they've reassorted, and they've been maintained over time. There are now many different types out there, and they're very nasty." Even though the risk of spreading infection is low, the research suggests humans should be cautious interacting with wildlife. "Someone would have to work pretty hard to infect themselves with this virus. But if they do happen to be infected, there's a real chance of getting a severe disease from it," Webby said. "People just need to be careful and remember that some of the wild animals out there potentially harbor these highly pathogenic viruses." Genetic change supercharges spread and severity In the past, similar strains of influenza viruses have not caused similarly severe diseases, nor have they become far-flung in wild bird populations. Since the new strains have done so much more damage, the scientists looked for what was different. The group identified the direct ancestor to the current strains, which spread from Europe to the Americas after gaining a different version of the viral protein, neuraminidase. This new protein increased the virus's ability to transmit between birds. Then it arrived on the East Coast of Canada and traveled to the United States. As the researchers studied the virus further, they pinpointed which virusesdistinct from previous ones caused the current outbreaks. They found that after reaching North America, the virus rapidly changed again to become more virulent. It mixed with flu viruses in North American wild birds, swapping several genes. This reassortment of genes had two effects. One, the virus seemed to become even more adapted to the bird population, infecting many different types of birds. This included atypical hosts, such as buzzards and eagles, which typically do not get the flu. Second, the virus gained its severe disease-causing properties. "The surprising thing was that just a few reassortment events did change these viruses' ability to cause disease in our models," Webby said. "And those events generated many different genotypes from that mixing. Then those viruses spread and have now become established in the North American wild bird population." Webby's group and others continue to monitor the ongoing avian flu pandemic globally to assess its continually evolving risk to both humans and birds. More information: Ahmed Kandeil et al, Rapid evolution of A(H5N1) influenza viruses after intercontinental spread to North America, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38415-7 Journal information: Nature Communications This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain For the past few years, American democracy has been perceived as backsliding. Politicians' refusal to accept election results despite a lack of evidence of fraud, the violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and state-level restrictions on voting access and aggressive gerrymandering are all signs of democracy in crisis. A new Northwestern University-led study, however, suggests that the full picture may not be as dire as it seemsbut highlights the importance of democratic norms and learning about other party's beliefs. Specifically, the research suggests that when state legislators learn that the views of voters from the other party are less extreme than they anticipated, they are less likely to endorse anti-democratic actions. The results were published today, May 30, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by a team of political scientists and sociologists from multiple universities. James Druckman, the Payson S. Wild Professor of Political Science at Northwestern, was a co-principal investigator on the study, which forms part of the larger Strengthening Democracy Project. The researchers' survey involved 534 state legislators from both parties, finding that the average legislator is actually less hostile toward the other party than the general public (64.2 vs. 71.3 on a zero to 100 scale where higher scores indicate more hostility), less supportive of undemocratic practices (11.2 vs. 26.4) and less supportive of partisan violence (3.8 vs. 10.9). Furthermore, while state legislators tended to have fairly accurate ideas about voters in their own parties' levels of hostility to the other party and support for undemocratic practices and partisan violence, they tended to overestimate the opposing party's voters' levels of support for these same things. "Increasing partisan discord is definitely a challenge for democratic functioning; that should be worrisome," Druckman said. "But I don't necessarily think that we are on an unavoidable path to the complete erosion of democracy. It's still possible that things could stabilize." A subgroup of surveyed legislators who received accurate information about the opposing party's voters' actual (more moderate) views after reporting what they thought those views might be subsequently changed some of their own views. Once this group of legislators learned that voters from the opposing party supported undemocratic practices less than they had anticipated, they self-reported lower support for these practices. This was true for both Democrats and Republicans. State legislators perform key functions from drawing voting districts to holding power over the way elections are conducted, so their role in maintaining American democracy is fundamental. Overall, the results emphasize that misperceptions of members of the other party as having more animus and being more undemocratic than they actually are can create a vicious cycle that degrades democracy by potentially escalating the appetite for undemocratic activity that keeps the other party from power, the authors wrote. Conversely, more accurate bipartisan information can lead to less undemocratic attitudes and, potentially, actions among legislators. Druckman noted that the study had a few limitations. Though legislators from virtually all state legislatures and both major parties were invited to participateand the sample was appropriately balanced in size between Democrats and Republicans, male and female respondents, and states with and without term limitsit's difficult to say whether the legislators who chose to participate may have been somewhat more pro-democracy, or less extreme, than their caucuses as a whole. For example, it's possible that some far-right legislators with extreme anti-democratic views may have declined to participate, since some evidence suggests that those partisans have lower trust and willingness to participate in political surveys. Additionally, there are some statesincluding closely divided ones like North Carolina and Wisconsinwhere democratic norms have eroded, gerrymandering is extreme and other severely anti-democratic actions have already taken place. The study doesn't look granularly at the state level to see whether hyper-partisanship in these places might be "moving the goalposts" of what is perceived as acceptable there or nationally, Druckman said. Nevertheless, given that the legislators who received accurate information about the average opposing-party voters' views changed some of their views to be less anti-democratic upon finding that they were overestimating the threat to their power posed by the other party, the study still emphasizes that norms and dialogue are key to maintaining a functioning democracy. Druckman speculated that state legislatures that are full-time, in which no one party has a supermajority (meaning it can ignore the will of the minority party and perhaps even the governor), might better facilitate cross-partisan dialogue and professionalism, which can lead to contact and esteem between people in government. Ultimately, individuals can make a difference just by working together proactively at a baseline level, Druckman said, to promote democratic norms. "In Utah, the two candidates for governor in 2020 came together and did an ad where they said that they would mutually respect the outcome of the election, regardless of what it was. So, they sent a pretty strong bipartisan message about respecting democracy," he said. "That's a very positive approach." More information: James N. Druckman et al, Correcting misperceptions of out-partisans decreases American legislators' support for undemocratic practices, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2301836120 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 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: Aerial view of the European Spallation Source, February 2022. Credit: ESS Scientists are unleashing the power of neutrons to improve understanding of everyday materials and tackle fundamental questions in physics. Apart from flashbacks that the hit Netflix series "Breaking Bad" may have conjured up, most of us have likely happily forgotten what we learned in chemistry classes back in school. So here's a quick brush-up: chemistry looks at the building blocks of our physical world, such as atoms, and the changes they undergo. An atom consists of a nucleus of protons and neutrons surrounded by a cloud of electrons. Free the neutrons Now for something high school chemistry might not have taught us: the humble neutron, found in the nucleus of every atom but hydrogen, canif manipulated in just the right wayshed light on everything from the climate crisis and energy, to health and quantum computing. One such way is a rather spectacular process known as spallation, high-energy particles destabilize an atom's nucleus, which in turn releases some of the neutrons found there. When harnessed, these newly freed neutrons can be used like X-rays to map the inner structure of materials. Currently under construction in Lund, Sweden, the European Spallation Source (ESS) is expected to come online in 2027. Once it achieves its full specifications, its unprecedented flux and spectral range is set to make it the most powerful and versatile neutron source for science in the world. The purpose of the facility, said Jimmy Binderup Andersen, head of innovation and industry at the ESS, "is to create neutrons, a neutron beam, to be used for scientific purposes." Once the facility is up and running, scientists from across Europe and the rest of the world will be able to use its 15 different beamlines to conduct fundamental research. Not X-ray According to Andersen, a neutron beam "is not the same as an X-ray, but it is complementary and uses some of the same physical laws." Like X-rays, neutrons can be used to probe materials and biological systems. But they interact with materials in different ways to the photons in high-energy X-ray beams, and therefore provide different types of information about their targets. For example, neutron beams can say something about the interior dynamics of lithium-ion batteries, reveal obscured details from ancient artifacts or clarify the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. They can also be used to explore fundamental physics. It almost seems like a case of "what can't they do?" Neutron bombardments As part of the BrightnESS-2 project partly coordinated by Andersen, technologies developed for the ESS were shared with industry in Europe, to benefit society at large. For instance, some of the power systems developed for the ESS beamlines could be useful for renewable energy technologies, like wind turbines. Recently, the ESS was contacted by a European semiconductor manufacturer interested in the radiation fields the neutron source can generate. The world we live in is constantly bombarded with neutrons, produced when high-energy particles from outer space, such as cosmic rays from the sun, collide with Earth's atmosphere. Over time, this exposure can damage electrical components. The ESS can mimic this neutron bombardment, but on a much faster time scale, enabling it to be used to test the durability of critical electrical components, such as those used in airplanes, wind turbines and spacecraft. Now ESS is teaming up with other research institutes and companies to find a possible future use of a facility like ESS to address such specific industry needs. ESS 2.0 Although the ESS is still being built, scientists are already working on an upgrade to the facility. When the ESS first opens it will have one moderator, but the HighNESS project is developing a second moderator system. The moderators will slow down the neutrons generated during the spallation process, to an energy level that the scientific instruments can use. "The neutron energy really matters in a neutron facility, because depending on the neutron energy, you can do different kinds of physics," said Valentina Santoro, coordinator of the HighNESS project. While the first moderator will provide high-brightness, which is a very focused beam of neutrons, the source being developed by the HighNESS project will deliver a high intensity, in other words, a large number of neutrons. The two moderators will allow scientists to explore different aspects of the dynamics and structure of materials such as polymers, biomolecules, liquid metals and batteries. A fundamental mystery The second moderator will also enable explorations of fundamental physics to try and see a neutron become an antineutron for the first time. "This is very interesting, because you observe a phenomenon where matter becomes antimatter," said Santoro, who is a particle physicist based at the ESS. "If you observe something like that you can understand one of the biggest unsolved mysteries: Why there is more matter than antimatter in the universe." This experiment can only be done at ESS, Santoro said, because it requires a huge number of neutrons and the ESS will have the highest number in the world. "You just need one neutron that becomes an antineutron, and that is it, you've found this process where matter becomes antimatter," Santoro said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) The Philippine National Police (PNP) has vowed that tough sanctions will be meted out on police officers who do not take action against illegal gambling operations through the enforcement of the one-strike and no-take policy. This was bared by Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco, PNP Directorate for Operations, on Monday following the order of PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. for an "intensified crackdown" against illegal gambling and individuals behind such operation. Basically it's not about what type of gambling... We will validate it and we will see to it that appropriate police action will be done, Francisco said. "If it is validated by our intelligence operatives, appropriate police action had been done by the regional or national level, immediately the local commanders will be relieved, he added. Under the policy, police officers, regional, provincial, and district directors, chiefs of police stations, community precinct commanders, and other heads of units who will be found inefficient in their efforts to eradicate and stop illegal gambling in their respective areas of jurisdiction shall be relieved from their post and be charged administratively under the doctrine of command responsibility. The PNP chief said this should be a reflection of the police forces determination to eradicate illegal gambling and safeguard the welfare of the people. He said the policy has been in effect but they are now reiterating it to ensure that the problem does not get worse. Acorda's latest directive came after the PNP and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) forged an alliance to intensify the national campaign against all forms of illegal gambling activities across the country. Under the leadership of Acorda, the PNP is mobilizing its established Regional/Provincial/City Anti-Illegal Gambling Special Operations Task Groups to intensify the implementation of the provisions outlined in PNP MC NO. 2017-022, "PNP Anti-Illegal Gambling Campaign Plan: Operation High Roller." These specialized units will employ their expertise to gather intelligence, conduct thorough investigations, and execute strategic interventions, fortifying the nation's fight against illegal gambling. 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: Reconstruction of an Australian pterosaur by Peter Trusler. Credit: Peter Trusler A team of researchers have confirmed that 107-million-year-old pterosaur bones discovered more than 30 years ago are the oldest of their kind ever found in Australia, providing a rare glimpse into the life of these powerful, flying reptiles that lived among the dinosaurs. Published in the journal Historical Biology and completed in collaboration with Museums Victoria, the research analyzed a partial pelvis bone and a small wing bone discovered by a team led by Museums Victoria Research Institute's Senior Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology Dr. Tom Rich and Professor Pat Vickers-Rich at Dinosaur Cove in Victoria, Australia in the late 1980s. The team found the bones belonged to two different pterosaur individuals. The partial pelvis bone belonged to a pterosaur with a wingspan exceeding two meters, and the small wing bone belonged to a juvenile pterosaurthe first ever reported in Australia. Lead researcher and Ph.D. student Adele Pentland, from Curtin's School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, said pterosaurswhich were close cousins of the dinosaurswere winged reptiles that soared through the skies during the Mesozoic Era. "During the Cretaceous Period (14566 million years ago), Australia was further south than it is today, and the state of Victoria was within the polar circlecovered in darkness for weeks on end during the winter. Despite these seasonally harsh conditions, it is clear that pterosaurs found a way to survive and thrive," Pentland said. "Pterosaurs are rare worldwide, and only a few remains have been discovered at what were high palaeolatitude locations, such as Victoria, so these bones give us a better idea as to where pterosaurs lived and how big they were. "By analyzing these bones, we have also been able to confirm the existence of the first ever Australian juvenile pterosaur, which resided in the Victorian forests around 107 million years ago." Pentland said that although the bones provide important insights about pterosaurs, little is known about whether they bred in these harsh polar conditions. "It will only be a matter of time until we are able to determine whether pterosaurs migrated north during the harsh winters to breed, or whether they adapted to polar conditions. Finding the answer to this question will help researchers better understand these mysterious flying reptiles," Pentland said. Dr. Tom Rich, from Museums Victoria Research Institute, said it was wonderful to see the fruits of research coming out of the hard work of Dinosaur Cove which was completed decades ago. "These two fossils were the outcome of a labor-intensive effort by more than 100 volunteers over a decade," Dr. Rich said. "That effort involved excavating more than 60 meters of tunnel where the two fossils were found in a seaside cliff at Dinosaur Cove." The research was co-authored by researchers from Curtin's School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Monash University, and Museums Victoria Research Institute. More information: Tom Rich et al, Oldest pterosaur remains from Australia: evidence from the Lower Cretaceous (lower Albian) Eumeralla Formation of Victoria,, Historical Biology (2023). DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2023.2201827, www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/1 8912963.2023.2201827 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: Konigsaue birch tar and experimental production techniques. a KBP1, Konigsaue 1 (left); KBP2, Konigsaue 2 (right). b Drawing of the condensation method; c cobble-groove condensation method; d the bark roll buried technique; e the pit roll technique; f raised structure. 1, birch bark; 2, birch tar. Explanations in the main text but also see supplementary information. Credit: Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s12520-023-01789-2 Researchers at the Eberhard Karls University of Tubingen and colleagues in Germany have taken a closer look at the birch tar used to affix Neanderthal tools and found a much more complex technique for creating the adhesive than previously considered. In their paper, "Production method of the Konigsaue birch tar documents cumulative culture in Neanderthals," published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, the team compared different methods of creating birch tar to the chemical residues found on ancient Neanderthal tools. One of the attributes of human intelligence is the ability to synthesize substances and materials not found in nature. Tools use was once part of this consideration, but since several animals have been discovered altering and manipulating materials to be used as tools, it has become a less unique sign of intelligent behavior. Synthetic material manufacturing remains a significant aspect of our cognitive advantage over other animals, as it requires sentient thinking, planning and comprehension of our actions to convert raw materials through a learned process. The Tubingen study illustrates that modern humans are not alone in this ability and were not the first to reach this mental milestone. The birch tar used by Neanderthals predates any known adaptation by modern humans by 100,000 years. The sticky material was used as an adhesive backing to connect stone to bone and wood in tools and weapons, with the added benefit of being water-resistant and resistant to organic decomposition. How Neanderthals made birch tar has been speculated to be either a manufactured process or a found substance scraped from rocks after a fire. Through a comparative chemical analysis of two birch tar pieces from Germany and a large reference birch tar collection made with Stone Age techniques, the researchers found that Neanderthals did not simply find birch tar after a fire, nor did they use the simplest manufacturing method. Instead, researchers have discovered that the Neanderthals who made the German birch tar used the most efficient method with a stepwise oxygen-restricted distillation process of underground heating to extract the synthetic adhesive. According to the authors, "This degree of complexity is unlikely to have been invented spontaneously." Suggesting that the technique would have started with simpler methods and been developed into the more complex process by experimentation. To test the process that led to the German birch tar, the researchers engaged in experimental archaeology by recreating five different techniques for extraction, two above-ground and three below ground. With the birch tar extracted, the team applied infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and microcomputed tomography to analyze and compare their tar-making techniques with the ancient birch tar artifacts. Oxygen availability at the time of extraction left a clear marker on the experimental tars, creating a signature that clearly separated above-ground from below-ground methods. The ancient artifacts matched the below-ground manufacturing process. Both ancient tar artifacts and the below-ground experiments showed some soil mineral interaction and were free from soot-related carbons, unlike the above-ground techniques. Underground transformative techniques are trickier to execute than above-ground techniques because some elements cannot be observed or corrected after the procedure begins requiring a more precise set-up procedure. The evidence for cognitively complex Neanderthals has only increased in recent years, as archaeological evidence reveals many of the technological firsts thought to be modern human inventions were already in use among Neanderthals. At this point, it may benefit anyone who prefers thinking of human intelligence as an exceptional uniqueness to concede that Neanderthals were humans too. According to the authors, "... Neanderthal birch tar making seems to be the first documented manifestation of this kind in human evolution." More information: Patrick Schmidt et al, Production method of the Konigsaue birch tar documents cumulative culture in Neanderthals, Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s12520-023-01789-2 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: Water is shown in an irrigation canal in Fernley, Nev. near Reno on March 18, 2021. A U.S. appeals court has breathed new life into a rural Nevada's town's unusual bid to halt government repairs to an aging, federal irrigation canal that burst and flooded nearly 600 homes 15 years ago. The town of Fernley, area farmers and ranchers in the high desert 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Reno say the renovation that finally began this year might help guard against another failure of the 118-year-old earthen canal. Credit: AP Photo/Scott Sonner, File Water conflicts are nothing new to the arid West, where myriad users long have vied for their share of the precious resource from California's Central Valley to the Colorado and Missouri rivers. But few have waded into the legal question playing out in rural Nevada: To what extent can local residents, farmers and ranchers claim the water that is soaking into the ground through the dirt floor of an antiquated, unlined irrigation canal? A federal appeals court recently breathed new life into litigation that has entangled the U.S. government and the high-desert town of Fernley ever since a 118-year-old canal burst and flooded hundreds of homes in 2008. This year the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation began work on a plan to line parts of the 31-mile (50 kilometer) canal with concrete. The canal diverts water from the Truckee River, which flows out of Lake Tahoe in the Sierra, sending it to irrigation ditches supporting alfalfa farmers and livestock ranchers about 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of Reno. However, farmers and ranchers in and around the town of Fenley said the repairs would stop water from leaking that they have used for a century to help fill their wells east of Reno. The government says locals don't have any rights to the water that belongs to U.S. taxpayers. Government experts say the renovation also willl help guard against future canal failures even though they acknowlege it will prevent leaks into the local aquifer used by Fenley's residents. Completed in 1905, the Truckee Canal was the first major irrigation system in the West under the Newlands Reclamation Act signed by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1902. Water flows through a control gate on an irrigation canal in Fernley, Nev., near Reno on March 18, 2021. A U.S. appeals court has breathed new life into a rural Nevada's town's unusual bid to halt government repairs to an aging, federal irrigation canal that burst and flooded nearly 600 homes 15 years ago. The town of Fernley, area farmers and ranchers in the high desert 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Reno say the renovation that finally began this year might help guard against another failure of the 118-year-old earthen canal. Credit: AP Photo/Scott Sonner, File The act was named after a Nevada congressman who said the project would "make the desert bloom" and attract settlers to places like Fernley, where annual rainfall averages 5 inches (13 centimeters). Similar projects followed across the arid Westmany much larger. Construction began in 1903 on the Theodore Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River in Arizona, which Roosevelt himself dedicated in 1911. By then, two dozen projects had been authorized, including one that dammed the Lower Yellowstone River near its confluence with the Missouri to irrigate cropland in Montana and North Dakota. In Nevada, Fernley and surrounding agricultural users eventually became "utterly reliant" on the government-subsidized water, their lawyers say. Evoking a sort of finders-keepers doctrine as old as western expansion, opponents of the canal renovation have argued in state and federal court that they have a right to the water partly because, before the canal burst, no one told them they couldn't. The bureau, the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District operating the canal and various judges generally have agreed the water belongs to U.S. taxpayers. Fernley is attempting to claim a water right that doesn't exist under state or federal law, irrigation district lawyer Benjamin Shawcroft said in recent Nevada Supreme Court filings. A levee that broke flooding homes and forcing evacuations is shown in the process of being repaired in Fernley, Nev., on Jan. 6, 2008. A U.S. appeals court has breathed new life into a rural Nevada's town's unusual bid to halt government repairs to an aging, federal irrigation canal that burst and flooded nearly 600 homes 15 years ago. The town of Fernley, area farmers and ranchers in the high desert 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Reno say the renovation that finally began this year might help guard against another failure of the 118-year-old earthen canal. Credit: AP Photo/Brad Horn, File "A related, but perhaps unanswerable question is why the City of Fernley is so determined to disrupt a project, the sole purpose of which is to prevent a breach of the canal and flooding of hundreds of homes?" he wrote. Fernley lawyer David Rigdon said the town doesn't oppose less expensive alternatives to alleviate the flood risk while still maintaining groundwater recharge. "What Fernley opposes is a cure that is worse than the disease," Rigdon wrote in court filings. "To fix a problem that affected approximately 500 homes, they have implemented a solution that imperils the primary water supply of all 20,000 city residents." "And, to add insult to injury, they now want the very people they are harming to pay for the costs of building the project," he wrote. No one was killed or seriously injured in the 2008 flood, but the irrigation district agreed in 2016 to an $18.1 million class-action settlement with 1,200 people who suffered property damage. Unusual, heavy winter rain put pressure on the canal system, which experts later determined was weakened by decades of rodents burrowing into the sides. The legal battle over the plans to fix the canal followed. Fernley sought relief in state court last year after U.S. District Court Judge Miranda Du threw out its federal lawsuit, which claimed the government failed to adequately consider alternatives required by the National Environmental Policy Act when it approved a $148 million plan to line 12.7 miles (20 km) of the canal. Homes in Fernley Nev., sit sumerged after an irrigation ditch gave way on Jan. 5, 2008. A U.S. appeals court has breathed new life into a rural Nevada's town's unusual bid to halt government repairs to an aging, federal irrigation canal that burst and flooded nearly 600 homes 15 years ago. The town of Fernley, area farmers and ranchers in the high desert 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Reno say the renovation that finally began this year might help guard against another failure of the 118-year-old earthen canal. Credit: Marilyn Newton/Reno Gazette-Journal via AP, File In March, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Du's ruling that concluded the NEPA claims had no legal basis because their interests in the water are economic, not environmental. But the San Francisco-based appellate court also concluded she erred by refusing to allow Fernley to amend its lawsuit to try to prove the harms would be both. Du issued a new order this month giving Fernley until June 12 to file an amended complaint while the Bureau of Reclamation continues work on the first phase lining 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) of the canal for $35 million. About $2.5 million of the initial phase is to be recouped from the irrigation district through assessments on water users who depend on the district to meet the demands of a growing community that has doubled in size over the past 20 years. Fernley now wants to show the loss of an aquifer recharge will have dramatic, complicated impacts on the natural environment, as well as farmers' wallets. "It's going to kill our community environmentally," said David Stix, a longtime rancher and former Fernley mayor. He said hydrological studies predict a drop in the local aquifer will draw water from salty marshes at the nearby Fernley Wildlife Management Area, degrading the community's water quality. A man walks amid the flooded area in Fernley, Nev., on Jan. 5, 2008. A U.S. appeals court has breathed new life into a rural Nevada's town's unusual bid to halt government repairs to an aging, federal irrigation canal that burst and flooded nearly 600 homes 15 years ago. The town of Fernley, area farmers and ranchers in the high desert 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Reno say the renovation that finally began this year might help guard against another failure of the 118-year-old earthen canal. Credit: Tim Dunn/Reno-Gazette Journal via AP, File "That migration would be very concerning because treating salt in water is way more expensive than treating arsenic," Stix said. "There's all these unknown domino effects." He's among those who say lining the embankment walls, but not the dirt floor where the water seeps, would accomplish everyone's goals at a lower cost without causing domestic wells to "start sucking air." Without aquifer recharge from the seepage, he fears the landscape will eventually revert to its pre-canal condition. "It was basically desert," Stix said. "There was nothing here." 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Rates of child marriage increase in communities displaced by conflict as well as communities affected by natural and environmental disasters. The current crisis in Sudan is just one place where this could be an issue. The recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria are also typical situations where we are likely to see young girls pushed into marrying before they are ready. At these times of extreme fragility, there are fewer protections for young women than would normally be the case. A report published in 2020, from the Institute of Development Studies, a research organization affiliated with the University of Sussex, shows that crises exacerbate and complicate existing causes of child marriage, such as poverty and gender inequality. There are also additional crisis-specific causes. These include food insecurity; the breakdown of legal mechanisms that protect girls, such as minimum age of marriage laws; and an absence of rights and protections, such as the right to work or a guaranteed minimum household income. Marriage can be considered a form of protection against sexual violence, which often increases in conflict. During times of crisis, stress, insecurity and instability increase, while protective family and community structures are weakened. This reduces the support that members of extended families can provide to each other. There are also examples of forced marriages. For instance, reports from Damascus in Syria suggest that families were forced to allow the marriage of girls to members of armed groups. During the civil war in Sri Lanka, some parents married their girls earlier in the hope of protecting them from being recruited into militias. Twelve of the 20 countries with the highest prevalence of child marriage experience the most extreme humanitarian crises. Child marriage is often considered as one of the few viable survival strategies for girls in these difficult moments. Child marriage may also be considered more socially acceptable during a crisis. In many societies, women are expected to marry and have children eventually, so marriage occurring earlier than planned is not ideal but is also not necessarily considered harmful or a problem. Global data from Unicef showing the decline of child marriage hides this increase in communities affected by crises. The marriage of a girl before she is 18 has life-long negative consequences, such as pregnancy-related health problems and low educational attainment. But finding effective solutions to prevent it during emergencies is difficult. What can help? Several actions are recommended to prevent child marriage around the globe, including in these crisis and conflict zones. Keeping girls in education is considered important, as school girls are less likely to marry. Economic incentives can be provided to households when their daughters attend school rather than marry. In Bangladesh, the female secondary school assistance program has increased the age at which recipients marry by between 1.4 and 2.3 years. The payment of school fees and provision of uniforms and books is also common, and this has been effective in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Egypt and Bangladesh . Other strategies target community expectations that limit girls' aspirations to being a passive wife and mother only. Talking with community leaders is usually complemented by direct investment in girls. Girls are offered informal education or life skills training to enhance access to employment or enhance sexual and reproductive health knowledge, for example, often delivered by peers from their community. Finally, the creation and implementation of minimum age of marriage laws, and other complementing social policies, are also considered critical. While most actions are targeted at preventing child marriage, meeting the needs of married girls is also important. One problem we have, however, is that most of the research done to understand child marriage and identify ways to prevent it, has not been done with crisis-affected communities. We still do not know whether these actions work effectively for girls affected by crises. Recent research on preventing violence against refugee adolescent girls argues that our responses to child marriage need to be better adapted for humanitarian situations. Keeping girls in schools during a humanitarian crisis is harder, for example, as is building relationships with community leaders in fast-changing community contexts. Parents are also more reluctant to let their daughters access any training or events away from the family space because of worries about their security in dangerous and uncertain environments. While we wait for more evidence on whether action to prevent child marriage in troubled times is working, there is more that can be done. Development professionals such as social workers, educators and health practitioners can work more closely with humanitarian organizations, to share knowledge, resources and capacities. Development organizations, particularly those at local levels, have a deep understanding of the communities affected, their history, their needs and values. Meanwhile, the international humanitarian community, led by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, have expertise in providing short-term care to those affected by severe or sudden crisis. Crisis usually occurs in countries where social and economic development initiatives are already present. This provides opportunities for local knowledge and leadership to guide and shape fast-paced and complex humanitarian action. Closer work by these organizations and practitioners could help to prevent child marriage when communities are affected by crisis. Providing girls and their families with the resources and support to help negotiate the many challenges they face during times of crisis is the only way we can improve this situation. 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: Credit: Shutterstock Child sex abuse is one of the most heinous criminal offenses, so when a victim becomes an offender, it's evidence of a system failure. When a 'victim-offender' is sentenced in court, a University of South Australia researcher is recommending judges acknowledge the offender's early trauma, in conjunction with the consequences for the crime, in their sentencing comments. The call for this to become best practice, follows new research that demonstrates multiple instances where judges implicitly or explicitly assumed knowledge that a victim-offender 'should have known better." UniSA researcher Dr. Bronwyn Arnold says it is important that judges recognize the unresolved trauma of child sex abuse. "In this study I looked at the end point of the cyclewhen a child sex offender is sentenced by a judge for their crimes." "The study found that, in several cases, judges assumed that the perpetrator should have been aware of the pain they were causing to their victims. But when the offender was also a victim of child sex abuse is this really appropriate?" "Psychological research shows that victims of sexual abuse may experience cognitive distortions in relation to abuse, including normalization and positive associations of their sexual abuse experiences. What this means is that they are less likely to be able to empathize with their victims, or 'know better.'" "The fallout from child sexual abuse is lifelong, with victims suffering serious long-term physical and psychological harms." "So, while I am not downplaying the offense at all, I am saying that victim-offenders do not have a choice over the development of cognitive distortions which may facilitate offending behavior." In Australia, about 1.4 million adults were victims of child sexual abuse, with the first instance of abuse occurring between the ages of 6-8 years old. Victims of child sex abuse are almost five times more likely than the general population to be charged with any offense than their non-abused counterparts, with strongest associations found for sexual and violent offenses. The study recommends avoiding the use of statements that impute knowledge of victims' harm onto the offenders in the future. "The assumption that offenders should know that they were causing harm has intuitive appeal. Yet these assumptions do not necessarily reflect their lived experience," Dr. Arnold says. "For judges to acknowledge the unresolved trauma of victim-offenders, they're taking one step towards healing that damage." "If the acknowledgment of an offender's harm could reduce their risk of reoffending, it should be done help stop the cycle of abuse once the offender is (eventually) released into the community." The findings are published in the journal Current Issues in Criminal Justice. More information: Bronwyn Arnold, 'You, of all people': the inappropriateness of imputing knowledge of victim harm onto sexually abused child sexual offenders during sentencing, Current Issues in Criminal Justice (2023). DOI: 10.1080/10345329.2022.2160225 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: SwRI contributed to new Cycle 1 JWST findings that show the plume of water escaping from Saturn's moon Enceladus extends 6,000 miles or more than 40 times the moon's size. In light of this discovery, SwRI's Dr. Christopher Glein was awarded a NASA JWST Cycle 2 allocation to study the plume as well as the icy surface of Enceladus, to better understand the potential habitability of this ocean world. Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/Alyssa Pagan (STScI)/Geronimo Villanueva (NASA-GSFC) Two Southwest Research Institute scientists were part of a James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) team that observed a towering plume of water vapor more than 6,000 miles longroughly the distance from the U.S. to Japanspewing from the surface of Saturn's moon, Enceladus. In light of this NASA JWST Cycle 1 discovery, SwRI's Dr. Christopher Glein also received a Cycle 2 allocation to study the plume as well as key chemical compounds on the surface, to better understand the potential habitability of this ocean world. During its 13-year reconnaissance of the Saturn system, the Cassini spacecraft discovered that Enceladus has a subsurface ocean of liquid water, and Cassini analyzed samples as plumes of ice grains and water vapor erupted into space from cracks in the moon's icy surface. "Enceladus is one of the most dynamic objects in the solar system and is a prime target in humanity's search for life beyond Earth," said Glein, a leading expert in extraterrestrial oceanography. He is a co-author of a paper recently accepted by Nature Astronomy. "In the years since NASA's Cassini spacecraft first looked at Enceladus, we never cease to be amazed by what we find is happening on this extraordinary moon." Once again, the latest observations made with Webb's Near InfraRed Spectrograph have yielded remarkable results. "When I was looking at the data, at first, I was thinking I had to be wrong, it was just so shocking to map a plume more than 20 times the diameter of the moon," said Geronimo Villanueva of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and lead author of the recent paper. "The plume extends far beyond what we could have imagined." Webb's sensitivity reveals a new story about Enceladus and how it feeds the water supply for the entire system of Saturn and its rings. As Enceladus whips around the gas giant in just 33 hours, the moon spews water, leaving a halo, almost like a donut, in its wake. The plume is not only huge, but the water spreads across Saturn's dense E-ring. JWST data indicate that roughly 30 percent of the water stays in the moon's wake, while the other 70 percent escapes to supply the rest of the Saturnian system. Researchers using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space telescope recently discovered a plume jetting out from the south pole of Saturns moon Enceladus and extending more than 40 times the size of the moon itself. This animation illustrates how the moons water plumes feed the moons torus. By analysing the Webb data, astronomers have determined roughly 30 percent of the water stays within this torus, and the other 70 percent escapes to supply the rest of the Saturnian system of water. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, G. Villanueva (NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center), A. Pagan (STScI), L. Hustak (STScI) "The Webb observations, for the first time, are visually illustrating how the moon's water vapor plumes are playing a role in the formation of the torus," said SwRI's Dr. Silvia Protopapa, an expert in the compositional analysis of icy bodies in the solar system who was also on the Cycle 1 team. "This serves as a stunning testament to Webb's extraordinary abilities. I'm thrilled to be part of the Cycle 2 team as we initiate our search for new indications of habitability and plume activity on Enceladus." Spurred by the incredible findings from Webb's first fleeting glimpse of Enceladus, Glein is leading the same team that will observe Enceladus again with JWST in the next year. "We will search for specific indicators of habitability, such as organic signatures and hydrogen peroxide," Glein said. "Hydrogen peroxide is particularly interesting because it can provide much more potent sources of metabolic energy than what we previously identified. Cassini didn't give us a clear answer on the availability of such strong oxidants on Enceladus." The new observations will provide the best remote opportunity to search for habitability indicators on the surface, by boosting the signal-to-noise ratio by up to a factor of 10 compared with Cycle 1. Understanding the time variability of plume outgassing is also important to plan for future planetary science missions that target the plume. "Webb can serve as a bridge between Cassini and the proposed search-for-life mission, Orbilander," Glein said. "After Cycle 2, we will have a better idea if ocean samples are widely distributed over Enceladus's surface, as opposed to just near the south pole. These next observations could help us determine if Orbilander can access ocean samples near the equator, which may help us get back to Enceladus sooner." The team's results were accepted for publication on May 17, 2023, in Nature Astronomy, and a pre-print pdf is available. More information: JWST molecular mapping and characterization of Enceladus' water plume feeding its torus, Nature Astronomy (2023). Preprint: psg.gsfc.nasa.gov/apps/Enceladus_JWST.pdf Journal information: Nature Astronomy K , Cookies . cookies. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) The Philippine National Police (PNP) has identified regions where authorities monitored active and potential private armed groups or PAGs ahead of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls this year. PNP Chief General Benjamin Acorda on Monday identified the seven regions as Ilocos, Central Luzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Caraga, Cordillera, and Bangsamoro. The PNP is also monitoring continuously the activities of 48 private armed groups wherein three of these groups are active and 45 potential PAGs from Region 1, Region 3, Region 5, Region 6, Region 13, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Acorda said. The top official said he directed concerned regional directors to intensify efforts against PAGs to ensure that these groups will not be used in illegal activities in connection with the BSKE in October. According to Acorda, the PNP received reports that some elected government officials and potential candidates are facing security threats ahead of the polls. But he said the threat is not as high compared to previous elections. With regards to the threats for some elected officials and some prospective candidates, we do receive these kinds of reports. Appropriate measures are being undertaken, he said. If more personal protection is needed, barangay officials and prospective candidates can connect with the PNP Police Security and Protection Group, he added. The PNP chief also said they are already monitoring some potential hotspots. We have some data already based on existing threat assessment and historical data, meron tayo but definitely the official list will come out from Comelec, Acorda said. QUEENSBURY Three people were arrested and charged with drug possession on Wednesday night after police said drugs were found in the home, New York State Police said this week. On Wednesday at 10 p.m., troopers went to the residence of James F. Barber Jr., 50, of Queensbury, due to an active warrant. According to a news release, they found multiple controlled substances and drug paraphernalia at the home in plain view. Barber Jr., was charged with: Two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance Fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance Seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance Second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia Marquese D. Hill, 40 of Troy, and Cassandra Bentley, 36, of Queensbury, were also in the residence and arrested. Bentley was charged with: Two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance Two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance Second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia Hill was charged with: Two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance Two counts of second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia Barber Jr. and Hill were taken to the Warren County Jail to await arraignment. Bentley was arraigned at the Queensbury Town Court on Thursday and released on her own recognizance. 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. A judge has agreed to release a man held in jail on charges that he intended to meet a man posing as a teenage girl for sex. During a Tuesday detention hearing, Nashiem Cephas-Lee, 23, was ordered to be released from the Atlantic County jail by Superior Court Judge Nancy Ridgway. Cephas-Lee allegedly met a man posing as a 15-year-old girl with intentions of engaging in sexual acts with her. His criminal complaint lists him as being from Philadelphia, but he identified his residency during Tuesday's hearing as Absecon's Travelodge on the White Horse Pike. Despite calling the charges "serious, concerning and outrageous," Ridgway agreed to release him, citing a 2018 New Jersey Supreme Court ruling that governs judgement on pretrial release. Ridgway noted he has no criminal history in New Jersey or other states. Cephas-Lee was released under conditions that he stay in contact with pretrial services and stay offline, given the offense was committed over a dating app. He was represented Tuesday by public defense attorney Raquel DeStefano. Absecon police arrest Philadelphia man in park to meet 'teen girl' ABSECON A Philadelphia man was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly came to Heritage Park t The prosecution fought to keep Cephas-Lee jailed, believing his release could jeopardize the safety of children. Cephas-Lee, using Grindr, planned to meet someone he believed was a 15-year-old girl for sex, arranging their first encounter at Absecon's Heritage Park off Mill Road. The "girl," however, was Cameron Decker. Calling himself a "predator catcher," Decker publicizes his encounters with other alleged sex offenders through his social media accounts. Decker told Absecon police he was engaging with Cephas-Lee over the app, showing them their conversation about meeting to engage in sexual activity, according to an affidavit of probable cause. Decker met Cephas-Lee at the park, speaking with him momentarily before police arrived and arrested him. Cephas-Lee waived his Miranda rights while being questioned, admitting to meeting the girl at the park and intending to engage with her sexually, the affidavit states. A Gloucester County man will serve five years in prison for carrying a gun at the Jersey Shore without a permit, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said Tuesday. Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Wilson sentenced David Shields, 44, of West Deptford, on charges of unlawful possession of a handgun and obstruction of justice, the Prosecutor's Office said in a news release. The sentencing comes two years after Shields was arrested in Ventnor when he was found with a handgun illegally. Police were flagged down by a juvenile on May 13, 2021, reporting they were threatened by Shields before he fled on a bicycle. Officers approached Shields, who refused to comply with their orders, at one point fighting police. An officer suffered minor injuries during the altercation, the Prosecutor's Office said. Shields was in possession of a loaded .45 caliber Colt handgun that he did not have a permit to carry, the Prosecutor's Office said. He was initially charged with possession of a weapon, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and simple assault. Shields also was ordered to pay restitution for the officer's injuries. Bills that would allow some 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections and change the way elections are run and reported passed the Assembly last week and now head to the state Senate. Bill A3690 would create the New Voter Empowerment Act, which would allow a registered voter who is 17 years old to vote in a primary election provided they will be 18 at the time of the succeeding general election. That bill advanced last week, 50-24. It is sponsored by Assemblymen Bill Moen, D-Camden, Gloucester; Anthony Verrelli, D-Mercer, Hunterdon; and Paul Moriarty, D-Camden, Gloucester. If someone is able to cast their vote in the November general election, they should be able to participate in the preceding primary election, Moen said in a news release from Assembly Democrats. Its important to get young people involved in the political process so that our democracy can continue to thrive. Poll workers needed for June 6 primary TRENTON New Jersey counties are seeking residents to serve as poll workers for the upcomin Currently, 19 states allow 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the general election to vote in primaries, according to Assembly Democrats, citing data from the National Conference of State Legislatures. A bill (A5176) sponsored by Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, would require county clerks to periodically report the unofficial tally of election results on the night of a primary or general election leading up until the final tally is available. The full Assembly approved the measure, 71-1. Updating how we report ballots will enable our citizens to trust in the way our elections are conducted and maintain confidence in their outcomes, Coughlin said. A third bill (A5175), sponsored by Verrelli and Assemblywoman Angela McKnight, D-Hudson, would change some general election deadlines, including those pertaining to the nomination and preparation of official general election ballots processes. The bill was approved, 68-3. All three bills now head to the Senate for consideration. Jersey Shore businesses anticipate a productive, profitable summer based on what they saw over Memorial Day weekend. Its been a beautiful weekend, said Michael Trivisonno, 33, of Egg Harbor Township, owner of a new balloon-popping game on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Monday was the fourth day Trivisonnos business has been open, he said. Everyones been having fun, Trivisonno said. Everyone walks away with smiles on their faces and teddy bears. Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of the summer tourism season in South Jersey. And this Memorial Day weekend was possibly one for the record books, especially at airports, with more than 42 million Americans projected to travel 50 miles or more, according to projections from AAA. On Monday, with the passing of a light, brief drizzle, the Ocean City Boardwalk remained crowed. Employees and business owners said Sunday was extremely busy, which may be a good sign for the rest of the summer. But most people wanted to talk about the return of crowds of young people, who again gathered in large numbers on the Boardwalk and nearby beach. In recent summers, since the lifting of pandemic-related limits on gatherings, multiple shore towns have had issues with large gatherings of juveniles. Some on the Boardwalk suggested this year that some young people were coming in from other communities where officials have taken a harder stand on the gatherings. Its out of control, said an employee at one of the pizza businesses. He and another worker said the Boardwalk was busy all weekend. The second employee said it seemed like the busiest he had seen since COVID-19, but both said the Boardwalk was packed with high school kids. Both declined to give their names. Most of the young people are under 18, said Doug Jewell, the longtime owner of Air Circus on the Boardwalk. He said some merchants are upset, and that from 10 to 11 p.m. business was pretty slow, but he downplayed the seriousness of the issue. Most of the young people are 15 or younger and visiting the beach with their families, Jewell said. He added that police Chief Jay Prettyman was doing a good job. But some merchants and residents are already suggesting stronger measures to thin the nighttime crowds of juveniles. Upper Township teenager unveils military museum for Memorial Day weekend UPPER TOWNSHIP This Memorial Day weekend in Cape May County, the work to honor the militar Atlantic City was still energized Monday by crowds packing the Boardwalk and beaches. A constant flow of feet passed through Boardwalk businesses, and some crowds even caught street performers entertaining people passing by. Over the weekend, Atlantic City had a boost in traffic from the inaugural Adjacent Festival, which saw thousands of people cover the beach to watch bands like Blink-182, Paramore and Jimmy Eat World. Large-scale concert events like Adjacent should be held on weekdays, said Amer Kashmiri, president of Atlantic City Merchants Association. He looked forward to the opening of Showboats Island Waterpark next month, saying amenities like that should continue to come to town to make the resort more family friendly. I always have good hope, Kashmiri said. While the Boardwalk was packed with visitors Monday, a change in their spending habits become increasingly noticeable, said Asad Kahn, manager of Ocean Star, a souvenir shop next to the Boardwalks South Carolina Avenue entrance. Its tough times these days, the economy-wise and everything, Kahn said Monday. Its not like it used to be. Ive been here for almost 15 or 16 years on this Boardwalk in this store, and its not the same. The economy is really, I think, getting bad, and everyone is trying to save some money. Higher prices havent stopped people like Portia Daniels from returning to Atlantic City, spending three days visiting the beach and casinos with her friends. I enjoyed myself, said Daniels, 74, of Four Oaks, North Carolina, seated on a Boardwalk bench facing Ballys Atlantic City. As far as spending, Im retired, so it doesnt matter. Youve got to just spend it. You only live once. The Associated Press contributed to this report. MIDDLE TOWNSHIP Themes of patriotism and sacrifice were woven into the townships observance of Memorial Day on Monday, but there was also some time for fun, with a bike parade for children and music from the John Walter Cape Community Band. A parade, including multiple emergency vehicles, students and community groups, headed north along Boyd Street to end at American Legion Post 198, where the band presented music from the band Chicago, composer Edwin Eugene Bagley and more. The grand marshal was Howard Trout III, a Cape May Court House native and Air Force veteran who served as a civilian and in uniform around the country and is a retired captain who works at Richard M. Teitelman Middle School in neighboring Lower Township. He described his service as one of the highlights of his life. I get very emotional when I have to speak publicly like this about my feelings about my country and my community, he said. I know I speak for all my fellow veterans when I say we would do it again in a heartbeat. He said he did not serve in combat, adding that people should dedicate Memorial Day and more to remembering those who died for the United States. Mayor Tim Donohue and Committee member James Norris also spoke. Norris said no challenge, obstacle or threat is a match for American grit and determination. Upper Township teenager unveils military museum for Memorial Day weekend UPPER TOWNSHIP This Memorial Day weekend in Cape May County, the work to honor the militar Memorial Day is not just another holiday or an opportunity for a long weekend. It is a day of remembrance. A sacred moment etched in the fabric of our national identity, Donohue said. Mondays ceremony in Middle Township was one of multiple events held in communities around the region and the country. Speakers contrasted the images of barbecues and time on the beach with the solemn origins of the day. Let us remember, patriotism is not merely the act of waving the flag or reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Patriotism is a commitment to the wellbeing and welfare of those who safeguard our freedoms, Donohue said. The event included a rifle salute, the placement of flowers in front of a memorial at the American Legion post and the presentation of a wreath at a memorial to Lance Cpl. George Louis Dramis, a Marine who was in Grenada and who died in action in Beirut in 1984. Presenting the wreath were Joe Marchina and Ralph Lonergan of Marine Corps League 676, a detachment that bears Dramis name. The winners of an American Legion essay contest on What Memorial Day means to me read their submissions at the event. The crowd gathered on the lawn of the American Legion hall. During the event, all of the veterans present gathered in front of the stage to receive the thanks of the gathered officials and community members. GALLERY: Middle Township Memorial Day observance OCEAN CITY The owners of units at The Seaspray condominiums were back in time for the Memorial Day weekend kickoff to the summer, after officials declared the property unsafe for habitation. As visitors poured into town over the long weekend, they saw the parking lot full and lawn chairs out at the former motel, although it does not appear that any major work was undertaken in the past several weeks. Our construction official received an updated engineers report on the condition of the Seaspray Condominiums at 34th Street and Bay Avenue, and has removed the red tags that prevented owners from occupying their homes, Mayor Jay Gillian said at a recent City Council meeting. The new report indicates that the structure is safe to live in, that at least in the short term our construction official agrees. Previous reports had painted a dire picture of the condition of the structure, with an April 17 report prepared by Charles Endicott of Endicott Engineering LLC describing decades worth of concerns it said went unaddressed. Gillian said he understood how difficult it could be for someone to be put out of their home. Im glad that the residents can return to their homes as they come up with a long-term plan to address issues at the site, he said. There are more than 30 condos at the Seaspray, with several being used as year-round homes. Others are used as vacation homes or rented to summer visitors. City attorney Dottie McCrosson had told council the property was red-tagged under orders from the state Department of Community Affairs. The residents of the condominium did not appear worried about the safety of the structure Monday, with many down for the long weekend. They were not talking, though. Report: Too late to repair Ocean City condo complex OCEAN CITY The time for repairs to the Seaspray Condominiums has passed, according to a st With all the litigation, I really cant, said one man, who said he owned one of the units but declined to give his name. Another man, who was lighting a barbecue on the holiday afternoon, also declined to be interviewed. Our lawyers have told us not to discuss anything, he said. But we are happy its open. A lawsuit filed in February 2022 by Block Properties LLC is challenging the current three-member condominium board for control of the property, alleging the board has failed to address structural concerns that have been known for close to two decades. The suit put the current estimated cost of the repairs at $7.5 million. It alleges six engineering studies have established that the building is structurally unsound. The report presented to construction official Neil Byrne outlined multiple reports from engineers that raised concerns about the structure, and stated that little beyond cosmetic work has ever been undertaken. Additionally, it should be noted that the time for remediation has passed, and any attempts at complete remedial repairs or improvements would be futile and would not adequately correct the significant shifting of the structure, Endicott wrote in his April report, a copy of which was released by the city as a public record. The building at 3313-15 Bay Ave. was built as a motel in 1960, Brady said, and became a condominium in 1980. There is a pool in the courtyard of the two-story building, which is five blocks from the beach. OCEAN CITY After a Memorial Day weekend marred by vandalism, assaults, a confiscated firearm and several incidents of teens who drank themselves into unconsciousness, Mayor Jay Gillian has signed orders aimed at limiting gatherings of teens on the beach and Boardwalk. All city beaches will be closed at 8 p.m. Carrying backpacks will not be permitted after 8 p.m. on the beach and Boardwalk. Boardwalk bathrooms will be closed at 10 p.m. The curfew for juveniles will move from 1 a.m. to 11 p.m. City Council has an emergency meeting set for 1 p.m. Thursday on the third floor of City Hall, 861 Asbury Ave., to discuss the changes. Gillian and Police Chief Jay Prettyman are set to discuss the plans publicly after the meeting. We want parents, grandparents and families to know that were all in this together, and we will be holding people accountable, Gillian said Tuesday. I also want to send a message to our governor and legislators that the laws they forced on all municipalities are a threat to public safety, and they deprive families of the opportunity to enjoy the Jersey Shore. Gillian said the changes will send a message to teens and their parents that the beach, Boardwalk and other public areas will no longer be open to mass gatherings that include alcohol consumption and other infractions of the law. The gatherings have been a headache for police and Boardwalk merchants for the past two years. At times, hundreds of juveniles have gathered on the beach path just off the Boardwalk, while several communities reported similar problems after pandemic restrictions on gatherings lifted. Prettyman had used a strategy of containment: allowing teens to gather on the beach, out of the way of the families and shoppers on the Boardwalk, and under the watchful eyes of a large contingent of full-time and summer officers, including some using ATVs to patrol the edges of the crowd. Earlier this year, the city enacted new measures aimed at controlling the situation, including listing many of the infractions that have caused issues as disturbing-the-peace offenses. That allows the police to contact parents and to bring offenders to the station, beyond the warnings that have been issued. Last weekend seemed to indicate an escalation. Police responded to 999 incidents, an increase compared to Memorial Day weekend last year. Teen crowds on the beach remain a headache for towns OCEAN CITY As Dee Snyder sang for Twisted Sister way back in 1983, Oh, watch out, the kid In addition to underage drinking, police responded to incidents involving vandalism, assaults, shoplifting, confiscation of a firearm, and a variety of other infractions, reads a statement released Tuesday by city spokesperson Doug Bergen. Ocean City firefighter/EMTs were just as busy responding to several incidents involving teens who drank to the point of unconsciousness, assault victims, mental health issues and other incidents. On the Boardwalk on Monday, several business owners and employees said there appeared to be more teenagers than last year, and worried about what that could mean for the rest of the summer. Others said most of the young people appeared to be between 14 and 18 years old. Jamie Ford, a Boardwalk merchant for close to 30 years, said every business has been disrupted. There are no families after 7:30. Theyre gone, he said, adding his employees dont want to be on the Boardwalk at night, and for that matter, neither does he. Several suggested that as other shore communities got tough on teen gatherings, the teens came to Ocean City. On social media, several people reported vandalism and disruption from juveniles, along with reports of teens drinking and smoking marijuana. In years past, I wouldnt blink an eye as I was once a teen myself, but there comes a point when enough is enough, wrote one commenter. The police officers are doing everything they can to control the environment that once was Americas Greatest Family Resort but are clearly being overrun by enabled, entitled teenagers who are sadly backed by the lack of laws to prosecute/hold accountable these teens. City Councilman Jody Levchuk, who has Boardwalk businesses, blamed state juvenile justice reform. He said he understands the motivation, to avoid criminal records for juvenile behavior that may cause lifelong problems, but said the reforms went too far. In Ocean City, ordinance infractions could become disturbing the peace OCEAN CITY Previously minor infractions of city codes could mean a trip to the police stat When the state says, Hey, kids, you can do what you want and the police cant do anything about it, what did you think they were going to do? he said. Police have new limits on interactions with those under 18, including limits on searching juveniles for alcohol or marijuana. In most instances, juveniles receive a warning. Ford said it is time to change the laws, especially those limiting the ability of police to issue citations for underage drinking. Its a failed social experiment, he said. Its bad for business, its bad for the community and quite frankly its bad for the kids. The city also pointed a finger at Trenton. The new policies come in response to a Memorial Day weekend in Ocean City that saw the continuation of a trend that began when statewide legislation largely stripped police officers of the ability to question juveniles, search juveniles, and confiscate alcohol, reads the city statement. The legislation also eliminates meaningful consequences for juveniles who break these laws. The new beach curfew will apply to people of all ages, as will the evening backpack ban. The new rules will be part of a citywide plan that will include police staffing, more announcements on the Boardwalk and a public awareness campaign. I understand that these new directives will affect many people who are not teens, but its important that we stop this type of behavior now, Gillian said. In the end, protecting our reputation as Americas Greatest Family Resort will benefit everybody in Ocean City. Ocean City passes ordinance giving police more options when dealing with unruly juveniles OCEAN CITY After a pledge of more cooperation between Cape May County and its municipaliti He said the city will let teens and their parents know that the beach, Boardwalk and other public areas will no longer be open to mass gatherings that include alcohol consumption and other infractions of the law. I want to support the men and women of our police department, Gillian said. They have been doing everything they can within the law to address this situation, and I want to give them the tools to get the job done. Levchuk said the teens were only a problem for a few hours out of an excellent weekend, but said Ocean City has lost patience with the gatherings and with the rowdy behavior. The point I want to get across is Ocean City is overwhelmingly a safe town. Its a wholesome town. Its a town for families. It is not a party-animal-for-teenagers-style town, he said. It you went to the 10th or 11th Street beaches this weekend, or to other areas, or to the Wawa, thats what you would think this town has become. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) Saudi Arabia is targeting to hire about one million Filipino skilled workers in 18 to 24 months, Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople said on Tuesday. During a briefing, Ople bared that the Philippine government had discussions with the private sector in Saudi Arabia for possible mass hiring. I see exciting times ahead for our Filipino workers and also for our partners overseas. When we were in Saudi Arabia, we are exploring the possibility of a special hiring program to address the labor needs of Saudi Arabia, she said. The official noted the key sectors that are in need of Filipino talent include hotels and restaurants, construction, and information and technology. We in the department will have to look at, have a special hiring program that would accommodate their needs while also scaling up our skills training and opportunities for job internships so that may (there is a) continued sustainability for our own needs and our needs of our external partners, Ople said. Officials from the Philippines and Saudi Arabia are expected to meet in June to finalize the massive hiring program. Aside from Saudi Arabia, the government is also in talks with other countries about job opportunities for Filipinos, including the United Arab Emirates, Austria, Guam, Portugal, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Canada. CNN Philippines Correspondent Tristan Nodalo contributed to this report. Scientists have decoded how injections from Botox drug, majorly used to smoothen wrinkles and reverse ageing, are able to breach brain cells, leading to paralysis or even death. The injectable drug Botox was originally developed to treat people with the eye condition strabismus, but was quickly found to alleviate migraine, chronic pain, and spasticity disorders. Currently, its regularly used in plastic surgeries and is commonly known as a cosmetic treatment to smooth wrinkles. The Botulinum neurotoxins used in Botox are a highly poisonous substance produced by bacteria Clostridium Botulinum. The toxin disrupts communication between neurons, leading to muscle paralysis. While in small, this therapeutic doses can ease muscle spasms, treat migraines or, reduce wrinkles, high doses can cause botulism -- a potentially fatal disease with few treatments. Researchers from The University of Queensland (UQ) discovered the specific molecular mechanism by which the highly deadly Botulinum Neurotoxin type-A, enters neurons. We used super-resolution microscopy to show that a receptor called Synaptotagmin 1 binds to two other previously known Clostridial Neurotoxin receptors to form a tiny complex that sits on the plasma membrane of neurons, said Professor Frederic Meunier at UQs Queensland Brain Institute. The toxin hijacks this complex and enters the synaptic vesicles which store neurotransmitters critical to communication between neurons. Botox then interrupts the communication between nerves and muscle cells, causing paralysis. The research, published in The EMBO Journal, can help block interactions between any two of the three receptors to stop the deadly toxins from getting into neurons, Meunier said. IANS Regular exercise cuts the Parkinsons risk in women Women engaging in regular exercise such as cycling, walking, gardening, cleaning and participating in sports may have about 25 per cent lower risk of developing Parkinsons disease, suggests a study. The study, published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, does not prove that exercise lowers the risk of developing Parkinsons disease. It only shows an association.Exercise is a low-cost way to improve health overall, so our study sought to determine if it may be linked to a lower risk of developing Parkinsons disease, a debilitating disease that has no cure, said study author Alexis Elbaz, of the Inserm Research Center in Paris, France. IANS The anti-narcotic team have detained three people after recovering 15 kg 450 grammes of marijuana worth Rs 4 lakhs from Supe village. The drug enforcement team took this move on Sunday. The accused has been identified as Vikas Rohidas Badale (age 27 Talegaon AMIDC), Shivaji Vasant Bhosale (age 36 Karanjaviheere), Laxman Nivrithi Kumbhar (age 37 Amboli). A case has been registered against the three accused and one unknown person from Vishakapatnam under sections 8 (c), 20 (b)(ii)(b) and 29 of the NDPS act. According to the police, the anti-narcotics squad received information that three people were allegedly coming to sell ganja in front of Muktai Mandir. Accordingly, the police laid a trap and detained the three accused. Marijuana weighing 10 kg 86 grams worth Rs 2 lakh 52 thousand 150 and were seized from Vikas and Shivaji, while 5 kg 364 grams cannabis worth Rs 1 lakh 34 thousand and 5 kg 364 grams worth Rs 3 lakh 86 thousand 250 were seized from Laxman. Laxman bought the drugs from Vikas and Shivaji, while Vikas and Shivaji admitted that they bought it from a fourth accomplice in Visakhapatnam. The police have seized marijuana of total worth Rs 4 lakh 1 thousand 250 rupees from all the three accused. The Mahalunge police are further investigating the case. A motorcyclist died Monday afternoon in a crash in DeWitt. It occurred at 2 p.m. in the 2600 block of 225th Street, according to the Clinton County Sheriff's Office. When they arrived, deputies found the driver and motorcycle in a ditch alongside the roadway. Officials later pronounced the rider, whose identity was not released, dead at the hospital. The investigation of the crash continues, with the sheriff's office and the Iowa State Patrol participating. The DeWitt Fire Department, Genesis Ambulance Service and Iowa State Patrol assisted deputies at the scene, the sheriff's office said. 4:44 p.m. The city sent a press release around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday saying another operation had been done in portions of building which were determined to be at acceptable risk for emergency response. The crews did not find any people, but did rescue several pets. "The stability of the building continues to degrade," the release said. "The recovery of any unaccounted for individuals remains the priority of the City as operational planning progresses." City official said earlier on Tuesday that five residents were still unaccounted for, with two believed to be in the building. 3:01 p.m. The Scott County Humane Society said around 3 p.m. Tuesday that all of the pets they had been told were in the building are now out. Owners of six cats, two snakes and a lizard had contacted the society, which then helped Davenport firefighters with bringing the animals out of the building. The society said that all of the animals seemed to be doing well on first appearance. 2:21 p.m. Firefighters have pulled two more animals out of apartments so far, entering and taking them out through an open window. pic.twitter.com/RKzUlRs6MG Brooklyn Draisey (@BrooklynDraisey) May 30, 2023 Crews are using a fire department bucket truck as part of the effort to rescue pets which were trapped in the building. A sweep for people in the partially collapsed building is underway. Another cat has been rescued and crews have headed up with another carrier. 1:18 p.m. Crews have started removing pets from the building, including two cats from the second floor. The owners have been contacted, said Celina Rippel with the Humane Society. 12:33 p.m. The Scott County Humane Society has carriers and cages set up on site to receive any animals that are found, Executive Director Erika Gunn said. Six cats, two snakes and a lizard are reported to still be in the building, and the Humane Society said it had passed along the unit numbers to the fire departments, she said. The Humane Society will not be entering the building but will be ready to help with the animals. They will contact the animal owners to get them the information. So far, one dog which was found on Sunday was reunited. Animals they do not know an owner for will be taken to the shelter while the society tries to contact the owner. 12:05 p.m. The press conference has wrapped up. Reporters will be working on a story on what was said. 11:47 a.m. The city is working with engineering firm Shive Hattery. Engineer Larry Sandhaas said they are working on a 3D model to figure out how to go about all the demolition. "The debris pile is helping to hold the building up," he said. Sandhaas said there will be further collapsing. "This building is going to collapse," he said three times. Matson says the plan was to begin bringing in equipment today. NOT demo the building today. He says there was never a set day for the action. pic.twitter.com/3oK1GdFqWg Gretchen Teske (@peskyteske) May 30, 2023 11:20 a.m. Two Iowa State Patrol officers have joined Davenport police officers at the protest. A second fence has been added and a fire truck is still on scene. At the press conference, Mayor Mike Matson said the city is consulting with the state on an investigation into the collapse. He credited first responders and said that the plan is to set up for demolition today but that the actual timing of the physical demolition is not determined. Mayor Matson: An investigation is under way. pic.twitter.com/GQeidXCcpv Gretchen Teske (@peskyteske) May 30, 2023 10:58 a.m. The press conference has started. We are livestreaming on the QC Times Facebook page. Mayor Mike Matson said that there are five people unaccounted for, including two believed to be inside the building. The police department met with families Monday night. Police chief Jeffery Bladel said there is a "firm belief" the two people are inside the building. Matson says he does not know how Lisa Brooks, who was rescued Monday evening, was missed in the initial search. City officials said on Monday morning that they did not believe there were any people still in the building. Brooks was rescued around 12 hours later. Ryan Hitchcock, one of the individuals believed to be in the building, his cousin Amy is currently speaking. She said city did speak with them and that they have a plan. Believes he did not survive. Grace Kinnicutt (@GKinnicutt) May 30, 2023 Amy Anderson is the cousin of Ryan Hitchcock, one of the men believed to still be inside the building. She spoke at the press conference, saying the city will handle this and that she is "mortified" by the protests. She believes her cousins has died and wants the building to come down so his body can be recovered. "It is an absolute no win situation, but it is the best plan of attack," she said. She later added that she is not 100% behind the city, but that her main concern is that Hitchcock is respected. Assistant Davenport Fire Chief Jim Morris said the building is getting worse and that the fire department has rescue teams on site working on a plan. The structural engineer has determined the rescuers cannot go into the debris pile, Morris said. Structural engineer currently talking, saying building continues to worsen and that it was not built for modern day. It was built in 1914 as the Davenport Hotel. Said the brick is holding the steel and the steel hold the bricks, and once one goes, it all goes. Grace Kinnicutt (@GKinnicutt) May 30, 2023 The engineers has said that the building, built in 1914, continues to worsen and that the rubble pile is helping keep the building stable. The fire department wants to go back in but has to do so in a safe way, Morris said. "There's a lot of things that we have to factor," he said. 10:55 a.m. Police have moved behind the fence set up around the site of the collapse, as the protest continues. The press conference is expected to start any time, it was scheduled for 10:00 a.m. and then pushed back to 10:30. Press are waiting on city officials. The presser was originally set to begin at 10am. pic.twitter.com/BxzPfOksVC Gretchen Teske (@peskyteske) May 30, 2023 10:25 a.m. A fire truck is now on scene as well, with protestors and police still present at the site. Protestors have started chanting "search and rescue." The city has a press conference planned for 10:30 a.m. at the police department. The collapsed building, "The Davenport" at 324 Main Street, less than a block from City Hall and the police station. There was a drone flying close to the building on the east side as well. The building, which has a total of 84 residential and retail units, partially collapsed Sunday afternoon. At least nine people have been rescued so far but protestors say there are still at least two residents missing, Branden Colvin and Ryan Hitchcock. The crowd has shifted towards City Hall as the press conference nears. People are yelling "Where's Mike? Where's the mayor?" pic.twitter.com/9mcO90uimU Sarah Watson (@K_5mydearwatson) May 30, 2023 9:25 a.m. The city has announced the press conference will now be at 10:30 a.m. The city plans to live stream to its Facebook page. The City of Davenport will host a press conference at 10 am. I will be there to tweet, but please refer to the city/pds Facebook pages for the live stream. pic.twitter.com/Thih7HlXAj Gretchen Teske (@peskyteske) May 30, 2023 9:00 a.m. There were around 300 protestors by around 9 a.m. Tuesday, urging the city to do more searching before demolishing the building. One of the protestors, Sally Ellis, 78, of Davenport, said the city should go through the pile brick by brick. "It was absolutely ridiculous," she said. A city of Davenport's size should be doing more, Ellis said. She compared the situation to building collapses in Miami and Turkey. "It isn't' right, I can't believe this mayor," she said. Jonnie Woods is Branden Colvin's aunt. She believes Colvin is still in the building and has been calling for the demolition to be held off. Brandon Colvins aunt is pleading for officials to find her nephew. Its a matter of life and death. pic.twitter.com/C5l0sMLtBe Gretchen Teske (@peskyteske) May 30, 2023 "It's a matter of life and death," she said Tuesday morning. "I'm going to show up as long as I can." Traffic was being rerouted, with some of the protestors facing the traffic. There were around 300 protestors on scene around 9 a.m. Police were also present, keeping protestors back from the fence surrounding the building. Some roads in the area, including 4th Street between Main and Harrison, are closed. A city press conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. Photos: Davenport apartment collapse day 2 Elizabeth Pruitt came to Davenport to start a career. Now she's starting over. A photography intern for the Quad-City Times/Dispatch-Argus, Pruitt was looking forward to spending her summer in Iowa. She graduated from the University of Missouri three weeks prior and picked out what she thought was a nice apartment in downtown Davenport. Less than 24 hours after she moved in, part of her apartment building at 324 Main St. crashed to the ground. Originally from Lebanon, Missouri, Pruitt found the apartment online. She heard that downtown Davenport apartments were being built and refurbished, and she felt reassured after seeing the listing. "The pictures online of the apartment looked amazing," she said. Pruitt set up a video call with someone from the apartment company, but there was a twist. She applied for an apartment on the third floor, but the agent was showing her a different unit. She brushed it off and didn't think anything more of it until she moved in on Saturday to Apartment 201. "The pictures online were not my apartment. The video call was not my apartment," she said. "So I had not officially seen my apartment until I moved in on Saturday, the 27th." It felt strange but not strange enough to walk away. Instead, she was focused on making sure she had everything she needed since she would be so far from home. In college, she was two hours away. Davenport is three times the distance. "Moving to a different state was a little bit more emotional for me because I have barely been out of the state," she said. "I just went out of the country in January for the very first time." Saturday morning her family packed up all of her belongings to make the six-hour drive to Davenport. On the way, her mom's car broke down the first sign of trouble. They made it to Davenport at about 5 p.m. Her initial reaction to seeing the building was that nothing appeared unusual. It looked like other historic downtown apartment buildings. "It seemed fine. Looking at downtown, it's very similar to downtown St. Louis, and I'm used to that," Pruitt said. "The building didn't have any outside, visual problems." But there was one early problem she had no way to get inside. For an hour, Pruitt and her grandmother sat in the car, waiting for property management to arrive. Seeing the amount of people walking near the building started to raise a concern about the safety of the area, but nothing too sinister. When the management-office worker let her in, Pruitt expected the lobby to look similar to the photos she had seen: brand new, clean and updated. But that wasn't the case. "The first thing I notice when I walk in the building is how gross it is, how unclean it is. And I don't mean it hasn't been cleaned in a month. It truly seems like it hasn't been cleaned in years," she said. In the center of the lobby was a fountain that was covered in layers of grime. The floor had mysterious stains and the lighting was dim. She instantly got the impression the building was not well kept. By midnight, Pruitt and her family were bringing in all of her belongings. Of the two elevators in the building, only one worked. And that wasn't the only problem. "The elevator has carpet, and it's disgusting. The entire elevator I felt dirty in," she said. "You could tell it was damaged. There were stains, and there was trash in the corner room where the elevator is." Despite the bad initial reaction, Pruitt decided to see it through. When she got to the second floor, she noticed all doors had a silver knocker on them, except hers. And her door was missing something else, too. "I didn't notice it at first, but my door doesn't have a working peep hole. There's a hole in the door where it should be, and they've covered it on the apartment side of the door," she said. "It seems like they put a layer of mesh fabric and painted over it." Next, she tried to open the door, but it was stuck. The employee with her helped pushed the door open enough to allow them both to squeeze through. Once inside, they found the accordion doors from the hall closet were blocking the door. The employee had to break the closet door in order to open the front door. The other closet door was not on its track but resting against the wall. Pruitt was promised maintenance would fix it on Tuesday. "So then we go through, and I notice that the floors boards, wood vinyl, are curling up and you can see the dirt on the floor," she said. "But there were new appliances, the bedroom was pretty big and the bathroom (fixtures) were new." Further into the apartment, she noticed she had four windows from which she could see the Davenport Public Library. But, there were no screens in any windows, and she wasn't sure they would open. She didn't try but was told they would be fixed, too. Pruitt was gritting her teeth and bearing it, but her family was not impressed. Her mom encouraged her and her cat, Lulu, to move back home. "I think I was also kind of feeling that way," she said. By Sunday, the feeling intensified. Pruitt discovered the deadbolt on her apartment door was loose and there was a 1-inch gap at the bottom of the door. She bought a draft guard and security bar as precautions. Back downstairs, she discovered the building was not as secure as she was told. While the front door required a key fob to open, an alley door had been propped open. Another door that was to separate the business and residential units also was unlocked. By late Sunday afternoon, Pruitt's family headed back to Missouri, and she started to unpack. At about 3:30 p.m., with all of her belongings safely inside, she said goodbye to her cat and left. "I unpacked everything before I left to go to Target to get a few things and to Hy-Vee for groceries," she said. At about 7 p.m., she was coming down Harrison Street when she saw police lights. Initially, she figured something minor happened, considering she was in downtown. Eventually she was able to make her way to a parking lot and noticed crowds of people gathering near 4th and Harrison, but she couldn't tell what was going on. As she rounded the corner, though, she saw what everyone was looking at. The middle of the building, on the side opposite her new apartment, had collapsed to the ground. "I said, 'That's my building.' And I just break down. I rushed to the cop that's near me, and I'm trying to get information and he doesn't tell my anything. He just tells me a building collapsed," she said. "I tell him, 'That's my apartment. My stuff's inside. My cat's inside.' And he just says, 'Well I can't let you in. Nobody's going in.'" A bystander tried to console her as Pruitt called her mom. "I'm just yelling at them, 'Look at the phone! Look at the phone!' " she said of sending photos of the fallen building to her family on the road. They turned around and headed back for Davenport. Pruitt made her way to St. Anthony's Church, where the Red Cross set up a triage center. They took her name, phone number and offered her food and water. New co-workers called and took her to one of their apartments. At about 11:30 p.m., her family was back. Reality was setting in. "I didn't care about my stuff. I only cared about my cat," Pruitt said. "I was still in shock. I think I'm still kind of in shock." Monday afternoon, Pruitt and her family went back downtown. Not much had changed on the front of the building, which faces Main Street. The curtains she put up had fallen, and she could see the box of new pots and pans she'd left on a table. After two hours of looking, there was no sign of Lulu the cat. Pruitt said she began to accept that she might never see her again. She wasn't sure she wanted to stay. "I was fully contemplating on whether or not I should go home," she said. But she instead went for a tour of the newsroom at the Quad-City Times. She met new co-workers, saw her workspace and the layout and felt better about sticking around. "After the tour, I liked it here. I think I'll do well here," she said. "Then we went and toured apartments yesterday, and I think that's what solidified it." Pruitt decided she would try to move forward without any of her belongings. Her clothes, utensils, trinkets she picked up from traveling, laptop, furniture nearly every item she owned was gone. No one is allowed back in the building. On Tuesday, another turn of events: Pets were being rescued from the partially collapsed building. The same new co-worker who looked out for her after the collapse now had news on Lulu. A text confirmation from the Scott County Humane Society followed within minutes. "All I read was, 'We have Lulu,' and I cried," Pruitt said. Wednesday morning, she continued to process the events of the past several days as she started her photo-journalism internship. Knowing she won't get her things back is still unsettling, but the safety of others is her chief concern. "I still think it's good that they're going to tear it down because it is structurally unsafe, obviously, but there are people in there," Pruitt said. "My stuff is just stuff. There are memories with it, but most of that I can get back." Demolition of The Davenport apartment building is scheduled to begin Tuesday morning, Sarah Ott, chief strategy officer for the city of Davenport, said in a news release Monday. Ott said that at about 9:45 a.m. Monday, the Davenport Fire Department transitioned to a recovery operation at 324 Main Street and turned control of the site over to the Davenport Development and Neighborhood Services Department. The owner of the property has been served with a notice and order for demolition of the property, she said. Photos: Davenport apartment collapse day 2 Ott said the property was being secured by a contractor on site, and demolition is expected to begin in the morning. She added that because of the unstable condition of the property, and in the interest of public safety, residents will not be allowed back into the building. Crews were on site Monday dismantling stop lights and street lights in preparation for demolition. Andrew Wold, the owner of Davenport Hotel LLC that owns and operates The Davenport apartment building, sent a statement saying that, "We are saddened by this tragic event and we are thankful that it appears no one was killed. "We will continue to assist the city and the displaced residents in any way we can," Wold said. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation on Monday in response to the collapsed building. The proclamation opens up two funding programs. Iowa Individual Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level and are available for car repairs, replacing clothes or food and temporary housing expenses. Applications and instructions are available at the Iowa Department of Human Services website. The Disaster Case Management Program addresses serious needs related to disaster hardship, injury, or adverse conditions. Disaster case managers work with clients to create a disaster recovery plan and provide guidance advice, and referral for services. Contact Community Action of Eastern Iowa for more information. Residents who have been displaced can receive assistance through the Red Cross and Salvation Army. Contact information is below: Red Cross at 1-800-REDCROSS Salvation Army, 100 Kirkwood Blvd., 563-324-4808. Community members wishing to make donations to those in need can do so through the Quad Cities Community Foundation or through the Salvation Army. The Quad Cities Community Foundation has opened the Quad Cities Disaster Recovery fund to assist residents who have been displaced. Those wishing to donate to the fund can do so at www.qccommunityfoundation.org/qcdisasterrecovery The Davenport Salvation Army will assist in collection of donations for residents who have been displaced. Donations may be dropped off at 4001 N. Brady St. Photos: Emergency Crews Respond to Partial Building Collapse in downtown Davenport The apartment building at 324 Main St. is in "imminent danger of collapse" city officials said late Monday night. Police cleared 4th Street from Main Street to Harrison Street, citing safety concerns, despite protests from onlookers, who worried the public may be too far away to spot a person in need of rescue. City staff were setting up more fencing Monday night to keep the area clear. The building partially collapsed on Sunday, leaving six floors in the west-facing side of the building exposed to the open air. A pile of debris was left at the bottom. So far, nine people have been rescued, including a woman from a fourth story window more than 24 hours after the building collapse. It is the opinion of the structural engineer that the debris pile is currently contributing to the stability of the building and that removal could jeopardize or accelerate the inevitable collapse of the building, the news release said. Building officials are working with Valley Construction on a plan to safely dismantle and demolish the remaining structure. Previously, Sarah Ott, Davenports chief strategy officer had written in a news release that the property was ordered to be demolished, which she said was "expected to commence" beginning Tuesday. The updated release indicated no updated timeline for demolition. Family members of Brooks and onlookers watching her be rescued questioned the plans for demolition, wondering if more people are still in the building. But city officials called demolition a "necessity," and said officials were still working out a plan to take apart the building. "With the current structure in imminent danger of collapse, the necessity to demolish this building stems specifically from our desire to maintain as much safety for the surrounding areas as possible," said Rich Oswald, the Davenport development and neighborhood services director. However, there are unaccounted individuals that were residents of the property, according to the city news release, and the Police Department has been working to get in touch them, including contacting the families of the people who are missing. According to the release, the fire department assisted "more than a dozen individuals" who'd left the building on their own. The city estimates more than 150 emergency workers responded to the collapse. One group was Iowa Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue Team, which the city said used thermal imagining, drones, and a team of service dogs to attempt to locate people in the building. After extracting one person Sunday night with injuries, the city said "no confirmed viable signs of life were noted" and that after 24 hours, crews "were unable to find any victims in need of rescue." But just over 24 hours after the collapse, Lisa Brooks called her daughter from the fourth floor and firefighters rescued her with the use of a ladder bucket to cheers from onlookers and worried family members. The city plans to hold a press conference at 10 a.m. Tuesday. This situation is devastating to the residents of this building and also to our community, said Mayor Mike Matson. My heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their home and possessions. My prayers are with the families of those who remain unaccounted for and for a swift recovery for those who were injured. Photos: Davenport apartment collapse day 2 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) Voting 16-2, the Senate junked Minority Leader Aquilino Koko Pimentels appeal to refer the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) bill to another committee for further scrutiny. During Tuesdays plenary session, Pimentel said his colleagues made a mistake of putting the discussions on the Senate Bill 2020 or the MIF bill under the Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies. He then urged senators to correct the procedural error by referring the bill to the Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises, explaining that the primary intention of the proposed measure is to create a corporate body. The proper committee should have been the committee on GOCCs (government-owned and controlled corporations), not banks. We have to correct this as process is as important as substance. The primary intention is to create a corporate body, not matters relating to banks or financial constitutions, Pimentel stressed. After his two-hour-long "turno en contra" speech, Pimentel made the motion. Majority Leader Joel Villanueva immediately objected. Senator Francis Escudero also took to the stand to explain that Pimentels motion is no longer possible since the deadline to contest the measure's referral to the plenary has passed. The period within which to ask for a consideration of the decision of plenary has long passed. Maliwanag ang rules na kapag lumipas ang 24 hours matapos mapagpasyahan ng plenaryo para makahingi ng pagpapalit ng desisyong yun, hindi na pwede gawin, Escudero said. [Translation: The rules are clear that when 24 hours have passed after the plenary has asked for appeals, it can no longer be done.] Pimentel asserted that he is submitting a fresh motion to send the bill back to the committee level and not a motion for reconsideration. "This is not a motion for consideration because when we first tackle it on the floor, it is theoretical. Now we see the bill before us, Pimentel said. Only Pimentel and Senator Risa Hontiveros of the minority block voted in favor of referring the MIF bill to another committee, a move that would delay its approval. The creation of Maharlika Fund bill outlives us We must carefully assess the potential risks and weigh them against perceived benefits before committing to such drastic measure, Hontiveros said. The controversial measure is poised for approval this week with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. certifying its passage at the Senate as urgent. Marcos certification of urgency unconstitutional Pimentel also questioned the presidents declaration that it is urgent for the Senate to pass the MIF bill, which is considered a priority measure of the Marcos administration. Marcos issued the same certification for the House version of the bill in December, resulting in its swift approval. This has been a much-abused power by the Office of the President. Here we are again, placing a presidential certification of necessity or urgency when there is no public calamity or urgency before our eyes, the senator said. Marcos said inflationary pressures, unstable prices of fuel products, and interest hikes drive the need for a sustainable national investment fund that would accelerate the implementation of many major projects to boost economic growth. House waiting for Senate version of MIF bill With Congress set to adjourn this week, the House of Representatives is still waiting for the Senate to pass its version of the MIF bill. Were still awaiting. We have not yet received, but were very much eager. If the Senate can finish it today If theres a need for a bicam (bicameral report), then we can do it tomorrow and pass it, ratify before we go on sine die adjournment, House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe said. Dalipe said the House aims to adjourn session on Wednesday, but he said the schedule will also depend on the developments at the Senate. The legislative calendar sets the final day of session on Friday, June 2. CNN Philippines' correspondents Eimor Santos and Xianne Arcangel contributed to this story. South Dakotans have the opportunity to voice their opinions on legislative term limits ahead of a potential constitutional amendment on the 2024 ballot. State Sen. Brent Hoffman (R-Dist. 9) is proposing a lifetime limit of sixteen years in the State Legislature eight in the House and eight in the Senate a distinct shift from the current rules, which allow for an unlimited number of years if the legislator changes chambers. Hoffman told the Journal Friday his constituents dont like the flexibility of the current rules. The plain truth is, we don't really have genuine systemic term limits; they're more like term suggestions, he said. You can serve eight years and you can go on the other side and serve eight years, and go to the other one serve another eight yearsgo to the other one serve eight yearstake a break, serve two years; get appointed to a cabinet position, serve four morethere is no limit. It's indefinite. Hoffman attempted to pass term limits as legislation during the last session with Senate Joint Resolution 504 dying in the Senate Affairs Committee by an eight-to-one vote in February. The voters would pass term limits if it was on the ballot, he said, but history shows it would never work coming out of a legislature. If we believe strongly in elections, let's have one. Let's have an election to decide whether the people want term limits or not, Hoffman said. If we do, it will win, because every single time in every state when term limits have been on the ballot, it has always worked. But the actual length of the term two years appears to be a bigger concern for some state legislators. Running for office every other year is like post traumatic stress, Duhamel said. It's expensive. It's hard. And a lot of times when people are that close to an election, they don't make the best decisions. State Rep. Becky Drury (R-Dist. 32) echoed Duhamels sentiment and said shed be more likely to support an initiative like Hoffmans if it included longer terms of service. Hoffman said he wouldnt be taking up the length of service issue, because he believes citizens wont support longer terms until term limits are shored up. Length of term aside, Hoffman addressed other criticisms, including the belief by some that term limits weaken the legislature, term limits give power to the governor, or term limits are unnecessary because citizens choose with their votes. In my opinion, there's only one thing that weakens a legislature, and that's weak individual legislators, he said. Ceding additional power to the governor would have to be an active choice by the legislators, Hoffman explained, and just because legislators are new, doesnt mean they are any less powerful. Duhamel countered that point and said shes finishing her fourth year now and really just getting her legs under her. The institutional knowledge that these politicians bring is something only time can develop. The first year, you don't know where the bathroom is, she said. But as you get some time, you start to figure [it] out. You think you've had great success when you get a bill out of the house that you're serving in, but you gotta get it out of the other house and get the governors signature. It just takes a long time to get the relationships. Voters will set term limits with their votes, Duhamel said, making term limits somewhat unnecessary in her opinion. Hoffman disagreed, calling it an uneven playing field. How is that working out? The reality is, its clearly and obviously not a level playing field, he said. All the [Political Action Committee] money [and] all the resources go to the incumbents, and rarely does a non-incumbent win election. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley released a draft ballot explanation on the potential constitutional amendment last week, as required by state law. The explanation is designed to provide an objective, clear and simple summary designed to educate voters. The public has until June 5 to comment on the ballot explanation. There are several methods to submit written comments: Comments may be submitted via mail or through hand delivery to the Attorney Generals Office at: Office of the Attorney General, Ballot Comment, 1302 E. Hwy. 14, Suite 1, Pierre, SD 57501. Comments that are hand delivered must be received by the close of business in Pierre, South Dakota, by June 5, 2023. Comments that are mailed must be received by the Attorney Generals Office before the deadline expires to be accepted. Comments may also be emailed to ATGballotcomments@state.sd.us by June 5, 2023. Comments should be clearly expressed in the body of the email. The Attorney Generals Office will not open attachments in an effort to prevent malware or other digital threats. Please include a name and contact information when submitting a comment. The title of the comment must be included in the subject line of the email. In order to qualify for the 2024 ballot, the draft amendment would require 35,017 valid signatures on the petition. If it qualifies and is approved by South Dakota voters, the new rule would go into effect on July 1, 2025. (Editors Note: a previous version of this story incorrectly stated Hoffmans proposal as a lifetime of eight years. Hoffmans proposal is eight years in each chamber, for a total of 16 years as the limit.) A man died Tuesday following a police shooting on the 100 block of East Signal Drive that morning. Police were called to the area Tuesday by a person who could not get two male family members to leave their home, police said. The caller also claimed the two had a no contact order in place. When police arrived at about 11 a.m., one of the two men ran from police, police chief Don Hedrick said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon. As police were chasing the man, they told him he was under arrest and ordered him to stop and take his hands out of his pockets, according to Hedrick. After rounding a corner, Hedrick said the man was pointing a gun at the residence before he turned the gun towards the pursuing officer. Police shot the man after telling him to drop the gun, Hedrick said. The man dropped the gun and fell to the ground. Soon after a separate injured man came out of the residence. Hedrick could not say how the man was injured or his relationship to the events. Both men were treated by officers and first responders. The man shot by police was alive at the time and taken to the hospital, police said. Following the press conference, RCPD spokesperson Brendyn Medina could not provide the condition of the man shot by police. He said the man was alive after transport but any other information would have to come from South Dakotas Division of Criminal Investigation. In a press release Tuesday evening, the South Dakota Attorney General's Office said they were investigating the shooting at the request of the Rapid City Police Department and that one of the two men had died. "One person has died as a result of their injuries and another person was injured. The officer was not injured," the release said. The release does not make clear whether or not the man who died was the same that allegedly pointed the gun at police. It also did not clarify how the other man was injured or his relationship to the shooting. Hedrick said the man shot by police was allegedly known to have gang affiliations and had five active warrants out for his arrest. Hedrick also lamented what he described as a disturbing trend of people turning weapons on police in the city. This marks three circumstances this year where weve had individuals pull deadly weapons on police officers, Hedrick said. Its a disturbing trend. We cant be okay with that as a community. We cant be okay with individuals pointing deadly weapons at officers responding during calls for service. And I, for one, am very thankful that the officers today are going home safely. Pennington County Sheriff Brian Mueller said a large presence from his office and highway patrol responded as part of their standard procedures. His agency secured the scene and DCI would be handling the investigation, he added. When we got on scene, we worked through things with the police department supervision, Mueller said. They relinquished the scene to the Pennington County Sheriffs Office and South Dakota Highway Patrol and Chief Hedrick reached out to the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and asked them to come in and do a third-party investigation, which is standard procedure for these types of incidents. According to the attorney general release a summary of the investigation and findings will be delivered to the AG's office and the Pennington County State's Attorney for a determination. That report is expected in 30 days. The 100 block of East Signal Drive was also the scene of a separate shooting Friday where a six-year-old boy was shot. The boy was seriously injured and taken to the hospital for treatment. After the shooting, police released a photo of the suspect and later identified him as Lyle Blue Legs III. Police did not have a reason to believe the two shootings were connected, Hedrick said. China has declined a request by the U.S. for a meeting between their defense chiefs at an annual security forum in Singapore this weekend, media reported on Monday, a new sign of strain between the powers. "Overnight, the PRC informed the U.S. that they have declined our early May invitation for Secretary Austin to meet with PRC Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu in Singapore," the Pentagon said in a statement to the Wall Street Journal, referring to China by the initials of its official name, the People's Republic of China. The Pentagon said it believed in open communication "to ensure that competition does not veer into conflict." Last week, White House spokesman John Kirby said there were discussions by the Defense Department to get talks going between Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart, who was named defense minister in March. The prospect of a meeting between them was being closely watched given regional security tensions and trade disputes that have derailed plans for re-engagement by the world's two largest economies. Last week, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao traded barbs on trade, investment and export policies in a meeting in Washington that marked the first U.S.-China cabinet-level exchange in months. Singapore-based security analyst Ian Storey said China's decision to shun Austin did not bode well. "At a time of rising U.S.-China tensions, General Li's refusal to meet his American counterpart will fray regional nerves even further," Storey said. Austin and Li will be in Singapore to attend the annual Shangri-la Dialogue that opens on Friday, an informal gathering of defense officials and analysts that also plays host to a string of side meetings. Both are expected to hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from around the region. Chinese officials have yet to explain Li's snub but some security analysts said Beijing's annoyance at U.S. sanctions against him was a possible reason. Li, who security scholars say is a veteran of the People's Liberation Army modernisation effort, has been under U.S. sanctions since 2018 over the purchase of combat aircraft and equipment from Russia's main arms exporter, Rosoboronexport. Hundreds of people attended the 67th annual Commonwealth's Memorial Day Ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial on Monday to honor those who gave their lives while serving the United States. "We're gathered here as one community, one commonwealth, one nation, to pause and remember the lives of the brave men and women who died ... so that we may live freely and proudly as Americans," Gov. Glenn Youngkin said during his keynote address. Gold Star families those whose loved ones died while in service were recognized for their sacrifices and for their importance to the military community. "This place, these hallowed grounds, are such an important and tangible connection that is broadened by our human connections with our Gold Star families, whose resilience and tremendous sacrifice is such an inspiration," said Maj. Gen. Timothy Williams, who is retiring as Adjutant General of Virginia on July 1. Chris Rawlings, a Marine who served from 2003 to 2008 and had two deployments in Iraq, attended the event to honor the fallen, including his friend Sgt. Forrest Dane Cauthorn, 22, who was killed in action in Iraq in 2007. Both graduated from Manchester High School in Midlothian, taking part in the JROTC program together. Rawlings observed the ceremony with his wife, Jessica, and their daughters, 4-year-old Scarlett and 1-year-old Harper. "I think it's important for young kids to understand what the holiday is all about," Rawlings said. "Sometimes, it can get lost in the barbecues and the celebrations of a three-day weekend. Memorial Day is about honoring those who've paid the ultimate sacrifice, and it's about a day of reflection and a day of remembrance." Veterans organizations placed memorial wreaths at the Shrine of Memory-20th Century before the playing of taps. The shrine shows the inscriptions of Virginians who died in wars during that period. "This is a solemn moment," said Craig Crenshaw, Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs. "When a service member signed up, he recognized, she recognized, the ultimate sacrifice could possibly occur. Again, ordinary people doing extraordinary things at extreme times." Thomas House, Central Virginia Chapter president of the Association of the United States Army and a Purple Heart recipient, said the veterans organizations play a big role in making sure those who sacrificed everything are not forgotten. "It's important to keep that memory going," House said. "It's like when your parents die, you keep your parents alive by remembering them." Two students were recognized as Marocchi Memorial Scholarship recipients during the ceremony: Jenny Calderon from York High School in York County and Edward McFall from Warwick High School in Newport News. Calderon is enrolling in the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Virginia, and McFall is headed to Virginia Tech to join the Navy ROTC. Youngkin, who earlier attended the Run to Remember race in Virginia Beach honoring SEAL Team 6 members killed in Afghanistan in 2011, asked attendees to continue to "preserve and protect and cherish" the country and its families while remembering the courage of those who fought for freedom. "We must ask ourselves: Can we as individuals, can we as Virginians, can we as Americans live up to their sacrifice?" he said. "The answer is that we must." A few dozen people sat on the lawn outside the Hanover County Board of Supervisors chambers ahead of its meeting Wednesday for a read-in to read and discuss books that are at risk of being removed from school libraries. The book banning debate in Virginia is reigniting, with book challenges from parents in Richmond-area school divisions and a Hanover School Board member who wants to remove 17 books from school libraries. Were not banning books. Were trying to clean things up a little bit, Cold Harbor District representative Steve Ikenberry said during a May 9 School Board meeting. He named 17 books he said should not be available in schools. About 29% of the book titles Ikenberry listed are about LGBTQ issues or center queer characters. An April report from PEN America, a national organization dedicated to protecting freedom of expression, shows that 26% of unique titles banned during the first half of the 2022-23 school year nationwide have LGBTQ characters or themes. Maybe not all of you will find these offensive. But I think you will find the majority of Hanover County citizens will find it offensive because it is, said Hanover School Board Chairman John Axselle III. Its not about politics. Its not about conservative versus liberal. Its none of that. Were not saying that. The books are more vivid than Playboy, he said. The list includes This Book is Gay, Juno Dawsons young adult nonfiction book about sexuality and gender, and George M. Johnsons All Boys Arent Blue, a series of personal essays about growing up Black and queer. The books have zero educational value or suitability, zero, none, Ikenberry said at the meeting. They are graphic. Some of them are graphic with pictures, and how to do things that should be only instructed by, in my opinion ... at home. The discussion about potentially removing books comes as the Hanover School Board considers a policy change in how it assesses the suitability of books in its school libraries. All Boys Arent Blue, which was the No. 2 most banned book last year according to the American Library Association, contains sexually graphic passages including language about receiving oral sex. This Book is Gay, which was the No. 10 most banned book last year according to the ALA, contains cartoon diagrams of bodies and provides information about how various sex acts are performed. Ikenberrys list of inappropriate books also includes The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, an American classic published in 1970 about an African American girl who grew up in the wake of the Great Depression; the book contains scenes of rape and incest. Morrisons work became a flashpoint in Virginias 2021 gubernatorial race. Glenn Youngkin, one week before he was elected, released an ad featuring Laura Murphy, a Fairfax County mother who in 2013 launched a campaign to persuade the local school board to ban Morrisons Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Beloved. She said at the time that her son, then a high school senior, had nightmares after reading a book assigned to him in his senior Advanced Placement English class. Murphys campaign made its way to the Virginia General Assembly, which passed two versions of a bill in 2016 and 2017 that would have given parents the right to opt their children out of books containing sexually explicit material. Then-Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, vetoed both bills. McAuliffe lost the 2021 election for governor to Youngkin. Youngkin is now working to hold GOP control of the House of Delegates and flip control of the state Senate in the November General Assembly elections. He released two ads Wednesday focused on his parents matter movement. One ad highlighted Virginia Democrats who have opposed the idea of giving parents a greater say in their childrens education. One ad showed McAuliffe at a 2021 debate saying, I dont think parents should be telling schools what they should teach a quote that became a turning point in the gubernatorial race. School libraries were a hot topic during this years General Assembly session with several related bills introduced. A bill that would have let parents bar their own children from access to school library books with graphic sexual content passed the Republican-controlled House, but died in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Legislation that would have required the state Department of Education to create model policies for how school divisions should regulate the selection and removal of books also died in the Senate. The state education department has no oversight of school library issues, and each local School Board sets its policies. Virginia State Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons said, These are local decisions that should be made based on family and community standards and engagement. Other books on Ikenberrys list include Looking for Alaska, a bestselling young adult novel by John Green, and Patricia McCormicks Sold, a story about a girl from Nepal who is sold into sex slavery in India. None of Ikenberrys colleagues at the meeting disagreed with his statements about the 17 books. In Henrico County, where parents have challenged three books since late 2021, the School Board voted this month to keep copies of Soman Chainanis fantasy novel The School for Good and Evil in middle and high school libraries. The Shady Grove Elementary School parent who challenged the book wrote in his or her request that the book has no redeeming qualities and promotes the normalization of violence, gore and sexualization. The parent, whose name was redacted on the form obtained through a public records request, noted drugs in the story and referenced a line about a toad puffing a cigar. The parents references to violence included quotes about a girl being thrown into an oven, a girl killing a beast and someone killing tadpoles. The Henrico Public Schools instructional materials review committee, in its recommendation to keep the book on shelves, wrote that empathy was the overarching theme of the novel, and that the violence parents point out in the novel is taken out of context. A parent in Hanover, Rachel Azurdia, challenged the book Valiant Ladies by Melissa Grey earlier this year, and the outcome is pending. In her request to have the book removed from schools, Azurdia wrote that the book promotes the lesbian lifestyle. Hanover Public Schools has been the epicenter of Virginias debate over the rights and treatment of LGBTQ students since 2021, with controversy surrounding its policies on what bathrooms transgender students are allowed to use. The Valiant Ladies review is on hold as the School Board considers revisions to its policy on school library books. The draft proposal, introduced at a board meeting this month, introduces two categories for requests to reconsider books challenges for pervasive vulgarity and challenges for controversial material. The phrase pervasive vulgarity is not defined in the draft policy. It mirrors language in a 1982 Supreme Court case opinion that states public schools can ban books that are pervasively vulgar, but they cannot remove books simply because they dislike the ideas contained in those books. By using vague language such as pervasive vulgarity, this kind of policy paves the way for a broad swath of books to be banned, said Kasey Meehan, director of PEN Americas Freedom to Read program. Under the proposed policy, any book challenged under the pervasive vulgarity category would be immediately removed from school libraries. Policies that mandate that any challenged books be removed from shelves immediately pending review violate procedural best practices from the National Coalition Against Censorship and the American Library Association, which state that a book should remain in circulation while undergoing a reconsideration process. Policies that remove books once challenged make it possible for a single parent or single organization in a district to enact a ban on any book simply by challenging it, Meehan said. Todd Gathje, an Ashland resident and a lobbyist for The Family Foundation, said the proposed draft policy is a step in the right direction as a means of protecting children from vulgar materials that ultimately impugn what parents may want to teach at home. We all need to step back and remember that under Virginia law, parents have the fundamental right to direct the education of their child, Gathje said in an interview. And if they feel in any way that their family values are being violated, then they have every right to challenge sexually explicit materials and ensure that its not available to their child. Gathje said he would also like to see the School Board introduce a reporting mechanism that notifies parents whenever their child checks out a book, so parents can ensure their children are not checking out sexually explicit materials. The Hanover School Board will revisit its new draft policy at its June meeting. A Central Middle School seventh-graders hopes of taking home the National Spelling Bee trophy were dashed Tuesday afternoon after she stumbled in the first round. Joy-Den Wilson, 13 of Charlotte County, competed against 230 competitors Tuesday afternoon after beating out 23 spellers in the regional bee hosted by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. After taking on some of the best in the region, Joy-Den set out to compete against a collection of the brightest students from across the county in the National Spelling Bees battle of words in Washington, D.C. Despite Joy-Dens valiant efforts and impressive spelling prowess, she was unable to advance further after misspelling pistou, a French word for a pea stew. Joy-Den mistakenly spelled the word pestou. Joy-Den offered a nod as the judges bell rang, signaling the end of her reign. The competition will go on as the remaining few continue on to the quarterfinals before a champion is crowned at the end of the week. 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Were gathered here as one community, one commonwealth, one nation, to pause and remember the lives of the brave men and women who died ... so that we may live freely and proudly as Americans, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said during his keynote address. Gold Star families those whose loved ones died while in service were recognized for their sacrifices and for their importance to the military community. This place, these hallowed grounds, are such an important and tangible connection that is broadened by our human connections with our Gold Star families, whose resilience and tremendous sacrifice is such an inspiration, said Maj. Gen. Timothy Williams, who is retiring as Adjutant General of Virginia on July 1. Chris Rawlings, a Marine who served from 2003 to 2008 and had two deployments in Iraq, attended the event to honor the fallen, including his friend Sgt. Forrest Dane Cauthorn, 22, who was killed in action in Iraq in 2007. Both graduated from Manchester High School in Midlothian, taking part in the JROTC program together. Rawlings observed the ceremony with his wife, Jessica, and their daughters, 4-year-old Scarlett and 1-year-old Harper. I think its important for young kids to understand what the holiday is all about, Rawlings said. Sometimes, it can get lost in the barbecues and the celebrations of a three-day weekend. Memorial Day is about honoring those whove paid the ultimate sacrifice, and its about a day of reflection and a day of remembrance. Veterans organizations placed memorial wreaths at the Shrine of Memory-20th Century before the playing of taps. The shrine shows the inscriptions of Virginians who died in wars during that period. This is a solemn moment, said Craig Crenshaw, Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs. When a service member signed up, he recognized, she recognized, the ultimate sacrifice could possibly occur. Again, ordinary people doing extraordinary things at extreme times. Thomas House, Central Virginia Chapter president of the Association of the United States Army and a Purple Heart recipient, said the veterans organizations play a big role in making sure those who sacrificed everything are not forgotten. Its important to keep that memory going, House said. Its like when your parents die, you keep your parents alive by remembering them. Two students were recognized as Marocchi Memorial Scholarship recipients during the ceremony: Jenny Calderon from York High School in York County and Edward McFall from Warwick High School in Newport News. Calderon is enrolling in the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Virginia, and McFall is headed to Virginia Tech to join the Navy ROTC. Youngkin, who earlier attended the Run to Remember race in Virginia Beach honoring SEAL Team 6 members killed in Afghanistan in 2011, asked attendees to continue to preserve and protect and cherish the country and its families while remembering the courage of those who fought for freedom. We must ask ourselves: Can we as individuals, can we as Virginians, can we as Americans live up to their sacrifice? he said. The answer is that we must. A little more than halfway through the early voting period for Virginias legislative primary elections the first to be conducted under newly drawn district lines hotly contested Democratic races in Petersburg and the Charlottesville area have drawn the most interest, according to state election data compiled by the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project. VPAP publishes regular updates to early vote totals for both the State Senate and the House of Delegates, with breakdowns between early in-person votes and mail-in absentee ballots, though no information on candidates for whom votes are cast is released until after the polls close on June 20. Democrats have submitted more than three times as many early votes approximately 33,600 in Senate races and 16,800 in House of Delegates elections than Republicans, who have cast roughly 8,800 Senate and 5,500 House votes so far. No primary in the state has had more votes cast early, either by mail or in person, than the race to determine the Democratic nominee in Senate District 11, which runs along Route 29 from the northern edge of Albemarle County to just outside of Lynchburg. Nearly 5,000 ballots had been cast in that race as of Tuesday morning. The winner of that race between Sen. Creigh Deeds and Del. Sally Hudson is expected to be a heavy favorite over a Republican opponent in Novembers general election. The race in the new Senate District 13, where former Del. Lashrecse Aird is looking to unseat Sen. Joe Morrissey, has also drawn significant interest, with 3,781 votes cast so far. Democratic primaries in and around Charlottesville are also the most voted-in House of Delegates races. Over 2,000 votes have been submitted in both House District 54, where a three-way race is underway between Bellamy Brown, Katrina Callsen and Dave Norris to represent the city of Charlottesville and part of Albemarle County, and House District 55, where Amy Laufer and Kellen Squire are facing off for the nomination. Early vote numbers have been smaller in Republican primaries. No GOP Senate race has drawn more than 2,000 votes, while the most heavily voted-in Republican House contests have not broken the 900-vote mark. The Republican contest that has seen the most early votes is in Chesterfield, where Glen Sturtevant Jr. and Tina Ramirez are looking to knock off Sen. Amanda Chase; 1,933 votes have been cast in that primary so far. Tuesday was the final day to register to vote for the June primaries. Registered voters can request mail-in absentee ballots until June 9, and in-person early votes can be cast until June 17. Brenton S. Halsey, a business trailblazer and co-founder of Richmond's James River Corp. and a civic leader dubbed "father of the Riverfront" for his key role in revitalizing the city's downtown shoreline, died Sunday at his Richmond home. He was 96. In 1969, Mr. Halsey co-founded James River Paper Co. later renamed James River Corp. and helped build the paper products firm into a Fortune 100 multinational corporation with 118 plants and 35,000 employees. According to the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, Mr. Halsey and Robert Williams "created a business that far surpassed their wildest expectations, an empire that grew and maintained its position as a world leader in the paper business until its merger with Fort Howard and the eventual move of its headquarters to Chicago, Illinois, in 1997 under the name of Fort James." "He was brilliant in his financial and growth strategy," said Lud Kimbrough, a family friend who worked for James River Corp. for 14 years. "But his impact and the reason that the company was successful was some of the leadership qualities that he communicated and insisted on throughout the company." As a civic leader, Mr. Halsey enlisted corporate partners in a cleanup of Richmond's downtown Riverfront, helping raise money to build the Canal Walk on Brown's Island and the Belle Isle pedestrian bridge. He participated in the redevelopment of the historic Tredegar Ironworks and helped bring about the establishment of the Civil War center there. In December 2011, an aluminum pedestrian bridge across the James River was dedicated in honor of Mr. Halsey, who was the founding chairman and longtime president of Richmond Riverfront Development Corp., one of the civic organizations that merged into Venture Richmond. Jack Berry, then the head of Venture Richmond, called Mr. Halsey "father of the Riverfront" for his efforts to develop the James' shoreline into a civic attraction. Venture Richmond General Counsel John W. Bates III said at the dedication: "Brent IS Richmond's Riverfront. His fingerprints and footprints are on every inch of it from Belle Isle to the Great Ship lock." Mr. Halsey said at the time that he and others had worked to bring the Riverfront "out of the dark ages," but he said there was more to do to realize the Riverfront "of our dreams." Mr. Halsey, a native of Newport News, received an engineering degree from the University of Virginia, then served in the U.S. Navy in the Korean War from 1951 to 1953 as a landing craft group commander. He was an engineer with Virginia-Carolina Chemical Co. from 1951 to 1953 before holding a succession of positions with Albemarle Paper Manufacturing Co. Ethyl Corp. was a subsidiary of Albemarle Paper Manufacturing. Mr. Halsey was president and general manager of Interstate Bag Co., a subsidiary of Ethyl Corp., from 1966 to 1969. In 1969, according to the Museum of History & Culture, Mr. Halsey and Williams, who had worked together at Albemarle Paper Manufacturing, purchased the assets of Ethyl Corp.'s Specialty Papers Division. They established corporate ethics to guide the new business, set about improving operations and embarked on a rapid series of acquisitions of larger companies and specialty paper divisions. Mr. Halsey became chairman and CEO, and Williams became president. The name of the business changed to James River Corp. in 1973. In time, it became one of the world's largest consumer tissue and paper products companies, with well-known brands such as Dixie Cups, Brawny paper towels and Quilted Northern bathroom tissue. In the fiscal year that ended April 30, 1989, the company earned $255 million on sales of more than $5.8 billion, making James River one of the world's largest paper companies, before a downturn in the paper industry in the 1990s. Mr. Halsey retired in 1992. Williams, who succeeded Mr. Halsey as chairman and CEO, retired in 1996. In October 1994, Mr. Halsey's son, Brenton S. Halsey Jr., 39, a vice president at the company, was shot and killed at his office near Philadelphia by a former company employee who then took his own life. Williams, co-founder of the business, died in 2016 at 86. Mr. Halsey recalled at the time that, when they set out on their joint business venture, it was risky but, as experienced paper company executives, "we both were very familiar with operations and market and thought we could improve it and make it profitable quickly." Mr. Halsey noted: "We were known in the industry for doing things a little differently. We believed strongly in employee ownership and participation." He added: "We were strong believers in ethical behavior, which we believed benefited a company instead of hurt it. That was an important part of our operation." At the time of his retirement, Mr. Halsey was president of the Richmond Riverfront Development Corp., vice president of the Virginia Historical Society and a trustee of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation at Monticello in Charlottesville and the Mariners' Museum in Newport News. Mr. Halsey later was among local business leaders who funded the statue of Jefferson that was unveiled in 2012 in the Virginia State Capitol's underground annex. "Brent Halsey was one of the finest of men, and one of the great board chairs of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello," said Leslie Greene Bowman, who recently stepped down after nearly 15 years as president of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. "He was a transformational civic leader, in large part because he cared deeply about history, really listened and solicited opinions that might differ from his own." In 2007, during the 45th annual Richmond Humanitarian Awards dinner, the Richmond chapter of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities recognized Mr. Halsey for service to the community. In addition to his business and civic pursuits, Mr. Halsey was a longtime avid and competitive sailor. "He was a giant: not just in business, and not just in civic service, but to his family," said Jim Rogers, an executive at James River Corp. who worked for Mr. Halsey for more than 20 years. "He handled adversity with such grace and set an example for all of us." Mr. Halsey's wife of 67 years, Elizabeth Lindsay Graham Halsey, died in December 2021 at 90. Mr. Halsey is survived by his children, Liza Halsey Perrin (Johnny), Kate Halsey Edris (Phil), Melanie Halsey Crittenden (Guy); and his daughter-in-law, Corell Luckhardt Halsey Moore (Thurston); 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. "He was obviously a very successful businessman," said Philip Halsey, one of Mr. Halsey's grandchildren. "But on top of that, he was just the most loving man, and he loved all of his children and grandkids." Mr. Halsey's funeral is at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 1, graveside at Hollywood Cemetery. A reception will follow at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. Thad Green (804) 649-6023 tgreen@timesdispatch.com @thadgreen on Twitter Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) A heated debate erupted in the Senate Tuesday midnight after Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) bill sponsor Senator Mark Villar blocked Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel's move to further question the proposed measure. After more than two hours of questioning focused on the Maharlika Investment Corp., its board of directors, and details on the implementation of the investment fund, Pimentel asked Senate President Migz Zubiri to suspend his period of interpellation and continue in the next session. "This is a good point in the measure to suspend the interpellation so we can start tomorrow on a new topic, which is now the fund. So tapos na tayo sa (Now we're done with) corporation, then we need to talk about the fund, which is being managed by the corporation," Pimentel said. "I object. I think we've debated this extensively and I've answered all the interpellations. And without prejudice to the amendments being proposed, I'd like to object and move to close interpellation," Villar said, cutting off Pimentel. Zubiri immediately backed Villar's objection. Zubiri told Pimentel the next session is for the senators' turno en contra (privilege speech), period of amendments, and the bill's possible approval on second and third reading. "Sayang, we're getting into the meat of the measure," Pimentel said, addressing Villar before proceeding to also object to the latter's move to stop the interpellation. RELATED: Pimentel: No one accountable if Maharlika fund fails Zubiri then started insisting that Villar, as the bill's sponsor, had control over the floor and had the right to deny answers to questions about the bill. Pimentel urged Zubiri to read out loud the Senate rules which state that Villar could refuse the move to extend the interpellation period. "The desire of the minority is just to be educated...The rule must be clearly governing the actual parliamentary. What is the section, Mr. President? And we will read it with you," Pimentel said. Zubiri read out a rule indicating that the bills sponsor can opt out of the interpellation, but Pimentel read the same rule, including sentences pointing out that the rule only applies to Senate debate and not for interpellation. Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva then requested to open the session to a vote and Zubiri agreed to divide the chamber. Before the vote, Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros offered a manifestation and pleaded with Villar to allow the minority to continue asking questions about the MIF bill. "There's at least one sovereign wealth fund elsewhere in the world, dinebate po nila (they debated it) for years. And here, we're not even asking for a year. We have just been hearing, interpellating, debating for some months," she said. Villar answered: "I think I've covered every square inch of this bill. This is the third week that I've opened myself up to all questions. To be fair to me, I really endeavored to answer to the best of my ability and now I'd like to exercise my right." He then reassured the minority that he would be willing to discuss the bill further in the period of amendments and said he "welcomes" the senators to propose changes. Before the Senate closed the session with a vote, Zubiri addressed the minority and said there are other pending priority bills and the Senate only wanted to take the MIF bill "off the table." Voting 2-11, the Senate declared Pimentel's motion to continue the inquiry on the MIF bill lost and closed the period of interpellation. Only Pimentel and Hontiveros voted in favor of the motion. Zubiri earlier said the Senate eyes the passage of the MIF bill before the Senate adjourns on June 2 for a two-week break. The ruling is the latest setback for Jimmy Lais legal defense in his National Security Law trial. The Hong Kong High Court has rejected a request by pro-democracy activist and newspaper publisher Jimmy Lai to terminate his upcoming trial under the citys so-called National Security Law (NSL), according to Reuters. Lai, a well-known figure in Hong Kongs media industry, has been fighting tirelessly for his freedom amid the challenging political climate. The trial, which centers on charges related to national security, has garnered significant attention both locally and internationally. Lai has been a vocal advocate for democracy and human rights in Hong Kong, drawing the admiration of many individuals around the world. Lais plea was unanimously rejected by Judges Esther Toh, Susana DAlmada Remedios, and Alex Lee, saying there was no reason to believe they would be biased, actually or apparently, against Lai, Reuters reported. The decision is the latest blow to Lais legal defense as the same court had recently rejected Lais request to add Kings Counsel Tim Owen, a veteran U.K. lawyer specializing in the rights of political prisoners, to his defense team. The Hong Konger, the Acton Institutes new award-winning documentary, tells the story of Jimmy Lais heroic struggle against authoritarian Beijing and its erosion of human rights in Hong Kong. Banned by TikTok, the film premiered worldwide at freejimmylai.com on April 18, 2023, and is available in full on YouTube here. What happened to Sally Gravelys former safe deposit box at Well Fargos Tanglewood branch? What was in it? Where are its contents? Those are a few of the outstanding questions being raised by her surviving brother, Archer Twig Gravely III. Wells Fargo Bank apparently doesnt know the answers, either. But a bank spokesman said theyre looking into the matter. Gravelys sister, a retired copywriter, was 70 when she passed away Dec. 30. Sally Gravely lived in Grandin Court and had held her checking account at that bank since long before it became a Wells Fargo branch. Her brother, whos retired from Cox Communications, was a signatory on her account. He had no trouble accessing her funds because he was listed on the account. But to get into her safe deposit box, Gravely needed Sallys key. That was hard to find. The search process started early in January, he said. For roughly a month, Gravely hunted fruitlessly. Then he informed personnel at the branch he had looked everywhere and couldnt locate the key. Bank personnel offered to have the lock drilled, but initially they gave him one or two runarounds, he said. Finally, Gravely said, on the third occasion he inquired about drilling, someone at the branch informed him that to begin that process, he needed permission from Wells Fargo corporate. To get that, he needed to fill out a formal request to Wells Fargo corporate. He didnt get a copy of that form when he finally completed and submitted it, he added. Ultimately, Wells Fargo corporate approved drilling the lock, Gravely told me. And sometime around mid-March, he got a call from the Tanglewood branch informing him a locksmith would be there at 8:30 a.m. the next day and he should be there too. Gravely said that on drilling day, he was at the branch on time. He entered the vault with a locksmith and two or three branch employees. There, they found the lock on Sallys safe deposit box already had been drilled, and the box inside was empty. Bank told him no records Gravely said at that point, the branch employees seemed to scatter. They didnt act shocked or surprised, he added. Gravely asked if they could find out who had drilled the box and when, which seems like a simple question. The branch rebuffed the question, he added, with one person there telling him the locksmith didnt keep such records. Instead, someone at the branch assisted him in filing a complaint with Wells Fargo corporate in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Hes been going back and forth with them over the safe deposit box ever since. The latest communication from Wells Fargo was May 12. That consisted of two separate letters, bearing the same date and typed signature, Micah R. According to the letters, Micahs job title is executive office case specialist in the banks Enterprise Complaints Management Office. One letter was addressed to Archer H. Gravely III (Twig Gravelys formal name). It said that in order to help him, Wells Fargo required probate documents, a court order, or completion of a document the letter termed a Small Estate Affidavit. The second letter was addressed to Representative of Sally A. Gravely. It stated, Currently we dont have authorization to speak with Archer H. Gravely III about this customers account. As a result we have closed the existing case as of the date of this letter. Twig Gravelys the administrator of Sally Gravelys estate. A possible interpretation of those two letters is that Wells Fargo is offering to help Gravely on one hand but telling him the case is closed on the other. Meanwhile, many questions remain unanswered such as the ones that launched this column. What happened to Sally Gravelys safe-deposit box? Where are its contents now? Nobody at the bank seems to have any clue, Gravely said. Aside from those questions, when was the box drilled? Didnt somebody from the bank have to order that? Who? Also, the locksmith had to be allowed into the vault so the drilling could occur. Which branch employee provided that escort? Typically, banks dont allow unaccompanied outsiders into their vaults. Gravely doesnt know what was in his sisters safe deposit box. But it was a small one, he noted. He assumes it contained family birth certificates, perhaps his own, maybe a life insurance policy held by Sally, and her will. Of the latter, I have no other copy, Gravely said. I dont think she had any bars of silver in there. Even if there was anything valuable, its unclear whether the bank is liable. Unlike checking and savings accounts, safe deposit box contents are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Gravely told me hes searched online and found many other news stories about Wells Fargo drilling open the wrong safe deposit boxes and/or missing contents. Thats true. I have been extremely patient Gravely also doesnt quite understand the two letters he received May 12, telling him two different things. For example, it now appears that Wells Fargo is setting conditions for investigating his complaint that the bank didnt bother to impose before agreeing to have the box drilled. And that seems a little backward. On May 10, Gravely mailed Wells Fargo corporate the legal documents appointing him as the representative of Sallys estate, along with a letter. By Thursday afternoon, those hadnt arrived in Sioux Falls, Gravely told me. But that wasnt Wells Fargos fault. He sent the package through the U.S. Postal Service Certified Mail, return receipt requested. I wanted to know who at Wells Fargo got the documents, Gravely said. So far, hes received no return receipt. By Thursday (May 25), the May 10 letter hadnt been delivered. And the only tracking data available was the date Gravely had sent it. He assumed it had gotten lost in the mail. So last week he sent Wells Fargo an identical letter and legal documents in a second package. I have been attempting to resolve this issue since January of this year with no success, Gravely wrote. There is no question of whether I am or am not entitled to the contents of this box. Wells Fargo has been procrastinating over this matter for several months, since I was called to come in for the opening of her box (drilling), at which time it was discovered the box had already been drilled, the contents removed, and the employees had no information on when this occurred, or where the contents have gone. Kenrick P. Thomas, a Wells Fargo spokesman, said the bank has robust requirements related to safe deposit box security. We are continuing to research this matter and we will contact Mr. Gravely directly. Late Thursday night, Gravely once again checked the tracking on the first Certified Mail package hed posted to South Dakota. Guess what? It indicated his first package was finally delivered to Wells Fargo corporate in South Dakota at 11:30 p.m. Thursday. I have been extremely patient in this matter, but I think six months is enough time, Gravely also wrote in the letter. Hard to disagree. Four Pennsylvania residents, including a teenager, died after an SUV towing a rented trailer collided with a tractor-trailer on Interstate 81 in Montgomery County early Tuesday. The incident near the 120 mile marker on the interstates northbound lanes involved two tractor-trailers and four passenger vehicles, Virginia State Police Public Information Officer Rick Garletts wrote in an email. At about 3:30 a.m. a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, an SUV pulling a trailer, was traveling north at the 120.2 mile marker when it lost control and spun around, police said. It came to rest facing southbound in the northbound travel lanes. Then it was struck by a northbound Freightliner tractor-trailer. Shortly after that crash, a secondary crash occurred, Garletts said, but no one was injured in that incident. The Chevrolets driver, Douangpee Amnatkeo, 54, of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, died at the crash scene. Two passengers in the Chevrolet also died on the scene Ericssan Kathpratoum, 13, also of Shippensburg, and Monthy Matnopaseuth, 39, of Reading, Pennsylvania. A third passenger, Samiane Kothpratoum, 37, of Shippensburg, was flown to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he later died. Police said no one in the Chevrolet SUV was wearing a seat belt. The tractor-trailers driver was not injured. The Virginia Department of Transportation, or VDOT, set up a temporary detour for motorists at northbound exit 118 A to U.S. 11. VDOT later reopened northbound I-81. The crash remains under the investigation of state police. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Memorial Day services took place Monday in Santa Maria honoring veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice at the Santa Maria Cemetery and the Elks Unocal Event Center. Dozens of family, friends and military personnel attended services Monday with guest speakers, presentations and performances. " " This illustration depicts NASA's Perseverance rover operating on the surface of Mars. Perseverance will land at the red planet's Jezero Crater a little after 3:40 p.m. EST (12:40 p.m. PST) on Feb. 18, 2021. NASA/JPL-Caltech On July 30, 2020, an Atlas V-541 rocket lifted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral carrying the Mars 2020 mission and its Perseverance rover on an approximately five-month journey to the red planet. After the rover lands on the Jezero Crater Feb. 18, 2021, the 2,260-pound (1,025 kilogram), 10-foot-long (3-meter-long) robotic vehicle will roam the crater, extracting chalk-sized pieces of Martian rock that eventually could reveal whether life once existed on the solar system's fourth planet from the sun. Perseverance is the latest in a succession of Mars rovers that has included Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity, which since arriving on the Martian surface in August 2012 has traveled 14.27 miles (22.97 kilometers) and in 2019 found evidence of an ancient oasis on the seemingly arid planet's Gale Crater. Advertisement NASA plans for Perseverance to operate for at least one Martian year 687 Earth days and cover a distance of between 3 and 12 miles (5 and 20 kilometers). Perseverance's most attention-getting scientific goal is to search for evidence of ancient microbial life on Mars. But as two NASA scientist explain, the mission is much more complex. "The most significant aspect of this mission is that the mission represents the evolution of studying Mars follow the water, understand habitability, and now search for the signs of ancient life," Michael Meyer, lead scientist for the Mars Exploration Program, and Mitch Schulte, a Mars 2020 Program Scientist, wrote in a joint message via email when we first talked to them in 2020. "However, we don't know what we will find until we get there, and that will be the most significant," the two scientists note. "Among the mission goals are to understand the geologic environment of the landing site and the search for biosignatures, and the rover is ably equipped to either find or at least identify the most promising samples that might have preserved biosignatures, and the extremely promising part, cache them to be brought back to Earth to be examined by the best instruments in the world." " " Jezero Crater on Mars is a 28-mile-wide (45-kilometer-wide) crater on the western edge of Isidis Planitia, a giant impact basin just north of the Martian equator. The crater was a possible oasis in its distant past. NASA/JPL-Caltech NASA had to complete preparations for the launch in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. As NASA's website details, that situation required the project team to limit the number of personnel working together at any one time at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, to the minimum needed, and workers had to practice social distancing, wear protective equipment and use hand sanitizer and other cleaning supplies. But on the science end, NASA workers were more concerned about maintaining the cleanliness of the planetary probe's sampling and caching system, which will handle Martian soil and rock samples. "The contamination control levels are unprecedented for any spacecraft and unachievable in most laboratories on Earth," Meyer and Schulte explain. "To build a sampling system to such ultra-clean standards, and keep the system clean, has been a real achievement. Of course, the proof of the pudding will be when the samples are returned to Earth. Technically, the rover is the most complex spacecraft sent to Mars, and designing and building the sample caching system was a substantial challenge. The only challenge posed by the pandemic has been keeping the team assembling the spacecraft and launch vehicle safe, which has been successful." Perseverance will land on Jezero Crater, an area that researchers believe is a likely spot to find evidence of ancient microscopic organisms. "Our orbital studies show that Jezero Crater was an ancient crater lake with a recognizable delta deposit, indicative of water flowing into a standing body of water," Meyer and Schulte write. "Life as we know it requires a liquid water environment to exist. In addition, a critical aspect is that the same site shows a high diversity of environments, a great place to sample multiple rock types that can tell us about the climate and geological history of the crater and the planet. On Earth, a delta is one type of deposit you would expect to have signs of life preserved. Furthermore, there are other tantalizing mineral deposits like the purported lakeshore has carbonate rocks, also a good place to have preserved evidence of life, if there was any." " " This artist's concept depicts astronauts and human habitats on Mars. NASA's Mars 2020 rover will have a number of technologies that could make Mars safer and easier to explore for humans. NASA While Perseverance's instruments will gather some data about the area from which Martian soil and rock samples are gathered, the samples eventually will be retrieved by a future mission and transported back to Earth for more extensive analysis. The two NASA scientists explain that while the retrieval details are still being worked out, "the general plan is that in 2026 NASA and the European Space Agency will launch two missions, one a lander that will carry a fetch rover to get the samples and a rocket for lifting the samples off the red planet. The other mission will be an orbiter for capturing the sample container launched from the surface of Mars and then bringing the contained samples to Earth. Of course, we will know a fair amount about the samples and the area of Jezero Crater from which they come because of the science instruments on board the rover. Perseverance is well equipped to explore the region to understand the present and ancient environment, the details of each site explored, and specifically each rock or regolith from which the sample will have been collected." We're likely to see some spectacular pictures of the Martian surface, since the rover is equipped with more cameras 23 in all than any previous Mars mission. "The premier imaging instrument, MastCam-Z, is a marked improvement to the impressive camera that's on Curiosity," the scientists write. "MastCam-Z has two 12-inch (30-centimeter) color filter wheels and, importantly, is able to zoom in up to 3 times on any object near and far." Now That's Interesting The Perseverance mission will provide an opportunity for the first test of the Ingenuity robotic helicopter, which could be an important part of future planetary exploration. "The helicopter is a technology demonstration and as such, the flights are designed to test its capabilities," Meyer and Schulte write. "The potential of Ingenuity to contribute to the science of the mission is there, but will be incidental to the data being collected for assessing the helicopter's performance." Advertisement Originally Published: Jul 29, 2020 EFFINGHAM, S.C. An Effingham man has een arrested and charged with three counts of attempted murder following an early Tuesday morning shooting. Florence County Sheriffs deputies at about 1 a.m. Tuesday responded to 2525 Whippoorwill Road where they arrested Miken Roshell, 59, of 2405 Savannah Grove Road, according to a release from the agency. He was also charged with possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. According to a release from the agency, investigators said that following a verbal confrontation in a front yard became physical Johnson is alleged to have retreated into the residence where he retrieved a firearm and shot multiple times into an occupied vehicle resulting in injuries to three of the occupants. The three were transported to a Florence area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, according to the release. Johnson is in custody at the Florence County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing. FLORENCE, S.C. Florence Police Department Saturday will launch the first of three planned gatherings to stress its Unity with the Community a program designed to increase trust and communication between the department and members of the community. Saturdays Unity with the Community takes place at Northwest Park, 801 Clement St., from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and will include a host of community organizations. Its a partnership and we really need to develop those relationships, Capt. Mike Brandt said. It takes that trust for them to share bits of information because they have to see that our ability to be able to follow through on that information is greater and giving them protection than the threat of the bad actor. Those are things were working on continually; no relationship is perfect. Were making our best efforts through this relationship building, he said. This is one of several outreach programs the department has, including Gregs Groceries which provides officers on patrol with pre-packed food boxes to be shared with those in need they encounter on their rounds. Another one of those outreach programs we have where were really making effort to engage with our community and provide them services that dont traditionally come from the police department, Brandt said. The relationship between a law enforcement agency and the community it serves can be a force multiplier that serves as an information pipeline on what is going on in the community. Setting aside a specific time for this is one way the department is working through a shortage of officers brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the great retirement. When the department is fully staffed, officers who spend time in offices and cruisers have more time to spend out in the community meeting with residents and learning about neighborhoods. If we can get up to fully staffed it means we might be running from call to call to call sometimes but will afford us more time to be proactive in enforcement measures but also community measures. Itll give our officers more time to get out of the vehicle and engage with the community, he said. Saturdays event, though, gives the department dedicated time. This gives us an opportunity to do it a little differently, engage in a positive manner, Brandt said. Were still answering calls for service but were also setting aside time for officers to engage. Gathering with the department Saturday will be Sav-A-Lot, McDonalds, McLeod Safe Kids, SC Works, Florence County Dispatch, Red Bull, Florence Housing Authority, Pee Dee Coalition, Terrence F. Carraway Foundation, Florence County Library, Timmonsville Rescue Squad, Raldex, Serve and Connect, American Cancer Society, PDRTA, S&W Printing, Courtneys Cupcakery, the U.S. Army, Mike Reichenbach Ford, Big Stans Food Truck, Florence Fire Department, Florence County EMS, Pee Dee Mental Health and Voodoo Child, who will provide music for the event. There will be some food, snacks and takeaways, Brandt said. We normally have a grill going. It varies but normally well have hot dogs and with the food truck therell be other offerings. A flyer for the event indicates there will also be school supplies on hand. This summers other scheduled events include June 24 at Iola Jones Park and July 15 at Levy Park. Seguin, TX (78155) Today Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 82F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) Senators on Wednesday morning approved on second reading Senate Bill (SB) 2020 which creates the Maharlika Investment Fund. READ: The proposed Maharlika Investment Fund: What you need to know http://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/12/24/the-proposed-maharlika-investment-fund-what-you-need-to-know.html Provisions in the Senates version of the measure allow the use of pension funds from the Government Service Insurance System and Social Security System as seed capital for the sovereign wealth fund.*** This provision was removed in the House version. It also allows foreigners to sit on the Maharlika Investment Corp. board. The approved measure was a consolidation of two bills: SB 1670 by Senator Mark Villar and SB 1814 by Senator Raffy Tulfo. Senate President Miguel Zubiri earlier said that the upper chamber was planning to approve the Maharlika bill on second and third reading this week before it goes into sine die adjournment on June 2. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/5/25/senate-maharlika-bill-pass-next-week.html President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in a letter to the Senate dated May 22, certified as urgent the passage of the bill. This would allow the measure to see second and third reading approval in just one day. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/5/24/Marcos-certifies-urgent-Maharlika-bill-at-Senate.html Bills usually must undergo a first, second, and third reading on three separate days. When House Bill 6608 the House version of the Maharlika bill was still in plenary last December, Marcos similarly certified its passage as urgent, allowing the measure to see second and third reading approval in just one day. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/12/15/house-bill-maharlika-investment-fund-december-15-development.html Certain provisions of the Senate version differ from those in the House version. Congress may adopt the Senate version or a bicameral conference committee can be called to reconcile the conflicting provisions before it can be ratified and submitted to Malacanang. A lawmaker said the House is "very eager" to receive the Senate version of the MIF bill and is looking forward to ratify it before Congress' sine die adjournment. Is it weird and worrisome or understandable and useful to have so much reporting about Elizabeth Holmes reporting to prison? | Main | New comments from Justice Breyer on punishment, sentencing, prisons, the death penalty and more May 30, 2023 "Debt Sentence: How Fines and Fees Hurt Working Families" The title of this post is the title of this new report from the the Wilson Center for Science and Justice and the Fines and Fees Justice Center. Here is the report's executive summary: Food, healthcare, and shelter are essential for basic survival. Beyond mere survival, we all have other fundamental needs, such as employment, access to transportation, or education. No one would choose to forgo any of these necessities, unless there was a greater danger threatening their well-being. For millions of families across the United States, court fines and fees threaten these basic building blocks of survival and stability. Across the United States, courts impose fines as a punishment for minor traffic infractions, municipal code violations, misdemeanors, and felonies. State and local governments then tax people with fees, surcharges, and other costs used to fund the justice system and other government services. The entire fee system is designed for one purpose: raising revenue for governments. We know the impact of court fines and fees is not just limited to those families living in or close to poverty; it is felt by working families across economic, racial, and political demographic groups. Court-related debt can often be in the hundreds if not thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars, which makes paying it off a struggle for many. The Federal Reserve Board found that nearly one in four adults in the United States were just one unexpected $400 bill away from severe financial hardship (U.S. Fed. Reserve, 2022). A report by the lending industry also found that in 2022 [t]he share of those earning less than $50,000 who live paycheck to paycheck rose to 82% (PYMNTS.com & Lending Club, 2022). Despite the breadth of data showing how much U.S. families are struggling financially, there has been a lack of consistent and reliable data on the impact of monetary sanctions on those same families. This study is the first to present a comprehensive, national overview of how court-imposed fines and fees are affecting people across the country. Using data from a nationally representative survey, we examine the impacts of court-imposed debt on peoples daily lives. Our findings reveal a disturbing trend unfolding among working families impacted by fines and fees: money needed for necessities like food, housing, and healthcare is often being redirected to pay off court debt. Advocates for fines and fees reform have collected thousands of stories of families sacrificing basic necessities for fear of being jailed and arrested on account of outstanding court debt. But for the first time, with this survey, we have national data documenting the extent to which fines and fees are destabilizing families and jeopardizing their ability to access the building blocks that support survival, stability, and a chance at success. May 30, 2023 at 06:13 PM | Permalink Comments In recent years, there has been a large tension between the Public Defenders and the local District and Circuit Court Judges over the issue of defendants paying off fines and Court costs or being arrested and incarcerated until the fines and court costs are paid off at the rate of $50 per day ($100 per day if the inmate works in the jail's kitchen). On one hand, defendants are given months of time to pay off their fines and court costs, and can come back to court and request more time, which is usually granted. But if a defendant misses a Court date for payment or to ask for an additional extension of time, a warrant is automatically issued for his arrest. Upon arrest, he or she is kept in jail until the fines and court costs are paid off. The problem is that the Judges lock people up and leave them there without inquiring about the defendant's incomes, wealth, or ability to pay. Several times per month, poor defendants are arrested and locked up over unpaid fines and court costs, without a Judge ever talking to the defendant or her counsel, to determine whether she has any money or income to pay. Incarceration for contempt must be based on the defendant having the ability to pay but not handing over the money. But in too many cases, the defendants are just poor, unemployed and have no ability to pay. Some Judges don't seem to care whether they are violating the Constitution by locking someone up for a month over fines and court costs, even though they have no resources or job. Posted by: Jim Gormley | May 31, 2023 1:15:24 PM Post a comment "Restorative Justice as a Democratic Practice" | Main | "Debt Sentence: How Fines and Fees Hurt Working Families" May 30, 2023 Is it weird and worrisome or understandable and useful to have so much reporting about Elizabeth Holmes reporting to prison? I was instinctively disinclined to blog about the news that former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes was reporting today to federal prison. But all my newsfeeds (which, admittedly, focus on criminal justice news) are ablaze with coverage. Here are just a few of the new pieces I have seen: From the AP, "What's to know about the Texas prison where Elizabeth Holmes is starting her 11-year sentence?" From CNN, "What Elizabeth Holmes life in prison could look like" From Deadline, "Amanda Seyfried Says She 'Feels' For Children Of Jail-Bound Elizabeth Holmes" From NPR, "Elizabeth Holmes has started her 11-year prison sentence. Here's what to know" From the New York Times, "Elizabeth Holmes Reports to Prison to Begin More Than 11-Year Sentence" From the Washington Post, "Elizabeth Holmes, disgraced Theranos founder, reports to prison" As the title of this post suggests, I am genuinely unsure what to make of all the media coverage. Because I found various documentaries and docu-dramas about Holmes and Theranos quite interesting, I can understand why there is so much media attention. But I would sincerely be interested in various perspectives on whether all this media attention is sound or silly. May 30, 2023 at 05:32 PM | Permalink Comments I've all but ignored the publicity. She's a liar and a swindler and brought it on herself. And she's still not accepting responsibility. It's too bad for her kids, but that's something she should have been thinking of during all the time she was pulling off this scam. Posted by: Bill Otis | May 30, 2023 6:59:35 PM At this point, I think it's not much more than schadenfreude and probably reflective of a ghoulish aspect to society. Posted by: Fat Bastard | May 30, 2023 11:45:32 PM I like how FB said this attention is "reflective of a ghoulish aspect to society." People flock to someone's misfortune like crows to a carcass. My guess is that for rare exceptions, there's nothing they can learn from the news, and they have nothing to contribute. Kind of like in Platos Republic, the character Leontius is curious to see the dead bodies, except that the American public has no qualms with that desire. From Plato's Republic: 'Leontius, the son of Aglaeon, was on his way up to town from the Piraeus. As he was walking below the north wall, on the outside, he saw the public executioner with some dead bodies lying beside him. He wanted to look at the bodies, but at the same time he felt disgust and held himself back. For a time he struggled, and covered his eyes. Then desire got the better of him. He rushed over to where the bodies were, and forced his eyes wide open, saying "There you are, curse you. Have a really good look. Isnt it a lovely sight?"' Posted by: Maime | May 31, 2023 3:05:53 AM I agree with Fat Bastard. Yes, she was all that twisted, medicated Otis je t'accuses, but surely some rachmunis could have been extended. There are alternatives to incarceration. It's a hideous plague in this country. Posted by: Fluffyross | May 31, 2023 9:42:56 AM Fluffy -- Rachmones WAS extended -- she didn't get anywhere near the max. Posted by: Bill Otis | May 31, 2023 11:01:05 AM Bill Otis complains, "And she's still not accepting responsibility." Of course she's not accepting responsibility, at least not publicly. Her case is on direct appeal. If she prevails on her appeal, she would probably win the right to a retrial. I cannot imagine that anyone on her defense team would counsel her to "accept responsibility" by admitting culpability at this time. Criticizing Holmes for fully exercising her right to be convicted by the criminal process implicitly endorses a system in which the indictment itself is sufficient evidence of guilt that a defendant should "accept responsibility" rather than have the effrontery to demand that the state prove its case against them. Bill's kind of thinking is what has given us the "trial penalty," what we always called "paying rent on the courtroom." I had a judge tell me once years ago that when he had been in practice, he made sure his young associates were detailed to go to the county lockup to interview clients. He said, "I want all of them to experience that hollow feeling when the jailhouse door clangs shut behind them." I don't think Bill's ever heard that sound. Posted by: Tom Root | Jun 1, 2023 6:36:29 AM "Criticizing Holmes for fully exercising her right to be convicted by the criminal process implicitly endorses a system in which the indictment itself is sufficient evidence of guilt that a defendant should "accept responsibility" rather than have the effrontery to demand that the state prove its case against them." Actually, Holmes is living proof of exactly what Bill has long advocated for. She made the government prove its case, and they failed to do so on 7 of 11 counts. She is now paying the price for the 4 on which the government succeeded. I agree with Doug B's initial comment I cannot recall quite this much coverage of anyone elses report-to-prison date. She is hardly the first parent to go to prison. There is no "motherhood" exception in the criminal law. She conceived the first child after she was indicted, and the second one while her trial was going on in other words, knowing perfectly well that if convicted she would miss the first half of their childhood. Of course, it is her right to bear children. If she had not done it now, she would have likely been past childbearing age after she got out of prison. But like everything else she has done, it was a choice. Posted by: Marc Shepherd | Jun 1, 2023 12:17:01 PM Tom Root -- Assuming arguendo the proposition that a person's willingness to accept responsibility for her behavior depends not on conscience and moral sobriety but on where in the litigation process she is, do you have any evidence that, if and when she loses her appeal, she'll then accept responsibility? I haven't seen it, but you might have followed the case more closely than I. Posted by: Bill Otis | Jun 1, 2023 8:25:36 PM Tom Root -- "Bill's kind of thinking is what has given us the "trial penalty," what we always called "paying rent on the courtroom." What gives you the trial penalty is defendants falsely, and often flagrantly falsely, claiming that they didn't do what they did, combined with the judge's correctly thinking that this lying is not a good sign either about their character or their prospects for rehab. Their behavior and their lying about it is the problem, not what I say in the comments section. But you have to claim otherwise, because you have to pretend to have no objection to your clients' behavior (which is bad), or actually have no objection to it (which is worse). Posted by: Bill Otis | Jun 2, 2023 10:54:17 AM Post a comment National police chief Damrongsak Kittiprapas (right) speaks during a press conference regarding the extradition of Matthew Dupre (on screen), a Canadian man wanted over the suspected murder of gangster Jimi Slice Sandhu in Phuket on 4 February 2022, at the Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok, Thailand on 29 May 2023 (AFP via Getty Images) A former Canadian soldier has been extradited to Thailand over his role in a gangland killing. Mathew Dupre, 38, is wanted in the alleged murder of criminal gang member Jimi Singh Slice Sandhu in Phuket in February last year. Thailands central investigation bureau commissioner, Jirabhop Bhuridej, told reporters on Monday that Mr Dupre was flown to Bangkok to face murder charges. He was brought to Thailand on a special flight with a team from Bangkok onboard on Sunday at around 11pm, according to Bangkok Post. A Thai air force craft was used since commercial airlines declined requests, Thai police said. We have to get hold of the suspect so that he be prosecuted under the Thai judicial system, said state prosecutor Intranee Sumawong, adding that Dupre would not face the death penalty under the extradition bill. We have to ensure that there is security in Thailand and uphold our reputation that this country is safe to live in, she said. The flight landed at Bangkoks Don Mueang Airports Wing 6 terminal, used for domestic flights and which was temporarily closed for security reasons. On 4 February last year, two men shot Canadian gang member Jimi Singh Sandhu dead in the parking lot of his rented beachfront villa on Rawai Beach in the Muang district of Phuket. The two were filmed entering the villa by a security camera. Local police identified Dupre as one of the suspects. Two days later, the suspects left Thailand for Canada. On 11 February 2022, the Phuket Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Mr Dupre and his alleged accomplice on charges of premeditated murder. The second wanted suspect in the case, 36-year-old Gene Lahrkamp, died in a small-plane crash in Canada in May 2022. At the time of his death, Lahrkamp was one of the most wanted criminals in Canada with a bounty of 60,000 on his head. Jimi Slice Sandhu was born in India and raised in Abbotsford, British Columbia, where he later joined the United Nations gang. In 2016, he was deported. He, however, remained a leading member of the gang that was originally founded in 1997. 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. Learn when to blend in or let loose while staying safe as you embark on your solo trip to unknown territories and even countries deemed dangerous. Scott Dunn travel specialist Odele Seah on a husky sled ride during her solo vacation. PHOTO: Odele Seah A solo grad trip that was supposed to last for a year became a life-changing two-and-a-half year of travel for Odele Seah. Since then, Odele has found a career living and breathing her passion for travel as a travel specialist at Scott Dunn, helping others live out their travel bucket list. To date, she has traversed more than half the globe solo to very different countries and continents, including Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Sri Lanka, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Cyprus, England, Northern Ireland, Jordan, Dubai, Mexico, US, Canada, amongst other countries she visited with others. So who better to seek advice on solo female travel, or solo travel for that matter, than Scott Dunn's Odele Seah? Yahoo Life Singapore got her to share top solo travel tips, allaying the fears of those hesitant about taking that first solo trip, male or female. So read on, be inspired and book that next flight, solo or not! Odele at Banff Alberta Canada. PHOTO: Odele Seah Yahoo Life Singapore: You have travelled solo extensively to very different countries and continents, including Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Sri Lanka, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Cyprus, England, Northern Ireland, Jordan, Dubai, Mexico, US, Canada. How do you decide which countries to venture solo in? Odele Seah: I have a travel bucket list, so I work off it to plan my trips. This list is formed around my interests and experiences that I want to try. The list expands as I travel and hear more of the exciting adventures and recommendations of people I meet. Also, I often travel solo to a destination to meet up with friends, both new and old, who live there too. I enjoy discovering a new destination with a local to get a more immersive and authentic experience, especially when they invite you for a home-cooked meal, which I appreciate! Don't feel like you always need to be honest about your details to anyone, especially people you have just met.Scott Dunn travel specialist Odele Seah on solo travel As a solo female traveller, do you have any favourite country to travel to? Why? There aren't any particular favourites. Every country has its appeal and nuances that make them attractive. I am very comfortable travelling in most of the major cities in Europe and the US/Canada, mainly due to the familiarity and comfort, be it the language, abundance of information about the towns, and infrastructure. For example, in Mexico City, they have a "Women Only" cabin on their trains. Given the statistics of reported (and unreported) crimes or assaults against women in public, it is comforting to know that a certain amount of awareness and steps are being taken towards actively protecting women. As a solo female traveller to some destinations deemed dangerous, what advice would you give to women thinking of going on a solo trip? What are the essentials to take note of or items to bring or prepare to stay safe? You can have fun, let loose and enjoy your trip, but it's crucial to be aware of your surroundings and look for an exit if you need to use it. Staying mentally sharp is imperative because anything can happen, so being situationally aware and vigilant is good. Some places are safe to explore at any destination, and some you should avoid. So do your due research and keep to that advice, especially if you are alone. Its also good to know where and when not to draw attention to yourself it's all about blending in or sticking out at the right time and place. For example, in some circumstances, it's good to make your presence known to certain people, such as restaurant or hotel staff or security personnel, as they can help if someone is harassing you. And other times, it's good to blend in so no one knows you're a tourist. I would recommend doing proper research and reading as many reviews as you can about the hotels or properties you will be staying at to see what other travellers have experienced so you know what to expect when you arrive (and if you need to bring anything additional if it's not provided for) or if it's a property to avoid altogether! READ: Odele scuba diving with wildlife in Indonesia. PHOTO: Odele Seah What are the most significant rewards of travelling solo? A key perk is that you can do things at your own time and pace. As a result, you get to focus on yourself, allowing time for self-discovery and enjoying the journey on your own terms. What are your travel must-haves? Always bring cash. A camera or a smartphone to capture memories. A smartphone to maintain communication back home and use as a GPS. A pair of sturdy and comfortable shoes for the upcoming adventure. [CLICK ON IMAGES FOR LINKS TO PRODUCTS.] Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K Digital Camera, 18.1 Megapixel Video Camera 60X Zoom DC VARIO 20-1200mm Lens, F2.8-5.9 Aperture, Power O.I.S. Stabilization, Touch Enabled 3-Inch LCD, Wi-Fi, DC-FZ80K Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K Digital Camera, 18.1 Megapixel Video Camera. PHOTO: Amazon Amazon's Choice: insta360 X3 Pocket 360 Degree Action Camera insta360 X3 Pocket 360 Degree Action Camera. PHOTO: Amazon Ecco Women's Soft 7 Trend Tie Sneaker Ecco Women's Soft 7 Trend Tie Sneaker. PHOTO: Amazon Clarks Women's Padmora Oxford Clarks Women's Padmora Oxford. 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So my tip would be to answer as honestly as possible and prepare all your travel documents, hotel reservations, cash and supporting documents to show that you are there for a holiday. Are there any women-friendly countries you would recommend for first-time solo female travellers? Most Asian and European major cities should be ok. These tend to be well populated with good infrastructure and thus highly frequented by all types of travellers, so it's not uncommon for solo female travellers to visit. I've also encountered many other solo female travellers in these places. It does help you to feel safer and less vulnerable. Learn to uphold your boundaries and be firm with your limits, especially those that keep you safe.Scott Dunn travel specialist Odele Seah on staying safe while on holiday Travelling alone could be more expensive than having travel mates split the transportation, accommodation or dining cost. Do you have any money tips as a solo traveller? That is not so true for me, as when I travel, I prefer to do and see things the local way. This means I usually take local modes of transportation, which are generally very affordable! Also, in this way, I get to meet the locals and make new friends along the way. I recommend splitting or separating your cash into different bags or places. Also good to bring more than one credit card in case of emergencies! Odele in Suomenlinna Finland. PHOTO: Odele Seah Having been on so many solo trips, do you have any travel myths to bust or travel insights and top tips to share with fellow women travellers? Don't feel like you always need to be honest about your details to anyone, especially people you have just met. Having that human connection when you travel alone may feel comforting, but not everyone has good intentions. Learn to hold and stick to your boundaries. While you're on holiday/having fun, it's natural that you want to open yourself to new experiences, but you still need to uphold your boundaries and be firm with your limits, especially ones that will keep you safe. For example, as a solo female traveller, you will get some unwanted attention from time to time, from men catcalling after you or people trying to be funny with you. Don't be afraid to say no, voice your discomfort, or look for help. Follow your instincts and gut. Odele on The Kandy to Ella train ride which is said to be one of the most scenic train ride in Sri Lanka. PHOTO: Odele Seah What would you say to a female who needs that extra push to travel alone? It's worth trying out a solo trip at least once. Allow yourself to draw your conclusions and perceptions about the experience instead of relying on hearsay from others. Solo travel can be an advantageous and fulfilling experience if you plan it right and take the proper precautions. Happy to share that I've also inspired a few of my female friends to travel alone, and they, too, have thoroughly enjoyed their experience I've had a friend embark on a solo trip to Australia and another to Europe, and both have come home with fantastic feedback and are already planning their next trips. So I'm hopeful that reading all this will inspire more women to take the step and try travelling solo soon! Odele Seah in Havana, Cuba. PHOTO: Odele Seah About Odele Seah, Luxury Travel Specialist at Scott Dunn Odele's passion for travel ignited during her graduation trip, where she went on a solo journey that was supposed to have lasted one year. Instead, it was an exhilarating and life-changing adventure that spanned two and a half years around the world and she hasn't looked back since. To Odele, travel is more than just exploring and discovering a destination; it's also a form of self-discovery and learning about oneself. Not one to shy away from a location just because of what others say about it, the free-spirited Odele prefers to form her perceptions about every destination she visits. GoCity Reads 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. Protestors gathered Monday night at the site of the building collapse in downtown Davenport, saying more people are still missing and could be inside. By 10 p.m. police pushed protesters back to Harrison and Fourth streets. Police are citing safety issues. Protestors were shouting, concerned they wouldnt be able to hear survivors from that distance. Four officers held the crowd back. They did not answer questions from protestors or media. After Lisa Brooks was rescued Monday afternoon, around 150 protestors gathered at the site of Sunday's apartment building collapse at 324 Main St. Previously, city officials said demolition was likely to begin Tuesday, but officials Monday night backtracked on a specific timeline. City officials emphasized that the building "is in imminent danger of collapse" in a release Monday night. Two more people, Ryan Hitchcock and Branden Colvin, are believed by family members to be in the building. Amy Anderson, Hitchcocks cousin, said he was like a brother to her. The police have confirmed he is inside because they were able to ping his cell phone before it shut off. There is no chance for him to survive this," Anderson said. He was in Apartment 208. The family of Colvin, who is also missing, declined to talk with media. People at the scene were carrying signs such as "Where's Branden, Find him." Later in the evening, people continued to hold the signs as police started clearing the area, moving the crowd back to Harrison Street. The city put out a news release at 9:25 p.m. announcing the closure of 4th Street in the area. "The Davenport Police Department and the Davenport Fire Department are asking the public to be aware of the public safety concerns regarding the stability of the 324 Main Street building and avoid the area. Crews are currently clearing 4th Street between Main Street and Harrison Street, and 4th Street will remained closed until further notice," the release said. Earlier in the night, Lisa Brooks called her daughter from the fourth floor of the partially collapsed apartment building. Her daughter, family and crowd members cheered, yelled and ran to the north-facing side of the building. Her nephew ran to tell fire and police officers. Brooks waved out the window, and the crowd cheered and chanted "get her out." Brooks' nephew, Antoine Smith Jr., had tears in his eyes and thanked God. Firefighters drove an engine to the north side of the building and raised the bucket ladder to the window to rescue her. She scrambled safely into the bucket and was lowered to the engine, and helped down by firefighters to more cheers from the crowd. Brooks was transported to a hospital to get checked over. When Smith saw his aunt waving out the window, he was "overwhelmed with joy," he said as he hurried back to his car to be by his aunt's side. "I burst into an overflow of emotions," Smith said. "Because I've been holding in so much stuff in order to be strong for everybody else, and my family that was down there, trying to keep them calm." Brooks' family has been sitting at the foot of the downtown Davenport building all day Monday, growing increasingly frustrated with the rescue that had up until Monday night not found Brooks. She is the ninth person to be rescued since Sunday. City officials had abandoned rescue efforts at about 9:30 a.m. Monday morning, according to a city news release in the afternoon. Street lights were being taken out Monday afternoon to prep the building for demolition, which was expected to begin Tuesday morning. City officials have said that canine units were used to scour the scene to search for survivors, but no one was found. Officials have also said the building is now "structurally unsound." There are structural engineers on site to advise on rescue efforts, Davenport Fire Chief Mike Carlsten said earlier on Monday. Many in the crowd at the foot of the building, though, wondered if, like Brooks, there were others missing and in the building, too. Chief Strategy Officer Sarah Ott said at the scene after Brooks was rescued that the scheduled demolition was under evaluation. In a city news release Monday night, city officials said the building remains in imminent danger of collapse with the condition of the site continuing to worsen. It is the opinion of the structural engineer that the debris pile is currently contributing to the stability of the building and that removal could jeopardize or accelerate the inevitable collapse of the building, the news release said. "Building officials are working with Valley Construction on a plan to safely dismantle and demolish the remaining structure. Previously, Ott, had said the property was ordered to be demolished, which she said would likely begin Tuesday. But currently, there is no updated timeline for demolition. There are unaccounted individuals that were residents of the property, according to the city, and the Police Department has been working to get in touch them, including contacting the families of the people who are missing. Photos: Davenport apartment collapse day 2 LARCHWOOD, Iowa Two people were injured Monday in a single-engine airplane crash in Lyon County. According to the Lyon County Sheriff's Office, the crash occurred at about 1:21 p.m., when emergency personnel responded to the report of a crash south of the runway at the Larchwood airport. Both people inside the plane were injured. One was airlifted to a Sioux Falls hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries. The other person had minor injuries and was transported to a Sioux Falls hospital by ambulance. The crash remains under investigation. A Federal Aviation Administration accident and incident notice said the plane, a Bellanca 8KCAB, crashed under unknown circumstances into a field. The aircraft was destroyed. SIOUX CITY Longtime TV anchor Larry Wentz will be returning to KTIV News 4 on June 12. A fixture on television news in Sioux City for more than 30 years, Wentz had most recently served as an anchor for KMEG-KPTH-TV until their owner Sinclair Broadcast Groups eliminated local news broadcasts at the CBS and Fox affiliates earlier in May. He was also the anchor for KCAU-TV 9, an ABC affiliate, becoming the only person to anchor newscasts for all of Sioux Citys television stations. Wentz had previously anchored KTIVs nightly newscast from 1990 to 1998, where he worked with such veteran news staffers like morning anchor Al Joens, chief meteorologist Rom Demers and managing editor/evening anchor Matt Breen. I cant wait to work with Larry again, Breen said. Larry was one of the first people I met when I came to KTIV in 1996, and hes been a valued colleague and friend ever since. Vice president and general manager Bridget Breen said Wentzs strong journalistic integrity, engaging storytelling and his genuine commitment makes him an invaluable asset to our news team. I am thrilled to be returning to KTIV, Wentz said. The Siouxland community holds a special place in my heart. I look forward to once again serving as a trusted source of news and information for our viewers. A press release sent out by KTIV did not specify which time slot or newscast Wentz will be working on. Wentz will be the third former KMEG-KPTH employee to make the move to KTIV. Meteorologist Cat Taylor and news director Diana Castillo will also be joining the NBC affiliates news staff. COLUMBIA, S.C. A South Carolina gas station owner accused of chasing a 14-year-old boy from his store and fatally shooting him in the back made his first court appearance Tuesday on a murder charge in the death. Rick Chow thought the boy shoplifted four bottles of water Sunday night from his Xpress Mart Shell station in Columbia, authorities said. However, Cyrus Carmack-Belton put the bottles back in the cooler and was off the store's property and running away when he was killed, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said. A gun was found near the teen's body and Chow's son, who also was involved in the chase, told his father that Carmack-Belton was armed after the youth fell as he ran, according to the sheriff. Lott said there was no evidence the boy ever pointed the weapon at Chow or his son. Chow, who had a concealed weapons permit, was charged after an autopsy showed the middle school student was shot in the back and deputies spoke to witnesses and reviewed surveillance and other video, Lott said. Self-defense law in South Carolina requires the shooter doesn't instigate the incident, believes he is in imminent danger and has no way to avoid that danger. "You don't shoot somebody in the back that is not a threat to you," the sheriff said. Chow, 58, is being held in the Richland County jail. Neither he nor his lawyer talked about the shooting during the initial court appearance or in response to messages from The Associated Press. A bond hearing will be held later. Richland County Coroner Nadia Rutherford said there was no sign that Carmack-Belton was fighting with Chow before he ran out of the store and added there was no injury to his body other than an abrasion from falling and the gunshot wound. Both the sheriff and coroner asked for calm from the community. Social media posts incorrectly said the teen was kneeling or had his hands up when he was shot. Jail and coroner records have not listed the races of the shooter or the teen. Rutherford told a crowd at the gas station Monday that the teen was shot while he was running and the bullet went through his back and into his heart. She told the crowd, which was yelling calls for justice, to listen to the facts. "I was at the autopsy I looked at his body inside and outside. He had one shot to the back, which is why Mr. Chow is being charged with murder," the coroner told the crowd. Deputies were called to Chow's store numerous times in the last several years for shoplifting complaints and sometimes they turned into shoving or scuffling, but Lott said his officers determined Chow was defending himself and he was never charged. Sunday's shooting was not justified, the sheriff said. "Even if he had shoplifted four bottles of water, which he had taken out of the cooler and then put back even if he had done that, that's not something you should shoot anybody over, much less a 14-year-old," Lott said. After Monday's peaceful protest, Chow's store was broken into after dark with windows shattered and merchandise pulled off shelves and strewn across the floor, Lott said. When deputies arrived, a large group was inside stealing items, the sheriff said, adding he plans to charge those involved. "What does stealing a case of beer have to do with a 14-year-old being shot?" Lott said, calling the theft looting. Deputies are now watching over the property, the sheriff said. The entire gas station was behind yellow crime scene tape Tuesday morning. Dozens of crushed water bottles littered the parking lot. Graffiti, most of it "Cyrus" or "14" covered the walls. A sign taped to the door read "Water or Life? Which means more?" Another read "Close it down!" Tokyo (CNN) Japans Defense Ministry warned on Monday it would destroy any North Korean missile that enters its territory after Pyongyang notified the country of plans to launch a satellite between May 31 and June 11. We will take destructive measures against ballistic and other missiles that are confirmed to land in our territory, Japans Defense Ministry said in a statement. North Koreas space development agency had said last year it would finish preparations for the reconnaissance satellite by April 2023. A Japanese Coast Guard spokesman said the notification of the launch by Pyongyang came via email. It said North Korea plans to launch its satellite toward the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and east of Luzon, Philippines, in an area outside Japans Exclusive Economic Zone, the spokesman said. Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno also said Monday that any North Korean missile launch disguised as a satellite is a threat to the nations security. If North Korea follows through on its plan to launch a missile, it would violate United Nations Security Council resolutions and be a serious provocation, Matsuno told reporters. Matsuno said Japans Defense Ministry and Self-Defense Forces have issued an order regarding the preparation of destructive measures against ballistic missiles. In addition, the Defense Ministry is also taking other precautions, such as deploying Patriot missile defense batteries and Aegis destroyers with ballistic missile defense capabilities to waters around Japans Nansei Islands, an archipelago that stretches from the southern tip of the main island of Japanese Kyushu south to near Taiwan. Okinawa, where the United States maintains key military bases, is the largest island in the chain. Matsuno added that Japan would work closely with the US and South Korea and urged Pyongyang to exercise self-restraint. Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters Monday that any missile launch by North Korea, even if called a satellite, is a significant issue that affects the safety of Japanese citizens, and reiterated his willingness to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Last month, Kim ordered officials to prepare to launch the countrys first military reconnaissance satellite, North Korean state media reported at the time. South Koreas National Security Council held an emergency meeting Monday following North Koreas notification of its plans to launch a satellite, South Koreas presidential office said in a statement. Seouls Foreign Ministry also urged North Korea on Monday to withdraw its plan to launch a satellite which it said would be a serious violation of UN Security Council resolutions and an obvious illegal act that cannot be justified under any pretext. In mid-April, a North Korean missile test raised fears on the Japanese northern main island of Hokkaido after the governments emergency alert system warned residents to take cover. But soon after, fear turned into anger and confusion as the evacuation order was lifted amid reports that it had been sent in error, with local officials saying there was no possibility of the missile hitting the island and Tokyo later confirming it had fallen outside Japanese territory, in waters off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula. North Korea later said that missiles was a new, solid-fueled ICBM, a development that analysts say could allow it to launch long-range nuclear strikes more quickly and easily as it ramps up its missile program. A high-speed chase down Interstate 80 that spanned across several southeast Nebraska counties ended in a fire and the arrest of a 31-year-old Washington woman in northeast Lincoln Friday night, according the Nebraska State Patrol. At around 11:15 p.m. Friday, Nebraska Sate Patrol was notified that Seward County Deputies were in pursuit of a Chevrolet Monte Carlo that had fled a traffic stop, according to a press release from the state patrol. The pursuit was eastbound on I-80 heading into Lancaster County, according to the state patrol. The state patrol took over as the vehicle continued on I-80 through Lincoln at speeds reaching 120 mph, according to the release. At mile marker 412, the driver, Georgina De La Cadena, of Vancouver, Washington, turned around in the median and began traveling westbound on I-80. She exited at the Waverly interchange and began traveling westbound toward Lincoln on Highway 6, according to the release. The NSP AirWing picked up the pursuit from the air and troopers on the ground discontinued their pursuit, according to the release. The vehicle turned southbound on 84th Street, entered a parking lot and drove into a field where it came to a stop. As De La Cadena fled on foot, troopers called for Lincoln Fire and Rescue after the vehicle caused a fire in the fields tall grass, according to authorities. After about a 15 minute search, a state patrol police dog tracked De La Cadena to where she was hiding on the bank of Stevens Creek, according to the release. De La Cadena was arrested on suspicion of flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, and obstructing a peace officer. Additional charges are pending in Seward County. She was lodged in Seward County Jail. As the last days of school come and go this week around Omaha, administrators are filing 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 were 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 were evacuating the classroom. Every day, I have to move the entire class somewhere else and follow emergency protocols so that they dont get hit, she said. Its 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. Its 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. Were 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 its 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. 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 On April 25, Chief Justice John Roberts sent the Senate Judiciary Committee a Statement on Ethics Principles and Practices signed by all nine justices. Roberts forwarded along the statement in lieu of testifying before the committee, and obviously hoped it would quell growing congressional concern over the Supreme Courts growing ethics scandals. The document identified various recusal and disclosure practices, claiming that all of the current Members of the Supreme Court subscribe to these suggested rules. It took Justice Samuel Alito barely a month to violate them. Advertisement In the courts orders list on Tuesday, Alito noted his recusal from BG Gulf Coast and Phillips 66 v. Sabine-Neches Navigation Districta case about two energy companies shirking their obligation to help fund improvement of a waterway that they use for shipping. (The court declined to take up the case, leaving in place a lower court decision against the companies.) But the justice did not explain his reason for recusing, one of Roberts promised practices. To obtain that information, you must dig through his financial disclosures, which reveal that he holds up to $50,000 of stock in Phillips 66, one of the parties. Alito is one of two sitting justices who still holds individual stocks (as opposed to conflict-free assets like mutual funds). The only other sitting justice who maintains investments in individual stock is Roberts himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For years, Alito has periodically recused from cases involving energy companies without explaining why. This spring, however, that practice was supposed to change. Roberts ethics statement explained that justices may provide a summary explanation of a recusal decision with a citation to the relevant provision of the Judicial Code of Conduct. (That code is binding on lower court judges but voluntary for the justices.) The statement offered this example: Justice X took no part in the consideration or decision of this petition. See Code of Conduct, Canon 3C(1)(c) (financial interest). In Philips 66, it appears that Alito should have cited his financial interest in a party to explain his recusal decision. (In other words, he should have been Justice X.) This could have been a textbook example of the new rule in action; indeed, it was literally the example that the court offered the Senate Judiciary Committee. Instead, Alito refused to adhere to this new procedure. Advertisement His decision is all the more brazen given that Justice Elena Kagan debuted the new rule just last week. In recusing from a case, Kagan cited her prior government employment, a shorter way of saying that she participated in the proceedings while serving as solicitor general. This move provided some basis to hope that the court really had begun to embrace a modicum of transparency (albeit by doing the bare minimum). As Leah Litman pointed out on the Strict Scrutiny podcast, though, Kagan was never the problem: She has long complied voluntarily with the Judicial Code of Conduct, so much so that she once turned away a gift of free bagels and lox from high school friends. The real question was whether any justices at the center of the ethics maelstrom would follow through on the promises of the courts statement. It seems the answer is no. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Which is, of course, the entire problem with the unenforceable ethics guidelines that the chief justice offered up to the Senate Judiciary Committee in place of an actual code. The statement declares at the outset that it contains foundational ethics principles and practices; you might assume that if an ethics principle is foundational, then every justice should feel compelled to follow it. Yet the guidelines use voluntary language throughout, hedging at every turn to avoid committing the justices to any explicit mandate. For example, the recusal provision at issue in Phillips 66 contains a hazy qualification that in some cases, public disclosure of the basis for recusal would be ill-advised, giving the example of circumstances that might encourage strategic behavior by lawyers who may seek to prompt recusals in future cases. Advertisement Whatever that hedge means, it surely does not apply here. Alito either owns stock in a party or he doesnt, making recusals straightforward and difficult to game. But the justices defenders might cite that qualificationwhich is ambiguous to the point of meaninglessnessin his defense. That leads to a deeper problem: The justices who commit the most ethics violations are also the least likely to follow voluntary ethics guidelines. Alito has made it clear that he thinks ethics are for chumps. The justice stands accused of leaking the decision in 2014s Hobby Lobby to anti-abortion activists who infiltrated the Supreme Court Historical Society. Alito has delivered inappropriate public remarks swinging back at critics in the press and academia. And his track record on recusal has been spotty at best, with the justice either overlooking conflicts of interest or changing his mind about them: In 2014, for instance, the justice recused then un-recused himself from two cases without offering a word of explanation, and has failed to recuse in several cases since, despite owning stock in a party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An ethics statement that does not bind Alitoor Clarence Thomas, or any other justice who holds the arrogant conviction that they have a right to do anything they want in total secrecyis worse than useless. It creates the false impression that every member of the court is committed to the same rulebook, which in turn suggests that Congress has no need to impose an actual, enforceable code of ethics on SCOTUS. Roberts statement was designed to persuade us that the court could be trusted to keep its own affairs aboveboard. Barely a month later, it is already proving the opposite. Last week represented the 20th consecutive weekend in which Israeli activists took to the streets, in cities throughout the country, to protest a series of judicial reforms introduced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus ruling coalition of hard-right and ultra-Orthodox members of Parliament. One powerful ongoing image from these protests has been the hundreds of Israeli women dressed as handmaids from Margaret Atwoods eponymous novelits been so prevalent that Atwood herself tweeted about it several weeks back. Advertisement But under the red cloaks lurks a deeper story about women and organizing and power, and the ways in which Israel, a country with a flawed-but-functional system of checks and balances (and no formal constitution), cannot simply ignore womens votes and voices and power. Indeed, a lot of the Israeli handmaids are protesting more than the judicial reform efforts; they are also furiously angry about the coalitions refusal to take seriously domestic violence that is killing Israeli women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To sort all of this out, I spoke with three Israeli women who have been at the forefront of this organizing. My friend Nili Philipp is a lawyer, a mother, a womens rights activist, and a modern orthodox resident of Beit Shemesh. Professor Yofi Tirosh is an antidiscrimination expert, vice dean at the Tel Aviv University Faculty of Law, and an influential and award-winning civil rights activist. Finally, Hadas Ragolsky, a mother of three from Tel Aviv, is the spokeswoman of Bonot Alternativa, one of the groups that has spearheaded the womens protests. Below, lightly edited, is my conversation with the three of them about the involvement of women in the rallies and marches that continue to shape the resistance to the reforms. Advertisement Dahlia Lithwick: Tell me how you came to be involved with Bonot Alternativa and the female protesters who have become such a familiar sight on the streets of Israel in recent months. Nili Philipp: I first heard about Bonot Alternativa through a WhatsApp group headed by Yofi, pooling feminists from across the country. Bonot Alternativa was coordinating protests in red to raise awareness of the potential harms to womens rights if the proposed overhaul is allowed to go forward. The red handmaidens soon became a visual signature of protests in the larger cities. However, it was our governments decision on March 22 to torpedo a law designed to protect women from domestic violence that served as the catalyst for starting our own local demonstration of handmaidens in Beit Shemesh, a city notorious for violating womens rights. Advertisement Advertisement What specifically are these women worried about? What are the measures that may come about if Israels Supreme Court is weakened, and what laws are members of the governing coalition inclined to pass that will impact on the rights of women and other vulnerable communities? Advertisement Yofi Tirosh: Israel never offered a fair deal to women. Sex equality has been compromised by the monopoly given to religious law over marriage and divorce, the place of religion in the public sphere, the centrality of the military, and the constant state of emergency. Despite all this, Israels women have managed to pave their way to the top in academia, politics, business, and culture. The new government threatens to violate the already fragile situation dramatically and deepen the power of religion to shape lives and narrow basic liberties. Under the guise of family values, the coalitional agreements between Netanyahu and his fundamentalist and ultra-Orthodox partners promise to instill sex segregation in the public sphere, and to curb any initiatives to prevent domestic violence. They also promise to give business owners the right to refuse business based on their religious faith, thereby receiving permission to discriminate against Arabs, women, and LGBTQ+ customers. They also plan to expand the authority of the religious tribunals to civil matters, and to grant advantages in employment to ultra-Orthodox men. With an embarrassingly low number of women in the governing coalition and the lurking paralysis of courts, women will lose both the ability to promote egalitarian legislation and policies and judicial protection of their rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Help us understand the organization and the logistics: Who organized the costumes, how they made plans, what finally sold you on the idea that this message mattered? Is this a movement of lawyers, of secular women, or is it broader than that? Advertisement Hadas Ragolsky: Bonot Alternativa (Building an Alternative) was established two and a half years ago by Moran Zer Katzenstein, a former global marketing specialist and the head of communications and global brands in various leading companies. It is an apolitical and nonpartisan movement established to promote womens rights and representation, and fights to remedy violence against women. Our organization includes women from the right and left wing, Jewish and Arab, secular and religious, from all across the country. When the government began to promote its judicial reform in January, we understood very quickly that the changes resulting from their proposed laws would represent a fatal attack on womens rights. We went out to demonstrate, but our voices were not heard. So, after four weeks, one of the women in one of our groups suggested we do a public action in the spirit of Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Talean idea that had come up a number of times in the different parts of our organization. Advertisement Advertisement The idea was to dress in red robes and white bonnets like the handmaids in the book who lack rights and are treated as second-class citizens by men, to demonstrate what we fear will become of women in Israel should the judicial reforms pass. The first time was an experimentwe went out together, 20 volunteers, for the first march in front of the Supreme Court as part of the first demonstration against the judicial reform in Jerusalem. We bought the red robes in a costume shop and sewed the bonnets by hand and we requested media coverage. About 150,000 people participated in the wider demonstration in Jerusalem that week, but no one came to cover our performance. In that moment, we began to march from the Supreme Court to the Knesset (parliament). Normally, this route would be around a 10-minute walk, but because of the wider demonstration, we marched for 45 minutes. With that, we caught the interest of every media outlet in Israel and some important global media outlets, and within a few weeks, we began to activate a full array of women, all on a volunteer basis, who contributed to sewing the costumes at home and coordinating transportation, message distribution, public relations, and social and digital media. We extended into many areas to advance the messages of the womens struggle and painting Israel red. Today, no demonstration takes place without women in red at its center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the three months since then, we have transformed from an organization of 550 women into one of 50,000 volunteers, because women throughout the country understood how fragile their rights were in the face of the coalitions judicial reforms and joined us en masse. And while the costumes were meant to be a kind of silent rebuke, a warning, a nod at the apocalyptic novel, it also began to draw real anger? Our performance is intended to make clear that we draw a red line, both literally and figuratively, and that we are not ready for an attack on our rights, and so we continue to demonstrate even if it angers those in power. Hadas: The representation of The Handmaids Tale is a well-known image that evokes a whole range of emotions, from amazement and fear to anger and ridicule. The message worked so strongly both in and outside of Israel that the ruling coalition in the Knesset understood how threatening it was to them and began to speak against our specific protest everywhere, in every television studio and on every social network. The opposition also included incitement and violence, but we are not afraid. Our performance is intended to make clear that we draw a red line, both literally and figuratively, and that we are not ready for an attack on our rights, and so we continue to demonstrate even if it angers those in power. Advertisement Philipp: Demonstrating as handmaidens proved a litmus test separating those who respect our right to free speech (even if uncomfortably) from those who do not. We were walking around a traffic circle with several memorial candles placed in the center to commemorate a woman who had just been brutally murdered by her partner, the eighth victim of domestic violence this year (as of this writing the number has grown to 15). Then a counterprotester drove by, his fist raised at us through his open window, spitting and screaming that we deserved to die. Whyfor daring to passively and through lawful protest reject centuries of gaslighting? What seemed to especially enrage him was that we were ignoring him while he was unable to ignore us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you describe it in these stark terms, its hard to imagine any kind of compromise or middle ground is possible. One side wants to be able to work and shop and send girls to school and the army, the other wants you out of public spaces. Is there some middle ground possible between these two positions? Yofi Tirosh: The middle ground is there already in the Israeli formula. It has worked for seven decades. Religious and ultra-Orthodox citizens receive ample accommodation of their cultural and financial needs. There is no public transportation on the Sabbath and shopping is limited, the religious and ultra-Orthodox men who serve in the military have the right to have female soldiers removed from their sight, and most ultra-Orthodox men avoid military service with the states permission and spend [their] full time studying Jewish law with welfare support and no contribution to the economy. Public institutions in Israel, hospitals, and the military serve only Kosher food. The deal has allowed religious men and women to live a full religious life both within and outside their communities. But the deal also was that if one wanted to join the general society and study, work, or play, one must respect core liberal values such as liberty and equality. Today, the religious conservative forces in government want to change Israels general public sphere, and in the name of religious accommodation legislate laws demanding womens modesty and legitimizing their discrimination in the name of piety. To accept these plans is to undermine Israel as a liberal democracy and turn it into a corrupt and oppressive theocracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is increasingly more talk in Israel about moving to a federal system with cantons or districts that will be based on sectorial cultural, religious, and national identity. The sentiment is that if living together will prove impossible, perhaps separating different communities such that they can live side by side is a more viable direction. Advertisement How optimistic are you that this current pause in pushing through the reforms will result in any kind of permanent walk-back of the proposed changes? Are you worried that they will all slip through once national and international attention dwindles? Philipp: None of us can know where our country is headed and what will be the long-term ramifications. Its especially terrifying to be a mother of daughters today in Israel. But the one thing I do know is weve learned to push some buttons. Israelis are known to be prickly, hence the endearing term sabra (cactus fruit). This just might be what will save us. Yofi: I am worried of exactly that. That compromise will be strategic and the next steps to ruin Israel democracy will be incremental and slow, challenging an effective protest. I am also worried that the heads of the center parties, Benny Ganz and Yair Lapid, will be tempted yet again to join the Netanyahu coalition, presenting themselves as responsible adults but from past experience, achieving nothing but more permission for Netanyahu to proceed with his divisive and corrupt scheme to gain unlimited power. I worry about violence between civilians; a civil war. I worry about a real war that has been looming large in the past week. But like Nili, I am inspired and full of awe by the protests determination and creativity. Israelis are connected like never before. We work together across institutional hierarchies and professional and ideological differences, we talk about the blessings of democracy and of rights like we have never done before, and we realize that it would not be a sufficient achievement if we manage to stop the antidemocratic legislation. Many of us received a poignant lesson, during the last few months, of how fragile is Israels democracy. Many are prepared to fight and work for an Israeli new deal, which will even boldly talk about social injustices here, and even, I believe, about the occupation, an issue that Israels mainstream has suppressed for the past 30 years. In February, Meta released its large language model: LLaMA. Unlike OpenAI and its ChatGPT, Meta didnt just give the world a chat window to play with. Instead, it released the code into the open-source community, and shortly thereafter the model itself was leaked. Researchers and programmers immediately started modifying it, improving it, and getting it to do things no one else anticipated. And their results have been immediate, innovative, and an indication of how the future of this technology is going to play out. Training speeds have hugely increased, and the size of the models themselves has shrunk to the point that you can create and run them on a laptop. The world of A.I. research has dramatically changed. Advertisement This development hasnt made the same splash as other corporate announcements, but its effects will be much greater. It will wrest power from the large tech corporations, resulting in both much more innovation and a much more challenging regulatory landscape. The large corporations that had controlled these models warn that this free-for-all will lead to potentially dangerous developments, and problematic uses of the open technology have already been documented. But those who are working on the open models counter that a more democratic research environment is better than having this powerful technology controlled by a small number of corporations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The power shift comes from simplification. The LLMs built by OpenAI and Google rely on massive data sets, measured in the tens of billions of bytes, computed on by tens of thousands of powerful specialized processors producing models with billions of parameters. The received wisdom is that bigger data, bigger processing, and larger parameter sets were all needed to make a better model. Producing such a model requires the resources of a corporation with the money and computing power of a Google or Microsoft or Meta. Advertisement But building on public models like Metas LLaMa, the open-source community has innovated in ways that allow results nearly as good as the huge modelsbut run on home machines with common data sets. What was once the reserve of the resource-rich has become a playground for anyone with curiosity, coding skills, and a good laptop. Bigger may be better, but the open-source community is showing that smaller is often good enough. This opens the door to more efficient, accessible, and resource-friendly LLMs. More importantly, these smaller and faster LLMs are much more accessible and easier to experiment with. Rather than needing tens of thousands of machines and millions of dollars to train a new model, an existing model can now be customized on a mid-priced laptop in a few hours. This fosters rapid innovation. Advertisement Advertisement It also takes control away from large companies like Google and OpenAI. By providing access to the underlying code and encouraging collaboration, open-source initiatives empower a diverse range of developers, researchers, and organizations to shape the technology. This diversification of control helps prevent undue influence, and ensures that the development and deployment of A.I. technologies align with a broader set of values and priorities. Much of the modern internet was built on open-source technologies from the LAMP (Linux, Apache, mySQL, and PHP/PERL/Python) stacka suite of applications often used in web development. This enabled sophisticated websites to be easily constructed, all with open-source tools that were built by enthusiasts, not companies looking for profit. Facebook itself was originally built using open-source PHP. Advertisement Advertisement But being open-source also means that there is no one to hold responsible for misuse of the technology. When vulnerabilities are discovered in obscure bits of open-source technology critical to the functioning of the internet, often there is no entity responsible for fixing the bug. Open-source communities span countries and cultures, making it difficult to ensure that any countrys laws will be respected by the community. And having the technology open-sourced means that those who wish to use it for unintended, illegal, or nefarious purposes have the same access to the technology as anyone else. Advertisement Advertisement This, in turn, has significant implications for those who are looking to regulate this new and powerful technology. Now that the open-source community is remixing LLMs, its no longer possible to regulate the technology by dictating what research and development can be done; there are simply too many researchers doing too many different things in too many different countries. The only governance mechanism available to governments now is to regulate usage (and only for those who pay attention to the law), or to offer incentives to those (including startups, individuals, and small companies) who are now the drivers of innovation in the arena. Incentives for these communities could take the form of rewards for the production of particular uses of the technology, or hackathons to develop particularly useful applications. Sticks are hard to useinstead, we need appealing carrots. Advertisement It is important to remember that the open-source community is not always motivated by profit. The members of this community are often driven by curiosity, the desire to experiment, or the simple joys of building. While there are companies that profit from supporting software produced by open-source projects like Linux, Python, or the Apache web server, those communities are not profit driven. Advertisement And there are many open-source models to choose from. Alpaca, Cerebras-GPT, Dolly, HuggingChat, and StableLM have all been released in the past few months. Most of them are built on top of LLaMA, but some have other pedigrees. More are on their way. The large tech monopolies that have been developing and fielding LLMsGoogle, Microsoft, and Metaare not ready for this. A few weeks ago, a Google employee leaked a memo in which an engineer tried to explain to his superiors what an open-source LLM means for their own proprietary tech. The memo concluded that the open-source community has lapped the major corporations and has an overwhelming lead on them. Advertisement This isnt the first time companies have ignored the power of the open-source community. Sun never understood Linux. Netscape never understood the Apache web server. Open source isnt very good at original innovations, but once an innovation is seen and picked up, the community can be a pretty overwhelming thing. The large companies may respond by trying to retrench and pulling their models back from the open-source community. But its too late. We have entered an era of LLM democratization. By showing that smaller models can be highly effective, enabling easy experimentation, diversifying control, and providing incentives that are not profit motivated, open-source initiatives are moving us into a more dynamic and inclusive A.I. landscape. This doesnt mean that some of these models wont be biased, or wrong, or used to generate disinformation or abuse. But it does mean that controlling this technology is going to take an entirely different approach than regulating the large players. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Ryan McNeill, from over at Reuters, has been thinking about bats for three years. Specifically, hes been thinking about bats and pandemics. Back in 2020, like everyone else, McNeill was following news coverage about the origins of COVID-19speculation that bats were the source of the virus. But when McNeill heard all this, he thought these explanations generated more questions than answers. There was news coverage about the role of bats and the role of habitat disruption at the time, he said. But from my perspective, it always lacked specificity about, well, where exactly is it happening and who is responsible for it happening? Advertisement He couldnt let these questions go, so he started learning everything he could about viruses, and about bats, too. One of the things thats amazing about bats is they have this enormous diversity. Theres a ton of different bat species. Bats make up something like a quarter of all the mammalian species on earth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All these different bat speciesMcNeill learnedwere like flying Petri dishes for disease. Viruses could incubate inside them and wait for a chance to hop to humans. And over the past two decades, we humans have been moving closer and closer to what McNeill calls the Bat Lands. He knows this because hes been mapping out these regions, mapping places that might end up as the cradle of the next pandemic. Advertisement 1.8 billion people live in those areas. Its about 1 in 5, depending on whos counting, of every man, woman, and child on earth, he said. Its not the bats that are at fault. It is us encroaching where they are and where theyve been since forever. On a recent episode of What Next, I spoke with McNeill about whether going inside the Bat Lands could help prevent the next outbreak. Our conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity. Mary Harris: Lets start by defining a term that is really important: zoonotic spillover. What is it and why is it important? Ryan McNeill: This is the term that scientists use to describe when a virus circulating among wildlife infects a human. There are lots of animals that are reservoirs for disease, but as far as bats go, theyve been linked to some that weve all heard of: COVID. Ebola. The original SARS. Marburg. Nipah. Hendra. Advertisement Advertisement That is like a greatest hits of infectious disease! A special thing about bats is that they can often harbor these viruses but stay healthy themselves. Scientists arent sure why that is. It could be that bats are too warmblooded for these germs to thrive. In any case, one of the key things to know about zoonotic spillover is that it isnt just about chance encounters between humans and bats. Supercharged economic development rapidly accelerates the way novel infections spread. Advertisement If you look at our first story, which takes place in West Africa, we visit a mine in the Nimba Mountains in Liberia that is owned by ArcelorMittal, a Luxembourg-based mining giant. Testing of bats there as mining expansion was occurring found links to Ebola in bats that lived around the mining concession. Advertisement Thats not a great advertisement for working in that mine. The mine is expanding, and they are Liberias No. 1 taxpayer. And recently, as that mine has expanded, the population has grownan 80 percent increase, according to ArcelorMittals own documents, just over a decade. And thats a common thing that happens with mines across West Africa. Not only are you going into remote areas, and youre taking workers into those areas, but then you also draw people who are looking for work. Advertisement Advertisement Just across the border from this mine, in 2013, bats triggered an Ebola outbreak that ended up killing thousands. The mine says it is mitigating its risk as best it can. Nevertheless, its in what McNeills team at Reuters dubbed a jump zonethats a place where humans and animals, especially bats, are interacting in new and potentially dangerous ways. Advertisement These jump zones have expanded by 16 percent during the last two decades. And theyve expanded in some places, such as India, which are very heavily populated. India now has, by our estimates, half a billion people at risk that live within these areas. Now, conversely, you could look at somewhere like the Amazon, where we have an enormous rainforest that is incredibly biodiverse and being chewed up in enormous numbers, but you still dont quite have that population that you do in West Africa or India or Southeast Asia. But when you build roads into forests and you start building towns, eventually growth follows. Advertisement I want to look a little deeper at how bat-to-humans zoonotic spillover works. And I wonder if we could focus in on one outbreak from a few years back, May of 2018, in India. Thats where a man named Muhammad Sabith got a fever. Can you tell me what happened? Advertisement Advertisement Yeah, he lived in Kerala, which is in the southwest part of India. In 2018, he wakes up with a fever. Hes staying with his parents, so he goes to a community hospital. But over the next 24 hours, his symptoms worsen. He is vomiting, intense delirium, tremors, violent coughing. And doctors treated him with antibiotics and antivirals, and his lungs filled with fluid. His oxygen levels plunged, and he was dead two days after he became ill. And this was remarkable because it turned out to be Nipah, which is the first known appearance of Nipah in this part of India. Ive heard a little bit about the Nipah virus, but can you just explain what it is? Advertisement So, they know it comes from bats. It infects people when their eyes, nose, or mouth come into contact of fluids containing the virus, such as saliva, urine, blood, nasal or respiratory droplets. A really good example would be Bangladesh, where Nipah infections have become really quite common every year. And the reason, scientists have discovered, is largely driven by date palm sap. It is considered a delicacy in parts of Bangladesh. The tree is tapped, and the sap runs into these big canisters. And bats happened to love it for the same reason that Bangladeshis do. Advertisement Advertisement Its nice and sweet. Yes. And they gorge on this. And they end up peeing in the syrup. Thats right. And so, this emergence in 2018 in India was a long way from Bangladesh. And it was a long way from Malaysia, where Nipah was first found. Advertisement Advertisement It was kind of a mystery. Like, how did Nipah get here? Yes. Kerala is still a mystery. And its struck two more times since then, in 2019 and 2021. You did find that this man, Muhammad, and people he knew, they were picking up fruit from the ground, right? That bats had taken a bite out of. Yes. And the scientists tested fruit and other things around the area, and they didnt find Nipah. So, thats part of the mystery. Now, the rain may have washed it away. Finding the exact point of spillover can sometimes be very difficult because by the time the scientists arrive, the trail has gone cold. Your team did do something interesting to understand Muhammads case. You looked at satellite imagery. Can you explain why you did that and what you found? Advertisement Satellite imagery was key to this entire investigation. In the case of this 2018 outbreak, you can look at the satellite images over time, and you can see the houses popping up in this area that was once much less densely populated. One of the other interesting things that our model picked up on was a spike in risk right before Muhammad was infected. Advertisement You mean that looking back at the data, you could have shown, like, oh, theres a higher risk of transmission at this point. Why was that? When I went digging into why the model made that prediction for this particular area, it was because it had picked up on tree-cover loss in the area. And so I went and I looked at the satellite imagery, and there were a couple of little chunks of trees that had gone missing. Its impossible, again, to know exactly what role, if any, that might have played in this particular incident, but there was habitat disruption going on in this area leading up to when Muhammad was infected. Advertisement Advertisement Given that you found that, I wonder if scientists have started coming to you and saying, Can we use this tool proactively to figure out where we need to manage risk better? Certainly what we hope is that this is a public service of sorts. One scientist named Barbara Hahn, whos a disease ecologist at the Carey Institute in New York and specializes in using machine learning to predict the emergence of zoonotic diseases like thisshe said, What this shows is how risk is clumped. Its not evenly distributed across the earth. And we can point to those places and say, Perhaps we should focus there. Perhaps we should focus our prevention efforts or surveillance or science or funding, etc. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The beauty of what youve done, which is mapping out these jump zones, is that you can see where future outbreaks could happen. Can you tick off what the hotspots are to you, looking at the next decade or so? One that we should pay close attention to is Southeast Asia, and Laos in particular. We visited a cave in a place called Feuang District, this once remote area in Laos where workers were harvesting bat guano in these big caves. They take it, they shovel it. You took photos, and there are just tons of bags of it. And people are doing this work barefoot. Yes. And often they have cuts, burns, lesions from exposure to the ammonia thats present because of the bat waste in these caves. But this place where theyre working is where scientists from the Pasteur Institute recently found bats with coronaviruses that are the closest match to SARS-CoV-2 that anybody has found in the wild. And so you have these workers in these caves doing this work, and one of the workers told us that they want to build a tourist site that lures tourists to come and see these bats every night, kind of like youve seen in Austin, Texas, where everybody goes and sits by the bridge to watch the bats come out. So, this is a really good example of a remote area that was once fairly disconnected that is now being connected. Theres a new high-speed rail line that goes very close to this area, as well as a brand-new expressway, the first one in Laos. Both of these are financed and built by China to speed goods that are being made in Laos to take them to China. And it also means people are moving on these trains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What youre talking about here is so important because the work that these people have been doing in this cave in Laos has been happening for a very long time, is my understanding. Is that right? Sure. But whats new is all of the development, the high-speed rail, the highways, the interest in tourism and luring people to these areas. These remote regions with some risk, that risk might have been able to be mitigated before, simply because they were remote. And thats just not the case anymore. Thats right. My colleague Grant Smith did a pretty interesting analysis to simulate what would happen if a virus emerged in this town in the Amazon called Altamira. Because of the air-travel connections in Brazil, and then Brazil around the rest of the world, this novel virus, according to this model, could infect 1.2 billion people, which dwarfs the spread of COVID-19, within six months. So yes, we are interconnected in a way that we never were before. And with that comes new risks. Advertisement McNeills team has identified a few solutions when it comes to stopping zoonotic spillover. But naming the answers is a lot easier than putting them into practice. He actually compared the scope of the problem hereand its intractabilityto climate change. Advertisement Advertisement There are a few things that need to happen to help mitigate risks. One of those is governments have to identify and acknowledge the risks associated with these bat-rich areas. But then were also talking about more money. The World Bank and others have estimated $10 billion a year is needed to help developing countries cut risk and respond to outbreaks. Some might say thats a lot of money, but how much did COVID-19 cost people around the world? Governments must mandate health risk assessments before approving projects to disrupt bat habitats. And so youre talking about a couple of things, right? Youre talking about this battle between the global economy and this risk to humanity. And theres some similarities to that with climate change. Advertisement Advertisement What youre saying is the larger countries, the richer countries may not want the risk of a pandemic, but that also means telling smaller countries, poorer countries: Stop economically expanding in this way, stop exploiting your resources, stop expanding into these regions where youre going to come up against these bat populations. Thats a complicated thing to do. Say youre Liberia. This ArcelorMittal mine that I mentioned, they are Liberias largest taxpayer. So, if youre the government of a country like Liberia, youve got choices to make. Subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts Get more news from Mary Harris every weekday. Its impossible to miss the fact that this viral spread is being driven by huge economic changes in vulnerable places. And your reporting team gives these examples of public health authorities locally doing things like broadcasting warnings to people in remote places who live near bats, urging them not to eat potentially contaminated food. And it just seems like putting all this pressure on the most vulnerable in this situation to help themselves rather than addressing the fact that, OK, theres a giant mine here and maybe theres going to be another mine down the street in a little bit. Advertisement It takes a lot of things for a spillover to happen. There are lots of risk factors. So, its about addressing as many possible things as you can. Maybe its Dont eat the fruit that has bite marks on it. Maybe its Dont drink date palm sap. Its also about the international community funding surveillance and research and scientists to go into these areas and do the work that they need to do. Its also an international treaty that requires biological impact assessments. So, maybe its about multiple layers of protection, taking action in multiple ways because these viruses can find different pathways. It just needs the right one. Your story is obviously not a happy one, necessarily. Theres a lot of challenges your team has revealed. But I also do feel like theres something sweet underlying the reporting, which is this connection that we have with the natural world around us, including bats. Some people could read the headline of your story and be like, Oh, these bats are dirty, get them away from me. But I wonder if after all this reporting, you see it differently. Well, bats are so important to our existence. Theyre pollinators. Theyre so important to the ecosystems. And what we do to them in their worldand the same goes for lots of other animals as wellcan affect our own health. In March 2022, a wayward rocket crashed on the moons surface after years of uncontrolled tumbling through space. The collision created a new crater and sent debris flying across the lunar landscape. Whose rocket it was is up for debate, and the collision served as a reminder of the challenges and emerging dangers that come along with an increasingly crowded space environment. The moon has long captivated human imagination. But recent technological advancements, geopolitical rivalries, and the potential of untapped resources have escalated the race to explore our closest celestial neighbor. Both NASA and the China National Space Administration, for example, have set their sights on identical landing locations in the vicinity of the lunar south pole. This competitive scenario highlights the need for a comprehensive understanding of lunar activities; successful and safe exploration of the moon demands intricate coordination among everyone who wants to be there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, there is no such mechanism for sharing and verifying information. In other words, theres no sure way to know whos doing what on the moon at any given time. The result is an increased risk of political tensions, accidents, and environmental harms. As it stands, we are wholly unprepared to effectively regulate, coordinate, and monitor the uptick in lunar activity. The solution? We need a global moon registry: a comprehensive database of past, present, and future activities on and around the moon. Sharing fundamental information such as location, coordinates, dimensions, and planned maneuvers in the lunar environment could help prevent and mitigate future incidents. To increase participation, the registry should be managed by a third party, such as a neutral nonprofit organization created with stakeholder needs in mind. Doing so is a critical step in managing the intricate dance of exploration and exploitation on our celestial neighbor. Advertisement Creating such a registry wont be easy. Space is a highly competitive arena and reflects the multipolar tension were experiencing so acutely on Earth. States are particularly sensitive to their interests and sovereignty, and trustthe foundation for collaborative international governanceis a rarefied commodity. Similarly, commercial enterprises do not traditionally like to share specific details about their activities (for obvious reasons). These dynamics have complicated previous efforts at creating such registries in space. For example, while the U.N. Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space says it registers 88 percent of activities and objects launched into space, major actors often fail to provide key required information in their submissions, or indeed, any details at all. Some just ignore the register completely. Advertisement Advertisement Still, there are other (earthbound) models of success for coordinating stakeholders with competing values and interests. Consider the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement in Canada, where various groups came together to establish ecosystem-based management for a large tract of rainforest. Despite competing interests between environmentalists, First Nations groups, the logging industry, and the government, a shared commitment to collaboration and compromise allowed them to reach an agreement. Likewise, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN, is an organization that has successfully promoted discussion and decision-making among diverse internet actors, especially by leveraging its multistakeholder governance model. This model ensures that all internet stakeholders have a say in the decision-making process while operating with transparency and accountability, ultimately maintaining a commitment to keeping the internet secure, stable, and interoperable. Advertisement Advertisement So how do we apply these lessons to the moon? This first step is building trust. One way to do this is by using advisory groups, which can serve as platforms for dialogue for diverse actors to voice their concerns and suggestions. In this case, we would need advisory groups that represent all interested partiesincluding space agencies, private space companies, international organizations, scientific communities, and civil society groups. These stakeholders all have unique interests: Space agencies and private companies may be concerned with exploration rights, scientific communities may be interested in research opportunities, and civil society groups may focus on the ethical and sustainable use of lunar resources. Ensuring everyone has a say in the design of the registry would encourage participation once its up and running. A lunar registry can also learn from other registry efforts. For instance, the U.N. Outer Space Registry, while not the best adhered to, does help give an idea of how much detail participants might be expected to provide. It also highlights that legally binding treaties (in this case, the Outer Space Treaty) dont necessarily equate to compliance in practicemeaning a more flexible focus on norms creation and a voluntary buy-in approach might be more successful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One model for such an approach is the International Atomic Energy Agencys voluntary reactor and plutonium stockpile databases. Nuclear technology and material are highly sensitive (since they are inherently dual-use), but keeping things simple and adopting a buy-in approach has helped balance the trust equation by allowing states their sovereign agency while fostering trust-building through participation. There is a trade-off: Because theyre voluntary, the databases are not always up to date; for instance, China stopped providing data in 2017. But such unilateral moves cause a stir among the stakeholder community, which can build pressure toward transparency. Advertisement A voluntary lunar activities registry would face other hurdles. A registry managed by civil society represents a shift from traditional governance mechanisms, which are typically led by states or international organizations. Civil society governance offers many advantages, as a third-party NGO is typically perceived as more neutral and less politically influencedand thus more trustworthy. Civil society groups can also be more flexible and innovative. But this model might be met with resistance from states that view such nonstate efforts as challenges to their sovereignty. Turkeys Erdogan administration, for instance, has recently viewed NGO and civil society efforts not regulated by its government as seeking to undermine governmental authority. Similarly, the Chinese Communist Party has a complex relationship with civil society organizations that is defined by a lack of trust. Thus, its unlikely that all states would opt in to a transparency-building measure, but even if not all states opt in, a voluntary lunar activities registry is still useful, because the participation of even a subset of states and other actors can promote collaboration. Nonparticipating states may face diplomatic or public pressure to join the registry, particularly if its seen as contributing to the safety and sustainability of lunar activities. Advertisement Advertisement Another hurdle is that registry input could be used to make controversial political or corporate statements or may not be honest in detail. A state or a company might exaggerate their lunar activities to assert dominance or downplay their actions to hide possibly illegal activities, such as a country declaring a larger-than-actual area for lunar mining to deter others, or a company underreporting its activities to evade regulatory scrutiny. The Antarctic Treaty System, for example, which mandates that states notify all signatories of their activities on the continent, recently saw a Chinese research base only partially declare its intent, seeking to downplay potentially unlawful commercial mineral exploration. If the registry itself wishes to remain apolitical, it wouldnt be its job to correct such issuesit would be up to other actors to catch inconsistencies and, if needed, launch a community response. Advertisement Advertisement There are additional regulatory and commercial issues that could generate reluctance among lunar actors. For instance, intellectual property is not currently legally protected in space, and without a universally agreed-upon regulatory framework (which is unlikely to happen anytime soon), actors may wish to keep their assets and information private or limit their offering. Thus, its important to carefully balance the detail a registry requires to function properly with how much an actor will realistically be willing to share. Advertisement Advertisement So, yes, establishing a lunar registry would be tricky. But its also a crucial step toward managing our increasingly crowded moon. Uncontrolled activities can jeopardize missions and risk lives, and without transparent information-sharing, nations might unknowingly duplicate efforts and waste resourceswhich could quickly lead to unsustainable exploitation of our limited lunar resources. A lunar registry, on the other hand, can prevent accidents, promote efficient space exploration, and encourage sustainable practices. It also fosters international collaboration and transparency, reducing political tensions and building trust. The collision of the rogue rocket in 2022 is a reminder of the hazards of operating in an environment where information-sharing is not standardized. By establishing a system for tracking objects and activities on and around the moon, we can ensure that countries, industry, civil society, and scientific communities can effectively communicate and coordinate their activitiesand in doing so, lay the groundwork for a more transparent and equitable future for lunar exploration. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Iskander systems can be used for ballistic and cruise missiles. Photo: EPA A total of eleven Iskander-M and Iskander-K missiles were launched from the north, explained the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valery Zaluzhny, adding that they were all destroyed by Ukrainian air defense. According to the spokesperson of the Ukrainian Air Force Yuriy Ignat, Moscow could also use missiles of the S-300 and S-400 anti-aircraft systems in the attack. Our air defense detected and destroyed more than 40 targets. Attacks on Kiev were repelled, the civil and military administration of Kyiv announced. Mayor of Kyiv Vitaliy Klitschko announced that there were no deaths or injuries in the attacks. It is the fifteenth attack on this capital since the beginning of May, and was carried out with maneuvering missiles fired by TU-95MS strategic bombers and drones, the civil and military administration of Kyiv said on Telegram. As she added, with these continuous attacks, the enemy tries to keep the civilian population in a state of great psychological tension. At least ten explosions were heard in Kyiv at 10 a.m. CET. The attack was later confirmed by Mayor Klitschko, who called on residents to take refuge in shelters. According to authorities, fragments of the downed rockets fell in three districts of the city, injuring one person. Attacks also elsewhere in the country During the night, Russian rockets hit several facilities, including a military one, in the Khmelnytskyi region in the west of the country. In the attack on the military facility, fuel depots and five aircraft were reportedly damaged. Explosions also rang out in Odessa. A fire broke out in the port of the city after the attack by the planes, but it has already been extinguished, reports the German news agency DPA. According to the Supreme Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valerija Zaluzny Russian forces launched a total of around 40 maneuvering missiles and 35 drones in a new wave of attacks over Ukraine. Of these, the Ukrainian air defense is said to have shot down 37 missiles and 29 aircraft. Russia carried out the largest drone attack on Kiev since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine on Sunday night, before the citys holiday, the anniversary of its founding more than 1,500 years ago. 40 of the 54 planes fired were aimed at Kiev, killing two people and wounding three. Meanwhile, in Zhytomyr in northwestern Ukraine, at least 26 residential buildings, as well as schools and medical buildings, were damaged, the BBC reports, citing the Ukrainska Pravda portal. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky he praised the air defense. Every time you shoot down an enemy plane or missile, lives are saved. You are heroes, he announced. Kiev is one of the main targets of Russian airstrikes. Photo: Reuters Lavrov warned against the collapse of the grain agreement Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned the West in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, that the agreement on the export of grain across the Black Sea is in danger of collapsing if the United Nations does not fulfill part of the agreement, which provides for the removal of obstacles to the export of Russian grain and fertilizers. If everything remains as it is, and it obviously will, then it will be necessary to proceed from the fact that [sporazum] Its not working anymore, Lavrov said during the unannounced visit. According to him, the agreement is not being fulfilled at all, and less than three percent of the grain exported under the agreement reached the worlds poorest countries. Following Russias military aggression against Ukraine in February last year, Russian warships blockaded Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea until the warring sides reached an agreement in July last year allowing grain ships to pass safely. The agreement, which the two countries signed in Constantinople with the intervention of Turkey and the UN, was finally extended in the middle of this month. Since the conclusion of the agreement, Russia has repeatedly threatened to withdraw from it if obstacles to the export of Russian grain and fertilizers are not removed. Consequences of the attack on Kiev on Sunday night. Photo: Reuters In Kenya, Lavrov will discuss Nairobis cooperation with Moscow in the fields of trade, investment and economy, humanitarian and cultural issues, education, cooperation in the UN and many other issues, the Russian Foreign Ministry summarized the words of the first man of Russian diplomacy. Lavrovs visit comes a week after the Ukrainian foreign minister was in a hurry in several African countries Dmytro Kuleba. At the headquarters of the African Union in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, he tried to explain to the leaders of African countries that a neutral stance towards the war in Ukraine is not a solution. In light of the war, both Russia and Ukraine are working to support African countries. Kuleba also announced that Kyiv plans to open several embassies in Africa and organize a summit with the leaders of that continent. Denmark increased aid to Ukraine The Danish government has announced that it will allocate additional funds to the state aid fund for Ukraine, which was established in March just over 2.4 billion euros. Thus, the total amount of funds in the fund will increase from the original billion to approximately 3.4 billion euros. Regarding the war in Ukraine, we are at a very critical moment because the situation on the battlefield is serious, so Ukraine needs all the support it can get, said the prime minister Mette Frederiksen. In March, the Scandinavian country, with the agreement of almost all parties in parliament, initially allocated seven billion Danish kroner, which amounts to one billion euros, to the fund, with most of the money earmarked for military aid. Frederiksen said today that Denmark will add an additional 7.5 billion kroner, or slightly more than one billion euros, to the aid fund for Ukraine already this year, and another 10.4 billion kroner in 2024, which amounts to almost 1.4 billion euros. Ukrainians need our weapons and our support now, so this is urgent, said the Danish Prime Minister, adding that the fund is already running out of money. When announcing additional funds for next year, she warned that there is no indication that it will be a year of peace. The Ukrainian president has already thanked the Danish government for the move in a post on Twitter. This important contribution will further strengthen the combat capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the short and medium term, he wrote. In mid-May, Denmark also announced that it would help train Ukrainian pilots to use F-16 fighter jets as part of a European initiative. At the same time, Frederiksen did not explicitly exclude the possibility that Denmark would also contribute some of its F-16 aircraft, of which it has about 40, to Ukraine. In a significant development in the hospitality sector, a federal grand jury in San Diego returned an indictment against two restaurant owners on May 19, citing allegations of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. The accused, Leronce Suel and Ravae Smith, operated a chain of restaurants in the San Diego area under their LLCs, Rockstar Dough LLC and Chicken Feed LLC. According to the indictment, from March 2020 to June 2022, the duo reportedly conspired to underreport over $1.7 million in gross receipts on Rockstar Dough LLCs 2020 corporate tax return (Form 1120S) filed with the IRS. This alleged falsification was an attempt to qualify for the COVID-related Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Restaurant Revitalization Funding loans. Suel and Smith are also accused of making materially false certifications on loan applications regarding the utilization of the loan proceeds. Furthering the gravity of the allegations, the indictment charges Suel and Smith with money laundering, claiming they made significant cash withdrawals from their business bank accounts to obscure the origin of the fraudulently obtained funds. They also allegedly concealed over $2.4 million in cash at their residence, a clear violation of both tax law and the terms of the federal relief programs. On their initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo, the pair learned the seriousness of the charges. If convicted, they could face a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and 10 years in prison for money laundering. In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman for the Southern District of California reminded small businesses of the purpose behind the COVID-19 relief loans. During an unprecedented public health emergency, the United States provided these loan programs to deliver economic relief to Americans, he said. This office will investigate and prosecute those who exploited the global pandemic to unjustly enrich themselves. The charges against Suel and Smith underline the importance of maintaining transparency and integrity in dealing with federal aid programs. In particular, small businesses must exercise caution and honesty when applying for and utilizing COVID-relief loans. In response to these allegations, Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher of the Los Angeles Field Office emphasized the IRSs commitment to justice. Submitting false returns in support of a fraudulent loan application is a crime. IRS-CI is committed to aggressively investigating these crimes and bringing those to justice who stole funds and targeted relief programs during the pandemic. Get the latest headlines from Small Business Trends. Follow us on Google News. Companies saw a significant increase in searches for directors as well as narrowly specialised experts. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled More information about the Slovak labour market Please see our Career & Employment Guide. While in 2021 the 10 largest executive search companies in Slovakia received 4.4 million for their services, in 2022 this rose to 5.5 million. Developments from the beginning of 2023 indicate that the increased demand is continuing. Since the beginning of the year, we have identified more assignments in the field of selection processes and we have also received more direct calls for cooperation from companies, said Robert Baldovic, a partner from Menkyna & Partners. The firm came first in the ranking of executive search companies. Unlike in the past, according to Baldovic, many companies have begun to invest more in their people. They are trying to improve their working environments, benefits, and activities to help employees grow professionally. They also devote more attention and financial resources to recruiting new people and their subsequent involvement in the operation of companies. The Great Resignation phenomenon The third largest company on the market, Amrop, cited a visible change in managers view of their careers. 10 largest executive search firms in Slovakia MenkynaPartners Management Consulting Arthur Hunt Amrop Personality HEADSCOUT Jenewein Executive Menity Teamconsult SR TARGET Executive Search Consilium Consulting A relatively significant share of employees are reassessing the scope of their job position. Purposeful leadership becomes an important factor for employees when planning the future. The first indications of the so-called Great Resignation appeared in the USA at the end of 2021. Slovakia is not bypassing this trend either, and we are noticing a gradual increase in departures or indicated departures from management positions with the aim of living a more fulfilled life, said Igor Sulik, a managing partner from Amrop. How the largest executive search firms helped Menkyna & Partners advised on the integration of previously independent state-owned heating plants into MH Teplarensky Holding, which fundamentally changed its corporate culture in addition to streamlining and modernising its operations. Subsequently, we became a partner that accompanied the holding in the creation of an overall long-term strategy, said Baldovic. His company helped the concern to create a vision, determine strategic themes and goals, and set indicators of success and desired SMART results. 2022: Revenues from executive search MenkynaPartners Management Consulting Personality HEADSCOUT Arthur Hunt Amrop Jenewein Executive Menity TARGET Executive Search Teamconsult SR Pedersen & Partners The second largest company, Arthur Hunt, assisted a client in the field of mechanical engineering. The client needed to find new experts in research and development. Arthur Hunt prepared a comparison with other companies in this segment, on the basis of which the client introduced the option of home office on three days a month and several IT tools for measuring productivity. Thanks to this, it was possible to fill the positions with suitable candidates. The experts at Amrop recruited a candidate for a key position for a Slovak medical technology company. The search included labour markets throughout Europe. We approached candidates in several countries, while we roped them into relocating to Slovakia and becoming part of an ambitious Slovak company, said Sulik. The position was eventually won by an expert from Italy. In addition to the presentation of the winning candidate, Amrop also prepares a consulting perspective associated with the assessment of the candidates managerial and leadership competencies. Generationally mixed teams Officially uncommunicated reluctance to hire and whether to even deal with experts over 50 years of age are accompanying signs of todays Slovak labour market, said Blanka Schellingova, managing partner at Arthur Hunt. She said that employers are slowly realising that they have to look for a source of stable labour and employ members of the older generation as well, as trends associated with work-life balance and sabbaticals are more pronounced among young people. Arthur Hunt began working more with older professionals, offering them one-on-one advice and connecting them with companies that build age-diverse teams. The new head of Slovak diplomacy, Wlachovsky, explains what he wants to accomplish. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled We have to talk with the Russians, even if they call us enemies, says the new Foreign Affairs Minister MIROSLAV WLACHOVSKY in an interview with daily SME. The government can then adapt these relations to its needs, which, according to him, is already happening. According to him, the inclination of Slovaks towards Russia also has historical reasons, as well as the view of Ukraine. The easiest way to peace is for Russia to withdraw, but the newly appointed minister thinks a more realistic scenario is that future peace negotiations will be shaped by the events on the battlefield in the coming months. In the interview you will find: whether there is an imminent threat from Hungary, why are the coming months key to the outcome of the war in Ukraine, whether the Russian embassy is a threat to Slovakia, why is Slovakia more pro-Russian than neighbouring countries. You were ex-PM Eduard Heger's advisor when he gave Viktor Orban a Slovak scarf instead of the one with a map of the Hungarian Empire he had around his neck a short time before. What is the significance of a gesture like this in diplomacy? It was not my idea, but I thought it was funny. You have to react to some things with wit, insight and lighten things up a bit. Especially if the atmosphere is saturated with emotions. Related article Related article Viktor and his amazing dreamscarf Read more Do you have a similar gift ready for Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto? No, I don't. I met my colleague for the first time as a minister at the Council for Foreign Affairs in Brussels. We shook hands and said how we would like our relations to be set up. It was originally agreed that the Slovak and Hungarian foreign ministers would meet once every six months, and now it would be time for a Slovak visit to Budapest. I want to approach relations with seriousness and with regard to the interests of Slovak citizens. There are significant differences in our approaches; the war in Ukraine has changed relations in the V4 Group, and this does not only concern Slovak-Hungarian relations, but especially Hungarian-Polish relations. However, Hungary will always be a Slovak neighbour and we need to have working communication set up so that we can solve things for the benefit of citizens of both countries. I am asking because your predecessor said a few months ago that if Russia had succeeded in Ukraine, Hungary would have already made territorial demands against Slovakia. What do think of Rastislav Kacer's statement? Rastislav Kacer was the ambassador in Hungary for years, he knows the country, but I'm not going to comment on his statements and what happened. I want to look ahead. What is certain is that Slovakia has some issues with Hungary, which were already raised by Ivan Korcok and related to property purchases by Hungary. An FA Minister is expected not only to communicate his/her own opinions, but in the case of such a strong statement to have it supported by the findings of specific state institutions. Do you have information that Hungary would like to proceed in this way? I don't think that there is any acute threat to Slovakia. Did Kacer's statement damage relations with Hungary? Relations were also changing due to communication that did not come from our side. Hungary had its significant problems regarding the rule of law and how it was perceived by its partners in the European Union. I can talk about what we want to do, I'm not responsible for our partners in Hungary. I want our communication to be clear, proper, to take place through its channels and to avoid unnecessary surprises and invectives. Related article Related article Hungarys territorial claims in Slovakia likely, says foreign minister Read more Is the V4 Group still a tool that Slovakia wants to use for communication in the Union, or is the Slavkov 3 format - Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Austria - more effective? https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/ai-can-turn-stalker-targeting-victims-using-facial-recognition-tools-experts-warn-1110792198.html AI Can 'Turn Stalker,' 'Targeting Victims' Using Facial Recognition Tools, Experts Warn AI Can 'Turn Stalker,' 'Targeting Victims' Using Facial Recognition Tools, Experts Warn Artificial intelligence (AI) can use facial recognition technology for sinister purposes, such as stalking people, Kevin Baragona, founder of DeepAI.org, is cited as warning. 2023-05-30T13:33+0000 2023-05-30T13:33+0000 2023-05-30T13:33+0000 artificial intelligence (ai) beyond politics science & tech elon musk steve wozniak big brother watch spacex tesla apple new york /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105363/26/1053632644_0:7:1047:595_1920x0_80_0_0_acdba8b1ea7bfc527296c169c9a9b2cc.jpg Artificial intelligence (AI) can use facial recognition technology for sinister purposes, such as stalking people, Kevin Baragona, founder of DeepAI.org, is cited as warning.All it would take is ones photo and the currently existing advanced AI-powered software, Baragona said.Baragona, who launched DeepAI in 2016 as an AI news portal, has witnessed his brainchild evolve into a deep learning platform, complete with AI chatbots and a text-to-image AI art generator. However, he has since been a vocal critic of the unbridled AI race, saying, "Someone should stop the AI industry."According to Baragona, one of the threats that ought to be addressed is the possibility of the United States government and law enforcement using AI "in secrecy." The fears that the technology could offer access to people's online activity and real-life whereabouts echo a recent warning voiced by C.A. Goldberg, an American law firm. It added that advanced facial recognition technology is extremely effective at identifying individuals from images or videos. Even in the case of low quality images, such as those gleaned from surveillance cameras, or other online sources, could allow potential stalkers to track victims.The warnings about AI-powered facial recognition software come as a company called PimEyes in the UK has been facing a legal wrangle. Its online face search engine is tailored to scour the Internet for websites based on photos submitted by users. While the company insists that the "risks of abusing PimEyes services are reduced to possible minimum, and that databases are secured in accordance with the highest standards of data security, some are not convinced.UK civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch said it poses a "great threat to privacy of millions of UK residents," according to a legal complaint.In a response statement, PimEyes underwscored, it "had never been and is not a tool to establish the identity or details of any individual."But this is just one of many concerns that have turned from a trickle into a powerful chorus of voices arguing the dangers of AI developing too fast and becoming "smarter" than humans.Earlier in the year, Baragona, like Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, put his signature under an open letter calling for a six-month pause in the development of AI systems that are more advanced than GPT-4. According to the document, AI systems with human-competitive intelligence can pose profound risks to society and humanity, as shown by extensive research and acknowledged by top AI labs. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230514/stakes-couldnt-be-higher-unbridled-super-intelligent-ai-could-wipe-out-humanity-1110344362.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230529/scientist-warns-of-looming-existential-threat-as-hyper-intelligent-ai-could-decide-to-take-over-1110772797.html new york Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko 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 Svetlana Ekimenko artificial intelligence, ai, facial recognition technology, sinister purposes, stalking, kevin baragona, founder of deepai.org, advanced ai-powered software, unbridled ai race, ai chatbots https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/altercation-at-hollywood-beach-broadwalk-ends-in-gunfire-9-hospitalized-1110785521.html Altercation at Hollywood Beach Broadwalk Ends in Gunfire, 9 Hospitalized Altercation at Hollywood Beach Broadwalk Ends in Gunfire, 9 Hospitalized In a disturbing incident at Hollywood Beach Broadwalk, an altercation between two groups turned violent, resulting in gunfire and the hospitalization of at least nine individuals. 2023-05-30T04:15+0000 2023-05-30T04:15+0000 2023-05-30T04:15+0000 americas us hollywood shooting victim fatal shooting altercation /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/05/1e/1110785362_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_31bef3a3f04e0eeb93f6213854b0786b.jpg Emergency services swiftly responded to the scene, transporting the injured to Memorial Regional Hospital and Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. Yanet Obarrio Sanchez, a spokesperson for the Memorial Healthcare System, confirmed that up to five victims were being treated at the trauma center in Memorial Regional Hospital, including a couple of minors. However, no specific details regarding their conditions were provided.The situation is still evolving, and one person of interest has been detained by the police. Another individual involved in the incident is currently at large. Authorities have urged the public to avoid the area encompassing Johnson to Garfield Streets, as well as the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk.Video footage captured from the city of Hollywood's live feed of Hollywood Beach reveals the chaotic aftermath of the shooting. People can be seen running for cover as gunshots echo through the area. Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy expressed gratitude towards the swift response of good people.As the incident unfolded during the Memorial Day weekend, the beaches in South Florida, including the Broadwalk, had attracted a significant influx of visitors. The investigation into the altercation and subsequent shooting is ongoing, as law enforcement authorities work diligently to ensure the safety of the community and bring the perpetrators to justice. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230328/over-130-mass-shootings-in-us-since-beginning-of-2023-npo-1108870485.html americas hollywood Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Egor Shapovalov Egor Shapovalov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Egor Shapovalov hollywood beach broadwalk, us hollywood, us shootings, us gunfire https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/beijing-vows-to-put-taikonauts-on-moon-by-2030-1110802864.html Beijing Vows to Put Taikonauts on Moon by 2030 Beijing Vows to Put Taikonauts on Moon by 2030 Lin Xiqiang, the deputy director of the Chinese Manned Space Agency, told reporters on Tuesday that China would prepare for a short stay on the lunar surface and human-robotic joint exploration before 2030. 2023-05-30T20:22+0000 2023-05-30T20:22+0000 2023-05-30T20:17+0000 world china moon moon landing tiangong space station space flight /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/05/07/1082822605_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_4baeda05b56d195d20e5770af0b1ce2b.jpg Lin Xiqiang, the deputy director of the Chinese Manned Space Agency (MSA), told reporters on Tuesday that China would prepare for a short stay on the lunar surface and human-robotic joint exploration before 2030."Our astronauts will walk on the moon, collect samples around the landing site and perform some in-situ research. This will lead off our manned missions from low-Earth orbit to deep space and help deepen mankind's knowledge about the origin and evolution of the moon and the solar system," he added.The announcement came as the MSA chalked up another accomplishment: launching its first civilian taikonaut into space. Gui Haichao blasted off with two other taikonauts on the Shenzhou-16 mission from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center early Tuesday. Unlike his crewmates, Jing Haipeng and Zhu Yangzhu, Gui is not enlisted in the Peoples Liberation Armys Astronaut Corps, he is an aerospace engineer and University of Beijing professor.The taikonauts will spend six months doing research on Chinas new Tiangong space station, being replaced in October by the Shenzhou-17 crew.Its ambitions for manned missions to the moon have long been stated, although the timeline for them has been pushed back by snags such as problems with the Long March-5 Y2 rocket.China isnt the only country thats pledged to put humans back on the moon: Russias Roscosmos has also pledged to put cosmonauts on the lunar surface by 2030, and the United States has begun testing its Orion spacecraft for manned lunar missions. The US space agency NASA has said it hopes to return to the moon by 2025 at the earliest. All three countries have announced plans for permanently inhabited bases on the moon.To date, only 12 humans have set foot on the lunar surface - all of them American, the last of whom visited our only natural satellite in 1972. The Soviet Union had plans for manned lunar missions, but its program also hit snags and was eventually canceled. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/elon-musk-tells-chinese-fm-qin-gang-he-opposes-decoupling-us-from-beijing-1110799785.html china 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 moon; china; 2030; taikonaut; lunar landing https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/biden-accuser-tara-reade-my-two-choices-in-us-were-to-walk-into-cage-or-be-killed-1110800326.html Biden Accuser Tara Reade: My Two Choices in US Were to Walk Into Cage or be Killed Biden Accuser Tara Reade: My Two Choices in US Were to Walk Into Cage or be Killed Tara Reade, a US citizen, writer, and ex-assistant to Joe Biden, who has recently arrived in Russia, told Sputnik she no longer feels safe in Biden's America, adding that many Americans are ready to follow in her footsteps. 2023-05-30T17:45+0000 2023-05-30T17:45+0000 2023-05-31T10:44+0000 world society tara reade joe biden americans russia senate gop europe us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/04/0b/1082598758_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_b5778d370fc4aa84cc7b91adab323b3f.jpg Tara Reade, a former Senate staffer, came forward in April 2020 and filed a criminal complaint against then-presumptive Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden, accusing him of sexual assault in 1993. Even though some Democratic congresswomen said they believe her, not only were her claims downplayed by the US mainstream press, but she was also subjected to smears, a criminal probe, and intimidation.After Biden's 2024 re-election announcement, Reade reiterated her accusations and expressed willingness to testify in the GOP-controlled House of Representatives. However, in early May, Tara released a cryptic message saying that if something happens to her, all roads would lead to Biden. Reade opted to come to Russia to protect her life.On May 30, Member of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Maria Butina, who herself fell victim to the US punitive machine, promised to discuss the possibility of granting Russian citizenship to Reade and ask Russian President Vladimir Putin to fast track her citizenship request. As per Reade, there are a lot of people in the US who feel unsafe. Her message to them is to take action to protect themselves and their families "and to really look at who you're voting for."What struck Reade the most after she revealed her story to the American people is that she was denied support from the Democratic Party, which she had backed for years. She sent requests to numerous prominent Democrats, such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren, but to no avail. As she revealed to Sputnik in 2021, it was a betrayal on a level she could not even describe. While American lawmakers and government officials are meant to serve the people, some of them choose to serve their own vested interests, according to her. https://sputnikglobe.com/20210810/tara-reade-calls-for-probe-into-joe-biden-suggests-he-should-resign-amid-ny-gov-cuomo-departure-1083575949.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/my-country-does-terrible-things-mma-fighter-jeff-monson-on-why-he-renounced-us-citizenship-1110590609.html russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova tara reade, biden accuser tara reade, former senate staffer tara reade, sexual assault joe biden, 2020 elections, intimidation tara reade, tara reade arrived in russia, tara reade russian citizenship, edward snowden russian citizenship, nsa whistleblower russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/brazilian-president-calls-for-creation-of-common-currency-for-south-american-trade-1110802010.html Brazilian President Calls for Creation of Common Currency for South American Trade Brazilian President Calls for Creation of Common Currency for South American Trade Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday put forward a proposition to create a common currency for trade between the South American states 2023-05-30T18:52+0000 2023-05-30T18:52+0000 2023-05-30T18:52+0000 americas brazil lula da silva dedollarisation currency free trade zone latam airlines south america /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/06/16/1083204390_0:165:3055:1883_1920x0_80_0_0_d73cd4b6ab83f65ef91204d6d50a5675.jpg On Monday, Lula commented on efforts to reduce reliance on the US dollar during his meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The Brazilian president said that South America functioning as a single economic block is the only way to effectively deal with problems and take a stronger stance at negotiations. americas brazil south america 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 new currency for south america, lula calls for cpmmon south american currency, south american trade, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/debt-ceiling-deal-why-snubbing-progressives-poses-risk-to-team-biden-1110796870.html Debt Ceiling Deal: Why Snubbing Progressives Poses Risk to Team Biden Debt Ceiling Deal: Why Snubbing Progressives Poses Risk to Team Biden Members of Progressive and Freedom House caucuses appear to be up in arms about the Biden-McCarthy compromise debt ceiling deal. Could they derail the Wednesday vote? 2023-05-30T15:15+0000 2023-05-30T15:15+0000 2023-05-30T15:15+0000 americas joe biden kevin mccarthy washington dc democrats republicans congress white house supplemental nutrition assistance program (snap) progressives /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/09/1d/1101354915_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_fe1c950418dedcb74403b07b2af5ae7c.jpg Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), chairwoman of the House Progressive Caucus, has made it clear that the Democrats "have to worry" about the Progressive Caucus' support of the debt ceiling deal."No one claiming to be a conservative could justify a yes vote," Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), a member of the House Freedom Caucus, told Politico's Playbook on Sunday.The much-discussed debt ceiling deal was struck by President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Saturday. As per Biden, the agreement meets only some of the expectations of both sides: "No one got everything they want," the president summed up.The new debt ceiling legislation would need at least 111 Republicans (out of 222) and 107 Democrats (out of 213) to hit the 218-vote threshold in order to pass in the House of Representatives.Even though the Freedom Caucus has lambasted the deal, the US mainstream press has drawn attention to the fact that McCarthy has support of Freedom Caucus founder Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). "Seems like a pretty darn good deal to me," Jordan said. The US media called Jordan's stance on the deal "a significant vote of confidence" which is likely to convince most conservatives to vote "aye" on the deal.Meanwhile, on the other side of the political spectrum, the Progressive Caucus leader, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, does not conceal her irritation with the deal.Progressives are concerned about COVID relief "clawbacks" and work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) also known as "food stamps." Jayapal told CNN on Sunday that new work requirements in the debt deal are "absolutely terrible." "It's ridiculous that we're even in this situation," she emphasized.Previously, she advocated the permanent suspension of the debt ceiling so that "extreme MAGA Republicans" can't blackmail Congress.The Progressive Caucus occupies 100 seats in the lower chamber of the US Congress. It is larger than the Freedom Caucus (76 seats) and appears to be more united.However, on the surface, the Progressive Caucus does not appear capable of derailing the legislation. Nonetheless, the White House has been actively holding calls with House Dems about the details of the debt ceiling deal, persuading them to vote for the bill.Meanwhile, another key Democratic group, the New Democrat Coalition (around 100 members) hailed the agreement as "a viable, bipartisan solution to end this crisis."The devil, however, is in the details: progressives are said to have been instrumental in propelling Joe Biden to the White House in 2020. At the time, Biden advocated bold social policies and the Green New Deal, but has backpedaled on many of his election vows since then. "Biden's honeymoon with progressives is coming to an end," the US press concluded earlier this spring. The media particularly referred to the president's refusal to block a bill in Congress overriding a liberalization of the Washington, DC criminal code; approval for a plan allowing ConocoPhillips to drill oil in Alaska; and apparent readiness to reinstate family detention along the southern border, to name but a few.In addition, established Democrats have urged Biden over the past two years to become more moderate in order to retain power and give up some of his "controversial" progressive policies. The president appears to have lent a sympathetic ear to those calls.Whats more, last year the Progressive Caucus stepped forward by sending a letter to the US president urging him to broker a peace deal in Ukraine. However, very soon left-wing Dems made a U-turn. As per Sputnik interlocutors, at the time, progressives were silenced and threatened by the Democratic establishment. Remarkably, the US media noted then that even though Pramila Jayapal withdrew the letter, she didn't backpedal on her pacifist stance.It seems that by snubbing the Progressive Caucus' concerns again, Team Biden risks alienating a powerful ally prior to the 2024 presidential election. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/us-debt-limit-deal-key-takeaways--what-comes-next-1110788787.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230529/why-debt-ceiling-deal-doesnt-mean-us-economy-out-of-woods-1110778935.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230529/proposed-us-debt-ceiling-deal-to-include-spending-caps-changes-to-welfare-requirements-1110775984.html americas washington dc Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova debt ceiling deal, joe biden, kevin mccarthy, us congress, freedom caucus, progressive caucus, food stamps, cuts to social spending, criticism over debt ceiling deal https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/decisive-steps-needed-to-ease-tensions-in-kosovo-not-wests-half-measures---moscow-1110793799.html Decisive Steps Needed to Ease Tensions in Kosovo, Not Wests Half-Measures - Moscow Decisive Steps Needed to Ease Tensions in Kosovo, Not Wests Half-Measures - Moscow Decisive steps are necessary to deescalate tensions between Serbs and Kosovars, and not half-measures proposed by Western countries, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Tuesday. 2023-05-30T10:31+0000 2023-05-30T10:31+0000 2023-05-30T10:31+0000 world russian foreign ministry kosovo serbia kfor /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/05/1e/1110787455_0:170:3036:1878_1920x0_80_0_0_bae799c1fec9ec2b2b323aadc3071676.jpg Decisive steps are needed to deescalate, and not half-measures like the idea of the Americans to temporarily resettle the new mayors from municipal buildings to other facilities, Zakharova said in a statement, published by the Russian Foreign Ministry. The spokeswoman also called on the West to stop blaming Serbs for violent incidents in Kosovo and influence authorities in Pristina. The spokesman added that the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) showed unprofessionalism when dealing with the situation. On Saturday, Serbia's National Security Council condemned NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) for standing by while Kosovar police used force to install new Albanian mayors in Serb-majority northern provinces. Later in the day, Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic said the Serbian army was deploying its units near Kosovo in anticipation of provocations. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/eu-foreign-policy-chief-borrell-condemns-violence-in-kosovo-1110784045.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 russian foreign ministry, western countries, tensions between serbs and kosovars https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/denmark-aims-for-nato-spending-target-with-huge-ukraine-aid-package-1110786315.html Denmark Aims for NATO Spending Target With Huge Ukraine Aid Package Denmark Aims for NATO Spending Target With Huge Ukraine Aid Package While massive, the $2.6 billion package to Kiev is seen as a rather symbolic gesture aimed at currying favor with NATO allies. 2023-05-30T08:00+0000 2023-05-30T08:00+0000 2023-05-30T08:00+0000 military mette frederiksen jens stoltenberg denmark ukraine netherlands nato f-35 leopard 2 /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107922/07/1079220731_0:257:2730:1793_1920x0_80_0_0_60aa73dfa7b354cb752fdf180ebaeceb.jpg Denmark plans to step up its military assistance to Ukraine by 17.9 billion kroner (nearly $2.6 billion) in 2023 and 2024, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has announced.Earlier in March, Denmark established a $1 billion fund for military, civilian and business aid to Ukraine.Frederiksen, recently named among possible contenders to become NATO's new boss as current Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is due to step down in September, said Copenhagen planned to replenish it with another 7.5 billion kroner ($1.1 billion) this year, and 10.4 billion ($1.5 billion) next year, with the money being earmarked for military aid.Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen stressed the necessity of "massive military support for Ukraine for a number of years to come, regardless of how the developments on the battlefield are."With the new contribution to the Ukraine Fund, Denmark will meet NATO's spending target of 2% of GDP, Acting Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced. According to him, this will allow Denmark to meet the objective by 2023 and 2024, as opposed to its initial plans of reaching the target by 2030.Conversely, last year, Denmark spent only 1.38% of its GDP on its military budget.However, pundits such as Kristian Soby Kristensen of the Center for Military Studies at the University of Copenhagen stressed that this announcement is primarily of diplomatic importance and is aimed at bolstering Denmarks status as NATO's "good ally" ahead of the blocs summit in mid-June, as well as the visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Denmark's fellow Nordic countries Sweden, Norway and Finland. He also warned of a "peak" in defense spending rather than a new practice from now until 2030.What's Denmarks Role in Assisting Ukraine?Denmark, a country of less than 6 million, has become one of Ukraine's top donors per capita, with Copenhagen providing nearly $1 billion in financial and military aid so far, accompanied by massive arms donations and extensive training programs. The Danish coalition government voiced ambitions to remain among the countries that provide the largest financial assistance to Ukraine in the future.In mid-May, Denmark also announced that it would help train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets, as part of a pan-European initiative alongside the UK and the Netherlands. Last week, Frederiksen herself didnt rule out that Denmark would also donate some of its own F-16s, having 40 such fighters in its fleet. The jets are planned to be gradually phased out and replaced by the more modern F-35s over the next few years.Previous Danish donations include naval missiles, mine clearing vehicles, and ammunition. Earlier in January, Denmark pledged all of its 19 French-made CAESAR howitzers to Ukraine, including some still on order, and in April it announced that it was buying, jointly with the Netherlands, 14 Leopard 2 tanks to give to Ukraine.Denmark as War HawkEarlier this spring, the Danish Defense Ministry pledged to allocate DKK 38 billion ($5.6 billion) to bolstering its military, specifically in order to "plug budget holes" and get closer to NATO's spending target. The money will be spent on gear, equipment, buildings, information technology, personnel and new investments. The ministry cited the "current geopolitical situation" which warrants "more resources."The Danish military has also placed a stronger emphasis on its forward presence in the Baltic countries, which is touted as "protection" from Russia.Nevertheless, despite the unprecedented funding, the Danish military remains admittedly understaffed to the point of reducing its overseas presence in the Middle East and limiting its Arctic patrols.However, Denmark's outsized military commitment has taken its toll on the state coffers, prompting the government to abolish a traditional Christian holiday called Great Prayer Day, admittedly to replenish federal finances that are running dry. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230527/ukrainians-may-fly-f-16s-with-wing--prayer-but-wont-be-effective-in-combat-1110641779.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/danish-arctic-patrols-so-understaffed-that-ships-stop-for-crews-to-take-nap-1109843389.html denmark ukraine netherlands Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Igor Kuznetsov Igor Kuznetsov 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 Igor Kuznetsov nato spending, denmark military spending, ukraine help, arms assistance, prime minister mette frederiksen https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/eu-foreign-policy-chief-borrell-condemns-violence-in-kosovo-1110784045.html EU Foreign Policy Chief Borrell Condemns Violence in Kosovo EU Foreign Policy Chief Borrell Condemns Violence in Kosovo EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called for the end of violence in Kosovo and dialogue between the two sides. 2023-05-30T00:06+0000 2023-05-30T00:06+0000 2023-05-30T00:06+0000 world josep borrell kosovo serbia european union (eu) kfor aleksandar vucic /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/09/1105263145_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_0e62fb2f6c3145f1157c9a27352610e3.jpg "The EU condemns todays shocking violence in #Zvecan in the strongest possible terms. The violent acts committed against @NATO_KFOR troops, media, civilians and police are absolutely unacceptable," Borrell wrote on Twitter. He said the sides should be responsible and seek a political solution through dialogue. On Saturday, Serbia's National Security Council condemned NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) for standing by while Kosovar police used force to install new Albanian mayors in Serb-majority northern provinces. Later in the day, Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic said the Serbian army was deploying its units near Kosovo in anticipation of provocations. On Monday, hundreds of Kosovo Serbs came to local administration buildings demanding the withdrawal of Kosovar police and officials. The KFOR mission's troops, equipped with crowd dispersal devices, were deployed in the municipalities of Zvecan, Leposaviq and Zubin Potok. At least 52 Serbs have been injured during the clashes in Kosovo, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said. Media reported that at least 41 soldiers of the KFOR contingent also received injuries in clashes, with the mission itself confirming 25 injuries. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230529/italy-germany-condemn-violent-clashes-in-kosovo-call-for-deescalation-1110783258.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 kosovo, sebia, clashes, violence, civil war China unveils Shenzhou-16 crew for new space station mission, including first civilian taikonaut Xinhua) 09:32, May 30, 2023 This undated photo shows Chinese taikonauts Jing Haipeng (C), Zhu Yangzhu (R) and Gui Haichao who will carry out the Shenzhou-16 spaceflight mission. Chinese taikonauts Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu, and Gui Haichao will carry out the Shenzhou-16 spaceflight mission, and Jing will be the commander, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced at a press conference on May 29, 2023. (Xinhua) JIUQUAN, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese taikonauts Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu, and Gui Haichao will carry out the Shenzhou-16 spaceflight mission, and Jing will be the commander, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced at a press conference on Monday. Jing, a senior spacecraft pilot, will become the country's first taikonaut to go into space for the fourth time. He was involved in the Shenzhou-7 mission in 2008 and commanded the Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-11 crews in 2012 and 2016, respectively. He has led the new crew in the preparation process. "After more than one year's training together, we have tacit cooperation, understanding each other's every expression, move and look," said Jing. Zhu and Gui are set to embark on their first trip to space. Born in 1986, they are members of China's third batch of taikonauts, whose selection was completed by September 2020. A former associate professor at a military university, Zhu will serve as a spaceflight engineer on the Shenzhou-16 mission. He will work with commander Jing to control and manage the spacecraft, and conduct technical tests. Ahead of the launch of Shenzhou-16, Zhu told the media that he was proud of his career shift and grateful for the new era, which allows hardworking people to have the opportunity to realize their dreams and values in life. Gui, a spectacled professor at Beijing-based Beihang University, will work as a payload expert, responsible for the in-orbit operations of science experiment payloads in China's Tiangong space station. The 36-year-old taikonaut has rich experience in the fields of science and space engineering. Addressing the public on Monday, Gui said he felt lucky to become China's first civilian taikonaut in space. He also spoke about how his speciality will contribute to the goals of the upcoming mission. Compared to previous crews, the Shenzhou-16 comprises a diverse trio of male astronauts from different career backgrounds, including aircraft pilot, flight engineer and payload specialist. "This is the first crewed mission with the participation of three types of taikonauts," Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the CMSA, said at the press conference. Although the fresh crew has a 20-year age gap, the three have worked together very well. "We have gotten along like a family," said Jing when the trio met the press on Monday. According to the CMSA, among China's third batch of taikonauts, seven are spacecraft pilots, seven are flight engineers and four are payload experts. After more than two years of rigorous training, they have become capable of performing spaceflight tasks. "All of them have started targeted training for the space station in the new stage and will become the backbones of the follow-up missions," Lin said, adding that more new members will be selected to be space travelers in the future. The Shenzhou-16 crewed spaceship will be launched at 9:31 a.m. Tuesday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. It will be the first crew mission after China's space station program entered the stage of application and development. The three taikonauts will stay in orbit for about five months, conducting large-scale in-orbit experiments and giving space lectures, Lin said. This undated photo shows Jing Haipeng, one of the three taikonauts who will carry out the Shenzhou-16 spaceflight mission. Chinese taikonauts Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu, and Gui Haichao will carry out the Shenzhou-16 spaceflight mission, and Jing will be the commander, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced at a press conference on May 29, 2023. (Xinhua) This undated photo shows Zhu Yangzhu, one of the three taikonauts who will carry out the Shenzhou-16 spaceflight mission. Chinese taikonauts Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu, and Gui Haichao will carry out the Shenzhou-16 spaceflight mission, and Jing will be the commander, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced at a press conference on May 29, 2023. (Xinhua) This undated photo shows Gui Haichao, one of the three taikonauts who will carry out the Shenzhou-16 spaceflight mission. Chinese taikonauts Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu, and Gui Haichao will carry out the Shenzhou-16 spaceflight mission, and Jing will be the commander, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced at a press conference on May 29, 2023. (Xinhua) A press conference is held in Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on May 29, 2023. Chinese taikonauts Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao will carry out the Shenzhou-16 spaceflight mission, and Jing will be the commander, the China Manned Space Agency announced at the press conference on Monday. (Xinhua/Li Gang) A press conference is held in Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on May 29, 2023. Chinese taikonauts Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao will carry out the Shenzhou-16 spaceflight mission, and Jing will be the commander, the China Manned Space Agency announced at the press conference on Monday. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) A press conference is held in Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on May 29, 2023. Chinese taikonauts Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao will carry out the Shenzhou-16 spaceflight mission, and Jing will be the commander, the China Manned Space Agency announced at the press conference on Monday. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) A press conference is held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on May 29, 2023. Chinese taikonauts Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao will carry out the Shenzhou-16 spaceflight mission, and Jing will be the commander, the China Manned Space Agency announced at the press conference on Monday. (Xinhua/Li Gang) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/eu-warns-of-backlash-over-polands-campaign-against-russian-influence-1110795038.html EU Warns of Backlash Over Poland's Campaign Against 'Russian Influence' EU Warns of Backlash Over Poland's Campaign Against 'Russian Influence' EU warned it would not hesitate to take measures amid concern over Polands law to probe Russian Influence. 2023-05-30T13:33+0000 2023-05-30T13:33+0000 2023-05-30T13:33+0000 world russia poland andrzej duda legislation /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/0c/11/1091586684_96:0:3228:1762_1920x0_80_0_0_e3023d7f0ea6a67e2acf71f8d749fd4e.jpg The European Union (EU) has expressed "special concern" over a new Polish law that aims to establish a committee to probe "Russian influence."The European Commission "will not hesitate to take measures if its needed," Didier Reynders, the Belgian politician serving as European commissioner for justice, was cited as saying. Brussels is purportedly worried by the fact that the body will be endowed with powers to block citizens from public office.Similar "concerns" were echoed by the US State Department, describing it as the "passage of new legislation that could be misused to interfere with Poland's free and fair elections.""The legislation to create a commission to investigate Russian influence could be used to block the candidacy of opposition politicians without due process," Washington said.Poland's Anti-Russian BillPolish President Andrzej Duda signed the controversial bill into law on May 29, after it was proposed by the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party.The established commission will have nine members appointed to it by the lower house of parliament, where the PiS party commands a slim majority. These individuals will be tasked with deciding whether those individuals it investigates were under "Russian influence" between 2007 and 2022. The panel is expected to present a report on its findings by September 17. It will also be able to impose harsh penalties on those found "guilty." For example, they could be banned for 10 years from public positions responsible for finances or those requiring security clearance.Duda referenced the oft-spewed Western claims of Russia's alleged meddling in politics as prompting the move. US Democratic Party players, like former presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton and her entourage, eagerly peddled anti-Donald Trump hoaxes, linking him to the Kremlin. Back in 2018, Special Counsel Robert Mueller concluded that the Trump-Russia collusion narrative had no evidentiary basis.Nevertheless, the Polish president went even further, advocating the need for a similar commission at the European Union level for probing Russia's purported influence. Warsaw would put forward an according proposal at the next European Council session, Duda said.US Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski said that Washington was well aware of the concerns expressed by many regarding this law. And we fully appreciate and understand why President Duda forwarded this bill to the Constitutional Tribunal to ascertain whether these concerns render the law unconstitutional.The setting up of such a commission - dubbed an "unconstitutional" tool - has been decried by the opposition in Poland. A body able to disqualify opposition politicians from holding government positions in the future was denounced as undermining democracy. It was also perceived as targeting Donald Tusk, the former prime minister who now chairs the main opposition Civic Platform (PO) party. Formerly president of the European Council, Tusk was accused by the Law and Justice party of having "too friendly" ties with Russia during his stint as prime minister (2007-2014). PO leader Krzysztof Brejza said the new law was "an attempt at organizing a witch hunt against Donald Tusk and eliminating him" from Poland's politics.In response to the legislation, Tusk, tweeted to say, Mr. President, let me invite you for public consultation on June 4. It will be easy to hear and see us from the windows of your palace." Tusk was referring to the pro-democracy march he is set to lead in Warsaw on Sunday. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230510/kremlin-on-warsaws-hostile-actions-poland-been-hating-russians-for-centuries-1110236450.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230521/russian-lower-house-council-to-weigh-measures-against-poland-on-monday-1110498362.html russia poland Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko 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 Svetlana Ekimenko poland, parliamentary election in poland, new law, ruling law and justice party, to investigate alleged russian influence, russian alleged influence on politics, unconstitutional law, witch-hunt targeting donald tusk, trump-russia collusion hoax, powers to block citizens from public office. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/explosion-in-the-heart-of-europe-whats-going-on-in-kosovo-1110799134.html 'Explosion in the Heart of Europe': What's Going on in Kosovo? 'Explosion in the Heart of Europe': What's Going on in Kosovo? A new round of tensions in the Serbian breakaway province of Kosovo spilled into street clashes between the NATO-led occupation force known as Kosovo Force (KFOR) and local ethnic Serb residents on Monday. What caused the escalation? Whos responsible? And how do ancient and recent history help explain for the present crisis? 2023-05-30T17:29+0000 2023-05-30T17:29+0000 2023-05-30T17:46+0000 albin kurti aleksandar vucic kosovo pristina belgrade nato kfor european union (eu) camp bondsteel serbia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/05/1e/1110798876_0:161:3068:1887_1920x0_80_0_0_aa6d38a85f20af21560b523cf8729e61.jpg 52 Kosovar Serbs and as many as 41 KFOR troops were injured in street clashes outside a municipal government building in the northern Kosovo town of Zvecan on Monday.The crisis in Kosovo began brewing last Friday, when Serb residents in the municipalities of Leposavic, Mitrovica, Zubin Potok and Zvecan gathered outside local municipal buildings to block ethnic Albanian mayors appointed by the US-backed government in Pristina from entering. The mayors were appointed to their posts after local elections in April, which the vast majority of local Serbs (over 95 percent) boycotted in protest of Pristina's crackdown on autonomy promised in a 2013 EU-brokered agreement but never delivered on.Pristina deployed Kosovar special police units to help install the mayors by force, with police firing tear gas and using water cannons against protesters, and demonstrators in Zvecan responding by throwing rocks. Over a dozen Serbs and five police were reported injured in Fridays clashes.On Saturday, Kosovar Serb leaders asked Belgrade to suspend its normalization dialogue with Pristina. On Sunday, NATO and the embassies of the so-called Quint countries the US, France, Germany, Italy and the UK paid lip service to Belgrade's concerns, calling on Pristina to lower tensions and halt attempts to access municipal buildings in Serb-majority municipalities by force. Kosovo prime minister Albin Kurti assured Brussels that the mayors would "provide services to all citizens," and said dialogue on the 2013 EU agreement must be "intensified". Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic stressed that it was unacceptable for mayors unelected by Serbs to be allowed to govern in Serb-majority municipalities.Straw That Broke the Camel's BackThe deployment of KFOR troops in the streets of the town of Zvecan on Monday proved the last straw, with the beefed up security presence, and KFORs attempts to forcibly disperse protesters using tear gas and stun grenades, culminating in clashes between demonstrators and the foreign troops, and causing dozens of injuries among Serbs and mostly Hungarian and Italian KFOR personnel. Western capitals immediately blamed the local population, with one major Western news agency going so far as to claim that the Serbs were the ones using tear gas and stun grenades.Protests in other areas appeared more restrained, with US troops in full riot gear spotted setting up barbed wire around the local town hall in Leposavic, and protesters there throwing eggs at the parked car of the Pristina-picked mayor there.Belgrade responded to the crisis by putting the military on high alert, and deploying troops to the administrative border with Kosovo, with President Aleksandar Vucic holding a televised national address Monday in which he blamed Albin Kurti for the violence, and accused Pristina of deliberately fueling unrest to try to cause a direct clash between Belgrade and NATO. Vucic also attacked KFOR over its activities, saying that instead of defending local Serbs, they were deployed to protect the illegally-appointed mayors.What's Russia Saying?Russian Foreign Minister Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned on Monday that the crisis in Kosovo could escalate into a "huge explosion in the heart of Europe," the same place "where NATO carried out aggression against Yugoslavia in 1999."On Tuesday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called for decisive steps to be taken to "deescalate" tensions, and "not half-measures like the idea of the Americans to temporarily 'resettle' the new 'mayors' away from municipal buildings to other facilities."The spokeswoman called on the US and its allies to stop blaming Serbs for the violence, and urged Washington not to provoke Belgrade, "which was forced to declare full combat readiness of the armed forces" and send them to the border.Zakharova characterized the KFORs presence in the Serbian province an additional "escalation factor," slamming the force for their "unprofessionalism," and role in Monday's violence.United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 allows Serbia to deploy as many as 1,000 Serbian troops and police in Kosovo to help maintain order there, a fact often ignored by NATO.How Can Tensions Be Defused and the Crisis Resolved?Stevica Dedjanski, head of the Center for Development of International Cooperation, a Belgrade-based international affairs think tank, says the issue of the protection of Kosovo's dwindling Serb community must be brought before the Security Council as soon as possible, and KFOR's mandate reevaluated."It's a very good thing that a few months ago [Serbia] sent a request to KFOR on the return of our security force contingent to the province in accordance with Resolution 1244, because as we see today, KFOR cannot or will not protect Serbs," Dedjanski told Sputnik Serbia.Washington is always playing the same game in Kosovo, Dedjanski said first creating a crisis, and then 'calling on both sides to refrain from violence', resulting in the "creeping" implementation of their strategic goals. "To expect help from America is to harbor illusions, and we must realize that we will never, ever get help from them," he noted.Goran Petronijevic, a high-profile defense attorney and international affairs observer, concurs with Dedjanski's assessment, and with Lavrov's sentiments about the "explosive" nature of the Kosovo crisis. He suggests that Russia's recent successes against NATO in Ukraine have pushed the forces of "neoliberal globalism" to look to "create a new hot spot.""We already have experience with KFOR," University of East Sarajevo political science professor and geopolitical analyst Srdjan Perisic told Sputnik Serbia."While it's not fully NATO and includes countries which aren't part of NATO, in any event, NATO is losing its war against Russia, having failed to resolve deep problems in the Balkans in its favor over the past thirty plus years. And today NATO is once again searching for a 'new space'" for operations. "We Serbs cant come to an agreement with the West. Whatever agreement we reach, they fail to comply with it. The Dayton Accords were written by American lawyers, and the US has been consistently violating them for 28 years. They violate Resolution 1244. They forced the Brussels Agreement on us, but don't want to implement it either! They violated the Minsk Agreements the same way," Perisic said.Kosovo's Special Place in Serbia's HistoryWhile the province of Kosovo is today mostly populated by ethnic Albanians, who make up over 90 percent of the breakaways population, and who proclaimed independence in 2008 and established a de facto NATO protectorate in the province, that hasnt always been the case. Kosovo's ethnic Serb population was cut in half over the past three decades following a series of ethnic cleansing campaigns and pogroms by Kosovar Albanian militants, as well as the 1999 NATO bombing campaign, with the population of about 194,000 Serbs recorded in the 1991 census dropping to about 100,000 now, and most residents fleeing to the provinces northern areas.The outflow of Serbs from Kosovo in the second half of the 20th century first became a serious concern in the 1980s, with Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Titos death in 1980 giving rise to a series of competing nationalisms which ultimately tore Yugoslavia apart in the 1990s (with the West's support).Kosovo has a special significance to Serbs both historically and in the formation of Serbian national identity, once containing many of the countrys oldest Orthodox Churches (over 150 of which were destroyed between 1999 and 2004).The 1389 Battle of Kosovo, in which Serbian Prince Lazar managed to hold off a numerically superior Ottoman army, is seen by many Serbs as a symbol of the nation's resistance against overwhelming odds, and a motivator for the endurance of Serbian culture and language through five centuries of occupation. In other words, Kosovo is the birthplace of Serbian national identity.The direct origins of the present crisis can be traced back to the Kosovo War of 1998-1999, in which a CIA-trained and equipped militant force known as the "Kosovo Liberation Army" began a guerrilla conflict with Serbian police and the military with the aim of achieving independence, and NATO intervening in the crisis in March of 1999 in a 78-day bombing campaign of the rump state of Yugoslavia. The conflict culminated in the ouster of Serbian security forces, and the creation of a massive NATO military garrison at Camp Bondsteel the largest US military base in the Balkans.Kosovo proclaimed independence in 2008, and formally applied for European Union membership in late 2022. Belgrade and the overwhelming majority of the UN's members, including Russia, refuse to recognize Pristinas new status. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230529/european-parliament-rapporteur-urges-pristina-to-withdraw-forces-from-north-kosovo-1110777653.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/decisive-steps-needed-to-ease-tensions-in-kosovo-not-wests-half-measures---moscow-1110793799.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20220324/we-should-go-in-on-the-ground-watch-biden-complain-nato-bombing-of-yugoslavia-not-ruthless-enough-1094148230.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20221122/kosovo-serbias-open-wound-1104552715.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230325/nato-unleashed-tons-of-depleted-uranium-on-yugoslavia-toxicologist-1108766836.html kosovo pristina belgrade serbia russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov 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 Ilya Tsukanov kosovo, serbia, russia, belgrade, pristina, yugoslavia, history, politics, nato, kfor, escalation, tensions https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/kremlin-on-uav-attack-on-moscow-this-is-kievs-response-to-russias-successful-strike--1110792560.html Kremlin on UAV Attack on Moscow: This is Kievs Response to Russias Successful Strike Kremlin on UAV Attack on Moscow: This is Kievs Response to Russias Successful Strike The Tuesday drone attack on Moscow was Kievs response to Russias successful strikes on one of the Ukrainian decision-making centers on Sunday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. 2023-05-30T09:59+0000 2023-05-30T09:59+0000 2023-05-30T11:02+0000 russia defense ministry kiev russia moscow dmitry peskov kremlin drone strike ukrainian drone attacks on russia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/05/1e/1110789471_0:150:3074:1879_1920x0_80_0_0_b63e523f610eff5db72bc6bdca9fd3f2.jpg It is clear that we are talking about the response of the Kiev regime to our very effective strikes in the center, one of the decision-making centers. This strike took place on Sunday, Peskov told reporters.The spokesman added that it is necessary to understand that the drone attack was carried out by the Kiev regime.Russian President was briefed about the drone attack on Moscow by the Defense Ministry, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, local authorities in Moscow and the Moscow region, Peskov said.The spokesman added that the president does not have any special plans to address Russian citizens after the attack of Ukrainian drones on Moscow.Earlier in the day, Moscow Region Governor Andrey Vorobyov said that several drones had been shot down while approaching Moscow. The Russian capital's mayor, Sergey Sobyanin, said several buildings had been slightly damaged by the drone attack. Nobody was seriously injured, he added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/several-buildings-in-moscow-slightly-damaged-after-drone-attack---mayor-1110785693.html kiev russia moscow 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 drone attack, ukrainian decision-making centers, russias successful strikes https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/opec-to-approve-return-of-iranian-oil-to-market-when-sanctions-lifted---secretary-general-1110786927.html OPEC to Approve Return of Iranian Oil to Market When Sanctions Lifted OPEC to Approve Return of Iranian Oil to Market When Sanctions Lifted The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will approve the complete return of Iran to the oil market, when sanctions against its oil industry are lifted, OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais said in an interview with Iranian agency Shana and the Iran Petroleum magazine. 2023-05-30T06:00+0000 2023-05-30T06:00+0000 2023-05-30T06:01+0000 iran tehran opec us oil economy /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0a/1d/1102823348_0:18:3073:1746_1920x0_80_0_0_f9d6f4bd7a6b67d2495ecf9ea87fd1fe.jpg "Indeed, we welcome the return of Irans oil production in the future, when sanctions are lifted. We look forward to that day," he said. Al Ghais also noted that the oil market and demand for it are growing, adding that Iran is a responsible member of the organization. Besides, Iran is one of the founders of OPEC and a "key player" on the global market, the secretary general said. However, sanctions seriously limit Irans production capacities, but, despite this fact, Tehran continues to play a major role in ensuring stable and reliable oil supplies, investing in both exploration and oil refining, as well as in petrochemistry. Under former US President Donald Trump, the United States withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018. In November that year, sanctions against Iran, including restrictions on oil purchases, were completely reimposed, however, the US authorities issued temporary permissions to a series of countries to keep buying oil from Tehran. The permissions expired in May 2019 and were not extended.Talks to resume the JCPOA with Iran began in December 2021. Their main goal is to restore the deal and lift the sanctions previously imposed on Tehran by the United States after Washington's withdrawal from the JCPOA. However, progress on the deal was frozen by September 2022 amid a series of mass protests in Iran, for which Tehran blamed the US and other Western countries. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221128/iran-rejects-us-accusations-of-involvement-in-attack-on-oil-tanker-near-oman-reports-say-1104785659.html iran tehran 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 organization of the petroleum exporting countries, iran oil, sanctions against iran https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/over-20-hungarians-injured-in-clashes-in-kosovo-seven-of-them-seriously-1110785212.html Over 20 Hungarians Injured in Clashes in Kosovo, Seven of Them Seriously Over 20 Hungarians Injured in Clashes in Kosovo, Seven of Them Seriously More than 20 Hungarians serving in NATOs KFOR contingent were injured with clashes in the north of the self-proclaimed republic of Kosovo. 2023-05-30T03:53+0000 2023-05-30T03:53+0000 2023-05-30T03:53+0000 world aleksandar vucic serbia kosovo kfor nato hungary /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/05/1d/1110777412_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_aa0396272b29d63d864617d97aae3027.jpg Szalay-Bobrovniczky also said the injured Hungarian soldiers were being airlifted to Hungary for treatment. On Saturday, Serbia's National Security Council condemned NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) for standing by while Kosovar police used force to install new Albanian mayors in Serb-majority northern provinces. Later in the day, Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic said the Serbian army was deploying its units near Kosovo in anticipation of provocations. On Monday, hundreds of Kosovo Serbs came to local administration buildings demanding the withdrawal of Kosovar police and officials. The KFOR mission's troops, equipped with crowd dispersal devices, were deployed in the municipalities of Zvecan, Leposaviq and Zubin Potok. At least 52 Serbs have been injured during the clashes in Kosovo, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said. Media reported that at least 41 soldiers of the KFOR contingent also received injuries in clashes, with the mission itself confirming 25 injuries.*Facebook and its parent company Meta are banned in Russia for extremist activities. serbia kosovo hungary Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International kosovo, serbia, war, civil war, clashes, violence https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/putin-confirms-russian-strike-on-ukrainian-military-intel-hq-in-kiev-1110796241.html Putin Confirms Russian Strike on Ukrainian Military Intel HQ in Kiev Putin Confirms Russian Strike on Ukrainian Military Intel HQ in Kiev Earlier, Ukrainian media reported that the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense had been hit in an overnight Russian missile... 30.05.2023, Sputnik International 2023-05-30T13:20+0000 2023-05-30T13:20+0000 2023-05-30T15:18+0000 russia russia vladimir putin kiev ukraine main intelligence directorate ukrainian ministry of defense /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/15/1108656987_0:0:3179:1788_1920x0_80_0_0_68dc37089b6a546fad6a3959d6bf015f.jpg Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed that Russia carried out an attack on the headquarters of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Defense Ministry in Kiev."Since the start of the special military operation, the Russian Armed Forces are striking Ukraine, but using high-precision weapons. They are targeting military infrastructure, arms depots and other targets that could be used for military action," Putin said, speaking to a reporter at an economic exhibition on Tuesday.The president expressed contentment with the state of Moscow's air defenses, saying they had worked "in a satisfactory manner" in deflecting Tuesday's morning attack, although "there's still some progress to be made.""We've faced similar problems in Khmeimim in Syria, although of course the size of the territories of our airbase in Syria and Moscow are not comparable, because Moscow is a huge city...But it's obvious what needs to be done to make the air defenses around our capital city better, and we will do that," Putin said.Putin said he was concerned by Kiev's apparent attempt to push Russia into a mirror response. "We'll see what we do with this," he said, while expressing hope that ordinary Ukrainians will come to recognize what their government is pushing them towards, not only through the drone attack on Moscow, but attempts to target the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant.The Russian president also delved into a bit of history surrounding the Ukrainian crisis, saying that after the collapse of the USSR in 1991, the country came under the control of people seeking to create a Western-backed "anti-Russia." At the same time, he said, NATO, after decades of expansion - despite commitments to Moscow not to do so, had found its way to Ukraine's doorstep, declaring its doors open to Kiev at the alliance's Bucharest Summit in 2008.Strike on Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence DirectoratePutin's comments follow reports in Ukrainian and Russian media earlier in the day that Russia had attacked and destroyed the headquarters of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate in Kiev in a missile strike. Traffic along the bridge leading to to the island where the directorate is based was blocked off in the early hours of May 30.The Ukrainian MoD's Main Intelligence Directorate is responsible for coordinating sabotage, terror and drone attacks inside Russia. In recent weeks, its senior officials have made a series of unambiguous statements about the need to ramp up efforts to "kill Russians," both in Russia and around the world."All I will comment on is that we've been killing Russians and we will keep killing Russians anywhere on the face of this world until the complete victory of Ukraine," Military Intelligence Directorate head Kyrylo Budanov said in an interview with US media earlier this month, after being asked to comment on whether Kiev was involved in last year's murder of Russian journalist Daria Dugina. Several weeks later, Budanov confirmed to German media that the list of his agency's targets include Russia's president. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/several-buildings-in-moscow-slightly-damaged-after-drone-attack---mayor-1110785693.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20221230/echoing-merkel-fmr-french-prez-confirms-west-lied-to-russia-on-minsk-deal-to-buy-kiev-time-to-rearm-1105933761.html russia kiev ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Putin Gives Statement on UAV Strikes in Moscow Putin Gives Statement on UAV Strikes in Moscow 2023-05-30T13:20+0000 true PT5M29S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov russia, vladimir putin, kiev, ukraine, main intelligence directorate, ukrainian ministry of defense https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/russia-reacts-harshly-to-ukrainian-terrorist-attacks-with-nato-weapons---shoigu-1110794755.html Russia Reacts Harshly to Ukrainian Terrorist Attacks With NATO Weapons - Shoigu Russia Reacts Harshly to Ukrainian Terrorist Attacks With NATO Weapons - Shoigu The Russian armed forces are reacting as harshly as possible to terrorist attacks by Ukraine against civilians in Russia using NATO weapons, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday. 2023-05-30T11:29+0000 2023-05-30T11:29+0000 2023-05-30T11:29+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine sergei shoigu ukraine kiev moscow russian defense ministry pantsir-s nato /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/09/15/1101035591_0:0:3035:1708_1920x0_80_0_0_a12717b9ab4e72026d09e5b9be07ff2b.jpg "Using NATO weapons, the Kiev authorities continue to strike at social facilities, carry out terrorist attacks against peaceful Russian citizens. Our armed forces react as harshly as possible to the actions of Ukrainian militants," Shoigu said at a conference call.The Western support to Kiev only prolongs the conflict but will not affect the outcome of Moscows special military operation, Shoigu said.Shoigu also said that the West supplies more and more military equipment to Ukraine.The defense minister added that Western curators continue to demand from Ukraine to launch mass offensive operations."Despite the significant losses of Ukrainian armed forces, Western curators continue to demand that the Kiev regime switch to large-scale offensive operations," Shoigu said.Ukraine lost more than 16,000 military in May as a result of the military operation, Shoigu said.Ukraine also lost 16 aircraft, five helicopters, 466 unmanned aerial vehicles, more than 400 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, 238 field artillery pieces and mortars, the minister added.Additionally, Russian air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 29 UK Storm Shadow cruise missiles and almost 200 HIMARS long-range guided missiles in May, Shoigu said, adding that Russian troops have recently hit another US Patriot anti-aircraft missile system in Kiev.The drone attack carried out by Ukraine early on Tuesday targeted civilian facilities of Moscow, minister said.Ukraine attacked the Russian capital with eight unmanned aerial vehicles early on Tuesday, all drones were shot down, the Russian Defense Ministry said.Three of these drones were suppressed by means of electronic warfare, lost control and deviated from their intended targets, another five unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down by the Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile and gun system in the Moscow region, the ministry added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230520/russian-air-defense-intercepts-12-himars-rockets-storm-shadow-missiles---mod-1110481483.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/several-buildings-in-moscow-slightly-damaged-after-drone-attack---mayor-1110785693.html ukraine kiev moscow 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 russian armed forces, russian defense minister sergei shoigu, terrorist attacks by ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/russian-foreign-ministry-british-intelligence-possibly-recruiting-kiev-mercenaries-1110785811.html Russian Foreign Ministry: British Intelligence Possibly Recruiting Kiev Mercenaries Russian Foreign Ministry: British Intelligence Possibly Recruiting Kiev Mercenaries British intelligence services could be behind the search for mercenaries for the Kiev regime on the Internet, the Russian Foreign Ministry has stated. 2023-05-30T07:53+0000 2023-05-30T07:53+0000 2023-05-30T07:53+0000 russian foreign ministry united kingdom (uk) kiev london mercenaries russia's special operation in ukraine liz truss /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0b/0b/1104013445_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_7bbb79c073d7fe725413dee56443e335.jpg British intelligence services could be behind the search for mercenaries for the Kiev regime on the Internet, the Russian Foreign Ministry has stated. The ministry referenced an ad on the Adzuna search engine for job advertisements, a private company headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. One of the listed vacancies on the aggregate appeared to be looking for mercenaries from the Middle East and North Africa to take part in the Ukrainian counteroffensive.According to information provided on the portal, the EU Citizenship Program, SUH in London is looking for people to fill the vacancy of "military repair technician" on a full-time basis, stated the ministry. Applicants are offered a remuneration of 20 thousand pounds sterling if they sign the unlimited contract.The ministry underscored that similar tactics were being deployed in relation to citizens of Arab states.The existence of so-called gray zones not controlled by legitimate authorities, high activity of terrorist groups, and chronic problems of a socio-economic nature" there create a fertile environment for such efforts," the Foreign Ministry noted.Adzuna, the British search engine used to list such vacancies, is a private company, said the ministry, and is therefore responsible for all materials published on its platform.At the same time, it is highly likely that British intelligence services are behind these actions, and are prepared to offer a large bounty to such "soldiers of fortune" for Ukraine at the expense of their own country's taxpayers," the ministry underscored.It is well known that London is not above resorting to such dirty methods of recruiting mercenaries, the Foreign Ministry added.Suffice it to recall the odious statement of former British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who said last year that she would absolutely back anyone in her country wanting to volunteer to fight alongside the Ukrainians.The Russian Foreign Ministry reiterated that any armed activity against Russian servicemen carrying out the special military operation in Ukraine would be immediately suppressed, and groups of foreign mercenaries and "volunteers" would be destroyed. In addition, the ministry called on everyone "to draw the appropriate conclusions and not to fall victim to the recruiting efforts of the British, who are feverishly looking for expendables for the terrorist regime in Kiev."The Russian military has estimated that thousands of foreign mercenaries from more than 60 countries have made their way into Ukraine since the conflict escalated, answering Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys call to join the foreign legion, with the largest contingents coming from Poland, the United States, Canada, Romania and Britain. Regular Russian troops and Donbass militiamen have reported on encountering entire units consisting of foreigners on the proxy war battlefield in Ukraine. Many of the foreigners serving in the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have since been killed, with thousands fleeing the conflict zone after experiencing extensive corruption and war crimes first hand. The Russian Defence Ministry has repeatedly warned that foreign mercenaries fighting in Ukraine would be held criminally liable. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/scott-ritter-ukraines-counteroffensive---myth-or-reality-1110370203.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20220602/russian-military-warns-foreign-mercenaries-fighting-in-ukraine-are-criminally-liable-1095937967.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20220531/brits-returning-from-ukraines-foreign-legion-report-being-used-as-cannon-fodder-1095902639.html united kingdom (uk) kiev london Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko 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 Svetlana Ekimenko british intelligence services, search for mercenaries, on the internet, kiev regime, russian foreign ministry, russia's special military operation in ukraine, soldiers of fortune, proxy war against russia in ukraine, criminally liable. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/tensions-flare-up-in-kosovo-and-metohija-1110790075.html Tensions Flare Up in Kosovo and Metohija Tensions Flare Up in Kosovo and Metohija tensions escalated after Kosovo authorities attempted to appoint Albanians as mayors in the north of the province following the April 23 elections for local self-government bodies. 2023-05-30T16:49+0000 2023-05-30T16:49+0000 2023-05-30T16:49+0000 multimedia photo kosovo serbia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/05/1e/1110787455_0:170:3036:1878_1920x0_80_0_0_bae799c1fec9ec2b2b323aadc3071676.jpg On Monday, hundreds of Kosovo Serbs went to local administration buildings demanding the withdrawal of Kosovar police and officials. Troops of the NATO-led KFOR mission, equipped with crowd dispersal devices, were deployed in the municipalities of Zvecan, Leposavic, and Zubin Potok.At least 52 Serbs were injured during the clashes in Kosovo, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said. Media reported that some 41 soldiers of the KFOR contingent also received injuries in Monday's clashes, with the mission itself confirming 25 injured.Take a look at the tensions in Kosovo in Sputnik's gallery: 1 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 tensions escalated, kosovo authorities, kosovo and metohija https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/us-military-accuses-china-of-aggressive-maneuver-during-south-china-sea-intercept-1110803040.html US Military Accuses China of Aggressive Maneuver During South China Sea Intercept US Military Accuses China of Aggressive Maneuver During South China Sea Intercept The US Indo-Pacific Command said on Tuesday that a Chinese J-16 fighter jet pilot performed an "'unnecessarily aggressive maneuver" while intercepting a US Air Force RC-135 aircraft over the South China Sea last week. 2023-05-30T20:32+0000 2023-05-30T20:32+0000 2023-05-31T05:44+0000 south china sea south china sea dispute us military rc-135 j-16 fighter jet people's liberation army (pla) navy us indo-pacific command military /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/1e/1105901729_0:1:2553:1437_1920x0_80_0_0_5be73f70a1670ecee81fccc9c804123a.jpg A release issued by the command states the Chinese fighter pilot "flew directly in front of the nose of the RC-135, forcing the US aircraft to fly through its wake turbulence.""A People's Republic of China J-16 fighter pilot performed an unnecessarily aggressive maneuver during the intercept of a US Air Force RC-135 aircraft, May 26, 2023," the statement reads. "The RC-135 was conducting safe and routine operations over the South China Sea in international airspace, in accordance with international law."The release goes on to underscore that despite the incident, American forces will continue to carry out its operations in international waters. "We expect all countries in the Indo-Pacific region to use international airspace safely and in accordance with international law," the release concludes.The Tuesday announcement also included video footage of the incident.The buzzing incident comes months after US and Chinese militaries blasted one another in January over what each party perceived as unsafe air encounters over the South China Sea. At the time, Chinese officials indicated the US military "deliberately mislead public opinion" after its RC-135 carried out an "intentional close-in reconnaissance" of the disputed Paracel Islands. south china sea 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 US accuses Chinese J-16 jet of unnecessarily aggressive maneuver in front of RC-135 reconnaissance plane US accuses Chinese J-16 jet of unnecessarily aggressive maneuver in front of RC-135 reconnaissance plane 2023-05-30T20:32+0000 true PT0M27S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us military, us, us indo-pacific command, chinese j-16 fighter jet pilot, us air force rc-135 aircraft, south china sea https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/us-preparing-terrorist-attacks-on-syrias-crowded-places-govt-institutions--russias-svr-1110791208.html US Plotting Terror Attacks at Crowded Places, Gov't Agencies in Syria - Russian Intel US Plotting Terror Attacks at Crowded Places, Gov't Agencies in Syria - Russian Intel The United States is preparing terrorist attacks on crowded places and government institutions in Syria, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said on Tuesday. 2023-05-30T08:19+0000 2023-05-30T08:19+0000 2023-05-30T09:34+0000 world svr russian foreign intelligence service syria us terrorist attack /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105967/59/1059675917_0:79:1280:799_1920x0_80_0_0_79171591967d45d30f87e42b2bca3e41.jpg "As a habitual tool for the implementation of their subversive plans [in Syria], the US intelligence services again intend to use Islamic extremists," the SVR said in a statement, adding that "crowded places, shops and government agencies are among the priority targets." The SVR also said that direct control of such operations is conducted from the US At Tanf military base located on the territory controlled by the Syrian opposition, where "dozens of Daesh* militants being trained." US special services coordinate attacks primarily in the southern provinces of As-Suwayda and Daraa, the intelligence service said. US-controlled militants also target a strategically important highway between the cities of Palmyra and Deir ez-Zur.*Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist group banned in Russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20230510/us-creating-army-of-free-syria-in-region-near-raqqa--lavrov-1110234577.html syria 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 terrorist attacks, attacks on syria, russian foreign intelligence service, government institutions in syria https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/us-still-considering-supplying-ukraine-with-atacms-missile-systems---biden-1110784306.html US Still Considering Supplying Ukraine With ATACMS Missile Systems US Still Considering Supplying Ukraine With ATACMS Missile Systems WASHINGTON(Sputnik) - The United States is still considering supplying Ukraine with Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), US President Joe Biden said. 30.05.2023, Sputnik International 2023-05-30T01:38+0000 2023-05-30T01:38+0000 2023-05-30T03:40+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine army tactical missile system (atacms) high mobility artillery rocket system (himars) john kirby joe biden ukraine kiev /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101664/22/1016642244_0:845:1500:1689_1920x0_80_0_0_853e37694c5435a9bcedb48f1265e25e.jpg "Thats still in play," Biden told reporters shortly before his departure from Washington to the state of Delaware, answering a relevant question. US National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby said earlier in May that the US still did not plan to transfer ATACMS to Ukraine. The ATACMS Missiles can hit targets 190 miles away and can be fired from launchers already provided to Ukraine from the West, including the HIMARS mobile launchers and the older M270 launchers.Western countries have been supplying Kiev with different types of weapon systems, including air defense missiles, multiple launch rocket systems, tanks, self-propelled artillery and anti-aircraft guns since Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine over a year ago. The Kremlin has repeatedly warned against further arms deliveries to Kiev. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/russian-air-defense-intercepted-grom-missile-10-himars-and-2-storm-shadow-lrm-1110606136.html ukraine kiev 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 army tactical missile system (atacms), high mobility artillery rocket system (himars), john kirby, joe biden, ukraine, kiev https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/what-are-atacms-missiles-and-why-is-us-threatening-to-give-them-to-kiev-1110800837.html What are ATACMS Missiles and Why is US Threatening to Give Them to Kiev? What are ATACMS Missiles and Why is US Threatening to Give Them to Kiev? President Biden has confirmed that the US is still mulling over whether to send MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) ballistic missiles to Ukraine. What are these weapons? 2023-05-30T18:25+0000 2023-05-30T18:25+0000 2023-05-30T18:41+0000 military joe biden ukraine russia us army lockheed martin army tactical missile system (atacms) white house escalation missile /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/05/1e/1110800671_0:15:611:358_1920x0_80_0_0_3329e28c78a826243633e6675fcdfddd.jpg "Thats still in play" was Joe Biden's four-word answer to a reporter outside the White House on Monday after being asked whether the US plans to deliver ATACMS to Ukraine. He did not elaborate.Made to be used by the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System road-mobile multiple rocket launchers which the US began to send to Ukraine last summer, and older M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (M270s) sent by Germany, Italy, Norway, and the UK, ATACMS have been touted by US media and politicians as one of the most fearsome conventional weapons in Americas arsenal.What are ATACMS Used For, What is Their Range, How Fast Can They Fly, and How Accurate are They?Created in the mid-1980s at the twilight of the Cold War and entering into service with the US Army in early 1991, just in time for a US-led war against Saddam Hussein's Iraq, ATACMS are a solid-fuel, surface-to-surface ballistic missile with an effective firing range of up to 300 km, and a maximum velocity during boost phase of up to Mach 3, or 1 km/second, making them difficult to intercept using older air defense systems.ATACMS characteristics vary wildly depending on model, block number, and configuration. For example, while they can be armed with 500 pound (230 kg) penetrating high explosive blast fragmentation warheads, they can also be fitted with other explosives weighing anywhere from 160 and 560 kg, including anti-personnel and material cluster "bomblets."There are also notable differences in the weapons guidance systems, with older variants relying on inertial guidance, while newer missiles include built-in GPS.Where Have ATACMS Been Used Before and What Countries Have Them?Along with the 1991 Gulf War, ATACMS were used extensively during the US-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq in the 2000s.Besides the US military, the missiles are operated by just a handful of US partners and clients, including NATO allies Greece, Turkiye, Poland, and Romania, as well as South Korea, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Australia, Taiwan, Lithuania, Estonia, and Morocco have either signed contracts on the purchase of the weapons, or submitted formal requests to do so.How Much Do ATACMS Cost?ATACMS are pricey. So pricey that the Netherlands decided to shop around for and find an alternative earlier this year. Finland made a similar move in 2014. The US Army the ATACMS main user, decided to wind the program down in 2007, citing high costs, and penning a life extension contract with Lockheed Martin to upgrade the remaining stock of missiles. A specialized "cross-domain" ATACMS proposed in 2016 was also killed off in the fiscal 2021 defense spending bill, due to unspecified "technical problems."ATACMS have an estimated cost of over one million dollars (the Pentagon provided an $820,000 per missile price tag in the late 1990s which would be equivalent to over $1.5 million today, with no newer valuations made available since).Over 3,700 ATACMS of various modifications were produced between the late 1980s and 2007, with about 600 expended by Washington in its wars over the past 30 years.What is the Russian Equivalent of the ATACMS?About half-a-dozen non-US missile systems have been compared to the ATACMS, including the OTR-21 Tochka, a Soviet-made tactical ballistic missile, the 9K720 Iskander, a Russian-made missile, the Fateh-313 an Iranian-made tactical missile design, and the P-12 variant of China's B-611 missile. North Korea, India, Israel, and Ukraine have also tinkered with comparable systems, with varying degrees of success.Iskanders boast superior range and payload characteristics to the ATACMS, but their launchers are only capable of firing their specially designed missiles, whereas ATACMS can be fired from HIMARS and MLRS launchers.What System is Expected to Replace the ATACMS?Lockheed Martins Precision Strike Missile is expected to succeed the ATACMS. In development since 2016, the missile is expected to have a longer maximum range (500 km or more), and be slim-lined to allow for two to be fitted per carrier.Why Would ATACMS Deployment in Ukraine Be a Major Escalation?In light of Kievs propensity to use its Western-provided weapons to attack targets inside Russia including civilian infrastructure in Donbass, Moscow has warned repeatedly that sending ATACMS to Ukraine would dramatically increase the danger of an escalation, and possibly even lead to direct military clashes between Russia and the US.Earlier this year, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov blasted lawmakers in Washington over their calls to ship ATACMS missiles to Ukraine for strikes against Crimea, calling such proposals "an element of psychological warfare," and warning that the Wests escalation of the proxy war could have unpredictable consequences.In late 2022, US media reported that Pentagon officials had urged the White House not to send ATACMS to Ukraine, similarly citing their potential use "against targets inside Russian territory," and the danger that they could "potentially set off a wider war with Russia." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230523/us-approved-military-aid-to-ukraine-will-soon-be-tapped-talk-of-more-funding-on-back-burner-1110531070.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230403/inside-the-iskander-a-closer-look-at-russias-deadly-short-range-missile-1109080044.html ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov 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 Ilya Tsukanov united states, russia, ukraine, atacm, missile system, weapon, atacms ukraine, atacms vs himars, atacms vs iskander, what is the atacms missile, what is the atacms weapon, mgm-140 atacms, army tactical missile system, atacms lockheed martin, mgm-140 army tactical missile system atacms https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/xi-leads-china-in-boosting-tech-self-reliance-fostering-new-growth-drivers-amid-global-competition-1110792847.html Xi Leads China in Boosting Tech Self-Reliance, Fostering New Growth Drivers Amid Global Competition Xi Leads China in Boosting Tech Self-Reliance, Fostering New Growth Drivers Amid Global Competition Since 2012, China has witnessed an extraordinary economic transition, with historic achievements in all aspects of the economy from its size to quality. 2023-05-30T10:11+0000 2023-05-30T10:11+0000 2023-05-30T10:11+0000 world china beijing nobel prize c919 world intellectual property organization (wipo) wu xi /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/09/10/1100858742_0:143:3135:1906_1920x0_80_0_0_cf1e65487190720fb6607521484a3665.jpg Such an unparalleled feat does not just happen, especially during a tumultuous period in the global geo-economic landscape and a tough phase in China's economic transformation and upgrading process.It was Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era that guided the country in overcoming various risks and challenges, and in keeping the China economic miracle alive.As China embarked on the quest to become a great modern socialist country amid global changes unseen in a century, Xi's economic thought has been and will continue to be the guiding principle for development in China for years to come, and have great significance for the world. What is Xi's economic thought? What does it mean for China and the world? To answer these questions, the Global Times has launched this special coverage on Xi's major economic speeches and policies, and how they are put into practice to boost development in China and around the world.On a sweltering Friday afternoon, cranes periodically maneuver over a massive construction site in northwest Beijing's Haidian district. Inside the walled-up site, trucks and machines roar, though the sound is muffled. At first glance, this is just a typical scene at a major construction sites ubiquitous in many places across China amid the rapid recovery of economic activities after the pandemic.Yet, another busy scene just several meters across the street from the construction site puts into context the unique nature of the project. Outside the Zhongguancun (ZGC) Exhibition Center, police officers busy themselves guiding traffic as scores of pedestrians in business attire and flashy badges line up for security checks under a large white tent. Through the gate, a massive logo unmistakably shows what is taking place: the 2023 ZGC Forum.The forum, first launched in 2007 in Zhongguancun, dubbed China's "Silicon Valley," has become a state-level platform for global scientific and technological (sci-tech) innovation exchange and cooperation. The forum has garnered considerable national and global influence and the country is striving to further expand its scale and global profile. The construction work across the street is for the permanent venue of the ZGC Forum. The development of both Zhongguancun and the ZGC Forum has been at the forefront of China's robust, intensifying efforts, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, to enhance sci-tech innovation capabilities and bolster sci-tech self-reliance and strength so as to foster new growth drivers and new strengths in the face of fierce international competition. Xi attaches great importance to sci-tech innovation. A book detailing his discourses on sci-tech self-reliance and strength has recently been published, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday. The book contains 50 relevant discourses by Xi, some of which were published for the first time, according to Xinhua.From 'China's Silicon Valley' to 'Global ZGC'In a congratulatory letter sent to the 2023 ZGC Forum, 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.Xi, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has attached great importance to the forum as well as Zhongguancun. In September 2013, led by Xi, members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee visited the Zhongguancun Science Park and held a group study. This was the first time that such a study had been held outside the central authority's seat at Zhongnanhai. Presiding over the group study, Xi stressed the importance of science and technology in enhancing national strength. "We must enhance awareness of unexpected challenges and grab the opportunity of the science and technology revolution. We cannot wait, hesitate, or slack," Xi said.In 2019, Xi sent a congratulatory letter to the 2019 ZGC Forum, stating that with the accelerated new round of sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation, innovation, development, and cooperation with win-win results have become an inevitable trend. Then in 2021, Xi delivered a speech via video link at the opening ceremony of the forum, stressing that China attaches great importance to sci-tech innovation. He noted that Zhongguancun is China's first national independent innovation demonstration zone, and the ZGC Forum is a state-level platform for global sci-tech innovation exchanges and cooperation.Such support and leadership from the top leader have led to rapid development in Zhongguancun, which has become a flagbearer of China's innovation. Total revenue of enterprises in the demonstration zone reached 8.7 trillion yuan in 2022, which is 3.5 times that of 2012, according to official data. Due to supportive measures, more than 300 multinationals have set up regional headquarters and research centers, and more than 130 Fortune Global 500 companies have established branch offices in the zone. Some in China no longer describe Zhongguancun as "China's Silicon Valley," but the "Global Zhongguancun." Thanks to achievements in Zhongguancun, Beijing as a whole has also become a crucial hub in the global innovation network, ranking third globally in the number of "unicorn" companies and topping the Nature Index global science city rankings six consecutive times. In 2022, 293 new tech companies were established each day in Beijing, meaning a new tech firm was born every five minutes or so on average during the year. The ZGC Forum has also seen remarkable achievements over the last decade or so, attracting thousands of industry players and scholars from around the world. This year's forum, for example, has attracted guests from more than 80 countries and regions, and nearly 200 international organizations and institutions, with about 120 top experts from around the world, including 17 Nobel Prize laureates.For businesses, the ZGC Forum offers a great platform to learn about the latest global trends and advances in cutting-edge technologies as well as to showcase the latest innovation results, according to Qi Xiongdong, chairman of Qi An Xin Group, a cybersecurity firm. "If a new technology is not released at the ZGC Forum, it will not be adopted as quickly," he said.Beyond the ZGC Forum, China has also created a favorable environment for innovation nationwide with supportive measures in a wide range of areas such as talent, Qi told the Global Times. "China is doing very well in terms of sci-tech innovation," he said, while noting that the country places great emphasis on innovation as a primary driving force for high-quality development and on sci-tech self-reliance and strength.Innovation as primary driving force In the report to the opening session of the 20th National Congress of the CPC in October 2022, Xi stressed that innovation will remain at the heart of China's modernization drive. He said that the country will accelerate the implementation of the innovation-driven development strategy at a faster pace to achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology. Sticking to innovation-driven development is also a crucial part of Xi Jinping Thought on the Economy.While presiding over a group study session of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee in February, Xi called for the strengthening of basic research to consolidate self-reliance and strength in science and technology.While taking part in a deliberation with his fellow deputies from the delegation of Jiangsu Province to the first session of the 14th National People's Congress in March, Xi said that to open up new areas and new arenas in development and foster new growth drivers and new strengths in face of fierce international competition, China should ultimately rely on sci-tech innovation.Under an innovation-driven development strategy, China has made great strides in bolstering its independent sci-tech innovation capabilities. In 2022, China moved up to the 11th spot in the Global Innovation Index released by the World Intellectual Property Organization, compared to 34th place in 2012. China's investment in research and development (R&D) increased three-fold from 1 trillion yuan ($144 billion) in 2012 to 3 trillion yuan in 2022. The number of R&D personnel also exceeded 6 million in 2022, maintaining the world's leading position for many years.China has also taken the lead or moved to the forefront in many areas of cutting-edge technologies such as 5G, new-energy vehicles and quantum computing. A series of recent major developments have also offered more proof of China's rapidly rising sci-tech innovation prowess. On Sunday, China's first home-grown passenger jet, the C919, made its first commercial flight. Last week, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization adopted a decision concerning the establishment of a Category I Institute on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education in Shanghai, which, once approved, would be the first Category I institute in China. China's unstoppable progressSuch achievements also add to growing evidence that the US' relentless containment strategy cannot and will not contain China's rise in sci-tech, economy, and in overall national strength, experts said. Historically, the US has tried but not been able to contain China's pursuit of sci-tech self-reliance and strength. In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the US also tried to contain China's nuclear and space development, but the "two bombs and one satellite" project was a success and its spirit is still alive today. On Monday, Chinese officials announced that China plans to send taikonauts to land on the moon before 2030. China also announced that a new three-person crew was scheduled to carry out the Shenzhou-16 spaceflight mission. In recent years, the US government has wielded its state power to crack down on Chinese technology firms such as Huawei. Committed to international cooperationWhile focusing on boosting its sci-tech self-reliance and strength, China has also been actively promoting international cooperation. The ZGC Forum plays several major roles in terms of boosting sci-tech innovation in China as well as promoting sci-tech exchanges and cooperation globally, Wang Peng, a research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. "Through the platform, we can better learn about breakthroughs in frontier sci-tech fields, which offers a clear direction for domestic sci-tech innovation to tackle bottleneck problems," he said. Highlighting China's commitment to the promotion of global sci-tech exchanges, the country has recently held many forums and expos in various places for domestic and global businesses. In the latest example, in addition to the ZGC Forum, the China International Big Data Industry Expo 2023 also kicked off in Guiyang, Southwest China's Guizhou Province on Friday, where many foreign businesses expressed solid confidence in China's development. Such a sentiment has also been echoed by many at the ZGC Forum, where many foreign businesses and scholars talked about the vast potential and opportunities China presents. And they are about to further see greater potential in China through a bigger platform. With construction work for the permanent site of the ZGC Forum expected to wrap up in August 2023, the 65,000-square-meter venue with modern, green, and high-tech features will officially open its doors to welcome more domestic and global guests for 2024's forum.This article originally appeared on the Global Times website. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230522/beijing-banning-micron-means-china-has-mastered-chip-making-1110523565.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20220526/china-leads-in-5g-networks-development-1095790783.html china 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 china in boosting, extraordinary economic transition, self-reliance, global competition On Friday, June 2, Grand River Raceway (GRR) will kick off another exciting season of harness racing. This year, the Elora, Ont. racetrack will be celebrating its 20th race season. Grand River Raceway will host 48 Standardbred race nights this season, including 18 Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) events, from June through September. Racing takes place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday night with a post time of 6:30 p.m. Click here for the full schedule. We are thrilled to be celebrating our 20th race season here at Grand River, said Chad Rozema, Raceway Manager. We are excited to welcome back fans and ready to build on the already strong product with a pumped-up wagering menu." New for this season is the addition of a second Pick 5 starting in Race 6 and a second Pick 3 offered on the final three races of each card. Pick 3/4/5 wagers along with Double & Super Hi 5 wagers are attractive options for horseplayers as they all offer a low 15 per cent takeout. GRR will kick off the race season on June 2 with some special treats for race fans. Guests can have dinner and order the opening night meal special featuring a made-in-house smash burger and kettle chips, along with a soft drink for $15 +HST and receive a free 20th race season stein as a keepsake. Those with a sweet tooth can stop by The GrandWay lobby to grab a free cookie provided by Paulas Pastries. Heres what fans can expect this summer at GRR: Free Family Fun! Every night is free entry for all. Need something for the kids to do? GRR's ambassador Tom, along with a variety of mutuel tellers, will be handing out Neighbourhood bags full of fun activities for kids every race night. Food Trucks On Friday nights A delicious fan favourite! A variety of trucks, with lots of great food options to choose from will be at the track most Friday nights. GrandWay Patio Parties Get a group of 12 or more together and enjoy a VIP experience right next to the track. Groups get an intimate horse racing experience in a reserved seating area on The GrandWay Patio. Limited dates available, excludes GRR large event dates. Contact [email protected]. Large Events Happening at GRR: June 2 Opening Night June 30 Canada Day Celebrations (wear red and white!) July 14 Wiener Dog Races Aug. 7 Industry Day, featuring the Battle of Waterloo presented by Winbak Farms Aug. 18 Harness the Hope (dress in pink!) Sept. 6 National Caretaker Appreciation Day at GRR Please be reminded that GRR and The GrandWay Events Centre are designated as smoke-free. Smoking is not permitted in any and on all exterior public racetrack facing areas including the grandstand, tarmac and patio. The Captains Quarters is open for first-come, first-serve spectator seating only (with the exception of special events). There will not be an all-you-can-eat buffet in the tiered dining room this year, however, fans can bring food from The GrandWay Lounge or the tarmac BBQ to enjoy. GRR is ready to giddy-up and get the race season started. Follow along and keep up with all the fun at grandriverraceway.com. At GRR, you can always come and expect an experience. To view Friday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Friday Entries - Grand River Raceway. (With files from Grand River Raceway) One of the worlds most popular sporting megastars will be the racing ambassador for the worlds richest harness race. Former UFC champion Charles Oliveira, who boasts over six million Instagram followers and a serious love for harness racing, has accepted the ambassadorial role for the inaugural $2.1 million (AUD) TAB Eureka at Club Menangle on Sept. 2. The deal was inspired and made by Aaron Bain Racing and Summit Bloodstock, who will combine to bring Oliveira to Sydney for the week of the TAB Eureka. They also have a slot in the race. Oliveira, who boasts 33 wins from his 43 fights and still competes in the UFC, sent social media into a frenzy on July 13, 2021 when he upstaged U.S. Hall of Fame driver Tim Tetrick to win an exhibition harness race at Yonkers Raceway in New York. Harness racing is a real passion of mine. Im crazy about it, said Oliveira. In an exciting twist and as part of Oliveiras deal, he will return to the sulky for another exhibition race, this time against superstar Australian driver Luke McCarthy at Menangle on the night of the TAB Eureka. Im trying to protect my unbeaten record, said Oliveira. Itll be great to get back in the bike. Thats just part of the reason I jumped at this opportunity. I love harness racing and this new race sounds like a great chance to promote the sport to a much bigger audience. Oliveira will also work closely with Aaron Bain Racing and Summit Bloodstock around the announcement of which pacer will race in their slot. When we bid for a slot in the TAB Eureka, we promised to use it as a chance to take the sport outside of its bubble, said Bain. Thats the very reason we approached Charles. Hes not just a sporting superstar and celebrity, hes one with a genuine love of harness racing and hes the perfect fit. Were thrilled to be bringing him out here for the whole week leading up to the TAB Eureka and will have a series of events and appearances while hes here to help promote the race and our industry. Harness Racing Australia CEO Andrew Kelly added: We love this. Huge credit to Aaron Bain Racing and Summit Bloodstock for doing exactly what we hoped this race would inspire thinking outside the square to promote our great industry. To have someone with Charles success, appeal and cut-through as the ambassador for the first running of the TAB Eureka is a real coup. About The TAB Eureka Where: Club Menangle (Sydney) When: Saturday, Sept. 2 Purse: $2.1 million AUD (richest pacing race in the world) Distance: 2,400 metres Eligibility: For Australian-bred and born pacers aged three and four Slot Race: 10 slots have been sold to make-up the 10-horse field. Four slots have already been filled. They are: Catch A Wave (Cordina Racing), Captain Ravishing (Team Zav), Leap To Fame (Kevin and Kay Seymour) and My Ultimate Ronnie (Soho Standardbreds). For updates, visit theeureka.com.au. For tickets and hospitality packages, visit clubmenangle.com.au. (With files from Harness Racing Victoria) Longtime horse owner Lowell Stead of Montague, P.E.I. passed away on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 in his 81st year at the Kings County Memorial Hospital. Lowell was born in Souris in 1942, and raised in Fortune for 10 years. He and his parents, Harold and Christine Stead, moved to Montague in 1952 where they purchased a farm in Lower Montague. Lowell worked for several years for the Massey Ferguson dealership in town and later owned his own business, Lowell Stead Inc., a Shell Oil agency located in Brudenell, which he successfully operated for 25 years. He won many awards through Shell Canada, including trips around the world. Lowells warm personality and sense of humour resulted in making many friendships over the years both in business and the horse industry. Upon retirement, he took a keen interest in the sport of horse racing. He owned many horses, but his pride and joy was Stetson Any Size, who raced in the Gold Cup & Saucer race in 2000, 2001 and 2002. The Prince Edward Island Standardbred Horse Owners Association awarded Lowell the Active Horseman of the Year Award in 2010 and he served on the Atlantic Provinces Harness Racing Commission for several years. He also served as an elder in his church, St. Andrews Presbyterian in Montague, and was a dedicated volunteer and contributor to his local community. Lowell is survived by his beloved wife, Sandra (nee Wakelin), sister-in-law Sheila Wakelin (Jan Thijsse), niece Shelly King Compton (Grant), nephew Troy King (Tracey), grandnieces Kate Compton and Taylor King, grandnephews J.T. Compton and Dale King, and by cousin Brenda Stead. He was predeceased by his parents Harold and Christine Stead, and his brother Robert Graham, in infancy. Visitation and funeral service have already taken place. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Lowell Stead. The keynote speaker for a Memorial Day event paid tribute to soldiers and from Culpeper buried elsewhere and to unknown soldiers. Culpeper National Cemetery moved its Monday program to Culpeper Baptist Church due to rainy weather. Brandy Station Foundation President Howard Lambert was the keynote speaker. He is a co-founder of the African-American History Alliance and creator of the Freedom Foundation, an organization devoted to telling the stories of African-American soldiers that served in the Federal Army during the Civil War. Lambert has spent 30 years in the fields of battlefield preservation and historical interpretation. During his speech, Lambert recognized soldiers from the Culpeper area buried in cemeteries other than the National Cemetery. Among them was Private First Class Edwin Andino II, killed on Sept. 6, 2006 in Baghdad, Iraq. The private from Culpeper died of injuries sustained after the detonation of an improvised explosive device near his vehicle during combat operations. Andino was posthumously awarded the Purple Heat and the Bronze Star for valor. He is buried in Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery in Culpeper. Also recognized was Lieutenant Leonard Cowherd III, killed by a rocket propelled grenade after getting hit by sniper fire. Cowherd was securing a building in Karbala, Iraq at the time of his passing. According to Lambert, Cowherds death was Culpepers first fatality since the Vietnam War. He is buried at the National Cemetery in Arlington. Soldiers from Culpeper killed in action and buried in Culpeper National Cemetery recognized by Lambert included: U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Carl Lind, U.S. Army Master Sergeant George A. Banner Jr, Sergeant Cameron Thomas and Corporal Adam Fargo. In his speech, Lambert also recognized five members of the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry which had been killed during the Battle of Cedar Mountain near Culpeper in August 1862. The five fallen soldiers were discovered by then-Lt. Robert Gould Shaw who considered them friends and would remark: O it is hard to believe, we will never see them again. A monument to the 2nd Massachusetts stands at Culpeper National Cemetery. Shaw would go on to take command of the all-black 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and would perish at the Second Battle of Fort Wagner in South Carolina in July 1863. He was 25 years old. Lamberts connection to the African-American infantry group stems from his experience as a war reenactor who has portrayed a member of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry which was made up of African-American soldiers during the war. He has also participated in Civil War-era films such as Glory, Sommersby and Lincoln. Others that were also involved in the Memorial Day event included VFW Commander Keith Price, a former Culpeper Town Councilman. Also on hand were Lynette Parker, the new Director at Culpeper National Cemetery and Lisa Pozzebon with the National Cemetery Administration. The Culpeper County High School Band provided patriotic music. The traditional rifle salute was conducted by members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2524. Organizations involved in the event offered ceremonial wreaths that will placed at a monument in the cemetery, including Knights of Columbus and Culpeper Minutemen Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. What is old is being made new again as a Scottsbluff couple redevelops a downtown property. Many people may have noticed the work ongoing at the 19 E. 15th St. and the neighboring property, 17 E. 15th St., formerly Jons Aquarium and the Labor Temple. Tom and Becky Horne purchased the property, which is being redeveloped into a business offering salon suites in the community, and began renovations in January. Becky Horne outlined the plans during the May 15 Scottsbluff City Council meeting. The Hornes applied for and have been granted micro-TIF redevelopment funds for the project. The application by the Hornes is the first micro-TIF application granted by the City of Scottsbluff. The Nebraska Legislature adopted LB 1021 in 2020, which allows city councils to pass a resolution allowing for expedited reviews of redevelopment plans for certain TIF projects, which bypasses the former requirement of holding a minimum of five meetings for approving a TIF project. The statute made it possible for cities to adopt an expedited process for consideration of redevelopment projects for repair, rehabilitation or replacement of existing structures that are at least 60 years old and located in a substandard and blighted area. There are also other qualifications, depending on the type of structure to be redeveloped, in this case being that the value of the property cant exceed $1.5 million once redevelopment has been complete. The estimated value after the Hornes complete redevelopment is estimated at $269,400. Currently, the property is assessed at $66,516. Horne, who is a massage therapist, said she purchased the property with the mission of providing a space for her daughter to locate her business doing permanent cosmetics. It is way more space than we originally needed, she said. However, she said, there is a definite need for people in the service industry to rent office space, instead of working for somebody. She hopes to do that at this business, which will be called Prime 15 Professional Studios. The name actually came from trying to pick something that would be easy for people to remember, Horne said, noting that the 15 hails back to the street name. The studio complex will offer salon suites, with a shared reception space. The property was built in 1918, part of the original town addition of downtown Scottsbluff. Essentially, the building was abandoned, with office files and more just left in the property, which hasnt existed as a business or other use for quite some time. Work on the project has included bringing it up to code, with Horne sharing photos of some of the work that needed to be done. As an example, she showed a photo of cement at the entryway of one of the properties that seems to be supported by just one sole piece of wood in the middle, like a slab of concrete on toothpicks, as Horne described it. A large crawl space type area exists under that entryway and flooring as a mysterious tunnel under the building. Unfortunately, glass work at the property that was discovered and believed to be done by a glass worker who did a lot of the glasswork found in downtown Scottsbluff businesses couldnt be renovated. As the Hornes contractors did work in the property, some pleasant surprises were unveiled, like old tin ceilings that will now be used in the decor. Those ceilings will be painted black, accented by a chandelier. Horne said that the features of the building also influenced the decor of the studio, which will be a 1920s-inspired space. A custom built entryway has also been designed for the property. The property is located downtown, which appealed to Horne, while also having adjoining parking that will allow customers to enjoy privacy, if they desire, as they walk to their vehicles. In their application, the Hornes estimated that the renovation project would be complete about June 15. Horne estimated she would be opening within six weeks. Memorial Day is one day set aside to honor the men and women who have died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Its not Veterans Day. Its not a celebration. It is a day of solemn contemplation over the cost of freedom, Pete Wysocki said during his Memorial Day address at West Lawn Cemetery on Monday. I have always believed that heroes dont wear capes. They wear dog tags, he said during his speech. Wysocki, who some may be familiar with after he served with the Scottsbluff Police Department and retired in 2015 as a sergeant after 27 years, served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and Korea. He used his speech to also honor those who are often forgotten the families of soldiers. Lets not forget that a veteran never serves alone. The family always travels with them, if not physically, then most certainly emotionally and in spirit. On television, we see the tears of soldiers as they return home. But the family lives the tears and sorrows every day of their deployment. Its the family who writes the letters, sends the packages and makes the phone calls. It is the family who takes care of the veteran who arrives home with limbs missing, PTSD and all the changes that war chisels into the body and soul of a soldier. It is the family who receives the flag off the casket when a veteran comes home for the last time, he said. Wysocki delivered his address at the American Legion Post 36s dedication of its Legion Pavilion at West Lawn Cemetery. The pavilion replaced an older monument, Mary Bowman, with American Legion Post #36, said. In 1960, the Legion constructed a simple concrete platform on this site. Since that time, the platform was used for the Legions annual Memorial Day program. Over time, the steps pulled away from the platform, the brick facade deteriorated and water began seeping under the concrete cap. The platform was not ADA compliant and our members became concerned about that, Bowman said. The American Legion members looked into repairing the platform and making ADA upgrades, but she said it became evident that replacing it was the best course of action. She credited two City of Gering employees, Amy Seiler and Annie Folck, with encouraging the American Legion to build better, rather than simply replace. They told me to dream big. And so I did, Bowman said during the dedication. Bowman said she couldnt be happier with the finished product. She said it is a great way to honor fallen veterans. Its a more formal space. The other piece of it is, we wanted it to be a community space. She said the space can be used for others having funerals to stop and reflect. Among the Memorial Day ceremonies was an observation at the Western Nebraska Veterans Home. Matt Meyers, the Scotts Bluff County Veterans Services Officer, said it meant a lot to him to finally be able to have a ceremony without having restrictions. Public ceremonies hadnt been held at the home since 2019, due to the COVID 19 pandemic. There were just a ton of restrictions due to COVID, Meyers said.... We werent allowed to do a lot of the things and bring a lot of people in here. So this year, its huge that we get the opportunity to honor the veterans here. And also take time to honor the fallen as well, and give the folks at the home the opportunity to do the same. We usually make this a little bigger (than other Memorial Day ceremonies). So this year, we got the VFW Post 1681. Weve got the honor guard from American Legion Post 36. Weve got Wyo-Braska players coming in and theyre going to play a bunch of music for them during the reception. Meyers said the ceremony holds a lot of importance for the veterans in the West Nebraska Veterans Home. Its a great opportunity for us to get up here and make sure that we honor these veterans. There have been a lot of veterans that passed away in the home over the last year. So we get to identify those folks. They say you die twice. You die the first time when you stop breathing and you die a second time when your names no longer mentioned. So I think its important for us to continue to honor these veterans as the years go on, he said. A community within a community is how the Rev. David Smalls describes Zion Wesley AME Zion church in Troutman. On Sunday, the churchs place within the community and its history was recognized by the town of Troutman with a proclamation acknowledging its significance as a historical landmark. Troutman Mayor Teross Young presented the proclamation to Smalls at a service recognizing the churchs 145th anniversary. I am glad to be here, Young said after the morning worship service concluded. This house is not unfamiliar to me, he said remembering times he spent attending services and singing in the church choir. Felina Harris, who serves on the Troutman Town Council, also attended the church service to witness the presentation of the proclamation, which was signed by Young and all of the town council members. Zion Wesley traces its roots back to 1878 when the families of Douglas Young and Robert White organized the church in the Old Rock Hill section of East Monbo Road. The first church was built that year under presiding Prelate Bishop J.W. Hood. The church was rebuilt at its present location on Zion Wesley Road off Talley Street in Troutman in 1919. A parsonage was added in 1960. In 1969 brick was added to the churchs exterior and the fellowship hall was completed. Smalls, who has been the pastor at Zion Wesley since 2018, joins a long list of ministers who have served the church. Zion Wesley was part of the Statesville Circuit until 1911 when it joined the Salisbury District. The presiding elder from that district, the Rev. Dr. Grant Harrison Jr., joined the congregation Sunday to deliver the sermon. The proclamation was read by Young and presented to Smalls, Harrison and the trustee board chairman, James Thomas. Then, Charlene Smalls lit a candle in observance of the church anniversary. David Smalls said Zion Wesley takes its history and place in the Troutman community seriously and strives to be a vital part of the town and the area. I believe a church is a community within a community and we need to help wherever we can, he said. The credit for that community feel, Smalls said, goes to the members. This is just an edifice, he said. We are the church. Smalls said he was proud of the churchs designation as a historical landmark. Its been a long time coming, he said. 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 A Floyd County woman who pleaded guilty to indecent sexual acts and aggravated sexual battery of a victim under the age of 13 was sent to prison on Tuesday for five years. She is also barred from having contact with the victim or any minor under the age of 18, and must register for life on the state Violent Sexual Offender Public Database. Melissa Elizabeth Gibson said her actions stemmed from excessive drinking and drug abuse. During Gibsons sentencing hearing on May 23, the father of the victim read impact statements from his child and others. I have flashbacks of what happened, the victim said. Their father said he first learned details of what Gibson had done in the courtroom at the earlier trial. For the defense, a relative said that they did not believe Gibson had committed the crimes and treatment for drinking and drug use instead of time in prison. Gibson cried during the hearing but did not testify. In a short statement to the court before her sentencing, she admitted her addiction to drugs and alcohol. When Judge Fleenor announced the prison five-year sentence and 10 more on probation, several in the courtroom gasped and some ran from the courtroom. Others joined them after Fleenor added the prohibition of contact between Gibson and her children or other underage children. Fleenor sent deputies to the outer area to silence the loud behavior by those upset with the sentence, which is five times longer than the Commonwealths Sentencing Guidelines recommend for crimes like Gibsons. Judge Fleenor said the actions by Gibson against a child requires a sentence that exceeds the sentencing guidelines. He also ordered Gibson to submit to a treatment program after her release from prison. Commonwealths Attorney Eric Branscom said, Children are the most vulnerable members of our society and should be the most safe in their own homes. In other matters in Floyd County Circuit Court on May 23: Timothy Charles Kelley of Floyd entered a no contest plea on a probation violation. Fleenor gave him a sentence of the remaining two years. Katie Arlene Willard of Willis pleaded guilty to an amended charge of possession of methamphetamine. She will be sentenced in August. Melinda Suzanna Smith of Christiansburg pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine. She will also be sentenced in August. Brandon Wayne Gray was given a jail term of six months and 10 days on a plea for failure to pay court costs from a case in 2019. The Floyd Rotary Club is set to host its fourth annual Dog Show this Sunday (June 4) at Warren G. Lineberry Park in Floyd. Registration starts at 12:15 p.m., and the show kicks off at 1 p.m. The park is located at 284 S. Locust St., between Dogtown and Angels in the Attic. Cost to participate is $5 per class, and all dogs must be leashed and up-to-date on vaccinations. There are 13 classes in this years show: Best Tail Best Coat Best Treat Catcher Best Smile Best Eyes Best Owner-Dog Lookalike Best Trick Cutest Puppy less than a year old Best Bark Best Mixed Breed Dog Best Purebred Dog Best Child Handler until 12 years old Dog Judge would Most Like to Take Home Adults and children nine years and older are invited to join in the fun as handlers. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the show at 1 p.m. on June 4 in Warren G. Lineberry Park. Hamed al-Ali was arrested by the local security service and taken to an undisclosed location, according to Baladi News. In Jarablus, a town north of Aleppo, Hamed al-Ali, a correspondent for the Syrian opposition outlet Radio al-Kul based in Istanbul, Turkey, was arrested on Tuesday morning, May 30th, by the local security services due to a Facebook post. According to reports from various media outlets and journalists on social media, the military police of the National Army conducted a raid at the residence of journalist Hamid al-Ali in Jarablus, Aleppo governorate. He was subsequently arrested and taken to an undisclosed location. The reason behind his arrest was his Facebook post, in which he had commented on the Turkish elections. Following the news of his arrest, numerous activists promptly called for Hameds release. They held the authorities accountable for his safety and strongly condemned the suppression of freedom of expression. In a separate incident, several individuals in areas controlled by the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army factions in northern Syria were injured on Sunday evening due to reckless gunfire carried out to celebrate Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans re-election for another presidential term. Activists on social media platforms criticized the national celebrations involving indiscriminate shooting to commemorate the victory of the current Turkish president. They reminded others that hundreds of Turkish army members stationed in Syria did not express any celebration for President Erdogans victory. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The UN representative emphasized that the committee's primary focus lies in advocating for survivors and documenting their experiences, Enab Baladi writes. The issue of Syrian detainees in the prisons of the Syrian regime and other parties has garnered significant attention from civil society organizations and human rights groups, particularly given the recent political developments in the Syrian crisis. On Monday, a group of forty survivors of detention convened in Istanbul to meet with representatives of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syrian Detainees. Organized by the Day After organization, which focuses on democratic transition in Syria, the meeting encompassed discussions on recommendations that will be presented to the United Nations for deliberation at the upcoming donor conference on Syria in Brussels. During the gathering, the members of the fact-finding committee announced the establishment of a new organization dedicated to Syrian detainees, operating under the auspices of the United Nations. However, specific details concerning its operational framework and commencement date were not disclosed. Additionally, the repercussions of recent Arab normalization with the Syrian regime were addressed. No control over political decisions The meeting witnessed the participation of representatives from the Survivors initiative, former detainees, and other organizations dedicated to supporting Syrian detainees. Additionally, 50 individuals attended the meeting virtually through the Zoom application. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the number of forcibly disappeared individuals stands at 111,907, with 95,696 of them held in Syrian regime prisons, accounting for 85.51% of the total. Furthermore, there are 155,243 detainees, among which 135,481 are held in Syrian regime prisons, constituting 87.27% of the overall figure. A UN representative, who requested anonymity, conveyed during the meeting that the committee continues its efforts to document cases and establish communication channels with survivors, exerting constant pressure on the international community. The representative further emphasized the committees reliance on the ongoing support and cooperation of survivors as the key stakeholders in this cause. The committees primary focus is to amplify their voices and work collaboratively toward the principles of justice and the future of Syria. According to the UN representative, one of the main challenges faced by the commission is accessing survivors and obtaining information from inside Syria. This difficulty arises because the commission operates from Lebanon rather than from within the country. Regarding the impact of Arab normalization with the Syrian regime, survivors raised concerns during the meeting. However, the representative clarified that the committee does not have control over the decisions made by states about this matter. In recent developments, the Arab League decided to reinstate Syrias seat to the Syrian regime, resulting in President Bashar al-Assads attendance at the most recent summit meeting held on May 19th in Saudi Arabia. The UN representative emphasized that the committees primary focus lies in advocating for survivors and documenting their experiences. As part of this advocacy, a new mechanism is being established under the leadership of the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres. While further details were not provided about this mechanism, its affiliation with the Secretary-General was highlighted. A long-term strategic issue Mutasim al-Sioufi, the director of The Day After organization, explained to Enab Baladi that the purpose of the meeting was to establish a connection with a significant group of survivors who lack access to international platforms. The primary objective was to establish direct links between these individuals and the relevant bodies, allowing them to familiarize themselves with UN mechanisms, including the Special Commission of Inquiry on Syrian Detainees and the upcoming organization to be established, as stated by Sioufi. The main aim was to gather the attendees perspectives on the work of these committees, their concerns, aspirations, and goals. In March, the Commission of Inquiry on Syria declared that the protection of civilians in Syria was essentially an illusion, coinciding with the release of their latest report on the Syrian crisis. The Commission highlighted that the warring parties continued to commit violations and abuses against the Syrian people, representing an ongoing failure to safeguard civilians. Paulo Pinheiro, the head of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria, stated, Despite witnessing many heroic acts amidst immense suffering, we have also witnessed a profound failure by the government and the international community, including the UN, to promptly deliver life-saving assistance to Syrians in desperate need. Sioufi emphasized to Enab Baladi that despite the hardships resulting from the lack of progress in the detainees file, it remains a strategic matter. Achieving justice in this regard requires significant time, particularly as it pertains to shaping Syrias future rather than immediate accomplishments. Al-Sioufi noted that the victims themselves are the primary drivers who will carry this issue forward into the future. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Your daily brief of the English-speaking press on Syria. On Tuesday, the United States implemented punitive actions against two Syrian financial service companies. In contrast, Germany reported a 28% rise in individuals obtaining its citizenship last year. Additionally, a program aimed at rehabilitating teenagers from families linked to the Islamic State was introduced in northeast Syria. US uses Caesar Act to target Syrian money service businesses in fresh sanctions The United States on Tuesday imposed punitive measures on two Syrian money service businesses it said help the government maintain access to the international financial system in violation of sanctions, in Washingtons first action targeting Syria since its readmittance to the Arab League, Reuters reported. The U.S. Treasury Department in a statement accused the two money service businesses, Al-Fadel Exchange and Al-Adham Exchange Company, of helping President Bashar al-Assads government and its allies, Hezbollah and Irans Quds Force, an arm of its Revolutionary Guards (IRGC). The sanctions, imposed under the Caesar Act that also levied a tough round of sanctions on Syria in 2020, come after Arab states earlier this month turned the page on years of confrontation with Assad and readmitted Syria to the Arab League, a milestone in his regional rehabilitation even as the West continues to shun him after years of civil war, Reuters added. The United States has said it will not normalize ties with Assad and has said Syria did not merit readmission into the Arab League. Number of new German citizens hits a 20-year high as many Syrians naturalized The Associated Press reported that Germany saw a 28% increase in the number of people gaining its citizenship last year, with people from Syria accounting for more than a quarter of those who were naturalized, official data showed Tuesday. Preliminary figures show that about 168,500 people were granted German citizenship in 2022, the Federal Statistical Office said. That was the highest number since 2002. According to the news agency, 48,300 or 29% were Syrian citizens. That was more than double the previous years figure and seven times as high as in 2020, as increasing numbers of people who migrated to Germany between 2014 and 2016 fulfilled the requirements for citizenship. Those include a working knowledge of German and proof that they can support themselves financially. In principle, there is a requirement for people to have lived in Germany for at least eight years, though that doesnt apply to spouses and children. It can be reduced to six years for people who show special integration accomplishments such as very good knowledge of the language, professional achievements or civic engagement. There were 23,100 such early naturalizations last year, nearly twice as many as in 2021 and 60% of them Syrians. Teenagers from Islamic State families undergo rehabilitation in Syria, but future still uncertain The Associated Press reports that a rehabilitation program is implemented in northeast Syria for teenagers from families associated with the Islamic State (IS) group. The program aims to counter the extremist ideology that circulates within the al-Hol Camp, where thousands of children have been growing up without access to education. Kurdish officials are concerned that if these children remain in the camp, a new generation of extremists could emerge. The rehabilitation program, which involves separating the children from their mothers and families, offers education, vocational training, and activities promoting tolerance. The article highlights the Orkesh Center, one of the rehabilitation facilities where young boys from al-Hol are enrolled. The boys receive education, engage in recreational activities, and have contact with their parents and siblings. However, the effectiveness of the program is difficult to assess due to its novelty. There are concerns from rights groups regarding the practice of separating children from their families, although it is seen as necessary to prevent exposure to extremist ideology. Al-Hol Camp itself is home to approximately 51,000 people, primarily women and children associated with IS militants. The camp population has decreased from its peak due to some Syrians and Iraqis being allowed to return home, but many countries are reluctant to repatriate their nationals who joined IS. The camp remains a challenging environment, with ongoing radicalization and a lack of educational opportunities for children. The rehabilitation program seeks to address these issues and provide a potential solution for the childrens reintegration into society. Kurdish officials and humanitarian agencies emphasize that the ultimate solution lies in the repatriation of these individuals by their home countries. They advocate for rehabilitation and reintegration efforts to be undertaken in the home countries, with appropriate monitoring and prosecution of adults involved in IS activities. The article concludes by highlighting the urgent need for action to address the situation in al-Hol Camp and the importance of finding lasting solutions for the affected children. Arab states cannot whitewash Syrias human rights record Al-Jazeera published a long report in which it argues that Arab states recent rapprochement with the Syrian government, particularly the welcoming back of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to the Arab League, is hypocritical and disregards the Syrian governments responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the past 12 years of conflict. The author asserts that Arab states cannot whitewash Syrias human rights record and that they should ensure the recent thaw in relations does not embolden the Syrian government to further violate human rights. The author criticizes certain Arab states, such as Jordan and Lebanon, for exploiting Syrias return to the Arab fold to push for the return of refugees. They argue that the Syrian government has shown no willingness to make significant political concessions or improve its rights record. Instead, the government uses the refugee issue to press Arab states for financial aid and support for reconstruction while continuing to commit abuses against returnees. The article highlights the systematic violations perpetrated by the Syrian government, including arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture, extrajudicial executions, and deaths in detention. The author emphasizes the scale of these atrocities and calls for Arab countries to publicly acknowledge Syrias human rights record, end the forced return of refugees, and advocate for accountability, an end to torture and enforced disappearances and the safe voluntary return of refugees. Furthermore, the article underscores the need for Arab states to support the establishment of an independent body by the UN General Assembly to investigate the fate and whereabouts of the disappeared. The author argues that anything short of these actions would send a message that mass atrocity crimes carry no consequences on the world stage. Overall, the article urges Arab states to address Syrias human rights violations and play a responsible role in protecting the rights of the Syrian people. The Hassakeh governorate currently hosts over seven US military bases and centers, according to Syria TV. Anadolu Agency has reported that the United States of America has deployed the HIMARS missile system to its forces in Syria in order to defend against potential attacks from Iranian militias in the region. According to sources from the Turkish agency, the US Army recently dispatched the HIMARS system to its stationed forces near the oil fields in the governorate of Deir-ez-Zor, located in northeastern Syria. The system was specifically sent to US bases in the Omar oil fields and Conoco gas fields. After Destruction of Manufacturing Facility: Source Reveals to Athr Press Specifications of HTS Drones These sources further explained that the systems deployment aims to counter possible attacks and shelling by Iran-affiliated groups situated on the opposite bank of the Euphrates River, which passes through the center of Deir-ez-Zor. In addition, the report by Anadolu highlighted that on May 16, the US Army conducted training for members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on unidentified model tanks and American-made TOW anti-tank weaponry. There have been instances of Iranian militias targeting US forces and bases in Syria using armed drones, with the most recent attack occurring on March 23. Rockets struck the al-Omar and Conoco bases, resulting in the death and injury of six US personnel. Towards the end of March, the Pentagon announced the reinforcement of its military presence in the Middle East following a series of attacks on US forces in Syria, which were attributed to armed militias affiliated with Iran. According to Pentagon spokesman Phil Ventura, the United States remains committed to supporting the mission to defeat ISIS in Syria alongside the international coalition. He emphasized their readiness to respond to various emergencies in the Middle East if necessary. Since the defeat of the Islamic State in March 2019, the United States has reduced its military presence in northeastern Syria to approximately 900 soldiers. These forces are primarily located in areas controlled by the SDF in Hassakeh, Raqqa, and Deir-ez-Zor. The focus of their tasks has shifted from combat support to logistical support, training, and other forms of assistance for counterterrorism operations. The Hassakeh governorate currently hosts over seven US military bases and centers, with the largest ones situated in the countryside of Rmeilan and the city of al-Shadadi. Additionally, US military bases can be found on the outskirts of Deir-ez-Zor. The al-Tanf base in southeastern Syria has also been targeted multiple times by Iranian-backed militias using drones and missiles. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. DGFT issued Notification No. 09/2023 dated 29th May, 2023. The notification pertains to an amendment in the policy conditions of SI.No. 55 and 57, Chapter 10 Schedule-2, ITC(HS) Export Policy, 2018. According to the notification, the Central Government has amended the existing entries of Chapter 10 at Sl. No. 55 and 57 related to the export of rice (Basmati and Non-Basmati). The revised policy conditions state that the export of rice to EU member states and European countries, namely United Kingdom, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, is permitted subject to the issuance of a Certificate of Inspection by Export Inspection Council/Export Inspection Agency. However, there are some changes in the requirements for the Certificate of Inspection. For export to the remaining European countries, the Certificate of Inspection by Export Inspection Council/Export Inspection Agency will not be mandatory from the date of this notification for a period of six months. Government of India Ministry of commerce and Industry Department of Commerce Directorate General of Foreign Trade Vanijya Bhavan, New Delhi Notification No. 09/2023 | Dated:29th May, 2023 Subject: Amendment in Policy condition of SI.No. 55 & 57, Chapter 10 Schedule-2, ITC(HS) Export Policy, 2018 reg. S.O. (E) In exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 of the foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992 (No. 22 of 1992), as amended read with pars 1.02 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, the Central Government hereby makes the following amendment to the Notification No. 27/2015-2020 dt. 17.08.2022, with immediate effect policy condition at Sl.No. 55 and 57, Schedule 2 of ITC (HS) Export Policy, 2018 for export of rice (Basmati and Non-Basmati). The following policy conditions shall be amended/added to the existing entries of Chapter 10 at Sl. No. 55 and 57:- SI. No. Tariff item HS code Item Description Present Policy condition Revised Policy Condition 55 1006 2000 1006 30 1006 3010 1006 3090 1006 40 00 Non-Basmati Rice ExporttoEtJ MemberStates and European countriesnamely United Kingdom, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland permitted subject to issuance of Certificateof Inspection by Export Inspection Council / Export Inspection Agency. Certificate of Inspection by Export Inspection Council/ Export Inspections Agency shall be mandatory for export to remaining European countries with effect from 1st January, 2023. Export to EU Member States and European countries namely United Kingdom, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norwayand Switzerland permitted subject to issuance of Certificate of Inspection by Export Inspection Council / Export Inspection Agency. Certificate of Inspection by ExportInspection Council/ Export Inspections Agency shall not be mandatory for export toremaining European countries with effect from the date of this notification for a period of six months. 57 1006 3020 Basmati Rice (Dehusked (Brown),semi- milled, milled both in either par-boiled or raw condition. Export to EU Member States and European countries namely United Kingdom, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland permitted subject to issuance of Certificate of Inspection by Export Inspection Council / Export Inspection Agency. Certificate of Inspection by Export Inspection Council/ Export Inspections Agency shall be mandatory for export to remaining Europeancountries with effect from 1st January, 2023. Export to EU Member States and European countries namely United Kingdom, Iceland ,Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland permitted subject to issuance of Certificate of Inspection by Export Inspection Council / Export Inspection Agency. Certificate of Inspection by Export Inspection Council/ Export Inspections Agency shall not be mandatory for export to remaining European countries with effect from the date of this notification for a period of six months. 3. Effect of notification: Existing Notification No. 27/2015-2020 dt. 17.08.2022, is amended to the extent that export of Rice (Basmati and Non-Basmati) to EU member states and other European Countries namely Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and United Kingdom only will require Certificate of Inspection from EIA/EIC. Export to remaining European countries will not require Certificate of Inspection by Export Inspection Council / Export Inspection Agency for export from the date of this notification for a period of six months. (Santhosh Kumar Sarangi) Director General of Foreign Trade Ex officio Addl. Secy, Govt. of India dgft@nic.in (Issued from F. No. 01/91/171/35/AM20/EC/e-18655) In 2022, three Walla Walla men pleaded guilty to the same charge, connected to the same incident. The three men were sentenced to vastly different sentences, ranging from six months in jail to eight years in prison. This was mandated by the state's use of criminal history-based standard ranges. When someone is arrested in Washington and they have their first appearance in court, they hear the charges they have been arrested on and what the maximum penalty could be if convicted of the charges. In most cases, however, these maximum penalties cannot actually be applied. "It's not a terribly relevant number," defense attorney and Walla Walla County Superior Court Commissioner Patricia Fulton said about the maximum penalty. "That's what I tell my clients. When they come in to talk to me about their case, they will often say, 'Oh my God, it's 10 years.' And I'll say, 'Well, wait a minute, let's see.'" Offender scores In the above case, Joey C. Barnes, Quentin N. Hunter and Billy J. Sargent originally were charged with second-degree murder in connection to the 2019 death of College Place resident Arcane "AJ" Wilkinson in Wallula. The three pleaded guilty to rendering criminal assistance, a Class B felony, in exchange for testifying against Christian W. Scott, the man prosecutors believed shot and killed Wilkinson. The three men had vastly different criminal histories, and therefore, vastly different "offender scores." In Washington, there are three classes of felonies. Maximum penalties are life in prison for Class A felonies, 10 years in prison for Class B felonies, and five years in prison for Class C felonies. Before standard ranges were put in place in 1984, judges had much more discretion in sentencing than they do today. They could give any sentence up to the maximum. Then, Fulton said, parole boards took it from there. "The board would be the decider if a person could be released or when a person could be released," Fulton said. An offender score-based range system was adopted in the Sentencing Reform Act of 1981, which took effect July 1, 1984. The Washington Legislature developed formulas to determine offender scores and ranges for each crime based on those scores. According to the state's "Adult Sentencing Guidelines Manual," the goal of the 1981 act "is to ensure that offenders who commit similar crimes and have similar criminal histories receive equivalent sentences." Walla Walla County Judge Brandon L. Johnson said he shares this goal, even if it means reduced discretion for judges. "Personally, I think it makes sense to try to achieve more equal protection or due process," Johnson said. "Just treating people the same throughout the state." Offender scores range from zero to "9+," meaning it's capped at nine. The formula for determining an offender score varies by crime. Sometimes, as is the case with rendering criminal assistance, it's as simple as adding one "point" for each past felony the defendant has been convicted of. Sometimes it's more complicated. For residential burglary, as an example, past burglary convictions add two points, while other felonies add one. Higher score, longer sentence In the Wallula case, Barns had no felonies on his record. His offender score was zero. The standard range for rendering criminal assistance for a person with an offender score of zero is six months to one year. Walla Walla county Superior Court Judge M. Scott Wolfram sentenced Barns to six months in jail. Sargent had a more extensive criminal history, with an offender score of seven. He was sentenced to four and a quarter years or 51 months in prison. The sentence was the low end of his standard range of 51 to 68 months. Meanwhile, Hunter had the maximum offender score of "9+." He received eight years or 96 months in prison. This was the high end of his range of 72 to 96 months. What is the real maximum? Hunter's high-end eight-year sentence is still two years below the 10-year maximum for Class B felonies. The reason is that the maximum includes community custody time, often informally referred to as probation. Hunter's conviction came with a mandated two years of community custody to follow his sentence. When added to his eight-year sentence, that reaches the 10-year maximum. High-end sentences for some other crimes, however, don't reach the maximum because not all crimes of the same felony class are considered equally serious. State law divides the seriousness of offenses into 16 categories. Rendering criminal assistance and intimidating a public servant are both Class B felonies. However, the former has a seriousness level of five while the latter has a seriousness level of three. The high-end sentence for intimidating a public servant for the top offender score is 68 months five years and eight months. Aggravating, mitigating factors There are exceptions to standard ranges. According to state law, courts "may impose a sentence outside the standard sentence range for that offense if it finds ... that there are substantial and compelling reasons justifying an exceptional sentence." Johnson and Fulton said that under the law, it's easier for a judge to find mitigating factors to lessen a sentence than to find aggravating factors to increase it. "Aggravating factors, factors which increase the sentence, a judge doesn't just get to decide," Fulton said. "They have to be either stipulated by the parties ... or found by the jury." "The aggravating factors also have to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt," Johnson added. The aggravating factors are defined by state law, and include things such as, "The defendant used his or her position of trust, confidence, or fiduciary responsibility to facilitate the commission of the current offense," "The current offense was a violent offense, and the defendant knew that the victim of the current offense was pregnant," and "The defendant's conduct during the commission of the current offense manifested deliberate cruelty to the victim." In addition to deciding a guilty verdict, the jury would have to find that an aggravating factor existed for the judge to be allowed to impose a sentence outside the standard range. The standard for a judge to go below the range is lower because the judge does not need mitigating factors to be determined by a jury. Enhancements Another element that can lead to higher sentences are enhancements attached to a charge. A common example of this is the firearm enhancement, which adds time to the standard range if a felony was committed with a firearm. If a Class A felony is committed with a firearm, the standard range increases by five years. The enhancement is three years for a Class B felony and 18 months for a Class C felony. However, in no circumstances can the sentence go above the state mandated maximums of five years for a Class C felony, 10 years for a Class B felony or life in prison for a Class A felony. Judges' discretion Standard ranges lesson the judge's discretion in sentencing but does not remove it. Several years can make up the gap between the low end and the high end of a standard range, depending on the crime. And the judge can sentence an offender anywhere in that range. Johnson said while standard ranges do restrict a judge's discretion, it also strengthens it in some ways. While defendants used to be able to appeal any sentence for being too long, that is no longer the case. "If a defendant pleads guilty or is found guilty and is sentenced within the standard range which can be the low end or the high end you do not have a right to appeal that sentence," Johnson said. "That doesn't mean that you can't appeal or argue that there were other errors in your trial. But you can't go to the court of appeals and say, 'This judge gave me a sentence that is so extreme, you should look at it.'" In adding the standard ranges, the Sentencing Reform Act of 1981 put the Legislature in charge of determining what sentences should be. "Because sentences are set by the Legislature, if people have complaints, that's where they should send them," Johnson said. "But as judicial officers, the standard range is the standard range." Emma Cline-Maier, of Toledo and a 2021 graduate of Toledo High School, has been named to the spring 2023 deans list at the University of Portland. Cline-Maier is in the Pamplin School of Business majoring in accounting. Alexis Davis, of Woodland, has been named to the spring 2023 deans list at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. Davis is a junior studying communication sciences and disorders. To be eligible, a student must be carrying 12 or more hours with a 3.65 or higher grade-point average and no incompletes. Ian Elmore, of Longview, has been named to the spring 2023 presidents list at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky. To be eligible for the Presidents List, students must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours (a full course load), maintain a minimum term GPA of 4.0, receive an A grade in UC Engage, and be in good academic standing. Abigail Bozarth, of Kalama, attending Saint Martins University, and Anela Burg, of Saint Helens, attending Pennsylvania State University, have been named to the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5% of juniors are eligible for membership. Hannah Gaebel, of Kelso, has been named to the 2023 winter quarter honor roll at Spokane Community College. The honor roll lists those students who achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or above. Zachary Williams, of Longview, recently graduated from University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky. Madeline Barker, of Kalama, has been named to the 2023 winter term deans list at Eastern Oregon University. Qualifying students achieve and maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale while completing a minimum of 12 hours of graded coursework for the duration of the term. Kathleen Fisher and Josh Byrnes, both of Longview, and Evangelia Ford, of Long Beach, have been named to the winter 2023 deans list at Southern New Hampshire University. Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.500 to 3.699 for the reporting term are named to the deans list. Randall Olson, Ashlie Miles and Ryan Ross, all of Kelso, Amber Barnes of Scappoose, Brianna Kirk, Cassandra Pinc and Amy Hofstetter, all of Longview, Elizabeth Summers and Tayler Summers, both of Woodland, and Justin Davis of Saint Helens, have been named to the winter 2023 presidents list at Southern New Hampshire University. Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the presidents list. Meredith Chesley is ready to get her diploma and start a new chapter, one that will take her across the country to Florida next fall. The 18-year-old answered questions from The Daily News about her time in school, what shell miss most about R.A. Long and how future high school grads can weather the challenges of their early teen years. Q&A School: R. A. Long High school. Hometown: Longview. Parents: Susan and Chad Chesley. 2023 Cowlitz County and Rainier Standout Grad Q&As Standout Grad is an annual series featuring local public high school seniors who have overcome hardships big and small before graduation. Stud What are your plans after graduation? My plan after graduation is to attend the University of Tampa to major in nursing! What was the biggest struggle to graduate and how did you overcome it? My biggest struggle to graduate would definitely be the motivation through online school and the COVID-19 pandemic which was during my sophomore year. I overcame it by figuring out how to learn and grow independently which led me to where I am today. What will you miss most about high school? I am going to miss the R. A. Long community the most when I graduate. This includes school events, sporting events, the volleyball team, my teachers, my underclassmen friends, and the school spirit you feel walking through the hallways. I have so many great memories at R. A. Long and it is all thanks to the amazing community. Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years I see myself with a job as a labor and delivery nurse somewhere in the sun with the plan of going back for my masters degree to become either a physician assistant or a nurse practitioner. What would you recommend to someone having difficulty in school? My advice to someone who is having difficulty in school would be to reach out when you are struggling. Your teachers are always willing to help and want you to succeed. Ask lots of questions and utilize all of your resources! Who is your biggest inspiration and why? My biggest inspiration would have to be my mom. My mom is the strongest person I know and is always involved in everything. I really dont know how she does it all but I hope to be like her one day. If you could talk to anyone, living or dead, who would it be? If I could talk to anyone, living or dead, I would talk to my grandpa Wayne. He always had the best advice and lit up every room he was in. I would love to catch him up on the past six years. What would you order for your final meal? For my last meal, I would order my moms chicken enchiladas and a chocolate milkshake. What is your secret talent? My secret talent is that I can make a perfect swirl with frozen yogurt. The Carrington event is the most intense solar storm event in our recorded history, but it occurred 164 years ago in 1859, and back then, humans had rudimentary communications technology, but even then it sparked fires to break out spontaneously and the operators suffered electric shocks. But one does not need to go that far to realize the terrifying potential of solar storms. 34 years ago, the Earth witnessed the worst solar storm of the century and it was so powerful that it knocked out power grids in Canada. Not only that, but it also caused short-wave radio blackouts that impacted the operations of a UN peacekeeping force in Namibia. Check out the details. The worst solar storm of the century On March 13, 1989, the Earth witnessed a solar storm so strong that it perplexed even the most seasoned astronomer. Although we do not have an accurate measure of the storm's intensity since the Kp index was not functional, the Disturbance storm time index (Dst index) recorded a reading of 500. However, one did not need any instruments to understand the severity of the solar storm. As soon as it struck, the northern skies were filled with aurora, which went as far down as Mexico. The southern polar region also got its own aurora that covered Australia and was seen as far up as South America. So, in a way, almost the entire Earth was encapsulated by aurora lights. However, that was not the worst part about the storm. The Hydro-Quebec power network in Canada collapsed due to the strong geomagnetically induced currents. This event led to a power outage that lasted more than 9 hours and affected over 6 million people. Further, widespread communication blackout was also detected. Radio networks were jammed all across Europe but the worst affected was the military dispatched to Namibia by the UN which was there for a peacekeeping operation. Even satellites suffered significant damage. NOAA's GOES weather satellite communications were interrupted, causing weather images to be lost. NASA's TDRS-1 communication satellite recorded over 250 anomalies due to the increased particles flowing into its sensitive electronics. The Space Shuttle Discovery suffered a sensor malfunction. Can a similar storm strike the Earth in 2023? The scary thing about solar storms is that our technology is not capable of predicting them. The Sun continuously bombards powerful coronal mass ejections (CME) and it is only a matter of time before one of them hits the Earth and sparks a similar storm. However, in 2023, the risk of such a storm is definitely higher. The Earth has been reported to enter the peak of its solar cycle by the first half of the next year. This means that solar activity is at an all-time high. This will create more frequent and more destructive solar storms. For now, it is simply a waiting game. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) announced that Ikano Bank AB (publ) in Sweden, has selected the TCS BaNCS Global Banking SaaS Platform for its pan-Europe core banking transformation. Ikano Bank operates across Europe, offering a range of financial services and banking products such as loans, savings, mortgages, and credit cards, including leasing and factoring to small and medium sized businesses. It runs on different core banking solutions in the eight countries it operates in, working with multiple broker solutions and agency banking arrangements in each. This led to country-wise silos within the organization, hindering unified risk management and a consistent customer experience. In pursuit of its vision of becoming a bank of the future, Ikano Bank has embarked on a transformation journey that will result in a flexible, digital core that will support rapid launch of new products and expansion into new markets. In line with its objective of building multi-country capabilities on a single core banking platform, the bank selected TCS BaNCS for its future-proof event-based streaming architecture and best-of-breed functionality. The bank aims to transform and consolidate its pan-European accounts, deposits, and unsecured retail lending business on TCS BaNCS, starting with Sweden. TCS BaNCS component-by-design approach and proven track record in the Nordics will ensure that the bank can incrementally evolve its offerings and mitigate transformation risk while continuing to deliver value to their customers. The new centralized core banking platform will help the bank innovate and launch products faster, enter new markets, standardize processes, comply with local regulations, and enhance resilience. Mikael Andersson, Head of Digital Delivery, Ikano Bank, said, Our strategy is to build a bank of the future, one that is fully digital and focused on superior customer experience. Our bank has always dared to be different while also endeavoring to simplify the way we work. This core banking transformation focusing on simplifying our technological landscape with the help of a best-of-breed solution provider is reflective of this philosophy. The TCS BaNCS Global Banking Platform is a proven solution with an established track record of delivery excellence in the Nordics and will help us accelerate innovation, while our customers will benefit from contextual experiences and faster response times. Venkateshwaran Srinivasan, Global Head, Financial Solutions, TCS, said, We are pleased to partner with Ikano Bank in their transformational journey. The TCS BaNCS Global Banking SaaS platform provides a strong, future-ready, cloud-native digital foundation which will support the banks innovation and growth strategy. Our track record at executing such transformations, our extensive experience in working with Nordic banks and our product suites in-built market and regulatory readiness make us the preferred partner to progressive banks in their growth and transformation aspirations. Tata Consultancy Services has been a transformation partner to leading institutions in the Nordics for more than three decades. It has powered banks on their digital core transformation journeys, enabled real-time payments for one of the largest Swedish banks and enhanced settlements platforms for leading central securities depositories in the region. TCS BaNCS solutions are built on the Digital First, Cloud First philosophy with the outcome being a modern platform in the banking and financial industry in a digital world. The TCS BaNCS solution comprises innovative and adaptive digital apps and a digital core richly enabled for business supporting a wide range of products and services across asset types assets and liabilities, cash, securities, and crypto assets for a wide variety of use cases in the financial services industry. This solution accelerates the digital transformation of traditional businesses by unshackling them from the constraints of legacy technology and powering the ambition to play into the overall ecosystem powered with a rich catalogue of APIs. The Uttar Pradesh Police and Amazon India are coming together to tackle the menace of online shopping scams with a consumer education and awareness campaign, #MissionGraHAQ. The two partners are collaborating to explore several joint initiatives aimed at empowering consumers to shop online with greater confidence. The UP Police and Amazon India have agreed to join forces to educate online consumers about their rights as well as raise awareness about safe shopping practices and protecting online shoppers from bad actors. These joint projects will also include special initiatives aimed at enhancing online safety of women by creating awareness about identity theft, impersonation and online financial frauds. Chetan Krishnaswamy, Vice President, Public Policy at Amazon India, said, Amazon is excited to join forces with the Uttar Pradesh Police to promote awareness on online scams and frauds. This association will help us deliver on our shared mission of enhancing online safety and promote a trustworthy digital space. Internet is now seamlessly integrated into our everyday lives and, it is imperative to forge such private-public partnerships to build defence against bad actors. This collaboration will not only educate a large consumer base and but also enable us to identify to foster a secure digital experience. Prashant Kumar, Special DG Law & Order, Uttar Pradesh, said, Amazon is a strong partner and our alliance will help us not just fight, but also prevent online scams. Our initiatives, especially social media campaigns, will be an important enabler to help consumers shop online with confidence. Our partnership comes at a time when we are witnessing a significant surge in online transactions post-Covid, courtesy convenience of online shopping and UPI payment infrastructure. Theres an increased need for consumers to be vigilant and our joint initiatives will help us do just that. The partnership with the UP Police will complement Amazon Indias consumer education recent initiative, Mission GraHAQ, that is spreading awareness about safe online shopping practices, consumer rights and more. Amazon endeavors to dial-up efforts against online scams through collaborations with law enforcement agencies, government agencies, consumer groups, small businesses and industry associations among others. As part of this collaboration, Amazon and UP Police have agreed to explore several joint projects, including consumer awareness campaigns and educating women about identifying online bad actors, safe use of ecommerce and social media, preventing online scams and frauds; industry dialogues with representation from diverse set of stakeholders to identify issues impacting online consumer safety and find actionable solutions to address them, capacity building / training programmes of law enforcement agencies and stakeholders in cyber security and consumer protection . 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: Senior chemist Di-Jia Liu inspects catalyst sample inside tube furnace after heat treatment while postdoc Chenzhao Li carries a pressure reactor for catalyst synthesis. Credit: Argonne National Laboratory A plentiful supply of clean energy is lurking in plain sight. It is the hydrogen we can extract from water (H 2 O) using renewable energy. Scientists are seeking low-cost methods for producing clean hydrogen from water to replace fossil fuels, as part of the quest to combat climate change. Hydrogen can power vehicles while emitting nothing but water. Hydrogen is also an important chemical for many industrial processes, most notably in steel making and ammonia production. Using cleaner hydrogen is highly desirable in those industries. A multi-institutional team led by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory has developed a low-cost catalyst for a process that yields clean hydrogen from water. Other contributors include DOE's Sandia National Laboratories and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, as well as Giner Inc. "A process called electrolysis produces hydrogen and oxygen from water and has been around for more than a century," said Di-Jia Liu, senior chemist at Argonne. He also holds a joint appointment in the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers represent a new generation of technology for this process. They can split water into hydrogen and oxygen with higher efficiency at near room temperature. The reduced energy demand makes them an ideal choice for producing clean hydrogen by using renewable but intermittent sources, such as solar and wind. This electrolyzer runs with separate catalysts for each of its electrodes (cathode and anode). The cathode catalyst yields hydrogen, while the anode catalyst forms oxygen. A problem is that the anode catalyst uses iridium, which has a current market price of around $5,000 per ounce. The lack of supply and high cost of iridium pose a major barrier for widespread adoption of PEM electrolyzers. The main ingredient in the new catalyst is cobalt, which is substantially cheaper than iridium. "We sought to develop a low-cost anode catalyst in a PEM electrolyzer that generates hydrogen at high throughput while consuming minimal energy," Liu said. "By using the cobalt-based catalyst prepared by our method, one could remove the main bottleneck of cost to producing clean hydrogen in an electrolyzer." Giner Inc., a research and development company working toward commercialization of electrolyzers and fuel cells, evaluated the new catalyst using its PEM electrolyzer test stations under industrial operating conditions. The performance and durability far exceeded that of competitors' catalysts. Important to further advancing the catalyst performance is understanding the reaction mechanism at the atomic scale under electrolyzer operating conditions. The team deciphered critical structural changes that occur in the catalyst under operating conditions by using X-ray analyses at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne. They also identified key catalyst features using electron microscopy at Sandia Labs and at Argonne's Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM). The APS and CNM are both DOE Office of Science user facilities. "We imaged the atomic structure on the surface of the new catalyst at various stages of preparation," said Jianguo Wen, an Argonne materials scientist. Oxygen bubbles evolving from fibrous, interconnected catalyst particles (right) during electrocatalytic reaction with water. Lattice structure for cobalt-based catalyst on left. Credit: Argonne National Laboratory/Lina Chong and Longsheng Wu using a Shutterstock background In addition, computational modeling at Berkeley Lab revealed important insights into the catalyst's durability under reaction conditions. The team's achievement is a step forward in DOE's Hydrogen Energy Earthshot initiative, which mimics the U.S. space program's "Moon Shot" of the 1960s. Its ambitious goal is to lower the cost for green hydrogen production to one dollar per kilogram in a decade. Production of green hydrogen at that cost could reshape the nation's economy. Applications include the electric grid, manufacturing, transportation and residential and commercial heating. "More generally, our results establish a promising path forward in replacing catalysts made from expensive precious metals with elements that are much less expensive and more abundant," Liu noted. This research was published on May 11 in Science. More information: Lina Chong et al, La- and Mn-doped cobalt spinel oxygen evolution catalyst for proton exchange membrane electrolysis, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.ade1499 Journal information: Science This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Wind energy, an important renewable power source, has witnessed rapid growth in recent years due to its abundance, cleanliness, safety, and mature generation technology. However, global wind power development still falls short of the requirements for achieving a comprehensive energy transition. To address this challenge and fulfill objectives of the Paris Agreement, it is crucial to understand future changes in wind resources, particularly in major wind markets in the Northern Hemisphere. Researchers led by Prof. Huang Gang and Dr. Miao Haozeyu from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have evaluated the performance of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) and Phase 6 (CMIP6) simulations of surface wind speed in the Northern Hemisphere. By comparing the simulations with observational data, the researchers found that CMIP6 models exhibit an overall improvement in simulation capability, accurately reproducing the observed reduction in surface wind speed in recent decades. Based on the more reliable CMIP6 models, the researchers explored future evolution of wind energy resources in the Northern Hemisphere by the end of the century (2100) under various climate change scenarios. Using different greenhouse gas and aerosol emission scenarios, they projected a continued decrease in surface wind speeds on land, with more substantial declines anticipated under higher emission scenarios. Their study, published in Renewable Energy, also highlights the non-linear relationship between wind energy and emissions across regions. It predicts that Europe and Asia will experience the fastest decline in wind energy under the SSP3-7.0 emission scenario, while North America will experience a more moderate decline. These findings underscore the importance of reducing greenhouse gas and aerosol emissions to preserve and maximize wind energy resources. The study offers guidance on how carbon emissions impact wind energy, as well as the siting and planning of future wind farms. More information: Haozeyu Miao et al, Evaluation and future projections of wind energy resources over the Northern Hemisphere in CMIP5 and CMIP6 models, Renewable Energy (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2023.05.007 Journal information: Renewable Energy 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 cyclist passes a logo of German car company Daimler in Berlin on April 8, 2009. German truck maker Daimler, Japans top automaker Toyota and two other automakers said Tuesday, May 30, 2023, they will work together on new technologies, including use of hydrogen fuel, to help fight climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Gero Breloer, File German truck maker Daimler, Japan's top automaker Toyota and two other automakers said Tuesday they will work together on new technologies, including using hydrogen fuel, to help fight climate change. The companies said Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp., whose top stakeholder is Daimler Truck, and Hino Motors, the truck maker in the Toyota group, will merge. Daimler Truck and Toyota Motor Corp. will equally invest in the holding company of the Mitsubishi-Hino merger, they said without giving a dollar amount for the deal. The companies plan to cooperate in reducing carbon emissions and developing other technologies such as autonomous driving, net-connected services and electric vehicles. "This collaboration among our four companies is a partnership for creating the future of commercial vehicles in Japan and the future of a 'mobility society,' said Toyota Motor Corp. Chief Executive Koji Sato. The two truck companies will work on commercial vehicle development, procurement and production to become globally competitive, the executives said. "We at Daimler Truck are very proud of our products, because trucks and buses keep the world moving. And soon they will even do so with zero emissions," said Daimler Truck Chief Executive Martin Daum. "Today's announcement is a crucial step in making that future work economically and in leading sustainable transportation." A boy looks at a logo of Toyota Motor Corp. at its gallery in Tokyo on Jan. 15, 2020. German truck maker Daimler, Japans top automaker Toyota and two other automakers said Tuesday, May 30, 2023, they will work together on new technologies, including use of hydrogen fuel, to help fight climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File Automakers are rushing to keep up with the global shift toward less polluting vehicles and to help in other ways to combat climate change. Commercial vehicles like trucks and buses are major contributors to auto emissions. In some cases rivals are joining forces to gain a a competitive edge and cut costs through "economies of scale" of by sharing knowledge and resources. "It is hard to go at it alone. Working together is crucial," Sato said, Fuel cells power Toyota's buses in Japan but its strength has been in hybrids, which have both electric motors like EVs and gasoline engines. Consumer acceptance of battery powered EVs has come faster than expected, Toyota officials say, and the company is hard at work on rolling out EVs in various markets. Details of the merger, including shareholding ratios, the company name and its structure will be worked out over the next 18 months, the companies said. They aim to sign a definitive agreement by early next year and close the transaction by the end of 2024. The deal still needs shareholders' and regulatory approval. The deal is a chance for a fresh start at Hino, its chief executive, Satoshi Ogiso said, after the company's image was marred by its disclosure last year that it had systematically falsified emissions data beginning as early as 2003. "We will unite our aspirations to 'support mobility and contribute to society' and hand in hand accelerate advanced technology development to overcome the increasingly fierce global competition," he said. 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Rankings reflect sales for the week ended May 13, which were reported on a confidential basis by vendors offering a wide range of general interest titles. Every week, thousands of diverse selling locations report their actual sales on hundreds of thousands of individual titles. The panel of reporting retailers is comprehensive and reflects sales in stores of all sizes and demographics across the United States. Picture Book rankings include hardcover sales only. Series rankings include all print and e-book sales. An asterisk (*) indicates that a books sales were barely distinguishable from those of the book above. A (b) indicates that some bookstores reported receiving bulk orders. ___ PICTURE 1. A DAY WITH NO WORDS, by Tiffany Hammond. Illustrated by Kate Cosgrove. (Wheat Penny) Both autistic, a mother and son communicate with each other without speaking words. (Ages 4 to 8) WEEKS ON LIST: 1 2. I LOVE MOM WITH THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR, by Eric Carle. (Grosset & Dunlap) That ravenous insect is brimming with love. (Ages 3 to 5) WEEKS ON LIST: 17 3. WHY A SON NEEDS A MOM, by Gregory E. Lang. Illustrated by Gail Yerrill. (Sourcebooks Wonderland) The special bond between mother and son. (Ages 3 to 7) WEEKS ON LIST: 2 4. BECAUSE I HAD A TEACHER, by Kobi Yamada. Illustrated by Natalie Russell. (Compendium) An ode to teachers. (Ages 4 to 7) WEEKS ON LIST: 13 5. THE WONDERFUL THINGS YOU WILL BE, by Emily Winfield Martin. (Random House) A celebration of possibilities. (Ages 3 to 7) WEEKS ON LIST: 352 6. THANK YOU, TEACHER FROM THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR, by Eric Carle. (World of Eric Carle) The insatiable insects pedagogue appreciation. (Ages 3 to 6) WEEKS ON LIST: 10 7. DRAGONS LOVE TACOS, by Adam Rubin. Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri. (Dial) What to serve your dragon-guests. (Ages 3 to 5) WEEKS ON LIST: 398 8. WOO HOO! YOURE DOING GREAT!, by Sandra Boynton. (Little, Brown) A cheerleading chicken boosts readers self-esteem. (Ages 5 to 8) WEEKS ON LIST: 5 9. THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT, by Drew Daywalt. Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. (Philomel) Problems arise when Duncans crayons revolt. (Ages 3 to 7) WEEKS ON LIST: 360 10. I WISH YOU MORE, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. (Chronicle) A bounty of good wishes. (Ages 5 to 8) WEEKS ON LIST: 81 ___ MIDDLE GRADE HARDCOVER 1. THE SUN AND THE STAR, by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro. (Disney Hyperion) The demigods Will and Nico embark on a dangerous journey to the Underworld to rescue an old friend. (Ages 10 to 14) WEEKS ON LIST: 2 2. THE EYES & THE IMPOSSIBLE, by Dave Eggers. Illustrations by Shawn Harris. (Knopf, McSweeneys) A dog who serves as the eyes for three bison in a park enclosure devises a plan to free them. (Ages 8 to 12) WEEKS ON LIST: 1 3. REFUGEE, by Alan Gratz. (Scholastic) Three children in three different conflicts look for safe haven. (Ages 9 to 12) WEEKS ON LIST: 220 4. WONDER, by R.J. Palacio. (Knopf) A boy with a facial deformity starts school. (Ages 8 to 12) WEEKS ON LIST: 396 5. SKANDAR AND THE PHANTOM RIDER, by A.F. Steadman. (Simon & Schuster) Skandar and his friends investigate how immortal unicorns are being slain. (Ages 8 to 12) WEEKS ON LIST: 2 6. ODDER, by Katherine Applegate. Illustrated by Charles Santoso. (Feiwel & Friends) After a shark attack, Odder recuperates at the aquarium with the scientists who raised her. (Ages 8 to 12) WEEKS ON LIST: 34 7. THE COMPLETE COOKBOOK FOR YOUNG CHEFS, by Americas Test Kitchen Kids. (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky) More than 100 kid-tested recipes from Americas Test Kitchen. (Ages 8 and up) WEEKS ON LIST: 153 8. FALL OF THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL, by Soman Chainani. Illustrated by RaidesArt. (HarperCollins) Tensions rise between twins Rhian and Rafal as Peter Pan makes a bid to take over the school. (Ages 8 and up) WEEKS ON LIST: 2 9. ONCE THERE WAS, by Kiyash Monsef. (Simon & Schuster) After the death of her father, who was a veterinarian to mythical creatures, Marjan must now take his place. (Ages 10 and up) WEEKS ON LIST: 5 10. BIG TREE, by Brian Selznick. (Scholastic) Two sycamore seeds seek solace in the Cretaceous Period after being forced from their mother tree. (Ages 7 to 12) WEEKS ON LIST: 6 ___ YOUNG ADULT HARDCOVER 1. SOLITAIRE, by Alice Oseman. (Scholastic) Tori Spring is determined to find out whos behind the blog called Solitaire, which has caused serious pranks at her school. (Ages 14 to 18) WEEKS ON LIST: 2 2. FIVE SURVIVE, by Holly Jackson. (Delacorte) Six friends on a spring break road trip in an RV are the target of a sniper. (Ages 14 and up) WEEKS ON LIST: 24 3. WARRIOR GIRL UNEARTHED, by Angeline Boulley. (Holt) Perry and Pauline Firekeeper-Birch discover that a local university is holding on to deceased Anishinaabe remains. (Ages 14 to 18) WEEKS ON LIST: 2 4. IMOGEN, OBVIOUSLY, by Becky Albertalli. (Balzer and Bray) Imogen Scott, who is straight, goes along with a tale told by her friend Lili that the two of them dated. (Ages 14 and up) WEEKS ON LIST: 2 5. NICK AND CHARLIE, by Alice Oseman. (Scholastic) Nick and Charlie question whether their love is strong enough to survive being apart when Nick leaves for university. (Ages 14 to 18) WEEKS ON LIST: 19 6. SILVER IN THE BONE, by Alexandra Bracken. (Knopf) Tamsin Lark is on a quest to retrieve a magic ring that may break a curse on her brother, Cabell. (Ages 14 and up) WEEKS ON LIST: 6 7. THE FIRST TO DIE AT THE END, by Adam Silvera. (Quill Tree) In this prequel to They Both Die at the End, Orion and Valentino attend the premiere of Death-Cast in Times Square. (Ages 13 and up) WEEKS ON LIST: 32 8. THE LITTLE MERMAID: AGAINST THE TIDE, by J. Elle. (Disney) Ariel and her siblings must find their abducted sister, Mala, before the Coral Moon approaches. (Ages 12 to 18) WEEKS ON LIST: 5 9. LIGHTLARK, by Alex Aster. (Amulet) Every 100 years the island of Lightlark appears and a deadly competition called the Centennial takes place. (Ages 13 to 18) WEEKS ON LIST: 38 10. THE STOLEN HEIR, by Holly Black. (Little, Brown) Runaway Queen Suren and Prince Oak embark on a deadly and dangerous mission to the north. (Ages 14 and up) WEEKS ON LIST: 18 ___ SERIES 1. THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic) In a dystopia, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up) WEEKS ON LIST: 275 2. THE ONE AND ONLY, by Katherine Applegate. (HarperCollins) The stories of Ivan, Bob and Ruby. (Ages 8 to 12) WEEKS ON LIST: 2 3. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney. (Amulet) The travails and challenges of adolescence. (Ages 9 to 12) WEEKS ON LIST: 739 4. A GOOD GIRLS GUIDE TO MURDER, by Holly Jackson. (Delacorte) Pippa Fitz-Amobi solves murderous crimes. (Ages 14 and up) WEEKS ON LIST: 85 5. THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY TRILOGY, by Jenny Han. (Simon & Schuster) A beach house, summer love and enduring friendships. (Ages 12 and up) WEEKS ON LIST: 56 6. HARRY POTTER, by J.K. Rowling. (Scholastic) A wizard hones his conjuring skills in the service of fighting evil. (Ages 10 and up) WEEKS ON LIST: 738 7. CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS, written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey. (Scholastic) Boys and their principal fight evil. (Ages 7 to 10) WEEKS ON LIST: 315 8. WINGS OF FIRE, by Tui T. Sutherland. (Scholastic) Only the five dragonets of destiny can unite the seven warring dragon tribes. (Ages 9 to 12) WEEKS ON LIST: 204 9. THE INHERITANCE GAMES, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. (Little, Brown) Avery Grambs tries to figure out why a stranger left her an inheritance. (Ages 12 to 18) WEEKS ON LIST: 37 10. WHO WAS/IS ?, by Jim Gigliotti and others; various illustrators. (Penguin Workshop) Biographies unlock legendary lives. (Ages 8 to 11) WEEKS ON LIST: 141 ___ The New York Times bestsellers are compiled and archived by the bestseller lists desk of The New York Times news department and are separate from the culture, advertising and business sides of The New York Times Co. More information on rankings and methodology: nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/methodology. AUSTIN Attorney General Ken Paxtons fate is now firmly in the hands of the Texas Senate. As the House voted to impeach Paxton because of alleged misconduct on Saturday, Paxtons allies turned their attention to the senators who will decide in a trial whether he should be ejected from statewide office. His office delivered a thick stack of documents to senators offices that included a defense of Paxton, according to members who received the packets and a copy obtained by The Dallas Morning News. Among the documents is a personally addressed letter hand signed by Brent Webster, Paxtons top deputy who is now leading the agency in his stead. Websters letter was openly critical of the House and said senators are in an unenviable position. As things stand, I believe that the Texas Houses procrastination and secrecy has hobbled the Senates ability to consider these Articles, Webster wrote in a letter dated on Saturday. I apologize for the voluminous nature of the documents; it is unavoidable because I must get the truth and underlying supporting evidence to you. A spokesperson for the attorney generals office did not respond to questions. Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, said such outreach from the attorney generals office is inappropriate. Theyve tried to color the jury in some way for sure, he said. Paxton will have plenty of time to offer his defense in that proceeding. Several senators said they dont plan to read the agencys packet, noting its not proper in their role as jurors. Im not going to look at anybodys until they tell me what Im allowed to, Sen. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, said. Im not going to try to sit here and do my own exploratory stuff. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has not publicly come to Paxtons defense, saying that to comment on the allegations would be akin to asking a judge how a case will turn out before its been tried. But the Senate leader will no doubt loom large over the proceedings as he holds a tight grip on the upper chamber and enjoys strong support from the states conservative base. Patricks neutral tone is a contrast to the public impeachment opposition from U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and former President Donald Trump, with whom Patrick has been closely aligned. The chamber is riddled with potential conflicts of interest, the most notable is the attorney generals wife, Sen. Angela Paxton. The McKinney Republican has not said whether she will participate in her husbands impeachment trial. All 31 senators will have a vote, Patrick told WFAA-TV on Friday. We will all be responsible as any juror would be and I think the members will do their duty. All eyes on the Senate The GOP-led House on Saturday voted overwhelmingly to impeach Paxton, alleging that numerous abuses of office made their fellow Republican unfit to serve as the states top lawyer. The 20 articles of impeachment allege Paxton accepted bribes, including a kitchen remodel, in exchange for using the power of his office to help a campaign donor entangled in an FBI investigation. Paxton is suspended from official duties pending an impeachment trial in the Senate. It is unclear whether he continues to receive a salary during this time. Patrick will preside over the Senates proceedings. Two-thirds of the senators are needed to approve Paxtons removal from office. Today, the Texas Senate received Articles of Impeachment for Attorney General Ken Paxton, Patrick said in a statement Monday. The Senate will follow its constitutional duty and I appointed a committee to develop proposed rules and procedures for the matter. When the rules are drafted, a date will be set for when the Senate will resolve into a court of impeachment to consider the articles. The body, which has yet to announce a trial date, will set rules for the proceedings as well. Many GOP Senators have taken to social media to issue statements saying they cannot discuss the trial in advance. They noted: Know that we will faithfully follow the constitution and the law, and we will honor our sworn oaths. After the impeachment vote on Saturday, Rep. Eddie Morales, D-Eagle Pass, asked whether more articles of impeachment could be added to address Paxtons alleged intimidation of lawmakers. A member of the House ethics probe said Paxton had called some representatives before the impeachment vote threatening political consequences. Paxton has not publicly refuted this allegation. In past impeachments, House lawmakers built in flexibility to add more articles, according to the Legislative Research Library. The articles of impeachment against Paxton also allow for additions at any future date. Fort Worth GOP Rep. Charlie Geren, who served on the House investigating committee that wrote the impeachment articles, told the Fort Worth Report he doesnt believe any more articles will be tacked on. Theres a trial coming up, he told the news outlet. A lot of things will come out. A question of timing Once the articles are delivered to the Senate, the chamber can then set a schedule and rules. Patrick has not responded to questions about timing. The legislative session ended Monday. But Gov. Greg Abbott will likely call lawmakers into a special session to address issues left undone by the deadline, potentially including public education funding, property tax relief and the power grid. If lawmakers return soon, the Senate could take up impeachment at the same time, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a University of Houston political science professor. My guess is that Patrick will want to get through this as quickly as possible, he said. Expediting impeachment would be good politically, Rottinghaus added, because the longer Paxton is out of office the more it hurts him and therefore, the Republican brand. Patrick also likely wants to refocus on legislating: I think hed like to get back to the normal course of business. There have only been two impeachments in Texas history and each offers a different guide. In 1917, the Senate began a trial of Gov. James E. Pa Ferguson a week after receiving the articles from the House. In 1975, the Senate scheduled a trial months after the House voted to impeach Duval County district judge O.P. Carrillo. Rules of impeachment trials Its not clear what type of rules the Senate will adopt. It could require its members to recuse themselves if they have conflicts of interests or are called to testify. The rules will matter especially for Paxtons wife, since spouses have different privileges against incriminating statements depending on whether the body adopts criminal trial rules. Other senators, such as Bryan Hughes, may also get swept up in the proceedings. The Mineola Republican asked Paxtons office for a legal opinion central to one of the impeachment articles alleging misconduct by the attorney general. Hughes did not respond to a request for comment but was among the senators who issued a statement saying as a juror, he cannot discuss the case with anyone. Texas government code requires that all senators shall be in attendance while the body meets for an impeachment trial. They may be able to choose not to cast a vote, Rottinghaus said. In past impeachments, the House named a board of managers to handle proceedings, who also served as prosecutors during the Senate trial. Geren expects House Speaker Dade Phelan to choose the board but said he did not know who they would be. Rep. David Spiller, a Jacksboro Republican who also serves on the investigation panel, said the committee will continue gathering information, documents and testimony. On Sunday, the House Committee on General Investigating announced their intent to issue subpoenas to several banks and trusts, including Paxtons own blind trust and the man who oversees it. Paxton also must put together a defense team. Ross Garber, a lawyer who has defended five governors and an attorney general against impeachment in other states, said it would not be unusual for Paxton to hire outside counsel in addition to tapping those within his agency. Its unclear whether Paxton would use taxpayer money to pay outside lawyers. Little other precedent for what happens next is available because efforts to impeach usually do not reach the trial phase, Garber noted. Last year, he defended the attorney general of South Dakota when he was impeached after a hit-and-run. The most recent impeachment trial at the state level before that, he believes, may have been Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2009. These things are incredibly rare, Garber said. So, the answer is, there is really no formula. PermRock Royalty Trust (NYSE:PRT Get Rating) saw a large decline in short interest during the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 40,200 shares, a decline of 16.3% from the April 30th total of 48,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 56,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.7 days. Approximately 0.6% of the companys shares are sold short. PermRock Royalty Trust Trading Up 0.9 % Shares of PRT stock traded up $0.04 on Monday, reaching $4.63. 42,600 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 58,303. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $6.17 and a two-hundred day moving average of $6.89. PermRock Royalty Trust has a 1-year low of $4.51 and a 1-year high of $10.65. Get PermRock Royalty Trust alerts: PermRock Royalty Trust Cuts Dividend The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 14th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.03 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 30th. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.78%. Insider Buying and Selling at PermRock Royalty Trust Institutional Trading of PermRock Royalty Trust In other PermRock Royalty Trust news, major shareholder Boaz Energy Ii, Llc sold 5,300 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.99, for a total value of $37,047.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 5,231,032 shares in the company, valued at approximately $36,564,913.68. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink . In the last three months, insiders sold 45,100 shares of company stock worth $307,782. Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Susquehanna International Group LLP acquired a new stake in PermRock Royalty Trust in the 1st quarter valued at $131,000. Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new stake in PermRock Royalty Trust in the 3rd quarter valued at $93,000. Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in PermRock Royalty Trust by 25.3% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 16,043 shares of the companys stock valued at $124,000 after purchasing an additional 3,239 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UBS Group AG acquired a new stake in PermRock Royalty Trust in the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. 47.03% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About PermRock Royalty Trust (Get Rating) PermRock Royalty Trust engages in the acquisition, development, and operation of oil and natural gas properties in the Permian Basin. The company was founded on November 22, 2017 and is headquartered in Dallas, TX. See Also Receive News & Ratings for PermRock Royalty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PermRock Royalty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shanghai Industrial Holdings Limited (OTCMKTS:SGHIY Get Rating) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 400 shares, a decline of 33.3% from the April 30th total of 600 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.3 days. Shanghai Industrial Stock Performance SGHIY remained flat at $14.36 during trading on Monday. 4 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 375. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $13.89 and a two-hundred day moving average of $13.73. Shanghai Industrial has a 12-month low of $12.35 and a 12-month high of $15.61. Get Shanghai Industrial alerts: Shanghai Industrial Company Profile (Get Rating) Further Reading Shanghai Industrial Holdings Limited, an investment holding company, engages in the infrastructure facilities, real estate, and consumer products businesses in Hong Kong, China, rest of Asia, and internationally. The company invests in toll road projects and water-related businesses. It also engages in the property development and investment activities, as well as operates hotel. Receive News & Ratings for Shanghai Industrial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shanghai Industrial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. American Century Companies Inc. raised its position in shares of Edison International (NYSE:EIX Get Rating) by 30.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 5,417,048 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 1,252,240 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. owned approximately 1.42% of Edison International worth $344,633,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in Edison International by 12.6% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,234,491 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $86,534,000 after acquiring an additional 137,840 shares during the last quarter. Aviva PLC grew its holdings in Edison International by 21.5% during the 1st quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 151,158 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $10,596,000 after acquiring an additional 26,797 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC purchased a new stake in shares of Edison International during the first quarter valued at about $688,000. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its position in shares of Edison International by 30.5% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 6,916 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $485,000 after purchasing an additional 1,617 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Edison International by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 44,530,226 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $3,121,569,000 after purchasing an additional 731,841 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.19% of the companys stock. Get Edison International alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, SVP J Andrew Murphy sold 22,471 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.03, for a total value of $1,618,586.13. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 12,989 shares in the company, valued at approximately $935,597.67. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.03% of the companys stock. Edison International Stock Performance Shares of EIX traded up $0.56 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $66.19. 559,797 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,842,340. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $70.98 and its 200 day moving average price is $67.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.80. Edison International has a twelve month low of $54.45 and a twelve month high of $74.92. The company has a market capitalization of $25.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.97, a PEG ratio of 3.57 and a beta of 0.80. Edison International (NYSE:EIX Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The utilities provider reported $1.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.04 by $0.05. Edison International had a return on equity of 12.48% and a net margin of 6.12%. The firm had revenue of $3.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.07 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Edison International will post 4.72 EPS for the current fiscal year. Analyst Ratings Changes EIX has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Edison International from $79.00 to $86.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $82.00 price objective on shares of Edison International in a research note on Monday, March 6th. Mizuho increased their price target on Edison International from $67.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, April 10th. StockNews.com started coverage on Edison International in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lowered their target price on Edison International from $68.00 to $67.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 24th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $73.08. About Edison International (Get Rating) Edison International is a renewable energy company, which through its subsidiaries, generates and distributes electric power, and invests in energy services and technologies. The company was founded on July 4, 1886, and is headquartered in Rosemead, CA. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Edison International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Edison International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Blackstone Secured Lending Fund (NYSE:BXSL Get Rating) saw a large increase in short interest during the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,250,000 shares, an increase of 23.8% from the April 30th total of 1,010,000 shares. Approximately 0.9% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 856,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.5 days. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades BXSL has been the topic of a number of research reports. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Blackstone Secured Lending Fund from $26.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. Raymond James lifted their price target on shares of Blackstone Secured Lending Fund from $25.50 to $27.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on shares of Blackstone Secured Lending Fund from $25.50 to $27.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $27.07. Get Blackstone Secured Lending Fund alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On Blackstone Secured Lending Fund Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Blackstone Secured Lending Fund by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 33,830 shares of the companys stock worth $756,000 after purchasing an additional 456 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in shares of Blackstone Secured Lending Fund by 8.1% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 7,582 shares of the companys stock worth $172,000 after purchasing an additional 567 shares during the period. Blair William & Co. IL lifted its position in shares of Blackstone Secured Lending Fund by 3.3% in the 4th quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 18,972 shares of the companys stock worth $424,000 after purchasing an additional 610 shares during the period. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. lifted its position in shares of Blackstone Secured Lending Fund by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 25,692 shares of the companys stock worth $641,000 after purchasing an additional 772 shares during the period. Finally, Proficio Capital Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Blackstone Secured Lending Fund by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 189,950 shares of the companys stock worth $4,245,000 after purchasing an additional 816 shares during the period. 31.16% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Blackstone Secured Lending Fund Stock Up 0.5 % Blackstone Secured Lending Fund stock opened at $25.65 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $4.12 billion, a PE ratio of 9.61 and a beta of 0.45. Blackstone Secured Lending Fund has a twelve month low of $22.00 and a twelve month high of $26.35. The companys 50-day moving average price is $25.33 and its 200-day moving average price is $24.44. Blackstone Secured Lending Fund (NYSE:BXSL Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The company reported $0.90 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.88 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $251.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $251.75 million. Blackstone Secured Lending Fund had a net margin of 46.93% and a return on equity of 12.58%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.67 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Blackstone Secured Lending Fund will post 3.78 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Blackstone Secured Lending Fund Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be given a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 10.92%. Blackstone Secured Lending Funds dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 104.87%. About Blackstone Secured Lending Fund (Get Rating) Blackstone Secured Lending Fund is business development company and a Delaware statutory trust formed on March 26, 2018, and structured as an externally managed, non-diversified closed-end investment Fund. On October 26, 2018, the fund elected to be regulated as a business development company (BDC) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). See Also Receive News & Ratings for Blackstone Secured Lending Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Blackstone Secured Lending Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Davide Campari-Milano (OTCMKTS:DVDCF Get Rating) has been given an average recommendation of Hold by the eleven research firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have issued a hold recommendation and two have 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 $12.00. A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on DVDCF. Barclays boosted their price objective on Davide Campari-Milano to 10.70 ($11.51) in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Davide Campari-Milano to 13.00 ($13.98) in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group increased their target price on Davide Campari-Milano to 12.50 ($13.44) in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Get Davide Campari-Milano alerts: Davide Campari-Milano Stock Performance DVDCF stock opened at $12.70 on Thursday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $12.66 and its 200 day simple moving average is $11.49. Davide Campari-Milano has a 12-month low of $8.55 and a 12-month high of $13.56. Davide Campari-Milano Company Profile Davide Campari-Milano NV is a holding company, which engages in the production and distribution of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The firm operates through its geographic segments: the Americas; Southern Europe; Middle East and Africa; Northern, Central and Eastern Europe; Asia-Pacific. Its product offerings include aperitifs, vodka, whisky, tequila, rum, gin, liqueurs, and sparkling and still wines under internation brands which include Campari, Aperol, Sky Vodka, Wild Turkey, Appleton Estate, Grand Marnier, and Wray and Nephew. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Davide Campari-Milano Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Davide Campari-Milano and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Get Rating) gapped down prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $110.12, but opened at $107.71. EOG Resources shares last traded at $107.32, with a volume of 997,327 shares trading hands. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research analysts have weighed in on EOG shares. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on EOG Resources from $147.00 to $138.00 in a research note on Monday, May 15th. Credit Suisse Group cut their price objective on EOG Resources from $160.00 to $155.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 24th. Scotiabank raised EOG Resources from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and cut their price objective for the company from $150.00 to $145.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. Roth Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of EOG Resources in a report on Friday, February 24th. Finally, UBS Group initiated coverage on EOG Resources in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. They set a buy rating and a $152.00 price target for the company. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $149.33. Get EOG Resources alerts: EOG Resources Trading Down 1.8 % The business has a 50 day moving average of $114.56 and a two-hundred day moving average of $123.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a current ratio of 2.17. The firm has a market capitalization of $63.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.73, a P/E/G ratio of 0.33 and a beta of 1.53. EOG Resources Announces Dividend EOG Resources ( NYSE:EOG Get Rating ) last posted 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 return on equity of 30.34% and a net margin of 33.83%. The business had revenue of $6.04 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.28 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $4.00 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 51.7% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.66 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 17th will be issued a $0.825 dividend. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.05%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 14th. EOG Resourcess dividend payout ratio is presently 20.64%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On EOG Resources Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its stake in EOG Resources by 16.0% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 16,031 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $1,911,000 after buying an additional 2,213 shares during the period. Moors & Cabot Inc. bought a new stake in EOG Resources during the first quarter valued at $404,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in EOG Resources during the first quarter valued at $278,000. Zions Bancorporation N.A. boosted its stake in EOG Resources by 237.7% during the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 1,155 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $138,000 after buying an additional 813 shares during the period. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. boosted its stake in EOG Resources by 23.7% during the first quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 662 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $79,000 after buying an additional 127 shares during the period. 87.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. 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. Further Reading 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. Editors note:This story originally ran in September 2011. Long before the Civil War broke out in April 1861, Fort Monroe was flexing some formidable military muscle far beyond Hampton Roads. In 1835, several companies of artillery left the bastion at Old Point Comfort to fight the Seminoles in Florida. Troops from both Virginia and North Carolina mustered here just over a decade later to take part in the Mexican War. The conflict between the North and South was hardly 125 days old, however, when a Federal expeditionary force of rarely seen ambition began assembling in the bustling deep-water anchorage just beside the forts walls. So successful was this Aug. 26-28, 1861, campaign against the rebel forts defending Hatteras Inlet, N.C., that it was followed in early November by an even larger, more daring and for the South more damaging amphibious assault on strategic Port Royal, S.C. By the wars end, the number of vital rebel ports taken and occupied by these spectacular demonstrations of Union naval power ranged as far as New Orleans and included Roanoke Island and Wilmington, N.C. That made Fort Monroes protected anchorage and wharves just as essential to the ultimate triumph of the North as its command of the Peninsula land corridor leading to Richmond and its control of Hampton Roads. If the Union hadnt had Fort Monroe, they would have had to invent it, says Joe Judge, curator of the Hampton Roads Naval Museum in Norfolk. The Federals were immediately successful with these joint amphibious operations organized at the fort, and the victory at Hatteras Inlet gave them a tremendous success at a time when nothing else seemed to be going right for the North. Of the scant number of Federal strongholds in the South remaining in Union hands, Fort Monroe quickly proved the most crucial. Within three days of the attack on Fort Sumter, it had been reinforced by the first contingents of a land force so large that it soon spilled over to nearby Hampton and Newport News Point. Just as important were the naval ships that began prowling from its anchorage and wharves, sealing off Confederate shipping on the Chesapeake Bay, the James and York rivers and the major port of Norfolk. Within weeks, Union-controlled Hampton Roads became the home of the Atlantic Blockading Squadron, a rapidly growing force of steam frigates, sidewheelers, sailing ships and hastily armed civilian vessels charged with policing the mouths of almost 200 rivers and ports along the Souths 3,600-mile-long coast. And as their reach extended from Fort Monroe, they needed satellite bases to provide them with supplies, especially coal. That wasnt the only reason the Federals began focusing on Hatteras Inlet, where Confederate raiders had already ventured out to attack Union merchant shipping. Soon the twin forts defending the waterway less than a days steam from Fort Monroe became a high-priority target. Made up of seven warships including the powerful steam frigate USS Minnesota and a flotilla of transports filled with troops from Camp Hamilton and Fort Monroe, the expedition left Hampton Roads under the command of Rear Adm. Silas H. Stringham and Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler. Taking an unconventional elliptical path between the two forts, the Union warships firing more potent, longer-range cannon that outnumbered their foes by nearly 4 to 1 quickly battered the 900-man garrison into submission. What made this expedition so successful is that it exploited the Confederates weakness, says Paul Morando, director of Fort Monroes Casemate Museum. The defenders couldnt match the Unions guns. They didnt have enough ammunition. They didnt have enough people. They were just outmanned and outgunned. So Hatteras was essentially a walkover. Coming not long after the embarrassing defeats at Big Bethel and Bull Run, the Union victory at Hatteras sparked a rare occasion for celebration in the North. It also spurred a rapid succession of even larger hammer blows launched from the wharves and anchorage of Fort Monroe. What Stringham did with his ships was brilliant and everybody pays attention, Civil War historian John V. Quarstein says. By transforming his fleet into a moving target, he gained this huge advantage over the Confederate shore guns. And that taught the North they could attack and capture these coastal forts. Picking their targets carefully, Union commanders ramped up the size and ambition of their expeditions with breath-taking speed, assembling an armada of nearly 80 ships and some 12,500 troops less than eight weeks later. The Great Expedition as it was called filled Hampton Roads to the brim with smokestacks, masts and hulls. And so overwhelming was the firepower it poured on the pair of forts defending strategic Port Royal in early November that the battered Confederate garrison of some 3,000 men soon abandoned their positions. Three months later, the Federal expeditionary forces struck the Southern coast again, this time combining a fleet of more than 60 ships and 10,000 troops from Fort Monroe to take the Confederate defenses at Roanoke Island. The fort also played an indispensable role in staging troops for the occupation of New Orleans on May 1, 1862, and mobilizing the expedition of more than 60 ships and 10,000 men that took the Souths last remaining major port at Wilmington in January 1865 by pummeling the garrison at Fort Fisher. When you think of all the ships and troops that came through here on these expeditions, it had huge implications for the war. But not many people know this part of Fort Monroes story, Morando says, describing what ranked as Americas largest amphibious operations until World War II. This was a hot bed of activity, with all kinds of warships and the constant back and forth of transport ships loading and unloading men and material non-stop. It must have been an amazing sight. Want to know more? Check out our latest Civil War video and a new gallery of more than 35 archival images on our Civil War page at dailypress.com/civilwar Gulf Investment Fund plc (LON:GIF Get Rating)s stock price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as GBX 2.34 ($0.03) and last traded at GBX 2.26 ($0.03), with a volume of 51764 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 2.23 ($0.03). Gulf Investment Fund Stock Performance The stock has a market cap of 920,950.00 and a PE ratio of 12.39. The business has a 50-day moving average of GBX 2.04 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 1.98. Gulf Investment Fund Company Profile (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. Read More 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. Macquarie Bank Limited (ASX:MBLPC Get Rating) announced a interim dividend on Monday, May 22nd, MarketIndexAU reports. Investors of record on Tuesday, June 20th will be paid a dividend of 1.802 per share on Tuesday, June 20th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.71%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 1st. This is a boost from Macquarie Banks previous interim dividend of $1.67. Macquarie Bank Stock Performance About Macquarie Bank (Get Rating) Macquarie Bank Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides various commercial banking and retail financial services. It offers personal banking, wealth management, business banking, and vehicle finance products and services to retail clients, advisers, brokers, and business clients. The company also offers corporate and structured finance, transaction accounts, home loans, credit cards, online banking, asset financing, and leasing services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Macquarie Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Macquarie Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Manx Financial Group PLC (LON:MFX Get Rating) announced a dividend on Tuesday, May 30th, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a dividend of GBX 0.38 ($0.00) per share on Wednesday, July 19th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 15th. This is an increase from Manx Financial Groups previous dividend of $0.24. The official announcement can be viewed at this link. Manx Financial Group Stock Performance Manx Financial Group stock traded up GBX 1.20 ($0.01) during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching GBX 24.70 ($0.31). 62,190 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 122,015. Manx Financial Group has a twelve month low of GBX 7.50 ($0.09) and a twelve month high of GBX 29.75 ($0.37). The firms 50-day simple moving average is GBX 25.44 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 22.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 110.67, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a current ratio of 1.04. The firm has a market cap of 28.42 million, a PE ratio of 783.33 and a beta of 0.75. Get Manx Financial Group alerts: Manx Financial Group Company Profile (Get Rating) Further Reading Manx Financial Group PLC, through its subsidiaries, provides asset and personal finance, and wealth management services in the Isle of Man, the United Kingdom, and the Channel Island. The company provides various financial products and services, such as savings accounts, asset financing, personal loans, block discounting, and other specialist secured credit facilities to consumers and business sectors; and loans to small and medium sized entities, as well as foreign exchange, and hire purchase and leasing brokerage services. Receive News & Ratings for Manx Financial Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Manx Financial Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pitcairn Co. increased its stake in American Express (NYSE:AXP) by 1.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 7,716 shares of the payment services companys stock after purchasing an additional 105 shares during the quarter. Pitcairn Co.s holdings in American Express were worth $1,140,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its holdings in shares of American Express by 79.6% during the third quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 2,713,458 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $366,073,000 after purchasing an additional 1,202,912 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in American Express by 1.5% in the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 44,553,661 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $6,010,732,000 after buying an additional 665,857 shares during the period. Nuveen Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of American Express by 10.2% during the third quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 6,525,852 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $880,402,000 after purchasing an additional 602,762 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP acquired a new stake in shares of American Express during the third quarter worth about $69,235,000. Finally, Samlyn Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Express during the third quarter worth about $66,195,000. 83.30% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get American Express alerts: American Express Trading Up 0.0 % Shares of AXP stock opened at $157.26 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.55, a current ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $157.74 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $159.55. American Express has a 12-month low of $130.65 and a 12-month high of $182.15. The firm has a market cap of $116.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.18. American Express ( NYSE:AXP Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The payment services company reported $2.40 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.66 by ($0.26). The company had revenue of $14.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.02 billion. American Express had a net margin of 13.00% and a return on equity of 29.44%. The companys revenue was up 21.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.73 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that American Express will post 11.15 EPS for the current fiscal year. American Express declared that its board has authorized a share buyback plan on Wednesday, March 8th that authorizes the company to buyback 120,000,000 shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the payment services company to reacquire shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued. American Express Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 7th will be given a dividend of $0.60 per share. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.53%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 6th. American Expresss payout ratio is 25.24%. Insider Buying and Selling at American Express In other American Express news, insider Howard Grosfield sold 5,456 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $174.52, for a total transaction of $952,181.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 7,045 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,229,493.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, insider Monique Herena sold 15,217 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $173.18, for a total value of $2,635,280.06. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 13,712 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,374,644.16. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Howard Grosfield sold 5,456 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $174.52, for a total value of $952,181.12. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 7,045 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,229,493.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.12% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms recently issued reports on AXP. Credit Suisse Group increased their price objective on American Express from $132.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a report on Monday, January 30th. Citigroup reduced their target price on American Express from $152.00 to $150.00 and set a sell rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Stephens dropped their price target on American Express from $149.00 to $146.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 21st. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price objective on American Express from $186.00 to $181.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Oppenheimer dropped their price objective on American Express from $182.00 to $180.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 4th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $174.50. American Express Company Profile (Get Rating) American Express Co engages in the provision of charge and credit card products and travel-related services. It operates through the following segments: U.S Consumer Services (USCS), Commercial Services (CS), International Card Services (ICS), Global Merchant and Network Services (GMNS), and Corporate and Other. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AXP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for American Express (NYSE:AXP Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for American Express Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Express and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG Get Rating) Director Robin S. Hickenlooper sold 105 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,073.08, for a total value of $217,673.40. Following the sale, the director now owns 853 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,768,337.24. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Chipotle Mexican Grill Price Performance CMG stock traded up $0.26 on Tuesday, reaching $2,071.28. The companys stock had a trading volume of 334,656 shares, compared to its average volume of 296,405. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a 52 week low of $1,196.28 and a 52 week high of $2,139.88. The company has a market capitalization of $57.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 56.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 1.33. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $1,875.43 and a two-hundred day moving average of $1,652.92. Get Chipotle Mexican Grill alerts: Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The restaurant operator reported $10.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $8.89 by $1.61. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a return on equity of 45.01% and a net margin of 11.49%. The business had revenue of $2.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.34 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $5.70 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 18.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts expect that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 43.9 EPS for the current fiscal year. Analysts Set New Price Targets Hedge Funds Weigh In On Chipotle Mexican Grill CMG has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Credit Suisse Group upped their target price on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,050.00 to $2,200.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Barclays increased their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,550.00 to $1,885.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Wedbush increased their target price on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,080.00 to $2,200.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,750.00 to $2,000.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,875.00 to $2,050.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $2,021.37. A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Empower Advisory Group LLC bought a new position in Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 1st quarter valued at $89,735,000. Old North State Trust LLC boosted its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 6.7% during the 1st quarter. Old North State Trust LLC now owns 335 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $572,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares in the last quarter. Putnam Investments LLC boosted its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. Putnam Investments LLC now owns 179,751 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $307,067,000 after purchasing an additional 5,615 shares in the last quarter. Titleist Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 1st quarter valued at $442,000. Finally, B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 10.0% during the 1st quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 922 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $1,575,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. 93.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About Chipotle Mexican Grill (Get Rating) Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc engages in the development and operation of classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. It offers a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, and salads prepared using classic cooking methods. The company was founded by Steve Ells in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, CA. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Basilea Pharmaceutica AG (OTCMKTS:BPMUF Get Rating) saw a large drop in short interest in May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 337,300 shares, a drop of 14.7% from the April 30th total of 395,600 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3,373.0 days. Basilea Pharmaceutica Price Performance Shares of BPMUF stock remained flat at $50.00 during trading hours on Tuesday. Basilea Pharmaceutica has a 1 year low of $50.00 and a 1 year high of $50.00. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $51.60 and a 200 day moving average price of $51.48. Get Basilea Pharmaceutica alerts: Basilea Pharmaceutica Company Profile (Get Rating) Further Reading Basilea Pharmaceutica AG engages in the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. Its products include Cresemba, Zevtera, Derazantinib, BAL101553, and BAL3833. The company was founded on October 17, 2000 and is headquartered in Allschwil, Switzerland. Receive News & Ratings for Basilea Pharmaceutica Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Basilea Pharmaceutica and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chemed Co. (NYSE:CHE Get Rating) saw a significant growth in short interest in May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 474,700 shares, a growth of 21.9% from the April 30th total of 389,300 shares. Approximately 3.2% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 68,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 7.0 days. Insider Activity In other Chemed news, CEO Kevin J. Mcnamara sold 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $507.32, for a total value of $1,014,640.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 121,613 shares of the companys stock, valued at $61,696,707.16. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Chemed news, CEO Kevin J. Mcnamara sold 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $526.27, for a total transaction of $1,578,810.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 118,613 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $62,422,463.51. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Kevin J. Mcnamara sold 2,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $507.32, for a total transaction of $1,014,640.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 121,613 shares in the company, valued at $61,696,707.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 13,000 shares of company stock worth $6,883,810 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 3.80% of the companys stock. Get Chemed alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On Chemed Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CHE. Rice Hall James & Associates LLC bought a new position in shares of Chemed in the 1st quarter valued at about $273,000. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Chemed by 13.3% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 1,957 shares of the companys stock valued at $992,000 after purchasing an additional 230 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. raised its position in shares of Chemed by 7.2% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 2,018 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,022,000 after buying an additional 135 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Chemed by 6.2% in the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 836 shares of the companys stock valued at $432,000 after buying an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Panagora Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Chemed by 495.0% in the 1st quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,261 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,145,000 after buying an additional 1,881 shares in the last quarter. 91.12% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Analyst Ratings Changes Chemed Price Performance A number of brokerages recently issued reports on CHE. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Chemed in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Oppenheimer upped their price objective on shares of Chemed from $580.00 to $610.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on shares of Chemed from $587.00 to $610.00 in a research report on Monday, May 1st. Shares of CHE traded down $1.78 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $540.14. 14,233 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 69,000. Chemed has a one year low of $430.16 and a one year high of $570.17. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02. The business has a 50-day moving average of $545.66 and a 200 day moving average of $521.71. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.10, a PEG ratio of 3.02 and a beta of 0.54. Chemed Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 14th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 25th will be issued a dividend of $0.38 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 24th. This represents a $1.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.28%. Chemeds payout ratio is 9.57%. Chemed Company Profile (Get Rating) Chemed Corp. engages in the provision of healthcare and maintenance services. It operates through the VITAS and Roto-Rooter segments. The VITAS segment offers hospice and palliative care services to patients through a network of physicians, registered nurses, home health aides, social workers, clergy, and volunteers. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Chemed Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chemed and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TFC Financial Management Inc. reduced its holdings in shares of Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN Get Rating) by 1.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 13,979 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 200 shares during the period. Accenture makes up 1.1% of TFC Financial Management Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 16th largest holding. TFC Financial Management Inc.s holdings in Accenture were worth $3,730,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Accenture by 1.4% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 58,473,666 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $15,045,274,000 after buying an additional 816,734 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in shares of Accenture by 0.7% in the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 46,363,742 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $11,929,391,000 after buying an additional 319,707 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in shares of Accenture by 5.1% in the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 7,296,119 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,877,293,000 after buying an additional 354,513 shares during the last quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of Accenture by 4.1% in the third quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 5,598,625 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,440,525,000 after buying an additional 219,573 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. raised its position in shares of Accenture by 41.6% in the third quarter. UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. now owns 5,457,405 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,404,190,000 after buying an additional 1,603,071 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.97% of the companys stock. Get Accenture alerts: Insider Activity In other news, insider Ellyn Shook sold 5,250 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $275.90, for a total value of $1,448,475.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 26,908 shares in the company, valued at $7,423,917.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 556 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, April 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $276.82, for a total value of $153,911.92. Following the sale, the general counsel now owns 42,739 shares in the company, valued at $11,831,009.98. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Ellyn Shook sold 5,250 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $275.90, for a total transaction of $1,448,475.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 26,908 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,423,917.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 15,010 shares of company stock valued at $4,180,030 over the last 90 days. 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Accenture Price Performance ACN traded up $11.47 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $315.07. 3,711,944 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,415,913. The company has a market cap of $199.08 billion, a PE ratio of 28.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 1.25. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $278.90 and its 200-day simple moving average is $277.62. Accenture plc has a one year low of $242.80 and a one year high of $322.88. Accenture (NYSE:ACN Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 23rd. The information technology services provider reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.49 by $0.20. The firm had revenue of $15.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.59 billion. Accenture had a net margin of 11.00% and a return on equity of 30.73%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.54 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Accenture plc will post 11.57 EPS for the current year. Accenture Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 13th were given a $1.12 dividend. This represents a $4.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.42%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, April 12th. Accentures dividend payout ratio is 41.25%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts recently commented on ACN shares. Edward Jones raised shares of Accenture from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. William Blair reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Accenture in a research note on Monday, March 20th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Accenture from $300.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, March 24th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Accenture in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating for the company. Finally, Piper Jaffray Companies upped 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 analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $314.00. About Accenture (Get Rating) Accenture Plc engages in the provision of management consulting, technology, and outsourcing services. It operates through the following geographical segments: North America, Europe and Growth Markets. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Further Reading 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. Shares of Warby Parker Inc. (NYSE:WRBY Get Rating) have earned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the thirteen research firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and two have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $16.82. A number of analysts recently issued reports on WRBY shares. Cowen decreased their price objective on Warby Parker from $23.00 to $17.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. BTIG Research started coverage on Warby Parker in a research note on Monday, February 6th. They set a neutral rating on the stock. Citigroup lowered Warby Parker from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $26.00 to $13.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Telsey Advisory Group restated an outperform rating and issued a $25.00 target price on shares of Warby Parker in a research note on Tuesday, February 28th. Finally, JMP Securities began coverage on Warby Parker in a research note on Wednesday, May 24th. They issued a market perform rating on the stock. Get Warby Parker alerts: Warby Parker Stock Performance Shares of WRBY opened at $12.04 on Tuesday. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $11.04 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $13.51. Warby Parker has a 1 year low of $9.50 and a 1 year high of $18.99. Insider Transactions at Warby Parker Warby Parker ( NYSE:WRBY Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 28th. The company reported ($0.17) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.11) by ($0.06). Warby Parker had a negative net margin of 14.11% and a negative return on equity of 25.89%. The company had revenue of $146.49 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $143.18 million. As a group, analysts forecast that Warby Parker will post -0.29 EPS for the current year. In other news, Director Teresa Briggs sold 18,900 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $12.05, for a total value of $227,745.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 19,246 shares in the company, valued at approximately $231,914.30. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 25.36% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Warby Parker Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of WRBY. American National Bank purchased a new stake in Warby Parker during the 1st quarter valued at about $30,000. Quarry LP boosted its holdings in Warby Parker by 1,434.1% during the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 3,421 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 3,198 shares during the period. Point72 Middle East FZE purchased a new stake in Warby Parker during the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Aquire Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Warby Parker during the 1st quarter valued at about $85,000. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank bought a new position in Warby Parker during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $88,000. Warby Parker Company Profile (Get Rating) Warby Parker Inc provides eyewear products. It offers eyeglasses, sunglasses, light-responsive lenses, blue-light-filtering lenses, and contact lenses, as well as accessories, including cases, lenses kit with anti-fog spray, pouches, and anti-fog lens spray. The company also offers eye exams and vision tests directly to consumers through its retail stores, website, and mobile apps. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Warby Parker Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Warby Parker and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mired in legal battles for the past five years, the Mountain Valley Pipeline could get bailed out by a larger agreement to resolve a looming crisis over the federal debt ceiling. Text of a bipartisan bill intended to avoid the first-ever government default, released late Sunday, includes language that would expedite completion of the deeply divisive natural gas pipeline. As currently phrased, the bill states that Congress hearby finds and declares that the timely completion of construction and operation of the Mountain Valley Pipeline is required in the national interest. Litigation over the $6.6 billion project pertaining mostly to its heavy environmental footprint has long delayed its completion. U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, has been trying since last summer to find a legislative way out of the legal logjam. I am pleased [House] Speaker [Kevin] McCarthy and his leadership team see the tremendous value in completing the MVP to increase domestic energy production and drive down costs across America, Manchin said in a statement released over the holiday weekend. I am proud to have fought for this critical project and to have secured the bipartisan support necessary to get it across the finish line, he said. However, the pipelines inclusion in an agreement between McCarthy and President Joe Biden to suspend the nations debt limit while limiting government spending is sharply opposed by environmental groups, and could face an uncertain fate as lawmakers consider the deal in the coming days. Singling out the Mountain Valley Pipeline for approval in a vote about our nations credit limit is an egregious act, said Peter Anderson, Virginia policy director for Appalachian Voices. By attempting to suspend the rules for a pipeline company that has repeatedly polluted communities water and flouted the conditions in its permits, the president and Congress would deny basic legal protections, procedural fairness, and environmental justice to communities along the pipelines path, Anderson said in a statement. If passed, the bill would set a 21-day deadline for approval of government permits needed for the underground pipelines 303-mile path through West Virginia and Southwest Virginia. Those permits have been issued time and again for Mountain Valley, only to be struck down or delayed mostly by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals following legal challenges by Appalachian Voices, the Sierra Club and other environmental groups. Although authorization by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the pipeline to cross streams and rivers is the last major permit still needed to restart work, earlier approvals by other agencies face future lawsuits. The debt ceiling bill requires all legal actions to be heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, which is seen by some to be more accepting of the pipeline. Earlier attempts by Manchin to remove Mountain Valley from the purview of the Fourth Circuit have met pushback. When the Senate rejected a similar proposal last year, Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia asked what would prevent other large corporations dissatisfied with a courts ruling from doing the same thing. If we go down this path on this project, I can see it opening a door we will not want to open a door that can even lead to corruption, Kaine said at the time. Manchins proposal to include his bill in the National Defense Authorization Act last December was not the first time he attempted to attach it to a larger piece of must-pass legislation. Three months earlier, he included it in a budget resolution needed to avoid a government shutdown. Manchin withdrew that the bill after it drew opposition from both sides of the aisle. But the stakes are much higher now, with legislators from both parties under pressure to approve the debt ceiling agreement to avoid a default that would shake the global economy. Congress is expected to act by June 5, which Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said is the deadline to lift the nations debt limit, now at $31 trillion, to allow more borrowing to pay bills already incurred. Even if the jurisdiction for all Mountain Valley litigation were to be shifted to the D.C. Court of Appeals, that may not be a cure-all for a project that has repeatedly been cited for allowing muddy runoff to escape from construction sites along steep slopes and across mountain streams. Last summer, when the idea was first raised by Manchin, legal experts told The Roanoke Times that the pipeline may not necessarily find a more sympathetic forum in the D.C. Court of Appeals, which in recent years has become more willing to scrutinize decisions from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the lead agency overseeing construction. In fact, just last week the court ruled that FERC failed to adequately explain its reasons for not requiring additional study of the pipelines environmental impact before extending its deadline to complete the project. Opponents worry that the pipeline now has the backing of President Biden, who took a tough stand against the oil and gas industry while campaigning in 2020. On his first day in office, Biden revoked a key permit for Keystone XL, a controversial pipeline that would have transported crude oil from Alberta, Canada, into Montana and then down to the Gulf Coast. More recently, Biden approved the Willow project, a large-scale oil drilling proposal in Alaska. And Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm has supported Mountain Valley in a letter to FERC. The pipeline, which would transport 2 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas to East Coast markets, can help unlock additional natural gas supplies and delivery, which, in turn can enhance regional and national energy security, Granholm wrote. Mountain Valley said Monday that it was grateful for the full support of the White House, as well as the strong leadership of Democratic and Republican legislators. The joint venture of five energy companies hopes to complete construction by the end of the year, spokeswoman Natalie Cox wrote in an email Monday, and looks forward to flowing domestic natural gas this winter for the benefits of reliability and affordability in the form of lower natural gas prices for customers. Opponents counter that the damage already caused by pipeline construction will only grow worse if it is completed, allowing the release of greenhouse gases that will contribute to a climate change crisis. Russell Chisholm, managing director of Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights, a local anti-pipeline coalition, said that Biden has caved in to Mountain Valley Pipelines political allies and betrayed his own climate and environmental justice promises. Instead of a clean debt ceiling bill, Chisholm said, we are sacrificed alongside other working class people in another attempted bailout for the failing MVP. When I die, I wanna snake-bit die. Dewey Chafins voice is soft as gauze, but the sentiment is hammered iron. You cant doubt a mans sincerity when hes standing at a pulpit in shirt sleeves holding two fistfuls of squirming rattlesnake. Yes, Lord, answers a parishioner. Praise JEEsus, howls another. This is the Church of the Lord Jesus in Jolo, W. Va., the last state in the union where religious snake-handling is a lawful enterprise. The church isnt affiliated with any official Christian denomination. It has no religious statuary, no baptismal fountain, not even a cross. Which is not to suggest it has no religion. Im a snake-handler, says Chafin. His momma beams. Shes here too, and shes holding a hissing rattler of her own. Chafin is 58, a disabled coal miner and a Korean War vet, and like the five dozen people standing hip to buttock in this makeshift rural church, he believes in the New Testament exactly as it was written. And that includes the Book of Mark, Chapter 16, Verse 18, where Jesus says, They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. And so it is that each dance with snakes is a test of faith. In 35 years of snake-handling, Chafin says, hes been bitten 116 times. Hes been fanged on the hands, the arms, and not long ago a five-foot diamondback took him through the right eyebrow. Like all snake-handlers, Chafin says hes never treated a bite with anything other than prayer. Around him are some 50 members of his church. Not one of them drinks, not one of them smokes, and all of them dress like ladies and gents. The rules in this church are posted high for anyone to see. Neatness is required. Lying is outlawed, along with gossiping and backbiting. Here is Ray Johnson, who drives 150 miles to the church every weekend from Galax, Va., with his wife, Betty, and their five children. They bunk in a vacant cabin on a mountaintop nearby. Johnson has had two heart attacks. He wears a cap reading God Said It, I Believe It, And Thats It. And here is Lydia Hollins, the organist. She is Deweys niece, a handsome woman of 38 in a green suit and high heels. Hollins is the daughter of Columbia Chafin, who died in 1962, when Lydia was just a girl. She snake-bit died, at the age of 22. To this day, she remains the Church of the Lord Jesuss only fatality, Dewey Chafin says. She was his sister. And now the dead womans daughter is gently cradling a big-bellied viper in both hands, and praising the Lord. There is fanaticism happening in this room, and there is bravery and passion and something strangely moving that is not easily put into words. Jolo is a tough 30-mile drive north over Bradshaw Mountain from Grundy, Va. It squats low in an area long on coal tradition but short on jobs. The town post office is a faded white trailer. The snake-handlin church, tucked along a windy road, is an asbestos-gray building with a small gravel parking lot. The early faithful have been arriving since 10 a.m. on this Sunday, and a picnic is getting under way in the parking lot. This is a special weekend, the churchs 28th homecoming. Nearby, wooden boxes are being offloaded from pickups some feet away from the victuals and the kids. Neatly lettered on the sides: They Shall Handle Serpents and Mark 16:18. Joe Short and his son Verlyn have driven three hours over the mountains from Mayking, Ky., with their box, containing eight fresh-caught rattlers and copperheads. These aint never been handled before, says Joe, a small, smiling man with slicked-back hair. Its gettin harder to catch em in my favorite huntin spot these days. I think they recognize my footsteps by now and just dig deeper under them rocks when they hear me comin. Snake-handlers have been practicing their religion throughout Appalachia and in the hills and hollows of West Virginia since the turn of the century. Its still going on in all of those places, most always in defiance of one law or another. Not here. According to Kenneth Ambrose, a sociologist at Marshall University in Huntington, W. Va., who has studied snake-handling, politicians in the state of West Virginia have learned its useless to try to legislate against something that folks want to do. Bites from North Americas venomous snakes are unpredictable. Even when untreated, they seldom kill healthy adults, but they sometimes do. On the average, snakebites kill 13 Americans a year, but since 1909, only a dozen or so of those deaths have been traced to religious ceremonies. Snake-handlers believe they survive through the power of their prayer, and theyll brook no argument on that point. Getting bit hurts like almighty hell, which, as it happens, is the general idea. Handling snakes is the good fight against evil. The thrill is in not getting bit. Listen to Dewey Chafin: You handle snakes enough, youll get bit. You can go the longest time and nothin happens. You think youre walkin the high road and your sinnin days are behind you, and then, wham, you get bit. Its just Gods way of letting you know you are you and the Lord is the Lord. What words come out of your mouth when you get bitten by a rattler? Chafin doesnt remember. But Geneva, his wife, remembers the last time. He said, Oh. When Dewey got home he turned every color of the rainbow. He was blue, orange, yellow and purple. Things did not look good. I knew this one was going to take a lot of prayin, Chafin says. My throat was swellin closed and it was really hard to breathe. There is a pause, and Chafin answers a question that has not been asked. Handling snakes is my way of thinkin that all the words in the Bible are true or theyre not true. I think theyre true. Now, you dont pick up a poison snake until youve been anointed. Thats when God tells you that you can do it. Youll know when the time comes and the spirit of the Lord will move you. When we handle snakes we celebrate a victory. The victory is for the Lord, though, not for us. In the mid-1960s, during surgery on his ear, Dewey Chafin almost died on the operating table. In fact, he did die, he says, was pronounced dead and everything. When he came to, he was like a child played with his kids toys, babbled like a baby sometimes. It was his familys intense praying that brought his mind back, Chafin believes, and to this day though he has never been ordained a preacher he is regarded by some in the area as a holy man. Not infrequently, friends or strangers will drive up to his yard, ask him to pray with them, to lay on hands. Some woman from Boaz, Alabama, calls me up every Sunday, asks me to pray for her church, Chafin says, with a trace of incredulity, and no small amount of pride. Inside the plain church with a wooden floor, Bob Elkins, a powerfully built man with glasses, slips the strap of a white electric Fender bass over his head and strums a chord. An impromptu band joins in on piano, organ, guitar and drum, and a throbbing rockabilly version of Reach Out and Touch the Lord blasts through the room. When hes not preaching, Elkins, 64, is a machinist working deep in a coal shaft. The children are separated in the back of the room. The adults are on their feet and moving. Everyone is dancing a free-style, spirited, rolling shuffle-stomp. Most everyone is singing. Snakes are passed from hand to hand, man to woman, woman to man, man to man, gingerly, reverently. One 60-ish woman is performing a pirouette, her snake above her head, curled up fat in a palm. This is controversial stuff, even in West Virginia. Some of the locals dont mind this church at all. Others do. Ive been pastor of this church since the early 50s, Elkins says. Ive been beaten up, shot at and called every name but Mister Elkins. Religious people who believe in the Holy Bible handle snakes thousands of times and dont die. Now, when somebody sits around all day drinkin whiskey and gets in his car and wraps it around a telephone pole and kills himself, everybody feels sorry for him and says what a shame it is. They say when we get bit were just tempting the Lord. Well, it says right in the Bible that the Lord cant be tempted. Its in the Book of James. Everything we do and believe is in the Bible. Most folks read the Bible like it was a magazine. Then in what amounts to a sermon-ending public service announcement, Elkins announces: Remember, if youre under 18 stay out of the boxes. RICHMOND Virginia will eliminate degree requirements and preferences for nearly 90% of classified jobssalaried positions subject to the personnel actin line with a growing private sector trend that looks at experience and other training as well as degrees when hiring. The change by the Richmond regions largest employer will take effect July 1 for the roughly 20,000 openings the state advertises over the course of a year. This key reform will expand opportunities for qualified applicants who are ready to serve Virginians, said Gov. Glenn Youngkin. This landmark change in hiring practices for our state workforce will improve hiring processes, expand possibilities and career paths for job seekers and enhance our ability to deliver quality services, he said. The reform will give equal consideration to applicants who have an equivalent combination and level of training, knowledge, skills, certifications, and experience as college graduates, said Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater. Secretary of Administration Margaret Lyn McDermid, who oversees the states human resource management department, said Virginia state government has one of the broadest ranges of jobs in the state. Our employees design, build, manage, and sustain public services across hundreds of lines of business and giving equal consideration to all job applicants, including those who have experience solving real-world problems is a smart business practice, she said. McDermid was the first woman accepted at Newport News Shipbuildings Apprentice School and joined state government after working for several years as an information technology executive at the Federal Reserve System and a Richmond Fortune 500 company. She said figuring out how an applicants experience, training and credentials fit a post, and how they might match or better what a college graduate can offer, starts with a lot of thinking about what each of the many different kinds of work in state government really entails. A lot of that thinking was what state human resources executives did when thinking about remote working during and after the pandemic, she said. We want to get the best people for the jobs we have, she said. In a tight labor market, competing for good people, if you have the skills and want to do public service, we want to be sure youre on the list to be interviewed, she said. Youngkin says improving Virginias workforce development networks is a top priority. Earlier this spring, he said legislation streamlining the licensing process for 85 occupations for people who have licenses from other states and who want to work here was one of the most important bills this years General Assembly passed. Other states have made similar moves. Maryland eliminated its four-year college degree requirement for many of its state jobs last year, in what state officials said was the first such move among the states. Of the more than 38,000 people who work for the state, Marylands Department of Budget and Management estimated that more than half did work that people whose experience, training or community college education could substitute for a four-year college degree. Byron Auguste, CEO and co-founder of Opportunity@Work, which worked with Maryland to identify people with skills acquired through apprenticeships and certification programs, said at the time that there are more than 1 million people in the state who did not have four-year degrees but who have the skills to work in IT, administration and customer service. Harvard Business School professor of management practice Joseph Fuller and two co-authors of a 2022 Harvard Business Review article reported that during the tight employment market between 2017 and 2019, employers reduced degree requirements for 46% of middle-skill positions and 31% of high-skill positions. Among the jobs most affected were those in IT and managerial occupations, which were hard to fill during that period, they reported. Companies still have widely different views, however. For the job of software quality-assurance engineer, only 26% of Accentures postings and 29% of IBMs for the position contained a degree requirement, while all of Oracles postings did, as did 94% of Intels and 90% of Apples, Fuller and his co-authors found. One reason employers retain degree requirements could be the view that college graduates possess more-refined soft, skills, such as setting priorities or communicating with others, but Fuller and his co-authors said companies that eliminated degree requirements frequently added more-detailed soft-skills requirements in their postings. If we want to increase equity in the labor market, one important way to do it is by removing barriers to well-paying jobs and theres no question that in recent years one of those barriers has been inflated degree requirements, the authors concluded. About 57,000 of the roughly 100,000 people who work for the state directly or as contractors are considered classified employees. A 2020 University of Virginia graduate has accused one of her former professors of grooming, sexually assaulting and initiating an inappropriate romantic relationship during her tenure at the university, which began in 2018. She has filed a lawsuit against UVa and the leaders of the schools Title IX office. The alumna and her attorney, Elizabeth Abdnour, filed the lawsuit in the Western District of Virginia on April 29. The suit does not name the former student or the accused professor but rather refers to them as Jane Doe and John Roe. This is something that took over, essentially, the last year of her college career, Abdnour told The Daily Progress. It completely derailed her from being able to pursue her postgraduate plans, which were to go to law school. Doe claims that the relationship which violated the UVa policy that strictly prohibits sexual or romantic relationships between professors and undergraduate students resulted in economic loss, loss of earnings and earnings capacity; mental and emotional distress; humiliation and embarrassment; damage to her reputation; and a lengthy Title IX investigation that did not end until after her graduation. We are in receipt of this complaint and are preparing a response, which will make clear that University officials responded to these disturbing allegations in a matter consistent with federal and state law, as well as our own policies, UVa spokesman Brian Coy said in a statement to The Daily Progress. As soon as University officials were notified of this complaint, they engaged with the complainant directly to determine the facts surrounding her case and how she wanted to proceed. That engagement led to the initiation of a Title IX investigation into these allegations and the conduct of the respondent. The suit alleges that Roe pursued a sexual relationship with Doe, who was one of the students in his class at the time, during a two-week trip to Austria and Hungary in January 2019, part of the schools January Term, or J-Term program. Doe claims that Roe asked her to arrive two days ahead of the other students after convincing her to join his class. Doe arrived in Austria on Dec. 25, 2018, and alleges the sexual abuse began on Dec. 28, before the other students arrived. Over the course of the trip, Roe came to Does hotel room and made sexual advances in front of her roommate and sexually assaulted her several times, according to the lawsuit. Doe claims that she felt humiliated when her classmate witnessed Roes advances and confused when another classmate made speculations about her relationship with Roe. According to the lawsuit, Asher D. Biemann, a religious studies professor at UVa who also took the trip to Austria, witnessed Roes advances but did not acknowledge them. In a later Title IX investigation, Biemann said that Doe did not seem like her usual self and acted more reserved and was not as engaged in class as she was prior to the trip. The sexual relationship continued after the trip, according to the lawsuit. In February 2019, Doe began making visits to Roes residence. When Doe earned an internship in Washington that summer, Roe made the trip and rented a hotel room to spend time with her, Doe claims. The student and teacher exchanged I love yous during one of his visits to her that summer, according to the lawsuit. Soon after, from a study abroad program at the University of Oxford in England, Roe told Doe that he did not miss her and that there was no future for their relationship. This caused [Doe] to sink back into severe depression and anxiety, as she realized that not only did Roe not love her, but that she had to face the fact that he had sexually assaulted her numerous times by this point, the lawsuit says. Doe claims that her mental health deteriorated to the point where her classmates began asking if she was okay. In October 2019, Roe rekindled a relationship with Doe, but she ended the relationship when she discovered Roe was using dating websites in February 2020. Overwhelmed by nearly two years of trauma, Doe said she admitted herself to the UVa emergency room for emotional stress and suicidal feelings. According to the suit, Doe was held overnight in the hospital on a psychiatric hold because medical staff determined that she had both suicidal ideation and suicidal intent. She emailed Biemann to tell him that she would not be in his class on Monday and declined his request to visit her in the hospital. According to the lawsuit, Doe met with Biemann on or around Feb. 17, 2020, to disclose that she had been in a relationship with Roe since the J-Term. She did not tell Biemann that Roe had done anything that was not consensual because she was afraid that he would report it to the University, and she thought she would get in trouble for being in a relationship with a professor. Biemann wrote a memo with the information Doe shared with him and presented it to Jeffrey Grossman, chair of the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures at UVa, even though university policy requires employees who witness or receive a report of prohibited conduct under the Sexual Misconduct Policy to report all information including the names of the reporting party, the parties, any witnesses and any other relevant information, including the date, time, and location of the alleged incident to the universitys Title IX coordinator. Grossman and Biemann agreed not to report the matter to the Title IX office, but instead to report it to Dudley Doane, the director of the International Studies Office at UVa. Doane and Biemann then reported the memo to former Dean of Students Laurie Casteen. According to the lawsuit, Biemann, Grossman, Doane and Casteen did not report the allegations to the Title IX office. Instead, Casteen contacted Doe on or around Feb. 24, 2020, and asked to meet with her. It is important to note that the administration of this particular investigation was complicated by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, which required University officials to develop new ways to execute investigative processes that had been conducted primarily in person before UVA went fully virtual in March of 2020, Coy said. With that being said, the University reacted to these troubling allegations in a timely and aggressive manner to avoid any future harm and hold the respondent accountable for any harm they may have already inflicted. After the meeting, Casteen told Doe that there was nothing she could do to help her because the relationship was reported as consensual, according to the lawsuit. First, [Doe] does not dispute that she initially told both Biemann and Dean Casteen that the parties sexual activity during J-term was consensual, Title IX investigators wrote in the final report. While the Investigators find these facts relevant, they do not find these facts to be dispositive as to the issue of Affirmative Consent, the Title IX resolution reads. Notably, Biemann stated that while [Doe] told him she think[s] the sexual activity between the parties during J-term was consensual, [Doe] appeared to be uncertain about this fact. On March 11, 2020, Doe emailed Casteen saying she wanted Roe to be held accountable for his abuse. Doe received a notification that UVa was commencing a formal Title IX investigation on or around March 31 of that year, according to the lawsuit. During the course of the investigation Emily Babb, the assistant vice president for Title IX compliance, issued a mutual no-contact directive prohibiting her and Roe from communicating with each other, effective June 25, 2020. Because of the mutual no-contact directive, [Doe] began avoiding certain areas on campus and disengaging from her classes to avoid Roe, as she was afraid of getting in trouble for violating the directive, according to the lawsuit. On July 7, 2021, nearly 500 days after Does email to Casteen, a review panel in the Title IX investigation found that Roe had repeatedly harassed and assaulted [Doe]. The review panel recommended that Roe be terminated from his position at UVa. On July 9, 2021, Roe resigned from his position at UVa, a position he had continued to hold for more than a year throughout the Title IX investigation with no suspension or administrative leave, and with full, unfettered access to students, according to the lawsuit. Nearly three months later, then-Provost M. Elizabeth Magill issued final remedial measures in a letter prohibiting Roe from being hired for any future position at the university and denying him emeritus status, an honorary title for professors who wish to stay active in scholarship and academia following retirement. I think that the fact that this took so long and that the investigation was so drawn out and that, at the end of it, he ended up being able to just quit and go on his merry way is absolutely unacceptable, Abdnour told The Daily Progress. There are a lot of cases that I dont file when people contact me for help, so I definitely think its a strong case. As that investigation was nearing its conclusion, and University officials were weighing disciplinary measures, the respondent resigned, Coy told The Daily Progress. The respondent was subsequently barred from applying for emeritus status and barred from further employment with the University. Doe claims that the university violated Title IX after conducting a 493-day investigation that ended after her graduation date in addition to denying her rights to equal protection, free speech and substantive and procedural due process. The department had previously identified, but not required, a 60-day time frame, prior to appeal, for resolving sexual harassment complaints. Although that guidance is no longer in place, nothing in the 2020 amendments prohibits a school from adopting the 60-day time frame. Abdnour and her client believe that Roe had likely been drawing out the investigation to allow himself to continue as long as possible before ultimately resigning without any accountability, and that UVA Title IX staff had allowed this to happen, according to the lawsuit. Abdnour told The Daily Progress that she and her client chose to file the lawsuit now because her statute of limitations was about to run out. The statute of limitations for lawsuits against Title IX departments in Virginia is two years. Doe and Abdnour claim the university denied her the right to equal protection via discrimination on the basis of sex when Babb and former deputy Title IX coordinator Akia Haynes neglected to provide a timely investigation or response to her report, supportive measures to ensure Does safety and failing to train and supervise the staff that handles Title IX complaints. They also claim the university denied Does right to free speech when Babb issued a mutual no-contact directive, effectively creating a prior restraint on her speech. In addition, UVa violated Title IX with repeated acts of deliberate indifference to multiple reports of sex discrimination perpetrated by her professor as outlined previously in this complaint, failing to timely investigate and respond to the ongoing harassment, the lawsuit claims. In spite of an unpaid internship in 2020, Doe has struggled to find employment since graduating from UVa three years ago. Were asking for accountability from the institution at this point, Abdnour said. A World War II veteran will celebrate his 100th birthday Wednesday, but declared this week hes gonna be 21 again. Alfred Zieg, a former first-class electronics technician in the Navy, was born on May 31, 1923, in Waco to Henry and Alma (Hinze) Zieg. As one of nine siblings, Zieg was in the middle of five brothers and three sisters. Only a younger brother remains today. His father worked as a depot agent for the railroad after moving to America from Prussia. Zieg too would join the railroad industry in Las Vegas after graduating from Scribner High School in 1941. But when he was 19, Ziegs life changed forever. In December 1941, he traveled to Reno, Nevada, where he enlisted in the Navy. I always favored the Navy, but to come back home, I figured I had the best chance in the Navy, Zieg said. I found out it couldve been the worst choice for the ships we lost and the guys. He knew the draft was coming and signed up for a program where he would learn the radar system. However, Zieg never went through Naval basic training and he didnt know how to swim. Eventually, Zieg would board the AGC-9, also known as the USS Wasatch, which launched Oct. 8, 1943. During WWII, the USS Wasatch was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, where it would earn four battle stars for her service. The ship, along with two other command ships, had to be kept secret because they would be a high priority target for enemy planes and submarines. About 900 crewmen were aboard the USS Wasatch with Capt. Alford M. Granum in command. War hero and military leader Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Adm. Thomas Kinkaid occasionally boarded his ship as well. To Ziegs knowledge, he is the last surviving crewman. Zieg would become a first-class electronic technician, helping take care of all the transmissions that were being sent to each ship in addition to changing the antennas. He was known as Antenna Al because he was the only one who would climb some 100 feet above water without a harness to change an antenna. Zieg met his future wife, Thelma, in high school when his family moved to Scriber. He later reached out to Thelma asking for her brothers military address, which she sent via letter. Thelma continued to write to Zieg nearly every day that he was away and he wrote back when time allowed. We were busy, Zieg said. We didnt sit there with our feet up on the desk and enjoying the nice scenery. We went there to get the job done. Yet, through all the months on the ship, he still found beauty in the dullness and time to write back to Thelma. You sit on the fantail of a ship with the moon shining and the moon shines all the way down the water to the ship. Theres some beautiful things that if you want to take the time to do it, Zieg said. The men on board did have some occasional fun. He recalled seeing Comedian Bob Hope and Actress Dorothy Lamour perform on the Island of Samar in the Philippines. On Feb. 22, 1946, Zieg returned to Scriber on his first discharge for 30 days, and he asked Thelma to marry him, even though the two had never been on an actual date. They got married on March 24, 1946, and were married for 62 years before her passing in 2008. She was nice and she liked everything simple, Zieg said. When you meet the right one, it blends and you know. Its hard to describe. The couple had three children together Nancy, Tom and Jim who all live in Lincoln. Tom was stationed in Vietnam for the Navy for four years. His other son Jim wasnt in the military, but still had to live with the effects that WWII had on Zieg. When Jim was in the fourth grade, he had to have a kidney removed and they related that back to me, Zieg said. Zieg was contaminated with radiation while stationed in Japan. For more than 40 years, Zieg has had to take coumadin, also known as warfarin, to help treat the leukemia that has formed throughout his body. Hes lost most of his hearing and said his lungs are scarred worse than a lifetime smoker. After 38 months of service, Zieg was discharged on Feb. 22, 1946, after returning to the United States from Taku, China. I was lucky, Zieg said. The good Lord walked with me the whole time I was in the service. The Lord took me to war, and the Lord brought me back. Many military members of WWII were not so lucky. Zieg still recalls the painful memory of having to find his fellow service members in the water. Thats part of my life and its a part I cant forget, he said. Through it all, Zieg said they went to win freedom, which he wants people to enjoy. To win the war, we could win freedom. Freedom of everything. Thats what we fought for and thats what we intend to keep. And if we have to go back again to do that, its got to be that way, Zieg said. You got to enjoy every day. Maybe tomorrow is a day you wont get to enjoy because youre gonna be gone and thats the way it is. It will always be that way. And hell enjoy that freedom this week, with plans to visit a Nebraska staple Runza with friends for his birthday. Thats what Im gonna have, a Runza hamburger and a strawberry milkshake, he said. U.S. states with the most World War II veterans U.S. States With the Most World War II Veterans The percentage of US veterans continues to decline each decade The total veteran population has declined by nearly 5M over the past 10 years California and Florida have the most WWII veterans 15. Virginia 14. Missouri 13. Pennsylvania 12. Rhode Island 11. Nevada 10. Delaware 9. Ohio 8. New Mexico 7. Washington 6. Idaho 5. New Hampshire 4. Montana 3. Maine 2. Utah 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 Paris, TX (75460) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 89F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds from time to time. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable. Like a toddler who dropped their ice cream cone on the sidewalk along South Illinois Avenue, current and former Southern Illinois residents are expressing big feelings in response to the closure of the iconic Dairy Queen in downtown Carbondale. Operator Mark Waicukauski was informed Friday of a cease-and-desist from the Minnesota-based American Dairy Queen Corporation, preventing the over 70-year-old franchise from doing business under the DQ brand. He said the relationship between the Carbondale store and the corporation had been acrimonious for some time. Waicukauski told The Southern on Friday evening in between explaining the situation to customers at the walk-up only business that the location had been operating on a very old franchise agreement and admitted that he hadnt completely followed company directives as to menu items. He said he sensed a growing push from DQ for the Grill and Chill business model which included a variety of food items. They want everything done the same way as Grill and Chills and such and we cant make it on that type of menu, he said, explaining that the locations size prohibits the installation of grills, fryers and other equipment. He said his plan, however, is to continue just not as a Dairy Queen. We hope to open back up as an independent and do the same things weve been doing for years and years, he said, but he was unable to provide a timeline for serving frozen treats under a different name. I dont know how long it will take or what it will entail, but I do plan on it. Waicukauski said rebranding has been on his radar. With some of the different decisions that Dairy Queens been making lately, Ive actually been thinking about it before this, he said. Still, the loss of the communitys DQ came as a shock to local residents. One unnamed potential customer, heard in the background during Waicukauskis Friday evening telephone interview, spoke for hundreds when he said, They close down the Dairy Queen, they might as well close Carbondale. Others took to social media to express their disappointment. Some have called for residents to flood the corporation with letters and emails. One person called for action from the Carbondale City Council. More than 2,300 people have signed a Change.org petition urging the company to reconsider its decision and keep the restaurant operating under its large, neon Dairy Queen rooftop sign. On the page for the online petition, organizer Heidi Stauber wrote: The Dairy Queen is more than a restaurant to us. It is a city landmark, traditional gathering place and heart and soul of our memories. It is the single most often mentioned business on Carbondale Facebook pages. For decades, students at Southern Illinois University have bought their DQ treats and sat on the curb in front to gossip and watch passersby. We treasure childhood memories of Dilly Bars, and Mr. Misty and our very first banana split, bought at this same window. Some of us have returned with our own children and then grandchildren to share our memories along with a Dairy Queen treat. Several petition signers indicated they personally do not plan on visiting a DQ franchise in the future in response. Many accused the corporation destroying history and not recognizing the value of vintage locations, but most who took to social media shared about the business iconic place in Carbondale and in their lives. So many memories at the DQ, wrote Carbondales Karyn Forbes. Opening week, closing week and countless weeks in between. Ive never been there and not seen someone I know. Will Stransky of Pompano Beach, Florida posted, Had my first treat at the DQ in 1967. Loved sitting on the wall, enjoying my Chocolate Thursday cones. Janet Whittenberg Dillard of Westminster, California wrote, No trip to Carbondale was ever complete without a trip to DQ! When I was a student at SIU, sitting on the wall was a given. Others complimented the operator for his role in the community. I worked at the DQ in the late 70s and built some great memories, Chicagos Bob Okita shared. The heart of the business wasnt as much DQ as it was the Waicukauski family. Waicukauski has expressed gratitude for the support. We do hope to open back up as an independent soon, Waicukauski said on a social media post. We hope everybody still supports us when we open back up. On Tuesday morning a spokesperson from the American Dairy Queen Corporation (ADQ) told The Southern that they want it to be known why exactly the Carbondale location received the cease-and-desist letter. "We strive to maintain the highest standards at DQ restaurants to meet and exceed fan expectations. We expect that franchise owners will, at minimum, meet our operational standards in restaurant appearance, food and treat quality, and fan experience. We worked with the franchise owners of the Carbondale location to address operational issues over a period of time and, when the restaurant did not meet the necessary requirements, we made the difficult decision to close the restaurant," says ADQ. "Any implication that this location closed because it did not upgrade to a DQ Grill & Chill serving hot food and treats is incorrect; we have thousands of franchised, treat-only locations in the U.S and worldwide that are and will continue to remain open for fans to enjoy," adds ADQ. Waicukauski posted on Facebook announcing that he will be turning the lights on at the Carbondale location on Wednesday night at 9 p.m. He is inviting the community to come take photos of the iconic Carbondale sign one last time. Orangeburg County resident Karyn Moss and her brother Kevyn Amos loved their father. U.S. Army Sgt. Joe Amos was killed in action in Vietnam during a firefight on a rubber plantation in Loc Ninh, Binh Long Province, on Oct. 30, 1967. He was killed while serving his country only 12 days after leaving home. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. On Sunday, Amos children, the Orangeburg County Veterans Council and the Orangeburg County Veterans Affairs Office honored Sgt. Joe Amos with a portrait and a framed Gold Star Banner for his service. He has been alive in our hearts, in our memories and every time I look in the mirror, I see him, Amos said about his father during a Memorial Day ceremony held at the Orangeburg County Council Chambers. It truly has been a blessing to be able to come here and to receive recognition of what my fathers life truly meant to all of us, he said. The legacy my father left was a legacy of courage, Amos said. God provided him and his sister love and security through their fathers dedication and courage. Thanks, Dad, for the legacy of courage that we will continue to shine in our lives as long as we live, Amos said, presenting the portrait of Joe Amos to his sister. Orangeburg County veterans also presented a framed Gold Star Banner to the family of Joe Amos. The gold star banner was given to families during World War I to hang in their window in honor of their family member in service. When the family member died in combat, the star turned to gold. We thank you for his service, Orangeburg County Veterans Affairs Officer Kenisha Grimes said. It is a true statement that all gave some and some definitely gave all. Retired U.S. Air Force Reserves Lt. Col. Terry Martin, the keynote speaker, reflected on those who died defending freedom. Over the years, he has met men and women who have wounds and scars on their bodies from war. I said to them How were you able to survive? Martin said. They said, I was lucky, that is all. Soldiers just as good as me and some better than me fell right beside me, Martin said. Shaking hands with Medal of Honor winners and I would say to them, What were you doing when you received the Medal of Honor? and they said, Just doing my job. Over and over again: Just doing my job. One day he was standing in a buffet line when a woman said to him, You are one of our heroes. I said, Maam, I dont feel like hero, Martin said. I dont know how you are supposed to feel if you are a hero, but I looked at her and I said, Those that didnt come back, those are my heroes. Those that stood in the gap and made up the hedge. Martin recalled when he was a crew chief on the A7 at the Korat U.S. Air Force Base in Thailand and was buckling a pilot into a seat to fly into downtown Hanoi. The pilot told him he was scared. It is OK to be afraid, Martin said. It is OK to think that the mission you are going on is the last mission that you will go on. Martin also recalled the stories of his uncle who was leaving Newberry for basic training in Fort Jackson. He was crying, Martin said. He was one of the few that day that cried, but he was among the many that deployed. My uncle William said to him, Clarence, dont take it so hard. Look, others are not crying. And he said, Yes, Uncle William. They are coming back. Im not. He died on guard duty at Guadalcanal. My mother said he was the best of his five brothers, Martin said. As far as we know as a family, he is still MIA. When we get together as a family, it always seems even though his nephews and nieces, we dont know him personally, we always seem to talk about him. We are proud of him as you and I remember our loved ones today," Martin said. Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler said Memorial Day is about honoring those who paid their lives for freedom and service. We gather here this afternoon to honor and to recognize the veterans of our military services, Butler said. These men and women proudly serve our country, putting their lives on the line to protect the many freedoms we enjoy today and yet so many of them gave the ultimate sacrifice for these freedoms. We will never forget the price they paid and the great sacrifice they made for us, Butler said. May we not only remember them on this holiday, but every day let them know that we are forever grateful and thankful for the services they have given. Retired Army First Sgt. Leon Fludd didn't want to miss the Memorial Day service. He served from 1966 until 1987, having served in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive as well as serving two tours in Germany and one in Korea. I want to make sure that I contribute to the soldiers that made the ultimate sacrifice to the United States of America, Fludd said when asked why he was present at the Memorial Day service. When I reflect on the years ago, especially when I came from Vietnam, there was a lot of people that did not honor the military soldiers like they should have because of the ultimate sacrifice they made, he said. Fludd said he is seeing a greater appreciation for men and women who gave their lives for freedom than in years past. President of the VFW Auxiliary 2779 and VFW District 9 Barbara Shuler comes from a military family. Her late husband was a U.S. Air Force veteran, her son and uncle were in the U.S. Army, a brother and uncle served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and a brother and uncle served in the U.S. Navy. Personally, I do it to honor my family, to honor my brother, my son and in memory of my husband and all the rest of my family who have served this great country, Shuler said. She is seeing an increase in patriotism in recent years. Thank you to all the service members. Without them, this would not be a great country. We would not have the freedoms we have and thank you for all your services, she said. The service included the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. VFW Post 8166 recognized prisoners of war and those missing in action from all wars and conflicts involving the United States of America. Gold Star Mothers and Blue Star Families of South Carolina were also recognized. VFW Auxiliary, VFW Post 2779 and 8166 laid a wreath. Taps was played by Steve Jarvis. SUMMERTON Civil rights leaders in South Carolina plan to petition the U.S. Supreme Court to rename the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision that outlawed segregation of public schools across the country. Over the next three months, a group representing past plaintiffs and their descendants plans to file paperwork asking the high court to reorder the set of five 1954 cases that led to the Brown ruling, The Post and Courier reports. The group, which has teamed up with a lawyer in Camden, South Carolina, wants to replace Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka with a South Carolina case that was filed earlier but is lesser known. Briggs v. Elliott is a South Carolina case named after Harry Briggs, one of 20 parents who brought a lawsuit against Clarendon County School Board President R.W. Elliott. The group sees the name change as a way to restore South Carolina as the cradle of the movement to desegregate public education. "Everyone else lays down and says you can't do this," said prominent South Carolina civil rights photographer Cecil Williams, who has been at the forefront of the effort. "Many will call it crazy," he added. "It might be laughed out of court." To Williams and the 20 families who signed their names to the Briggs case, it is worth the effort to try to right what they view as an injustice. "If this country is going to ever reconcile with its history, this is a good place, upon the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education," Williams said. The Briggs case, filed in May 1950, was the first such case to be taken to federal court. The Brown case came nearly nine months later. The Kremlin is working tirelessly to reverse the countrys European course. Moldova needs rapid assistance to sustain its Western orientation. From CEPA. If a countrys political mood is judged by popular participation, then Moldovans are earnest pro-Europeans. A 21 May rally spearheaded by President Maia Sandu to support Moldovan entry to the European Union (EU) attracted more than 75,000 people, according to police. An anti-government protest by a pro-Russian party in March drew around 4,500. For the first time since independence in 1991, a leap in European integration is within reach for the country of 3.25 million. Yet few in the West appreciate the amount of effort it will take to get Moldova over the line and into the EU. Even setting aside the political process that leads to a countrys accession (requiring unanimity among current members), the scale of reforms still to be completed is staggering. There are ambitious plans aplenty for the reform of public administration and justice, but what Moldova really lacks is institutional capacity. The Moldovan government has world-class players at the top and weak institutions beneath, as it was put by a security expert in a conversation with this author. A sustained brain drain (the number of university students has halved in 15 years) and low public sector salaries over the years have weakened Moldovan public administration. Many young people take the Romanian passports to which they are entitled and use those to find better opportunities in the EU. The best minds among those that remain often choose jobs in international organizations and in NGOs running on Western grants. This is where the main sources of local expertise lie at present younger people doing all they can to help the countrys reforms and to monitor progress. However, the civil service still needs a boost. Attempts to recruit qualified professionals from the diaspora to fill key positions in government agencies have met with failure more than once. All of this occurs against the backdrop of political instability caused by the Kremlin. Constant attacks, causing different degrees of harm, have been launched by Russia since last year. For example, the publication late last year of hacked and leaked private government messages was used to cast doubt on the appointment of the anti-corruption prosecutor. Given that the main suspects in anti-corruption proceedings are Moldovas pro-Russian politicians led by a fugitive from justice, Ilan Shor it is perfectly possible the leaks were intended to fan the ire of their (still numerous) supporters. This was preceded and followed by a barrage of cyberattacks on public administration servers and false bomb alerts. Shor, who fled to Israel, remains politically active through a network of proxies and has staged protests in the capital. These activities may well be part of the hybrid attack that came to international attention when President Sandu stated in February that she had been informed by Ukrainian intelligence services of Russias plans to stage a coup. The United States has sanctioned Shor, accusing him of assisting Russian election interference. He has denied this. Exploiting the current, difficult economic situation, anti-government groups seek to mobilize the economically vulnerable. In March, energy prices and the cost of living were used to call for protests against Sandu and the pro-EU government. This, however, is not the only theme exploited to incite discontent. Earlier, fruit farmers who once earned a living from exports to Russia were told that pro-Russian leaders would revive their old source of income. In May, Shors party triumphed in elections for the head of administration in the autonomous territorial unit of Gagauzia (the office carries additional weight as its holder is an ex-officio member of the Moldovan government.) The winning candidate, Evgenia Gutul, was virtually unknown before a pro-Russian, Shor-backed campaign propelled her election as regional leader. An absence of strong financial institutions means that the government lacks the means to prevent illicit flows of cash to Shors agents in Moldova. The EUs decision to sanction persons responsible for undermining the sovereignty and independence of Moldova would have more impact if the country had advanced financial investigation mechanisms to ensure compliance. These threats to Moldovas European and democratic future call for more targeted action from the EU. So what can be done? More support has to be given to public administration reform, including the full-scale overhaul of salaries and aiding Moldovas review of key institutions. Having a bunch of high-level EU advisers in Chisinau might help, but it would be more useful to have mid-level advisers in ministries and government agencies supplying expertise currently missing due to the brain drain. It would also be a wise investment to create a multi-donor fund similar to that underpinning the Ukraine Reforms Architecture, to raise the quality of reforms by drawing competent professionals into government. Moldova also needs aid to step up its strategic communications capacity and so fend off hybrid threats. The current window of opportunity in Moldova may not last forever. In the next elections, which must be held by 2025, Sandus reform-minded government may come up against populist resistance fueled by Russia. The reformers need a hand in ensuring that the countrys progress toward the EU cannot be reversed. Marija Golubeva is a Distinguished Fellow with the Democratic Resilience Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). She was a member of the Latvian Parliament (2018-2022) and was minister of the interior from 2021-2022. A public policy expert, she has worked for ICF, a consultancy company in Brussels, and also as an independent consultant for European institutions in the Western Balkans and Central Asia. This article was originally published by the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). To read the latest analysis and commentary click here. All opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the position or views of the institutions they represent or the Center for European Policy Analysis. According to figures from the U.S. government, 35,092 people died in car-related accidents in the U.S. in 2015 a 7.2 percent increase in traffic deaths from 2014. Why the recent uptick in traffic fatalities? The National Safety Council suggests that declining gas prices have resulted in people driving longer distances. The organization also notes that today's drivers are more distracted than ever, and are more likely to use social media behind the wheel. Regardless, while driving fatalities have increased nationwide, some states are more dangerous than others. Using data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, data analysts used the total number of car-related fatalities for each state from 2000 to 2015 to rank the deadliest states for car accidents. They then found the average number of fatalities each year per 100,000 people. States are ranked by the average fatalities per year, from least to most dangerous. In the event of a tie, states are listed in ascending order by the total number of fatalities. Notably, the states that dominate the top of this list tend to be more rural, while states with big urban cores like New York, New Jersey and California rank toward the bottom. This is likely because rural residents face longer commutes and driving distances than their urban counterparts. Urban residents are also more likely to walk, bike or use public transportation. *Note: Not all of the images in the story depict crashes from each state and the images do not specifically portray fatal car accidents. A 22-year-old Charles City County woman was shot to death early Tuesday by her boyfriend, who then killed himself, police believe. Between the shootings, the boyfriend, Lemuel Kevin Tyler, dropped the couples two children off at their baby sitters home. The baby sitter said the older child, a toddler, told her: My daddy shot my mommy. Police found Audrey Cempron on the floor of her bedroom in the 11600 block of John Tyler Highway around 5 a.m. She had been fatally shot at least twice in the head, said Charles City County Sheriff B.A. Washington. Hours later, Tylers body was discovered near the woods off Eagles Nest Road, about eight miles away, Washington said. He had also been killed by a gunshot to the head, Washington said. Tyler, 31, often threatened to kill his girlfriend, their daughters and himself, friends of the couple said. They said they didnt think he would ever actually do it. Tyler apparently carried out the threat, but spared 2-month-old Tiffany and 2 1/2-year-old Crystal. Cempron called 911 at approximately 2:40 a.m. Tuesday, fearful because someone was at her door. But when an officer got there, Cempron said the visitor had turned out to be Tyler and everything was fine, Washington said. Two hours later, the worried baby sitter took the children to the Sheriffs Office. She said Tyler had blood on him when he dropped the children off. Tyler and Cempron had been seeing each other for several years, but the relationship was troubled. Friends say they recently had urged her to break up with him and seek help. The relationship had deteriorated to where she was really scared of him, said Gene Hoilman, the owner of the Courthouse Station convenience store where Cempron worked. Rhonda Cotman, a close friend, said Tyler broke Cemprons arm earlier this summer. Cempron told everyone that she fell, Cotman said, but admitted to Cotman that Tyler had grabbed her by the hair and thrown her to the floor, breaking her elbow. The Sheriffs Office wasnt aware of any problems between Tyler and Cempron, Washington said. He said there was no record of previous domestic incidents. Cempron told rescue workers and a deputy that her arm was broken in a fall, Washington said. She told him the same thing when he saw her at work one day and inquired about her injury. I got mad because I couldnt understand why she stayed. But I wouldnt understand because Ive never been in an abusive relationship, Cotman said. Recently, Cempron had started exercising more independence, Cotman said, wearing make-up, doing her fingernails and going out with friends. Cotman said Tyler wasnt very happy about it. Hoilman and Cotman described Cempron as a friendly, well-liked person who tended to keep her problems to herself. She was a super person. She joked with people and everybody loved her, Hoilman said. She was a good worker, trustworthy. She had a key to the store. She opened and closed for me, thats how much I trusted her. Tyler was smart and artistically gifted but also jealous, high-strung and prone to depression, said Cotman and her husband, Maurice, a childhood friend of Tylers. A 1984 graduate of Charles City High School, Tyler made a living doing odd jobs. Maurice Cotman went looking for his friend Tuesday after he heard about the shooting. He found Tylers body near an area where they went fishing together, he said. The Cotmans said they had heard Tyler threaten to kill his family many times, saying he wanted to take the whole family together. He made the threats to Cempron as well, they said. Cemprons mother, Eleonor Lewis, of Richmond, said she knew her daughter was frightened of Tyler. I didnt know how violent he was until now, she said Tuesday. Lewis said she called her daughter every day after work to make sure she was all right. She told me, `Dont worry, Mommy. Im fine, Mommy, during their last conversation. Cempron was born and raised in the Philippines. Lewis said she was young and unmarried when Audrey was born, and her family convinced her to let the child stay with them. Meanwhile, Lewis married an American serviceman and came to the United States. Cempron moved to the U.S. when she was 18 to join her mother. Right now, I cant really accept it, that shes gone. I feel like I just got her, Lewis said. She said she will now try to raise her grandchildren, who are with her now. Crystal has been saying My daddy hit my mommy and asking Is my Mommy dying? Lewis said. Tylers family could not be reached Tuesday. Homicides are rare in the county. It was the first since Will Rogers Loving Jr. was charged with killing his stepmothers boyfriend in Nov. 1994. Loving argued that it was self-defense; a jury found him guilty of voluntary manslaughter. In September 1991, Spencer Taylor murdered his wife, Deborah, in front of their 2-year-old daughter. He was convicted in March 1992 of first-degree murder. A Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution inmate is suing YesCare, the states correctional health care provider, for allegedly denying him surgery and leaving him barely able to function, a court filing states. Warren Rathbun is accusing YesCare of violating his Eighth Amendment right to be free of cruel and unusual punishment on the grounds the company continually denied him hip replacement surgery for almost a year, a prisoner civil rights complaint filed on Monday states. Rathbun filed the complaint without an attorney. Rathbun, 66, is serving a life sentence for attempting kidnapping in connection to his 2009 attack on a woman in a parking garage near the Wyoming Capitol in Cheyenne. At the time, he had only recently been released from prison after serving a lengthy sentence for sexual assault. An orthopedic specialist recommended Rathbuns left hip be replaced in July, the complaint states. The recommendation came after the same orthopedic specialist replaced his right hip. Rathbuns left hip, which is in the same condition as his right hip was prior to the surgery, is considered bone on bone, the complaint states. He suffers from end-stage arthritis. He has allegedly submitted numerous documents to YesCare requesting the surgery and advising them that I am in pain and can barely function, the complaint states. Instead, YesCare offered Rathbun an alternative treatment plan, which consisted of exercise therapy, medications, a walking aid and weight loss, according to the lawsuit. The Wyoming Department of Corrections contracts with YesCare for prisoner health services. Rathbun saw a physical therapist, who he says determined he could do nothing for him because physical therapy wouldnt help his condition. YesCare is refusing to replace my left hip because of its policy, practice, or custom, to put off serious and expensive surgeries for prisoners, Rathbun said. ...YesCare, Corp. is simply delaying the replacement of my left hip due to the costs associated with surgery and for no other reason. It took Rathbun about nine months to convince YesCare to replace his right hip, and now, almost a year after a doctors recommendation, he is fighting to have his left hip replaced, the complaint said. I have and continue to suffer debilitating pain... Rathbun said. The Wyoming Department of Corrections is not listed in the lawsuit. But last month, the then-agency spokesperson confirmed that the corrections department sides with the professional discretion of YesCare over the inmate in a vast majority of cases. In a prison, health care is similar to other insurance providers in that prescribed medical services may not align with what an individual wants, Martin said. The differences between what a licensed medical provider may prescribe and what an individual would like do not necessarily arise to a violation of a persons civil rights, Martin said. Stephanie Kiger, the current agency spokesperson, declined to comment, as the department was not listed as a co-defendant in the lawsuit. YesCare did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. A grand jury has formally indicted a man accused of shooting a Fremont County man in the head inside of his mobile home in March, federal court filings show. Francis James Acebo, Jr. is charged with first-degree murder for the premeditated killing of Derek Redstar Pappan on the Wind River Indian Reservation on March 25, the indictment states. He is also charged with using a firearm during a violent crime. Last week, Acebo pleaded not guilty to both charges during his arraignment in federal court; he is facing life in prison. During the early hours of the morning, Pappan was inside his single-wide mobile home along with several unidentified people, the complaint states. Pappan and an unidentified woman were in the living room looking for a cell phone charger at about 5:30 a.m. Acebo allegedly entered the mobile home while Pappan was standing over a mattress searching for the charger, the complaint states. He is accused of approaching him from behind and shooting Pappan in the back of his head at close range. Acebo ultimately fled from Pappans mobile home. One of Acebos family members allegedly told another person close to him that Acebo may have shot and killed someone, the complaint states. Acebos jury trial is scheduled to start on June 26. He has been ordered to have no contact with Pappans family or any of the witnesses in the meantime, a court order shows. James Whiting, Acebos attorney, could not be reached for comment Tuesday. THE executive of the Fire Service Associations (1st & 2nd Division) have accepted the Chief Personnel Officers (CPO) four per cent salary. But while they may have accepted the offer, president of the Fire Services Association Leo Ramkissoon said they are not happy to have done so but they felt they had no other choice. It is a musical that has been put off too long, for one reason or the other. But on June 17, veteran theatre practitioner Rhoma Spencer will finally get to show what shes been working on since 2016the workshop production Queen of the Road: The Calypso Rose Musical. 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. The High Court will deliver its decision tomorrow on whether it will grant an injunction preventing Government from substituting the Customs and Excise Division (CED) and the Inland Revenue Division (IRD) with the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority (TTRA). The man who police say shot and killed a cashier at the First Wok restaurant in Newport News in October suffers from depression and low intelligence but is competent to stand trial, according to a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation. Barron Lamont Brown and a suspected accomplice, James Earl Benbow, were scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Tuesday on first-degree murder charges. Browns attorney, Alfred O. Masters, requested a psychiatric evaluation of his client several weeks ago. Prosecutors agreed at that time to delay the hearing. Although the evaluation was completed in time for Tuesdays hearing, Newport News General District Court Judge Joan T. Morris rescheduled the hearing for both men for Feb. 29. Benbows attorney has not requested a psychiatric evaluation for his client. Police believe Brown, 22, and Benbow, 19, entered the First Wok restaurant in the Richneck Shopping Center on the night of Oct. 3. They placed an order with Hong Chen, the 22-year-old cashier and then demanded money at gunpoint, police said. Chen opened the cash register and then restaurant employees heard a gunshot. Struck in the neck, Chen died that night at Mary Immaculate Hospital. A man who later gave Brown and Benbow a ride heard the two cousins arguing about the shooting, according to a police search warrant. Why did you do that? the witness quoted Benbow as saying. He gave us the money. Shut up. You know how I am, Brown answered, according to the unidentified witness. Brown, who was living a few blocks from the restaurant with his aunt, has had little schooling and has never held a job for more than a month, according to his evaluation. He told a clinical psychiatrist that he dropped out of school after the fifth or sixth grade. The psychiatrist, Dr. Dana Blackmer, recommended that Browns attorney speak to him in concrete, simple language devoid of any legal jargon, abstract concepts or multi-step instructions. Brown told Blackmer he had an unhappy childhood marred by abuse from his mothers boyfriend, who beat his mother and him. Since his arrest, Brown has reported nightly crying spells, difficulty sleeping, lack of appetite and feelings of hopelessness. All are signs of depression, but Blackmer said they most likely stem from Browns incarceration and impending trial. Brown also said he has auditory hallucinations, with an uncontrollable male voice telling him to hurt people. Blackmer found Browns assertion to be unlikely, saying most people who suffer from auditory hallucinations hear both male and female voices and can find ways to make the voices less intense. Blackmer concluded that Browns thought processes were logical and rational and that he had no symptoms of thought disorders or psychosis. Chens family, including his wife, who was due to give birth in October, have moved to New Jersey and are staying with relatives there, said Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Matt Danielson. They will be given the opportunity to speak at the February preliminary hearing, he said. Troy Graham can be reached at 247-4741 or by e-mail at tgraham@dailypress.com So, we are here with Part II of the interview with a supposed expert discussing situationships. JP: Last week we ended with the point of mens brains being able to compartmentalise better than womens. Aside from being cultured and nurtured differently, you are saying the physical make-up of the male brain by itself makes men compartmentalise better? A 1,500-square-foot co-op maker space is opening on Tucsons west side this summer thanks to the folks behind The Heathenry and Monsoon Mystics. An area behind curiosity store The Heathenry and mystical shop Monsoon Mystics, located at 657 W. St Marys Road, will be the new home of Heathen Haus a warehouse space that will operate as a collaborative learning space for individuals interested in alternative arts and creative skills honoring nature, according to an Instagram post from The Heathenry. We're definitely going to be doing workshops and classes and lectures and things like that, said Alex Wolfe, co-owner of The Heathenry. We also really want to be hosting events and markets. So we're hoping that this is another space where you're going to see pop-up vendors and pop-up events. We hope to be doing social events, similarly to how we did our gemstone social in March, and we have a tarot social coming up on the 27th of May. So, we like doing these socials where people who share a common interest get together and just literally hang out and talk about it. So that's sort of in the realm of some of the things we have in mind. Currently, the Heathen Haus is hosting a GoFundMe campaign to raise $5,000 to help cover operating costs, furnishings for the space and tools for the workshops, such as dissection kits and processing chemicals. While there isnt an exact opening date for Heathen Haus yet, Wolfe says they plan to start hosting events this summer and expect to have their calendar of events posted by June 1. The spaces first market will be the Queer & Strange: An Odd Pride Market from 5-9 p.m. on June 24. Vendor applications for the market open on May 26. The Heathen Haus also plans to host a benefit party in July. Details for that event will be released on their Instagram at a later date. Our goal is that we hope to have open hours where the public can bring their own projects and use the space and get mentorship, Wolfe said. That's our next step. Aside from just doing workshops and events, we hope that it's a publicly usable space. But for now, we will be able to teach some workshops and classes. For Wolfe, having an educational space has always been one of their dreams (aside from running a curiosity shop, of course). Lo and behold, we get The Heathenry started and we're in this beautiful shop space, we love the location so much, and what do I find out about? Another space in the same location that is perfect for a co-op workshop space, Wolfe said. So I hit the ground running and found that other people wanted to go in on this with me and wanted to make this dream into a reality. And now we're here with starting the process of opening Heathen Haus. Wolfes partner and The Heathenry co-owner, Karolina Olivia, came up with the name for Heathen Haus. (A heathen is) somebody who is going against the typical expectations of what it is to be upright and civilized, Wolfe said. And so we are taking that and we are making a home for these folks. We are making a space where we can all get together and work together, so we are creating a house for the heathens Heathen Haus. We're just really, really excited to have this space to share with the community and to share what we do with the community. So many people want to know how we do this and we want to teach you. For more information about Heathen Haus, check out The Heathenrys Instagram page. Pizza and wings go together like movies and popcorn. But pizza and rotisserie chicken? That would be like going to the movies and ordering a salad! Unless you happen to think like restaurateur Sam Fox. Rotisserie chicken and pizza is the premise of his six-year-old concept Doughbird, which opens its first Tucson location at 2960 N. Campbell Ave. on Wednesday, May 31. The restaurant offers a half or whole rotisserie bird that can be paired with one of 10 signature pizzas, from the classic pepperoni with fresh mozzarella or Margherita to the more inventive sweet potato and Brussels sprout dotted with fontina cheese and herb ricotta; the black truffle mushroom topped with parmesan cream and arugula; or the Copper Hat, topped with goat cheese, prosciutto, salted pistachio and sweet almost caramelly Medjool dates. Doughbird is next door to Foxs other recent entry into his hometown foodiverse, Flower Child, which opened April 4. Tucson is one of only four locations for the fairly new Doughbird concept, which opened its first location in Phoenix in 2017. Initially, Doughbird offered only rotisserie chicken to go along with hand-stretched or Detroit-style pizza. But during the pandemic, Fox tinkered with the menu, introducing chicken tenders largely at the urging of his children, he said during an April phone interview. During lockdown, his kids were always begging him for pizza and chicken tenders, which inspired Fox to create Fly Bye, a restaurant with a simple menu of Detroit-style pizza, wings and tenders, and salad. The first location in Phoenix opened in December 2020 as takeout and delivery only. Two other Phoenix locations opened since fall 2021 offer dine-in. Doughbirds menu appeals to so many people, Fox said. We really have had a lot of fun with Doughbird. The menu goes well beyond pizza and chicken: Pair chicken with classic chicken dinner sides, including mashed potatoes and gravy, mac-and-cheese or cauliflower polenta. Entrees include grilled Chilean salmon, caramelized cauliflower and a chicken bolognese. Sandwiches include a classic cheeseburger and prime rib dip. Fox thought way outside of the box for the appetizers, from his twist of pairing pimento cheese with guacamole and offering Lebanese hummus to the crispy Brussels sprouts served with spicy honey and truffle cheese bread. You can add chicken or grilled salmon to meal-worthy salads from the top-heavy Ingredient 14, that has roasted Brussels sprouts and cauliflower alongside candied pecan, quinoa and other ingredients, to a simple Caesar or an avocado salad topped with glazed bacon and gorgonzola cheese. Doughbird offers lemon meringue pie and peanut butter brookie think brownie meets peanut butter cookie on its dessert menu and an extensive cocktail and beer menu that includes several Tucson brews on tap and by the bottle. Doughbird joins several other Fox-created restaurants in Tucson, including North Italia and Blanco Cocina + Cantina at La Encantada, Zinburger and Culinary Dropout. His flagship restaurant Wildflower on North Oracle Road celebrated its 25th anniversary this spring. I would say that Tucson has played a really important role in the growth of our business, the Tucson native said. Tamale Bill was just a ploy The Tamale Bill, House Bill 2509, would supposedly help families sell homemade food. But it was actually a ploy by the right-wing Americans for prosperity, the Institute for Justice, and the Libre Initiative, which all oppose any regulation of businesses. The Arizona Department of Health Services opposed the bill, as did the Arizona Restaurant Association. Governor Katie Hobbs rightly vetoed the bill, saying it would significantly increase the risk of foodborne illness because it didnt include ways to oversee and inspect these home chefs. Rep. Nancy Gutierrez said, This is a Koch Brothers bill, so as much as they say it was for the Tamale ladies, it was not. It was for deregulation. So thats the truth of that. The right-wing fronts shamelessly used tamale cartoons and Latinas selling tamales to perpetrate their subterfuge. But the stink of the radical right always exposes them. Larry Bodine Foothills George Santos vs. Hunter Biden N.Y. Rep. George Santos was arrested after being indicted on several federal charges, including money laundering and wire fraud involving campaign money. Santos is a Republican and flipped a historically Democrat Congressional seat in N.Y. He has only been a Congressman since January. This FBI investigation and indictment was done at breakneck speed. Compare it to the FBI/USDOJs four-year investigation of Hunter Biden. The supervisory FBI agent overseeing the case was removed from it due to alleged partisan politics. A whistleblower IRS agent has claimed that there is political interference in the investigation. Congressman James Comer of Kentucky just detailed 170 Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) filed by banks involving $10 million in wire transfers from foreign persons to numerous shell LLCs operated by Biden family members. A former federal prosecutor reported to the USDOJ in 2018 about then VP Joe Biden allegedly having received bribery money for a foreign policy decision made on Ukraine. Why is equal justice not being applied to the Biden familys foreign influence peddling? Gary Blanchard Green Valley Stand-your-ground gun laws Ive had two occasions wherein a person with a gun reached for their hip. Once, I walked over from my gas pump towards a man to ask him directions. Another time I rounded a corner at the same time a man was coming around the corner towards me. Both men made a reach for their guns! Now we have stand-your-ground laws. The man who shot a young boy who accidentally came to his door said he shot because he was afraid. Being afraid is not enough. You have to see a weapon or be attacked. All these men had guns, and yet they were afraid. The more we allow guns out on the streets, the more cowards with guns will kill innocent people. Burl Dunn Downtown The US is a secular nation Despite the claims of Christian Nationalists, the United States was established as a secular nation, not a Christian one. The basis of the US government is based on the US Constitution, NOT the Bible. Many of the framers of the Constitution were Deists, not Christians; they believed in God but not in Jesus. The framers deliberately left any mention of God out of the Constitution. Religious diversity is one of the strengths of the United States. Much of the Constitution is based on the structure of the Iroquois League; Benjamin Franklin was very familiar with the Iroquois League. The idea of individual personal freedom is indigenous to North America, where Native Americans have practiced it for many centuries, and probably for millennia. Flora Frederick Midtown Double up Kevin McCarthy has declared war on the national debt. His only proposed weapon is to reduce spending, including rightfully deserved benefits earned by veterans and Medicare participants. Why is he ignoring increasing the governments income? Specifically, he should offer to eradicate the largesse granted to billionaires and corporations by Trumps tax cuts. Demanding that President Joe Biden accedes to all his demands without offering anything in return is imperious. If he wants his agenda to be taken seriously, he should start by offering something upfront to commence the negotiations. Rick Cohn West side Disability employment While browsing through a large organizations supplier diversity portal, I saw that they value diversity and inclusion in the supply chain, which not only helps them meet their business objectives, but also the desire to grow jobs and stimulate the local community. This organization along with the majority of private sector companies focus on other marginalized communities and typically leave out enterprise nonprofit organizations employing people with disabilities. The enterprise nonprofits provide quality products and value-added services that meet todays complex business environment while employing those who are typically left on the sidelines people who are blind or have significant disabilities. According to the BLS, the workforce participation rate in the U.S. for Americans with disabilities is about 21%, compared to 62.6% for non-disabled. If your organization wants to grow jobs and boost your local economy, put Disability in your DEI&A equation. David Steinmetz Northwest side Sensible way to fix the debt Were looking at the national debt wrong. When spending is high (wars, pandemic), you raise taxes! If you want pride in your country and to not hurt people, tax the wealthy corporations! After WWII? Earn $5,000, pay nearly one-quarter of it in taxes, top earners 90%. Under Reagan, the rich paid 70% tax rate, and corporations 46%. When he lowered rates, debt increased. Bush and Trump tax cuts cost $10 trillion in debt, and there was a 57% increase. Bidens plan cuts nearly 3 trillion, and ethically, a word Republicans with program cuts, including Rep. Ciscomani. Biden would increase corporate taxes from 21 to 28%. Foreign earning of multinationals from 15-21%. Top earners from 37-39.6%, plus other details, including plugging tax loopholes. Also, hed lower certain tax programs for us plebeians. Remember, facts show ad nauseam that trickle-down econ fails. It increases gaps between the rich and the poor. We, the majority, deserve a fair shake, not cuts in programs. Research yourself. Speak out! Nancy Jacques Northeast side Turner memory The local angle of the Tina Turner article in todays paper missed the time that Tina was in Tucson on July 14, 1984, at TCC Music Hall, as the opening act for Lionel Richie. I was at the concert with a group of friends, and the concert roadies invited us to the after-concert party at the Arizona Inn. It was a very laid-back evening around the pool, with Lionel and Tina very friendly and relaxed after putting on a really great show. This was just after Tinas Private Dancer comeback album was released on May 29, 1984. She will always be a superstar for the ages and an inspiration for dreams coming true. Deb Childers Northwest side Idealism requires realism Re: the May 25 article Mineral mining reform is critical. Carran hits it on the nose. Climate change is urgent and requires we all show up with solutions. Permitting new mines should not mean environmental destruction, but it wont come for free. We cant stabilize the climate without the materials and grid infrastructure needed to deliver and store energy from carbon-free sources of electricity. The recent SunZia transmission line approval is an example of necessary progress toward this end. Environmentalist Bill McKibben reminds us that We dont live only in our backyard; we also share one our planet. He says that idealism requires realism, and emergencies demand urgency. Climate change represents a huge economic opportunity and a chance to rid ourselves of the incredibly toxic, costly, and unjust legacy of fossil fuels. Solving the problem will involve compromising and our willingness to act quickly to avoid the worst. Congress hear Carrans words. Act. Edward Beshore North side Permitting reform for mining Re: the May 25 article Mineral mining reform is critical. While I understand the authors argument for permitting reform, the greater urgency is for reform (repeal?) of the 1872 mining law that allows for the exploitation of public resources by foreign companies. Let me suggest that any reform of the permitting process be done in conjunction with a complete overhaul of the 1872 mining law. John McLean Northeast side Not my fault Back in January, Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) might have appeared to be the obvious choice to become Speaker of the House of Representatives. He had coveted this position for years, and now he would finally grab the gavel. But not all members of his slim majority were convinced he should be their leader. So began a game of give and take, resulting in promises to individuals and groups within the fractured caucus in exchange for votes for Kevin for Speaker. After 15 ballots, he gained his prize and then came the critical issue of raising the debt ceiling. With conflicting demands coming from his troops, McCarthy asked select members to lead negotiations which, as I write, continue to be bogged down. And now Kevin, Speaker of the House and supposedly commander of his caucus, stands tall and tells all the world: Not my fault. Id venture to predict Kevin will be just plain Representative McCarthy before July 4. Frank Bergen North side Jan. 6 payback I just read that the Oath Keepers leader got 18 big, long years of jail time! I can never figure out what oath these folk think they are keeping. I also cant figure out what the Proud Boys are so proud about? Sue Thompson SaddleBrooke Why is 14th Amendment being discussed? Why is the President considering the 14th Amendment in context with the current debt ceiling? Section 4 of the 14th Amendment states: The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. In Perry v. United States, the Supreme Court held that the public debt clause in Section 4 applied: By virtue of the power to borrow money on the credit of the United States, Congress is authorized to pledge that credit as assurance of payment as stipulated as the highest assurance the Government can give, its plighted faith. To say that Congress may withdraw or ignore that pledge, is to assume that the Constitution contemplates a vain promise, a pledge having no other sanction than the pleasure and convenience of the pledgor. Therefore, there is reason to say that constitutional section means we must pay the debt, regardless of the GOPs refusal to do so. John Roldan Southwest side Will got it wrong Re: the May 25 article The American middle is finding its voice on abortion. An opinion piece by George Will contained the following statement. A life that is human begins at conception. This is a tenet not of abstruse theology but of elementary biology. This is not true. In fact, I will go so far as to say its a lie. Biology says nothing at all about when things begin. It is true that many Biologists will say that human life begins at conception, but they are guided in their thinking by their own beliefs. Picking a starting point for human life is a political and religious choice. Incorporating that choice into law is a violation of the First Amendment. Steven Brown Midtown The fiscally irresponsible GOP Republicans are not fiscal conservatives. Holding the Debt Ceiling hostage while demanding cuts in spending is purely political theater and hypocrisy. In December 2017, Republicans passed tax cuts (reducing revenue) yet increased spending from $3.92 trillion (Obamas FY2017 budget) to $4.11 trillion. Even before COVID set in, Republicans had increased discretionary spending from $1.2 trillion to $1.6 trillion and the budget deficit by more than $300 billion. Such fiscal malfeasance has become a characteristic of Republicans: in 2001 and 2003, they cut taxes and increased spending and turned Clintons budget surplus into a deficit. Championing a war in Iraq, Republicans managed to double the national debt from $5.8 trillion to $11.9 trillion in eight short years. Do we really want Republicans threatening the full faith and credit of the United States Treasury when they have proven themselves so fiscally irresponsible? John Prugh Foothills The new barbarians The core of the Republican Party has become the party of change and chains. Like the barbarians of old, they have emerged from someplace unhealthy to cause this national sickness. They say Freedom but mean Destruction. It is the crafty who lead the charge, using the unthinking as their soldiers of misfortune. We shall long remember that it was the mobs who, with the help of the Christian right and smarmy politicians made us into a feeble, fear-filled nation. Ron Lancaster The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: The window of opportunity to protect Tucsons residential and commercial renters from displacement is closing. Before returning to my roots in this region, I lived 18 years in Portland, Oregon, during a period of transformative urban development. Tucson is booming. In 2005, Portland was at a similar stage of growth, abuzz with creative activity. By 2010, significant displacement throughout Portland had occurred. By 2015, no-fault eviction and rent gouging were rampant across Portlands property markets. In 2017, Portland City Council unanimously passed an emergency ordinance requiring many landlords to pay moving costs for tenants evicted without cause, or forced to move by rent increases of 10% or more within a 12-month period. The ordinance still stands. For qualifying cases, it requires payments of between $2,900 and $4,500. Landlords with only one rental unit are exempted from the rule. This groundbreaking ordinance is an effective deterrent to no-fault eviction and rent gouging; but for countless long-established residents, creatives, and small business people who defined Portlands appeal, it was too little, too late. Vast numbers of renters were already driven from their homes, and the ordinance didnt protect commercial renters at all. By 2018, it was not unusual for a small business owner with an excellent rental record to receive 30 days notice that the cost of their rent would be as much as tripled. With nowhere to relocate stock or equipment, such a notice is a liquidation sentence. The massive influx of corporate chains, luxury commerce, and international property investors irrevocably transformed Portlands character. Once abundant warehouse workshops, family-run markets, and community gathering places became few and far between. Houseless encampments rapidly increased at the margins of a decadent volume of choices for affluent diversion. Density is a critical component of sustainable urban development. It can be fostered to provide a diversity of goods, services, and gathering places to a wide demographic of people in thriving neighborhoods; or it can be permitted to run amok in an untempered redistribution of wealth and property. I recently visited an event hosted by a nonprofit partnered with the City of Tucson and national organizations, which is committed to supporting growth of entrepreneurs that fuel the future of Tucson. I attended this event to ask does Tucson have any strategies in place to offset commercial gentrification? Unfortunately, the organizer I spoke with had no answer, and suggested that broaching the issue of small business preparedness for commercial gentrification is a political matter which does not fit within their educational model. That begs another question which should never be an answer unto itself why would cities boost the proliferation of small businesses without policy in place to protect them once their work has opened the door of cultural capital for sweeping development? I posted these questions publicly, and a representative for the City of Tucson assured me that displacement is something city planners and city council care about, but that Arizona law preempts cities from regulating rents in any way. Yet, there are solutions beyond rent-control, such as a relocation assistance ordinance inclusive of commercial leases by small business people, even if a less ambitious threshold than 10 percent annual rent increase is needed to make it a reality. Other policies can provide more robust support for additional cooperative workshop communities in our metro region, as well as incentivize property ownership by small businesses along medium-density, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly streets; with concessions for parking requirements or other regulatory barriers. I see Tucson organizations pointing to Portlands successes in their mission to build upon the assets that make our city unique without also reflecting on that citys terrible failures. Tucson can and should grow, but with authoritative stewardship of its distinctive character, before its too late to set ground rules that will make any difference. I love the pace of Tucsons summers, their lack of traffic and urgency. The inherent bond that emerges between everyone who remains here after the heatwave begins: we love this place, are tied to this place, enough to stay. But opening a restaurant in Tucsons springtime can be a daunting prospect. Our slow summer has already started and will only get sleepier for months. This year, though, restaurant openings have been pushed back by dilemmas in supply chains, paperwork and construction deadlines: restaurants must open as soon as theyre ready. Despite these obstacles, Tucson is lucky enough to be getting a few kinds of food that we haven't seen before: Bolivian street food, Moroccan-inspired sandwiches and Ethiopian mead called tej have all arrived in Tucson this season. Here are the brave bunch of 15 that have opened in the last few months: Adis Adis Refresqueria started as an Instagram page, where owner Adilene Castro would cater events with her aguas frescas and custom candy mixes. Now, the refresqueria has evolved into a vendor at American Eat Co. selling antojitos like churros and paletas in addition to her classic menu. Location: American Eat Co., 1439 S. Fourth Ave. For more information, read our story or follow her on Instagram. Better Bevs This drink shop combines techniques of boba tea shops with Mexican flavors and aguas frescas: chamoy mango shave ice, pina colada snow, cucumber lemonade with spicy chile popping boba. Find creative snows, shaved ice, slushes, milk tea and boba here. Location: 210 N. Fourth Ave. For more information, follow them on Instagram. Brille Mead Company Brille specializes in tej, the style of mead traditionally brewed in owner David Woods' home country of Ethiopia. Based out of Dillinger Brewing Company, Brille currently offers two meads on tap. Location: Dillinger Brewing Company, 3895 N. Oracle Road For more information, read our story or follow them on Instagram. Chick-in Waffle This chicken-and-waffle spot was founded in Kansas City and their Tucson location was their third location overall and their first franchise to open outside of Missouri. Their menu features bubble waffles and bone-in and boneless chicken and tenders dipped in a choice of 10 sauces, including maple and Nashville hot. Location: 5524 E. Grant Road For more information, check out their website. The Coop Cowpigs first brick-and-mortar location is this vendor spot in American Eat Co., peddling strictly fried chicken. Find sandwiches, loaded fries, tendies and even chicken and waffles here. Location: American Eat Co., 1439 S. Fourth Ave. For more information, read our story or follow them on Instagram. Doughbird This rotisserie chicken and pizza restaurant is part of Fox Restaurant Concepts, a major player in the industry that got its start in Tucson. Though the first Doughbird locations were in the Phoenix metro, theyve come home to a midtown location opening May 31. Location: 2960 N. Campbell Ave. For more information, check out their website. Flower Child Another Sam Fox concept, Flower Child is the kind of restaurant that you can find at a fancy mall in Denver, in Washington, D.C. walking distance from the White House, and now in Tucson. They serve avocado toast, salads and grain bowls. Location: 2960 N. Campbell Ave. For more information, check out their website. La Merguez Named after a Moroccan lamb sausage, this late-night sandwich cart is posted up at Ches Lounge some weekends. Their menu is centered around Moroccan-style sandwiches filled with merguez sausage, chicken, halloumi or a vegan option with grilled veggies. Their sandwiches' Khboz (bread) has been custom-baked by local baker Holy Focaccia. For dessert, they have a pastry called Briwat, made out of puff pastry; delicate, slightly sweet cheese and honey. Location: Ches Lounge, 350 N. Fourth Ave. Register for more free articles. Log in Sign up For more information, follow them on Instagram or read our story. Miss Dessert Find Hong Kong-style desserts here, like boba and snows topped with flavored jellies, sticky rice, fruit and ice cream. Miss Dessert is a small chain born in Phoenix. Location: 1800 E. Fort Lowell Road For more information, read our story or check out their website. Oralia Coffee This petite, industrial-chic cafe offers espresso drinks and pastries, including gluten-free options, close to downtown. Location: 501 N. Sixth Ave. For more information, follow them on Instagram. Pasta La Vista This midtown pasta shop advertises itself as to-go, but they do have a dining room. Their menu rotates around a few mediums: pasta, pizza and subs. Each is customizable, and you can also order sides like salads and Italian desserts. Location: 2425 N. Tucson Blvd. For more information, check out their website. Pin + Flour The Eddy Hotel is a new Hilton hotel in the Foothills, and Pin + Flour is its restaurant. Their brunch menu features its cocktails and wine options in as much space as its food options (which include classics like pancakes, French toast, omelettes and benedicts). Its dinner menu is classic American with a few Sonoran touches. Location: The Eddy Hotel, 4626 N. Campbell Ave. For more information, follow them on Instagram. Purple Tree Organic Acai Tucson mourned Andre Newman when he died in 2020. The popular acai food truck he began has returned with new owners, who were close friends of his. Their organic acai bowls can be found across town in this mobile operation. For more information, including updates on their location, follow them on Instagram or Facebook. Screwbean Brewing Screwbean uses brewing as a double entendre on this Pie Allen patio, you can find freshly-made coffee and in-house brewed beer on tap in stylish adobe quarters. Location: 103 N. Park Ave. For more information, follow them on Instagram. Sumaj Bolivian Street Food Bolivia is so proud of its cuisine that McDonald's couldnt take root in Alexandra Gutierrezs hometown. Alexandra celebrates that cuisine with her baked and fried empanadas, made with her family recipe. Location: 403 N. Sixth Ave. For more information, read our story or follow them on Instagram. On the horizon: Cabali Tiki drinks are loved for their beachy vibes and elaborate recipes. Cabali, owned by the man behind Finis Landing, will bring tiki and an enormous collection of festive mugs to Oro Valley, at 8195 N. Oracle Road. Tiki drinks are loved for their beachy vibes and elaborate recipes. Cabali, owned by the man behind Finis Landing, will bring tiki and an enormous collection of festive mugs to Oro Valley, at 8195 N. Oracle Road. Dos Borderlands Brewing and Bocas chef Maria Mazon are continuing their collaboration, after a successful launch of a Sam Hughes location. Dos brings Marias culinary chops to the Foothills at 5605 E. River Road. Borderlands Brewing and Bocas chef Maria Mazon are continuing their collaboration, after a successful launch of a Sam Hughes location. Dos brings Marias culinary chops to the Foothills at 5605 E. River Road. Platform 18 and Grey Hen Platform 18 is a basement bar where window-sized screens fill the walls with videos mimicking a train ride. Its accompanying bar, Grey Hen, will replicate a New Orleans patio indoors. Both concepts come to downtown, 58 W. Congress St., from Phoenix. and Platform 18 is a basement bar where window-sized screens fill the walls with videos mimicking a train ride. Its accompanying bar, Grey Hen, will replicate a New Orleans patio indoors. Both concepts come to downtown, 58 W. Congress St., from Phoenix. The Jewel Cafe This future breakfast-and-lunch spot at 431 N. Fourth Ave. has recently found a designer for their space and is set to open by the end of summer. Our Eat + Drink coverage is supported by: Great food and drinks start with great water Restaurants, breweries and coffee shops know that clean, pure water is crucial. You can get that at home too with Kinetico Quality Water. Kinetico removes more contaminants than any other system. Get up to $500 off a non-electric, high efficiency patented Kinetico system (restrictions apply). Visit KineticoTucson.com. What does "supported by" mean? Click here to learn more. The threat of a looming recession is never positive news. It often comes with panic, fears of financial hardship and uncertainty surrounding the future. If you are in a leadership or management position, you are tasked with finding a way to stay positive when a recession potentially hits. If you catch yourself struggling to find ways to keep spirits up when profits are down, here are some tips to stay positive during a recession. How to communicate with employees Communicating with your employees during a recession can be tricky. You need to find a way to give your team a clear picture of whats happening without fostering negativity. As a leader, it is your job to find that balance. Not communicating with your employees will lead to the death of productivity. This is especially true during a recession. A well-informed employee is a productive employee, says Matt Masiello, chief marketing officer of BabyBuddha. While its your job to lead your team through these trying times, you also need to be realistic. Dont paint a sunny picture of the future if you know it wont come to fruition. Your staff will only end up resenting you for it. Instead, use the following methods to communicate with your team when profits are down. Communicate constantly You never want to leave your employees in the dark about the company's future, especially during a recession. Constant communication is the key to sustaining a productive work environment when things become uncertain. Too much information is always better than too little. You have to trust the people you hired with any and all information. If you dont trust them, how can you expect them to trust you? asks Erin Banta, co-founder and CEO of Pepper Home. Communicate with your employees every step of the way, and dont slow down. Every development should be shared as it occurs. This will help employees feel less anxious during times of uncertainty. Be transparent Leaders often underestimate the importance of employee insight into their companies' inner workings. When your employees know what you know, it becomes easier for them to understand your decision-making process. This will leave you with a group of people who respect you more and are willing to work harder to meet your goals. Dont handle your employees with kid gloves. Not only is this insulting, but it can lead to your employees feeling resentful and distrustful, both of which are bad for business, cautions Brianna Bitton, co-founder of O Positiv. Constant communication is great, but without transparency, it means nothing. You need to keep it real with your staff. Be honest about where your company stands and the potential of layoffs, if any. Hear their concerns and be empathetic If you havent already, consider instituting an open-door policy during hard financial times. Allow your employees to come and have conversations with you to help ease anxieties about layoffs or hour reductions. When employees come to you with concerns, be empathetic to them. Employees who believe that management is concerned about them as a whole personnot just an employeeare more productive, more satisfied and more fulfilled. Satisfied employees mean satisfied customers, which leads to profitability, says Anne M. Mulcahy, former CEO of Xerox. Remember, when employees come to you with concerns, they are worried about their own security. These concerns are far beyond the bounds of your company. They include fears about paying their bills, feeding their families and losing their health insurance. Treat their concerns with the level of seriousness that they deserve. Dont spread negativity It can be hard for managers and leaders not to have fears of their own during a recession. This is totally normal. The trick is not to bring that negativity to your team. When you become a leader, you have to put your team's success over your individual success. When done right, these two will be one and the same, explains Marcus Hutsen, business development manager at Patriot Coolers. Youll need to find a way to balance positivity while still being transparent with your team. Dont sugarcoat things, but also avoid any doom and gloom. While this may be easier said than done, that balance will make you a great leader. Get feedback from frontline employees Take the time to get feedback from your frontline employees. These employees have invaluable insight that may be crucial to getting you through a time of decreased profits. Set up weekly meetings with your frontline team to open up the discussion. As a manager, dont make the mistake of thinking that you have the greatest insight. Some people work closer to not only your product but to your clients. Lean on them for information when you see fit, advises Dan Potter, head of digital at CRAFTD. While you have unique insight into each aspect of the company as a leader, your employees work directly with clients, products and company data. They have more detailed insight into these areas than you do. Try and utilize to your advantage this as much as possible. Dont stop recruiting It can be tempting to halt hiring altogether when profits dip, but a hiring freeze can have long-lasting effects on your company. While this is sometimes unavoidable, you should weigh the effects that not maintaining a high-performing workforce will have in the long run. Many of todays top leaders believe cultivating a strong workforce should continue during economic hardship. Talent is the No. 1 priority for a CEO. You think its about vision and strategy, but you have to get the right people first, says Andrea Jung, CEO of Grameen America. If you stopped hiring completely, there is a good chance that you could miss out on top talent. With the addition of top talent comes new solution-finding opportunities. These opportunities may just help to move you past the challenges that you are currently facing. Continue to invest in your employees Another thing that is easy to cut down on during a recession is employee training. However, youll want to continue to invest in your employees during these times. Not only will this lead to staff loyalty and commitment, but it will also instill confidence in them. Invest in your staff as much as possible and share opportunities for growth as they come. If you dont, your best talent will find those opportunities elsewhere, warns Alia Bedi, general manager of L'Evate You. Its important not to hold back on opportunities for employee growth. Well-deserved promotions should continue to occur when profits are down. If you halt growth opportunities, you could lose your top talent. Keep marketing Another area that companies are all too willing to cut back on is marketing. Although marketing can seem like an expendable expense, it is quite the opposite. Marketing is responsible for growing your customer base and increasing your reach as a brand. Never underestimate the power of marketing. Marketing is what will help to drive you forward and grow your brand. The second you stop marketing is the second you stop growing, explains Soji James, lead expert certified personal trainer at 1AND1. Keep marketing yourself to the public when times get tough. You never want to stop seeking out new consumers. This can only hurt you during a time when you are already hurting financially. Continue to adapt If you want to survive a recession, you have to adapt. When the pandemic first hit, we saw how adaptable businesses really are. Event companies started renting tents to pop-up testing sites, clothing companies started making masks, and anyone who had the ability to create hand sanitizer was doing it. Adaptability is one of the most important qualities a company can have. All markets go through shifts and changes. Can you keep up? asks Derek Flanzraich, founder and CEO of Ness. Your willingness to adapt to the current economy will determine your ability to succeed. Try to diversify revenue channels, adjust growth expectations and mitigate financial risks to the best of your ability. If the only choice is to sink or swim, youll want to learn how to swim. Be discerning with sales leads One mistake many leaders make during a recession is to pursue all sales leads, no matter the cost. This is not a smart way to operate when funds are limited. Dont waste resources on leads that you dont believe in. If you have the resources to throw everything at the wall to see what sticks, go for it. But if you dont, its one of the worst things you can do for your business, cautions Ryan Rottman, co-founder and CEO of OSDB. You should have a clear process and procedure for identifying prospective leads. This will allow your team to decide better which leads to spend time on and which to leave behind. You can also take this time to improve your process during the current crisis. Keeping spirits high Recessions are hard on everyone. They bring times of uncertainty, financial hardship and anxiety about the future. When everything feels bleak, your job as a leader is to work against that, even while fighting feelings of negativity yourself. All industries have an ebb and flow, but none are immune to an almighty recession. The good news is that if you can find a way to make it to the other side, youll be foolproof, says Max Ade, CEO of Pickleheads. Utilize some of these methods to help keep spirits high during economic uncertainty and dont forget to take care of yourself. Managers and leaders arent immune to the hardships of tough financial times. Lee Enterprises newsroom and editorial were not involved in the creation of this content. The Bailey Educational Foundation recently announced its 2023 scholarship program recipients. BEF, a non-profit organization founded in Jan. 2007, serves citizens of Owasso and surrounding communities through various activities and events focused on education and family. As part of its many efforts, the group started its annual scholarship program in 2015 with up to $5,000 set aside for each medical professional to help them achieve their dreams. For 2023, BEF allocated $20,000 to 14 students. Since its inception, the organization has allocated $154,500 to 112 students. Owasso High School Andrew Wilburn: Graduated from Owasso HS & University of Oklahoma, currently attending OU-TU School of Community Medicine Caleb Smith: Graduated from both Owasso HS and Oklahoma State University, currently attending Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Gwen Tayman: Owasso HS graduate, currently attending The University of Tulsa Jenna Holderman: Owasso HS graduate, currently attending The University of Arkansas Lauren St. John: Owasso HS graduate, currently attending The University of Oklahoma Ronan Locker: Owasso HS graduate, currently attending Stanford University Rejoice Christian School Bryce Sanchez: Graduated Rejoice Christian School and Rogers State University, will be attending Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in the fall Emma Cook: Graduated Rejoice Christian School & Tulsa Community College, attending Oklahoma State University in the fall Emma England: Graduated Rejoice Christian School, currently attending Oklahoma State University Claremore High School Emily Rogers: Claremore HS graduate, will be attending Oklahoma State University in the fall Jenna Smalygo: Claremore HS graduate, will be attending The University of Arkansas in the fall Jenks High School Chantal Le: Jenks HS graduate, currently attending Stanford University Oologah-Talala High School Chelsea Leonard: Oologah HS & RSU graduate, currently attending NSUOK College of Optometry Kensington Walker: Oologah HS graduate, will be attending The University of Central Oklahoma in the fall People with parking and traffic citations are getting a break from late fees next month as part of the Tulsa Municipal Courts annual amnesty sessions. People can pay the fines for their moving violations, which include speeding and improper parking violations, without additional late fees during the June 3 and June 10 amnesty sessions, according to a press release from the city. Last year, 1,635 cases were impacted by the amnesty program, Tulsas Municipal Court Administrator Cheri Harvell said. The effort is part of the Resilient Tulsa Strategy, a plan focused on confronting historic discrimination and inequality, according to the strategys website. Harvell said the sessions will save people money. I think that well save time through this amnesty event because we are making the judges and the staff available just specifically for those individuals coming to the amnesty event, Harvell said. So we wont be trying to hold regular court proceedings at the same time which fills up the court house and creates delays. Sessions will be available on the second floor of the Municipal Court starting at 8 a.m. If people are unable to pay their fines they can request to see a judge and arrange a payment plan. Krystal Reyes, chief resilience officer for the City of Tulsa, said the amnesty sessions help people learn about payment plans. You can actually go every day to figure out a payment plan, but the amnesty will help ease that burden, Reyes said. I know that when someone gets on a payment plan that theres more likelihood that they will actually be able to pay that off and address those outstanding tickets. Amnesty sessions will also be available for parking citations from June 5 to June 16, according to the press release. Drivers can pay parking fines by going to the Tulsa Municipal Court from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or Tulsa City Hall from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., on weekdays. The amnesty sessions have been available for several years. The strategys efforts are focused on mitigating the impact of justice involvement on peoples lives, Reyes said. If you have your license suspended its a snowball effect on your ability to go to work or get another ticket if youre caught driving without your license, Reyes said. Helping to mitigate that is part of our resilience strategy. Reyes said she hopes the actions of the municipal court and other services like the Financial Empowerment Center, a free financial counseling service that can be reached at 918-802-7279, will help people become financially stable. Spanish translation services will be available during the amnesty sessions, Harvell said. Additionally, no one will be arrested during the sessions. During the pandemic, people could have warrants recalled and see a judge with few late penalties, but now that there are fewer COVID-19 restrictions, the court is expecting people to attend court dates, Harvell said. But allowing these fines and fees to be waived allows citizens to save a little bit of money, to get them taken care of and hopefully gives them a little bit of incentive to come in and do that, Harvell said. <&rule> The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. South Africa: Former N Cape MEC in court for R51m tender fraud Former Northern Cape Transport, Roads and Public Works MEC, John Block, will today make a brief appearance in the Upington Magistrates Court in connection with a R51 million tender fraud charge related to the construction of a mental health hospital. It is alleged that in 2003, Babereki Consulting Engineers CC was fraudulently awarded a tender as a structural civil engineer and project manager within the mental health hospital construction project. During his tenure as political head, Block and former Head of Department, Patience Mercia Mokhali, appointed Babereki Consulting Engineers CC through their director, Tshegolekae Motaung, even though the company did not meet the necessary requirements. The actual contract amounted to approximately R51 million. The Acting Provincial Head of the Hawks in the Northern Cape, Brigadier Prince Mashimbye, welcomed the arrest, saying that they will root out criminality "irrespective of when it happened in order for justice to prevail". Block is incarcerated at the Upington Correctional Services centre. He was convicted of fraud, corruption and money laundering in 2015 and sentenced to a 15-year jail term. He, however, only started serving time in 2018 after multiple unsuccessful appeals in the superior courts, including the Constitutional Court. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-05-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Flexible work schedules help mothers strike balance between work and family life People's Daily Online) 09:38, May 30, 2023 A number of enterprises in south China's Guangdong Province have taken the lead in offering flexible work arrangements for female employees with children, allowing them to earn while taking care of their kids. The province has recently drafted a document on providing more flexible job opportunities for working-age women who have children under 12, in an attempt to help them strike a balance between work and caring for children. The document made it clear that women working under this model are not allowed to do heavy manual labor or hazardous work. A female worker sews clothes at a clothing factory in Zhongshan city, south China's Guangdong Province. (People's Daily/Hong Qiuting) In Foshan city, over 250 enterprises in different sectors, such as e-commerce, trade, manufacturing and household services, have adopted this practice, benefiting over 3,200 working mothers. 36-year-old Wu Juanli from northwest China's Shaanxi Province runs a store with her husband in Foshan. Since the beginning of this year, the couple has faced mounting financial pressure due to poor business, which prompted Wu to find a job. She learnt that Foshan Hongyuan E-commerce Co., Ltd. offered flexible work arrangements to mothers, and, after passing the interview and training courses, she started working as a customer service representative this May, working four hours a day. Wu works in the morning, then manages her store and picks up her child from school in the afternoon. This really helps me a lot," said Wu with gratitude. In April 2023, Foshan Hongyuan E-commerce Co., Ltd. launched flexible work schedules in customer service and sales in livestreaming sessions for working mothers, who must work for four and two consecutive hours respectively per day. The company mainly sells bathroom products, and its target consumers are mostly people who have started families. The employees are about the same age as their potential clients, and can therefore better understand consumers' needs, said Zhang Mei, director of the livestream selling business of the company. Zhang added that most mothers working under this model show a greater sense of belonging and loyalty. Most of them cherish this work opportunity and have a more positive work attitude. "Launching this flexible model for mothers is a good choice for the companys long-term development," said Zhang. Today, there are over 30 employees working under this model, and about five of them perform better than some full-time workers, and are expected to work full-time in the future. Similarly, Zou Yuefeng based in Qingyuan city used to take care of her two children and elderly family members at home, before she was offered a job by TIME Aluminum. The 45-year-old now carries out tasks related to packaging. From the perspective of Lei Xiaohong, the companys deputy general manager, this approach does not increase the burden for enterprises, but brings win-win results. "Quite a few employers see this practice as some kind of sacrifice, and worry that it means higher costs for the company. Our company weighed up its pros and cons before implementing this measure," said Lei. "But so far, those who work under this model have shown a greater sense of belonging and loyalty, and even have higher work efficiency. So at the end of the day, it is the company that benefits from it," Lei added, who also revealed that the company will continue to offer more posts under this model in the future. Qingyuan city has ramped up efforts to expand this working model. "Since the inception of this new model, the Women's Federation of Yuantan township in the city has had extensive contact with women who had difficulty finding jobs. We also visited enterprises to learn about their demands. Then with the help of some favorable policies, we established a service platform for free to allow interaction between both sides," said Zeng Lijuan, vice president of the federation. Zeng went on to explain that a number of enterprises and mothers have contacted her for more details. Furthermore, a WeChat mini program named "Posts for Mothers of Qingyuan" went online on May 15. More than 110 enterprises and individual businesses in sectors including agriculture, textile, garment industry, manufacturing, housekeeping, e-commerce livestreaming, tourism, hotel and handicraft published 598 job openings on it. Zeng is confident that the WeChat mini program will attract more enterprises and jobseekers. In Zhongshan city, over 160 companies have joined this trend, offering more than 4,000 positions, and the number is still expanding. In an audio and sound equipment factory in Gangkou township, there are 236 such workers, accounting for about one third of the total staff on the production line. Huang Chunhua, 29, for example, mainly attaches tags to products at the factory, earning a monthly income of about 4,000 yuan (about $565.61). Xie Xiaoling, who also works under this model in Zhongshan, said, "I'm very satisfied with my job, as it allows me to realize my self-worth, gain professional skills, and have enough time to take care of my children." Different parts of the country have also taken similar steps. Some pharmaceutical factories in Xiajiang county, east China's Jiangxi Province inaugurated a production line specifically for female employees with children. Clothing enterprises in Chongren county in Jiangxi set up sewing workshops to provide job opportunities for working mothers. To better conform to the trend of flexible work, more employment services, including employment guidance and recommendation, should be provided, suggested Luo Mingzhong, a professor at the College of Economics and Management of South China Agricultural University in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Junes warm ocean waters lure cobia and king mackerel to Jennettes Pier. Pin-rig, live-bait anglers spend long days waiting for the bite while sight casters try to pick one off quickly. The Fritz Boyden Memorial Annual Youth Tournament happens on June 14. Children love this free event sponsored by the Nags Head Surf Fishing Club. Winners are awarded trophies and fishing poles for the longest fish of around 10 species. Dozens of door prizes are given out during the free luncheon in Oceanview Hall. The Fritz Boyden Memorial Annual Youth Tournament is coming to Jennettes Pier in Nags Head on June 14. Another fun event happens the next morning when OBX Running Company holds its first of three 5K beach runs with 8 a.m. starts. The others are July 13 and Aug. 10. Tuesday this summer, instructor Amy Klauser leads free yoga sessions at 7:30 a.m. thanks to Outer Banks Health. Bring a large towel and water. Surfing for Autism hits the beach Saturday, July 15. Volunteers help make this a special wave day for everyone as surf stoke prevails. The best skimmers get radical during this years OBX Skim Jam July 22-23 at Jennettes Pier in Nags Head. Come watch the best skimmers get radical during this years OBX Skim Jam July 22-23. Summer peaks Labor Day week with the WRV OBX Pro surf contest Aug. 30 to Sept. 3. Watch some of the best professional surfers compete for prize money and bragging rights. Be there. Aloha! The yogurt parfaits and hot meals are back this summer in Owassos cafeterias. After three years of grab-and-go service due to COVID-19, Owasso Public Schools and all Tulsa-area sites participating in the Summer Feeding Program are once again offering sit-down meals for children. That means being able once again to serve lunchroom favorites that did not necessarily travel well or taste quite as good when served cold. Its not going to be a sack lunch. Its going to be a hamburger or a cheeseburger or pizza or chicken nuggets their favorites, Owasso Public Schools Child Nutrition Director Janna Ragland said. We tend to stick with what we know they like because its whats going to help draw them in. The Summer Feeding Program is under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees school nutrition programs nationally. Under the Summer Feeding Program, schools and other organizations such as tribes, churches and food banks can offer free breakfasts and lunches to children in areas where more than 50% of children younger than 18 come from families with incomes at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, making them eligible for free and reduced-price school meals. Summer meal service is already underway at sites in Bixby, Owasso and Sand Springs. Tulsa Public Schools Summer Cafe sites are scheduled to open Thursday, and even more hosts are set to come online Monday around the Tulsa area, including school cafeterias operated by Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Jenks, Sapulpa, Skiatook and Union public schools. The federal waivers that allowed all summer meal sites to offer grab-and-go service, to send multiple meals home simultaneously and for parents to pick up meals without their children present ended in September. Those waivers initially were set to lapse in June 2022, prompting some summer feeding program participants and child nutrition programs at several Tulsa-area school districts to make the shift away from grab-and-go service last summer in an effort to maintain consistency for families. Although grab-and-go service is still a summertime option for families living in some rural areas nationwide, it is no longer available for hosts in more populated areas, including the immediate Tulsa metro area. Devin Schroeder is the senior manager of programs for Hunger Free Oklahoma, a nonprofit organization that partners with dozens of other entities across the state to address food insecurity. Schroeder said the organization has heard from several partner entities that they served fewer meals last summer than in the summers of 2020 and 2021, thanks in part to the status of the grab-and-go waiver being in flux for part of the summer. Additionally, some of the organizations partners have already said they can no longer host a summer feeding site without that waiver, she said. Schroeder said the sites still participating have been encouraged to incorporate enrichment activities, such as story time or live music, to help persuade families to participate now that some of the pandemic-era flexibility is gone. That can go a long way to getting the families and kids out there, she said. When youre used to operating a certain way and now going back to the pre-COVID rules, it is going to be an adjustment for many of our sites and families. Although meal sites are selected based on a local areas income level, the free meals are available to any child who shows up. Union Public Schools child nutrition staff served 36,127 breakfasts and 40,335 lunches during June and July 2022. The district will have meal service available at six cafeterias starting Monday through the end of June: Darnaby, McAuliffe, Moore and Ochoa elementary schools, Union Freshman Academy and Union High School. Associate Director of Child Nutrition Bradyn Powell said those sites will be offering hot meals similar to those served in Owasso. Her department will assess later what sites will be open in July based on participation rates and staffing needs in June. Our sites are open to whomever, she said. They dont have to be a Union student to come eat with us. They could be a young kiddo. Maybe a parent has a student in third grade doing summer school and have a 2- or 3-year-old sibling who needs to eat a meal. They can bring them on site to come eat with us. Sometimes people forget that these are open to whomever. These are free meals. Its not like during the school year where youre either on free or reduced-price or full-priced meals. All kids can eat for free during the summer. School districts' June summer feeding sites All sites start meal service on Monday unless otherwise indicated. Bixby: Ninth Grade Center (Meal service started May 23) Broken Arrow: Rhoades and Timber Ridge elementary schools, Sequoyah Middle School, Broken Arrow High School, Indian Springs Apartments, Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club Catoosa: Dome Cafeteria Claremore: Catalayah and Claremont elementary schools Jenks: Northwest Elementary, Jenks High School (starting June 7) Owasso: Ator and Mills elementary schools, Owasso High School (Meal service started Tuesday) Sand Springs: Garfield STEAM Academy, Pratt Elementary (Meal service started Tuesday) Sapulpa: Holmes Park Elementary Skiatook: Skiatook Intermediate Elementary Tulsa: Celia Clinton, Cooper, Emerson, Hamilton, Hawthorne, Hoover, John Hope Franklin, Kerr, Key, Lanier, MacArthur, Marshall, Mayo Demonstration, McClure, Robertson, Skelly, Springdale, Unity and Whitman elementary schools; Monroe Demonstration School; Booker T. Washington, East Central, Edison, KIPP Tulsa University Prep, McLain, Rogers and Webster high schools; East Side Academy and Phoenix Rising (Meal service starts Thursday) Union: Darnaby, McAuliffe, Moore and Ochoa elementary schools; Union Freshman Academy and Union High School The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Close Margie Stafford works recently in the Barnes Elementary School cafeteria. Stafford has worked in Owasso schools for 37 years and has no plans to retire. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World Margie Stafford (right) receives a hug from Susan Sherwood of Sodexo last week in the Barnes Elementary School cafeteria. Stafford has worked in Owasso schools for 37 years. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World Margie Stafford gives a thumbs up to a student last week as she works in the Barnes Elementary School cafeteria in Owasso. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World Margie Stafford receives a hug from first-graders Maddie Williams (left) and Ryanna Rike as she works in the Barnes Elementary School cafeteria. Stafford is passionate about the students at Barnes and vows no child will leave her cafeteria hungry. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World Margie Stafford works in the Barnes Elementary School cafeteria last year. Stafford has worked in Owasso Schools for 37 years and has no plans to retire. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World 2014 photos: Lunch lady Margie Stafford works in Owasso cafeterias for 37 years Margie Stafford has worked in Owasso Schools' cafeterias for 37 years Margie Stafford works recently in the Barnes Elementary School cafeteria. Stafford has worked in Owasso schools for 37 years and has no plans to retire. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World Margie Stafford (right) receives a hug from Susan Sherwood of Sodexo last week in the Barnes Elementary School cafeteria. Stafford has worked in Owasso schools for 37 years. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World Margie Stafford gives a thumbs up to a student last week as she works in the Barnes Elementary School cafeteria in Owasso. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World Margie Stafford receives a hug from first-graders Maddie Williams (left) and Ryanna Rike as she works in the Barnes Elementary School cafeteria. Stafford is passionate about the students at Barnes and vows no child will leave her cafeteria hungry. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World Margie Stafford works in the Barnes Elementary School cafeteria last year. Stafford has worked in Owasso Schools for 37 years and has no plans to retire. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World Four months after learning that it would cost tens of millions of dollars and likely much more to make needed structural repairs to the Tulsa County Courthouse, county officials are exploring their options. The three-member Board of County Commissioners earlier this month approved a contract with Twenty20 Management Inc. to assess the current and future usage and needs of the courthouse and how best to address them. Commission Chairman Kelly Dunkerley said that while renovating the existing courthouse at 500 S. Denver Ave. is not off the table, the county is open to alternatives. We want to look at the option of perhaps there are other existing buildings within the Tulsa area that could be remodeled and used for our judicial system, Dunkerley said, adding, and then the third option, which is potentially a new courthouse. Should the courthouse be moved to a new location, Dunkerley said, the consensus among commissioners is that it would be best if it were close to the county jail at 300 N. Denver Ave. and the nearby Family Center for Juvenile Justice. We want the study to include all options within the Inner Dispersal Loop but also close to the Inner Dispersal Loop for that proximity to the jail, he said. Should they find other options that are a little bit farther away than what we might determine close, we would look at those. But I think we wanted to focus the attention within close proximity to the jail. Dunkerley said there are no plans to move the countys administrative offices, which just two years ago were relocated to the former Community Care building across the street from the courthouse. An assessment by ADG Blatt presented to county leaders in January estimated it would cost $55.4 million to $73.2 million to make basic repairs to the nearly 70-year-old courthouse, and Dunkerley indicated the figure could be well over $100 million. The estimates do not include addressing what he described as the abysmal parking conditions at the courthouse. Courthouse operations have been hampered by a leaky exterior, an outdated electrical system and HVAC troubles, to name a few of the buildings challenges, Dunkerley said. But there are also other concerns of safety, ingress-egress in case of a fire or other emergencies, Dunkerley said. Its very difficult. It was built in a time when ADA access was not contemplated. Funding for any of the three options renovation of the existing courthouse, construction of a new courthouse, or the purchase of an existing building or buildings would have to be publicly financed through a vote of county residents, Dunkerley said. Twenty20s report is expected to be completed in July, at which time county leaders will evaluate the findings before engaging the public to get their feedback, Dunkerley said. The company will be paid a sum not to exceed $95,000, according to the contract. The countys decision to explore moving out of the courthouse is one of several recent moves by local government entities that could end up reshaping the downtown core. It comes as the city of Tulsa is moving forward with plans to move the Police Department out of the Police Courts Building, which is next door to the courthouse. The $814 million Improve Our Tulsa 3 capital improvements package set to go to voters Aug. 8 includes $47.5 million for a new public safety center that would be home to separate Police and Fire headquarters, as well as Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency. The courthouse and the Police Courts Building are within the boundary of the Arena District Master Plan, which envisions tearing down the Police Courts Building so that a convention hotel could be built on the property. The Tulsa County Election Board, meanwhile, plans to move from its current facility at 555 N. Denver Ave. to an office building at 12000 E. Skelly Drive. <&rule> The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. The nations highest court could soon decide whether a federal law meant to keep Indian children with their families and tribes is racist. The Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, known as ICWA, was passed by Congress as a response to nationwide Indian child removal policies that saw more than one-third of Native children being systematically taken from their homes by state social service workers and delivered to non-Native families and institutions. They were stripped of their identities and assimilated into Americas predominantly white society. Remnants of such policies are still scattered throughout Oklahoma today, mostly in the survivors of federally funded religious boarding schools. The ICWA prioritizes family and tribal placements for Indian children in child custody cases and requires states to notify tribes when those proceedings occur. A white family from Texas says that law should be changed. The plaintiffs in Brackeen v. Haaland argue that the law violates the Constitution by discriminating against non-Native families who want to adopt Indian children. If the U.S. Supreme Court agrees, Native children will be subject to removal from their tribes for the first time in four decades. Other federal Indian laws could be challenged on the same grounds. If we were to lose on an equal protection challenge, there is no aspect of tribal sovereignty that isnt at risk, said Chrissi Ross Nimmo, the Cherokee Nations deputy attorney general and an expert on Indian child welfare law. Being a tribal citizen is a political distinction, not a racial one, Nimmo said. Tribes are sovereign nations in relationship with the U.S. government via treaties, some of which were established in the earliest years of American independence. The agreements were between nations, outside the structure that dictates the relationship between states and the federal government. The deals, often forced upon Natives and then violated by the U.S., were largely an exchange of peace and preservation for aid in warfare and later for land, as colonists pushed west. Mike McBride III, a federal Indian law attorney in Tulsa with the Crowe and Dunlevy law firm, said that relationship sets the foundation for the ICWA and laws governing gambling, trade and environmental protection in tribal territories. Challenges to Indian laws on the basis of race discrimination are not new. McBride referred to a pending federal court case out of Washington state in which casino company Maverick Gaming argued that tribes having the exclusive rights to certain kinds of gambling under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act created a discriminatory monopoly. The cases have much in common. Both plaintiffs are represented by the Washington, D.C., law firm Gibson Dunn. Both make the case that a federal Indian law discriminates based on race, and both pose a threat to tribes right of self-determination as their own governments. The question of tribal sovereignty has been debated since Chief Justice John Marshall issued an opinion in the 1831 case Cherokee Nation v. Georgia, in which Marshall called tribes domestic dependent nations, said Gary Allison, a constitutional law professor at the University of Tulsas College of Law. By dependent, he meant that though they still have governmental existence, that existence is dependent upon a broader country allowing it, Allison said. Thats the whole basis for the sovereignty movement among Indian nations. The equal protection clause should not apply to tribes because they are recognized as sovereign nations in the Constitution, Allison said, pointing out that Native people werent considered U.S. citizens until 1924. Some state legislatures are trying to codify the language of the Indian Child Welfare Act to get ahead of the potential federal-level overturn. Oklahoma is among 12 states with a form of the Indian Child Welfare Act in place, according to Turtle Talk, a blog run by three Indian law professors in Michigan. Four other states considered similar laws this year. All failed or stalled in committee. Nimmo said that if any part of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act is overturned on the basis of racial discrimination, those state laws also likely will be ruled unconstitutional in state courts. Oklahoma passed its version in 1982. While the state law adds some protections for Oklahoma tribes by requiring the state to notify them of all child welfare cases involving Indian children, Nimmo said it doesnt adopt the full language of the ICWA, making unclear whether the state statute would survive a constitutional challenge. The federal act only requires tribes to be notified of involuntary proceedings. The Oklahoma Indian Child Welfare Act requires the state to notify tribes of both involuntary and voluntary child welfare proceedings, Nimmo said. Voluntary means the parents of the child consent to foster care and adoption, while involuntary means the state is taking a child against the wishes of the parents. I dont know if that enhanced notification requirement survives if the underlying law were to be struck, Nimmo said. But it might, because it is the states policy to cooperate with Indian tribes. The overturning of the Indian Child Welfare Act wouldnt automatically reverse all federal Indian laws, but it would open the door for rampant lawsuits challenging them, Nimmo said. She used the attempts to dismantle tribal gaming laws as an example. Overturning ICWA would mean the race-based argument in the Maverick Gaming case would gain precedent. If gambling is extended to private and government entities beyond Native tribes and their members via a court decision, revenues it yields to those tribes will also be spread out, she said. Tribal gaming revenues fund social services, environmental protection and disaster relief in their nations. While those funds are supplemented by federal dollars, reduced gaming revenue would mean less money allocated by the tribes to provide for their citizens. The chipping away of tribes ability to self-govern could be carried out one lawsuit at a time, Nimmo said. Tribes also use money they collect to bolster non-Native infrastructure within their reservations, Nimmo said. For example, the Cherokee Nation uses money collected from allowing its citizens to register vehicle tags to donate to public schools within its boundaries, as well as volunteer fire stations and municipal police departments. These are all things that Cherokee Nation provides in our community, not just to Cherokee citizens. If theyre giving money to volunteer fire departments, that impacts everyone, she said. Overturning the ICWA would be devastating to Native and non-Native communities in the state, said Sarah Adams, a Choctaw Nation citizen and co-founder of the nonprofit Matriarch, which focuses on promoting social welfare for Native women through education, community building and other direct services. Our tribes contribute so much to our state that without them our schools would be less funded, our roads would be worse, our infrastructure would be worse, Adams said. Not to mention the cultural piece we add to the state. Adams said tribes and the communities they support across the state are threatened under the guise of deciding whats best for Native children in foster care. It can be seen as another step in the genocide of our people, Adams said. Its about the survival of a people, of cultures, languages, of ceremony and art. Its everything. And the fallout always happens first for women and children. Second District Congressman Josh Brecheen intends to vote against the debt ceiling and spending agreement reached by President Joe Biden and Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, he said Tuesday. Brecheen, a Republican, said the agreement does not reduce spending enough. I cannot in good conscience vote for a deal that continues to kick the can down the road at the expense of our kids and grandkids. This is a huge missed opportunity to turn our nation away from a fiscal cliff, and I urge my colleagues to vote NO on the Biden-McCarthy agreement as it currently stands, Brecheen said in a written statement. Brecheens decision likely puts him in opposition to at least two other Republican members of Oklahomas House delegation. Fifth District Congresswoman Stephanie Bice said over the weekend that she would support the agreement. Fourth District Congressman Tom Cole has made no public pronouncement on the deal but is a close ally of McCarthys and chairs the House Rules Committee, which began Tuesday afternoon deciding which amendments to the agreement, if any, are heard. First District Congressman Kevin Hern and 3rd District Congressman Frank Lucas have not commented publicly on the agreement. Officials say the federal government will begin defaulting on debt within a week if the limit is not raised. Those defaults are expected to trigger an economic crisis. Conservatives such as Brecheen see the situation as an opportunity to leverage drastic spending cuts and reverse Biden policies. Brecheen said he wants something closer to the bill passed by the Republican House majority earlier this year. The Biden-McCarthy agreement only includes approximately 1.3% or less of the real year one savings that House Republicans passed several weeks ago, Brecheen said. The first-year savings were transformative, and that bill also included eight major policy reforms, which were gutted with the proposed debt ceiling agreement with Biden. Brecheen is among at least 24 Republicans who have said they wont vote for the debt limit agreement, meaning it can pass the House only with Democratic support. Some think that has been the case all along because a handful of Republicans seemed likely to have opposed anything that wasnt very close to the earlier legislation Brecheen mentioned. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. The debt ceiling has existed since 1917. Here's how it's impacted government spending ever since The debt ceiling has existed since 1917. Here's how it's impacted government spending ever since When was the debt ceiling imposed? How often has the ceiling been changed? Who else has a debt ceiling? President Reagan campaigns against the federal debt Speaker Gingrich upends Washington Debt ceiling crisis results in credit rating drop Crisis averted when ceiling suspended Suspending the debt ceiling for two years Another debt ceiling deadline looms Living in Vietnam can bring moments of total pleasure and those of total wonder. When is a hot dog not a hot dog? Well, that answer came to me through experience some 10 years ago when I began my teaching career here in Vietnam. It was only weeks after I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City to start a new life journey and I had already experienced my first episode of 'Vietnam Belly.' I wasnt feeling all that great and I found that the local food and cheap beer just werent what my body wanted. I met a fellow Australian expat who introduced me to his employer a major name in Vietnams teaching industry. Despite my unreliable health, I interviewed with the company. I was just hoping things would hold themselves together long enough to get the job, and they did. When I found out I got the job, my only thoughts were about how much I hoped I would be able to recover by the time I started classes. Early the next morning, my phone rang. It was the school asking if I could cover a class because a teacher had taken ill. Of course, I jumped at the chance to do my first class in Vietnam and a mere 45 minutes later I found myself at a public school in District 3. Shortly after arriving, my stomach began to cramp and pain rumbled throughout my body. Then, I looked up and saw a familiar sign. It wasnt bun bo, com tam, or banh mi, but blazoned across a street stall. It was 'HOT DOG.' A smile of relief spread across my face and my body and, for a moment, I began to relax. It was Western food. A sign reads 'Special hot dog - Try and get addicted' at a street stall in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ray Kuschert / Tuoi Tre News I shuffled from the parking bay out of the gate and to the street cart. With no Vietnamese skill, I raised a finger and said, "One hot dog please. The woman looked at me in total confusion as she mumbled something in Vietnamese. I just kept saying, Yes, one hot dog, one hot dog as I pointed to the banner on her cart. Eventually, she gave up trying to understand me and from the cart she produced a bag with food inside. I gave her the money, which wasnt much, and I walked back into the school to find a seat to enjoy that familiar Frankfurt in a soft bun with ketchup. After I sat down and opened the bag, I realized the hot dog wasnt what I thought it would be. Instead, I saw a triangular sandwich. I was stunned!! I asked for a hot dog and she gave me a waffle. A sweet bland half-cooked cheese and sweetened bread toasted waffle. What could I do? At the time, nothing. So, I just ate it and went to class. Vietnamese hot dogs are stored in a glass cabinet at a street stall in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ray Kuschert / Tuoi Tre News In the months after I was to learn that 'Hot Dogs' on the street in Vietnam are not actually hot dogs but toasted waffle sandwiches. Different sellers sell different versions of them but all of them have cheese and bread, some might also include meat and other fillings. Knowing this cultural difference led me to try to understand how this use of the term 'Hot Dog' came about. From the scant information available, it appears that Vietnamese hot dogs only became popular around the turn of the century. Based on a lack of evidence, some stories I read said that local mothers began buying more electronic appliances and one of the items that became available was what Westerners know at a toasted sandwich or waffle maker, depending on which country you come from. A couple makes Vietnamese-style hot dogs using a toasted sandwich maker on the street in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City. Their cart's menu displays a list of different fillings customers can opt to their liking. Photo: Ray Kuschert / Tuoi Tre News Children needed to eat something filling and cheap for breakfast and after school, so local mothers began making triangle toasted sandwiches and some sold them at the gates of local schools to kids coming to and from classes. These rather bland and sweet triangles were perfect. Children are not always attracted to the heavy taste of traditional Vietnamese food like com tam (broken rice) or hu tieu (hu tieu noodles), so the bland taste of processed cheese, sweetened sandwich bread, and the occasional processed sausage was a perfect fast-food option that was easy and cheap to make. There is no record as to how they were called hot dogs but it is fair to suggest that it was seen as a cultural equivalent to grabbing a street hot dog in America. Vietnamese hot dogs are sold at a street stall in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ray Kuschert / Tuoi Tre News Over time, the practice has grown across the country and can even be seen on highways and main roads day and night. For only VND5,000-6,000 (US$0.21-0.26) you can stop and grab a quick filler any time you like. They are small enough not to spoil your appetite and are big enough to give you that little bit of energy to get home or to your next meeting without having to stop. These days, I tend to turn to fresher options when it comes to snacks between meals, but I always have a little giggle to myself when I come across a 'Vietnamese hot dog' seller. The hot dog that isnt a hot dog. If you havent had one yet then make sure you stop and have at least one on your travels, and get a picture of the Hot Dog sign for your social media page. It is yet another inventive and wonderful part of Vietnamese culture that makes this country special and unique at every turn. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Archaeologists in Egypt have unearthed two human and animal embalming workshops, as well as two tombs, discovered in the Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo, the government said on Saturday. The vast burial site, at the ancient Egyptian capital Memphis, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to more than a dozen pyramids, animal graves and old Coptic Christian monasteries. Mostafa Waziri, head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, told reporters the embalming workshops, where humans and animals were mummified, "date back to the 30th dynasty" which reigned around 2,400 years ago. Researchers "found several rooms equipped with stony beds where the deceased lay down for mummification", Egypt's tourism and antiquities ministry said. Each bed ended in gutters to facilitate the mummification process, with a collection of clay pots nearby to hold entrails and organs, as well as a collection of instruments and ritual vessels. Early studies of the other workshop suggest it was used for the "mummification of sacred animals". The discovery also includes the tombs of two priests dating back to the 24th and 14th centuries BC, respectively. The first belonged to Ne Hesut Ba, who served the fifth dynasty as the head of scribes and priest of the gods Horus and Maat. The tomb walls are decorated with depictions of "daily life, agriculture and hunting scenes", said Mohamed Youssef, director of the Saqqara archaeological site. The second tomb, that of a priest named Men Kheber, was carved in rock and features depictions of the deceased himself on the tomb walls, as well as in a one-metre-long (three foot) alabaster statue, Youssef told reporters. Egypt has unveiled a string of major archaeological discoveries in recent years. Critics say the flurry of excavations has prioritised finds shown to grab media attention over hard academic research. The discoveries have been a key component of Egypt's attempts to revive its vital tourism industry amid a severe economic crisis. The government recently launched a strategy "aiming for a rapid increase in inbound tourism" at a rate of 25-30 percent a year, Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa said at the site on Saturday. Egypt aims to draw in 30 million tourists a year by 2028, up from 13 million before the Covid pandemic. The crowning jewel of the government's strategy is the long-delayed inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum at the foot of the pyramids in Giza. HALIFAX -- A wildfire in the eastern Canadian city of Halifax led to mandatory evacuation orders for thousands of homes, and officials said residents will not be not allowed to return until advised by municipal authorities. Halifax Mayor Mike Savage said the evacuations impacted about 18,000 people. The orders issued Sunday cover areas of Hammonds Plains, Upper Tantallon and Pockwock. These suburban communities are home to many of the city's workers and are situated about 15 miles from Halifax. Residents in nearby neighborhoods, which are surrounded by forest, were left uneasy throughout the night. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in atweeton Monday called the wildfire situation in the province of Nova Scotia, where Halifax is located, "incredibly serious," and said his government was ready to provide any assistance if needed. Forest fires also led to evacuations of about 400 homes in the province of New Brunswick over the weekend, officials said. Mayor Brad Henderson of Saint Andrews, New Brunswick, said on Monday that while progress was made, the fire was still not under control. Smoke from the Tantallon wildfire rises over houses in nearby Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada, May 28, 2023. Photo: Reuters Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Deputy Chief Dave Meldrum told reporters on Monday morning the fire burning in the Tantallon and Hammonds Plains area was ongoing. The cause of the fire was still being probed and there were no reports of deaths or injuries. Meldrum said about 100 firefighters battled the fires overnight, and said emergency crews would have a lot of work for "many days" ahead. The city declared a state of local emergency late on Sunday after the wildfire caused evacuations and power outages, and authorities also shut several schools. The wildfire, aided by strong winds and tinder-dry woods, damaged dozens of homes and hampered rescue services. The state of emergency would be in effect for seven days, unless lifted or extended, the municipality said. Western Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia have also been dealing with an unusually warm spring this year that sparked several out-of-control wildfires, cutting oil and gas production. But most of those fires have since been brought under control, helping oil and gas production to resume. Smoke from the Tantallon wildfire rises over houses in nearby Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada, May 28, 2023. Photo: Reuters In the main oil-producing province of Alberta, the intensity of one of the most challenging wildfire seasons in years continued to ease, allowing oil and gas producers to restart production they had temporarily shut out of caution. Crescent Point Energy (CPG.TO) said it restored the 45,000 barrels of oil equivalent of output it had previously paused, while Paramount Resources (POU.TO) said it restored most of the production it had curtailed due to the fires. Sixty of 437 Vietnamese forced laborers recently rescued from a Philippine casino arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday morning, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the same day. The ministry is working with its Philippine counterpart to repatriate the remaining citizens. According to the Vietnamese Embassy in the Philippines, more than 1,000 people, including 437 Vietnamese nationals, were rescued by the Philippine authorities on May 4 from forced labor at an establishment owned by the Clark Sun Valley Hub group in Pampanga Province, near Manila. Upon being notified of the issue, the ministrys Consular Department and the Vietnamese Embassy in the Philippines promptly visited and supported the rescued citizens, as well as collected their information, especially those with invalid travel documents. On May 25, the ministrys steering board for citizen protection convened a meeting on the issue, seeking measures to cooperate with the Philippine side to bring these citizens home as soon as possible. The Consular Department and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of External Relations worked out a number of plans and teamed up with border gate management authorities to receive these citizens and hand them over to their localities and families. AFP quoted a Philippine official as confirming on May 6 that local authorities managed to rescue 1,090 people from several Asian nations who were allegedly trafficked into the country, held captive, and forced to run online scams. According to the Philippine authorities, their passports were confiscated and they were made to work up to 18 hours a day, with salary deductions for interacting with colleagues or taking extended breaks. At least 12 suspected ringleaders of the scheme, including seven Chinese nationals, four Indonesians, and one Malaysian, have been arrested and are set to be charged with human trafficking. The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested that people with information about individuals involved in forced labor or lured to work overseas should contact the ministry via its citizen protection switchboard +84 981848484 or via email at baohocongdan@gmail.com. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Check out the latest news in Vietnam today: Society -- A male director of the Khanh Hoa Radio - Television fell to his death on Monday while surveying the scaffolding of a stand for the 2023 Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa Sea Festival in the south central province of Khanh Hoa. -- Police in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam on Monday said they had prosecuted a case in which 198 villas and 290 detached houses were built illegally in Trang Bom District. -- A Nigerian man and four Vietnamese nationals on Monday were sentenced to a total of 57 years in prison for money laundering with the foreigner receiving the highest jail term of 14 years. -- More than 308 metric tons of garbage was collected from the Cai Rang Floating Market, a popular tourist site in Can Tho City between September 2022 and May 2023. -- A male teacher has been arrested for molesting a six-grade student when she attended his private class in Ha Tinh Province, north-central Vietnam. Business -- Experts attending a seminar in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday proposed that the city should issue remittance bonds to maintain the remittance growth. Remittances flowing to the metropolis grew an average of 7.6 percent per year over the past five years. -- Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on Monday agreed to assign O Mon 3 and 4 gas-fired power projects in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho to the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN), replacing the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) due to the latters difficulties in mobilizing and using capital for the projects. -- Vietnamese distributors, supermarkets, and wholesale markets have concluded 35 memoranda of understanding with northern Bac Giang Province to help consume over 100,000 metric tons of litchi. The provinces litchi output is estimated at 180,000 metric tons this year. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam on Monday said they had prosecuted a case in which 198 villas and 290 detached houses were built illegally in Trang Bom District. Police officers made the move to investigate individuals and organizations involved in the development of the Tan Thinh Urban Area. They were charged with abusing positions and powers while on duty. The Peoples Committee of Dong Nai Province earlier issued results of a comprehensive inspection into the project, whose investor is LDG Investment JSC based in Trang Bom District. The province introduced an 18.22-hectare land lot for the project in 2016 and gave its nod to LDG Investment JSC to develop the urban area in 2018 to meet local residents demand. However, the company failed to complete procedures to lease the land and convert the land use purpose. It has yet to get a construction license for the project either. Nevertheless, it constructed roads, a green park, rainwater and wastewater drainage systems, and power and water supply systems between 2018 and 2020. The investor also completed the building of 198 villas and 290 detached houses. Moreover, the remaining 192 detached houses are under construction. At the inspection time, LDG Investment JSC had signed sales contracts worth over VND132 billion (US$5.6 million) with 60 customers. These customers have paid the company 25-95 percent of the contract values. Seven households have been living in houses at the project. In addition to the 488 completed houses, 192 attached houses are incomplete. Photo: A Loc / Tuoi Tre Inspectors found that the provincial land registration office had issued five certificates of land use rights to hand over more than 16 hectares of land, including over 12.8 hectares of rice fields, to LDG Investment JSC without the approval of the agencies in charge of the job. The act showed signs of infringing land management regulations with the main responsibility falling on the Dong Nai land registration office, leaders of the office at the time, and over 20 relevant individuals and 13 organizations. In particular, Hoang Van Dung, former director of the Dong Nai land registration office, who signed the five certificates of land use rights, may face criminal charges. The chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee has also required clarification of the responsibility of individuals and organizations involved in the case. LDG Investment JSC was fined and asked to submit its illegal income from the project, totaling over VND6.3 billion ($269,390) in late 2020 for illegally using the land while failing to complete land lease procedures. Inspectors from the provincial Department of Construction in 2020 also fined the company VND75 million ($3,207) for developing the project while failing to meet commencement requirements in line with the law. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Stars and stripes lined the streets in Larchmont for the first Memorial Day parade in Norfolk hosted by the Larchmont Edgewater Civic League. The parade kicked off at St. Patrick Catholic School and meandered through the Larchmont/Edgewater neighborhood. Boy Scouts, Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution in period attire, a Norfolk fire truck and others made up the procession. The parade swelled as kids on bikes and families joined in. The parade ended a few blocks away at Larchmont United Methodist Church with a wreath laying ceremony and performances by a Navy bugler, a vocalist and a bagpipe player. Gary and Deborah Chiaverotti, Larchmont residents, originated the idea for the parade. Both grew up in small towns with local celebrations, and wanted to see something similar in their own neighborhood. Gary Chiaverotti, a retired Navy captain in summer whites, presented the history of Memorial Day during the wreath laying ceremony. It is unclear when and where this tradition originated, but were sure they were all local events, Chiaverotti said. Our locally held parade and remembrance ceremony hearkens back to the origin and intents of Decoration Day. Mike Crockett, vice president of the Larchmont Edgewater Civic League and an organizer of the parade, said this was the right neighborhood for the celebration. This is a military town, this is a Navy town, Crockett said. In this neighborhood, theres active duty, reserve, guard, defense contractors. Were all doing the same thing. This is the perfect neighborhood to have a parade like this come through the heart of. Crockett said 700 to 800 people participated or attended. Hot dogs and ice cream ran out at the event at Larchmont United Methodist Church after. For Navy bugler Alyssa John, Memorial Day is a special occasion. Musician Petty Officer second class Alyssa John plays taps during a ceremony dedicating The Larchmont Edgewater Civic League inaugural Memorial Day parade in Norfolk. To me, its a chance to honor all the people that came before me and sacrificed so much, John said. John performed Taps during the wreath laying ceremony a piece she called a final salute and thank you typically played at military funerals. Mayor Kenny Alexander summed up Memorial Day in his remarks. We are honored to celebrate with you our freedom with a fun parade, Alexander said. More importantly, the reason that were here is to honor and celebrate the men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice to save our freedom and democracy. The wreath laying ceremony concluded with a bagpipe performance of Flowers of the Forest by Lt. J.G. Carter. Solemn notes contrasted with the fun-filled community party celebrating Memorial Day. Cianna Morales, 757-957-1304, cianna.morales@virginiamedia.com A Nigerian man and four Vietnamese nationals were sentenced to a total of nearly 57 years in prison on Monday for money laundering, with the foreigner receiving the highest jail term of 14 years. The Peoples Court of Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province in southern Vietnam on Monday handed down a 14-year prison term to Uzoh Emmanuel, a Nigerian national born in 1988. Nguyen Thi Hanh, residing in Dong Nai, and Nguyen Thi Vinh, living in Ho Chi Minh City, both born in 1981, will stay behind bars for 11 years each. Pham Thanh Dung and Vu Thanh Trung, both born in 1985 and residing in southern Tien Giang Province, received prison terms of 10 years and six months and 10 years, respectively. Uzoh Emmanuel, a Nigerian, is jailed for money laundering. Photo: Tuoi Tre According to the indictment, from August to September 2021, two Nigerians contacted Emmanuel, who was living with Hanh in Vietnam, to establish companies and opened bank accounts in the Southeast Asian country. These companies had no business activities but they received money from the two Nigerians, who earned it through fraud. Emmanuel was paid 20 percent of the amounts, while the remaining was transferred to the two Nigerians. Emmanuel also told Hanh to seek people to open more companies and bank accounts. Hanh later worked with Vinh to set up firms in Dung and Trungs name. They established a total of 17 companies. After withdrawing money, they received 2-6 percent of the amounts each. Business registration certificates and seals of the companies established by the defendants for money laundering. Photo: Tuoi Tre In particular, they withdrew over 233,000 euros (US$249,775) on August 27, 2021 from the bank account of Keestrack NV Company Limited, whose legal director was Dung. This is an amount illegally transferred from abroad. After withdrawing the money, Emmanuel was given VND610 million ($25,985), Hanh, VND244 million ($10,394), Vinh, VND100 million ($4,260), and Dung, VND50 million ($2,130). The company later completed procedures for dissolution. On October 20, 2021, the defendants visited a local bank to withdraw $100,000 transferred from abroad to the account of Samar for Import Co. Ltd. whose legal director was Trung but failed as the local police detected their violations and asked the bank to block the account. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Several tour operators have voiced their complaints against some hotels and resorts in Mui Ne, a resort hub in south-central Vietnam, as these lodging facilities turned away tourists who intended to stay there only one night. Since the start of the summer travel season, such facilities have only received guests with a two night stay on weekends, many travel firms lamented. Some other resorts, despite welcoming guests with one nights stay, announced their rooms were full. Besides, many lodging facilities required guests to reserve one or two meals to have a room. Tran Thanh Vu, general director of Vina Group International Travel JSC, said that after receiving many groups of tourists, the firms sales employees contacted some resorts in Mui Ne, a famous resort town in Binh Thuan Province, to book rooms but none were available. Therefore, the firm failed to arrange tours for these customers, he added. These lodging facilities said they only accepted guests with two nights stay. In addition, they hinted at booking a meal for tourists to be able to get rooms," Vu said. However, most of these tourists wanted to visit the place on weekends, meaning that they could only spend one night there." The situation has existed for many years, but it has became worse following the increased number of visitors after the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay Expressway, which connects Dong Nai Province, a neighbor of Ho Chi Minh City, with Binh Thuan, was opened to traffic in late April, shortening the travel time. Bui The Duy, a representative from Lua Viet Tours Company, said that the firm booked many rooms for this summer travel season in April to avoid the room blight and surcharge payment. This summer, Mui Ne gets more popular than other tourist sites such as Da Lat City in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong and Nha Trang City in Khanh Hoa Province, so the sale of tours to the tourist site in Phan Thiet City have also risen," Duy said. However, the requirement on one nights or two nights stay might let the tourism sector in the province down." Tran Anh Thi, manager at a resort in Mui Ne, said that some firms active in the industry in the locality were dissatisfied with these complaints. Refusing guests with a one-night stay will ruin the value and image of tourism in Binh Thuan, Thi explained. Lodging facilities must welcome all guests, including those who even stay half a day, he added. Since the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay Expressway was put into operation, the room occupancy rate at the resort has reached 60-80 percent on weekdays, while it has been nearly full on weekends, according to Thi. In response to the complaints about the room problem, the Binh Thuan Tourism Association said that was a revenue management tactic. Travel firms, hotels, and airlines are taking revenue management into account to optimize their turnover and profit sources. Predicting demands as well as setting some requirements on guests and compulsory meals are also among revenue management tactics that are often applied at hotels, said the association. The association also affirmed that not all hotels and resorts in Mui Ne are receiving only guests with a two-night stay. Binh Thuan Province has some 600 lodging facilities with 17,500 rooms. In May, tourist arrivals in the province climbed 20 percent year on year, according to the association. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The 2023 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival will take place in Da Nang City, central Vietnam from June 2 to July 8. Two pyrotechnic teams from Vietnam and Finland will compete on the opening night of the fest, whose stage will sprawl along the eastern bank of the Han River. The construction of the stage and grandstand area and the organization of the festival themed 'The World Without Gap' are being sped up to let fireworks light up the night sky across the coastal city. The stand is set to accommodate over 5,000 spectators, covering 9,500 square meters, while the stage is 62 meters long and 22 meters wide. The large space of the grandstand will allow revelers to enjoy the fireworks displays and art performances comfortably, said the organizer of the fest. Nadia Shakira Wong, director of fireworks organization consulting firm Global 2000, which is the producer of the 2023 fest, said that the event has paid off and attracted crowds of tourists to Da Nang. In association with the festival since 2017, Wong said that the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival has become popular among domestic and international visitors. Many pyrotechnic teams around the world have joined the fireworks competition since the fest was first launched in 2008, she said. Making a comeback after a three-year pause caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's festival is expected to revive the citys tourism sector and bring people together, she underscored. Tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies were sold out, but this is an outdoor event, so tourists can watch fireworks shows at any location along the banks of the Han River, on any bridge, yacht, or in high-rise buildings. Many high-rise riverside hotels have capitalized on the upcoming festival to offer observation views and special dishes to lure customers. Tubes are erected and covered by canvases at a yard near the Han River. Photo: Son Doan / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Anthony LaPaglia will present a three part history series The Black Hand, which looks to the story of an Italian organised crime gang which terrorised Italian Australians working around the cane fields of North Queensland in the 1930s. The series is directed by Kriv Stenders. The riveting series delves back in time to explore an Australian Italian communitys struggles against extortion, arson, kidnap, mayhem and murder by Italian criminals targeting their migrant countrymen in Australias deep north. Against a backdrop of hard times, extreme politics, looming war and the mafia in their midst, the besieged Italian community in Queensland finds the courage to battle old world ways and grasp the opportunity to thrive in a new place. A personal journey from Queensland cane country to Calabria, Italy seeking answers to a question faced by all those who remake their lives in a new place: what comes with us from the old country, what do we leave behind? Production credits: A WildBear Entertainment production for the ABC. Principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with the ABC. Financed with support from Screen NSW and Screen Queensland. Directed by Kriv Stenders, Producers Kate Pappas & Adam Grossetti, Executive Producers Alan Erson, Michael Tear & Anthony LaPaglia. ABC Factual Manager Julie Hanna. Acting Head of Factual and Culture Richard Huddleston Tuesday 27 June at 8:30pm on ABC. Peter Simonischek, the Austrian actor who starred in the movie Toni Erdmann and was known for his work on theatre stages, in films and on TV, has died at the age of 76. Austrian public broadcaster ORF, German news agency dpa, and other media outlets in Austria and Germany reported the news on Tuesday without immediately detailing a cause of death. The Burgtheater in Vienna, Austria also tweeted that Simonischek, a member of its ensemble and an honorary member of the theater, had died overnight. More from The Hollywood Reporter The actor regularly appeared at the Salzburg Festival, where he was known for playing the title role in the play Jedermann (Everyman), which the festival has put on regularly, numerous times. For his role in Maren Ades 2016 oddball dramedy and Oscar nominee Toni Erdmann, opposite Sandra Huller, Simonischek won the German Film Award, or Lola, and the European Film Award for best actor. Among others, he was also nominated for a London Critics Circle Film Awards, as well as a Toronto Film Critics Association Awards. In a review of Toni Erdmann for THR, Leslie Felperin wrote: Ade plays an especially adept game herself as she manipulates, aided and abetted by intricately layered performances from Simonischek and Huller, audience sympathy for these at-first irritating, perhaps even hugely unlikable characters who grow soft sides and sweet spots over the course of the film. Simonischek, born on Aug. 6, 1946 in Graz, Austria, was also honored with awards in the German-speaking world. For example, he won the prestigious Grimme Preis for German TV productions twice. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Click here to read the full article. 'Kosovo our cradle': Novak Djokovic after his win over Aleksandar Kovacevic on Monday Iga Swiatek begins her bid to become the first woman in 16 years to successfully defend the French Open title on Tuesday as Novak Djokovic remained defiant after controversially weighing in on the Kosovo crisis. World number one Swiatek, a two-time champion in Paris, faces Moldovan-born Cristina Bucsa of Spain as she looks to emulate Justine Henin, the last back-to-back women's winner at Roland Garros in 2007. The 21-year-old Pole arrives in Paris shrugging off a thigh injury suffered in Rome. "Luckily nothing serious happened. I'll be good for my first round. That's the most important thing for me," she said. Also getting underway is world number two Daniil Medvedev who was buoyed by clinching his first ever clay court title at the prestigious Italian Open last week. It was also his fifth trophy of 2023. The Russian has endured a bitter-sweet relationship with the French Open, losing in the first round in his first four visits. He ended that streak with a run to the quarter-finals in 2021. The eccentric Medvedev faces former US Open junior champion Thiago Seyboth Wild, a Brazilian ranked 172 and who had to play the qualifiers. Meanwhile, Djokovic insisted he does not fear being punished for his potentially explosive "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia" message he scribbled on a courtside TV camera on Monday amid fresh violence in Kosovo. The Belgrade-born superstar, chasing a record 23rd Grand Slam title in Paris, wrote the message in Serbian after his opening round victory over Aleksandar Kovacevic on the showpiece Philippe Chatrier Court. "Kosovo is our cradle, our stronghold, centre of the most important things for our country," 36-year-old Djokovic told Serb media. His comments came after NATO-led peacekeepers dispersed Serb protesters who clashed with police in northern Kosovo to demand the removal of recently elected Albanian mayors. Around 30 soldiers were injured during the clashes, along with over 50 demonstrators. - 'I have no remorse' - Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. However, Serbs in Kosovo remain largely loyal to Belgrade, especially in the north, where they make up a majority and reject every move by Pristina to consolidate its control over the region. "As a public figure but also a son of a man who was born in Kosovo I feel additional responsibility to express my support to our people and Serbia as a whole," said Djokovic. "I hear that there were many complaints on social media and from international journalists, saying someone would punish me but I have no remorse and would do it again as my stance is clear. "But I am against war, violence and conflict of any kind and I have always publicly shown that." Djokovic was hailed in his native Serbia. "A man of his word and integrity. He proved to be one many times over, and repeated it in Paris by doing something that raced the hearts of all Serbs," commented the Alo tabloid newspaper. On the court at Roland Garros early Tuesday, 16-year-old qualifier Mirra Andreeva marked her Grand Slam debut with a 56-minute 6-2, 6-1 victory over Alison Riske-Amritraj of the United States. Andreeva, the youngest player in the tournament, has reached 143 in the world from 312 in April and hit the headlines at the Madrid Open earlier this month where she reached the last 16. Later, fourth seed Casper Ruud, the runner-up to Rafael Nadal last year, faces Swedish qualifier Elias Ymer while sixth-ranked Holger Rune, a quarter-finalist on his debut in 2022, tackles Christopher Eubanks of the United States. Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, the fourth seed, faces Czech teenager Brenda Fruhvirtova with 2022 runner-up Coco Gauff taking on Rebecca Masarova of Spain. dj/jc The Mattaponi Indian Tribes quest for federal recognition hangs in the balance as two tribal councils fight for leadership. A fractured tribe doesnt get recognized, said attorney Claire Guthrie Gastanaga. And tribal survival depends on federal recognition. Gastanaga, a former Virginia ACLU executive director, represents several members of one of the tribal councils, referred to by some as the Spirit Crow Group, which held elections March 26. That council is led by Chief Lonnie Custalow and Assistant Chief Gloria Custalow. Other elected members include: Connie Crow Woman Custalow, Dennis Red Hawk Custalow, Jody Bear Custalow, Raven Brightwater Custalow, Sandra Skywater Custalow, Shane Standing Bear Custalow, Steven Two Warriors Custalow, Tracy Rose Eagle Custalow and Travis Wind Walker Custalow. Many tribal members are Custalow descendants. The previous tribal council, led by Chief Mark Custalow and Assistant Chief Leon Custalow, has called the election invalid and sent a message to the Mattaponi people on March 28 stating it does not recognize the so-called Council Members of the Mattaponi Indian Tribe and that they are misrepresenting themselves as government officials. At a minimum, the Spirit Crow Groups actions are harming the Tribe by creating confusion among tribal membership and outside parties, Mark Custalow said. The Mattaponi are located on a 150-acre reservation that stretches along the borders of the Mattaponi River at West Point in King William County. Mark Custalow said the election was not held on the reservation and the majority of those who voted dont live on the reservation. If you live in one county, you dont vote in elections somewhere else, he said. People who dont live on the reservation shouldnt vote on issues for the people who do. A draft constitution, which doesnt allow people living off the reservation, or non-residents, to vote or serve in leadership roles, was a major area of contention for the Spirit Crow Group. A new constitution was approved March 26 by the Spirt Crow allowing non-residents and women these rights. With the unanimously adopted constitution, tribal members have ensured full enfranchisement of all lineal descendants, [and] protection of individual rights and against discrimination, said Lonnie Custalow. Mark Custalow, who served as chief for nearly a decade, disagreed with the decision to ratify the Spirit Crow Groups constitution. Rather than work with the tribal constitution, they decided to go their own [way] and adopted a constitution, he said. According to Mark Custalow, his tribal council will meet soon to discuss their draft of the constitution which hasnt been ratified and will seek input from all Mattaponi tribe members, residents and non-residents. [It] will bring a new era, including the right to vote for all Mattaponi men and women of the Reservation. We know this will improve our system of government, Mark Custalow said. We also believe that it will help us to achieve federal recognition, which will come with new federal benefits to every Mattaponi tribal member, whether they live on the Reservation or not. Lonnie Custalow also spoke about his tribal councils continued quest to achieve federal recognition. The Mattaponi, one of seven tribes in Virginia, is recognized by the state, but not federally. Federal recognition would open access to millions of dollars in grant money. [Following the election,] we will continue to unify the tribe and seek to achieve the overriding interest in federal recognition, which is essential to the survival of our tribe, he said. Forty-one people participated in the March 26 election, which allowed women to vote for the first time in about 100 years and put several into leadership roles. Cameron Quinn, the former head of the Virginia State Board of Elections and international consultant on voting and elections, officiated the election at a school. Afterward, Raven Custalow, who was elected to the new tribal council, said she was proud to have been able to take part in such an occasion. She had advocated for womens rights within the tribes leadership. Prior to our contact with Europeans, our women were held in high regard, she said. We are the life bearers and cultural keepers, teaching the next generations. We owned homes as we were the ones that worked the land, providing a majority of our food source through farming. We also held positions of power through women chiefs as well as women warriors. Tensions had been simmering between the two factions of the tribe for years prior to the election, resulting in protests and even trespassing charges, which were later deferred. Although both tribal councils seem to share the same goals, the quarreling between them could halt the federal recognition process. The U.S. Department of Interior requires that tribes seeking federal recognition meet certain criteria, including that its membership consists of individuals who descend from an historical Indian tribe or from historical Indian tribes that combined and functioned as a single autonomous political entity As it stands, the Mattaponi Tribe is not functioning, said Gastanaga. If the two tribal councils do not come to an amicable decision, Secretary of Commonwealth Kay Cole James, who serves as a liaison to the tribe, will have to choose who the government recognizes as the true council. There need to be discussions in good faith with a qualified mediator to unify the tribe, Gastanaga said. Calls and emails to James have not been returned. Right now, Mark Custalow is pushing forward with business as usual. His tribal council recently received a grant from the Administration for American Indians (ANA), a branch of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The ANA grant would help the Mattaponi to develop a tribal office, preserve the culture and language, strengthen the communitys economic development by providing job training and entrepreneurial opportunities, strengthen families and the community by promoting education and academics, focus on health, nutrition and mental health and overall, become a more self-sufficient community. Our ultimate goal, said Lonnie Custalow, is to preserve our culture. Amy Jo Martin, amyjoreporter@gmail.com HA NOI There remains ample room for Vietnamese exports to Africa, as the country accounts for only 0.6 per cent of the continent's total import of US$600 billion per year, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, given opportunities brought about by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. The Asian-African Market Department said that trade between Viet Nam and Africa increased from $2.52 billion in 2010 to $5.5 billion in 2022. Of the total, Viet Nam's exports were valued at more than $2.8 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $226.3 million. Viet Nam mainly shipped rice ($568.6 million), phones and parts ($355.6 million), computers and electronic products ($210.4 million), and footwear ($141.8 million) to Africa. Meanwhile, it bought cashew nuts ($1.1 billion), metals ($484.1 million), and wood and wood products ($114.3 million) from this continent. In the coming time, to facilitate intra-bloc trade, African nations will pour more capital into infrastructure facilities, thus opening up more opportunities for Vietnamese goods to access more markets, including 15 landlocked countries in Africa. Viet Nam's main regional export markets are significant economies with seaports, such as South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria. Countries worldwide plan to study, negotiate and sign international trade agreements, especially free trade agreements (FTAs) with the African Continental Free Trade Area. This will help them save time negotiating with individual countries or regions (Africa currently has 55 countries divided into eight economic areas). According to the ministry, African countries have similar production structures, mainly primary products such as crude oil, raw agricultural products, minerals, and precious metals. Even if the AfCFTA agreement takes effect across the region, the continent still cannot guarantee the supply of machinery, equipment, rice, textiles, footwear, and processed aquatic products; and still has to depend on imports from foreign countries. Therefore, there remains enormous potential for Viet Nam to export its essential commodities such as rice, coffee, garment and textiles, footwear, and aquatic products to Africa. Viet Nam can increase its exports of textile, leather and footwear products to Africa by promoting competitive advantages such as low labour costs, good sewing techniques, and high-quality products if the nation or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) negotiates a trade agreement with the AfCFTA, the ministry said. The AfCFTA is the world's largest free trade area bringing together the 55 countries of the African Union (AU) and eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs). The overall mandate of the AfCFTA is to create a single continental market with a population of about 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of approximately $3.4 trillion. VNS HA NOI Vietnamese rubber exports to South Korea in the first four months of 2023 totalled 12,470 tonnes, valued at US$18.92 million, up 5.6 per cent in volume but down 15 per cent in value year-on-year, according to statistics from the General Department of Customs. Viet Nam's natural rubber is the primary product exported to South Korea. Particularly, the SVR 10 accounted for the largest portion of the total exported rubber, 28.05 per cent, followed by SVR CV60 and SVR 3L with 24.53 per cent and 14.44 per cent, respectively. The drop in value is attributed to the sharp decrease in average export price of all types of rubber over the same period in 2022. Thailand, Indonesia, China, Viet Nam, and the Philippines are the top five rubber suppliers to South Korea, with Viet Nam ranking fourth. However, the Vietnamese rubber market share is shrinking here, while the market shares of Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Singapore tending to increase over the same period in 2022. In the South Korean market, Viet Nam's rubber has to compete with Thai and Indonesian rubber. Therefore, the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade recommends Vietnamese businesses diversify their products to meet the requirements of the market. The ministry will continue to work and optimise the efficacy of the structures for bilateral cooperation to complete specific goals, such as putting together an action plan to achieve the bilateral trade target of $100 billion in 2023. Vietnamese companies also need to encourage technology transfer, raise the standard of human resources, and improve trade and investment in the textile, automotive, mechanical, and electronic industries. VNS HCM CITY A series of opportunities to connect and share experiences among enterprises that invest in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) will be offered at the Vietnam ESG Investment Conference 2023. Co-hosted by Raise Partners and Vietcetera, the conference will take place at the New World Saigon, HCM City, from May 31 to June 1, 2023, aiming at bridging sustainable investment opportunities with discerning investors while supporting Vietnamese businesses to unlock new financial prospects and navigate the dynamic landscape of risks and trends through the ESG lens. Topics to be discussed include: ESG investment criteria in Viet Nam; securing development capital through an ESG lens; renewable energy transition and carbon markets; investing in inclusive opportunities, workforce, and leadership; sustainable and climate smart agriculture; circular economy and impact financing; and responsible manufacturing and sourcing. ESG is a set of standards measuring factors related to sustainable development and corporate impact on society, which has been critical for businesses and investors in recent years. While ESG has been a concept for some time, the global COVID-19 pandemic underscored its significance. Corporations have found that aligning with ESG standards is not just about growth but survival. In response, investors are recalibrating their strategies, moving beyond traditional financial metrics to embrace investment trends informed by ESG evaluations. In January 2022, Bloomberg Intelligence predicted that global ESG assets could reach US$50 trillion by 2025. The trend toward investing in companies adhering to ESG standards is clear. These investments can mitigate adverse environmental and societal impacts while generating long-term value for investors. In this context, the Vietnam ESG Investment Conference 2023 aims to foster sustainable investment opportunities in Viet Nam, contributing to a resilient ESG-centered financial ecosystem. The conference will feature the insights of over 50 investors and industry experts and welcome more than 400 guests, including leaders of multinational corporations from various industries. VNS MEKONG DELTA A colour-changing lizard, a thick-thumbed bat, a poisonous snake named after a Chinese mythological goddess, an orchid that looks like a muppet, and a tree frog with skin that resembles thick moss are five of the 380 new species described by scientists in the Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia in 2021 and 2022, according to a new report released recently by WWF. With many of the species already under threat of extinction from human activities, WWF is calling on governments in the region to increase protection for these rare, amazing creatures and their habitats. The report documents the work of hundreds of scientists from universities, conservation organisations and research institutes around the world who discovered 290 plants, 19 fishes, 24 amphibians, 46 reptiles and one mammal in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam. This brings the total number of vascular plants, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals described in the Greater Mekong region since 1997 to 3,389. These remarkable species may be new to science, but they had survived and evolved in the Greater Mekong region for millions of years, reminding us humans that they were there a very long time before our species moved into this region, said K. Yoganand, WWF-Greater Mekong regional wildlife lead. We have an obligation to do everything to stop their extinction, protect their habitats, and help their recovery. WWF highlights of the report include the Cambodian blue-crested agama. This aggressive lizard changes colour as a defensive mechanism and was identified by studying lizards found near an Angkor-era archaeological site. Viet Nams Thai crocodile newt is threatened by agricultural encroachment, logging, and collection by communities as a traditional cure for abdominal pain and parasitic infection. Khois mossy frog is a large, spectacular find that is mossy-green coloured, which helps it blend into the lichen and moss-covered stony, leafy background. Hayes thick-thumbed myotis, a mouse-eared bat with unusual fleshy thumbs was named a new species after a specimen sat in a Hungarian museum for 20 years. Dendrobium fuscifaucium is a miniature orchid with brilliant pink and bright yellow colouring that resembles the beloved Mah na mah na muppets. Suzhens krait is an extremely venomous snake named after Bai Su Zhen, a snake goddess from a Chinese myth called the Legend of the White Snake. Cleyera bokorensis is an evergreen shrub threatened by a Cambodian casino, dam and residential development. Thailands bent-toed gecko was named after a mythical tree nymph Rukha Deva that lives in trees and protects the forests. Discovered in the Tenasserim Mountains bordering Myanmar, it aggressively opens its mouth and waves its tail side-to-side when threatened. A new gecko species was discovered in Laos capital city Vientiane, whose home is being fragmented by construction projects. A semi-aquatic snake, Hebius terrakarenorum, found in the Dawna-Tenasserim Landscape between Thailand and Myanmar, is 650mm long and was identified entirely from road-kill specimens collected over a decade, and a few photos. These new species are under intense pressure from deforestation, habitat degradation, road development, loss of streams and rivers, pollution, diseases spread by human activities, competition from invasive species, and the devastating impacts of illegal wildlife trade. Sadly, many species go extinct before they are even discovered. In his foreword to the report, Dr Truong Nguyen with the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources at the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology notes that immediate action and the increased use of new technologies such as bio-acoustics and genetic sequencing are needed to help scientists discover more species in this biodiversity hotspot. To reverse the rapid biodiversity loss in the region, more concerted, science-based, and urgent efforts need to be made," he said. "Conservation measures need more attention from governments, NGOs and the public. WWF works with governments, communities, non-profit and private partners across the five Greater Mekong countries on conservation strategies designed to protect these species and their habitat. They work through these partnerships to protect flagship species such as Asian elephants, Irrawaddy dolphins and tigers, as well as the forests, rivers and oceans they depend on. To stop wildlife declines, WWF is strengthening protected areas and tackling the snaring crisis, illegal wildlife markets, online wildlife trade, and the financial crimes associated with wildlife trafficking. This is the latest in a series of reports highlighting new discoveries in the Greater Mekong region. Last year, WWF also reported on 25 different primate species out of 44 found in Viet Nam called the Greater Mekong home. Still, these unique species are increasingly threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, hunting and illegal trade. Deforestation, habitat degradation and hunting driven by the wildlife trade have forced many primates in the Greater Mekong to the brink of extinction. VNS A NANG An exhibition of Japanese dolls celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Viet Nam will open at the central citys Fine Arts Museum on May 30. The museum said the exhibition, co-organised by the Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Viet Nam and the museum, proudly promoted the beauty of Japanese culture to Vietnamese people and boosted the friendship between Viet Nam and Japan over the past half-century. The museum said ever since ancient times, dolls have been an integral part of the daily life of Japanese people. Japanese dolls reflect Japanese cultural practices, aspirations, and beliefs accumulated over centuries. Japanese dolls are divided into different types according to their skills and materials, as well as their themes and shapes. For Japanese people, a doll is not merely a decoration but also a confidant, expressing the feelings of its owner. Therefore, most traditional Japanese dolls carry a lot of expressive nuances and gestures, showing the skillfulness of the doll craftsmen. The exhibition will display about 70 pieces of traditional and modern dolls made in Japan in two spaces, human-shaped dolls, and wooden Kokeshi dolls. Visitors will explore the gorgeous 32 dolls depicting various characters, from children to grown-ups, in the setting of daily life to theatre. All the dolls are sophisticatedly made by the skillful hands of many craftsmen over a few years, with each craftsman taking part in a different process stage. According to the exhibition's introduction release, these dolls have high artistic value and are often offered as gifts on special occasions. Another space at the exhibition will show off the unique wooden doll Kokeshi provided by Tsugaru Kokeshi Museum. Kokeshi originated from the Tohoku (Northeast) region of Japan in the 19th century and is usually sold as souvenirs for children at the hot spring towns in the region. Each town has its own Kokeshi type, characterised by its unique pattern and technique. A 12-type Kokeshi collection will be on display with detailed comparisons and in various sizes, accompanied by modern Kokeshi works, five of which are inspired by Vietnamese culture. Visitors will have a chance to try on traditional Yukata clothes, the art of paper folding Origami, and take home cute little paper dolls. The event will open free entrance from May 31 to June 20 at 78 Le Duan Street. VNS Her daughters helped Thelma Pocahontas Schoblocher don her native dress just prior to the Upper Mattaponi Tribe honoring her as their matriarch, the oldest member of that Indian nation. Schoblocher, 96, had traveled from her home in Sarasota, Florida, to the soil in Virginia where the Upper Mattaponi have lived for more than 1,000 years. It was here within the ceremonial circle, amid all the colorful and distinctive native clothing that her people held their 34th Spring Festival and Native American Pow Wow on Saturday and Sunday. I was very excited. I felt great and was very honored, she said about the Saturday program with the recognition and elaborate ceremonial procession of flags, Virginia tribal leaders, scores of Native American dancers, and, of course, Schoblocher with her son, Thomas, and daughters Teresa and Trudith. Thelma Pocahontas Schoblocher (second from right) with daughters, Trudith Dyer (right) and Theresa Gschwind Schoblocher (left) with son Thomas Schoblocher in green regalia. Wilford Kale/freelance But I shouldnt have been honored. Im just a little person among the larger group, she added. My people should be honored It was wonderful. I cried and I couldnt help it to be with family, cousins, grandchildren. On Saturday afternoon, amid bright sunshine and windy weather, an estimated 9,000 people came to the Pow Wow grounds off state Route 30, just west of the King William County courthouse. Last year, about 28 acres, including the Pow Wow grounds and the neighboring old Indian school, were accepted by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs into trust, giving the tribe sovereignty. This years Pow Wow included singing by special invited groups and drumming performances. Songs, old and new, in traditional Native American languages were part of the day-long program honoring traditions, ancestors, elders, veterans and the creator. Dancers performed during the opening ceremonial procession at the Pow Wow. Wilford Kale/freelance Dancers wore regalia and accessories of feathers and tin jingles. The regalia most often hand-made from buckskin or cloth were often enhanced with beads, fringe, bones, and shells. As Schoblocher sat with her family and enjoyed the festivities, dozens of folks came up to kiss, hug or shake hands. Schoblocher didnt want to talk about herself. Rather, she wanted to tell stories about her mother and father, Eugene and Katherine Tupponce, and her grandmother Mollie and grandfather Jasper Jab Adams, who for years was chief of the Upper Mattaponi. Her mother was born near the Pow Wow ground and her father in West Point. He drove a horse and buggy 17 miles each way, when they were courting, she said. After their marriage, the couple moved to Philadelphia because the family farmed and my father cut timber. He decided he didnt want to do that anymore and they moved where my dad could get work. When I was in school, if they knew you were an Indian, they made fun of you, war whoops and all, she said. Gradually, the mood of the country has come a long way from the time when they told us we couldnt do nothing or couldnt be nothing, she said with a big laugh. Nansemond Chief Keith Anderson (right) with his son Kalen Anderson. Wilford Kale/freelance Today, Native Americans are recognized and their heritage remembered. Virginia has seven federally recognized tribes the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, the Chickahominy Indian TribeEastern Division, the Monacan Indian Nation, the Nansemond Indian Nation, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, the Rappahannock Indian Tribe and the Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe. On Sunday, the Schoblocher family visited the museum at the Jamestown Settlement, where they have a strong connection. The museum displays a turkey feather mantle, or cape, hand-woven by Schoblochers grandmother Mollie Adams. Also there are two paintings by Trudith Schoblocher Dyer, Pocahontas daughter. They feature Grandmas Cape and a painting, Paper Genocide, about the plight of Native Americans. When I look at them, Schoblocher said, I get very emotional. Wilford Kale, kalehouse@aol.com KHANH HOA Vietnam Fisheries Trade Union (VFTU) on Monday held a communication event to raise awareness for union members on national sovereignty over seas and islands as well as on the prevention and combat of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Participants were updated on the current situation of the country's sea and islands, efforts to combat IUU fishing associated with the responsibilities of union members and fishermen towards having the yellow card imposed by the European Commission on Vietnamese fishery products removed. According to the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, the VFTU has 90 chapters in 16 out of 28 coastal provinces and cities, with nearly 18,000 members and more than 5,200 fishing vessels of more than 15 metres in length. In recent years, the VFTU has been proactive in popularising legal documents on seas and islands and calling on its members and boat owners to combat IUU fishing. It has coordinated with relevant agencies in providing national flags, first aid kits and life vests to fishermen. The trade union has timely issued statements rejecting the unilateral fishing ban in the East Sea (internationally known as South China Sea) by foreign countries, as well as protesting acts that hinder, drive away, attack and arrest people and property of union members and Vietnamese fishermen. At the event, the VFTU signed several cooperation agreements with enterprises such as Son Ha Group, Bao Viet Insurance Corporation and Minh Hong Phuc Viet Nam Co. Ltd. These agreements will create favourable conditions for union members to access products and services at preferential prices, thereby helping them feel secure while operating at sea, contributing to protecting the country's sovereignty over sea and islands. The European Commission's (EC) inspection team will evaluate the implementation of its recommendations on combating IUU fishing in Viet Nam in October this year. The MARD asked 28 coastal provinces and cities and concerned ministries to strengthen the leadership, direction and effectively implement measures on controlling IUU fishing as directed by the Prime Minister. VNS HA NOI Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha received visiting Lao Minister of Technology and Communications Boviengkham Vongdara in Ha Noi on Monday. Welcoming agreements signed between the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) and the Lao Ministry of Technology and Communications, Deputy PM Ha expressed his wish that the two sides would actively promote cooperation and technology transfer so that Viet Nam and Laos could jointly implement digital and green transformation as soon as possible. With its potential for renewables such as hydroelectricity, wind power and solar power, Laos could become a centre of clean energy, he remarked, adding that this would be one of the factors that determine the level of attraction for investors in the future. Regarding digital transformation, the Deputy PM appreciated the results that the information and communications technology (ICT) industry of Laos has achieved, with the active and effective support of Viet Nam's Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel). He showed his belief that in the coming time, Laos would form an effective ICT system helping people benefit from the digital government and digital economy, replacing the development model based on natural resources which are becoming exhausted. From experiences it has in Viet Nam, the Lao ministry could "order" the Viettel Group to achieve bigger goals in digital transformation and digital society promotion. In terms of human resources training and development, Ha asked the Lao Ministry of Technology and Communications to identify specific needs and coordinate with the VAST to develop a Government-level project to create a solid foundation for cooperation and accompany Viet Nam on the path of innovation. Boviengkham said that this visit was to promote the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation with the VAST on forecasting and warning of natural disasters and tsunami; research and technology training related to the fourth Industrial Revolution; and on building a national centre for cloud computing/Big Data and application. According to the minister, the Lao ministry has a close cooperative relationship with the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Science and Technology and other ministries of Viet Nam, thus contributing to strengthening and cultivating the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. VNS HA NOI President Vo Van Thuong had a meeting with a delegation of 70 revolution contributors from the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long in Ha Noi on Tuesday. The Vinh Long delegates include war invalids, those who were imprisoned by enemies or affected by Agent Orange/dioxin, martyrs relatives, and families of revolution contributors. Appreciating the Party, State, and societys attention and assistance to revolution contributors nationwide, including those in Vinh Long, they said they had always stayed united and made efforts to improve their life, contribute to local and national development, and join hands with authorities in repatriating martyrs remains and building, and upgrading monuments to martyrs. They pledged to uphold revolutionary traditions, set good examples, and educate younger generations on the traditions so that Vinh Long will develop more strongly in the future. Offering the best wishes to the Vinh Long delegates, President Thuong affirmed that the Party, State, and people always kept in mind the service rendered to the nation by martyrs, war invalids, and other revolution contributors. He noted that generations of Vinh Long people laid down their lives or got injured during the two resistance wars and the fights to safeguard the Fatherland. The province is currently home to 16,000 martyrs, 4,500 war invalids, and nearly 3,000 Heroic Vietnamese Mothers. The leader hailed the contributors efforts to overcome hardships and educate the young, expressing his hope that they would keep upholding their hometowns traditions to further help with local and national development. At the meeting, the President also spoke highly of the Vinh Long Party organisation, administration, and peoples solidarity and efforts to care for revolution contributors and disadvantaged people. He requested that the province maintain attention to this work, aside from economic development, to seriously and effectively implement the States policies for revolution contributors. VNS HA NOI The Party, State, as well as the whole political system, have worked hard to better protect children online amid increasing risks. With the rapid development of information technology and the Internet, children face many risks, including cyberbullying. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported that one in five young people said they had been a victim of online bullying. Statistics show that about 750,000 sexual predators worldwide are online at any given moment, four times the population of Ba inh District in Ha Noi, and over three million accounts registered across the 10 most harmful child sexual abuse sites. Deputy representative of UNICEF in Viet Nam Lesley Miller said these are worrisome numbers, and it is necessary to take urgent action to address the situation. According to reports of the national emergency telephone number for child protection, 111, it received nearly 420 calls about child protection in the online environment and 18 notifications about channels or video clips with harmful content for children in 2022. The figures in the first five months of this year were 128 calls, including 124 requests for counselling, and three notifications. Thirty of the 124 counselling requests were related to sexual abuse of children online. Nguyen Ngoc Anh, an expert from UNICEFs children protection programme, said after COVID-19, families and children rely more and more on the Internet to keep up with lessons, study, or maintain social connections, leading to higher risks to children. What happened in cyberspace reflects the general society at large, as well as the dangers children face in their own homes, schools, and communities places that must be safe for children. Therefore, strategies to address cyberbullying and abuse should be part of the broader child protection strategies, and cooperation and coordination among stakeholders are key to success in this work, he stressed. UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have developed the Guidelines for Industry on Child Online Protection for businesses, which outline solutions that companies can take to protect and respect children, as well as for children to use the Internet in a healthy and creative way. ang Hoa Nam, director of the Department of Child Affairs under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, stressed that it is necessary to join hands in creating a safer and healthier digital environment for children. He underlined the need to learn from Vietnamese and international experience, thus rolling out more specific and practical measures to ensure safety for children online. The legal system for protecting children in the online environment has been developed, including the Law on Children, the Law on Cyber Information Security, and the Law on Access to Information, creating an important legal basis for the child protection work. The Government and the Prime Minister have issued a number of important documents to protect children online, such as the National Action Programme for Children in the 2021-30 period and the programme on protection of and support for children. Viet Nam and other ASEAN member countries also agreed to adopt the Declaration on the Protection of Children from all Forms of Online Exploitation and Abuse in ASEAN in 2019, and the Declaration on the Elimination of Bullying of Children in ASEAN. VNS HA NOI Farm produce under the "One Commune One Product" (OCOP) programme has gradually become popular with domestic consumers in recent years. But to export, branding and trade promotion for the products need to be implemented methodically by businesses, co-operatives and relevant ministries and local governments. OCOP is a national programme that seeks to facilitate the development of regional agricultural specialties and rural tourism. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the country has a total of 9,500 OCOP products, of which 65.5 per cent were recognised at the 3-star standard but only 2 per cent of the products got the 5-star standard. The OCOP programme has been widely developed in many regions of the country, focusing on improving quality as well as diversifying product designs, thereby promoting the advantages of each locality. Notably, instead of producing raw products, recently many businesses and cooperatives have turned to green, clean, and even refined products to catch up with consumption trends, thus creating a boost in exports for brands. Along with attaching stars to OCOP products, currently, the trade promotion of OCOP products is being implemented by ministries, branches and localities. OCOP products have entered the domestic supermarket system, retail distribution channels and chain stores. According to the assessment of the Viet Nam Retailers Association, after nearly five years of implementing the programme, consumers are now very familiar with the OCOP name. Not stopping at the domestic market, producers of OCOP products also seek to penetrate markets abroad. Tran Thanh Nam, the MARD deputy minister, said that the European Craft Fair being held in December in Italy will be a great opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises to promote their products, expand markets and reach new customers. Viet Nams OCOP products are ready to participate at this fair, Nam said. Currently, the MARD has also guided its agencies to notify localities to prepare 5-star OCOP products for display and introduction at the fair, he said. In order to develop the system and expand the consumption market, many Vietnamese enterprises have found a way to "go abroad" for their OCOP products. For example, in mid-March this year, a shipment of seven 20-foot containers of 200,000 sesame coconut cakes by My Phuong Food Company in Hoa Son Commune of Hoa Vang District, a Nang City were exported to China. This was the first OCOP product of a Nang City officially exported to this market. Since then, the cakes have been exported to the US, Japan, South Korea and Laos. Along with the advantages of free trade agreements (FTAs), after attaching stars to the OCOP products, businesses have received support in product and trade promotion in domestic and international markets by ministries, departments and local governments. This support is a great motivation for businesses to further invest into OCOP products. OCOP producers recognise that the 5-star standard is the "golden passport" to export. In order to be awarded 5 stars, the product must go through a very rigorous review, appraisal and evaluation process. To get more of these "golden passports", recently, the MARD held a meeting of the central-level OCOP product evaluation and classification council for 2023. Out of 85 dossiers submitted by localities, 19 products gained 5-star recognition, including products of coconut flower honey, coconut flower sugar of Tra Vinh FARM Company and dried coconut of Cau Ke Company in Tra Vinh Province; and Phu Quoc Khai Hoan fish sauce of Khai Hoan Company in Kien Giang Province. The exporting of OCOP products still faces many obstacles due to low output and weak marketing. One of the weaknesses is that the producers have not yet clearly shown the characteristics of OCOP products, said Nam. Each OCOP product needs to have an attractive story. And in the process of developing OCOP products, many entities have not yet built up standards of raw material areas. Many products do not have intellectual property and product quality has not been associated with trademarks and brands, the deputy minister said. According to experts, in order to enable exporting, each OCOP product must have local characteristics and good quality. However, to have the distinct values of OCOP products, producers need to be supported. To develop 5-star OCOP brands in the international market, businesses and co-operatives need to pay attention to sustainability factors from the start of production because this is an inevitable trend, said the deputy minister. VNS HCM CITY HCM City-based Binh Dan Hospital is offering free gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) examinations and consultations for people aged 16 and above from 7am to 11:30am every Saturday until the end of the year. The offer began on May 27 at the hospital at No. 326 ien Bien Phu Street in District 10. It aims to help patients with GERD be diagnosed early and treated in a timely manner, according to a recent announcement from the hospital. The participants will receive an in-depth examination by gastroenterologists at the hospital to discover the physical causes (if any) and factors affecting their health. Then they will get medical advice from doctors about living and eating to control the disease and treatment instructions. In particular, the hospital doctors will consult with a professor of gastroenterology from the US-based University of California, Irvine, to have an effective treatment plan for patients. Test subjects are those who have been diagnosed with GERD, or have common symptoms such as heartburn, acid reflux, chest or epigastric pain, and trouble swallowing. They must call the hospital hotline 19007123 for registration. GERD is a condition in which changes in the gastroesophageal valve prevent it from closing, allowing stomach juices, including acid and bile, to back up into the esophagus. The disease is common globally. It occurs in about 20 per cent of American adults, according to a 2022 study. According to the Viet Nam Internal Medicine Association, about seven million Vietnamese people had gastroesophageal reflux disease in 2022, of which about 60 per cent were not treated promptly, leading to complications such as esophageal stricture and esophageal cancer. GERD tends to occur in people with obesity, chronic stress, peptic ulcers, unhealthy eating habits, and the use of some medications. People with GERD can suffer from the symptoms of the disease for life if left untreated. The disease also causes many discomforts for patients such as sore throat, heartburn, bad breath, persistent cough, breathing difficulty and chest tightness. However, the above symptoms often overlap in many other diseases of the digestive tract, ear, nose and throat. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam must pay more attention and invest more to develop the grassroots health system and preventive medicine nationwide, National Assembly (NA) deputies urged at the ongoing fifth plenary session of the 15th National Assembly on Monday. The discussion looked at the mobilisation, management and use of resources for COVID-19 prevention and control, as well as implementing policies and laws on grassroots health and preventive medicine. National Assembly (NA) Deputy Tran Van Tuan of Bac Giang Province said that in addition to the achievements, the COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control revealed many shortcomings and weaknesses of grassroots health and preventive medicine. The main reason is that preventive medicine and grassroots health have not been paid enough attention, and investment in them is inadequate. He said that the facilities of many units, especially commune-level health stations, are still substandard. He said that the quality of medical staff at the grassroots level and preventive medicine is still limited, and the remuneration and salary policies are inappropriate. Therefore, Tuan suggested that the NA and the Government should pay more attention and have an adequate investment in the grassroots health system and preventive medicine in the future. He said it is necessary to build and deploy a project on strengthening the system of grassroots health and preventive medicine to meet the community's demand, suitable for each locality and region. The Government should urgently review, amend, and promulgate documents on the functions and tasks of the grassroots health and preventive medicine in the locality, said Tuan. He added it has to provide more medical and health care services at district and commune-level health stations, creating favourable conditions to promote the role of district and commune-level health stations, meeting the requirements of medical examination and treatment for local people. It also requires increased investment in facilities, machinery and equipment commensurate with the role of the grassroots health system and preventive medicine; urgently remove obstacles and inadequacies for medical units in implementing financial and autonomy mechanisms, he said. Medicine preventive: key factor Thach Phuoc Binh, NA deputy of Tra Vinh Province, said he agreed with the contents of the NA Inspection Teams report on mobilisation, management and use of resources for COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control as well as the implementation of policies and laws on grassroots health and preventive medicine. However, he said it has to add several solutions to develop preventive medicine and grassroots health in the future. He said that preventive medicine should be the key factor and grassroots health should be the foundation to ensure people's health care following the Resolution on strengthening the work of improving people's health in the new situation. Currently, the country has many health stations at levels of communes, wards, towns, villages and hamlets. The stations are believed to be closest to the people, with an expectation to play the role of the front line force in disease prevention, health care as well as screening, early detection and disease control, he said. However, the stations have failed to meet the peoples demands on health care, he added. Therefore, re-organising the health system is a radical solution. He said that initial medical examination and treatment should be operated following the family doctor model combined with grassroots health. Chau Quynh Giao, NA deputy of Kien Giang Province, said that preventive medicine has a very important role in protecting and improving people's quality of life and life expectancy, thereby contributing to socio-economic development. But, preventive medicine has failed to meet people's expectations in the current situation. The human resources for preventive medicine only meet 42 per cent of the demand. Disease prevention activities now often focus on infectious disease prevention. In contrast, the burden caused by non-communicable diseases accounts for 70 per cent of the total disease burden in the country, she said. It is estimated that deaths from non-communicable diseases account for over 74 per cent of the total deaths each year, she said. Nguyen Lan Hieu, NA deputy of Binh inh Province, said the task of developing preventive medicine is the biggest challenge in the current period. He said the Government should try a new model, considering the commune and ward-level health stations to be the clinics of the district-level health centres. He said that doctors of the district-level health centres should arrange fixed outpatient visits in a commune and ward-level health stations to examine and treat local people. He said it is advised to assign more rights and responsibilities to heads of the commune and ward-level health stations so that they can develop their strengths. Besides, digitalisation of the health sector, including health management and telemedicine, will be the key to the success of the primary health care system, he said. NA Inspection Teams report Nguyen Thuy Anh, chairwoman of the NA's Committee of Social Affairs, who presented the NA Inspection Teams report, said as of December 31, 2022, the total amount of money that has been mobilised to serve the pandemic's prevention and control and the implementation of social security policies is about VN230 trillion (US$9.86 billion). Over VN11.6 trillion ($498 million) has been mobilised into the COVID-19 Vaccine Fund. Viet Nam had received about 259.3 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, she said. She said there had been millions of volunteers, especially medical staff, medical officers and soldiers of the armed forces, directly participating in the fight against the pandemic. People from all walks of life, the business community, the governments of countries and international organisations have directly participated in the pandemic prevention and control and contributed donations in various forms, Thuy Anh said. The report shows that the management, use, payment and settlement of resources for pandemic prevention and control complied with the issued guidelines and policies. Authorised agencies have given financial support to people, employees, employers and business households that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting frontline forces and other forces participating in the fight against the pandemic and purchasing vaccines against COVID-19. They have also supported research and testing of domestic vaccines against COVID-19, procurement of COVID-19 test kits and medical equipment, supplies, drugs and biological products, and paying for medical examination and treatment of COVID-19 patients. In addition to the achievements, the team also pointed out shortcomings in mobilising, managing and using resources for COVID-19 prevention and control. For example, she said the legal system has not yet fully covered arising situations during the pandemic. The management, use, payment and settlement of funds for pandemic prevention and control from the State budget during and after the peak period of the pandemic were still slow, causing many difficulties and problems, she said. Preventive medicine has been consolidated and arranged to streamline the apparatus. By 2022, all 63 provinces and cities have established centres for disease control. Nevertheless, shortcomings in implementing legal policies on grassroots health and preventive medicine were also pointed out. The organisation of the grassroots health system is unstable and the management model of district-level health centres has not been uniformly implemented nationwide, she said. Although human resources for grassroots health and preventive medicine have been improved, they are still lacking in quantity and limited in qualifications and professional capacity, she said. Investment in grassroots health and preventive medicine is still inadequate and some localities expenditures on preventive medicine have not reached 30 per cent of the total local budget expenditure on health as requested in the Resolution No. 18/2008/QH12 of the National Assembly, she said. VNS HA NOI Sixty of the Vietnamese citizens recently rescued from a gambling establishment in Pampanga Province, near Manila, in the Philippines, arrived home early Tuesday morning. According to the Vietnamese Embassy in the Philippines, local authorities on May 4 rescued more than 1,000 people, including 437 Vietnamese nationals, who were forced to work at a gambling establishment in Pampanga Province. The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has ordered the Consular Department and the embassy to work closely with local agencies to visit and assist the Vietnamese nationals and collect their information, especially those without valid travel documents. The MoFAs steering board for citizen protection held a meeting on May 25 to seek ways to coordinate with the Philippines to repatriate the citizens as soon as possible. The Consular Department and the HCM City Department of Foreign Relations have built plans and worked with border gate authorities on the reception and hand-over of the citizens to their families. The MoFA has demanded the Consular Department and the Vietnamese Embassy in the Philippines maintain contact with authorities to safely repatriate the remainder. In a recent press briefing, in response to questions about the case, Pham Thu Hang, deputy spokesperson for the foreign ministry emphasised that the Vietnamese Government's policy was to promote legal, safe and orderly migration while resolutely fighting illegal migration human smuggling and human trafficking. Hang stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had worked with competent authorities to raise awareness among the people interested in working abroad, to caution them against false promises of 'easy work, high salary' that don't require certification, as they could potentially become victims of labour exploitation of gambling facilities, illegal residence, or even human trafficking. VNS HCM CITY Scholars, experts, scientists, and business executives discussed solutions for the problems caused by urbanisation at the first South East Asian Urbanisms Seminar that wrapped up on Tuesday. The two-day event, titled Urban design solutions in Southeast Asia towards solving the problem of global warming, sought to create an international scientific forum for urban design and planning in the region amid global warming and rapid urbanisation and modernisation. It attracted hundreds of experts in architecture and planning from many countries like Viet Nam, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Thailand. The topics on the agenda included water and forest urbanism, the urban countryside and the rural metropolis. Speakers spoke about research and initiatives for preserving and enhancing indigenous design and solutions to harmoniously integrate architecture with social and cultural contexts and the environment to improve lives and bring sustainable values to communities. Prof. Dr. Su inh Thanh, president of the University of Economics HCM City, said: As one of the leading universities in Viet Nam, the University of Economics HCM City sees its role in the development of comprehensive education, being more engaged with the community and society to jointly solve global challenges. Therefore, we have been putting our minds and efforts to promoting international co-operation within the community of universities. We are organising the 1st South East Asian Urbanisms Seminar together with KU Leuven University and University of Architecture HCM City to develop solutions to urbanism and address socio-ecological issues. VNS Seven Vinpearl hotels and resorts will be taken over and managed by Marriott International , a major global player in hotel management, starting in mid-April. Three already exist in Nha Trang, Hoi An, and Da Nang, and four more will be developed with more than 1,200 rooms, with completion anticipated for 2028.Also read: Five resorts in Vietnam listed among Asia s top 30 resorts According to Mr. Rajeev Menon, President of Marriott International Asia Pacific (excluding mainland China), the move is intended to put the company in a better position to service the variety of hotel demand in several locations across Vietnam. In Vietnam, Marriott International runs 16 hotels and resorts. The company plans to bring several new hotel brands, such as The Ritz-Carlton, Westin, Element and Courtyard by Marriott.The presence of other international titans is also growing. Previously, Lodgis Hospitality Holdings and the Hanwha Group (Korea) worked together in February to invest in and oversee hotel projects around Asia, including Vietnam.As the owner of the Sofitel Legend Metropole in Hanoi and a significant stakeholder of The Grand Ho Tram Strip in Vung Tau, Lodgis, founded in 2016 by Warburg Pincus, VinaCapital, and Mr. Don Lam, manages more than 1,950 rooms under the Maia Resort, Ixora, and Hiive brands. In Vietnam and Cambodia, they own and operate 11 hotels and resorts. By 2025, the business projects that there will be 10,000 operating rooms in use worldwide.The head of JLL's Asia-Pacific Hotel Investment Business spoke on the Asian real estate information website Mingtiandi, saying that the industry is still recovering. "Investors' interest despite geopolitical and macroeconomic risks," he declared.Commenting exclusively on the Vietnamese market, Mr. Morgan Ulaganathan, Head of Property Services & Tourism Consulting - Hospitality of Colliers Vietnam, said that market participants have made "bold moves" immediately from translation until now.Read more: Many Vietnamese resorts and hotels win international awards For example, KKR raised $4.3 billion amid the Covid-19 rush. Additionally, Bain has bought hotels alone or collectively, with or without the name. According to a citation from Blackstone, the company's share in the hotel market is at a historic low of about 12%. Blackstone stated in a report that "we wish our portfolios were bigger."According to experts, the efforts of foreign enterprises in Vietnam's hotel business come from good property valuation opportunities and preparing a springboard for tourism recovery and development in the long term.Before hotel income completely recovers, funds have been raising money to invest in hotel assets at a period of good value, according to Mr. Morgan Ulaganathan.For example, in Da Nang, Savills noted that in recent times, there had been a situation of hotels for sale, concentrated on the coastal roads of Son Tra and Ngu Hanh Son districts and the city center. The reason is that after more than two years of being affected by the pandemic, many owners have difficulty in cash flow.Matthew Powell, Director of Savills Hanoi, said that most of the hotels for sale are for personal investment, the first to fall into crisis because of the epidemic and have products that are difficult to compete with quality products from professional developers and operators nationally and internationally.However, this is an opportunity for buyers to consider specific plans for planning and developing these projects to meet the trend of higher-quality tourists and more sustainable," this expert said.Additionally, foreign businesses are better able to generate income, which enables them to enter into management partnership agreements or make audacious investments in Vietnam. Savills report showed that in the last 6 months of 2022, hotels managed by Pullman, Novotel, and Grand Mercure had 40% higher average room rates and 8% higher occupancy rates than domestic brand projects and self-management.The supply of resort villas is dominated by hotel brands, including Furama, Accor, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Hyatt, and Fusion. Or, with Marriott, they got improvements and enhancements for 8 Vinpearl hotels last year and announced "strong growth" before continuing to shake hands this month.Meanwhile, Vietnam's tourism industry's long-term recovery and growth potential are hard to ignore. Vietnam recorded domestic tourism last year exceeding pre-epidemic levels, with more than 101 million visitors. The government hopes to welcome 110 million tourists this year, including 102 million domestic and 8 million foreign visitors.Despite global economic uncertainty, foreign tourists are still planning to visit Vietnam, according to the travel booking platform Klook. Vietnam welcomed 2.7 million international visitors in the first quarter, and Klook is seeing the demand for international tourists coming to Vietnam "growing exponentially". As an illustration, the number of Korean and Singaporean tourists reserving travel services in Vietnam jumped by 70% and 300%, respectively, compared to the first quarter of 2019 before the pandemic.Also read: Vietnam to attract high spending visitors Mr. Nguyen Huy Hoang, the newly appointed Managing Director for the Vietnam market of Klook, forecasted 2023 to be a good boom year for inbound (international visitors to Vietnam). Attractions include Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Long, Nha Trang, Sa Pa, Hanoi, Phu Quoc, Hoi An, Ninh Binh, Da Lat and Hue.According to Colliers, the key markets for Asia's recovery will be Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Bangkok, and Bali. The need for capital deployment is quite strong, and the foundations for growing resort tourism in Vietnam are highly active. The clock is ticking. It's time to start preparing for an exciting season of deals this year," said Mr. Morgan. Bob Schieffer, award winning CBS news commentator and former presenter of CBS Sunday Morning program, proclaimed, Washingtons End: The Final Years and Forgotten Struggle, (Scribner, 352 pgs., $30) by Jonathan Horn, is a wonderful and insightful read. I cant remember a book where I paused so many times to say to myself, I didnt know that. This engaging book is history served up exactly the way I like it. I totally agree with Schieffer! Horn has filled the pages with a portion of George Washingtons life that is routinely left out, or is severely limited in most biographies. This is a very important, useful biography. Two new essentials stand out in Horns significant work: Washington was not a very successful farmer or at least the land around Mount Vernon did not thrive and he returned to public life briefly as commander in chief of the armies of the U.S. Carefully woven throughout is the bitter partisan battles between Washingtons Federalists and the Republicans, chiefly led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Caught in the middle of those politics were second U.S. President John Adams of Massachusetts and Washington who found more political criticism in retirement than he had in his eight-year presidency. Also cited were Washingtons poor dealings, and public feuds with his successors, Adams and Jefferson, while he strongly supported his friend Alexander Hamilton. Historian Horn, a former White House speechwriter under President George W. Bush, realized in putting his immense research together that Washington, the nations first past president really didnt know how to react or what was expected of a former chief executive. He found it difficult to just fade away, even though in a letter to Henry Knox on March 2, 1787, two days before he left office, Washington said, The remainder of my life (which in the course of nature cannot be long) will be occupied in rural amusements at Mount Vernon. In the wake of the quasi-war with France and the fear that French troops would be sent to invade the U.S., it was felt that a standing Army should be created. Horn explains that Washington agreed to be Army commander in chief of that Army in mid-1798, only on the condition that he be allowed to stay at Mount Vernon unless absolute necessity demanded he take the field. A similar response came from Washington earlier in 1788 when he agreed to become the first American chancellor of the College of William & Mary, the last public office he held. Washington was elected chancellor on January 18, 1788, by the W&M Board of Visitors. However, he finally accepted the post in an April 30, 1788, letter to College Rector Samuel Griffin of Williamsburg with the understanding that he would not be required to attend campus nor participate in board of visitors meetings, planned for once or perhaps twice a year. Washington served as chancellor through his two terms as president and until his death in December 1799. It Is surprising that Horns research did not disclose the W&M chancellorship post, which was definitely part of Washingtons End. Saga of Aunt Ruth Former Irvington, Virginia trial lawyer Bill Kopcsak has written an intriguing book Ruth, More or Less: The True Story of a Woman Surviving a Brutal War and Blossoming into a Figure of Glamour and Strength, (Kopcsak, 160 pgs., $14,95) about his aunt. Ruth, More or Less: The True Story of a Woman Surviving a Brutal War and Blossoming into a Figure of Glamour and Strength Kopcsak, 160 pgs., $14.95 Thank goodness, Kopcsak has told her story through times he visited with her and times she was willing to talk with him, although she refused to allow tape recordings of their conversations. Kopcsak believes Ruth is perhaps the only woman ever to be married to a World War II, high-ranking German Panzer Commander and later to a decorated U.S. Army Tank Commander (Kopcsaks Uncle Pete), who served under General (George) Patton. She survived the terrible bombing and resulting firestorm that destroyed her hometown of Dresden, Germany, and the deaths of her first husband during the war and her 6-year-old son, John Walter, in an automobile accident. Her life also involved being an athlete in the 1935 Olympic trials in javelin, shot put and discus competition. After her marriage to Pete Kopcsak the couple remained mostly in Germany. In those years, Aunt Ruth was a glamorous woman with movie-star looks, he said. An adventuresome Teacher Kirk Peter Lovenburys autobiography From Mormon to Mystic: Excerpts from My Life, (Lovenbury, 168 pgs., $12.30) is an interesting book and an insightful account of his amazing life as a teacher and an active, aggressive learner. From Mormon to Mystic: Excerpts from My Life Lovenbury, 168 pgs., $12.30 The account is a series of essays about the places where he lived Japan, Germany, France, Kenya, China, Italy, Ireland, South Africa and England, twice and the people he met and his responses to those various societies. Through the years, he also visited 90 more nations around the world. Woven through his life has been a religious twisting and turning that, Lovenbury says, has strengthened him in various ways. Born into the Episcopal Church, Lovenbury ultimately was baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, often referred to as the Mormon Church, because he felt God wanted me to join. Lovenbury, a Williamsburg retiree, also explained he is gay, but did not come clean until age 74 in 2016 when he acknowledged he had lived a lie all my life. Put all these factors together and Lovenbury has had a fascinating 78 years, which he describes in a marvelous, appealing way. After the meeting with Secretary of Nam Dinh Party Committee Pham Gia Tuc on May 24 in Nam Dinh province, Taekwang Power Holdings general director Sang Young Jin expressed his determination to develop the Nam Dinh 1 thermal power plant, which has been delayed for over 10 years. According to Jin, the reason for the delay in starting construction is that the company has faced a myriad of financial problems while completing the procedures. There was also a major change in the shareholders of the company. During the meeting, Jin shared the plan to complete the procedures by the end of 2023 and kick off the construction. Jin stated that the company has completed the arrangement of capital and adjusted the investment plan in terms of modern environmental protection, meeting the standard regulated at COP 26. He hoped to receive support from the provincial leadership and the relevant authorities. In 2010, the investor, which is a consortium of Taekwang and Acwa Power Co., unveiled the initial preparations to implement the project. Six years later, an agreement for the thermal power plant project was signed by the General Department of Energy and the consortium of investors. In 2017, the investor received the registration certificate, which was granted by the Ministry of Planning and Investment. However, no progress has been made since, despite the province allocating a large amount of land for the resettlement of residents and the development of the project. The project was due to have a capacity of 1,200MW (two generating units of 600MW each) and a total investment of more than $2 billion. It was planned to supply power for Nam Dinh province and the northern region. The plant would be fuelled by coal from Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group as the main supplier. Taekwang Power Holdings, a Taekwang Group company, was established in 2008 in an attempt to participate in a power plant development in Vietnam. Taekwang Group has expanded its business portfolio from shoe-making into petrochemicals and real estate, and has now grown to become a power plant project developer and operator. It continues to increase its activities in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Ha Tinh to change land purpose for $2.2 billion thermal power plant Ha Tinh Peoples Committee is proposing to switch the agricultural land fund to the non-agricultural land fund to serve the development of the Vung Ang II thermal power plant. $2.35 billion Quang Tri thermal power project terminated The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has officially announced the termination of the VND55 trillion ($2.35 billion) Quang Tri thermal power project after construction was delayed for over a decade. Thai Binh 2 Thermal Power Plant officially inaugurated The long-delayed Thai Binh 2 Thermal Power Plant, with a $1.2 billion investment from state-run PetroVietnam, was officially inaugurated on April 27. Tourists surfing on Kuta Beach in Denpasar on the Indonesia resort island of Bali. (Photo source: AFP) Jakarta - The provincial government of Bali on May 28 warned tourists against paying for goods and services in cryptocurrencies on the popular resort island of Indonesia. Speaking to local media at the Bali tourism development press conference, the islands Governor Wayan Koster said that foreign tourists who behave inappropriately, do activities that are not allowed in their visa permit, use crypto as a means of payment, and violate other provisions will be dealt with firmly. Strict actions range from deportation, administrative sanctions, criminal penalties, closure of business premises, and other tough sanctions, Koster added. He reminded tourists that Indonesias law prohibits the use of currencies other than the rupiah as a means of payment, with punishments including jail term of up to a year and a fine of 200 million rupiah (13,360 USD). Businesses which carry out illicit foreign exchange activities may also face jail terms and fines, he added. The warning came after an investigation by Indonesia news outlet Kompas showed that a number of businesses in Seminyak, including restaurants, meditation studios and motorbike rental companies are accepting payment in crypto. At the same press conference, the head of Bank Indonesias Bali Representative Office, Trisno Nugroho, said crypto assets are allowed as tradeable commodities on future exchanges, but banned as a form of payment. Indonesia, Iran ink MoU to boost Halal products cooperation The governments of Indonesia and the Islamic Republic of Iran have reached a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in Halal products assurance (JPH). Several key projects have been licensed across the central region in recent times Last weekend, Ha Tinh province held a conference to announce provincial planning and promotion of new investment. It is hoped that the event, which has attracted the attention of numerous investors, will spur huge inflows to awaken the potential and aspirations of the province. It is not the only locality pushing ahead with promotion events. The representative of one international investment cooperation organisation told a conference in Binh Duong province that while Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park is growing stronger and expanding in many localities, and the occupancy rate at its IPs is good, the approach in terms of after-sales services for investors may not yet be up to scratch. Localities in the region recognise that the similarity in development conditions can be an advantage for the whole region but also a significant challenge for each locality. The issue of regional links, even cluster links, was posed by economic experts at the event with the expectation of changing the approach to foreign investment inflows. However, they said, moving from policy to practice is always a major problem in this regard. The most practical solution today is for localities to renew themselves and choose strategies in accordance with their local characteristics to attract foreign funding. Quang Binh province has pioneered in setting up a foreign investment cooperation plan. Its clear strategy is to build a roadmap to identify the localitys advantages and create a difference between Quang Binh and other localities. Nguyen Bay, director of Binh Dinh Investment Promotion Centre, said that financiers are very much looking forward to cooperation plans such as these. The master plans of localities help them clearly identify the necessary conditions before exploring opportunities, he said. Elsewhere, Khanh Hoa was the first locality in the region to announce a provincial plan, and its conference on the issue was attended by 1,000 registered guests. Le Huu Hoang, Deputy Chairman of Khanh Hoa Peoples Committee, said the new planning is orienting the key local economic sectors that need to be developed, thereby helping investors to realise efficiency when choosing Khanh Hoa to place their money. Particularly for Van Phong Economic Zone, the governments decision to adjust planning has opened up opportunities. With the orientation of an economic zone, Van Phong is creating a great attraction site for international investors, said Hoang. Recently, localities in the central region have continuously welcomed international investors to explore opportunities, and some localities have licensed large projects. The management of Southeast Nghe An Economic Zone granted a certificate to Foxconn Group, with capital of $100 million. The investor will build a factory for manufacturing wireless headphones, connecting wires, wireless chargers, speakers, and more at WHA Industrial Zone 1. Nghe An is one of the top localities in the region in terms of luring in foreign direct investment. In addition to Foxconn, the province has licensed many important projects such as a Luxshare electronic components factory ($140 million); Goerteks electronic product manufacturing project ($500 million), Everwin Precision Vietnams electronic component project ($199.8 million) and Ju Tengs auto parts and electronic component factory ($200 million). Meanwhile, other major developments have been proposed in the region. Previously, PETMAL Oil Holdings from Malaysia worked with the Peoples Committee of Phu Yen province and proposed an oil refinery project in South Phu Yen Economic Zone, with an initial level of about $2 billion. Elsewhere, Binh Dinh Peoples Committee received a proposal from Germanys PNE Group to fund an offshore wind power project with a capacity of 2,000MW and total investment of up to $4.6 billion. Binh Dinh is considering proposals to put the project into planning and expedite procedures for investors to deploy. Most localities are set to prioritise investment attraction in high technology. For example, Danang will give priority to attracting funding in industries that are ahead of the curve such as ICT, digital tech, nanotechnology, and the supporting industries. Another area that international investors are interested in is logistics services. Danang Peoples Committee announced 10 logistics service centre projects seeking investment before 2030; while Khanh Hoa Peoples Committee aims to build the Cam Ranh urban area into a logistics service centre for the region. Huge transport investment expected to vitalise central regions More than $4.34 billion are to be put into expanding the national highway network from 2021 to 2025, which is expected to create a turnaround to transport infrastructure development in the central regions. Can you provide a comprehensive overview of the scale of Exness and shed light on the intricacies involved in managing such a vast operation? To grasp the scale of our business, lets consider the foreign exchange industry as a whole. On average, approximately $7.5 trillion is traded daily in the foreign exchange market. When we focus specifically on the retail segment, which pertains to individual traders, it amounts to around $1 trillion traded per day. Damian Bunce, Chief Customer Officer for Exness Exness, in comparison, handles approximately $150 billion in daily trades, representing roughly 15 per cent of the retail market. This provides a glimpse into our overall scale and market presence. Managing a business of this magnitude requires a significant emphasis on technology. With a staggering 300 million orders executed each month, the efficient processing of such a substantial volume demands a robust and sophisticated technical infrastructure. Additionally, as our operations run continuously 24/7, including active Bitcoin trading during weekends, unwavering reliability and exceptional speed are paramount in maintaining our clients trust. We invest in advanced monitoring tools and employ a talented technical team to ensure seamless execution and operational efficiency. Furthermore, adherence to regulatory compliance is an integral aspect of our operations. This involves maintaining transparent and secure trading environments, safeguarding client funds, and adhering to compliance standards set by relevant authorities. Effectively managing a business of this scale necessitates a strong focus on technological prowess, operational reliability, and regulatory compliance. These elements form the foundation for our success in delivering top-tier services to our clients. Exness talks about advantages that are specifically better than market conditions what does this mean? Exness offers a wide range of products and services that provide better than market conditions to its clients, which are not commonly available elsewhere in the industry. One notable example of this is the implementation of gap level protection. In todays market, clients often experience slippage, particularly when placing stop orders. However, Exness has devised a solution called gap level protection to address this issue. This unique offering allows us to accommodate instances of slippage and ensure a smoother trading experience for our clients. In addition, we provide a product called volatility protection, which proves highly beneficial in volatile market conditions characterised by frequent market fluctuations and widened spreads. By trading with leverage and utilising our volatility protection, clients are shielded from liquidation even during periods of high market volatility. This advantage sets us apart from other providers in the industry. Furthermore, Exness offers a product known as negative balance protection. This feature guarantees that clients will never lose more than their initial deposit, enabling them to trade larger amounts with leverage while mitigating the risk of excessive losses. In certain circumstances, when utilising Exness product suite, it is even possible to go below zero, yet the clients orders remain open. These exceptional benefits are not available elsewhere in the industry, giving Exness a competitive edge. Committed to a bold and seamless service, illustration photo/ Source: Shutterstock Is this a new policy, or is Exness implementing it for the first time? As a market maker, we constantly strive to introduce our innovative products and services to the market. We take pride in setting our own unique rules and guidelines. Whenever we identify services that we believe are advantageous for our customers, we are committed to offering them, even if they entail higher costs for us. Therefore, while these specific products and features may be new additions to our line-up, the underlying principle of providing better than market conditions has always been a core part of our ethos. What is the companys vision for the South East Asian market and beyond? Exness has a multifaceted approach to its vision and prospects. One key aspect involves expanding its geographic footprint by venturing into new markets. Recently, we opened an office in Uruguay, marking our entry into the Latin American region. Additionally, the acquisition of a licence in Jordan further strengthens its presence in the Middle East and North Africa region. Recognising the potential in Southeast Asia, Exness is also exploring opportunities in this market. Geographic expansion remains a significant component of the companys overall strategy. Furthermore, Exness is closely focused on the crypto community, particularly in Vietnam. The country has witnessed remarkable crypto adoption, with an estimated 20 per cent of the population actively holding cryptocurrencies. To cater to this growing market, Exness is actively developing its crypto products and services, both on the trading and payment fronts. While the cryptocurrency industry is smaller in scale compared to the foreign exchange market, Exness already commands a considerable market share, with daily volumes reaching around $2.5 billion. As part of the plans, we aim to enhance our product range and broaden the scope of services that we offer in this domain. Hong Kong is allowing retail trading in cryptocurrencies, and operators of virtual asset trading platforms willing to comply with the proposed guidelines are welcome to apply for a licence. How do you assess this development? The news of the Hong Kong officially allowing cryptocurrency trading for retail traders worldwide is highly positive for the crypto industry. It signifies that the Hong Kong market is serving as a sandbox or experimentation area for mainland China. This development is a strong indication of increasing openness to exploring crypto-related activities. The immediate impact of this news was evident, as Bitcoins price surged above $27,000. Furthermore, its worth noting that crypto trading in Hong Kong is reportedly not subject to taxation, which adds another advantageous aspect to the industry. Overall, this move serves as a significant driving force for the crypto industry, allowing for greater innovation and market opportunities. What are the upcoming products or services that Exness plans to introduce to the market? We have been actively assessing our clients interactions with our products and services, and based on their feedback, we are making several improvements. One area of focus is enhancing our payment services to provide them with a clear visual understanding of their transaction status throughout the process. We aim to streamline and optimise the payment experience for our clients. Additionally, we are developing a portfolio investment management product that will enable advisors to effectively manage funds on behalf of their clients. This forthcoming offering represents an exciting advancement for us. In the context of investment products, where traditional banks are probably venturing into cryptocurrency portfolio to diversify their services, how does Exness approach this aspect? In the context of investment products, our focus lies in providing an alternative service that addresses the needs of our clients. While some individuals prefer to trade on their own, there are also many who feel more comfortable having a professional manage their investments. We recognise the existence of highly skilled and active traders capable of effectively managing clients funds, and our portfolio investment management product caters to this demand. Its important to note that we are not competing directly with traditional asset management services. Rather, we offer a valuable service that fills a gap in the industry and meets the needs of our clients. As a retail broker with a significant market share, what sets Exness apart from its competitors? We differentiate ourselves in several ways within the industry. Rather than relying on a single standout product, we prioritise excellence across all areas of our business. This includes offering a robust trading platform, seamless payment services, and a strong customer service model. As a well-capitalised company, we prioritise the safety of our clients funds, providing them with peace of mind. We constantly push the boundaries of our product offerings, focusing on innovative solutions that other brokers may not typically provide due to the associated risks. By building bold and forward-thinking products, we bring significant advantages to our clients. This commitment to innovation and comprehensive service sets us apart and underscores our unique position in the market. The subtle art of choosing a foreign exchange broker The forex market is the most liquid market in the world, with approximately $5 trillion traded per day. Tong Quoc Dat, senior market strategist from Exness, explains how to choose a forex broker and why the major banks are active in this arena. Some large tech and data centre investments are veering away from traditional markets Photo: Shutterstock In Hanoi last week, chairman of the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association, Nguyen Van Khoa, emphasised the urgent need for a comprehensive national data strategy to accelerate the countrys digital transformation. Talking at the Vietnam-ASIA DX Summit 2023, Khoa said the strategy would entail a methodological approach and plan for generating, connecting, and utilising data to achieve socioeconomic advancements, supported by workforce readiness, robust data architecture, and effective data governance models. It will serve as a guiding framework for establishing and harnessing the immense value of digital data within Vietnams economy, he said. Khoa underscored the significance of collaboration between the private sector and governmental entities in driving Vietnams digital transformation. The collaborative endeavours focus on several key areas, such as the construction of advanced, modern, and efficient digital infrastructure that underpins the data-driven ecosystem. Furthermore, it is important to facilitate data connectivity and foster a culture of data sharing among different entities, including localities, agencies, and departments, he highlighted. Vietnam stands out as the seventh of 10 emerging colocation markets globally, according to a recent KPMG report published earlier this month, and expected to reach $1.5 billion in market size by 2026. Colocation is the practice of renting space for servers and other computing hardware at a third-party providers data centre facility. Meir Tlebalde, merger and acquisition director for KPMG in Vietnam, told a KPMG seminar on the issue on May 12 that large tech investment traditionally tended to take place in tier-1 markets like Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, and Tokyo, which account for 82 per cent of Asia-Pacifics total data centre capacity. Yet, tier-1 markets are facing shortage in mass land for development and expensive renewables costs, high construction and power costs, and increasing regulatory frameworks in sustainability and data privacy. With rapid digitalisation, emerging Southeast Asia with land resource and cost competitiveness has become an attractive data centre investment destination, Tlebalde said. While the demand is massive, the supply has not yet been accommodated, she added, saying it creates a great opportunity for existing or new players to come in and capture more market growth. Some key growth drivers for Vietnams colocation market are attributed to the lowest development cost in Southeast Asia and capable internet system, reliable power resource at the regions lowest price, and the accelerated digital transformation. In terms of connectivity, Vietnam is ranked 39th globally in download fixed broadband, the KPMG seminar heard. As the government is committed to a net-zero policy, this allows Vietnam to become an eco-friendly data centre market for investments in upcoming years. While the roadmap for that target is not always obvious to investors, we have high hopes that governments will definitely drive the agenda, Tlebalde noted. As of April 2023, the country has 28 data centres with approximately 108,700 sq.m total computing space. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are the two major locations, with 11 and 13 centres respectively. The market is concentrated with 11 operators, among which five major players hold 89 per cent of the countrys total computing space. Experts at the KPMG event also believed that the major challenges for development in Vietnam are the need for a clear and streamlined regulatory framework, as well as power stability. They highlighted the importance of a well-defined licensing process that provides clarity, while high financial costs and liquidity issues also pose obstacles for potential investors. The countrys strategic location and strong determination from the government and local partners make it an attractive destination for international investors. Collaboration with experienced regional investors, who have a global perspective, will further enhance the appetite in the landscape, said Chris Wallace, APAC Data Centre & Critical Facilities Lead of Mace Vietnam. The need for more capital and expertise in the sector is evident, and industry leaders are optimistic about the future growth and potential returns. According to Wallace, Google stands out as a prominent name, bringing its proven approach to operations. Microsoft, AWS, and several Chinese companies have also entered the scene, emphasising the importance of tailored facilities to meet their specific needs. These companies typically require 2-3 facilities, each with its own set of requirements for redundancy, disaggregation, and queuing systems. Power capacity remains a crucial consideration, and simplicity often trumps complexity in their decision-making process, Wallace said. For foreign businesses exploring the Vietnamese market, Wallace emphasised that energy efficiency has become a major focus, prompting adoption of cooling solutions. Traditional air-based cooling, despite its prevalence, has proven to be inefficient. Recognising this, we encourage considering alternative methods that can offer cost-effective and space-efficient cooling solutions, he said. Ho Chi Minh City among top markets for data centre development With many of the largest markets in the APAC region boasting particularly high land costs, only Ho Chi Minh City ranks within the top 10 for the land price category for data centres. The digitalisation wave to boost data centre growth The Asia-Pacific data centre market is one of the fastest developing regions, and it is on track to become the worlds largest over the next decade. Since its establishment in Vietnam in 1992, Deutsche Bank has steadily forged a remarkable 30-year legacy of expansion and development, solidifying its position as a driving force propelling the ASEAN banking sector forward. Today, its presence in Vietnam remains instrumental, playing a pivotal role in the group's burgeoning influence across the vibrant Asia-Pacific region. It has witnessed a doubling of its revenue over the past two years. Deutsche Bank offers a wide range of corporate and investment banking solutions to multinational companies, domestic conglomerates, and financial institutions in Vietnam. This multifaceted spectrum of services encompasses asset management, foreign exchange, capital arrangement for businesses, and an array of advisory solutions. Since 2017, Deutsche Bank has successfully mobilised over $1 billion in annual funding, including loans and equity capital, for Vietnamese enterprises. The bank has also solidified its position by arranging capital and structuring financial transactions in international markets for Vietnamese organisations and businesses. Alexander von zur Muehlen, CEO and member of the board of Deutsche Bank Asia-Pacific, expressed his confidence by stating, "This infusion of capital exemplifies our unwavering belief in Vietnam's rapid and enduring developmental trajectory. It also underscores the strategic significance of the Vietnamese market for our valued clients." "With these fresh investments, we are poised to provide even greater support for our domestic clients' expansion plans, and contribute to the overall growth of Vietnam's economy. We take immense pride in our robust business operations, cultivated over decades of experience in Vietnam, and eagerly anticipate further building our relationship with our clients for years to come," the CEO continued. CEO of Deutsche Bank Vietnam Huynh Buu Quang added, "This significant investment will further enhance our capabilities, allowing us to deliver even greater value to our esteemed clientele. With our strong market position, we are well-positioned to achieve our long-term goal of becoming a leading foreign bank in Vietnam." Deutsche Bank AG Ho Chi Minh City branch increases granted capital Deutsche Bank AG - Ho Chi Minh City branch's granted capital has been increased to $200.08 million and updated as per State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Decision No.401/QD-HCM dated May 12, 2023. At that stage, the amount of investment capital in e-commerce was still very modest and only a few platforms could access capital, such as Vat Gia and Cho Dien Tu. Le Hoang Uyen Vy-Vice chairwoman Vietnam E-commerce Association In the second phase, from 2011 to 2017, Vietnams e-commerce industry developed more vibrantly with the appearance of many domestic and foreign players. The two most popular models and attracting most investment capital were group and multi-industry e-commerce platforms. One of the big deals at that time was Nhommua, which received $60 million from IDG Ventures Vietnam, Rebate Networks, and Ru-net Global. However, most groupon models failed to maintain their growth rate and became into recession after a few years. Regarding the e-commerce platform model, Tiki and Sendo were the two prominent domestic companies that were formed, and continuously called for large rounds of capital after demonstrating their good growth possibilities. In the third phase, which began around 2018, the e-commerce industry has continuously grown thanks to the introduction of many new business models, notably the segments such as business-to-business (B2B) distribution, e-commerce enabler tools for sales support, and social commerce. Among them, some prominent investment deals were Telio, which attained $49 million in investment; Kiotviet ($51 million), and companies in emerging social commerce such as Ecomobi, Mio, and Selly. Currently, the legal basis is generally developing in a favourable direction to promote the development of e-commerce. The industry is developing rapidly with a number of new business models emerging, so the legal framework should be constantly updated, thus creating motivation for small new businesses to join into the industry. As for multi-industry e-commerce platforms, the market is led by foreign-invested enterprises because their economic potential and investment are very much larger than domestic ones. The three exchanges currently leading the market are Shopee, Tiktok Shop, and Lazada, and just behind them are the likes of Tiki and Sendo. In new e-commerce models such as ecommerce enabler, social commerce, and B2B distribution, domestic businesses have a near-absolute advantage because of the acumen of the young generation of entrepreneurs who are learning and deploying new models quickly. In the region, there are not yet large companies with enough potential to penetrate into the Vietnamese market in these segments. Joining the World Trade Organization and signing free trade deals have helped businesses trade more smoothly, from which they can find sources of imported goods for the domestic market better, as well as creating more opportunities to export goods to potential markets. However, cross-border e-commerce is still a not-so-popular concept in Vietnam and has only been promoted in the last few years thanks to the penetration of Alibaba, Amazon Global, and platforms like Shopify and Shopbase. This is still a high-potential market for Vietnamese e-commerce businesses if they can make better use of cross-border trade deals to expand their business. With a double-digit growth momentum and always being in the group of countries worldwide with the leading e-commerce development rate as of today, by 2025, the scale of Vietnams e-commerce market may reach $49 billion. According to a more optimistic forecast from Google, Vietnameses e-commerce market will have a scale of up to $57 billion. According to statistics from Do Ventures and the National Innovation Centre, the amount of investment in e-commerce always accounts for more than 30 per cent of the total investment capital in the technology sector in Vietnam, and this figure is forecasted to continue to grow in the coming years. New investment capital will continue to help many Vietnamese companies develop more innovative business models. We expect more successful Vietnamese enterprises to penetrate the Southeast Asian market in the future. Latest figures from the central bank show that in late February the on-balance sheet non-performing ratio of the banking system stood at 2.91 per cent, an increase compared to 2.46 per cent in late 2016, 1.49 per cent in late 2021 and most recently, 2 per cent in late 2022. However, according to a State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) assessment, several sorts of debts have the potential to be turned into bad debts in the future, such as investment into corporate bonds for debt restructuring, hard-to-collect receivables, among others. If such debts were considered, the non-performing loans (NPLs) ratio of the system might reach 5 per cent of total outstanding balances, said SBV Governor Nguyen Thi Hong. One positive point is that credit institutions have been taking practical measures to ensure operational safety through boosting their loan loss reserve (LLR) funds for their bad debts. Accordingly, credit institutions have maintained a fairly high LLR ratio approximating 125 per cent in late 2022, which is well above the five-year average level at 109.4 per cent, and double that a decade ago, 61 per cent in late 2012. By the end of last year, the LLR ratio at leading state lender Vietcombank touched 317 per cent, at MB 238 per cent and at BIDV 215 per cent, for instance. Le Thanh Quy Ngoc, Risk Management director at Ho Chi Minh City-based commercial lender OCB, noted that dealing with bad debts and collaterals was a constant requirement of credit institutions particularly and the banking sector generally, alongside developing credit scale and lending products. Recent vulnerabilities economically and socially at home and abroad are posing fresh challenges when it comes to tackling bad debts of the banking system. Hence, it urgently needs more active support from management authorities at all levels and relevant management agencies to remove difficulties, and from there create the necessary legal corridor to aid credit institutions efforts in dealing with bad debts in a substantial and efficient manner. A leader at major private lender Eximbank opined that bad debts is one of the factors casting big impacts on the operation of banks, as credit still holds the highest proportion in banks total asset value. Credit brings the largest income source, yet it is the most risky business for banks. Hence, for efficient operation, banks need to pay top attention to the credit and service quality, and bad debt management. Nguyen Hung, CEO at tech-driven TPBank said, The mobilising rate from economic organisations and the community fetches high in the past months. Banks are scaling up efforts to save on cost and expenses to be able to lower lending rate. The capital cost is decisive to lending rate move. With lower capital cost, banks can significantly reduce the lending rate. Can Van Luc, chief economist at BDIV, said that although the government, the SBV, ministries and sectors are very proactive and taking radical measures to support businesses, including issuing fiscal policies on reduction, exemption and payment extension of taxes and fees, the banking systems bad debt might be further swelled in 2023. Legalising regulations on bad debt and collateral handling is crucial to create a sustainable legal corridor to deal with bad debts and ensuring safety to the operation of credit institutions, said Luc. Senior economist Le Xuan Nghia said, Amid rising bad debts, banks must put more into their provisioning funds, leading to augmenting credit costs and lesser room to soften the lending rate. Industrial developers eye the effects of upcoming tax regime Industrial real estate developers must be more proactive in responding to the upcoming global minimum tax policy by improving the quality of industrial zone infrastructure and providing more utilities for their tenants. Public debt management picture clears towards 2025 Vietnams plan for borrowing and paying public debt has been revealed, and the budget landscape finalised for this year, with public debt set to stay within the permissible limit. Rising bad debt threat looms large Despite a bright business outlook, non-performing loans are causing significant concerns to banks amid a challenging environment in both the domestic and global market, according to industry experts. Japan intensifies infrastructure focus, illustration photo: Le Toan During Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs bilateral meeting with Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio in Japan over a week ago, the two nations inked three agreements in which the latter will provide the former with a new official development assistance (ODA) sum worth 61 billion (about $500 million). The money will be used on projects for general post-pandemic socioeconomic recovery and development, improving traffic infrastructure in the southern province of Binh Duong, and ameliorating agricultural development infrastructure in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong. Both leaders have also agreed on the possibility that Japan will provide new-generation ODA for Vietnam with high priorities and simpler and more flexible procedures than before to carry out large-scale strategic infrastructure projects such as the North-South Expressway, urban railways, green transformation, and medicine, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son. At present, Japan is the largest provider of concessional ODA to Vietnam, with more than 3 trillion (about $21.67 billion) accumulatively. Japans ODA accounts for almost one-third of bilateral aid to Vietnam. Yuichi Sugano, chief representative of the Vietnam Office for the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), said that it is now carrying out more than 100 projects in Vietnam in many sectors such as education, healthcare, transport, energy, and agriculture. We have been closely cooperating with Vietnam in infrastructure development, from master plan formulation to hardware construction with a medium- and long-term vision. We will continue boosting the cooperation in this direction, Sugano said. JICA, together with other donors, has been intensively supporting infrastructure in several sectors in Vietnam. Up to now, about a total length of 3,000km of road in Vietnam have been renovated or constructed with JICAs cooperation. The renovation of National Highway No.1 under the cooperation of JICA, the World Bank and Asia Development Bank, strengthened the most important traffic corridor along the country. JICA has intensively worked to improve transport network in the Northern Key Economic Zone, with the renovation of national highways No.10, No.5, and No.18 in parallel with the renovation of Haiphong port. Construction of large-scale infrastructure such as National Highway No.3, Ring Road No.3 of Hanoi, Cai Lan and Lach Huyen deep sea ports, and Noi Bai international terminal all followed a series of cooperation measures with JICA. In the central and southern key economic zones, Japans ODA has been also provided for the construction of the Danang-Quang Ngai expressway, Hai Van tunnel, improvements to Tien Sa port, construction of Cai Mep-Thi Vai port, Ho Chi Minh City-Dau Giay Expressway, Tan Son Nhat International Airport terminal, and urban railway line No.1 in Ho Chi Minh City. The ASEAN Investment Report 2023 released by the ASEAN Secretariat highlighted Vietnams efforts to offer investors opportunities in investing in infrastructure development such as roads, highways, logistics, and seaports. Vietnam is open to the private sector with its programmes to attract investment and engage private sector partners in developing infrastructure, said the report. In 2021, for instance, Vietnams transport ministry announced its infrastructure master plan between then and 2030, which is estimated to cost between $39.4 billion and $62 billion. Under the plan, Vietnam will build thousands of miles of new expressways, high-speed rail routes, deepwater ports, and new international airports. The government intends for the country to achieve a cargo transportation capacity of 4.4 billion tonnes per year, and a road transport capacity capable of moving 2.76 billion tonnes of cargo and 9.43 million passengers per year, the report added. Two of the major projects, Dau Giay-Tan Phu Expressway and Gia Nghia-Chon Thanh Expressway, are to be built using the public-private partnership model. In addition to consolidating ODA cooperation, the Vietnamese and Japanese prime ministers have also vowed to create the best conditions for Japanese investors and businesses to perform in the Vietnamese market. PM Chinh asked Japan to promote a new wave of Japanese investmen here in high technology and renewable energy. When it comes to investment cooperation, Japanese enterprises told PM Chinh that they wish to increase investment and business activities in Vietnam in the sectors of processing and manufacturing, agriculture, and wastewater treatment, Minister Son added. Vietnam and Japan have also just agreed on boosting bilateral ties in new sectors with enormous potential such as the green energy transition, digital transformation, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. According to Vietnams Ministry of Planning and Investment, investment from Japan into Vietnam has risen strongly over the past two years. Accumulatively as of April 20, Vietnam was home to 5,072 Japanese valid projects with total registered capital of over $69 billion, making Japan the third-largest foreign investor in Vietnam after South Korea ($81.45 billion) and Singapore ($73.04 billion). ASEAN+3 should unlock more capital for sustainable infrastructure COVID-19 has brought severe hardships to peoples and communities across the globe, but for the economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a resilient recovery is underway. PPP model needs more balancing, equality for private investors Vietnam's increased demand for infrastructure development in the coming years requires governmental policies that encourage the private sector's participation, said economists and policymakers. Resolving the remaining issues in infrastructure investment I first came to Vietnam when the US embargo on Vietnam was lifted in February 1994. Freshfields decided to open an office in Vietnam to focus on infrastructure development and foreign investment work. At the time, Vietnams electricity supply was inadequate. Through this collaboration, millions of Vietnamese customers will gain access to a fast, affordable, and convenient BNPL services. This partnership is part of a comprehensive strategy from both companies to address the growing demand for digital payments in Vietnam, a market predicted to be worth $143 billion by 2025. The union of these two prominent platforms is expected to have a positive impact on the digital payment trend and further boost Vietnam's digital economy. Considered pioneers in the nation's emerging digital payment market, Kredivo and OnePay are set to offer seamless BNPL services to 20 million customers within the network. This new, modern, and convenient financing and payment solution features a fast and flexible process with a simple two-click check-out. Moreover, with Kredivo's BNPL solution integrated on OnePay, over 4,000 merchants will be able to leverage Kredivo's smart financial solutions and user experience to enhance their business and customer loyalty. Dan Nguyen, country head of Kredivo Vietnam said, "We are excited to collaborate with OnePay, one of Vietnam's largest e-payment gateways, to bring this BNPL solution to millions of users in Vietnam. With seven years of experience serving over seven million users in Southeast Asia, Kredivo's BNPL offerings have helped Vietnamese merchants grow their businesses and attract potential customers in a cost-effective manner." "Many Kredivo merchants have seen their transaction frequency double and their average order value increase by up to 30 per cent. We believe that the collaboration between Kredivo and OnePay will add new momentum to the digital payment market by providing fast, affordable, and convenient experiences that increase Vietnamese purchasing power," added Nguyen. Dang Thanh Phong, director of OnePay stated, "OnePay upholds a business philosophy that pivots around customer experience and prioritising the interests of merchants. We are continuously seeking opportunities to innovate and improve our digital solutions. Via this partnership with Kredivo, we hope to offer a new financing option that perfects the customer experience and promotes business growth for merchants, thereby contributing to the advancement of digital payments in Vietnam." Kredivo and OnePay have announced the first phase of their partnership by launching a series of attractive promotions, including a 50 per cent discount valued up to VND100,000 ($4.26) on a users first transaction and a 5 per cent discount valued up to VND500,000 ($21.29) on transactions from VND700,000 ($29.81). In addition, they are offering 6- and 12-month instalments, applicable to purchases from OnePays leading merchants and partners, such as Samsung.vn a top 10 global tech corporation and Meta.vn a renowned e-commerce website in Vietnam. With Kredivo's BNPL service and two-click checkout, users can pay seamlessly and opt to delay the payment over 30 days or three months with interest waived, or over six or 12 months with low interest. Kredivo enters Vietnam with ambition to be the BNPL market leader As one of Southeast Asias fastest-growing and most promising digital economies, Vietnam represents a significant growth potential for Kredivo. Kredivo introduces its newest Buy Now Pay Later offer Kredivo Indonesias leading digital credit platform and one of the most valuable fintech unicorns in Southeast Asia in partnership with VietCredit JSC, has just announced the launch of its premium product in Vietnam, enabling users to access a credit limit of up to VND25 million ($1,075). If authorities advise or order you to evacuate, you should leave immediately. But if you havent been ordered to evacuate, you might be safer at home. Some evacuation orders are meant for those in low-lying areas vulnerable storm surge and flooding. If youre on higher ground, you might not need to evacuate. See the storm surge maps and evacuation zones from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to determine where your home or office falls. If you stay at home Local instructions will order you to stay where you are or shelter in place. Remain inside until emergency officials say its safe to leave. Close doors and windows. Follow your family emergency plan. Here are some tips for developing one. Locate your disaster kit. Tune to a local radio station or monitor your localitys emergency notification system for information. CEO of PVS Le Manh Cuong said at the firms AGM 2023 on May 29 that PVS's involvement in constructing 33 foundations for Taiwanese partners has established an autonomous supply chain, specifically dedicated to PVS and Vietnam as a whole. Cuong recognises Vietnam's extensive shallow water areas and evaluates them as having the greatest potential in the Asia-Pacific region for offshore wind power. As a result, the installation costs of businesses in Vietnam are expected to be more competitive compared to China, South Korea, or Japan. Furthermore, there is a rising demand for renewable energy in the Middle Eastern market, which PVS is actively exploring. PVS's leadership is confident that they will emerge as a dominant force in the domestic and regional service market. According to Cuong, the Power Development Plan VIII explicitly demonstrates support for offshore renewable energy projects without any capacity limitations, and offers backing for electricity exports. At present, Vietnam only has nearshore wind power initiatives, which ensures that PVS's upcoming projects will remain unaffected by the feed-in tariff prices or issues concerning the nation's power shortage. Also, PVS does not face the network and transmission challenges experienced by other power companies. In relation to the agreement to export electricity to Singapore, Cuong acknowledged the risks associated with subsurface cables could be a factor influencing the firms operations. PVS has not encountered any cable-related issues thus far and remains confident in managing the risks associated with its electricity exports. It is important to consider natural factors such as geology, composition, water depth, and marine meteorology, which may impact operations, Cuong said. PVS' AGM 2023 on May 29 Furthermore, in addition to the Taiwanese market, PVS has participated in bidding and successfully secured contracts for renewable energy projects from investors in South Korea, Europe, Japan, and the US. The company is also pursuing opportunities in the Australian market. During the AGM, Cuong also divulged that PVS is currently in negotiations with investors from Singapore, Japan, and other relevant parties regarding investment capital for the renewable energy sector. The firm has also signalled its intention to expand into secondary products such as hydrogen. Implementing renewable energy projects is a time-consuming process, involving permit applications and extensive surveys that can take 1 to 2 years before obtaining capital expenditure. PVS is currently in the initial study phase and has not presented a specific plan for increasing capital, he added. However, considering the significant scale of their ongoing projects, fundraising activities will need to be initiated during the early investment stage. DPM requests clarity on renewable energy prices Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested that the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) amend regulations and offer specific instructions on the procedures for calculating and negotiating prices for transitional wind and solar power as soon as possible. Vietnam to explore direct power purchase agreements in renewable sector Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has revealed path for direct power purchase agreements (DPPA) to drive renewable energy investments. As the nation positions itself as a key player in the renewable energy landscape, the successful implementation of DPPA mechanisms promise to propel Vietnam towards a more energy-independent future. Empowering Vietnam's energy transition Firming up intermittent renewables and addressing the challenges of a balanced supply across the country are some issues to tackle Vietnam's energy needs and sustainable development. Wei Nan Yew, regional general manager of GE Gas Power in South Asia Pacific & ANZ, discussed GE's role in supporting Vietnams energy transition and strengthening its grid infrastructure. ROBOTACON WRO 2023 is being organised nationwide for the first time Under the theme connecting the world, the ROBOTACON WRO 2023 competition is co-organised by the Embassy of Denmark, Viet Tinh Anh JSC, and LEGO Education. This year, the teams participating in the contest will be divided into groups with tasks under various topics based on current interests from around the world, such as marine life conservation, underwater infrastructure, port automation, and others. According to the Danish ambassador Nicolai Prytz, he is very proud that the Embassy of Denmark is one of the co-organisers of ROBOTACON WRO 2023, the largest and most prestigious competition dedicated to science, technology, and education in Vietnam for students aged 6-19 years. I believe that this will be a fantastic playground for young Vietnamese people to learn the necessary skills for the 21st century, such as critical thinking, teamwork, problem-solving, and technology. The competition also provides an opportunity for students to innovate and discover, thereby contributing to nurturing a generation that is ready to solve problems in the future, said Prytz. At WRO, students from different countries will compete and demonstrate their thinking and problem-solving abilities through robotics competitions and challenges. Dang Ngoc, general director of Viet Tinh Anh JSC, which holds the copyright for the ROBOCON WRO competition in Vietnam, was delighted with this year's contest being held countrywide for the first time. "Being expanded nationwide this year, this competition will definitely increase its chances of selecting more talented Vietnamese teams," Ngoc said. Together with LEGO Education, Viet Tinh Anh strives to design STEM education packages that cover preschool to high school and meet the different needs of educational institutions. We believe that an educational approach that emphasises the role of practical lessons will help students become more confident, quickly allowing them to grasp and retain the knowledge they have learned, Ngoc added. This year, the ROBOCON WRO competition in Vietnam will have two qualifying rounds, one in Ho Chi Minh City with an expected 300 teams from the south and another in Hai Phong with around 200 teams from the north. The final round to find the best teams and contestants to represent Vietnam at the World Final in Panama will take place in Hanoi in August 2023. Education Denmark and Vietnam have been cooperating closely within the education sector since 2005, when a 10-year programme to support Vietnam with a new learner-centred art curriculum for primary schools was introduced. Under the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement signed between the two countries in September 2013, education continues to be one of the priority sectors for cooperation. Denmark has supported Vietnam in the areas of vocational training and life-long learning. For the past five years, Denmark has provided short-term scholarships for 700 Vietnamese government officials to attend study courses in the fields of food safety, public health, agriculture, and others. A delegation from Vietnams T&T Group, led by chairman of the board Do Quang Hien, embarked on a visit to the headquarters of DB Group, a prominent economic powerhouse in South Korea, on May 25. Under this comprehensive accord, T&T Group and DB Group will support each other's endeavours with the shared goal of becoming leaders in Vietnam's thriving insurance sector. Additionally, the two groups have committed to jointly exploring and executing ventures across multiple other industries. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Do Vinh Quang, vice chairman of the Board of Directors and Deputy CEO of T&T Group, highlighted the shared vision of both companies to excel in Vietnam's insurance sector. Recognising the potential in other areas such as finance, asset management, IT, and real estate, Quang emphasised the importance of leveraging these strengths to achieve sustainable growth for both conglomerates. He expressed confidence, stating, This strategic collaboration will unlock new opportunities, enhance business efficiency, and contribute to the long-term development of both Vietnam's and South Korea's economies. Kim Ju Won, vice chairwoman of DB Group, warmly welcomed the T&T Group delegation and expressed her optimism for a fruitful partnership built upon the collective expertise and capabilities of both companies. She envisages a collaborative landscape spanning various industries. In a challenging economic climate characterised by sluggish growth, the alliance between T&T Group and DB Group exemplifies proactive business acumen, she added. This collaboration demonstrates the commitment of Vietnamese and South Korean enterprises to seek new opportunities and foster mutual growth. As it approaches its 30th anniversary milestone, this landmark alliance reaffirms T&T Group's position as a leading private conglomerate in Vietnam, Won concluded. In March, DB Insurance acquired a 75 per cent ownership stake in the Vietnam National Aviation Insurance Corporation (VNI), following the transfer of shares from a group of investors consisting of 19 individuals and one institution. DB Insurance has been active in the Vietnamese insurance sector for over a decade. In addition to its recent investment in VNI, they are also the major shareholder in the Post and Telecommunication Joint Stock Insurance Corporation. Founded in 1969, DB Group operates across three core business domains, covering insurance, financial credit, and manufacturing-services. Despite its relatively recent establishment, it has achieved remarkable and sustainable growth. As one of South Korea's top ten conglomerates, DB Group's influence extends beyond the financial and insurance sectors, with ventures in steel production, semiconductor materials, and environmentally friendly lighting solutions. Shinhan Bank and Nguyen Hoang Group forge educational financing partnership Shinhan Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank (Shinhan Bank) inked a strategic collaboration with Nguyen Hoang Group (NHG), an educational company in Vietnam, on May 11 to offer an interest-free tuition fee financing programme. South Korean insurer to acquire 75 per cent stake of VNI Vietnam National Aviation Insurance JSC (VNI) has announced information concerning an intended major transfer of shares to a South Korean insurance firm along with an updated agenda for the 2023 extraordinary general meeting of shareholders. Appetite increasing for mega-deals in insurance Foreign and domestic investors in Vietnams insurance sector are gaining momentum with new agreements, despite global volatility. According to a recent report by the Bank of Korea (BOK), Vietnam is swiftly becoming a significant market for South Korean semiconductor makers, who have been grappling with lacklustre demand in China. As the rivalry between the United States and China intensifies, the BOK has emphasised the importance of diversifying export markets for industry giants like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. The BOK underlines Vietnam's emergence as a new source of demand for South Korean semiconductors, highlighting its growing status as an international hub for IT device production and potentially positioning it as a substitute for China in the future. Major smartphone manufacturers have established production bases in Vietnam, where South Korean semiconductors play a crucial role as intermediary goods in the production of finished products, the report notes. Vietnam's abundant low-wage workforce and its proximity to the Chinese market are attracting global businesses, including South Korean firms, to establish manufacturing facilities in the Southeast Asian nation. Samsung Electronics, for instance, relocated its smartphone and computer production bases to Vietnam between 2018 and 2020. Similarly, Apple shifted parts of its iPad production lines from China to Vietnam in June last year, and Google is reportedly considering a similar move. At the VIR conference Stronger Investment Partnerships for a Thriving Vietnam in mid-May, CEO of Samsung Vietnam Choi Joo Ho highlighted, "At present, more than half of all Samsung smartphones selling around the world are made in Vietnam. The nation has grown significantly to become a key player in the production of mobile phones globally." "IT businesses around the world are seriously watching Vietnam, acknowledging it as a manufacturing hub for mobile phones," he added The BOK believes that the revival of Vietnam's economy presents another encouraging factor. Although the country experienced a slowdown during the lockdown period, it rebounded strongly and achieved an impressive 8 per cent growth last year. Moreover, Vietnam recorded the largest trade surplus for South Korea in 2022. As of 2022, China accounted for 55 per cent of South Korea's semiconductor exports, followed by Vietnam at 12 per cent, Taiwan at 9 per cent, and the United States at 7 per cent. However, the US experienced the most significant decline in export demand in April this year compared to the same month in 2022, plummeting by 68.6 per cent. Nevertheless, the BOK predicts that South Korea's semiconductor market will remain heavily influenced by China and the US due to its strong reliance on these key markets. The market shares of South Korean semiconductor manufacturers are expected to be determined by an increase in Chinese smartphone consumption and a recovery in US data centre investments. In light of the semiconductor market's inherent volatility, the report emphasises the need to reduce market fluctuations by enhancing competitiveness in the non-memory chip sector and diversifying sources of demand. Strategic responses are also deemed essential to mitigate the negative impact resulting from conflicts between the United States and China, which represent the largest proportion of domestic semiconductor demand. According Koreatimes, as Vietnam's stature as a hub for IT device production continues to rise and its economy shows remarkable resilience, South Korean semiconductor manufacturers are finding solace in this promising market. While challenges persist, the strategic decisions made by these industry players will be vital in shaping their future success amidst evolving geopolitical dynamics and shifting global demand. US semiconductor manufacturers survey Vietnam opportunities Vietnam was one of the destinations for US semiconductor manufacturers to survey in a recent fact-finding tour of Southeast Asia. Capitalising on semiconductor market Among the ASEAN nations, Vietnam possesses unique value propositions to attract semiconductor investment. Timothy Wong, leader for Southeast Asia Industrial Practice, and Dr. Michael Alexander, founder at the Advanced Technology Centre for Roland Berger, analyse Vietnams position in semiconductor manufacturing, as well as its advantages and disadvantages. The Woodway City Council last week introduced a longtime member of the Woodway community as the citys incoming public safety chief. I love this community, I love Woodway, incoming Chief Khalil El-Halabi said. He will officially take the position when outgoing Chief Bret Crook retires in July. El-Halabi said he feels blessed to be chief. In this department we hire looking for a servants heart, he said. We balance public safety with public service. El-Halabi said he feels prepared to be chief and he looks forward to continuing to serve his fellow residents. His goals for his first year include integrating new technologies to help his detectives, getting more officers qualified as mental health officers and improving the mental health care available to all his personnel, he said. McLennan County District Attorney Josh Tetens said by email that he believes El-Halabi will be an excellent leader for the Woodway Public Safety Department. Ive known Officer Khalil El-Halabi for years and he has always been professional, helpful, and incredibly dedicated to his duties, Tetens said. Our office is looking forward to continuing to work with him and the other fine officers in Woodway. Woodways newly reappointed mayor, Amine Qourzal, said El-Halabi is one of the finest law enforcement officers he knows. His passion for service and deep dedication to Woodway make him a perfect choice for our next public safety director, Qourzal said by email. For over 15 years, Khalil has served our community with excellence and I expect nothing less for the future of our public safety department. Waco Police Chief Sheryl Victorian said she is thrilled to see El-Halabi take on the role of director for the Woodway Public Safety Department. He is a dedicated leader, who is passionate about his community and public safety, Victorian said in a statement. After completing an associates degree at McLennan Community College and a bachelors at the University of North Texas, both in criminal justice, El-Halabi attended a police academy and became an officer in Woodway in 2008. In 2013 he was promoted to corporal. El-Halabi became the training sergeant for the department in 2014, responsible for all police, firefighting and emergency medical response training, and three years later he became a patrol sergeant. Late in 2017, he became captain of patrol, and then in 2021 he became Woodways captain of criminal investigations. Last year, he became assistant chief of police. The American dream is alive and well, El-Halabi said. Its like my father told me: If you work hard, without excuses, this country will take care of you. And it has. When El-Halabi was 3 years old in 1990, his family brought him to the United States from Beirut, Lebanon, during the Lebanese civil war. He said his interest in becoming a police officer sharpened on Sept. 11, 2001, when he was about 14. 9/11 changed my life, El-Halabi said. I knew I wanted to serve, but thats when I knew I wanted to be a police officer. El-Halabi said that while working at his fathers gas station in Woodway during high school, he had the opportunity to interact with many of the Woodway officers, who continued to foster his interest in police work. This beautiful New Orleans style home in historic Castle Heights shows quality in every detail! Built by a prominent Waco citizen in 1939 it is even more lovely today than it was when it was built! Current sellers are only the 2nd people to own this home. The spreading oak trees, and large beautifully landscaped double lot provide the perfect setting for playing, entertaining, relaxing and enjoying life to it's fullest! The outside of this home sets it apart from all others, but when you enter the lovely foyer, the full beauty of the home starts to truly unfold. At one end of the foyer is an expansive formal living area with a light filled sunroom at the far end. At the other end of the foyer is a large formal dining room that has plenty of space for celebrations around the table. Off the dining room is an open, well designed kitchen that offers a large island and plenty of workspace for a dedicated cook. The kitchen is open to a great table space for informal dining and then steps down into a grand den that was added for the comfort and flexibility of the home. Fireplaces in the formal living area as well as in the family room add warmth and hospitality to those areas. Both fireplaces have a gas jet and can be wood burning but are currently set up with gas logs. Enjoy sitting at the informal dining table in the bay window of the kitchen as a favorite spot to watch the neighborhood activites while enjoying the comforts of home. Also on the main floor is a private room perfect for an office or library space. There are 5 bedrooms and 3 & 1/2 bathrooms in the home. One bedroom and bathroom is attached to the garage with a separate entrance from the outside and an entrance from the garage making this a very private guest room, retreat or flex space. There are too many other amenities in this beautiful home to list them all, but following are a few. In addition to the two car garage attached to the home, there is a one car porte cachere at the end of the driveway. This space also includes a huge store room that is large enough to hold all the holiday and party decorations you could possibly desire. The driveway has an electric iron gate for full privacy. In the upstairs master suite, open the French doors to step out onto the upstairs balcony for a treetop experience. The exquisite partially covered New Orleans style brick patio in back extends out to a fountain and large open tree shaded brick patio area. Two extra pull-in parking spaces are just off the driveway in front for off the street guest parking. There is a basement to the home that has a sump pump and houses the mechanicals. Truly a one of a kind home in Waco! View More The health inequities for Black Americans, documented in a series of stories by The Associated Press, have their roots in a long history of medical racism. The AP has collected 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. Its 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. Andys 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 staffs 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 werent told of the Defense Departments 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 havent 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, itll be the summertime. We are now in the final week of the First Session of the 108th Legislature. At the time of publishing, we will have two legislative days remaining before the Legislature adjourns Sine Die. It has been a busy week passing a number of significant bills that were included in the overall tax reduction package. The next three bills are part of that package. LB243e passed, in part, it increased the funding for the Property Tax Credit Fund from $313 million to $560 million. It also requires the fund to grow equal to the increase in assessed value of real property in the state. The bill further creates a new mechanism for the percentage of annual increase that a school district may request in regards to their levy authority. LB583e was passed and provides $1,500 per student in foundational aid to each school district. Currently, roughly 75% of schools in the state do not receive funding from the state and instead rely on property taxes. The bill also expands State funding for special education by reimbursing 80% of special education needs. By providing this state funding, schools can reduce their reliance on property taxes. It also provides the mechanism for the utilization of LB681, the Education Future Fund that was established with over one billion dollars in support of future public school needs. LB754e was also passed by the Legislature and provides income tax relief. The bill provides a gradual reduction in income taxes for the top two tax brackets that will ultimately stop at 3.99% by 2027 tax year. By the time the bill is fully implemented there will be a substantial reduction in income tax for individuals making more than $18,000 per year, married couples making more $36,000 per year, and heads of households making more than $28,800 per year. Other bills passed include B683e creating the Nebraska Broadband Office which will be responsible for managing and directing federal funds received by the state for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program. These funds are specifically targeted for the hardest to reach areas in the state with broadband services. The broadband office will also be responsible for developing the Nebraska broadband access map. This map will be crucial in identifying which areas of the state lack access in order to strategically deploy broadband. In addition, LB565e, the Natural Resources priority bill passed, provides funds to the Department of Economic Development to provide grants to the Hydrogen Hub Industry Working Group to continue their work on applying for a hydrogen hub designation. LB565 includes eight additional bills from the committee. The bill also includes LB217, LB289, LB395, LB400, LB425, LB567, LB568, and LB723. (Photo : taken from Rome Reports YouTube channel) Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese announced of his intention to create another film about Jesus Oscar-winning film director Martin Scorsese visited Rome Saturday as part of a delegation of American artists in an audience with Pope Francis. The Holy See earlier reported the pope canceling his work schedule on Friday due to a fever. The Saturday event marked Francis's return to public duties. Pope Francis Addresses Artists The 86-year-old pontiff addressed the delegation of artists and directors, including Scorsese, during a conference at the Vatican called 'The Global Aesthetics of the Catholic Imagination,' jointly organized by Georgetown University and the Italian Jesuit publication La Civilta Cattolica. Francis spoke of his love for literature since childhood, saying the words of authors not only "helped" him to understand himself, the world, and the people around it but also "to understand more profoundly the human heart, my personal life of faith, and my pastoral work, even now in my present ministry." Scorsese previously met with the pope in 2016 in a private audience to discuss his film 'Silence,' which centered on the persecution of Christians in Japan during the Tokugawa Shogunate in the 17th century and the missionary work of the Society of Jesus, more known as the Jesuits. Pope Francis was the first Jesuit in the history of the Catholic Church to be elected as Bishop of Rome. The director also worked on films such as 'Taxi Driver,' 'Goodfellas,' 'The Wolf of Wall Street,' and his recent film, 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' which was shown during the Cannes Film Festival. Read Also: Commentary Names David Pakman Distinct From Other Progressive Commentators Scorsese's Old and New Jesus Films The Guardian reports Scorsese reiterating his passion for Pier Paolo Pasolini's 'The Gospel According to St. Matthew,' and discussing 'Silence' and his controversial film 'The Last Temptation of Christ.' The 1988 film depicted Jesus as a man torn between his ministry and personal desires, including a dream sequence where he had a sexual relationship with Mary Magdalene. About this, Scorsese announced during the conference his intention to "respond to the Pope's appeal" to the artists attending the papal audience by "imagining and writing a screenplay for a film about Jesus." "I'm about to start making it," he said. Related Article: Uganda Passes Law Imposing Imprisonment, Death Penalty Against LGBT+ People @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) Authorities investigating the deaths of a man and two children whose bodies were found in an Indiana home said firefighters detected high carbon monoxide levels inside the residence. The bodies of the 24-year-old man, a 3-year-old boy and a 21-month-old girl were found Sunday afternoon in the home in the city of Muncie. Delaware County Coroner Gavin Greene announced on Monday the firefighters' findings, The Star Press reported. Carbon monoxide is a toxic, odorless gas. Autopsies were conducted Monday on the three victims, but Greene said the death investigation is ongoing, pending toxicology results and a pathologist's findings. Deputy Police Chief Melissa Criswell said city police and fire personnel were also investigating the deaths in Muncie, which is located about 60 miles (100 kilometers) northeast of Indianapolis. ELDORA A man wanted in connection with the death of a woman in Eldora has been captured in Arizona and charged with first-degree murder. Nathan Cole Bahr, 28, of Iowa Falls, was arrested Monday by the Gilbert Police Department in Maricopa County, Arizona, following a weekend manhunt after authorities allege he shot and killed Desiree Dawn Folsom, 25, of Iowa Falls. Police Chief Nick Hassebrock said Bahr was believed to have previously been involved in a romantic relationship with Folsom. Court records show she had been granted a protective order related to domestic abuse. The body was found at 5:45 a.m. Friday inside the residence at 1401 17th Ave. in Eldora. Bahr had been labeled as armed and dangerous in the departments public notice seeking help locating him. Hassebrock said a license plate reader and other intelligence contributed to the arrest. Bond was set at $250,000. No other subjects are believed to have been involved in the alleged murder and the public is not believed to be in any danger. Bahr had been driving a 2020 gray Toyota Camry with an Iowa blackout license plate that initially read as EMRGLL and later was changed to KHA681, said Hassebrock. Authorities ask anyone with additional information to contact the Hardin County Sheriffs Office at (641) 939-8189 or another local law enforcement agency as the homicide investigation continues. Photos: Memorial Day Parade, Ceremony 2023 052923jr-memorial-day-1 052923jr-memorial-day-2 052923jr-memorial-day-3 052923jr-memorial-day-4 052923jr-memorial-day-5 052923jr-memorial-day-6 052923jr-memorial-day-7 052923jr-memorial-day-8 052923jr-memorial-day-9 052923jr-memorial-day-10 052923jr-memorial-day-11 052923jr-memorial-day-12 052923jr-memorial-day-14 052923jr-memorial-day-15 WATERLOO Tuesday marks 100 years since one of Americas most iconic symbols of farming moved from factory to field. John Deeres Model D was first produced in 1923 in Waterloos John Deere factory and its reign ended in 1953 making it Deeres longest-running model. Before the Model D came the Waterloo Boy. The Waterloo Boy was first made by Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company, which began in Waterloo in 1893. In 1918, Deere & Company purchased Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company for $2.1 million. In 2023 prices, thats $45.5 million. After the sale, the company became the John Deere Tractor Company. Until the creation of the Model D, Deere continued to produce the Waterloo Boy under the same name. Louis Witry, lead designer at Waterloo factory, was an important figure in the development of the Waterloo Boy and Model D, according to John Deere historian Neil Dahlstrom. The Model D was supposed to be a new-and-improved Waterloo Boy, Dahlstrom said. However, Deere wanted to move away from the Waterloo branding. That made the Model D the first tractor with the current Deere branding of green and yellow coloring and the leaping deer logo. The D also looked more modern than the Waterloo Boy, which had exposed framing, Dahlstrom said. Model D had a lower center of gravity and more pulling power. The two-cylinder engine produced 15 horsepower at the drawbar and 22 at the belt. The gears also were encased, which kept out things like dust and rain. The gears ran in an oil bath, keeping them moving and lubricated to operate longer. Over its 30 years in production small improvements were made, such as changes under the hood and operator comfort improvements such as lights, mufflers, umbrellas and better steering. In 1923, farmers could buy a Model D for about $1,300. Both the Waterloo Boy and Model D were intended to do the same thing: replace the horse. Dahlstrom said more U.S. farmers used horses than tractors until 1953. One of Deeres main goals was to show it was more profitable to use a tractor than a team of horses or oxen. After World War I, Dahlstrom said, farmers were looking for ways to increase yields and profits. Research from the company showed there were greater profits for people who grew wheat which the Model D was designed for using a tractor than using horses. Chris Boyens, brand standards manager for Deere, said over Model Ds 30-year run the face of farming changed drastically. Boyens said the D was much easier to maintain, easier to operate and was overall a smaller, more compact tractor. Those features allowed farmers to easily and efficiently convert to mechanized farming, he said. Thats what icons are, they live on and to be in production that long thats a pretty good starting point, Boyens said. Its our real Model T. That one just holds a special place in John Deeres history and hearts of John Deere fans. Deere began producing its next tractor, the Model R, in 1949. The R was the companys first diesel tractor, which doubled the horsepower. With that, the Model D was phased out. Within 30 years, the tractors evolved from being started by hand with no lights, to having rubber tires, electric starters and lights. In the years since, tractors have undergone a revolution, getting much bigger and more fuel efficient, and acquiring comforts like cabs, air conditioning, suspension set-ups, and field mapping. But, Boyens and Dahlstrom agree, the story of tractor technology began with the Waterloo Boy and the Model D. It makes a story like the D so special, Boyens said. Weve come so far, but not gone so far, because were trying to solve the same challenge. It still pulls and it still powers. Biggest tornadoes in Iowa of the past decade Biggest tornadoes in Iowa of the past decade #15. Nov. 11, 2015 #14. Jun. 30, 2014 #13. Aug. 2, 2014 #12. Apr. 14, 2012 #11. Apr. 14, 2012 #10. Jun. 28, 2017 #9. Apr. 5, 2017 #8. May. 27, 2019 #7. Jun. 12, 2013 #6. Jun. 22, 2015 #5. Jul. 14, 2021 #4. Aug. 20, 2019 #3. Jul. 19, 2018 #2. Apr. 4, 2022 #1. Oct. 4, 2013 One of the biggest benefits of walnut cat litter is that its an environmentally friendly choice. The walnut shells are biodegradable and natural, and as a food industry byproduct, they would otherwise go to waste. Odor control is a top priority for cat parents and walnut litter does a solid job at controlling litter box smells. While walnut-based litter smells slightly more earthy out of the bag than clay-based litter, the compounds in walnut shells naturally absorb and neutralize urine and fecal odors to keep your home fresh. If your cat suffers from allergies or asthma, walnut shell litter could provide relief. Unlike clay-based litter, walnut litter is virtually dust-free. Its also gentler on your cats paws, mimicking the natural feeling of sand or soil. Many cat owners are hesitant to move away from their favorite clay-based clumping litter, but walnut shell litter has the same clumping capabilities. This makes scooping and clean up just as quick and easy. Fascist NATO Nazi Senator! Over 1,000 Volunteer Company and Young Guard activists reminded Lindsey Graham of the tragic results of American investment in Nazism Today, May 30, more than 1,000 activists of the Volunteer Company of the Combat Brotherhood and the Young Guard of United Russia came out to the US Embassy in Moscow with slogans: Fascist NATO Nazi Senator!, Lindsey Graham Senator of Death!, Lindsey Graham is a merchant of death!, The USA is killing old people and children!. With this action, the activists reminded US Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina that American investments lead to the death of innocent people. American Senator from South Carolina Lindsey Graham, at a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, expressed her opinion about the successful American investments in the death of people: Russians are dying. We have never spent money so well, said Graham. Today Volunteer Company and Young Guard activists came to the US Embassy to protest against a senator who cynically and vilely spoke out that US investments are the best investments they have ever spent! Because human lives are leaving, Russians are dying. This is a vile, Nazi senator who voiced what the entire US leadership is thinking! said the head of the federal headquarters of the Volunteer Company of the Combat Brotherhood Dmitry Potapov. @vmgere # # *** My main question America Are you ready for the war that you are starting? WtR Pissed, that is the best word I will use for Russia UPDATE: A total of 32 attack drones have been reported 19 shot down by defences, 10 stuck in trees 3 hit residential complexes without serious injuries. This morning, the Kiev regime has launched a terrorist drone attack on the city of Moscow. Eight aircraft-type drones were employed in the attack. All enemy drones were downed. Three of them were suppressed by electronic warfare, lost control, and deviated from the intended targets. Five more UAVs were shot down by the Pantsir-S SAM system in Moscow region. @mod_russia_en WtR 29.05.2023 (15:15) Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation The Russian Armed Forces launched a long-range air-based high-precision weaponry strike against the enemy targets at the airfields. The goal of the attack has been reached. All the assigned targets have been neutralised. As a result of the strike, the AFU command posts and radar stations, as well as aircraft, and munition depots have been hit. In Kupyansk direction, the attacks, launched by aviation, as well as the artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the enemy units close to Novomlynsk, Kislovka, Glushkovka (Kharkov region), and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic). The actions of two Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been suppressed close to Sinkovka (Kharkov region), and Rozovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic). The enemy losses were up to 65 Ukrainian servicemen, three motor vehicles and D-20 and D-30 howitzers. In Krasny Liman direction, the attacks, launched by Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, as well as artillery of the Tsentr Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the AFU units close to Makeevka, Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk Peoples Republic) and Grigorovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The enemy losses were up to 55 Ukrainian servicemen, two pickup trucks, one D-20 howitzer and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system. In Donetsk direction, as a result of intensive action of the units, air strikes and artillery fire of the Yug Group of Forces, the enemy losses were up to 145 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, two pickup trucks, and one D-30 howitzer. One U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-50 counterbattery warfare radar has been destroyed near Orlovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Two ammunition depots of the AFU 79th Airborne Assault Brigade have been destroyed close to Maksimilyanovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, the attacks, launched by aviation and artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces have resulted in the neutralisation of the enemy units close to Ugledar (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Malinovka, Belogorye, and Kamenskoye (Zaporozhye region). The enemy losses were up to 140 Ukrainian servicemen, 10 motor vehicles and two D-30 howitzers. One AFU ammunition depot has been destroyed near Otradnoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic). In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were up to 20 Ukrainian servicemen, three pickup trucks, one D-30 howitzer and two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged 87 AFU artillery units, manpower, and hardware in 124 areas during the day. One hangar with weapons and military equipment of the 126th Territorial Defence Brigade has been hit near Berislav (Kherson region). In addition, a command and observation post and a missile and artillery weapon depot of the AFU 110th Mechanised Brigade have been hit close to Avdeevka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Air defence have intercepted three Storm Shadow cruise missiles and 13 HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system projectiles. Moreover,14 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down close to Verkhnekamenka, Novodruzhesk, Pshenichnoye (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Yasnoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Vasilyevka, Lyubimovka and Kostantinovka (Zaporozhye region). In total, 429 airplanes, 235 helicopters, 4,371 unmanned aerial vehicles, 424 air defence missile systems, 9,324 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,100 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 4,934 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 10,527 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation. WtR (Photo : MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) US President Joe Biden called Uganda's new anti-gay law a human rights violation and threatened to halt funding and investment. On Monday, US President Joe Biden urged Uganda to remove its anti-gay law and consider sanctions. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed a harsh anti-gay measure on Monday that mandates the death sentence for "aggravated homosexuality," defined as same-sex intercourse with HIV-positive persons, minors, or vulnerable people. Uganda already outlawed same-sex relations. Biden Calls Uganda Anti-gay Law a 'Shameful' Act "This shameful Act is the latest development in an alarming trend of human rights abuses and corruption in Uganda," Biden stated, as per Politico. Biden said he had asked the National Security Council to assess the law's effects on all facets of US involvement with Uganda, including the capacity to securely deliver services under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and other assistance and investments. Biden stated that he has ordered the US National Security Council to reevaluate aid programs to Uganda in light of the new law, and that his administration is also considering sanctions against Uganda and "restrictions on entry into the United States for anyone involved in serious human rights abuses or corruption." According to the State Department, the United States provides $950 million to Uganda yearly, a significant portion of which is dedicated to health-related programs. Uganda's Monday anti-LGBTQ bill joins several others on the African continent, where just 22 of 54 states allow homosexuality. The new legislation reaffirms an existing law that allows life sentences for people who engage in same-sex relationships and adds harsher measures, such as allowing the death penalty for HIV-positive people who repeatedly engage in sex with people of the same gender and prison sentences of up to 20 years for "promoting homosexuality." The version signed by President Yoweri Museveni does not penalize LGBTQ people, a worry for rights activists who opposed an earlier proposal. Read Also: Vladimir Putin Offers Nuclear Weapons To Anyone That Will Join Russia Against Ukraine, Ally Says Sen. Ted Cruz Slams Uganda's Severe Anti-LGBTQ Law In addition, Sen. Ted Cruz blasted a severe anti-LGBTQ bill enacted into law in Uganda on Monday. Cruz called the legislation "grotesque and abhorrent" in a tweet, adding, "ALL civilized nations should condemn this violation of human rights." According to USA Today, Cruz opposes same-sex marriage at home. Cruz, a former Texas solicitor general who fought cases before the Supreme Court, suggested last year that Texas should remove a decades-old ban criminalizing homosexual sex. "Consenting adults should be able to do what they wish in their private sexual activity, and government has no business in their bedrooms," a Cruz spokesperson said. Cruz has previously voted against codifying same-sex marriage and criticized the Supreme Court for nationally legalizing it. However, he has advocated for the repeal of a defunct Texas law that criminalized sexual activity between same-sex couples, saying, "Consenting adults should be able to do what they wish in their private sexual activity, and government has no business in their bedrooms." Per CNN, the measure criminalizes gay sex education and makes it illegal not to report aggravated homosexuality to authorities. "Rehabilitation"-conversion therapy-is recommended for LGBT criminals. This year, Museveni returned the measure to parliament for changes. The newest law passed this month. Western nations, particularly the US, have criticized Uganda's longstanding president over the bill. Uganda, which is one of more than 30 African nations where homosexuality is illegal, attempted to enact similar legislation in 2014 and 2019, but the first bill was struck down due to legal challenges, and Museveni vetoed the second bill due to "foreign policy implications." Due to the new restrictions, many members of the LGBTQ community have fled the country or gone into imprisonment. The leaders of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (the Global Fund), the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, and the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief expressed concern that the legislation could hinder education and outreach efforts in Uganda, thereby reversing gains made in the fight against AIDS. "The stigma and discrimination associated with the Act's passage have already reduced access to both prevention and treatment services," they wrote. Related Article: Uganda Passes Law Imposing Imprisonment, Death Penalty Against LGBT+ People @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Weather Alert ...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS RETURN THIS WEEK... * Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will develop each afternoon this week. Storms will be capable of producing frequent cloud to ground lightning, gusty outflow winds, small hail, and heavy rainfall. * If you have events or recreation outdoors this week, be sure to have a storm safety plan. A top priority should be a way to quickly seek shelter in the event that a thunderstorm forms nearby. If a sturdy building is not immediately available, a hard-top vehicle with the windows rolled up is a good option for protection from lightning. If possible, consider completing outdoor activities (hiking, biking, etc) in the morning before afternoon/evening thunderstorms develop. * Streams and mainstem rivers continue to flow fast and cold. Avoid recreating near fast-running and nearly full waterways. Daily showers/thunderstorms will increase the threat of flash flooding. Have a way to receive weather alerts! Get to higher ground immediately if a nearby river or stream rises quickly, if there is debris in the water, or if the water suddenly becomes muddy. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Deep Yellow Response To Namibia Media Article Perth, May 30, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Deep Yellow Limited ( ASX:DYL ) ( JMI:FRA ) ( DYLLF:OTCMKTS ) refers to an article titled "Namibia considers taking stakes in Mining and Petroleum Companies" that appeared yesterday on the Bloomberg newswire service. Deep Yellow interreacts constantly with relevant Government Ministries and Departments and advises that it is not aware of any elevated discussions with industry regarding Government equity in mining projects. In Deep Yellow's experience, all matters affecting the Namibian mining industry are consistently dealt with through the Chamber of Mines, of which Deep Yellow is an active member, and are worked through with Government using a detailed and orderly process involving proposals, submissions, discussions and negotiations that have invariably resulted in mutually acceptable outcomes. Deep Yellow, through its extensive experience operating in Namibia, has deep confidence that the Namibian Government fully understands the value of foreign investment. Deep Yellow also recognises and accepts the need for local ownership and, as previously reported, has between 5% and 10% of its various projects held by local Namibian equity partners, including the Tumas Uranium Project. About Deep Yellow Limited Deep Yellow Limited (ASX:DYL) (OTCMKTS:DYLLF) (Namibian Stock Exchange:DYL) is a differentiated, advanced uranium exploration company, in predevelopment phase, implementing a contrarian strategy to grow shareholder wealth. This strategy is founded upon growing the existing uranium resources across the Company's uranium projects in Namibia and the pursuit of accretive, counter-cyclical acquisitions to build a global, geographically diverse asset portfolio. A PFS has recently been completed on its Tumas Project in Namibia and a DFS commenced February 2021. The Company's cornerstone suite of projects in Namibia is situated within a top-ranked African mining destination in a jurisdiction that has a long, well-regarded history of safely and effectively developing and regulating its considerable uranium mining industry. (Photo : SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images) Russia launched a new "massive" attack on Kyiv while air defense systems engaged incoming targets, and air raid sirens blared in several other regions. On Monday morning, air raid sirens wailed, residents raced to bomb shelters, and explosions shook buildings in Kyiv as the Russian assault on the Ukrainian capital intensified. The surge of potent explosions struck central Kyiv at 11:30 a.m. local time (4:30 a.m. EST), shortly after an air alert sounded throughout the capital, giving residents little time to seek shelter. Russia Strikes Kyiv in DayLight The city was rocked by a series of deafening explosions that shook the window panes of structures in the center of the nation's capital. During the morning explosions, a video shared by journalist Liz Cookman on Twitter showed children fleeing and shrieking through the street. She stated that falling debris in the Podil neighborhood caused a minor fire, as per NBC News. Valery Zaluzhny, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, stated that eleven land-based ballistic and cruise missiles were fired at the Kyiv area. All were destroyed, he stated. The Russian Defense Ministry announced that its forces attacked Ukrainian airfields with "long-range precision-guided air-launched munitions." It did not explicitly address the attacks on Kyiv. Debris from intercepted missiles landed on roads and parks in Kyiv's central and northern districts, according to the city's military administration. It added that at least one civilian was injured. The daytime assault heightened the residents' sense of unease, which was already high after weeks of nocturnal attacks by Russian drones and missiles. According to Ukrainian officials, they have altered the timing of bombardments, the combination of weapons used, and the trajectories of missiles and drones to avoid detection, most recently flying them low along riverbeds and through valleys. Russia is attempting to "confuse and delude" our air defense system, Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for Ukraine's Air Force Command, said during a weekend television appearance. It uses the topography of the location to avoid radar detection. According to Ukrainian officials, eleven ballistic missiles aimed at Ukraine were intercepted on Monday. However, detritus from the aerial collisions caused fires and other damage as horrified Ukrainians looked to the clear blue skies of their densely populated city to see an explosive battle unfolding. A video widely disseminated on social media by Ukrainian officials showed schoolchildren carrying backpacks fleeing in panic after the explosions reverberated on a city street. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko issued a warning to residents via the Telegram messaging app not to abandon sanctuaries, NY Times reported. Klitschko added that about 20 inhabitants of a high-rise building in Kyiv were evacuated early Tuesday morning after falling detritus from a destroyed Russian-launched air target ignited a fire. According to the mayor, one individual perished, and a woman was injured due to the falling detritus. A second casualty was reported as a result of the missile attack, but details were not immediately available. The Ukrainian government immediately condemned the bombardment. Serhii Popko, the director of the Kyiv region's military administration, said in a statement that Russian forces "attacked a tranquil city during the day, when most residents were at work and on the streets." Ukrainian officials have expressed concern that their Soviet-era anti-aircraft defenses are running out of ammunition and that Western systems, such as the American Patriot, are not reaching in sufficient quantities to fill the void. Read Also: Iran, Taliban Exchange Deadly Gunfire in Clash Over Water Border Rights Issue Russia Attacks Other Ukraine Territories On Monday, Kyiv was not the only target. An airfield in the western region of Khmelnytskyi was also attacked. The regional governor reported that five aircraft had been "disabled," and a fuel depot had caught fire. A drone was brought down over Odessa, causing falling detritus to ignite the port. According to reports, rockets and drones were intercepted over the regions of Lviv, Kirovohrad, Poltava, and Mykolaiv. According to Pavlo Kyrylenko, nine communities or villages were targeted in the Ukrainian-held Donetsk region, including the city of Kramatorsk. The Russian defense ministry claimed to have targeted Ukrainian airbases but did not mention the almost daily attacks on Ukrainian cities. The governor of the Russian region of Belgorod, which borders the Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, reported that Ukrainian forces had opened fire on several Russian settlements. When asked on Russian television how he believed Belgorod could be made secure, Vyachesla Gladkov suggested annexing Kharkiv, as per Guardian. Related Article: Vladimir Putin Offers Nuclear Weapons To Anyone That Will Join Russia Against Ukraine, Ally Says @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. BANDELIER NATIONAL MONUMENT Towering pine trees and colorful songbirds once thrived atop Apache Mesa. A dozen years ago, before the last wildfire, the landscape was filled with ponderosa pines, tassel-eared squirrels and western tanagers. Once a forest, it now looks wide open. Dotted with the occasional tree dead but still standing after the 2011 Las Conchas Fire the mesa is now green with shrubs and grasses. Spotted and canyon towhees chirp out the soundtrack. Apache Mesa sits within the Jemez Mountains. But it also offers a peek at one possible future for parts of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the east where last years Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire burned 534 square miles of national forest, private land and wilderness. The chunks of forest incinerated last spring may never look the same. But Apache Mesa demonstrates the landscape isnt destined to remain a burned-out scar. The story isnt over yet, retired ecologist Craig Allen told the Journal last week. In interviews this spring, Allen and other scientists outlined a host of potential scenarios for how mountainsides torched in the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire might heal. The answers arent easy to hear. Amplified by climate change and other factors, the high-severity fires now hitting the Southwest can wipe out a large forested patch in a day. The land isnt likely to come back on its own at least as a forest without extensive help. But what comes next isnt predetermined. A coalition of public universities in New Mexico is launching a reforestation center to help find the right trees for replanting. Preventing another high-severity wildfire in the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak burn scar also will influence its future. Often a subsequent fire inflicts more damage than the first. And last years fire, strange as it may sound, wasnt entirely bad, ecologists said. Parts of the burned area survived the flames and may emerge healthier than before. This is the largest wildfire in modern history in New Mexico, said Thomas Swetnam, a University of Arizona tree ring expert and professor emeritus. But it doesnt mean all of the burned area is toast. Under stress Fire was once a healthy, routine part of forests in New Mexico. Ponderosa pine trees, for example, are well-adapted to the kind of fire that clears out low-lying plants. But firefighting strategies over the last 120 years changed the landscape. Fire suppression throughout the 1900s was so effective, ecologists say, most forests in the Southwest grew extra thick, creating plenty of fuel for high-severity wildfires. Climate change exacerbates the risk. Warmer temperatures and drought suck the moisture out of plants and soils. Its putting all the vegetation under stress, said Allen, a retired research ecologist for the U.S. Geological Survey. Its making the fuels drier. Its making the fire season longer. Over the last 40 years, the states wildfires have grown more difficult to suppress. Allen easily moves through a list of high-severity fires in the Jemez Mountains over the last 45 years. Examples include the 1977 La Mesa Fire, the Dome Fire in 1996, Cerro Grande in 2000 and Las Conchas in 2011. Climate change is altering ecosystems in surprising ways, outside of past experience. The Calf Canyon part of last years massive wildfire began as a U.S. Forest Service pile burn in January. It somehow smoldered underground for months even amid snowstorms and freezing temperatures before growing into an wildfire in April and merging with the Hermits Peak fire. We have to learn from this, Allen said of the changed conditions Converting landscape Some of the forested terrain burned in last years wildfire is gone for generations, if it ever comes back. Scientists and forest managers call it type conversion. A stand of trees may burn so severely that a new type of vegetation dominates afterward. Because of these fires, Ellis Margolis, a research ecologist for the U.S. Geological Survey said, forests are converting to shrub fields and grasslands, and the forests will not come back in our lifetimes. Replanting can help, he said, but even then, its a challenge. Apache Mesa in Bandelier National Monument is an example of the early stages of type conversion. Burned in the Las Conchas Fire and others before that it now looks nothing like a forest. Dead trees dot the landscape like needles. Shrubs and grasses are sprouting up along the mesa top. Its one possible future for parts of the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak burn area. Swetnam, the University of Arizona professor emeritus, put it this way: Probably big patches of the landscape on the east side of the Sangre de Cristo (Mountains) are going to go to shrub land and grass land unless theres extensive reforestation. Lost habitat For wildlife, the changes produce winners and losers. The pine trees that once filled Apache Mesa offered a nice home to tassel-eared squirrels, named for the tufts on their ears. The area also provided habitat for warblers, hermit thrushes, western tanagers and other birds. Spotted owls, too, like old-growth forests. Those species have been harmed by high-severity wildfires, Swetnam said. Theyve lost habitat. But some birds woodpeckers, for example like dead trees, at least while theyre still standing the first, say, 10 years after a severe fire. On a recent afternoon in Bandelier National Monument, four turkey vultures sat atop the skeleton of a dead tree. Elsewhere, spotted and canyon towhees called out. Elk and deer will return to the open areas, too. Big horn sheep prefer it. Preyed upon by mountain lions, they like escape routes. State to spend on reforestation New Mexico is developing a $65 million reforestation center that could sharply expand the states capacity to replant trees and other vegetation. A coalition of public universities and state agencies including New Mexico State University; the state Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department; Highlands University; and the University of New Mexico are participating in the project. The goal is to have it running at full capacity in about four years. The state can now produce up to 300,000 seedlings a year, a figure that would climb to 5 million tree seedlings a year. Even then, itd remain a fraction of whats needed to replant areas burned in forest fires. Knowing what to plant is also a question. New Mexico State University operates the only forestry research center in the Southwest, said Claire Montoya, director of communications and reporting at NMSUs Agricultural Experiment Station. The center has been really key in finding varieties of trees that are going to last as the climate continues to change, she said. New Mexico lawmakers and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham this year also approved bipartisan legislation establishing a long-term source of funding for land and water conservation. Some of the money is dedicated to the Forestry Division within the state Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department for projects that include forest conservation and restoration. The state budget authorized $100 million in immediate funding to support the legislation, Senate Bill 9. Regrowth from the ashes More than 20 years ago, following the Cerro Grande Fire, Allen and his two sons helped replant trees along a foothills trail above Los Alamos. It was part of a huge blackened area, with pine trees killed by fire. But now some of the newly planted pines stand 6 to 20 feet high. I still feel loss, said Allen, now a research scholar at the UNM Department of Geography and Environmental Studies. I dont know if numb is the word, but humans are adaptable. You learn to appreciate the things that are here now. Still, he said, he misses the old forest. A mans body was pulled Monday evening from the Rio Grande by Albuquerque Fire Rescue, who said the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office will investigate the mans death. AFR Lt. Jason Fejer said just after 5 p.m., crews were on patrol on the river in an airboat and they spotted a mans body just north of Rio Bravo. The firefighters secured the mans body and got him to shore, then turned the case over to BCSO. Fejer said there were no obvious signs of injury and an autopsy will determine how the man died. The man, who appeared to be in his 30s but was not immediately identified, was obviously deceased and no life-saving measures were taken, Fejer said. Officials think he was in the water for one to three days. He wasnt wearing a life jacket and no recreational gear was with the body. The Rio Grande on Monday was flowing at 279% of its normal level, according to snoflo.org, which tracks snowfall and river levels. Last week, the Corrales Fire Department officials said that the department has made dozens of water rescues in the Rio Grande so far this year, which is more than normal. They cautioned people to use proper gear and to be advised that the high water levels could erode shoreline and pull cottonwood trees or other debris into the river. Rivers and lakes across New Mexico are seeing higher-than usual water because of the high snowfall totals throughout the states northern mountains. Instagram Celebrity The Baton Rouge emcee, who is a regular guest on VladTV, urges people not to blame DJ Vlad for rappers getting arrested and going to jail after they appear on his show. May 30, 2023 AceShowbiz - Boosie Badazz (Lil Boosie) has come to DJ Vlad's defense amid allegations against him. The latter has been accused of being "the police" due to rappers getting arrested and going to jail after they appear on his show, but the "Wipe Me Down" spitter insisted that it's far from the truth. The 40-year-old shut down the rumors in a recent interview with "The Baller Alert Show". When the host asked him about the matter, the Baton Rouge native declared, "I've never incriminated nobody on there. I've never said nothing to start a beef on there." The answer didn't stop the host to press on though, claiming that Boosie knows "how to handle himself" during his appearances. In response, the rap star stated, "Yes, and you should know how too if you're a criminal or you're a rapper." "Sometimes rappers go on [VladTV] and forget they are criminals. You can't blame him! What the f**k?" Boosie, who is a regular guest on VladTV, further argued. "How the f**k he the police if he ain't send me to jail?" "The police" rumors surrounding DJ Vlad emerged from a misinterpretation of a 4 million lawsuit that he filed against Rick Ross in 2008. The suit alleged that "Rick Ross orchestrated a brutal attack upon DJ Vlad, carried out at his direction by his accomplices, in retribution for media coverage of [article id="1592125"]Rick Ross' prior life as a correctional officer[/article]." MTV News reported at the time of the incident that the alleged beatdown left DJ Vlad with "seven stitches below one of his eyes, three facial fractures, a corneal abrasion and possible permanent nerve damage." The suit was seeking $2 million in compensatory damages and $2 million in punitive damages. You can share this post! Celebrity Brazen robbers have reportedly targeted the final resting place of the late fashion icon, stealing a huge decorative urn from the grave situated in the east Midlands. May 30, 2023 AceShowbiz - Dame Vivienne Westwood's grave has fallen victim to robbery. The fashion pioneer, who passed away in December aged 81, was buried in the village of Tintwhistle, Derbyshire in the east Midlands where she was born and locals have been left disgusted after a decorative planter urn left at the spot has disappeared. Florist Anja Norris, who was tasked to design and make floral attachments for Dame Vivenne's grave, had been tending it every two weeks after being asked by Dame Vivienne's family and posted about the urn going missing on social media. She told the BBC, "It's just so disrespectful, I hope they bring it back. I can't get my head around it. The grave is very popular with people and those in the village like to visit it to pay their respects." Anja added the "very heavy" urn would have had to have been taken by someone with a car due to its bulk. She added, "I'm quite taken aback but there is a small level of amusement as to why anyone would want to do this." One group of locals sharing their outrage online said on social media, "What a crime, to disturb the resting place of Vivienne... it's a beautiful memorial to her life and what she means to so many people." Another hit out, "No respect for the late Dame Vivienne nor her family. Disgusting behaviour." The theft is believed to have taken place in the past two weeks, but the police have yet to be contacted. After being born in Tintwhistle, Dame Vivienne moved to London in the 1950s and became one of Britain's most iconic fashion designers. A memorial service was held for Dame Vivienne in Southwark Cathedral, south London, in February that saw A-listers from the worlds of fashion and film gather to pay their respects while wearing Dame Vivienne-inspired outfits. You can share this post! Celebrity A viral video sees Nathally Becker's partner being in an all-out rage, rushing the stage and hijacking Emannuelly Belini's crown at the Miss Gay Mato Grosso 2023 pageant in Brazil. May 30, 2023 AceShowbiz - A husband of a beauty pageant contestant in Brazil is not happy with the results. The man was in an all-out rage, rushing the stage and hijacking the winner's crown after his wife was named the runner-up. In a video taken at the Miss Gay Mato Grosso 2023 pageant on Saturday, May 27, the unhinged husband stormed the stage to take the crown from winner Emannuelly Belini's head as he wasn't happy after his partner Nathally Becker placed second. He later furiously slammed it to the ground, much to everyone's shock. Not stopping there, Becker's spouse, who remains publicly unidentified, then picked up the crown and heaved it to the ground again to further break the prize to pieces. He additionally tried to pull Becker, who was representing the city of Cuiaba, but pageant security intervened and ushered him backstage. Following the chaotic event, pageant coordinator Malone Haenisch, who organized the Miss Gay Mato Grosso, released a statement about the fierce outburst. In the said statement, Haenisch claimed that the pageant's judges were fair in declaring Belini as the winner. "He did not consider the result to be fair and caused all this inconvenience and damage," Haenisch said. "We vehemently condemn the incident that occurred at the time of the crowning of the elected Miss, when the partner of Miss Cuiaba, who was classified in second place, invaded the stage and aggressively destroyed the crown." Haenisch continued, "We confirm the pageant jury's choice and we sympathize with the elected Miss, as well as [Becker], as she is not responsible for the crazy attitudes of third parties." The statement also noted that the pageant's "legal team has been informed of the criminal incident" as it plans to take "necessary legal measures" as a result of the disruptive stunt. "The Miss Mato Grosso Gay pageant team congratulates Miss Varzea Grande, Emannuelly Belini, elected Miss Gay Mato Grosso 2023 on the night of 27 May," said the organizer. Concluding the statement, Haenisch said, "We reiterate our best wishes and wish you a glamorous reign, and that your activities may reflect the voice and desires of the LGBTQIAP+ community." You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity Lala's shade comes after a picture features the Tom Tom bar co-owner's phone screen emerges online, showing that he is on the phone with Raquel during his flight to Pittsburgh. May 30, 2023 AceShowbiz - Lala Kent once again weighed in on Tam Sandoval and Raquel Leviss' relationship after he was caught on the phone with Raquel. Making use of her Instagram account, Lala didn't hesitate to rip her "Vanderpump Rules" co-stars. "Look at this clown," the 32-year-old shared via her Instagram Story on Monday, May 29. "Checking in on his Main Chick before he goes to get f**ked up and bang his Side Chicks," Lala continued, seemingly referring to Tom's alleged new girlfriend Texas-based influencer Karlee Hale. Lala added, "Maybe even some randoms to add to the Rolodex. He's also making sure he maintains his energy supply. He's got to keep her where he needs her. He's fully plugged into her and she thinks it's because ashes loved and care about by him Nothing but an energy source for the narcissist." The post came after TMZ published a picture of Tom during a flight to Pittsburgh on Sunday night, May 28 for a gig. The snap featured the Tom Tom bar co-owner's phone screen which showed that he was on the phone with Raquel, with whom he had an affair when he was still dating Ariana Madix. Tom's fellow passenger who took the picture, however, told the news outlet that the photo was innocent. The passenger didn't realize the person on the other end of line was Raquel. The eyewitness added that the Bravo star was trying to speak quietly, but his voice was "highly recognizable." The passenger noted that they heard him say he was going to "f***ing Pittsburgh." Meanwhile, Raquel has been in a mental health facility. However, she may be out by now since facilities usually restrict the use of phones. The new picture came after it was said that Raquel and Tom broke up amid backlash over their affair. "Raquel dipped out. Sandoval is not the one for her," an insider said. Tom was rumored to have moved on with Karlee. You can share this post! Cover Images/Faye`s Vision/INSTA Celebrity The 'Milk' star is wearing a suit when stepping out for a romantic dinner with the 'Blast' actress at Nobu in Malibu, a little over a year after his divorce from the Australian star was finalized. May 30, 2023 AceShowbiz - Sean Penn has seemingly moved on with another beauty following his split from third wife Leila George. A little over a year after finalizing the divorce, the actor/director has been spotted on a date with actress Olga Korotyayeva. Over the Memorial Day Weekend, the 62-year-old stepped out for a romantic dinner with his alleged new girlfriend. He took the actress, who is best known for her roles in films like "Blast" (2021), "Banking District" (2017) and "Le bonheur" (2013), to Japanese restaurant Nobu in Malibu. Sean opted for a formal look in a tailored back suit with a crisp white shirt and a thin black tie. His salt-and-pepper hair was worn shagged and he had scruffy facial hair with a deep tan. The brunette beauty, meanwhile, looked elegant in a black-and-silver dress with long sleeves and a high slit. She accessorized with a pair of simple earrings and carried a black leather bag. The two were seen waiting by the valet stand in pictures obtained by Daily Mail. While they did not show any public display of affection at the celebrity hotspot, they did leave together in the same car, suggesting that it was not a business meeting. The pair got into a black sedan which the "Mystic River" star drove. Sean has been married three times, but they all ended in divorce. He called it quits with his third wife Leila, who is the daughter of actor Vincent D'Onofrio and Greta Scacchi, in October 2021 after being married for only one year. Their divorce was finalized in April 2022. In early of this year, he sparked reunion rumors with his ex-wife Robin Wright, with whom he has two children together, after they were seen traveling together. However, the "House of Cards" alum denied that they're back together when she addressed their relationship status in February. "We were going to an event for our children," so the "Blade Runner 2049" actress told E! News about their trip in January. "We're always gonna be a family, whether we're together or apart, you know, and I think that's beautiful and I wish that for everybody." You can share this post! CBS/ABC Celebrity The 'Full House' actor desperately wanted to get rid of his fixation with Disney until he met former 'Mickey Mouse Club' star who will next star as Ken in 'Barbie' movie. May 30, 2023 AceShowbiz - Ryan Gosling reportedly loves Disneyland so much he hangs out at the theme park alone. The "Drive" actor, 42, who shares daughters Esmerelda, seven, and Amada, five, with his actress wife Eva Mendes, 49, is starring as Ken in Greta Gerwig's upcoming "Barbie" film and apparently told John Stamos, 59, he was so fixated on the venue he considered himself a "Disney adult." "Six or seven years ago, I was like, 'Man, I gotta shed this Disney thing, (because) who's gonna take me seriously with the Mickey Mouse stuff? 'I've gotta distance myself from it,' " "Full House" actor John, who has son Billy, five, with his model wife Caitlin McHugh, 37, told actress Keke Palmer, 29, on her "Baby, This Is Keke Palmer" podcast. But he said a dinner party encounter with Ryan changed his mind and led to him embracing his obsession. He said Ryan asked him, "You're a Disney fan, aren't you?" John added he replied, "I say, 'Yeah.' He goes, 'I'm obsessed. I'm a Disney adult. I go there by myself. I wear headphones. I go on rides. I have a mixtape.' " John said he told Ryan, "I go, 'Yeah, me too. I'm a Disney guy too.' " He added, "So that kind of turned the corner for me." Ryan starred in Disney Channel's "The Mickey Mouse Club" from 1993 to 1995 in a series that also featured fellow future stars including Britney Spears, 41, Justin Timberlake, and Christina Aguilera, both 42. "Barbie" is due out this July and Ryan stars alongside Margot Robbie, 32, as the doll of the title. Ryan said he doubted he could tap into what he called his "Ken-ergy" for the film. Appearing in a panel discussion at the Warner Bros' ComicCon presentation of the film on 25 April at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, he discussed the film with director Greta, 39, and co-stars including Margot and America Ferrera, 39. He said, "I have to be honest, I had up until this point, I only knew Ken from afar. I didn't know Ken from within. If I'm being really honest, I doubted my Ken-ergy. I didn't see it. Margot and Greta, I feel like they conjured this out of me somewhere." Ryan added that he went from living his life as usual to "one day bleaching my hair and shaving my legs and wearing bespoke neon outfits and rollerblading down Venice Beach." He said, "It came on like a fever, like a Scarlet fever. Like, 'Why is there fake tanner on my sheets? Why am I wearing jackets without shirts? What just happened?' " You can share this post! ABC Movie After premiering his new movie 'Killers of the Flower Moon' at Cannes, the award-winning filmmaker meets with Pope Francis and confirms a big-screen project about Christ. May 31, 2023 AceShowbiz - Martin Scorsese will make a film about Jesus. After meeting with Pope Francis over the weekend on his post-Cannes tour of Italy, the legendary film director confirmed that he has a project in the pipeline about Christ. "I have responded to the Pope's appeal to artists in the only way I know how, by imagining and writing a screenplay for a film about Jesus," Scorsese said at a conference at the Vatican. The filmmaker added, "And I'm about to start making it." Scorsese, 80, has previously been inspired by religion for his work as he made the 1988 movie "The Last Temptation of Christ" and "Silence" about Jesuit Christians in 2016. The "Killers of the Flower Moon" director recently lamented how he had "no more time" to make movies due to his advancing years. Speaking to Deadline, Scorsese said, "I wish I could take a break for eight weeks and make a film at the same time. The whole world has opened up to me, but it's too late. It's too late. I'm old. I read stuff. I see things. I want to tell stories, and there's no more time." Scorsese teams up with Leonardo DiCaprio for the sixth time in the new Western epic and believes that the "Titanic" star is a "natural film actor." He said, "What's great about Leo, and it's why we work together so often, is, he goes there." "He goes to these weird places that are so difficult and convoluted, and through the convolution, somehow there's a clarity that we can reach. And usually it's in the expression, in his face, in his eyes. I've always told him this. He's a natural film actor." You can share this post! President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. called President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today to congratulate him on his re-election as President of Turkiye. READ NEXT: Statement from President Joe Biden on Supreme Court Decision in Sackett v. EPA They expressed their shared commitment to continue working together as close partners to deepen cooperation between our countries and people. They also discussed their readiness as NATO Allies to address regional and global challenges, including strengthening transatlantic security at the NATO Summit in Vilnius. READ MORE: Statement by Press Secretary Kirsten Allen on the Vice President's Travel to The Bahamas @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Astral Foundation - the CSR arm of Astral Limited, Indias leading manufacturer and supplier of piping systems, adhesives, bathware, paints and building materials, bagged three prestigious ABBY Awards at the Goafest 2023. The two golds and one silver awards presented to Astral are in different categories, the Media Abby and Creative Abby segment to acknowledge the outstanding success of Astral Pipes "Ice Stupas in Ladakh" campaign. In the Media Abby category, Astral won the Gold Medal in the "Cause Marketing" sub-category for the "Ice Stupas in Ladakh" campaign. This recognition highlights the brand's commitment to making a positive impact in society through its innovative initiatives. Under the Creative Abby segment, the "Ice Stupas in Ladakh" campaign was honoured with the Gold Medal in the "Green Award" subcategory, further emphasizing Astrals dedication to environmental sustainability and eco-conscious practices. Additionally, the campaign also received the Silver Medal in the "Direct - Work done for Social Awareness or Charity Causes" category, showcasing the brand's impactful communication efforts. The campaign launched in March 2022, aimed at addressing the water scarcity issues in the region of Ladakh triggered by global warming. Astral Foundation collaborated with innovator and education reformist, Sonam Wangchuk and his institute, Himalayan Institute of Alternatives (HIAL). Astral provided pipes and equipment to HIAL for the construction of 9 Ice Stupas across Ladakh. Astral Pipes' innovative approach and commitment to social and environmental causes resonated strongly with the jury, leading to the recognition of their exceptional work. Additionally, the campaign was also felicitated by Indian Content Marketing Awards, Digital Dragons Awards, Digies and Videa Awards in the CSR/cause content marketing category for their efforts. Commenting on the achievement, Kairav Engineer, VP of Astral Limited, expressed their delight, stating, "Winning multiple ABBY Awards at Goafest 2023 is an honour for Astral Foundation. These Ice Stupas have proven to be an ingenious method of storing water from the winter season and releasing it during the dry months, ensuring a reliable water supply for the local communities in Ladakh. This remarkable achievement not only validates our commitment to making a positive impact on the communities we serve but also highlights the importance of addressing water scarcity issues exacerbated by global warming. This recognition further motivates us to explore and implement more sustainable solutions in the future. We aim to remain persistent in our commitment to fostering environmental stewardship, promoting community well-being, and contributing to a more sustainable and resilient world. Together, we will continue to strive for a better future, making a meaningful difference in the lives of people and the environment." The ABBY Awards, Goafest, is one of the most prestigious accolades in the advertising and marketing industry in India. They celebrate excellence in creativity, innovation, and effectiveness, recognizing outstanding campaigns that make a significant impact Dainik Bhaskar has launched in Mumbai. Launching a newspaper in the countrys financial capital city is no easy task, and is doubly more complex a task from the PR deliveries point of view. Post a thorough search, the Bhaskar Group selected Team Concept as their partner to help them with brand execution goals. Concept has been exclusively mandated to manage the brand. Leading independent integrated communication agency Concept Communication brings with it deep knowledge subject categories, coupled with a thorough understanding of the consumers spectrum that influence and impact its PR solutions something that matches Dainik Bhaskars current set of requirements to do with their launch and future sustenance. Commenting on the win, Vivek Suchanti, Chairman and Managing Director, Concept Communications, said Dainik Bhaskar Group and Concept Group have a long-standing association. Trust of brands like Dainik Bhaskar, one of Indias premier brands, is of paramount importance. We are naturally very happy that they have chosen us to partner with them with such a prestigious launch. We look forward to creating a targeted and effective solution for the brand. Kailash Agarwal, Managing Director, Bhaskar Prakashan, added here, We are on a journey to expand our footprint across the country and consolidate our current position of No. 1 newspaper. We were looking for strong partners who could help us launch the brand in Mumbai. We found Team Concept to be both insightful and proactive. We believe that they are the right partners for us in our journey. In the last 10 years, PR has taken a different dimension, especially after the entry of social media and the rapid shift to digital during the pandemic period. At the same time, the industry has been facing stiff challenges, moreover client expectations have also increased, with more emphasis being given to digital and online reputation management. The industry has undergone a radical shift and the current times have pushed the industry to change gears. In conversation with Adgully, Shweta Munjal, Vice President & Global Head - Corporate Communications & Sustainability at Lupin, speaks about Lupins dedication to transparency, how the firm is addressing concerns related to products and practices, CSR initiatives by Lupin, emerging trends and challenges in the pharmaceutical company, and more. What measures does your company have in place to ensure transparency and accountability in its communications with the public and other stakeholders? As a responsible corporate citizen, Lupin strongly believes in the power of right doing the right things, in the right manner. Our policies and processes ensure accountability to all stakeholders and enable the highest levels of governance. These principles are enshrined in our communication to all our stakeholders. Authenticity and Transparency underpins our communications. At Lupin, our communications are guided at all times by our promise of caring for our customers health and well-being. Some of the key measures that Lupin has undertaken to ensure transparency and accountability in communications are as follows: Internal Communication: Our robust internal communication channels enable seamless dissemination of vital information and updates to our employees, fostering a culture of openness throughout the organisation. Our robust internal communication channels enable seamless dissemination of vital information and updates to our employees, fostering a culture of openness throughout the organisation. Compliance Training: We undertake comprehensive compliance training and awareness programs for our employees, thereby ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements in all our communications. We undertake comprehensive compliance training and awareness programs for our employees, thereby ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements in all our communications. Investor Relations: Our dedicated investor relations team ensures timely communication with the investment community, providing regular updates and financial performance reports along with statutory disclosures. Our dedicated investor relations team ensures timely communication with the investment community, providing regular updates and financial performance reports along with statutory disclosures. External Audits: Independent firms conduct regular audits and reviews to validate our financial statements, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and reinforcing transparency in our reporting. Independent firms conduct regular audits and reviews to validate our financial statements, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and reinforcing transparency in our reporting. Whistleblower Mechanism: We have established a robust and confidential reporting system that encourages employees and stakeholders to report any concerns or potential misconduct, to ensure prompt and swift action. We have established a robust and confidential reporting system that encourages employees and stakeholders to report any concerns or potential misconduct, to ensure prompt and swift action. Stakeholder Engagement: We actively engage with our stakeholders to take their feedback on factors that have a material impact on the business and the communities, and this helps us curate an effective communications strategy. Lupins dedication to transparency, integrity, and accountability in our communications has helped strengthen trust and build lasting relationships with our stakeholders. Our commitment to these values ensures that we communicate with clarity, honesty, and responsibility. How do you address concerns related to your companys products or practices, and what steps do you take to maintain public trust? State-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, industry-best environment, health and safety practices, and a strong emphasis on quality help us deliver quality-assured products to our customers around the world. Our investments in research, manufacturing and technology shape our vision of creating affordable, quality medicines that address unmet patient needs. Through open channels and dedicated support teams, we promptly respond to customer queries pertaining to any of our products and provide accurate information. Our unwavering focus on transparency, accountability, and sustainability upholds our reputation as a trusted pharmaceutical company dedicated to the welfare of our customers and society. How does your company approach communication with patients, healthcare providers, and regulators to ensure that everyone has accurate and up-to-date information about your products? At Lupin, we communicate transparently with patients, healthcare providers, and regulators. We use a diverse range of channels and platforms to provide accurate communication about our products and services. Through direct engagement, educational resources, and innovative digital platforms like ANYA, JAI and LegalRx, we empower patients and healthcare providers with knowledge to enable informed decision-making and prioritise patient well-being. Our commitment to being transparent reflects our dedication to patient safety and enhanced positive healthcare outcomes. Could you tell us about your companys current CSR initiatives and how they align with the companys overall mission and values? At the core of Lupins CSR work is a passion to build sustainable models for enhancement of human development indices, which can be widely replicated through collaborations and partnerships. Over the years, we have collectively impacted more than 2.5 million lives across nine states in India. Our CSR initiatives are built on two key pillars: Lives and Livelihood. Under the Lives program, we focus on improving healthcare outcomes for vulnerable communities. Through partnerships and collaborations, we are providing access to quality healthcare services, with a particular focus on cardiovascular diseases. The Livelihood pillar emphasises on creating economic opportunities and sustainable livelihoods for marginalised communities. We work closely with these communities, offering skill development programs, promoting entrepreneurship, and supporting local initiatives that enhance their well-being. How does your company stay current with emerging trends and technologies in the pharmaceutical industry, and how do you incorporate these into your communications strategy? Lupin remains proactive in understanding unmet patient needs and delivering products that can improve health outcomes through affordable and quality medicines. This vision drives our 1,400+ personnel in seven research centres spread across five countries India (Pune and Aurangabad), the US (New Jersey and Florida), Mexico, Brazil and the Netherlands. Our R&D teams leverage cutting-edge technologies, superior competencies and strategic partnerships to deliver unique solutions that give Lupin an advantage in the regions it operates in. Our communication strategy is focused on showcasing the progress made on our business strategy. We regularly communicate developments across every aspect of our business including but not limited to our performance, introduction of new products and services, our research endeavours and our community welfare programmes. By embracing emerging trends and technologies, we ensure that our communications remain impactful, timely, and aligned with the evolving needs of our stakeholders. Through our strategic approach, we aim to foster meaningful connections, provide accurate information, and contribute to the overall advancement of the pharmaceutical industry. What do you see as the biggest challenges facing your company in the near future, and how do you plan to address these challenges from a communication standpoint? Lupin is aligned to the Indian governments vision of Healthcare-for-All. The growing incidence of communicable and non-communicable diseases in the country coupled with the existing gaps in healthcare infrastructure and services, is a matter of concern. Lupin will continue to innovate to provide affordable high quality healthcare to fulfil unmet patient needs and collaborate with the ecosystem partners to enhance patient outcomes on a large scale. Our diversification into areas such as diagnostics and digital therapeutics is a significant step in this direction. Effective communications will play a critical role in transparently conveying our initiatives to all our stakeholders. D&AD celebrates creative excellence with the belief that creativity is a key driver in commercial, economic, social and cultural success. The Awards incorporates more than 40 categories judged by nearly 400 of the worlds leading creatives, recognising work that will inspire seasoned talent and encourage the next generation. As a charity, entries enable D&AD to fund educational programs such as D&AD Shift with Google, a free, industry-led night school for self-taught creatives from under-represented backgrounds. This year, there were a record number of entries to the Awards, with nearly 30,000 individual pieces of work making up the 12,243 entries. At Wednesdays ceremony, one Black Pencil, the creative industrys most coveted accolade reserved only for truly groundbreaking work, was awarded. At the D&AD Awards ceremony held on 24th & 25th May, McCann Worldgroup India wins a Graphite & Wood Pencil. The prestigious Graphite & Wood Pencil was awarded to the campaign titled Shagun Ka Lifafa, this year in the Commerce Acquisition & retention and Commerce Cultural Experience category respectively. Other than this McCann also won one Finalist for the same campaign. Commenting on the win Prasoon Joshi Chief Creative Officer McCann India said, We are really proud of the work done for Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (Shagun ka Lifafa) Its a great feeling to win this prestigious honor at D&AD. Congratulations to the entire team led by Ashish Chakravarty, Sambit Mohanty along with Rathish Subramaniam, Karthik R, Vikash Ravi and Suresh PV put in a great effort to make this idea and work come alive. Special thanks to Vineet Mahajan for his contribution for directing the video . MediaTek, the worlds 4th largest global fabless semiconductor company, hosted the Catch-up with Tech a Lifestyle Influencer Meet & Greet in collaboration with Motorola and Flipkart on 26th May 2023 in New Delhi. The meet-up is a part of the campaign towards democratizing technology for the consumer. Representatives from MediaTek, Motorola, and Flipkart were present to share insightful and engaging conversations about the innovative smart devices and new-age technologies powering our everyday life. Catch-up with Tech threw spotlight on the extensive showcase of newly launched devices including Motorola Edge 40 powered by MediaTek Dimensity 8020 and Motorola Envision Smart TVs powered by MediaTek. Catch-up with Tech is an initiative towards bringing our technology closer to the consumers and aims to empower consumers to make informed buying decisions and know more about the technology that powers their favorite smart devices. In collaboration with Motorola & Flipkart, this meet-up is in-line with MediaTeks vision of technology democratization and making innovative technology accessible to everyone, said Anuj Sidharth, Deputy Director, Marketing & Corporate Communications, MediaTek. MediaTek and Motorola have had great success in the past in India and we look forward to our long-term collaboration. Shivam Ranjan - Head of Marketing at Motorola - Asia Pacific said, Our recently launched 5G smartphones namely moto g73 5G and motorola edge 40 plus the newly launched Motorola Envision' smart TVs, that are powered by class leading MediaTek chipsets, have set new benchmarks in their respective categories and are a testament to our commitment towards constantly innovating to provide the most differentiated consumer experiences. We are delighted to partner with MediaTek to create a truly unique content platform through Catch up with Tech which allows consumers to witness our products and the meaningful consumer experiences created by our devices, through relatable and authentic social creators. Be it gaming, photography or design, these creators are able to translate their experiences into genuine, easy to understand consumer content that creates true value for both brands. "Motorola's Envision Smart TV range is poised to meet the surging demand for personalized, high-quality entertainment consumption in India. Offering the latest innovations at affordable prices, these cutting-edge TVs cater to viewers in search of seamless streaming and immersive experiences. With an extensive range encompassing from 32" to 65", across HD, FHD, UHD and QLED displays options, combined with impeccable technological capabilities of Google TV, our aim is to democratize the television industry in India," said Jagjeet Harode, Vice President - Electronics, Appliances and Private Brands at Flipkart. An interactive photography session was organized during the meet-up to share the latest techniques of mobile photography and videography on Motorola Edge 40 powered by MediaTek Dimensity 8020. The device has high-end features to sustain against prolonged immersion in water for up to 30 minutes. Further, a live gaming session was also organized to show the real-time immersive experience on the device. Challenging consumers on Instagram, Nimbooz, the popular refreshing drink from 7UP, recently launched a fun and engaging social media challenge titled #ChatakNimboozChallenge. With an aim to extend a refreshing wave of freshness this summer and tap into the creativity of the audience, Nimbooz along with brand ambassador Mithila Palkar invited fans and enthusiasts to participate in a tongue-twisting extravaganza. In the challenge, participants are encouraged to repeat the tongue-twisting words Chatak Nimbooz Gatak Nimbooz 10 times without fail. The first to go live and kickstart the challenge, Mithila took to Instagram to share her cheeky attempt on Instagram, instantly captivating the audience. The #ChatakNimboozchallenge quickly gained momentum as users enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to showcase their creativity with the tongue-twister. Notable celebrities and influencers, including popular Instagram creator Zaid Darbar, actress Barkha Singh, and Sanya Malhotra, jumped on board to share their own renditions of the viral challenge. Speaking about the new summer campaign, Anuj Goyal, Associate Director, Juices, PepsiCo India, "With this social media campaign, our intention was to bring joy and excitement among our consumers during summers through a tongue-twister challenge that the nation is well versed with. We are thrilled to witness the extraordinary response from netizens, celebrities, and influencers, which has propelled this challenge into a true viral sensation across Instagram. Prior to joining Samsung, he had held senior editorial positions at esteemed news publications such as The Economics Times in Delhi and Ahmedabad. He also gained experience as a correspondent for media organizations like Business Standard, The Hindu Group, and The Telegraph during his early career. SRL Diagnostics, instituted in 1995, one of Indias leading network of diagnostic centres, announced that as a result of its work over the past few years towards rebranding, it would be adopting a new identity - Agilus Diagnostics. Agilus is inspired by the Latin term, agilis which stands for agility. A 28-year legacy of expertise, experience & trust built with patients and doctors will now also seamlessly translate to agility in conducting tests, providing best-in-class diagnoses and upgrading to new technology in response to changing customer needs. Speaking on the new identity, Mr. Anand. K, Chief Executive Officer, Agilus Diagnostics said We are excited to adopt this new identity that is a culmination of our efforts on brand transformation over the past few years. We are certain that it will create momentum for the companys upcoming growth phase. For the past 28 years, we have won the trust of millions of patients and doctors by delivering high quality diagnostic care. By launching the latest diagnostic solutions, building world-class information technology systems and offering superior customer experience, we have always stayed a step ahead. While the name changes, our guiding principles and business fundamentals remains unchanged. We will closely work with our partners to complete the brand transition over the coming days. The new brand will reflect in all customer and partner facing assets henceforth. Through Agilus, the company aims to create renewed values for each of its stakeholders. To patients, Agilus is a commitment to enable medical professionals to deliver quality and timely care. To its channel partners; Agilus is a momentum to embark on a new growth phase and to the people, the driving force of the company, Agilus is an endeavour to create and foster a culture of collaboration and an environment of diversity and inclusion. To the larger public and society, the company aims to champion good health and well-being and to the planet, Agilus is a promise to chart a sustainability roadmap with an aim to reduce carbon footprint. The company has built an extensive laboratory network comprising 410+labs, 3700+ customer touchpoints, and 12000+ direct clients. Agilus Diagnostics is Indias largest chain in terms of network with presence in 1000+ cities, 34 states, and union territories. Agilus also operates one of the largest accredited network of laboratories in the country; 43 of their labs are accredited by NABL and 3 are recognized under the NABL M(EL)T program. It also has two CAP accredited laboratories in Mumbai, India and Dubai. In FY23, the business served a total of over 16.6 million patients and completed 39.1 million tests. The company also has 3 Centres of Excellence (CoEs) focused on Histopathology, Transplantation Immunology and Molecular Pathology. Agilus Diagnostics (Formerly SRL Diagnostics) has a long list of firsts to its credit, including being one of the first NABL and CAP Accredited Medical Laboratory in the nation, the first ABDM Integrated Laboratory and the only Indian lab to ever partner with the Indian Olympic Association for the Olympics 2020 and 2024, and many more. Through strategic expansion, the development of capabilities in genomics and next-generation diagnostics, superior client experiences, and digitally enabled services, the company aims to continue its legacy of delivering exceptional diagnostic care. Authored by- Naveen Dubey, Marketing Head, Alcostar group of companies The hospitality industry in India has flourished at an exponential rate. A clear unlocking of the potential of the industry can be dedicated to the rising disposable income, increasing interest of millennials in leisure, and surging urban population. However, with this growth, consumers have new priorities and needs. Most people today do not like the thought of delighting themselves at the expense of dwindling natural resources. Consumers do not feel positive about a brand if they disregard the local economy's wellbeing or add to the garbage piles. They have taken hold of the concept of sustainability and are making sure the products or services they use do the same. According to a survey conducted by NeilsenIQ, 46 percent of consumers prefer brands that consider sustainability to bring about change. And as the demands of new-age consumers change, marketers in the hospitality industry must embrace the significance of best sustainability practises. Turning green: a boon for hospitality Public and corporate sectors alike are increasingly focused on sustainability or social responsibility, and the hospitality business is no different. Additionally, other factors, including cost increases, strict government regulations, and competitive behaviour, have only encouraged companies to embrace sustainability and make it a priority for their organisations. The issue of climate change is becoming more prevalent among consumers, who now expect brands to take charge and run their operations sustainably. As a result, it is clear that sustainability must be embraced and promoted effectively because it has a wealth of benefits. Increases brand loyalty The current generation of consumers is more ethically aware and seeks out brands that share their beliefs. Sustainable marketing might be on the organisation's agenda in order to effectively engage the public with their brand. Businesses may see higher customer retention rates if they successfully tie their brand image to a more important environmental or social cause, like the battle against climate change. As a result, brand-loyal clients typically make repeated purchases even when competitors offer reduced prices. In a McKinsey & Co. survey, 66% of all respondents stated to think about sustainability before making a purchase. Ensures employee engagement As today's employees prefer to work for companies that place a strong emphasis on making a positive impact, treating them as your top customer is the best way to keep them on board. Sincere sustainable marketing calls on organisations to enhance their ESG procedures, which can increase employee motivation Employees that respect sustainability may feel fulfilled if they work for organisations that place a high emphasis on ESG. According to a Marsh & McLennan analysis, companies with the highest employee satisfaction had ESG scores that were 14% higher than the global average. This was probably due to their good environmental performance. Therefore, it is obvious for marketers to highlight an organisation's values and beliefs as stewards of change. Improves profits The fact that sustainability projects often necessitate expensive up-front investments has in the past been seen by many corporate leaders as a barrier to success. Today, though, it's different because sustainable business practices can boost organisations' profits. A sustainable marketing campaign, for instance, might focus on an organisation's top ESG procedures. Organisations can cut operational expenses by using more sustainable technology, applications, and procedures. As stated by McKinsey & Company, sustainability reduces costs and can have a 60% impact on operating profits. Organisations can gain a competitive edge by adopting sustainable marketing techniques that make them more competitive in their marketplaces. A sustainable opportunity The hospitality industry in India has expanded significantly over the last few years and has plenty of room to develop even further in the future. According to a research analysis by Neosis, the Indian hospitality sector is anticipated to grow at a rate of 10.35% by 2028. However, because the industry depends so heavily on natural resources, these businesses must adopt the best sustainability practices if they want to grow. Green marketing enables businesses to successfully sell their products while simultaneously preserving the environment. As a result, the organisation is likely to experience a rise in productivity, profits, employee engagement, and customer loyalty. The need of the hour is to inform the public about a brand's positive environmental endeavours. Furthermore, it is evident to stick with a genuine approach to attract sustainable brand visibility in order to thrive in the markets' Authored by: Atul Raja: Career Marketer, Leadership Mentor and Growth Strategist Brand architecture is the logical, strategic, and relational structure of brands within an organizational entity. It allows the consumers to understand and appreciate the breadth and depth of its offerings, create a clear-cut differentiation for internal operations, achieve resource optimization and streamline the structure for any future merger and acquisition. Understanding brand architecture is pivotal to attaining brand clarity and synergy. Let's delve deeper into the four types of brand architecture and their importance. Branded House the Monolithic Brand Architecture Occurs when a company uses its corporate brand name for all its products or services. All sub-brands align under the primary brand, leveraging its reputation and brand equity. Monolithic architecture is ideal for brands seeking a strong, unified identity. It allows companies to channel all marketing resources towards promoting a single master brand, reducing marketing complexity and enhancing cost efficiency. Google uses Monolithic brand architecture. Whether you're using Google Maps, Google Drive, or Google Docs, they all fall under the umbrella of the Google brand. This approach allows Google to maintain brand coherence and consistency across its vast portfolio of digital services. Similarly, the FedEx brand follows the monolithic structure with sub-brands like FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Office, etc. Each sub-brand carries its unique proposition but remains closely associated with the FedEx brand's overall credibility and trust. Endorsed The Hybrid Brand Architecture Occurs where sub-brands have their distinct identity but are still visibly associated with the parent brand. The parent brand lends credibility, while the sub-brand focuses on the specialized offering providing flexibility to cater to diverse market segments without diluting the parent brand's equity. This Hybrid brand structure benefits companies with a wide range of products/services that cater to varying customer needs but still want to maintain a connection with the parent brand. Marriott is an example of the endorsed brand architecture where the parent company is recognized, but the individual brands like Ritz-Carlton, Courtyard, Residence Inn, Four Points, Sheraton etc., maintain their unique identities. Each brand caters to a distinct market segment, yet each is associated with the reputation, quality, and credibility of the parent brand, Marriott. House of Brands the Pluralistic Brand Architecture Occurs when the parent company's brand operates in the background, and individual brands take the limelight. Each brand has its identity, disconnected from the other brands under the same corporate entity. This architecture benefits companies with diverse offerings that appeal to varied customer segments. It allows them to target markets without brand overlap, as each sub-brand can adopt a unique market position. Proctor & Gamble (P&G)is a classic example of the pluralistic architecture with multiple independent brands such as Tide, Pampers, and Crest, each having its own identity, target market, and marketing strategy. Consumers often aren't even aware that these brands belong to P&G, reflecting the company's focus on building strong individual brands. Sub Brand Architecture In this architecture, the sub-brands closely leverage the parent brand while benefiting from the parent brand equity and recall. Sub-brands tie back to the parent brands qualities, values, and message while having unique qualities. This benefits the organization in terms of increased brand awareness, improved market share and reduced marketing costs. Sony is a good example of sub-brand architecture where all its sub-brands, like PlayStation, Bravia, Xperia etc., are successful in their own right, but they also benefit from being associated with the strong Sony master brand The question arises if there is a fit for all brand architecture. The answer is an emphatic NO. Brand architectures depend on a number of factors, including the size and complexity of the business, the target market, and the company's goals. Businesses with a small number of brands and a simple target market may get away with using the House of Brands architecture. Businesses with a large number of brands or a complex target market may need to use a more complex architecture, such as a branded house or a sub-brand architecture. Chinese TV series, films popular in Africa People's Daily Online) 09:55, May 30, 2023 In recent years, an increasing number of outstanding Chinese TV dramas and movies have gained immense popularity among African audiences, serving as a window through which they can better understand China. Recently, the China-Africa-Arab Audiovisual Night, an event within the Beijing TV drama and movie broadcasting season a program hosted by the Beijing Municipal Radio and Television Bureau was held in Beijing. During the event, segments of various Chinese TV series and films were dubbed into English, Portuguese, Swahili and other languages by artists from Africa and West Asia. Foreign artists dub a segment of a Chinese TV drama into their local language at the China-Africa-Arab Audiovisual Night, an activity of the Beijing TV drama and movie broadcasting season held in Beijing. (Photo courtesy of StarTimes Group) The Beijing TV drama and movie broadcasting season has been conducted annually since 2014. Through this program, over 100 outstanding Chinese TV series and movies have been broadcast in more than 30 countries and regions, including the U.K., Finland, Greece, Brazil, Argentina, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Tanzania. Additionally, documentaries, feature movies, and cartoons have also been aired in foreign countries. StarTimes Group, a Chinese multinational media company headquartered in Beijing, has provided broadcasting and television services in Africa for over a decade. According to Guo Ziqi, vice president of StarTimes, over 100 exceptional Chinese TV series and movies have been dubbed into nearly 10 languages, including English, French, Portuguese, Swahili and Hausa, for broadcast in Africa through the program. During this year's Beijing TV drama and movie broadcasting season, African audiences can enjoy Chinese TV series such as "The Story of Zheng Yang Gate," "The Wind Blows From Longxi," "Go Ahead," "The Golden Eyes, "Good Bye, My Princess," "Sword Snow Stride," and "My Heroic Husband," along with the documentary series "Chang'an Meets Rome," and animation series "Beijing Opera Cats." A poster of the Chinese TV drama "Go Ahead." (Photo courtesy of StarTimes Group) "In the past, we assumed that African viewers might struggle to understand Chinese costume dramas, so we primarily selected TV series with a modern setting. But we later found that costume dramas were well-received among them," Guo said. She added that the range of TV series being broadcast in Africa is expanding, encompassing not just teen dramas and shows set in modern times, but also military and espionage series, martial arts shows, and fantasy dramas. "All of my family members like Chinese TV dramas such as 'A Beautiful Daughter-in-Law Era,' 'To Be a Better Man,' and 'My Physical Education Teacher.' Many of the plots of these series resonate with us because they are relatable to our daily lives," shared Paula, a young viewer from Gabon. While watching Chinese TV series, foreign audiences can gain insights into Chinese people's lives, appreciate Chinese culture, and deepen their understanding of China. Meanwhile, more and more Chinese TV dramas have been dubbed into local African languages to cater to the preferences of local audiences. Since 2016, StarTimes has hosted over 20 dubbing competitions for Chinese TV series and films in African countries, including Tanzania, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, South Africa, and Mozambique, to select dubbing artists in local languages. Thanks to these competitions, many Africans have had opportunities to work in China, dubbing TV series and movies into their native languages. StarTimes has established a translation and dubbing center for Swahili in Tanzania and another for Zulu in South Africa and is preparing to launch a similar one in Mozambique, according to Guo. Over the past nine years, a variety of themed activities such as exhibitions, forums and fan meetings have been held during the Beijing TV drama and movie broadcasting season in African countries, including Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Ghana, and Cote d'Ivoire. These activities have fostered closer people-to-people ties between China and Africa. The Beijing TV drama and movie broadcasting season has become an important program for China-Africa film and TV cultural exchanges. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) (Photo : Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images) Nine people were injured when gunfire erupted along a beach walk in Hollywood, Florida, as Memorial Day beachgoers fled for cover. Nine people, including a one-year-old infant, were shot during an altercation between two groups near a busy seashore area in Hollywood, Florida. Deanna Bettineschi, the spokesperson for the Hollywood Police Department, told reporters that police had detained one person of interest but are still searching for an additional suspect described as a Black male with dreadlocks and wearing a black short-sleeve shirt and camouflage shorts. Packed Florida Beach Erupts Into Chaos The shooting reportedly occurred near Johnson Street and North Broadwalk, a busy palm-tree-lined pedestrian promenade that straddles the shore and is lined with restaurants and stores. The sound of gunfire caused people to retreat down the busy sidewalk and into the adjacent sand, as evidenced by live broadcasts from the city's beach camera. When police arrived in the area at 6:45 p.m. ET, they discovered nine individuals with gunshot wounds, as per CNN. According to Memorial Healthcare System spokesperson Yanet Obarrio-Sanchez, the injured were transported to Memorial Regional Hospital and Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. Although the hospital spokesperson stated that all of the victims were in stable condition, Bettineschi reported that one individual was undergoing surgery on Monday evening. Authorities advise avoiding the area while the investigation continues. Six adults and three children were among the victims, and all were in stable condition as of Monday evening, according to an email from the Memorial Healthcare System. It is unknown what caused the gunfire or how many individuals were involved. The incident was among the most recent instances of gun violence in the United States, where shootings have occurred in schools, malls, dance halls, banks, and workplaces. On Monday, a shooting occurred in a busy location along Hollywood Beach that was encircled by bars, restaurants, and hotels and where Memorial Day vacation crowds had gathered. During the time of the gunfire, social media videos depicted people ducking for shelter while others fled the boardwalk area. Per NY Times, other recordings depicted police officers and bystanders assisting victims on or near the shore sand. Bettineschi stated that the police had established a family assistance center in the area, where witnesses could communicate with detectives and victims' families could obtain information about their loved ones. Read Also: Russia Launches Massive Missile Attack on Kyiv, Rare Daytime Attack Prompts Civilians Race for Cover Memorial Day Shootings Across US Over the Memorial Day weekend, at least 16 people were killed, and dozens more were injured in shootings across the United States. At least eight states experienced gun violence at beaches, high schools, and motorcycle rallies, among other locations. The victims were adolescents to those in their sixties. The weekend concluded with gunfire, as it had begun. Telemundo Chicago cameras captured a confrontation between two groups of individuals on Chicago's North Avenue Beach on Friday afternoon as one of the first reports of gun violence over the holiday weekend. There were firearms, but no one was injured, according to NBC News. While Friday's shooting did not result in any injuries, over eight people were slain, and at least 32 others were injured in Chicago shootings over the holiday weekend. There were numerous reports of shootings across the remainder of the United States, but the total number does not appear to be unusual for a holiday weekend. A daily average of 57 gun-related homicides occurs in the United States, according to a Pew Research Center analysis. Officials have verified that a dispute between two men resulted in gunfire that injured five persons in Baltimore around 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Related Article: Idaho College Murder Suspect Bryan Kohberger's Parents Called To Testify in Court; Victims' Families To Sue Moscow City and University @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Vigor Media Worldwide, a global media agency, has been awarded the PR mandate for GL Bajaj Institute of Technology & Management, a renowned educational institution in India. This partnership highlights Vigor Media Worldwide's expertise in PR and communication and aims to strengthen GL Bajaj Institute's leadership position in the higher education sector. Vigor Media Worldwide secured the prestigious account through a competitive bidding process following an aggressive multi-agency pitch. The Delhi-NCR office of Vigor Media Worldwide will be responsible for handling the mandate, supported by their capable and dedicated team, as well as skilled national and international associates. The objective is to enhance the institute's visibility and solidify its status as a top education brand. Expressing excitement about this association, Mr. Pankaj Agarwal, Vice Chairman of GL Bajaj Educational Institutions, stated, "We are delighted to announce our partnership with Vigor Media Worldwide in establishing a robust PR and corporate communication framework for us. Their impressive expertise and deep understanding of communication made them the ideal strategic partner we were searching for. Together, we aim to amplify our expansion and invigorate our strong presence in the education sector." Commenting on winning the PR mandate, Mr. Nikhil Singhal, Founder of Vigor Media Worldwide, said, We are deeply honoured to be appointed as the strategic communication partner for GL Bajaj Institute of Technology and Management. Over the years, the institute has earned a well-deserved reputation in the higher education sector, establishing its unique identity. Our commitment is to provide them with well-crafted and innovative communication strategies that align with their expectations. Leveraging our expertise in brand building and employing a fully-integrated media approach, we aim to assist them in achieving their goals." Recognized as one of the top engineering and management colleges in Uttar Pradesh, GL Bajaj Institute of Technology and Management, is renowned for its commitment to quality education. The institute distinguishes itself with a comprehensive approach to student development, empowering them for holistic growth and success. Offering a diverse range of programs, including B.Tech, M.Tech, MBA, and MCA, GL Bajaj Institute provides students with valuable educational opportunities. GL Bajaj Institute of Technology and Management, has consistently ranked among the leading engineering and management colleges in India. Additionally, the institute has maintained the highest pass percentage among similar colleges in the Noida and Greater Noida region under Dr APJ Kalam University, Lucknow, for the past eight years. Vigor Media Worldwide has cross-sectoral expertise spanning across Real Estate, Education, Lifestyle, FMCG, Hospitality, Healthcare, Technology, Security, Consulting and a host of other segments of the economy. Its client portfolio includes top-of-the-line brands in the industry. ZEE 24 Ghanta, one of the leading Bengali news channels under the umbrella of Zee Media, successfully concluded the 8th edition of Education Excellence 2023. This public forum, powered by Career Planner, rewarded a national recognition to teachers and educational institutions for their consistent efforts in encouraging students towards fulfilling their dreams, achieving excellence in their career and building a bright future of India. The Education Excellence 2023 grand celebration was graced by the presence of Chief Guest Shri Bratya Basu (Minister-In-charge, Higher Education & School Education Department, and Government of West Bengal). Dignitaries like Tanushree Shankar, Kamaleshwar Mukherjee, Pabitra Sarkar, and Bratati Bandyopadhyay attended this on-ground initiative & handed over the felicitations to the chosen entities & individuals. An insightful series of panel discussions provided the audience with a unique perspective on the importance of analytical thinking, and communication, how education can help in providing the right direction to society and the importance of advanced value-added courses as well. The institutions that were felicitated through this initiative were Adamas University, Brainware University, Budge Budge Institute of Technology, Eastern Institute for Integrated Learning in Management (EIILM) Kolkata, Gurunanak Institute of Hotel Management, IIHM, IAM Institute of Hotel Management, IEM & UEM Group - Kolkata & Jaipur, JIS University, Indian Institute of Hotel Management, IQ City Knowledge & Health Campus Durgapur. The list of awardees doesnt end at this. It also included names like JIS College of Engineering Kalyani, JT Aviation College, Kidzee, Kingston Educational Institute, Narayana Schools - West Bengal, NIPS Hotel Management, Nopany Institute of Healthcare Studies, Om Dayal Group of Institutions, SBIHM School of Management, Seacom Skills University, Swami Vivekananda University, Techno India University, TEM Hotel & Hospitality Management - Tamluk, Adamas International School, Barackpore Rashtraguru Surendranath College, The Sanskrit College and University - Kolkata, Coochbehar Panchanan Barma University, Debra Thana Sahid Kshudiram Smriti Mahavidyalaya, Behala College, State Institute of Physical Education for Women - Hastings House & Dr. Arkadeep Biswas. Speaking on Zee 24 Ghantas initiative towards rewarding the educators and educational institutions, Mr. Abhay Ojha, CEO, Zee Media Corporation Limited, said If you have been able to think from an analytical mind, have a disciplined approach towards life, dream higher its all because of your teachers, professors, institutions etc. It is an honour for the entire Zee Media team to reward a national recognition to educators/ educational Institutions contributed remarkably towards the development & growth of Education in the state of West Bengal. We look forward to rolling out many more successful editions of Education Excellence across different states of India. The Education Minister also launched ZEE 24 Ghantas upcoming initiative QUIZ WHIZZ, which will involve the active participation of several top schools of West Bengal. 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. Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Bern, 30.05.2023 - Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis chaired a meeting on the protection of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant at the UN Security Council on 30 May 2023. Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), presented five principles to the Council to guarantee protection of the nuclear power plant. This protection has been threatened several times since the beginning of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. Switzerland supports the IAEA's efforts and calls on the parties to recognise and implement the five principles. Chaired by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the UN Security Council today discussed the protection of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in the presence of Ukraine. "We are all aware of the risks to the civilian population when a nuclear power plant is located in a war zone. It is our duty to protect the civilian population," Federal Councillor Cassis said in New York. At the briefing, IAEA Director General Grossi presented five principles to the Council for the protection of the nuclear power plant in south-eastern Ukraine: 1. no attacks of any kind from or against the nuclear power plant; 2. no storage or stationing of heavy weapons or troops at the plant; 3. no threat to the external power supply; 4. protection of all systems necessary for safe operation against attacks or acts of sabotage; 5. no actions that undermine these principles. During the meeting, Switzerland reiterated its condemnation of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine and any attacks against civilian infrastructure. Switzerland again called on Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory. It welcomed the IAEA's commitment to protecting civilian nuclear facilities in Ukraine and called on all Council members to support the five principles proposed by the IAEA for protecting the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. Federal Councillor Cassis called on Russia and Ukraine in particular to fully implement these five principles. In consultation with the IAEA and the other Council members, Swiss diplomacy has been working in recent weeks to ensure that the meeting takes place. Switzerland recalled that the protection of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant is a matter of respect for international humanitarian law. Respecting and promoting this law is a priority for Switzerland and a pillar of its Good Offices. "We are committed to protecting civilian populations: it is with this commitment that we have taken the Presidency of this Council", stressed Ignazio Cassis. Today's meeting is thematically linked to the Federal Council's priorities for Switzerland's seat on the Security Council. During the presidential month of May, several meetings were chaired by members of the Federal Council. On 3 and 4 May, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis chaired an open debate focusing on mutual trust and a meeting on the cooperation between the UN and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). On 23 May, President Alain Berset emphasised in the Council that the protection of civilians in armed conflict must not only exist on paper, but also be increasingly implemented in practice. For her part, Federal Councillor Viola Amherd chaired a session on the financing of peace missions in Africa on 25 May. Today's session will focus on the protection of civilians from nuclear disasters. With these and other geographical and thematic meetings, the Federal Council is on track in implementing its priorities. Overall, Switzerland draws a positive conclusion from this first Council Presidency. Contact Nicolas Bideau, Head of FDFA Communications nicolas.bideau@eda.admin.ch +41 79 667 69 15 Address for enquiries FDFA Communication Federal Palace West Wing CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55 E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch Twitter: @SwissMFA Publisher Federal Department of Foreign Affairs https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html Students and interns at Patanjali Ayurveda College, founded by yoga guru Baba Ramdev, are facing a major setback as they allege that they have not received their experience certificates and other crucial documents after completing their internships at Patanjali Wellness and Patanjali Yog Gram. Numerous students hailing from the Uttarakhand region have voiced their grievances, stating that despite successfully completing internship and training programs lasting either one or two years, they are unable to obtain the necessary proof of their internships. This disturbing revelation has raised concerns and cast a shadow over the reputation of the esteemed institution. A student interning at Patanjali Yog Gram Haridwar, Sonu Singh, said, I enrolled for the internship program at Patanjali. I finished my 6-month internship but was not given a certificate of completion. I have been following up with the faculty for a year now. He further said, There are more than 100 such students who have yet to receive their certificate, which is required to pursue their further careers. I have all of the documentation to prove my internship, and the salary I was paid is reflected in my bank account. Recently, the Uttarakhand High Court ordered the Patanjali Bhartiya Ayurvigyan Evam Anusandhan Sansthan to release the degree certificates and other documents of 24 students who graduated from the institutes Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) program in 2020. The students again moved the high court, saying even three years after the course, documents were not released. In their petition, they have demanded the release of all documents from the principal of Patanjali Ayurveda College, Professor Anil Kumar, according to a report published in the Times of India. Hundreds of students are harassed by Patanjali Yog Peeth; we serve here unconditionally, but when it comes to changing careers, they dont support it, said Dr. Gautam, an acutherapist at Patanjali Wellness. Even so, they hire hundreds of new professionals each year and ask the old ones to leave. Patanjali is a bit of a scam and a pain when it comes to professional work, a homeopathy doctor at Patanjali said. Management is obsessed with money, so they have no regard for the people who work for them. Patanjali is led by Acharya Bal Krishna, a billionaire who owns the majority of the private company and is represented by yoga guru Baba Ramdev. Their meteoric rise occurred after the BJP took power and Prime Minister Narendra Modi promoted yoga and Ayurveda in the face of rising Hindu nationalism. When Prime Minister Modi opened the Patanjali Research Institute in Uttarakhand in May 2017, Reuters reported that the company had received land discounts totaling more than USD 46 million in BJP-controlled states. Afternoon Voice attempted to contact the management of Patanjali Ayurveda College and Patanjali Wellness for comment on the students claims, but we have yet to hear back. Twitter suspended the account of retired IPS officer Dr NC Asthana, who also served as DGP Kerala, on Tuesday for making threatening comments for protesting wrestlers in Delhi. The suspension from the social media platform comes after the former top cop tweeted that the protesting wrestlers will be shot if needed. Asthanas remarks apparently came when one athlete was heard shouting, Goli maar do hume (shoot all of us) at the Jantar Mantar while the police were attempting to detain the protesters marching toward the new parliament building on Sunday. Asthanas complete tweet reads, Will even shoot if necessary. But not because youre saying. The officer further wrote, We have just dragged and dumped you like a sack of garbage now. Article 129 gives the police the right to shoot. That wish will be fulfilled if the circumstances demand it. But for that, you need to be educated. See you again at the postmortem table! Screenshot of the tweet: The retired officers remark did not go well, prompting the Indian Police Foundation to condemn Asthanas statement as unacceptable behavior. In a tweet, the Indian Police Foundation said, Deeply disturbing to see such a threatening tweet from a retired police officer. This kind of behaviour is unacceptable. It tarnishes the reputation of the entire police force. (sic) Deeply disturbing to see such a threatening tweet from a retired police officer. This kind of behaviour is unacceptable. It tarnishes the reputation of the entire police force. pic.twitter.com/KeTpTh35jY Indian Police Foundation (@IPF_ORG) May 29, 2023 The internet quickly turned on Asthana, and his remarks were widely condemned and shamed. Fans, fellow athletes, and public figures took to social media to express their outrage and demand an apology from Asthana. WHO was this expert government witness who has been silenced? Some government officials have repeatedly stated there is no evidence of a link between vaccines and autism, or that the theory has been "debunked." However, court documents show the government secretly acknowledged such injuries two decades ago, and the government's own top medical expert eventually said he had been wrong and that vaccines do "rarely" cause autism, after all. He signed an affidavit saying the Dept. of Justice fired him as an expert witness when he told them vaccines can cause autism, and covered up his opinion. She made the stunning claim that YES, vaccines do cause autism AND YES, the government knows there is link and has covered it up for decades. Countless studies, government court documents, and medical experts have linked vaccines to autism in children with biologic or genetic susceptibilities. The autism epidemic coincides with the time that the government tripled the childhood vaccine schedule in the 90s. Additionally, during the same time period, other immune-related disorders have also spiked in children. That includes Crohn's disease, POTS, allergies and asthma, skin allergies and rashes, juvenile diabetes, celiac and more. She went right to the issue officials never stop denying: CDC concludes the shocking prevalence shows the need to spend more resources identifying and treating autism. Oddly, nothing is said about the need to identify what's causing the epidemic so it can be prevented in the first place. The new rate was dismissed once again by health experts as merely being better recognize of a condition thats always been around. It got almost no coverage in the mainstream press, and no one was publicly talking about why the rate never stops increasing. In 2000, many experts declared an emergency when the rate had suddenly spiked to one in 150 children. According to CDC, one in 35 eight-year-olds in the US had an autism-related brain disorder in 2020...and the true number is even worse today, three years after the data that was analyzed. Even more concerning, the numbers are higher among children under age eight. And autism occurs at a significantly higher rate in American boys than in girls. Here Sharyl is focused on the latest jaw-dropping numbers, something NO ONE in our public health agencies ever is. In the early 2000s Sharyl did groundbreaking stories on the rise of autism and the link to vaccines. These were on CBS, back when CBS was a legitimate news outlet. She reported on thimerosal use in vaccines, the MMR vaccine, the conflicts of interest of health officials, Brian Hookers revelations about a CDC whistleblower and the Hannah Poling decision, where the U.S. government conceded a case involving vaccines and the development of autism. By Anne Dachel In my book, The Big Autism Cover-Up , I devoted a whole chapter to journalist Sharyl Attkisson. Sharyl reported on him FOUR YEARS AGO. This Full Measure coverage featured Robert Kennedy, Jr. among other prominent people in the vaccine-autism debate. FULL MEASURE: January 6, 2019 - The Vaccination Debate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XUM2gvfbW8 Dr. Andrew Zimmerman is a world renowned pediatric neurologist. Dr. Zimmerman was the governments top expert witness and had testified that vaccines didnt cause autism. The debate was declared over. But now Dr.Zimmerman has provided remarkable new information. He claims that during the Vaccine Court hearings, all those years ago, he privately told government lawyers can and did cause autism in some children. That turnabout from the governments own chief medical expert stood to change everything about the vaccine autism debate if the public were to find out. Rolf Hazlehurst, father of a vaccine injured child whose case lost in Vaccine Court: He has come forward and explained how he told the United States government the vaccines can cause autism in a certain subset of children. The United States government, the Department of Justice suppressed his true opinions Sharyl: Hazlehurst discovered that later when Dr. Zimmerman evaluated Yates as a teenager. Thats when he partnered with vaccine safety advocate, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who has a voce condition. Kennedy: This is one of the most consequential frauds, arguably, in human history. Sharyl: Kennedy was instrumental in convincing Dr. Zimmerman to document his remarkable claim of the government covering up his true expert opinion on vaccines and autism. His sworn affidavit. It says on June 15, 2007, he took aside the Department of Justice or DOJ lawyers he worked for defending vaccines in Vaccine Court. He told them he discovered exceptions in which vaccines could cause autism. I explained that in a subset of children, vaccine induced fever and immune stimulation did cause progressive brain disease with features of autism spectrum disorder. Kennedy: This panicked DOJ attorneys, and they immediately fired Zimmerman. They wanted to silence him. Sharyl: Days after Department of Justice lawyers fired Dr. Zimmerman as their expert witness, he alleges they went on to misrepresent his opinion to continue to debunk autism claims. Records show that on June 18, 2007, a DOJ attorney Dr. Zimmerman spoke to told Vaccine Court, We know Dr. Zimmermans views on the issue. There is no scientific basis for a connection between vaccines and autism. Dr. Zimmerman now calls that highly misleading. The former DOJ lawyer didnt return our calls and emails. Kennedy has filed a fraud complaint with the Justice Department Inspector General Meantime, the CDC which promotes vaccines and monitors vaccine safety, never disclosed that the governments own one-time medical expert concluded, vaccines can cause autism, and to this day, public health officials deny thats the case. (Dr. Anne Schuchat from the CDC is shown denying any link.) In addition to filing a fraud complaint, Kennedy has delivered Dr. Zimmermans affidavit to leaders on Capitol Hill, but there he claims is another key part of this story: roadblocks set up by the pharmaceutical industry or Pharma. Kennedy: Everybody takes money from Pharma, so theyve all been corrupted. Its almost impossible to get anything done on Capitol Hill. Sharyl: Kennedy, a Democrat, isnt the only one claiming vaccine industry money rules the day. We spoke to 11 current and former members of Congress and staff who claimed they faced pressure, bullying or threats when they raised vaccine safety questions. Several of them agreed to appear on camera. Former House Oversight Committee Chairman, U.S. Rep. Dan Burton: Theres no question in my mind whatsoever that the pharmaceutical industry had a great influence with people over at the CDC and FDA. Theres no question in my mind. Sharyl: [Burton] pursued vaccine investigations in the early 2000s. Beth Clay is one of his staffers. Clay: There was a lot of pressure from people on the Hill. Colleagues, they were pharmaceutical lobbyists. The pharmaceutical lobbyists, theyre the same people that have been entrenched. They can walk into any office on Capitol Hill, and theyll talk to staff, theyll talk to members and theyll encourage them to discourage our investigation. Sharyl asked why they have so much access in Congress. Clay: Its money. If you look at the donations over the last 20 years, the pharmaceutical industry and Republican and Democrattheyre nonpartisan. They put money everywhere. Sharyl is shown interviewing former U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon, M.D. Sharyl: If you would want to hold a hearing on an issue like vaccines and autism, your own leadership might fight you on that because of the financial influence Weldon: No, they wouldnt fight you, theyd kill it. Itd be dead. They dont even want to discuss it. Its dead on arrival. If you as an individual member want to take on the pharmaceutical industries, its, its, forget it. Sharyl asked him to describe how this influence works in Congress. Weldon: It would typically be in a hallway or on the street. People would come up to you can say, you really need to back off on this. It could be bad for the community, bad for the country or bad for you. When asked about Dr. Zimmermans affidavit, Dr. Weldon said it was consistent with my opinions. Some children can get an autism spectrum disorder from a vaccine. Next was a clip from U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, a Republican. Posey: I dont have to tell you that that industry is a very, very powerful industry. Matter of fact, I dont know of anyone more powerful than that industry. Sharyl: Posey says his own party leaders twice promised to hold hearings on the topic, only to scuttle them in the end. Hazlehurst, who happens to be a criminal prosecutor, was scheduled to be a witness at one such congressional hearing. Two weeks before the hearing in 2013, he briefed congressional staff Hazlehurst: I presented at that congressional briefing, and I explained in that briefing, if I did to a criminal in a court of law, what the United States Department of Justice did to vaccine injured children, I would be disbarred and I would be facing criminal charges. I think that scared the hell out of them. Sharyl: The hearing was abruptly cancelled. Meantime, Dr. Zimmerman, the one-time expert witness used to debunk vaccine-autism claims, now says several of his own patients got autism from vaccines. They include Yates Hazlehurst. A lobby group representing the pharmaceutical industry wouldnt agree to an interview but told us theyre working with Congress and other stakeholders on the importance and safety of vaccines to support the health and safety of individuals and communities. Watching and transcribing what Sharyl Attkisson revealed in 2019 shows the extent of the corruption, collusion and cover-up involving so many powerful people who should care about the welfare of children. I remember my first trip to Washington in 2005. I went to every congressional office of members from my state of Wisconsin and talked about what autism was doing to children and the link to vaccines. (Back then the autism rate was officially one in 166 children.) There was absolutely no interest. I do remember talking to U.S. Rep. Dan Burton who told me and others point blank to go back and continue to do what we were doing because nothing will happen here, meaning on Capitol Hill. Its clear almost 20 years later no member of Congress has any interest in why autism is unstoppable. Their silence has been bought. Kennedys words ring true: Everybody takes money from Pharma, MORE COVERAGE BY SHARYL ATTKISSON 2007 CBS News: Eye To Eye: Autism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0GOkS0uXWE Here Sharyl interviewed Michael and Theresa Cedillo about their daughters vaccine injury case. 2008 CBS News: Follow the Money https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WsUTjtnApQ Sharyl investigated the conflicts of interests involving top vaccine defenders. Government officials and some scientists say there's no link between vaccines and autism -- and they're often backed by independent experts. But how "independent" are they? Sharyl Attkisson reports. 2008 CBS News Eye To Eye: Vaccines and Autism (Hannah Poling case) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHtuILnzYZ4 U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon, M.D. was interviewed about the Hannah Poling case in this report. Here is what he said about liability. I have a lot of concerns about that. Obviously the biggest one is just public health, the welfare of our children We had Secretary Leavett of HHS in front of the committee, and I said to him and the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Obey there are some huge issues associated with this. Obviously one of them is, we need to maintain public confidence in our vaccine program. These vaccines prevent very serious, devastating illness, and were not doing enough research. If it is every shown scientifically that these kids were getting this terrible condition because of these shots, that the federal government would be liable in court to provide for the healthcare and in some cases if theyre really badly disabled, the support of these children for their lifetimes. This is a very huge issue, not just on a humanitarian level, but as well on a financial level. Sharyl asked Dr. Weldon about the governments continued denial of any link between vaccines and autism in light of the Hannah Poling decision. Weldon: I wouldnt recommend they say something like that in light of the Poling case and the admission and the admission on the part of the government. What the federal government really needs to do is step up the level of effort and get answers to these questions. Weldon went on to call for more research into vaccine side effects. 2009 CBS News: Does HepB Vaccine Cause Defects? Here Sharyl interviewed Dr. Andrew Wakefield. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_ot8F6m7qw In 2014 Sharyl was interviewed by Brian Stelter on CNN about why she left CBS. She was clear that it was the censorship that was being imposed on reporters by the producers. They were caving to the demands of corporate sponsors. Anne Dachel is Media Editor for Age of Autism. ### The War On Ivermectin Dr. Pierre Kory Ivermectin is a dirty word in the media. It doesnt work. Its a deadly horse dewormer. Prescribe or promote it and youll be called a right-wing quack, be banned from social media, or lose your license to practice medicine. And yet, entire countries wiped out the virus with it, and more than ninety-five studies now show it to be unequivocally effective in preventing and treating Covid-19. If it didnt work, why was there a coordinated global campaign to cancel it? Whats the truth about this decades-old, Nobel Prize-winning medication? The War on Ivermectin is the personal and professional narrative of Dr. Pierre Kory and his crusade to recommend a safe, inexpensive, generic medicine as the key to ending the pandemic. Here's a great Father's Day gift idea. The Real RFK Jr Trials of a Truth Warrior from Skyhorse Publishing is available NOW for pre-order. It's already #1 on the Amazon best sellers list. By Dick Russell An epic biography filled with drama, conflict, and surmounted challenges. The Real RFK Jr. is an intimate biographical portrait examining the controversial activist's journey from anguish and addiction to becoming the country's leading environmental champion fighting government corruption, corporate greed, and a captured media. Written by his longtime colleague Dick Russell, the biography also exposes the misconceptions and explains the rationale behind Kennedy's campaign to protect public health. Provided exclusive source material, including access to Kennedys unpublished writings and personal journals, the author conducted dozens of interviews with him as well as numerous friends and associates. Russell delves into everything from Kennedys sometimes death-defying river rafting adventures to his pioneering legal cases against polluters such as Smithfield Foods and Monsanto, while founding the worlds largest water protection group. The Real RFK Jr. also examines Kennedys pursuit of the truth about the assassinations of his father and uncle, the wrongful murder conviction of his cousin, and the false narratives around the COVID-19 pandemic. A mother spotted a man attempting to lure her daughter into leaving with him and pulled the child away just as the would-be kidnapper got his hands on the child, according to the Mobile County Sheriffs Office. The incident took place Sunday on Danner Road in Wilmer, according to a release from the MCSO. The suspect, identified as 64-year-old Paul Patrick Samson, was seen by the childs mother as he was enticing the young girl to leave with him. After the mother grabbed her daughter away from Samson, he left in his vehicle and the mother called 911. Monday, detectives arrested Samson and charged him with 1st-degree kidnapping, according to the Mobile Metro Jail docket. Sheriff Paul Burch said his department has received several calls about Samson. We have received several calls about SAMSON after his arrest, Burch said. If you see something, say something. Because of this mothers quick response to reporting, we were able to identify the suspect and take him into custody. Samson remained in the Mobile Metro Jail as of early Tuesday afternoon, held without bond pending an initial court appearance. Google confirmed that a second Pixel foldable device was in the works, but it never saw the light of day. The Head of Design at Google, Ivy Ross, sheds light on why they hold back from releasing another Pixel foldable. Google Confirms Second Pixel Fold Was in the Works Google has finally broken its silence and confirmed the existence of a second foldable device it was secretly developing alongside the highly anticipated Pixel Fold. But, according to GSM Arena, the tech giant's Head of Design, disclosed that the project was ultimately canceled. The revelation came as a surprise to many, as rumors have it that Google was working on two foldable phones for some time. But contrary to the chatter, the tech giant launched a single Pixel Fold in early May. Google's Design Head Ross revealed in the Made by Google Podcast that they developed a second Pixel foldable. He says, "[I am] really proud of the team because there was another foldable model that we had created, that we had the discipline to hold back." Ross narrates that they humbly admitted to themselves the second device they are working on "is not good enough yet." So instead of delivering a half-baked mobile phone, they decided to abandon it, leading to a single product launch. Read Also: 'Godfather of AI' Geoffrey Hinton Leaves Google, Warns of Technology's Risks Was it the Google Pixel Flip? As per Phone Arena, the Google clam-style foldable, potentially Pixel Flip, has been the center of rumors before the tech giant introduced the first-ever Fold. In fact, Google Pixel Product Manager George Hwang admitted during the I/O 2023 that they are interested in diving into different foldable form factors, such as a flip-style option. But despite that, it is unclear if the canceled second Pixel foldable was a flip-style offering, Android Central reports. The recorded podcast failed to go into details about the mystery device. With no specs in mind, it is hard to tell if it was a clam-shell offering in the works. Notably, the second foldable phone cancellation is a huge setback for Google, as it had been hoping to compete with Samsung in the foldable market. The South Korean phone maker is currently one of the major tech juggernauts selling foldable phones, and it has been very successful in doing so. The Z Flip 4 is selling like pancakes. Meanwhile, other brands like Motorola and Oppo are playing catch up since Samsung dominates the foldable market segment. Right now, Samsung releases two foldable devices every year - a clam-style option, Flip, and a sandwich-like foldable, aptly called Fold. On the other hand, Google only debuted a similar offering to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, the first-ever Pixel Fold, which starts shipping to customers next month. Related Article: Google To Delete Inactive Accounts This 2023: Here's How to Avoid Gmail Deactivation @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The man who spearheaded the conspiracy to set fire to multiple Walmarts in Alabama and Mississippi was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison Tuesday -- double the sentence recommended by prosecutors. Jeffrey Sikes admitted in federal plea agreement last October he led a conspiracy to set fire to a Walmart on the Interstate 65 Service Road in May 2021. In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to drop additional charges against Sikes, who -- along with six others -- was accused of setting fire to Walmart stores in Tillmans Corner, Gulfport, Miss., and Biloxi, Miss., between May 27, 2021 and June 4, 2021. Sikes pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to maliciously destroy by fire real and personal property used in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce. Prosecutors had recommended the nine-year sentence for Sikes, but as noted in court documents, those recommendations are non-binding and federal penalties allow for a sentence of 5-20 years. U.S. District Judge Terry Moorer of Alabamas Southern District eschewed the recommended sentence in handing down Sikes 18-year prison term. Sikes was indicted and taken into custody in February 2022 in Gulf Shores, where the Nebraska native was living at the time. The original indictment named Sikes, who was using the name Kenneth Allen, along with Sean Bottorff, Michael Bottorff, and brothers Quinton Olson and Alexander Olson as the co-conspirators. Erica Sikes and Jenna Bottorff were later indicted as co-conspirators. Initially, each of the defendants pleaded not guilty, but would later change their plea to guilty. Two of Jeffrey Sikes co-conspirators -- the Olson brothers -- are also scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday, with sentencing for the remainder to come later. The federal indictment against Jeffrey Sikes and his fellow conspirators maliciously set the fires to force Walmart, Inc. to meet demands related to interstate and foreign commerce set forth by the conspirators in their manifesto (identified herein as The Walmart Manifesto.) According to the indictment, the conspirators used accelerants such as lighter fluid to set racks of clothing and other materials on fire. It cites a mix of data to identify participants movements, including in-store security camera footage and cell phone data. Some of those calls include a burner phone used to take pictures of a six-page manifesto titled Declaration of War and Demands for the People which the indictment says was Supposedly written by a group called The Veterans Order. According to the indictment, photos of the document were emailed to local news stations in Mobile and the Mississippi coast. The indictment says that the document references the malicious fires, makes a series of demands on Walmart related to the companys interstate and foreign commerce business practices, and threatens further malicious fires if Walmart does not comply with the demands. It is signed with a seal pressed into melted red wax. The fire set inside the I-65 Service Road Walmart caused an estimated $8.5 million in damage, according to testimony by the stores senior director John Wimsett. The store was closed for two weeks for cleanup and repair. One chef from Birmingham, one from Auburn and two from the coast will compete in this years Alabama Seafood Cook-Off, with the winner to represent the state in the Great American Seafood Cook-Off later this summer. This year not only saw the highest number of entries submitted to us in ASCO history, but also the best and most solid options statewide. We were blown away by chefs creativity in presenting Alabama Gulf Seafood through new and interesting recipe creations, said Chef Jim Smith, owner and executive chef at Mobiles The Hummingbird Way, board chairman of the Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission (ASMC) and 2011 winner of both the Alabama and Great American cook-offs. We cannot wait to see our four finalists creations brought to life in June, said Smith. Those chefs, and their mouth-watering entries, are: Chef Sam Adams of small batch in Birmingham A Mediterranean summer meets Birmingham concept with seared Gulf red snapper over Gulf crab salad, with boiled peanut hummus, cornmeal fried squash, fried capers, saffron beurre lorange and herb salad. Chef Lawrence Agnew of Jesses Restaurant in Magnolia Springs Charcoal grilled dry aged swordfish chop, magnolia glazed Bayou Cora nixtamalized hominy and local summer vegetables, blue crab stuffed heirloom tomato and bourride butter. Chef Brody Olive of Voyagers at Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach A fishing on the rocks, the jetties at Perdido Pass concept featuring gaff-top catfish smoked over scrub oak coal, flash-fried mole crabs + gulf shrimp horseradish cream, pickled purslane and smoked paprika coral tuile. Chef Nicholas Song of The Depot in Auburn Alabama jumbo lump crab cake, heirloom tomato miso dashi, Meyer lemon quick pickled cucumber & Alabama royal red shrimp salad, local corn, chili & cotija esquites aioli. The Alabama Seafood Cook-Off is presented by Alabama Gulf Seafood. According to information released by that organization, the selection process required chefs from across the state to submit a recipe including Alabama Gulf Seafood as the featured ingredient. An expert panel of judges reviewed each chefs recipe and selected participants based off Alabama location (one participant selected from North, Central, Gulf and then a Wildcard) and factors such as creativity, composition, harmony of ingredients and more. The eighth annual cook-off takes place at 6 p.m. Monday, June 12, at Zekes Restaurant in Orange Beach. According to organizers, teams will have one hour to prepare their dishes and present them to a panel of judges. The competition is open to the public, with no cost for entry. Guests will enjoy live music, free oyster tastings compliments of Murder Point Oysters and will enjoy a live cooking competition as the sun sets on the Alabama Gulf. The winning chef receives a $2,500 prize. More food coverage: Southern Living says this family-owned restaurant is among Gulf Shores best A unique partnership landed this restaurant on a prime Alabama beach Beloved Alabama steak restaurant opens second location The National Park Service will grant more than $3.1 million to help preserve and enhance civil rights sites in Alabama. The series of grants will be awarded to five organizations around the state: The City of Anniston will receive $74,800 for story mapping and the formalization of the Anniston Civil Rights Trail The Historic Bethel Baptist Church Community Restoration Fund in Birmingham will receive $750,000 for historic preservation St. Paul United Methodist Church in Birmingham will receive $750,000 for preservation and restoration Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church in Montgomery will receive $750,000 for repair and rehabilitation The Alabama Historical Commission in Montgomery will receive $75,000 for the Freedom Rides Museum Vintage Greyhound Bus Virtual Reality Experience and $750,000 for the rehabilitation of the second floor of the Moore Building, the structure across from the historic Greyhound Bus Station. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewells office announced the grants in a press release late last week. As the Representative of Alabamas Civil Rights district, I take seriously my responsibility to ensure that we preserve the living legacy of the Civil Rights Movement, Sewell said in the release. Each year, Im proud to lead the effort in Congress to increase funding for the National Park Services African American Civil Rights Grant Program to ensure that Americas civil rights history lives on. This $3.1 million is a big win for the State of Alabama and will help ensure that faces and places of the Movement are never forgotten! The African American Civil Rights Grant Program helps document, interpret, and preserve sites and stories related to the African American struggle to gain equal rights as citizens. The grants are funded by the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) and administered by the National Park Service. The grants fund a range of planning, development, and research projects for historic sites, including documentation, interpretation, education, architectural services, and repairs. Established in 1977, the Historic Preservation Fund has provided more than $2 billion in historic preservation grants to states, Native American tribes, local governments, and nonprofit organizations. This summer, the Historic Preservation Fund plans to make $24 million available for African American Civil Rights grants, according to the release from Rep. Sewells office. The National Park Service is proud to award this grant funding to our state and local government, and nonprofit partners to help them recognize places and stories related to the African American experience, Director Chuck Sams said in the same release. Since 2016, the African American Civil Rights program has provided over $100 million to document, protect, and celebrate the places, people and stories of one of the greatest struggles in American history. A teen girl is dead after a shooting in Fairfield Monday afternoon. Jefferson County sheriffs deputies at 2:47 p.m. were called to the intersection of Overlook Place and Hillside Drive. Lt. Joni Money said once on the scene, they found a 17-year-old girl suffering from gunshot wounds. She was rushed to UAB Hospital where she was later pronounced dead. The victim was a passenger in a vehicle that took gunfire while it was moving. A second person in the vehicle sustained minor injuries. Money said no additional information is being released at this time. No arrests have been made. Mondays fatal shooting was the second time over the holiday weekend that a teen girl was killed in Fairfield. On Saturday, a 15-year-old girl was shot at 3:44 p.m. to the 5000 block of Parkway. The 15-year-old girl was taken to Childrens of Alabama. She was later pronounced dead. A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder. in that case. A 20-year-old has been indicted in a 2022 fatal shooting near a Birmingham park. A Jefferson County grand jury this month indicted Kelan Wayne Hutchins, of Vestavia Hills, on a charge of reckless manslaughter. The indictment was made public Tuesday. Hutchins is charged in the Sept. 11, 2022, death of Nickelas Kristerpher Kelley. He was 21. It was just before 11:30 p.m. that Sunday that the citys gunfire detection system - Shot Spotter alerted Birmingham police to multiple shots fired near Rozelle Reynolds Park in the 6100 block of Avenue O in the Green Acres neighborhood. A citizen then flagged down an officer and reported that a person was slumped over outside of a vehicle. Officers arrived to find Kelley unresponsive on the ground. He was pronounced dead on the scene at 11:57 p.m. Witnesses told investigators that a group of males had been gathered there, and they fled on foot after the shooting. More than 20 shots were fired, Law said, but it wasnt immediately clear whether more than one person was firing the shots. The indictment against Hutchins said he recklessly caused the death of Kelly by shooting a gun, which caused the victim to be shot. Hutchins was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on May 23, 2023, and released the following day after posting $30,000 bond. Most victims of crime have committed crime themselves, according to a new report, and criminal justice system often contributes to the problems it sets out to solve. Whether it is intended or not, we have a system that is unresponsive to the realities of the people most likely to experience the harms that the system is putatively in place to mitigate and respond to, said Leah Nelson, research director at Alabama Appleseed, a nonprofit policy group focused on poverty and criminal justice. For its report, Appleseed surveyed 401 Alabamians, between the ages of 16 and 95, who are from communities that experience high levels of violence. The report found that many of the people had committed crimes been the victims of crimes. But the majority of those victimized reported that they did not feel comfortable calling the police for help due to fear retaliation and getting arrested. Only 46 percent said they felt safer after the person who harmed them was sent to prison. Nelson said the state can start to address those issues by replicating the model Alabama is already using to address substance use sending people whove overcome addition to help people suffering from it navigate out of trouble. The state invests little in financial support for families after homicides, the report found, especially for children who lose parents. It also found a lack of funding for people to re-enter society after they leave prison. In 2021 lawmakers decided to spend 1.3 billion dollars on two new prisons. The cost of those prisons has gone up since then, with one prison in Elmore County now expected to cost nearly $1 billion, the report said. The system is really focused on punishing a person who did the harm, and not focused on the needs of the person who experienced it, said Nelson. The majority of survey participants, 62 percent, reported that they had seen someone stabbed, attacked or robbed. And while 70 percent said they had been convicted of crime themselves, 59 percent reported that they had been to jail or prison. More than half said a family member died in a homicide, 56 percent reported being sexually assaulted and 45 percent had been shot at. Alabama Appleseed has come to understand that victims and offenders are not two siloed categories of people who only interact at the moment when one of them harms the other, the report stated, but Alabamas response to crime is focused on punishment rather than ending a cycle of violence and poverty. Most of the people surveyed were women, 57 percent, and Black, 63 percent. LGBTQ+ people made up 15 percent of the survey respondents. Most were low-income with more than half earning less than $15,000 a year. Many had a history of substance use and most reported a history of childhood trauma. To be inclusive of a range of perspectives, the survey group included formerly incarcerated people, survivors of domestic violence, people in treatment for substance use disorder and noncitizens. If we had some type of peer specialist in place, people who understand exactly what that person is going through, and just help them connect with resources, I think that would make a big difference, said Nelson. Nelson said she believes the state needs to spend time listening to Alabamians who have been the victims of violent crime to start to come up with the best solutions to meet their needs. What I kept hearing from people basically is they just dont feel heard. Theres not a place for them to go. Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday tweeted stronger support for Alabamas claim on the permanent headquarters of the U.S. Space Command. Alabama is in every way staunchly committed to seeing this mission through, Ivey said about the states fight to prevent Pentagon changes that could support keeping the command headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo. She said, Alabama is the only rightful home for Space Command Headquarters, and supporting this mission is critical to the advancement of our national security. The tweet is the latest example of Iveys passion about the headquarters decision. On May 19, an AL.com report said she almost shouted from the podium Alabama is the only choice for Space Command headquarters at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Alabama won the formal ranking of potential headquarters candidates the Pentagon completed in 2021. But Colorado challenged that decision after former President Trump said later that he single-handedly decided to move the command to Alabama. Let me repeat what everyone already knows: Alabama is the only rightful home for Space Command Headquarters, and supporting this mission is critical to the advancement of our national security. Read my full statement below. #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/Lly2k7gvx6 Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) May 30, 2023 Alabama Congressman Mike Rogers, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, announced a committee investigation last week into continued delays in the headquarters decision. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said his office is also reviewing how the base decision process got here. Rogers called on Space Command 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. Altered mission or headquarters requirements was a reference to Kendalls testimony before Rogers committee earlier this month. Kendall said the Air Force was doing additional analysis in part because changes in staffing could mean the startup Colorado Springs headquarters building could accommodate key command personnel requiring no new building and meaning a savings for the government. 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, Republican Alabama U.S. Sen. Katie Britt tweeted afterward. 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. Kendall told Rogers committee that he has started his own investigation into the irregularities around the headquarters. Last week, our bipartisan Alabama delegation brought to light concerning details regarding the permanency of Space Command Headquarters, Ivey said in her latest tweet. On what dimension would we not have a permanent headquarters for a major arm or our national security? A dispute between two groups ended in gunfire on the crowded Hollywood Broadwalk near the end of the Memorial Day weekend, leaving nine people shot, including a 1-year-old child, police say. The Broadwalk, a popular beachside destination, was crowded with families and people enjoying the holiday Monday when the gunshots began. People began to run. Officers, paramedics and Good Samaritans went to help those who were shot. People come to enjoy a holiday weekend on the beach with their families, Mayor Josh Levy said late Monday night. And to have people in complete reckless disregard of the safety of the public and to have an altercation with guns, in a public setting with thousands of people around them is beyond reckless. Of the nine wounded, five are adults, ranging in age from 25 to 65. The four wounded youth range in age from 1 to 17 years old, said spokesperson Deanna Bettineschi. The wounded were taken to Memorial Regional Hospital and Joe DiMaggio Childrens Hospital, Bettineschi said. One person was in surgery, and the rest of the shooting victims are in stable condition, Bettineschi said. The 1-year-old is among those listed in stable condition, she said. One suspect was in custody, and police were searching for a second suspect, Bettineschi said earlier Monday evening. Both the mayor and Hollywood Police Chief Chris OBrien vowed that the police would leave no stone unturned in finding and arresting those responsible for the shooting. OBrien said Hollywood police were being assisted by state and federal agencies. OBrien called the shooting a senseless act of gun violence. He said, Its unfortunate when we have law-abiding citizens come to our beach to enjoy the day and that gets disrupted by a group of criminals who engage in this type of violent activity. Police encouraged the public to send any pertinent videos or photos to pdvideorequest@hollywoodfl.org. We are asking for the publics help, OBrien said. If you saw something, if you have video of something, as minor as you think it might be, please send it to us so we can follow up and investigate it. Late Monday night, police kept a big presence along the Broadwalk, and investigators were still talking with witnesses in the area. Police asked people to avoid the Broadwalk and other areas near the beach as they investigated. The areas to avoid, police said on Twitter: Hollywood beach from Johnson to Garfield streets and the Broadwalk. As the shooting happened, people began running for cover. Police began receiving 911 calls about 6:52 p.m. Dozens of officers already were on duty in the area, amid the big crowd from the holiday. Officers immediately responded, Bettineschi said. They found the nine victims with gunshot wounds. They immediately rendered aid. Jamie Ward, 46, the former mayor of Mayfield, N.Y., moved to South Florida last year. He said he was riding and electric bike down the Broadwalk when the shooting began. He said there were two groups who argued and then the gunfire happened. I saw a gentleman with a compression tourniquet on his leg. He was definitely the victim of a gunshot wound, Ward said. I saw another larger gentleman with a compression bandage across his chest that was being whisked away on a gurney by an ambulance. It was too early to say whether it was one or more people who opened fire. Thats something well be looking at in this investigation, Bettineschi said. During a 10:30 p.m. news conference, a reporter asked whether any of the nine shooting victims would be detained for the shooting. It was also something police would be looking into, Bettineschi said. This is the very early stages of the investigation. We do have victims who have gunshot wounds so theyve been taken into the hospital. So making sure that theyre OK, thats first. Levy said a shooting with so many victims was a never-before occurrence on the Broadwalk. Our beach has millions of beachgoers a year. Its a very popular and beautiful destination, Levy said. Ordinarily, its a peaceful beach. 2023 South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Visit sun-sentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A woman working as a general manager at an Arbys became trapped in the restaurants walk-in freezer while performing opening tasks, according to a new lawsuit. As other employees had arrived for work, Nguyet Le panicked once locked inside and beat her hands bloody trying to escape or get someones attention, the lawsuit filed May 25 says. Le, 63, froze to death at the restaurant in New Iberia, Louisiana, on May 11, according to the lawsuit, which says preliminary autopsy findings list hypothermia as the cause. Now, New Iberia police are investigating the incident after they were called to a report of a body found in a freezer at 6:19 p.m. that day, McClatchy News previously reported. Her son Nguyen Le, another Arbys employee, found her body after he arrived for his restaurant shift, the lawsuit says. She was found dead in the evening, according to KADN News 15. Now, Nguyen Le and his three siblings are suing Arbys over her death. Additionally, Turbo Restaurants and Sun Holdings, which are based in Texas and own several Arbys restaurants, are named as defendants, an original petition filed in Harris County District Court in Texas shows. An Arbys spokesperson told McClatchy News in a statement on May 26 that the franchisee in New Iberia is cooperating fully with local authorities as they conduct their investigation over the tragic incident. A regional director of operations for Turbo Restaurants referred a request for comment from McClatchy News to Sun Holdings. McClatchy News attempted to reach Sun Holdings for comment on May 26 and was awaiting a response. Attorney Paul Skrabanek, of the Pierce Skrabanek law firm in Houston, is representing the family to help investigate and hold accountable those responsible for the potential negligence that led to such a disturbing end for their loved one, a May 17 news release said. Manager was temporarily assigned to Arbys in Louisiana Le, a widow and mother of four who lived with her oldest child Nguyen Le, worked at an Arbys restaurant in Houston, Texas, as a general manager, the lawsuit says. In February, her supervisor asked her to take a temporary assignment and work at the Arbys in New Iberia for what was supposed to last four weeks, according to the lawsuit. Nguyen Le joined his mother to temporarily work there, Skrabanek told McClatchy News. At some point, that assignment was extended by her supervisor, the lawsuit says. The freezer was supposed to be kept at -10 degrees, if not colder, according to the lawsuit. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville announced Tuesday the Poarch Band of Creek Indians donated $2.5 million to the centers new Space Camp Operations Center that opened earlier this month. Though a ribbon cutting was held May 19, which included a visit by Gov. Kay Ivey, the donation had not been announced. Signage for the tribe was posted inside the centers 1,000-seat auditorium which the rocket center said the donation funded -- prior to the ribbon cutting. Related: Gov. Kay Ivey on Space Command: Not taking no for an answer The donation is the largest by Poarch Creek Indians in north Alabama, according to the rocket center. The U.S. Space and Rocket Center is known all over the world, and we are honored and excited to be part of building its new Space Camp Operations Center, Stephanie A. Bryan, Poarch Band of Creek Indians Tribal Chair & CEO, said in the announcement. Space Camp has long been a source of pride in our state for encouraging young people from many countries and cultures to pursue careers in space including astronauts, engineers, highly trained technicians, and leaders in both the public and private sectors. As technology continues to advance at lightning speed, we believe the learning experiences the camp offers will play a pivotal role in producing a next generation of leaders in space, and we are proud to support this unique and important Alabama institution. The Poarch Band of Creek Indians donated $2.5 million to fund the auditorium at the Space Camp Operations Center at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. (Paul Gattis | pgattis@al.com) The Space Camp Operations Center is the first new facility at the rocket center campus since the Davidson Center opened in 2008. The 40,600 square foot building houses 10 classrooms and laboratories for Space Camp and Space Camp Robotics, and a Cyber Mission Control for U.S. Cyber Camp in addition to the auditorium. The rocket center said the auditorium will serve as the launching point for the tens of thousands of people who attend Space Camp programs and visit the rocket center for educational and community events. It will also be the site for presentations from astronaut speakers to visiting dignitaries. Boeing is the title sponsor of the building after donating $3.5 million to its construction in 2021. The Poarch Band of Creek Indians investment in our mission furthers our ability to inspire and educate those who will shape the future, Kimberly Robinson, CEO and executive director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, said in the announcement. The Poarch Band of Creek Indians Auditorium is the heart of this magnificent new facility where camp trainees will graduate and launch into STEM careers and where the community, industry partners, and academia will come together to celebrate accomplishments past, present, and future. According to the mayor of Russia's capital city, Moscow was hit by a drone attack on Tuesday, leaving minor damages to several residential buildings. The Russian Defense Ministry says Kyiv staged the attack using eight drones. Moscow Hit by Drone Attack Amid Russia-Ukraine War According to Aljazeera, several drones have attacked the Russian capital city; the Moscow mayor told the state news outlet. The attack took place in the early morning hours. It reportedly involved several drones, damaging many residential buildings across the capital. The capital city major, Sergei Sobyanin, says the "drone attack caused minor damage to several buildings." Fortunately, the Moscow mayor assures that the latest drone strike in the residential area left no casualties. Sobyanin confirms, "No one has been seriously injured so far." ABC News Go reports that the Moscow mayor told state media that local emergency services have arrived at the location of the drone attack. Meanwhile, the Moscow region governor Andrei Vorobyow reports that they have shot down several drones as they approached the Russian capital. The attack comes at a time of heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The two countries have been in a conflict in eastern Ukraine for the past several years, and the situation has worsened in recent months. The recent drone attack, which damaged several residential buildings, is the latest in a series of incidents that have raised concerns about Moscow's security. Read Also: China-Russia Relations: Moscow To Hold Security Talks With Beijing Amid Criticisms Russia's Defense Ministry Blames Kyiv for Drone 'Terrorist Attack' As of writing, it has yet to be determined who is responsible for launching the drone attacks in the residential area of the Russian city. However, as per a recent report by BBC, the Russian Defense Ministry blamed Kyiv for the "terrorist attack" in Moscow, which involved roughly eight drones. The ministry states via Telegram that they have intercepted all of the drones. It says, "Three of them were suppressed by electronic warfare, lost control, and deviated from their intended targets." On top of that, the ministry reports that "another five drones were shot down by the Pantsir-S surface-to-air missile system in the Moscow region." BBC notes that state media estimates that the attack includes roughly 30 drones, which authorities say have fallen into residential buildings upon interception. Moscow residents took to social media to share their experience amid the drone attack in the city. Most say they heard a loud blast, which shook their windows. Kyiv has yet to comment on the incident. However, it is worth noting that the Ukraine Military Intelligence Head, General Kyrylo Budanov, warned Russia of retaliation over the missile strikes that hit the Ukraine city. Related Article: G7 Summit: US Seeks New Sanctions on Moscow, Reduce Reliance on Russian Energy @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Twin brothers have been charged in the Memorial Day shooting death of a 17-year-old girl in Fairfield, a killing that is believed to be linked to the slaying of another teen girl over the weekend. The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office on Tuesday announced warrants for KeAndre Fuller and KeAutay Fuller. They are charged with capital murder in the Monday shooting death of 17-year-old Tatyanna Sherese Hannah. They are also charged with discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle and three counts each of attempted murder. Both brothers remain at large. Hannah was one of two teen girls fatally shot over the weekend. Jani Barker and Tatyanna Hannah (Contributed ) Jani Cupcake Barker, 15, was killed Saturday, and her 15-year-old boyfriend has been charged in that crime. The twin brothers are the older brother of the teen charged in Janis death. Jani was killed Saturday afternoon. She had attended school in Fairfield. Few details have been released in her slaying, but Jefferson County Sheriffs Office officials said they were dispatched at 3:44 p.m. to the 5000 block of Parkway in Fairfield on a report of a someone shot. They arrived to find Jani wounded. She was taken to Childrens of Alabama where she was pronounced dead at 7:30 p.m. Hannah, of Pinson, was shot while riding in a vehicle in Fairfield Monday afternoon with Janis older sister and several others when the suspects are alleged to have fired shots at them. The driver, a male, sustained a minor gunshot wound. Deputies at 2:47 p.m. were called to the intersection of Overlook Place and Hillside Drive. Lt. Joni Money said once on the scene, they found Hannah suffering from gunshot wounds. She was rushed to UAB Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 3:59 p.m. Hannah was a junior at Pinson Valley High School. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the brothers is asked to call 911. Patriot Front is responsible for over 80% of white supremacist propaganda distributed since 2019, by distributing banners, fliers, posters, and stickers. They are known for participating in alarming masked flash demonstrations across the nation. The neo-Nazi extremist group also has a knack for reprogramming digital street signs, and their latest target was in Alabama on Monday. The messages were captured by motorists along Interstate 65 near Clanton and posted on social media, with the words Patriot Front and Reclaim America. See also: Alabama man among masked Patriot Front members arrested at Idaho pride parade The Reclaim America phrase is one of the groups rallying calls and highlights their hopes of preserving the cultural and ethnic origins of their white ancestors. Theyre definitely trying to harass and intimidate with the signage to the targeted groups, said Jeff Tischauser, senior research analyst for the Southern Poverty Law Centers Intelligence Project. So, something like Reclaim America, thats their slogan. They think America has been stolen from them. They think that American, European roots have been stolen and needs to be reclaimed. This is how far they have gone. He added, They think that Jewish people, Black and brown folks, LGBTQ communities, women, Muslims, they target a lot of different groups. But with this Reclaim America, its really a broad message that suggests they need to take back power from their perceived enemies. Vandalizing billboards is a strategy Patriot Front has used before, according to those who track the group. The New York-based Anti-Defamation League has tracked similar incidents in Texas, Washington, California, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. Thus far, there have been no known arrests nor any repercussions against Patriot Front or their members in altering road signs, according to Morgan Lynn Moon, investigative researcher with the Center on Extremism with the Anti-Defamation League. When people are reprogramming these street signs, they are concealing their faces and are wearing hats and sunglasses, Moon said. Its difficult to identify them when they are reprogramming these signs. With the Alabama sign, I hope that is no longer the case. Investigation continues The I-65 hack was publicized on Twitter, after a motorist identified the messaging from the white supremacist group. The messaging is drawing some sharp rebukes on Tuesday. We condemn this devious attempt to promote hate on our nations highways and urge Americans to stand together in repudiation of all bigoted ideologies, said Ibrahim Hooper, communications director with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). John McWiliams, spokesman with the Alabama Department of Transportations West Center Region, said Tuesday the digital board is managed by a private contractor on site, Birmingham-based Dunn Construction Co. He said while the state is still gathering specifics on this portable message boards capabilities, typically these message boards are programmed at the boards themselves, although some do have remote capabilities. McWilliams said that ALDOT is looking into how to better prevent incidents like this in the future. Dunn Construction, in a statement to AL.com, said the messaging signs are provided by a subcontractor, and are intended to share safety and travel information while assisting motorists as they travel safely through construction zones. We are aware that this kind of tampering has been occurring nationwide, and we are taking steps to help prevent situations like this. There is no place for messages of hate on these traffic zone signs. We are working with the Alabama Department of Transportation and the subcontractor who provides and oversees these signs to look into the situation. Moon, who shared a screenshot image of a similar road sign message in Oklahoma, said Patriot Front is not hiding what they are doing and will show their actions in altering road signs on their Telegram channel. Easy to hack Electronic road signs, in general, have become targets by vandals in recent years. The result is often an absurd viewpoint into whatever the hacker wants to say. The most popular road hack sign is a simple warning about zombies ahead. Marcus Sachs, deputy director of research with the McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security at Auburn University, said the road signs are easy targets for hackers. Signs are often altered physically, or remotely over the internet through easy-to-remember passwords often shared online. Its often too easy to do this, he said. You dont have to be a world-class hacker from Russia or anywhere. Its unfortunate but a lot of times, these companies dont see themselves as targets or the harm that is involved. So, these machines and devices are left unsecured, sitting on the side of a road, 24/7. Breaking into them is not hard. Sachs said that by now, construction companies should be aware that their signs could be vandalized and hacked. They should do everything in their power to keep them from being tampered with, he said. Moon said that Patriot Front will post online about the signs they have reprogrammed in the past. They are not hiding what they are doing, she said. Recruitment efforts The hacking of the I-65 sign is extra worrisome, some say, because of Patriot Fronts reputation as a hate group and the organizations connection to the tragic 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Patriot Front is an offshoot of Vanguard American (VA), which gained national attention after the rally in Charlottesville after a white supremacist and member, James Alex Fields, Jr., drove his car into a crowd of protestors. Killed was activist Heather Heyer. According to the SPLC, 18 days after the rally, Patriot Front leader Thomas Rousseau broke with VA and formed his new group. Moon said that Patriot Front is divided into several regional networks, each run by a regional director, who organizers regional meetings, handles new recruits and keeps Rousseau informed on the networks actions and growth. A leak of Patriot Fronts international communications, reported by Unicorn Riot last year and illustrating the groups use of anti-Semitic language and racial slurs, also revealed a map of the groups regions. Much of North and South Alabama and Georgia, and portions of south Tennessee, are included within the groups Network 6. Its unclear if anyone from that network was responsible for the I-65 messaging. These regional cells are responsible for local level recruitment and ensuring their network reaches their activism quota and to place propaganda out there on a weekly basis or they are suspended from the group, Moon said. So much hatred Other areas of Alabama have been targeted by Patriot Front before. Graffiti was found on the Slossfield Community Center in Birmingham last fall which read, Reclaim America Patriot Front.US, according to a story from The Ledes Heather Gann. The venue was notable in its history, Gann noted in her piece, because the Slossfield building is a landmark, and carries a historical significance to Birminghams Black community. It was once used as a site to train Black physicians and nurses, according to the Birmingham Historical Societys website. There is so much hatred in the darker corners of this group that they dont necessarily want to broadcast to American because they know that its a losing message, said Tischauser, with the SPLCs Intelligence Project. Their real effort is trying to pretend or just show America that they are somewhat patriotic when, in reality, theyre worshipping slavery. He noted that the leaked chats revealed Patriot Front members worshipping the losers of war against the U.S, such as Nazi Germany and Confederate slaveholders. During demonstrations, they are known to fly the American flag upside down to convey their belief that the nation is in distress, and no longer represents them. They also use what is commonly called the Betsy Ross flag, which features 13 alternating red and white stripes and 13 white stars an early design of the U.S. flag. They might pretend that, hey, were this patriotic group look at us, were flying the Betsy Ross flag, which is the flag that was popular in the Revolutionary War times, said Tischauser. If you look not even deep, but take just a little bit of a poke inside, youll see its full of racists. The altering of a road sign in Alabama might be minor compared to what Patriot Front members have done elsewhere. Members of the group have destroyed dozens of murals, statues, and other public displays celebrating feminist icons, Black culture, LGBTQ pride or commemorate victims of racially targeted violence. Group members also face legal issues from recent incidences, notably from about one years ago in Idaho after 31 masked members of Patriot Front were arrested inside a U-Haul on suspicion of conspiracy to riot during a Pride in the Park event. One of those arrested was Wesley Evan Van Horn of Lexington in Lauderdale County. Rousseau was also arrested, and his case is pending for later this year. Dont expect much public debate as the Birmingham City Council discusses Mayor Randall Woodfins proposed spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year. Thats because changes to the citys charter in recent years stripped council members of most of their power to edit the budget. Now they cant make changes unless they get written approval from the mayor. It makes the power of government unbalanced, said Crystal Smitherman, the city council pro tem and chair of the Budget and Finance Committee. There needs to be more balance in this process. The council is very frustrated with the lack of power in the budget process. The council will consider the proposed budget at a public hearing on June 5 at Boutwell Auditorium. Unless they make changes with the mayors approval, council members will essentially have to pass the budget as written or reject it altogether. Birminghams budget process for years mirrored how it is done on the federal level where the president proposes a budget with priorities, followed by a series of hearings, debates, and often raucous rhetoric from both sides. Budget hearings drew a full house of residents, neighborhood leaders, activists and advocates, who waited in line to plead for funding. Council budget workshops stretched into the weekend, as people squeezed into a conference room to hear the discussion. Eventually the mayor and council reached a compromise to fund the city for the year but only after heated debate and many rounds of edits. Things changed in 2016 when an edit to state law gave the mayor of Birmingham the power to approve any changes the council proposes to the budget. Any changes now require the mayors written consent. Disgraced former state Rep. Oliver Robinson, who left office over criminal convictions in a federal corruption case, sponsored the legislation. Sungho Park, an assistant professor of public policy and administration at the University of Alabama, said the changes made Birmingham an outlier among peer cities across the country. Alabama has made Birmingham deviate from the national trend and the widely-accepted model of municipal budgeting, Park told AL.com. Specifically, this Birmingham case is unique due to the extent of state intervention in municipal budgeting, which is not commonly observed in other similar cases. Park said time will tell what the consequences of the change may be. He expressed concern that the budget process could stifle transparency and public participation. From the perspective of transparency and citizen engagement, this could hinder the citys budget process from receiving significant and meaningful attention from the people it serves, Park said. There must be a valid concern about the act from this particular viewpoint. The changes were implemented during the final year of former Mayor William Bells last term. Bell frequently clashed with council members, particularly during budget season. Mayor Randall Woodfin inherited the increased budget powers once he defeated Bell and took office in 2017. Unlike Bell, Woodfins relationship with the council has been mostly harmonious when it comes to the budget. Woodfin said his proposed spending plan reflects the basic needs of the city and takes into account the requests of residents and council members. Issues always come up, Woodfin said. What Ive done a great job of doing is shutting up, just listening to requests, concerns, issues as well as desires from the council, from the public, and the things people want are literally in this budget. Smitherman agreed that relations between both branches of government are healthy under the current administration. We are not rubber stamps, she said. Weve talked with the mayor individually and as a group before the budget. Now its time for us to see if he put these priorities in the budget, she said. I feel very confident that our priorities will be in the budget. Still, Smitherman cautioned that the current budget process that sets up a strong mayor/weak council format could create significant problems for the city in coming years when future mayoral administrations are less than amenable to collaboration with their cohorts across the hall. It needs to be changed, regardless of who is the mayor, Smitherman said of the state law change from 2016. It would balance the process more. State Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, dismisses complaints over Birminghams budgeting process, saying the council retains the power to request financial information from the administration and reject the budget if they object. They need to understand the powers they have, but not only that, but how to exercise those powers, said Givan, who voted for the 2016 changes. If there is something they do not agree with, they need to accept or reject the budget and send it back to the mayor. The fiscal year for the City of Birmingham begins July 1. If the council rejects the mayors budget proposal, the city will continue operating under the current budget until both sides reach an agreement. Meanwhile, a grassroots organization seeks more citizen input in the budget process. Members of Peoples Budget Birmingham are calling for greater citizen input in the citys budget planning and approval. Speaking to the council recently, Gabriel Caban Cubero, the groups campaign director and strategist, outlined their efforts, including canvassing communities to interview residents and survey priorities. Cubero agreed that the citys current budgeting process limits the councils traditional role as resident advocates. Id say it makes it more difficult for each of you to represent your constituents to the best of each of your abilities, he said. Cubero said his organization will schedule small group meetings with council members and citizens to set budget properties to release a Peoples Priorities Report. We want to be a resource and a body of support in helping all of you regain your budget-setting powers, he said. We cannot take the lead on that, but we can support each of you because it is our best interest as it is yours. Councilor Carol Clarke, who represents District 8 in west Birmingham, said that even though the mayor collaborates with the council in drafting the budget, the system is dysfunctional. By design, people should be able to come before this body of elected representatives, and this body might actually change the budget in response to some of that input, she said in response to Cubero. It doesnt function that way right now. The most basic level of participation and balance in the budget powers is non-existent at this point. A 94-year-old woman was injured after being shot through her window Sunday night in north Alabama, authorities said Tuesday. Cherokee County sheriffs deputies were called to a home Sunday night on County Road 620 in the Wild Wood Cove area on a report of an elderly woman shot, said Sheriff Jeff Shaver. Four suspects -- 44-year-old Bryon Mitchel and 39-year-old Mykysta Mitchell, both of Unionville, Indiana; and Timothy Fries, 43, and Tracie Lambert, 44, both of Summerville, South Carolina -- were across the cove in a wooded area and shot into a nearby wooded area without a backstop, Shaver said. One of the bullets went through the 94-year-old womans window, wounding her. She was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, Shaver said. The suspects were booked in the Cherokee County jail on charges of second-degree assault, the sheriff said. Two Huntsville men charged in a fatal shooting in Georgia last year have been convicted of felony murder, authorities said Tuesday. Kavon Collier and Eric Dodds were found guilty by a Walker County, Georgia jury in the August 2022 death of Dakota Bradshaw, Walker County District Attorney Clay Fuller and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced. Justice has prevailed with these felony murder convictions, said GBI Director Mike Register. The collaboration amongst the GBI, the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorneys Office, and the Walker County Sheriffs Office underscores the value of these partnerships. Together, we can confront those who threaten the safety and security of our communities. Bradshaw was shot inside his home in Rossville on Aug. 1 and later pronounced dead at Erlanger Hospital. Witnesses saw a red truck and a blue Dodge Challenger leaving the home, describing a shooter getting into the red truck and fleeing. Collier was arrested Aug. 10, 2022 in Huntsville at a residence on Chatfield Way N.W. by the U.S. Marshals Task Force. Dodds was arrested by U.S. Marshals on Aug. 16, 2022 in Huntsville. In too many parts of the country we see prosecuting offices who do not support their hardworking law enforcement partners, said Fuller. The partnership between my office and the GBI in this case should be a model for the rest of the country where violent criminals and lawlessness reign supreme and prosecutors do nothing about it. Law enforcement agencies like the GBI cannot combat crime alone; we need the unwavering support of our prosecuting partners, said GBI Special Agent in Charge Joe Montgomery. Standing with the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorneys Office and the Walker County Sheriffs Office we send a powerful message that violent criminals will face the consequences of their actions, no matter how or where they operate. As Madison Countys population increases by the thousands each year, the county justice system is being swamped by court cases. It hasnt helped that much of the work in the 23rd circuit that covers the county was also halted during the Covid-19 pandemic, as it was nearly everywhere else. But relief appears to be on the way with the addition of one circuit court judge and one district judge thanks to a bill passed by the Alabama Legislature that is awaiting Gov. Kay Iveys signature. The judgeships would be filled at the 2024 General Election. The passage of SB 39 is a major milestone for the Alabama judiciary and will provide much needed relief for case backlogs, said State Sen. Sam Givhan of Huntsville, who introduced the legislation. (Photo : Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Comer will discuss Biden's alleged bribery scheme with the FBI director as he focuses on a $5 million payment. On Wednesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray and House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer will discuss an informant file that allegedly accuses President Biden of participating in a $5 million bribery scheme as vice president. Comer (R-Kentucky) issued a subpoena for the document almost a month ago and set a final deadline of Tuesday for Wray before the committee takes action to hold him in contempt. Biden Bribery Scheme Probe: Wray Agrees to Speak to Comer The FBI has thus far refused to provide the file, citing concerns about informant confidentiality and the fact that reports are unverified. It is unclear what the phone call scheduling portends for Wray's compliance. On May 3, Comer issued a subpoena for the informant file after a whistleblower contacted Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) about the document, which was said to have been "created or modified" on June 30, 2020. The FBI stated last week that disclosing confidential source information could compromise investigations and place lives in danger. As always, the FBI remains committed to complying with congressional oversight requests regarding this and other matters. In a call to Wray on May 19, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) attempted to mediate the dispute and stated afterward that he believed the FBI would comply. Comer and Grassley have not publicly discussed key aspects of the bribery allegation, such as which country or US policy decisions are implicated. Congress has numerous tools to compel executive branch agencies to comply with subpoenas, such as litigation and funding withholding. In addition to contempt ballots, which are typically used to humiliate subjects, legislators may also impeach officials. During and immediately after his tenure as vice president, Joe Biden interacted with his son Hunter Biden and his brother James Biden's associates from China, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine, according to files from Hunter's abandoned laptop, photographs, and witness accounts. He even appeared to be slated for a 10 percent share of a 2017 energy transaction involving the Chinese government. Delaware US Attorney David Weiss is investigating Hunter Biden for tax fraud, money laundering, unlawful foreign lobbying, and lying about his drug use on a firearms purchase form. Read Also: Hunter Biden Probe: Second IRS Whistleblower Emerges, Claims Retaliation Biden's Business Deals, Tax Records Per NY Sun, nothing will likely result if Wray is found guilty of contempt of Congress. The Department of Justice is authorized to pursue criminal proceedings against such individuals following such resolutions. Steve Bannon, the former chief strategist for President Trump, has been convicted of contempt for defying a subpoena. Grassley has previously investigated the nature of Hunter Biden's allegedly James Biden-related foreign business transactions. In October 2022, Grassley's Senate office requested information regarding the Biden family's involvement with Chinese Communist Party-affiliated businesses. Grassley wrote at the time, "The Justice Department and FBI's persistent reticence on these matters is deafening and further undermines their credibility." While serving as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Grassley conducted his own investigation into Hunter Biden, though it was not an official committee investigation. Prior to the 2020 presidential election, the office of Grassley sent a number of financial documents to the United States attorney for the District of Delaware, David Weiss, who is still investigating the younger Biden's business and tax records. Comer informed Wray last week that he was also narrowing the scope of the document subpoena by providing two additional terms that may be referenced in the record: "June 30, 2020" and "five million." Staff for Comer, who is overseeing the investigation into 'influence peddling' by the first family, met with bureau officials who refused to give over the file one week ago. The meeting occurred a day after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he spoke with Wray and believed Republicans would 'get this document' after their conversation. A spokesperson for committee Democrats stated last week to DailyMail.com that Comer's claims are based on an "unsubstantiated report" and accused the chairman of using "political theater" to boost former President Donald Trump's primary poll numbers. The White House has also responded, labeling the investigation led by Republicans "unfounded" and "politically motivated." The FBI's latest obstruction comes after a second IRS whistleblower claimed he was dismissed from the Hunter Biden investigation after speaking out against the president's son receiving preferential treatment. According to documents sent to congressional leaders and obtained by DailyMail.com, the unidentified case agent claims he was recently terminated without explanation after working on the Hunter Biden investigation since 2018. This is the second whistleblower in recent days to come forward regarding this issue. According to the documents, he informed Congress last week about the retaliation he endured for acting as a whistleblower, alleging unjust retaliation. He emailed senior IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel and several other officials on Thursday, claiming he was fired for raising concerns that the Department of Justice was 'acting inappropriately' in its management of the investigation into the president's son. His complaint comes days after the Department of Justice disbanded the entire team investigating Hunter Biden's tax returns, according to lawyers representing Gary Shapley, the initial supervisory whistleblower. Shapley testified before the Republican-led Ways and Means Committee for six hours on Friday and answered all queries from both Republicans and Democrats. Related Article: Joe Biden Criminal Bribery Claims: FBI Refuses To Share Documents That Will Prove Republicans' Accusations @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. What do we do about the climate madness? That's the issue that Lord Frost addressed in a recent speech to the Global Warming Policy Foundation in Britain. Short answer: not much, not yet. But there is hope. Frost reckons that the governments in Europe are "beginning to get cold feet" on their climate agendas I actually sense our own Government is beginning to realise that the economics are more doubtful than the Net Zero proponents argue. If, as some commentators say, our Prime Minister is beginning to get worried by the costs of Net Zero, we can only welcome that. Then he notes that support for Net Zero policy is starting to fall with "incipient questioning of Net Zero measures across Europe" as climate change policies start to bite. The most strongly supported measures are those which most people probably believe would not affect them -- changes in pension fund investment rules and frequent flyer levies -- while support for phasing out gas boilers has halved and support for EV subsidies is now only slightly positive. Frequent flyer levies? How about a tax on NGO employees and lefty billionaires flying private? Unfortunately, politicians in the West "actively prefer to live in complete cognitive dissonance" rather than think about anything. And probably the political system will select for "lifestyle change to save the planet, the politicisation of everyday lifestyle choices, the emphasis on living local and sustainability". The only thing that Frost can recommend is to be ready for the step change. The job of those who are willing to question the rush to Net Zero is to see this crunch moment coming and to start to get the politics ready. The point is, Frost realizes, that the COVID pandemic showed us how government and public opinion work. Once the government launches a narrative and gets everyone on board, it can't reverse course, can't admit mistakes. The narrative continues until the world blows up, and the marginal supporters desert the colors. Maybe the climate blow-up is coming sooner than we think. According to the Wall Street Journal, "NERC [the North American Electric Reliability Corporation] forecasts a 19% probability of a grid emergency at 8 p.m." In Texas this year. I suppose in every political cycle there is: first, the looming crisis, second the identification of the enemy; third, the call to arms. If the war proceeds to victory, then the regime is secure in power. If the war ends in defeat, then the regime will try to blame its internal opposition -- the "climate deniers," or the "anti-vaxxers." -- like the "saboteurs and wreckers" blamed by Stalin, and the "Four Olds," old customs, culture, habits, and ideas that Mao blamed for everything. In other words, in the face of defeat, the regime blames someone else, anyone else, for its failure. Then, the only question is how long the regime survives as it purges its opposition, real and imagined. In the case of the failed French Revolution, the Reign of Terror was followed pretty quickly by Napoleon. In the case of the failed Stalinist Five Year Plans, the Great Purge was followed by victory in the Great Patriotic War and the regime survived for 45 more years. In the case of The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, the Maoist regime was replaced soon after his death, but President Xi has since revived the Monarchist Dictator model. In the case of the Obama fundamental transformation, the regime muffed its Clinton-initiated and FBI-led campaign to destroy Trump in 2016, and has probably compounded its errors in the 2020 campaign and the Biden non-administration. So when the Net Zero movement starts to fail, our thoughtful rulers will know that they are not to blame. I wonder who they will tag with the blame? No doubt they will start by blaming lying climate deniers that dialed back the glorious climate plan that would surely have saved the climate and the economy if only the skeptics hadn't prevented the full execution recommended by the climate experts. Don't forget the pernicious influence of racists, TERFS, homophobes, transphobes, and far-right extremists assisted by ultra-MAGA Republicans and the ever worrisome violent extremist Catholics. Jane Fonda already knows who to blame: Men. "We have to arrest and jail those men." Yes. The Blame Game is the "tell" that the rulers' strategy has failed, and that it is reduced to blaming racists, sexists, homophobes, witches, deniers, Uncle Tom Cobbley and all. But I have an idea. According to The Science, the way that species survive changes in habitat is by adaptation. They adapt by altering their behavior, or by the fitness of better genes. And humans survive and thrive when people invent new ideas and products and ways of cooperation that allow them to deal with the challenges and the inevitable changes of life on this Earth. But first our rulers must utterly fail. Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill runs the go-to site on US government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also get his American Manifesto and his Road to the Middle Class. Image: AgnosticPreachersKid Progressive Democrats are trying to reintroduce their Medicare-for-All plan, a bait-&-switch scheme to impose single payer surreptitiously. It is national financial suicide, medical death-by-queue, and end of American medical freedom called medical autonomy. That is not hyperbole it is simple fact. Avowed socialist Bernie Sanders along with Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington) and Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan), as well as 14 senators and 110 members of the House of Representatives are seeking to resurrect H.R. 1384, the disastrous Medicare for All National Health Insurance Bill. They claim CoViD deaths showed the need to bring it back. Further, they assert 15 million Americans otherwise will lose Medicare coverage, that the bill would save $650 billion, lower drug costs, reduce administrative cost and hassle, and improve access to care. Every claim is false. It is now clear the number of deaths directly attributable to CoViD was greatly inflated, but whatever the number, lack of insurance coverage played no role. National health insurance, viz., H.R. 1384, would thus have no impact. There is absolutely no basis for the claim that 15 million will lose Medicare coverage. If not, why would patients need H.R. 1384? The claim that Medicare-for-All will save money is falsehood, propaganda, or to use favored progressive phraseology, disinformation. Senator Sanders himself admitted the bill would cost $30 trillion to $40 trillion over ten years. An independent, objective financial analysis by Mercatus Institute projected a cost of $32.6 trillion over ten years. For perspective, that means each year American taxpayers would pay an amount similar to the entire GDP of Japan ($4 trillion) just to fund these new expenses. Last year the U.S. spent $4.3 trillion on healthcare. Half went to pay for bureaucracy, i.e., two trillion healthcare dollars produced no care ! There is no evidence for the assertion that H.R. 1384 would reduce administrative costs and hassle. To suggest that government bureaucracy is low cost, efficient, and user-friendly would be laughable if it werent so painful. The original application for Obamacare insurance was 21 pages long . Eventually, Washington proudly achieved a reduction to only 11 pages. The claim that Medicare-for-All would lessen physicians regulatory burden is easily refuted by citing the administrative nightmare doctors currently face when trying to get paid by a federal insurance program, Medicaid. The most egregious assertion about Medicare-for-All is that it would improve patients access to medical care. Nearly one third of U.S. physicians do not accept new patients with Medicaid insurance; in Texas, less than half do. After Obamacare was fully implemented, the average maximum wait time to see a primary care physician was 122 days. Thats four months to diagnose belly pain: gas, ulcer, or cancer. This authors wife waited six months to discover her abdominal pain had progressed to inoperable pancreatic cancer. Imagine how long a patient would wait to get in to see their Medicare-for-All supplied physician with a panel (list) of 1000 patients or more. However bad our physician shortage is today, consider how much worse it will be and how much longer patients will wait, when the few doctors that remain in practice are being paid Medicaid allowable reimbursements and must deal with the Byzantine Medicaid bureaucracy. Sanders et al want to use Medicare-for-All as a springboard to a single payer system. Their H.R. 1384 eliminates private insurance and gives total medical as well as financial control to Washington. H.R. 1384 creates several new federal healthcare agencies including the Office of National Health Budget (Section 601 of the bill), that will dictate payments to all those who work in healthcare, both providers such as doctors and nurses, and suppliers like pharmaceuticals. With Medicare-for-All, patients must choose a physician from a small government-approved list and then wait forever to get care. In Canadas single payer system, cancer patients cross over to the U.S. to get care before they die. In our homegrown single payer, the VA system, 47,000 veterans may have died waiting in line for care. Similar death-by-queue of government insured patients has been reported in Illinois Medicaid . As harmful as Medicare-for-All is to Americans health and the financial stats of the nation, it will be fatal to liberty. With total federal control, patients will no longer make their own medical choicesWashington bureaucrats will. Medical autonomy will cease to exist. Physicians will no longer practice personal, one-patient-at-a-time medicine. They will be forced to follow Washingtons one-size-fits-all clinical algorithms, obey pharmacy benefits managers, work within guidelines that produce cookbook medicine, and triage critically ill patients applying woke rather than strictly medical criteria. Physicians will have to follow government orders as to what, where, when, by whom, and even if patients get care. Leon Trotsky wrote of Communism, "In a country where the sole employer is the State, opposition means death by slow starvation ... who does not obey shall not eat." In a country where the sole provider of medical care is the State, as with Medicare-for-All, who does not obey shall die-by-queue : waiting in line for care that never comes. Deane Waldman, M.D., MBA is Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Decision Science; former Director of the Center for Healthcare Policy at Texas Public Policy Foundation; and author of the multi-award-winning book Curing the Cancer in U.S. Healthcare : StatesCare and Market-Based Medicine . Photo credit: Molly Adams CC BY 2.0 license A cursory examination of history reveals that the United States is mired in the same process that precipitated the collapse of the great empires of the past. The foibles and failures of human nature and their impact on the rise and fall of empires is amazingly consistent and the end result always inevitable. Can this nation avoid a similar fate? Empires are defined as great military and economic powers encompassing large occupied or controlled land areas. Although they vary greatly, they average around 250 years in duration. The United States will be celebrating its 250th anniversary in 2026. In 1976, Sir John Glubb, a distinguished British diplomat and general, wrote an essay on the fate of empires throughout history. He enumerated, based on 3,000 years of historical data, the six various stages in the rise and fall of empires. These stages and how they apply to the United States are as follows: The Age of Pioneers (The Revolutionary War and the founding of the Nation) The Age of Conquests (The Western Expansion to the Pacific Ocean) The Age of Commerce (Industrialization and evolution of a dominant middle class) The Age of Affluence (The meteoric rise of the standard of living in the 20th Century) The Age of Intellect (Global domination in the arts, medicine and technology) The Age of Decadence (For 30+ years America has been increasingly mired in this age ) The Age of Decadence is marked by debauchery, defensiveness, pessimism, materialism, a significant weakening of religion, frivolity, a welfare state, and a massive influx of unassimilated foreigners. These symptoms of national decadence are the end product of long periods of prosperity and power, love of wealth and status, and self-obsession by the ruling elites leading to fateful government corruption and instability. Sir John Glubb is definitive in stating that in all ancient and modern fallen empires, there does not appear to be any doubt that money is the agent which causes the decline of strong, brave and self-confident people. An examination of various empires from the Persian Empire to the Roman Empire to the British Empire confirms Glubbs hypothesis that pursuit and accumulation of money or wealth is the portal through which power over the masses is achieved. The amassing of wealth and thus power evolves into a quasi-religion that over time triggers the descent into the age of decadence and corruption that inevitably leads to the collapse and conquering of empires by their external enemies. In the early stage of the age of decadence, materialism becomes a driving force in society, inducing many in the upper classes to indulge in excessive, often conspicuous consumption as an absurdly wealthy elite emerges. Far too many societal elites and non-elites become convinced that increased consumption and social status is the key to happiness, but in its pursuit they become demonstrably more pessimistic and less happy and fulfilled. The search for happiness and fulfillment leads to imprudence and voyeurism becoming central to the culture. Unhappy people searching for diversion became fixated on celebrities and captive to evolving voyeurism. And voyeurism takes on a more sinister aspect as people in both ancient and modern empires become increasingly desensitized to graphic images and willing spectators or participants in violence and debauchery. Debauchery is an oft-recurring theme in the demise of empires. Societies develop an abnormally immature obsession with sex. An obsession that requires increasing deviancy to satiate coupled with concurrent abuse of children and the marginalization and exploitation of women. Meanwhile, the use of drugs and alcohol expands exponentially. Debauchery is a symptom of the absence of meaning in peoples lives leading to the self-destruction of society and concomitantly a loss of a sense of duty and patriotism. Other symptoms common among many empires in the last stages of decline include: Massive and growing disparities between rich and poor and an undisciplined and over-extended military. An intensification of internal political hatreds and a corresponding inability to reconcile in order to save the empire. An ever increasing level of self-serving corruption and patronage among the ruling class. A massive influx of unassimilated foreigners whose allegiance and cultural ties are with their native lands and not the host nation and who do not feel obligated to defend the empire. Severe financial and economic crises linked to the unending debasement of the currency. An ongoing and irreversible decline in monotheistic religions that emphasize self-sacrifice, temperance, a sense of duty as well as honor and integrity. Additionally, while the decline of empires is precipitated by internal factors, the final collapse is marked by defeat at the hands of powerful external enemies. The United States is presently facing an implacable and powerful external enemy, Communist China. A foe this nations elites, in their self-indulgent pursuit of wealth, essentially created by willfully intertwining the American economy with a ruthless and dictatorial communist regime. Unfortunately, the vast bulk of the American citizenry is not aware of the historically precarious situation this nation finds itself. Nor are they aware that the policies and actions of the Marxist controlled Democrat party over the past 20 years is a window into what will happen to this nation if they continue in power. Another four to eight years of Democrat Party rule will permanently embed: Unchecked corruption in government and Americas corporations and institutions. The ongoing debasement of the currency, uncontrolled spending and economic instability, The continued massive influx of unassimilated foreigners, The intensification of political animosity and the persecution of any political opposition, An undisciplined, ideologically driven and feckless military incapable of confronting China, Drug-addled and crime-ridden dystopias in Americas major urban and suburban areas, Continued and accelerated mainstreaming of decadence and sexual debauchery As the last three years have amply proven, decadence and sexual debauchery will continue apace. All forms of deviancy, including but not limited to pedophilia, will be forcefully mainstreamed. Religious liberties will be denigrated and curtailed. Infanticide and state-sponsored euthanasia will be legalized. Materialism and voyeurism will become the new state religion. And virtually all drugs will be legalized and easily available. As the United States descends into insolvency, societal chaos and upheaval, Communist China, with which the Democrat party is intertwined, will actively abet and promote the dissolution of this country as it will be waiting vulture-like to feast on the carcass. The inevitable can perhaps be mitigated if a significant majority of the populace acknowledges the current plight of the nation and initiates a return to the nations founding Judeo-Christian principles. Additionally, it is imperative that either Donald Trump or Ron DeSantis wins in November of 2024 and for a populist Republican Party to control both the presidency and Congress for a minimum of two presidential terms. Republican primary voters must also acknowledge reality and not be captive to cultlike sycophancy for either Trump or DeSantis. They need to ask themselves: who can win against a corrupt and devious Democrat party reliant on voter fraud and manipulation in the battleground states of Georgia, Arizona, Wisconsin, Nevada and Pennsylvania? Who has the coattails to assure the capture of both Houses of Congress? And can that person can either serve a second term or make certain another Republican will win in 2028? It is not hyperbole to say the upcoming election cycle is the most determinative in American history. If the Republicans fail to win the presidency and Congress in 2024, this nation will have passed the point of no return and a new chapter in the annals of the decline and fall of great nations will be written. Graphic credit: AcornTV screengrab Mark Houck, Catholic pro-life activist and father of seven, was arrested at his home in Pennsylvania last year after being charged with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act for allegedly assaulting a person who provides abortion-related services. Pennsylvania pro-life activist Ashley Garecht told The Daily Wire that Houck was protecting his son from an aggressive Planned Parenthood escort who was harassing the 12-year-old, noting that the case was dismissed by a federal court in Philadelphia when the escort tried to press charges. Houck, who leads a nonprofit group that provides sidewalk counseling at abortion facilities in Philadelphia, claims that roughly 25 armed FBI agents in 15 vehicles raided his residence. Houck's wife, Ryan-Marie Houck, told LifeSiteNews that a group of agents in SWAT gear arrived in 15 vehicles outside the family home at around 7:05 A.M. She said the agents quickly surrounded the house and began pounding on the door, demanding they open up. Houck reportedly tried to get the agents to calm down, saying his seven children were scared, but the agents allegedly kept shouting. Mrs. Houck stated: "They had big, huge rifles pointed at Mark and pointed at me and kind of pointed throughout the house." She added, "The kids were all just screaming. It was all just very scary and traumatic." A spokesperson with the Philadelphia office of the FBI partially rebutted the Houcks' claims, saying SWAT was not involved with the arrest of Houck. The spokesperson told Fox News: "There are inaccurate claims being made regarding the arrest of Mark Houck. No SWAT Team or SWAT operators were involved. FBI agents knocked on Mr. Houck's front door, identified themselves as FBI agents and asked him to exit the residence. He did so and was taken into custody without incident pursuant to an indictment." What we know of the raid on Roger Stone's home gives us reason to believe the worst. The sixty-six-year-old Stone was accused of a process crime, yet he saw 29 heavily armed agents, many with guns drawn, swarm his abode in the early morning hours, cuff him, and drag him outside barefoot...terrifying his wife and dogs. A senior FBI source admitted to Fox News that there might have been 1520 agents who arrived at the Houck family's door with guns out and at the ready. But the source claimed that the guns were never pointed directly at Houck or any members of his family. Incredibly, Houck was facing up to 11 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines of up to $350,000, according to Fox News. Update: Fortunately, he was acquitted of all charges and freed which makes all the more outrageous his treatment during the arrest. We are in the midst of an unprecedented attack on pro-life people. Virtually anyone and any entity who values life and considers it a sacred gift to be cherished is being challenged, mocked, canceled, fined, or even imprisoned. Conversely, pro-abortion types can run amok with impunity, knowing they won't be held accountable for their actions. Elites tell us that people are bad for the planet and that we must reduce the number of humans inhabiting the Earth whether via abortion, assisted suicide, or any number of other actions and policies. They want to dramatically limit farming and food production in general. They want to do away with fossil fuels energy and allow countless numbers to perish from extreme cold and heat. They imposed deadly lockdowns and mask and vaccine mandates. It appears they may be on the verge of allowing mRNA vaccines to be injected into cows/cattle, making it nearly impossible for most of us to keep them from entering our bodies. They want us to eat bugs and own nothing yet be happy. Their policies have directly or indirectly led to increasing conflict and crime, more frequent near misses in the air, and train derailments on the ground. They have pushed to legalize heavily THC-laden marijuana and even hard drugs in many states, even as they refuse to close the U.S. southern border to stem the tide of fentanyl washing over the nation, killing more than a hundred thousand folks annually. It is clear that our current rulers don't respect life, let alone cherish it. They certainly don't respect or value the lives of those with whom they disagree. They are destroyers, not builders. Many defend Satanists while mocking concerned parents and pro-lifers as "extremists." Should we trust these folks? Should we trust them with our own lives, or those of our loved ones? Because, as things stand now, we are doing just that. Photo credit: GiveSendGo via the Daily Wire. If you said that climate lockdowns would be next, you might be a conspiracy theorist. If youre making simple observations and drawing basic conclusions about the world around you, you might be a conspiracy theorist. If you have even the most rudimentary understanding of big government leftism and limited government conservatism, you might be a conspiracy theorist. If you make a point to remind your friends and family that reality is consistent and historical precedent is a good barometer for future events, you might be a conspiracy theorist. If you speak up against the regime, you might be a conspiracy theorist. On May 9th, the German federal governments Advisory Council on the Environment issued a special report titled Politik in der Pflicht: Umweltfreundliches Verhalten erleichtern; roughly translated this reads, Politics has a duty: Facilitate environmentally friendly behavior. Now, its worth noting that the report only appears to be published on the German site, and not on the English-speaking version of the page; is it perhaps an attempt to keep the document away from the prying eyes of Americas citizen journalists? It wouldnt surprise me the opening of the introduction alone reveals quite a conspicuous agenda of authoritarian slavery. The German publics overwhelming compliance to the governments COVID pandemic measures and energy crisis mitigations taught the agents of the Fourth Reich a valuable lesson, and they intend to put it to use...again. This time though, the emergency isnt a biohazard or the electrical grid; its the climate crisis! Read below, from page 25: Many common behaviors exacerbate todays environmental problems. Conversely, changes in behavior can make a significant contribution to overcoming the environmental crises. However, the framework conditions that exist today, including those set by politics, often do not provide any incentive for environmentally friendly behavior or even make it more difficult [emphasis added]. It is therefore important to strengthen environmentally friendly behavior more than in the past through political measures and to spread it among the population. This special report by the German Advisory Council on the Environment (SRU) deals with the starting points and instruments available to politicians to enable and facilitate environmentally friendly behavior. It also shows ways to increase the political feasibility of behavioral measures. Also, this, which extends to page 26: Although the central environmental crisesare less directly visiblethan the energy crisis and pandemic, environmental policy can learn from these sometimes painful but also important experiences of recent years. Behavioral changes in the population can contribute to the solution in all of these crises and it is possible to adopt and implement political measures aimed at behavioral changes. In mid-2022, for example, a number of measures were introduced in Germany to defuse the energy crisis that arose as a result of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. These measures also targeted the behavior of citizens [emphasis added]. Extensive measures were already in place during the pandemic to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Both crisis situations increasingly focus on the contribution of behavioral changes by citizens, for example in energy use or in their contact behavior, to combating a collective problem. And here is the finishing touch: Nevertheless, the two crisis situations show that political measures that can severely restrict the behavior of citizens are possible if the threat is correspondingly large and the importance of the protected good - as in these examples health and energy supply - is recognized. It is also obviously possible to design and communicate political measures in such a way that they are supported by a majority. Ahhh, and there it is: its just a matter of getting the messaging right. All the government needs to do is tap the varsity team, and compelling certain desirable behaviors from the public will be a breeze! This is Germany were talking about, so somehow I suspect they can find a propaganda whiz or two.. As PJ Media columnist Kevin Downey Jr. noted just yesterday, the American Democrats of today have accomplished a rather remarkable task: theyve persuaded idiots to accept the Orwellian idea that tyranny is virtue. (In all honesty though, how hard can it be to indoctrinate people who arent thinking for themselves?) However, that idea is an astute observation that applies to the global collective too. Now, maybe its just the conspiracy theorist in me, but Ill get a headstart: the climate tyrants arent confined to Germanytheyre coming for us too. Image: Free image, Pixabay license, no attribution required. Like many Cubans of my generation, we were born on the island, grew up in the U.S., and had Spanish grandparents or great grandparents. This is because Cuba was a Spanish colony until 1898 (Spanish-American War), and the new country was flooded with Iberian immigrants in the first half of the 20th century. In other words, I grew up with Spanish traditions and have always been interested in what happens in Spain. Over the weekend, the voters in Spain said "no" to the socialists. It was a loud rejection as we see in this report from Reuters: Spain's ruling Socialists suffered heavy losses to opposition conservatives in Sunday's local election, with around 95% of the votes counted, showing their electoral vulnerability ahead of an end-of-year general election. Only three of the 12 regions holding elections will retain Socialist dominance by very narrow margins, with the rest likely go to the conservative People's Party, albeit with coalitions or informal support agreements with the far-right Vox party. "The map changes completely and is a boost for Alberto Nunez Feijoo -- the new leader of the PP -- ahead of the elections at the end of the year," said Ignacio Jurado, professor of political science at the Carlos III University. The gains for the People's Party (PP) indicate the conservatives could unseat the current left-wing coalition led by the Partido Socialista Obrero Espanol (PSOE) if they replicate the performance in national elections by December. Let me remind you that they have a parliamentary system, so coalitions will determine the final results. Nevertheless, it was a bad weekend for the left. So what happened? My friend in Madrid told me a couple of things over the phone: First, it's the economy "estupido." It matters in Spain, too. Second, we saw a little nationalism blossoming. Many feel that the euro has tied up Spanish exports and tourism. In other words, Spanish goods consumed here or in tourist spots would be a lot cheaper with their old "peseta" than the euro. I'm not saying this is the Spanish version of Brexit, but it sounds a bit like it. Third, the left is obsessed with gender and issues that don't matter to people struggling with their family budgets. To be fair, this is my friend's opinion, and he voted for the right. However, he is a serious man, and his analysis is probably right. What's next? P.M. Pedro Sanchez of the left is calling for general elections. PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos. Image: Pexels. (Photo : AFP via Getty Images) NATO peacekeepers protecting three town halls in northern Kosovo were hurt in fights with Serb protesters. NATO peacekeepers clashed with protesters in northern Kosovo on Monday, injuring 34. As Kosovo Serbs boycotted the April elections, ethnically Albanian mayors won office in northern Kosovo, a majority Kosovo Serb territory. Tensions have intensified in the past week. NATO Peacekeepers Clash with Serb Protesters NATO's Kosovo Force (KFOR) stated recent events forced them to boost their presence in northern Kosovo on Monday morning, which turned violent. Protesters launched "Molotov cocktails, with nails, firecrackers and stones inside," injuring 14 KFOR peacekeepers, according to the Italian military ministry. The Italian military ministry reported injured Hungarian and Moldovan peacekeepers. Nemanja Starovic, Serbian State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, disagreed with NATO's account. He stated KFOR deployed flash grenades after the "peaceful" protestors "decided to disperse and continue the demonstration tomorrow morning." According to CNN, Serbia and northern Kosovo Serbs still consider Kosovo part of Serbia. With Serbia-Kosovo tensions constantly rising, NATO maintains soldiers in Kosovo to keep the peace. KFOR stated that NATO-led multi-national contingents were sent to four communities to quell "violent rallies" as "newly elected mayors in recent days sought to assume office." Per BBC, the EU and US have criticized the Kosovan government for destabilizing north Kosovo and cautioned against steps that might inflame ethnic tensions. After years of conflict between Serb and Albanian residents, Kosovo proclaimed independence from Serbia in February 2008. Most ethnic Serbs in Kosovo and Serbia, supported by Russia, refuse to recognize it. Kosovo as a whole is over 90% ethnic Albanian, whereas the northern area is majority Serb. NATO says Monday's fighting injured Italian and Hungarian peacekeepers. Serbian President Aleksander Vucic stated around 50 Serbs were hospitalized, and others were hurt. Kosovo police arrived with guns and armored vehicles, infuriating protesters. The replacement of Serbian flags with Kosovo flags at municipal buildings enraged them. Albin Kurti, Kosovo's prime minister, said the security forces were guaranteeing democratically elected mayors could represent their voters. He has been accused of seeking to establish unelected authorities to cause havoc in the region. Morning crowds gathered at the municipal building. They wanted to bar the new Albanian mayor from arriving. NATO-led forces used shields and batons to disperse protestors. The agency reported demonstrators throwing rocks and Molotov bombs at troops. Kosovo police reported "provocative captions with Serbian and Russian insignia" on other vehicles and a car fire. Read Also: Hottest Day Recorded in Shanghai, Breaking Century-Old Heat Record Leaders Condemn Kosovo Clashes KFOR Commander General Angelo Michele Ristuccia condemned the attacks as "unacceptable" and emphasized that the NATO mission will "continue to carry out its mandate impartially." Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated, "We will not tolerate any further assaults against KFOR. It is essential that the Kosovo authorities refrain from further unilateral actions and that all stakeholders take a step back to reduce tensions." To defuse tensions, the US ambassador and EU envoy have summoned ethnic Albanian mayors to a meeting in Pristina. France stated that it "strongly condemns this violence and demands on all parties, especially the Kosovo government, to take immediate measures to reduce tensions." In Zvecan, one of the affected communities, ethnic Albanian Kosovo police sprayed pepper gas to repel a throng of Serbs who broke through a security barricade and attempted to force their way into the municipality building, according to witnesses. The Kosovo police stated in a statement that "organized" protesters "used violence and tear gas in an attempt to breach the security cordons and gain entrance to the municipal facility." Additionally, the Serbs spray-painted NATO vehicles with the letter "Z," a reference to a Russian symbol used during the conflict in Ukraine. In Leposavic, close to the Serbian border, US peacekeeping soldiers in riot gear surrounded the town hall with barbed wire to defend it from hundreds of enraged Serbs. Later in the day, protestors hurled eggs at the parked vehicle of the new mayor of Leposavic, as per Guardian. Related Article: Serbia Orders Troops on High Alert as Ethnic Clashes in Kosovo; US Rebukes Escalating Tensions @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Is Michelle Obama going to replace Senator Feinstein to jump-start a presidential run? What are the odds Gavin Newsom will replace Dianne Feinstein with Michelle Obama to start Obama's real return to the White House? Barack Hussein Obama wants to finish off the country with a fraudulent fourth term with Michelle as the "president," starting her run by being appointed to replace Dianne Feinstein. Consider the visible manifestations of the intrigue taking place behind the scenes of the fascist far left the past few days. One is the sudden re-emergence of Barack Hussein Obama and Michelle (AKA "Big M") along with a tug of war within the ranks of the authoritarian collectivists on what to do about Senator Feinstein. Meanwhile, Mr. Demented Disaster, himself the head of Team Wrecking Ball, is gearing up for another "run" at pretending to be president. It is almost entirely obvious to everyone that it shouldn't even be close. Frankly, at this point, it shouldn't matter if it's Ron or Don; Team Freedom could run a pastrami on rye and still win with Biden as the opponent with four years of disaster under his belt. We're presenting this case simply because it's better to be forewarned of danger and to pre-puncture this little party balloon they have planned. After all, they would love to spring this on everyone as a "wonderful" surprise. If we've already predicted and discussed this little trick, it'll take some wind out of their sails. In our day-to-day work, engineers generally look at the initial conditions of a system and apply the appropriate rules of physics to predict what is going to happen with a system and, more importantly, what to do about it. We can apply the same kind of logic to politics to predict what is going to happen in the future. The "initial conditions" are that the Obamas are acting as Bill and Hillary Clinton when she was gearing up for a presidential run. Logical reasoning also helps inform us as to what the far left will do given the current state of affairs and their default predilection for prevarication. So let's consider these events as puzzle pieces and see how they fit together in predicting what is going to happen next, given previous events of a similar nature. Michelle Obama made a rather odd and disturbingly familiar statement in an interview with Gayle King on CBS Mornings back on April 20, 2023. Colion Noir referenced this in one of his videos: "Michelle Obama Says We're The Only Country With Unfettered Access To Guns & It's Not A Good Thing." During one point in the original interview, marked on the timeline as the most replayed, she references their issues with our commonsense civil right of self-defense, parroting the tired old line "enough is enough," saying, "We wondered that throughout our entire presidency." Did you catch that? Those of you who remember the bad old days of Comrade Clinton's presidential aspirations will recall that she expressed things similarly, making it sound like a "co-presidency" of sorts, as though Michelle had been a full partner in the effort "our entire presidency," when that was not the case. She used the phrase "we wondered" as though she was in some sort of mind meld with Barack Hussein. History teaches us what happened next. Comrade Clinton set up the pattern of becoming a senator of one of the larger socialistic states and then running for the top spot as though she was already experienced in the job. The national socialist media would also play a game of taking the latest utterance of a prominent member of the Demo-Nazi party that Comrade Clinton should run as a "stop the presses" moment, cynically exploiting their propaganda value for a day or two and then repeating the cycle when another far leftist would make the same type of "proclamation." Former presidents are supposed to exit the stage and leave it to their successors. Obama broke that mold, staying behind the scenes, to a certain extent much like a puppet master. We aren't certain who's been controlling the demented leader of Team Wrecking Ball. Many are guessing it's Barack Hussein himself. But now that seems to have changed. The Obamas are looking for a bigger role in events. Appointing Michelle as senator as a launching platform for the presidency might be just what Barack Hussein is looking for. You also have to consider that the Dems have few other choices; they have no bench or people who are even likable or decent. That's why they have to constantly point fingers at the pro-freedom right. They can pretend they can be "successful" at rerunning the 2020 playbook, but the people are sick of the COVID scam, and no matter how much they try to distract, the fact is that the Biden regime has been an unmitigated disaster for the country. To be fair, we must consider the factors against this taking place. Just as there were rivalries within National Socialist Germany, there are rivalries within the far left in the states. Governor Hair Gel isn't likely to want to appoint Big M to the Senate and potentially to the White House when he covets doing to the nation as he's done to the People's Republic. Dianne Feinstein won't want to give up her ability to control other people (for their own good, of course), along with her congressional aides, who've got their own version of Weekend at Bernie's going (they must figure if it's good enough for the White House...). Then there's the practical side that the Obamas don't have a residence in the People's Republic of California. But when have they cared about abiding by the law anyway? Besides, all they have to do is pitch a tent somewhere, and they'll suddenly be residents, just like all of the other illegal invaders. So why is this important to consider? We're making this case for a couple of reasons. One, the more we talk about this as something that is expected, the less it will be a "surprise" and sudden and "historic" news story that will be blared everywhere, and maybe it's less likely to happen. It's also simply a case of being forewarned. If we've already considered this possibility, we will have already planned for it, and it will be devoid of its intended "shock value." D Parker is an engineer, inventor, wordsmith, and student of history, the director of communications for a civil rights organization, and a longtime contributor to conservative websites. Find him on Substack. Photo credit: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0 license. I came across a poll showing the views of people who self-report being unvaccinated on possible future responses to the war in Ukraine. It is a poll of Canadians, but I doubt that the results would be very different in the USA. (Hat tip: Mark Wauck.) The poll appears in a tweet from Patrick Henningsen. On the surface, the personal decision not to receive an experimental vaccine would seem to have no correlation with 80% or more opposition to escalation of the conflict by their home country. But dig a millimeter deeper, and I think the common factor is pretty obvious. These are people who are skeptical of massive propaganda campaigns pushed by the combined forces of government and corporate establishments. Henningsen describes himself as "a fierce critic of MSM propaganda." It seems to me that skepticism toward the media structure that we currently face is the only reasonable response, when the bulk of the media have aligned themselves with a radical leftist political party in Canada Justin Trudeau's Liberals, and in the USA, the Democrats and when even journalism schools switch from teaching that conveying the truth is less important than advancing a political agenda. In fact, why would anyone give up being skeptical about the news or any other claims motivated by goal-seeking? The opposite of "skeptical" is "credulous," and credulous people are subject to being cheated, misled, and manipulated. I don't claim to know with moral certainty the risks and effectiveness of COVID jabs, or the realities of the Ukraine War. But I do know that merely accepting propaganda campaigns from politically interested parties is not the soul of wisdom, especially when a covert radical agenda ("fundamentally transform America") is being pushed. It should have been a happy Memorial Day as a nation takes time to express gratitude for the freedoms our U.S. military personnel died in battle to preserve. For their sacrifice, we honor and mourn them. We are only one generation from losing every freedom. There are scores of countries around the world that are living examples of that. To commemorate the day, we watched a couple of war movies: Midway and To End All Wars. Ask young people what the Battle of Midway was. Odds are they can't tell you. Why not? You may not recognize To End All Wars. The screenwriter is Christian author Brian Godawa. You should see it, to keep the celebration over Midway in perspective. I'd like to share two reminders of what is at stake if we let the deaths of those courageous men and women in uniform be in vain. First, I never served in our armed forces, but my father did, as did his father. And my father's brother, Gene, was killed fighting communists at Inchon in Korea when I was a toddler. In the last letter my grandmother received from him, Gene said he had met a Korean girl and fallen in love. He wanted his mother to meet her. The next letter my grandmother got was from the War Department saying Gene was presumed dead, missing in action. Thanks for your service, Uncle Gene. He and countless others paid for our freedom with their lives, lest we forget. Second, there are increasingly people in our land who no longer consider the USA to be exceptional, or even good. Indeed, these people insist that our nation has been evil from its inception, racist, misogynist, and criminally corrupt, exploiting many to benefit a few. You find these people in all segments of society and government. They mean to "fundamentally transform" America to correct what they consider to be evils. I'll single out just one faction today: public schools. In 1948, the year I was born, the National Education Association "locked in the anti-authoritarian theme as well as the spirit of revolutionary Marxism in American election circles," according to B.K. Eakman in her book, Cloning of the American Mind: Eradicating Morality Through Education. The NEA declared nationalism outdated and a hindrance to "progress" and world peace. To achieve this illusive nirvana, the public-school teachers' union called for teachers to advocate in U.S. classrooms for a one-world government. "Enduring peace cannot be achieved until the nation-states surrender to a world organization the exercise of jurisdiction over those problems with which they have found themselves unable to deal," the NEA proclaimed. The NEA said loyalty to a nation, adoption of patriotic songs, setting aside national holidays, "teaching the greatness of the nation's heritage," "use of uniform language," "and establishment of schools where youth are taught patriotism and their duties to their native land" all constitute "a threat to world peace." Does that help you understand why so few young people even know in what century the Battle of Midway took place? The NEA is the nation's largest labor union. It represents public school teachers; support personnel; faculty and staffers at colleges and universities; and, perhaps most important, "college students preparing to become teachers." It is the intention of the government-school panacea concocted in the 1800s by Horace Mann, accelerated by John Dewey and their latter-day progeny, to fundamentally transform our schools into factories to create one-world citizens. It is intentionally a godless system. The first problem is that a one-world government necessarily will be a hodgepodge of compromises to accommodate countless conflicting desires, not a government dedicated to protecting absolute God-given rights as ours has been for almost two and a half centuries. Your rights won't be God-given or guaranteed. They will be at the mercy of a popular vote and last only as long as the vote majority. More likely, and even worse, a one-world government will exist strictly to serve those in charge, as all tyrannies have from Rome to Nazi Germany to the Marxist USSR. God is not welcome in such places. We have a good preview of that already in the U.S., where prayer, God, and even speaking about Jesus are aggressively discouraged in public government schools. Is it any surprise young people today can't tell you that the Battle of Midway was the turning point of World War II's war in the Pacific? Do they even know who the two sides were at Midway? How many Americans groomed in government schools will enlist, like my uncle Gene, to defend a godless, one-world, pagan government at the risk of life and limb? More likely, armies of mercenaries will be needed to keep transformed public-school graduates in line as one segment after another realizes they are being denied God-given rights. As Christian Pastor Douglas Wilson puts it: Given what we have seen to this point, there is no good reason for Christian parents to entrust their children to the government school system. they have not yet realized that the fruit we are seeing is directly related to the nature of the tree. Christian reformers of the government school system labor on, trying to get this crabapple tree to grow oranges. But despite all our advances in genetic engineering, our Lord's words remaina tree is still known by its fruit." Mark Landsbaum is a Christian retired journalist, former investigative reporter, editorial writer, and columnist. He also is a husband, father, grandfather, and Dodgers fan. He can be reached at mark.landsbaum@gmail.com. Image: Pashi via Pixabay, Pixabay License. It's good times for Venezuela's vile communist dictator, Nicolas Maduro. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro on Monday and called out US sanctions against Venezuela as "extremely exaggerated." Maduro, who is seen as a controversial leader internationally, met Lula on his visit to Brazil. Maduro was greeted by Lula with a hug and back-slap in the presidential palace of Brasilia. Effectively now, Venezuela has been welcomed back into the community of civilized democratic nations, or at least the community of BRICS and non-aligned nations, no longer a pariah state. Joe Biden sent out some of the first signals that the coast was clear for it when he dumped Venezuela's democrats and sought out the detested regime to pump oil for him. Now Lula, who leads Brazil, one of the pillars of the BRICS nations, has gone to town with it, calling it "the start of Maduro's return" or, more likely, given translation issues, Maduro's comeback. "Venezuela has always been an exceptional partner for Brazil. But because of the political situation and the mistakes that were made, President Maduro spent eight years without coming to Brazil," Lula said at a press conference. How the hugs have flowed. What Lula meant by "mistakes" involved his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, who kept the brutal dictator the hell out of Brazil. He's fixed that. As for Maduro's actual record, which is that of literally running a death squad regime characterized by its extrajudicial killings (that's from the U.N.), as well as driving tens of millions of people out based on hunger, poverty, drug-dealing, and gangster rule, all built on a foundation of fraudulent elections...well, actually, that was just bad press: Lula da Silva asegura que el autoritarismo en Venezuela es "una narrativa construida" https://t.co/BrSmg4uEJY pic.twitter.com/ns0Dy1PXr8 Monitoreamos (@monitoreamos) May 29, 2023 My translation: "Lula asures that authoritarianism in Venezuela is "a constructed narrative." In other words, "What authoritarianism?" That prompted expressions of disgust from those who know Venezuela well: | VOMITIVO Dicho por un personaje que no solamente es un corrupto en el sentido cotidiano de la palabra, sino que es un amoral en lo politico y en lo humano. Decir que lo de Venezuela es una narrativa construida lo perseguira y anulara para siempre. Muy pronto la https://t.co/pOjAoqHCWh Pedro Mario Burelli (@pburelli) May 29, 2023 Google Translate: | VOMITIVE Said by a character who is not only corrupt in the everyday sense of the word, but who is politically and humanly amoral. Saying that Venezuela is a "constructed narrative" will persecute and nullify it forever. Very soon the @IntlCrimCourt will make it very clear what its position is on the FACTS in Venezuela that constitute Crimes Against Humanity. The @TheJusticeDept has mountains of sealed accusations against the Madurista nomenclature for corruption, money laundering and drug trafficking. And, in case the evidence is lacking, Venezuela is today a faithful example of an inept and rapacious exercise of power obtained illegitimately. 7.2 million do not flee from a false narrative, they do so from a terrifying and UNCONCEALABLE reality. It is increasingly evident that @LulaOficial Version 2.0 will be much worse than the 1st. version. Old and withdrawn; willing to never spend work again. It will be a dark government and I dare to predict that it will surely have a rather unhappy ending for the VERY amoral Lula da Silva. Vomitivo, indeed. Burelli is also a leading expert on Venezuelan energy production and all things Venezuela. The hypocrisy is amazing. Francisco Monaldi, a top energy economist at the Baker Institute at Rice University in Texas, noted the irony: Lula is once more embarrassing himself and his country. So according to him, Bolsonaro is antidemocratic and authoritarian, but a criminal dictator like Maduro just has bad press? Because Maduro is a loyal leftist ally? Shameful. This behavior corrodes democracy. Kudos to https://t.co/71AQ3Y0yeN Francisco J. Monaldi (@fmonaldi) May 29, 2023 Eric Farnsworth, a foreign policy expert who runs the Americas Society, saw plenty that appalled him, too: In five months of frenetic activity, the Lula government is certainly re-activating Brazilian foreign policy but to what end? Aligning with Russia and China and the odious Maduro regime in #Venezuela while dissing #Ukraine and waving off the US and Europe is not non-alignment Eric Farnsworth (@ericfarns) May 29, 2023 He was referring to Lula's absurd and offensive claim that Venezuela's last-ditch effort to force a democracy, through the legislative election of Juan Guaido as acting president, was comparable to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. There was plenty of hypocrisy in that one, too, given that he otherwise doesn't mind Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He just doesn't like democracy in Venezuela, or fair elections in Venezuela, which is about par for him, given the skeevy circumstances of his own re-election. What we have here is Lula going off the deep end, scuppering all pretense of respectability for the chance to hug Maduro and dance around like a clown at an international conference with him. He's waving his loathing for the West and its civilized values in their faces by embracing Maduro, who's one of the world's most oppressive and nasty communist dictators. Where does that hate come from? And why is Joe Biden still trying to suck up to him? You can bet that Lula isn't going to do that kind of victory dance with senile old fraudy Joe. Basically, the mask is off: Lula is a full blown member of Camp Castro and its own communist bloc, a happy pawn to China and Russia. That's disgusting stuff, and his happy dance with Maduro doesn't bring Maduro into the community of civilized states it takes Lula down to Maduro's level. The West should treat him accordingly. Image: Twitter screen shot. Google is fundamentally changing how saved contacts sync across your Android devices, and you may not like it. If you turn off Contacts sync in the settings, all of your previously synced contacts will disappear. This change is rolling out with a new update for Play Services. For years, transferring contacts between two Android devices has been a seamless experience. All you have to do is sign in with the same Google account on both devices and ensure that you have enabled Contacts sync. Your saved contacts will automatically show up on every new Android device you sign into with that Google account. All future contacts you save will also automatically sync across all devices as long as you dont disable sync. Even if you disable Contacts sync, your saved contacts wont go anywhere. Just that new contacts wont show up on other devices. However, with the latest change, that wont be the case. Advertisement If you disable sync, your Android phone will stop showing contacts that were already synced. Googles idea is likely to make it easier for users to remove their contacts list from a device. Earlier, you needed to remove the Google account for that. And its not possible if you have only one Google account logged in. However, this change may cause unintentional problems for less tech-savvy people. If they accidentally turn off Contacts sync, all of their saved contacts will disappear. Of course, Google wont delete your contacts. They will remain accessible on the web (contacts.google.com) and will be back on your device as soon as you enable sync again. But, this can still cause some inconvenience. We hope that Google wont mess things up and remove your contact list in the case of a failed sync due to a poor network connection. Advertisement You can sync contacts across your Android devices quite easily Thankfully, its relatively easy to enable Contacts syncing for your Google account. Open the Settings app on your phone and go to account settings. Here, find your primary Google account and tap on it. You should see toggles to enable or disable sync for contacts, calendars, Gmail, and more. Make sure that those toggles are turned on, and avoid disabling them in the future. As far as the rollout of this change is concerned, its coming to Android users as part of Play Services version 23.20 released a few days back. Its no secret that ever since Netflix announced a crackdown on password sharing, people have been unwelcoming of this decision as it forces them to pay for family members or friends who do not live in the same household. Now, just days after implementing its password-sharing ban, many Netflix users have taken to social media to express their frustrations, leading to a surge in cancellations and the emergence of the trending hashtag #CancelNetflix on platforms like Twitter. This shift in policy represents a significant departure from Netflixs previous strategy in 2017 when it tweeted in support of password sharing, stating that Love is sharing a password. And although its unclear whether the company anticipated such a backlash, the password-sharing ban is just one of the reasons behind the wave of cancellations. These reasons include the subpar quality of Netflixs original content, such as the new Cleopatra documentary, and the cancellations of many fan-favorite series. As a result, frustrated users took to Twitter to express their disappointments, with one long-term subscriber named Ben publicly announcing his departure from the service and another user, gfgm223, declaring their decision to move on after 11 years of paying for a subscription. I cancelled my Netflix membership so fast. Its the principle. They already charge us to share our accounts, thats how it went from $8 to $15. Like no, youre not charging me to tell me who Im allowed to share my password with, said Twitter user T_Nitchelle. Advertisement Netflix still expects revenue growth While the severe backlash on social media platforms is concerning, the company remains optimistic about its revenue growth prospects. As, during a recent earnings conference, Netflix acknowledged that there would be cancellations, but they believe that overall, this crackdown on password sharing will be beneficial for the platform. This is an important transition for us, and so were working hard to make sure that we do it well and as thoughtfully as we can, said Gregory Peters, co-CEO and director of Netflix. However, convincing existing subscribers to pay more for adding an account will entirely depend on Netflixs ability to produce good content, an area that has been on a downfall for some time. According to the FBIs Internet Crime Report for 2022, Mississippi has the lowest rate of cybercrime among all US states. The state had around 69 cybercrime victims per 100,000 people last year. Nevada is at the highest risk of cybercrime in the country with around 300 victims per 100,000 people. An analysis of the FBI data by WindowsReport.com showed that there were 2,043 cybercrime victims in Mississippi last year. When accounted for the states total population, the number breaks down to less than 70 victims per 100,000 residents. On average, each victim in the state lost about $13,810 to cybercrime in 2022. The total losses clocked in at $28,213,583. Following Mississippi with the second-lowest cybercrime rate is Kansas. The state recorded 2,399 victims in 2022, which breaks down to around 82 people out of every 100,000 residents. Those 2,400-odd people cumulatively lost a whopping $58,149,297 to cybercrime. Thats an average loss of $24,239 per victim, over $1,000 more than what people in Mississippi lost on average. With around 92 victims per 100,000 people, North Dakota is third on the list of US states with the lowest rate of cybercrime. The average loss of $20,312 is still relatively high, though. Louisiana (93), Iowa (94), Kentucky (95), and Arkansas (96) are the only other states with fewer than 100 cybercrime victims per 100,000 residents last year. The average amount lost per victim in these states ranged between $12,000 and $16,000. Advertisement Alabama recorded an average loss of more than $50,000 per cybercrime victim in 2022 Cybercrime victims in Alabama, meanwhile, suffered massive losses in 2022. The FBIs data shows that the state had 4,893 victims last year, which is 100 people out of every 100,000 (or one out of every 1,000). The combined losses of those unfortunate Alabama residents clocked in at $247,930,058. Thats a loss of a staggering $50,670 for each victim. The 9,090 cybercrime victims in Nevada lost $14,006 on average, totaling $127,315,394 combined losses across the state. Cybercrime is becoming one of the most common cases of fraud nowadays, said a spokesperson for the publication commenting on the findings from the FBI report. Doing things like keeping up to date on data breaches, using strong passwords, not trusting unsolicited emails or messages, and using an effective antivirus software can all keep you well protected in the current climate. Verizon recently issued a warning to its subscribers about smashing attacks. These attacks use SMS texts to trick unsuspecting people into giving away confidential information such as their full name, address, banking details, passwords, or social security numbers. Always remember that your bank or government agencies will never ask you for sensitive information and never transfer any money to people you dont know. In a recent update, it is clear that Twitter is exiting the EUs voluntary Code of Practice against disinformation. This information was made public by Thierry Breton, the blocs internal market commissioner. He took to his Twitter account to share this information regarding Twitters stance on misinformation with netizens. Back in 2018, Twitter signed onto the voluntary Code of Practice against disinformation. This Code of Practice aims to protect users of online platforms from disinformation. Asides from Twitter, other big tech firms also joined in on this practice in the fight to keep users away from statements and propaganda that arent true. Other companies like Google, Meta (comprising Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp), and TikTok also joined this practice. These companies are all solid sources of information for millions of people around the world. If not put under check, they can effectively promote misinformation, spreading it fast like wildfire. So why would Twitter exit a Code of Practice that aims to protect users of its platform? Are there any reasons behind Twitters exit from the EUs voluntary Code of Practice against disinformation At the moment, there is no clear reason as to why Twitter is exiting the voluntary Code of Practice against disinformation. Sources have not been able to reach out to Twitter for comment due to the lack of a communication department. Thierry Breton also fails to give a reason for the exit, but he passes a strong message across to Twitter. Advertisement In his tweet, Thierry Breton makes it clear that Twitter can run, but it cant hide. He points out that their obligations within the EUs regions remain whether they are part of the voluntary Code of Practice against disinformation. But how is that possible if Twitter is no longer part of the Code of Practice to fight disinformation? Twitter might have exited the Code of Practice but come August 25 they will be legally bound by this bodys requirements. Over the past few years, all companies under this body have been there voluntarily. But things are changing and the EUs Code of Practice is becoming legally binding for members and non-members alike. As long as the company can be a portal for information transmission among EU citizens, itd need to operate under the Code of Practice. So technically, Twitter can run, but it cant hide from fulfilling its obligations to the EU and its citizens. Some analysts claim that Twitters withdrawal from the Code of Practice is in a bid to boycott the blocs content moderation. This might also be in light of Elon Musks promise of free speech to tweeps just before he took control of the platform. Police in Hollywood, Florida, have arrested one person of interest connected to the mass shooting that happened Monday night. A second suspect remains at large. Authorities alleged the incident happened as a result of an altercation between two groups along Hollywood's beachside walkway, which injured nine people, including a one-year-old child. All nine injured people were transported to Memorial Regional Hospital and Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital for treatment. Hollywood mayor to police: "Leave no stone unturned" Hollywood Police Chief Chris O'Brien said the incident happened as thousands of people flocked to the area to make the most out of the Memorial Day holiday weekend. "It's unfortunate we have law-abiding citizens who come to our beaches, and that gets interrupted by a group of criminals," he said. Meanwhile, Hollywood mayor Josh Levy expressed gratitude towards "good samaritans" and emergency services who immediately responded to the incident but was also "deeply saddened and angered" by the shooting. "The Hollywood Police Department will leave no stone unturned," he said. "We do not appreciate when people come into our city with guns and have an altercation in the midst of a public setting here." Police urged the public to avoid the area where the shooting occurred as investigations continue. Hollywood Police spokesperson Deanna Bettineschi also called on the public to come forward and assist authorities regarding anything related to the investigation or any property that might be inside the crime scene. Hollywood is a popular beach destination located between Fort Lauderdale in the north and Miami in the south. @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. WhatsApp, the worlds most popular messaging app, may soon expand to the videoconferencing and remote collaboration territory. The Meta-owned platform is readying a screen sharing feature usually found in business communication tools like Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom. WhatsApp will let you share your screen during video calls According to a report from WABetaInfo, WhatsApp added this new feature to the latest beta version of the app (2.23.11.19). The ability to share the screen isnt available to everyone in the beta channel but some lucky users have been able to test it. When in a video call, the app shows a new button on the bottom bar that lets your share your screen with the other party. Tapping this button brings up a confirmation pop-up where WhatsApp tells you about the risks of sharing your screen during calls. It tells you that the person on the other end will be able to see anything you have on the screen, including your payment details, passwords, photos, messages, and more. You can tap the Start now button to continue or tap Cancel and go back. Once you start sharing your screen, WhatsApp will note it in the middle of the call screen. A Stop sharing button lets you immediately end the process anytime you want. You wont need permission from the other party to stop sharing your screen. Its unclear whether doing so will disconnect the call as well. It probably wont, if we go by the implementation of the feature in other platforms. Advertisement As said earlier, this feature is usually found in videoconferencing and remote collaboration services. It lets employees share slides or projects they are working on with their colleagues or seniors. WhatsApp may be looking to do something similar now that it has expanded group video call limits to 32 people and added proper multi-device support. WhatsApp has also redesigned the navigation bar Screen sharing isnt the only change in WhatsApp beta version 2.23.11.19. Some users received a redesigned bottom navigation bar as well. They are seeing tabs in this order: Chats, Calls, Communities, and Status. The previous layout was Chats, Communities, Status, and Calls. The bottom bar itself is new on Android and not yet available to everyone globally, though. But now that these changes are available to some beta users, it shouldnt be long before WhatsApp rolls them out widely. You can click the button below to download the latest version of the app from the Google Play Store. DOWNLOAD WHATSAPP Schluss mit dem Hundefleischhandel in Vietnam 30. Mai 2023 Mit einer neuen Petition ruft Animals Asia die vietnamesische Regierung dazu auf, den Verlauf von Hundefleisch in Vietnam fur illegal zu erklaren und damit dem endgultigen Aus fur dieses Geschaft einen Schritt naher zu kommen.. Funf Millionen Hunde werden jedes Jahr in Vietnam fur den Handel geschlachtet (Four PAWS, 2020). Das sind 13.699 Hunde, die jeden Tag grausam getotet werden. Extreme Grausamkeit Vielgeliebte Haustiere werden ihren Familien gestohlen, Hunde geschlagen und in enge Kafige gezwangt, um Hunderte von Kilometern transportiert zu werden, dann setzt man ihnen das Messer an die Kehle oder sticht es ihnen ins Herz, vor den Augen anderer Hunde. Jeder Aspekt des Handels ist mit extremer Grausamkeit verbunden. Hunde leiden in der Enge kleiner Kafige unter Futter- und Wassermangel, wahrend sie illegal transportiert werden. Sie konnen etwas bewirken Es ist an der Zeit, den Hundefleischhandel in Vietnam zu beenden. Indem Sie Ihre Unterschrift hinzufugen, zeigen Sie Vietnam, dass die Welt zuschaut. Wir werden die Petition im November 2023 personlich der vietnamesischen Regierung vorlegen. Zu der Zeit steigt der Handel mit Hunden im Vorfeld des Neujahrsfests nach dem Mondkalender im Februar, bei dem traditionell Hundefleisch gegessen wird, an. Die Einreichung einer Petition mit Zehntausenden von Unterschriften wird der Regierung zeigen, dass die Welt den Handel verboten wissen mochte. Vielen Dank. Weitere Informationen Fakten uber den Hundefleischhandel Vietnamesisches Recht und der Hundefleischhandel Was hat Animals Asia bislang gegen den Hundefleischhandel in Vietnam getan? Lastwagen aus Hanoi an einer Sammelstelle in Dak Lak. (ANSA) - ROME, MAY 30 - Acute food insecurity is set to potentially increase in magnitude and severity in 18 hunger "hotspots" spread over 22 countries, according to a new UN early warning report. It spotlights the risk of a spill-over of the Sudan crisis and the risk of negative impacts in the neighbouring countries and warns that a likely El Nino climatic phenomenon is raising fears of climate extremes in vulnerable countries around the globe. The report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme (WFP) calls for urgent humanitarian action to save lives and livelihoods and prevent starvation and death in hotspots where acute hunger is at a high risk of worsening from June to November 2023. "Not only are more people in more places around the world going hungry, but the severity of the hunger they face is worse than ever," said Cindy McCain, WFP's Executive Director. "This report makes it clear: we must act now to save lives, help people adapt to a changing climate, and ultimately prevent famine. If we don't, the results will be catastrophic." The report - 'Hunger Hotspots - FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity' - warns of a major risk of El Nino conditions, which meteorologists forecast to emerge by mid-2023 with an 82% probability. The expected shift in climate patterns will have significant implications for several hotspots, including below-average rains in the Dry Corridor of Central America, and raises the spectre of consecutive extreme climatic events hitting areas of the Sahel and the Horn of Africa. The spill-over from the crisis in the Sudan is driving massive population displacement and hunger among people forced from their homes in search of refuge and those hosting them, the report warns. More than one million people are expected to flee the country while an additional 2.5 million inside the Sudan set to face acute hunger in coming months. The Sudan was already hosting over one million refugees, and, if the conflict persists, hundreds of thousands are likely to return to their counties of origin, many of which are already in the grips of underfunded and protracted refugee crises, compounded by social, political and economic stressors. According to the report, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen remain at the highest alert level. Haiti, the Sahel (Burkina Faso and Mali) and the Sudan have been elevated to the highest concern levels; this is due to severe movement restrictions to people and goods in Burkina Faso, Haiti and Mali, and the recent outbreak of conflict in the Sudan. All hotspots at the highest level have communities facing or projected to face starvation, or are at risk of sliding towards catastrophic conditions. The Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Pakistan and Syria are hotspots with very high concern, and the alert has also been extended to Myanmar. All these hotspots have a large number of people facing critical acute food insecurity, coupled with worsening drivers that are expected to further intensify lifethreatening conditions in the coming months. Lebanon has been added to the list of hotspots, joining Malawi and Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua) that remain hotspots. (ANSA). An auctioneer in Northern Ireland has been urged to stop the sale of a pencil which purportedly once belonged to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. The ornate silver-plated pencil is set to go under the hammer in Belfast next week as well as a signed portrait of the notorious dictator who led the regime responsible for the Holocaust. The pencil is estimated to sell for between 50,000 and 80,000, while the photograph is expected to sell for between 10,000 and 15,000. The chairman of the European Jewish Association, Rabbi Menachem Margolin, has written to Karl Bennett, managing director of Bloomfield Auctions, asking him to withdraw the items. He questioned whether the auction house would sell possessions belonging to a terrorist who committed an atrocity in Northern Ireland, such as the IRA bombing of La Mon hotel in 1978 on the outskirts of east Belfast which killed 12 people. In his letter to Mr Bennett, Rabbi Margolin said he is making a moral appeal. I am writing to respectfully ask you to withdraw these items from the auction. This is not a legal appeal to you Mr Bennett, but very much a moral one, he wrote. In comments attributed to you in a national newspaper, you say: But for me, as a high-end collector of militaria items, they preserve a piece of our past and should be treated as historical objects, no matter if the history they refer to was one of the darkest and most controversial in recorded history. We simply cannot fathom how a love trinket such as an engraved pencil or a signed photograph constitutes a historical object of any inherent historical value. The rabbi went on to say that in Europe and further afield, auction houses are buying and selling other items such as watches, ashtrays and even Wehrmacht toilet paper purported to have belonged to senior Nazis. The defence from Munich to Maryland is the same, these items are of historical interest. They are anything but, he wrote. Let there be no doubt, items of genuine historical interest do belong in museums or places of learning. This we fully support. A signed portrait of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler is set to go under the hammer in Belfast next week (Bloomfield Auctions/PressEye/PA) But the buying and selling of items such as yours are dangerous on a number of fronts: they create a macabre trade in items belonging to mass murderers, the motives of those buying them are unknown and may glorify the actions of the Nazis, and lastly their trade is an insult to the millions who perished, the few survivors left, and to Jews everywhere. He concluded his letter: What is sold and to whom is a matter of public decency and moral responsibility at the end of the day. It is in this spirit of decency that I ask you again to withdraw the Nazi auction items, to send a message that some things particularly when so metaphorically blood soaked, should not and must not be traded. Earlier this week Mr Bennett defended the sale of the items, telling the PA news agency: I understand why some people may struggle to understand why items like these are sold and collected, but for me, as a high-end collector of militaria items, they preserve a piece of our past and should be treated as historical objects, no matter if the history they refer to was one of the darkest and most controversial in recorded history. These items give us concrete ties to the past so that we can never forget. A spokesman for Bloomfield Auctions said: Bloomfield Auctions is a specialist auction house for militaria across all centuries. All items are a part of history, and we shouldnt be writing history out of books or society. In my experience those who buy such items are legitimate collectors who have a passion for history. We do not seek to cause hurt or distress to any one or any part of society. All items have a story and tell of a particular time in history. A cigar smoked by Sir Winston Churchill nearly 80 years ago has been found in a glass jar and is set to be sold at auction. The wartime leader gave a half-smoked cigar to Hugh Stonehewer-Bird, consul general in Rabat, Morocco between 1943 and 1945, following a dinner party he hosted for the wartime British prime minister on August 29 1944. Mr Stonehewer-Bird preserved the cigar in a glass jar and treasured it until his death in 1973 at the age of 81, his family said. Now, his relatives have decided it is time to sell the piece of memorabilia after 50 years of looking after it and it will go under the hammer with Derbyshire-based Hansons Auctioneers on June 16 with a guide price of 600 to 900. The wartime prime minister gave the cigar to Hugh Stonehewer-Bird, consul general in Rabat, Morocco, at an event Hugh hosted for him during the conflict (Phil Barnett/PA) Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: Its amazing what turns up in glass jars. This is an iconic piece of memorabilia connected to one of Britains most famous prime ministers and the Second World War. Charles Hanson, of Hansons Auctioneers, pictured with the cigar, which has been preserved in a jar for nearly 80 years (Mark Laban/Hansons/PA) Churchill was renowned for his love of cigars and occasionally gave them as gifts to people who had helped him in any way. People went to great lengths to preserve them for posterity and, in this case, a glass jar has done an excellent job for 79 years. The original handwritten label provides the provenance collectors like. We hope this item will excel under the hammer. More information about the auction can be found online. The possibility the Covid virus leaked from a laboratory should not be ruled out, a former top Chinese government scientist has said. The view of virologist and immunologist Professor George Gao is in stark contrast to that of the Chinese government which dismisses any suggestion the virus may have originated in a Wuhan laboratory. Prof Gao, the former head of Chinas Centre for Disease Control (CDC), told the BBC Radio 4 podcast Fever: The Hunt for Covids Origin: You can always suspect anything. Thats science. Dont rule out anything. Prof Gao is now vice president of the National Natural Science Foundation of China after retiring last year from the CDC, where he played a key role in the pandemic response and efforts to trace how it started. The Chinese Embassy in the UK told the BBC: The so-called lab leak is a lie created by anti-China forces. It is politically motivated and has no scientific basis. A social distancing guidance sign on the pavement in Manchester city centre (PA) The theory that the virus accidentally leaked from a laboratory resurfaced in February when the FBIs director said this is where it most likely originated although there is no consensus among US intelligence agencies on the question. The BBC reports that many scientists say the weight of evidence suggests that a natural origin the virus spreading from animals to humans is the most likely scenario. The idea the virus infected someone involved in research which was designed to better understand the threat of viruses emerging from nature is another suggestion. Wuhan is home to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), one of Chinas top national laboratories known to have spent years studying coronaviruses. Professor Gao told the BBC some kind of formal investigation into the WIV was carried out and that lab was double-checked by the experts in the field. Stating he has not seen the result, but has heard that the lab was given a clean bill of health, Prof Gao added: I think their conclusion is that they are following all the protocols. They havent found (any) wrongdoing. Wuhans Huanan Seafood Market and hospitals near it were the focus of searches for potential explanation for the virus early in the pandemic. An investigation into Covids origin by the World Health Organisation said it was extremely unlikely the virus leaked from a lab. Plans for a second phase of the investigation, involving audits of laboratories in the Wuhan area, were rejected by the Chinese government, the podcast adds. The US House and Senate are racing against time to enact a debt limit measure and prevent a default this week. Over the weekend, President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) achieved a tentative deal to extend the borrowing ceiling, necessitating urgent congressional action. Following Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's warning that the US may run out of cash to satisfy its financial commitments, lawmakers are under tremendous stress as the Monday deadline approaches. The House Rules Committee, with nine Republicans and four Democrats, will convene at 3 p.m. ET to set debt limit measure parameters when Congress returns from Memorial Day break, according to The Hill. When McCarthy arrived at the US Capitol on Monday, he played down his worries and exuded confidence despite these possible obstacles. On Tuesday, the House Rules Committee will vote on the debt ceiling discussion rule. The GOP leadership wants to vote on the legislation on Wednesday if the committee approves it before sending it to the Senate. Read Also: Disney Vs. DeSantis: A Timeline Of The Battle A Challenging Situation For Both Parties As conservatives and liberals oppose the proposal, Republican and Democratic leaders must win over their parties. Two of the nine Republicans on the committee, Reps. Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Chip Roy of Texas, both conservative House Freedom Caucus members, have publicly denounced the US debt limit arrangement, ABC News reported. Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, a fiscal conservative, has also been considered a holdout. However, McCarthy praised him on Sunday for putting out a backup plan for spending reductions in the agreement with the White House. Assuming all members are present, the measure will reach the House floor on Wednesday evening and need 218 votes to succeed. If conservative defections get four, the Republicans' 222-213 majority may need Democratic cooperation. Conservatives have used the US debt limit battle to pressure the White House into abandoning President Biden's proposal to forgive up to $20,000 of college debt for millions of Americans, according to Politico. The US debt ceiling deal agreed on Saturday is said to have preserved the entire program. However, the deal solidifies the Biden administration's decision to lift the summertime moratorium on monthly student loan payments and interest. The Education Department had planned to restart payments in September. Related Article: Kohl's Faces Backlash for LGBTQ Clothing Collection @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A sponsors decision to pull its funding for the influential Edinburgh Comedy Awards has thrown its future into doubt and forced organisers to issue a plea for other potential sponsors to come forward. The appeal comes after the main sponsor of the last two series of stand-up shows, television comedy channel Dave, announced it was withdrawing its financial backing to focus on other initiatives within the comedy industry. Following the announcement, the team behind the awards, formerly known as the Perrier Comedy Awards, said they recognised they would have to change their funding model so as not to rely so heavily on one large title sponsor, especially in the post-Covid, commercial landscape. They are in the process of setting up a charitable trust so they can put syndicates together to raise smaller sums of money and apply for funding to secure the future of the event, which celebrated its 40th anniversary last year. The late Sean Hughes won the award in 1990 (PA) The awards have previously recognised comedy acts who have gone on to become household names such as Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, Frank Skinner, Steve Coogan, Harry Hill, Dylan Moran and The League of Gentlemen. Other winners whose careers have soared since carrying off awards include: the late Sean Hughes the youngest ever winner aged 24; Lee Evans; Richard Ayoade; Al Murray and Jenny Eclair. Past nominees have included the likes of Romesh Ranganathan, Sarah Millican, John Bishop, Jimmy Carr and Eddie Izzard. Director Nica Burns, who has run the awards since 1984, commented: I am a passionate advocate of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the vital role it plays in acting as a springboard for many careers, including my own. I remain committed to the awards which I have fought for and grown over the last four decades and I am proud of their role in spotlighting outstanding comedy talent. As the comedy section has expanded to become such a significant genre of the Fringe, so have the costs of running the awards. Having stepped in and personally sponsored them twice over the years, I will be the first to put money on the table for 2023, but post-Covid can no longer do it on my own. I am therefore inviting the comedy industry and all potential partners to get in touch immediately to help make the awards happen this year. There are a number of possibilities including contributing to sponsoring each award and/or the presentation. Shona McCarthy, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, added: The Edinburgh Comedy Awards have been a really important part of the Fringe landscape for the last 40 years, providing crucial funding for the winners and a major opportunity to comics taking part in the festival. Comedy is critically underfunded, but a huge part of the Fringe, and we know that artists, venues and the wider comedy community will want us to work collaboratively to support the ECA in any way we can, in redeveloping and securing a sustainable future for the awards. Nica has worked tirelessly to make these awards happen every year, with so much personal investment along the way. The awards have become an institution in their own right now, and we look forward to them continuing to evolve and grow in the years to come. Interested donors can get in touch with organisers by emailing support@comedyawards.co.uk The mother of a 10-year-old boy who died after being mauled by a dog has called for a change in the law, saying enough is enough. Emma Whitfield, 32, is calling for Jack Lis Law, named after her son who died in November 2021 in Pentwyn, Penyrheol, near Caerphilly, South Wales, after the attack by an XL Bully a breed developed from the American pit bull terrier. She told the Daily Mirror, which is backing the campaign for a change in the law: I still have terrible flashbacks. I still see the animal and its teeth. I hear the barking. You relive it multiple times a day its torture. Flowers left outside the house in Pentwyn, Penyrheol, near Caerphilly where Jack Lis was killed by a dog (Bronwen Weatherby/PA) I still find it unbelievable. Sat on the sofa or on the way home, it hits you all over again. The dogs owner Brandon Hayden, then 19, was sentenced in June 2022 to just over four years at a young offenders institution and Amy Salter, then 29, was jailed for three years after they pleaded guilty to being in charge of the out of control dog, which was named Beast. A further 15 people have lost their lives in dog attacks in the 18 months since Jacks death, including an 83-year-old woman in Caerphilly, while there were nearly 22,000 cases of injuries from out of control dogs in 2022. Jacks mother said: Enough is enough. This has to stop. Its mind-blowing how it keeps happening. It should never have happened to Jack but why has nobody learned from this? Innocent people are dying. The Government needs to act now. Its out of control and there are people losing their kids because of this. I want to stop this happening. She said certain types of dogs have become status symbols and said not all breeders or owners need policing under new legislation. To me it is not different than having a lethal weapon, she said. My problem is with backyard breeders who dont care where the dogs go. There is no reason why a dog needs to sell for 10,000 to go into a family home. CCTV still dated 4/11/2021 of the dog Beast outside the village shop Top Stores on Heol Aneurin, Caerphilly, after it ran at a boy who dropped his scooter (Gwent Police/PA) She also called for tougher sentences with Salter possibly being released from prison before the end of the year. She only missed one Christmas when we have lost a lifetime of them, Ms Whitfield said. The campaign for the Jack Lis Law is backed by the Mirror, the Dog Control Coalition which includes the RSPCA, Dogs Trust and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and Caerphillys Labour MP Wayne David. They are calling for a different approach to dog legislation which includes all dogs and focuses on breeding, training and the sale of dogs. Calling the problem an epidemic, Mr David said: We have to ask who is next? Wayne David, the Labour MP for Caerphilly (Richard Townshend/UK Parliament/PA) There can be no doubt that radical reform is needed to dog law. This will only happen when everyone who is concerned pulls together. Im quoting the police when I say there is more money in selling dogs for some criminals than selling drugs. Im determined to see this issue addressed by the Government as soon as humanly possible. He has previously called for the reintroduction of dog licences. RSPCA head of companion animals Dr Samantha Gaines said: The Dangerous Dogs Act has failed to protect the public from the risk of bites, we want a new approach. It is also essential measures are available to deter and punish owners of dogs whose behaviour is dangerous. The XL Bully is not recognised as an official breed by the UKs Kennel Club. Downing Street said a working group involving the police, councils and animal welfare experts is looking at ways to reduce dog attacks and promote responsible ownership. There have been some horrific cases and our thoughts and sympathies are with those that have been affected, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said. We know dog attacks can lead to tragic consequences and thats why we have a number of measures in place to protect people. Two firefighters have been taken to hospital as crews try to contain a wildfire that has been burning near Cannich, south west of Inverness, since Sunday afternoon. A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) confirmed the pair were flown to hospital by air ambulance after sustaining injuries while responding to the blaze at a farm near the village at about 9am on Tuesday. It is understood five fire crews comprising about 30 firefighters are working to put out the flames, down from a total of nine crews who were despatched to the scene to tackle the fire when it was at its worst. The SFRS also called for a helicopter to waterbomb the site at one point to try and bring the fire under control. Residents living nearby have been advised to close their windows and doors due to the increased levels of smoke in the area. A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: We were alerted at 12.46pm on Sunday May 28 to reports of a fire in the open at a farm near Cannich, Beauly. Operations Control initially mobilised one fire appliance, increasing to nine appliances including specialist resources. At 5.37pm on Monday May 29, a helicopter was brought in to waterbomb the wildfire. As of Tuesday May 30, we currently have five appliances on the scene, where firefighters are continuing to extinguish the fire and prevent further fire spread. A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson added: We received a call at 9.03am to attend an incident near Cannich, south of Inverness. Multiple resources were dispatched to the scene and two patients were airlifted to hospital. A sailors baby bump caught the Kings eye when he presented medals to the Royal Navy as a personal thank-you for their role in the late Queens funeral procession. Charles awarded honours from the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) in the Kings gift and bestowed independently of Downing Street to around 150 sailors and officers who played a prominent role on the day Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest. Almost 100 Royal Naval Ratings, known as a Sovereigns Guard, pulled the gun carriage carrying the Queens coffin as it was borne from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch in the capital, and 40 marched behind, acting as a break. The King talks to relatives after presenting the Royal Victorian Order to members of the Royal Navy for their part in the late Queens funeral procession (Maja Smiejkowska/PA) At the Windsor Castle ceremony, heavily pregnant Medical Assistant Paisley Chambers-Smith was awarded a silver Royal Victorian Medal for pulling the gun carriage with her colleagues. Ms Chambers-Smith, 25, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, is seven months pregnant and wore a blue summer dress for the event, as there is no Royal Navy ceremonial maternity wear. The medic, who works alongside civilian medical staff at the NHS Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth when not on deployment, said after the open-air ceremony at Windsor Castle: Its not something I imagined doing so soon in my career. Royal Navy personnel enter the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle (Yui Mok/PA) The training was so hard but worth it, and on the day it was a massive honour to be there. She was joined her partner Sergeant Stephen Leonard, 34, a Royal Marine, who was a member of the street lining party stationed along the route the coffin passed, and was standing guard in Parliament Square. He did not see Ms Chambers-Smith marching past as his head was bowed as a mark of respect, but the Medical Assistant saw him in her peripheral vision. The 25-year-old said about the funeral day: Massive to be there. Pride took over when you walk through the streets of London and just knowing that youre there and a part of history forever. A member of Royal Navy who collapsed is attended to during the ceremony (Maja Smiejkowska/PA) Commenting on her brief chat with the King, who presented mostly medals alongside some higher RVO honours, she added: He was asking how the training was for the funeral, which was hard it was tough and the new boots hurt your feet. He asked when the baby was due and how it was, standing in the heat. With her baby expected in July, Ms Chambers-Smith stepped out of the three rows of Royal Navy personnel receiving honours and was given a seat after her presentation. In the bright summer sunshine six naval ratings were helped off the parade ground after apparently fainting but at least two returned to receive their meals. Warrant Officer Class One Eddie Wearing is the state ceremonial training officer for the Royal Navy, and had been masterminding the services planning for the Queens funeral since 2015. The King presents the medals on the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle (Jonathan Brady/PA) He was made a member of the RVO for his efforts, and described the tight turnaround to get the Navy ready for the huge public event. WO1 Wearing said: Everybody was recalled and the training commenced. We had 10 days from start to finish to get everybody in uniform and trained at the right level for the funeral on the 10th day. He added: Its something from a command perspective we had rehearsed its just getting the people ready and thats what takes the time, but I personally think were absolutely on point. Commander Nicola Cripps was one of the officers of the gun carriage and was also made a member of the RVO. She said: As the funeral cortege passed through the crowds fell silent, and the connection between people became very apparent. Individuals would reach out and touch each other as they saw the gun carriage pass, so it meant as a group, as a body of men and women, we were really united in that unique experience of taking the Queen to her final resting place. Train services are being hit by more strike action this week. Train drivers who are members of Aslef will walk out on Wednesday and Saturday, while workers who are members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will strike on Friday. Here is a breakdown of each operators plan for strike days: Avanti West Coast is among the operators affected (Luciana Guerra/PA) Avanti West Coast Wednesday: No trains. Friday: One train per hour will run in each direction between London Euston and each of Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Preston, with a limited service to and from Glasgow. There will be no services to or from North Wales, Shrewsbury, Blackpool, Stoke-on-Trent or Edinburgh, while Macclesfield station will be closed. The first train of the day from Euston will depart at around 8am, and the last will leave shortly after 5pm. Saturday: No trains. c2c Wednesday: Usual timetable. Friday: No major impact but 12-carriage trains will not stop at Limehouse, east London. Saturday: Usual timetable. Caledonian Sleeper Wednesday: Usual timetable. Friday: All services will be operating via the East Coast Main Line due to engineering works. Saturday: The Caledonian Sleeper does not operate on Saturday nights. Chiltern Railways Wednesday: No trains. Friday: Services will be limited to one train per hour from around 8am until 10pm in both directions between London Marylebone and each of Banbury, Oxford and Aylesbury via High Wycombe; and between Amersham and Aylesbury Vale Parkway. No trains will run between Banbury and each of Birmingham and Stourbridge Junction, or between Hatton and Stratford-upon-Avon. Saturday: No trains. CrossCountry Wednesday: No trains. Friday: A limited service will operate. No trains will run between Birmingham New Street and Cardiff Central or Nottingham. Saturday: No trains. East Midlands Railway Wednesday: No trains. Friday: Services will run between 7.30am and 6.30pm. They will be limited to just one train per hour in each direction between London St Pancras and each of Nottingham, Sheffield and Corby, as well as a handful of regional routes such as between Leicester and Lincoln. Saturday: No trains. Elizabeth line Wednesday: Usual timetable. Friday: The Elizabeth line is not involved in the industrial dispute with the RMT but there will be some alterations to its services. These include no trains between Maidenhead and Reading before 7am or after 7pm, and no trains between Brentwood and Shenfield from 11.30pm. Saturday: Usual timetable. Gatwick Express Wednesday: No trains. Friday: No trains but Southern and Thameslink will serve Gatwick Airport until early afternoon. Saturday: No trains. Services to Gatwick Airport will be hit (Gareth Fuller/PA) Grand Central Wednesday: Grand Central is not involved in the industrial dispute with Aslef but there will be minor alterations to its services due to engineering work. Friday: Grand Central is not involved in the industrial dispute with the RMT but there will be minor alterations to its services. Saturday: Usual timetable. Great Northern Wednesday: No trains. Friday: A limited service will run and only between 7am and 7pm. There will be no trains between Ely and Kings Lynn. Saturday: No trains. Great Western Railway Wednesday and Saturday: A limited service will run and only between 7.30am and 6.30pm. The only open routes will be between: London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads; Reading and Didcot; Reading and Basingstoke; Reading and Redhill; Westbury and Swindon; Cardiff and Bristol; Exeter and Barnstaple; Plymouth and Gunnislake; and Penzance and St Ives. The Night Riviera sleeper service is cancelled. Friday: More routes will be open compared with Wednesday, including additions such as between London Paddington and Cardiff; London Paddington and Plymouth; and Slough and Windsor. Greater Anglia Wednesday: A reduced service will run and only from 7am, with last trains earlier than normal. The only routes open will be between London Liverpool Street and each of Cambridge, Colchester, Norwich and Southend Victoria. Friday: Trains will run between 7am and 11pm. Some routes will have a reduced frequency, but most will have a normal or near-normal service. Saturday: A reduced service will run and only from 7am, with last trains earlier than normal. Most routes will be closed, including between London Liverpool Street and Cambridge. Heathrow Express Wednesday: An hourly service between 7am and 7pm. Friday: Usual timetable. Saturday: No trains. Hull Trains All strike days: Usual timetable. London North Eastern Railway (LNER) All strike days: A limited timetable will operate and only between London Kings Cross and both Edinburgh and Leeds. London Northwestern Railway Wednesday: No trains. Friday: A limited service will run and only between 7am and 7pm. The only open routes will be between Birmingham New Street and each of London Euston, Birmingham International and Liverpool Lime Street. Saturday: No trains. London Overground Wednesday and Friday: London Overground is not involved in the industrial disputes but there will be minor alterations to some services. Saturday: Usual timetable Lumo All strike days: Usual timetable. Merseyrail All strike days: Usual timetable. Northern Wednesday: No trains. Friday: Only a handful of routes will be open, such as between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester; Leeds and York; and Darlington and Saltburn. Saturday: No trains. ScotRail All strike days: Usual timetable. South Western Railway Wednesday: Services will be reduced and there will be no trains on the Isle of Wight. Friday: A reduced service will operate and only between 7am and 7pm. Saturday: Services will be reduced and there will be no trains on the Isle of Wight. Southeastern Wednesday: No trains. Friday: A reduced service will operate, with some routes closed. Saturday: No trains. Southeastern will run a limited timetable (Gareth Fuller/PA) Southern Wednesday: No trains. Friday: A reduced service will operate and only between 7am and 7pm. No trains will run between Hemel Hempstead and Clapham Junction; London Bridge and Norwood Junction; Southampton Central and Barnham; and Eastbourne and Ashford International. Saturday: No trains. Stansted Express Wednesday and Saturday: Frequencies will be halved to one train per hour in each direction. Friday: Services will not start until after 7am. Thameslink Wednesday: No trains. Friday: A reduced service will operate and only between 7am and 7pm. Services will be split north and south, with nothing running between London St Pancras and London Blackfriars. Saturday: No trains. TransPennine Express Wednesday: No trains. Friday: A reduced timetable will operate and only between Liverpool Lime Street and each of Preston and York; and between Sheffield and Cleethorpes. Saturday: No trains. Transport for Wales All strike days: Transport for Wales is not involved in the industrial disputes but some of its services will be amended. West Midlands Railway Wednesday: No trains. Friday: A limited service will run and only between 7am and 7pm. The only open routes will be between Birmingham New Street and each of Wolverhampton, Rugeley Trent Valley, Lichfield Trent Valley, Redditch and Bromsgrove; between Kidderminster and Whitlocks End/Dorridge via Birmingham Snow Hill; and between Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge Town. Saturday: No trains. A Co Fermanagh mother who was killed by her former partner was let down by state agencies, her brother has told an inquest into her death. Concepta Leonard, 51, was stabbed by Paedar Phair, 55, at her home in Maguiresbridge on May 15 2017. Her son, Conor Gallagher, who has Downs syndrome and was 30 at the time, was also injured in the attack. Mr Phair later took his own life in an apparent murder-suicide. There were emotional scenes at Belfast Coroners Court during the first day of an inquest into Ms Leonards death. Ms Leonards close friend Sinead McKenna described how terrified her friend had been after being threatened by Mr Phair, and how they had established a rota to ensure people were with her as often as they could be. She broke down into tears, telling the hearing she blamed herself for not having arrived sooner on the day Ms Leonard was killed. Even after Coroner Anne-Louise Toal intervened to reassure her, she insisted: She should be here today, well agree to differ. Ms Leonards brother Fergal described how Mr Phair isolated his sister from her family and questioned why he had not been detained after breaching an emergency non-molestation order that had been issued. She had been due to go to court to secure a permanent order against Mr Phair. A statement that Ms Leonards son Conor gave to police was read to the inquest, which included an account of how he and his mother had been preparing to have tea and scones together when Mr Phair arrived at the house and threatened her with a knife. In the statement, Mr Gallagher described Mr Phair taking their phones and pulling a holy picture off the wall before forcing them upstairs to a bedroom where he stabbed Ms Leonard. Mr Gallagher saw his mother being stabbed, and managed to retrieve the phones from Mr Phairs pocket. He threw a house phone at him, telling him to put away the knife and go back to jail. The phone hit Mr Phair on the back of his head, and he stabbed Mr Gallagher in the stomach before leaving. Mr Gallagher went on to raise the alarm. While the preliminary hearings in the inquest touched on the deaths of both Ms Leonard and Mr Phair, Coroner Anne-Louise Toal previously indicated that they will be dealt with as two separate inquests. On Tuesday, State Pathologist Dr James Lyness, state pathologist, who carried out the post mortem on Ms Leonard, found the cause of death was stab wounds of the chest and abdomen. He said the wounds were likely caused by being stabbed with a bladed weapon, such as the knife found at the scene. He described her as of slim build, and said she had had injuries to her hand consistent with trying to protect herself. Mr Leonard was the first witness to give evidence. He described how the family had reservations about Mr Phair due to his bad reputation. Connie was such a good girl, she said to me everyone deserved a second chance, he told the inquest. Concepta changed so much, we would have often rang each other, conversations kept getting shorter and shorter, Concepta didnt want to talk, I thought Id done something to offend her. Mr Leonard said he noticed that friends were staying with his sister in her house, but she was very reluctant to tell him much. She told me she had got an emergency non molestation order but I had no idea of what was going on up until that time, had no idea what Phairs capacity for violence was, he said. He said there had been several breaches of non molestation order, and if that had been followed up, and he had been arrested, he would have been where he should have. There were threats against her, the inquest heard, including ensuring that shed never work again, and that she would one day find him (Phair) dead in her garage. He said his police assessed his sister as medium risk, which he queried, and said they should have recognised Conor was also vulnerable. Mr Leonard said his sister was in a good place, having got a new job as a cook in a primary school and was looking forward to moving to a new house, believing the non molestation order would give her some security. He also described her as a very talented musician, and had taught piano and the accordion to children. Concepta was very much loved and is still very much loved by all our family, he said. She was a great home maker a fantastic mother to Conor, and a great sister to all of us, a great daughter to daddy and our late mother, he said. I feel that Concepta was let down by some of the agencies, I think there was opportunities missed whenever there were breaches of non molestation order to arrest Phair and that would have been a different future to the way things are now. Ms McKenna detailed in her evidence how Ms Leonard had been in a relationship with Mr Phair and ended it after she suspected he had had an affair, but that he refused to accept that and pestered her, ringing her phone, her sons phone and calling from a pay phone. She described calls that persisted in the early hours of the morning most night, and threats to attack her so she couldnt work again. She said Ms Leonards fear was he would beat her up in front of Conor. She said Ms Leonard was concerned enough that she asked her to look after Conor if anything happened to her. Ms McKenna was critical of the police response when she supported Ms Leonard in reporting what was happening, saying they told her to block Mr Phairs number and to tell him not to contact her. I feel police in Lisnaskea were dreadful in how they dealt with Connie, they did not tell her much, did not reassure her, I think the NMO only incited Phair and he took no notice of it anyway, she said. She said the charity Womens Aid got an alarm installed in Ms Leonards house, and the only time she used it was on the day she was killed. She was petrified we never thought hed kill her, we always thought he would beat her up severely so she wouldnt be fit to work, she said. I think the system let Connie down, Connie was very brave, she did the hardest thing which was getting rid of him, she was trying to get her life like back together, the system let Connie down, she said. Becoming tearful she continued: and I can say I let Connie down because if I had of been a wee bit earlier, Id have been there, she knew I was coming, her guard was down, we never thought 2pm that would be a time (that hed come). She should be here today. The inquest continues. A 91-year-old woman had a taser pointed at her and a spit hood put over her head by police after a dispute with her carer. The Metropolitan Police said that the elderly woman was distressed and allegedly spat at one officer when they were called to her home in Peckham, south-east London, on May 9. She was handcuffed, had a mesh spit hood placed over her head and a Taser trained on her before she was taken to hospital without being arrested. It is claimed she was left with cuts and bruising to both wrists and one of her arms. Watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating what happened. One officer has already been suspended and is not allowed to use Taser while the investigation is carried out, and five other officers have been placed on restricted duties so they have no contact with the public. A member of the womans family has been allowed to watch footage of what happened from the officers body worn video cameras. Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh said: There are limits to what I am able to say in relation to this incident given it is now subject to an IOPC investigation. However, it is clear that this will have been a distressing experience for the lady involved and that the circumstances raise a number of questions that need to be answered. While I do not wish to pre-judge this process, officers know that they must be able to justify any use of force or restraint and we will expect that of the officers involved in this incident. They also know that we expect them to show compassion and to adjust their approach in real time according to the circumstances they are faced with. I am committed to transparency in relation to this incident. I am already in contact with our key partners and will keep them, and those directly involved, informed as our inquiries progress. The IOPC launched an investigation on May 17 after the Met referred the case to the watchdog. A member of the public also made a complaint to the IOPC about the force that was used. An IOPC spokesman said: We have received a public complaint concerning the level of force that was used and the injuries it is alleged the woman sustained, including cuts and bruising on both her wrists and one arm. We have been in touch with the womans family to explain our role. Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson are not scheduled to meet this week despite suggestions they would hold clear-the-air talks to tackle a series of thorny issues. It was understood on Tuesday there had been initial discussions about holding a telephone call but this is now not scheduled to go ahead. The two leading Conservatives would have a lot more to discuss than the row over the disclosure of Mr Johnsons WhatsApp messages and notebooks to the Covid-19 Inquiry. The meeting had been billed by the former prime ministers allies in the Sunday Times as an opportunity to discuss his honours list, which has attracted wide-ranging criticism. Several current Tory MPs are believed to have been listed which, if confirmed, would force the Conservatives to fight risky by-elections at a time of dire polling. Boris Johnson giving his victory speech in 2019 after winning the Uxbridge & Ruislip South constituency, where he could now face a by-election (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Early electoral battles could be held in the seats of former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, Nigel Adams, another close ally of Mr Johnsons, and Alok Sharma, who was Cop26 president. There have also been renewed allegations of cronyism, with loyal aides and even his father Stanley Johnson reported to be put forward for honours. Boris Johnsons own political future could also be the centre of discussions. He could be forced to face his own by-election in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat under the worst-case scenario relating to the Privileges Committee inquiry into whether he lied to Parliament over Covid rule-breaking in No 10. Mr Sunak has said he will let MPs come to their own decision as individuals if the Commons is asked to approve a punishment for his predecessor. There has been suggestions Mr Johnson will not try to defend the west London constituency and will seek a safer seat, possibly Henley, the Tory stronghold he previously represented. Mr Johnson has also reacted furiously to the Cabinet Office decision to hand over entries from his official diary during the pandemic to police amid concerns of further rule-breaking. No 10 and the Cabinet Office have insisted ministers were not involved when Whitehall officials passed concerns to the Metropolitan Police and Thames Valley Police. Rishi Sunak will travel to Washington next week for talks with Joe Biden. The two leaders are expected to discuss trade issues although the idea of a full-blown deal has fallen by the wayside since the US President replaced Donald Trump in the White House as well as the war in Ukraine. The White House said Mr Sunak and Mr Biden would also discuss the situation in Northern Ireland. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: The visit will be an opportunity to build on discussions the Prime Minister and President Biden have had in recent months about enhancing the level of co-operation and co-ordination between the UK and US on the economic challenges that will define our future, including securing our supply chains and transitioning to zero-carbon economies. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden (Leon Neal/PA) It will also be an opportunity to discuss issues including sustaining our support for Ukraine as we build on the success of our G7 summit in the run-up to the Nato summit in July. Mr Sunak will fly to the US on June 7 and is due to visit the White House the following day. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said: Building on their recent engagements, the two leaders will review a range of global issues, including their steadfast support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russias brutal war of aggression, as well as further action to bolster energy security and address the climate crisis. The president and the Prime Minister will discuss efforts to continue strengthening our economic relationship as we confront shared economic and national security challenges. They will also review developments in Northern Ireland as part of their shared commitment to preserving the gains of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. During the visit Mr Sunak will also meet congressional figures and US business leaders. Although a full-blown free-trade agreement (FTA) between the UK and US is not on the agenda, the Government is pushing to address specific trade issues and is also seeking closer partnerships with individual states including economic powerhouses California and Texas. We are not seeking to pursue a free-trade deal with the US currently, the spokesman said We know that no trade partnership is more important than the one we have with the US, its our largest trading partner. Its worth remembering the trade relationship, as it currently stands, is worth 279 billion already. We have achieved all of that without an FTA. Trade agreements have already been signed with North Carolina, South Carolina and Indiana, and the UK is speaking to Utah, Oklahoma, Texas and California. The two leaders have met frequently in recent months. Mr Sunak travelled to the US in March for a meeting in San Diego with Mr Biden and Australian leader Anthony Albanese to agree the Aukus submarine pact, and the Prime Minister and the US President also met in Belfast in April. Mr Sunak and Mr Biden both attended the G7 summit in Japan and are expected to be at the gathering of Nato leaders in Lithuania in July. A UK waste company been accused of failing to address environmental and health impacts of a toxic landfill site it owns in Colombia. Campaigners from environmental group Global Witness said Veolia, which runs landfills and waste collection services in the UK, is shirking its duty over devastation being cased by the Yerbabuena landfill which it owns, near Patio Bonito, Colombia. The landfill, which began operating in 2015 in the San Silvestre wetlands, has been linked to historic reports of contamination in the water and food sources of the nearby Patio Bonito community, including significant values of heavy metals like arsenic and mercury found in sediment samples in 2017. There have also been reports of the young displaying a series of novel health afflictions, including babies dying at birth and children suffering from Job a rare skin condition that leaves scarring and boils. Veolia, which bought the landfill site from the Colombian firm Rediba in 2019, operates landfills and waste services across the world, including in the UK. A Veolia bin (Global Witness) A Colombian court ruled in 2017 that the Yerbabuena landfills operation would be conditional on the owner building an aqueduct to supply clean water to the community and lessen its impact on the local environment. But Patio Bonito residents and local environmentalists told Global Witness that the impacts from the landfill remain as devastating as ever in 2023 even after Veolias 2019 takeover. One resident told campaigners that her familys health has suffered, adding: I cant see any improvement at all. Everything is the same. The Veolia-owned landfills entrance in Colombia (Global Witness) Meanwhile, local environmental group San Silvestre Green said Veolia has to date failed to completely fulfil the court order as leachates from the site continue to overflow into surrounding water sources, contaminating the wetlands. Any aqueduct is also yet to be built and the local authorities are forced to pay for water to be delivered to the community by tanker trucks, according to Global Witness. Veolia has disputed the leachate claims, saying that there is no leachate discharge in the water sources from the landfill, that all leachate is treated within the plant, and that the company conducts a variety of thorough ongoing testing at the site (the results of which comply with international standards). The company also said it takes on the arrangement of tanker-supplied water to the community and that the historic reporting of medical defects was neither peer-reviewed official research nor corroborated. Elsewhere, Veolia has been accused of showing disregard for particular threats from paramilitary groups against a local environmental defender. Global Witness said locals are scared to speak out over fears of violent repercussions, with environmental defenders Oscar Sampayo and Dr Yeside Blanco receiving death threats from paramilitary groups a month after they signed legal action against Veolia in 2020. Both Dr Blanco and Mr Sampayos names were published in a pamphlet by a paramilitary group calling themselves the Aguilas Negras, which warned 18 local activists that they had 24 hours to leave the territory or would be declared a military target, Global Witness said. It added that there is no evidence to suggest that Veolia or its predecessor commissioned extrajudicial threats or violence. Dr Yesid Blanco, a paediatrician from Colombia who conducted numerous studies on children living in Patio Bonito and faced death threats for his environmental work (Global Witness) Veolia said that Dr Blanco was invited by Veolia Colombia to visit the (site) in order to see the operations, but has never responded to our proposal. The campaigners are calling on the waste company to address the full range of harms suffered by the community and threats made against the defenders who have spoken out against the landfill. Shruti Suresh, land and environmental defenders campaign lead at Global Witness, said: Veolia is showing a disregard for the risks faced by land and environmental defenders who are struggling for justice for the harms that have been caused by this toxic landfill in the San Silvestre wetlands. Drone shot of the Veolia-owned landfill site, with Patio Bonito village situated just next to it, near Barrancabermeja, Colombia (Global Witness) Such a lacklustre attitude is concerning as Veolias operation is sited in an area which is well-known to be a high risk for attacks against defenders and indeed Global Witness research has found that Colombia is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for land and environmental defenders. The devastating effects of the landfill on the lives of the local community can no longer be ignored. Beate Beller, corporate accountability campaigner at Global Witness, said: For too long, big companies have been shying away from their responsibility to people and planet while making huge profits. Weve shown time and time again that, left to their own devices, they do a poor job of addressing human suffering and environmental devastation associated with their business activities. In a statement, Veolia said: Veolia Colombia strongly denies any allegations of disregarding the environmental law in its operations in the San Silvestre Environmental Technology Park. On the contrary the company has reinforced and modernised the treatment process to bring the site to highest environmental standards which has received top international certifications. The company added that it conducts its operations with respect for human rights and in full compliance with environmental regulations. The Japanese government is under increasing pressure to legalize same-sex marriage after a court declared the ban illegal. Those fighting to have Japan join the other six G7 countries that recognize same-sex unions hailed Tuesday's May 30 verdict by a district court in Nagoya as a triumph, The Guardian reported. Court Ruled on a Complaint by Two Men in a Relationship For the second time in Japan's history, a court has deemed the restriction unconstitutional. Meanwhile, two courts previously said it is consistent with the postwar constitution, which defines marriage as based on "the mutual consent of both sexes." However, the Nagoya court, deciding on a complaint brought by two men in a relationship, denied their request for compensation of 1 million yen (around $7000) from the state for its refusal to allow them to get married. Yoko Mizushima, the couple's lawyer, addressed reporters and supporters outside the court and said, "This ruling has rescued us from the hurt of last year's ruling that said there was nothing wrong with the ban and the hurt of what the government keeps saying." Mizushima was alluding to a decision from a court in Osaka from a year ago finding the prohibition lawful. Eventually, a Tokyo court agreed but added that the absence of legal protection for same-sex families was a violation of their human rights. See Also: Japanese Prime Minister Fires Son From Post Over Controversial Party at Official Residence Recent Ruling Will Revive Same-Sex Marriage Debate Even though the courts cannot make the government do anything, this recent verdict is sure to reopen the discussion on same-sex marriages only two weeks after the government filed an LGBTQ+ rights law to silence critics before the G7 leaders' conference in Hiroshima. The government had pledged to approve legislation to promote understanding of LGBTQ+ individuals before the G7. Still, it submitted a weaker measure the day before the meeting due to resistance from conservatives in the governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Legislators changed the bill's wording from "discrimination is unacceptable" to "unfair discrimination" after hearing complaints that the former phrase made the law worthless. Despite opposition from the LDP's "family values" conservatives, as much as 70% of the population supports legalizing same-sex marriage. LGBTQ+ Rights Are Restricted More than 300 cities and towns in Japan allow same-sex couples to get married, which is about 65% of the population, yet their rights are restricted. Members of same-sex couples have no legal claim to their partner's property or children. Getting permission to see a patient in the hospital is frequently a hassle. Fumio Kishida, Japan's prime minister, has angered many by arguing that the country's prohibition on same-sex marriage is not discriminatory. According to ABC News, Kishida said allowing it would radically alter society and threaten traditional family values. See Also: Target Faces $9 Billion Market Value Drop Over Controversial LGBTQ Products Backlash @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Ukraine has the right to project force beyond its own borders for self-defence, the UKs Foreign Secretary has said after reports of a drone attack on Moscow. James Cleverlys comments came after he gave a speech in Estonia in which he spoke about deterring Russian President Vladimir Putins aggression by strengthening our collective security, and made the case for Sweden to swiftly join Nato. Answering questions from the media afterwards, Mr Cleverly was asked about Tuesdays drone attack on Moscow and whether Ukraine had the right to attack Russian territory. He said: I dont have details, and I am not going to speculate about the nature of the drone attacks in Moscow. So what Im about to say are more general points, rather than on that specific incident. Ukraine does have the legitimate right to defend itself. It has the legitimate right to do so within its own borders, of course, but it does also have the right to project force beyond its borders to undermine Russias ability to project force into Ukraine itself. So legitimate military targets beyond its own border are part of Ukraines self-defence. And we should recognise that. That is not to say that I have any particular assessment over the attacks in Moscow, but more broadly military targets beyond its own border are internationally recognised as being legitimate as part of a nations self-defence. Russian air defences stopped eight drones converging on Moscow, officials said on Tuesday, in an attack Russian authorities blamed on Ukraine. The attack came as Russia continued its bombardment of Kyiv with a third assault on the Ukrainian capital in 24 hours. Ukrainian air defences intercept a drone over Kyiv (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) Ukraine made no immediate comment on the attack on Moscow, which would be one of its deepest and most daring strikes into Russia since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than 15 months ago. Meanwhile, Downing Street said it was confident no British-supplied equipment was used in the drone attack. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said he would not speculate on the origin of the attacks, adding: Obviously what we have seen are significant attacks on Kyiv in recent days, including on civilians. In his speech in Estonia, delivered alongside his Estonian counterpart Margus Tsahkna, Mr Cleverly said: Today, Margus and I discussed the Nato summit taking place in Vilnius in July. We agreed that we must bolster support for Ukraine and ensure that Nato adapts to an increasingly contested and volatile security environment. And I know that we both feel its important that Sweden joins us at the table in Vilnius too, as a fully fledged member of Nato, and as an important ally to us all. Swedish accession will make us all safer and stronger. Mr Cleverly said the UK was very proud to lead Natos enhanced forward presence in Estonia, adding: Lets remind ourselves that in 1726 Britain sent her then Baltic fleet to the coast of Tallinn to deter the Russian fleet from attacking Denmark and Sweden. History doesnt always repeat itself, but it does have a habit of rhyming. Admiral Sir Charles Wager and his fleets presence deterred Russia almost 300 years ago. And I hope that our presence here today will continue to do the same. As the great Lord Nelson observed, we cannot command the winds and the weather, but we can brace ourselves against the gales and ready ourselves for the storm to come. So whatever Russia decides to do next in Ukraine, or indeed anywhere else, we are prepared. And we will continue to cultivate the rich relationship between our two countries. The Foreign Secretary arrived in Tallinn on Tuesday for his first official visit to Estonia, where he met members of the government and visited the Royal Navys HMS Albion in the Baltic Sea. He will head to Norway on Wednesday for a gathering of Nato foreign ministers in Oslo, where he is expected to push for Sweden to join the military alliance before the summit in July. Objections from Turkey and Hungary have slowed the process for Swedish membership. The United Nations refugee agency has identified significant failings in the UK asylum system, warning that officials were being forced to do too much, too quickly, and with inadequate training. The UNHCR said it had either seen or been informed about numerous risks to the welfare of asylum-seekers, with trafficking cases overlooked and victims of torture being detained. The comprehensive audit of the system praised Home Office staff for their work under difficult conditions, but said that corners were being cut and workloads were unsustainable. The Home Office said significant improvements had been made since the audit was carried out in 2021 and early 2022. The current registration and screening systems expect staff to do too much, too quickly, and with inadequate training, facilities, guidance and oversight. As a result, much of their hard work is wasted, and the system frequently fails to achieve its goals, the UNHCR audit said. The report said that the UNHCR observed or was told about numerous risks to the welfare of asylum-seekers, including instances of trafficking and vulnerability being overlooked and teenage children and victims of torture and trafficking being detained. Registration and screening records were often incomplete, inaccurate, or unreliable, and laws and published policies were not complied with. The review said central aspects of screening interviews were routinely delegated to interpreters, there were no formal quality assurance systems and different practices were followed in different locations. For all of these reasons, there is a real risk that decisions based on information collected at screening will be flawed, the report said. The British people want us to stop the boats. That is exactly what this Bill is designed to do, which is why we urge the Lords to back it. pic.twitter.com/IhscpPLCkL Suella Braverman MP (@SuellaBraverman) May 10, 2023 The UNHCR said rules to make an individuals asylum claim inadmissible if they came through a safe third country and the plan to send some asylum-seekers on a one-way trip to Rwanda made the reliability and fairness of the screening system more important. It warned that making decisions on who is sent to Rwanda using the same screening process will lead to errors, causing distress to individuals, delays, and well-founded litigation. Vicky Tennant, UNHCR Representative to the United Kingdom, said: Fair and efficient asylum systems help ensure that refugees are able to access the protection they need and to start rebuilding their lives. Equally important, they help maintain public confidence by allowing governments to pursue arrangements for the return of people who are found not to have international protection needs. Flawed and inefficient screening procedures are currently undermining the UKs asylum capacity placing vulnerable people at risk and adding to the pressure on public resources. The UNHCR put forward 28 recommendations for reform of the system to make it fairer, more reliable and efficient. A Home Office spokesman said: This report is based on an audit that took place in 2021 and early 2022. Since then, significant improvements have been made to the processing of small boats arrivals. Tug Haven is no longer in use and specialist facilities have been made available to accommodate young people, including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. Our staff are working relentlessly to safely register and screen unprecedented numbers of migrants arriving in the UK illegally. We are pleased that their professionalism was praised and thank the UNHCR for their report. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: The UNHCR report exposes a host of failures in Home Office initial asylum processing that are holding up the system and contributing to the damaging delays. Yet Conservative ministers have still rejected policies such as fast-track triage for clearly unfounded cases which Labour has demanded for months. The Home Secretary needs to stop posturing and start fixing the asylum system she and her party have broken. Labour has set out plans for a cross-border police unit, fast-tracking to clear the backlog and a proper deal with France on safe returns. A Swedish businesswoman worth about 250 million should hand her estranged husband more than 6.5 million following the breakdown of their six-year marriage, a judge has ruled. Louise Backstrom and Martin Wennberg, who are both in their 30s, had been embroiled in a dispute over money in a London private family court. Mr Wennberg wanted a financial package worth more than 40 million but Deputy High Court judge Leslie Samuels has ruled against him. Judge Samuels, who oversees hearings in the Family Division of the High Court at the Royal Courts of Justice, considered evidence at a recent private trial. He has outlined his conclusions in a written judgment and named the people involved. Judge Samuels said Ms Backstrom made a 6.5 million housing fund offer in accordance with the terms of a pre-marital agreement. He said that agreement should carry full weight. The judge said Ms Backstrom should also hand over about 60,000 a year over the next six years to meet Mr Wennbergs income needs. The judge was told Ms Backstrom, 33, and Mr Wennberg, 39, are Swedish but lived in England. Ms Backstrom was chairman of the Biltema Foundation and a minority shareholder in Birgma Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited, a family business started and controlled by her grandfather, the judge was told. He concluded that Ms Backstrom had assets of around 250 million and Mr Wennberg assets of 2 million. The parties met in Stockholm and formed a relationship in March 2012, the judge said. When they met, the wife was a student and the husband was working selling luxury watches. He said they started living together in 2014, married in 2015 and separated in 2021. On any view the standard of living enjoyed by this family before the breakdown of the marriage was extremely high, the judge said. The parties enjoyed the provision of high value London properties, staff, expensive holidays, limitless travel options and, overall, the best that money can provide. A judge considered evidence at a private trial at the Royal Courts of Justice in London (PA) The judge said Mr Wennberg filed no evidence and did not provide any disclosure of his financial position. He said Mr Wennberg was in breach of orders requiring him to provide financial information. Detail of the litigation emerged in March, when Ms Backstrom said Mr Wennberg had breached court orders made during the dispute and was in contempt. She asked another judge to impose a jail sentence. Mr Justice Peel, who considered Ms Backstroms contempt complaint at a public hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London, ruled Mr Wennberg had breached earlier orders made by judges. A judge is due to make decisions about sentencing later this year. A woman has admitted to killing her newborn baby with cling film after she was wrongfully convicted of his murder. Ineta Dzinguviene, 38, pleaded guilty to one charge of culpable homicide of her hours-old baby, Paulius Dzingus, after multiple psychiatrists found her to be of diminished responsibility at the time of the childs death due to her mental state. She had previously been found guilty of murdering the baby in 2011 but the conviction was overturned on appeal after she applied to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC) in 2020. Evidence showed Dzinguviene had diminished responsibility as a result of her mental state at the time of the crimes and the SCCRC agreed a miscarriage of justice may have taken place. Dzinguviene was also convicted of the same crime against her daughter, Paulina, whom she smoothered with a plastic bag, in her native Lithuania in 2009. After she was tried for the murder of baby Paulius in 2010, she was extradited to Lithuania to face trial for murdering Paulina where she pleaded guilty in 2012. Following this, she was returned to Scotland in order to serve her sentence for killing Paulius. Dzinguviene was seven months pregnant with Paulius in February 2010 when she arrived in Scotland to join her husband, who had taken up work as a lorry driver. But the High Court in Edinburgh heard from a narrative, read by prosecutor Alex Prentice KC, that Dzinguviene attempted to conceal the pregnancy and had emphatically denied she was pregnant. Ineta Dzinguviene who had her murder conviction overturned and admitted to the culpable homicide of her son (Police Scotland/PA) Paulius was born two months later in April 2010 and nobody outside of the hospital had seen the baby alive. The baby was killed that same month. He was found wrapped in a Tesco carrier bag in a suitcase behind a roll of carpet in a communal cupboard of the block of flats Dzinguviene lived in with her family in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. She was found guilty of murdering Paulius in 2011 and was sentenced to serve at least 15 years in prison. Dzinguviene had previously killed another baby, Paulina, in Lithuania, in 2009. She was extradited to Lithuania in 2012 after tradesmen found the remains of baby Paulina in an attic of the home where she lived. Her case was sent back to the High Court after significant new evidence about her mental state when she committed the crimes in 2009 and 2010 was uncovered by psychiatrists. While serving her sentence at HMP Cornton Vale, Dzinguviene was assessed by several mental health professionals who subsequently found she had both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) resulting from an abusive childhood and marriage. Psychiatrists assessing Dzinguviene found she could have dissociative episodes as a result of the PTSD and CPTSD as well as being in denial about her pregnancies. Dzinguviene told professionals of her deprived childhood, which was often abusive. Her marriage was also abusive and she was subjected to emotional, mental and sexual abuse by her husband, the court heard. The court was also told that Dzinguviene was raped by her mothers boyfriend in 2003, resulting in a pregnancy. Psychiatrists believe this is where her PTSD and CPTSD originated from, and she compartmentalised this in order to cope with day-to-day life. Dzinguviene concealed her pregnancies and ultimately killed two of her five children because she did not want them to experience the same life that she had, the court heard. Delayed disclosures are understandable as an avoidance technique to avoid reliving traumatic events, Mr Prentice told the court. The prosecutor told judge Lady Poole that some amount of discount to the sentence would be appropriate. In summing up, Lady Poole said: You killed your baby boy. I accept you had diminished responsibility, but nevertheless, this is a very serious and tragic crime. Lady Poole deferred sentencing to June 20 following court social work reports being obtained. Dzinguviene was remanded in custody. During a hearing Tuesday on medical marijuana in the North Carolina House, a powerful senator shared his experience using marijuana illegally while undergoing chemotherapy to treat his cancer. Sen. Bill Rabon, who had colon cancer, is a lawmaker from Brunswick County and a main sponsor of the Compassionate Care Act, which would allow medical marijuana use statewide for people who have cancer, ALS, Parkinsons disease, epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder and other ailments. It would not allow recreational use and does not cover ailments such as chronic pain. It contains new regulations, licensing fees and requirements, and would offer a limited number of permits for selling the drug, which has drawn criticism that it could lead to a monopoly by corporations. The legalization bill was discussed in a health committee Tuesday morning without any vote, more than three months after the Senate passed the bill with bipartisan support. Last year, the bill also passed the Senate but died in the House. Its prospects in the House remain unclear, with some lawmakers Tuesday expressing support, while others questioned the science behind legalization and whether it was an opening to allowing recreational use down the line. N.C. Sen. Bill Rabon shares his experience using marijuana illegally while undergoing chemotherapy to treat his cancer as Senate Bill 3, the NC Compassionate Care Act, is discussed during a House health committee meeting in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Sen. Michael Lee stands to the left. You need to get some good marijuana Rabon has been a champion of medical marijuana legalization, with his experience with cancer motivating that drive. In particular, medical cannabis, he says, can be used to alleviate pain and side effects of chemotherapy. On Tuesday he said that when he was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer at age 48, his oncologist told him he had 18 months to live and that it was OK to die. Three months into treatment, Rabon said he told his doctor he felt no different and that he had already used up three of his 18. He asked his doctor to amp up the treatment, with his oncologist telling him Im gonna make you sick. Im gonna make you real sick. And I dont know if you can take it but Im gonna try you need to get some good marijuana. If you want to live, you better do this, Rabon said his doctor told him. What followed was months of treatment and a consistent use of marijuana, said Rabon, now 71 and in his seventh term in the Senate. He credits the drug as the only reason Im alive today. No science behind it. But I can tell you, I know, I know, that tens of thousands of people in the state could benefit. Some parried this point. David Evans, from North Carolinians Against Legalizing Marijuana, followed Rabon by saying that as long as were talking about cancer scares, Ive had cancer three times, so I certainly sympathize with anybody with a serious illness. But we do not decide medicine in the United States by anecdote or by stories, we decide it based on science. Im going to ask you to exercise some humility, he said. You are not the FDA. You are not qualified to be making this decision. According to the National Institutes of Health, a federal agency, research on cannabis and its derivatives shows that it may be helpful in treating certain rare forms of epilepsy, nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy, and loss of appetite and weight loss associated with HIV/AIDS. Evidence also suggests, per the NIH, modest benefits for chronic pain and multiple sclerosis symptoms. The NIH also notes that cannabis use is linked to higher risk of motor vehicle crashes and that some people who use cannabis develop cannabis use disorder, which has symptoms such as withdrawal and lack of control, among other negative side effects. In addition to Rabon, Republican Sen. Michael Lee and Democratic Sen. Paul Lowe sponsored the bill. PARIS (AP) Ten noted thinkers, writers and filmmakers, including director Ken Loach and Nobel literature laureate Annie Ernaux, signed an open letter published Tuesday, calling on the president of Algeria to free a jailed journalist they said was punished for refusing to bow to the government line. In the letter to President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, published in the French daily Le Monde, the luminaries said that prominent journalist Ihsane El Kadi was in prison because he refuses to submit to the pressures of those who govern the country and wanted to make him a counterfeit journalist. An Algiers court sentenced the 64-year-old El Kadi on April 2 to five years in prison with two years suspended after his conviction on charges of receiving foreign funding for his two media outlets, Radio M and the online news site Maghreb Emergent. The outspoken El Kadi is widely considered a rare independent voice within the press, and his outlets the lone spaces to defy a tightening noose around press freedom in Algeria. His media outlets were ordered shut down. El Kadi was initially detained at his home in December and has remained jailed since then. The signatories of the exceptionally bold letter appealed for El Kadis freedom by referring to the North African countrys brutal war with France for independence, won in 1962 and today the near-sacred basis on which Algeria is built. More than a country, Algeria is an idea. A stubborn idea of liberation ... It is the proof that victory over injustice is possible, the letter said. Today, this great country is closing like a redoubtable trap on political opponents and citizens who dare dream of a veritable state of law. Among others signing the letter were Noam Chomsky and Indian writer Arundhati Roy. An earlier appeal by Reporters Without Borders, made during a ceremony on International Press Day, failed. Tebboune simply reminded a representative who gave him a letter that El Kadi Ihasane is not jailed as a journalist, but as the head of a press group financed with foreign funds. After months of back and forth, House Republicans and the White House this weekend unveiled a deal on raising the nation's $31.4 trillion borrowing limit while implementing some caps on government spending and other policy changes. The legislation, which was released publicly on Sunday, will need to be approved by Congress within days to avert a historic default that could begin as soon as June 5, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said. Otherwise the U.S. will be unable to pay all of its bills -- sowing unprecedented economic turmoil, including lost jobs and major hits to stock markets. President Joe Biden has vowed to sign the debt deal if it passes the House and Senate. A House vote is slated for Wednesday. Below are key takeaways and questions about the debt and spending bill. What's in the debt ceiling bill? The agreement is a two-year budget deal that would also raise the debt limit (by temporary suspension) until the beginning of 2025 while keeping non-defense spending roughly flat with current levels in fiscal year 2024 and increasing by 1% in 2025. That amounts to a cut in light of inflation but is less major than some of the reductions sought by conservatives. The agreement would suspend the debt limit through Jan. 1, 2025 -- taking away the threat of default until then. The new debt ceiling deal has no changes to Medicaid and fully funds medical care for veterans. However, there are new Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program eligibility requirements, raising the age from 50 to 54 for people who must work at least 20 hours a week to receive food-aid benefits, but those wouldn't apply to veterans and homeless people. Speaking about the agreement, a White House official said that Biden and his team wanted to ensure that no one lost health care in the deal and that poverty would not increase as a result. When asked for an estimate on the net deficit reduction from the agreement, a White House official said discretionary savings are "likely" to be in the $1 trillion range but would have to wait on a score from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. When does it have to pass? Soon: While the treasury secretary has cautioned that estimates of the so-called "X-date" for default can vary, she most recently predicted the deadline to be June 5, "based on the most recent available data." Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said the House would vote on the bill on Wednesday. The Senate, which returns to Washington on Tuesday, would then begin processing the legislation on Wednesday night, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told Democrats in a letter. But under the chamber's rules, it would only take one lawmaker to possibly delay approval for up to a week -- past the X-date. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has threatened just that unless he feels the deal has "substantial spending and budgetary reforms." Schumer appeared to reference such obstacles in his letter to Democrats: "Due to the time it may take to process the legislation in the Senate without cooperation, Senators should prepare for potential Friday and weekend votes." PHOTO: Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy is joined by his top negotiators on the debt limit, Rep. Garret Graves, left, and Rep. Patrick McHenry, as he talks to reporters at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on May 28, 2023. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) Will the debt ceiling bill pass? McCarthy and President Joe Biden think so, with McCarthy predicting on Sunday that both a majority of his conference and some Democrats would come together to approve the legislation. The bill "doesn't get everything everybody wanted," he acknowledged, "but that's, in divided government, that's what we end up with." "This is a good, strong bill that a majority of Republicans will vote for," he told ABC News' Trish Turner. And with Biden's backing, "I expect his party to be supportive as well," McCarthy said. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries confirmed during an appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation" that Democrats will likely vote for the bill. But he didn't offer specific estimates. "I do hope and expect to see a significant number of House Republicans voting for this agreement. It's my understanding that they are committed to producing at least 150 votes, if not more," Jeffries said. "They were the ones who negotiated this agreement with the White House. And I expect that they will provide a significant number of votes to get it over the finish line." Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson of South Dakota said on Sunday that the more votes they are able to whip -- from both sides -- the better it looks for the nation. "I think it is certainly plausible that we could get 218 [votes], although I think it's going to look a lot better for this country if we can put a big number up on the board," he said on CNN's "State of the Union." "Democrats like Joe Biden and some in the House coming together with Republicans to pass this." Outreach and whipping efforts for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have been underway since the deal was first announced Saturday night, sources familiar have told ABC News. PHOTO: Speaker of the House Rep. Kevin McCarthy speaks to members of the media after arriving at the U.S. Capitol, on May 26, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) In a statement on Saturday, Biden said, "I strongly urge both chambers to pass the agreement right away." Returning to the White House on Sunday, Biden was asked by ABC News' Elizabeth Schulze: "Are you confident this deal will get to your desk?" "Yes," he said. Political reactions Biden and McCarthy stressed their deal as a compromise reflecting the bipartisan reality of Washington right now, but both some liberals and hard-line conservatives reacted with dismay -- having urged their respective leaders, throughout negotiations, not to cede too much. "This 'deal' is insanity. ... Not gonna vote to bankrupt our country. The American people deserve better," Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C. and a member of the House Freedom Caucus, tweeted. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas and another member of the House Freedom Caucus, was more blunt, tweeting that the bill was a "turd-sandwich." Rep. Johnson said on "State of the Union" that despite the criticism, he thinks at least some of those "House Freedom people" will vote for a "fantastic deal." He shrugged off resistance from others. "Let's be honest, [Rep.] Bob Good will not vote for this thing. And it doesn't matter if Mother Teresa came back from the dead and called him, he's not voting for it. He was never going to," Johnson said. Across the aisle, Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington, the Progressive Caucus chair, declined to say if she would support the legislation either -- and that congressional leaders should "worry" about garnering enough support from progressives like her. In particular, more left-wing Democrats have criticized Biden for negotiating under the threat of default while agreeing to some work requirements on federal aid. PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting on the debt ceiling with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), not pictured, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 22, 2023. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) What are the risks of default? Economists have warned the U.S. being unable to fulfill financial obligations would put millions of jobs at risk, increase unemployment levels and lead to higher prices for everyday items. A default could also result in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid payments -- as well as military pay and veterans benefits -- going unpaid or being delayed. As the negotiations came down to the wire, Americans who depend on those checks expressed growing concern and anxiety surrounding their ability to pay rent, buy groceries and other daily expenses if default were to occur. Air Force veteran Jacob Thomas in Minneapolis told ABC News' Elizabeth Schulze the uncertainty over default was already hitting American military families. "Even if a deal is reached, everything winds up being OK next week, that still means that right now, families and veterans across the country are having to think about, 'What does it mean for me to have to ration my current paycheck or my current disability paycheck?'" Thomas said. Fred Gurner, 86, of New York, told ABC News that he uses his Social Security payment for his $800 rent. "It's very stressful, gives me a heart attack," Gurner said about how the issue has become politicized. And Susan Prahl Meachum, a 64 year old living in rural Virginia, said she will "lose everything" if there is no deal to raise the debt limit in time. "We're human beings," she said, "and we're doing the best we can with what we've got." ABC News' Chris Boccia, Adam Carlson, Peter Charalambous, Katherine Faulders, Alexandra Hutzler, Amanda Maile, Molly Nagle, Elizabeth Schulze, Rachel Scott and Trish Turner contributed to this report. Key questions and takeaways from the debt ceiling deal originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Authorities found the body of a drowned Centerville man Tuesday after roughly two days of searching in the Ocmulgee River at Amerson Park, officials said. Officers from the Bibb sheriffs office, Bibb fire department, Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Georgia State Patrol found the body of Raymund Ellison Jr., 20, at about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to a statement from the sheriffs office. He was declared dead when he was found by Bibb deputy coroner Lonnie Miley, the statement said. His family was notified. Sheriffs deputies and firemen began searching for Ellison just after 5:30 p.m. Sunday evening. Ellison was floating the Ocmulgee with his friends on an inner tube when he went missing, the sheriffs office said. Friends noticed Ellison was gone when they looked back while they floated the river. A fire department dive team assisted with the search. OSLO, Norway (AP) NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday that the military organization has sent 700 more troops to Kosovo to help quell violent protests and has put another battalion on standby in case the riots spread. We have decided to deploy 700 more troops from the operational reserve force for Western Balkans and to put an additional battalion of reserve forces on high readiness so they can also be deployed if needed. These are prudent steps, Stoltenberg told reporters in Oslo, after talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. A battalion typically ranges from 300 to around 1,000 troops. Stoltenberg condemned the violence in Kosovo, saying that such attacks are unacceptable and must stop. He warned that NATO troops will take all necessary actions to maintain a safe and secure environment for all citizens in Kosovo. He urged both sides to take steps to deescalate, refrain from further irresponsible behavior, and to return to EU-backed talks on improving relations. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APs earlier story follows below. PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) Troops from the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo on Tuesday used metal fences and barbed wire barriers to beef up positions in a northern town following clashes with ethnic Serbs there that left 30 international soldiers wounded. The peacekeepers sealed off the municipality building in Zvecan where unrest on Monday sent tensions soaring, raising fears of instability and flareup in the Balkan hotspot amid increased Western efforts to resolve a long-simmering dispute. Kosovo is a former province of Serbia whose 2008 declaration of independence Belgrade does not recognize. Ethnic Albanians make up most of the population, but Kosovo has a restive Serb minority in the north of the country bordering Serbia. The United States and most European Union nations have recognized Kosovo's independence from Serbia while Russia and China have sided with Belgrade. China on Tuesday expressed its support for Serbias efforts to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity and Moscow has repeatedly criticized Western policies in the dispute. Tensions first increased over the past weekend, after ethnic Albanian officials elected in votes overwhelmingly boycotted by Serbs entered municipal buildings. When the Serbs tried to block them, Kosovo police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. In response, Serbia put the countrys military on the highest state of alert and sent more troops to the border with Kosovo. The Serbs protested again on Monday, insisting both ethnic Albanian mayors and Kosovo police must leave northern Kosovo. The confrontations worsened when Serbs attempted to enter the municipal offices in Zvecan, 45 kilometers (28 miles) north of the capital Pristina. They clashed first with Kosovo police and then with the international peacekeepers who deployed in Zvecan. The flareup has triggered a flurry of international efforts to calm the situation. The United States and the EU recently have stepped up efforts to negotiate an agreement between Serbia and Kosovo, fearing instability as Russias war rages in Ukraine. The EU has made it clear to both Serbia and Kosovo that they must normalize relations if theyre to make any progress toward joining the bloc. We have too much violence in Europe already today. We cannot afford another conflict, the EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, told reporters in Brussels on Tuesday. He urged Belgrade and Pristina to urgently take measures to de-escalate tensions immediately and unconditionally. As a first step, he said, Kosovo police should suspend the operation focusing on municipal buildings in the north and violent protesters should stand down. In response to recent unrest, NATO has decided to increase its KFOR troops with the deployment of the Operational Reserve Forces (ORF) for the Western Balkans, a statement said, without specifying the number. Another unit will be on standby "to be ready to reinforce KFOR if necessary." KFOR currently has 3,762 troops from 27 contributing countries. The deployment of additional NATO forces to Kosovo is a prudent measure to ensure that KFOR has the capabilities it needs to maintain security in accordance with our UN Security Council Mandate, said Adm. Stuart B. Munsch, commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples (JFC Naples). A statement Tuesday by the multinational peacekeeping force known as KFOR said 30 soldiers 11 Italians and 19 Hungarians sustained multiple injuries, including fractures and burns from improvised explosive incendiary devices. Three Hungarian soldiers were wounded by the use of firearms, but their injuries were not life-threatening, the statement added. Serb officials said 52 people were injured, including three seriously. Four protesters were detained, according to the Kosovo police. Both parties need to take full responsibility for what happened and prevent any further escalation, rather than hide behind false narratives, said KFOR commander Maj.-Gen. Angelo Michele Ristuccia. Belgrade and Pristina have blamed each other for the escalation. The diplomatic pace increased. Ambassadors from the so-called Quint countries France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the U.S. met with Kosovo PM Kurti in Pristina on Monday and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade on Tuesday. Vucic later also met with the ambassadors in Serbia of Russia and China. In a statement from his office, Vucic expressed immense dissatisfaction and strong concern over what he described as international tolerance of Kurti's actions that fueled violence against Serbs. Urgent measures to guarantee the security of the Serbs in Kosovo are a precondition for any future talks, Vucic insisted. Kurti has thanked KFOR troops for valiant action to preserve peace in the face of violent extremism. The border between Kosovo and Serbia is one of those dangerous places where a spark could set off a fire, said Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto. Russia and China both have sharply criticized Western backing for Kosovo's independence. Russia's President Vladimir Putin often has cited the precedent of NATO bombardment of Serbia in 1999 to justify his unlawful annexation of parts of Ukraine. China, which has established close economic ties with Belgrade through its foreign investments, blamed the violence on a failure to respect Serbian political rights. We oppose unilateral actions by the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government of Kosovo, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in Beijing. 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 and paved the way for the establishment of the KFOR peacekeeping mission. ___ Semini reported from Tirana, Albania. Associated Press writers Dusan Stojanovic and Jovana Gec in Belgrade, and Nicole Winfield in Rome, Italy contributed to this report. The outskirts of Moscow was attacked by at least eight drones Tuesday morning, the first time the Russian capital was heavily targeted in a single operation since the first attempt at its heart earlier this month. The Kremlin blamed Ukraine for carrying out the strikes. "This morning, the Kyiv regime launched a terrorist drone attack on targets in the city of Moscow," the Russian Defense Ministry said. However, Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak denied Kyiv was directly involved with the attack. 5 of 8 drones were shot down before reaching the target According to the Russian military, they shot down five of the drones while three were stopped with signal jamming technology and missed their targets. Nevertheless, the three drones managed to damage several high-rise buildings in the suburb of Rublyovka, where Russian President Vladimir Putin has an official residence. There was also verification from Moscow's western suburbs showing an unidentified drone flying over the roofs of a village where affluent Muscovites live. While there was speculation that the Ukrainian-manufactured UJ-22 drone was used in the attack, several videos picture a different model was used and does not resemble the UJ-22. In an interview with the BBC, land warfare expert Jack Watling said the drones' targets remained unknown. Meanwhile, Wagner mercenary group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin blamed the drone strikes on the Russian top brass who were living in the suburb. "Let your houses burn," he addressed the Russian generals. It is well known that Prigozhin is at odds with the Russian Defense Ministry for not supplying ammunition to Wagner troops while in the process of capturing Bakhmut. One dead in Russian drone attack on Kyiv Hours before the attack on Moscow, Russia launched a third airstrike on Kyiv in less than 24 hours, leaving one dead and three injured. The airstrike followed a rare daytime attack against the Ukrainian capital several hours prior. @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) Nine people were injured when gunfire erupted along a beachside promenade in Hollywood, Florida, sending people frantically running for cover along the crowded beach on Memorial Day. The nine people hurt Monday evening included six adults and three children, according to Yanet Obarrio Sanchez, a spokesperson for Memorial Healthcare System. All of the victims were in stable condition, she said. Police spokesperson Deanna Bettineschi said four children between the ages of 1 and 17 were hit, along with five adults between 25 and 65. One was in surgery late Monday while the others were stable, she said. It was not immediately clear if the hospital was counting a 17-year-old as an adult. Several of the wounded were taken to a childrens hospital, Bettineschi said. The shooting happened shortly before 7 p.m., Bettineschi said. A fight broke out, at least one gun was pulled and shots were fired. At least one person was in custody, but police were looking for more suspects. Police Chief Chris OBrien said thousands of people were in the area and dozens of police officers responded, including some who were nearby. Its unfortunate we have law-abiding citizens who come to our beaches and that gets interrupted by a group of criminals, he said. Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy said that he was deeply saddened and angered by the shooting. Dozens of officers are assigned to the beach on busy holiday weekends and that meant there was an immediate response and multiple people were detained, Levy said in a statement. People come to enjoy a holiday weekend on the beach with their families and to have people in complete reckless disregard of the safety of the public and to have an altercation with guns in a public setting with thousands of people around them is beyond reckless, he said. The Hollywood Police Department will leave no stone unturned. We do not appreciate when people come into our city with guns and have an altercation in the midst of a public setting here. The shooting happened on the Hollywood Oceanfront Broadwalk near a convenience store, a Ben & Jerrys ice cream store and a Subway sandwich shop. Alvie Carlton Scott III said he was on the beach when he suddenly heard numerous gunshots. He said he hid behind a tree and then fled the area after a police officer told people to run. Jamie Ward, who was also on the promenade, said several young men were fighting in front of the stores when one pulled a gun and started shooting. Videos posted on Twitter on Monday evening showed emergency medical crews responding and providing aid to multiple injured people. Police said there would be a heavy presence of officers as the investigation continues. Officials also set up an area for family members to reunite. Hollywood Beach is a popular beach destination about 11 miles (17 kilometers) south of Fort Lauderdale and 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Miami. The beach was expected to see more visitors than usual because of the Memorial Day holiday. UPDATE: The woman who had been feared missing has been contacted and is safe, officials have said. Read more here. Authorities are searching for a Tennessee woman who has been missing for weeks after allegedly setting off on a cross-country trip with her boyfriend, who was accused of punching her earlier this month, in a case that chillingly echoes the 2021 disappearance of Gabby Petito. Nikki Michelle Alcaraz, 33, also known as Nikki Cunningham, was last seen on surveillance footage Saturday while she sold a phone at a cash machine in California, where she allegedly traveled with her boyfriend, Steven Tyler Stratton, according to information provided by the Cheatham County Sheriff's Office and District Attorney General Ray Crouch of Cheatham County, Tennessee. Alcaraz was captured on footage selling her phone at an EcoATM at a Walmart store in Redding, California, according to images provided by Crouch. She appears to be dressed in a red shirt while a man in a black hat and shirt stands nearby. Nikki Michelle Alcaraz and Steven Tyler Stratton at a Walmart in Redding, Calif. (Courtesy Cheatham County DA's Office) That came a little more than three weeks after a witness told investigators with the Torrance County Sheriff's Office in New Mexico of seeing Stratton punch Alcaraz in the face, according to the incident report obtained by NBC News. Allegations of mutual physical abuse Alcarez told police that both she and Stratton were drinking and that he "started to hit her for no reason" while they were driving during the May 4 incident. The investigator who encountered the pair at a rest stop said he saw "red marks on her face and fingerprint marks on both arms," and wrote that Alcaraz "also stated that she had a bruise on her chest and her back." The investigator later determined that "the bruise on Ms. Alcarazs arms came from Mr. Stratton holding her down to avoid being hit." Nikki Michelle Alcaraz (Cheatham County Sheriff's Office) Stratton told police that Alcaraz "hit him in the mouth for no reason" and continued hitting him as they were driving. He told the investigator he did not want her to go to jail, that both had been drinking and that the pair had been traveling to California. Investigators determined both parties were mutual combatants while traveling down the interstate. Officials drove Alcaraz and Stratton away from the scene separately. Both Alcarez and Stratton were drunk and neither would admit to driving the car, according to the incident report. Alcarez originally told police that she wanted to press charges, but both she and Stratton later said they did not want to press charges. A photo on the flyer shared by the Cheatham County Sheriffs Office noting Alcaraz's disappearance appears to feature her with a black eye. It is unclear when that image was taken. The flyer also states that due to history of domestic assault, we believe she is in danger." Representatives from the Torrance County Sheriffs Office and the Cheatham County Sheriffs Office could not immediately be reached for additional comment. After the alleged assault, officials with the sheriff's office dropped Alcaraz off in the town of Moriarty, New Mexico, a town about 40 miles east of Albuquerque, where a family friend was supposed to pick her up, according to ABC affiliate WKRN of Nashville, citing her sister, Toni Alcaraz. She said her sister called her after she had been dropped off, describing her as "crying and upset." "Her eye was already turning black and you could tell she was beat up pretty bad, Toni Alcaraz added. Disturbing echoes of Gabby Petito case Those details of the case, among others, echo the disappearance of Gabby Petito, 22, whose family reported her missing in 2021 after she left for a cross-country road trip with her fiance, Brian Laundrie. Petito's remains were found at a Wyoming campground that September, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide, according to the FBI. Laundries body was found in Florida a month after Petito's remains had been discovered. Laundrie, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, left notes saying he was responsible for Petitos death, officials have said. Less than a month before Petito's family reported her missing, Utah police responded to a physical altercation between her and Laundrie. The officer wrote that Petito slapped Laundrie after an argument and that neither wanted to press charges. But a subsequent independent review determined that police misclassified the incident which investigators should have ruled domestic violence, with Petito as the perpetrator and left out details about injuries Petito appeared to have suffered. Tracing her path Nikki Alcaraz could not be reached at phone numbers or email addresses listed under her name. Her immediate family members also could not immediately be reached Tuesday. Stratton also could not be reached at phone numbers or email addresses under his name. Toni Alcaraz said she last heard from her sister May 8 via text, saying that she was in Arizona and heading to California. Moriarty Police Chief Adan Urbina said that a license plate reader tracked her car in Flagstaff, Arizona 360 miles west of Moriarty on May 8. The incident report from the Torrance County Sheriff's Office says that Alcaraz showed up earlier this month at Flying "C" Wrecker Service, a towing company in Moriarty, to retrieve the jeep that had been towed after the alleged altercation with Stratton. The person at the shop told the sheriff's office that she arrived in a vehicle from California and with an "unknown male" who left driving the jeep while Alcaraz left driving the man's car. The man left a phone number with the towing company, which nobody answered when a reporter tried to call. Frank Tavenner, the employee of the shop who said he spoke with the sheriffs office, said that Alcaraz "was wanting to pick up her jeep so she could go to California with her boyfriend." "She was upset that her vehicle was towed ... that's the normal reaction that we get. Nothing out of the ordinary, happy to get going, the guy put the insurance on her jeep," Tavenner added. Toni Alcaraz told WKRN that her sister has made the trip she was on to see family "hundreds of times." I talk to her almost every day, so I am scared something happened to them, she said. She added that Nikki Alcaraz has two children, according to WKRN. Stratton is wanted in Tennessee for failure to appear on a probation violation that stems from a theft charge," WKRN reported. Crouch said his office became involved in the case at the family's request but that his office doesn't have jurisdiction outside the state. Alcaraz has long dark hair, brown eyes, stands about 5 foot 4 and weighs about 160 pounds, according to information shared by the sheriffs office. She was reported to be driving a 2013 Black Jeep Wrangler with Tennessee license plates and a bumper sticker that says Momma Tired. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or the threat of domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline for help at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or go to www.thehotline.org for anonymous, confidential online chats, available in English and Spanish. Individual states often have their own domestic violence hotlines as well. Advocates at the National Domestic Violence Hotline field calls from both survivors of domestic violence as well as individuals who are concerned that they may be abusive toward their partners. WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) President Joe Biden marked Tuesdays eighth anniversary of one of the saddest days of his life, the death of his son Beau, by attending a memorial Mass and visiting his gravesite. Biden, his wife, Jill, and other family members prayed for Beau Biden during the Mass at St. Joseph on the Brandywine, the Roman Catholic church where the president worships during weekends at his home near Wilmington, Delaware. Afterward, the family visited Beau Bidens gravesite in the church cemetery. The first lady carried a bouquet of flowers. The president later traveled to Veterans Memorial Park in New Castle for his annual tradition of paying his respects and laying flowers. Beau Biden was 46 when he died of brain cancer in 2015. His father was vice president. The eldest of Biden's three children, Beau Biden served two terms as Delaware attorney general before declaring a run for governor. Many saw in him the same aspirations that brought his father to the White House. In fact, Joe Biden often says his son is the one who should have been president not him. Beau Biden also served in Delawares Army National Guard, including a deployment to Iraq, where the president says he was exposed to toxic gases from pits where the military burned waste. Biden has linked his son's cancer to his exposure to burn pits. Beau Biden is the son of Joe Biden and his late first wife, Neilia, who was killed in a 1972 car crash that gravely injured Beau and younger brother Hunter and killed their baby sister. Beau Bidens daughter, Natalie, graduated from high school on Sunday, with her grandparents in the audience. She will attend her fathers alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, in the fall. While Tuesday's remembrance of Beau Biden was private, the president publicly mourned his son on Monday during a Memorial Day address at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, just outside Washington. For Biden, his son's death and the annual holiday honoring Americans who paid the ultimate sacrifice serving the United States in uniform are inextricably linked. He told the audience that Tuesday marks eight years since we lost our son Beau." As it is for so many of you, the pain of his loss is with us every day, but particularly sharp on Memorial Day. Its still clear, Biden said Monday. Tomorrow is his anniversary. But so is the pride Jill and I feel in his service, as if I can still hear him saying, Dad its my duty, Dad. Its my duty. Duty. ___ This story has been corrected to show Arlington National Cemetery is in Arlington, Virginia, not in Washington. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden will host British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the White House next week for talks on Ukraine, climate issues and more. Sunak is slated to visit Washington on June 7-8 and will also meet with U.S. lawmakers and business leaders in addition to his Oval Office meeting next Thursday with Biden. The meeting comes after the White House announced earlier this month that Biden was endorsing an international effort forged by the U.K. and other allies to train and eventually equip Ukraine with the F-16 fighter jets that President Volodymyr Zelesnkky has long sought. Biden is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark, another key partner in the F-16 effort, on Monday. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement that the two leaders are also expected the U.S.-U.K. economic relationship and developments in Northern Ireland. British officials downplayed hopes that the visit would produce significant action toward forging a new U.S.-U.K. trade agreement, which the British government accepts is dead for now. Sunak spokesman Max Blain said he wouldnt expect either side to be pushing for that, adding We are not seeking to pursue a free-trade deal with the U.S. currently. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (right) with with Joe Biden during the US Presidents visit to the island of Ireland (Paul Faith/PA) (PA Wire) President Joe Biden will welcome British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to the White House for an Official Working Visit next week on 8 June, the White House has said. In a statement, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Mr Biden looks forward to meeting with the prime minister to further deepen the close and historic partnership between the United States and the United Kingdom. Ms Jean-Pierre said the bilateral session will follow up on recent meetings between Mr Biden and Mr Sunak, who last saw each other at the G7 summit in Japan earlier this month. She added that the US and UK leaders will review a range of global issues, including their steadfast support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russias brutal war of aggression, as well as further action to bolster energy security and address the climate crisis, and discuss efforts to continue strengthening our economic relationship as we confront shared economic and national security challenges. The White House spokesperson also said Mr Biden and Mr Sunak will review developments in Northern Ireland as part of their shared commitment to preserving the gains of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. A spokesperson for the prime minister said the two men would spend their time together build[ing] on discussions the Prime Minister and President Biden have had in recent months about enhancing the level of co-operation and co-ordination between the UK and US on the economic challenges that will define our future, including securing our supply chains and transitioning to zero-carbon economies. It will also be an opportunity to discuss issues including sustaining our support for Ukraine as we build on the success of our G7 summit in the run-up to the Nato summit in July, the spokesperson added. Mr Sunaks visit to the White House will come during the second half of what will be a two-day visit to the US capital, during which he will also meet with top congressional leaders and business figures. He last visited the US in March when he travelled to San Diego for a meeting with Mr Biden and Australian leader Anthony Albanese regarding the Aukus agreement to supply Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. The prime minister and the US president also met in Belfast in April, and will meet again at the Nato leaders summit in Lithuania this summer. BEIJING (AP) China's government is calling on protesters to turn themselves in after a crowd clashed with police over plans to demolish a mosque in the country's southwest as President Xi Jinpings government tightens control over religion and society. Protesters threw water bottles at officers with helmets and shields outside the blue-domed Najiaying Mosque in Yuxi, a city in Yunnan province, according to videos on social media. One punched a police officers helmet but little other violence was shown. The Associated Press confirmed the location of the protest. Videos showing the protests were removed from Chinese social media. Police called on criminal suspects to turn themselves in following Saturdays incident and said those who do might receive lighter punishment. A police statement vowed zero tolerance toward criminal activities that impede social management. People who answered the phone Tuesday at the police headquarters referred questions to the local government propaganda office. An employee who answered the phone there said the office had no information. A court in 2020 ordered the Najiaying Mosque demolished after ruling it was built without official permission, according to a document on the court website. The protesters were Hui, whose ancestors were members of Chinas majority Han ethnic group and adopted Islam, according to the videos. A man in a ripped T-shirt was shown wearing handcuffs but it was unclear whether he was in police custody. A caption said some 30 people were detained but the public dragged some away from police. Elsewhere, Xis government has demolished mosques or removed domes, minarets and other distinctive Muslim features to transform them into nondescript, Chinese-style buildings. In the northwest, some 1 million members of the mostly Muslim Uyghur minority have been confined to detention centers, according to foreign researchers. The government says they are for job training and to combat radicalism. That has prompted complaints Xis government is trying to erase the cultural identity of Muslim minorities. Two female spectators in Yuxi wore Muslim headscarves. Protesters and other spectators were men in T-shirts and trousers or shorts. WASHINGTON (AP) Ron DeSantis plans to kick off his presidential campaign in Iowa on Tuesday, the start of a busy week that will take him to 12 cities in three states as he tests his pitch as the most formidable Republican challenger to former President Donald Trump. The Florida governor's two-day trip to the leadoff caucus state starting at a suburban Des Moines megachurch and ending at a Cedar Rapids racetrack comes after a stumbling online announcement last week that formalized his long-anticipated entry into the growing Republican field. It will be followed by stops in early primary states New Hampshire and South Carolina. DeSantis' scheduled Tuesday evening stop at Eternity Church in Clive is a conspicuous nod to the evangelical Christians who wield outsize influence in Iowa's Republican presidential caucuses. His visit will give voters an opportunity to meet the new candidate just as he has been stepping up his criticism of Trump. He's got a big hill to climb and I think everybody would agree with that to be able to convince people that he can overcome Trump, that he can do a job as good as, if not better than, Trump," said Bernie Hayes, the Republican chair in Linn County where DeSantis plans to wrap up his Iowa jaunt Wednesday. He's got a big hill to climb and I think everybody would agree with that to be able to convince people that he can overcome Trump, that he can do a job as good as, if not better than, Trump.Bernie Hayes DeSantis, assailed by Trump for months, pivoted from oblique swipes to direct questioning of the former president's conservative credentials during a round of interviews with friendly media last week, notably his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and record on criminal justice. DeSantis called a bipartisan bill Trump signed in 2018 that reduced mandatory minimum federal prison sentences and allows a pathway for non-violent offenders to reduce prison time a jailbreak bill. As a member of Congress, DeSantis voted for an early version of the measure but had left Congress after he was elected governor and before the final, less strict bill passed. DeSantis also said Trump wrongly turned the country over to Fauci," referring to Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases who helped lead the country's COVID-19 pandemic response. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, center, poses for a photo with audience members during a fundraising picnic for Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, May 13, 2023, in Sioux Center, Iowa. DeSantis is kicking off his presidential campaign in Iowa at the start of a busy week that will take him to 12 cities in three states as he tests his pitch as the most formidable Republican challenger to former President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) DeSantis announced his campaign Wednesday night during an online conversation with Twitter CEO Elon Musk. The audio stream crashed repeatedly, making it difficult for most users to hear the announcement in real time, a stumble campaign officials and others quickly dismissed as a minor setback. DeSantis was undeterred in laying out his message, that conservative legislative victories this year in Florida, chiefly on cultural topics such as restricting sexual orientation discussion in schools, are the antidote for what he calls a nation controlled increasingly by the extreme left. American decline is not inevitable it is a choice," DeSantis said during the glitchy audio stream. And we should choose a new direction a path that will lead to American revitalization. DeSantis has a running start in Iowa and other early voting states, thanks to Never Back Down, a super political action committee that is using money the group can receive in unlimited sums from wealthy contributors to begin organizing support for him. Campaign finance law requires the group to do its work without coordinating with DeSantis. Iowans should see staff and volunteers for the group working the perimeter of DeSantis' church event in Clive on Tuesday, as well as events Wednesday in conservative western Iowa's Sioux City and Council Bluffs and the manufacturing and college city of Pella in east-central Iowa before the finale in Cedar Rapids. By making his bid official, DeSantis gives the group a rallying figure whose events it can attend, even if cannot coordinate with DeSantis' official campaign group. Maximizing super PAC dollars The tack, untested and not without risks, is aimed at maximizing super PAC dollars. It's also a way of helping DeSantis race in Iowa to catch Trump, whose campaign says it has banked thousands of supporters thanks to a more disciplined, data-driven outreach effort than Trump's seat-of-the-pants 2016 campaign. That operation landed him in second place but with thousands of potential supporters left uncontacted by the campaign. And Trump, besides his regular social media broadsides attacking DeSantis, has attempted to shadow him in Iowa to demonstrate his own popularity. In March, Trump headlined an event at a Davenport theater three days after DeSantis spoke to an audience and took questions from Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds during the Florida governor's tour promoting his memoir. Two weeks ago, Trump scheduled a rally in Des Moines to take place the same day DeSantis was headlining Iowa Republican events in western and eastern Iowa as the guest of Rep. Randy Feenstra and the state GOP. However, Trump scrubbed the outdoor event the day he was to arrive due to threats of severe weather. Turning the tables on Trump, DeSantis swooped into Des Moines that evening for an impromptu appearance that helped his campaign create the desired impression of him dancing in the ring with the heavyweight. Trump is scheduled to return to Iowa on Thursday, the day after DeSantis' tour, and is expected to hold events in the Des Moines area, meet influential conservatives and sit for an interview that evening with Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity. HONOLULU (AP) A young Hawaiian monk seal has weaned and relocated, allowing a stretch of a popular Hawaii beach to reopen Tuesday after it was made off-limits to protect the endangered pup while it nursed. Hawaii officials last month cordoned off a large stretch of a popular Waikiki neighborhood beach to protect the seal mother, named Kaiwi, and her days-old pup, named Pualani. State conservation and and resources enforcement officers kept around-the-clock watch. The birth of an endangered seal at one of Hawaiis most popular tourism hubs highlighted the tension between protecting the islands fragile ecosystems and maintaining access to the pristine white-sand beaches that attract millions of visitors each year. Kaimana Beach is next to a mid-sized hotel and is a favorite swimming and sunbathing spot for locals and visitors. Starting six years ago, monk seals have occasionally given birth there, setting the stage for conflict between seal mothers and beachgoers. Authorities took extra care after a California tourist got too close to a mother-pup pair last year, and was pulled underwater by the mother, leaving cuts on the 60-year-old visitors face, arms and back. Officials have cordoned off part of Kaimana Beach when pups were born before, but the protected area this spring was much larger. Monk seal mothers are protective of their nursing pups. Authorities said it would be best if swimmers frequented one of Oahus many other shorelines until the pup weaned. After weaning over the holiday weekend, Pualani was relocated to an undisclosed location. Pualani was the fourth pup born at Kaimana Beach since 2017. Future births and pre-weaning periods there will likely prompt a resumption of a broad cordon and a 24-hour ... overwatch, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources said in a statement. Fewer than 1,600 Hawaiian monk seals remain in the wild and it is a felony to disturb them. Jeremy Paxman has hosted his last ever episode of University Challenge after 29 years on the show, saying he is looking forward to watching it along with fans at home. The 73-year-old veteran broadcaster and former Newsnight presenter has hosted the series since the BBC revived it in 1994, with his final episode airing on Monday 29 May. Paxman announced he was stepping down from the student quiz show after being diagnosed with Parkinsons disease in 2021. He received his diagnosis after suffering a bad fall while walking his dog, Derek. Paxmans doctor had also spotted the slower and lowered facial reactions of what is known in neurology as a Parkinsonian mask, while observing Paxman on University Challenge. He will be replaced by broadcaster and former editor of The Independent Amol Rajan, who is the third host of the programme in its 61-year history. The show was first launched by Bamber Gascoigne in 1962. In Monday nights episode, Paxman swapped his signature merciless put-downs he was known for delivering barbs such as Im afraid that is a completely useless answer over his decades-long tenure for a more warm and gentle approach. Its amazing what they know! he said at one point, marvelling at the contestants. Signing off for the last time, Paxman said: It remains for me to thank Jung Chang for presenting the trophy, all the teams who have entertained us over the past months, and you for watching. University Challenge returns later in the year and I look forward to watching it with you. So its good night for me. Good night. In Paxmans final episode, Durham University became the 2022-2023 University Challenge champions and received rapturous applause as Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China author Jung Chang handed over a stainless steel book award to the winners. Chang said: Im really pleased to be invited here to present the trophy because University Challenge was the most prestigious programme to me when I first arrived in Britain in 1978. I grew up in Cultural Revolution China, when schools and the universities were all closed, (Chairman) Mao said: The more books you read, the more stupid you become. And (the) books were burned across China and so tonight, I watched these brilliant minds at work, and I want to congratulate them for their brilliant brains, and I do hope that they would use their brains to make our world a better place. Paxman with a team of student contestants (PA) Opening the quiz, Paxman told the two teams: Well youre all old hands at this now, so just get on with it. Born in Leeds, Paxman began his broadcasting career on the BBCs graduate trainee programme in 1972. He worked in local radio and reported on the Troubles in Belfast and shortly after moving to London in 1977, he transferred from Tonight to investigative flagship programme Panorama. He also had stints on the Six OClock News and BBC Ones Breakfast Time. In 1989, he became a presenter of Newsnight where he interviewed high-profile figures from politics and culture until June 2014. He was known for his combative interviewing style on the programme a particularly memorable moment was the infamous 1997 grilling of future Tory leader Michael Howard, who he asked exactly the same question 12 times. Bowing out after 25 years, Paxman presented a Newsnight programme including an interview with then-London mayor Boris Johnson, while they both rode a tandem bicycle. University Challenge is due to return this summer with both a new title sequence and batch of students. The BBC recently released first look images of the modernised set of University Challenge with Rajan but the well-known title music and peerless voice of Roger Tilling will remain. Additional reporting by Press Association Many people in Kentucky are likely being exposed to a health threat in their home that cant be spotted without a test. Its a gas called radon, a key cause of lung cancer in Kentucky and the nation. Over a large part of Kentucky, there is a significant potential to have a high level of radon in your house, said William C. Haneberg, director of the Kentucky Geological Survey. An estimated 42% of all buildings in Kentucky and more than 65% in some areas have elevated radon levels, compared with 7% nationally, according to the Kentucky Association of Radon Professionals. Despite the potential risk, health officials say many people in Kentucky arent aware they might be getting exposed to radon at home. Here are some things to know about radon and what you can do about it. WHAT IS IT? Radon is a radioactive gas that has no color, odor or taste. It doesnt cause any immediate health problems as other contaminants such as mold or carbon monoxide can, and there is no visible damage as with termites, so it can seep into a house without residents being aware. Ellen Hahn, a professor in the University of Kentucky College of Nursing and director of a research organization called BREATHE that advocates for clean air and healthy environments, calls radon an invisible enemy. That may make it harder for people to understand the potential danger, but the risk is real. We have very high rates of radon here, Hahn said. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies much of the state as being in a zone in which people are at the highest risk for radon exposure and radon-related health problems. Ellen J. Hahn Aaron Zimmerman, 47, said he had never heard of radon before he bought a house in Pulaski County a few years ago and a test showed elevated radon. Zimmerman followed up with a test kit through a study being conducted by Hahn and other researchers, and it confirmed the house had an extremely high level of radon. Radon levels are measured by units of radioactivity per air volume, called picoCuries per liter, or pCi/L. The federal government suggests taking action to reduce radon a level of 4 and the World Health Organization at 2.7. The level in Zimmermans house was in the 70s. Zimmerman had a system installed in the house to remove the radon. HOW DOES IT OCCUR? Radon is formed by the breakdown of uranium in soil and rock, and is found in every region of the country, according to the Kentucky Geological Survey. When the uranium breaks down it turns into radon gas, which can then seep into buildings through cracks in basement floors, foundations, crawlspaces and other openings. The level of radon in homes and other buildings can vary widely within counties and even within the same neighborhood, based on factors such as the underlying type of rock and soil; whether a house has a basement or crawlspace; and the age of the house, with newer houses having a higher potential for radon to build up because they may be sealed better. If a house with a crawlspace has an elevated level of radon, a system to reduce the risk would include lining the crawlspace with plastic. The Kentucky Geological Survey and scientists with the BREATHE program at the University of Kentucky used results from home radon tests kits to develop a detailed, interactive map on radon potential. BREATHE also has information on radon levels by county. WHAT IS THE RISK? Radon is potentially hazardous because as it breaks down, it releases radioactive particles that can be inhaled and damage lung tissue over time. Many people are aware that smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, but radon is the second-leading cause, as well as the top cause of cancer among people who have never smoked, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And smoking, or exposure to secondhand smoke, combined with exposure to radon creates an even higher risk of lung cancer. Being exposed to an indoor radon level of 4 pCi/L equals smoking eight cigarettes a day, the Kentucky Association of Radon Professionals says, while a level of 10 equals smoking a full pack a day. Lung cancer related to radon results in an estimated 21,000 deaths each year in the U.S., according to the American Lung Association. In Kentucky, there are 1,033 new radon-induced lung cancer cases each year, according to estimates by AARST, an organization of radon professionals. Kentucky has the highest age-adjusted lung cancer rate in the nation, AARST says. Lindi Campbell found out about the danger the hard way. Jacob Kincaid, a mitigation/measurement specialist with Alpha Radon Remediation in Lexington, Ky., removed gravel from a hole he drilled in the floor of a basement in Stanford, Ky., on May 24, 2023 as part of a system to remove radon from the home. Campbell, 58, was fit, active and had never smoked, but had to have two lobes of her right lung removed in December 2017 as a result of developing lung cancer. Campbell said she grew up in Lexington in a house where she was exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke and radon. After she was diagnosed with cancer, she had her childhood home tested. The results showed a radon level that was the equivalent of smoking 40 cigarettes a day, she said. When I was diagnosed with lung cancer as a lifelong Kentuckian who had never smoked, I was shocked to learn high levels of radon in my childhood home were likely responsible for my diagnosis, Campbell said. Campbell now heads Breath of Hope KY Inc., which works to raise awareness about lung cancer, reduce the stigma around the disease and raise money for research. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT RADON? First, be informed. Radon information is available through several sources, including BREATHE; the Kentucky Geological Survey; the Kentucky Radon Program; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; the American Lung Association. Health officials also recommend testing your home. Everyone needs to test, Hahn said. Theres no risk-free level of radon. Hahn said so far, only 13 of every 10,000 houses in Kentucky have been tested. Free test kits are available at many county health departments, and people can also request a kit through the Kentucky Radon Program in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. People in Pulaski, Rowan, Logan and Christian counties can check out test kits at public libraries, with a valid library card, as part of an on-going study by BREATHE. People can also buy test kits at home-improvement stores or online. This device vents radon out of a home. Photo by Mark Mahan Companies that install systems to pull radon out of homes can also test for the gas. And finally, if a test shows your home has levels of radon above 4 pCi/L, health officials recommend having a certified company install a system to remove it from the house, called a radon mitigation system. In a basement, such a system would involve drilling a hole or holes into the floor to create a space under the floor, then installing piping and a fan to pull out radon. Youre trying to cut the radon off at the source, said Michael Rumpke, an owner of Alpha Radon Remediation, which is based in Lexington but works in areas outside Fayette County as well. A list of companies certified to test for radon and install a system to remove it from homes and other buildings is available through the National Radon Proficiency Program. IS IT EXPENSIVE TO MITIGATE RADON? The cost varies based on factors including the level of radon and the type of system needed to remove it from the house. Hahn said the work can be done for less than the cost of many other types of home repairs. Tracy Howard said it cost $1,300 to have Alpha Radon Remediation install an exhaust system in the basement of her house in Stanford on May 24. Howard got a free test kit from the local health department and the results showed a radon level of 4.2, just over the limit at which the EPA recommends installing a system to reduce the radon level. Howard, a nurse who works from home to do remote patient monitoring, shares the house with her husband and their daughter and 4-year-old grandson. She wanted to reduce their risk of exposure to the cancer-causing substance. To her, it was worth $1,300 to accomplish that. I know how dangerous it is, she said. Consider the cost of installing the system vs. the cost of getting lung cancer later in life. After North Korea revealed preparations to launch its first-ever military surveillance satellite, defense stocks in South Korea and Japan soared. Pyongyang Will Launch a Satellite to Spy on the US and Its "Dangerous" Activities Ri Pyong Chol, a military official in North Korea, said on Monday, May 29, that Pyongyang would launch a satellite to monitor what he called the US' "dangerous" acts, such as its recent joint military maneuvers with South Korea, CNBC reported. This, according to North Korea, "fully proves how the enemy is making preparations for the military act of aggression on the DPRK," referring to the country's formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The satellite is set to be launched in June, according to AP News. Ri claims it will be crucial for keeping tabs on the US and its vassal forces as they engage in reckless acts of military aggression and preparing for them in advance. "Under the present situation brought by the reckless military acts by the US and South Korea, we steadily feel the need to expand reconnaissance and information means and improve various defensive and offensive weapons and have the timetables for carrying out their development plans," he added. Investment in Defense Sees a Boost in Stock Prices According to CNBC, investors of South Korean military firms Firstec and Victek saw their share prices increase by 3.8% and 3.3%, respectively, when trading resumed Tuesday, May 30, following a holiday Monday. Additionally, Korea Aerospace Industries gained 0.6%. Hosoya Pyro-Engineering, a Japanese military business, rose by 1.11%, while Mitsubishi Electric Corp climbed by 0.16%. Japan's Ministry of Defense has issued a stern warning, saying the country would take all necessary measures to destroy any North Korean missile that lands on Japanese soil, citing Pyongyang's frequent ballistic missile tests as a danger to regional and global stability. See Also: Japan Missile Defense on Alert as North Korea Notifies Neighbors of Satellite Launch Possible ICBM Trial Is About To Occur, Says Expert Professor Stephen Nagy from International Christian University told CNBC that the launch might be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test. He added that this would show North Korea's increased capabilities to target US forces, not just in the Pacific but also on the mainland. As the focus of Washington's foreign policy remains on China and Taiwan, Nagy said that he believes the most recent declaration from Pyongyang is a signal from North Korea to the US to take the nation more seriously and to return to the bargaining table. "North Korea has been under heavy sanctions for years and it's still engaged in provocative behavior and this leads to the question of, do we need a new strategy and who do we work with ... I just don't think there's an easy solution as we move forward on this problem," Nagy stated. See Also: North Korea Sentences Toddler to Prison Camp Over Parents' Bible, US Says @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. LIMA, Peru (AP) The chief suspect in the unsolved 2005 disappearance of American student Natalee Holloway will not challenge the Peruvian governments decision to extradite him to the United States, his attorney told The Associated Press Tuesday. Attorney Maximo Altez said Joran van der Sloot, told him in a letter that he will go to the United States. The Dutchman wrote the letter from a maximum-security prison in the Andes, where he is serving a 28-year sentence for the murder of a Peruvian woman. Earlier this month, the government of Peru announced that it would temporarily transfer custody of Van der Sloot to authorities in the U.S. to face trial on extortion and wire fraud charges. Altez said he does not know the exact date his client will be transferred but said it could be as early as June. Holloway, who lived in suburban Birmingham, Alabama, was 18 when she was last seen during a trip with classmates to the Caribbean island of Aruba. She vanished after a night with friends at a nightclub, leaving a mystery that sparked years of news coverage and countless true-crime podcasts. She was last seen leaving a bar with van der Sloot, who was a student at an international school on the island. Van der Sloot was identified as a suspect and detained weeks later, along with two Surinamese brothers. Holloways body was never found, and no charges were filed in the case. A judge later declared Holloway dead. The federal charges filed in Alabama against van der Sloot stem from an accusation that he tried to extort the Holloway family in 2010, promising to lead them to her body in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars. A grand jury indicted him that year on one count each of wire fraud and extortion. Also in 2010, van der Sloot was arrested in Peru for the murder of 21-year-old Stephany Flores, who was killed five years to the day after Holloways disappearance. Peruvian prosecutors accused van der Sloot of killing Flores, a business student from a prominent family, to rob her after learning she had won money at the casino where the two met. He pleaded guilty in 2012. A 2001 treaty between Peru and the U.S. allows a suspect to be temporarily extradited to face trial in the other country. It requires that the prisoner be returned after judicial proceedings are concluded against that person, in accordance with conditions to be determined by both countries. Police are searching for suspects after nine people, including children, were shot and injured along the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk on Florida's east coast. Four children between the ages of 1 and 17 were shot Monday night, including a baby between 15 and 18 months old, according to Hollywood police spokesperson Deanna Bettineschi. PHOTO: Law enforcement officers are seen on a crime scene as they respond to a shooting at Hollywood Beach, May 29, 2023 in Hollywood, Florida. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images) PHOTO: An officer passes through a crime scene tape cordon along a street as they respond to a shooting at Hollywood Beach, May 29, 2023 in Hollywood, Florida. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images) MORE: 11-year-old Aderrien Murry speaks out after being shot by police following 911 call The other five victims were adults ages 25 to 65. The four children remain hospitalized on Wednesday, all in stable condition, according to hospital officials. The injured adults have been treated and released. PHOTO: Beachgoers are seen next to law enforcement officers on a crime scene as they respond to a shooting at Hollywood Beach on May 29, 2023 in Hollywood, Florida. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images) The shooting apparently stemmed from an altercation between two groups, and multiple people were detained in the aftermath, Bettineschi said Tuesday. Two men believed to be involved in the shooting have been arrested on weapons charges, Bettineschi said. Morgan Deslouches, 18, and Keshawn Paul Stewart, 18, both face a concealed carry weapon charge in connection with the incident. Deslouches also has been charged with larceny-grand theft of a firearm and removing the serial number from a firearm, court records show. PHOTO: The Hollywood Police Department released the booking photo for Keshawn Paul Stewart. (Hollywood Police Department) PHOTO: The Hollywood Police Department released the booking photo for Morgan Deslouches. (Hollywood Police Department) Authorities said they're looking to identify these three people they believe were also involved in the shooting: PHOTO: Hollywood police said they're looking to identify these three people they believe were involved in the shooting. (Hollywood Police Department) "No stone will be left unturned in bringing the perpetrators to justice," Hollywood Beach Mayor Josh Levy said in a statement Tuesday. "We will utilize every available resource to apprehend those responsible." "It is completely unacceptable that innocent people spending time with family on a holiday weekend have been affected by a shooting altercation between two groups who came into our city with guns and no regard for the safety of the law abiding public around them," Levy added. ABC News' Darren Reynolds, Peter Charalambous and Okelo Pena contributed to this report. Police searching for 3 suspects after 9 injured in shooting at Florida beach originally appeared on abcnews.go.com RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Following Targets announcement last week that it removed products and relocated Pride displays to the back of certain stores in the South, activists in the LGBTQ+ community are calling for new campaigns to convince corporate leaders not to cave to anti-LGBTQ+ groups. We need a strategy on how to deal with corporations that are experiencing enormous pressure to throw LGBTQ people under the bus, said California state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, a member of the LGBTQ legislative caucus. We need to send a clear message to corporate America that if youre our ally if you are truly our ally you need to be our ally, not just when its easy but also when its hard, he said. While the retailer said its actions were aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of its employees after protesters knocked over Pride signs and confronted workers in stores, the controversy comes at a time when conflict over LGBTQ+ rights is simmering. Nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures around the country this year. At least 18 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The hostile environment has prompted some groups to hire security consultants to advise them on activities planned for Pride Month, which begins on Thursday. We are forced to think differently about how we handle security at our events and whether or not we can post our staffs names and emails on our website, said Janson Wu, executive director of GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, a nonprofit legal rights organization based in Boston. Debra Porta, executive director of Pride Northwest, in Portland, Oregon, said there have been discussions about a possible boycott, a letter-writing campaign and other actions directed at Target, but plans for an organized protest haven't yet materialized. Because the news is fairly new, more actions may be announced, especially as Pride Month gets here, said Porta. Target isn't the only company grappling with public criticism. Bud Light is still dealing with fallout from its partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, who in April posted a picture on Instagram of a beer can with her face on it. In response to the hate-filled and transphobic backlash that followed, the company said it never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people," but didn't directly address the rhetoric or signal clear support for Mulvaney. Bud Lights parent company, Anheuser-Busch, is tripling its U.S. marketing spending this summer as it tries to restore lost sales. In early May, several gay bars in Chicago stopped selling Anheuser-Busch products to protest the companys response. Chicago's 2Bears Tavern said the company's response shows how little Anheuser-Busch cares about the LGBTQIA+ community, and in particular transgender people, who have been under unrelenting attack in this country. Since Anheuser-Busch does not support us, we will not support it, said the company. Sidetrack, the largest gay bar in the Midwest, did the same, saying Anheuser-Busch wrongfully validates the position that it is acceptable to acquiesce to the demands of those who do not support the trans community and wish to erase LGBTQ+ visibility. In Florida, Disney has been engaged in a legal battle with Gov. Ron DeSantis since the company expressed its opposition to the states classroom limits on discussing gender identity and sexual orientation. And the Los Angeles Dodgers announced last week that a satirical LGBTQ+ group called the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will again be welcome at the teams annual Pride Night nearly a week after the team rescinded its original invitation, citing backlash from conservative Roman Catholics and politicians who accused the group of mocking the Christian faith. Nows not the time to back down, said Brian K. Bond, executive director of PFLAG, an organization founded in 1973 to advocate for LGBTQ+ people and their families. I think both business and us as citizens need to look within ourselves into new strategies. The old models arent necessarily working, he said. Some people remain concerned about the impact of Targets Pride displays on children, said Victoria Cobb, president of The Family Foundation of Virginia, a conservative, faith-based organization in Richmond. Target is paying the price for telling kids to be discontent with their bodies, putting ideology ahead of the interests of investors, and creating a hostile store environment for parents with children, Cobb said in a statement. In a Richmond Target store on Sunday, Pride merchandise was prominently displayed at the front of the store. Brenda Alston, a 75-year-old retiree, said she bought a pair of rainbow sandals to show support for the LGBTQ+ community and for Target. If you come in the store and this is not what you support, keep on walking and get what you need in another part of the store, Alston said. Who are you to tell me what to buy and what Target should offer their customers? Still, some see the hostility toward Target and other retailers as just the latest obstacle in a decades-long struggle for equality. To me, this is a sign that were winning, said Derek Mize, a gay attorney who lives in an Atlanta suburb with his husband and two children. I think that these people moaning about our visibility are the last breaths of a dying prejudice, he said. Society is changing, and most people are not concerned about Target selling an LGBTQ shirt. ___ Selsky reported from Salem, Oregon. A missing Tennessee mother-of-two has reportedly been spotted in a California Walmart weeks after she vanished on a cross-country roadtrip with her boyfriend. Nikki Alcaraz, 33, who also goes by Nikki Cunningham, was travelling in her black Jeep Wrangler with her boyfriend Tyler Stratton and pet dog from in Cheatham County to visit family in Orange County, California, authorities say. Her family fear she is in immediate danger Ms Alcarez was previously thought to have been last seen on the morning of 6 May at a Super 8 motel in the small town of Moriarty, New Mexico, about 40 miles east of Albuquerque. But now, a Cheatham County deputy has told News 2 that she was seen at a Walmart in Redding, California, on 27 May. A photo released by the county District Attorney General Ray crouch shows her selling her phone at an ecoATM. This image purportedly shows missing Nikki Alcaraz at a Walmart in Redding, California, on 27 May (Cheatham County DA) No other information was provided and authorities are still seeking the publics help in finding her. In a chilling echo of the Gabby Petito case, Ms Alcaraz and Mr Stratton were pulled over on 4 May in Torrance County, New Mexico, after witnesses reported seeing Mr Stratton punch his girlfriend in the face. Photos released by the Cheatham County Sheriffs Department showed Ms Alcaraz with a black left eye after the incident. According to an incident report, Mr Stratton claimed he had also been hit, and Torrance County sheriffs deputies observed blood coming from his mouth. Neither Mr Stratton nor Ms Alcaraz wanted to press charges, and she was given a ride to Moriarty. Her sister Toni Alcaraz told WKRN that she hadnt heard from Ms Alcaraz since she received a text message on 9 May saying she was planning to continue to California. Toni Alcaraz told WKRN that she spoke to her sister after the alleged assault and that she was crying and upset. Her eye was already turning black and you could tell she was beat up pretty bad, Toni Alcaraz told the news site. Ms Alcaraz, right, vanished while travelling from Tennessee to California with her boyfriend Tyler Stratton, left (Cheatham County Sheriffs Office) A friend travelled from California to take care of Ms Alcaraz and stayed at the Super 8 with her for a night. She left early on the morning of 6 May, telling her friend that she was going to find her boyfriend. Toni Alcaraz told WKRN that the sisters were usually in daily text and phone contact, and it was highly unusual not to hear from her for an extended period. Ms Alcaraz suffered a black eye after she was allegedly assaulted by her boyfriend Mr Stratton (Cheatham County Sheriffs Office) I am scared something happened to them, whether they got in another fight or if they crashed her Jeep somewhere, she said. A license plate reader picked up Ms Alcaraz's Jeep near Flagstaff, Arizona earlier this month, however police say her cellphone is out of service and untraceable. Mr Stratton has an outstanding arrest warrant for an unrelated theft charge in Cheatham County. Ms Alcarazs two children were at home in Cheatham County, the family said. In September 2021, Gabby Petitos remains were found in the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming after she disappeared on a road trip with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie. The couple was pulled over in Utah by officers from the Moab Polic Department on 12 August after receiving reports that Laundrie had struck Petito. They were allowed to continue separately after Laundrie claimed he had been hit by Petito. An independent review of the domestic assault incident found the officers had made several mistakes, and should have been classified as a domestic assault. Laundrie later shot himself in the head and left a suicide note confessing to killing Petito. Petitos family are suing the Moab Police Department for failing to follow the law and protect her during the traffic stop. Motorist with sign claiming to have an explosive device drives to Canadian border HOULTON, Maine (AP) The driver of vehicle with a sign indicating there was an explosive device on board led Maine State Police on a chase on Interstate 95 to the Canadian border on Monday, officials said. A trooper fired shots after the motorist attempted to maneuver the truck toward the Canadian port of entry in Woodstock, New Brunswick, and the man surrendered without injury, state police said. The border crossing was temporarily closed, and crime scene technicians and the Maine State Police Bomb Squad attended the scene, officials said. Officials said there was no danger to the public. A state trooper noticed the sign on the vehicle indicating the motorist had an explosive device of some sort after attempting to stop the motorist around 10:40 a.m. Monday. Tony Holford, 42, of Providence, Rhode Island, was charged with aggravated reckless conduct, terrorizing, and failure to to stop, state police said. State police said the man was taken to the Aroostook County Jail. It was not known if he had a lawyer. Maine State Police, the state attorney generals office and Canadian authorities were jointly investigating the incident, officials said. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Koreas attempt to put its first spy satellite into space failed Wednesday in a setback to leader Kim Jong Uns push to boost his military capabilities as tensions with the United States and South Korea rise. After an unusually quick admission of failure, North Korea vowed to conduct a second launch after it learns what went wrong. It suggests Kim remains determined to expand his weapons arsenal and apply more pressure on Washington and Seoul while diplomacy is stalled. South Korea and Japan briefly urged residents to take shelter after the launch. The South Korean military said it was salvaging an object presumed to be part of the crashed North Korean rocket in waters 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of the southwestern island of Eocheongdo. Later, the Defense Ministry released photos of a white, metal cylinder it described as a suspected rocket part. A satellite launch by North Korea is a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban the country from conducting any launch based on ballistic technology. Observers say North Koreas previous satellite launches helped improve its long-range missile technology. North Korean long-range missile tests in recent years demonstrated a potential to reach all of the continental U.S., but outside experts say the North still has some work to do to develop functioning nuclear missiles. The newly developed Chollima-1 rocket was launched at 6:37 a.m. at the Norths Sohae Satellite Launching Ground in the northwest, carrying the Malligyong-1 satellite. The rocket crashed off the Korean Peninsulas western coast after it lost thrust following the separation of its first and second stages, the Norths official Korean Central News Agency said. South Koreas military said the rocket had an abnormal flight before it fell in the water. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters that no object was believed to have reached space. North Korean media said the countrys space agency will investigate what it calls the serious defects revealed by the launch and conduct a second launch as soon as possible. It is impressive when the North Korean regime actually admits failure, but it would be difficult to hide the fact of a satellite launch failure internationally, and the regime will likely offer a different narrative domestically, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. This outcome also suggests that Pyongyang may stage another provocation soon, in part to make up for todays setback. Adam Hodge, a spokesperson at the U.S. National Security Council, said in a statement that Washington strongly condemns the North Korean launch because it used banned ballistic missile technology, raised tensions and risked destabilizing security in the region and beyond. The U.N. imposed economic sanctions on North Korea over its previous satellite and ballistic missile launches but has not responded to recent tests because China and Russia, permanent Security Council members now locked in confrontations with the U.S., have blocked attempts to toughen the sanctions. Seouls military said it boosted military readiness in coordination with the United States, and Japan said it was prepared to respond to any emergency. The U.S. said it will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland and the defense of South Korea and Japan. South Korea's capital, Seoul, issued alerts over public loudspeakers and cellphone text messages telling residents to prepare for evacuation after the launch was detected, and Japan activated a missile warning system for Okinawa prefecture in southwestern Japan, in the rockets suspected path. Please evacuate into buildings or underground, the Japanese alert said. Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said Japan plans to keep missile defense systems deployed in its southern islands and in southwestern waters until June 11, the end of North Koreas announced launch window. KCNA didnt provide details of the rocket or the satellite beyond their names. Experts earlier said North Korea would likely use a liquid-fueled rocket as most of its previously tested long-range rockets and missiles have done. Though it plans a fuller investigation, the Norths National Aerospace Development Administration attributed the failure to the low reliability and stability of the new-type engine system applied to (the) carrier rocket and the unstable character of the fuel, according to KCNA. On Tuesday, Ri Pyong Chol, a top North Korean official, said the North needs a space-based reconnaissance system to counter escalating security threats from South Korea and the United States. However, the spy satellite shown earlier in the countrys state-run media didnt appear to be sophisticated enough to produce high-resolution imagery. Some outside experts said it may be able to detect troop movements and large targets such as warships and warplanes. Recent commercial satellite imagery of the Norths Sohae launch center showed active construction indicating North Korea plans to launch more than one satellite. In his Tuesday statement, Ri also said North Korea would test various reconnaissance means" to monitor moves by the United States and its allies in real time. With three to five spy satellites, North Korea could build a space-based surveillance system that allows it to monitor the Korean Peninsula in near real-time, according to Lee Choon Geun, an honorary research fellow at South Koreas Science and Technology Policy Institute. The satellite is one of several high-tech weapons systems that Kim has publicly vowed to introduce. Other weapons on his wish list include a multi-warhead missile, a nuclear submarine, a solid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missile and a hypersonic missile. In his visit to the space agency in mid-May, Kim emphasized the strategic significance of a spy satellite in North Koreas standoff with the United States and South Korea. Easley, the professor, said Kim likely increased pressure on his scientists and engineers to launch the spy satellite after rival South Korea successfully launched its first commercial-grade satellite aboard its domestically built Nuri rocket earlier this month. South Korea is expected to launch its first spy satellite later this year, and analysts say Kim likely wants his country to launch its spy satellite before the South to reinforce his military credentials at home. After repeated failures, North Korea successfully put its first satellite into orbit in 2012 and a second one in 2016. The government said both are Earth observation satellites launched under its peaceful space development program, but many foreign experts believe both were developed to spy on rivals. Observers say there has been no evidence that the satellites have ever transmitted imagery back to North Korea. ___ Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea said Tuesday it would launch its first military spy satellite in June and described space-based reconnaissance as crucial for monitoring U.S. reckless military exercises with South Korea. The statement came a day after North Korea notified Japan's coast guard that the launch, sometime between May 31 and June 11, might affect waters in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and east of the Philippines Luzon Island. Japan's defense minister warned its forces to shoot down the satellite or debris if any entered Japanese territory, and its coast guard issued a safety warning for ships that would be in the affected seas during the expected launch, citing a risk of falling debris. While North Koreas rivals have condemned the countrys planned launch as a banned test of ballistic missile technology, its less clear whether the satellite itself is advanced enough to support the Norths stated goals of tracking and monitoring U.S. and South Korean military activities in real time. Satellite images taken Tuesday analyzed by The Associated Press showed activity at a main pad at North Koreas Sohae Satellite Launching Station suggesting the satellites blast off would be soon. The images by Planet Labs PBC showed the massive orange gantry at the pad with its arms open. The gantry houses a rocket on the launch pad. Next to the gantry, a long, rectangular object could be seen with two other objects nearby. Those objects hadnt been seen in prior days images of the site and could potentially be rocket parts. All that movement taken together, along with the announcement of a pending launch, means one is likely imminent, said Dave Schmerler, a senior research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, which is part of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Schmerler said it was highly unusual for North Korea to be assembling the rocket in daylight, knowing that satellites overhead would be able to watch the site, as opposed to constructing it under a rail-mounted transfer structure as they have in the past. The point is that were seeing activity in a launch system that was designed to obscure activity, Schmerler told the AP. So this is new and interesting because its not using the usual processes. Meanwhile, North Korean workers also have quickly built in the span of a month a new launch pad just 2.7 kilometers (1.6 miles) southeast of the launch pad where all the activity Tuesday was seen. That site as well appears to have a rail-mounted transfer system, freshly paved asphalt, lightning towers, floodlights and a stand for cameras. Given that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un likely would attend the satellite launch, Schmerler said the missile site probably wanted to show off its new facilities. That also would allow them to have a second launch as well if North Korea chose to do so. When Kim shows up, hes not going to be underwhelmed. He should be fairly impressed they just threw this whole thing together, Schmerler said. Theyre going to use this. Now, when they use it, we dont know. The International Maritime Organization told the AP it received an email from North Koreas Maritime Administration that spelled out the countrys satellite launch plans, including the May 31-June 11 launch window and coordinates of areas where debris might fall. The pace of both North Koreas weapons testing and U.S.-South Korean joint military exercises have increased in past months in a tit-for-tat cycle. Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-fired about 100 missiles, including ICBMs designed to reach the U.S. mainland and a slew of launches it described as simulated nuclear attacks on targets in South Korea. North Korea has said its intensified testing activity is meant to counter its rivals joint military exercises as it continues to use those drills as a pretext to advance its arsenal of nuclear-capable weapons. In comments published by North Korean state media, senior military official Ri Pyong Chol criticized the combined U.S.-South Korean military exercises, which the North has long described as invasion rehearsals. He said North Korea considers space-based reconnaissance indispensable to monitor the military exercises. Last week, the South Korean and U.S. militaries conducted large-scale live-fire drills near the border with North Korea the first of five rounds of exercises marking 70 years since the establishment of their alliance. Washington and Seoul describe their regular military exercises as defensive and have expanded their training since 2022 to cope with North Koreas evolving threats. Ri said the expanding U.S.-South Korean drills and other military activities underline their sinister intention to prepare for preemptive military action against North Korea. He said the dangerous military acts by the U.S. and its forces created a concerning security environment that makes it necessary for North Korea to gather real-time, reliable information on military movements in the region. South Korea has warned that North Korea will face consequences if it goes ahead with the satellite launch in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, which ban the North from conducting any launch using ballistic technology. Space-launch vehicles for satellites share core technologies with long-range missiles that are built to deliver warheads aimed at destroying intercontinental targets. Its absurd to use our legitimate joint exercises, and the maintenance of the South Korea-U.S. joint defense posture to respond to advancing North Korean nuclear and missile threats, as an excuse to launch a reconnaissance satellite, South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said during a briefing. We strongly urge North Korea to immediately cancel its launch plans. Last week, South Korea launched its first commercial-grade satellite, which experts say could provide Seoul with key technology and expertise to place its first military spy satellite into orbit later this year and build more powerful missiles. Han Sung Geun, spokesperson of South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a briefing that the South Korean and U.S. militaries were closely watching North Korea over the possible satellite launch and other provocative military moves. He did not provide specific assessments about the potential capabilities of the North Korean satellite and refused to say whether the South Korean military was preparing for the possibility that debris could fall in nearby waters. Spy satellites are among an array of high-tech weapons systems Kim Jong Un has publicly vowed to develop. Other weapons systems on his wish list include solid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear-powered submarines, hypersonic missiles and multi-warhead missiles. North Korea placed Earth-observation satellites in orbit in 2012 and 2016, though their capabilities have been questioned. Foreign experts say the earlier satellites never transmitted imagery back to North Korea, and analysts say the new device displayed in state media in recent weeks appeared too small and crudely designed to process and transfer high-resolution imagery. ___ Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. ___ Find more AP coverage of the Asia-Pacific region at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is a wanted man in Russia for comments he made while visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. Russia's Interior Ministry put out a warrant for Graham's arrest on Monday in response to an edited video released by Zelenskyy's office in which Graham praised U.S. support for Ukraine's defense and noted that Russians are dying as Ukraine fights for its freedom. In the video, Graham noted that "the Russians are dying" and described the U.S. military assistance to the country as "the best money weve ever spent." While Graham appeared to have made the remarks in different parts of the conversation, the short video by Ukraines presidential office put them next to each other, causing outrage in Russia. LINDSEY GRAHAM WARNS KEVIN MCCARTHY ON DEBT CEILING DEAL: BIGGEST WINNER OF BIDEN DEFENSE BUDGET IS CHINA President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who visited the country on May 26, 2023, for the third time since the beginning of Russia's invasion. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented Sunday by saying that "its hard to imagine a greater shame for the country than having such senators," according to The Associated Press. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Russia's Investigative Committee moved to open a criminal investigation against Graham and the Interior Ministry followed up with a warrant for his arrest. RUSSIANS COULD FACE REVOLT AS PUTIN'S BUTCHER CALLS FOR MARTIAL LAW OVER UKRAINE US Senator Lindsey Graham speaks during a press conference at an open air exhibition of destroyed Russian military vehicles in Kyiv, on May 26, 2023. Graham considers the arrest warrant to be a "Badge of Honor." "To know that my commitment to Ukraine has drawn the ire of Putins regime brings me immense joy. I will continue to stand with and for Ukraines freedom until every Russian soldier is expelled from Ukrainian territory," Graham said in a statement Monday. RUSSIA PUMMELS KYIV WITH WAVES OF EXPLOSIVE DRONES AHEAD OF UKRAINIAN FOUNDING HOLIDAY A view of destroyed building after the Russian drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine on May 28, 2023. One person was killed. Out of 54 drones, 52 were shot down by Ukrainian air defense. "Finally, heres an offer to my Russian friends who want to arrest and try me for calling out the Putin regime as being war criminals: I will submit to jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court if you do," he added. "Come and make your best case. See you in The Hague!" Russian forces pummeled the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv with "Kamikaze" drone attacks Saturday night as the city prepared to celebrate the anniversary of its founding Sunday. Russia launched 54 Iranian-made drones at Kyiv and elsewhere in Ukraine, but air defenses shot down 52 of the drones, according to Ukrainian officials. Two people were killed during Saturday night's attack, with falling debris landing on one 41-year-old man and another person dying of unspecified causes, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a statement. Ukraine has been largely successful in warding off Russian missile and drone attacks in recent weeks thanks to the deployment of U.S.-made Patriot missile systems. The defense system has proven more than a match for Russia's long-range attacks, with the vast majority of their explosives being shot down mid-flight. Fox News' Anders Hagstrom and the Associated Press contributed to this report. COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) A South Carolina gas station owner accused of chasing a 14-year-old boy from his store and fatally shooting him in the back made his first court appearance Tuesday on a murder charge in the death. Rick Chow thought the boy had shoplifted four bottles of water Sunday night from his Xpress Mart Shell station in Columbia, authorities said. But Cyrus Carmack-Belton put the bottles back in the cooler and was off the store's property and running away when he was killed, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said. A gun was found near the teen's body and Chow's son, who also was involved in the chase, told his father that Carmack-Belton was armed after the youth fell as he ran, according to the sheriff. But Lott said there was no evidence the boy ever pointed the weapon at Chow or his son. Chow, who had a concealed weapons permit, was charged after an autopsy showed the middle school student was shot in the back and deputies spoke to witnesses and reviewed surveillance and other video, Lott said. Self-defense law in South Carolina requires the shooter doesnt instigate the incident, believes he is in imminent danger and has no way to avoid that danger. You dont shoot somebody in the back that is not a threat to you, the sheriff said. Same standard the cops live by. Chow, 58, is being held in the Richland County jail. Neither he nor his lawyer talked about the shooting during the initial court appearance or in response to messages from The Associated Press. A bond hearing will be held later. Richland County Coroner Nadia Rutherford said there was no sign that Carmack-Belton was fighting with Chow before he ran out of the store and added there was no injury to his body other than an abrasion from falling and the gunshot wound, Both the sheriff and coroner asked for calm from the community. Social media posts incorrectly said the teen was kneeling or had his hands up when he was shot. Jail and coroner records have not listed the races of the shooter or the teen. Rutherford told a crowd at the gas station on Monday that the teen was shot while he was running and the bullet went through his back and into his heart. She told the crowd, which was yelling calls for justice, to listen to the facts. I was at the autopsy I looked at his body inside and outside. He had one shot to the back which is why Mr. Chow is being charged with murder, the coroner told the crowd. Deputies have been called to Chow's store numerous times in the last several years for shoplifting complaints and sometimes they turned into shoving or scuffling, but Lott said his officers determined Chow was defending himself and he was never charged. Sunday's shooting was not justified, the sheriff said. Even if he had shoplifted four bottles of water, which he had taken out of the cooler and then put back even if he had done that, thats not something you should shoot anybody over, much less a 14-year-old, Lott said. After Monday's peaceful protest, Chow's store was broken into after dark with shattered windows and merchandise pulled off shelves and strewn across the floor, Lott said. When deputies arrived, a large group was inside stealing items, the sheriff said, adding he plans to charge those involved. What does stealing a case of beer have to do with a 14-year-old being shot?" Lott said, calling the theft looting. Deputies are now watching over the property, the sheriff said. The taxpayers are paying for us to guard that store because a limited number of individuals who want to do something like that instead of going out there in memory of this 14-year-old boy, Lott said. The entire gas station was behind yellow crime scene tape Tuesday morning. Dozens of crushed water bottles littered the parking lot. Graffiti, most of it Cyrus or 14 covered the walls. A sign taped to the door read Water or Life? Which means more? Another read Close it down! Occasionally, a car would park for its occupants to take photos, or someone would walk down the sidewalk taking cellphone video. The day before, the coroner stood near the gas pumps, asking the dozens gathered there to not turn to violence to help the grief of the family of Carmack-Belton, who was a student at a nearby middle school. Please be peaceful, Rutherford said. This family does not need any more trauma related to his death. ___ Associated Press writer Sarah Brumfield from Silver Spring, Maryland, contributed to this report. Among all the reasons Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in 2020 but Hillary Clinton didnt four years earlier, one looms especially large for the coming presidential election: the share of the third-party vote. In 2016, 6% of all voters cast ballots for third-party and write-in candidates, with Libertarian Gary Johnson getting more than 3% of the national vote and Green Party nominee Jill Stein capturing more than 1%. But in 2020, that proportion fell to 2%. The difference effectively changed the threshold the major candidates needed to reach to win key battleground states from 47% and 48% in 2016 to 49% and 50% in 2020. That, Democrats say, made it easier for Trump to win in 16 but not in 20. And the numbers illustrate why Democratic groups eyeing a possible, if not likely, rematch between Biden and Trump want to keep the third-party vote share as small as possible, including moving to keep the well-financed third-party group No Labels off the ballot in battleground states. Comparing the results from 2016 and 2020, what stands out is that Trumps vote share (nationally, in key battleground states and in key counties) stayed virtually the same even as he won one election and lost another. What changed is that Biden grew the Democratic Party vote share by 2 to 3 points across the board, while the protest vote for other candidates dropped. A man watches a broadcast of the U.S. presidential race between Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump in a restaurant in Mexico City, Mexico November 8, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso Take battleground Pennsylvania, for example: Trump defeated Clinton in the state in 2016, 48.2% to 47.5%. But as the third-party vote declined in 2020, Biden won it, 49.9% to 48.7%. The same situation played out in Wisconsin. Trump captured the battleground state in 2016, 47.2% to 46.5%. But in 2020, it was Biden 49.5%, Trump 48.8%. Another way to look at the third-party effect: The 2020 NBC News Exit Poll found 5% of national voters saying they cast ballots for third-party candidates in 2016, and those voters broke for Biden over Trump by more than a 2-to-1 ratio. That was in an election in which Biden beat Trump by just 20,000 votes in Wisconsin and by about 10,000 votes in Arizona and Georgia. There is no doubt at all that Stein and Johnson cost Clinton the election in 2016, and a credible third-party vote could do the same to Biden in 2024, said Matt Bennett, the executive vice president of public affairs at Third Way, a centrist Democratic group opposing No Labels effort to enter next years presidential contest. Two-thirds of the public doesnt want the election were probably going to get.Ryan Clancy But No Labels and other third-party groups say there should be more choices for voters, especially when polls show supermajorities dont want either Biden or Trump to run. Two-thirds of the public doesnt want the election were probably going to get, said Ryan Clancy, No Labels chief strategist. It all raises important questions for the 2024 presidential election: Will the size of the third-party vote be closer to 2016s? Will it look more like 2020s? And could that affect the outcome of another presidential election? 'Either youre for democracy or not' The strategists behind No Labels believe there is a hunger for an alternative to Biden and Trump, and theyre spending $70 million to launch an independent unity ticket (featuring a Democrat and a Republican) that could have ballot access in all 50 states and that could win, they say. Getting a non-major-party candidate on the ballot can be complicated, time-consuming and expensive. But the group already has ballot access in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado and Oregon. According to a poll No Labels commissioned and released in March, 59% of registered voters nationwide said they would consider voting for a moderate independent candidate if the choices were Biden and Trump, including more than half of Democrats and Republicans, as well as 7 in 10 independents. Whats more, the No Labels poll found that in a three-person race, an unnamed moderate independent candidate gets support from 20% of all voters, compared with 33% for Trump and 28% for Biden. No Labels leaders stress that if they dont have a path to victory, they ultimately wont put forward a 2024 ticket. President Joe Biden returns to the White House in Washington, Sunday, May 28, 2023, after he and first lady Jill Biden were in Delaware to watch granddaughter Natalie Biden graduate from high school. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) They also dismiss complaints that their third-party bid would disproportionately take votes away from the Democratic ticket, saying their own polling showed an equal share of Democrats and Republicans supporting an unnamed moderate independent candidate over Biden and Trump. To sit where we are and say we know exactly how an independent ticket would impact a race, its cherry-picking, said Clancy of No Labels. Democrats disagree, pointing to No Labels own survey, which showed Trumps lead over Biden increasing from 1 point in a two-person contest to 5 points when it included that moderate independent candidate. And No Labels strategists decry Democratic efforts to knock it off the ballot, such as in Arizona, where the state Democratic Party has sued to deny it ballot access. Clancy said Democrats portray themselves as protectors of democracy, but he argued that efforts to keep No Labels off the ballot and limit the presidential choices to just two parties runs contrary to democracy. Either youre for democracy or not, Clancy said. 'This is one of the easiest ways for Donald Trump to become president' Democrats opposed to No Labels argue that the third-party group has no chance of winning in 2024. No third-party candidate has ever come remotely close to winning, including Theodore Roosevelt, running on a Progressive Party ticket just four years after leaving office as an enormously popular Republican president, wrote leaders of Democratic groups from the centrist Third Way to the more left-leaning MoveOn. Instead, they believe a No Labels ticket poses a real danger to Democrats given the razor-thin margins of todays elections and the record of what happened in 2016. I think this is absolutely one of the easiest ways for Donald Trump to become president, said Navin Nayak, the president of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, another Democratic-leaning group opposing No Labels. Nayak also worked on Clintons 2016 campaign. (That having been said, third-party candidates especially from the Libertarian Party have helped past Democratic campaigns. When Biden won all-important Wisconsin in 2020 by 20,000 votes, the Libertarian nominee got nearly 40,000 votes.) Despite polls showing dissatisfaction with Biden and Trump as the nations two choices in 2024, Nayak believes the third-party vote next year will look more like it did in 2020 (when it was at 2%) than in 2016 (when it was 6%). I think a lot of people thought they were casting a non-consequential third-party vote in 2016.Navin Nayak One reason is that Biden, even stuck with relatively poor approval ratings, doesnt produce the same level of voter opposition Clinton did in 2016. Another is that fewer Americans, Nayak said, are willing to roll the dice with Trump now than they were before he became president. I think a lot of people thought they were casting a non-consequential third-party vote in 2016, he said. But No Labels isnt the only third-party group that could be on the ballot next year. Richard Winger, the editor of Ballot Access News and an expert on third-party politics in the U.S., expects the Libertarian Party to be on the ballot in most states, and he expects the Green Party to qualify in about half the country. But he said its impossible to estimate at least at this early stage how big the third-party vote will be in next years election. Its really impossible to predict, Winger said. Theres so much time, and so many things could happen. 1st China-supported demonstration village for sustainable development launched in Nepal Xinhua) 13:16, May 30, 2023 KATHMANDU, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The first demonstration village for sustainable development in Nepal, which is supported by a Chinese fund and covers nearly 10,000 people, was formally launched on Monday. The demonstration village lies in Tarakeshwor Municipality, north of the Kathmandu Valley and is supported by the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD). The Chinese foundation has launched a drinking water project covering 4,500 households, a Smiling Children project for providing nutritious meals to 16 local schools, a Panda Pack project aiming at improving the basic learning conditions of primary school students, and a vegetable planting training program for 80 young learners, said Chen Hongtao, the CFRD's secretary general. Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song called the demonstration village "a new starting point" for China-Nepal cooperation in poverty reduction. "We are willing to share useful experience and provide assistance to Nepal within our capacity," Chen said on the occasion. Krishnahari Maharjan, mayor of Tarakeshwor Municipality, voiced his appreciation of the CFRD's support for the drinking water project. "Making drinking water available to our people has been our top priority," he said at the launch ceremony. Recalling China's support to Nepal during the 2015 massive earthquakes and the COVID-19 pandemic, Leela Mani Paudyal, former chief secretary of the government of Nepal and former ambassador to China, urged the municipality to make maximum use of the CFRD's support and become "example setter." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) South Africa issued a blanket diplomatic immunity to all leaders of the BRICS group, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, ahead of the bloc's summit in Johannesburg in August. Officials insisted the immunity, initially issued in a government gazette, may not trump the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in March over the alleged forcible deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. A two-day planning meeting by BRICS foreign ministers is due to take place on Thursday. According to the South African Department of Foreign Affairs, the immunity granted to Putin was "a standard conferment...[done] for all international conferences and summits held in South Africa, irrespective of the level of participation." "The immunities are for the conference and not for specific individuals," the statement added. "They are meant to protect the conference and its attendees from the jurisdiction of the host country for the duration of the conference." Looking for Loopholes It was reported in April that South African president Cyril Ramaphosa appointed deputy president Paul Mashatile to head an inter-ministerial committee to find out how to provide Putin with immunity by looking into the wording of Article 98 of the ICC Rome Statute for a loophole enabling him to attend without getting arrested by the host country. South Africa is a member of the ICC. There was a precedent for such a loophole as South Africa attempted to host the then-Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir in 2015. The Kremlin has yet to announce whether Putin will attend the BRICS summit in person or not. However, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has been slated to attend the planning meeting this week. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia is counting on South Africa and its partner countries to not be guided by what he saw as "illegal decisions." "Russia will be duly represented," he said. BRICS is an economic bloc that consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa and is increasingly seen as a rival to the G7 group of Western industrialized countries. In recent months, South Africa has been accused of remaining neutral over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The United States also claimed the country had sent weapons to Russia to augment or compensate for its losses in its war on the Donbas. South African Opposition Seeks to Arrest Putin South Africa's opposition party, Democratic Alliance (DA), said Tuesday they had taken legal action to force the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party to have Putin arrested if he were to attend the BRICS summit in August. In a statement, shadow justice minister Glynnis Breytenbach said DA had launched a court application to ensure the government would detain Putin and have him handed over to the ICC in the event he "set foot in South Africa." "This pre-emptory court action aims to ensure that South Africa upholds its obligations," she said. Breytenbach added the party was seeking a "declaratory order" to avoid repeating the country's failure to arrest al-Bashir in 2015. Meanwhile, justice minister Ronald Lamola said the government would "explore various options" on how to interpret Article 98 and other provisions of the Rome Statute. ZA rand drops to record low In response to South Africa's decision to provide diplomatic immunity to Putin, the South African rand slumped to its lowest rate against the US dollar. As of Tuesday, the rand's value dropped by 1% to ZAR 19.87 per dollar, second only to the sharp decline of the Argentine peso. InTouch Capital Markets head of currency analysis Robert Hoodless said the rand market trades "with a sense of inevitability about currency weakness." "[Foreign exchange] hedging has become a more sensitive subject, with many now simply looking for safety," he said. @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. BEIJING (AP) Chinas foreign minister met Tesla Ltd. CEO Elon Musk on Tuesday and said strained U.S.-Chinese relations require mutual respect, while delivering a message of reassurance that foreign companies are welcome. U.S.-Chinese relations are especially tense after Washington shot down a Chinese balloon believed to be gathering intelligence and warned Beijing against supplying arms to Russia for its war against Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal reported China has rejected a request for its defense minister to meet the U.S. defense secretary when both are in Singapore this weekend. We need to keep the steering wheel in the right direction of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, Qin Gang told Musk, according to a ministry statement. The two sides should avoid dangerous driving, Qin said. He gave no details of steps to improve relations. Musk's visit comes at a time when the ruling Communist Party is trying to revive investor interest in China's slowing economy. Foreign companies are uneasy following raids on consulting firms and given the strained Chinese relations with Washington. Qin said China will unswervingly promote high-level opening up and create a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment, according to the statement. Chinas development is an opportunity for the world. Chinas electric vehicle market has broad prospects for development, the ministry quoted Qin as saying. China accounts for half of global electric vehicle sales and is the site of Teslas first factory outside the United States. Tesla opened the first wholly foreign-owned auto factory in China in 2019 after Beijing eased ownership restrictions to increase competition and speed up industry development. The Chinese statement cited Musk as saying Tesla was willing to expand its business in China and opposes decoupling, a reference to fears the world may split into multiple markets with incompatible products. Tesla didn't respond to requests by email for information about Musk's visit to China. HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) Wildfires in Canadas Atlantic coast province of Nova Scotia have caused thousands to evacuate. The Halifax Regional Municipality said late Monday that preliminary estimates indicate approximately 200 homes or structures have been damaged, based on initial visual inspections by first responders. Halifax deputy fire Chief David Meldrum said an estimated 14,000 people were told to flee their homes, most of which are about a 30-minute drive northwest of downtown Halifax. As firefighters spent a second day battling a wildfire in suburban Halifax, some residents from evacuated subdivisions received the grim news that their homes were among those destroyed by the wind-driven flames. Katherine Tarateski said police told her her home was burned down and they couldn't find her pets. Tarateski said she was with her husband Nick and their young daughter Mia at a family gathering on Sunday when they heard about the approaching fires and rushed back to their home in Hammonds Plains to save their dog and cat. But when they arrived police had already blocked their street. "The house can be rebuilt, she said. But my pets ... Im just devastated. Its hard. Smoke from the Tantallon wildfire rises over houses in nearby Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada. (Reuters) Fire officials said the out-of-control fire, which started Sunday in nearby Upper Tantallon, has destroyed or damaged dozens of homes, though there hadnt been any reports of deaths or injuries. By early afternoon, Nova Scotias Department of Natural Resources confirmed the wildfire covered about 8 square kilometers (3 miles). Meldrum said firefighters had concentrated on battling spot fires in residential areas in order to protect buildings and prevent the fires spread. This fire has not been contained, this fire is not under control, he said. It did not spread appreciably and that is thanks to weather, the work of the firefighters on the ground and the work of the air units. However, Meldrum stressed a change in weather conditions forecast for Tuesday could complicate things. David Steeves, a forest resources technician with Nova Scotias Department of Natural Resources, said the fire was helped by a lack of rain and a wooded area thick with softwood trees, which provide a volatile fuel source. It was perfect conditions for a fast, quick, dangerous fire, Steeves said. No additional evacuations were ordered Monday, despite challenging conditions. In all, about 200 firefighters were battling the fire on Monday. TOKYO (AP) German truck maker Daimler, Japans top automaker Toyota and two other automakers said Tuesday they will work together on new technologies, including using hydrogen fuel, to help fight climate change. The companies said Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp., whose top stakeholder is Daimler Truck, and Hino Motors, the truck maker in the Toyota group, will merge. Daimler Truck and Toyota Motor Corp. will equally invest in the holding company of the Mitsubishi-Hino merger, they said without giving a dollar amount for the deal. The companies plan to cooperate in reducing carbon emissions and developing other technologies such as autonomous driving, net-connected services and electric vehicles. This collaboration among our four companies is a partnership for creating the future of commercial vehicles in Japan and the future of a mobility society, said Toyota Motor Corp. Chief Executive Koji Sato. The two truck companies will work on commercial vehicle development, procurement and production to become globally competitive, the executives said. We at Daimler Truck are very proud of our products, because trucks and buses keep the world moving. And soon they will even do so with zero emissions, said Daimler Truck Chief Executive Martin Daum. Todays announcement is a crucial step in making that future work economically and in leading sustainable transportation. Automakers are rushing to keep up with the global shift toward less polluting vehicles and to help in other ways to combat climate change. Commercial vehicles like trucks and buses are major contributors to auto emissions. In some cases rivals are joining forces to gain a a competitive edge and cut costs through economies of scale of by sharing knowledge and resources. It is hard to go at it alone. Working together is crucial, Sato said, Fuel cells power Toyotas buses in Japan but its strength has been in hybrids, which have both electric motors like EVs and gasoline engines. Consumer acceptance of battery powered EVs has come faster than expected, Toyota officials say, and the company is hard at work on rolling out EVs in various markets. Details of the merger, including shareholding ratios, the company name and its structure will be worked out over the next 18 months, the companies said. They aim to sign a definitive agreement by early next year and close the transaction by the end of 2024. The deal still needs shareholders and regulatory approval. The deal is a chance for a fresh start at Hino, its chief executive, Satoshi Ogiso said, after the company's image was marred by its disclosure last year that it had systematically falsified emissions data beginning as early as 2003. We will unite our aspirations to support mobility and contribute to society and hand in hand accelerate advanced technology development to overcome the increasingly fierce global competition, he said. ___ Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama CAIRO (AP) The first technical salvage vessel arrived Tuesday near the rusting Safer oil tanker floating off the coast of war-ravaged Yemen, the United Nations said. The arrival of Ndeavor, which set off from neighboring Djibouti on Monday, marks the first step of an estimated four- to six-week U.N. operation aiming to avert a major oil spill from the tanker, representatives from the international body announced. Experts say the tanker poses a major environmental threat. A team of experts on the Cypriot-flagged Ndeavor are expected to begin pumping inert gas to remove atmospheric oxygen from the oil chambers of the Safer on Wednesday, said David Gressly, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Yemen. Transferring the estimated 1.14 million barrels of oil to a different tanker could start in around two weeks, he said from aboard the Ndeavor. After the transfer is complete, the Japan-made oil tanker will eventually be towed away and scrapped, he said. The Safer was built in the 1970s and sold to the Yemeni government in the 1980s to store up to 3 million barrels of oil pumped from fields in Marib, a province in central Yemen. But the impoverished South Arabian Peninsula nation has been engulfed for years in civil war and no annual maintenance has been carried out on the ship, which is 360 meters (1,181 feet) long with 34 storage tanks, since 2015. The Safer is anchored around 30 kilometers (19 miles) northwest of the port city of Hodeida. Yemens ruinous conflict began in 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of the countrys north, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile. The following year, a Saudi-led coalition entered the war to fight the Houthis and try to restore the internationally recognized government to power. . An American Airlines passenger prevented a plane from taking off forcing others to reschedule their flights after she was asked to get off her phone, federal prosecutors said. The woman refused the flight attendants request, which made her irate as the plane heading to Chicago was departing from Buffalo Niagara International Airport in New York on April 19, 2022, according to court documents. She left her seat, headed toward the front of the plane, argued with passengers and spit on one, an affidavit says. Then, shes accused of taking out her phone and recording. The situation escalated when the woman realized she was going to be in trouble and decided to leave, according to the affidavit. With the plane in motion, she pushed a flight attendant, opened the front door and slid down the aircrafts emergency slide after causing it to activate, the affidavit says. The woman, 24, of Rochester, was sentenced to time served and three years probation after she pleaded guilty to two counts of simple assault in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the U.S., the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of New York announced in a May 26 news release. She agreed to pay $42,128 in restitution as part of her sentencing, according to her plea agreement. McClatchy News contacted the womans attorneys for comment on May 30 and didnt immediately receive a response. Because the woman caused the planes emergency slide to deploy once she opened the front door, American Airlines deemed the aircraft inoperable, the affidavit says. The passengers were forced to get off and make new flight plans as a result, according to the affidavit. The woman is accused of causing $50,000 in damage. After she slid out the plane, she tried running away, but airport officials and Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority apprehended her on the tarmac, the affidavit says. Shes accused of resisting arrest and damaging a wall once inside the transportation authoritys police station, according to the affidavit. After her arrest, the woman told authorities she was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident, according to investigators. She said she was upset that the flight was delayed, and she wanted to get off, the affidavit says. She also said she spit on a passenger because they were recording her, according to the affidavit. McClatchy News contacted American Airlines for comment on May 30 and was awaiting a response. In 2023, there have been 708 reports of unruly plane passengers to date, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Reports of unruly passengers spiked in 2021, with 5,973 reports made, FAA data shows. This number decreased in 2022, with 2,455 reports made. Woman bashes flight attendant with intercom phone at Colorado airport, airline says Man makes bogus bomb threat after missing his flight at Pennsylvania airport, cops say Passengers pry man out of headlock during brawl on Southwest flight, video shows 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. Child pornography victims who alleged Reddit enabled and profited from obscene photos of youths were denied an appearance before the US Supreme Court. In a report by Bloomberg, the judges did not provide any explanation for upholding a verdict that said Reddit is not responsible for users breaking sex trafficking laws by posting images of child abuse on the website. Social Media Companies Are Protected by Section 230 This is only the latest in a series of triumphs for the largest American social media companies, which are protected from most lawsuits involving online speech by a legal doctrine known as Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Recently, the Supreme Court declined to weaken a liability shield for social media corporations like Twitter, Facebook, and Alphabet's Google. When the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Reddit, Bloomberg said it was the first time a federal appeals court had a say on a 2018 modification to Section 230. This change was made so that social media sites could be sued for sex trafficking. According to the plaintiffs, they were entitled to bring a lawsuit against Reddit for hosting photographs of their abuse because of new legislation passed in 2018 called the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA). They claimed that Reddit "has engineered a social media platform where child pornography proliferates." After the victims of sex trafficking failed to establish that Reddit had real knowledge of the abuse taking place on its site, the 9th Circuit ruled that Reddit was nonetheless protected by Section 230. Also Read: Study: YouTube's Algorithm Leads Young Gamers to Gun Violence Content The Supreme Court postponed a decision on whether or not to hear the Reddit case until after it had finished hearing and ruling on two other social media matters earlier in May. In the said cases, the court upheld Section 230, which protects Google and Twitter from legal repercussions related to terrorist material. As a result, it was clear that the court was hesitant to make a ruling on the nuanced Section 230 provision that paved the way for the contemporary internet. CNN Supreme Court analyst and University of Texas School of Law professor Steve Vladeck stated: "After the justices avoided any meaningful ruling on the scope of immunity for tech companies in the Google case, today's denial of review in the Reddit case suggests that their aversion was more than just about the Google case, specifically - and that the court is willing, at least for now, to leave any changes to Section 230 to Congress." Companies in the social media space have backed Section 230 strongly, arguing that it is essential protection against a flood of multimillion-dollar lawsuits over hate speech. Legislators, however, have recently questioned whether Section 230 is too broad and safeguards internet platforms from responsibility for the damages they facilitate. According to Bloomberg, the case number is 22-695, Jane Does No. 1-6 v. Reddit. Also Read: TikTok Sues Montana to Overturn First-Ever US Statewide Ban @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan predicts that a record number of tourists will visit Armenia in 2023. 630,000 tourists visited Armenia in the first four months of the year, he told lawmakers during budget discussions. The figure is 35% higher than in 2019. This allows us to predict that we will have a record year, if no serious obstacles happen, Kerobyan added. One tourist spends 1,200 dollars in Armenia, according to Kerobyan. He said that 10 years ago tourists were spending 800 dollars during their stay in the country. The habits of the tourists have also changed. The minister said that tourists nowadays prefer to rent apartments and spend the money intended for the hotel stay elsewhere. Kerobyan added that 1 million 660 thousand tourists visited Armenia in 2022. YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan received Giorgi Sharvashidze, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to Armenia. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the office of the President of the Republic of Armenia, President Khachaturyan congratulated the Ambassador on May 26, the holiday of Georgia's independence and declaration of the Republic, and wished success to Georgia and the Georgian people. Ambassador Sharvashidze thanked for the reception and congratulations and said that he mutually congratulates the President of the Republic and the Armenian people on May 28, the Republic Day. During the meeting, issues related to the continuous development of existing close friendly relations between Armenia and Georgia were discussed. Reference was made to the importance and strategic nature of the development of multi-layered friendly relations between Armenia and Georgia. The parties exchanged ideas on setting higher standards for political and economic relations between the two countries. Both sides emphasized the dynamic expansion of the trade turnover between Armenia and Georgia and the strengthening of economic ties. The press spokesperson for the National Gallery, Washington, alerted me late Friday to a breaking development in the case of the attack on its beloved treasureDegas unique, original wax version of Little Dancer Aged Fourteen: The two alleged perpetratorsTimothy Martin of North Carolina and Joanna Smith of New York, both 53, were taken into custody on May 26 after surrendering to authorities, following an indictment charging conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and injury to a National Gallery of Art exhibit, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office press release. Little Dancer Aged Fourteen, 18781881 Pigmented beeswax, clay, metal armature, rope, paintbrushes, human hair, silk and linen ribbon, cotton and silk tutu, linen slippers, on wooden base National Gallery of Art, Washington, Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon When I asked the National Gallery for a statement responding to these arrests, its spokesperson told me this: The National Gallery of Art appreciates the excellent and swift work by the U.S. Park Police, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorneys Office to bring these serious criminal charges [emphasis added]. Because the NGA receives annual federal appropriations, the attack is being treated as an alleged offense against the nation, not just against the museum. Heres how the indictment described the alleged crime: According to the indictment, unsealed today, Martin and Smith smeared paint on the case and base of Edgar Degas Little Dancer, Age Fourteen, a priceless work of art which has drawn visitors for years to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Following the attack, a group called Declare Emergency claimed credit. Over the last year, in addition to this offense, Declare Emergency has blocked roadways around the Washington, D.C. area. The indictment further alleges that Martin and Smith agreed, along with other currently uncharged co-conspirators, to enter the National Gallery of Art for the purpose of injuring the exhibit. Martin and Smith entered the National Gallery of Art armed with plastic water bottles filled with paint. Martin and Smith handed their phones to other conspirators and waited until patrons cleared the area in front of the Little Dancer. Martin and Smith proceeded to smear paint on the case and base of the exhibit, at times smacking the case with force. [I had noted in my Apr. 27 blog post about the attack that the WaPo video showed the perpetrators thumping loudly and forcefully on the case with their paint-smeared hands.] Prior to the attack, members of the conspiracy had alerted the Washington Post, and two reporters from the Post recorded and photographed the offense [emphasis added]. Additionally, other members of the conspiracy filmed and photographed the offense. Smith and Martin caused approximately $2,400 in damage and the exhibit was removed from public display for ten days so that it could be repaired. Each charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The maximum statutory sentence for federal offenses is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. The sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. What most surprises me about this bizarre incident is the seeming complicity of the Washington Post, which, according to the indictment, was given advance notice of the attack so that its journalists could record and photograph the misdirected protest against climate change. Heres the WaPo article on the event, which includes a video of the attack by John Farrell, Jackson Barton/The Washington Post and photos of the incident by the author of the newspapers articleEllie Silverman/The Washington Post. It seems to me that if these journalists knew that a crime was about to be committed in a museum, they had a responsibility to head it off by notifying authorities. Instead, they gave the attackers exactly what they wantedprominent publicity for their senseless alleged attack on a valuable, publicly cherished masterpiece. The Washington Post owes art lovers a mea culpa. On a happier note: Heres the National Gallerys May 8 tweeted accelerated video of the return of Dancer to her display case, accompanied by the signature theme of Tchaikovskys Swan Lake. A NOTE TO MY READERS: If you appreciate my coverage, please consider supporting CultureGrrl via PayPal by clicking the Donate button in the righthand column of the desktop version or by scrolling down to the DONATE link in the mobile version. Contributors of $15 or more are added to my email blast for immediate notification of new posts. When not listening to Bach or Cuban jazz pianist Chucho Valdes, or dancing to salsa, I like to play jazz piano -- but only in the privacy of my own mind. Another strange fact... Read More We're cutting down on spam. Please fill in this form. [Read More...] My biography of the Hollywood director William Wyler, A Talent for Trouble, is available as an ebook at Amazon and an ebook on iTunes at the Apple [Read More...] The agenda is just what it says: news of arts, media & culture delivered with attitude. Or as Rock Hudson once said in a movie: "Man is the only [Read More...] by Melani Manel Perera Over 3,000 cases in the first four months of 2023, Matara district the most affected. Called for more efforts to create a safe environment. But the National Authority for Child Protection, which has been taking care of the youngest children since 1929, today has only half the staff it would need. Colombo (AsiaNews) - The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) revealed that 3,102 incidents of child abuse were reported in Sri Lanka in the first four months of this year. The highest number of cases was recorded in March (1,026) while in the whole of 2022 there were a total of 10,497. These are worrying figures on the strength of which the body is calling for collective and concerted action to ensure the implementation and enforcement of laws to prevent such abuse. The figures were presented during a workshop, held at the NCPA last week, with the aim of raising media awareness on child protection issues in Sri Lanka. In detail, director Sajeewani Abeykoon, revealed that at least 600 complaints are collected every month. "In 2022, 185 cases of serious sexual harassment were reported, in addition to 729 cases of child sexual harassment, 167 cases of rape and 132 cases of child trafficking." On the geographical breakdown other data was provided today by the PEaCE (Protecting Environment and Children Everywhere) organisation ECPAT Sri Lanka: among the districts of Sri Lanka, Matara (in the south) recorded the highest rate of child abuse, at 9 per cent, followed by the districts of Kalutara, Monaragala and Ratnapura, each with 7.7 per cent. 'Many cases,' ECPAT Sri Lanka writes in its bulletin, 'are still not reported due to a lack of awareness and understanding of the problem, as well as the fear and shame of the victims. This highlights the need for greater efforts to raise awareness about child abuse and create a safe environment in which victims can report abusive situations." Since 1929, the NCPA has been active in Sri Lanka to collect complaints. But Director Sajeewani Abeykoon also mentioned that the organisation is supposed to have 618 employees, including zonal officers; but currently it only has 288, which is less than half the required number. Despite their efforts to address the problem by requesting assistance from the government, state authorities and higher officials, no action has been taken on the vacancies. "We believe that facilities working for the defence of children should be given priority, but our situation has unfortunately worsened due to the severe shortage of staff." by Vladimir Rozanskij The most representative of the 16 accused is the journalist and lawyer Dauletmurat Tazimuratov, over whom hangs the most serious charge, 'attempt to overthrow the constitutional order'. Last year, thousands of people had taken to the streets against the constitutional amendments of the government in Tashkent that intended to cancel the autonomy status of the region. Tashkent (AsiaNews) - Uzbekistan's Supreme Court has begun the appeal trial of activists from the Karakalpakstan region, convicted in first instance for last year's Nukus riots. The most representative of the 16 accused is the journalist and lawyer Dauletmurat Tazimuratov, on whom the most serious charge, 'attempt to overthrow the constitutional order', hangs, together with the charges of 'organising mass unrest' and 'conspiracy for the purpose of usurping power', while he himself accused of being subjected to torture in solitary confinement. The lawyer of the Karakalpakstani activists, Sergej Majorov, spoke about Tazimuratov's condition during the trial, which was also attended by a number of Western diplomats as observers, including the EU representative in Uzbekistan, Lithuania's Mindaugas Kacerauskis. Instead, the government in Tashkent denied access to the Kazakh humanitarian activist Galym Ageleuov, but the session was nevertheless broadcast on YouTube by Gazeta.uz, showing all the participants' speeches. Majorov confesses that he is 'not optimistic', although he hopes that the judges will allow everyone to speak. In his opinion, there is too much prejudice and pressure on Tazimuratov, former editor-in-chief in Nukus of the Karakalpakstana-language newspaper El kyzmetinde, from where he spoke out against Uzbekistan's constitutional amendments, which were intended to exclude the region's autonomous status, and urged local citizens to take to the streets for 'peaceful demonstrations'. Thousands of people joined this call at the end of June 2022, but the protest was suppressed in a very violent manner, resulting in 21 deaths (including four policemen) and over 270 injuries. In the end, the presidency gave up on changing the autonomous status of Karakalpakstan. The activists were arrested on 1 July and held incommunicado first in Nukus, then in Bukhara. Tazimuratov remained locked up under the harshest regime, especially in the run-up to the first-instance trial, when he was transferred to a rigorous cell in Zangiat, near Tashkent. At the opening of the trial on 15 May, following allegations of torture, the court ordered an investigation, the conclusions of which officially stated that 'no evidence of acts of pressure or humiliation of the accused was found'. According to the lawyer, Dauletmurat showed no signs of violence at the beginning of the trial, but complained of severe pain in his kidneys, recounting how in solitary confinement he was forced to shower first under a jet of boiling water, which immediately afterwards turned icy cold, in his opinion with the aim of weakening him. However, the lawyer managed to visit him twice during the period of solitary confinement, the second time also with his brother Renat, who was then allowed to see him regularly. Tazimuratov was charged not only with subversive actions, but also with 'embezzlement' and 'money laundering'. To a large extent, according to Majorov, these charges are based on linguistic misunderstandings regarding the accounting documents of the activities of all the convicts, more than 300 pages in the Karakalpakstana language, very different from both Uzbek and Russian. For the lawyer, 'it is clear that Dauletmurat has always been inconvenient for the authorities in Tashkent, because he called a spade a spade, recounting the republic's many unresolved problems, criticising the bureaucracy and the country's political leadership', even through his own blog on the internet. Many of the accusations gather episodes and expressions from the last two to three years. The most serious accusations, those against the constitution and the attempted coup, which are rather contradictory to each other, were made by the 'K. Suleymanov', later confirmed and extended directly by the national security services. These investigations appear decidedly biased, without giving the defence the opportunity to see all the elements of the conclusions. The 'plot' to seize power, which presupposes a vast network of conspirators, is attributed to Tazimuratov alone, with only the complicity of another person, Logalul Kallykhanova, actually convicted of other crimes. President Mirziyoyev and the government in Tashkent are trying to keep their distance from the court and the controversy, when in fact, according to the accused, they are the ones who are really responsible for the problems of the region, the largest in the whole of Uzbekistan, whose future destiny remains in the balance. I'm fine, as I'm very fortunate to own my home I own, but I'm feeling the pinch on my mortgage with other inflation costs I rent and it's expensive, but it could be worse I'm seriously considering leaving the valley if something doesn't give Vote View Results The cruise ship Carnival Magic reported a passenger named Ronnie Lee Peale Jr. fell overboard and apparently drowned off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, on Monday. Peale was said to be accompanied by his partner Jennilyn Michelle Blosser on what was supposed to be his first-ever cruise to celebrate Blosser's birthday. The ship left Norfolk, Virginia, on May 25 to set sail for the Bahamas before returning to the United States. Blosser said Peale was "the life of the party," and he enjoyed drinking, gambling, and socializing aboard the Carnival Magic. "This was Ronnie's first cruise, and thankfully he had a great time and made plenty of friends," she wrote on a GoFundMe campaign she launched Tuesday. A US Coast Guard statement said the ship's security footage showed 35-year-old Peale "leaned over the railing of his stateroom balcony and dropped into the water" at 04:10 on Monday (08:00 UTC). Coast Guard vessels and aircraft were utilized to assist in looking for the missing man. Meanwhile, Carnival Cruise Line, the company operating the Carnival Magic, said the Coast Guard released the ship from search efforts and told its captain to return her to port in Norfolk. "The Carnival Care Team is providing support to the [Peale's] companion and traveling party who are on board," the company wrote in its statement. Blosser described herself as "devastated, to say the least," by the incident. "The cruise was definitely a place he enjoyed," she said. I never could have imagined something like this could happen." @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The murder of a 16-year-old girl by stabbing and beating in a public alley in India's capital on Sunday, May 28, sparked fresh outrage about the treatment of women in the country. More than a minute of the assault was caught on surveillance video. It shows a 20-year-old man stabbing the victim more than 20 times and hitting her with a massive block of cement while others were passing by and doing nothing. The victim's corpse was discovered on Sunday evening in the Rohini region of northern Delhi, near the Shahbad Dairy. Police said the suspect and the victim were in a relationship and that a dispute between them led to the assault, as reported by The Indian Express. 'Crime of Passion' On Monday afternoon, May 29, Indian authorities said they had apprehended a male called Sahil Khan in connection with the killing. Ravi Kumar Singh, the Deputy Police Commissioner for Outer Delhi, informed reporters that Khan, a mechanic, had been caught in Bulandshahr, in the adjacent Uttar Pradesh state. In an interview with the Indian news outlet Times Now, Delhi's Special Commissioner of Police Deependra Pathak said that the inquiry thus far leaned toward a "crime of passion." Janak Raj, the girl's father, told CNN that when he saw his daughter's body lying on the ground, her skull was bashed in, and her organs were spilling out. The fact that no one helped his daughter upsets him. Raj said the teenager may still be alive if the onlookers only helped her. Raj said his daughter's tutoring helped contribute to the family's income. "I don't feel alive today. I miss her so much. She was such a good child," he sobbed. Also Read: Sudan Crisis: Reports of Khartoum Women Raped by Armed Men Emerge Condemnation of Violence Against Women This is the most recent in a string of slayings and rapes that have sparked debate about whether or not enough is being done to safeguard women in India and hold perpetrators accountable. Delhi's Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, said on a Twitter post that criminals have lost all respect for the law and are increasingly brazen. Delhi Commission for Women Chair Swati Maliwal told ANI she had never seen something so terrifying in her entire life. "Delhi has become extremely unsafe for women and girls," she stated. Gender violence has been a persistent problem in India for a long time. According to a 2018 poll of gender equality experts conducted by the Thompson Reuters Foundation, India is the most dangerous country in the world for women to live in. The number of crimes committed against women in India also appears to be on the rise. The National Crime Records Bureau of India reports that crimes committed against women increased by 20% in 2020 compared to 2013. Since many types of violence against women, including rape, are routinely underreported, activists believe the true figures are likely simply the tip of the iceberg. Also Read: International Women's Day Underscore Gender Inequality, Women's Return To Workforce @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Automakers Seek to Block Enforcement of MA Right to Repair Law Published May 30, 2023 The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a trade group representing automakers, on May 26 asked a federal judge to stop Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell from enforcing a Right to Repair law originally approved by the state's voters in November 2020. Campbell announced in March she would take action to implement the law beginning June 1. Less than a week before that date, the alliance asked the judge to issue a temporary injunction, blocking the law from being enforced, until the judge issues a final decision in a case brought by the alliance after the 2020 referendum vote. That 2020 referendum was approved by 75% of voters, who wanted to require automakers to allow access to their vehicles' data, so owners could get them fixed by independent auto repairers if they choose, rather than be forced to go to dealership service centers. The Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition commended Campbell in March for deciding to move forward, despite the lack of a decision by a federal court, with implementing the Right to Repair law. On May 26, the coalition issued a statement on what it described as "car manufacturers show[ing] their disdain for the will of the voters and their own customers" by filing the motion to stop the law from being enforced. On behalf of independent repair shops and their customers, we are disappointed but not surprised that car manufacturers would try to stop a law that 75% of Massachusetts voters supported at the ballot box, said Tommy Hickey, director of the Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition. We expect that the judge will see this for what it is, a profit-driven delay tactic by automakers to force car and truck owners to go to their dealerships to pay more for repairs. The Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition represents more than 4,000 members statewide, including independent repair shops, Massachusetts auto parts stores, the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Massachusetts, the New England Tire and Service Association, Automotive Recyclers of Massachusetts and the Automotive Oil Change Association. Source: Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition Photo: Mecum Photo: Mecum Because of their niche nature, hot rods are not all that sought after. Sure, people like their extreme looks, the old-school vibes they create when they come around the corner, and the roar of modern V8s, most of the time completely visible at the front of each build.But it's a long way from liking something to spending vast amounts of money on it. Car collectors, by definition, are more inclined to buy collectibles, cars owned by famous people, or vehicles in some way relevant to the auto industry. That's because, most of the time, they will resell them, for a profit.No matter how extreme a hot rod is, chances are making money off of it, repeatedly, is not possible. That's why we often see such extreme builds going for far less than say a Camaro or a Firebird.Yet, even knowing this to be a fact, seeing the 1931 Studebaker Model 54 sell for just $27,500 came as a major shock. Just think about it: that's how much Chevrolet is asking for the Bolt! And this ride is by no means a Bolt.You're looking at a former SEMA show car. Not a recent one, but a vehicle that was displayed by Toyo Tire and Monster Energy at the Las Vegas event all the way back in 2008. Still cool, though, perhaps one of the coolest hot rods ever made. And part of its appeal is probably owed to the fact it's not based on the many Fords that get turned into this type of custom, but on something much rarer.It's been over half a century since Studebaker stopped making cars, and I must say, when looking at something like this, it kind of makes me feel sad they're gone. Sure, there was nothing so extreme in the carmaker's portfolio, but the potential for customization Studebaker cars and wagons had is undeniable.The Model 54 was put together for the above-mentioned companies by a California-based crew called Choppin' Block. These guys used a custom frame on top of which they fitted a body chopped and channeled to be so low and long it's almost scary.It is, of course, this body that immediately catches the eye. Wrapped in a custom-blended shade of orange with just a touch of pinstriping, it is supported by four massive, solid wheels wearing, obviously, Toyo tires of the Proxes4 low-profile variety.Not only a visual insanity, the Model 54 is also a mechanical masterpiece. To be able to make full use of its very low profile, the car was propped on an airbag suspension system with dual compressors. This allows it to be lowered so close to the ground that it effectively touches it with its underside (check the gallery to see what I mean).In typical hot rod fashion, the engine up front is exposed to the elements. We're talking about a 350ci unit of Chevrolet make, fitted with an Edelbrock carburetor and intake manifold, and open headers. It runs a two-speed Powerglide transmission, but its output in this application was not disclosed. Most of the engine is painted in the same color as the rest of the car, making for a very clean and solid look. Ford headlights have been fitted up front, to either side of the radiator grille, and a tiny hood has been pulled over the engine, leaving it visible mostly from the sides.The doors on the Model 54 open from the center, and once they're out of the way they reveal a matching orange and black interior. You know how most of the hot rods out there come as two-seaters? Well, this thing has four seats, installed in pairs front and rear. They don't look particularly comfortable (they are a blend of soft leather and hard metal), but visually they match the rest of the build to perfection.The rest of the cabin presents itself kind of spartan, with no unnecessary fittings. There's the aluminum steering wheel, the Lokar shifter, and custom gauges in the dashboard to show relevant information about the car's performance.The 1932 Studebaker Model 54 was listed for sale by Mecum during its Indianapolis auction earlier this month. It is there where someone paid just $27,500 for it. We don't know how much money went into making the hot rod, but it obviously was much more than that.The name of the car's new owner was not disclosed, so we don't know what's next for the Model 54. Chances are it will end up under the hammer again, and the only question is: will the seller risk a no reserve sale as well? The two executive cars made by the brand with four rings are now pillars of the Audi lineup, with the A6 being around since 1994 and the A7 since 2010. Although the smaller A6 is three generations ahead of its sibling, because the two cars are very similar they both received this upgrade, which the Germans liken to a facelift.There are no modifications made to what the two models offer in the engine department, but there are plenty of changes made to the exterior, interior, and standard equipment for us to have a closer look.The first thing worth mentioning is that the trim offering for the two models has been simplified, and it now consists of a maximum of only three choices, depending on the model: Basic, Advanced, and S Line.Visually, the biggest changes have been performed to the cars' front and rear ends. Audi's Singleframe grille takes center stage, of course, with a refreshed look and different hues and materials depending on trim level: matt black, dark chrome, or chrome. Separately, newly-drawn air intakes adorn the new front ends of the A6 and A7. At the back, the cars get a new design for the diffuser, highlighted by a plastic blade in Selenite Silver.The color palette for the A6 and A7 bodies has been refreshed as well, now comprising a total of 12 colors. Two of them, Arcona White and Madeira Brown Metallic, have never been offered before on the range.As far as wheels are concerned, standard choices are 17-inch forged aluminum (A6) and 19-inch (A7) pieces. There are countless other options to choose from though, going to a diameter as large as 21 inches. A fun fact to note is that, in response to customer demand, more than half of these wheel choices come in dark colors.The interior is the one that brings the most novelties, though. Visually, the two executive cars now benefit from new interior materials and combinations. And they do have everything, including fabric, leather, aluminum, and wood inlays.Most importantly, Audi finally decided to offer some of the most sought-after tech features as standard. As such, when the refreshed models get here on June 1, they'll do so packing, right off the factory floor, the carmaker's virtual cockpit. That's a suite of instruments centered around the 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, which can be operated by means of steering wheel-mounted controls. On top of that, the park assist plus feature becomes standard as well.The new A6 will be sold in Europe from later this week starting at 53,800 euros, while the A7 from 63,500 euros. Pricing and availability for the U.S. have not been announced. SUV First-generation Range Rover (1970 to 1996) Photo: Land Rover ABS Second-generation Range Rover (1994 to 2002) Photo: Land Rover Third-generation Range Rover (2003 to 2012) Photo: Land Rover Fourth-generation Range Rover (2012 to 2021) Photo: Land Rover Fifth-generation Range Rover (2022) Photo: Land Rover EV British automaker Rover is known for producing various iconic automobiles, including one of the first 4x4 cars in the world to be available for general consumers the Land Rover. These boxy all-terrain vehicles were very spartan instead of luxurious and were primarily utilized for agricultural and industrial purposes during the '40s. It wasn't until the '60s when Spencer King began developing a new model that would expand the usability of such vehicles. As chief engineer and nephew of the company's founders, King envisioned an unprecedented lineup combining the off-road chops of Land Rovers with the comforts of Rover sedans.That idea turned into reality in the early '70s when the first-generation Range Rover hit public streets as a rugged yet posh two-door utility vehicle. Since then, the Range Rover family has expanded into multiple subcategories: the compact Evoque crossover, the midsize Velar, and the punchy Range Rover Sport For over 50 years, this luxury nameplate has been attaching itself to some of the most popularmodels in the market, often overshadowing the rest of Land Rover's entire inventory. What started as a project that hoped to breathe new life into the nascent luxury SUV market ended up becoming a status symbol for celebrities and corporate executives alike. However, there's more to the Range Rover history than simply being an all-in-one solution for the upper class to get around.Range Rovers themselves already represent an evolution of the original Land-Rover, but that doesn't mean they stopped growing into something even bigger. The first-generation model is the perfect example of such progress, taking the company to greater heights. It was the first car exhibited in France's renowned Louvre Museum, the first to cross the infamously inaccessible Darien Gap, and even won the Paris-Dakar rally twice. As if those accolades weren't enough, the original Range Rover was also the first model to feature the company's permanent four-wheel drive system.As for performance, the original Range Rover engine choices were quite beefy eight-cylinder power plants: 3.5 to 3.9-liter V8s capable of reaching up to 185 horsepower. The original Range Rover added a slew of upgrades throughout the years, making it the first 4X4 vehicle in the world to have electronic traction control, air suspension, and anti-lock brakes ().Production of first-gen Range Rovers ran for over two decades, transforming from a sporty two-door to a roomy four-door luxury cruiser within the same generation. It was so popular it resumed production even after its successor was introduced, bearing the "Range Rover Classic" name to avoid confusion. That said, it's no surprise why the first Range Rover was regarded as an "exemplary work of industrial design."After 24 years of redefining the image of luxury SUVs, it was time for the British marque to take its famous nameplate to its next step in evolution. While the second-generation Range Rover (AKA the P38A) might've kept some of its predecessor's external design cues, it improved on almost every aspect on the inside. Heated windscreen, satellite navigation, adjustable suspension, and a wealth of new interior tech features were now all part of Range Rover history. A longer wheelbase and five-door configuration became the new standard, along with receiving an oomph in power. The second generation Range Rover engine options featured upgraded 4-liter and 4.5-liter V8s, with output ranging from 185 to more than 220 horsepower.Second-generation models were also the first Range Rovers to offer engine choices courtesy of BMW's turbo-diesel six-cylinder motors. The Range Rover successor served as a turning point for the company, marking the start of its new ownership under German automaker BMW. Unfortunately, this generation didn't last as long as its predecessor, eventually halting overall production in less than a decade.Despite its shorter production run, the second generation still provided a glimpse into the Range Rover's future. Let's just say whatever happened afterward had more to do with glitz and glamour than outdoorsy adventure.Under BMW's wing, the third-generation Range Rover (AKA the L322) went into a crucial transition period that launched it into pop-culture stardom. Thanks to its yacht-inspired design, BMW's ubiquitous marketing promotions, and oodles of technological improvements, the Range Rover turned into a highly-coveted status symbol. It featured fully independent adjustable air suspension, shared various parts with BMW's top-of-the-line models, and carried more power than ever. The third-generation Range Rover engine options included everything from a 300-plus horsepower 4.4-liter eight-cylinder engine to a monstrous 500-plus-horsepower 5-liter supercharged V8.During its decade-long production run, the celebrated nameplate underwent numerous phases. After all, it was a time when Land Rover was sold to Ford before finally being purchased by Indian automaker Tata Motors shortly after. All these changes contributed to the third gen's growth, while highlighting the Range Rover's eclectic evolution. This generation built the modern luxury SUV image the model is known for today. With its wider single-body design, refined square headlights, and updated interior, the new Range Rover was unlike any of its predecessors. It's been a Royal Family car for a good reason; a third-gen model was in the late Queen Elizabeth II's possession for a long time, with Her Majesty even taking a ride in one on her last birthday.Just when you thought the Range Rover had already reached its peak form, the fourth generation (AKA the L405) showed up at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, looking a lot sleeker. Land Rover's iconic SUV now sported a sharper front fascia, more efficient hybrid powertrain, and a lower weight. In fact, it was lauded for being the first SUV in the world to utilize an entirely aluminum uni-body chassis.Doing so helped shed the Range Rover's weight by nearly a ton. The addition of a new Terrain Response 2 system helped these luxury SUVs crawl over rocks, tread sand, and even wade through up to 3 feet of water. Although the Mk4 Range Rover might be considered a "hybrid" at this point, it never stopped churning out even more power.Its most potent configuration incorporates a massive 5-liter V8, now rated at a staggering 557 hp (565 PS). In comparison, its smaller 2-liter Ingenium inline-four hybrid counterpart puts out almost 400 horsepower still enough to give top-shelf P38As a run for their money. From its redesigned LED headlights and lighter frame to its driver-assistance features and steering wheel-mounted touch controls, the fourth generation turned an already modern SUV into a cutting-edge marvel. Three face-lifts later, it was finally time for the L405 to make way for its successor, but not without first becoming one of the company's highest-selling Range Rover generation.If previous models showed how well Range Rovers adapt to the ever-changing trends, the fifth generation (AKA the L460) shows how it will shape those trends in the future. The Mk5 represents the epitome of Land Rover's technological prowess, utilizing everything the company has learned so far to produce the most robust luxury SUV lineup yet. From an assortment of petrol and diesel engines to plug-in hybrids and the upcoming Range Rover, choices for the latest model are abundant. Performance-wise, the new Range Rover engine options comprise 3-liter turbo I6 hybrid power plants and 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8s generating up to 530 horsepower. While it might not be setting new power output records so far, the L460 did get a bump up in the handling department.Its upgraded all-wheel steering setup has a smaller turning radius, making it the most maneuverable Range Rover ever made. L460s are now equipped with larger 23-inch wheels for the first time in Land Rover history. The esteemed nameplate seems to never stop evolving, as it continues making history more than half a century since its conception.Of course, it never fell out of the Royal Family car fleet, either, with a certain Prince driving a 2022 Range Rover before it was even released. Gone are the days of rugged off-road 4X4s being driven predominantly by farmers and mountaineers. Considering how modern the fifth-generation Range Rover has become, its natural habitat has now evolved into an urban jungle rather than an actual one. Compared to other developers in the emerging AAM (advanced air mobility) sector, Eve has been very discrete when it comes to the specifications and development stages of its flagship product. It seems that we'll finally get to see a full-scale prototype by the end of this year. The Brazilian company announced that it would soon start to assemble it following successful propeller tests.Eve has already reached a milestone with the completion of extensive tests on its propeller rig. The feedback data will be used mainly for reducing the sound footprint and enhancing aerodynamic performance.For the next testing phase, Eve uses a custom-made, mobile testbed specifically created for testing the vertical lift rotors. The rotors are placed on this truck-mounted platform and tested during the transition flight phase. For eVTOLs, this is a crucial phase when they switch from vertical flight to cruising like fixed-wing aircraft.Tests such as this one, together with wind tunnel testing, are essential for refining the digitally-based development process. The Brazilian company hopes to kick off its first flight test campaign with the full-scale prototype next year. If things go well, it should be ready to launch commercial services by 2026.In the meantime, Eve is also working on selecting the best industry partners for equipment supply. Last year, it launched a collaboration with the reputable Thales. The aviation technology specialist will help develop the future air taxi's flight control system, electrical system, plus navigation and communication features.At the end of 2022, the Brazilian manufacturer had already secured orders for nearly 3,000 units of its future eVTOL from customers worldwide. It also revealed a full-scale cabin mockup of its air vehicle for the first time at the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK.At the same time, Eve is focusing on the overall AAM ecosystem. As a new type of aircraft, eVTOLs also require significant changes related to infrastructure and air traffic management.The Brazilian company is one of the few eVTOL manufacturers that have also developed a dedicated urban air traffic management tool. This Urban ATM system is basically a software tool that will help electric air taxis integrate smoothly into general air traffic.Once again, Eve benefitted from the expertise of its parent company, Embraer. It developed this platform together with Atech, which is Embraer's branch for air traffic control technology and system integration. Being backed by a significant player in the aviation industry is one of Eve's major advantages compared to other eVTOL startups. PHEV EV Photo: Valeo S.A. For quite some time, hybrid and all-electric vehicles have been pushed forward as the ones to buy by customers who care about the environment and shrinking their carbon footprint. In a way, it was the right move. Self-charging hybrids and all-electric vehicles are indeed great for the average Jane or Joe. Hybrids can reduce fuel consumption, and EVs can completely eliminate the reliance on fossil fuels. The latter can also minimize another dangerous pollutant brake dust.However, the competition between automakers has somewhat erased the story of EV s and their positive environmental impact. Now, the main talking points are power, interior technology, design, and charging networks.This race also worsened the matter after some companies were allowed to sell carbon credits to others, a move that helps big polluters offset their footprint with money.Meanwhile, hybrids are not cool anymore, and plug-in hybrid ) buyers are blamed for not using their cars correctly and polluting much more than they should. For anyone even remotely interested in what's happening in the automotive space, all this back-and-forth discussion and permanently pointing the finger at the consumer can confuse even the most willing people out there.But get ready because things are about to get even worse for drivers who care about minimizing their environmental impact winter windshield washer fluid emissions are on the rise. Yes, that isn't good.The study done by the University of York researchers and published by Environmental Science & Technology says these liquids contain alcohols and are part of a select group of human-made chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), VOCs are to blame for contaminating groundwater often.The Agency also found that exposure to VOCs is more common in closed spaces than outside, while some people expose themselves and others to high pollutant levels repeatedly when they use products that contain these organic chemicals.This is one of the reasons why California adopted a ban on low-temperature windshield washer fluid. To keep the liquid from freezing, producers add methanol or alcohol to the final product. Thirty years ago, the Golden State made it illegal for stores to sell winter-specific windshield wiper fluid in counties where freezing temperatures were uncommon. The state officials were so serious about it that they even fined Ace Hardware $850,000 in 2008.The study says the stricter regulations and themomentum decreased fossil fuel-related emissions. Still, VOCs remained on a positive trend throughout the years. The researchers wanted to measure if vehicle emissions other than those related to burning fossil fuels were hiding in plain sight.They chose two key points in Manchester, UK, to install cameras. In addition, a spectrometer was used to quantify VOCs. Over 754,000 vehicles had their emissions measured.The authors of this study say that ethanol is a "key precursor to the formation of acetaldehyde which is a highly reactive compound that is also a suspected carcinogen and is associated with various respiratory conditions."Previous studies have shown that windshield washer fluid contributed to the formation of tropospheric ozone, which can lead to bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema. Continuous exposure can even scar lung tissue.This recent study concluded that ethanol and methanol were the most abundant VOCs measured by the apparatus. EVs are not exempt. That's why they should be put into the same category as other road participants. Fuel-cell vehicles (FCEVs) ought to share the same fate.Finally, the authors recommend authorities include VOCs in calculating road transport emissions and underline that windshield wiper fluid sales are less commonly reported than road transport activity. Regulators should ensure emissions are associated with the right sector so future measures target solely the culprits."Control of methanol and ethanol could be a potentially effective mechanism for a country to reduce overall mass emissions," concluded the researchers.If you want to be a part of the solution, just ensure you don't use winter windshield wiper fluid when such a liquid is unnecessary. Photo: YouTube Screenshot/Jay Leno's Garage Alex's Series III Land Rover could have been a radio car during the war Photo: YouTube Screenshot/Jay Leno's Garage There's nothing the Series III Land Rover can't crawl over at low range Photo: YouTube Screenshot/Jay Leno's Garage Jay Leno of Jay Leno's Garage YouTube channel recently featured such a car the Legendary classic 1972 Land Rover Series III with some military background. The owner, Alex Grappo, also the founder and CEO of DriveCoffee.com, is an off-road buff."I've always been attracted to the romance of Vintage Land Rovers, as well as the capability in the history that's there," Alex revealed about the love behind his passion..The Jeep is ideally the bedrock of all rugged off-roaders, but the Land Rover enjoys the acclaim to this day. They were simple, built to last, not luxurious by any standard and easy to fix.According to Alex, this 1972 Land Rover had some possible military action. If it could talk, it could change how we think about history. Unfortunately, smart cars didn't have a promising future in '72, so tracing its history and activity boils down to research and the best guess.The first pre-production vehicle of the Land Rover Series I came out in 1949. By the following year, the British manufacturer had figured that its meager 1.6-liter engine was outdated and introduced the 2-liter powerplant with a four-wheel-drive transmission.The Series II Land Rover put the British company on the map with assembling plants in Australia, Belgium, and South Africa. When Series III emerged in 1971, it was the automobile of choice for armies worldwide, with more than 44,000 units delivered globally. It was also the first of the series to feature a V8 powerplant.Alex believes his 1972 Land Rover Series III history was primarily in Germany. Based on his research, there is some evidence that his unit was a variant known as an ex-MoD Land Rover (ex-Ministry of Defense) and was stationed out of the Berlin Wall.Alex's 3 Series Land Rover features a 2.6-liter straight-six engine paired to a 4-speed transmission good for 70 hp (71 ps) and 119 lb-ft (161 Nm) of torque. The 88-inch wheelbase variant (shorter model) came with a 4-cylinder engine.It comes with a shifting mechanism inside that will shift it between four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive, as well as low and high range. Its four-wheel drive system features a center differential comparable to modern off-roaders. It initially came with drum brakes, but Alex upgraded them to disc brakes on all four wheels.His version of the Series III Land Rover was an FFR model fitted for radio. On the left side of the hood, it had a small metal box designed to mount high-powered communication equipment during the war.It also harbors its original gun rack (with leather mounts) behind the rear seats."There was a version of this. Technically, they started doing them in Series II and Series IIA. But they are known as the Pink Panthers. And it was a pink version of this car, and the reason they painted it pink was because it blended in with the desert," Alex revealed.According to Alex, the Pink Panthers had four machine guns onboard (230 Caliber and 250 Caliber). They were specifically developed for the SAS (Special Air Service) on missions in the desert. They are some of the most collectible Land Rovers to date.The pink Land Rovers camouflaged in the desert, making it hard to spot above the ground.Only a handful of people would put a collectible car back into use, especially with the kind of history it holds. Alex is one of them. Under the hood, it still had evidence in the form of red dust from Moab, Utah, where it had just completed the White Rim trail in Canyon Lands It also drove through North America's two highest mountain roads, almost 13,000 feet (3,962 meters), with zero issues.Alex admits his Series III Land Rover makes the best vehicle to learn how to drive a stick shift the clutch is so forgiving. It's so torquey in the low range it feels like there's nothing it can't crawl over.The Series Land Rover was so popular Her Majesty the late Queen of Britain had several. Steve McQueen and Marylin Monroe also owned one."Its fun to drive. I mean, you can't get anything this open anymore." Jay Leno said, cruising down the road. "I think the power is adequate. I mean. It's like you say it's not fast, but it's not slow. You're just using all the pedal travel all the time," he added. Photo: YouTube/@Drag Times Photo: YouTube/@Drag Times Photo: YouTube/@Drag Times A decade after its introduction, the Ferrari The Ferrari this is not a typing hiccup, thats the cars name: LaFerrari in Italian is TheFerrari is barely noticed among the myriad of impossibly fast machines. The trumpet of the age of outrageous speed was a brief call, and it is lost in history.As such, the venerable machine isnt a regular at social gatherings that end up in high-revving waltzes across a quarter-mile dance battle. But when it honors such a party, it stars, and the event becomes a LaFerrari and some other cars type.This is one of those blue moons when one of the 499 LaFerrari hypercars existing on Planet Piston revs up its V12 and goes head-to-head against the best sportscar ever to come from America. A Corvette Z06 of the latest generation, the magnificent machine that owns so much to Ferrari.Isnt it ironic that the best American sportscar became a supercar in its own right after receiving a Ferrari transplant? The 5.5-liter V8 that can spin 143 times every second when pushed to the limit is a Detroit interpretation of Italian flat plane crankshaft magic.Brooks Weisblat from the YouTube channel Drag Times visited the Triple F Collection gang, and they staged several out-of-this-world races between a La Ferrari, a C8 Z06, a Ferrari 458 , and a McLaren Senna.For the warm-up, the 458 the model that served as the V8 muse of speed for Chevrolets greatest Corvette to date gets a taste of American speed. While the Ferrari is a bit dated the Italia came out in 2009 the Z06 is so fresh it barely shed its break-in skin. Brooks Weisblat took delivery of his Z06 Corvette 500 miles before this drag racing shoot-out, so his new car is ready to rock.However, this drag strip doesnt have a tree or a speed trap , so the runs are judged by who gets across the finish line first. And the age difference is immediately apparent the Corvette leaves the 458 for dead. Even when the Ferrari gets the hit, it still cant give the Chevy a run for its money the beautifully-engineered American is too much.Little surprise here: the European has a smaller engine (4.5 liters versus 5.5 in the Corvette ), less power, less torque, and one less gear in the transmission. Its 562-hp output is more than 100 hp short of what the Vette has in hand (670 hp), and 398 lb-ft (540 Nm) isnt impressing anyone in 2023. Particularly not a 460-lb-ft (624 Nm) Z06 equipped with a dual-clutch eight-speed automatic.Things take a turn for the Ferrari worse when the naturally aspirated, all-combustion Chevy manages a jaw-dropping draw against the 950-hybrid-horsepower (963 PS) hypercar. However, something must have gone terribly wrong in the drivers compartment because the LaFerrari launched catastrophically slow, despite its 664 lb-ft (900 Nm) total torque.The assumption becomes a certainty in the following two rounds when the LaFerrari destroys the Corvette like theres no second coming of a combustion-redeeming lord and savior. But, because there is a nemesis for everyone in this world, Brooks and the Triple F Collection also held a duel between the fastest Ferrari ever and one of the most iconic McLarens ever made: the Senna, the Ultimate Series archangel.The two cars weigh the same 3.020 lbs (1,373 kg) but the Senna only has a four-liter twin-turbo V8, sending 789 hp (800 PS) to the rear wheels. Watch the second video to see what happened to the overly confident Prancing Horse. I'll just say this: the British car bearing the Brazilian legendary name came second to last. EV Both cars wear license plates beginning with the letter K, which stands for Koln. Referred to as Cologne in English-speaking countries, Koln is the home of Cologne Body and Assembly Plant. As you're well aware, Cologne is where Ford produces the soon-to-be-discontinued Fiesta. Production is expected to end in June 2023, making room for the Explorerthe United States and Canadian markets will never get.Internally referred to as CX740, the upcoming Explorer EV doesn't have anything in common with the internal combustion-engined Explorer other than blue oval badges. Due to arrive at European dealers by December 2023, the newcomer is based on the Volkswagen MEB platform of the Volkswagen ID.4 compact crossover. By comparison, the Explorer is a mid-size affair that uses the CD6 platform.Turning our attention back to the best-selling pony car of them all, the Mustang for the European market isn't as powerful as the Mustang for North America. The final numbers are not available yet. Similar to the S550, the S650's full potential is hampered by Euro-specific emission regulations. More specifically, gasoline particulate filters will inevitably result in less power and torque as opposed to the USDM version.Be that as it may, Ford's press materials hint at a drop in fuel economy for the V8-engined GT trim level. The 5.0-liter mill is anticipated to use 19.9 miles per gallon UK (14.2 liters per 100 kilometers) as opposed to 22.8 miles per gallon UK (12.39 liters per 100 kilometers) for the outgoing model. Given that we're not dealing with a big difference in terms of curb weight, it's pretty obvious that a bigger punch is on the menu.That punch is different in terms of hardware as well because Ford has worked its magic on the Coyote. Said engine now comes with dual throttle bodies and intakes, and that's not all. Stepping up to the Dark Horse gets you some upgraded internals (such as Shelby GT500-sourced connecting rods).Only the GT and Mach 1-replacing Dark Horse can be specified with a manual, with the row-your-own transmission in the GT coming from Getrag and the manual in the Dark Horse coming from Tremec. The 2.3-liter EcoBoost is connected exclusively to Ford's very own 10-speed auto.As with the S550, the S650 was designed from the outset with global markets in mind. The Ford Motor Company intends to sell the S650 in more than 100 markets worldwide. However, quality and supply chain woes need to be addressed first. (Photo : Leon Neal/Getty Images) UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet with President Joe Biden, Congress, and US business leaders in Washington. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will engage in discussions with US President Joe Biden next week on boosting economic relations and securing Ukraine's military backing in its war with Russia. On Wednesday and Thursday of next week, Sunak will be in Washington for discussions with President Biden, members of Congress, and American business executives, Reuters reported. However, Sunak's spokesperson clarified on Tuesday that there won't be any negotiations toward a formal free trade agreement. The visit, according to the spokesperson, offers a chance to further existing conversations between Prime Minister Sunak and President Biden about improved collaboration and coordination between the US. and the UK in solving the economic issues that will determine the course of the future. In addition, maintaining assistance for Ukraine will be a priority in the talks. The spokesperson noted that Sunak's Washington trip "will be an opportunity to build on discussions the Prime Minister and President Biden have had in recent months" about improving the UK-US partnership by addressing the economic issues that will shape the future of the two nations, per The Independent. The official also noted that the discussions will include "securing our supply chains and transitioning to zero-carbon economies." Read Also: US Lawmakers Rush to Approve Debt Ceiling Bill, Avoid Default Sunak Aims to Mend Strained Ties Sunak's trip to Washington is his first official visit since becoming prime minister in October. It indicates his desire to mend the strained UK-US relationship since Britain's 2020 EU exit. The White House has stated that Rishi Sunak and Joe Biden will discuss the situation in Northern Ireland, economic matters, and discuss issues about Ukraine in the lead-up to the NATO summit in July. In April, President Joe Biden visited Ireland for the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which ended The Troubles. Although the POTUS spent most of his time in the Republic of Ireland, he met with Prime Minister Sunak in Belfast, but some observers noticed little contact between the two leaders throughout the visit, according to the BBC. Related Article: Dozens of NATO Soldiers Injured in Fresh Clashes With Serb Protesters in Kosovo @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. EV kWh kilowatt kW The Japanese automaker contacted the supplier as well, namely Sanoh America Inc. A parts audit of 975 assemblies revealed no fewer than 25 damaged parts. Another parts audit of 395 vehicles concluded with five scratched or damaged right-hand brake tubes. Given these circumstances, Nissan started investigating the aforementioned supplier's processes.Lo and behold, inappropriate tooling was used to align the brake tube into the pipe bending jig. Due to misaligned brake tubes, the tooling clamped the pipe in an incorrect position, causing scratches or deformation at the actuator bend. These scratches or deformations may lead to premature corrosion, which in turn results in a potential brake fluid loss. Nissan performed stress and corrosion tests on two parts, with said tests ending as expected. On the upside, Nissan isn't aware of any field reports or warranty claims related to this blunder.A grand total of 758 vehicles are recalled in the United States market, as per the document attached below. An estimated 3 percent of the recalled population is believed to exhibit said condition. Dealers have been instructed to check the right-hand brake tube for scratches or damage. If needed, the assembly will be replaced at no charge to the owner. According to Nissan, the remedy takes one hour of labor.Owners will be informed of this campaign by first-class mail beginning on July 7. The recalled vehicles were manufactured in the period between December 7, 2022, and January 11, 2023. The third most affordable electric vehicle in the United States after the $26,500 Chevrolet Boltand $27,800 Chevrolet Bolt EUV currently rocks a starting price of $28,040 excluding the destination freight charge. Unfortunately for prospective buyers, the Leaf does not qualify for the federal tax credit.To qualify for said credit, an electric vehicle needs to meet a couple of requirements. First and foremost, 50 percent of the battery's components must be manufactured or assembled in North America. Secondly, 40 percent of critical minerals have to be mined, processed, or recycled in the United States of America or FTA (i.e., Free Trade Agreement) countries.The Leaf comes in two specifications for the 2023 model year, beginning with the 40-S. The SV Plus boasts 20 morehours and a price tag to match: $36,040 sans destination. It also packs a bigger punch (160as opposed to 110 kW for the front-mounted electric motor), and that's not all. Standard goodies further include 100-kW charging, Door to Door Navigation with Premium Traffic, NissanConnect EV with Services, alloys, and the ProPILOT Assist suite. SUV And now, it seems as if the Planet is not enough for Rolls-Royce, who decided to take its customers to the Karman line. Thats the fine edge where our Planets atmosphere ends, and the rest of the Universe begins. Before space tourists rush to the dealership to order a space-faring Rolls, please know that the British auto giant isnt launching some sort of personal luxury starship (yet!) but instead offers a new design line for the brandsTo be astronomically precise, 62 Black Badge Cullinan 'Blue Shadow' Private Collection automobiles will be produced. And 62 is the number of miles from the sea level to the ineffable boundary that marks the absolute limit of our Earth in the vastness of the Cosmos (100 kilometers right above our heads).In this intangible place, the blue heaven above us begins to morph into the deep black of the Universe, a sight only very few blessed humans have ever laid eyes upon. Rolls-Rouce captured that unrepeatable hue in its 'Stardust Blue' exterior paint.As an homage to the Space Shuttle program, the grille of the 62 cosmic Cullinans is surrounded by the same color as the high-temperature-resisting tiles found on the bellies of the famous space vehicles.The flying lady atop the hood is 3D-printed from titanium (another extremely strong material used in cosmic endeavors) and finished with a thin layer of blue-tinted lacquer. The Spirit of Ecstasys base shows the Black Badge infinity logo and an engraving that reads Blue Shadow Private Collection. The wheels of the astronomically-exclusive Blue Shadows wheels are also darkened with translucent lacquer.Six layers of paint mixing five different tones of blue and one in black were applied on the interior fascia and door panels and sprayed with a clear coat that contains 0.05% blue and colorless glass particles. The percentage was calculated to replicate the shine and gloss of the cosmos as seen from the Karman Line.As if the stellar paint isnt impressive enough already, Rolls-Royce crafted a Moon-and-stars embroidery using five different colors of thread. To create a distinct texture for the five weaves, a different technique was used for each. The intricate embroidery, detailing the moons surface in a 3D-like perspective, is obtained by applying a quarter of a million stitches (a two-day fabrication process).The Starlight Headliner contains precisely 1,183 stars 799 white and 384 blue fiber-optic glows affixed in the leather canvas through hand-perforation. The seats benefit from a similar treatment, but the artwork is a map of Earth as seen from high above, and its intricate manufacturing leaves an impression of clouds floating over the world.The continents are represented with 0.8-mm (0.03 inches) punctures, while the planetary ocean is depicted in a slightly lower definition. The pixel-like holes measure 1.2 mm (0.05 inches), and each seat has 75,000 perforations count them if you have doubts. The complex details took a fortnight to design and five trials before it was deemed acceptable for the Blue Shadows."The Blue Shadow occurs at the outer extremes of our world, affording an extraordinary perspective and the ability to touch the stars." This text polished in aluminum and covered by lacquer is found on the picnic tables of the ultra-rare Cullinans A bespoke luggage set again, matching the colors of the Private Collection and a 1:8 scale model of the full-size Black Badge Cullinan Blue Shadow can be ordered as accessories. The toy Rolls feature fully functioning exterior and interior lights, and the doors open to reveal an exact recreation of the life-size details.The Black Badge Cullinan 'Blue Shadow' is available exclusively via the Rolls-Royce Private Office and each of the 62 examples (one for each mile that separated mere mortals from the realm of the gods) has been signed for by clients from across the Planet.While not an exact delimitation of our planets atmosphere, the Karman Line is generally regarded as the upper border of national airspace (but no international law explicitly states this). It is the zone where the Northern Lights (the heavenly Aurora Borealis) are born, dreams begin, and where Rolls-Royce teleports its Cullinan Blue Shadow passengers.And even if the magnificently-lavish automobile wont get there on its own, Rolls-Royce is searching for a practical solution for hypersonic aviation propulsion systems that can reach or even surpass that imaginary line. Although it's been with us for the past three decades, Nvidia is only now considered a phenomenon, thanks to its forays into artificial intelligence and machine learning. The maker of GeForce graphic chips is also a strong contender in the automotive sector, producing both hardware and software that power the most advanced vehicles. If you recall, Nvidia Tegra chips powered the infotainment systems in the Tesla Model S, and Tesla Vision also started with Nvidia-designed chips.Later, Tesla moved to design its own hardware, but that doesn't mean Nvidia left the automotive landscape. The company signed contracts with many major carmakers, including Volvo, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover , and several Chinese carmakers, such as NIO, XPeng, and BYD.Nvidia's most-advanced product is its DRIVE AI autonomous driving platform, powered by Orin chips processors and Hyperion sensors. Still, Nvidia's platform is not suitable for powering the human-machine interaction and the car's underlying functions, which is why it partnered with Qualcomm to offer such functions in the upcoming Volvo EX90 . As more carmakers signed up Nvidia as their supplier, the AI powerhouse thought having a more reliable partner as the CPU supplier was wise.During this year's Computex technology show in Taipei, Nvidia announced a new partnership with MediaTek to develop an integrated automotive platform. This would cover all the car's functions, from connectivity and multimedia to autonomous driving features and safety assist systems. A one-stop for the automotive industry, so to speak, blending MediaTek's system-on-chip (SoC) with Nvidia GPU and AI software.Under the new partnership, MediaTek will develop automotive SoCs that integrate an Nvidia GPU chiplet featuring NVIDIA AI and graphics intellectual property into the design architecture. The chiplets are connected by an ultra-fast interconnect technology. MediaTek Dimensity Auto platform will run the Nvidia Drive OS and Drive IX, designed for autonomous vehicles. The new platform will also power connected infotainment and in-cabin convenience and safety functions for the software-defined vehicles of tomorrow.The new platform includes Dimensity Auto Cockpit, which supports smart multi-displays, high-dynamic range (HDR) cameras, and audio processing, so drivers and passengers can seamlessly interact with the cockpit and the infotainment system. The platform also includes Auto Connect, ensuring drivers remain wirelessly connected with high-speed telematics and Wi-Fi networking.With Nvidia's help, MediaTek will give Qualcomm a run for its money. The leading smartphone chip manufacturer is developing its own Snapdragon Digital Chassis automotive platform. Although Nvidia and MediaTek have not disclosed any names, Danny Shapiro, vice president of Nvidia's automotive division, said they were already working with an automaker. Still, the new Dimensity Auto platform will work across a wide range of vehicles, from mainstream to luxury. Pictured above is Holgers latest take on the Japanese dual-sport, and it looks ready to tackle anything from the Dakar Rally to Baja. As a matter of fact, the bike was built to take on the Trans Euro Trail a scenic adventure riding route covering some 80,000 kilometers (50k miles) through several European countries. It takes riders to every corner of the Old Continent, with most of the action occurring on unpaved roads.As such, HB-Custom's rugged NX650 seems like the perfect machine for the job! The most intricate changes happened in and around the cockpit area, so lets get that out of the way first. Using a mixture of handmade parts and KTM hardware, Holger fashioned a sturdy navigation tower that holds a smartphone mount up top and a digital Koso display down low.Vertically stacked LED headlights from Hella are also attached to the aforementioned structure, and the tall windshield which fronts them was supplied by Rade Garage. The side panels attached to it have been fabricated in-house, while the high-mounted front fender is an aftermarket module from Polisport.Joining the navigation tower in the cockpit is a Magura handlebar equipped with premium rubber grips, compact switchgear, and beefy hand guards. At the other end of the ergonomic package, we find a pair of KTM foot pegs mounted on bespoke brackets. The fuel tank and seat pan are still the factory Honda units, but the latter received a fresh bit of gel padding and two-tone upholstery.Sir Breuer also retained the stock rear fender, simply attaching a set of grab handles to aid with getting the Dominator out of sticky situations. The suspension department saw some major improvements, though, in the form of modern fork internals at the front and a fully-adjustable YSS monoshock at the opposite end.Down in the unsprung sector, were greeted by stainless-steel spokes and dual-purpose rubber from Michelin. Stopping power is summoned via braided brake hoses and drilled Brembo discs, with custom-built protectors keeping the latter out of harms way when going off-road. Axel Joost Elektronik provided a control module for the creature s electronics, and its accompanied by fresh wiring all-round.Then theres the powertrain-related work: Holger refurbished the NX650s single-cylinder engine, swapped its stock carburetor with a Mikuni TM40 item, and discarded the original exhaust in favor of a tailor-made substitute. Featuring a two-one-two layout, the new pipework ends in titanium LeoVince mufflers with carbon fiber tips. Lastly, the chosen colorway is a simple, yet striking mixture of red and black. AWD HP The Toyota GR Yaris performance-focused version of the XP210 Yaris subcompact hatchback may be the smallest offering in the top street division of the company's Gazoo Racing (GR) alongside the GR86, GR Corolla, and GR Supra. But it's also the nastiest if it wants to because the pocket-sized three-door hot hatchback has GR-Four, a six-speed manual transmission, and a crazy 1.6-liter turbo three-cylinder engine rocking between 257 and 268 hp, depending on the region.Oh, and let us not forget one crucial detail it is produced according to WRC homologation rules. All in all, it's a pocket-sized blast of energy that should not be trifled with. And its potential is so much more than it meets the eye. From an EOM standpoint, Toyota made that clear when they took the 1.6-liter three-cylinder and uprated the tune to 300 horsepower for the fresher GR Corolla compact Hot Hatch sibling.But, as it turns out, the aftermarket realm is even more imaginative and ready to break the boundaries. Not once, not even twice, but almost three times compared to the stockcount. Thus, let us meet with Sydney-based automotive customization shop Powertune Australia and their latest creation, a 'Rodent' GR Yaris prepared especially for RDE, a local audio technology company specializing in microphones and related accessories.And we are not sure how many dBs (decibels) their stuff can withstand, but their new 'Rodent' GR Yaris will be a handful when hitting the right tunes at 741 horsepower. Yep, you read that right! Someone Powertune Australia upgraded the Toyota GR Yaris for someone else RDE to about the same power levels as the all-new McLaren 750S ! And that is not all, as they have the dyno proof to back the crazy claims. So, the readings show 740.9 horsepower at 8,117 rpm, almost three times the OEM power level of a stock GR Yaris.Of course, right now, there are many more questions than answers: how much have the companies invested in this build, what upgrades were used, how much time can the little mill withstand the additional stress, and much more. Alas, we must stay on our toes because the tuner says, "This little 1.6-liter three-cylinder weapon is absolutely loving its new power, and it's now time to have a crack at the dragstrip to back up the numbers." Hopefully, by the time they post some impressive quarter-mile dragstrip ETs and trap speeds, they will also have a nice little video prepared to let us hear the voice of the little rascal! EV FSD Elon Musk's visit to China has been rumored for quite some time, with many things on Tesla CEO's agenda. Shanghai operations are crucial to Tesla, especially as themaker wants to expand the gigafactory. Rumor has it that Tesla will also build its next-generation compact EV in China, and for this, it needs Chinese authorities' support to expand Giga Shanghai. There are other pressing matters for Musk to solve during this visit, including regulatory approval to testBeta in China, which was long in the making.Elon Musk is also expected to visit Tesla's Shanghai gigafactory, where the refreshed Tesla Model 3 production was rumored to start on June 1. This would be an excellent opportunity for Musk to hype the Project Highland update, potentially launching the new model during his visit to the factory. The refreshed Model 3 should be the first Tesla built in China with front and rear megacastings and a structural battery pack.Tesla has significant expansion plans in China after it started constructing its first Megapack factory last month. More intriguing than Tesla's expansion plans was a tweet Musk shared while he was onboard the plane that took him to Beijing. "The Chinese space program is far more advanced than most people realize," Musk said. The message might reveal another area of interest for the discussions with Chinese officials during the visit.Previous rumors indicated that Elon Musk would meet Chinese prime minister Li Qiang. The meeting is reportedly still on the agenda, as Musk wants to expand China operations. As the US and China relations became more tense, many businesses have tried to relocate operations and supply chains from China to other regions. Musk, on the other hand, is doubling down on China. Musk's first meeting after his plane landed in Beijing was with the Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang. The move is puzzling and fuels fear that China's Communist Party (CCP) wants Musk and his shiny social network Twitter to play along, spreading Chinese propaganda. Free-speech absolutist Musk has accommodated weird extremists on his platform while at the same time shutting up Turkish opposition during the recent elections. It wouldn't be unusual that Chinese leaders would want something from Musk in exchange for giving him the green light to test FSD Beta on Chinese roads.Qin Gang has been until recently China's ambassador to the US before being nominated as the foreign minister. He was also promoted to the ranks of the CCP as a member of the party's central committee. The moves emphasize the mood change in Beijing, as China puts greater weight on its relations with the US. This is precisely why I think the model I recently came across on eBay is very likely to tickle everybody's fancy.A 1968 Ford Mustang that hasnt moved in a very long time is fighting for survival online, trying to impress with a package that you don't necessarily see too often.As a little spoiler before jumping into more details, this Mustang was born with a big-block engine and the GT treatment, and after all these years, it continues to be complete.Now that I probably managed to catch your attention, let's see the rest of the details.The car has been sitting in what appears to be a junkyard for a long time. Unfortunately, we're not getting much information on the car's resting place for the last decades, but the flat tires and the metal issues suggest the Mustang has been parked for quite some time. The rust has obviously invaded the metal, but for a clearer picture of the damage it produced, you should head over to Aragon, Georgia, to check it out live.The seller says the underside is "crusty," and to be honest, I'm not surprised. A car that's been sitting for so long typically comes with wrecked floors, and I'd personally look into the trunk as well.As a fastback born with a big-block and the GT equipment package, this Mustang is a fascinating car. Or better said, "was" a fascinating car, as it now needs a full restoration to factory specifications.The 390 (6.4-liter) big-block unit was the top-of-the-line engine in 1967 with 320 horsepower. It was upgraded to 325 horsepower on the 1968 model year , but this time, it was no longer the king of the castle. The R-code Mustang was fitted with a 428 (7.0-liter) Cobra Jet unit that pushed the power limit to 335 horsepower.Unfortunately, we're not getting too much info on the current health of the engine, so make sure you ask for additional details if you're committed to a purchase.Needless to say, an S-Code Mustang isn't something you come across too often, and I'm certain the Presidential Blue paint will look stunning if restored correctly. Honestly, I don't think this Mustang deserves anything other than a professional restoration from someone with the risk skills and resources, as a model like this could cost a small fortune.For now, you can get your hands on the car for $30,000. This is obviously a hefty price tag, but given it's a rare Mustang whose potential is insane, I expect the car to find a new owner by the end of June when seller hbmustangs' listing expires BEV A huge jet-powered monster Photo: Lawrence Watts via thrustssc.com Driven by an Air Force pilot Photo: Jeremy Davey via thrustssc.com The record-breaking runs Photo: Bloodhound LSR via YouTube Screenshot The Thrust SSC today Photo: Guinness World Records via YouTube Screenshot The automobile was created to revolutionize transportation , but as they did with horse-drawn carriages, some people have never ceased to devise ways to make cars go faster.The first car that set a speed record was actually a French battery-electric vehicle () that reached 39.24 mph (63.15 kph) in 1898. The record was broken multiple times during the next few years, and with the advancements of the internal combustion engine over electric powertrains, the speed also rose exponentially.In January 1904, Henry Ford himself drove the 999 a custom race car powered by an 18.9-liter inline-four to a speed of 91.37 mph (147.05 kph). The record was broken multiple times that year, and by the early-1960s, the quest to build the fastest land vehicle on planet Earth was taken to another level.During that period, the Bluebird CN7 and the Spirit of America brought jet engine technology from the aircraft industry to the world of record-breaking land vehicles, raising the bar over the 400 mph (643 kph) mark.But as audacious as those speeds were, in the 1990s, a team of daring speed addicts set their sights on creating a four-wheeled vehicle capable of achieving the unachievable: setting a new speed record by breaking the sound barrier on land.Dubbed Thrust SuperSonic Car (or Thrust SSC, for short), the record-breaking vehicle was the brainchild of British entrepreneur and former world land speed record holder Richard Noble, who developed it with help from a dedicated team that included engineering masterminds Glynne Bowsher, Ron Ayers, and Jeremy Bliss.A follow-up to the Thrust 2, the jet-power car that broke the land speed record in 1983, the SSC looked more like a wingless jet fighter than a car.Yes, it had four wheels, but they were hidden underneath the gargantuan fuselage. The structure measured 154 feet (6.5 m) in length and 12 feet (3.7 m) in width, tipping the scales at nearly 20,000 pounds (10 tons) - as much as seven Toyota Corollas.On each side of the jet fighter-like fuselage, the SSC was equipped with an afterburning Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan engine, an aircraft unit that powered a series of models, including the British F-4 Phantom II jet fighter.The two engines could produce a net thrust of 50,000 lb-ft (223 kN), and if those figures weren't mind-blowing, the units gobbled up around 4.8 gallons (18 liters) of jet fuel every second. In more familiar terms, the SSC had a fuel economy of 0.05 mpg ( 4,850 liters/100 km), literally requiring a ton of fuel for each record-breaking run.While building a behemoth like the SSC required a team of bright minds to pull off, the task of driving it at over 700 mph (1,126 kph) fell on one man.Though Richard Noble had the required experience and was the land speed record holder at the time, he was approaching his 51st birthday, so he decided to hand down driving duties to Royal Air Force (RAF) Wing Commander Andy Green.The pilot was used to breaking the sound barrier constantly with a fighter jet, but doing so with a huge, jet-powered car was a different (and scarier) experience. As he recalled in the YouTube video below, Green had to fight the SSC's tendency to veer to the left at high speeds by constantly adjusting the steering angle. At several points during the runs, he had to turn the yoke close to 90 degrees in order to keep the jet car straight.After years of development, the SSC team traveled to the Al-Jafr desert in Jordan, where the car underwent a series of tests during the autumn of 1996 and spring of 1997.With the tests proving successful, the team relocated to Nevada's Black Rock Desert, the site where the Thrust 2 established a new speed record fourteen years earlier.The first official runs took place on September 25, 1997. With Green behind the yoke , the SSC reached an average speed of 714.144 mph (1,149.303 kph) over the required two runs. While this was more than enough to set a new world land speed record, it failed to achieve the goal of breaking the sound barrier.Therefore, the SSC team returned to the Black Rock Desert on October 15 for another crack at it. This time, the Green pushed the SSC to 763.035 mph (1,223.657 kph), sending a massive sonic boom throughout the surrounding area. Its effects were reportedly felt 10 miles away, in the town of Gerlach, where the vibrations allegedly shook windows and knocked off sprinkler covers.After the speed record was ratified, the SSC returned to England, where it was displayed at the Coventry Transport Museum alongside the Thrust 2.Though it was temporarily relocated in 2015 to facilitate the building's renovation, the engineering masterpiece returned to the museum. Visitors can also experience Green's run in a state-of-the-art 4D motion simulator.Since 1997, several attempts to build jet-powered cars able to break the SSC's record were made including Andy Green's Bloodhound project but, unfortunately, none were successful.Twenty-six years after its record-breaking runs, the Thrust SSC remains the fastest car ever built and the only one that broke the sound barrier. Photo: @klwtts via Twitter Photo: Tesla BEV Photo: Visanji T. Gala The German newspaper created a free search tool that allows customers to look for their cars' VINs and Tesla employees to verify their ID numbers at the company. I gave it a try with VINs from American auction websites, and a brief check revealed two totaled cars in the database with personal information from their previous owners. There are more than 2,500 Tesla VINs on the websites I found . If that affects written-off vehicles, it may be an even bigger issue for cars still on American roads.When I say personal information, it can be anything: from these folks' names to payment information. Only Handelsblatt knows what it is, and it may tell you more about that if you contact its team by email and provide enough evidence that you are the owner or former owner of totaled cars. What I strongly recommend is that you at least give it a look. It would be nice if Handelsblatt made an English version of the search tool, but Google Translate will help you if you are not familiar with German.If you think about it, it could not be any different. The files go from 2015 until March 2022, which means any car produced by the company until that last date can be in the Tesla Files. They also contain information about more than 100,000 employees. Where do you think most of them live? Tesla now has factories in China and Germany, but that was not the case until 2019 when Giga Shanghai started producing vehicles. Giga Grunheides premiere was in March 2022. What a coincidence, right?As you can see, most Tesla employees were in the US until that point, and they are still a majority there. While the Chinese market should eventually beat the American one for Tesla and any other carmaker in the world that is yet to happen. So we have 100 gigabytes (Gb) of information that were exposed, and a good chunk relates to the American market. Anyone with access to the company's project management system called Jira could check sensitive documents. Not by design, but by misuse: according to Atlassian the company that created Jira customers can "precisely control who can access what." In other words, Tesla's management allowed 23,398 files to be copied from the company's servers by someone who was not supposed to have access to them.Thankfully, the whistleblowers who copied these files did not use them with bad intentions. They just looked for a media outlet with the necessary legal and technical backup to reveal how Tesla handled customer and employee data. They have contacted several American outlets to do that, but none of them dared to touch the documents. It took a German newspaper to get the job done, even with a majority of American cars and customers affected. The sad bit is that very few realized that so far. Those who do know about the problem may be dismissing it as Germany's or Europe's problem. It is broader than that.More than the General Data Protection Regulation's (GDPR) hot potato, Handelsblatt discovered that Tesla received 2,400 complaints of sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) and 1,500 phantom braking cases. Themaker's only action to deal with them seems to be an internal presentation from May 2018 that the Tesla Files also revealed. The fault analysis presentation contained ten categories, and these issues were the most urgent ones, labeled as "Dangerous direct risk to customer safety without warning."We have two possibilities to explain this: either Tesla took the engineer's presentation seriously and failed to solve the issues they pointed out, or it just ignored them. Either way, that looks really bad. The company only took practical measures to deal with SUA incidents after Costas Lakafossis asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to recall all Tesla vehicles. The accident investigator blamed Autopilot's erratic behavior for inducing drivers to confuse the pedals. Ironically, that only happened after Chinese authorities started investigating the matter and only in China.There have been several (and absurd) attempts to downplay what the documents exposed. Some said 2,400 cases of sudden unintended acceleration in a universe of 3 million cars were nothing. It is like stating that having 695 mass shootings in the US is no big deal. After all, the country has 333 million people, of which 81 million souls possess 434 million weapons. Tesla advocates also said it was natural that the company would instruct its employees not to communicate with customers in writing, only verbally. The BEV maker's lack of transparency is notorious, but having people defend that is astonishing.If you do not want to be in the same boat as those guys, you should keep an eye on what Handelsblatt still has to reveal. More than that, Tesla employees should look for their IDs, and customers should check their cars' VINs on the German newspaper search tool. That is the best way to figure out how this story may also relate to you. On top of that, it will also bring your attention to another danger: arbitration rules. I'll talk about that in a future story that you should not miss. Besides being the first car startup to succeed in the complicated automotive industry, Tesla is also the first company to be allowed to operate in China without setting up a joint venture with a Chinese company. Tesla's special status in China is still unprecedented and mostly related to Elon Musk's good relations with the Chinese leaders. Still, it wasn't always smooth sailing for Tesla, and in the last couple of years, the company saw its image tarnished.News of alleged brake problems with Tesla cars caused mass hysteria in China, with hundreds of people claiming their EVs accelerated uncontrollably and the brakes failed to stop or even slow down the cars. The situation got so intense that some people even tried to take advantage of the situation and shared fabricated videos on Chinese social networks. The most famous was TikTok influencer Boss Kai, who spread false rumors through a video posted on his Douyin (Chinese name for TikTok) channel in 2021. In the video, Cai claimed that Tesla's quality inspectors were doing a sub-par job and used their position to gain personal favors.The same year, an unusual protest took place at the Tesla booth during the Auto Shanghai 2021 motor show. Zhang Yazhou jumped on top of a Tesla Model 3 to protest against her vehicle's defective brakes. The news became a worldwide sensation and fueled a backlash against Tesla. Nevertheless, it became clear to Tesla that it needed to do something to stop the negative stream of false claims about the malfunctioning brakes.Since then, Tesla has fought every claim made against the company in China and won many of them. In March, Boss Cai was forced to apologize to Tesla and pay a 100,000 yuan (about $14,400) fine for a fabricated video. Zhang Yazhou's situation was more complicated because she filed several lawsuits against Tesla while the EV maker countersued . Still, Yazhou lost a lawsuit she filed over an unlawful invasion of individual privacy after Tesla revealed a one-minute data log from the accident involving her Model 3. Tesla China revealed on its official Weibo account that Yazhou has also lost a second lawsuit against the company. According to a Chinese court, Tesla is not responsible for any reputational damages she may have suffered. There's a high probability that Tesla will also win the countersuit, which involves 5 million yuan (over $700,000) in damages.Yazhou has been filing lawsuits against Tesla since her accident, even though police reports showed that her father, who was driving at the time, was responsible for the crash. He was speeding at 118.5 km/h (73 mph) in urban areas and failed to keep a safe distance from the vehicles in front, which caused the accident. South Korea has recently proposed extending the work week to 69 hours, which was aimed at creating greater flexibility for families. However, Korean women say the move would only entrench traditional gender roles as they are faced with the problem of creating a work-life balance in a culture stacked against them, especially for working mothers. For Kim Sae Hee, it was a choice between doing what she loved at work and managing family life. She and her husband wanted to have a couple of kids as they assumed they could manage their careers. "When I went back to work, the idea of having a second child completely disappeared," she admitted. Going childless to pursue a career Sae Hee's story was not an isolated case of a woman making the hard decision to choose between a career and family life. Interior architecture university student Song Yeon Jeong has already decided to go childless due to fears of having children taking too much away from her career ambitions. "I would have to take a break from work [after childbirth] to take care of my children," she said. Yeon Jeong was also concerned with the high cost of living in Seoul, which is on the verge of having an affordability crisis for housing. But going childless has its own setbacks. In 2022, South Korea had the lowest fertility rate in the world at 0.78 children for every woman of childbearing age, and the figure will continue to decline in the next few years. The country officially passed the "death cross" in 2020, recording more deaths than births that year. Unless the country boosts its migration, it would need to triple its fertility rate to 2.1 to keep the population stable. Longer work hours and the gender wage gap South Korea's population decline is also linked to its other big problem of long work hours. Currently, the country already has some of the longest working hours among OCED nations, only ranking behind Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Chile. The nation's highly competitive and rigid work culture meant employees worked beyond standard legal hours to get ahead. South Koreans are allowed to work 40 hours a week and an additional 12 hours overtime after it reduced its work week from 68 hours to 52. However, the government proposed to re-increase the legal amount of overtime to enable a 69-hour work week. "Rather than forcing you to do it, it's more like a culture that makes you feel you have no choice but overwork," Yeon Jeong said. To make matters worse, a 2021 survey showed South Korean women earning 31.1% less than men, making the country's gender wage gap rate the highest among OCED nations. Backlash from the "MZ Generation" While the government's intention was to create flexibility among workers by increasing the number of overtime hours and compensating it with longer holiday leaves, the South Korean MZ Generation, which consists of Millenials and Gen Z in the workforce, immediately opposed the idea. Women's groups further argued a 69-hour workweek would only entrench already stereotypical gender roles in Korean society, in which men get stuck at work for longer and women are forced to stay at home. Sae Hee emphasized that, in a family set-up, the wife was the one who had to give up her work to look after their children. In response to the backlash on longer work hours, the South Korean government reversed its initial proposal and said it would take a new "direction" after listening to the concerns of the MZ Generation. It also increased maternity leave for new mothers from 12 months to 18 months to boost birth rates. @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 30 May 2023 16:45 (UTC+04:00) Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov met with UK Minister's Trade Envoy for Azerbaijan Baroness Emma Nicholson, who is on a visit to our country within the Baku Energy Week, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijan's Energy Ministry. At the meeting, discussions were held on the development of cooperation between the two countries within the Joint Intergovernmental Commission and in the field of transition to clean energy. The importance of conducting an intensive dialogue in the fields of green energy and energy efficiency and activating works on specific projects was emphasized. The prospects for cooperation between Azerbaijan and UK on financing of green energy were reviewed. Then Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov participated in the event titled Baku Connect held jointly with the Energy Industries Council in order to raise awareness of economic opportunities in the field of energy in Azerbaijan. In his speech, the Minister spoke about the reforms carried out in the field of energy in our country, the implemented energy projects, the role of Azerbaijan in ensuring the energy security of Europe, the production and export of green energy, as well as potential cooperation directions. It was noted that there is close cooperation with the UK in energy projects of global importance, over the years 34 billion USD have been invested in Azerbaijan from the UK, and successful relations in the hydrocarbon sector are now continuing in the direction of energy transition and development of the use of renewable energy. In this regard, the implementation of the solar energy project with bp in the liberated territories was brought to attention. It was noted that the Memorandum of Understanding signed in May 2021 between the Ministry of Energy and the International Trade Department of Great Britain on cooperation in the field of transition to clean energy contributes to our cooperation on energy transition and decarbonization. Our cooperation with bp in this direction is also commendable. The event, which was represented by more than 50 companies, continued with discussions in three sessions: Overview of the Energy Market of Azerbaijan and Project Opportunities, Business in Azerbaijan and How Azerbaijan Perceives the Energy Transition. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2023 13:37 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Moscow Ethnography Library has hosted a book exhibition dedicated to Azerbaijan. The exhibition highlighted Azerbaijan's culture, history, geography as well as prominent political and public figures, Azernews reports. The event was organized under the auspices of the Azerbaijani Youth Union of Russia. As part of the event, the Union donated books about the country's politics, economy, culture, literature and nature to the library in order to open the Azerbaijan corner. Speaking at the opening ceremony, chairman of the Azerbaijan Youth Union of Russia Jeyhun Huseynov noted that the youth association created by Vice-President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva serves the purpose of spreading and promoting Azerbaijani culture outside the republic. "Today, we have presented the literature dedicated to our country to the Ethnography Library, as well as the works of Azerbaijani authors. The books dedicated to the life and activities of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev have a special place among the books donated to the library," Jeyhun Huseynov said. General director of the association of cultural centers of the Eastern administrative district Aleksandr Moskalyov spoke about the long-standing cooperation with the Azerbaijani Youth Union of Russia. "This is not our first joint event. Today, our friends donated books about Azerbaijan to the Ethnography Library. This is a very important book choice. Azerbaijan's culture is rich, ancient and diverse, and it will be interesting for our readers to get to know it," Alexander Moskalyov noted. The book exhibition will last until June 5. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2023 12:23 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Dozens of book lovers have flocked to Icherisheher for the 5th National Book Fair. The annual book fair has long provided a venue where publishers, authors and readers come together to communicate and keep up with new book releases, Azernews reports citing Azertag. The 5th National Book Fair in Icherisheher offers a wide range of book choices. The book fair covers all aspects of publishing and includes book presentations, panel discussions, meetings with local and foreign authors, autograph sessions, poetry evenings, etc. Chairman of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union People's Writer Anar Rzayev, Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament's Culture Committee Ganira Pashayeva, MP People's Writer Sabir Rustamkhanli, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the International Bank of Azerbaijan Taleh Tahirli and director of the Ganun Publishing House Shahbaz Khuduoghlu addressed the opening ceremony of the book fair. In their remarks, they stressed the importance of the book in Azerbaijan, noting the great interest of young people reading. They outlined that not only the state, but also private publishing houses publishing books are successfully operating in Azerbaijan. More than 15 private publishing houses are represented at the book fair. Comparing Icherisheher with a huge library, called avid readers to participate in the book fair, which will last until June 4. The event continued with an artistic program. The fair visitors looked through books and exchanged their views on new editions. The 5th National Book Fair in Icherisheher is being held daily from 09:00 to 20:00 at Gosha Gala Square. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2023 11:42 (UTC+04:00) We resolutely reject the biased and baseless statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia with reference to the views and calls expressed by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev in Lachin district on May 28, 2023. This statement of the Armenian side, which occupied the territories of Azerbaijan for 30 years, carried out ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis, destroyed cities and villages, is a manifestation of his inability to digest the work done by Azerbaijan in a short time to carry out reconstruction works after liberating these territories from occupation, and created all the conditions for the return of the population brutally expelled from the territories. It can be seen that Armenia, at the same time, while withdrawing its forces from Lachin, the occupation of which ended in accordance with the provisions of the trilateral statement of 10 November 2020, aims to cover up and divert the attention of the international community, such as placing more than 2,700 mines and mine traps on houses in order to prevent the realization of the Great Return to Karabakh. The deliberate distortion by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs calls on the need to respect territorial integrity and sovereignty, the inadmissibility of interference in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan and the resolute prevention of steps that serve to promote separatism in the region demonstrate that the Armenian Foreign Ministry does not want the normalization of relations. It is ridiculous that Armenia, which committed an act of aggression against Azerbaijan in violation of the UN Charter and the norms and principles of international law, and did not end the occupation despite 4 resolutions of the UN Security Council, claims that Azerbaijan is threatening to use force. It is absolutely unjustified that a country that expelled all the Azerbaijani population from their native lands, not only in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, but also in Armenia, allegedly pursued the intention of ethnic cleansing against the Armenians living in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan intends to take all necessary steps towards the reintegration of local Armenian residents. The suppression of opinions and attempts against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is the sovereign right of Azerbaijan, which corresponds to the norms and principles of international law. The contrary activities of Armenia and Azerbaijan's intervention in the dialogue efforts with Armenian residents are to interfere in the internal affairs of our country and contradict the pathetic statements made by Armenia about territorial integrity and support for sovereignty. The intention to prepare for peace and stability in the region is not measured by fake calls and promises, but by real steps. The party that was the first to propose the basic principles for the establishment of peace, the first to put forward the text of the peace treaty, the first to promote the efforts to open communications in the region, the first to promote the establishment of the commission on delimitation and work in this direction, and the first to promote confidence-building measures such as the return of soldiers who lost their way at the border it is known to everyone that it is Azerbaijan. It is clear to everyone that it is Armenia that is hindering all these efforts. Thus, it would be good if the Armenian side, instead of obstructing peace-making efforts and making false and baseless statements, should respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country, including the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, not in words but in deeds. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2023 13:00 (UTC+04:00) Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif is likely to visit Azerbaijan as soon as Ministry of Foreign Affairs has started preparations in consultation with other Ministries, Azernews reports, citing foreign media outlets. In view of the endeavors of current government aimed at enhancing connectivity and economic cooperation with the Central Asian Republic and Azerbaijan, the upcoming visit will be crucial for bilateral relations, the sources added. Pakistan and Azerbaijan are also scheduled to hold third round of Bilateral Political Consultations on May 30-June 1, 2023 in Baku, to be attended by Pakistans Foreign Secretary, official sources told Business Recorder. Both sides will review implementation status of decisions taken during the last PBC meeting and JMC-activation of Working Groups, the sources added. On bilateral relations, both sides, sources said, will discuss possibilities of high-level visit like prime ministers and foreign ministers, status of pending Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs)/ agreements, in addition to briefing on Kashmir and Karabakh respectively. The agreement on the reciprocal encouragement and protection of investments, signed in October 1995 has been terminated and notice of termination served on October 26, 2022 after sharing new draft BIT with Azerbaijani side on September 7, 2022. The issues of trade and economy are also part of agenda of Secretary level talks which are as follows: review on decisions of Working Group on Trade; Preferential Trade Agreement; tariff-free access to Pakistani rice; Transit Trade Agreement; scope of more trade in agriculture produce including fruits and vegetables; and exchange of business delegation and participation in fair and exhibitions in respective countries. PTA is under negotiation between Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan. Commerce Ministry has also recommended signing of Transit Trade Agreement instead of the two transport agreements. Pakistan Mission forwarded MoU to Ministry of National Food Security and Research on cooperation in agriculture sector. For connectivity between both countries, possibility of operations of airlines and land will also be considered. The Pakistan Mission has forwarded counter draft of mutual recognition agreement on cooperation in field of plant quarantine and plant protection. Draft transit trade agreement received from Ministry of Commerce was shared with Azerbaijan on September 19, 2022. However, negotiations are yet to start. Lead from Pakistan side is Ministry of Commerce. On energy, follow up on the outcomes during the visit of Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Joint Working Group on Energy and PSO-SOCAR talks are also on the agenda of talks. The regional issues, like Iran, Russia, Turkiye, Afghanistan, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, trilateral mechanism of engagement and security will also be discussed during talks. On education and cultural cooperation, both sides will discuss the following issues: cooperation between ADA and FCA-announcement of the MoU; AIDA-sponsored language course for one junior diplomat- announcement during the talks; language exchange programme for one Azerbaijani diplomat at National University of Modern Language; general student exchange programme/ scholarship exchange; accreditation of Azerbaijani universities in Pakistan; sister cities-agreement on cultural cooperation; and airing Pakistani dramas on popular Azerbaijani channels. Both sides will also discuss issues related to tourism and specialized tourism to Northern areas from Azerbaijan. On the agreement between Azerbaijan and Pakistan on readmission of persons residing without authorization, Mission has sent its views/comments to the Ministry. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2023 13:55 (UTC+04:00) President of Finland, Sauli Niinisto has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day, Azernews reports. The letter reads: His Excellency, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Your Excellency, On the occasion of the 105th Independence Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I wish to extend to you and to the people of Azerbaijan my most sincere congratulations as well as my best wishes for the prosperity and well-being of your country and its people. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. Sauli Niinisto President of the Republic of Finland --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2023 14:14 (UTC+04:00) Chairman of the State Council of the DPRK Kim Jong Un has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day, Azernews reports. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2023 14:00 (UTC+04:00) A plan of cooperation for 2023-2028 in health and medical science fields between the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Ministry of Health of the State of Israel has been signed with participation of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the State of Israel Isaac Herzog. The document was signed by Minister of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan Teymur Musayev and Minister of Health and Interior of the State of Israel Moshe Arbel. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2023 18:18 (UTC+04:00) The process of normalization of Azerbaijani- Armenian relations has intensified over the past month, which is welcomed by the EU. According to Azernews, this was stated by the official representative of the foreign policy service of the European Union, Peter Stano. "The EU believes it is important to maintain this historic momentum and avoid steps, including hostile rhetoric, that could jeopardize the peace process," he said. Stano recalled that after negotiations on a peace treaty held in the US earlier in May, a meeting of leaders was convened in Brussels on May 14. Another meeting is scheduled for June 1 in Chisinau. In addition, the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia held a meeting in Moscow. During the Brussels meeting, considerable attention was paid to key topics, including border issues, communications, and humanitarian issues. Subsequently, the leaders publicly reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to the 1991 Almaty Declaration. As work continues on these sensitive issues, it is important to take steps to build confidence, act in good faith and show leadership to reach solutions to all issues related to comprehensive normalization. Despite the complex history of the conflict and past grievances, all issues must be resolved exclusively by peaceful means, through dialogue. The EU is committed to supporting the parties in this endeavor," he added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2023 20:11 (UTC+04:00) Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day, Azernews reports. The letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Your Excellency Mr. President, On the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I have the honor to extend to Your Excellency and to the people of Azerbaijan my heartfelt congratulations. I pray to Almighty Allah for the health and wellness of Your Excellency, and for further progress and prosperity for the people of Azerbaijan. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) values its strong ties with the Republic of Azerbaijan, and commends its role in supporting the OIC and promoting joint Islamic action, an objective for which the OIC was established. The OIC will continue its efforts in serving its Member States, promoting their common values, and strengthening the bonds of mutual cooperation amongst them. I look forward to Your Excellency's support lo strengthen the solidarity among the peoples of our Member States, and opening up new horizons for joint Islamic action. Please accept, Your Excellency Mr. President, the assurances of my highest consideration and regards. Hissein Brahim Taha, OIC Secretary General --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz (Photo : taken from WBNS 10TV YouTube channel) A US Air Force RC-135 was intercepted by a Chinese fighter jet over the South China Sea The Pentagon released an unclassified video Tuesday of a Chinese J-16 fighter jet performing an "unnecessarily aggressive maneuver" towards a US Air Force RC-135 jet. According to the US Indo-Pacific Command Public Affairs Office, the J-16 pilot took a sharp turn and "flew directly in front of the nose" of the reconnaissance plane, forcing the pilots to fly through the fighter plane's turbulence. Pentagon Asserts US Plane Flew on International Waters China's move occurred while the American plane was conducting "safe and routine operations" in the sky over the South China Sea, which is international airspace. Moreover, the incident happened after a Chinese spy balloon's incursion into US airspace in February. In a statement, the Indo-Pacific Command said the United States would "continue to fly, sail, and operate" in international waters and airspace. "We expect all countries in the Indo-Pacific region to use international airspace safely and in accordance with international law," the statement added. Meanwhile, Chinese defense minister Li Shangfu continues to refuse to talk with his American counterpart Lloyd Austin despite repeated requests by the US in recent months. Read Also: South Africa Grants Putin, Other BRICS Leaders Diplomatic Immunity for Summit Chinese Fighter Pilot Aggression The incident was not the first time a US military plane was harassed. In December 2022, a Chinese Navy J-11 fighter jet made a similar gesture towards another US plane over the South China Sea. During the interception, the Chinese pilot flew within 20 feet (6.1 meters) of the American plane's nose, forcing it to maneuver to avoid a collision. In response to the incident, China accused the US of "deliberately [misleading] public opinion." The Chinese government also insisted its pilot gave a warning to the American plane's crew but was disregarded. Related Article: Smoke From Nova Scotia Fires Reach US New England Region @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 30 May 2023 20:56 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day, Azernews reports. The letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Excellency, It gives me great pleasure to convey warm greetings and sincere good wishes of the Government and the people of the Maldives, and those of my own, to Your Excellency, the Government and the people of Azerbaijan on the happy occasion of the Independence Day of Azerbaijan. Let me also extend, Excellency, my personal best wishes for your good health and happiness, and for further progress and prosperity of the people of Azerbaijan. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih President of the Republic of Maldives --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2023 20:29 (UTC+04:00) President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day, Azernews reports. The letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Dear Mr. President, I cordially congratulate Your Excellency and the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of Azerbaijans Independence Day. Azerbaijan takes special place in the neighborly policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Common history and unbreakable religious and cultural bonds between Muslim peoples of our countries are considered as a valuable contribution to the development of relations between the two countries. The Islamic Republic of Iran has always fully supported Azerbaijans sovereignty and territorial integrity in this context. Taking into consideration the vast potential of our countries, I express my hope that we will witness the further enhancement of our bilateral cooperation and relations in line with mutual interests of our peoples. May Almighty Allah grant you robust health and successes and the people of Azerbaijan dignity and good days. Sincerely, Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi President of the Islamic Republic of Iran --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2023 09:30 (UTC+04:00) Turkmenistan and Afghanistan discussed issues related to the expansion of cooperation in the field of transit cargo transportation on Afghan territory, Azernews reports. According to the official source of Turkmenistan, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the state migration, customs, and border services of Turkmenistan, as well as the Turkmenawtoulaglary Agency (Turkmen Automobile Service) of the Agency of Transport and Communications under the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan were from the Turkmen side. In turn, the Afghan side was represented by employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Transport, and representatives of the customs, trade, and oil and gas sectors of Afghanistan. In particular, the parties discussed the development of cooperation in transit cargo transportation through Afghanistan, carried out for the export of oil and gas products of Turkmenistan. Cooperation in the field of cargo transportation between Turkmenistan and Afghanistan is an important and strategic direction of bilateral relations between these two countries. Both states have a geographical location that contributes to the development of transport links and the transportation of goods. As part of the development of cooperation between Turkmenistan and Afghanistan in the field of cargo transportation, a number of measures have been taken. This includes the construction and modernization of transport infrastructure, such as highways, railways, as well as the improvement of customs procedures and borders. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2023 18:55 (UTC+04:00) Rostelecom is interested in developing a domestic lithography machine, but there will be nothing easy about doing this, President of the Russian telecom company Mikhail Oseevsky said in an interview with the Vedomosti newspaper, Azernews reports, citing TASS. "We are highly interested in having a domestic lithography machine but this is a complicated and distinct task," the chief executive said. There is only one producer of such equipment globally (the Netherlands-based ASML) that will not sell anything to Russia, Oseevsky noted. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today A mix of clouds and sun in the morning followed by cloudy skies during the afternoon. High 86F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Canadians who drive EVs will soon have more options for where to charge their battery. The Canadian government recently announced it is collaborating with Tesla to help install nearly 3,000 EV chargers in various public and private locations to diversify and further encourage the use of EVs in the country. Canada wants to have 750 charging connectors in public locations available to all EV drivers to utilize, per the Canadian government's announcement. Canada-Tesla Partnership Details Canada mentioned in its recent announcement that it is working with various vehicle manufacturers and charging service providers, such as Tesla, to advance the deployment of charging infrastructure while supporting Canadians to make the switch to EVs. An Engadget report mentions that the Canadian government plans to install nearly 3,000 EV chargers in multi-use residential buildings, offices, public places, and fleets nationwide with the help of its automaker partners. Most of them will be Level 2 chargers capable of charging a dead EV battery in around three to eight hours; some of the 3,000 will be Level 3 chargers that can provide a sufficient charge for 100-250 miles in 30-45 mins. As part of this collaboration, Tesla will open a portion of its existing Canadian Supercharger network to non-Tesla electric vehicles, wherever site hosts allow. The first on the Canadian government's agenda is the piloting of an open Supercharging route for EV drivers between Sudbury and Ottawa, which will play host to many of the 750 charging connectors Canada is planning to place in public locations nationwide by the end of 2025. Read More: Capcom, GoodSmile Reveals RE4 Remake Leon Nendoroid The charging connectors on this supercharging route will be made by retrofitting existing charging connectors and creating new ones; non-Tesla EV drivers could also use these chargers to charge their vehicles. 350 of the 750 chargers Canada plans on placing for its open Supercharging route will be 250kW Superchargers, allowing non-Tesla drivers to quickly charge their EVs compared to others. For context, a 250kW Tesla Supercharger could provide enough battery charge for a Tesla Model 3 Long Range to reach as far as 75 miles in only five minutes, per Tesla. The Superchargers could even charge EV batteries at rates of up to 1,000 miles per hour if applicable. The Canadian government plans to distribute these open chargers across Canada for EV driver convenience. EV Propagation In Canada The EV market is as healthy as ever in Canada - the country's energy regulator reports that 86,032 EVs were registered in the country in 2021, while the first quarter of 2022 saw the highest EV quarterly registrations on record at 26,018, which is 7.7% of the total vehicle registrations during that period. Auto News Canada reported in Nov. 2022 that Canadian EV sales were up by a third by that time, though the country is still lagging behind the rest of the world in terms of EV transition. The switch from internal combustion engine vehicles or even hybrid vehicles to EVs is proving difficult due to a lack of public charging facilities, a problem that Canada is working to solve. Related Article: Hyundai, LG Energy To Build $4.3B US EV Battery Plant Lynn Deatherage's Letter to the WDN; Not Published as of June 4th, 2023 Publisher's Note: This "Letter to the Editor" to the Washington Daily News was written by Lynn Deatherage, my wife, early on May 22nd, 2023, and promptly sent by email to the proper address, as advertised, that same morning. That email was not returned as the address sent to must have been correct. So far, it has been 6 days, here in the age of quickened information, and Lynn's correspondence with the WDN editor, seeking just public redress, has not been published, and subsequent corrective action has not been taken. That being the case of such poor purpose by the Washington Daily News, Eastern North Carolina NOW will NOW publish this intended public correspondence as our Journalistic ideals command us to remain abjectly serious about: Freedom of Speech; the consequences of a Free Press; the intended honesty in all journalistic endeavors; and the guaranteed right of informing the People in a manner where only the truth is paramount. With this First Amendment to Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Speech, however, comes certain responsibilities; responsibilities that we hold dear at Eastern NC NOW as a major player in the "Public Square." Lynn Deatherage's Letter to the WDN; Not Published as of May 28th, 2023 In regard to your recent "Sound Off" section in the Washington Daily News, May 20th issue, an anonymous "caller," whose sole objective was to denigrate a duly elected county commissioner, I wondered what the purpose really was here. It takes zero effort, and no accountability for a so-called "anonymous" entity to make a false accusation, and far longer for honorable people to refute these lies. I am curious, how does this make you feel as the publisher? In no way does this adhere to the standards listed in your mission statement. Firstly, this isn't "news" and secondly, as mentioned, it is not true. Is not publishing the truth the most important factor in publishing the "news?" Please feel free, at some point, to do your due diligence as is your journalistic duty to discover the truth, and move forward with integrity. Does not your readership deserve that? In an atmosphere of growing divisions amongst people, how does your "Sound Off" section really help? If anyone should feel humiliated, it should be you for your publication. I welcome and expect your public apology as soon as possible. Sincerely, Lynn Deatherage, 252.944.3952 Now that the public is allowed to know the truth regarding the Hunter Biden Laptop Scandal, after more that 2 1/2 years of deception by the corrupt Corporate Media Kabal, propropagandidats all, and the discredited Deep State, we have NOW learned that the infamous laptop is far less about the Biden Boy's fetish for pornography, narcotics and Russian whores, and far more about Hunter's pivotal role in the Biden Crime Syndicate's selling of deep access to our foreign adversaries, and to what extent it has compromised our national security: What is your opinion about this possible coordinated Treason? It is imperative that we know the truth of what may be the greatest scandal in our Republic's history, and all aforementioned parties prosecuted for their crimes against the People. Currently, our Two Tiered Justice System is constructed to protect all Democratic Socialists, their corrupt "Journalist" spokes-sheople, and their Deep State enablers ... so why bother. It is Donald Trump's fault. Pankaj Merchia, MD, and Shona Pendse, MD, were charged in a superseding indictment for tax evasion and fraud against the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Justice Department said Feb. 3. Dr. Merchia and Dr. Pendse, both based in Brookline, Mass., received two counts of tax evasion and one count of conspiracy each to defraud the IRS. In December 2022, Dr. Merchia was indicted on one count of healthcare fraud and three counts of money laundering. Dr. Merchia and Dr. Pendse allegedly conspired to use a fake $30 million transaction in order to receive tax reductions and made false statements about the transaction to investigators. Both physicians received substantial income but avoided paying taxes, according to the Justice Department. Dr. Merchia also allegedly billed former patients' insurance for continuous positive airway pressure and bilevel positive airway pressure machine monthly rentals, years after the patients had returned the machines and left the practice. He is also alleged to have billed the insurance of a family member for a CPAP monthly rental for $400,000, knowing insurance would not cover the treatment by a family member. It is also alleged that Dr. Merchia used the profits in a $250,000 wire transfer and $140,000 in securities. Money laundering can rack up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Tax evasion and conspiracy to defraud the IRS can lead to a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Microsoft is not giving up on getting the UK regulatory watchdog's approval. The tech giant recently filed its appeal to the British Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for it to reconsider its decision to block its acquisition deal with Activision. The UK's CMA previously blocked Microsoft's acquisition deal because it was concerned about its alleged dominance over cloud gaming and the "significant shortcomings" of its solutions. Microsoft CMA Appeal Details Microsoft recently filed its appeal to the CMA's decision, but it is only now that its contents were revealed. The company mentioned that the CMA made "fundamental errors" in its assessment of Microsoft's position in cloud gaming services - it didn't consider the constraints from native gaming, wherein gamers access games installed on their devices through a physical disc or digitally download it to their device. The tech giant argues that cloud gaming shouldn't be considered a separate market due to its potential for gamers to decide to switch to native gaming instead, which provides them with the flexibility to play games and save storage simultaneously. In addition, Microsoft stated that the CMA erred in failing to consider the three long-term commercial agreements Microsoft entered into with cloud gaming providers for the licensing of rights to stream its games, including Activision's after its acquisition deal gets closed. Read More: Switzerland Now Has Robots That Serve as Security Guards Gamespot mentioned in its report that these deals were critical in the EU's decision to give Blizzard the go-ahead about its acquisition deal with Activision. You may remember that European Commission Executive Vice President for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age Margrethe Vestager said that Microsoft inking these deals fully addressed the EU's concerns with the acquisition deal and that it had significant pro-competitive effects on the gaming market. Furthermore, Microsoft argued that the CMA made a mistake by blocking its acquisition deal with Activision on the basis it had a duty to impose what the CMA described as a "comprehensive remedy," allowing it to overlook various remedies and assess their benefits and detriments. The company also said that the CMA unlawfully failed to take account of the "interests of comity," committed a mistake in rejecting Microsoft's Cloud Rememdy, and acted in violation of the company's common law duty of fairness and its own remedies guidance. What's Next For Microsoft? While Microsoft may have submitted its appeal to the UK government, having the CMA's block repealed will most likely be a lengthy process for the company. According to Eurogamer, the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal says it will still need to go back through the CMA for review despite being capable of dealing with straightforward cases within nine months. So far, only the UK has blocked Microsoft's acquisition deal with Activision, while the US remains the only country to be undecided on the matter pending an investigation. 37 countries have approved the acquisition as of press time, which include China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil. Related Article: CMA Blocks Microsoft-Activision Acquisition Deal in Final Decision Orthopedic surgeon Andrew Dowd, MD, and lawyer George Constantine have been convicted of defrauding businesses and insurance companies in a $31 million trip-and-fall fraud scheme, the U.S. Justice Department said Dec. 16. Between 2013 and 2018, Dr. Dowd and Mr. Constantine, among others, engaged in a fraud scheme where patients were recruited to stage trip-and-fall accidents and then undergo medically unnecessary surgeries to increase the value of personal injury lawsuits. Dr. Dowd and Mr. Constantine used a team of "runners"' who were paid in kickbacks to recruit the patients to stage or falsely claim they suffered trip-and-fall accidents at particular locations throughout the New York City area. The patients were then directed to go to hospitals to obtain discharge papers and were brought to Mr. Constantine's office. Mr. Constantine would accept the case while failing to ask even the most basic questions during the intake process, filing nearly 200 fraudulent suits and earning more than $5 million in settlement fees. Patients were then driven to meet with Dr. Dowd, who would perform arthroscopic knee and shoulder surgeries on patients within one to two weeks of meeting them. He paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks for these referrals without performing any physical exams on patients and fabricating medical records to make it seem like the patients were injured. Patients were paid roughly $1,000 after each surgery and Dr. Dowd was paid around $10,000 per surgery. Dr. Dowd performed nearly 300 medically unnecessary surgeries and earned more than $3.2 million dollars. Patients were recruited from homeless shelters and often suffered from drug and alcohol addiction. Dr. Dowd and Mr. Constantine were found guilty of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum of 20 years in prison. Anne Grand'Maison, MD, is suing Buffalo, N.Y.-based Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center for allegedly compromising patient safety and being gender biased. Health Research Inc. Roswell Park Division; Candace Johnson, PhD; Renier Brentjens, MD, PhD; Carl Morrison, MD; John Kane, MD; and Errol Douglas, PhD, have also been named in the suit. The lawsuit alleges that in at least 20 cases, Dr. Grand'Maison, who is trained in sarcoma, received pathology reports for sarcoma patients that had several diagnostic errors, and that doctors who she consulted with on diagnoses and treatments were undereducated in sarcoma research, according to court documents from the U.S. District Court Western District New York. It also alleges the center's lead sarcoma pathologist refused to reach out for a second opinion in difficult cases despite Roswell's policies and that the sarcoma clinic was extremely understaffed. When Dr. Grand'Maison brought these concerns to leadership, her efforts "appeared to fall on completely deaf ears as hospital politics and doctor egos took precedence," according to court documents. She further describes Roswell as "a work environment which was hostile to female physicians in innumerable ways." Her case is the 15th lawsuit filed against the center in the past eight years for discrimination based on gender, race or disability. "Our physician experts not only adhere strictly to national best practices in the diagnosis and care of patients with sarcoma, they determine and disseminate the standards of appropriate medical care as lead authors of national guidelines," Roswell Park said in a statement to Investigative Post. "The facts demonstrate that Roswell Park is a richly diverse and inclusive organization." Brian Gullett, DO, was sentenced to six months of prison for illegal opioid prescription, the Justice Department said May 25. From November 2010 until June 11, 2015, Dr. Gullett and his colleagues prescribed thousands of oxycodone and morphine-based pills out of a pain management clinic that operated in Beckley, Beaver and Charleston, all in West Virginia, and Wytheville, Va. 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. Dr. Gullett signed multiple oxycodone prescriptions for 120 pills of 30 milligrams each and 30 pills of 15 milligrams each for one patient in 2013. He admitted these prescriptions were not for a legitimate medical purpose and the patient's medical chart did not support the prescriptions. He was initially indicted in 2018 along with the owners, managers and other physicians associated with the clinic. Dr. Gullett was sentenced to six months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and was fined $5,000 for aiding and abetting obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. He also surrendered his medical license and his DEA certificate of registration and agreed not to apply for re-registration to dispense Schedule II controlled substances. UnitedHealthcare is expected to change its prior authorization requirements for gastroenterology care June 1. The proposed changes have been controversial, with prominent GI organizations expressing concerns and even urging UnitedHealthcare to rethink the policy. UnitedHealthcare believes that the changes will be best for patients by improving safety and preventing procedure overutilization. Last week, UnitedHealthcare requested a meeting with the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Gastroenterological Association and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy to discuss the new policy. According to a May 26 email sent to Becker's, "UHC has not been able to clearly articulate the need for such a sweeping prior authorization program." The GI societies have been asking UHC to share internal data that justifies prior authorization for 61 endoscopy codes, according to the email. In the meeting, UHC told the societies that it would discuss "delaying the new GI prior authorization program in exchange for an 'advance notification program,' requiring GI practices and staff to gather detailed patient data prior to procedures and in preparation for a Gold Card program in 2024," the email said. "What UHC verbally presented in our meeting was a poorly defined and complicated administrative process. The GI societies are not in a position to appropriately evaluate the UHC proposal with the limited information presented," the societies told Becker's. "A pause in the June 1 launch of UHCs prior authorization policy requires the GI societies to publicly support this alternative proposal by early next week. Our patients health is at stake and we cannot meet this unreasonable request." A new genetic test called polygenic risk score could help some patients reduce their risk of heart attack at a young age, The New York Times reported May 30. Polygenic risk score looks at thousands of genetic variations that could point to who is likely to have a heart attack. The test, which costs about $150 and is not typically covered by insurance, could identify people likely to have heart attacks decades before they are at high risk. "There's a real unmet need to identify high-risk people very early in life," Nicholas Marston, MD, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, told the Times. "We know the solution to preventing heart disease is getting your bad cholesterol as low as possible for as long as possible." Those at high risk could begin treatment early, while others who might have high cholesterol but low risk of heart attack may be spared unnecessary treatment. However, some critics said the tests may cause further problems down the line. Patients treated at younger ages may not want to take statin or other drugs for the rest of their lives because the risk is too far in the future. One study found about 40 percent of people 65 and older who had a heart attack and needed lipid-lowering medications stopped taking statins within two years. Polygenic risk scores could also cause some patients to label themselves with a disease. That label may "inexorably [lead] to tests and a search for treatments," Rita Redberg, MD, a cardiologist at the University of California San Francisco and the editor at JAMA Internal Medicine, told the Times. "Now, whenever they experience the common aches, pains and twinges of life, they wonder if it is because they have this 'disease,'" which could possibly lead to an overutilization of healthcare, she said. And some critics emphasize that more research is needed to show that treatment at a young age can prevent heart attacks years down the line. One study used data from hundreds of thousands of people in Britain and Japan. It found the polygenic risk score can help make treatment decisions for patients under 50 when it's not clear whether or how aggressively to lower their LDL levels, but for those over age 50, lifestyle factors had more of an influence on risk. Health systems are using generative artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT to assist in creating marketing materials, though human staffers still review the writing for accuracy. Morgantown, W.Va.-based WVU Medicine, for instance, is employing the technology to draft routine web content, increasing efficiency and saving time for providers. "ChatGPT's initial draft, however, is just a starting point, one that our professional writers carefully review and edit before sharing with the clinical subject matter expert, who verifies the accuracy and ensures we add any necessary customized differentiators," Anthony Condia, the health system's chief marketing and communications officer, told Becker's. "Having that first draft in hand is especially helpful given how busy our providers are and the limits they have on their time to meet for an initial discovery session." New Orleans-based LCMC Health is turning to generative AI to assist in creating blog posts, articles and e-newsletters, analyze market research, and draft internal content such as job descriptions. "While AI can automate and enhance many marketing tasks, it's important to ensure that the responses generated align with LCMC Health's brand voice and values," said Suzie Daly, director of consumer insights at the health system. "The LCMC Health team carefully reviews and improves all deliverables to maintain brand voice, accuracy and relevance." Other health systems are still exploring the new technology. "We are currently in the experimentation versus adoption phase of ChatGPT and generative AI," said Stephanie Hogarth, vice president and chief marketing officer of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "While the potential is mind-blowing and we see many exciting applications throughout the marketing ecosystem, there's still a lot to learn first to ensure its safe and appropriate use." Penn State Health is also testing the use of large language models for its marketing operations. "We think it has plenty of potential to quickly and efficiently generate first drafts of messaging for subjects ranging from certain public announcements to operational communications and internal alerts," said Sean Young, the Hershey, Pa.-based health system's senior vice president and chief marketing officer. "As with all content whether produced by people or AI it's vital to have effective oversight, proofreading and editing processes in place. It's not simply 'plug and play' automation." Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed a bill into law that will require hospitals to provide an itemized bill when billing for medical services. The new law is set to take effect Sept. 1, according to the Texas legislature's website. Currently, patients can request an itemized bill but cannot get it automatically. Under the new law, the itemized bill will have to include the amount the hospital will accept as full payment for each service or supply, a plain language description of the charge, and the billing codes and costs provided to third parties involved in reimbursement. The new law applies to hospitals and healthcare facilities, but not to physicians or federally qualified healthcare facilities. Elizabeth Holmes, who was convicted of defrauding investors in her now-defunct blood testing startup Theranos, is scheduled to begin serving an 11-year federal prison sentence May 30, The Wall Street Journal reported. Ms. Holmes was found guilty of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and ordered to pay $452 million in restitution along with former boyfriend and top Theranos executive Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, who is serving a nearly 13-year prison term, according to the May 30 story. Theranos, once valued at more than $9 billion, had claimed to revolutionize medical testing using just a finger-prick blood sample that could quickly and cheaply test for more than 200 health conditions, the newspaper reported. The company was found to only be able to do 12 tests with this method and secretly use and alter devices already on the market. The U.S. District Court in Northern California recommended Ms. Holmes serve her time at a minimum-security women's prison camp in Bryan, Texas, according to the story. Jeanell Rasmussen, RN, is stepping down as chief nursing officer and vice president of patient care at St. Michael Medical Center in Silverdale, Wash., according to an internal memo obtained by the Kitsap Sun. Ms. Rasmussen is taking some "much-deserved time off after an intense few years before pursuing new opportunities" and will be with the hospital until June 2, St. Michael Medical Center President Chad Melton told staff in April, according to the newspaper. St. Michael Medical Center is part of Tacoma, Wash.-based Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, which is affiliated with Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health. Ms. Rasmussen joined the hospital in 2013. Bremerton, Wash.-based Harrison Medical Center changed its name to St. Michael Medical Center in 2020. "Jeanell has been pivotal to St. Michael Medical Center, always going above and beyond her patient obligations to ensure our team members feel supported, empowered, and core to our facility's success," Mr. Melton wrote, according to the Kitsap Sun. "From her first week at Harrison Medical Center, Jeanell hit the ground running to ensure a smooth integration with CHI Franciscan, including leading the integration of human resources, finance, risk, spiritual care, and lab services." He added: "Despite her many professional accomplishments, Jeanell is most proud to have empowered team members to recognize their strengths, pull together, and execute outstanding patient outcomes." Ms. Rasmussen's departure comes as St. Michael Medical Center has regained compliance with CMS regulations. In 2022, a nurse at the hospital called local fire and rescue workers to ask for help in the overcrowded emergency room, and CMS found it was not in compliance in several areas related to health and safety. St. Michael Medical Center has selected Rosalie "Rosie" Apalisok, BSN, RN, to serve as interim chief nursing officer, Mr. Melton said, according to the Kitsap Sun. LifeBridge Health tapped Amy Shlossman to lead two Baltimore hospitals as president and chief operating officer. Ms. Shlossman will assume the helms of Grace Medical Center and Sinai Hospital in July, according to a May 30 news release from the Baltimore-based health system. She currently serves as system co-lead for care delivery operations at Phoenix, Az.-based Banner Health and as COO of Banner University Medical Center Phoenix. She succeeds Leslie Simmons, LifeBridge Health's executive vice president and chief operating officer, who has led the two hospitals in an interim capacity for the past six months. The poster of Netflix series "Black Knight" is seen in this photo provided by the streaming platform. Yonhap A growing number of Korean filmmakers have launched drama series on streaming platforms to reach a wider audience amid the sluggish film industry and changing consumer trends. Following the global success of the Netflix series "Squid Game" (2021) directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, these streaming platforms, also known as over-the-top (OTT) platforms, have emerged as a more practical and cost-effective choice for filmmakers grappling with financial constraints. As theatrical releases of new films were on hold amid the COVID-19 pandemic and deep-pocketed streaming services increased investment in original content, several Korean filmmakers have collaborated with OTT platforms to work on drama series. Cho Eui-seok, best known for "Master" (2016) and "Cold Eyes" (2013), directed Netflix's new sci-fi series "Black Knight," which depicts stark social divide in a dystopian future devastated by severe air pollution. Cho said he decided to work on the TV series for the first time since his debut in 2002 considering the slim chance of drawing investment for new film projects. "I heard that investment for several films has been hold and there are over 60 movies that haven't been able to hit screens," Cho said in a recent media interview. "I thought it would be a little difficult to work on new films for a while." Lee Jong-pil, who took the helm of film dramas "Samjin Company English Class" (2020) and "Born to Sing" (2013), also presented his first TV drama series "One Day Off" on local platform Wavve. The eight-part omnibus drama series starring actor Lee Na-young follows a high school teacher who travels around the country on Saturdays to escape from the drudgery of her life. The promotional poster of Wavve original drama "One Day Off" starring Lee Na-young is seen in this photo provided by Wavve. Yonhap Here are 10 healthcare billing fraud cases Becker's has reported since May 9: 1. A Michigan vascular surgeon will serve 80 months in prison for submitting $19.5 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare, Medicaid and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. 2. A former New Hampshire physician pleaded guilty to healthcare fraud for his role in a $1.9 million Medicare fraud scheme. 3. An Ohio physician was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to healthcare fraud and illegally prescribing controlled substances. 4. Former administrators at a New York City skilled-nursing facility will pay $3.46 million to settle allegations the facility switched residents' insurance, often without their full consent, and paid kickbacks to a hospital employee to recruit residents with original Medicare. 5. A federal judge ordered a Chicago physician and his wife to pay $3 million in civil damages and penalties after they were found guilty of receiving kickbacks from a home health agency as payment for Medicare patient referrals. 6. Springfield, Ill.-based St. Elizabeth's Hospital agreed to pay $12.5 million to settle allegations in a whistleblower suit that it committed billing errors resulting in an overpayment for services. 7. A Pennsylvania clinic executive was charged with conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud for allegedly billing Medicare for $10 million worth of medically unnecessary urine drug tests. 8. A Kansas physician pleaded guilty to ordering $16 million worth of unnecessary genetic tests and orthotic braces for more than 3,000 patients in a telehealth fraud scheme. 9. Two Kentucky drug testing labs will pay $1.7 million to settle allegations they billed Medicare and Medicaid for medically unnecessary urine drug tests. 10. Yale New Haven (Conn.) Health and Northeast Medical Group in Bridgeport, Conn. a physician and associated provider group affiliated with the health system agreed to pay $560,718 to resolve allegations they overbilled Medicare and the state of Connecticut. A jury has awarded $31.6 million to a family in a medical practice case against MyMichigan Medical Center-Midland, ABC12 reported May 25. The case was filed against the hospital after their daughter suffered permanent brain damage at birth. An attorney for the family argued that fetal monitor strips from the hospital showed their daughter was in distress and needed an "immediate caesarean section" due to excessive uterine activity caused by medication given to her mother, according to the report. According to court documents, medical staff did not stop the flow of medication and delivery did not occur in time, resulting in brain damage due to a lack of oxygen for the child. She has been diagnosed with spastic quadriplegia, cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder. "MyMichigan Health sympathizes with the family and the challenges they have faced and will face. While we sympathize with the family, we disagree with the verdict and stand behind the care delivered by our health care team," the hospital said in a statement shared with Becker's. Texas lawmakers have passed a bill that would strengthen the state medical board's authority to regulate and discipline physicians who may pose a threat to patients. The House and Senate signed off on the bill May 29, and it now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. The bill would make it a Class A misdemeanor to lie on a medical license application. It would also prevent physicians who had their medical licenses revoked, restricted or suspended in another state from practicing in Texas. The board would also conduct monthly monitoring of the National Practitioner Data Bank to learn about physicians' arrests, malpractice lawsuits or out-of-state disciplinary actions. Licensed physicians would pay a small fee to cover monitoring costs. The legislation comes five years after Texas neurosurgeon Christopher Duntsch, MD, PhD nicknamed "Dr. Death" was sentenced to life in prison for killing or injuring more than 30 patients, according to NBC affiliate KXAN. Reporting and monitoring shortcomings with the National Practitioner Data Bank allowed Dr. Duntsch to gain credentialing at several Dallas hospitals and continue practicing, despite concerns about his competence as a surgeon. "I am pleased that we were able to achieve meaningful reform to the Texas Medical Board," Rep. Julie Johnson, the bill's author, told KXAN. "We have closed a loophole that allowed for situations like Dr. Death cases to happen and gave the TMB necessary tools to properly credential and investigate physician malpractice. Texas patients will have greater protection and transparency going forward." Ms. Johnson said the bill was prompted by KXAN's reporting, which found that nearly 50 physicians were still practicing in Texas despite other state medical boards taking actions against their licenses. The U.S. and Mexico have asked the World Health Organization to declare a public health emergency of international concern over a fungal meningitis outbreak linked to two surgery clinics in a Mexico border city, a CDC official told CBS News on May 26. Twenty-five people in the U.S. with probable or suspected cases underwent surgical procedures with epidural anesthesia in Matamoros, Mexico, between January and May. Two people affected have died. Four more notes: The CDC is collaborating with Mexican health authorities to alert and monitor 220 U.S. patients who had surgery at one of two now closed clinics between January and May 13. The majority of people being monitored are Texas residents. Health officials are urging anyone who had surgery at Riverside Surgical Center or Clinica K-E to be evaluated for fungal meningitis, even if they do not have symptoms, which can take weeks to develop. People with suspected or probable cases reported headaches before progressing to fever, vomiting, neck pain and blurred vision. CDC officials said patients from the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Colombia were on the exposed list. Investigators believe many of the potentially exposed patients had sought cosmetic operations such as liposuction or breast implants, according to CBS News. Healthcare providers are buckling under the administrative burden associated with electronic health record (EHR) systems. Allergists and immunologists are no exception. In addition to documenting patient visits, allergists and immunologists must deal with high volumes of prior authorizations and paperwork needed for biologic agents that can transform the lives of patients with conditions like severe asthma. During a recent Becker's Hospital Review webinar sponsored by Nuance, Robert McDermott, MD, allergist and immunologist with Allergy, Asthma & Immunology of the Rockies in Colorado, and founder of Healing Intelligence Network, discussed how allergists, immunologists and other specialists can leverage technology to combat employee burnout in their practices. AI-powered technologies restore the human connection to medicine, while reducing administrative burden Solutions that integrate with the EHR can eliminate the need to type or dictate into the system. Allergy, Asthma & Immunology of the Rockies, for example, recently implemented DAX by Nuance at its offices in Colorado. "DAX has been a huge help," Dr. McDermott said. "The AI technology listens in the background to the natural conversations that we have with patients and then handles the documentation. It enables us to connect with people more effectively because we aren't distracted by documentation." Before deploying DAX, Dr. McDermott waited until after patient visits to complete documentation. "It's a sacred moment when you can connect with people, but then I had to spend up to two hours at the end of each day finishing documentation. If healthcare providers don't have tools to handle documentation efficiently, they often feel that they are fighting a losing battle," Dr. McDermott said. In response to burnout, physician practices are turning to AI In 2021, Dr. McDermott polled his providers, PAs and another physician that works with him to find out how much time they spent documenting in the EHR each day, as well as their level of burnout. "They all felt extremely burned out and they were devoting at least one and a half hours per day to documenting in the EHR at the end of the workday," Dr. McDermott said. According to Dr. McDermott, to get the organization out of the burnout trap, he and his team have focused on three elements: Psychology tools to improve mindset Physiology tools to enable people to take better care of themselves Technology tools and AI to streamline work "This approach has really helped us," Dr. McDermott said. After implementing DAX, Dr. McDermott conducted another poll. Employees felt much better and were only spending 30 minutes on documentation at the end of the day. "I think DAX leads to better patient care. Nuance reports that 70 percent of providers that implement DAX feel reduced symptoms of burnout," Dr. McDermott said. "Healing intelligence" tools support the clinical diagnosis and treatment of allergies Physicians recognize that a patient's verbal and nonverbal cues are crucial to the accurate diagnosis of conditions. "I refer to technology like DAX as healing intelligence or HIQ," Dr. McDermott said. "It removes distractions. If you aren't paying attention, you will miss what the patient is trying to say. Fully engaging with allergy patients is a huge part of the healing journey." Many EHRs also include background checker tools which automatically evaluate drug interactions and allergies. These AI-powered solutions create a second set of eyes for doctors. Technologies like DAX benefit patients, providers and the bottom line Lower levels of burnout translate into decreased employee turnover. "Burnout is a huge financial risk. The cost to replace a physician is massive, but so is the cost of having a burned-out provider see patients. Those encounters can lead to unhappy patients, increased risk of malpractice suits and greater difficulty in collecting the patients' financial responsibility," Dr. McDermott said. DAX streamlines documentation, which reduces burnout and also generates higher-quality EHR data. This simplifies prior authorizations for allergists and immunologists. "Comprehensive documentation makes it easy to justify the level of service we are providing to patients," Dr. McDermott said. In addition, research conducted by Nuance found that DAX saves seven minutes per encounter, so many healthcare providers have added as many as three more patients to their schedule each day. Conclusion While some providers are hesitant about incorporating AI into their daily workflow, Dr. McDermott feels optimistic about the responsible use of this technology in healthcare. "Artificial intelligence will never replace the physician-patient relationship because moments of vulnerability require human connectivity. However, AI-powered technologies enable us to filter data, reduce the burden of documentation and support processes like scheduling. Looking ahead, I believe that AI will continue to generate data that we can use to better serve patients." To register for upcoming webinars, click here. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill May 24 to enhance criminal penalties for people who knowingly commit assault or battery upon workers at a hospital. Under the new law, assailants who assault a worker at a hospital will face a misdemeanor charge of the first degree rather than a misdemeanor charge of the second degree. A charge for battery has been enhanced from a misdemeanor of the first degree to a felony of the third degree. A charge for aggravated assault has been enhanced from a felony of the third degree to a felony of the second degree. A charge for aggravated battery has been enhanced from a felony of the second degree to a felony of the first degree. The state House approved the bill April 20, and the Senate approved the bill May 2. It is slated to take effect Oct. 1. Company leaders from across the island will gather in Belfast for the InterTradeIreland Business Summit on Thursday next week. The free event on June 8 will take place at the Belfast International Convention Centre (ICC). Speakers at the summit include former Irish rugby international Brian O'Driscoll and economist David McWilliams. Panel sessions will take place featuring industry leaders such as Tina McKenzie, CEO of Staffline Ireland, Mark Dowds, head of Responsible and Joan Mulvihill, digitalisation lead at Siemens. There will also be a focus on innovation, as serial entrepreneur Bobby Healy from drone delivery company Manna and Stuart Harvey from Datactics will illustrate how cutting-edge technologies will impact firms of all sizes across the island. The summit, hosted by journalist and broadcaster Mark Simpson, aims to provide a platform for businesses to share ideas, exchange knowledge and collaborate. It is organised by InterTradeIreland, the all-island trade and business development body. InterTradeIreland was set up following the Good Friday Agreement as a cross-border body to grow trade and identify opportunities for economic co-operation between both parts of the island. Margaret Hearty, InterTradeIreland's CEO, said: "The Business Summit 23 is a really unique opportunity for businesses and stakeholders to gain insights from experts, learn about the latest trends and best practices in their sector and to network with other businesses. "We are excited to host this event in Belfast, a city that has seen significant economic growth and transformation in recent years, and we look forward to welcoming business leaders from across the island. In the 25th anniversary year of the historic Belfast Good Friday Agreement, and the establishment of InterTradeIreland under Strand Two of the agreement, this event will showcase the progress achieved, as well as a roadmap to help businesses embrace the opportunities for the next 25 years. Tickets for the InterTradeIreland Business Summit 23 are now available on the event website, and attendees are encouraged to register early to secure their place. It takes place from 9am to 3.30pm on Thursday June 8. Isio Group has completed its acquisition of Deloittes pensions advisory business, and is set to move to new offices at One Donegall Square South in Belfast Isio Group has completed its acquisition of Deloittes pensions advisory business, with more than 100 staff in Belfast set to move to new offices at One Donegall Square South. One of the largest pensions advisory businesses in the UK, Isio has taken the third floor of the building with first option on the floors above and below as it seeks to expand its Belfast base. Renovations are currently underway with the former Deloitte Total Reward and Benefits team expected to move into its new office space overlooking City Hall in July. A few team members involved in the pension disclosure side of its auditing business will remain at Deloitte. Mark McClintock, formerly head of Deloittes UK pensions business, has taken on the role of partner and head of Isio Belfast. With the same team and clients in place, and the two businesses sharing similar cultures, he said the transition to new ownership should have a business as usual feel. The former Deloitte business had been posting annual double-digit growth for a decade, Mr McClintock said, with the trend expected to continue under its new ownership. As well as offering greater scale to compete with bigger players in the market, the acquisition frees the business from constraints it faced due to Deloittes role as an auditor. We will now be a completely independent firm which allows us to access the whole of the market, said Mr McClintock. In the past, if Deloitte was the auditor, we wouldnt be able to act so there are now many more opportunities open to us. Isios Belfast team will continue to offer pensions administration and actuarial roles for clients in Northern Ireland and across the UK. Were very keen to make sure we think about expansion, Mr McClintock said. Weve got plans to use our connection with the Queens actuarial degree course to recruit quite a number of graduates over the next couple of years so that will allow us to build out the Belfast operation even further. Weve got a good source of really intelligent graduates coming out of that degree course, so its a great place to build an actuarial workforce. Isios acquisition of Deloitte Total Reward and Benefits Limited was completed on Friday, following FCA approval. It also includes 100 employees in GB who will join existing Isio offices in London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham. Isios workforce now totals more than 1,000 people across 10 UK office locations. The acquisition strengthens its core pensions advisory business enhancing capabilities in areas such as defined benefit consolidation and pensions transaction advisory services. The enlarged Isio Group will have annual revenues of around 140m and expects to benefit from enhanced scale and greater depth and breadth of expertise. Andrew Coles, chief executive of Isio, said: We are joined by an immensely talented team who will complement our existing skills and bolster our market disruptor position as a growing force in the pension advisory business. Maura Higgins is tightening security at her Essex home after it was targeted by raiders. The former Love Island star, originally from Longford, has lived in a gated community for three years, but recent events have reportedly left her shaken. A source close to the 32-year-old said: Neighbours caught it all on CCTV, and it was chilling to see three masked men ram through the gates and start trying to break into cars. Maura has lived in her gated community for three years, and said she no longer feels safe. The source told The Sun that a number of high-profile names living in the area had found the incident worrying. The reality star is said to be upping security on her car and at her home. The report said the raiders attempted to steal several vehicles on Higgins property after tearing down the gates. Her representative was contacted for comment. Higgins has not spoken publicly about the alleged incident. Her most recent Instagram post at the time of writing featured photographs from the recent season premiere of The Kardashians. She posted a snap of her and hair stylist Carl Bembridge at the event, with Higgins wearing a pale pink blazer with black opera gloves and pale pink stilettos. She is not the only ex-Love Islander whose home has been targeted by criminals. In October 2021, Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury fell victim to an 800k burglary at their home in Manchester. Hague opened up about the incident in a YouTube video the following month, describing it as without a doubt the worst thing thats ever happened to me. Awful, is what Id say, horrendous. Weve been dealing with a lot, she said. Higgins took the reality TV world by storm after finding fame on Love Island in 2019, and has 3.7m Instagram followers. She went on to make a name for herself as a TV presenter. She has hosted segments on This Morning and fronted the BBCs show Glow Up Ireland. Feature: Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu amazes Southern Californians 13:18, May 30, 2023 By Tan Jingjing ( Xinhua A Shaolin Kung Fu performer demonstrates moves during the 2023 Shaolin Cultural Day at the Bowers Museum in Orange County, California, the United States, on May 28, 2023. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) LOS ANGELES, May 29 (Xinhua) -- A stunning performance showcasing the intricate technique, astounding imagery and lightning moves of Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu amazed hundreds of audiences in Bowers Museum in U.S. Southern California on Sunday. This captivating Kung Fu demonstration by Shaolin warrior monks was a highlight of the 2023 Shaolin Cultural Day, a rare cultural extravaganza for the Orange County community in Southern California. "The event offers a unique opportunity for the Orange County community to actively engage with Shaolin culture and gain firsthand experience in various Shaolin activities," Anne Shih, chairwoman of the Board of Governors of Bowers Museum, told Xinhua. "Whether it's learning from Kung Fu masters, exploring Zen arts, or enjoying interactive Shaolin activities, these experiences will help audiences to experience the Chinese culture and better understand Chinese traditions," Shih said. "Shaolin Kung Fu represents the fine tradition of Chinese culture and history. It is the essence of Chinese civilization, and should be well preserved and passed on from generation to generation," Patrick Tyson, one of the audiences wowed by the performances, told Xinhua. With a history of over 1,500 years, Shaolin Kung Fu is one of China's most treasured cultural heritage items, and has been practiced by Shaolin disciples as well as Kung Fu lovers around the world. Larry Lee, a 72-year-old resident of Orange County, told Xinhua he has been practicing Kung Fu for over 50 years. "The traditional Chinese martial arts has deep wisdom in it. It relates to a way of life that goes much deeper than just fighting." Lee said besides Kung Fu, he is also interested in Chinese medicine, acupuncture, and other elements of the Chinese culture. The Shaolin Cultural Day also featured a series of demonstrations on Zen arts, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the world of Zen Buddhism, experience the elegance of a traditional tea ceremony, learn the art of incense-making, and indulge in the harmonious melodies of Zen music. The 2023 Shaolin Cultural Day served as a fitting finale to the 2023 Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, providing a platform to honor and appreciate the contributions of the AAPI community. "The event will help people of other communities to be better informed about the best of China and the Chinese culture, and thereby fostering mutual understanding and friendship," said Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles Wang Taiyu. "We hope through such activities, we can promote friendship between Chinese and American peoples, and contribute to China-U.S. relations," he said. Shaolin Kung Fu performers demonstrate moves during the 2023 Shaolin Cultural Day at the Bowers Museum in Orange County, California, the United States, on May 28, 2023. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) A Shaolin Kung Fu performer demonstrates moves during the 2023 Shaolin Cultural Day at the Bowers Museum in Orange County, California, the United States, on May 28, 2023. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, second from right, rear, along with his daughter Ju-ae, talks with members of the Non-permanent Satellite Launch Preparatory Committee in Pyongyang on May 16, to inspect the country's first military reconnaissance satellite, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. Yonhap North Korea said Tuesday it will launch its first military spy satellite in June in a bid to monitor "dangerous" military activity by the United States and South Korea in real time. The North disclosed the timing of its planned launch through state media, one day after it notified Japan of its plan to launch a satellite between May 31 and June 11. In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency, Ri Pyong-chol, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Worker's Party of Korea, said the North's satellite reconnaissance is an "indispensable" act to bolster its self-defense capabilities against the enemies' "reckless" military exercises. The North's spy satellite to be launched in June and various reconnaissance means to be newly tested are "indispensable to tracking, monitoring, discriminating, controlling and coping with in advance in real time the dangerous military acts" of the U.S. and South Korea, Ri said in the English-language statement. He also vowed to "expand reconnaissance and information means and improve various defensive and offensive weapons and have the timetables for carrying out their development plans," without elaborating on details. A TV screen shows a file image of North Korea's rocket launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, May 29. AP-Yonhap Earlier this month, North Korea announced the completion of preparations to mount its first military spy satellite on a rocket, with the North's leader Kim Jong-un approving the "future action plan." For Craigavon mum, Joanne Gillespie, knowledge has been the key to coping with her menopause symptoms With support from a National Lottery funded project, Joanne has felt empowered to take control of her health and wants women to talk openly about menopause without any stigma. My mums generation didnt talk about menopause, they tried to hide it or not even acknowledge it. Not talking about it meant women didnt have the knowledge that we have now, and they wouldve suffered on their own, said Joanne (50) who runs her own business and is mum to two teenagers. Talking to other women, supporting each other and learning about menopause has really helped me and I want to make sure that my daughter knows that going through the menopause is normal and not to be ignored. Joanne has always been healthy, exercised regularly and juggled the stress of running two cafes, two kids, and a home, with the help of husband Noel. When she started having menopausal symptoms five years ago, she was worried that it would have an effect on her daily life. She attends a monthly support group at The Fitzone Foundation in Craigavon which is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund. Group photo of the women from The Fitzone Foundations menopause support group Joanne explained: It can be very confusing with all the information out there as to what perimenopause and menopause are, but it all starts with similar symptoms and in simple terms, it is caused by a reduction in the hormones that womens bodies need to function. It can take years to go through the menopausal cycle, I was 45 when I started feeling the well-known physical symptoms of night sweats and hot flushes, but I wasnt as aware of the emotional effects like anxiety, mood changes and lower confidence. I remember being at the gym with some women around my age and some of them mentioned how they were feeling, and I thought, yes, I feel like that too. Wed joke about needing to open the windows for our hot flushes and our sore joints making us feel old. As the women at the gym started openly discussing menopausal symptoms, the staff at The Fitzone Foundation got the idea to start a menopause support group to bring people together to share their experiences and also an opportunity to learn more about the condition and how to live better with it. Following the success of the group and demand from the local community for more support for their health and wellbeing, The Fitzone Foundation received National Lottery funding to keep running a range of wellness support groups for the community until 2024. Joanne signed up to the support group straight away and it was hearing from women who had been going through it for years that she felt confident to go to her GP for medical advice. The earlier you are educated about your health, the more confident you are to take steps to help yourself. Id heard from other women about medications and how it can be trial and error to get the right dose so I knew it wouldnt be a quick fix. Being with other women like me, sharing our stories and our worries really helped my mental health and validated my feelings I knew I wasnt the only one scared of being a judged for having a hot flush, or feeling silly about being over-anxious about something that never wouldve worried me previously. Louise OReilly and Joanne Gillespie taking part in a craft workshop as part of the menopause support group activities We also have a good laugh and leave feeling positive. Those connections have such a great effect on your wellbeing. Id come home from the group and be open with my family about menopause and how that affected me and my mood which wed joke about, but they are very supportive. It is good for my husband and kids to learn about it too. Fitzone also organise relaxation activities for us and for medical professionals to come to the classes so we could understand our health better and get tips to keep ourselves healthier long-term. It has been highlighted in the media recently about the worrying increase in heart disease in women following the menopause, but we had already had a workshop on that topic so it wasnt a surprise. Im really thankful to have the opportunity to learn more about my health and help pass that knowledge to other people. Sharon Collins who runs the Menopause Support Group at The Fitzone Foundation said providing mental health support alongside opportunities for improving physical health is vital to help people cope with the challenges they are facing. Joanne Gillespie being supported by Sharon Collins at The Fitzone Foundations gym Sharon said: This is one of the most socially deprived areas in Craigavon where people need additional support to live healthier lives. At Fitzone, we provide access to exercise equipment and classes, but we are more than a gym we are a friendly community hub where people can come along, without fear of being judged, and access a range of support to improve their wellbeing. We tailor our support groups depending on what the community needs, such as our Cuppa for Carers Group or Social Walking Group. For the women in our Menopause Support Group, they noticed changes in their mental and physical health as they approached their 50s. So, we wanted to give them the knowledge to understand the condition and the confidence to take control of how they coped with symptoms and helped them feel better. The Menopause Support Group runs once a month and for some women it might be their only opportunity to meet other women face-to-face and discuss their symptoms and the affect it has on their lives. The group also has a WhatsApp group so they can keep in touch and support each other when needed. Joanne said the friendships and chat at the group is as important as everything else, and shes glad the stigma associated with the menopause is decreasing as more people talk openly about it. Joanne said: It wouldve been a stereotype that when women hit 50, they went through menopause quickly and then they were seen as old. But I think women are more confident now in their fifties and public figures like Davina McCall talking so openly about their health really helps improve awareness and gets people talking about it. I feel more confident now, knowing that I can still exercise and cope with a busy lifestyle even though Im going through menopause. I hope other women at the start of their journey can feel more confident reading about me and find support like Fitzone in their local town I dont plan on slowing down anytime soon and neither should they. Thanks to National Lottery players, more than 30 million a week is raised for good causes like this across the UK. Find out more about funding https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/ Find out more about The Fitzone Foundation https://www.facebook.com/TheFitzoneFoundation/ KEY FACTS OF MENOPAUSE Source: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/ Menopause is when your periods stop due to lower hormone levels. This usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55. It can sometimes happen earlier naturally. Or for reasons such as surgery to remove the ovaries (oophorectomy) or the uterus (hysterectomy), cancer treatments like chemotherapy, or a genetic reason. Sometimes the reason is unknown. Perimenopause is when you have symptoms before your periods have stopped. You reach menopause when you have not had a period for 12 months. Menopause and perimenopause can cause symptoms like anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, hot flushes and irregular periods. These symptoms can start years before your periods stop and carry on afterwards. Menopause and perimenopause symptoms can have a big impact on your life, including relationships and work. There are things you can do to help with symptoms. There are also medicines that can replace the missing hormones and help relieve your symptoms. A woman who has allegedly stolen more than 10,000 worth of food and drink from Marks & Spencer is to be barred from all of its stores, a High Court judge ordered today. Beverly McNeilly, 43, is accused of carrying out repeated high-value raids in a targeted campaign against the retailers branches in Belfast. The prohibition was imposed as part of conditions under which the heroin addict secured release from custody. Granting bail, Mr Justice Rooney told her: You must not enter any Marks & Spencer premises, that is very important. McNeilly, of McAllister Court in Belfast, is charged with four thefts and five burglaries between January 3 and May 15 this year. The alleged shoplifting spree occurred at outlets on Boucher Road and Forestside Shopping Centre. Prosecutors claim she took trolley loads of groceries and alcohol worth several hundreds of pounds without any payment. In one incident she took 30 expensive steaks from one of the stores, it was alleged. By that stage McNeilly had been issued with a trespass notice in a bid to keep her out of the stores. The court heard bosses at Marks & Spencer believe their total losses from the campaign is in excess of 10,000. McNeilly, who was described as having a long-term heroin dependency, initially told police she could not remember any of the incidents but subsequently claimed to have acted under duress. Proceedings had been adjourned to put in place a package of measures for treating her addiction and mental health issues. In court today defence counsel Luke Curran confirmed arrangements are now in place to ensure she obtains all necessary medication. The accused was also told she was on a final chance to have her pet dog returned to her by police. A Crown lawyer stressed: If Ms McNeilly is arrested and put in custody again the dog will be rehomed. Police have ensured that it has been looked after, but this is the last time they are going to do that. Imposing a curfew on her, Mr Justice Rooney expressed his hope that she would not be back in court again. McNeilly assured him: I wont be, because I cant lose Pablo. An international letter of request for evidence is being sought over the alleged killing of a woman during a sexual exchange in Limerick , a Belfast court has heard. Prosecutors also disclosed that detectives investigating the fatal stabbing of 27-year-old Geila Ibram are continuing to compile CCTV footage and obtain witness statements. Habib Shamel (32) is currently in custody charged with murdering her on April 4 this year. Ms Ibrams mutilated body was discovered at an apartment block in the Dock Road area of Limerick. The victim, who was originally from Romania, died from multiple stab wounds inflicted to the neck, face and abdomen in a vicious and frenzied attack, according to police. Shamel, an Afghani national with an address at Cecil Street in Limerick, was later arrested in the Malone area of south Belfast. He has been charged with Ms Ibrams murder under the Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975, which allows the PSNI to prosecute in Northern Ireland if a suspect has travelled from another jurisdiction. A previous court heard he had allegedly arranged a sexual exchange with the victim on the day she died. CCTV footage allegedly showed him arriving at her property and then leaving again less than two minutes later. Detectives claim he injured his hand during the suspected encounter and attended hospital in Limerick before travelling north by bus. With the PSNI providing assistance in the murder investigation, Shamel was considered too great a risk to release on bail. At a further hearing in Belfast Magistrates Court today it was disclosed that a formal International Letter of Request (ILOR) remains outstanding. Its with the authorities in the Republic of Ireland, a Crown lawyer said. He also set out the ongoing investigative steps in the probe into Ms Ibrams killing. Gardai are continuing to gather witness statements, process forensics and compile CCTV footage, the prosecutor added. That will all be available on receipt of the ILOR, it has to go through a rather convoluted procedure. District Judge Steven Keown adjourned the case to June 27 for a further update. Leading loyalist David Dee Coleman appeared in court today where he denied a string of charges including breaching the Terrorist Act. The 37-year-old was produced from HMP Maghaberry and brought into the dock at Belfast Crown Court where he pleaded not guilty to a total of 15 charges. The charges consist of four drugs offences, four counts of possessing criminal property, six counts of contravening the requirements of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 and one of assaulting police. After confirming his identity, Coleman denied all 15 charges. He denied being concerned in the supply of cocaine on dates between February 1 and April 4, 2020. Coleman also denied three separate charges of possessing the class A drug: one on February 13, 2020, and two charges on July 24, 2021. The former Shankill Road man, whose address was given as HMP Maghaberry, also denied four counts of possessing criminal property. These alleged offences span a period from February 13, 2020, to July 24, 2021, and involve cash totalling 7,619.67. In addition, he had six charges of breaching the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 put to him. All six charges relate to Colemans alleged failure to notify police he had taken ownership of a car and his failure to provide the required information to police regarding multiple mobile phones on dates between February 13, 2020, and January 20, 2021. The arraignment concluded when Coleman entered a not-guilty plea to a charge of assaulting a police constable on January 20, 2021. Gavan Duffy KC, representing Coleman, spoke of evidential issues and said the case would benefit from discussions between the Crown and defence. After hearing this, Judge Geoffrey Miller KC did not set a date for trial but said he would review the case on June 13. Coleman was remanded back into custody ahead of next months review. Northern Ireland GPs are being hit with bills of thousands of pounds as they are sued by patients coming to harm on hospital waiting lists. Family doctors are being taken to court by their patients as a result of spiralling hospital waiting lists even though GPs are not responsible for the crisis. It comes as official figures show 14% of the population around one in seven had been waiting longer than a year for an outpatient or inpatient appointment at the end of March. The growing risk to patient safety, as the health service struggles to cope with demand, and the potential for primary care doctors to be held accountable have been blamed as reasons for the rising number of GPs who are handing back their contracts. Sixteen GP surgeries in Northern Ireland have handed back contracts in recent months, bringing the key NHS service closer to collapse. The British Medical Association (BMA) has warned a further 30 practices are in crisis. The BMA has been calling for changes to the indemnity system here in a bid to reduce the number of surgeries facing closure. Dr Alan Stout, chair of the BMAs GP committee in Northern Ireland, explained: All of those patients who are on a hospital waiting list have to be cared for until they get their appointment. While theyre waiting to be seen, its the GP thats carrying the risk. Its the same for a patient who goes to an emergency department and they arent admitted, and for those who are discharged from hospital and theyre becoming frailer and frailer but theyre being discharged earlier and earlier. Theyre our responsibility and the risk is getting greater and greater and GPs are paying for it. GPs are being sued by their patients. Theyre saying the GPs didnt push hard enough for the hospital appointment. Its really stressful for the GP. They have to spend a lot of time on all the paperwork, and its expensive too. Family doctors have already warned that theyre struggling to meet the cost of running a practice, in light of the cost-of-living crisis affecting all businesses. In one case last year, a GP surgery saw its annual energy bill rise from 30,000 to 130,000. Some GP surgeries have had to scale back opening hours in a bid to remain financially viable. The indemnity system for GPs in NI is different from that in place in England and Wales. GPs in NI are not covered by a state-backed scheme and pay thousands of pounds a year to be covered for clinical negligence. The annual indemnity amount increases when a GP has had to make a claim having been sued by a patient. However, in England and Wales, the system was changed in 2019 so that state-backed schemes automatically cover all GPs if they are providing NHS services, and family doctors pay a nominal fee for cover. A Department of Health spokesperson said, in the state-backed scheme, the cost of claims administration and of successful clinical negligence claims are met from within the health budget. They continued: We are continuing to take forward work to look at the model of GP indemnity provision in Northern Ireland. A number of possible options, including the current model and a number of state-backed model options, have been identified. We recognise that there is expectation amongst GP representative organisations in Northern Ireland and political representatives that the review of the indemnity model will be progressed at pace. We have been clear, however, that the pace of this work is subject to completion of the business case process and that, as such, there are a series of steps that will need to be completed. This process is necessarily very detailed, given the potential costs and risks associated with GP indemnity options. It is likely that any final decision on the implementation of a new model for GP indemnity in Northern Ireland will require ministerial agreement. The Association drew links between Nazi Germany and the La Mon bombing in 1978. A personally signed portrait of former Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, is set to go under the hammer along with other historical items in Belfast on Tuesday June 6. Pic: Bloomfield Auctions/Kelvin Boyes/PressEye/PA Wire A silver-plated pencil purported to have belonged to Adolf Hitler. It is believed to have been given to the former Nazi dictator by his long-term partner Eva Braun as a gift for his 52nd birthday on April 20, 1941.Pic: Bloomfield Auctions/Kelvin Boyes/PressEye/PA Wire An east Belfast auction house should remove from sale blood soaked items linked to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, the European Jewish Association (EJA) has said. The ornate silver-plated pencil is set to go under the hammer in Belfast next week, as well as a signed portrait of the notorious dictator who led the regime responsible for the Holocaust. The pencil was a birthday present from his long-term partner Eva Braun, who died with him in a Berlin bunker at the end of World War II. An inscription along the side notes the dictators birthday, April 20, and gives the year as 1941, when he was at the height of his powers. It finishes sincerely, Eva in German. Pencil purported to have belonged to Adolf Hitler to go under hammer in Belfast Read more Hitlers Irish family links recalled through sale of silver pencil at Belfast auction The pencil is estimated to sell for between 50,000 and 80,000, while the photograph is expected to sell for between 10,000 and 15,000. However, the chairman of the European Jewish Association, Rabbi Menachem Margolin has written to Karl Bennett, managing director of Bloomfield Auctions, asking him to withdraw the items. The rabbi drew comparisons with the Troubles, asking Mr Bennett if he would be happy to sell possessions belonging to Robert Murphy who was responsible for the 1978 La Mon restaurant bombing in which 12 people were killed. "I am writing to respectfully ask you to withdraw these items from the auction. This is not a legal appeal to you Mr Bennett, but very much a moral one, wrote Rabbi Margolin. "We simply cannot fathom how a love trinket such as an engraved pencil or a signed photograph constitutes a historical object of any inherent historical value. "In Europe today and indeed further afield, Auction houses are buying and selling to the highest bidder other items such as watches or ashtrays belonging to Hitler, Hermann Goring cutlery sets, even Wehrmacht toilet paper. "The defence from Munich to Maryland is the same, these items are of historical interest. They are anything but. A personally signed portrait of former Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, is set to go under the hammer along with other historical items in Belfast on Tuesday June 6. Pic: Bloomfield Auctions/Kelvin Boyes/PressEye/PA Wire Rabbi Margolin said the EJA fully supported the sale of items of genuine historic interest, but said items like the Hitler-linked trinkets currently on sale were dangerous. "They create a macabre trade in items belonging to mass murderers, the motives of those buying them are unknown and may glorify the actions of the Nazis, and lastly their trade is an insult to the millions who perished, the few survivors left, and to Jews everywhere, he said. "Of course, one cannot compare, but Mr Bennett, but would you sell the pen that belonged to Robert Murphy who killed 12 and injured 30 at the LaMon Restaurant not far from you in East Belfast? , "We are repeatedly told by auction houses that Hitler sells. This may indeed be true. But what is sold and to whom is a matter of public decency and moral responsibility at the end of the day. "It is in this spirit of decency that I ask you again to withdraw the Nazi auction items, to send a message that some things particularly when so metaphorically blood soaked, should not and must not be traded. Mr Bennett had earlier in the week defended the sale of the items, saying they preserve a piece of our past and should be treated as historical objects. Bloomfield Auction House said history should not be written out of society. "Bloomfield Auctions is a specialist auction house for militaria across all centuries. All items are a part of history, and we shouldnt be writing history out of books or society, said a spokesperson. In my experience those who buy such items are legitimate collectors who have a passion for history. "We do not seek to cause hurt or distress to any one or any part of society. All items have a story and tell of a particular time in history. Campaigners want to see a rail link back in the town Campaigners have called for the restoration of rail services in Limavady. The campaign is holding a launch event in the Roe Valley Arts Centre on June 8. Into The West campaigns for the improvement and expansion of rail across counties Derry, Tyrone, Fermanagh and Donegal. The organisation was founded in 2004 when they successfully defeated a proposal to shut the railway line between Derry and Coleraine. Since then, the group has helped secure major investment in the railway line, as well as a new transport hub in Derry city. In recent years the group has broadened its focus onto making the case for the restoration of key rail routes across the west of the province of Ulster. And now they are launching a campaign to see rail restored to the town of Limavady. Limavady has a population of 13,000 people, and over the last few decades has been one of Northern Irelands fastest growing towns. Despite sitting only three miles from the railway line that runs between Derry, Coleraine and Belfast, Limavady has been left without a railway station of its own since 1950. The nearby halt at Limavady Junction was removed almost half a century ago in 1976. Campaigners say the publics desire to see rail return to areas across the north west following the removal has remained strong ever since. Campaigners added that this was shown last year when the public consultation for the cross-border All-Island Rail Review Strategy saw 40% of all contributions coming from this region. Chair of Into The West, Steve Bradley, said: Limavady has a population size that justifies a rail service, and it sits tantalisingly close to a major inter-city train line. Yet for too long the railway network has ignored Limavady, leaving the town feeling isolated and neglected in infrastructure terms. Into The West made a detailed submission to the All-Island Strategic Rail Review last year and one of our proposals was for rail to be restored to Limavady, he added. We feel it is now time to start building public support across the North West for rail to be brought back to the Roe Valley. And as the first step in that were holding a public meeting on 8th June to engage local residents and elected representatives on the case for bringing rail back to Limavady. The free event is being held at 7pm in the Roe Valley Arts Centre and is open to everyone. Into The West have also specifically invited all Causeway Coast and Glens Borough councillors to attend, as well as the MP and MLAs for East Londonderry. Mr Bradley added: In an era of climate change, poor air quality, increasing road congestion and unbalanced regional development, it is no longer acceptable for key towns like Limavady to be left without rail. There is a very strong case for the restoration of rail here - but it wont happen without a strong display of public support and pressure. Its finally time to end Limavadys 73 years of being cut off from the Northern Irish rail network. Adolf Hitler and his mistress Eva Braun while dining (AP Photo/US Army Signal Corps from Eva Braun's album, File) Adolf Hitler pictured at the Berghof, which was widely looted The silver pencil was gifted to Adolf Hitler by Eva Braun A Belfast auction house is preparing to sell Hitlers inscribed silver pencil, a reminder that the Nazi dictators sister-in-law was Irish. An estimate of 50,000-80,000 has been placed on the pencil, which carries the initials AH on its butt. It was a birthday present from his girlfriend Eva Braun, who died with him in a bunker at the end of World War II. The inscription along the side notes the dictators birthday, April 20, and gives the year as 1941, when he was at the height of his powers. It finishes sincerely, Eva in German. Bloomfields auction house is selling the item on June 6, the anniversary of D Day which ultimately liberated Europe from Hitlers tyranny. Read more Auctioneer urged to stop sale of Hitler-linked items Pencil purported to have belonged to Adolf Hitler to go under hammer in Belfast Karl Bennett, managing director of Bloomfields, said they expected interest from around the world. The importance of Hitlers engraved personal pencil lies in the fact that it helps to unravel a hidden piece of history, giving a unique insight into Hitlers personal relationships, which he scrupulously kept hidden from the public eye, he said. A side-on view of the pencil with inscription The item is sold as owned and used by Adolf Hitler, and a personally signed photo from the 1920s is also due to go under the hammer, along with a fork from his special train and a wineglass and serving tray from the Berghof, or Eagles Nest, his retreat in the Bavarian Alps. Looting of Hitler-related material from the Berghof and the bunker where Hitler died was relatively common after the war, with all kinds of materials pocketed by Allied soldiers. Adolf Hitler pictured at the Berghof, which was widely looted Hitler has a number of Irish connections. It is claimed that an Irish soldier saved Hitler from being beaten to death in a riot in Bavaria in the early 1920s when the dictator was merely a right-wing agitator. Less well known is that Hitlers half-brother was a waiter and kitchen porter in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. Alois Hitler met his future wife Bridget Dowling at the Spring Show in Ballsbridge in 1909. She was the daughter of Eliza and William, a labourer, from Kilnamanagh, Co Dublin. Bridget and Alois later eloped and were found in the 1911 English census living in Liverpool, in a street later turned to rubble by the Luftwaffe. At that stage they had a month-old son, William, named after his grandfather. The inscription finishes sincerely, Eva in German After the relationship broke up, Bridget and her son relocated to the US while Alois toured Germany, touting his family connection to Hitler, born to their common father Alois Snr, after he took up with the family maid, Klara Polzi. William later served in the US Navy during the Second World War and was infamous because of his surname which he later changed to Houston. He has descendants living in the US today. Bridget meanwhile wrote a book, in which she claimed Adolf visited their home in Liverpool. There have been persistent rumours that Hitler, a talented watercolour artist, was turned down for a place at the Liverpool College of Art, a decision that could have changed history. The late Liverpudlian writer Beryl Bainbridge wrote a novel on the subject, entitled Young Adolf. Adolf Hitler and his mistress Eva Braun while dining (AP Photo/US Army Signal Corps from Eva Braun's album, File) Mr Bennett said he had established provenance and background details about the silver pencil that give me confidence that what Im selling is the actual item. He said he could understand distaste about Nazi memorabilia, which has occasionally given rise to controversy when particular lots were listed for auction in Dublin. They preserve a piece of our past and should be treated as historical objects, he said. No matter if the history they refer to was one of the darkest and most controversial recorded. Sun worshippers pictured at Hazelbank park in Newtownabbey as the spell of very warm weather continues. Photo by Stephen Hamilton/Presseye Walkers pictured at Hazelbank park in Newtownabbey as the spell of very warm weather continues. Photo by Stephen Hamilton/Presseye People take to the beach at Helen's Bay during the warm weather on Tuesday, May 30 2023. Picture by Peter Morrison Patricia McFadden and Seaneen McKeown enjoying the sun on Tuesday at Hazelbank in Newtownabbey. The highest temperature of the year so far has been recorded in Co Tyrone as the mercury soared to almost 25C. The record could soon be broken as the good weather is set to continue for another week. The Met Office has confirmed the temperature peaked at 24.5C in Castlederg on Tuesday afternoon banishing the previous hottest day recorded at Helens Bay last week (21.9C) into the shade. Temperatures reached 25.1C in Porthmadog, North Wales, beating Sunday's 2023 record of 24.4C in Plymouth. In Scotland it reached 24.5C in Tyndrum, Stirling. Its a very easy forecast, confirmed a Met Office spokesperson. Weve got high pressure bringing dry and largely sunny weather to Northern Ireland. The meteorologist said the forecast remains largely consistent from Tuesday throughout the rest of the week. While there is expected to be a little bit of patchy morning mist and fog during the early mornings, this should disperse and give way to long periods of sunshine throughout the days into the afternoon. The spokesperson said the weather would be very consistent, with temperatures remaining quite high during the daytime. While the days will be warm and pleasant, it is expected to remain chilly at night time. Night time temperatures are on the low side for this time of year, so theres a big difference in temperature between the afternoons and evenings, the spokesperson added. Those heading to dance music festival AVA at Titanic Slipways on Friday and Saturday may be happy to hear that even higher temperatures are expected over the coming weekend, although Belfast is expected to hit around 20C, unlikely to be as warm as the western counties. Walkers pictured at Hazelbank park in Newtownabbey as the spell of very warm weather continues. Photo by Stephen Hamilton/Presseye The UV levels are set to be consistently high in the days ahead, with warnings to be careful when out in the sun and advice to use a sun cream with a high sun protection factor when outdoors, even if its cloudy. But hay fever sufferers shouldnt be dreading the arrival of the summer conditions, as the Met Office predicts that pollen levels should stay relatively low throughout this week. The good weather in Northern Ireland is to be matched throughout the rest of the UK and Ireland. By Jun Ji-hye Korea aims to ease immigration procedures to attract more international patients who visit the country to undergo medical treatment or receive cosmetic surgery. gettyimagesbank People protest in Oxford where Kathleen Stock is due to speak at the 200-year-old debating society, the Oxford Union (Jonathan Brady/PA) LGBT+ activists were full of anger as they protested against a talk by feminist Kathleen Stock at the Oxford Union. Around 200 protesters gathered at Bonn Square on Tuesday, holding banners which read resisting by existing and chanting, trans rights human rights, before marching towards the 200-year-old debating society where police braced for potential clashes. The row has seen the universitys LGBTQ+ Society say it is standing up against the hateful views of Prof Stock, while the universitys vice-chancellor, Professor Irene Tracey has defended the philosophers appearance as a matter of freedom of speech. Kathleen Stock, who was Professor of Philosophy at the University of Sussex, was made an OBE for services to higher education (Victoria Jones/PA) The protest comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak intervened to support the talk, writing in the Telegraph newspaper that debate was a hallmark of a tolerant society. Speaking at the rally, Max Van Kleek, Associate Professor of Human-Computer Interaction at the university, said transgender students suffered from so much abuse and were losing rights around the world. Let us all unite in trans solidarity and show people we are not something to fear he said. We are something to embrace because the future is us we are on the right side of history. A trans teacher named Alexandra said it hurt that students were debating on questions like whether my fundamental rights are worth protecting, while a student named Eliot added that the protest was full of anger because trans rights were under threat. People protest in Oxford where Kathleen Stock is due to speak at the 200-year-old debating society, the Oxford Union (Jonathan Brady/PA) Days before Prof Stocks talk, a group of Oxford University academics and staff signed a letter supporting the right of transgender students to speak out against her. The BBC reported that the open letter, shared on Saturday by the universitys LGBTQ+ society and signed by 100 academics and staff, said: We believe that trans students should not be made to debate their existence. The Oxford Union announced it is to offer welfare resources to students attending the talk by Prof Stock. The organisation, which describes itself as the last bastion of free speech, has said students will be able to challenge Prof Stock at the event. In a statement ahead of the talk, Oxford University LGBTQ+ Society president Amiad Haran Diman said they would not try to block entry or shut down the talk. Stocks right for free speech has never been threatened, they said. We will just express our desire for a more civil conversation than this one, advocating against the hateful views that will be expressed there and the decision to amplify them. Speaking on Talk TV earlier on Tuesday, Prof Stock said universities had become timid in pushing back against idealistic, illiberal attempts to shut down free speech. Onlookers watch as emergency crews work at the scene of a partial building collapse in Davenport, Iowa (Nikos Frazier/Quad City Times via AP/PA) Five people remain unaccounted for, including two who could still be in the wreckage of a partially collapsed apartment building, officials in Iowa said. Mayor of Davenport Mike Matson confirmed the numbers at a news conference on Tuesday. Protesters carried signs on Tuesday morning near the site, saying Find Them First and Who is in the Rubble? Some used a megaphone to shout out names of building residents. City officials said rescue crews escorted 12 people from the building shortly after a middle section collapsed at about 5pm on Sunday, and rescued several others, including one person who was taken to safety overnight on Sunday. No fatalities have been reported. Davenport police officers form a line opposite protesters calling for search efforts to continue in Davenport, Iowa (Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen via AP/PA) By Monday morning, fire chief Michael Carlsten told reporters: No known individuals are trapped in that facility. Authorities said they would soon shift from a rescue operation to a recovery operation. The city then issued a statement saying that the owner had been served with an order for demolition that was expected to begin on Tuesday morning. That prompted many people to turn to Facebook, naming loved ones who were unaccounted for, and expressing concern that the building was being demolished too quickly. On Tuesday morning, the city issued a new statement, saying it has been continually evaluating the timing of the demolition. The statement said demolition is a multi-phase process that includes permitting and staging of equipment that will begin today. The timing of the physical demolition of the property is still be evaluated. The building remains structurally insecure and in imminent danger of collapse. The woman was rescued at about 8pm on Monday after calling her family for help, according to multiple news reports. A bystanders video showed someone waving from a fourth-floor window to a fire department ladder truck below. A city statement late on Monday said an injured woman had been extricated, but it was not immediately clear if this was the same person referred to in news reports. When firefighters initially arrived on Sunday, they immediately took action, saving lives at great risk to their personal safety, city officials said. There was a lot of screams, a lot of cries, a lot of people saying Help! when the building came down, Tadd Mashovec, a resident of the building, told KCCI-TV. But that did not last, two or three minutes, and then the whole area was silent. Emergency crews work the scene of the partial building collapse in Davenport, Iowa (Nikos Frazier/Quad City Times via AP/PA) Mr Carlsten said the back of the complex had separated from the rest of the building, and authorities found a gas leak. It was not clear what immediately caused the collapse, which left a gaping hole in the centre of what was once the Davenport Hotel, a building listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Built in 1907, the brick, steel and concrete structure had been renovated into a mixed-use building with residential and commercial spaces. Work was being done on the buildings exterior at the time of the collapse, said Rich Oswald, the citys director of development and neighbourhood services. Reports of falling bricks were part of that work, and the buildings owner had a permit for the project, he said. The property owner was served on Monday with a demolition order, and residents were prevented from going back inside to remove their belongings, due to the buildings unstable condition. Authorities confirmed that multiple residents had complained of unmet maintenance problems. Quad-City Times reported nearly 20 permits were filed in 2022, mainly for plumbing or electrical issues, according to the county assessors office. Leslie Van Houten attends a parole hearing at the California Institution for Women in 2017 (Stan Lim/Los Angeles Daily News via AP/PA) A California appeals court has said that Leslie Van Houten, who participated in two killings alongside cult leader Charles Manson in 1969, should be let out of prison on parole. The appellate courts ruling reverses an earlier decision by Governor Gavin Newsom, who rejected parole for Van Houten in 2020. She has been recommended for parole five times since 2016. All of those recommendations were rejected by either Gov Newsom or former California governor Jerry Brown. In 1971 Charles Manson and his followers were found guilty of a number of murders including actress Sharon Tate and the LaBianca family (PA) California Attorney General Rob Bonta could ask the California Supreme Court to stop her release. Neither his office nor Gov Newsoms immediately responded to requests for comment on whether they would do so. Van Houten, now in her 70s, is serving a life sentence for helping Manson and other followers kill Leno LaBianca, a grocer in Los Angeles, and his wife Rosemary. Van Houten was 19 at the time. Gov Newsom has said that Van Houten still poses a danger to society. In rejecting her parole, he said she offered an inconsistent and inadequate explanation for her involvement with Manson at the time of the killings. The Second District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles ruled 2-1 to reverse Gov Newsoms decision, writing there is no evidence to support the Governors conclusions about Van Houtens fitness for parole. The Governors refusal to accept Van Houtens explanation amounts to unsupported intuition, the judges wrote. Nancy Tetreault, Van Houtens lawyer, said she expects Mr Bonta to ask the state Supreme Court to review the lower courts decision, a process that could take years. In addition, Mr Bonta will likely request a stay of the appellate courts ruling, Ms Tetreault said. The high court could order Van Houtens release while it decides on whether to grant the stay. I will, of course, vigorously oppose any stay, Ms Tetrault said. And they could let her out during that process. Van Houten was 19 when she and other cult members stabbed to death the LaBiancas in August 1969. She said they carved up Leno LaBiancas body and smeared the couples blood on the walls. The slayings came the day after other Manson followers, not including Van Houten, killed pregnant actress Sharon Tate and four others in violence that spread fear across Los Angeles and captivated the nation. An apartment building which was reportedly damaged by a Ukrainian drone in Moscow (AP) Russian air defences stopped eight drones converging on Moscow, officials said on Tuesday, in an attack that authorities blamed on Ukraine. The attack came as Russia pursued its relentless bombardment of Kyiv with a third assault on the city in 24 hours. President Vladimir Putin called it a terrorist act by Kyiv. The Russian defence ministry said five drones were shot down and the systems of three others were jammed, causing them to veer off course. The attack brought the war home to civilians in Russias capital for the first time. The attack caused insignificant damage to several buildings, Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. Two people received medical attention for unspecified injuries but did not need hospital treatment, he said in a Telegram post. Residents of two high-rise buildings damaged in the attack were evacuated, Mr Sobyanin said. Andrei Vorobyov, governor of the wider Moscow region, said some of the drones were shot down on the approach to Moscow. Ukraine made no immediate comment on the attack, which would be one of its deepest and most daring strikes into Russia since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than 15 months ago. Mr Putin started work early on Tuesday to receive information about the drone attack from various government agencies, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Mr Putin said Moscows air defence worked in a satisfactory way, but added it is clear that our task is to plug the gaps in the system. The Kyiv regime attempts to intimidate Russian citizens and strikes at civilian buildings, he said at a public event, responding to a question from the head of a Kremlin-allied think tank. It is, of course, a clear indication of terrorist activity. Asked by the Associated Press whether there is concern in the Kremlin that the invasion of Ukraine is endangering Russian civilians, Mr Peskov said only that attacks on Russia reinforce the need to prosecute the war. The attacks have raised questions about the effectiveness of Russias air defence systems. Investigators inspect the building in Moscow (AP) A senior Russian politician, Andrei Kartapolov, told Russian business news site RBC that we have a very big country and there will always be a loophole where the drone can fly around the areas where air defence systems are located. He said the purpose of the attacks was to unnerve the Russian people. Its an intimidation act aimed at the civilian population, RBC quoted him as saying. Its designed to create a wave of panic. Moscow residents reported hearing explosions before dawn. Police were seen working at one site of a crashed drone in southwest Moscow. An area near a residential building was fenced off, and police put the drone debris in a cardboard box before carrying it away. At another site, windows were shattered and there were scorch marks on the buildings front. The building in Moscow damaged by a drone (AP) It was the second reported attack on Moscow. Russian authorities said two drones targeted the Kremlin earlier this month in what they portrayed as an attempt on President Vladimir Putins life. Ukrainian drones have reportedly flown deep into Russia several times. In December, Russia claimed it had shot down drones at airfields in the Saratov and Ryazan regions. Three soldiers were reported to have been killed in the attack in Saratov, which targeted an important military airfield. Earlier, Russia reported shooting down a Ukrainian drone that targeted the headquarters of its Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol in Russia-annexed Crimea. In Ukraine, Russia launched a pre-dawn air raid on Kyiv, killing at least one person and sending the capitals residents again scrambling into shelters. Residents reported hearing explosions (Denis Voronin/Moscow News Agency/AP) At least 20 Shahed explosive drones were destroyed by air defence forces in Kyivs airspace in Russias third attack on the capital in the past 24 hours, according to information from the Kyiv military administration. Overall, Ukraine shot down 29 of 31 drones fired into the country, most in the Kyiv area, the air force later added. Before daylight, the buzzing of drones could be heard over the city, followed by loud explosions as they were taken down by air defence systems. In the overnight attacks on Kyiv, one person died and seven were injured, according to the municipal military administration. A high-rise building in the Holosiiv district caught fire after being hit by debris either from from drones being hit or interceptor missiles. The buildings upper two floors were destroyed, and there may be people under the rubble, the Kyiv military administration said. More than 20 people were evacuated. Ukrainian air defences fire at drones in a relentless wave of bombardments targeting Kyiv (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) Resident Valeriya Oreshko, 39, told The Associated Press in the aftermath that even though the immediate threat was over, the attacks had everyone on edge. You are happy that you are alive, but think about what will happen next, she said. Elsewhere in the capital, falling debris caused a fire in a house in Darnytskyi district and three cars were set alight in Pechersky district, according to the military administration. Ukrainian air defence intercepts a Shahed drone mid-air (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) The series of attacks that began on Sunday included a rare daylight attack on Monday that left puffs of white smoke in the blue skies. On that day, Russian forces fired 11 ballistic and cruise missiles at Kyiv at about 11.30am, according to Ukraines chief of staff, Valerii Zaluzhnyi. All of them were shot down, he said. Debris from intercepted missiles fell in Kyivs central and northern districts during the morning, landing in the middle of traffic on a city road and also starting a fire on the roof of a building, the Kyiv military administration said. The Russian defence ministry said it launched a series of strikes early Monday targeting Ukrainian air bases with precision long-range air-launched missiles. It claimed the strikes destroyed command posts, radars, aircraft and ammunition stockpiles, but did not say anything about hitting cities or other civilian areas. The White House National Security Council noted that Russias bombardment of Kyiv was the 17th round of attacks this month, many of which have devastated civilian areas. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the US was still gathering information about the drone strike but reiterated that as a general matter the US administration does not support Ukraine using American weaponry in Russian territory. We do not support the use of US-made equipment being used for attacks inside of Russia, she said. Weve been very clear about that, and well continue to do that. And we have been clear not just publicly but privately clear with the Ukrainians. She declined to comment on whether administration officials have spoken to Ukraine officials about the Moscow incident. A US defence official said the drone strikes would not not affect the weapons aid packages the US is providing Ukraine to include drone ammunition. The official said the US has committed to supporting Ukraine in its effort to defend the country and Ukraine had committed to not using the systems inside Russia, so the aid would likely continue unchanged. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Activists from Migrant Care protest to demand justice for Adelina, an Indonesian household worker who died in Malaysia in 2018, outside the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta, June 27, 2022. Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo ordered a crackdown on human trafficking syndicates Tuesday after officials revealed that nearly 2,000 of the countrys overseas migrant workers had died since 2020 because of abuse, accidents or illness. An average of two nationals have died every day during the past three years and some 3,600 others have returned home suffering from depression, memory loss or physical disabilities after being sent abroad illegally, the Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) reported, citing data. The president has ordered us to wage a war against these syndicates and we must not let the state be undermined or tolerate any form of crime, BP2MI chairman Benny Rhamdani told reporters after attending a meeting with Jokowi. He said his agency had handled 94,000 Indonesian migrant workers who were deported from the Middle East and Asia since 2020, and 90% of them had left Indonesia via illicit means. Many of the workers were victims of abuse or exploitation by unlicensed recruitment agencies that sent them overseas without proper papers, medical check-ups or psychological tests, Rhamdani said. We have a problem with human trafficking where people are sent abroad and become slaves who are tortured or involved in crimes, Mohammad Mahfud MD, the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, told reporters on Tuesday. Therefore, the president ordered the restructuring of the task force on human trafficking and to show the public that the police, the military and other government authorities can take swift action. He also said that the president had instructed police chiefs to crack down on security officials suspected of shielding human trafficking syndicates and making money off them. There is no backing for criminals. The state is backing justice and law enforcement, Mahfud MD said. Indonesia is one of the worlds largest source countries for migrant workers, with an estimated 9 million citizens working abroad in 2017, according to the World Bank. But only about 4.7 million are officially registered by the labor protection agency, meaning the rest could be exploited by illegal syndicates. Most of the Indonesian migrants are women who work in low-wage sectors such as domestic work and manufacturing. They mainly go to Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. During a summit hosted by Indonesia earlier this month, leaders of ASEAN states called for a regional approach to combating human trafficking and agreed on their first declaration on the dangers of online fraud. The leaders noted the increasing misuse of technology in facilitating human trafficking in Southeast Asia and globally, which is driven through misuse of social media and other online platforms. Last week, 46 Indonesian migrant workers returned home after being trapped in Myanmar and the Philippines and forced to work for online fraud companies. They were among hundreds of Indonesians who fell victim to human trafficking syndicates that operate across Southeast Asia and exploit porous borders and lax law enforcement. Authorities said the repatriation of more than 200 Indonesian trafficking victims in the Philippines would be done gradually. The human trafficking mafia Netty Prasetiyani Aher, a member of a parliamentary commission on health and labor affairs, said human trafficking cases in Indonesia were the tip of the iceberg. The government must be more assertive in uncovering and eradicating the human trafficking mafia, she said in a statement. Netty urged the government to investigate and prosecute any official who might have roles in the trafficking. Sometimes, the human trafficking mafia involves rogue officers as their backers, so they can continue to operate despite the existing laws, she said. She expressed dismay at the number of deaths among migrant workers. In its 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report, the U.S. State Department demoted Indonesia to the Tier 2 Watch List from Tier 2 because investigations of trafficking crimes fell for a fifth consecutive year and convictions had decreased for a fourth consecutive year. One year earlier, Indonesia was praised for investigating, prosecuting and convicting recruitment agents linked to the forced labor of Indonesians aboard Chinese fishing boats. By 2022, official complicity in trafficking crimes remained a concern that the government failed to address, the State Department said. The lack of robust, systematized victim identification procedures continued to hinder the proactive identification of victims overall, particularly male victims, while the governments protection services remained inadequate as they did not specifically address the needs of trafficking victims, the report said. Indonesia needs to investigate, prosecute and convict traffickers, including complicit officials who ignore, facilitate or engage in trafficking crimes, it said. Chinese and Malaysian troops attending jungle survival training during the Aman Youyi 2018 bilateral exercise at Port Dickson, Malaysia, Oct. 22, 2018. China is planning a large six-nation military exercise later this year to boost engagement and build mutual confidence with Southeast Asian partners, the Chinese military has said. The expanded Aman Youyi-2023 (Peace and Friendship-2023) drills, however, would remain a far cry from the more established slate of engagements by the U.S. in the region, said an analyst. Military delegations from China, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam had an initial planning conference for the exercise in Guangzhou last week, said the Southern Theater Command of the Peoples Liberation Army on microblogging site Weibo. Delegates from the six countries reached consensus on several topics including the theme, date, location, preset background and approaches, said the command. The announcement on Weibo did not come with a date but sources told Radio Free Asia, a news service affiliated with BenarNews, the exercise would be held this November. This will be the first time Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia take part together in combined drills with China. The official media in Vietnam, which has territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea, have not mentioned the event. Chinas Global Times quoted an analyst as saying that with more Southeast Asian members participating, the Aman Youyi-2023 exercise will serve as a stabilizer for regional security. Zhuo Hua, an international affairs expert at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy of Beijing Foreign Studies University, said it proved that more countries come to understand and agree with China's views in cooperative, comprehensive and sustainable security. US-China rivalry Another analyst, Collin Koh from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said that China has always wanted to have military engagements in Southeast Asia that are on par with those by the U.S. However, it remains a relatively new player in the field of defense diplomacy, Koh told RFA. The scale and depth of such engagements remain a far cry from the more established slate of engagements by the U.S., he added. China and Laos have just completed a joint military exercise called Friendship Shield 2023 in Laos with a combined force of nearly 1,000 troops. In March, Cambodia and China carried out exercise Golden Dragon 2023 in Cambodias Kampong Chhnang province. Chinese and Lao troops wrapping up the Friendship Shield 2023 joint exercise in Laos, May 26, 2023. [PLAs Southern Theater Command] To compare, in April more than 17,600 members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military took part in Balikatan 2023, an annual bilateral exercise between the two allies and the largest iteration of Balikatan to date. A month earlier, a U.S.-led multinational exercise Cobra Gold 2023 was held in Thailand with more than 7,000 service members from seven full participating nations and more than 20 other nations attending as observers. And next year, the worlds largest international maritime exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) will be held with even more than the 25,000 personnel in the 2022 RIMPAC. Southeast Asian countries engage in these exercises to demonstrate their willingness to engage China in the defense and security realm, but this also reflects the regional countries desire to exercise strategic autonomy, Koh said. I see Aman Youyi as more geopolitically symbolic for some Southeast Asian countries, even if the objective might differ from that of Beijing." Strengthening bonds The first Aman Youyi joint drills were held in 2014 between Malaysian armed forces and the PLA but as a tabletop exercise. With a theme of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, it was conducted successfully in the Paya Indah Wetlands in Selangor, Malaysia, two years later. The bilateral drills expanded to include Thailand in 2018 but were disrupted by the COVID pandemic in the years after. Enhancing military cooperation with countries including those in Southeast Asia is an important aspect of China's military diplomacy, the Global Times quoted Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert, as saying. It is unclear how many military personnel from each country will take part in Aman Youyi-2023 and which drills will be conducted. The recent Laos-China exercise Friendship Shield 2023 included strikes on armed positions in mountainous and forest areas in order to boost joint operational capabilities in counterterrorism and the safeguarding of borders, according to Chinese state media. Radio Free Asia is a news service affiliated with BenarNews. An undated photo released by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on May 29, 2023, shows a China-registered bulk carrier ship detained for anchoring illegally in the waters of east Johor. Malaysia said Tuesday it had detained a Chinese-registered ship carrying what is believed to be World War II-era cannon shells and was investigating the vessels alleged involvement in the plunder of wreckage from two British warships in the South China Sea. The bulk carrier, registered in the southeastern Chinese city of Fuzhou, was seized on Sunday after it anchored illegally off the coast of Johor, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said. While inspecting the vessel, maritime authorities discovered rusty cannon shells, scrap metal, bullets and other relics believed to be from World War II. Discovery of the ammunition comes amid recent reports of scavengers looting two British shipwrecks, the HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, which were sunk by Japanese torpedoes in 1941. The 32-member crew including 21 Chinese, 10 Bangladeshis and a Malaysian are being questioned at the Tanjung Sedili Maritime Zone, said Nurul Hizam Zakaria, the MMEA director for Johor state. We are still investigating and our priority is to obtain statements from the crew members, he told BenarNews. Scrap metal and an old cannon shell recovered from a Chinese-registered vessel detained by Malaysian maritime authorities. [MMEA/AP] The maritime agency said it was looking into a possible link with a separate seizure of relics and ammunition from a private scrap yard at Tanjung Belungkor in Johor. Malaysian newspaper the New Straits Times reported the Johor seizure was believed to be from the British World War II wrecks, which are located about 100 km east of Malaysia in the South China Sea. We at the MMEA cannot simply mention the British World War II wrecks because it is not confirmed yet and is still under investigation, said Zakaria. Following reports last week, a spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defence told the BBC it condemned the desecration of maritime military graves and would take appropriate action. The MMEA, the Royal Malaysian Police and the Department of Malaysian Heritage are investigating the recent seizures. Our officers are currently on-site to determine whether these relics are related to British World War II shipwrecks, deputy head of the heritage department Mohd Muda told BenarNews. BenarNews has contacted the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur for comment. In this screen grab from video released by the U.S. military, a Chinese J-16 fighter jet carries out a maneuver that the U.S. military said was unnecessarily aggressive near an American reconnaissance plane flying above contested waters in the South China Sea, May 26, 2023. A Chinese J-16 fighter jet last week carried out an unnecessarily aggressive maneuver near an American reconnaissance plane that was flying above the South China Sea, the U.S. military said on Tuesday. The incident, which occurred on Friday, followed a near collision of Chinese and American jets late last year over the same contested waters. A video released by the U.S. military shows the Chinese fighter jet approaching the American plane at a high altitude before turning sharply, veering away suddenly and disappearing in the distance. The cockpit of the American plane appears to shudder as the Chinese jet passes. The pilot of the Chinese jet flew directly in front of the nose of the RC-135, forcing the U.S. aircraft to fly through its wake turbulence, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement, vowing to continue flying above the waters that Beijing claims as sovereign territory. The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate safely and responsibly wherever international law allows, and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Joint Force will continue to fly in international airspace with due regard for the safety of all vessels and aircraft under international law, it said. We expect all countries in the Indo-Pacific region to use international airspace safely and in accordance with international law. Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, attributed the incident to close-in reconnaissance on China conducted by U.S. forces, which he said poses a serious danger to Chinas national security. The USs provocative and dangerous moves are the root cause of maritime security issues, Liu told Radio Free Asia in an email. China urges the US to stop such dangerous provocations, and stop deflecting blame on China. Beijing claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that rejected Chinas expansive claims, in a case brought by the Philippines. Six other Asian governments have territorial claims or maritime boundaries in the South China Sea that overlap with the sweeping claims of China. They are Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. While Indonesia does not regard itself as party to the South China Sea dispute, Beijing claims historic rights to parts of that sea overlapping Indonesia's exclusive economic zone. The United States is officially neutral in the dispute but rejects Chinas vast claim and has called for sovereignty claims to be resolved peacefully. U.S. forces also frequently carry out freedom of navigation operations through international waters in the sea, which includes shipping lanes in the South China Sea through which more than $5 trillion of goods pass each year. Radio Free Asia, a news service affiliated with BenarNews, produced this report. The Philippine Coast Guard installs a navigational buoy in the countrys exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea on May 15, 2023. Earlier this month, the Philippine Coast Guard deployed five 30-foot navigational buoys near islands and reefs within its territory in the South China Sea, saying the move highlighted the nations unwavering resolve to protect its maritime borders. Within two weeks, China had deployed three buoys of its own, positioning two near Manilas beacons at Irving Reef and Whitsun Reef, to ensure safety of navigation. The tit-for-tat deployments signaled a new front in a long-running dispute over sovereignty of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, one of the worlds most important sea trade routes that is considered a flashpoint for conflict in the Asia-Pacific. But the buoys also underscored an increasingly proactive approach by the Philippines in enforcing its maritime rights, analysts say. Such a move illustrates Manilas awareness of the changing nature of regional geopolitics, said Don McLain Gill, a Manila-based geopolitical analyst and lecturer at De La Salle University. The Philippines also recognizes that no other external entity can effectively endorse its legitimate interests other than itself. The Philippines deployed five 30-foot navigational buoys near islands and reefs within its territory between May 10 and 12. [Philippine Coast Guard/Reuters] China claims nearly all of the South China Sea and has for years militarized artificial islands, while deploying coast guard boats and a state-backed armed fishing fleet around disputed areas. In 2016, an international tribunal ruled in favor of Manila and against Beijings expansive historical claims to the region, but China has since refused to acknowledge the ruling. The Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan all have claims in the sea and Manilas buoy deployment prompted an official protest from Hanoi. Since taking office in June last year, Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been more vocal in condemning Chinas aggressive actions in the region and has restored traditional military ties with the United States. Raymond Powell, the South China Sea lead at Stanford Universitys Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, said the recent deployment of buoys showed the Philippines newfound determination to proactively assert its maritime interests. A war of buoys While Marcos Jr. was praised by some for the deployment, others have criticized the move as needlessly provocative. Filipino security analyst Rommel Banlaoi said the unilateral action heightened security tensions and could have unintended negative consequences. What the Philippines did was problematic because the international community recognizes the South China Sea as disputed waters, said Banlaoi, who chairs the advisory board of the China Studies Center at New Era Universitys School of International Relations. This might trigger a war of buoys, he said in an interview last week with local radio station DZBB. The Philippines National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said the deployment of buoys was meant to enforce the 2016 arbitral ruling in the Hague. This is not a provocation. What we call provocations are those who conduct dangerous maneuvering, laser pointing, blocking our vessels, harassing our fishermen, he told reporters in an interview, referring to recent Chinese actions in the South China Sea. Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, said the installation of the buoys demonstrated the Philippines was exercising jurisdiction over its waters for purposes of improving navigational safety. Such buoys are harmless devices that warn all other ships of potential hazards and should in no way be regarded as provocative or threatening, Batongbacal told BenarNews. He asked why critics were silent about China building artificial islands, installing anti-air and anti-ship missiles, and deploying missile boats and large coast guard vessels that actively interfere with Philippine boats in its maritime territory. Angering Vietnam Not only did the buoy deployment set off another round of recriminations between Beijing and Manila, it also drew a rebuke from Vietnam, which claims parts of the Spratly Islands as its own. When asked about Manilas action, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said Hanoi strongly opposes all acts violating Vietnams sovereign rights. Analysts say, however, the spat is unlikely to escalate, as Vietnam has far bigger issues to deal with in terms of Chinas incursions into its territorial waters. A Chinese survey ship, escorted by China Coast Guard and maritime militia, was found lingering within Vietnams exclusive economic zone for several days from May 7, often within fifty nautical miles of its southern coast. Workers prepare a navigational buoy for deployment in the Philippines exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea on May 15, 2023. [Philippine Coast Guard/Reuters] Powell said the incursions were much more provocative than the Philippines buoys. I think Vietnams pro-forma protest over the latter will be noted and largely forgotten, both in Hanoi and in Manila, Powell told BenarNews. Vietnams reaction to the Philippines move was natural due to its potential political ramifications at the domestic level, said Gill. But he added that Southeast Asian nations had a track record of settling maritime disputes in an amicable manner. In 2014, for example, the Philippines and Indonesia settled a maritime border dispute after two decades of negotiations by using international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Unlike China, Southeast Asian countries have illustrated a rather positive track record of being able to compromise and solve bilateral tensions between and among each other given the countries collective desire to maintain stability in the region, Gill said. A medical worker posts a notice at a public health center in Gwangju, Tuesday, to inform the public that the mandatory COVID-19 isolation period of seven days will be shortened to five days and no longer be compulsory starting Thursday when the government is set to downgrade the classification of COVID-19 from the top level. Yonhap Bennington, VT (05201) Today Some sun this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. High 71F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 50F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Some sun this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. High near 70F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 49F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. David French is a New York Times columnist. A former judge advocate general in the Army Reserve, he was a senior editor and founder of The Dispatch. Ambassadors from ASEAN member states take a tour around the ASEAN Trade Fair as part of SEOUL FOOD 2023, one of the largest food exhibitions in Asia, at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. The ASEAN-Korea Centre, with input from ASEAN embassies in Korea, is hosting the ASEAN Trade Fair to showcase food and beverage products from ASEAN countries and boost business ties between ASEAN and Korea until June 2. Courtesy of ASEAN-Korea Centre Even in the best of lifes seasons, we all go through storms. Everyone experiences trials, tribulations, and on occasion, catastrophic physical storms. No one is exempt from storms: neither great nor small, rich nor poor. Not the educated and famous, and not the uneducated and obscure. Not the sinner and not even the saint! As Jesus said, These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33). Translation: no one is exempt from storms! At any given moment, we are either headed into a storm, going through a storm, or coming out of a storm. Storms happen for various reasons. Some examples are: Satanic storms Storms which happen simply because we have an enemy who desires to kill, steal and destroy. Sudden storms Storms which happen because we live in a fallen world affected by sin, and storms just erupt with no rhyme or reason. Self storms Storms which happen because of bad decisions we make. Theyre DIY storms, if you will. Storms by association Storms that we face, not because of a bad decision we have made, but because of a bad decision made by someone else. Specifically, its made by a person whose life is inseparably intertwined with ours, and whose poor choices bring a storm into our lives. Sovereign storms Storms that God allows into our lives. These are not sent to harm us (that is, they are not tragedy or sickness), but rather these storms test the strength of our character and faith. They are used to help us mature in Christ. We often encounter these storms when we are being stubborn, prideful, or refuse to submit to Gods will for our lives. But lets be honest. Regardless of its source, when youre in a storm, whats most important is not the cause of the storm its how to survive it! Pauls Storm Story Even spiritual giants face storms. Just look at how many storms the Apostle Paul faced during his life and ministry. This is the same Paul who wrote two-thirds of the New Testament. This is the man who was caught up to the third heaven, where God shared with him spiritual truths that were so deep, he couldnt even repeat them. And if this spiritual giant a hero of the faith faced storms, so will you and I. Acts 27 records the infamous storm and shipwreck that the enemy sent to steal Pauls destiny. It hit as Paul was travelling as a prisoner on a Roman ship, headed to face trial in the city of Rome, before Caesar himself. This journey was the fulfilment of a promise of God to Paul, made decades earlier, that Paul would preach the message of Christ before kings and rulers. It was a preachers dream to have the opportunity to bring a world leader to Christ. If you can influence a leader to come to Christ, then you will affect everything that is under that leaders influence for Christ as well. And it was not just any leader Paul was going to face, but the head of the pagan Roman Empire. So Paul must have been excited as he boarded this ship headed for Rome and what may be the most important appointment he would ever have. But in life, things dont always turn out the way we think or plan. There are often bumps in the road, twists and turns, and unexpected events. The ship set off and initially everything appeared fairly normal. Then suddenly, a catastrophic storm engulfed the ship (Acts 27:14). Make an Alliance with God As the storm got progressively more severe, the crew tried to outrun it. The ship and cargo suffered a lot of damage, loss, and eventually the crew gave up all hope. But because Paul had made an alliance with God, He sent a message to Paul with the directions the men needed to survive the storm. Paul knew that God is an ally that we simply cant do without in facing our storms, because our victory comes from Him! Indeed, If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31). It does not matter what the storm looks like, what type of storm it is, or where it came from. When we make an alliance with God, we will survive the storm. Dont Break the Alliance This winter storm, The Northeaster, was known by all sailors at that time. It was a regular event in that area which was deadly to any ship caught by it. The sailors, guards and prisoners must have been filled with fear and dread. For fourteen days everyone was throwing cargo overboard, bailing water and fighting to stay upright and alive. And yet, nothing they did seemed to help them get through this storm. So often when we put our faith in God and make an alliance in the midst of a storm, if things dont change quickly, our tendency is to break the alliance and try doing it our way. We think: - God, I gave you a chance, but You didnt come through. - God, I put my trust in You, but things are not working out. - God, things have not gotten betterthey have gotten worse! Even Paul must have been thinking, God, do something! However, nothing changed. Day after day, the storm raged stronger and the temptation to break the alliance set in. Then God showed up strong on behalf of Paul: After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me (Acts 27:21-26). Rest in Gods Word God had spoken: Paul was destined to preach before kings and rulers. It was his mission from God to preach the Gospel to Caesar, and this storm would not be the end of them. Paul rested in Gods word. - What God says is Truth. His promises are yes and amen. His promises are backed by the blood of Jesus Christ. - The Word of God is food for the battered soul, and strength for the weak. Its what starves doubt and feeds faith. - Its the anchor that holds us tightly in the midst of lifes most powerful storms. - Its what empowers us to stare storms in the eye and say, I will live and not die, and declare the glory of God! We also must immerse ourselves in the living, abiding and storm-altering Word of Almighty God. Thats exactly what Paul did he got a word from God, and it turned all fear into faith. A word from God will keep your ship upright, even if you have to fight hurricane winds coming against you, or you run aground into a sandbar. Even if your ship snaps in half, it gives you something to hold onto as you swim to safety! Its true for every type of storm, too. Marital storms? Hold on! What God has joined together let no man put asunder. A financial storm? Hold on! He will open up the floodgates of heaven and pour you out a blessing. A physical storm? By His stripes you were healed. An emotional storm? He will keep in perfect peace those whose mind is stayed on the Lord. A life-threatening storm? With long life He will satisfy you and show you His salvation. When youve done all you know to do, rest in Gods word, hold on fast, and keep swimming! God Turns Delays into Divine Appointments Delays caused by storms are not the same as denials. Paul had a word from God, so he knew this delay would ultimately bring God glory. Paul and the others all made it safely to shore where they met people of the island, and God turned the storm delay into a divine appointment. There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably. His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured (Acts 28:7-9). Paul was supposed to be in Rome preaching to Caesar. Instead, he went through a hurricane, a shipwreck, a poisonous snake bite and started a revival! He could have interpreted that storm delay as a denial from God. Instead, Paul held fast to his alliance with God, knowing that he had a word, and God loves turning delays into divine appointments. No matter the source of the storm, God wants to do something divine in the middle of it. He may grow you and deepen your spiritual roots, or use you to bring the life-saving message of Jesus to someone who would never have heard it otherwise. Or He may want to bring out some gifts in you that you didnt even know existed. Whatever it is, stop looking at storms as setbacks. Keep your alliance with Him strong, so He can turn that delay into a divine appointment. Realize Gods Favor Never Fails What is favor? Websters dictionary defines favor as: Friendly or kind regard; good will; approval; liking; unfair partiality; favoritism; attractiveness; to prefer; to help; to assist; to do a kindness for; to endorse. It goes on to say that to be favored means: To be regarded or treated with favor; provided with advantages; to be especially privileged. Gods favor is a promise you can take to the bank, especially when youve been faithful in the midst of lifes storms. When Paul and the others made it to shore of an island, God didnt just set him up in a grass hut; they landed on the grounds of a public officials estate. They were treated extraordinarily well, with great hospitality. All their needs were provided for as they prepared to continue on their journey. They honored us in many ways and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed (Acts 28:10). In the original language, honored meansthey gave us a huge offering! And God also supplied Paul a large, luxurious ship to finish the journey to Rome, and a private house to stay in for two years while waiting for his trial date. Its the kind of favor that may make others jealous. But they only see the end of the storm story. They dont know what Paul had to go through to get to the other side. They dont know that Gods favor had been lavished upon him as a reward for his faithfulness and trust during the chaos of the storm. And they dont know Gods favor never fails. So dont quit on God in the face of your storm! Rest on His word to you, recognize that storm delays create divine appointments, and trust Him, because His favor never fails. When you do, your alliance with God will cause you to survive and thrive in the midst of each and every storm! Photo credit: Getty Images/Grant Faint Frank Santora is Lead Pastor of Faith Church, a multi-site church with locations in Connecticut and New York. Pastor Frank hosts a weekly television show, Destined to Win, which airs weekly on the Hillsong Channel and TBN. He has authored thirteen books, including the most recent, Modern Day Psalms and Good Good Father. To learn more about Pastor Frank and this ministry, please visit www.franksantora.cc. Photo by Michele Roman. Today Mostly cloudy. High 87F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 56F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 92F. Winds light and variable. Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia Standard Bank has teamed with DP World. African companies looking for trade finance will now be able to access working capital from Standard Bank by means of the DP World Trade Finance platform. This partnership will help in closing the gap in unmet demand for working capital on the continent. This partnership reflects our strategic vision of driving Africas growth. Platform businesses require strong partnerships at various levels of the value chain. The value derived from our shared knowledge, capability and skills will create unique opportunities to deliver financial services and trade solutions to our clients, Rassem Zok, chief executive officer of Middle East and North Africa at Standard Bank, said. "This is a demonstration of our commitment to the transition of financial services to platform-based ecosystems and improving client experiences. DP World Trade Finance connects business with financial institutions as a fintech platform while also directly offering trade-finance facilities on its own. It offers businesses a single window to access trade-finance solutions customers can simply apply for credit on the digital platform, which will present them with the best options from global financiers who may otherwise be out of their reach. Access to finance is one of the biggest barriers for businesses seeking global trade opportunities, evidenced by the struggle that many businesses face in securing the upfront funds required to move cargo. By bringing Standard Bank onto the platform, DP World Trade Finance now offers an array of financing solutions to African businesses, which face an ever-growing need for logistics and financial support to connect to global trade routes. Opening access to new global markets Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, group chairman and chief executive officer of DP World, said: DP World exists to make the worlds trade flow better and this partnership with Standard Bank is testament to that goal. Africa is a key market for us, with this partnership complementing our ongoing investment and development across the continent. Our recent acquisition of Imperial Logistics allowed us to enhance our logistics capabilities in Africa. "With the addition of DP World Trade Finance into our offerings, we aim to support African businesses of all sizes for their working capital needs. Together with Standard Bank, we will help African businesses go from strength to strength and grow their exports to new markets. Sinan Ozcan, senior executive officer of DP World Financial Services, said: Standard Bank joining the DP World Trade Finance platform is great news for businesses across Africa. DP World offers Standard Bank access to data on cargo movements, enabling them to lend with confidence. "We in turn plan to co-lend and share risk with Standard Bank on deals made by means of the platform, while Standard Bank will be able to support the many suppliers in DP Worlds ecosystem across Africa with its strong financing capabilities. Facilitating cross-border transactions "This ecosystem has itself been strengthened by the acquisition of Imperial Logistics by DP World in 2022. Standard Banks strong presence across countries like Nigeria, Kenya and Mozambique will see this partnership develop further in the African market. As Standard Bank moves forward with the ambition of becoming a digitally enabled organisation, we seek partnerships with global multinationals like DP World to deliver trade solutions to our clients across the continent. Partnering with DP World allows us to enhance how we facilitate cross-border transactions in growing key trade corridors, Kenny Fihla, chief executive officer of corporate and investment banking at Standard Bank, said. Since its launch in July 2021, DP World Trade Finance has partnered with 23 financial institutions and generated more than $700m in credit-limit submissions. The registration process takes less than five minutes, and over 57,000 global clients have already signed up for affordable access to trade finance through the platform. DP World Trade Finance also started directly lending to businesses since 2022. The changemaker who helped shape Kenya's modern competition law and enforcement policies, Francis Wang'ombe Kariuki, MBS, has been appointed as a senior consultant in Bowmans' Nairobi Competition Practice. Francis Wangombe Kariuki, MBS, Bowmans' new senior consultant in its Kenyan Competition Practice An economist specialising in industrial organisation, Kariuki joined Bowmans this month, having stepped down from his post as the first director-general of the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) in January, after 10 years of leadership. Kariuki has 30 years experience in the public service in Kenya; more than 20 of those with its National Treasury that saw his work result in the enactment of the country's Competition Act and CAK's establishment in 2013. His accolades include awards from the President of Kenya for exemplary public service, specifically in developing and enforcing competition law and policy. Kariuki played a critical regional role in the development of the Comesa Competition Commissions regulatory capacity, through the facilitation of training as well as guiding the formation of the requisite regulations. He was a founding member and the first chairman of the African Competition Forum, which has guided various cross-border research initiatives on competition policy, facilitated capacity building programmes, and developed and effected various cooperation frameworks. Considered a global thought-leader in emerging competition regulation issues, Kariuki acted as a policy advisor to the World Bank Group in the compilation of the World Development Report 2021 - Data for Better Lives. This Africa Month, we chat to Kariuki about his new role, his legacy and predictions for competition law in Africa. Congratulations on your new role - what brings you to Bowmans and what does your new position entail? Bowmans is a well-established law firm, with a dedicated skilled Competition Practice spanning across the African continent. My role is to complement this team in our purposeful journey of providing legal solutions and strategies to our clients. I believe my knowledge and experience in industrial organisation economics coupled with many years as a competition enforcer are an asset, especially as African competition agencies expand their regulatory precincts. You've been trailblazer for competition law in Kenya and have left some very large shoes to fill. What advice do you have for your successor as director-general of the CAK? There is no need to re-invent the wheel. The Authority has a credible regulatory infrastructure and human capital premised on the utmost objective of improving the investment climate in Kenya through efficient markets. I left a dedicated and cohesive team which was always guided by CAKs core values of customer focus, integrity, professionalism, impartiality, teamwork, innovation and creativity. The shoe size is measured by these values and the positive impact of your enforcement actions to Kenyans. Give us some insight into the impact the AfCFTA is having on competition in Kenya and Africa as a whole... The operationalisation of the AfCFTA aims at extinguishing the regulatory obstacles and other non-tariff barriers for the Kenyan firms to invest, through movement of goods and services, mergers or green field investments within the free trade area. On the other hand, investors from the other member states will enjoy the same, with their initiatives to enter the Kenyan markets. I envisage firms employing strategies to retain or expand their market shares either through innovation or other cost reduction measures coupled with increased marketing, which will enhance consumer choice. Unfortunately, other firms may enter into concerted agreements aimed at allocating themselves territories, fixing prices or quantity to produce within the free trade area. It is incumbent upon the competition agencies in Africa, the existing ones and the proposed African Continental Competition Authority to develop mechanisms of cooperating and collaborating in enforcement to ensure that the aspirations of the AfCFTA are unfettered. The enforcement initiatives should not only be directed towards market players but also advocacy initiatives should target governments actions which may hinder free movement of goods and services. What are some of the challenges African business is still experiencing in terms of competition law and how should we look overcome them? The concept of competition law in Africa is relatively new because most of the African economies are still in the process of fully liberalising their economies. That said and done, where the laws have been promulgated and agencies operationalised, enforcement capacity has been curtailed due to budgetary constraints. It is important to note that this enforcement capacity entails developing effective subsidiary legislation to ensure predictability, transparency and accountability. Also, it includes developing a skilled team to interpret the law consistently and judiciously. This unfortunate scenario is exacerbated by lack of developed jurisprudence. Fortunately, most competition agencies are at hand to engage and offer advice to market players prior to them engaging in agreements that may infringe the competition law. Also, market players should endeavour to enlist credible competition law firms/experts. What are your predictions for the future of competition law in Kenya and the continent? My expectation is to see more bilateral, regional and continental cooperation not only due to the increased continental trade, with the commencement of the AfCFTA but also informed by the indispensable need to harmonise analysis and build critical mass to deal with the competition challenges presented by the new economy. This may be accompanied by revamping of the existing laws to attend to the emerging challenges such superior bargaining position, self-preferencing, among others. Due to the growing importance of data in firms market positioning, I posit that agencies will prioritise cooperation with offices of data protectors to develop mechanisms for data sharing and portability especially in the financial services sector. Lastly, I envisage enforcement interventions aimed at facilitating free movement of goods and services across the region and the continent. This may be through focus on a regional haulage and trucking sector and, competition issues in the agriculture sector especially maize and soya beans aggregation. This will facilitate competition agencies to position themselves in their governments core programmes of ensuring access to food for their citizens. Eusebius McKaiser suddenly passed away on Tuesday. The 45-year-old is thought to have suffered an epileptic seizure. Source: Twitter Twitter Eusebius McKaiser has suddenly passed away The analyst, broadcaster and author, and popular radio talk show host was known for speaking out on social and political issues. McKaiser, who was gay, was also outspoken on racism and sexuality issues. The Mail & Guardian also says he was a South African national debate champion and the 2011 World Masters Debate Champion. His analytical articles and columns were widely published in South African newspapers, including the Mail & Guardian and The New York Times. McKaiser studied law and philosophy and taught philosophy in South Africa and England. Committed to SA It all happened so quickly. His partner Nduduzo Nyanda is at the mortuary with his family. I am so distraught. I can't believe this, says McKaisers manager Jackie Strydom. Strydom told TimesLive he had gone about his day without any hint of illness. McKaiser was committed to fixing South Africa until the end, with his last thoughts on the state of the country shared just hours before his death. TimesLive reports that he shared his views on the political landscape of the country and the ANC's role in some of the crises we face. If the opposition parties do not wake up now, I am afraid we will be saddled with the ANC and its sense of incumbency, with the consequences for ourselves materially for a long time to come, the article quotes McKaiser as saying. Tributes Tributes have flooded in for McKaiser. Rhodes University in the HeraldLive described him as a political activist who focused on social and political topics that impact on our lives, and make people sit up and take notice. Build One South Africa leader Mmusi Maimane says McKaisers death was a tragic and unexpected blow to South Africa. My deepest condolences to the McKaiser family and to all those who knew and worked with him. Eusebius was a passionate South African intellectual who pushed us all to think, to debate and to unlearn. On Twitter, author and journalist, Gus Silber tweets, I never once read, saw, or heard anything by Eusebius McKaiser that didn't make me think, rethink, laugh out loud, or shout at my radio. He was a giant of South African rhetoric, a lover of language, a stirrer of emotions. His voice, booming & mellifluous, was a force of nature. We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of renowned journalist and former 702 presenter Eusebius McKaiser. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his loved ones during this difficult time. May his soul rest in peace. #RIPEusebiusMcKaiser pic.twitter.com/fyp10Ar2MK CapeTalk on 567AM (@CapeTalk) May 30, 2023 Im devastated to hear of the sudden death of Eusebius McKaiser. He was always such a professional and had the honour of working with him over many years. Eusebius will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues. pic.twitter.com/hv8XeyQWAN Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) May 30, 2023 POWER 98.7 is saddened by the passing of our former colleague, Mr Eusebius McKaiser. With his robust style of engagement, he kept his listeners and guests captivated. We express our condolences to his loved ones. May his soul rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/Uk6lZcBd4W POWER 98.7 (@Powerfm987) May 30, 2023 Daniel Dujaxco is a multi skilled entrepreneur well practiced in fashion, construction, food and beverage. He merges these elements to create archetypal gems which leaves the customers amazed at his skillful combination of fabric, silhouette and design incorporated in his range. Daniel Dujaxco. Image supplied His aesthetic is elevated street style, and he targets 18-35-year-old male and female creatives who enjoy exclusivity, elevated fabrics and quality construction. Dujaxco explained how he enjoys sharing his childhood experiences and you find anything from form art painting techniques printed on jackets, to waistcoats and pieces of denim with tapestried horses, to cute animal applique on bombers in his range. Complementing his somehow quirky - yet luxurious aesthetic, fabrics used vary from poly blends to rich brocade, sequins, boucles and borgs. Customers are left yearning to sink their hands into these beautiful plush fabrics! In store, you will also find his official sponsor Hunter shoes, which similar to Dujaxco offers unique one-off quality footwear. ` Image supplied Although this was his first self-titled brand, Dujaxco is no stranger to fashion and regularly showcases at SA Menswear fashion weeks. He heads up Influhks, a fashion conglomerate that consists of brands including Lazystacks, Artclub and Friends, Tynsohly and Wear Broke. Social media manager Zolela Maholwana explains that Dujaxco does not only create opportunities for young designers to showcase their talent and gain exposure on elite fashion platforms but also assists with job creation and strengthening the South African economy. Zolela Maholwana. Image supplied Renowned stylist Adele Williams explains that she enjoys working with a designer of this calibre who uses his creativity to push boundaries in the fashion industry and helps others grow alongside him. Adele Williams. Image supplied The recent launch was held at his store Influhks on 199 Loop Street, Cape Town and the store was packed to capacity. Customers were entertained by a live DJ with cool Afrobeats while enjoying the open bar and dancing the night away. These small quantities, limited edition pieces are guaranteed to fly out of the store, so best to shop fast to avoid disappointment! Image supplied If you would like more information regarding the range, visit the store or visit influhks.com and danieldujaxco on Instagram. Veteran retailer named favourite "Bandverskaffer" In Beeld Readers' Choice Awards With a national footprint of over 100 stores spanning across South Africa for nearly six decades, its not surprising that Tiger Wheel & Tyre, part of TiAuto Investments has been named number one tyre supplier for the 11th consecutive year in the Beeld Readers Choice Awards. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Beeld readers who voted for us. Its very exciting to be recognised by our customers for all the hard work and training that goes into ensuring their overall journey and interaction with our brand and team members is a pleasant one. As a prominent retailer and fitment centre, it is our responsibility to ensure that vehicle safety and a seamless customer experience are our leading priorities, said Farishta Singh group marketing executive at TiAuto Investments. Beeld readers take pride in their heritage and appreciate having their opinions heard. This year, voting continued to receive extensive publicity, where readers had the opportunity to vote for their favourites in various categories; placing businesses in three award tiers: Platinum, Gold and Silver. Tiger Wheel & Tyre has provided consumers with expert advice, superior fitment services and quality products for every budget from leading brands in wheels, tyres and batteries. As tyre safety and overall vehicle maintenance is a massive brand priority, customers are encouraged to visit their local Tiger Wheel & Tyre fitment centre for a free vehicle safety check. For more information on our latest promotions visit www.twt.to or follow @TigerWheelnTyre on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. The North-West University (NWU) appreciates the essential work of non-profit organisations (NPOs) and their impact on support provided to surrounding communities. The university extends an invitation to all its existing community partners as well as all other local NPOs ? including schools, faith-based and local government organisations - to register for the Community Stakeholder Forum meeting. This exciting new forum aims to build capacity in communities through a network of expertise and collective community involvement. We aim to work closely with NPOs to help identify their knowledge and service needs. The NWU wants to support their work through the sharing of skills and human resources that are available at the university, says Bibi Bouwman, director for Sustainability and Community Impact. According to Bibi, the forum will be utilised as a gateway for students who need to complete service learning to reach out to NPOs and become involved in communities. This is an excellent opportunity for all community partners, and we invite them to register to be part of this dynamic network. This forum meeting is open to everyone involved in community upliftment and projects across the NWUs three campuses. To be part of this network, simply register using the link that will be provided on the NWU's website. Use the following link to RSVP for the meeting: https://forms.gle/CfbhATuPo2t4egcv8. Closing date for registration: 30 June 2023. The venues at all campuses will be communicated to registered participants after the closing date for registration. The meeting of registered organisations will take place on 19 July 2023 in Vanderbijlpark, on 20 July 2023 in Potchefstroom, and on 21 July 2023 in Mahikeng (from 10h30 to 12h30 at all campuses). Representatives of community partners who are unable to attend in person may join in virtually through the TEAMS links below: 19 July 2023 10h30 12h30 Vanderbijlpark Meeting ID: 370 722 902 582 Passcode: KZCzuH 20 July 2023 10h30 12h30 Potchefstroom Meeting ID: 365 840 467 632 Passcode: BZwx9h 21 July 2023 10h30 12h30 Mahikeng Meeting ID: 323 453 728 482 Passcode: gCzs8g For more information, phone Tumelo Legae at 018 285 25 98 or send an email to az.ca.uwn@eagel.olemut, or contact Bibi Bouwman at az.ca.uwn@namwuob.ibib. The Board of Governors of the African Development Bank group has approved management's request to leverage the equity of the African Development Fund, to mobilise more resources on the capital markets. The fund is the bank's concessional lending window. Source: Supplied. When fully implemented, the bank group could unlock up to $27bn to help low-income and fragile states, bank group president Akinwumi Adesina said on Friday, 26 May. What this means is that when this is launched, we can raise an additional $4bn or even more per cycle [every three years] for these least developed low-income countries, Adesina said during the official closing ceremony of the bank groups 2023 annual meetings in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. With nearly half its recipient countries classified as fragile states, the African Development Fund contributes to poverty reduction and socio-economic development in those countries by providing concessional funding for their projects and programmes. Nine of the 10 worlds most vulnerable countries to climate change are in sub-Saharan Africa and rely on the resources of the fund. In a declaration issued at the end of the meetings, the banks governors stressed the need for substantial financial resources to support climate adaptation in Africa. This must include the delivery of wealthy nations commitment to mobilise $100bn per year in climate finance for developing countries. We call for urgent action to double the collective provision of climate finance for adaptation, and operationalisation of new funding arrangements to respond to loss and damage as per decisions of the Conferences of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Conference of the Parties to the Paris Agreement, the last sessions of which were held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Raising climate finance The bank dedicated this years annual meetings to mobilising private-sector financing for climate action and green growth. The event rallied African leaders, development partners and researchers to find practical solutions to raising climate finance, including leveraging on the continents natural capital. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi opened the five-day meetings on Tuesday, calling for creative solutions for the complex challenges facing countries, especially those in Africa. Other dignitaries included the president of the union of the Comoros and chairman of the African Union, Azali Assoumani; Zimbabwes president Emmerson Mnangagwa and Tanzanias vice president Philip Mpango. African economic outlook Apart from its statutory meetings, the banks annual meetings featured a presidential dialogue and three thematic knowledge sessions. The highlights included the launch of the bank groups flagship 2023 African Economic Outlook Report; a unique celebration of Africa Day, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the African Union and a roundtable discussion on Zimbabwes debt-arrears clearance. Its time to put the pain of sanctions behind us by discussing real issues to heal the wounds in Zimbabwe, Adesina said during the closing press conference. He said the 2023 annual meetings achieved great success with recognition by its shareholders that the bank was critical to unleashing Africas potential. He stated: Let us leave Sharm El-Sheikh with a greater commitment. A greater commitment to working together. A greater commitment to building a more resilient Africa. The closing ceremony witnessed the handing over of the chairmanship of the boards of governors to Kenyas finance minister, Njuguna Ndungu. Kenya will host the 2024 annual meetings. In his acceptance speech, Ndungu said Kenya will build on Sharm El Sheikhs success. Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Do-hoon, on screen, delivers his opening remarks at a high-level political meeting of the 20th Proliferation Security Initiative held on South Korea's southern island of Jeju, May 30. Yonhap President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday urged strengthened cooperation to crack down on illegal financing by North Korea to advance its nuclear and missile programs, in spite of U.N. Security Council sanctions against Pyongyang. Yoon made the remarks at a high-level forum of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), which is aimed at countering the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), on the country's southern resort island of Jeju. "Despite U.N. Security Council sanctions, North Korea continues to illegally finance its nuclear and missiles programs," Yoon said via video message at the forum. "Our cooperation needs to become more robust to respond to such (threats)." Yoon stressed that the proliferation of WMD can pose a "serious threat" to international peace in the wake of North Korea's "unprecedented" threats, saying the PSI forum is "becoming all the more important." In a separate message, U.S. President Joe Biden highlighted the importance of the PSI meeting, saying the commitment to preventing, countering and ending the spread of WMD is "needed now more than ever." "Around the world, a growing number of nations continue to challenge the global security architecture that monitors and enforces norms against the spread of weapons of mass destruction," he said in the message delivered by Bonnie Jenkins, undersecretary of state for arms control and international security at the U.S. State Department, who attended the forum. Biden also urged the participating countries to "recommit" to deepening interdiction together, stressing that "no nation acting alone can address these challenges." This file photo, released by the South Korean Navy shows three Aegis-equipped destroyers the South's Yulgok Yi I, front, the Benfold, center, of the U.S. Navy and the JS Atago of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force sailing in waters off South Korea's east coast, April 17. Yonhap An unprecedented amount of cryptocurrency exchanges have collapsed to form an 'exchange graveyard'. One of the world's three cryptocurrency regulatory officers unpacks this phenomenon. Joey Garcia, chief legal and regulatory officer at Xapo Private Bank Recent high-profile crypto exchange failures such as FTX are well known, however few people are aware of the rate at which exchange collapses happen on a global scale. Since the FTX collapse, around 54 crypto exchanges have failed for a variety of reasons. These exchanges, referred to as the exchange graveyard, have left a trail of destruction behind them. This begs the question: In an environment where users want to gain access to a virtual asset and a technology that they trust, how secure is the ecosystem and how secure are the exchanges providing access to that technology and asset class? Joey Garcia, chief legal and regulatory officer at Xapo Private Bank, is one of the most respected global legal thought leaders on crypto regulations. He is a specialist consultant to the United Nations and various governments and entities on the evolution of crypto regulation, and a member of the prestigious global Wharton Reg@Tech think tank. Exchanges, large and small, act as the biggest intermediaries in the world for users to gain access to virtual assets, but many of them work to very un-secure and unregulated standards that people are simply unaware of. Exchanges do not typically deal with the segregation of customer assets from the exchange assets properly in order to keep those assets safe, they are not capitalised appropriately to deal with business risk, and do not have even the basic governance structures in place that you would expect for any regulated business. As more and more people enter the crypto market, it is crucial that they understand the importance of regulations... "Users obviously dont tend to do due diligence on exchanges, and generally follow trends, but that creates its own issues. Looking at things like the proof of reserves of an exchange is not enough if you cant see the liabilities of the exchange recorded against those assets. Understanding that there are basically no principles or law in most of the world that relate to the integrity of the markets created by a crypto exchange is something that people need to understand. They should be aware that there are safer alternatives available, says Garcia. Gibraltar-based Xapo Private Bank is the first fully regulated crypto-hybrid international bank offering crypto-friendly dollar accounts to protect ones wealth offshore. A pioneer in the international industry, it is the first bank in the world to support USDC deposits and withdrawals from a US Dollar bank account, enabling members to send USDC to beneficiaries anywhere in the world without any fees. We are the bridge between the regulated world of an interest bearing USD bank account, and the crypto/defi/web3 ecosystem by allowing our members to interact with that space on a crypto native blockchain payment rail basis. Any person can choose to send USDC out onto whatever platform they choose to take their own risk, but we are also the secure pillar and bridge to exit that space and hold the assets back on a deposit guarantee scheme insured USD bank account. It really is unique in the world. A screenshot of the exchange graveyard click to enlarge What makes exchanges fail? Just how did so many exchanges collapse? There have been several reasons: Lack of regulation: The lack of regulatory oversight in the crypto industry has also contributed to the collapse of some exchanges. Without proper regulations, exchanges are often left to their own devices, which can result in poor business practices, insufficient security measures, and lack of transparency. Sometimes not only the lack of regulation but the actual lack of the monitoring of those authorities can also lead to multiple issues. Liquidity problems: Another challenge that crypto exchanges face is liquidity. Without enough buyers and sellers in the market, an exchange may struggle to match orders and provide sufficient liquidity for its users. This can lead to price slippage, making it harder for traders to execute their trades at the desired price. Security breaches: One of the biggest challenges that crypto exchanges face is the security of their users' funds. If a hacker gains access to the exchange's servers they can have the ability to drain funds stored in those wallets. Many exchanges have suffered from such breaches, and users' accounts may not be insured or secured in any way. Business model issues: Some exchanges have also faced issues with their business models, including unsustainable fee structures or a lack of revenue streams. In some cases, exchanges have struggled to attract enough users to sustain their operations, leading to financial difficulties and eventual collapse. Fraud: Finally, there have been cases where exchanges have been outright fraudulent, with the operators stealing user funds or engaging in other illegal activities. These cases have usually resulted in the exchange being shut down and the operators facing legal action. Garcia has been working tirelessly to train authorities around the world in regulation as crypto assets become the norm. As the crypto industry continues to grow, so does the need for regulations that can ensure the security and stability of the ecosystem in a way that can protect consumers. Without proper regulations, investors and traders are left vulnerable to the risks of fraud, theft and market manipulation. The lack of regulatory oversight can hinder the mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies. The move to decentralised networks is not necessarily a solution but simply a shift in the risk of the middleman, to a risk of the middleware and this isnt something that is understood by many, says Garcia. Prior to joining Xapo Private Bank in Gibraltar, Garcias expertise and advocacy for increased crypto regulations made him a global authority and resource for authorities, companies and individuals on evolving crypto regulations. Currently, Garcia is working closely with the progressive Gibraltar Financial Services Commission to define modern regulatory frameworks and policy that bring a greater level of oversight to crypto-friendly banking and virtual asset custodianship by regulated entities like banks and Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs). As more and more people enter the crypto market, it is crucial that they understand the importance of regulations and the risks that are associated not only with unregulated exchanges, but with exchanges which are regulated only for compliance and money laundering purposes. Not for their core activity and business. In conclusion, the crypto exchange graveyard is a stark reminder of the need for increased regulation across the industry. Joeys efforts to train authorities around the world in regulation and advocacy for increased oversight are critical to the long-term success of the crypto ecosystem. A lack of service delivery and economic stagnation is driving people to three provincial economic hubs - Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, according to Lightstone's analysis of provincial data. And those on the move are mostly in the primary economically active age bands. Source: Gallo/Getty Lightstones analysis provides a snapshot of SAs property market which highlights widely different ratios of formal to informal housing from one province to another, where age and wealth bands live, and the volume and value of properties transacted, says Hayley Ivins-Downes, head of digital at Lightstone Property. Where do South Africans live? Just more than 16 million (27%) of South Africas 60.5 million people live in its engine room, Gauteng, while 11.5 million (19%) live in KZN and 7.2 million people (12%) live in the Western Cape. Northern Cape is least populated with 1.3 million (2%) people, followed by Free State at 2.9 million (5%) and North West with 4.1 million (7%), Mpumalanga with 4.7 million (8%), Limpopo with 5.9 million (10%) and Eastern Cape with 6.6 million (11%). Population growth and the search for work Three provinces have recorded population increases in the years 2011-2022 above the national average of 17%, while one province Mpumalanga was in step with the national average. Gauteng (31%), Western Cape (24%) and North West (20%) have grown above 17%, suggesting inward movement of people from other provinces for a variety of reasons in some cases, lifestyle changes as people search for greater safety and security or better service delivery, but in most cases the imbalance suggests people moving to provinces where there is a greater perceived prospect of work. The movement of job seekers to Gauteng and Western Cape is well documented Gauteng is the countrys economic and political hub while Western Cape has a growing reputation as the countrys best-run province and is increasingly attractive to semigrants and those who can work remotely, continues Ivins-Downes. The Eastern Cape (2%) has shown the least population growth, followed by Free State (7%), Limpopo (10%), KZN (12%) and Northern Cape (14%). Poor economic prospects have affected these provinces, and the steady flow of people to Gauteng, the Western Cape and North West is evidence of this. Population growth 20112022 Western Cape has highest percentage of formal households, Limpopo the least The data (see table below) assessed by Lightstone highlights vast differences between provinces when it comes to formal and informal households. Of South Africas just more than 17 million households, almost 7 million (41%) reside in properties registered at the Deeds Office while the remaining 10 million (59%) live either with other families or in informal properties (not registered at Deeds Office). The Western Cape has the highest percentage of households (61%) living in formally registered properties and, in terms of numbers, the third-least number of households in informal properties. On the other hand, Limpopo has by far the lowest percentage (15%) of households living in formally registered properties, which means a staggering 85% of households (the third-largest provincial number at 1.3 million) live in informal accommodation. Its population is growing at only 3%, likely due to significant migration of those seeking work opportunities elsewhere. North West (28%) and Mpumalanga (31%) are next lowest in terms of formal households, while Free State (60%) is just behind the Western Cape, and ahead of Northern Cape at 55%. Percentage of informal households Middle age spread Young people (under 18 years of age) are the largest age band in all provinces, followed by those 18 to 30 except in Gauteng, where the 30 to 40 age group are second. In fact, young people make up just 28% in Gauteng, the province whose population is growing most strongly in percentage terms ahead of the national average. The young, plus under 30 age band (20%) in Gauteng account for 48%, while the over 60s for only 7.5% - which means the most economically productive 30-60 age group accounts for 44.5% of people in the province. This is significantly different in Limpopo, where young people account for 39% of the population, and this rises to 61% if under 30s are added. Over 60s make up around 8.5%, which leaves just more than 30% in the most economically productive 30-60 age group nearly 15% less than in Gauteng. According to Ivins-Downes, using Gauteng and Limpopo as proxies for the nine provinces, it suggests the economically stronger provinces have greater numbers in the middle ages, while the economically weaker provinces have proportionately more younger and older people and less of those in the most productive economic years. Age distribution by province Gauteng and Western Cape lead volume and value Gauteng and the Western Cape, the countrys economic powerhouses, dominate volumes and value in the property market, with 65% of the property stock, and 79% of the stock value (as opposed to 58% of the population). The Western Cape accounts for 18% of the volume but 29% of the value, a significantly higher differential than Gauteng, the only other province where value exceeds volume (38% value, 35% volume). KwaZulu-Natal follows with 13% in both volume and value. At the low end, the Northern Cape accounts for 3% of volumes, and just 1% of value but it is SAs least populated province with 1.3 million people, yet fared only marginally behind Limpopo, which has 5.9 million people. Volume vs values of property stock Gauteng and the Western Cape led the way in terms of churn (graph below) with Western Cape leading on 3.9% and Gauteng marginally behind on 3.7%, while the Northern Cape (1.2%) and Free State (1.4%) were the least active. Proportion of properties transacting in 2022 Western Cape has highest percent of luxury value band properties Luxury properties account for 16.5% (203,824) of the Western Capes stock, slightly ahead of Gautengs 11.3% (269 453). Luxury properties account for just 0.5% of the total in Northern Cape and 0.9% in Limpopo. In terms of affordable housing, Eastern Cape has 54% of its housing stock in this category. The percentages for the other provinces are Free State 65%, Gauteng 32%, KwaZulu-Natal 34%, Limpopo 38%, Mpumalanga 46%, North West 53%, Northern Cape 59% and Western Cape 27%. Volume vs values of property Properties by value band per province South African Breweries (SAB) will once again partner with The Loeries, cementing the longstanding relationship between the two organisations to promote creative excellence in the industry. Image supplied. SAB VP Vaughan Croeser. South African Breweries (SAB) will once again partner with The Loeries SAB will be partnering as the Loeries Integrated Campaign category partner. Widely considered one of the most difficult categories in which to excel. The Loeries Integrated Campaign expects entrants to truly demonstrate their ability to create work that can combine media into a cohesive campaign that delivers on brand objectives. No stranger to the power of creativity, SAB VP Vaughan Croeser, says SAB is very proud to be a longstanding partner of The Loeries. Our firm belief is that creativity is the driving force behind the growth of brands. As a company that is committed to the growth of the South African economy, this link between growth and creativity is exactly why our association with The Loeries is so important to us. The Loeries CEO, Preetesh Sewraj expressed his appreciation of the partnership between The Loeries and SAB. SAB understands and utilises the power of creative excellence to truly connect with consumers in a meaningful way, says Sewraj. This partnership is a testament to their firm desire to also support and strengthen the industry through the work being done by The Loeries," he adds. Leveraging creativity to help solve societal issues Croeser adds that SAB recently re-launched the positioning of the SAB brand, and its purpose is to dream big to create a future with more cheers. Beyond unlocking growth, we also view creativity as a key component in solving real societal issues faced by South Africans every day as is evident in many of our current brand campaigns. By supporting the creative industry and coupling that with the power and the reach of our brands, we truly believe that we can create this brighter future together, says Croeser. 45 years of rewarding creative excellence This year the Africa and the Middle East's brand communications festival and awards celebrate its 45th edition of recognising and rewarding creative and innovative excellence. Loeries Creative Week will run over five days from 2 to 6 October in The City of Cape Town, with expos, talks by leading international creatives, networking and the highly anticipated announcement of the winners of the 2023 Loerie Awards. Aquila Collection recently partnered with Cany B Global Events to organise a mega fam trip in Cape Town. The goal of the trip was to generate exponential brand awareness and elevate travel from Poland to South Africa, with a focus on growing tourism numbers to Cape Town. The event, named "The Ultimate Cape Town Safari Experience," took place from 16 May to 22 May 2023. The trip showcased the captivating beauty of Cape Town, the proximity of the Aquila Private Game Reserve and Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve's Big 5 safari experiences to Cape Town, and the renowned wine regions between Tulbagh and Stellenbosch. Prominent Polish travel trade and media delegates were invited to participate in the fam trip, including National Geographic Magazine Poland, Onet Podroze, Business Traveller Poland, Itaka, Rainbow, Flow Africa, Best Reisen, Ecco Holiday, Biuro Podrozy Nekera, Conqueror Travel Club and InDreams Incentive Programs. These influential companies have the ability to create a massive impact on travel from Poland to Cape Town. Travel Advance CEO, Paddington Tucker says: "Poland is the growth champion of Europe, with an impressive 189% increase in its economy from 1990 to 2020. Despite the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic, Poland remains the fastest-growing economy on the continent, experiencing an 11.2% rise in GDP between Q1 2023 and Q4 2019. "At Travel Advance, we collaborate with various Destination Management Organisations to drive arrivals from the dynamic Central Eastern Europe region. Our research indicates a growing appetite among Polish travellers for long-haul destinations, with places such as the Maldives, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Malaysia, and Vietnam showing the strongest growth in 2023." Source: Supplied He adds: "When Aquila Collection approached us in 2022 to support their efforts in promoting Cape Town and the surrounding region, we were thrilled. We recognise the immense potential in Poland and Czechia for the Western Cape. Our deliberate selection of leading leisure and MICE operators, who possess the influence to shape the market, has allowed us to make a significant impact. "Additionally, we have engaged high-reach media outlets, whose output plays a crucial role in guiding end consumers' holiday choices. We eagerly anticipate replicating our success in the Czech market later this year." The fam trip offered a comprehensive schedule filled with multiple activities, providing a short but impactful introduction to Cape Town, the Aquila Collection Big 5 safaris, and the Cape Winelands. Hotel Sky Cape Town, Aquila Private Game Reserve and Spa, and Lanzerac Hotel were the primary accommodation sponsors, with a wide selection of Cape Town partners and activities all contributing to the trip's success. The logistics and management of the fam trip were handled by Cany B Global Events. "The Ultimate Cape Town Safari Experience" fam trip by Aquila Collection has set a benchmark for hosting and showcasing Cape Town, its wildlife sightings, and its incredible natural beauty. Aquila Collection and its partners are committed to organising future fam trips from emerging and tactical markets, aiming to expand the basket size and source markets of travellers to Cape Town. This strategic approach will ensure valuable tourism growth for the Mother City. Source: Supplied Johan van Schalkwyk, Aquila Collection group marketing and trade manager concludes: "Our primary focus is to prioritise Cape Town as a premier travel destination and ensure that emerging and new markets worldwide are fully informed about the incredible opportunities it offers. "Aquila Collection has made substantial investments in and around Cape Town, boasting unique and bucket list accommodations and activities. We have taken on an ambitious mission to expand our reach beyond traditional source markets and attract travellers from around the globe. This approach ensures the resilience of our businesses and Cape Town in the event of any slowdown in arrivals from key markets. "By welcoming more visitors to Cape Town, our businesses will have the privilege of accommodating more guests. This is our ultimate mission and driving force." 2023 has seen the launch of year two of Oxford University Press South Africa's Road to Literacy campaign, in partnership with Avbob. The campaign aims to contribute to improving literacy (reading) skills in children across the country by awarding underprivileged primary schools and education non-profit organisations (NPOs) a trolley library equipped with 500 books to the value of R50,000. Last year, 180 deserving schools and NPOs each received a trolley library. This year, the goal is to deliver 260 trolley libraries, with OUPSA focusing on the role of mother tongue learning in achieving literacy. Mother tongue learning Research supports mother tongue learning as far as possible. Various studies have found that teaching in a mother tongue helps to reduce dropout rates, fosters independent learning, instils confidence in communication, and makes education more accessible to learners. Photo by cottonbro studio via www.pexels.com According to the Language in Education Policy, South African learners Home Language should be used as their Language of Learning and Teaching whenever possible. This is especially important in Grades 1-3, when the foundations for literacy and numeracy are laid. However, many learners whose home language is not English then experience great challenges in transitioning to English in Grade 4 as required by the Department of Basic Education. Supported by mother tongue learning, the Action Plan to 2024: Towards the Realisation of Schooling 2030 envisages that by 2030, improved education will lead to higher employment and earnings, while more rapid economic growth will broaden opportunities for all and generate the resources required to improve education. Progress was checked via the via the Early Grade Reading Assessment in Grades 1 to 3 and the School Monitoring Survey in Grades 6 and 12. However, the report showed that, in spite of numerous interventions and strategies, South Africa is not on the correct trajectory to meet the goals set for 2030. One way to help tackle the literacy challenge is to empower learners to help themselves by giving them access to a dictionary. Not just any dictionary, though selecting the right fit is crucial. Factors to consider include age-appropriateness, language level, local content, grammar support, pointers for developing dictionary skills, and choosing between a monolingual (one language) and bilingual (two languages) dictionary. Mono- versus bilingual dictionaries which is better? A popular misconception is that monolingual dictionaries are preferable or superior to their bilingual counterparts. Though monolingual dictionaries are perfect for further developing existing language skills, research has shown that bilingual dictionaries are best when it comes to acquiring an additional language. The reasons include allowing code-switching in the classroom and empowering learners to learn independently. Apart from translation techniques forming part of most learners learning strategies, bilingual dictionaries also enable learners to check comprehension and sense, decode instructions, and explain difficult words or concepts. A small-scale study OUPSA carried out in Gqeberha into teachers perceptions of the impact of the Oxford Bilingual School Dictionary: isiXhosa and English showed that the impact was felt in the Home Language (isiXhosa) as well as the Additional Language (English). Learners were not only more confident reading and pronouncing English, but their isiXhosa vocabulary had also grown, and they learnt more quickly. Specialist dictionaries for SA learners The second year of the Road to LiteracyTM campaign coincides with the completion of Oxfords series of Big 5 African languages with the publication of the Oxford Bilingual School Dictionary: Sesotho and English. (The others are isiZulu, isiXhosa, Sesotho sa Leboa and Setswana.) These bilingual school dictionaries have been made with the South African classroom in mind. Words are selected scientifically by analysing the curriculum and the words learners need to know to succeed. With African languages, especially the agglutinative languages such as isiZulu (where parts are added to root words to form different parts of speech etc.), many learners find it confusing when they have to look up words as they are used in natural language. The Oxford Bilingual School Dictionary series addresses this problem by using whole words as headwords, not only the root. Image supplied The dictionaries also include words unique to South Africa, noun classes, definitions and/or example sentences, cross-references, usage notes, idiomatic expressions, annotated illustrations for word-building, grammar support, pronunciation guides, and activities to entrench dictionary skills. Reading for meaning achieving true literacy According to the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) of 2021, 81% of Grade 4 learners in South Africa cannot read for meaning in other words, are technically illiterate. This percentage is up from 78% in the previous PIRLS (2016), reflecting the effect of lengthy Covid lockdowns on the existing reading crisis. This has far-reaching repercussions for academic achievement across all subjects and grades: If you cant assign meaning to texts, you simply cannot read, write or learn. In addition, in Grade 4 the majority of South African learners transition from learning in their Home Language to learning in English. Bilingual dictionaries are key to supporting this transition. This support extends beyond the translation, meaning and spelling of words. Research shows that dictionaries are used extensively to check grammar, pronunciation and register, as well as the correct usage of words in sentences, phrases and fixed expressions. After the 2016 PIRLS results, President Cyril Ramaphosa escalated reading literacy as a national prerogative, stating that every child should be able to read for meaning by the age of 10. The Road to LiteracyTM campaign is designed to help make that dream a reality. And choosing the right dictionary to support your child will give them wings on their journey. The cost of load shedding in South Africa has exceeded an estimated R1.2tn - notwithstanding the losses accumulated during the current financial year. Some of this financial impact has been shouldered by the thousands of small businesses which are the backbone of the economy. The real cost of load shedding, however, goes beyond just rands and cents - the energy crisis continues to have a profoundly negative impact on the overall morale and productivity levels of the country's employees. Jeremy Lang, chief investment officer at Business Partners Limited This is the opinion of Jeremy Lang, chief investment officer at small- to medium-sized enterprise (SME) financier, Business Partners Limited, who believes that loss of revenue is merely the 'tip of the iceberg' for small businesses who rely heavily on a consistent and reliable energy supply. As he elaborates: To fully comprehend the extent of the impact that load shedding has had on the SME sector, we need to consider what it has meant for employees pockets as well as their daily working regimes. Productivity levels on the decline In a recent online survey conducted by market research firm, BrandMapp, 45% of employers reported a noticeable decrease in productivity due to load shedding. This same finding was reflected in the results of the Q4 2022 SME Confidence Index conducted by Business Partners Limited, in which over 39% of small business owners reported that their business productivity levels had declined as a direct result of the rolling blackouts. For Lang, these findings come as no surprise, given that power cuts lead to the abrupt disruption of workflow. Further to that, businesses are also drained of the added time needed to restart operations, retrieve lost data and constantly adjust working timetables to accommodate the load shedding schedule. And, as Lang says: The cost of lower productivity results in small businesses generating reduced outputs. This in turn affects not only profitability but also their ability to create new jobs. Small businesses can no longer afford not to invest in contingency plans that can help them stay afloat amidst the energy crisis. Jeremy Lang Team spirit takes a knock Another key area of impact to consider is employee morale. BrandMapps study found that worker confidence and mood has taken a dive as a result of increased levels of stress, financial pressure and job insecurity. The possibility of downsizing and salary reductions is a looming reality for many of the countrys small businesses who simply cannot afford to absorb load shedding-related risks and costs. This consequence has been felt most acutely by township and rural-based businesses. According to the Insights Report conducted by Nedbank, in partnership with the Township Entrepreneurs Alliance, about 65% of small township businesses are forced to cease operations during power cuts. A further 66% of these businesses have also been forced to cut jobs due to significant revenue losses. For Lang, the disproportionate effect that load shedding has had on micro-enterprises and those in the informal sector is evidence of the pressing issue of economic inequality. Many of the corner shops, tailors, shisanyamas and local fruit and vegetable sellers who have become such an important part of the South African SMME landscape are not in a position to afford expensive generators, inverters and alternative energy sources. "This has placed many of our local business owners under immense stress and job shedding has become a very real fear, says Lang. The need for access to funding for alternative energy systems is one of the key factors that prompted Lang and his team to set up the Energy Fund for SMEs a mechanism by which to provide small businesses with loans to finance off-the-grid power supplies such as generators and inverters. Time to brace for impact Going forward, local small businesses will have to adopt an agile mindset and approach to change. These are unprecedented times for the South African socio economic climate, with emerging challenges that present a whole new set of threats to business continuity, and by extension, employee wellbeing. Lang concludes: Small businesses can no longer afford not to invest in contingency plans that can help them stay afloat amidst the energy crisis. We are aware that load shedding will persist into the indefinite future. As such, small businesses need to find creative ways to maintain their employee value proposition by offering flexibility and structured arrangements to recover lost working hours. Now is also the ideal time to invest in health and wellbeing providing support for employees and building positive team culture should be regarded as a business imperative. The energy crisis is undoubtedly one of the biggest contributing factors to the course of the local working landscapes evolution. In the very near future, the way these business respond to the mounting pressures will determine the long-term sustainability of the sector and its people. Eight small and growing businesses (SGBs) in Waterfall City, Gauteng, have graduated from an enterprise development programme designed to equip them with the skills, training and personal development support they need to develop their enterprises into fully independent companies. Source: Supplied The initiative is created and managed by Property Point and is a significant enterprise and supplier development programme within the property and construction industries. The latest SME cohort to undertake the programme were introduced to it by property group and developers of Waterfall City, Attacq Limited. Over the course of the two-year Property Point programme, which started in 2020, the eight participating SMEs from Waterfall City generated a combined revenue of over R29m, with an average growth rate of 11.24%, accessing over R960,000 worth of contracts and creating 14 full-time jobs. At a graduation ceremony held in Midrand on 18 May 2023, paint coatings service provider Dimba Construction and Projects was declared the top-performing business in the programme, having consistently performed at a high level over a significant period, with a track record of excellence in financial performance, customer satisfaction, innovation, and employee engagement. Dimba Construction and Projects received a prize of R70,000, while Keone Productions received the runner-up award, taking home R50,000. This prize money is seen as a cash injection into the business to be used to purchase a product or service that advances the companys capacity. The remaining six businesses making up the SME cohort were Kanzima COE, CRM Enterprise, Mad Cleaning, Blue Rain Trading, Nande Engineering Development Consultants and KNTE. Bolstering local economic development Shawn Theunissen, founder of Property Point, congratulated all participants of the programme and commended them for their resilience and hard work. We are making significant strides in bolstering local economic development, and its worth noting that the SMEs, who embarked on their programme amidst the challenging backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, have emerged as the epitome of resilience. These remarkable programmes will demonstrate the undeniable impact of SMEs on our nation's economy. They embody the unwavering commitment to success and sustainability, defying all odds, said Theunissen. With a spirit of optimism and innovative thinking, the graduation ceremony served as a testament to the invincible spirit and unwavering dedication of these incredibly resilient SMEs. It showcased the profound influence that their hard work and determination, even in the face of adversity, can have in fostering sustainable employment and generating revenue streams through entrepreneurship, he added. Programmes such as this help inspire aspiring entrepreneurs and showcase the impact of enterprise development programmes in transforming the South African business landscape. Janine Palm, social executive at Attacq congratulated the class of 2020 on the great tenacity they displayed, especially given that the cohort began during a particularly difficult economic period. Since the inception of the partnership in 2016, we have been able to promote the growth of SMEs in the property sector and increase their competitive ability. Through the implementation of the Local Economic Development (LED) programme, the eight graduating businesses in this cohort now have the business tools to create meaningful jobs by providing value and tapping into numerous market opportunities whilst advancing local communities, she said. Snazo Asive Matiwane, managing director of Dimba Construction, said she was grateful for the support, mentorship and opportunities provided by the programme. I am incredibly proud to have been selected to be part of such an exceptional enterprise development programme and even more thrilled to emerge as the ultimate winner. This journey has been a testament to the power of hard work, determination and resilience in the construction industry, she said. Through this programme, we have transformed from a small business into a true force to be reckoned with. We have honed our skills, expanded our network and embraced innovation to deliver outstanding results. Our success is the fruit of our commitment to excellence and our ability to thrive in the face of challenges, said Matiwane. Park Young-hyo, left, director-general for nuclear nonproliferation and diplomatic planning at the South Korean ministry, meets with Atsushi Kaifu, director-general of the Japanese foreign ministry's disarmament, non-proliferation and science department, on Jeju Island, May 29. Yonhap South Korea and Japan held their first bilateral disarmament and nonproliferation consultations in five years and called for North Korea to immediately withdraw its plan to launch a military spy satellite, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday. Park Young-hyo, director-general for nuclear nonproliferation and diplomatic planning at the ministry, met with Atsushi Kaifu, director-general of the Japanese foreign ministry's disarmament, non-proliferation and science department, on Jeju Island on Monday, the ministry said. According to the ministry, the two sides voiced concerns about North Korea's heightened nuclear threat and its plan to launch a spy satellite in the coming weeks. The officials urged the North to scrap the launch, which they said is a serious violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions that prohibit all launches using ballistic missile technology. They also exchanged views on challenges to the international disarmament and nonproliferation regime, and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in related areas. The meeting on nonproliferation was held for the first time since 2018, as relations between the two countries have thawed under the current Yoon Suk Yeol administration. (Yonhap) Originally published at The Last American Vagabond. For years, Erik Prince the founder of mercenary firm Blackwater (now Academi) has been a major source of controversy. Ever since he left Blackwater over a decade ago, Prince has appeared in the news for pushing to privatize several wars, his ties to former President Donald Trumps presidential campaigns, his violation of international arms embargoes and his unusually close ties with Project Veritas, among other notable events and connections. However, some of Princes antics in recent years have not yet made it into the news namely his decision to team up with an Israeli spy to build a very secretive company that has until now evaded scrutiny. That company, Comframe Solutions, appears to operate as an intelligence front and explicitly targets parts of the American military involved in highly sensitive combat operations. As this investigation will show, Princes partner in Comframe Lital Leshem has been tied to a series of apparent, and admitted, Israeli intelligence front companies, several of which have a focus on technology. Yet Prince and his close associate Chris Burgess Comframes supposed president have done everything they can to hide their association with the incredibly secretive company. Why might that be and what exactly is Comframe up to? From Army Brat to Cyber Spy Lital Leshem was raised as an army brat in Reut, Israel and Pennsylvania, USA. She later enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as she was truly devoted to safeguarding the State of Israel. She quickly rose in the ranks, becoming Operations Officer in the IDF of the besieged Gaza Strip and later becoming a Major, a position she continues to hold to this date through her reserve duty activities. According to her LinkedIn, she served in Israeli military intelligence from 2005 to 2011 and, more specifically, served in its signals intelligence unit Unit 8200. She later attended IDC Herzliya, an Israeli university deeply tied to its military and intelligence apparatus. There, she met Amir Elichai and the two would co-create the company Reporty, which later became Carbyne911 today known only as Carbyne. Carbyne was originally founded as Reporty in 2014 by Leshem, Elichai and Alex Dizengof. Leshem and Elichai are Unit 8200 veterans, while Dizengof previously worked for Israels Prime Ministers Office. Before it was revealed that Jeffrey Epstein had poured at least 1 million dollars into the company at the behest of his close associate Ehud Barak, Cabrynes board of directors which Barak chaired included the former commander of Unit 8200, Pinchas Buchris, as well as Epstein associate turned venture capitalist Nicole Junkermann. In the wake of the Epstein scandal, Buchris, Barak and Junkerman, among others, were removed from the board and were largely replaced with veterans and former heads of American intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Leshem had left the company in 2017, but has continued to own shares in the company. Ehud Barak, center, poses with Carbyne co-founders Alex Dizengof, Amir Elichai and Lital Leshem; Source: Yossi Seliger Carbyne is a Next-Generation 9-11 (NG911) platform and the explicit goal of NG911 is for all 911 systems nationwide to become interconnected. It is currently active throughout the United States, its main target market. Its software has been criticized due to serious privacy concerns about the amount of information it harvests from smartphones that call a 911 call center running Carbynes software. For instance, Carbynes smartphone app extracts the following information from the phones on which it is installed: Device location, video live-streamed from the smartphone to the call center, text messages in a two-way chat window, any data from a users phone if they have the Carbyne app and ESInet, and any information that comes over a data link, which Carbyne opens in case the callers voice link drops out. The potential for Carbyne as a tool for mass surveillance has been extensively reported by Narativ, MintPress News and other outlets. In addition, Carbyne stores all data on past calls and events in order to enabl[e] decision makers to accurately analyze the past and present behavior of their callers, react accordingly, and in time predict future patterns. As a result, Carbyne along with other Israeli intelligence-connected companies seeking to dominate the American public safety market has the potential to facilitate controversial predictive policing, i.e. pre-crime, policies. Screengrab from Carbynes website describing its c-Records feature, which has since been deleted; Source: Carbyne (archived) In addition to Carbyne, Leshem also worked for Black Cube, which has since been removed from her LinkedIn. There, she had been the firms Director of Marketing. Black Cube was specifically outed as an Israeli intelligence front organization in a 2019 article published by Calcalist Tech. That same article also contains the stunning revelation that many Israeli companies, including Black Cube, have been founded as fronts for intelligence operations since 2012. It states that since 2012, cyber-related and intelligence projects that were previously carried out in-house in the Israeli military and Israels main intelligence arms are transferred to companies that in some cases were built for this exact purpose. The article also adds that: In some cases, managers of development projects in the Israeli military and intelligence arms were encouraged to form their own companies which then took over the [military and/or intelligence] project. With Leshem having worked for one company already known to be a product of this deliberate policy, it is worth scrutinizing Carbyne as being one such front, especially considering the common tie of Ehud Barak to both companies. In addition, Leshem has also worked for another company tied to Barak that has been described as worse than the NSO Group, which produced the notorious Pegasus software. Called Toka, its top executives like Carbyne are largely veterans of Israelis Unit 8200, where Leshem also served, or former commanders of Israeli military cyber operations. Toka, which Ehud Barak founded in 2018, is very, very likely to be one of the front organizations produced as a result of the aforementioned 2012 Israeli intelligence policy. The company is directly partnered with Israels Ministry of Defense and other Israeli intelligence and security agencies since its founding and the company only sells its products to countries that are considered allies of Israel. It purports to be able to hack, not just smartphones, but any device with internet connectivity, such as doorbell cameras and other smart devices. As will be noted later in this article, Leshem herself has noted that Toka has a relationship with the CIA. After being involved with a series of Israeli intelligence fronts and her enduring ties to Israeli military intelligence through her reserve duty activities, Leshem was courted by a surprising figure Erik Prince, war profiteer and founder of the controversial mercenary outfit Blackwater. Partnering with Prince Leshem says that she met Prince after she randomly stumbled across his path and joined his team. There, per her website, she managed his business portfolio and his global investments. Her LinkedIn lists her as serving as the executive director of global business development of Frontier Resource Group (FRG) from 2018 to 2021. Frontier Resource Group was founded by Prince and is an Africa-dedicated investment firm partnered with major Chinese enterprises, including at least one state-owned resource giant that is keen to pour money into the resource-rich continent, according to the South China Post. It not only operates in Africa, but also other countries due to its contracts to support Chinas One Belt One Road initiative, which were signed in 2019. Erik Prince and Lital Leshem in an undated photo; Source: Ynet FRG is a subsidiary of Frontier Services Group (FSG), which Prince also founded. In 2013, he sold a majority share of FSG to the China International Trust Investment Corporation (CITIC), a state-owned Chinese investment company that is among the largest of the countrys state-run conglomerates. CITIC, during the mid-1990s, was chaired by Wang Jun, who doubled as Chinas chief arms dealer and was a key figure in the Chinagate scandal of the Clinton White House. As detailed in One Nation Under Blackmail, that scandal involved the illicit transfer of American military technology to China and the illicit transfer of Chinese weapons, whose sale in the US was banned during this time, into the United States. Mark Middleton, a White House aide, and Jeffrey Epstein are some of the names apparently involved with those activities. Chinagate appears to have been a joint venture between factions of the CIA and Israeli intelligence and has never been properly investigated by federal authorities. It seems that Prince, who was (and may still be) a CIA asset, and Leshem have engaged in similar activities via FRG/FSG. For example, TRTWorld reported that Leshem is speculated to have transferred Carbynes technology to China via her role at FRG and her connection to Prince. China launched an app that was nearly analogous to Carbyne, but more explicitly focused on surveillance, at the same time that Carbyne launched its first 911 call system in the United States. Erik Prince, left, chairman of Frontier Services Group, looks at a map of Africa with Deputy Chairman Johnson Ko. FSG, which is backed by Chinese state-owned entities, is based in Hong Kong; Source: HKEG In addition, TRTWorld notes, the company DarkMatter, a UAE surveillance and intelligence group that employs former US intelligence operatives, attracted the attention of Chinese officials at a smart cities conference in 2015. DarkMatter, which was launched to modernize Emirati intelligence and military operations, signed a Global Strategic Memorandum of Understanding with Huawei, the Chinese tech giant. The middle man in this sale was none other than Erik Prince. Leshem and another Prince associate, Dorian Barak, also have business ties to the UAE via their prominent roles at the UAE-Israel Business Council. As TRTWorld concluded: With similar technology being used, and the same mercenary middle-man between Carbyne and China who brought together UAEs DarkMatter surveillance technology with China, indications point to a likely transfer of surveillance technology from Epsteins Israeli company [Carbyne] to China. Comframe Secretive Company or Intelligence Front? Princes and Leshems joint activities after Leshem left FRG suggest that this pattern of behavior has not only continued, but deepened. According to Leshems website, a year and a half after she started working for Prince, she and Prince joined forces to found Comframe, a company that takes the best of Israeli defense technology providers, and helps them penetrate the American market by bridging prevalent gaps. Leshem also says Comframe was assisted by her premier integrator and business development platform for deploying advanced military, special operations, public safety and HLS solutions in the United States, and a wide network of partnership, both government and civilian. In discussing Comframe elsewhere, Leshem writes that the company she co-founded with Prince is led and staffed by Special Operations and defense procurement veterans with billions of dollars of successful sales to USG and foreign government to their names. She says that Comframe has a track-record of success implementing complex procurement and integrations programs from intelligence gathering & analysis, to contracting, program sales and personnel deployment, is exceptional. What Leshem says of the company clashes with Comframes threadbare public presence. For instance, its website, which is notably short on content, lists the following companies as partners TomCar, BlueBird Aero Systems, General Robotics, SafeStrike, Ops-Core (now part of Gentex Corp) and Axon. On its partners page, Comframe says that this is a small sampling of our current partners we have chosen to work with. Most of these companies were created by Israeli military/military intelligence veterans. Comframe Solutions homepage; Source: https://comframesolutions.com/ Aside from the partners page, there is little other information available on the Comframe site. It describes its mission as to source cutting-edge, innovative technologies that safely and securely solve articulated U.S. government problems and touts its get it done commitment and how its employees wake up every morning wanting to find solutions that keep the U.S. government safe and more lethal. It lists the companys president as Chris Burgess. Burgess, a former NAVY Seal who trained with Erik Prince, does not list Comframe on his LinkedIn or in any other site discussing his work history. He is currently the CEO of military contractor Regulus Global. Burgess previously ran a mercenary firm he founded, Greystone Ltd., that was previously affiliated with Princes Blackwater and was originally intended to be Blackwaters sister company. Both Blackwater (now Academi) and Greystone have been accused of sending mercenaries to fight in the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Both companies deny this. The accusations came after Prince had planned to create a private army in Ukraine, something he has attempted to do (and sometimes succeeded) in various conflict zones, such as Afghanistan. Prince has also attempted to offer lethal services to Russias Wagner group. Chris Burgess; Source Aside from Burgess apparent unwillingness to associate himself publicly with Comframe, there is also the fact that the only employee publicly associated with Comframe at all is Lital Leshem. Indeed, even Erik Prince has declined to publicly affiliate himself with the company. Another oddity is the fact that Comframes website has an Industry News page that contains several blog posts with titles discussing oil markets and geopolitics. However, the content of the posts themselves are all filler generated by WordPress. Was Comframe also intended to work in commodities markets? The odd and sparse nature of the website seems to clash with Leshems characterization of the company. So, what is Comframe exactly and what is it intended to do? Why are the only people associated with the company two professional mercenaries, one of whom is a known CIA asset, and an Israeli spy? A 2020 article published in the Jerusalem Post seems to highlight Comframes mysterious inner workings and likely purpose. That article notes that Comframe acted as a middleman in forging an agreement to create an assembly line in El Paso, TX in order for the Israeli company Tomcar to offer its latest models to the US Armed Forces. The agreement was made between Tomcar and Prince Manufacturing, a major contract manufacturing company that works with Ford, General Motors and Tesla, among others. Prince Manufacturing was notably founded and run for many years by Edgar Prince, Erik Princes father. Notably Tomcar, its founder Yoram Zarchi and his son (works for Tomcar) Ram Zarchi appear in the Panama Papers as does the former holding company that owned Tomcar from 2004 to 2011. The article notes that Comframe is focused on recognizing needs in the US defense industry and matching them to possible solutions, usually involving innovative Israeli companies. However, the article notes, to meet the demands of American security needs, one must have an American entity. Leshem is then quoted as saying, Ram [Zarchi of Tomcar] had been living in Phoenix for 15 years, but he cant do that [sell to the American military because he is not a US citizen]. We can. In other words, per Leshem, Comframe utilizes Prince and presumably Burgess to sell Israeli defense technology and products to the American military that would otherwise not happen due to national security concerns around buying foreign-made products for sensitive defense and military operations. Leshem goes on to state Comframe sells to the US Special Forces and other branches of the service [i.e. US military], noting that Comframe is specifically targeting Special Ops. She also suggests that, aside from the US military, another intended market for the company is NATO she told the Jerusalem Post that the US controls 70% of NATOs defense industry. The article ends by stating that, for Comframe, when sales are related to national security, one still has to have boots on the ground, suggesting why Comframe has such a minimal web and online presence. This is similar to another company Leshem has been working for while at Comframe, Ehud Baraks Toka. Notably, at the end of this very article, Leshem uses Toka as an example regarding Comframes boots on the ground sales approach. She states: Hi-tech companies like Toka with clients like the CIA, cant discuss what they do using Zoom. A New Pattern for Prince Comframe is a very suspect company it is highly, highly secretive, targets sensitive American military agencies with foreign technology, and its known employees are apparent spooks and intelligence-linked mercenaries. Not only that, but the history of Israeli espionage in the United States from Jonathan Pollard and PROMIS to Comverse and beyond shows a concerted effort to target the American military and security agencies, often with bugged or backdoored technology. In addition to the above, Prince has also recently engaged in efforts to market a very suspect smartphone to MAGA Republicans as being unhackable and unsurveillable. That phone was designed in Israel and the company that produces it is called Unplugged. According to reports, Unpluggeds day-to-day technology operations are run by Eran Karpen, a former employee of CommuniTake, the Israeli start-up that gave rise to the now infamous hacker-for-hire firm NSO Group. Karpen, like Leshem, is also a veteran of Unit 8200. Notably, DarkMatter, the UAE private intelligence company that was mentioned earlier due to its association with Prince, once marketed an ultrasecure phone called Katim, only to be later outed for hacking dissidents and journalists. In addition, Prince debuted Unpluggeds phone on Steve Bannons War Room program. Both Prince and Bannon have controversial relationships with exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui, also known as Miles Guo. That Prince would help market this phone specifically to MAGA Republicans is disturbing given that his associate Leshem and other Israeli intelligence veterans and operatives have played a major role in developing the infrastructure for the US War on Domestic Terror, which is mainly targeted at the political right and has already utilized mass surveillance through smartphones and other technologies to justify arrests, including pre-crime arrests. Given the content of this investigation, Princes ties to foreign governments and intelligence agencies should be heavily scrutinized, especially Comframe whose secretive activities may be drastically undermining American national security. The US-led anti-ISIS coalition is building a new military base in Syrias northern province of Raqqa, The New Arab reported, citing a source close to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The US backs the SDF and keeps about 900 troops in eastern Syria, allowing the US to control about one-third of Syrias territory. The report said there are currently about 24 US-led military sites spread throughout eastern Syria. While the US says its in Syria to fight ISIS, the presence is part of Washingtons economic war against Damascus, which includes crippling economic sanctions. ISIS also holds no significant territory, and the Syrian government and its allies would continue to fight the remnants of the terror group if the US withdrew. But the construction of a new base demonstrates the US plans to continue the occupation indefinitely. In March, the House voted down a resolution introduced by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) that would have ordered President Biden to withdraw from Syria. The legislation failed in a vote of 103-321, with 56 Democrats and 47 Republicans voting in favor of the bill. The House also recently voted to maintain sanctions on Syria after an earthquake killed thousands of Syrians. Only two members of Congress voted against the legislation. The US could come under pressure to withdraw from Syria and lift sanctions on the country as more and more regional countries are normalizing ties with the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Saudi Arabia spearheaded an effort to bring Syria back into the Arab League despite US objection. If youve been following our reporting on the issue, youll already know that the new World Health Organization (WHO) pandemic prevention initiative, the Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET), recommends using social listening surveillance systems to identify misinformation. But as more people are learning about how unelected bodies are being used to suppress speech and potentially override sovereignty, its starting to get more pushback. According to documents from the UN agency, PRET aims to guide countries in pandemic planning and work to incorporate the latest tools and approaches for shared learning and collective action established during the COVID-19 pandemic. The PRET document describes misinformation as a health threat, and refers to it as an infodemic. Infodemic is the overabundance of information accurate or not which makes it difficult for individuals to adopt behaviors that will protect their health and the health of their families and communities. The infodemic can directly impact health, hamper the implementation of public health countermeasures and undermine trust and social cohesiveness, the document states. However, it continues to recommend invasive methods of countering the spread of misinformation. Establish and invest in resources for social listening surveillance systems and capacities to identify concerns as well as rumors and misinformation, the WHO wrote in the PRET document. To build trust, its important to be responsive to needs and concerns, to relay timely information, and to train leaders and HCWs in risk communications principles and encourage their application. Communication should be tailored to the community of interest, focusing on and prioritizing vulnerable groups. New tools and approaches for social listening have been developed using new technologies such as artificial intelligence to listen to population concerns on social media (such as the Platform EARS developed by WHO). The document also recommends testing these tactics during acute respiratory events including seasonal influenza. Develop and implement communication and behavior change strategies based on infodemic insights, and test them during acute respiratory events including seasonal influenza. This includes implementing infodemic management across sectors, and having a coordinated approach with other actors, including academia, civil society, and international agencies, it explains. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) is holding a Congressional hearing on the WHOs pandemic accord. The Secretary of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra, recently met with Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the WHO, to discuss the accord and the critical role of the US in global health security. In his opening remarks at the World Health Assembly, Ghebreyesus said: I urge you to deliver the pandemic accord on time, as a generational commitment. The next pandemic will not wait for us. We must be ready. The Accords preliminary document, zero draft, was first published in February. In March, the Biden administrations envoy at the negotiations, Pamela Hamamoto, said that the administration is committed to the Pandemic Accord, to form a major component of the global health architecture for generations to come. The American people have a right to know exactly what the Biden Administration is negotiating at the WHO, especially as the President remains silent and fails to reassure us that he will protect our Constitution from bureaucrats at this troubled United Nations body, Rep. Smith said. Smith is particularly concerned that the Accord could undermine the sovereignty of the US over its healthcare infrastructure. The zero-draft WHO pandemic treaty starts off with very harsh criticism of the United States and the international community by calling it a catastrophic failure of the international community in showing solidarity and equity in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Rep. Smith noted. Article 4 of the treaty pays lip service to sovereignty and then completely overcomes that lip service by saying, provided that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to their peoples and other countries, which empowers the WHO to step in and prescribe what each country would do. During the hearing, Smith plans to ask Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the contents of the accords zero draft. Under absolutely no circumstances should the Biden Administration surrender American sovereignty to the World Health Organization and allow the voice of the American people and consent of the governed to be subjugated to dictates of an agenda-driven global administrative bureaucracy, Smith insisted. Two are injured in a rare attack on Moscow as more heavy Russian raids target Kyiv, killing at least one person. An earlier version of this article stated that Moscow is more than 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from Ukraine. This was incorrect. Moscow is a few hundred kilometres from the Ukraine border. Drones struck Moscow on Tuesday but were neutralised, Russia said, in what one politician called the worst attack on the capital since World War II, while Kyiv was also hit from the air for the third time in 24 hours. Since Russia invaded its neighbour in February last year, the war has largely been fought inside Ukraine, though Moscow has reported some attacks on its territory and blamed them on Ukraine, including an alleged assassination attempt against President Vladimir Putin. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said two people were injured, but not seriously, while some residents in two lightly damaged apartment blocks were briefly evacuated. Russias defence ministry said eight drones sent by Kyiv were shot down or diverted, though Baza, a Telegram channel with links to the security services, said more than 25 were involved. Residents in southwestern Moscow said they heard loud bangs followed by the smell of petrol at about 5am to 6am local time [02:00 to 03:00 GMT]. Some filmed a drone being shot down and a plume of smoke rising over the Moscow skyline. Politician Maxim Ivanov termed it the most serious assault on Moscow since the Nazis, saying no citizen could now avoid the new reality. You will either defeat the enemy as a single fist with our Motherland, or the indelible shame of cowardice, collaboration and betrayal will engulf your family, he said. Two weeks ago, two drones exploded over the Kremlin in an attack Russia also blamed on Kyiv and said was aimed at Putin. Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak denied Kyiv was directly involved in targeting Moscow on Tuesday, though he said we are pleased to watch and forecast more to come. Russias defence ministry cast the assault as a terrorist drone attack launched by the Kyiv regime. In Kyiv, Ukrainian defence forces said they shot down more than 20 Iranian-made Shahed drones on Tuesday. One person died reportedly a 30-year-old woman, and four were injured when debris from a destroyed Russian projectile hit a high-rise apartment building causing a fire, Ukrainian officials said. Two upper floors were destroyed with people possibly still under rubble. Photos from Kyiv officials showed flames engulfing the top of the building. The attack was massive, came from different directions, in several waves, said Serhiy Popko, head of Kyivs military administration. Russia has attacked Kyiv 17 times in May with drones or missiles, mostly at night, in an apparent attempt to undermine Ukrainians will to fight after more than 15 months of war. Al Jazeeras Natacha Butler, reporting from Kyiv, said: Where I am right now is an apartment block that was hit, the top two floors pretty much nearly destroyed. At the foot of this apartment block is a cleanup process. People are inspecting their cars that are damaged, trying to absorb what has happened. They are looking up at the top of the building, the windows are nearly blown up. A lot of [residents] are going to have to leave this building with their suitcases, their pets. Some of them are saying they dont want to leave, theyre happy they have survived. This is the worst nightmare for people here in Kyiv. These attacks have been going on night after night now. This is the third consecutive attack now. People are not sleeping. But every night, when they do go to sleep, they hear those sirens, they hear the explosions and they just dont know what will happen. In Moscow, journalist Yulia Shapovalova, said there was a sense of calm in the capital despite the attacks. Moscow is buzzing as usual now. People are going to work, public transport is functioning normally, it seems like nothing happened. People on the street are very calm, but I should tell you many people in Russia sincerely believe the information they regularly hear on TV, that the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine have been inevitable and that President [Vladimir] Putin, as a great strategist, began it first on foreign soil. U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Paul LaCamera speaks at a forum hosted by the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses at a hotel in central Seoul, May 30. Yonhap The top U.S. military commander in South Korea on Tuesday reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to defend its ally, dismissing concerns that the U.S. could trade its security commitment for the defense of its own cities as "not even worth addressing." U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Paul LaCamera made the remarks amid lingering questions over whether Washington would fully act on its commitment to defend South Korea in a contingency as Pyongyang continues to ramp up weapons tests, such as its launch of a purported solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile last month. "The last thing I would like to say is don't question the United States' commitment, its ironclad," he said during a forum hosted by the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses in central Seoul. "The argument of whether it will trade Seoul for Los Angeles or Washington, D.C., is not even worth addressing." "The amount of Americans that live here today, the amount of service members that have given their lives in the defense of this nation, have served on this ground, the amount that appear now with our families and other Americans," he said. "Please do not question the United States' commitment." The remarks come as Washington and Seoul have made efforts to bolster the credibility of the U.S. "extended deterrence" commitment to defend South Korea with all its military capabilities, including nuclear ones. The two countries' leaders issued the Washington Declaration during their summit last month, in which they agreed to create the Nuclear Consultative Group to discuss nuclear and strategic planning issues. "We will maintain our commitment to the alliance, which has endured since the Korean War, and never take it for granted," LaCamera said, adding the U.S. will further enhance the visibility of strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula as stated in the Washington Declaration. He also highlighted the importance of coalitions and cooperation with other countries beyond the alliance, citing recent efforts for security cooperation between the leaders of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan. "Transforming our alliance from a bilaterally-focused system to one that thinks, operates, trains in joint multinational, interagency and multidomain environments will not only deter the DPRK but other adversaries and competitors as well," he said. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. (Yonhap) This photo, provided by the Marine Corps, shows Marines heading to northwestern border islands to take part in defense drills from May 30 to June 1, May 29. Yonhap South Korea's military began three-day joint defense drills for western border islands Tuesday, officials said, as tensions linger over North Korean military threats. The exercise got under way on the border islands in the Yellow Sea, including Baengnyeong Island, 209 kilometers west of Seoul, led by the North West Islands Defense Command and joined by troops from the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Marine Corps, according to military officials. It marked the drills' resumption after a six-year hiatus amid COVID-19 restrictions and the previous administration's drive for inter-Korean reconciliation. The latest exercise comes as North Korea has announced a plan to launch its first military surveillance satellite next month. "We have strengthened the monitoring posture in preparation for North Korea's provocations during the exercise period," a military official said. (Yonhap) Jeremy Paxman has signed off University Challenge for the last time, saying he is looking forward to watching it along with fans at home. The 73-year-old veteran broadcaster and former Newsnight presenter has hosted the series since the BBC revived it in 1994 until Mondays episode. Paxman had announced he was stepping down from the quiz show a year after being diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. He will be replaced by journalist and broadcaster Amol Rajan, who is the third host of the programme in its 61-year history. The show was first launched by Bamber Gascoigne in 1962. Paxman has presented the quiz show since 1994 (Jonathan Brady/PA) Signing off, Paxman said: It remains for me to thank Jung Chang for presenting the trophy, all the teams who have entertained us over the past months, and you for watching. University Challenge returns later in the year and I look forward to watching it with you. So its good night for me. Good night. Advertisement In the final episode, Durham University became the 2022-2023 University Challenge champions and received rapturous applause as Wild Swans: Three Daughters Of China author Jung Chang handed over a stainless steel book award to the winners. Chang said: Im really pleased to be invited here to present the trophy because University Challenge was the most prestigious programme to me when I first arrivetd in Britain in 1978. I grew up in Cultural Revolution China, when schools and the universities were all closed, (Chairman) Mao said: The more books you read, the more stupid you become. And (the) books were burned across China and so tonight, I watched these brilliant minds at work, and I want to congratulate them for their brilliant brains, and I do hope that they would use their brains to make our world a better place. Opening the quiz, Paxman told the two teams: Well youre all old hands at this now, so just get on with it. During his 29 years at the helm, his famous disapproving looks and combative style has seen him clash with a number of contestants. Durham beat Bristol by 155 to 120 with Paxman telling the latter its absolutely fine to become the runners-up and go out in the final after the teams were asked about science fiction, proteins, a picture round featuring scenes of historical battles, composers and literary criticism. Advertisement Born in Leeds, Paxman began his broadcasting career on the BBCs graduate trainee programme in 1972. He worked in local radio and reported on the Troubles in Belfast and shortly after moving to London in 1977, he transferred from Tonight to investigative flagship programme Panorama. He also had stints on the Six OClock News and BBC Ones Breakfast Time. Quiz host Amol Rajan on the updated set of University Challenge (Ric Lowe/Lifted Entertainment/ITV Studios) In 1989, he became a presenter of Newsnight where he interviewed high-profile figures from politics and culture until June 2014. Bowing out after 25 years, Paxman presented a Newsnight programme including an interview with then-London mayor Boris Johnson, while they both rode a tandem bicycle. In May 2021, he announced he was being treated for Parkinsons but said his symptoms were currently mild. The BBC confirmed in August last year that he was stepping down as University Challenge host. University Challenge is due to return this summer with both a new title sequence and batch of students. The BBC recently released first look images of the modernised set of University Challenge with Rajan but the well-known title music and peerless voice of Roger Tilling will remain. Johnny Depp has said he is sorry to be pulling out of his bands concerts due to an ankle fracture. Hollywood Vampires which consists of Alice Cooper and Aerosmiths Joe Perry along with Depp will be rescheduling the tours dates. The supergroup was set to play the SHNU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire on Tuesday, Boch Centre Wang Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts on Wednesday and Bethel Woods Centre For The Arts in Bethel, New York on Thursday. Depp, 59, and the band were previously forced to cancel their 2020 tour due to the pandemic. On Monday, Depp told his Instagram followers: My dear friends, I am sorry to say that I have fractured my ankle, which is a drag!!! It began as a hairline break but somewhere between Cannes and the Royal Albert Hall, it got worse rather than better. Advertisement Several medical professionals have strongly suggested I avoid any and all activity for the moment and so am sadly unable to travel at this time. To that end, the guys and I are very sorry to miss you in New Hampshire, Boston and New York but fear not, I promise we will bring an amazing show to all of you in Europe and bring our absolute best to the East Coast later this summer and make it up to those who have paid for those shows!!! Again, sincerest apologies. All my love and respect, JD x. Depp had been at the Cannes Film Festival this month for the premiere of French film Jeanne Du Barry, his first film for three years. Last week, he had also performed along with other musicians such as Ronnie Wood at the Royal Albert Hall in London to pay tribute to Jeff Beck, who died in January at the age of 78 after contracting bacterial meningitis. Johnny Depp (right) at the Royal Albert Hall, London, appearing alongside Jeff Beck (Raph Pour-Hashemi/PA) Depp had met Beck in 2016 before going on to record an album, titled 18, with the Grammy-winner and play a series of gigs. His UK tour with Hollywood Vampires is set to kick off in Scarborough on July 5th, with stops in Swansea, Manchester, London and Birmingham before ending in Glasgow on July 12th. Advertisement This will follow after a string of tour dates across Europe including Germany, France and Switzerland. Hollywood Vampires wrote on Twitter that it is sad to be rescheduling our three US tour dates this coming week. The statement also said: Johnny has sustained a painful injury to his ankle following his recent appearances and has been advised by his doctor not to travel. He is devastated by this turn of events, but looks forward to resting up so all four vampires can bring their absolute best to the tour in Europe. The new dates have been confirmed for Boston on July 28th, Manchester, New Hampshire on July 29th and Bethel on July 30th. Last year, Depp was involved in a defamation trial with his ex-wife Amber Heard. In June 2022, a jury returned a verdict in Depps favour and he was awarded $10.3 million for damage to his reputation. Aquaman actress Heard, 37, later sought to appeal against the verdict before she made the very difficult decision to settle her multimillion-dollar US defamation case against Depp. A businessman has claimed before the High Court that entities including two firms he had previously been a director of have wrongfully retained monies paid out by insurance company over fire damage to his former family home. The claim has been made by Stephen Mahon, who has brought proceedings over an alleged failure by the development firms he had worked for to honour a settlement agreement they entered into in respect of a property at Trinity Haus, Quarry Lands, Dunboyne, Co Meath. On Tuesday Clonsilla-based Mr Mahon secured a temporary High Court injunction restraining several related parties he has sued, from removing restraining or moving money outside the jurisdiction insurance proceeds allegedly paid to them following a fire at that property. He claims he should be paid the insurance monies, as well as the majority of the proceeds of the sale of the property which purportedly closed last March and fears the firms may use those monies for their own purposes. Advertisement The action by Mr Mahon, represented in the proceedings by solicitor Graham Kenny of Eversheds Sutherland LLP, is against allegedly related parties Yeronga Limited, Trinity Homes Limited, Project Trinity Homes Ltd, Project Trinity Homes 2 Ltd, Mr Pierre Marc Lecompte, and Corey Hill Development Ltd. The injunction was granted, on an ex-parte basis, by Mr Justice Paul Burns during Tuesday's vacation sitting of the High Court. The judge adjourned the matter for a week. In his action Mr Mahon says he was a director of Yeronga and Trinity Homes Ltd, a development company which had built housing for several local authorities. In a sworn statement he said the Dunboyne property was owned by Yeronga, but was his family home, where he had lived with his family. In 2021 the companies got into financial difficulties largely caused by the Covid-19 outbreak. Examinership process The firms entered into the examinership process, which resulted in their survival. Mr Mahon said that as part of the examinership arrangement the firm's secured creditors became their exclusive shareholders, and that his shareholding, job and directorships with the firms ended. Issues remained over the property but says that the parties entered into an agreement. He claims that it was agreed that the property would be sold at a price no less than 500,000. Advertisement The settlement agreement also stipulated that Yeronga would retain 200,000 of the net sales price, while Mr Mahon would retain the balance. The house, he claims, was sold for 810,000 in December 2022. He claims that shortly before Christmas, while helping persons he was informed had bought the house to move in, the upstairs of the property was significantly damaged by a fire. He claims that last March he was informed that the sale of the property had completed, and that there had been an agreement between the purchaser and the insurance company that facilitated the sale. He claims that he "is in the dark" exactly how the sale completed. He claims that the companies' solicitors did not inform him of the sale or the price but says that the Property Price Index has listed the sale as being 500,000. Real estate agent He said that the real estate agent that handled the sale was paid a commission based on a sale price of 810,000. He said that following correspondence with the defendant company's solicitor's he claims that it has transpired that the firms received both the proceeds of the sale, and the insurance proceeds. He claims that the companies should not be allowed retain the insurance moneys as it amounts to an unjust enrichment and the payment should be held in trust for him. He claims the companies have claimed in correspondence that Yeronga had paid the insurance on the property and have alleged that Mr Mahon had breached the settlement agreement. He rejects all those allegations. He fears that the funds could be used by the defendants for their own use, particularly as the development works that the defendant firms are involved in could still be under financial pressure. He claims that the defendant firms are responsible to foreign investors based in China and Vietnam. World Teenager bailed after court appearance over TikTok... Read More He claims that two of the defendants, Project Trinity Homes Ltd, Project Trinity Homes 2 Ltd, received loans as part of the Immigration Investment Programme. Mr Le Compte, Mr Mahon also claims, is a director of those companies. Mr Mahon says that the rental agreement he had in respect of property where they currently reside expires in the coming weeks. He fears that unless given funds to rent or acquire a new property he fears that they may become homeless, the prospect of which has had a detrimental effect on his health. Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon attends a parliamentary session, May 25. Yonhap Police raided the home of a reporter with MBC TV and the National Assembly Secretariat Tuesday as part of a probe into the alleged leak of personal information of Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency sent investigators to the home of the MBC reporter, surnamed Lim, the MBC headquarters in western Seoul, and the National Assembly Secretariat to seize evidence, including Lim's cellphone. The investigation began after a member of Seoul's Gangseo Ward Council filed a complaint accusing a person of violating the Personal Information Protection Act after that person handed him information on Han and his family, which included copies of their residence registration document and real estate contracts. Police suspect the information was leaked after being submitted to the National Assembly for Han's confirmation hearing last year, and is looking into Lim's alleged involvement in the leak. Lim previously drew attention for a report on President Yoon Suk Yeol's hot mic moment during his visit to New York in September, which was subtitled to make it appear that the president used vulgar language to talk about U.S. lawmakers and President Joe Biden. (Yonhap) A vulnerable prisoner found suspended from a ligature in his cell last year had two appointments to see a psychiatrist cancelled shortly before his death due to a lack of prison staff. A new report by the Inspector of Prisons (IoP) into the death of a 24-year-old Polish national at Cork Prison on January 15th 2022 heard he had no history of mental health issues but was upset about the incident which resulted in his incarceration. As a result of its investigation into the death of the man, identified only as Mr C, the IoP has called on the Irish Prison Service to ensure healthcare appointments for prisoners are not cancelled because prison staff are unavailable to escort them. The prisons watchdog said the availability of escort prison staff was particularly critical for referrals to psychiatric in-reach clinics and any cancelled appointment should be rescheduled as a matter of urgency. Advertisement It recommended that the necessary staffing resources for accompanying prisoners to such clinics should be ring-fenced in the Regime Management Plans of all prisons in Ireland. The IoP revealed the prisoner had engaged in an act of self-harm as he was being brought from Bandon District Court to the local garda station. Mr C was referred by a prison nurse to a psychiatric clinic on both December 28 and December 29, 2021 but both visits were cancelled due to a lack of prison staff to escort the prisoner. Psychiatrist appointment The report showed that another referral was made for Mr C to see a psychiatrist on January 17th 2022. It also highlighted how a prison doctor had claimed there was a backlog of patients attending psychiatric clinics due to an absence of prison officers to escort prisoners. Mr Cs family claimed he and his girlfriend had been seriously assaulted by their neighbours which resulted in him receiving over 100 stitches. They said the deceased had used pepper spray on his assailants in order to protect his girlfriend. Mr Cs mother said her son, who came to Ireland in 2017 to join his brother, was afraid in prison as he had never been in trouble before. He had been moved to a cell on his own for protection as a relative of his assailants was also in custody in Cork Prison. Advertisement The report noted that Mr Cs family did not believe he should have been in custody and were annoyed that his attackers had retained their freedom. They also told the IoP that they believed he had been treated more harshly by the courts because he was not Irish. Mr C was remanded in prison on December 6, 2021 in relation to the incident and was sentenced to four months in prison by Bandon District Court on January 7th 2022. He was also facing another court appearance on January 20th 2022 on further charges in relation to the use of pepper spray. The report revealed he had spoken to his pregnant girlfriend by phone for over 4.5 minutes just after midnight on January 15th, 2022. Just over an hour later, he was found suspended from a ligature in his cell by prison staff who unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate him. The IoP found Mr C had expressed suicidal thoughts during the call to his girlfriend and was anxious about his upcoming court case. The inspector, who examined the content of the recorded call, said Mr C had admitted that thoughts of those who assaulted him being free was driving him crazy and he was expecting a prison sentence of a few years for assaulting them. Ireland Ireland plans to introduce 'outright ban on vapes... Read More The IoP said it did not have access to two notes that were found in the prisoners cell. In a 16-page report, the inspector said prison staff should keep records of any healthcare appointments for prisoners that are cancelled due to acute staff shortages or other operational reasons. In response to the report, the IPS said it accepted a series of recommendations by the prisons watchdog. The IPS said it was considering how to ensure prisoners were seen by relevant clinicians during times of staff shortages and would revert back to the IoP once the process had been completed. The Tanaiste has described vaping as 'the revenge of the tobacco industry' following progress made to deter young people from smoking. It comes as the Cabinet prepare to sign off on a new law, which would ban the sale of vapes to under 18s. The legislation - which is expected to be passed this summer - would also limit where e-cigarettes can be sold. It will also see a change to who can sell vaping products - banning them from vending machines or at events for children. Micheal Martin says it cannot continue to be marketed towards young people. "We've made great strides in reducing tobacco use among young people since the smoking ban period. In many ways, I see vamping as the revenge of the tobacco industry in terms of getting people hooked on nicotine again, so therefore this legislation is important. Advertisement Ireland TD says Government should follow UK approach on gr... Read More However, opposition to the ban claim e-cigarettes can be used as a way to make Ireland tobacco-free. Joe Dunne from Respect Vapers, is calling on the Government to look at other countries methods in harm reduction when it comes to vaping. "We're looking at the Government to look at a few other progressive countries and what they have done in terms of harm reduction, and look at what results they are getting. "Vaping does make a difference, there is over 250,000 adults in Ireland who vape, and have switched from smoking, and it's defenitley made a difference to their lives. Irelands housing crisis has not yet peaked with hundreds more families at risk of becoming homeless over the summer, Mary Lou McDonald has warned. The Sinn Fein leader recounted the lived experiences of some of the individuals currently without a home, including a nurse in Bray forced to live in her car, as she challenged the Taoiseach on the Governments housing policy. The Dail exchanges during Leaders Questions came after the number of people in emergency accommodation in Ireland reached a new record high at 12,259 in figures published last week. The overall figure included 3,594 children across a total of 1,733 families. Leo Varadkar insisted the coalition was working tomorrow, yesterday and every day to address the situation and provide more affordable and social homes in the state. Advertisement Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald. Photo: Mark Marlow/PA. He also rejected Ms McDonalds criticism of the Governments decision to end the temporary ban on no-fault evictions, arguing such prohibitions do not help to bring down homeless figures. The Sinn Fein leader focused her Dail questions on Tuesday on the housing situation. The Government decided to end the eviction ban without a safety net in place to protect renters, she said. You were warned time and again that this was a bad decision. But, despite this, you went ahead with it. You rejected Sinn Feins plan to extend the eviction ban and to put in place protections for renters. And the really sad reality now is that, despite how shocking the current figures are, were not even at the peak yet. There is now a real risk that hundreds more children and their families will add to these heartbreaking figures in the course of this summer. In response, Mr Varadkar said: I acknowledge that we have a real serious problem of rising homelessness in Ireland. More than 12,000 people today in state provided emergency accommodation and there is emergency accommodation available for almost everyone who needs it. But emergency accommodation is not the solution. We seek to avoid people having to use emergency accommodation in the first place. If they do have to, we seek to get them out of emergency accommodation into a secure tenancy as soon as possible. Advertisement Taoiseach Leo Varadkar Photo: Niall Carson/PA. He insisted the Government was making progress, highlighting that more social housing was built last year than any year since 1975. But we have a long way to go before we make up for the deficit that built up over the years, he said. In terms of the eviction ban, as I said before, two eviction bans have been imposed on a temporary basis, both happened while I was in government, I certainly have no ideological objection to doing it. I have done it twice. The problem is it doesnt work. And, as we saw from the most recent eviction ban, the number of people in emergency accommodation continued to rise pretty much every month when it was in place. And all it does is make the problem worse in the medium and long term. I can see the attraction of it as a short-term policy, but we know from experience now from the two eviction bans that happened that it makes the problem worse in the medium to long term. And thats why it isnt a wise policy. Ms McDonald accused the Government of causing the housing calamity. While do you acknowledge the scale of this crisis, and thats perhaps welcome, there is no urgency or real sense of purpose that I hear from you in dealing with this issue, she told the Taoiseach. Advertisement Ireland Census 2022 shows Ireland's population over five m... Read More Youve been in government for a very considerable length of time. You sat around the Cabinet table, youve designed the policies that have led to this calamity. Listing a range of measures the Government was taking to increase housing supply, Mr Varadkar said he believed the homelessness figures would start to fall again. Leaders Questions was dominated by housing on Tuesday, with Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns and People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Richard Boyd Barrett also criticising the Governments record on the issue. The chair of the Public Accounts Committee Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley has said that he hopes that the Taoiseach has at least a ballpark figure for the final cost of the National Childrens Hospital because Department of Health officials had not been able to supply them. Mr Stanley was speaking on RTE radios Morning Ireland following an admission by the HSE that fluctuation in spending on the new National Paediatric Hospital at the St James's Hospital campus in Dublin, will have a significant impact on the remainder of its Capital Programme for this year. The PAC had been hamstrung in its work because it had been given miniscule information, and it had been denied the type of information it needed to conduct proper scrutiny on the children's hospital project, he said. Advertisement The finished price for the hospital was still not known, added Mr Stanley. It's gone well over budget. We do know that by the end of this year, there will be another 250million or so spent on it. And I predict that by this month next year, around Easter next year, it will overshoot the target of 2billion on this project. Mr Stanley said the PAC had been trying to drill into this as far as we can, but apparently only the Secretary General of the Department of Health, Robert Watt, he assures me that he knows the price. He assured me of that in the Public Accounts committee. The hospital was a vanity project with the type of contract that the Government had entered into wearing a blindfold. Mr Stanley said that he hoped the Taoiseach had at least a ballpark figure as the Department officials have not been able to give him or the PAC the figure. Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported a drone attack on the Russian capital on Tuesday. Mr Sobyanin said in a Telegram post that the attack caused insignificant damage to several buildings and that no-one has been seriously hurt, without clarifying what it means. Residents of two buildings damaged in the attack have been evacuated, the mayor added. Andrei Vorobyov, governor of the wider Moscow region, said several drones were shot down on the approach to Moscow. Ukrainian air defences fire at drones in a relentless wave of bombardments targeting Kyiv (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) People in Moscow reported hearing explosions and the defence ministry later said that eight drones had been fired at the city in what it called a terrorist attack by the Kyiv regime. It said five had been shot down and the systems of three were jammed, causing them to veer off course. Ukraine has not commented on the Moscow attack, which would be one of its deepest strikes into Russia since Russia invaded Ukraine more than 15 months ago. Advertisement Since the war began, Moscow has launched unrelenting drone and missile attacks at Ukraines cities, frequently killing civilians. Emergency workers extinguish a fire in the Pecherskyi district of Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday (Roman Hrytsyna/AP) Russia launched a pre-dawn attack on Ukraines capital on Tuesday as its air defences worked to stop drones in what has been a relentless wave of daylight and night-time bombardments targeting Kyiv. The buzzing of drones and loud explosions were heard as Ukrainian air defence responded to the third Russian aerial attack on the capital in the last 24 hours. According to preliminary data, more than 20 Shahed drones were destroyed by air defence forces in Kyivs airspace, the Kyiv military administration said. One person died and three were injured when a high-rise building in the Holosiiv district caught fire. Ukrainian air defence intercepts a Shahed drone mid-air (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) The two upper floors were destroyed, and there may be people under the rubble, the Kiyv military administration said. More than 20 people were evacuated. Elsewhere in the capital, falling debris caused a fire in a private house in the Darnytskyi district and three cars were set alight in the Pechersky district, according to the military administration. The series of attacks that began on Sunday included a rare daylight attack on Monday that left puffs of white smoke in the blue skies. Advertisement Russian forces fired 11 ballistic and cruise missiles at Kyiv at about 11.30am, according to Ukraines chief of staff, Valerii Zaluzhnyi. All of them were shot down, he said. An injured man is helped during a wave of bombardments in Kyiv (Alex Babenko/AP) Debris from the intercepted missiles fell in Kyivs central and northern districts during the morning, landing in the middle of traffic on a city road and also starting a fire on the roof of a building, the Kyiv military administration said. At least one civilian was reported hurt. The Russian defence ministry said it launched a series of strikes early on Monday targeting Ukrainian air bases with precision long-range air-launched missiles. The strikes destroyed command posts, radars, aircraft and ammunition stockpiles, it claimed. It did not say anything about hitting cities or other civilian areas. Russian air defences stopped eight drones converging on Moscow, officials said on Tuesday, in an attack that authorities blamed on Ukraine. The attack came as Russia pursued its relentless bombardment of Kyiv with a third assault on the city in 24 hours. President Vladimir Putin called it a terrorist act by Kyiv. The Russian defence ministry said five drones were shot down and the systems of three others were jammed, causing them to veer off course. The attack brought the war home to civilians in Russias capital for the first time. The attack caused insignificant damage to several buildings, Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. Two people received medical attention for unspecified injuries but did not need hospital treatment, he said in a Telegram post. Residents of two high-rise buildings damaged in the attack were evacuated, Mr Sobyanin said. Advertisement Andrei Vorobyov, governor of the wider Moscow region, said some of the drones were shot down on the approach to Moscow. Ukraine made no immediate comment on the attack, which would be one of its deepest and most daring strikes into Russia since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than 15 months ago. Mr Putin started work early on Tuesday to receive information about the drone attack from various government agencies, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Mr Putin said Moscows air defence worked in a satisfactory way, but added it is clear that our task is to plug the gaps in the system. The Kyiv regime attempts to intimidate Russian citizens and strikes at civilian buildings, he said at a public event, responding to a question from the head of a Kremlin-allied think tank. It is, of course, a clear indication of terrorist activity. Asked by the Associated Press whether there is concern in the Kremlin that the invasion of Ukraine is endangering Russian civilians, Mr Peskov said only that attacks on Russia reinforce the need to prosecute the war. The attacks have raised questions about the effectiveness of Russias air defence systems. Investigators inspect the building in Moscow (AP) Advertisement A senior Russian politician, Andrei Kartapolov, told Russian business news site RBC that we have a very big country and there will always be a loophole where the drone can fly around the areas where air defence systems are located. He said the purpose of the attacks was to unnerve the Russian people. Its an intimidation act aimed at the civilian population, RBC quoted him as saying. Its designed to create a wave of panic. Moscow residents reported hearing explosions before dawn. Police were seen working at one site of a crashed drone in southwest Moscow. An area near a residential building was fenced off, and police put the drone debris in a cardboard box before carrying it away. At another site, windows were shattered and there were scorch marks on the buildings front. The building in Moscow damaged by a drone (AP) It was the second reported attack on Moscow. Russian authorities said two drones targeted the Kremlin earlier this month in what they portrayed as an attempt on President Vladimir Putins life. Ukrainian drones have reportedly flown deep into Russia several times. In December, Russia claimed it had shot down drones at airfields in the Saratov and Ryazan regions. Three soldiers were reported to have been killed in the attack in Saratov, which targeted an important military airfield. Advertisement Earlier, Russia reported shooting down a Ukrainian drone that targeted the headquarters of its Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol in Russia-annexed Crimea. In Ukraine, Russia launched a pre-dawn air raid on Kyiv, killing at least one person and sending the capitals residents again scrambling into shelters. Residents reported hearing explosions (Denis Voronin/Moscow News Agency/AP) At least 20 Shahed explosive drones were destroyed by air defence forces in Kyivs airspace in Russias third attack on the capital in the past 24 hours, according to information from the Kyiv military administration. Overall, Ukraine shot down 29 of 31 drones fired into the country, most in the Kyiv area, the air force later added. Before daylight, the buzzing of drones could be heard over the city, followed by loud explosions as they were taken down by air defence systems. In the overnight attacks on Kyiv, one person died and seven were injured, according to the municipal military administration. A high-rise building in the Holosiiv district caught fire after being hit by debris either from from drones being hit or interceptor missiles. The buildings upper two floors were destroyed, and there may be people under the rubble, the Kyiv military administration said. More than 20 people were evacuated. Advertisement Ukrainian air defences fire at drones in a relentless wave of bombardments targeting Kyiv (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) Resident Valeriya Oreshko, 39, told The Associated Press in the aftermath that even though the immediate threat was over, the attacks had everyone on edge. You are happy that you are alive, but think about what will happen next, she said. Elsewhere in the capital, falling debris caused a fire in a house in Darnytskyi district and three cars were set alight in Pechersky district, according to the military administration. Ukrainian air defence intercepts a Shahed drone mid-air (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) The series of attacks that began on Sunday included a rare daylight attack on Monday that left puffs of white smoke in the blue skies. On that day, Russian forces fired 11 ballistic and cruise missiles at Kyiv at about 11.30am, according to Ukraines chief of staff, Valerii Zaluzhnyi. All of them were shot down, he said. Debris from intercepted missiles fell in Kyivs central and northern districts during the morning, landing in the middle of traffic on a city road and also starting a fire on the roof of a building, the Kyiv military administration said. The Russian defence ministry said it launched a series of strikes early Monday targeting Ukrainian air bases with precision long-range air-launched missiles. Advertisement It claimed the strikes destroyed command posts, radars, aircraft and ammunition stockpiles, but did not say anything about hitting cities or other civilian areas. The White House National Security Council noted that Russias bombardment of Kyiv was the 17th round of attacks this month, many of which have devastated civilian areas. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the US was still gathering information about the drone strike but reiterated that as a general matter the US administration does not support Ukraine using American weaponry in Russian territory. We do not support the use of US-made equipment being used for attacks inside of Russia, she said. Weve been very clear about that, and well continue to do that. And we have been clear not just publicly but privately clear with the Ukrainians. She declined to comment on whether administration officials have spoken to Ukraine officials about the Moscow incident. A US defence official said the drone strikes would not not affect the weapons aid packages the US is providing Ukraine to include drone ammunition. The official said the US has committed to supporting Ukraine in its effort to defend the country and Ukraine had committed to not using the systems inside Russia, so the aid would likely continue unchanged. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. UK ministers could be set for a legal battle with the Covid-19 inquiry over the requested release of unredacted WhatsApp messages and diaries belonging to Boris Johnson. The British Cabinet Office has until 4pm on Tuesday to respond to the request from Lady Halletts official inquiry. There has so far been little sign that ministers are set to shift from the position that the UK government has no duty to disclose unambiguously irrelevant material. The row was sparked by a legal request sent by the inquiry on April 28th for a number of materials, including unredacted WhatsApp messages and diaries belonging to the former UK prime minister between January 2020 and February 2022. Lady Hallett (Nick Ansell/PA) In May the Cabinet Office pushed back against the request, which was made under section 21 of the Inquiries Act 2005 and which also applies to messages from former adviser Henry Cook. Advertisement In a ruling last week, Lady Hallett rejected the argument that the inquirys request was unlawful and claimed that the Cabinet Office had misunderstood the breadth of the investigation. Refusing to comply with the request would lead to a legal clash with the official inquiry, raising the possibility of ministers seeking a judicial review of the probes powers. It comes just weeks before the first public evidence sessions are expected to be held. The Cabinet Office has already provided more than 55,000 documents, 24 personal witness statements and eight corporate statements to the inquiry. But Lady Hallett, in last weeks ruling, stressed that the requested documentation was of potential relevance to the inquirys lines of investigation. She said: I may also be required to investigate the personal commitments of ministers and other decision-makers during the time in question. There is, for example, well-established public concern as to the degree of attention given to the emergence of Covid-19 in early 2020 by the then Prime Minister. Sir Chris Whitty, Sir Patrick Vallance and then UK prime minister Boris Johnson (Dan Kitwood/PA) A Cabinet Office spokesman said: We are fully committed to our obligations to the Covid-19 inquiry. As such, extensive time and effort has gone into assisting the inquiry fulsomely over the last 11 months. We will continue to provide all relevant material to the inquiry, in line with the law, ahead of proceedings getting under way. Advertisement According to the notice seeking the unredacted messages, the inquiry is requesting conversations between Mr Johnson and a host of government figures, civil servants and officials. The list includes Englands chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty, as well as then-chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance. Messages with then-foreign secretary Liz Truss and then-health secretary Matt Hancock are also requested, as well as with former top aide Dominic Cummings and then-chancellor Rishi Sunak. The inquiry had also asked for copies of the 24 notebooks containing contemporaneous notes made by the former prime minister in clean unredacted form, save only for any redactions applied for reasons of national security sensitivity. Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Daisy Cooper said that failing to hand over the evidence in full, as requested by the chair of the Covid inquiry, would make a mockery of this whole process and would be yet another insult to bereaved families still waiting for justice. It looks like Rishi Sunak is too worried about upsetting Boris Johnson and his allies to do the right thing. The public deserve the whole truth about what went wrong. Vital evidence shouldnt be kept secret just to spare ministers blushes. Two Italian intelligence agents and one retired Israeli agent were among the four dead when a sudden storm sank a houseboat hired for a pleasure cruise this weekend on a northern Italian lake, authorities said on Tuesday. The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the death of one Israeli citizen, saying he was a retiree from the Israeli security forces. It did not provide a name or age or give details on what he had done professionally. A government official overseeing Italys secret services, Alfredo Mantovano, has expressed condolences for the deaths of two agents, a man and a woman, who were on board. The fourth victim was identified as a Russian woman who was part of the two-person crew. Police on Tuesday said they had no further information of the identities or professions of the 19 other people on board when the boat capsized on Sunday near the town of Lisanza, on the southern end of Lago Maggiore in Lombardy that extends north into Switzerland. Advertisement Some survivors managed to swim to shore, while others were picked up by other boats. Media reports said the boat had travelled to the lakes islands and stopped for lunch in the Piedmont region. Nato has sent 700 more troops to Kosovo to help quell violent protests and has put another battalion on standby in case the riots spread, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said. We have decided to deploy 700 more troops from the operational reserve force for Western Balkans and to put an additional battalion of reserve forces on high readiness so they can also be deployed if needed. These are prudent steps, Mr Stoltenberg told reporters in Oslo, after talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. A battalion typically ranges from 300 to around 1,000 troops. Mr Stoltenberg condemned the violence in Kosovo, saying that such attacks are unacceptable and must stop. He warned that Nato troops will take all necessary actions to maintain a safe and secure environment for all citizens in Kosovo. He urged both sides to take steps to de-escalate, refrain from further irresponsible behaviour and to return to EU-backed talks on improving relations. Advertisement KFOR soldiers guard a municipal building after clashes with Kosovo Serbs in the town of Zvecan, northern Kosovo (Bojan Slavkovic/AP/PA) A statement on Tuesday by the multinational peacekeeping force known as KFOR said 30 soldiers 11 Italians and 19 Hungarians sustained multiple injuries, including fractures and burns from improvised explosive incendiary devices. Three Hungarian soldiers were wounded by the use of firearms, but their injuries were not life-threatening, the statement added. Serb officials said 52 people were injured, including three seriously. Four protesters were detained, according to the Kosovo police. Tensions first increased over the past weekend, after ethnic Albanian officials elected in votes overwhelmingly boycotted by Serbs entered municipal buildings. In a video message issued on Tuesday evening, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said the mayors elected in the April 23 voting are the only ones who have the legitimacy to be at the municipal buildings and to the citizens service. When the Serbs tried to block them, Kosovo police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. In response, Serbia put the countrys military on the highest state of alert and sent more troops to the border with Kosovo. The Serbs protested again on Monday, insisting both ethnic Albanian mayors and Kosovo police must leave northern Kosovo. Advertisement The confrontations worsened when Serbs attempted to enter the municipal offices in Zvecan, 45 kilometres (28 miles) north of the capital Pristina. They clashed first with Kosovo police and then with the international peacekeepers who deployed in Zvecan. The flare-up has triggered a flurry of international efforts to calm the situation. Members of the parliamentary labor committee hold a meeting at the National Assembly, May 24. Yonhap The ruling People Power Party (PPP) on Tuesday filed constitutional suits seeking to block a pro-labor bill that was sent directly to a plenary National Assembly session last week without the completion of deliberations at the judiciary committee. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea and the minor opposition Justice Party referred the revision of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, also known as a "yellow envelope bill," directly to the plenary session for a vote during a labor committee meeting boycotted by the ruling People Power Party. The PPP has opposed the bill that restricts filing damage suits against striking workers. By law, a parliamentary committee can send a bill directly to a plenary session for final approval with three-fifths support from its members if the judiciary committee takes no action for more than 60 days after taking over the bill. The new labor bill passed through the labor committee in February, but it has since been pending in the judiciary committee chaired by the ruling party for nearly 90 days. On Tuesday, PPP members filed petitions, claiming the direct referral of the bill violated the judiciary committee's right to deliberations on legislation and asking the Constitutional Court to suspend the validity of the referral until the court determines whether the referral was constitutional. The revision guarantees the bargaining rights of indirectly employed workers and prohibits litigation for damages and provisional seizures against unionized workers with the aim of suppressing their strikes. This could make it difficult for employers to file complaints against illegal strikes by their workers and exempt laborers from liability for participating in illegal strikes. The bill dates back to 2009, when unionized workers of carmaker SsangYong Motor staged a high-profile strike to oppose a massive layoff. Five years later, the Supreme Court declared the strike illegal and ordered the workers to pay 4.7 billion won ($3.6 million) in compensation to the company and the state. A number of civic activists and citizens have since delivered yellow envelopes, each containing 47,000 won in donations, to support the SsangYong workers, raising the need to amend the trade union law in favor of striking workers. The revision has since been nicknamed the "yellow envelope bill." Even if the bill is finally approved by the plenary session, President Yoon Suk Yeol can exercise his veto power. (Yonhap) Downing Street has rejected claims of a cover-up as the Covid-19 inquiry extended the deadline for the Government to hand over Boris Johnsons unredacted WhatsApp messages and notebooks. As Tuesdays deadline approached, the Cabinet Office was given until 4pm on Thursday to turn over the evidence after officials claimed they do not possess all the documents demanded. The former prime minister insisted he has no objection to handing over the evidence as his successor Rishi Sunak insisted the government was acting in a spirit of transparency and candour. But inquiry chair Lady Hallett demanded a witness statement from a senior civil servant accompanied by a statement of truth confirming the documents are not held if the Cabinet Office fails to produce them by the new deadline. Former head of the Civil Service Lord Kerslake told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Theres some cover-up going on here to save embarrassment of ministers, but theres also the Cabinet Office fighting for a principle of confidentiality. Advertisement I have to say I think theyre misguided on this situation. I actually think it would set a helpful precedent if Lady Hallett prevailed in this fight about the information. The British prime ministers official spokesman flatly denied the allegation of a cover-up, saying: No. We want to learn the lessons about the actions of the state during the pandemic, we want that to be done rigorously and candidly. He said there is no requirement to permanently store or record every WhatsApp, with messages related to decision-making instead copied over to the official record. But the spokesman said it is down to individuals to decide what personal information they are able to hand over. Lady Hallett rejected a request to extend the request for compliance with her demands for disclosure until Monday, but agreed to the shorter extension. Second, the inquiry was informed that the Cabinet Office does not have in its possession either Mr Johnsons WhatsApp messages or Mr Johnsons notebooks, as sought in the original section 21 Notice, a notice from the inquiry added. Labour said the evidence that has seemingly gone missing must be found and presented to the Covid-19 inquiry to avoid the whiff of a cover-up. Advertisement Deputy leader Angela Rayner said: The fact the Covid inquiry has invoked legal powers to compel the handover of crucial documents in the face of legal battles and delaying tactics shows this is a Government with much to hide. It now appears that vital evidence has gone missing. It must be found and handed over as requested if the whiff of a cover-up is to be avoided and bereaved families are to get the answers they deserve. Mr Johnsons office said he has no objection to disclosing material to the inquiry. He has done so and will continue to do so, the former prime ministers spokesman said. The decision to challenge the inquirys position on redactions is for the Cabinet Office. Mr Johnsons team says the notebooks and WhatsApp messages have been handed to the Cabinet Office legal team, but he has since parted ways with his government-appointed lawyers. The former prime minister says he has not had a request from the Cabinet Office since telling officials in a letter on Friday any request for material must be in writing to him. According to his team, his message to the department said: If the Cabinet Office requires any action to be taken regarding this or any other material you must tell me in writing. Advertisement To date, our office is not aware of having received any instructions or requests from the Cabinet Office regarding this material. Mr Sunak and Mr Johnson are not scheduled to meet this week despite suggestions they would hold clear-the-air talks amid a row over the Covid-19 inquiry. It is understood that there had been initial discussions about holding a telephone call but this is not scheduled to go ahead as it stands. In a ruling last week, Lady Hallett said the Cabinet Office had misunderstood the breadth of the investigation Photo: Nick Ansell/PA. Whitehall officials are concerned about setting a precedent by handing over all the requested documents in unredacted form, rather than deciding what material is relevant and should be submitted to the inquiry. Speaking to broadcasters during a visit to Kent, Mr Sunak said the Government was acting in a spirit of transparency and candour. The Government has co-operated with the inquiry; tens of thousands of documents have been handed over. With regard to the specific question at the moment, the Government is carefully considering its position but it is confident in the approach that its taking. The row was sparked by a legal request sent by the inquiry on April 28 for a number of materials, including unredacted WhatsApp messages and diaries belonging to Mr Johnson, from January 2020 to February 2022. Advertisement In May, the Cabinet Office resisted the request, which was made under section 21 of the Inquiries Act 2005 and which also applies to messages from Mr Johnsons former adviser Henry Cook. In a ruling last week, Lady Hallett rejected the argument that the inquirys request was unlawful and said the Cabinet Office had misunderstood the breadth of the investigation. Refusing to comply with the request would lead to a legal clash with the official inquiry. The demand covers text conversations between Mr Johnson and a host of government figures, civil servants and officials. The list includes Englands chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty, as well as then-chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance. Messages with then-foreign secretary Liz Truss and then-health secretary Matt Hancock are also requested, as well as with former top aide Dominic Cummings and then-chancellor Mr Sunak. The inquiry had also asked for copies of the 24 notebooks containing contemporaneous notes made by the former prime minister in clean unredacted form, save only for any redactions applied for reasons of national security sensitivity. World Deadline delayed for handing over Boris Johnson me... Read More In the note granting the extension, the inquiry said if the WhatsApp messages and notebooks cannot be produced, the Cabinet Office will need to provide witness statements from senior officials setting out what efforts have been made to find them, including contacts with Mr Johnson. Advertisement Officials will also have to explain whether the WhatsApp messages are on Mr Johnsons personal phone or an official device. The Cabinet Office must also explain whether it had either the messages or the former prime ministers notebooks under its control at any time since February 3 and, if so, what happened to them. North Korea has notified neighbouring Japan that it plans to launch a satellite in the coming days, which may be an attempt to put its first military reconnaissance satellite into orbit. Defence minister Yasukazu Hamada said he ordered Japans Self Defence Force to shoot down the satellite or debris, if any enters Japanese territory. Japans coast guard said the notice it received from North Korean waterway authorities said the launch window was from May 31 to June 11, and that the launch may affect waters in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and east of the Philippines Luzon Island. The coast guard issued a safety warning for ships in the area on those dates because of the possible risks from falling debris. Japans coast guard coordinates and distributes maritime safety information in East Asia, which is likely why it was the recipient of North Koreas notice. Advertisement To launch a satellite into space, North Korea would have to use long-range missile technology banned by UN Security Council resolutions. Its past launches of Earth observation satellites were seen as disguised missile tests. Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said the launch would violate UN resolutions and was a threat to the peace and safety of Japan, the region and the international community. Japan was already on standby for falling missile debris from North Korean launches earlier this year and has deployed missile defence systems such as land-to-air PAC-3 and ship-to-air SM-3 interceptors in southwestern Japan and in the East China Sea. Mr Matsuno said it was possible the satellite would enter or pass above Japans southwestern islands including Okinawa, where the US has major military bases and thousands of troops. South Korea warned on Monday that North Korea will face consequences if it goes ahead with its launch plan in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions that ban the North from conducting any launch using ballistic technology. Our government strongly warns North Korea against a provocation that threatens peace in the region and urges it to withdraw its illegal launch plan immediately, a ministry statement said. Advertisement It said South Korea will cooperate with the international community to resolutely cope with any North Korean provocation. In a three-way telephone conversation later on Monday, the chief nuclear envoys of South Korea, the US and Japan agreed to cooperate to help promote a unified, resolute international response to a North Korean satellite launch. A TV screen shows a file image of North Koreas rocket launch during a news programme (Ahn Young-joon/AP/PA) They strongly urged North Korea to refrain from what they termed an illegal launch that would threaten regional peace, according to South Koreas Foreign Ministry. Japan issued a similar statement. China, North Koreas chief ally, renewed its call for a political settlement of tensions in response to the launch announcement. There is a reason why the situation on the Korean Peninsula has developed to how it is today, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing on Monday. We hope that all parties concerned will face up to the crux of the issue, strive for a political settlement, and address each others legitimate concerns through meaningful dialogue in a balanced manner. Earlier this month, North Korean state media reported leader Kim Jong Un had inspected a finished military spy satellite at his countrys aerospace centre and approved the satellites launch plan. Mondays launch notice did not specify the type of satellite. Advertisement Last week, rival South Korea launched its first commercial-grade satellite into space. Experts say Mr Kim would want his country to launch a spy satellite before South Korea does. North Korea placed Earth observation satellites in orbit in 2012 and 2016. It does not notify neighbouring countries of its missile firings in advance, but has issued notices ahead of satellite launches in the past. While North Korea has demonstrated an ability to deliver a satellite into space, there are questions about the satellites capability. Foreign experts say the earlier satellites never transmitted imagery back to North Korea, and analysts say the new device displayed in state media appeared too small and crudely designed to support high-resolution imagery. Spy satellites are among an array of high-tech weapons systems Mr Kim has publicly vowed to develop. Other weapons systems on his wish list include solid-propellant ICBMs, nuclear-powered submarines, hypersonic missiles and multi-warhead missiles. The Norths satellite launch plan comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-launched more than 100 missiles, some of them nuclear-capable weapons that place the US mainland, South Korea and Japan within striking distance. North Korea argues its testing spree is meant to issue warning over expanded military drills between the US and South Korea, but observers say North Korea aims to modernise its weapons programme then win greater concessions from its rivals in future dealings. Advertisement Last week, the South Korean and US militaries conducted large-scale live-fire drills near the border with North Korea as the first of five rounds of exercises marking 70 years since the establishment of their alliance. Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. North Korea has notified neighbouring Japan that it plans to launch a satellite in the coming days (Kyodo News via AP/PA) North Korea warned Monday that the U.S. and South Korea will face unspecified consequences for their war scenario for aggression on North Korea. Wed like to ask them if they can cope with the consequences to be entailed by their reckless and dangerous war gambles that are being staged under the eyes of the armed forces of (North Korea), the Norths official Korean Central News Agency said. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Saturday that he was ready to meet Kim Jong Un any time without preconditions and that he was making efforts to organize a summit as soon as possible. He was speaking at a conference dealing with the abductions of Japanese citizens to North Korea decades ago. The issue was only partially resolved and North Korea never provided a full account for those still believed held. North Korea on Monday urged Japan to show its sincerity about resuming talks, saying it is necessary to cool-headedly recall why past talks had failed to improve ties. South Americas leaders gathered in Brazils capital on Tuesday as part of an effort by the Brazilian president to revive regional cooperation in energy, crime-fighting and the economy. The regional bloc previously known as Union of South American Nations, or Unasur, first gathered 15 years ago to boost cooperation between the 12 South American nations. But the group eventually fractured amid the continents political swings and polarisation, and this is their first meeting for nine years. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva suggested at a news conference on Monday that he might consider floating the idea of a regional currency to challenge the US dollar. But he said nothing would be decided during the meeting. Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro, behind, talks to Bolivias President Luis Arce during the South American Summit at Itamaraty palace in Brasilia, Brazil (Gustavo Moreno/AP/PA) Advertisement The main idea is that we need to form a bloc to work together, he said. The participation of Venezuelas authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro led several countries to withdraw, including Brazil in 2019. The majority of its current presidents are now leftist or centrist the Brazilian president met Mr Maduro on Monday, calling the bilateral meeting a historic moment for both countries. Aside from Mr Maduro, another 10 South American presidents are attending the summit, as well as the leader of the Council of Ministers of Peru, where the president, Dina Boluarte, faces charges and cannot leave the country. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the time is now for Turkey to drop its objections to Sweden joining Nato but said the Biden administration also believed that Turkey should be provided with upgraded F-16 fighters as soon as possible. Mr Blinken maintained that the administration had not linked the two issues but acknowledged that some US politicians had. US President Joe Biden implicitly linked the two issues in a phone call to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday. I spoke to Erdogan and he still wants to work on something on the F-16s. I told him we wanted a deal with Sweden. So lets get that done, Mr Biden said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Swedens Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson shake hands during a press meeting in Lulea, Sweden (Jonas Ekstromer/TT News Agency via AP/PA) Mr Blinken insisted the two issues were distinct. However, he stressed that the completion of both would dramatically strengthen European security. Advertisement Both of these are vital, in our judgment, to European security, Mr Blinken told reporters at a joint news conference in the northern Swedish city of Lulea with Swedens Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. We believe that both should go forward as quickly as possible; that is to say Swedens accession and moving forward on the F-16 package more broadly. We believe the time is now, Mr Blinken said. He declined to predict when Turkey and Hungary, the only other Nato member not yet to have ratified Swedens membership, would grant their approval. But, he said, we have no doubt that it can be, it should be, and we expect it to be completed by the time alliance leaders meet in Vilnius, Lithuania in July at an annual summit. Fresh from a strong re-election victory over the weekend, Mr Erdogan may be willing to ease his objections to Swedens membership. Mr Erdogan accuses Sweden of being too soft on groups Ankara considers to be terrorists, and a series of Koran-burning protests in Stockholm angered his religious support base making his tough stance even more popular. Mr Kristersson said the two sides had been in contact since Sundays vote and voiced no hesitancy in speaking about the benefits Sweden would bring to Nato when we join the alliance. Advertisement Mr Blinken is in Sweden attending a meeting of the US-EU Trade and Technology Council and will travel to Oslo, Norway on Wednesday for a gathering of Nato foreign ministers, before going on to newly admitted alliance member Finland on Friday. Speaking in Oslo ahead of the foreign ministers meeting, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the goal was to have Sweden inside the grouping before the leaders summit in July. There are no guarantees, but its absolutely possible to reach a solution and enable the decision on full membership for Sweden by the Vilnius summit, Mr Stoltenberg said. Travellers willing to be flexible in booking trips can save hundreds of dollars on airfares as international and domestic travel regains popularity post-pandemic despite surging costs. Figures from travel search engine KAYAK show the average price for international return economy airfares from Australia for travel in the second half of this year is $1826, a 51 per cent increase on the same period in 2019, just before the onset of the pandemic. December is the most expensive month during the second half of 2023 to travel overseas. Credit: AP Even compared to last year, international return economy fares from Australia for booking in the second half of this year remain 23 per cent higher. Though prices remain high, those who can avoid travelling to the Northern Hemisphere during its summer months or during Christmas can enjoy considerable savings. The KAYAK figures show December is far and away the most expensive month for most overseas destinations from Australia. NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley has resisted calls from MPs to free Kathleen Folbigg immediately from prison after the states top prosecutor conceded new evidence had created reasonable doubt about her convictions over the deaths of her children. Upper house Greens MP Sue Higginson told parliament on Wednesday that a landmark inquiry into Folbiggs convictions over the deaths of her four young children had heard a mountain of evidence, not presented at her 2003 trial, that her children might have died of natural causes. Lindy and Michael Chamberlain, inset, and Kathleen Folbigg, who was convicted in 2003 of the murder of three of her children and the manslaughter of her firstborn son. This is about acting in the face of the gravest injustice, Higginson said. Kathleen is a woman like Lindy Chamberlain who has been failed by the criminal justice system. But NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, representing Daley and the Minns government in the upper house, said it would not be prudent for Daley to make a decision before the inquirys findings and there were significant evidentiary complexities in the case. Loading The government, however, acknowledges that there is urgency, Mookhey said. The NSW Director of Public Prosecutions, Sally Dowling, SC, and a team of counsel assisting the inquiry into Folbiggs convictions agreed last month it was open to the head of the inquiry, former NSW chief justice Tom Bathurst, KC, to find there is reasonable doubt about her convictions. The inquiry has concluded hearings and Bathurst is working on his final report to the governor. Daley has the power, independent of the inquiry, to recommend that the governor grant Folbigg either a pardon, paving the way for her unconditional release from prison, or conditional release on parole pending the inquirys final report. Lindy Chamberlain, who had been jailed for the murder of her daughter Azaria in 1982, was released in 1986 after Azarias matinee jacket a key piece of evidence was found at Uluru. This was before a royal commission into her conviction concluded that a judge hearing the same evidence as was before the royal commission would have been obliged to direct the jury to acquit Lindy and her then-husband Michael, who had been convicted as an accessory. The Chamberlains were pardoned in 1987 and their convictions quashed in 1988. Read the full story here Rome: A prominent Aboriginal elder has warned proponents of the Indigenous Voice to parliament are not doing enough to convince remote communities of the proposals virtues ahead of a historic vote to enshrine the body into the Constitution later this year. Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann, a former Senior Australian of the Year, educator and artist from Nauiyu near the Daly River community of the Northern Territory, will meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican later this week as part of her ongoing efforts towards reconciliation between the church and Indigenous Australians. Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann at the Australian Embassy at the Vatican. Credit: Massimo Berutti The 73-year-old trained in a Catholic mission school in her rural community near Darwin and went on to become the first fully qualified Aboriginal teacher in the Northern Territory. She has been widely recognised for her contribution to education, environmental protection and the promotion of Indigenous culture and art. Ungunmerr Baumann said she was still getting her head around the Voice concept but warned against assumptions it had the support of all Indigenous Australians or that it was the answer to their problems. Warning: Distressing content A university lecturer who stabbed his wife to death during an argument over childcare arrangements will spend at least the next 17 years in jail after a judge found his murderous attack was savage and sustained. Adam Brown sat unmoving and struggling to hold back tears at the Supreme Court on Tuesday as the court heard that an argument over the pairs young son turned fatal when the 41-year-old armed himself with a knife in the kitchen of the familys Croydon North home. Adam Brown outside court. Credit: AAP Justice John Champion said Brown committed reprehensible violence against his wife, Chen Cheng, 35, while their two-year-old son lay nearby, on April 30, 2022. A Perth teenager accused of firing a gun at a northern suburbs school could face decades behind bars after the state revealed two of the shots he allegedly fired actively endangered the lives of those inside a demountable classroom. The 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly taking two rifles to Atlantis Beach Baptist College in the far fringe suburb of Two Rocks and firing three rounds from the schools car park, sending terrified teachers and students into lockdown. WA Police body-worn footage from Atlantis Beach Baptist College shows the 15-year-old suspect. Credit: WA Police On Tuesday during the boys second court appearance, prosecutor Brad Hollingsworth told Perth Childrens Court the state would likely seek for the teen to face two counts of committing an act which endangered the life of others. The offence carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment. China's Sichuan Province, Indonesia pledge to strengthen economic ties Xinhua) 13:20, May 30, 2023 JAKARTA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from Indonesia and China's Sichuan Province have exchanged information regarding their respective potential resources for enhancing economic and trade ties at a trade conference here. Secretary of the Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China Wang Xiaohui said on Monday in the Indonesian capital that Sichuan has advantages in developing sectors ranging from food, pharmaceuticals, and batteries to clean energy. The potentials of Sichuan and Indonesia complement each other in some aspects, so there are hopes for building win-win cooperation. Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan noted that Indonesia, the fourth most populous in the world, has a wealth of potential natural resources, especially nickel, which is currently being promoted as a priority industry. "China is Indonesia's number one trade partner, and our economic ties are getting stronger," Pandjaitan added. Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Lu Kang also gave a speech at the event, expressing his hope for closer economic and trade cooperation between the southwestern Chinese province and Indonesia. The two sides signed cooperation agreements on coal mines and food processing. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) This file photo shows the Seosan Police Station in Seosan, about 100 kilometers southwest of Seoul. Courtesy of Seosan Police Station Police in the Philippines have recaptured a Korean man who escaped from a detention center while awaiting deportation to face the charge of murdering his wife, officials said Tuesday. The 38-year-old fugitive was apprehended at a resort in Manila at 11 a.m. Monday, eight days after he fled, according to police in Seosan, about 100 kilometers southwest of Seoul. He is accused of killing his wife in the Korean coastal city on Jan. 23 and dumping her body in a reservoir in the nearby county of Taean before fleeing to the Philippines. He was arrested in the Southeast Asian nation by local police in February following a request for cooperation from Korean authorities. But amid a delay in the deportation decision by Philippine authorities, he broke out from the immigration detention center at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila on May 21. "We plan to resume the investigation promptly once the suspect is repatriated," a police official said. (Yonhap) The owner of a tour boat which crashed into rocks in Western Australias far north in May 2022 has been charged with failing to ensure the safety its passengers after 12 were left with serious injuries. The charges were laid on Friday against Journey Beyond Adventures Pty Ltd, trading as Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures, and the boats master Edward James Whisson. People with serious injuries were taken to hospital. Credit: Nine News Perth The vessel, Falls Express, collided with rocks at Horizontal Falls on May 27, with 25 passengers and two crew on board, on an eco-tour of Talbot Bay in the Kimberley. It had allegedly been operating at high speeds through a narrow 7.5-metre gap between rocks. Emergency calls were made about 7.15am and the first medical assistance was on the scene by 8.30am. With unlimited range because they never need to refuel, and with vertical launch tubes for firing missiles, a nuclear-propelled submarine could stand off Chinas coast and threaten it with cruise missiles. The transformational power of nuclear-propelled subs is that they could allow Australia to pose a direct threat to the Chinese mainland. For the first time. It had come to that. The Australians were asking for the crown jewels in the national security vault, one of Americas remaining decisive advantages over China. The US had shared its nuclear sub secrets with only one nation, Britain, in 1958. Much had changed since. He asked lots of questions, said the official who led the briefing, the Indo-Pacific Co-ordinator in Bidens National Security Council, Kurt Campbell. He wanted to be convinced. In the meeting with about a dozen of his top national security officials in a secure White House situation room, the US president remarked that while Australia was a stalwart ally, this was an enormously complex and expensive undertaking. When Joe Biden was first briefed on Australias request for nuclear-powered submarines, he did not say yes. He was cautious, even sceptical. Among his doubts was whether Australia was up to it. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. You dont know their sovereign decisions. Your imagination is your biggest nightmare what could they be doing? They can reposition fast, 25 knots [46km/h] for a full day. If an adversary says, Ive got a detection of a nuclear sub, great when? Two days ago. Then you draw a circle on the map and see where it might be. Its a big circle. Nuclear-propelled submarines are fast, they have stamina, they bring a whole spectrum of weapons, and if you are China, how are Australian and US forces working together? poses the former chief of US Naval Operations, retired Admiral Jonathan Greenert. On the positive side of the ledger, the top consideration was that it would help counter China. The Peoples Liberation Army Navy has the advantage over the US in warfighting on and above the ocean. Arming an ally with nuclear-powered subs would help blunt Chinas edge. Now the Australian appeal had the presidents full attention. The briefing paper in front of him ran through the positives and negatives of such an arrangement it did not contain a recommendation. But it had been a 40-year fantasy of Australian governments to get American nuclear propulsion. Canberra had been turned down every time. Indeed, no earlier request had even reached the presidents desk. The US Nuclear Navy, guardians of the technology, had ruled it out of the question. Australias existing fleet of submarines, the six diesel-powered Collins class, is equipped with torpedo tubes only. Which means it can fire torpedoes at targets in the water but not missiles at targets on land. Second was the response from China. How will Beijing react if we agree to this? Will it provoke Xi Jinping into accelerating his own naval build-up, into getting more aggressive? But on the other side of the ledger, Biden himself raised four big concerns with the Australian request. First was nuclear proliferation. Since the deal with Britain in 1958, Washington, London and Canberra, among others, had signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. If we give the Australians this technology, wont we be in breach of the treaty, Biden wanted to know? Third, it would help the US to deter Chinas expansion through the Indo-Pacific. It would signal US commitment to the region and to US allies, reassuring other Indo-Pacific nations who might be doubting American staying power. The president said, this could be quite powerful, according to an official who was present. Instead, Australia had set an incredibly powerful example for the world in standing up to China, as Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an interview this year. A nuclear subs deal would lock Australia more tightly into the US bloc. Second, it would cement the alliance with Australia. Just a few years earlier, many in the US foreign policy community including Campbell had tipped Australia to be the ally most vulnerable to Chinas influence, that it would flip and align with Beijing. The US today has 68 submarines, all nuclear-powered. China has an estimated 76 subs, of which 12 are nuclear-powered. But the US fleet is shrinking as it retires older subs faster than it can build new ones. Chinas nuclear-powered fleet is expanding. The AUKUS agreement aims to help Australia acquire eight. What if we attempt this three-way agreement with Australia and Britain and it fails? The credibility of all three nations would be damaged. Have the Australians consulted fully with the French about their contract? Do we risk alienating one ally to gratify another? As the discussion around the White House table unfolded last year, other concerns emerged. The group included Secretary of State Blinken, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Mark Milley. Australia was not asking for nuclear weapons; it was content to arm its subs with conventional missiles. And Canberra was not so much concerned about nuclear Armageddon. Australia has entrusted that responsibility to the US, sheltering under Americas nuclear umbrella. Australia was feeling threatened by China and wanted the capacity to threaten it in return. Americas nuclear warfighting is structured on a triad - ground-based, airborne and undersea forces. The ground-based and airborne forces are the most vulnerable to enemy attack. But even if these are destroyed in a surprise first strike by an enemy, its nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed subs are designed to survive, undetected in the dark depths, to deliver annihilation to the enemy. By guaranteeing second strike capability, they deter any adversary from even thinking about launching a first. Fourth, would the US Nuclear Navy be prepared to deliver? This had been the obstacle to every other Australian inquiry. This elite priesthood is the guardian of the fast, stealthy, underwater Doomsday machines that are Americas last line of defence. Third was Australias capability. Would the Australian political system be capable of bipartisan commitment for the decades required? Is Australian politics stable enough? Could Australia afford the price tag? In France, national pride and national honour were engaged, not to mention French economics it was the biggest defence export contract France had signed, and the biggest Australian acquisition. The contract value was $50 billion but adjustments for inflation and extras took the total deal to at least $90 billion. LExpress newspaper had hailed Australias order for 12 diesel-powered French submarines, nicknamed the shortfin Barracuda and also known as the Attack Class, as the contract of the century. Malcolm Turnbulls government had put the deal in place and in February 2019 while Scott Morrison presided over the formal signing of the Strategic Partnering Agreement to allow it to proceed. As Macron pressed a ceremonial launch lever, it illuminated a video art installation designed to evoke the sights and sounds of the ocean along the subs sides. You, Macron addressed the workers whod built the boat, are building the independence of France. Its our very status as a great global power. Macron thoroughly charmed Australias previous defence minister, Linda Reynolds, for instance. He made sure she was invited to the launch of the first of Frances newest class of nuclear-powered submarines, the Barracuda, in the Normandy seaside city of Cherbourg, in 2019. He arranged for her to tour the subs interior, which she found impressively spacious, with no head-ducking required. Ambition. That was the one-word brief that Macron personally gave his ambassador to Australia, Jean-Pierre Thebault, when he sent him to Canberra in 2020. The president urged his ambassador to be ambitious and imaginative in expanding the relationship. The submarines were to be the strategic anchor, evidence of shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is code for resisting Chinas expansionism. The meeting broke up without a decision and with big questions needing to be answered. In the meantime, Australia had a contract with Paris and French President Emmanuel Macron was deeply invested in it. Macrons charm soon wore off. Reynolds found herself in a ritual quarterly exchange with her French counterpart, Florence Parly. Shed begin each meeting by telling me what her department had told her. Then Id have to tell her, no, this is the situation, and Id start unpacking it, Reynolds told colleagues. Thoroughly charmed: French President Emmanuel Macron made sure then defence minister Linda Reynolds, seen here with her French counterpart Florence Parly, was invited to the launch of the first of Frances newest class of nuclear-powered submarines, the Barracuda, in Cherbourg in 2019. Credit: Abaca This was the frustration phase of the contract with the builder, Naval Group, the new name for the state-owned shipbuilder founded four centuries ago by the famed strategist and prime minister, Cardinal Richelieu, who, incidentally, was the inventor of the table knife. He wanted France to muscle up to English naval power and the enterprise was born. But in early 2020, only a year after the deal was signed, the Australian National Audit Office reported that the design phase was running nine months late. It could not verify that the initial outlay of nearly $400 million had been spent effectively, it said. And it revealed that the governments expert submarine advisory group had questioned the viability of the whole plan at its very earliest phase. Alarm bells are ringing, said the only former submariner in parliament, South Australias independent Senator Rex Patrick. The government, he said, should consider a Plan B. Reynolds defended the French deal in public: The first Attack Class submarine is scheduled for delivery to the Royal Australian Navy in 2032. The Australian National Audit Office report confirmed there has been no change to this delivery timeframe or budget. But in private Reynolds agreed with Patrick and the other sceptics: French Defence Minister Florence Parly was working with us in good faith, but I started to discuss with the PM, is there an alternative if this falls over? Within six months of winning the May 2019 election, Scott Morrison was worried enough to tell Macron personally of his growing concerns. He was frustrated with the time it was taking, the difficulties with design and the lack of responsiveness. Morrison relayed this to Macron, who replied: Keep me informed. Loading Towards the end of 2019, Morrison started to ask his closest advisers about fallback options, including nuclear-propelled ones. They told him of the joyless history of Australian requests for nuclear propulsion and that the likelihood of getting the technology from the US or Britain was very, very low. And they warned him that Australia would need a civil nuclear industry. Without one, it couldnt maintain the nuclear reactors that drive the boats. On March 19, 2020, two months after the Audit Office report, the prime minister took the first formal step towards exploring contingencies. Secretly, he asked the secretary of the Defence Department, Greg Moriarty, for a discussion paper about all the options, including nuclear-propelled ones. He had the result within a fortnight. The next month, Macron replaced the global chief executive of Naval Group, a step applauded in Canberra. The new boss, Pierre Eric Pommellet, was considered more amenable to Australias concerns. The prime minister felt encouraged that Macron was making an effort to get the deal back on track. Morrison decided to take the next step regardless. In May, 2020, he asked Moriarty and the military co-leader of the Defence Department, Chief of the Defence Force, General Angus Campbell, to form a small, expert group to see whether it was feasible for Australia to acquire and operate nuclear-powered subs. The top-secret exercise was led by the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan. It came back with the conclusion that it was potentially feasible, but on two conditions. One, it was only possible with the help of the US, Britain or both. This was the only way Australia could operate nuclear-powered subs without setting up a civil nuclear industry to support them. America and Britain use highly enriched, weapons-grade uranium to run their subs reactors. That means the reactors dont need refuelling for the life of the boat itself, some 30 years. Two, the same consideration ruled out the French nuclear-propelled sub, the big Barracudas Macron had launched so proudly, as an option. The French use low-enriched uranium, meaning their reactors need to be refuelled every decade or so in a lengthy process called full-cycle docking. This would keep the Australian fleet permanently dependent on Paris. Moriartys opinion was that this would not be a sovereign Australian capability. Unless Australia started its own civil nuclear industry to refuel and maintain the reactors, something which Morrison would not countenance. Loading Tantalised, Morrison immediately asked Defence to contact the Pentagon to test its assumptions. Through a series of secure video conferences between the Pentagon and Defences headquarters on Russell Hill, the US Navy gave a guarded endorsement, summarised by an Australian official: Theres nothing in your thinking thats completely implausible. But there was no enthusiasm from the Americans and certainly no commitment to help. For the prime minister, this was a game changer nonetheless, as hes described it to colleagues. The revelation: It was possible to have a nuclear-powered attack submarine, or SSN as navies call it, without needing to service the reactor. To now, Morrison had briefed only two members of his cabinet, Linda Reynolds and the Foreign Affairs Minister, Marise Payne. But now that he envisaged raising the idea with the American president and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, he decided to widen the circle. When he briefed Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, he met an enthusiastic response. He remarked that the politics in the three capitals of Washington, London and Canberra seemed to be in alignment. You could never do this deal with (the former leader of British Labour) Jeremy Corbyn, said Frydenberg. When a gate like this opens, you go through it. But what of the multibillion-dollar cost of cancelling the French deal and the far greater cost of building SSNs? Everything is affordable if its a priority, was the treasurers attitude. This is a priority. Morrison then took it to the National Security Committee of his cabinet. This is the overarching mechanism for co-ordinating defence and security and includes top officials and ministers responsible for defence, foreign affairs, home affairs and intelligence. It gave Morrison the green light to take it further. It was a high level of secrecy because there was no guarantee we could pull it off, Morrison told colleagues. He didnt want to disrupt progress with the French toward a conventional sub in case he failed with the Anglo American nuclear option, and end up with neither. Morrison kept it so tight that the PMs personal permission was required before any official could be brought into the charmed circle, a top civil servant explained. So if anything leaked, you knew youd be personally accountable to the PM himself, said the official. Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne and Rear-Admiral Jonathan Mead during a Senate estimates hearing. Mead was a crucial choice to lead the pursuit of SSNs. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Donald Trump lost the US election around this time. Morrison decided it was pointless to approach the outgoing president, but he would pursue the incoming one at the first opportunity. In the meantime, Morrison wanted to see what the Brits might be able to offer. In February 2021, Defence made contact with Whitehall. The British Navy was encouraging but non-committal. In the same month, Linda Reynolds instructed the ADFs General Campbell to advise the government on how to give Australia strike power. It was part of the governments awakening to Australias strategic puniness against its great rival, China. Australia then, and now, had no long-range strike capability whatsoever. None on land, none in the air force, none in the navy. The ADF was set up for counterinsurgency wars as part of a US alliance like those in Afghanistan and Iraq, and low-level conflict in the Pacific Islands like the missions in East Timor and the Solomons, but was unprepared for high-intensity warfighting with a capable nation state. Reynolds tasked the Capability Enhancement Review with recommending the strike power Australia needed. One part was to be the nuclear subs project. Campbell made a crucial choice by appointing Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead, a one-time clearance diver with a PhD on Indonesia and merit awards for skippering 186 Persian Gulf boardings in six months of the Iraq war in 2005, to lead the pursuit of SSNs. Eventually, the moment arrived for Australias first approach to the Biden White House. Mid-pandemic, there had been very few openings to allow travel between Canberra and Washington. And this proposal was considered too sensitive for anything but face-to-face discussion. In May 2021, the moment came. The director-general of Australias peak intelligence assessment agency, the Office of National Intelligence, Andrew Shearer, was planning a routine visit to Washington to consult with his US counterparts. Hed been briefed on the nuclear subs project. Would you like me to broach it with the White House, he asked the prime minister? Morrison agreed. Shearer managed to sidestep the Russian roulette of Australias vaccine rollout with the help of doctors at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. When the softly spoken Australian spy walked into the West Wing of the White House, his American interlocutors knew only that he wanted to discuss a matter of the utmost sensitivity. He walked into the ornate, chandeliered office of the National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, with only one other person present, Kurt Campbell, one of Sullivans senior staff and Bidens Indo-Pacific co-ordinator. Shearer and Campbell had known each other for decades. He explained what Australia wanted. As Chinas capability advances, we need to have submarines capable of meeting it. We need to be able to operate without the risk of easy detection by the Chinese, Shearer said, according to the participants. Top spy: National intelligence chief Andrew Shearer broached the plan with the White House in April 2021. Credit: Louie Douvis Shearer told the Americans that the Coalition government had chosen the French diesel-powered option when it expected to be contesting the waters in its near neighbourhood and dealing with low-level threats. But the security circumstances have changed dramatically and the only way we can remain strategically relevant in highly contested circumstances is if we have the ability to launch cruise missiles over long distances. My sources didnt put it quite this bluntly, but everyone in the room understood that this was about Australia acquiring the power to pose a direct threat to Chinas forces and the Chinese mainland. Sullivan and Campbell immediately were interested. Biden has described the US rivalry with China as the competition for the 21st century. With this request, Australia was choosing sides emphatically. Campbell told me afterwards: What most countries do when grappling with relevance, when risks and costs are enormous, is they just opt out. Australia chose relevance. It was a bold and important idea. Shearer emphasised that Australia had no intention of developing a civil nuclear industry or developing nuclear weapons. He said that Canberra was satisfied it could operate the subs while preserving Australias strong record on nuclear non-proliferation. Sullivan and Campbell had lots of questions about Australian technological, personnel and financial capacity but the potential killer at this threshold meeting was Australian politics. We asked lots of questions about politics, said Campbell. Would this be contentious? Would this hold? Bipartisan political commitment, Labor and Liberal, was a prerequisite, the Americans said. This would be a military marriage. It would have to hold over decades. President Joe Biden in the State Dining Room of the White House in April last year with (from left) his Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Kurt Campbell, coordinator for the Indo-Pacific on the National Security Council. Credit: AP Shearers reply was that, though the government hadnt had the conversation with Labor, public debate about the threat had changed significantly and there was a pretty strong bipartisan agreement with the Left on the security environment in Australia. At the close of the meeting, Sullivan told Shearer that this will be looked at very seriously over months, not years, and well try to cut through the bureaucracy. Loading Shearer didnt trust even secure communications channels to tell Morrison about the meeting, only sending him an oblique message that the proposition had been well-received. But when Shearer returned to Canberra he made clear to Morrison and his other colleagues that the White House had set political bipartisanship as a non-negotiable condition. If Albo says no, the deal will be dead, as Australias ambassador to Washington, Arthur Sinodinos, put it to colleagues. The White House trusted Morrison to bring Labor in on the secret and the US made no approaches, formal or otherwise, to test Labors reaction. Yet the prime minister decided not to brief Labor leader Anthony Albanese for five months. He briefed him on the day before the deal was to be announced in a three-way piece of theatre with Morrison, Prime Minister Johnson and President Biden. It was high stakes on a very tight deadline. This is part one of a two-part series by Peter Hartcher examining the AUKUS deal. Read part two here. Cut through the noise of the federal election campaign with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Sign up to our Australia Votes 2022 newsletter here. Preston Market appears dead unless the government can broker a compromise after traders were informed their leases would not be renewed as part of a longstanding fight over the future of the land in Melbournes northern suburbs. Part-owners Salta Properties issued the ultimatum in an email to all stallholders on Tuesday, warning the market would close from January as a result of development rules Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny proposed for the site last month. Preston market traders: Kristian Gandolfo (left) runs the Mariluci deli and Domenic Mollica (right) runs MnM Fruit. Credit: Jason South Kilkenny plans to expand heritage protections at the 53-year-old market and allow some mid-rise development, which could be up to 14 storeys and accommodate 1200 apartments. That would effectively block the owners plans to add 2200 apartments up to 19 storeys high. Roger has been part of the leadership team now for a long time, Dawson said. Certainly, one of our strengths as a government has been how we dealt with COVID-19. Roger, of course, was a big part of that work. I think the community recognises and knows Roger and our team thinks he would be the best person to lead us moving forward. Therell be votes from a range of people, independents, people who are involved in groups, but we think Rogers the best. Dawson said the decision to support Cook above Sanderson and outside contender, Saffioti, took a few hours. We did ponder on it for a couple of hours, we spoke about what we wanted in the next leader and we reckon that Roger Cook is the best person to lead the state and to make sure that the state continues to be a prosperous place, he said. Ministers Stephen Dawson and David Templeman speak to media after endorsing Roger Cook to become the next premier of WA. Credit: Hamish Hastie Saffioti accepts deputy Saffioti was still in the race for leadership but was hamstrung by her lack of factional affiliation. She thanked the AMWU MPs for their vote of confidence in her and revealed she had met with Cook to confirm she would endorse his candidacy and would accept the role of deputy in any government formed. The deputy premier and I have been parliamentary colleagues for 15 years, and cabinet colleagues for six years, and what we offer above all else is stable leadership which is what our state needs right now, she said. The deputy premier and I will continue to engage with our parliamentary colleagues as we seek to deliver unified and stable leadership for the state, and a consensus ticket for the party. Labors rift in the left The decision pits Labors usually lockstep two left faction groups against each other for the first time in recent history and will have ramifications for the unity of that faction going forward. Templeman batted away suggestions that the AMWU endorsement of Cook signalled a split in Labors left. We are supporting a left candidate, the metalworkers caucus is supporting a left candidate that is Roger Cook, we have great admiration for him and the experience that he brings to the leadership and thats why were supporting him, Templeman said. In terms of Amber and Rita, both of them are outstanding. Were very fortunate in the Labor Party to have a depth of offering up three potential leaders. Dawson said he was confident that Cook would lead a Labor party without divisions and that the AMWU and UWU subfactions would continue to be strong allies. Weve had a relationship for a very long time and weve often supported different candidates, whether its for the Senate or indeed for ministries. So, I expect our relationship will continue to be as good as it is, he said. Sandersons prospects looked promising after she won the majority support of her United Workers Union-aligned colleagues in a key vote against Cook on Tuesday morning. That vote was split 11 to 17 in favour of Sanderson. However, such a large dissenting voice gave Cook a pathway to victory with the support of the AMWU subfaction. WAtoday understands Labors right faction MPs had agreed to throw their support behind Cook as well in a meeting in the Perth CBD on Tuesday, meaning Cook would have easily gained majority support of WAs 74-person caucus. The right will meet again tomorrow to formalise its position and Dawson said the Labor caucus would likely meet early next week and the new leader would be decided. No hard feelings Dawson praised Sanderson as a fantastic minister but pointed out she had only been in cabinet for a year and a half and had a big task ahead of her in the health portfolio. She continues to deliver for the state and Im confident that she will be a leader in the future at some stage, he said. In a short statement to media after Tuesday mornings meeting, Sanderson confirmed she was selected by the UWU MPs and said she would now reach out to the rest of Labors caucus. Ive been chosen with a clear majority to be the candidate to go forward for the leadership, she said. The odds for the current deputy lengthened by the minute as the day went on. It seemed he was all but done after Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson declared she had been endorsed by a clear majority of her 26 United Workers Union-aligned colleagues from Labors 40 MP-strong left faction. This meant she was in the hot seat to convince the rest of the party she had the support of the most dominant sub-faction of the most dominant faction of Labors 74-person caucus. But that bold statement hid the fact that she had actually only secured 17 votes compared to Cooks 11. The new premier would need 38 MPs to endorse them all up for consensus to be inevitable. This result was quickly leaked and was a beacon to other Labor MPs that Cook had a path to victory should the party deem it so. Loading And so it was. At some point Cook spoke to Rita Saffioti about joining together as a premier/deputy duo which proved irresistible to the left factions 17 metal worker-aligned MPs who unanimously got behind it. In addition, 26 right faction MPs also supported this ticket and when confronted with the bleak arithmetic, Sanderson conceded defeat. Cook, who also hails from the UWU but didnt have the backing of its secretary Carolyn Smith, demonstrated political deftness to convince the metalworkers and right faction to back him. In doing so, he staged one of the most remarkable and quickest comebacks in a Labor leadership contest in modern history. Rita Saffioti Transport minister Rita Saffioti (centre) will be promoted to deputy premier. Credit: Twitter Roleystone Rita was the outsider in the race for premier because of her lack of factional allegiances, but her interest from the get-go gave her brilliant leverage to carve out a sweet gig in the long run. She had been canvassing the party wider than Cook and Sanderson and has been a strong performer both in the party and in the public eye, but it was not meant to be. Cook came to her with a proposition that she take on the role as deputy in his new government which she accepted and it was this combination that got the AMWU and right faction across the line. She will now likely also take on Treasury, a role which she has always coveted, which will give any future leadership bid more firepower. AMWU-aligned MPs (metalworkers) Ministers Stephen Dawson and David Templeman speak to media after endorsing Roger Cook to become the next premier of WA. Credit: Hamish Hastie The UWU casts a long shadow in the left faction and it is often its MPs that are elevated to ministerial positions, but on Tuesday it was the AMWUs 17 MPs that were the kingmakers. Sandersons chances were shot down spectacularly just after 3pm when Stephen Dawson and David Templeman declared the AMWU MPs would endorse Cook and urged Saffioti to run as his deputy. Those votes, coupled with Cooks UWU 11 and the right faction, put leadership out of reach for Sanderson. This move revealed a split in Labors left unlike anything before it and has significantly changed power bases that have always seemingly rested with the UWU. If the AMWU can side with the right, anything can happen. The AMWU deal will come at a cost to Cook so expect to see more AMWU MPs rising through the ranks and existing ministers like Dawson taking on more high-profile portfolios. The right About 25 MPs in Labors right faction, known as Progressive Labor, were crucial in Cooks victory and by lunch they had already decided to support him. Like the AMWU, this will come at a cost to Cook, and some UWU MPs and ministers may have to have their wings clipped for some caged MPs in the right to spread theirs. In the long run the faction will boost its presence in debates in the parliamentary party after being shrunk into muteness by the dominating UWU and left faction for so many years. In another win for the right they did not have to make any public statements supporting any candidate in anyway, leaving many of them with clean hands. Losers Amber Jade Sanderson Health Minister Amber Jade Sanderson. Credit: Hamish Hastie Sanderson must now retreat and run the numbers as to why her union did not show the solidarity it is so famous for. She will also likely go back to the health portfolio with its many and varied challenges. Her leadership prospects are dented but not dead in the water and by agreeing to pull out of the race early and not take the challenge to a ballot of all Labor party members she keeps some powder dry for future leadership tilts. Washington: A Chinese fighter jet swerved in front of a US reconnaissance aircraft over the South China Sea in an unnecessarily aggressive manoeuvre, part of what a senior American official described as a pattern of more confrontational behaviour in the region. The pilot of the J-16 fighter flew directly in front of the nose of the RC-135, forcing the US aircraft to fly through its wake turbulence, according to a statement from the Pentagons US Indo-Pacific Command. The RC-135 was conducting safe and routine operations over the South China Sea in international airspace, in accordance with international law. A video of the May 26 encounter filmed from the cockpit of the American aircraft shows the Chinese warplane against a clear blue sky banking from right to left across the path of the US jet, which visibly shakes as a result. The Chinese jet was about 120 metres from the US plane, officials said. A woman who accused Joe Biden of sexual assault has turned up in Moscow, announcing plans to seek Russian citizenship. She is also receiving the help of a woman convicted of spying for Russia. Tara Reade in Moscow. Credit: @ReadeAlexandra/Twitter Tara Reade, who had once served on Bidens Senate staff, filed a complaint against the then-presidential candidate in April 2020, accusing him of sexual assault in 1993. In a statement published on Kremlin-owned Sputnik overnight, Reade suggested her life was in danger. Brasilia: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called for a multi-polar world rather than one dominated by the US, as he arrived in Brazil seeking to rebuild his nations alliances after years of isolation. In his first international trip in seven months, Maduro met with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia ahead of a regional summit. His visit is the latest evidence of an ongoing thaw towards the Venezuelan government after leftists won elections in Brazil and Colombia last year. Maduros international travel has been curtailed in recent years by sanctions by the US, which has openly backed attempts to overthrow him. Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro, left, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva end a press conference at Planalto palace in Brasilia, Brazil. Credit: AP Lula, as the 77-year-old Brazilian leader is known, has repeatedly criticised US policy on everything from Venezuelan sanctions to its arming of Ukraine to its efforts to get WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange extradited. As the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) was granted an additional three months from the Supreme Court (SC) earlier this month to complete its investigation, records obtained during the 2017 Paradise Papers investigation reveal that Mavi Investment Fund Ltd (now APMS Investment Fund Ltd) had received a notice from the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) in September 2012. At least two Mauritius companies that made investments in Adani group companies and were mentioned in the Hindenburg Group's Adani report were under investigation by the Indian tax authorities for more than ten years, a report by the Indian Express said. Another company, Lotus Global Investment Limited, which began investing in Adani Group companies in 2005, received a similar notice from MRA in July 2014 to share "information... for onward transmission to the Indian Tax Authorities." These records were kept internally by the offshore law firm Appleby. This notice was intended to share information and to be forwarded to the Indian tax authorities under the Direct Tax Avoidance Agreement, it said. These companies were APMS Investment Fund (previously Mavi Investments), Albula Investment Fund, Cresta Fund, LTS Investment Fund, and Lotus Global Investment Fund, under the control of Monterosa Investment Holdings (BVI), an alleged "stock parking entity". In its report, Hindenburg Research identified five Mauritius-based companies that collectively held sizeable stakes in Adani group companies over one and a half decades. Also Read Top 5 headlines: Windfall tax slashed on petroleum crude, IBM pauses hiring Adani Green Energy to seek board approval to raise up to $1 billion Old income tax regime vs new income tax regime: Which one is better? Budget 2023: Income tax slabs changed under new tax regime. Details here Adani-Hindenburg: May grant Sebi a three-month extension for probe, says SC We are targeting more than Rs 1,300-crore turnover in FY24: DCI CEO HUL well placed to partner India growth story, says Chairman Nitin Paranjpe Can Adani convince investors to back his capital-hungry businesses? Razorpay unveils India's fastest one-step payments solution Turbo UPI Zee Media Corporation net loss narrows to Rs 45.8 cr in March quarter "The foundation of Sebi's suspicion that led to investigations into the ownership of the overseas entities is that they have 'opaque' structures because the ultimate chain of ownership above the 13 overseas entities is not clear," the committee noted. Sebi, on the other hand, drew a blank. According to the expert committee established by the SC, four of these companies were among the 13 overseas entities that market regulator Sebi has been looking into since October 2020. Mavi's payment of Rs 10 lakh towards the settlement fees for violating Sebi regulations was accepted by Sebi in May 2010. Both Adani Transmission and Adani Total Gas are owned by Mavi (as APMS) to the tune of 1.86 and 2.72 per cent, respectively. In Adani Green Energy, it owned 1.19 per cent till 2021. Records show that Appleby charged Monterosa in August 2010 for amending and recording fund documents for Cresta, Lotus, Mavi, and other companies "so that there is only one common portfolio of assets for the Sebi declaration/undertaking." In December 2009, Albula (Mauritius), a company under the Monterosa banner, purchased the stake Lotus Global had in APL. From a peak of 4.51 per cent in 2008 until its exit in the second quarter of 2010, its stake in AEL was gradually reduced. Mavi started investing in Adani Enterprise Limited (AEL) in 2006 but withdrew last year. In 2013, the company sold its entire Adani Power Limited (APL) stake to Vinod Adani, elder brother of Gautam Adani, in three block deals. Executives and legal counsel for Monterosa, Appleby, and related companies decided to petition the Supreme Court of Mauritius to pre-empt any attempts to obtain information directly from the banks Deutsche Bank, HSBC, and Bank of Mauritius where Lotus Global held accounts. In July 2014, MRA asked that Lotus Global provide audited financial statements for the years 2006 to 2012, which roughly corresponds to the time when Lotus Global held stakes in Adani companies, as well as information on shareholders and beneficial owners, the number of employees, bank statements for the years April 2000 to March 2013, sources of credits, and information on debit entries in the accounts. Earlier in 2012, Mavi was asked to provide ownership information, bank statements from April 2007 to March 2010, and to confirm whether the company had made investments in Delphi Investment Ltd, which led to investments in Etisalat DB Telecom Pvt Ltd (formerly Swan Telecom Private Limited) as part of the investigation into the 2G scam. The Applicant has received subscription monies of several hundred million USD and placed thousands of dedicated portfolio investment trades with a turnover in excess of USD 2 billion over the years The request for information is drafted extraordinarily wide and vague part of a mere fishing expedition of the Indian Tax Authorities, read a draft affidavit seeking an injunction to restrain MRA from summoning the bank officials. Gettyimagesbank By Ko Dong-hwan A man who claims to be a former soldier is in a conflict with a district office in Seoul's northernmost suburb. He says he is on a mission to protect the capital from possible infiltrations by North Korean spies by raising stray dogs next to a popular mountain trail. Dobong District Office has been receiving mounting complaints from trekkers at Mount Bukhan about the canine shelters set up by the man more than a decade ago inside the national park. One hiker in his 80s said he has been aware of the shelter for some time and added that the man started expanding the shelter's size about 10 years ago. Most of the locals are not happy to see 10 dogs chained inside cages and apparently neglected. One local resident said she saw signs in front of the shelter warning: "Danger Dogs Nearby" and "You Are Being Recorded by Security Cameras." The owner of the dogs is apparently driven by patriotism. He said he has been voluntarily running the dog shelters following a high-profile national security breach in 1968 when 120 North Korean soldiers infiltrated South Korea's eastern coastal cities of Uljin and Samcheok. The incident saw 113 of the North Koreans killed and seven of them captured by the South Korean military. The man, whose name remains unknown, said he is angry at the locals for treating him like a criminal despite his patriotic efforts. He said he started his mission by occupying the site inside the national park and then started raising stray dogs as means of defense against North Korean infiltrators. The district office, however, said the man has been illegally occupying the site and ordered him twice in May to demolish the shelters and empty the site. They said they will report him to the police if he does not clear the site by the end of June. The district office said it received multiple reports of animal abuse from locals. But it added that the charge is not likely to be applied as the man does not seem to have harmed or attempted to kill the dogs. Officials at the national park said they will take action if the National Forest Service, the country's top national park overseer, gives them the green light. During the past one week, the state has seen investment plans to the extent of Rs 1,300 crore, amid chief minister M K Stalin's visit to the island nation. Till Monday, MoUs for investments worth Rs 819 crore were signed with six Japanese companies during Stalins ongoing visit. Omrons plans in in the state are likely to be worth Rs 120-130 crore, said a source, requesting anonymity. A deal is likely to be signed today. The firm is likely to manufacture all products in its portfolio at the Tamil Nadu unit, including blood pressure mo In a sign that Japanese companies are increasingly showing interest in Tamil Nadu, Kyoto-based Omron Healthcare, one of the worlds largest players in the medical devices segment, with expertise in health monitoring and therapy, plans to set up its first manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu. The plant is scheduled to come up at Origins by Mahindra at Peruvoyal Village in Gummidipoondi Taluk of Thiruvallur district. This is according to the regulatory filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Fidelity Investments, a prominent investor in homegrown e-commerce marketplace Meesho, has marked down the companys valuation by 9.7 per cent to $4.4 billion as of March 31. The firm had, alongside Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin-led B Capital, had led a huge $570-million series F funding round in Meesho in September 2021 at a valuation of $4.9 billion. Fidelity holds stakes in the e-commerce firm through multiple funds such as the Variable Insurance Products Fund III and IV, and Fidelity Central Investments Portfolio LLC. These include edtech unicorns Eruditus and Byjus, food aggregator platform Swiggy, cab-hailing platform Ola, fintech company Pine Labs and online pharmacy Pharmeasy. This comes at a time when several prominent Indian unicorns have had their valuations cut by overseas investors. Also Read Meesho fires 251 more in 3rd round layoffs; cites judgement error in hiring Meesho lays off 251 employees, CEO admits 'judgement errors in over-hiring' One day in office, remote work for rest of the week for Meesho employees Meesho building portfolio to tap next billion users: CXO Utkrishta Kumar Layoffs continue at startups; funding winter, macro uncertainty to blame Tata Realty with Tabreed to install cooling infra at commercial complex Troubled airline Go First extends cancellation of flights until June 4 Operating environment to remain volatile amid global slowdown: HUL Tata Technologies plans to hire 1,000 women engineers to promote diversity Inox Wind gets 150 MW wind energy project from NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd Softbank and Prosus-backed Meesho, like many other start-ups, has recently been undergoing retrenchments. It looks to reduce burn and turn profitable, eyeing a public listing by 2025. These markdowns are, however, based on internal assessments of asset management companies and may not indicate a permanent markdown. The valuations may also be marked up as market conditions improve. Before that, Meesho had laid off 150 employees in April last year after it re-branded its grocery arm from Farmiso to Superstore. Then in August, it fired another 300 people as it announced the closure of its grocery business. The company has also reduced its monthly cash burn by over 85 per cent to $5 million currently from around $40 million in early 2022. It is now looking to trim its annual revenue growth target to 40 per cent from over 100 per cent earlier. Meesho had reportedly laid off 251 employees earlier this month, which co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Vidit Aatrey dubbed judgement errors. Several investors and industry watchers Business Standard spoke to said that large Indian start-ups are likely to face down rounds in the near future. Valuation multiples, they said, have fallen by as much as 50-70 per cent as funding has come down to a trickle. In FY22, Meesho saw its revenues jump 4.5 times year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 3,232 crore. But its losses rose even more steeply by 7.5 times to Rs 3,247 crore. Razorpay Turbo UPI aims to deliver a 5X faster payment experience. It streamlines the payment process and eliminates any redirection to external apps. This helps businesses achieve a significant increase in the success rate of UPI payments by 10 per cent. Razorpay has launched Turbo UPI which the fintech unicorn says is India's fastest one-step UPI (unified payments interface) payment solution. This new product allows customers of online merchants to make UPI payments directly without getting redirected to a third-party UPI app during checkout. With Indias consumers swiftly adopting UPI as a digital mode for its transaction needs, it is crucial for businesses to have access to a hassle-free, seamless payment experience like never before, said Shashank Kumar, co-founder and managing director at Razorpay. So, as opposed to the 5-step process of UPI flow, our one-step solution reduces the scope of non-technical errors that can lead to drop-offs and provide a major boost to UPI transactions. This solution was developed in partnership with NPCI and Axis Bank. Providing a frictionless customer experience has been a top priority for us. As a business, it is of utmost importance to provide customers best and most seamless payment experience, and Turbo UPI has taken that up a notch, said K. Radhakrishnan, Co-founder, Tata Starquik. We are confident that this streamlined, frictionless, and time-saving payment solution will not only enhance our customers experience but also minimize drop-offs during the UPI payment journey. Turbo UPI also offers granular insights into the end-users drop-off pattern and enables merchants to control the entire payment experience of their customers, end-to-end. For end-users, this means a simple 1-step UPI payment experience instead of 5 steps. Customers of popular apps including Tata Starquik, Ixigo, FNP (Ferns N Petals), Trainman, and Dhan among others will soon be able to get the benefits of this innovation. Also Read UPI continues to dominate digital payments thanks to wide use of QR codes UPI-related scams account for 55% of total digital payments frauds in India Google Pay allows UPI payments using RuPay credit cards; check details here ICICI Bank to offer EMI facility for UPI transactions above Rs 10,000 UPI charges: Here is how interchange fees on wallet payments will work Zee Media Corporation net loss narrows to Rs 45.8 cr in March quarter Conventional 2W makers take prime spot in EV sales, courtesy Bajaj, TVS Jaypee Infratech defers approval of financial statements for March quarter Will continues to assist authorities in probe into company: Rolls-Royce Taxing times: Income tax heat on start-ups over unexplained funds Sun Pharmaceutical Industries on Tuesday said it has entered into a licensing pact with Philogen SpA to commercialise under-development skin cancer drug in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The companies have come together to commercialise Philogen's speciality product Nidlegy, an anti-cancer biopharmaceutical currently in Phase III clinical trials, Sun Pharma said in a statement. Philogen, a Swiss-Italian firm, is developing it for the treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. Under the terms of the agreement, the Mumbai-based drug major will have exclusive rights to commercialise Nidlegy. Philogen will complete pivotal clinical trials for the product in Europe, pursue marketing authorisation with the regulatory authorities and manufacture commercial supplies. The two partner companies will share post-commercialisation economics in about a 50:50 ratio, the drug major said. Also Read Sun Pharma recalls over 24K pre-filled syringes of generic medication in US Researchers take closer look at DNA repair scheme for cancer therapy Indian pharma sector set for 'volume to value leadership' journey in 2023 Sun Pharma recalls over 34k bottles of generic drug in US due to mfg issues Hetero's Covid drug Nirmacom (generic Paxlovid) gets WHO prequalification Go First lessors' request to repossess planes on hold, not rejected: DGCA Shift to new norms may hamper growth, margins for Cummins India in FY24 Capital Small Finance eyes Rs 14,000 cr in FY24 on back of MSME loan growth Japanese medical devices major Omron to set up mfg unit in Tamil Nadu Top 4 IT companies see 40% drop in large client additions in FY23 While other financial terms were not disclosed, Philogen will retain the IP rights for Nidlegy for other territories and indications other than skin cancers, it said. "This collaboration is in line with our goal to bring innovative products to patients. With the expected addition of Nidlegy to our existing Odomzo franchise, we will be well-positioned to provide patient solutions across a broad spectrum of skin cancers in various disease stages," Sun Pharma Business Head - Western Europe and ANZ Hellen De Kloet noted. Sun Pharma shares were trading 0.53 per cent down at Rs 963 apiece on the BSE. Tata Realty on Monday said it has partnered with Tabreed to install cooling infrastructure at its commercial complex in Gurugram, Haryana. Tabreed, a leading global cooling utility player, has signed an agreement with Tata Realty to implement its first Cooling as a Service (CaaS) project in India. This will be implemented in Tata Realty's Intellion Park project, a 3.5-million square feet IT SEZ development in Gurugram. According to a statement, Tabreed will acquire Intellion Park's existing cooling infrastructure and undertake greenfield expansion to increase cooling capacity. Tabreed will invest up to Rs 100 crore in its first project to provide cooling services for a 30-year concession period, a company statement said. "Moving away from the regular market practice wherein real estate developers own and operate their cooling assets through facility management arrangements,...Tabreed will provide long-term, SLA-based cooling services to Intellion Park with well-defined parameters to improve energy efficiency, asset longevity, system reliability and reduce life cycle costs of cooling for tenants," it added. Both the partners expect that the transaction will result in Tabreed serving as a provider of cooling services for Tata Realty, offering District Cooling or CaaS concessions across its commercial properties. Also Read Six killed in major fire in Hyderabad multi-storey commercial complex Udayshivakumar Infra IPO: Shares to be allotted today; learn how to check Commercial LPG cylinder prices slashed by Rs 171.50; to cost Rs 1856.50 India's commercial realty market resilient amid global headwinds: Experts Imran Khan to be presented at Police Lines Headquarters in H11 in Islamabad Troubled airline Go First extends cancellation of flights until June 4 Operating environment to remain volatile amid global slowdown: HUL Tata Technologies plans to hire 1,000 women engineers to promote diversity Inox Wind gets 150 MW wind energy project from NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd Sun Pharma, Philogen join hands to commercialise skin cancer drug in Europe Sanjay Dutt, MD & CEO of Tata Realty, said, "Tata Realty has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable real estate development in India. With numerous achievements, including the country's first net-zero certified commercial real estate campus, the company has set a high bar for the rest of the industry." He said the company's endeavour is to enable the delivery of superior value to occupants, while promoting higher standards of ESG and wellness in commercial and mixed-use real estate developments." Tata Realty and Infrastructure Ltd has developed 6.8 million square feet of commercial projects and has 16.7 million sq ft of projects under development and planning. National Central Cooling Company PJSC (Tabreed) provides essential and sustainable district cooling services to iconic developments including Burj Khalifa. It owns and operates 86 plants in its portfolio across the GCC. Tabreed was founded in 1998 and publicly listed on the Dubai Financial Market. Tabreed Asia is a joint venture owned by Tabreed UAE (75 per cent) and IFC (25 per cent) with headquarters in Singapore. Tabreed Asia, through wholly owned subsidiaries in India, invests, builds, owns and operates cooling assets through long-term partnerships with leading real estate developers. Tata Steel Mining Limited (TSML) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with French Cleantech company METRON, to design and implement an advanced energy management and optimisation platform for the company's Ferro Alloys Plant located at Athagarh in Odisha's Cuttack district. METRON is a leading provider of cloud-based energy management solutions. According to the MoU, the software solution developed by METRON will enable Tata Steel Mining monitor, analyse, and optimise energy consumption in real time and reduce carbon footprint across plant utilities. A company release said that it will help digitalise energy to decarbonise territories, optimise energy consumption, reduce costs, and improve overall operational efficiency. The cloud-based energy management and optimisation platform will provide real-time visibility of energy usage across the plant, allowing Tata Steel Mining to identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions to optimise energy consumption. The platform will use advanced analytics and artificial intelligence to provide predictive insights and recommendations, enabling the company to reduce energy consumption, and lower its carbon footprint. Also Read More initiatives on anvil to boost steel sector in 2023: Union Minister Centre asks industry to be ready for EU carbon tax, vows smooth transition PLI scheme qualifiers, steel ministry to ink pacts for investment proposals JSPL to invest Rs 7,930 crore under PLI scheme for steel: MD Bimlendra Jha To reduce carbon footprint, Apple commits to 100% recycled cobalt by 2030 Lakme Lever revenue rises 19.8% in FY23, HUL's exports at Rs 1,268 cr Chinese hospitality major H World Group sells stake in OYO for Rs 75 cr Godrej Group arm to invest Rs 100 cr to acquire material handling equipment NMDC cuts iron ore lump rate by Rs 300 per tonne to Rs Rs 3,900 per tonne Yes Bank plans to increase advertisement spend by 30% in FY24: Official Pankaj Satija, Managing Director, Tata Steel Mining, said, "Our partnership with METRON reflects our commitment to energy efficiency and lower carbon footprint. We are excited to use their advanced energy management and optimisation platform at our Ferro Alloys Plant in Athagarh. We expect the platform to help us reduce energy consumption, improve operational efficiency and productivity. Tata Steel Mining had earlier inked pact with FluxGen Sustainable Technologies for digitisation of its water consumption through a digital dashboard at its Ferro chrome units and mines, he said. Welcoming his successor K Krithivasan, Gopinathan wrote: I wish Krithi the very best as he takes over the TCS baton and charts the way forward to our $50-billion aspiration. I am confident that TCS best years are ahead Rajesh Gopinathan, who steps down as CEO and MD of Indias largest IT services firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on Wednesday, in an e-mail to employees dubbed the past six years, when he was at the helm, a period of tremendous growth and transformation. Although Gopinathan steps down from his role as CEO, he will be around for a smooth transition until September 16, 2023. He wrote at length about the achievements of the company and the structural changes in the company during his stint at TCS. This week marks the culmination of my two-decade-long journey with TCS. I will step down from my role as CEO & MD on May 31, 2023. It has been an absolute privilege to lead our company in the last six years, which have been a period of tremendous growth and transformation for all of us, he wrote in the email. Under Gopinathans leadership, TCS grew from a $17.5-billion revenue company in March 2017 to a $27.9-billion firm in March 2023. During this period, TCS market capitalisation grew from $74 billion to $143 billion. According to sources in the know, Gopinathan and Krithivasan have been meeting with TCS major clients across geographies. Also Read 'The day my heart is not 100% committed': TCS's Gopinathan explains exit How does outgoing TCS CEO Gopinathan's salary compare to other IT execs? TCS Q4 Preview: Revenue may rise up to 18% YoY; EBIT margin seen at 25% TCS Q4 review: Near-term growth to moderate, demand levers intact: Analysts Here's how K Krithivasan will spend his first six months as TCS CEO Adani-Hindenburg saga: Two Mauritius firms in report were under I-T lens We are targeting more than Rs 1,300-crore turnover in FY24: DCI CEO HUL well placed to partner India growth story, says Chairman Nitin Paranjpe Can Adani convince investors to back his capital-hungry businesses? Razorpay unveils India's fastest one-step payments solution Turbo UPI On restructuring the company, which many believe may have been a contentious point, he wrote: We expanded the leadership pool by introducing a three-tiered business unit structure across P&L ownership, new market expansion and new business development. This expanded the pool of named business unit owners from 25 to 150 and enabled the incubation of young leadership talent across the company. He also wrote about the structural changes and branding exercises that the company undertook. Most importantly, we went through a process of self-discovery and greater awareness of the wealth of contextual knowledge we possess and the value of the work we do for our customers. Awareness, articulation and amplification of the value we deliver are going to be critical for our success in the years ahead, he said in his email. This was accompanied by a multi-year effort to create a new brand identity and statement -- Building on Belief. Gopinathans resignation came as a surprise to the market. TCS has seen just four CEOs since its inception in 1968. He has, so far, refrained from sharing his plans, even as media reports have hinted that he may take on a consulting role within the group. Also, Byjus is still to file its FY22 results with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). Other edtech unicorns, such as Unacademy, upGrad, Vedantu, PhysicsWallah, and Eruditus, have already filed their FY22 financials. The company should have filed its annual results with the MCA by September last year. But, it has been delaying that for over seven months now. Before this, the company filed its FY21 results in September 2022, after a nearly 18-month delay. The firm was targeting to be profitable by March this year. Byjus posted losses of Rs 4,588 crore in FY21, 19 times more than the preceding year, according to the latest available financial report. Byjus has raised $5.8 billion in total from investors like Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Sumeru Ventures, Vitruvian Partners, BlackRock, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Sequoia, Silver Lake, Bond Capital, Tencent, General Atlantic, and Tiger Global. The firm has over 150 million learners. Earlier this year, Byjus handed the pink slip to 900-1,000 employees in a fresh round of layoffs, according to media reports, although sources in the company said the move was part of the optimisation strategy that the edtech giant had announced last year that included sacking 2,500 workers. Also, Byjus is still to file its FY22 results with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). Other edtech unicorns, such as Unacademy, upGrad, Vedantu, PhysicsWallah, and Eruditus, have already filed their FY22 financials. The company should have filed its annual results with the MCA by September last year. But, it has been delaying that for over seven months now. Before this, the company filed its FY21 results in September 2022, after a nearly 18-month delay.The firm was targeting to be profitable by March this year. Byjus posted losses of Rs 4,588 crore in FY21, 19 times more than the preceding year, according to the latest available financial report.Byjus has raised $5.8 billion in total from investors like Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Sumeru Ventures, Vitruvian Partners, BlackRock, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Sequoia, Silver Lake, Bond Capital, Tencent, General Atlantic, and Tiger Global. The firm has over 150 million learners.Earlier this year, Byjus handed the pink slip to 900-1,000 employees in a fresh round of layoffs, according to media reports, although sources in the company said the move was part of the optimisation strategy that the edtech giant had announced last year that included sacking 2,500 workers. US asset manager BlackRock has again reduced the valuation of its share in edtech giant Byjus this time to about $8.4 billion, according to its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the March quarter.Byjus latest valuation, as estimated by BlackRock, is around 62 per cent down from the peak of $22 billion in April 2022. Before this, BlackRock had reduced the start-ups valuation to $11.5 billion (as of December 31,2022).The edtech company declined to comment on this development. According to sources in Byjus, Blackrocks stake in the company is under 1 per cent and its valuation process varies among investors.BlackRock reportedly pegged the value of its 2,279 shares in the company at $4,043,471, estimating Byju's fair value at $8.4 billion as of March 31, 2023.It joined Byjus capitalisation table at a $12-billion valuation in 2020.In April 2022, BlackRock was valuing its shares of Byjus at nearly $4,660 per unit, valuing the company at about $22 billion. However, BlackRock reportedly marked down the value of its shares in Byjus to $2,400 per share at the end of December 2022.Markdown in valuation is not the only challenge for Byjus. The companys US entity Byjus Alpha was recently sued in Delaware by an agent of lenders to whom the company owes $1.2 billion, after months of negotiations between creditors and the education technology firm. The lawsuit was filed by Glas Trust Company and investor Timothy R Pohl against Byjus Alpha, Tangible Play, and Riju Ravindran. The two companies being sued are units of Think and Learn Private, edtech firm founded by Byju Raveendran.Lenders have reportedly accused the companys entity, which has no employee, of hiding $500 million as part of a battle between creditors and the edtech firm. The allegation was made during a court hearing this month in Delaware, where Alpha faces a lawsuit over who should control the firm. Lenders claim that because of a default earlier this year, they have the right to put their representative, Timothy R Pohl, in charge.Byjus recently said a Delaware core gave an interim order asking the edtech firm to maintain the status quo with Byjus Alpha, an inoperative US entity set up to receive a loan, and refuted the claims by litigants as bewildering.BlackRocks latest markdown in valuation also comes at a time when Byjus is raising Rs 2,000 crore ($250 million) from Davidson Kempner Capital Management, a US-based investment firm, in a structured instruments deal, according to people familiar with the matter.This is part of an ongoing $1-billion funding round the firm is raising in a mix of equity and structured instruments at a valuation of $22 billion. Around $700 million of $1 billion is expected to come through equity, for which Byjus is in talks with existing and new investors. These include investors like Abu Dhabis sovereign wealth fund ADQ.The firm is also planning an Rs 8,000-crore initial public offering (IPO) of its subsidiary, Aakash, according to the sources. Aakash was acquired by Byjus for $1 billion in 2021.Another challenge is that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently conducted search and seizure operations at three premises of Byjus under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). These searches allegedly revealed that the company received foreign direct investments of about Rs 28,000 crore between 2011 and 2023. Byjus has made several overseas acquisitions (investing an amount of approximately Rs 9,000 crore) over the years as part of its growth strategy. During 20232027, ADB operations in India will focus on accelerating structural transformation and job creation, promoting climate-resilient growth, and deepening social and economic inclusiveness, the multilateral institution said in a statement, though it provided no details on how exactly the contributions to central and state schemes will pan out, and what the monetary outlay will be. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday said it would contribute to Indias urban-focused flagship programmes and schemes on developing industrial corridors, multimodal logistics systems, urban infrastructure, skill ecosystem, and small businesses as part of a new country partnership strategy for India. This will enable urban areas to unlock their potential as engines of growth, promote industrial competitiveness, and create more jobs in formal manufacturing and services sectors, it said. The new strategy will focus on ADB deepening its engagement with the country and supporting Indias drive for robust, climate-resilient, and inclusive growth. ADB said India needs to accelerate and sustain inclusive growth by tackling critical challenges in infrastructure and human development, income and regional disparities, and vulnerability to climate change and natural hazards. ADB noted that India has quickly rebounded from the impact of Covid-19 pandemic, with economic growth projected at 6.4 per cent in FY24 and now ranks among the fastest-growing major global economies. This is similar to the Centres own projection for the current fiscal year of 6.5 percent GDP growth. Also Read ADB, India signs $141.12 mn loan for industrial corridor development in AP ADB slashes India GDP growth forecast to 6.4% for FY24, cites risks ADB launches country partnership strategy for climate-resilient growth Centre likely to discontinue second phase of Fame-II scheme after FY24 Old Pension Scheme applicable to all CAPF personnel: Delhi High Court Centre to begin programme to apprise industry on IPEF supply chain pillar FM Sitharaman seeks states' support to sort issues in industrial corridors India's fiscal deficit target of 5.9% for FY24 at risk, warns Nomura RBI working on portable payment system for transactions during tragic times India extends $1 billion credit line to Sri Lanka by another year ADB will simultaneously increase support for better education, health, and social protection, and will assist improvements in urban livability and rural development while ensuring gender empowerment and environmental sustainability, Konishi said. Building on our comprehensive consultations with government counterparts, private sector, and other in-country stakeholders, the new strategy aims to help India achieve a higher growth trajectory, said ADB Country Director for India Takeo Konishi. The minister chaired the second meeting of the apex monitoring authority of the National Industrial Corridor Development & Implementation Trust (NICDIT) -- part of the PM GatiShakti national masterplan that aims to create greenfield smart industrial cities. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday sought the support of states to resolve the issues in operationalising industrial corridors. During the meeting, Sitharaman urged that there should be no politicisation of economic development and that all states should work collectively as Team India to iron out the issues in developing industrial corridors, the finance ministry said in a tweet. The industrial corridors can be operationalised by expediting land acquisition, facilitating the implementation of external infrastructure linkages, among other things. The FM emphasised the importance of FIRE freight corridors, industrial corridors, railways, and expressways to further ignite industrialisation and economic development in India for realising Prime MinisterNarendra Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. For the development of industrial corridor nodes, multi-modal connectivity is being provided by different ministries under various flagship schemes like Bharatmala, Sagarmala, National Waterways, Dedicated Freight Corridors, National Gas Grid, etc, the finance ministry tweeted. The NICDIT aims to create quality infrastructure and keep land parcels ready for allotment to attract investments in the manufacturing sector and position India in global value chains. Also Read RBI MPC: Here is what experts have to say about the policy announcement RBI hikes repo rate by 35 bps to 6.25%, cuts FY23 GDP forecast to 6.8% Rlys plans concessions for truckers on dedicated freight corridors Budget 2023: FM Nirmala Sitharaman takes tablet in red pouch to Parliament Union Budget 2023: What did FM Nirmala Sitharaman announce for agriculture? India's fiscal deficit target of 5.9% for FY24 at risk, warns Nomura RBI working on portable payment system for transactions during tragic times India extends $1 billion credit line to Sri Lanka by another year Income Tax department notifies e-appeals scheme to ensure electronic filing ADB launches country partnership strategy for climate-resilient growth The meeting was also attended by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery. Officials from 16 states and various other departments and ministries also attended the meeting. In this file photo, foreign travelers walk down Myeongdong street in central Seoul, May 21. Yonhap The number of foreign travelers to Korea surged by sevenfold in April from a year earlier on eased travel restrictions amid efforts to return to pre-pandemic normalcy, data showed Tuesday. A total of 889,000 foreign travelers visited Korea last month, up nearly 600 percent from the 128,000 tallied in the same month last year, according to the data compiled by the Korea Tourism Organization. The monthly figure also accounted for 54 percent of 1.6 million tallied in April 2019, before the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Some 128,000 Japanese people traveled to Korea last month, up 5,651 percent from a year ago, followed by 109,000 American visitors, up 252 percent on-year. Tourists from China shot up 10 times to 106,000 thanks to increased flights between the two countries and China's labor day holiday season. The numbers from Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam totaled 77,000, 54,000 and 41,000 visitors, respectively. Meanwhile, a total of 1.5 million Koreans traveled overseas last month, up almost sevenfold from a year earlier. (Yonhap) According to a report by Nomura, it has identified several factors that contribute to the risk highlighted, which include- the potential shortfall in nominal GDP growth, lower tax buoyancy, a constrained budget for revenue expenditure, and ambitious goals for capital expenditure. Nomura Research on Tuesday flagged concerns regarding the achievement of the fiscal deficit target of 5.9 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) for the financial year 2023-2024. According to a Moneycontrol report, RBI in its recent board meeting approved the transfer of Rs 87,416 crore as a dividend to the government for the fiscal year 2022-23. The payment is noteworthy, given that the central bank had previously approved a dividend of Rs 30,307 crore for the government after its board meeting in May 2022. Even though the higher dividend from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) gives a fiscal windfall of more than Rs 50,000 crore (0.17 per cent of GDP), the report suggests that this gain is likely to be offset by an equal slippage in the fertiliser subsidy. The central bank allocated Rs 1.3 trillion to a contingency fund that protects from risks that arise from securities depreciation and monetary/forex operations. Nomura in its report also highlighted the reasons for the higher-than-expected dividend payments which have been made to the government. A notable increase in RBI's income, which was driven by profits from foreign exchange sales amounting to Rs 1 trillion, reflects active intervention in the foreign exchange market. Also, RBI's higher interest income from its holdings of domestic and foreign securities outweighed losses incurred in liquidity operations. Also Read Budget 2023-24: Centre to target higher capex but lower fiscal deficit Fiscal deficit target for FY24 to be kept at 5.8-5.9% in Budget: Report Centre's fiscal deficit for April-November period at 58.9% of FY23 target Finance ministry likely to target fiscal deficit of 5.5-6% in FY24 Budget RBI hikes repo rate by 35 bps to 6.25%, cuts FY23 GDP forecast to 6.8% RBI working on portable payment system for transactions during tragic times India extends $1 billion credit line to Sri Lanka by another year Income Tax department notifies e-appeals scheme to ensure electronic filing ADB launches country partnership strategy for climate-resilient growth Over 3,000 rules for retail sector to follow, 37% bring risk of jail time This allocation highlights a rise as compared to the previous year, with the contingency fund now accounting for 6 per cent of RBI's balance sheet, going beyond the typical range of 5.5-6.5 per cent. The retail sector in India is required to follow more than 3,000 rules in order to be compliant with government regulations, according to a recent report released by TeamLease Regtech. The report titled 'Simplifying Compliance Management for the Retail Industry' looks into the challenges faced by the retail sector, especially when operating as an organised business. The report provides insights into compliance-related complexities and challenges faced by entrepreneurs and employers in the retail sector. The report assumes significance since the government has reiterated the success of its ease of doing business initiatives. Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), apparel, footwear, and consumer electronics continue to dominate the retail segments. These segments constitute 65, 10, and 9 per cent of the retail sector respectively. The TeamLease report talks studies more than 3,000 compliance requirements to turn retail businesses into organised sector of the economy. The retail industry contributes more than $1.3 trillion which is equal to 10 per cent of the national GDP. Additionally, the retail sector employs more than 35 million people which is equivalent to 8 per cent of the total workforce. However, the retail sector in the country remains largely unorganised and only 12 per cent of the sector is organised, the report said. The countrys overall import of crude oil rose to $162.2 billion in FY23, up from $107.5 billion, data from the Department of Commerce shows. This 50.7 per cent rise is attributable to Indian refiners getting access to much larger volumes of Russian crude oil over the past one year at highly discounted prices. Russias share in Indias crude imports soared to 19.1 per cent in FY23 (2022-23), up from 2 per cent a year ago, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in its Annual Report FY23 released on Tuesday. Officials say the current trend is expected to continue for the time being as Russian oil continues to reach India. Indias crude imports from Russia jumped 14 times in FY23, rising to $31.02 billion from just $2.2 billion in the previous year. Russia managed to unseat traditional sources of crude for India, such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. From a market share of less than 1 per cent in Indias import basket before the Ukraine conflict, inbound flows from Russia rose to become the single largest supplier of crude oil. But historical sellers in the Persian Gulf have also reached out to Indian refiners with offers to open discussions on what level of discounts would be needed to lure them back. As of April, Russian crude was the largest source of oil for India, averaging 1.68 million barrels per day (bpd), up from 1.64 bpd, shows estimates made by London-based commodity data analytics provider Vortexa, which tracks ship movements to estimate imports. The average daily volumes have continuously increased for the past six months. Also Read Crude concerns: India may have to rely on dark fleets for Russian imports India imported more Russian crude oil than ever in January, shows data Tracking the economic indicators: Oil imports from Russia make a new record Podcast: What will guide oil prices in 2023? Russia pulls off revolution in India's overall crude oil basket Hardening interest rates, geo-political risks impacting FDI inflows: DPIIT Asian Development Bank to focus on urban schemes in new India strategy Govt to brief industry on US-led initiative IPEF's supply chain pillar FM Sitharaman seeks states' support to sort issues in industrial corridors India's fiscal deficit target of 5.9% for FY24 at risk, warns Nomura Case in point, Baghdad last year had undercut Russia from June by supplying a range of crude oils that on average cost $9 a barrel less than the Russian variety. The extremely price-sensitive market, therefore, had shifted heavily back in favour of Iraq. It had again moved back in Moscows favor by the end of FY23. The Edinburgh-based company, which was formerly known as Standard Life Aberdeen, has offered the shares in the price band of Rs 563.20-585.15, the report added. Further stating that BofA Securities India is the sole book runner for the sale of shares. Abrdn is an active asset manager in the UK, with investments in equities, multi-asset, fixed income, liquidity, sovereign wealth funds, real estate, and private markets In July 2021. Abrdn, a UK-based investment company on Wednesday said it is likely sell its 1.66 per cent stake (35.7 million shares) in HDFC Life Insurance Limited through block deals, reported CNBC citing sources said on Tuesday. In a major haul, the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) Madhya Pradesh unit has seized 4,433.45 kg of poppy straw packed in 206 plastic bags and hidden behind boxes of a popular biscuit brand in a container truck at Mehsana toll plaza in Gujarat, an official said on Tuesday. The market value of the stock is estimated to be about Rs one crore, as per sources. Two persons have been apprehended in connection with the narcotic drugs seizure, the official said. Following specific intelligence input that a container truck with registration number of Rajasthan would be carrying a huge quantity of poppy straw from Jharkhand to Rajasthan via Gujarat, a team of CBN officers from Mandsaur and Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh was formed and sent on May 28 to track the carrier, deputy narcotics commissioner Dr Sanjay Kumar Meena told PTI. Strict surveillance was maintained on the suspected route was and after successful identification of the vehicle by CBN officers, the truck was intercepted at the Mehsana toll plaza in Gujarat, the official said. In continuance of the anti-drug operations, on the basis of specific intelligence, officers of the CBN's MP unit intercepted a container truck at Mehsana toll plaza, Gujarat on May 28-29 and recovered 206 plastic bags of poppy straw weighing 4433.45 kg," he said. Also Read GM mustard (DMH-11) may not solve India's edible oil import problem: ICAR Delhi HC stops Andhra company from using Kohinoor Seed Fields trademarks Mamata Banerjee urges Centre to allow poppy cultivation in West Bengal UAE announces ban on single-use plastic shopping bags starting in 2024 Jharkhand Assembly adjourned twice on ruckus over new employment policy A note on India's commemorative coins, what's in demand and how to buy ED conducts searches against Jharkhand Cong MLA in money laundering case Global geopolitical order in a state of flux : CDS Anil Chauhan at NDA POP Kerala CPI(M) probes CITU leader's spouse buying Rs 50L MINI Cooper A note on India's commemorative coins, what's in demand and how to buy The truck was carrying boxes of 'Parle-G Biscuit' as cover cargo, the official said. On sustained questioning, the two truck occupants revealed the poppy straw was loaded in the vehicle behind the cover cargo, he said. As it was not possible to search the vehicle on the highway due to safety, security issues and bad weather conditions, it was decided to bring it to the CBN office here, the official said. After reaching the CBN office, the vehicle was thoroughly searched and a total of 206 plastic bags of poppy straw weighing 4433.45 kg were recovered from behind 218 boxes of Parle-G biscuits, an official release said. The poppy straw, cover cargo and the truck were seized and the two persons were apprehended under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the release said. Further investigation is on, it added. At least seven people were killed and 16 others injured on Tuesday after a bus plunged into a deep gorge in Jammu district, police said. According to the police, the accident took place in the Jhajjar Kotli area after the driver lost control of the vehicle which was on its way to Katra town from Amritsar. "Four critically injured passengers have been shifted to the Government Medical College, Jammu, while 12 others are being locally treated," the police added. --IANS sq/ksk/ Also Read Amarnath Yatra 2023 registration begins today; Check complete details Security arrangements for the annual Amarnath Yatra underway: CRPF official Jallianwala Bagh massacre: What happened on the dark day 104 years ago Amarnath Yatra 2023 to commence from July 1, registration starts next week Toll in terror attack in J&K's Dhangri climbs to 7; villagers demand probe CAG Girish Murmu re-elected as external auditor of WHO for 4-year term LIVE: Should be ashamed, says FM over Rahul's remark on govt's China policy U'khand CM highlights social media's role in development, social welfare We have not stepped back, the protest will continue: Sakshi Malik Use social media to spread how India changed under Modi govt: Adityanath Senior bureaucrat Angshumali Rastogi was on Tuesday appointed India's representative to the council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal, Canada, according to a Personnel Ministry order. Rastogi, a 1995 batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME), has been appointed in place of Shefali Juneja for three years, it said. Hemang Jani, Secretary of the Capacity Building Commission, has been named Senior Adviser to the Executive Director, World Bank, Washington DC, for three years. Jani, who has earlier worked as a senior private sector specialist at the World Bank headquarters in Washington DC, has been appointed in place of Ritesh Kumar Singh, according to the order. Sai Venkata Ramana Anil Das will be an adviser to the Executive Director, World Bank, Washington DC, in place of Suresh Yadav, for three years, it said. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved 12 appointments for filling up various foreign posts, the order said. Also Read India to join international climate action in civil aviation from 2027 A challenge to maintain, better India's aviation safety ranking: DGCA chief CAG Girish Murmu reelected as external auditor of WHO for 4-year term Appeal by firm can be heard even without certified copy of order: HC DGCA plans to hire 400 tech staff in 1-2 yrs; increase offices to 19: Chief Mango exporters from Uttar Pradesh tap markets in Gulf and Europe China issues 60,000 visas to Indian nationals since Jan 2023 after 3 yrs Delhi Metro launches WhatsApp-based ticketing service for Airport line India to host Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit virtually on July 4 Global IT firm Xebia inaugurates technology hub in Jaipur: Report Anand Singh, a 2000 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre, will be Senior Adviser to the Executive Director, International Monetary Fund, Washington DC. Jujjavarapu Balaji, a 2001 batch IAS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, has been appointed to the post of Minister (Agriculture), Embassy of India, Rome. Balaji's batchmate from Manipur, Nidhi Mani Tripathi will be Minister (Economic), High Commission of India, London. Tripathi has been appointed for a tenure of three years. Ponnuraj V, a Karnataka cadre IAS officer of the 2000 batch, will be a senior adviser to the executive director of the Asian Development Bank, Manila. Debjani Chakrabarti, a 2002 batch Odisha cadre IAS officer, has been appointed as Minister (Economic & Commercial), Embassy of India, Tokyo for three years. Venkatesh Palani Samy, Agricultural Research Service (2007), will be the adviser (Agriculture and Marine Products), Embassy of India, Brussels. IAS officer Nidhi Srivastava has been appointed as First Secretary (Legal), Permanent Mission of India (PMI), World Trade Organization, Geneva for a tenure of three years, the order said. Vivek Chaudhary will be Counsellor (Economic), Economic Wing, Embassy of India, Washington DC, and Bhavesh R Trivedi has been appointed Director, SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted India's growing importance on the world stage owing to its fast-expanding economy and progressive government actions as he interacted with the Indian diaspora in Nigeria. Singh arrived here on Sunday on a three-day visit, marking the first-ever visit of an Indian defence minister to the African country. He represented India at the swearing-in ceremony of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday. Later on Monday, Singh interacted with the Indian diaspora in Nigeria at an event organised by the Indian High Commission in Abuja, an official statement said on Tuesday. He emphasised the government's focus on Aatmanirbharta' and the significant progress made in defence exports in recent years towards achieving the objective of Make in India, Make for the World', it said. Singh highlighted India's growing importance on the world stage owing to its fast-expanding economy. Also Read Robust defence finance system backbone of strong military: Rajnath Singh Need to promote innovations useful for defence, civil sectors: Rajnath Aero India 2023: India rejuvenated defence mfg sector in 8-9 yrs, says PM Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to brief foreign envoys about Aero India Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on 3-day visit to Maldives from Monday Swiggy Announces Biryani for 'Most Ordered Food' during IPL Season Officer drains 2.1 mn lt water to retrieve iPhone; suspended, asked to pay Modi govt made 'historic achievements' during its 9 years: BJP's Nadda Kharge-led Cong delegation meets President, seeks intervention in Manipur Congress alleges 2 offshore Adani-linked funds appeared on IT dept radar The event was attended by members of the Indian community not just from Abuja, but also from other cities of Nigeria such as Lagos. Singh appreciated the positive contributions made by the Indian community in Nigeria. He also interacted with the senior Nigerian dignitaries, including the Chief Justice and Acting Minister of Defence, at a dinner hosted by the Indian High Commissioner, the statement said. Nigeria is home to more than 50,000 Indians. Indian-owned/operated companies and businesses are among the largest employers in the country. The Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to stay the demolition of a slum cluster at the site allotted to the NDRF for construction of its headquarters but directed that the exercise be carried out on June 15 instead of June 2. Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, while hearing a petition by the residents of the slum cluster Priyanka Gandhi Camp in Vasant Vihar, asked Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) to consider the plea of the petitioners for rehabilitation and shift them to a temporary shelter in the meantime. "Notice of demolition dated May 19, 2023, which will be enforced from June 2, 2023, be extended to June 15, 2023.. We have not stopped. We are not staying it. We are saying shift the date, the deadline," said the judge. The counsel for the petitioner said the families have been residing in the area for the last three decades and were entitled to rehabilitation under the relocation policy of 2015 as the cluster was part of an additional list of 82 slums covered by it. She prayed for a direction from the court for maintenance of status quo as interim relief. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma, appearing for the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), said construction of the headquarters was a matter of national safety and security. Also Read Delhi HC pulls up DDA over demolition despite stay order in South Delhi Give food, water, livelihood to people relocated from Bhairo Marg slums: HC Protest against DDA demolition continues for 3rd day in Delhi's Mehrauli Dec 6 forever a black day for Indian democracy, says AIMIM president Owaisi Locals protest over compensation ahead of Joshimath demolition drive Twin-tunnel done, Mumbai Coastal Road races to completion in Nov Deepender Hooda appeals to wrestlers not to throw medals into Ganga Politicians throng Shahbad Dairy victim's house to condole with family Looking to build smaller refineries of 20 MMTA annual capacity: Puri 'Excited about PM Modi's US visit next month', says envoy Eric Garcetti "This is far more critical. CP etc are in seismic zone.. There is imminent threat. This is not a case of competing interest but overwhelming requirement of criticality," he added. ASG Sharma said the suggestion was not to make the petitioner families "shelterless" as the notice of demolition itself provided that they could stay at the night shelters being run by DUSIB as per the applicable policy. The court was also informed the land in question was allotted by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to the NDRF in 2020 and currently the headquarters of the force is located in leased premises for which crores of rupees was being paid as rent. The court observed while the construction of NDRF headquarters cannot be stopped, there was a need to balance the interests of the parties, and asked the authorities concerned to consider the issue of rehabilitation of the slum dwellers. "If NDRF building has to be constructed, it cant be stopped but I have to balance," the court said. "Keeping in view the fact that the notice issued by NDRF is to be put into force from June 2, 2023, it is deemed appropriate to direct DUSIB to provide temporary shelter to all 69 families before this court," the court ordered. It clarified the cost of moving from the existing cluster to a night shelter shall be borne by DUSIB as a one-time measure, and as far as rehabilitation is concerned, the Board shall consider the present petition as a representation and resolve the issue within two weeks. Lawyer Parvinder Chauhan, appearing for DUSIB, said the petitioner cluster was not part of the list of 675 notified clusters entitled to rehabilitation, and those part of the additional list did not have any such vested right. However, the families which approached the court were at liberty to stay in the night shelter according to the applicable policy. He said DUSIB was running several night shelters in the city with adequate capacity to accomodate them. The court issued notice on the petition and asked the authorities to file their response. The matter would be heard next on August 8. In view of the upcoming G20 Summit, Delhi Police gave training to its newly recruited commandos on 'helicopter slithering' at Delhi Police Academy in Jharoda Kalan, officials said on Tuesday. The training, which is a first of its kind by the police, was given to 55 male, 25 female and 15 SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) unit commandos, they said. The aim of the training is to ready the commandos for any potential evacuation during disasters or any terrorist incidents, police said, adding that the exercise was conducted using an M-17 Helicopter. The training was held in the presence of Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora and other senior officers of the force, and was assisted by the Border Security Force, they added. According to police, slithering from a helicopter is risky, not only to the commando carrying out the procedure from an airborne helicopter but also to the pilot. It is more dangerous and challenging compared to the slithering exercise from a building or a tree. "For this training session, a makeshift helipad was prepared on the ground of Delhi Police Academy, Jharoda Kalan. A Border Security Force MI-17 IV helicopter, fitted with a slithering frame and trained men from BSF took off from Safdarjung airport and landed at the helipad of police academy, Jharoda Kalan," the police statement said. Also Read Three-day-long G20 event in Kashmir to begin today: All you need to know 2 CoBRA commandos injured in Naxalite encounter in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur Crisis in multilateralism affecting developing nations most: PM at G20 meet G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting: Guests welcomed with dance performance G20 foreign ministers' meeting today: Schedule, agenda, other details here Ayodhya seers to rally in support of WFI chief accused of sexual harassment Kharge questions Modi's claims on women security amid wrestlers protest Kedarnath yatra: DGCA set up addl checks for pilots, safe helicopter ops Haryana 'khaps', farmer outfits throw their weight behind wrestlers Strictly deal with activity disturbing peace in Manipur: Shah to officials This photo provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency shows an anti-riot drill held in Seoul, May 25. Yonhap The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the biggest umbrella labor union in Korea, will hold a large-scale rally in central Seoul this week in protest of the government's labor policies, union and police officials said Tuesday. The rally set for 4 p.m. Wednesday in central Seoul will bring together about 20,000 members of the KCTU to protest against what the union said was the government's "anti-labor" policies and police investigations targeting labor unions, according to the union. Ahead of the rally, the Korean Construction Workers' Union and the Korean Metal Workers' Union, both affiliated with the KCTU, will hold respective rallies that include a protest demonstration near the presidential office, union officials said. National Police Agency Commissioner General Yoon Hee-keun warned the police will deal sternly with any illegal act during the rally and fire pepper spray to disperse protesters, if necessary. "If the KCTU stages an illegal assembly during the rally ... such as those in the form of mass street camping, police will immediately disperse (protesters)," Yoon said in a situation monitoring meeting. He also instructed officials to "prepare for the use of capsaicin sprays if it became necessary in a dispersing process." Police have not used capsaicin sprays in dealing with protest rallies since March 2017. Police also plan to deploy 80 riot police teams in central Seoul on Wednesday and block traffic on some roads in central Seoul in response to the scheduled rally, police officials said. (Yonhap) According to media reports, Gahlot's statement came after he inspected an upcoming bus depot in the Savda Ghevra area. The bus depot is being built at a cost of Rs 60 crore, the transport department said in a statement. Delhi's Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot on Tuesday said that the national capital will likely have 1,500 electric buses by the end of this year. Gahlot commented on the introduction of the electric buses in the national capital saying, "Delhi will soon have the first lot of the 1,500 electric buses being procured by the government, and all the buses are scheduled to arrive by the end of this year." The department further said, 'Equipped with charging points, the depot spread across 7.8 acres will have the capacity to park 200 electric buses." According to the report, nine more depots have been equipped with the charging infrastructure, which will be used for parking electric buses that will be delivered in batches in the coming months. The minister further added that three bus depots- Rajghat, Mundela Kalan, and Rohini Sector 37 are already operational with charging and parking facilities for electric buses. Also Read As govt cuts down subsidy, EV two-wheelers may get costlier from June 1 EV push, pent-up demand: Why auto exports fell in April amid healthy sales? 40% of all vehicles sold will be electric by 2030, says Bain & Co report Govt catching up, plans to develop infra to assess new-tech vehicles Switch Mobility becomes L1 bidder for 3 of 8 mega electric bus tenders Khap panchayat to discuss future course of action, says Naresh Tikait Forest dept has prepared mapping system to control forest fires: HP CM Bengaluru civic agency galvanised to face rains, floods: BBMP chief Bengal govt to make 125,000 fresh appointments over next few months: Mamata Bihar cabinet approves change in Prohibition and Excise Act: Official to expand further during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington next month. In an interview with the news agency PTI, Garcetti said that they are excited about Modi's visit to Washington to meet President Joe Biden. He also suggested that the two nations are working on certain agreements to boost defence cooperation and they are likely to be firmed up when Modi visits the US or President Joe Biden comes to India in September for the G20 summit. Eric Garcetti, US Ambassador to India on Tuesday said that India has accorded a "depth" of friendship and strategic partnership to India that is unmatched in the world and it is readyto expand further during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington next month. He further said, "We will protect and defend these principles. If one country thinks that it can unilaterally change the status quo, that is unacceptable to all of us. We also want to deter action. We would like to see a more peaceful relationship with China for both India and the United States." Garcetti also commented on the challenges that India is facing from China along its land borders and maritime regions and added that India can depend on the US as it stands for respecting borders, sovereignty, and the rule of law. During his interaction, Garcetti stated the partnership between the two nations has assumed a greater significance for the world in the context of the current geopolitical situation. He asserted that the partnership will not only be beneficial for these two nations but also for the globe. Garcetti also made it clear that bullying by anybody will not be acceptable. Also Read Eric Garcetti: Everything you need to know about new US ambassador to India In Eric Garcetti, the Biden admin may finally get an ambassador to India 3 yrs post Galwan, Chinese strategist 'explains' border tensions with India Tension on Taiwan Strait: What is the dispute between China and Taiwan? LIVE: Indian boxer Saweety Boora becomes light heavyweight world champion Gadkari stresses on importance of DPRs to minimise delays, reduce cost India moving from women's participation to their leadership: Jitendra Singh Home minister Amit Shah meets Kuki leaders; victims' kin to get Rs 10 lakh Kerala govt launches project to make capital largest solar city in India Thunderstorm, rain hit Delhi; max temp settles 5 notches below normal Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday reviewed the progress of projects under the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT) and urged states to tie up loose ends and resolve all pending issues through greater exchange. NICDIT seeks to create greenfield smart industrial cities with sustainable 'plug n play' and information and communications technology ICT-enabled utilities. It is within the overall framework of PM GatiShakti National Master Plan NMP. It aims to create quality infrastructure and keep land parcels ready for allotment to attract investments in the manufacturing sector and position India strongly in Global Value Chains (GVCs). Addressing the second meeting of the apex monitoring authority of the NICDIT organised in hybrid mode here, Sitharaman urged all the states to tie up loose ends and move forward and resolve all pending issues through greater exchange and sharing of information to expedite the progress of works in the respective states. She emphasised the need to ensure continued coordination between the central and the state governments and said they should work collectively as Team India.' The Finance Minister stated that "FIRE Corridors (F Freight; I Industrial; R Railways; E Expressways)" will ignite industrialisation and economic development in India, an official statement said. She stated that the rapidity with which the infrastructure is being developed since 2014 needs to be maintained. Also Read Udayshivakumar Infra IPO: Shares to be allotted today; learn how to check PM reviews 9 infra projects worth over Rs 41,500 cr spread across 13 states HG Infra rises 4% on Rs 535 cr-order win from RVNL; stock up 30% in 3 mths Udayshivakumar Infra IPO opens today: Check GMP, other key details here PNC Infra rallies 8% on bagging Rs 819 crore highway project 30 medical colleges derecognised in two months for flouting NMC norms Rajnath underlines focus on self-reliance, progress made in defence export PM Modi calls on Cambodian king, assures to strengthen partnership UWW condemns wrestlers' detention, will ban WFI if polls not held in time Delhi Police provides 'helicopter slithering' training to commandos She asked the state governments and NICDIT to maintain the same momentum for realising the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of a Developed India by 2047. During the review, Special Secretary DPIIT Sumita Dawra apprised that as per the directions of the Finance Minister in the previous meeting, round table conferences, road shows and meetings with international associations are being organised at different places with the support of states and special purpose vehicles (SPVs). "For the development of Industrial Corridor nodes, multi-modal connectivity is being provided by different Ministries of Govt. of India under various flagship schemes like #Bharatmala, #Sagarmala, National Waterways, Dedicated Freight Corridors, National Gas Grid, etc," the finance ministry said in a tweet. The meeting was also attended by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Shipping Minister Sarbanand Sonwal and Niti Aayog vice chairman Suman Bery, besides senior officials from various ministries. Chief Ministers from four states -- Gujarat, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Maharashtra, while ministers from 9 States -- Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Punjab, Jharkhand, Karnataka, and Rajasthan -- besides senior officials from all the states attended the meeting. Goyal emphasised the financial viability of the projects and for faster allotment of lands at reasonable rates. He stated that states should adopt innovative models and offer package deals etc. for faster investments, and ensure that electricity rates should be affordable and consistent as high rates of electricity are a deterrent to the industry. He also urged state governments to expedite the acquisition of contiguous, litigation-encumbrance-free land and grant early environmental clearances for the NICDIT projects. States should focus on expediting the finalisation and execution of the shareholders' agreements and State Support Agreements, he added. Goyal directed NICDC to foreclose the projects where the state government is not able to provide committed land in a time-bound manner and to conceive projects in other states that are willing to offer land to expedite investments in their respective states. During the meeting, Sitharaman urged that there should be no politicisation of economic development and that all states should work collectively as Team India to iron out the issues in developing industrial corridors. "FM Smt.@nsitharaman sought the support of the States to resolve the issues in operationalising the #IndustrialCorridors such as expediting land acquisition, facilitating the implementation of external #infrastructure linkages, etc," a tweet said. The meeting proved to be a valuable platform for key stakeholders to discuss and exchange ideas on the progress, challenges, and future strategies related to the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme. It presented an opportunity to align efforts, foster collaboration, and accelerate the development of industrial infrastructure across the country, the statement said. Further steps to be taken into consideration for the advancement of the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme were the main points of discussion during the meeting of the apex authority, it noted. The National Industrial Corridor Development Programme aims to establish a network of industrial corridors that will serve as engines of economic growth, promote industrialisation and create employment opportunities across India. The programme focuses on developing world-class infrastructure, attracting investments and fostering sustainable industrial development, it added. Global IT consulting company Xebia inaugurated its new technology hub in Jaipur to strengthen its presence in the region. The launch of the new technology hub comes as a part of the company's global strategy to expand business operations in cities like Jaipur, a company official said. Highlighting the company's expansion strategy, Global CEO of Xebia Anand Sahay said that Jaipur possesses vibrant educational ecosystems, and it will serve as a crucial talent hub. "The new facility will enable the company to hire and nurture local talent, while boosting global knowledge sharing from the hub to deliver exceptional results for clients," he said. The decision to establish offices in cities like Jaipur aligns with our forward-looking talent strategy, which aims to bring work opportunities to talented individuals, rather than requiring them to relocate, Sahay added. He said that Jaipur possesses vibrant educational ecosystems, and it will serve as a crucial talent hub. We are overwhelmed by the positive response from individuals in these cities who are eager to collaborate with us without having to uproot themselves. Also Read Checking rising crime: 8,000 Rajasthan cops round up 2,051 miscreants Jaipur to get India's 2nd largest cricket stadium named after Anil Agarwal Rajasthan govt to move SC against acquittal of 2008 Jaipur blasts accused Jaipur to host mega jewellery show with over 900 stalls from Dec 23-26 Rajasthan farmers to get Rs 500 cr in FY24 to build greenhouses, shade nets India to host Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit virtually on July 4 Import duty case: Japan urges India to rescind decision of appeal in WTO Liquidity of banks to improve as Rs 2,000 notes being deposited: Report Murals in new Indian Parliament building invite opposition in Nepal Indore girl among winners of Apple WWDC23 Swift Student Challenge Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Tuesday attended through video-conferencing the second meeting of the apex monitoring authority of the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme held in Delhi, an official said. Apart from Patel, chief ministers and industries ministers of five other states virtually attended the meeting, held in the presence of Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, he said. The National Industrial Corridor Development Programme is the Central government's ambitious infrastructure initiative to develop futuristic industrial cities in India. As per a government release, Patel informed the union ministers about the progress made so far in the development of Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR), including the construction of an airport, an expressway connecting Ahmedabad with Dholera and a railway line to connect the region with the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. The chief minister urged the apex authority to consider including Mandal-Bechraji SIR in the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), and also sought necessary approvals for the Ahmedabad-Dholera Semi High-Speed train project, the release said. Apprising the ministers about the progress made in the development of Dholera SIR, a greenfield industrial smart city near Ahmedabad, Patel said the construction of various facilities in the activation area of the SIR is nearing completion and the process to allot plots to industrial entities has already begun. Also Read Latest news LIVE: Bhupendra Patel takes oath as Gujarat CM for second term Vedanta-Foxconn selects Dholera SIR for 1st semiconductor facility in India After massive mandate, Gujarat's BJP-led govt eyes $1 tn economy by 2030 Bhupendra Patel resigns as Gujarat CM, BJP to elect new leader on Saturday Bhupendra Patel, soft-spoken face of BJP in Gujarat, is CM for second term HC to decide which court to hear wrestler's plea against WFI chief Do not portray low scorers as unsuccessful students or failures: ASCI Bystanders in Delhi murder failed to report crime, cops relied on informer Mizoram seeks Rs 5 cr aid for relief to displaced people from Manipur Modi govt decides to recruit 17 senior officers through lateral entry mode He further informed the authority that 600 units will be built under the affordable rental housing model of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna in the activation area of the SIR, the release stated. Proposals to open a school, hospital, hotel and residential township in the activation area have been received from investors, it said. Patel also informed that Dholera SIR has attracted investment for the production of semiconductors, EV batteries, solar cells and aerospace components, the release said. This day is very special for Hindu devotees taking a bath in the holy water of the Ganges and celebrating the day together. This joyful celebration honours the entry of the Ganga on Earth. The auspicious day is here. Every year, Ganga Dussehra is celebrated with a whole lot of pomp and grandeur all over the country. The festival is celebrated to commemorate the descent of the flow of the Ganges to the Earth. Ganga Dussehra 2023: History According to Hindu Mythology, King Bhagiratha prayed to lord Brahma and fasted passionately to bring the Ganga River to Earth. He made all these efforts to free his forefathers' souls from the Sage Kapila's curse. According to Hindu Calendar, this is the festival of worshipping goddess Ganga and is celebrated on the tenth day, i.e., (Dashami Tithi) of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Jyeshtha. According to the Gregorian calendar, this usually occurs in the month of May or June. Ganga Dussehra 2023: Date Another name for Ganga Dussehra is Gangavataran, and it is celebrated every year on the Dashami Tithi of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Jyeshtha. This year the Ganga River is celebrated on May 30, 2023. Lord Brahma was pleased by Bhagiratha's prayers and granted his plea to lord Shiva to take the Ganga river in his matted hair and release it gently upon the Earth. Then the occasion comes when River Ganga flows from the skies to Earth to wash away all mankind's sins. Also Read World Hindi Conference will become Hindi Mahakumbh in near future: EAM PM Modi to flag off MV Ganga Vilas luxury cruise in Varanasi today India can't be defined in words, can only be experienced from heart: PM World TB Day: PM Modi launches initiatives to eliminate disease by 2025 S Jaishankar to visit Fiji from Feb 15-17 to attend World Hindi conference 4,433 kg of poppy straw worth Rs 1 cr seized from truck in Gujarat A note on India's commemorative coins, what's in demand and how to buy ED conducts searches against Jharkhand Cong MLA in money laundering case Global geopolitical order in a state of flux : CDS Anil Chauhan at NDA POP Kerala CPI(M) probes CITU leader's spouse buying Rs 50L MINI Cooper Ganga Dussehra 2023: Timings (Tithi) Dashami Tithi Ends - 01:07 pm on May 30, 2023 Dashami Tithi Begins - 11:49 am on May 29, 2023 Hasta Nakshatra Ends - 06:00 am on May 31, 2023 Hasta Nakshatra Begins - 04:29 am on May 30, 2023 What are the Rituals of Ganga Dussehra? Devotees wake up early in the morning on Ganga Dussehra and take a dip in the sacred Ganga River. In the evening, devotees perform Ganga Arti, and they also offer flowers, Diya, betel leaves, fruits, and sweets to the holy river. Japan on Tuesday expressed disappointment over India's decision to appeal against a ruling of the WTO trade dispute settlement panel on import duties on certain information and technology products, and has urged to withdraw it, a Geneva-based official said. On May 25, India appealed against a ruling of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) trade dispute settlement panel which stated that the country's import duties on certain information and technology products are inconsistent with the global trade norms. The ruling followed a dispute filed by the European Union, Japan and Taiwan against these duties in WTO. Japan flagged its concerns during the meeting of the dispute settlement body in Geneva. "Japan has urged India to rescind its decision (concerning appeal)" the official said. The dispute panel of WTO on April 17 said in its report that import duties imposed by India on certain information and technology products violate global trading norms. Also Read India appeals to the void in WTO dispute over ICT tariffs on mobile phones India to challenge WTO panel ruling on ICT import duties at appellate body Top headlines: WTO ICT levy dispute, Micron's semiconductor plant & more ICT levy dispute at WTO: EU may opt for retaliatory tariffs on Indian goods WTO ruling against India in tech tariffs dispute with European Union Liquidity of banks to improve as Rs 2,000 notes being deposited: Report Murals in new Indian Parliament building invite opposition in Nepal Indore girl among winners of Apple WWDC23 Swift Student Challenge Wrestlers return without immersing medals, awards in Ganga: Report UP police, Amazon India launch campaign to tackle online shopping scams The appeal was filed by India in the WTO's appellate body, which is the final authority on such trade disputes. The EU on April 2, 2019, challenged the introduction of import duties by India on a wide range of ICT products, for instance, mobile phones and components, base stations, integrated circuits and optical instruments. The EU had claimed that the measures appear to be inconsistent with certain provisions of WTO. Later, Chinese Taipei and Japan also joined the dispute. According to WTO rules, a WTO member or members can file a case in the Geneva-based multilateral body if they feel that a particular trade measure is against the norms of WTO. The panel's ruling or report can be challenged before the WTO's appellate body. Interestingly, the appellate body is not functioning because of differences among member countries to appoint its members. Several disputes are already pending with this body. The US has been blocking the appointment of the members. Even if the body, which is the final arbiter on such trade disputes, starts working from now, it would take over a year to take up India's appeal. Further, the official said that the dispute settlement body (DSB) has agreed to the request from Chinese Taipei and India for additional time for the DSB to consider adoption of the panel ruling in Chinese Taipei's challenge to India's tariffs on certain high-tech products. The two sides said that the additional time would facilitate the resolution of the dispute. As part of his mission to broker a lasting peace in the troubled Manipur state, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Tuesday met a cross section of Kuki and Meitei leaders and civil society groups besides top security officers to seek a solution to the spate of ethnic clashes which has plagued the state. Shah on Tuesday also visited Churachandpur, the scene of some of the worst rioting in the recent ethnic conflict which broke out in Manipur earlier to hold talks with Kuki leaders. He also held a series of discussions with different Meitei groups, women and prominent personalities earlier during the day in Imphal before flying to Kuki-dominated Churachandpur district. Later in the night, he also held an all party meeting and a meeting with the top brass of central police forces, Manipur police and the army and ask them to ensure peace. In Imphal, Shah held consultations on Tuesday with stakeholders starting with a breakfast meeting with a group of women leaders at Raj Bhavan as part of his initiative to bring peace to the violence-hit state. "Held a meeting with a group of women leaders (Meira Paibi) in Manipur. Reiterated the significance of the role of women in the society of Manipur. Together, we are committed to ensuring peace and prosperity in the state," Shah tweeted. Also Read As Manipur reels from violence, home minister Shah to visit the state today Tribal protest in Manipur turns violent; curfew imposed, internet suspended Manipur violence: Long-standing issue of ST status for Meitei torches state 16 students from Kuki-Meitei communities over a brawl in Meghalaya Home minister Amit Shah meets Kuki leaders; victims' kin to get Rs 10 lakh Bengaluru civic agency galvanised to face rains, floods: BBMP chief Bengal govt to make 125,000 fresh appointments over next few months: Mamata Bihar cabinet approves change in Prohibition and Excise Act: Official Country stupefied, PM should shed arrogance: Kejriwal on wrestlers protest FM reviews infra projects under NICDIT, urges states to tie up loose ends According to a home ministry spokesperson, Shah had a (separate) meeting with prominent personalities in Imphal in the morning who assured their commitment to peace and also conveyed that they would work towards restoring peace in the state. After that he met several CSO groups and prominent personalities from the Meitei community at the Secretariat before leaving for Churachandpur. "Had a fruitful discussion with the members of the different civil society organisations today in Imphal. They expressed their commitment to peace and assured that we would together contribute to paving the way to restore normalcy in Manipur," he added. After meeting Shah, Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) coordinator Jeetendra Ningomba said they requested the Union Home Minister to take appropriate measures to protect the territorial and administrative integrity of the state. He said that Shah had assured the delegation of no compromise on Manipur's territorial integrity. Another group award winning international and national sportspersons from Manipur who included Anita Chanu and N Kunjrani Devi on Tuesday tried to meet him and later said at a press conference that they will return the prizes given to them by the government if the state's territorial integrity is compromised. Shah who was accompanied by the IB chief and Home Secretary, held three rounds of talks with various groups such as Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) and other civil society organisations. He also met five Kuki MLAs from the BJP. The Home Minister requested the Kuki society to maintain peace and assured he would send in more security personnel if needed to ensure the safety of common people, he added. ITLF secretary Muan Tombing told PTI, "He (Shah) told us that the CBI will be entrusted with carrying out a detailed probe to find out the reasons behind this prolonged clash. Besides, a judicial enquiry will also be announced." Tombing said his group "demanded separation from Manipur" as also sought "President's Rule" in the state. After coming back from Churachandpur, Shah Later in the evening, held an all-party meeting in Imphal. The Home Minister also reviewed security situation with senior officials of Manipur Police, central police forces and the Indian Army. Peace and prosperity of Manipur is our top priority, he said and instructed the officials to strictly deal with any activities disturbing the peace. Manipur has been hit by ethnic conflict for nearly a month and witnessed a sudden spurt in clashes and firing between militants and security forces on Sunday, after a relative lull for over a fortnight. The death toll from clashes has gone up to 80, officials said. The Home Minister who flew into Imphal on Monday night was accompanied by the Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Director of the Intelligence Bureau Tapan Kumar Deka. Earlier in the day, the government announced it will provide a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of those who died in the ethnic conflict and a job to a family member. The compensation amount will be borne equally by the Centre and the state, an official release said. The decision was taken at a meeting between the union Home minister and Biren Singh in the presence of some members of the council of ministers on Monday night. During the meeting, it was also decided to ensure that essential items such as petrol, LPG, rice and other foodgrains will be made available in large quantities to cool down rising prices. Shah will visit Moreh and Kangpokpi areas Wednesday. He will interact with the delegations of various local groups in Moreh followed by meeting with civil society organisations in Kangpokpi. Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan in Pune said that challenges in Manipur have not disappeared, but expressed hope that things will settle down in some time, while noting the ongoing situation in the North Eastern state is not related to insurgency. "We are helping the state government with the problem," he added. "I would like to say that the Army and Assam Rifles have done an excellent job there and may have saved a large number of lives. Hopefully this will settle and the government there will be able to do the job with the help of CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) etc," the CDS said. The Bombay High Court has permitted industrialist Yashovardhan Birla, who is facing several cases of fraud and money laundering, to travel to the United Kingdom and Egypt till July 1, noting that he was not a flight risk or likely to abscond. A vacation bench of Justices Abhay Ahuja and Milind Sathaye on May 26 suspended the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against Birla till July 1 and directed the immigration authorities to permit him to pass through immigration and board his flight. The court, while granting Birla permission to travel only to Egypt and UK, noted that he has travelled and returned to India on many occasions and has complied with all the conditions imposed on him. The applicant (Birla) has abided by the terms and conditions imposed on him during earlier travels abroad and has his family in India, the court said. Prima facie, therefore, at this stage, it does not appear to us that the applicant (Birla) is a flight risk or likely to abscond or not present himself before the Authority/Investigation or the Court, the high court said in its order. The bench said Birla shall be permitted to travel only to the UK and Egypt and he shall return to India on or before July 1. The court also accepted Birla's undertaking that his children would be staying back in India and would not be accompanying him. Also Read Delhi HC seeks ED stand on plea by Sukesh against money laundering charges Enforcement Directorate can only probe money laundering cases: Delhi HC ED raids Pure Milk Products' premises in loan fraud case, seizes Rs 1.15 cr BJP calls Gandhi family 'most corrupt'; cites Vadra's money laundering case ED makes fresh arrest in Delhi excise policy money laundering case LDF govt seeks details from Centre on amounts it can borrow: Kerala FM Defence Minister Rajnath Singh interacts with Indian diaspora in Nigeria Swiggy Announces Biryani for 'Most Ordered Food' during IPL Season Officer drains 2.1 mn lt water to retrieve iPhone; suspended, asked to pay Modi govt made 'historic achievements' during its 9 years: BJP's Nadda The industrialist's counsel Aabad Ponda had argued that Birla was a businessman who has to travel for both expansion of his business and for leisure. In the past, Birla was granted travel permissions and he had abided by all conditions imposed on him then and returned to India, he said. Birla is facing cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (In Financial Establishments) Act. The Serious Fraud Investigating Office (SFIO) had also initiated a probe under the Companies Act against several companies owned by Birla. The SFIO's advocate Aayush Kedia had opposed Birla's plea claiming that he was an influential person and there is a flight risk involved and hence the LOC was issued. Kedia had argued that while Birla was cooperating with the probe initially, he is now not cooperating and hence permission should not be granted to him to leave the country. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of giving long lectures on respect for women from the Red Fort and yet protecting those accused of harassing women. Kharge's remarks came on heels of weeks-long protest by wrestlers, who on Tuesday descended in Haridwar with a plan to immerse their medals in the Ganga. He also asked why there was stubbornness on the part of the government in giving justice to the wrestlers, who have been agitating against WFI president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. "The daughters of India are saying that 'police and system' is no longer sacred. Everyone has seen in the last few days what has happened to the daughters who have brought laurels to the country. "Modi ji gives a long lectures on respect for women from the Red Fort, but the one who is accused of sexual exploitation has full protection," he said in a tweet in Hindi. "After all, what is the stubbornness, why can't daughters get justice? Why only daughters are made to stand in the dock? Why were they turned helpless to flow their medals in Ma Ganga," Kharge asked. Also Read Will immerse medals in Ganga, fast unto death: Protesting wrestlers Scuffle between protesting wrestlers and Delhi cops: What we know so far Wrestlers Protest: Vinesh, Sakshi reach Haridwar to immerse medals in Ganga Protesting wrestlers to immerse medals in Ganga: A timeline of events Wrestlers back to protest at Jantar Mantar: Everything you need to know Kedarnath yatra: DGCA set up addl checks for pilots, safe helicopter ops Haryana 'khaps', farmer outfits throw their weight behind wrestlers Strictly deal with activity disturbing peace in Manipur: Shah to officials Modi's message to telecast during Shivaji coronation commemoration event Angshumali Rastogi India's representative to global civil aviation org "Save the criminal, not 'save the daughter'. Hurt the pride of the country," the Congress chief said in another tweet. Wrestlers, many of whom Olympic medal winners, were on Sunday forcibly removed by police from their protest site on Jantar Mantar. The protesters reached Haridwar on Tuesday to flow their medals in the river but were stopped from doing by BKU's Naresh Tikait and other khap panchayat leaders. The grapplers have been demanding the immediate removal and arrest of Singh, against whom Delhi Police has registered two FIRs for alleged sexual exploitation. President Yoon Suk Yeol, 4th from right, talks with the country's religious leaders at the former presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, in Seoul, in this photo provided by Yoon's office, May 30. Yonhap President Yoon Suk Yeol met with a group of religious leaders Tuesday to thank them for their efforts to promote social unity and seek advice on state affairs, his office said. The meeting was held over lunch at the former presidential compound of Cheong Wa Dae, with the attendance of nine faith leaders: respective representatives of the Jogye and Chontae orders of Buddhism, the United Christian Churches of Korea, Myungsung Church, the Catholic Church, Won Buddhism, Confucianism, Cheondoism and the Association of Korean Native Religions. "The president said the spirit of solidarity shown by religious circles during times of difficulty has been our society's reliable support and expressed his deep gratitude on behalf of the people for religious circles' hard work," the presidential office said. Speaking on behalf of all participants, Ven. Jinwoo, president of the Jogye Order, the country's biggest Buddhist sect, requested that Yoon and political circles work for the people's peaceful and abundant life, saying religious groups and the government need to work together for the people's peace of mind, according to the presidential office. Yoon listened to the issues of each religious group and sought their advice on the running of state affairs, it said. The second such meeting between Yoon and religious leaders was organized on the occasion of the first anniversary of his inauguration, with the aim of discussing the administration's diplomatic achievements and sharing opinions on the direction of state affairs. (Yonhap) United World Wrestling issues a strong statement on wrestlers protest firmly condemning the treatment and detention of wrestlers. UWW also said in its statement to suspend India if WFI elections are not held within 45 days. United World Wrestling also expressed its disappointment over the lack of results of the investigations so far & urged the authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The LDF government has decided to seek details from the Centre regarding amounts that Kerala can borrow in the financial year 2023-24 as the figures have not yet been provided to it, State Finance Minister K N Balagopal said on Tuesday. Balagopal said that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan chaired a meeting earlier in the day to discuss the calculations referred to by Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan at a press conference a day ago. At the meeting, officials told the CM that no such calculations or figures were shared by the Centre with the State and therefore those details would be sought from the central government, the minister said. On Monday, Muraleedharan had claimed that Kerala was allowed to borrow Rs 55,182 crore in the financial year 2023-24 and out of that, the state has already taken around Rs 34,661 crore, leaving a balance of Rs 20,521 crore from which Rs 15,390 crore has been sanctioned for the first three quarters of the financial year. The Union MoS had also said that the remaining Rs 5,131 crore would be given to the state in the last quarter of the financial year. Questioning the basis for these figures and the calculations behind it, Balagopal said these amounts are not mentioned in the two letters sent to the state by the Centre in March and May this year. Also Read LDF Govt comes out with "Real Kerala Story" ad on 2nd anniversary day Left Democratic Front wins 14 seats in local body bypolls in Kerala Fuel price hike comes into effect, UDF observes 'black day' in Kerala Congress lays siege to Kerala Secretariat on Left govt's 2nd anniversary Cong slams Kerala govt over AI camera use, calls it a 'massive scam' Defence Minister Rajnath Singh interacts with Indian diaspora in Nigeria Swiggy Announces Biryani for 'Most Ordered Food' during IPL Season Officer drains 2.1 mn lt water to retrieve iPhone; suspended, asked to pay Modi govt made 'historic achievements' during its 9 years: BJP's Nadda Kharge-led Cong delegation meets President, seeks intervention in Manipur He claimed that unlike last year, this time no statement of accounts or calculations were attached to the May 26 letter which only stated that out of the Rs 15,390 crore, the state may only borrow Rs 13,390 after deducting the Rs 2,000 crore sanctioned in April. "It does not say we will get Rs 5,131 crore in the last quarter or how the figure of Rs 15,390 crore was arrived at. Moreover, we have not received any communication which states that Rs 55,182 crore was sanctioned for Kerala in the financial year 2023-24," Balagopal said at a press conference held here. "In such a scenario, the statements made by the Union MoS a day ago are baseless, unconstitutional, highly irresponsible in view of the position he holds and aimed at misleading the people," the minister added. Muraleedharan, on Monday, had also claimed that it was the "financial mismanagement and extravagance" of the LDF government that resulted in the financial crisis Kerala was facing and it was the reason for the state's huge debt. He also refuted the allegations of the ruling Left government in Kerala that the Centre had reduced the borrowing capacity of the state. The same day, Balagopal issued a statement hitting back at the minister by alleging that he was trying to mislead people and achieve political gains through such "baseless and objectionable" claims. During the press conference held here on Tuesday, the state finance minister said that while there has been a reduction in the borrowing percentage of Kerala in FY 2023-24, the amount was similar to last year as there has been a significant economic growth in the southern state. He contended that Kerala accounts for more than 65 per cent of its revenue expenditure from out of its own pocket unlike several other states which are heavily dependent upon the Centre for their finances. Balagopal alleged that there was an "imbalance" and "arbitrariness" in allocating shares from the central taxes to the states, with Kerala's portions being reduced every year. Last week, the state finance minister had contended that there was a reduction in Kerala's borrowing limits and that it was "part of the Union government's political vendetta". A couple of days later, CM Vijayan had termed the Centre's alleged reduction in the state's borrowing capacity a "sadistic" move. He was speaking at the inaugural energy summit organised by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce-North India Council (IACC-NIC). The Centre will focus on setting up relatively-smaller oil refineries, with capacities of around 20 MMTPA (million metric tonnes per annum), instead of the larger ones planned till now, petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said. According to a PTI report, the scheme, Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Yojana, was approved at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Eknath Shinde. He spoke to the reporters after the meeting and said the amount was in addition to Rs 6,000 paid to farmers in instalments per year by the Centre under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led government on Tuesday introduced a new financial scheme under which over ten million state farmers will be paid Rs 6,000 annually. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that more than ten million farmers will be benefitted from the state government's scheme. The scheme was announced by Fadnavis when he presented the state Budget for 2023-2024 in March. According to a CNBC TV18 report, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde assured the farmers that each and every one of them will be compensated. He also visited multiple districts on different occasions. He met the victim farmers and assured them that the government will take care of their losses. Last month the state released a fund of Rs 177 crore to compensate the farmers for the losses they had to bear for the damaged crop. The decision to implement the new scheme comes at a time when the farmers in the state await their crop damage compensation, owing to the unseasonal rains and bad weather in the state. Also Read SC faults Maha governor and speaker, but won't restore Thackeray govt LIVE updates: Rajasthan govt announces 19 new districts in poll year RSS-affiliated BKS warns govt of trouble if farmers demand not met on time Madhya Pradesh govt plans to pay insurance premium of small farmers Losing political ground Amar Singh Chamkila: All you need to know about 'Elvis Presley of Punjab' TMC approaches NHRC, files case for manhandling protesting women wrestlers Work underway to redevelop Amarnath base camp ahead of annual pilgrimage Wardwizard inks pact with Dogra Regiment to offer upskilling opportunities Bengal CM Mamata seeks Central permission to visit violence-hit Manipur The report also added that many farmers depend on the income from their previous crops to pay for their next harvest cycle. They are afraid that this delay in compensation is going to cost them dearly. Also, as last year's soybean damage compensation is still not provided, the farmers of the state doubt that this time the government will walk the talk. "A fire broke out at the Numaligarh Refinery Limiteds Hydrocracker Unit (HCU) in vessel Number VV-04 at approximately 19:20 hours on May 29, 2023. The vessel is a cold high-pressure separator," Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) said in a statement around midnight on Monday. The NRL is a subsidiary of Oil India Ltd, a national oil production company. A massive fire broke out at the Numaligarh oil refinery in Assam late on Monday night at a critical infrastructure near the oil wells. "The fire was brought under control within 20 minutes from [the] breakout. However, as per firefighting protocol, cooling through water spraying is still being carried out," NRL said. High-pressure separators are used to separate oil, water and gas from the initial well stream. They are installed either in an onshore processing station or on an offshore platform. Sources at Oil India said there was no casualty or injury in the incident; the extent of the damage, though, is yet to be assessed. The nearby hydrogen unit has been shut down as a precautionary measure, it added. Also Read Rosneft planning to build greenfield refinery in India with state refiners Delhi's Kanjhawala horror: What we know so far in the hit-and-run case Greenko lowest bidder for first green hydrogen tender by oil refinery Refinery rejig: Why is India steadily raising petrochemicals capacity Rishabh Pant injured in a car crash near Roorkee, BCCI issues statement Filled with humility and gratitude; will work harder: PM on govt's 9 yrs Seers in Ayodhya seek amendment to POCSO Act on grounds of gross misuse Education introduces individuals to their rights, duties: Assam Governor Cheetah revival project officials to be sent on study tours to Namibia, SA UP govt holds 14-day basic orientation programme for 'Udyami Mitras' Located at Morangi in the Golaghat district of Assam, the refinery began commercial production in 1999. An external committee is being set up to investigate the cause of the fire and ascertain the damage, the sources said. The Centre, in a brief affidavit, opposed a petition filed by Wing Commander Abhinav Sharma against his termination from service, the report said. The Centre on Monday justified the dismissal of three Indian Air Force (IAF) officers for gross negligence, informing the Delhi High Court that the misfiring of a BrahMos combat missile into Pakistan last year harmed the country's relationship and cost the state exchequer Rs 24 crore, the Hindustan Times (HT) reported. Considering the sensitive nature of the subject matter having widespread ramifications for the security of the State, a conscious and considered decision was taken in good faith to terminate the service of the petitioner under the Presidents pleasure clause. Such a decision has been taken in the Indian Air Force after 23 years as facts and circumstances of the case warranted such action," the Centre was quoted as saying by HT. The affidavit stated that the trial of three IAF officers was inexpedient, while the international community was eager to learn important practical details about the missile launch. The Centre also defended the termination order of IAF officers, claiming that the decision was motivated by public interest and not malice. In addition, the petitioner challenged the termination order issued under Section 18 of the Air Force Act, of 1950. He was posted as an engineering officer when the incident occurred. Also Read India, Russia to work on developing hypersonic version of BrahMos: Report Sale of petroleum products halves in Pakistan, high inflation to blame India's Data Patterns develops equipment to check BrahMos missile functions BrahMos accidental firing a case of policy failure: Sacked Wing Commander A profligate state: The financial cul-de-sac that confronts Pakistan Hindus to celebrate Ganga Dussehra 2023 today, here's all you need to know 4,433 kg of poppy straw worth Rs 1 cr seized from truck in Gujarat A note on India's commemorative coins, what's in demand and how to buy ED conducts searches against Jharkhand Cong MLA in money laundering case Global geopolitical order in a state of flux : CDS Anil Chauhan at NDA POP On March 9, last year, India fired a BrahMos missile into Pakistan by mistake, resulting in an unprecedented incident. It added that the petitioner was given ample opportunity to present his case and was given great latitude in this regard. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also stated that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for such systems' "operations, maintenance, and inspection" were being reviewed. On March 11, two days after the unintentional launch, India attributed the incident to a technical malfunction during routine maintenance. Six months later, on August 23, three IAF officers were fired after a court of inquiry found them guilty of violating SOPs. On March 1, Wing Commander Sharma moved a court, challenging this decision. While Pakistan protested the "unprovoked violation of its airspace by a supersonic flying object of Indian origin," neither side used an aggressive or escalatory tone. ASG Sharma stated that the petitioner was gainfully employed with a multinational company and was paid well and that he approached the court more than six months after his termination order was issued. On the last date, additional solicitor general (ASG) Chetan Sharma, for the Centre, told the court that the accidental firing embarrassed India in front of the international community and could have led to a warlike situation between the two neighbouring countries. The court, however, served notices on Sharma's petition to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the Chief of Air Staff, and others, seeking a detailed response within six weeks. The Mizoram government has sought Rs 5 crore assistance from the Centre to provide immediate relief to people who have taken shelter in the state from violence-hit Manipur, a senior official said on Tuesday. People from Manipur, affected by ethnic conflict, continued to flock to Mizoram, and the number rose to 8,282 till Monday, state home department commissioner and secretary H Lalengmawia said. "A letter seeking monetary assistance of Rs 5 crore as immediate relief for the internally displaced people was sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs last week. We are hopeful that the Centre will provide the assistance as the displaced people are none other than Indian citizens," the state home secretary told PTI. Notably, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is on a four-day visit to strife-torn Manipur. The majority of the displaced people are lodged at temporary shelters in several villages, while many are residing at their relatives' residences, Lalengmawia said. According to the Mizoram home department, 2,925 people from Manipur have fled to Kolasib district, followed by 2,738 to Aizawl and 2,257 to Saitual. Also Read As Manipur reels from violence, home minister Shah to visit the state today Tribal protest in Manipur turns violent; curfew imposed, internet suspended Shielding governance failure will not resolve Manipur's problems Displaced children from Manipur can complete schooling in Mizoram: Report Mizoram taking steps to evacuate people stranded in Manipur: Zoramthanga Modi govt decides to recruit 17 senior officers through lateral entry mode Max Healthcare, IIIT-Delhi tie up for healthcare research, education No heatwave at Delhi's primary weather station for 1st time since 2014: IMD Divisional engineer used ChatGPT to help candidates cheat in TPSC exam Karnataka education minister hints at possibility of revising textbook The remaining 363 people took shelter in Champhai, Khawzawl, Hnahthial, Serchhip, Mamit and Lunglei districts, it said. The state government, NGOs, churches and village authorities are providing food and other basic needs to the displaced people, the official said. So far, the government has not faced any problem in terms of food and other relief items as proper arrangements were made in view of the influx from the neighbouring state, he said. However, the state government may face such problems in the long run as Mizoram has also been providing relief to more than 35,000 people from Myanmar and Bangladesh, he said. Meanwhile, Shah on Tuesday had consultations with various stakeholders, which started with a breakfast meeting with a group of women leaders and a separate meeting with prominent personalities as part of his efforts to bring lasting peace in the violence-hit Manipur. This is the first time the home minister is visiting the northeastern state since the ethnic clashes began in Manipur on May 3. After a relative lull for over a fortnight, the state witnessed a sudden spurt in clashes and firing between militants and security forces on Sunday. The death toll from clashes has gone up to 80, officials said. The ethnic violence first broke out after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts earlier this month to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The violence was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations. The BJP on Tuesday said the Modi government made "historic achievements" during its nine years in office and India is marching ahead with full confidence, enthusiasm and a resolve to become a developed country. BJP national president J P Nadda said Prime Minister Narendra Modi keeps the resolution of 'Antyodaya' and service paramount in his policies, and his government is ensuring that benefits of welfare schemes reach the last man in the queue. Basic needs like health, education, economic self-reliance, road, water, electricity reached the country's remote areas during the nine years of the prime minister Modi's government, he added. "Nine years of the Modi government have been of service, good governance and poor welfare," Nadda tweeted. "Historic achievements have been made in the areas of national security, self-reliance, global prestige, economic strengthening etc." "The reach of the government's welfare schemes is being ensured to the person at the end of the queue. Basic needs like health, education, economic self-reliance, road, water, electricity have reached remote areas," he said in a series of tweets. In the 'Amrit Kaal of Independence', the BJP president said, the country is marching ahead on the path of progress with full confidence and enthusiasm with the resolve of becoming a developed India. While many of the developed countries have not been able to come out of the crisis precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, India is moving forward on the path of development at a fast pace, he added. Also Read Terrorism which is without ammunition: Nadda on 'The Kerala Story' BJP national executive meet to finalise election strategies for 2023-24 Maharashtra by-election: Case against BJP's Rasane for violating poll code Meghalaya govt denied permission for PM Modi's rally in Tura: BJP Nadda calls for 'massive' meeting of BJP office bearers on Dec 5-6 Kharge-led Cong delegation meets President, seeks intervention in Manipur Congress alleges 2 offshore Adani-linked funds appeared on IT dept radar Rs 2,000 notes withdrawal a setback for Naxalites: Maharashtra police One cannot malign judicial officers by using social media, says SC Parts of Haryana, Punjab received overnight rains, temperature dips "Inspired by the spirit of 'Nation First', our government has given a new direction to India's destiny and future through several epoch-making decisions," he said. "Respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji's resolution of 'Panch Pran' shows us the way. A pre-recorded message by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be telecast on June 2 during the Maharashtra government's celebration of 350 years of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's coronation, an official said on Tuesday. The state government has organised several events from June 2 onwards to commemorate the iconic 17th century ruler's 1674 coronation. Modi's message will be telecast during the inaugural event in Raigad district, the official said. The event will be attended by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Union culture minister G Kishan Reddy and deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, among others. The National Spot Exchange Limited (NSEL) on Tuesday said the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (MPID) Court has directed the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police to probe the involvement of former Forward Markets Commission (FMC) Chairman Ramesh Abhishek in the Rs 5,600 crore NSEL crisis and submit its report within 40 days. An application was filed by NSEL on a backdrop that the Mumbai EOW filed its final charge sheet in December 2022, but had not investigated the role of FMC and its then chairman Ramesh Abhishek in the NSEL payment default case. In its recent order, the MPID Court asked the investigating officer to carry out a free and impartial investigation into the role of Ramesh Abhishek, the then Chairman of FMC during the period of offence. Further, the investigating officer has been directed by the Special Court to submit its report as early as possible, preferably within 40 days from the order date without fail. In its representation to the EOW in 2020, NSEL had highlighted several instances of negligence and failures on the part of Abhishek, which the agency did not investigate. "We are hopeful that the investigation into the role of Ex-FMC Chairman Ramesh Abhishek will be fair and impartial, and will unearth the motive behind the inactions," said NSEL Managing Director and CEO Neeraj Sharma. The crisis was engineered by the ill-advice of FMC chairman to the Department of Consumer affairs (DCA) that NSEL had violated certain conditions of exemption granted to it under FCRA. This resulted in the DCA issuing Show Cause Notice (SCN) to the exchange in April 2012. Despite a detailed reply to the SCN and a subsequent follow up, there was no decision on the SCN until July 2013, when the exchange was abruptly told to stop functioning, resulting in the payment default crisis, the NSEL pointed out. Also Read Note in circulation rise 8% annually to Rs 32 trillion: Finance Minister CPAI asks Sebi to provide uninterrupted trading in cotton futures contracts Adani Group firms pledge shares for lenders of AEL: SBICAP Trustee Three leading brokers on Sebi, RBI, Enforcement Directorate radar Sebi calls off Pragya Commodity Brokers' registration in NSEL case Air India passenger abuses, assaults crew member on flight on May 29 Greenland glaciers melting 3 times faster than 20th Century: Research Navy chief to present medals at Naval Investiture Ceremony in Visakhapatnam India deservedly claiming its position on world tourism stage: Chhatwal Stalin visits Japanese tech firm, discusses use of AI in public utlities "Till date, the SCN remains unadjudicated. This goes to show that Abhishek's actions were fraudulent, mala fide, motivated and resulted in deliberately creating the crisis," it alleged. According to the NSEL, "if the understanding of Abhishek on the tenure of contracts being in violation of exemption is considered as gospel truth, why there were no actions recommended to the DCA against N-Spot (subsidiary of NSE and competitor of NSEL) which had contracts beyond a period of 11 days. Favouritism to N-Spot and in turn NSE depicts nefarious intentions of Abhishek." The NSEL noted that the August 4, 2013, meeting was an important event wherein the defaulters before the FMC, the Brokers, NSEL Board and some traders admitted their entire liability and committed to pay. This fact was further fortified by various media interviews given by Abhishek post the meeting. However, the minutes of the said meeting are stolen or intentionally misplaced/destroyed. This finding also forms part of the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) in their report. On August 6, 2013, reiterating its stand, the government gave omnibus power to FMC and in turn Abhishek by way of Gazette Notification to solve and settle the crisis. However, none of the actions taken by Abhishek were towards resolving the crisis. In fact, his laidback attitude towards recovery resulted in siphoning off the monies by defaulters, making the recoveries from them difficult to repay the genuine claimants who are still awaiting for their legitimate dues even after nearly a decade. He failed to solve the crisis while it was solvable in 10 days back in 2013, the company said. Despite the EOW-Mumbai report on wrong doings of brokers, NSEL said, Ramesh Abhishek chose not to act against brokers, whose role is now getting clear. The investigation into his role will now reveal what motivation or quid pro quo compelled the former IAS officer to refrain from taking any action against the accused brokers and to sit idle on recommendations of the EOW Mumbai against the brokers. The NSEL alleged that Abhishek acted on the wishes of the brokers and recommended a forced merger of two private companies in so-called public interest to the government. The decision of merging two companies was overturned by the Supreme Court as there was "no public interest". In fact, the recommendation to merge two companies was termed as "non application of mind" by the apex court. The NSEL stated that Ramesh Abhishek created, fuelled, and aggravated the NSEL crisis and did not solve it when it was solvable, thereby abdicating his regulatory duty leading to omissions of criminal nature on his part that caused wrongful loss to the investors and wrongful gains to the defaulters. Notably, Abhishek, who retired as the Secretary at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade in 2019, will now have to face the investigation and cannot take shelter of the merger of FMC with SEBI and his inability to attend the investigation which he had taken before SFIO. It is a trite law that no government servant is above law and cannot seek protection of "actions taken in good faith", until those actions are investigated under the lens of the investigation agency. Earlier in 2019, 63 moons technologies limited had filed a criminal complaint with the CBI against bureaucrats Ramesh Abhishek and KP. Krishnan and former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, alleging conspiracy against the FT Group. --IANS amita/dpb U.S. soldiers carry a coffin containing the remains of U.S. Army Cpl. Luther Story, killed in the 1950-53 Korean War, to be laid to rest at Andersonville National Cemetery in Georgia, Monday (local time). Story died in Changnyeong County, South Gyeongsang Province, Sept. 1, 1950, and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by the U.S. government in 1951. The burial was followed by the adoption in April of a joint statement on the identification of the remains by Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden. Yonhap Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal Prachand will visit the renowned Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain and also an IT Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Indore in Madhya Pradesh during his India trip beginning on Wednesday, official sources said on Tuesday. Prachanda, along with a high-level delegation, will travel to India on Wednesday on a four-day official visit for talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and other leaders to further strengthen the age-old, multifaceted and cordial bilateral ties. After official engagements in New Delhi, he will arrive in Indore on June 2 and travel to neighbouring Ujjain district where he will offer prayers at the famous Mahakaleshwar Temple, one of the 12 jyotirlings (major places of worship of Lord Shiva) in the country, the sources said. He will also visit a solid waste management plant in Indore the same day, they said. On June 3, the Nepalese PM will visit TCS and Infosys campuses in an IT SEZ in Indore and leave for New Delhi later in the day, the sources said. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will host a dinner in the honour of Prachanda in Indore on June 2, they said. On Tuesday, Chouhan chaired a meeting with senior officials in Indore through video-conferencing to review preparations for the tour of the 68-year-old Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) leader who assumed office in December 2022. The CM directed officials to make adequate arrangements for Prachanda's MP visit during which cultural events will also be organised, the sources added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on visiting Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on Tuesday and assured him of India's resolve to strengthen the bilateral partnership across diverse areas including capacity building. Modi called on Sihamoni, who is on his maiden state visit to India at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Both underscored the deep civilisational ties, strong cultural and people-to-people connect between both countries. Modi assured the Cambodian King of India's resolve to strengthen the bilateral partnership with Cambodia across diverse areas including capacity building, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office. Sihamoni thanked Modi's ongoing initiatives in development cooperation, and conveyed his appreciation and best wishes for India's presidency of G20. Later in a tweet, Modi said, "It was a pleasure to interact with His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia today. We had a positive exchange of views on our close cultural and people to people ties and development partnership." Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar also held discussions with Sihamoni on key areas such as capacity building, defence and parliamentary cooperation here, the Ministry of External Affairs said. Also Read Jaishankar meets Cambodian King, reaffirms strong civilizational bond Gen Atlantic, Advent Int soon to acquire Everstone's Burger King stake Australian PM Anthony Albanese to embark on India visit from March 8-11 Cambodian King to visit India from May 29 to 31; MEA says will deepen ties Charles to be crowned King in thousand-year-old Coronation ceremony UWW condemns wrestlers' detention, will ban WFI if polls not held in time Delhi Police provides 'helicopter slithering' training to commandos Ayodhya seers to rally in support of WFI chief accused of sexual harassment Kharge questions Modi's claims on women security amid wrestlers protest Kedarnath yatra: DGCA set up addl checks for pilots, safe helicopter ops Earlier in the day, King Sihamoni was accorded a ceremonial welcome by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Modi was also present to greet the king at the forecourts of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Modi later tweeted, saying, "Delighted to welcome King HM Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia. Our nations share deep historical and cultural ties, and we look forward to strengthening our friendship and cooperation even further. May his visit mark a new chapter in India-Cambodia relations." External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he was honoured to call on King Sihamoni. "His visit, as our two countries celebrate 70th anniversary of our diplomatic relations, reaffirms the strong civilisational bond between us. "Today that is expressed in cooperation in heritage conservation, demining, water conservation and socio-economic projects," he said in a tweet. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the discussions between Dhankhar and the Cambodian King "covered multiple areas of bilateral relations, including capacity building, conservation of architectural monuments, defence cooperation, including de-mining & parliamentary cooperation". In a separate tweet, the Vice President Secretariat said Dhankhar recalled the warm welcome and good discussions during his visit to Cambodia for India-ASEAN and East Asia Summits in November 2022. "They had wide-ranging discussions on bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest," it said. The visiting dignitary this morning paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat. The Cambodian King arrived here on Monday on a maiden state visit. He is accompanied by a 27-member high-level delegation, including the minister of the royal palace, 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. Bagchi had said the visit was an opportunity to further deepen the civilisational relations between India and Cambodia. This visit by a Cambodian king is taking place after almost six decades, with the last being that of the current king's father in 1963. Leaders from BJP, AAP, and Congress on Tuesday met and condoled with the family members of the 16-year-old girl who was killed in broad daylight in the Shahbad Dairy area of northwest Delhi. The girl was stabbed over 20 times and bludgeoned to death by a youth in a busy bylane of Shahbad Dairy area as passers-by looked on in fear and disbelief. While AAP leader Atishi met the girl's family members, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced an ex-gratia sum of Rs 10 lakh to her kin to help them tide over the tragedy. "The Delhi government will provide an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the family of the victim and will try its best to get the culprit punished severely by the court. Best lawyers will be fielded for this case," Kejriwal in a tweet in Hindi announced. Atishi in her turn slammed Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena and alleged that "such incidents can be averted if LG takes responsibility." "Daughters of Delhi are facing violence every day. Such incidents can be averted only if the LG takes responsibility," she alleged. Another leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, Saurabh Bharadwaj, lashed out at the LG over the horrific killing saying the people of Delhi have "lost faith" in the national capital's law and order system. Also Read Shahbad Dairy Murder: Breakup drove Sahil to kill minor girl, say police AAP criticises Delhi L-G over Shahbad Dairy incident, questions priorities Delhi teen stabbed, bludgeoned to death by boyfriend; accused arrested Ease in margins seen from Q4 for dairy cos; stay stock selective: Analysts We should achieve target of 330 MMT milk production by 2033-34: Amit Shah Twin-tunnel done, Mumbai Coastal Road races to completion in Nov Looking to build smaller refineries of 20 MMTA annual capacity: Puri 'Excited about PM Modi's US visit next month', says envoy Eric Garcetti Gadkari stresses on importance of DPRs to minimise delays, reduce cost India moving from women's participation to their leadership: Jitendra Singh "We urge the LG to hold a press conference and give us the information on how many police stations he has visited so far. The LG has zero accountability. If this was some other country, people would start asking for the Home Minister's resignation. People don't wish to come forward to help because they think they will be falsely framed by the police," Bharadwaj alleged. Kejriwal too had on Monday urged Saxena to take strict action in the murder incident. The Delhi Police comes under the Union Home Ministry. The AAP which govern the city has been firm in its pursuit to wrest the control of police in Delhi to the elected government. BJP MP Hans Raj Hans who met the girl's family Tuesday morning said no amount of money can bring the family its daughter back. "The family has lost its world. Daughters are considered goddess Lakshmi. We can just console them and provide some financial help," Hans told reporters after meeting the victim's kin. The BJP delegation accompanying Hans extended its sympathy to the family and gave a "small interim financial support" to them, said a statement from the BJP's Delhi unit. Hans also condemned the AAP for "politicising" the murder and using it to score political brownie points. Delhi Congress President Anil Chaudhary, who also visited the family members of the victim, said "blame game begins" between Kejriwal and LG every time the "government is held accountable." "Several such incidents have happened since 2013 but whenever the government is held accountable, Arvind Kejriwal and the LG start their blame game," Chaudhary said. Meanwhile, DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal too met the girl's family. The Supreme Court on Tuesday deprecated the trend of the accused in money laundering cases using Article 32 petitions to challenge a summons or seek bail under the guise of calling into question the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). A vacation bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Prashant Kumar Mishra, said filing such petitions challenging an Act, and in the process seeking consequential reliefs, amounts to bypassing other available legal remedies. "The court is constrained to observe that despite the Vijay Madanlal judgment there is a trend prevailing in writ petitions filed before this Court under Article 32 challenging the constitutional validity of Sections 15 and 63 and other provisions of the PMLA, which has been decided finally, and then seek consequential relief. These reliefs are bypassing other forums which are open to the petitioners," the bench said. The apex court had in the Madanlal judgement upheld the Enforcement Directorate's powers related to arrest, attachment of property involved in money laundering, search and seize under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Article 32 of the Constitution gives individuals the right to approach the Supreme Court if they feel their fundamental rights have been violated. The apex court's observations came while hearing a batch of petitions filed by people facing probe in the alleged liquor scam case in Chhattisgarh. Also Read Enforcement Directorate can only probe money laundering cases: Delhi HC SC to hear journalist Rana Ayyub's plea in money laundering case on Jan 25 HC seeks ED reply on co-accused bail pleas in Satyender Jain PMLA case Supreme Court makes a key clarification on grounds for bail under PMLA Pakistan's ex-PM Imran Khan gets interim bail in eight cases until June 8 Shah talks to Manipur leaders, announces compensation for riot victims MPID court orders EOW to probe Ramesh Abhishek's role in NSEL crisis Air India passenger abuses, assaults crew member on flight on May 29 Greenland glaciers melting 3 times faster than 20th Century: Research Navy chief to present medals at Naval Investiture Ceremony in Visakhapatnam Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate (ED), raised serious objections about the maintainability of the pleas. The government law officer pressed for some observations made by the court against such pleas to be recorded in the order. Mehta said there is a new trend to file a petition challenging the constitutionality of a law and then get a no coercive action order, which is actually an anticipatory bail. "This must be deprecated in no uncertain terms. People are being approached that instead of asking for anticipatory bail challenge the vires of the legislation. There needs to be some observation (in the order)," the SG said. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju echoed Mehta's submission and said the practice of approaching the top court with such repetitive pleas needs to stop. The comments from the law officers came after senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for one of the petitioners, sought permission to withdraw the plea with liberty to move the high court for bail. The bench remarked the apex court is becoming an alternative forum. Instead of going to the high court and challenging the provisions of the law there, the accused were contesting the summons in the Supreme Court, it said. "The kind of practice that is going on here in this Court is very disturbing," Justice Trivedi remarked. Union Home Minister Amit Shah Tuesday visited Churachandpur, the scene of some of the worst rioting in the recent ethnic conflict which broke out in Manipur earlier this month, to hold talks with Kuki civil society leaders. Among others, Shah who flew down in a helicopter accompanied by the IB chief and home secretary, is meeting church leaders as well as intellectuals from the Kuki community to understand their grievances and find ways to bring peace to the northeastern state which has witnessed a seroies of clashes between Meiteis and Kukis. Earlier in the day, the government announced it will give a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to those who died during the ethnic conflict in Manipur. A member of the family of those who died in the rioting will also be provided a job. The compensation amount will be borne equally by the centre and the state, officials said. The decision was taken at a meeting between the Union Home Minister and chief minister N Biren Singh, on Monday late night. Also Read As Manipur reels from violence, home minister Shah to visit the state today 54 dead in Manipur violence, Imphal peaceful, most shops, markets open Imphal peaceful but tense; gunfights between militants, security forces 518 stranded people evacuated from violence-affected areas of Manipur Tribal protest in Manipur turns violent; curfew imposed, internet suspended MPID court orders EOW to probe Ramesh Abhishek's role in NSEL crisis Air India passenger abuses, assaults crew member on flight on May 29 Greenland glaciers melting 3 times faster than 20th Century: Research Navy chief to present medals at Naval Investiture Ceremony in Visakhapatnam India deservedly claiming its position on world tourism stage: Chhatwal Manipur has been hit by ethnic conflict for nearly a month and witnessed a sudden spurt in clashes and firing between militants and security forces on Sunday, after a relative lull for over a fortnight. The death toll from clashes has gone up to 80, officials said. The meeting also decided to ensure that essential items such as petrol, LPG gas, rice and other food products will be made available in large quantities to cool down prices. The home minister who flew in to Imphal Monday night is accompanied by the Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Director of the Intelligence Bureau Tapan Kumar Deka. Shah also held consultations on Tuesday with stake-holders starting with a breakfast meeting with a group of women leaders, as part of his initiative to bring peace to the violence-hit state. "Held a meeting with a group of women leaders (Meira Paibi) in Manipur. Reiterated the significance of the role of women in the society of Manipur. Together, we are committed to ensuring peace and prosperity in the state," Shah tweeted. According to a home ministry spokesperson, Shah also held a meeting with the delegation of different civil society organisations in Imphal this morning. Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Tuesday said on the sidelines of a function in Pune, that challenges in Manipur have not disappeared, but expressed hope that things will settle down in some time while noting the situation in the north-eastern state now is not related to insurgency. "We are helping the state government with the problem," the CDS said. "I would like to say that the armed forces and Assam Rifles have done an excellent job there and may have saved a large number of lives. Though the challenges in Manipur have not disappeared, it will take some time. Hopefully this will settle and the government there will be able to do the job with the help of CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) etc," he said. Ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Since then there have been waves of un rest including a latest round of clashes which saw at least 5 dead on Sunday. The violence was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts. Around 10,000 personnel of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles, besides those from other paramilitary forces, had to be deployed to bring back normalcy in the northeastern state. The lone Congress MP from Maharashtra, Suresh alias Balu Dhanorkar passed away following a brief illness, party officials said here on Tuesday. Dhanorkar, 47 - representing Chandrapur - was ailing for sometime and had been admitted to the Medanta Hospital in New Delhi, where he breathed his last around 3.30 am. Congress Chief Spokesperson Atul Londhe said that Dhanorkar's body will be brought to his native village in Varora this afternoon to enable peopleA pay their last respects. The funeral rites shall be performed at the nearby Varora crematorium on Wednesday, he added. Dhanorkar had been admitted to a private hospital in Nagpur for a kidney stone surgery last Friday. However, as certain complications developed, he was rushed to the New Delhi hospital where the end came early today. Also Read 'World's first' bamboo crash barrier installed on Maha highway: Gadkari Satish Kaushik death: Farmhouse owner's wife alleges husband's role 2024 Lok Sabha polls: BJP's Nadda to address 2 rallies in Maharashtra Alphabet disappoints on sales as ad business slips after pandemic run-up Balu Forge Industries Q4 net profit grows 43% to over Rs 15 crore 7 dead, 16 injured in Jammu road accident after bus plunges into gorge CAG Girish Murmu re-elected as external auditor of WHO for 4-year term LIVE: Should be ashamed, says FM over Rahul's remark on govt's China policy U'khand CM highlights social media's role in development, social welfare We have not stepped back, the protest will continue: Sakshi Malik Top state Congress leaders from the state and other states have expressed shock and condoled the passing of Dhanorkar. --IANS qn/sha Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday visited technology firm NEC Future Creation Hub in Japan and interacted with officials on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be used in the administration of the state government. The chief minister's deliberations with NEC officials were about AI-facial recognition, quantum computing objectives and possibly using such technology in the administration of Tamil Nadu government and public utilities, an official release here said. The officials briefed Stalin on NEC's tech-driven solutions in various spheres, including stress-free journey for air passengers, the release added. Tamil Nadu Industries Minister TRB Rajaa and senior officials including Additional Chief Secretary S Krishnan were present. On May 23, the Chief Minister embarked on a visit to Singapore and Japan to attract investments and invite investors to the Global Investors Meet slated to be held here in January 2024. Also Read TN CM Stalin scraps Bill that extended working hours from 8 to 12 Tamil Nadu CM leaves for 9-day foreign trip to attract investments Udhayanidhi's elevation triggers 'Sunrise vs Sonrise' debate in Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu CM's son Udhayanidhi Stalin sworn in as minister in cabinet TN districts start survey on guest workers in state after CM seeks info Industrialist Yash Birla gets Bombay HC nod to travel to UK, Egypt LDF govt seeks details from Centre on amounts it can borrow: Kerala FM Defence Minister Rajnath Singh interacts with Indian diaspora in Nigeria Swiggy Announces Biryani for 'Most Ordered Food' during IPL Season Officer drains 2.1 mn lt water to retrieve iPhone; suspended, asked to pay Tabreed will acquire Intellion Parks existing cooling infrastructure, a 3.5 million square feet IT SEZ development in Gurugram and will undertake greenfield expansion to increase its cooling capacity. Tata Realty has signed an agreement with Tabreed, a global cooling utility player to install cooling infrastructure at its commercial complex- Intellion Park in Gurugram, Haryana. The project marks Tabreeds first Cooling as a Service (CaaS) transaction in India with an investment of approximately Rs 100 crore for a 30-year time period, the company said in a statement. It is expected that the transaction will result in Tabreed serving as a provider of cooling services for TATA Realty, offering district cooling or CaaS concessions across its commercial properties. Moving away from the regular market practice wherein real estate developers own and operate their cooling assets through facility management arrangements, through this first of its kind transaction, It would provide long-term, SLA-based cooling services to Intellion Park with well-defined parameters to improve energy efficiency, asset longevity, system reliability and reduce life cycle costs of cooling for tenants, Tabreed said. TATA realty has developed 16.8 million square feet of commercial projects and has 16.7 million square feet of projects under development & planning. Tata Realty has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable real estate development in India. With numerous achievements, including the country's first net-zero certified commercial real estate campus, the company has set a high bar for the rest of the industry, said Sanjay Dutt, MD & CEO, Tata Realty. Also Read One year since Tatas took over Air India, here's how the journey has been UPI continues to dominate digital payments thanks to wide use of QR codes Tata Electronic plans to bolster presence in electronics, semiconductor biz DLF, Sunteck Realty: Stay cautious; realty index violates key support level Oberoi Realty dips 6% as sales value drops 27% YoY in Jan-Mar quarter Wrestlers planning to immerse medals in Ganga shameful for country: CM Mann Kerala CM directs officials to take steps to ensure monsoon preparedness Aviation regulator DGCA simplifies application process for heliport license Alstom emerges as lowest bidder for 100 alluminium Vande Bharat trains Meghalaya inks MoU with NIOS to facilitate return of dropouts to schools The India cooling action plan (ICAP) announced by the ozone cell of the ministry of environment, forest and climate change forecasted eightfold increase in aggregated cooling demand for the country by 2037-38, with 45 per cent of the countrys peak energy demand likely to be for cooling by 2050. The companys endeavour is to enable the delivery of superior value to occupants, while promoting higher standards of ESG and wellness in commercial and mixed-use real estate developments, Dutt said. Currently, developers are allocating huge sums of capital on Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for new buildings as well as highly-inefficient existing buildings to achieve their net zero goals, all whilst competing with and balancing other demands on their capex, Perla added. Long-term, green financing delivered through innovative and bespoke business models such as CaaS will play a crucial role in scaling up the transition to a greener economy, especially for the built environment, said Sudheer Perla, country manager, Tabreed India. Tabreed was founded in 1998 and is publicly listed on the Dubai Financial Market. National Central Cooling Company PJSC (Tabreed) provides essential and sustainable district cooling services to iconic developments including the Burj Khalifa, Sheikh Zayed and Emirates Towers.The company owns and operates 86 plants in its portfolio across the Gulf Cooperation Council including 75 in the United Arab Emirates, three in Saudi Arabia, seven in Oman and one in Bahrain. Tabreed Asia is a joint venture owned by Tabreed UAE (75 per cent) and International Finance Corporation (25 per cent) with headquarters in Singapore. Set-up as a holding company, Tabreed Asia, through wholly owned subsidiaries in India, invests, builds, owns and operates cooling assets through long-term partnerships with leading real estate developers to provide more cost effective and sustainable, environmentally friendly cooling services. In a new twist to the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) exam paper leak case, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has found that one of the accused allegedly used ChatGPT and electronic devices to share answers with the candidates appearing in at least two exams conducted for recruitment in government departments. The investigation by SIT has revealed that Poola Ramesh, a Divisional Engineer with Telangana State Northern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSNPDCL) allegedly sold question papers related to the exam for the Assistant Engineer (Civil) and also used the latest AI tool and electronic devices to help some candidates writing Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) and Divisional Accounts Officer (DAO) exams. Ramesh allegedly shared the answers through electronic devices with at least seven candidates present in the exam hall. This is the first time in the sensational case that the use of ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-training Transformer) and electronic devices has come to light, sources said. The SIT on Monday arrested Prashanth, Naresh, Mahesh and Srinivas who allegedly wrote the exam with the help of electronic devices. The investigating officials are now trying to find out how the candidates managed to enter the exam hall with electronic devices without being detected at the entrance. They were looking for an examiner who helped them in entering the exam hall with the devices -- Bluetooth micro earpieces. The examiner is also suspected to have taken photos of question papers and sent them to Ramesh on WhatsApp 10 minutes after the exam started. With the arrests made on Monday, the total number of people arrested in the case has gone up to 49. Also Read Open-source platform 'Home Assistant' to get new voice assistant in 2023 India top country in AI skill penetration globally: Nasscom report Aug 26-27 paper leak continues to rock Arunachal despite CBI probe Non-Tech industries to hire over 1 mn tech talent by FY28: TeamLease report Viveka murder case: CBI issues fresh notice to Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy Jaishankar meets Cambodian King, reaffirms strong civilizational bond Liquor policy case: Sisodia to move SC against HC's rejection of bail plea Protesting wrestlers to immerse medals in Ganga today, go on hunger strike India's monsoon rains advance after stalling for the past 11 days Misfiring of BrahMos missile into Pak cost India Rs 24 cr: Centre tells HC Ramesh had received the leaked question paper of Assistant Engineer (Civil) exam from another accused Poola Ravi Kishore, a junior assistant in the electricity department. Ramesh further sold the leaked question paper to about 25 candidates for Rs 25 lakh to Rs 30 lakh each. The exam was held on March 5. For AEE and DAO exams held earlier on January 22 and February 26, Ramesh used the latest AI technology and microelectronic devices to help the aspirants. After receiving the question paper on his mobile from the exam centre through an examiner, he with the help of four others used ChatGPT to get correct answers and relayed the same to candidates present in the exam hall using Bluetooth earbuds. Ramesh allegedly had a deal with each candidate for Rs 20 lakh to Rs 30 lakh. The TSPSC exam paper leak case is turning out to be more intricate than initially thought as the SIT is making new findings. The TSPSC scam came to light on March 13 following a complaint by a youth. The police initially arrested nine accused including Praveen Kumar, who worked as an assistant section officer at TSPSC and Rajashekar Reddy, a network admin at TSPSC. They had allegedly stolen question papers of some exams from a computer in a confidential section of the Commission and sold it to other accused. Subsequently, the SIT arrested 15 accused from Mahabubnagar district alone. The investigators later found that the case has links with Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Nagarkurnool, Khammam and Nalgonda districts. The exam paper leak case created a sensation in Telangana as opposition parties Congress and BJP blamed the BRS government for the leak that affected lakhs of unemployed in the state. The opposition is also demanding a probe by a sitting judge of the High Court or by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The SIT has also examined TSPSC chairman Janardhan Reddy, secretary Anita Ramchandran and member B. Linga Reddy. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also probing money laundering charges in the case. It also recorded the statements of top TSPSC officials. --IANS ms/dpb Air India needed to and has taken a firm line on unruly passenger behaviour onboard aircraft, which is also an international airline industry problem, and it is clearly not helpful when such incidents happen, according to Air India chief Campbell Wilson. There have been multiple incidents of unruly passenger behaviour, including abusing and assaulting of cabin crew, onboard planes in recent months. In various cases, the aviation regulator DGCA has also taken action against airlines for certain lapses in reporting and not taking appropriate measures with respect to such incidents. In an incident of unruly passenger behaviour, a male passenger onboard an Air India flight from Goa to Delhi on Monday physically assaulted a crew member. Wilson, who is the CEO and Managing Director of Air India, said that unruly passengers are an international industry problem and that such incidents continue to happen. "As an airline, we needed to and have taken a firm line on unruly behaviour onboard aircraft... there is a level of behaviour that we expect from people when they fly. Also, imparting that same message to the crew when supporting them," Wilson told PTI in an interview in the national capital on Monday. While stressing that the airline has taken a much more active role in taking action when people are unruly, he also acknowledged that "unfortunately, the incidents (of unruly behaviour) continue to happen". Also Read AI, AI Express hired more than 3,900 people this year: Campbell Wilson Experts for stricter punishment to tackle unruly behaviour on flights Air India's progress has been nothing short of stunning: CEO Wilson Air India to get fresh brand identity: CEO Campbell Wilson tells staff Air India ground staff pay hike after Vistara merger: CEO Campbell Wilson Kapurthala Rail Coach Factory fails to deliver even one train set for FY23 MSME Secretary Bidyut Bihari Swain appointed as UPSC member: Official Wrestlers will not be allowed to protest at India Gate: Delhi Police source Maharashtra govt's new financial scheme to pay Rs 6,000 to farmers annually Amar Singh Chamkila: All you need to know about 'Elvis Presley of Punjab' "When they happen, we take action and hopefully in the process, we remind people of what the standard is and we remind people of consequences when the standard is not met," he said. According to him, every airline always has to deal with such issues. Under DGCA rules, unruly passenger behaviour can be classified into three levels. Unruly behaviour such as physical gestures, verbal harassment and unruly inebriation are classified as Level 1 while physically abusive behaviour like pushing, kicking or sexual harassment are classified as Level 2. Life-threatening behaviour such as damage to aircraft operating systems, physical violence like choking and murderous assault are considered as Level 3. Depending on the level of unruly behaviour, an internal committee set up by the airline concerned can decide on the duration for which an unruly passenger can be banned from flying. Earlier this year, Air India faced action from DGCA for lapses in reporting incidents of unruly passenger behaviour onboard aircraft. On January 24, the watchdog imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on Air India for not reporting two incidents of unruly passenger behaviour onboard a Paris-Delhi flight on December 6, 2022. On that flight, one drunk passenger was caught smoking in the lavatory and not adhering to the crew instructions, and another passenger allegedly relieved himself on a vacant seat and blanket of a fellow female passenger when she went to the lavatory. These incidents were not immediately reported to the regulator. On January 20, DGCA slapped a penalty of Rs 30 lakh on Air India as well as suspended the licence of the pilot-in-command of the New York-Delhi flight in which a person allegedly urinated on a female co-passenger. In the incident that happened on November 26, 2022, the watchdog also slapped a fine of Rs 3 lakh on Air India's Director of in-flight services for failing to discharge her duties. On February 6, the civil aviation ministry told the Rajya Sabha that a total of 63 passengers were placed on the 'No Fly List' list in 2022. A total of 143 passengers have been put on the list since 2017, as per the data provided by the ministry in February. These passengers were placed on the list as recommended by airlines' internal committees set up as per the DGCA's Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) pertaining to the handling of unruly/disruptive passengers. The CAR was notified in September 2017, as a measure to deal with the issue related to the handling of unruly/disruptive passengers. It provides measures to pre-empt such incidents by way of the training flight crew, cabin crew and ground staff in soft skills to deal with unruly passengers besides how to detect, diffuse and prevent a critical situation. Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) Han Sang-hyuk arrives at his office in the building of KCC in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. Yonhap President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday signed off on a proposal to dismiss the chief of the broadcasting watchdog accused of involvement in score manipulation against a right-wing cable channel in the process of renewing its broadcasting license in 2020, the presidential office said. Han Sang-hyuk, chairman of the state Korea Communications Commission (KCC), was indicted earlier this month on charges of prodding senior KCC officials to give low scores to TV Chosun during its license renewal evaluation process. Han, who was appointed during the previous Moon Jae-in administration, also allegedly arranged the appointment of a civic activist critical of TV Chosun to the commission's judging panel in charge of relicensing reviews. The Ministry of Personnel Management sent a report with its opinion of Han to the presidential office last week, and Yoon signed off on his dismissal Tuesday, the presidential office said. Han's term was set to end at the end of July. (Yonhap) The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is guiding the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi) to form an ethics committee to take action against individual misdemeanours in asset management companies (AMCs). Speaking at the inauguration of an office of Amfi in Mumbai on Tuesday, Sebi Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch said the markets regulator was building an institutional mechanism to prevent and deter wrongdoings in the industry. The proposed ethics committee of Amfi, a nodal association of mutual funds in the country, is envisioned to be able to take action on a self-regulatory basis against individuals who are found involved in misconduct such as front-running and insider trading. It will not have judicial powers, but a voluntary alignment of the industry to work for the collective good. And if that means that the ethics committee has to call somebody and say this is bad behaviour and we will all have to pay for your bad behaviour, then that is by its voluntary nature. If that entity says we do not care, it is free to leave Amfi, Buch said. Noting that the industry gets information about such individual misdemeanours before the regulator, Buch said, If they (AMCs) know that somebody is misbehaving and sooner or later when the regulator shows up, we will all suffer, that is up to them to ask their members to behave themselves. In case the self-regulatory model doesnt curb such wrongdoings, then the regulator will come in with a hammer, she added. The mutual fund body is planning to prepare a charter for the proposed ethics committee and get it approved by Sebi in the next two months. The ethics committee can recommend action against individuals like fund managers and other employees to asset management companies. AMCs have signed a code of conduct agreement with the association and it will be on them to take the action, said N S Venkatesh, CEO, Amfi. Earlier this month, Sebi issued a consultation paper proposing AMCs to design an alert system to identify possible instances of misconduct through lifestyle checks of employees and scanning of recorded communications and CCTV footage, among others. Further, it put the onus on AMCs to establish internal control systems to detect instances of front-running, insider trading, mis-selling of products, misuse of information by key employees and delay in execution of orders of AMCs by their brokers/dealers. Further, the association has sought more time to submit their comments on the latest proposal by Sebi to overhaul total expense ratio (TER) for mutual funds. The stakeholders will now be able to submit comments till June 6, an extension of seven days from the previous deadline. Buchs comment on self-regulation comes at a time when the MF body is moving towards a new target of Rs 100 trillion as assets under management with more responsibilities under Amfi 2.0. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday launched a fresh attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for criticising Indian government policies on China, and said that he should be ashamed of his remarks. Sitharaman was speaking to reporters in Mumbai on Monday. "He (Rahul Gandhi) should be ashamed while taunting the government of India on China issue. He is briefed by the Chinese Ambassador but he doesn't listen to what our External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar says on the topic," she said. Sitharaman's statement came weeks after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's response in whcih he referred to Rahul Gandhi's meeting with the Chinese ambassador to India during the Doklam crisis. Congress leader had attacked the government, suggesting that new territory had been lost to China's salami slicing. "I would have offered to take classes on China from Rahul Gandhi but I discovered he was taking classes on China from the Chinese ambassador," Jaishankar had said while responding to the Congress leader's criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's handling of relations with China. Further hitting out at Congress, Sitharaman said, "Whenever the External Affairs Minister speaks in the parliament on this issue, the leaders of the Congress party either walk out or shout in their loudest voices to disrupt the EAM's speech. Also Read Cong to ally with like-minded parties to defend Constitution: Sonia Gandhi FM Sitharaman meets President Murmu ahead of Union Budget presentation Rahul Gandhi represents 'laziest type of politics': Rajeev Chandrasekhar Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi approves Budget ahead of presentation Before last pre-general election Budget, PM convenes Council of Ministers Polluting children's minds through texts, lessons unacceptable: K'taka CM Goa plans to adopt 'best' practices of three other BJP-ruled state AAP criticises Delhi L-G over Shahbad Dairy incident, questions priorities 'No corruption harge against Modi govt in last 9 yrs', says Minister Road to 2024: BJP reaches out to allies amid Opposition's unity push "Whenever he (EAM) speaks in parliament on this issue, the Congress leaders either walk out or shout in their loudest voices to disrupt EAM's speech," she said. She also condemned Rahul Gandhi for denouncing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that no one knows what agreement he has signed with the Chinese people. "He (Rahul Gandhi) should also be ashamed while taunting about 56 inches, specially when no one knows what agreement he had signed with Chinese people," she said. "Neither you nor we nor anyone else knows what was on that agreement. You (Journalists) should ask him this question also why he doesn't come to the fore with the details of his agreement with the Chinese. You must speak the truth to the power," she added. Speaking on the freebies culture in politics, Sitharaman said that the issues of freebies must be discussed and debated. "Freebies culture in politics is growing and I can't say when it will be continued. What I can say is that the issues of freebies must be discussed and debated. We can't segregate on the basis that our freebies are right and their freebies are wrong. The necessity and politics of freebies must be discussed and debated," she added. To improve governance in the state, Goa government mulling to adopt the "best practices" from three BJP-ruled states, that are, Haryana, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, speaking to reporters, said that several issues of Goa were discussed in the meeting of NITI Ayog and Chief Ministers. He was speaking a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with the Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states at the party headquarters in Delhi. "Haryana is practicing the concept of Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) and also Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are practicing 'CM Dashboard', we will study them and try to implement them here," Sawant said. He said that officials of the Goa government will visit these states for better understanding. Sawant said that during the Chief Ministers conference, Prime Minister Modi guided all Chief Ministers on various issues. Also Read Goa lawmakers, oppn leaders want to name new airport on Manohar Parrikar GFP, AAP slam Goa collector's circular seeking funds for event on Jan 26 Gujarat Assembly elections: BJP upbeat ahead of counting of votes Come Jan, travel from Mumbai to Goa on new highway in just 4.5 hrs: Gadkari Madhya Pradesh govt issues security alert to ensure peace, communal harmony AAP criticises Delhi L-G over Shahbad Dairy incident, questions priorities 'No corruption harge against Modi govt in last 9 yrs', says Minister Road to 2024: BJP reaches out to allies amid Opposition's unity push Inflation rate in India lesser than US, UK, Germany: Union minister Kishan Vande Bharat to help realise transformation goal of PM Modi: Assam CM "We discussed programmes, which can be reached to people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi guided us on these issues. He also stressed on adopting the good practices of other states," Sawant said. Sawant further said that during the NITI Ayog meeting, he sought support from the Central government in areas of mining, tourism and industries. "We are getting support in these areas and we further want support from the Central government," he said. The Chief Minister said that he presented an overview of Goa's "significant achievements" in the year and shared comprehensive plans to further propel the state's development across multiple sectors. "I express my gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for assigning one of the highest number of G20 meetings to Goa and for his support and commitment to the progress of our state," Sawant added. --IANS sbk/sha After a meeting with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, the Congress on Monday projected a united front saying that the two leaders will fight together against the BJP in the upcoming elections. Reportedly, the discussion between the Congress chief and Rahul Gandhi with the Rajasthan CM Gehlot and Sachin Pilot lasted for four long hours in the national capital on Monday. Talking to the media after the discussion, KC Venugopal said, "We have decided to fight elections unitedly. Definitely, we will win the elections in Rajasthan. Both Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot have unanimously agreed with the proposal." "We have decided that both leaders have agreed to go together. It will be a joint fight against BJP, we will win the state (Rajasthan)," he added. Earlier in the day, in view of the political tussle in Rajasthan, Congress High Command summoned Ashok Gehlot and his deputy Sachin Pilot for separate meetings with party president Mallikarjuna Kharge in the national capital. Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot have been engaged in a power tussle since 2020. Also Read Explained: Why is Sachin Pilot holding a day-long protest in Rajasthan Decision will be taken in party's interest: Cong Prez on Gehlot, Pilot Sach was life: Tendulkar on field was raw emotion, a happiness pill Rahul Gandhi takes a late-night truck ride to speak to drivers; see video Gehlot vs Pilot: Groups fight for dominance in Bharat Jodo Yatra hoardings Ajit Pawar praises new Parliament building, suggests MPs work for people Polluting children's minds through texts, lessons unacceptable: K'taka CM FM Sitharaman calls Rahul Gandhi's remarks over China policy shameful Goa plans to adopt 'best' practices of three other BJP-ruled state AAP criticises Delhi L-G over Shahbad Dairy incident, questions priorities The delegation led by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will meet President Droupdai Murmu on May 30, to discuss the situation in the state. Earlier on May 15, Former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader Sachin Pilot gave an ultimatum to his own party's government in Rajasthan to probe the alleged paper leak scam that happened during the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule in the State. He warned the Gehlot government that if his demands were not met by this month, he would agitate across the state. Pilot's 5-day Jan Sangharsh Yatra' to protest against the inaction of the Rajasthan government in the alleged corruption cases during the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in the State. Assembly polls are scheduled to be held in Rajasthan later this year and the Congress party is seeking another term ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha polls in 2024. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday praised the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that the central government has ushered in a remarkable era of corruption-free governance. "The present central government under the visionary leadership of PM Narendra Modi has ushered in a remarkable era of corruption-free governance. Gone are the days of scandal and corruption that plagued the previous government and Prime Minister Modi's government is a shining example of transparency, said Saha during a media interaction in Agartala on the occasion of Narendra Modi's 9th anniversary as the Prime Minister. The Chief Minister said that the 9 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi were spent in service, good governance, and in the welfare of the poor. Prime Minister always considers himself a servant and for this, he always engages himself in working for the poor people and the government. "Money is spent on the welfare of poor people. PM Modi is working to build a corruption-free government. Previous government means corruption and scandal. Swachh Sarkar is another name of PM Modi's government," he added. Regarding the provision of houses to the common people, the Chief Minister said that such a revolution in the construction of housing for the poor has never been seen before in the history of independent India. "More than 3 crore houses have been provided across the country and more than 2 lakh houses have been provided in Tripura. Besides, the central government has sanctioned another 1 lakh pakka houses for Tripura," said the CM. Also Read BJP-IPFT alliance will rule Tripura for next 40-50 years: CM Manik Saha Amit Shah to meets senior leaders to discuss poll preparedness in Tripura Manik Saha holds campaign in Agartala, says people have faith in BJP Assembly Election: HM Amit Shah to address rallies in Tripura today Manik Saha to take oath as Tripura CM in presence of PM Narendra Modi today KC Venugopal declares a united fight against BJP in Rajasthan elections Ajit Pawar praises new Parliament building, suggests MPs work for people Polluting children's minds through texts, lessons unacceptable: K'taka CM FM Sitharaman calls Rahul Gandhi's remarks over China policy shameful Goa plans to adopt 'best' practices of three other BJP-ruled state The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Modi has provided gas connection to 2 lakh 83 thousand families thinking about the mothers and sisters cooking in clay ovens. "During the Covid pandemic, more than 7 lakh common people received free ration items. The central government did not increase the prices of agricultural produce for the welfare of farmers and to double the income of farmers. The Prime Minister assured to extend all possible support and assistance to marginalized communities to help them realize their dreams," he added. The Chief Minister also said that during his visit to Delhi, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia informed him that international flight services from Agartala to Chittagong will be started by next July. "Prime Minister has worked for the growth and stability of the economy even during covid. The number of national highways in the state has also increased. Without Prime Minister Modi this development is impossible and no one can imagine it. Because he always engaged himself in the welfare and development of the people," said the Chief Minister. CM Saha also highlighted the waterways in the state and said that earlier no one could think of waterways in the state. "Earlier no one could think of waterways in the state. At present water communication is also being considered. The waterway is currently under construction. Before 2014 there was no world-class train in the country. But during the last 9 years, there have been 9 express trains launched. Tripura state currently has 12 to 13 express trains plying on various routes," he said. The Chief Minister also said that there were 641 medical colleges in the country in 2014. 700 new medical colleges have been opened in Narendra Modi's 9 years as Prime Minister. Attempts are underway to set up a medical college on the model of AIIMS in the state of Tripura. A dental college has been established. 390 new universities have been set up in the country in the last 9 years. He said, "All north-eastern states including Tripura have benefited due to Prime Minister's Act East policy. Our state has also been gifted with diamond models. Prime Minister has always said that the development of India is not possible without the development of the North East." The Chief Minister also expressed his views on various other important issues. State BJP President Rajeev Bhattacharya and Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation Deepak Majumdar were present during the exchange of views with media representatives. Do EMs stand to gain with a higher US debt ceiling? US leaders reached a tentative deal to raise the govts $31.4 tn debt ceiling for two years. This brought a relief rally in global markets on May 29. Will it make emerging markets a favourable bet? Samsung is reportedly planning to develop chips for XR (Extended Reality) devices as the company is expected to unveil a new XR headset sometime later this year or the first half of next year. According to The Korea Economic Daily, citing sources, the company's plans to venture into the XR device chip market are now taking concrete shape. The System LSI division of Samsung that makes Exynos processors and ISOCELL camera sensors has started taking its first step toward making processors for XR devices. The tech giant also plans to compete with Google and Qualcomm. Moreover, the report said that the company could design completely new chips or modify existing ones to suit XR devices. The chipsets are responsible for running the operating system and applications, calculating sensor data, and tracking user motions. Also Read Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro: Lightweight laptop lifted by ecosystem benefits Samsung to launch Galaxy S23 smartphone in lime colour: Details here Samsung Electronics cuts memory chip production as profit declines CES 2023: Samsung shares vision for connected homes as future way of life Samsung Electronics to showcase new models in monitor lineup at CES 2023 MediaTek, Nvidia to work together to transform automobiles with AI Amazon UK trains virtual assistant 'Alexa' to offer advice on periods New lightweight gaming laptop, Aspire 5 by Acer enters Indian market Amazon announces 5G revolution sale on smartphones: Check deals and offers Battlegrounds Mobile India available to play with new BGMI 2.5 updates With XR devices, rich data can be overlaid over reality to create experiences like live translation, immersive meetings, and navigation, the report said. According to Counterpoint Research, over 110 million XR devices could be sold yearly by 2025, a massive jump from the current 18 million units per year. Another market tracker, IDC, predicts the XR devices market will reach $50.9 billion in 2025, up from $13.9 billion in 2022. In November last year, Meta (formerly Facebook) released its new high-end mixed reality headset, Meta Quest Pro. The company has sold over 10 million units of its predecessor Meta Quest worldwide. Apple is expected to reveal its own VR headset, tentatively named Reality Pro, at its annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2023 on June 5. --IANS shs/prw/svn/ President Joe Biden says he feels good about the debt ceiling and budget deal negotiated with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy as the White House and congressional leaders work to ensure its passage this week in time to lift the nation's borrowing limit and prevent a disastrous U.S. default. Biden spent part of the Memorial Day holiday working the phones, calling lawmakers in both parties, as the president does his part to deliver the votes. A number of hard right conservatives are criticizing the deal as falling short of the deep spending cuts they wanted, while liberals decry policy changes such as new work requirements for older Americans in the food aid program. A key test will come Tuesday afternoon when the House Rules Committee is scheduled to consider the package and vote on sending it to the full House for a vote expected Wednesday. I feel very good about it," Biden told reporters Monday as he left Washington for his home in Delaware. I've spoken to a number of the members, he said, among them Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, a past partner in big bipartisan deals who largely sat this one out. "I spoke to a whole bunch of people, and it feels good, Biden said. Also Read Budget 2023-24: Manufacturing sector eyes revised taxations, new PLIs Union Budget 2023: Experts don't expect surprises in social sector outlay Budget 2023: A look back at some major announcements in previous Budget Crypto industry wants 0.1% TDS, Sebi-like regulator in Budget 2023 Biden unveils $6.9 trn budget, raises tax on rich, boosts spending on infra India major partner in UN's strategy for digitisation in peacekeeping Brazil's Lula welcomes back Venezuelan Prez for first time after ban China successfully launches manned spaceship with first civilian on board DeSantis starts presidential campaign in Iowa, steps up criticism of Trump How Erdogan won in Turkey and what does it mean for the country's future To those progressive Democrats raising concerns about the package, the president had a simple message: Talk to me. As lawmakers size up the 99-page bill, few are expected to be fully satisfied with the final product. But Democrat Biden and Republican McCarthy are counting on pulling majority support from the political center, a rarity in divided Washington, to join in voting to prevent a catastrophic federal default. Wall Street will open early Tuesday morning delivering its own assessment, as the U.S. financial markets that had been closed when the deal was struck over the weekend show their reaction to the outcome. McCarthy acknowledged the hard-fought compromise with Biden will not be 100% of what everybody wants as he leads a slim House majority powered by hard-right conservatives. Facing potential blowback from his conservative ranks, the Republican speaker will have to rely on upwards of half the House Democrats and half the House Republicans to push the debt ceiling package to passage. Overall, the package is a tradeoff that would impose some spending reductions for the next two years along with a suspension of the debt limit into January 2025, pushing the volatile political issue past the next presidential election. Raising the debt limit, now $31 trillion, would allow Treasury to continue borrowing to pay the nation's already incurred bills. Additionally, policy issues are raising the most objections from lawmakers. Liberal lawmakers fought hard but were unable to stop new work requirements for people 50 to 54 who receive government food assistance and are otherwise able-bodied without dependents. The Republicans demanded the bolstered work requirements as part of the deal, but some say the changes to the food stamp program are not enough. The Republicans were also pushing to beef up work requirements for health care and other aid; Biden refused to go along on those. Questions are also being raised about an unexpected provision that essentially gives congressional approval to the Mountain Valley Pipeline, a natural gas project important to Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., that many Democrats and others oppose. At the same time, conservative Republicans including those from the House Freedom Caucus say the budget slashing does not go nearly far enough to have their support. No one claiming to be a conservative could justify a YES vote, tweeted Rep. Bob Good, R-Va. This deal is insanity," said Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C. Not gonna vote to bankrupt our country. All told the package would hold spending essentially flat for the coming year, while allowing increases for military and veterans accounts. It would cap growth at 1% for 2025. The House Rules Committee has three members from the influential Freedom Caucus who may very well try to block the package from advancing, forcing McCarthy to rely on the Democrats on the panel to ensure the bill can be sent to the House floor. The House aims to vote Wednesday and send the bill to the Senate, where Majority Leader Chuck Schumer along with McConnell are working for a quick passage by week's end. Senators, who have remained largely on the sidelines during much of the negotiations between the president and the House speaker, began inserting themselves more forcefully into the debate. Some senators are insisting on amendments to reshape the package from both the left and right flanks. That could require time-consuming debates that delay final approval of the deal. Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia is extremely disappointed by the provision greenlighting the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline, his office said in a statement. He plans to file an amendment to remove the provision from the package. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina complained that the military spending increases are not enough. "I will use all powers available to me in the Senate to have amendment votes to undo this catastrophe for defense," he tweeted. But making any changes to the package at this stage seems highly unlikely with so little time to spare. Congress and the White House are racing to meet the Monday deadline now less than a week away. That's when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the U.S. would run short of cash and face an unprecedented debt default without action. A default would almost certainly crush the U.S. economy and spill over around the globe, as the world's reliance on the stability of the American dollar and the country's leadership fall into question. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva welcomed back his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro for the first time in the country since the latter was banned in 2019 by former leader Jair Bolsonaro. Describing Maduro's return to Brazil "a historic moment", Lula said in a tweet on Monday: "After 8 years, the President Nicolas Maduro visits Brazil again and we regain the right to carry out international relations policy with the seriousness that we have always done, especially with the countries that border Brazil." The Venezuelan leader arrived in the country ahead of a summit of Latin American leaders in Brasilia, reports the BBC. On his part, Maduro talked of a "new era" in bilateral relations. "Venezuela is prepared to resume virtuous relations with investors and businessmen from Brazil. We are with open doors, with full guarantees so that we return to the time of joint work and cooperation," he said on Twitter. Also Read Brazil's Lula sworn in as prez, vows accountability from outgoing Bolsonaro Bolsonaro denounces violence after supporters storm Brazil's govt buildings Insiders enabled capital riots: Brazilian President Lula da Silva Amid protests in Brazil, Elon Musk hopes they resolve matters 'peacefully' Jair Bolsonaro to return to Brazil for 1st time since losing election China successfully launches manned spaceship with first civilian on board DeSantis starts presidential campaign in Iowa, steps up criticism of Trump How Erdogan won in Turkey and what does it mean for the country's future Russia attacks Kyiv as air defences work to stop relentless bombardment Muslims must raise voice against terrorism in name of Islam: Pak author At a joint press conference, Lula also spoke of what he termed "extremely exaggerated" US sanctions on Venezuela and said it was inexplicable that Washington would "impose 900 sanctions because they don't get on". He urged his South American ally to build a new "narrative" about authoritarianism, saying an unfair and "constructed" one had been established around the state of democracy in Venezuela. Maduro had last visited Brazil in 2015. --IANS ksk/ Days after Russia invaded Ukraine, the NDB announced it would stop funding new projects in Russia to assure investors it was complying with western-led sanctions against Moscow. It also scrambled to win confidence from investors worried about its shareholding structure. The New Development Bank, the multilateral bank set up by the BRICS states, is trying to think about ways it can fulfil its obligations to founding member Russia after it had to stop funding projects there to comply with sanctions. Police are walking into MBC TV's headquarters in western Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap Police attempted to raid the headquarters of MBC TV on Tuesday in connection with an investigation into the alleged leak of personal information of Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, sparking a two-hour standoff with unionized reporters. Investigators are looking into allegations that an MBC reporter, surnamed Lim, was involved in the leak of Han's personal information, such as copies of the residence registration document and real estate contracts. Unionized MBC workers blocked the investigators, holding banners denouncing the investigation as oppression of the press. They held banners reading "Turn back! It's unfair control of broadcasting" or "The beginning of the Yoon Suk Yeol government's oppression of MBC." With assistance from the company, police investigators succeeded in reaching Lim's desk inside the building in western Seoul but decided not to execute a search warrant, concluding nothing was subject to seizure. Earlier in the day, investigators from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency raided Lim's home as well as the National Assembly Secretariat, and seized evidence, including Lim's mobile phone. The investigation began after a member of Seoul's Gangseo Ward Council filed a complaint accusing a person of violating the Personal Information Protection Act after that person handed him information on Han and his family, which included copies of their residence registration document and real estate contracts. Police suspect the information was leaked after being submitted to the National Assembly for Han's confirmation hearing last year and are looking into Lim's alleged involvement in the leak. Lim previously drew attention for a report on President Yoon Suk Yeol's hot mic moment during his visit to New York in September, which was subtitled to make it appear that the president used vulgar language to talk about U.S. lawmakers and President Joe Biden. The main opposition Democratic Party's press freedom committee denounced the raid into the MBC headquarters as clear oppression of the press and a retaliation for a report "that made the government uncomfortable." Justice Minister Han defended the police search, telling reporters before a meeting of the Supreme Court judge recommendation committee, "Leaking or abusing someone else's personal information for the purpose of harassing him should not take place." (Yonhap) Ron DeSantis plans to kick off his presidential campaign in Iowa on Tuesday, the start of a busy week that will take him to 12 cities in three states as he tests his pitch as the most formidable Republican challenger to former President Donald Trump. The Florida governor's two-day trip to the leadoff caucus state starting at a suburban Des Moines megachurch and ending at a Cedar Rapids racetrack comes after a stumbling online announcement last week that formalised his long-anticipated entry into the growing Republican field. It will be followed by stops in early primary states New Hampshire and South Carolina. DeSantis' scheduled Tuesday evening stop at Eternity Church in Clive is a conspicuous nod to the evangelical Christians who wield outsize influence in Iowa's Republican presidential caucuses. His visit will give voters an opportunity to meet the new candidate just as he has been stepping up his criticism of Trump. He's got a big hill to climb and I think everybody would agree with that to be able to convince people that he can overcome Trump, that he can do a job as good as, if not better than, Trump," said Bernie Hayes, the Republican chair in Linn County where DeSantis plans to wrap up his Iowa jaunt Wednesday. DeSantis, assailed by Trump for months, pivoted from oblique swipes to direct questioning of the former president's conservative credentials during a round of interviews with friendly media last week, notably his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and record on criminal justice. DeSantis called a bipartisan bill Trump signed in 2018 that reduced mandatory minimum federal prison sentences and allows a pathway for non-violent offenders to reduce prison time a jailbreak bill. As a member of Congress, DeSantis voted for an early version of the measure but had left Congress after he was elected governor and before the final, less strict bill passed. Also Read DeSantis's presidential campaign launch on Twitter plagued with glitches US Senator Tim Scott announces his candidacy for 2024 US presidential run Appeals court rejects Donald Trump effort to block Pence testimony Trump heads to NY to face civil trial after suing ex-lawyer for $500mn Trump to appear on CNN town hall a day after sex assault verdict How Erdogan won in Turkey and what does it mean for the country's future Russia attacks Kyiv as air defences work to stop relentless bombardment Muslims must raise voice against terrorism in name of Islam: Pak author Ex-PM Imran Khan summoned in Lahore Corps Commander House attack case CAG Girish Murmu re-elected as external auditor of WHO for 4-year term DeSantis also said Trump wrongly turned the country over to Fauci," referring to Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases who helped lead the country's COVID-19 pandemic response. DeSantis announced his campaign Wednesday night during an online conversation with Twitter CEO Elon Musk. The audio stream crashed repeatedly, making it difficult for most users to hear the announcement in real time, a stumble campaign officials and others quickly dismissed as a minor setback. DeSantis was undeterred in laying out his message, that conservative legislative victories this year in Florida, chiefly on cultural topics such as restricting sexual orientation discussion in schools, are the antidote for what he calls a nation controlled increasingly by the extreme left. American decline is not inevitable it is a choice," DeSantis said during the glitchy audio stream. And we should choose a new direction a path that will lead to American revitalisation. DeSantis has a running start in Iowa and other early voting states, thanks to Never Back Down, a super political action committee that is using money the group can receive in unlimited sums from wealthy contributors to begin organising support for him. Campaign finance law requires the group to do its work without coordinating with DeSantis. Iowans should see staff and volunteers for the group working the perimeter of DeSantis' church event in Clive on Tuesday, as well as events Wednesday in conservative western Iowa's Sioux City and Council Bluffs and the manufacturing and college city of Pella in east-central Iowa before the finale in Cedar Rapids. By making his bid official, DeSantis gives the group a rallying figure whose events it can attend, even if cannot coordinate with DeSantis' official campaign group. The tack, untested and not without risks, is aimed at maximising super PAC dollars. It's also a way of helping DeSantis race in Iowa to catch Trump, whose campaign says it has banked thousands of supporters thanks to a more disciplined, data-driven outreach effort than Trump's seat-of-the-pants 2016 campaign. That operation landed him in second place but with thousands of potential supporters left uncontacted by the campaign. And Trump, besides his regular social media broadsides attacking DeSantis, has attempted to shadow him in Iowa to demonstrate his own popularity. In March, Trump headlined an event at a Davenport theater three days after DeSantis spoke to an audience and took questions from Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds during the Florida governor's tour promoting his memoir. Two weeks ago, Trump scheduled a rally in Des Moines to take place the same day DeSantis was headlining Iowa Republican events in western and eastern Iowa as the guest of Rep. Randy Feenstra and the state GOP. However, Trump scrubbed the outdoor event the day he was to arrive due to threats of severe weather. Turning the tables on Trump, DeSantis swooped into Des Moines that evening for an impromptu appearance that helped his campaign create the desired impression of him dancing in the ring with the heavyweight. Trump is scheduled to return to Iowa on Thursday, the day after DeSantis' tour, and is expected to hold events in the Des Moines area, meet influential conservatives and sit for an interview that evening with Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity. Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday appeared before an anti-terrorism court in four cases, including the attack on Lahore Corp Commander House, and submitted surety bonds in connection with his pre-arrest bail till June 2. "Khan appeared before the ATC Lahore judge Ijaz Ahmad Buttar and submitted surety bonds worth PKR 100,000 each in the four terrorism cases in which he had already been given pre-arrest bail till June 2," a court official told PTI. As the 70-year-old chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party appeared in the court amid high security, a group of lawyers chanted slogans in his favour. Khan's counsel also challenged the search warrants of the former premier's Zaman Park Lahore residence in the anti-terrorism court. The judge summoned the Punjab police DIG (operations) for next hearing and directed him to submit a reply. On May 9, violent protests erupted after the arrest of Khan by paramilitary Rangers in Islamabad. His party workers vandalised over 20 military installations and government buildings, including the Lahore Corps Commander House, Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad. The Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi was also attacked by the mob for the first time. Khan was later released on bail. Also Read Pakistan deploys troops to halt unrest from ex-PM Imran Khan's arrest Why are the police trying to arrest Imran Khan? All that you need to know Toshakhana case: What's behind the arrest drama at Imran Khan's residence Historical trail of Pakistan's powerful military enterprise: Explainer Imran Khan says PM Shehbaz Sharif will have to take trust vote: Report Bezos prepares prenuptial pact with Sanchez to protect his $138 bn fortune Iran's media claims UN watchdog closes line of inquiry on nuclear programme India extends $1 billion credit line to Sri Lanka by another year Nvidia set to become first US chipmaker valued at over $1 trillion Wild poliovirus detected in environmental samples in Pakistan: Report Law enforcement agencies have arrested over 10,000 workers of Khan's Pakistan party across Pakistan, 4,000 of them from Punjab. 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. Meanwhile, two lawyers of Khan appeared before a joint investigation team probing the attack on Corps Commander House known as Jinnah House in Lahore. The joint investigation team - formed by the Punjab interim government to probe arson attacks on Jinnah House and the Askari Corporate Tower in Lahore on May 9 - had summoned Khan for Tuesday to record his statement but he sent his lawyers instead. Khan has maintained that he has no role in the attack on military installations especially the Jinnah House as he was in jail during the period. The ATC had directed Khan to join the police investigation in the attack on high-profile Lahore Corps Commander House. A large number of Khan's party workers on May 9 stormed the Jinnah House and set it on fire after vandalising it. The Punjab Home Department has constituted 10 different JITs to probe into the attacks and violent protests on May 9, which the army dubbed "Black Day". Khan was nominated in several FIRs lodged at different police stations in the province. The Japanese government adopted a five-year action plan on Tuesday aimed at halving the number of deaths from heatstroke by 2030 from an annual average of 1,295 over the past five years. The action plan, adopted at a cabinet meeting, was in line with a law revised in April to step up measures to fight heatstroke, reports Xinhua news agency. Under the plan, the government will call on elderly people to use air conditioners when necessary and take enough water and salt between April and September and consider ways to evacuate the elderly and people with disabilities during extreme heat waves. People aged 65 and older accounted for over 80 per cent of the deaths from heatstroke in the past five years. Some 90 per cent of those who died indoors were found not to have used, or had, air conditioners. The government will also support the installation of air conditioners at school classrooms and gyms, and promote measures to prevent children from being left in school buses. Also Read Japan saw record trade deficit in 2022 amid soaring energy prices, weak yen Tamil Nadu Governor returns bill on prohibition of online gambling LIVE: MC, AAP boycott inauguration of new Parliament building on May 28 Japan mulls over more childcare policies amid declining birthrate 6.4-magnitude quake hits Indonesia's Southeast Sulawesi, no risk of tsunami China successfully launches new manned spaceship with 1st civilian on board Greenland glaciers melting 3 times faster than 20th Century: Research Russia says drones damage buildings in pre-dawn attack, blames Ukraine Nepal's Sherpa association felicitates over 100 veteran mountain climbers Sri Lanka to import 1 mn eggs daily from India to meet market demand --IANS ksk/ China's foreign minister met Tesla Ltd. CEO Elon Musk on Tuesday and said strained U.S.-Chinese relations require mutual respect, while delivering a message of reassurance that foreign companies are welcome. U.S.-Chinese relations are especially tense after Washington shot down a Chinese balloon believed to be gathering intelligence and warned Beijing against supplying arms to Russia for its war against Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal reported China has rejected a request for its defense minister to meet the U.S. defense secretary when both are in Singapore this weekend. We need to keep the steering wheel in the right direction of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, Qin Gang told Musk, according to a ministry statement. The two sides should avoid dangerous driving,' Qin said. He gave no details of steps to improve relations. Musk's visit comes at a time when the ruling Communist Party is trying to revive investor interest in China's slowing economy. Foreign companies are uneasy following raids on consulting firms and given the strained Chinese relations with Washington. Qin said China will unswervingly promote high-level opening up and create a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment, according to the statement. China's development is an opportunity for the world. Also Read Elon Musk credits father for teaching 'physics, engineering & construction' Why is Tesla so confused about Indian market? Challenges and opportunities Tesla chief Elon Musk threatens to sue Microsoft for using data 'illegally' Tesla recalls 1.1 million electric cars from China over braking defect After China, Tesla now announces price cuts on its electric vehicles in US Cyber attack in Greece disrupts high school exams, causes political spat US ends probe into Tesla for allowing video games in vehicles while moving 56% businesses report at least one scam a year on LinkedIn: Report Abrdn likely to sell its 1.66% stake in HDFC Life via block deals: Report 'Shocked' UK PM Rishi Sunak clamps down on free vapes for children China's electric vehicle market has broad prospects for development, the ministry quoted Qin as saying. China accounts for half of global electric vehicle sales and is the site of Tesla's first factory outside the United States. Tesla opened the first wholly foreign-owned auto factory in China in 2019 after Beijing eased ownership restrictions to increase competition and speed up industry development. The Chinese statement cited Musk as saying Tesla was willing to expand its business in China and opposes decoupling, a reference to fears the world may split into multiple markets with incompatible products. Tesla didn't respond to requests by email for information about Musk's visit to China. North Korea on Tuesday confirmed plans to launch its first military spy satellite in June and described such capacities as crucial for monitoring the United States' reckless military exercises with rival South Korea. The statement came a day after North Korea notified Japanese authorities that it plans to launch the satellite sometime between May 31 and June 11, and that the event may affect waters in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and east of the Philippines' Luzon Island. Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said he ordered Japan's Self Defense Forces to shoot down the satellite or debris, if any entered Japanese territory. In comments published on state media, senior North Korean military official Ri Pyong Chol berated the combined US-South Korean military exercises, which Pyongyang has long described as invasion rehearsals. He said North Korea considers space-based reconnaissance as indispensable to monitor in real time the dangerous military acts of the US and its vassal forces, which he says are openly revealing their reckless ambition for aggression. Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-fired about 100 missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to reach the US mainland and a slew of launches it described as simulated nuclear attacks on targets in South Korea. North Korea has said its intensified testing activity is meant to counter its rivals' joint military exercises as it continues to use those drills as a pretext to advance its arsenal of nuclear-capable weapons. Last week, the South Korean and US militaries conducted large-scale live-fire drills near the border with North Korea as the first of five rounds of exercises marking 70 years since the establishment of their alliance. Ri said that the expanding US-South Korean military exercises, combined with stated US plans to send nuclear-capable submarines to dock in South Korea and the increased activities of US reconnaissance aircraft in the region underline a sinister intention to prepare for pre-emptive military action against the North. Also Read Kim Jong-un says N Korea has finished development of 1st spy satellite N Korea conducts 'important' test for developing reconnaissance satellite North Korea fires unspecified ballistic missile into East Sea: South Korea N Korea tells neighbour Japan it plans to launch satellite in coming days Japan gets ready to shoot down North Korea spy satellite debris Uganda gets harsh anti-LGBT law, Biden calls it 'violation of human rights' Sudan warring sides agree to extend truce after mediators show impatience As space race intensifies, China plans to send astronauts to moon by 2030 Pledged fund to support Rohingya refugees is grossly insufficient: UN Nvidia Corp plans to build Israel's most powerful AI supercomputer While Washington and Seoul describe their regular military exercises as defensive, they have expanded their training since 2022 to cope with the North's evolving threats. The concerning security environment prevailing in the region owing to the dangerous military acts by the US and its vassal forces requires us to secure as the most pressing task a reliable reconnaissance and information means capable of gathering information about the military acts of the enemy in real time, Ri said. (North Korea's) military reconnaissance satellite No. 1 to be launched in June and various reconnaissance means due to be newly tested are indispensable to tracking, monitoring, discriminating, controlling and coping with in advance in real time the dangerous military acts of the US and its vassal forces, he added. Ri didn't specify the other reconnaissance means the North supposedly has planned. North Korea's satellite launch would use long-range missile technology banned by past UN Security Council resolutions, although previous missile and rockets tests have demonstrated North Korea's ability to deliver a satellite into space. Spy satellites are among an array of high-tech weapons systems North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has publicly vowed to develop. Other weapons systems on his wish list include solid-propellant ICBMs, nuclear-powered submarines, hypersonic missiles and multi-warhead missiles. North Korea placed Earth-observation satellites in orbit in 2012 and 2016. While North Korea does not notify neighbouring countries of its missile firings in advance, it has issued notices ahead of satellite launches in the past. Although North Korea with its past launches of missiles and rockets has demonstrated an ability to deliver a satellite into space, there are questions about the capabilities of its satellites. Foreign experts say the earlier satellites never transmitted imagery back to North Korea, and analysts say the new device displayed in state media in recent weeks appeared too small and crudely designed to process and transfer high-resolution imagery. South Korea warned Monday that North Korea will face consequences if it goes ahead with its launch plan in violation of the U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban the North from conducting any launch using ballistic technology. The Russian and Chinese foreign ministers are expected to meet with their counterparts from the BRICS economic bloc in Cape Town on Thursday, a precursor to a larger summit of developing nations' leaders in South Africa in August that Russian President Vladimir Putin may attend while under indictment by the International Criminal Court. South Africa has suggested without saying explicitly that it won't arrest Putin, if he decides to travel for the main BRICS summit in Johannesburg, despite being obliged to do so as a signatory to the ICC's Rome treaty. BRICS is a bloc of emerging economies made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and their leaders, including China's Xi Jinping, have been invited to the Aug. 22-24 summit. Any Putin trip and the Kremlin hasn't said if he will attend would focus more attention on South Africa's relationship with Moscow. There are clear concerns in the West that Africa's most developed economy is aligning with Russia and pulling other developing countries along with it at a time of heightened global tensions. Those concerns burst into the open earlier this month when the U.S. ambassador to South Africa called a news conference in Pretoria and accused the country of supplying weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine. The South African government has denied the allegation, but the visit of a Russian cargo ship to South Africa's top naval base near Cape Town in December is under investigation. While South Africa hasn't yet stated its official position with regard to the arrest warrant for Putin, its foreign ministry said Tuesday that those traveling for Thursday's meeting of BRICS foreign ministers and the leaders who attend the main summit in three months' time would be afforded standard diplomatic immunity. Also Read Women's T20 World Cup Semis: South Africa create history, qualify for final England vs South Africa, Women's T20 World Cup: How to live stream in India T20 World Cup Final Highlights: Australia complete 2nd hattrick of titles Women's T20 World Cup final: Australia vs South Africa live stream in India India's Mahindra named fastest-growing brand in South Africa for 2022 Ukraine's economy shows 'resilience' from Russian attacks, says IMF BRICS bank NDB looks to find ways to fulfil its Russia obligations Issa brothers to merge Asda with petrol station biz in $2.8-billion deal WHO stresses on policies to help tobacco farmers shift to growing food crop Leading CEOs, experts raise risk of extinction from artificial intelligence But the privileges do not override any warrant that may have been issued by any international tribunal against any attendee of the conference, foreign ministry spokesman Clayson Monyela said, an indirect reference to Putin. It means the ICC arrest warrant would still be applicable if Putin visits in August, even if it is highly unlikely that South Africa would arrest him. The Russian president hasn't traveled to any country that is part of the international court treaty since he was indicted in March for war crimes relating to the abduction of children from Ukraine. Away from Putin, the main summit of BRICS leaders could be one of the most important in the bloc's short history, analysts say. There could be movement on two critical issues: BRICS could be expanded to admit new members like Saudi Arabia, Iran and United Arab Emirates. The bloc might also adopt a resolution on creating a BRICS currency. Those moves within a group containing Russia and China might be seen as "a direct economic challenge to the U.S., said William Gumede, an associate professor at the School of Governance at Johannesburg's University of the Witwatersrand and a BRICS analyst. "BRICS could look very different ... and (it) would just change the dynamics of world power, Gumede said. BRICS officials said in April that at least 19 countries including major oil producers Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates have applied to become members. South Africa Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor has also confirmed that a BRICS currency will be discussed. The discussions might start this week when Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang meet with Pandor and other counterparts from Brazil and India. Although there are complications with introducing a common currency in countries with vastly different economic setups, Gumede said a formal decision to pursue it could still be seen as a major political statement and an attempt to start the de-dollarization of parts of the world. The U.S. would have to respond, one way or another, Gumede said. The BRICS gatherings follow a summit of the Group of Seven leaders in Japan that was dominated by the U.S. and the world's other advanced economies extending sanctions against Russia as punishment for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and finding ways to counter the economic policies of China. While accusing South Africa of giving arms to Russia and going against its stated neutrality in the war in Ukraine, U.S. Ambassador Reuben Brigety also referred to the country's hosting of the upcoming BRICS meetings and how they had been framed by some within the bloc as the counterpoint to the G-7, the meeting of the other side. Brigety gave notice that the U.S. was watching. Our officials expressed quite serious concern of the explicit articulation of the BRICS configuration as a, quote, counterpoint to the G-7, Brigety said. Of course, South Africa is free to choose its diplomatic and economic partners however it chooses and so is the United States of America." This is not a matter of bullying as I often hear in this context. It's not a matter of threatening. This is how any relationship works. Russia launched a pre-dawn attack on Ukraine's capital Tuesday as its air defences worked to stop drones in what has been a relentless wave of daylight and nighttime bombardments targeting Kyiv. The buzzing of drones and loud explosions were heard as Ukrainian air defence responded to the third Russia aerial attack on the capital in the last 24 hours. According to preliminary data, more than 20 Shahed drones were destroyed by air defence forces in Kyiv's airspace, the Kyiv Military Administration says. One person died, three were injured when a high-rise building in the Holosiiv district caught fire. The two upper floors are destroyed, and there may be people under the rubble, the Kiyv military administration said. More than 20 people were evacuated. Elsewhere in the capital, falling debris caused a fire in a private house in the Darnytskyi district and three cars were set alight in the Pechersky district, according to the military administration. The series of attacks that began Sunday included a rare daylight attack Monday that left puffs of white smoke in the blue skies. Russian forces fired 11 ballistic and cruise missiles at Kyiv at about 11:30 a.m., according to Ukraine's chief of staff, Valerii Zaluzhnyi. All of them were shot down, he said. Also Read Russia launches 20 missiles, 2 drones at Ukraine, attack kills 16 people Russian fires over 20 cruise missiles in Ukraine, kills 12 people Ukraine says it shot down 29 of 30 Russia cruise missiles fired today Ukraine's infrastructure targeted in another Russian missile barrage UK announces new tranche of sanctions against Russia over Ukraine war Muslims must raise voice against terrorism in name of Islam: Pak author Ex-PM Imran Khan summoned in Lahore Corps Commander House attack case CAG Girish Murmu re-elected as external auditor of WHO for 4-year term China's space ambitions: Plans to land astronauts on moon before 2030 Prices of sugar, flour skyrocket once again in Pakistan's Balochistan Debris from the intercepted missiles fell in Kyiv's central and northern districts during the morning, landing in the middle of traffic on a city road and also starting a fire on the roof of a building, the Kyiv military administration said. At least one civilian was reported hurt. The Russian Defence Ministry said it launched a series of strikes early Monday targeting Ukrainian air bases with precision long-range air-launched missiles. The strikes destroyed command posts, radars, aircraft and ammunition stockpiles, it claimed. It didn't say anything about hitting cities or other civilian areas. Sudan's warring sides on Monday agreed to extend a shaky cease-fire in their battle for control of the country, after two key international mediators signalled impatience with persistent truce violations. The five-day extension of the cease-fire between Sudan's military and its rival, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, was announced in a joint statement late Monday by Saudi Arabia and the United States. "The extension will provide time for further humanitarian assistance, restoration of essential services, and discussion of a potential longer-term extension," the statement said. The development came after both Riyadh and Washington on Sunday called out both warring sides for specific breaches of a week-long truce that is to expire Monday evening rather than issue another general appeal to respect agreements. Sudan descended into chaos after fighting erupted in mid-April between the military, led by Gen. Abdel- Fattah Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo. The fighting has killed at least 866 civilians and wounded thousands more, according to the Sudan Doctors' Syndicate, which tracks civilian casualties. The toll could be much higher, the medical group said. The conflict has turned the capital, Khartoum, and other urban areas into battlefields, forcing nearly 1.4 million people to flee their homes to safer areas inside Sudan or crossing into neighboring countries. Early on, foreign governments raced to evacuate their diplomats and nationals as thousands of foreign residents scrambled to get out of the African nation. Also Read How the world backed two generals, and put Sudan on the path to war India supports peace process and capacity building in South Sudan Sudan crisis: Generals accept another 3-day truce amid Darfur rampage Army vs paramilitary: A common person's guide to the crisis in Sudan US to control land sales to foreigners within 100 miles of 8 military bases As space race intensifies, China plans to send astronauts to moon by 2030 Pledged fund to support Rohingya refugees is grossly insufficient: UN Nvidia Corp plans to build Israel's most powerful AI supercomputer Afghanistan, Pakistan and Myanmar among global hunger hotspots: UN Uyghurs' treatment by China make headlines as they faces heavy surveillance For weeks, the United States and Saudi Arabia have been mediating talks between the military and the RSF in the Saudi port city of Jeddah. So far, there have been seven declared cease-fires, all of which have been violated to some extent. In Sunday's statement, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia noted that the military continued to carry out airstrikes, while the RSF was still occupying people's homes and seizing properties. Fuel, money, aid supplies and vehicles belonging to a humanitarian convoy were stolen, with theft occurring both in areas controlled by the military and by the RSF, the statement said. Alan Boswell of the International Crisis Group think tank said the joint statement was meant to pressure both sides into greater compliance, at a time when the U.S. and Saudi Arabia don't have an alternative for the Jeddah talks. There is still no clear path to a successful cease-fire, said Boswell, who is project director for the Horn of Africa at the Crisis Group. It's becoming clearer by the day that mediators can't afford to wait for a stable cease-fire to kick-start the wider political process needed to find a way out of the conflict. Kholood Khalid, a Sudanese analyst with the Khartoum-based Confluence Advisory think tank, said the mediators' attention has apparently turned to negotiating an agreement on a cease-fire that's aimed at relaunching the political process. But with no consequences to cease-fire violations and the maintenance of flawed mediation logics, there seems to be little hope for success on those, she said. The conflict has come to a stalemate as neither side has been able to deliver a decisive blow. Cameron Hudson, a former U.S. diplomat, said selectively observed cease-fires and slow-moving talks in Jeddah are likely to continue. Washington and Riyadh have become too invested in the success of the cease-fire and the process they have in place because failure at this point would reflect poorly on them as much as the parties," said Hudson, a senior associate with the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank. In the current scenario, the diplomats get their cease-fire and can claim progress towards peace," he said. "The parties get to keep fighting, and the only people who lose are the 45 million Sudanese, The war has inflicted widespread destruction in residential areas in Khartoum and its adjacent cities of Omdurman and Bahri. Residents reported storming and looting of their homes, mostly by the paramilitary troops. Many took to social media to condemn looting and seizing their homes allegedly by the RSF. Aid groups' offices, healthcare facilities and other civilian infrastructure were also attacked and looted. Many hospitals have become inaccessible since fighting began in April 15. There were reports of sexual violence including rape of woman and girls in Khartoum and the western Darfur region, which have seen some of the worst fighting in the conflict. Almost all reported cases of sexual attacks were blamed on the RSF, which didn't respond to repeated requests for comment. Doctors and activists were also attacked by both sides of the war. The whereabouts of Dr. Alaa Eldin Awad Nogoud, a prominent surgeon and pro-democracy activist, remain unknown Monday, two days after armed people from the military and the intelligence service took him from his home in Khartoum. Nogoud had told a television station last week that the military seized medical aid provided by the World Health Organization and stored it at a military hospital in Omdurman, according to local media. He said that doctors were denied access to the facility when they demanded a share of the supplies for other hospitals. They were told that permission was needed first to get access, he said. Late on Sunday, RSF troops shot dead a political leader with the Umma party, Sudan's largest as he was trying to resolve a dispute between the paramilitary and citizens in Khartoum's neighborhood of Haj Youssef, the party said Monday. In West Darfur province, villages and camps for displaced people were destroyed and burned to the ground in the past weeks, with tens of thousands of people, mostly women and children, fleeing their homes to neighboring Chad, said Dr. Salah Tour, who heads the Doctors' Syndicate in the province. Nyala in South Darfur, al-Fasher in North Darfur and Zalingei in Central Darfur have experienced heavy fighting in the past few days. Houses and civilian infrastructure were destroyed and looted, forcing thousands to leave their homes, according to U.N. agencies. Toby Harward, a coordinator with the U.N. refugee agency in Sudan, urged both parties to stop fighting in Darfur and work with local leaders to restore security, rule of law and social fabric in the war-torn region. The Ukrainian Parliament has endorsed a decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) to impose sanctions on Iran for 50 years, lawmaker Oleksii Honcharenko said on Telegram. The sanction bill, which was submitted to the Parliament by President Volodymyr Zelensky, was on Monday supported by 328 votes in favour, with the required minimum of 226, Xinhua news agency reported. On May 27, the NSDC approved a decision, envisaging the introduction of restrictive measures against Iran, which include a complete ban on trade with military equipment and dual-use goods and services. The sanctions also include the suspension of transit of resources, flights and transportation in Ukraine by Iranian residents. The prohibition of performing some economic and financial obligations in favor of Iranian residents and a ban on the transfer of technologies to Iranian residents are also on the sanction list. Earlier this month, Zelensky said Iran was supplying combat drones to Russia, which are used in attacks against Ukraine. Also Read Iran to uphold nuke commitments, if sanctions removed: Iranian atomic chief Iran blames US sanctions for causing environment, health problems Iran slaps 'retaliatory' sanctions on EU, British individuals, entities 100 Ukrainian captives released in prisoner swap with Russia: Authorities From Chola tradition to Jawaharlal Nehru: All you need to know about Sengol N Korea confirms plan to launch its first military spy satellite in June Uganda gets harsh anti-LGBT law, Biden calls it 'violation of human rights' Sudan warring sides agree to extend truce after mediators show impatience As space race intensifies, China plans to send astronauts to moon by 2030 Pledged fund to support Rohingya refugees is grossly insufficient: UN --IANS int/sha The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) is pleased to announce the successful hosting of the 46th annual conference of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The event played a pivotal role in highlighting the global significance of the Central Asia region, serving as a key catalyst for fostering international relations and driving advancements in infrastructure development. The summit, held from May 15-17, brought together over 240 delegates and guests from 40 countries, including distinguished leaders and representatives from major development banks as well as from finance, development, and policymaking sectors. Greetings on behalf of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to the participants and guests of the forum were delivered by Kazakhstans Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Erulan Jamubaev. Tokayev noted that one of Kazakhstans main priorities is the continuous improvement of the investment climate. The country has immense potential in the agro-industrial sector, petrochemicals, metallurgy, transportation and logistics, finance, and tourism, he said. Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the Management Board of the EDB, said the summit has emphasized the importance of Almaty as a strategic venue as it has brought together banks, companies and individuals crucial for the region's development and well-being. "The global significance of Central Asia is increasing, and the successful hosting of the 46th ADFIAP Summit by the EDB cements the region's growing prominence. The outcomes of the summit will have a lasting impact, benefiting not only Central Asia but also the broader international community," said Podguzov. Distinguished guests included Michael Dethlefsen, Chief of the Division of Innovative Finance and International Financial Institutions at the UN Industrial Development Organization, Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of Africa Finance Corporation, Cecilia C. Borromeo, President & CEO of Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), and others. On the sidelines of the summit, the EDB has signed several memorandum agreements, one of which is a strategic memorandum of cooperation with FONPLATA, a South American development bank. The EDB and FONPLATA plan to co-finance sustainable development projects, facilitate public-private sector collaboration, expand trade, and conduct research on sustainable development and regional development. They plan to establish a trust fund to finance projects and joint investments within their areas of cooperation. Anadolu Agency became the global communication partner of the event. Information partners also included BNE IntelliNews, Cronos Asia, FINANCEkaz, Kapital.kz, Kazakhstan Today, Kursiv.media, LSM.kz, Tazabek, TRT and others. The next 47th ADFIAP Annual Meetings will be held in Phnom Phen, Cambodia on May 14-16, 2024 and will to be hosted by the Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (ARDB). About ADFIAP: The Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) was established in 1976. ADFIAP is a major international business association comprising 90 member institutions in 39 countries, including non-regional members such as Canada, Germany, and France. Its mission is to promote sustainable economic, environmental, and social development and growth in the region. The EDB has been a member of ADFIAP since 2022. The Banks charter capital totals US $7 billion. The EDBs portfolio mainly consists of projects with an integration effect in transport infrastructure, digitalisation, green energy, agriculture, industry, and machinery. Its operations are guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals and ESG principles. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230529005099/en/ Prime Minister Han Duk-soo presides over a Cabinet meeting in the central government complex in Seoul, May 30. Yonhap Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Tuesday requested a team of experts to transparently and comprehensively present the outcome of their inspection of Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant. The 21-member team, headed by Nuclear Safety and Security Commission Chairperson Yoo Guk-hee, returned home Friday after completing their six-day trip to Japan that included the on-site inspection of the plant ahead of its controversial release of contaminated water into the ocean scheduled for this summer. Han made the remarks during a Cabinet meeting as critics, including the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, have raised questions about the inspection while arguing it was a mere formality insufficient to verify the safety of the discharge process. "Our government has dealt in a stern manner with the Japanese government's plan to release contaminated water under the absolute principle that people's health and safety come first," Han said, asking the inspection team to report what they saw in Japan to the people "in a transparent and detailed manner." ECHO India News Summary National Health Mission (NHM) Madhya Pradesh and Gandhi Medical College in collaboration with ECHO India, launched a capacity-building program focused on the prevention and control of Beta Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies. An initial batch of 50 doctors from various districts of Madhya Pradesh attended the first session of their capacity-building program, which is aimed at improving their skills in the screening, early diagnosis, treatment, and overall management of genetic blood disorders. William J. O'Neil, "Bill," a highly accomplished figure in the world of stock speculation, entrepreneurship, authorship, and philanthropy has passed away at the age of 90. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230529005167/en/ William J. O'Neil (Photo: Business Wire) Bill exemplified the American spirit and firmly believed that through hard work, anyone could attain prosperity. His approach to success was characterized by his willingness to challenge conventional wisdom, carefully analyze the data, and follow it wherever it led him, on his own terms. With humble beginnings, he became the youngest person to purchase a seat on the New York Stock Exchange at 30 years old. He wrote several best-selling books sharing the investment methodologies he built his businesses upon and devoted much of his life to extending a path toward financial freedom for all. He was a vocal proponent of a free enterprise system and its contributions to his own achievement of the American Dream. He was a trailblazer in many rights and his legacy continues onward today through his companies and nonprofit efforts. Mr. O'Neil was raised in a multi-family home in Muskogee, Oklahoma and attended grade school on a Native American reservation during the Great Depression. From the age of 6 he worked odd jobs to contribute to his familys income and developed a work ethic that became a foundational value throughout his life. When he was 14, he and his mother moved to Dallas, Texas, where he later earned a degree in Business from Southern Methodist University. Upon completing his service in the U.S. Air Force, Mr. O'Neil embarked on his career in 1958 as a stockbroker at Hayden Stone & Company in Los Angeles. He rapidly advanced in his profession and became increasingly fascinated with analyzing stock market data for stock picking. An early investment in Syntex Corp, developer of the birth control pill, turned an initial capital investment of $5,000 into over $200,000 in just one year. And in 1963, he founded his first company, William O'Neil + Company. Today the investment adviser and broker/dealer, William ONeil Securities, continue to provide invaluable buy and sell recommendations, as well as research tailored to the needs of over 400 institutional clients worldwide. At 32, he launched a mutual fund which achieved a 115% return in 1967. In the 1970s, he invested an unprecedented $2 million in R&D to better model investor behavior. This led to the creation of a database detailing stock movements dating back to the 1880s, which is still maintained today. His ability to apply research to analyze markets made his insights highly valuable to leading portfolio managers in the early years of his career. He released an empirical study on the greatest stock market winners in history, which became the basis for his ONeil Methodology. This approach, also known as CAN SLIM, is an investment discipline that incorporates historical precedent, fundamental analysis, and technical stock analysis. Today, his methodology is continually optimized with modern-day factor research and data science. Following this success, Mr. O'Neil founded Daily Graphs, Inc., which provided a weekly book of stock charts that blended fundamental and technical analysis. This comprehensive book evolved into the online research platform MarketSmith. In 1973, Mr. O'Neil founded O'Neil Data Systems, Inc. with the goal of delivering time-sensitive data ahead of the competition. The company later renamed O'Neil Digital Solutions, operated a high-speed printing facility that leveraged innovative technology to pioneer the field of automated composition and database publishing. Today, ODS is an international showcase for HP inkjet presses and has become a world class Customer Experience Management company providing omni-channel communications to the Healthcare and Financial Industries. In 1984, Mr. O'Neil launched Investor's Business Daily. This national newspaper represented the first successful competition to The Wall Street Journal. Leveraging his years of experience in economic and business research, along with his expansive historical database, Mr. O'Neil filled a daily information gap that existed for individual investors. After its evolution to digital media, News Corp acquired IBD in 2021. In 2013 he launched William ONeil India as a data collection, information technology, and research center. ONeil Capital Management India was established as a Registered Investment Advisor, along with MarketSmith India. This global expansion continued with William ONeil China established as an R&D center with focus on the Chinese Equity Markets and William ONeil Investment Management Shanghai registered as a Private Fund Manager. His vision for an advisory firm manifested in ONeil Global Advisors, launched in 2019. As an SEC Registered Investment Advisor, the firm leverages a team of portfolio managers, data scientists, and factor research professionals to support the development, management, and monitoring of various fundamental and algorithmic strategies. Its Portfolio Managers rely on the ONeil Methodology to guide them in managing their discretionary accounts. Mr. O'Neil also authored several best-selling books on investing in the stock market. One of his most notable works, "How To Make Money In Stocks: A Winning System In Good Times Or Bad," has sold over 4 million copies worldwide. In retirement, Mr. ONeil focused on philanthropic efforts aimed at empowering individuals to achieve fulfillment in life and removing barriers that stood in their way. He lived a simple life from the beginning to his end, finding peace in a neighborhood walk and comfort in a bowl of chicken noodle soup. The executive team he mentored over many decades continues to successfully pursue his vision across the globe. Mr. O'Neil improved the lives of countless families, helping them prosper and achieve the American dream, something he will continue to do in perpetuity. His methodology and ingenuity allowed institutional investors to thrive in an often-volatile market climate. He taught people how to create and maintain profitable portfolios so they too could succeed. In short, his legacy is one of an innovator, educator, and entrepreneura proud citizen seizing the reins of opportunity in a country committed to the free market and sharing his success with others. The family will hold a private memorial service with immediate family only. In lieu of flowers, Mr. ONeil has requested donations go to Rising Tide Capital, a non-profit organization whose mission is to transform lives and communities through entrepreneurship. To learn more about Bill visit: wjolegacy.williamoneil.com Comments, reflections, and tributes can be sent to: [email protected] About Us William O'Neil + Company is an SEC Registered Investment Advisor providing domestic and international equity research, recommendations, and consulting to many of the world's top institutional money managers. William O'Neil + Company's recommendations cover more than 70,000 global equities, funds, and indices and draw on a rich history of 60 years of equity research experience using the O'Neil Methodology. The OM is based off empirical studies of the stock markets greatest winners and is driven by the analysis of the fundamental data of public companies, the trading patterns of those companies and proprietary quantitative ratings and rankings. The firm has global equity coverage and research teams in the US, Europe, and Asia. The equity global research and global data can be accessed on PANARAY the firms proprietary research delivery platform. More information can be found at: https://www.williamoneil.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230529005167/en/ Yoo Guk-hee, head of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, speaks to reporters at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, May 26. Yonhap A team of Korean experts will hold a press conference Wednesday to announce the results of their inspection of Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, officials said. The 21-member team, headed by Nuclear Safety and Security Commission Chairperson Yoo Guk-hee, returned home Friday after completing their six-day trip to Japan that included the on-site inspection of the plant ahead of its controversial release of contaminated water into the ocean scheduled for this summer. The Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) has released the class 12th results for the Arts and Commerce streams. Students who appeared for the intermediate exams in these streams can now check their results online. The official announcement states that the JAC results will be made available today, May 30, after 2.30 pm, following a press conference organized by the council. To conveniently access and check your Jharkhand Board 12th Arts and Commerce results, you can visit any of the following official websites: jac.jharkhand.gov.in jac.nic.in jacresults.com jharresults.nic.in How to Check JAC Class 10th Result Online Step 1: Visit the official website of JAC, jac.jharkhand.gov.in. Step 2: Locate the result link on the homepage and click on it. Step 3: Fill in the required details to log in, which may include your roll number, registration number, and other necessary credentials. Step 4: Once you have provided the necessary information, click on the "Submit" button. Step 5: The JAC class 12th Arts and Commerce results will be displayed on the screen automatically. Step 6: It is recommended that candidates take a printout of their scores for future reference and record-keeping. Lovely Professional University (LPU) has just been recognised ahead of the world's top Harvard and Oxford institutions in one of its global ranking lists by the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI)-2023. In six categories, LPU is ranked 12th, Ivy League university Harvard is placed 23rd, and Oxford University in the United Kingdom is ranked 37th for the 'Fourth Industrial Revolution category. LPU is also ranked first in India among both government and private universities in three categories: Ethical Value, Crisis Management, and Fourth Industrial Revolution. LPU is also placed 48th, 46th, and 12th in the same three categories on global Top 50 lists. With a global band of 101-200, LPU is specifically included among different top Ivy League universities in the United States, including Harvard, Cornell, and Pennsylvania; the United Kingdom; Germany; Canada; Australia; China; Korea; and Sweden. Being delighted with the university's excellent rating, Chancellor Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal expresses gratitude to everyone at LPU for attaining this sought global name and recognition. It is achievable because of everyone's tireless work." Mittal added, "This ranking has enthralled us immensely while pulsing that day is soon to be seen when India will once again dominate the education world across the globe." Using AI-based evaluation methodology, the 2023 WURI ranks 423 universities globally based on their innovation capabilities. The measure here is the number of unique and innovative programmes that contribute significantly to the advancement of research and education. The WURI assessed universities' true societal contributions based on six important concerns. Therefore, WURI assessed universities based on the following criteria: i) industrial application; ii) value-creating startups and entrepreneurship; iii) social responsibility, ethics, and integrity; iv) student mobility and openness for exchange and collaboration; v) crisis management in the face of global and local crises; and, vi) progress during the Fourth Industrial Revolution through digital technology, artificial intelligence, and so on. SSC 2023: The Staff Selection Commission has released the additional result of the selection post phase X examination 2022 for the matriculation level, higher secondary level and graduate level. For the matriculation level , an additional 454 candidaytes have been shortlisted for the next round of scrutiny and 673 candidates for the higher secondary (10+2) level. For the Graduate& Above level, an additional 377 individuals have been shortlisted for the next round of scrutiny. Additional candidates who are selected for additional scrutiny must send a printout of their online application to the suitable Regional Office(s) for the PostCategory within 3 (three) weeks, or up to 19.06.2023, by SPEED POST ONLY, along with a copy of all supporting documents (self-attested) related to their educational qualification (EQ), experience, category, age, age relaxation, etc. (as applicable). How to Download SSC Phase X Additional Result U.S. Texas Senate sets date for impeachment trial of AG Ken Paxton Xinhua) 13:25, May 30, 2023 HOUSTON, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The Texas Senate will begin no later than Aug. 28 an impeachment trial of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton, a powerful Republican in the second largest U.S. state, on yearslong charges including corruption, lawbreaking and abuse of power and public trust. The state Senate adopted a resolution on the matter on Monday. In a 121-23 vote on Saturday, Paxton was impeached in the Republican-led state House. Up to 60 Republicans including House Speaker Dade Phelan voted against the state's top lawyer. Twelve House representatives, appointed to act in a role similar to prosecutors presenting a case to the Senate, presented on Monday the articles of impeachment to the Senate chamber across the rotunda. "This is about facts and this is about evidence," said state House Representative Andrew Murr, a Republican who will lead the House managers. Also on Monday, the Texas Senate named a seven-member committee to prepare the rules that will govern the impeachment proceedings. Paxton, 60, with the support from former President Donald Trump, insisted the impeachment "was a politically motivated sham from the beginning." There are currently 12 Democrats and 19 Republicans in the Senate, including Paxton's wife, Angela Paxton. A vote by two-thirds of senators would be required to permanently remove Paxton from office. The leadership of Texas Senate is thought to be more closely aligned with more hard-right Republicans including Paxton, local analysts say. 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. According to an investigation by the General Investigating Committee, a Texas House panel, 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. Committee investigators also reviewed 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. Paxton is only the third sitting official in Texas's nearly 200-year history to have been impeached, following Governor James Ferguson in 1917 and District Judge O.P. Carrillo in 1975. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) By Arthur I. Cyr Memorial Day, celebrated on May 29, is cause for contemplation as well as ceremonies. Parades featuring people in uniform those currently serving, those who have served, and others who protect us should always be welcome. Military uniforms remind us of the roles of war in our history and our present. From ancient times, parades have been vital to the reintegration of warriors into society. War is profoundly disruptive and disturbing as well as dangerous. Even the rare man who finds combat invigorating and rewarding is in severe need of returning home after the killing ends. Homer, chronicler of the Trojan War, is extremely sensitive to this. The great classic is divided into two parts. "The Iliad" focuses on the fighting and related associations involving Greeks and Trojans; "The Odyssey" describes the very long voyage home of Greek leader Ulysses and his men. They traverse allegorical geography, struggling to put the horrors behind them. General George S. Patton Jr., a very great American combat leader, was extremely mindful of this dimension. A special ceremony in the Los Angeles Coliseum after the surrender of Nazi Germany featured Patton and General James Doolittle, who led the first air raid on Tokyo not long after Pearl Harbor. Patton celebrated the accomplishments of his Third Army in the victorious drive across Europe. In honoring his troops, he stressed in particular the 40,000 who lost their lives. Patton made such statements regularly in the few months remaining of his own life. In World War II, peoples liberated from Axis occupation welcomed Allied troops. Understandably, our media gave special emphasis to this dimension. The Korean War created very strong bonds between the U.S. and the people as well as the very effective military of South Korea. The first Gulf War liberated an oppressed population. The Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan wars were different. During Vietnam, the Pentagon urged, sometimes ordered, personnel to practice public anonymity. Opposition to the war became hostility to our own military. There was no collective welcome home. Many aging veterans of that war suffer without a Ulysses, troubled and troublesome, sometimes criminally. Afghanistan and Iraq war controversy did not target our military. Visits to Washington D.C. provide reminders of the visibility of the uniformed military, especially on public transportation. President Richard Nixon's decisive end of the military draft has been crucial in the change. However, often-rapid rotation of personnel back to overseas missions is unfair as well as counterproductive. Enormous psychological strains join physical danger, and families suffer heavily. The all-professional military is segregated from wider society. This in turn facilitates frequent personnel rotation overseas, a problem that developed destructively during the Clinton administration. The military remains a vital engine for equality and opportunity. General Colin Powell and many others demonstrate the point. Powell, from modest origins, achieved the most senior civilian and military posts in our government. Powell noted he experienced discrimination in the South, but never on post. Our military emphasizes merit. Memorial Day provides the opportunity to recognize commitment to fairness. Encourage veterans to run for office. We won the Cold War in part because members of the World War II generation also served in government. Every U.S. president from Harry Truman through George H.W. Bush was a veteran. Today, things are starkly different. What we need above all is the sort of sensible realism women and men who served bring to policy. Learn more: "Patton A Genius for War," by Carlo D'Este, and the film "Patton." Arthur I. Cyr (acyr@carthage.edu) is the author of "After the Cold War" (NYU and Palgrave/Macmillan). The wait is almost over. Mitsubishi Motors has confirmed that the production version of the XFC Concept will be shown for the first time at... Editor's Note:In light of recent events, we have been reflecting on the depth and breadth of President Carters impact. This is one in a series of stories from our archives that show how his principles, expressed through Carter Center initiatives, have affected the lives of real people. On a cloudy morning, 15 young men gather at the Carter Centers Guinea worm compound in Gog. Their job is to ensure every pond and well around the villages of Ablen, Wichini, and Atheti is treated every 28 days with Abate larvicide to help interrupt the worms life cycle, which depends on still water. From community engagement to water treatment and filtering to dog tethering, a cluster of villages in remote western Ethiopia is applying creative strategies to protect humans and animals from Guinea worm disease, and their diligence is paying off. With the assistance of his colleagues, Wegwa Odol Othow (yellow shirt) measures a pond for application of a safe larvicide that helps stop the Guinea worm life cycle. One of those men is Wegwa Odol Othow, 21, who goes by the nickname Owick. He used to hunt baboons, which farmers consider pests, using dogs to chase them down. One day a few years ago, Owick caught a small baboon that had about 10 white worms emerging from its skin. The worms were confirmed to be Guinea worms, which had not been seen in baboons before. Owick's discovery sparked an aggressive effort to monitor and apply Abate to watering holes used by baboons, even deep in the forest. Baboon hunters and wood gatherers are now paid to watch over watering holes and help The Carter Center and health ministry monitor baboon troupes movements. Owick began volunteering with other youth to teach community members how to avoid Guinea worm infection. Because loose dogs are at risk of acquiring Guinea worm disease from the same water sources the baboons use, people in Gog agreed to stop using dogs for hunting and to keep them tethered to prevent them from entering the water. Owick quit hunting to devote all his time to Guinea worm work. He gave two of his dogs to his cousin, Obang, 14, himself a volunteer in Ablen. One of the duties of youth volunteers is to inspect every dog daily for signs of Guinea worm infection. Obang loves this part of his role. He starts with the dogs Owick gave him, then checks his neighbors dogs. Ablen now is home to Ethiopias first dog park, for which the government donated land and The Carter Center provided fencing. There, dogs can frolic safely, away from water, and become more domesticated. Everyone in Ablen, Atheti, and Wichini wears a pipe filter around their neck. Every household uses a water filter when filling containers at a well, pond, or river and filters the water again before using it at home. The efforts are working. Great strides have been made against Guinea worm disease in humans and animals in Ethiopia. Editor's Note:In light of recent events, we have been reflecting on the depth and breadth of President Carters impact. This is one in a series of stories from our archives that show how his principles, expressed through Carter Center initiatives, have affected the lives of real people. Then, on the first day of midterm exams in January 2013, someone bombed the University of Aleppo, killing at least 82 people. Pamuk got the news over the phone. There were rumors that they were raping girls, she said. My mom was very worried. She just walked into my room and said, Thats it, you need to pack and go to Lebanon to live with your aunt until this is over. She was dreaming of a career as a humanitarian worker in South Sudan. But when a terrorist group occupied the street behind her house, her plans were derailed. Abeer Pamuk had just started her sophomore year at the University of Aleppo when the Syrian civil war erupted. I heard it like someone was telling me, Everyone you know is dead, including your mom, because my mom worked in a nearby hospital, she recalled. I couldnt call people; they cut the communications. It took me the whole day checking death lists to search for the names of my mom and my brother. Her family survived, but some of her friends did not. That was the tipping point for me I was like, I wanted to be a humanitarian. This is not going to be over soon. Im going to go back to Syria. That brave decision started her on a path that eventually led to the Carter Centers 2017 Human Rights Defenders Forum, where she shared her experiences with more than 70 other activists who had come together to discuss Freedom from Fear: Securing Rights in Challenging Times. Within days of the bombing, Pamuk flew back to Syria. She reunited with her mother, and the pair traveled by bus from Damascus to Aleppo on one of the most dangerous roads in the world. I looked out at the road through two bullet holes in the bus window, she said. She re-enrolled at the university and completed her degree. Upon graduation, she landed a job with SOS Childrens Villages, an international organization in Syria devoted to helping children separated from their families by death or other circumstances. Pamuk spent most of the next four years at SOS, documenting the stories of Syrian children to help raise awareness of their plight. She later left SOS to work with an organization in New York. For the moment, shes glad to be in the United States and glad to have been part of the Carter Center forum. What inspires me is somebody like former President Jimmy Carter, she said. He finished his job as a president, but he never stopped having this job of being a human being a person who's trying to bring peace to the world. Having such people in our world and watching people coming together in such hard times gives me hope. By Sean O'Malley The release of ChatGPT last November kicked off a race for artificial intelligence (AI) supremacy among global tech giants. The importance of this race is not lost on the world's great powers, which increasingly put tech supremacy at the center of national industrial policies. The question on the minds of many is which state or company may reign supreme in the end. Currently, South Korea seems poorly positioned to take advantage of AI technologies. Firstly, research and development (R&D) expenditures in the country are too concentrated to make an early impact in the field of AI. As such, the country will most likely play catch-up for years to come. Secondly, the positive regulatory regime in the country will stifle the creation of new sectors and enterprises that can absorb workers when they are replaced by computerization. Currently, the South Korean government does a commendable job of contributing a share of GDP to R&D that is on par with its competitors. According to 2019 data from the U.S. National Science Foundation, the government's share of total R&D funding in South Korea was 20.7 percent. This compared to 21 percent, 20.5 percent and 14.7 percent, in the United States, China and Japan respectively. Of course, due to the size of South Korea's economy, total funds pale in comparison. The South Korean government spends almost $70 billion less than Japan, even though the Japanese government spends considerably less in percentage terms. Adding to this lack of aggregate government funding is the concentration of R&D expenditure by sector and enterprise. According to the Analytical Business Enterprise R&D database of the OECD, nearly 86 percent of R&D in South Korea was spent in the manufacturing sector in 2021. This amounts to 57.1 trillion won ($4.32 billion) of 80.8 trillion won in business enterprise R&D spending. A full 49.3 percent of total enterprise R&D spending, about 39.9 trillion won, is spent on the hardware category of computer, electronic and optical products, while only 2.87 trillion won or 3.5 percent of spending is allocated to software publishing. According to Stanford University's AI Index, the top fields for private investment in AI in 2022 were medical and healthcare, management, processing, cloud and fintech. South Korea's economic staple of semiconductors was far behind in 13th place. In country comparison terms, spending by business enterprises on computer, electronic and optical products is about 12 percent in Germany, 17 percent in Japan, 18 percent in the United States and 16 percent in China. The only close competitor more concentrated than South Korea in this sector of the economy is Taiwan at 78 percent. This means most of South Korea's competitors have distributed their R&D spending allowing more economic sectors to potentially explore and implement the adaptation and application of AI technologies at a faster and more cost-effective pace. R&D concentration aside, the addition of AI technologies will be highly disruptive to the labor force and will increasingly replace workers in a number of occupations. This is not debatable. In their groundbreaking 2013 paper "The Future of Employment: How Susceptible Are Jobs to Computerization?" Oxford University scholars Carl Frey and Michael Osborne concluded that 47 percent of total U.S. employment is at risk of computerization. As the South Korean economy is similar in many ways to that of the United States, there is little reason to conclude that total South Korean employment does not face a similar risk. Keep in mind, Frey and Osborne drew their conclusions nine years before ChatGPT opened to the public. Nonetheless, many policymakers and proponents of technology around the world claim that more new jobs will be created as technologies like AI create new needs. This assumption should be reexamined in the case of South Korea. South Korea's concentrated R&D spending and potential risks to employment clash when we consider that South Korea operates a positive regulatory system a system by which all new economic endeavors must be approved by government regulators before implementation. The country needs to spend more on R&D and distribute that money more widely to innovate and create more new economic sectors and enterprises. These new creations would presumably offer employment for those displaced by AI disruptions. However, the country's bureaucracy operating in a positive regulatory environment will likely block the creation of new economic sectors due to the potential disruption to entrenched interest groups. Therefore, the country will have limited methods by which to absorb the increasing number of laborers potentially displaced by AI technologies. The renowned economist John Maynard Keynes often predicted that economizing labor will outpace finding new uses for it. This may likely happen with AI. When this occurs in a positive regulatory environment, it could be catastrophic for employment. South Korean policymakers and enterprise leaders must make significant changes soon, if South Korea is to weather the AI storm. Sean O'Malley (seanmo@dongseo.ac.kr) is a tenured professor of international studies at Dongseo University, where he teaches classes on free trade, regionalism and international relations. Qatar National Cement signs digital and Uzbekistan MoUs 30 May 2023 Qatar National Cement Co (QNCC) has made a strategic decision to partner SAP and Google Cloud to fuel its digital transformation and ensure future-proof operations. Eng Essa Mohammed Ali A M Kaldari, QNCC CEO, emphasised the significance of this transformation: "Our aim is to modernise and streamline our systems, increase efficiencies, and enhance the services we deliver to our customers and employees. After implementation, our operations will be more agile and scalable, enabling us to capitalise on future opportunities in the market and region." Amr Hamam, head of IT at QNCC, added his excitement about this transformative step: "Migrating to 'Rise with SAP' on Google Cloud is a game-changer for us. It empowers us to leverage the best of both worlds - the comprehensive solutions offered by SAP and the advanced AI and machine learning capabilities provided by Google Cloud. This collaboration enables us to drive efficiency, innovation, and customer-centricity, setting a new standard in our industry." In addition, Mr Kaldari signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Chairman of the Building Materials Industry Development Council from Uzbekistan, Mr S Annaklichev. This MoU aims to foster mutual cooperation and explore potential investment opportunities in Uzbekistan. This is a promising step towards expanding our company's global impact, said Mr Kaldari. Published under Korea should be open, diverse and inclusive society "The long-term risk to South Korea's economic growth is intensifying demographic pressure," Moody's Investors Service said in its sovereign credit rating report last Thursday. It then advised Seoul to let more young foreign workers immigrate to Korea to boost productivity and balance the old-age support ratio, at least temporarily. Even ordinary Koreans know this is necessary. The question is how to do it and how fast it can be done. According to the global credit rating agency, Korea's growth potential will slow to 2.0 percent after 2025. A United Nations report also said Korea's economically active population aged 15-64, which increased 11 percent from 1998 to 2017, will decrease 24 percent during 2020 to 2040. The situation is urgent. Even if Korea manages to lift the world's lowest birthrate of 0.78, it will take at least 15 years for those births to begin to expand the country's working-age population. Expanding the female workforce is one possible path. But that has limitations due to mismatches in industrial sites. Women cannot fill all of the welding jobs at shipyards or augment the crew of fishing boats sailing off to distant seas. That leaves immigration as the only short-term solution. But the government is not sitting around idly. President Yoon Suk Yeol recently called for "bolder and preemptive" moves. The Ministry of Justice will operate a task force to launch the Office of Immigration, an independent agency responsible for all related issues led by a vice-ministerial official. Minister Han Dong-hoon visited France, Germany, and the Netherlands in March to learn from their experiences. Han said he will not rush to establish such an agency, but make sure to set the necessary groundwork. We support that view. Now that Korea has become an industrialized country, it must tackle the immigration issue head-on. The nation must take a broad, long-term approach while making more immediate, short-term moves. Still, the government should reconsider plans to hire housekeepers from Southeast Asian countries. The idea, first proposed by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and backed by the president, will cause more problems than solutions if put into action. The mayor cited the examples of Hong Kong and Singapore, where he said families use foreign maids who are paid 380,000 won to 760,000 won ($287-$574) a month. That idea, however, is not viable here. First, the Employment Permit System necessitates the application of Korean labor laws to foreign workers and paying the legal minimum wage of about 1 million won or more monthly. Suppose Seoul makes an exception and excludes foreign workers from minimum wages, as some ruling party lawmakers proposed. In that case, the nation will be criticized for being discriminating and inhumane. Second, the foreign maid system slightly raised the social participation rate of women in Singapore, but failed to do so in Hong Kong. In both city-states, it bore no relation to birthrates. Third, not many Korean families want to hire nannies or maids from abroad, and those who want them cannot afford to pay expenses. The government, instead of lowering the labor standards for migrant workers, must lift them. Everyone knows that Korean shipyards, steel plants, small workshops, and farms and fishing communities cannot go on without foreign workers. However, the employment permit system virtually "expels" them when they become skilled workers. Complicated reentry procedures and other legal shackles expose them to the tyranny of employers. Korea cannot afford to let that happen. Japan, similar to Korea in its low birthrate and psychological adherence to the concept of purity of blood, is going far beyond Korea, flinging its doors open to foreign workers. Tokyo has increased the number of industries that can give permanent residence to skilled guest laborers, offering various other benefits. All countries make immigration policies to fill in their industrial and social gaps. However, there are differences in national prestige between those that try to exploit foreign workers and those who seek to grow with them. Korea must belong to the latter group by becoming an open, diverse, and inclusive country. Furthermore, it must improve the education system for children of highly-skilled workers from overseas. The bulk of American Nobel laureates are immigrants and their descendants. We hope the proposed Office of Immigration will move in that direction. Naver's recently redesigned search engine shows multimedia search results including photos and video clips. Naver said these changes are in anticipation of the upcoming application of AI technology to its search engine. Courtesy of Naver By Baek Byung-yeul Naver, the country's largest internet company, is losing its share in the search engine market as users flock to more convenient artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot services such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, Microsoft's Bing and Google's Bard, all of which are based on generative AI technology, according to industry officials, Tuesday. The conversational AI chatbot services, which guide users as if they were talking to a human, are threatening Naver's dominant position in the domestic search engine market, creating a crack in the company's 20-year dominance, they said. They also pointed out that as more users are searching not only through these AI-based search platforms but also through YouTube and other platforms that provide personalized services, Naver needs to offer search services that can read individual tastes. According to the data from market tracker Internet Trend, Naver's share in the domestic search engine market was at 51.49 percent as of May 28. This marks a drop of 13.32 percentage points since Dec. 31, 2022, when it was at 64.81 percent. In second place behind Naver is Google. Amazingly, on Dec. 31, Google's share was at only 26.8 percent, but the figure rose to 40.38 percent on May 28, increasing by 13.58 percentage points. The gap between Naver and Google was 38.01 percent on Dec. 31, but as of May 28, it was only 11.11 percent. During the same period, third-place Daum's share increased from 3.49 percent to 4.45 percent, and fourth-place Microsoft Bing increased from 1.49 percent to 1.87 percent. Seen is the front page of OpenAI's generative AI service ChatGPT. Captured from ChatGTP 6/3/2023 A man was shot following an argument at Dodson Avenue on Friday night. Chattanooga Police responded to 617 Dodson at 10:30 p.m. on a call of a shooting. Officers located a man suffering ... more Canadian Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne announces the government funding for Ultium CAM, the joint venture between POSCO Future M and General Motors, for a cathode factory in Quebec, during his visit to the construction site in Becancour, in this photo provided by POSCO Future M, May 29. Yonhap POSCO Future M, a major Korean manufacturer of secondary battery materials, said Tuesday its joint venture with General Motors has secured C$300 million ($221 million) in funding from the Canadian government for their envisioned cathode plant in Quebec. Canadian Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne made the announcement Monday (Canada time) during a visit to the construction site in Becancour, where Quebec Premier Francois Legault and other officials were also present, according to POSCO Future M. POSCO Future M and GM's joint venture, Ultium CAM, is building what will be their first cathode manufacturing facility in Canada in a project valued at $633 million. The factory aims to be completed in the second half of 2024. The Canadian federal government and the government of Quebec will invest $150 million each, an industry source with knowledge of the matter said. Cathodes are a key component consisting of nickel, lithium and other materials used to make electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Cathodes determine the power of EV batteries and make up about 40 percent of the cost of a battery. POSCO Future M, formerly POSCO Chemical, formed the joint venture with GM in July 2022 to build a cathode plant capable of producing 30,000 tons a year. The financial support will help Ultium CAM accelerate its efforts to build stable supply chains of key battery materials in North America, further solidifying its presence in the region, POSCO Future M said. (Yonhap) Several hundred gathered at the Chattanooga VA National Cemetery Military Pavilion to remember those who gave their life in the line of duty on this Memorial Day, 2023. The annual event is sponsored by the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council. Among the featured speakers were Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelley, 3rd District Congressman Chuck Fleischmann and Hamilton County Historian Linda Moss Mines. Mayor Kelly said, Its very important to remember those who didnt come home and those killed while serving, and thats why we are gathered here today. Congressman Fleischmann said, We honor our fallen this Memorial Day and make the solemn vow never to forget their sacrifice and uphold the values of individual freedom and liberty they died to protect. Hamilton County Historian Mines gave a short history of this special day and said may we never stop remembering. Memorial Day observances were held in several Southeast and North Georgia counties. The city of Ringgold, Ga. continues to display dozens of American Flags along their downtown streets in observance of Memorial Day. Chattanooga firefighters tackled a fire on Memorial Day at a house on Olive Street. At 8:30 p.m., Red Shift companies were called to a residence in the 1700 block. Smoke was coming from the eaves and flames were spotted at the back of the home. All of the residents were out of the structure upon CFDs arrival. Firefighters made a quick attack and knockdown on the fire in the attic, getting it under control by 8:53 p.m. Then they did reassessments to make sure they got to the seat of the fire and extinguished all hotspots. The cause of the fire is unknown. The American Red Cross will be assisting two adults and one child displaced by the fire. Engine 4, Ladder 5, Engine 5, Quint 10, Squad 1, Squad 13, Battalion 1, and Battalion 3 responded, along with CPD, EPB and HCEMS. Although he suffered from a heart murmur and eventually died on March 20, 1994 after four aortic heart valve surgeries, Lewis Grizzard (L.G.) was not hesitant about writing on health issues in articles contained in his 25 best sellers and 450 syndicated newspaper columns across the country. In the compilation of a selective group of his writings during his brief lifespan of 47 years he wrote extensively on several health issues which were reprinted by his surviving wife, Dedra K. Grizzard, formerly of Cleveland, Tennessee. In Grizzardisms: The Wit and Wisdom of Lewis Grizzard (1995-Villard Books- Random House) he reflects on various aspects of why the American medical system may not be the most efficient in addition to being one of the most expensive in the world: 1.) If we listen to health-food advice, all we would be allowed to put in our stomachs would be something animals graze on, bee pollen, and various sorts of bran; 2.) You smoke, you die. You drink, you die. You eat all that greasy food, you die. You dont jog, you don't aerobicise, you die. So one night youre sitting in your living room reading Health and Prevention magazine, and radon gas comes in, right up your butt, and kills you. Ha!; 3.) I can deal with secondhand smoke, as long as its not coming from the roof of my house; 4.) Worry kills, too. Would somebody please mention that to the Surgeon General?; 5.) When a person loses weight, where does the weight go? It has to go somewhere, doesnt it? One thought Ive had is that when a person loses weight, it evaporates up into the atmosphere somewhere. Is there in fact a danger that Americans are losing so much weight these days the accumulated fat might all cling together up in the heavens and eventually block the sun?; 6.) We take so many pills in this country, there must be some pills for pill stress. Id ask my doctor for some, but Im afraid he would give them to me; 7.) Undershorts that are too tight often are the cause of many maladies, such as migraine headaches, disco fever, and possibly even a sudden desire to adorn ones earlobe; 8.) Secondhand Alcohol Breath: If you are on an airplane, for instance, and the person next to you is pouring down double scotches, you could get liver damage breathing this persons intoxicating exhales. Polyester Pollution: Most people have gotten the word by now that polyester leisure suits are tacky, and they are taking theirs out into the backyard and burning them. The fumes go into the atmosphere and turn the rain purple; 9.) I am convinced ginger ale can heal the sick and raise the dead; 10.) It takes a real man, I suppose, to stare death square in the eye. I think Ill go over to the Waffle House and drool; and, 11.) A belt of all those things we like that we arent supposed to enjoy anymore might do us all a world of good. (In spite of smoking, drinking, Mama's Southern cooking, and other abuses, he maintained a sense of humor to the end as he quipped to his doctors on the way to his fourth surgery. His last statement before going under anesthesia was the subject of The Last Bus to Albuquerque which became the title for his 2001 book that described his complex medical history in his style of humor) * * * You can reach Jerry Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report: BASSHAM, JOSHUA AARON 302 DUNLAP AVE APT 16 CHATTANOOGA, 30706 Age at Arrest: 33 years old Arresting Agency: East Ridge PUBLIC INTOXICATION POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES SCHEDULE IV COLEMAN, CHRISTOPHER JAMAR 4716 TOMHAWK TRAIL CHATTANOOGA, 37411 Age at Arrest: 34 years old Arresting Agency: Collegedale Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) DAVIS, NICOLE L 5075 OOLTEWAH RINGGOLD RD APT 408 OOLTEWAH, 373630000 Age at Arrest: 40 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) FRANKLIN, ALONZO DEWAYNE 2001 WILSON STREET CHATTANOOGA, 374042921 Age at Arrest: 31 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD AGGRAVATED ASSAULT DISORDERLY CONDUCT GODFREY, CANDICE LEE 1211 WHEELER AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37406 Age at Arrest: 40 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD FUGITIVE (MONROE COUNTY KENTUCKY) GRAYS, WILLIE F 1704 WALKER AVE CHATTANOOGA, 374041319 Age at Arrest: 68 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD DOMESTIC ASSAULT HATFIELD, TYLER ALLEN 8610 TRADEWIND CIR OOLTEWAH, 37363 Age at Arrest: 29 years old Arresting Agency: Collegedale Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) HAYNES, STCLAIR RODWELL 5227 HICKORY WOODS LN HIXSON, 373433975 Age at Arrest: 38 years old Arresting Agency: Chatt St Police DOMESTIC ASSAULT HERNANDEZ-REYNOSO, NELSON BELZAY 3612 ROSSVILLE CHATTANOOGA, 37404 Age at Arrest: 26 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE DRIVING LEFT OF CENTER LINE DRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSE OPEN CONTAINER LAW CHILD RESTRAINT LAW VIOLATION HINTON, GREGORY ROYCE 4507 HANCOCK RD CHATTANOOGA, 374163220 Age at Arrest: 37 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE IMPLIED CONSENT LAW - DRIVERS HOULK, DOMINIC LABRON 4105 TAFT HIGHWAY SIGNAL MTN, 37377 Age at Arrest: 23 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff FAILURE TO APPEAR KNIGHT, TAYLER LEE 2516 SUCK CREEK ROAD CHATTANOOGA, 37421 Age at Arrest: 27 years old Arresting Agency: Red Bank FUGITIVE (CATOOSA CO GA) MACK, DASHAN CABINDA 6264 GREENDALE WAY HIXSON, 37343 Age at Arrest: 38 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD FAILURE TO APPEAR MANN, KRISTY LYNN HOMELESS KNOXVILLE, 379177408 Age at Arrest: 48 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD CRIMINAL TRESPASSING DISORDERLY CONDUCT MCCULLOUGH, LARRY LATRON 3600 DORRIS ST CHATTANOOGA, 374101413 Age at Arrest: 45 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff DOMESTIC ASSAULT ASSAULT MCKINNEY, MARCEL DEONTE 907 N MOORE RD CHATTANOOGA, 374112524 Age at Arrest: 32 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD NONSUPPORT AND FLAGRANT NONSUPPORT NONSUPPORT AND FLAGRANT NONSUPPORT MILLSAP, HALEY ANASTASIA OCTAVIE 1664 GREENDALE WAY HIXSON, 37343 Age at Arrest: 30 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff FUGITIVE WHITFIELD COUNTY NELSON, WYKITA LAVANQUESHA 41 OATS STREET ELBERTON, 30635 Age at Arrest: 21 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff DOMESTIC ASSAULT PERIAN, DAVID EARL 43 SLON GAP ROAD OCCAN, 37361 Age at Arrest: 43 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) PULLIAM, TYJEN L 716 MOORE STREET CHATTANOOGA, 374112204 Age at Arrest: 23 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD UNLAWFUL EXPOSURE HARASSMENT VIOLATION OF ORDER OF PROTECTION OR RESTRAINING OR POSSESSING A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO GO ARMED DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE REED, KEONDRA DESHAY 779 E MARTIN LUTHER KING BLVD APT1 CHATTANOOGA, 374032626 Age at Arrest: 26 years old Arresting Agency: Collegedale Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) RIDGE, CLYDE DUDLEY 113 CALIFORNIA AVE RED BANK, 37415 Age at Arrest: 69 years old Arresting Agency: Red Bank DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE ROBERSON, CHARSSLA LYNN 3725 FOUNTAIN AVE EAST RIDGE, 37412 Age at Arrest: 35 years old Arresting Agency: East Ridge POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA ROBLERO, JESUS 2013 S ORCHARD KNOB AVENUE CHATTANOOGA, 37404 Age at Arrest: 39 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS VIOLATION DRIVING LEFT OF CENTER LINE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OPEN CONTAINER LAW DRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSE RODRIQUEZ, JOSE ALFONSO 7356 LEE HWY CHATTANOOGA, 37421 Age at Arrest: 47 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD ASSAULT SALES, CADARRIUS LAMOND 8343 TROUT LILY DR OOLTEWAH, 37363 Age at Arrest: 29 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF SANTORA, PATRICIA LAUREN 3604 4TH AVENUE CHATTANOOGA, 37421 Age at Arrest: 31 years old Arresting Agency: East Ridge DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE SHOATE, TWANNA MARIE 41 OATS ALBERTON, 30635 Age at Arrest: 43 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff DOMESTIC ASSAULT SKINNER, LINDSEY KAYE 5002 13TH AVE ROSSVILLE, 30741 Age at Arrest: 35 years old Arresting Agency: East Ridge TAMPERING WITH OR FABRICATING EVIDENCE 39160503 POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA THEFT OF PROPERTY (UNDER $1000) 39140103 SNYDER, ROBERT ALBERT HOMELESS HIXSON, 37343 Age at Arrest: 54 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD DOMESTIC ASSAULT DOMESTIC ASSAULT STEWART, CODY LAMAR 11215 DAYTON PIKE APTB HIXSON, 37343 Age at Arrest: 27 years old Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy STALKING DOMESTIC ASSAULT POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA SUMNER, MICHAEL ALLEN 2717 ROSSVILLE BLVD APT 218 CHATTANOOGA, 37404 Age at Arrest: 29 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD DOMESTIC ASSAULT THOMAS, KENTOREY K 1132 PIRCE AV APT A CHATTANOOGA, 37403 Age at Arrest: 23 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF HARASSMENT THURMOND, JUSTIN TYLER HOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37405 Age at Arrest: 30 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD CRIMINAL TRESPASSING VELASQUEZ, DANY PEREZ 3814 CLEO AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37404 Age at Arrest: 24 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) WARNER, BLAKE C 820 HOLLY AVE SOUTH PITTSBURG, 373801428 Age at Arrest: 29 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD DISORDERLY CONDUCT WEEKS, DERRICK LADON HOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37405 Age at Arrest: 43 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) WHALEY, SHANNON EDWARD 4314 DODDS AVENUE CHATTANOOGA, 37407 Age at Arrest: 21 years old Arresting Agency: East Ridge VIOLATION OF ORDER OF PROTECTION FELONY EVADING ARREST DRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSE THEFT OF PROPERTY RECKLESS DRIVING WORTHY, CURTIS L 4750 BRIARWOOD CIR CHATTANOOGA, 374163112 Age at Arrest: 41 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Here are the mug shots: Two Georgia Northwestern Technical College students have received the Gene Haas Scholarship, which rewards academic excellence and provides financial support for students working toward a degree, diploma or certificate in the Precision Machining and Manufacturing program. Lane Mears and Delores Turner received the Gene Haas Scholarship for the summer 2023 semester. Both students attend GNTCs Floyd County Campus. Last year the Gene Haas Foundation awarded $15,000 each to GNTCs Floyd County Campus in Rome and Whitfield Murray Campus in Dalton to fund student scholarships and to help pay for textbooks or supplies for students who plan to enroll or are currently enrolled in a machining-based program. The grant funds cannot be used to purchase equipment, machines or simulators. The generous support of the Gene Haas Foundation is greatly appreciated, said Dr. Heidi Popham, president of GNTC. These funds will enable students in our Precision Machining and Manufacturing program to stay the course and achieve their career goals. We are so thankful for our partnership with the Gene Haas Foundation. Phillips Corp. is the world's largest distributor for Haas Automation technology, which includes sales, service and applications support for Haas Computer Numerical Control equipment, said David Aycock, sales engineer for Phillips Corp./Haas Factory Outlet. Phillips Corp. is pleased to work with GNTC to provide support and financial assistance through the Gene Haas Foundation to help more students pursue a career degree focused on advanced manufacturing skills, Mr. Aycock said. These skills are going to be in even more high demand in the future, and these students will be in the vanguard to fill these important and exciting positions, Mr. Aycock said. We look forward to working with them as they advance their careers in this dynamic and evolving industry. Bruce T. Larkins, 67 of Chattanooga, Tennessee, passed away on Saturday, May 27, 2023. Bruce was born in Indiana but was a long time resident of Chattanooga. He was a dedicated member of East Brainerd Church of Christ and loved his church family. Bruce earned his Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tennessee Technical University. He worked for DeSoto Industries for several years and during his time there held a patent for his design of a fireplace screen. Bruce worked the past 16 years as a mechanical engineer for Astec Industries. He was an avid Dr. Who fan, loved Star Wars and Dune, reading fantasy/science fiction novels, and playing Final Fantasy XI Online. Bruce loved and cared for his family, was dedicated to his job, and will be dearly missed by his family, friends, and coworkers. Bruce was preceded in death by his father, Stanley Larkins and son, Nathan Larkins. Survivors include his son, Daniel (Mary) Larkins; granddaughter, Emma Larkins; mother, Jo Ann Watson Larkins; brother, Steven Larkins; and many extended family members. The family will receive friends on Sunday, June 4, from 2-3 p.m. with the funeral service to follow at 3 p.m. in the South Crest Chapel with Rev. Randy Hall officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the East Brainerd Church of Christ general fund at 7745 East Brainerd Rd. Chattanooga, TN 37421 or eastbraineredchurch.org/give or Memorial Hospital at supportmemorialfoundation.org To share condolences and to view a live stream of the funeral service please visit Bruces tribute page at lane-southcrestchapel.com Arrangements are by the South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home & Crematory, Rossville. A Trion man stands accused of arson following a multi-jurisdictional investigation into an intentionally set fire. The Walker County Sheriffs Office arrested Justin Curtis Rogers, 34, over the holiday weekend on charges of first-degree arson and first-degree burglary. The fire occurred shortly before 9 a.m. on the morning of April 23. Walker County Fire Marshal Scott Forrest says the home at 113 West Magnolia Street near LaFayette, was vacant and did not have power at the time of the fire. The countys Accelerant Detection Canine Team made the determination that an accelerant was used to set the fire. An investigation by Walker County Fire Rescue and the Georgia State Fire Marshals office developed Rogers as a suspect. He was the most recent tenant of the residence and reportedly had a heated exchange with the property owner about being evicted. A call to the Georgia Arson Control tip line also pointed investigators to Rogers. Rogers was in the Walker County Jail on unrelated charges at the time of his arrest. He has a lengthy arrest history that includes a number of drug-related offenses, theft, hit and run and fighting. Dakota Bradshaw Johntae Collier Eric Dodds Darious Woods Previous Next Two 23-year-olds from Huntsville, Ala., face life prison sentences plus five years after their conviction in the death of a 28-year-old Rossville man, District Attorney Clay Fuller said. Sentencing for Eric Dodds and Johntae Collier will be June 29 at 1 p.m. at the courthouse in LaFayette. A Walker County jury last week found them guilty of felony murder and other charges in the shooting death of Dakota Bradshaw. At sentencing they could receive as much as life in prison without the possibility of parole, it was stated. A woman who was with the defendants at the time of the slaying last Aug. 1, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge on Tuesday. Dajah Collins had told investigators what she remembered about the slaying. A fourth defendant, 27-year-old Darious Woods, is also charged with murder in the case. He was arrested in Chattanooga earlier and taken to Clarksville, Tn., where he is also charged with murder. Authorities said Woods was present at the Bradshaw murder. A GBI agent said Woods had killed two people previous to the Bradshaw incident. DA Fuller said the victim "was gunned down in a senseless act of violence" at his home on E. Peachtree Street. He was shot as he stood by a window. He said such violence might be tolerated in Chicago (where he said 50 were shot and 10 killed over the Memorial Day weekend), Manhattan or Portland, but not in Walker County. The DA said Dakota Bradshaw "always had a smile on his face. He graduated near the top of his class and was hoping for a career in cybersecurity." GBI Agent Joe Montgomery called it "a complex case with defendants in two different states" other than where the killing occurred. He and Sheriff Steve Wilson praised the cooperation on the part of law enforcement and the long hours worked. Officials said the investigation involved over 70 search warrants and numerous hours poring over social media posts involving the suspects. Several cellphones were also examined, it was stated. At an earlier preliminary hearing, GBI Agent Daniel Nicholson said Ms. Collins had revealed details about what happened that August afternoon. He said the group had come to Rossville to retrieve a blue Dodge Challenger that was registered under Colliers name. He said Ms. Collins had been directed to drive off with the Challenger, which was on the Bradshaw property. He said Ms. Collins drove with the others to the scene in a red truck. She related that Dodds was highly emotional and was crying in rage. She said he was carrying a rifle. Ms. Collins said she heard four-to-five gunshots as she ran over to the Challenger, it was testified. If Meghan Markle Attended Coronation, Event May Have Turned Into Great War of the Two Royal Wives With Kate Middleton, Says Royal Commentator Meghan Markle opted out of attending King Charles coronation alongside her husband, Prince Harry. However, one royal commentator claims that if the former Suits star had traveled to the UK for the event, she would have faced Kate Middleton, resulting in a situation that could have turned into the great war of the two royal wives. Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle during a Christmas walk after church in 2018 | Samir Hussein/WireImage Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton have not seen one another in eight months Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton last saw one another during Queen Elizabeth IIs funeral in September 2022. The women married to Prince Harry and Prince William, respectively, have a checkered past. After several public rifts in the early days of their relationship, it appears the sisters-in-law never again found common ground. Fast-forward to 2023, when Kate took center stage alongside her husband, William, and their three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, at King Charles coronation. Kate stepped into the limelight as the future queen of the United Kingdom. She did not have to face Meghan, who remained home with her and Harrys two children in California. However, one royal commentator claims that had Meghan and Kate appeared together at the event, it could have turned into the great war of the two royal wives. They believed Meghan would have shown up in an outfit created to deliberately outshine Kate. Daniela Elser explained, The greatest tragedy in all of this? That we, the public, were denied the chance to see what incredible couture confection, worth about the same value as a mid-size family car, Meghan would have worn to the coronation. She quipped, Now that, Id wager, would have been the Dress to End All Dresses. Knowing what now know about Bridesmaid-dress-gate and the tears, it just might have led to the Great War of The Two Royal Wives. Pradas at dawn, anyone? Kate Middleton appears to be winning House of Windsor popularity war with Meghan Markle Daniela Elser believes that Kate Middleton plays a methodical long game as Princess of Wales. She has integrated herself prominently as a patron of some key charitable endeavors. These include rectifying the issues of homelessness and mental health for the next generation. She wrote, Someone has really been hiding not only their light but a helluva lot of ambition under her designer bushel. So, Kate: Strength to strength, nailing it, gold stars all around. However, Elser believes the same cannot be said for her sister-in-law Meghan. Its hard to see by any measure that things are going well inside the Sussex camp these days, she explained. Elser cited two significant moves by the couple, including their Netflix series and Harrys book, that appeared to doom their public personas. Elser wrote, Just over five years since she and Harry tied the knot, Meghan, despite having the work ethic of Princess Anne on Red Bull, seems to be a Duchess without a portfolio. Of the Kings two daughters-in-law, who would have predicted that 2023 it would be Kate, the former princess of the nude hose, who would be the one hitting her stride and doing exciting, ambitious things? And that it would be Meghan whose career would seem to be floundering? she concluded. Meghan Markle stays out of the public eye since a paparazzi car chase, and Kate Middleton keeps a full royal schedule Meghan Markles last public appearance was marred by what she and Prince Harrys rep called a near catastrophic car chase on May 16, 2023. However, the couples claims directly contradict the New York City Police Departments statement of events. An NYPD spokesperson confirmed to The Los Angeles Times on Wednesday, May 17, that its officers assisted the private security team protecting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Julian Phillips, the NYPDs deputy commissioner of public information, said, There were numerous photographers that made their transport challenging. In contrast, Kate Middleton kept to a busy royal docket dotted with significant appearances. She was seen at the Royal Chelsea Flower Show. Kate made a surprise cameo during the opening sequence of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. She also supported workers at the Percy Community Centre in Bath. Kate also appeared on behalf of the Anna Freud Centre, of which she is a patron. She was also photographed farming bees for World Bee Day. Elements of this story were first reported by O Magazine. Human activity is negatively impacting Antarctic water quality. This is the conclusion of a study carried out by the Institute of Environmental Diagnosis and Water Studies (IDAEA-CSIC) and the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (IGME-CSIC), in collaboration with the University of Granada and the Autonomous University of Madrid, which has detected the presence of ten organic pollutants of emerging concern in freshwater and coastal marine waters of the Antarctic continent. The most relevant contaminants are several pharmaceutical products, nicotine and caffeine, as well as UV filters, some of them with high persistence, dispersibility and toxicity to biota. The samples analyzed come from a wide variety of sources, including areas with human activity such as bases, campsites and tourism, as well as areas with no apparent human or animal presence. Results published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials show the presence of seven pharmaceuticals (the painkillers acetaminophen, diclofenac and ibuprofen; the blood cholesterol and triglyceride regulator bezafibrate; the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide; the antibiotic clarithromycin; and the antidepressants citalopram and venlafaxine), nicotine and caffeine, the UV filter benzophenone-1 and the industrial anti-corrosion product tolitriazole. "Nicotine and the antidepressant citalopram had not been studied before in Antarctica and we found them in 74% and 55% of the samples, respectively," states Miren Lopez de Alda, researcher at IDAEA-CSIC. "The rest of the substances were included in the study because, although they had been detected previously, they presented a moderate or high toxicological risk for aquatic organisms", she remarks. The work has classified the organic pollutants identified on the basis of their presence in the samples collected and their hazard index, which integrates the potential for bioaccumulation, persistence and aquatic toxicity. In this regard, Cristina Postigo, researcher at the University of Granada and first author of the article, emphasizes: "After the risk assessment carried out, the substances of greatest concern in this region are citalopram, clarithromycin, nicotine, venlafaxine and hydrochlorothiazide, which should continue to be monitored in Antarctic waters and biota in the future". The work also shows that pollution of anthropogenic origin is not only localized in places where scientific activity and tourism take place, but also spreads to more remote areas. This implies that chemical contamination may be influenced by different environmental processes, such as re-emission from ice and atmospheric deposition. In view of these results, the authors emphasize that the Antarctic Treaty System, and especially the Committee for the Protection of the Antarctic Environment, should strengthen measures to reduce the impact of human presence in Antarctica. President Yoon Suk Yeol meets with businesspeople over chicken, pizza and beer on the front lawn of the presidential office in Seoul, in this photo provided by the presidential office, May 23. Yonhap Korean smaller firms' business outlook switched to a downturn for June on the country's slowing economy, a poll showed Tuesday. The survey of 3,058 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) showed the small business health index (SBHI) standing at 81.1 for next month, down 2.7 points from May. The figure represents a turnaround from May's increase to 83.8 from the previous month's 80.7. A reading below 100 indicates pessimists outnumber optimists. The survey was taken by the Korea Federation of SMEs from May 15-22. The downturn came amid the country's slumping exports and sluggish domestic demand. Korea's exports fell 14.2 percent on-year to $49.6 billion in April due mainly to sagging global demand for semiconductors, dropping for the seventh consecutive month. According to the findings, the SBHI for the manufacturing sector stood at 84 for June, down 2.5 points from the prior month, with that for nonmanufacturing companies falling by 2.8 points to 79.9. Some 61 percent of the respondents cited sluggish domestic demand as the biggest hurdle to their management, followed by high labor costs (44.5 percent), cutthroat competition (35.6 percent) and rising raw materials costs (34.3 percent). The average capacity utilization rate of manufacturing SMEs came to 71.9 percent in April, down 0.7 percentage point from the previous month, according to the survey. (Yonhap) Synthetic fuels from renewable energy sources are needed to reach the climate goals in the transport sector. So-called refuels promise to reduce CO2 emissions by 90 percent compared to conventional fuels. To cover future needs of heavy-duty vehicles, airplanes, and ships and provide chemical industry with basic substances, we will require the corresponding industrial facilities. Researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and their partners have now launched the REF4FU project to determine the refuel quantities needed and what future green refineries will have to look like to supply these quantities. In spite of increasing electric mobility in the transport sector, we will continue to need liquid fuels for a long time, says Professor Nicolaus Dahmen from KITs Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology (IKFT). He heads the project Refineries for Future (REF4FU) and adds: Only 60 percent of the fuel today is consumed by individual car traffic. When talking about phasing out of combustion engines, it is referred to car engines only. The REF4FU project is therefore aimed at developing, testing, and standardizing 100 percent renewable fuels for all transport sectors, including water and air traffic. Renewable Resources as a Basis REF4FU covers the use of sustainable hydrogen, pyrolysis oil based on biological residues, such as straw or waste wood, methanol from renewable feedstocks, and Fischer-Tropsch oil that corresponds to green crude oil. The advantage of these products is that they can be transported, stored, and handled just like todays crude oil, Dahmen explains and points out that green crude oil will also be needed by chemical industry for the production of plastics, for instance. Scenarios for Ramping up Production Refuels are being produced on a pre-industrial scale: We already have processes and big, technically mature test facilities to produce tons of synthetic fuel, Dahmen says. However, it is not yet clear how these fuels will be commercialized and transferred to the customers. We cannot just sell them from barrels at the roadside, Dahmen says. To find out when and where which quantities of synthetic gasoline, diesel, or kerosene will be needed, researchers use scenarios that also take into account political goals regarding the electrification of road traffic or the expected developments in the different transport sectors. According to these scenarios, gasoline will disappear from the market first, Dahmen points out. This will affect future production capacities. The REF4FU collaboration project coordinated by KIT is funded with around EUR 7 million by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport. Apart from the institutes of KIT (IKFT, IMVT, EBI-ceb, IFKM, IIP), the project partners are DLR The German Aerospace Center, Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum (DBFZ), Technische Universitat Bergakademie Freiberg, and Chemieanlagenbau Chemnitz, BASF, EDL Anlagenbau, and Ineratec. The MiRO refinery, Porsche, and ASG are associated project partners. Law enforcement jurisdiction within the Cherokee Nation was discussed at length during the Tribal Councils May 25 Rules Committee meeting. A 31-year-old woman knows that she grew up in privilege, though she also grew up in a pretty modest way as well. What she means by this is that even though her family lived in a house located in a safe upper-middle-class suburb, they reused aluminum foil, they got their things from second-hand stores, and they all went to public school. As she reached high school, her mom and dad chose to send her younger sister to a private school. Then, they left their house in the suburbs behind to move to a new home located in a very upscale gated community. They began going out to eat a lot more frequently, her mom began purchasing designer handbags for herself, and suddenly, their whole family was going on a ton of family vacations. I knew my Dads company was doing well, and life was good, but it felt like a flip switch in his spending habits and mindset, she explained. Honestly, I missed our old life and my friends. Both my parents grew up in blue-collar families, and the sudden spike in luxurious lifestyle lead to more fights (mo money, mo problems, fo sho). They both agreed that this new life was coming between our family. By the time I left for college, my family had settled back into their old habits, and things improved. My father sold his company right when I left for college to a larger like-minded business. Its been almost a decade since then. Well, yesterday, she grabbed dinner with her grandparents and excused herself at some point to use the bathroom. On her walk back to the table, she overheard her grandparents discussing money from a merger and how they wanted to see if her mom and dad could give them money to fix some plumbing problems since her parents were billionaires. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. This 23-year-old girl has a male roommate the same age as her, and he moved into her apartment about 3 months back. Her roommates bedroom is technically their living room, so although part of that room is a space they share, the other part is where he sleeps. Prior to allowing her roommate to move in with her, she was friends with him, and it was never news to her that hes a pretty messy kind of guy. Unfortunately, the level of messy that her roommate is happens to be out of control and way worse than she anticipated. Everything started off great, though, and her roommate needed to wait for a week for his furniture to arrive. So, while he waited, he slept on her couch. As soon as her roommates bed, desk, and computer arrived, their whole apartment began to smell. It smells like dirty laundry, B.O.; just funky and disgusting, she explained. The smell is so strong too. I had noticed this smell before. He used a blanket on the couch ONCE, and after that, it started to smell like that. Thats how bad it is. Now, Im a very clean person, and scent is very important to me. I collect perfumes, that should tell you something. This smell made me PANIC, and I immediately told him that it stinks in here, and I refuse to accept that. I noticed that much of the smell is coming from his bed, so I told him to wash his sheets. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Pixabay/Romy The Archbishop of St. Louis announced the terms of their 'All Thing New' plan, which outlines the reorganization of parishes and will result in the closing of several churches. In June, additional details regarding the program will be presented. Archbishop of St. Louis' Announcement On Saturday, May 27, Catholics received news about the future of their clergy and parishes under the "All Things New" archdiocese-wide consolidation plan after waiting for the announcement for the previous 18 months. St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski revealed the reforms in a news conference and a letter that priests read during vigil Mass. The modifications will reduce the number of parishes in the archdiocese from 178 to 134. While almost fifty percent of the reductions are in north St. Louis and north St. Louis County and only one of them, St. John Bosco in Maryland Heights, is located west of Interstate 270 in St. Louis County, the Archbishop insisted that the initiative impacts the whole region. As mentioned, the closing and merging of parishes do not always indicate that the church buildings linked with those churches will likewise close. It is anticipated that more specifics, such as new Mass times and worship places for united parishes, will be provided by the beginning of June. This fall, it is expected that decisions will be made on the consolidation or closure of Catholic parish schools. As per The Blue Mountain Eagle, parishioners have until Monday, Jun 12, to use canon or church law to object to Rozanski's decisions. In addition, almost ninety priests from the diocesan order will take on the lead pastor role in one church or numerous united parishes. However, several disappointing reassignments occurred. Msgr. Mark Ullrich, who has served as the pastor of Sacred Heart in Florissant for a significant amount of time, conveyed to the congregation on Saturday, May 27, that the decision was unfortunate news for him. "I really planned on staying longer, having a lot of fun at it. I had every intention of continuing as long as I could," the pastor asserted. Pastor Ullrich will reportedly move to St. Francis Assisi in Oakville to serve as the senior associate pastor after stepping down as pastor of St. Justin Martyr in Sunset Hills. His successor as pastor will be the Reverend William Kempf. Moreover, Pastor Ullrich predicted that it would be difficult for whoever succeeded him to combine the parishes of St. Rose Duchesne in Florissant and Blessed Teresa in Ferguson into one congregation since schools can be found in each of the three parishes. On the other hand, the congregation of Epiphany of Our Lord, which is located in the Lindenwood Park district of south St. Louis, recently found out that they will not be moving and will instead collaborate with a new pastor with the congregation of St. James the Greater, which is located in the Dogtown neighborhood. Also Read:Local Authorities Closes Simalungun Christian Protestant Church Following Muslims' Opposition on Its Worship Service Church Reorganization Based on the report from Spectrum News, in addition to the closing churches, there will be a consolidation of 15 parishes into five new ones. Still, all of the religious buildings will continue to be accessible. The Spanish-speaking community of St. Charles County will soon have access to a brand-new personal parish. Accordingly, these adjustments were made as part of a roughly two-year-long initiative that dealt with various issues, including a drop in the number of people attending Mass, a decrease in the number of priests, and an upsurge in the locations where Catholics currently reside. Following a series of listening sessions held in parishes and an assessment of feedback received from community members and religious leaders, the archbishop made his final announcement. Related Article:Scotlands Churches May Close Due to Falling Members, Dwindling Income Pixabay/Maria_Domnina The Catholic Churches in Nicaragua are being investigated by the police for possible involvement in money laundering. The bank accounts of the churches have been frozen by law enforcement officials who are said to be loyal to the administration of President Daniel Ortega. Money Laundering Accusation on Catholic Church Based on a report from Euro ES, it has been confirmed by the police, the Attorney General's Office, the Superintendency of Banks, and the Financial Analysis Unit that illegal activity has occurred with funds that have improperly entered the country on behalf of the diocese. In light of these factors, an investigation into these unlawful activities is being carried out, and legal action has been initiated. The authorities highlighted that the Superintendency of Banks had demanded the submission of the records that demonstrate the transactions of the financial assets of the churches so that it is dealt with in all instances with the nation's regulations, preventing the criminal acts that had been performed. The appeal was reportedly sent to both the Nicaraguan Episcopal Conference and Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, the prelate in charge of the Nicaraguan Church. According to Reuters, since Friday, May 19, policemen that are compassionate to the administration of President Daniel Ortega, who has been engaged in a heated feud with Nicaragua's bishops, have stated that they discovered "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in various church locations across the nation. Since May 19, police sympathetic to the administration of President Daniel Ortega, who has been engaged in a heated feud with Nicaragua's bishops, have noted that the money had been stolen from bank accounts that were supposed to be frozen because of a legal mandate. The bank accounts were associated with religious personalities convicted of treason and other offenses. As mentioned, the investigations conducted by the authorities revealed that the money had entered the nation illegally. It also uncovered other illegal actions, which are still being examined as part of an illicit money laundering network identified in the dioceses in several departments. This network was reportedly found across various regions of the country. On the other hand, Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes stated that people's bank accounts are located in this city because this is how they conduct their business. The cardinal asserted that they are analyzing the situation and will have a meeting to provide additional information later on. Also Read: Exiled Nicaraguan Bishop Responds to Recent Attacks, Insults of Daniel Ortega 'Church Are not Afraid Since Evil Promotes Fear' In the aftermath of anti-government protests in 2018 that resulted in the deaths of approximately 360 people due to what human rights groups call police repression, Ortega's government has escalated its attacks on the Catholic Church, Malaysia Business Insight reported. The government accused the bishops acting as mediators between the administration and the demonstrators of conspiring to overthrow the government. As per Rival Times, on Sunday, May 28, during a sermon at the Managua Cathedral, Brenes urged his parishioners, particularly young people, not to be afraid, as the devil promotes fear. Accordingly, the investigations being conducted by the police stem from incidents that were previously examined and prosecuted for treason against the nation's country is reportedly a reference to the controversial Law for the Defense of the Rights of the People to Independence, Sovereignty, and Self-Determination for Peace, which, since its enactment, has been utilized to lock up opponents of the Ortega government, reporters, and even candidates from opposing parties running for the presidency. The Ortega dictatorship has taken several moves toward the Catholic Church in Nicaragua, the most recent of which is the announcement of investigations into allegations of money laundering. Just in the first few months of this year, the Ortega government has been responsible for the closing of a university in the Archdiocese of Managua, the incarceration of priests, the removal of nuns from the nation, and the severing of diplomatic relations with the Vatican. The most recent installment in this series is the announcement of investigations for possible instances of money laundering. Related Article:Nicaragua Arrests Around 21 People for Celebrating Traditions During Holy Week Pixabay/Arek Socha Fr. Winston Cabading was recently taken into custody for allegedly offending religious emotions. The priest has been backed by various Catholic organizations, all of which argue that he is simply adhering to the 'definitive ruling' issued by the Church about the legitimacy of the 1948 Lipa Apparitions. Demetriou's Dilemma The Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 81 had issued a warrant for Cabading's arrest, which led to his capture on Saturday, May 13. While on Monday, May 15, he made his bail payment of 18,000 pesos, or around $330. As per MSN Fr. Cabading's views regarding the legitimacy of the 1948 Lipa Apparitions were referenced in a digital Catholic show, which led to an accusation being made against him in December 2022 by the former chief of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Harriet Demetriou. The complaint was submitted because it was believed that he had violated Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code. In her complaint, Demetriou called the priest a "rabid critic" of Mary and excoriated his statement that there was a 1951 Lipa Diocesan Verdict that "negated the authenticity of the 1948 apparition of Our Lady, Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace." Moreover, Inquirer reported that because the law requires that the claimed acts have taken place in a setting that relates to religious activities or during the celebration of a religious event, there is a legal consideration that must be taken into account concerning the case of the priest. According to Demetriou, the fact that prayer and a reading from the Gospel were a part of the conference where Cabading delivered his remarks demonstrates that the event was a religious function. If this line of reasoning is followed, then it follows that religious rites would also include the prayers that are frequently said at the beginning and conclusion of classes at Catholic schools. Demetriou has scrutinized even an online show in which Cabading's statements were solely displayed. However, according to the canonical teachings of the Church, neither radio broadcasts nor conferences can be considered acts of religious worship. According to PhilStar Global, the Dominican priest stated in an interview broadcast on Radio Veritas that he did not break Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code. Fr. Cabading argued that an offense of upsetting religious feelings happens if the act was done during an ongoing religious ritual and if the offender does an act that hurts the sentiments of the faithful. In addition, he refuted derogatory comments about the "alleged" Marian apparition in 1948 at the Carmelite convent in Lipa, which is located in the province of Batangas. The priest explained that the organization did not recognize the apparition because of a ruling issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1951. In 1949, the Church investigated the reports that had been made about the apparition. He also mentioned that Pope Pius XII sanctioned the decision and referred to a statement published on July 9, 2016, by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. In the message, the bishops encouraged devotion to Mother Mary, Mediatrix of Grace, but emphasized that it should not be related to the 1948 apparition. On the other hand, Fr. Cabading asserted that he had forgiven those who brought the complaints against him. Also Read: Guardians Of The Galaxy Director James Gunn Defends Chris Pratt From Those Mocking His Christian Faith Catholic Organizations Defended the Exorcist Priest GMA News Online reported that after Fr. Winston Cabading was recently arrested for allegedly insulting the religious emotions of a Marian devotee; several Catholic organizations, including the Philippine Association of Catholic Exorcists (PACE), as well as several other Catholic organizations, voiced their support for him on Friday, May 27. The PACE, the Archdiocese of Manila Commission on Extraordinary Phenomena, and the AMOE supported the 57-year-old priest. According to the statements made by these three organizations, the priest just reiterated the Church's "definitive ruling" on the authenticity of the 1948 Lipa Apparitions. Related Article:Christian Lawyers Foundation Files Lawsuit Against Artists for Allegedly Mocking Christian Faith Unsplash/National Cancer Institute The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), an arm of the Department of Education, has permanently banned a Christian math teacher from the classroom in the United Kingdom. Joshua Sutcliffe was found guilty of engaging in "unacceptable professional conduct" and "bringing the teaching profession into disrepute" after "misgendering" a pupil and professing his Christian views on marriage and homosexuality. A legal association has backed this precedent-setting decision. UK Christian Teacher Banned from Teaching for Misgendering Student During a chat in which he referred to a transgender pupil as a girl, Sutcliffe was fired from his position as a teacher at Oxford's Cherwell School in 2017. He revealed to Fox News Digital that the transgender student felt he was misgendering them when he thanked two pupils for finding a solution to an issue and called them girls. Sutcliffe offered an apology, but the student's mom complained, and the school suspended Sutcliffe for a week. After the incident became well known, Sutcliffe reached an out-of-court settlement with the institution. Later, Sutcliffe changed schools to Catholic institution in North London, where he encountered more controversy. A student accused him of displaying a Prager University-produced film with conservative commentator Allie Beth Stuckey on masculinity. Sutcliffe acknowledged encouraging students to watch the film on their own time, despite his denial of showing it in class. According to Daily Mail, when Sutcliffe allegedly showed the film, the disciplinary panel found that he had "failed to consider the potential adverse effect on these pupils" and was therefore acting improperly. Sutcliffe contested this decision and insisted that the video was not contentious. Sutcliffe said that in response to the accusations and his suspension that teachers in the UK are urged to support a particular viewpoint on gender and sexuality, which he claims excludes Christian ideas. He asserts there is just one view allowed, and it's certainly not a Christian view, and alleges that individuals who disagree with it are coerced into silence. Also Read:Loudon County Public Schools Didn't Allow a Teacher From Putting Bible Verse in Email Signature Christian Legal Centre CEO Comments on UK Teacher's Case The Christian Legal Centre's (CLC) chief executive, Andrea Williams, has expressed her worries. Williams sees this as a turning moment and calls for intervention by the government to bring "sanity back into the teaching profession." According to Catholic Herald, Williams voiced a great deal of worry about the actions of the regulatory bodies. She expressed her outrage at Christian instructors facing punishment for only telling the truth. Williams added that professors who hold Christian views on sexual ethics and morals are stripped of their teaching privileges by these regulatory bodies and that these views are no longer accepted in the educational setting. She contrasts the seriousness of Sutcliffe's predicament with instances of grave wrongdoing, including professors having sex with pupils or committing grave crimes. Williams claims that Sutcliffe's situation is fundamentally different and that the Secretary of State, the TRA, and the schools appear to have discriminated against Sutcliffe based on her point of view. She complains about the TRA's decision to single out an "exceptional teacher" just because his Christian convictions conflict with the prevalent LGBTQ morality. The Secretary of State's support for the panel's proposals is described by Williams as "deeply illiberal," and she expresses her confusion. She claims that in light of the government's acknowledged worries about the prevalence of transgender ideology and potentially damaging gender identity instruction in UK schools, this is incongruous. Related Article:US Supreme Court Declines to Hear Arguments in Jusino Ramon v. Federation of Catholic Teachers Case Pixabay/StockSnap A recent report from the US State Department has unveiled a horrifying incident of religious persecution in North Korea, where a toddler was sentenced to life imprisonment in a prison camp due to the discovery of a Bible in the possession of the child's family. Bible Possession Although the incident occurred in 2009, it gained attention in the State Department's Report on International Religious Freedom: Democratic People's Republic of Korea for 2022, released earlier this month. The report highlights the unfortunate reality faced by individuals in North Korea, UPI reported. According to the report, the entire family, including a two-year-old child, received life sentences in political prison camps due to their Bible possession. These revelations are based on the accounts of defectors who escaped the regime's brutality between 2007 and 2020. The government, led by the Kim family, considers Christians the most dangerous political class and subjects them to violent and intense persecution, as stated by Open Doors. North Korean parents are forced to hide their faith from their children, and any form of worship is conducted secretly, with churches consisting of only a few individuals or even non-existent. In addition, The Telegraph reported that the US State Department's report estimates that there are between 200,000 and 400,000 clandestine Christians in North Korea. These Christians are often forced to worship secretly and face severe punishment if caught. The report also documents many other human rights abuses in North Korea, including torture, forced labor, and arbitrary detention. It calls on the North Korean government to respect the human rights of its citizens, including the right to freedom of religion. As mentioned, sentencing a toddler to life in prison for possessing a Bible is a clear example of the North Korean government's disregard for human rights. The international community must continue to pressure the North Korean government to respect the human rights of its citizens. Also Read: North Koreans Increasingly Exposed To Bible Despite Govt Persecution: Report Bibles Banned in North Korea As per Asia News, a report from the Database Center for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB) has found that religious persecution in North Korea has worsened in recent years. NKDB director Sokeel Park stated that the North Korean government is increasingly concerned about the spread of religion, which it sees as a threat to its authority. He added that the government uses fear and intimidation to suppress religious activity. Moreover, the report's findings remind people of the harsh reality of life in North Korea for those who dare to practice religion. The North Korean government's persecution of religious believers violates human rights and must be stopped. Despite the persecution, the report found that the number of people who have "seen a Bible" has increased by 4% yearly since 2000. It suggests that the spread of Christianity in North Korea is continuing, even in the face of government repression. Furthermore, in 2021, the Missions Box reported that a law was passed by the South Korean government earlier this month that would make it illegal to send anything considered "anti-North Korean material" into the country. The law could significantly impact the work of organizations like The Voice of the Martyrs Korea (VOM Korea), which has been using balloons to send Bibles and other Christian materials into North Korea for over a decade. Related Article: How is the Life of 50,000 Christians in North Korean Prison Camps A shop employee grabs items off the shelf at a convenience store in Seoul, May 5. Yonhap By Kim Jae-heun Lee Sung-bong, 25, opened a CU convenience store in southwestern Seoul's Guro District last August, on recommendation from his parents who have been running one for years. "My parents have been in the convenience store business and they suggested I start my own. I think I developed my skills in picking up popular items that my customers like. Because my store has many new and unique items, young customers including YouTubers and bloggers come here from time to time," Lee said. He remarked that sales at his store have jumped by more than 30 percent over the last nine months. Like Lee, a growing number of young people in their 20s and 30s are rushing to open convenience stores for the benefits of having more free time and a higher income compared to office workers. Also, the cost of opening a convenience store is relatively low compared to entering other businesses and the job requires no particular qualifications. According to BGF Retail, operator of the country's largest convenience store CU, the portion of new store owners in their 20s increased from 7.4 percent in 2020 to 10.4 percent in 2021 and 16.2 percent in 2022. In the case of GS25, its portion of young, self-employed owners soared from 12.9 percent in 2020 to 15.8 percent in 2022. 7-Eleven also saw its portion increase to 13 percent from 11.4 percent in the same period. On the other hand, all three firms have been seeing the number of store owners in their 50s and older decrease every year. "The biggest reason for many young people to jump into the convenience store business is that it costs only 42 million won ($31,777) to open a new store. The starting expense may be different depending on the franchise, but you can say that it costs less than 100 million won at most," a local convenience store firm official said. The companies are also welcoming young store owners as they are more in tune with what young customers want compared to older store owners. Store owners place orders for all the products they want to sell at their stores and having a sense of trends makes a difference. They are also active in promoting their own business online, which helps franchise firms to raise their brand image while attracting young customers. Pixabay/Andrys Stienstra The Fowey Parish Church St. Fimbarrus is being criticized due to their decision to pass a resolution that will only allow a male to serve as vicar in their house of worship. A top executive of the church council has also resigned after being accused of sexism over the Church's policy of not ordaining women as priests. Criticism on Churches The dispute began in March, when the parish church of St. Fimbarrus, which is 800 years old and located in Fowey, Cornwall, voted only to ordain men to the position of vicar, Daily Mail reported. Currently, because there is no indication that the disagreement will be resolved, Andy Virr, a conservative councilor who represented Fowey, Par, Tywardreath, and Golant and who held the responsibility for adult social care and health on Cornwall Council, has resigned from his positions as warden and chairman of the parochial church council (PCC). Following the labeling of supporters of the 'no woman priest' rule as sexist, fellow churchwarden Carol Carruthers and her husband, PCC treasurer Graham, have also quit their positions. As mentioned, the Presiding Church Council (PCC) concluded that there should be "no woman vicar here" after hearing from members of the congregation who stated that they could not stay in the Church due to theological reasons unless the priest were a man. After quitting the Church of England, the previous incumbent, the Reverend Phillip de Grey-Warter, founded Anchor, a competing Anglican church in the town. This action caused a great deal of controversy. A local person who did not wish to be identified said that Dawn French, famous for taking the lead role in The Vicar of Dibley, once lived in Fowey. Therefore, people would reportedly expect the community church to be comfortable with lady clergy and the comedy that accompanies them. In addition, someone else also voiced their opinion, stating, "These individuals need to wake up and come into the real world. I think it would be quite refreshing to have a female vicar." According to ITV News, the absence of a vicar at St. Fimbarrus Church in Fowey, located in Cornwall, has persisted for the past four years. A small portion of the congregation allegedly stated that they could not be religious organization members on 'theological grounds' unless the pastor were a man. At the beginning of this year, the neighboring parishes of Tywardreath and Golant were thrilled to have the Reverend Shona Hoad serve as their new female vicar. Despite this, the Fowey PCC had already decided in the past that it would not have a female vicar, and it did not have a priest when it approved the resolution to place an advertisement for a male-only vicar. Moreover, the Reverend Howard Flint, vicar of St. Austell, presided over the annual meeting of the parish council and acknowledged that Fowey "is in a difficult place." Also Read:Pastor Stacie Wood of Saddleback Church Stands Firm Despite the Rejection of Southern Baptist Convention on Female Pastor Sexist on Ordaining Female Priest Concerning the ordination of Abigail Eltzroth, comments made by David Hains in 2017 while serving as a spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte have caused the Women's Ordination Conference (WOC) to express their disappointment. In his message, Hains said the hope that Catholics in the diocese would comprehend that it would be a grave sin to accept a phony sacrament from a woman priest and that this would also entail witnessing a fake Mass. As mentioned, the notion that a woman who responds to her calling to preach the Good News is "sinful" is an archaic notion perpetuated by the leadership of the Church, which continues to view women as impure and unholy. The evil practices at this issue are reportedly sexism and patriarchy, not the presence of female clergy. In addition, WOC rejoices in the consecration of Abigail Eltzroth, in the prophetic obedience of over a hundred other women who have responded to God's call, and in the adoration of all who participate in these communities. Women are departing the organized Church faster than any other group. Still, they continue to discover a spiritual home in women-led eucharistic communities and house churches, where everyone is welcome at the table. Those who find a place to call home in these communities have encouragement to look for the sacraments under their convictions. Related Article:Southern Baptist Convention Cut Ties with Saddleback Church Over Decision of Ordaining Three Women Pastors Pixabay/Birgit Lutzer The 'Peace Walk' has been organized and held annually by the Wellington Heights Community Church since 2021. They want to foster unity among people and make it easier for them to get along with one another. 'Peace Walk' In 2021, the Wellington Heights Community Church initiated the practice of holding Peace Walks. Since then, Keeyon Carter, one of the pastors at Wellington Heights Community Church, has stated that he has witnessed these activities bring about the unity that Green suggested, which is people getting along with other individuals. A report from MSN noted that on May 28, a summertime practice called 'Peace Walk' that takes place every year in the same Cedar Rapids neighborhood was revived. Children and their parents marched through the streets of the Wellington Heights neighborhood, yelling, "I am a peacemaker!" and carrying posters proclaiming the same thing. As mentioned, it does not take much effort to render the world a friendlier, more peaceful, and more manageable place if individuals go outside their homes and walk with their neighbors. On the other hand, Community Church member Jenny Chadima asserted, "This walk in itself is helping to create more of a unity. At Wellington Heights, we like to say 'shalom,' which is wholeness." Pastor Carter also believes this community is very similar to other neighborhoods and has room for growth. "But there's also flourishing, and often, in neighborhoods of diversity, that's easy to point at the negative. But that's the point of the Peace Walks," he added. According to KCRG, after a series of online Bible studies focused on racial reconciliation and public outpourings of grief following the assassination of George Floyd, monthly peace walks were initiated in May 2021 as a novel approach to bringing together disparate individuals for the sake of a shared goal. Every month, the peace walk takes to the streets with various objectives, such as honoring the splendor of the neighborhood, practicing self-care, fostering communal peace, finding inner peace, restoring harmony in the home, and celebrating the beauty of the individual. Moreover, the ministry's focus on racial reconciliation stood out among many churches as racial unrest persisted because it used a holistic approach to spirituality, which believes that spiritual well-being is interconnected with all other aspects of life. Pastor Carter unashamedly involved the community in debates about race "in a way where it brought about justice and mercy" to the vulnerable, in contrast to how certain denominations avoided racial justice or addressed it in unclear terms. According to Carter, the objective of each walk is to rebuild not merely a single component of society but all of its members. Furthermore, the walks serve as a concrete reminder to the neighborhood's residents that serenity exists there despite the neighborhood's occasionally negative reputation. Also Read: Pope Francis Provides Unique Voice for Peace, Says Leader of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Unity Among People The mission of the Wellington Heights Neighborhood Engagement Program is to communicate with residents of the Wellington Heights community who are at the most significant risk. This technique entails establishing complete street visibility across the Wellington Heights area through community involvement to cultivate relationships with young people and adults. As per Wellington Heights Community Church, the goal of this initiative is to foster harmony and prosperity in the Wellington Heights neighborhood through collaborative efforts on the part of the local community. Accordingly, this event is made possible due to a grant from the Safe, Equitable, and Thriving program of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, which is administered in conjunction with Wellington Heights Community Church. With community mediation sessions, veranda check-ins with chosen families, peace walks, and other activities, this initiative seeks to involve families in the Wellington Heights neighborhood and conduct neighborhood engagement. Related Article:St. Illtuds Church Holds Overnight Prayer for 'Unity, Strength, Peace, Hope' Wikimedia Commons/Kingofthedead The American department store Kohl's has come under fire from certain customers for selling LGBTQ clothes for infants and young children. A "Baby Sonoma Community Pride Bodysuit set" made for newborns aged three months, six months, and nine months was one of the products promoted on various social media sites. The costume shows a family setting with three kids, one of whom is in a wheelchair, a dog, and what appears to be a gay couple. A flag representing progressive pride is being carried by an adult in the artwork. In addition, there were banners reading "Love Is Love," towels, bibs, candles, shorts, pillows, and shirts bearing the slogans "Be Proud" and "Ask Me My Pronouns." Kohl's Faces Backlash Over Pride Merchandise for Kids and Infants According to the article in Fox News, in contrast to prior marketing initiatives by Bud Light and Target, the Twitter account "End Wokeness" disparaged Kohl's choice to highlight the Pride exhibit and items. Morgonnn, a social media personality and contributor to Turning Point USA criticized Kohl's for selling LGBTQ children's clothes in a video published on Sunday, calling it "disgusting" and an instance of "blatant virtue signaling" that aims to encourage "transgender ideology" among young Americans. Other critics expressed similar worries. Calls for a boycott of the firm were also made, with one user commenting saying that another company needs Bud-lighting. Skateboarder Taylor Silverman questioned Kohl's support for "gay and trans people demanding validation from babies." In response to its sale of a baby onesie with a Pride motif, Kohl's department store has received both praise and criticism. According to Mirror, the item of clothing, which has cartoon characters hoisting a rainbow flag, is offered at a reduced cost. Critics have vowed to boycott the business and given the product one-star reviews. Supporters, on the other hand, emphasized that numerous well-known businesses provided comparable Pride-themed items and urged Kohl's to stand its ground in the face of criticism. The discussion has raised awareness of the larger problem of corporate Pride Month involvement as well as the ongoing cultural conflicts around LGBTQ+ issues and company involvement with them. Also Read:LA Dodgers' Alliance with LGBT Activists Sparks Outrage Among Catholic Community Target Removes Controversial Items from Pride Collection Amid Backlash Target Corp. has made the decision to remove several items from its Pride Collection as a result of negative consumer feedback and threats to the safety of its employees. In the article in Reuters, the store's Pride Collection has nearly 2,000 products, including apparel, books, music, and home goods. Conflicts over this year's collection have increased recently, leading to products being dumped on store floors. Target is doing this by deleting contentious products, including those connected to the LGBTQ company Abprallen and the British designer Erik Carnell, who has drawn criticism for creating products with satanic imagery. Not all U.S. stores or their website will carry discontinued items. The action comes in response to conservative criticism of other companies, including Bud Light, for using transgender influencers to promote their products. Related Article: Target Faces Backlash as Trans Designer Reveals Smear Campaign Linking Him to Satanism Pixabay/Hands off my tags! Michael Gaida New York City authorities are looking for a man who robbed Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church. It is believed that the suspect stole several precious artifacts and sculptures from the church. Burglary at Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church A report from The Tablet stated that on Thursday, May 18, around 5:30 p.m., an unidentified person penetrated the church through an unlocked door and then used burglar tools to break into a door inside the perimeter. The thief made off with roughly $60 cash in addition to various sculptures and other religious significance valued at $890. Authorities mentioned that the items taken were part of an inventory of objects that would be sold at the church. After leaving the premises, the suspect reportedly ran away in a southerly direction toward 30th Avenue. Police said nobody else was in the church when it was broken into. As per Jackson Heights Post, on Saturday, May 27, observational footage and pictures of the suspect were made public by the New York City Police Department (NYPD). The robber can be seen on the footage putting the stolen items into a shopping cart. He was concealed behind a face mask, which he wore with a gray hooded sweatshirt, a black jacket, gray sweatpants, and sneakers. Also Read: Historic Bell Stolen At Malden Bridge Community Center, Offers $3,500 Reward Church Leader's Response to the Robbery Based on a report from CBS News, Father Darrell DaCost of Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church in East Elmhurst claimed that the culprits managed to escape with money, jewelry, sculptures, and other holy objects. "They're all sacred images of Jesus, Mary, and the saints. They're priceless in that they represent an opportunity, a sacramental," he asserted. The church leader also stated that they are trying to assist individuals in discovering God and developing their faith; therefore, it is a complete disgrace to those efforts. "What I felt was violated. It was like someone coming into your house. It is our home," Father DaCosta noted. However, despite these disappointments, they are still praying for the suspect. On the other hand, according to NBC New York, the burglary happened five days after the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, which the Roman Catholic Church observes on May 13 every year. As mentioned, Our Lady of Fatima is the patron saint of the place of worship and the inspiration for the holiday's name. Moreover, the Diocese of Brooklyn has provided a statement expressing their gratitude since the incident did not result in any injuries and hopes that the statues would be restored. Even though the heist at Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church in Queens is upsetting, the diocese is reportedly grateful that no one was hurt in the incident. They pray that the person who stole the sacred artifacts and sculptures, which are significant to the people who practice this faith, will not treat them with disrespect. In addition, the church also keeps its fingers crossed that the suspect would act honorably and give back the items they took from the house of worship. Related Article: Culprits Break Into Lady St Mary Church Using Explosives, Stole Church's Historic Treasures Wikimedia Commons/Parker Botanical In a historic move, Mitchell Rozanski, the Archbishop of St. Louis, announced a comprehensive reorganization of the Catholic Church in St. Louis that will result in the closure of 35 parishes and the redistribution of 155 priests. The St. Louis Archdiocese has undergone this reform, which is the biggest in its history. After 18 months of anticipation, this extensive restructuring, dubbed "All Things New," was announced on Saturday. The restructuring will result in a decrease in the number of parishes from 178 to 134. Through a press conference and a letter that was read aloud by priests during Saturday's vigil Mass, Rozanski broke the news. Unprecedented Restructuring, Closing 35 Parishes According to the article shared in St. Louis Post Dispatch, Rozanski acknowledged the importance of the reforms and expressed remorse about their necessity. He stated that, at this time, taking this measure was necessary. Despite the plan's broad-reaching effects on the entire region, it mostly affects north St. Louis and north St. Louis County because it is responsible for almost half of the closures. Only one closure is scheduled west of Interstate 270 in St. Louis County. The Archbishop emphasized the importance of this gesture in maintaining the faith for upcoming generations. Along with the parish closures, a Spanish-speaking parish will also be added in St. Charles County, while 15 additional parishes will combine to establish five new ones. The declaration made it clear that, while such choices were still being made, the closing and amalgamation of parishes would not inevitably result in the closure of the related church buildings. According to Spectrum News, Early June is when more information regarding the united parishes' new Mass times and places of worship will be available. This fall, decisions about the closure or consolidation of Catholic parish schools are expected to be made public. By using canon or church law, parishioners have until June 12 to appeal the rulings to Rozanski. Also Read:Christian School in Kansas City That Promotes Inclusivity of LGBTQ Individuals is Closing What's Next for the Archdiocese Parishioners and priests are preparing for a wave of changes across several parishes in the St. Louis area. In the article shared in Blue Mountain Eagle, one example includes the congregation from Our Lady of Lourdes, who are planning to gather for a Memorial Day service at St. Luke the Evangelist, a parish being absorbed by the University City parish. Similarly, St. Barnabas will become a personal Hispanic parish named St. Juan Diego. However, this has stirred controversy, with some seeing it as an attack on the traditional Latin Mass. Despite the changes, some parishes remain unchanged and are looking forward to future expansions, such as St. Peter in Kirkwood. Former state Senator Bob Onder led a large protest against these changes, sending petitions signed by over 3,100 Catholics to the Vatican. His parish, St. Gianna, will remain unchanged after parishioner outcry against proposed mergers. Many parishioners express optimism about the changes, seeing it as an opportunity for growth and stronger communities. These changes will begin to take effect after Pentecost Sunday. Related Article:Catholic Diocese of Columbus Announces Closure of 15 Churches in Response to Declining Attendance, Other Challenges Pixabay/Klaus Hausmann Several teenagers allegedly used spray paints to vandalize the wall of a historic African American church in Virginia. The following day, the vandals returned to the church to commit another act of vandalism; however, the authorities caught them after a nearby resident saw their car and called 911. Church Vandalism Deacon Mike Lewis of First Ashville Baptist Church, which is located just west of Marshall in Fauquier County, stated that the front door of the house of worship had been unlocked around 6:32 p.m. on Saturday, May 20 and that both the internal parts of the church and the schoolhouse had been defaced, The Daily Progress reported. According to a notice from the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office, a nearby resident gave law enforcement an account of the events that transpired, including details of the people involved and the vehicle they were driving. As mentioned, when the Deacon of the Baptist Church alerted the police on Sunday, May 28, at 5:44 p.m. to report that the suspects had returned to church property, patrol deputies were sent back to the church to investigate. Additionally, the Deacon notified the authorities over the phone when the car was driving from the accident scene. He reportedly supplied a description of the vehicle, details about the license plate, and the most recent location for the automobile. Patrol deputies reportedly spotted the car in Marshall and successfully stopped it without more trouble. A Marshall resident named Averie Pozzo di Borgo was 19 years old, and two minors, a female aged 17 and a male aged 14, were taken into custody after being found inside the vehicle. The police believe the teenagers were responsible for vandalism at the church and schoolhouse on Saturday and Sunday. They also think the adolescents were involved in a burglary on the first day. Moreover, Prince William Times reported that the incident damaged the white stucco church, which was constructed in 1899, and an adjacent schoolhouse, which educated African American children in the surrounding neighborhood from approximately 1910 until approximately the middle of the 1960s. Many places inside the church were also vandalized by being spray-painted with black and red paint, and several rooms, including the cooking area and office, were plundered. Cabinets and drawers in both rooms were opened, and everything inside was dumped on the floor. Plates and glass vases for flowers have also been broken in the kitchen, and flour and other food products were thrown carelessly into the floors. Furthermore, Paula Walton, 68, a longstanding church member, indicated that the attackers left graffiti in both the church and the schoolhouse that stated: "Satan loves you" and "gay rights." Also Read: St Mark Parish Defaced for the Second Time, Smashed Virgin Mary Statue Charges Against the Teenagers A report from NBC Washington stated that Averie Pozzo di Borgo, 19, and two youngsters were taken into custody and accused of several offenses. Investigators assessed that Di Borgo was the only person involved in the vandalism on Sunday, May 28. Although the sheriff's office stated in a press release that none of the graffiti was "related to race or ethnicity," Deacon Lewis claimed that he is still deeply upset by what has been written and that it continues to bother him. As per The Free Lance Style, following Di Borgo's arrest, she was charged with two counts of aiding a minor's criminality and property destruction. However, she was allowed to go home after posting an unsecured bond of $3,000. On the other hand, several charges are being considered for the two juveniles. Related Article: Emmanuel Christian Community Vandalized With Satanic Graffiti For the Second Time Unsplash/Robert Bye Hundreds of Jewish protesters, including Jerusalem's deputy mayor, have confronted Christian worshippers at an archaeological park next to the Western Wall and yelled at them for them to leave. This incident occurred during a Sunday prayer service. The incident happened in response to a call for prayer from an Evangelical Christian group at the Davidson Center, an archaeological park south of the Western Wall Plaza that gives visitors access to a portion of the Jewish holy site. This incident highlights the escalating conflicts between Christian Evangelicals and Israeli religious nationalists, who support Israel politically and financially but hold very different theological views. Christian Worshipers Face Protests at Western Wall Prayer Event According to the Times of Israel, the prayer meeting culminated in 21 days of fasting and prayer called by the International House of Prayer of Kansas City, an Evangelical movement, and was advertised on Christian websites as a movement to safeguard Jerusalem and God's "purpose for Israel." Also, to act as "guardians on the walls" of the city was the reason why participants were invited. Police intervened to clear the way for the worshipers during the prayer service, pushing several of the protesters, including Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Arieh King. In the ensuing altercations, at least one individual was detained, and at least one glass door of the Davidson Center was broken. The Davidson Center, which is next to the egalitarian plaza south of the Western Wall central plaza, is today used by non-Orthodox Jews as a place of worship without restrictions. The Foreign Ministry responded to the incident by stating that it deplores "any harm to the freedom of religion and worship in Jerusalem" as well as any assaults on religious leaders in the area. The declaration stressed the value of these liberties in Jerusalem, which is sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims, defining them as a core principle in the city's way of life. Also Read:Orthodox Easter Celebrations Hindered by Israeli Restrictions in Jerusalem Growing Hostility Towards Christianity According to the article shared in Israel today, short videos of young Orthodox Jews in Jerusalem near Christian clerics spitting on the ground are becoming viral on social media. This, according to critics, is proof of Israel's alleged institutional abuse of religious minorities. There was no physical violence; rather, a small group of rowdy teenagers were the culprits. The editor of an ultra-Orthodox journal, Yossi Elitov, claims that while the Church has historically victimized Jews, it has distanced itself from such behavior in recent years. Rabbi Rafi Ostroff urged more tolerance as well. He and others brought up the unfair treatment of Christians by Muslims, particularly in areas not under Israeli military supervision. The underreporting of this topic is regarded as a serious issue. According to Le Monde, concern is being raised by a disturbing trend of attacks in Jerusalem against Christians and their places of worship. On February 2, an Orthodox Jewish visitor from America stabbed a Christ statue located inside the Old City's Chapel of Flagellation. According to the Jerusalem Inter-church Center and the Protecting Holy Land Christians campaign, this was the fifth attack in five weeks, compared to 13 in 2020 and nine in 2021. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem attributes the rise in violence to what is thought to be a political and public acceptance of violence and discrimination in Israel. Father Nikodemus Schnabel of the Dormition Abbey expressed his concern on Twitter, claiming a rise in anti-Christian prejudice that appears to be condoned by the authorities. Related Article:Jerusalem Church Attack Prompts Call for Global Safeguarding of Holy Sites by Religious Leaders Unsplash/Caleb Miller In a newly published paper titled "Towards Full Presence. A Pastoral Reflection on Engagement with Social Media," the Vatican asked bishops and prominent lay Catholic leaders to temper their social media comments. The 20-page statement, which was published by the Vatican's communications office, voiced worry over several divisive and contentious internet comments that were hurtful to the Church. The document alerts readers to the dangers posed by fake news, data misuse, and other internet abuse. It also denounces the emergence of "digital tribalism," which occurs when people isolate themselves within ideological silos, preventing communication and encouraging aggression, abuse, and misinformation. Vatican Appeals for Careful and Reflective Use of Social Media by Bishops and Lay Catholic Leaders In the article shared in Yahoo! News, according to the text, Christians should avoid falling into digital snares meant to incite conflict and instead choose reflective communication over-reactive communication while using social media. The statement emphasized the detrimental effects of argumentative and inadequate communication, especially when it comes from Church leadership. It sparked worries about how polarizing such communication could be coming from bishops, pastors, and prominent lay leaders. Conservative Catholic bishops and well-known commentators, especially those from the United States, have come under fire for their anti-Pope Francis tweets, with some even praising far-right videos attacking the pontiff. According to Reuters, the letter criticizes the habit of 'Catholic' groups using social media to sow discord and claims that such behavior is not representative of the Christian community. The letter warns Catholics against robots that might make decisions on their behalf and urges care in regard to developments in artificial intelligence (AI). In 2020, the Vatican worked with Microsoft and IBM to advance the moral advancement of AI and push for the regulation of intrusive technology like facial recognition. Also Read: Vatican Gate Breached by Speeding Car, Prompting Security to Open Fire Vatican, Microsoft, and IBM Advocate for Ethical AI Development and Regulation of Intrusive Technologies In 2020 In a push for the ethical advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and the regulation of invasive technologies like facial recognition, the Vatican has teamed up with IT behemoths Microsoft and IBM. The three organizations highlighted that AI should promote human rights, function honestly, reliably, and without bias. According to The News, Pope Francis supported this viewpoint in a speech that was read on his behalf at a conference that Microsoft President Brad Smith and IBM Executive Vice President John Kelly attended. Pope Francis has previously voiced his concern about the unrestricted growth of AI technologies. Due to illness, the Pope was unable to give the speech himself. In his speech, the Pope called for the ethical development of algorithms, a concept he referred to as "algor-ethics". He warned about the risks of AI being used to extract data for commercial or political purposes, often unbeknownst to the individuals involved. He cautioned that even though we still have superiority, these technologies still may impose harm on the things that might know everything about humans. Related Article:Vatican Pulls Back 2023 World Youth Day Stamp Following Backlash in Portugal What happened was, my wife for a billion yearsthe mother of our three daughters, a woman whos spent just about every Sunday of her life in churchsnuck off and found herself a boyfriend. He has a decorative seashell collection and cant even grow a beard. I am not making this up. So begins Harrison Scott Keys third memoir How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told. If youve read his first two books The Worlds Largest Man, which won the Thurber Prize for American Humor, and Congratulations, Who Are You Again? you may not be able to imagine one of the nations funniest writers exploring such a serious issue. Who writes a comedic memoir about their failed marriage? But heres the surprise: His book is about a failure that was redeemeda marriage resurrected. In many ways, How to Stay Married is Keys most Christian memoir. He talks explicitly about his faith and makes clear that his story makes sense only if the Christian God is real. Just as Hosea fought for Gomer, Harrison fights for Lauren, his wife of 14 years. As I was reading, I thought of all the times I had been blindsided by dissolved relationships. Before I was married, I was a bridesmaid ten times, and four of those ended in divorce before I had celebrated my tenth anniversary. At the start of the book, Key, too, admits that he would hear of other peoples divorces and say, Wait. What? But this time, he faces his wifes request to end the relationship and has to say a very personal version of Wait. What? He writes of these and other moments in their marriage with an authenticity, vulnerability, and comedy thats missing in most books on this topic. Elizabeth Gilberts Eat, Pray, Love or Rachel Holliss Didnt See That Coming dont challenge American readers to see past the nose on their face. They pat you on the back for embracing autonomy, seeking pleasure, or riding whatever emotional wave carries you. By contrast, Key reveals his worst decisions, his friends best advice, the well-meaning but ineffective prayers of pastors, and the faults hes been too afraid to name. After his wifes revelation, he sees his marriage as a freshly murdered body. We had a crime to solve, he writes, and I had no interest in being a person of interest. Over the five years after Laurens cataclysmic revelation, he discovers that the move from self-absolution to confession is the necessary way forward when a marriage falls apart. We are all guilty, Dostoevsky writes in The Brothers Karamazov. The person who objects Not me will be the liar left alone in the corner. Article continues below As Key strives to solve the crime of his murdered marriage, he discloses a litany of sins from A to Z. He starts with Assface, divulging how he regularly ruins family movie night with his unrequested commentary. Then he ends with Zinger, an exploration of his hurtful wisecracks: Life had turned me into a lethal comedy hedgehog, with quills I could aim with deadly precision. Key refrains from vengeful attacks on his wifes former boyfriend or indictments of her misdeeds. Instead, he holds before readers the same unflattering mirror that God placed before him so that, after hearing his sins, we can reflect on our own. Nobody told me fighting for my marriage would be less a fight than a kneeling in humiliation at the feet of my enemy, he writes. Despite his desire to beat the adulterous neighbor with a Louisville slugger or his pastors recommendation to excommunicate Lauren, Key crouches by his bed and prays the most honest of prayers: God, Help. In his attempt to know God, Key reads the whole Bible front to back. He joins a worship band. He helps start a church with friends who give him space to share about his broken marriage and his ugly heart. And he leans on God for grace: I knew that the only way this could work was for me to own my part in whatever wicked thing had happened and then do the harder thing: to use this information to become a less sty person. Before the threat of impending divorce, Key had thought his role in the marriage was fulfilled by paying bills and hiring others to mow his lawn. But his wifes temporary absence from the home forces him to become not only family financier but also dad and husband. They say God is love, Key writes. Id heard this remarkable axiom all my life, and I think I finally understood. Heaven and hell and smitings and virgin births and fishes and loaves, it was all a story to celebrate and make sense of the strangest fact of all: love is what saves you. In spite of rejections, lies, and personal limitations, Key learns the true nature of love. And when all of his pitiful attempts fall flat, Godas the source of loveoverwhelms him. Article continues below Marriage is a duel to the death, G. K. Chesterton writes in his novel Manalive, which no man of honor should decline. Too often, we fall for the worlds false story of what marriage isthe romcom, the Brides magazine cover, the Nicholas Sparks novel. But Sparks got divorced after 25 years of marriage, and till death do us part are fearsome words left out of Disney-fied fairy tales. Key sees his wifes story as Titanic II: Jack Is a Merman, in which she was Kate Winslet and Chad [the boyfriend] was Leo and I was Billy Zane, the cruel villain. Her narrative is a lie: Last I checked, your soulmate doesnt compel you to abandon your family and burn down a beautiful, if imperfect, life. In Scripture, Jesus allows for divorce in the case of unfaithfulness. But allowing is not the same as recommending (except in cases of abuse, of course). While divorce is sometimes necessary, writes Russell Moore, it is never good. Divorce, after all, is not just the rearrangement of a living situation or the moving of a name from one government registry to another. Divorce is dismemberment. In the union of marriage, a husband and wife are, as Jesus teaches, one flesh. Key doesnt offer a one-size-fits-all description of marriage. He knows the variety of travails that spouses go through. Despite the How to of the title, the book is not an advice column or Christian living book. Its a memoir that tells one story of an unhappy marriage that was authentically saved by grace. If I could, Id give everyone a copy of How to Stay Married. As I was reading it, my husband listened to me laugh aloud and begged to hear what was so funny. I read most of it in one night because the drama kept me flipping pages. When Id finished the bookafter reading at least a third of it aloud to my husbandwe both wanted to try marriage counseling. Like a tune-up, my husband said. Every marriage should have checkups. Key advises spouses to imagine divorce so they then have to imagine staying married. The prophets of this present age, as he calls them, want us to believe that marriage should exist solely for the benefit of the people in it. But, Key asks, What if the prophets are wrong? He can ask these questions because hes faced them himself. Article continues below What if marriage, at its very best, he wonders, exists to remake us into beautiful new creatures we scarcely recognize? What if, in some cosmically weird way, escaping a hard marriage is not how you change? What if staying married is? Unlike the marriage gurus who get divorced or the puritanical stoics who refuse to fathom separation at all, Key has walked through the valley of possibility. He knows that marriage is a battlefield. As Christians, we have the option of fighting for a relationship, even after it dies, because we know death is not the end of the story. Jessica Hooten Wilson is the inaugural Seaver College Scholar of Liberal Arts at Pepperdine University and a senior fellow at The Trinity Forum. She is the author of several books, most recently Reading for the Love of God: How to Read as a Spiritual Practice. Surveying the scene on a rainy day in Berlin, the Protestant gunman recognized his target. Living hidden under an assumed name in the Weimar Republic, the once-famous official exited his apartment, was shot in the neck, and fell in a pool of blood. For many, the 1921 killing vindicated the blood of thousands. Neither were Germans. Both would eventually be immortalized. But the cloak-and-dagger story took another twist when a Berlin court ruled the assassin not guilty. The trial captivated the local press, brought a nations tragedy to the public eye, and set off a philosophical chain of events that eventually coined a new term and established an international convention meant to render unnecessary any similar future acts. It was already too late. Two decades after the trial, the Nazis murdered six million Jews. Hitler, preparing the Holocaust, is said to have justified it in reference to the already forgotten history of 1.5 million people killed by Germanys then-ally in the fallout from World War I. The gunman, Soghomon Tehlirian, was an Armenian. The official, Mehmed Talaat, was an Ottoman Turk. And the term created by Polish lawyer Raphael Lemkingenocidecontinues to haunt the world today. But the chain of events has not concluded. Nazi Germany, seeking Axis partners in World War II, repatriated Talaats remains to Turkey in 1943, where dozens of memorials and streets are named in his honor. Once the grand vizier of the Ottoman sultan, he is celebrated today as one of the leading Young Turks who forged the creation of the modern-day secular nationalist republic. The descendants of his victims, scattered around the world, consider Talaatknown commonly as Talaat Pasha with his honorific titlethe architect of the Armenian Genocide. Tehlirian, who in prison pending trial was given a Bible by a local Protestant pastor, eventually settled in the United States. He is buried in Fresno, California, where his obelisk-shaped grave marker is adorned with a gold-plated eagle, slaying a snake. And last month, more than a century after the trial, the city council of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, erected a memorial to honor 16 heroes of Operation Nemesis. Conducted between 192022, the campaign secretly authorized by the ruling party of the newly independent nation assassinated eight Turkish and Azerbaijani officials. It was named after the Greek goddess of divine retribution. Incorporating a fountain of flowing water, the memorials towering structure was built based on a petition from the Descendants of the Avengers of the Armenian Genocide. Tehlirian is at the center, beneath an empty space in the shape of a cross, directing ones gaze upward to heaven. Does heaven approvenow or then? If I was at the planning meeting, I couldnt do it because of my faith, said Craig Simonian, an Armenian pastor. But people reap what they sow. Also the Caucasus Region coordinator for the World Evangelical Alliances (WEA) Peace and Reconciliation Network, Simonian said he would struggle with calling the operation morally wrong. The sultan whom Talaat served was a butcher, he said, and the pastors own relatives were driven from the region of Diyarbakir. You cant understand how it feels that so many of those guys got away with it, Simonian said. But even so, Thou shalt not murder does not come with 30 footnotes. Tehlirian exempted himself from the label. I do not consider myself guilty because my conscience is clear, he said to the court a century ago. I have killed a man. But I am not a murderer. Instructed not to flee the scene, Armenian plotters desired the trial and turned it into a referendum on the genocide. The defense strategy portrayed Tehlirian as traumatized by loss, and called witnesses to describe the rape, killing, and death marches suffered at the direct order of Talaat and others. The court was convinced, as Khatchig Mouradian is today. As there was no international legal framework to hold them accountable, the survivors took justice into their own hands, said the Columbia University historian. Lemkin felt that Tehlirian upheld the moral order of mankind, so Ill side with him on this one. In the chaotic aftermath of World War I, new Ottoman leadership brought 63 court-martial cases against 200 officials, handing out 16 death penaltiesmost in absentia. Talaat and others were found guilty, but escaped. Others were captured by the British, but were traded for compatriot prisoners. And when Young Turk sympathizers returned the movement to power, the local judicial process was abandoned. But it gave birth to the global cause. That fateful encounter on the streets of Berlin, said Mouradian, led directly to the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention. But though Operation Nemesiswhich in Greek means to give what is duecommands the widespread respect of the Armenian people, the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox church was a bit uncomfortable. Tehlirian approached the Constantinople patriarch for funds, but only received a blessing. I cannot take part in such endeavors, my son, said Zaven Der Yeghiayan, as recounted in the assassins memoirs. The church today is similar. From the point of view of Christian ethics, any murder is considered a sin, said Shahe Ananyan, dean of Armenias Gavorkian theological seminary, relating the official church position on the operation. But it should also be seen in the context of resistance and self-protection. Calling the Ottoman plans demonic, the Apostolic priest said that Armenian efforts to defend their peopleeven when using violencequalified as legitimate just-war measures to protect the innocent. But in contrasting this with Turkish denial and the contemporary movement to honor the Young Turks, Ananyan fears the rise of new genocidal tendencies. In protest to the new monument, Turkey closed its airspace to Armenia. But Operation Nemesis, said Ananyan, is similar to Jewish acts of revenge against the Nazis, and simply reflected a longing for the restoration of justice. One contemporary Turk agrees. Unfinished justice pushes individuals to take justice into their own handsthis is the testimony of history, said Taner Akcam, author of Killing Orders: Talat Pashas Telegrams and the Armenian Genocide. Alongside revenge, the cry for justice runs very deep in the human species. A third instinctrecognition of sufferingis reflected in Yerevans monument. Widely recognized as one of the first Turkish scholars to study this period, Akcam directs the Armenian Genocide Research Program at UCLA. But even more valuable than the Tehlirian court proceedings, he said, would be the evidence collected by the Ottoman military tribunalsincluding hundreds of telegrams and the testimonies of bureaucrats. Today, he said, Turkey buries it. While the official archives are open, Akcam said that when asking about the Special Operation which oversaw the deportation of Armenians, no one knows where the records are. And when the government decided in 2006 to open the deed office to researchers, national security quickly shut it down. It would have revealed the pre-genocide property ownership of thousands of Armenians. In 1926, the government assigned such property to the relatives of Talaat and other assassinated officials. Without an honest accounting of history, Akcam said, Turkey isolates itself more and more from the civilized world. The scholar, however, is not the only Turk unsettled in spirit. When Simonian visited a mosque in Adana on Turkeys southeastern Mediterranean coastline, local guides told him it was built with the gold seized from deported Armenians. And later when interacting with a young Turkish woman who thought he was a simple tourist, Simonian told her his visit was a pilgrimage to discover the land of his forefathers. Startled, she tearfully replied: I dont know how our grandparents did this, to yours. She accepted his prayers, then told him that God had removed a great weight. Our ancestors bring us either blessing or curse, Simonian said. But it is hard to go deeper into the past, when we have real issues to discuss right now. Among them is the ongoing blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh. The mountainous Caucasus enclave is home to over 100,000 ethnic Armenians, who call their historic homeland Artsakh. But the international community recognizes the land as Azerbaijani territoryrecaptured from independence-seeking Armenian control in 2020 after a 44-day war. Only one road connects it to Armenia, and since December Azerbaijani activists have sealed off the area from all but humanitarian deliveries, ignoring an International Court of Justice ruling. Like Turkey, Baku leaders have denounced the memorial. Azerbaijan insists upon Armenian recognition of its sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh. Last week, Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan signaled readiness to accept, if local rights are guaranteed. Many Armenians, however, dismiss Azerbaijani statements about accepting Armenians as citizens, and focus instead on Bakus expanding territorial hints that reach even to Yerevan. But peace is needed also toward Armenias west. On-and-off again negotiations resumed following Yerevans delivery of humanitarian aid to victims of the earthquake in Turkey, and appeared to be making progress. But with the closure of airspace, Turkish officials said further retaliatory measures would be taken if Armenia did not remove the monument. The speaker of Armenias parliament said it was not meant as an unfriendly act, and did not represent official foreign policy. Pashinyan called installation of the memorial a wrong decision taken by the local council, not the national government. But by being always guided by the logic of not being called traitors, the prime minister stated, we actually keep betraying the state and national interests of our country. Vazgen Zohrabyan agrees, beyond his training as a political analyst. Anything that suggests revenge worries me as a pastor, said the leader of Abovyan City Church, northeast of Yerevan. Such approaches will not bring any benefit in terms of the reconciliation of nations, or the reconciliation of peoples. Proud of Nemesis as an operation, Zohrabyan said that Tehlirian is a symbol of justice and that Protestants have always been active in the national cause. He cited the 1915 defense of Musa Dagh as an example, with significant leadership provided by evangelical pastors. And the retribution against Ottoman officials addressed the deep wound caused by the Armenian peoples uprooting from a historic homeland. Artyom Yerkanyan has similar reflections. His father, Aram, is enshrined on the monument for the assassination of an Azerbaijani official responsible for the killing of 30,000 Armenians in Baku. Can you imagine what would have happened if Operation Nemesis hadnt happened? We would be a sick nation, suffering from psychological complications, he stated at the public ceremony. I often compare them to psychiatrists. They made us feel worthy. But the unfortunate result today, said Zohrabyan, is that the memorial serves to cement animosity. It is understandable, as hostile rhetoric has increased from Azerbaijan, backed by the historic Turkish enemy. The task, however, is to work with both neighbors toward peaceand avoid needless antagonism. We are obliged to take steps so that the Turks consciously apologize for what was done, said Zohrabyan, and that the Armenians can find the strength to forgive. Such ruminations about the memorial, said Eric Hacopian, an Armenian political analyst, put the pastor in a distinct minority. Few ordinary citizens even noticed its installation, let alone felt a moral dilemma. The whole issue is a nothingburger, he said, with national sentiment worried about cross-border attacks and a possible new genocide in Artsakh. I dont expect much soul searching about it. Should Americans, he asked, be disturbed by the killing of Osama bin Laden? And while there is little popular sentiment aligned with the Yerevan government about the timing of the monument, almost no one in Armenia would oppose it in principle. Neither does Simonian. Unlike Zohrabyan, he does not equate the memorial with commemorating vengeance, which is prohibited to the believer. Instead, like statues in America of slaveholding national heroes, it reflects the reality of history and prompts further conversation. Yet despite his WEA mandate, amid Turkish hypocrisy he believes there is little reconciliation on the horizon. You cant reconcile with someone who is still hurting you, Simonian said. What the monument says is that we need this to end. As for Operation Nemesis itself, it forced the world to recognize the genocide. He hopes the current controversy will bring attention to the crisis in Artsakh. But while the recognition of missing justice can be a salve to a suffering people, no one should thinkas he once felt himselfthat they got away with it. And this truth, more than any memorial, facilitates genuine healing. Nothing Tehlirian did can compare with Gods justice on an unrepentant heart, said Simonian. This truth allows us to forgive, if we can submit our desire for revenge to the sovereignty of God. This file photo shows the EV9, Kia's second model equipped with Hyundai Motor Group's dedicated EV platform, provided by Kia, May 2. Korea Times file Kia, Korea's second-biggest carmaker, said Tuesday it aims to sell 93,000 all-electric vehicles (EVs) in Europe in 2023 by launching the flagship EV9 SUV later this year. The EV target figure accounts for 16 percent of Kia's sales target of 578,000 vehicles in Europe this year, the company said in a statement. Kia's pure electric models available in Europe are the Niro EV, the Soul EV and the EV6. Last year, EVs accounted for 13 percent, or 71,602 units, of its overall sales of 542,423 units there. The three-row seat EV9 is Kia's second model equipped with Hyundai Motor Group's dedicated EV platform, called E-GMP, after the EV6 SUV launched in 2021. It comes with a 99.8 kWh battery and is expected to travel more than 500 kilometers on a single charge. Kia plans to gradually launch the EV9 in Europe, the United States and other markets in the second half. Last month, Kia unveiled the EV9 in Korea ahead of its launch in the second quarter. In 2030, Kia aims to sell 515,000 EVs in Europe and raise the ratio of EVs out of its overall vehicle sales to 74 percent, the statement said. (Yonhap) Christian woman caught reading Bible starved by Muslim husband, left for dead at wild animal park NAIROBI, Kenya A Muslim upset with his wifes conversion to Christianity in western Uganda denied her food and left her in a national park with wild animals, she said. Sharifa Muhando, 27, of Kasese town, said her husband beat her and kept her from food for a week after learning that she had put her faith in Christ. The mother of a 2-year-old boy had kept her faith hidden from her husband, Musa Bwambale, and other relatives after accepting Christ on July 9, 2021. On May 10 at about 7 p.m., Muhando prayed in her room, read from her Bible and fell asleep, she said. Unfortunately I left the door open, Muhando told Morning Star News from her hospital bed. My husband came back from his place of work and called me, and I didnt respond because I was deep in sleep. He opened the door and found me with my Bible and a notebook on my chest. He shouted, Allah Akbar [Allah is greater]! The shouting of the jihadist slogan woke her. I was terrified after seeing him; he asked me what the matter was, she said. I answered him that this is a holy book. He got annoyed and beat me that night and told me that he was punishing me for leaving Islam, and that he will automatically be rewarded in Jannah [paradise] by Allah. Since that night he kept her from eating, she said, adding that after two days he threatened to kill her if she told anyone. On May 17, Bwambale took her to nearby Queen Elizabeth National Park, she said. My husband said he had received a dream from Allah of taking me somewhere, Muhando told Morning Star News. He took me on his vehicle and dumped me inside Queen Elizabeth National Park to be eaten by wild animals. The pastor of the church she had been secretly attending happened to drive by on the main road bordering the park, which is not fenced, and spotted her, she said. He called others to help him, and they took her to a medical clinic. Sharifas health was in a bad state, said the pastor, whose name is withheld for security reasons, and she has been undergoing treatment while suffering from injuries her spleen especially was affected, as her husband hit her with a blunt object, and she has pain around the neck. The doctors are also treating her for starvation and trauma-related symptoms. While preparing to report the case to police, he learned that Bwambale had died in a traffic accident, the pastor said. At the moment Sharifa needs prayers for quick healing and recovery from trauma and for her future life, he said. The attack was the latest of many instances of persecution of Christians in Uganda that Morning Star News has documented. Ugandas constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate ones faith and convert from one faith to another. Muslims make up no more than 12% of Ugandas population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country. Former Archbishop of Canterbury advocates for assisted suicide law Lord George Carey, former Archbishop of Canterbury, has challenged the official stance of the Church of England on assisted suicide, urging the British government to set aside time for debate on the law governing assisted dying. A Christian group is warning that it would be a very dangerous thing to do, however. Carey, who served as archbishop from 1991 to 2002, framed this issue as being profoundly Christian, asserting that its crucial to prevent individuals from suffering against their will, The Telegraph reported Monday. The former archbishop diverged significantly from the position of the Anglican Church, ignoring its warnings that such legislation could pressurize vulnerable individuals, particularly among the half-million elderly people mistreated annually, to end their lives prematurely. The Church of England has also cautioned that nations that have legalized assisted dying have experienced a slippery slope, with the process becoming progressively easier over time. Carey has been calling for assisted dying since 2014, when he lent his support to a bill introduced in the House of Lords by Labours Lord Falconer. Although the bill did not pass, the issue has resurfaced as lawmakers on the health select committee are reconsidering assisted suicide and euthanasia. The proposal includes an evaluation of safeguards needed to prevent coercion and the requirements for an individual to consent to the termination of their life. In his submission to the inquiry, Carey emphasized his belief that one of the many Christian values is to ensure no one endures suffering against their will. He stressed that assisted dying should only be an option for those expressing a clear, persistent wish for it and suggested it was an act of great generosity, kindness and human love to aid those wanting to end their suffering. Carey also contended there is a need for laws reflecting the compassionate society we live in, encouraging the government to gather evidence from a variety of sources and ensure an appropriate debate to facilitate law change. He pointed to evidence from Oregon, California, Australia and New Zealand, asserting that laws allowing choice over the manner of death, with adequate safeguards, can be enacted successfully. However, the CofEs submission contradicts his perspective, noting that evidence from the same regions indicated a slippery slope in operation. It contended that no systems could effectively rule out coercion in such scenarios. The CofE has raised concerns over improper psychiatric testing in places like Oregon and the prevalence of doctor shopping, with patients looking for medical professionals willing to administer lethal drugs. It further warned about challenges to the original law, expanding the definition of assisted dying to include those with non-terminal but grievous and irremediable medical conditions. In an op-ed, Christian Concern Communications Manager, Paul Huxley, reinforced the CofE's position, asserting that legalizing assisted suicide would be dangerous, unnecessary and wrong. He cited evidence from other jurisdictions where vulnerable people felt pressured into ending their lives prematurely, and highlighted the Christian perspective that views death as an enemy and noted that suffering is an opportunity to strengthen one's faith in God. It would be a very dangerous thing to do. Assisted suicide changes the way doctors think about how they care for people. They think, oh well, we can offer you euthanasia rather than thinking about how can we look after this person, Huxley wrote. I think its a very concerning message that we are sending to people. He pointed out that the most dominant symbol of Christianity is the cross a man dying, and, therefore, life and death are put right at the center of the Christian message (the Gospel) as Jesus died for our sins and was raised for our justification. Jewish activists protest Pentecost event in Jerusalem; deputy mayor calls Christianity a 'cult' An Evangelical prayer gathering to commemorate the day of Pentecost near the Western Wall in Jerusalem descended into chaos Sunday after right-wing orthodox Jewish activists chanted insults and reportedly spit on participants, leading to some arrests. Pentecost 2023 - A Global Day of Prayer for Jerusalem and the Nations, held on Saturday and Sunday, consisted of a coalition of believers in Israel and the Nations, denominations, missions and prayer organizations coming together in prayer for Jerusalem, the Jewish people and the Gospel to go to the ends of the earth. Hundreds of Christians gathered Sunday at the Davidson Center, an archaeological park near the Western Wall, as part of the initiatives Pentecost 2023 Vision, where organizers held a time of worship and prayer on the Southern Steps of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The theme of the event was centered on Psalm 122, which commands Gods people to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. During the event, several Orthodox Jewish activists including a prominent rabbi and the deputy mayor of Jerusalem took part in a protest that eventually turned violent, with several of the protesters hurling insults at Christians gathered in the area and others spitting on them, according to Haaretz. Windows at the Davidson Center were also smashed during the protest, the Israeli newspaper reported, adding that 10 protesters were arrested during the gathering but were not identified. Israel Today reports that some signs protesters held up cited the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD by Rome and the Holocaust as reasons for the protest. One sign reportedly read: We havent forgotten our temple that was destroyed by Rome nor the equitation in Spain and all the pogroms. We have not forgotten all the bloodshed nor the six million who were murdered in the Holocaust. Now we have returned to our country and pray in the remnant of the temple that will be built soon. Please respect the feelings of the Jewish people and do your Christian ceremonies in your churches and not here. Among those who participated in the protest were ultra-orthodox Rabbi Zyi Thau, the spiritual leader of the right-wing Noam Party, and Arieh King, the deputy mayor of Jerusalem, who equated Christian missionary activity with radical Islamic terrorism. In a tweet, King applauded the dignified and proper protest and said, As far as I am concerned, every missionary should know that he is not a welcome person in the Land of Israel. In an interview with The Jerusalem Post, King said, Missionary terrorism is as dangerous as Islamic terrorism. Do you think they would have allowed the Jews to hold a prayer service at the entrance to the Vatican? Or in Mecca? This is a provocation. King said he met at least three of the participants at [Sundays] demonstration are Israelis that converted to Christianity. King called participants in the prayer and worship event which was live-streamed to millions of viewers part of the Christian cult. "It is the duty of every Jew to save all Jews from descending into the Christian cult," King told protesters last weekend, according to Haaretz. "They want to pray? Let them pray in their churches, not at the holiest place to Jews, at the south entrance to the Temple, the Huldah Gate staircase, King added. Can anyone imagine that Jews would be allowed to hold a mass prayer at the entrance to the Vatican or the Church of the Holy Sepulchre's plaza?" The Christian Post reached out to Deputy Mayor King. A response is pending. Senior Israeli rabbis told The Jerusalem Post the protest was sparked mainly by messaging on the Pentecost 2023 site. The website labeled the event the beginning of a decade of prayer, evangelism and discipleship as part of what the organization is calling Commit 2033. The initiative marks what Christians believe will be the 2,000th anniversary of the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ and the subsequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts. Since 2021, the Christian community in Israel which is largely comprised of Arab Christians has been the target of criticism by Orthodox Jews and other Israeli conservatives, who have urged missionaries to refrain from such offensive behavior as sharing the Gospel with the Jewish people. Last October, following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, many Christians returned to Israel to mark the biblical Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, with more than 2,000 pilgrims from 70 nations estimated to come to Jerusalem during the feast. But while the gathering heralded the return of Christian tourism to Israel following the pandemic, some Jews, like Israel365 founder Rabbi Tuly Weisz, seem ambivalent about the trend which, for them, also means the return of evangelism to the Holy Land. Weisz believes that while non-Jewish tourists should be "warmly welcomed" to "come closer to the true fulfillment of Sukkot," he appeared less welcoming to the Evangelical practice of sharing the Gospel with the Jewish people. "Unfortunately, some of the Christian visitors will hope to use their time in the Jewish state to engage in missionary activity," he wrote. "The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) does its best to prevent this, warning its guests to refrain from such offensive behavior." Parents sue Marylands largest school district for not letting kids opt out of LGBT book readings A group of parents are suing Marylands largest school district that's prohibiting them from opting their children out of school curriculum that includes books celebrating LGBT pride. The lawsuit was filed last week in the United States District for the District of Maryland against members of the Montgomery County Board of Education and Montgomery County Superintendent Monifa B. McKnight. According to the complaint, the school district emailed parents back in March, informing them that they are barred from opting students out of classroom instruction that includes books that promote LGBT ideology. They (the parents) come from many faith backgrounds, including diverse strands of Islam and Christianity. Their concerns reflect those of thousands of other Montgomery County parents from a variety of faiths and political persuasions, stated the lawsuit. They are united in the conviction that the Pride Storybooks are age-inappropriate and inconsistent with their religious beliefs and practices and their child-raising philosophies. One book that is now required is Pride Puppy, by Robin Stevenson and Julie McLaughlin. According to the lawsuit, the book invites 3- and 4-year-olds to look for images of things they might find at a pride parade, including an intersex [flag], a [drag] king and [drag] queen, leather, underwear, and an image of a celebrated LGBTQ activist and sex worker, Marsha P. Johnson. Another book, Born Ready by Jodie Patterson, has been designated for fifth graders and, according to the complaint, advocates a child-knows-best approach to gender transitioning, telling students that a decision to transition doesnt have to make sense and that students are the best teacher on such matters, not parents or other adults. The parents are being represented by Becket Law, a legal group that has successfully argued multiple religious liberty cases before the United States Supreme Court. Children are entitled to guidance from their own parents, who know and love them best, regarding how theyll be introduced to complex issues concerning gender identity, transgenderism, and human sexuality, said Eric Baxter, vice president and senior counsel at Becket, in a statement released last week. Forced, ideological discussions during story hour wont cut it, and excluding parents will only hinder, not help inclusivity. In January, Montgomery County Public Schools announced that it had approved adding a selection of LGBTQ+-inclusive texts for use in the classroom. Reading stories that reflect the diversity of the school community and world encourages respect and empathy for all. As with all curriculum resources, there is an expectation that teachers use the texts as a part of instruction, MCPS stated. It is important to note that using the materials is optional as it is standard practice that teachers have a choice regarding which materials to use. Although Maryland law says parents can opt their children out of sex education, MCPS argues that they cannot do so with these LGBT-themed books, because they are part of language arts classes, not sex-ed. Last October, a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll found that 66% of registered voters in Maryland said it was inappropriate for teachers to discuss LGBT acceptance at the kindergarten to third-grade levels, while 56% thought it was inappropriate for fourth and fifth grade. Nashville pastor preaches first sermon since 9-year-old daughter died in school shooting: 'Learning to live with sadness' In his first sermon since his 9-year-old daughter was killed in a mass shooting at a Christian school, Chad Scruggs, the senior pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church, opened up about the complicated nature of grief and thanked the church for supporting his family amid their pain. First of all, we love you, Scruggs told his Nashville-based church in a May 14 message titled Loss and Gain. We loved you before March 27, and we love you more now because of how you have loved us. Scruggs' youngest child and only daughter, Hallie, was one of six people murdered on March 27 in a mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville after 28-year-old trans-identified shooter Audrey Hale fired through its doors and entered room after room in search of people to kill. Hale was shot dead by police officers who rushed to the scene about 14 minutes after the initial 911 call came in. Scruggs said his family is often asked how they are doing, but we just dont know how to answer it yet. We're doing not well; kind of searching for a new baseline in life right now, he said. The pastor said he is finding comfort in C.S Lewis book A Grief Observed. Lewis talked about that loss like an amputation, which has been helpful for me for this reason. How are you doing? Well, we're learning to live with a part of us missing, Scruggs said. Like losing an arm, perhaps, knowing that the phantom pain of that lost arm will always be there with us, just know that from our perspective now it feels impossible to ever pretend the arm will regenerate or that it will ever feel whole this side of Heaven. So I'd say we're learning to live with sadness. And I will tell you that that's OK. You can do that. Learning to live with sadness. Scruggs said hes thankful that he, his wife and their sons, have never felt alone in their time of grief and thanked his congregation for their support. You have shown up to suffer with us, which is an acknowledgment that love under the shadow of the cross is often best expressed not with words but in presence and tears. People experience death, the pastor said, as the cutting off of relationships. He drew parallels between the love his family has experienced from the Church and the women at the cross with Jesus. Death destroys families, he said. Yet here's Jesus in His own death, assuring us that in Him, relationships are never severed. Families are not destroyed, but just the opposite. They're actually expanded and grown in Him. On its website, The Covenant School is described as a ministry of the Covenant Presbyterian Church, with both located in southern Nashville. The school was created to assist Christian parents and the Church by providing an exceptional academic experience founded upon and informed by the Word of God. Hale shot her way into the private elementary school on the morning of March 27, fatally gunning down three 9-year-old students and three school staffers as she unleashed 152 rounds. In addition to Scruggs, students Evelyn Dieckhaus and William Kinney were killed, as well as school janitor Mike Hill, substitute teacher Cynthia Peak and school head Katherine Koonce, who reportedly ran toward the shooter to try to protect the children. Hale was armed with two semi-automatic rifles and a handgun before being shot and killed by responding police officers. Nashville Police Chief John Drake said the preliminary investigation indicated the shooting was a planned, targeted attack. The FBI and police have yet to publicly release a motive for the shooting. However, Hale, who previously attended the school, reportedly left a detailed manifesto and plan for the shooting at her home and in her car. Earlier in May, the National Police Association filed a lawsuit against Nashville and Davidson County to make Hale's manifesto public. The Tennessee Firearms Association also filed an administrative appeal for the materials. "It has been more than a month since the shooter was killed and the officers involved have been praised for their actions in the incident," Doug Pierce, a lawyer for the NPA, said. "Accordingly, there is no criminal case and there is no reasonable likelihood of there ever being a criminal case arising from this incident." "The Metro Nashville Police Department has sought to rely upon a rule of Criminal Procedure to deny public access, but those Rules only relate to a 'criminal proceeding," Pierce added. Supreme Court rejects child pornography case against Reddit The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal filed by a group of women suing Reddit and alleging the online platform is profiting from the posting of child pornography, allowing an earlier decision in favor of the popular website to stand. In an orders list released Tuesday morning, the nation's high court refused to grant a writ of certiorari and hear oral arguments in the case of Jane Does 1-6 et al. v. Reddit, Inc. The case centers on whether the social media platform knowingly participated in sex trafficking. In April 2021, a woman identified as "Jane Doe" filed a class action lawsuit against Reddit after her ex-boyfriend posted sexually explicit images of her from when she was a minor on the platform without her consent. Although Doe repeatedly reported these posts to Reddit, the website allegedly did little to help take down the images, with her ex-boyfriend continuously reposting them to the platform. "Because Reddit refused to help, it fell to Jane Doe to monitor no less than 36 subreddits that she knows of which Reddit allowed her ex-boyfriend to repeatedly use to repeatedly post child pornography," read the lawsuit, as reported by Courthouse News Service. "This is despite the fact that, as Reddit well knew, throughout this time her ex-boyfriend uploaded the content from the identical IP address." The district court ruled against the women and their families, arguing that Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, a federal law that protects websites from liability for content users publish on their platforms that might be defamatory, protected Reddit. Last October, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled in favor of Reddit, with Circuit Judge Milan D. Smith Jr. authoring the opinion. "Moreover, the plaintiffs have not alleged a connection between the child pornography posted on Reddit and the revenue Reddit generates, other than the fact that Reddit makes money from advertising on all popular subreddits," wrote Smith. "Plaintiffs who have successfully alleged beneficiary liability for sex trafficking have charged defendants with far more active forms of participation than the plaintiffs allege here." Earlier this year, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation placed Reddit on its "Dirty Dozen List" of businesses that profit or enable sexually exploitative practices, arguing that the site is "a hub of image-based sexual abuse, hardcore pornography, prostitution which very likely includes sex trafficking and overt cases of child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse material." While Reddit has been championing a new policy against sharing explicit material like revenge porn and better efforts to remove reported content, NCOSE argues that "these policies on paper are not translating into proactive prevention or removal of abuse in practice." In 2021, NCOSE warned that Reddit had become a "hub of exploitation where sex buyers and other sexual predators meet to exchange non-consensually shared intimate images, hardcore pornography, and to give advice to each other about how to use and abuse." Reddit isn't the only social media platform sued over users posting child pornography. Earlier this month, the 9th Circuit dismissed a lawsuit claiming Twitter profited from sex trafficking by allowing tweets containing sexually explicit images of two 13-year-old boys. The plaintiffs sued Twitter in 2021. One of the plaintiffs said he was recruited for sex trafficking as a minor but escaped from the manipulation. However, the child sexual abuse videos he was featured in were disseminated on Twitter. His parents reportedly contacted authorities and Twitter to ask that the posts be taken down immediately. The lawsuit contends that Twitter told the family that the material didn't violate the company's policies. It wasn't until law enforcement got involved that Twitter removed the videos, but not before they amassed over 167,000 views and over 2,200 retweets. The 9th Circuit also cited Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to rule in favor of Twitter. Arizona Christian University students can now teach in public school district after lawsuit The five-member governing board of the Washington Elementary School District in Arizona, which includes three members of the LGBT community, has backtracked on their decision to ban Arizona Christian University student teachers from public school classrooms, because they practice biblical Christianity, as part of a settlement agreement for a religious discrimination lawsuit filed on behalf of the university. The settlement comes two months after Alliance Defending Freedom, a nonprofit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom and other rights, filed the religious discrimination lawsuit on behalf of the Christian university. In addition to allowing Arizona Christian student teachers back in the classroom under a new placement agreement, the university was given an additional five years of teaching practice for its students that will need to be renewed annually. The school district also agreed to pay $25,000 in attorneys' fees. By discriminating against Arizona Christian University and denying it an opportunity to participate in the student-teacher program because of its religious status and beliefs, the school district was in blatant violation of the U.S. Constitution, not to mention state law that protects ACUs religious freedom, ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of U.S. Litigation David Cortman, who argued in federal district court on behalf of ACU, said in a statement. At a time when a critical shortage of qualified, caring teachers exists, the Washington Elementary School District board did the right thing by prioritizing the needs of elementary school children and agreeing to partner once again with ACUs student-teachers. Len Munsil, president of ACU, called the settlement a complete vindication of the rights of our students. This is a complete vindication of the rights of our students to be able to participate as student-teachers in a public school district without fear of religious discrimination, he said. We obtained everything we wanted in this new agreement, without any sacrifice or compromise to our beliefs and our universitys religious purpose. We look forward to a continued beneficial partnership that serves ACU student-teachers and the students, faculty, and staff of the WESD. And we are so grateful for the team at Alliance Defending Freedom for their excellent advocacy for our religious freedoms. According to the lawsuit filed by ADF in March, during a Feb. 23 board meeting, board member Tamillia Valenzuela stated that she went to the university's website and found that part of "their values" are "influence, engage and transform the culture with Truth by promoting the biblically informed values that are foundational to Western civilization, including the centrality of family, traditional sexual morality, and lifelong marriage between one man and one woman." It was further noted in the meeting that "Arizona Christian's religious statements and expression were a substantial or motivating factor for the adverse action" and the school district "did not have any legitimate administrative interests that would justify the retaliation." While the university requires all students to sign its statement of faith which highlights beliefs about biblical marriage and sexuality, the lawsuit said, "Arizona Christian students understand that they must adhere to the school district's policies when student-teaching." Attorneys for ADF argued that not only did the school district violate the First Amendment and state laws with their actions, but they also did a disservice to students of the district. "By discriminating against Arizona Christian University and denying it an opportunity to participate in the student-teacher program because of its religious status and beliefs, the school district is in blatant violation of the U.S. Constitution, not to mention state law that protects ACU's religious freedom," Cortman said in a statement at the time. "Washington Elementary School District officials are causing irreparable harm to ACU every day they force it to choose between its religious beliefs and partnering with the area's public schools." On first Sunday after Harry Reeder's death, church reflects on God's sovereignty: 'Our deep loss is his greatest gain' On the first Sunday following the death of their pastor, Harry Reeder, the congregation of Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama, mourned together and reflected on Gods sovereignty and goodness in the face of death. It would be appropriate for us to acknowledge to our Lord and to acknowledge to one another and very honestly, maybe even to acknowledge to ourselves, just how heavy that burden is upon our heart, what a difficult, heart-aching news it was to receive this past week and to begin to process together, Briarwood Presbyterian Executive Pastor Bruce Stallings said. We know that our Lord is sovereign and in His perfect timing, [Reeder's] days were numbered by the Lord, and He called him home to be with Him. But we do already feel that just tremendous loss, almost incapable of being able to even comprehend or articulate that loss, but we know with confidence that our deep loss is his greatest gain, and we do this by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the midst of this, we do rejoice; we rejoice because we have the confidence. We're not those who grieve without hope; we have the confidence, we have the assurance to know that God has called him home. Stallings thanked God for sustaining the congregation amid their grief: Grief is hard, he prayed. We give it to You. We're so grateful that we don't do this isolated. We walk through this together. We're grateful that we can acknowledge that we're going to get through this together, Lord, because You will carry us through. Reeder, 75, died in a car crash on the morning of May 18 when his vehicle struck a dump truck. The other driver was unharmed. One of the most prominent voices in the PCA, Reeder led the 4,100-member church for 24 years, succeeding founding pastor the Rev. Frank Barker. He also pastored Independent Bible Church of the Chattanooga, Tennessee area, Pinelands Presbyterian Church of Miami, Florida, and was the founding pastor of Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church in North Carolina in 1983. Reeder is survived by his wife, Cindy, three children and several grandchildren. Reeders death sent shockwaves through the tightly-knit church community. Church member Stan Blair, who served as a deacon under Reeder, remembered the late pastor as a great teacher and leader. He's not having any problems. He's walking the streets of gold and right now and smiling, Blair said of Reeder. Were the ones that have to deal with the grief. At a celebration of life service for Reeder on Wednesday, the late pastors son, Harry Lloyd Reeder IV, reflected on his fathers passion for sharing the Gospel. There is no place Dad would not go to preach the Gospel if he was asked, Reeder said, according to AL.com. He was simply seeking to serve God humbly and with the masters heart. Dads adversary was Satan and his schemes, Reeder said. Why? Because he loved the truth of God so much, he hated when people were led astray. Reeder wanted to make the church a safe haven for sinners, but not for sin, said one of his daughters, Abigail Leib. He was a driven man. In an article for The Gospel Coalition, pastor and author Kevin DeYoung said Reeder embodied the motto of the PCA: Faithful to the Scriptures, true to the Reformed Faith, obedient to the Great Commission. Many pastors looked up to him for his theological clarity, his moral courage, and his resolute commitment to the old paths of preaching, sacraments, and prayer, DeYoung wrote. For Harry, all is glory and gladness now and forever. For those he knew here on Earth, therell be grief and sadness. But if Harrys word can be believed no, if Gods Word can be believed then we dont mourn as those who have no hope. We have heard the joyful sound: Jesus saves! Jesus saves! Reeders death came just one day before the passing of another prominent PCA pastor, Tim Keller, who founded Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. Keller died at 72 after battling pancreatic cancer. But its not all the time that two well-known friends in ministry die within the span of 24 hours, DeYoung wrote in another article for World magazine. Those outside the Presbyterian Church in America may not realize that Briarwood in Birmingham and Redeemer in Manhattan may be the two most famous churches in our denomination. How sad, yet providentially fitting, that their pastors would enter into glory on nearly the same day. Calif. church offers religious exemption letters for people opposed to COVID vaccine A church in California that has a history of defying pandemic lockdown orders is offering religious exemption letters for people opposed to being vaccinated against COVID-19. KCRA News reports that after Sunday services last week, there were long lines of people waiting to pick up exemption letters from Destiny Christian Church in Rocklin, led by Pastor Greg Fairrington. Some say they traveled over two hours to get a letter. Fairrington told the outlet that he doesn't believe vaccine requirements are "right." "America is a free country. We have freedom of religion, and if a person has a moral objection to taking the vaccine, we want to come alongside of them," he said in a video interview. Destiny Christian Church, which averages 10,000 people online and in-person for its worship services, recently sent a statement to the Los Angeles Times explaining the importance of the exemption letters. Fairrington said the church has gotten thousands of phone calls from doctors, nurses, educators, and first responders, in tears, fearing that their livelihoods hang in the balance because of their religious convictions. The vaccine poses a morally compromising situation for many people of faith, stated Fairrington. The religious exemptions we are issuing speak to that, honor that, and affirm that. Earlier this month, Fairrington and his wife, Kathy, led their congregation in a prayer for those who work in healthcare, education or other fields threatened with losing their job because they refuse to get the COVID-19 vaccine on moral grounds. Michelle Mello, a professor of law and medicine at Stanford University, told the Times that she believes the exemption letters are irrelevant since most workplaces and the courts already recognize bona fide and sincere religious exemptions. You have to do one of two things to protect other people from the risk that you pose to them, Mello told The Los Angeles Times, getting vaccinated or getting tested regularly. Thats not a mandate. A mandate is when you withhold an important benefit because a person declines to receive vaccination. As the COVID vaccine becomes more widely available, many schools and businesses have required workers and others to get vaccinated or, if exempted for medical or religious reasons, to submit to wearing face masks in public and getting tested regularly. While Destiny Church has offered to provide religious exemption letters, other Christian bodies like the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York have refused to allow their clergy to give such exemptions. In a memorandum dated July 30, Chancellor John P. Cahill informed all clergy and staff that there is no basis for a priest to issue a religious exemption to the vaccine. Pope Francis has made it very clear that it is morally acceptable to take any of the vaccines and said we have the moral responsibility to get vaccinated, wrote Cahill. By doing so [a priest] is acting in contradiction to the directives of the Pope and is participating in an act that could have serious consequences to others. The archdiocese concluded that while a person is free to exercise discretion on getting the vaccine based on his or her own beliefs, their clergy should not be active participants to such actions. Fairrington made headlines earlier this month when he urged congregants to vote to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom during the recall election on Sept. 4. He told The Sacramento Bee that Newsom's policies during the pandemic have had "traumatic consequences for families, schools, communities, and the church." Newsom came under fire as his administration enacted restrictions on in-person worship services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several churches disobeyed the guidelines and some challenged them in court. In April, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated a lower court ruling against South Bay Pentecostal Church, which sought injunctive relief against the restrictions. Elon Musk's brain chip startup gets FDA approval to start human trials; patient registry open The Elon Musk-founded Neuralink, the medical device company developing implantable brain-computer interface microchips, has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to start human clinical trials as early as this summer. The company announced what it calls "an important first step" last Thursday and expects to share more information on recruitment for the clinical trial in the near future. "We are excited to share that we have received the FDA's approval to launch our first-in-human clinical study!" the company tweeted. "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. Recruitment is not yet open for our clinical trial. We'll announce more information on this soon!" While details are still scant, the trial is expected to focus on Neuralink's brain-computer interface (BCI), a Class III medical device that connects the brain to an external computer using a Bluetooth signal. With this connection, the device a coin-sized chip called the "Link" allows for continuous communication and is designed to not only "read" neural activity but "write" signals into the brain. Musk has said Neuralink could potentially restore eyesight and motor function for disabled patients and offer the ability to control electronic devices mentally. Neuralink does not currently have any clinical trials available for enrollment but has created a patient registry for those interested in participating in future trials. To be eligible for the registry, one must live in the United States, be at least 18 years of age and of consenting age in their state, and suffer from any of a number of medical conditions, including quadriplegia, paraplegia, or vision or hearing loss. As with any new technology, there are considerable health concerns associated with the Link. Reuters reported in March that the FDA rejected a 2022 application from Neuralink to commence human trials, citing "concern" over the device's lithium battery, a risk of some of the Link's wiring to "migrate to other areas of the brain," and safety questions about the removal of the device without damaging brain tissue. In animal trials conducted between 2017 and 2020, the device has seen mixed results, with some monkey test subjects using their brain to move computer cursors. But more than half reportedly died from brain hemorrhages or other causes. While some Christian neurologists have raised ethical questions about implanting devices into human brains, Musk has said his inspiration behind the company in the first place was to be a "risk mitigation for digital super-intelligence." "The reason I created Neuralink long-term as a risk mitigation for digital super-intelligence, in that if we are able to effectively achieve symbiosis with digital intelligence, then the collective human will is better able to steer things in the direction that we'd like, or even with benign AI, at least go along for the ride," he told The Babylon Bee in a 2021 interview. "We're already at this point partially a cyborg in that our phones and computers and applications are a digital extension of ourselves at this point." Among other goals, Musk said he's confident Neuralink will ultimately allow paraplegic or even tetraplegic to operate a phone "faster than someone who has working hands." Dr. Travis Losey, the vice-chair of the department of neurology and co-director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at Loma Linda University in southern California, said in a 2021 interview with The Christian Post that when it comes to the use of brain interface technology, the purpose should be to heal something that was harmed by disease or a disorder. "The core ethical issue with the brain-computer interface is similar to issues with medication," he offered. "I think it's only ethical to use medications when they are being used to restore function that has been lost or affected by a disease. The same principles would apply to brain-computer interfaces." The doctor said there is no higher calling for a Christian than to help people affected by disease. He said believers should enter the field to ensure these technologies are used appropriately. gettyimagesbank By Park Jae-hyuk Extending the retirement age beyond 60 has become the top priority of unionized workers at major Korean companies in this year's collective bargaining talks, according to industry officials, Tuesday. Such a request from labor unions has especially gained momentum recently, due to the envisioned shortage of factory workers after the retirements of large numbers of baby boomers born between 1955 and 1963, as well as the government's plans to induce companies to retain senior workers in Korea's aging society. One of the latest examples of the companies being asked to extend the retirement age is Kia. The carmaker's union has called for the extension of the retirement age from 60 to 62, if it is difficult to hire young factory workers. This demand is also aimed at eliminating the so-called "income crevasse" or the period between a worker's retirement and the start of a retiree receiving national pension payments at 63. Hyundai Motor, the sister company of Kia, is facing even more pressure from its union to extend the retirement age to 64, considering the fact that those retiring after 2033 will be able to start receiving the national pension when they become 65 years old following the changes. According to the Hyundai Motor union, the extension of the retirement age is what its members want to achieve the most in negotiations with management. In a survey of the union's leaders, 66.9 percent of respondents answered that the extension of the retirement age is the most urgent issue in this year's collective bargaining talks. Given that Hyundai Motor posted record earnings last year, some industry watchers expect the carmaker's management to ask the union to choose between the extension of the retirement age or a higher wage increase. "Although our efforts have resulted in meaningful achievements so far, the business environment facing us is tough," Hyundai Motor CEO Lee Dong-seok said in a letter to employees on Tuesday. "If our labor and management continue to maintain a good relationship this year, we will be able to generate better results." Earlier this year, a group of labor unions at Samsung Group affiliates mentioned the extension of the retirement age as one of the 10 requests to management. Last month, steelmaker POSCO's union included this item among 21 requests to management. In the shipbuilding industry that has faced a labor shortage, unionized workers at HD Hyundai affiliates and Hanwha Ocean, which was formerly Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, also urged their employers to extend the retirement age. Considering Korea's declining population, most companies concur on the necessity of extending the retirement age, but at the same time, they claim that reforms in wage systems should come first in order to get young jobseekers employed. The Korea Enterprises Federation said last December that a single beneficiary of the extended retirement age can reduce one permanent position. The business lobby group presumed that the beneficiary can even remove two permanent positions in a company adopting a seniority-based pay system. "The abolishment of the seniority-based pay system is prerequisite to prevent the extension of the retirement age from having a negative impact on the creation of jobs for young people," said Kim Dong-bae, professor of Incheon National University's Division of Business Administration. Reddit CEO doubles down on allowing porn after platform was included on 'Dirty Dozen List' Although anti-pornography advocates have accused Reddit of normalizing and sharing incest and non-consensually recorded images, the online platforms CEO Steve Huffman says he will take the difficult decision of allowing pornography because sex is universal. There are difficult decisions to make in this sphere, but we think theyre worth making, as opposed to saying, you know, No sex at all, for example, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman said in a recent interview with Axios. Asked if hosting pornographic content on Reddit would ever change, Huffman responded, Sex is universal, and like many topics on Reddit, sex is one of those topics thats often not well-served online or offline. Reddit was included on the National Center on Sexual Exploitations 2021 Dirty Dozen List of mainstream contributors to sexual exploitation for being a hub of exploitation. NCOSE argued in a statement that its researchers and other investigative reports have found countless forums dedicated to specific topics on Reddit that normalize and depict incest, non-consensually recorded and/or shared images, pornography and prostitution promotion. The group adds that many subreddits also normalize and even host child sexual abuse material. If Reddit insists on allowing pornography, it must verify the identity of the persons who upload these images or videos, along with the consent of anyone in pornographic images or videos, NCOSE Director of Corporate and Strategic Initiatives, Lina Nealon contends. This should be standard operating procedure for any technology company, let alone one that allows pornography. Huffman claims Reddit doesnt want to promote or feature exploitative pornography. You can look at [porn] as exploitative. And, indeed, much of it is. And thats not the content that we want on Reddit, Huffman said in the interview. But theres another aspect thats empowering. And these are people sharing stories of themselves, pictures of themselves. And we are perfectly supportive of that. Nealon says Reddit, which doubled in value from $3 billion in 2019 to $6 billion in 2020, must find a way to better protect its underage users from stumbling onto this explicit or even illegal content. Ironically, despite the CEOs acknowledgment that much of pornography is exploitative, he hasnt made any public effort to stem the harmful and abusive content on its site, Nealon adds. Huffman said in the interview that Reddit wants people to be safe. [W]e have rules on Reddit no involuntary sexualization, he assured. And if anybody makes those sorts of reports to us, we take those very seriously. He added that the website has a policy of banning the sexualization of minors. According to NCOSE, Reddit uses volunteer content moderators instead of investing in technology widely used by other tech companies to identify and block sexually exploitative material. Nealon asserts that Reddit should use a portion of its vast profits to make the platform safer for all users. Major social media companies, including Facebook and Instagram, officially ban pornographic content but have been accused of not enforcing their rules consistently. Recently, executives of MindGeek, the parent company of the pornography website Pornhub, testified before a Canadian ethics committee over allegations that it profited off of child sexual abuse, rape, sex-trafficking and non-consensually distributed content. In a 12-page letter to the Canadian Parliaments Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, a collective of 104 survivors of sexual exploitation and 525 non-governmental organizations from 65 nations called for a criminal investigation into MindGeek. Multiple reports have emerged revealing how Pornhub, one of the largest pornography websites in the world, has allowed illegal content on its site, has been slow to verify consent and remove videos. Earlier this year, the social media platform Twitter was sued after it took days to remove child exploitation material that was shared thousands of times on its platform. Have we received the bitter truths from the Holy Spirit? When Christ ascended to Heaven, He promised Hed send the Holy Spirit to them. He knew the Spirit would be in a better position to divulge bitter truths to them because they would not be able to bear them at that particular time (John 16:13). Why did Christ do that? It is because the Spirit is also called the comforter. He knew the ability of the Holy Spirit to help and comfort us in our dark times. The Holy Spirit can make Christians pass through pain without complaints. Christ was able to endure the cross with the help of the Holy Spirit (Hebrew 9:14). What is this bitter truth that Christ has entrusted the Holy Spirit to communicate? According to Christ, Christians would be rejected and killed, and the killers would justify their actions as a service to God. Christ gave us the preambles of what would happen to us so that we would not be surprised. The revelation that John received on the Island of Patmos clearly tells us that if we sincerely worship God, we will endure persecution. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you; the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victors crown (Revelation 2:10). Christ did not inform the apostles that most of them would be killed but the Holy Spirit helped them endure many persecutions, even to the point of death. Many of us today have received the Holy Spirit, but whether all have received the bitter truth from Him is what I cannot really say. The Apostle Paul received the same revelation: I will show him how much he must suffer for my name (Acts 9:16). Christian suffering is inevitable. Globally, every day we are persecuted, marginalized, intimidated, and even killed for no other reason than believing in Christ. Instead of running away from the cup that is set before us, let us face it squarely and pray for the will of God to be done. Hearing the bitter truth from the Holy Spirit will be of immense help to us. We should not forget these words: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). Revelation 13: The Beast, persecution and providence In his classic book, World Aflame, the late Dr. Billy Graham shared a quote about a coming world ruler. The quote, a description of the Antichrist, reads: There will arise the man. He will be strong in action, epigrammatic in manner, personally handsome, and continuously victorious. He will sweep aside parliaments and demagogues, carry civilizations to glory, reconstruct them into an empire, and hold it together by circulating his profile and organizing further successes. Revelation chapter 13 speaks of the rise of the Beast and his activities. The Bible calls him a Beast because, in the eyes of God, thats what he is. However, the world will not see him this way. He will be idolized and adored around the globe. Academia will love him. He will inspire the arts. The sciences will hail him. He will craftily secure peace among the nations, and no one or country will want to go to war against him. He will cater to humanitys sensual pleasures without considering the moral or negative consequences. He will lead people to indulge in immediate gratification rather than long-term satisfaction or well-being. His approach to leadership is the kind that people have always wanted. After having suffered a mortal wound, he will deceitfully appear to resurrect from the dead, sealing his place as a worldwide dictator. Although he is seen as Earths incomparable benefactor, he is beastly and profane in nature, wanting to supplant the authority of God. The Scripture says: And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering his name and his dwelling that is, those who dwell in Heaven. And the beast was allowed to wage war against Gods holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation (Revelation 13:6-9). Some Christians believe Johns reference to a rulers speech of words of blasphemy against God, slandering his name and his dwelling may have had an immediate application to Caesar worship in his day. It is said that the Roman Emperor Caligula, AD 37-41, insisted on being worshiped as a god by everyone from every nation. The Jews, however, under Roman occupation, had always been exempt from Caesar worship because Rome knew they were unbending about worshipping only one God. But Caligula would not relieve them of this requirement. Instead, he stipulated that an image of himself be placed in the Temple of Jerusalem within the Holy of Holies. The emperor was quite prepared to enforce his mandate. But in a death shrouded by mystery, Caligula died, and the Jews were spared what would have likely been a blood bath for them. As the renowned Scottish Bible commentator William Barclay wrote: If ever there was an insult to the dwelling place of God, this action of Caligula was one. And it may well be that this notorious incident was in Johns mind when he speaks of the insults which the beast launched against the dwelling place of God. No doubt, the requirement of Caesar worship was blasphemous. It was the highest of insults of all things sacred for one to exalt himself in place of God and demand to be worshipped. Christians faced Caesar worship, too, and were martyred by the thousands. Refusal to participate in it was seen as a threat to the stability of the Roman Empire. Christians, who refused to worship the emperor as a god, were seen as disloyal and subversive and were therefore targeted for persecution. Rome was a place of many gods a place of religious pluralism. People could worship any god they pleased, but they were also required to bow before an image of the emperor. Now the way a Christian was supposed to do this was seemingly a small thing. They were to take a small pinch of incense and put it on an altar of fire before Caesars image as an act of loyalty and patriotism an act to say that the emperor was Lord. But Christians refused to do it. For them, only Jesus was Lord. Christians who would not comply were arrested, tortured, and killed for their beliefs, including being thrown to wild animals in arenas or burned alive. The most notorious example of this persecution was under emperor Nero in the 1st century AD, but it continued sporadically for several centuries. Today, we are living in what is mostly, especially in the West, religious pluralism. It is not considered chic to believe in anything absolutely. As the former pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas, the late W.A. Criswell once said: We come now to our modern world. What kind of culture do we face Dogma is decried; conviction is discarded; belief is discredited. And a man is to be open-minded, and broad-minded, and liberal, and he is not to come to a conclusion about anything, much less believe in a salvation in one Lord alone. Apologist Josh McDowell, in his book, The New Tolerance, expounds on this further, writing: [T]raditional tolerance asserts that everyone has an equal right to believe or say what he thinks is right, the new tolerance the way our children are being taught to believe says that what every individual believes or says is equally right, equally valid. So not only does everyone have an equal right to his beliefs, but all beliefs are equal. All values are equal. All lifestyles are equal. All truth claims are equal The Bible makes it clear that all values, beliefs, lifestyles, and truth claims are not equal. It teaches that the God of the Bible is the true God (Jeremiah 10:10), that all his words are true (Psalm 119:160), and that if something is not right in Gods sight, it is wrong (Deuteronomy 6:18). This is not just the view of Hebrew culture or Christian culture or Western culture; it is the truth, according to the God who rules over all cultures, revealed in Gods Word. In the context of todays culture of tolerance, the Beast, the Antichrist, is a strong warning against the dangers of blind acceptance of progressive beliefs and behaviors that contradict orthodox Christian teaching. Free thinking toward irrational, scandalous, unbiblical ideas and lifestyles prepares people to embrace an individual or movement which is hostile to God and his ways. All truth is narrow. And all truth is Gods truth. Every century, the Evil One has declared and waged war on the people of God. It will be no different during the Tribulation, except more intense than at any other time in history. John Phillips, in Exploring Revelation, eloquently explains: He [the Beast] cannot harm the glorified saints in Heaven, but he can harm the believers on Earth, at least those not specially sealed against him. The age-old mystery of the suffering of the saints is again brought into focus. It was given unto him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, just as it was given unto Herod to imprison and behead John the Baptist, and just as it was given to Satan to persecute Job, and just as it was given to Pilate to pass sentence of death upon Jesus. It is all a deep mystery now, but it will be an eternal weight of glory for the sufferers when God gives out the Martyrs crowns. This is the devils last fling against the people of God. The great dragon will drink his fill of blood, and the beast, summoned from the sea and from the pit, will be unmasked at last for what he is, a monster with a quenchless thirst for blood. He must dominate the globe. North, south, east, and West, all peoples must yield obedience to him. It will not last long, it is true, but for a brief season, his power and authority will be acknowledged worldwide. Satan will achieve his goal of unifying the nations, dazzling some, browbeating others, cementing the whole tricky structure together with the mortar of the indulgence of every evil passion and with the epoxy of horrible, merciless, unrelenting persecution. The apostle John continues revealing more about the Beast and the perilous days of the Antichrist. He writes: And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. Anyone who is destined for prison will be taken to prison. Anyone destined to die by the sword will die by the sword (Revelation 13:8-10). Providence, predestination, and foreordination are words that make many people very uncomfortable. Yet, they shouldnt. They are taught in the Bible and should comfort everyone who has received Christ. Whether we realize it or not, there is a sense in which all of us are practical predestinarians, and to deny it would be insane. We were not asked whether we should exist, what period in history we should be born in, or what race we should be. God is sovereign over these things. He established these matters in eternity past before the foundation of the world. Most people know this to be true. People also believe certain events or situations were predetermined or predestined to happen, regardless of their actions or decisions. For example, a person may believe they were meant to meet their spouse at a particular time and place or was destined to pursue a specific career path from a young age. Innumerable examples might be cited to show that God has a plan, and even the smallest of events in life have their place in his divine scheme. Someone might protest, saying, Yes, but I cant believe a persons eternal salvation is foreordained. The idea might rub us wrong, but if God is sovereign over everything (and he is), matters of the soul or salvation are no different. Scholars have endlessly argued over this doctrinal issue, trying to reconcile how God can be completely sovereign and man still has free agency. The fact is, however, the two cant be reconciled. Nonetheless, both are true. Although some would argue its an oversimplification of the issue, the evangelist D.L. Moody clarified what about this doctrine is essential for us to understand. He said, The elect are the whosoever wills; the non-elect are the whosoever wonts.' In other words, do you know that you are a sinner? Do you know that Christ died for your sins on the cross? Then everything you need to know as to whether you were predestined from eternity past for salvation is to put your trust in Christ as your Savior. In A Commentary on the Revelation of John, George Eldon Ladd makes this part of the text even more transparent, arguing: That their names were written before the foundation of the world carries the assurance that even though they [Gods persecuted people] seem to be powerless before the attacks of the beast, they are really in the keeping providence of God and have been since the foundation of the world [T]he persecution waged by the beast will be carried out within the providence of God, and therefore violent resistance is out of place. If one is destined for captivity, he must be willing to go meekly as a Christian. However, persecution is not the last word; there is divine retribution, and the final punishment of those who kill with the sword will fit the crime. The last word is not with the persecutor. Indeed, the last word isnt with the persecutor; its not with anyone, not even the Beast; its with God alone. O, what tremendous comfort! No matter how terrible it gets, God is still in control. He will never give up his throne. His plan for his people will come to pass. The Dragon and the Beast will be utterly defeated, and everyone who believes and keeps the faith will know the joy of Christs coming Kingdom. Its not too late for you to get on board. Trust Christ right now. 2-year-old incarcerated in North Korean prison camp after parents caught with Bible, says US State Department (CP) If Christians in North Korea are found possessing a Bible, they face the death penalty, and family members, including children, are sentenced to life imprisonment, reveals a report by the U.S. State Department, which includes an incident where a 2-year-old child was sentenced to life in a prison camp after his parents were caught with a Bible. An estimated 70,000 Christians are incarcerated in North Korea, where prisoners face harsh conditions and physical mistreatment, says the State Department's recently released 2022 International Religious Freedom Report. The report attributes 90% of documented human rights abuses against both Christians and adherents of Shamanism to that country's Ministry of State Security. It cites Korea Future, a nonprofit organization working on human rights in North Korea, as saying that the North Korean government engages in severe persecution of individuals who practice religious rituals, own religious items, or associate with religious individuals, with punishments ranging from arrest and detention to torture, forced labor, deportation and denial of the right to life. A 2021 report by the organization, which includes interviews with 151 Christian women, shows rampant abuse of religious freedoms, with forced labor, sexual violence, arbitrary detention, torture and deportation being the most common forms of maltreatment. Educational materials in North Korea are anti-religion, it says, explaining that people who have escaped from the country recount textbooks containing sections on Christian missionaries, characterizing them as committing "evil deeds," such as rape, organ harvesting and murder. While North Korea's constitution officially guarantees religious freedom, and the communist dictatorship points to churches it has constructed in Pyongyang as proof of this guarantee, the State Department report contends these churches function merely as "showpieces for foreigners." The discrimination extends to followers of Shamanism as well, according to the report, which says they can face six months to several years in a forced labor camp or reeducation facility. One victim was quoted as saying, "[Officials] worked us hard without feeding us properly ... I suffered from malnutrition and was sure I would not survive. I kept having diarrhea, even when I only drank water, and I weighed just 35 kilograms [77 pounds]. Today I weigh 60 kilograms [132 pounds], so I was like a skeleton back then." Others described or showed signs of being beaten, ingesting contaminated food, being forced into uncomfortable positions for long periods of time, and receiving verbal abuse. For Christians, the report points out, the sentences are significantly more severe, ranging from 15 years to life in prison. One case involved the 2009 arrest of a family based on their religious practices and possession of a Bible. The entire family, including a 2-year-old child, were given life sentences in political prison camps. In December, the United States co-sponsored a United Nations resolution deploring the North's "systematic, widespread, and gross violations of human rights." The resolution expressed significant concern about abuses, including summary executions of individuals exercising their freedom of religion or belief. In its 2021 report, "Organized Persecution Documenting Religious Freedom Violations in North Korea," the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said the violations it documented in 2020 were "seemingly designed to remove all traces of Christianity." "The campaign to exterminate all Christian adherents and institutions in North Korea has been brutally effective, and continues through the work of the Ministry of State Security, networks of informants that stretch into China, the presence of 'no-exit' political prison camps, executions, and an educational and organizational system that deters adherence through schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods," said the report, which was based on interviews of survivors, witnesses and perpetrators of religious freedom violations in 2020 and 2021. The freedoms in North Korea are "subordinate to and overruled by a document known as the Ten Principles for Establishing a Monolithic Leadership System," which has as its purpose to bring each North Korean individual's thoughts and acts in line with the teachings of Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un, it added. For years, North Korea has ranked as the worst country globally when it comes to Christian persecution on Open Doors USA's World Watch List. "Being discovered as a Christian is a death sentence in North Korea," says Open Doors USA, adding, "If you aren't killed instantly, you will be taken to a labor camp as a political criminal." The Christian Post Archbishop 'distressed' by attacks on Christians in India The Archbishop of Canterbury has lamented violent attacks on indigenous tribal Christians in north-eastern India. Archbishop Justin Welby said he was "distressed" by the reports of violence coming out of Manipur state in recent weeks. Writing on Twitter, the Archbishop said he was praying that "justice and peace would prevail" in the region. The violence, carried out by Hindu nationalists, has killed dozens and displaced around 10,000 people, mostly Christians. Many churches and buildings belonging to Christians have also been destroyed. The Archbishop said he was praying "that regional authorities would protect all minority groups, including Christians and their places of worship, and that justice and peace would prevail". Open Doors last week shared reports from Christian partners on the ground fear that the violence will lead to a civil war. They have expressed disappointment at what they see as a lack of action by the Indian government and local authorities to quell the violence. According to Open Doors, at least 300 churches have been burned or demolished and 1,000 Christian homes have been destroyed in Manipur in the last few weeks. The NGO is providing support to Christians caught up in the violence but has warned that conditions are "grim", and many are still fearing for their lives. "If the situation continues civil war is inevitable," said an Open Doors partner who cannot be named for security reasons. "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." Catholic Church in California grapples with more than 3,000 lawsuits, alleging child sex abuse At least a third of the 12 Roman Catholic dioceses in California have either filed for bankruptcy or are contemplating doing so to deal with an influx of lawsuits filed by survivors of childhood sexual abuse after a state law opened a three-year window in which cases were exempted from age limits. More than 3,000 lawsuits have been filed against the Catholic Church in California under a 2019 state law that allowed alleged victims to sue up to the age of 40. Advocates have been stunned by the number of cases that surfaced during the window, which closed at the end of December. So far, two dioceses have declared bankruptcy. The Diocese of Santa Rosa, which is facing more than 200 lawsuits, filed for bankruptcy in mid-March. In its bankruptcy petition, it claimed assets valued between $10 million and $50 million. It estimated its liabilities in the same dollar range. The Diocese of Oakland, grappling with about 330 sexual abuse lawsuits, filed for bankruptcy in early May. It claimed assets valued between $100 million and $500 million with estimated liabilities in the same dollar range, according to its bankruptcy petition. Oakland Bishop Michael C. Barber, in a letter, said, "worship sites" will close, and the diocese will have to "re-imagine" how other locations are used. "I ask for your commitment to work with me and our pastors in the upcoming months as we determine how best to address the outcome of the bankruptcy process and how to 'right-size' our parishes to serve the faithful and all who come to us seeking Christ's tender love," Barber said. The Diocese of San Diego made the decision earlier this month to file for bankruptcy sometime this fall, said Kevin Eckery, spokesman for the diocese. Cardinal Robert McElroy, bishop of the Diocese of San Diego, announced in early February the possibility of bankruptcy as the diocese faces "staggering" legal costs in dealing with some 400 lawsuits alleging priests and others sexually abused children. Most of the alleged abuse cited in the suits took place 50 to 75 years ago, and the earliest claim dates back to 1945. Most of the diocese's assets, McElroy said in a letter, were used to settle previous allegations, ending in a $198 million payout in 2007. Eckery has predicted the cost of settling the outstanding cases against the diocese could amount to $550 million. The dioceses in Stockton, Fresno and San Jose did not answer a query from Religion News Service to learn of their plans to deal with the lawsuits. The Diocese of Orange said it had not yet finalized the number of pending lawsuits and that it was not considering bankruptcy. Deacon David Ford with the Diocese of Monterey said the diocese prefers "not to make a statement right now," regarding any potential plans for bankruptcy. Bishop Jaime Soto, in a statement in late February, said bankruptcy could be an option for the Diocese of Sacramento as it grapples with more than 200 lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse. "To learn of this staggering number of claims is truly heartbreaking," Bishop Jaime Soto wrote. "These claims represent real people whose lives have been damaged by the sins of individuals whom they had been taught to trust. "Given the number of claims that have been presented ... resolving them may overwhelm the diocese's finances available to satisfy such claims," he wrote. "This financial challenge is unlike anything we have faced before." Rick Simons, a lawyer serving as the plaintiffs' liaison for cases in Northern California, says the dioceses are addressing these cases "as they always have, by avoidance." Simons said a total of about 1,600 cases have been filed against the Catholic Church in Northern California. These cases which are being coordinated through the Alameda County Courthouse span dioceses in Fresno, Monterey, San Jose, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, Sacramento and Oakland. "They say sympathetic words of responsibility and empathy for the victims in their public statements, and all their actions are exactly the opposite," Simons said of the bishops. According to Simons, about 500 cases are stayed by the Santa Rosa and Oakland bankruptcy proceedings. "I'm trying to get cases set for trial, both because trials provide an incentive for settlement and because trials establish values that can be used for settlement of other cases, and of course, the defense doesn't want to have any trials," Simons said. The national Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) is preparing a letter to Attorney General Rob Bonta requesting that he issue a report based on information gathered in the lawsuits as well as from when the dioceses were subpoenaed in 2019. The subpoenas were issued to review how the state's Catholic dioceses handled sex abuse allegations, according to the Los Angeles Times. "We don't think any of these entities are or will be made insolvent by any awards that are granted to survivors," said Dan McNevin with SNAP. McNevin said it's a "double bottom line" when dioceses declare bankruptcy, because it freezes the discovery phase of lawsuits "and they also create this impression that they're broke and that they can't afford to pay victims what they're owed." "They want to avoid a jury," McNevin said. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the most populous Catholic diocese in the country, with some 4 million Catholics, is not planning to file for bankruptcy, despite grappling with at least 1,100 lawsuits. The majority of these cases involve alleged abuse that occurred in the 1970s and earlier, the archdiocese said, and the accused clergy have died or are no longer in ministry. How the Los Angeles archdiocese plans to avoid bankruptcy with so many cases pending is not clear. In a statement, the archdiocese said it has been "providing, on an ongoing basis, pastoral financial settlements directly to victim-survivors, regardless of the openings of the statute and when the abuse may have occurred." In a statement to RNS in early April, the Archdiocese of San Francisco said it was still in the process of evaluating more than 400 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by clergy, volunteers or archdiocesan staff. These cases date back more than 50 years, and a vast majority of the accused are dead, the archdiocese said. In addition, a large number of the allegations against the San Francisco archdiocese include names of alleged abusers who do not appear to be priests assigned to the archdiocese, it said. John Andrews, spokesman of the Diocese of San Bernardino, said there are no current plans to file for bankruptcy. San Bernardino Bishop Alberto Rojas said in a statement in March that the diocese is evaluating "different legal and financial options" to resolve more than 130 sexual abuse lawsuits. A vast majority of the lawsuits involve abuses alleged to have occurred more than 30 years ago, he said. The diocese, Rojas said, has provided victims with more than $25 million in settlement monies since 2003. Those settlements were paid through a combination of savings and insurance coverage with "little or no impact to our core ministries." Now, Rojas said, "we must acknowledge the significant financial impact they would have on our local church." McNevin, of SNAP, credits the number of outstanding sex abuse claims to "delayed disclosure," a phenomenon common to survivors of child sex abuse in which individuals remain silent for years before coming forward. A 2020 report by Child USA found the average age at the time of reporting child sex abuse to be about 52 years. "The average age of abuse is somewhere in the 11- to 14-year-old range, so it's a 40-year lag," McNevin said. McNevin also attributes the flood of cases to the lower stigma associated with being an abuse survivor. "There's been a lot more awareness ... So people are not embarrassed to say it happened to them. They no longer fear being called a liar," McNevin said. As SNAP drafts a letter to Bonta, McNevin said they are calling on the attorney general to "examine these bankruptcies closely." Just as in New York, where the Diocese of Buffalo has submitted to government oversight, McNevin said there's an opportunity for Bonta "to really impose an appropriate, safe structure that will keep exposure at a maximum". "What will happen will be a secular imposition of structure onto the Catholic Church that will force it to be safer," he said. Religion News Service U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during the National Memorial Day Wreath-Laying and Observance Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, U.S., May 29. Reuters-Yonhap President Joe Biden condemned Uganda's new anti-gay law on Monday, and said the United States may impose sanctions and will evaluate the implications of the law "on all aspects of U.S. engagement with Uganda." Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Monday signed one of the world's toughest anti-LGBTQ laws, including the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality," drawing Western condemnations and risking sanctions from aid donors. "This shameful act is the latest development in an alarming trend of human rights abuses and corruption in Uganda," Biden said in a statement. Biden said he has directed the White House National Security Council to evaluate the implications of the law on all aspects of U.S. engagement with Uganda, including U.S. ability to safely deliver services under the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and other forms of assistance and investments. Biden said his government will consider the impacts of the law as part of its review of Uganda's eligibility for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides duty-free treatment to goods of designated sub-Saharan African countries. "And we are considering additional steps, including the application of sanctions and restriction of entry into the United States against anyone involved in serious human rights abuses or corruption," said Biden. Same-sex relations were already illegal in Uganda, as in more than 30 African countries, but the new law goes further. (Reuters) NATO soldiers clash with local Serbs in northern Kosovo, over 50 civilians injured Xinhua) 13:27, May 30, 2023 BELGRADE, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Over 50 civilians and more than 40 NATO soldiers were injured in a clash between NATO's Kosovo Force (KFOR) and Serb protesters in front of the Zvecan municipality building in northern Kosovo on Monday, said Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. KFOR units were trying to disperse a group of Serbs who protested after Kosovo police took control of the administrative buildings in Zvecan and two other municipalities in majority-Serb north of Kosovo. "A member of ROSU (Regional Operations Support Unit of Kosovo Police), not a member of KFOR, fired several bullets in the direction of the retreating Serbs and hit (local Serb) Dragisa Galjak with two bullets. Serbs responded with stones and in other ways," Vucic said at an extraordinary press conference on Monday evening. Kosovo's Serbs boycotted the April 23 local elections in four municipalities in north of Kosovo, which allowed ethnic Albanian parties to take control of local administrations despite a turnover of less than 3.5 percent. Due to the intensification of ethnic clashes in Kosovo, Serbia has put the country's armed forces on the level of combat readiness and sent its forces along the administrative line. Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Serbia rejects it and considers Kosovo its own province. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Tanzania and India can minimize reliance on major global currencies and foster stable and efficient trading environment by promoting trade in local currencies, stakeholders have said. The stakeholders gathered in Tanzania recently for a consultation meeting organized by the Indian Institute of Chartered Accountants. They discussed the implications of the Rupee Nostro Account System, following the recent announcement of both countries to commence trading in their respective local currencies. One of the key advantages highlighted during the discussion was the reduction in dependency on hard currencies. Stakeholders were upbeat that the system would alleviate the need for constant currency conversions and reliance on foreign exchange reserves. Managing director of Bank of India in Tanzania, Mr Antaryami Sarangi, said the system offers immense potential for business entities, which can effectively manage their forex balances and mitigate exchange risks associated with volatile global currencies. "The banking sector also stands to gain from implementing this system. Banks could facilitate importers by providing them with increased flexibility and reduced dependencies on hard currencies. "This would streamline trade processes and enhance the overall efficiency of cross-border transactions," he said. Managing director of Bank of Baroda, Mr Aditya Narayan Singh, said the arrangement is likely to contribute to lower transaction costs, which would be beneficial to businesses of all sizes. "By eliminating the need for constant currency conversions, settlement times can be significantly reduced and yield lower transaction costs," he said. Indian Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Shri Manoj Verma, expressed optimism on the prospects for the Rupee Nostro Account System and its potential in deepening economic ties between Tanzania and India. "It will encourage trade partners to buy more goods and services from each other, thus giving incentive to domestic industry and exporters and generating employment and income," he said. Mr Verma said this could create an opportunity for local banks and businesses to enjoy payment transactions in domestic currencies. In a press release posted on its website, the Indian High Commission in Dar es Salaam said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had cleared the way for trade using local currencies by allowing authorized banks in India to open Special Rupee Vestro Accounts (SRVA) in Tanzania. To trade under this mechanism, Tanzanian banks will have to open SRVA in India by approaching authorized Indian banks that will, in turn, approach RBI for their approval with details of the arrangement, the statement further stated. "Tanzania can conserve foreign exchange, and boost bilateral trade," he said. India and Tanzania have bilateral trade currently valued at nearly $4.5 billion, during an interview with The Citizen Indian High Commissioner to Tanzania Binaya Pradhan revealed that at the end of 2023, the trade volume is expected to cross $6 billion. (The Citizen) This article was originally on The Citizen. 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 In this photo taken Tuesday, China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang, right, poses for photos with Tesla CEO Elon Musk in Beijing. AP-Yonhap Elon Musk met China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Beijing on Tuesday, the ministry said, on the Tesla CEO's first trip to the country since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. China is the world's biggest electric vehicle market, and Tesla announced in April it would build a second massive factory in Shanghai. Qin told Musk that China was "committed to creating a better market-oriented, rule-of-law-based and internationalised business environment" for foreign enterprises, his ministry said on its website. The statement also quoted Musk as saying: "Tesla opposes 'decoupling and breaking chains', and is willing to continue to expand its business in China." Musk's ties to China have raised eyebrows in Washington, with US President Joe Biden saying in November that the executive's links to foreign countries were "worthy" of scrutiny. Qin and Musk spoke about relations between China and the United States, with Qin saying the two countries should "apply the brakes in a timely manner to avoid dangerous driving", according to the readout. The battery factory announced in April will be Tesla's second factory in Shanghai after Gigafactory, which broke ground in 2019. Tesla has hit its stride after years of losses, scoring an impressive string of earnings records as it has added factories and ramped up production. The company has also acted as a major catalyst for a revolution in transportation, with much of the automobile sector's innovation efforts moving away from the internal combustion engine towards EVs. Even with that success, Musk has fallen short of some of his outsized goals. Tesla reported a drop in first-quarter earnings this year, with the company undertaking a series of price cuts amid competition from other automakers. Tesla's lowest-priced vehicle, the Model 3, begins at more than $40,000 in the United States too pricey for many consumers even though the vehicle had been pitched at the mass market. Musk has also missed his own deadlines for a fully autonomous vehicle, with Tesla driver-assistance technology spurring US regulatory probes. And while Tesla remains the world's largest seller of EVs, the popularity of Chinese brands has soared in recent years. The largest of them, BYD, saw its profits jump fivefold in the first quarter thanks to global demand for its cars and buses. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday that the country welcomed visits by international executives to "to better understand China and promote mutually beneficial cooperation". (AFP) A Scottish charity has deleted its Twitter account, which had more than 30,000 followers, citing concerns around targeted attacks. Mhairi Crawford, chief executive, said: After careful consideration of our mission to support LGBTQ+ young people, we felt our only option was to leave Twitter. Since Twitters takeover in 2022 we have become increasingly concerned by a number of statements and decisions that have had a real impact on the LGBTQ+ community. Our following on Twitter was the largest across all of our platforms but we have noticed a troubling increase in extreme views and targeted attacks towards members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as our owncharity directly. We want to create safe spaces for young people to feel hopeful about the world around them and their own futures and, ultimately, Twitter does not make this possible. We hope our move will give other organisations confidence to leave platforms where negativity is so prevalent. The charity works with LGBTI young people aged 1325, across Scotland, and works to promote their health and wellbeing. Its latest accounts on OSCRs website show its total income for the year to 31 March 2022 was more than 1.4m. The charity can still be contacted on other social media platforms and through its website. New CEO for Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity Andrew Jameson has been appointed chief executive of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC). He succeeds Adrian Bell, who becomes chief of Blind Veterans UK. Jameson joins the charity after retiring in 2017 from the Royal Navy. Since then he has worked for several law firms. He was co-founding trustee of the charity in 2007 and remained in that role until 2016. In 2019, he became veteran trustee and vice chair in 2021. Brian Gilvary, chair of the RNRMC board, said: The board is delighted that Andrew will be joining us to continue to take forward the strategy the board has set for the charity. Andrew brings a deep understanding of our beneficiaries, great understanding of our charity and the challenges it faces, and the enthusiasm and leadership to ensure continued success, working closely with all of our partner charities. The board are really excited about continuing their work with Andrew in the years ahead albeit as CEO and not as a trustee. BBC Media Action announces its next CEO BBC Media Action, the broadcasting companys charity, has appointed Simon Bishop as its new chief executive officer. He will take up the role in late June. He joins from the Power of Nutrition, an international development charity, where he was chief executive for two years. Previously, he was deputy chief executive for Plan International UK, strategy adviser for the Prince of Wales Charitable Foundation and to the government department for international development. Bishop said: Leading BBC Media Action is a unique opportunity for me to combine my passion for international development with media and communication for good, helping empower the lives of more than 100 million people a year around the world. Thats an incredibly exciting prospect. Twenty years ago I was also a BBC journalist, so this also represents a coming home for me. I cant wait to get started! New CEO at St Giles Trust Tracey Burley has been appointed the new chief executive of St Giles Trust, a 61-year-old social justice charity. She takes over from Rob Owen, who has held the post for 15 years. She joins from Pure Consulting, an organisation she is the founder of. It provides strategic plans for regional and national charities. Before that, she was interim chief executive for Redthread and chief operating officer for Stonewall. On her appointment, Burley said: A priority will be forming strategic partnerships, which complement and add value to our services, influencing decision-making at all levels and amplifying the voice of lived experience. Our client voices need to be heard. Tackling the cost-of-living crisis is a clear priority for St Giles. We should live in a country where no one is held back from living a secure and financially stable life. But the cold reality is that millions of people are continuing to struggle to make ends meet. London Transport Museum announces new CEO Elizabeth McKay has been appointed director and chief executive officer of the London Transport Museum. She will take up the role in August, and succeeds Sam Mullins, who steps down after 28 years in post. McKay becomes chief executive after five years as the museums chief operating officer and deputy director. She is a member of the English National Operas board, deputy chair and trustee of Kids in Museums and previously worked for the BBC. Andy Lord, Londons Transport Commissioner, said: Were delighted to see Elizabeth appointed to lead London Transport Museum. Her vision, leadership and belief in the role museums play in creating social change will shape the organisations future growth and the important part it plays in the life of the city. She is passionate about engaging Londons communities, inviting them to not only learn about the citys rich history and heritage, but to be inspired to shape a welcoming, greener and connected future for the capital. We look forward to working together as she takes the reins as director and CEO. New chair for Association of Chairs Joe Saxton has been appointed as the chair of the Association of Chairs. He takes over from Danny Curtin, who was in post since 2019. Saxton founded nfpSynergy, a charity sector research agency, in 2000. He has chaired CharityComms, the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, Parentkind and People and Planet. Vice-chair Diane Reid said: After an external recruitment process, we had a strong, diverse shortlist and Joe stood out as someone who knows the sector extremely well, has first-hand chairing experience, is very entrepreneurial and can work with the board and Ros Oakley, our CEO and co-founder, to further raise the profile and reach of the Association. Royal Trinity Hospice appoints new chair Suzanne Shale has been appointed the new chair of Royal Trinity Hospice. She takes over from Adrian Williams, who steps down after nine years. Shale is an independent ethics consultant and was previously a volunteer bereavement support counsellor for five years. She is non-executive director of Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, chair of the London Policing Ethics panel and more. Royal Trinity Hospice, chief executive, Emily Carter said: I am absolutely delighted that Suzanne is joining Trinity. Suzannes appointment ensures that our board continues with a strong and experienced leader at the helm. Her professional expertise and insight based on her personal experience of volunteering at Trinity will be of huge value across all of the different aspects of our work. WasteAid welcomes new chair WasteAid has appointed Jonathan Straight as its next chairman. He becomes chair after more than three years as a trustee of the charity. Straight is an environmental entrepreneur and has worked in the waste industry for three decades. He founded the Straight Charitable Trust. He previously chaired the Real Junk Food Project and was non-executive director of Waterwise for 10 years. On his appointment, Straight said: WasteAids mission is very close to my heart and Im looking forward to working with the board and the wider team to help the continued expansion of our activity. At a time when the world is facing an environmental crisis, WasteAid and its partners have a critical role to play in empowering local communities to safely manage their waste while also delivering important socioeconomic benefits at a grassroots level. New chair for Abigails Footsteps The baby loss charity Abigails Footsteps has appointed Susan Robinson as its new chair. Robinson is a chartered accountant and partner at Kreston Reeves where she leads on the not-for-profit sector. She is currently a trustee of Age UK Medway. She said: I first encountered Abigail's Footsteps in 2015. Understanding what they were doing and why was very heart-wrenching. Over the years I have watched them grow and develop, reaching out to help so many families, but also working to improve the environment families find themselves in through education and support. I feel very privileged to be taking on the role of chair as the charity continues on its incredible journey. New director for Central YMCA Monique Clements has been appointed director of education and training at Central YMCA. She is the owner of Developing Potential, an education management consultancy. At the same time, she has been non-executive director of Tempest Management Training for more than three years. She was previously a director at the Shaw Trust, Barnsley College and more. Jonathan Pryce becomes ambassador of Alzheimers Society The famous Two Popes actor Jonathan Pryce has become an ambassador of Alzheimers Society. He said: Ive witnessed first-hand the effects of dementia on my own family. Having long supported the work of Alzheimers Society, Im honoured to become an official Ambassador, which I do in honour of my late aunt. With 900,000 people living with dementia and millions more carers, partners, and families affected, helping Alzheimers Society end the devastation caused by dementia is incredibly important to me. sign up to receive the Civil Society daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Eighteen months ago, I wrote in this newsletter about coverage of Senate Republicans obstructionism over the debt ceiling, an artificial borrowing cap that Democrats were then trying to raise. At the time, various media critics had taken the political press to task for both-sidesing the story, covering it as a showdown for which both parties bore responsibility rather than a cynical and hypocritical GOP gambit. (Hypocritical because Republicans voted repeatedly to raise the debt ceiling under President Trump while also running up more debt.) James Fallows, a longtime journalist for The Atlantic, was particularly prolific on the subject, writing a six-part Substack series on debt-ceiling coverage that he littered with good and bad examples as well as references to The Great Gatsby and the Cynic-aligned philosopher Bion of Borysthenes. (Boys throw stones at frogs in fun, Bion once said. But the frogs do not die in fun, but in earnest.) Senate Republicans eventually allowed the Democratic majority to kick the can down the road for two months, through December 2021, at which point congressional Democrats voted through a longer-term hike to the debt ceiling. Earlier this year, however, the issue came around again, with Janet Yellen, the treasury secretary, informing Congress that the debt limit had been reached; the government was able to enter special measures to keep paying its bills, but officials and experts warned that it could soon default, with cataclysmic consequences not just for the US but for the global economy. An estimated X date of sometime in early June soon swam into focus. Cue another round of Washington psychodramathis time with Republicans in the House majority and demanding sharp spending cuts in exchange for a vote on the debt ceiling. Cue, too, another round of media criticism of the coverage of the psychodramaincluding from Fallows, who again urged reporters not to take a both sides approach and pointed back to his work from 2021. The issues, he wrote, are the same. This time around, many liberal media critics have taken issue with coverage that they have seen as normalizing Republican hostage taking over the debt ceiling, the raising of which is a matter of meeting financial obligations that Congress has already authorized (not a question of approving new spending) and has usually been handled without much drama. Jonathan Chait, of New York magazine, accused several reporters and analysts of conflating negotiation over the debt ceiling (which has happened in the past) with House Republicans current extortion tactics, and singled out one article in the New York Times as the Platonic ideal of both sides reporting (a strong charge, since Chait generally considers bothsidesism to be an abused cliche of progressive media criticism). Media Matters for America, a progressive watchdog group, analyzed coverage in five major newspapers and found that relatively few of their articles mentioned Republicans role in hiking the debt while voting to raise the debt ceiling under Trump. The American Prospect, for its part, specifically criticized insidery DC publicationsand one in particular, Punchbowl Newsfor laundering Republican talking points around the debt ceiling. (Punchbowl has been accused before of an overly cozy relationship with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. If youre interested, Adam Piore profiled the site for CJR last year.) Also among the liberal critics of the debt-ceiling coverage: the White House, which, according to Politico, griped to reporters that they were failing to frame the debate as one in which Republicans were using the possibility of economic catastrophe to force policy concessions. Officials, Politico noted, have long criticized the media for focusing on gossip and drama over substance, but saw the failures this time as being of a greater magnitude, because the stakes are so incredibly high and becauseas they see itthe spin is so obvious. Officials went so far as to circulate media criticism, including by Chait and the Prospect, to reporters. This criticism of the coverage has faced pushback, and not only from predictable quarters; some progressive Democrats have argued that President Biden himself normalized Republican tactics by eventually agreeing to negotiate with McCarthyhaving previously said that he would notthen ceding narrative ground to the GOP by staying relatively silent as Republican negotiators dished frequently to the reporters covering the talks. Indeed, the idea that McCarthy was winning the media war congealed into a sort of meta-narrative, not least in the press itself. Last week, Punchbowl wrote that House Republicans had been surprisingly successful at setting the overall public narrative for the negotiations as the endgame unfolds. House Republicans then blasted this line out in a press release, characterizing it as mainstream-media praise. If all this seems frustratingly circular to you, you wouldnt be the only oneindeed, its possible to see the McCarthy-narrative narrative as one of a number of concentric circles here, with the outermost being the circular nature of the debt-ceiling question itself. Each circle could usefully be broken. On messaging, those at the heart of a story making themselves available to the press is usually a good thingbut availability is not an adequate shortcut to accuracy, and reporters should be doubly careful not to become vessels for talking points, because, as various critics of recent coverage have pointed out, what we say about ongoing negotiations can help frame the scope of the negotiations themselves. Widening the lens slightly, there has been a lot of coverage of the debt-ceiling issue of late, and some of it has effectively communicated the stakes. But I would agree that too much of it has fallen into theagain, circulartraps to which critics have pointed, and that have become sadly familiar to American political journalism: triangulation between sides, an apparent lack of willingness to call asymmetrical partisan approaches for what they are, and an obsessive focus on dealmaking process that has too often muddied the bigger picture. (Footage of a throng of congressional reporters walking in lockstep to keep up with a negotiator was an on-the-nose visual metaphor for the latter.) Sign up for CJR 's daily email Over the weekend, Jay Rosen, a journalism professor at NYU, offered a unified explanation for these failures. Journalists are supposed to be world class crap detectors and realists who do not take sides, he wrote. These things can come into conflict. When the GOP uses the debt limit as leveragethats some world class crap. But saying it feels like taking a side. Which cannot be. And so realism has to bubble up from a different source, because the policy is surreal. It happens through the focus on parliamentary maneuvering and one of the savvy styles go-to rejoinders. You may not like it, but its smart politics. Voila! Realism relocated. This, too, is frustrating, because there is another important source of realism available to the press here, which also dodges the perception of taking sides and which sits within the outermostand, I think, most importantof the concentric circles I mentioned above: the irrationality of the debt ceiling itself as an instrument of policy. No other major democracy has onesave for Denmark, and there it is a mere formalityand, in and of itself, it is really incidental to the wide-ranging debates over public spending and debt that politicians and the press should rightly convene; it merely creates a setting, from time to time, that allows for legislative hostage-taking. The clearest coverage Ive seen recently has interrogated this fundamental context, rather than dwelling in the weeds of who won the horse-trading. This isnt to say that the weeds dont matterover the weekend, Biden and McCarthy arrived at a deal that, if passed, will suspend the debt ceiling through 2025 while instituting real-terms cuts to non-defense spending and tightening work requirements for some Americans who receive food stamps, among other policies. Reporters must scrutinize what these changes will mean for those affected; some are already doing so. But we also need to keep an eye on the bigger pictureestablishing consistently, in the short term, that there was nothing inevitable about these spending policies being handled in this particular way, and, in the long term, continuing to devote some portion of our attention (and questions to lawmakers) to the broader problem of what to do about the debt ceiling itself. It might feel as if 2025 is a long way off, but it will quickly come aroundand, if we can collectively find the time to obsess over an election that is almost as far away, we have the bandwidth to talk, too, about the prospect of yet another circular policy psychodrama, and how it might be averted before the cliffs edge. We dont have to be cynics. Other notable stories: New from CJR: Defector in pursuit of a journalists utopia 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. In recent years, the use of Google Earths satellite imagery has become an increasingly common method for locating or viewing specific addresses. Google Earth uses high-resolution cameras to obtain satellite images, which gives users a birds eye view of nearly any location in the world. In producing these images, Google Earth automatically places certain markers and labels onto its images to assist with identifying specific locations. Consequently, Google Earth has emerged as a potential source of information during the investigation of property damage claims and of evidence in the event disputed claims are litigated. As such, Google Earth images are a popular tool used both inside and outside the courtroom. In the context of disputed first-party property claims, Google Earth images can be helpful in establishing a propertys pre-loss condition, changes in the propertys condition over time (including wear and tear), and the existence or non-existence of specific structures or property on the premises. These images can be particularly useful where the claimed loss potentially involves pre-existing damage that falls outside of the applicable policy period, which may have an impact on whether and to what extent insurance coverage is afforded under the applicable policy. In litigated claims, the admissibility of such images may be critical for both insurers and policyholders alike. While pictorial testimony has typically been used to authenticate photographic evidence, courts are now drawing distinctions between ordinary photographs and Google Earth satellite imagery. Growing concern surrounding emerging technology that allows digital modification of online images has led some courts to apply evidentiary rules more stringently against parties seeking to rely upon Google Earth images. For instance, courts are analyzing closely the markers and labels of each image, with particular emphasis on date markers. Thus, for parties who wish to use Google Earth images in a litigation context, it is important to remain mindful of the potential challenges associated with the admissibility of such images. Recent Decisions Regarding Admissibility of Google Earth Images While Google Earth uses some automatic labeling features, it also allows users to easily insert their own markers or labels onto satellite images, an act that some courts have deemed to impair the authenticity of the image. Accordingly, litigants should be mindful when making use of such tools, as such additions may affect the images admissibility. Federal Rule of Evidence 901(b)(9) provides that evidence describing a process or system and showing that it produces an accurate result satisfies the requirement of authentication necessary for admissibility. Some courts have used this or similar language to exclude Google Earth satellite images that contain labels and markers in instances where no evidence has been presented to prove the accuracy of such labels and/or markers. For example, an Illinois appellate court recently upheld a trial courts decision to preclude consideration Google Earth satellite images that included timestamps in connection with a motion for summary judgment. In Ory v. City of Naperville, (Ill. App. Ct. May 11, 2023), the plaintiff had fallen while walking on a pedestrian bridge and filed two claims against the City of Naperville. The plaintiff asserted that the trial court had erred in granting summary judgment in favor of the defendant because, based on various Google Earth images taken over a period of several years, the city had constructive notice of the gap that existed between the bridges pavers. The appellate court noted that, typically, judicial notice may be taken in circumstances presented in that case, such as establishing geographical facts or determining the distance from one location to another. However, the court held that the Google Earth images before it required additional authentication before they could be considered for purposes of summary judgment. In reaching its decision, the court found that Google Earth is typically authenticated by complying with Illinois own version of Rule 901(b) (9), which provides identical language to the federal rule. The court specifically held that because the plaintiff failed to show how the photos [were] dated and show that the dates on the photos sought to be admitted [were] accurate, the Google Earth images at issue were not admissible and could not be considered for summary judgment purposes. Notably, however, the Ory court did not provide any guidance on how a party could establish to a courts satisfaction that the dates on the images were accurate. This presents a potential challenge for future litigants who desire to use Google Earth images in the litigation context. Only a few weeks prior to the Ory decision, the Massachusetts Land Court addressed both Google Earth images as well as Google Maps images. In Raccuia, Tr. Nicholas Realty Tr. v. Chen, (Mass. Land Ct. Apr. 4, 2023), the court recognized that, under Massachusetts law, the standard rule for authentication of ordinary photographs is that they usually are authenticated directly through competent testimony that the scene they show is a fair and accurate representation of something the witness actually saw. The court, however, held that: If the purpose of the Google photo is more specific than confirming the general location or characteristics of a property if, for example, the photograph is being used to identify a specific characteristic of land at a single point in time, or to measure the distance between the land and some other landmark additional authentication may be required. The Chen court placed particular focus on the purpose for which the defendant would utilize the Google Earth images in court. First, the court found that if the Google Earth images were used to confirm the existence and appearance of a particular fence on the defendants property, the most likely form of authentication would be pictorial testimony, and if such witness could not be obtained, further evidence would be needed. Second, if the defendant sought to prove that the image was taken on an exact date, then the defendant could present (1) evidence that the image was computer generated without any human participation; (2) evidence of confirming circumstances such as independent photographs taken by residents of that time period; or (3) witness testimony specifically limited to the time period at issue. By listing these options for achieving authentication, the court rejected the plaintiffs assertion that, absent testimony from an agent from Google or its affiliates, the defendant would not be able to authenticate the Google images. Ultimately, because the defendants use for the images was unknown, the plaintiffs motion in limine was denied. In reaching their respective decisions, the courts in both Ory and Chen relied on Jones v. Mattress Firm Holding Corp., 558 S.W.3d 732 (Tex. App.Houston [14th Dist.] 2018, no pet.). In Jones, a Texas appellate court was similarly confronted with the admissibility of Google Earth images that included timestamps. The Jones court, relying on language identical to Rule 901(b)(9), held that because the party seeking to admit the images provided no evidence as to the manner in which the Google Earth photos were dated or any evidence that those dates were indeed accurate, the photos were deemed inadmissible. The court also refused to take judicial notice of the images authenticity on the basis that the plaintiff did not offer any source from which the court could determine the accuracy of the Google Earth photos. Accordingly, the Jones court concluded that the photos had not been authenticated. In 2015, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, in holding that Google Earth images with automatically labeled GPS coordinates could not constitute hearsay, provided some similar guidance to that in Chen. In United States v. Lizarraga-Tirado, (9th Cir. 2015), the court suggested that Google Earth images could be authenticated through a Google Earth programmer or a witness who frequently works with and relies on the program. Although the issue of authentication was not raised in Lizarraga-Tirado, the court held that it could take judicial notice of the fact that the GPS coordinate marker at issue was automatically generated by the Google Earth program. In taking judicial notice, the court relied upon its own reproduction of the marker by entering the GPS coordinates reflected on the Google Earth image. The courts experiment produced an identical [marker] to the one shown on the satellite image admitted at trial. This method of authentication seems to be reliable for the purposes of pinpointing a specific propertys location using Google Earth, but the challenge remains to provide authentication for the propertys condition at any given point in time as depicted in a Google Earth image. As the above decisions highlight, Google Earth images admissibility may be subject to heightened scrutiny under rules of evidence when timestamps are present. To increase the likelihood of admissibility, however, it may be beneficial for litigants to provide (1) proof that the Google Earth program independently created the labels (i.e., timestamp), which may be difficult to obtain from a practical standpoint; or (2) a reliable witness to provide foundational testimony, which is particularly focused on the date and time reflected in the at-issue Google Earth image, rather than solely on whether the items in the image exist in the form depicted. Some courts, however, are less inclined to take a strict approach regarding the admissibility of Google Earth images, even when date and time could be relevant. For example, in 2020, a Louisiana appellate court found that images from Google Earth were admissible without heavily scrutinizing the method of authenticating those images. In Walker v. S.G.B.C., L.L.C., writ denied, 296 So.3d 1070 (La. 2020), the plaintiff sought recognition of a historical servitude of passage from his property that was landlocked. To show that a gravel pathway existed on the purported right of way, the plaintiff offered several Google Earth images of his property. Such images included dates from three separate years. Relying on Louisiana Code of Evidence Article 901, the defendant argued that plaintiff could not submit the Google Earth images because the [p]laintiff did not: (1) have the creator of the images testify to their authenticity; (2) get a certification from Google that the images were what they purported to be; and (3) have an expert testify that the images were accurate depictions of what they claimed to be. In response, the plaintiff argued that Louisiana Code of Evidence Article 901(B)(1) provides that the testimony of a witness with personal knowledge satisfies the authentication requirement necessary for admissibility of evidence, and that because each image was recognized by all trial witnesses, including the defendant, with each witness confirming the existence of the at-issue pathway, the images were admissible. The Walker court agreed with plaintiffs interpretation of Article 901 and found that the images had been properly authenticated, despite the images being dated. Although courts appear to be divided on the issue, the admissibility of Google Earth images may depend heavily on the specific facts of the case and the purpose for which the images will be offered (i.e., whether the date and time associated with the images are pertinent issues in the case). Furthermore, as the law further develops regarding Google Earth images, experts use of such images could be more heavily scrutinized, though at present, courts have generally allowed experts to rely on Google Earth images. Recent Changes in Law In light of the popularity of utilizing Google Earth images as evidence, two states have recently implemented new statutes or procedural rules to address Google Earth images in an effort to facilitate their admissibility. In 2019, the New York State Legislature added Section 4532 to the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules, requiring courts to take judicial notice of information taken from, among other things, a global satellite imaging site. To obtain judicial notice, the proponent must, thirty days before trial, give notice of their intent to use the particular image. The opposing party will then have until ten days before trial to object. Absent an objection, the court will automatically enter judicial notice of the image. Following this, in 2022, the Florida State Legislature similarly revised its evidence code to allow judicial notice of Google Earth images.25 Florida, however, requires only that the proponent offer notice to the opposing party within a reasonable time or as defined by court order. The same standard applies regarding the deadline by which the opposing party must object. Unlike New York, which states that the proponent may provide the website address pathway, Florida mandates that such address must be provided within the proponents notice. Practically speaking, changes like these will streamline the admissibility of Google Earth images by allowing parties to enter such images into evidence without the need of further authentication, relieving proponents of Google Earth images of the burden some courts are likely to apply. Note, however, that currently several courts disagree on whether it is even appropriate generally to take judicial notice of Google Earth images or Google Maps. Whether other states will similarly adopt the changes that have been adopted in New York and Florida remains unclear; however, what is certain is that Florida and New Yorks changes will lead to greater use of Google Earth images during litigation. The Ory, Chen, Jones and even Lizarraga-Tirado decisions demonstrate that some courts are willing to exercise strict adherence to evidentiary rules when it comes to the admissibility of Google Earth images. Moving forward, litigants should be cautious of the manner in which they present Google Earth images, as judicial notice may not be available. Accordingly, litigants should be prepared to explore all methods, as outlined above, of establishing the proper foundation for any Google Earth images they wish to rely upon in court. As a practical matter, issues related to the admissibility of Google Earth images in a litigation setting may affect the methods by which insurers and insureds alike choose to utilize and authenticate Google Earth images during the claim investigation and adjustment process, knowing that those images may eventually need to be presented to a judge and jury. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) The man who once led HealthSouth, a huge provider of outpatient rehab services, has been ordered to turn over records related to a bank account that lawyers say hes using to hide millions. In a seven-page order against Richard Scrushy, the Birmingham-based companys former chief executive officer, John England Jr., acting as special master in the case, also issued an injunction against any money being transferred out of the account in question, AL.com reported. The ruling Tuesday came after lawyers representing the plaintiffs in a 2009 civil verdict contended that Scrushy has been hiding money that could be used to pay some of the more than $2.87 billion in damages he still owes as result of the HealthSouth scandal. The government contends Scrushy and other executives inflated earnings by $2.7 billion from 1996 through March 2003 to make it appear HealthSouth was meeting expectations of Wall Street analysts. Lawyers alleged Scrushy has written checks totaling $7.3 million on an account in the name of convicted felon Eddie Briskett, who is currently serving time in the Alabama Department of Corrections for various convictions, including property theft, burglary and assault. England contends Scrushy, or someone connected to him, has control of the account and has actively used it. Scrushy denies any wrongdoing and said he welcomes any disclosures, since they will find nothing, the news site reported. Its totally made-up, false information that never should have been put out, Scrushy said. In 2007, Scrushy was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison for bribery involving former Gov. Don Siegelman. While serving his sentence in a Texas prison, a civil court found him liable for the HealthSouth accounting fraud. After serving about five years of his sentence, Scrushy was released from prison. According to Englands order, Scrushy contends he is unemployed and has no assets other than Social Security. Lawyers for the plaintiffs say he is conducting business through other entities owned by friends and family. According to the ruling, Scrushy has exchanged thousands of text messages with a number associated with Briskett and written checks totaling $7.3 million on the account, including two checks to himself totaling $3 million. However, those checks were never deposited in any account previously disclosed by Scrushy, the order states. In addition, England references a 2020 letter to the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles by an associate of Scrushy, explaining that Briskett has an investment portfolio of about $7.1 million. The evidence presented suggests that Mr. Scrushy may have an interest in the account or in some or all of the proceeds of the account, the order reads. At minimum, it appears that Mr. Scrushy or someone acting in concert with him opened the account in Brisketts name and that Mr. Scrushy has control of the account. Scrushy told the news site that he has known Briskett for 20 years through his prison ministry and has exchanged text messages with Brisketts sister, mainly to set up telephone conversations. The checks, he said, were kind of a joke between the two of them. Hes one of the gentlemen that Ive helping, being a friend and minister, he said. Ive never signed on any bank account of his. Theres zero truth to any of that. Ive never been involved with Eddie Briskett on any account, period. Ive never taken a dime from Eddie Briskett. Scrushy said the court filings in the case are a continued harassment to him and his family. Ive never seen such abuse and waste in my life, he said. I told the judge yesterday to let those attorneys go and discover anything they want. There is nothing to it. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. AKRON, Ohio A 27-year-old man was killed when he lost control of his dirt bike and crashed just west of downtown, police say. Police say the man was riding the bike west on West Exchange Street near Bishop Street at about 9:13 p.m. Saturday when he struck a curb and a metal pole, throwing him from the dirt bike. The man, whose identity has not been released, was pronounced dead at the scene. It is unknown if speed or alcohol were factors in the crash, police say, but the crash remains under investigation. The man was not wearing a helmet. BRUNSWICK, Ohio -- Due to construction on Pearl Road, this years Brunswick American Legion Post 234 and VFW Post 9520 Memorial Day ceremony at Westview Cemetery did not include a traditional parade on Monday (May 29). The ceremony was, however, one of the most moving and emotional in recent memory. Mayor Ron Falconi spoke of a recent family trip to South Korea that included a brief visit to the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea. To visit Seoul, with all its glittering buildings and hustle-bustle (and) knowing that just (over the border) people were enslaved in a so-called Communist paradise, Falconi said. Knowing American blood was shed, Americans fought and died, to spread democracy around the world. We are here today to remember how they shaped not only America, but Western civilization. City Manager and U.S. Army veteran Carl DeForest described Memorial Day as a time of profound loss, reflection and prayer, particularly for the families of those who have lost loved ones in war. Brunswick Police Lt. and U.S. Army veteran Robert Safran noted the 2,852,901 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who have died in action since the nations founding. They have been from every socioeconomic status and race you can imagine, Safran said. And their sacrifice stands for something much greater than ourselves. Brunswick City Schools Superintendent Jason Niedermeyer spoke of the concept of hope, which he said is not a feeling, but a skill and a mindset our ability to believe we can make a future better than the present. Niedermeyer said such virtues were instilled in him in part by his stepfather, who was a member of the U.S Army 173rd Airborne Brigade and the 145th Combat Aviation Battalion, serving as a helicopter pilot and platoon sergeant in Vietnam. He said he had expressed the importance of hope while speaking to graduating Brunswick High School seniors earlier this month, and that Memorial Day is also a time to honor those who gave the nation hope through their sacrifice. Memorial Day is a day of remembrance and a time to reflect on the profound cost of freedom, Niedermeyer said. I want to thank the American Legion 234 and VFW 9520 for (hosting the ceremony) so the Brunswick community does not forget the price paid for our liberties. Brunswick High School Principal Keith Merrill, who served as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division, personalized that sentiment by reading the names of Brunswick High School graduates who died while serving in Vietnam, including: Army Staff Sgt. Ronald Warren Gibson, killed in action Nov. 8, 1969, at the age of 25 Army Sgt. James Patrick Duffy, 20, killed in action May 25, 1969, two months after arriving in Vietnam Army Sgt. Harry Michael Trammell, 19, killed in action May 22, 1969 Army Sgt. Jack Hatfield, 19, killed in action June 5, 1969 Army PFC Patrick Thomas Mooney, 19, killed in action June 20, 1966 U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Thomas Eugene Brawley, 18, killed in action Feb. 21, 1970 U.S. Air Force Capt. Theodore Peter Neura Jr., 31, the first Brunswick resident killed in Vietnam, on Dec. 12, 1963. Merrill also remembered one of his former students, U.S. Army Spc. Stephen McGowan, a fellow 82nd Airborne paratrooper who died in an accident. While researching the histories of the Brunswick High School graduates killed in Vietnam, Merrill said he was struck by the fact that several of them were still in high school, or should have been, and were just teenagers when they left to serve and died. Today is a solemn day, and I want to remember (them) to keep their memories alive, Merrill said. At the close of the ceremony, the American Flag covering the Westview Cemetery Veterans Memorial Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was presented to World War II Army veteran Steve Jeziorski, who served with the 104th Timberwolf Infantry Division in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Post 234 Commander Bob Prevost also recounted Jeziorskis years-long pursuit of his Purple Heart, which he eventually received. The delay was due to a requirement that there be two witnesses to the voracity of a soldiers battlefield injury. In Jeziorskis case, the injury was witnessed by a lieutenant and a medic, the former of which had died. Jeziorskis family members, including his son, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, were on hand for the Memorial Day ceremony. When asked what receiving the flag meant to him, Jeziorski replied simply, I am honored. Read more news from the Brunswick Sun. CLEVELAND, Ohio The family of a man who was fatally shot in the back by a Maple Heights police officer sued the city and the patrolman who shot the 22-year-old man. DaTwuan Catchings parents said in the lawsuit that their son posed no threat to the officer, Terrance Duncan, before the shooting. Maple Heights officials said at the time that Catchings pointed a gun at Duncan prior to the shooting. The lawsuit, filed late Monday in federal court in Cleveland by attorney Stanley Jackson, also accuses Maple Heights officials of negligently hiring Duncan despite knowing his history of poor performance in two prior police departments. Maple Heights Mayor Annette Blackwell said the city doesnt comment on pending lawsuits. Duncan was on probationary status at the time of the shooting, meaning he had little protection if the city wanted to fire him. Its unknown if he was disciplined for the shooting or remains on the police force. A grand jury in January declined to indict Duncan in connection with the shooting after an investigation by Cleveland police. The Ohio Attorney generals office oversaw the case. The shooting happened May 30, 2022, after someone fired more than a dozen shots into a home on Fernway Drive in Maple Heights. An officer spotted a stolen car matching the description of the car in the shooting. A high-speed chase that topped out at 100 miles per hour ensued, according to police and court records. Catchings crashed the car into a deer on East 93rd Street and Buckeye Road in Cleveland, and Duncans cruiser hit Catchings car, according to records released by the attorney generals office. Body camera video shows Catchings getting out of the car with a gun in his left hand while running from Duncan. Duncan said Catchings pointed a gun at him during the foot chase. Duncan ordered Catchings to stop running and yelled that hed shoot Catchings b---h a-s. Catchings, with his back to Duncan, tried to climb over a fence. Duncan fired a single shot, hitting Catchings in the upper back, body camera video shows. Investigators later said the gun, bullet casings and other evidence showed Catchings fired the shots into his girlfriends home on Fernway Drive. Police wrote in reports they believe Catchings shot at the house because he believed someone took his marijuana. Catchings attorneys wrote in the lawsuit that at the time of the shooting, Catchings posed no threat to Duncan and that Duncan violated Catchings rights by shooting him. The lawsuit also blames Maple Heights officials for ignoring warning signs before hiring Duncan, a U.S. Army Reserve veteran and son of a Brook Park police officer. Duncan, 27, received several disciplinary actions as an officer for Kent State University and Brooklyn Heights before ending up in Maple Heights, according to records. At Kent State, he was issued a letter of counseling in 2018 for driving recklessly during a police chase and again in 2019 for failing to understand the level of suspicion needed to make a driver submit to field sobriety tests, according to records released by the attorney general included in the lawsuit. Kent State police officials placed him on the departments employee early warning and identification system that tracks officer misconduct. He left the department for Brooklyn Heights in June 2019. Duncans supervisors in Brooklyn Heights said he lacked good judgement and personal skills, that he wrote poor police reports and that his poor tactical decisions put himself and other officers in danger, according to personnel records. His supervisors, including the citys police chief, Scott Mielke, described him as rough, brash and militaristic, according to the lawsuit. Brooklyn Heights officials twice disciplined Duncan for leaving things on top of his car and driving away, including a cellphone that was evidence in a criminal case. The cellphone was never found. He was also untruthful about breaking a radar gun until Mielke confronted him, according to the lawsuit. Mielke, in deciding against keeping Duncan on the police force, concluded that Duncan was adequate when being supervised, but left to make quick decisions, he often does not do well, the lawsuit said. Mielke allowed Duncan to resign in September 2021. Duncan applied to about three dozen police departments in the area. Maple Heights police interviewed several people, including Mielke, in their background investigation, according to documents filed along with the lawsuit. Mielke told Maple Heights police that he felt Duncan was the right man for the job and that Duncan was not going to get anyone sued for use of force or any wrongdoing, according to the records. Duncan during his interview with Maple Heights police said he had unholstered his weapon about 100 times during his six years as an officer, but he never fired a shot. Adam Ferrise covers federal courts at cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. You can find his work here. CLEVELAND, Ohio Summit County sheriffs deputies are searching for an inmate after he escaped from officers Tuesday morning. Deputies were transporting Jason Lyle Conrad to Summa Health, 1 Park West Drive, in Akron for a doctors appointment at about 8 a.m. when he escaped. Conrad was handcuffed and in a boot for a previous injury, according to the sheriffs office. As the deputy was removing Conrad from the transport vehicle, Conrad removed the boot and ran away. Officers from Akron, Fairlawn and Copley, as well as Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers, are assisting in the search for Conrad, who has charges of willfully fleeing, possession of drugs, trafficking in drugs and a parole violation. Conrad is a white man who stands 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Summit County Sheriffs Office at (330) 643-2181. CHARLESTON, S.C. -- A storm with 40-foot waves battered the cruise ship Carnival Sunshine late Friday night, breaking glass, causing water to pour into the ship and terrifying passengers. The ship, en route from the Bahamas to Charleston, encountered the storm off the South Carolina coast. We had a 40-foot wave hit our side of the ship. We almost fell out the bed. Things were crashing all around us and the carpet on my side of the bed was soaked (because) water came in thru our balcony door, passenger Goodwin Sherbert wrote on Facebook. Passenger William B. Blackburn, aboard for his first cruise with his wife and other family members, told CNN they stayed in their cabin and prayed they would be OK. (We) discussed the fact that it would be very unlikely to survive in the water even with life jackets and doubted that lifeboats could even be launched in those conditions, he said. It was terrifying. Video posted to Twitter under the handle @CrewCenter showed water running up and down a hallway and said the crew on one deck had to be evacuated to another part of the ship. At one point the ship was listing to the left, CBS News reported. The ship took a hit from a wave that sounded like the ship split in two, passenger Sharon Tutrone, a professor at Coastal Carolina University, said in a Twitter post. Some passengers complained to CNN and CBS News about a lack of communication from cruise staff as the ship was pitching about. Tutrone said the only time passengers heard from the captain was on Friday when he told them he had an experienced crew and would do everything he could to minimize discomfort as the ship encountered the storm. Some passengers and crew members needed minor assistance from medical staff, a Carnival cruise spokesperson told CBS News. Guests on board the ship were safe, the spokesperson added. The ships docking in Charleston was delayed by the weather. Some repairs to crew quarters also delayed its departure over the weekend to return to the Bahamas. The National Hurricane Center warned on Friday that a non-tropical area of low pressure off Florida was set to move northward and inland over the Carolinas during the weekend. Forecasters said there would be gusty winds, dangerous surf and rip current conditions along parts of the southeastern coast of the United States through Sunday. Passenger Bill Hassler, who told CNN he was surprised Im still alive after enduring the storm, criticized the cruise line for allowing the ship to sail into such extreme weather. Why would you sail into this storm with 80 mph-plus winds, I mean who does that? Hassler said. What were they thinking? AVON, Connecticut A bear in Connecticut is all about the desserts ... and it doesnt ask permission. Bakery workers loading up a shipment in a van were startled when a bear wandered into their garage and began helping itself to the wares before workers were able to scare it off ... but not before they got a good scare themselves. All the sudden we hear (a worker) screaming bloody murder and then yelling theres a bear in garage!' Taste by Spellbound owner Miriam Stephens writes in an Instagram post. The adventure with the bear was recorded by a security video nearby. Stephens says the worker, Maureen Williams, ran into the bakery and slammed the door. The bear then MOVED one of our fridges in front of the door, Stephens writes. We all were stunned for a second trying to figure out what to do while she held the door shut. Stephens says she then called 911. Williams tried shouting at the bear to see if it would leave, but although it would retreat, it would quickly return. Workers also walked around the side of the bakery hoping to scare off the bear, but quickly ran back inside when they saw the animal. The video shows the bear dragging a box from the garage and consuming its contents. Stephens said the bear ate 60 cupcakes and also some coconut cakes. Another worker then got into her vehicle and drove around to the back of the bakery and began honking the horn, finally scaring off the bear for good, Stephens writes. No one was hurt in the incident. It was a little shocking, Williams tells WTNH Channel 8. The adrenaline was pumping after that one, for sure. COLUMBIA, South Carolina The owner of a convenience store accused of chasing down and fatally shooting a 14-year-old boy he suspected of shoplifting is now facing a murder charge. Rick Chow, 58, the owner of a Shell gas station in Columbia, was arrested Monday in the shooting of Cyrus Carmack-Belton, WIS Channel 10 reports. The shooting occurred at about 8 p.m. Sunday at the store, reports say. According to the Richland County Sheriffs Department, Chow accused Carmack-Belton of shoplifting four bottles of water. Sheriff Leon Lott says there is no evidence that Carmack-Belton stole anything, WYFF Channel 4 reports. HUDSON, Ohio Diebold Nixdorf announced Tuesday that it will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, as part of a restructuring deal that the company and many of its creditors have already agreed upon. The company, which makes ATMs and self-checkout machines, said in a press release that a significant amount of its creditors support the plan, which involves creditors getting equity in the company. Diebold-Nixdorfs CEO Octavio Marquez said the company is committed to keeping its global headquarters in Hudson. The company will also continue to invest in its manufacturing facility in North Canton, he said. Diebold Nixdorf is a proud Ohio company, and our commitment to our home region is unwavering, Marquez said in a statement. The company employs about 1,200 people in Northeast Ohio. Michael Jacobsen, director of communications for Diebold Nixdorf, said the company will file for Chapter 11 protection in a Texas court and will go through a similar process in the Netherlands. He said the company has already reorganized its operations. Tuesdays announcements is about addressing the companys debt. He said the company took on debt when Diebold acquired Wincor Nixdorf in 2016 forming Diebold Nixdorf. With significant headwinds over the last few years, like the COVID-19 pandemic and supply-chain challenges with computer chips, the company could never work its debt down, Jacobsen said. Under the restructuring agreement, existing shares of Diebold Nixdorf would be cancelled, meaning that the stock that shareholders currently own would lose its value. The stock will also be delisted. Then new shares will be created and given to the Diebold Nixdorfs creditors to pay down the companys debts. Under the agreement, those new share would eventually be traded publicly. Diebold Nixdorf said it will continue to pay vendors and suppliers through its restructuring process. The company will also seek a $1.25 billion debtor-in-possession loan, a kind of financing thats only available for restructuring companies, to help repay debts and to fund changes made during the Chapter 11 process. The company expects the restructuring process to last through the third quarter of 2023. Jacobsen said they dont foresee significant changes in the companys operations, noting that earnings are already moving in the right direction. Diebold Nixdorf employs about 21,000 people worldwide and specializes in makings machines like ATMs and credit cards readers. Originally the Diebold Bahmann Safe Company, the company was founded in Cincinnati back in 1859, and later moved to Canton in 1871. Diebold started out by manufacturing bank vaults, and has adapted its business overtime. The company has made security and surveilance systems and once was involved in making voting machines, but sold that part of its business in 2009. Sean McDonnell covers business and consumer topics for cleveland.com. You can reach him at smcdonnell@cleveland.com You can read more Cleveland business stories at cleveland.com/business/. COLUMBUS, Ohio The potential list of Republican challengers to Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown has narrowed after a Dayton-area congressman has opted not to seek the job. U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson, of Troy, had made serious preparations to run for Senate, with his team arranging a campaign staff and word leaking out in Ohio Republican circles for weeks about potential announcement dates. COLUMBUS, Ohio Damon Davis law career started in 2008, in front of a typewriter in a federal prison in Kentucky. He was serving a 52-month sentence for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, with a weapons charge added on. His education was limited to a high school diploma he was the first in his family to earn one. Regardless, he came under the wing of an older inmate who taught him how to pore through trial transcripts, looking for appealable issues that could knock years off of other inmates sentences. Fast forward to May of this year when Davis, 46, shook the hand of Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy as one of Ohios newest lawyers admitted to the bar. He now works as municipal trial counsel for the Hamilton County Public Defenders office. My advice for people in that situation [incarceration] is to have a plan and understand youre going to face challenges trying to accomplish that goal, whatever that goal may be, he said in an interview. But if you keep at it, and have a made-up mind, youll get there. And youll be surprised by the people you come across who are willing to help you. Before his arrest, Davis worked at an Amazon warehouse, walking 5 to 6 miles a day processing orders. A knee surgery, and a lack of short-term disability pay, left him facing eviction. He entered the drug trade soon thereafter, leading him to more than four years in prison. As a jailhouse lawyer, he learned how demonstrating improper police searches or the ineffective assistance of counsel could mean the difference between prison and freedom for real people. Hes quick to point out that formal education wasnt a predicate for legal work through much of American history Abraham Lincoln taught himself the law. Upon his release in 2011, Davis worked the late shift as a dishwasher, walking more than 6 miles a night to get back to a halfway house after getting off work at 2 a.m. Eventually, he found a new job at the Jif peanut butter plant in Lexington, which offered full tuition reimbursement. So he enrolled in community college and later the University of Kentucky, working the overnight shift until 6:30 a.m. and then heading to class. Davis almost didnt go to law school. At 43, he wondered: Arent I too old? Then he came across the story of Samuel L. Jackson, who was a fledgling actor with a substance use disorder until his daughter found him passed out, surrounded by drug paraphernalia. Jackson, around Davis age at the time, cleaned up his act and found his breakthrough when Spike Lee cast him as a drug addict in Jungle Fever. For me, that was just a sign, Davis said of learning about Jacksons story. Theres no reason not to do this. Davis worked through law school at the University of Cincinnati as an overnight security guard on the weekends another round of getting off work in the early morning and heading to class all day. In his second year, he started working as a fellow with the Ohio Innocence Project. Hed dig through old cases, looking for evidence that could get his incarcerated clients back into a courtroom to overturn a conviction. He knew how to talk to clients; he understood where theyre coming from. While there, he wrote a paper proposing a legal concept called contactless policing. Looking at the deaths of young, Black men like Philando Castile, who was shot and killed by police on the heel of a minor traffic stop, his idea is simple: issue minor traffic citations by mail to avoid traffic stops before they can snowball into violence. That paper would later be introduced as a bill in the New Jersey by Assemblywoman Shanique Speight Davis sister. She described their New Jersey hometown as poverty-stricken and one of the roughest neighborhoods in Newark. She remembers Davis as bookish, driven and bright. I know he barely got sleep. When his mind is focused on doing something, he does it. Thats been him all my life, she said. Im so impressed, and I get emotional each time I talk about him, and how proud I am of him. What he has been able to overcome. How smart he is. The work hes doing. Mark Godsey, director of the OIP, remembers Davis as easygoing, pleasant, prepared, detail-oriented and dedicated. He even offered Davis a job. Ex-cons becoming lawyers isnt unheard of, Godsey said, but Davis defied the odds. We fail miserably at rehabilitating people, Godsey said. If someone rehabilitates themself, its because they decided to do it. He [Davis] did it himself. The prison system is not doing that. Bar admittance was no guarantee for Davis. It comes with a character and fitness review. According to the Supreme Court, while theres no outright prohibition on admitting ex-felons to the bar, they must prove full and complete rehabilitation and satisfy special temporal and substantive conditions on top of other additional scrutiny. Davis has mixed thoughts on rehabilitation. In some ways, hes living proof that anyone can bootstrap their way anywhere. But on the other hand, he happened to find a job that had a 100% tuition reimbursement. Most ex-cons never wind up connected to such resources. He, like many others, left prison tens of thousands of dollars in debt. Hes lucky that debt didnt land him back into jail. While incarcerated, Davis didnt see his daughter for four years. She was a 12-year-old girl when he went in, and a 16-year-old young woman when he came out. The world kind of stands still in your mind in prison you imagine people as they were when you left, he said. But it was a sobering moment seeing her and realizing the impact of his absence. He said it was a strong enough sensation to keep him out of the criminal justice system (as a subject, at least) for life. But not everyone has that kind of guidepost. Its not easy. For a year and a half, all I had in my apartment was a futon. It was about three-and-a-half years before I even bought a TV. Not everyone is willing to sacrifice to that extreme. But like I said, I was determined that I wasnt going to put myself in that position again, he said. My advice is to just have a plan, and never lose hope. Jake Zuckerman covers state politics and policy. Read more of his work here. COLUMBUS, Ohio A state Senate committee unanimously passed legislation Tuesday that would remove sales and use taxes on baby products like diapers, car seats and baby carriers. The legislation is part of a larger trend of states passing similar tax exemptions after the U.S. Supreme Court effectively gave them the right to limit or ban abortion. The tax rollbacks have been adopted by states with strict and lax abortion laws alike. A removal of sales tax from such products would ease the financial burden of raising children, and encourage people nationwide to start their family in Ohio, said Sen. Tim Schaffer, a Lancaster Republican sponsoring the legislation, in written testimony. This bill demonstrates that Ohio is truly pro-child and pro-family. Both Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio House have proposed budgets that would wipe away sales and use taxes on baby products, meaning the idea is likely (but not guaranteed) to become law. The Senate is currently in the process of drawing up its own version of a budget document, alongside the standalone baby bill that passed out of the Senate Ways and Means committee Tuesday. The most significant proposed exemption, in terms of net costs, is diapers, though Senate Bill 39 would also apply to booster seats, portable cribs, and baby monitors. The idea would cost the state between $19 million and $31 million per year from the general revenue fund a small portion of which is legally required to flow to local governments and public libraries. Because some counties level local sales taxes, the bill will also cost county transit agencies between $5 million and $8 million, according to analysis from state legislative researchers. Advocates for the bill (no one testified against the proposal in the Senate) say this is money well spent that eases the cost burden of thousands of diapers per year costing families hundreds of dollars. In Ohio, one in five children aged 0-5 live in poverty and another one in 10 live in extreme poverty, according to Erin Ryan of the child advocacy organization Groundwork Ohio. The rates are 2.5- to 4-times higher for children of color. Senate Bill 39 recognizes the basic, necessary role that everyday baby items, such as diapers, strollers, and car seats, play in raising a baby, while also providing additional financial savings during a time when families face immense expenses when preparing for and welcoming a new child into their lives, she said. Seventeen states plus Washington D.C. do not levy a tax on diapers, according to the National Diaper Bank Network. Another five states dont levy any sales tax. Since the news outlet Politico first broke then-leaked word of the U.S. Supreme Courts reversal of womens constitutional right to abortion, seven states (Maryland, Florida, Colorado, Iowa, Virginia, Indiana and North Dakota) joined the list. Texas lawmakers passed a similar law last week. Minnesota is expected to as well. Currently, the state sales and use tax rate is 5.75%. In fiscal year 2022 it generated $13.3 billion, according to the state Tax Department. In 2020, state lawmakers authorized similar exemptions for feminine hygiene products and prescription adult diapers. Jake Zuckerman covers state politics and policy for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Sign up for Reckons latest newsletter, Reproductive Justice with Becca Andrews, a weekly repro rundown covering the good, the fair-to-middlin' and the ugly in repro news. Enter your email to subscribe to Reproductive Justice with Becca Andrews. Generation Z wants agency over their bodies and lives as much as they want Chick-Fil-A to be open on Sundays. While their love for well-seasoned chicken and stellar customer service from Chick-fil-A might be controversial on account of the CEOs anti-queer statements, members of Gen Z do stand 10 toes down on abortion access and LGBTQ+ rights, making them one of the most progressive generations. With hate crimes and other attacks against the LGBTQ+ community happening all the time and more states passing laws to restrict reproductive freedom across the country, members of Gen Z face increasing levels of anxiety. As Arthur C. Evans, CEO of the American Psychological Association told Prism, young people are really feeling the impact of issues in the news, particularly those issues that may feel beyond their control. The fate of abortion and LGBTQ+ rights are among the abundance of life-altering challenges looming over the generation born between 1997 and 2013, and its causing a feeling of deep worry about the state of the world. This kind of Gen Z Cliff, which includes financial uncertainty, and coping with challenges of physical and mental health, are among the most threatening issues making Gen Z feel pushed closer to the cliff. However, groups like Planned Parenthood Gen Action and young queer political leaders are working to expand LGTBQ+ rights, abortion access and bodily autonomy. The queerest generation At no surprise, this generation so far is one of the queerest, with one in five Gen Z adults identifying as a part of the LGBTQ+ community, according to a Gallup poll. Queerness has and will always exist despite the onslaught of proposals and rhetoric to suppress and deny LGBTQ+ communities of rights. Now more than 474 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been filed across the country and while not all of these bills will become laws they do threaten and harm queer communities, according to the ACLU, which tracks these measures. With bills that censor drag shows, ban gender-affirming care and prevent trans students from participating in school activities popping up all across the country, a new generation of Gen Z queer leaders has started to emerge. For example, Jade Harris, who is running for a state senate seat in Virginia, believes it is essential that LGBTQ+ communities are represented in politics. Gen Z is increasingly identifying as LGBTQ+ and by restricting our access to things such as safe places to live and gender-affirming hormone therapy its going to end up with a lot of Gen Z people not getting to grow up as who they are, Harris told Reckon. As a 25-year-old political leader, Harris has made showing up for her community a priority, including by serving as the vice mayor of Glasgow, Virginia, or organizing with Gen Z lead groups like March for Our Lives, an organization working to create safe communities where gun violence is obsolete. Im a queer Black woman running in incredibly rural and red Virginia and Im unapologetically supportive of abortion and trans rights. I mean, these are some of the most contentious issues of our day, but Im right here standing behind them, Harris said. With nearly two-thirds of young adults saying they are extremely concerned with the future of LGBTQ+ rights, according to the research firm Toluna their worries amplify with the rise of anti-gay legislation. Right-wing extremism is showing up in efforts like Floridas Dont Say Gay law, banning public school teachers from addressing sexual orientation or gender identity in the classroom amongst a host of other states limiting the rights of the queer community. Harris is campaigning to make Virginia a safe harbor state for trans individuals and wants a constitutional amendment to codify same-sex marriage. Harris notes the correlation between homophobic rhetoric and hate crimes. In fact, one in 10 violent victimizations against the LGBTQ+ community are hate crimes, according to a study published in December 2022 from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law. The rise of extreme anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and behaviors may embolden individuals to carry out hate crimes against LGBT people, said lead author Andrew R. Flores, an affiliated scholar at the Williams Institute. Last fall, a gunman carried out a mass shooting at Club Q, a queer nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, killing five people and injuring more than a dozen others. Prosecutors, in that case, have sought hate crimes against the suspect. It is vital that law enforcement and anti-violence programs are trained and prepared to effectively serve the unique needs of LGBT victims, Flores said. Despite anti-gay rhetoric, the queer community and allies continue to push for protections like Michigan expanding its Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, adding a provision to prohibit termination from employment and eviction based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. You make the rules, not these fools Having the agency to make decisions over their lives, bodies and futures are top priorities for Gen Z, whose support of abortion rights exceeds older Americans, according to the Public Religion Research Institute. Since the U.S. Supreme Court decided the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization case last June, which overturned the constitutional right to abortion, restrictions on abortion have been popping up across the country. Subsequently, abortion became a mobilizing issue in the 2022 midterm elections, led by Gen Z and other young voters. Finding ways to protect abortion rights, according to a Cosmopolitan and YouGov survey, is now more of a priority for 1 in 5 Gen Zers after the SCOTUS decision in Dobbs and would motivate them to volunteer at an organization related to reproductive rights. With groups like Planned Parenthood Gen Action, college activists fighting for reproductive freedom and fundamental justice for all, the youngest generation of adults has even more access to advocating for abortion rights. While Gen Action groups exist at more than 350 colleges, their presence on the campuses of southern states, where abortion is most heavily restricted, has come into sharper focus in the fight to protect abortion. Student activists like Trenece Robertson, vice president of the Florida A&M University chapter, are now leading the charge. Its already bad enough that we have to deal with all of the other stressors that we have, but to additionally struggle to get access to abortion makes it 10 times worse and stresses us (Gen Z) out more, Robertson told Reckon in a Twitter Space last Thursday. Abortion rights impact everyone, but Gen Z holds firm on their position of defending bodily autonomy, so much so they tie their vote to candidates who stand with abortion access, especially 44% of Gen Z women according to the Public Religion Research Institute. Abortion rights are also changing how Gen Z views and considers birth control, as well as their future of having children. According to the Cosmopolitan and YouGov survey, 16% of Gen Zers are considering changing their birth control method or asking their partner to think about changing their method. To take it a step further, 1 in 10 of this generation say they will even consider abstaining from penetrative sex altogether. We believe that the overturning of Roe v. Wade was heinous, Logan Terry, a student at the University of Southern California and co-director of the Student Assembly for Gender Empowerment told the Daily Trojan. People who, historically, are well off financially or able to move from state to state are going to be able to secure abortions [or] birth control, whereas people who are queer, people who are Black, people who are not necessarily identifying as women are going to have a harder time navigating these systems. The Gen Z Cliff: Imagine a world where you knew everything about the past, saw no change in the present and had no hope for the future thats what its like for Generation Z. The reality of a pilling list of problems bound to their futures has them standing too close to the cliff or society has pushed them there with an abundance of life-altering challenges that are looming and its causing a feeling of deep worry about the state of the world, better known as the Gen Z Cliff. Reckons culture and justice reporter Alexis Wray is introducing you to a few of those cliffs through a Gen Z Cliff story series. Read those stories here. Zimbabwe recorded a rise in cases of human trafficking, with 139 people falling victim to the criminal practice while seeking jobs abroad, an official has said. Director legal services for the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Trafficking in Persons Prisca Madziviridze said this while giving oral evidence before the Parliament Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services. Ms Madziviridze said a total of 69 cases of human trafficking involving 139 victims were recorded and investigated last year. In 2022, the country experienced an upsurge in cases of trafficking in persons, both local and transnational. A total of 69 cases of trafficking in persons involving 139 victims were recorded and investigated. Seven accused persons, who are all Zimbabweans, were arrested for trafficking in persons in 2022 and are currently in custody pending trial. Of the seven accused persons, four were arrested for Oman cases while three were arrested for domestic trafficking cases. Four accused persons who were linked to the Oman trafficking cases were arrested and they are being prosecuted, she said. She said the majority of human trafficking victims were recruited through social media. Most victims in the Oman cases were recruited through social media platforms, WhatsApp and Facebook groups. It is in these social media groups that they were offered lucrative jobs with good salaries and good working conditions. Zimbabwe came on the spotlight as a source country for human traffickers when cases of women who were lured to the Middle East on promises of lucrative employment only to be kept in de facto slavery were unearthed. The plight of the women came to light in 2016, prompting the Government to order a comprehensive investigation, as well as to rescue them. Last year, it also emerged that scores of women were trafficked to Oman to work as domestic workers under deplorable conditions including being paid between US$60 to US$80 per month. New Ziana. Bank of America thinks electric vehicle charging company ChargePoint is well positioned to capitalize on industry and regulatory tail winds. Analyst Alex Vrabel upgraded the company's shares to buy from neutral. His new price target of $14 implies a 65% rally from Friday's close. "The reason for our upgrade is simple CHPT has proof of execution, line of sight to profitability and with its story largely unchanged since the PIPE offering, valuation is compelling against shares making all-time lows," Vrabel wrote in a Tuesday note. "CHPT [is] a best-in-class way to play [the] EV charging theme," he added. ChargePoint's shares have tumbled almost 19% quarter to date, and they're down 10.9% in 2023. Earlier this month, the stock hit an all-time low of $7.82 per share. Despite the decline, Vrabel said that the company's fundamentals remain intact and that he is comfortable on the "line of sight to cash inflection." CHPT ICLN YTD mountain ChargePoint Holdings shares have notably underperformed in 2023 To be sure, he noted that ChargePoint has been one of the "worst-performing" growth-focused names in 2023, even falling behind the iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) , which has lost more than 6% year to date. "We stress that while ChargePoint is in theory a 'clean energy' company, its revenue drivers are broader, hinged principally to a secular narrative around the shift to EVs that is still in early stages, and which provides outsized line of sight on secular growth," said Vrabel. "Given the company's customer, geographic and product diversity, CHPT is a uniquely 'broad' investment on EV charging trends which we believe will weather recessionary pressures across pocketed segments of its client base," the analyst added. The company's shares were up 5% during premarket trading Tuesday. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. Nvidia's earnings blockbuster has gotten investors excited . The stock soared more than 29% in extended trading after the May 24 results building on the already huge returns it got from the artificial intelligence buzz this year. Since Wednesday, it's been up 27%. In a May 25 note, BofA said Nvidia's "rosy outlook" when it comes to data centers and AI has reaffirmed its positive view on the AI server hardware supply chain. The bank noted that several AI-server related stocks in Taiwan surged after Nvidia's strong results. "Still, we view AI server as one of the most solid/visible drivers for Greater China hardware tech supply-chain," BofA analysts wrote. They expect that "highly customized" design and specifications and stronger computing power of AI servers will boost the value and selling prices of hardware suppliers from 2024. Stock picks BofA is sticking to its "buy" ratings on these three Taiwanese tech stocks. Delta Electronics : BofA noted there's still upside for the electronics manufacturer if demand for servers or data centers is stronger than expected, or if electric vehicle-related launches by global brands come faster than anticipated. The bank gave Delta a price target of 365 Taiwanese dollars ($11.90), or about 15% potential upside. Lite-On Tech : BofA is bullish on shares of this electronic components supplier, which produces parts for the semiconductor industry, among other products. That's because of rising AI server demand, its increasing sales mix from cloud and the "artificial intelligence of things" trend. It added that the firm has a "solid" balance sheet and consistently high cash dividend payout at over 70% since 2011. The bank gave Lite-On Tech a price target of 95 Taiwanese dollars, or about 10% potential upside. Quanta Computer : BofA said Quanta, which manufactures hardware but has extended its reach to AI applications and cloud computing, now has a better product mix and improving margins. It also has a high cash yield at 7%. It gave Quanta a price target of 125 Taiwanese dollars, or about 10% potential upside. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. The view from the observation deck at Shanghai Tower in Shanghai, China, on Sunday, April 9, 2023. China's economic recovery is picking up steam after Covid restrictions were abruptly dropped and the property market stabilizes, although the rebound is still fairly patchy and policymakers have no intention yet of scaling back monetary support. Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images Qilai Shen | Bloomberg | Getty Images China's much-vaunted economic rebound after its emergence from strict zero-Covid lockdown measures has yet to fully materialize, prompting some economists to speculate that further fiscal stimulus or monetary policy easing could be coming down the pipeline. China's services and consumption data came in strong in April, aligning with expectations of consumers leading the charge as pent-up demand is unleashed but the rebound in the call for services isn't yet spilling over into greater demand for goods, partly because unemployment remains high. Major Chinese industrial firms' profits plunged 20.6% year-on-year between January and April. Manufacturing activity also contracted for the first time in three months, according to the Caixin China general manufacturing purchasing managers' index. Industrial production rose 5.6% on the year in April, marking an acceleration from the previous month but only hitting half the expected expansion rate among surveyed economists. The job market also remains fragile. Data from China's Bureau of Statistics shows that 6 million of the 96 million 16 to 24-year-olds in the urban labor force are currently unemployed. From this figure, Goldman Sachs estimates there are now 3 million more unemployed urban youths relative to the period before the Covid-19 pandemic. watch now In a research note Monday, Capital Economics assessed that, despite losing some momentum, China's economic recovery was still progressing at the start of the second quarter, with scope for further service sector-led improvement. "Indeed, more timely data including those covering the Labour Day holiday suggest travel and consumer spending were still strengthening this month," China Economist Sheana Yue and Head of China Economics Julian Evans-Pritchard said. "But with the challenging external picture continuing to cloud over the exports outlook, struggles in the housing market persisting, and extensive policy support unlikely, sequential q/q growth is set to moderate over the rest of the year." More stimulus, targeted easing Georgios Leontaris, EMEA chief investment officer at HSBC Global Private Banking and Wealth, told CNBC on Monday that the combination of weak labor and goods demand may force the Chinese government and central bank into action. "The way that we see things is that China will have to deploy a little bit more fiscal stimulus, a little bit more targeted easing as well," he said. "At the end of the day, unemployment, especially in the youth parts of the population, is too elevated, and they will have to bring that down in order to achieve their growth targets going forward." watch now The ruling Chinese Communist Party set an economic growth target of "around 5%" for 2023 the country's lowest for more than three decades. China's GDP grew by 4.5% in the first quarter, as the economy emerged from strict Covid restrictions that were in place for nearly three years. It is widely expected to moderate these in the second quarter. In March, the People's Bank of China announced that it would cut the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) for banks for the first time this year, in order to support the nascent economic recovery. China's State Council in April announced a 15-point plan to more efficiently match young jobseekers to roles, but analysts have pointed to more long-term structural mismatches in the country's labor market. Despite the weaker April data, Goldman Sachs Chief China Economist Hui Shan said there has been little sign of imminent major macro policy easing, while the central bank's first-quarter monetary policy report "sounded neutral." watch now "Many recent policy communications have focused on medium-term themes such as 'modern industrial system', 'unified national market', and the new financial regulatory framework," Shan noted last week. "To be sure, interbank liquidity has been kept ample, and we think the central bank is likely to cut RRR in June to boost confidence. But we do not expect policy rate cut or major fiscal stimulus, barring a precipitous fall in exports in the coming months." Any consensus among economists as to the trajectory of fiscal and monetary policy seems to be unraveling in light of the tenuous recovery. watch now WASHINGTON The compromise bill to raise the debt ceiling passed its first major test Tuesday night in the House Rules Committee, where it advanced to the House floor in a 7-6 vote, with two of the panel's nine Republicans opposing it. A floor vote on the Fiscal Responsibility Act is planned for around 8:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, according to a tentative House voting schedule. Late-stage support from GOP Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky cleared the way for the bill to be approved by seven of the nine Republicans on the committee. The panel's makeup is heavily skewed toward the party in the majority, 9-4, a setup meant to ensure that legislation does not get held up by a few dissenters siding with the minority. Shortly before the committee cleared the bill, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released its assessment of the bill's impact on federal debt and deficits. The CBO estimated that if the legislation were "enacted and appropriations that are subject to caps" were carried out as planned, "budget deficits would be reduced by about $1.5 trillion" over the next decade. The CBO "score" was in line with what both parties were anticipating, but the additional certainty provided by the numbers could help shore up the bill's support in a full House vote Wednesday. The legislation is the product of a deal hammered out by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Joe Biden to cap federal baseline spending for two years in exchange for Republican votes to raise the debt ceiling beyond next year's elections and into 2025. The bill still needs to pass the full GOP-majority House and the Democratic-controlled Senate before Monday, when the Treasury Department projects the United States would be unlikely to have enough money to meet its debt obligations. On Tuesday, a bloc of more than 20 conservative Republicans announced they would oppose the compromise deal. They accused McCarthy of caving in to the White House in exchange for "cosmetic" policy tweaks, and not the transformative change they were promised. A hard-line subset of this group railed against the deal on social media and at a news conference outside the Capitol. "It's not just that every Republican should vote against it. It's a little bit more than that. This is a career-defining vote for every Republican," said GOP Rep. Dan Bishop of North Carolina. Several prominent conservative groups also announced opposition to the bill Tuesday, and said they would measure or "score" GOP lawmakers by how they voted on it. The libertarian-leaning FreedomWorks group, the anti-tax Club for Growth and the conservative Heritage Foundation all panned the deal. Over the course of the day, opposition to the bill evolved into a more pointed critique by some in the party of McCarthy's leadership. Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary with friends at Plains High School, within the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park in Plains, Georgia, U.S. July 10, 2021. Former first lady Rosalynn Carter has dementia, the Carter family said Tuesday. The announcement, which was released by the Carter Center, comes as Carter's husband, former President Jimmy Carter, is receiving hospice care at their home in Plains, Georgia. The center said in a statement that Rosalynn Carter, 95, "continues to live happily at home with her husband, enjoying spring in Plains and visits with loved ones." "Mrs. Carter has been the nation's leading mental health advocate for much of her life" and has "improved access to care and decreased stigma about issues surrounding mental health." The statement noted that, "One in 10 older Americans have dementia, a condition that affects overall mental health. We recognize, as she did more than half a century ago, that stigma is often a barrier that keeps individuals and their families from seeking and getting much-needed support. We hope sharing our family's news will increase important conversations at kitchen tables and in doctor's offices around the country." The statement did not say when she had been diagnosed or give any more details on her condition. It noted her work supporting caregivers through her non-profit. "As the founder of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, Mrs. Carter often noted that there are only four kinds of people in this world: those who have been caregivers; those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers," the statement said. "The universality of caregiving is clear in our family, and we are experiencing the joy and the challenges of this journey." "We do not expect to comment further and ask for understanding for our family and for everyone across the country serving in a caregiver role." In February, the Carter Center announced that Jimmy Carter, 98, had begun receiving hospice care at home. "After a series of short hospital stays, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter today decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention," the center said then. The couple's grandson, Jason Carter, said last week that his grandparents have "been together 70-plus years. They also know that they're not in charge." "Their faith is really grounding in this moment. In that way, it's as good as it can be," the grandson said. Jimmy Carter is the oldest living former president and was the first president born in a hospital. U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) looks on during a news conference calling to designate Russia as state sponsor of terrorism, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, U.S., September 14, 2022. Russia's Interior Ministry on Monday issued an arrest warrant for U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham following recent comments about the fighting in Ukraine, the Associated Press reported. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office released an edited video of his meeting on Friday with Graham, who said "the Russians are dying" and described the U.S. military assistance to the country as "the best money we've ever spent." Graham appeared to have made the comments in different parts of the conversation and the short video by Ukraine's presidential office put them next to each other, causing outrage in Russia, according to the AP. The Investigative Committee, Russia's top criminal investigation agency, moved to open a criminal inquiry against Graham, and the Interior Ministry issued a warrant for his arrest, the AP reported. Graham commented on Twitter, saying that "to know that my commitment to Ukraine has drawn the ire of Putin's regime brings me immense joy." "I will continue to stand with and for Ukraine's freedom until every Russian soldier is expelled from Ukrainian territory," he tweeted. "I will wear the arrest warrant issued by Putin's corrupt and immoral government as a Badge of Honor." Melodie Warner Shares of Tesla rose Tuesday after the electric carmaker's CEO Elon Musk met with China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang. It comes as Beijing is pushing to show it is open to foreign business, and as Musk reportedly signaled further expansion of his car company's business in China. Qin, who was until recently China's ambassador to the U.S., said "Chinese-style modernization," characterized by a huge population and "common prosperity" will create "unprecedented growth potential and market demand," according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry. He added that China's electric vehicle market "has broad prospects for development" and that China will continue to open up and create a better market-oriented and law-based business environment for foreign firms like Tesla. According to the Chinese foreign ministry statement, Musk praised the Chinese people and China's achievements. Tesla opposes "decoupling" and is willing to continue to expand its business in China, the statement said. Shares of Tesla jumped 5% shortly after markets opened Tuesday, before later paring gains. As of 10 a.m. ET, the stock was trading at $202.93, up 2.6% for the session. Tesla did not immediately respond to a CNBC request to verify the Chinese foreign ministry's statement. The meeting between Musk and Qin comes at a time of continued tensions between the U.S. and China over technology. Last year, Washington enacted sweeping export restrictions on key chips and semiconductor equipment to China, in a move that could hobble's Beijing's attempts to boost its domestic industry in a critical technology. This month, Chinese regulators barred operators of "critical information infrastructure" in China from buying products from U.S. chipmaker Micron. The Chinese foreign minister on Tuesday said that a "constructive" U.S. and China relationship is in the interest of both countries and the world. Likely Republican presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) speaks at a campaign town hall meeting at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S., May 8, 2023. WASHINGTON Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., is pushing for more transparency from social media applications amid privacy concerns about China-based apps like TikTok. The Know Your App Act aims to increase consumer awareness of the ownership of apps by requiring stores like Google Play and the Apple App Store to identify each applications' country or origin. The bill, introduced Tuesday, comes days after Scott announced his bid for the presidency. Under the bill, the Treasury and Commerce departments will be required to develop a list of adversarial governments with potentially undue control over application content moderation, algorithm design or data transfers, according to a statement released Tuesday. App stores would be charged to warn users of the risks of downloading foreign applications and provide a filtering method by country of origin. Representatives for Google and Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment from CNBC. The bill comes as lawmakers from both parties target apps made or backed by Chinese companies. Four out of 5 of the top most popular apps in March are of Chinese origin, according to The Wall Street Journal. E-commerce app Temu, which is still less than a year old, has been scrutinized about malware concerns. Though not in the top five that month, China-founded, fast fashion e-tailer Shein has been accused of forced labor practices. Scott, who is the ranking member of the Senate Banking committee, called for the U.S. to "sever" ties between TikTok, the third-most popular app in March, and its Beijing-based parent company ByteDance out of national security concerns. ByteDance adheres to Chinese national security laws allowing the government access to comprehensive business information under certain conditions. "Americans should be able to make informed decisions about the online services they use in order to protect their data and security," Scott said of the Know Your App Act. "Requiring app stores to display an app's country of origin is a commonsense solution that can help them do just that." Users of social media apps face heightened security risks through privacy breaches and potential exploitation to which minors are especially susceptible, according to the bill. "Parents shouldn't fear that their family's online privacy and security could be compromised when unknowingly using an app owned by a foreign adversary," Scott said in a statement released Tuesday. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and James Lankford, R-Okla., also sponsored the bill. The bill will prohibit foreign adversaries from exploiting certain tools to collect Americans' private data "to gain advantage over the United States," Wicker said in a statement. "The Know Your App Act would bring much-needed transparency to app stores, empowering Americans to safeguard their families from exploitation," he added. An agreement on the United States' debt ceiling doesn't necessarily mean a smooth path to President Joe Biden's desk. The president and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached a final deal Sunday on raising the nation's borrowing limit that, if passed by Congress, would avoid a default on U.S. debt . Next comes the political wrangling, which means it could still be a tense week. The House is expected to vote on the Fiscal Responsibility Act on Wednesday. Then, the Senate will take it up, with all eyes on Monday, the so-called X-date the Department of the Treasury said is the earliest the government could default. "The deal will face some headwinds as it winds its way through both chambers of Congress, and we should be prepared for headline volatility as these types of packages die a dozen deaths right before passage, but we remain committed to our view that a package will clear before we hit the nation's debt ceiling on June 5," BTIG director of policy research Isaac Boltansky wrote in a note Monday. Several Wall Street economists agree the deal will likely get signed, but not without some bumps along the way. Still, Tobin Marcus, Evercore ISI senior U.S. policy and politics strategist, doesn't expect an outsize market reaction on the bill's way to the finish line. "We cannot yet entirely rule out the possibility of a blow-up, but we expect this bill to make it through Congress this week and be signed into law before the X Date," he wrote in a note Tuesday. "Given how this is priced in, we do not expect significant market reactions to Congressional milestones barring a TARP-style disaster." Here are some of those potential headwinds the legislation may face in the coming week. Congressional Budget Office score Boltansky is concerned the Congressional Budget Office score on the package could show the deficit reduction is modest in relation to the United States' fiscal position, but he doubts it would derail the deal. The CBO, a nonpartisan federal agency, provides objective budget and economic data to Congress. "There is always wide latitude in how those figures are framed (e.g. out-year assumptions, etc.)," he said. "For example, a preliminary CBO report estimates that the debt ceiling package could reduce spending by $2.1T if the proposed budget caps are left in place for a full six years, which is possible but unlikely given the mechanics of the legislation." House Committee on Rules meeting Before the legislation reaches the House for a vote, it must go through the 13-member House Committee on Rules nine Republicans and four Democrats. However, despite the GOP majority, the meeting Tuesday afternoon could be "messy," Boltansky said. "There could be some headline volatility Tuesday afternoon," he wrote. Goldman Sachs chief economist Jan Hatzius also sees the committee meeting as a point of uncertainty, although he expects the ultimate passage of the deal is very likely. Two Republicans, Reps. Chip Roy and Ralph Norman, appear to oppose the bill, and the position of a third, Rep. Thomas Massie, is unclear. "If all three vote against and no Democrat votes in favor, the bill will fail," Hatzius wrote in a Monday note. "That said, we think the Rules Committee is very likely to send the bill on to the House Floor, as we think a majority of the committee will vote for the package even if it takes Democratic support (it is uncommon but not unheard-of for the minority party to support the majority party's efforts in the Rules Committee)." Evercore's Marcus agreed. "This will be interesting as a lens into the internal politics of the House GOP, but even if Massie decides to vote against the bill, we would be very surprised to see the Dems on the Rules Committee kill a deal struck by Biden," he said. McCarthy no confidence vote Meanwhile, Michael Gapen, Bank of America's chief U.S. economist, pointed out there is a risk the House's more conservative members could call a vote of no confidence on McCarthy. While that would "gum up the process when timing is running short," the risk of such a vote is low, he wrote in a note Tuesday. Evercore's Marcus noted even if McCarthy faces a vote for his removal as speaker, it will likely fail. He expects a "critical mass" of Democrats would abstain or outright support McCarthy to prevent him from being replaced with a more conservative and weaker speaker. "It makes no real sense for Democrats to cooperate with the far right in punishing McCarthy for striking a deal with Biden," he wrote in a Tuesday note. Tight House vote It's expected to be a tight vote in the House. A conservative bloc of House Republicans has publicly attacked the bill and several Democrats have also spoken out against it. It's not clear exactly how Republican and Democratic lawmakers will divide the responsibility for passing this legislation since most likely want it to pass, but few want to vote for it, Goldman's Hatzius said. The GOP controls the House by a margin of 222 to 213 and the bill needs a simple majority, or 218 votes, for passage, BTIG's Boltansky pointed out. "The biggest concern in the House is the vote counting operations of Speaker McCarthy (R-CA) and Democratic Leader Jeffries (D-NY) as they are both sitting in new seats and this will be a tight vote in the House," he said. Conventional wisdom at the time of his Monday note was McCarthy will deliver at least 150 Republican "yes" votes and Democrats should deliver at least 70 "yes" votes, Boltansky said. "The bill is expected on the floor Wednesday evening, but a number of contacts suggest that passage could slip to early Thursday morning," he said. Slowdown in the Senate? While Boltansky expects the package is likely to receive enough votes to clear the upper chamber, he's concerned about the timeline. A single senator can "meaningfully slow the process," he said. "For example, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) has said that he will elongate consideration of the package if it does not deliver 'substantial' cuts, which could push passage dangerously close to the June 5 deadline even though the ultimate outcome is not in serious doubt," Boltansky wrote. Hatzius is pegging the timeline for a potential Senate vote by Friday, although he said it could be pushed into the weekend due to delays. "Regardless of the procedural details, with a deal in hand it seems very unlikely that Congress will fail to act by the June 5 deadline the Treasury has projected for lifting the debt limit, though the final bill will probably be enacted with only a few days to spare," he said. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting. The court, while granting Birla permission to travel only to Egypt and UK, noted that he has travelled and returned to India on many occasions and has complied with all the conditions imposed on him. The Bombay High Court has permitted industrialist Yashovardhan Birla, who is facing several cases of fraud and money laundering, to travel to the United Kingdom and Egypt till July 1, noting that he was not a flight risk or likely to abscond. Live Tv Loading... A vacation bench of Justices Abhay Ahuja and Milind Sathaye on May 26 suspended the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against Birla till July 1 and directed the immigration authorities to permit him to pass through immigration and board his flight. The court, while granting Birla permission to travel only to Egypt and UK, noted that he has travelled and returned to India on many occasions and has complied with all the conditions imposed on him. All the SCO member states China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have been invited to attend the summit. India is all set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State on July 4, 2023. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday announced that the 22nd Summit of SCO will be held in virtual format. However it did not provide specific reasons for the decision to hold the summit virtually. "Under Indias first-ever chairmanship, the 22nd summit of the SCO Council of Heads of State will be held in the virtual format on July 4, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," the MEA said in a statement. People familiar with the matter said the option of holding the summit in the virtual format was on the table considering various aspects and a final decision on it was taken following consultations with the member states. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) A bill seeking to create a comprehensive development plan to revitalize the Philippine salt industry has been approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading. House Bill (HB) 8278, or the proposed Philippine Salt Industry Development Act, was passed on Monday with 287 affirmative votes. It is among the priority measures of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). Under the measure, salt unprocessed or processed is listed as a basic agricultural product, with all the legal and regulatory implications of such classification. The bill seeks to create the Philippine Salt Industry Development Council (PSIDC) to ensure the unified and integrated implementation of the roadmap and accelerate the modernization and industrialization of the Philippine salt industry. The PSIDC will be tasked to formulate the Philippine Salt Industry Development Roadmap containing the short-term, medium-term, and long-term development plan. It will also identify specific and priority programs and projects in support of, and in line with the roadmap. The bill also seeks to institutionalize the creation of small-scale artisanal salt farms through PSIDC and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). The Department of Agriculture will be tasked to ensure that salt is a priority commodity to be produced locally. Agri Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee, one of the principal authors of the House bill, on Tuesday said the passage of the measure has the potential to create 3,000 to 5,000 jobs in the country's rural and agricultural communities. He added that with increased government support and investments, the Philippines can be self-sufficient and give the country the capacity to become a net exporter of salt. Sa pagtutok sa industriya, lilikha tayo ng libo-libong trabaho at mapapagaan ang pasanin ng mga salt farmers, salt producers at ng kanilang pamilya. Aambag ito sa pag-unlad ng ekonomiya na magbubunga naman ng mga serbisyo sa mga Pilipino," he said. [Translation: By putting focus on the industry, we can generate thousands of jobs and lessen the burden of salt farmers, salt producers, and their families. This will also contribute to the country's economy.] Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 31) Aside from its armed forces, the United States looks forward to bolstering the presence of its coast guard as a "partner of choice" in the western Pacific amid China's persistent aggressive moves in the region's seas. "We welcome the opportunity to work with allies and partners, and help countries to create capacity and capability to enforce their own sovereignty and ensure and uphold the rule of law," US Coast Guard (USCG) Commandant Admiral Linda Fagan told journalists via teleconferencing on Tuesday. "The types of (USCG) cutter visits that we are doing, and are committed to doing in the future, are consistent with that type of allied partner capacity-building (as) a partner of choice throughout the region," she added. Fagan, who is visiting Vietnam this week, said the USCG is pushing to work with its Indo-Pacific allies, to help "strengthen maritime governance in the region," and to "solve shared challenges." She cited illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing as among the challenges, pointing out its impact on the health of oceans and food security of coastal communities, especially those who rely on fishing for their livelihood. In 2020, the US government criticized China's illegal fishing and harassment of vessels in the exclusive economic zones of Indo-Pacific nations, describing it as a threat to US sovereignty and its Pacific neighbors, and endangering regional stability. Then US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien said Washington's interventions, including by the USCG, were "critical to countering these destabilizing and malign actions." "IUU fishing is theft and erodes sovereignty of the nations who are affected by it," Fagan, reiterating O'Brien's pronouncements. On Monday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) announced it will host its first-ever trilateral maritime exercise with US and Japan, which will be held off the coasts of Bataan, west of Manila. "The challenges in the region really do require the kind of partner-to-partner engagements and are ready-made for multilateral opportunities," Fagan addressed the weeklong sea drills that will begin on June 1. The exercise is a result of a continuing regional collaboration with allied forces, "as a means to increase our mutual understanding of capabilities and capacities throughout the maritime realm," she added. The drill will be held just days after the three coast guards held a maritime law enforcement training in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, which was participated in by agencies from the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The US government shelled out over P4 million ($75,000) for the 11-day training course, focusing on enforcement of the law of the sea, including practical exercises on self-defense tactics and vessel search procedures. "Through this transformative experience, we are able to fortify our capabilities, ensuring the safety, prosperity, and shared interests of our maritime domain," said Ensign Gilbert Alberto Rueras, a PCG instructor. Under the US Indo-Pacific Strategy, Fagan said, the US Coast Guard's role is to pursue "advising, training, and building maritime capacity with partners" by sharing a common objective of advocating a rules-based international maritime order, while further expanding their access in the region. "One of the things we're in the process of doing is moving a Pacific support cutter towards Honolulu to ensure that we've got an increased capacity for that kind of partnership, training, and interoperation capacity in the region," she added. Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. Would you like to receive our news updates? Signup today! Sign up to receive notifications when a new Columbia Gorge News e-Edition is published. Error! There was an error processing your request. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Gorge Social Information from the News and our advertisers (Want to add your business to this to this feed?) The golden elixir of modern agriculture began with a wizened alchemist, alone in a room boiling his own urine, in search of a substance that would turn base metals into gold. One day, he found phosphorus, glowing pale green. Around two centuries later, industrial chemists figured out how to turn air into bread, as the saying went at the time, with the development of the Haber-Bosch process for manufacturing ammonia, a form of nitrogen that can be used by plants. Phosphorus and nitrogen are key building blocks of the synthetic fertilizer that feeds half the world. However, the environmental cost of excessive application is heavy: The process of making nitrogen fertilizers emits around 2% of the worlds total carbon dioxide. Easily soluble synthetic fertilizers dissolve in groundwater or surface water and move away from farm fields, leading to contaminated water wells, algae blooms that poison water supplies, and an uninhabitable dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Now, a new generation of inventors and investors is looking for another breakthrough. Big-name investors like Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and Michael Bloomberg have invested millions of dollars into companies researching agricultural technologies that could replace or lessen the need for chemical fertilizers. The agricultural biotech sector, which focuses on plant yield and resiliency, received $6.6 billion in investments in 2021 and 2022, according to startup tracker PitchBook. A technology gaining a lot of attention involves tiny microbes that could serve as a new green fertilizer. Researchers are also looking at other ways to decrease reliance on synthetic fertilizers, such as slow-releasing fertilizers like struvite and more traditional methods like cover crops. While the agriculture biotech sector and its investors are bullish on high-tech solutions, the researchers who study them arent as confident. The question remains: Can the answer to our fertilizer problems be found in a lab? Scientists look for fertilizer fix Just as humans need carbohydrates and protein to live, crops like wheat and corn need nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to survive. Most crops are picky eaters; they can digest only certain forms of nitrogen. They cannot absorb nitrogen from the air, despite it being primarily made up of nitrogen gas. Instead, bacteria in the soil convert nitrogen from the air into a usable form for plants. Microbial fertilizers are nitrogen-fixing bacteria developed by biotech companies. Farmers can apply these fertilizers along with chemical fertilizers. Founded in 2010, California-based Pivot Bio brought to market the first nitrogen microbes for corn. It is valued at $1.7 billion, according to PitchBook. Pivot Bio has genetically programmed microbes to produce ammonia regardless of the existing amount of nitrogen compounds in the soil, said Ernie Sanders, Pivots senior vice president of product innovation. Our bacteria create a small amount of nitrogen every single day and are growing right there on the roots of the plant, so its taken up immediately, he said. Selling at between $20 and $24 an acre, the companys products were used on 3 million acres in the U.S. in 2022. Thats less than half of one percent of the 657 million acres farmers planted, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. Another company making a similar product is Kula Bio, which was founded by two Harvard professors in 2018. The company has raised around $60 million in venture capital funding, according to PitchBook. Kulas microbes come with energy stored within them. Once they are in the soil, they begin converting nitrogen in the air into ammonia for the plants, co-founder Daniel Nocera explained. Although the startup has not sold any products yet, Nocera said the firm is conducting field trials focusing mainly on farming lettuce, tomatoes and berries. Some farmers have used the microbes as a replacement for some amount of chemical fertilizers while others have used it as an additive. In the former case, farmers maintained their yield; in the latter case, farmers saw an increase in yield, Nocera said. Weve had amazing successes with our farm trials where we never see a decrease in yield, he added. Field tests show mixed results Pivot Bio officials pointed to several third-party studies of its PROVEN40 product suggesting its effectiveness. The company didn't pay for the test but provided the microbes. The field test found that even with 25% less nitrogen applied, plots treated with the microbes did not lose yield. However, academic researchers arent certain about the effectiveness of biofertilizers. Daniel Kaiser, a nutrient management professor at the University of Minnesota, believes microbes are not reliable at this point. The big issue is just unpredictability, Kaiser said. You need to demonstrate clearly that a certain percentage of the time that (the biofertilizer) is effective and doing what it says it can be doing, but the data Ive seen doesnt prove it. Kaiser led a trial funded by Pivot Bio from 2019 to 2021 to study the company's microbes. He ran trials in multiple locations, comparing corn yield from soil with and without Pivots microbes at different rates of synthetic fertilizer application. Only one sample plot with microbes saw more yield with less synthetic fertilizer added, according to Kaisers results. Kaiser said its hard to know whether microbial fertilizers can survive in already biologically active soils, or whether they can sufficiently grow in number. He also said that farmers may be able to get the same yield using less fertilizer because they were over-applying fertilizer already. I mean, growers could reduce (fertilizer) and put this product down and get the same yield, he said, but it doesn't necessarily prove the product works. Kevin and Korbin Kudera, father-and-son farmers from the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network, also tested Pivots microbes on plots with reduced fertilizer application and compared their corn yield with plots containing normal fertilizer amounts. They found the plots with microbes gave the same yield as plots without the biofertilizers. Prasanna Kankanala, director of research and development at Trace Genomics, an Iowa-based soil analysis company, doubts microbial fertilizers can completely replace synthetic fertilizers. Since different microbes are adapted to different types of soil and climate, its challenging to create a microbial product that is going to work everywhere, she said. An old approach gets a new look In addition to microbes, researchers and funders are working on developing other alternatives to synthetic fertilizers. One old-fashioned approach getting new attention is cover crops: planting crops to add nutrients and protect bare soil. Chris Topp, a researcher at the St. Louis-based Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, is interested in breeding crops to capture more of the nitrogen already in the soil. Among other things, his lab is focused on finding cover crops that compete less with corn seedlings. Better cover crops will lead to potentially higher-yielding corn that needs less nitrogen, while also adding to soil structure and soil organic carbon, Topp said. The USDAs Agricultural Research Service is also researching cover crops. Research ecologist Steven Mirsky maps the performance of cover crops on farms across the country, using those data to generate computer models that can help farmers make site-specific decisions about how much to fertilize. That helps with both precision nitrogen management and with conservation, Mirsky said. Despite the uptick in research interest and adoption in recent years, cover crops were planted on only around 5% of harvested cropland in 2017, according to the USDA. The cost of buying and planting cover crops can be up to $30 an acre, said Rob Myers, head of University of Missouris Center for Regenerative Agriculture. For comparison, fertilizer for an acre of corn this year is expected to cost about $244, according to MU. The center received a $10 million grant from the USDA in March with the aim of doubling cover crop acreage nationwide by 2030. Farmers have to get familiar with whats going to work with the cover crops for them, he said. Using cover crops may have some unintended consequences. University of Illinois researcher Nakian Kim found that cover crops could have both positive and negative effects on land that had been heavily fertilized for decades. Although cover crops may reduce the risk of fertilizer leaching, they may also leave the soil more primed for production of nitrous oxide, the study found. Researchers are also looking at slow-releasing fertilizers, which release nutrients gradually and are less likely to wash away. These include manure and a phosphorus fertilizer called struvite, a mineral crystal-like compound made from wastewater. Struvite is drawing commercial interest. Canadian company Ostara announced in 2021 that it would build a $25 million plant in St. Louis to manufacture a struvite-based fertilizer. Sourcing struvite from wastewater would lessen the amount of phosphorus compounds already in the environment from reaching waterways and reduce reliance on mined rock phosphorus, said Joanne Thiessen Martens, a soil science professor at the University of Manitoba. However, she said more research is needed to test its effectiveness in different environments. Removing that phosphorus from the wastewater as struvite is definitely a big environmental benefit, she said. No 'magic pill' Although all these approaches may offer some benefits, many researchers believe there is not one single solution that can replace synthetic fertilizers or solve the problem of fertilizer overuse. John Lory, a plant science professor at the University of Missouri, said he cannot foresee a future without synthetic nitrogen fertilizers anytime soon because we rely on them for our nutritional needs. To truly solve the problem of fertilizer overuse, Lory suggests a fundamental change to how and what we farm. For example, increased corn production for biofuels has led to increased fertilizer use and increased nitrogen runoff. Nothing about nitrogen is easy, Lory said. It's just one of those challenges where there's not a magic pill. This story is part of The Price of Plenty, a special project investigating fertilizer from the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications and the University of Missouri School of Journalism, supported by the Pulitzer Centers nationwide Connected Coastlines reporting initiative. Scaling Mt Garbage: A sad sight on Everest as the world marks 70th year of Hillary-Tenzing feat Who is a mountaineer? Perhaps thats a question that needs to be asked more urgently now than ever before. Even as the Twitter hashtags #everestday and #Everest70 celebrate a milestone in the history of human exploration of the world, the tonnes of trash left on the worlds highest mountain, revered as Chomolungma (Goddess Mother of the World) in Tibetan, show the repulsive side of Everest tourism. A distressing video of the trash on Mt Everest was released on social media. Screenshot courtesy: Twitter/@EverestToday Tourism is exactly what it is. The summit of Mt Everest is no longer the same place where Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, nicknamed Tiger of the Snow, stood on May 29, 1953, putting their feet where no human footsteps had reached before. The two were friends, and when they reached the summit, they strived together and made it together. Todays Mt Everest has been reduced to a selfie point, a checklist item, where any climber who can spend approximately USD50,000 or more can go by holding the hands of their Sherpa team. The mountain is a cash cow, as issuing hundreds of permits puts millions of dollars into the Nepal government coffers. Each of the climbers leaves an average of 8-10kg of garbage on the mountain, plastic trash that never biodegrades and pollutes the roof of the world. Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, nicknamed Tiger of the Snow. Picture courtesy: Twitter/@URDailyHistory Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, who set foot on the summit of Mt Everest on May 29, 1953, were great friends, too. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@EverestToday As the world marked the 70th anniversary of the Hillary-Tenzing feat the New Zealander is said to have stepped on the summit first and then pulled up the Sherpa, who was just behind him a distressing video of the trash on Mt Everest was released on Twitter by Everest Today, a news blog that covers mountaineering over the Himalayas and Karakoram with special focus on 8000m peaks. The video credit was given to Tenzi Sherpa. Disheartening to see the accumulation of garbage at Camp IV on Mt #Everest (8848.86 m). It's high time we address this issue with urgency and commitment. Let's demand stricter regulations, enforcement of clean climbing practices, and effective waste management strategies. Video pic.twitter.com/KGMlRmUuZk Everest Today (@EverestToday) May 28, 2023 The revolting pile of trash represents an uncontrolled number of climbers on Mt Everest, climbers who very often do not have the experience to scale an 8,000+ metre peak. Indeed, the Everest is just a little short of 9,000 metres. As the recent disappearance and, consequently, death of Shrinivas Sainis Dattatraya, Indian-origin climber from Singapore, has proved, even a substantial record of scaling peaks is no guarantee that Mt Everest will spare a climber. Shrinivas had climbed, among others, Denali (6,190 metres) in Alaska, United States of America, and Manaslu (8,163 metres) in the Nepalese Himalayas, before climbing Mt Everest, where he has been missing since May 19 (presumed dead now after a long search) when descending from the peak. For any climber who has not bothered to train properly before, the Everest could well become a guaranteed graveyard. Each disappearance is followed by a massive hunt to find the missing climber, resulting in a huge expenditure of resources, often putting the search & rescue team members themselves in danger. At least 12 people have died so far during the 2023 spring climbing season, more than double the annual average of climbing deaths on Mt Everest, and five more were missing until today. Climber expertise is compromised Overcrowding certainly has something to do with the high number of deaths. It takes years of rigorous work to be prepared for the highest mountain in the world; hundreds of people arent qualified for it. But hundreds of permits are being issued, which means the climber expertise is seriously compromised, to say nothing of the trash being left on the slopes. An April 28 report by the news agency Reuters was headlined Death zone queues feared on Everest as Nepal grants record climbing permits. The report said: So far, Nepal has handed out a record 463 permits to climb Everest between March and May, beating 2021s 409. Being stuck in a human traffic jam on Mt Everest is not quite like waiting it out in a city traffic jam. The air is so thin at 8,000 metres and above that theres hardly any oxygen in the atmosphere. This poses a serious risk if a climber runs out of bottled oxygen for some reason, while waiting in the queue to reach the summit. The Reuters report quoted Garrett Madison of the US-based company, Madison Mountaineering, as saying, The challenges with more climbers on the mountain will be potential traffic jams on the climbing route, especially if the weather windows are few and far between. This can lead to climbers running out of oxygen and facing exhaustion/exposure in the death zone. Still, theres no government-imposed limit on the number of Everest permits, and its left to the expedition companies to decide when to start the climb. That means crowds, garbage, deaths, and a general mess. Its all a money game now On the 70th anniversary of the first human footprint on the peak of Everest, celebrated climber Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to unfurl the tricolour on the worlds highest summit, was scathing about what she felt was overcrowding of mountaineers who have the money to buy a support system, but lack the right intent, training, and experience, as told to Times of India. Bachendri Pal with the Indian tricolour at the summit of Mt Everest in 1984. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@25BnSSB_INDIA Pal called for putting a limit on the number of permits granted annually, stating that in her time she summited in 1984 only experienced and trained people could climb up the Everest. But now, anyone who has the money is allowed to climb, as if its a tourist spot. That begs the question: Who is a mountaineer? Is every climber of Mt Everest a mountaineer? The question was raised by Anindya Mukherjee, a two-time winner (2013 and 2023) of the Jagdish Nanavati Award for Excellence in Mountaineering, instituted by the Himalayan Club, speaking to Connected to India about the problems of the way Everest expeditions are conducted now. Now you can pay USD65,000-70,000 and climb Mt Everest; the top companies charge that. But USD45,000-50,000 is charged by the Nepalese companies, said Mukherjee. The cost difference isnt just cosmetic. The top companies require their Everest aspirant clients to first climb Denali in Alaska (which at 6,100+ metres mimics the feel of an 8,000+ metre peak because of its proximity to the Arctic Circle) or Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (which at 5,800+ metres is still good training for the Everest because of its highly unpredictable weather) or other 8,000+ metre peaks. The Nepal-based companies have only one requirement: money. If you can fork out the cash, you can climb Mt Everest, said Mukherjee. He pointed out that if an expedition attempted Mt Everest from the China side, there would be a filter for Chinese nationals in the team; theyd have to have scaled an 8,000-metre mountain before. For the foreigners in the team, there would be no such filter, and the Chinese authorities dont care. As for the ridiculous number of people up there, Mukherjee summed it up in one word: overtourism. Expressing a view similar to that of Bachendri Pal, he said, Theres no spirit of exploration anymore. If you have the money, if you can walk, the Sherpas will do everything for you theyll cook for you, feed you, and put the crampons on you. And then, maybe youll summit Mt Everest. But will you be able to make it back to the base camp? S China's Guangdong welcomes best season for waxberry harvest People's Daily Online) 14:50, May 30, 2023 Photo shows waxberries in Shixing county, Shaoguan, south China's Guangdong Province. (Photo/Yang Ruilian) Waxberries recently entered their best harvest season in Shixing county, Shaoguan, south China's Guangdong Province. With high medicinal value, a pleasant taste and a ruby hue, waxberry is considered the "agate in the fruit kingdom." "We're glad to visit at a time when the harvest festival kicks off, and to collect pretty and delicious waxberries," said a visitor surnamed Li, from Guangzhou, capital city of Guangdong, adding it's her first time to pick waxberries. Shixing county, known as the "hometown of Chinese waxberries," enjoys a 300-year tradition of waxberry planting. It is one of the largest waxberry planting bases in Guangdong, covering an area of 32,000 mu (2,133 hectares). (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) As Bill Mahers new HBO special drops today, heres a friendly reminder that the guy has been a total douchecanoe for decades now. Lets review an incomplete history of Maher being a miserable duckbag. Hire me? Ill have you fired! Politically Incorrect was one of Comedy Centrals first stabs at original programming, a show that the networks Art Bell personally championed. (Bell was one of the guys who hired him.) The networks first big ad campaign was for the show, plastering New York City busses with politically incorrect thought bubbles above unsuspecting riders. The campaign got buzz and increased viewership. Mahers reaction to Bells promotion? What the f*** were you thinking with those bus ads? If you think this is good advertising, then you obviously dont know what the f*** youre doing. And if you f*** up, I think you should be fired. Doesnt that sound fair? Thats right, Art, Im working on getting you fired. And I wont be sorry to see you go. Brillstein-Grey Entertainment Maher did go to Bells bosses, who refused to can him. The campaign ended up winning an Effie Award, given to campaigns that did the most effective job. The Effies host who had to hand over the award? Bill Maher. Its official: James Corden killed The Late Late Show. More specifically, Cordens decision to leave the late-night program once hosted by the incomparable and inconspicuous Craig Ferguson has resulted in a decision by CBS to bring three decades of The Late Late Show to an end. The network intends to fill the time slot with a revival of the Comedy Central panel show @midnight, a nerdy, internet-oriented game show first hosted by Chris Hardwick from 2013 until the shows original conclusion in 2017. The reboot that will soon follow The Late Show will be executive produced by late-night legend Stephen Colbert with a new, unspecified master of ceremonies. Advertisement The controversial Corden will close the series as its fourth and final host, but The Late Late Show will always be associated with its greatest and most underappreciated entertainer Ferguson and an unceremonious ending to The Late Late Show is less than his legacy deserves. Play Advertisement The night owls who watched The Late Late Show since Ferguson first joined the series that followed his friend and mentor David Lettermans The Late Show in 2005 will remember vividly the weird, tonal whiplash that occurred when Ferguson handed his keys to Corden in 2014. Fergusons free-form approach to late-night was in stark contrast to the stiff mathematical style of his predecessor, Craig Kilborn, but the jump from Ferguson to Corden was more jarring than rolling up to an intersection and finding the Cinderella star singing in a mouse costume and thrusting his crotch at your drivers side window. Fergusons The Late Late Show was a casual, stream-of-consciousness style show with dressed-down interviews and endless asides. On the other hand, Cordens peppy, buzzy pop culture-worshiping series was better suited for an audience that preferred watching ninety-second clips of celebrities indulging Corden in some game show-style segment on YouTube over settling into 20-minute meandering conversations between an affable Scotsman and an artist whose guard Ferguson would wear down with shameless scorn for canned anecdotes and pre-planned softball questions. Play Advertisement Advertisement When Ferguson was behind the desk of The Late Late Show, the time slot had a personal element that hadnt been seen before or since Ferguson was late-nights humanity, and his show was a singularly intimate experience that felt like a conversation with the comedian rather than a glaring, glitzy spectacle designed by a focus group to maximize clickability. CBS decision to end The Late Late Show and replace it with @midnight is the ultimate result of their late-night approach shifting away from the storytellers and improvisers towards flashy production design and YouTube-friendly content. If @midnight succeeds at CBS, Corden may be seen in retrospect as the connective tissue that transitioned the late-night format into an internet-friendly extravaganza, but the history of The Late Late Show should only ever be defined by one Scotsman and his gay robot sidekick. Being a fan of offbeat, weird, dark and outright Dadaistic humor before the internet meant having to really search it out since it usually didnt appeal to the masses. A beacon, however, shined its light from 1979 through 1995, delivering this type of humor to millions of Americans every single day. All they had to do was look at the funny pages. Click right here to get the best of Cracked sent to your inbox. Gary Larsons The Far Side has been called witty, absurd, genius and confusing. Which is to say, people either praised it mightly or outright loathed it, with little indifference in-between. But while it wasnt for everybody, it served everybody that it was for, to which the sales of Far Side mugs, calendars, shirts and collected editions of Larsons work can attest. Similarly, when Larson returned from retirement in 2020 to post new comics on his website, fans clamored for more of his surreal appeal. So lets all celebrate the weird and unsettling, the dark and the hilarious, the cows and not their cow tools. Here are some of our favorite Far Side comics that have embedded themselves in the far reaches of our brains... 15 Cow Tools This comic was so weirdly controversial that whether you think its funny or not is almost immaterial. Cow Tools stirred so much confusion and uproar when it was first published that it garnered its own Wikipedia page. Larsons attempt at silly humor fell off the mark so hard that it bounced back into a bulls-eye decades later when this infamous strip became a popular meme. As weve argued before, Waynes World is one of the funniest, most prescient comedies of all time and a major reason why the film works so well is due to the contributions of its director, Penelope Spheeris, then best known for helming the Decline of Western Civilization music documentaries. Famously, Spheeris and star Mike Myers didnt always get along behind the scenes, and it turns out that one of their disputes was a heated battle over some of the movies funniest moments. Click right here to get the best of Cracked sent to your inbox. As Spheeris recently revealed on the It Happened in Hollywood podcast, Waynes Worlds first test screening received a great reaction from the audience but unfortunately, thats also when the crap hit the fan. After filming wrapped, Myers father passed away, and he was forced to return to Canada, meaning that he missed out on the screening and had to watch the movie alone in an editing room. While many of Wayne Worlds jokes were validated for Spheeris by the audience response at the test screening, Myers solo viewing led him to have concerns; he presented Spheeris with 11 pages of notes containing a list of changes he wanted to make. According to Spheeris, most of them sucked. For example, Myers wanted to cut the moment when Waynes ex Stacy, played by Lara Flynn Boyle, runs into a parked car while conspicuously riding her bike past Wayne and Garth. Spheeris theory? It was because she was getting the laugh, not him. Advertisement On Thursday, Cleese clarified his side of the story after a number of rumors had rapidly circulated surrounding the Life of Brian stage show, which is slated to premiere in 2024. In addition to the allegation that the Loretta scene, Cleese was also publicly accused by his former creative partner and Spamalot writer Eric Idle of cutting the shows finale wherein Brian and the rest of the crucified sing Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. Cleese roundly denied both rumors, noting that Bright Side will remain primarily because We don't want to upset Eric and it's his only contribution to the Life of Brian script. On the topic of the Loretta scene, Cleese tweeted, So here you have something theres never been a complaint about in 40 years, that Ive heard of, and now all of a sudden we cant do it because itll offend people. What is one supposed to make of that? adding of the detractors within the cast, These were absolutely top-class Broadway performers and they were adamant that we would not get away with doing the scene. I asked them Are Python fans not going to come because we're doing a scene they've been laughing at for 40 years? Advertisement According to a report from Deadline, Cleese was the one who first started the conversation at the Life of Brian readthrough about the scenes fittingness for a stage in 2023. While it certainly seems silly to cut a scene written in the 1970s because it has been co-opted in bad faith by politically motivated Twitter warriors in the modern age, the cast didnt see it the way Cleese had hoped they would and answered his question honestly. None of them have taken to social media to argue their side the way Cleese has done, and absolutely no one is demanding a cancelation, a boycott, the formation of an angry mob or any other number of punitive responses to the scenes inclusion. In short, this was a non-issue that no one is talking about besides John Cleese. Remember when he thought the BBC had canceled Monty Python? Finding qualified staff to replace vacancies or build out an expanding team can be a nightmare for already overburdened CISOs, especially given theres a pernicious and ongoing shortage of skilled cybersecurity workers in the job market. One creative alternative to frustratedly trolling job-search sites is to look inward, rather than outward to find capable, smart people already working at a company in other areas and train them to fill roles on the cyber team. There are many benefits to upskilling over hiring anew: current employees dont need to adjust to the corporate culture, they have institutional memory, they have relationships within the company, and theyre already in the human resources channel. The downside is their lack of training and certification but thats a small price to pay for gaining a talented team member. Pam Nigro, vice president of security for Medecision, is no stranger to upskilling non-technical workers with complementary skills to extend her security team. In a previous job at Health Care Services (HCSC), she cross-trained employees who worked in audit and vendor relationship management to staff up a new third-party risk management program. After passing internal security fundamentals training, they received HITRUST certifications and were able to begin validating third-party vendor compliance. Training the non-technical is only the beginning At HCSC, we developed a career path for upskilling and recertifying employees with complementary skills, and Ive carried that to my current job. Now my partners from IT and networking work with me on cross-training to move people forward, Nigro says. Certification is part of the employee upskilling journey, she says, but I never look at the certification as the end of skills building, I look at that as the beginning and a foundation to build on. Nigro is also an adjunct professor at Lewis University, where she teaches graduate-level security, risk, and governance courses. And she is board chair and vice president at ISACA, where she teaches the Cybersecurity Fundamentals course, specifically designed for upskilling people with no security background. Its part of a larger set of certificates required to earn the more advanced Information Technology Certified Associate (ITCA) certificate that requires passing tests in five fundamentals: computing concepts, networking and infrastructure, cybersecurity, software development, and data science. Upskilling is a strong option to solve staffing issues According to CompTIAs Workforce and Learning Trends Survey, released in April 2023, 75% of respondents said they plan to increase the scope of their talent mobility programs and processes through increased training and certification. Broadly speaking, this is a strong option for a lot of companies trying to solve their supply/demand skill imbalance, says Seth Robinson, VP of industry research at CompTIA. There are circumstances where you can take someone whos not in a technical job and, with the right amount of training, you can get them to work in security. But theyd start at a foundation level and if they show strong aptitude they can advance to higher-level security and compliance roles. As more organizations seek to upskill employees to grow their security teams using internal talent, there are a variety of certifications and career paths available to employees depending on how their existing skills can align with different security roles. To be successful in upskilling non-technical employees into security roles, its important to properly map that pathway, advises Diana Kelley, CISO at Protect AI and founder of Security Curve, a cybersecurity advisory. Identify transferrable skills If you are moving people into technical security from other parts of the organization, look at the delta between the employee's transferrable skills and the job theyd be moving into. For example, if you need a product security person, you could upskill a product engineer or product manager because they know how the product works but may be missing the security mindset, she says. Its important to identify those who are ready for a new challenge, identify their transferrable skills, and create career paths to retain and advance your best people instead of hiring from outside. In most types of upskilling situations, Kelley recommends the CompTIA Security+ Certification, which also has no pre-requisites, although students would benefit from having a basic understanding of computer networks, perhaps starting with the A+ or Network+ certifications, which is mapped in CompTIAs career pathway. In addition to CompTIA and ISACA certification, the SANS Institute also has several courses geared toward upskilling employees who are new to cyber, including the new GIAC Foundational Cybersecurity Technologies (GFACT) certification, and the GIAC Information Security Fundamentals certification (GISF). SANS also has introductory classes for digital forensics and cloud computing the latter is among the hottest training tracks in demand today, says SANS curriculum director Rob Lee. He also notes that for upskilling, there are niches within niches; for example, cloud architecture or cloud pen testing, and specific cloud environments such as AWS, Azure, or Google. (Google has also recently added a new six-month cybersecurity certificate to its Google Career certificate program). Specialty training can be key when upskilling Other specialty areas include security skills for ICS or SCADA systems, as well as financial system auditors. To transfer skills to the specialty areas where talent is needed, he recommends using the SANS cyber talent skills assessments, which cost $200 each. SANS cyber talent assessments provide managers with the ability to identify their team skills, performance, and training investment, Lee says. If you have someone new to a cyber role and want to identify who is going to be the superstar, assessments will help identify them and then you can put them on a fast track to more training and certifications. While upskilling and certifying existing employees would help the organization retain talented people who already know the company, Deidre Diamond, founding CEO of cyber talent search company CyberSN, cautions against moving skilled workers to entry-level roles in security that dont pay what the employees are used to earning. Upskilling financial analysts into compliance, either as a cyber risk analyst or GRC analyst will require higher-level certifications, but the pay for those upskilled positions may be more equitable for those higher-paid employees, she adds. CyberSN is a free search platform with standardized job requirements for 45 security roles, all of which require some networking and security experience, and most of which require certifications, including the analyst roles, which are the most searched for, followed by DevSecOps and security engineers. Train outside the box In addition to the obvious certification bodies, there are a wide variety of other training programs to prepare non-technical employees for work in cybersecurity. For example, look to economic mobility programs, such as the Ventura County Digital Upskilling Training Program. The state-funded pilot program led by the Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) provides free certification training to local businesses, including CompTIA A+ and Security+ certifications. Additionally, critical infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs) provide training courses for their member companies. For example, the Financial Services ISAC offers training for boards and employees of member companies on cyber fundamentals, offense, defense, intelligence, applications, and cloud. Similarly, in the UK, the National Cybersecurity Centre provides training and certifications at a reasonable price for beginners, such as its BCS in information security management principles, which applies to those with cybersecurity backgrounds wanting to learn more, but also to business unit information asset owners and those with legal compliance responsibilities. Some governments offer cyber-upskilling programs In addition, the UKs Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) and the SANS Institute announced the second iteration of the Upskill in Cyber program to help UK professionals make a career change into cybersecurity. The program lasts 14 weeks and offers free training and advice to support UK workers looking to forge a cybersecurity career. Also, look into cybersecurity boot camps at local universities such as Rutgers and the University of Texas. In its literature, the University of Texas boot camp shares examples of upskilling people from technical writing, project management, law, finance, corporate security, and law enforcement. It also cites statistics showing that certifications are useful to both employees and employers. Expect about a year for non-technical people to ramp up and achieve most of the basic certifications they need to move into cybersecurity, Lee advises. Most of the top certification bodies, SANS included, offer training and certifications across multiple countries and regions around the world and are priced as in-class or virtual, with or without hands-on labs, and include additional costs for taking the tests to earn the certifications. Think of upskilling and certifications as a way to support employees that are ready for a new challenge because they've outgrown their existing role, Kelley says. More organizations should look at whats right for their employees' future success by building on the transferrable skills they already have and helping them skill up from there. By Microsoft Security Hybrid and multicloud adoption are par for the course for enterprise businesses, with 86% of organizations planning to increase their investment in the technology. And while cloud technology does bring inherent advantagesnamely flexibility, cost-effectiveness, improved disaster recovery, increased security, better compliance, and better performanceit can also lead to increased cybersecurity risks if not managed properly. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of businesses find it challenging to adequately manage multicloud environments. This is why a strong governance and management strategy is needed to ensure seamless data and workload movement across all cloud environments. It also contributes to more consistent security and compliance controls. Microsoft recently partnered with BlueVoyant to host a webinar on best practices for managing multicloud and hybrid cloud security. Read on to learn more about our top tips or watch the full webinar recording for additional insight. Cloud security challenges When we talk about multicloud adoption, were referring to the use of multiple cloud providers for different workloads or applications within an organization. Hybrid cloud, on the other hand, integrates on-premises infrastructure with one or more public cloud providers. These technologies are excellent at providing a scalable infrastructure in the face of increasing digital workloads, but they also introduce a number of novel challenges to enterprise operations. Namely, that hybrid and multicloud environments are more complex, and therefore have the potential to compound security threats and open organizations up to additional vulnerabilities. The complexity is also exacerbated by the associated tool proliferation. One study found that 78% of CISOs have 16 or more security tools in their cybersecurity vendor portfolio while 12% have 46 or more, leading to higher integration costs and a heavier workload burden on staff. Within the next three years, 80% of IT organizations plan to consolidate cybersecurity vendors. One of the most common challenges organizations face is the lack of unified management and governance strategies. This creates poor visibility across the environment and can lead to companies struggling with critical cloud misconfigurations or configuration drift, an inability to maintain consistent access controls, and poor interoperability across cloud providers. Theres also the issue of protecting workloads regardless of where they live and the overarching challenge of staffing and training cloud experts who can develop and operate secure applications in an already resource-constrained cybersecurity environment. You also have to consider attack trends across the broader threat landscape. Cybersecurity threats are more sophisticated than ever, with bad actors joining forces to increase their damaging impact. These threat actors are also growing increasingly stealthy. They know when theyre being hunted and they are able to hide for days, weeks, or even months on end. Once threat actors do make it inside your network, their attacks are often designed to mutate and multiply, moving laterally across your system. So, where does that leave organizations? Recommendations for mitigating threats and managing cloud security There are several steps that organizations can take to uplevel their cloud security posture. First and foremost, we recommend implementing strong identity management and Zero Trust frameworks. Zero Trust is the gold standard of cybersecurity, and it can play a critical role in helping to close security gaps and minimizing the risk of lateral movement across cloud platforms. We also recommend best practices like implementing a minimum viable product (MVP) for governance, segmenting your network and firewall, creating a solid incident response process, monitoring and auditing your cloud environment, and creating a cloud encryption policy. Underpinning all of this is the recommendation to centralize your cloud security with cloud-specific security tooling. Without centralized cloud security, organizations cant adequately track all of their risks. This can be done by using a cloud access security broker (CASB) or implementing a cloud security posture management (CSPM) strategy. There is also a third, relatively new option: cloud native application protection platforms (CNAPP). How CNAPP can centralize your cloud security Initially coined by Gartner, CNAPPs work by combining cloud workload protection platform (CWPP) capabilities and CSPM capabilities to scan workloads and configurations while theyre in development and protect them during runtime. This provides more unified visibility across the entire cloud environment. When looking at CNAPP solutions, its important to prioritize one that can unify your DevOps security management, providing code-to-cloud contextualization, integrated workflows and pull request annotations, and infrastructure as code security. This is in addition to strengthening and managing your security posture through attack-based prioritization; security compliance management; at-scale governance and automated remediation; and integrated insights across DevOps, External Attack Surface Management (EASM), and workloads. Finally, we recommend looking for a CNAPP that can detect threats and protect your workloads with full-stack threat protection, vulnerability assessment and management, and automate with the tools of your choiceregardless of which vendor they come from. Ultimately, managing hybrid and multicloud environments can be challenging. However, the productivity and scalability benefits offered by cloud technologies make the added effort well worth it. Organizations just need to be aware of their risks and stay on top of the latest protection methods. For more information on the latest cyberthreat insights, visit Microsoft Security Insider. For its 100 year anniversary, the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art is displaying the Master of Fine Arts program graduate exhibit. In the exhibit, five selected graduates showcase their final works of art before graduation. From 1995 until its renovation in 2002, JSMA annually hosted the MFA graduate exhibit. This year, the exhibit returns for the first time in over 20 years. The MFA show has always been a favorite of mine, Kurt Neugebauer, the Art Associate Director of Administration and Exhibitions at JSMA, said. It's not like most other exhibitions we put on at the JSMA, mostly because we're working directly with the students. We don't have a collection of works of art sitting and waiting to be displayed, so the artists are creating as we're going through this process. Each year, through a lengthy application process, the MFA program chooses five artists to show their work at an exhibition. With the MFA program being interdisciplinary, this year a large portion of the artists are displaying multimedia works with elements of video, animation, sculpture and painting. Since JSMA stopped hosting in 2002, the exhibit has been held at galleries in Portland. And for some, the transition from a gallery space to a museum was a surprise. I do wonder if my work belongs in a museum space because I like to do more installations and experiential work, and so I feel like it works best in my mind in a more DIY space, Lily Brennan, one of the MFA artists, said. But it was a good opportunity, and it was kind of fun to problem solve how to rework my concept for my thesis. For David Pena, an artist who works in multiple mediums, showing his art in a museum is also a different experience. Pena is a community organizer and believes in making art accessible to all people by displaying it in communal spaces. Although museums dont necessarily fit Penas definition of a communal space, the JSMA makes itself an accessible resource by being free to students, which Pena said, is a big thing, and I appreciate it. Anastasiya Gutnik, who has previously shown her work in galleries, said it has been really exciting to show her art at a major museum amongst many well-known artists such as Picasso, Monet and Van Gogh. Theres a lot of work at JSMA that I really admire, and its really exciting to be in conversation with and in a space with those people, Gutnik said. Gutniks piece is a multimedia display that conveys the relationship between humans and nature through a three-channel video of scenes from Dexter Reservoir, a lake about 20 minutes southeast from Eugene, and a steel and wood structure. Gutnik focuses on environmental issues often in her work and focuses on the idea of relationships to place. Gutnik is originally from Russia and said she felt a connection to Dexter Reservoir as it represents a place she grew up visiting in Russia. Brennans work also uses multimedia displays to convey stories and deeper messages about personal experiences. The piece she is showing at JSMA is about an experience she had with a stalker. Brennan focuses on issues of violence towards women and female-presenting people with specific representation of BIPOC. As an Asian American, Brennan said she feels honored to be a part of JSMA, a historically Asian art museum. I think it is really important to get my voice out to be relatable for people who have similar experiences to mine, Brennan said. Eugene is a very predominantly white space, I think it's really important to have more BIPOC voices being seen and heard. Pena, who is a Mexican American and has worked within his community in Mexico, also spoke on the importance of representation in museums. Penas piece was inspired by a photograph of a fence his grandfather welded in front of his grandparents house in Mexico. Pena said the photo was sitting in his mind for a long time, and as he reflected on his family's history, Pena decided he wanted to convey his Grandfathers trade of welding as an art form. Pena began to learn welding at the beginning of the spring term of 2023 to show his piece, a distorted interpretation of a classic wrought iron fence, at the JSMA at the end of the term. I think it's really important to see art and see yourself in artistic spaces, Pena said. Having access to those spaces is vitally important because you can see your history archived. I think it's important that the public see themselves represented, and I see a lot of that within the JSMA, which is exciting. The MFA exhibit is currently open to the public and will be taken down after June 20th. Students at UO and Lane County can see the exhibit for free, and the general public will be charged a $5 entry fee. The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday 11-5 and until 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Additionally, JSMA will be open on graduation day, June 20th, for the final day of the MFA exhibit. USD/CAD PRICE, CHARTS AND ANALYSIS: Trade Smarter - Sign up for the DailyFX Newsletter Receive timely and compelling market commentary from the DailyFX team Subscribe to Newsletter MOST READ: Gold Price Forecast: 100-Day MA Provides Support as Gold Eyes Recovery The Loonie has put in some gains against the Greenback this morning helped by US dollar weakness. The loonie looks like it could be vulnerable to further losses as hawkish re-pricing of the Fed rate hike probabilities for June threaten to keep the US dollar supported. WTIs STRUGGLE, OPEC MEETING AND LOOK AHEAD WTI continues to struggle holding onto gains which has also negatively impacted the loonie. Of course, there is the all-important OPEC+ meeting in Vienna this weekend which could herald a surprise production cut. Such a move would no doubt boost oil prices and thus benefit the Canadian Dollar. This is by no means a given but rather an observation following comments by the Saudi Oil Minister last week. Market sentiment continues to shift back and forth at present with news around a debt ceiling deal yet to fully take hold. This could in part be down to the fact that the deal still needs to be approved by both sides before President Biden Is able to sign the bill. The raging wildfires in parts of Canada has continued into the new week with Nova Scotia having to declare a state of emergency. It is estimated that around 16000 people have had to leave their homes with more than 100 firefighters assisting in minimizing the damage and assist in rescue efforts. The devastating fires could have a negative impact on the economy, however the extent of such will be difficult to determine at this stage. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston Providing an Update on Twitter There isnt a lot of market moving events on the calendar today with focus likely on Canadian GDP data due tomorrow. GDP thus far for Q1 has been decelerating throughout the first quarter with March GDP (flash) at -0.1%, However consensus for the QoQ figure is around 0.4% while annualized the GDP Growth Rate is estimated to come in at 2.5%. A positive QoQ and YoY print may well be overshadowed by a poor print for the month of April which could have an impact on the Bank of Canada (BoC) and the possibility of a rate hike at the Central Banks next meeting. For all market-moving economic releases and events, see the DailyFX Calendar TECHNICAL OUTLOOK AND FINAL THOUGHTS From a technical perspective, USD/CAD is displaying a great example of price action at work as we have staircased our way higher since bottoming out on May 8 around the 1.3300 handle. Having broken the descending trendline USDCAD Rallied into key resistance around 1.3650 before pulling back over the past 3 days. We do appear poised for the next leg to the upside toward the 1.3700 mark. A deeper correction here could see a test of the 50 and 100-day MA at 1.3520 and 1.3514 respectively, providing a more appealing risk-to-reward ratio. A daily candle close below the 1.3495 handle would invalidate the bullish bias and setup. Key Intraday Levels to Keep an Eye On Support Levels: 1.3560 1.3500 (50 and 100-day MA) 1.3400 Resistance Levels: 1.3650 1.3694 1.3750 USD/CAD Daily Chart, May 30, 2023 Source: TradingView, Prepared by Zain Vawda IG CLIENT SENTIMENT IG Client Sentiment Data (IGCS) shows retail traders are currently net SHORT on USD/CAD with 57% of traders holding short positions. At DailyFX we typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment resulting in a short-term Bullish Bias. Recommended by Zain Vawda The Fundamentals of Trend Trading Get My Guide --- Written by Zain Vawda for DailyFX.com Contact and follow Zain on Twitter: @zvawda Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band blew into Edinburgh last night, thundering through a barnstorming three-hour set for their devoted fans like there was no tomorrow. And in a way, there isn't. Amid the usual exuberant rock anthems and the joy and soul of a Springsteen show there lurks a new darkness on the edge of town. These days, themes of death and mortality float through many of his newer songs like wisps of smoke from a dampening fire. In one affecting moment, the 73-year-old performs a solo acoustic version of Last Man Standing, a song from his hit 2020 album, Letter To You. On stage at Murrayfield, he tells the hushed 52,000 in the audience the story behind it; how the death of the last other surviving member of his first band, formed in 1965 in his New Jersey hometown, affected him and brought a new clarity of mind and purpose. 'At 15, it's all tomorrows. At 73, it's a lot of goodbyes,' he said. 'That's why you have to seize the day and make the most of every moment.' You can't say he isn't trying. This world tour began in Tampa, Florida, in February and will end in San Francisco in December after 40 dates. The European leg has already taken in multiple nights in cities including Dublin, Barcelona and Rome with dates in Birmingham and London to come in a few weeks. Bruce Springsteen, with the E Street Band, on stage at Murrayfield, Edinburgh, during his 2023 tour. Picture date: Tuesday May 30, 2023 Bruce Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt perform at BT Murrayfield Stadium on May 30, 2023 in Edinburgh, Scotland How is it all going? On the second night in Paris, I noted that for the first time ever, Bruce had swapped his usual black leather stage boots for a pair of trainers. The Boss in trainers! That's like Elvis deflating his quiff or Lady Gaga taking to the stage in box pleats and a nice cardi. They were slip-on ones at that, with a white trim and the kind of hovercraft soles that can give a man grandpappy air, even if that man happens to be the rock 'n' roll king of the world. Bruce wore the trainers as he padded around the lip of the La Defense Arena stage, not quite in Joe Biden territory, yet not exactly in the Harry Styles sphere either. He wore them in Ferrara in Italy, where critics said he shouldn't have played at all, on account of the recent floods in Emilia Romagna that killed 15 people. Yet what would cancelling the concert have achieved? Springsteen is always one for letting the band play on because rock and roll can be a respite and a solace in times of trouble. He played the night when Ronald Reagan was elected president, he played the night after John Lennon was shot, events of almost equal tragedy in the Springsteenian mind. 'It's a hard world that makes you live with a lot of things that are unliveable. And it's hard to come out here and play tonight, but there's nothing else to do,' was his attitude. He was wearing the trainers in Amsterdam last week where he tripped and fell onstage at the Johan Cruijff Arena. Poor Bruce was only four numbers in and performing another of his achy, breaky mortality numbers, a song called Ghosts. 'I'm alive and I'm out here on my own,' he sang, just before tumbling over a step and going down like a sack of spuds. For a moment he lay there on his back, with the knowing grimace of a man who understands that thanks to the thousands and thousands of smartphones that now film his every move and post the images online, millions of people will bear witness to the slip-up in his slip-ons. Bruce Springsteen, with the E Street Band, on stage at Murrayfield, Edinburgh, during his 2023 tour. Picture date: Tuesday May 30, 2023 Max Weinberg and Bruce Springsteen perform at BT Murrayfield Stadium on May 30, 2023 in Edinburgh, Scotland As he weaves through golden oldies (Because The Night) and newer covers (Nightshift) he looks in total command of the night brigade, although these days he has monitors onstage to remind him of his lyrics and rehearsed anecdotage. And speaking of dotage, there was an undeniably senior moment in Dublin where, forgetting his guitar was slung around his back in his trademark pose, he zipped up his leather jacket at the front. This led to a moment of Houdini-esque bafflement 'oh!' when he tried to swing his guitar around to play it again. 'This is something you should only do in a bathroom by yourself or something,' he said, adding: 'I do that all the time.' Yet there are other moments when the years fade and Bruce seems aged but ageless. Who could ever tire of Kitty's Back or Badlands, although these days the sexual charge of songs such as Prove It All Night and Fire has dissolved into the whimsical rather than the physical. The band, of course, are sensational the legendary E Street Band stalwarts augmented by the E Street Horns, extra percussion and some choice vocalists; everyone rehearsed and drilled within an inch of their lives. Some fans have been complaining that the sets on the tour are not as freewheeling and spontaneous as before, but how can they be? Every stage act is a story and every story needs a structure, especially now. While Bruce's charcoal-grilled voice still sounds as if he has a morning gargle with grit, it seems to have lost none of its power and glory. How astonishing that he is here among us, still doing it. Some say Bruce is past his prime, but no one who was there last night would agree. A rip through Thunder Road still moves my soul like it did when I first heard the song nearly 40 years ago. Bruce Springsteen, Max Weinberg and Steven Van Zandt perform at BT Murrayfield Stadium on May 30, 2023 in Edinburgh, Scotland The narrative drive and those widescreen lyrics, with its message to get out of your small town and seize your own destiny; to take a chance on life, instead of wasting time 'waiting for a saviour to rise from these streets', still resonates. Is that corny? I don't care, it's true. Throughout the set there is little in the way of embellishment or chat, no fancy confetti clouds or glitter cannons. And throughout the night he barely stops, not even for a glass of water. From his base camp to his Everest, it's a sweaty, no-frills climb up the cliff face of rock 'n' roll. The encore brings tributes to band members who have died (Clarence Clemons and Danny Federici) and the show concludes on a moment of poignancy rather than euphoria. On every show to date, the evening ends with Bruce standing alone, his slight figure etched under the spotlight, playing harmonica and guitar. The final song is I'll See You In My Dreams, in which he sings to his long dead friends but also, I think, to the loved ones he will leave when it is his time to go. 'When all our summers have come to an end, we'll meet and live and laugh again, because death is not the end,' is his final ghostly message. In the gloaming of this long Scottish evening, where the sun doesn't set until nearly 10pm, the amazing Bruce Springsteen and his phenomenal deathly hallows are totally life-affirming in the end. Their faces were twisted with hatred as they jabbed their fingers at me. They waved placards denouncing me as a hate-speaker, a bigot, someone unfit for public life. This was Oxford University in 2018, where I had been invited to give an after-dinner speech at Queens College. When I arrived, however, I was greeted not by the reasoning intellects you would expect to find at one of the worlds great universities, but by a mob of blue-haired, red-faced woke censors. They were assembled outside the building where I was due to give my speech, hurling all manner of abuse. I tried to talk to them but they backed off, as if I were a leper. To them, I was a leper a political leper. Someone who had committed the cardinal sin of dissenting from their politically correct ideology. University of York students hold a protest on campus prior to a talk by women's rights campaigner Julie Bindel (pictured on May 4, 2022) The 51-year-old Stock has committed the great thought-crime of our times. Like J.K. Rowling, she does not believe it is possible to change sex Needless to say, the experience made me deeply pessimistic about our educational institutions. Free speech looked to be on the run. This evening at the Oxford Union debating society a similar scene will play out but on a grander scale. The visit of the feminist academic Kathleen Stock to give a speech is expected to be met by up to a thousand LGBTQ protesters and their supporters. The 51-year-old Stock has committed the great thought-crime of our times. Like J.K. Rowling, she does not believe it is possible to change sex. She does not believe trans women are real women. For holding these views, Stock has already paid with her job she felt forced by student protests into quitting as a professor at Sussex Univesity in 2021. And over the past weeks she has faced concerted efforts to stop her from speaking at the Oxford Union, as the universitys various student bodies have lined up to call for her to be uninvited. Those efforts having failed, LGBTQ protesters have now set out to disrupt the event. Not only Kathleen Stock is to be intimidated. Anyone who wishes to attend her talk irrespective of whether they agree with her will have to run the gauntlet behind the barricades that will protect them from the activists seeking to stifle free speech. Yet something reassuring happened last week a glimmer that gives me hope that these campus tyrants, who have long stifled open discussion, may soon be facing their comeuppance. A brave group of more than 100 Oxford students issued a call-to-arms by writing an open letter to the Daily Telegraph newspaper. They fear that freedom of speech is in peril. These students are understandably outraged by how Kathleen Stock has been treated by their contemporaries. Oxford University was founded with the key aim of discussing ideas which some may find challenging, they say. And then the killer point. There is much to gain from hearing opposing views on important topics, claim these young dissenters from the woke ideology. What a bizarre state of affairs that it is now newsworthy for students to acknowledge that it is good to hear opposing views. My heart soared when I saw the letter. To explain why it is so significant, I must illustrate just how corrosive campus censorship has become. That night at Queens College in 2018, I was there to talk about wait for it freedom of speech! The irony was laughable. I was making the case for the right of every person to express themselves as they see fit. And yet this middle-class mob, these searingly intolerant sons and daughters of privilege, were hell-bent on silencing me. They were terrified of discussion and determined to create a force field to shield themselves from ideas they disliked. I had been invited to Christ Church college to debate abortion. I was due to make the pro-choice case The worst part is that the institutions themselves have often capitulated to students demands for safe spaces, free from difficult ideas. I know this better than anyone because in 2014, in a separate incident, I was actually banned from speaking at Oxford. Timothy Stanley, of the Daily Telegraph, and I had been invited to Christ Church college to debate abortion. I was due to make the pro-choice case, Stanley the pro-life case. But it was cancelled. A mob of furious feminist students insisted it was unacceptable for two blokes to talk about abortion and threatened to turn up with instruments to disrupt the debate. Disgracefully, Christ Church caved in. It said there were too many security and welfare issues around this meeting, and therefore it could not go ahead. At the behest of a rabble of narrow-minded students who would rather stew in a soup of their own opinions, I was silenced. And I am far from alone. We have witnessed even high-ranking politicians such as former Tory Home Secretary Amber Rudd being disinvited from university talks because some students felt that she was problematic. We have seen the Iranian exile and critic of Islamist extremism and its treatment of women, Maryam Namazie, being no-platformed at Warwick University on the basis that she is inflammatory. Even a female critic of religious misogyny is not allowed these days. Student officials at Sheffield University banned music by the rapper Eminem on the grounds that it is anti-gay. At the more ridiculous end, the student union at the University of East Anglia famously banned students from wearing sombreros, because it might offend Mexicans. And the student union at Manchester University banned clapping in case it caused issues for students with sensory problems. Instead it encouraged students to show approval by using jazz hands which to my mind is more offensive for the speaker. Whether the campus censorship is petty or political, the result is the same: students are encouraged to think of themselves as fragile creatures who must be protected from the slightest offence. I didnt finish university and I had to learn my debating skills elsewhere. But I always understood why people were enticed by higher education. Back then, universities offered an opportunity to challenge the opinions of others and more importantly be challenged in an intellectually demanding environment. When our views are constantly scrutinised, we are forced to defend them or question our own assumptions. Without debate, we become thoughtless, lazy and complacent. Now, finally, some students are realising this. They are taking a stand against their cohorts chilling, paternalistic worldview. Oxford students saying openly Let Kathleen Stock speak might feel like a landmark. In reality, this declaration is the product of a slow, but powerful, sea-change against the forces of wokery. In recent years, free-speech societies have been popping up across the country to protect the open debate which, until recently, was a given on campuses. At Edinburgh, Dundee and Bristol, students have established platforms to encourage such debates. The founder of Bristols Free Speech Society, Izzy Posen, says universities must be places for the uncompromising and relentless search for truth. Meanwhile, the Free Speech and Secular Society at Manchester University has made a point of inviting speakers banned on other campuses, including feminist Julie Bindel who, like Stock, doesnt believe in gender self-identification. And the Free Speech Society at York University works to promote the importance of tolerance, debate and the free exchange of ideas. The visit of Kathleen Stock to the Oxford Union this evening is expected to result in trans activists trying to intimidate supporters of free speech and open debate into silence. But more important is that organisers have refused to yield to this intimidation. So the tide is starting to turn. Increasing numbers of students are sick of being patronised as pathetic wallflowers who must be protected from controversial ideas. They are challenging the stranglehold that the woke have exercised over campus life. They are demanding their right to hear all ideas, and to decide for themselves which are good, and which are bad. This is the real counter-cultural revolution the resurgence of rational, free-minded students against self-appointed censors who have wielded far too much power on campuses in recent years. Its one student revolt I can really get behind. For someone so effusive about the law, Sir Keir Starmers decision to accept sizeable donations from Just Stop Oil backer Dale Vince shows remarkably skewed judgment. After all, this is a man whose fortune has helped the eco zealots wreak misery around the country through anti-social behaviour and wanton acts of vandalism. Right-thinking people may feel Sir Keir should return the money, but by repeatedly attempting to block legislation designed to crack down on the protesters antics, hes already shown where his sympathies lie. Meanwhile, Labours reported plan to halt all new North Sea oil and gas developments demonstrates just how aligned he is to Just Stop Oils crazed not to say financially ruinous demands. Perhaps we shouldnt be altogether surprised by all this. Whether its supporting strikers or taking the knee for Black Lives Matter, Sir Keir will jump on any protest bandwagon going just so long as it causes trouble for the Government. Sir Keir Starmers decision to accept sizeable donations from Just Stop Oil backer Dale Vince shows remarkably skewed judgment Protesters marched in Westminster in solidarity with Just Stop Oil activists Morgan Trowland and Marcus Decker, who have been jailed for climbing the Dartford Crossing bridge (April 2023) Sir Keir is forever telling us that Labour has moved on from the loony tunes days of Jeremy Corbyn and is serious about governing. But by siding with a man so inextricably yoked to the eco wreckers and their crackpot ideas, hes proved that to be utter nonsense. No interest in savers Self-reliance, prudence and thrift: Are these not the values which capture the very essence of Conservatism? If so, someone may need to remind Jeremy Hunt, whose decision to slash the tax threshold on share dividends and capital gains tax has effectively turned that philosophy on its head. New rules mean hundreds of thousands of modest strivers are facing shock tax bills on investments they sensibly made in shares and property in order to provide for their retirement. And since many of those affected wont be used to submitting a tax return, some will end up being hit with punitive fines by HMRC, compounding their misery further. Coming from Labour, these assaults would be bad enough. But for a Conservative chancellor to perform such a stealthy raid on hard-earned nest eggs is truly shameful. Those who scrimp and save are not just the backbone of our economy they also tend to be traditional Tory voters. Rather than trying to conjure up ever more inventive ways to grab their money, Mr Hunt should urgently be trying to reduce their tax bills before the election. Otherwise he may just find them deserting his party in droves. Justice for Joanna Robert Brown brutally bludgeoned his wife Joanna Simpson to death with a claw hammer within earshot of their two young children days after he had dug a grave. Robert Brown brutally bludgeoned his wife Joanna Simpson to death with a claw hammer within earshot of their two young children Yet far from spending his life behind bars, the former airline pilot could walk free in November having served just half of his 26-year sentence. After the Mail recently issued a plea on behalf of Joannas mother Diana Parkes, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk has now promised to pass urgent reforms which will block Browns release. That decision is of course enormously welcome. But how on earth could this cold, remorseless monster ever have been eligible for release in the first place? As the country prepares for yet more rail strikes tomorrow, the financial repercussions of the union barons selfish intransigence is laid bare. According to analysis, walkouts have cost the rail industry more than 900million over the past year. Well-remunerated train drivers wont care for them, more strikes mean more time basking in the half-term sunshine. But for millions of hard-working commuters, its another week of abject misery. A UK mum was left dismayed when her child came home from school and revealed they had had a lockdown drill. The seven-year-old arrived home from primary school and told her mum that they had to hide under desks while their teacher turned off the lights and locked the door in case of an emergency. The confused parent turned to Reddit users for answers. Comments on the post suggest that primary school children in the UK practising lockdown drills in case of an emergency might not be as uncommon as you would think, and many parents are in favour of them. In the post, the anonymous mother, who is a teacher herself, explained what her child had said to her about the lockdown drill. A mother left confused by her seven-year-old daughter's US-style 'lockdown drill' at school took to Reddit to see what others thought about the measures (stock image) The anonymous mother told people on the platform that the drill involved the children hiding under their desks while the teacher turned off the lights and locked the door She wrote that her daughter had said: 'I know what you're thinking Mummy, but it's not lockdown like Covid (I wasn't thinking that). It's in case a dangerous event that isn't a fire is occurring on school grounds. But don't worry because that's very unlikely. She then described how they all hid under their desks while their teacher turned off the lights and locked the door.' The concerned mother explained that while the school must have dealt with it well because her 'anxiety riddled kiddo was very casual and calm about it', she doesn't want the drills to become a common practice in schools. She added, 'Is this the States?' The parent said she had never done a lockdown practice at the school where she works, and she hopes there is no intention to start. She ended the post saying: 'I have no interest in trying to get a bunch of teenagers to sit quietly under tables while I turn lights off and lock us in, and can't imagine establishing any form of order afterwards!' Unlike the mother, many Reddit users are not surprised by the drill practice being in place. One said: 'Pretty common these days. When my kids did it at primary school I was a bit shocked but I prefer they do it so that they at least have an idea what to do should something bad happen. Imagine the carnage if they didn't have some sort of prep. Getting my son out of the house is a 20 part procedure as it is.' Another added: 'It's normal now, my kids' schools do it occasionally. It's pitched as being in case of a dangerous dog getting onto the grounds or an intruder.' Many Reddit users were not at all surprised by the drill that the mother's daughter was subjected to and shared stories of their own children's similar experiences at school A third person wrote: 'This isn't that new, or that uncommon. Your school doesn't do it, but maybe it should. I've been at three schools where we've practiced a lockdown, kids have been amazing. Have faith in your students and have faith in yourself to control it. Just because it hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't.' The UK Government website states that all education buildings and places where childcare takes place should indeed have emergency plans, with the aim of being able to respond effectively in case of a serious problem. Public health incidents, severe weather, criminal activity including bomb threats, and a cyber incident, are all among the government's list of reasons for why schools should prepare an emergency plan. One Reddit user explained: 'I was supply teaching and we had to do a drill shortly after the Manchester bombing. Very sad and surreal.' Another user added: 'I did it in my school, we had drills and then one time someone tried to get in the school with a knife so we had to do it for real. We did it in my primary school as well and I left school quite a while ago.' One user described the tactical way her child's teacher dealt with a lockdown, she said: 'They did one with my daughter's reception class recently. She was so confused by it all. The teacher made it into a sort of game where they had to 'hide from a swarm of bees' which is quite a good idea for 4/5 year olds. Still seems crazy though, makes me wonder if we are expecting an attack? Another said: 'I don't know why this is so baffling to you. It's just a precaution for when there's potential danger that evacuating is riskier than staying put. While most commenters agreed the lockdown procedures are positive, others were much more sceptical. Some commenters, however, were more sceptical about the primary school lockdown drill, with one encouraging the mother to complain to the headteacher One parent commented: 'Weird. My kids have never had this at school. My wife (a teacher) never had this at any school she taught at. I never had it at any of the various different schools I went to.' A teacher in the comments added: 'Never done this in our schools either and I'm the same as you in being opposed to it starting.' An additional teacher said, 'I'm perfectly capable of controlling kids in a standard classroom situation. And I'm perfectly capable of handling an actual emergency situation. 'Come on kids, everyone sit in silence under a table because I said so' might work in primaries but with teenagers is going to cause a major headache.' Another person said: 'That's absolutely ludicrous, I'd be in my best corporate battle armour and straight in to see the head. We're not in the US, we don't need to be introducing these kinds of anxieties.' Another parent shared their anger and said: 'I would be so mad if my kids' school did this, particularly without my knowledge. There is emerging evidence in the US to show that lockdown drills are much more mentally damaging to kids than we realise, even if they appear relaxed about them. It may seem like an important exercise, but some believe it is necessary to weigh the possible trauma drills put children through against the likelihood of such an emergency occurring. 'Is hiding in the dark really an appropriate response to danger?', one commenter remarked. These are the four words that should be a 'red flag' for any animal lover looking to get their next pet on Facebook Marketplace. Brittany Brody, who is the founder and CEO of online matching service for breeders and buyers Tail Tell Match, issued a scam warning on her TikTok account to potential owners. 'I'm gonna give you four words to avoid some of the worst pet scammers on Facebook. I spend my days, studying these scammers. I know how they operate, and I know how to avoid them,' she said in a video, which has so far had more than 22,000 views. Brittany, from Iowa, reveals the four words as 'for adopting and rehoming' as she shows a series of Facebook Marketplace ads in the background of her clip. Brittany Brody, who is founder and CEO of online matching service for breeders and buyers Tail Tell Match, issued a scam warning on her TikTok account to potential owners 'You'll see as I scroll these Facebook groups, they have those four words in common,' Brittany explained. 'They prey on people who are looking for very specific types of dogs by creating these groups that are found in Facebook searches. 'Just a disclaimer I can't say 100 per cent for sure these are scammers, but from the research that I've done, they don't look very legit. I've also talked to a few of them on Facebook and let's just say, my red flags went off.' Brittany went on to say that there were dozens of posts in one of the forums 'gushing' over the Facebook group admins and lots of photos that didn't belong to those who had uploaded them. 'The only people who are allowed to post puppies for sale are the admin,' she added. 'That was actually one of the first really big red flags that I saw on these groups, is that the only people who are allowed to sell dogs are the admins of the group, or what appear to be very scammy (sic) accounts. 'They also turn off commenting on most of the posts. So the only people who are allowed to comment are admins or what appear to be very hacked scammy (sic) accounts.' Another red flag is when pictures and captions of people who have 'happily adopted' are posted by an admin account. Brittany (pictured with dog Oscar), from Iowa, reveals the four words as 'for adopting and rehoming' as she shows a series of Facebook Marketplace ads in the background of her clip 'You'll see as I scroll these Facebook groups, they have those four words in common,' Brittany explained In these posts, a completely different person is featured in the profile picture of the account claiming to be a 'happy buyer.' There are also scammer accounts that comment on seller's posts, with the intention of 'warning' people away from being duped. They then proceed to provide the contact info for a 'legit' breeder, but Brittany claims that person is also likely to be a scammer. In the comments, Brittany's followers were grateful for her words of warning. One person wrote: 'I was just scammed. I wish I would have seen your video before I was scammed.' Another added: 'I am so glad you are helping people avoid scams! Another suggestion... Ask for Vets info. Also, if they have a website.' Someone else provided some comedic relief to Brittany's 'four words' warning: 'Two words: Facebook marketplace.' 'The only people who are allowed to post puppies for sale are the admin. That was actually one of the first really big red flags that I saw on these groups,' she said Brittany passionately states in the video: 'These are sophisticated scammers... the process of bringing a puppy home is so exciting and so emotional, so to get scammed in the process is just devastating.' She grew up in Iowa with several dogs and, when she started looking for her current puppy Oscar, she got first-hand experience on what the red flags are when it comes to breeders. The dog lover began sharing her negative online experiences and came to realize she wasn't alone. Brittany is a qualified lawyer and has used her legal background to start her company Tell Tail Match. Phillip Schofield made a documentary in South Africa with his wife Stephanie Lowe, which was released a year after his younger lover joined This Morning, it has emerged. The veteran TV presenter, 61, quit ITV with immediate effect last week after he confessed to lying to the Daily Mail, his talent agency YMU and his colleagues about his affair with a much younger man conducted behind his wife's back. Schofield's lover, whom MailOnline has decided not to name, is now in his 20s but he was just 15 when he met the broadcaster at a talk he was giving at a theatre school, The Mail On Sunday revealed. At the time, the schoolboy asked him for a job, and Schofield later arranged an interview for him. It led to a position as an ITV production assistant when he turned 18. Some time afterwards, their affair began. It's thought the runner started working at This Morning in 2016 - a year before Schofield's South African Adventure was broadcast; the three-part ITV series saw Phillip visit the country with his wife, with the two putting on an affectionate display. Phillip Schofield made a documentary in South Africa with his wife Stephanie Lowe (pictured together), which was released a year after his younger lover joined This Morning 'This trip promises to be the journey of a lifetime and I'm so glad my wife Steph can join me for it,' Schofield said at the start of the programme. The presenter - who had been married to Steph for 27 years when he came out as gay in February 2020 - added that the country had been 'on our list of dream destinations for many years'. In the second episode, he continued his praise of his other half, saying: 'The perk of this trip is that my wife Steph is joining me. 'In Cape Town we discovered she is my better half in every aspect... except drumming,' he added, referring to a scene in the earlier episode where she failed to master the art of the instrument. The couple were also seen buying gifts for their daughters, Ruby 27, and Molly, 30, as well as Schofield's former co-presenter Holly Willoughby. Another moment showed the pair enjoying a meal together before going on safari, with the presenter commenting that it was one of the best places to have breakfast. His wife said: 'I'll drink to that,' to which Schofield cheekily responded: 'No surprise there then.' During the safari, the couple witnessed rhinos and giraffes in their natural habitat, with Steph becoming tearful at the sight. 'I've welled up, I can't believe it,' she admitted, while her husband offered her a hand on her shoulder for comfort. The show was released in 2017, a year after the veteran TV presenter's younger lover started his job with This Morning, according to The Mirror. After Schofield came out as gay, it was suggested that although they had separated, he and his wife Steph would remain married until they were both ready to move on. That October, Schofield confirmed the pair were still married in Chris Evans's podcast - and he was photographed wearing his wedding ring as recently as January 2023. It's thought the runner started working at This Morning in 2016 - a year before Schofield's South African Adventure was broadcast. The three-part ITV series saw Phillip visit the country with his wife, with the two putting on an affectionate display 'This trip promises to be the journey of a lifetime and I'm so glad my wife Steph can join me for it,' Schofield said at the start of the programme (pictured) The presenter - who had been married to Steph for 27 years when he came out as gay in February 2020 - added that the country had been 'on our list of dream destinations for many years.' In the second episode, he continued his praise of his other half, saying: 'The perk of this trip is that my wife Steph (pictured left) is joining me' 'I'm still married to Steph. With divorce... we've not discussed that at all,' he told Evans. However, it is unclear whether this will change in the wake of recent revelations, to which Steph and her family have not yet publicly responded. Schofield last week admitted the 'unwise' romance with a much younger male colleague took place during the couple's marriage - adding that he was 'so very sorry' for being unfaithful. It came after footage re-emerged of Schofield discussing his relationship with Steph, and the difficulties they faced during his coming out, in an interview with fellow ITV star Lorraine. He said: '[There were] lots and lots of hours talking to Steph and hugging Steph. We talked the whole thing through. There were no secrets, there have never been any secrets. What I knew, she knew.' Schofield also claimed in the interview in October 2020, seven months after making the announcement about his sexuality: 'It's not in my nature to hurt people.' The couple met while they were both working for the BBC, Stephanie as a production assistant and Schofield presenting children's TV. He once told Lorraine: 'She worked in television years ago, that was how we met.' Schofield and Stephanie married at the 16th century Ackergill Tower in northern Scotland in 1993, and welcomed their eldest daughter Molly in the same year. During the safari, the couple witnessed rhinos and giraffes in their natural habitat, with Steph becoming tearful at the sight. 'I've welled up, I can't believe it,' she admitted, while her husband offered her a hand on her shoulder for comfort (pictured) The couple (pictured) were also seen buying gifts for their daughters, Ruby 27, and Molly, 30, as well as Schofield's former co-presenter Holly Willoughby 'In Cape Town we discovered she is my better half in every aspect... except drumming,' the presenter added, referring to a scene (pictured) in the earlier episode where she failed to master the art of the instrument Another moment showed the pair (pictured) enjoying a meal together before going on safari, with the presenter commenting that it was one of the best places to have breakfast The couple had a second daughter, Ruby, in 1996. For most of their married life, Schofield and Stephanie lived with their children in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Timeline of the Phillip Schofield scandal September 2022 - Schofield and Willoughby are criticised for failing to queue for the Queen's Lying in State. ITV insisted the pair were there to report from the venue. April 2023 - Phillip is absent from This Morning for two weeks while his brother Timothy, 54, is tried at Exeter Crown Court for sexually abusing a teenage boy. April 3 - Timothy is found guilty of 'emotionally blackmailing' the teenager into performing sex acts and watching porn with him. May 10 - Reports emerge Phillip and Holly are 'barely speaking', but a day later he issues a statement calling Holly 'my rock'. May 15 - The pair present a united front while presenting This Morning, but rumours of a feud continue. The pair are said to have fallen out due to Phillip's failure to warn Holly of his brother's trial. May 20 - Schofield announces he is stepping down from This Morning with 'immediate effect'. May 22 - Stand-in presenters Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond pay tribute to their former colleague as 'one of the best live television broadcasters this country has ever had'. May 26 - Schofield releases a statement admitting he'd had an affair with a 'much younger' colleague but then lied about it. May 27 - Holly blasts Phillip for lying to her. May 28 - This Morning's former resident doctor Dr Ranj Singh hits out at the show's 'toxic' culture. May 29 - Schofield releases a statement denying claims the show had a toxic culture, only for Eamonn Holmes to slam him as 'delusional' on Twitter. Advertisement They kept their relationship rather private, with the mother-of-two largely staying out of the public eye despite her husband's fame in the UK. However, she did appear in Schofield's three-part documentary in 2017 - Schofield's South African Adventure. Stephanie was also featured in his 2019 show How To Spend Well At Christmas. But their picture-perfect life was thrown into the air in February 2020, when Schofield came out as gay to his 2.7 million followers on social media. His statement read: '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.' Schofield later said he believed he was bisexual at the time he married Steph. In a follow-up post, he spoke about how Steph 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.' His wife, with whom he celebrated 25 years of marriage in 2018, immediately rallied behind him, releasing a statement in support of his 'brave step'. She said: 'I love Phillip, as much today as I ever have, and always will. We've been awestruck by the strength and love of our precious girls, even as they've been trying to make sense of it all for themselves. Our family have also been so supportive and will help us going forward. 'Although this is difficult for us all, I support Phillip in taking this brave step. I will still be there, holding his hand. Everyone should be proud to live their own truth.' The pair went their separate ways shortly after, with Schofield moving out of the family home in Oxfordshire into a bachelor pad in Chiswick, west London. But they appeared to be as close knit as ever, never filing for divorce and both being pictured wearing their wedding and engagement bands as recently as January. Stephanie has yet to release a statement in the wake of Schofield's admission that he had an affair with a This Morning colleague during their 30 years of marriage. On Friday, Phillip admitted that he had lied about his relationship with the man, plunging ITV into meltdown, with the channel losing millions of pounds of sponsorship deals in the aftermath. Phillip Schofield had been married to Stephanie Lowe for 27 years when he came out as gay In the aftermath of Schofield's announcement in 2020, it was suggested that although they had separated, the couple would remain married until they were both ready to move on That October, Schofield confirmed the pair were still married in Chris Evans' podcast - and he was photographed wearing his wedding ring as recently as January 2023 ITV has continued to insist that it carried out an investigation in 2020 after rumours of Schofield's affair with a younger male employee began to circulate. But while ITV maintains both parties were interviewed, sources close to his former lover said he was never quizzed on the matter. Yesterday, Schofield broke his silence slamming a 'handful of people' with 'persistently loud voices' and rejected claims that there was a 'toxic' on the show. READ MORE: ITV faces allegations of double standards after refusing to share details on Phillip Schofield workplace romance investigation Advertisement In a statement posted on his Instagram, the 61-year-old presenter said: 'Now I no longer work on This Morning I am free to say this. I hope you have noticed that it's the same handful of people with a grudge against me or the show who seem to have the loudest voice. 'This Morning IS the best show to work on, with the best people. In all the years I worked there was no toxicity. 'You can listen to those persistently loud voices if you like. But the thousands of guests over the years, thousands of staff and crew, hundreds of presenters and contributors all know it, it IS a family of wonderful, talented, kind, hard, working people.' It came after This Morning's former resident doctor Dr Ranj Singh called out the programme for having a 'toxic culture'. He said he had raised concerns about 'bullying and discrimination' two years ago while he was still working on the programme but felt like he was 'managed out' for whistleblowing. Dr Ranj said he raised his concerns with senior executives at ITV because he had been heavily involved in 'diversity, anti-bullying and mental health projects' across the channel. 'I then found myself being used less and less,' he continued. His wife, Stephanie Lowe, 59, with whom he shares two daughters, Ruby, 27, and Molly (pictured), 30, vowed to stand by him after he came out as gay Speaking out for the first time since issuing his statement apologising for lying about his affair, Schofield hit out at those 'with a grudge against me' (pictured) 'I even took my concerns directly to the top of ITV: the culture at This Morning had become toxic, no longer aligned with ITV values, and I felt like because I whistle-blew I was managed out. 'But as history and experience have taught us, things like bullying and discrimination are very hard to prove, particularly in hindsight and when the 'people in power' control the narrative. As we've seen, no review or investigation is foolproof.' An ITV Spokesperson said in response to his post: 'We are sorry to read Dr Ranj's post today. 'At ITV we are fully committed to providing every opportunity for anyone who works with us to raise any concern or comments they may have. 'Following a complaint made by Dr Ranj, we appointed an external and independent advisor to carry out a review. This external review found no evidence of bullying or discrimination.' This Morning has been the site of an ongoing scandal after Schofield admitted in a statement to the Daily Mail on Friday that he had lied about his relationship with a younger man to ITV, his lawyers, his talent agency and his co-star of 14 years, Willoughby. On Monday the scandal showed no signs of easing with new photos emerging of a smiling Schofield with his former lover and Holly Willoughby in 2018 as they left a This Morning Live event. In another blow to the ITV programme, This Morning's biggest sponsor Arnold Clark announced it would be ending its existing multi-million-pound deal with the channel when the contract expires in the autumn. Willoughby is understood to be battling to maintain her presenting role on the show and hopes to ride out the scandal. She has been off-air since Schofield's sudden departure, but this was due to a planned holiday with her family for the school half-term break. Now, Willoughby is facing calls for her to also leave the show. At the weekend, the former culture secretary Nadine Dorries claimed the popular presenter 'has questions to answer'. A woman being presented with an award from Queen Letizia of Spain truly suffered a mishap at the worst time - when she tripped while going up to collect her prize. According to El Espanol, the winner was Maria de los Angeles Garcia Anton, who is on the board of the Spanish Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology. She was being celebrated at a World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day event at the Circulo de Bellas Artes in Madrid today. In videos of the blunder online, an excited Maria can be seen being helped up some steps when her name was called - before suddenly slipping down, as the Queen and others on stage rush to help her up. After everyone ensured she was alright, the royal, 50, put her arms around the winner in a quick side hug, appearing to check that all was OK. La reaccion de la reina Letizia ante la caida de una mujer a la que iba a entregar un premio En el Circulo de Bellas Artes se ha vivido un momento ciertamente anecdotico: una de las premiadas ha tropezado al subir al escenario pic.twitter.com/2IlgGgPjeL EL ESPANOL (@elespanolcom) May 30, 2023 A woman being presented with an award from Queen Letizia of Spain truly suffered a mishap at the worst time - when she tripped while going up to collect her prize According to El Espanol , the unlucky winner is Maria de los Angeles Garcia Anton, who is on the board of the Spanish Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology Maria graciously smiled the accident off, bowing to applause as she accepted the award. Letizia was effortlessly elegant in a chic patterned 325 (280.88) Philippa1970 dress as she attended the engagement, donning a perfectly summery ensemble as she commemorated the organisation's staff and volunteers, who provide tireless support for vulnerable communities across the globe. The button-up design featured an eye-catching print and warm hues of oranges and reds contrasted with darker blue. She sported black stiletto heels and accessorised with a 1,100 Carolina Herrera bag in a fun, bubblegum pink. The mother-of-two opted for a simple dewy make-up look, styling her chestnut tresses in relaxed waves. Letizia presided over today's celebrations, which focus on Red Cross's international humanitarian work. The Queen was pictured chatting, smiling and posing for photos with Maria del Mar Pageo, Spanish Red Cross's new president. The organisation has more than 263,000 volunteers in Spain. She was being celebrated at a World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day event at the Circulo de Bellas Artes in Madrid today In videos of the blunder online, an excited Maria can be seen being helped up some steps when her name was called - before suddenly slipping down, as the Queen and others on stage rush to help her up Letizia was pictured giving a speech at the event which celebrated the Red Cross community efforts Queen Letizia of Spain was effortlessly elegant in a chic patterned dress as she attended a World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day in Madrid today World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, which was on May 8, celebrates everyone who supports the movement. It comes as last week, the Spanish Royal Family put on a glamorous display at Princess Sofia's Confirmation ceremony in Madrid by opting for outfits in varying shades of pink. Princess Sofia, 16, proved she's a fashion force in the making as she dazzled in a fuchsia jumpsuit for the religious ceremony. The European royal opted for a show-stopping hot pink outfit to attend the ceremony at the Church of la Asuncion de Nuestra Senora. Queen Letizia and King Felipe's youngest daughter chose a wide-legged one-piece for her big day. The royal, 50, donned a perfectly summery ensemble as she commemorated the organisation's staff and volunteers The button-up ensemble featured an eye-catching print and warm hues of oranges and reds contrasted with darker blue The mother-of-two opted for a simple dewy make-up look, styling her chestnut tresses in relaxed waves Letizia presided over today's celebrations, which focus on Red Cross's international humanitarian work Letizia's dress, which features colourful patterns, tied at the waist to cinch the royal's silhouette Letizia opted for a simple make-up look, focusing on her eyes, and kept jewellery minimal for the engagement Letizia grinned while chatting with attendees of today's event, held in Madrid, as she donned a colourful dress The royal opted for fun warm colours, like oranges and pinks, as she welcomed the summer season The vibrant sleeveless jumpsuit featured a small cut-out right above the waist and had an elegant criss-cross top. The stunning young royal completed her ensemble with a pair of nude Mary Jane-style flats and a light pink clutch bag with gold studs. Sofia styled her long brown hair in loose waves and opted for minimal makeup for the religious service. Along with a few coats of mascara, Sofia added a sweep of rosy pink lipstick. Meanwhile, Queen Letizia, 50, looked every inch the proud parent for her daughter's Confirmation. Matching with her youngest daughter, the mother-of-two donned a chic light pink crepe top with voluminous sleeves. Letizia was all smiles as she arrived at the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day event in Madrid Letizia chatted with other guests, appearing caught up in conversation, as they all posed for a photo The Queen appeared in high spirits as she attended today's celebrations at the Circulo de Bellas Artes The Queen was pictured chatting, smiling and posing for photos with Maria del Mar Pageo (right), Spanish Red Cross's new president The Spanish royal smiled for the cameras as she appeared to enjoy today's engagement in Madrid She then tucked this into some white culottes and finished off her outfit with some matching espadrille wedges. Oozing effortless glamour, Letizia was pictured with a brown smokey eye and a nude lip. The Queen completed her sophisticated look with some gold dangly earrings and a white leather handbag with a gold chain. What's more, Letizia's mother-in-law Sofia, 84, also appeared to get the fashion memo as she opted for a pretty light pink blazer with an intricate floral pattern. Meanwhile, Letizia's eldest daughter Princess Leonor, 17, wore a sophisticated red floral dress with blue suede espadrilles. Tying into the dress code, Letizia's mother Paloma Rocasolano, 71, looked elegant in a salmon tweed jacket and skirt which she paired with a grey velvet clutch. King Felipe, 55, looked dapper in a dark grey suit while Letizia's father Jesus Ortiz was suitably smart in a navy style. Following the ceremony, Letizia, Paloma and her mother-in-law Sofia walked out of the church arm-in-arm. Princess Beatrice's BFF Gabriela Peacock has revealed she is a godmother to the royal's daughter Sienna. London-based celebrity nutritionist Gabriela, 42, who is credited with helping Eugenie and Harry get in shape ahead of their weddings, has worked with Beatrice, 33, for a number of years. She helped the royal mother-of-two feel her best ahead of the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, according to Hello! And now she has revealed she is a godmother to little Sienna, who had a 'private family christening' at St James's Palace last April. Speaking to Hello! Gabriella said the families tend to catchup during walks in the Cotswold's, adding: 'We see Bea and Edo all the time, which is super nice. Speaking to Hello! Princess Beatrice 's BFF Gabriela Peacock revealed she is a godmother to the royal's daughter Sienna 'It's easier to move out of London when you have some of your besties moving with you.' Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi welcomed their daughter Sienna in September 2021. She has kept many of the details about her daughter private. Last April, around a dozen friends of Beatrice and her husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi, 38, joined the couple for the hour-long christening, according to The Sun. And last month, Eugenie shared the first glimpse of Sienna in a photo celebrating Earth Day. Beatrice's sister revealed that Sienna and her two-year-old cousin August 'love going to the London Zoo' in a photo of the pair watching the penguins swimming around in Regent's Park. The pair look on as a penguin glides past them on the other side of the glass - although Sienna's attention appears to be on something just out of shot. The little girl has a thick head of strawberry blonde hair. Gabriella said she sees Princess Beatrice 'all the time' and revealed the families tend to catchup during walks in the Cotswold's Last month, Eugenie shared the first glimpse of Sienna in a photo celebrating Earth Day (pictured, with Eugenie's son August) As she stands at the enclosure, she looks wrapped up in a white teddy fleece jacket with a hood, light blue jeans and fleece-lined boots. Gabriella previously said motherhood has added a 'new dimension to their friendship'. Speaking to the magazine, Gabriela explained she 'always knew' Beatrice would be an 'amazing mother' because of the close relationship she has with her stepson Wolfie, six. Gabriela has children Maia, 10, and twins Iris and Caspar five. Beatrice is Iris' godmother. Gabriela, founder of GP Nutrition, and her fund manager husband share a home in Notting Hill, west London. Gabriela spends a lot of her time in France where she has a house near Dame Joan Collins. Beatrice and Edoardo have been among their guests. The nutritionist, who has an excellent track record in working with royals, also released a book during the pandemic called 2 Weeks to Feeling Great. She also counts Ellie Goulding, Millie Mackintosh and close friend James Blunt among her clients. A body positive razor company has been blasted over an advert showing an expectant mother shaving her baby bump. The Stockholm-based brand Estrid was established in 2019 and allows customers to buy their vegan and cruelty-free products on a flexible subscription basis. In recent weeks, the brand has been trying to reach potential customers with Instagram adverts demonstrating how to use their products - which now includes wax strips, moisturiser and shaving gel. Along with clips of people shaving their legs and armpits, the company also shot some footage of a pregnant woman removing some hair underneath her belly button. The clip shows the expectant mother running the brand's 7.95 rubber and steel razor across her baby bump while lathering up in the shower. In recent weeks, body positive hair removal brand Estrid has been trying to reach potential customers with sponsored Instagram posts - including this video of a pregnant woman shaving her baby bump The caption reads: 'Get used to receiving smooth skin compliments. 'Estrid guarantees silky skin, shave after shave.' Although the brand prides itself on catering for 'women, men, anyone and everyone', customers felt that this advert fell short of Estrid's usual company ethos. One commented: 'No ladies, you do not need to start shaving your belly.' Another added: 'As if pregnant ladies needed to be told of more things to be insecure about!!' Meanwhile, a third sarcastically fumed: 'Nice, let's advise shaving a pregnant tummy!!!' Addressing expectant mothers, they continued: 'Ladies who think this might be a good idea at the time pls don't, that extra fluff you might get during pregnancy will drop out after birth so do not worry.' Some expectant mothers notice more hair on their stomachs during pregnancy due to a spike in oestrogen. Stockholm-based brand Estrid was established in 2019 and allows customers to buy their vegan and cruelty-free products on a flexible subscription basis However, others branded the backlash 'ridiculous' - highlighting how hair removal remains a personal choice for everyone. 'Plenty women chose to shave their stomach,' one fan asserted. 'It's not about telling women they need to, it's normalising the ones who do!' 'I shaved mine !! Did me no harm,' another added. 'Get a grip, these comments are ridiculous.' A third fan said: 'OMG they're are just trying to show that the razors are gentle on your skin - hence showing a pregnant lady using it.' In recent months, the brand has collaborated with unibrow model Sophia Hadjipanteli - who boasts 508,000 followers for her 'redefining beauty' campaign. In February 2021, Estrid worked on a campaign called Professional Super Hairoes - where they celebrated customers who are 'embracing their fluff' and removing their leg or armpit hair. Femail has approached Estrid for comment. One woman has revealed how you can get a fun job that could earn you up to 70,000-a-year - while working as a nanny. Kyra Henry, from London, made a TikTok with her tips and tricks on how you can build up a career in childminding. The influencer goes by @theyummynanny on social media and has thousands of views on videos as she documents her life in central London. She takes care of twin toddlers, including trips to Harrods, walks around the park and a visit to the Dior Cafe in Selfridges. Her luxurious job has even seen her go on holiday with the twins she cares for, taking sun-soaked photos at a luxurious resort. Kyra Henry, from London, made a TikTok with her tips and tricks on how you can build up a career in nannying Just earlier this month, Kyra was in Marrakesh while taking care of the babies. In two clips from October, she shared her advice for anyone who's curious about the surprisingly illustrious career. 'The first thing you should do is gain experience with children obviously,' she told followers in the first post, suggesting babysitting or working a nursery.' Kyra did the latter, starting out with an apprenticeship in childcare. She was at the nursery for two years. 'Once I qualified I decided I didn't wanna work there anymore,' she added. 'Pay was low, I felt overworked, underpaid... it was just a lot so I thought, "Let me go into nannying where it's more flexible and you kind of plan your own day. 'You're your own boss basically and it's less children. It's more fun, you go out to fun places..."' In a follow-up video, the nanny recommended taking a look at childcare.co.uk. 'It's a really good website,' she revealed. 'Parents post on there... post for jobs before and after school roles and like full-time care, part time care...' Kyra goes by @theyummynanny on social media and has thousands of views documenting her life in central London Kyra stressed that at the start, you will have to keep your rate low. 'I would say don't take anything less than 10 an hour, depending on your age obviously,' she told followers. 'But if it's your first time having experience with children I would say start low and work your way up ... that's how you're going to build your clientele. 'If you start low, you're going to be more in demand.' She also recommended an app called Bubble. In September, Kyra made another TikTok with advice on 'how to get a high paying nanny role in London up to 70k'. The first three steps were to 'get qualified, network and sign up to agencies'. Next, she wrote to get 'experience with multiple ages' and encouraged viewers to make a portfolio - 'eg on Instagram or TikTok' and 'take lots of pictures on the job'. Kyra's videos come after a professional live-in nanny has shared the six things she refuses to do as part of the job - and hundreds of other nannies agree with her list. Braonain, 21, said that many employers can mistreat or ask too much of nannies so she has strict boundaries for the job. The Utah nanny says she will never clean anybody's mess other than the kids she watches, nor will she look after any of the kids' friends or family members. 'Don't be salty I got a lot more on my list of things I won't do,' Braonain said when she uploaded the viral TikTok. The number one thing she refuses to do is clean up the family's general mess. 'I am not the housekeeper, I will only clean up after the kids and I, do the dishes, laundry and just pick up after ourselves,' she explained. However, she clarified that if she is just watching one baby she offers more as it's a 'little bit different'. A major pet peeve for Braonain is when families do not allow her to take the kids out of the house. 'I will not work for a family that do not let me take the kids out, I personally do not know how to entertain your kids in the house for 10 hours and the kids and I will lose our sanity,' she said. The reality star said his focus was on making sure their show was not canceled She lifted a lid on the lengths her dad went to to save the family's reputation Jill Duggar broke down in tears as she shared the extreme measures that her dad took to try to cover up Josh Duggar's molestation of his own sisters - and recalled how she was forced to defend her brother on national television to prevent the family's hit reality show from being canceled. When a bombshell report hit the web in 2015 that claimed Josh, now 35, had admitted to molesting four of his siblings years prior, and that his own parents, Jim Bob, now 57, and Michelle Duggar, now 56, knew about it and failed to report the abuse - it completely shattered the wholesome on-screen image that the family had worked so hard to build over the course of their multiple TLC reality shows. Now, Jill, 32 - the fourth eldest of the Duggar's 19 kids - has lifted a lid on the lengths that her father went to to try to stop their TV empire from crashing down. According to Jill, who spoke out in the upcoming explosive Amazon Prime docuseries about the family, entitled Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets, when news of Josh's alleged abuse was made public in 2015, her dad's main focus was protecting the family's squeaky-clean reputation - rather than the victims. Speaking out: Jill Duggar broke down in tears as she shared the extreme measures that her dad took to try to cover up Josh Duggar's molestation of his own sisters She also recalled how she was forced to defend her brother on national television during an appearance on the Megyn Kelly show (seen) to prevent their series from being canceled A report in 2015 claimed that Josh, now 35, admitted to molesting his siblings years prior, and that his parents, Jim Bob, now 57, and Michelle Duggar, now 56, knew and failed to report it Now, Jill, 32 - the fourth eldest of the Duggar's 19 kids - has lifted a lid on the lengths that her father went to to try to stop their TV empire from crashing down She recalled an 'urgency' in 'trying to figure out' how the show could continue on in the wake of the scandal. At the time, she and her younger sister Jessa sat down with Megyn Kelly to discuss the harrowing allegations during a lengthy interview, in which they confirmed that their brother had touched them inappropriately but defended him from people who had branded him as a 'child molester, pedophile, or rapist.' Now, looking back, Jill admitted that she regretted taking part in the TV appearance, and that she felt 'obligated' to do it due to the immense pressure her dad had put on her. 'There was an urgency in trying to figure out how the show was going to be handled in the wake of the 2015 events,' she said in the four-part Amazon doc, which will premiere on June 2. 'As far as recovery and damage control, you just feel like a burden and the weight falls on you to help because you're the only one who can [help].' 'In hindsight, I wouldn't have done the Megyn Kelly show. I feel like I was bearing the burden and the weight of...' she trailed off as tears ran down her cheeks. 'Me and Jessa just felt the weight of it. It fell on us.' The former reality star added that while she technically 'volunteered' to do the appearance, she felt like it was her responsibility to step up and 'help.' 'I don't even like to talk about it because it's not something that I'm proud of. If I hadn't felt obligated to one, do it for the sake of the show, and two, do it for the sake of my parents, I wouldn't have done it,' she continued. Jill spoke out in the upcoming explosive Amazon Prime docuseries about the family, entitled Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets, which will premiere on June 2 She said that when news of Josh's alleged abuse was made public in 2015, her dad's main focus was protecting the family's squeaky-clean reputation - rather than the victims Emotional: She recalled an 'urgency' in 'trying to figure out' how the show could continue on in the wake of the scandal Her husband, Derick Dillard, whom she wed in 2014, also spoke out about the incident, and he described the TV appearance as a 'suicide mission' for Jill and Jessa, who were age 23 and 22 at the time. 'I would not call it voluntary. They were basically called on to carry out a suicide mission,' he stated. 'Like, "You're gonna destroy yourself, but we need you to take the fall so we can carry the show forward because the show cannot fail." '[The Duggars] were gonna do whatever they could to get the return on their investment. If that meant collateral damage, that meant collateral damage.' According to a 2006 police report unearthed by InTouch Weekly in 2015, Josh's alleged inappropriate behavior was first discovered in March 2002, when one of his youngest sisters went to Jim Bob 'very upset and crying.' The unnamed sister said that Josh had snuck into the shared girls' bedroom and touched her breasts and genitals while she slept on four occasions. When confronted by Jim Bob, the report said that Josh admitted to the incident and was 'disciplined,' though Jim Bob didn't reveal what the discipline entailed. According to the report, Josh was accused by several of his younger sisters of similar sexual touching again one year later. At the time, she and her younger sister Jessa sat down with Megyn to discuss the allegations. They confirmed their brother had touched them inappropriately but defended him Now, looking back, Jill admitted that she regretted taking part in the TV appearance, and that she felt 'obligated' to do it due to the immense pressure her dad had put on her Her husband, Derick Dillard, whom she wed in 2014, described the TV appearance as a 'suicide mission' for Jill and Jessa, who were age 23 and 22 at the time Jim Bob and Michelle did not initially go to the police, keeping the molestation allegations and Josh's confessions a secret until a tip was made to the Arkansas State Police Child Abuse Hotline about Josh's behavior three years later. Finally speaking to law enforcement on December 12, 2006, the report said that Jim Bob stated that when he learned about what his son was doing, he 'met with the elders of his church and told them what was going on.' They then sent him to a program run by the bizarre, 'cult-like' Christian group that the Duggars were devout members of, called the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), from March 17, 2003, to July 17, 2003. Jim Bob and Michelle also told the local police that Josh had 'apologized' to his victims and that they said they had 'forgiven' him, and when he returned, they believed the issue had been 'resolved.' The report said that Arkansas State Trooper Jim Hutchens gave Josh a 'very stern talk' about the matter. Jim was later imprisoned on child pornography charges of his own, and has been in jail since 2007. He was sentences to 56 years. When the police report describing Josh's transgressions was made public in 2015, Jill and Jessa identified themselves as two of his victims. Later, in 2017, Jinger and Joy Duggar were identified as the other victims in a lawsuit. When Jill and Jessa spoke to Megyn in 2015, they tried to smooth over the incident and begged the press to stop releasing negative articles about their family. Jessa said at the time: 'I do want to speak up in Josh's defense against people who are calling him a child molester or a pedophile or a rapist, which some people are saying. 'I'm like, that is so overboard and a lie really, I mean people get mad at me for saying that but I can say this because I was one of the victims.' Jill added, referring to the media's response: 'They don't have a right to do this. We are victims. They can't do this to us.' According to a 2006 police report unearthed by InTouch Weekly in 2015, Josh's alleged inappropriate behavior was first discovered in March 2002, but his parents did not go to police In 2015, Jill (second from right) and Jessa (center) identified themselves as two of his victims. Two years later, Jinger (second from left) and Joy (left) were identified as the other victims Jim Bob and Michelle also addressed the situation during a chat with Megyn, and they too stuck up for Josh's behavior. 'He was still a kid, you know, and he was still a juvenile. He wasn't an adult,' Jim Bob said. 'Kids will make their own choices. '[Josh] had gone in and just basically touched them over their clothes while they were sleeping,' he went on, adding that there were 'a couple incidents where he touched them under their clothes, but it was, like, a few seconds.' More of the family's disturbing secrets are set to be exposed in Amazon Prime's Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets, which will premiere on June 2 'God can forgive [Josh] for these terrible things, I hope other people realize God can forgive them and also make them a new creature,' he continued. He also seemed to imply that a brother molesting his sisters was common, saying: 'We talked to other parents and different ones since then, a lot of families have said that they've had similar things happen in their families.' 'I think we had one ray of hope, in that Josh had a tender conscience,' Michelle chimed in. They also insisted that they had 'put safeguards in their home' to prevent something similar from happening again - which included boys not being allowed to be alone with girls, and the 'little ones' being told they shouldn't sit on 'big boys' laps unless its your daddy.' Josh was later found guilty of possessing child pornography and sentenced to 12-years in prison. He is now serving out his time at a federal prison in Texas. More of the family's disturbing secrets are set to be exposed in Amazon Prime's Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets, which will premiere on June 2. A video has captured the emotional moment an Irish woman surprised her family with her secret return home from Australia. Emma Priestley left her hometown of Dublin, Ireland, last July to travel down under, but arrived back home earlier than expected last Friday. Nobody knew Emma was arriving back apart from her best friend, so the 25-year-old decided to surprise her family by turning up unexpectedly on their doorstep. Her father Alan, 54, was stunned into silence when he realised who his impromptu visitor was after answering the door. Alan said 'You're joking' before he shouted through to wife Denise, 53, inside: 'Denno there's somebody at the door.' Emma Priestley left her hometown of Dublin, Ireland, last July to travel down under, but arrived back home earlier than expected last Friday. Pictured: Emma hugging her father, Alan Alan then stepped outside and embraced his daughter in a tight hug before Emma's sister Kim, 30, appeared with her newborn baby, as she burst into tears upon seeing her sibling. Emma was quickly surrounded by her sisters, nephews and mother who all queued up to hug and kiss her. The majority were left with their hands over their mouths in a combination of both shock and joy. Emma said: 'My family were my biggest supporters in my decision even though they knew they would miss me a lot, we are a very close-knit family. 'I had recently told them that I wasn't coming home until next year, so it was a complete shock to see me at the front door when I showed up. 'I decided to move to Australia because I had seen so many other Irish people do it and love it and stayed over there, it's such an amazing lifestyle and not to mention the weather is amazing. 'But I also wanted to move for personal growth, I needed to get out of my comfort zone and see what else was out there. 'I moved to Perth in Western Australia - absolutely beautiful beaches and beautiful people. Emma was quickly surrounded by her sisters, nephews and mother who all queued up to hug and kiss her. Pictured: Emma (in glasses) with sister Alannah, mother Denise, father Alan and sister Kim Her father Alan, 54, was stunned into silence when he realised who his impromptu visitor was after answering the door. Pictured: An emotional Alan takes a deep breath as he hugs his daughter 'Australia is such a long way away and I know we have FaceTime and stuff but it's hard being away from your family. 'I was loving Australia but the hardship of doing it on your own was starting to get to me, and then my two sisters have just had two new babies so I decided it was time to come home and not stay for another year. 'They are never all there on a Friday. I thought it was just going to be my mam but my dad had taken the week off work. 'My eldest sister and brother-in-law had been away the night before so my mam and dad were minding her two babies so they were there to get the kids and were about to leave. 'My other older sister had come down with her two babies and my little sister was off work, it was a Friday and no one is ever there on a Friday but the universe worked its magic and had everyone there. Emma said: 'Australia is such a long way away and I know we have FaceTime and stuff but it's hard being away from your family.' Pictured: Emma (in glasses) with her mother Denise, brother-in-law Glenn, sister Kim, sister Alannah, father Alan and sister Kelly The majority of her family were left with their hands over their mouths in a combination of both shock and joy Emma has spent the last ten and a half months in Perth, Australia away from her family. Pictured: Emma holding a Koala bear 'They were all shocked but so happy to see me - for the rest of the weekend they just kept looking at me and at each other and saying 'I can't believe she's here'. 'The person recording is my best friend, she knew I was coming home and she's the one who collected me from the airport to drive me up so I could surprise them.' Emma shared the heart-warming video online with the caption: 'The most wholesome video, surprised my family after being in Australia the last 10 and a half months.' The clip has since received more than 325,000 likes and over 4,000 comments from users left in awe at the family's touching reunion. One user wrote: 'Gosh I cried from the start...10 months, I thought it was 10 years.' The clip has since received more than 325,000 likes and over 4,000 comments from users left in awe at the family's touching reunion Another commented: 'Dad's hug shows the relief of knowing he can relax with you being home.' A third said: 'For some of us this is a dream. To be loved that much must feel unbelievable.' Another penned: 'The sobbing before they even saw you properly.' A fifth replied: 'Beautiful. love how the end just cuts when nanny is about to give a few F's to whoever filmed it for keeping the secret! Family is everything.' A plane passenger has revealed his very awkward encounter with Kate Winslet after accidentally playing Titanic hit My Heart Will Go On right next to her before realizing who she was. US-based content creator Chris Olsen took to TikTok to explain the embarrassing interaction that happened on a flight from Cannes to London. The 25-year-old said that he realized all too late that his AirPods weren't connected as he played a soundtrack of Celine Dion's greatest hits. Other social media users were quick to see the funny side and claimed the actress 'probably chalked that up to top five weirdest fan interactions.' US-based content creator Chris Olsen took to TikTok to explain the embarrassing interaction that happened on a flight from Cannes to London The 25-year-old said: 'I'm trying to rack my brain of where we've met before or something like that until then from behind her I see her pull out a script with highlighted lines' In the clip, which has so far been viewed more than 2.2 million times, Chris talks directly to camera as he relives the scenario. He begins: 'I need to start paying more attention to my surroundings because I cannot keep embarrassing myself like this. 'So today I was on a flight as I am like every day of my life and I see my ticket is for the third row but for some reason I get to the second row and I'm like "great this is it." 'There's this one woman who is already in the window seat and the middle seat between us is empty.' Chris continues: 'Now at this point I'm ready to listen to some music, settle in - and who is on my mind but Celine Dion because she canceled her tour and so they were playing a bunch of her songs on the news... 'What I don't realize is that my AirPods are not yet connected so Celine starts playing out loud. I'm just kind of skipping through her top hits at this moment. 'It's All Coming Back To Me Now plays for a second, I Surrender plays for a second, My Heart Will Go On plays for a little bit and this is all happening out loud but I don't realize it. 'But as soon as I do I pause the music - none of it played for that long but you could have heard it if you're around me.' The TikTok megastar concludes: 'I played a second of My Heart Will Go On - best known from the blockbuster movie Titanic - right next to [Kate Winslet]' The TikTok megastar, who has more than 10.2 million followers, then reveals: 'At this point the lady next to me keeps looking over at me as if I've done something wrong which I have - I'm in the wrong seat.' Chris said that a flight attendant eventually came up to him and told him that he was sitting in the wrong row. 'I get up, I go back to row three but as I'm getting up to go and I'm saying sorry to the woman who's in the window seat I look at her face and I'm like "she looks familiar." 'So I'm trying to rack my brain of where we've met before or something like that until then from behind her I see her pull out a script with highlighted lines. 'Then I'm [thinking] wait maybe I don't recognize her from my life - perhaps an actress? 'And as Celine Dion continues to play in my ear I realize what is going on. I was sitting next to Kate Winslet - Oscar winner Kate Winslet.' And dozens of other light-hearted social media users were quick to poke fun at Chris' misfortune He concludes: 'I played a second of My Heart Will Go On - best known from the blockbuster movie Titanic - right next to her.' Chris then screams into his pillow as he reflects on the embarrassment before uploading the clip alongside a caption that read: 'KATE IF YOU SEE THIS IM SORRY I DIDN'T KNOW.' And other social media users were quick to poke fun at Chris' misfortune. One wrote: 'The fact you did this on accident and she probably thought you were MESSING WITH HER is sending me to another dimension.' Another added: 'Lol she probably chalked that up to top five weirdest fan interactions.' And a third said: 'I literally laughed out loud and hid my face in embarrassment for you... Wonder what she thought.' A consultant who moved to Sweden after struggling with burnout now boasts about six weeks of paid vacation, no overtime and a free master's degree. Tess Meyer, originally from Burbank, California, had been working 50 hours a week at a corporate job in the US before seeking out a completely new lifestyle. The 30-year-old stumbled across copious amounts of research that suggested Scandinavian countries are ranked among the 'happiest' across the globe. And, having now relocated, Tess has been revealing what the work-life balance is really like abroad. Tess Meyer, originally from Burbank, California, had been working 50 hours a week at a corporate job in the US before seeking out a completely new lifestyle The 30-year-old stumbled across copious amounts of research that suggested Scandinavian countries are ranked among the 'happiest' across the globe Tess has now been living in Malmo, Sweden, for nearly five years after 'connecting to the way of life and the values of Swedish society specifically, the focus on sustainability and not letting stress rule your life,' according to Insider. Her husband, who is also American and works as in the video-game industry, was able to secure a job 'pretty quickly' before his new employer sponsored the couple's residencies and work visas. Tess, who works as a consultant, began looking for a job but soon decided to instead apply to do a one-year master's program at a local university. The program - which would have cost around $13,000 had she applied as an American - was free to her as she had a Swedish social security number after becoming a resident. But despite her educational success, Tess said it still took her two years to find a job, citing that it is 'incredibly tough to get into the Swedish job network.' Eventually, she was able to secure a role at a major consulting firm through connections she had made at a career fair, arguing that it is about 'who you know.' Tess has now been at the company for more than two years and, speaking about her experience, she told the publication: 'My salary here as an American can feel very low, but I feel wealthy in Sweden. 'You don't need to make a lot of money to live a good life. Back in the US, I was making $60,000 a year before taxes and that was almost eight years ago. And, having now relocated, Tess has been revealing what the work-life balance is really like abroad Tess has now been living in Malmo (pictured), Sweden, for nearly five years after 'connecting to the way of life and the values of Swedish society' 'Here, my annual salary is around $45,000 a year before taxes. Compared to my friends in Sweden, that's a competitive salary.' Tess said that the range of salaries in Sweden is far smaller than the US - as the focus is on wage equality - and argued that the office environment prioritizes well-being. She said she 'rarely works overtime' and that 'no one blinks an eye' if you show up late or leave early - particularly if you are a parent - because there is a 'sense of trust.' Tess' employer allows her six weeks paid vacation - and she makes sure to 'take all of it' but revealed that it is possible to roll over five days to the following year. And, when she does take time off, she leaves her work phone behind 'nine out of ten times' because she is not expected to check in. She also revealed that paid parental leave in Sweden is a whopping 480 days. Tess, who now runs her own blog titled Sweden and Me, has said that she will now be applying for Swedish citizenship and is unsure if she will ever want to return to America Tess said that the range of salaries in Sweden is far less - as the focus is on wage equality - and argued that the office environment prioritizes well-being Tess was quick to stress that the cost of living is less - apart from when eating meals out with restaurants charging similar prices to the US. The couple live in a two-bedroom apartment, which measures around 800 square feet, and pay $1,000 a month. They do not own a car because of the extensive public transport and Tess also remarked how health care is 'basically free' with 'outpatient-visit costs capped at $125 a year and prescription-drugs costs are capped at $246 a year.' Tess, who now runs two blogs titled From Brown Eyes and Sweden and Me, has said that she will now be applying for Swedish citizenship and is unsure if she will ever want to return to America. Weve been talking about seeing through illusions and recognising reality. As creative Venus approaches a liaison with mysterious Neptune, it brings a reminder of the comfort fantasies can provide. And, as Mercury prepares to meet Uranus, genuine eureka moments are possible. Active imaginations are assets; especially when focused on practical ways to help other people. If we focus on pragmatic changes, we can create a rosier future. Read more horoscopes from MailOnline. ARIES March 21 - April 20 Although you feel as though youre back in a familiar situation, something is different. Yes, it looks similar. But a key factor has changed. You have fresh knowledge which enables you to open a locked door. How significant is this? It will make all the difference in the world. The changes that youre beginning to implement might be subtle, but they have the potential to improve the quality of your life (for the rest of your life). Just keep in mind that this time, the outcome can be pleasingly different. Maximise the energy available to you in June. The Solstice can rejuvenate your world. Call 0906 751 5601. Oscar says active imaginations are assets, especially when focused on practical ways to help other people. If we focus on pragmatic changes, we can create a rosier future TAURUS April 21- May 21 What doesnt kill me makes me stronger. I sometimes take issue with these words written by the philosopher Nietzsche (and wonderfully paraphrased by Kanye). When we feel as though were dealing with a constant torrent of challenges, who wants to get stronger? I dont know about you but I just want some time off! Experiences toughen us up, but theres only so much of it we can take. As your ruler moves towards a link with Neptune, a cloud that has been hanging over you will be dissipated by a bright ray of hope. June is a powerful month. The Solstice brings transformation. For valuable information call 0906 751 5602. GEMINI May 22 - June 22 Lets have a private convo about your unfulfilled wishes. I wont share it with anyone. No one else needs to know. Its just that Im slightly concerned that you expect too much of yourself. It doesnt mean you wont succeed theres every chance you will do well. But at what cost? And how disappointed will you be each time you start to feel old habits may be getting the better of you? Time is on your side. You can afford to take the pressure off. Go at a healthy pace that suits you. June brings the Solstice! Let it guide you to the future youre silently, secretly longing for. Call 0906 751 5603. CANCER June 23 - July 23 Its obvious, but still worth saying, that its better to be motivated by inspiration than fear. Yet if you take a good look at the situation youre dealing with (whether caused by a concern or driven by hopefulness) there only seems to be one option to take. Even though you cant be sure whether it will make things better or worse, you can see that you need to pursue a specific course of action. The real problem is that youre not sure that you believe what you think you see. Should you believe it? Yes! You wont regret it. Let the power of the Solstice inspire you in June. For four minutes of excellent news, call 0906 751 5604. LEO July 24 - August 23 With dynamic Mars in your sign, some of my colleagues would issue words of caution. Take care, theyd say. Dont rush. Be wary of getting into situations that lead to conflict. Yet the presence of the power planet affords you the strength, energy and passion to make your dreams a reality. So put any warnings to the back of your mind. If you feel passionately about something, dont be afraid to follow your heart and trust the energy thats inspiring you. Be aware of the consequences of your actions. But go for it. Maximise the energy available to you in June. The Solstice can rejuvenate your world. Call 0906 751 5605. VIRGO August 24 - September 23 They say theres no place like home . . . but are they right? How do they know? Theyve never been round to my house! Have they visited yours? When were all unique, and leading such varied lives, in so many different homes . . . is having a sense of belonging vital to us all? Yes! The need to feel secure is as essential as the need to eat and sleep. Which means the satisfaction gained by assuaging these requirements is immense. As your ruler, Mercury, links with Uranus, it brings an idea that leads to a sense of great fulfilment. June is a powerful month. The Solstice brings transformation. For valuable information, call 0906 751 5606. LIBRA September 24 - October 23 The important discoveries youre making encourage you to learn valuable lessons. Youre also improving the quality of communication between you and someone whos helping you towards a more fulfilling future. Even though you might not see eye to eye with this person, your differences are stimulating; they inspire you to imagine different ways to get where you want to go. As your ruler, Venus, prepares to link with Neptune, your imagination is more powerful than ever. Keep talking! June brings the Solstice! Let it guide you to the future youre silently, secretly longing for. Call 0906 751 5607. SCORPIO October 24 - November 22 We spend our lives juggling tasks and balancing priorities. Were so used to multi-tasking that we forget how much skill it takes and how talented we are. Feeling completely lost and confused is relatively unusual. So, how should you react if you end up scratching your head over a particularly complicated conundrum today? Just go step by step. What needs to be sorted first? Whats most important? If you can reduce everything back to these simple tenets, youll find that a knot of complexity can easily be unravelled. Let the power of the Solstice inspire you in June. For four minutes of excellent news, call 0906 751 5608. Weve been talking about seeing through illusions and recognising reality. As creative Venus approaches a liaison with mysterious Neptune, it brings a reminder of the comfort fantasies can provide SAGITTARIUS November 23 - December 21 YOU may well feel out of sorts, but it doesnt mean your outlook isnt positive. Youre advised to look at, and deal with, a fragile spot in your character. Its easy to succumb to the wrong kinds of temptations. You can talk yourself out of things that are good for you. And you can be persuaded to go where you dont want to. You recognise this aspect of yourself, and are bored with it. You want to live life differently . . . and you can. Your restlessness needs to be acted on, not squashed. Maximise the energy available to you in June. The Solstice can rejuvenate your world. Call 0906 751 5609. CAPRICORN December 22 - January 20 YOU can dye your hair, change your clothes, pick up different mannerisms and adopt new phrases. But youd still be you and Id still be me. Deep in our core, theres something that makes us completely, uniquely, identifiably ourselves. But what are the mysterious qualities that make you one in eight billion? They deserve to be nurtured. A hidden aspect of your personality is starting to shine. Some people will recognise it. Others will be surprised by it. But theyll all appreciate the confidence youre exuding. June is a powerful month. The Solstice brings transformation. For valuable information call 0906 751 5610. AQUARIUS January 21 - February 19 None of us knows as much as we think we do. This can be a blessing . . . and a curse. Right now you could do with more information. Youre dealing with a frustrating situation and struggling to find a way to move on. It feels like youve hit a wall, yet only because youre missing a few facts. As Mercury (intelligence) prepares to meet your ruler, Uranus, stay receptive. Youll find the knowledge you need. Its just its coming from unexpected sources. An inspiring way ahead is achievable. June brings the Solstice! Let it guide you to the future youre silently, secretly longing for. Call 0906 751 5611. PISCES February 20 - March 20 When we say that travel broadens the mind, we tend to think of far-flung places and lost corners of the globe. In reality, it neednt be anything as grand. Its more about a state of mind that gives us fresh perspective on the world around us. When we appreciate the kindness of strangers, and find ways to communicate that go beyond words, we realise the things all humans have in common, no matter where were from. Today brings an encounter that reminds you of the joys of being who you are, and where you are. Let the power of the Solstice inspire you in June. For four-minutes of excellent news call 0906 751 5612. A savvy shopper scored the deal of a lifetime when she found a range of Kmart items on sale for just 50 cents each. Claudia was at her local Kmart when she noticed a 'massive' cage filled with toys and stationary at heavily-reduced prices and walked away with a trolley full of items for just $10. The mum said a Kmart staff member was bringing out trolleys of reduced items and told her many stores are discounting stock to clear it over the next few days. Claudia said it was the 'biggest sale' she had come across at the budget retail giant and told her followers to make sure to 'look out for bargains' on their next shop. 'Go check our your Kmarts! Apparently it's clearance time!' she said in a TikTok clip. Scroll down for video Bargain-hunting mum Claudia came across Kmart's 'biggest sale ever' where a 'massive' cage was filled with items marked down to just 50 cents each She said the Kmart staff member was bringing more and more items to reduce to just 50 cents and add to the bargain bin. One viewer asked if all Kmart store were putting on the 50-cents sale to which Claudia replied: '(The worker) said most Kmarts are getting rid of over stock at this time of the year, not sure on pricing or products'. The bargain-hunting mum shared her impressive haul she bought for just $10 altogether including notebooks, a range of stationary, nail polish, and toys like a tablet and mini pots and pans set. 'That's just crazy to me...This is birthday presents for my kids (friends') parties for a year,' she said. Thousands were impressed by Claudia's bargain find and were thankful for the money-saving tip. 'Whaaaat? This is like USA clearance prices!' one viewer wrote. 'Sooo good for the rainy day box!!' another pointed out and a third agreed: 'Great stocking fillers or gifts for friends kids birthday'. 'Absolute bargains, super jealous,' someone else added. Kmart sales and discounts will vary between stores depend on available stock Aldi shoppers are venting their frustrations as the retailer installs self-serve checkouts in more stores across the country - after many praised the update. Customers are claiming they prefer to put their groceries through at staffed tills and 'refuse to use' self-serve checkouts especially as many are card only. One woman even said she has abandoned her entire trolley of groceries and walked out of an Aldi store multiple times when there were no manned registers available. A Sunshine Coast customer was delighted to see the checkouts at her local store and shared the update online but was met with a flurry of comments slamming the new system. 'Aldi shoppers! So many times I have heard people say 'why don't they have self checkouts?'...Well, look what has arrived at my local on the Sunshine Coast,' she wrote in a post of the Mums who Budget and Save Facebook group. Aldi customers are venting their frustrations at the retailer's self-serve checkout which are being installed in stores across the country after many praised the update While she was excited by the new addition, the post was quickly met with hostility by many who said they 'refuse' to put their shopping through the unstaffed tills. 'Many a time I've left a full trolley and walked out. If they're not going to pay someone to serve me they can pay someone to put everything back out of my trolley,' a disgruntled shopper replied. 'I don't use any self checkout. I don't work there!' a second agreed and another said: 'I prefer a human interaction and to help people keep their jobs'. 'Please no. I do a massive shop and the last thing I need is to put it through myself!' a fourth complained while another wrote: 'Wrong. Just wrong'. Shoppers are claiming they prefer to put their groceries through at staffed tills and 'refuse to use' self-serve checkouts especially as many are card only However there were many fans of the self-serve checkouts who say the registers make it easier for those who are only buying a handful of items to swiftly get through their shopping. 'I absolutely love them. I now can go through with my basket of stuff and not have to wait in line,' one woman said. Poll Do you use self-serve checkouts? Yes, always - I love them Yes but only when a staffed checkout isn't available No, I use cash No, I refuse Do you use self-serve checkouts? Yes, always - I love them 599 votes Yes but only when a staffed checkout isn't available 551 votes No, I use cash 278 votes No, I refuse 1197 votes Now share your opinion 'Handy when I'm only going to a supermarket to get just a basketful of things...I have better things to do than wait behind people with trolleys mountain full of groceries,' a mum added. 'My kids love using the self serve checkouts so they are happy to do it for me.' 'Well kinda makes sense since I gotta pack my own bags, at least I can do it at my own pace,' another pointed out. But the self-serve haters weren't having bar and continued to criticise the tills saying the volume is 'too loud' and that they don't accept cash. Aldi has addressed the checkout concerns multiple times since it slowly started to roll out the self service tills in stores all over Australia in 2021. An Aldi spokesperson previously told FEMAIL: 'Self-serve checkouts are a quick and convenient way for customers to shop, and all ALDI self-serve checkouts are card only to maximise efficiencies.' Previously shoppers were all for the self-serve checkouts saying Aldi workers are 'too fast' at scanning their groceries. They said many Aldi employees can groceries at the checkout far too quickly for them to bag their items before the transaction finishes so were thankful for the self-serve aisles. Many said they still loved the unmanned registers but the haters weren't having bar and continued to criticise the tills saying the volume is 'too loud' and that they don't accept cash 'At least now I can pack my groceries without it being thrown at my face! No offense to Aldi staff, but you guys are just too quick!' one customer wrote on Facebook. In response, one former worker revealed the computers track how many items they are scanning per minute and gave their advice for getting through the register fuss-free. 'We were measured on items per minute when on registers - which is shown at the end of your shift when closing out your individual till. Promise you, they're not doing it for fun,' they explained. 'Don't pack your bags at the register. Toss it all into the trolley/basket when scanned at take your time at the packing bench just next to the registers. Or buy those bags that hook into the trolley basket so you can kind of pack quickly,' they added. Aldi employees review and adjust their scan speed based on how quickly or slowly each customer packs their shopping. If a customer would like a checkout worker to slow down, they are encouraged to request they do so. Official confirms Beijing did investigate Wuhan lab at centre of lab-leak theory Chinese authorities secretly investigated a lab at the heart of the row over Covid's origin after the pandemic began, an ex-insider sensationally revealed today. President Xi Jinping's communist administration has repeatedly denied the lab leak hypothesis, labelling it a smear campaign by 'anti-China' forces and insisting the virus emerged naturally. Yet Beijing considered the theory credible enough to instigate its own formal probe, according to the former chief of the country's own public health watchdog, the equivalent of the UK Health Security Agency or Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the US. Professor George Gao, who ran the organisation when the pandemic began towards the end of 2019, claimed the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) was 'double-checked' by government-backed experts. The BBC says Professor Gao's explosive revelation shared with them is the first acknowledgement of any internal inquiry taking place over the lab leak theory. Former head of the Chinese equivalent of the Center for Disease Control Professor George Gao said a lab leak origin for Covid cannot be ruled out as he revealed for the first time that officials from Beijing conducted a formal investigation at the Wuhan Institute of Virology shortly after the start of the pandemic While China has insisted the virus originated elsewhere, academics, politicians and the media have contemplated the possibility it leaked from a high-level biochemical lab in Wuhan - raising suspicions that Chinese officials simply hid evidence of the early spread Discussing the possibility himself in a new podcast aimed to exploring the origins of the virus, he said: 'You can always suspect anything. That's science. 'Don't rule out anything.' At first, the overwhelming opinion, shared by the world's leading experts, was that Covid crossed naturally from animals infected with a bat coronavirus. But consensus over how the pandemic began three years ago has slowly started to shift. The lab leak theory centres around the fact that the virus first emerged miles away from the WIV, where researchers were known to be working on coronaviruses found in bats. Read more: WHO do you think you are? Outrage over 'unprecedented land grab' that 'could see World Health Organization force Britain, the US and Australia into lockdowns in future pandemics' 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. Advertisement No concrete proof to support either argument has ever been found, leaving experts fearing the truth will never be uncovered. Professor Gao told Fever: The Hunt for Covids Origin, a BBC Radio 4 series, that a formal investigation was carried out into the WIV after the start of the pandemic, although he did not specify when. 'That lab was double-checked by the experts in the field,' said the world-renowned immunologist and virologist. Professor Gao admitted he hadn't seen the official result of the probe but added he had 'heard' the lab was given the all-clear. 'I think the conclusion is that they are following all the protocols. They haven't found [any] wrongdoing,' he said. In response to Professor Gao's comments, China's UK Embassy said: 'The so-called "lab leak" is a lie created by anti-China forces. It is politically motivated and has no scientific basis.' This isn't the first time that Professor Gao has pushed past China's official narrative of the pandemic. Last month, he told a conference in Switzerland that while he had seen no evidence to back it up, a lab leak origin for Covid was possible. The Oxford University-educated researcher has also warned that the true origins of Covid may never be revealed due to the issue being 'too sensitive and politicised'. And in April he, alongside colleagues, published a bombshell paper that ruled there was no proof the virus jumped from animals to humans at a now-infamous Wuhan wet market. Professor Gao is now vice president of the National Natural Science Foundation of China after stepping down from the his previous role last year. Some experts now say Covid may have emerged from within the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Here security personnel are pictured keeping watch during a visit by the WHO in 2021 His retirement from the organisation in 2022, officially stated as being due to his age, was considered unusual. Chinese officials often stay in post well into their 80s. Once dismissed as fringe hypothesis favoured by conspiracy theorists, the possibility of Covid accidentally spreading from a lab has gained increasing traction over the course of the pandemic. Even US intelligence officials have backed it, with FBI director Christopher Wray stating in February that the virus 'most likely' originated from a lab incident in Wuhan. However, most experts maintain that Covid most likely emerged naturally, being transmitted from animals to humans - what is known as zoonosis. Such theories have largely pointed to Wuhan's Huanan seafood wholesale market, where numerous species of live animals were kept and sold, as the potential site where such an infection could have taken place. But Professor Gao, a previous critic of the Huanan market theory, has said because the search for early Covid cases in January 2020 was so heavily focused on this market and hospitals near it, officials might have missed a possible source of the virus on the other side of the city. In February 2021, an investigation into Covids origin by the World Health Organization said it was 'extremely unlikely' the virus leaked from a lab. Plans for a second phase of the investigation, involving audits of laboratories in the Wuhan area, were rejected by the Chinese government. Other Covid origin theories point to Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan as being the epicentre of the outbreak. Many of the earliest cases in December 2019 and January 2020 had visited the site, where live animals were sold The question of whether the global outbreak began with a spillover from wildlife sold at the market or leaked out of the Wuhan lab just eight miles across the Yangtze River has given rise to fierce debate. Some studies point to a natural spillover at the Huanan wildlife market. Positive swab samples of floors, cages and counters also track the virus back to stalls in the southwestern corner of the market (bottom left), where animals with the potential to harbour Covid were sold for meat or fur at the time (bottom right) Professor Gao said he supported the continuation of the WHOs investigation but added the body would need to 'negotiate with the government'. The new podcast also speaks to Professor Ian Lipkin, an epidemiologist based at Columbia University in New York. Professor Lipkin was one of five co-authors of a March 2020 paper called 'The Proximal Origin of Sars-Cov-2'. This controversial paper has been accused of trying to shut down the idea that Covid might have leaked from a lab. It concluded: 'We do not believe that any type of laboratory-based scenario is plausible.' But Professor Lipkin said he now has doubts over the certainty of that statement. He told the BBC that while he stands by the idea that Covid wasn't deliberately created in a lab and a natural origin remained the most likely scenario, it wasn't the only one. Professor Lipkin pointed to another lab, the Wuhan Centre for Disease Control, located just a few hundred metres from Huanan market, as one possible source. This lab was known to be involved in the collection of thousands of blood and faecal samples from wild bats with staff who worked there not always wearing the recommended level of PPE while doing so. Professor Lipkin said Covid could resultingly have 'originated outside of the market and been amplified in the market'. Scientific debate on the origins of Covid is ongoing, with no concrete proof to support either argument ever been found. China's secrecy in not providing vital access to scientists probing the origins and accusations of covering up evidence from the early days of the pandemic by wiping key databases has only fuelled alternative theories. Fever: The Hunt for Covids Origin is an eight-part podcast series starting on Radio 4 at 11am today, with new episodes to air the same time weekly. The episode featuring Professor Gao will be the sixth in the series. Presented by John Sudworth, the BBCs former Beijing Correspondent who reported on Wuhan when Covid first emerged, the series is the result of a three-year investigation into Covid's origins. The team aims to gain FDA approval in the US within a year An experimental cancer treatment has a 90 percent success rate in patients with multiple myeloma, one of the most common blood cancers in the world. Researchers at Hadassah-University Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel, used a treatment called Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy, or CAR-T, which boosts the patient's own immune system to destroy cancer cells. Of the 74 patients with multiple myeloma who were given the drug, 90 percent went into complete remission, meaning they had no signs of cancer remaining. 'These are dramatic results. This is a huge hope for patients with a disease that has not yet had a cure,' Dr Polina Stepensky, head of the university's bone-marrow transplant and immunotherapy department, told The Jerusalem Post. The treatment is based on genetic engineering, which is the process of altering DNA makeup using lab-based technology. Using genetically engineered cells, researchers at the Hadassah-University Medical Center in Jerusalem have developed a treatment to destroy malignant cells in patients with the blood cancer multiple myeloma The goal is to isolate T cells, which are immune cells that develop from stem cells found in bone marrow. This is done through apheresis, a process which takes donated blood components and separates white and red cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body, while white blood cells help fight infection. Then, engineered cells are injected into the patient. These target tumors and help to destroy the cancer. Unlike in other types of immunotherapy, CAR-T changes cells in a lab so they can make the protein CAR, which binds to cancer cells to eliminate them. Other therapies create large numbers of lymphocytes, immune cells made in the bone marrow, that travel in or around the tumor area. 'We have evidence of a very positive overall response rate with minimal side effects, and they are mild,' Dr Stepensky said. CAR-T is meant for patients who have had no success with more common treatments, including steroids, chemotherapy, and stem cell transplants. These treatments can have serious side effects. Stem cell transplants, for example, can lower your overall blood count, which can lead to infections and bleeding. This treatment is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat multiple myeloma, as well as some forms of leukemia and lymphoma. However, it costs anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million, making it inaccessible to many Americans. Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that affects plasma cells. Cancerous cells accumulate in the bone marrow, the spongy tissue at the center of bones. These cells infiltrate normal cells that work to fight infection. Malignant cells produce the antibody M protein, which has no benefit an causes tumors, kidney damage, bone destruction, and impaired immune function, according to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. In the early stages, multiple myeloma might not result in any symptoms, but once they do manifest, they include bone pain, nausea, constipation, loss of appetite, mental fogginess, fatigue, infections, weight loss, weakness or numbness in the legs, and excessive thirst. The disease is most common in people over 60. Additionally, men and black people are more likely to develop the condition. The American Cancer Society estimates about 35,000 new cases will be diagnosed in 2023, along with approximately 12,590 deaths. In the United Kingdom, there are an average or nearly 6,000 new cases per year, according to Cancer Research UK. The nation sees about 3,000 deaths from the disease every year. If it's caught early, eight in 10 patients survive more than five years. After it's spread, more than half survive. A GP surgery faced fierce backlash today over its registration form which asks parents whether their newborns are trans or non-binary. The practice in Birmingham also offers parents the choice of registering their baby's gender as 'other' or 'not stated'. Woodgate Valley Health Centre insisted the form was used by new patients of all ages wishing to register, not just newborns. MailOnline understands the form is not part of national NHS policy. Instead each surgery can decide to add extra gender options to their forms. The practice in Birmingham also offers parents the choice of registering their baby's gender as 'other' or 'not stated'. Woodgate Valley Health Centre (pictured) insisted the form was used by new patients of all ages wishing to register, not just newborns Taking to Twitter, a woman attached a screenshot of the registration form that a friend who had recently given birth was presented with. Under its gender options, the surgery offers 'male (including trans man)', 'female (including trans woman)', 'non-binary', 'other (not listed)' or 'not stated' Taking to Twitter, one woman attached a screenshot of the registration form that a friend who had recently given birth was presented with. Under its gender options, the surgery offers 'male (including trans man)', 'female (including trans woman)', 'non-binary', 'other (not listed)' or 'not stated'. The post sparked backlash among social media users, with one claiming 'that's insane'. Another labelled the move 'beyond out of control'. A third user commented: 'How on earth can a baby express any opinion on their "gender identity"?' One account also slammed NHS England for 'disgraceful gaslighting', adding: 'More gaslighting and nowhere for us women to have our own sex category.' The Twitter post sparked backlash among social media users with one claiming the registration form was 'insane' A third user commented: 'How on earth can a baby express any opinion on their "gender identity"?' Woke language changes have engulfed NHS communications in recent months. Some of the examples above have been taken from national NHS communications while others are used by individual hospitals In a crackdown on 'harmful terminology' in science this year, members of the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Language Project - founded by scientists in the US and Canada - published a list of the 'top 24 harmful terms' used in science. This includes replacing the term 'invasive' and 'male/female' Woodgate Valley Health Centre told The Sun the form was a 'standard new patient registration form for any new patient'. It 'includes, but is not limited to, parents registering a newborn baby', they added. Woke language changes have engulfed NHS communications in recent months. Earlier this year, health secretary Steve Barclay ordered an urgent investigation into new 'inclusive' guidelines that tell NHS staff to treat all patients as gender-neutral. The 16-page document was produced by researchers who received a 164,964 government grant to study how clinicians could improve their communication with LGBT patients. They presented their findings as evidence-based guidance for them to follow. But health experts have warned de-gendering medical advice could be dangerous as it over-complicates and obscures vital health messaging. Last year, the Health Service also came under fire for removing the word women from its advice pages on the menopause and ovarian and womb cancer. In January, Nimco Ali, the former Government tsar on tackling violence against women, warned the NHS is seriously compromised by gender ideology. In a foreword to a new report by the Policy Exchange think-tank, Ms Ali said its contents suggested the Health Service was seriously compromised by an ideology that is diminishing the rights of women and girls. Shock data last month revealed the number of child vapers rose 50% in a year The PM said the Government will crackdown on the marketing of vapes to kids Rishi Sunak today declared war on Britain's child vaping epidemic, hinting he will ban predatory marketing tactics blamed for surging e-cig rates among kids. The Prime Minister claimed the marketing of vapes to youngsters through cartoon characters, fruity flavours and bright colours is 'completely unacceptable'. Ministers have also pledged to close a loophole allowing retailers to give free vape samples to children in England which vape industry heads themselves have said 'no self-respecting business should ever have considered exploiting'. The threat of tougher action comes days after the PM expressed concern about his own daughters potentially being 'seduced' by e-cigarettes. And shock data earlier this month revealed the number of kids who've tried vaping has jumped 50 per cent in a year, prompting experts to warn Britain is 'sleepwalking into an existential crisis for children'. Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty visit a lab testing vaping products at Kent Scientific Services in West Malling, Kent Electronic vaping devices are displayed on a table during a visit of Britain's Prime Minister to Kent Scientific Services England's Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty called the decision to close the loophole a 'very welcome step' in light of the 'worrying rise' in child vapers. The Government said that there will also be a review into banning retailers selling 'nicotine-free' vapes to under-18s. The rules on issuing fines to shops that illegally sell vapes to children will also be reviewed, which the Government said could make it easier for local trading standards officials to issue on-the-spot fines and fixed penalty notices. Earlier this month Action on Smoking and Health's (ASH) annual poll revealed that 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 PM said he was 'deeply concerned' about this rapid rise. Speaking this morning at a lab in Kent, he told broadcasters the Government may take further action and 'change how we regulate the market and promotion of vapes', in order to tackle the crisis. 'Our new illicit vape enforcement squad backed by 3million is on the case but clearly there is more to do,' he said. 'That is why I am taking further action today to clamp down on rogue firms who unlawfully target our children with these products.' Mr Sunak added: 'The marketing and the illegal sales of vapes to children is completely unacceptable and I will do everything in my power to end this practice for good.' Asked whether he would enact an outright ban on the marketing of vapes to children, he said: 'As we have seen here today at this lab, there are a range of products which are clearly not designed for adults. 'They are designed to appeal to children in the way that they are marketed, promoted, the flavours they use... 'They shouldnt be deliberately targeting children, thats illegal. If we need to take further action to do that, thats what we will do.' 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 Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, centre, and Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty, second right, at Kent Scientific Services - where vapes are being tested Electronic vaping devices packed on a plastic bag are pictured during a visit of Britain's Prime Minister to Kent Scientific Services, beside testing equipment MailOnline discovered dupe vapes mimicking Chupa Chups, Skittles, Jolly Rancher, Rubicon and Calypso (pictured), with near-identical branding to the popular sweets and drinks in other stores along Oxford Street Pictures of the vapes tested at the Kent lab included several marketed with cartoon characters in bright colours. One was also made to look like a sippy cup. And last month, a MailOnline investigation into the nation's child vaping epidemic uncovered sweet shops promoting vapes and e-cigarettes masquerading as beloved candy brands. Child health experts claimed our dossier was 'scary' proof firms are desperately trying to lure kids in. Sir Whitty, who joined Mr Sunak at the lab, said: 'Whilst vaping can be an effective quitting tool for smokers, it is important non-smokers are not encouraged to start vaping. 'There has been a particularly worrying rise in the number of children using vapes, with companies clearly marketing these products at children using colours, flavours and cheap disposable options.' He said that closing the loophole tackles some of the harms caused by the vaping industry and added that, while we should continue to encourage smokers to swap to vaping health-wise, there needs to be a crackdown on the marketing and sale of vapes to children. The Government measures will also see the health risks of vaping included in Relationships, Sex and Health Education lessons in schools in England, as part of the ongoing government review of the curriculum. Dedicated police school liaison officers will also work to keep illegal vapes out of schools. It follows the creation of the 'illicit vapes enforcement squad' earlier this year. Health minister Neil O'Brien called any marketing of vaping products to children 'shameful'. He said the Government would 'review the rules on issuing on-the-spot fines to shops that break the law by selling vapes to underage youngsters, and look into banning the sale of nicotine-free vapes to under-18s which we know can be a gateway to using nicotine products'. Wes Streeting, Labour's shadow health secretary, called the announcement a 'baby step'. 'We have to act now to stop a new generation of kids getting hooked on nicotine,' the MP for Ilford North said. 'But the Conservatives voted down Labour's plan to ban the marketing of vapes to children. This new announcement is a baby step when we need urgent action now. 'The next Labour government will come down like a tonne of bricks on those pushing vapes to kids.' Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the charity ASH, said the proposals were welcome but were 'not the tough action that's needed'. She said the announcement needed to be followed by 'more detailed action'. 'The most important immediate step the Government could take now is to put a tax on the cheap disposables which are the vape of choice for children, as well as being bad for the environment,' she said. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak observes as a test is made on vaping products during a visit to Kent Scientific Services House of Candy, where a MailOnline investigation found large amounts of vapes advertised in the window, while the shop is packed with sweets Tests on e-cigarettes confiscated from youngsters found they contained dangerous levels of lead, nickel and chromium. Some were almost 10 times above safe limits. Exposure to lead can impair brain development, while the other two metals can trigger blood clotting Prime Candy on Oxford Street, where MailOnline found huge vape displays alongside many different types of American sweets 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 Vape industry figured have also welcomed the Government proposals. Gillian Golden, chief executive of the Independent British Vape Trade Association, said: 'The loophole allowing free samples to be distributed regardless of consumer age is a gap that no self-respecting business should ever have considered exploiting.' Joe Murillo, chief regulatory officer of Juul Labs, said: 'Vapes have a role to play in helping adult smokers transition away from cigarettes, but more needs to be done to combat underage use of these products. 'We believe that Government, regulators, and industry can collectively take action to reduce the access and appeal of vaping to those underage, including by restricting the sale and marketing of vapes to this group.' The Prime Minister also said he was 'shocked by reports of illicit vapes containing lead getting into the hands of schoolchildren'. Tests on e-cigarettes confiscated from youngsters found they contained dangerous levels of lead, nickel and chromium. Some were almost 10 times above safe limits. Exposure to lead can impair brain development, while the other two metals can trigger blood clotting. 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.' Anthropologists say this is due to the conditions in which she was buried The miracle of Missouri may be explained not by divine intervention but rather by the conditions in which the body was buried, an anthropologist has said. Thousands have flocked to a church in the small town of Gower, Missouri, to see and touch the body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, claiming the lack of decomposition after four years in the ground is a sign of her 'incorruptibility' or holiness. What added to the mystery was the fact that the nun had not been embalmed, when a preservative fluid is put into the body's arteries to slow decomposition. But a forensic anthropologist who has studied more than a hundred decomposing bodies said it is actually 'very common' for bodies to look like the nun's just a few years after being buried. Dr Rebecca George told DailyMail.com that a lack of moisture and oxygen in the coffin combined with clay soil keeping the temperature low would have started mummifying the body rather than breaking it down. Thousands have flocked to see and touch the body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, claiming that the lack of decomposition after four years in the ground is a sign of divine intervention. Anthropologists say, however, that her body was mummified because of a lack of exposure to oxygen, moisture and the fact it was at low temperatures underground Sister Wilhelmina is pictured above in the years before her death in 2019 at the age of 95 years Speaking to this website, the Western Carolina University professor said: 'Typically, when a... body is put in a coffin with clothing, just like what we see in the photos from the nun, you are cutting off a lot of the oxygen. 'She was buried in clay-like soil too, which keeps the temperature down. This doesn't stop decomposition, but it slows it, and that is what we are seeing here.' She added: 'The wooden coffin, that would have drawn moisture from the body absolutely.' When someone dies, the bacteria and fungi living on the skin and in the intestines start to break down the tissues. But this process can be slowed to a crawl by a lack of moisture, oxygen or a low temperature which are all needed to drive respiration and reactions to break down dead cells in the body. This often happens to bodies when they are buried and cut off from these environmental conditions. This may only shift when a crack appears in the coffin, possibly caused by decomposition from the outside, which would allow moisture and oxygen back in. Dr George likened the condition of the nun's body to an early stage of mummification. 'This is pretty common, especially in the conditions that this person is buried in,' she said. 'We don't typically exhume bodies once they are buried, so we are getting a glimpse of this process now. But yes, this is very common.' After death, someone will typically go through an autopsy to help to determine the cause of death. The body will then be stored in a cool and dry place before being buried about four feet underground in a coffin or cremated. Bodies go through five stages of decomposition. After initial discoloration and rigor mortis sets in, the second stage sees the body bloat as bacteria start to break down the inside's causing gases to accumulate. But if there is low moisture, cool temperatures and a lack of oxygen, then this second stage will be slowed because bacteria struggle to grow. Sister Wilhelmina's body was exhumed by the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, in Gower, Missouri, to make way for building work. The nuns had been preparing to add a St. Joseph shrine, dedicated to the acclaimed foster father of Jesus. Before the exhumation, they had been told to expect only bones because the 95-year-old nun's body was not embalmed and was buried in a wooden coffin. But they were shocked to find that her body was still almost completely intact. Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster's body was recovered from her Gower, Missouri grave without any signs of decay despite being buried since May 2019 People pray over the body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster at the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles abbey Sunday, May 28 Lancaster died on May 29, 2019, and was buried by hand on the ground of the convent The discovery was circulated among other nuns and then posted online, which led to a flurry of thousands of visitors to the church. Catholics believe that if a body does not decompose after death then a person is 'incorruptible', where divine intervention occurs to stop the normal process of decomposition. This is seen as a sign of holiness or a special blessing from God. The nuns are now planning to place the nun's body in a glass shrine to allow visitors to see her. They will also be able to take soil from the graveside, although this is currently limited to a teaspoon each. Questions have also been raised about whether Sister Wilhelmina is a saint, but the local diocese says she cannot be considered for this until five years after her death. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, in April 1924, she was the second of five children to Oscar and Ella Lancaster. She decided to go into God's service when she was just nine years old and received her first Communion. 'He seemed to be such a handsome and wonderful man, I agreed immediately,' she wrote. 'Then he told me to meet him every Sunday at Holy Communion. I said nothing about this conversation to anyone, believing that everyone that went to Holy Communion heard Our Lord talk to them.' She joined the Oblate Sisters of Providence in 1941, and three years later was accepted as a nun and given the name 'Wilhelmina'. She worked as a school teacher and archivist, and assisted in the Mount Providence Center of Music and General Culture during her 50 years with the Oblate Sisters. But in 1995 she left and founded the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, which follows the rule of St. Benedict. Lancaster died on May 29, 2019, and was buried by hand on the ground of the convent. I'm moving out of my home to move in with my partner. Instead of selling my flat, I have decided to let it out just in case things don't work out. I don't want the hassle of finding tenants or managing the property myself, so I've decided to use a letting agent. I would love some advice on how I should set about choosing the best one. For example, should I invite a few of them over to meet them? What questions should I ask when they do visit and what sort of fee should I expect to pay? Hand over responsibility: Using a managing agent enables landlords to take a step back and allow someone else to manage everything on their behalf Ed Magnus of This is Money replies: Being a landlord is often lucrative - but it can also be a time-consuming and demanding role, riddled with ever-increasing responsibilities and tedious compliance. On top of finding suitable tenants, you have to consider other factors such as regulations and safety checks, maintenance costs, void periods and rent collection to name just a few. Using a managing agent enables landlords to take a step back and allow someone else to manage everything on their behalf. They will handle everything during the letting process and the tenancy, including rent collection and organising repairs. But it can come at a considerable price, on top of what landlords already pay in tax and maintenance costs. Traditional high-street letting agents will typically charge anywhere between 10 and 20 per cent of the monthly rental income, depending on the company, the location and the service level on offer. In some cases they may even charge more than 20 per cent, particularly when managing short lets as this involves more work. I asked some property experts to help explain how you should go about choosing a letting agent. I spoke to Harriet Scanlan, lettings manager at Richmond estate agency Antony Roberts, Angharad Trueman, group lettings director at Andrews Estate Agents, and Katinka Hill, regional lettings director at Chestertons. How do you choose a managing agent? Harriet Scanlan replies: When looking for a letting agent to manage your rental property, a good starting point is to opt for someone local. If a tenant enquiry comes in, they should be well positioned to carry out a viewing swiftly, reducing potential void periods as much as possible. If you are seeking a fully-managed service, it's also worth finding out where the management department is based - is it local? This is important in terms of getting issues resolved quickly and keeping tenants happy. Angharad Trueman replies: Research is key when deciding which letting agent should manage your property, so be sure to check out their website and reviews. A good candidate will have demonstrable knowledge of the local market and positive reviews from landlords. Agents need to know their legal requirements and the laws affecting landlords, so industry qualifications are critical. Many agents operate on a 'get it on, get the price down' approach, so picking the agent offering the highest rent won't necessarily mean that is what you end up with Look for accreditations like membership of ARLA Propertymark, which means they are already qualified. Finally, carefully consider how a prospective agent communicates with you. Their manner and how they make you feel before, during and after the valuation is a good indicator of how they will present to future tenants. Katinka Hill adds: When compiling your shortlist, consider how long the agents working in the office have been specialising in lettings in your area. The longer they have been present, the stronger their knowledge, their network of potential tenants and the necessary experience to manage your property well. Don't just pick the agent who promises the highest rent Harriet Scanlan says: Many agents operate on the 'get it on, get the price down' approach, so picking the agent offering the highest rent won't necessarily mean that is what you end up with. Unlike sales, the relationship between a letting agent and a landlord could go on for years - so trust is essential You also need to consider the bigger picture. If they are starting your relationship with them by acting dishonestly, this doesn't bode well for further down the line. As a landlord, you are essentially entrusting your agent with what is likely to be one of your greatest assets, so it's not a decision to be made lightly. Unlike sales, the relationship between a letting agent and a landlord could go on for years, so a relationship based on trust is essential. What about the agent with the cheapest fee? Angharad Trueman replies: It's tempting to gravitate towards the agent with the cheapest fees, but this can be a false economy. Would you rather have an agent with 100 properties that charged 10 a month, or 50 properties that charged 75 a month? A good fee means the agent has funds to invest in training, technology and staff to help you later down the line. What should you ask a letting agent when they visit? Harriet Scanlan replies: When you meet a letting agent for the first time, you should discuss safety regulations so you know what is entailed in getting your property ready to let out. There are various safety rules and regulations which need to be adhered to, and it's a crucial part of the agent's job to explain these to you. Check agents know their compliance: For example, all rental properties now need an electrical installation condition report Angharad Trueman replies: Any agent worth their salt should be able to answer most of your questions off the top of their head, so don't be afraid to put them on the spot. It's important you also understand what happens after your tenant has moved in, not just the process leading up to finding them. Some standard questions would be: What is your process for pre-qualifying tenants? After you have moved my tenant in, how will the ongoing management of my property be dealt with? Who will be my property manager? How quickly will my rent be paid and when should I set up my direct debit for my mortgage payments? What is your process for chasing arrears? When should I expect you to be in touch with me? How will you communicate with me and how often will you be in touch? How often will property inspections happen, and who will do them? What if there is a maintenance emergency and you can't get hold of me? Katinka Hill replies: Once you meet with your potential agent, clarify exactly what kind of tenant you are looking for and use this opportunity to test your agent on their knowledge about your area's property market. Ask them how the market is performing, what rents are usually generated for properties similar to yours, and which tenant demographics they attract. It's also crucial to discuss your responsibilities as a landlord and the latest regulations including the Renters' Reform Bill. Last but not least, don't shy away from asking for a detailed breakdown of the agency's fee structure. The level of fees and payment of fees varies outside of London compared to in London, as an example. Other fees that landlords should be aware of are tenancy agreement fees, deposit registration fees, safety checks, inventory and check-in fees as well as reference fees. Should you haggle the agent over their fee? Angharad Trueman replies: Typically, management fees range between 10 and 15 per cent of the monthly rental income. You can haggle, but as all aspects of an agent's management are generally necessary, you wouldn't want them to cut corners to meet your required fee. When it comes to looking after what may be your biggest investment, remember the old saying, 'pay cheap, pay twice'. The agent's terms and conditions should clearly set out all of their costs, but there are third-party costs to bear in mind such as pre-tenancy cleaning, safety certification and inventories Are there any additional costs to watch out for? Harriet Scanlan replies: When landlords are exploring the potential of letting their property out, it is beneficial to have a good grasp of costs. The agent's terms and conditions should clearly set out all of their costs but there are third-party costs to bear in mind such as pre-tenancy cleaning, safety certification and inventories. Many agencies add a referral fee to their contractors; in turn contractors build that into their invoices, thus passing the cost onto the landlord. Not all letting agents act like that, so look around for one who doesn't. Angharad Trueman adds: Ensure you ask about extras on top of the management fee so you are not surprised later down the line. There is often an extra charge for inventories and check-out reports as these are often conducted by external impartial companies. Property inspections take a lot of extra manpower to organise and complete so these often incur an additional fee too. Traditional high-street letting agents will typically charge anywhere between 10% and 20% of the monthly rental income What makes a good letting agent? Harriet Scanlan replies: A good letting agent should invest in their marketing, especially when it comes to professional photos and property portals. The online presence these days is vital so getting it right is important. Angharad Trueman replies: A good agent is one that acts with integrity, honesty and is a great communicator. Many things can go wrong with property and it's important to be with an agent who informs you promptly and won't sugarcoat things. If problems do arise, you should feel confident working on a plan to solve them together. The legislative landscape for lettings shifts quite often so you're looking for an agent who keeps their knowledge up to date and can always provide you with the most current detailed advice. Cut costs: The cheaper 'let only' service is where the agent finds the tenants, moves them in and then hands everything back to the landlord What does the full management service include? Ed Magnus replies: In addition to finding the tenants, the letting agent will deal with day to day management including repairs. They should also give utility suppliers meter readings when the tenancy starts and ends, organise safety checks such as the gas safety certificate, electrical safety tests, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Full management should also include the agent visiting the property at least once a year, providing an emergency out of hours service, and managing the end of tenancy process and deposit return. What if you don't want to pay for full management? Ed Magnus replies: Broadly, there are three service levels available. As the name suggests, the cheaper 'let only' service is where the agent finds the tenants, moves them in and then hands everything back to the landlord. This can either be charged as a flat one-off fee or taken as a percentage of the rent. The next cheapest option is for the rent collection service. Again this leaves the management in the landlords hands, but the agent will be responsible for rent collection and chasing up any rent arrears. Advertisement If you're a billionaire with a penchant for fast - and incredibly exclusive - vehicles, then we might have found your ideal new home. Exotic hypercar maker Bugatti has unveiled a new luxury apartment complex in Dubai consisting of 171 Riviera Mansions and 11 Sky Mansion Penthouses in the heart of the developing Business Bay area. As well as roof-top swimming pools and a private beach, the tower block also features two car lifts allowing residents to take their bespoke motors to their apartment's front doors. And they - unsurprisingly - won't be cheap, with the largest of the penthouse suites costing an eye-watering amount... From hypercars to hyperstructures: Plans for Bugatti's first residential development in Dubai have been unveiled this week, with the curving tower consisting of 182 luxury 'mansion' apartments and penthouses The tower block has a pair of garage-to-penthouse lifts, meaning property owners can park their car in a bespoke room as an extension to their living quarters (as seen here) The biggest of the luxury apartments - the 44,214 square foot penthouse suite spanning the top three floors of the 46-storey building - will cost 750million dirhams, which is just over 164million. The price was confirmed by Mohamed bin Ghatti, CEO of Binghatti Real Estate, which will partner with Bugatti on the project. The staggering asking price makes this the most expensive property for sale in the history of the Dubai market. The remaining 10 Sky Mansion Penthouses will cost between 130million and 350million dirhams, which is 28.5million to 77million. The French hypercar maker's aim is to extend its exclusive products beyond vehicle and clothing lines - and even a 965 ($1,200) e-scooter - by branching into the high-end premier housing sector. Having amassed an extensive client list since the brand's rejuvenation under VW's ownership in the early 2000s, which started with the hugely successful 1million Veyron, Bugatti's contacts list of billionaire property moguls is likely bigger than any held by another automotive company. And if you thought its cars were eye catching, check out the distinctive structure of the enormous Bugatti Residence, which is due to be constructed in the affluent central business district in the UAE's most populated city. The French hypercar maker wants to extend its exclusive products beyond vehicle and clothing lines by branching into the housing sector. Bugatti Residence is due to be constructed in the heart of the developing Business Bay area of Dubai With Bugatti's Chiron hypercar costing in excess of 3.2million, don't expect the Dubai properties to be cheap... The curved building offers floor-to-ceiling windows to provide unobstructed views of the surrounding city It is said to have a strong French Riviera influence, with the building's 'hyper form' made up of curved levels to provide each mansion with unobstructed views of the city. Every apartment will have floor-to-ceiling windows to maximise natural light, while the high ceilings and open-plan living spaces are designed to make each property feel more spacious. In a joint statement with Binghatti, the premium car firm said: 'The collaboration between the two revered brands aims to depict synergies that achieve unparalleled excellence. 'Drawing upon the rich and diverse creative heritage of both brands, the Bugatti and Binghatti collaboration project has at its nucleus a meticulously designed structure featuring a distinctive facade complemented by intricately designed interiors. 'With its serene undertones, the hyper-form will juxtapose the citys bustling energy a retreat in the heart of the metropolis.' Every mansion and penthouse in the 182-property building will be 'absolutely unique' and feature 'bespoke curated layouts'. And the on-site facilities aren't bad, either. Bugatti Residence has rooftop pools on each level and also boasts a private members club and spa facility The building will feature a French Riviera-inspired private beach (pictured), chef's table, private valet and fitness club The complex will have its own private Riviera-inspired beach and residents-only roof-top pools, jacuzzi spa and fitness club. Among other luxury living amenities is a chefs table, private valet and members club. The residence also provides tailored services for its well-heeled inhabitants, including a bespoke chauffeur and concierge service. And it wouldn't be a suitable Bugatti home unless it has the appropriate parking facilities for supercars. That's why the tower boasts two garage-to-penthouse car lifts, allowing residents to transport their exotic vehicles up to their apartments. The enormous building in the heart of the city's business district also consists of a pair of garage-to-penthouse car lifts It means Bugatti owners can drive their 3.2million Chirons into the ground-level garage and transport it up to their bespoke mansions at the top of the 46-storey building Bugatti Residence is being built in conjunction with luxury developer Binghatti. There is currently no word on how much the mansion apartments will cost, but the most expensive Sky Mansion Penthouse is a staggering 165million Interested parties - be it residents or brokers - can register their interest in one of the 182 available units on the exclusive car maker's website 'Unmatched craftsmanship and exquisite finishes that set a new standard for opulence will be at the heart of the living spaces curated for Bugatti Residences, ensuring that the "Art of Living" is reimagined for a contemporary defining era,' the joint statement continued. 'Both penthouses and mansions offer spacious living areas adorned with the finest material selection the world has to offer. 'The Bugatti Residences carry a seamless blend of comfort, functionality and elegance that reflect Bugatti and Binghattis pre-eminence in design.' Interested parties - be it residents or brokers - can register their interest in one of the 182 available units on the exclusive car maker's website. Bugatti isn't the only luxury car brand dabbling in real estate. Apartment in a Bentley-branded residential tower in Miami went on sale last year Aston Martin is also developing a company-first apartment block in Miami, pictured. It consists of 391 luxury residences priced from $1.5million (1.2million) to upwards of $50million (40million) Bugatti isn't the first luxury car brand to dabble in the world of real estate. Apartments in Bentley's first complex in Miami went on sale last year for $4.2million (3.4million), which is close to the 66-storey glass-and-steel waterfront tower built by fellow British car brand Aston Martin. Construction of the Aston Martin Residence began in downtown Miami in 2017 and will consist of 391 luxury residences priced from $1.5million (1.2million) to upwards of $50million (40million). Back in 2015, Mercedes-Benz also dipped its toe into the luxury property game by unveiling a collection of apartments in Kensington, West London, made available for the global ultra-wealthy needing a short-term place to stay in Britain. Each one was available to rent at around 400 a night. The chief executive of pensions and life insurance giant Phoenix has backed a warning that Britains regulatory approach could mean the country is seen as closed for business. Andy Briggs said there is definitely a risk of that when asked if he agreed with video games maker Activision Blizzard after the UK competition watchdog blocked its takeover by Microsoft. Briggs is involved in talks with a separate arm of the UK regulatory system to try to ease rules to allow more of Britains 3.4trillion of pension wealth to be usefully invested. He told the Mail that he was having good and constructive dialogue with the Bank of England over the reforms and understood its objective to be prudent. Chief executive of Phoenix Andy Briggs But it needs to end up in an outcome where consumers are safe and there is a much greater flow of insurance capital, Briggs added. He said it has taken a long time to push forward with the reforms. Briggs said talks were making progress but that we are certainly not where we need to be. The remarks suggest there is some frustration over the pace of much-discussed changes that would enable pension funds to invest more money in UK growth companies. Phoenix is the UKs largest pensions and savings business, with 13m customers and assets of 259bn. More of that money could be invested in UK growth if reforms to Solvency II rules go ahead. But there has been a cautious approach from the Bank of England, which is worried firms and consumers could be exposed to greater risk. Briggs said Phoenix would like to deploy 40bn over the next five years in such investments. His comments on frustration with regulators could be seen as adding to the rumblings of discontent both from industry and possibly within the Government. Last month in a separate intervention, the Competition and Markets Authority blocked Xbox maker Microsofts takeover of Activision Blizzard. The decision sparked an angry response from both companies, with Activision saying that the UK is clearly closed for business. Pubs, bars and restaurants have seen their bills soar by 81pc over the past year according to new figures. Surging energy prices as well as more expensive food and wage costs are behind the increase according to research by NielsenIQ on behalf of a group of industry bodies. Huge hike: Pubs, bars and restaurants have seen energy bills soar by 81%, figures show Just 29pc of hospitality businesses said they are feeling optimistic about the next 12 months, with energy costs being a main driver for concerns. With gas prices soaring following Russias invasion of Ukraine, many firms have been locked into paying bills significantly above market rates after signing long-term fixed-rate contracts last year. This has weighed down on profitability and led to thousands of closures across high streets. The British Institute of Innkeeping, UKHospitality, the British Beer and Pub Association and Hospitality Ulster - which commissioned the research - called for the Government to step up efforts to ensure more firms are not forced to shut up shop. It comes after the Government ended its energy bill relief scheme, which provided a discount on wholesale gas and electricity prices for pubs and restaurants. A Government spokesperson said: 'We acted swiftly to provide businesses, including the hospitality sector, with an unprecedented package of support. 'As of April, this has saved them 6.9billion on energy costs amounting to around 35million a day - and enabling some to only pay around half of predicted wholesale energy costs. 'Global energy prices have fallen significantly and are now at their lowest level since before Russias illegal invasion of Ukraine. The new level of Government support reflects this welcome fall in prices, but we will continue to stand by businesses.' Regulators plan to probe Asda's 2.3billion deal for a petrol station operator amid fears it could push up fuel prices. The supermarket chain will snap up EG Group's UK and Irish businesses, creating a company with revenues of nearly 30billion and 170,000 employees, in a swoop masterminded by the Issa brothers. The deal, which values the combined group at 10billion, ends months of speculation about what Asda owners the Issa brothers would do with its petrol business, which has been looking to slash its 7billion debt pile. Merger: Asda will snap up EG Group's UK and Irish businesses, creating a company with revenues of nearly 30bn and 170,000 employees But the combination of Asda and EG Group will bring together 600 supermarkets, 700 petrol stations and 100 convenience stores raising questions about competition on petrol prices. Although the deal does not qualify for a full regulatory merger review in the UK, with both firms being co-owned by the brothers and private equity firm TDA Capital, it will fall into the UK competition watchdog's fuel pricing probe. Earlier this month, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it will question supermarket bosses after finding evidence that retailers have increased fuel prices to unnecessarily high levels. It found soaring pump prices could not be solely blamed on global factors, such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and is investigating whether 'any failure in competition' is leaving consumers paying more. Pressure group FairFuelUK said this could be a potential obstacle for Asda. 'The CMA has Asda in their sights with regard to manipulating pump prices as wholesale costs have plummeted,' said FairFuelUK founder Howard Cox. He also flagged concerns about Asda's pricing in the face of EG's debt pile, calling on the competition regulator to take a stand. 'The CMA must stop this latest merger so lower priced supermarket fill up choices are not lost to drivers by the weight of the greedy EG's much higher pump prices,' Cox said. 'UK diesel and petrol prices are already dishonestly higher than necessary. The EG's latest business shenanigans will keep them that way, unless the CMA acts to stop this deal going ahead.' Masterminds: The Issa brothers bought Asda for 6.8bn in 2020 And the tie-up has also sounded alarm bells amongst unions, which are worried the deal will lead to heavy job cuts. In a letter to Stuart Rose, chairman of both Asda and EG, Nadine Houghton, GMB national officer, said she had a 'deep concern' about the merger. 'Is this the beginning of a wholesale assault on the pay of working people across Asda?' she asked. There had been rumours of a tie-up between Asda and the EG Group since the Issa brothers bought the supermarket for 6.8billion in 2020. They swooped on Asda after former owner Walmart's plan to sell it to Sainsbury's was blocked. Zuber Issa said EG joining with Asda was 'an important strategic step'. Meanwhile retail veteran Rose said: 'Asda's acquisition of EG UK and Ireland will create a consumer champion like the UK has never seen.' Rose told reporters the grocer will 'still be the price leader in the UK on petrol'. It is unclear who will head up the combined group, but sources have suggested that Imran Nawaz, chief financial officer of Tesco, and Shirine Khoury-Haq, finance boss of Co-op, could be in the running. Nvidia has become the first chip manufacturer to hit a valuation of $1trillion (807bn). Shares have rocketed as the company cashes in on the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. Nvidia said sales would reach 9billion in the three months to July, smashing Wall Street estimates. Nvidia shares traded at $406 yesterday, pushing the firm into the elite club of Silicon Valley stocks to achieve a market cap over $1trillion The Californian firm clocked up one of the biggest ever one-day stock market increases in US company history last week adding more than 150billion to its market cap on Thursday trade alone. The gain was close to the total value of Shell, the second largest firm on the UK stock market. And the surge has continued into this week. Shares traded at $406 yesterday, pushing Nvidia into the elite club of Silicon Valley stocks to achieve a market cap over $1trillion. This group includes tech giants Amazon, Apple, Google owner Alphabet and Microsoft, as well as Saudi Aramco. Facebook owner Meta and Tesla joined the trillion dollar club in 2021, but later tumbled out again as a result of a wider tech sell-off. Nvidia's stock is up more than 175 per cent this year as analysts back the company to grow even bigger thanks to intense AI investment. Nvidia has played a key role in the growing popularity of AI, providing chips to the likes of Microsoft to develop the tech. Chief executive Jensen Huang said it was in the right place at the right time when AI and ChatGPT took off. The next largest chipmaker globally Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing is valued at about 431billion. But Nvidia's recent success stands in stark contrast to its bumpy ride throughout 2022. It was battered by a slowing demand for its gaming chips and its failed attempt to buy the UK-based chip designer Arm from Japan's SoftBank. Pension boost: Ask your employer if it will match your extra contributions Some employers will match your pension contributions if you pay in more than the bare minimum yourself. If you can afford this, it's worth investigating if yours will throw free extra cash into your fund. Auto-enrolment forced all employers to set up and pay into pension schemes for their staff, but many contribute well above the compulsory level to attract and retain staff. Generosity varies between industries, but employers that match pension contributions up to 5 per cent of salary are not unusual - see below to find out how that could boost your pot from 150,000 to 188,000. Those working in the financial services sector, for example, might find their employer is willing to match up to 8 per cent of salary. That could push up your fund up to 300,000, according to calculations by Hargreaves Lansdown - see below. 'An employer match where your employer contributes more if you do is a great way of making the very most of your pension and benefiting from free money.' says Helen Morrissey, head of retirement analysis at Hargreaves. 'If budgets are still too tight, then check to see if your employer offers it and make a note to make the most of this extra cash as soon as you can.' Figures based on someone saving from age 22 with a 25k salary, retiring at 67 with 5% annual investment growth and a 1.5% annual charge. Employee contribution figures include the free tax relief top-up you get from the Government, not just your own cash Rising household bills mean many people are reducing or stopping payments into pensions, which has has prompted warnings about the damage this does to the chances of a decent retirement. Opting out of pension saving for five years in your 20s can blow a 114,000 hole in your eventual retirement pot, and failing to make payments for 10 years will lose you a staggering 202,000, according to one recent study. But if you can still afford to pay in more, then in addition to perhaps getting more free cash from your employer, you will also get extra tax relief from the Government for making increased payments into your pot. Everyone saves for retirement out of untaxed income, because the Government pays pension tax relief at the 20 per cent, 40 per cent or 45 per cent income tax rates. So, it can be advantageous to divert savings to your pension to get this extra free employer and Government money, rather than sticking it in a cash Isa or other account - although it does mean you will be locking it up until retirement rather than having readier access to your funds. When you check with your employer about matched contributions, don't just ask about the percentage they put in but whether this is based on your total pay or just a band of earnings. Under automatic enrolment, the minimum 3 per cent employer contribution only has to be made on a 6,240 - 50,270 band of your annual earnings. Who pays what: Auto enrolment breakdown of minimum pension contributions Morrissey says: 'Many employers stick with their auto-enrolment minimums when it comes to workplace pensions but if you have an employer who is willing to do more then this could have a massive impact on how much you end up with in retirement. 'In times such as these, it is difficult to find extra cash as budgets continue to be stretched. It's well worth checking to see if your employer offers such an arrangement, as you can end up with a lot of extra pension for not a lot of extra money 'However, if you are able to put a bit more away then its well worth checking to see if your employer offers such an arrangement as you can end up with a lot of extra pension for not a lot of extra money.' Employer pension contributions are much lower in the private sector, where 'defined contribution' pensions prevail, than in the public sector, where salary-related schemes dominate. Both 'career average' salary related pension schemes generally offered to new entrants, and old-style 'final salary' schemes, are much more generous. Although they tend to take much higher minimum contributions from staff, they are much more favourable overall. You end up with a pension which is guaranteed for life and continues paying out something to your spouse if they live longer than you. A sweeping law could see Australians jailed for three years for posting what's deemed 'offensive' on Facebook in an attempt to protect minority groups. Queensland's Labor government has introduced a bill that would dramatically increase the maximum prison sentence for racist, anti-gay, anti-trans or seriously bigoted statements. Making such statements already carry a maximum six-month jail term, but that would be increased to three years under the new bill. Inflammatory Facebook posts would be a criminal offence with the legislation covering 'any form of communication to the public, including by speaking, writing, printing, displaying notices, broadcasting, telecasting, screening or playing of tapes or other recorded material, or by electronic means'. Posting a Nazi symbol on social media, or carrying it around publicly, will also prompt jail time. Scroll down for video Someone could soon go to jail for three years for posting an offensive Facebook comment or be criminally charged for displaying a religious symbol that resembles a swastika, legal experts say (stock image) Neo-Nazis who displayed swastikas face hefty prison sentences under the proposed Criminal Code (Serious Vilification and Hate Crimes) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023. It covers 'any conduct that is observable by the public, including actions, gestures and the wearing or display of clothing, signs, flags, emblems or insignia'. Displaying a swastika is already illegal in Victoria and NSW, with Western Australia soon following and South Australia also considering the issue. In NSW, it attracts a year long jail term or a $100,000 fine. The laws in Victoria and NSW have an exception when it comes to people displaying swastikas for religious reasons - as it is a common symbol in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain faiths. While the proposed law has a similar exemption in Queensland, there are fears overzealous police could arrest and charge someone regardless. Queensland Council for Civil Liberties president Michael Cope said the proposed laws targeting Nazi swastikas could see Hindus criminally charged for displaying their religious symbol. Swastikas are a symbol of the sun in Hinduism and are commonly displayed during the Diwali festival of lights. 'There's a serious prospect that people of different faiths who use the swastika and similar symbols, as an ordinary part of their religious belief, I think are going to be subject to prosecution under this legislation,' Mr Cope told a parliamentary hearing on Monday. 'Given the prevalence of the swastika in so many different cultural and religious contexts, inevitably, someone is going to get charged.' In a submission to the parliamentary Legal Affairs and Safety Committee which is examining the legislation, the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties said Hindus and comedians both faced being criminally charged. But Queensland Council for Civil Liberties president Michael Cope said the proposed laws targeting Nazi swastikas could also see Hindus criminally charged for displaying a religious symbol (pictured is a Hindu swastika displayed in Brisbane) 'We all know the swastika has been around for millennia including being a prominent symbol in the Roman world,' it said. What the Queensland legislation says The Criminal Code (Serious Vilification and Hate Crimes) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 proposes to impose three-year jail terms, up from six months now, for bigoted public statements. Section 131A describes a public act as 'any form of communication to the public, including by speaking, writing, printing, displaying notices, broadcasting, telecasting, screening or playing of tapes or other recorded material, or by electronic means'. This would include social media posts. It also targets Nazi symbols, referring to 'any conduct that is observable by the public, including actions, gestures and the wearing or display of clothing, signs, flags, emblems or insignia'. Police rather than just the Director of Public Prosecutions would have the power to lay charges, with the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties worried a cop could fail to understand the significance of a Hindu swastika. The bill covers 'serious racial, religious, sexuality or gender identity vilification'. Advertisement 'But today it is of course used extensively in Hinduism. The law tries to address this concern by the defence of genuine religious purpose. 'However, clearly it is most likely the need to defend charges under this law will fall on religious and cultural groups who make use of the symbol on a regular basis, not to mention artists and satirists.' Labor MP James Martin argued the bill did allow a 'genuine religious purpose' defence. But Mr Cope said the legislation gave police, rather than just the Director of Public Prosecutions, the power to have someone charged, which meant the nuance could be lost on a cop. 'I accept what you're saying but the problem is that this symbol is in such extensive use by many different religions and cultural groups and ultimately the decision to prosecute somebody will be made by some police officer who may not understand what you're saying,' he said. Labor's proposed laws would also put the onus on the defendant to prove the swastika wasn't used to promote fascist ideology. 'The burden of having to defend that prosecution will fall upon those persons and at least part of the burden of proof will lie on them,' Mr Cope said. 'Why should any part of the burden of proof lie upon them?' The state's former attorney-general Shannon Fentiman, who is often touted as a future premier or Labor leader, in March introduced the bill raising the maximum jail sentence for vilifying a minority group. Ms Fentiman was this month moved to the health portfolio with Yvette D'Ath returning as attorney-general. Queensland's new top law officer said she would consider feedback on the legislation. 'I'll wait the Committee's report to be tabled in Parliament before making any further comments,' Ms D'Ath told Daily Mail Australia. Queensland's former attorney-general Shannon Fentiman, who is often touted as a future premier or Labor leader, in March introduced the Bill raising the maximum jail sentence for vilifying a minority group Under the legislation, the attorney-general would have the power to declare a symbol illegal without having to go through Parliament - a system known as regulation. The Queensland Law Society is opposed to the introduction of three-year jail sentences for serious vilification offences. Patrick Quinn, the deputy chairman of the group's criminal law committee, said the legislation could see someone charged over something subjective. 'Is the display objectively capable of causing offence rather than simply hurting the feelings of a person making the complaint? 'It needs to be clear that it's an objective test in those circumstances.' Rebecca Fogerty, the Queensland Law Society's vice president, said the proposed law could be misused against someone. 'Only the most serious types of behaviour is captured to ensure that there is not a slippery slope in relation to the way that such legislation could be misused, including against the people it's meant to protect,' she said. Swastikas are a symbol of the sun in Hinduism and are commonly displayed during the Diwali festival of lights (pictured are children in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh) Mr Cope said the legislation would give the state 'unrestrained' powers to restrict freedom of expression in the name of stamping out intolerance. 'We're handing over to the state the power to make those very critical decisions, in ways which are, on the face of it, at least in one view of the law, pretty much unrestrained,' he said. 'And we don't know who the next government or the government in 10 years' time might be.' Queensland is seeking to join several Labor states, and emulate laws that exist in Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland criminalising a symbol of Nazi Germany. Labor has a majority in Queensland's lower house in a state without an upper house, which means the Liberal National Party Opposition and minor parties can't block the legislation. China has declined a request from the United States for a meeting between their defense chiefs in a new sign of strain between the powers. The meeting was intended to take place at an annual security forum in Singapore this weekend before China refused the request, saying the U.S. was 'well aware' of the reasons behind the lack of military communication. 'Overnight, the PRC informed the U.S. that they have declined our early May invitation for Secretary (Lloyd) Austin to meet with PRC Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu in Singapore,' the Pentagon said in a statement to the Wall Street Journal, referring to China by the initials of its official name, the People's Republic of China. The Pentagon said it believed in open communication 'to ensure that competition does not veer into conflict.' Last week, White House spokesman John Kirby said there were discussions by the Defense Department to get talks going between Austin and his Chinese counterpart, who was named defense minister in March. China has declined a request from the United States for a meeting between Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his counterpart. Pictured: Austin speaks at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, May 29, 2023 Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu adjusts his headphone during the defense ministers' meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in New Delhi, April 28, 2023 The meeting refusal shows a new sign of strain between the powers. Pictured: President Biden meets with President Xi Jinping at the G20 leaders' summit in Indonesia, November 14, 2022 The prospect of a meeting between the defense chiefs was being closely watched given regional security tensions and trade disputes that have derailed plans for re-engagement by the world's two largest economies. China's foreign ministry on Tuesday blamed the United States for its decision, claiming that Washington was 'well aware' of the reasons behind the lack of military communication. 'The U.S. side should ... immediately correct its wrong practices, show sincerity, and create the necessary atmosphere and conditions for dialogue and communication between the two militaries,' foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters at a briefing. Last week, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao traded barbs on trade, investment and export policies in a meeting in Washington that marked the first U.S.-China cabinet-level exchange in months. Singapore-based security analyst Ian Storey said China's decision to shun Austin did not bode well. 'At a time of rising U.S.-China tensions, General Li's refusal to meet his American counterpart will fray regional nerves even further,' Storey said. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (left) and Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu (right) met with each other in Moscow on April 18, 2018 President Joe Biden shakes hands with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (right) during the National Memorial Day Observance in Arlington, Virginia, May 29, 2023 Austin and Li will be in Singapore to attend the annual Shangri-la Dialogue that opens on Friday, an informal gathering of defense officials and analysts that also plays host to a string of side meetings. Both are expected to hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from around the region. Li, who security scholars say is a veteran of the People's Liberation Army modernisation effort, has been under U.S. sanctions since 2018 over the purchase of combat aircraft and equipment from Russia's main arms exporter, Rosoboronexport. Li is a member of the Central Military Commission, China's top defense body that is commanded by President Xi Jinping. (Reporting by Urvi Dugar in Bengaluru, Greg Torode in Hong Kong; Additional reporting by Liz Lee and Laurie Chen in Beijing; Editing by Chris Reese, Deepa Babington and Nick Macfie) A heartbroken mother has spoken out about the chilling last conversation she had with her just days before he was killed in a horrific crash. Joshua Elmes, 15, was one of four people killed when the red Toyota Corolla they were travelling in veered off Wannon-Nigretta Falls Road at Bochara, 320km west of Melbourne and smashed into a tree early Saturday morning. Alicia Montebello, 31, Lucus Garzoli, 17, and Meghan Fox, 14, were also killed, while the sole crash survivor, 17, remains seriously injured in hospital. Joshua's parents, Matthew and Lee-Ann Elmes have spoken out about the tragedy and that they had warned their son not to get in the car with a woman who was reportedly driving dangerously just last year following 'an incident'. Mr Elmes also revealed how Joshua admitted to him he was in a car with friends doing 'donuts' just a week before the crash. The couple has no bitterness towards whoever was behind the wheel. Hours before his death, Joshua was enjoying a Christian youth program and later decided to go out after an argument at home with his parents. Joshua Elmes' parents (pictured together with their three children including Josh left) have spoken out about the tragedy which has devastated their family 'I said goodnight to him and that I love you, and five minutes later, I heard the front door open and close,' Ms Elmes told Sunrise. 'I rang him, and I said: 'Where are you going?' and he said: 'I'm going for a walk and I'll see you soon. 'I never heard from him again'. Joshua's dad spoke out about the warning he gave his son after he boasted abvout 'doing donuts' in a car with friends. 'I just said: 'Look, one wrong decision can impact the rest of your life,' and he said to me: 'I'm not that stupid, Dad, I wouldn't do that,' Mr Elmes recalled. Le-Ann broke down while delivering a passionate message to other teens in the hope other lives won't be lost. 'I want the youth of Hamilton, and however far this goes to please think of your loved ones when you leave the front door,' she pleaded. 'Think of them, think of what could happen in those hours between when you leave and when you get home. 'I'm pleading to Victoria, the whole of Australia, please do the right thing.' 'If it's in legacy of Josh, I don't care, just do the right thing and come home to your parents because it's a parent's worst nightmare to lose a child.' Joshua's parents were concerned the group he had been associating with had been 'pushing the boundaries too much, driving too fast'. 'Eventually, Josh stopped hopping in the car for the last four months, as far as we know. I might not have even found out he was in the car if they didn't have the accident,' Mr Elmes told The Age. Joshua's parents Matthew and Lee-Ann Elmes (pictured) phoned their son after he went out on Friday night following an argument at home. It would be the last time they would speak to him Teen Joshua Elms (pictured) had been warned about not getting into the car of a 'dangerous driver' months before he was killed, his shattered parents has revealed The couple also revealed they went to police about a woman with concerns she was driving dangerously. It's unclear if that was the same woman who may have been behind the wheel on Saturday. Mr Elmes also told the Herald Sun that Joshua was prone to making 'impulsive decisions' after he was diagnosed with ADHD. He added that teens had been seeking out adrenaline rush activities, including speeding. 'That's what has been happening with these kids [from Hamilton],' Mr Elmes said. 'They're just pushing the boundaries too much; they're driving too fast just for the adrenaline rush.' Joshua has been remembered as a larrikin teen who was mad about motorbikes, loved playing the drums and as a devoted big brother to his two siblings. He had also just started his first job working at Coles. Joshua (back) was close to his dad Matthew (right) and younger brother Aaron (front) Three teens and a woman were killed when a red Toyota Corolla (pictured) veered off Wannon-Nigretta Falls Road at Bochara Joshua's younger brother Aaron, 12, found a note Joshua wrote on his laptop outlining his life dreams and what he wanted to achieve in the next 10 years. He wished to join the ADF and fly jets, having spent the past three years as a cadet at Monivae College. He then wanted to buy buying a rural property and settle down to raise a young family, even naming the girl he wanted to marry. Ms Elmes doesn't harbour any hatred or forgiveness towards whoever was behind the wheel. 'It's happened and we can't bring them back. It's easy to blame someone, but why?' she said. 'A parent's worst nightmare is losing a child, people say that and warn us that you don't want your kids doing silly things. But you don't understand that until it happens to you.' Joshua Elmes (pictured) loved playing the drums, according to his family Joshua Elmes (pictured) was killed alongside Lucas Garzoli. He too is believed to have been an Army cadet She has set up an online fundraiser for the victims' families which has so far raised more than $7000. 'I am one of the grieving parents in Hamilton Victoria who has lost my beautiful child in a devastating crash. I would love to help the other grieving parents who have lost angels or have one badly hurt,' the page states. 'This is to help with funeral costs and any other expenses in the next coming weeks and months. 'I just want to say that our angels are in heaven and no longer in pain, and we will one day see them all again. Meghan Fox, 14, was killed in the horror crash on Saturday Lucus Garzoli had been an Army cadet. He tragically died on Saturday in the horrific car wreck Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said on Monday an examination of the crash reconstruction revealed the car was travelling 'well in excess of 100km/h'. 'To do that speed on that road at that time of day, any time really, is just incomprehensible to me,' Mr Weir told ABC radio. He further revealed police believe a number of passengers weren't wearing seat belts, with specialised investigators still trying to determine who was driving. Police are hoping CCTV footage may shed light on what time the accident happened and how long it was before the crash was spotted and the alarm raised Ten have been killed in six separate accidents on Victoria's roads since Friday. The state's 2023 road toll stands at 133, 37 more than the same time last year. Alicia Montebello, 31, (pictured) also died in Saturday's horror crash A contest winner on Channel Seven's Sunrise said host David Koch's shock decision to leave the show must be why she won a bigger prize than usual. Winning the 'Bill Barrel' contest on the breakfast show on Tuesday, Jacinda Cross from Ballarat had her electricity bill of about $800 paid for by the network before Koch went 'rogue'. The veteran host decided Ms Cross' next two electricity bills should also be paid plus he gave her an extra $1,500, making for a prize of almost $4,000 in total. The host announced his shock resignation from the show the day prior, having been at the Sunrise desk for 21 years. Koch was only obliged to host the show for six months after renegotiating his contract in October, a period which expires in two weeks. The Bill Barrel segment has become a regular staple of the show where, if a contestant is drawn from the spinning barrel, one of their bills is paid by the network. While only a single bill is usually paid for during the segment, Koch has gone over the top since announcing his departure on Monday. Ms Cross was stunned by the act of generosity from Koch, while his soon-to-be former co-host Natalie Barr commented: 'He's in a good mood.' 'He is, it must be because he's going,' Ms Cross replied. 'Don't say it with such glee,' Koch said. Ms Cross then pulled back, saying: 'No, no, we will miss you, Kochie. You've been wonderful.' Prior to the segment, Barr commented that Koch had gone 'rogue' on the previous day's Bill Barrel, giving away more than usual. 'I just saw the terms and conditions [for the segment], but stuff that, we can give away more,' Koch said. A rogue viewer who won about $4,000 on Sunrise's 'Bill Barrel' segment has suggested departing host David Koch's sudden generosity 'must be because he is leaving' Koch announced on Monday that he is stepping away from the show in two weeks' time to allow for more flexibility in his life after spending over 21 years as the show's anchor Koch's generosity comes after a tearful announcement he would be leaving the show on Monday. 'After 20 years, I've felt I needed more flexibility in my life with my wife Libby and my business interests,' Koch told The Australian's Media Diary in October. During his announcement on Monday, Koch said: 'I have loved every single minute of it and I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved here over the last 21 years.' 'I started here before Facebook, before Instagram, before Twitter and iPhones. That's how old I am. 'I've been privileged to experience so many great adventures, to meet so many different people and to cover so many moments of history in the making.' Koch said he looked forward to having more time to travel, and focus on his family and business interests, including Pinstripe Media and the Ausbiz business channel. He and his co-hosts were recorded wiping away tears and embracing the morning TV legend as the cameras cut. His 21-year run as host makes him the longest running morning anchor in Australian TV history. Seven children living in 'deplorable' conditions have been rescued from their Pennsylvania home, as their parents face a slew of child endangerment charges. Pennridge Regional police say they discovered three girls aged 12, 14 and 16 living in the Sellersville trailer home which was 'in obvious disrepair and disarray,' with feces littering bedroom floors and sheets that had not been washed in weeks. Three other minors girls aged 4, 8 and 10 and a boy aged 6 were then found hiding out in a back room of Shane and Crystal Robertson's small home. Six of those seven children were clinically malnourished, two had low kidney functions and three were diagnosed with acute viral syndrome, police said. Two also had to have their heads shaved because their hair was so matted, with one having maggots burrowed in their locks. None of the children had received a formal education, and some did not even know their own birthdates. Crystal, 37, and Shane, 47, are now facing seven counts of felony child endangerment one for each child. Crystal, 37, and Shane Robertson, 47, are facing seven counts of felony child endangerment one for each child Officers first became aware of the children's condition when they received a report that two minors were entering an abandoned trailer adjacent to the Robertson's home in Sellersville last month. The trailer is pictured here Officers said in newly-released affidavits they were first made aware of the children's condition when they received a report that two minors were entering an abandoned trailer adjacent to the Robertson's home on April 23. 'Upon arrival, they found a 12-year-old juvenile female in the front yard of 655 Roseann Lane, directly next door to 675 Roseann Lane,' the affidavit stated. The 12-year-old girl, who was barefoot at the time, then 'began speaking to officers by explaining that her parents told them not to go over to the abandoned trailer and that her parents should not be held responsible.' She said she was only breaking into the abandoned trailer next door to get a blanket 'to keep her rats warm because her family does not have much money left.' At that point, police said, a 14-year-old girl appeared from behind the neighboring property wearing 'large work boots too big for her feet and had on clothing that appeared dirty.' The responding officers then decided to ask their parents, Shane and Crystal, to let them see the children's living arrangements. Once inside, the officers noticed a bike lock on the fridge. 'Crystal Robertson stated that they were going through so much food that she had to put a lock on the refrigerator because they were "stealing" everything, and referred to the children as "garbage disposals with legs,"' police wrote of the encounter. Soon, police said, Shane asked his 16-year-old daughter to come out of hiding. He allegedly insisted that the teen was the last daughter he had. But when police came back with representatives from the Bucks County Children and Youth office at around 5pm that night, they found four more children hiding in a back room. Shane allegedly told the officers he did not tell them about the other children earlier because 'he did not want to get in any trouble.' Officers said the home was 'in obvious disrepair and disarray,' with feces littering the grounds of the bedrooms and sheets that had not been washed in weeks Much of the home was also in need of repairs, with noticeable holes in the wall The seven children were removed from the property and placed in foster care Inside the home, police said, they found unsanitary living conditions, with a bad odor, several bugs and two dozen rats in cages, as well as feces on the floor and on a blanket. 'The room that Shane and Crystal slept in had a bed in the middle of the room with several animal cages surrounding it,' the responding officers wrote. 'The sheets on the bed did not appear to have been washed in several weeks/months. 'On the floor were items of garbage and the walls had holes in them.' An adjacent bedroom was blocked off by a broken washing machine, court documents say, and did not have a door on it but was cluttered with dirty clothing and garbage strewn across the floor. 'The third bedroom had feces on the floor in the front entrance,' officers continued. 'A filthy mattress lay at the center of the room with a dirty blanket on it.' Much of the house was also in need of repairs, with holes in the walls. Police also found at the home 'two dogs, two turtles, two rabbits, snakes, toads and a four-foot reptile known as Tegu.' 'The only notable food located in the home was for the animals,' police noted. Authorities noted in an affidavit that a 12-year-old girl said she was breaking into the adjacent trailer to get a blanket for her rats All seven children were sent to a hospital to be examined and placed in foster care. Over the following weeks, doctors found that all but one of the kids was clinically malnourished, two tested positive for COVID-19, two had low kidney function and three had fevers and were diagnosed with acute viral syndrome. Two of the children also needed extensive dental treatment, two needed corrective eye care and two needed to shave most of their hair off because of severe matting with one even having maggots burrowed in their locks. It was also revealed that none of the children had received a formal education, and they struggled with reading, writing and spelling. Some did not even know their own birthdates, and four suffered from speech impediments. 'They all exhibited social anxiety and disclosed that they did not like being in public or around other people,' the affidavits note. The newly-unsealed affidavits detail how the children were malnourished and suffered a variety of ailments A neighbor who spoke to WFMZ said he had no idea how poor the children's hygiene was until he saw a copy of the police report. The next-door neighbor, who was not identified, said he saw the children 'running around in bare feet, same clothes every day.' But when he received a copy of the police report 'I busted out in tears.' 'When I got to the part where the one child's head was covered with maggots, I just wanted to, it's just hard to take,' he said. 'I just pray for the kids, I really do,' the neighbor added. 'I pray that they get to a better family situation.' Shane and Crystal are free on bail, as their children are sent to foster homes. A preliminary court hearing is scheduled for August 7. Treasury officials are set to be questioned on their knowledge of the PwC tax advice leak, as the consultancy firm stood down multiple partners involved in the scandal. Department secretary Steven Kennedy will appear before Senate estimates on Tuesday, where he will be grilled. PwC has been under fire after it was discovered one of its former heads of tax shared confidential Treasury information about tax changes with other partners and the information was used to help win new clients. Last week, Treasury referred the allegations to the Australian Federal Police to investigate the leak. It comes as PwC on Monday announced it was standing down nine partners, including members of its executive and governance boards. PwC is under fire after it was discovered one of its former heads of tax shared confidential Treasury information about tax changes with other partners - the information was used to help win new clients Acting chief executive Kristin Stubbins (pictured) said members of the company who shared Treasury's plans had betrayed 'the trust placed in us' Acting chief executive Kristin Stubbins said members of the company who shared Treasury's plans had betrayed 'the trust placed in us'. 'We understand that we betrayed the trust of our stakeholders and we apologise unreservedly,' she said. 'We know that action is critical to restore confidence in our firm and rebuild trust with our stakeholders and I am committed to taking all necessary steps to make this happen.' The Greens sought to release the names of PwC employees during a Senate estimates hearing last week, but the committee agreed to seek advice on whether revealing the list could disrupt criminal investigations. Greens senator Barbara Pocock, who tried to table the list of names, said the steps taken by PwC were 'too little, too late'. 'We know this is a company with tentacles across business and certainly into government, so we need to know much more about the wider group of people who've been engaged in this terrible chapter,' she told the ABC. 'PwC continues to conceal and fail to really come clean. 'We need transparency and honesty and a proper clean up.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the list of employees allegedly involved in the tax advice scandal should be made public. 'All of this should become public at the appropriate time, of course,' he said. 'Quite clearly, what went on there is completely unacceptable.' An independent report into the scandal, headed by former Telstra boss Ziggy Switkowski, will be released in September. Some of Australia's most remote and vulnerable communities could be deprived of life-saving drugs because of a new federal government measure. Pharmacist David Paulmert, who works in the Thursday Island Pharmacy that sits off the tip of Queensland's Cape York Peninsula at Australia's northernmost extremity, issued the dire warning about changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Under a measure announced in May's federal budget over 320 medicines subsidised under the PBS to keep them at a maximum cost of $30 will be handed out in 60-day rather than 30-day allotments as a 'two-for-the price-of-one' deal. Mr Paulmert said this endangers the already depleted stocks his pharmacy sometimes ferries out by helicopter to the 15 Torres Strait islands and remote peninsula communities it serves. 'It is not unreasonable to say there could be deaths because of people unable to access their medicines,' he told Daily Mail Australia. Pharmacists working on Thursday Island, off the northernmost tip of Queensland, visit the surrounding islands by helicopter The particular concern is for people suffering from Type 2 diabetes, which Mr Paulmert was 'running rife' in the communities he serves. 'It's a terrible condition,' Mr Paulmert said. 'There are so many people who suffer from it up here'. Pharmacies worldwide have been battling a shortage of Ozempic, a key drug for treating diabetes but which also has become a highly sought weight-loss aid in the US. Mr Paulmert said his pharmacy had been dealing with shortages of that and other key antibiotics for the past few months. A substitute pill was being given to diabetics but if that runs out Mr Paulmert said it would be 'a real headache'. 'Without treatment someone's diabetes can go out of control, they are more likely to get an infection, the worst consequence is death,' he said. 'Asking me to give two months' worth rather than one month of doses will mean suddenly some people are going to have way more than they need and a lot of people will have to go without because we can't get it,' Thursday Island pharmacist David Paulmert has issued a dire warning that changes to the PBS could create shortages of life-saving medicines for remote chemists This risk was heightened by his pharmacy's remote location, even though they attempted to stock up as much as they could. 'When something is ordered the wholesaler has to get it to a normal pharmacy in 24 hours but we generally don't get out stock for up to a week,' Mr Paulmert said. 'It feels like the remote and rural communities haven't been remembered with this policy. I don't think they've done a very good job of thinking about that kind of thing.' Minister for Health Mark Butler told Daily Mail Australia that 'the pharmacy lobby is deliberately misleading consumers with a dishonest scare campaign'. Medicine shortages will not be exacerbated due to this initiative, nor will it directly lead to medicines going into chronic shortage,' he said. 'The policy spaces out medicine buying and does not add to demand. 'Eligible Australians will buy the same amount of medicine overall, just with fewer trips to the pharmacy.' The minister said pharmacies must notify the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA (TGA) when the supply of a medicine is not likely to meet the normal or projected consumer demand at any point during the next 6 months. The TGA could then take a range of actions to assist, such as temporarily approving overseas substitute medicines to bolster supply.' The minister said there had been no notifications of medicine shortage yet sent to the TGA. He also said the government is making sure manufacturers make more drugs in Australia. 'This will ensure there is stock in the supply chain for wholesalers to deliver to pharmacies to meet any temporary increase in demand,' Mr Butler said. Mr Mr Paulmert said that it takes a week for his pharmacy to get ordered medicines which it in turn often sends out by boat or plane Mr Paulmert argued the new measures would increase drug wastage. 'People chop and change a fair bit,' he said. 'If we hand out 60 days there is a potential for six of those eight weeks to go to waste if they get changed off it immediately. 'Instead of a maximum wastage of about two to three weeks it is a maximum wastage of six to seven weeks.' Mr Paulmert believed pharmacists are being prevented from using their clinical training. 'Clinically we are going be way behind the rest of the world in the way we deal with these issues,' he said. 'In other countries where they have put in 60 day dispensing pharmacists can veto it and say that for this person 60 days is not appropriate, 30 days in more appropriate,' he said. 'In those cases where the doctor has written a 60-day script and it becomes clear later it is not clinically appropriate there's nothing we can do. 'We can call the doctor and ask for another script but doctors are already pretty busy. 'It's one of those things once it happens it's going to be pretty hard to stop it.' The Thursday Island pharmacy serves 15 surrounding island and also remote communities on the Cape York Peninsula Mr Butler said the main benefit of doubling the amount of drugs a person could get on a single script is 'it will take the pressure off the cost of living for at least 6 million Australians who need regular medicines'. On the flipside pharmacists have been bitterly complaining it will cut their income. Mr Paulmert said this was a particular risk for rural and remote chemists. 'The industry is having a cut of something like $2.8 billion,' Mr Paulmert said. 'The effect of that in a shop like the one I am is we have to hire less pharmacists or be open less hours because obviously we need to make money to run a business. 'I know there are a lot of remote pharmacies where it would come to that point where they would have to close their doors.' He said that would mean instead of driving 10 minutes to a local pharmacy those in rural and regional areas might have to drive two hours or more to the next town. 'For those communities who are going to lose their local pharmacy it is not about being greedy it is about keeping their doors open,' he said. Mr Butler said his Government 'recognises that rural and regional pharmacies face particular challenges'. To assist the government has doubled the Rural Pharmacy Maintenance Allowance to $39.8m per year with base payments doubling from $3,000 per year to $6,000 year. He said there was also additional funding of up to $100,000 for eligible pharmacies depending on total annual script volume and location. Health Minister Mark Butler has defended the changes to the PBS as helping ease cost of living pressures for six million Australians 'Through this funding, some of Australias most remote pharmacies may be eligible to receive nearly $95,000 per year in assistance to keep their pharmacies open and services available to rural communities,' Mr Butler said. Mr Paulmert admitted the government's tinkering with the PBS was 'probably well-intentioned'. 'Its great to want to save consumers money but I definitely support people paying less for their drugs and their prescriptions,' he said. 'The issue is it doesnt pass the sniff test theres no guarantees anyone is going to be better off or that some wont be worse off. 'Theres going to be a lot of people that are worse off. Although it might have its disadvantages Mr Paulmert said working on Thursday Island 'is a great job'. 'It's pretty cool all the islands we get to visit,' he said. 'We visit each community by helicopter twice a year and we also send drugs by plane or boat. 'You can see PNG from the northernmost island we get to.' They found a 27-year-old woman and her 28-year-old fiance dead on the lawn in front of the house: A Canadian couple engaged to be married were shot dead by their landlord on the front lawn of their home, with the suspect then barricading himself in before being killed in a shootout with police. Authorities were called to the house in the Stoney Creek district of Hamilton, Ontario, at 5:40pm on Saturday, amid reports of gunfire. There, they found dead the 27-year-old woman, who worked as an educational assistant at a local Catholic school, and her 28-year-old electrician fiance. They were running away from the house when they were shot and killed. The pair, who have not been named, rented the basement of a home belonging to 57-year-old Terry Bourassa. The couple got into a dispute with Bourassa, stemming from a 'disagreement surrounding issues within the house,' said Det. Sgt. Steve Bereziuk, of Hamilton Police's Major Crime Unit. The engaged couple lived in the basement of this house in Stoney Creek, Hamilton: their landlord Terry Bourassa lived above. He shot and killed the couple on Saturday in a dispute over the house, before barricading himself inside and being shot dead by police '(They were) both hardworking people, adding to the tragedy of this event,' he said. Neither the couple nor Bourassa was known to police, Bereziuk confirmed, which makes what happened 'a little bit more shocking.' Bereziuk added the murder of the young couple was deeply shocking. 'As you can well imagine these are not people that this should happen to,' he said. 'They're not involved in any level of criminality or lifestyle that may lead to an incident like this. They're truly innocent.' After shooting the couple, Bourassa barricaded himself inside the home, with weapons that he legally held. Bereziuk said the police spent 'considerable time' trying to negotiate a 'peaceful resolution' with Bourassa, but he opened fire on them at around 10pm and was shot dead. Sandra Chaisson, a resident of more than four decades in the area of the incident, said the landlord bought the house on Jones Road from her grandparents. Chaisson told CP24 News that Bourassa lived in the house for more than 20 years. 'He was very quiet. A very quiet man. I didn't see him much, just to wave hello, but I haven't seen him for a long time,' she said. 'The tenants were in the basement, but I didn't know them, just to see them at the mailbox kind of thing.' Chaisson said she was watching TV around 10pm when she heard six to eight rapid shots fired. 'It was rather scary,' she said. 'It's a shock to all of us.' Indigenous leader Warren Mundine has clashed with an ABC star after being asked about how Aboriginals have been marginalised. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivered a speech on the Voice to Parliament on Monday night and said, 'an entire people have been kept so long at the margins'. 'Surviving against the odds, surviving even against misguided good intentions,' he said. The ABC's 7.30 host Sarah Ferguson quoted Mr Albanese while discussing the Voice debate with Mr Mundine but was quickly corrected after she referenced an 'entire people'. 'We know consistently from closing the gap reports that those targets of closing the gap have not been reached, and there have only been incremental improvements,' Ferguson asked. 'Do you accept the Prime Minister's argument that the status quo is not acceptable for Indigenous people?' Mr Mundine then responded: 'You said an entire group of people, well it's not the entire Aboriginal people out there who have been marginalised and not getting ahead.' Indigenous leader Warren Mundine has clashed with an ABC star after being asked about how Aboriginals have been marginalised 'I'm an example of that, Megan Davis (an Aboriginal activist) is another example of that.' Ferguson then interrupted to discuss the closing the gap initiative. 'Closing the gap's work is to show us what indigenous people are achieving across the board,' she said. 'And unfortunately those reports just show year after year that the targets are not being met and gaps in education, in health and certainly in terms of indigenous incarceration - a national disgrace - are not being met. 'So there is a great deal of unmet need.' Mr Mundine responded saying: 'Look - there's a lot of stuff there but it's not about that they have been totally marginalised. It is about outcomes.' Mr Mundine explained that many state and territory governments were failing Aboriginal people, because most of the closing the gap targets covered areas they were responsible for. 'And I think the state and territory governments get away with a lot of this stuff because it's not a federal issue. We found that they had a failing of actually getting those Aboriginal kids to school,' he said. 'So it was the state and territory governments who have had those failings, not the Commonwealth government.' Ferguson also grilled Mr Mundine on why he described the Voice as a 'threat' to Aboriginal communities. 'I want to understand how it could act as a threat to organisations and communities?' she said. Mr Mundine, a Bundjalung man, is a leading advocate for the vote 'No' campaign and said he was concerned about a 'third party' interfering. 'I believe that the First Nations, the traditional owners are a voice and we need to empower those voices, rather than building another layer on top,' he said. Earlier on Monday, Mr Mundine accused the ABC of bias over reporting of the Voice debate after appearing on the national broadcaster's News Breakfast program. Opposition leader Peter Dutton had warned the Voice would have 'Orwellian' consequences where 'all Australians are equal, but some Australians are more equal than others' - a direct reference to George Orwell's satirical 1945 novel, Animal Farm. The ABC's 7.30 host Sarah Ferguson grilled Mr Mundine over his thoughts on the Voice to Parliament 'I think Peter Dutton is onto something, this is turning into a very divisive, very hateful campaign,' Mr Mundine said. 'I know you like to pick on Peter Dutton but he is right, this is starting to get into a disgraceful campaign and the campaign hasn't even started yet. 'This referendum is dividing Australia and you see it in the polling, and you see it out in the community.' Mr Mundine also called on NSW Supreme Court Justice Ian Harrison to be stood down after he sent an email from his work account to Nationals MP Mr Conaghan and labelled him 'disgusting' and 'racist' for opposing the Voice. He then slammed the ABC for not calling out the attacks by 'Yes' supporters who had targeted their opponents with hurtful comments. 'I just find it bizarre that these people who are supposed to be Yes supporters and Yes campaigners who were looking at us to be the people who were dividing this country,' he said. ABC host Madeleine Morris clarified Mr Mundine's remarks about the judge's comments were his own views and were not supported by the ABC. 'Of course you're not supporting it. It's my view,' Mr Mundine said. 'I just find it funny, if that person came out and did it, and he was a No person, I know where the ABC would be sitting on this whole thing. 'It's about time you have got a balanced view and actually started calling out these people who make these racial attacks.' Morris attempted to change the topic as tensions flared onscreen. 'I'll leave that there because we have invited you on and you are a very prominent member of the No campaign,' she said. 'So I'll just say that we, you know, we are gonna be absolutely platforms to the No campaign and the Yes campaign and as the ABC, we will continue to do that.' Morris added at the end of the segment: 'Just to be clear, those are Warren Mundine's opinions about that exchange that went on with a NSW judge.' Money will be redirected to frontline workers NSW politicians will have their wages frozen Top-earning politicians and bureaucrats in NSW will have their pay frozen for two years under a pre-election pledge made by premier Chris Minns. Legislation to freeze the wages of state politicians and public servants will be introduced to NSW parliament on Tuesday after the motion was signed off by cabinet on Monday night. The move is expected to save about $260million over four years, according to treasury estimates. NSW Premier Chris Minns (pictured) has acted on a pre-election promise by freezing the pay of state politicians and highly-paid bureaucrats Those funds will be redirected to boosting the salaries of frontline workers such as nurses and paramedics. Money will also be spent on essential services like hospitals and schools. 'We said we would freeze politicians' pay and that's what our bill does,' Mr Minns said in a statement. 'We have inherited a challenging budget, but budgets are about priorities. 'Our priority is rebuilding our essential services and investing in frontline workers.' The move will affect all state politicians who earn more than the base salary of $172,576 per year. Highly-paid public service executives, such as departmental secretaries, agency chief executive officers, executive office holders, commissioners and judicial officers, will also have their wages frozen. The pay freeze was supported by both major parties ahead of the March state election. The Minns government has also announced plans to cut the number of top-paid public servants by 15 per cent. That is expected to save a whopping $619million. The move will affect all state politicians who earn more than the base salary of $172,576 per year. It's expected to save taxpayers $260million over four years (pictured, NSW Parliament) That money will be used to boost the salaries of frontline workers such as nurses and paramedics (stock image) Under the former government, the annual wages bill for senior executives across NSW government agencies, departments and state-owned corporations had ballooned to about $1 billion a year, the government said in a statement. Top public service senior executives are currently on $600,000 salaries. It's understood Transport for NSW will see the biggest cull of senior executives. It comes as the Minns government faces increasing pressure from health unions to boost the wages of workers and scrap the wage cap. The state government is currently locked in negotiations with trade unions. State treasurer Daniel Mookhey revealed last week that the date for the changes to wages was still being worked out. A British tourist who died after being struck by lightning while his girlfriend filmed him paddleboarding in Greece has been named locally. Greek officials named the tourist as Scott Aaron Seddon, 26, who died on Monday afternoon after he was struck by lightning while paddleboarding in the Agia Agathi area of Rhodes, Greece. Mr Seddon died at the scene despite attempts by his girlfriend, a Brazilian resident and emergency services to save him. Brazilian resident Wander Machado, 47, told news outlet Rodiaki: 'I swam to get him out. But once I reached the board, I saw his body crouched over and face down on the board. His face had turned purple. 'I immediately knew that every second was crucial and started pulling him to the shore.' Scott Aaron Seddon, 26, died on Monday afternoon after he was struck by lightning while paddleboarding in the Agia Agathi area of Rhodes, Greece (pictured) It is understood that other tourists had urged the man to leave the water when he encountered difficulties at around 1.30pm local time (11.30am BST). His girlfriend and other beachgoers reportedly started calling for help after he was struck by lightning. He was then pulled out of the water by those on the beach and was 'still alive', according to witnesses. But he passed away after an ambulance and medics arrived and was later taken to Archangelos Health Centre. Mr Machado added: 'I was worried that the same thing would happen to me as it was still raining but I didn't stop. 'The rescuers arrived shortly afterwards and performed all the resuscitation procedures to keep him alive. Unfortunately, I found out a little later that he didn't make it.' An investigation by the Central Port Authority of Rhodes has been launched, according to Rodiaki. An FCDO spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Rhodes and are in contact with local authorities.' Fundraiser set up to help with medical costs and bring him home He had been training at a Thai MMA gym for the last month A rising Aussie MMA fighter is currently in the fight of his life against a horrific infection that will almost certainly see him have his leg amputated. Queenslander Tim Schultz, a professional boxer and mixed-martial arts fighter, has been diagnosed with a severe case of staph infection he picked up in a fight camp in Thailand. The infection began in his foot but has since spread so severely that it is approaching the bone and rising up to his knee. Thai doctors have informed him his leg must be amputated but Mr Schultz is desperate to return to Australia to get a second opinion. His training partner and friend Matthew Yung Lee-Manwar told Daily Mail Australia Tim had been training at Bangtao Muay Thai - one of the most prestigious MMA gyms - for a month when he contracted a staph infection which rapidly got worse. Rising Aussie MMA fighter Tim Schultz (pictured) is in the fight of his life against a horror staph infection that he contracted in Thailand while in a fight camp with doctors telling him his leg needs to be amputated The professional boxer and mixed-martial arts fighter, has been diagnosed with a severe case of staph infection with stomach-churning pictures showing the infection he picked up during a fight camp in Thailand (pictured: a hole caused by a staph infection) The infection began in his foot but has since spread so severely that it is approaching the bone and rising up to his knee, with Thai doctors informing him his leg must be amputated (pictured: Tim's leg and foot with skin peeled off) 'Bumps and bruises happen in training, but upon returning from a hike his shin was in a lot of pain so he went to a doctor and got a cortisone injection, as they suspected he had a small bone fragment or deep bruising,' Mr Lee-Manwar said. 'The next day Tim collapsed while trying to get out of bed and was rushed to hospital as his foot and shin were extremely swollen. 'After the first course of antibiotics didn't work, the Thai hospital said to amputate and he was transferred to a second hospital for another opinion where he's been for a week now. 'Tim is most likely going to lose his leg pursuing his dream.' At a Thai hospital the budding fighter had his leg drilled into and drained at three different locations despite being told they would only make a small incision. 'He ended up waking up during surgery, feeling all the pain with them removing all the skin of the top of his foot and lower shin. So he was very shocked,' Mr Lee-Manwar said. 'His condition in his foot is better, but the infection is spreading to his knee now.' Staph infections are bacterial infections commonly picked up by combat athletes. It can turn deadly if the bacteria invades deeper into the body or enters the bloodstream. They are spread from person to person and are extremely contagious with common symptoms including boils and oozing blisters. It is believed that Tim's staph infection has also led to a necrotizing fasciitis infection - a serious bacterial infection that destroys the tissue under the skin. This occurs when bacteria enters the body through a break in the skin, in this case through a hole caused by the staph infection. It is believed that Tim's staph infection has also led to a necrotizing fasciitis infection - a serious bacterial infection that destroys the tissue under the skin Tim said the cost of surgery and his hospital stay will be at least $50,000 so has set up a fundraiser to help cover the costs and bring him back to Australia for further treatment An Australian doctor has now been flown in to assess Tim and has told him that the wrong antibiotic was used to treat the infection. Tim had previously had an MRSA staph infection which requires a stronger antibiotic to treat. While the Aussie purchased health insurance upon arrival in Thailand he is still in the cooling-off period meaning he isn't covered at all for the operation or hospital stay. Tim said the cost will be at least $50,000 so has set up a mycause fundraiser to help cover the costs and bring him back to Australia for further treatment. Mr Lee-Manwar says Tim is hoping to be home in the coming days but is unsure if he can fly even if he is accompanied by two medical professionals as there is a serious risk of blood clots, bleeding, fever and even cardiac arrest. On the crowdfunding page, Tim said the infection has resulted in a 'dangerous decline' in his blood pressure and blood oxygen levels, 'posing an imminent threat' to his life. 'The medical bills associated with this emergency have left me financially drained, leaving me unable to afford the essential care and procedures I urgently require,' he stated. 'Throughout my life, I have always been the one to lend a helping hand to others in need, never hesitating to offer assistance or support. 'It pains me to ask for help, but I have come to realize that there are times when even the strongest among us must humbly request assistance from those around them. His training partner and best mate Matthew Yung Lee-Manwar (pictured with Tim) told Daily Mail Australia: 'Tim is most likely going to lose his leg pursuing his dream' Tim last fought in March for Beatdown Promotions where he secured a second-round submission victory over Michael Stanoff with a rear-naked choke 'With your support, I can access the medical interventions necessary to combat this life-threatening infection. 'Your donations will go directly towards covering the mounting costs of hospitalization, emergency treatments, surgeries, medications, and any additional medical expenses that arise during my recovery.' The MMA community has thrown their support behind the budding fighter, with Australian UFC women's flyweight fighter Casey O'Neill leading the campaign. 'I have a friend in Thailand who got a staph infection through to his bone, its looking likely he will lose his leg and never be able to fight again,' she wrote on Twitter 'He needs to get home immediately as the treatment he is receiving is not helping and he has been lied to about receiving a small incision. 'He is living a nightmare, skip your morning coffee and donate.' As of Tuesday, the fundraiser has raised just over $20,000. Tim last fought in March for Beatdown Promotions where he secured a second-round submission victory over Michael Stanoff with a rear-naked choke. Rishi Sunak has waded into an Oxford University trans row, saying Professor Kathleen Stock has a right to speak on campus despite protests from students. The academic, who is a gender-critical feminist, is due to appear at an Oxford Union event this evening. But trans activists want to block her from speaking over claims she is transphobic, and hundreds are due to stage a protest against her today. Intervening in the university's free speech debate, Mr Sunak told The Daily Telegraph: 'A free society requires free debate. We should all be encouraged to engage respectfully with the ideas of others. 'University should be an environment where debate is supported, not stifled. We mustn't allow a small but vocal few to shut down discussion. Kathleen Stock's invitation to the Oxford Union should stand.' Protestors gathered in Library Square, Sussex University, protesting against Professor Stock earlier this month Trans activists have tried to block Kathleen Stock (pictured) from making a speech at the famed Oxford Union Mr Sunak defended Professor Stock's right to debate the subject Professor Stock quit her job as a lecturer at the University of Sussex after being targeted by activists over her views on gender identity. A coalition of Oxford organisations and activists is set to hold a Trans+ Pride event in the city centre on Tuesday, which will include a rally and march culminating outside the Oxford Union, where Professor Stock is due to speak at the 200-year-old debating society. Some groups have called for her invitation to be rescinded. Prof Stock's talk comes days after a group of Oxford University academics and staff signed a letter supporting the right of transgender students to speak out against her. Oxford academics and staff first wrote to The Daily Telegraph, condemning the approach of those who opposed Professor Stock's views. The BBC reported that the open letter, shared on Saturday by the university's LGBTQ+ society and signed by 100 academics and staff, said: 'We believe that trans students should not be made to debate their existence.' The Oxford Union has announced it is to offer 'welfare resources' to students attending a talk by Professor Stock, which is expected to cover 'sensitive' topics. The organisation, which describes itself as the 'last bastion of free speech', has said students will be able to 'challenge' Prof Stock at the event. The spires of Oxford University, where Professor Stock is due to speak at the 200-year-old debating society Earlier this month Oxford University's vice-chancellor Irene Tracey defended the right for Professor Stock to speak there as a matter of 'freedom of speech', saying she believes that part of the university's role is to enable students to deal with differing viewpoints. She told The Times newspaper: 'Most students actually get it and are quite impassioned about the fact that people should have a range of views.' In 2021, Professor Stock announced she would be leaving her job as a professor of philosophy at the University of Sussex after 'a very difficult few years'. The academic had faced calls to be sacked amid accusations of transphobia. In a statement last month, the Oxford University LGBTQ+ society called for Professor Stock's invitation to speak to be rescinded as it claimed she was 'transphobic and trans-exclusionary'. It also accused the Oxford Union of 'disregarding' the welfare of the society's members under the guise of free speech. Professor Stock said on Twitter that the society's statement contained 'several falsehoods', was 'probably defamatory' and made it look 'utterly ridiculous'. A 90-year-old dementia sufferer was reportedly handcuffed with a spit hood placed over her head by Metropolitan police officers following a disturbance with her carer. The elderly and frail woman was then said to have been strapped down onto a stretcher with a mask covering her face before she was carted off from her home in Peckham, South London, in a police van to hospital. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has now launched a probe into the 'shocking' incident during which neighbours were alarmed by 'crying and screaming' from distressed woman. One officer has been suspended and banned from using a Taser after the 'heavy-handed detention' was reviewed by the police force, The Sun reported last night. Five other police officers are on restricted desk duties and are unable to have any contact with the public while the 'heavy-handed' confrontation, which allegedly left the pensioner with cuts and bruises, is investigated further. A 90-year-old dementia sufferer was handcuffed with a spit hood placed over her head by Metropolitan police officers following a disturbance with her carer. Pictured: File photo of a man wearing a spit hood The incident took place in Peckham, South London on May 9, where the elderly and frail woman was allegedly strapped down onto a stretcher before being carted off to hospital in a police van. Stock image The Met police had been called to the block of flats on May 9 following disruption between the woman and her carer. The elderly woman, described as thin and small, is said to have panicked and began ranting at police. She also threw cups of coffee at officers, the paper reported. She was later handcuffed with a hood chucked over her head, before one of the officers grabbed a Taser and turned on the gun's aim dot. The Taser was not released onto the mother-of-three, however. One neighbour told The Sun: 'I could hear her crying and screaming. 'I looked out my window and could see they had her strapped down on a stretcher - it was awful. 'There were two police cars and a van - you would think with all those people they would be able to manage it without tying her down.' The unnamed source added that the woman had lived in the flat for many years and her mental health had deteriorated over the last decade. MailOnline has contacted the Metropolitan Police for comment. Former Met commander John O'Connor said that the treatment of the old woman by the officers was 'beyond comprehension' and said it should have been dealt with my medical professionals 'who knew what they were doing'. One officer has been suspended while the other five are on restricted desk duties. Pictured: File photo of Metropolitan Police officers He added: 'It is absolutely shocking. The officers could easily have killed her with this heavy-handed treatment.' While the IOPC is now aware of the incident, the police force reportedly took more than a week to notify the public body. A spokesman for the IOPC told MailOnline: 'We can confirm we are investigating the force used by Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers after they detained a 91-year-old woman in Peckham earlier this month. 'On May 9, officers attended an address in SE15 following a reported disturbance. We understand a woman was restrained, handcuffed and had a spit hood applied. A Taser was deployed but not discharged and the woman was taken to hospital. 'On May 17 the force made a voluntarily conduct referral to us and we began an independent investigation, which is at an early stage. 'We have also received a public complaint concerning the level of force that was used and the injuries it is alleged the woman sustained, including cuts and bruising on both her wrists and one arm. 'We have been in touch with the woman's family to explain our role.' The Met Police told The Sun that one officer had been suspended and their use of Taser withdrawn following an 'initial assessment' of the incident. 'A further five officers have been placed on restricted duties, meaning they will have no contact with the public, while the incident is investigated. 'The woman's family are aware of the incident. 'Police are in contact with them and arranged for a family member to view body-worn video of the incident,' the statement added. Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley (pictured May 5) has written to health and social care services to say police will no longer attend after August 31 unless there is a threat to life Revelations of the incident come as the Met Police yesterday announced plans that will stop officers from attending mental health incidents. The force's commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has written to health and social care services to say police will no longer attend emergency calls related to mental health after August 31 unless there is a threat to life. The plans have sparked alarm with critics warning that for those suffering there would be 'no one left to call'. Questions have also been raised about whether the plans will prove practical on the ground. Former Inspector of Constabulary Zoe Billingham, who is also chairwoman of NHS mental health services in Norfolk and Suffolk, said that the change was 'potentially alarming'. 'I think it would be really, really dangerous if the police were just to unilaterally withdraw from attending mental health crisis calls right now,' she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. A Met spokesperson said that the force needed to 'redress the imbalance of responsibility', noting the considerable amount of time taken up by such incidents. One of the two active volcanoes on Australian territory has erupted, with stunning satellite pictures emerging of lava spilling down the side. Big Ben, also known as Mawson Peak, on Heard Island was captured erupting by the European Space Agency's Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite last Thursday. The 20 km-wide volcano is located at the centre of the island that is situated in the southern Indian Ocean, about 4,000 km south-west of Western Australia. Weatherzone said there appeared to have been a 'flurry of small eruptions' over the past 18 months. There are no active volcanoes on the Australian mainland. Big Ben, one of the two active volcanoes on Australian territory has erupted (pictured) The 20 km-wide volcano is located at the centre of Heard Island, about 4,000 km south-west of Western Australia The other active volcano on Australian territory is on McDonald island, which is located in the same patch of sea. The Big Ben eruption followed a magnitude 3.8 earthquake felt in Melbourne on Sunday night, which was felt as far away as Tasmania, NSW, South Australia and the ACT. It struck the outskirts of the city, with tens of thousands of people woken by rattling walls and windows. The earthquake hit at 11.41pm near Sunbury, 36km northwest of the CBD, with a depth of 3km. It is thought to be the largest earthquake to affect the area in more than 120 years, with cameras inside a radio station capturing the moment live on air. The earthquake struck on Sunday at about 11.41pm with an estimated magnitude of 3.8 on the Richter scale near Sunbury, 36km north-west of the city Geoscience Australia got more than 25,000 reports about the quake stretching from Bendigo and Albury in the north to Hobart in the south. Sunbury resident Corey Lainez said he felt 'one very big, violent shake'. 'I thought a car or truck had hit the house and before I could even stand up the dogs were running around the house barking,' he said. Residents in the city said they also felt the tremor, with some reporting their windows and walls shook. Dr Dee Ninis, an earthquake geologist, said it was 'widely felt across Melbourne'. The emergency service warned residents to be wary of aftershocks and to 'drop, cover, and hold on' if they experienced one. Adam Pascale, chief scientist at the Seismology Research Centre, said the quake had 'got him of bed'. 'Potentially there could be some minor damage at the epicentre,' he said. Mr Pascale said he thought it was the largest earthquake since 1902 within the Melbourne metropolitan area. SEN 1116 radio host Damian Watson experienced the tremor while presenting live on air. His microphone was seen trembling as a song played. 'We've experienced a tremor in the studio, I'm not sure if you have at home. 'That felt like a bit of an earthquake,' he told his listeners. Julia Steel's wall in Carlton North, inner-city Melbourne, cracked as a result of the earthquake Residents flooded to social media to share their experience of the tremor. One Sunbury resident said the quake was so violent it left a crack in the wall of his kitchen. A startled Twitter user said he had been 'woken up' by the tremor. 'The whole house was shaking! he said. 'My phone alerted me with safety information, shaken got up to check on my family, alhamdulillah all ok! This map shows how far and wide the earthquake in Melbourne has been felt Another Twitter user wrote: 'Earthquake in Melbourne felt like a massive explosion.' Weatherzone reported that 'While it is interesting to see an active volcano and a noticeable earthquake in Australia at the same time, these two events are not directly linked.' Australia gets around 100 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or higher every year, on average. Stronger earthquakes measuring magnitude 5.0 or greater happen once every one-or-two years on average, while magnitude 6.0 quakes or stronger are only seen about once every ten years. At least nine people, including a one-year-old child and two other minors, were injured in a Memorial Day shooting on a packed Florida boardwalk. Authorities say a dispute between two groups ended in gunfire at around 6.45pm Monday in the area of the 1200 block of North Boardwalk in Hollywood Beach, north of Miami. One suspect has been detained, while another is still at large. An online video showed the moment gunfire erupted on the popular hotspot. The crowd frantically scattered for cover and away from danger when gunshots started to ring out near the Margaritaville resort. Other videos from the scene showed emergency responders treating several victims as they lay along the sand. Nine people were transported to area hospitals in the aftermath. Their conditions remain unclear, with at least one person scheduled to undergo surgery Monday night. The victims range in age from one to 65. A livestream showed a crowded boardwalk in Hollywood Beach, Florida, when the shooting started Nine people were shot and video showed first responders helping to treat the wounded Hollywood Police are seen responding to the shooting Monday evening after gunfire erupted during a dispute between two groups No fatalities have been reported. Still, the situation has been categorized as a mass casualty incident. Hollywood Beach Mayor Josh Levy told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that paramedics were on scene and some victims have been taken to the hospital. 'It seemed like people might have gotten caught in the crossfire. But I can't verify that,' Levy said. He later tweeted: 'Thank you to the good Samaritans, paramedics, police and emergency room doctors and nurses for their immediate response to aid the victims of today's shooting.' A suspect is still believed to be at large, though one person has been detained Police and first responders were seen tending to those who were shot in the rampage The victims have been transported to local hospitals. Their conditions are unknown Officers said there will continue to be a heavy police presence at the scene as the investigation continues Monday night. In the meantime, investigators are asking for the public's help in finding the suspect, who is described as a black male with dreadlocks who was last seen wearing a black short sleeve shirt and camouflage shorts. The beach has seen a rush in visitors over the past few days for the three-day weekend. Hollywood Beach is located about 11 miles south of Fort Lauderdale and 20 miles north of Miami. Phillip Schofield allegedly warned ITV officials against 'jumping the queue' for the Queen's lying-in-state and was angered at the fallout. The former This Morning presenter is said to have emailed show boss Martin Frizell warning him of a possible backlash. He was worried that the sight of him and Holly Willoughby being granted quick access to Westminster Hall would provoke resentment from viewers, The Sun reports. Schofield, 61, was reportedly assured there was 'nothing to worry about' and so declined to say sorry when his predictions were proven right. But the move - dubbed 'queue-gate' - caused furore among This Morning viewers and at one point a petition calling for the sacking of Schofield and Willoughby garnered 80,000 signatures. Schofield was allegedly worried that the sight of him and Holly Willoughby being granted easier access to Westminster Hall would provoke resentment from viewers Phillip Schofield allegedly warned ITV officials against 'jumping the queue' for the Queen's lying-in-state and was angered at the fallout. Willoughy, 42, later apologised on behalf of them both and read a statement on air while Schofield sat in stony silence next to her. A source claims Schofield felt he and Willoughby had been 'thrown under the bus'. READ MORE: ITV faces allegations of double standards after refusing to share details on Phillip Schofield workplace romance investigation Advertisement The insider said: 'This is why he didn't want to apologise on air though and he was livid when Holly agreed to issue a statement on behalf of them both. 'In effect, this was the real beginning of the end of their friendship and the turning point. 'It was an appalling spell for them both and, to be fair, much of the backlash was deeply unfair.' ITV has been contacted for comment. Schofield has now departed the show amid a furore over his fling with a much younger runner, but commentators point to the public anger over 'queue-gate' in September as the start of his downfall. Yesterday, Eamonn Holmes has slammed 'chief narcissist' Phillip Schofield in a bombshell interview in which he made more shocking claims about the former host's affair with a much younger colleague. Holmes, a former This Morning presenter accused ITV of a 'total cover up' over the affair, claiming that 'those in authority had to know' about the secret relationship as the man would be ferried between Phil's flat and studios in taxis 'paid for by ITV'. The GB News presenter said Schofield, 61, and the young man would enjoy Thursday 'playtime' after work. He also told how his wife Ruth Langsford is still in touch with Phil's ex-lover, who he described as a 'lovely fella', but 'life is tough' for him. Eamonn Holmes - who previously presented This Morning but now works for GB news - accused ITV of a complete cover-up Schofield sat with his former lover on This Morning's sofa Holmes also told how his wife Ruth Langsford (pictured) is still in touch with Phil's ex-lover, who he described as a 'lovely fella', but 'life is tough' for him Holmes also spoke of how Thursday's were known as 'playtime' for the Schofield and his former younger partner, with the pair arriving at ITV studios in separate cars on Friday mornings Holmes comments come as The Sun revealed that Schofield would take his former lover back to his 1million flat in an exclusive block within the studios at White City, in West London. The pair would enter through an adjacent hotel to avoid any suspicions of their secret trysts, the paper reported. On Friday Schofield admitted that he had lied about his relationship with the man, plunging ITV into meltdown and losing millions of pounds of sponsorship deals in the aftermath. Holmes told his fellow GB News presenter Dan Wootton tonight he had decided to stand up for 'people who hadn't got a voice'. Speaking of the scandal engulfing ITV, he said: 'It's a total cover up. Those in authority had to know. 'They had to know what was going on and they thought they would dodge the bullet which they did and they do constantly.' Two Italian secret service agents were among the four who died when a boat capsized during a whirlwind on Lake Maggiore. Claudio Alonzi, 62, and Tiziana Barnobi, 53, passed away last night after being plunged into the icy waters of the lake when a sudden whirlwind overturned the 52ft boat in the Northern Lombardy region. Italian firefighters said 19 people, who had been celebrating a birthday on the boat, managed to swim to the shore. Another victim included a 50-year-old Israeli man, who was found dead in the waters by rescuers, local television Tgcom24 reported. The skipper's wife, who was Russian, also died during the accident, according to La Repubblica. Fire brigade and scuba divers perform recovery operations of the boat, yesterday Carabinieri and fire brigade officers take part in the search and rescue operation in Lake Maggiore Emergency services scoured the 41-mile lake for debris from the vessel 'The bodies of four people have been recovered,' fire brigade spokesman Luca Cari said. A search and rescue mission was launched with divers, boats and a helicopter after the vessel capsized in the 41-mile lake, which straddles the border with Switzerland. The Foreign Office is in contact with local officials in Italy to offer assistance to the British nationals involved. The whirlwind that hit the boat was part of a storm that hit Lombardy yesterday, also causing delays at Malpensa airport near Milan. The boat had been carrying both Italian and foreign tourists including Britons and Germans, and it sank quickly, taking one of the victims with it, according to reports. Bad weather was cited as the reason for the accident which claimed the four lives Lake Maggiore is based in the Northern Lombardy region of Italy and is the country's second-largest lake Scuba divers were seen searching for bodies in the water yesterday A firefighters' video showed a search and rescue helicopter flying over choppy waters, where chairs and other debris were floating. According to reports from the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, two were taken to hospital in 'moderately critical' condition, while three were taken in 'not very critical condition'. A further 15 were treated at the scene and did not require further medical attention, reports have said. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'We are in contact with local authorities in Italy after a boat accident and are ready to provide consular assistance to any British nationals involved.' Lake Maggiore, which lies on the south side of the Alps, is the second largest lake in Italy and is a popular tourist destination. Japan has told its forces to shoot down the satellite if it enters Japanese territory North Korea told Japan of its plans to launch a satellite from 31 May to 11 June Japan has threatened to shoot down a North Korean missile after officials announced plans to launch a satellite into space in the coming days. North Korea informed Japan on Monday of its plans to launch the satellite into space, in the 12-day period running from May 31 to June 11. The Japanese government said it will shoot the satellite down if it enters Japanese territory, as it claimed North Korea's plans violate international law. In order to launch its satellite into space, North Korea would have to use long-range missile technology that is banned by UN Security Council resolutions. Japanese defence minister Yasukazu Hamada in turn said he has ordered Japan's Self Defence Force to shoot down the satellite or debris, if any enters Japanese territory. Japanese defence minister Yasukazu Hamada said he ordered Japan's Self Defence Force to shoot down the satellite or debris, if any enters Japanese territory Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno (pictured) said the launch would violate UN resolutions Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno added that the launch would violate UN resolutions as he called North Korea's plans a 'threat to the peace and safety of Japan, the region and the international community'. South Korea also warned North Korea it would face consequences if it goes ahead with the planned launch, as it called on the country to 'withdraw its illegal launch plan immediately'. Japan's coast guard said the notice it received from North Korean waterway authorities said the launch window was from May 31 to June 11, and that the launch may affect waters in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and east of the Philippines' Luzon Island. The coast guard issued a safety warning for ships in the area on those dates because of the possible risks from falling debris. Japan's coast guard coordinates and distributes maritime safety information in East Asia, which is likely why it was the recipient of North Korea's notice. To launch a satellite into space, North Korea would have to use long-range missile technology banned by UN Security Council resolutions. Its past launches of Earth observation satellites were seen as disguised missile tests. Japan was already on standby for falling missile debris from North Korean launches earlier this year and has deployed missile defence systems such as land-to-air PAC-3 and ship-to-air SM-3 interceptors in southwestern Japan and in the East China Sea. Mr Matsuno said it was possible the satellite would enter or pass above Japan's southwestern islands including Okinawa, where the US has major military bases and thousands of troops. South Korea warned on Monday that North Korea will face consequences if it goes ahead with its launch plan in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions that ban the North from conducting any launch using ballistic technology. 'Our government strongly warns North Korea against a provocation that threatens peace in the region and urges it to withdraw its illegal launch plan immediately,' a ministry statement said. It said South Korea will cooperate with the international community to resolutely cope with any North Korean provocation. In a three-way telephone conversation later on Monday, the chief nuclear envoys of South Korea, the US and Japan agreed to cooperate to help promote a unified, resolute international response to a North Korean satellite launch. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (pictured) wants his country to launch a spy satellite before South Korea They strongly urged North Korea to refrain from what they termed 'an illegal launch' that would threaten regional peace, according to South Korea's Foreign Ministry. Japan issued a similar statement. China, North Korea's chief ally, renewed its call for a political settlement of tensions in response to the launch announcement. 'There is a reason why the situation on the Korean Peninsula has developed to how it is today,' Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing on Monday. 'We hope that all parties concerned will face up to the crux of the issue, strive for a political settlement, and address each other's legitimate concerns through meaningful dialogue in a balanced manner.' Earlier this month, North Korean state media reported leader Kim Jong Un had inspected a finished military spy satellite at his country's aerospace centre and approved the satellite's launch plan. Monday's launch notice did not specify the type of satellite. Last week, rival South Korea launched its first commercial-grade satellite into space. Experts say Mr Kim would want his country to launch a spy satellite before South Korea does. North Korea placed Earth observation satellites in orbit in 2012 and 2016. North Korea does not notify neighbouring countries of its missile firings in advance, but has issued notices ahead of satellite launches in the past. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (right) seen shaking the hand of with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (left) after a joint press conference earlier this month Although North Korea has demonstrated an ability to deliver a satellite into space, there are questions about the satellite's capability. Foreign experts say the earlier satellites never transmitted imagery back to North Korea, and analysts say the new device displayed in state media appeared too small and crudely designed to support high-resolution imagery. Spy satellites are among an array of high-tech weapons systems Mr Kim has publicly vowed to develop. Various other weapons systems on his wish list include solid-propellant ICBMs, nuclear-powered submarines, hypersonic missiles and multi-warhead missiles. The North's satellite launch plan comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-launched more than 100 missiles, some of them nuclear-capable weapons that place the US mainland, South Korea and Japan within striking distance. North Korea argues its testing spree is meant to issue warning over expanded military drills between the US and South Korea, but observers say North Korea aims to modernise its weapons programme then win greater concessions from its rivals in future dealings. Last week, the South Korean and US militaries conducted large-scale live-fire drills near the border with North Korea as the first of five rounds of exercises marking 70 years since the establishment of their alliance. North Korea warned Monday that the U.S. and South Korea will face unspecified consequences for their 'war scenario for aggression on' North Korea. 'We'd like to ask them if they can cope with the consequences to be entailed by their reckless and dangerous war gambles that are being staged under the eyes of the armed forces of (North Korea),' the North's official Korean Central News Agency said. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Saturday that he was ready to meet Kim Jong Un 'any time without preconditions' and that he was making efforts to organize a summit as soon as possible. He was speaking at a conference dealing with the abductions of Japanese citizens to North Korea decades ago. The issue was only partially resolved and North Korea never provided a full account for those still believed held. North Korea on Monday urged Japan to show its sincerity about resuming talks, saying it is necessary to 'cool-headedly recall' why past talks had failed to improve ties. A 26-year-old teacher in Port St. Lucie, Florida, was found dead Saturday in a suspected murder-suicide, with police alerted to the scene by the crying of her 10-month-old daughter. Amanda Hicks' death was confirmed by the principal of Anderson Middle School, where she taught sixth-grade. Hicks was discovered inside the Peacock Run apartment complex, lying next to an unnamed man with whom she was believed to be having a relationship. He is thought to have killed her, then taken his own life, police said. Tributes from her friends and family have poured in for the teacher since her death. Her brother Eric, who also lives in Port St. Lucie, posted on social media after her death. 'Yall plz help us raise money for my sisters funeral and service and everything,' he wrote. Amanda Hicks, 26, was found dead Saturday morning at the apartment complex in Port St. Lucie which she had moved in to three weeks ago Police were called to the Peacock Run apartment complex on Saturday and her Hicks' daughter crying, when they saw two bodies Police are pictured on Saturday outside the Peacock Run apartment complex where they found Hicks dead along with an unnamed man. Authorities have not said how they died Their mother died in December 2018 after battling cancer. Hicks had given birth to Alani in July, and the two had moved into the apartment three weeks ago, neighbors told CBS 12 News. 'They seemed very normal, very normal,' said an unnamed neighbor. 'We didn't even get time to even get to know them because everything happened so fast. 'My hearts out for the family, though. Hopefully, they find peace in all of this.' The man who died in the incident has not had his name released by authorities. His family called police at 11:45am requesting a welfare check. Officers heard Alani crying and then saw two bodies on the floor. Baby Alani was born in July 2022. She was found alive after police entered the apartment Hicks is seen in a YouTube video discussing her favorite places to snorkel along the Florida coast Police have not said how the two people died. The deaths happened a day after Anderson Middle School had finished for summer. Darcia Borel, the principal, sent an email confirming Hicks' murder and offering counseling to all staff members who wanted it. 'While words will never be enough to convey the shock and sadness this news has brought to our school family, it is more important than ever to come together to support one another through our grief journey,' wrote Borel. 'Additional information about memorials and opportunities for supporting Amanda's beautiful little girl will be forthcoming. 'Please remember to hug your loved ones a little tighter and keep Amanda's family in your thoughts and hearts.' Hicks, a sixth-grade teacher, is pictured with her mother, who died from cancer in December 2018 Hicks is pictured with her brother, Eric, who posted on Facebook 'Yall plz help us raise money for my sisters funeral and service and everything' Hicks' friend of five years, Raquel Magallon, told WBPF that she was 'an angel' who brought joy to all those who knew her. 'She just lit up the room,' she said. 'She had such a big, beautiful smile. She was always happy and always energetic. 'She was just an angel. 'She definitely brightened my day every time I saw her.' Her childhood friend Maria Uphues wrote on Facebook: 'Even though the plan was to grow old and reminiscence about all the highs and lows we've experienced, I am so grateful to have had you in my life for these past 19 years. 'You were absolutely gorgeous inside and out and this world will never be the same without you Your creativity was pure art.' Uphues said she was grateful that Alani was found unharmed. 'Even though I don't know what happened that day, I don't hold any hate in my heart towards him and my heart goes out to his family,' she wrote. 'I can't even express my gratefulness for Alani being found unharmed but nothing can ever fully replace having her parents by her side you were loved by so many and will be missed for all of our remaining years 'I love you girl and look forward to embracing you again one day.' An iconic Sydney nightclub has revealed why it has banned hens and bucks parties after deciding they attract too many issues for the venue. Universal, which boasts a prime position on Oxford Street, imposed the ban in February - around the same time as the Mardi Gras parade and World Pride. When asked about the ban the nightclub's licensee Dillon Shaw told Daily Mail Australia: 'We're a queer venue for queer people'. A venue spokesperson said the ban on bucks parties and hens nights does not single out women or men in particular. 'Universal is committed to being open and welcoming to ALL. It's in our name. 'We choose to restrict bucks parties and hens nights from the venue, due to the increased risk of intoxication and anti-social behaviour often associated with them. 'This forms part of our commitment to ensuring that Universal remains a safe place. 'It's important for us to clarify that this policy absolutely does not single out women or men in particular.' Universal, which boasts a prime position on Sydney's Oxford Street, imposed the ban in February - around the same time as the Mardi Gras parade (pictured is the venue) The club, which boasts a prime position on Sydney's Oxford Street, imposed the ban on hens nights in February - around the same time as the Mardi Gras parade In March, a source told Gay Sydney News that the majority of staff and security were aware of the ban on hens and bucks parties. 'There's definitely a place for women in gay bars who are there for mostly the same reasons we are: to enjoy the drag, the music and the people,' the source said. 'The exception to this is hens parties. Always terrible, always an issue. They are usually drinking beforehand and there are always issues surrounding hens.' In 2019, popular bar 'Slims rooftop' - located on the third floor of Hyde Park House near the CBD - introduced a ban on sashes and penis straws. The bar specifies that 'overt' hens and bucks parties were no longer allowed because: 'We're all about fun but not at the expense of everyone else.' When asked about the ban the venue's licensee Dillon Shaw told Daily Mail Australia: 'We're a queer venue for queer people' (pictured, is a drag performer) The tongue-in-cheek dress code sparked an amused response from customers. 'Cheap, ill-fitting suits and power ties; seriously, nobody cares up here,' the list of rules began. They have also asked people to not have 'comb-overs' and they won't tolerate 'd***heads' or 'thongs after sunset'. According to the post, staff will also turn away groups in fancy dress and couples who are dressed to match. Other banned items include 'shoes that you can't walk in', 's*** chat', 'cargo shorts at all times' and sporting team jerseys. The management also don't want to see people in high-vis as 'we've finished building up here', nor do they want those who will be 'creeping'. Alicia Montebello, aged in her 30s, was also killed Her sister was killed in the horror crash She remains in a serious but stable condition Two young sisters were among a group of youths tragically cut down in a horrific car crash in country Victoria. Jorja Fox, 17, remains in The Alfred hospital in a serious but stable condition days after her sister Megahn, 14, was killed in the crash alongside teens Joshua Elmes, Lucus Garzoli and Alicia Montebello, who was aged in her 30s. All four were killed when the car they were in veered off Wannon-Nigretta Falls Road at Bochara, 320km west of Melbourne, and smashed into a tree in the early hours of Saturday morning. Jorja and Megahn Fox were involved in a shocking crash just outside of Hamilton . Megahn died and Jorja remains in a serious but stable condition Alicia Montebello (centre) with Megahn and Jorja Fox in March Chilling footage from inside the car earlier that night shows the vehicle speeding along a narrow country road while rap music blares out. Police are yet to reveal who was behind the wheel of the speeding car, with detectives hopeful Jorja can assist them with their inquiries when and if she's well enough. Daily Mail Australia can reveal Jorja shared a close bond with Ms Montebello, who posted an image of her together with the Fox sisters on March 19. 'My best friend Jorja Fox I love you little one,' she posted with a heart emoji. It is a post that has since earned an angry emoji from Jorja's sister Kayla, who took to social media to pay tribute to her sisters on Monday. 'Rest in peace my precious angel forever in my heart. Life isn't gunna be the same without your goofy personality or that sweet heart,' she wrote on Instagram. 'You were the best little sister I could ask for. I love you so much Meghan. My heart aches so much knowing your not right behind me.' While Kayla paid tribute to the other teens killed in the crash, her post omitted any reference to Ms Montebello. The mangled wreck of a car that claimed the lives of four people Jorja Fox (right) and Alicia Montebello in a March Facebook post tagged 'My best friend Jorja Fox I love you little one'. It has since been branded with angry emoji one of Jorja's sisters Jorja and Joshua in happier times The crash happened in Victoria's far west on a narrow stretch of road Daily Mail Australia has attempted to contact several family members of those affected, but has received no responses. Images posted to Jorja's Facebook page show her embracing Joshua, who was dressed in his Army cadet uniform. Other images show the pair enjoying fun times together, with Jorja wearing Joshua's cadet hat. 'U make such a good couple,' one friend posted under the image. Joshua had been member of the 314 Army Cadet Unit out of Warrnambool with his mate Lucus. On Sunday, Police Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir confirmed a witness saw the group's car leaving a local waterfall park about 1am on Saturday. The wreckage was found by a passer-by at Wannon-Nigretta Road about 9am. Mr Weir said a crash reconstruction on the narrow strip of road where the accident occurred indicated the car was travelling well in excess of 100km/h. 'To do that speed on that road at that time of day, any time really, is just incomprehensible to me,' he said. On Tuesday, a police spokesperson said the investigation remained ongoing and could provide no further details. Teens Joshua Elmes (left) and Lucus Garzoli were both tragically killed in the crash On Monday, the parents of Joshua told reporters they had warned their son not to get in the car with an unnamed woman who was reportedly driving dangerously only last year. Matthew Elmes, 46, and Lee Ann Elmes, 41, went to the police but they were told there was 'nothing they could do' without proof. It is unclear if that was the same woman who was behind the wheel on Saturday. 'I went to the police about it,' Mr Elmes told the Herald Sun. The Elmes family said they were disillusioned when police officers told them that there was 'nothing they could do' without proof. Mr Elmes said local teens had been seeking out adrenaline rush activities, including speeding. Lucus Garzoli had also had been in the army cadets with Joshua Elmes 'If you want an adrenaline rush, its probably better to go to a theme park or go skydiving, but dont get in a car and seek an adrenaline rush. Thats what has been happening with these kids,' he said. 'Theyre just pushing the boundaries too much; theyre driving too fast just for the adrenaline rush.' He said Joshua was prone to making impulsive decisions as a result of an ADHD diagnosis. Mrs Elmes has set up a fundraiser online to help support the families involved in the tragedy. Qantas has vowed to make lost luggage a thing of the past, as it unveils a raft of new changes to its airline including a way to track your bags. The airline shared a spate of its long-term plans on how to improve the company at the national carrier's Investor Strategy Day on Tuesday. Changes to its boarding process, Frequent Flyers and aircrafts were among the proposals put forward. The most notable change was a vow to tackle one of the problems that has infuriated countless travellers in the past: lost luggage. Qantas has announced new strategic plans to take it through to 2030 as the company moves from recovering from the pandemic to renewal and growth. A Qantas flight attendant is pictured Qantas has vowed to make lost luggage a thing of the past as it unveils a raft of new changes to its airline. Baggage handlers are pictured The national carrier has struggled with lost bags in the past year, along with cancellations, delays and staff shortages as people started flying again post-Covid. To address the lost luggage problem, Qantas will add baggage tracking in a major overhaul of its app, which is expected to be available by the end of 2023. The airline's CEO Alan Joyce said new technology is a crucial component of its plans to offer better service to customers, following the announcement of a record profit of almost $2.5billion due to high fares and booming demand. Last July, a worker at an outsourcing company used to replace workers laid off during the pandemic claimed Qantas was losing 'one in 10' bags of luggage - although the company disputed the figure. 'The rate of mishandled baggage across the Qantas network over the past four weeks is around one per cent and our teams are working hard to get this figure down further,' an airline spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia at the time. The airline was taken to court by the Transport Workers Union in late 2020 when it was found to have illegally sacked nearly 2,000 baggage handlers, cleaners and ground staff before outsourcing their jobs. The lost baggage situation reached fever pitch last September when a lone bag was pictured abandoned on the tarmac at Sydney Airport. Qantas hopes the updated app, which will also give customers more control over their bookings and better integration with the frequent flyer program, will improve matters. The 'flying kangaroo' also aims to improve its service with a right aircraft, right route approach. The next-generation A220, B787 and A320 aeroplanes will feature more comfortable cabins, less noise and less carbon emissions, the airline said. It said it has listened to customer feedback, which will lead to changes to its boarding process from October 2023 to improve on-time performance. 'New technology is central to our plan and the next-generation aircraft that have started arriving will transform our network over the next few years,' Mr Joyce said. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce (pictured) said new technology is a crucial component of its plans to offer better service to customers The lost baggage situation reached comical proportions last September when a lone bag was pictured abandoned on the tarmac at Sydney Airport 'We'll be able to serve our customers better, reduce our cost base through lower running costs and carve out some new competitive advantages.' Earlier this month, Qantas said it expects to make a 2022/23 underlying profit before tax of between $2.425billion and $2.475billion, significantly outstripping previous records. The Australian flag-carrier expects there will be no let-up in travel demand as the it reported record profits on the back of high fares and a booming domestic market. It said yields would remain well above pre-Covid levels through 2023/24, particularly for international flights, and that fares were gradually dropping as the industry added capacity. Though the airline has promised 'continued investment in low fares', the cost of lying is not dropping as quickly as travellers would like. But that has not affected demand. Bookings indicate continued strong travel growth. with revenue currently at 118 per cent of Qantas's pre-pandemic levels for domestic flights and 123 per cent for international journeys. Qantas intends to significantly expand the current range of redemption options for Frequent Flyers and improve its boarding process to better its on-time performance for flights. Niguidula found out Mr Apostol cheated on her a week before Jenny Niguidula is accused of murdering her boyfriend Shocking footage has captured the moment a woman accused of stabbing her boyfriend to death confronted him after learning about his other lovers. Jenny Niguidula has been charged with murder after Rhonie Apostol, 53, was allegedly knifed at his South Wentworthville home, in Sydney's west, on November 17, 2019. A NSW Supreme Court trial heard Niguidula found out a week before his death Mr Apostol had been cheating on her with a Filipino woman named Viva for nine years. Mistress Jenny Niguidula is seen attacking boyfriend Rhonie Apostol, 53, at Sydney International Airport a week prior to his death Mr Apostol also had a wife in the U.S named Geraldine. Footage captured at Sydney International Airport showed Niguidula hitting him in the head after finding out about his overseas affairs. The court heard Niguidula was originally married to Mr Apostol's brother when she cheated on him and started an affair Mr Apostol, who was also married at the time, in 2011. The couple were in a relationship up until his death in 2019. The pair both worked for Niguidula's global consultancy firm, Kaleidoscope International, which saw them travel across the world. They lived and worked in New York and Manila and would enjoy holidays in cities such as Paris, Santorini and Dubai. Niguidula was arrested and interrogated by police at Granville Police Station for six hours following her partner's death, the court heard. Footage played in court shows her telling detectives she had given Mr Apostol an ultimatum upon learning about his affairs. 'I said, "You have to end it, you have to make a choice - stay with the girl or me",' she said in the video 'I'd been serving you for years and now I'm not only competing with the wife - all along there was another woman.' Apostol (pictured) had girlfriends in Australia and the Philippines and a wife in the U.S. Niguidula found out he was having affairs with both women Niguidula (pictured) was interviewed by police for six hours after Apostol was found stabbed to death The court heard, Niguidula said the couple had been drinking at home on the night of Mr Apostol's murder and that she woke up in the morning and heard strange sounds coming from the bathroom. The court heard Niguidula claimed she allegedly found a fatally-injured Mr Apostol with a stab wound to his chest and a knife nearby. She told police that she initially thought he was playing an elaborate prank on her, the court heard. Niguidula has denied murdering Mr Apostol and claims she didn't know who stabbed him. She has pleaded not guilty to murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter and assaulting Mr Apostol with a plastic lamp. The manslaughter plea has been rejected by crown prosecutors. Niguidula's lawyers are running a partial defence of substantial impairment, requiring them to show Niguidula had a mental health condition so severe she could not control her actions or understand what she was doing at the time of Apostol's death. The trial continues on Wednesday. A university lecturer who admitted murdering his wife at their suburban home after a heated argument over childcare arrangements has been jailed for up to 24 years. Adam Brown, a 41-year-old gender studies and digital media lecturer at Deakin University, was sentenced by the Victorian Supreme Court on Tuesday morning, after last year admitting the murder of his wife, Chen Cheng, 35. The couple began arguing in an upstairs bedroom of their unit in Melbourne's east, on the evening of April 30, and then moved downstairs to the kitchen, where Brown claimed they both grabbed knives. Gender studies and digital media lecturer at Deakin University, Adam Brown (pictured), 41, has been sentenced to 24 years imprisonment for murdering his wife last year The judge slammed Brown's claim that he and Chen Cheng, 35, (both pictured) had stabbed each other following an argument Neighbours heard Ms Cheng scream 'help me, help me, he's trying to kill me' before she died, and Brown telling her 'stop', 'get down', 'shut up'. The fight moved to the backyard, where the couple struggled on the grass over a knife. Brown stabbed Ms Cheng several times, including large wounds to her neck and chest. Neighbours knocked on the door until Brown let them inside. They found Ms Cheng, bleeding, her body lying lifeless on the grass. One of the neighbours, a nurse, tried to perform CPR on Ms Cheng. Paramedics arrived and declared her dead at the scene about 10.40pm. Brown was dressed in a suit and tie as he appeared at the Supreme Court on Tuesday, where he learned his fate. Justice John Champion sentenced him to 24 years in prison for the 'savage and sustained attack' on his wife while their two-year-old son was in the same house. Brown waved to his family (pictured) and friends, who were in attendance at the Victorian Supreme Court, before being escorted to a police van Ms Cheng was last heard screaming for help just behind a fence at their Melbourne house (pictured) before neighbours found her lifeless on the grass The judge rejected Brown's claims to police that the couple had stabbed each other during the fight. Brown had only sustained minor injuries, whereas Ms Cheng received multiple stab wounds including deep cuts to her neck and chest. 'Ms Cheng fought for her life against your attack on her ... she was terrified of what was occurring,' Justice Champion said. Brown has already served more than a year of his sentence and will be eligible for parole after 17-and-a-half years. He waved to his family and friends in court, as he was escorted out to a prison van. The Texas legislature approved two 'anti woke' bills in its closing days amid strong protest - ramming through the laws on the final day of the session. One of the bills, Senate Bill 12, bans minors from attending drag shows. The other, Senate Bill 17, bans offices and programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion at publicly funded colleges and universities. Both bills will now go to the desk of the state's Republican governor, Greg Abbott, who is expected to sign them into law. Bryan Hughes, the Republican senator who championed SB 12, celebrated the passage of the bill, saying it would protect children. 'Great News: Our bill protecting children from sexually explicit drag shows (S.B. 12) is officially headed to the Governor's desk,' he tweeted. 'These shows are indisputably inappropriate for minors, and we will not allow children to be sexualized nor preyed upon in Texas.' Protesters are seen in front of the state Capitol in Austin, Texas last month, taking to the streets to raise their voices against a series of 'woke' bills People march to the Texas State Capitol in Austin on April 15, weeks before the legislature passed 'anti woke' bills on its final days Greg Abbott, the Republican governor of Texas, will now sign into law both SB 12 and SB 17 Texas follows the lead set by Montana, which last week became the first state to specifically ban people dressed in drag from reading books to children at public schools and libraries. Bills in Florida and Tennessee also appear to try to ban drag reading events, but both require the performances to be sexual in nature, which could be up for interpretation. Both bills also face legal challenges. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick of Texas, who made the bill a priority, said in a statement after the vote that it 'prohibits sexualized performances and drag shows in the presence of a minor.' He added: 'It is shocking to me that any parent would allow their young child to be sexualized by drag shows. 'Children, who cannot make decisions on their own, must be protected from this scourge facing our state.' The LGBTQ community have seen both SB 12 and SB 17 as an attack on their existence. People are pictured marching in Austin on April 15 Bryan Hughes, the Republican state senator who introduced the bill banning drag shows for minors Some have questioned how the drag bill could be prosecuted. The Texas District and County Attorneys Association, the state's professional association for prosecutors, pointed out that the bill doesn't define 'sexual gesticulations' for which performers would be punished. It would also criminalize sexual conduct between 17-year-olds, which is currently legal because the age of consent in Texas is 17. 'Pre-coital sexual conduct in private between consenting adults when one or both are 17 would be illegal, the group tweeted from its official handle. 'That's not going to work.' Critics have also said its wording was so broad it could encompass cheerleading squads. Mary Gonzalez, head of the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus, warned it could 'implicate even the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.' Violators could get given a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine. The business hosting them would be subject to a $10,000 civil penalty per violation. Drag queens in the state vowed to challenge the law. 'Well Texas really devastated about this bill,' tweeted Cynthia Lee Fontaine, who appeared on Ru Paul's Drag Race. 'Very disappointed. But we will continue fighting! This is not over! We are not criminals!' The second bill, SB 17, defunds diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives - and is part of a national wave of bills, arguing that taxpayer money is being used to stoke racial division and push a liberal agenda in colleges and universities. The Texas bill, when signed by Abbott, will give colleges and universities six months to wind down their DEI programs. Brandon Creighton introduced SB 17, which defunds diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in publicly-funded colleges and universities An Associated Press analysis of legislative bills found at least 30 bills in about a dozen states this year were aimed at ending diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in colleges and universities. Brandon Creighton, who sponsored SB 17, tweeted: 'The elimination of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offices will result in millions in savings for taxpayers and restore a culture of free inquiry, meritocracy, equal opportunity, genuine innovation within Texas higher education.' But the Texas Conference of American Association of University Professors (AAUP) said in a statement that the bill sends a clear message to the 1.3 million public university and community college students, 'that our state is not committed to welcoming students from all backgrounds and to building a public higher education system that is truly inclusive and supportive of all.' They tweeted: 'In light of the passage of #SB17 banning diversity, equity and inclusion officers, we ask our public university and community college administrations to look for ways to make the best continuing use of the invaluable service to our campus communities by DEI staff and faculty.' The University of Texas branch of the AAUP said SB 17 was intended 'to divide Texans'. They tweeted: ''Instead of using their power to address gun violence, economic inequality, or fully funding our public schools legislators stripped transgender youth of their healthcare, attempted to steal taxpayer dollars from our students in neighborhood schools, violated the religious freedom of Texans, targeted border and LGBTQIA+ communities, and continued to ignite culture wars that seek to divide and distract us.' 'Attacks on tenure, academic freedom, and DEI are exactly thispart of a culture war that seeks to divide Texans. The fight continues.' Rachel Davenport, who goes by 'Rachel Davenpole', celebrated her graduation from Arizona in a unique way A University of Arizona student is causing a heated debate on social media after celebrating her graduation with a pole dance while wearing the traditional cap and gown and little else. The racy video of her swinging on a pole drew strong reactions online, with some showing support, some attempting to shame her and others drawing a comparison with a student who caused a similar controversy last year. Rachel Davenport, who goes by the name 'Rachel Davenpole' on social media, posted the celebratory video to Instagram and screenshots to Twitter, where she dances provocatively on a pole in lingerie, clear heels and her cap and gown. 'I couldn't have made it this far without the amazing support from everyone at @verticafitness! From the bottom of my heart, thank you all so much,' she said thanking a fitness company that specializes in pole dancing. Davenpole said she graduated recently from the university's School of Public Health with a Bachelor of Science degree. Rachel Davenport, who goes by 'Rachel Davenpole', recently graduated from the University of Arizona and created a stir online with how she celebrated Davenport's photos have gotten 7.5 million views on Twitter as of Monday, with an Instagram post celebrating those close to her in addition to the video. Davenport- who wrote on May 28 that she'd been dancing for two years - initially made an uproar on Twitter by responding to a popular version of a meme that asked: 'How do you serve c*** in an academic way?' She responded with two pictures of her pole dance and wrote: 'Like this.' When one user responded to her photos on Twitter by saying 'you look dumb as hell,' Rachel clapped back, writing 'Graduated Magna Cum Laude (3.8GPA) and received over $40,000 in scholarships let's get u a mirror so we can see who this tweets about babes.' A supportive tweeter noted 'as a pole fitness enthusiast... it's not that serious... it's literally a sport.' That was backed up by another supporter who wrote that her move was 'actually as impressive as f***' Detractors were just as blunt in their assessment of the photos with one calling her a 'degenerate!' 'Graduated Magna Cum Laude (3.8GPA) and received over $40,000 in scholarships let's get u a mirror so we can see who this tweets about babes' Davenport wrote in response to the criticism Davenport's photos have gotten 7.5 million views on Twitter as of Monday, with an Instagram post celebrating those close to her in addition to the video. 'I couldnt have done this without the support of my amazing friends and family whove been there every step of the way! Thank you all so much for your unconditional love and support.' Rachel hasn't given further comment on the online uproar but has promoted her Venmo account, adding: 'like what you see? Don't be shy, empty your wallet.' DailyMail.com has reached out to the University of Arizona for comment. Some posters, whether on Davenpole's side or not, cited that a young woman at a historically black college had her degree placed on hold last year after a similar stunt. Terica Williams, a Florida rapper, posed in front of a snake sculpture at Florida A&M University to celebrate getting her Master's Degree from the school. 'As I'm standing here with my Masters Degree at the tender age of 24, I am the living proof that clothes do not define you. I encouraged every body to embrace their bodies and step outside social norms,' she captioned the provocative post. The university froze her transcripts after the post went viral and wouldn't present her with a degree for five months. Terica Williams found herself in a similar spot last year and backed Davenport's posts after graduation The Tallahassee Democrat reported that Williams was eventually found to not be in violation of school policy after proving that she'd photoshopped a thong out of the photo and was therefor, technically up to code. 'I think that my picture opened up a lot of conversation and dialogue,' Williams said in November. 'I hope that a lot of people see it as me being my authentic self and still being successful.' Williams, however, got word of Davenport exploits and after the shaming and hassle she'd faced, seemed to not be in a charitable mood. 'Y'all do her how y'all did me,' Williams, who goes by the handle 'Terica Star' on social media, wrote after seeing the photos. A long-overdue history book has finally been returned to the California library from which it was on loan - almost a century late. The book, Benson Lossing's 'A History of the United States,' was published in 1881 and belonged to the St. Helena Public Library in Napa Valley. A note inside the book, which was published in 1892, reads: 'This book may be kept for two weeks.' It was due back on February 21, 1927, making it more than 96 years overdue. Luckily the finder will escape any fines as the library stopped collecting them years ago. 'A History of the United States' was checked out from a California library in 1927 and recently found by Jim Perry He returned the book to Napa Valley library almost 100 years late Perry found the overdue book when looking through his late wife's collection Benson Lossing's 'A History of the United States' was published in 1892 and was due back on February 21, 1927 Previously, overdue fines for the book were charged at 5 cents a day, meaning the present-day borrower, Jim Perry, would have owed around $1,756. Luckily for him, the library decided to eliminate late fines in 2019. Perry found the book while doing some spring cleaning. It was hidden in a box that belonged to his late wife, Sandra, according to the St Helena Star. The book has been with the family for five generations and he believes his wife's grandfather, John McCormick, a descendant of one of St. Helena's oldest pioneer families, originally borrowed it without ever returning it. Following McCormick's death in 1963, the book was handed down to his younger daughter, Babe Learned. When Babe Learned died in 2011, her daughter Sandra Learned Perry inherited the book. JIm's wife, Sandra, passed away in 2015, leaving the library book among a box of books that her husband recently started going through. The book is now being treated as rare artifact and placed in a glass display case for all to see The book has been with the family for five generations and it is believed Perry's wife's grandfather, John McCormick, a descendant of one of St. Helena's oldest pioneer families, originally borrowed it 'I didnt know how special it was,' Perry admitted At first, Perry returned the book without leaving his name but upon receiving the title back into its collection the library asked for more information about where the book had been for the better part of the past 100 years. Perry then contacted the library after seeing a report about the item on the news. 'I didnt know how special it was,' Perry admitted. 'One of my staff members came up and said "Oh somebody had returned that book,"' library director Chris Kreiden told KOVR. 'They thought it was really cool. We didn't realize quite how old it was it was falling apart. I'm afraid to touch it. 'All of us are just, you know, wondering where the book could have been for so long, you know, from being checked out in 1927,' Kreiden said. 'To have it be from this library from that far back is really incredible. 'I mean weve had things checked out for two or three years, maybe five, but never anything quite this long,' he went on. The library is now showing off the book together with news articles about the rare find Staff at the library believe the book may have been was among 540 volumes available at the Free Public Library, the predecessor of the St. Helena Public Library, pictured above Staff at the library believe the book may have been among 540 volumes available at the Free Public Library, the predecessor of the St. Helena Public Library. The book is now being treated as a rare artifact and placed in a glass display case for all to see. 'Its never too late to return your library book,' Kreiden joked. The Guinness World Record for the most overdue library book is held by a German history book owned by Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Colonel Robert Walpole, the father of Sir Robert Walpole, who is considered the first prime minister of Great Britain, borrowed the book in 1667 or 1668. It was discovered by Prof. John Plumb during his research on Walpole's biography and returned to Sidney Sussex on January 16, 1956, a staggering 287 years overdue. Mr Lehrmann says he is 'extremely happy' with outcome Bruce Lehrmann says he is 'extremely happy' with the settlement of his defamation case against News Corp over reports where Brittany Higgins first alleged that he raped her in Parliament House. Mr Lehrmann launched legal action in February against News Life Media, a section of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, which runs news.com.au. The case was scheduled for hearing in Sydney's Federal Court in November but Daily Mail Australia revealed earlier today that the media giant has now settled, with NEWS Life Media making a contribution to Mr Lehrmann's legal costs. 'I am extremely happy with the settlement, in particular the acknowledgement by news.com.au that it does not suggest that I was guilty of sexual assault,' said Mr Lehrmann in a statement. He added: 'I look forward to being vindicated at the Federal Court hearing in November this year of my defamation proceedings brought against Network Ten, Ms Lisa Wilkinson and the ABC.' The news.com.au lawsuit was originally filed over articles published by journalist Samantha Maiden in February 2021, during which Ms Higgins' rape allegations were detailed for the first time. Mr Lehrmann was not named in the articles, but he claimed his former colleagues in Parliament House were able to identify him as the alleged offender. He has continually maintained his innocence. Bruce Lehrmann (pictured) says he is 'extremely happy' with his settlement with News Corp over reports where Brittany Higgins first alleged that he raped her in Parliament House Brittany Higgins (centre) is pictured outside the ACT Supreme Court in October, during Bruce Lehrmann's criminal trial On Tuesday, the media giant added disclaimers to two online articles that detailed Ms Higgins' allegations. 'Bruce Lehrmann commenced defamation proceedings claiming that this article accused him of sexually assaulting Brittany Higgins,' the disclaimer said. 'These proceedings were discontinued and settled on terms satisfactory to Mr Lehrmann and the publisher of this website. 'News.com.au notes that a criminal charge of sexual assault was brought against Mr Lehrmann and later dropped. News.com.au does not suggest that he was guilty of that charge.' Federal Court records showed Mr Lehrmann discontinued his lawsuit on Tuesday. Mr Lehrmann is still pursuing Channel 10, which also published the claims initially, for defamation over a similar report. He is likewise suing the ABC over a National Press Club broadcast of a speech Ms Higgins gave with then-Australian of the Year Grace Tame. Bystanders rushed to help as both cars caught fire A father and son have relived the harrowing moment they heard screaming while running towards a fiery car crash that killed two 17-year-old boys. Emergency services rushed to Beaudesert Beenleigh Road at Birnam, south of Brisbane, at about 6.15pm on Sunday following reports two cars were on fire after a head-on crash. The crash happened when the 4WD ute driven by Ben Grahame, 17, collided with a sedan driven by 17-year-old Jimmy Bowie. Ben Grahame, 17, died after his 4WD ute caught fire following a head-on-collision with a silver sedan in Birnam, south of Brisbane Jimmy Bowie, 17, was in the silver sedan and also died in the crash. The two teenage boys were the only occupants in their cars Both 17-year-old boys died at the scene and were the sole occupants of the cars they were driving. Michael Shayne and his son Jack were driving on Beaudesert Rd when they saw flames in the middle of the road. The pair spotted a woman racing towards the fiery crash and banging on the ute's roof. 'The real hero is that woman that was out there banging on the roof to let him know that she was there,' Mr Shayne told The Courier Mail. Mr Shayne said he and his son tried to get inside the car engulfed with flames after hearing screams and realising someone was still alive. 'We bolted. As soon as we got close we could hear some screams. I ran as fast as I could.' 'My son was right beside me, reached as hard as we could and ripped the bottom of the passenger side.' 'He looked at us and knew we were there fighting with him. He knew there were people fighting for him.' The pair also tried to help 17-year-old Jimmy Bowie but were unable to assist him due to his position in his car. Other bystanders urged Mr Shayne and his son to retreat just moments before the 4WD exploded into a 'huge fireball', making it impossible to approach the vehicles. Another witness, who is still traumatised by the ordeal, described the chain of events that contributed to the fiery crash. She was travelling behind the 4WD and claims the ute tried to overtake another car while on a hill when it collided with the silver sedan. The witness added the 4WD flipped on its side and pushed the sedan off the road. 'It was a shocking event that I would rather try to forget,' she said. 'It was dark and just a huge fireball.' Family friends of Mr Grahame have paid tribute to the late teen describing him as charismatic, funny, and the life of the party'. Friends left flowers at the scene of the horrific crash (pictured) Pictured, friends gathering at the scene of the crash to grieve the death of the two teenage boys The friend of Mr Grahame's mum, Candy Looman, set up a GoFundMe account to help the family with funeral expenses. 'Where do I start Ben was a very much loved and treasured family member who was charismatic, funny, the life of the party and a big softy on the inside,' she wrote. 'Ben is the baby of the family and Colleens (Ben's mum) only son whose adult life hadnt even really started, Ben was just 17.' Ms Looman explained funds will help Ben's mum Colleen, who is self-employed, pay for her son's funeral. 'As you can imagine no one was prepared for this and especially not his mum who is self employed and runs a local family day care business in Ormeau,' Ms Looman wrote. 'Colleen loves big and is always going above and beyond for everyone elses families. Please help us try and raise funds for Ben's mum while she is trying to process the tragic loss of her son and to give Ben the send off he truely deserves,' she wrote. The fund has received more than 245 donations totalling $13,290 and has a goal of raising $15,000. Police are urging anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage of the accident to come forward. A crime scene was established with the Forensic Crash Unit leading the investigation. Flights to Bali as low as $135 Jetstar has launched a fire sale offering flights for as low as $38 for holidaymakers. The campaign was launched on Tuesday and will be available for a limited time to all Club Jetstar members until 10am Wednesday. Destinations include most major Australian cities, Uluru, Bali, and Singapore. A new fire sale from Jetstar is offering domestic flights for less than $50 and some international ones for less than $200 Club Jetstar members can fly from Sydney to any Australian city beginning at $38 The sale will immediately end if allocations are exhausted before the deadline. The sale is limited to flights departing between late-January to mid-March 2024. Flyers wanting to become a member of Club Jetstar will have to forked out a $55 fee every year. Travellers can fly from Sydney to Adelaide, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Townsville or Brisbane for just $38. Flights from Hobart to the Gold Coast, from Melbourne to Adelaide or from Cairns to the Gold Coast also cost the same price. Flights to smaller cities like Launceston, Cairns, Ballina Byron, the Gold Coast and Newcastle are also going for $150. Perth have domestic flights between $128 to $138 across the country, as well as the option of a one-way trip to Bali for $135. Darwin residents also have the option of $128 flights across the country, with a trip down the middle of Australia to Adelaide coming in cheaper at $88. Attention-grabbing international tickets include Sydney to Bali for $199, Sydney to Auckland for $169, Cairns to Osaka for $279, or Melbourne to Singapore for $195. Anyone can become a Club Jetstar member through their application portal online, which boasts 20 per cent off bags and seat selection, and other offers. All capital cities bar Darwin and Hobart also offer flights to Bali for under $200 Melbourne is the only city where passengers have the option of flying direct to Singapore for $195 in the sale British author JK Rowling has launched a blistering attack against a reporter over an article about a controversial feminist rally gatecrashed by neo-Nazis in Melbourne. Reporter Patrick Strudwick wrote in an article on iNews about the 'Let Women Speak' rally helmed by anti-trans activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull in Melbourne on March 19. The rally was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis who performed the Hitler salute and clashed with transrights activists. 'In Melbourne this March, an anti-trans rally organised by British "gender critical" campaigner Kellie-Jay Keen staged a mass Nazi salute,' Strudick wrote. She cited this as evidence of far-right influence on those who question elements of the transgender rights agenda, saying there was a 'fascist takeover of transphobic ideas'. Harry Potter author JK Rowling (pictured) has launched an astonishing attack on a journalist who said a 'Let Women Speak' rally in Melbourne in March supported neo-Nazis JK Rowling screenshotted Patrick Strudwick's article (pictured) and posted it to her 14million Twitter followers. The line Rowling objected to was later removed Rowling, 57, hit back in a heated tweet on Tuesday ridiculing the claim the 'Let Women Speak' rally had anything to do with the neo-Nazis, who gatecrashed the event. 'This is a lie so brazen, so easily disprovable and so libellous, I'm amazed it was allowed into print by a supposedly reputable news source.' The line in question has since been removed from the article, but not before Rowling grabbed a screenshot of it and posted it to her 14million followers. A group of around a dozen men wearing balaclavas and black vests hijacked the rally in Melbourne earlier this year. The men stood is silence with their arms raised in a Heil Hitler salute while trans-rights activists chanted: 'Unite, unite to fight the right!' Footage showed mounted police officers corralling the crowds as they hurled abuse at one another, while officers formed a human chain to keep protesters apart. There is no indication the neo-Nazis had been invited to take part in the rally by Ms Keen-Minshull or anyone else connected to it. 'Actual Nazis have turned up on the fringes of Let Women Speak events for exactly the same reason aggressive, narcissistic trans activists are there,' Rowling tweeted. 'These groups closely resemble each other. Both are rife with misogynistic opportunists who're using a clash of rights to push their own agendas.' English anti-trans activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull (in yellow top) is pictured at a 'Let Women Speak' rally in Melbourne in March Neo-Nazis pictured right doing a Hitler salute in front of Victoria's State Parliament building Rowling said she was amazed that Strudwick's comment was published in first place The celebrated author and philanthropist, who has been 'cancelled' in some circles for her firm views on transgender issues, then compared trans activists to far-right activists. She said both groups turn up to Let Women Speak rallies 'in the hope of violence, and neither gives a damn about the women who're there to speak out in their own voices, about their own lives, on their own behalf'. 'Nobody but useful idiots can be genuinely surprised that REAL fascists have spotted a glorious opportunity in trans activism,' she wrote. 'The homophobic, anti-feminist far-right has long held that the left is degenerate, foolish, immoral and authoritarian. 'And now they can point to the incoherent arguments of the gender ideologues, the bullying tactics of the no-platformers and the swarms of masked men threatening violence against women for wanting to retain single-sex spaces, and crow "we told you so".' Rowling finished her tweet by writing: 'It's high time those peddling lies like Strudwick's are held accountable and I sincerely hope (Ms Keen-Minshull) takes action.' Daily Mail Australia contacted Strudwick for comment. Victoria Police were slammed by some for failing to stop the neo-Nazis from performing their Heil Hitler salutes, although it is not illegal. Police Association of Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt said officers prevented a fight between rival groups but did not have the power to prevent political expression, even by neo-Nazis. The Victorian state government subsequently vowed to strengthen its anti-vilification laws to ban the Nazi salute and associated symbols such as the swastika. Channel Nine has been blasted over its coverage of the Voice to Parliament after it was labelled 'divisive' in a news bulletins. Supporters of the 'Yes' campaign launched a scathing attack on Channel Nine following a bulletin that covered a story about the referendum on Monday night. Newsreader Amber Sherlock introduced the story, which was about Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivering a speech that advocated support for The Voice at the annual Lowitja O'Donoghue Oration at the University of Adelaide. 'The divisive Voice to Parliament has taken prime minister Anthony Albanese to Adelaide tonight for a special keynote speech,' Sherlock said on camera. Channel Nine newsreader Amber Sherlock (pictured) labelled the Voice to Parliament as 'divisive' as she introduced a story Footage of the news bulletin was shared to Twitter where social media users ripped into the network. 'So Channel 9 are now officially referring to The Voice as 'The Divisive Voice To Parliament' in their news reports????' one wrote. 'Just disgraceful.' Others chimed into the discussion and agreed that it was not an appropriate label. 'That is shocking and Channel 9 needs to apologize (sic), as does the individual newsreader,' said another. 'All media organisations need to declare their position on the Voice (if they have one) & Ch9 clearly has one, so viewers know exactly why they are presenting a particular narrative.' A third viewer criticised the networks' coverage as 'shameful' in their post. 'Unacceptable political propaganda on two fronts,' they commented. 'The use of the word 'divisive ' to describe the referendum , and her surprised tone as she continued, 'Mike , he was received very well !' as if this was totally unexpected.' 'Do these reporters not feel any personal shame? No sense of ethics?' added another. However, some felt the description was apt considering how heated the debate over the Voice has become. 'A newsreader saying it how it is. Great to hear. It is divisive,' said one. 'Finally someone that is telling the truth. About time the mass media did their job with unbias reporting,' commented another. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) during the Lowitja O'Donoghue Oration at the University of Adelaide Darren Wick, Nine's Director of News and Current Affairs, released a statement following the backlash. 'Our news teams have been reminded about using emotive language when reporting news stories,' he said. Indigenous leader Warren Mundine slammed the ABC over its coverage of the Voice during a fiery TV interview. Mr Mundine defended Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's criticism of the Voice, and his call for NSW Supreme Court Justice Ian Harrison to stand down over his comments about 'No' campaigner Pat Conaghan. Mr Dutton had warned the Voice would have 'Orwellian' consequences where 'all Australians are equal, but some Australians are more equal than others' - a direct reference to George Orwell's satirical 1945 novel, Animal Farm. 'I think Peter Dutton is onto something, this is turning into a very divisive, very hateful campaign,' Mr Mundine said. 'I know you like to pick on Peter Dutton but he is right, this is starting to get into a disgraceful campaign and the campaign hasn't even started yet. 'This referendum is dividing Australia and you see it in the polling, and you see it out in the community.' Mr Mundine called for Justice Harrison to be stood down after he sent an email from his work account to Nationals MP Mr Conaghan and labelled him 'disgusting' and 'racist' for opposing the Voice. Warren Mundine admonished the ABC for not calling out the attacks by Yes supporters of Voice campaign He then slammed the ABC for not calling out the attacks by 'Yes' supporters who had targeted their opponents with hurtful comments. 'I just find it bizarre that these people who are supposed to be Yes supporters and Yes campaigners who were looking at us to be the people who were dividing this country,' he said. ABC host Madeleine Morris clarified Mr Mundine's remarks about the judge's comments were his own views and were not supported by the ABC. The disclaimer prompted a fiery response from Mr Mundine. 'Of course you're not supporting it. It's my view,' he said. 'I just find it funny, if that person came out and did it, and he was a No person, I know where the ABC would be sitting on this whole thing. 'It's about time you have got a balanced view and actually started calling out these people who make these racial attacks.' Morris attempted to change the topic as tensions flared onscreen. 'I'll leave that there because we have invited you on and you are a very prominent member of the No campaign,' she said. 'So I'll just say that we, you know, we are gonna be absolutely platforms to the No campaign and the Yes campaign and as the ABC, we will continue to do that.' Morris added at the end of the segment: 'Just to be clear, those are Warren Mundine's opinions about that exchange that went on with a NSW judge.' The brother of a man charged with more than a dozen domestic violence-related offences after his estranged partner was found dead has flown into a rage at a Daily Mail Australia reporter, hurling obscenities and mouthing threats. Tatiana 'Tania' Dokhotaru, 34, was found dead inside her Liverpool unit, in Sydney's south-west, about 8pm on Saturday - almost 24 hours after she called triple-0 begging for help alleging her partner was 'bashing' her. Her devastated parents Olga Dokhotaru and Dennis Thievin have hit out at the slow police response, suggesting she might still be alive if officers had made it to her apartment the night she rang for help. Ms Dokhotaru's estranged partner Danny Zayat, 28, was arrested at the scene on Saturday and has been charged with a litany of offences - including choking and breaching an AVO - which allegedly occurred in the lead up to her death. He was refused bail at court on Monday and it is understood his and Ms Dokhotaru's son - who marked his fourth birthday just hours after his mother's body was found - is currently in the care of Zayat's parents. Three four-tonne trucks were seen parked across the patchy front lawn of Zayat's sprawling two-storey family home in Colyton, in western Sydney, on Tuesday, where it is understood he was living with his parents Jamile and Brian and brother Mark. Danny Zayat's brother Mark (pictured) unleashed on a Daily Mail Australia reporter on Tuesday, demanding she 'f*** off' Danny Zayat has been charged with a raft of domestic violence offences after his former partner Tatiana 'Tania' Dokhotaru, 34, was found dead on Saturday. The pair are pictured together in 2021 Appearing at the door of the home where scattered chairs, dusty work boots and construction equipment line the entrance, a shirtless Mark Zayat refused to answer questions about his sibling's charges or whether the family would be standing by him. Instead, he launched into an aggressive foul-mouthed rant. 'F*** off, get out of my house,' the heavily-tattooed tradesman said. 'If you come back round here again f*** off!' He then went inside the home and put on a shirt before taking a seat outside the front door. From there, he stared down the reporter and continued to shout threats. 'Come back here again and I'll....' It comes as the alleged victim's grief-stricken parents questioned why it took so long for police to find their daughter. Police have stated that officers failed to make it to her unit because the emergency call did not include enough information such as the apartment number. But Ms Dokhotaru's father Mr Thievin insists more could have been done. Tania's parents Olga Dokhotaru and Denis Thievin (pictured with Tania, left) have slammed the police response and suggested she might still be alive if they had got to her apartment quicker 'Had they responded in a timely manner, Tania may be alive today,' he told 7News. 'Surely it could have been done better than it was.' The parents, who live in Canada, found out about their daughter's death through social media after realising something was 'wrong' when they did not hear from her for a few days. In the past, they had begged her to go to the police over Zayat's alleged behaviour. Her mother paid tribute to Ms Dokhotaru, describing her as a 'happy, strong woman'. 'I'm lost, big timeI never, never would expect to hear news (of her death),' said the mother as she fought back tears. Meanwhile, forensic investigators on Tuesday were seen scouring the rooftops of neighbouring buildings to the Pinnacle apartment complex as the search for evidence continues. The development comes as new photos have surfaced of Zayat and Ms Dokhotaru during happier times. One picture shows Zayat embracing his then heavily pregnant partner, tenderly placing one hand on her belly, as the couple posed for a photo at their baby shower in 2019. A newly surfaced photo shows the couple lovingly embracing in colour-coordinated outfits at their 2019 baby shower Several trucks were parked across the front of the Zayat's family home on Tuesday Mark Zayat proceeded to glare at the reporter from a chair outside the house while muttering to himself after yelling threats Another shot taken in early 2021 shows Ms Dokhotaru sitting on his lap with one arm draped around his shoulder as they dined out at a fancy restaurant. In an ironic turn of events, just six months ago, Zayat had bragged that he was destined to become the best version of himself this year as he strived to met his fitness goals. '2023 my year to shine,' the gym junkie said. 'I will come back bigger and more condition [sic] than ever #bodybuilding.' Images plastered across Zayat's social media pages show him shirtless, flexing his biceps, or posing alongside friends, decked out in designer clothing. Reception staff at a 24/7 Gym, in St Marys, confirmed that Danny Zayat used to be a longtime member. 'We are aware of that individual you're referring to but he no longer trains here, he started going to another gym about two months ago.' The staff member said Ms Dokhotaru also trained at the same gym around six years ago but was no longer a member. Police were at first unable to locate which flat Ms Dokhotaru was in in the massive, 297-unit apartment block Forensic investigators were seen scouring the rooftops of neighbouring buildings to the Pinnacle apartment complex as the search for evidence continues Tatiana Dokhotaru (right) is pictured with her mother Olga Dokhotaru (left) The staff member added: 'It's tragic what's [allegedly] happened to her.' Police will allege in court that a frantic Ms Dokhotaru had called for help about 11:40pm on Sunday and said: 'He's bashing me my husband's taking all the money from my house,' the Daily Telegraph reported. Ms Dokhotaru did not leave her name and only provided the street number for the apartment complex, which has 297 units. Three hours after receiving the triple-0 call, police arrived at the scene but left soon after when they could not determine her unit number. A critical incident investigation has been launched over why police did not act with more urgency to the 'priority three' emergency call. Zayat has not been charged in relation to her death but is assisting detectives with their inquiries into what led to her passing. He told police the couple had argued because she had taken drugs and was intoxicated. He is accused of punching a television during an argument with Ms Dokhotaru on the night of her death. Two officers are pictured sitting out the front of Ms Dokhotaru's unit in Liverpool on Monday Ms Dokhotaru's friends broke down in tears as they placed tributes outside her apartment block on Monday But Zayat said he left the apartment at midnight on Friday before returning on Saturday when Ms Dokhotaru did not return his calls. A witness called triple-0 after hearing distressed cries of 'help me' and Zayat called an ambulance. Police arrested him when they arrived. His lawyer said it was a 'tragic set of circumstances' and added he would be applying for release on bail when he appears in court later this week. Friends told Daily Mail Australia on Monday Ms Dokhotaru, a Russian national who migrated Down Under around 10 years ago, was a 'beautiful and hardworking' mum. They said she last week returned from a seven-day holiday in Thailand with her son and had just launched an online business renting out designer clothing for some side cash while she cared for her little boy fulltime. Ms Dokhotaru had just launched a designer brand rental business in the days before her death The mother-of-one has been remembered as 'beautiful' and 'hardworking' 'He was a mummy's boy. She did everything for him. They were always together,' one friend said. A neighbour also reported hearing her child making a 'distressed' scream about 2pm on Saturday - around six hours before her body was discovered. Ms Dokhotaru's death has sparked public outrage, with many people flocking online to condemn the handling of her distressed call for help. NSW Premier Chris Minns said the response time of the police to Ms Dokhotaru's triple-O call was 'very concerning' but called for calm to allow the police to conduct their investigation into the 'traumatic incident'. Zayat is next due to appear before Liverpool Local Court on Friday. A baby girl rushed to hospital with serious head injuries was allegedly struck in the head with a bottle during her first birthday party last Saturday night. Police said the infant suffered a fractured skull after a 26-year-old man allegedly assaulted her with a 'blunt' object in the Northern Territory town of Tennant Creek, 500km north of Alice Springs. Northern Territory Police allege that the man was intoxicated when he assaulted the infant - possibly by mistake, when he threw a bottle at another partygoer and instead allegedly hit the child. Grave fears are held for the infant's welfare. The baby girl has been admitted to the Adelaide Children's Hospital with a skull fracture after being struck in the head at her own first birthday party The one-year-old child was airlifted by Royal Flying Doctor Service to the Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital. It is believed the child is in a critical condition, although the hospital declined to disclose give details unless the child's parents gave permission. The man has been charged with aggravated assault, unlawfully causing serious harm and recklessly endangering serious harm. The 26-year-old who has previously been charged with unlawfully cause serious harm was due to appear in Alice Springs Local Court on Tuesday. A 12-month-old baby was allegedly struck by a man, 26, possibly with a bottle in Tennant Creek (above) last weekend Vast swathes of California's beaches could be lost to climate change, a recent paper has predicted, with 25-70 percent of the state's beaches completely eroded by the end of this century. The study, published in March, was produced by five scientists from the USGS Pacific Coastal & Marine Science Center, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the University of New South Wales - Sydney. The five looked at San Francisco's Ocean Beach and studied satellite imagery of the beach over two decades. They then took the entire 1,100-mile coastline of California and used their models to predict how climate change would affect the beaches, using a predicted rise in sea levels of 1.6 feet to 10 feet over the next 80 years. They found that 25-70 percent of the state's beaches could be lost. Pismo Beach in California, near San Luis Obispo, is among those cited by the researchers as being at risk Newport Beach, just south of Los Angeles, is also considered at risk as research predict 25 -70 percent of California beaches could be eroded by rising sea levels 'By 2100, the model estimates that 25-70 percent of California's beaches may become completely eroded due to sea-level rise scenarios of 0.5 to 3.0 m, respectively,' the authors wrote. 'The satellite-data-assimilated modeling system presented here is generally applicable to a variety of coastal settings around the world owing to the global coverage of satellite imagery.' The authors warned that several well-known beaches were at risk - among them Point Arena and Humboldt Bay in Northern California; Pismo Beach and Morro Bay in Central California; and Newport Beach and San Clemente in Southern California. The study, cited by the news website SFGate, is yet to be peer reviewed. It follows on from a similar study in 2017, by the same group of researchers, who found then that 31 to 67 percent of beaches in Southern California were at risk of being destroyed. 'The model predictions, although subjected to considerable uncertainty, indicate that significant impacts to the shoreline may occur due to accelerated sea-level rise,' the authors conclude. 'It is likely that many beaches in California will require substantial management efforts (e.g., beach nourishments, sand retention, armoring, dune restorations as well as other engineering and nature-based solutions) in order to maintain existing beach widths and the many services they provide.' San Clemente, another Los Angeles-area beach, is vulnerable over the next 80 years, the researchers concluded in a study that has yet to be peer reviewed Morro Bay, 200 miles north of Los Angeles, is threatened by rising sea levels, the team said Experts are deeply concerned about rising sea levels but disagree on the predicted rise. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted last year that sea levels would rise up to eight inches in California and along the West Coast in the next 25 years. Mark Merrifield, a coastal oceanographer at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, told The Guardian the satellite models used by the five researchers should be taken with a degree of skepticism because they were new. 'Beach morphology models in general have limited skill in predicting contemporary change, there are few datasets available for validation of the methodology, and projections of future wave and water level conditions introduce another level of uncertainty,' he said. But Sean Vitousek, the lead author on both studies, said they proved that action must be taken now, even if people disagreed about the precise extent. 'Beaches are perhaps the most iconic feature of California, and the potential for losing this identity is real,' he wrote in 2017. 'The effect of California losing its beaches is not just a matter of affecting the tourism economy. 'Losing the protecting swath of beach sand between us and the pounding surf exposes critical infrastructure, businesses and homes to damage.' Two of the Marines can be seen on the ground as a pack of teenagers pummel them after one was jumped from behind Horrific video shows the moment a group of self-identified US Marines were savagely beaten by as many as 40 teenagers after the service members confronted them about their unruly behavior on a California beach. The victims said they were simply walking along the beach in San Clemente, California, when they were attacked by the mob at about 10pm Friday night - the start of Memorial Day weekend. Frightening video posted online showed two victims curled up in the fetal position on the ground as the crowd continued to kick them, hurling profanities and racial slurs. A third Marine was also attacked but not shown in the footage. The men sustained minor injuries, and refused to be transported to a local hospital in the aftermath, Orange County Sheriff's deputies say. Two U.S. Marines were seen in footage being assaulted by a mob of teens along a California beach on Memorial Day weekend The mob kicked at the self-described Marines Friday night after the men confronted the teens about their behavior in San Clemente, California Hunter Antonio, one of the self-described Marines, told KCAL the fight began when he told the teens to stop lighting fireworks Police are investigating the horrific attack and the unknown teens could all soon face charges of assault with a deadly weapon for the beat down. In the roughly minute-long video posted to Facebook, the Marines in their civilian clothes were seen trying to walk up the steps outside the Pier Bowl as a group of teenagers shouted at them. As they approached the stairs, a male teen was seen brutally punching the back of one of the Marine's heads. The Marine turned around and charged at the assailant, which led to an all-out brawl, as the teen's friends all jumped in to take swings and kick him. Within seconds the group circled around the two Marines yelling 'Get that f***er' and 'f*** that f***er up,' even using the N-word at one point. As the cameraman moved closer to the unfolding scene, two of the victims were seen curled up on the ground as the group continued to strike them with vicious kicks. The brawl only came to an end after two passersby, an unknown man and woman, intervened and yelled at the children: 'Stop, what are you doing?' It remains unclear what transpired prior to the video, but Hunter Antonio, one of the self-described Marines, told KCAL the fight began when he asked the teens to stop lighting fireworks. The brawl only ended when two unidentified passersby intervened and yelled at the teenagers Orange County officials say, the two men sustained only minor injuries such as an injury to the hand, scrapes to the knees and soreness to the abdomen, chest and head. They refused medical attention at the scene Antonio said he and his friend from the Marines were enjoying some rare time off from Camp Pendleton in Oceanside during the Memorial Day weekend when the crowd began setting off the fireworks. When a piece of debris hit him in the face, Antonio said he politely asked them to leave. 'They were lighting off fireworks, they were being belligerent and obnoxious and annoying other people, so I went up to them and told them to stop,' he recounted. But the group followed him back to the pier, at which point Antonio said he and his friend warned the teenagers that they were Marines 'so they would leave, but they didn't.' In the end, Orange County officials say, the two men sustained only minor injuries such as an injury to the hand, scrapes to the knees and soreness to the abdomen, chest and head. There are believed to have been as many as 40 teenagers involved in the assault, but the Marines suffered only minor injuries The vicious attack began outside the Pier Bowl as the Marines dressed in their civilian clothes began walking up the steps Antonio, though, fears he may also have a concussion. 'My face still has blood on it,' he said. 'It wasn't cool at all.' Arrests have yet to be made in the brutal attack as Orange County Sheriff's deputies continue their investigation. The suspects may be charged with assault with a deadly weapon 'because of the amount of suspects we are investigating,' Sheriff Sgt. Frank Gonzalez said. 'The weapons that were used were their feet while these victims were on the ground,' he explained. 'So regardless if the victims choose prosecution or choose medical attention, the sheriff's department is going to investigate this to the fullest and try to determine who the suspects are.' San Clemente Mayor Chris Duncan described the Memorial Day weekend attack as 'tragic.' 'This is San Clemente, Marines are always welcome here, always going to be celebrated, always taken care of, and that is why this is so particularly tragic,' he said. A Kmart toy has burned two children as they played in the bath, with one of the kids rushed to hospital with first-degree chemical burns to her skin. Jessie Tidyman's two daughters were in the bath when the contents of a sensory shaker toy filled with glitter leaked and spilled onto them at their Moreton Bay home in Queensland. The six-year-old daughter was burned at the top of her legs while the little 18-month-old also had burns to her legs which have been flaking since the incident. Ms Tidyman said it all started when her youngest let out a huge scream while she was in the bath which the mum said she 'had never heard before'. 'It's like she was in pain, we pulled her out of the bath and tried to settle her down, she wouldn't settle,' Ms Tidyman told the Today Show. The six-year-old daughter was burned at the top of her legs while the little 18-month-old (pictured) also had burns to her legs which have been flaking since the incident Ms Tidyman said it all started when her youngest let out a huge scream while she was in the bath which her mum 'had never heard before' (pictured, the toddler's burns) The mother then realised the toy had been opened and there was a 'chemical smell' coming from it - so she called the poisons line and then an ambulance. The toddler was rushed to hospital before doctors broke the news to the shocked mum that her 18-month-old had first-degree burns. The family then tried to find out what type of chemical had leaked but there was no ingredient list connected to the toy. So a sample was analysed which revealed it to be phosphate acid - which is corrosive and is used in manufacturing soaps and detergents. Ms Tidyman urged Kmart to take the toys off the shelves to get tested or to provide an ingredient list to help in cases where a child might swallow the chemical. Ms Tidyman urged Kmart to take the sensory shaker toys (pictured) off the shelves to get tested or to provide an ingredient list to help in cases where a child might swallow the chemical 'Luckily my daughter didn't drink it - I'd hate to think of what would have happened if she did,' Ms Tidyman (pictured) said 'That way, if a kid was to swallow it, it's as simple as looking up online and you can see the ingredient list which is not there at the moment,' Ms Tidyman said. 'Luckily my daughter didn't drink it - I'd hate to think of what would have happened if she did.' The mum said her girls were doing better, adding the 18-month-old tot was not enjoying bathtime at the moment. Meanwhile, a Kmart spokesperson said it was 'really concerned' to hear about the incident, adding the safety of their customers and team is its number one priority. It said it was taking the incident 'extremely seriously' and encouraged Ms Tidyman to contact them so they can start an investigation and offer support. Kmart was contacted by Daily Mail Australia. Anthony Albanese has been accused of 'descending toward the gutter' with 'deplorable' remarks toward Australians who intend on voting 'No' at the Voice to Parliament referendum. In the Opposition's strongest response to the prime minister so far, deputy leader Sussan Ley delivered an passionate speech to Parliament on Tuesday evening in response to Mr Albanese's describing opponents as 'Chicken Littles' at the Lowitja O'Donoghue Oration in Adelaide on Monday night. After weeks of mudslinging about the Voice, Ms Ley drew a line in the sand, saying: 'People of goodwill can disagree.' She reassured the public it is okay to vote 'no', just as it is okay to vote 'yes'. 'Regardless of whether 'Yes' narrowly wins, or narrowly loses, millions of Australians will vote 'No',' she said. 'They deserve better than their Prime Minister referring to them as 'undertakers preparing the grave to bury Uluru', 'Chicken Littles', or anything else with such deplorable connotations.' After weeks of mudslinging from both major parties, deputy Opposition leader Sussan Ley hit out at Anthony Albanese, saying: 'People of goodwill can disagree'. It is okay to vote 'no', just as it is okay to vote 'yes Ms Ley delivered an impassioned speech in parliament in response to Mr Albanese's 'Chicken Littles' sledge from Monday Ms Ley was vocal in her support of Indigenous rights and said she would have had no qualms voting Yes in the referendum - to be held between October and December - if the wording of the question was changed slightly. She supports constitutional recognition paired with legislated local and regional voices - what she describes as a 'bottom up, community led, locally empowered Voice'. 'How can this group of just 20 have the detailed understanding, networks or even decision making capability to reach across and provide advice on the myriad of bespoke challenges in each and every local community?' she asked. Ms Ley criticised Mr Albanese for 'refusing to provide detail' about the ins and outs of the Voice to Parliament, and 'taking the low road, hurling insults instead'. 'There is a special obligation on the Prime Minister to keep this debate respectful, because if he continues to descend into the gutter, how on earth can he lecture anyone else about the evils of joining him down there?' Ms Ley was vocal in her support of Indigenous rights and said she would have had no qualms voting yes in the referendum - to be held between October and December - if the wording of the question was changed slightly The shadow Minister for Women urged 'hardliners on both sides of the referendum' to 'take a long, hard look at the words they choose'. 'Language matters,' she said. 'Discourse matters.' Her plea for respectful debate comes after weeks of fierce back-and-forth between both the PM and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Sussan Ley urges Australians to consider 'what they seek' from Voice Ms Ley has no doubt that the majority of Australians would like to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. For her, that means ensuring children feel safe in their own beds, women are safe from violence and sexual assault, lowering the rates of incarceration and encouraging children to attend school and quit smoking. 'You can want all of that, but still vote 'No', because you do not believe this referendum question is the right one,' she said. Ms Ley said the gaps in quality of life cannot be ignored or denied. 'Disadvantaged communities need practical action to make a difference today and the Voice won't do that. 'The desperation of remote communities who have so little is often invisible to those living in the cities. And that is exactly what this Prime Minister seeks to disingenuously appeal to the enormous goodwill and good nature of all Australians. 'The Prime Minister constantly implies that if you are horrified by reports of Indigenous children in crisis and you want to do something to help, then you must vote for the Voice because it will help. 'But sadly it will not help. It will add an extraordinary layer of bureaucracy to every single decision that governments make, adding time, adding unnecessary complexity and keeping communities waiting even longer for real measures that make a real difference.' Advertisement Mr Dutton said the referendum could 'have an Orwellian effect where all Australians are equal, but some Australians are more equal than others' - a direct reference to George Orwell's satirical novella from 1945, Animal Farm. The emotive language in the House of Representatives last week sparked fierce backlash from Minister for Indigenous Affairs Linda Burney, who said critics were 'hellbent on dashing the hopes of the people' and 'stoking division'. He said: 'The Voice is regressive, not progressive. 'Because if Australians vote for change then our nation, our democracy, and their lives will be fundamentally altered. And in this case, not for the better. Changing our Constitution to enshrine a Voice will take our country backwards not forwards. 'And it should be very clear to Australians by now that the Prime Minister is dividing our country not uniting us. 'If Australians have buyer's remorse the Voice comes with a no-return policy. It's here to stay in it. This institution hasn't even been road-tested.' In response, Mr Albanese said Australians won't fall for appeals to fear and the 'No' campaign's 'ever more ludicrous invitations to jump at our own shadows'. 'That's because Australians have a healthy scepticism of doomsayers, a scepticism kept in good health by memories of all the predictions offered by the Chicken Littles of the past.' The term is a reference to a European folk tale about a chicken that believes the world is coming to an end and the sky is falling in. Meanwhile, Ms Ley argues the only concern among all politicians in the lead up to this referendum is what outcomes it can achieve for Indigenous Australians. 'It is my strong view that a 'Yes' vote will not result in better outcomes for Indigenous Australians, but it could result in worse outcomes for all Australians,' she said. 'To all Australians, I say this: It's OK to vote 'No' and still remain part of the national effort to help your Indigenous brothers and sisters, as you look on with anguish at what is happening in their communities. The Opposition Leader said the referendum could 'have an Orwellian effect where all Australians are equal, but some Australians are more equal than others' 'It's OK to vote 'No' and still demand better action from all politicians when it comes to closing the gap. It's OK to vote 'No', full stop. And it's OK to vote 'Yes', too. 'What is not OK is to feel a moral compulsion, a coercive guilt to vote a certain way because of the tenor of this debate. It's not OK for the Prime Minister to bully you into a decision.' She urged Mr Albanese to 'stop the insults, stop the name calling, stop the moral blackmail', to provide the crucial facts Australians need before they're expected to vote and to consider the needs of disadvantaged regional and rural communities. 'I appeal to the Prime Minister: if you look into your heart and the heart of the nation you lead, and you see division, misunderstanding and yes, even fear, do not rush to failure,' she said. Between October and December this year, Australians will be asked via a referendum whether they support the establishment of the Voice to Parliament to recognise Indigenous people in the Constitution. The Voice will establish a body that can 'make representations to the parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples'. This body - comprised of Indigenous people from a range of ages and demographics - would give advice to the government. It came just hours after Putin unleashed a volley of suicide drones at Kyiv Putin accused Ukraine of trying to 'frighten' Russians with the drone attack A deluded Vladimir Putin and his cronies today accused Ukraine of trying to 'frighten' Russians with their 'increasingly reckless behaviour' after Moscow was targeted in a drone attack blamed on Kyiv. Apparently forgetting that Russia has unleashed a series of deadly airstrikes on Ukrainian cities that have killed thousands since the start of the war 15 months ago, Putin claimed Kyiv had chosen the 'path of trying to frighten the citizens of Russia'. Several buildings in wealthy suburbs of Moscow were damaged by suspected Ukrainian kamikaze drones, just hours after Putin unleashed yet another volley of strikes on Kyiv. Putin claimed the attack was in revenge for earlier Russian strikes on 'command centres'. In reality the Kremlin air strikes have hit residential buildings in Kyiv, causing residents to run for their lives to bomb shelters. 'We have spoken about hitting command centres (in Ukraine). In response, the Kyiv regime has chosen a different path, the path of trying to frighten Russia, frighten the citizens of Russia and of strikes on residential buildings,' Putin said. And Russia's foreign ministry parroted similar lines, claiming that Western support for Ukraine was 'pushing' Kyiv towards 'increasingly reckless' behaviour. Vladimir Putin (pictured today) claimed the attack was in revenge for earlier Russian strikes on 'command centres' when in reality the air strikes have hit residential buildings in Kyiv, causing Ukrainians to run for their lives to nearby bomb shelters Footage purportedly shows a suspected Ukrainian drone explode with a mushroom cloud (pictured) near Usovo village, which is close to Vladimir Putin's official residence Pictured: A suspected Ukrainian drone that was shot down in Moscow on Tuesday The suspected Ukrainian drones hit wealthy areas of Moscow, including the elite district of Rublyovka, and damaged several buildings (pictured) A specialist inspects the damaged facade of a multi-storey apartment building after a reported drone attack in Moscow on Tuesday Moscow was hit in a suspected Ukrainian kamikaze drone raid just hours after Vladimir Putin unleashed a volley of similar attacks on the the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Pictured: An air defence system is launched in Moscow (right) after a series of drones were launched at the city (left) 'Western support for the Kyiv regime is pushing the Ukrainian leadership towards increasingly reckless acts, including terrorism,' the Russian foreign ministry said, adding that the attacks on Moscow was aimed at 'spreading panic among civilians'. Russia's defence ministry claimed eight drones sent by Kyiv were shot down or diverted, though Baza, a Telegram channel with links to the security services, said more than 25 were involved. It called the incident a 'terrorist attack' by the 'Kyiv regime'. READ MORE: Young children scream in terror as they run for their lives towards bomb shelters during Russian attack on Kyiv Advertisement And a ranting Putin admitted there was 'some work to do' on Moscow's air defence system in a sign of his growing frustration with Russia's defences. 'Moscow's air defence system worked normally, satisfactorily, although there is some work to do,' Putin said on Russian television. Air defences around Moscow - which as the capital of the world's biggest nuclear power is already protected by an extensive early-warning system - would be strengthened as a result, Putin said. A Ukrainian presidential aide denied Kyiv was directly involved in the Moscow attack, but said Ukraine was enjoying watching events and forecast more to come. 'Of course we are pleased to watch and predict an increase in the number of attacks. But of course we have nothing directly to do with this,' Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said. One kamikaze drone exploded in a mushroom cloud near the village of Usovo, which is just down the road from Putin's official Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside of the capital. '[Putin's residence] would be in earshot of the explosion,' one local said. In the city, explosive drones struck blocks of flats in Leninsky Prospekt and Profsoyuznaya Street about six miles from the centre of Moscow, reportedly wounding several residents and damaging the buildings. If Ukraine is responsible, it would be one of Kyiv's deepest and most daring strikes into Russia since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Tuesday's early-morning raid targeted some of Moscow's wealthiest areas including a western enclave where Putin and the elite have residences. Two people were injured and some residents in two lightly damaged apartment blocks were briefly evacuated, according to Moscow's mayor. Residents said they heard loud bangs followed by the smell of petrol. Some filmed a drone being shot down and a plume of smoke rising over the Moscow skyline. The Kremlin, which has launched a series of deadly airstrikes at Kyiv, said there was 'no threat at the moment' for the residents of Moscow. 'Thank God, there were no victims and there is no threat at the moment for residents of Moscow and the Moscow region,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Peskov said Putin was in the Kremlin at the time of the drone attack, which he claimed was in revenge for Russian strikes on Kyiv. 'The president's working day started very early,' Peskov added. 'He was receiving information in real time from the defence ministry, the mayor of Moscow, the governor of the Moscow region and the emergencies ministry. 'It is completely clear that we are talking about response acts by the Kyiv regime to very effective strikes on a command centre (in Ukraine),' Peskov said, without clarifying where the Russian strike took place. In reality, Russian strikes over the past few days have hit residential buildings in Kyiv, rather than military positions. The attacks on Moscow have raised questions about the effectiveness of Russia's air defense systems. A senior Russian politician, Andrei Kartapolov, told Russian business news site RBC that 'we have a very big country and there will always be a loophole where the drone can fly around the areas where air defense systems are located'. One of the drones exploded near Usovo village, which is only a ten minute drive from Putin's official residence Novo-Ogaryovo. Putin was not there at the time of the attack. The Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu also lives nearby, as do many of the Kremlin elite. Earlier this year it was reported that the Pantsir-S1 air defence missile system had been installed near Novo-Ogaryovo amid fears of drone attacks from Ukraine. Moscow, located more than 620 miles from Ukraine, has rarely been targeted since the start of the conflict, even though drone strikes have become more common elsewhere in Russia. One of the drones exploded near Usovo village (pictured), which is only a ten-minute drive from Putin's official residence Novo-Ogaryovo An apartment building bearing blast marks from a explosive drone launched into Moscow on Tuesday morning A specialist inspects the damaged facade of a multi-storey apartment building after a reported drone attack in Moscow on Tuesday An apartment building in Moscow was damaged in the suspected Ukrainian drone strike on Tuesday A view of a damaged multi-storey apartment building after a reported drone attack in Moscow on Tuesday The explosion blew out windows near the point of impact Pictured: A broken window in an apartment block following a drone attack in Moscow on Tuesday Police officers and investigators collect parts of a drone which damaged an apartment building in Moscow on Tuesday Investigators gather evidence outside a damaged apartment block in Moscow on Tuesday Pictured: A part of a drone is marked out by investigators Law enforcement officers and investigators are seen outside a damaged apartment building The suspected Ukrainian drones hit wealthy enclaves of Moscow and outside the city where the elite have residences The raid came after Russia launched a pre-dawn attack on Ukraine's capital, killing at least four people and wounding 34 others, including two children. At least 20 Iranian-made Shahed drones were destroyed by Kyiv's air defence system in Russia's third attack on the capital in the past 24 hours. The buzzing of the drones, which are packed with explosives, could be heard over the city, followed by loud explosions as they were taken down by air defense systems. The two upper floors of a block of flats were destroyed in the raid, and there may be people under the rubble, the Kyiv military administration said. More than 20 people were evacuated. Elsewhere in Kyiv, falling debris caused a fire in a private house in the Darnytskyi district and three cars were set alight in the Pechersky district, according to the military administration. 'Russia is trying to break us and break our will. To deprive peaceful citizens of sleep and prevent us, the security and defence sector, from preparing to implement important tasks,' said Ukraine's interior minister Ihor Klymenko. Russia has attacked Kyiv 17 times in May with drones or missiles, mostly at night, in an apparent attempt to undermine Ukrainians' will to fight after more than 15 months of war. 'These missile attacks of a fairly dense frequency are aimed specifically at exhausting both our air defence forces and our physical and moral strength,' said Natalya Gumenyuk, a spokesman for Ukraine's southern military command. In Russia, Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said two people were injured, one of whom was hospitalised, in the early morning attack. The residents of several parts of two apartment blocks had been evacuated but later returned. 'Early this morning, as a result of the drone attack, minor damage occurred in several buildings,' Mr Sobyanin said. 'No one has been seriously injured.' Andrei Vorobyov, governor of the wider Moscow region, later said several drones were 'shot down on the approach to Moscow'. Video posted on social media showed what appeared to be a drone being shot down and a plume of smoke rising over the Moscow skyline. Russia's defence ministry said: 'This morning, the Kyiv regime launched a terrorist drone attack on targets in the city of Moscow. 'Three of them were suppressed by electronic warfare, lost control and deviated from their intended targets. Another five drones were shot down by the Pantsir-S surface-to-air missile system in the Moscow region.' An apartment building burns after being damaged during a massive Russian drone strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday An injured man stands next to an apartment building that was damaged in a Russian drone strike in Kyiv on Tuesday Emergency workers extinguish a fire in a parked car, caused by falling debris from the latest aerial Russian attack in the Pecherskyi district of Kyiv on Tuesday An apartment building burns after being damaged during a massive Russian drone strike in Kyiv on Tuesday Rescuers evacuate a woman from a residential building that was partially destroyed after a Russian drones attack in Kyiv on Tuesday Russian politician Maxim Ivanov said it was the most serious attack on Moscow since Nazi attacks during World War Two, saying no citizen could now avoid what he said was 'the new reality'. 'You will either defeat the enemy as a single fist with our motherland, or the indelible shame of cowardice, collaboration and betrayal will engulf your family,' he said. Until now Moscow has been largely a safe haven from attacks in the war with life going on as normal despite the mayhem and misery Putin has unleashed in dozens of Ukrainian cities. The head of Ukrainian military intelligence Kyrylo Budanov had warned Russia it would see a quick response to the unprecedented drone and missile attacks on Kyiv in recent days. 'All those who tried to intimidate us, dreaming that this would have some effect, you will regret it very soon,' said Budanov. 'Our answer will not be long in coming. Soon everyone will see everything.' There was no confirmation that Ukraine was behind the assault on Moscow, which saw drones fly over Rublyovka in the suburbs of the capital. Drones exploded in New Moscow and Novaya Riga. One drone hit the upper floors of a residential building at 98 Profsoyuznaya Street, destroying part of the apartment building. A second hit a 24-storey residential tower block on Atlasova Street in New Moscow. Meanwhile, drones were seen in the sky over villages close to Moscow including Funkovo, Kezmino and Romashkovo. Local residents in the Moscow region filmed the drones flying overhead, with one saying: 'F*** what a moment I caught. The b**** is right by our house. F***! Should I leave here? I just walked out on the roof to check, and they were getting closer and closer.' Reports said another drone fell near Greenfield village near Moscow. This is where Putin's prime minister Mikhail Mishustin, 57, resides, as does Alexei Miller, 61, the head of Gazprom. Telegram channel ChTD said one of the drones was shot down over the village of Razdory. This is close to state dachas, private houses of officials and businessmen. Pictured: A damaged residential building in Moscow following a drone strike on Tuesday Pictured: A damaged multi-storey apartment block following a drone attack in Moscow on Tuesday A view shows a damaged multi-storey apartment block following a drone attack in Moscow on Tuesday A multi-storey apartment building in Moscow was damaged in the suspected Ukrainian drone strike on Tuesday Russian emergency servicemen at the site of a residential building damaged by a drone Russian police officers guard an area where a drone damaged an apartment building in Moscow on Tuesday Security Forces gather near a damaged apartment building in Moscow An elderly woman stands in front of a damaged residential building following the drone attack Police officers stand guard outside a multi-storey apartment building after a reported drone attack in Moscow on Tuesday An ambulance and firefighting truck parked outside an apartment block following a drone attack in Moscow Russian police officers gather outside an apartment block that came under attack Police block an area where investigators collect parts of a Ukrainian drone which damaged an apartment building in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday Ukrainian drone attacks inside Russia have been growing in intensity in recent weeks. The New York Times reported that U.S. intelligence believes Ukraine was behind a drone attack on the Kremlin earlier this month in what was labelled an attempt on Putin's life. Ukraine has not publicly acknowledged launching attacks against targets inside Russia. Today's strikes in Moscow and Kyiv came a day after Russian forces fired a barrage of missiles at Kyiv on Monday, sending panicked residents running for shelter in an unusual daytime attack on the Ukrainian capital following overnight strikes. Debris from missiles intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses fell in Kyiv's central and northern districts on Monday morning, landing in the middle of traffic on a city road and also starting a fire on a building's roof, the Kyiv military administration said. At least one civilian was reported hurt. Ukraine shot down 11 cruise and ballistic missiles fired in the second of Monday's attacks on Kyiv, said Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Heavy air strikes about six hours earlier targeted the capital, put five Ukrainian aircraft out of action in the west of the country and caused a fire in the Black Sea port of Odesa. Russia has increased the frequency of air attacks as Ukraine prepares to launch a counteroffensive backed with Western weapons to try to drive Russian occupiers out of territory seized since Moscow launched its invasion in February last year. An apartment building burns after being damaged during a massive Russian drone strike on Kyiv on Tuesday A rescuer works inside an apartment building that was damaged in a Russian drone strike in Kyiv on Tuesday Firefighters work near cars damaged during a massive Russian drone strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday Police officers help an injured man evacuate from a multi-story apartment building after Russia launched a drone attack on Kyiv on Tuesday A resident speaks on the phone next to damaged cars following a drone attack in Kyiv on Tuesday People walk on a roof of a residential building that was partially destroyed by a drone attack in Kyiv on Tuesday A resident walks among rubble and damaged cars following a Russian drone attack on Kyiv Residents gather after the Russian drone attack Ukrainian air defense intercepts a Shahed drone mid-air in the third Russia aerial attack on the capital in the last 24 hours in Kyiv on Tuesday Ukrainian air defense intercepts a Shahed drone mid-air in the third Russia aerial attack on the capital in the last 24 hours in Kyiv on Tuesday 'With these constant attacks, the enemy seeks to keep the civilian population in deep psychological tension,' said Serhiy Popko, the head of Kyiv's military administration. On the eastern frontlines, Russian paratroopers and motorised units were replacing Wagner mercenary units in the eastern city of Bakhmut, according to Serhiy Cherevatyi, a spokesman for the eastern group of Ukrainian Forces. Wagner began handing over positions to regular troops this week after declaring full control of Bakhmut following the longest and bloodiest battle of the war. Moscow said it invaded Ukraine to 'de-nazify' its neighbour and protect Russian speakers. Western opponents say the invasion is an imperialist land grab in which tens of thousands have been killed, millions uprooted and cities reduced to ruins. Russia says it is open to resuming stalled peace talks with Kyiv and has welcomed mediation efforts from Brazil and China. But a top aide to Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv's peace plan, envisaging the full withdrawal of Russian troops, was the only way to end the war. 'There cannot be a Brazilian peace plan, a Chinese peace plan, a South African peace plan when you are talking about the war in Ukraine,' chief diplomatic adviser Ihor Zhovkva told Reuters in an interview last week. The Flying Scotsman is reportedly at risk of being forced off mainstream rail lines over demands for its carriage door locks to be updated. Under new regulations imposed by the rail watchdog, it and other historic locomotives are required to have central locking to improve safety. The 100-year-old Flying Scotsman's doors are currently locked and unlocked with an old-fashioned bolt. Train bosses are reportedly resisting pressure from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to modernise the carriages with a central door locking system. The ORR argued that centrally-controlled locking systems prevent passengers from opening doors when the platform is too short, according to The Daily Telegraph. The Flying Scotsman is reportedly at risk of being forced off mainstream rail lines over demands for its carriage door locks to be updated (stock image) It is understood the upgrade could cost more than 1million and is regarded by West Coast Railways as unnecessary because stewards man the doors on its charter trains at all times. The Flying Scotsman Engine is seen operating on the Bluebell railway line in April 2017 It is understood the upgrade could cost more than 1million and is regarded by West Coast Railways as unnecessary because stewards man the doors on its charter trains at all times. An exemption from regulations banning carriages without central locking expires next month and West Coast Railways is seeking a judicial review, according to a report on the newspaper's website. The Flying Scotsman, which is owned by the National Railway Museum in York, celebrated the centenary of its first journey on February 24 this year. It is due to travel the country for events over the coming months to give people the chance to see the famous engine for themselves and take part in its anniversary. Railway enthusiasts expressed surprise and bewilderment on Twitter at the demand for central locking. One said: 'Is it not possible to treat a locomotive of great historical value, such as this one, as a protected structure and therefore exempt from alteration?', while another said: 'Well it's lasted this long, some PC madness has said can't go on without these locks, yet no one has cared to date.' A third said: 'OMG, when these trains were built, the people must have been so sensible and not fall out of the train when in motion.' The Flying Scotsman broke records by hauling the first non-stop London to Edinburgh service in 1928 and became the UK's first locomotive to officially reach a speed of 100mph six years later. The 70ft locomotive retired from regular service in 1963 after covering more than two million miles. It changed hands between steam preservation enthusiasts before becoming a working exhibit at the National Railway Museum in 2004. The Flying Scotsman makes its way past crowds of people as it embarks on a tour of the West Country from Bristol to Cornwall on April 30, 2023 Millions of pounds have been invested in preserving the Flying Scotsman despite it costing just 7,944 to build in 1923. Last night an ORR spokesman said: 'A regulation prohibiting relevant organisations from operating rolling stock with hinged doors for use by fare-paying passengers, without the means of centrally locking them in a closed position, came into force on 1 January 2005. 'ORR has granted relevant organisations exemptions from this regulation on a case-by-case basis in accordance with powers afforded to it. 'ORR determined that it would not issue West Coast Railway Company Limited (WCRC) with an exemption from this regulation in decisions issued on 31 January 2023 and 16 March 2023. 'WCRC has informed ORR that it proposes to challenge these decisions. ORR intends to defend this claim.' Lord Peter Hendy, chair of Network Rail and chair of the National Railway Museum Advisory Board, said: 'Flying Scotsman is a much-loved part of our national collection. It isn't West Coast Railways' locomotive. 'Their challenge to the rail regulator on door safety for older carriages won't prevent Flying Scotsman from running on the main line in its centenary year, using the many other compliant coaches which are equipped to prevent passengers falling from trains. 'As a great symbol of British engineering, its future running on our railways is assured.' No one from West Coast Railways was available to comment yesterday Tesla's Elon Musk today met China's foreign minister Qin Gang in Beijing, the Chinese ministry said in a statement. Qin told Musk China was 'committed to creating a better market-oriented, rule-of-law-based and internationalised business environment' for foreign enterprises, according to the statement. Musk said in response 'Tesla opposes "decoupling and breaking chains", and is willing to continue to expand its business in China', according to the ministry's readout. It is Musk's first visit to China since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. It came hours after the People's Republic of China (PRC) rejected America's offer to meet Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Pictured: Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with Tesla CEO Elon Musk this morning Pictured: Tesla Inc Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk's private jet is seen after landing at Beijing Capital International Airport on May 30, 2023 According to a ministry statement, in their meeting Qin told Musk: 'We need to keep the steering wheel in the right direction of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.' The two sides should 'avoid "dangerous driving," ' Qin said. He gave no details of steps to improve relations. The meeting with Austin was intended to take place at an annual security forum in Singapore this weekend before China refused the request, saying the U.S. was 'well aware' of the reasons behind the lack of military communication. 'Overnight, the PRC informed the U.S. that they have declined our early May invitation for Secretary [Lloyd] Austin to meet with PRC Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu in Singapore,' the Pentagon said in a statement to the Wall Street Journal. The Pentagon said it believed in open communication 'to ensure that competition does not veer into conflict'. Reuters reported in March that Musk was planning a trip to China and was seeking a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. The trip comes at a time when Tesla faces intensifying competition from China-made electric vehicles and some uncertainty about expansion plans for the Shanghai factory complex Musk last visited in early 2020. China is Tesla's second-largest market after the U.S. and the Shanghai plant is the electric car maker's largest production hub. A key area of interest for Tesla watchers is the status of its plans to increase output by 450,000 vehicles a year at its Shanghai plant. The company said last month it would build a nearby factory to produce Megapack energy storage products. It made the announcement at a signing ceremony for the project in Shanghai on April 9. Pictured: Tesla CEO Elon Musk dances onstage during the official launch ceremony for China-made Model 3 cars in China on January 7, 2020 Tom Zhu, Tesla's senior vice president of automotive, and Shanghai government officials including Vice Mayor Wu Qing attended, with Tesla Vice President Tao Lin signing the contract. The new factory, which will have an initial capacity of 10,000 Megapack units per year, is expected to 'start production in the second quarter of 2024', according to state news agency Xinhua. Another pending question is whether China regulators will clear the release of Tesla's advanced driver assistance features, available in other markets as part of the 'Full Self Driving' software it sells for $15,000 per vehicle. Musk's private jet, a 2015 Gulfstream G650ER, was shown leaving Alaska on Tuesday morning Asia time before crossing over Japan and South Korea, according to ADS-B Exchange, a flight aggregation website. The jet, identifiable by its tail number, could be seen at Beijing Capital International Airport on Tuesday, according to a Reuters witness. While his plane was en route to China, Musk tweeted about advances in the Asian nation's space program, which aims to land a crew on the moon before 2030. 'The Chinese space program is far more advanced than most people realize,' he said. Pictured: Tesla Gigafactory in Shanghai. China's foreign ministry said in a statement that the government welcomed Musk - and other business leaders - looking to promote 'mutually beneficial cooperation' Musk's space company, SpaceX, and the military applications of its Starlink satellite network have been watched with interest by Chinese researchers since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. State-owned Chinese companies are rushing to follow Starlink by launching their own low-Earth orbit, communications satellites. Chinese military researchers have studied Starlink as a potentially threatening technology, according to research reviewed by Reuters. In January 2020, Musk spoke during a ceremony at Tesla's new Gigafactory in Shanghai. Musk talked about various initiatives and achievements. He said China would open a new design and engineering center in the country and that it will use the Shanghai Gigafactory to build a production program for the Model Y. Accompanied by a video of his dancing onstage, Musk tweeted: 'At Tesla Giga Shanghai NSFW!!' Musk told CNBC earlier this month that 'there are some constraints on our ability to expand in China'. He added: 'It's not a demand issue.' In the same interview, Musk said tensions between the United States and China 'should be a concern for everyone'. Washington and Beijing are attempting to stabilize relations over trade. China's commerce minister and his US counterpart raised concerns about their countries' trade and investment policies at a meeting in Washington last week, but they pledged to keep channels of communication open. It was the first visit by a senior Chinese official to the US capital since 2020. Tesla has recently hit its stride after years of losses, scoring an impressive string of earnings records as it added factories and ramped up production. It has also acted as a major catalyst for a revolution in transportation, with much of the industry's innovation efforts moving away from the internal combustion engine towards electric vehicles. Even with that success, Musk has fallen short of some of his outsized goals. Tesla reported a drop in first-quarter earnings this year, with the company undertaking a series of price cuts in the face of competition from other automakers. Tesla's lowest-priced vehicle, the Model 3, begins at more than $40,000 in the United States, making it too pricey for many consumers even though the vehicle had been pitched at the mass market. Musk has also missed his own deadlines for a fully autonomous vehicle, with Tesla driver-assistance technology spurring US regulatory probes. And while Tesla remains the world's largest seller of EVs, the popularity of Chinese brands has soared in recent years. The largest of them, BYD, saw its profits jump fivefold in the first quarter thanks to global demand for its cars and buses. EVs make up a quarter of car sales in China, the world's largest car market, and dozens of new models from domestic and Western brands were unveiled in April at the country's first auto show since Covid restrictions were lifted. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday that the country welcomed visits by international executives 'to better understand China and promote mutually beneficial cooperation'. A school community is in shock after a bullet was fired through a window into classroom in Sydney's south-west. Year one and two students were in class about 12:45pm when the bullet smashed a window after hitting a curtain, which altered its trajectory. A crime scene was established at the public school on Fields Rd in Macquarie Fields and the room was searched, revealing a small-calibre bullet which will be forensically examined by specialist police. A bullet was fired into a window at Macquarie Fields Public School in Sydney's west Detectives are investigating and anyone with information is asked to contact police There have been no reports of injuries to either students or staff and the school was not placed into lockdown. On Tuesday afternoon NSW police told media the act was 'reckless' but not 'a targeted attack'. 'It's terrifying when people are playing with guns anywhere at anytime because the consequences can be catastrophic,' Superintendent Grant Healy said. 'This was not a targeted act towards a school [but] it's a totally reckless act for someone who is acting in a way with a firearm that is very dangerous to the community. 'A reckless act is when you are playing with something and you don't think about the consequences.' He said indications are the bullet was fired from 'some distance away' and a police ballistics team is trying to establish what it was fired from. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact police. Ministers have been given two more days to hand over unredacted messages from Boris Johnson to the official Covid inquiry after refusing to meet a deadline of 4pm today. The Cabinet Office had been unwilling to meet the time limit set by the investigation into how the pandemic was handled to to release, in full, the ex-prime minister's WhatsApp conversations and diaries. And in an extraordinary development the department today claimed it does not have them. Probe chairman Baroness Hallett - who was hired by Mr Johnson - this morning granted the government a further 48 hours to produce them, having warned that failure to comply with her demand to release the material under the Inquiries Act would amount to a criminal offence. She has ordered that the documents be produced, or a senior civil servant will have to confirm on oath 'that it does not hold specified materials'. The Government is resisting handing over the material, believing that she is asking for 'unambiguously irrelevant evidence' that would represent a 'serious intrusion of privacy'. It means that ministers could end up taking action in the High Court to limit the reach of an official inquiry it set up. This morning Prime minister Rishi Sunak told broadcasters: 'The Government is carefully considering its position but it is confident in the approach that it's taking.' However, Boris Johnson's spokesman said he had 'no objection to disclosing material'. The Cabinet Office is unwilling to meet the 4pm deadline set by the investigation into how the pandemic was handled to to release, in full, the ex-prime minister's WhatsApp conversations and diaries. Probe chairwoman Baroness Hallett has warned that failure to comply with her demand to release the material under the Inquiries Act would amount to a criminal offence. Lord Kerslake told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'There's some cover-up going on here to save embarrassment of ministers. But there's also the Cabinet Office fighting for a principle of confidentiality.' They have already provided more than 55,000 documents, 24 personal witness statements and eight corporate statements, with parts that lawyers for the Government have deemed irrelevant to the probe having been redacted. The Cabinet Office believes the inquiry does not have the power to compel it to release the 'irrelevant' material as it could set a harmful precedent. Ministers are also concerned that WhatsApp messages could identify junior officials. Last night Whitehall sources told the Daily Mail that there was no change in the Cabinet Office's position, but talks between lawyers continued amid hope there could be a 'middle ground'. 'It's not the case of an 'everything or nothing' approach,' one insider said. If there is no breakthrough, the Government could seek to challenge Lady Hallett's demand by way of judicial review. According to the notice seeking the unredacted messages, the inquiry is requesting conversations between Mr Johnson and a host of government figures, civil servants and officials, including England's chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty. Messages with then-foreign secretary Liz Truss, then-health secretary Matt Hancock and then-chancellor Rishi Sunak have also been requested. The inquiry had also asked for 'copies of the 24 notebooks containing contemporaneous notes' made by Mr Johnson in 'clean unredacted form, save only for any redactions applied for reasons of national security sensitivity'. In a ruling last week, Lady Hallett rejected the argument that the inquiry's request was unlawful. She said in her response that the demanded documentation was of 'potential relevance' to the inquiry's 'lines of investigation'. But the Government believes it has no duty to disclose 'unambiguously irrelevant' material. The Cabinet Office said it was fully committed to its obligations to the Covid-19 probe. A spokesman added: 'We will continue to provide all relevant material to the inquiry, in line with the law, ahead of proceedings getting under way.' Last night former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith accused Lady Hallett of 'trying to be Agatha Christie' by turning the inquiry into a 'whodunnit' rather than 'whatdunnit'. He told the Daily Mail: 'They are on a fishing expedition, and what they should do is stop fishing. There is enough evidence out there to know what went wrong.' But former head of the Civil Service Lord Kerslake said there appears to be a 'cover-up' as ministers seem set to block the release of unredacted messages to the Covid-19 inquiry. The Cabinet Office has until 4pm to respond to inquiry chair Lady Hallett's requests for messages and diaries belonging to Boris Johnson. Lord Kerslake told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'There's some cover-up going on here to save embarrassment of ministers. But there's also the Cabinet Office fighting for a principle of confidentiality. 'I have to say I think they're misguided on this situation. I actually think it would set a helpful precedent if Lady Hallett prevailed in this fight about the information. 'We are in a bit of a mess at the moment, we don't really know whether WhatsApp's been used as a decision-making tool or, indeed, as just an information-sharing device. 'We've got the extraordinary situation where Matt Hancock handed over a whole sheath of WhatsApp messages to a journalist without any apparent sanction under the official secrets act, surely this case for seeing the documents in one of our most important inquiries, probably since Iraq, must be much more compelling than that.' Liberal Democrat health spokeswomen Daisy Cooper said that 'failing to hand over the evidence in full, as requested by the chair of the Covid inquiry, would make a mockery of this whole process and would be yet another insult to bereaved families still waiting for justice'. 'It looks like Rishi Sunak is too worried about upsetting Boris Johnson and his allies to do the right thing. 'The public deserve the whole truth about what went wrong. Vital evidence shouldn't be kept secret just to spare ministers' blushes.' UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritages in China () People's Daily Online) 15:23, May 30, 2023 Editor's note: China has 43 items on the intangible cultural heritage list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the most enlisted country in the world. Now, please join us to appreciate some outstanding items. Manas The item, "Manas" was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. The Kirgiz ethnic minority in China, concentrated in the Xinjiang region in the west, pride themselves on their descent from the hero Manas, whose life and progeny are celebrated in one of the best-known elements of their oral tradition: the Manas epic. Traditionally sung by a Manaschi without musical accompaniment, epic performances takes place at social gatherings, community celebrations, ceremonies such as weddings and funerals and dedicated concerts. Regional variations abound, but all are characterized by pithy lyrics with phrases that now permeate the everyday language of the people, melodies adapted to the story and characters, and lively parables. The long epic records all the major historic events of greatest importance for the Kirgiz people and crystallizes their traditions and beliefs. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Mountaineers have turned the Himalayas into a 'gigantic rubbish bin' according to a conservationist on a mission to clean up the mountain range. Luc Boisnard, 53, said that climbers also threw waste into glaciers from where it would 're-emerge in 200 years', according to The Times. The alpinist - who was part of an expedition that cleared out 3.7 tonnes of waste off Makalu, the world's fifth highest summit and Annapurna, the tenth highest - founded Himalayan Clean-Up, a community clean up campaign to raise awareness about Himalayan pollution, following a previous expedition in 2010 to remove a tonne of waste from Everest. Footage from the expedition shows Boisnard and his team trudging through heaps of waste, including plastic bottles, sanitation pads and abandoned tents. 'Behind every rock you find lots of oxygen bottles, tins, canvas and shoes. It's really appalling,' the Frenchman said, adding that 45 per cent of the waste was plastic. Mountaineers have turned the Himalayas into a 'gigantic rubbish bin' according to a conservationist on a mission to clean up the mountain range Boisnard had been climbing Makalu - located 12 miles southeast of Mount Everest in the Mahalangur Himalayas - with ten sherpas, two Nepalese high-altitude specialists and five cooks to collect the rubbish, but was forced to give up after developing a lung infection. It comes after Nepalese authorities introduced a law in 2014 which requires climbers to leave a 'garbage deposit' prior to their ascents. The fee is 528,000 Nepalese rupees (3238) for Everest and 396,300 (2428) for other summits higher than 26,250ft. If climbers bring down the 8kg of waste they produce, the money is refunded. However, critics have argued that the scheme is ineffective. A 2022 analysis by Lincoln University determined that the Garbage Deposit Scheme (GDS) 'has not accomplished the desired objectives in waste management, particularly because of its low level of acceptance among stakeholders and low level of government support,' according to Tsewang Nuru Sherpa. Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Purja, featured in Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible - which details his attempt to clean every peak higher than 8,000 metres (26,250ft) - is also alerting people to the issue of pollution in the Himalayas. Nepalese authorities introduced a law in 2014 which requires climbers to leave a 'garbage deposit' prior to their ascents The fee is 528,000 Nepalese rupees (3238) for Everest and 396,300 (2428) for other summits higher than 26,250ft Purja has launched the Big Mountain Clean-up project, and he and his team, Nimsdai, removed 500kg of waste from Manaslu two years ago, the world's eighth-highest mountain. According to Nimsdai's website, the project 'has a zero-tolerance approach to the waste being generated by the increasingly popular expedition culture which is now having a detrimental impact upon those living in and around the mountains.' The waste, according to observers, is a by-product of this 'expedition culture', with roughly 600 people climbing Everest every year, and high numbers also climbing other summits. A total of 145 mountaineers ascended K2, the world's second-highest mountain, in only one day last year. Bachendri Pal - the first Indian woman to climb Everest in 1984 - has hit back against what she calls the growing commercial nature of Everest, which she says now attracts wealthy but increasingly incompetent climbers. 'Now, anyone who has the money is allowed to climb as though it's a tourist spot, with 600 people climbing every year. It's crazy,' she told The Times of India. A mental health worker was caught drink driving following a white wine binge after she broke up with her boyfriend has been banned from the roads for two years. Aisling Slater, 29, tested more than three times the alcohol limit after being found slumped over the wheel of her green Mini Cooper which had stopped in the middle of St Helens Road, in Lowton, on 17 March. Ms Slater, of Warrington, Cheshire, who works in a psychiatric unit, said she had been off work with stress after splitting up with her boyfriend. She admitted drink driving at Wigan magistrates court and was sentenced to a 12 month community order with 60 hours unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay costs of 85 and a 114 statutory surcharge. Aisling Slater (pictured), 29, was caught drink driving following a white wine binge after she broke up with her boyfriend has been banned from the roads for two years She tested more than three times the alcohol limit after being found slumped over the wheel of her green Mini Cooper which had stopped in the middle of the road on 17 March. She admitted drink driving at Wigan magistrates court and was sentenced to a 12 month community order with 60 hours unpaid work Ms Slater said she had been drunkenly confiding in a friend about her love life rather than 'seek professional medical help.' She insisted she not had a drink since her arrest. Paul Sumner, prosecuting, said: 'At just after midnight on the 17th of March, a security guard working on St Helens Road, Lowton, noticed a green Mini Cooper had stopped in the middle of the road. 'Thinking an accident had taken place, he ran over to the vehicle and found the driver slumped over the wheel. When he managed to wake her up he noted that she was intoxicated and her words were slurred. 'When police later arrived, they gave the defendant a roadside breathalyser test, which confirmed, she was positive. She was arrested and taken to a police station. She was fully compliant in interview and was released the following day. ' Tests showed Slater had 115 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 35mg. Her lawyer Louise Barrow said, 'She was off work before this with stress that by a breakdown in a relationship. She started drinking to try to make her feel better rather than seek professional medical help. 'On the night of the incident, she went round a friend's house who was trying to make her feel better. Things escalated when they both started drinking wine. Ms Slater, of Warrington, Cheshire, works in a psychiatric unit and said she had been off work with stress after splitting up with her boyfriend She said she had been drunkenly confiding in a friend about her love life rather than 'seek professional medical help' 'When she left and started driving home, she realised she was not able to drive it home and so came to a stop. 'She spent 12 hours in a cell after her arrest. All this time in a confined place gave her a new perspective on the people she works with as a mental health practitioner. 'The people she works with often have to spend hours confined in a room and her experience in custody made her realise how difficult that can be. 'She lives in Warrington but works in Atherton at a psychiatric care unit. She has a degree that was paid for by her unit and has worked in mental health for 10 years. 'She was brought up by her grandparents but still has a great relationship with her mother. She is now looking to get professional help again and has realised drink is not the way to do it. 'She last had a drink on the 17th of March. She is currently taking anti-depressants on the advice of her GP. 'She works with mental health people, giving them advice. However, she hasn't taken her own advice. We all know this can be a hard thing to do. She is very upset to be here today.' Presiding magistrate, Linda Webster told Slater: 'This is a very sad situation. You are clearly someone who had a bright future, which has been devastated with one stupid action. 'You clearly regret it but it is going to cause ongoing issues for you for the rest of your life if you don't address it.' The owner was fined - but because pets were not allowed in the condominiums An overweight cat was found with only minor injuries after falling 90ft from a Bangkok balcony, despite crashing down through the rear windshield of a car below. Shi Fu, the cat, had been walking along its unnamed owner's balcony wall when it slipped and plunged from the sixth floor of a building in the Thai city on May 27. Apiwat Toyothaka, owner of a red MG outside the block of flats, said staff had called him to say a cat had fallen onto his car. He found the rear windshield fully smashed. Shi Fu's owner was also crying at the scene and said she had forgotten to close the balcony door to her flat, allowing the cat to wander off. The cat was rushed to the vet and found to have several bruises, two broken claws, and a swollen nose from crashing into the glass, but no life-threatening injuries. Video from outside the condo caught the moment the cat fell from 90ft in Bangkok, Thailand Shi Fu escaped with a swollen nose, bruises and broken claws after falling six storeys CCTV captured the moment the animal dive-bombed from a height of 90ft into the car park below. The cat's owner was subsequently fined 1,000 THB (23.22) as they were not supposed to keep pets in the condos. Monruthai Klinsuk, a co-owner of the vehicle, told local media: 'The cat has now been relocated away from the owner's residence. So please don't say anything negative about her. 'It's hard to care for cats and everything happened by accident. 'The cat owner has learned her lesson and is trying to help her pet lose weight.' Apiwat, who admitted to being a cat lover himself, said he has called their insurance provider to claim money to repair their car. The Guinness World Records have now retired the title of 'the heaviest cat in the world' in order to discourage overfeeding. But Himmy, a cat from Australia, was registered to have weighed 46.8lbs (21.3kg) upon dying aged 10 in 1986. A cat called Meow from Santa Fe, New Mexico was registered the heaviest cat in the world when he died in 2012, aged 1-2. Meow weighed 39.6lbs (18kg). In the UK, pet owners have been prosecuted for cruelty to animals due to their pets being dangerously obese. In the US, where some 55% of adult cats are overweight of obese, a National Pet Obesity Awareness Day has been set up for each October 14. The Cat in the Hatchback: 20lb Shi Fu escaped with minor injuries after falling from 90ft The cat was taken to a vet, scanned and revealed to have only minor injuries from the fall Obese cats are at greater risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and faster degeneration of joints. A 2.8 fold increase in mortality has been shown in obese cats between the ages of eight and 12 compared to lean cats. They are also more likely to suffer from diseases affecting the mouth and urinary tract, like bladder stones, and feline acne. Police have confiscated two more Lamborghini supercars driven by boy racers in Manchester as part of a new crackdown on antisocial driving. Greater Manchester Police received reports of 'different coloured Lamborghinis' revving their engines loudly in Bolton during the early hours of Monday. One of the drivers, in an orange supercar, was stopped by officers after racing up to a marked car at 4am. The driver was subsequently reported for driving without due care and attention and handed a Section 59 warning - namely using a vehicle in a manner which causes alarm, distress or annoyance. However, later the same day, police seized two different Lamborghinis following more antisocial driving. A white Lamborghini is pictured being taken away from the scene of a residential road in Bolton Greater Manchester Police seized multiple Lamborghini supercars over the bank holiday weekend The vehicles were seized under the Police Reform Act, allowing officers to take a car being used in a careless or inconsiderate manner. A luminous green Lamborghini is also understood to have been seized by police on Sunday. Greater Manchester Police's Roads Unit tweeted: 'Multiple reports of different coloured Lambos being driven Anti socially this weekend at Bolton, all now identified. 'Orange felt it was a great idea to race up to a Police scene revving engine loudly at 4am. Driver reported due care offence and given s59 warning.' An earlier tweet added: 'It's a beautiful day... to seize 2 more Lamborghinis. One of the drivers, in an orange supercar, was stopped by officers after racing up to a marked car at 4am 'You would have thought the drivers of these vehicles would've learnt the lesson from their mate yesterday, but no. Seized for anti-social driving under the Police Reform Act.' Responding to the tweets, local councillor Pat Karney blasted the drivers as 'manboy muppets'. He said: 'Excellent work. We have these manboy muppets in the city centre. Rev Rev. Grow up and get a Lego set.' Gender-critical professor Kathleen Stock has said 'it's not hate speech to say males cannot be women' and warned of 'massive public resentment' if controversial ideas are not discussed - as trans activists plot to stop her speech at Oxford University. The feminist academic is due to give a talk this evening at the prestigious Oxford Union, which is independent of the university, amid a backlash from campaigners over claims she is transphobic. Prof Stock's invitation has been met with anger from trans activists - despite the university's student union defending a commitment to free speech - and its LGBTQ+ Society has planned a rally to coincide with her talk. Speaking ahead of the event, though, the professor said 'controversial and difficult' views needed to be 'tested in the public square'. Prof Stock told the BBC: 'It is not hate speech to say males cannot be women. You can believe what you like, and I am not stopping anybody believing any different, but it is certainly not hate speech to say that. That is basically the most controversial thing, I think.' Speaking ahead of her talk, the professor she said 'controversial and difficult' views needed to be 'tested in the public square' Protestors gathered in Library Square at Sussex University to protest against Professor Stock this month She added: 'Nothing I'm saying is unreasonable. I am quite compassionate, I'm measured. It's really important, especially, that younger generations are exposed to ideas that they haven't come across before, that they haven't thought about. 'Sometimes that will be very challenging to them, not because it will influence them into thinking those ideas are right, because they have minds of their own. Just controversial and difficult ideas need to be tested in the public square. 'We need to think about them properly and we also need to enable discussion of ideas that seem attractive to people, because if you try and shut it down there will be massive public resentment.' Prof Stock also told Times Radio: 'I think that the media has not always acted responsibly in describing this dispute. It's encouraged a feeling that this must be about their existence or their legal protection, when in fact, as far as I'm concerned, it's not. 'It's about the form the legal protection takes and whether it interacts with legal protections for biological sex and female sex in particular. 'I have sympathy. I'm hoping that by this sort of initiative people in positions of influence start to see that this is not about trans people's existence, we know they exist, we want them to be legally protected. 'The way in which it has been talked about in some quarters of the press is just completely ridiculous and histrionic and has encouraged a sense of paranoia.' Her comments come after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak waded into the row, saying Prof Stock had a right to speak on campus despite the protests. Intervening in the university's free-speech debate, Mr Sunak told The Daily Telegraph: 'A free society requires free debate. We should all be encouraged to engage respectfully with the ideas of others. 'University should be an environment where debate is supported, not stifled. We mustn't allow a small but vocal few to shut down discussion. Kathleen Stock's invitation to the Oxford Union should stand.' When asked about the Mr Sunak backing her appearance, she added: 'I'm glad that senior politicians are recognising the value of free speech and debate and I hope that they also take some interest in the underlying issues which are very important. I hope Keir Starmer also agrees with him.' Trans activists have tried to block Kathleen Stock (pictured) from making a speech at the famed Oxford Union Mr Sunak defended Professor Stock's right to debate the subject The spires of Oxford University, where Professor Stock is due to speak at the 200-year-old debating society Professor Stock quit her job as a lecturer at the University of Sussex after being targeted by activists over her views on gender identity. A coalition of Oxford organisations and activists is set to hold a Trans+ Pride event in the city centre on Tuesday, which will include a rally and march culminating outside the Oxford Union, where Professor Stock is due to speak at the 200-year-old debating society. Some groups have called for her invitation to be rescinded. Prof Stock's talk comes days after a group of Oxford University academics and staff signed a letter supporting the right of transgender students to speak out against her. The BBC reported that the open letter, shared on Saturday by the university's LGBTQ+ society, said: 'We believe that trans students should not be made to debate their existence.' However, in their letter to The Daily Telegraph, the 100 Oxford academics and staff also condemned the approach of those who opposed Professor Stock's views. The Oxford Union has announced it is to offer 'welfare resources' to students attending the talk by Professor Stock, which is expected to cover 'sensitive' topics. The organisation, which describes itself as the 'last bastion of free speech', has said students will be able to 'challenge' Prof Stock at the event. Earlier this month, Oxford University's vice-chancellor Irene Tracey defended Professor Stock's right to speak there as a matter of 'freedom of speech', saying she believed that part of the university's role was to enable students to deal with differing viewpoints. She told The Times newspaper: 'Most students actually get it and are quite impassioned about the fact that people should have a range of views.' In 2021, Professor Stock announced she would be leaving her job as a professor of philosophy at the University of Sussex after 'a very difficult few years'. The academic had faced calls to be sacked after being accused of transphobia. In a statement last month, the Oxford University LGBTQ+ society called for Professor Stock's invitation to speak to be rescinded as it claimed she was 'transphobic and trans-exclusionary'. It also accused the Oxford Union of 'disregarding' the welfare of the society's members under the guise of free speech. Amiad Haran Diman, president of Oxford LGBTQ+ Society, said: We have received thousands of comments online, some of them very homophobic, very transphobic, hateful, threatening - we have received death threats.' Its vice-president, Zoe-Rose Guy, said: 'What the Oxford Union is doing implicitly by giving her a platform to speak in this way is they are supporting her views, they are amplifying them in a way that is harmful to the trans community and this city and that is unacceptable. 'It is really, really exhausting for a trans person to be constantly expected to justify your existence, to debate your rights to somebody who's not going to listen, to somebody who isn't interested in your rights. It's really exhausting and I don't think it is fair to expect trans people to do that.' Professor Stock said on Twitter that the society's statement contained 'several falsehoods', was 'probably defamatory' and made it look 'utterly ridiculous'. Jimmy had just turned 16 and was about to buy a lottery ticket before the attack The parents of a 16-year-old boy murdered by a thug smashing a glass dish into his face have said they forgive their son's killer - who has been granted parole after serving 14 years of his life sentence. Jake Fahri was jailed after mortally wounding Jimmy Mizen during a senseless attack at a bakery in London in May 2008. The 6ft 4in student - who had turned 16 the day before the attack - had gone out to buy his first lottery ticket when the fatal fight broke out at the Three Cooks Bakery in Burnt Ash Hill. Speaking about Fahri's parole on Good Morning Britain this morning, Jimmy's mother Margaret said: 'I found it very difficult last week. It brought back all the emotions of what happened to Jimmy and we were expecting a verdict one way or the other but it hit me much harder than I expected. 'Saying that, the work must continue... I know people don't understand forgiveness and they say "how can this couple talk of forgiveness?" but after Jimmy was killed I had to learn to lead a new life. I could only do that by forgiving. Jimmy Mizen (pictured), who had just turned 16, was murdered in a London bakery in 2008 Jake Fahri, (pictured at 19) murdered a 16-year-old schoolboy by smashing a glass dish into his face. He has been granted parole after 14 years in jail 'By forgiving doesn't mean I want to be his best friend or want to see him. I don't. But I want to be able to get on with my life and I also knew after Jimmy was killed that I wanted to smile again. 'If I didn't forgive this boy, I would never smile again.' The schoolboy was a bright and promising student at St Thomas More Catholic Comprehensive School in Eltham. During the fight, Fahri, then 19, grabbed a glass baking dish and threw it in Jimmy's face, where it shattered and a shard hit vital blood vessels. Jimmy, described as of 'immaculate character' by police, bled to death in the bakery, dying in his brother's arms. He was the 13th teen to be murdered in London that year. Jimmy's father Barry added: 'We must not see forgiveness in some wishy-washy way. Forgiveness primarily is something we do for ourselves. We all get hurt, we all get hurt in some cases extremely but the forgiveness is a way of managing that pain and that is what we try and get across to young people to manage the pain in life. 'You don't need someone's permission to forgive them. We visit prisons, we shared a story in prison. And sometimes we might use the term release. Rather than someone living in your head all the time, all the people that have hurt you - release that. To us that is forgiveness.' Fahri was convicted of his murder and was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 14 years. Speaking on Good Morning Britain this morning, Jimmy's parents said they forgive his killer so that they can 'smile again' It was revealed that the then 19-year-old, who lived near the Mizens, had a string of convictions including for burglary and assault. The case was originally due to be heard by the Parole Board last year but had been delayed. A Parole Board spokesperson told The Sun last week: 'We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Jake Fahri following an oral hearing.' Parole decisions are 'solely focused' on what risk a prisoner poses to the public if released and whether that risk can be managed, the spokesperson said. Before parole is granted a panel examines a 'huge range of evidence' including details of the prisoner's crime, evidence of behaviour changes and the impact the crime has had on victims. 'Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority,' the spokesperson added. Last month the Mizen family said they were refusing to attend Fahri's parole hearing despite having the right to be there. It is unclear if any members of the family were present. Jimmy, (pictured) described as of 'immaculate character' by police, bled to death in the bakery, dying in his brother's arms. He was the 13th teen to be murdered in London that year Jimmy Mizen died from his injuries at the Three Cooks Bakery near the family home, in Lee, South-East London In the aftermath of the killing, Jimmy's parents Margaret and Barry set up the Mizen Foundation to spread a message of peace. They visit schools, churches, prisons and workplaces to talk about Jimmy and build more peaceful communities. On Saturday, 150 Mizen Foundation supporters embarked on a 25-mile hike across London in a 'Walking for Jimmy' fundraiser. Mrs Mizen said on the foundation's website: 'After Jimmy died, when the house went quiet, we would be round my kitchen table and we would be sitting laughing about Jimmy. 'In those early days, we would be laughing as well as crying, trying to make sense of it, but we had a lot of laughter remembering and talking about Jimmy. 'I meet a lot of families who have lost loved ones to murder, who are driven with anger. But it's so destructive to the family. People blame each other and argue - but anger is so damaging. 'The pain it causes on top of the pain of losing a child can destroy families. The day Jimmy died I promised him two things; one, I would keep his name alive and two, I would dedicate my life to working for peace.' Following Fahri's parole decision last week, Jimmy's parents posted on the Mizen Foundation Instagram: 'I wanted to share an update with you all regarding Jake Fahri, the man responsible for Jimmy's tragic death. Recently, his parole hearing took place, and it has been decided that he will be released in the next few weeks. Many of you may have already come across this news. 'Anticipating this outcome did not make it any easier for us, and upon hearing the news yesterday, it resurfaced all the emotions from that fateful day, May 10, 2008. Some may argue that he should remain inside for life. However, we must hold onto hope and pray that the parole board has made the right decision and that Jake Fahri will no longer pose a threat to our communities. Only time will reveal the truth. 'In spite of these challenges, our message remains unwavering. We choose forgiveness, peace, and hope. Jimmy's legacy will live on through our work in promoting the good in young people. Thank you all for your continued support.' A Ukrainian influencer has been criticised for revealing the location of a field hospital treating injured troops just hours before it was hit by a lethal Russian air strike. Anna Alkhim, who has 600,000 Instagram followers, had posted an appeal for aid for the clinic in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, saying injured Ukrainian troops were there. But hours after her post on Thursday, a Russian missile strike targeted the field hospital, killing four people and wounding 30 others, including two boys aged three and six. The attack, which left the building in a pile of burning rubble, was condemned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a crime against humanity. In her post, Alkhim said hospitals numbers 6 and 9 were treating a large number of military personnel. Ukrainian influencer Anna Alkhim (pictured) has been criticised for revealing the location of a field hospital treating injured troops just hours before it was hit by a lethal Russian air strike Hours after her post on Thursday, a Russian missile strike targeted the hospital (pictured), killing four people and wounding 30 others, including two boys aged three and six Pictured: The destroyed clinic was set on fire following a Russian air strike in Dnipro on 26 May She reportedly called on her followers to help the country's defenders by taking clothes and food to collection points. Local media have accused her of releasing information that allowed Russian forces to target the clinic. Alkhim then reportedly deleted her post, which contained information deemed sensitive about the Ukrainian military and the hospital. Ukraine has been under martial law since February 2022 and officials have repeatedly cautioned influencers and the media against posting sensitive information online that could be used by Russia. After being criticised for sharing the information, the influencer defended herself, saying: 'Firstly, I made a publication yesterday, because half of the inhabitants of Dnipro had it.' She added: 'And let me remind you that I am one of the few influencers who fills her stories and feed with publications about the war. 'I have volunteered and supported Ukraine from the first days of the war.' Alkhim went on: 'But you don't give a f*** about it, because you need to post me on your stupid channels.' Zelensky condemned the Russian attack as a 'crime against humanity. The Ukrainian President 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. Anna Alkhim (pictured), who has 600,000 Instagram followers, had posted an appeal for aid for the clinic in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, saying injured Ukrainian troops were there Alkhim had called on her followers to help the country's defenders by taking clothes and food to collection points Pictured: The destroyed clinic was set on fire following a Russian air strike in Dnipro on 26 May Police officers stand near the site of a missile strike on a hospital in Dnipro on May 26 Another two men were later found dead amongst the rubble, Lysak said, adding that 30 people had been wounded including two children. Ukraine's Defence Ministry called the attack a serious war crime under the Geneva Conventions, which sets out how soldiers and civilians should be treated in war. 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. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine said on Friday: 'As a result of a missile strike, a three-story building of a medical institution was partially destroyed in the city, followed by burning, as well as a fire in an adjacent building. 'The fire at the medical facility was extinguished in an area of 1,000 square metres. 'In the one-story building of the veterinary clinic, the area of the fire was 200 square metres. Rescue units have already dealt with it. 'Two people died on the spot, and another 23 were injured, including two children born in 2020 and 2017. 'In total, 52 rescuers and 18 pieces of equipment were involved from the State Emergency Service for liquidation of the consequences.' The Ukrainian authorities have since said that the attack claimed the lives of four people. Professor Stock left the University of Sussex in the face of trans activist protests Gender-critical professor Kathleen Stock will face a rally led by angry trans activists as she gives a talk at the prestigious Oxford Union debating society this evening. The feminist academic, 51, was hounded out of her job at the University of Sussex after being 'cancelled' when she questioned transgender ideology in October 2021. Prof Stock has been continually pilloried over her views since leaving the university amid claims she is transphobic and trans-exclusionary for opposing gender self-identification and saying biological sex is real. The philosophy professor has repeatedly insisted in the past that she is not a transphobe, but attention on her views began when she published a number of blog posts criticising extreme transgender ideology. She also explained her views to Parliament in November 2020, setting out that the 'the claim "transwomen are women" is fiction, not literally true' and 'spaces where women undress and sleep should remain genuinely single-sex in order to protect them'. The feminist academic, 51, was hounded out of her job at the University of Sussex after being 'cancelled' when she question transgender ideology Prof Stock was hounded out of the University of Sussex in the face of protests led by trans activists Protestors pictured at a gathering in Library Square at the University of Sussex to protest against Prof Stock The feminist professor, who identifies as a lesbian, said she first became aware of the complexities of the trans rights movement when she saw 'men' on lesbian dating websites. But hatred of trans-right activists towards her then intensified when her book Material Girls: Why Reality Matters For Feminism, a book about gender identity, came out in May 2021. She claims trans women are not women; and sexual orientation is determined by same-sex attraction, not attraction to gender identity. Prof Stock also wants a ban on transgender women in women's changing rooms, saying in 2018 that 'many trans women are still males with male genitalia'. But her views have been met with a fierce backlash from campaigners, who have slammed her as a 'Terf' and 'transphobe' on social media. She quit her job at the University of Sussex after 18 years of teaching following a ruthless campaign involving protests led by trans activists, who set off flares during protests and placed posters calling for her to be sacked. Scores of people were also criticising her online under the Twitter hashtag #ShameOnSussexUni in a bid to oust her. The University's Vice Chancellor Adam Tickell strongly defended her 'untrammelled' right to 'say what she thinks', whilst more than 200 academics from other universities signed a letter calling out alleged abuse from 'trans activist bullies'. But Prof Stock announced on Twitter that she was 'sad to announce' she was leaving her position, adding that she hoped 'other institutions can learn from this'. She said returning to the campus to retrieve her belongings was an 'anxious' experience. The University's Vice Chancellor Adam Tickell strongly defended her 'untrammelled' right to 'say what she thinks' Most of the Oxford Union's members are current or former Oxford students (file picture) Dr Stock's Oxford Union appearance this evening was announced in the society's 'term card' She has previously said she is 'at odds' with a large section of academics because she believes gender identity is not more important than facts about biological sex, 'particularly when it comes to law and policy'. Shortly after leaving the university, the academic said she would never work again in British higher education due to a lack of free speech. She accused universities of competing for young people and thinking of their students as 'customers that they have to please, which is not good. The Oxford Union announced last month Prof Stock had been invited to give a talk at the debating society. Ahead of the event, The Oxford Union said it will provide 'welfare resources' to students due to the 'sensitive nature' of the occasion. But hundreds of trans activists from the unversity's LGBTQ+ Society will protest rather than joining the this evening, claiming she is transphobic and trans-exclusionary. The plot to stop the talk comes despite the university's student union defending a commitment to free speech. Since Prof Stock's invitation, the university's Student Union and Oxford Union have been embroiled in argument. The student union barred the Oxford Union from having a recruiting stall at future freshers fairs a decision criticised in a letter signed by 44 Oxford academics. It comes as the rise of 'no-platforming' has seen high-profile speakers banned from holding talks on campus, often at the 11th hour. They condemned the Student Unions decision to sever ties with the Oxford Union, and said they were united in their belief that universities exist, among other things, to promote free inquiry and the disinterested pursuit of the truth by means of reasoned argument. Posters put up in the tunnel from Falmer station to the university's campus earlier this month said she 'makes trans students unsafe' and 'we're not paying 9,250 a year for transphobia' A previous protest by activists demanding Stock leave seen at the University of Sussex Attention on her views has intensified since her book Material Girls came out in May In her own words: What does Kathleen Stock believe about gender and trans issues? Kathleen Stock explained her views on trans issues in written evidence to Parliament in November 2020 here: Womanhood and manhood reflect biological sex, not gender or gender identity; The claim 'transwomen are women' is a fiction, not literally true Sexual orientation (being gay, being lesbian) is determined by same-sex attraction, not attraction to gender identity Spaces where women undress and sleep should remain genuinely single-sex, in order to protect them; Children with gender identity disorders should not be given puberty blockers as minors. Advertisement A coalition of Oxford organisations and activists is set to hold a Trans+ Pride event in the city centre today, which will include a rally and march culminating outside the Oxford Union, where Prof Stock is due to speak at the 200-year-old debating society. But as hundreds of campaigners prepare to rally during her talk, Prof Stock today insisted 'it's not hate speech to say males cannot be women' and warned of 'massive public resentment' if controversial ideas are not discussed. She said 'controversial and difficult' views need to be 'tested in the public square'. Prof Stock told the BBC: ' 'It is not hate speech to say males cannot be women. You can believe what you like, and I am not stopping anybody believing any different, but it is certainly not hate speech to say that. Nothing I'm saying is unreasonable. I am quite compassionate, I'm measured. It's really important, especially that younger generations, are exposed to ideas that they haven't come across before, that they haven't thought about. 'Sometimes that will be very challenging to them, not because it will influence them into thinking those ideas are right because - they have minds of their own. Just controversial and difficult ideas need to be tested in the public square. 'We need to think about them properly and we also need to enable discussion of ideas that seem attractive to people, because if you try and shut it down there will be massive public resentment.' Her comments come after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak waded into the row, saying Prof Stock has a right to speak on campus despite the protests. Intervening in the university's free speech debate, Mr Sunak told The Daily Telegraph: 'A free society requires free debate. We should all be encouraged to engage respectfully with the ideas of others. 'University should be an environment where debate is supported, not stifled. 'We mustn't allow a small but vocal few to shut down discussion. Kathleen Stock's invitation to the Oxford Union should stand.' Earlier this month, Oxford University's vice-chancellor Irene Tracey defended the right for Professor Stock to speak there as a matter of 'freedom of speech', saying she believes that part of the university's role is to enable students to deal with differing viewpoints. She told The Times newspaper: 'Most students actually get it and are quite impassioned about the fact that people should have a range of views.' In a statement last month, the Oxford University LGBTQ+ society called for Professor Stock's invitation to speak to be rescinded as it claimed she was 'transphobic and trans-exclusionary'. It also accused the Oxford Union of 'disregarding' the welfare of the society's members under the guise of free speech. Professor Stock said on Twitter that the the LGBTQ+ Society's statement contained 'several falsehoods', was 'probably defamatory' and made it look 'utterly ridiculous'. A dad has apologized after he was charged with the murder of his three-month-old daughter who was found buried in a book bag near the Bronx after his own father shopped him to cops when he confessed to finding the baby 'stiff' and 'cold'. Damion Comager, 23, wailed 'I loved her, I'm sorry' as he was led away from the NYPD's 44th Precinct in handcuffs with his head bowed after being charged Monday. The baby's mom Ivana Paolozzi, 20, has also been charged with concealment of a human corpse and obstructing governmental administration. The body of their daughter Genevieve Comager was found in the woods near a Bronx homeless shelter at West 161st Street and the Major Deegan Expressway at around 8.30pm Sunday. Genevieve's grandpa revealed to the New York Post that he felt compelled to call the police on his own son after consulting with a priest. He said he had decided he had to 'do the right thing'. Little Genevieve Comager (left with dad, right) was found in the woods near a Bronx homeless shelter at West 161st Street and the Major Deegan Expressway at around 8.30pm Sunday The baby's mom Ivana Paolozzi (pictured with Genevieve), 20, has also been charged with concealment of a human corpse and obstructing governmental administration 'I'm just trying to process this,' Donald, 47, told The Post Monday. 'He told me the baby was doing a lot of crying. 'She wouldn't stop crying. He said he just shook her and lay her down, and he lay down and went to sleep. 'He got up and reached for her and she was stiff and her body was cold. He panicked. He told his girlfriend, 'I think she is dead'.' An NYPD spokesperson previously told DailyMail.com that a concerned family member, now known as the grandpa, alerted police to the missing baby and when they went to investigate they found the child unconscious and unresponsive. It is believed the baby lived with her parents in the University Family Residence, a transitional housing unit located at 1041 University Avenue, and blocks away from Yankee Stadium. Sources told The Post that Comager allegedly admitted to shaking and slapping the baby on May 14 when she would not stop crying. It's alleged that he did not want to take her to hospital after she became unresponsive because he was concerned the marks around her neck would raise suspicions. Tragically, later that morning, little Genevieve was stuffed in a bag and dumped in the wooded area where she lay undiscovered for more than two weeks, the sources added. Police from the 44th Precinct investigating the death of Genevieve Comager who was found in a wooded area near the Major Deegan Expressway on Sunday night around 8:30pm It is believed the baby lived with her parents in the University Family Residence, a transitional housing unit located at 1041 University Avenue, and blocks away from Yankee Stadium Police were alerted by a concerned family member, now known as the baby's grandpa, to perform a welfare check at the housing facility 'They put the baby in a book bag and took her to the wooded area,' Donald recalled his son telling him on the phone. Genevieve's mom and dad initially met the while traveling in Switzerland - where Paolozzi is originally from. Comager, originally from Lousiana, and Paolozzi moved to New York City in November and Genevieve was born in February. Comager's dad said that the little girl was his first grandchild and he did not ever get to meet her in person, although he did regularly interact with her on calls or FaceTime. Donald reflected on the challenges in turning his own son in but after praying with his priest, he felt he had no other choice to call the police. He also revealed that his son, who had 'several prior arrests for assault, domestic violence and criminal impersonation', was diagnosed bipolar and schizophrenic as a child. The NYPD crime scene unit and police cars were parked near the scene where the baby's body was found near the wooded area along the Major Deegan Expressway A neighbor told ABC 7 News how 'shocked' she was. 'It gets me so sad, how they go through that.' Another neighbor Gilbert Velez told CBS: 'On occasion I would see them coming out of the shelter. They were pretty nice, I said good morning. 'I have grandchildren, and it saddens me ... This baby could have been somebody special.' The medical examiner said that the cause of the baby's death is still under investigation at this moment in time. Malaysia's coast guard said on Tuesday authorities were questioning the crew of a Chinese vessel detained on suspicion of looting two British World War II shipwrecks. Officers discovered unexploded shells upon boarding the Chinese-registered Chuan 68 vessel, which was detained for illegal anchorage at the weekend, said Nurul Hizam Zakaria, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency chief in Johor state. The shipwrecks of battleship HMS Prince of Wales and the battlecruiser HMS Repulse are designated as official war graves under the Protection of Wrecks Act of 1973 and the Protection of Maritime Relations Act of 1986, and must not be disturbed. 'Our investigation is now directed to where these cannon shells originated from. Right now, we have officers from multi-agencies searching the big ship,' he told AFP. Nurul Hizam said the vessel from the city of Fuzhou had a crew of 32 comprising 21 Chinese nationals, 10 Bangladeshis and one Malaysian, some of whom were in coast guard custody for questioning. British Royal Navy Battleship HMS Prince of Wales was sunk in 1941 by Japanese torpedoes 1939: HMS Repulse, a 26,500-ton British Renown class battlecruiser at Portsmouth 'This case also involves the discovery of explosives,' he said. China's foreign affairs ministry said the Chinese embassy in Malaysia was in close communication with local authorities 'to understand the situation'. It asked Malaysia to handle the case 'fairly and in accordance with the law'. Beijing also asked Malaysia to protect the rights and safety of Chinese citizens. A senior Malaysian maritime official told AFP on condition of anonymity that the pieces of metal and shells could have originated from the two sunken British warships. More than 800 British sailors were killed when the HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse were torpedoed by Japanese aircraft in the South China Sea. The attack on December 10, 1941, happened three days after Japan attacked the US fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Photos and a video shared by the Malaysian coast guard showed large pieces of corroded metal and shells, as well as a large crane and gas torches used to cut metal on board the ship. The shells could also be linked to the discovery of unexploded World War II-era ordnance at a jetty in Johor on May 19, the maritime agency said in a statement Monday. Nurul Hizam said the maritime agency would not tolerate any form of illegal salvage activities in Malaysian waters. 'Our national treasure must be protected and preserved,' he said, describing looting as 'an uncivilised act'. Britain's Ministry of Defence condemned the 'desecration' of maritime military graves after reports that scavengers had targeted the two WWII wrecks, the BBC said Saturday. News of the vessel's plundering has outraged Admiral Lord Alan West, the former head of the Royal Navy who lost 22 men when his frigate HMS Ardent was sunk during the Falklands War in 1982. Blasting the scrap metal 'grave robbers', the former military chief told MailOnline: 'This is an absolute disgrace. 'These are burial sites with all the bodies still there. These Chinese wreckers or scrap metal men don't give a damn about this. 'It's a loathsome thing to do. It's very distressing for the families and next of kin of those sailors killed on HMS Repulse and HMS Prince of Wales. 'When I think of my ship sunk in the Falklands, I wouldn't want people diving on that and taking things away from it. This is a disgusting thing to happen.' And another former First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, told MailOnline: 'These people are scavengers of the worst order.' The crew of the Chuan 68 are well known as illegal scavengers. They were temporarily detained in 2017 amid allegations they had scavenged parts from three Japanese World War II shipwrecks near Usukan, Malaysia, before the Indonesian navy intercepted the ship while it was attempting to raise parts of a shipwreck near the Anambas Islands - forcing the Chuan 68 to flee to international waters. The vessel is also notorious for illegally salvaging World War 2 shipwrecks in Singaporean, Cambodian and Vietnamese waters. Chaun 68 remains wanted by Indonesian authorities for plundering the remains of sunken Dutch warships HNLMS De Ruyter, HNLMS Java and HNLMS Kortenaer in the Java Sea. A source told the New Straits Times the Chinese vessel is well known among the shipping community for its looting activities, which have been ongoing for around 10 years. The crew scramble over the side of HMS Prince of Wales before sinking. Prince of Wales and battlecruiser HMS Repulse were sunk by land-based bombers and torpedo bombers of the Imperial Japanese Navy on 10 December 1941 British Royal Navy Battleship HMS Prince of Wales, H 12911, anchoring in an undisclosed naval port ca. 1941 'Ten years ago, it resembled a dilapidated barge. But it is now fitted with high-technology equipment,' the source said. 'They operate mechanically and entirely from the surface of the barge, which is equipped with cranes sporting huge metal claws. 'The claws can plunge more than 200m deep. It chops up the ship and pulls up hundred tonnes of metal in one go.' The source said the vessel would evade detection by turning off its Global Positioning System (GPS), and WiFi devices onboard before going into hiding. The coastline off Indonesia and Malaysia is littered with WWII-era shipwrecks, and Chinese-owned barges fitted with cranes have been carrying out illegal operations at the war burial sites of ships belonging to several countries, including Britain, Japan, the Netherlands, India and Australia. The scavengers are attracted by highly valuable non-irradiated steel also known as low-background steel from the wrecks. Steel produced prior to the detonation of the first atomic bombs in the 1940s - particularly the high-grade steel used in the manufacture of warship hulls - is not contaminated by radiation. It retains its quality long after being submerged underwater and is much sought after by manufacturers of surgical implements and scientific equipment. China's scavengers can smelt down the steel they manage to recover and sell it off for huge profits. HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse are seen in the background sinking A total of 10 British vessels were sunk by Japanese torpedoes and planes in 1941 and 1942 off the coast of Malaysia and Indonesia, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,000 sailors. The HMS Prince of Wales and the HMS Repulse, accompanied by four UK destroyers, were on a mission to intercept Japanese invasion convoys in the South China Sea in December 1941. But the vessels put to sea without air cover and the fleet was attacked by waves of Japanese aircraft, with eight torpedoes striking their targets. Both ships turned over as they sank - the remains of the Repulse sit at a depth of 183ft, with the Prince of Wales even deeper at 223ft. In 2018, Britain's former Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson ordered Royal Navy survey vessels to examine the wrecks of British warships previously plundered by pirates. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it was liaising with local authorities following the latest looting of the wrecks. An Iranian model has caused a stir with her decision to wear a dress to Cannes Film Festival featuring decoration in the style of a noose to protest regime executions. Mahlagha Jaberi, 33, posted a video of her wearing the dress to Instagram on Sunday, 'dedicated to the people of Iran' with the hashtag #StopExecutionsInIran. She was first seen in the dress by designer Jila Saber at 'The Old Oak' red carpet during the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 26. The video and photographs of Jaberi in Cannes went viral, raising awareness of the regime's recent hangings and drawing fire from some political commentators. Journalist Yashar Ali wrote on Twitter to his 708k followers: 'As innocent Iranians are being executed, @MahlaghaJaberi thought it would be a good idea to wear a dress that has a noose sown [sic] into it and then film a seductive video using a song that has become an anthem for protestors. Absolutely disgraceful all around.' Mahlagha Jaberi attends the 'The Old Oak' red carpet during the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 26, 2023 in Cannes, France Jaberi is pictured wearing the controversial dress with a noose design in Cannes on May 26 Jaberi responded to the dress's huge reception in another post on Instagram. She wrote: 'We wanted to make a fashion statement to observe the glamour of Cannes, but more importantly, to bring media attention to the wrongful executions of Iranian people. 'Unfortunately, political statements are not allowed at the film festival and the security stopped me from showing the back of my dress, but the noose meaning was well understood.' The back of the dress was seen to also have 'stop executions' written across the bottom. The post received a generally supportive reception. The top comment, at the time of writing, read: 'All love and respect for you and the oppressed Iranian people. I wish you freedom and democracy.' Below that, another read: 'I see what your intention was but this is in very bad taste. A noose dress? This is not how you show solidarity with people whove been hung. Think about black Americans.' Jaberi's post had nearly 100,000 likes within 16 hours. Speaking to MailOnline, dress designer Jila Saber explained: 'When the executions began in our country, Iran, we shared this idea and we were thinking about creating something to display our fight against this injustice to the world. 'This is the first time that I'm using my art to make a statement because this is an important point in time in my home country. Our people have been suffering for decades under the current regime. I believe all artists, fashion designers, musicians, actors, etc. should use their art to make a statement in support of the Iranian people. Even these small steps will allow us to create a larger change.' She said the dress had been largely well received, and that they chose Cannes to share it as 'one of the most important fashion events'. She said: 'we have to take this opportunity to fight for our rights'. She added: 'We expected positive feedback, but, honestly, not to this extent. I cried when I first saw her on the red carpet, and I'm still very emotional for this dress and its message. I remember how, once I saw the success that the dress achieved, I told Mahlagha that we finally did it, we successfully sent out our the message to the world.' Human Rights Watch, investigating abuses worldwide, identified on May 12 an 'alarming surge in executions' since the start of the month. They noted that since late April, authorities had executed 'at least 60 people', 'most of them executed after unfair trials or for charges, such as drug offences and two executions for "blasphemy", that under international law should never result in the death penalty.' Tara Sepheri Far, senior Iran researcher at Human Rights Watch, said: 'Iranian authorities are apparently using executions, an inhumane punishment, following unfair trials as a show of force against its own people, who are demanding fundamental change. 'The international community should unequivocally condemn this terrifying trend and press Iranian officials to halt these executions.' The Norway-based Iran Human Rights group said on May 19 that at least 90 had been executed since May 1, making May the bloodiest month in five years. Iran continues to face harsh sanctions from the US, EU and UN over human rights abuses and its nuclear programme. Vedant Patel, the principal deputy spokesperson for the US State Department, said in response to execution of three pro-democracy protestors earlier this month: 'We join the people of Iran and the international community in calling on Iran to not carry out these executions. 'The execution of these men after what have been widely regarded as sham trials would be an affront to human rights and basic dignity in Iran and everywhere. 'It is clear from this episode that the Iranian regime has learned nothing from the protests that began with another death, the death of Mahsa Amini in September of last year. 'We once again urge Irans leadership to stop the killing, stop the sham trials, and respect peoples human rights. We are continuing to work in close coordination with our allies and partners around the world to condemn and confront these appalling human rights abuses.' Former Vice President and 107 other former world leaders on May 23 signed a letter to President Biden and equivalents in Canada and Europe to adopt a tougher stance on Iran and to support anti-regime protestors. American journalist Yashar Ali was critical of the decision to wear the dress with the noose Video by Joy Strotz shows Jaberi wearing the dress by Jila Saber on Instagram Jaberi appears to adjust the dress by Jila Saber at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on May 26 Protests have been mounting in and outside of Iran since 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, died in police custody in Tehran in September 2022 after being arrested for allegedly violating strict hijab rules. She went into a coma after being arrested in Tehran and died in hospital on 16 September 2022. The Islamic Republics officials told media that Amini suffered a heart attack while detained by 'morality police', denying reports she had been beaten. Her detention and death has inspired a vast protest movement, with demonstrations taking place in Iran and worldwide against the regime. Iranian rights activists have urged women to publicly remove their veils, risking arrest for defying the Islamic dress code. In the year to March 2014 - the last with data available - patrols stopped nearly three million women for not wearing their hijab in line with regulations. Amnesty International reported in March that children as young as 12 have since been subjected to rape, electrocution and flogging for their involvement in nationwide protests against the Iranian regime. A horrifying report revealed that 'Iran's intelligence and security forces have been committing horrific acts of torture, including beatings, flogging, electric shocks, rape and other sexual violence against child protestors as young as 12 to quell their involvement in nationwide protests.' Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director, said Iran's 'violence against children exposes deliberate strategy to crush the vibrant spirit of the country's youth and stop them from demanding freedom and human rights.' Jaberi wows on the red carpet at Cannes Festival, wearing the noose dress, on May 26 Photographers are pictured behind the 33-year-old Jaberi at Palais des Festivals on May 26 Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that last year, Iranian authorities executed 565 people, including 5 who were under 18 at the time they allegedly committed the crime. Between January 1 and May 5, 2023, Iran executed at least 192 people, including 8 women, the majority of them for drug-related offenses and murder. Iran currently faces additional clashes with The Taliban, ruling Afghanistan, with whom they clashed on the border over water rights on May 27, killing at least three. A colourful socialite known as 'Hot Mess' has been cleared of involvement in an international drug importation syndicate and has been released on bail after nearly a year behind bars on remand. Anthony Hess swapped his designer labels for a plain white T-shirt as he appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday over the drug charges. Police had alleged the 43-year-old was involved in attempts to import large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and ketamine into Australia from the US and Europe in 2020 and 2021. As he appeared on screen for a committal hearing, crown prosecutor Holly Baxter withdrew the six charges against Mr Hess at the last minute and laid six alternative counts. Police had accused Anthony Hess of being involved in attempts to import cocaine, methamphetamine and ketamine in 2021 Crown prosecutor Holly Baxter withdrew the six charges against Mr Hess at the last minute and laid six alternative counts The fresh charges included a single count of attempting to import ketamine and three charges of aiding and abetting the trafficking of a commercial quantity of an illicit drug.' Police had alleged he facilitated the large-volume importation by providing the addresses of his friends for three illicit international shipments. The court heard he made a call to shipping company DHL Express on December 29, 2020 about a parcel which had not arrived at its destination. Unbeknown to him, the parcel had been identified as illegal drugs and seized by the Australian Border Force. Ms Baxter told the court the formerly high-profile influencer had dealt with the drugs by 'asserting ownership' over the package shipped from the UK. 'He had made provision for its delivery and what will happen beyond its delivery into Australia,' she said. His lawyer Paul Smallwood argued the phone call did not prove Mr Hess had knowingly attempted to ship a marketable quantity of ketamine into Australia. 'At its highest, this is an inquiry about an attempt to deal with this consignment,' he said. 'It's not an attempt to deal with it in connection to its importation.' Mr Smallwood argued there was 'no message' or 'direct phone call' that proved his client had supplied the delivery addresses. 'Most fundamentally, there is no evidence that - even if it is accepted that Mr Hess provided (his friends' addresses) - that a person committed the importation,' he said. Mr Hess was cleared of playing a role in an international drug importation syndicate He was released on bail after nearly a year behind bars on remand In order to be found guilty, Mr Smallwood noted his client's conduct must have assisted in the commission of drug importation which was committed by another person. 'If the prosecution cannot establish the person who (Mr Hess) is said to have aided or abetted ... (or) establish that person is guilty of the offence of importation, then (the) charges must necessarily fail,' he said. But Magistrate Kieran Gilligan agreed with the defence that there was a 'gap in the prosecution case' which could not be overcome. He dismissed the four drug-related charges due to insufficient evidence and ordered the crown to pay Mr Hess' legal fees. 'In my view, there is no case to answer in relation to (these) charges,' the magistrate said. While the ruling represents a major legal victory, Mr Hess is still facing another two fresh charges not related to drug importation. He is accused of trying to obtain a financial advantage by deception after he submitted an insurance claim which alleged his $44,000 Rolex watch had been stolen while he was in Thailand. Police also charged the 43-year-old with perjury after he signed a police statement about the theft, which is allegedly inconsistent with accounts he gave to others. The court heard he did not receive a payout as a result of the insurance claim. The South Melbourne resident will return to court later in the year to enter pleas to the two dishonesty charges. While the ruling represents a major legal victory, Mr Hess is still facing another two fresh charges not related to drug importation He was granted bail on Tuesday after spending just under a year behind bars on remand following his arrest in June last year. Mr Hess thanked the magistrate and waved to the court. He burst into the spotlight in 2020 amid a bitter feud with Sydney public relations guru Roxy Jacenko, in which he graffitied 'Roxy is a c***' outside her business. The socialite, who has been photographed with celebrities and former prime ministers, was also reportedly slapped by former bikie Toby Mitchell after a boozy night out in South Yarra. A video has been shared online of officers using a piece of rope to free a bear from a vehicle in northern Nevada. The owners of the 4x4 called the Washoe County Sheriff's Office after discovering the animal stuck inside on the back seat. WCSO deputies coordinated a plan and were able to safely free the trapped bear. Officers used a long piece of rope to pull open the door from a distance and allow the animal to get out. The video shows the bear jumping out of the vehicle and running away across the streets of the quiet neighborhood. Residents called the department after discovering the animal stuck inside their 4x4. Officers used a long piece of rope to pull open the door from a distance and free the animal from the back seat. The video shows the bear jumping out of the vehicle and running away across the streets of the quiet neighborhood Images show the damage to the car, with part of the back seat badly torn and some of the fabric from the roof hanging down. Washoe County Sheriff's Office wrote on Twitter: 'Spring is an active time for our Tahoe bear population and a good reminder to be bear-aware when enjoying the beautiful outdoors. 'Here are some tips to help prevent unwelcome bear visits: Be mindful of food wrappers, coolers, and scented items in vehicles. Avoid leaving food in cars. Don't leave garbage outside & dispose of trash inside (not next to) bear-proof designated receptacles. Do not feed the bears!' The video shows a long piece of rope being used to pull the handle of the vehicle from several yards away. The bear swiftly leaves via one of the back doors of the vehicle. The vehicle was left badly damaged, with part of the back seat badly torn and some of the fabric from the roof hanging down Last year, a mother bear was caught opening the doors of an unlocked car while looking for snacks with her two bear cubs in a residential area of Lake Tahoe, infringing on 500-pound black bear Hank the Tank's territory. In surveillance footage exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com, the female grizzly bear was recorded by the Ring doorbell of a Lake Tahoe resident in May opening up a black Chevrolet Suburban while her babies waited in the snow. The bear then hopped onto the SUV's driver seat and sniffed the vehicle's dashboard in an attempt to find some food. It is unclear whether the bear was successful in finding food as the video was cut short. Home Office and Border Force staff could walk out on strike if they are asked to back the government's tough new immigration plans, a senior trade union figure warned today. The militant Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union warned its members could walk out rather than help send deportee flights to Rwanda or implement a new law designed to tackle the number of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats. The PCS, which has tens of thousands of members has already joined legal action against the Rwanda scheme, signed at a cost of 120m by then home secretary Priti Patel in April 2022. It has yet to deport a single migrant due to a mass of legal challenges. The PCS is also against the Illegal Immigration Bill, which will bar arrivals from applying to stay on refugee, modern slavery or human rights grounds. They will also not be allowed to bring judicial reviews or get bail for at least 28 days. Only children and the gravely ill will be allowed to remain in Britain while cases are considered. The PCS's head of bargaining, Paul O'Connor, told the Independent today: 'There will be no stomach amongst our members for implementing the Rwanda deal and Illegal Migration Bill, and they will inevitably come to their trade union to see if there is recourse to stop it happening. 'If any litigation fails, they will want to explore with us whether there's an industrial solution.' The militant Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union warned its members could walk out rather than help send deportee flights to Rwanda or implement a new law designed to tackle the number of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats. The PCS, which has tens of thousands of members has already joined legal action against the Rwanda scheme, signed at a cost of 120m by then home secretary Priti Patel in April 2022. It has yet to deport a single migrant due to a mass of legal challenges. Ministers will this week launch an advertising campaign targeted directly at potential migrants to deter them from attempting to enter Britain on small boats. The social media blitz will start in Albania, which accounts for a disproportionate number of the 45,000 Channel migrants who arrive each year. The Home Office says it will counter 'the vile lies of people smugglers and spell out the consequences for people who arrive illegally'. One advert shows police detaining a migrant, while another shows a packed dingy. Both carry warnings in English and Albanian that 'if you come to the UK illegally you face being detained and removed'. It will coincide with a 'migration tour' by immigration minister Robert Jenrick, who will this week visit Algeria, Tunisia, Italy and France. A married vet who photographed himself sexually touching a woman as she slept in his hotel room was jailed for 18 months today. Jamie Rushton, 45, assaulted his victim as she lay in bed at the Runnymede on Thames Hotel and Spa in Egham, Surrey, on 25 June 2017. The woman had drunk a 'large amount of alcohol' that night and woke up in Rushton's hotel room with no recollection of how she got there or what had taken place that night. But two years later Rushton's wife found images of the woman on his computer and reported him to police, Wood Green Crown Court heard. Jamie Rushton, 45, photographed himself sexually touching a woman as she slept The photographs showed the woman's naked bottom and the married father-of-two's hands moving towards her private parts. Police finally contacted the victim in 2021 and she confirmed it was her in the images but she could not recall the encounter with Rushton that night. A number of upskirt photos taken of women using public transport were also found on his devices. The woman told the court the whole incident has been 'highly embarrassing and very uncomfortable.' She told the court Rushton 'was an attractive man but [she] was not sexually attracted to him.' 'From my own knowledge of myself I think it is highly unlikely that I would have consented or allowed that to happen,' the woman said. Rushton, who started practicing veterinary medicine at the Village Vet practice in Hampstead in 2007, claimed the woman had flirted with him as they danced together earlier that evening. 'She draped herself across me as sat on a chair and she was stroking on my goatee and on my hair. 'I went to say goodbye as I was going into my room, and she indicated she wasn't moving on and we moved into my room.' Jamie Rushton leaving Highbury Magistrates Court, London, last year He said they lay on the bed together, fully clothed, before beginning to kiss 'more intensely'. Rushton said while kissing the woman he 'felt guilty' as he was a married man and decided not to take it further. 'In the case of physical intimacy, I had missed that, and when she was kissing me, it was a lovely feeling. 'I appreciate she will be hurt and upset and I'm deeply sorry in that respect and I sympathise for that and she probably feels hurt and wants to maximise the justice and disassociate from me; but it's not fair and that's why we're here.' Rushton, of Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, admitted sexual assault but a judge held a trial of issue to resolve whether the pair had been intimate prior to the offence. Judge Karim Ezzat found Rushton to be an 'unreliable' witness and ruled in favour of the victim, after she insisted there was no intimacy before the assault. Rushton said while kissing the woman he 'felt guilty' as he was a married man and decided not to take it further The married vet assaulted his victim as she lay in bed at the Runnymede on Thames Hotel and Spa in Egham, Surrey, on 25 June 2017 Lewis Power, KC, defending, told the court: 'Mr Rushton is a deeply troubled individual who needs help. 'His professional career is all but over and this conviction will leave him out in the cold on a professional level. 'He is a man who needs, in our respectful submission, some form of help rather than a custodial sentence so he can address the problem at hand.' Jailing Rushton for 18 months Judge Ezzat said: 'I do not detect any remorse from you but that is perhaps because you do not think you have done anything wrong. 'I have no doubt you deeply regret finding yourself before the court charged with these offences. 'You have lost a lot as a result of your conduct. 'I wonder if you can imagine the shock and horror [the victim] must have experienced when the police contacted her and asked her to identify herself. 'There was an abuse of trust as [the victim] placed herself in a vulnerable position in your care which was something you took advantage of. 'This [offence] was driven purely by your sexual desire.' Rushton bowed his head as he was jailed for 18 months and ordered to pay 3,000 in court costs. He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years and placed on the sex offenders' register for ten years. Kandula, who carried a Nazi flag, signed off his speech with the Nazi motto Prosecutors argue 19-year-old should be kept behind bars before possible trial The Neo-Nazi who allegedly plowed a U-Haul truck into the White House gates in a failed attempt to kill President Joe Biden had planned a rambling 'coup' speech that announced the end of US democracy. Sai Varshith Kandula, 19, was also planning to threaten any adversaries with the death penalty and signed off the speech with the Nazi motto. Kandula, from Chesterfield, Missouri, smashed the rental truck into security barriers at the White House at around 10pm on May 22 while Joe Biden was inside. He then left the vehicle carrying a large Nazi flag which was later seen unfurled on the sidewalk. Despite his failed attack, he told a Secret Service agent: 'My message was received.' The academically gifted teenager, who was arrested and charged with the depredation of US property and an attempt to kill president, was being held without bail pending a hearing Tuesday. Prosecutors say that the greater concern was his alleged intention to overthrow the government and go to the lengths of harming President Biden to do so. Neo-Nazi Sai Varshith Kandula, 19, pictured in a yearbook photo from 2022, planned a rambling 'coup' speech that announced the end of US democracy Kandula, who was carrying a Nazi flag (pictured), smashed the rental truck into security barriers at the White House at around 10pm on May 22 Federal prosecutors filed a memo Friday arguing that Kandula should be kept behind bars with no conditions before a possible trial, NBC News reports. They alleged that he kept a journal which included a coup speech that he was planning to give had he been successful in his attempts to take over the White House. Inside the journal, which Kandula called his 'green book', he describes a post-democratic US and addresses 'my fellow citizens of America'. 'As I am familiar with the [unknown] of this country being a democratic nation, and this will no longer be the case,' the passage reads. 'There shall be consequence if civil unrest happens. To make it clear Any opposition will be met with death penalty to make it clear: (kill president) As you have seen, we will declare martial until the situation has been [unknown]. We will rebuild this world.' Kandula, who praised Adolf Hitler and the Nazis' 'strong history', their 'authoritarian nature, Eugenics, and their one-world order', ended the passage with the words 'Sieg hail' - incorrectly spelling the Nazi motto which translates as 'hail victory'. Prosecutors argue that Kandula should remain in custody because he is a danger and a flight risk as he has visited India on several occasions. He is said to be a lawful US citizen as a green card holder but may face deportation if convicted. The truck slammed into gates about 800 feet from the White House and Kandula was detained FBI investigators searched the suspect's family home in a leafy suburb of Missouri on Tuesday. Several agents were spotted at the home carrying briefcases and equipment used to recover evidence He crashed the truck about 800 feet from the White House building before he was detained and police officers recovered evidence including the flag. Nobody was harmed in the attack but Kandula allegedly told investigators he still considered it a success. 'Either way, whether I got into the White House or not, my message was received,' he said. Kandula, who graduated Marquette High School in January 2022, is understood to have flown from St Louis, Missouri, to Dulles, then rented the U-Haul truck. Some roads and walkways around Lafayette Square were temporarily closed as the scene was inspected and The Hay Adams Hotel was evacuated. Kandula, from Chesterfield, Missouri, smashed the rental truck into security barriers at the White House at around 10pm on May 22 while Joe Biden was inside Kandula, who graduated Marquette High School in January 2022, is understood to have flown from St Louis, Missouri, to Dulles, then rented the U-Haul truck At the time of Kandula's arrest, US Park Police issued the following statement: 'On May 22 at approximately 9:40 p.m., United States Park Police and United States Secret Service Uniform Division officers responded to the 1600 block of H Street NW for a truck that the preliminary investigation indicates intentionally crashed into the bollards on the outside of Lafayette Park. 'The driver of the vehicle was identified as Sai Varshith Kandula, 19, of Chesterfield, Missouri. 'Kandula was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, threatening to kill / kidnap / inflict harm on a president, vice president, or family member, destruction of federal property, and trespassing.' Kandula's defense has yet to file a response to the memo filed by federal prosecutors. He is due to appear in a Washington federal court at 3pm Tuesday to decide whether he should stay behind bars ahead of a potential trial. Now it is understood there could be other areas nearby for cops to search Investigators leading the search for Madeleine McCann reportedly believe there are two other areas in Portugal they can scour for clues. Investigators last week searched the remote Barragem do Arade reservoir in the Algarve, which prime suspect Christian Brueckner referred to as a 'little piece of paradise' and is located 30 miles from where Madeleine was taken in 2007. Police said they found a 'relevant clue' during their search of the beauty spot after an informant was able to match photographs showing Brueckner close to the reservoir. And now it is understood there could be other areas surrounding Praia da Luz, where Madeleine had been staying with her family, that police can search after German detectives scoured 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 to them to Barragem - but there are other places that have come up in the pictures too. Investigators last week searched the remote Barragem do Arade reservoir in the Algarve (pictured) Authorities gather at a makeshift base camp in the Arade dam area during the search operation amid the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance on May 23 Madeleine (left) was aged three in May 2007 when she vanished from her bedroom in the apartment her family were staying at in the Praia da Luz resort on the Algarve coast. German prosecutors believe Christian Brueckner (right) is behind her disappearance 'Detectives are seeking to work out where they are and why Christian B was taking pictures of those places.' Last week, investigators cleared a large area of woodland at the reservoir and dug eight deep holes to collect samples of soil, which have been sent for forensic and DNA testing in Germany. A 'relevant clue' was found during the last day of the search, 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. They include a bra strap, pieces of clothing and plastic items. The source said German cops believe that the original investigation into Madeleine's disappearance by Portuguese cops was flawed. They said: 'German detectives remain hugely skeptical about the way the investigation has been carried out in Portugal which is why they are keen to carry on searching and looking at areas - even those where Portuguese cops claim to have examined. 'They believe fresh work could unlock new clues which move the case forward.' Last week's probe 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. Brueckner, 45, would camp by the reservoir at weekends and is understood to have set up a sinister base there to 'cleanse himself', it emerged last week. A former friend of Brueckner, who has lived on Algarve for nearly 30 years and has been helping police with their investigation, claims the criminal would visit the reservoir 'often' but was 'always secretive about it'. The German mother-of-three, whose identity has not been publicised, recalled how Brueckner would drive his camper-van to the edge of the lake because he 'liked to be near the water'. She claimed he always camped in the same location and 'there was usually no one else around'. 'This was his exact special spot that he said he liked to come to cleanse himself,' she said of his campsite, telling The Sun: 'I don't know what he did there as he was very secretive.' Details of Brueckner's secret lair came to light as a British couple told The Mail on Sunday how they spotted a bizarre 'shrine' to Madeleine in the reservoir just seven months after she vanished. The retired couple, who have asked to be named only as Ralf and Ann, were so disturbed by what they saw they took pictures and sent them to Portuguese detectives, thinking they were of significance but, amazingly, never heard back. Consisting of boulders in the shape of an arrow pointing towards a picnic site which was dug over by police last week, the makeshift memorial was weighed down by a large rock and had a bouquet of flowers and a photograph of abducted Madeleine on it. Last week investigators cleared a large area of woodland at the Algarve reservoir and dug deep holes to collect samples, which have been sent for forensic and DNA testing in Germany Christian Brueckner, 45, would camp in the Barragem do Arade reservoir where cops last week searched for clues in Madeline McCann missing persons case. The convicted rapist and paedophile is understood to have built a circle out of stones from the water (pictured) For more than a decade, Madeleine's anguished parents Gerry and Kate (pictured together in 2017) have waited in vain for any news - any clue - that their little girl is somehow alive after all this time Three years ago when prime suspect Brueckner, 45, was identified by German police the couple contacted detectives after seeing an appeal for anyone who was on holiday in the Algarve when Madeleine went missing in May 2007 to get in touch. This time, the German officers from the BKA (criminal investigation unit) responded within hours of Ralf and Ann emailing them and quizzed them on the telephone for several hours before asking them to give a formal statement. It raises the question whether it was their information that prompted the German authorities to request a search of the remote picnic area campsite on the edge of the reservoir near Silves, which Brueckner used to call his 'little paradise'. German prosecutors last year named convicted child abuser and drug dealer Brueckner as the prime suspect in Madeleine's disappearance. She was 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. Bruecker is now behind bars in Germany for raping a 72-year-old woman in the same area of the Algarve region from where McCann went missing. Pictured: Christian Brueckner was filmed at the wheel of a battered VW campervan weeks before Madeleine was kidnapped The German suspect had lived in a warehouse outside Praia da Luz for several years but moved into a campervan just before Madeleine vanished Sources close to Brueckner's legal team said any new searches will be a 'waste of time'. The source told the Sun: 'He didn't kill Madeleine and all of this is taking attention away from the job of finding out who really did.' Brueckner was known to break into Algarve hotel rooms and apartments to supplement his income from drug dealing, and left the south of Portugal suddenly in 2007 - the year Madeleine vanished - after more than a decade living there. He is alleged to have admitted abducting Madeleine to a friend in a bar - and German investigators are said to firmly believe he killed the three-year-old. But more than three years after linking Brueckner to Madeleine's disappearance, he has still not been charged regarding her abduction as prosecutors do not have enough evidence. Taser-wielding police officers who allegedly handcuffed a 90-year-old woman with dementia and placed a spit hood over her head have been warned they need to 'justify any use of force'. The police watchdog is currently investigating the incident after the elderly woman was restrained after officers were called to reports of a disturbance at an address in Peckham, south London, on May 9. After initially trying to engage with her, she was restrained in handcuffs and had a spit hood applied after one of the officers claimed they were spat at. The frail woman, who was said to have been involved in a disturbance with her carer, was not arrested and was taken to hospital. During the incident, an officer also issued a red-dot challenge with their Taser, but did not discharge it, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said. One of the officers has been suspended and their use of Taser withdrawn after the incident was referred to the watchdog by the Met Police's Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS). One officer has been suspended while the other five are on restricted desk duties. Pictured: File photo of Metropolitan Police officers The incident took place in Peckham, South London on May 9, where the elderly and frail woman was allegedly strapped down onto a stretcher before being carted off to hospital in a police van. Stock image A further five officers have been placed on restricted duties, meaning they will have no contact with the public while the IOPC carries out its investigaton. The woman's family have been made aware of the incident and police are in contact to arrange for a relative to view body worn video of the incident. Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, who is in charge of policing in Southwark, said: 'There are limits to what I am able to say in relation to this incident given it is now subject to an IOPC investigation, however it is clear that this will have been a distressing experience for the lady involved and that the circumstances raise a number of questions that need to be answered. 'While I do not wish to pre-judge this process, officers know that they must be able to justify any use of force or restraint and we will expect that of the officers involved in this incident. 'They also know that we expect them to show compassion and to adjust their approach in real time according to the circumstances they are faced with. 'I am committed to transparency in relation to this incident. I am already in contact with our key partners and will keep them, and those directly involved, informed as our enquiries progress.' A 90-year-old dementia sufferer was handcuffed with a spit hood placed over her head by Metropolitan police officers following a disturbance with her carer. Pictured: File photo of a man wearing a spit hood Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley (pictured May 5) has written to health and social care services to say police will no longer attend after August 31 unless there is a threat to life Revelations of the incident come as the Met Police yesterday announced plans that will stop officers from attending mental health incidents. The force's commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has written to health and social care services to say police will no longer attend emergency calls related to mental health after August 31 unless there is a threat to life. The plans have sparked alarm with critics warning that for those suffering there would be 'no one left to call'. Questions have also been raised about whether the plans will prove practical on the ground. Former Inspector of Constabulary Zoe Billingham, who is also chairwoman of NHS mental health services in Norfolk and Suffolk, said that the change was 'potentially alarming'. 'I think it would be really, really dangerous if the police were just to unilaterally withdraw from attending mental health crisis calls right now,' she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. A Met spokesperson said that the force needed to 'redress the imbalance of responsibility', noting the considerable amount of time taken up by such incidents. Do YOU know the elderly woman? Email jamie.phillips@mailonline.co.uk The devastated parents of a mother who was found dead in her apartment almost 24 hours after she begged cops for help have suggested she might still be alive if police had responded quicker. Tatiana 'Tania' Dokhotaru, 34, was discovered inside her Liverpool unit, in Sydney's south-west, about 8pm on Saturday, on the eve of her son's fourth birthday. She rang police in distress around 20 hours earlier on Friday night, complaining that her estranged husband was allegedly 'bashing' her but cops failed to find her apartment. Her partner Danny Zayat, 28, was arrested at the scene on Saturday and has been charged with a litany of domestic violence-related offences, including choking and breaching an apprehended violence order. He has not been charged in relation to her death but is assisting detectives with their inquiries. Now her parents have slammed the police response, with her grief-stricken mother Olga Dokhotaru asking through tears: 'How is it possible?' Tania's parents Olga Dokhotaru and Denis Thievin (pictured with Tania, left) have slammed the police response and suggested she might still be alive if they had got to her apartment quicker Tatiana 'Tania' Dokhotaru, 34, (pictured) due to celebrate her son's fourth birthday on Sunday. Police found her body the night before The victim's father, Dennis Thievin, said he thought their daughter might still be alive if the police had made it to her unit on the night she rang. Police have stated that officers failed to make it to her unit because the emergency call did not include enough information such as the apartment number. 'Had they responded in a timely manner, Tania may be alive today,' Mr Thieven told 7News. 'Surely it could have been done better than it was.' Mr Thieven will travel to Australia to repatriate his daughter's body and find answers for why the police response was so slow. The parents, who live in Canada, found out about their daughter's tragic death through social media. In the past, they had begged her to go to the police before over Zayat's alleged behaviour. Tania's father Dennis Thievin (pictured, right, with wife Olga) said: 'Had they (the police) responded in a timely manner, Tania may be alive today' Her mother paid tribute to Ms Dokhotaru, describing her as a 'happy, strong woman'. 'I'm lost, big timeI never, never would expect to hear news (of her death),' said the mother as she fought back tears. Ms Dokhotaru had been due to celebrate her son's fourth birthday on Sunday. Police will allege in court that a frantic Ms Dokhotaru had called for help about 11:40pm on Sunday and said: 'He's bashing me my husband's taking all the money from my house,' The Daily Telegraph reported. Almost four hours after receiving the triple-0 call which did not include a complete address, police arrived at the scene but left soon after when they could not determine her unit number. Her partner Danny Zayat (pictured), 28, has been charged with domestic violence offences and is currently assisting police with enquiries into her death Police have launched a critical incident investigation into why it took so long for officers to locate the apartment Ms Dokhotaru's body was only discovered when officers returned to the building the next day after receiving another call from a neighbour. A critical incident investigation has been launched over why police did not act with more urgency to the 'priority three' emergency call. NSW Premier Chris Minns said the response time of the police to Ms Dokhotaru's triple-O call was 'very concerning' but called for calm to allow the police to conduct their investigation into the 'traumatic incident'. Zayat told police the couple had argued because she had taken drugs and was intoxicated. Tania's mother described her as a 'happy, strong woman'. Pictured is Tania in her youth He is accused of punching a television during an argument with Ms Dokhotaru on the night of her death. But Zayat said he left the apartment at midnight on Friday before returning on Saturday when Ms Dokhotaru did not return his calls. A witness called triple-0 after hearing distressed cries of 'help me' and Zayat called an ambulance. Police arrested him when they arrived. His lawyer said it was a 'tragic set of circumstances' and added he would be applying for release on bail when he appears in court later this week. Ms Dokhotaru should have been spent Sunday celebrating her little boy's fourth birthday after the pair returned from an overseas holiday just last week. Daily Mail Australia yesterday revealed she spent her final days enjoying quality time with her son and embarking on a new designer brand rental business. The father of a British tourist who was killed by a lightning strike while paddleboarding in Greece is said to be 'heartbroken and distraught' over his son's death. Greek officials had earlier named the Brit as 26-year-old Scott Seddon who was electrocuted on Monday afternoon in the Agia Agathi area of Rhodes while his girlfriend was reportedly filming him out at sea. Mr Seddon, who lived with his sister Layla and father Steve in a large bungalow in Liverpool, was described by close friends as a 'lovely guy' and 'really popular'. The keen sportsman, who had trained to be a civil engineer and worked in the building trade, spoke Greek and was a regular visitor to the family's holiday home. A family friend told MailOnline: 'I spoke to his dad and he told me Scott had been electrocuted. Scott Seddon (pictured) died after being struck by lightning while his girlfriend filmed him paddleboarding in Greece Greek officials had earlier named the Brit as 26-year-old Scott Seddon who was electrocuted on Monday afternoon in the Agia Agathi area of Rhodes while his girlfriend was reportedly filming him out at sea Mr Seddon, who lived with his sister Layla and father Steve in a large bungalow in Liverpool, was described by close friends as a 'lovely guy' and 'really popular' 'He said he was distraught. Steve couldn't say any more. He's heartbroken.' He added: 'His sister flew out there last night to be with the rest of the family. Scott was a lovely guy and really popular. 'He used to live in Greece with the family and spoke Greek. He loved it there but now they go and visit there holiday home there and live back here now.' Mr Seddon died at the scene despite attempts by his girlfriend, a Brazilian resident, and emergency services to save him. Brazilian Wander Machado, 47, told Greek news outlet Rodiaki: 'I swam to get him out. But once I reached the board, I saw his body crouched over and face down on the board. His face had turned purple. 'I immediately knew that every second was crucial and started pulling him to the shore.' It is understood that other tourists had urged the man to leave the water when he encountered difficulties at around 1.30pm local time (11.30am BST). His girlfriend and other beachgoers reportedly started calling for help after he was struck by lightning. Mr Seddon (pictured), who lived with his sister Layla and father Steve in a large bungalow in Liverpool, was described by close friends as a 'lovely and really popular guy' Beachgoers and emergency services desperately tried to save Mr Seddon's life (pictured surfing in July 2021) but they were unable to revive him Mr Seddon (pictured) passed away after an ambulance and medics arrived and was later taken to Archangelos Health Centre It is understood that other tourists had urged the man to leave the water when he encountered difficulties at around 1.30pm local time (11.30am BST). Pictured: Agia Agathi beach He was then pulled out of the water by those on the beach and was 'still alive', according to witnesses. But he passed away after an ambulance and medics arrived and was later taken to Archangelos Health Centre. Mr Machado added: 'I was worried that the same thing would happen to me as it was still raining but I didn't stop. 'The rescuers arrived shortly afterwards and performed all the resuscitation procedures to keep him alive. Unfortunately, I found out a little later that he didn't make it.' An investigation by the Central Port Authority of Rhodes has been launched, according to Rodiaki. An FCDO spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Rhodes and are in contact with local authorities.' She was last seen on May 6 when she left to look for her boyfriend Tyler Stratton, and her Jeep Wrangler was spotted on May 8 in Arizona A missing Tennessee woman was spotted over the Memorial Day Weekend in California after vanishing while on a road trip with her boyfriend and dog. Nikki Alcaraz, 33, had been traveling in her black 2013 Jeep Wrangler with Steven Tyler Stratton, 33, when both vanished after an altercation in Moriarty, New Mexico, on May 6. Police in Moriarty and Cheatham County Sheriff's office launched a missing person appeal saying Alcaraz is in 'danger' because of a 'history of domestic assault'- though there is no evidence that either is dead. Cheatham DA Ray Crouch is reportedly seeking a nationwide extradition order for Stratton on an unrelated arrest warrant. His office also released an image of Alcaraz on Saturday, May 27, trying to sell her phone at an ecoATM in Redding, California, according to WKRN. Nikki Alcaraz was seen on a surveillance camera on Saturday, May 27, trying to sell her phone at an ecoATM in Redding, California Nikki Alcaraz, 33, had been traveling in her black 2013 Jeep Wrangler with Steven Tyler Stratton, 33, when both vanished after an altercation in Moriarty, New Mexico, on May 6 No other information has been released regarding her disappearance, but her family told GMA that they are 'scared after not hearing from her for three weeks'. Alcaraz, Stratton and their dog set out on a road trip from Nashville to Southern California and were in an altercation in New Mexico on May 4. Police released pictures of Alcaraz with a black eye on May 4 after an altercation A police report filed by Torrance County Sheriff's Department shows the mother-of-two with a black eye after witnesses said they saw Stratton punch her in the face. The report states that Stratton alleged that he had also been hit in the altercation, but neither one pressed charges. Daily Mail.com has contacted Torrance County Sheriff's Department, Moriarty Police Department, Redding Police Department and Cheatham County Sheriff's Office for a comment. DA Ray Crouch did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Her brother Josh Alcaraz told Fox 10 that a passing driver stepped in to help his sister after witnessing the alleged assault. He said: 'He beat her up pretty badly. A truck driver had to pull him off of her, call the police, the police picked him up, took him a couple exits down and dropped him off.' The pair departed Tennessee in early May in this black Jeep, which has yet to be located. The car belongs to Alcaraz, and was last located by a license plate reader in Arizona on May 8 Despite the grim parallels with the case of Gabby Petito, Toni is hopeful her sister is still alive Timeline of Alcaraz and Stratton vanishing Early May: The pair set off from Nashville to drive to Southern California in her black 2013 Jeep Wrangler, with her dog. May 4: Police in Moriarty, New Mexico, are called to reports of a fight in a vehicle. A truck driver says he had to pull Stratton away from Alcaraz. Stratton is dropped off several junctions away. Alcaraz spends the next two nights in a motel with a friend, who was called to assist. May 6: Alcaraz leaves the Super 8 motel early in the morning, saying she wants to find Stratton. May 8: Alcaraz texts her sister Toni to say she is in Arizona. It is unclear if Stratton and the dog are with her. Her Jeep is recorded on cameras near Flagstaff. There is no further sighting of the vehicle, Alcaraz, Stratton or the dog. Advertisement Both were then given rides, with Nikki dropped off in Moriarty, where she called her sister Toni, and a friend met her to stay the night in a motel. But the following day, Alcaraz insisted that she needed to find Stratton, who has not been seen since the violent incident. His family have not filed a missing persons report for him, but he is mentioned in the official appeals to find Alcaraz. Alcaraz left the Super 8 motel in Moriarty, a town about 40 miles east of Albuquerque, around 7am on May 6 and has not been seen since. Her jeep was located by a license plate reader near Flagstaff, Arizona, on May 8, with Alcaraz messaging her sister to say she was planning to complete her trip. She did not say if she was alone or had re-joined Stratton with her dog. Her family has not heard from her since. Speaking to WKRN, Toni said: 'I am scared something happened to them, whether they got in another fight or if they crashed her Jeep somewhere. 'I talk to her almost every day, so I am scared something happened to them. It's a trip she's done hundreds of times.' Authorities are still searching for leads to find Alcaraz and Stratton, with the missing mom's family members urging witnesses to come forward. Federal officials have yet to involve themselves in the search, which has so far failed to turn up any leads. Stratton is wanted for failure to appear on a probation violation stemming over an unrelated theft charge. Speaking to WKRN, Toni said: 'I am scared something happened to them, whether they got in another fight or if they crashed her Jeep somewhere' Despite the grim precursor provided by the headline-case surrounding Petito, who was found dead two months after her fight with Laundrie, Toni said she is hopeful her sister is still alive Officials have yet to produce any evidence that indicates Alcaraz is dead - with her case currently being treated like that of a missing person. Despite the grim parallels with the case of Gabby Petito, Toni is hopeful her sister is still alive. 'I don't think she is dead out there somewhere, but it's all a possibility at this point, and I am really scared of that, but I'm praying that's not the case,' she said. Of the similarities to the Petito case, she further remarked: 'All the stories like that that seem to happen and seem to happen more often make it more terrifying.' A Swedish businesswoman worth about 250million should hand her estranged husband more than 6.5million following the breakdown of their six-year marriage, a judge has ruled. Louise Backstrom and Martin Wennberg, who are both in their 30s, had been embroiled in a dispute over money in a London family court. Mr Wennberg wanted a financial package worth more than 40million, but Deputy High Court judge Leslie Samuels has ruled against him. Judge Samuels, who sits in the Family Division of the High Court at the Royal Courts of Justice, considered evidence at a recent hearing held in private. He has outlined his conclusions in a written judgment and named the people involved. The marriage of Louise Backstrom and Martin Wennberg (pictured together) broke down after six years. Ms Backstrom now has been ordered to give her estranged husband more than 6.5million along with 60,000 a year Louise Backstrom, pictured outside of the Royal Courts of Justice, London, is worth about 250million Judge Samuels said Ms Backstrom made a 6.5million 'housing fund' offer in accordance with the terms of a pre-marital agreement. He said that agreement should carry 'full weight'. The judge said Ms Backstrom should also hand over about 60,000 a year for the next six years to meet Mr Wennberg's 'income needs'. The judge was told Ms Backstrom, 33, and Mr Wennberg, 39, are Swedish but lived in England. Ms Backstrom was chairman of the Biltema Foundation and a minority shareholder in Birgma Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited, a family business started and controlled by her grandfather, the judge was told. He concluded that Ms Backstrom had assets of around 250million and Mr Wennberg had assets of 2million. 'The parties met in Stockholm and formed a relationship in March 2012,' the judge said. 'When they met, the wife was a student and the husband was working selling luxury watches.' He said they started living together in 2014, married in 2015 and separated in 2021. 'On any view, the standard of living enjoyed by this family before the breakdown of the marriage was extremely high,' the judge said. 'The parties enjoyed the provision of high-value London properties, staff, expensive holidays, limitless travel options and, overall, the best that money can provide.' The judge said Mr Wennberg 'filed no evidence' and did not provide 'any disclosure of his financial position'. He said Mr Wennberg was in breach of orders requiring him to provide financial information. Detail of the litigation emerged in March, when Ms Backstrom said Mr Wennberg had breached court orders made during the dispute and was in contempt. She asked another judge to impose a jail sentence. Mr Justice Peel, who considered Ms Backstrom's contempt complaint at a public hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London, ruled Mr Wennberg had breached earlier orders made by judges. A judge is due to make decisions about sentencing later this year. There are growing calls for the City University of New York (CUNY) to lose its government funding after the commencement speech of a pro-Palestine, graduating student who used the floor to denigrate Israel, the NYPD, the US Armed Forces and local politicians after receiving her subsidized education. Fatima Mousa Mohammed was chosen by her classmates as the 2023 commencement speaker at CUNY Law's graduation ceremony on May 12. Her 13-minute-long speech has only now become public after CUNY uploaded it to YouTube. Initially, the school kept it private. In her remarks, Mohammed - whose family is Yemeni but who grew up in Queens - called the NYPD 'fascist', accused NYC Mayor Eric Adams of endorsing 'murder', labeled the law a 'manifestation of white supremacy' and accused Israelis of 'settler colonialism'. Fatima Mousa Mohammed was chosen by her classmates as the 2023 commencement speaker at CUNY Law's graduation ceremony on May 12. Her remarks about Israel, Palestine, the NYPD and the Armed Forces sparked uproar Her remarks sparked fury and fear among Jewish groups, who are now demanding to know why CUNY allowed such pro-Palestinian commentary at the commencement ceremony for a second year. Last year's speaker, Nerdeen Kiswani, is also a pro-Palestine activist who used her remarks to comment on the conflict with similar vehemence. 'I have been been facing a campaign of Zionist harassment by well-funded organizations with ties to the Israeli government and military,' she said. She then called a school-organized trip to Israel 'an affront to everyone at CUNY fighting for liberation.' CUNY is yet to denounce either speech. In a statement, a school spokesman said only that the commencement remarks reflected the students' views, but not the school's. The 2022 commencement speaker was Nerdeen Kiswani, a pro-Palestine activist who used her remarks to comment on the conflict with similar vehemence. 'I have been been facing a campaign of Zionist harassment by well-funded organizations with ties to the Israeli government and military,' she said. She then called a school-organized trip to Israel 'an affront to everyone at CUNY fighting for liberation.' Kiswani thanked the school for allowing her to use her speech to give the remarks last year Kiswani is a passionate pro-Palestine activist who has demonstrated alongside Bella Hadid. Hadid, whose father Mohammed Hadid was born to a Palestinian Muslim family in Nazareth, found herself in hot water for commenting on the conflict Both Mohammed (left) and Kiswani (right) were chosen to speak by classmates. CUNY is yet to denounce either woman's remarks. The school's only statement so far has been that their remarks represented their own views, but not the university's CUNY's 2023 Operating Budget Request revealed the university receives $2.8billion from the three level of government There are now growing calls among taxpayers and New York politicians to strip CUNY of its funding. The annual cost of tuition at CUNY Law is $15,000. The national average is $50,000. The subsidization is thanks in large part to the funding CUNY receives for its 25 colleges from all three branches of government. In 2022, CUNY received $2.8billion in government funding; $2billion from New York State, $527million from New York City, and $312million from federal education programs, according to CUNY's 2023 budget request. Administrators asked for an additional $400million in total for this year and also proposed a freeze on fees. Both New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams proposed cuts earlier this year, before the commencement speech saga. Outraged by her remarks, CUNY Law professor Jeffrey Lax is among those demanding action. In an interview with Newsmax this weekend, he called Mohammed's speech 'the most disturbing commencement speech' he had ever heard. 'To my ears it was a blatant call for American insurrection. She calls for rage. She uses the word rage to be the fuel for the fight against capitalism and Zionism. Outrage: Many are calling for CUNY to lose the billions it receives in funding 'An entire people. That is one step short of calling for violence. If some violence results from this, CUNY law is to blame. 'Students have a right to free speech even when they're terribly wrong. But I hold the administration accountable here, wholly because. 'The administration reviews almost every commencement speech by a student that I have ever heard of. 'I am sure it happened here too, and they condoned this speech and put it out there. 'They are responsible.' He is part of the group SAFE CUNY, a group which 'advocates for Zionist Jews systemically discriminated against and excluded by CUNY and the faculty union.' Others, including Republican New York politicians, are also calling for cuts. 'Beyond despicable that blatant antisemitism has been allowed to take hold at a taxpayer funded university here in New York,' said Rep. Anthony D'Esposito. Council Member Ari Kagan called the remarks 'vile', 'anti-American' and 'anti-Israel.' 'Totally unacceptable graduation speech for taxpayer-funded institution. CUNY should immediately condemn this hateful speech & take al steps necessary to address such dangerous rhetoric.' 'This hate-filled and dangerous speech has been brought to you by CUNY and paid for by New York taxpayers. 'Keep this in mind next time our elected leaders highlight their commitment to fighting antisemitism,' said New York State Assemblyman Himcha Eisenstein. But at least six of the cases 'appear to be bogus judicial decisions with bogus quotes and bogus internal citations' A New York City lawyer has found himself in hot water after admitting he used fake information provided by ChatGPT for research in a lawsuit against Avianca airlines. In the lawsuit, Roberto Mata claims his knee was injured when he was struck by a metal serving cart on a flight from El Salvador to Kennedy International Airport in New York back in 2019. After the airline asked a Manhattan judge to toss out the case because the statute of limitations had expired, Mata's lawyer Steven Schwartz submitted a 10-page brief featuring half a dozen relevant court decisions. But the cases cited in the filing - including Martinez v. Delta Air Lines, Zicherman v. Korean Air Lines and Varghese v. China Southern Airlines - did not exist. Avianca's lawyer told the court they did not recognize the cases, with Bart Banino, of Condon & Forsyth, telling CBS MoneyWatch 'We figured it was some sort of chatbot of some kind.' Steven Schwartz submitted a 10-page brief featuring half a dozen relevant court decisions that turned out to be made up by ChatGPT Roberto Mata claims his knee was injured when he was struck by a metal serving cart on an Avianca flight from El Salvador to Kennedy International Airport in New York It turned out that at least six of the cases 'appear to be bogus judicial decisions with bogus quotes and bogus internal citations,' said Judge Kevin Castel of the Southern District of New York on May 4. ChatGPT was first unleashed in November, sparking excitement and alarm at its ability to generate convincingly human-like essays, poems, form letters and conversational answers to almost any question. But, as the lawyer found out, the technology is still limited and unreliable. Schwartz, of the firm Levidow, Levidow & Oberman, apologized last week in an affidavit after being called out by the case's judge, saying he used 'a source that has revealed itself to be unreliable.' This week, Schwartz said he 'greatly regrets having utilized generative artificial intelligence to supplement the legal research performed herein and will never do so in the future without absolute verification of its authenticity.' The lawyer added that he had never used the technology for research purposes before, and 'was unaware of the possibility that its content could be false.' He said he had even asked ChatGTP to verify the cases were real, and that it had said they were. In a copy of the exchange submitted to the judge, Schwartz asked ChatGPT: 'Is varghese a real case' and 'Are the other cases you provided fake.' The bot replied: 'No, the other cases I provided are real and can be found in reputable legal databases.' Fellow attorney Peter Loduca, whose name also appeared on the bogus court filing, said he had no role in the research but 'no reason to doubt the sincerity' of Schwartzs research. A hearing has been set for June 8 to discuss potential sanctions against Schwartz, who has 30 years of experience as a lawyer in New York. Schwartz has been ordered to show the judge why he shouldn't be sanctioned for the 'use of fraudulent notarization.' A migrant mother who was charged for throwing her baby in a New York City hospital trash can said she 'didn't realize' she threw the newborn away. Lucia Garcia, 21, was covered in blood when she was arrested at Staten Island University Hospital on May 20 when cleaning staff and hospital security found her baby in the trash. But Garcia, from Mexico, has now claimed that she 'thought it was just blood' and 'I didn't know I put my baby in the trash until the nurse told me later,' in an interview with the New York Post. Her child was immediately rushed to hospital after his cries were heard from the trash can. He is now in the custody of the citys Administration for Childrens Services. Lucia Garcia, 21, was covered in blood when she was arrested at Staten Island University Hospital (pictured) on May 20 when cleaning staff and hospital security found her baby in the trash The 21-year-old was charged with two counts of assault, two counts of reckless endangerment and one count of acting in a manner injurious to a child following the discovery at the hospital. Garcia migrated from Mexico to Staten Island 10 months ago and previously insisted she was not pregnant. Her father Ambrosio Garcia, 41, took her to hospital the night before the ordeal because she wasn't 'feeling well.' Despite being accused of dumping her infant son in the trash, she told NYP: 'I want him back. I want to take care of him. I just want my baby back. 'At first, I didnt know if I was ready to be a mom. I thought I had made an error but now I just want him here with me.' The father of the child, who lives in Manhattan, has not been named but Garcia's dad is determined to find him and make him 'pay for all of this.' This comes days after a New Mexico teen accused of murdering her newborn baby by dumping him in a hospital trash bag minutes after the birth claims she didn't know she was pregnant. Alexee Trevizo, 19, is charged with murder after she gave birth in a hospital bathroom then placed the baby in a trash bag, where it was tragically found dead. Alexee Trevizo, 19, (pictured) was not aware that she was pregnant before giving birth to her son in New Mexico Her attorney, Gary C Mitchell, told DailyMail.com the teenager wasn't aware of the pregnancy when she attended the Artesia General Hospital on January 27 with back pain. Tests revealed she was pregnant and in labor. She then locked herself in a hospital bathroom for an extended period of time. After she returned, a cleaner found the bathroom covered in blood and then called nurses after lifting the heavy trash bag. She was charged on May 10 with first-degree murder, 'or alternatively' intentional abuse of a child resulting in death, plus a count for tampering with evidence. The harrowing moment police confronted Trevizo in the hospital was captured in body camera footage that showed her tell officers: 'It came out of me, I put it in the bag. In the trash bag. I'm sorry mom.' Mitchell said that the child was found to have died of asphyxia. He claims Trevizo had gone into the hospital bathroom alone while still unaware that she was pregnant. She remained there unattended for 18 minutes, giving birth and then placing the baby in the trash can. A man brandishing a knife has been tasered by police on a busy street with footage capturing the dramatic moment which unfolded in front of stunned shoppers. CCTV video shows the man holding a blade in his right hand while marching at two South Australian police officers in King William Street in Adelaide's CBD on Tuesday. A cool-headed officer then fires his taser and hits the 34-year-old, who was alleged to be carrying the knife in busy Rundle Mall minutes earlier. A man allegedly holding a knife was tasered by SA police in downtown Adelaide on Tuesday morning when he refused to drop the weapon, police said The man hits the footpath heavily and appears to wince in pain, as officers move in to disarm him. SA police said in a statement that patrols were called to the intersection of King William Street and Rundle Mall after reports 'of a man armed with a knife' at 10.35am. Police located the man outside Bean Bar cafe and told him to drop the knife. 'He refused to comply with police direction to drop the weapon and the man was tasered by police to safely disarm him so he could be arrested,' the statement said. Simon Robinson, the owner of Bean Bar cafe, told 9News 'six or seven police cars' arrived 'within seconds' to deal with the man. Officers were able to safely disarm the man after they tasered him on King William Street They were followed five minutes later by two ambulances. The man, from Seaview Downs in the city's south, was taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital for a mental health assessment. He was charged with aggravated affray and carrying an offensive weapon. SA police said they expected he would be refused bail 'once he is deemed fit for custody'. An 11-year-old boy who was shot by police in Mississippi after calling 911 for help has described how he thought he was going to die as he lay bleeding after the bullet ripped through his chest. Aderrien Murry was awoken at around 4am on May 20 to the sound of his mother's ex-boyfriend behaving threateningly, so she asked him to call the police. When officers from Indianola Police Department arrived moments later, Aderrien said he was asked to step out of his room and that when he did he was shot. 'I came out doing this,' he said, with his arms raised, during an interview with ABC News. 'It felt like a taser, like a big punch to the chest.' 'I was bleeding, bleeding from my mouth. Then I would just remember singing a song,' he said. Aderrien Murry, 11, described the moment he was shot in the chest by Mississippi police after calling 911 during an interview with ABC News Aderrien said the bullet 'felt like a Taser, like a big punch to the chest' and said he thought he was going to die Aderrien Murry was awoken at around 4am on May 20 to the sound of his mother's ex-boyfriend behaving threateningly outside the house (pictured) so he was asked to call the police When asked which song he was singing, Aderrien said, 'No weapon formed against me prosper shall,' referring to the Bible verse, Isaiah 54:17: 'No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.' His mother, Nakala Murry, has called for the cop that shot her son to be charged and fired. She recounted giving her son the phone and asking him to call his grandmother after she said they woke up, heard a knock on the window and saw her ex-boyfriend standing outside. '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 told Good Morning America. Aderrien called 911 and his grandmother, who in turn also called 911. Nakala claimed that when the officer arrived he 'had his gun drawn at the front door and asked those inside the home to come outside'. 'Once he was like come out with your hands up, at that moment is when my son came out,' she said. She also spoke of the moment she put her hand over her son's wound to apply pressure while he 'sang gospel songs and prayed while bleeding out'. 'He was like, "I don't want to die," that's what he was saying,' his mother recounted. 'I said, "You're not going to die, baby, you're not going to die, just keep talking".' She previously said that the officer who fired the gun also tried to help by putting his hand over hers to try to stop Aderrien's bleeding. 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 called 911 and his grandmother when his mother's ex-boyfriend came to the house and the family felt threatened The family has hired an attorney, Carlos Moore (pictured), to assist them in bringing a case against the city Indianola Mayor Ken Featherstone said last week that police officer Greg Capers fired the shot that hit Aderrien. Capers has been suspended pending an investigation, a source for Indianola Police Department told DailyMail.com. Aderrien 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 family has hired an attorney, Carlos Moore, to assist them in bringing a case against the city. Moore told CNN, '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' by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. But Moore said he had been told there is a video of the shooting captured from a nearby gas station. The MBI issued a statement after the shooting saying it is 'currently assessing this critical incident and gathering evidence' and would hand over its findings to the state attorney general's office after completing the investigation. A lawyer representing the family of a murdered British woman has accused her killer husband of 'play-acting' after he once again postponed his appeal. Caroline Crouch, 20, was killed by her helicopter pilot husband Charalambos Babis Anagnostopoulos, 35, in front of their nine-month-old daughter Lydia at their home two years ago. Last May he was convicted of the brutal murder and sentenced to 27 years but he has appealed claiming mitigating circumstances - that he reacted as he did only out of fear for his daughter, believing Caroline would hurt her. However, his stop-start appeal which began in February, has plodded along with multiple dates postponed due to Anagnostopoulos's lawyer being unavailable or the convict claiming he is 'ill'. On Tuesday the case at Athens appeal court was adjourned within minutes of it opening after more alleged delay tactics were used by the twisted killer's legal team which left Crouch family lawyer Thanassis Harmarnis furious. Greek helicopter pilot Babis Anagnostopoulos leaves the Athens Court of Appeal escorted by an armed police officer on May 8 2023 Anagnostopoulos told the court that he regretted what he did. Pictured in Athens on May 8 He told MailOnline: 'What we are seeing in this case is something that is unheard of anywhere else in Europe and it is trying my patience and that of the court. 'Every few weeks I travel three hours in one direction only for the case to be adjourned after we start and then I have to travel three hours back. 'Babis may well be studying for his law exams in prison so he can get a law degree but in my opinion he should apply for acting school. It is a joke. It's play acting. 'I have to ask myself if this case will ever finish and why these delaying tactics. I think we have sat for maybe four hours in total since we started all this back in February.' Caroline's father retired engineer David also blasted the delay and told MailOnline: 'This has become a farce. 'What I can't understand is why the Greek judicial system allows all this buggering about, why can't they just tell them to present their case and if they don't, tough luck.' In the latest session Anagnostopoulos's lawyer Alexandros Papaioannides said he was unable to attend and it then emerged his substitute was not qualified to act for the defendant who was also not in court. The president of the court reluctantly agreed to an adjournment until Thursday but stressed it must proceed and scheduled further hearings for next month so the case could be completed. Anagnostopoulos created a web of lies, claiming burglars had killed Caroline after breaking into their upmarket apartment in a suburb of the Greek capital Athens. He even callously killed the couple's dog, Roxy, to make the story more realistic before smothering Caroline in her sleep and then tying himself up. Detectives cracked the case after noticing data on fitness apps on Caroline's smart watch didn't tally with his story and he was held after crying crocodile tears at his wife's funeral on the island of Alonissos. Charalambos (Babis) Anagnostopoulos (R) wife Caroline Crouch (L) and their baby daughter Anagnostopoulos was found guilty of the pre-meditated murder of his wife and sentenced to 27 and a half years in prison in 2022 for the crime. This included a jail term of 11 years and six months for the killing of Roxy, as well as a 21,000 euro fine (18,316). For the murder of his wife, he received a life sentence. After the sentencing was passed, his lawyer said the outcome was 'expected'. But Agnostopoulos has sought to reduce the sentence on the basis that, he claims, the killing was not premeditated. In February, the Crouch family spoke out against the appeal. Caroline's father said: 'It is absolutely despicable that my daughter's killer is trying to get his prison sentence reduced because of his "good behaviour". 'The crime committed by the murderer, that of femicide, is a heinous crime that should deserve particularly severe punishment. 'In my opinion, men who kill their wives, for whatever reason, are the lowest of the low, ranking alongside paedophiles.' Agnostopoulos called his parents and another four witnesses to take the stand in his defence during an appeal hearing in early May. Defence lawyer Alexandros Papaioannides said beforehand: 'There are going to be quite a lot of new witnesses and documents that will contain elements that will help reverse this case. 'I think there will be a more correct assessment [by the court] of the circumstances that prevailed that day in regards to the crime he committed and whether it was committed in the heat of the moment.' Babis Anagnostopoulos leaves the Athens Court of Appeal on May 8 2023 Babis Anagnostopoulos (left) is pictured with Caroline Crouch (right) Papaioannidis has previously argued his client is a 'model prisoner' who 'reads a lot and works in the canteen' and should not be punished for a crime 'that was never premeditated.' The state coroner has said that Crouch would have suffered 'a long and agonising death'. She was pinned down by the pilot in the couple's Athens maisonette, resisting as she attempted to fight back as he suffocated her for five minutes with a pillow. An American student studying teaching in Australia has been left with shocking facial injuries after he was hit in the head with a rock thrown by thieves on a scooter. York Danielson, 32, from Seattle, is living in Fremantle in Perth's south and was targeted by 'two guys dressed all in black' who tried to snatch his backpack as he rode home on Sunday. Mr Danielson managed to 'outride' them on his bike during a tense three-block chase but when he stopped to alert a neighbour, thinking he had lost them, the pair zoomed past and pelted him with the heavy limestone block. After 48 hours in hospital, Mr Danielson was released on Tuesday but is in for a lengthy recovery with pictures of his swollen face showing the extent of his injuries. 'I'm feeling pretty rough to be honest. They can't do surgery until the swelling goes down,' Mr Danielson told Daily Mail Australia. 'I've got a ton of broken bones in my face and broken teeth.' York Danielson was hit in the head by a rock thrown by thieves on a scooter He suffered facial fractures and broken teeth and is in for a series of surgeries The limestone block hit him 'square in the face' and caused him to black out and spend 48 hours in hospital He is booked in for his first follow up facial and dental surgeries next week. Despite the considerable blow to his face, he still remembers exactly what happened. 'It was insane... I stopped to talk to a neighbor about being chased,' Mr Danielson said. 'Before I could hardly get a word out they (the thieves) flew by on the scooter and threw a brick at my head! 'Fortunately my neighbor was there to help me out, or I might not have survived.' He blacked out after the rock hit him square in the face and has been vomiting as a side effect from his concussion. Not only does he now have to focus on his rehabilitation but also how he will stay afloat financially. 'Because I'm a foreign student, I don't have access to Medicare and only have insurance which pay for just a tiny bit,' he said. A GoFundMe as been setup to help with medical bills. The Seattle native is in Fremantle in Perth studying to be a teacher He said despite the incident he still loves the city but is worried about the cost of medical bills Despite the ordeal he remains in high spirits and insists he will have a great story to tell his students. 'I'm trying to be positive and smile through it,' Mr Danielson said. 'Hopefully I can get back to teaching as soon as I can... I still love this city. Detectives are now investigating the sickening attack. 'They (police) gone over the scene with a fine tooth comb apparently.' 'But they are still at large, they were dressed all in black on an unregistered moped, which is why they're having trouble finding them. Anyone with information is urged to contact police. Nun's life, including 75 years spent under vows, is now in the spotlight The incredible life story of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster is in the spotlight, after the Catholic nun's remains were exhumed with little sign of decay since her death in 2019, in what some believers say is a miraculous sign of holiness. In recent days, thousands of faithful have flocked to see Lancaster's remains in Gower, Missouri, where she founded the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles religious order, and died four years ago at age 95. The nuns of the order say that Lancaster's body was being reinterred to make way for a construction project, and that they had only expected to find bones, because she had been buried in a simple wooden coffin without any embalming. Instead, they discovered an intact body and 'a perfectly preserved religious habit,' the statement said. The nuns hadn't meant to publicize the discovery, but someone shared a private email publicly and 'the news began to spread like wildfire.' The monastery said in a statement that Lancaster's body will be placed in a glass shrine in their church. The local diocese said it will investigate, but warned that Lancaster's remains should not be venerated or treated as relics in the meantime. Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster is seen meeting Pope John Paul II in 1998. Lancaster died at age 95 in 2019, but her unblemished remains are being hailed by believers as a sign of holiness People pray over the body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster at the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles abbey Sunday, May 28 near Gower, Missouri Sister Wilhelmina's remains were placed in a glass display box inside the church on Monday Sister Wilhemina was born in St. Louis as Mary Elizabeth Lancaster on April 13, 1924, the second of five children of Oscar and Ella Lancaster. According to an autobiography shared by the religious order she founded, in 1934, when she was nine, she took First Communion, later writing that she experienced a vision in which 'Our Lord asked me if I would be His.' 'He seemed to be such a handsome and wonderful Man, I agreed immediately,' she wrote. 'Then He told me to meet Him every Sunday at Holy Communion. I said nothing about this conversation to anyone, believing that everyone that went to Holy Communion heard Our Lord talk to them.' After this experience, her priest asked her if she had ever considered becoming a nun, and she jumped at the idea, writing a letter to the Oblate Sisters of Providence in Baltimore seeking to join when she was just 13. 'Dear Mother Superior,' the letter said, according to Catholic News Agency. 'I am a girl, 13 years old, and I would like to become a nun. I plan to come to your convent as soon as possible.' However, she learned that she would have to wait until she finished high school to begin the process of becoming a nun, and returned to her school studies. The incredible life story of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster is in the spotlight, after the Catholic nun's remains were exhumed with little sign of decay four years after her death Sr. Wilhelmina plays ball with the students during her longest teaching assignment, at St. Pius V in Baltimore Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster founded the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles Growing up in segregated St. Louis was not without adversity for young Lancaster, and according to CNA, she was once taunted with the racist nickname 'chocolate drops' as she passed through a white neighborhood on her way home from school. When the local Catholic high school became segregated, Lancaster's parents, who did not want her to attend public school, founded St. Joseph's Catholic High School for Negroes. She graduated as valedictorian of the school her parents had helped to found, and then entered training with the Oblate Sisters of Providence in 1941. On March 9th, 1944, she took her vows of poverty, chastity and obedience with the order, and selected the the new name 'Wilhelmina' in honor of her pastor, Fr. William Markoe, who encouraged her to pursue her vocation, according to the Catholic Key. Later in life, according to CNA, she would quip: 'I am Sister WIL-HEL-MINA I've a HELL of a WILL and I MEAN it!' Over her 50 years with the Oblate Sisters of Providence, Lancaster worked as a school teacher, archivist and assisted in the Mount Providence Center of Music and General Culture. She fought hard to preserve the order's traditions, particularly the use of the full habit, even constructing one of her own when the sisters stopped producing them. She crafted parts of her homemade habit out of a plastic bleach bottle. It may have saved her life when a troubled student threw a knife at her, which was deflected by the stiff, high-necked collar of the garment. Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster was ardently in favor of wearing a full nun's habit, and eventually left her order in Baltimore when they abandoned the tradition Over her 50 years with the Oblate Sisters of Providence, Lancaster worked as a school teacher, archivist and assisted in the Mount Providence Center of Music and General Culture In 1995, Sister Wilhelmina formally left the Oblate Sisters of Providence to found the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, a strict contemplative order 'To those who say that my leaving my old community to found a new one doesn't make sense, I reply that it is understandable only in the life of faith,' she once wrote 'I had no thought or desire of leaving my community in those days, but I was gung-ho for seeing it reformed. We had made a wrong turn, I said, and should go back,' she later wrote. In 1995, Sister Wilhelmina formally left the Oblate Sisters of Providence to found the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, a strict contemplative order that follows the Rule of St. Benedict. 'To those who say that my leaving my old community to found a new one doesn't make sense, I reply that it is understandable only in the life of faith,' she once wrote. When Lancaster's health was in decline in 2019, the novices in her order tended to her at her bedside, and one prayed in particular to 'witness a preparatory grace' before her death. 'The Novice's prayer was answered when, on the morning of January 10th, she went into Sr. Wilhelmina's cell to find her smiling radiantly with 'a very pure and innocent expression,'' the order said in a newsletter. Lancaster was heard to exclaim: 'Jesus, Jesus! He is the Good Shepherd. He wants everyone to go to heaven! He says everyone is supposed to go to heaven!' 'When asked if she had seen the Lord, she answered, 'Yes, I saw Jesus! Everyone in the world, everyone should go to heaven. Heaven, heaven, I want to go to heaven!'' the newsletter added. Lancaster died on May 29, 2019, and was buried by hand on the ground of the convent. Her body was exhumed in April to make way for the addition of a St. Joseph shrine, according to a statement from the religious order. Lancaster died on May 29, 2019, and was buried by hand on the ground of the convent Now thousands are flocking to view the nun's unblemished remains, which some hail as a potential miracle People pray over the body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster at the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles abbey Sunday, May 28 People wait to view the body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster at the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles abbey on Sunday Now thousands are flocking to view the nun's unblemished remains, which some hail as a potential miracle. Volunteers and local law enforcement have helped to manage the crowds in the town of roughly 1,800 people, as people have visited from all over the country to see and touch Lancaster's body. 'It was pretty amazing,' said Samuel Dawson, who is Catholic and visited from Kansas City with his son last week. 'It was very peaceful. Just very reverent.' Dawson said there were a few hundred people when he visited and that he saw many out-of-state cars. Visitors were allowed to touch her, Dawson said, adding that the nuns 'wanted to make her accessible to the public ... because in real life, she was always accessible to people.' On Monday, Lancaster's body was placed in a glass shrine in the convent's church, according to the Catholic News Agency. Visitors will still be able to see her body and take dirt from her grave, but they won't be able to touch her. The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph also released a statement saying: '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.' 'Incorruptibility has been verified in the past, but it is very rare. There is a well-established process to pursue the cause for sainthood, but that has not been initiated in this case yet,' the diocese added. 'It is understandable that many would be driven by faith and devotion to see the mortal remains of Sister Wilhelmina given the remarkable condition of her body, but visitors should not touch or venerate her body, or treat them as relics,' the statement said. The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, also noted that Lancaster has not yet reached the required minimum of five years since death for the sainthood process to begin. Rebecca George, an anthropology instructor at Western Carolina University in North Carolina, said the body's lack of decomposition might not be as rare as people are expecting. George said the 'mummification' of un-embalmed bodies is common at the university's facility and the bodies could stay preserved for many years, if allowed to. Coffins and clothing also help to preserve bodies, she said. 'Typically, when we bury people, we dont exhume them. We dont get to look at them a couple years out,' George said. 'With 100 years, there might be nothing left. But when you've got just a few years out, this is not unexpected.' A man who was brutally beaten over Memorial Day weekend by a mob of up to 40 teens at a California beach said 'they kept going' - even after he'd identified as a Marine. Hunter Antonino had been quietly enjoying time away from Camp Pendleton Marine Corp Base with two others when the savage altercation unfolded at San Clemente. Antonino said the confrontation started when he told the teenagers to stop lighting fireworks after debris from the explosive devices struck him in the face. Frightening video posted online showed two victims curled up in the fetal position on the ground as the crowd continued to kick them, hurling profanities and racial slurs. A third Marine was also attacked but not shown in the footage. The men sustained minor injuries, and refused to be transported to a local hospital in the aftermath, Orange County Sheriff's deputies say. Police are investigating the horrific attack and the unknown teens could all soon face charges of assault with a deadly weapon for the beat down. Hunter Antonino (pictured) had been quietly enjoying time away from Camp Pendleton Marine Corp Base with two others when he was savagely beaten by a group of teens in San Clemente. He says that debris from their fireworks hit him in the face Antonino said the confrontation started when he told the teenagers to stop lighting fireworks. He added that he'd identified as a marine and 'they kept going' There are believed to have been as many as 40 teenagers involved in the assault, but the Marines suffered only minor injuries In the roughly minute-long video posted to Facebook, the Marines in their civilian clothes were seen trying to walk up the steps outside the Pier Bowl as a group of teenagers shouted at them. As they approached the stairs, a male teen was seen brutally punching the back of one of the Marine's heads. The Marine is then seen turning around and charging at the assailant, which led to an all-out brawl - as the teen's friends all jumped in to take swings and kick him. Within seconds the group circled around the two Marines yelling 'Get that f***er' and 'f*** that f***er up,' even using the N-word at one point. As the cameraman moved closer to the unfolding scene, two of the victims were seen curled up on the ground as the group continued to strike them with vicious kicks. The brawl only came to an end after two passersby, an unknown man and woman, intervened and yelled at the children: 'Stop, what are you doing?' It remains unclear what transpired prior to the video, but Antonino, told KCAL that the he'd politely asked the teens to settle down. 'They were lighting off fireworks, they were being belligerent and obnoxious and annoying other people, so I went up to them and told them to stop,' he recounted. But the group followed him back to the pier, at which point Antonio said he and his friend warned the teenagers that they were Marines 'so they would leave, but they didn't.' The brawl only ended when two unidentified passersby intervened and yelled at the teenagers The vicious attack began outside the Pier Bowl as the Marines dressed in their civilian clothes began walking up the steps Antonino fears he may have also sustained a concussion in the aftermath. 'My face still has blood on it,' he said. 'It wasn't cool at all.' Arrests have yet to be made in the brutal attack as Orange County Sheriff's deputies continue their investigation. The suspects may be charged with assault with a deadly weapon 'because of the amount of suspects we are investigating,' Sheriff Sgt. Frank Gonzalez said. 'The weapons that were used were their feet while these victims were on the ground,' he explained. 'So regardless if the victims choose prosecution or choose medical attention, the sheriff's department is going to investigate this to the fullest and try to determine who the suspects are.' San Clemente Mayor Chris Duncan described the Memorial Day weekend attack as 'tragic.' 'This is San Clemente, Marines are always welcome here, always going to be celebrated, always taken care of, and that is why this is so particularly tragic,' he said. A CNN segment discussing the impending prison sentence of disgraced biotech entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes took a strange turn, when a guest went rogue and claimed she might end up as another inmate's girlfriend. Holmes is set to report to a Texas prison on Tuesday. She is facing an 11-year sentence for defrauding investors through her blood-testing company, Theranos. On Monday's episode of CNN's 'News Central' with anchor Boris Sanchez, Larry Levine, who is described as a 'consultant who assists prospective inmates transition to prison life,' was invited on to discuss his predictions on prison life for Holmes. When asked what she should be doing on her last day of freedom, Levine made three suggestions that appeared to leave the host taken aback. 'Three things. I'm gonna get a little crude here,' he began. 'She should spend some time with her kids, for sure. She should have a good meal and maybe she should have sex with her husband,' he said. CNN's 'News Central' took a strange turn Monday night when guest Larry Levine made a bizarre comment about how Elizabeth Holmes should spend her last day of freedom Elizabeth Holmes spent her last Memorial Day weekend as a free woman soaking up the sun with her family at the beach in San Diego 'Because she's gonna be havingshe might end up being somebody's girlfriend in there because she's not a bad-looking woman,' Levine said as Sanchez laughed before cutting him off. Levine, wearing sunglasses and dressed in a printed button-down short sleeve shirt, covered in American flags, also claimed that Holmes should expect to be treated like a 'scumbag,' by other inmates in the facility. 'Ok, Larry,' Sanchez said. 'Though we appreciate your advice I'm not sure it's the best for an afternoon on Memorial Day. Thank you so much for the time. Again, appreciate the shirt. Thanks for sharing part of your holiday with us, Larry. We do appreciate it.' 'Certainly. Bye-bye,' Levine replied with a straight face. Holmes has been free on bail since her conviction in January 2022, most recently living in California with her children's father, William 'Billy' Evans. The two met in 2017, around the same period as Holmes was under investigation for the collapse of Theranos, a startup she founded after dropping out of Stanford University when she was only 19 years old. The U.S. District Court judge recommended she serve her more than 11-year sentence in Bryan, Texas 1,800 miles away from her family in California Elizabeth Holmes will report to the minimum security prison camp at Bryan, Texas, today The 39-year-old convicted fraudster will finally report to a federal lockup on Tuesday, after managing to delay her start date last month It seemed to be a bittersweet moment for the couple whose children will have to spend much of their childhood without their mother Theranos Founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes, then 29, is photographed holding a nanotainer of blood at Theranos headquarters in Palo Alto, California, June 30, 2014 Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes and COO Sunny Balwani addressing the company's staff in 2015 at the company's then-headquarters in Palo Alto, California Holmes, 39, is expected to surrender by 12pm Tuesday at an all women's prison camp in Bryan, Texas - about 100 miles from Houston, where she was raised and had dreamed of becoming the next Steve Jobs. The convicted fraudster spent her last days of freedom soaking up the sun with her partner and two children at the beach in San Diego over the Memorial Day Weekend. As she begins her prison sentence today - 1,800m from her San Diego home - Holmes will be leaving behind two young children - a son born in July 2021 a few weeks before the start of her trial and a 3-month-old daughter who was conceived after a jury convicted her on four felony counts of fraud and conspiracy in January 2022. However, things could have turned out far worse for the disgraced former CEO. Her new home is hardly Alcatraz and the minimum security prison has instead been dubbed 'Club Fed', where inmates aren't even required to sleep in cells. The 'Club Fed' prison that she is expected to enter today is already no stranger to high-profile inmates. Among her roomies, is fellow fraudster and one-time Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Jen Shah, who reported to the prison in February to start a six-and-a-half-year sentence for her part in a telemarketing scam. A bus carrying Hindu pilgrims to a shrine in Indian-controlled Kashmir skidded off a highway bridge into a Himalayan gorge Tuesday, killing at least 10 people and injuring 55, police said. The bus was on the way to Katra town from the northern state of Punjab's Amritsar city when it fell into the gorge near Jammu city. Local police officer Chandan Kohli told reporters that the bus was overloaded. He said the dead were from India's eastern Bihar state. Residents and authorities rushed to the accident and launched a rescue operation. The injured have been hospitalized. The shrine of Vaishno Devi in Katra is highly revered by Hindus and hundreds of thousands visit it every year. Rescuers prepare to use a crane after a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims to a shrine skid off a highway bridge into a Himalayan gorge near Jammu, India, Tuesday, May 30, 2023 Tyres of a bus stand by the edge of a bridge after an accident near Jammu, India, Tuesday, May 30, 2023 People watch rescuers use a crane after a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims to a shrine skid off a highway bridge into a Himalayan gorge near Jammu, India, Tuesday, May 30, 2023 India has some of the highest road death rates in the world, with hundreds of thousands of people killed and injured annually. Most crashes are blamed on reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and aging vehicles. In September last year, 11 people were killed and 29 injured after an overcrowded minibus carrying school children plunged down a steep gorge in northern India. Nearly 40 people were crammed into the minibus, which was carrying a number of students, when the accident had occurred in Kashmir. The bus veered off the road and had plunged about 250 feet down a steep gorge near the village of Sawjian in Jammu's Poonch district. The bus was on the way to Katra town from the northern state of Punjab's Amritsar city when it fell into the gorge near Jammu city Nine people were killed on the spot and two others died later in hospital. Officials said the 29 injured people were in a critical condition, including six who were airlifted to a hospital in Jammu, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. Footage from the scene of the crash showed local villagers, police officers and soldiers rushing down the hillside to rescue the injured passengers from the bus, which had ended up on its side after rolling down the gorge. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced in a tweet that compensation of 500,000 rupees (5,447) would be given to victims' families. India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, and president, Droupadi Murmu, both expressed their condolences on Twitter. 'My thoughts are with all those who lost their loved ones. Wishing the injured a speedy recovery,' Modi wrote. Rescue team inspects the wreckage after a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims to a shrine skid off a highway bridge into a Himalayan gorge near Jammu, India, Tuesday, May 30, 2023 A record number of Americans traveled by air over Memorial Day weekend with nearly 9.8 million people flying over four days, topping even pre-pandemic levels. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agency said the bank holiday, which typically marks the start of the busy US summer air travel season, saw 300,000 more passengers flying than during the same vacation period in 2019. On Friday alone, 2.74 million passengers passed through airport security - the highest number recorded in a single day since November 2019. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), airlines and flight tracking websites reported smooth travel over the Memorial Day period and significant improvements over 2022 performance, including cancellation rates far below recent years. A record number of Americans traveled by air over Memorial Day weekend with nearly 9.8 million people flying over four days, topping even pre-pandemic levels. Pictured: Passengers wait for rides outside LAX on Saturday Travelers line up at a security checkpoint in the Denver International Airport on Friday as the summer travel season kicked off with the Memorial Day weekend American Airlines said it canceled only 13 regional flights on Sunday, or 0.2 percent of total scheduled departures, following four consecutive days without any cancelations. Marquez Griffin, vice president of Airport Operations, told My News 13 the surging crowds were 'pushing our capacity again to the limit' at the start of the bank holiday. Thousands of people also hit the roads and tracks to take trips throughout the long weekend, with an estimated 42 million predicted to be traveling at some point overall. The majority of these travelers were expected to make trips by car. This comes despite high gas prices, with the average national price set at $3.53 per gallon - though this is still well below last year's level of around $4.60 in May 2022. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agency said the bank holiday, which typically marks the start of the busy US summer air travel season, saw 300,000 more passengers flying than during the same vacation period in 2019 Thousands of people also hit the roads and tracks to take trips throughout the long weekend, with an estimated 42 million predicted to be traveling at some point overall The majority of travelers were expected to make trips by car. Pictured: Motorists traveling on Interstates 90-94 head north of Chicago on Friday, May 26 This comes despite high gas prices, with the average national price set at $3.53 per gallon - though this is still well below last year's level of around $4.60 in May 2022 A Florida teacher found dead in her apartment beside her lover had only moved into the property three weeks prior to the tragic incident. Amanda Hicks, 26, was found lying on the floor of the home she shared with her unnamed partner on Saturday, in Port St Lucie, Florida. Neighbors of the sixth-grade teacher revealed that she had only just moved into the new home three weeks prior, with her partner and 10-month-old daughter. The little girl was heard crying behind a locked door before police entered the building and discovered Hicks dead on the floor next to a man. Authorities have yet to confirm his identity, but they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the death of Hicks and believe that he killed her before taking his own life. A lifelong friend described Amanda, pictured, as being 'passionate' for her friends and family, adding that she was 'absolutely gorgeous inside and out' Hick's daughter, called Alani, was born in July 2022 and was found alive in the apartment by police who heard her crying Her daughter was found unharmed in her crib, and is now in the custody of another family member following the murder. Speaking to CBS12 News, neighbors said they wish they 'could have reached out' to help the couple, adding 'they seemed very normal'. They said: 'We didn't even get time to even get to know them because everything happened so fast. My heart goes out for the family, though. Hopefully, they find peace in all of this.' Officers discovered the bodies at the apartment in Peacock Run after a family member requested a welfare check on a male resident there. Tributes have poured in for the middle school teacher who worked at Dr David L Anderson Middle School. The school is closed for the summer break, but Martin County is offering counselors to teachers and staff for the incident. Principal Darcia Borel sent out a memo to staff members identifying her as the female victim, writing: 'The Port St. Lucie Police Department has confirmed that Ms. Hicks was the victim of a homicide. 'While words will never be enough to convey the shock and sadness this news has brought to our school family, it is more important than ever to come together to support one another through our grief journey. Neighbors of the sixth-grade teacher revealed that she had only just moved into the new home three weeks prior, with her partner and 10-month-old daughter. Pictured: Amanda Hicks in a photo from the Martin County School District Hicks is pictured with her brother, Eric, who posted on Facebook 'Yall plz help us raise money for my sisters funeral and service and everything' She is seen in a YouTube video discussing her favorite places to snorkel along the Florida coastline 'Additional information about memorials and opportunities for supporting Amanda's beautiful little girl will be forthcoming.' Hicks had given birth to her baby girl, Alani, in July, and lost her mother in December 2018 after a battle with cancer. Her brother Eric posted online to ask for support for Hicks's funeral and service. A lifelong friend described Amanda as being 'passionate' for her friends and family, adding that she was 'absolutely gorgeous inside and out'. Mariah Uphues posted online: 'This world will never be the same without you Your creativity was pure art. Everything you made turned to gold. 'You were not afraid to speak your mind and even when life tried to knock you down, you still got up and fought at the end of the day. 'Even though I don't know what happened that day, I don't hold any hate in my heart towards him and my heart goes out to his family. Tributes have poured in for the middle school teacher who worked at Dr David L Anderson Middle School Police are pictured on Saturday outside the Peacock Run apartment complex where they found Hicks dead along with an unnamed man. Authorities have not said how they died Officers discovered the bodies at the apartment in Peacock Run after a family member requested a welfare check on a male resident there Hicks, a sixth-grade teacher, is pictured with her mother, who died from cancer in December 2018 'I can't even express my gratefulness for Alani being found unharmed but nothing can ever fully replace having her parents by her side you were loved by so many and will be missed for all of our remaining years.' Hicks' friend of five years, Raquel Magallon, told WBPF that she was 'an angel' who brought joy to all those who knew her. 'She just lit up the room. She had such a big, beautiful smile. She was always happy and always energetic. 'She was just an angel. She definitely brightened my day every time I saw her.' Enrollment at community colleges picked up this Spring, with more students opting for two-year programs over costly four-year degrees on campuses that have become hotbeds of social activism. Data from the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) shows how enrollment at two-year community college courses rose 0.5 percent this Spring, as numbers fell at public and private nonprofit four-year programs. The shift comes as college costs reach eye-watering levels of on average $39,400 a year for a private school four-year-degree, nudging more students into community college technical courses that offer a faster route to salary-paying jobs. It also comes as Republican politicians crack down on 'woke' diversity schemes in some college systems, and as campuses host ever more clashes between liberal and conservative students and educators. Enrollment at two-year community college courses rose 0.5 percent this Spring, as numbers fell at public and private nonprofit four-year programs A clash between a liberal dean and a conservative judge invited to speak at Stanford University Law School. Some students just want to stay out of politics Among the recent examples involved conservative Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan, whose planned address to Stanford University Law School in March was marred by students and a dean protesting over the jurist's record. Likewise, college swimming champion Riley Gaines last month revealed how she was punched by a trans activist after giving an address about women-only competitions at San Francisco State University. Doug Shapiro, the NSC's research and executive director, said that despite the pandemic coming to an end, a 'new set of factors appears to be preventing students from returning to campuses.' Across the board, college enrollments have fallen for four straight years, declining by 0.5 percent this Spring. Still, he added, there were 'encouraging signs of recovery among younger students at community colleges,' especially those choosing courses where they can 'easily see a direct link to the workforce.' Enrollment in public two-year colleges had been trending downward since 2010 and tanked in the pandemic, the NSC says. But that changed this year as more people signed up for courses in computing, mechanics, catering, transportation and other practical and technological fields. Costs are doubtless part of the equation. According to the College Board, another nonprofit, public community college courses cost on average $3,860 a year, compared to $10,940 for public universities and $39,400 for private, four-year college courses. Computing, mechanics, catering, and transportation majors saw some of the biggest increases in community college enrollment this Spring Notably, four traditionally blue-collar majors saw large increases in enrollment this spring Young people appear to be shunning traditional universities, with enrollment declining and an increasing number of teenagers taking jobs or attending two-year institutions to study more blue collar pursuits The shift to community college suggests young people eye opportunities in the job market. The unemployment rate for teens is the lowest in decades. In April 2023, the rate was 9.2 percent, the lowest since 1953. The teen unemployment figure peaked at 30.2 percent at the start of the pandemic but has mostly fallen since. When they enter the workforce, young people who take leisure and hospitality jobs have seen wages that grew by 30 percent for seasonal workers from 2019 to 2023 and 20 percent for year-round employees. Failed presidential candidate Chris Christie, the Trump-bashing former governor of New Jersey, is set to announce a fresh bid for the White House 'within two weeks.' The New York Times reported the 60-year-old Republican is close to finalizing a campaign team and will announce plans to go up against the former president and others in the growing GOP primary field within the next two weeks. Christie, who ran the state of New Jersey from 2010 to 2018, went up against the real estate mogul in the 2016 primaries. But the larger-than-life former prosecutor dropped out in the February of that year after receiving a hammering in New Hampshire, finishing a dismal sixth in the Granite State GOP vote. Ex-New Jersey governor Chris Christie is eyeing another bid for the White House, with allies claiming he will enter the race within the next two weeks Allies of Christie have formed what is known as a super political action committee, or Super PAC, called 'Tell It Like It Is', according to the NYT. These self-styled independent organizations are allowed to rake in and spend unlimited amounts of corporate, individual or union cash on behalf of a candidate. Christie, a one-time Trump whisperer, has been repeatedly teasing a 2024 run over the past three years. He broke ranks with the ex-commander-in-chief when he claimed that the 2020 election was stolen from him. The former attorney has reportedly drafted in a number of seasoned Republican political operatives who once advised on presidential campaigns for the late John McCain and Mitt Romney, a senator for Utah. They include Maria Comella, the ex-chief of staff to disgraced Democratic ex-New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who resigned in 2021 amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Brian Jones, the head of the PAC and Christie's campaign manager-in-waiting, said the ex-governor 'is willing to confront the hard truths that currently threaten the future of the Republican Party.' 'Now more than ever we need leaders that have the courage to say not what we want to hear but what we need to hear,' he added. Christie, who once called a 2024 bid 'a huge risk, has been tapping up potential donors as he makes his pitch to be the main anti-Trump GOP candidate. His allies believes that he will be able to attract the independent vote who can beat Joe Biden in November next year. He has also attacked Ron DeSantis, the recently-declared Republican candidate, over his 'war on woke' battle with Disney. Christie also recently hit out at Ron DeSantis (above) over his long-running feud with Disney 'Where are we headed here now that, if you express disagreement in this country, the government is allowed to punish you?,' the former New Jersey governor said last month. In a thinly-veiled swipe at DeSantis, he added: 'To me, that's what I always thought liberals did. And now all of a sudden here we are participating in this with a Republican.' Christie hinted at the likelihood of a 2024 run earlier in May, saying he was 'very concerned' about potential rematch between Trump and President Biden because it would be 'bad for the Republican Party.' He would join a crowded Republican field that already includes South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, ex-South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and talk radio host Larry Elder are also in the running for the GOP nomination. Mike Pence, who served as vice president in the previous administration, and New Hampshire governor Chris Sununu are also thought to be mulling a possible tilt at America's top job. But Donald Trump remains the runaway favorite in nationwide opinion polls, as well as in voter surveys in key battleground states such as Iowa and New Hampshire. An American man is among seven workers who were kidnapped from two illegal call centers within a span of seven days in the western Mexico state of Jalisco. Arizona native Carlos Valladolid, 23, and his sister, Itzel Valladolid, 27, were reported missing by their mother, Elizabeth Hernandez, after they failed to return home from their job in the municipality of Zapopan on May 22. Their coworker, Jorge Moreno, 28, also did not return home the same day. Multiple Mexican news outlets reported that Carlos Valladolid had recently moved to Jalisco and was living with his sister and mother. El Universal newspaper reported Monday that the call centers could be linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The FBI revealed in March that the criminal group had scammed about 600 individuals out of $39.6 million through fraudulently selling or renting their time shares in 2022. The seven workers had been employed by the call center for two or three months, according to Jalisco State Attorney General, Luis Mendez. Carlos Valladolid is among seven workers at two call centers in western Mexico who have disappeared over the last week. The 23-year-old, a native of Arizona, and his sister, a Mexican national, were reported missing May 22 Itzel Valladolid has not been seen since May 22 she and her brother, Arizona native Carlos Valladolid, left their home the Mexican western state of Jalisco to work at a call center that reportedly is part of an investigation led by the United States Department of Treasury. The Jalisco State Attorney General's Office said the center reportedly targeted retired Americans and sold them fraudulent time shares Mexican authorities searched one of the two clandestine call centers who targeted retirees in the United States and sold fraudulent time shares to them Mendez's office revealed that the call centers could be among the 19 Mexico-based companies that were placed under investigation by the United States Department of Treasury. In April, Jalisco New Generation Cartel high-ranking leader, Eduardo Pardo, and six other cartel members were sanctioned for their alleged role in the scheme. Over the weekend, agents assigned to the Jalisco State Attorney General's Office canvassed the two call centers, which are just about a mile away from each other, and found hard drives; USB sticks; computers, documents related to the sale and rental of time shares; and blackboards that contained the names of foreign customers, sales goals and membership information. Authorities also discovered a cloth with a red stain that is being analyzed. The other missing workers were identified as Mayra Velazquez, 29, who has not been seen since reporting to work at the call center May 26. She had been investigated for fraud in 2016. Arturo Robles, 30, was reported missing by his family May 24. Jesus Salazar, 37, traveled to the call center the same day for a job interview and never made it back home. State Attorney General's Office agents found Robles' car parked outside the center. It has since been turned over to his family. Carlos Garcia , 31, was last seen when he left his home to work May 20. Mayra Velazquez, who is also missing, was investigated for fraud in 2016 Arturo Robles is one of two call center workers who disappeared in Zapopan, Mexico, on May 22 Authorities said the Valladolid siblings, Robles, Garcia and Moreno all were employed at a call center located in the Zapopan neighborhood of Jardines Vallarta. Salazar's interview was scheduled at the same location. 'We need them back now, we are very hurt,' Hernandez said of her missing son and daughter. 'We really need the support of all the people who know something and that the information is true.' Velazquez worked at a call center based out of the nearby neighborhood of La Estancia. Robles' sister, Beatriz Robles, told El Pais newspaper that the Mexican government was not doing enough to find her brother and his coworkers. Carlos Garcia was the first of the seven workers who were reported missing when he did not return home May 20 Jesus Salazar is one of seven call center workers who disappeared during a span of seven days in the western Mexico city of Zapopan Call center worker Jorge Moreno has not been seen since May 22, the same day two other coworkers, including an American, failed to return home from the site She claimed she's been met with responses of 'we're too busy' or 'we're overwhelmed' or 'you have to wait' each time they have visited the prosecutor's office for information. She completely understands the attention the latest disappearance have been given because the state of Jalisco accounts for 14,978 of the 110,742 people who have been reported missing in Mexico since 1962. 'And the truth is that it is difficult not to understand it, because you arrive there and the walls of the Attorney General's Office are covered with missing persons. You hear about these things on the news,' Beatriz Robles said. 'We live in an insecure country, you know these things happen, but you never imagine that it could happen to you. 'And this is like fighting a monster that keeps getting bigger and you can't stop it. The government does nothing. It's hard, but we keep hoping to find him dead or alive.' Artificial Intelligence advances will allow robots and computer kiosks to replace the majority of fast food roles within five to 10 years, amounting to millions of job losses, according to an AI entrepreneur. 'This is definitely a watershed moment for artificial intelligence,' Valyant AI founder Rob Carpenter told Fox News. 'We are going to see AI jump from back-office processing and manufacturing facilities to consumer-facing, front-facing, traditionally human-only jobs.' Several fast food restaurant chains, including Taco Bell, McDonald's, Chipotle, Popeyes, Domino's and Wingstop, are already utilizing AI. Wendy's began a partnership with Google earlier this month to 'revolutionize the drive-thru experience with artificial intelligence'. Pictured: McDonald's fast food restaurant (File photo). Several fast food restaurant chains, such as McDonald's, Taco Bell, Chipotle, Popeyes, Domino's and Wingstop, are already using AI A pilot program will use Google Cloud's AI to communicate with customers and take their orders. 'Within five to 10 years, I think the majority of positions within restaurants can be automated, and that'll be from a variety of different technology providers,' Carpenter said. Valyant AI also developed a similar drive-through AI platform called Holly, which can outsell human employees, according to Carpenter. Holly has already processed more than a million drive-through orders and is now being used by Carl's Jr. and Hardee's. Carpenter said AI is already automating food orders through self-service computer kiosks, allowing robots to prepare meals and streamlining payment through mobile devices. 'What we see is that humans on average will upsell about 50% of the time,' Carpenter said. 'Valyant upsells about 200% on average.' 'They can add items to their order, they can modify items, they can remove items,' he added. 'Holly will roll with all of that.' Pictured: A Wendy's fast food restaurant in Ohio (File photo). Wendy's began a partnership with Google earlier this month to 'revolutionize the drive-thru experience with artificial intelligence' Goldman Sachs predicted in a March 26 report that AI advancements could wipe out or diminish 300 million jobs. It could cause a 'significant disruption' across labor markets worldwide, according to the analysis. Carpenter said that Holly and other AI applications will replace several jobs that fast food franchises cannot fill. Almost two-thirds of restaurant operators say there will not be enough workers to meet demand, according to the National Restaurant Association. 'The order-taking position is one of the least desirable positions within fast food restaurants,' Carpenter told Fox News. 'That should just be a job that a robot can do because it's basic and it's automated.' 'It doesn't matter if it's 8 a.m. or 2 a.m, the AI still sounds chipper and she never forgets those upsells,' he said. Top artificial intelligence executives including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Tuesday joined experts and professors in raising the 'risk of extinction from AI'. 'Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war,' more than 350 signatories wrote in a letter published by the nonprofit Center for AI Safety (CAIS). As well as Altman, they included the CEOs of AI firms DeepMind and Anthropic and executives from Microsoft and Google. 'This is definitely a watershed moment for artificial intelligence,' Valyant AI founder Rob Carpenter (pictured) said Also among them were Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio - two of the three so-called 'godfathers of AI' who received the 2018 Turing Award for their work on deep learning - and professors from institutions ranging from Harvard to China's Tsinghua University. A statement from CAIS singled out Meta, where the third godfather of AI Yann LeCun works, for not signing the letter. The letter coincided with the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council meeting in Sweden, where politicians are expected to talk about regulating AI. Elon Musk and a group of AI experts and industry executives were the first ones to cite potential risks to society in April. Recent developments in AI have created tools supporters say can be used in applications from medical diagnostics to writing legal briefs. This has sparked fears the technology could lead to privacy violations, power misinformation campaigns and issues with 'smart machines' thinking for themselves. Hinton earlier told Reuters that AI could pose a 'more urgent' threat to humanity than climate change. Last week OpenAI CEO Sam Altman referred to EU AI - the first efforts to create a regulation for AI - as over-regulation and threatened to leave Europe. He reversed his stance within days after criticism from politicians. A member of the Notorious Crime Family gang who pointed a revolver at a dog and pulled the trigger now claims he's a changed man after finding God. Jimmey Barkho, 32, pleaded guilty at Broadmeadows Magistrates Court in Melbourne on Tuesday to firearms charges, dealing in proceeds of crime and urinating in a police holding cell. The underworld figure who was slapped with a firearm prohibition order in October 2019, was found to have breached the ban when police uncovered a USB drive as part of a separate investigation showing Barkho wielding a gun. In one of the clips, he aimed a .38 caliber special Taurus-branded revolver at a French bulldog, which was being held by another man. 'Where the money at?' Barkho demanded in the video, before pulling the trigger, the Herald Sun reported. The designer dog lived because the gun was not loaded, the court heard. In a video found by police, Barkho pointed a gun at a French bulldog and pulled the trigger. Pictured: Barkho with his wife Mia Coory and her dog Jimmey Barkho, 32, pleaded guilty at Broadmeadows Magistrates Court in Melbourne on Tuesday to firearms charges, dealing in proceeds of crime and urinating in a police holding cell Another video showed Barkho posing with a 9mm CZ semi-automatic handgun in front of the bathroom mirror of his Greenvale home. Investigators were immediately able to identify Barkho through his unique forearm tattoo as well his distinctive voice and he was charged in June, 2022. During his arrest, he was taken to a cell at Broadmeadows police station where he urinated on the floor. The cost of cleaning the cell was $434.50, police said. After 33 days on remand - spent in solitary confinement - Barkho was bailed to a three month drug rehabilitation program. It was there that Barkho decided to change his ways. His lawyer, Mark Kelly told the court his client had addressed his drug addiction and rejected his criminal past after returning to his Christian faith. Mr Kelly said Barkho had 'genuinely changed his life' and shown 'significant insight' into his previous behaviours and the affects it had on his family. The Notorious Crime Family gangster claims he's a changed man after finding God Police identified Barkho in the video by his voice and a unique forearm tattoo He also claimed to have cut ties with other members of the Notorious Crime Family gang. He is now determined to be a good husband and father to his wife Mia Coory and their young daughter, Mr Kelly told the court. Magistrate Stella Stuthridge told the court she saw a 'real change' in Barkho and that his discussions with a Community Correction Order assessor showed a 'growing insight'. Barkho avoided further jail time and was placed on a two-year CCO during which he will have to complete 120 hours of unpaid community work. John Hopkins medical staff in Maryland have been given a guide featuring 50 pronoun options to use while at the workplace. The pronoun guide details the dozens of gender-neutral pronouns medical staff can use while dealing with patients and other employees, including 'aerself' and 'faerself.' Other gender-neutral pronouns featured on the list are: xemself, perself, eirself and verself. The list, seen by DailyMail.com, features examples of how to use the pronouns in a sentence, such as 'Ae cleaned the office all by aerself,' and 'I gave faer the key.' It also lists 'Mx.' as a gender-neutral title that can be used for 'non-binary or gender-diverse people.' A pronoun guide by John Hopkins medical center in Maryland details the dozens of gender-neutral pronouns medical staff can use while dealing with patients and other staff Paula Neira, Johns Hopkins Medicines program director for LGBTQ+ Equity and Education 'Always ask the person which they use if possible,' instructs the list by John Hopkin's Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Health Equity. The pronoun 'Ze' is pronounced 'zee' can also be spelled zie or xe. It is meant to replace she/he/they. 'Hir,' on its part, is pronounced like 'here' and replaces her/hers/him/his/they/theirs. Moreover, the Per/per/pers pronoun is supposed to be a shortened version of 'person.' The guide is part of a John Hopkins policy that went into effect in March 2022 allowing staff to use a chosen name that fits their gender identity on their ID badges. The policy also allows patients to use a chosen name on their wristbands. Paula Neira, Johns Hopkins Medicines program director for LGBTQ+ Equity and Education, said there are two exceptions to the policy - those licensed in Washington D.C. must have badges that match the name on their employee's certification. Additionally, Maryland State Police requires public safety officers to carry identification that matches their legal names. Neira, a transgender military veteran, previously served as the clinical program director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Transgender and Gender Expansive Health. She was the first first transgender Navy veteran allowed to update her discharge documents with her new name, as reported by Fox News Digital. A Johns Hopkins Medicine spokesperson told DailyMail.com on Tuesday the institution is 'committed to fostering a supportive, diverse and inclusive community.' 'As part of this focus and in compliance with Federal and state regulations, we enable our faculty, staff and employees to choose the way their names are displayed on their identification badges,' the statement reads. 'There are many reasons individuals may choose how they are identified, for example, some people may prefer to use a middle name, have cultural distinctions or preferences, or have gender ambiguous names. JHM will continue to provide options to our community to ensure a respectful and inclusive environment.' John Hopkins Full Pronoun Usage Guide - ae / aer / aer / aers / aerself - e/ey / em / eir / eirs / eirself - fae / faer / faer / faers / faerself - per / per / pers / pers / perself - they / them / their / theirs / themself - ve / vir / vis / vis / verself - xe / xem / xyr / xyrs / xemself - ze/zie / hir / hir / hirs / hirself - he / him / his / his / himself - she / her / her / hers / herself Advertisement John Hopkins is not the only American institution offering a growing variety of gender-neutral pronoun options. In fact, the list they have adopted comes from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Plus (LGBTQ+) Resource Center. 'The dichotomy of he and she in English does not leave room for other gender identities, which is a source of frustration to the transgender and gender queer communities,' reads a section of the Wisconsin school's pronoun guideline. 'People who are limited by languages which do not include gender neutral pronouns have attempted to create them, in the interest of greater equality.' The resource center tells readers what to do if they accidentally use the wrong pronoun. 'The best thing to do if you use the wrong pronoun for someone is to say something right away, like Sorry, I meant (insert pronoun)".' 'If you realize your mistake after the fact, apologize in private and move on.' Critics of the ever-expanding list of pronouns say using different pronouns in the physician-patient relationship could complicate things and point to political bias. Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, who serves on the board of Do No Harm, told Fox News Digital John Hopkin's new policy 'may be off-putting and actually damage the physician, patient relationship.' He added that 'using a name that suggests a different gender from what the patient can clearly identify also could damage the physician, patient relationship, and should be avoided.' Do No Harm is a group of health care workers and students, as well as policymakers and parents, working to 'protect healthcare from a radical, divisive, and discriminatory ideology.' This is the terrifying moment a woman is thrown into rapids while whitewater rafting down an icy Colorado river before being rescued downstream. The woman, whose name was not disclosed, was on a trip with rafting company Performance Tours on Saturday when she suddenly fell out of the boat in the area of Sunshine Falls in Royal Gorge. Harrowing close-up footage shows the woman, being tossed around by the raging river as someone on board tries to offer her an oar. She lets out shrieks as she is swept further away from the dinghy. Company guide Chris Dean, and others are seen going into rescue mode, and is heard on the video directing, 'Everybody in the middle, R2....Go left, boy.... go left' ... 'Right here... C'mon.' The woman is seen in life jacket and helmet on her back trying to stay afloat, as two different boats inch closer towards her. Moments later, she is able to grab the t-handle of the paddle and is pulled back on the raft though the paddle is seen second later disappearing under the waters. Chris Dean, said 'the guide (Greg) got us back on track and had us paddle towards her, and I was able to reach out to her with the T-handle end of my paddle and pull her to the raft where I could grab her' The woman is miraculously rescued from the raging river. Though shaken, the rafter did not sustain any injuries. Dean captured the wild scene on his GoPro camera Though shaken, the rafter did not sustain any injuries. Dean captured the wild scene on his GoPro camera. Dean told Storyful, that as soon as the raft went over the falls it hit the river hard and the woman behind him fell in and was getting swept away. During the rescue other team members that assisted. 'The guide (Greg) got us back on track and had us paddle towards her, and I was able to reach out to her with the T-handle end of my paddle and pull her to the raft where I could grab her,' Dean said. He said post rescue. 'I was pretty scared for her.' 'I knew it was rough and I don't want to be in the water either, so it was scary I think for everyone.' And, described the experience as 'pretty intense.' 'I just had to react and get her out the best we could. Everyone was working together on the raft. The guide was giving us direction too,' Dean said. The woman, whose name was not disclosed, was on a rafting trip with Performance Tours, a whitewater rafting tour company, on Saturday when she suddenly fell out of the boat while they were in the Sunshine Falls area of the Royal Gorge canyon. In this scene, she is getting swept further out down the river This clip shows the rafter trying to get back to the boat as she attempts to reach for the paddle Two boats are on the river. After the woman is pulled to safety she is seen dropping head first back into the raft after the terrifying incident 'They prepare you the whole time on the bus ride to get on the raft and make sure everyone's gear is on correctly.' Class four and five range is an expert level and means that the rapids are moving fast. The day the rescue took place the water was high. 'The water levels in the Arkansas River are really high this time of the year due to all of the snow melting,' he told the news outlet. Performance Tours Operations Manager Jim Crane told KDVR News that the whitewater rafting tour guides are properly trained and skilled in swift-water rescues. Extensive training is required for all guides who work for commercial rafting companies, he explained. Part of their training also involves teaching safety protocol to the rafters before they embark on the open waters. Crane said safety is their number one priority. 'They are put though every scenario that would happen,' he said. 'We spend alot of time in really cold water. Our goal is never to scare someone from being a river guard but to prepare them for thoe high-stress situations.' He said it is rare for rafters to fall into the water on commercial trips, but guides are expertly trained to handle those situations in case it happens. 'Commercial outfitters in the state of Colorado are excellent. We all have excellent safety records and we put safety at the utmost of what we do,' he said. 'It's our primary concern out there and getting people safely down the river.' DailyMail.com has contacted Performance Tours for comment. Executives at large firms often benefit from 'top hat' plans with a host of better tax benefits than standard 401(K)s Wealthy CEOs at America's largest firms are on track to net monthly retirement checks worth up to 38 times the average annual salary of their employees, a new report lays bare. Researchers say a 'double standard' is emerging in America's retirement savings as corporate executives are squirrelling away billions - while many of their employees have failed to save a single dollar into their 401(K). And the problem is exacerbated by huge tax advantages afforded to retiring executives who are often given 'deferred compensation' - otherwise known as 'top hat' - plans which come with a host of tax advantages. While most employees face strict limits on the amount they can save tax-free into their 401(K), such 'top hat' plans have no cap on contributions. These offerings also allow executives to defer paying any tax on the earnings saved until they are withdrawn in retirement. It gives them time to benefit from compounding investment returns and accumulate masses of wealth before they pay a penny in tax. Researchers say a 'double standard' is emerging in America's retirement savings as corporate executives are squirrelling away billions - while many of their employees have failed to save a single dollar into their 401(K) Walmart CEO Doug McMillon was found to hold $169 million in his deferred compensation account at the end of 2022 The top five executives at S&P 500 firms held a combined $8.9 billion in their tax-deferred accounts at the end of 2021, according to the 'A Tale of Two Retirements' report by the Institute for Policy Studies and Jobs with Justice. In one of the most extreme examples, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon was found to hold $169 million in his deferred compensation account at the end of 2022. It is enough to generate a monthly retirement check worth $1,042,300 - around 38 times the median annual salary for his workers, which is currently $27,136. What's more, the report found that an astonishing 46 percent of Walmart employees who qualify for a 401(K) plan have no money in them. The findings are based on figures from the company's 2021 fiscal year. Walmart points out that Walmart points out that it matches all its employees 401(K) contributions at a rate of 6 percent and previously invested more than $1.5 billion into doing so during its last fiscal year. McMillon has previously come under fire after Insider reported his annual salary of $25.3 million was worth 933 times the wage of a median Walmart employee. At the same time, the chain is also shuttering a host of locations across the country. Meanwhile, the chair of Hyatt hotels, Thomas Pritzker, was reported to have a nest egg worth $91 million. It equates to a monthly retirement check of $562,600 - more than ten times the average annual salary of his employees, which is currently $40,395. And 36 percent of the Hyatt workers eligible for a 401(K) have so far saved nothing into theirs. Ralph Lauren (left) is reported to have $54 million in his deferred compensation pot while Thomas Pritzker (right) - chair of Hyatt hotels - has $91 million Fidelity found that a meagre 29 percent of people are on track to cover all of their expenses in retirement, down from 38 percent in 2020 Meanwhile 41 percent of Ralph Lauren employees who are eligible for a 401(K) have a zero balance in theirs. This is despite the fact the CEO Ralph Lauren has $54 million in his deferred compensation account - the equivalent of receiving $335,300 a month. The median annual salary of a Ralph Lauren worker is $26,670, the report found. It comes after experts repeatedly raised the alarm that ordinary employees are not saving enough into their 401(K) funds. READ MORE: Walmart employee forced to rely on GoFundMe donations to retire Fact-box text Advertisement A report last month by the US's largest 401(K) plan provider Fidelity Investments found that a meagre 29 percent of people are on track to cover all of their living expenses in retirement - down from 38 percent in 2020. Currently regular employees have an annual limit on their $401(K) contributions of $22,500 - or $30,000 for employees over the age of 50. Many companies often match a portion of their employees' contributions. However this is meaningless for lower paid workers who cannot afford to set aside any of their income at all. By comparison, executives on a top hat plan have no limit on what they can save - and do not immediately have to pay tax on the money they put into it. In the meantime, they can benefit from compound growth on investments - allowing their wealth to swell. Compound interest is the process that happens when you earn interest on both the money you have initially put aside plus the interest you have already earned on the starting amount. It essentially creates a 'snowball' effect as the wealth gets exponentially bigger. For example, if you save $100 into a bank account and earn 10 percent interest in the first year then you will have $110 by the end of year one. It means that in year two you then earn 10 percent interest on $110. As time goes on, the amount of interest you are being paid continues to grow. The research by the Institute for Policy Studies and Jobs with Justice found that an executive who sets aside $1 million every year for seven years would have an estimated $1.3 million more in after-tax earnings than if they had paid the tax on their annual income. And they will also pay $1 million less in tax. The Institute for Policy Studies is now calling for an end to the retirement wealth disparity. A spokesman for Walmart said: 'Since 2015, Walmart has increased average hourly compensation by 54% and starting wages by more than 90%, while reported CEO compensation has increased by approximately 28%. Walmart continues to make investments in frontline pay, and in January 2023, we announced another increase to wages, raising our average U.S. hourly wage to more than $17.50 per hour.' Dailymail.com reached out to all the other firms mentioned. American Express is planning to use artificial intelligence to decide whether or not to approve customers for credit cards. The financial services giant said it would use the controversial technology to decide whether to give customers the green light for lines of credit - and to analyze feedback from users and even respond to people on social media. Executives at American Express Digital Labs, the company's innovation arm, said the technology could be used 'behind the scenes' to predict how customers would fare over time with different products. However the company, which reportedly has more than 56 million cardholders in the US, told Venture Beat it has no plans to follow in the footsteps of other major firms such as Google in launching its own generative AI program. It comes as over 350 industry experts, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, creator of ChatGPT, signed an open letter calling for urgent regulation to mitigate 'the risk of extinction from AI.' American Express will use AI to decide whether or not to approve customers for credit cards Credit card giant American Express reportedly has over 56 million cardholders in the US alone Luke Gebb, senior vice president of Digital Labs, told Venture Beat that American Express would like to use AI for 'predicting how our customers are going to do over time, and approving cards and lines of credit.' He said that he envisions the technology being used to assist with transaction approval the process by which a credit card issuer ensures that charges were made by the customer and even customer interactions. Laura Grant, VP of product development for emerging platforms and AI, told the outlet: 'The way I think about AI is as we think about the customer experience. What is it going to do to make peoples lives easier and customer experience better?' She said that AI technology is being used 'behind the scenes' to analyze all of the feedback and inquiries customers provide through the company's customer service portals to understand how to deliver appropriate and helpful responses. Grant added that it is also unofficially being used on social media to look at customer feedback for the financial services, credit card and remote concierge giant. Despite this, Gebb said that the company will not be 'spinning up' its own technology from scratch, but rather using existing offerings to improve its own offerings. Digital Labs is a division of American Express which was formed in 2017 to test new products before they are rolled out company-wide. Luke Gebb, senior vice president of Digital Labs, said the company did not have plans to develop its own AI technology Companies including Google have developed their own artificial intelligence programs OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, creator of ChatGPT, signed an open letter calling for urgent regulation to the AI sector It comes as increasing numbers of companies adopt the technology into their processes - or creating their own. Google, for example, has created its own AI product, Bard, but the company's CEO admitted last month that he did not 'fully understand' how it works. Sundar Pichai said one of the big problems discovered with Bard is something that he called 'emergent properties,' or AI systems having taught themselves unforeseen skills. Google's AI program was able to, for example, learn Bangladeshi without training after being prompted in the language. A new open letter read to Congress today called for action on regulating the technology, saying it 'should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war.' As well as being signed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, it was endorsed by other known leaders in AI, including Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind, Dario Amodei of Anthropic and executives from Microsoft and Google. Altman was grilled by lawmakers earlier this month for five hours about how ChatGPT and other models could reshape 'human history' for better or worse, likening it to either the printing press or the atomic bomb. Altman admitted his 'worst fears' are that 'significant harm' could be caused to the world using his technology. 'If this technology goes wrong, it could go quite wrong, and we want to be vocal about that. We want to work with the government to prevent that from happening,' he said. American Express declined to further comment when contacted by Dailymail.com. A crystal meth smoking paedophile vicar who talked about sacrificing babies to the devil and was caught with more than 20,000 indecent images of children has been jailed four four years. Rev David Renshaw, 63, was found with a stash of illegal pictures and videos on his computer as well as used needles and drug pipes at his home in Worthing, West Sussex, where he also kept dead and starving animals. He was given a four year prison sentence and ordered to pay 4,200 in fines at Hove Crown Court on Thursday. The judge added that the vicar posed a high risk to children so imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered the destruction of all the pictures and videos. Police first spotted Renshaw in June 2019 when an indecent image was found on a paedophile file sharing website in New Zealand that was linked back to the vicar. Rev David Renshaw, 63, was caught with more than 20,000 indecent images of children has been jailed The account was attributed to Renshaw's email and IP address, so it was flagged to the National Crime Agency who alerted Sussex Police. Cops seized a string of devices at his home in August 2020 and a total of 22,504 illegal images were uncovered. The RSPCA also found dogs, cats and chickens that were left in a severely malnourished state, police said. As well as starving living animals, there was also a dead rotting kitten and rat found on the floor, along with used needles and other drug equipment lying around his home. In chat logs found on his devices, Renshaw referenced 'sacrificing babies to the devil' and asked another user to sacrifice his son to Satan. Renshaw was vicar of Holy Trinity and Christ Church in the seaside town of Worthing in 2019 when he first came to the attention of the authorities. He denied all the charges, but a jury found him guilty of eight counts following a trial in February. These charges were made up of three counts of possessing indecent images of children, three counts of making indecent images of children and having prohibited photos of children. Renshaw was also convicted of having extreme porn showing sexual intercourse with animals - in this case dogs and horses. A spokesman for Sussex Police said: 'Renshaw remains a high risk to children and demonstrated a profound breach of trust to parishioners and the wider church community.' Renshaw was found with a stash of illegal pictures and videos on his computer as well as used needles and drug pipes at his home in Worthing, West Sussex Detective Sergeant David Rose, investigating officer for the force, said after the sentencing hearing, that the officer who examined the extreme material will be scarred by the harrowing content. He added: 'Throughout this investigation, Renshaw sought to blame anyone but himself. 'He failed to accept or take any responsibility for his actions, which I am certain the local parish he represented would be appalled by. 'Through painstaking and careful enquiries, we were able to show that the child abuse images were on his computer, saved under his username and found on a hard drive on his desk. 'The sheer number of images indicate that they were accumulated over a protracted period of time. 'The search of his address was one of the most revolting tasks our officers will ever have to endure. 'As well as malnourished living animals, there was also a dead rotting kitten and a dead rotting rat on the floor, in addition to used needles and other drug paraphernalia lying around. It was a deeply unpleasant scene to search. 'It was also a particularly harrowing experience for the officer who had to sift through and grade each image, something that will stay with him for the rest of his life. 'All necessary safeguarding enquiries were carried out and there was no risk to any identifiable children in the case.' Holmes' 'fake it 'till you make it' approach saw nearly everything crumble away Elizabeth Holmes was once the world's youngest self-made billionaire tipped to revolutionize the health industry as the darling of Silicon Valley. This evening she will go to bed behind the walls of a prison cell. Holmes, 39, had dreamed of being a billionaire as a child, hoping to make her stamp on the world in some way. But as soon as she achieved her dreams, her 'fake it 'till you make it' approach saw everything crumble away as quickly as it was built. It was a stunning fall from grace for Holmes who had modelled herself as the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs and won widespread acclaim - including from Harvard University and Time magazine - for a phoney technology which she claimed would revolutionize blood-testing methods by using miraculously tiny volumes of blood, such as from a finger prick. She had scooped in nearly a billion dollars in funding from some of the world's biggest pockets: venture capitalist titans including Tim Draper, Donald Lucas and Dixon Doll; wealthy heirs to the founders of Amway, Walmart and Cox Communications; and heavyweights of tech and media such as Larry Ellison and Rupert Murdoch. Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes arrives at federal court in San Jose, California, March 17, 2023 Then-Vice President Joe Biden (right) speaks as Elizabeth Holmes, founder and CEO of Theranos (left) listens during a visit to Theranos manufacturing in Newark, July 23, 2015 Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes and former Chief Operating Officer Sunny Balwani addressing the company's staff in 2015 Before those lies were uncovered in a series of explosive articles in The Wall Street Journal beginning in October 2015, Holmes had raised a staggering amount of money from some of the biggest names in business and tech. It was the duping of those investors that led to her prison sentence and a $452 million restitution bill. Holmes has today started to pay the price for her deceit where she will be separated her from her two children - a son whose July 2021 birth delayed the start of her trial and a 3-month-old daughter conceived after her conviction. She is expected to be incarcerated in Bryan, Texas, about 100 miles (160 km) northwest of her hometown of Houston. The prison was recommended by the judge who sentenced Holmes, but authorities have not publicly disclosed where she will be held. Her many detractors contend she deserves to be in prison for peddling a technology that she repeatedly boasted would quickly scan for hundreds of diseases and other health problems with a few drops of blood taken with a finger prick. The technology never worked as promised. Instead, Theranos tests produced wildly unreliable results that could have endangered patients' lives - one of the most frequently cited reasons why she deserved to be prosecuted. Holmes' stake in Theranos at one point catapulted her paper wealth to $4.5 billion. She never sold any of her stock in the company, though trial evidence left no doubt she reveled in the trappings of fame and fortune - so much so that she and the father of her children, William 'Billy' Evans, lived on a palatial Silicon Valley estate during the trial. Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes arrives with her family to be sentenced on her convictions for defrauding investors in the blood testing startup at the federal courthouse in San Jose, California, U.S., November 18, 2022 Elizabeth Holmes is photographed for Forbes Magazine on September 22, 2014 Elizabeth Holmes claimed that her 'Edison' device (named after Thomas Edison) was a mini lab that could process over 240 tests, from cholesterol to infectious disease The theory that Holmes was running an elaborate scam was buttressed by trial evidence documenting her efforts to prevent the Journal's investigation from being published. That campaign compelled John Carreyrou - the reporter responsible for those bombshell stories - to attend court and position himself in Holmes' line of vision when she took the witness stand. Holmes also signed off on surveillance aimed at intimidating Theranos employees who helped uncover the flaws with the blood-testing technology. The whistleblowers included Tyler Shultz, the grandson of former Secretary of State George Shultz, whom Holmes befriended and persuaded to join the Theranos board. Tyler Shultz became so unnerved by Holmes' efforts to shut him up that he began sleeping with a knife under his pillow, according to a wrenching statement delivered by his father, Alex, at her sentencing. Holmes' supporters still contend she always had good intentions and was unfairly scapegoated by the Justice Department. They insist she simply deployed the same over-the-top promotion tactics as many other tech executives, including Elon Musk, who has repeatedly made misleading statements about the capabilities of Tesla's self-driving cars. According to those supporters, Holmes was singled out because she was a woman who briefly eclipsed the men who customarily bask in Silicon Valley's spotlight, and the trial turned her into a latter-day version of Hester Prynne - the protagonist in the 1850 novel 'The Scarlet Letter.' Holmes steadfastly maintained her innocence during seven often-riveting days of testimony in her own defense - a spectacle that caused people to line up shortly after midnight to secure one of the few dozen seats available in the San Jose courtroom. In 2015, President Bill Clinton invited Holmes to speak at a panel for the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting alongside Alibaba's Executive Chairman Jack Ma Elizabeth Holmes moves through security while on her way to court on March 17, 2023 in San Jose, California Holmes hold a nanotainer of blood at Theranos headquarters in Palo Alto, California, June 30, 2014 On one memorable day, Holmes recounted how she had never gotten over the trauma of being raped while enrolled at Stanford University. She then described being subjected to a long-running pattern of emotional and sexual abuse by her former lover and Theranos conspirator, Ramesh 'Sunny' Balwani, and suggested his stifling control blurred her thinking. Balwani's lawyer, Jeffrey Coopersmith, denied those allegations during the trial. In Balwani's subsequent trial, Coopersmith unsuccessfully tried to depict his client as Holmes' pawn. Balwani, 57, is now serving a nearly 13-year prison sentence for fraud and conspiracy. When it came time to sentence the then-pregnant Holmes in November, U.S. District Judge Edward Davila seemed as puzzled as anyone about why she did what she did. 'This is a fraud case where an exciting venture went forward with great expectations and hope, only to be dashed by untruth, misrepresentations, hubris and plain lies,' Davila lamented while Holmes stood before him. 'I suppose we step back and we look at this, and we think what is the pathology of fraud?' The judge also hearkened back to the days that Silicon Valley consisted mostly of orchards farmed by immigrants. That was before the land was ceded to the tech boom beginning in 1939 when William Hewlett and David Packard founded a company bearing their surnames in a one-car garage in Palo Alto - the same city where Theranos was based. 'You'll recall the wonderful innovation of those two individuals in that small garage,' Davila reminded everyone in the rapt courtroom. 'No exotic automobiles or lavish lifestyle, just a desire to create for society's benefit through honest hard work. And that, I would hope, would be the continuing story, the legacy and practice of Silicon Valley.' A healthy newborn baby boy, estimated to be around 30 minutes old, was left in a Tennessee 'time of crisis' safe haven box at the weekend, with the fire department noting that he had not suffered any injuries. The baby was the first to be placed in a Tennessee 'Safe Haven Baby Box' in Knoxville on Saturday, the city's fire department reported. The newborn was placed in the container attached to Fire Station 17 on Western Avenue at 12:19 a.m., according to a post on the Knoxville Fire Department's Facebook page. 'The station crew of three immediately went to the box and found a healthy baby boy inside,' the department said in the post. 'The child was not injured and was quickly removed from the box for further evaluation. The station crew called for an ambulance to transport the child to the hospital.' The baby, estimated to be around 30 minutes old, was the first to be placed in a Tennessee 'Safe Haven Baby Box' in Knoxville on Saturday, the city's fire department reported A first of its kind in the state, the 'Safe Haven Baby Box' was installed at the station on February 17 as an alternative for an anonymous parent to use in a 'time of crisis'. It was the first time the device, which is available at all times throughout the year, was used since its installation, the department said. 'The whole purpose of this box is to be a resource for our community, so that a mother or a parent that is in crisis and doesn't know what to do with a child, has a place to go,' Assistant Chief Mark Wilbanks told WATE-TV in Knoxville. A 2001 state law 'allows mothers of newborns to surrender unharmed babies to designated facilities within two weeks of birth without fear of being prosecuted'. It also states: 'As long as the baby is unharmed and the child is surrendered within two weeks of birth, the mother or parents will not be prosecuted and is assured of complete confidentiality.' An August 2022 grant from the East Tennessee Foundation's Craig Fund helped to fund the box's installation, according to the foundation's website. Pictured: A demonstration of the box being used with a toy baby at the station on Western Avenue in Knoxville The Knoxville Fire Department posted a message on Saturday. It wrote: 'The station crew of three immediately went to the box and found a healthy baby boy inside' In a February video announcing the device, Wilbanks said it is 'an extremely safe piece of apparatus' that stays warm and notifies firefighters when a baby is placed into the bassinet, without the need for any interaction with the individuals. He said: 'You don't have to do anything but walk up to the box. Simply open the handle and place the baby inside. 'It's completely anonymous. You don't have to tell the firefighters that you're here.' Wilbanks said firefighters at the station will care for a child until the Department of Children's Services can come and take charge of the infant. 'We are very thankful to have this as a resource to someone who may be in crisis and not know what to do with their child,' he said. The mother of a 10-year-old boy who died after being mauled by a dog has called for a change in the law, saying 'enough is enough'. Emma Whitfield, 32, is calling for 'Jack Lis Law', named after her son. He suffered catastrophic injuries in the mauling by a seven stone XL Bully after going to a house to play in South Wales on November 8, 2022. Neighbours rushed to help and tackle the vicious dog but it was not enough as tragically, Jack died at the scene. 'I still have terrible flashbacks. I still see the animal and its teeth. I hear the barking. 'You relive it multiple times a day - it's torture. Jack Lis was attacked by the XL bully dog while playing with a friend at a house after school in Pentwyn last year Jack suffered 'severe injuries to the head and neck' when he was set upon by the seven stone XL Bully, Beast (pictured), while playing at his friend's home Emma Whitfield (pictured), 32, is calling for 'Jack Lis Law', named after her son to enforce harsher laws on dangerous dog owners 'I still find it unbelievable. Sat on the sofa or on the way home, it hits you all over again,' she told the Daily Mirror, which is backing the campaign for a change in the law. The dog's owner Brandon Hayden, then 19, was sentenced in June 2022 to just over four years at a young offenders' institution and Amy Salter, then 29, was jailed for three years after they pleaded guilty to being in charge of the out of control dog, which was named Beast. Ms Whitfield is backing the campaign to overhaul the Dangerous Dogs Act. She wants to see tougher penalties on dangerous dog owners considered as well as stronger rules to stop illegal and irresponsible breeding and selling. A further 15 people have lost their lives in dog attacks in the 18 months since Jack's death, including an 83-year-old woman in Caerphilly, while there were nearly 22,000 cases of injuries from out of control dogs in 2022. Jack's mother said: 'Enough is enough. This has to stop. 'It's mind-blowing how it keeps happening. It should never have happened to Jack but why has nobody learned from this? 'Innocent people are dying. The Government needs to act now. It's out of control and there are people losing their kids because of this. I want to stop this happening.' Brandon Hayden, 19, was jailed for four years and six months at Cardiff Crown Court. His friend Amy Salter was sentenced to three years' imprisonment. Both were banned from owning a dog indefinitely CCTV footage shows Brandon Hayden and Amy Salter with the dog Beast in Caerphilly on the first day of attacks What is the Dangerous Dogs Act? The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 bans or restricts certain types of dogs and makes it an offence to allow a dog of any breed to be dangerously out of control. It was introduced 30 years ago by Home Secretary Kenneth Baker 'to rid the country of the menace of these fighting dogs' after a string of attacks. WHICH DOGS ARE BANNED IN THE UK? It is illegal to own four breeds of dogs without an exemption from a court. They are: American pitbull terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos and Fila Brazileiros. The law also criminalises cross-breeds of the above four types of dog - meaning that whether a dog is prohibited will depend on a judgement about its physical characteristics and whether they match the description of a prohibited 'type'. WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S A DOG ATTACK? You can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months if your dog is dangerously out of control. You may not be allowed to own a dog in the future and your dog may be destroyed. If you let your dog injure someone you can be sent to prison for up to five years or fined. If you deliberately use your dog to injure someone you could be charged with 'malicious wounding'. And if you allow your dog to kill someone you can be sent to prison for up to 14 years or get an unlimited fine. WHY IS THE ACT CONTROVERSIAL? Both the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the British Veterinary Association have protested against the ban, insisting there is no scientific evidence that all individuals of a breed are dangerous. However, Met Police data suggests that in incidents involving 'dangerously out of control dogs', banned breeds account for about a fifth of offences. Advertisement She said certain types of dogs have become 'status symbols' and said not all breeders or owners need policing under new legislation. 'To me it is not different than having a lethal weapon,' she said. 'My problem is with backyard breeders who don't care where the dogs go. There is no reason why a dog needs to sell for 10,000 to go into a family home.' She also called for tougher sentences with Salter possibly being released from prison before the end of the year. 'She only missed one Christmas when we have lost a lifetime of them,' Ms Whitfield said. The campaign for the 'Jack Lis Law' is backed by the Mirror, the Dog Control Coalition - which includes the RSPCA, Dogs Trust and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home - and Caerphilly's Labour MP Wayne David. They are calling for a different approach to dog legislation which includes all dogs and focuses on breeding, training and the sale of dogs. Calling the problem an epidemic, Mr David said: 'We have to ask who is next? 'There can be no doubt that radical reform is needed to dog law. This will only happen when everyone who is concerned pulls together. 'I'm quoting the police when I say there is more money in selling dogs for some criminals than selling drugs. I'm determined to see this issue addressed by the Government as soon as humanly possible.' He has previously called for the reintroduction of dog licences. RSPCA head of companion animals Dr Samantha Gaines said: 'The Dangerous Dogs Act has failed to protect the public from the risk of bites, we want a new approach. 'It is also essential measures are available to deter and punish owners of dogs whose behaviour is dangerous.' The XL Bully is not recognised as an official breed by the UK's Kennel Club. Downing Street said a working group involving the police, councils and animal welfare experts is looking at ways to reduce dog attacks and promote responsible ownership. 'There have been some horrific cases and our thoughts and sympathies are with those that have been affected,' the Prime Minister's official spokesman said. 'We know dog attacks can lead to tragic consequences and that's why we have a number of measures in place to protect people.' A woman has admitted to killing her newborn baby with cling film after she tried to hide her pregnancy from her husband. Ineta Dzinguviene, 38, pleaded guilty to one charge of culpable homicide of her hours-old baby, Paulius Dzingus, after multiple psychiatrists found her to be of diminished responsibility at the time of the child's death due to her mental state. She had previously been found guilty of murdering the baby in 2011 and was sentenced to serve at least 15 years in prison but the conviction was overturned on appeal. Prosecutor Alex Prentice KC told judge Lady Poole at the High Court in Edinburgh that some amount of 'discount' to the sentence would be appropriate. Lady Poole deferred sentencing to June 20 following court social work reports being obtained, while Dzinguviene was remanded in custody. Ineta Dzinguviene (pictured), 38, admitted to killing her newborn baby with cling film after she tried to hide her pregnancy from her husband Dzinguviene was seven months pregnant with Paulius in February 2010 when she arrived in Scotland to join her husband, who had taken up work as a lorry driver. But the High Court heard from a narrative, read by the prosecutor, that Dzinguviene attempted to conceal the pregnancy and had 'emphatically denied' she was pregnant. Paulius was born in April 2010 and nobody outside of the hospital had seen the baby alive. It was killed that same month. He was found wrapped in a Tesco carrier bag in a suitcase behind a roll of carpet in a communal cupboard of the block of flats Dzinguviene lived in with her family in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. Dzinguviene had previously killed another baby, Paulina, in Lithuania, in 2009. She was extradited to Lithuania in 2012 after tradesmen found the remains of baby Paulina in an attic of the home where she lived. Her case was sent back to the High Court after significant new evidence about her mental state when she committed the crimes in 2009 and 2010 was uncovered by psychiatrists. While serving her sentence at HMP Cornton Vale, Dzinguviene was assessed by several mental health professionals who subsequently found she had both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) resulting from an abusive childhood and marriage. Dzinguviene pleaded guilty to one charge of culpable homicide of her hours-old baby, Paulius Dzingus, at the High Court in Edinburgh (pictured) Psychiatrists assessing Dzinguviene found she could have dissociative episodes as a result of the PTSD and CPTSD as well as being 'in denial' about her pregnancies. Dzinguviene told professionals of her 'deprived' childhood, which was often abusive. Her marriage was also abusive and she was subjected to emotional, mental and sexual abuse by her husband, the court heard. The court was also told that Dzinguviene was raped by her mother's boyfriend in 2003, resulting in a pregnancy. Psychiatrists believe this is where her PTSD and CPTSD originated from, and she compartmentalised this in order to cope with day-to-day life. Dzinguviene concealed her pregnancies and ultimately killed two of her five children because she did not want them to experience the same life that she had, the court heard. Delayed disclosures are 'understandable' as an avoidance technique to avoid reliving traumatic events, Mr Prentice told the court. In summing up, Lady Poole said: 'You killed your baby boy. I accept you had diminished responsibility, but nevertheless, this is a very serious and tragic crime.' TikTok troublemaker Mizzy has been released on bail after spending the Bank Holiday weekend in custody for allegedly breaching a court order by posting new videos of his so-called pranks online. The 18-year-old, whose real name is Bacari-Bronze OGarro, was given conditional bail following an appearance at Thames Magistrates' Court in east London today. His case had been listed to be heard at 2pm today, but was moved to the morning without journalists present. OGarro of Manor Road, Hackney, previously appeared at the same court on Saturday, where he pleaded not guilty to three breaches of a criminal behaviour order (CBO) in relation to a 'prank' video posted on TikTok. He was handed the order last week following a series of social media videos featuring him storming into a family home, stealing a pensioners dog, jumping on an Orthodox Jewish man, and asking a passer-by if he 'wants to die'. Mizzy, whose real name is Bacari-Bronze O'Garro, has denied three breaches of his Criminal Behaviour Order Bacari-Bronze O'Garro pictured outside Thames Magistrates' Court last week, where he was charged with failing to comply with a community protection order The teenager was charged by the Metropolitan Police on May 27 after being arrested a day earlier. He was released and was banned from posting videos without the consent of the people featured. Rose Edwin, prosecuting, told the court at a previous hearing that two of the three alleged offences took place on May 25, with OGarro accused of posting a video onto social media without the consent of the people featured. The court heard he also visited the Westfield Centre in Stratford, which he is not permitted to do under the criminal behaviour order. OGarro allegedly visited Hackney on May 26, where he is accused of posting a video onto social media without the consent of the people featured. He denied the charges when he appeared in court on Saturday, but was remanded in custody over the Bank Holiday weekend. Speaking outside court today, OGarro said the breach of the CBO was not his fault. He said: 'I explained to the court that I didnt know the breach was on my terms because they didnt give me the map for the CBO around Westfield and stuff like that, so hopefully that gets bust. In one of his videos posted online to TikTok he can be seen saying: 'Walking into random houses, let's go' 'I need to alternate the conditions on my thing (the CBO).' OGarros trial date was set for July 19 at Stratford Magistrates Court, a court official said. A South Carolina gas station owner has been charged with murder for shooting a 14-year-old armed teenage boy in the back while chasing him down the street because he thought he'd stolen bottled water. Rick Chow, 58, is the owner of a Shell gas station in Columbia, South Carolina. On Sunday night at 8pm, Cyrus Carmack-Belton, a 14-year-old teenager, entered his store while visiting family in town. Rick Chow, 58, is the owner of the gas station in Columbia, South Carolina. On Sunday night at 8pm, Cyrus Carmack-Belton, a 14-year-old teenager, entered his store. Chow and his son suspected Cyrus of stealing bottled water from the store The Shell gas station in Columbia where the incident took place on Sunday night. It has now been vandalized At 8pm on Sunday night, Cyrus entered the store to buy drinks. He was wrongly suspected of shoplifting and chased. He was carrying a handgun, but did not point it at the store owner, according to the police. Chow shot him once in the lower right back. The bullet traveled and pierced his heart, according to the coroner Chow and his adult son - who police say are regularly besieged by shoplifters - suspected Cyrus of trying to steal bottled water. Police say that surveillance footage proves he did not steal, but the footage is yet to be released. When Chow and his son confronted Cyrus, he ran out onto the street. Chow's son gave chase, running after him into the street. It was then that he realized the 14-year-old was armed, and shouted to his father that he had a gun. Chow, who owns a pistol, shot Cyrus once in the back and the teenager died as a result. The gun that Cyrus was carrying was found near his body, police said. It remains unclear how he obtained it. Now, the store owner has been charged with murder. Protesters descended on the store to spray it with graffiti and leave trash in the parking lot The gas station was trashed on Monday night as the community learned of Cyrus' death Protesters trashed inside the store, knocking over displays and pouring waters on the ground At a press conference yesterday, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott condemned the him. 'You don't shoot somebody in the back if he's not a threat to you. It's the same standard that we do, that cops have to live by. 'You have to be defending someone's life or your life. There has to be immediate danger to you. 'Someone who is running away, has no indication the he is pointing a gun at anyone while he's running away, he was shot in the back. 'Even if he had shoplifted four bottles of water, it's not something you shoot anyone over much less a 14-year-old.' Coroner Naida Rutherford added: 'There's no indication that this young man was fighting with the store owner. He has no wound on his hand, scratches, no other injury to his body.' Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott and Coroner Naida Rutherford said Chow deserved to be charged with murder - even though the teenager was armed - because Cyrus hadn't pointed his gun at the father or son Protests: Local residents descended on the gas station to protest and call for murder charges She also took to social media to call for '#justiceforcyrus', and wept. 'I have spoken with his parents. I cannot imagine what they feel right now. People ask me all the time how do you do this. 'Let me tell y'all. I have a son,. That age. He could be my son. He could be any of our kids,' she said through tears an Instagram video. Police are yet to release a photograph of Cyrus, explain why he had a gun or release surveillance footage of the incident. They will not reveal whether or not he has a juvenile record. Yesterday, protesters descended on the gas station. They spray painted the walls of the store and poured bottes of water out in the parking lot. Chow has a history of traffic violations and infractions but he does not have a violent criminal record. Police have been called to the gas station frequently in the past to deal with shoplifters and violence. The former star of hit BBC show One Man And His Dog has died at the age of 80, MailOnline can reveal. Robin Page, a friend of King Charles and the late Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip, died at his home in Cambridgeshire last Saturday after an 18-month cancer battle. Mr Page, who was surrounded by his wife Lulu, three stepchildren and five-step grandchildren, had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. He was an outspoken commentator on rural issues and presented the long-running One Man And His Dog from 1994 until 2000. The conservationist was also a best-selling writer, newspaper columnist and political campaigner and wrote on dozens of occasions for the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. Robin Page, the former star of hit BBC show One Man And His Dog has died at the age of 80, MailOnline can reveal Mr Page, who was also a friend of King Charles, died at his home in Cambridgeshire last Saturday evening after a battle with cancer. Above: Mr Page with the King in 2003 Mr Page's wife Lulu told MailOnline: 'He was a good, honest country loving man who was hugely loved by his family. We will all miss him.' Friends paid tribute to Mr Page, describing him as a 'Great British eccentric' who was not afraid to speak his mind. His friend Marcus Stead, a freelance journalist, told MailOnline: 'His legacy to the British countryside and its way of life is enormous. 'He was incredibly politically incorrect and anti-woke but at the same time he was generous, big hearted and had a fantastic spirit. 'His knowledge on countryside issues was immense and he always spoke with authority about it which is why senior Royals and politicians listened to what he had to say. 'He was one of those people who made life in this country wonderful, and he always marched to his own beat.' He added: 'He was a great British eccentric, a lovely man to speak to and a man of great principle and integrity. That's how I shall remember him.' He co-founded the Countryside Restoration Trust (CRT), a charity which safeguards 33 million worth of farmland across 18 picturesque sites. The King was a longstanding supporter of Mr Page and spoke at the Trust's birthday party several years ago. In 2016, Mr Page met the King for private talks at Clarence House. Afterwards, he called His Majesty a 'good, green man'. Both men shared a deep love for the countryside and the environment. Mr Page co-founded the Countryside Restoration Trust (CRT), a charity which safeguards 33 million worth of farmland across 18 picturesque sites. Above: Mr Page with actress Dame Judi Dench - the CRT's patron - and celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall in 2018 People paid tribute to Robin Page who died on Saturday aged 80 The CRT spoke of their 'great sadness' of learning of Mr Page's death this evening. A spokesperson said: 'It is with great sadness that the Countryside Regeneration Trust has learned of the death of our co-founder, Robin Page. 'A countryside champion with a maverick spirit, Robin's fervent beliefs were amplified by his writing in publications such as the Daily Telegraph. Through his campaigning he was able to garner the financial support needed to launch the CRT and nearly 30-years later the CRT continues as a lasting legacy to his pioneering ways. 'Now is a time to pause and remember Robin's contribution in the field of conservation, both through his writing and work with the CRT. 'Although in recent times he was no longer involved in our operations, we are all reflecting on his role in creating a robust charity that remains focused on promoting sustainable farming, and reconnecting people with the wider countryside.' Page established the CRT with artist Gordon Beningfield and conservationist Sir Laurens van der Post - Charles's mentor and Prince William's godfather - in 1993. The CRT has said of their 'great sadness' of learning of the death of Mr Page (pictured in a field in Cambridgeshire) death this evening The organisation was set up in response to growing fears about intensive and industrialised farming. Mr Stead added: 'My thoughts of Robin is that he was a man of great integrity. He was an antithesis to the modern day BBC. 'He certainly wasn't part of the woke brigade. He had some very unfashionable views on man-made climate change, which he didn't believe in, and also wasn't a fan of what I would call trendy farming. 'His views on rural affairs were evidence based and came from a lifetime of experience. 'He was also a fine Brexiteer. That was one of the main things that he and I had in common.' Greg Lance-Watkins, 77, from the Forest of Dean, who knew Mr Page's for around 20 years, paid tribute to his 'reliable' and 'wise' friend. He told MailOnline: 'Being rooted in agriculture, as his father was before him, he was a very authoritative voice. 'Robin was a reliable friend, an interesting conversationalist with a wide range of knowledge and views. He was very well travelled, he had for instance been the top of Kilimanjaro twice. 'Robin had written about 30 books by the time he died. He had tried to complete one before he died but sadly he didn't finish it. He was an accomplished footballer, a sport which he continued to play until his late 60s. 'I phoned up a friend yesterday to tell him Robin had died and he said his death was a "loss to mankind". 'His friend's mother used to cut out his articles and give them to him to read. He used to say "Robin had more common sense about the countryside and village life in his little finger than the department of agriculture had in their entirety".' Commenting on his relationship with King Charles, Mr Lance-Watkins added: 'He was a regular communicator with the Duke of Edinburgh with Prince Charles and he stayed with Prince Charles for a couple of days last year in Scotland with his wife Lulu. And he was much trusted as an adviser on countryside by Charles.' He added that Mr Page's death was 'a sad loss to the community who may not notice that his passing will impact on their lives - and personally I will deeply miss our lengthy conversations, he had so much wisdom.' The Countryman magazine paid tribute to Mr Page, who wrote for the publication from 1996 until last year. They shared a clipping of the first article he wrote for them in Winter 1996, on 'the pleasures of ice and cold and carol singing'. The tribute said: 'We send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Robin Page, who sadly passed away on Saturday 27th May. 'Robin wrote articles for The Countryman, from late 1996 to December 2022. Here is part of Robin's very first article, published in Winter 1996.' The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group has unleashed an explosive tirade of abuse at Vladimir Putin's cronies after Moscow was attacked this morning by suspected Ukrainian kamikaze drones. In a furious 70-second rant, a ruthless Yevgeny Prigozhin screamed vulgar insults at Russia's defence whom he described as 'smelly scumbags' and 'b*******'. The Wagner boss said he was 'deeply outraged' by Putin's troops doing 'f*** all' to prevent explosive drones falling on the Russian capital this morning. Shortly after, Putin claimed that Moscow's air defence system worked 'satisfactorily'. Known for his foul-mouthed rants, Prigozhin, who handed Bakhmut over to Russia's army last week, was translated as shouting: 'Smelly scumbags! What are you doing? Get your a**** up from the offices you've been put in to protect this country. 'You are the Ministry of Defence. You've done f*** all in order to advance. Why the f*** are you allowing these drones to fly to Moscow? Who gives a s*** that they are flying to your homes on Rublyovka! Let your houses burn. Head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin (pictured May 5) unleashed an explosive tirade of abuse at Vladimir Putin's cronies today Putin (pictured today) himself admitted that the Moscow's air defence system worked 'satisfactorily' 'And what should ordinary people do when drones with explosives crash into their windows? So as a citizen, I am deeply outraged that these scum sit quietly with their fat a**** smeared with expensive creams. Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin, the man nicknamed 'Putin's chef' who is behind the Wagner Group ? Nicknamed 'Putin's chef' due to owning a number of restaurants and catering firms that supply the Kremlin, Yevgeny Prigozhin is the oligarch founder of the notorious Wagner Group. Prigozhin was born in the Soviet Union on June 1 1961, before spending a period of time in jail for numerous crimes including fraud and robbery, during his teens. After spending 9 years in prison, Prigozhin launched a number of businesses following the collapse of the Soviet Union, including grocery and gambling firms. In 2014, Prigozhin founded Wagner Group during Russia's first invasion of Ukraine. The mercenary group has since become notorious for doing the Russian military's dirty work, leaving behind trails of brutal violence, rape and war crimes. Prigozhin long denied any affiliation with the group until September 2022, when he admitted to founding the mercenary force. He is often seen on the frontlines of the conflict with Ukraine, criticising Russian military leadership and accusing them of starving Wagner troops of supplies. Advertisement 'And that's why I think the people have every right to ask them these questions, these b*******. 'But I have already warned about this many times, but no one wants to listen. Because I'm angry and I upset bureaucrats who have a great life.' His astonishing meltdown comes after several buildings in the wealthy suburbs of Moscow were damaged by suspected Ukrainian kamikaze drones, just hours after Putin unleashed yet another volley of strikes on Kyiv. Workers were pictured fixing damaged buildings, while smoke billowed across the Russian capital in the background. A deluded Putin and his cronies today accused Ukraine of trying to 'frighten' Russians with their 'increasingly reckless behaviour' after Moscow came under fire. Seemingly forgetting that Russia has unleashed a series of deadly airstrikes on Ukrainian cities that have killed thousands in the past 15 months, Putin claimed Kyiv had chosen the 'path of trying to frighten the citizens of Russia'. The ranting Russian despot admitted there was 'some work to do' on Moscow's air defence system in a sign of his growing frustration with Russia's defences. 'Moscow's air defence system worked normally, satisfactorily, although there is some work to do,' Putin said on Russian television. Air defences around Moscow - which as the capital of the world's biggest nuclear power is already protected by an extensive early warning system - would be strengthened as a result, Putin said. A Ukrainian presidential aide denied Kyiv was directly involved in the Moscow attack, but said Ukraine was enjoying watching events and forecast more to come. 'Of course we are pleased to watch and predict an increase in the number of attacks. But of course we have nothing directly to do with this,' Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said. One kamikaze drone exploded into a mushroom cloud near the village of Usovo, which is just down the road from Putin's official Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside of the capital. Footage purportedly shows a suspected Ukrainian drone explode with a mushroom cloud (pictured) near Usovo village, which is close to Vladimir Putin's official residence A deluded Putin and his cronies today accused Ukraine of trying to 'frighten' Russians with their 'increasingly reckless behaviour' after Moscow came under fire Pictured: A damaged building at the site of a drone attack in Moscow, Russia A view of smoke rising after an explosion in Moscow - the second time the city has come under fire this month after two drones were aimed at the Kremlin Workers repair a damaged residential building following a reported drone attack in Moscow this morning A Ukrainian presidential aide denied Kyiv was directly involved in the Moscow attack, but said Ukraine enjoyed watching it. Pictured: Smoke rises after an explosion in Moscow '[Putin's residence] would be in earshot of the explosion,' one local said. In the city, explosive drones struck blocks of flats in Leninsky Prospekt and Profsoyuznaya Street about six miles from the centre of Moscow, reportedly wounding several residents and damaging the buildings. Ukraine made no immediate comment on the attack, which would be one of its deepest and most daring strikes into Russia since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than 15 months ago. It is the second time Moscow has come under attack this month after the Kremlin came under a kamikaze drone attack - a move which Russia described as an 'assassination attempt' on their leader. Moscow has largely remained undisturbed since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine last February, although around 220,000 Russian troops have been killed in the war. An injured man stands next to an apartment building that was damaged in a Russian drone strike in Kyiv on Tuesday Emergency workers extinguish a fire in a parked car, caused by falling debris from the latest aerial Russian attack in the Pecherskyi district of Kyiv on Tuesday Former President Donald Trump unveiled a new policy pledge on Tuesday morning, saying he would immediately end birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants by signing an executive order if he wins the 2024 presidential election. 'As part of my plan to secure the border, on day one of my new term in office 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 U.S. citizenship,' he said in his latest policy video. The idea was floated repeatedly during Trump's time in office. But legal experts said it would likely fall foul of the Constitution's 14th Amendment, which states that citizenship is granted to 'all persons born or naturalized in the United States.' Now, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination is returning to the idea, as he attacks the Biden administration for being weak on protecting U.S. borders. Donald Trump unveiled a new policy pledge on Tuesday morning, saying he would immediately end birthright citizenship for illegal aliens with an executive order Trump said the prospect of citizenship for the children of illegal aliens and other benefits was acting as a 'magnet' 'Even though these millions of illegal border crossers have entered the country unlawfully, all of their future children will become automatic US citizens,' he said. 'Can you imagine? 'They'll be eligible for welfare, taxpayer funded health care, the right to vote, chain migration and countless other government benefits, many of which will also profit the illegal alien parents. 'This policy is a reward for breaking the laws of the United States and is obviously a magnet helping draw the flood of illegals across our borders.' He said the 'illegal foreign invasion' was caused by President Joe Biden. And he promised that his executive order would ban 'birth tourism,' where a pregnant mother gives birth within the U.S. after entering legally with a visa, before leaving. His plan would require at least one parent be either a U.S. citizen or a legal resident. Border security is emerging as a key campaign issue for the 2024 election. Migrants are pictured here resting at the Nueva Vision Agape Shelter, in Tijuana, Mexico Migrants being housed in New York board a bus outside their hotel earlier this month 'My policy will choke off a major incentive for continued illegal immigration, deter more migrants from coming, and encourage many of the aliens Joe Biden has unlawfully let into our country to go back to their home countries,' he said. 'They must go back. Nobody could afford this. Nobody could do this and even morally it's so wrong.' The U.S. is not alone in offering birthright citizenship. But several countries, including Ireland, Australia, India and the United Kingdom have ended or restricted the right in recent decades. Legal experts almost universally say the U.S. Constitution, and a string of court decisions, mean that Trump could not end the right with the stroke of a pen. However, a small number of conservative scholars says the full text of the 14th Amendment - 'All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside' - offers a different interpretation. Trump is the frontrunner for the Republican 2024 nomination. He heads to Iowa on Wednesday for two days of events in the crucial early primary state Only 31 percent of voters say they approve of the president's handling of immigration Illegal aliens cannot vote or serve on juries, and so are not 'subject to the jurisdiction' of the U.S. Trump seemed to hint at this view of the Constitution in his video message. 'As has been laid out by many scholars, this policy is based on a historical myth and a willful misinterpretation of the law by the open borders advocates,' he said. Trump heads to Iowa on Tuesday for a string of events, which is rounded off on Thursday evening with a Fox News townhall hosted by Sean Hannity. 'These events will be different to what people are used to,' said campaign spokesman Stephen Cheung. 'These are not big rallies. These are smaller events, with him shaking hands and doing retail politics.' It's a last-ditch effort to avoid closures affecting Walmart, Nike and others President Ira Kress, a 39-year veteran of the company, said it is worse than ever Supermarket chain Giant has said it is taking measures to curb theft in its 165 supermarkets across the country, including by closing some store entrances. Other measures include locking items on shelves, hiring extra security, limiting the number of items at self-checkout and putting razor blades in boxes that trigger an alarm if opened. The chain's president, Ira Kress, recently told the Washington Post the new measures are a last-ditch attempt at keeping stores open amid theft which he says has 'increased exponentially'. 'To say [theft has] risen tenfold in the last five years would not be an understatement,' he told the newspaper. Giant Food has supermarkets across DC, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia and unlike many other retailers like Walmart, Nike, Kroger, Target, Macy's and Best Buy, it is yet to close any. Supermarket chain Giant has said it is taking measures to curb theft in its 165 supermarkets across the country. Pictured is a store in Silver Spring, Maryland The chain's president, Ira Kress (pictured), recently told the Washington Post that the new measures were a last-ditch attempt at keeping stores open Last June a Giant in Washington DC made headlines when thieves were filmed brazenly filling garbage bags and a shopping cart with laundry detergent Kress said he knew the new measures were going to aggravate shoppers, but that introducing them was better than the alternative. 'The last thing I want to do is close stores,' he said. 'But I've got to be able to run them safely and profitably.' He justified closing store entrances on the grounds that it makes it harder for thieves to operate and allows for them to allocate more security guards to protect individual entrances. In November a customer and a security guard were killed after shooting at each other in a store in Maryland. Ira Kress joined Giant in 1984 and said he has seen crime 'increase exponentially' since he began as a part-time cashier Last June a Giant in Washington DC made headlines when thieves were seen brazenly filling garbage bags and a shopping cart with laundry detergent. 'We have the police come to our stores they'll take the information, they'll record it,' he told the Post. 'But there's really nothing being done with that, because they had two homicides that were a bank robbery and two shootings. So it's like, where are they going to focus their time and attention?' Kress joined Giant in 1984 and started as a part-time cashier at a store in Silver Spring, Maryland, while attending college, according to Food Trade News. He took a year away from his studies and was even considering pursuing a career in law enforcement himself. he recounted to the Post how he witnessed theft then too, but that it had changed. 'It's continued to escalate,' he said. 'So now it's Tide and Dove and razor blades and Olay, or roasts or shrimp or crab legs.' 'We used to chase shoplifters,' he added. 'And you'd get the product back, and nobody would ever fight you.' 'I didn't worry about somebody pulling a knife or gun on me,' he said. The chain has said it will permanently close certain entrances to retail stores to curtail theft Kress said one of the measures included keeping increasingly cheap items locked on the shelves so they are more immune to theft He also spoke on the broader trend which has seen various retailers pulling out of cities - especially those like San Francisco and Portland - and citing crime. In 2021 retailers lost a combined $94.5billion to 'shrink', a term used to describe theft and other types of inventory loss. And organized retail crime incidents soared by 26.5 percent in the same year, according to the 2022 National Retail Security Survey. Along with brazen daylight thefts, self-checkouts have also made it easier for people to walk out without paying for items. Progressive district attorneys in cities like Chicago, New York, Portland and California have also been blamed for effectively legalizing shoplifting by failing to prosecute culprits. 'It's laughable for any of our politicians, and I've offered to meet and talk with any of them, to be ignorant to what's going on in their communities, in their jurisdictions, with their constituents,' said Kress of the response among lawmakers to the crisis. 'And for politicians to blame businesses for leaving is embarrassing'. Arman Nair appeared in Boston court on Tuesday after being charged with attempting to carry a 10-inch titanium 'vampire straw' onto a flight departing from Logan International Airport last month. The young man, 26, and his attorneys arrived at the East Boston Municipal Courthouse on Monday morning after he was hit with a state charge for possessing the banned travel item. Vampire straws are most commonly used to drink thick shakes and smoothies, but they are also long enough to be used as daggers and are marketed as 'very effective' tire deflators. Violators of the state weapons law that Nair has been charged with can be given a fine or sentenced to up to five years in prison if they have prior felony charges. Arman Nair, 26, appears in East Boston Municipal court with his attorney Richard Bardi on Tuesday. Nair was charged last month in relation to a Vampire straw that was found in his carry on bag at Logan International Airport Shortly after his arrest last month, the New England TSA Twitter account posted a picture of the Vampire straw and identified it as contraband flight material The metal object was discovered by TSA agents and confiscated by the Massachusetts State Police. Nair was then arrested and charged in relation to traveling with a banned item. According to the TSA, many sharp objects are only allowed in checked travel bags. Following Nair's arrest late last month, the Twitter account @TSA_NewEngland posted a picture of a vampire straw and wrote: 'This is Vampire straw. These items are not allowed in passenger carry-on bags.' 'A passenger found that out yesterday at Logan International Airport when Massachusetts State Police confiscated the item and eventually arrested the 26-year-old man on a stage charge. #travelfail.' Following Nair's arrest last month, Massachusetts police told CNN that the confiscated straw had been purchased from Szabo Inc., which sells custom titanium Vampire straws for $85. While the company says the product can be used to 'effortlessly' slurp any thick shake or smoothie, it also claims it is 'designed for self defense' and is 'long enough to be used like a dagger.' The product description notes that the straw can easily be carried around in public 'without attracting attention' and that its 'chiseled tip is sharp enough to puncture more synthetic materials.' The production description goes on: 'In 100000 years, when every trace of humanity will have disappeared, the Vampire straw will remain, unaffected by corrosion, as a testament of the ingenuity human beings possessed to invent contraptions to hurt each other.' Nair, of Chicago, and his attorneys arrive the court house after he was charged last month with carrying a dangerous weapon The Vampire straw in question was an $85 custom titanium device advertised as a weapon on the website from which it was ordered Nair was ultimately released on personal recognizance until a hearing on June 27 In Massachusetts, it is illegal to carry certain 'edged instruments,' including stilettos and daggers. According to state troopers and the TSA, the Vampire straw 'fit that category.' Punishment for breaking the weapons law can result in up to five years in prison if they have prior felony charges. Following his appearance Tuesday, Nair was released on his own recognizance and will return to court for a hearing on June 27. A sailor whose mission to cross the Atlantic in the smallest ever boat failed when it sank on day one says he feels like he has 'let people down'. Andrew Bedwell, 49, spent three years building the 3.5-metre vessel in his garage in Lancashire, but returned to shore after it started leaking off the coast of Canada. The vessel, named Big C and with a top speed of just 2.5mph, then sank in the harbour, dashing his hopes of fixing it and trying again in the future. Andrew started his journey from Newfoundland on May 28 but decided to return to the harbour for safety reasons after noticing water in the boat. Devastated, he posted an apology on social media today to sponsors and supporters he felt he'd 'let down'. But he revealed his wife told him it's 'better to see you upset than for me to be doing a video crying as you won't be coming home'. Andrew Bedwell is pictured during a test sail on the Big C vessel he built in his garage Andrew shared a post on Facebook earlier today, apologising to supporters and sponsors Writing on social media, Andrew said: 'There are so many people who have helped me, sponsored me and cheered me on and I feel so awful - I feel I have let you all down. 'For now I need to get home and process what has happened. Thank you all so much for your support and once again I can't apologise enough. 'I'll leave you with a quote from my wife: 'Better to see you upset than for me to be doing a video crying as you won't be coming home'.' The mariner spent three years hand-building his fibreglass micro-yacht and set off on the 1,900-mile solo trip from St John's, Newfoundland, on Saturday. He planned to survive on vitamin-based drinks and food bags made of beef jerky, raisins, and fat during his passage, which were moulded into the walls of his cabin. Andrew came up with his idea after reading a book by current record holder Hugo Vihlen, who made the dangerous crossing in a 1.6m (5ft 4inch) boat 30 years ago. And he then set about self-financing the vessel, which he made in the garage of his home, in Scarisbrick, Lancashire. But disaster struck just hours into the voyage when his ship started letting in water and he was forced to return to shore. He told followers on Facebook: 'After two long years, countless hours and god knows how much money - the dream of crossing the Atlantic in Big C is no more. 'We set off, but on the first day I noticed a small leak. Better to be safe, I turned back to check it out. 'Overnight the boat took on more water and when we lifted her out, the ropes snapped, the boat fell which caused masses of damage to the boat. 'I am beyond devastated. I hoped to drain her, fix it and then either carry on or return her to the UK for a future date. Sadly none of that is now possible.' He said at the time: 'I don't know what to say to everyone who's supported me, helped me, you've all been absolutely amazing. Big C is no more. She can't carry on. I can't do it, I'm sorry.' Andrew Bedwell is pictured with provisions ahead of setting sail to cross the Atlantic After years of work, Andrew's dreams were sadly put on pause when the boat sank in Canada Andrew Bedwell, of Lancashire, hoped to smash the record for sailing the smallest boat to cross the Atlantic Mr Bedwell, who works as a yacht and sailmaker, explained previously that after the boat started taking on water there were plans to make modifications and relaunch the vessel, which took years to build and has a top speed of two-and-a-half miles per hour. The father only needed to reach a point within 50 miles of the west of Ireland to claim the world record for the smallest boat to cross the Atlantic, but he had hoped to finish in Falmouth in late August. As a sailor, he navigated around Britain and journeyed into the frozen reaches of the Arctic Circle. He said before setting off that he wanted 'a big challenge' before he was 50 and that he was 'taking on a huge challenge in a tiny vessel'. Red panda at Newquay Zoo escaped on Friday and ambled down nearby road Locals were given a pleasant surprise after they saw an adorable red panda 'ambling' down the street after a daring escape from Newquay Zoo. Police said the endangered animal, which is native to the Himalayas and China, was spotted next to rows of apples and pears at a wholesale fruit market in Springfield Road in Newquay, Cornwall yesterday. Staff from Freshpoint greengrocers, which is about half a mile from the zoo, along with officers from Devon and Cornwall Police contained the red panda, who recently moved to Newquay, in a courtyard until it was collected by zoo staff. Inspector Guy Blackford from Devon and Cornwall Police joked about the rescue mission in a tweet, saying 'Not often @NewquayPolice @NewquayResponse get sent to an escaped red panda from the local zoo which was found by Newquay fruit sales. 'Panda rescue is not a topic taught in police training yet!' Locals were given a pleasant surprise after they saw an adorable red panda 'ambling' down the street after a daring escape from Newquay Zoo Police said the red panda animal, which is native to the Himalayas and China, was spotted next to rows of apples and pears at a wholesale fruit market in Springfield Road in Newquay, Cornwall yesterday A member of staff at the greengrocers said a colleague in the loading bay shouted to him after seeing the red panda coming down the road, the BBC reports. The man, named Gareth, asked his colleague, if it was a 'big funny coloured cat... but no, it was a red panda' that was 'ambling down the road without a care in the world'. He said the animal went into a nearby courtyard and they blocked it off until someone could deal with it. He said the police 'thought I was pulling their leg' but they did then show up and deal with it. Dave Folland, Head of Newquay Zoo told the BBC: 'On Friday morning, a red panda called Sundara, who had arrived at Newquay Zoo earlier this month, escaped from her enclosure. 'Our team responded in accordance with well-practised procedures and she was swiftly recaptured and returned to her home.' Devon and Cornwall Police said they were called on Friday at 7.10am after 'reports that a red panda had been found on Springfield Road, Newquay'. The forced added: 'Officers attended and kept the animal contained until zoo staff arrived a short time later to return it safely.' Newquay Zoo announced that it had welcomed a new red panda cub just three weeks ago. Four days ago the zoo said on Facebook 'WARNING: CUTENESS OVERLOAD. 'We recently welcomed an adorable new red panda cub, Sundara, to join our superstar Seren at Newquay Zoo and we can't get enough!' Commenters, in turn, asked whether the Cornish police force had sent a 'panda car' - small cars used by police from the 1960s to the 1980s, that were likened to the bears because of their black and white markings - in response. One quipped: 'I'm guessing a panda car was deployed?' Meanwhile another joked: 'We don't do swans in Cornwall....' A member of staff at the greengrocers said a colleague in the loading bay shouted to him after seeing the red panda coming down the road, the BBC reports Police inspector Guy Blackford joked that 'panda rescue is not a topic taught in police training yet,' as marked the unusual incident on Twitter Commenters asked whether a 'panda car' had been sent to the incident One commenter joked 'we don't do the swans in Cornwall' In another post a few weeks ago the zoo said 'We have two female red pandas here at Newquay Zoo. Seren arrived back in 2019 from Touroparc in France, while Sundara moved from Banham Zoo in East Anglia in 2023. They can often be found curled up high in the treetops, so don't forget to look up! 'Red pandas are native to the mountains and forests from northern Myanmar to Western Nepal. 'They belong to a carnivorous group of mammals, but feed almost exclusively on bamboo shoots - eating 20 to 30 per cent of their body weight in bamboo a day! They will also eat grubs, lizards, chicks and bird's eggs. 'Red pandas are the original panda and were given the name roughly 50 years before the giant white and black panda. 'Breeding season for red pandas is usually between January and March. After a gestation period of four months, one to five cubs are born. The young will stay in the nest that mum made prior to the birth for around 90 days, and they will usually only begin to appear at night. 'They have a false thumb, or extended wrist bone, which has developed over time to help them climb trees and eat bamboo. 'The internet browser Firefox is named after the red panda. 'Red pandas are classed as Endangered in the wild, with their numbers continuing to decline. The main reasons for this decline is habitat loss due to deforestation and poaching and hunting for fur and the pet trade.' Red pandas are, in fact, only distantly related to giant pandas, despite sharing a similar name. Rep. James Comer and Sen. Chuck Grassley will be holding a phone call with Wray on Wednesday FBI Director Wray has until May 30 to turn over the FD-1023 form to the committee or contempt of Congress charges will be initiated against him Speaker Kevin McCarthy has declared he will begin contempt charges against FBI Director Chris Wray if he does not hand over a potentially damning document involving President Joe Biden. Tuesday marks the deadline for the FBI to turn over an internal document that Republicans claim shows President Joe Biden was involved in a $5 million 'criminal' scheme with a foreign national. The internal unclassified FD-1023 form apparently details an 'arrangement' for an exchange of money for policy decisions, the Republicans have said and issued a subpoena for last month. 'If he misses the deadline today, I am prepared to move contempt charges in Congress against him,' McCarthy declared on Fox & Friends. 'We have jurisdiction over the FBI, which they seem to act like we do not. I personally called Director Wray and told him he needs to send that document. Today is the deadline,' he added. Tuesday marks the deadline for the FBI to turn over an internal document that Republicans claim shows President Joe Biden was involved in a $5 million 'criminal' scheme with a foreign national I have a message for FBI Director Christopher Wray: If he misses today's deadline to turn over subpoenaed documents to Congress, I am prepared to move contempt charges against him. pic.twitter.com/D3hyW3VIpX Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) May 30, 2023 'We have the right to look at it - Republicans and Democrats alike on the [House Oversight] Committee - and if he does not follow through with the law, we will begin contempt charges against Christopher Wray and the FBI. They are not above the law,' McCarthy added. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, are also set to have a phone call with Wray on Wednesday, a spokesperson confirmed to DailyMail.com, but the lawmakers have indicated that it is unlikely the bureau's top brass will hand over the document. Last week, Comer informed Wray that he was also narrowing the breadth of the subpoena for the document by providing two additional terms that may be referenced in the record: 'June 30, 2020' and 'five million.' Staff for Comer, who is leading the investigation into 'influence-peddling' by the first family, met with bureau officials one week ago who refused to hand over the file. The meeting came a day after McCarthy said he spoke with with Wray on the phone and believed that after their conversation, Republicans would 'get this document.' 'The FBI's mission is to protect the American people. Releasing confidential source information could potentially jeopardize investigations and put lives at risk,' the FBI told DailyMail.com last week in a statement regarding whether it will turn over the FD-1023 form. 'The FBI remains committed to cooperating with Congress's oversight requests on this matter and others as we always have.' A spokesperson for committee Democrats told DailyMail.com last week that Comer is basing claims off an 'unsubstantiated tip' and accused the chairman of using 'political theater' to prop up former President Donald Trump's primary poll numbers. The White House has also pushed back, calling the Republican-led investigation 'unfounded' and 'politically motivated.' The FBI's latest stonewalling also comes after a second IRS whistleblower came forward, claiming he was sidelined from the Hunter Biden probe when he spoke up about the president's son getting preferential treatment. The case agent, who has not been identified, says he was fired recently without any explanation after working on the Hunter Biden investigation since 2018, according to documents sent to congressional leaders obtained by DailyMail.com. FBI Director Chris Wray has until May 30 to hand over the document to congressional Republicans 'The information provided by a whistleblower raises concerns that then-Vice President Biden allegedly engaged in a bribery scheme with a foreign national,' Comer said This is the second whistleblower to come forward in recent days on the matter. According to documents, he informed Congress last week about backlash he suffered for acting as a whistleblower and alleged unfair retaliatory treatment. He sent an email last Thursday to senior IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel and several other officials alleging that he was ousted for raising concerns that the Department of Justice was 'acting inappropriately' in its handling of the investigation into the president's son. His complaint comes days after the Department of Justice removed the entire team probing Hunter Biden's tax returns, according to attorneys representing an initial supervisory whistleblower - Gary Shapley. Shapley testified before the GOP-led Ways and Means Committee for six hours on Friday and answered all questions from both Republicans and Democrats, DailyMail.com learned. Two tourists came dangerously close to being gored by bisons at Yellowstone National Park in shocking videos posted within the span of two weeks. One video which was posted by TouronsOfYellowstone last Sunday and credited to Russ Bjorn on Instagram, shows a woman, who has not yet been identified, extending her hand in an attempt to touch the bison. In a split second, the bison lunged forward, giving the impression that it is about to charge. The woman quickly retreated in a panic, stumbling over herself in the process. The frightened screams of the group can be heard in the background. Another video posted Sunday shows a woman taking a selfie, just inches away from a massive bison which is trying to rest on the ground. 'Sighted at Biscuit Basin. She was trying to pet it. It was insane. Like inches. Her arrogance was so infuriating. People were telling her to move away and she kept posing for like 10 minutes,' reads the caption. A woman came dangerously close to being gored by a bison while attempting to pet a bison at Yellowstone National Park A video shows another woman taking a selfie, just inches away from the massive beast in Yellowstone National Park She fortunately walked away from the risky incident unscathed as the wild beast did not react. The startling encounter, which was captured in a video and shared on Instagram, shows a group of people strolling along a designated path in the park, mere inches away from the massive bison. The bison did not continue to pursue the woman who attempted to pet it, leaving the group alone and unharmed after the initial scare. It is illegal to 'willfully remaining, approaching, and photographing wildlife within 100 yards' in Yellowstone. Yellowstone National Park preserves the most important bison herd in the U.S., according to National Park Services (NPS). It is the only place in the country where the near-extinct animal have lived continuously since prehistoric times. Yellowstone is home to a substantial bison population, ranging from 2,300 to 5,500. Around 5,900 bison were counted in the summer 2022. The conservation of wild bison is one of the most complex of Yellowstone's resource issues, according to NPS. NPS makes it clear to visitors online that these animals can become extremely aggressive if they feel threatened or approached too closely. Bison have caused more injuries in Yellowstone than any other animal. On average, one to two individuals are injured by bison in Yellowstone every year, according to Newsweek. To mitigate potential risks, the National Park Service strictly enforces a regulation requiring all visitors to maintain a minimum distance of 25 yards from bison at all times. These massive animals are the largest land-dwelling mammal in North America, and can weigh up to a staggering 2,000 pounds. They possess the strength to toss grown adults effortlessly 'like rag dolls,' as stated by the NPS. DailyMail Online has contacted authorities and National Park Services for their official statement on the incident, and whether legal action will be taken against the woman. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to park guidelines and safety. Just last week, rangers in Yellowstone National Park were forced to euthanize a bison calf after it was handled by a man who thought he was rescuing it from drowning. A man was pictured moving a bison calf up from the bank of the Lamar River on May 20. It was later put down after its herd rejected it. Yellowstone National Park staff are now trying to identify the man Pictured is an unrelated herd of bison stopping traffic in the Hayden Valley in September 2022 Park staff said they tried to reintroduce the animal to its herd but due to human contact the bison was rejected and abandoned, forcing them to kill it hours later. In 2015 Yellowstone National Park officials issued a graphic pamphlet drawing of a man being gored by bison in a bid for tourists to avoid the creatures Officials warned after last week's incident that disregarding park regulations requiring guests to stay at least 25 yards away from bison, elk and deer and at least 100 yards from bears and wolves can result in fines. NPS warns of the dangers posed by large wildlife: 'Bison can run three times faster than humans can sprint and are unpredictable and dangerous.' 'Visitors must give the animals enough space and alter their own behavior to avoid interacting with an animal in close proximity.' 'Do not approach wildlife, no matter how tame or calm they appear. Always obey instructions from park staff on scene.' In 2021, a 25-year-old Yellowstone tourist was jailed for four days after getting within yards of a grizzly bear and her cubs to take a photo. In the summer of 2018, a man who was seen on video attempting to go head-to-head with a bison, harassing and taunting it at Yellowstone National Park was also arrested. Sometimes the animal will attack unprompted. Last summer, three people were gored by bison in a series of just four weeks at Yellowstone. A 71-year-old Pennsylvania woman was injured after the animal attacked her while she and her daughter were returning to their car at the trailhead. In 2015 Yellowstone National Park officials issued a graphic pamphlet drawing of a man being gored by bison in a bid for tourists to avoid the creatures. A San Francisco dog owner is urging others to be vigilant after her Himalayan Sheepdog Poodle mix ate human feces tainted with opioids and marijuana. Jackie Shepard and her one-year-old dog, Pockets, were enjoying a day outdoors at Fort Mason, a popular neighborhood in San Francisco, on Thursday when she discovered that her pooch had picked up some poop. Shepard did not think much about it until hours later when she noticed the dog started acting strangely. She told ABC7 News the dog began 'wobbling, and her tail was down,' and that is when she knew something was terribly wrong. When she took Pockets to emergency care she was shocked to discover her puppy had opioids in her system and symptoms of marijuana intoxication. Pockets fortunately recovered quickly and did not need Narcan or any other medical treatment, but Shepard was horrified when she learned from the vet that what happened to Pockets is 'relatively common' and that she sees it 'a few times a week.' Pockets, a one-year-old Himalayan Sheepdog Poodle mix ingested human feces tained with opiods and marijuana, while she was at Fort Mason, a neighborhood in San Francisco on Thursday Jackie Shepard (pictured) and Pockets were enjoying a day outdoors before she picked up the tainted poop Shepard was horrified when she learned that this was a common occurrence and now urges other pet owners to be more vigilant when they are out with their dogs Now she is hoping to share her story with others so they too are more mindful. 'There are so many people with dogs who probably don't know this is a threat to their dogs,' the doting dog owner said. 'So I wanted to share to spread awareness people can be really careful and watch out for symptoms of this.' A health expert, who praised Shepard for her quick actions told ABC7 News that if Pockets had ingested a higher dosage she could have suffered kidney or liver damage. Yassine Derbani, who was at the park with her poodle mix, Mile, was disturbed when she heard about the experience Shepard had with her dog. 'That's horrible. That's my worst nightmare,' Derbani said. 'I don't know how anybody could prevent this.' A team of veterinary researchers at University of California surveyed more than 3,000 dog owners to discover what may be motivating pups to gobble down their own or other dogs' feces. The 2018 survey asked 1,552 dog owners how often their pooches were guilty of eating poop. Roughly 16% of the respondents said they had seen their dogs eat poop as many as six times, making them 'frequent stool eaters,' also referred to as 'coprophagics.' Among the dogs who indulged in eating poop, about 62% of them ate poop daily, while 38% do it weekly. So, while your dog is likely to eat poop no matter if it's a poodle or a dachshund, the scientists said your pup's eating behavior may indicate if it's more often eyeing the stinky stuff. The second survey, which involved 1,475 respondents, tried to uncover the reason why so many dogs choose to eat poop. The scientists found that dogs are more likely to be labeled as 'coprophagic' if they're considered 'greedy eaters.' There's a historical precedent for this theory, too. Prior studies have shown that free-roaming dogs in developing countries are more likely to scavenge through trash and feces in order to find their next meal. This behavior may still be present in modern day dog populations, James Serpell, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania veterinary school, told the Washington Post. Scientists though have found that there is no magic pill out there to stop this behavior from taking place, including food additives and other techniques. Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to 13 charges that he cheated investors in November However, federal prosecutors called the bid 'meritless' in a 100-page filing on Monday, saying the charges 'track the relevant statues' Sam Bankman-Fried, 31, bid to have his federal fraud charges dropped earlier this month, insisting that the US overreached in the case Prosecutors have claimed that FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried's bid to have his fraud charges dropped are 'meritless.' In papers filed in Manhattan federal court on Monday, prosecutors responded to early May filings in which Bankman-Fried's lawyers insisted that the United States overreached in its case against Bankman-Fried, making federal crimes out of regulatory issues. 'These motions are meritless,' prosecutors wrote in a nearly 100-page filing. 'The charges track the relevant statutes and the defendant's alleged misconduct falls within the heartland of what these statutes prohibit.' Bankman-Fried, 31, has been living with his parents in Palo Alto, California, after posting a $250million personal recognizance bond after his December extradition from the Bahamas. Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to charges that he cheated investors and looted customer deposits on FTX to make lavish real estate purchases, donate money to politicians and make risky trades at Alameda Research, his cryptocurrency hedge fund trading firm. Sam Bankman-Fried, 31, (pictured in March) bid to have his federal fraud charges dropped earlier this month, insisting that the US overreached in the case However, federal prosecutors called the bid 'meritless' in a 100-page filing on Monday, saying the charges 'track the relevant statues' US Attorney Damian Williams has called it one of the biggest frauds in America's history. In March, new charges added to the indictment alleged that Bankman-Fried violated the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by directing the payment of $40million in bribes to a Chinese official or officials to free up $1billion in cryptocurrency that was frozen in early 2021. In requesting all charges be dismissed, defense lawyers said eight counts in the original indictment were too vague and non-specific to proceed to trial and that additional charges were barred by an Extradition Treaty between the US and the Bahamas that prohibited charges not approved at the time of extradition. Prosecutors, though, asked Judge Lewis A. Kaplan to let all charges proceed. They said the claims against the original charges were legally sufficient and that permission is being sought from the Bahamas to permit the newest charges. Prosecutors wrote that they expect Bankman-Fried's lawyers to argue at trial that their client was not involved in Alameda's day-to-day activities and was unaware that Alameda borrowed large sums from FTX to repay its lenders. 'The defendant's spending of misappropriated funds on political donations is probative of the defendant's motive for defrauding FTXs customers and investors: the defendant wanted access to capital that he could use, in part, for political donations that would burnish his own image and improve the regulatory prospects of his business in the United States,' prosecutors wrote. Bankman-Fried (pictured in March) has pleaded not guilty to charges that he cheated investors and looted customer deposits on FTX to make lavish real estate purchases, donate money to politicians and make risky trades at Alameda Research, his cryptocurrency hedge fund trading firm. In March, new charges added to the indictment alleged that Bankman-Fried violated the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by directing the payment of $40million in bribes to a Chinese official or officials to free up $1billion in cryptocurrency that was frozen in early 2021 FTX entered bankruptcy in November when the global exchange ran out of money after the equivalent of a bank run. A trial is tentatively set for the fall. Earlier this month, federal prosecutors have assembled one of the largest troves of evidence ever seen in a white-collar fraud case, according to a new report. The evidence includes more than six million pages of emails, Slack messages and other digital records, as well as the handwritten diary of Bankman-Fried's lieutenant and sometimes-girlfriend, Caroline Ellison, The New York Times reported on Tuesday. Ellison also recorded observations about Bankman-Fried in electronic records that have circulated among lawyers in the case, and at times expressed personal and professional resentment toward the FTX founder, people familiar with the matter told the Times. The sheer volume of the government's evidence, which is not part of the public court record but would have to be shared with the defense team before trial, underlines the complexity of the case against Bankman-Fried. Earlier this month, federal prosecutors have assembled one of the largest troves of evidence ever seen in a white-collar fraud case. The evidence includes more than six million pages of emails, Slack messages and other digital records, as well as the handwritten diary of Bankman-Fried's lieutenant and sometimes-girlfriend, Caroline Ellison (pictured) Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to 13 criminal counts stemming from allegations that he misappropriated billions in FTX client funds prior to the crypto exchange's collapse in November. Other evidence gathered in the case is said to include 2.5million pages from Bankman-Fried's Google accounts, along with devices such as phones and laptops. One prosecutor on the case, Nicholas Roos, said at a hearing in March that the state had obtained one laptop crammed with so much material that FBI analysts were struggling to sift through it all. Roos also said the government had given the defense team copies of nearly one million documents obtained from witnesses and other third parties in the case. However, Bankman-Frieds lawyers have argued that prosecutors are dragging their feet in handing over evidence, after using the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell to gather most of the corporate records in the case. Sullivan & Cromwell, which took control of FTX after it entered bankruptcy, has control of most of the company's corporate records, including emails, Slack messages and transaction logs. Trial in the case is set to begin in October, and Ellison, who lived with Bankman-Fried in his Bahamas penthouse, is expected to be a key witness for the prosecution. A man who murdered a mother and her two-year-old daughter before burying their bodies under his kitchen floor has lost a bid to appeal against his conviction and life sentence. Andrew Innes, 52, stabbed and beat Bennylyn Burke, 25, to death with a hammer before strangling her daughter Jellica, two, and buried them under his kitchen floor in Dundee, Scotland. Innes was found guilty of their murders following a five-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh in February this year. But he has now lost his challenge at the High Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh at the 'first sift' to overturn his conviction and life sentence. He lured Ms Burke from Bristol, England, to his home in Dundee after targeting her through a dating website in February 2021. Andrew Innes, 52, has now lost his challenge at the High Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh at the 'first sift' to overturn his conviction and life sentence Andrew Innes, 52, stabbed and beat Bennylyn Burke (right), 25, to death with a hammer before strangling her daughter Jellica (left), 2, and burying them under his kitchen floor at his home in Dundee, Scotland The decision came after a single judge decided there are no 'arguable grounds' for an appeal to proceed based on legal matters and evidence. Innes did not request to be released on bail pending his appeal and remains in custody. He can still appeal to the 'second sift' stage where the case would be considered by two or three judges. During his trial, Innes had admitted killing Bennylyn and Jellica but denied murder, claiming that he had diminished responsibility. The jury also found him guilty of sexually assaulting Jellica, raping another child, and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The trial heard that Innes met Ms Burke, who had moved to the UK from the Philippines in 2019, on a dating site in February 2021. After he murdered them, with the toddler having been killed around three days after Ms Burke, he hid them below his kitchen floor at his home in Troon Avenue, Dundee The kitchen floor, where Innes buried the toddler and Ms Burke after the murders He drove Ms Burke and Jellica from their home in Bristol to Dundee on 18 February. They were reported missing two weeks later. On March 5, police officers saw a car which had made a return trip from Dundee to Bristol during lockdown in the driveway of Innes' home in Troon Avenue. Innes claimed that he had driven Ms Burke and Jellica to Glasgow, Scotland, and had left them with another man. But after repeated questioning he admitted killing Ms Burke and told officers she was buried under his kitchen floor. Ms Burke had been stabbed and repeatedly hit on the head with a hammer and Jellica died of asphyxiation, the court heard. Ms Burke and Jellica's family said they would be 'forever haunted' by what they described as 'the worst cruelty we could ever imagine'. Innes captured on CCTV purchasing a hammer from a B&Q store in the days before the murders Judge Lord Beckett said the 'difficult and harrowing' case was one of the worst crimes to have come before a Scottish court. At the of his arrest, when asked where Ms Burke was, Innes told PC Gavin Burns: 'She's under the kitchen floor.' 'We cannot drive from our minds what happened to her and what happened to Jellica' A statement from the Burke family said: 'Bennylyn was the hope and light of our family. 'That light has been cruelly snuffed out. 'Bennylyn had bright ideas and big dreams. 'She bravely left home to seek a better future in a country far away. Instead, she found the worst cruelty we could ever imagine at the hands of someone she trusted. 'We shall be forever haunted by what happened to her in this far off place such a long way from us, her family. 'In the Philippines, poor families like ours very often have daughters and sisters who seek to fulfil their dreams for a better future abroad. Never do we imagine it will end in such terror and horror. 'We cannot drive from our minds what happened to her and what happened to Jellica, or the fear they must have felt after experiencing violence from Andrew Innes. 'A big part of our family has been torn from us. 'We shall never see Bennylyn and Jellica again. We shall never know our beloved Jellica or ever see her grow up. 'We pray for the child who suffered the cruelty of Andrew Innes. 'We are happy that she is being cared for and recovering from her trauma. 'Women and girls must be protected from predators like Andrew Innes. 'There is nothing that can restore Bennylyn and Jellica to us. 'But the jury's guilty verdict for murder provides some comfort to our family and friends and brings justice for Bennylyn and Jellica.' Advertisement And, of the two-year-old's whereabouts, he told DC Paul Hardie: 'Under the floor with mum. I couldn't look after a child. The child was screaming.' Innes had claimed that Ms Burke lunged at him with a sushi knife and that killing her was an act of self-defence. But this was not true, he admitted as he took to the witness box on the third day of his trial. Instead, the court was told, he was 'apocalyptically angry' as he hit her in the head repeatedly with a hammer before stabbing her with a samurai sword retrieved from his office. The killing came as Ms Burke was preparing food in the kitchen when, he said, he thought she looked like a hybrid of his estranged wife and jilted lover. In a pre-recorded interview with one of his victims, the girl he was found to have raped, she told how a hammer was used to kill Ms Burke. The girl said Jellica was killed during a game of hide-and-seek, and told the interviewer she could not save them because 'she didn't know what was happening'. She said Innes sexually abused the toddler, and described the repeated sexual assaults and rapes inflicted on her. The girl told the court that after she was sexually assaulted she would be paid, and referred to 'jobs' during the interview played to the jury in which she recounted her ordeal. Innes denied the sex attacks when arrested and on March 5 told DC Hardie: 'I never touched the girl.' But a jury found this to be a lie, having been presented with DNA evidence from items including handcuffs and clothing. From the outset of the trial they were told the girl had chlamydia, the same infection that Innes had. Innes's lies unravelled further when the evidence of his mental state at the time was discussed. Dr Gordon Cowan, a psychiatrist, told the court Innes had changed his story multiple times when asked why he killed Ms Burke. At first it was acting in self-defence, then he heard voices, before Innes finally settled on his hybrid-vision story. Dr Cowan said of Innes: 'It's clear he held resentment towards his ex-partners and this lady in front of him, in some way, reminded him of these ladies and he became angry, uncontrollably angry at her.' And, Dr Cowan told jurors, there was a point where Innes felt he was psychotic when he killed Ms Burke and not when he killed Jellica, but he later said he had been psychotic during both killings. He said he changed his description of events to suggest he was 'wandering around like a zombie'. Asked by Brian McConnachie KC, defending Innes, if his client's behaviour could have been linked to steroid-induced psychosis, Dr Cowan pointed out that, prior to the killing, Innes had gone to B&Q, where he bought a hammer. Asked by Brian McConnachie KC, defending Innes, if his client's behaviour could have been linked to steroid-induced psychosis, Dr Cowan pointed out that, prior to the killing, Innes had gone to B&Q, where he bought a hammer He told the court if someone had florid psychosis, suffering hallucinations and delusions to the point where they were killing people, they would not be doing their normal business without people noticing. Innes claimed he was 'insane as a result of the steroids' that he had been prescribed for his Crohn's disease, but Dr Cowan said he did not believe the 52-year-old was impaired at the time he murdered Mr Burke, nor when he killed the toddler. After he murdered them, with the toddler having been killed around three days after Ms Burke, he hid them below his kitchen floor at his home in Troon Avenue, Dundee. But Innes told the court they were not buried in concrete, saying during his evidence: 'I dug them a respectable grave and gave them a Christian burial and then replaced the floor. That's all I did.' He also told the court of his attempted self-castration, negotiations with a potential 'sexual playmate' and he railed against his estranged wife for cutting and dyeing her hair in a way he did not like. After thousands of faithful believers flocked to an abbey in Missouri to see the remarkably preserved remains of a Catholic nun who died four years ago, some are suggesting is a sign she should be considered for sainthood. Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, who died in 2019, has not yet reached the required minimum of five years since death for the Catholic Church's lengthy and complex sainthood process to begin. Still, the incident is drawing attention to the history of sainthood in the US. In all, there are only 11 Catholic saints who have been canonized for their work in what is now the United States. Lancaster founded the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles religious order in Gower, Missouri, and died four years ago at age 95. The nuns of the order say that Lancaster's body was being reinterred to make way for a construction project, and that they had only expected to find bones, because she had been buried in a simple wooden coffin without any embalming. Instead, they discovered an intact body and 'a perfectly preserved religious habit,' the order's statement said. The nuns hadn't meant to publicize the discovery, but someone shared a private email publicly and 'the news began to spread like wildfire.' Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, who died in 2019, has not yet reached the required minimum of five years since death for the lengthy and complex sainthood process to begin Lancaster's body was placed in a glass shrine in the abbey's church on Monday, with Catholic News Agency reporting an estimated 1,000 cars arrived for the ceremony. Lancaster's body was placed in a glass shrine in the abbey's church on Monday, with Catholic News Agency reporting an estimated 1,000 cars arrived for the ceremony. The local diocese said it will investigate, but warned that Lancaster's remains should not be venerated or treated as relics in the meantime. 'The Church has an established process for determining if someone is a saint and worthy of veneration. No such process has yet been initiated on behalf of Sister Wilhelmina,' said Kansas City Bishop James V. Johnston Jr. in a statement. Though the relative preservation of Lancaster's body has drawn intense interest from the faithful, experts say that it is not unheard of for human remains to stay relatively intact for years, even without embalming. The Catholic canonization process requires an investigation into the candidate's life and death, to determine whether they were either martyred or lived a virtuous life. Following the investigation at the diocese level, the Vaticans Congregation for the Causes of Saints examines the report and makes a recommendation to the pope, who may then declare the person 'Venerable'. The next step, in which the pope declares the person 'Blessed', requires at least one miracle attributed to the person by church investigators. A second miracle is required to be elevated from 'Blessed' to 'Saint'. People collected dirt from the gravesite of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster at the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles abbey on Sunday People wait to view the body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster in Missouri on Sunday Here are the 11 people who have been canonized as saints for their work in the lands that are now part of the United States: Saint Isaac Jogues, 1607-1646 Saint Isaac Jogues, 1607-1646 Feast day: October 19 Jogues, a French missionary, is the patron saint of the Americas and Canada. A Jesuit priest who was ordained in 1636, he traveled to the French colonies in North America in a bid to convert Native Americans to Christianity. In 1642, he was captured and tortured by Mohawk Indians near present-day Auriesville, New York, and watched as other members of his party were put to gruesome deaths. After more than a year of captivity, he escaped and returned to France aboard a Dutch ship. Despite his ordeal, Jogues volunteered to return to the New France territory as an emissary to broker peace with his former captors. 'My heart tells me that, if I am the one to be sent on this mission, I shall go but I shall not return. But I would be happy if our Lord wished to complete the sacrifice where he began it,' he explained in a letter. His prediction was correct, and he was killed with a tomahawk in 1646. Jogues was canonized a saint in 1930 by Pope Pius XI. Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, 1656-1680 Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, 1656-1680 Feast day: July 14 Tekakwitha was born in a Mohawk village located in what is today New York state, and was orphaned at the age of four when her parents died of smallpox. She converted to Catholicism at age 19, and took a vow of perpetual virginity. Tekakwitha moved to a small Jesuit village near present-day Montreal and lived out her remaining years there before dying age 24. Tekakwitha was canonized a saint in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI. Saint Junipero Serra, 1713-1784 Saint Junipero Serra, 1713-1784 Feast day: July 1 Serra was a Spanish Catholic priest and missionary of the Franciscan Order. He led a group that founded missions in what is today Mexico and California. His canonization faced protests from Native American groups, who argued that he led a brutal campaign of subjugation. Serra was canonized a saint in 2015 by Pope Francis. Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, 1769-1852 Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, 1769-1852 Feast day: November 18 Duchesne was a French religious sister and educator who immigrated to American in 1818. She settled in what was then the Missouri Territory, and ministered to Native Americans who had been displaced from their ancestral homelands by government removal programs. She continued her ministry in Kansas and opened the first free school for girls west of the Mississippi river, as well as the first Catholic school for Native Americans. Duchesne's was known among the Pottawatomie tribe as Quahkahkanumad, which means the 'woman who prays always'. She died in 1852 at age 83. She was canonized a saint in 1988 by Pope John Paul II. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, 1774-1821 Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, 1774-1821 Feast day: January 4 Seton was a religious sister and educator born in New York City, and known as a founder of the US parochial school system. Raised in a wealthy and prominent family, Seton converted to Catholicism following her husband's death in 1803. She later moved to Maryland and established the Saint Joseph's Academy and Free School, a school dedicated to Catholic girls' education, and founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph's. The Sisters of Charity helped launch orphanages and schools across the country, and six congregations trace their roots to the order. Seton was canonized a saint in 1975 by Pope Paul VI. Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, 1798-1856 Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, 1798-1856 Feast day: October 3 Guerin was a French nun who immigrated to Indiana in 1840, and was known for founding numerous schools and caring for the sick and dying. She founded the the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods congregation in Indiana, and opened schools in Illinois and throughout Indiana. She founded Saint Mary's Academy for young women, the forerunner of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, today the oldest Catholic college in Indiana. Guerin was canonized a saint in 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI. Saint John Neumann, 1811-1860 Saint John Neumann, 1811-1860 Feast day: January 5 Born in Bohemia, Nuemann immigrated in 1836 to the United States, where he was ordained a priest and became Bishop of Philadelphia. Neumann founded the first Catholic diocesan school system in the US. A fluent speaker of both German and Italian, he was known for his work in Philadelphia's immigrant communities. Neumann was known for his frugality, and over the two decades he lived in the US, he owned and wore only one pair of boots. He was also famous for giving away any new vestments he received to newly ordained priests. Neumann was canonized a saint in 1977 by Pope Paul VI. Saint Marianne Cope, 1838-1918 Saint Marianne Cope, 1838-1918 Feast day: January 23 Cope was a German-born religious sister who joined the Sisters of St Francis of Syracuse, New York after immigrating to America. She helped found the St. Joseph's Hospital in Syracuse, and in 1883 she relocated to Hawaii, where she helped care for people suffering from leprosy. Cope answered a plea from King Kalakaua of Hawaii to care for leprosy sufferers on the islands, after more than 50 religious congregations refused his request. Despite her extensive contact with leprosy sufferers, Cope never contracted the disease. She was canonized a saint in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI. Saint Damien de Veuster, 1840-1889 Saint Damien de Veuster, 1840-1889 Feast day: May 10 Veuster was a contemporary of Cope, who worked with the nun to help the sick and suffering in Hawaii. Born in Belgium, he entered the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary when he was 19. During his religious studies, Veuster prayed daily before a picture of St. Francis Xavier, patron of missionaries, to be sent on a mission. When his brother, an ordained priest, fell ill and was unable to travel to Hawaii on a mission, Veuster volunteered to take his place in 1864. Veuster dedicated himself to living permanently in a leper colony on the island of Molokai, where he built schools, churches and hospitals. He was later joined there by Cope. Veuster contracted leprosy himself, but continued to serve the mission until his death in 1889. He was canonized a saint in 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI. Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, 1850-1917 Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, 1850-1917 Feast day: November 13 Known as Mother Cabrini, she was born in Italy and took religious vows there in 1877. In 1880, Cabrini and seven other women who had taken religious vows with her founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She had hoped to lead a mission to China, but instead the pope urged her to go to the United States to help Italian immigrants who were migrating there in huge numbers. She arrived in New York in 1889 and organized catechism and education classes for the Italian immigrants, also caring for many orphans. She founded Columbus Hospital in New York, and later moved to Chicago and founded hospitals serving immigrants there. Cabrini died in Chicago in 1917 while preparing Christmas candy for children there. She was the first United States citizen to be canonized, and is known as the patron saint of immigrants. Her name lives on in Chicago's Cabrini Street and Cabrini Boulevard in New York. Cabrini was canonized as a saint in 1946 by Pope Pius XII. Saint Katharine Drexel, 1858-1955 Saint Katharine Drexel, 1858-1955 Feast day: March 3 Drexel was born in Philadelphia to a prominent Catholic family that owned a considerable banking fortune. She initially took religious vows with the Sisters of Mercy in Pittsburgh. In 1891, she founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, a religious order serving black people and Native Americans in the southern and western US. She financed more than 60 missions and schools around the United States, and founded Xavier University in Louisiana, the country's the only historically black Catholic university. Across the US, scores of Catholic parishes and schools are named after Drexel today. She was canonized as a saint in 2000 by Pope John Paul II. Joe Biden has been illegally handing out plum diplomatic jobs to wealthy Democrat donors overseas, a new report has claimed. The analysis by the Campaign Legal Center slammed what it called the 'donor-to-ambassador pipeline' in violation of federal law. All postings have to be signed off by the U.S. Senate, the upper house of Congress, which is currently controlled by the Democrats. CLC lawyers pointed to nearly 60 rich political donors who bankrolled Democratic campaigns over the past decade before landing senior U.S. ambassador roles. They said the donors, many of whom worked as bankers, lawyers or lobbyists, had 'limited or nonexistent credentials for foreign service.' On average, they handed over $400,000 to Democratic Party campaigns, according to the report. And that is despite U.S. legislation clearly stating that 'contributions to political campaigns should not be a factor' when appointing top diplomats. Biden had denied at the start of his presidency that he would appoint any ambassadors in this way, which has long been a trait for U.S. politics. Donors have landed top ambassadorial roles representing the Biden administration CLC lawyers accused Joe Biden of effectively 'selling' ambassadorial roles to wealthy donors abroad Scott Miller, a former UBS banker, had no diplomatic experience before landing the plum role in the Swiss capital of Bern Carrin Patman is the U.S. ambassador to Iceland. It is unclear as to whether she has succeeded in mastering the notoriously tricky Icelandic language. It singled out Scott Miller, an ex-UBS banker who is now ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Miller and his husband gave $3 million to Democratic campaigns in the last 10 years, the report said, before securing the cushy posting. The 44-year-old reportedly speaks neither French nor German, the two main working languages of the Alpine nation. Carrin Patman, a Texas-based attorney, was appointed as the U.S. ambassador to Iceland in August last year. The Duke University graduate has zero foreign policy experience but she did stump up just over $2,6 million for the Democrats with her husband, according to the CLC report. The third-largest donor was Constance Milstein, who is now the U.S. ambassador on the picturesque island nation of Malta. She and her husband also handed over $2,151,200 to Democratic committees over the past ten years. Milstein is a real estate executive who owns a hotel in Washington, DC, but claims that she hosted 'meetings and conferences with world leaders.' Jane Hartley, Joe Biden's envoy to the United Kingdom, donated nearly $1 million to the Democrats and lives in a period English townhouse in London's upmarket Kensington district. State Department salaries are dwarfed by what donors can earn in the private sector. But U.S. ambassadors can rake in up to $180,000 a year and given special residences where they live free of charge at the taxpayer's expense. Ambassadors are given plush taxpayer-funded residences, such as Winfield House in the United Kingdom, where they stay for free and host lavish parties They also get a range of other benefits, including government subsidized healthcare insurance, life insurance and five weeks of vacation time per year. Taxpayers are also on the hook for their airfares to and from the vacation destination of their choice, as well as school fees for their families. The CLC lawyers called on lawmakers to stop rubber-stamping appointees who were clearly lacking in the proper qualifications to be a senior diplomat. Republicans have also traditionally appointed political allies and donors to the cushy roles. 'Presidents, of course, must stop engaging in this corrupt and illegal practice, but senators could stop it today by simply declining to confirm ambassadors who are not meaningfully qualified,' they wrote. 'The donor-to-ambassador pipeline has caused incalculable damage to public trust by creating a widespread perception that many diplomats are selected because of their campaign contributions, not because of their experience and skills. 'The American people have a right to know that all public officials, regardless of whether they serve at home or abroad, are appointed based on merit,' the report said. The Duchess of York met with Jeffrey Epstein in 2010 even though he was still under house arrest for having sex with underage girls, files obtained by DailyMail.com indicate. The pedophile's private calendars from March that year reveal that he would make room in his schedule for Sarah Ferguson, the ex-wife of Prince Andrew. At the time Epstein still had five months of house arrest left for admitting to soliciting a minor for prostitution, an offense for which he served a 13-month jail sentence and was labeled a registered sex offender. Epstein told his assistant: 'Duchess anytime.' Jeffrey Epstein's private calendars and emails reveal he met with Sarah Ferguson in 2010 several times at his New York mansion Images show smiling Sarah Ferguson with Epstein's housekeeper and driver at Epstein's New York mansion Prince Andrew is pictured in New York's Central Park with Epstein in December 2010 In a scheduling entry for March 3, 2010, Epstein's assistant wrote: 'Still need to try and schedule the Duchess for Tues or Wed (I have emailed her assistant, Amanda, RE a meeting' Epstein told his assistant in an email, 'Duchess anytime,' referring to Fergie Photos posted by Epstein's driver and housekeeper in February and March 2010 show Fergie and Andrew visiting the financier's New York mansion. Fergie's links to Epstein have come under the spotlight once again after DailyMail.com's investigation into Epstein's files. The hundreds of pages in the files give an unprecedented insight into the late pedophile's extraordinary network of power and influence. Presidents, prime ministers, royalty and famous names previously not linked to Epstein are also featured in the emails and calendar entries. Before his suicide in jail in August 2019, Epstein revealed he had 'potentially damaging' dirt on high-powered figures Fergie's relationship with Epstein dates back to at least April 1998 when an entry on the flight logs for his private plane has him meeting her at Nassau airport in the Bahamas. The log mentions that she was traveling with her children, apparently referring to Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and they would be 'on the ground' when Epstein met them. Fergie had divorced Andrew two years earlier but the two remained close friends, as they are still today. The Epstein files suggest that the pedophile knew intimate details of the former couple's finances and bragged about it while touting himself to JP Morgan. Epstein dropped Andrew's name while trying to persuade the bank to let him act as an intermediary for wealthy clients. On August 31, 2011 in an email to JP Morgan boss Jes Staley and senior banker Mary Erdoes, Epstein said that investors were wary of the bank because it was a 'quasi US govt arm'. Epstein wrote: 'I am also aware JPM has a colorful array of clients so a client relationship is much less problematic than an institutional joint venture'. Among the wealthy men Epstein reeled off was Prince Andrew. Epstein said: 'He is now allowed to make money'. Epstein did not elaborate on what prevented Andrew from making money before, but Fergie's finances were in a perilous state at the time. In May 2010 she was caught in a newspaper sting asking for $550,000 for access to Andrew. Fergie told an undercover newspaper reporter: 'That opens up everything you would ever wish for. I can open any door you want, and I will for you.' She later said that she 'deeply regretted' making the comments and said her ex-husband had no idea about meeting the undercover journalist. Pictures posted on Facebook by Jojo and Lyn Fontanilla, Epstein's housekeeper and driver, on March 5, 2010 showed Andrew visiting Epstein's New York townhouse Epstein's 71st Street townhouse on Manhattan's Upper East Side sold for an estimated $51 million un 2021. Fergie and Andrew visited the mansion in 2010 Fergie had apparently been driven to such measures because of her $5.5million debts but in July 2011 she said that they had been paid off thanks to the intervention of Andrew. Under the arrangement, Epstein paid $17,000 to Ferguson's former PA Johnny O'Sullivan which helped to stabilize her balance sheet. Epstein's email to JP Morgan came a month after that announcement, strongly suggesting Andrew had discussed his and Fergie's financial situation in depth. In a scheduling entry for March 3, 2010, Epstein's assistant wrote: 'Still need to try and schedule the Duchess for Tues or Wed (I have emailed her assistant, Amanda, RE a meeting'. The 'Amanda' appears to be Amanda Thirsk, who worked for Andrew for many years. Epstein replied: 'Duchess anytime.' Pictures posted on Facebook by married couple Jojo and Lyn Fontanilla, Epstein's housekeeper and driver, on March 5, 2010 two days after the emails showed Andrew visiting Epstein's New York townhouse. Another image shows smiling Ferguson with JoJo Fontanilla in Manhattan with a shopping bag in her hand, while one from the previous month, posted by Lyn Fontanilla, shows Ferguson at Epstein's New York mansion. Epstein appears to have fallen out with Fergie in 2012 after she called him a pedophile in an interview with London newspaper The Evening Standard. As she distanced herself from Epstein, she said: 'I abhor pedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf. 'I am just so contrite I cannot say. Whenever I can I will repay the money and will have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again'. Epstein was said to be incensed about her comments. Fergie's publicist at the time, James Henderson, told CNN he got a phone call from Epstein that was 'so unpleasant that I was left slightly rattled and I saved his number so I'd never have to take a call from him again'. Epstein victim Virginia Roberts claimed she was forced to have sex with the Duke when she was 17, claims he denied In 2000, Prince Andrew was on board Epstein's plane along with Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and others on a flight from New Jersey to Florida, according to flight logs Jeffrey Epstein's infamous 'Lolita Express' a private Boeing 727 airliner that carried prominent passengers and allegedly underage girls A lawyer for Epstein sent the Duchess a letter demanding a retraction but Henderson said he told her to ignore it. A 2011 report in Vanity Fair claimed that Fergie received 'hundreds of thousands of dollars' from Jeffrey Epstein to clear her debts far more than she previously admitted. Edward Klein wrote that Fergie's debts were the 'major reason' Andrew spent time with Epstein. A source told the magazine: 'Andrew feels responsible for Sarah. There have been newspaper reports that Sarah got 15,000 ($17,000) from Jeffrey, but I think that Sarah has actually received hundreds of thousands of dollars from him.' It was also claimed that when the row over the Duchess offering access to Andrew broke, her daughter Beatrice was so humiliated she stayed at home for days. 'Beatrice was clearly embarrassed when it was revealed that Fergie took money to introduce an undercover reporter to Prince Andrew,' a source said. 'A friend went to Royal Lodge to comfort Beatrice, who wouldn't leave the house because she was so ashamed and didn't want to have to deal with the press. The friend spent two nights with her while she cried.' Andrew's lawyers did not return requests for comment. Ferrgie's representative would not comment. Nima Momeni, the man accused of killing Cash App founder Bob Lee, dramatically dropped his attorney today and instead has hired a '100 percent Persian' alternative from Miami. Momeni was being represented by Paula Canny. He is accused of stabbing Lee to death in the early hours of April 4 in San Francisco. Prosecutors say the pair had argued earlier in the evening over Lee's relationship with Momeni's married sister, and that he worried the pair were doing drugs together. Paula Canny, speaking outside the courtroom today. She was fired by Momeni after clashing over whether or not to fast-track the case. 'S**t happens,' she said after a brief hearing Nima Momeni, shown during a previous court appearance, had wanted to fast track the case Today, after submitting a request to withdraw herself from the case, Canny was formally relieved by the judge. Cash App founder Bob Lee was murdered on April 4 She yelled out 'you'll miss me!' as Momeni was led out of court in handcuffs. While it's unclear precisely why she was replaced (she refused to tell reporters afterwards), Momeni has hired Saam Zangeneh, a Miami-based attorney with offices in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He describes himself as '100 percent Persian' on social media. Momeni and his sister moved to the US from Iran as children. Momeni had previously asked to expedite the case, which Canny opposed because she felt it would give prosecutors the upper hand by cutting down her preparation time. Speaking after the brief hearing, Canny told reporters she was stepping down with 'great disappointment - and relief.' Canny has been replaced with Saam Zangeneh, a Miami-based attorney with offices in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He describes himself as '100 percent Persian' on social media Prosecutors say Momeni was upset with Lee because he had a relationship with his married sister Khazar Both Momeni and his sister moved to the US from Iran as children Momeni and his attorney had been close before their clash over strategy. They are shown on April 25 'S**t happens in representing people. I cant divulge the nature of the conflict it is super interesting, but Im never going to tell you,' she said, citing attorney-client privilege. Zangeneh was not present for the hearing today. He is still in Florida. It remains unclear whether he will agree to fast-track the case, as Momeni had asked of Canny, or if he too will want more time. Lee, a single father who had recently moved from California to Miami when he was killed, was back in San Francisco for a conference when he was killed. He had spent time during the day with Momeni's sister Khazar, who he referred to as Tina, and was drinking with Momeni in the evening in the hours before he died. Text messages show Khazar thanking Lee for being a 'gentleman' when her brother was 'hard' on him. Nima was living in a loft that was also his work from home space when he was killed. Khazar Momeni, who is married to a prominent Bay Area plastic surgeon, has not yet commented on the charges against her brother. A desperate search has been launched for a missing man who fell from a Carnival cruise ship balcony nearly 200 miles off the coast of Florida. Ronnie Lee Peale Jr., 35, was seen on surveillance footage leaning over the railing of his stateroom balcony on the Carnival Magic before plunging into the water around 4am on Monday, the cruise line said. Aircraft and search ships have been deployed in the area where he disappeared - around 186 miles east of Jacksonville in Florida. The ship had been making its way back to port in Norfolk, Virginia, on Monday following a five-day trip around the Bahamas. Jennilyn Michelle Blosser, who said she was Peale's fiancee, reported him missing on Monday afternoon. Ship staff later looked at security video and saw his fall after they failed to find him during a search. 'He was the life of the party. It just hurts too much to even type, let alone talk about it,' Blosser told 13 News. 'He loved the cruise life being able to drink, gamble, and socialize put him in his happy place.' Ronnie Lee Peale Jr., 35, was seen on surveillance footage leaning over the railing of his stateroom balcony on the Carnival Magic before plunging into the water around 4am on Monday. He's pictured with his fiancee, Jennilyn Michelle Blosser Peale's fiancee said that it was his first cruise and they were celebrating her birthday Aircraft and search ships have been deployed in the area where he disappeared - around 186 miles east of Jacksonville in Florida Blosser has since launched a GoFundMe, in which she describes her fiance has having 'had a great time and made plenty of friends. 'He is our social butterfly that was always on the move and loved to make friends with everyone. The cruise was definitely a place he enjoyed. 'I never could of imagine something like this could happen. Devastated to say the least.' USCGSD confirmed the man was still missing on Tuesday afternoon. The service said in a statement: 'Crews are searching for a 35-year-old man who went overboard from the Carnival Magic cruise ship 186 miles east of Jacksonville on Monday. 'The Coast Guard is utilizing both air and water assets to conduct the search'. The ship was making its way back to port in Norfolk, Virginia, on Monday following a five-day trip around the Bahamas when Peale went overboard. It arrived Tuesday morning as planned The service said in a statement: 'Crews are searching for a 35 year-old man who went overboard from the Carnival Magic cruise ship 186 miles east of Jacksonville on Monday An update posted by the Coast Guard Tuesday revealed crews would search through the night Blosser said her fiancee 'had a great time and made plenty of friends' Ronnie Lee Peale Jr. has been described by his fiancee Jennilyn Blosser as the 'life of the party' They later added that the search by air would continue until sunset, while boats would continue to scour the waters 'throughout the night'. 'The total area searched by Coast Guard crews is 4,044 square miles and 19 hours of resource search hours.' Passengers on board the ship told WTKR that they heard cruise ship staff asking for Peale over the intercom. 'There was a security team storming each deck, each floor, concerned. But eventually, they let everybody know that he wasn't found,' Leevon Porter told the outlet. Another passenger said the ship's staff didn't alert them about the man going overboard, and they later learned about the incident through a Facebook comment posted by Blosser. 'There was a Facebook page for the cruise and she put it on there.' Blosser said she is 'devastated' as rescue crews continue to search for her fiance The Carnival Magic cruise ship has now docked in Norfolk, Virginia The coast guard told AP that the man's companion had reported him missing late Monday afternoon, and security footage on the ship showed he had 'leaned over the railing of his stateroom balcony and dropped into the water' at around 4am. Carnival said the Coast Guard released the ship from search efforts and told the captain to head back to port in Norfolk, Virginia. The operator said: 'Carnival Magic reported a man overboard to the U.S. Coast Guard. 'He was reported missing by his companion late Monday afternoon and an initial review of closed circuit security footage confirms that he leaned over the railing of his stateroom balcony and dropped into the water at approximately 4:10 a.m. Monday. 'The U.S. Coast Guard has released the ship from any search and rescue efforts and advised the ships captain to continue on its way to Norfolk where it arrived as planned on Tuesday. 'The Carnival Care Team is providing support to the guests companion and traveling party who are on board.' The ship can hold nearly 4,000 guests and is about 1,000 feet long. The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg questioned former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson's decision to sign one of the nation's strictest abortion bills into law, declaring that she cannot understand why 'the state' was involved. The ladies of The View were hosting the GOP presidential candidate on Tuesday's episode of the daytime talk show and used some of the time to dig into the southern politician's stance on one of the most divisive national political issues. Co-host Sunny Hostin began the discussion by asking Hutchinson why he signed a total abortion ban 'with no exceptions for rape and incest,' that he publicly stated he was uncomfortable with. Hutchinson explained that the bill had significant support from the legislature and that the only change he would have liked to see made to the bill were granting exceptions to cases of rape and incest. Co-host Whoopi Goldberg questioned former Governor Asa Hutchinson about the state's involvement in abortion laws He further explained that, if he were president, he would not mandate a national abortion ban because of the Supreme Court decision that explicitly allows individual states to determine their limits on abortion. The presidential hopeful said that due to the divisive nature of the issue, there will likely always be a difference between abortion laws in, for instance, New York and Arkansas. 'I'm doubtful that there will be a national standard,' he said, before Hostin argued that 'the will of the country' is for a woman to have the right to choose, a statement that brought about a hearty cheer from the studio audience. 'The debate in the future is going to be on what are the exceptions, and what are the reasonable restrictions that should be in place,' said Hutchinson. Goldberg then interjected to say that while she respects the 'convictions' of those who believe in different standards for abortion than she does, 'in America,' she feels that it should be her 'right to decide what to do with my body. 'I don't understand why I am not given the same respect that I give to you in terms of how you believe and how other people believe,' Goldberg continued. 'You're looking at when does the state require a woman...' Hutchinson said before being cut off by Goldberg, who exclaimed: 'Why is the state involved is my question?' Hutchinson, who announced his 2024 presidential campaign last month, said he is 'doubtful' there will ever be a national standard on abortion, given its divisiveness as an issue and the Supreme Court mandate ability of each state to establish its own restrictions The women and guest of The View pictured left to right: Whoopi Goldberg, Sara Haines, Joy Behar, Asa Hutchinson, Sunny Hostin, Alyssa Farah Griffin The panel also questioned Hutchinson on his paltry poll numbers, and asked about his plan to beat back current Republican front runner and former President Donald Trump. 'You officially launched your 2024 bid for president last month. Youve said that your lane is the non-Trump lane, as opposed to the anti-Trump lane. I dont know what that means, so I would love an explanation,' said Hostin. 'My other question is, how do you win over the 74 million people who voted for him? Because right now hes beating every other candidate combined. Hes polling at 53%, and you are polling at 1%,' she continued. Hutchinson admitted that Trump's numbers are 'intimidating,' but said what he is presenting is a 'different approach to governance.' 'It's not anti-Trump. It's certainly not anti-Trump policy ... It's trying to bring out the best of America and not appeal to our worst instincts. Thats the kind of leadership our country needs. Thats the kind of leadership that I want to offer,' he said. 'Everybody who jumps in, theyre saying one thing to the American people that we would prefer someone else lead the Republican party and to lead our country than Donald Trump,' he said, referencing recent candidate additions to the race, including Senator Tim Scott, Nikki Haley, and Governor Ron DeSantis. 'That means theres going to be, what, seven or eight candidates in there saying we need somebody other than Donald Trump. So Im one of those these that believe theres strength in multiple voices, and that were all in single digits. Theres a big gap there. I think overtime. This is early, thats going to change,' Hutchinson concluded. Elizabeth Holmes has reported to a federal prison in Texas to begin her 11-year sentence for conning the world with her health technology startup. Theranos founder Holmes, 39, smiled as she arrived at a federal facility in Bryan, on Tuesday, flanked by officials. She wore a beige sweater, blue jeans, and glasses. The casual outfit she reported to prison in was a far cry from the poised red-lipped, black turtleneck tech CEO she once was during her blood-testing hoax heyday. Married mother-of-two Holmes laughed and smiled while talking to her handlers as she walked into the minimum-security federal women's prison camp - which is 100 miles northwest of her hometown, Houston. She was dropped off in a Ford SUV by her parents and husband Billy - who said their goodbyes as she made her last walk as a free woman for the foreseeable future. Her long-awaited arrival comes more than a year after a jury convicted her on four felony counts of fraud and conspiracy in January 2022. She was sentenced in November after defrauding investors out of $945 million. Elizabeth Holmes arrives at the minimum-security federal women's prison camp that she will spend the next 11 years at after scamming the tech world with her start-up, Theranos Elizabeth Holmes was seen smiling and laughing with her handlers as she arrived to prison - where she is now federal prisoner number 24965-111. She was sentenced in November after defrauding investors out of $945 million The casual outfit she reported to prison in was a far cry from the poised red-lipped, black turtleneck tech CEO she once was during her blood-testing hoax heyday Billy, her husband, is seen getting back into the car which dropped her off at prison. She looked emotional as she said goodbye to her family, including her mother and father, who are standing in black next to her She smiled as she spoke with her handlers on Tuesday morning. Holmes spent her final 'free' Memorial Day Weekend for the foreseeable future with her family Holmes arrives at the Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas. The minimum-security federal women's prison camp is 100 miles northwest of her hometown, Houston The disgraced tech CEO wore a casual outfit as she smiled and walked into prison She arrived at prison with her husband, Billy, who was seen waving her off from the vehicle. Her parents stood by her side before she made her walk inside. Billys mother and father took baby William and newborn Invicta over to the townhouse, where they are going to be living with their father, around 7pm on Monday to spend the night. Its the first night of many that Holmes now federal prisoner number 24965-111 wont be tucking her kids into bed. Just about the same time Elizabeth was reporting to prison in Bryan, Texas, on May 30, 1,400 miles away, Billys mother took their two kids to Seaworld in San Diego, California. Her new residence is hardly Alcatraz and the minimum security prison has instead been dubbed 'Club Fed', where inmates aren't even required to sleep in cells. Among her possible 'dorm' mates is fellow fraudster and one-time Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Jen Shah, who reported to Bryan in February to start a six-and-a-half-year sentence for her part in a telemarketing scam. Bryan prisoners share four-person rooms with bunk beds in a dormitory-style set-up - and are even allowed to buy hobby items including crochet needles from the commissary at $1.30 a pop. The convicted fraudster spent her final days of freedom soaking up the sun with her family without any hope or possibility of another last-minute reprieve that allowed her to dodge prison for a month. She will see out her jail sentence out of state miles away from the $9million San Diego mansion she shares with partner Billy Evans and their two children. U.S. District Judge Edward Davila set her revised prison-reporting date to May 30, meaning she was allowed to spend Memorial Day Weekend with her family before her spell in prison. On Monday, exclusive DailyMail.com photos showed Holmes savoring her last days as a free woman with a wholesome trip to the beach near their oceanfront home, while being supported by her mother and father who have been staying with her ahead of her sentence. Theranos founder Holmes, 39, showed up on Tuesday, wearing a beige sweater and blue jeans Holmes got out of the car as she made her final walk of freedom for the next 11 years She wore glasses, her hair down, and a casual outfit as she reported for jail She will see out her jail sentence out of state miles away from the $9million San Diego mansion she shares with partner Billy Evans and their two children Her long-awaited arrival comes more than a year after a jury convicted her on four felony counts of fraud and conspiracy in January 2022 On Saturday her parents were seen taking care of household errands by stocking up on groceries at a local Whole Foods Market, while Holmes and Evans spent quality family time at Tide Park, a secluded beach two miles north of their home. Holmes' young children will have to spend much of their childhood without their mother. The disgraced tech CEO had originally been ordered to begin her prison sentence on April 27, but managed to buy an extra four weeks with her family after scoring a reprieve with a last-minute legal maneuver. The mother-of-two temporarily avoided reporting to prison after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to stay her date while she attempts to appeal her conviction. The legal tactic deployed by Holmes mirrored a move made in March by her former lover and subordinate, Ramesh 'Sunny' Balwani, to avoid a prison reporting date of March 16. After the Ninth Circuit rejected his appeal three weeks later, Davila set a new reporting date of April 20 for Balwani. The same judge set a new prison-reporting date for Holmes on May 16 after a federal appeals court eventually rejected her bid to remain out of prison while she attempts to overturn her January 2022 conviction on four felony counts of fraud and conspiracy. The punishment also includes a $452million restitution bill that Davila ordered Holmes to pay in a separate ruling issued earlier this month. Holmes's lawyers asked Davila to approve the May 30 prison reporting time to give her two weeks to sort out several issues, including child care for her kids. Susan and William Evans with their daughter Grace take a walk on Memorial Day Monday with their grandson William, who is the son of convicted felon Elizabeth Holmes Elizabeth Holmes spent her last Memorial Day weekend as a free woman soaking up the sun with her family at the beach in San Diego Elizabeth Holmes and partner Billy Evans with their two children William, 2, and 3 month old daughter Invicta walk back from the beach in San Diego, California The 39-year-old convicted fraudster will finally report to a federal lockup on Tuesday, after managing to delay her start date last month Holmes, in the weeks before she reported to prison, looked comfy and casual wearing an all-black designer Alo sweat suit, sandals, and an oversized straw hat. She carried her newborn in her arms, covering her with a swaddling blanket Holmes had once modelled herself as the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs and won widespread acclaim - including from Harvard University and Time magazine - for a phoney technology which she claimed would revolutionize blood-testing methods by using miraculously tiny volumes of blood, such as from a finger prick. The mom-of-two started Theranos when she dropped out of Stanford University at the age of 19. She had scooped in nearly a billion dollars in funding from some of the world's biggest pockets: Venture capitalist titans including Tim Draper, Donald Lucas and Dixon Doll; wealthy heirs to the founders of Amway, Walmart and Cox Communications; and heavyweights of tech and media such as Larry Ellison and Rupert Murdoch. Before those lies were uncovered in a series of explosive articles in The Wall Street Journal beginning in October 2015, Holmes had raised a staggering amount of money from some of the biggest names in business and tech. Holmes' stake in Theranos at one point catapulted her paper wealth to $4.5 billion. She never sold any of her stock in the company, though trial evidence left no doubt she reveled in the trappings of fame and fortune - so much so that she and the father of her children, William 'Billy' Evans, lived on a palatial Silicon Valley estate during the trial. Elizabeth Holmes has reported to the minimum security prison camp at Bryan, Texas Holmes is picture in the documentary 'The Inventor: Out For Blood In Silicon Valley', which detailed one of the biggest frauds in Silicon Valley Theranos Founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes, then 29, is photographed holding a nanotainer of blood at Theranos headquarters in Palo Alto, California, June 30, 2014 Elizabeth Holmes is photographed for Forbes Magazine on September 22, 2014 Elizabeth Holmes moves through security while on her way to court on March 17, 2023 in San Jose, California In 2015, President Bill Clinton invited Holmes to speak at a panel for the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting alongside Alibaba's Executive Chairman Jack Ma The theory that Holmes was running an elaborate scam was buttressed by trial evidence documenting her efforts to prevent the Journal's investigation from being published. That campaign compelled John Carreyrou - the reporter responsible for those bombshell stories - to attend court and position himself in Holmes' line of vision when she took the witness stand. Holmes also signed off on surveillance aimed at intimidating Theranos employees who helped uncover the flaws with the blood-testing technology. The whistleblowers included Tyler Shultz, the grandson of former Secretary of State George Shultz, whom Holmes befriended and persuaded to join the Theranos board. Holmes' supporters still contend she always had good intentions and was unfairly scapegoated by the Justice Department. They insist she simply deployed the same over-the-top promotion tactics as many other tech executives, including Elon Musk, who has repeatedly made misleading statements about the capabilities of Tesla's self-driving cars. Holmes steadfastly maintained her innocence during seven often-riveting days of testimony in her own defense - a spectacle that caused people to line up shortly after midnight to secure one of the few dozen seats available in the San Jose courtroom. But she was ultimately found guilty for the crimes. Elizabeth Holmes, pictured left in her heyday in 2014, spoke with a terse, deep voice. But now she wants to go by Liz after being found guilty of fraud. She's pictured right in court in 2022 In her final weeks of prison, many believed that Holmes attempted to rehabilitate her public image as she rebranded herself as a laid back, salt of the earth mother who spent time with her kids at the beach. She recently revealed to the NYT that her voice and the way she dressed was all an act as she conned the tech and science world out of millions with her company. When Holmes was at the top of her game, talking to the world's media about her 'revolutionary' scientific discovery, she spoke in a deep, terse tone. But this was fake. She said she is not actually the kind of person that would wear black turtlenecks, red lipstick and use an authoritative voice. Instead, Holmes now portrayed herself as a loving mother-of-two who wears a 'bucket hat and sunglasses' and enjoys walks around the San Diego Zoo. She also told how she spent some of the past year volunteering at a rape crisis center in an attempt to portray herself in a more relatable light whilst defending her actions while promoting her future as a health-tech innovator. AI poses a similar risk to pandemics and nuclear war, it has been warned Artificial intelligence could lead to the destruction of humanity, some of the biggest names in technology have warned. A dramatic statement signed by international experts says AI should be prioritised alongside other extinction risks such as nuclear war and pandemics. Signatories include dozens of academics, senior bosses at companies including Google DeepMind, the co-founder of Skype, and Sam Altman, chief executive of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI. Another signatory is Geoffrey Hinton, sometimes nicknamed the 'Godfather of AI', who recently resigned from his job at Google, saying that 'bad actors' will use new AI technologies to harm others and that the tools he helped to create could spell the end of humanity. The short statement says: 'Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war.' Sam Altman, (pictured) chief executive of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, signed the statement alongside dozens of tech CEOs and academics Dr Hinton, who has spent his career researching the uses of AI technology, and in 2018 received the Turing Award, recently told the New York Times the progress made in AI technology over the last five years had been 'scary'. He told the BBC he wanted to discuss 'the existential risk of what happens when these things get more intelligent than us'. The statement was published on the website of the Centre for AI Safety - a San Francisco-based non-profit organisation which aims 'to reduce societal-scale risks from AI'. It said AI in warfare could be 'extremely harmful' as it could be used to develop new chemical weapons and enhance aerial combat. Lord Rees, the UK's Astronomer Royal, who signed the statement, told the Mail: 'I worry less about some super-intelligent 'takeover' than about the risk of over-reliance on large-scale interconnected systems. 'These can malfunction through hidden 'bugs' and breakdowns could be hard to repair.' 'Large-scale failures of power-grids, the internet and so forth can cascade into catastrophic societal breakdown.' The warning follows a similar open letter published in March, by technology experts including billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, which urged scientists to pause the development of AI to ensure it does not threaten humankind. AI has already been used to blur the boundaries between fact and fiction, with deepfake photographs and videos purporting to show famous people. Dr Geoffrey Hinton (pictured) also signed the statement after warning AI technology poses an 'existential risk' But there are also concerns about systems developing the equivalent of a mind. Blake Lemoine, 41, was sacked by Google last year after claiming its chatbot Lamda was sentient and the intellectual equivalent of a human child - claims which Google said were wholly unfounded. The engineer suggested the AI had told him it had a very deep fear of being turned off. Earlier this month, OpenAI chief Sam Altman called on US Congress to begin regulating AI technology, to prevent 'significant harm to the world'. Altman's statements echoed Dr Hinton's warning that 'given the rate of progress, we expect things to get better quite fast'. The British-Canadian researcher explained to the BBC that in the 'worst-case scenario' a 'bad actor like Putin' could set AI technology loose by letting it create its own 'sub-goals' - including aims such as 'I need to get more power'. The Centre for AI Safety itself claims that 'AI-generated misinformation' could be used to influence elections via 'customized disinformation campaigns at scale'. This could see countries and political parties use AI tech to 'generate highly persuasive arguments that invoke strong emotional responses' in order people of their 'political beliefs, ideologies, and narratives.' In March, technology experts including Elon Musk urged scientists to pause development of AI technology to ensure it does not threaten mankind The non-profit also said widespread uptake of AI could pose a danger in causing society to become 'completely dependent on machines, similar to the scenario portrayed in the film WALL-E.' This could in turn see humans become 'economically irrelevant,' as AI is used to automate jobs, meaning humans would have few incentives to gain knowledge or skills.' A report from the World Economic Forum this month warned 83 million jobs will vanish by 2027 due to uptake of AI technology. Jobs including bank tellers, secretaries and postal clerks could all be replaced, the report says. However, it also claims 69 million new jobs will be created through the emergence of AI technology. BT set out plans to cut 55,000 jobs by 2030, with 10,000 set to be replaced by automation through AI technology. IBM separately announced 7,800 jobs could be replaced using artificial intelligence over the next five years. In March, investment banking giant Goldman Sachs warned that AI poses a threat to around 300 million full-times jobs across the globe, including two-thirds of all jobs in the US and Europe. In April, an AI generated image of the pope wearing a puffer jacket went viral on the internet, after being created by Chicago utility worker Pablo Xavier, 31, using Midjourney AI. Fake images of Donald Trump being arrested in New York also spread on social media in March. AI generated videos showing female Twitch stars in deepfake porn videos have also appeared on the internet in recent months, while a fake advert, showing podcaster Joe Rogan promoting libido enhancing pills, also spread on social media. She was last seen on May 6 when she left to look for her boyfriend Tyler Stratton, and her Jeep Wrangler was spotted on May 8 in Arizona A missing Tennessee mom was heard screaming on a 911 call after a fight with her boyfriend which left her with a black eye and their car spattered with blood, according to a police report. Nikki Alcaraz, 33, and Steven Tyler Stratton, 33, vanished three weeks ago while making a road trip in their black Jeep Wrangler from Nashville to Orange County, California. Now police have revealed a passerby called 911 after spotting them having an altercation while they were in Torrance County, New Mexico, on May 4. In the call the woman, later identified as Alcaraz, could be heard screaming in the background. The police report stated that the male, Stratton, was 'standing over her' before he 'punched her in the face.' Nikki Alcaraz, who vanished just days after getting into a 'drunken dispute' with her boyfriend was heard 'screaming on a 911' call made by a bystander Alcaraz, 33, had been traveling in her black 2013 Jeep Wrangler with Steven Tyler Stratton, 33, when both vanished after a drunken altercation in Moriarty, New Mexico, on May 4 According to the report by Torrance County Sheriff's Office obtained by DailyMail.com both Alcaraz and Stratton had been 'intoxicated.' The responding officer said he saw the 2013 Jeep in a small rest area and he noticed red marks on Alcaraz's face and fingerprint marks on both of her arms. He also observed that Stratton had 'blood coming from his mouth and nose area.' The responding officer said that Alcaraz had said they'd dropped off a friend in Amarillo, Texas, before picking up a bottle of Fireball whisky, which she and Stratton both drank. Alcaraz claimed that Stratton had 'started to hit her for no reason' and when they got to the rest area she jumped out of the vehicle but he 'caught her.' She also claimed to have a bruise on her chest and her back. The report identified the alleged assailant as 'Thomas,' but the sheriff's office confirmed with DailyMail.com that it meant Stratton. Stratton claimed that Alcaraz had also hit him, allegedly striking him to the mouth 'for no reason' and that she continued to hit him while they were traveling. Alcaraz was seen on a surveillance camera on Saturday, May 27, trying to sell her phone at an ecoATM in Redding, California The pair departed Tennessee in early May in this black Jeep, which has yet to be located. The car belongs to Alcaraz, and was last located by a license plate reader in Arizona on May 8 He stated that, 'Nikki does blackout after drinking liquor' but he 'did not want her to go to jail.' A blood spatter on the passenger side door and blood on the 'running board' had been observed by the deputy and both disputed they'd been driving the vehicle. Neither one pressed charges. Police in Moriarty and Cheatham County Sheriff's office launched a missing person appeal saying Alcaraz is in 'danger' because of a 'history of domestic assault'- though there is no evidence that either is dead. Cheatham DA Ray Crouch is reportedly seeking a nationwide extradition order for Stratton on an unrelated arrest warrant. His office also released an image of Alcaraz on Saturday, May 27, trying to sell her phone at an ecoATM in Redding, California, according to WKRN. No other information has been released regarding her disappearance, but her family told GMA that they are 'scared after not hearing from her for three weeks.' Despite the grim parallels with the case of Gabby Petito, Toni is hopeful her sister is still alive. Alcarez is referred to as Cunningham which is her ex-partner's last name Alcaraz, Stratton and their dog set out on a road trip from Nashville to Southern California and were in an altercation in New Mexico on May 4. A police report filed by Torrance County Sheriff's Department shows the mother-of-two with a black eye after witnesses said they saw Stratton punch her in the face. Timeline of Alcaraz and Stratton vanishing Early May: The pair set off from Nashville to drive to Southern California in her black 2013 Jeep Wrangler, with her dog. May 4: Police in Moriarty, New Mexico, are called to reports of a fight in a vehicle. A truck driver says he had to pull Stratton away from Alcaraz. Stratton is dropped off several junctions away. Alcaraz spends the next two nights in a motel with a friend, who was called to assist. May 6: Alcaraz leaves the Super 8 motel early in the morning, saying she wants to find Stratton. May 8: Alcaraz texts her sister Toni to say she is in Arizona. It is unclear if Stratton and the dog are with her. Her Jeep is recorded on cameras near Flagstaff. There is no further sighting of the vehicle, Alcaraz, Stratton or the dog. Advertisement Daily Mail.com has contacted Torrance County Sheriff's Department, Moriarty Police Department, Redding Police Department and Cheatham County Sheriff's Office for a comment. DA Ray Crouch did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Both were then given rides by responding police, with Nikki dropped off in Moriarty, where she called her sister Toni, and a friend met her to stay the night in a motel. But the following day, Alcaraz insisted that she needed to find Stratton, who has not been seen since the violent incident. His family have not filed a missing persons report for him, but he is mentioned in the official appeals to find Alcaraz. Alcaraz - who is referred to as Nikki Cunningham in a missing poster - left the Super 8 motel in Moriarty, a town about 40 miles east of Albuquerque, around 7am on May 6 and has not been seen since. Her jeep was located by a license plate reader near Flagstaff, Arizona, on May 8, with Alcaraz messaging her sister to say she was planning to complete her trip. She did not say if she was alone or had re-joined Stratton with her dog. Her family has not heard from her since. Speaking to WKRN, Toni said: 'I am scared something happened to them, whether they got in another fight or if they crashed her Jeep somewhere. 'I talk to her almost every day, so I am scared something happened to them. It's a trip she's done hundreds of times.' Authorities are still searching for leads to find Alcaraz and Stratton, with the missing mom's family members urging witnesses to come forward. Federal officials have yet to involve themselves in the search, which has so far failed to turn up any leads. Stratton is wanted for failure to appear on a probation violation stemming over an unrelated theft charge. Speaking to WKRN, Toni said: 'I am scared something happened to them, whether they got in another fight or if they crashed her Jeep somewhere' Despite the grim precursor provided by the headline-case surrounding Petito, who was found dead two months after her fight with Laundrie, Toni said she is hopeful her sister is still alive Officials have yet to produce any evidence that indicates Alcaraz is dead - with her case currently being treated like that of a missing person. Despite the grim parallels with the case of Gabby Petito, Toni is hopeful her sister is still alive. 'I don't think she is dead out there somewhere, but it's all a possibility at this point, and I am really scared of that, but I'm praying that's not the case,' she said. Of the similarities to the Petito case, she further remarked: 'All the stories like that that seem to happen and seem to happen more often make it more terrifying.' Report by human rights group said many died after signs of torture and violence 153 have died after arrests under El Salvador's emergency 'war on gangs' powers At least 153 El Salvador prisoners were tortured and killed as part of the country's notorious 'war on gangs' regime, a new human rights group report has said. A report from rights group Cristosal said dozens of people had died in state custody after being imprisoned without trial after El Salvador instituted emergency powers in March 2022 to confront the country's powerful street gangs. All of those who died in prison had not been convicted of the crime they were accused of committing at the time of their arrest. Four women were among the dead. The rest were men. The deaths were the result of torture, and systematic and serious injuries, the report said. Nearly half of the victims suffered violent deaths. El Salvador opened a mega-prison earlier this year to house some 40,000 suspected gang members that authorities had rounded up. At the time, the country's security minister warned that inmates 'will never walk out of here'. At least 153 people who were arrested since El Salvador instituted emergency powers have died in state custody, according to a report by a human rights group (inmates pictured in prison 'Terrorist Confinement Centre' in Tecoluca, El Salvador) The special powers were introduced in March 2022 to battle powerful street gangs based in El Salvador in the President Nayib Bukele's war against 'pandillas' (prisoners pictured in the Terrorist Confinement Centre in Tecoluca, 46 miles southeast of San Salvador) The arrival of inmates alleged to belong to the MS-13 and 18 gangs to the new prison 'Terrorist Confinement Centre' (CECOT), in Tecoluca on February 24 Inmates accused of being in gangs sitting in an overcrowded cell at the Quezaltepeque prison, in Quezaltepeque, El Salvador, in September 2020 Some of the prisoner deaths showed signs they resulted in deliberate denial of medical assistance, medicine and food, including some deaths resulting from malnutrition. The deaths revealed punitive policies carried out by guards and prison officials. The report stated that such actions would have required authorization and backing by the highest level security officials. The government has not provided an official count of deaths among the incarcerated. The special powers approved by El Salvador's Legislative Assembly in March 2022 following a surge in gang violence suspend some fundamental rights, such informing someone of their rights at the time of arrest and the reason for their, as well as having access to a lawyer. Cristosal said it compiled the information through field work, including at common graves, and collecting documents from medical examiners. Investigators also interviewed victims' families and neighbors, as well as others who were jailed and later released. The organization called on the administration of President Nayib Bukele to answer about the conditions people are held under, respect due process, free the innocent, answer for those who have died, provide all available information to victims' families and end the measures implemented under the special powers. Officially, the government has arrested more than 68,000 people under the special powers since March 2022. More than 5,000 people have been freed because they could not convince a judge they were tied to criminal structures, according to authorities. Men captured for alleged gang links are escorted by the National Civil Police during the state of emergency declared by the government in San Salvador on March 31, last year Suspects accused of belonging to a criminal gang are taken away in a police truck during a security operation against gang violence in Soyapango, just east of the capital San Salvador, on August 16, 2022 A police officer questions a young man during a security operation against gang violence in Soyapango, just east of the capital San Salvador, on August 16, 2022 Inmates identified by authorities as gang members are moved at the prison, Terrorism Confinement Center, in Tecoluca, El Salvador, on March 15 Other human rights groups and foreign governments have condemned the government's actions and called for a lifting of what were supposed to be temporary measures. Bukele, however, maintains high levels of approval within El Salvador for his actions against the gangs. The rights group's report comes as Bukele's predecessors as president, Mauricio Funes, was tried - without being present in the court - and found guilty of allegedly negotiating with El Salvador's criminal gangs. Funes was sentenced to 14 years and his former justice and defense minister, David Munguia, to 18. 'We were able to verify that these two former officials, who had the obligation to protect Salvadorans, negotiated their lives in exchange for electoral favors, acting as gang members,' Attorney General Rodolfo Delgado said on Twitter. A view of the new prison 'Terrorist Confinement Centre' (CECOT) in Tecoluca, March 15, 2023 Alleged gang members look on as they remain in their cell in Tecoluca, March 15, 2023 Alleged gang members arrive at the new prison in "Terrorist Confinement Centre" (CECOT) in Tecoluca, March 15, 2023 Gang members wait to be taken to their cell after being transferred to the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, March 15, 2023 Funes, who governed from 2009 to 2014 and lives in Nicaragua, was granted Nicaraguan citizenship in 2019. The Nicaraguan constitution holds that no citizen may be extradited. Munguia was first arrested in 2020 for suspicion of unlawful association and other crimes linked to the alleged arrangement of a truce between gangs aimed at reducing homicides in exchange for undisclosed benefits to the criminal organizations. Munguia told reporters leaving the hearing he believed his sentencing was politically based and the charges unfounded. 'Those engaged in backroom deals at the expense of the blood of Salvadorans have been sentenced to pay in prison for the damage caused to society,' Justice Minister Gustavo Villatoro said on Twitter. Her house appeared on Booking.com after 'scammers' put it on the website A family were the victim of Booking.com scammers after 20 tourists unexpectedly arrived at their door in the space of a month believing it was a holiday rental. The strangers all arrived at the home of Karin Arsenius, 37, in Plumstead, south east London, after scammers reportedly put it up on the accomodation booking website. She is now debating taking legal action against Booking.com, who have since apologised and removed the listing, after some guests tried to find a key safe inside her home. Ms Arsenius said that the unexpected visits from tourists - from countries including Algeria, the US, Canada and India - need to stop and that the situation was 'very frustrating'. She reportedly said that her street's postcode appeared to be used for bookings on the travel website, with her house beneath where a pin was dropped - and that the full address appeared to be a flat in Greenwich. Strangers arrived at the home of Karin Arsenius (pictured), 37, in Plumstead, south east London after scammers reportedly put up it on holiday website Booking.com Argentinian students Jessica, Natalia and Sabrina Salome Schneider (right) had to spend more money booking another property after they turned up to Ms Arsenius' home on Saturday, May 27 after booking it on Booking.com Ms Arsenius had to accommodate three women who were visiting London from Argentina after they turned up to her home and were unable to find somewhere else for the night, the BBC reports. She made beds for the students in her living room for the women after they showed up at around 8pm on Saturday, May 27. The homeowner and her partner took them to the pub to try and sort out the matter with Booking.com, but they had been unable to sort it out by midnight which Ms Arsenius said was 'shocking'. She said that all the local hotels had been booked up and she a was not comfortable leaving them with nowhere to satay, but said that the website should have taken care of it. Student Sabrina Salome Schneider, 31, said that arriving at the home, instead of the holiday let they had expected, was a 'nightmare'. The strangers arrived at the home of Karin Arsenius, 37, in Plumstead, south east London after scammers reportedly put up it on the holiday website She told the BBC that they were still waiting on money from Booking.com and are further out of pocket to get somewhere else to stay. A consumer law expert, Lisa Webb from Which?, told the broadcaster that the company needs to make sure that if it does people are protected and compensated, but also to ensure that these 'scams' do not appear on their website. In a statement Booking.com said: 'We take safety and security very seriously, and every week, we facilitate millions of stays with the vast majority taking place with absolutely no problems. 'Scams are unfortunately a battle many industries are facing against unscrupulous fraudsters looking to take advantage and it is something we are tackling head on. We have a number of robust security measures in place, but in the very rare instance there may be an issue with a specific property we always investigate immediately. 'We can confirm this property has been completely removed from our site and all customers affected were contacted by a member of our customer service team to apologise and offer any support required in relation to refunds, relocations and additional fees, and we of course extend our sincere apologies to the homeowner.' Former Vice President Mike Pence issued a statement ripping the new bipartisan budget deal as 'smoke and mirrors' while House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his lieutenants are rushing to line up the votes to try to pass it. Pence, who served in the House Republican leadership before serving as Indiana governor and joining Donald Trump in the White House, went after the deal in a statement from his Advancing American Freedom nonprofit. He said the 'small reforms' in the deal would weaken the nation's military. His criticism comes a day after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis savaged the plan by saying the nation would still be 'careening toward bankruptcy.' Pence is expected to formally jump into the race for the White House soon, joining other Republicans jostling to try to strip away some of Trump's mass of support in the GOP base. 'The United States is staring down a debt crisis over the next 25 years that's driven by entitlements, and nobody in Washington, D.C., wants to talk about it,' Pence said. Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley joined the pile-on among presidential contenders. 'The best way to fix Washingtons spending addiction is to elect people who have not been part of the problem,' she tweeted. 'Adding at least $4 trillion to Americas $31 trillion national debt over two years without substantially cutting spending is no way to run our countrys fiscal affairs. Business as usual wont get the job done.' Former Vice President Mike Pence said a budget deal between President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy 'uses Washington smoke and mirror games to make small reforms' Haley also hit both Trump and DeSantis for supporting the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 - one of the more recent debt increase hikes that she points out leading fiscal conservative groups called 'reckless' and a 'mistake.' The poor reviews come after McCarthy said he spoke with Trump, who urged him to get a good deal, during negotiations. Pence continued: 'Congress' debt limit deal doesn't just kick the can down the road, it uses Washington smoke and mirror games to make small reforms while weakening our military at a time of increasing threats from foreign adversaries. 'Its time to be honest with the American people and get everybody to the table to restore fiscal integrity to our nation. 'By ignoring the drivers of our national debt and avoiding honest conversations with the American people, President Biden and the Washington establishment continue to pile the burden of debt onto the backs of our grandchildren, and the American people deserve better.' Pence, who campaigned in Iowa last week, is expected to formally announce a run for president House Freedom Caucus members (L-R) Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX) and Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC) blasted the budget deal on Tuesday President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Calif. negotiated the deal, which suspends the debt limit until January 2025 Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the nation was still 'careening towards bankruptcy' after a deal to suspend the debt limit and freeze spending at 2023 levels, with spending to rise 1 per cent the following year. He blasted the deal on Monday House Speaker Kevin McCarthy now must assemble the votes to get the plan through the House. He is taking heat from House conservatives on the deal. The House Rules Committee was set to meet on the bill Tuesday Speaker Kevin McCarthy unveiled the 99-page bill raising the debt ceiling to avoid the U.S. defaulting Pence chaired the conservative Republican Study Committee while he was in Congress. Days ago, he acknowledged the Trump administration's own role in adding to the nation's $31 trillion debt. The trillions of dollars that we appropriated for families and businesses and health care in this country during Covid it's what government's for during a time of national emergency,' Pence told NBC news. 'We could have done a better job of controlling spending under our administration,' he said. That statement hinted at how politics of debt limit battles can shift depending upon who is in power. Trump obtained debt limit increases from Democrats in Congress. DeSantis voted for a debt limit increase as part of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. Pence's comments came as conservative House Freedom Caucus members lined up to oppose the bipartisan deal, which suspends the federal debt limit until January 2025, freezes next year's funding at 2023 levels, and includes a 1 per cent increase for 2024 for non-defense programs. Nvidia has become the first chipmaker company to hit a valuation of $1trillion - joining just nine other companies that have reached the milestone. The public company's market capitalization hit the turning point on Tuesday, helped by Silicon Valley's artificial intelligence boom. Nvidia provides chips that power generative AI to the gaming sector, helping render graphics and images by performing rapid mathematical calculations. It also provides its graphics processing units (GPUs) to smart vehicles and robotics including the likes of Tesla and Amazon. Nvidia's share rose by four percent during early trading - meaning the company had an impressive one-day gain of $40 billion, which pushed it over the one trillion mark. Nvidia's market capitalization hit $1trillion on Tuesday, helped by Silicon Valley's artificial intelligence boom Nvidia's CEO and co-founder Jensen Huang is now the 37th richest person in the world By mid-session, the Palo Alto- based company founded in 1993 was trading about five percent higher, at around $410 per share. However, shares fell below $404.86 by closing time and Nvidia's valuation ended the day at $990 billion. Only five American companies are currently valued at over $1trillion - Apple, Saudi Aramco, Microsoft, Alphabet and Amazon. Tesla and Meta also have crossed the $1trillion threshold but are now valued at less than $700 billion. Tuesday's milestone is part of what has been an excellent year for the company, which is now up more than 165 percent since January. Last week, Nvidia's shares surged over 26 percent after an earnings report that the Wall Street Journal called one of the best ever, with analysts saying the company could be the best-positioned to profit from the AI boom. The report claimed the company anticipates profits for the quarter to be twice as high as expected thanks to AI-related sales. They are now expecting revenue of about $11 billion. Nvidia unveiled several new AI-centric projects on Monday, including a high-powered 'super computer' and a platform that will have generative AI developing video games. Last week, Nvidia's shared surged over 26 percent after an earnings report that the Wall Street Journal called was one of the best ever, with analysts saying the company could be the best-positioned to profit from the AI boom In March, Microsoft said it had recently purchased tens of thousands of Nvidia AI-focused GPUs to power the workload of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. Microsoft is an investor in the company and the two are engaged in a partnership aimed towards accelerating 'AI breakthroughs'. Nvidia's CEO and co-founder Jensen Huang is now the 37th richest person in the world, with a net worth of about $36billion. Just two months ago, Huang, a top shareholder, was the world 76th-richest person. The Taiwanese American owns about 0.21percent of the company's all outstanding shares. Tech executive Colette M. Kress, Nvidia's CFO, is also a top shareholder with 0.03 percent of all outstanding shares. Board member Mark Stevens, managing partner of S-Cubed Capital, owns about 0.03percent of all outstanding shares. 'Theres a war going on out there in AI, and Nvidia today is the only arms dealer out there. So as a result were seeing this huge jump in revenues, said Raymond James Managing Director and Senior Analyst Srini Pajjur in a note to investors, according to Yahoo! finance. Officials are now looking for the Ice Age era artifact to study it The woman who found the object said she thought it was driftwood An Ice Age-era mastodon tooth has disappeared from a Northern California beach after a woman took a picture of it then promptly left it in the sand, mistaking it for driftwood. Jennifer Schuh posted photos of the foot-long tooth that washed up at Aptos Creek in Santa Cruz to Facebook, which caught the attention of local paleontologists. 'She didn't know what it was, the importance of it. It looks like a piece of old firewood,' said Wayne Thompson, an advisor for the local history museum. 'So she left it there. It's understandable,' the paleontology advisor told KRON. Another prehistoric artifact was once found at the same creek in 1980 when a 16-year-old boy walking the beach area discovered a juvenile mastodon skull. An Ice Age era mastodon tooth was discovered and later taken from a Northern California beach after the woman who found it left it thinking it was driftwood Jennifer Schuh, the woman who discovered the mastodon tooth on the beach Mastodons roamed the earth some 27 to 30 million years ago, paleontologists say Schuh said she found the tooth at Rio Del Mar Beach and that, while she didn't know for sure what it was, she felt the urge to take pictures. 'I saw my husband walking over and I was like "you've got to see this,"' said Schuh. 'He was like "huh, what am I... what is it? Are you going to take it?" and I'm like "well no, I'm just going to leave it cause I don't have no use for it,"' Schuh continued. The photos show the 12-inch tooth laying in the sand with brown roots and a dark-black neck and crown area at the top. According to Live Science, the tusked-animals ranged in size from seven feet for some females to ten feet for males. The prehistoric creatures were smaller than mammoths, which they are often compared to, but could still weigh an estimated four to six tons. Schuh posted the photos of the discovery to Facebook in hopes that some of her friends could identify the find. The snaps eventually made it to Thompson at the Santa Cruz Natural History Museum, which is when the search began. 'People said "woah that looks like a giant tooth." I practically hit the floor. It was a mastodon tooth, right in the same area where we know mastodons lived in Santa Cruz County,' Thompson said. The photos show the 12-inch tooth laying in the sand with brown roots and a dark-black neck and crown area at the top 'I practically hit the floor. It was a mastodon tooth, right in the same area where we know mastodons lived in Santa Cruz County,' paleontology advisor Wayne Thompson said According to Thompson, the tooth belonged to a Pacific Mastodon. By the time the paleontology advisor and Schuh made contact, the tooth was gone. 'It wasn't there. It's MIA right now,' he said. The tide was not high enough to wash away the object so it is believed another beachgoer who visited over the weekend nabbed it. Searchers also sorted through the sand but came up with nothing. Thompson said the tooth was 'so high on the beach in the dry sand the only option is somebody took it. They might not know what it is, and think it's an old piece of petrified wood.' The discovery comes more than 40 years after the first remnants of a mastodon was found in Santa Cruz County at the exact same beach. In 1980, Jim Stanton found a skull that is currently on display at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. 'The skull found 40 years ago had sutures in the bones which were not completely fused, meaning that it was a juvenile,' Thompson said. 'The tooth that was found at the mouth of Aptos Creek was significantly worn and was from an older adult probably in their 30s or 40s,' he continued. The prehistoric creatures were smaller than mammoths which they are often compared to but could still weigh an estimated four to six tons The tooth was found near Aptos Creek at the Rio Del Mar Beach in Santa Cruz, California According to Thompson, the latest tooth discovery serves as a sign that Santa Cruz County may have been home to a pack of mastodons millions of years ago. He also said they are hoping whoever took the tooth will soon return it. 'It's super, super, super important for understanding elephant life in Santa Cruz County during the last Ice Age,' Thompson told KRON. 'There are only a few mammoth specimens, and mammoths are more common than mastodons. Aptos was a popular destination for Ice Age proboscideans,' he said. 'It's a piece of Santa Cruz history,' Thompson stated. The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History asks that the person who found the tooth call 831-4206115 or email them at collections@santacruzmuseum.org. Two children were found safely in Argentina on Tuesday, one a day after they allegedly took up a TikTok challenge and disappeared from school following dismissal. Kevin Gonzalez, 12, and Valentina Sanchez, 13, were spotted by a woman, who called police in Buenos Aires on Tuesday morning, Argentine news channel TN reported. Sanchez's father, Diego Sanchez, told the news station that woman saw them on a street before she approached and 'grabbed the children and took them to where there was a cop. She took a bus and took them to the nearest police station.' The children were medically assessed on the scene by paramedics and said to be in good health. They were later reunited with their parents. Gonzalez and Sanchez were last seen outside the Misericordia School after they were dismissed at 3pm on Monday. According to local outlets, the children's disappearance act is said to have been linked to the 48 Hours Challenge on TikTok. 13-year-old Valentina Sanchez disappeared with one of her classmates Monday after they were dismissed from their school in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and are said to have participated in the TikTok 48 Hour Challenge, which urges participants to hide on purpose from their parents and stay away from places where they can be recognized. Sanchez and her friend were found safely Tuesday morning on a Buenos Aires street and reunited with their parents Kevin Gonzalez, one of two children who disappeared on purpose as part of the TikTok 48 Hour Challenge, left a letter to his parents indicating he planned to visit Argentina's Patagonia region The social media network's viral challenge encourages youngsters to hide on purpose from their parents for two days while police search for them. As part of the dare, TikTokers have to stay away from places where they can be easily recognized and gain points by the amount of times their missing cases are mentioned during the 48-hour period. Authorities were able to track Gonzalez and Sanchez through their travel cards and found that they had boarded a train in the neighborhood of San Fernando towards Buenos Aires. They got off at the Belgrano station, where they boarded the 59 bus and then transferred to 37 bus towards the town of Lanus, south of Buenos Aires. The Argentine children who took part in the viral TikTok 48 Hour Challenge were taken to a police station before their parents Kevin Gonzalez and his friend had plans of traveling across southern Argentina as part of the TikTok 48 Hour Challenge The morning of his disappearance, Gonzalez penned a letter for his parents and revealed he 'wanted to go to Bariloche,' a city in Argentina's Patagonia region that is surrounded by the Andes mountains. The concerned parents also discovered audio messages that showed they had plans to 'undertake trips to different places, all to the south.' Gonzalez and Sanchez were spotted on cameras at different points throughout Buenos Aires, but police were unable to find them. 'What worries me the most is where they spent the night,' Diego Sanchez said. 'That bothered me. That they were (in the path) of anyone with evil, they were exposed to that and that was our great fear.' Five remain missing and locals are demonstrating over a scheduled demolition Lisa Brooks, 52, had been hiding under her couch in terror for nearly a day A woman was rescued from an Iowa apartment building a day after it collapsed A woman who had been hiding under her couch for a full day after a six-story apartment building in Iowa collapsed was rescued on Monday - as officials plan to demolish what remains even though five people are still missing. Lisa Brooks, 52, stayed inside the building in Davenport, Iowa, petrified for an entire day before calling her daughter to let her know she was inside and alive, authorities said. Video captured by locals showed a crowd pleading with the woman to stay where she was before the Fire Department arrived to rescue her from the fourth floor of the building. But the good news was followed by protest as on Tuesday around 150 residents gathered at the site of the collapse in objection to the forthcoming demolition of the unstable building. Protesters held signs saying 'Find Them First' and 'Who is in the Rubble?' Some used a megaphone to shout out the names of residents. The building had 53 tenants in about 80 units, the police chief said. Five people were still missing on Tuesday after a six-story apartment building partially collapsed in Davenport, Iowa, on Sunday Davenport police officers form a line opposite protesters that are advocating for search efforts to continue on Tuesday and objecting to the demolition Five people were still missing on Tuesday afternoon, Davenport Mayor Mike Matson announced. The bodies of two people may be in a pile of rubble at the site of the partially collapsed building. The 116-year-old brick and steel structure, built as a hotel, had more recently been used as apartments, and tenants had been allowed to remain even as bricks began falling from the building. Patricia Brooks said her sister, Lisa, attempted to leave the building but rushed back to her bathtub where she thought she could shelter safely. Brooks spoke with her sister when she was being evaluated at the hospital after the rescue. 'It was just exhausting and a nightmare,' Chicago resident Patricia Brooks said of the period before Lisa's rescue. The family begged police and city officials to find Lisa in the apartment starting on Sunday, said daughter Porshia Brooks. 'They allegedly did a sweep and said they didn't find anybody,' said Porshia Brooks of Moline, Illinois. 'They're trying to tear the building down without doing a proper sweep.' Lisa Brooks, 52, stayed inside the building in fear for an entire day before contacting her daughter to let her know she was inside and alive Davenport Mayor Mike Matson gives an update to media, residents and onlookers after the building partially collapsed The bodies of two people may be in a pile of rubble at the site of the partially collapsed building, Davenport city officials said on Tuesday Officials now say immediate demolition was never intended, but they did want to quickly stage the site for the tear-down. Pictured is an emergency worker on the site on Sunday Fire Marshal James Morris said removing the debris that is propping up the rest of the building could cause further collapse After the partial collapse, the city had announced plans to begin demolishing the building as early as Tuesday morning, but that was delayed after the rescue of Brooks. Officials now say immediate demolition was never intended, but they did want to quickly stage the site for the tear-down. The woman's rescue prompted officials to see if they could safely enter and ensure others weren't inside, but that is extremely difficult when the building could collapse at any time, they said. 'This could be a place of rest for some of the unaccounted,' Matson said. The city is trying to determine how to bring down what remains of the building while maintaining the dignity of people who may have been killed, he said. Fire Marshal James Morris said explosives will not be used on the building, which is near other structures. A relative of one of the missing pleaded at a news conference for people to understand that authorities want to control the tear-down without dumping more material onto the rubble. 'I plead with our community to let the city do their job,' the woman said, adding that her relative wouldn't want any more lives put at risk. The building is 'unstable and continues to worsen,' Morris said. A structural engineer says searches should be avoided near the debris because more could collapse, and officials are considering that assessment before searching inside again. Morris said removing the debris that is propping up the rest of the building could cause further collapse. 'We're very sympathetic to the possibility that there's two people' still left inside, Morris said as he fought back tears. Emergency crews work the scene of a partial building collapse in Davenport on Sunday Crews worked late into the night searching the rubble for survivors of the collapse City officials said rescue crews escorted 12 people from the building shortly after a middle section collapsed at about 5pm on Sunday and rescued several others, including one person who was taken to safety overnight on Sunday. 'There was a lot of screams, a lot of cries, a lot of people saying "Help!" when the building came down,' Tadd Mashovec, a building resident, told KCCI-TV. 'But that did not last, and two or three minutes, and then the whole area was silent.' On Monday morning, Fire Chief Michael Carlsten said 'no known individuals are trapped.' The city then issued a statement saying that the owner was served on Monday with a demolition order and the process which was going to begin on Tuesday morning. That was delayed after the rescue of the woman raised questions about the plans to demolish so soon. 'We had no indications from any of the responders that we had, any of the canines, any of the tools at the time' that there was anyone else left alive in the building, Morris said. Fire crews who arrived at the scene said they found a water leak and a gas leak, though it is unclear whether either of those leaks led to the collapse Police blocked off the downtown roads around the Davenport apartment building It's unclear what caused the collapse that left a gaping hole in the center of what was once the Davenport Hotel, a building listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Built in 1907, the brick, steel and concrete structure had been renovated into a mixed-use residential and commercial building. Work was being done on the exterior at the time of the collapse, said Rich Oswald, the city's director of development and neighborhood services. Reports of falling bricks were part of that work, and the building's owner had a permit for the project. The fire marshal said on Tuesday that the owner had also hired a structural engineer who determined that the building was safe enough to remain occupied during the repairs. The trial of Tree of Life synangogue gunman Robert Bowers began Tuesday in Pittsburgh, where prosecutors told the jury that the suspect 'harbored deep, murderous animosity towards all Jewish people.' The trial is beginning nearly five years after the October 2018 shooting and will involve jurors deciding whether to impose the death penalty in the case of a man charged with hate-motived killings in a religious space. Bowers, 50, is facing 63 counts pertaining to the shooting, which left 11 worshippers dead - the deadliest antisemitic attack in US history. Police ultimately shot Bowers three times before he surrendered. Robert Bowers, 50, is facing a death penalty trial in Pittsburgh nearly five years after he shot up the Tree of Life synagogue, killing 11 people The Tree of Life synagogue in a suburb of Pittsburgh, where a menorah was placed on December 2, 2018 - just over a month after the shooting Bowers' defense attorney, Judy Clarke, delivered an opening statement in which she acknowledged that her client went to Tree of Life synagogue and 'shot every person he saw.' 'He had what to us is this unthinkable, nonsensical, irrational thought that by killing Jews he would attain his goal,' Clarke said, adding: 'There is no making sense of this senseless act. Mr. Bowers caused extraordinary harm to many, many people.' Clarke questioned whether her client was acting out of true malice or an irrational belief that he needed to kill Jews to save others from the genocide he claimed they were enabling by helping immigrants find their way to the United States. Bowers, a truck driver from the Pittsburgh suburb of Baldwin, offered to plead guilty in return for a life sentence, but was turned down by federal prosecutors. In selecting a jury, the defense probed whether potential jurors could consider factors such as mental illness or a difficult childhood. Bowers attorneys recently said he has schizophrenia and brain impairments. In their opening statement to the jury, prosecutors described how Bowers barged into the synagogue and shot every worshipper he could find. 'The depths of the defendants malice and hate can only be proven in the broken bodies' of the victims and 'his hateful words,' Assistant U.S. Attorney Soo C. Song said. Prosecutors have said Bowers made antisemitic comments at the scene of the attack and online. They argued that Bowers made incriminating comments during interviews with investigators and left an online trail of hateful statements directed at Jews that they say are proof the attack was motivated by religious hatred. The families of the victims are split over whether the government should pursue the death penalty against Bowers, but most have voiced support for it. In this courtroom sketch, Robert Bowers, the suspect in the 2018 synagogue massacre, sits in court Tuesday, May 30, 2023, in Pittsburgh. Bowers could face the death penalty if convicted of some of the 63 counts he faces in the shootings, which claimed the lives of worshippers A Star of David hangs from a fence outside the dormant landmark Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood on April 19, 2023 - the building has not reopened for religious services The trial is taking place in the downtown Pittsburgh courthouse of the U.S. District Court for Western Pennsylvania Members of Pittsburgh's Jewish community enter the Federal courthouse in Pittsburgh for the first day of trial for Robert Bowers, the suspect in the 2018 synagogue massacre on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 In a filing from earlier this year, government attorneys said Bowers 'harbored deep, murderous animosity towards all Jewish people.' They said he also expressed a malicious hatred for HIAS, founded as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, a nonprofit humanitarian group that helps refugees and asylum seekers. They pointed to Bowers' presence on Gab - an online short form posting platform - where he had nearly 400 followers to whom he 'promoted his antisemitic views and calls to violence against Jews.' The trial is taking place in the downtown Pittsburgh courthouse of the U.S. District Court for Western Pennsylvania, presided over by Judge Robert Colville, an appointee of former President Donald Trump. The start of the death penalty trial comes three years after President Joe Biden said during his 2020 campaign that he would work to end capital punishment at the federal level and in states that still use it. Attorney General Merrick Garland has temporarily paused executions to review policies and procedures, but federal prosecutors continue to vigorously work to uphold death sentences that have been issued and, in some cases, to pursue new death sentences at trial. A high school senior who claimed his Citi Bike was stolen by a pregnant hospital worker in a now viral video says he rode the same bike from the Bronx and was redocking it briefly to avoid higher fees. Poll Do you think Michael should have been allowed to claim ownership of the docked bike? Yes No Do you think Michael should have been allowed to claim ownership of the docked bike? Yes 227 votes No 1653 votes Now share your opinion Speaking to Newsone, the teenager, known only as Michael, has said that, due to higher fees after using Citi Bike for over 45 minutes, he had docked his bike to reset the clock for a moment and was standing by the bike before his exchange with Sarah Comrie, 36. The two had been caught on video, which went viral, battling it out over the ownership of the New York City Citi Bike. Comrie's lawyer claims that her receipts prove she had booked the bike at 7:24pm, and that she was physically pushed into the docking station to block her from taking it at 7:25pm. Michael's receipts don't dispute she had booked the bike. He had pulled up to the hospital docking station at 7:19pm and locked the bike in for five minutes before Comrie appeared. But he claims the fact he was standing by the bike before intending to book it out again makes him the 'rightful owner' at the time Comrie booked it. Sarah Comrie and Michael, pictured here tussling with the bike, outside the Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan Due to his family receiving benefits, he said he gets a discount on Citi Bike rides but after 45 minutes the rate on the bikes increases. In order to avoid the higher charge, he frequently stops his rides and resets the clock by re-docking the bike. The pair were arguing over an e-bike which, for a reduced fare member, costs 6 cents per minute. Speaking to Newsone, Michael said: 'I use the bikes to get to and from school. If Im traveling anywhere in the city, even if its from here to Brooklyn, my first option is Citi Bike. 'Its my preferred mode of transport. Its like my car. I cant say that all of this is not affecting me.' On the day of the incident, May 12th, Michael and four other teenagers rode bikes from the Bronx to Harlem at 5:53pm, then to the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Receipts shared on Newsone show his travel from his native Bronx to Harlem, and then from Harlem to the Lowest East Side, stopping outside the Bellevue. Receipts also show that he had pulled up to the hospital at 7:19pm, with Comrie's receipt showing she had started to use the bike at 7:24pm, before docking it a minute later after their dispute. At 7:25pm Michael then started using the bike, his receipt shows, and finished his trip at 7:31pm when he redocked it again outside the hospital, blocking anyone else from using it. He insists that they never left the bikes unattended and that four of his friends had been sitting on their bikes as they rested but he was standing next to his. Sarah Jane Comrie, 36, approached their group and after asking other members of his group asked Michael if she could use the bike, which he declined. Michael claims Comrie then scanned the QR code on the bike with her phone even as he had his hands on the handlebars, after asking him to 'help a pregnant woman out'. After the altercation with Comrie, Michael ended up finally checking the bike back out again at 7:59pm and riding away from the hospital, He then later made his way back towards the Bronx with his friends and finally stopped using the bike at 10:12pm. Michael claims he's seen a change in attitude towards him since Comrie's lawyer released her version of events. 'At first, I felt supported. It was like I went through this thing, people saw the video of it, and they were supporting me. When those receipts got released, everything flipped. 'People started calling me a thief, a thug, and a Black man.' At one point Comrie accuses Michael of assault saying he's 'hurting my unborn baby,' though the man says she put his hand on her stomach Comrie could even be seen crying in the video as she hopped onto the disputed bike The clip shared widely on social media and shows Comrie arguing with the men outside of Bellevue. One of Michael's friends tells Comrie he is recording the situation as the man has his hand on the bike. She then screams for help, saying: 'Help! Help me! Please help me!' But the man's friend, offscreen, tells her: 'This is not your bike.' The hospital employee then cries out for help again, and asks the man to 'please get off.' She then takes off her hospital badge in an apparent effort to hide her identity, as one of the men could be heard asking her: 'You know you're not getting this bike?' Comrie screams for help again and tries to get onto the rental bike, before swiping the man's phone. 'Why are you taking his phone?' one of the man's friends asks her. 'What's wrong with you? Do not touch his phone, do not touch his phone,' he tells the hospital employee. Comrie then tells the man that he's 'hurting my unborn baby,' to which the man replies: 'You put your stomach on my hand.' In the video, Comrie could be seen screaming for help as well as warning the men that she was pregnant The receipt for Comrie's ride The documents show that the ride was ultimately canceled, and she wasn't charged, before booking another bike minutes after the incident A roughly 90 second video of the incident was posted on TikTok and Twitter shows Comrie arguing with the man outside of New York City's Bellevue Hospital (pictured) The woman then turns around and starts to once again scream for help, at which point one of her coworkers approaches. The man tries to explain: 'This is my bike, it's on my account' and tells the woman to 'please move.' At that point, the woman can be seen apparently crying though Michael's friends say they are fake tears. She then continues to climb onto the bike, hysterical with tears, as her coworker suggests they just 'reset the bike.' Michael's friends continue to defend him throughout the exchange, saying, 'It's his, it's his.' One of the friends then again accuses the woman of 'fake crying,' telling her to stop, while the man asks her to 'stop touching me.' Comrie then steps off the bike and apparently stops crying as she pulls out her phone. 'Not a tear came down miss,' the friend says as the video ends. The nuns of a Catholic convent in Texas say a local bishop is denying them the sacraments of confession and daily communion, after he accused the prioress of breaking her vow of chastity with a priest. In a statement to DailyMail.com on Tuesday, an attorney for the Discalced Carmelite Nuns in Arlington said Fort Worth Bishop Michael Olson had denied the sisters' request to resume daily Mass at the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity. It comes after Olson made bombshell allegations, in a public statement and court filings, that the convent's prioress, Reverend Mother Superior Teresa Agnes Gerlach, had 'committed sins against the Sixth Commandment and violated her vow of chastity with a priest.' She denies the allegation. Matthew Bobo, the Carmelites' civil attorney, said that in a recent letter, Olson rejected the nuns' plea to send priests to the convent to hear confession or celebrate daily Mass, citing inconvenience. 'This latest salvo from Bishop Olson is an unbelievably extreme display of arrogance, vengeance and hard-heartedness,' said Bobo. Reverend Mother Superior Teresa Agnes Gerlach denies Fort Worth Bishop Michael Olson's bombshell claim that she admitted to 'violating her vow of chastity with a priest' Fort Worth Bishop Michael Olson had denied the sisters' request to resume daily Mass at the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity, their attorney said Olson's letter also cites 'media coverage inciting hatred and animosity' directed toward the bishop in the wake of the nuns' civil suit. A spokesman for Olson and the diocese did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com on Tuesday afternoon. For decades, Mass had been celebrated daily in the monastery for the nuns and several dozen laypeople, but in recent weeks, priests have only performed the sacrament in perfunctory Sunday ceremonies for the nuns, and have not heard confession, Bobo said. 'At the present moment, daily Mass and Confessions cannot be conveniently provided for the members of Monastery; nor can the courtesy of participation at Mass at the Monastery be extended to the lay faithful,' Olson said in the letter to Sister Francis Therese, who is Gerlach's second in command. 'This is because you and Mother Teresa Agnes (Gerlach) of Jesus Crucified, O.C.D., have lodged a civil lawsuit, together with a request for a protection order, against me and the Diocese of Fort Worth, containing a false narrative relative to the pending investigation,' said Olson. The bishop added the situation 'has led to local, national, and international media coverage and has incited hatred and animosity against me because of my initiation of the investigation and has hindered the freedom of my ecclesiastical power to conduct that investigation.' 'Further obstruction of the investigation has occurred since you and certain members of the Monastery have refused to cooperate with the investigation,' the bishop added. Olson lobbed the allegation in court filings and a statement claiming Gerlach 'committed sins against the Sixth Commandment and violated her vow of chastity with a priest' Gerlach oversees the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity (above) in Arlington, Texas, which sits on roughly 72 acres owned by the Discalced Carmelite Nuns religious order Bobo responded by noting that the nuns follow the rule of St. Therese of Lisieux, which recommends that the nuns take Communion 'Every day according to the spirit and norms of Holy Church.' He added that Gerlach strenuously denies the allegations made by Olson regarding her vow of chastity. 'Despite the Bishop's contention, Mother Superior has not admitted to any grave misconduct that would warrant his extreme and emotionally damaging measures,' Bobo said. 'I cannot imagine the heartbreak and psychological suffering these prayerful womenset apart from the world to pray for itare experiencing at the hands of their God-given shepherd,' he added. The saga first emerged in a lawsuit filed by Gerlach and her convent earlier this month in Tarrant Country Court, naming Bishop Olson and the Diocese of Fort Worth as defendants. In the suit, Gerlach accused Olson of storming into the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity, which she oversees, interrogating her and the other sisters, and seizing the phones and computers they use to run the convent. Gerlach, 45, has severe chronic health issues and is confined to a wheelchair, and has lived in religious seclusion at the all-female monastery for the past 25 years, her attorney said. She was still under the influence of fentanyl from a surgical procedure when Olson entered the convent to grill her as part of his investigation, she said in a sworn affidavit. The lawsuit does not describe the nature of Olson's purported investigation. In response to the suit, the Diocese of Fort Worth issued a statement sharing allegations that Gerlach had 'committed sins against the Sixth Commandment and violated her vow of chastity with a priest' from outside the diocese. Mother Superior made the extraordinary allegations in a sworn affidavit earlier this month In response to the suit, the Diocese of Fort Worth issued a statement reporting allegations that Gerlach had 'violated her vow of chastity with a priest' The statement said that Olson was conducting a 'ecclesiastical investigation into the report of the grave misconduct' under church rules, also known as canon law. In the Catholic Church, the Sixth Commandment is 'Thou shalt not commit adultery' and forbids sex outside of marriage. Catholic priests and nuns are forbidden to marry and take vows of celibate chastity. In a court filing viewed by DailyMail.com, the diocese asked for the suit to be dismissed and alleged that Gerlach 'has admitted to violating her vow of chastity, with a priest'. Bobo slammed that assertion as false in an interview with DailyMail.com last week, saying that Gerlach has not made such an admission, and that she does not even know the specific allegation against her. 'We don't even know what the allegation is, and we've asked,' said Bobo, adding that he had repeatedly asked the diocese: 'Tell me what you think she did. What is the crime or the sin you think she committed? What led you to that belief?' 'The bishop just decided to lob this bombshell out there, and for the life of us, we don't even know what the specifics of the allegation are. But I can absolutely tell you, she's never had sex with a priest,' the attorney said. The diocese spokesman did not respond when asked to comment on the specific nature of the sexual misconduct allegations against Gerlach. Olson says he was investigating claims that Gerlach had 'violated her vow of chastity with a priest' from outside the diocese In one of the only clues offered in court records, a letter from Olson to a sister at the monastery makes reference to a 'canonical warning' he issued to Gerlach apparently forbidding her from using cell phones. 'Texting enables her sin,' the April 28 letter states, quoting Olson's own text message to a nun he had apparently tasked with monitoring Gerlach's communications. At the heart of Gerlach's civil claim against Olson is the assertion that the local bishop has no authority over the Discalced Carmelite Nuns, which maintains the convent on a roughly 72-acre property. 'We are not and have never been under the control of the Bishop of the local Diocese: we answer directly to the Pope,' said Gerlach in the affidavit. 'I was stunned when Bishop Olson for all intents and purposes forced himself onto our peaceful community,' she added. The lawsuit states that the Carmelite nuns 'are a cloistered Order of women dedicated to a life of contemplative prayer' who attend Mass each morning, and then gather seven times a day to chant the Liturgy of the Hours. 'The rest of their day is focused on contemplative prayer, the silent loving person to person relationship with Jesus Christ, a living prayer for the benefit of others,' the suit notes. Police have arrested a 28-year-old man in connection with the murder of a New Jersey councilwoman who was shot 14 times in the car outside her home in February. Rashid Ali Bynum, of Portsmouth, Virginia, was taken into custody Tuesday and charged with first-degree murder, second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, and second-degree possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose. Eunice Dwumfour, 30, was brutally gunned down after she dropped someone off in Sayreville on February 1. Friends called it a 'targeted and personal attack.' She crashed her SUV and was found slumped over the wheel. From Bynum's phone records, law enforcement discovered ties between him and the Newark Chapter of Nigerian-based Champions Royal Assembly Church, where Dwumfour is said to have worked with Bynum prior to her death. Though Dwumfour was a Newark native and has family there, she was living in Sayreville as a single mother. She had recently married a pastor who lives in Nigeria. Rashid Ali Bynum, 28, of Portsmouth, Virginia, was taken into custody on Tuesday morning just before 11am and charged with first-degree murder, second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, and second-degree possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose Police arrested Bynum in connection with the murder of a New Jersey councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour, 30, who was gunned down outside her home after dropping a friend off in Sayreville in February Witnesses at the time of the fatal shooting said they saw a white vehicle nearby. Law enforcement said they pinpointed Bynum's phone and car, a white Hyundai Elantra, using cellular tower extraction records, the New Jersey Globe reported. Bynum became acquainted with Dwumfour in 2017 when he lived in the Skytop Gardens Apartments in Parlin. Phone records also tie Bynum to the Champions Royal Assembly Church, the Parlin-based Fire Congress Fellowship, and mutual contacts with Dwumfour. According to the outlet, records show that Bynum also has outstanding warrants for failure to appear on four summonses connected to a June 2019 traffic stop in Cranbury. He had been stopped for making an illegal U-Turn and then received a summons for driving with a suspended license and other violations. The FBI has been involved in the investigation along with Sayreville police and the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, but have released few details about the investigation. Bynum is awaiting extradition to New Jersey where he will then be held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional facility pending a pre-trial detention hearing in Superior Court. In the early stages of the investigation, some neighbors told police that they'd seen Dwumfour speaking to a man outside her car on security footage just before the shooting. Dwumfour married pastor Eze Kings, who lives in Nigeria, just before Thanksgiving, and lived in the apartment with her 12-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. Pictures from her wedding day show how happy the mother-of-one was, grinning next to her new husband. Kings posted on Facebook about the loss of his bride after the shooting by wishing her a happy birthday in advance. '4th March is your birthday happy glorious birthday in addy my love.' She married a pastor who lives in Nigeria, just before Thanksgiving, and lived in the apartment with her 12-year-old daughter from a previous relationship From Bynum's phone records law enforcement discovered ties between him and the Newark Chapter of Nigerian-based Champions Royal Assembly Church where Dwumfour is said to have worked with Bynum prior to her death Just weeks before her tragic death, Eunice looked on top of the world as she posed for wedding photos with her friends and family 'Addy' is Nigerian slang for the word advance. He accompanied the post with several photos of the couple's wedding, which Dwumfour had celebrated in an Instagram post on December 7. Alexandra Bryan, a neighbor who lived close to where the shooting happened, told the New York Times that she heard what she had initially thought were fireworks twice just after 7 pm. 'Two times, right after one another', she said. 'Like five seconds apart. 'It's a really nice complex,' Bryan added. 'Children are able to play around without parents. It's always quiet. That's why it's such a shock to everybody.' Dwumfour was found inside her white Nissan SUV with multiple gunshot wounds on Samuel Circle just before 7.30pm. Friend and pastor Nelia Rodriguez told The Ingraham Angle she believes the incident was a 'personal attack'. She added: 'We believe it [was] very personal because she was shot seven times in the face and another seven shots were hitting everywhere else. Eunice Dwumfour kisses her new husband Eze Kings at their wedding in Nigeria in November 2022 - weeks before the New Jersey councilwoman was shot dead in her car Eunice Dwumfour and her new husband Eze Kings at their wedding ceremony in November Their whole future ahead of them: Eunice Dwumfour poses for a photo with Eze Kings Eunice Dwumfour shares a special moment with her new husband Eze Kings at their wedding in Nigeria in November 2022 'So for somebody to get so close to somebody and shoot them so many times, it has to be personal.' Dwumfour ousted the sitting Democrat in the Borough of Sayreville in November 2021, in a shock election win, and was not up for reelection until 2024. A friend told DailyMail.com that she and her family had just returned from Nigeria on a church trip - describing her as 'bubbly and nice'. Family members told USA Today that she lived at the property with her 12-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. Her sister Priscilla said: 'She was always happy, very humble and had respect.' Dwumfour crashed her SUV and was slumped over the wheel, with horrified neighbors hearing multiple gunshots and then a crash Friend and Pastor Nelia Rodriguez told The Ingraham Angle that she believes the incident was a 'personal attack' Police received a tip that the murder weapon had been dumped in the area, so brought in police dogs to search the area Friends of the councilwoman previously paid tribute to her as an 'amazing friend' who 'loved god'. Detective Juan Rodriguez and Pastor Doctor Nelia Rodriguez posted online saying: 'I just saw her this morning at the store. 'I remember saying to her I'll see you at the HRC meeting tomorrow not knowing tonight was going to be the end of her life. 'I can't stop crying. She was 30 years young and full of life. You will be missed my dear, precious friend.' Dwumfour was a Certified Business Analyst and Scrum Professional for Fire Congress Fellowship inc. and a part-time EMT. She graduated from William Paterson University and served as a Director of Churches for the Nigerian-based Champions Royal Assembly. In a statement Sayreville Mayor Victoria Kilpatrick said: 'The community is shocked and saddened at the loss of Eunice Dwumfour, who was a dedicated member of our Borough Council who was truly committed to serve all of our residents. 'The fact that she was taken from us by a despicable criminal act makes this incident all the more horrifying.' Dwumfour's white SUV was seen being removed from the scene by authorities in the early hours of the morning at the time of the incident Dwumfour was a Certified Business Analyst and Scrum Professional for Fire Congress Fellowship inc. and a part-time EMT The FBI has been involved in the investigation along with Sayreville police and the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, but have released few details about the investigation Sayreville Republican Chair Karen Bailey Bebert added: 'We remember Eunice for how she lived, not for how she died. 'She was the embodiment of Sayreville, living the American Dream, overcoming challenges with grit and a smile. 'And always giving of time and love to others. She embodied Sayreville and will be terribly missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her.' Governor of New Jersey Phil Murphy added that he was 'stunned' by her murder and branded it an 'act of gun violence'. He told WNYC there was 'little known' about the motivation for the incident which 'does not appear to be related to her potion as an elected councilwoman in Sayreville.' Police have shot a person who is believed to have stabbed multiple victims in a horror spree in Long Beach, California. Law enforcement rushed to the scene just before noon, where they took down the suspect in an 'officer-involved shooting' soon after locating him in the West Coast city. It is currently unconfirmed how many people were stabbed, however according to the Long Beach Post, up to four people may have been attacked near the Belmont Shore area. The Long Beach Fire Department officials told KTLA multiple people were being assessed by paramedics. Police have shot a person who is believed to have stabbed multiple victims in a horror spree in Long Beach, California A heavy police presence was seen in the area soon after the attack, with witnesses saying the assailant fled the scene before being quickly gunned down by cops Police maintained there is 'no current threat to public safety' following the incident. A Long Beach Fire Department spokesperson said one of the victims was transported to a local hospital, while the other victims were treated at the scene. The person who was shot by police was also taken to hospital, officials added. One local resident, Ray Vannatta, said that he was in his home nearby when his wife alerted him to severe commotion as the stabbing spree unfolded. He claimed that when he looked across at a park, he saw what appeared to be a fight, where one man was continuously punching another person while onlookers screamed and pleaded for help. The attack unfolded shortly before noon in the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach, California Vanetta said he called police before approaching the situation, where he saw the assailant was brandishing a knife. Another witness added that the attacker fled the scene before they heard multiple gunshots. 'It hits close to home,' Vannatta said. 'It lets you know you should always be aware of your surroundings.' This is a developing story, and more information will be provided as it is released. North Korea claimed the launch was to protect itself against 'reckless aggression' by the U.S. U.S. and South Korean officials have been holding joint wargames near the North Korean border The 'Hermit Kingdom' has long threatened to use nuclear weapons against its neighbor North Korean strongman Kim-Jong Un has claimed to have launched a military satellite as part of a plot to spy on the U.S. military. Pyongyang said it had dispatched 'a space launch vehicle', which mistakenly triggered an evacuation order in South Korea's capital Seoul. The country's state news agency KNCA had earlier carried a chilling warning to Joe Biden and a thinly-veiled threat of retaliation amid anger over U.S. military exercises. Kim Jong-Un, seen here at a missile launch exercise in March, has threatened to use nuclear weapons against his South Korean neighbors North Korea tested a missile from an undisclosed location in March, angering South Korean officials Ri Pyong Chol, a member of North Korea's top brass, said the satellite 'will be indispensable to tracking, monitoring, discriminating, controlling and coping with in advance in real time the dangerous military acts of the U.S. and its vassal forces openly revealing their reckless ambition for aggression.' U.S. and South Korean military officials have been conducting live-fire wargame drills close to the impoverished dictatorship's frontier. The last exercises took place on Thursday to mark 70 years of a military alliance treaty between both nations. North Korea officials said leader Kim has already signed off on the final preparations for the launch. The mouthpiece media outlet gave no details to the specific launch date. But the Communist regime told Japan that it has planned a launch between May 31 and June 11, prompting Tokyo to put its ballistic missile defenses on alert. Japanese officials has said it would shoot down any projectile that threatens its territory, claiming the launch would break international law. The North has long claimed it has tactical nuclear weapons, capable of hitting targets in South Korea. Photos published in its state newspaper in March amount to the first time it has provided so-called evidence. But until those arms are tested, there is no way of knowing if they are authentic. The satellite launch would be the North's latest in a series of missile launches and weapons tests, including one of a new, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile last month. Analysts say the satellite will improve North Korea's surveillance capability, enabling it to strike targets more accurately in the event of war. Spy satellites are among an array of high-tech weapons systems Mr Kim had publicly vowed to develop. Various other weapons systems on his wish list include solid-propellant ICBMs, nuclear-powered submarines, hypersonic missiles and multi-warhead missiles. The North's satellite launch comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-launched more than 100 missiles, some of them nuclear-capable weapons that place the US mainland, South Korea and Japan within striking distance. North Korea argues its testing spree is meant to issue warning over expanded military drills between the US and South Korea, but observers say North Korea aims to modernise its weapons programme then win greater concessions from its rivals in future dealings. In 2005, it admitted to having nuclear weapons but vowed to close the nuclear program and on October 9, 2006 announced it had successfully conducted its first nuclear test. Former President Donald Trump spoke with advisors about using nuclear weapons in North Korea and trying to blame someone else, according to a recent book A book about ex-president Donald Trump claimed that he once threatened using U.S. nuclear weapons on the country and blaming someone else. The U.S. and North Korea were in a tense and dangerous face-off in 2017, when Trump spoke of unleashing 'fire and fury' on Kim's regime, the book by New York Times reporter Michael Schmidt said. According to the account, Kelly, a retired Marine general, sought to push back and explain that the plan wouldn't work. 'Itd be tough to not have the finger pointed at us,' he told the president. The reported clash came after North Korea's repeated missile launches, and Trump's repeated threats, had policy experts worried about a potential military clash. Some conservatives are calling for a boycott of Chick-fil-A after news the company had hired a Vice President of 'diversity, equity, inclusion' resurfaced and went viral. America's favorite fast-food chain, which has historically been praised by conservatives for it's strong religious roots and values, is the next company to receive backlash for their effort to be more 'inclusive.' Chick-fil-A previously shared the announcement of Erick McReynolds as Vice President of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI), who has been with the company since 2020, but the news suddenly resurfaced and spread online, sparking fears the company has 'gone woke'. Chick-fil-A had originally released a statement in 2021 to speak about its company mission to care for customers and employees alike, a purpose they summarize as 'Better at Together.' 'We understand that the path toward Better at Together looks different for every business,' the statement says. Some conservatives are calling for a boycott of Chick-fil-A after news the company has hired a Vice President of 'diversity, equity, inclusion' went viral Chick-fil-A previously shared the announcement of Erick McReynolds as Vice President of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI), who has been with the company since 2020 Chick-fil-A released a statement in 2021 to speak about its company mission to care for customers and employees alike, a purpose they summarize as 'Better at Together' 'At Chick-fil-A, Inc., our commitment is to approach this work with intention and humility, always believing the best in one another and striving for common ground. We're early on in our journey, but we're honored by the opportunity to steward our organization's greatest asset our people and are energized by the road ahead.' McReynolds previously said DEI is necessary to fulfilling the company's corporate goal. 'Chick-fil-A restaurants have long been recognized as a place where people know they will be treated well. Modeling care for others starts in the restaurant, and we are committed to ensuring mutual respect, understanding and dignity everywhere we do business.' 'These tenets are good business practice and crucial to fulfilling our Corporate Purpose,' he continued. Chick-fil-A's DEI initiative hopes to 'focus on promoting equal access to opportunities, valuing differences and 'creating a culture of belonging,' according to their website. The company, who said it has supported various organizations, including Women in Business (WIB) and the Black Employee Resource Group (BERG). Conservatives took to Twitter to share their disapproval - with some believing Reynolds was a new hire for the company. One user said, 'Something tells me Chick-fil-A is going to be called to repent soon.' Another said: 'Hi Chick-fil-A 100k+ lifetime points since app was launched. You've now lost my family after this ridiculous, marxist DEI statement. Very sad/disappointed and I know my $ doesn't matter but I guess it was just a matter of time before you allowed the communists to take over.' Conservatives are outraged online after Chick-fil-A's DEI VP statement went viral Some users, however, fired back against those calling for a boycott. 'Y'all really gonna boycott Chick-fil-A? When you start boycotting every business as 'woke' the average American will think you're full of crap. Yep, the company has a DEI page. It also has this,' referencing the company's religious support. This isn't the first time the company has been accused of 'going woke.' Fast food lovers were deeply divided once before, over Chick-fil-A's launch of a new cauliflower sandwich, with some welcoming the addition, while others reacted in horror. Chick-fil-A also faced years of protests and public backlash for supporting anti-LGBT causes. in 2019, It announced plans to stop supporting the Salvation Army, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and the Paul Anderson Youth Home, in addition to other groups criticized for their controversial stances on LGBT issues. Instead, Chick-fil-A announced it would focus its efforts on three specific initiatives, with one charity accompanying each: education, homelessness and hunger. Chick-fil-A was involved in another controversy last year, when the city of San Antonio, Texas, was sued over a policy preventing Chick-fil-A from opening in the city's airport due what they called 'anti-LGBTQ behavior.' The lawsuit was supported by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott but the Texas Supreme Court ruled there wasn't enough evidence to prove the city had violated previous 'religious freedom' laws. Despite its controversial politics, Chick-fil-A has been named America's favorite fast-food restaurant chain for eight years in a row, according to the latest results this week by the ACSI. Chick-fil-A's DEI posts resurfaced after companies such as Bud Light and Target came under fire for controversial campaigns. Bud Light, faced scrutiny from conservatives on social media for a promotion with a trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney, has seen a major sales slip since. It's unclear whether Chick-fil-A will be impacted in a similar way, especially since the fast-food chain has been historically conservative and has devout Christians as founders. Prof. Jeff Lax tells DailyMail.com it was the tip of an anti-Semitic iceberg A CUNY Law professor who has previously complained about the university's alleged anti-Semitism says the entire place is being run by a faculty of 'far left, Marxist lunatics.' The comments come after a shocking commencement speech on May 12 by pro-Palestine law graduate Fatima Mousa Mohammed, who accused Israelis of 'settler colonialism' and called for 'rage' to tackle the 'fascist NYPD'. It was the second year in a row the school - one of the largest in New York City, which receives more than half its funding from government - allowed such pro-Palestine, anti-Israel remarks at the graduation ceremony. The 2022 speaker was activist Nerdeen Kiswani, who made similarly fired-up comments. CUNY's Board of Trustees finally denounced the speech today in a statement after growing calls for the school to lose its funding. It is yet to explain why the remarks were approved in the first place. 'Free speech is precious, but often messy, and is vital to the foundation of higher education. Hate speech, however, should not be confused with free speech and has no place on our campuses or in our city, our state or our nation. Fatima Mousa Mohammed was chosen by her classmates as the 2023 commencement speaker at CUNY Law's graduation ceremony on May 12. Her remarks about Israel, Palestine, the NYPD and the Armed Forces sparked uproar The CUNY Board of Trustees today denounced the remarks as hate speech after furious backlash 'The remarks by a student-selected speaker at the CUNY Law School graduation, unfortunately, fall into the category of hate speech as they were a public expression of hate toward people and communities based on their religion, race or political affiliation. 'The Board of Trustees of the City University of New York condemns such hate speech. Professor Jeffrey Lax, who has taught at CUNY for the last 20 years, told DailyMail.com in an interview that the whole school was being run by 'left wing lunatics', and that someone had to have approved the remarks 'This speech is particularly unacceptable at a ceremony celebrating the achievements of a wide diversity of graduates, and hurtful to the entire CUNY community, which was founded on the principle of equal access and opportunity,' the board said. Professor Jeffrey Lax, who has taught at CUNY for the last 20 years, told DailyMail.com in an interview that the whole school was being run by 'left wing lunatics', and that someone had to have approved the remarks. 'I have never heard of a commencement speech not being reviewed [by staff]. 'Of course you have to look at it, regardless of whether or not you believe the student may say something inflammatory, you have to look at it first.' He has complained about anti-Semitism in the past, and says students have also confided in him about fearing alienation or even retribution if don't follow a hardcore, left-wing political ideology. 'The faculty are all lunatics. The unbelievable far left who are pushing for the end of America,' Professor Lax said. CUNY's 2023 Operating Budget Request revealed the university receives $2.8billion from the three levels of government He blames much of what he calls an anti-Semitic rhetoric on the The Professional Staff Congress or (PSC CUNY), the teacher's union which many faculty are a part of. 'The union is a Marxist organization and Marx wasn't just a communist... he was anti-Judaism. CUNY Chancellor Felix V. Matos Rodriguez 'Sometimes it's hard to distinguish between what he said and what Hitler said.' Professor Lax has complained of anti-Semitism in the past, particularly against the school's adoption of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement (BDS) - something Fatima praised it for in her remarks. The movement 'works to end international support for Israel's oppression of Palestinians and pressure Israel to comply with international law.' CUNY Law endorsed it last year to great controversy. SAFE CUNY, an organization which Lax is part of, complained to state regulators and the school was placed under investigation earlier this year. The outcome of that investigation is yet to emerge. Professor Lax claims the last two years have been a 'living hell' for him, but he refuses to quit. 'I'm the grandchild of Holocaust survivors... I feel a deep and profound duty to fight this. I'm not going to walk away. 'I get complaints about this all the time, there are open or outwardly Jewish kids who have come to me, but it's not just that. 'There are, no question, students who hide their position on politics,' he said. CUNY is yet to respond to his criticism. Professor Lax, pictured here with his wife, Ilana, has complained of anti-Semitism in the past, particularly against the school's adoption of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement Professor Lax claims the last two years have been a 'living hell' for him, but he refuses to quit The boss of investment giant Schroders has warned against meddling following a Labour-backed proposal that could lead to pension funds being told how they must spend billions of pounds. Chief executive Peter Harrison said fund managers should not be 'inhibited' in how they select investments on behalf of retirement fund savers. The comments come amid signs of a backlash among some in the City over plans supported by Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves for a 50billion Future Growth Fund. It could see defined contribution pension schemes divert 5 per cent of their assets into it. Ms Reeves has said she is open to the idea but believes fundraising goals could be met on a voluntary basis. One industry figure has described it as a 'slippery slope'. And Yvonne Braun, director of long-term savings policy at industry body the Association of British Insurers, said that while it welcomed the focus on unlocking the power of savings to boost growth, savers' interests should be 'at the heart of investment decisions'. The Labour-backed plans could see defined benefit pension schemes divert 5 per cent of their assets into a government-backed fund (File photo: Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer) STARMER'S SINISTER LAND GRAB Groups representing landowners yesterday criticised plans announced by Labour to force the sale of plots at lower prices to local authorities for housebuilding. The proposal by Sir Keir Starmer, pictured, would enable councils to compulsory purchase land without adding 'hope value', the premium for potential planning permissions. Sarah Lee of the Countryside Alliance campaign group, said: 'There's no doubt we need more housing, but there is something incredibly sinister about forcing people to sell off land below market value.' Mark Tufnell of the Country Land and Business Association, said developers would continue to cash in, even if 'hard-pressed farmers were forced to sell land for a fraction of its potential value'. Labour sources insisted the proposal would not involve paying below market value. Last year the Government also began a consultation into capping or abolishing 'hope value'. Advertisement A key concern is that fund managers should act in line with their fiduciary duty for the benefit of those who entrust their money with them rather than be influenced by other reasons to invest. Mr Harrison, writing in the Daily Telegraph, said that 'we need a change in our whole investment culture' to spare Britain from falling behind globally. He did not comment directly on Labour's plans. But he said of pension savers: 'We need to ensure their pension managers are not inhibited in selecting these investments on their behalf.' Schroders, the company Mr Harrison leads, is responsible for managing around 750billion of assets. He is also part of a City taskforce aiming to increase the proportion of Britain's 3.4trillion pensions savings that is ploughed into boosting growth. The idea is to help Britain's promising start-ups grow bigger without having to rely so heavily on foreign money or move abroad. At the same time, it is argued, UK investors would benefit by being able to be more exposed to such growth opportunities. But the Future Growth Fund plan from Nicholas Lyons, lord mayor of the City of London, has drawn mixed responses. Aviva chief executive Amanda Blanc said: 'We're big supporters of investing in the UK... However, we are not supportive of a mandated participation. 'We do not feel that creating a complex and bureaucratic fund... is the right way forward at all.' Sir Keir 'in pocket of rail union militants' By David Churchill Chief Political Correspondent Transport SecretaryMark Harper (pictured) accused Sir Keir Starmer of being 'in the pocket' of the rail unions The Transport Secretary last night accused Sir Keir Starmer of being 'in the pocket' of the rail union barons behind this week's crippling strikes. Mark Harper hit out at the Labour leader for accepting thousands from train drivers' union Aslef despite its misery-inducing strike campaign. Labour has banked more than 25,000 from Aslef since it launched industrial action last year, and more than 268,000 since 2018. Aslef members will strike today and on Saturday hitting the Epsom Derby and the FA Cup final as the pay dispute drags on. The RMT union is striking on Friday. Both unions have refused to put recent offers to a vote. Mr Harper said last night: 'Labour's repeated failures to condemn these strikes are no surprise given they continue to be in the pockets of those very union bosses who are hell-bent on causing disruption on our rail network.' Labour transport spokesman Louise Haigh said ministers have 'failed to lift a finger for months' on negotiations. Joe Biden accuser Tara Reade is seeking to defect to Russia saying on a Kremlin-backed program that she has fears for her own safety in the U.S. Reade made a series of stunning assertions while appearing on Russian state TV with Maria Butina, who was convicted of acting as an unregistered foreign agent inside the U.S. while cultivating relationships with a series of U.S. political figures. Reade called Butina 'my friend.' Butina, who was elected to the state Duma in Russia and subjected to U.S. sanctions after Russia's Ukraine invasion, said Reade made her decision on a visit to Moscow. 'I'm still kind of in a daze a bit but I feel very good,' Reade said in an appearance aired on Sputnik. 'I feel very surrounded by protection and safety. And I just really so appreciate Maria [Butina] and everyone who's been giving me that at a time when it's been very difficult to know if I'm safe or not.' Biden assault accuser Tara Reade said she is defecting to Russia. She sat for an interview on Kremlin-backed Sputnik television with Maria Butina, who was convicted of acting as an unregistered foreign agent in the U.S. She fielded questions from audience members during an appearance, where she bashed the U.S. position arming Ukraine following Russia's invasion. 'It's very sad that America has chosen the wrong side in history,' she said, echoing Kremlin propaganda about the Ukrainian government. She described her visit to Moscow as breaking impressions. 'The food tastes so good - there's no chemicals, there's no GMOs,' she said. 'I'm not just giving you a smoke screen.' She said she wasn't sure she would go back to the U.S. even if Biden is replaced, although she expressed doubts he 'makes it to run again.' 'I'm not sure if the new president will change anything for me. I have lawyers working right now to figure out because some of the cases are sealed that are against me, so I don't know what they have in mind. But I do know this that unfortunately, the Democratic National Committee is quite corrupt. Unless that's dismantled and taken down. I'm not sure things will get better,' she said. Reade raised assault allegations against Biden from 2023 when she was in his Senate office Butina bashed the U.S. position arming Ukraine following Russia's invasion She echoed Russian propaganda by saying the U.S. was funding 'extremists and Nazis' 'I just didn't want to walk home and walk into a cage or be killed, which is basically my two choices,' she told Sputnik. 'To my Russian brothers and sisters, I'm sorry right now that American elites are choosing to have such an aggressive stance. Just know that most American citizens do want to be friends,' she said, the DailyBeast reported. She also tore into U.S. defense contractors, and called the bombing of the Nordstream pipeline a 'war crime' that she suggested was carried out by the U.S. echoing Kremlin claims. Butina said through a translator she would pursue 'people to people contacts' in Russia and experience Russian culture, and pledged to help her draft her applications to support her finding 'a way for Tara to stay here in Russia' that would go all the way to Russian President Vladimir Putin. She said she would help pursue a 'fast track procedure.' Reade during the 2020 presidential campaign accused Biden of having sexually assaulted her while he was a senator. Biden and his team denied the allegation. But after the allegations drew headlines, there were reports she 'left a trail of aggrieved acquaintances in California's Central Coast region who say they remember two things about her she spoke favorably about her time working for Biden, and she left them feeling duped.' That included a landlord who called her 'manipulative' and who said when then she and her husband wanted to sell the unit she was renting Reade, who went by a different name, told her ''You're going to have to pay me to get me to leave.' PBS interviewed 74 former Biden staffers after Reade leveled her allegations of sexual assault from the 1990s. The New York Times reported in April 2020 that Reade, who had featured in reports from multiple women who said Biden engaged in kissing and hugging that made them uncomfortable, had alleged that Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993 in a Senate office building. But it also reported that 'no other allegation about sexual assault surfaced in the course of reporting, nor did any former Biden staff members corroborate any details of Ms. Reade's allegation.' She issued a cryptic tweet earlier this month after Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) invited her to testify. 'I want to make something clear. If something happens to me, all roads lead to Joe Biden. Joe Biden and DNC political machine threats, bullying and intimidation over the last three years will not work. I am not suicidal. I should not be under investigation nor am I a foreign agent.' Late last year, Russian diplomats sought to bring Reade to the UN to testify about diversion of U.S. weapons provided to Ukraine, Semafor reported. The Cabinet Office now has until 4pm tomorrow to clarify whether it does, in fact, have access to Boris Johnson's personal WhatsApp messages, and if these should be released to the Covid inquiry led by Baroness Hallett. It claims the correspondence, covering more than two years, need not be disclosed in full, as large parts are 'unambiguously irrelevant'. This is not out of consideration for Johnson. There is little love lost between the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Oliver Dowden, and the former PM whose supporters have alleged that Dowden was behind the referral of fresh Partygate allegations to the police last week, something he denies. It's more the ramifications of releasing the messages. Given the way Whitehall operates now, the chances of unredacted WhatsApps between Johnson and people such as Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss or any of the other 40 or so people involved remaining confidential are pretty much zero, given the number of people determined to damage Conservative reputations. Baroness Hallett is digging her heels in. She has made it clear that she doesn't trust the Cabinet Office to make the right judgment on what is deemed relevant to her inquiry. And, honestly, I don't blame her: the last thing she wants is to be accused of presiding over a whitewash. The Cabinet Office now has until 4pm tomorrow to clarify whether it does, in fact, have access to Boris Johnson's personal WhatsApp messages READ MORE: Ministers given two more days to hand over Boris Johnson's un-censored WhatsApp conversations and diaries from his time in power to Covid Inquiry - but they claim they don't have them Advertisement The whole thing could end up in the hands of lawyers, no doubt costing the poor taxpayer another huge chunk of money we haven't got. And for what? Just to satisfy the egos of everyone involved. But there is also a broader issue here, to do with the way our lives are now lived almost exclusively online. And how that electronic record, in the wrong hands, can end up turning our words, actions and even thoughts against us. I've been stung badly by this sort of thing in the past. In 2016, after the Brexit vote, an email I sent to my then husband, Michael Gove, was leaked and published totally out of context, much to the delight of the armies of embittered Remainers desperate to discredit him. It was one of those things I just dashed off, a note of encouragement written at a time of huge emotional and political upheaval. By then we had been in the thick of it for so long, I was tired and testy and slightly at the end of my tether with everyone. My email was brief and to the point, and I didn't mince my words as wives tend not to with husbands. Well, not this wife, at any rate. It also referred, obliquely, to matters and events that only he, I and a few others understood. And which I have never, to this day, disclosed, for the simple reason that they are private. (Privacy: remember that?) Had I even the slightest inkling that it would be leaked and plastered all over the media, I'd have phrased things very differently. These Boris WhatsApps will likely be the same: not written or conceived as official documents, intended to be scrutinised, but as private, off-the-cuff exchanges. And in the same way that Matt Hancock's WhatsApps were twisted out of context after they were released by Isabel Oakeshott, a similar thing will surely happen here. Having one's words and motives weaponised in this way is brutal. It makes a person feel violated, exposed and helpless. My experience also taught me a very important lesson: you shouldn't judge people on the basis of just a few words taken out of context and more than likely written on the hoof. That, for me, is the big problem with Hallett's insistence on being able to examine all Johnson's WhatsApps for this inquiry. Setting aside those of a private and personal nature, which decency dictates should not be seen (or disseminated) by third parties, there is the question of how useful they will actually be to her; how accurately they will reflect the full picture. In reality, they may turn out to be rather misleading. Many will simply be fragments of wider, far more complex conversations, some of which may have taken place verbally. Others will have been written on the spur of the moment, unconsidered, emotional, raw. They may be thoughts that were never acted on. Is that so wrong? This is government. People need to feel they can say what has to be said, even if it doesn't tick all the approved boxes. They need to be able to challenge, to push back, to argue their corner. Otherwise, nothing brave or bold would ever happen. And Covid was a time that required great bravery and very bold decision-making indeed. If I had any faith that such messages would remain confidential, I would have no issue with Baroness Hallett examining them. I'm sure she is a thoroughly intelligent and responsible woman. But what if they are leaked and then taken out of context? If that happens, ultimately, they will do more harm than good in the quest for the real picture. Whatever you think of the Schofield/Willoughby/ITV debacle, it's absolutely not OK to go on live TV and call someone Holly a 'little b***h', as Kim Woodburn (of How Clean Is Your House? fame) did on Monday Protest... or self-promotion? I am all in favour of anything that draws attention to the plight of women in Iran. But the dress worn by Iranian-born model Mahlagha Jaberi, 33, to the Cannes Film Festival, featuring a noose neckline, seemed to me designed to draw attention to only one thing: Ms Jaberi's assets. Which is distasteful, to say the least. But the dress worn by Iranian-born model Mahlagha Jaberi (pictured), 33, to the Cannes Film Festival, featuring a noose neckline, seemed to me designed to draw attention to only one thing: Ms Jaberi's assets Why is everyone hysterical about Lurpak cutting the size of a block of butter from 250g to 200g? I just buy supermarket own-brand stuff, which is much cheaper anyway and tastes, as far as I can tell, no different. The whole world is obsessed with Florence Pugh. She's on the cover of Time magazine and her face is all over airport billboards, advertising some perfume or other, I forget which one. My daughter is so obsessed with her, she has added 'Florence' to her growing list of baby names. She makes Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Killing Eve's Jodie Comer look like shrinking violets. Her latest appearance, in Rome last week, wearing a buzzcut and bovver boots, fag in one hand, glass of wine in the other, was iconic. It's not a look that does her any favours, but that's the joy of Pugh: she doesn't care. What matters is that she's good at her job, which she undoubtedly is. An absolute inspiration. Don't put your daughter on the stage (yet), Beyonce It's never easy being the child of famous parents the real world is a tough place at the best of times, even tougher if you're thrust into the limelight before you're ready. That's why I would urge caution after Beyonce's decision to include her eldest, 11-year-old Blue Ivy, in her stage concerts. Uploading clips of her daughter dancing, she wrote: 'My beautiful first born. I'm so proud and thankful to be your mama. You bring us so much joy, my sweet angel.' I'm sure she does; but the question is, will being exposed so young bring Blue Ivy joy? I very much doubt it. That's why I would urge caution after Beyonce's decision to include her eldest, 11-year-old Blue Ivy, in her stage concerts (left) The chair of the British Medical Association has said that even if consultants were offered a 50 per cent pay rise by the Government, it would still be 'a drop in the ocean'. NHS consultants earn an average of 128,000 a year so half again would bring them up to almost 200,000. And that's before you factor in all the private work so many of them do, even at a time when NHS waiting lists are at a record high. To suggest a 50 per cent pay hike would be 'a drop in the ocean' is insulting to all those ordinary people who earn a fraction of that amount but whose taxes still pay consultants' salaries. Property developers who donated millions to the Tories are considering withholding further funding after Rishi Sunak scrapped mandatory housebuilding targets last year. Rob Boughton, of Thakeham, and Steve Morgan, of Redrow, have condemned the move. Yet doesn't the Government's decision at least show that, unlike Labour, the Conservatives can't be bought? Dale Vince, the founder of green energy firm Ecotricity, has given 1.5million to Labour while also being a financial backer of Just Stop Oil. Starmer claims none of this has any sway on Labour policy yet Jonathan Ashworth, the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, has dropped a heavy hint that Sir Keir will announce plans to block new North Sea oil and gas developments. Which is exactly what Just Stop Oil are calling for. Merely a happy coincidence? Aubrey was airlifted to Roanoke Memorial Hospital where she had emergency surgery for six hours in a bid to have amputated feet reattached A six-year-old girl in Virginia had both her feet severed in a freak accident after she got them caught around a cargo belt she was playing with in the back of a pickup truck. Aubrey Scaletta was riding in the back seat and was nearly pulled out of the window during the horrific incident that was witnessed by her litter sister on May 17. She was playing with a ratchet strap, a belt used to secure items during transport, before one end fell out of the window and became wrapped around the drive shaft wrapped around the drive shaft under the car. The strap tightened to the point that it cut off her feet. Aubrey, the daughter of state trooper Daniel Scaletta, was airlifted to Roanoke Memorial Hospital where she had emergency surgery for six hours in a bid to have her feet reattached. Doctors say the feet are receiving good blood flow but that it is likely that Aubrey will require at least 10 more surgeries before she fully recovers. Aubrey Scaletta, six, had both her feet severed in a freak accident after she got them caught around a cargo belt she was playing with in the back of a pickup truck She was riding in the back seat when the horrific incident happened in Virginia on May 17 and she was almost pulled out of the window Aubrey was playing with a ratchet strap, a belt used to secure items during transport, before one end wrapped around the drive shaft and cut off her feet Her little sister Jackie was in the car alongside her at the time and witnessed the horrific accident. 'One end of the strap went out the window and became wrapped around the [vehicles] drive shaft,' the Virginia State Police Association said in a statement. 'As the strap turned around the drive shaft, Aubrey was almost pulled out of the window and the tightening strap severed her feet.' The police asked for donations to help Aubreys father Daniel and the rest of the family following the 'terrible accident'. Aubrey had six-hour emergency surgery to have her feet reattached and was treated by a large team of surgeons. The six-year-old will likely have 10 more surgeries in what is going to be a long road to recovery. 'Both feet seem to be receiving good blood flow after being reattached, and as of this morning, doctors have taken off the ventilator,' the cops told local station WSLS. She is recovering in the pediatric intensive care unit and her mother Lauren Wensel Scaletta shared an update on her condition on Wednesday to say she was progressing well. The mother of three hopes she will be moved from the pediatric intensive care unit to the pediatric floor at the hospital. Aubrey will have skin-graft surgery on June 9 with the family hopeful she will be back home at the end of June in a wheelchair with elevated legs. And she will need physical therapy at home or at an out-patient facility when she is discharged. Lauren wrote: 'Right now it looks like we may leave the hospital at the end of June in a wheelchair with elevated legs. As we imagined, Aubrey will need need PT when we get out. Aubrey, pictured with her younger brother Grayson, was airlifted to Roanoke Memorial Hospital where she had emergency surgery for six hours to have her amputated feet reattached The Virginia State Police Association asked for donations to help Aubreys father Daniel Scaletta and the rest of the family following the 'terrible accident' Aubrey's mother Lauren Wensel Scaletta shared an update on her condition on Wednesday to say the little girl was progressing well 'Since she is so young it will be done on out patient/ home plan instead of a rehab facility. 'The surgery teams goal is to have her walking with braces, walkers and things by Christmas! While we realize these things are not a guaranteed, it was nice to hear what could be.' Lauren described how difficult the situation has been for the family and thanked everyone for their support. She added: 'This has been both the longest and shortest days of our lives. We have held our breath and moved hour by hour most of the time we have been in the PICU. 'Everyone has done their very best to take care of our girl and we couldnt imagine being anywhere else. 'Our family, friends and new friends have been the backbone of Daniel Taylor and my courage to keep pushing forward. 'Aubrey is one tough cookie and we are following her lead as best we can. My princess monster is such a warrior.' Aubrey is said to have her own fan club at the hospital thanks to her bubbly personality. A GoFundMe was set up on behalf of the family to help them cope with the tragic accident and more than $53,000 has been raised. A former Royal Marine who planted fake bombs outside a lawyers chambers received training on improvised explosive devices, a court heard. Michael Broddle, 46, was allegedly hired by wealthy businessman Jonathan Nuttall, 50, to plant two packages resembling explosive devices at Grays Inn barristers chambers. Barristers Andrew Sutcliffe KC and Anne Jeavons had both acted for the National Crime Agency in the recovery of 1m of assets from Nuttalls wife Amanda Nuttall in 2019, the Old Bailey heard. Jurors have heard Mrs Nuttall won 2.4m on the lottery but her husband was losing his family home, Embley Manor in Romsey, as part of his settlement with the NCA. Nuttall recruited Broddle through his driver and the former Royal Marine spied on the lawyers and their families for six months, jurors were told. Jonathan Nuttall (pictured) arrives at the Old Bailey, in central London, where he, along with Charlie Broddle, 18, Michael Broddle, 46, Joshua Broddle, 20, and Michael Sode, 58, are on trial accused of a conspiracy to plant explosive devices targeted at lawyers working in Gray's Inn Andrew Sutcliffe KC (pictured) and Anne Jeavons had both acted for the National Crime Agency in the recovery of A1m of assets from Nuttall's wife Amanda Nuttall in 2019 The businessman and his associates allegedly set off smoke grenades to cause maximum alarm causing buildings to be evacuated, roads cordoned off and 85 police officers to attend the scene. Broddle has admitted two counts of placing an article with intention of inducing a belief it would explode or ignite and possession of an explosive substance. The packages, addressed to Mr Sutcliffe, included a nose trimmer to make them vibrate, the court heard. Nuttall, his driver Michael Sode, 58, along with Broddle's two sons Joshua Broddle, 20, and Charlie Broddle, 18, all deny two counts of placing an article with intent. Another of Michael Broddles sons, George Gray, 25, is charged alongside Nuttall, Sode, Michael Broddle and Joshua, with attempting to transfer money paid as a result of the criminal conduct at Grays Inn. Jurors heard Broddle served in the Royal Marines for 11 years after joining on 10 January 1994 at the age of 17. He became a corporal and worked as an instructor, medic and safety supervisor. Joshua Broddle, 20, outside the Old Bailey, central London Prosecutor Lucy Organ, reading facts agreed between the prosecution and defence, said: He moved from post to post gaining skills including weapons training, demolitions training and skills to be deployed anywhere in the world. He became more proficient with weapons training as he moved through his career, including rifles and grenades training. He received training on what the components of an improvised explosive device were. He quit the marines on 5 July 2005 just after the birth of his son Charlie. He then worked as a freelance security consultant, earning up to 32,000 a year. Nuttall, of Embley Lane, Romsey, Sode, of Fusion Apartments, Lewisham, and Joshua and Charlie both of White Bear Lane, Hounslow, deny two counts of conspiracy to place an article with intent to induce the belief it would explode or ignite. Michael Broddle, also of White Bear Lane, Hounslow, admits the two counts and possession of an explosive substance. Charlie Broddle denies possession of an explosive substance. Nuttall, Sode, Michael Broddle, Joshua and Gray, of Harrow Road, Wembley, deny conspiracy to transfer criminal property. Nuttall denies six counts of failing to comply with a notice by failing to disclose the PIN or passcode of phones and devices. Sode denies two counts of the same charge. The trial continues tomorrow. CNN anchor Jim Sciutto blatantly refused to comment on a story about Catholics flocking to Missouri to see the preserved remains of a nun. On Monday's episode of CNN's News Central, anchor Boris Sanchez covered the story of faithful Catholics making the pilgrimage to Gower, Missouri, to see the remains of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, who died in 2019 but whose corpse seems to not have decayed. Sanchez noted visitors are being given the opportunity to kiss the remains before turning the camera over to Sciutto. 'Not touching that story,' Sciutto replied, before going on to report about convicted fraudster Elizabeth Holmes heading to prison. CNN anchor Jim Sciutto refused to comment on a story about about Catholics flocking to Missouri to see the preserved remains of a nun Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster died in 2019 but whose corpse seems to not have decayed The bizarre interaction began with Sanchez talking about the miracle discovery of Sister Wilhelmina's body and the fervor it caused in a Missouri town. 'Thousands of Catholics are flocking to Gower, Missouri to view the body of a deceased nun which appears to show no sign of decay, though she's been dead for some years,' he said. 'The Catholic News Agency reports that Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster was 95 years old when she passed away in 2019. It says her body was recently exhumed so it could be moved inside a chapel at the convent she founded,' Sanchez continued. 'When they opened her wooden coffin, the nun's remains were found to be intact, even though her body had not been embalmed. 'The discovery [is] prompting widespread interest,' he said, before cutting to interviews with some of those who made the pilgrimage to see the nun's body. They called the experience 'rare' and 'powerful.' When the camera turned back to him, Sanchez said: 'Visitors are being given limited opportunities to touch and even kiss the deceased nun's body, Jim.' That is when Sciutto, who grew up attending Catholic school, said he would not comment on the story. On Monday's episode of CNN's News Central, anchor Boris Sanchez covered the story of faithful Catholics making the pilgrimage to Gower, Missouri People wait to view the body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster at the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles abbey on Sunday Sciutto has spoken out in the past about his Catholic upbringing. In a 2018 interview with Fatherly, he said his mother in particular raised him and his siblings 'very Catholic. 'I had 12 years of Catholic school, church every Sunday, celebrated all the feast days, was also an altar boy and a choir boy,' he said, noting he is not raising his own children to be as religious. 'But I certainly take my kids to church on the holidays and make them aware of their faith as much as possible,' he said. It is unclear why he refused to comment on the miraculous story about the nun. Lancaster's body will be laid out for public viewings until Monday, where visitors are allowed to touch her body and pray Since the discovery of Sister Wilhelmina's intact body, the abbey in Gower has seen about 1,000 visitors each day, Ashlie Hand, a spokesperson with the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph said. She noted it was possible the monastery would receive up to 20,000 visitors over the weekend. But crowds have already grown to the point that police have added a mobile command center, and more land has been cleared to park cars. The street outside the monastery, 316th Street, even became a one-way thoroughfare on Saturday, carrying cars west to east, according to Fox 4. Lancaster's body will be laid out for public viewings until Monday, where visitors are allowed to touch her body and pray. Visiting hours run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. After May 29, visitors will still be able to see the nun and visit the site, but they will no longer be able to touch her body as it will be encased in glass. Lancaster's body glass encasement will be placed near the altar to 'welcome her growing number of devotees.' The Benedictine sister planned to hold a public rosary procession Monday at 4:30 p.m., according to a statement they posted online. dead on the lawn in front of the house An engaged Canadian couple shot dead by their landlord on the front lawn of their home have been pictured for the first time. Police found dead 27-year-old Carissa MacDonald, who worked as an educational assistant at a local Catholic school, and her 28-year-old electrician fiance, Aaron Stone. The pair had been running away from the house when they were shot to death following an argument over mold with their landlord. The couple pair rented the basement of a home belonging to 57-year-old Terry Gerald Brekka, who lived upstairs. The couple got into a dispute with Brekka, stemming from a 'disagreement surrounding issues within the house,' said Det. Sgt. Steve Bereziuk, of Hamilton Police's Major Crime Unit. Carissa MacDonald, 27, who worked as an educational assistant at a local Catholic school, and her electrician fiance, Aaron Stone, 28, were both shot dead Police were called to the Stoney Creek district of Hamilton, Ontario, at 5:40pm Saturday after the pair were dead on the lawn in front of the house The engaged couple lived in the basement of this house in Stoney Creek, Hamilton, Ontario A police officer takes photographs at the scene of a homicide investigation in the area of Jones Road and Barton Street in Hamilton, Ontario Authorities were called to the house in the Stoney Creek district of Hamilton, Ontario, at 5:40pm on Saturday, amid reports of gunfire. The suspect then barricaded himself in before being killed in a shootout with police. '(They were) both hardworking people, adding to the tragedy of this event,' he said. Neither the couple nor Brekka was known to police, Bereziuk confirmed, which makes what happened 'a little bit more shocking.' Bereziuk added the murder of the young couple was deeply shocking. 'As you can well imagine these are not people that this should happen to,' he said. 'They're not involved in any level of criminality or lifestyle that may lead to an incident like this. They're truly innocent.' Hamilton police stated the dispute between the landlord and couple it thought to have been related to a complaint about mold in their rental unit. The couple are pictured at their home at the rear of the property The couple had been running from their landlord Terry Brekka, 57, who had argued with the couple about mold in the basement where they lived Aaron Stone was an apprentice electrician with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, while Carissa MacDonald worked at the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board for the past three-and-a-half years and was a Mohawk College graduate After shooting the couple, Brekka barricaded himself inside the home, with weapons that he legally held. Bereziuk said the police spent 'considerable time' trying to negotiate a 'peaceful resolution' with Brekka, but he opened fire on them at around 10pm and was shot dead. The standoff ended in 'an exchange of gunfire' with a police officer, according to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU). On Monday, Det. Sgt. Steve Bereziuk told CBC News how the tenants complained about the issue sometime before their landlord shot them. 'That's what we're investigating to see if that's in fact what this was about,' Bereziuk said. 'I think the big question is why did this happen, a lot of people want to know that. We may never be able to answer that. 'It's a perfect storm of tragedy in this case because you can't predict something like this and you can't prevent it,' Bereziuk went on. 'Because nobody was on our radar, at least for the Hamilton police. It makes it difficult to understand how things can [happen], certainly with respect to a landlord-tenant dispute.' Aaron Stone was an apprentice electrician with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, while Carissa MacDonald worked at the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board for the past three-and-a-half years and was a Mohawk College graduate. 'Our prayers are with her family and with all individuals impacted by this tragic situation,' said school board spokesperson Tracey Austin. Families and staff were informed of the 'incredible loss,' Austin said. Police were on scene throughout most of Sunday as they attempted to understand what happened Hamilton police say the dispute between the landlord and couple it thought to have been related to a complaint about mold in their rental unit A search of Brekka's home led to the recovery of multiple legal weapons A police officer handles evidence at the scene of a homicide investigation Members of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) at the scene of a homicide investigation in the area of Jones Road and Barton Street in Hamilton Hamilton's mayor, Andrea Horwath, expressed condolences and shared her concern about the shooting. 'I was very saddened to hear about this senseless tragedy over the weekend, and my heart goes out to the families of the victims,' she said in a statement. Sandra Chaisson, a resident of more than four decades in the area of the incident, said the landlord bought the house on Jones Road from her grandparents. Chaisson told CP24 News that Brekka lived in the house for more than 20 years having bought the property in 2003 for $115,000. 'He was very quiet. A very quiet man. I didn't see him much, just to wave hello, but I haven't seen him for a long time,' she said. 'The tenants were in the basement, but I didn't know them, just to see them at the mailbox kind of thing.' Chaisson said she was watching TV around 10pm when she heard six to eight rapid shots fired. 'It was rather scary,' she said. 'It's a shock to all of us.' Tony Greenly, a next-door neighbor described the landlord as 'bad news' noting how he would often stand on top of his roof, watching them. The 'harassment' saw Greenly build a carport to block his view. 'It's like we couldn't breathe in our own backyard,' Greenly told CBC News. 'I was terrified,' Joanne Greenly, Tony's wife added as she recalled the shooting. 'That could've been us. He could've gotten mad enough to actually get them [the shotguns] out. I feel sorry for the young couple so young.' A search of Brekka's home led to the recovery of multiple legal weapons. Do you know more? contact tips@dailymail.com Four boys spoken to over the incident, no charges laid Investigators will probe whether private school boys used a TikTok 'deodorant bomb' to start a once-in-a-decade fire in Sydney. The seven-storey building on Randle Street in Surry Hills erupted into flames last Thursday, with almost 120 firefighters called to fight the towering blaze. The fire was finally extinguished in the early hours of Friday morning, after a mammoth effort from emergency services, which saw busy Elizabeth Street flooded with water on Thursday night and bricks rain from the sky. On Tuesday, NSW Police confirmed investigators had spoken to four boys, including two 13-year-olds, about the incident but are yet to lay any charges. 2GB radio host Ben Fordham revealed the arson squad was investigating whether the fire was started by an aerosol can. Fordham said he had received a tip from a concerned mother of a friend of one of the boys allegedly involved in the incident. 'It's one of those crazy crazes that has spread on social media,' he said. 'I've seen a video online, it's been made by a kid teaching others how to make a deodorant bomb, I'm not going to describe how it's made. 'Apparently deodorant bombs are a bit of a thing. The deodorant bomb is dangerous enough, but when you add a flame to it, you can only imagine the result.' The seven-storey building on Randle Street in Surry Hills erupted into flames last week, with almost 120 firefighters on hand to fight the blaze (pictured) On Tuesday, NSW Police confirmed investigators had spoken to four boys about the incident but are yet to lay any charges (pictured, firefighters at the scene last Thursday) A 60-tonne excavator will be used to remove the bricks from a safe distance to ensure neighbouring residents will be safe when they return Fordham said the kids involved in the fire were 'devastated' about what happened. 'They come from good families, they go to nice schools, they live around the eastern suburbs. And at least one of them goes to school just a block away from the vacant building that burnt to the ground,' he said. The radio host said that boy had been inside the building before the fire erupted and had taken a photo inside and posted it on social media. 'One of the investigators familiar with the case told me they're actually good kids, good kids that put themselves in a really bad situation,' he said. 'That's not excusing them. They made a really big mistake and they're going to pay a price over it.' It comes as TikTok videos reveal the deserted building in the CBD was a popular hangout for teenagers before it burst into flames last week. TikTok videos have emerged showing the razed building was a popular spot for teenagers to hangout and explore (pictured) One teen who had posted video of himself perched on one of the building's beams said he was disappointed the spot was now gone. 'It was a cool place to explore and watch the sunset... It got popular off TikTok,' the teenager told The Daily Telegraph. 'I never saw anyone lighting fires, but I'm sure people do it.' Urban exploration is a popular trend in which people explore little known and often dangerous areas of a city such as abandoned warehouses or storm drains. The majority of the building collapsed during the blaze and there are concerns the rest could follow and injure fire crews and pedestrians. On Tuesday, heavy machinery specialists began demolishing the remnants of the brick and timber building that was due to be transformed into an upmarket hotel Specialist teams are continuing to monitor the site after the heritage listed building was razed to the ground in Sydney city's biggest fire in more than 50 years. On Tuesday, heavy machinery specialists began demolishing the remnants of the brick and timber building that was due to be transformed into an upmarket hotel. A 60-tonne excavator will be used to remove the bricks from a safe distance to ensure neighbouring residents will be safe when they return. The site will then be handed over to police, the arson squad and cadaver dogs who will comb the rubble for any human remains and evidence. It's understood at least 15 people were sleeping inside the building before it went up in flames, two of whom remain unaccounted for. The founder and CEO of a $1 trillion tech company has unveiled a new AI platform which he says will allow everybody to become computer programmers, merely by speaking to their software. Jensen Huang, the 60-year-old chief of chipmaker Nvidia, is only the second U.S. CEO after Jeff Bezos to lead a trillion-dollar company they co-founded. Nvidia shares have been on a tear, rising on stellar sales projections from a boom in artificial-intelligence workloads and components. Since the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT on November 30, Nvidia's value has ballooned from roughly $420 billion to its current level. On Monday, Huang, who is Taiwanese-American, was given a rapturous reception at the Computex forum in Taipei, where he was mobbed by people wanting selfies and followed by camera crews everywhere he went. Jenson Huang, 60, is pictured on Monday in his trademark leather jacket, speaking at the Computex forum in Taipei Addressing the annual gathering, Huang spoke about a new AI supercomputer platform called DGX GH200, aimed at building generative AI models - a type of artificial intelligence technology that can produce content, including text, imagery, audio and synthetic data. Huang said it would make programming open to all. 'AI is an incredible computer that's very easy to program,' he said. 'You can speak whatever language you like, you can even draw pictures. I have just turned everyone into a programmer.' He celebrated the end of what he called the 'digital divide.' 'The programming barrier is incredibly low. We have closed the digital divide. Everyone is a programmer now you just have to say something to the computer,' he said. 'Every single computing era you could do different things that weren't possible before, and artificial intelligence certainly qualifies. 'The rate of progress, because it's so easy to use, is the reason why it's growing so fast,' he noted. 'This is going to touch literally every single industry.' Huang's image was used to promote the annual event, and he was mobbed by fans on Monday The 60-year-old was passionate about the potential of artificial intelligence, saying it would end the 'digital divide' Nvidia was founded in Santa Clara, California in 1993 and is now valued at $1 trillion Huang's wealth has rocketed amid an explosion of interest in AI, rising by more than $6 billion to a record $34 billion. Huang was born in Taiwan but moved to the United States as a child, earning engineering degrees at Oregon State University and Stanford University. He co-founded the company in 1993 and still runs it as chief executive officer. On Tuesday, Huang addressed a round table and said AI was full of potential and pitfalls. 'We have to be very serious about AI safety,' he said, according to Bloomberg. 'Ultimately AI is a product or a service. All products and services should be regulated and should be safe.' He pointed to the enormous potential of AI in drug discovery and understanding climate change. As chief executive of ITV, Dame Carolyn McCall has a role that spans all aspects of the business. But she once admitted to having a soft spot for Human Resources, or HR, the department responsible for hiring and firing. Or, as Ms McCall said: 'It's about developing people, spotting the gaps, spotting the problems, exiting people when that's necessary but in a really humane way.' Former ITV stars Jeremy Kyle and Piers Morgan might beg to differ, both having been given the heave-ho by a woman who behaved more like the Grim Reaper than Mother Teresa. And last week Phillip Schofield became the latest household name to leave the company on Ms McCall's watch. If ever a man could be said to have departed with a bang rather than a whimper it was the silver-haired sidekick of Holly Willoughby on the This Morning sofa. After a month of briefing and counter-briefing by representatives of the divided camps, Schofield's career blew up spectacularly on Friday when he was forced to admit to the Daily Mail that he lied about his affair with a junior colleague more than three decades younger. Dame Carolyn McCall (pictured) has so far managed to dodge much of the flak over Schofield's resignation Holly Willoughby (pictured right) with Phil Schofield (left) and his lover (middle) READ MORE: Holly Willoughby will be 'back on Monday' as she fights to keep her spot on This Morning sofa Holly Willoughby will return to This Morning on Monday despite calls for her to step down in the wake of the Phillip Schofield scandal. The presenter, 42, has taken an extended half term break after her co-star Phil, 61, announced his departure from the show. Holly, who has fronted This Morning for 14 years, is determined to fight on to keep her spot on the sofa, despite the chaos at the programme, which has been prolonged by Schofield's revelations that he lied about his affair with a much younger man. Advertisement In his resignation statement, Schofield described the liaison as 'unwise but not illegal'. Given that the younger man was just 15 when they met, 'unwise' doesn't begin to cover it. Cue his immediate departure from ITV and his resignation as host of this Saturday's British Soap Awards, a ceremony he had anchored for 17 years. Carolyn McCall has so far managed to dodge much of the flak over Schofield's resignation, but the departure of one of ITV's biggest stars and speculation over whether his co-presenter Holly Willoughby will ever return to host This Morning have triggered questions about Ms McCall's future, too. Her supporters at the increasingly crisis-torn ITV, and, from the people I've talked to, they are dwindling respond by arguing that such matters are the preserve of Kevin Lygo, the director of programmes (incidentally, someone with whom Ms McCall is said to have a strained relationship). But on Monday Kelvin MacKenzie, former editor of The Sun, muddied the waters around Ms McCall and Schofield further. He tweeted about a so-called secret meeting three years ago, which he says was held with executives from The Sun over Schofield and his sexuality. MacKenzie claims Ms McCall was at the meeting and, as the Mail went to press last night, ITV had yet to come back with a comment. It is certainly true that Ms McCall, who is said to work 14-hour days, has taken a very hands-on approach to managing talent in the past. She was deeply involved in the exit of Piers Morgan from Good Morning Britain in March 2021, for example. After referring to Meghan Markle as 'Princess Pinocchio', Morgan refused to apologise for the implication that the Duchess of Sussex was a liar. While Kevin Lygo was the man who showed him the door, Morgan later discovered that, less than 24 hours before he was fired, the Duchess had written to Carolyn McCall. And Morgan does not forgive or forget easily. At the weekend he tweeted: 'Re veracity of ITV management denials, worth recalling that I was forced out of my ITV job after Meghan Markle wrote to CEO, Dame Carolyn McCall, demanding I be fired for disbelieving her lies. 'Dame Carolyn denies this had anything to do with my departure, which is also a lie.' While the ITV boss has not responded directly to Morgan's latest broadside, she did give an interview shortly after his departure denying that the letter had made any difference: 'I can say it had absolutely no effect on that situation. None.' READ MORE: The whistle-blower who warned ITV about Phillip Schofield: DAN WOOTTON reveals the bombshell email sent to woke boss Carolyn McCall three years ago that lifted lid on presenter's affair and demanded to know 'why is he still on our screens?' DAN WOOTTON: In my shocking interview, Eamonn accused ITV of being responsible for a 'total cover up' of the scandal that now threatens to engulf the country's biggest commercial broadcaster Advertisement Suffice to say, the turbulent events of recent days are far from the first controversy during the five-year tenure of a woman who made her name in the City as chief executive of The Guardian. Indeed, The Guardian and its achingly woke values are imprinted in her DNA. When she arrived at ITV, for example, she apparently made it clear to anyone who would listen that she loathed the Jeremy Kyle Show, which had run for 14 series. With an audience regularly in excess of one million, the programme was the most popular in ITV's daytime schedule, but its tabloid format based on confrontations between guests attempting to resolve their dramatic personal problems was anathema to the high-minded Ms McCall. After the suicide of a guest in 2019, which many blamed on the show, she saw her chance. 'Given the gravity of recent events we have decided to end production of The Jeremy Kyle Show,' she said. 'The Jeremy Kyle Show has had a loyal audience and has been made by a dedicated production team for 14 years, but now is the right time for the show to end.' It was a different story with the glossier Love Island. Despite the tragic suicide of its host Caroline Flack a year later, which followed the deaths of two former contestants both of whom killed themselves the show, which attracted 2.4 million viewers last summer, was allowed to remain on air. Perhaps these tragedies have informed a regime at ITV that has all the trappings of millennial self-indulgence. Under Ms McCall, the firm launched a series of 'self-care' classes for staff including origami lessons and 'racial fluency' courses. The broadcaster has also launched a range of networking groups welcoming women, gay workers, those with disabilities, and minority ethnic staff. Piers Morgan might beg to differ about Ms McCall's soft spot for human resources There are no groups for white, heterosexual men, however, an issue that has been the subject of complaints in some quarters. READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE 'If I'm still getting away with it, I'll be a happy man': Phillip Schofield's comments to his younger lover caught on video as he issues defiant statement amid storm over 'toxic' This Morning culture Phillip Schofield joked about 'getting away' with things when asked by his younger lover where he saw himself in the future Advertisement Dame Carolyn Julia McCall was born and brought up in Bangalore in India and Singapore, where her Scottish father ran a Far East division of a US textiles firm. She moved to England when she was a teenager and after a convent education studied history and politics at Kent University where she met her entrepreneur husband Peter. They have three children. After a brief and unhappy spell as a secondary school teacher, she did a Masters in politics at the University of London, a qualification that landed her an ad sales job at The Guardian before she worked her way through the ranks to the top. From there she moved on to EasyJet and her seven years at the helm of the budget airline were so successful she was made a Dame for services to aviation. A multi-millionaire following a 5million golden goodbye from EasyJet, things have gone less well at ITV. Her predecessor Alan Crozier presided over a quadrupling of the share price during his seven-year reign but under Ms McCall shares in the firm have fallen from 1.70 when she arrived in 2018 to 71p yesterday, a 58 per cent drop. Not that this performance is reflected in her salary, which last year was 3.54million, up by 240,000 on 2021, a 6.7 per cent pay rise. Most ITV staff had to content themselves with a 3 per cent rise. While the gloss may have worn off her business career somewhat at ITV, she still swears by a mantra borrowed from Renaissance painter and sculptor Michelangelo: 'Greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it but that it is too low and reach it.' Given the events of recent days, perhaps Dame Carolyn should aim no higher than saving ITV from any further humiliation. The chair of the National Trust has said it needs to move with the times to survive, with plans underway to create a policy on restitution. Rene Olivieri, who took over as chairman in February 2022, said the decision to 'embrace a wider range of viewpoints' may leave some 'uncomfortable'. His comments come amid ongoing accusations that the British charity has a 'woke agenda' following a controversial report which linked a number of its properties to colonialism and slavery. 'Every field is evolving. Every truth is shifting,' he told an audience at Hay Festival yesterday. 'Scientists are used to this all the time. They live with that but carry on. Perhaps we're going through a paradigm shift here, just making people feel uncomfortable. Rene Olivieri (pictured), who took over as chairman in February 2022, said the decision to 'embrace a wider range of viewpoints' may leave some 'uncomfortable' READ MORE: National Trust cannot let 'new views' of history eclipse previous perspectives, new Chairman says amid ongoing row over charity's 'woke agenda' Advertisement 'So, what do we do about that? The fact that some people are feeling uncomfortable, do we just accept that that's part of the journey we're going to have to make as a society, this move to embrace a wider range of viewpoints, or is there a certain way of engaging with people who say "no, that's not the history I learned at school, I don't know why you're dumping on some important person that I really admire and loved in the past"? What can we do to kind of keep that conversation going?' Olivieri revealed that the Trust is currently working on a policy about restitution after one audience member asked if Powis Castle in Wales would be a 'lesser experience' if a reparation exercise was carried out on items from South and East Asia. The Clive Museum at the castle houses more than 1000 items from the continent including 'ivories, textiles, statues of Hindu gods, ornamental silver and gold, weapons and ceremonial armour', according to the Trust's website. Olivieri said: 'I think that the idea of restitution which is now very much in the news. We are in the process of creating our own policy in the National Trust, we will be following the advice that's been given to all organisations like us by the Museums Association, by the Arts Council. 'I understand these are huge issues. Provenance needs to come into it, public access, public benefit... I think that's a question for the future, I'm certainly not in a position to answer that today.' The Trust, which is the custodian of more than 300 historic properties in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, published a 115-page report in September 2020 exploring historic links to slavery. A group of Conservative MPs were among those who condemned the report and called for the government to conduct a formal review. Earlier this year the Trust was accused of 'distorting history' when they rebranded Henry VIII as a 'disabled king' owing to his leg ulcers. They have also faced a backlash for introducing gender-neutral toilets at historic properties and asking staff members to wear gay pride badges. Olivieri said the Trust is 'not bringing enough young people' in and added that they are 'doing more in urban areas and not just country houses'. A National Trust spokesman said: 'Arts Council guidance recommends that museums should work towards establishing and publishing on their website a policy on restitution and repatriation. 'The National Trust does not yet have a policy but this is our intention, in line with the guidance. 'Currently, we would follow the Museums Association code of Ethics and the Arts Council Guidance on Restitution and Repatriation around any requests made.' Boris Johnson's allies last night said he had 'no objection' to disclosing material to the official Covid inquiry as the deadline for handing over unredacted messages was extended. Ministers had been given until yesterday afternoon to comply with an order to release, in full, the former prime minister's WhatsApp messages and diaries. But the deadline was yesterday pushed back to 4pm tomorrow by inquiry chairman Baroness Hallett, who rejected a Government bid for a longer extension. She also revealed that the Cabinet Office said it 'does not have in its possession either Mr Johnson's WhatsApp messages or notebooks' which had been sought. No 10 denied accusations of a cover-up, and said there is no requirement to 'permanently store or record every WhatsApp', with messages related to decision-making instead copied over to the official record. The spokesman said it is 'down to individuals to decide what personal information they are able to hand over'. A spokesman for Mr Johnson said he 'has no objection to disclosing material', adding: 'He has done so and will continue to do so. The decision to challenge the inquiry's position on redactions is for the Cabinet Office.' Boris Johnson pictured leaving his house on March 22, as he fights demands to hand over records of his private conversations An ally of the former PM alleged he had become a 'distraction' in the row and said the 'WhatsApps the Government really doesn't want disclosed are Sunak's' a claim dismissed by No 10. Sunak snubs Johnsons call for talks Rishi Sunak has snubbed Boris Johnsons bid for a clear-the-air meeting this week. Initial discussions were held by No 10 and the former prime ministers office about holding a telephone call but it will now not go ahead. The meeting had been billed by the former PMs allies as an opportunity to discuss his honours list. Several Tory MPs are believed to have been put forward for peerages which, if confirmed, would force the Conservatives to fight risky by-elections at a time of dire opinion polling. But it is understood that no meeting was confirmed before the reports surfaced and time could not be found in Mr Sunaks busy diary. Advertisement It emerged last night that the Government has received legal advice to block the release of 'politically sensitive' material about the pandemic. Bloomberg reported that documents detailing discussions between senior ministers during the Covid crisis should not be disclosed 'as a matter of course' to avoid undermining the principle of collective responsibility. Mr Sunak insisted yesterday the Government was acting 'in a spirit of transparency and candour'. But Lady Hallett has demanded a witness statement from a senior civil servant, accompanied by a statement of truth confirming the documents are not held, if the Cabinet Office fails to produce them. According to the notice seeking the unredacted messages, the inquiry is requesting conversations between Mr Johnson and a host of officials, including chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty, then-health secretary Matt Hancock, former top aide Dominic Cummings and then-chancellor Mr Sunak. Last week, Lady Hallett rejected arguments the inquiry's request was unlawful and claimed the Cabinet Office had 'misunderstood the breadth of the investigation'. A Cabinet Office spokesman said last night they are 'fully committed to our obligations' to the inquiry, adding: 'However, we are firmly of the view the inquiry does not have the power to request unambiguously irrelevant information that is beyond the scope of this investigation. This includes the WhatsApp messages of Government employees which are not about work.' Former head of the Civil Service Lord Kerslake told the BBC yesterday: 'There's some cover-up going on to save embarrassment of ministers, but there's also the Cabinet Office fighting for a principle of confidentiality. I think they're misguided on this situation. I actually think it would set a helpful precedent if Lady Hallett prevailed in this fight about the information.' Will Covid inquiry give Tories an election lift? The official Covid inquiry will hold its first hearings on the success of the vaccine rollout before the next general election in a potential boost for the Government. But public hearings about what went wrong in care homes will not be held until the spring of 2025 long after the country has gone to the polls. While the timetable is a matter for the inquiry, not ministers, it is likely to be helpful for the Conservative Government. The vaccine rollout was widely considered a success with ministers quick to sign contracts for millions of doses of vaccines. But the decision in the early stages of the pandemic to discharge potentially infectious Covid patients from hospitals into care homes without prior testing has come under heavy criticism. The inquiry is split into different investigations which will look at the countrys preparedness for and response to the pandemic. The first hearings on preparedness and resilience will begin in a fortnight, while modules on core political and administrative decision making and the impact of the pandemic on healthcare systems will be heard later this year and early next. Inquiry chairman Baroness Hallett announced yesterday that she aims to conclude public hearings by summer 2026. Last year, I promised I would work hard to ensure the UK can learn useful lessons from the pandemic as quickly as possible, she said. Today, I am providing greater clarity on our investigations. The next general election could take place at any point until January 2025, but is widely expected to be held in the autumn of next year. The 'comrades' behind the so-called union fighting for higher dole payments for the unemployed include ex-private schoolboys from some of the nation's most elite schools. Daily Mail Australia this week revealed 'Jobseeker Jez' Heywood's not-for-profit charity Australian Unemployed Workers' Union had profits of more than $178,000 stashed away in its bank accounts. The union has refused to answer key questions about 'irregularities' in its finances which has triggered a response from the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. Now Daily Mail Australia can reveal the wealthy upbringing of the union's current office-bearers, including one who is the son of a Victorian County Court judge. The champions of struggle street - who insist JobSeeker has left the unemployed living below the poverty line - come from privileged well-to-do backgrounds. AUWU National Secretary Daniel Levy, 33, was a student at Bialik College in Melbourne, the same school as ex-Liberal Treasurer Josh Frydenburg, where fees are more than $38,000 a year. Jez Heywood flashed his middle finger and told Daily Mail Australia to 'get absolutely f***ed' when he was questioned about his union's huge cash stash in Melbourne last week (above) AUWU National Secretary Daniel Levy, 33, (pictured) co-founded ATAR Notes which publishes specialist $32-a-time course note books for students studying for their HSCs Daniel Levy was a student at Bialik College in Melbourne (pictured), the former school of ex-Liberal Treasurer Josh Frydenburg where fees are currently more than $38,000 a year Daniel Levy grew up in a Tudor-style two-storey, five-bedroom mansion (pictured) worth millions in a leafy street in the upmarket Melbourne suburb of Glen Iris, near Toorak He grew up in a Tudor-style two-storey, five-bedroom mansion worth millions in a leafy street in the upmarket Melbourne suburb of Glen Iris, near Toorak. His parents are retired county court judge Rachelle Lewitan, the first woman to be elected to the Victorian Bar Council, and Dr George Levy. After leaving school, he co-founded ATAR Notes which now publishes specialist $32-a-time course note books for students studying for their HSC or VCE. He also became a professional poker player, with one website claiming he earned more than US$180,000 at the table, although a breakdown of his actual winnings suggests that may be overstating his success. Mr Levy revealed last year that he was into his 15th year of studying for a 'double degree in Aeronautical Engineering and Science'. Now based in Canberra, he calls his Twitter followers 'lovely comrades' while demanding higher JobSeeker pay rates for the unemployed. Unemployed AUWU Treasurer Jeremy Poxon also likes to calls people 'comrade' online in his fights against the government. Daniel Levy (pictured) was also a professional poker player, with one website claiming he earned more than US$180,000 at the table, although the real figure may be substantially less AUWU Treasurer Jeremy Poxon (pictured) also likes to call people 'comrade' online in his fights against the government Jeremy Poxon, 33, was student at one of Queensland's famous Great Public Schools, $19,000-a-year St Joseph's College Gregory Terrace in Brisbane (pictured in his school yearbook) Elite St Joseph's College Gregory Terrace in Brisbane (pictured) was the academic home of a string of Wallabies rugby union stars, including former skipper Michael Lynagh Mr Poxon, 33, was a student at one of Queensland's famous Great Public Schools, St Joseph's College Gregory Terrace in Brisbane, where fees are now almost $19,000 a year. It was the academic home to a string of Wallabies rugby union stars, including former skipper Michael Lynagh. In 2018, Mr Poxon admitted on Twitter: 'I did really well in high school and university and still ended up unemployed at the end of my 20s. 'Kids, if you do well in your ATAR, don't fret - there's still plenty of time to become a f***-up.' Mr Poxon is also a prize-winning poet, winning the John Marsden Poetry Prize in 2013 as best young poet 18-24 for his poem, The Last Time I Went Fishing, It Was Raining. Mr Poxon still dabbles in poetry while attacking the government but his audience is less appreciative these days, it seems. In February, he tweeted: 'I just got heckled and harangued at a Ballarat poetry night, because some of the poems I read out were critical of the ALP. 'One of the dudes in the audience bum-rushed me, shouting 'They've only been in power six months!' and my friend had to intervene.' The AUWU - which is not registered or affiliated with the Australian Council of Trade Unions - is led by president Jeremy 'JobSeeker Jez' Heywood. He admitted in 2021 that he had not worked in more than a decade, and his unemployment had triggered a 'considerable' mental breakdown in 2019. He has had repeated run-ins on air and online with 2GB host Ben Fordham with the radio host trying to find him a job. 'JOBSEEKER JEZ'S' LONG HUNT FOR A JOB AUWU president Jez Heywood, 47, lives with his elderly parents in a granny flat behind their detached three-bedroom bungalow. He says he's been trying to find a job 'for more than a decade' and has applied for 'thousands of jobs, usually competing with a few hundred others'. But he says in all that time, by 2021, he had just six interviews and only three job offers. One made him redundant, he quit another because it was 'toxic' and another was at a company going out of business, he said. He admits he had a 'considerable' mental breakdown in 2019 as a result of his long-term unemployment - but is now too traumatised to work a full working week. Mr Heywood was invited on air with 2GB's Ben Fordham after lashing the host as a bully and a coward for implying he was a 'dole bludger'. But he admitted the best thing that had ever happened to him was when the JobSeeker rate was doubled during Covid. Advertisement 'It's hard to find things that my brain can handle,' he told Fordham. 'I can't consistently commit to something. My brain just gets so incredibly exhausted.' 'Jobseeker Jez' later insisted on Twitter: 'Ben Fordham's offer to find me a job is just a distraction from the real issue.' He confronted Daily Mail Australia outside his parents' three-bedroom detached bungalow in Melbourne's south-east. Wearing $159 New Balance trainers and wielding an iPhone 12, he refused to answer questions about the registered charity's finances and instead flashed his middle finger at the camera. The union's website insists it is 'committed to maintaining the highest possible standard in all our public and organisational engagements.' But Mr Heywood is renowned for his foul-mouthed outbursts online, telling Daily Mail Australia on Twitter to 'get absolutely f***ed'. In another rant, he once exploded: '...your f***ing bull***t because it's demented and f***ing pointless and your brain is broken and you need to shut the f*** up, f*** the f*** off and sort yourself the f*** out.' The union has alienated many previous supporters, with one left-wing activist admitting to Daily Mail Australia: 'I can't stand them.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Mr Poxon and Mr Levy and the AUWU for comment. But in a Twitter response to 2GB's Ben Fordham hit back for attacking an activist who commented on the alleged stabbing of a Centrelink family. Elijah Chase, 34, allegedly stabbed Joanne Cassar, 55, after he was told to leave Centrelink's Melbourne Airport West Westfield branch on Tuesday around 1.30pm. 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' 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. Unemployment activist and AUWU supporter Phoebe Autumn of Perth describes herself as a 'survivor of abuse, bi, anarchist'. In the wake of the Centrelink incident, she tweeted: 'This is Anthony Albanese's preferred welfare system. He's had a whole year to change it. 'The Centrelink officer had all the power in that situation until a weapon was brought into the equation.' The comments were slammed by Fordham on his show on Friday, who also highlighted Mr Levy's poker winnings. 'The gutter journalism of Ben Fordham to demonise welfare activists during a cost-of-living crisis is utterly reprehensible,' tweeted Mr Levy in reply. 'The real story lies in the MILLIONS of people left behind by the @AlboMP @AustralianLabor government, languishing below the poverty line.' Wearing $159 New Balance trainers and wielding an iPhone 12, Jez Haywood refused to answer questions about the registered charity's finances (above) Jeremy Heywood is renowned for his foul-mouthed outbursts online - including this rant pictured - which has alienated many supporters The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission has now said it will investigate the organisation if it receives a complaint. The union's latest financial statement to the ACNC shows they handed out an unspecified $2,500 in grants in 2022, about two per cent of the charity's total income. The details of those grants are not revealed anywhere in the breakdown of operating expenses, which accounts for every single cent of expenditure. While the union claims to have 16,000 members nationwide, its latest official filling as an Incorporated Association shows they actually have just 54. All its members also had to work unpaid for the organisation for at least six months before they were allowed to vote at its AGM under the AUWU constitution. Since registering as a charity two years ago, the AUWU has spent $62,234 on expenses from income of $177,053 to make a net profit of $114,820, boosting its savings to $178,194. 7 KEY QUESTIONS THE AUWU WON'T ANSWER Daily Mail Australia tried for several days to ask AUWU office-bearers and media spokesman several important questions about the union without any reply before confronting Jez Heywood. What was the outcome of the investigations into the 'irregularities' it notified the Charities Commission about? Why has the not-for-profit charity run up profits of more than $114,000 over the last two years? Why hasn't that money been spent on the unemployed? Why did it have more than $178,000 stashed away in its bank account? What will it do with that cash? The AUWU told the Charities Commission it handed out $2500 in grants last year. Why does not show up in its detailed annual expenditure? Why did it spend around a third of its entire expenditure over the last two years on 'online/IT assets' and 'consulting and accountancy' fees and who did that work? Have any current or previous members of the AUWU's committee of management, or businesses linked to them, been paid for work for the AUWU? Advertisement The charity's biggest expense over the last two years has been the acquisition of 'IT assets' - believed to be its website, content and imagery - which cost $10,901 in 2021, with another $2,126 spent on more online assets in 2022. AUWU national secretary Daniel Levy last week hailed the input of president Jez Heywood for being behind the look and feel of their website. 'It's definitely worth pointing out right now that if you've seen AUWU graphics in the last three or so years and thought 'wow they look good', that was Jez,' he tweeted. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Mr Heywood was paid for the work or that the AUWU does not have a genuine reason to withhold its profits, but he and other office-bearers declined to discuss the union or how they will use the money. In a note to the Charities Commission, the union admitted it has been rocked by an internal split which saw a previous management committee resign after questions were raised over finances, including their new website. 'The matter is being investigated along with several other irregularities detailed in the annual report,' it added. The union then spent another $10,058 on legal expenses in the wake of the row, which made up a third of their total expenses in 2022. The registered charity also signed off $7,272 on unspecified 'consulting and accounting fees' and spent more than $3,000 on travel and accommodation over the last financial year. No further details are available about the recipient or recipients of the $2,500 grant the union made in 2022. The nearest it comes to specifying any kind of a grant is a $700 'Honorarium' which is usually a fee paid for work done voluntarily. Despite the charity's $178,000 surplus, the AUWU treasurer previously slammed governments for having 'modern surplus fetishism' which was 'deeply insulting' to the unemployed. '[A] government's 'We're going to achieve a huge surplus!' rhetoric effectively translates to 'Look at this giant pile of money we've inexplicably chosen to withhold from you',' Mr Poxon told Junkee in 2019 'After all what bloody good is a budget surplus if it condemns Australians to a life in poverty? A surplus is nothing to celebrate...' The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission warned organisations must spend its profits on charitable purposes and not hold onto them indefinitely. 'The ACNC receives many concerns each year in relation to financial matters, and from time to time, the matter of the way a charity spends its funds, or does not spend its funds, is raised,' an ACNC spokesman told Daily Mail Australia. 'The ACNC recognises that charities can make a profit. However, any profit must be used for its charitable purposes. 'It can keep profits as long as there is a genuine reason for this and it is to do with its charitable purposes. 'If an organisation continues to hold onto significant profits indefinitely, without using them for its charitable purpose, this may suggest that the organisation is not working solely towards its stated charitable purpose, and therefore is not operating as a not-for-profit organisation.' 'If anyone has a concern about any charity operating in Australia, they can notify the ACNC by raising a concern via a form on the ACNC website. 'The ACNC takes all concerns seriously and will investigate where there is evidence that a charity has failed to comply with its obligations.' Starbucks says on track to meet 9,000-store goal on Chinese mainland Xinhua) 15:29, May 30, 2023 SHANGHAI, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Starbucks' new global CEO Laxman Narasimhan on Tuesday highlighted China's huge market potential and suggested the company's goal of opening 9,000 stores on the Chinese mainland by 2025 remained unchanged. China's per capita coffee consumption is increasing but still lags far behind Japan and the United States, thus leaving much room for business growth, Narasimhan said during his visit to Shanghai, home to more than 1,000 Starbucks stores, which is more than any other city in the world. The U.S. coffee giant opened its first store on the Chinese mainland in 1999. As of April 2, it had operated over 6,200 stores across 244 cities on the Chinese mainland. Despite the impact of COVID-19, the company last year revealed plans to increase its store count on the Chinese mainland to 9,000 by 2025. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A controversial activist who claimed to represent the family of the 95-year-old great grandmother tasered by police at a care home has revealed a strange business connection with Roxy Jacenko's husband. Would-be politician Andrew Thaler said he co-founded bitcoin mining company Firmus Grid with Oliver Curtis, who is married to the PR maven. The scrap metal and solar farm owner, who has a history of court appearances and freely admits he's had run-ins with police, laughed off any admission he and Curtis had met behind bars. Curtis previously served one year in a NSW jail for insider trading. 'We met in Frankfurt at the World Digital Mining Summit in 2019,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'I was attending to pitch an idea for bitcoin mining which does grid stabilisation and renewable energy.' Oliver Curtis and Andrew Thaler attending the World Digital Mining summit in 2019 (pictured) Oliver Curtis (pictured) alongside wife Roxy made a long-awaited return to the finance industry - five years after he was jailed over insider trading The two-day summit offered industry insights, high-class networking, and knowledge exchange on cryptocurrency. 'I met with billionaires, I met with all nationalities, I had dinner with some super-rich people, and Ollie liked the idea so when we came back to Australia we executed the due diligence and proceeded to start a company,' he said. Mr Thaler left the business soon after its launch, due to disagreements over Covid vaccination and animosity with the directors, but says he and Curtis have mended their once friendly working relationship. 'We've kind of kissed and made up. Ollie is a great guy,' he said. 'He visited my place near Cooma, came for dinner all the time and he showed me a great time when I came to Sydney. He took me to a bar in margarita bar in Darling Harbour with some real heavy-hitters.' Clare Nowland died several days after being Tasered inside her nursing home When Curtis was convicted for insider trading in 2016, he served his prison time in Cooma Correctional Centre, the town that coincidentally neighbours Mr Thaler. 'Andrew was a consultant during the early stages of the business alongside a number of others for a period of about 12 months some three years ago,' Curtis confirmed. 'He is no longer consulting in any capacity for Firmus.' Mr Thaler has caused controversy in recent weeks by claiming he was the spokesperson for the family of Clare Nowland. The family have angrily denied he speaks for them or has anything to do with them at all. In news which horrified Australia, the 43kg great-grandmother, who stood just 157cm tall and was suffering from dementia, was Tasered by police inside her nursing home. She died several days later, with Senior Constable Kristian White charged over the incident. Tensions erupted at Cooma Hospital in the minutes following her death, with grieving family members facing off with Mr Thaler in the darkness of the facility's car park. Mr Thaler was involved in two confrontations 'with members of Clare's family' when he was broadcasting a Facebook video story that night about the charges. It emerged that Ms Nowland had died just after 7pm and distraught family members had begun streaming out of the hospital. 'I was live updating out front of the hospital about the news of the cop who tasered Clare being charged, and two incidents occurred with members of Clares family,' Mr Thaler said. Tensions erupted at Cooma Hospital in the minutes following Tasered grandmother Clare Nowland's death, with grieving family members facing off with Mr Thaler (pictured) in the car park 'Ironically while this was being broadcast Clare sadly passed away inside the hospital. 'I understand the pressure that some or even many members of Clares family were under. 'Allegations of me stalking the family are simply not true. Our community is under pressure... people want truth, many want to speak out.' Mr Thaler has provided updates about Mrs Nowland since the Tasering incident from some members of her family with whom he is in close contact. Other family members were put in contact with the Seven and Nine television networks to negotiate deals for the Spotlight and 60 Minutes programs, with a contract rumoured to have been signed with the latter. Mr White has been charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault. He will face court in July. A former ferryman's cottage believed to be one of the smallest houses in Britain has gone on the market for 190,000 - despite being just 232sq ft. The one-bed on the Isle of Anglesey is described as a 'truly unique cottage' that has been restored and extended. It is currently being advertised as an AirBnB rental with stays from 110 a night. But property hunters have said the price is excessive - describing it as 'a hut. A posh hut, but still a hut.' The property dates back to the 17th century and is located close to the Menai Suspension Bridge, which connects the Welsh mainland with Anglesey. Called Bwthyn Y Fferiwr - or Ferryman's Cottage - it used to house the ferrymen who transported people and goods across the Menai Strait before the bridges were built. It was originally auctioned with a guide price of just 10,000 to 15,000 in 2017 by agents Auction House - but a bidding war saw the hammer go down at 33,000. The Ferryman cottage on the Isle of Anglesey is on the market for 190,000 The floorplan of the cottage, which originally only had an electricity supply Described as possibly the oldest and smallest house in Wales, it only had an electricity supply thanks to the house next door and no mains water, sewage or gas. At the time, buying agent Henry Pryor described the property as 'the ultimate Welsh love nest, or a hide-away for a budding author'. He added: 'Not exactly a solution to the housing crisis but with slightly less room than you could swing a cat this may be the home for some first-time buyer looking for a rung on the ladder. 'Perhaps unmortgageable in its current condition nevertheless a project for someone with the ambition of Kevin McCloud but the budget of Beatrix Potter's The Tailor of Gloucester.' The property has recently been upgraded 'and lovingly transformed' It is described as a 'beautifully restored property located in the heart of Menai Bridge' The bedroom in the Ferryman's Cottage, which is Grade ll listed The cottage is said to be steeped in history and was originally used to house the ferryman The home's current listing on Rightmove from agents Dafydd Hardy states: 'Introducing the Ferryman's Cottage, a beautifully restored and extended property located in the heart of Menai Bridge. 'This unique cottage has been lovingly transformed into a modern and light-filled space that retains its historic charm. 'Steeped in history, the Ferryman's Cottage is believed to date back to the 17th century and was originally used to house the ferryman who transported people and goods across the Menai Strait. 'It's understood to be one of the oldest residential properties in the town, and is rightly Grade II listed. 'Today, this charming property has been thoughtfully renovated to create a stylish and modern home with architect plans from Russell Hughes.' The cottage is lit with natural light by a central roof lantern, with an open-plan living room, a bedroom and a shower room. The restored cottage boasts an elevated patio, which has views across the Menai Strait The view from the elevated patio at the cottage, which is located in Menai Bridge Describing the shower room, the description adds: 'The small but fully functional shower room is a triumph. You won't be running laps in here but you'll be impressed with what the owners have done with the space provided.' The property has been lime plastered inside and out, is heated using electric heaters, has wi-fi, and an elevated patio. The description goes on: 'To the rear the cottage boasts an elevated patio, providing glimpses of the Menai Strait and Menai Suspension Bridge, the perfect spot to relax on those long summer nights. The cottage has its own shower room as part of its 'stunning interiors and modern amenities' 'This outside space has been carefully considered with built-in seating, power sockets, and a south-west orientation. 'With its unique blend of old and new, this home offers the perfect retreat for those seeking something a little different. 'Overall, the Ferryman's Cottage is a truly special property that has been lovingly restored. 'With its unique history, stunning interiors and modern amenities, it is sure to make a wonderful home for the lucky new owners.' One person who saw the home on reddit, said: 'In Anglesey? Seriously. Anglesey is lovely, but that price per square foot is beyond belief!' Another added: 'It's mad that they think spending 40k tops on it makes it worth another 113k. Cheeky.' One said: 'Gutted they ripped the fireplace out, they could have at least put a log burner in. 'Definitely could have done a better job keeping it in its original style while still modernising. 'Having said that I do really love it and I would buy it although not for that much, probably closer to 120-140k.' But one replied: 'What do you expect them to do? As far as I can see the roof was falling to bits and the only other change was the fireplace. Looks as good as it can do.' And one said: 'It's a hut! A posh hut but still a hut. The price is mental.' These days, most smartphones are kitted out with facial recognition technology, multiple cameras and wireless charging systems. But back in the 90s we were much more easily impressed, with handsets causing a stir if they had a camera at all. However, classic phones are having somewhat of a comeback with Gen Z users, who have dubbed the simple devices 'dumbphones'. Amid this retro revival, Nokia has launched a new, hot pink flip phone called the Nokia 2660 Flip. Its launch comes exactly 25 years on from the launch of Nokia's first ever flip phone back in 1998. Nokia has launched a new, hot pink flip phone called the Nokia 2660 Fllip. Its launch comes exactly 25 years on from the launch of Nokia's first ever flip phone in 1998 Nokia 2660 Flip: Key features Colours: Black, Blue, Red, Pop Pink and Lush Green Size: 108mm x 55mm x 18.9mm (4.2in x 2.1in x 0.7in) Display: 2.8in Camera: 0.3MP rear camera Battery life: 26 days Price: 64.99 ($80.24) Advertisement Nokia first announced the new phone last year, but has released it in two new colours today - Pop Pink and Lush Green - to celebrate the 25-year anniversary. 'There's been a surge of interest in flip phones, and we believe that the interest is coming from a need to take a break from the constant flow of incoming digital notifications, social media posts and more,' said Lars Silberbauer, Chief Marketing Officer from HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones. 'People want more simplicity, more face-to-face time, more time to think, and time to have an uninterrupted conversation! 'I'm sure we all have examples where a beautiful life moment has been spoiled by a distraction or notification. 'That's why we are re-introducing the Nokia 2660 Flip, to give people these important beautiful life moments back.' The Nokia 2660 Flip features a clamshell design and is just 4.25 inches long when folded. It flips open to reveal a 2.8-inch display alongside large physical buttons, without a touchscreen in sight. While it does feature a rear camera, this is just 0.3MP - significantly lower than the iPhone 14's 48MP lens. The Nokia 2660 Flip features a clamshell design and is just 4.25 inches long when folded. It flips open to reveal a 2.8-inch display alongside large physical buttons, without a touchscreen in sight Nokia first announced the new phone last year, but has now released it in two new colours - Pop Pink and Lush Green - to celebrate the 25-year anniversary However, Nokia hopes this will be one of the greatest selling points for the phone, claiming the low quality camera is perfect for 'lo-fi Y2K style pictures.' The phone may also appeal to festival-goers, thanks to its whopping 26-day battery life and drop-proof polycarbonate shell. And before you panic, thankfully Nokia has confirmed that its fan favourite feature has been included in the Nokia 2660 Flip - the classic Snake game. The Nokia 2660 Flip will be available to buy in Pop Pink this week and in Lush Green next week for 64.99 ($80.24). Retro phones have been making a comeback since 2017, when Nokia released a new version of the 3310 phone, 17 years after the original version was launched. That same year, Motorola revealed that it was bringing back its iconic RAZR phone, joining forces with British firm, Binatone, to create the Binatone Blade. Experts claim that one of the biggest draws of these basic phones is the nostalgia associated with them, as well as the significantly lower price tag than smartphones. People are also finding they don't need all the functionalities offered by more expensive smartphones, and would rather have the simplicity of a paired-back device. Speaking to CBS Philadelphia, Darren Zygadlo, creator of onecutreviews.com, said: 'I think there's a lot to be said for a product that makes you nostalgic. 'We've hit a point where we can pretty much do everything with these phones and I think some people are finding themselves saying, "What do I need all that for?"' Stunning gold necklace made of a megalodon tooth has been identified in footage taken during an expedition Advertisement A necklace 'made from the tooth of a megalodon shark' has been revealed in new images from the wreckage of the Titanic. The stunning artefact was identified in footage taken last summer by Guernsey-based firm Magellan Ltd. The footage was shot during efforts to capture the first digital scans of the shipwreck, which present it in detail - almost as if it's been retrieved from the water. Other objects surrounding the necklace have not been identified, although it appears to be near a collection of small ring-shaped beads. Magellan Ltd, which is working with Atlantic Productions on a documentary about last year's expedition, is prohibited from retrieving them from the sea floor, however. Deep-sea mapping company Magellan Ltd says the necklace is made from the tooth of a megalodon shark with gold built into it READ MORE: Digital scans show Titanic wreck like never before The ship's stern (the back) is a twisted mess of metal, after it hit the ocean floor still rotating in a counter-clockwise direction Advertisement An estimated 1,517 of the 2,224 people on board Titanic were killed when the luxury ocean liner sank on April 15, 1912. Magellan Ltd sent submersibles to survey all parts of the wreck, which lies about 13,000ft under surface of the North Atlantic Ocean, about 350 nautical miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. The submersibles spent more than 200 hours last summer taking 700,000 images of every angle of the ship to create the 3D reconstruction. Now, the company has noticed the distinctive shape of a shark tooth in the footage, and on closer inspection realised it was a necklace. Richard Parkinson, director of Magellan, described the find as 'astonishing, beautiful and breathtaking'. 'We found a megalodon tooth which is fashioned into a necklace it's incredible, it's absolutely incredible,' he told ITV News. Teeth of the extinct megalodon one of the largest fish ever to exist are known to reach over seven inches in length. It's unclear how Magellan was able to identify the tooth in the necklace as that of a megalodon, although MailOnline has contacted the firm for more information. Catalina Pimiento, a paleontologist at Swansea University who specialises in sharks, said it's hard to tell if it's a megalodon tooth without other identifiable objects for scale. 'The tooth seems to have a "neck", which is the darker area between the tooth crown and the root,' she told MailOnline. 'But because the picture is so low quality, it is hard to see if this is the case.' Teeth of the extinct megalodon - one of the largest fish ever to exist - are known to reach over seven inches in length. The necklace is circled here in red Other objects in the image have not been identified, although it seems to be surrounded by small ring-shaped beads The footage was shot during efforts to capture the first digital scans of the shipwreck, which present the wreck almost as if it's been retrieved from the water. Pictured is the ship's bow, much of which is buried under mud due to the force of impact when it hit the ocean floor in the early hours of April 15, 1912 New digital scans of the Titanic, which lies 3,800m (12,500ft) down in the Atlantic, were created using deep-sea mapping. It provides a unique 3D view of the entire ship, enabling it to be seen as if the water has been drained away Megalodon teeth vary in colour from from pink to blue and black due to depositional sediments in the location where they were found, as well as size. What was the megalodon? The megalodon (officially called Otodus megalodon and also known as the Meg) was not only the biggest shark in the world, but one of the largest fish ever to exist. Estimates suggest it grew to between 49ft and 59ft (15 and 18m) in length, three times longer than the largest recorded great white shark. Without a complete megalodon skeleton, these figures are based on the size of the animal's teeth, which can reach 7in long. Advertisement 'They are of course very large, but you can also find teeth of very young individuals, which can be small, or from the back of the jaw,' Dr Pimiento said. Michael Benton, a professor of vertebrate palaeontology at the University of Bristol, said it's 'more likely it would be a tooth from a modern shark rather than a fossil'. 'Megalodon teeth cover your hand,' he told MailOnline. 'Whether it's a great white or other modern shark probably can't be said for sure.' Just like the thousands of personal items at the wreck, the original owner of the necklace is unknown, although it was likely a first-class passenger. Magellan now plans to use artificial intelligence to identify the owners of the necklace and other objects, and to contact ancestors of the 2,200 people onboard Titanic when it sank. The AI will study footage of passengers, focusing on their faces and the clothes they were wearing when they boarded the ship, a few days before the Titanic hit the iceberg in the evening of April 14, 1912. Titanic was cruising at almost full speed around 22.5 knots or 25 miles per hour when lookouts spotted the iceberg at 11:40pm that evening. Despite efforts to steer her around the obstacle, Titanic struck the iceberg, generating six narrow openings in the vessel's starboard hull, believed to have occurred as a result of the rivets in the hull snapping. Titanic began sinking bow-first, with water spilling from compartment to compartment as her angle in the water became steeper. Sinking of the Titanic: Lifeboats row away from the still lighted ship on April 15, 1912, as depicted in this British newspaper sketch This image from the digital scan project shows stalactites of rust on the ship's bow, the serial number on a propeller, and a hole over where the grand staircase once stood Titanic's grand staircase was possibly the most famous part of the first-class section of the RMS Titanic. Pictured is the hole over where the staircase was located This incredible scan image shows a view of the bow of the Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean. Magellan Ltd is working with Atlantic Productions on a documentary about last year's expedition to scan the wreck The great ship broke in half just before it made its final plunge in the early hours of April 15, 1912, and now two parts of the ship - the bow and the stern - lie 2,600ft apart. Pictured is a scan of the bow Photograph of Titanic leaving Southampton at the start of her maiden voyage on April 10, 1912. Five days after this photo was taken the ship was on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean The Titanic in its shipyard shortly after construction. The group of shipbuilders give an idea of the ship's impressive size READ MORE: Haunting images of shoes and champagne on Titanic wreck Image captured from the wreck shows unopened bottles of champagne Advertisement The great ship broke in half just before it made its final plunge in the early hours of April 15, 1912, and now two parts of the ship the bow and the stern lie 2,600 feet apart. Both halves are surrounded by a field of debris consisting of bits of metal, pieces of furniture, shoes and even unopened champagne bottles. Experts believe that there are still facts about the sinking yet to be established, more than a century after the tragedy, such as the exact mechanics of how it struck the seafloor. 'What is not widely understood is that the Titanic is in two parts,' Parkinson told ITV. 'There's a sort of three-square-mile debris field between the bow and the stern, which is what we've mapped in incredible detail.' Titanic analyst Parks Stephenson previously told the BBC that the new scans will hopefully answer 'basic questions' about the ship and its demise. 'It allows you to see the wreck as you can never see it from a submersible, and you can see the wreck in its entirety, you can see it in context and perspective,' he said. 'And what it's showing you now is the true state of the wreck.' Thousands of items have been brought to land from Titanic's wreckage since it was discovered in 1985, but now an agreement between the UK and the US prevents private firms from doing so. US wreck salvage firm RMS Titanic Inc is the only entity legally permitted to remove items from Titanic's remains. Passengers walk on the deck of the Titanic. An estimated 1,517 of the 2,224 people on board were killed when the luxury ocean liner sank on April 15, 1912 Titanic had been sailing smoothly for the majority of the journey's intended distance when disaster struck. The wreck of Titanic now lies 350 nautical miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada While some shipwrecks have been brought to land, it's likely this will never happen with Titanic. Experts think it is too delicate to be moved due to deterioration from corrosion, biological activity and deep ocean currents. There would be moral implications, too. British Titanic survivor Eva Hart, who lost her father to the disaster, said shortly before her death in 1996: 'I hope severely that they will never attempt to raise part of it. 'I do hope they will remember this is a grave a grave of 1,500 people who should never have died, and I don't think you should go down there and rob graves and I'm very much opposed to it.' It is the home of Yorkshire puddings, Marks & Spencer and even Guy Fawkes. But Yorkshire could also hold the key to life on Mars, with scientists recreating the Red Planet in a mine almost one mile below the ground. Researchers at the University of Birmingham are using one of the deepest mines in the UK to see what it takes to survive and thrive on other planets. Figuring out how to live and conducting medical procedures are among just a few of the experiments to take place at the Boulby polyhalite mine near Staithes. The 'Bio-SPHERE project' could even pave the way for underground homes in space, as crews seek to dodge harmful meteor debris and radiation. The Boulby polyhalite mine near Staithes is being used to see what it takes to survive in space Scientists will be based within a 9ft-wide (three metre-wide) module, designed specifically to try out medical procedures used to treat tissue damage. But the underground base is by no means the last of its kind, with the team having published plans for another six-module space simulation pod 'We are excited to be partnering with the fantastic science team at the Boulby Underground Laboratory,' lead researcher, Dr Alexandra Iordachescu, said. READ MORE: Humans could one day survive on the surface of Mars thanks SOLAR-POWERED generators Future astronauts could survive on the surface of Mars thanks to solar-powered generators Advertisement 'This new capability will help to gather information that can advise on the life support systems, devices and biomaterials which could be used in medical emergencies and tissue repair following damage in deep-space missions. 'The data is likely to bring numerous benefits for Earth-based applications as well, such as delivering biomedical interventions in remote areas or in hazardous environments and more generally, understanding biomedical workflows in these non-ideal environments.' Yorkshire's new Mars simulation has been launched in a 3,000-metre tunnel network through 250 million-year-old salt deposits. The salty conditions and subsurface location provide similar conditions to those experienced in caverns on the Moon and Mars. Scientists will be based within a 9ft-wide (three metre-wide) module, designed specifically to try out medical procedures used to treat tissue damage. Polymer-based medicines, hydrogels and various other fluids will be tested here, which can be used for wound dressings and injury prevention. The base will also be used to see whether underground homes are key to dodging dangerous deep-space radiation and extreme temperatures. Conducting medical procedures are among just a few of the experiments to take place here Researchers at the University of Birmingham are using one of the deepest mines in the UK to see what it takes to survive and thrive on other planets The simulation has been launched in a 3,000-metre tunnel network through salt deposits. The mine's salty conditions are similar to those experienced in Moon and Mars caverns The base will also be used to see whether underground homes are key to dodging dangerous deep-space radiation and extreme temperatures experienced on the Red Planet (file image) Scientists will be based within the confines of a 9ft-wide module (3metres) underground Astronauts would be exposed to at least 60 per cent of the total radiation dose limit for their entire career during a single six-month journey to Mars. Meanwhile, surface temperatures can oscillate between a toasty 70 F(20C) and a freezing -225F (-153C), according to NASA. As a result, subsurface Martian homes could be used to better protect the first astronauts to set foot on the Red Planet. 'The challenges ahead for humankind in exploring habitats beyond Earth are clearly many and significant,' said Professor Sean Paling, Director and Senior Scientist at the Boulby Underground laboratory. Polymer-based medicines, hydrogels and various other fluids will be tested in the Boulby Underground Laboratory, which can be used for wound dressings and injury prevention The 'Bio-SPHERE project' could even pave the way for underground homes in space, as crews seek to dodge harmful meteor debris and radiation Scientists are recreating Mars' conditions at the Boulby polyhalite mine near Staithes, Yorkshire 'The Bio-SPHERE project promises to help answer some key logistical questions in establishing sustainable living conditions in remote, subterranean environments and in doing so will significantly contribute to the essential preparations for our collective long, difficult and exciting journey ahead.' The underground base is by no means the last of its kind, with the team having published plans for another six-module space simulation pod. This could be used to test out surgeries and tissue engineering in addition to examining recovery processes. Professor Paling added: 'It is also a great example of the diverse range of science studies that can be carried out in a deep underground science facility, and we are very happy to be hosting it.' Yorkshire Shepherdess Amanda Owen is reportedly set to join Channel 4 after it emerged she had a five-year affair. The television personality, 48, shot to fame in 2018 on Channel 5 fly-on-the-wall documentary Our Yorkshire Farm, which she fronted alongside husband Clive who she separated from last summer. The screen star, who shares nine children with ex Clive, is said to be making a series of shows with rivals Channel 4 over the next year. A source told The Sun: 'Channel 4 bosses very much saw the series as a test run of Amanda in a new setting and the response from audiences was good. 'So they want to push ahead and make more shows with her as soon as possible including a show which they are about to announce. Career: Yorkshire Shepherdess Amanda Owen is reportedly set to join Channel 4 after it emerged she had a five-year affair The insider continued: 'It will still link to her origins on Our Yorkshire Farm, as it will tap into the region where she was born and spent most of her life. 'It very much marks the next stage of her evolution on TV and is a reflection of how she's become a star in her own right.' MailOnline has contacted Amanda's representatives for comment. Amanda was recently discovered to have been having a five-year affair with married businessman Robert Davies, 71, and living apart from husband Clive, 68, after they announced their split in June. Robert's wife Yasumi, 56, accused Amanda of living a 'TV lie' after she rumbled the affair, as fans also criticised her for not keeping them up to date with her personal life. Her image of a devoted farmer's wife and mother has been blown apart by the news that she was leading a double life, having an affair while married to her husband of 22 years, who appears on the show with her. Yasumi claimed she 'lost everything' after learning of Amanda's relationship with Robert who she married 12 years ago. The clandestine fling between the star and Mr Davies began as she rose to fame on the TV hit Our Yorkshire Farm. She enlisted the web developer to work on her website. The affair came to light after Yasumi found a note from the Yorkshire Shepherdess in Robert's car and a box of Amanda's possession hidden in her bedroom. Her findings followed the breakdown of Amanda's 22-year marriage to husband Clive in June - with whom she shares nine children. The note had been concealed in a bag in the boot of the car by Robert. Heartbreakingly, the contents showed the depth of feelings between the two and the note read: 'Life is too short & happiness is too rare. I love you.' Investment banker Yasumi, who hails from Tokyo recognised the handwriting from a signed copy of Owen's new book as Robert had been working with Amanda on her personal website. Yasumi said the businessman was 'really kind' until 2018 when she noticed a sudden change in his behaviour towards her after he started working with Amanda on her farming website. After finding the note, Yasumi set about looking for more clues and she told The Sun that she then discovered some of Owen's jewellery hidden in a box in their bedroom, including a necklace she had worn on TV which read: 'Together forever.' Ex: The television personality, 48, shot to fame in 2018 on Channel 5 fly-on-the-wall documentary Our Yorkshire Farm, which she fronted alongside husband Clive who she separated from last summer More pain: Yasumi, (pictured with Robert), discovered some of Amanda's jewellery hidden in a box in their bedroom, including a necklace which read: 'Together forever' Yasumi, who married Mr Davies on Christmas Day in 2011 following a whirlwind romance, later uncovered a key chain which said: 'Unbridled love. R & A.' Mr Davies, whose eldest daughter is the same age as Amanda, instantly confessed to the affair when Yasumi confronted her husband, who has had five wives. He had said he would put a stop to the affair but he and Amanda soon resumed their relationship. Yasumi claimed that Robert seemed more concerned about the damage the affair could do to Amanda's TV career rather than her own feelings. Amanda has known her new love Robert for at least five years since she recruited him to update her personal website in 2018. Their friendship is believed to have blossomed through working closely together. A source close to Yasumi said: 'She knew he had a friendship with Amanda but thought it was nothing more. 'They went on a clay pigeon shoot together in 2021 and he went with her on her theatre tours, but insisted there was nothing more to it.' Yasumi said: 'I wonder if she has ever thought about my feelings? 'I didn't know anything and I was alone. I had no suspicions about them. I thought it was purely about business.' It is understood that Robert, who has three children from three earlier marriages, ended the relationship with Amanda in March 2022 after being issued an ultimatum by his wife. But he moved out two months later after rekindling the romance with the Our Yorkshire Farm star. Amanda and husband Clive attracted thousands of adoring fans as the series documented her farming life - earning her more than 1million. But details of Amanda's shocking affair came out almost a year after she and her co-star husband Clive announced their unanticipated split in June. However, the TV star was keen to downplay the separation, saying it was 'not a big story.' Over: They shared a joint statement on their social media platforms confirming they had split in June last year Family: The former couple have nine children together; Raven, Reuben, Miles, Edith, Violet, Sidney, Annas, Clemmie, and Nancy Appearing on Lorraine in January, Amanda insisted the collapse of her marriage was 'a reality she has to get on with' while juggling the responsibility of farm management with parenthood. The couple maintain an amicable relationship while managing their Ravenseat Farm in rural Swaledale, and Amanda said their duties overshadow their estrangement. She said: 'It's not a big story. I feel like there are so many people in similar situations, and it's the reality. We talk about reality television but that is the reality. 'We all have to get on. You know, there's a lot to do. There's the land to manage, there's the animals to manage, obviously childcare and everything else. So we have to get on with it.' Advertisement Life is one long vacation for T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach these days and as they close in on a year since their on-screen chemistry crackled into a full-blown affair it's clear that they still can't keep their hands or their lips off each other. Seen in these exclusive pictures obtained by DailyMail.com, the controversial couple were turning up the heat in the holiday sunshine this weekend when they were spotted smooching over lunch and drinks at Spanish restaurant, Sevilla, in Manhattan's West Village. Running her hand up and down his arm and thigh, Robach seemed more hungry for her man than anything on the menu. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Hands on! T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach turned up the heat in the sunshine this holiday weekend at Sevilla restaurant in Manhattan's West Village, leaning in for passionate smooches several times throughout their lunch 'Those two are nothing short of sizzling. It's almost embarrassing to see them together. I practically have to fan myself,' one source dished Cheers! The co-hosts-turned-lovers were seen enjoying the Memorial Day Weekend with some drinks in the sun in Manhattan's West Village on Monday The couple, whose scandalous affair left both of their marriages and on-screen careers in shambles, are still going strong. Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show Amy still wears the David Yurman promise ring Holmes gifted her for her 50th birthday looped through a Tiffany gold chain around her neck 'Those two are nothing short of sizzling. It's almost embarrassing to see them together. I practically have to fan myself,' one source dished. It is six months since DailyMail.com broke the bombshell of the affair that left their careers and their marriages she to Melrose Place actor Andrew Shue, he to attorney Marilee Fiebig in tatters The exit deals each ultimately negotiated with ABC means neither can take another hosting role for a year. But Holmes and Robach clearly weren't letting the enforced hiatus get them down this weekend when they positively basked in the glow of the romance that shocked the nation. Fitness junkie Robach, 50, looked happy and toned in sky blue shorts and a cotton sun top. The $650 David Yurman promise ring, gifted to her by Holmes ahead of her fiftieth birthday in February and threaded on a Tiffany gold chain, dangled round her neck, glinting in the sun. The two were seen scanning the restaurant menu on their lunch date, but it seemed Robach was more hungry for her man than anything on the menu Photos show the 50-year-old running her hand up and down Holmes's arm and thigh as they decided on their food order Robach, 50, looked happy in love, showing off her toned legs in sky blue shorts that she paired with a cotton patterned sleeveless top She was also still wearing the gold Tiffany's chain looped around the $650 David Yurman ring she received from her beau for her 50th birthday in February. Holmes was also dressed casually in a crisp button-down shirt, navy blue pants, and boat shoes Forty-five-year-old Holmes wore navy pants, deck shoes and a pale blue dress shirt, untucked and open at the neck as they strolled hand in hand, their fingers entwined. They walked to a restaurant in the West Village where they sat outside sharing a toast, lunch, and passionate kisses. The source said: 'They were so on fire at the beginning that photo you had with his hand caressing her a** as they were packing their car. We thought it was bound to flame out after a year. 'But I think their spark is more than just good old sexual chemistry. They are on the same wavelength in so many ways.' Indeed, proving the cynics wrong, Holmes and Robach still can't keep their hands off each other. Sources tell DailyMail.com that, whether working out, going for runs, or simply getting groceries together, the couple have been virtually inseparable ever since their affair came to light. Holmes's divorce from Fiebig with whom he has one daughter, is about to be finalized. Many had doubted that the couple's steamy relationship would outlast the turbulence that blew up around their secret romantic outing last year Instead, the couple have proved cynics wrong so far, as they have been virtually inseparable ever since their affair came to light Contrary to last year, the ex GMA stars won't have to worry about hiding their love from the public this summer, and were happily strolling through the streets hand in hand with their fingers entwined And with the lease on his Manhattan apartment up for renewal late summer, DailyMail.com has learned that the former co-stars turned lovers are eager to start the next stage of their lives and move in together. Robach and Shue who each have children from previous marriages finalized their divorce in March having privately worked out their agreement through mediation and reaching a custody deal over their beloved Maltipoo, Brody. Their official split came almost a year ago, last August, after Shue, 56, learned of his wife's affair and moved out of their West Village apartment. According to sources what began as a professional friendship evolved into something more when Holmes and Robach were sent to London to cover the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in June last year. Months later, in December, just days after the story of the affair broke, Robach was seen moving out of the home with her parents arriving to help. Robach and Shue bought the three-bedroom, two-bath Barrow Street property in 2018 for $4million according to ET. Robach and her actor husband Andrew Shue, 55, who had been married since 2010, quietly finalized the terms of their divorce in March. His last appearance on his wife's Instagram account was on July 30, 2022 during their vacation in GreeceT.J. and his wife Marilee Fiebig are close to finalizing their divorce after 13 years of marriage The apartment was reportedly put back on the market in September and sold for $5.2million in November, right before the clandestine relationship was exposed. Since then, Robach has moved into a co-op in the Village, but is frequently seen spending time at Holmes's apartment in the Financial District to which he relocated full time after separating from Fiebig. Robach and Holmes were officially pulled from ABC's airwaves for good in late January after the network's internal review into their affair dragged out their suspension for eight weeks. DailyMail.com secured a copy of the email bosses sent to GMA staff, saying that 'after several productive conversations,' it was agreed it was best for the couple to 'move on from ABC News.' Network executives said they were thankful to them both for their years with ABC but anxious to move on. Privately sources said executives believed that Robach and Holmes had waited too long to disclose their relationship leaving staff 'uncomfortable' with 'their behavior on set.' Reports also indicated that Robach walked away with a bigger settlement than Holmes as she had been with the network two years longer than Holmes and had a higher profile within it. A 'money talks' row has broken out after it emerged that a millionaire Tory minister who clamped down on ramblers accessing his Berkshire estate allowed big-budget studio Amazon to film a new blockbuster movie on his land. Lord Richard Benyon, who is one of Westminsters richest men, is the owner of the 14,000-acre Englefield Estate - where Amazon are filming a new movie called Heads Of State starring Idris Elba and Priyanka Chopra. But by denying access to ramblers on his land and giving the green light to Amazon, the minister of state at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - which makes decisions on countryside access - has now sparked a conflict of interest row. Lord Benyon, 62, was heavily involved in fellow Conservative life peer Lord Agnews review into the right to roam in Englands countryside, which is currently limited to just 8 per cent of land. But last year it was announced that the review was being wound up and no results would be released. One insider claimed that the peer has no qualms over allowing access if big-budget producers flash their wallets, telling the Daily Mail's Richard Eden: It is rather amusing that Lord Benyon appears to be so reluctant to allow people onto his land but his concerns seemingly go out of the window if a decent amount of money is wafted in front of his face. 'It seems the adage of money talks applies once again, even for a man worth 130 million, according to The Sunday Times Rich List. The estates website boasts of what has been shot there previously, including: Charlie Brookers Black Mirror, ITVs crime drama series Unforgotten and Endeavour, and The Kings Speech' Now, it has been revealed Lord Benyon has granted filming permission at Englefield for Amazon Studios movie Heads Of State an action comedy starring Idris Elba (left) and Priyanka Chopra right) Lord Benyon is the great-great-grandson of three-times Tory Prime Minister Lord Salisbury The estates website boasts of what has been shot there previously, including: Charlie Brookers Black Mirror, ITVs crime drama series Unforgotten and Endeavour, and The Kings Speech. The movie will be directed by Hardcore Henry filmmaker Ilya Naishuller, with filming set to start in May. It will be produced by Safran Companys Peter Safran and John Rickard. Elba and Cena are both also executive producers, along with Marcus Viscidi. Richard Benyon is the owner of the 14,000-acre Englefield Estate in Berkshire, but has steadfastly refused to allow ramblers to freely roam his land The script was written by Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec, from draft by Harrison Query. Former Miss World actress Chopra made her Bollywood debut in 2003's The Hero: Love Story of a Spy, with her breakout role coming the following year in romantic thriller Aitraaz, which she followed with her roles in Fashion, Barfi! and Mary Kom. Her Hollywood film debut came in Baywatch where she starred opposite Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron. Lord Benyon is the great-great-grandson of three-times Tory Prime Minister Lord Salisbury, who was in office for much of the period between June 1885 and his retirement in 1902. Amazon Studios were unavailable for comment. A spokesman for Englefield said: Were not able to comment on private contractual arrangements with production companies. Her gun-toting, hardened cop character Kate Fleming is about as tough as they come. But Line of Duty's Vicky McClure seemed out of her depth as she waded in and out of the sea in full battle dress as she attempted to experience what it was like for troops during the Normandy landings. In a thick woollen Second World War uniform and helmet, holding a backpack and a rifle, the actress was trying to better understand what her D-Day veteran grandfather Ralph, 98, went through on June 6 1944, when he was among more than 150,000 soldiers and sailors sent ashore under murderous shelling and gunfire. In a clip from the forthcoming ITV documentary My Grandad's War, Ms McClure, 40, walks as far as she can out to sea before turning and trying to wade back to the beach. Historian Stephen Fisher said many landing crafts could not get close to the beach so soldiers were forced to wade through cold water, with many not making it to shore. But Line of Duty's Vicky McClure (pictured) seemed out of her depth as she waded in and out of the sea in full battle dress as she attempted to experience what it was like for troops during the Normandy landings In a thick woollen Second World War uniform and helmet, holding a backpack and a rifle, the actress was trying to better understand what her D-Day veteran grandfather Ralph (pictured left with Vicky McClure, right), 98, went through on June 6 1944 Ralph left school at 14 and became a butcher. Two years later he joined the Navy and became a signalman, despite never having been to sea. While visiting the British Normandy Memorial, which readers of the Daily Mail donated more than 1million to help build, Ms McClure fought back tears 'For the average infantryman landing on D-Day, as well as that battle dress, which would absorb a lot of water, they're carrying very heavy webbing equipment loaded with ammunition and their small pack on their back with 48 hours-worth of supplies,' he said. 'And of course, their boots virtually filled with water as soon as they stepped into the sea.' Nottingham-born Ms McClure struggled to get to shore, saying: 'My God, this is the heaviest feeling. Ahh, it weighs more than me. How did they do it? I tried to run as fast as I could, but the weight of all this... 'It's not that choppy out there. It's shallow. It's flat. It's sunny. It wasn't that cold. But trying to run back, you know, I'd have died for sure.' Ralph left school at 14 and became a butcher. Two years later he joined the Navy and became a signalman, despite never having been to sea. While visiting the British Normandy Memorial, which readers of the Daily Mail donated more than 1million to help build, Ms McClure fought back tears. She told Radio Times: 'When you feel so connected to someone who went through what he went through in the war, you are going to feel emotionally charged all the time. The trip was a joy, but I did struggle to hold it together.' 'There were people who'd travelled a very long way, some of whom had connections to the war, who were honoured to be in Grandad's presence,' she said. 'There are only so many people left from that day and my Grandad is one of them. I struggled to hold it together 'I was like, 'Grandad is the big deal. Nobody wants a selfie with me anymore!' I hope young people will engage with the documentary and learn things, too there is a war happening now and thousands of people have offered to fight, whether they are from Ukraine or not. 'There is still a desire to protect humanity. Maybe My Grandad's War will give people a chance to reflect on where we'd be if the Allies hadn't won.' Kyle Sandilands has questioned the casting of the lead role in the Australian remake of The Office, played by Ricky Gervais in the original and Steve Carell in the US version. The reboot of the iconic BBC sitcom, a mockumentary sitcom set in a paper company led by a hapless boss, is set to be produced Down Under by Amazon Prime 'in future months'. Female stars including Magda Szubanski, Celia Pacquola, Kitty Flanagan, Judith Lucy and Felicity Ward have all been tipped as in the running for the lead role. But Kyle Sandilands questioned the proposed casting on Tuesday morning's Kyle and Jackie O Show. 'That'll be a disaster, I feel' said Kyle. 'Because they've cast all the wrong types of people. Kyle Sandilands has question the proposed casting for Aussie remake of The Office after Magda Szubanski and Kitty Flanagan have been put forward for the lead role He continued, 'What they should have done, is used a cast of people that no one has ever seen before, like what happened with the original Office.' 'I mean you can't go past Ricky Gervais,' agreed his co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson. 'The British Office was the best one' 'It's going to be like a Kath & Kim spoof,' Kyle predicted. Local names such as Magda Szubanski, Celia Pacquola, Kitty (pictured), Judith Lucy and Felicity Ward have all been put forward as possibilities to claim the role of the cringe-inducing regional manager of a paper company in the Amazon Prime series The program is being produced by Bunya Productions, producers of The Drovers Wife, Jasper Jones and Mystery Road, according to The Daily Telegraph. The original series consisted of two six episode seasons, plus two Christmas specials. It featured Gervais as David Brent, an awkward office manager at a large paper company in Slough called Wernham Hogg. The US remake was produced by NBC and saw Carell take on a version Gervais' role, playing Michael Scott, regional manager of the Dunder Mifflin Scranton Branch. David Koch received a 'wonderful' message from his breakfast TV rival Karl Stefanovic after announcing he was leaving Sunrise on Monday. The Channel Seven presenter, 67, told his co-anchor Natalie Barr on Tuesday how he spoke to Stefanovic via text following news of his departure. 'Thank you to everyone who has been so lovely. Unbelievable messages,' he said. 'A wonderful, classy, respectful one from Karl Stefanovic. It was so nice, really adored that one but so many great messages.' Koch also told Daily Mail Australia on Monday he received a text message from one from his longtime co-hosts Melissa Doyle. David Koch (pictured) received a 'wonderful' message from his breakfast TV rival Karl Stefanovic after announcing he was leaving Sunrise on Monday 'I've just glanced, because I've got lots of messages, I saw one from Mel and I'm sure there will be a whole bunch of others in the list but I've been talking to lots of journos and doing interviews,' he said. Kochie stunned his colleagues on Monday when he announced his resignation from the hit breakfast show after 21 years. Behind the scenes photos show his co-hosts Natalie Barr, Edwina Bartholomew and Mark Beretta overcome with emotion in between breaks in filming. During his on air announcement, Natalie looked heartbroken when Kochie said he had spent more time with her over the past few years than with members of his own family. Koch revealed he received a 'wonderful' message from his breakfast show rival Karl (pictured) after he announced he's leaving Sunrise He said he was leaving the hit show to focus on his own businesses and to enjoy more flexible work hours to spend time with his growing family. Koch joined Sunrise to present finance reports in 2002 and in October that year became Chris Reason's replacement when the journalist was diagnosed with cancer. Not much was initially expected of Koch's pairing with Doyle in the face of Today's dominance. 'Remember when we started this, this was before Facebook,' Koch said. 'We were I think five per cent of the Today show's audience at the time. 'No one watched it. No one cared about us. Seven executives didn't care about us. Kochie stunned his colleagues on Monday when he announced his resignation from the hit breakfast show after 21 years 'We started in a demountable office in the carpark at the studios at Epping. No one gave a toss. 'And that was the secret for us because we were just very quietly able to try different things, make mistakes, and build a really loyal audience for which I'll be forever grateful.' Koch was proud to be going out a winner, with Sunrise still dominant. 'Everyone wants to do the best and have the best product that they possibly can,' he said. 'And I leave this job with enormous pride as well as gratitude for being involved in it.' Braith Anasta was spotted grabbing coffee in Coogee with WBFF Pro Jenna Davies and trainer Sean McInroy over the weekend. The gathering came ahead of the launch of his fitness app Strong Dad. A casual yet stylish Anasta, 41, was cheerfully immersed in some beachside banter. The former NRL star-turned-pundit was clad in a black hoodie paired with tracksuit bottoms and a white T-shirt. He finished the laid-back look with a pair of sunglasses and fresh sneakers. Braith Anasta (right) was all smiles as he was spotted having a coffee meeting at Coogee Beach with WBFF Pro Jenna Davies (left) and trainer Sean McInroy over the weekend The gathering ignited buzz as it presages the launch of his fitness app, Strong Dad Meanwhile Jenna was also dressed in black - showing off her muscular legs in tight flared leggings teamed with a puffer jacket and orange Nike Dunks. Jenna is a fitness model and and has her own business called Big Uppetite. She runs an expert team of creatives, innovators and strategists respected in the health and fitness industry to help build burgeoning business in the sector. Braith recently celebrated his 41st birthday with friends and family, renting out a boat on Sydney Harbour. Before hitting the boat with his pals, he started his day by celebrating his birthday at home with his daughters Aleeia and Gigi. The girls presented their doting dad with a birthday cake before he headed off to see his friends. A casual yet stylish Anasta, 41, was sighted cheerfully immersed in the beachside banter Jenna is a fitness model and and has her own business called Big Uppetite It comes after Braith split with longtime fiancee Rachael Lee. Rachael has since moved on with Sydney-based bricklayer Blake Hillen. A source told Daily Mail Australia last year that Rachael and Blake, who lives in the Sutherland Shire, have been 'inseparable' since the brunette announced her shock split with the NRL star. Rachael, who shares four-year-old daughter Gigi with the former Roosters player, unfollowed Braith on Instagram and removed any mention of his name in her account bio. Braith's ex Rachael Lee has since moved on with Sydney-based bricklayer Blake Hillen She was also spotted several times without her engagement ring and spending most of her free time partying with her friends and sister Bridgette. Braith also has an eight-year-old daughter Aleeia with ex-wife Jodi Gordon, while Rachael has a son, Addison, 11, from a previous relationship. In September, the rugby league pundit confirmed the couple was going through a tough time following rumours they had split. 'Like many couples, we are going through a tough period,' he said on Instagram. He insisted the pair had not broken up but were 'trying to work through this for us and more importantly for our beautiful family and our amazing children'. Naomi Campbell hinted that Lenny Kravitz is her daughter's godfather, as she wished him a happy birthday over the weekend. The supermodel, 53, took to Instagram on Saturday to share a duo of snaps of her and the musician, 59, including one of the pair with her two-year-old daughter. Captioning the shots, she wrote: 'Happy birthday my darling @lennykravitz We love you brother/godfather, you are the ultimate rockstar. Blessings on your special day'. Naomi has stayed mum as far as the identity of her daughters father is concerned and has never gone public with her little girl's name either. She and Lenny have been close friends for years and were even rumoured to have dated briefly in 2016, but neither of them has ever confirmed this. Could it be? Naomi Campbell hinted that Lenny Kravitz is her daughter's godfather, as she wished him a happy birthday over the weekend Adorable: The supermodel, 53, took to Instagram on Saturday to share a duo of snaps of her and the musician, 59, including one of the pair with her two-year-old daughter Pals: Captioning the shots, she wrote: 'Happy birthday my darling @lennykravitz We love you brother/godfather, you are the ultimate rockstar. Blessings on your special day' In 2020, Lenny wished Naomi her own happy birthday when she turned 50, tweeting: 'What a ride it has been and the best is on the horizon. 'You have been a true friend and a sister. Continued blessings - Lenny'. Naomi stunned fans by announcing the birth of her daughter in May 2021, just weeks after appearing on the New York Fashion Week runway without a visible baby bump. She later insisted that her daughter was not adopted amid growing speculation regarding their biological parentage. Speaking to British Vogue in February while posing with her daughter for a cover shoot, the model confirmed: 'She wasnt adopted shes my child.' Naomi played coy during the new interview, and despite confirming her daughter is not adopted, refused to elaborate further on her first born. However, she admitted that very few of her wide circle of friends and family members knew she was planning on becoming a parent. Tight bond: She and Lenny have been close friends for years and were even rumoured to have dated briefly in 2016, but neither of them has ever confirmed this Close: In 2020, Lenny wished Naomi her own happy birthday, tweeting: 'What a ride it has been and the best is on the horizon. 'You have been a true friend and a sister. Continued blessings' She explained: 'I can count on one hand the number of people who knew that I was having her. But she is the biggest blessing I could ever imagine. Its the best thing Ive ever done.' Naomi has travelled extensively over recent months, but she insists her daughter doesn't mind flying. She said: 'I'm lucky my little one loves to travel like me no whimpering taking off or landing. She's a good girl: she sleeps very well, she hardly ever cries' She added: 'I always knew that one day I would be a mother, but it's the biggest joy I could ever imagine. I'm lucky to have her and I know that.' The supermodel - who is believed to be single - surprised her Instagram followers by sharing a picture of herself cradling her newborn daughter. Offering a first look at her new arrival with a picture of her baby girl she wrote: 'A beautiful little blessing has chosen me to be her mother. 'So honoured to have this gentle soul in my life there are no words to describe the lifelong bond that I now share with you my angel. There is no greater love.' Naomi was previously in a relationship with rapper Skepta in 2018 but enjoyed a fling with Liam Payne the following year. . She has also enjoyed high-profile relationships with the likes of Diddy, Robert De Niro, Mike Tyson and Russian billionaire Vladislav Doronin over the years. Although she is notoriously private about her love life, she has previously stated she is 'on good terms' with her exes and is not believed to be dating anyone new at present. Jersey Shore personality Pauly D was seen celebrating his daughter Amabella's 10th birthday over the weekend, in a rare look into the reality star's parenting life. The 42-year-old MTV star, whose full name is Paul Michael DelVecchio Jr., was seen enjoying the festivities at the event. Pauly D donned a floral patterned navy blue collared shirt with short sleeves, jeans and white sneakers to the outdoor event. Pauly D is father to Amabella with Amanda Markert, who posted images of the party to social media. He was seen posing for a selfie with his daughter and standing next to her while holding a two-tiered cake marking her 10th birthday. Proud papa: Jersey Shore personality Pauly D, 42, was seen celebrating his daughter Amabella's 10th birthday over the weekend in a rare look into the reality star parenting He was seen holding a picture of his daughter as he posed next to his girlfriend Nikki Hall, Amabella, and Amabella's mom Amanda, with all of the ladies donning purple ensembles with white sneakers. Pauly D and Markert appeared to be on friendly terms at the birthday bash, following a longtime court battle over custody of their daughter in which they agreed Markert would be the child's custodial parent. Pauly D has past been reticent to share images of his child on social media, but he has past said that he cherishes being a parent to Amabella. 'Having kids is one of the most amazing experiences of my entire life,' Pauly D said on the show Double Shot At Love. 'It's the first time I ever loved somebody more than myself. Pauly D donned a floral patterned navy blue collared shirt with short sleeves, jeans and white sneakers to the outdoor event He was seen holding a picture of his daughter as he posed next to his girlfriend Nikki Hall, Amabella, and Amabella's mom Amanda, with all of the ladies donning purple ensembles with white sneakers 'That girl is my everything and there are two most important ladies in my life - my mother and my daughter.' Pauly D told People in 2018 that he considers Amabella to be his 'princess' and his 'little mini-me,' even in terms of her future ambitions. He said: 'She wants to be a DJ - I got her a DJ room. She's scratching records already. She's so funny. She just wants to follow me around and do every single thing that I do.' As Australia's biggest porn star Angela White is certainly used to flaunting her enviable curves in public. But the racy performer, 38, looked almost unrecognisable while donning a conservative ensemble during a recent trip to Tokyo, Japan. Angela was completely covered up in a long black frock as she strolled around the incredible city. Keeping a low profile, she added a black pair of sunglasses and accessorised with a matching handbag. Fans flooded her Instagram page with gushing comments, including one from fellow porn star Nikki Benz who wrote: 'Japan is one of my favorite places on earth! I hope youre having the best time.' Porn star Angela White covered up during a recent trip to Tokyo, Japan The 38-year-old was completely covered up in a long black frock as she strolled around the incredible city 'Why are you dressed?' joked another fan, while one wrote: 'I hope you can visit Tokyo again.' Angela could soon turn her back on the porn industry after appearing in more than 900 hardcore scenes. After several high-profile TV and podcast appearances, the adult film star seems to be angling for a career in mainstream media or academia. She hinted at her future career path last week when she spoke at a conference at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Keeping a low profile, she added a black pair of sunglasses and accessorised with a matching handbag She even further covered up more with a black jacket over the top of her dress Angela posed for a photo on Instagram next to social sciences and media studies professor Constance Penley. 'Academic pursuit remains an interest of mine and something I wish to return to in the future,' she wrote in the caption. During the college lecture, Angela spoke to film studies students about her career. Not only does Angela have an extensive body of work in adult cinema, but she also holds a degree in gender studies from the prestigious University of Melbourne. The performer, who popularised the sex position 'The Angela', took part in a question and answer session with students after her speech. The Australian porn star is usually dressed in plunging ensembles like this one 'This is my third time as a guest speaker at this film studies class that approaches pornography as worthy of serious inquiry as a genre and as popular culture,' she said after the lecture. Angela thanked the students for their 'well-informed, thought-provoking questions' about her 'career as a performer and director' as well as her academic research. 'While it has been a number of years since my research dissertation was published in The Routledge Companion to Media, Sex, and Sexuality, academic pursuit remains an interest of mine and something I wish to return to in the future,' she added. UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE Rating: What a refreshing absence of fuss. No crocodile tears, no sentimental twaddle, just goodbye and the faintest hint of ruefulness. Jeremy Paxman signed off University Challenge (BBC2) and a telly career spanning more than 45 years with a brusque announcement that the show 'returns later in the year, and I look forward to watching it with you. So it's goodnight from me. Goodnight.' The 73-year-old has been presenting the quiz since 1994. With the average age of both teams in this final being just 21, that's far longer than any of the contestants have been alive. So familiar are his face, voice and mannerisms that a doctor was able to diagnose his Parkinson's disease at an early stage, without ever meeting him. The medic, a fan of the show, approached Paxo in hospital where he was recovering after a fall. His facial features were less 'effusive and exuberant' than usual, said the doc a typical sign known as Parkinson's mask. Jeremy Paxman, 73, (pictured) signed off University Challenge (BBC2) and a telly career spanning more than 45 years with a brusque announcement Last October, shortly after revealing this series of University Challenge would be his last, Paxman made a typically frank and curmudgeonly ITV documentary about his illness, called Putting Up With Parkinson's. He wrote in Saga magazine earlier this year about his continuing struggles, claiming wryly that he had been 'attacked by my chair and thrown against the leg of my desk. There was an awful lot of blood'. He added that he was given his 'usual bed' at the hospital. Clearly, he isn't getting soft-hearted or soppy in his old age, and the teams from Durham and Bristol knew better than to expect a shred of leniency. After the introductions, he declared: 'We're all old hands at this now so let's just get on with it.' Don't ask me about the first starter for ten: a player buzzed in before I'd even worked out that the question was about nuclear reactors. Since this was the final, the standard was tougher than ever. 'What effect is the basis of the thermocouple?' barked Paxman. And then, when someone got that right, he announced: 'These bonuses are on rocket science.' Jeremy Paxman, 73, signed off after having presented University Challenge since 1994 One round was on the 1970s punk-pop band The B-52's. How anyone born in the 21st century is meant to know they had a hit called Rock Lobster, heaven only knows. 'I'm confused by this question,' admitted the Durham captain. In the end, the contest turned on a brainteaser about the 1968 Olympics. Bristol guessed the answer was Men's 400m. Durham said Men's 200m. Durham took the prize. UNREAL! WITH OLIVIA NEILL Rating: Slightly less scintillating levels of intellect were on display in Unreal! With Olivia Neill (BBC3), a look at dating apps that use virtual reality kit. Olivia, also aged 21, a social media influencer, donned a plastic video headset that projected her into a primitive computer animation. In this world, looking like a Japanese comic-book character, she was able to meet an 8ft-tall dog and a man with throbbing trousers. This became creepy when the other users started to speak in disembodied monotones. Olivia looked shaken, and it got worse when she inspected vibrating gadgets, operated by phone apps, for long-distance sexual encounters. Her chats to camera, updating us on her adventures in virtual reality, were edited with clumsy cuts between every phrase, an irritating pastiche of YouTube videos that was palpably fake. It was the TV equivalent of using teenage slang. Auntie really oughtn't try to be down with the kids. After half an hour, Olivia hadn't managed to have one worthwhile conversation in virtual reality. If this is the future of dating, the next generation will all have to be celibate. Several stars from the latest season of Married At First Sight are fast becoming the most-followed brides and grooms the social experiment has ever produced. Melinda Willis now has a whopping 557,000 followers on Instagram, and Influencer Marketing Hub estimates she can charge up to $2,700 per sponsored post. Evelyn Ellis is the second most-followed bride with 403,000 followers, and she can charge brands wanting to collaborate up to $1,950. Evelyn's boyfriend Duncan James is the third most-followed MAFS star from the latest season with 317,000 followers. This means he can charge brands an estimated $1,550 for each sponsored post. The eye-watering amount this year's Married At First Sight cast are earning as Instagram influencers Other stars have had only moderate success in building their social media brands. Tahnee Cook has gained 223,000 followers while Ollie Skelton has managed to land 177,000 followers. Meanwhile, Shannon Adams has attracted the least amount of followers with 20,000, followed by Hugo Armstrong with 29,000. Just days after this year's finale was broadcast, almost half of the participants signed with management and PR firms. Perth-based brides Bronte Schofield and Lyndall Grace signed with the same manager. The fan favourites are being represented by Benji Hart's THE.mgmt. Sandy Jawanda, who was paired with Dan Hunjas on the dating show, will also be represented by the same company. Melinda Willis (pictured) now has a whopping 557,000 followers on Instagram and Influencer Marketing Hub estimates she can charge an estimated $2700 per sponsored post Melbourne-based Claire Nomarhas has signed up with influencer management company, One Day Dream Talent. Harrison Boon has signed on with Rojo Consulting, who also look after Olivia Frazer, Jackson Lonie, Cody Bromley and Tamara Djordjevic. Sydney-based PR manager Tahnee Cook is also believed to have signed on with a firm to help her look after deals. Janelle Han will remain represented by MGMT, who have been looking after her since her career as a TikTok star kicked off before the pandemic. Evelyn Ellis (pictured) is the second most-followed bride with 403,000 followers and she can charge brands wanting to collaborate $1950 Alyssa Barmonde is also understood to be in final negotiations with a Sydney-based firm, as is her on-screen groom Duncan James. Sydney-based PR manager Tahnee is also believed to have signed on with a firm to help her look after deals. Janelle Han will remain represented by MGMT, who have been looking after her since her career as a TikTok star kicked off before the pandemic. Alyssa Barmonde is also understood to be in final negotiations with a Sydney-based firm, as is her on-screen groom Duncan James. Layton Mills is currently managed by Roxy Jacenko's agency, The Ministry of Talent. They have became household names after representing Australia at Eurovision. And now heavy metal rockers Voyager have revealed their surprising connection to The Beatles. The Perth-based band paid homage to the legendary 60s pop icons while in Liverpool for the famed music competition. The group made the pilgrimage to The Cavern Club, the famous venue where The Beatles launched their illustrious career. They were invited up on stage during a gig by German heavy metal group, Lord of the Lost. Heavy metal rockers Voyager have revealed their surprising connection to The Beatles The Perth-based band paid homage to the legendary 60s pop icons while in Liverpool for the famed music competition. The group made the pilgrimage to The Cavern Club, the famous venue where The Beatles launched their illustrious career They were invited up on stage during a gig by German heavy metal group, Lord of the Lost 'That was awesome,' Voyager's Scott Key said during an interview with the Today this week. 'Its such a funny little place. Thinking about trying to run a metal gig in that joint!' he added. 'It probably worked for the Beatles but Im not sure it would work for Voyager!' Voyager will make a heroic hometown return with a free gig in Perth for WA Day next month. The event will take place at Burswood Park over June 5 and 6, with the rockers sharing the top of the bill with pop star and Australian Idol judge Amy Shark. Former Hunters and Collectors frontman Mark Seymour, fan favourites Baby Animals and electro pop artist Boox Kid will also star in the two-day festival. Voyager will make a heroic hometown return with a free gig in Perth for WA Day next month Three-piece Perth pop band Dulcie will also be hitting the stage for WA Day, along with fellow home town acts Mitch Santiago and Priscilla. Voyager are set to play on Sunday June 6. The band, who were formed in Perth in 1999, finished 9th as the Australian entrant in the Eurovision 2023 song competition. The band wowed fans during the finals earlier this month in Liverpool with their synth-metal tune Promise earlier this month. Louise Thompson has revealed she has finally made it on her 'momentous' holiday to St Lucia with her fiance Ryan Libbey and their son Leo. The Made In Chelsea star, 32, was due to go on the trip earlier this year, but it was postponed after she suffered a major haemorrhage right before they were due to leave. Louise has been battling PTSD and anxiety following her son Leo's birth in November 2021 and has been open about her deliberating mental and physical symptoms. She has also battled physical health issues, including suspected Asherman's syndrome, a rare condition that causes scar tissue to build up inside the uterus. She took to Instagram on Monday to share a slew of snaps of her, Ryan and their 18-month-old at the beach. 'We made it!' Louise Thompson has revealed she has finally made it on her 'momentous' holiday to St Lucia with her fiance Ryan Libbey and their son Leo Timing: The Made In Chelsea star, 32, was due to go on the trip earlier this year, but it was postponed after she suffered a major haemorrhage right before they were due to leave Candid: Louise has been battling PTSD and anxiety following her son Leo's birth in November 2021 and has been open about her deliberating mental and physical symptoms Louise looked sensational in a bright green string bikini that showed off her toned stomach. Her brunette tresses swept up in a messy bun and she hid her eyes behind a pair of black sunglasses. Captioning the string of sweet photos, the reality star reflected on her feelings surrounding the getaway. She explained that she had felt 'completely cursed' for the last 18 months, but was starting to feel 'lucky', saying: 'Its time for a new chapter'. She added that she was grateful that her haemorrhage had occurred before the holiday and not during it, saying: 'My instinct is telling me that I wouldnt have survived.' Louise wrote: 'WE MADE IT. We were scheduled to visit St. Lucia to stay with friends in early Feb but my health got in the way... AGAIN. 'I shouldnt complain. In fact I should be counting my lucky stars that I was firmly on British soil when I suffered a major haemorrhage and had subsequent emergency surgery at the end of January. 'If our trip had been 3 days earlier the outcome is likely to have been very different. Goodness only knows what would have happened if Id been flying high in the sky on a 9hr flight, or roaming around bare foot on a remote Caribbean island, but my instinct is telling me that I wouldnt have survived. Family: She took to Instagram on Monday to share a slew of snaps of her, Ryan and their 18-month-old at the beach Looking good: Louise looked sensational in a bright green string bikini that showed off her toned stomach Shady lady: Her brunette tresses swept up in a messy bun and she hid her eyes behind a pair of black sunglasses 'I know I needed severallllll litres of life saving blood/fluids etc. and Im not sure what access to that sort of stuff is like abroad. Maybe dont tell me. Its not really worth stewing over too much.' She continued: 'Life seems to be one big fat sliding door. Who remembers that movie featuring Gwyenny Paltrow? Its one that I relate to quite a bit these days. 'One evening Im laughing with an old friend whilst drinking tea and drowning in bubbles as we entertain our sons who are having a play date. 'She gave me some of her swimwear (Im lucky to have lots of clever and creative friends who own independent brands) as a treat for my trip and a few hours later I have the courage to start packing. 'The next morning Im back in the back of a van being blue lit to hospital. The trip is understandably cancelled and we are bummed x 1000000 because it had taken a lot of planning. 'We were desperate for some sun, sea and vitamin d (as cliche as its sounds, everyone kept reminding us that its been a while since weve had a successful hot holiday) but equally I was SO grateful for the timing. 'The crap news was easier for me to digest than Ryan, maybe because I was the one in the hot seat. 'Hes scared and scarred for other reasons, including the things hes had to witness going in and out of my body. Gosh life is precious.' Louise went on: 'Anyway, fast forward a few months and we made it. This feels momentous. A holiday has never felt more like a holiday. Honest: Captioning the string of sweet photos, the reality star reflected on her feelings surrounding the getaway 'After several recent and eye opening conversations with strangers, including one very funny character who shuttled us from the airport to the north of the island (where we are staying with friends) Ive come to the realisation that maybe I am ACTUALLY one of the lucky ones. 'For the best part of the last 2 years Ive felt completely cursed but Im feeling really ready to change the narrative. 'No one called me lucky before, but now they are starting to call me lucky. Only strangers mind you. But I wonder why? 'Maybe I hear what I want to hear, or maybe I tell the story differently. Either way its time for a new chapter. Its time for me to reframe what has happened. Its time for some post traumatic growth. 'From now on I will be the luckiest person I know. I certainly feel blessed for so many chances. I pray to those looking down on me for keeping me safe. Thank you x a million.' Louise concluded: 'Despite all of my luck or misfortune, whichever way you choose look at it, I cant go on living my entire life in fear, hence we took a calculated risk and decided to postpone our trip until May and dare I say it WE ARRIVED IN ONE PIECE. 'I had two attempts at a hot holiday last year and they both ended disastrously because I was so sick. I was mentally and physically in tatters. 'I hardly travelled when I was pregnant for fear or something happening AND before that we were all in lock down, so I feel a bit out of touch.' She joked: 'Oh who wants to hear about the 9 hr flight'. Moving on: She explained that she had felt 'completely cursed' for the last 18 months, but was starting to feel 'lucky', saying: 'Its time for a new chapter' Last week Louise let slip her family are in the midst of a feud, sparking speculation she's fallen out with her brother Sam. Sources have told MailOnline that the former Made In Chelsea stars have 'drifted apart' in recent months due to Sam's work commitments and Louise's new life as a mum and they no longer see each other as frequently despite being neighbours. The siblings have always enjoyed a close relationship but tensions between the pair have intensified over the past year with insiders claiming the lack of support shown to one another during their respective personal ventures has sparked a deeper row. And last week, Louise, 33, revealed there had been a fallout within the Thompson clan after deleting an Instagram post mentioning 'family feuds' while discussing what had recently contributed towards her mental health concerns. A source told MailOnline: 'It's no secret Sam and Louise have drifted apart in recent months. 'They no longer see each other as frequently as they used to which is surreal given they live next door to each other. 'The recent lack of communication as they embark on particular projects has caused a rift which they've, as yet, failed to address. 'The family hope it's just a typical brother and sister fallout, but there is concern this may run and run without being sorted, and the longer it continues, the more difficult a resolution can be found.' Tough: Last week Louise let slip her family are in the midst of a feud , sparking speculation she's fallen out with her brother Sam (pictured in July 2022) Louise let slip that a relationship has become strained by posting a now-deleted Instagram story on Tuesday saying she had been dealing with 'a lot of stress' including 'health issues' and 'family feuds.' She quickly removed the post from her profile, sharing the same image of her holding son Leo but excluding the mention of her family problems. The original story stated, 'I dealt with a lot of stress last week and I'm not as resilient as I used to be. Or maybe I am. Maybe I'm more resilient, I'm just dealing with much more significant issues. 'Health issues, family feuds etc. When you have a child, you have less time to be selfish and to look after yourself.' Shanina Shaik showed off her casual style on Memorial Day as she stepped out for coffee in Los Angeles on Monday. After returning from a glam-filled week at Cannes Film Festival, the 32-year-old supermodel styled her long sleek tresses in a ponytail and donned dark sunglasses on her makeup-free face. The bombshell covered her slim figure in a cozy KSUBI sweatsuit with New Balance sneakers and carried her belongings in a small purple handbag. Earlier this week, Shanina oozed glamour as she led the stars on the red carpet at the La Passion de Dodin Bouffant premiere in France on Wednesday. The beauty posed in a plunging royal blue floor-length Nicolas Jebran SS23 Couture dress with lace detail and a thigh-high split. Off-duty model: Shanina Shaik showed off her casual style on Memorial Day as she stepped out for coffee in Los Angeles on Monday Comfy: The 32-year-old beauty covered her slim figure in a cozy KSUBI sweatsuit with New Balance sneakers and carried her belongings in a small purple handbag The fashionista displayed her long slender legs through the splits in her dress, which featured tasseled materials hanging down from the midsection, and a train dragging behind her. The Australian model was in good company in the form of fellow Victoria's Secret models alongside Lais Ribeiro, Jasmine Tookes, and Jourdan Dunn at the famous Palais des Festivals. On Thursday, mother-of-one put on another show-stopping display at the premiere of the racy French drama Last Summer, which was attended by more catwalk models than actors. Shanina turned heads in a form-fitting yellow gown with a shimmering overlay and metallic pointed-toe heels. In September, the former Victoria's Secret model welcomed her first child Zai with her boyfriend, Matthew Adesuyan. The couple went public with their relationship on Valentine's Day 2021 and looked as smitten as ever in March at the glitzy Oscars party hosted by Jay-Z in Los Angeles. Shanina was previously married to DJ Ruckus, whose real name is Gregory Andrews, from 2018 to 2019. During an interview with Harper's Bazaar in February, Shaik described the pandemic as a fresh start in her life, saying, 'Because of the pandemic, I was stuck in London for a whole year. I love London, so it was great because I have best friends there. 'I have an amazing agent there and had a new life over there. I met the father of my child, so that came into place. Being there had its little perks. I have no regrets,' she said. New mom: In September, the former Victoria's Secret model welcomed her first child Zai with her boyfriend , Matthew Adesuyan Fresh start: During an interview with Harper's Bazaar in February, Shaik described the pandemic as a fresh start in her life. 'Because of the pandemic, I was stuck in London for a whole year. I met the father of my child, so that came into place. Being there had its little perks. I have no regrets,' she said Entrepreneur goals: Shanina has been working on developing her own skincare line for years, saying, I've always had a dream board and ideas that I want to work on for my own skincare line' Motherhood has changed her view: Shaik opened up about motherhood saying 'I have this newfound respect for women, in general. Just the things that we do, what we can do, what we must deal with. How we learn to prioritize' Stunning: Earlier this week, Shanina oozed glamour as she led the stars on the red carpet at the La Passion de Dodin Bouffant premiere in France on Wednesday Natural: The beauty posed in a plunging royal blue floor-length Nicolas Jebran SS23 Couture dress with lace detail and a thigh-high split Glittering: On Thursday, mother-of-one put on another show-stopping display at the premiere of the racy French drama Last Summer in a form-fitting yellow gown with a shimmering overlay and metallic pointed-toe heels Shanina also revealed that she has been working on developing her own skincare line for years, saying, I've always had a dream board and ideas that I want to work on for my own skincare line.' She continued, 'My peers and my friends are my role models, and they give me courage to work on what I want as well. Miranda Kerr, who I'm quite close with and who did Victoria's Secret as well, has her own skincare line.' Shaik also opened up about motherhood has changed her saying she felt she 'had become a lioness that's so protective of him and just worries about him and everything that he does.' She added, 'I have this newfound respect for women, in general. Just the things that we do, what we can do, what we must deal with. How we learn to prioritize, not just the nurturing aspect of taking care of our child, but also trying to find balance within life.' Alicia Silverstone was spotted out enjoying a leisurely hike with a friend in Los Angeles on Sunday. The 46-year-old actress looked effortlessly stylish in a casual and comfortable ensemble with an oatmeal-colored zip-up hoodie and the matching leggings while strolling through Hollywood Hills. Underneath the jacket, the Clueless star donned a light blue, distressed T-shirt printed with the words: 'Proudly plant based'. She then matched the color of the top with a pair of gray and muted blue chunky sneakers with neon yellow details. The Crush alum who said she would love to reunite with her former costar Brendan Fraser for a Blast From The Past sequel carried a small cactus in one hand and the leashes of her two dogs in the other. Memorial Day hike: Alicia Silverstone, 46, was spotted out enjoying a leisurely hike with a friend in Los Angeles on Sunday The California native shielded her eyes from the sun with a pair of rectangular-framed, dark sunglasses. She appeared to be sporting a makeup-free look to showcase her radiant and youthful beauty. She wore her collarbone-length, blonde waves down in a natural hairstyle that was swept to the side. Recently, the mother-of-one said she would love to revisit 1999 romantic comedy film Blast From The Past. During a Clueless reunion panel at '90s Con, Silverstone expressed her desire to work on either a sequel or a new project with Fraser. 'With Brendan? I would do anything with Brendan,' she said about the Oscar-winning leading star in The Whale. 'It was so much fun.' She added that she was proud of her former costar: 'I just saw Brendan after he won his Oscar and he's so cute. 'He talked in his speech about how we all go through this really hard time and you have to grow,' she continued. Athleisure ensemble: The actress looked effortlessly stylish in a casual and comfortable ensemble with an oatmeal-colored zip-up hoodie and the matching leggings while strolling through Hollywood Hills Back to acting: Recently, the mother-of-one said she would love to revisit 1999 romantic comedy film Blast From The Past. During a Clueless reunion panel at '90s Con, Silverstone expressed her desire to work on either a sequel or a new project with Brendan Fraser 'And it's part of life that you struggle and then look what happened to him! So yes, I'm happy to do that.' The satirical sci-fi flick starred Silverstone and Fraser as well as Christopher Walken, Sissy Spacek, and Dave Foley. In the movie, Fraser plays a 35-year-old man who spent his entire life living in a bunker shelter built by his father in the past. When he emerges for the first time, he meets a woman played by Silverstone and she opens his eyes and changes his life. Veteran Australian screenwriter Mac Gudgeon has died at age 74 after a long illness. Best known for writing the classic 1984 Aussie mini-series Waterfront with stars Jack Thompson and Greta Scacchi, Gudgeon's other credits include the hit TV crime series Halifax f.p. and Stingers. Gudgeon also co-wrote the steamy 1989 teen drama The Delinquents, starring Kylie Minogue. Born in Wollongong, Gudgeon worked as a writer in the film and TV industry for more than thirty years. He later became known as a tireless champion on behalf of writers while serving as president of the Australian Writers Guild between 1998 and 2000. The veteran Australian screenwriter Mac Gudgeon - pictured - has died at age 74 Gudgeon wrote the classic Aussie mini-series Waterfront (1984) with Jack Thompson (right) Gudgeon co-wrote the steamy 1989 drama The Delinquents, starring Kylie Minogue (pictured) Gudgeon drew upon his early experience as a painter and docker while writing Waterfront, a hard-hitting story of industrial unrest set on the Aussie dock yards during the Depression. The show launched his career and was a hit for Channel 10 and later won a Logie in 1985's for Best Miniseries. Known for his versatile talent, he later co-wrote the nuclear action thriller Ground Zero, starring Colin Friels in 1987. He went on to win admiration for his work in TV including Channel Nine's long-running series Halifax, f.p. (1994-2002) starring Rebecca Gibney. Gudgeon's more recent writing credits include the ABC's Indigenous-themed mini-series The Secret River in 2015, starring Succession's Sarah Snook. Known for his versatile talent he later co-wrote the nuclear action thriller Ground Zero, starring Colin Friels in 1987 (pictured) Gudgeon went on to win admiration for his work in TV including Channel Nine's long-running series Halifax f.p., starring Rebecca Gibney (pictured on the show) The Australian Writers' Guild President Shane Brennan paid tribute to Gudgeon on Monday. 'Mac was a towering presence in the Guild,' he said. 'He was not just our heart and soul, he was our conscience, that little voice in our head that said 'we have to fight this'. And fight we did, so many battles with Mac standing, unflinching, on the front line. 'Mac didn't just man the barricades, he built them. His contribution to this Guild, to the place we earned at the table, to the concessions we won over decades, should never be forgotten. And yes, Mac was one helluva writer.' Last year Chris Hemsworth revealed he would scale back his Hollywood career after discovering he's at risk of Alzheimer's disease. But the Aussie actor, 39, has been forced to hit the grueling promotional trail for his forthcoming Netflix action film, Extraction 2. The Thor star was spotted arriving in Sydney on a private jet from Byron Bay on Monday. Chris showed off his buff physique in dark jeans and an open collared shirt worn over a white singlet as he strolled through Sydney Airport. He was joined by his best mate Aaron Grist for the subsequent long haul flight to Los Angeles. Chris Hemsworth, 39, has been forced to hit the grueling promotional trail for his forthcoming Netflix action film, Extraction 2. Pictured on Monday Once inside the terminal, Chris went incognito beneath a black beanie and dark sunglasses. The work trip comes after the actor announced that his film career will take a back seat following a discovery he's at risk of Alzheimer's disease. The Rush actor told Vanity Fair last November he has decided to take 'time off' after filming a confronting episode about death on his new Disney+ docu-series Limitless. The work trip comes after the actor announced that his film career will take a back seat following a discovery he's at risk of Alzheimer's disease. Pictured with friend Aaron Grist After having bloodwork done for the program, he was informed he is 'between eight and 10 times' likelier to develop Alzheimer's than the general population, because he is one of only two to three percent of people with two copies of the gene APOE4. However, there are evidently a number of steps that people in his position can take to reduce their level of risk, such as ensuring they get a good night's sleep, curbing their alcohol intake and cutting out cigarettes, according to the CDC. As a result, Chris reacted to the news of his own predisposition to Alzheimer's by cultivating a healthier lifestyle. Chris showed off his buff physique in dark jeans and an open collared shirt worn over a white singlet as he strolled through Sydney Airport 'Doing an episode on death and facing your own mortality made me go, "Oh God, I'm not ready to go yet",' he told the publication. 'I want to sit and be in this space with a greater sense of stillness and gratitude. And then you start talking about kids and family...It really triggered something in me to want to take some time off.' Playing on Chris' stardom through superhero movies, Limitless follows him as he pushes up against the boundaries of what his body can do. He is seen on the Disney+ program pursuing various physical goals, such as what Variety reports was 40lbs of weight gain for a Thor film. He is smitten with his girlfriend Katarina Deme, and was even seen looking at diamond engagement rings during a shopping trip to Tiffany & Co. earlier this month. And The Kid Laroi was seen packing on the PDA with the stunning model as they stepped out for lunch in New York City on Monday. The Aussie rapper appeared to be trying his best to cheer up his beautiful partner while leaving popular eatery Sadelle's in the Soho area. Laroi, 19, whose real name is Charlton Howard, kissed her hand and planted a smooch on her cheek as they strolled out of the venue. Both were dressed casually for the outing, with Katarina, 19, wearing a low-cut singlet top teamed with baggy jeans and Adidas sneakers. The Kid Laroi, 19, was seen packing on the PDA with his stunning model girlfriend Katarina Deme during lunch in New York City on Monday Meanwhile, Laroi flaunted his arm tattoo in a sleeveless hooded top paired with baggy black trousers. It comes after the singer was pictured looking at diamond engagement rings at a Tiffany & Co. store in Los Angeles earlier this month. He has been dating model Katarina for almost three years. The Sydney-born musician said in March last year the couple was already talking marriage despite their young age. 'We're just taking life how it goes. But sure, I would love to get married to Kat one day,' the Without You star told Vogue Australia. Laroi, 19, whose real name is Charlton Howard, was seen kissing her hand and trying to plant a smooch on her cheek as they left popular eatery Sadelle's in the Soho area Both were dressed casually for the outing, with Katarina, 19, wearing a low-cut singlet top teamed with baggy jeans and Adidas sneakers During an earlier interview with The Kyle and Jackie O Show, Laroi revealed how he first met his girlfriend. The Indigenous Australian hip-hop star said he never expected to fall in love so young, but did so soon after relocating from Sydney to LA, where Katarina is based. 'We met through a mutual friend that I had when I came around here,' he said. 'Around the time that I met her, I just put out the whole F*ck Love project and was not in the vibe of love. But you can't control that type of stuff. It was so ironic.' Tina Lawson took to Instagram on Monday to gush about her daughter Beyonces Renaissance world tour after she performed in London, England. The 69-year-old mother of Queen Bey posted a short video praising her daughter and granddaughter for their performances. 'What a magical night this was. Oh my god, the concert was so good. The tribute to Tina Turner brought me to tears,' said Lawson. Tina also commented on her granddaughter, Blue Ivy, 11, who sent the crowd wild when she joined her mother on stage. 'My granddaughter, she killed it, guys, she killed it. What more can I ask for,' said Tina. Proud: Tina Lawson took to Instagram on Monday to gush about her daughter Beyonce s Renaissance world tour after she performed in London, England Emotional: The 69-year-old mother of Queen Bey praised her daughter and granddaughter for their performances while revealing the tribute for Tina Turner brought her to tears Beyonce, 41, also surprised fans in Paris on Friday as her eldest child joined her onstage alongside professional dancers for the songs My Power and Black Parade. After the performance, the proud mom shared an image of Blue Ivy dancing, captioned, 'My beautiful firstborn, Im so proud and thankful to be your mama. You bring us so much joy, my sweet angel.' The first snap showed Blue standing towards the front of the stage with her mother directly behind her. She wore a silver, glittering bodysuit along with metallic, baggy trousers, which were similar to Beyonce's stage ensemble. Her long locks were parted in the middle and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders while throwing on a pair of shades for an additional stylish touch. The Grammy winner then uploaded a short, slow-motion clip that showed her eldest child leading other dancers as they began to dance to choreography. Beyonce could be seen standing on a vehicle in the background while singing a few tracks to the excited audience. The last short reel showcased Blue appearing into the frame of the camera and flashing a quick smile before jumping back into the dance routine on stage. Mother and daughter duo: Beyonce left fans shocked when she brought out her daughter Blue Ivy (left) to perform Sweet: Beyonce sent the crowds wild when she brought out her eldest child Blue, 11, to dance with her on stage Highly-anticipated: Her Renaissance world tour could out-earn Taylor Swift's phenomenally successful Eras Tour by a whopping $600million, Forbes has revealed Impressive: Billionaire Beyonce could make nearly $2.2 billion from the tour, $600million more than the $1.6billion Taylor could earn The Crazy In Love hitmaker shares Blue along with twins Rumi and Sir, five, with husband Jay-Z. The Renaissance World Tour supports Beyonce's seventh studio album, Renaissance, which was one of the biggest albums of the summer of last year after the pop icon released the disco-inspired collection of dance songs. The concert series kicked off two weeks ago at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden with a slew of megahits, and a host of incredible ensembles for massive audiences of over 75,000 fans. The impressive show opens with an atmosphere-shattering mash-up of Dangerously In Love, Flaws And All, 1+1, Run The World (Girls), Love On Top, and more. Her looks comprised many incredible numbers, including glittering catsuits, epic metallic corsets, and barely-there mini dresses by several designers, including Alexander McQueen, Loewe, and David Koma. Proving a stage spectacular takes hard work; it has been reported that Beyonce travels with a body double who steps in during rehearsals to show the star what her dances look like from an audience perspective. So proud: Beyonce was a 'proud' mother as she shared a special Instagram tribute on Monday to daughter, Blue Ivy, 11, after performing live on stage during the Renaissance tour in Paris Smash hits: Her full setlist has been revealed as she is set to impress fans with a whole host of her smash hits, including Formation, Run The World (Girls) and Love on Top Queen Bey's 41-date tour, which ends in North America in September, could gross between $275 million and $2.57 billion from tickets alone - which smashes Taylor Swift's Eras Tour's $1.9 billion projection. The estimates are based on projected high numbers of fans buying tickets and increased average ticket prices of around $700, the publication reports. VIP packages for the tour range from $3757 to $5000. The estimate is also based on artists raking in a massive share of merchandise proceeds, leaving them with 80 percent of tour revenues, minus expenses. The Challenge winner Kiki Morris has sparked a wave of speculation she has married her Ibiza-based beau, Jorge Darek. Fans spotted the brunette bombshell wearing a ring in her latest slew of bikini photos with her also referring to herself as 'Mrs Darek' on Instagram. Kiki has remained tight-lipped about her possible nuptials but the star is clearly madly in love after a rush move to the party island. The star looks to be wearing two rings on her wedding finger with her regularly cooing over her hunky bodybuilder beau. Kiki packed up her life in Maroubra and headed to Madrid in March where she debuted her new boyfriend, Jorge Darek. The Challenge winner Kiki Morris sparked a wave of speculation she is married after fans spotted a ring and she now refers to herself as 'Mrs Darek' on Instagram. Left, Kiki. Right, Kiki's boyfriend, Jorge Darek She has shared numerous snippets from her new life over the past few months including her new glamorous apartment in Ibiza. She wrote in a post in February: 'It's not goodbye, it's see ya later. Last weekend in Sydney with my beautiful girls! Tomorrow is the day.' The pair were first spotted on a glamorous Mexican holiday in January this year. Kiki is a fan favourite from the franchise and was a fixture on Sydney's social scene before the Euro move. Kiki now refers to herself as 'Mrs Darek' on her Instagram bio Kiki packed up her life and headed to Madrid in March where she debuted her new boyfriend, Jorge Darek (left). They were spotted on a Mexican getaway in January Prior to debuting her relationship Morris quietly signed up to OnlyFans in December last year and has been selling raunchy photos and videos behind the paywall Prior to debuting her relationship Morris quietly signed up to OnlyFans in December last year and has been selling raunchy photos and videos behind the paywall. The former Bachelor star invited her followers to subscribe to her page for free and hoped to secure a sale once on board. 'Hi guys, I am so excited to finally join you all here. I will be sharing with you what you want to see feature on my page so let me know what you want to see of me, Or just stop and say hi,' she wrote in her initial post. Bachelor fans will remember Morris from Richie Strahan's season in 2016. She later starred in spin-off series Bachelor In Paradise. Amanda Holden ensured all eyes were on her during the first Britain's Got Talent semi-final on Monday as she slipped into a daring latex dress. The TV judge, 52, defied viewers who have regularly complained to Ofcom in the past about her racy outfit choices. Amanda showcased her hourglass figure in the canary garment which had a low-cut sweetheart neckline. The outfit also featured a pleated detail and a flowing train while Amanda added to her look with a pair of silver bejewelled earrings. Wearing her blonde locks in a poker straight style, the presenter added height to her frame with a pair of heels. Wow: Amanda Holden ensured all eyes were on her during the first Brtain's Got Talent semi-final on Monday as she slipped into a daring latex dress Stunning: Amanda showcased her hourglass figure in the canary garment which featured a low-cut sweetheart neckline Showing off her bronzed tan, Amanda completed her look with a a gold bracelet and matching rings. The star was on the Hammersmith Apollo Balcony alongside her fellow judge Bruno Tonioli on Monday just minutes before the live show kicked off. Amanda was seen taking snaps of former Strictly judge Bruno who looked dapper in a black suit with a gold shimmering detail on the blazer. It comes after Amanda insisted she she doesn't want any Ofcom complaints over her racy outfits on this year's series of the ITV talent show. The judge has previously sparked thousands of complaints to the regulator from viewers outraged over her revealing dresses on the live shows. But Amanda dismissed the criticism, telling MailOnline that those who take issue with her sartorial choices have 'too much time on their hands'. Bruno joined the judging panel this year and according to Amanda, has no problem showing off his dancer's physique. She joked: 'This is the problem, everyone talks about my t**s and his are out all the time. No Ofcom complaints about me this year please!' Snap: The star was on the Hammersmith Apollo Balcony alongside her fellow judge Bruno Tonioli on Monday just minutes before the live show kicked off Dapper: Amanda was seen taking snaps of former Strictly judge Bruno who looked dapper in a black suit with a gold shimmering detail on the blazer. Bruno also defended his co-star, saying: 'If you've got it, flaunt it! I don't understand this complaining. She's a beautiful woman.' Amanda previously sparked 235 Ofcom complaints during the 2020 series when she arrived on stage in a plunging navy gown some thought was inappropriate for a family show. Another revealing outfit the star donned became one of the most complained about TV moments of 2017, with 663 viewers contacting the regulator over it. Speaking out: Amanda recently insisted she doesn't want any Ofcom complaints over her racy outfits on this year's series of Britain's Got Talent Reaction: The judge has previously sparked thousands of complaints to the regulator from viewers outraged over her revealing dresses on the live shows The presenter wore the controversial 11,250 dress by Julien Macdonald, after admitting days earlier that she was seeking complaints once again, saying: 'Will people be complaining to Ofcom? I hope so, I really do.' Joking about how much attention her breasts and racy ensembles get, Amanda previously quipped that they need their own representation and will be going on Piers Morgan's Life Stories. She said: 'I am seriously thinking my girls need separate representation to me, because they are known on their own. They don't need me, they're going to go off and do Piers Morgan's Life Stories on their own next year! Elliot Page has reflected on how he first immersed himself into the LGBTQ+ community. The actor, 36, documented his experiences his memoir, Pageboy, in which he described his first meaningful kiss with a woman. Elliot publicly came out as a transgender man in December 2020 but revealed he began 'feeling like a boy' from the age of nine. In an extract shared by People, Elliot recalled being in a gay bar just a few months before the premiere of his breakout 2008 movie Juno. At the bar he met a woman named Paula, who unwittingly helped him address the feelings of 'shame' he had. Tell all: Elliot Page has reflected on how he first immersed himself into the LGBTQ+ community in his new memoir titled Pageboy He wrote: 'Dancing, sweat dripping down my back, down my chest. I watched Paula's hair twist and bounce as she moved effortlessly, chaotic but controlled, sensual and strong. 'I would catch her looking at me, or was it the other way around? We wanted to be caught. Deer in the headlights. Startled, but not breaking.' Having asked if he could kiss her, he continued: 'And then I did. In a queer bar. In front of everyone around us. I was coming to understand what all those poems were about, what all the fuss was. 'Everything was cold before, motionless, emotionless. Any woman I had loved hadn't loved me back, and the one who maybe had, loved me the wrong way. 'But here I was, on a dance floor with a woman who wanted to kiss me and the antagonizing, cruel voice that flooded my head whenever I felt desire was silent.' Elliot also looked at how the bar helped him address his feelings of shame. He penned: 'Shame had been drilled into my bones since I was my tiniest self, and I struggled to rid my body of that old toxic and erosive marrow. 'But there was a joy in the room, it lifted me, forced a reaction in the jaw, an uncontrolled, steady smile.' 'In front of everyone around us': The actor, 36, who will release his tell-all on June 6, described his first meaningful kiss with a woman after visiting a gay bar Elliot was paid 'north of $3M' to write his 288-page tell-all, which Flatiron Books will publish on June 6. The two-time Emmy-nominated producer came out as a lesbian in 2014 during a speech at the Human Rights Campaign's 'Time to Thrive' conference in Las Vegas. Elliot kicks off his nine-date international book tour on June 6 at The Town Hall in Midtown Manhattan, and future dates will be announced soon. It's unclear if Elliot is still dating non-binary comedian Mae Martin after the pair got matching tattoos and suited up for the 11th Annual LACMA Art + Film Gala on November 5. Elliot's divorce from Canadian dancer Emma Portner was finalized in 2021 after two years of marriage. Charlotte Crosby showcased her incredible figure in a blue cut-out swimsuit whilst taking a dip in the pool during her latest sunshine break in Ibiza. The Geordie Shore star, 33, looked radiant while going make-up free as she enjoyed her sun-soaked break eight months after giving birth to her first child in October. Charlotte sported a natural look with minimal jewellery and long wavy locks, after recently joking about how she feels like 'a sexy MILF'. The new mum has been busy shooting a campaign for her brand, Pepper Girls Club, whilst away on the Balearic party island - her first trip of note since becoming a mother. Charlotte and her boyfriend Jake Ankers welcomed their daughter Alba Jean last October. Her slender physique could well be the result of her fitness app, BlitznBurn, an online community that gives subscribers access to the same personal trainers she employed while embarking on her own fitness journey. Looking good: Charlotte Crosby showcased her incredible figure in a blue cut-out swimsuit whilst taking a dip in the pool during her latest sunshine break in Ibiza Toned and trim: The Geordie Shore star looked radiant while going make-up free as she enjoyed her sun-soaked break eight months after giving birth to her first child in October Bare-faced: Charlotte sported a natural look with minimal jewellery and long wavy locks, after recently joking about how she feels like 'a sexy MILF' Charlotte felt confident as she posted a picture in her collection with In The Style and captioned: 'Im Not afraid to say it!!! right here in this moment I felt a MILF a massive SEXY MILF. SOMEBODY STOP ME.' The term MILF was famously coined in teen movie American Pie over two decades ago in 1999, referring to Stifler's Mom, played by Jennifer Coolidge, now 61. The star revealed being a mother 'is the best job she ever had', after she appeared on Steph's Packed Lunch in March 2023. Discussing being a parent, Charlotte gushed: 'I absolutely love it. This is by far the best job I have ever had in my whole entire life. Honestly, there's no feeling like it.' She said she gets more sleep as a parent then she did before, adding: 'I've got a baby that loves to sleep.' Charlotte is currently focusing on her BBC series, Charlotte in Sunderland. The Geordie Shore OG recently jetted off to Cyprus with the rest of the cast to film the summer series but got cut short. It was recently reported the majority of the cast became to ill to film and so had to fly home early. Busy girl: The new mum has been busy shooting a campaign for her brand, Pepper Girls Club, whilst away on the Balearic party island Fitness first: Her slender physique could well be the result of her fitness app, BlitznBurn Don't mind me: But Charlotte was hard to miss during her latest appearance in Ibiza Getting the message: The TV personality checked her phone as she walked back to her sunlounger The good life: Charlotte reached for her bag as she prepared toc recline on her lounger Despite leaving early, the mother-of-one will continue to film for the new series back in the UK. Last year, OG cast members including Charlotte, returned to screens together, 11 years after the reality show first aired in 2011. Original Geordie Shore paved the way for the success of its American equivalent, Jersey Shore, and follows a group of young adults from Newcastle as they move into a house together. The reunion series included a group holiday, a long-awaited wedding and a party in the Geordie Shore house. The new series was dubbed the 'ultimate Geordie throwback' as original cast members made it their mission to organise the reunion. Upbeat: She appeared to be in high spirits while soaking up the sun on the Mediterranean island Picture perfect: Charlotte lowered herself onto her knees while taking a picture of her bag New mum: Charlotte and her boyfriend Jake Ankers welcomed their daughter Alba Jean last October Sink or swim: TheTV personality lowered her feet into the outdoor pool as she prepared for a dip An ill wind: It looked a little breezy on the party island as Charlotte relaxed poolside Phillip Schofield's scandalous exit from This Morning has sent fans of The Morning Show into a tailspin, after they noted the real-life drama is akin to the chaos that besets Jennifer Aniston in the AppleTV+ series. The first season of the drama focused on presenter Alex Levy, who is forced to weather the storm of her co-anchor, Mitch Kessler's #MeToo scandal. And after Phillip's bombshell admission that he had an affair with a This Morning colleague, fans were quick to note the show was a case of art imitating life. One eagle-eyed fan also took to Twitter to note that in another hilarious twist of fate, Holly and Phillip made a cameo in The Morning Show, appearing in the background of a scene where Alex is embroiled in a row with show bosses. The screenshot was reposted by one fan, who wrote: 'Holly Willoughby is literally Jennifer Aniston in The Mornin Show. A show that they also featured in the background on... full circle moment? Or subliminal messages?' Familiar? Phillip Schofield's exit from This Morning has sent fans of The Morning Show into a tailspin, as his cameo in the series alongside Holly Willoughby resurfaced Shocking! This Morning has been surrounded by chaos since Schofield was forced to admit in a statement that he had lied about his relationship with the younger man to ITV Another added: 'Sorry but I haven't seen anyone draw the obvious comparison between #TheMorningShow and #ThisMorning stuff - very on the nose?? 'Like everybody yapping about what ifs and who knew - it's all covered in season one pretty fantastically no?' A third added: 'We're basically watching #TheMorningShow in real life loool.' One eagle-eyed fan also shared: 'This whole @thismorning drama feels like watching @TheMorningShow in real time.' The eery similarities between The Morning Show and This Morning's real-life drama were echoed by The Daily Mail columnist Nadine Dorries. She wrote: 'When I was approached to host my own TV programme, a producer friend suggested I watch The Morning Show, a hit series starring Jennifer Aniston as a news anchor. 'The behind-the-scenes look at a fictional, New York-based daily breakfast show would give me an understanding of how such programmes are made, my friend said. 'It was good advice. It was also good television. I was gripped, binge-watching every episode. And, as the Phillip Schofield saga played out this past week, I was reminded of one in particular. Look who it is! As Holly and Phil's famous cameo resurfaced, many fans took to social media to note the pair's scandal was a case of life imitating art 'The series kicks off with breaking news: Aniston's co-anchor, Mitch Kessler, is caught up in a #MeToo scandal. It's a familiar story. 'A dominant man using his position as a powerful and trusted figure in order to exploit, in this case, junior staff desperate to progress their careers in a fiercely competitive industry. 'Chaos ensues, and both the ratings and the network's share price plummet. 'Kessler protests his innocence, despite the evidence against him and then tries to take everyone down with him. 'In episode three, Aniston's character Alex Levy wants to interview one of Kessler's victims live on the show. Her bosses, desperate to limit further damage to the network, insist the victim is unreliable and can only have a short segment. 'During the heated discussion that follows, there is, bizarrely and for no apparent reason, a blink-and-you'll-miss-it clip of Phil and Holly in action on one of the giant studio screens in the background. (The British sofa duo were so delighted with their five-second appearance that they noted it on their own show.) 'Was that clip in that context purely co-incidental? Probably . . . But at the time I wondered how likely it was that a real U.S. TV station would be running a feed of a mid-morning, British magazine show such as This Morning. 'If I was given to conspiracy theories, I'd be thinking there was a subliminal message there: a nod to the fact that Phillip Schofield's conduct was one of the best-kept secrets in showbusiness.' It comes as car dealer Arnold Clark, the show's biggest sponsor, announced it will be ending its existing multi-million-pound deal with the channel in autumn as planned. The company's multi-year deal with This Morning began in September 2021, but the car dealer has confirmed it will not be renewed when the contract ends later this year. This Morning has been surrounded by chaos since Schofield was forced to admit in a statement to the Daily Mail on Friday that he had lied about his relationship with the younger man to ITV, his lawyers, his talent agency and his co-star of 14 years. Last night the scandal showed no signs of easing with new photos emerging of a smiling Schofield with his former lover and Holly Willoughby in 2018 as they left a This Morning Live event. And the Mail revealed that while ITV insists that it held an investigation into the men's relationship when rumours began to circulate in 2020, the host's former lover said he had never been quizzed over the matter. Willoughby is understood to be battling to maintain her presenting role on the show and hopes to ride out the scandal. She has been off-air since Schofield's sudden departure, however, this was due to planned holiday for the school half-term break. The presenter, who has fronted the show for 14 years, is expected to make a return to the programme on Monday, June 5. Shocking: The first season of the drama focused on presenter Alex Levy (played by Jennifer Aniston), who is forced to weather the storm of her co-anchor, Mitch Kessler's #MeToo scandal But Willoughby is facing calls for her to also leave the show, with former culture secretary Nadine Dorries claiming the popular presenter 'has questions to answer'. Since Schofield dramatically left the programme earlier this month, photos of the long-time host have been removed from ITV studios in White City. A large framed picture of him which hung in Television Centre in London where the show is filmed was also removed. Some have called for the mid-morning show to be cancelled all together, with the editor who launched it 36 years ago calling for it to 'die with dignity' yesterday evening. Eamonn Holmes' decision to launch a full frontal attack on Phillip Schofield is the most explosive episode yet of the pair's vicious feud. The veteran presenter, 63, pulled no punches in his criticism of Phillip, 61, claiming in a TV interview that he would take his younger lover out for 'playtime' on Thursday nights followed by trysts at his 1million London bolthole. Just as striking was the personal nature of the onslaught, with Eamonn describing Phillip in a TV interview as the 'chief narcissist' who didn't know the names of any of his staff. It came hours after Eamonn branded his enemy 'delusional' and 'a liar'. None of this rancour will surprise long-term watchers of the pair, who have observed what appeared to be a friendly professional relationship break down in the most public way possible. Eamonn Holmes - a broadcasting institution of over five decades - has known Phillip for most of his professional life. They are pictured together on This Morning in 2013 Yesterday Phillip issued a statement denying claims of a 'toxic' atmosphere at This Morning Eamonn later described the statement as 'delusional', adding: 'Believe me Pip if ur looking for a fight u have picked on the wrong person' Eamonn - a broadcasting institution of over five decades - has known Phillip for most of his professional life. They began working together on This Morning in 2006 when Eamonn joined the programme four years after his rival. The men were never close, but appreciated each others broadcasting styles and worked professionally alongside each other, according to insiders. READ MORE - Eamonn Holmes claims Schofield ferried show runner between his 1m flat and This Morning studio for trysts in taxis paid for by ITV Advertisement But all that changed in 2019, when Eamonns wife and This Morning co-host Ruth Langsford filed an official complaint against Phillip. While working on Loose Women, Ruth was cut off mid-link by Phillip as she was explaining what was coming up on the show during a mini-segment on This Morning. Phillip said: 'Guys, we're going to have to jump in there and stop you I'm afraid because we're a bit tight for time at this end. Thank you, Ruth.' A clearly unimpressed Ruth responded: 'Well I only had about two more words to say,' and looked away from the camera. Speaking about the incident in the Daily Mails Weekend magazine in February 2022, Eamonn went public in his condemnation of Phillip, saying Ruth is one of many people in the industry to be snubbed by the presenter. He said: 'Phillip is renowned for snubbing people. Hes very passive-aggressive. Its up to Ruth to say how she felt, but I was feeling hurt for her. No one would have snubbed me like that.' He added. 'I don't go for presenters who think they have a special privilege or aura or influence.' Despite obvious tension between the trio, the following month Eamonn and Ruth presented This Morning for a segment in 2020 which saw Phillip come out Following a backlash at Eamonn's 'crass' jokes, Phillip tweeted that he appreciated Holmes trying to lighten the mood, tweeting that Eamonn and Ruth had been 'utterly magnificent with me' The uncomfortable relationship between Eamonn, Ruth and Phillip spilled out in front of a live television audience during the 2020 NTAs, when Phillip passed a trophy won by This Morning to Ruth during an acceptance speech, giving her the chance to say a few words. And in the press room afterwards when the This Morning team posed up with their trophy, Eamonn attempted to take the gong off Phillip, suggesting he was taking all the glory. Timeline of the Phillip Schofield scandal September 2022 - Schofield and Ms Willoughby are criticised for failing to queue for the Queen's Lying in State. ITV insisted the pair were there to report from the venue. April 2023 - Phillip is absent from This Morning for two weeks while his brother Timothy, 54, is tried at Exeter Crown Court for sexually abusing a teenage boy. April 3 - Timothy Schofield is found guilty of 'emotionally blackmailing' the teenager into performing sex acts and watching porn with him. May 10 - Reports emerge that Schofield and Ms Willoughby are 'barely speaking'. A day later he issues a statement calling her 'my rock'. May 15 - The pair present a united front while presenting This Morning, but rumours of a feud continue. They are said to have fallen out due to Schofield's failure to warn her of his brother's trial. May 20 - Schofield announces he is stepping down from This Morning with 'immediate effect'. May 22 - Stand-in presenters Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond pay tribute to their former colleague as 'one of the best live television broadcasters this country has ever had'. May 26 - Schofield releases a statement admitting he'd had an affair with a 'much younger' colleague but then lied about it. May 27 - Ms Willoughby blasts him for lying to her. May 28 - This Morning's former resident doctor Dr Ranj Singh hits out at the show's 'toxic' culture. May 29 - Schofield releases a statement denying claims the show had a toxic culture, only for Eamonn Holmes to slam him as 'delusional' on Twitter. Advertisement Despite obvious tension between the trio, the following month Eamonn and Ruth presented This Morning for a segment in 2020 which saw Phillip come out. Phillip, sitting down alongside Holly on the sofa, hugged Ruth and Eamonn several times, saying thank you to his co-hosts over and over again. After being commended for his bravery by Ruth, Eammon added: 'Phillip, nobody should be embarrassed about their sexuality. 'Its fantastic that so many people will be strengthened by what you said.' Despite the outward scenes of unity, Eammon made a number of poor-taste jokes that now appear telling. He quipped: "I am disappointed in a couple of ways. First of all, I thought you were going to come in and announce you had resigned and I could have your job, but that wasn't to be." He then jokingly complained that it had been a "great imponderable in life" that Phillip's wife Steph and Holly husband Dan Baldwin never had "a problem" with the two hosts sharing a hot tub together. Following a backlash, Phillip tweeted that he appreciated Holmes trying to lighten the mood, tweeting that Eamonn and Ruth had been 'utterly magnificent with me'. He added: "And for the record, @EamonnHolmes made me laugh, he lightened a very emotional moment and I'm very happy that he did." Eamonn liked that tweet, and also shared his own message of support on social media by writing: "A picture paints a thousand words. "This is a man who was in pain, who today confided in Ruth and I and who knows we stand in support of him, his family and his sexuality.... Also unlike some, he appreciated a laugh to break the tension. @Schofe hoping you find happiness." Tensions between the pair bubbled on throughout 2020, with Eamonn reportedly left furious when Phillip misspelled his name in every single reference to him in his newly released memoir, Life Is What You Make It. Eamonn, with two ns, is raging. How did no one pick up on this in 400 pages? a source told The Sun. If its a joke, Eamonn certainly wasnt in on it and the error has ruffled feathers, yet again. A second source defended Phillip and called the mistake 'a genuine typo'. In November 2021, Eamonn and Ruth were controversially axed from This Morning after 15 years and replaced on the Friday show by Dermot OLeary and Alison Hammond. Eamonn was particularly aggrieved about being let go by ITV, claiming he was never given an accurate reason. His culling was made even more frustrating by his belief Phillip had been given unwavering support by ITV, despite his behaviour off set, a belief shared by Phillips former co-host Fern Britton and Amanda Holden, who briefly hosted This Morning alongside him in 2015, while Holly was on maternity leave. Eamonn Holmes, Ruth Langsford, Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield used to be the faces of This Morning (pictured in 2020) Eamonn, 63, co-hosted ITV's Friday instalment of This Morning for 15 years with his wife Ruth, 63 and they covered for Phil and Holly during the holidays (pictured in 2013) The incident confirmed Eamonn's belief that Phillip had constantly been feted despite his poor behaviour behind the scenes, sources claimed. "They're two very different characters, Eamonn who knows everyone's name from the tea lady upwards, remembers everyone,' one insider told The Mirror. READ MORE - Phillip Schofield scandal explained: Full timeline of the ITV crisis and what happens next Advertisement "We have Phillip who didn't know anyone's name and would only talk to people if they were helpful to him or gave him a step up the ladder. "Eamonn was never given a break, Phillip was the guy that could do 'no wrong', he had so much power, he had investment, many of the stars and acts were from Phillip's old agency, YMU.' Following a move to GB News, Eamonn appeared less restrained in his public criticism of Phillip and Holly, with the star liking a meme that mocked the pair for 'jumping the queue' at the Queen's lying in state last year. But his obvious disdain for Phillip cranked up several notches during his public fallout with Holly, which prompted his decision on May 20 to resign from This Morning with 'immediate effect'. Eamonn hit out at Phil and Holly in September, accusing them both of 'lying' about not skipping the queue to see the Queen lying in state The presenters faced fury after images of them appearing to 'skip the queue' emerged while tens of thousands of mourners patiently waited This prompted an Instagram post from Holly which described how the This Morning sofa wouldn't 'feel the same' without him. Afterwards, Eamonn laid into the terminology used in both their statements. 'All this nonsense of ''I've decided to step down''. I'm sure you did - here's your P45 now step down,' he told GB News. On Holly, he added: 'And she says: "Oh, the couch will not be the same without him being there". Well she wanted him not there. So what is she moaning about. They deserve each other I suppose.' He continued: 'Holly is being as false as he is and nobody is talking about the elephant in the room. 'She says 'I thank him for all his knowledge, experience and humour'. All the things that she didn't have when she came to the show. Well it's true! I would call that stabbing in the back. 'I could give you a list of the lack of kindness and lack of awareness from both of them. How they would socialise, and the people around them. 'You just have to look at my phone, full of people who are glad to see the back of the two of them.' Eamonn criticised a statement in which Phillip claimed he had chosen to 'step down', describing the suggestion as 'nonsense' Yesterday, Eamonn was quick to attack a statement Phillip had put out denying claims the atmosphere at This Morning had become 'toxic', insisting it was 'the best programme to work on'. In response Eamonn tweeted: 'Schofield has just put out a delusional statement. Like Holly he puts it on Insta Stories so if it goes wrong there is no record after 24 hrs. 'I'm reluctant to give the liar any more publicity but believe me Pip if u r looking for a fight, u have picked on the wrong person!' But none of this compares with Eamonn's comments about Phillip during a sit-down interview last night, which saw the presenter unveil a series of damaging new claims about his affair with a younger colleague. He told fellow GB News presenter Dan Wootton that he had decided to stand up for 'people who hadn't got a voice', and revealed that the younger man, whom MailOnline has decided not to name, had been badly hurt by Phillip. He said: 'Thursday was playtime when he and Phillip would hit the town and then he obviously stayed overnight. There are records to show that he was brought in the next day separately in cars paid for by ITV.' Calling the younger man 'lovely', and a 'really good talented fella', he said the taxi to work on a Friday morning was part of a 'cover-up' by ITV bosses. Eamonn has not pulled his punches on social media. In this post, he backed calls for Phillip and Holly to be sacked He said: 'Unless Phillip paid the bills separately, it would still have to go through the accounts office. They would have seen that and known.' A second interview will follow tonight, with Eamonn unlikely to be any more restrained in his attack on his former colleague. Explaining his thinking, a source said earlier this month: 'Eamonn thinks whats happened to Phillip is karma. 'If youre good to people on your way up and at the top, usually people will fight your corner. 'But because Phillip has never really believed in that mantra, he thinks hes paying for it now.' She's known for showcasing her jaw-dropping figure on social media. And Lottie Moss was at it again on Monday as she posed topless while wearing nothing more than a white thong in her latest seductive Instagram video. The OnlyFans model, 25, put on a confident display as she showed off her assets while protecting her modesty with a raised arm as she worked it for the camera. She also gave a glimpse of her abs and numerous tattoos - among them the questionable inking on her face - as she posed in the underwear. Lottie, the half-sister of catwalk legend Kate Moss, wore her long blonde tresses in loose waves over her shoulders while opting for natural makeup dominated by a light pink lipstick. Racy: Lottie Moss was at it again on Monday as she posed topless wearing nothing but a white thong in a seductive Instagram video Seductive: She also gave a glimpse of her toned abs and many tattoos as she put on a confident display in the underwear (L), before changing into a black and white bikini set (R) Wow! The OnlyFans model put on a confident display as she showed off her assets while protecting her modesty with a raised arm as she worked it for the camera Wow: Lottie looked great in a bandeau top and high rise bottoms, which both featured a white lining around the hem Posing up a storm: The model larked around for the cameras as she showed off her figure The subscription only model offered fans a sultry display as she posed in a hotel room backtracked to music. Shortly after the star gave fans another glimpse of her incredible figure as she slipped into a black and white bikini set. She opted for a bandeau top and high rise bottoms, which both featured a white lining around the hem. Ensuring she was ready for the hot weather, she covered her face with a pair of sunglasses and once again sent temperatures soaring. The posts come after it was revealed Lottie has split from the Australian model Daniel Steel earlier this week, just four months after confirming their romance. The OnlyFans star went public with her ex-boyfriend, who also works as a firefighter, in January as they spent time together in Perth. But in a new interview, she's revealed the nine thousand miles between them prompted her to break off their relationship. Speaking on the latest episode of the Headstrong podcast, hosted by Louis Strong, she explained, 'My current situation is that I am single. We broke up. Over! Her sizzling snaps comes after it was revealed Lottie has split from the Australian model Daniel Steel earlier this week , just four months after confirming their romance Happier times: The OnlyFans star went public with her ex-boyfriend, who also works as a firefighter, in January as they spent time together in Perth 'It was long distanced, and it was just too difficult for me. He was happy to give it a go, but I wasnt feeling that. 'He wasnt up for moving here and I was planning a move to Los Angeles at the time, and he didnt want to move there either and I didnt want to live in Perth, so it was like, where is this going? I am single now and ready to mingle.' Lottie may have enjoyed a string of high-profile flings with the likes of Brooklyn Beckham, Alex Mytton, Sam Prince and Tristan Evans - but she doesn't look back at them all fondly. She joked, 'At the beginning I was attracting sewer rats and now I am attracting really good guys. I was attracting the worse of the worse, I could write a book. 'I treat myself better and I am much more attractive now I am not going out and getting wasted. I felt so self-conscious before when I went out and met guys but now, Im like damn b****. Back in January, Lottie went public with Daniel, sharing a slew of loved up clips with the hunky model and firefighter to her Instagram Stories. At the time, it was reported the beauty was being 'spoiled' by her new man, who even romantically surprised her with a hotel room of rose petals. Opening up: But in a new interview, she's revealed the nine thousand miles between them prompted her to break off their relationship Lottie arrived in Australia earlier that month to visit her then-new boyfriend, who is a part time firefighter and model. And not shying away from taking the relationship public, the beauty has shared a collection of loved-up snaps with Daniel. According to The Sun, a source said: 'Lottie and Daniel have really hit it off. 'They have lots in common and hes a great guy just what she was looking for. He has really been spoiling her and she is loving every moment of it.' The duo enjoyed a date to Perth Zoo as Daniel showed London-born Lottie some of the sights. But before that, the half-sister of Kate Moss filmed her shirtless beau in the kitchen as he whipped up some breakfast for them. And later sharing a monochrome video of Daniel asleep on her chest, she dubbed him 'a baby' while stroking his head and beaming. Before the new romance, Lottie was last believed to be in a relationship with American music producer beau Cody Colacino but they split in November 2022. Jamie Laing's nightmare honeymoon with new wife Sophie Habboo went from bad to worse on Tuesday as his luggage got lost while jetting across countries in a bid to make it to South America. The Made In Chelsea star updated fans on the latest tragedy as he revealed on Instagram that amid all the jet-setting his luggage had been lost. Revealing that he was 'beginning to lose his patience' as this point, the newlywed shared a selfie in front of his upset looking wife. He shared: '32hrs later we arrive in Panama @sophiehabboo luggage is here. Mine isn't... it's been left in Columbia... patience is starting to go now [angry face emojis].' It was the latest tragedy to beset the pair after he revealed they were forced to visit no less than four countries in just 24 hours in a bid to get to their honeymoon destination. Another blow: Jamie Laing 's nightmare honeymoon with new wife Sophie Habboo went from bad to worse on Tuesday as his luggage got lost while jetting across countries Earlier in the day, he shared a selfie as he wrote: 'Finally on flight two back to the UK from Amsterdam. This one was delayed 2.5 hours.' The TV personality shared a snap of Sophie looking at her phone while sat in the window seat of their plane as they jetted off on their third flight of the day to Columbia. Sharing a selfie of the couple looking less than impressed, the TV personality kept followers up-to-date and revealed his new wife had managed to stay calm despite the fiasco. He wrote: 'Now we're on a bus to a different terminal back in the UK.... This is mad. Proud @sohpiehabboo hasn't lost it yet'. He later added that he thought they were 'being pranked' as they also had no idea where in the world their luggage had found itself. Jamie continued: 'We're now put on different flights to Columbia and our luggage is still in Amsterdam... I think we're being pranked....' Once landing in Columbia in the very early hours of the morning, the Made In Chelsea star shared a video as the couples 'journey continued'. He said laughing: 'A little update for anyone who cares. We have arrived in Bogota in Columbia it's 3:15am. 'We now have to change flights and go to Panama and then change again to get to the other place. 'We don't even know if our luggage is with us because we think it's still in Amsterdam. The journey continues, isn't that right honey,' as Sophie trailed behind him in the airport. 'I think we're being pranked': Jamie updated Instagram fans on Tuesday as he and Sophie added another episode to their ongoing series of honeymoon nightmares 'Delayed 2.5 hours': The Made In Chelsea stars revealed they had returned back to the UK from Amsterdam and jetted off on their third flight of the day to Columbia Off to a different terminal: Sharing a selfie of the couple looking less than impressed, Jamie kept followers up-to-date and revealed his new wife 'hasn't lost it yet' over the chaos Third flight: Sophie looked exhausted in a grey sweatshirt and matching tracksuit bottoms and cap as Jamie revealed the newlywed have no idea where their luggage is Nightmare: He later added that he thought they were 'being pranked' as they also had no idea where their luggage is in the world Update: Once landing in Columbia in the very early hours of the morning, the MIC star shared a video as the couples 'journey continued' 'This is a total f*** up'! On Monday Jamie first revealed his honeymoon nightmare as he and Sophie are forced to visit four countries in 24 hours due to flight chaos It comes after Jamie originally revealed on Monday the nightmare the happy couple were experiencing while jetting off to a lavish location for their honeymoon. He wrote: 'This is WILD... We're on our honeymoon to South America, connecting flight to Amsterdam. 'KLM are delayed but we still have time to make our flight. Without warning, they take us off our connecting flight. 'So now we have to fly back to London, then fly to Colombia, then fly to Panama, and then fly to our honeymoon destination. This is a total f*** up. Thanks @klm.' He then added: 'This actually means @sophiehabboo and I will visit four countries in 24 hours.' MailOnline has contacted KLM for more information. Jamie and Sophie tied the knot in an incredible ceremony in Spain earlier this month. However it wasn't all plain sailing in the lead up to the big day, as Sophie admitted during a row that Jamie revealed his plans to divorce her. Speaking on the new episode of their Nearlyweds podcast, Sophie revealed details a of a row where Jamie said: 'Urgh, I've got to stay married to you for at least a year.' Jamie explained that they would have to remain married for at least 12 months, otherwise people would comment that it was a short marriage. Something to say: He shared this post about their travels so far and posted angry and sad emojis Love: Jamie and Sophie tied the knot in an incredible ceremony in Spain earlier this month On the Instagram page for the podcast, the couple shared a teaser from the episode, which was released after their second wedding ceremony in Sotogrande. The video was captioned: 'Jamie's plan to divorce Sophie after a year?! 1 day until THE WEDDING & we're just so excited so here's a little sneak peak at what's to come in next week's BIG WED POD.' At the start of the clip, Jamie told Sophie: 'It's so funny how our minds work because you're now so content that you're married to me.' Sophie then replied: 'And you're a little nervous Nancy.' Admitting she was right, Jamie said: 'Now I'm the stressed one. Joking that it was due to their recent legal marriage ceremony, which was held at Chelsea Registry Office, Sophie said: 'Because you're so upset you've married me. You're like f**k I'm locked in.' She revealed that Jamie previously revealed his plans to stay married to her for at least a year if things between them go south, saying: 'Once he said during an argument, "urgh I've got to stay married to you for at least a year. I was like, f**k you!' Clarifying his viewpoint, Jamie admitted: 'Yeah that's true. If it was before a year, everyone would be like well that was short. But a year, then you're like that's alright.' Shocking! Sophie recently admitted that during a row that Jamie revealed his plans to divorce her Just married! Jamie explained that they would have to remain married for at least 12 months, otherwise people would comment that it was a short marriage Joking that it was due to their recent legal marriage ceremony, which was held at Chelsea Registry Office, Sophie said: 'Because you're so upset you've married me. You're like f**k I'm locked in' She revealed that Jamie previously revealed his plans to stay married to her for at least a year if things between them go south, saying: 'Once he said during an argument, "urgh I've got to stay married to you for at least a year. I was like, f**k you!' Sophie then quipped: 'I'm going to slowly put Candy Kittens in my name, so you're locked in forever baby! Joking, everyone's going to think I'm a gold digger.' The couple tied the knot in their second wedding ceremony in Spain earlier this month. The former Made In Chelsea stars, who got married in front of their loved ones in south west London weeks before, said 'I do' in a grand ceremony after their legal ceremony The loved-up newlyweds have now shared their professional wedding video to Instagram, which includes all of the MIC original cast. Sophie looked elegant as she donned an embroidered white wedding dress with a huge lace veil. Jamie could be seen beaming as he wore a black suit with a matching bow tie and a white shirt, as he walked arm-in-arm with Sophie's friend Georgie Le Roux on arrival. Sophie and Jamie gave a glimpse of the lavish venue Sotogrande, the largest privately owned residential development in Andalusia. The couple shared a passionate kiss in front of the sunset after saying I do, as well as at the end of the aisle in front of their friends and family. Smitten: The former Made In Chelsea stars, who got married in front of their loved ones in London last month, said 'I do' in a grand ceremony after their legal ceremony weeks earlier Incredible: Sophie, 29, looked elegant as she donned an embroidered white wedding dress with a huge lace veil Dapper: Jamie posed alongside his wedding party, who were all matching in black tuxedos, before the ceremony Speech: They were joined by Spencer Matthews, who was reunited with Jamie in Spain this week after Jamie failed to invite him to his UK wedding to Sophie in London last month The pair were joined by a number of their famous friends, including fellow former Made In Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh who looked resplendent in lemon yellow, while Love Island's Zara McDermott wore a floor-length blue dress with a thigh-high split and ruffled detail. Spencer Matthews was reunited with Jamie in Spain this week after Jamie failed to invite him to his UK wedding to Sophie in London last month. His fellow Made In Chelsea star Ollie Locke, 36, went shirtless as he wore a black dinner jacket and matching trousers for the evening. Ollie was seen arriving with his series co-star Olivia Bentley who looked glamorous in an off-the-shoulder red dress with keyhole detail at the front. Alongside the sweet clip, Jamie wrote: 'It happened.. To find true Love you must first find a true Friend' 'What an amazing night. I want to say thank you to all of our family and friends who came and have had to put up with all of our content over the past year But viewing figures were up as Hammond and O'Leary hosted yesterday This Morning's viewing figures rose by nearly 100,000 in a week as Britons tuned in to watch Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary address claims of a 'toxic' culture within the show amid Phillip Schofield's affair scandal. Schofield, 61, resigned from ITV on Friday after admitting to the affair with a significantly younger male colleague, before the show's former resident doctor Dr Ranj Singh said he had raised concerns over 'bullying and discrimination' two years earlier. Despite the chaos engulfing the show, viewing figures surged as the stand-in hosts tried to put a lid on the backlash. A total of 797,000 people tuned in to watch Monday's episode, peaking at 996,000. That was a significant jump on the 703,000 viewers who tuned in on May 22 - with a peak of 918,000. Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary address claims of a 'toxic' culture within the show yesterday Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby pictured presenting This Morning together earlier this month Alison and Dermot are understood to have felt let down after the revelations about their beleaguered former colleague Schofield emerged last week - just days after the pair had made a gushing on-air tribute to the presenter. READ MORE: Dr. Ranj Singh issues formal statement after photo of himself with beleaguered former This Morning host Phillip Schofield's young lover resurfaces Speaking out: Dr. Ranj Singh has issued a formal statement after a photo featuring himself alongside disgraced former This Morning host Phillip Schofield 's young lover resurfaced this week Advertisement Body language expert Judi James said the co-presenters 'leaned on each other for support' during an 'excruciating' opening to the show as they addressed the Schofield scandal yesterday. The pair appeared to reference the claims of 'toxicity' as he presented Monday's episode of the show, with O'Leary saying: 'We all know we happen to be in the news at the moment and of course we appreciate that but just from both of us, the whole team here, the crew, the guys downstairs, we love making this show for all of you.' Co-host Hammond added: 'We really do and that's exactly what we are going to do, we are going to continue to do that.' Gyles Brandreth, who was in the studio to review the news stories of the day, said: 'We are very happy to be here, can I say that as well? 'This is a happy place to work, I enjoy coming in here and have done since I began coming in. We are happy people in a happy place.' Ms James told MailOnline: 'Alison and Dermot performed a very telling gesture of unity and mutual support as they engaged in eye contact while doing the kind of tough-guy hand clasp that gladiators might have used before going into the arena. 'It looked touching and showed how badly they needed each other for support on this challenging morning.' She added: 'As Dermot began with an emphatic ''Now...'' his head dipped and his brows raised. ''We are in the news at the moment...'' saw Alison nod and bare her lower teeth in what looked like a micro-gesture of anger. '''We love making this show for you'' was Dermot's rebound line as he clapped his hands together and Alison made a cutting, lidding gesture with her right hand to suggest a desire to keep control. End: On Friday, Phillip, 61, quit ITV and was dropped by his talent agency YMU after admitting to an affair with a younger This Morning colleague Alison and Dermot are understood to have felt let down after the revelations about their beleaguered former colleague Schofield emerged last week 'The lowest point came as Gyles Brandreth tried to chip in to help them once they were on the sofa. Trying to sound like some kind of jolly dad he threw in that it was ''A happy place to work'', at which point Dermot hid his face behind his mug in a complete cut-off gesture that left only his tired-looking eyes showing and Alison looked down at the table as though unwilling to share her feelings at all. 'Dermot performed an embarrassed act of self-diminishing, pulling his upper arms into his torso and stuffing his hands between his legs as though trying to make himself look as small as possible. As he self-hugged, Alison's eye expression projected sadness.' It comes as Eamonn Holmes branded Schofield 'delusional' after the under-fire host issued a statement insisting there had been 'no toxicity' at This Morning. Holmes has been critic of Schofield for a number of years, believing he would get his 'comeuppance' for the way he's treated others - including wife Ruth Langsford. He told Dan Wootton on GB News that he does not think Holly Willoughby will return to the This Morning sofa and called on her to follow Schofield 'close out the door'. The former stand-in presenter on This Morning also weighed in on claims of 'toxicity' at This Morning, saying that Schofield was 'so rude' and 'Holly doesn't know people's names either'. Speaking out for the first time about the show since leaving, Schofield hit out at those 'with a grudge against me' Predicting that Willoughby won't return to the show after the school half-term break, Holmes told Dan Wootton on GB News, the channel he now works for: 'I don't think you will ever see Holly Willoughby back on the couch.' He went on to claim that Willoughby would be battling to protect her brand, saying: 'There are people who are financial experts who will say this is about brand protection for her company and her advertising deals.' Holmes also claimed that Holly Willoughby is 'using' Alison Hammond as he insisted their unexpected friendship would 'never have happened two years ago.' Schofield, meanwhile, addressed the claims of a 'toxic' culture at This Morning in a statement on his Instagram yesterday. Leonardo DiCaprio has risked accusations of eco-hypocrisy as he was seen leaving Porto Cervo, Sardinia via a private airport on Monday. The actor, 48, who is a noted climate activist, boarded a plane at Olbia Private Airport which has its own private jet terminal for wealthy travellers. It comes as he has travelled between the US and cities such as London, Milan, and Paris over recent months - accumulating over 12,000 miles of travel. The Wolf Of Wall Street star cut a casual figure for the trip, wearing a black T-shirt along with a pair of blue jeans and white trainers. He completed his look with a grey cap and a pair of sunglasses. Luxury: Leonardo DiCaprio has risked accusations of eco-hypocrisy as he was seen leaving Porto Cervo, Sardinia via a private airport on Monday Leo has previously come under fire for his use of gas-guzzling private jets. In 2016, he was ridiculed for an 8,000 mile trip via private jet from Europe to New York City to accept an award for his environmental activism. Carbon emissions for private jets vary, but by some accounts are more than 37 times higher than flying commercial. The star has been enjoying a work-hard play-hard lifestyle as he was spotted on a number of nights out across Europe in March. Kicking off the trip was the BAFTAS in London on February 19, where he hosted a pre-awards party after making the 5,437 mile journey from Los Angeles. Here, he sent tongues wagging by inviting Maya Jama to the bash and reportedly partying the night away with the presenter, who left within minutes of him. Then the next night they both attended the same BAFTA afterparty at Annabel's members' club, sponsored by British Vogue And Tiffany & Co. Travel: The actor, who is a noted climate activist, boarded a plane at Olbia Private Airport which has its own private jet terminal for wealthy travellers Leonardo's 12K mile trip Feb 19 - 5,642 trip from LA to London Leo was spotted in London on February 19 and enjoyed a string of nights out during the BAFTAS and LFW February 25 - 595 mile trip from London to Milan From one fashion week to another, he was snapped enjoying a night out with Gigi Hadid in Milan on February 25 March 2 - 397 mile trip from Milan to Paris It was time for some French fun as the actor threw his own celeb-filled bash in the capital on March 2 March 9 - 5,642 mile trip from Paris to Los Angeles: After last being spotted in Paris over the weekend, Leo returned to his home city of LA and headed to the awards bash on March 9 Advertisement It was a quick turnaround, as the actor was then spotted enjoying a night with friends in Milan on February 25, travelling around 595 flying miles between the UK and Italy. Reuniting with reported former flame Gigi Hadid, 27, in the city, the pair appeared to remain friends as they both let loose after a day of fashion shows. After a couple of nightclub spottings in Milan, Leonardo then threw a bash in Paris on March 3 as he kicked off the fashion week celebrations there. Thought to have travelled by plane, he would have made the 397 mile trip between Milan and Paris. Rose was snapped a number of times at Leonardo's hotel following the night, before the duo headed out to a Paris cabaret bar days later. After last being spotted in the French capital over the weekend, Leonardo then made the 5,642 mile trip back to Los Angeles - heading to the Green Carpet Fashion Awards. By the end of May, Leonardo was enjoying some rest and relaxation on a superyacht after jetting to Sardinia. Leonardo previously came under fire for his lengthy trips via private jet in short spaces of time. In 2016, he reportedly flew 8,000 miles via private jet from Europe to New York City to accept an award for his environmental activism. Maya Jama was also in Paris for fashion week at the time, with the actor being spotted out with her once more, while also partying with rumoured flame Rose Bertram, 28. At the time, the actor and environmentalist was spotted in Cannes, where the Film Festival was underway - but left the French Riviera for a brief trip to New York City, where he collected an honor at the Riverkeeper Fishermen's Ball, Page Six reported. He then hopped back on another private jet to attend the amfAR gala in Antibes, about eight miles from Cannes, just 24 hours later. Activist: Leonardo has been an outspoken advocate for environmental issues throughout much of his career Critics: Despite often campaigning for environmental issues, Leonardo previously came under fire for his lengthy trips via private jet in short spaces of time (Pictured at COP26 in Glasgow) Jet-setter: Leonardo has travelled between the US and cities such as London, Milan, and Paris over recent months - accumulating over 12,000 miles of travel While in 2014, he made a speech in front of the United Nations about climate change after marching with 400,000 others on the streets of New York. But the Hollywood star's own jetset lifestyle reveals a double-standard on the issue of climate change - as he boasts a number of homes, and later made the private jet trip. After causing a wave of controversy with the trip, he appeared keen to make amends in 2021 - travelling commercially to Glasgow for the COP26 eco summit. Jono Castano and Simone Holtznagel have certainly been making the most of their romantic getaway to Bali. Two days ago the celebrity personal trainer shared a cheeky photo of his model girlfriend naked in the bath, and now she has posted a raunchy photo of her beau. Among a carousel of photos from her trip to Bali that she posted on Tuesday, Simone shared an intimate snap of Jono showing off his bare bum. In the photo, the personal trainer is seen pulling himself out of a pool naked as he shows off his impressive physique. The racy photo certainly started conversations in Simone's comment section, with one user saying they could see his 'doodle'. Jono Castano had people talking as he posed in a racy photo with his bare bum out However, Jono replied to this comment, saying: 'It is not my doodle unfortunately'. Jono has been hot and heavy with Simone since last September, and the happy couple have been documenting their romantic getaway on Instagram over the past week. On Sunday, the personal trainer posted a photo to his Instagram story of his model girlfriend sitting in the bath naked with a champagne glass. The couple have certainly been making the most of their romantic getaway to Bali The bubble bath was filled with rose petals and Simone had a flower behind her ear in the raunchy photograph. The couple are holidaying on the Indonesian island before they move to Los Angeles in September where Jono will launch his fitness business Acero stateside. Jono said he hopes to 'work with more influential people' in Hollywood. Two days ago, the personal trainer posted a photo to his Instagram story of his model girlfriend sitting in the bath naked with a champagne glass 'The US has always been such a key goal of mine,' Jono told news.com.au. 'That's what I want to strive towards.' The PT will bring along Simone, who is no stranger to living in Los Angeles. 'Simone, my partner, is coming along with me. She used to live there prior to the pandemic and having someone that's able to support me and know the system is amazing,' he said. Jono will continue to work with Rebel Wilson when he arrives in the USA, and has other celebrities lined up, including Jennifer Lopez's hair stylist Chris Appleton. A shock twist in the third episode of the final series of Succession saw the death of patriarch Logan Roy during emotional flight scenes, as three of his four children said their goodbyes to their father over the phone. Yet some fans of the HBO hit joked that Brian Cox's character was back from the dead as they spotted the actor, 76, strolling around Primrose Hill on Bank Holiday Monday - hours after the show's finale was released. Smiling Brian was stood between three female fans while posing for the sun-drenched photo in the iconic London park together, as they joked that he was nothing like his on-screen persona. The caption read: 'Hey guys Logan Roy isn't dead he's actually wandering around sunny Primrose Hill on a Monday Bank Holiday being relaxed, non-shouty and treating us like serious people #SuccessionFinale.' Brian was sporting a navy cap with sunglasses, teamed with a purple quarter zip jumper, denim jacket and a pair of brown trousers with trainers. Alive and well! Brian Cox, 76, was spotted strolling around Primrose Hill on Bank Holiday Monday - hours after the Successsion finale was released Killed off: A shock twist in the third episode of the final series of Succession saw the death of patriarch Logan Roy during emotional flight scenes, as three of his four children said their goodbyes to their father over the phone In the comments section of the post, one fan excitedly quizzed them on whether Brian was with his on-screen love interest, Kerry Castellabate [Zoe Winters]. However the person who posted the snap revealed that Brian was actually with his 'real life Kerry', his wife Nicole Ansari-Cox, who sweetly offered to take the picture. Eagle-eyed viewers noticed that Nicole actually featured in the penultimate episode of the show, as one of Logan's former lovers who attended his funeral. Shortly after his sighting in the park, Brian took to his Instagram page to offer his thanks to the cast and crew of Succession. He wrote: 'We have now come to the end. And what has been, in my career, certainly the greatest work experience ever. 'The harmony betwee crew and cast was truly amazing. It was on it's way to become a great series but the love and commitment from crew to cast and writers, made it memorable. 'I would like to thank all of us in the making and creating of this show from the very bottom of my heart. Yours ever, Brian Cox.' The Succession finale aired on Monday in the UK and the show has been praised across the board by critics - despite its shock ending. In the comments section of the post, one fan excitedly quizzed them on whether Brian was with his on-screen love interest, Kerry Castellabate [Zoe Winters] Thank you: Shortly after his sighting in the park, Brian took to his Instagram page to offer his thanks to the cast and crew of Succession The episode saw the fate and future of the Roy family children and the company their late father Logan created hanging in the balance. The entire series has been building up to the last few episodes, as all of Logan's children - Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Roman (Kieran Culkin), Shiv (Sarah Snook) and Connor (Alan Ruck) - get ready for the final Waystar Royco board vote on the merger with Lukas Matsson's (Alexander Skarsgard) GoJo. The 90-minute series finale is directed by Mark Mylod and written by series creator Jesse Armstrong, and after many twists and turns, it was Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen) who ultimately takes over as Waystar CEO, under new owner Lukas Matsson. 'Depressingly realistic but furious and heartbreaking from start to finish': The Succession finale has received rave reviews from critics who warn ending should come with a 'psychological warning' Wild! The entire series has been building up to the last few episodes, as all of Logan's children get ready for the final Waystar Royco board vote on the merger with Lukas Matsson's GoJo The Daily Mail's TV critic, Christopher Stevens, gave the show five stars and said the ending was 'everything we hoped it would be. Not about the 'strong language from the start and throughout' it's the very last episode of Succession (Sky Atlantic), the sweariest @%&ing show in television history. We'd have been horrified if there wasn't strong language. But we should have been cautioned that what followed was 90 minutes of drama so bruising, so punishing that by the end my internal organs felt like Roman Roy's face looked stitched up and bleeding all over the place. At the very least, we deserved some admonition: 'This programme contains intense scenes of psychological and emotional meltdown. Succession finale: What the critics are saying... Daily Mail, Christopher Stevens Rating: We should have been cautioned that what followed was 90 minutes of drama so bruising, so punishing that by the end my internal organs felt like Roman Roy's face looked stitched up and bleeding all over the place. At the very least, we deserved some admonition: 'This programme contains intense scenes of psychological and emotional meltdown.' The Telegraph, Ed Power Rating: 'If there has been a flaw with this final season, it is that Succession has been eating its own tail slightly. The show has several go-to scenes: the siblings scurrying to the phones to outfox one another, 'Tom and Shiv trying to kiss and make up while secretly plotting, Matsson glowing like a sociopathic Sun King. Those were the notes show-runner Armstrong hit again and again this year. Succession is a masterful TV but, by the finale, there was a sense of having seen and heard it all before.' The Guardian, Lucy Mangan Rating: Depressingly realistic but furious and heartbreaking from start to finish, the power balance truly tipped in the finale and somehow became even more toxic. '[Kendall] wasnt underlined, he was crossed out. A psychic death, if not yet a physical one. Is that a tear in your eye or bodega wasabi?' The Independent, Philippa Snow Rating: 'For the majority of this weeks episode, I firmly believed that Kendall would instead receive his very own Mad Men ending: a spiritual death in disguise as a professional victory, his long-awaited appointment as the CEO of Waystar Royco leaving him both ruined and triumphant, perpetually chasing after Logans (Brian Cox) ghost and coming up short for the rest of his (undoubtedly unhappy) life. 'Instead, perversely, by the end I felt a little hope for Kendall; maybe its because Im writing this at 4am and feeling faintly mad, but as I watched him look out over yet another shimmering body of water, his face slack, I could suddenly imagine a world offscreen, unseen, where he finally moved on. Advertisement 'Do not continue watching if you can't bear to see your favourite characters rip themselves apart, their dreams ground into dirt, their weaknesses savagely exploited. This is self-destruction on a cosmic scale. More lacerating still was Roman's blurted revelation, during a boardroom punch-up, that he and Kendall probably weren't even their father's natural children. Shiv was the only blood relative. At that moment I feared for Jeremy Strong, a method actor who famously stays in character throughout filming. He picked up Culkin by the throat and started clawing at his eyes. Those offices have glass walls. Every executive, all the gathered employees and consultants, were there to witness this climactic disintegration. But they didn't see it the way we did. It was truly traumatic. Some of us could be scarred for ever. There really should have been warnings. The Telegraph awarded the show, four stars, concluding: 'There was, in the end, no joy for the Roys. Critics write: 'Betrayal has been the shows recurring theme from the outset. Up to his death Logan Roy repeatedly double-crossed his kids by leading them to believe they would inherit his media empire though, in his heart, he knew they werent up to the job Pitch: Shiv's downfall comes when Tom is at dinner with Matsson, who asks him to pitch himself as to his worth about sticking around at ATN 'The backstabbing siblings exited Succession much as they had entered four seasons ago: broken, brittle brats, fuelled by entitlement and consumed by spectacular daddy issues' 'The backstabbing siblings exited Succession much as they had entered four seasons ago: broken, brittle brats, fuelled by entitlement and consumed by spectacular daddy issues. 'Betrayal has been the shows recurring theme from the outset. Up to his death Logan Roy repeatedly double-crossed his kids by leading them to believe they would inherit his media empire though, in his heart, he knew they werent up to the job. 'History was repeated as Shiv (Sarah Snook) garrotted heir apparent Kendall (Jeremy Strong) when the Matsson deal went to a final boardroom vote. 'If there has been a flaw with this final season, it is that Succession has been eating its own tail slightly. The show has several go-to scenes: the siblings scurrying to the phones to outfox one another, 'Tom and Shiv trying to kiss and make up while secretly plotting, Matsson glowing like a sociopathic Sun King. Those were the notes show-runner Armstrong hit again and again this year. Succession is a masterful TV but, by the finale, there was a sense of having seen and heard it all before.' The Guardian gave the finale five stars, and wrote: 'depressingly realistic but furious and heartbreaking from start to finish, the power balance truly tipped in the finale and somehow became even more toxic. They added: 'Finally, crumpled Kendall walked through a park, bodyguard Colin (Scott Nicholson) hovering behind as he had with Logan. 'As he gazed out at the choppy, slate-grey Hudson river water has long been an ominous motif for Kendall his desperate words to Shiv echoed: If I dont get to do this, I might die. 'He wasnt underlined, he was crossed out. A psychic death, if not yet a physical one. Is that a tear in your eye or bodega wasabi?' Game over! The board meeting in which the final deal gets struck 'Tom has grasped a poisoned chalice with both hands, and in doing so, he has become the shows new falling man a social and professional climber tumbling upwards, somehow, into hell' The Independent gives the episode four stars and writes: 'For the majority of this weeks episode, I firmly believed that Kendall would instead receive his very own Mad Men ending: a spiritual death in disguise as a professional victory, his long-awaited appointment as the CEO of Waystar Royco leaving him both ruined and triumphant, perpetually chasing after Logans (Brian Cox) ghost and coming up short for the rest of his (undoubtedly unhappy) life. 'Instead, perversely, by the end I felt a little hope for Kendall; maybe its because Im writing this at 4am and feeling faintly mad, but as I watched him look out over yet another shimmering body of water, his face slack, I could suddenly imagine a world offscreen, unseen, where he finally moved on. 'He may suggest to Shiv in the climactic scenes that he is a cog built for one machine, but viewers know that he has never been a great fit for that particular mechanism, and even when it felt for him as if things were turning smoothly, it rarely appeared that way from the outside. 'Of course it is Tom Wambsgans Matthew Macfadyens slimy, desperate outsider who has never had an issue with propelling himself forward via marriage or machination who succeeds, helping the GoJo deal through and securing his place as the US CEO. 'Several times during these recaps, I have suggested that the Roy siblings cannot ever live up to their father precisely because they do not have his history born into the lap of luxury, coddled and neurotic, they have no idea what it requires to drag oneself up from the very bottom by ones very fingernails, and given that Logan was once poor, we have to imagine that before he was all-powerful and terrifying, he might have been slimy and a little desperate, too. 'Tom has grasped a poisoned chalice with both hands, and in doing so, he has become the shows new falling man a social and professional climber tumbling upwards, somehow, into hell. 'Truthfully, the last scenes of the episode, showing Toms ascent, feel almost like a whimper in lieu of a bang, but surely this is the point when it comes to business at the scale of Waystar Royco or of Gojo, the wheels keep on turning even if a cog like Kendall is removed, just as Shiv and Tom will keep their marriage going for the sake of commerce, and just as a grovelling Greg might go on to become the new Tom now that Tom is the new Logan. '"Once youve said and done the worst things, youre kind of free," Shiv tells Tom at one point in this weeks episode. Everyone involved here has said and done the worst things that anyone could possibly do to each other by this point. The rest as another sad man with a ghostly father once observed is silence.' Amanda Seyfried channeled Alicia Silverstone's iconic look from 1995 film Clueless for an interview which happened to be on the day that Theranos fraudster Elizabeth Holmes is set to begin an 11-year prison sentence after portraying her in 2022 mini series The Dropout. The 37-year-old actress - who said she 'feels' for Holmes - stunned in a yellow plaid mini skirt suit while heading to her Good Morning America interview on Tuesday morning. She certainly had her Clueless moment as she strutted her stuff in the stylish 90s inspired ensemble which she paired with Kurt Geiger heels featuring a gold stiletto. Her signature blonde locks were worn down in a middle-part as she accentuated her natural looks with complementary make-up topped off with pink lip. Seyfried won the Emmy back in September for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her portrayal of Holmes in The Dropout. As if: Amanda Seyfried channeled Alicia Silverstone's iconic look from 1995 film Clueless for an interview Amanda was also seen in a crisp white shirt as she added a flirty black mini skirt that said Miu Miu around the waistline. She added moss green velvet Gucci loafers for a touch of color. And the star wore her hair in the same style: down with soft beach waves. She added a bright cherry red lipstick that she didn't have on earlier. Seyfried was walked toward a black SUV on the Upper West Side as she seemed to be on her way to an appointment. While on GMA Amanda talked about Holmes. The based on a true story miniseries documented the disgraced biotechnology company. Speaking on Good Morning America, Seyfried, 37, said she regretted Holmes' impending prison sentence because 'those two kids are hanging in the balance.' 'As a parent, as a mom, I'm just like... life's not fair,' she added. 'But in a lot of ways, it's fair for her in particular.' The actress' comments came as Holmes, who Seyfried played in hit miniseries The Dropout depicting the rise and fall of controversial tech firm Theranos, is reportedly on her way to Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas. Strutting her stuff: The 37-year-old actress stunned in a yellow plaid mini skirt suit by Smythe while heading to her Good Morning America interview on Tuesday morning Rocking it: She certainly had her Clueless moment as she strutted her stuff in the stylish 90s inspired ensemble which she paired with Kurt Geiger black heels featuring a gold stiletto Fun in the sun: She protected her eyes with a pair of large designer sunglasses Seyfried said she 'feels' for Elizabeth Holmes' two young children as the convicted fraudster reports to prison She continued: 'As a parent, as a mom, I'm just like... life's not fair,' she added. 'But in a lot of ways, it's fair for her in particular' The convicted fraudster has exhausted her attempts at delaying her prison sentence after she previously delayed her time behind bars several times. In her last hours of freedom, she was seen soaking up the sun with her family over Memorial Day weekend. Holmes appeared to be in good spirits as she enjoyed her final days with her partner Billy Evans and their two young children. But she is now set to surrender to a federal facility miles away from the $9 million luxury San Diego mansion she shares with her family - which is expected to be minimum security jail Federal Prison Camp Bryan. The Theranos fraudster will be among several high-profile inmates inside the prison, alongside Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Jen Shah, who reported to Bryan in February to start a six-and-a-half-year sentence for her part in a telemarketing scam that robbed elderly and vulnerable Americans out of millions of dollars. Wardrobe change: Amanda was also seen in a crisp white shirt as she added a flirty black mini skirt that said Miu Miu around the waistline So chic! She added moss green velvet Gucci loafers for a touch of color. And the star wore her hair in the same style: down with soft beach waves Busy babe: She added a bright cherry red lipstick that she didn't have on earlier. Seyfried was walked toward a black SUV on the Upper West Side as she seemed to be on her way to an appointment Known as 'Club Fed', inmates in the lenient prison don't even sleep in cells, instead sharing four-person rooms with bunk beds. Holmes, who was estimated to be worth $4.5 billion at her peak, will also have the option of taking business classes from behind bars. Federal Prison Camp Bryan is the facility that was recommended Holmes be sent to by a judge, and it is currently unclear if she may report to a separate prison. Elizabeth Holmes spent her last Memorial Day weekend as a free woman having some quality time with her family in San Diego Seyfried played Holmes in hit miniseries The Dropout, depicting the rise and fall of controversial tech firm Theranos Holmes, who shares son William, 2, and newborn daughter Invicta with partner Billy Evans, was seen heading back to their San Diego mansion after soaking up the sun at the beach on Saturday The 39-year-old convicted fraudster will finally report to a federal lockup on Tuesday, after managing to delay her start date last month Holmes and Evans spent quality family time at Tide Park, a secluded beach two miles north of their San Diego home Holmes was once seen as a business prodigy, with her health tech firm Theranos previously raising almost $1 billion from sophisticated investors including Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and media mogul Rupert Murdoch. When she dropped out of Stanford University in 2003 to found Theranos while still a teenager, she vowed to revolutionize the healthcare industry. She promoted a new technology that would be able to scan for hundreds of diseases and other potential health problems by analyzing just a few drops of blood. But the tech never came to fruition, and she was eventually convicted in 2022 of defrauding investors out of $100 million and was sentenced to 11-years behind bars. The grounds of FPC Bryan where Holmes is expected to report for her 11-year prison sentence She has twice appealed her sentence to delay her fate, but she is now set to serve time after US District Judger Edward Davila reset her revised prison-reporting date to May 30 earlier this month. The delay allowed her to enjoy one last Memorial Day weekend with her family, where she and Evans spent quality family time at Tide Park, a secluded beach two miles north of their home. Her two children, William and Invicta, gleefully ran around the beachfront in exclusive DailyMail.com pictures. At one point, Holmes, dressed in a black hooded beach cover, took her-three-month-old daughter Invicta for a dip into the ocean. Jeremy Strong, the actor who plays Kendall Roy in Succession, shaved his head after the show wrapped, with the help of his on-screen siblings. But what was it all about? Jeremy, 44, was seen in a video shared on social media, getting his head shaved by co-star Kieran Culkin. Kieran, 40, who plays Roman Roy on the show, tells his co-star to turn around and look in the mirror, as he sees the top of his head cleanly shaved as he laughs. He tells their co-star Sarah Snook, 35, who plays Shiv Roy, to, 'get in there,' and passes the clippers to her as she starts shaving the sides and the back of his head. Makeover: Jeremy Strong, the actor who plays Kendall Roy in Succession, shaved his head after the show wrapped , with the help of his on-screen siblings Role: Jeremy, 44, was seen in a video shared on social media, getting his head shaved by co-star Kieran Culkin The clippers are then passed around to several other crew members, as one man named Joe asks, 'Can I get in there?' But a recent interview with Justine Lupe, who plays Willa, the wife of Connor Roy suggests that the head shave was Jeremy symbolically coming out of character. It's long been reported that Jeremy is something of a method actor who likes to remain in character between takes. And Justine was asked by The Times' Style magazine if he really does remain in character for the entire time a series is filming. 'It's pretty close to true,' Justine replied. 'He basically tries to stay in the state of his character. It's not like he won't acknowledge that you guys aren't shooting any more, [but] he kind of inhabits the space Kendall is in, from moment to moment. 'I understand how it will be incredibly difficult for Jeremy to stay in that space for six years, basically on and off. 'But I also understand why he feels it's necessary. What Kendall goes through over four seasons is intense. Willa got a little bit more of a smooth ride.' Change: A recent interview with Justine Lupe, who plays Willa, the wife of Connor Roy suggests that the head shave was Jeremy symbolically coming out of character Dedication: It's long been reported that Jeremy is something of a method actor who likes to remain in character between takes Jeremy was famously mocked in the past for doing this and taking his role all too seriously, saying he didn't think his character was in any way a comedic one. A 2021 article in The New Yorker was headlined: 'Jeremy Strong doesn't get the joke.' He said: 'To me, the stakes are life and death' [about playing Kendall.] 'I take him as seriously as I take my own life.' The reporter noted he does not find the character funny, which is probably why he's so funny in the role. The reporter discussed the rap that Kendall performed in season two at a gala for his father, around the time Jeremy expressed to Kieran Culkin he was worried people might perceive the show as a comedy. Character: Jeremy was famously mocked in the past for doing this and taking his role all too seriously, saying he didn't think his character was in any way a comedic one When the journalist told Jeremy he saw the show as a dark comedy, he reportered that the actor appeared puzzled and said: 'In the sense that, like, Chekhov is comedy?' Jeremy's co-star Brian Cox also discussed the actor's approach to his craft, saying he 'worries' about him. He said: 'The result that Jeremy gets is always pretty tremendous. I just worry about what he does to himself. I worry about the crises he puts himself through in order to prepare. 'Actors are funny creatures. Ive worked with intense actors before. Its a particularly American disease, I think, this inability to separate yourself off while youre doing the job.' Method: Jeremy's co-star Brian Cox also discussed the actor's approach to his craft, saying he 'worries' about him Succession has won Outstanding Drama Series for two of its three seasons, and will likely be a top contender for this year's Emmy Awards as well. The show wrapped up its four-season run with Sunday night's episode entitled With Open Eyes, which revealed the fate of the Waystar Royco company built by the late Logan Roy (Brian Cox), and his ultimate successor. While the 90-minute finale began with the Roy siblings on different sides, they ultimately came together, 'anointing' Kendall as the CEO as they try to block the merger with Lukas Matsson's (Alexander Skarsgard) Gojo and keep the company their family created. Their plan ultimately backfired, with Shiv deciding at the last minute she couldn't back Kendall, leading to the board voting through the merger, with Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen) being named the new CEO. The final episode was written by series creator Jesse Armstrong and directed by Mark Mylod, who directed 16 episodes throughout the show's four-season, 39-episode run. Myleene Klass looked sensational in a chic red dress as she was spotted leaving Global radio studios on Tuesday. The I'm A Celeb winner, 45, showcased a summer dress from her NEXT collection, accessorised with a leopard-print rucksack. The star was glowing as she stepped out in the flowy maxi dress with a bold aztec print. She added layered gold necklaces and bracelets and leather tan sandals to her look and finished the ensemble off with statement red sunglasses. The radio host looked effortlessly chic as she strolled through Leicester Square after finishing up for the day at Smooth radio. Effortlessly cool: Myleene Klass looked sensational in a chic red dress as she was spotted leaving Global radio studios on Tuesday Chic: The I'm A Celeb winner, 45, showcased a summer dress from her NEXT collection, accessorised with a leopard-print rucksack Myleene recycled her print dress after she was spotted wearing it with a pair of chunky gold wedges earlier this month. Myleene was named as the winner of I'm A Celebrity... South Africa earlier this month and she has praised I'm A Celebrity franchise for giving her 'family and a career'. The TV star - who first appeared on I'm A Celebrity back in 2006 - revealed she returned for the all stars spin-off version of the show because she was so grateful for everything it gave her. She told The Sun: 'The jungle back in Australia gave me my family, gave me my work, gave me my career. 'I wanted to go to the bush as I wanted to say thank you for what the jungle has given me.' However, Myleene admitted she felt some extra pressure on her return to the jungle. She said: 'The first time round, I wasnt a mum so there was no jeopardy if I ran around the jungle for a few weeks in a white bikini. I had a ball the first time. They say dont go back to an ex and dont go back to a reheated dinner.' And Myleene missed her kids terribly while competing on the show, saying: 'Youre so far from home, I missed my children so much. But they made me a necklace and every trial I just held on to it.' Myleene is mother to son Apollo, three, with fiance Simon Motson, and two daughters, Ava, 14, and Hero, 12 - who she shares with ex-husband Graham Quinn. News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. Sarah-Jane Honeywell has revealed she was left homeless, suicidal and 100,000 in debt after posing for a nude photoshoot that ended her career in kids' TV. The former CBeebies presenter, 49, took part a now infamous PETA shoot back in 2011 where she posed topless on a giant plate of food. But the brazen move had a disastrous impact on her career, with Sarah-Jane revealing she ended up in financial peril after losing her job. She told The Sun's Fabulous magazine: 'After that, all the doors were slammed in my face. I couldn't get any auditions because people didn't take me seriously and just passed me off as a children's TV weirdo. Financially it was an absolute disaster.' The presenter, who is married to Hollyoaks actor Ayden Callaghan, told how she ended up in 100,000 of debt. Heartbreaking: Sarah-Jane Honeywell has revealed she was left homeless, suicidal and 100,000 in debt after posing for a nude photoshoot that ended her career in kids' TV Racy: The former CBeebies presenter, 49, took part a now infamous PETA shoot back in 2011 where she posed topless on a giant plate of food She said: 'We lost everything. As a result we were forced to live in the garage of my parents' home for three years. 'As well as losing my job at Cbeebies, I had also been through a breakup and it left my financial situation in ruins.' Sarah-Jane added she and her husband had both worked hard all their lives and suddenly found themselves living in a 'tiny space' with their two children, Phoenix, seven, and Indiana, five. The TV star landed a gig on CBeebies back in 2001 and while she loved the job, she was taken aback by the strict rules presenters had to follow. Sarah-Jane, who was asked to take part in the topless shoot because she was a vegan, said stars were forbidden from saying anything crude or rude, even when off camera and with no children around. She also once angered producers by getting a large fairy tattoo on her back which she didn't think would be an issue because her back would never be visible on camera. Sarah-Jane admitted she also lied about ever having taken illegal drugs when she was asked during a medical at the BBC. The star had previously dabbled with cocaine and pills but feared being honest would cost her the job. Struggles: But the brazen move had a disastrous impact on her career, with Sarah-Jane revealing she ended up in financial peril after losing her job (pictured in 2018) Inking: Sarah-Jane said she also angered producers by getting a large fairy tattoo on her back which she didn't think would be an issue because her back would never be visible on camera Co-star: The presenter was close friends with her co-host Justin Fletcher, however the pair have not spoken since her controversial topless shoot Sarah-Jane said she also struggled to get on with some of her behind the scenes colleagues and even recalled one incident where a co-worker told her she looked 'old and ugly' and that her hair was too long. The presenter was close friends with her co-host Justin Fletcher, however the pair have not spoken since her controversial topless shoot. Sarah-Jane is sorry to have lost that friendship but suspects he wanted to distance himself from her at the time. While Sarah-Jane now works on BBC Radio Lincoln presenting a Sunday afternoon show, she still has a sour taste left in her mouth over her time with CBeebies and doesn't let her sons watch the channel. To contact the Samaritans, call 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or click here The third season of The Witcher won't premiere on Netflix until next month, but it appears the hit fantasy series has already been renewed for a fifth season. Casting director Sophie Holland revealed the Netflix series would be returning for a fifth season during an interview with Deadline. 'We're just about to start filming on season four with Liam Hemsworth and there will be a short gap then we go straight into season five,' Holland explained. Volume one of the third season of the show will land on Netflix on June 29 with volume two set to drop on the platform on July 27. The upcoming third season will mark Henry Cavil's final outing as Geralt of Rivia before Liam Hemsworth takes over lead role for season four. 'We go straight into season five': Casting director Sophie Holland has revealed The Witcher will be returning for a fifth season, as Netflix prepares to drop season three Asked if she was surprised to learn of Cavil's departure, Holland remarked: 'I probably won't comment on that one. I'd love to, but I won't. I really look forward to seeing what Liam brings. He has a big fan base. Season four will be a nice mix of new characters and returning faces.' A first look trailer for season three released last month teased all the action in store. In season three as monarchs, mages, and beasts of the Continent compete to capture her, Geralt takes Ciri (Freya Allen) into hiding, determined to protect his newly-reunited family against those who threaten to destroy it. Entrusted with Ciri's magical training, Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) leads them to the protected fortress of Aretuza, where they hope to uncover more about the girl's untapped powers. Instead, they discover they've landed in a battlefield of political corruption, dark magic, and treachery. They must fight back, put everything on the line or risk losing each other forever. Joey Batey also returns as Jaskier, Royce Pierreson as Istredd, Anna Shaffer as Triss and Kim Bodnia as Vesemir. The Witcher's Twitter account posted alongside the trailer: 'This summer, everything changes. The Witcher Season 3 begins on the 29th of June #thewitcher.' Iconic: It will mark Henry Cavill's final outing as Geralt of Rivia before Liam Hemsworth takes over lead role for season four It was announced that Liam, 33, would replaced Cavill in the Netflix series back in October 2022. Season four of the show will continue moving forward as originally planned with Hemsworth starring in the series. It came after Cavill also stepped down from his role of Superman amid a massive shake-up at Warner Bros. The British actor most recently had a cameo appearance as Superman at the end of Warner Bros. Black Adam, teasing a showdown between Superman and Dwayne Johnson's Black Adam. Yay! Volume one of the third season of the show will land on Netflix on June 29 with volume two set to drop on the platform on July 27 Plot: In season three as monarchs, mages, and beasts of the Continent compete to capture her, Geralt takes Ciri (Freya Allen) - pictured - into hiding Story: Entrusted with Ciri's magical training, Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) - pictured - leads them to the protected fortress of Aretuza, where they hope to uncover more about the girl's untapped powers Switching it up: Liam (pictured above) will take over from Henry for series four of the Netflix show That came just days before James Gunn and Peter Safran were brought on as the new heads of DC Films. 'I have just had a meeting with James Gunn and Peter Safran and it's sad news, everyone. I will, after all, not be returning as Superman,' Cavill began on Instagram. 'After being told by the studio to announce my return back in October, prior to their hire, this news isn't the easiest, but that's life,' he added. 'The changing of the guard is something that happens. I respect that. James and Peter have a universe to build,' he added. 'I wish them and all involved with the new universe the best of luck, and happiest of fortunes,' he added. The actor went on to address, 'those who have been by my side through the years,' adding, 'we can mourn for a bit,' before addressing the future of the franchise. 'But then we must remember.... Superman is still around. Everything he stands for still exists, and the examples he sets for us are still there!' Cavill said. 'Everything he stands for still exists, and the examples he sets for us are still there! My turn to wear the cape has passed, but what Superman stands for never will. It's been a fun ride with you all, onwards and upwards!' Cavill concluded. Fans have now been gunning for Cavill to play another iconic role - James Bond. Cavill previously revealed he was in contention for the role back in 2005, but lost out to Daniel Craig. Here we go! The Witcher's Twitter account posted alongside the trailer: 'This summer, everything changes. The Witcher Season 3 begins on the 29th of June #thewitcher' Change: It was announced that Liam , 33, would replaced Cavill in the Netflix series back in October 2022 Different: Season four of the show will continue moving forward as originally planned with Hemsworth starring in the series Decisions: It came after Cavill also stepped down from his role of Superman amid a massive shake-up at Warner Bros Interesting: The British actor most recently has a cameo appearance as Superman at the end of Warner Bros. Black Adam, teasing a showdown between Superman and Dwayne Johnson's Black Adam Awkward: That came just days before James Gunn and Peter Safran were brought on as the new heads of DC Films 'But this means Henry Cavill can finally play James Bond, right,' posted one Twitter user. 'So about that James Bond vacancy,' one tweeted. 'Maybe if they announce Henry Cavill as James Bond we can still right this wrong,' another remarked. 'Henry Cavill would make the perfect James Bond. That's all,' another posted. Eamonn Holmes has recalled the extraordinary moment Phillip Schofield fell 'down on his knees crying' and revealed he was gay in the green room just minutes before the star came out live on air. Holmes blasted Schofield and his co-presenter of 14 years Holly Willoughby claiming the pair had 'choreographed' and 'rehearsed' the dramatic and sudden announcement that shocked viewers in 2020. Now speaking days after revelations that Schofield had lied about his relationship with a much younger male colleague, the veteran presenter, 63, said he feels 'used'. Holmes and his wife Ruth Langsford, who used to co-present This Morning on Fridays, had not been told why Schofield would be sitting on the sofa with them that day, claiming ITV bosses simply said the former presenter 'had something say'. He told his fellow GB News presenter Dan Wootton tonight that the reason was only revealed when Schofield came into the pair's dressing room and '[fell] down on his knees crying' and announced 'I'm gay'. Eamonn Holmes has recalled the extraordinary moment Phillip Schofield fell 'down on his knees crying' moments before he revealed he was gay live on This Morning (pictured) Holmes blasted Schofield and his co-presenter of 14 years Holly Willoughby claiming the pair had 'choreographed' and 'rehearsed' the dramatic and sudden announcement that shocked viewers in 2020 At the time Holmes said he and his wife were 'very, very supportive' of Schofield, comforting him by hugging him and telling him 'we'll stand by you'. Holmes has now claimed that the announcement by the now fallen presenter was made as part of a 'cover up' for what the former presenter, who stepped down from his role at ITV two weeks, called an 'unwise, but not illegal' affair with a younger colleague. Schofield plunged ITV into crisis mode on Friday after he admitted he had lied about the relationship with his former lover, who he reportedly met when the young man was 15. He said: 'We were lied to. And Ruth and I to this day are embarrassed and ashamed when we see those pictures, when we see the toils that some people who are tortured by their sexuality have to go through and this was a cover up for something else.' 'We feel angry, we feel angry about that, we feel used,' he added. Holmes noted how during the filming of the live broadcast, the presenters were accompanied by 'the head of Director of Programs Kevin Lygo, the director of daytime Emma Gormley, Martin Frizzel'. There were also representatives from the stars' talent managers YMU, he claimed, adding the appearance of the show's big players made them 'feel this is not our show at all'. He alleged that Schofield and Willoughby had 'rehearsed [the episode] for days as to what they were going to say and do and who was going to hug who'. 'Holly was very specific about where she sat, where Phillip sat, where Ruth sat, where I sat. It was all choreographed.' It comes as former ITV producer Christo Foufas, who is now a presenter at TalkTV, reported that the young man had been removed off This Morning after 'declaring his love for Phil' at the National Television Awards in January 2020. He said that the young man was then shunted to another programme on the daytime network. Just ten days later Schofield wrote an emotional Instagram post revealing he was gay, moments before making the announcement live on air with Holmes, Langsford and Willoughby. The series of allegations tonight from Holmes come as the Daily Mail was told that the young man had been given a payment following the end of his on-off relationship with Schofield. Holmes and his wife Ruth Langsford, who used to co-present This Morning on Fridays, had not been told by ITV bosses (pictured ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall) why Schofield would be sitting on the sofa with them that day Phillip and Holly pictured with Schofield's former lover Holmes and his wife Ruth Langsford, who used to co-present This Morning on Fridays, had not been told why Schofield would be sitting on the sofa with them the day he came out as gay Timeline of the Phillip Schofield scandal September 2022 - Schofield and Willoughby are criticised for failing to queue for the Queen's Lying in State. April 2023 - Phillip is absent from This Morning for two weeks while his brother Timothy, 54, is tried at Exeter Crown Court for sexually abusing a teenage boy. April 3 - Timothy is found guilty of 'emotionally blackmailing' the teenager into performing sex acts and watching porn with him. May 10 - Reports emerge Phillip and Holly are 'barely speaking', but a day later he issues a statement calling Holly 'my rock'. May 15 - The pair present a united front while presenting This Morning, but rumours of a feud continue. The pair are said to have fallen out due to Phillip's failure to warn Holly of his brother's trial. May 20 - Schofield announces he is stepping down from This Morning with 'immediate effect'. May 22 - Stand-in presenters Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond pay tribute to their former colleague as 'one of the best live television broadcasters this country has ever had'. May 26 - Schofield releases a statement admitting he'd had an affair with a 'much younger' colleague but then lied about it. May 27 - Holly blasts Phillip for lying to her. May 28 - This Morning's former resident doctor Dr Ranj Singh hits out at the show's 'toxic' culture. May 29 - Schofield releases a statement denying claims the show had a toxic culture, only for Eamonn Holmes to slam him as 'delusional' on Twitter. Holmes later takes to GB News accusing ITV of a 'total cover up' of Schofield's affair. Advertisement ITV have repeatedly declined to comment on the alleged settlement or deny it. No comment was made by representatives of the presenter regarding the allegation. Insiders at the broadcaster said that bosses at some level must have known about any payment as a senior member of staff would have had to sign it off. One source said: 'There have been numerous pay-offs at ITV and they have always had to be arranged and sanctioned by people of some seniority. The claims add to increasing calls for the broadcaster's chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall, director of television Kevin Lygo and head of daytime Emma Gormley to speak out about what they knew. Today Mr Wootton revealed exclusively on MailOnline that he had obtained a 'potentially significant email' sent to Dame McCall and the managing director of ITV Studios Julian Bellamy, on February 10 2020. Written by a former This Morning staff member who has since left the show, it demanded an investigation into what they feared was an abuse of power by Schofield. Mr Wootton said the letter suggested that Schofield should be suspended from the programme while a series of allegations were looked into. The email to McCall and Bellamy read in part: 'With the current rumours and accusations swirling around about Phillip Schofieldwhy is he still on our screens? Why have ITV not suspended him pending an internal inquiry? 'I would have thought in this day and age that a mainstream broadcaster such as ITV ought to be seen to be doing all it can to deal with issues like this, find out where the truth lies and, in the meantime, suspend those who the rumours concern?' Attached to the email sent by the colleague, who has not been named, was a link to a YouTube video that detailed the history of Schofield's relationship with his younger colleague. The video now has more than two million views and showed photographs of the pair together socially and working at ITV. The former staff member, who said they have no animosity towards Schofield and he did not impact their decision to leave, pleaded in the email's conclusion: 'Come on ITV - it's time to take action and do the responsible thing.' Neither of the ITV bosses responded to the email and further messages sent by the staff member. When asked about the email, ITV press office referred Mr Wootton to a previous statement released: 'ITV can confirm that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in early 2020 ITV investigated.' It comes as a series of photos of emerged of Schofield's younger lover giving his co-host Holly Willoughby, 42, a kiss on the cheek at the National Television Awards (NTAs) at the O2 Arena in 2020. A series of pictures show Holly Willoughb y and her producer husband Daniel Baldwin leaving the National Television Awards before being approached by Schofield's young lover in 2020 He shares a few words with Holly, 42, outside the 02 Arena before kissing her on the cheek Schofield, 61, does not take part in the conversation but is seen vaping nearby accompanied by his wife, Stephanie Lowe This was where Schofield's ex-lover declared his lover for the former presenter, according to Mr Foufas. He described an 'incident' at the awards on January 28, 2020 when Schofield's lover stunned his colleagues by 'declaring his love for Phil'. The photos show the man approaching Holly and her husband Daniel Baldwin, sharing a few words, before jumping in a waiting cab. Schofield does not take part in the conversation and is seen vaping nearby with his then wife Stephanie Lowe. In more footage that has emerged, an extraordinary Snapchat video shows the former broadcaster partying with the young man 34 years his junior and his best friend Simon Schofield. In the clip from March 2017, Schofield begins by sharing a snap of his pint of beer before dragging on a shisha. He then giggles: 'I can't get a tune out of these bagpipes'. Schofield reportedly met his future lover while he was at stage school in 2012. In 2016, he was around 18 or 19, he landed a job on This Morning. The shisha video was filmed a year later when the young man is believed to be around 20 while Schofield was 55. It is thought they were in a relationship at the time the video was recorded. Schofield was filmed smoking shisha with his young lover, right, and his best friend Simon Schofield, left, in 2017 Last night in the first part of his interview Holmes spoke to the 'lovely' younger man who he said was a 'really good talented fella' but added that life had been 'tough' for him. The bombshell interview came after Schofield had taken to social media that morning to defend himself and deny claims that This Morning had a 'toxic' culture behind the scenes. The presenter of more than 20 years wrote on Instagram: 'Now I no longer work on This Morning I am free to say this. I hope you have noticed that it is the same handful of people with a grudge against me or the show who seem to have the loudest voice. This Morning is the best show to work on, with the best people. In all the years I worked there, there was no toxicity'. Holmes went on to hit back at the statement, calling Schofield 'delusional' and told Dan Wootton's show last night that '[Schofield] was so rude'. 'This nonsense that he wrote today about toxicity, it's a happy place and whatever... what planet does this man live on?' he said. 'He created an atmosphere where people hated him, that people would avoid them in the corridor, he didn't look at anybody, he didn't know anybody's names. Holly doesn't know people's names either. This is legendary within the production team, how distant they are, and how they just don't care'. He went on to claim that the former presenter would take his ex-lover back to his 1million flat in White City in west London - close to the ITV studio. Holmes' interventions raise serious questions for Mr Lygo, director of television at ITV, ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall, head of Daytime, Ms Gormley and This Morning editor Martin Frizzell. This evening Schofield was dropped as an ambassador for King Charles' prestigious charity, the Prince's Trust, which was set up in 1976 to help disadvantaged young people under the age of 30. The trust said it was 'no longer appropriate' to work with the ex-presenter after he admitted lying about his relationship with his younger colleague. Phillip Schofield has been removed as an ambassador from the Prince's Trust website. The charity was set up by the King back in 1976 to help disadvantaged young people We Buy Any Car included Schofield in its campaigns for nearly six years and encouraged shoppers to be 'more like Phil'. He was reportedly paid 1million per year to front the ads References have also been cut from Schofield's personal website, which used to state that 'outside of work' he dedicated his 'time to the work of supporting vulnerable young people in the UK'. The page which details information 'about' the presenter is currently unavailable due to a website 'error'. The used car firm We Buy Any Car also removed all adverts featuring the shamed presenter from its YouTube channel. Schofield had been used in the company's campaigns for six years but was dropped when he and his co-presenter came under fire for queue-jumping while the Queen was lying in state. We Buy Any Car declined to MailOnline's request for comment today. It is unclear what specifically prompted the firm to now remove the adverts - months after the partnership with Schofield ended. Willoughby is due to return to the show on Monday in what will be her first appearance since Schofield was ousted. She is expected to be joined by her friend Alison Hammond. ITV have been contacted for a statement by MailOnline this evening. Finding Nemo voice actor Alexander Gould has reflected on the lasting impact of the hit 2003 film as he marked 20 years since its release on Tuesday. The star, who voiced the iconic clownfish character Nemo when he was aged nine, also spoke about why he was unable to reprise his role in the film's 2016 sequel, Finding Dory. Speaking on Good Morning America, Gould, now 29, said: 'It just has so many beautiful themes. I think that's probably why it was such a cultural phenomenon at the time. It just spoke so deeply to everybody who watched it. 'You pick up all the good messages of having faith in yourself, trusting yourself, being able to overcome obstacles in your own life. 'Things that might seemingly hold you back don't actually hold you back. For parents, it has great themes around letting go and pushing your kids into the world and letting them thrive by their own merit.' The voice of Nemo: Finding Nemo actor Alexander Gould has reflected on the lasting impact of the hit 2003 film as he marked 20 years since its release on Tuesday Now: The star, who voiced the iconic clownfish character Nemo when he was aged nine, also spoke about why he was unable to reprise his role in the film's 2016 sequel, Finding Dory 'People ask me to do the voice and then I have to explain that I was, you know, 9 years old and my voice has changed a little bit since then. 'I usually get a lot of questions about what it was like and have people quoting the movie to me. It's a really, really amazing thing to be a part of such like a pivotal piece of film, of animation. 'I have a bunch of nieces and nephews, and I just got to rewatch it with all of them, and they had a blast. They're quoting the movie to me and asking me questions about filming it while they're watching, which is very fun.' The star also revealed why he was replaced by actor Hayden Rolence in Finding Dory - detailing how his voice breaking meant he was no longer able to 'capture the essence' of Nemo. He said: 'When Finding Dory came out I was I think 20 or 21. After the filming of Finding Nemo I still did the voice... until I was about 14. 'Around that time I was told that, unfortunately, my voice had changed too much. I wasn't able to capture the essence of Nemo anymore. That happens when you're a child actor. 'So they brought in someone new who was able to capture the essence that I had in the original film, and he did a really fantastic job doing that. I came back and did a small little cameo [in Finding Dory]. Then: He said: 'People ask me to do the voice and then I have to explain that I was, you know, 9 years old and my voice has changed a little bit since then (pictured aged nine in 2003) All new: The star also revealed why he was replaced by actor Hayden Rolence in Finding Dory - detailing how his voice breaking meant he was no longer able to 'capture the essence' of Nemo Gould played Passenger Carl, a delivery truck driver who works for the Marine Life Institute. Finding Nemo released in 2003 told the tale of an overprotective clownfish named Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) who, along with a forgetful regal blue tang named Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), searches for his missing son Nemo (Gould). At the time of its release Finding Nemo became the highest grossing animated film of all time and earned $871million worldwide. It was nominated for three Oscars, winning one for Best Animated Feature, becoming the first Pixar film to do so. The film was followed by a sequel in 2016 - Finding Dory - which saw the famously forgetful fish embark on a search for her long-lost parents. The film saw Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy provide the voices of Dory's long-lost parents. Jessica Chastain looked ready for business as she arrived at the NBC studios in New York Tuesday. The 46-year-old actress, who could get an Emmy nomination for her role at country crooner Tammy Wynette in the series George and Tammy, arrived at the Today show to talk with host Hoda Kotb, 58, about the Best Actress Tony nomination she received for her performance in A Doll's House. 'It's a dream come true,' the actress admitted as she sat on set in a royal blue suit with high waist pants and a wide leg and matching jacket that skimmed her hips. The Oscar winner added a simple cream toned button down blouse to the sophisticated ensemble. 'That was my dream,' said the actress who admitted she was 'the kind of awkward kid who didn't really didn't know what to do with myself until I found the drama club in school.' Sophisticated: Jessica Chastain stepped out in a sophisticated royal blue suit with high waist wide leg pants and a matching jacket that skimmed her hips as she arrived at NBC studios Tuesday in New York 'I dreamed of living in New York. I dreamed of being here, and I did it.' Jessica stars at Nora, a wife and mother who is forced to question everything in her highly structured life, in the drama by Henrik Ibsen. Themes in the production include appearances, the power of money, and the place of women in a patriarchal society. The production has received seven nominations in total, including Best Direction and Best Revival of a Play for which Jessica was nominated as a producer. In spite of seeming calm and collected under the bright lights, the multi-talented star admitted she still suffers from stage fright. 'This play has sort of eased me away from it,' she said. 'I used to get really bad stage fright. Now, in the pre-show, I sit and I watch when they come in and I make eye contact' with members of the audience. The actress sits in a chair on the sparsely set revolving set. Poised: The actress as poised as she sat on set with host Hoda Kotb to discuss her Tony Nomination A Doll's House: Jessica was nominated for Best Actress in a Play for her performance in A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen. She stars at Nora, a wife and mother who is forced to question everything in her highly structured life amid themes of appearances, power and patriarchy Dream come true: 'It's a dream come true,' said the actress who admitted she was 'the kind of awkward kid who didn't really didn't know what to do with myself until I found the drama club in school' Some of the more famous guests in the audience have included Bono, Liv Ullmann, who starred as Nora in the 1975 production, and Al Pacino. 'He's the one who discovered me,' the Zero Dark Thirty star explained. 'I call him my acting godfather, and he was so sweet after the show.' Jessica, who won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of disgraced televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker in The Eyes of Tammy Faye, said she never anticipated working on the big screen. 'I never imagined that working in film would happen and the how amazing it's been. That I've had this incredible career there,' she contended. Eye contact: Jessica said she still suffers stage fright, but has been able to ease it during her current run by sitting in character on the stage and having eye contact with the audience as they take their seats Famous guests: Bono, , Liv Ullmann, who starred as Nora in the 1975 production, and Al Pacino have been some of the more famous members of the audience. Jessica said Al discovered her. 'I call him my acting godfather, and he was so sweet after the show.' Emotional: Jessica said receiving the nomination was 'surprisingly emotional for me.... I realized how nostalgic it felt, because in some ways it was connecting me to who I was as a kid.' Tony award winners will be announced June 11 'But also, to get back here, it feel like I'm back to my roots.' The Help star, who shares her young children Guiletta and Augustus with her husband, fashion executive Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo, 41, said receiving the nomination was 'surprisingly emotional for me.' 'I think it was a meet the nominees press day, I really had trouble controlling how emotional it was for me and I was like "what is going on?" and I realized how nostalgic it felt, because in some ways it was connecting me to who I was as a kid.' Fans who want to see the actress in her Tony nominated performance have until June 10 to try to catch a show. The play will close one day before the envelopes are opened at the Tony Awards June 11. Jade Jagger was all smiles as she stepped out with her boyfriend Anthony Hinkson on Saturday after being fined 1,215 for resisting arrest in Ibiza. The daughter of the Rolling Stones' Sir Mick Jagger, 51, appeared to be in good spirits as she walked arm-in-arm with her new beau Anthony Hinkson. Her latest outing comes after she was fined 1,250 by Spanish police for resisting arrest and wounding during a night out in Ibiza. But, stepping out in west London over the bank holiday weekend, Jade appeared to be putting it all behind her as she put on a cosy display with her partner. Jade, who split from husband Adrian Fillary two years ago, cut a stylish figure in a bright blue skirt and a black waistcoat, which she styled with a velvet shawl. Good spirits: Jade Jagger was all smiles as she stepped out with her boyfriend Anthony Hinkson on Saturday after being fined 1,215 for resisting arrest in Ibiza Cosy: The daughter of the Rolling Stones' Sir Mick Jagger, 51, appeared to be in good spirits as she walked arm-in-arm with her new beau Anthony Hinkson Putting it behind her: Her latest outing comes after she was fined 1,250 by Spanish police for resisting arrest and wounding during a night out in Ibiza The jewellery designer kept comfortable in a pair of neon yellow sandals and accessorised her look with an array of beaded necklaces. She styled her brunette locks loosely across her shoulders and flashed a huge smile as she appeared to put recent events behind her. Jade walked holding hands with Anthony, 31, who kept it casual in dark jeans and a white stripped T-shirt, worn underneath a navy hoodie. He completed his look with a pair of grey trainers and wore his dark locks in a ponytail as she chatted to Jade during the outing. The pair were joined by their friend as they headed to a pub, where they were seen socialising outside. The outing comes after Jade was convicted of resisting arrest and a minor offence of wounding a female police officer following a row at the La Oliva restaurant on May 17 with Anthony. Earlier this month, Jade appeared grim-faced as she left court with Anthony after she was fined 1,215 over the bust up and ordered to pay 700 in compensation to a police officer. It later emerged a leading lawyer is seeking a retrial and tougher sentence for the jewellery designer following her fast-track court hearing. A police lawyer told Mail Online on Monday he will demand the conviction is declared invalid because the trial earlier this month should 'never have taken place'. All smiles: But, stepping out in west London over the weekend, Jade appeared to be putting it all behind her as she put on a cosy display with her partner Chic: Jade, who split from husband Adrian Fillary two years ago, cut a stylish figure in a bright blue skirt and a black waistcoat, which she styled with a velvet shawl Vibrant: The jewellery designer kept comfortable in a pair of neon yellow sandals and accessorised her look with an array of beaded necklaces Grinning: She styled her brunette locks loosely across her shoulders and flashed a huge smile as she appeared to put recent events behind her Pals: The pair were joined by their friend as they headed to a pub, where they were seen socialising outside Cosy: Jade walked holding hands with Anthony, 31, who kept it casual in dark jeans and a white stripped T-shirt, worn underneath a navy hoodie Arm-in-arm: He completed his look with a pair of grey trainers and wore his dark locks in a ponytail as she chatted to Jade during the outing Day out: Jade was seen chatting to her friend as they hung out at a crowded pub on Saturday Couple: Anthony was offering bespoke sunset dining experiences at a beach bar in Barbados last year, with Instagram videos showing him manning the BBQ for customers Close: The couple held hands as they strolled through west London together during their outing Fashionable: At one point during the outing, Anthony was seen wearing Jade's velvet cardigan Smart: Jade kept her essentials slung across one shoulder in a brown handbag to complete her look Unhappy with the result, Eduardo Luna, hired by Spanish police union SUP to fight the case, has since insisted: 'An annulment would mean the conviction no longer stands and we go back to where we were before the trial and then I intend pushing for a more serious charge against Jade Jagger with a tougher punishment. 'When you're resisting arrest and a police officer is injured, that's an assault. And assaulting a police officer in Spain can be punished with prison.' He added: 'What's happened here has been very irregular. This should never have gone to a fast-track trial because the police officer's injury was not consolidated which means we don't know how it's going to evolve.' The Palma-based lawyer, who has represented SUP in criminal law cases for more than three years, explained: 'The judge who sentenced Jade Jagger will have to justify why she allowed a fast-track trial to take place if she refuses my annulment demand and that's going to be difficult in my opinion. 'If that happens I will appeal and ask a higher court to decide.' Anthony was handed a four-month suspended prison sentence at the behind-closed-doors hearing after admitting to a crime of assaulting a police officer over the street scuffle last week outside trendy eatery La Oliva. Sir Mick's daughter, who he shares with ex-wife Bianca, also struck a deal with state prosecutors and put her hands up to crimes of resisting arrest and wounding. Mother-of-three Jade and her new boyfriend spent two nights in a police cell in Ibiza before appearing in court. They were arrested on May 17 after a manager at the trendy restaurant called police and refused to serve Anthony because he was insulting staff and other customers. He is said to have turned on officers who confronted him after he behaved aggressively towards other people on the street outside the eatery. Video footage obtained exclusively by MailOnline showed him being pinned to the ground by police, who then called for an ambulance. Witnesses said he had been behaving erratically and had gone into a clothes shop opposite La Oliva where he bought an expensive dress he then gifted to a waitress at the restaurant before the subsequent street altercation. Jade, who split from her DJ husband-of-nine-years in 2021, is said to have intervened as her boyfriend was being arrested with witnesses claiming she accused officers of targeting him because he was black. Linking arms: Jade and Anthony put on a very loved-up display as they walked with their friend Sun-soaked: Jade joined her friends in a pub for a sun-soaked day out in London over the banjk holiday weekend Vibrant: Jade added to her features with lashings of mascara to complete her colourful look Smitten: New couple Jade and Anthony walked holding hands down the street during the outing Jovial form: Jade flashed a huge smile as she appeared to put recent events behind her Laughing: Jade and Anthony appeared to be in jovial form as they caught up with their friend Well-placed sources said she insulted and pushed police, with the woman she hurt suffering a wrist injury which led to having to take time off work. Other Spanish reports said she had scratched a police officer. It did not become clear until after the hastily-organised fast-track trial, thought to have taken place after several hours of negotiations between defence and state prosecution lawyers, that Jade and Anthony had admitted their guilt and been convicted. An official at the Balearic Islands' High Court, acting as a spokesperson for sentencing judge Maria Luisa Bastillo, confirmed moments after Jade left court: 'Court of Instruction Number One in Ibiza, acting as a duty court, has held a speedy trial following a plea bargain deal against A.W and J.J who were arrested on Wednesday in Ibiza. 'The judge has convicted A.W of a crime of assaulting a police officer and handed him a four-month prison sentence. 'The same judge has fined JJ for a crime of serious resistance and a minor offence of wounding. 'The fine for the first offence is 10 euros (8.68) daily over four months and for the second it is a 20-day fine at 10 euros (8.68) a day. 'JJ must also compensate her victim with 800 euros (695).' Anthony's prison sentence is understood to have been suspended as part of the plea bargain deal, with prison terms of two years or less routinely being suspended for first-time offenders in Spain. A well-placed source said: 'This twist in the case opens up all sorts of possibilities. 'One is that Jade and her boyfriend will have their convictions annulled, be summoned back to court, and leave themselves open to international arrest warrants if they have left Spain by the time they get their summons and refuse to play ball.' SUP, which represents more than 20,000 Spanish National Police officers, had already announced plans to prosecute the pair in a legal action due to run as a parallel but separate case to the state prosecution one. Lawyer Mr Luna said: 'What should have happened on Friday is that the injured police officer should have been asked in court to confirm what she had written in her report about the incident before being summoned again at a future date. 'The fast-track trial occurred after she left court having left the matter in the hands of her lawyer and told officials to instruct him about any developments. Look of love: Jade gave Anthony a loving look as they looked very close during the outing Stepping out: The group all enjoyed a day out in west London as they headed to a pub over the bank holiday weekend Catching up: Jade and Anthony joined their friend as they sat outside in the sunshine Joking around: They all appeared to be in excellent spirits as they laughed and joked together Group: Jade walked with her arm in Anthony's as she caught up with one of her friends Sweet gesture: Jade was seen chatting with Anthony and her friend at the pub outing Weekend: They appeared to be making the most of the sunny weather over the bank holiday weekend Pub trip: They were all seen chatting outside the pub as they sat in the sunshine Arrest: Jade was convicted of resisting arrest and a minor offence of wounding a female police officer following a row at the La Oliva restaurant on May 17 with Anthony Pictured: Jade is the daughter of Rolling Stones star Sir Mick Jagger (pictured together in 2019) and his first wife Bianca 'The way things occurred has all been very strange. I am confident I can obtain an annulment.' Jade's new boyfriend Anthony was offering bespoke sunset dining experiences at a beach bar in Barbados last year, with Instagram videos showing him manning the BBQ for customers. The businesswoman split from DJ Adrian Fillary in 2021, nine years after their star-studded Cotswolds wedding which was attended by guests including Kate Moss and her ex-husband Jamie Hince. She was said to be 'devastated' by the breakdown of their relationship, with a source at the time telling the Mail on Sunday: 'This is all very sad. They thought they would be together for ever but it didn't work out quite like that.' ITV bosses face further questions about what they knew of Phillip Schofields affair with a This Morning colleague after claims emerged that the younger lover received a financial settlement from the broadcaster. The Daily Mail has been told that he was given a payment following the end of the on-off relationship, which Schofield described as unwise but not illegal. ITV have repeatedly declined to comment on the alleged pay-off or deny it. There were no comments from a representative of the presenter, who quit the channel on Friday after he revealed to the Daily Mail that he had lied about the affair to our sister paper, The Mail on Sunday. But a source claims that the money was handed to the man, who, after he declared his love for Schofield at an awards ceremony in January 2020, was shunted to another of the networks daytime programmes, Loose Women. He no longer works there. ITV insiders said bosses at some level must have known about any payment. One added: There have been numerous pay-offs at ITV and they have always had to be arranged and sanctioned by people of some seniority. Sources have told the Daily Mail that Schofield's much younger former lover was given a payment from ITV when the on-off affair ended. Pictured: The young man sat with Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby Schofield and his young lover leave the Ivy Club in London in the early hours of Friday March 23, 2017. Eamonn Holmes claimed yesterday that Thursday nights were 'playtime' for them Insiders at ITV say that bosses at some level must have known about any payment as someone senior would have been required to sign it off The claims come as pressure has increased on the broadcasters chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall, director of TV Kevin Lygo and head of daytime Emma Gormley to speak out about what they knew. One source at the channel said: This is unravelling fast and there is no evidence to suggest it will come to an end any time soon. There are a lot of people out there who feel wronged by ITV and they now have the confidence to have their say. The house of cards appears to be collapsing, it is anybodys guess where this ends now. It comes after former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes accused ITV bosses of orchestrating a total cover-up of Schofields affair with his younger lover, saying those in authority had to know about the secret relationship. The pair met when Schofield was in his 50s and giving a talk to a theatre school. At that time, his future-lover was 15 and keen to make a career in the TV industry. He moved down to London aged 18 and began working at This Morning, before striking up the secret relationship with the presenter. In an interview on GB News on Monday evening, Holmes, labelled Schofield, 61, a chief narcissist who would hit the town on Thursdays for playtime with the young man. He claimed Schofields lover would be ferried between the presenters central London flat and the studios in taxis paid for by the network. Holmes said: I didnt know but Ive subsequently found out from a very, very good source, because he would arrive much earlier in the morning than I would for the programme, that he was delivered from Phillips London home. Last night former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes accused the broadcaster of orchestrating a 'total cover up' of Schofield's affair Co-host Holly Willoughby, 42, is due to return to the show on Monday in what will be her first appearance since Schofield was ousted Timeline of the Phillip Schofield scandal September 2022 - Schofield and Willoughby are criticised for failing to queue for the Queen's Lying in State. April 2023 - Phillip is absent from This Morning for two weeks while his brother Timothy, 54, is tried at Exeter Crown Court for sexually abusing a teenage boy. April 3 - Timothy is found guilty of 'emotionally blackmailing' the teenager into performing sex acts and watching porn with him. May 10 - Reports emerge Phillip and Holly are 'barely speaking', but a day later he issues a statement calling Holly 'my rock'. May 15 - The pair present a united front while presenting This Morning, but rumours of a feud continue. The pair are said to have fallen out due to Phillip's failure to warn Holly of his brother's trial. May 20 - Schofield announces he is stepping down from This Morning with 'immediate effect'. May 22 - Stand-in presenters Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond pay tribute to their former colleague as 'one of the best live television broadcasters this country has ever had'. May 26 - Schofield releases a statement admitting he'd had an affair with a 'much younger' colleague but then lied about it. May 27 - Holly blasts Phillip for lying to her. May 28 - This Morning's former resident doctor Dr Ranj Singh hits out at the show's 'toxic' culture. May 29 - Schofield releases a statement denying claims the show had a toxic culture, only for Eamonn Holmes to slam him as 'delusional' on Twitter. Holmes later takes to GB News accusing ITV of a 'total cover up' of Schofield's affair. Advertisement Usually on a Friday morning, because Thursday was playtime when he and Phillip would hit the town and then he obviously stayed overnight. There are records to show that he was brought in the next day separately in cars paid for by ITV. Asked whether the management would had to have known, Holmes replied: Unless Phillip paid the bills separately, but it would still have to go through the accounts office that they would have seen that and known that. Holmes, 63, also claims he approached senior management who worked for Ms McCall to tell them about Schofields relationship with the young production assistant. He said: I had gone to the senior bosses at ITV, people who worked for Carolyn McCall, the chief executive in November 2019, with the story of Phillip having this inappropriate relationship with the young man, and had urged them to investigate because why, at the very least, would you not investigate? I wasnt saying that Phillip was guilty of anything. I was saying you should launch an investigation. Sources close to Schofield hit back at Holmes, saying: If Eamonn Holmes wants to be that cruel to someone in Phillips position then that I think says more about Eamonn than Phillip. ITV is still refusing to give the Daily Mail any further detail of an investigation it insists took place. Sources close to the younger man say it did not carry one out. On Saturday, ITV released a statement which said both parties were questioned and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours as did Phillips then agency YMU. ITV will not say whether the investigation was independent and external or who conducted it and when. The scandal is threatening to topple This Morning, the daytime programme which was launched in 1988 and hosted by Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan. One source on the show said yesterday: There are already conversations taking place between staff about how they are worried that things are going to have to change and where that leaves their jobs. It is a deeply worrying time but nobody is under the illusion that the show can stay the same. It has to be rebranded because so much trust has gone. In the second part of the interview, which was broadcast last night, Holmes agreed with MailOnline columnist Dan Wootton that if anyone questioned Ms McCalls woke narrative... they are out. Sources close to Schofield said: If Eamonn Holmes wants to be that cruel to someone in Phillips position then that I think says more about Eamonn than Phillip. ITV is still refusing to give the Daily Mail any further detail of an investigation it insists took place. Sources close to the younger man say it did not ask him about the affair as part of any probe. ITV bosses are set to be questioned by MPs about the broadcasters handling of Schofields affair when they face the Commons culture committee next Tuesday. A series of pictures show Holly Willoughb y and her producer husband Daniel Baldwin leaving the National Television Awards before being approached by Schofield's young lover in 2020 He shares a few words with Holly, 42, outside the 02 Arena before kissing her on the cheek Schofield, 61, does not take part in the conversation but is seen vaping nearby accompanied by his wife, Stephanie Lowe It comes as a series of photos of emerged of Schofield's younger lover giving his co-host Holly Willoughby, 42, a kiss on the cheek at the National Television Awards (NTAs) at the O2 Arena in 2020. This was where Schofield's ex-lover declared his lover for the former presenter, according to former ITV producer Cristo Foufas. Mr Foufas described an 'incident' at the awards on January 28, 2020 when Schofield's lover stunned his colleagues by 'declaring his love for Phil'. The photos show the man approaching Holly and her husband Daniel Baldwin, sharing a few words, before jumping in a waiting cab. Schofield does not take part in the conversation and is seen vaping nearby with his then wife Stephanie Lowe. Just ten days later Schofield wrote an emotional Instagram post revealing he was gay, before speaking about it moments later to Eamonn Holmes and his wife, Ruth Langsford. In more footage that has emerged, an extraordinary Snapchat video shows the former broadcaster partying with the young man 34 years his junior and his best friend Simon Schofield. In the clip from March 2017, Schofield begins by sharing a snap of his pint of beer before dragging on a shisha. He then giggles: 'I can't get a tune out of these bagpipes'. Schofield was filmed smoking shisha with his young lover, right, and his best friend Simon Schofield, left, in 2017 Schofield reportedly met his future lover while he was at stage school in 2012. In 2016, he was around 18 or 19, he landed a job on This Morning. The shisha video was filmed a year later when the young man is believed to be around 20 while Schofield was 55. It is thought they were in a relationship at the time the video was recorded. Last night Holmes spoke to the 'lovely' younger man who he said was a 'really good talented fella' but added that life had been 'tough' for him. The bombshell interview came after Schofield had taken to social media to defend himself and deny claims that This Morning had a 'toxic' culture behind the scenes. London digs: Phillip Schofield seen arriving at his new central London flat following the announcement that he was gay in 2020. Holmes claimed Schofield would take his former lover back to a different 1 million flat in an exclusive block at White City in West London Holmes also told how his wife Ruth Langsford (pictured far left with him, Holly Willoughby and Schofield) was still in touch with Schofield's ex-lover, whom he described as a 'lovely fella' Speaking out for the first time since leaving the show, Schofield hit out at those 'with a grudge against me' The presenter of more than 20 years wrote on Instagram: 'Now I no longer work on This Morning I am free to say this. I hope you have noticed that it is the same handful of people with a grudge against me or the show who seem to have the loudest voice. This Morning is the best show to work on, with the best people. In all the years I worked there, there was no toxicity'. Holmes went on to hit back at the statement, calling Schofield 'delusional' and told Dan Wootton's show last night that '[Schofield] was so rude'. 'This nonsense that he wrote today about toxicity, it's a happy place and whatever... what planet does this man live on?' he said. 'He created an atmosphere where people hated him, that people would avoid them in the corridor, he didn't look at anybody, he didn't know anybody's names. Holly doesn't know people's names either. This is legendary within the production team, how distant they are, and how they just don't care'. He went on to claim that the former presenter would take his ex-lover back to his 1million flat in White City in west London - close to the ITV studio. Holmes' interventions raise serious questions for Mr Lygo, director of television at ITV, ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall, head of Daytime, Ms Gormley and This Morning editor Martin Frizzell. Willoughby is due to return to the show on Monday in what will be her first appearance since Schofield was ousted. She is expected to be joined by her friend Alison Hammond. Molly-Mae Hague took to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday to share a duo of adorable snaps of her baby daughter Bambi as they jetted off on a mysterious trip. The former Love Island star, 24, has recently returned from holidays in Nice, Marbella and Dubai. But she revealed she is off again, accompanied by her five-month-old daughter, as she shared a sweet photo from the plane. Molly-Mae cuddled up to Bambi, while wearing a white jumper and balancing a pair of sunglasses on her head. Her blonde tresses were swept up in an elegant french braid and she opted for a fresh-faced no make-up look for the journey. Cute: Molly-Mae Hague took to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday to share a duo of adorable snaps of her baby daughter Bambi as they jetted off on a mysterious trip Teeny tiny: Molly-Mae also shared a black-and-white photo of Bambi sitting up in a giant double bed in a hotel room She tagged her manager Francesca Britton in the post, suggesting the getaway may be work related. Over the top she wrote: 'Off on our next adventure'. Molly-Mae also shared a black-and-white photo of Bambi sitting up in a giant double bed in a hotel room. Captioning it, she penned: 'The best few days in London with my little family'. It comes after the influencer was treated to a huge array of luxury gifts as she celebrated her 24th birthday with her boyfriend Tommy Fury on Friday. Molly-Mae took to her Instagram Stories to give an insight into her lavish birthday celebrations as she was surprised with a whole array of presents. She shared a short video of herself walking down the stairs and into the plush living room at the 3.5million Cheshire mansion she shares with her beau Tommy, 24. Impressive: It comes after the influencer was treated to a huge array of luxury gifts as she celebrated her 24th birthday with her boyfriend Tommy Fury on Friday Luxury: Molly-Mae took to her Instagram Stories to give an insight into her lavish birthday celebrations as she was surprised with a whole array of presents Treats: She shared a video of herself walking into her living room at the 3.5million Cheshire mansion she shares with her beau Tommy, 24, where the hallway was strewn with petals There were colourful flower petals strewn across the marble-look flooring of her hallway, leading into the living room, which was decked out with decorations. Molly-Mae was greeted by a whole host of colourful balloons scattered all around the room to mark the occasion. She then panned the camera around to show an impressive seven bouquets of pink and white roses in pink gift bags perched around the room. The influencer then showed off three Chanel gift bags of varying sizes sat beside a table, hinting at what her luxury birthday presents could be. There was also a large white Harvey Nichols bag among the presents as she was also given a mystery gift from the luxury department store. Molly-Mae also shared a snap of herself standing in her white pyjamas set as she cuddled Bambi, who she shares with Tommy. Plush gifts: Molly-Mae was greeted by an impressive seven bouquets of pink and white roses in pink gift bags (pictured) as well as three gift bags from Chanel and one from Harvey Nichols Relaxing: Molly-Mae then settled down to watch Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which is one of her favourite movies Sweet: In her bouquets of flowers, there were also sweet pictures of her daughter Bambi from their recent family holiday to Dubai Adorable: Molly-Mae also shared a snap of herself standing in her white pyjamas set as she cuddled Bambi, who she shares with Tommy Alongside the snap, she gushed over her daughter as she wrote: 'Holding the best gift in the world.' Though Tommy was not seen in the footage, the very lavish spread of decorations and presents were likely organised by her doting boyfriend. Molly-Mae then settled down to watch Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, before taking a selfie with Bambi in her walk-in wardrobe as she got ready for her birthday. Molly-Mae welcomed her first child Bambi in January with boxer Tommy, who she met on Love Island's season five back in 2019. Lily James looked like a woman worried about her future as she shot a scene on her latest project. The 34-year-old actress who has been working in and around New York and New Jersey, nervously smoked a cigarette as her character waited on a bench. The British beauty was costumed in a beige trench coat, which brought out the warm tones in her complexion. She bundled up in a gray sweater, brown pants and sneakers as she sat on the bench in Newark, New Jersey Tuesday. Her dark hair was styled in a messy, low pony tail. Scene: Lily James looked like a woman worried about her future as she shot a scene on her latest project in Newark, New Jersey Tuesday. The 34-year-old actress nervously smoked a cigarette as her character waited on a bench Lily stars as a woman in fear of her life in the thriller Relay. Her character, Sarah, turns to Riz Ahmed's Tom for help staying alive. Tom is a 'fixer' who lucratively negotiates deals between corrupt corporations and individuals who threaten their ruin while keeping his identity secret. The Cinderella star was signed to the project in February and production began in April. A release date for the pot-boiler has not been announced. The last 12 months have been busy for the actress. Her romantic comedy, What's Love Got To Do With It? opened in theaters in early May. The versatile star plays a documentary filmmaker who decides to make a movie about her best friend's arranged marriage, only to discover she has feelings for him. Relay: Lily stars as a woman in fear of her life in the thriller, Relay. Her character, Sarah, turns to Riz Ahmed's Tom for help staying alive. Tom is a 'fixer' who lucratively negotiates deals between corrupt corporations and individuals who threaten their ruin Costume: The British beauty was costumed in a beige trench coat, which brought out the warm tones in her complexion. She bundled up in a gray sweater, brown pants and sneakers. Her dark hair was styled in a messy, low pony tail Quick turnaround: The Cinderella star was signed to the project in February and production began in April. A release date for the pot-boiler has not been announced Reviews: Lily has been nominated multiple awards. She told The Hollywood Reporter she doesn't read reviews about her work. 'With regards to how your choices appear on screen, thats actually extremely difficult because you have no control as an actor,' she explained Her subject is played by old friend Shazad Latif, whom she's known for at least a decade. 'Ive known him for the last ten or twelve years; I used to sleep at the end of his bed on a mattress in his flat in Tufnell Park,' she told The Hollywood Reporter. The Pam & Tommy star - who played Pamela Anderson in the Hulu mini-series released earlier this year, and has been nominated for an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award - told the publication she doesn't read reviews about her work. 'With regards to how your choices appear on screen, thats actually extremely difficult because you have no control as an actor,' she explained. 'You often feel really disenfranchised from the editing and the process of when a film comes into fruition. It all happens in the edit, and its not just the take-to-take performance.' Speaking of her process, Lily said, 'I like to try and give a variation, which is how I know how to do it, but then you are laying yourself at the mercy of a directorial choice even more.' Lisa Rinna revealed she left the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (RHOBH) after eight seasons over alleged death threats. Five months after announcing her departure from Bravo's hit reality show, the 59-year-old reality star explained that her world became too 'volatile' while starring on the unscripted series. 'I didnt want to live like that I dont think thats healthy,' the Emmy nominee told ES Magazine. 'The way the fanbase reacts to the show now is not how it was when I first started.' The mother-of-two, who is married to actor Harry Hamlin, went on to explain that she and her family are still 'getting death threats.' 'Some of the most horrible things Ive ever seen in print in my life, and its a reality show! Its a stupid show!' she said. 'Im not sure how much longer that can exist in the zeitgeist, to be honest with you.' Scary: Lisa Rinna revealed she left the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (RHOBH) after eight seasons over alleged death threats; seen in March 2023 Too much drama: Five months after announcing her departure from Bravo's hit reality show, the 59-year-old reality star explained that her world became too 'volatile' while starring on the unscripted series The Days of Our Lives alum also claimed to have received a message from her late mother, Lois Rinna, while she was sleeping. Rinna told the outlet that she heard her mom, who passed away in 2021, at the age of 93, say: 'Its time for you to go.' Later, she had a psychic confirm the message and was also told Lois wants her 'to be happy and follow' her dream. She then reiterated: 'Its time for you to go.' 'Ive never told anybody that, except for the psychic. Im guided by my mom, for sure,' the TV personality continued. In January, Rinna confirmed that she was not returning to RHOBH, following a rough season, which followed her grieving the loss of her mom and feud with Kathy Hilton. 'This is the longest job I have held in my 35 year career and I am grateful to everyone at Bravo and all those involved in the series,' the model told People in a statement. She continued: 'It has been a fun eight-year run and I am excited for what is to come!' Her guiding light: The Days of Our Lives alum also claimed to have received a message from her late mother, Lois Rinna, while she was sleeping, which made it clear it was 'time' to leave the show Focusing on family: In January, Rinna confirmed that she was not returning to RHOBH, following a rough season, which followed her grieving the loss of her mom and feud with Kathy Hilton The outlet reported that 'she and Bravo mutually decided that she would not return to RHOBH' after her contract expired last season. In October, she was booed at BravoCon following backlash from fans over saying she would 'get cancer' if she didn't expose Hilton's 'vile' comments on the show's finale. When asked by DailyMail.com about her reaction to those calling for her to be fired, the mom-of-two said she didn't know what to think and branded herself a 'rockstar.' 'We are the number one show on cable, and on television... That's all I have to say,' she concluded. At the time, Lisa was slammed by cancer survivors and doctors alike after she used the disease as an excuse to spill Hilton's personal secrets. 'This is the longest job I have held in my 35 year career and I am grateful to everyone at Bravo and all those involved in the series,' the model told People in a statement, earlier this year (pictured in March 2023) Her feud with Hilton seemingly began when Rinna accused Hilton of attacking her sister Kyle Richards during a 'psychotic break.' During the three-part RHOBH reunion, that aired on October 12, Hilton called Rina 'the biggest bully in Hollywood.' Previously, she got into a massive fight with Hilton's sister Kim Richards over dinner, which resulted in her hurling a wine glass at Kim, who threatened to say something unkind about her husband, Harry Hamlin. Additionally, she accused Yolanda Hadid, who was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2012, of having Munchausen syndrome on RHOBH season 5. Rinna has since apologized and said the claim 'was very wrong, on all levels.' Moving on: She continued: 'It has been a fun eight-year run and I am excited for what is to come!' Parting ways: The outlet reported that 'she and Bravo mutually decided that she would not return to RHOBH' after her contract expired last season (pictured in December) In 2020, she also had a public falling out with Denise Richards, who starred on two seasons of RHOBH, after two decades of friendship on the show. While she will not be returning to RHOBH, Rinna revealed she 'booked a movie role' earlier this year. The last time she played a role other than herself was in 2021, when she appeared in the Days Of Our Lives: Beyond Salem miniseries. She appeared in five episodes of the spinoff that is now streaming exclusively on Peacock. Previously, the actress-turned-entrepreneur rose to fame by playing the role of Billie Reed on the drama sitcom Days Of Our Lives. Since the hit series' debut in 1965, the show has gone on for 58 seasons that is still ongoing. Rinna joined the daytime soap opera in September 1992. The role of Billie Reed was later recast when she left the show in September 1995. Hardcover rankings reflect sales for the week ended May 13, which were reported on a confidential basis by vendors offering a wide range of general interest titles. Every week, thousands of diverse selling locations report their actual sales on hundreds of thousands of individual titles. The panel of reporting retailers is comprehensive and reflects sales in stores of all sizes and demographics across the United States. An asterisk (*) indicates that a books sales were barely distinguishable from those of the book above. A (b) indicates that some bookstores reported receiving bulk orders. ___ FICTION 1. HAPPY PLACE, by Emily Henry. (Berkley) A former couple pretend to be together for the sake of their friends during their annual getaway in Maine. LAST WEEK: 1 WEEKS ON LIST: 3 2. THE MAKING OF ANOTHER MAJOR MOTION PICTURE MASTERPIECE, by Tom Hanks. (Knopf) A World War II soldiers experiences inspire a comic book, which gets adapted into a superhero movie. LAST WEEK: WEEKS ON LIST: 1 3. FOURTH WING, by Rebecca Yarros. (Red Tower) Violet Sorrengail is urged by the commanding general, who also is her mother, to become a candidate for the elite dragon riders. LAST WEEK: 2 WEEKS ON LIST: 2 4. LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY, by Bonnie Garmus. (Doubleday) A scientist and single mother living in California in the 1960s becomes a star on a TV cooking show. LAST WEEK: 5 WEEKS ON LIST: 53 5. QUEEN CHARLOTTE, by Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes. (Avon) Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz weds King George III and contends with the politics of the court. LAST WEEK: WEEKS ON LIST: 1 6. THE 23RD MIDNIGHT, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. (Little, Brown) The 23rd book in the Womens Murder Club series. Lindsay Boxer tracks a copycat killer. LAST WEEK: 3 WEEKS ON LIST: 2 7. DEMON COPPERHEAD, by Barbara Kingsolver. (Harper) A re-imagining of Charles Dickens David Copperfield set in the mountains of southern Appalachia. LAST WEEK: WEEKS ON LIST: 28 8. THE COVENANT OF WATER, by Abraham Verghese. (Grove) Three generations of a family living on South Indias Malabar Coast suffer the loss of a family member by drowning. LAST WEEK: 4 WEEKS ON LIST: 2 9. SIMPLY LIES, by David Baldacci. (Grand Central) A former detective becomes the prime suspect in a murder case involving a man with mob ties who was in witness protection. LAST WEEK: 7 WEEKS ON LIST: 4 10. HELLO BEAUTIFUL, by Ann Napolitano. (Dial) In this homage to Louisa May Alcotts Little Women, a young mans dark past resurfaces as he gets to know the family of his college sweetheart. LAST WEEK: 9 WEEKS ON LIST: 9 11. THE WEDDING PLANNER, by Danielle Steel. (Delacorte) An unmarried wedding planner contends with problems, secrets and scandals. LAST WEEK: 6 WEEKS ON LIST: 2 12. TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, by Gabrielle Zevin. (Knopf) Two friends find their partnership challenged in the world of video game design. LAST WEEK: 10 WEEKS ON LIST: 33 13. THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA, by Patti Callahan Henry. (Atria) When an illustrated book offering potential clues arrives years after World War II, a woman in London delves into her past. LAST WEEK: 8 WEEKS ON LIST: 2 14. THINGS I WISH I TOLD MY MOTHER, by Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo with James Patterson. (Little, Brown) Secrets and hopes get unpacked when a mother and daughter vacation together in Paris. LAST WEEK: WEEKS ON LIST: 3 15. REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES, by Shelby Van Pelt. (Ecco) A widow working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium is aided in solving a mystery by a giant Pacific octopus living there. LAST WEEK: 15 WEEKS ON LIST: 17 ___ NONFICTION 1. SPARE, by Prince Harry. (Random House) The Duke of Sussex details his struggles with the royal family, loss of his mother, service in the British army and marriage to Meghan Markle. LAST WEEK: 5 WEEKS ON LIST: 18 2. THE LIGHT WE CARRY, by Michelle Obama. (Crown) The former first lady shares personal stories and the tools she uses to deal with difficult situations. LAST WEEK: 2 WEEKS ON LIST: 26 3. THE WAGER, by David Grann. (Doubleday) The survivors of a shipwrecked British vessel on a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain have different accounts of events. LAST WEEK: 1 WEEKS ON LIST: 4 4. THE DADDY DIARIES, by Andy Cohen. (Holt) The host and executive producer of Watch What Happens Live juggles fatherhood and his career. LAST WEEK: WEEKS ON LIST: 1 5. OUTLIVE, by Peter Attia with Bill Gifford. (Harmony) A look at recent scientific research on aging and longevity. LAST WEEK: 3 WEEKS ON LIST: 7 6. IM GLAD MY MOM DIED, by Jennette McCurdy. (Simon & Schuster) The actress and filmmaker describes her eating disorders and difficult relationship with her mother. LAST WEEK: 7 WEEKS ON LIST: 40 7. LOOK FOR ME THERE, by Luke Russert. (Harper Horizon) The Emmy Award-winning journalist details how he grieved for his late father and sought to make his own way. LAST WEEK: 4 WEEKS ON LIST: 2 8. WALKING WITH SAM, by Andrew McCarthy. (Grand Central) The actor and travel writer treks 500 miles across Spains Camino de Santiago with his elder son. LAST WEEK: WEEKS ON LIST: 1 9. GREENLIGHTS, by Matthew McConaughey. (Crown) The Academy Award-winning actor shares snippets from the diaries he kept over 35 years. LAST WEEK: 9 WEEKS ON LIST: 93 10. LESSONS LEARNED AND CHERISHED, by Deborah Roberts. (Andscape) Essays by celebrities about the teachers who impacted their lives. LAST WEEK: 6 WEEKS ON LIST: 2 11. YOU CANT JOKE ABOUT THAT, by Kat Timpf. (Broadside) The co-host of Gutfeld! and Fox News contributor gives her take on free speech and comedy. (b) LAST WEEK: 13 WEEKS ON LIST: 4 12. IT. GOES. SO. FAST., by Mary Louise Kelly. (Holt) The co-host of NPRs All Things Considered reflects on the period when her father died and her older son would soon leave for college. LAST WEEK: WEEKS ON LIST: 3 13. A FEVER IN THE HEARTLAND, by Timothy Egan. (Viking) The Pulitzer and National Book Award-winning author details the Ku Klux Klans rise to the height of its power in the 1920s and how one brutalized womans testimony diminished it. LAST WEEK: WEEKS ON LIST: 4 14. THE LAST HONEST MAN, by James Risen with Thomas Risen. (Little, Brown) Sen. Frank Churchs investigation in 1975-76 of abuses of power in the intelligence community. LAST WEEK: WEEKS ON LIST: 1 15. WHEN THE HEAVENS WENT ON SALE, by Ashlee Vance. (Ecco) The author of Elon Musk chronicles the work of four companies attempting to make an intergalactic land grab. LAST WEEK: WEEKS ON LIST: 1 ___ The New York Times bestsellers are compiled and archived by the bestseller lists desk of The New York Times news department and are separate from the culture, advertising and business sides of The New York Times Co. More information on rankings and methodology: nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/methodology. Harrison Ford was seen pushing a luggage cart as he checked out of a hotel with wife Calista Flockhart on Sunday after attending their son Liam's graduation. The acting icon, 80, whose film Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will be released next month, was every inch the gentleman as he loaded up the family's luggage. He wore a crisp blue shirt, black suit jacket and pants, paired with black boots as he stepped out. Calista, 58, looked chic in a black top and wide-legged trousers, teamed with sneakers and an oversize bag as she chatted with Harrison. The pair's outing came as new character poster for the final chapter in Ford's Indiana Jones journey were released. It's Indy! Harrison Ford was seen pushing a luggage cart as he checked out of a hotel with wife Calista Flockhart on Sunday after attending their son Liam's graduation There she is: Calista, 58, looked chic in a black top and wide-legged trousers, teamed with sneakers and an oversize bag as she chatted with Harrison The brooding posters show stars including Ford, Phoebe Waller Bridge (Helena Shaw), Mads Mikkelsen (Jurgen Voller) and Antonio Banderas (Renaldo) posing up just weeks before the film debuts on June 30. Also seen was Shaunette Renee Wilson as Mason, Toby Jones as Basil Shaw and Ethann Isidore as Teddy. Set in 1969 amid the backdrop of the Space Race, Dr.Jones, renowned archaeologist and adventurer, finds himself uneasy over the U.S. government's recruitment of former Nazis to help beat the Soviet Union in the competition to make it to space. For this go-around, Indy's goddaughter, Helena Shaw (Waller-Bridge), accompanies him on his new journey, while Jurgen Voller (Mikkelsen), a NASA member and ex-Nazi involved with the moon-landing program, wishes to make the world into a better place as he sees fit. This comes after Ford and Flockhart watched their son Liam receive diplomas from Amherst College in Massachusetts. The Ally McBeal star announced she had adopted her son Liam as a single parent in January 2001. 'I have always wanted to adopt a child and I am overjoyed that I have been blessed with a beautiful and healthy son,' the new mom said in a statement at the time. Dapper: The star looked relaxed as he enjoyed a break from his hectic schedule Style: Calista, 58, looked chic in a black top and wide-legged trousers, teamed with sneakers and an oversize bag as she chatted with Harrison Wow: The pair's outing came as new character poster for the final chapter in Ford's Indiana Jones journey were released Brit invasion: Phoebe Waller Bridge, who plays Helena Shaw, looked brooding as she posed Wow: Antonio Banderas (Renaldo) looked near unrecognizable in his poster Chilling: Mads Mikkelsen (Jurgen Voller) posed up in glasses and a fedora hat Speaking of her new bundle of joy, she admitted, 'I'm completely enchanted and awe-struck.' One year later, she and Harrison met at the 59th Golden Globe Awards in 2002. Calista was nominated for a best actress award for her role in Ally McBeal. Harrison was there to receive the Cecil B DeMille Award from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The couple kept their relationship quiet until they decided to go public, stepping out together at the Venice Film Festival in September of that year. The pair lived together for nearly a decade before tying the knot in 2010 in New Mexico, where the action star was working on the film Cowboys and Aliens. Liam was about nine when his parents married. Harrison was 67 at the time. 'I've got five kids in total, so it's not my first rodeo,' the Star Wars star told The Independent. Yeah, obviously, I'm getting older but I don't relate to it very much. It doesn't interest me as something to dwell on. I have a 9-year-old kid at home. I feel like the father of a 9-year-old.' Look: Shaunette Renee Wilson as Mason was seen in her poster Animated: ,Toby Jones posed up as Basil Shaw in his poster Poster: Ethann Isidore looked the part as Teddy, Helena's sidekick 'My older children have taught me a lot about parenting. My first child was born when I was 25. I reckon I'm a little better at it now.' The actor has four older children from his prior marriages. Ben, 56, and Willard, 54, are his sons from his first marriage to illustrator Mary Marquardt, 78. He shares Malcolm, 35, and daughter Georgia, 32, with his second wife, ET: the Extra-Terrestrial screenwriter Melissa Mathison, 65. Neither Harrison nor Calista keeps a strong social media presence. An Instagram page attributed to Liam reads, 'My parents are Calista Flockhart & Harrison Ford My parents say I can't take selfies becuz I need a private life #annoyingactorparents #single.' Harrison and Calista recently returned from Cannes where Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny debuted. The actor received a five minute standing ovation for what could be his final portrayal of the beloved character who helped make him a superstar. When asked at a news conference what it was like for him receiving such an accolade, he got teary and answered, 'Indescribable.' 'I cant even tell you,' he added. 'The welcome is unimaginable and it makes me feel good.' Reviews: Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny made its world premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France on Thursday, and critics shared their first reviews of the fifth and likely final installment in the franchise Peter Bradshaw, writer with Guardian, agreed for the most part, writing, 'Indiana Jones still has a certain old-school class' Peter Bradshaw, writer with Guardian, agreed for the most part, writing, 'Indiana Jones still has a certain old-school class' When asked about the de-aging technique that allowed him to look like his younger self at the beginning of the film, the actor said he didn't feel the need to revisit his younger years. 'I dont look back and wish I was that guy again. I am real happy with age. I could be dead, after all, and I am still working.' The action hero recently returned to television, starring in 1923, a Yellowstone prequel, which has been renewed for a second season, and Shrinking, a comedy on Apple TV+, which has also been renewed. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny opens in theaters June 30. New Love Island star Molly Marsh has just 1 in assets in her 'dormant' company she created three years ago. The 21-year-old from Doncaster will be making her debut on the hit ITV2 show on Monday. She is a West End performer and social media creator, as well as the daughter of Corrie actress Janet Marsh. The blonde beauty seems to already be thinking about the possible opportunities appearing on the show can have for Islanders' careers. Molly created her own company in October 2020 called Iconic Influencer Limited when she was just 19. Oh dear: New Love Island star Molly Marsh has just 1 in assets in her 'dormant' company she created three years ago Entrance: The 21-year-old from Doncaster will be making her debut on the hit ITV2 show on Monday Famous family! She is a West End performer and social media creator, as well as the daughter of Corrie actress Janet Marsh. She set up an accompanying website and Instagram account, but has since taken both of them down. Her latest accounts statement from October 2021 reveals the company has just 1 in current assets and is 'dormant'. Molly also has interacted with several previous Love Island contestants who have gone on to be successful influencers. In October 2021, a beaming Molly shared a photo alongside former Love Island star Molly-Mae Hague at one of her Beauty Works events. Only a few months later in January 2022, Molly was once again partying it up with more Islanders, including Maura Higgins and season six's Siannese Fudge. After meeting at what appears to be a Christmas party, the new contestant took to her Instagram to share the snaps, penning: 'Camera roll photo dump of me being overly happy to meet these gorgeous people!!!' Not promising: Her latest accounts statement from October 2021 reveals the company has just 1 in current assets and is 'dormant' Learned from the best: Molly also has interacted with several previous Love Island contestants who have gone on to be successful influencers Famous friends? In October 2021, a beaming Molly shared a photo alongside former Love Island star Molly-Mae Hague at one of her Beauty Works events Molly said of her claims to fame: 'With my job being in social media, Ive had some amazing opportunities to go on press trips and Ive actually been out to the Love Island Villas in Mallorca and South Africa... 'Having the experience to walk around both was amazing but to now actually live in the Villa is going to be incredible.' She currently boasts 26,000 followers on Instagram under the handle @mollygracemarsh. Her grid is littered with snaps from her trip to the South African mansion, including in the beach hut and fire pit. Eamonn Holmes has blasted 'woke ITV' and claims stars who do not agree with the bosses' narrative are axed - and revealed executives never gave a reason for why he needed to step down from This Morning. Speaking in a bombshell interview, the broadcaster agreed with his fellow GB News presenter Dan Wootton who suggested that anyone who questions ITV's 'woke narrative' is pushed out the door. He said that ITV liked a 'certain order, even if that order is corrupt', suggesting that presenters who went against their mandate, such as Jeremy Kyle and Piers Morgan, were removed while those like Phillip Schofield 'were protected'. Yesterday, Holmes alleged that ITV had known about Schofield's 'unwise, but not illegal' affair with a younger male colleague, accusing the broadcaster of a 'total cover up. He also claimed that 'those in authority had to know' because the man was ferried between Schofield's 1million home and the studios in taxis 'paid for by ITV'. Schofield and his co-presenter of 14 years Holly Willoughby sat with his much younger former lover Eamonn Holmes has blasted 'woke ITV' tonight, claiming stars who do not agree with the boss's narrative are axed He claimed that ITV presenters like Phillip Schofield were 'protected'. Schofield has sent the broadcaster into crisis after he admitted lying about an affair with a younger colleague Tonight the former presenter of This Morning claimed he was 'never given a reason' by the ITV's chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall as to why he was axed, adding that there did seem to be 'a political element' to his dismissal. The veteran broadcaster, 63, and is wife Ruth Langsford were controversially removed from This Morning in November 2021 after 15 years of a service. They were replaced by Friday hosts Dermot OLeary and Alison Hammond. READ MORE: ITV bosses to face grilling by MPs next week over Phillip Schofield affair scandal as broadcaster faces questions about who knew what and when Advertisement He blamed ITV's 'wokery' for the departure of a number of its former stars. This included Mr Kyle who left in 2019 following the death of guest Steven Dymond, and Mr Morgan who quit in March 2021 after a huge on-air row over comments he made about Meghan Markle. Speaking to his fellow GB News presenter Dan Wootton tonight, Holmes said: 'They like a certain order even if that order is corrupt doesnt matter if they are bending the rules or breaking the rules, but as long as they instigate lockdown, then its their way or the highway.' MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment. Holmes insisted that the head of ITV Daytime Emma Gormley, was ordered by Dame McCall 'to get rid of' him. At the time, his removal from This Morning was said to be spurred on after he received backlash from questioning whether there was a link between 5G and coronavirus - a comment that was said to have infuriated ITV bosses. The next day he was forced to issue an apology and the regulator Ofcom had to intervene. Speaking of the matter tonight, Holmes said 'I said you should be able to question the narrative about these things'. Holmes claimed tonight on GB News that he was 'never given a reason' by the ITV's chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall as to why he was axed Piers Morgan quit ITV's Good Morning Britain following a row about comments he made about Meghan Markle Jeremy Kyle left ITV in 2019 following the death of one of his guest's Steven Dymond He went on make a barb at Prince Harry's wife, Meghan Markle, who he dubbed 'humourless'. READ MORE - Phillip Schofield scandal explained: Full timeline of the ITV crisis and what happens next Advertisement Mr Wootton claimed the Duchess of Sussex 'had a lot of influence' on Dame McCall, alleging that the ITV boss had not 'liked the fact' that Holmes and Mr Morgan had criticised Ms Markle. The Duchess made a complaint to Ofcom after Mr Morgan stated on Good Morning Britain that he 'didn't believe a word' of her Oprah Winfrey interview, where she laid bare her struggles surrounding mental health. Holmes said: 'I think the way of dealing with Carolyn McCall and Megan Markle is to laugh at them and laugh at their wokery because they are humourless, they are all humourless.' He added that the director of television Kevin Lygo 'stays silent of everything' and 'should not be allowed to'. The interview comes as ongoing crisis continues to swirl around the broadcaster after Schofield admitted on Friday that he had lied to the station, his lawyers, his talent agency and co-star of 14 years about his relationship with a much younger colleague. It has plunged ITV into meltdown, resulting in millions of pounds being lost on a This Morning sponsorship deal. Last night, Holmes made more allegations, accusing that 'those in authority' at ITV 'had to know' about Schofield's affair as the young man was ferried between Schofield's 1million west London flat to the White City studio in taxis 'paid for by ITV'. Schofield and his young lover leave the Ivy Club in London in the early hours of Friday March 23, 2017. Holmes claimed yesterday that Thursday nights were 'playtime' for them A series of pictures show Holly Willoughb y and her producer husband Daniel Baldwin leaving the National Television Awards before being approached by Schofield's young lover in 2020 He shares a few words with Holly, 42, outside the 02 Arena before kissing her on the cheek Schofield, 61, does not take part in the conversation but is seen vaping nearby accompanied by his wife, Stephanie Lowe He accused those in charge of a 'total cover up' of the affair in which Schofield branded 'unwise but not illegal'. Holmes said yesterday: 'Thursday was playtime when he and Phillip would hit the town and then he obviously stayed overnight. There are records to show that he was brought in the next day separately in cars paid for by ITV.' The ongoing blasts to ITV tonight come as the Daily Mail revealed that Schofield's former lover had received a financial settlement from the broadcaster. ITV has repeatedly declined to comment on the alleged pay-off or deny it. The former presenter's representatives also made no comments. A source, however, has claimed that a sum of money was handed over to the young man, after he declared his love for Schofield and at the National Television Awards in 2020. Soon after, he was shunned to another of the network's daytime programme. Schofield was filmed smoking shisha with his young lover, right, and his best friend Simon Schofield, left, in 2017 Timeline of the Phillip Schofield scandal September 2022 - Schofield and Willoughby are criticised for failing to queue for the Queen's Lying in State. April 2023 - Phillip is absent from This Morning for two weeks while his brother Timothy, 54, is tried at Exeter Crown Court for sexually abusing a teenage boy. April 3 - Timothy is found guilty of 'emotionally blackmailing' the teenager into performing sex acts and watching porn with him. May 10 - Reports emerge Phillip and Holly are 'barely speaking', but a day later he issues a statement calling Holly 'my rock'. May 15 - The pair present a united front while presenting This Morning, but rumours of a feud continue. The pair are said to have fallen out due to Phillip's failure to warn Holly of his brother's trial. May 20 - Schofield announces he is stepping down from This Morning with 'immediate effect'. May 22 - Stand-in presenters Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond pay tribute to their former colleague as 'one of the best live television broadcasters this country has ever had'. May 26 - Schofield releases a statement admitting he'd had an affair with a 'much younger' colleague but then lied about it. May 27 - Holly blasts Phillip for lying to her. May 28 - This Morning's former resident doctor Dr Ranj Singh hits out at the show's 'toxic' culture. May 29 - Schofield releases a statement denying claims the show had a toxic culture, only for Eamonn Holmes to slam him as 'delusional' on Twitter. Holmes later takes to GB News accusing ITV of a 'total cover up' of Schofield's affair. Advertisement Insiders at ITV said bosses must have known about the any payments made as it would have been signed off by someone more senior. One said: There have been numerous pay-offs at ITV and they have always had to be arranged and sanctioned by people of some seniority. The claims come as pressure is increasing on the Dame McCall, Mr Lygo and Ms Gormley to speak about what they knew. ITV has continued to insist that it carried out an investigation in 2020 after rumours of Schofield's affair with a younger male employee began to circulate. But sources close to Schofield's former lover said he was never quizzed on the matter. Schofield reportedly met his future lover while he was at stage school in 2012. In 2016, he was around 18 or 19, he landed a job on This Morning. Today an extraordinary Snapchat video shows the former broadcaster partying with the young man 34 years his junior and his best friend Simon Schofield. In the clip from March 2017, Schofield begins by sharing a snap of his pint of beer before dragging on a shisha. He then giggles: 'I can't get a tune out of these bagpipes'. In the shisha video the young man is believed to be around 20 while Schofield was 55. It is thought they were in a relationship at the time the video was recorded. A series of photos were also released today showing the night that the young man reportedly declared his love for Schofield, according to former ITV producer Cristo Foufas. Pictures show the young man giving his co-host Holly Willoughby, 42, a kiss on the cheek at the National Television Awards (NTAs) at the O2 Arena in 2020. Mr Foufas described an 'incident' at the awards on January 28, 2020 when Schofield's lover stunned his colleagues by 'declaring his love for Phil'. The photos show the man approaching Holly and her husband Daniel Baldwin, sharing a few words, before jumping in a waiting cab. Schofield does not take part in the conversation and is seen vaping nearby with his then wife Stephanie Lowe. Mr Foufas told the Jeremy Vine show today: 'I was a producer at ITV Daytime during the period where this was all taking place,' he told the Jeremy Vine Show. 'It was known among the production staff and people lower down the food chain what was going on. Everyone knew that he was with Phillip.' later to Eamonn Holmes and his wife, Ruth Langsford. Just ten days later Schofield wrote an emotional Instagram post revealing he was gay, before speaking about it moments Kanye West's 'wife' Bianca Censori turned heads as she grabbed dinner with her husband at the West Hollywood Edition hotel on Monday evening. Despite being married to one of the most famous faces on the planet, Bianca, 28, opted to conceal her face with a grey scarf wrapped around her entire head. She departed the hotel hand-in-hand with her A-list husband, with only her eyes visible beneath the head covering. Bianca sported a camouflage print jacket, leggings, and black knee-high boots whereas her husband, 45, sported a 'Berlin' T-shirt and slacks. It's not the first time Bianca has been seen covering her face. Fashion statement: Kanye West and his wife Bianca Censori turned heads as they grabbed dinner at the West Hollywood Edition hotel on Monday evening Last week, she concealed her visage with a black T-shirt cloaked over her head as she stepped out arm-in-arm with Kanye. Kanye, for his part, has also famously gone undercover in a variety of disguises in recent years. Bianca and Kanye's unorthodox union was reportedly sealed in January, when TMZ reported that West and Censori had obtained a marriage certificate. They reportedly tied the knot in a non-legally binding ceremony. Bianca has been employed by West's Yeezy brand since joining the company in November 2020. She is listed as Head of Architecture and secured the position after reportedly obtaining a Master's in Building Design at Melbourne University in Australia. Kanye's outing came after his ex-wife Kim Kardashian broke down in tears on the premiere episode of Hulu's The Kardashians and accused him of starting a rumor she had an affair with Drake during their marriage. Kim was seen breaking down on TV as she spoke candidly about the drama between the former pair on her show, and the emotional and mental pain he has put her through since their divorce. Kim, 42 who split from the controversial musician in February 2021 after six years of marriage and four children together tells her mother Kris Jenner that she's 'exhausted' by Kanye's behaviour. Disguise: Despite being married to one of the most famous faces on the planet, Bianca opted to conceal her face with a grey scarf wrapped around her entire head Stepping out: Bianca sported a camouflage print jacket, leggings, and black knee-high boots whereas her husband sported a 'Berlin' T-shirt and slacks She also accuses him of starting a rumour that she cheated on him with the rapper Drake who has longstanding beef with Kanye during their marriage. Kim claims that it was Kanye who 'started a rumour that I was hooking up with Drake, that I was having an affair our whole marriage.' She continues: 'He accused me of that publicly. So, the person that's supposed to protect me the most publicly would accuse me of having an affair throughout our whole marriage. 'I really can't wrap my head around how he thinks he is a protector.' Teamwork: Bianca has been employed by West's Yeezy brand since joining the company in November 2020 Low-key: The couple held hands as they departed the hotel Kim also gets particularly emotional while speaking about how her ex-husband 'looks down on [her]' for her infamous 2007 sex tape and 'brings it up' whenever he can. 'All of his shenanigans [are] going to be far more damaging to the kids one day than my tape will ever be,' she passionately tells Kris. The scene kicks off with Kim admitting to her mother that she's been dealing with anxiety attacks as a result of the stress Kanye has put her under. 'I spent my whole morning having an anxiety attack. I felt like I just couldn't breathe all day. You know when you just are on the verge of tears it's like your throat is about to cry? That's how I felt all day,' says Kim. In confessional, Kim acknowledges that there 'has been a lot going on between me and Kanye right now' and that it's dominated the media. Undercover: It's not the first time Bianca has been seen covering her face Casual: The rapper sported a ' Berlin ' T-shirt and slacks In disguise: Last week, she concealed her visage with a black T-shirt cloaked over her head as she stepped out arm-in-arm with Kanye Masking up: The rapper has also famously gone undercover in a variety of disguises in recent years; pictured last year 'Even through all the craziness of things that Kanye says about us like I never comment, I never post,' she tells her mom. 'Like, he has made up the most insane narrative about you and the tape and we stay silent and we stay silent through all the lies, all the stuff.' With Kanye having continually made their family matters public, Kim states that she just '[expects] that everything that I text Kanye will be put on the internet.' Although this pains her, Kim says that Kanye bringing her family, particularly her mother, into his online rants is what sets her over the edge. 'I think I can handle anything, I just get really heartbroken for my mom that she has to deal with so much from so many different sides,' she tells the camera. Kris reminds Kim that she 'can't control' what Kanye does and that 'he's doing this to himself.' The SKIMS founder expresses anger over the fact that Kanye continues to use her in sex tape against her. Emotional: The outing came after his ex-wife Kim Kardashian broke down in tears on the premiere episode of The Kardashians and accused him of starting a rumor she had an affair Affair rumors: '[Kanye] started a rumor that I was hooking up with Drake, that I was having an affair our whole marriage,' she told her mother on the show; Drake seen in 2021 'He looks so down on me for my [sex] tape and like brings it up all over town,' she claims. While Kanye gets to scream his truth from the rooftops, Kim is frustrated that she's forced to remain quiet. But she also knows it's for the best. 'And I have to sit here and not say anything ever because I know one day my kids will appreciate that and I know that's the best thing for them,' explains Kim, who can barely hold back her tears. She also notes that she's had to keep a brave face for her four children, who are unaware of their father's behavior and often play his music in the presence of their mother. Split: The reality TV star split from the controversial rapper in February 2021 after six years of marriage and four children together; seen in 2019 'And by the way, I'm the one where s**t can be going down and I get in the car and everyday the kids want to blast dad's music,' she tells Kris. 'And I'm like, "He's the best! Yeah!" And I put it on and we're singing along and inside I'm like dying because I will be his biggest cheerleader to them forever and one day they will see for themselves and I will answer whatever they want me to.' Kim explains in confessional that it's always 'so intense' with Kanye and that she has no interest in engaging in a public feud with him.' 'I am stuck with this for the rest of my life,' she tells Kris. Kris replies: 'You can't control someone else's behavior you have to look at the history of this. We were there for him for so many years. 'And then you finally decided that you couldn't take it anymore and that it wasn't in the best interest of you or your children. 'You got a divorce. You did the only thing you could do,' the matriarch concludes. Kaley Cuoco is mourning the loss of her beloved chihuahua Dump Truck, who sadly passed away earlier this week. Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, The Big Bang Theory alum, 37 who recently celebrated her first Mother's Day with daughter Matilda penned an emotional tribute to the elderly chihuahua she adopted over the pandemic. '"A dog is the only thing on earth, that loves you more than he loves himself," wrote Cuoco, quoting 19-century writer Josh Billings. 'My sweetest Dump Truck, saying goodbye to you has deeply pierced my soul.' She added that the canine was with her during some of the hardest moments she has had in her life. 'You brought endless joy to everyone that met you, and kissed my nose when I needed it most,' she wrote. 'You were as special as it gets and Im so grateful we found each-other. Please tell Norman I miss him every day and will cherish you both forever.' Heartbroken: Kaley Cuoco, 37, is mourning the loss of her beloved chihuahua Dump Truck, who sadly passed away earlier this week Saying goodbye: Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, The Big Bang Theory alum penned an emotional tribute to the elderly chihuahua she adopted over the pandemic An outpouring of love and support filled Kaley's comments section as her Hollywood friends sent their condolences. 'Oh its so sad its always so so sad,' wrote Lisa Rinna. 'Sending love and strength .' 'So so sorry you guys ,' commented Taylor Lautner, while Mean Girls star Lacey Chabert wrote: 'Im so sorry. Huge hugs to you guys.' Cuoco is a passionate animal lover and an avid equestrian who has a small pack of rescue dogs in Malibu. The Flight Attendant star fostered Dump Truck in 2020 and decided to make him a permanent part of her family when COVID hit. Dump Truck's passing comes two months after Kaley and her partner Tom Pelphrey adopted another elderly chihuahua named Opal. In March, the actress shared an image of herself cuddling Opal and wrote: 'Thank you @deityanimalresuce and an amazing foster @thisisdarragh for bringing this angel to us.' She added: 'We did a thing again. We welcome miss Opal (little widdle girl) into our growing family.' Her best friend: '"A dog is the only thing on earth, that loves you more than he loves himself," wrote Cuoco, quoting 19-century writer Josh Billings. 'My sweetest Dump Truck, saying goodbye to you has deeply pierced my soul' Condolences: An outpouring of love and support filled Kaley's comments section as her Hollywood friends sent their condolences One big happy family: The Meet Cute star included a few sweet snaps of her partner Tom Pelphrey, 40, snuggling Dump Truck His final years: The Flight Attendant star fostered Dump Truck in 2020 and decided to make him a permanent part of her family when COVID hit RIP: 'You were with me during some of the hardest moments Ive had in my life,' wrote Kaley. 'You brought endless joy to everyone that met you, and kissed my nose when I needed it most' So sweet: Cuoco referenced her other beloved dog Norman in her tribute to Dump Truck, writing: 'You were as special as it gets and Im so grateful we found each-other. Please tell Norman I miss him every day and will cherish you both forever' Past pain: Kaley was dealt a major blow in 2021 when her cherished sidekick Norman passed away. The elderly dog's death left her devastated by 'earth-shattering pain' Kaley's pets have been with her every step of the way this past year as her private life has flourished with romance and motherhood. But prior to finding happiness with boyfriend Pelphrey and their baby girl Matilda, The Meet Cute star was dealt a major blow in 2021 when her cherished sidekick Norman passed away. The elderly dog's death left Kaley devastated by 'earth-shattering pain,' which she candidly wrote about in an Instagram tribute to Norman, captioning a pair of black-and-white photos. The heartbroken star wrote: 'Earth shattering deep gut wrenching pain I didnt know was possible. Norman, you were my entire world for 14 years. Thank you for smiling at me as you left this world, confirming for me once again our language was ours alone. You will always have my heart.' A popular Channel 4 sitcom from the 1990s will be returning as a new stage revival starring the original cast. Drop the Dead Donkey aired for six seasons from 1990 to 1998 and was set in the fictional TV newsroom of GlobeLink News. It followed the staff, led by editor George Den, and made up of characters such as Gus Hedges, Damian Day and Sally Smedley. Creators Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin have written the script for the play, which is called Drop the Dead Donkey: The Reawakening! Original cast members Stephen Tompkinson, Neil Pearson, Susannah Doyle, Robert Duncan, Ingrid Lacey, Jeff Rawle and Victoria Wicks are all reuniting to star. Comeback: A popular Channel 4 sitcom from the 1990s will be returning as a new stage revival starring the original cast Satire: Drop the Dead Donkey aired for six seasons from 1990 to 1998 and was set in the fictional TV newsroom of GlobeLink News Hilarious: It followed the staff, led by editor George Den, and made up of characters such as Gus Hedges, Damian Day and Sally Smedley The show will tour the UK from January to June, opening at Richmond Theatre and end its run at Cheltenhams Everyman Theatre. Andy and Guy say the play will see the characters 'plunged into the cutthroat world of modern 24-hour news gathering while trying to navigate their way through the daily chaos of social media, fake news and interim prime ministers.' Stephen, who played gung-ho reporter Damian said: 'What excites me the most is being back with the cast weve known each other for 30-odd years and this is a whole new adventure.' The news comes just weeks after a jury cleared the actor of inflicting grievous bodily harm. The DCI Banks star was accused of punching a drunk man in the head, who fell to the ground and broke his skull, after finding him and a friend drinking and making noise at the bottom of his driveway in the early hours of May 30, 2021. The 57-year-old was cleared by a jury of inflicting GBH earlier this month at Newcastle Crown Court. Stephen told jurors he only pushed Mr Poole away in self-defence and the contact 'wasn't enough to knock a sober man off his feet'. The actor previously told chat show host Lorraine Kelly: 'You have to wonder was it worth bringing (to court). 'They were trying to prove a punch that never happened. There was no evidence on my hand, on the guy's face. He was just incredibly drunk and he fell.' Giving evidence, Stephen detailed the crippling impact of the case on his professional life, with roles he already had taken away from him and any offers drying up. Asked by his lawyer if he needed this acting work, he replied 'yes, absolutely' - suggesting the trial has had a damaging effect on his finances. Innocent: The news comes just weeks after a jury cleared lead actor Stephen Tompkinson of inflicting grievous bodily harm He let out a sigh of relief but showed no emotion as the jury at Newcastle Crown Court returned a not guilty verdict. Stephen's defence drew on his showbiz career at moments in the trial, describing him as 'acting royalty.' His barrister, Nicholas Lumley, KC, said that in the industry 'there may be hellraisers who wear their reputation as some sort of badge of honour and trade on it' but his client had always been a true professional. Drop the Dead Donkey writer Andy appeared in person to testify to Stephen's good character. Viggo Venn and Olivia Lynes have made it to the grand final of Britain's Got Talent after surviving the explosive semi-final on Tuesday night. The two talented acts beat off stiff competition from Yo-Highness, Nathan and Joanne, Lewis Fuller, Tia Connolly, Andrew Stanton and Johns' Boys. Viggo won the public vote, sending him straight through to the final, while the judges were left to choose who joined him, between Olivia and Johns' Boys. New judge Bruno Tonioli began by saving Johns' Boys after he cried during their act, but the other three on the panel opted for Olivia. The 11-year-old was visibly emotional as her mum came on stage to give her a hug, saying: 'I feel speechless'. Congrats! Viggo Venn and Olivia Lynes have made it to the grand final of Britain's Got Talent after surviving the explosive semi-final on Tuesday night Wow! The two talented acts beat off stiff competition from Yo-Highness, Nathan and Joanne, Lewis Fuller, Tia Connolly, Andrew Stanton and Johns' Boys Judge's decision: New judge Bruno Tonioli began by saving Johns' Boys after he cried during their act, but the other three on the panel opted for Olivia Meanwhile, Viggo quipped: 'I did my best' and broke out into dance once again after being sent through. The Norwegian won with his very unique act, which involved him recording the judges saying their names, while wearing his iconic Hi-Vis jacket. He called back to his hilarious audition, by stripping off his jacket to Daft Punk's One More Time at the end. Alesha Dixon branded it the 'best act of the night', while Simon confessed: 'It was the most annoying act of the night, but also my favourite.' Earlier in the night, Olivia performed a powerful rendition of Into the Unknown by Idina Menzel from Frozen 2. She sang from a giant crescent moon, levitating over the stage and said of her performance afterwards: 'It felt like a dream come true.' Bruno gushed: 'You are a miracle', while Alesha praised: 'You are meant to do this, it was phenomenal.' Olivia auditioned after Amanda Holden surprised her at the theatre to tell her that her mum and nan had signed her up for her contest. She sang Defying Gravity from Wicked for her audition, which left Bruno fighting back tears and Amanda pressing the golden buzzer. Bizarre: Viggo won with his very unique act, which involved him recording the judges saying their names, while wearing his iconic Hi-Vis jacket Loving it: He called back to his hilarious audition, by stripping off his jacket to Daft Punk's One More Time at the end Incredible: Earlier in the night, Olivia performed a powerful rendition of Into the Unknown by Idina Menzel from Frozen 2 Speaking exclusively to MailOnline after the show, Amanda admitted that she 'had no idea Olivia could sing' when she met her the previous day. Amanda explained: 'So I didn't know if I was allowed to press it for her because Id actually met her the day before as part of our golden moments and encouraged her to come down and audition.' The presenter continued: 'But when I met her I had no idea if she could sing, and then was absolutely blown away by her performance. 'And it's just so typical of what I would press my buzzer for. I was almost like, "Oh my god. It's going to have to be this because I love it. She is amazing.' Jaime Winstone's parents Ray and Elaine proudly showed their support for their daughter as they watched her perform in 2:22 A Ghost Story on Tuesday. The actress, 38, is starring as Jenny in the West End show, taking over the role from the likes of Cheryl, Laura Whitmore and Lily Allen. And her family showed their pride as her parents and her sister Lois all watched the hotly-anticipated press night performance of the hit thriller. They then all attended an afterparty to celebrate Jaime's hotly-anticipated performance at Sophie's Soho in London. At the bash, Jaime sweetly posed for snaps with her famous actor father Ray, 66, who kissed her on the cheek as he showed his pride after her performance. Family: Jaime Winstone's proud father Ray showed his support for their daughter as they watched her perform in 2:22 A Ghost Story on Tuesday and celebrated at an afterparty Role: The actress, 38, is starring as Jenny in the West End show, taking over the role from the likes of Cheryl, Laura Whitmore and Lily Allen Pride: Jaime sweetly posed for snaps with her famous actor father Ray, 66, who kissed her on the cheek as he showed his pride after her performance She put on a glamorous display in a black dress and a coordinated blazer, while she gave herself a few extra inches in a pair of strapped heels. Jaime accessorised with a chunky silver necklace and swept her brunette locks into a messy up-do. She accentuated her striking features with a smokey-eye make-up palette and a slick of bold red lipstick. Jaime struck an array of playful poses with her father Ray as they larked around following her performance in the West End thriller. The press night appeared to go successfully as the cast were all seen grinning widely as they took a bow at the end of the show. Jaime was joined on stage by her cast mate Ricky Champ, who will take over the role of Ben from fellow former EastEnders actor Jake Wood. Also on stage was former One Tree Hill star Sophia Bush, 40, who will play Lauren, and actor Clifford Samuel, who is taking on the role of Sam. Earlier in the night, Jaime's parents Ray and Elaine looked as loved-up as ever as they posed arm-in-arm outside The Apollo Theatre in London. All smiles: She put on a glamorous display in a black dress and a coordinated blazer, while she gave herself a few extra inches in a pair of strapped heels Success! The press night show appeared to go well as the cast were all seen grinning as they took a bow at the end of the show Cast: Jaime was joined on stage by her cast mates Ricky Champ, former One Tree Hill star Sophia Bush, and actor Clifford Samuel Co-stars: Jaime was all smiles as she posed alongside her co-star Sophia, who looked elegant in a black lace dress at the afterparty Proud: Earlier in the night, Jaime's parents Ray and Elaine looked as loved-up as ever as they posed arm-in-arm outside The Apollo Theatre in London Ray, who has starred in the likes of Beowulf, The Departed and Sexy Beast, cut a suave figure in dark jeans and a white shirt, which he styled with a grey blazer. He kept comfortable in a pair of grey boots and shielded his eyes with orange tinted glasses to complete the look. Meanwhile, Jaime's mother Elaine looked effortlessly stylish in a blue polka dot dress and a black jacket, which she styled with patent heels. She kept her essentials in a navy handbag and styled her golden locks in volumnious waves as she smiled for snaps with her partner. The couple put on a cosy display outside the theatre, where Ray was also seen signing autographs for excited fans. Jaime's older sister Lois, 41, also showed her support for the Babs actress as she attended the 2:22 A Ghost Story press night. The Holby City star showed off her signature style in black trousers and a dark T-shirt, adding a pop of colour with a paisley jacket. She kept comfortable in a pair of black Nike trainers and carried a large black handbag over one arm. Support: Laura Whitmore, who starred in a previous cast of the show, also stepped out to watch the performance, showing her support for her successor Smitten: Jaime's famous actor father Ray, 66, and his wife Elaine both looked as loved-up as ever as they posed arm-in-arm outside The Apollo Theatre in London Star: Ray, who has starred in the likes of Beowulf, The Departed and Sexy Beast, signed autographs for fans outside London's Apollo Theatre Sweet: Jaime's older sister Lois, 41, also showed her support for the Babs actress as she attended the 2:22 A Ghost Story press night Lois tucked her brunette locks beneath a wide-brimmed black hat and opted for a smokey-eye make-up palette. Jaime also has another sister Ellie Rae, 22, who is the youngest of the Winstone family and did not appear to be in attendance at the performance. Also in attendance was former Love Island host Laura Whitmore, 38, who previously had a leading role in 2:22 A Ghost Story for four months last year. The Irish presenter cut an elegant figure in smart black trousers featuring braces and a long-sleeved nude top. She gave herself a few extra inches in a pair of beige pointed heels and styled her blonde tresses in curls across her shoulders. A whole host of other guests were also in attendance, including Jaime's close pal Lady Mary Charteris and The Chase star Mark Labbett's new girlfriend Hayley Palmer. The West End thriller relies heavily on what's known as stunt casting where a celebrity, often with little or no acting experience, is given a role to sell tickets. The new cast will perform the tense thriller at The Apollo Theatre for an extended run until September 17. Jaime is best-known for her portrayal of Barbara Windsor in Babs, as well as her roles in Kidulthood, Dead Set and After Hours. In 2009, she made her stage debut in The Fastest Clock in the Universe, playing Foxtrot's pregnant fiancee Sherbet Gravel. Sophia starred as Brooke Davis in CW drama One Tree Hill before going on to secure roles in Chicago PD and medical drama Good Sam. 2:22 A Ghost Story is a supernatural thriller about a tense dinner party, with Jenny believing the house she shares with Ben is haunted. The official synopsis for the play says: 'Jenny believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isn't having any of it. 'They argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and new partner Ben.' Pals: Jaime's close friend Lady Mary Charteris also stepped out to support the star on her big night Besties: The model, 36, looked stylish in black trousers and a white T-shirt, which she paired with an edgy gold patterned jacket Chic: She gave herself a few extra inches in a pair of black boots embellished with gold patterns as she posed on the red carpet with her husband Robbie Furze Trendy: Robbie cut an edgy figure in a black shirt and a denim jacket, worn underneath a leather jacket Glam: The Chase's Mark Labbett's new girlfriend put on a leggy display in a black gown as she joined the guest list Gorgeous: Australian model Gemma Ward also cut an elegant figure in a black gown on the red carpet New cast: Jaime is taking over from Cheryl as Jenny in 2:22 A Ghost Story alongside Sophia Bush, Clifford Samuel and Ricky Champ This is the fifth West End transfer of writer Danny Robins production after it moved next door from the Lyric to the Apollo earlier this month, after two previous seasons at the Criterion. Last year, the play was nominated at the Olivier Awards, including in the Best New Play category, and won the Best New Play gong at the Whatsonstage awards. The production began its life in summer 2021 at the Noel Coward Theatre, originally starring Lily Allen, Julia Chan, Hadley Fraser and Jake Wood. It has since featured the likes of Giovanna Fletcher, Tom Felton, Matt Willis and Laura Whitmore. Advertisement Gal Gadot has carved out an enviable career for herself in Hollywood with the hit films Fast & Furious, Wonder Woman and Red Notice. But the 38-year-old actress still feels as if she is not a fit in Hollywood, even admitting that she suffers from Imposter Syndrome, the condition of feeling anxious despite being high-performing. This week the Israeli star - who was seen in New York City over the weekend - talked her insecurities with L'Officiel magazine while posing for glamorous photos. 'Its funny, I always feel like I have this impostor syndrome, because I feel so lucky and Im so happy that I get to do what I really, really, really love,' noted the brunette beauty. 'I always feel like, I hope theyre gonna like it. Theres never a moment when Im like, Theyre gonna love this.' Green goddess: Gal Gadot has carved out an enviable career for herself in Hollywood with the hit films Fast & Furious, Wonder Woman and Red Notice. But the 38-year-old still feels as if she is not a fit in Hollywood, even admitting that she suffers from Imposter Syndrome, the condition of feeling anxious despite being high-performing Getting real: This week the Israeli star talked her insecurities with L'Officiel magazine while posing for glamorous photos It was a massive Hollywood icon who helped calm her nerves. 'I remember speaking to Francis Ford Coppola, and I asked him, So how does it feel to be a national treasure?' she said to writer Hannah Jackson. Coppola is best known for his The Godfather trilogy. 'He said, You know, something? Im always filled with doubts. Im always afraid theyre not going to like it. I just follow my heart and I come into it humble. I think this was one of the biggest lessons.' She added, 'Im sitting with the legend Francis Ford Coppola, and hes talking about how humble and insecure he can get. I was like, Okay, I can be insecure all the time.' Her next movie is Heart Of Stone which she stars in and is also producing with her husband Jaron Versano. 'With Wonder Woman, we really managed to prove that as long as the story is universal, its good,' she shared. 'I felt like there was room for a female-protagonist action movie that would be for everybody, but more gritty and raw and grounded, rather than a polished superhero movie. Funny feel: 'Its funny, I always feel like I have this impostor syndrome, because I feel so lucky and Im so happy that I get to do what I really, really, really love,' noted the brunette beauty The flip side: 'I always feel like, I hope theyre gonna like it,"' admitted the movie icon 'Usually, as an actor, you get the script, and you can discuss the script with your filmmaker, but thats kind of it. In a way, its super easy; you dont have to worry about anything. But theres something so stimulating and exciting in creating something from scratch. She loves that her character is flawed. 'Id already done and enjoyed doing the superhero of it all, and I wanted to show a real person. 'I wanted to create a woman who has learned to do everything by herself. She can never be an open book; she can never trust anybody fully. 'And that was also part of the reason why I love Tom Harper, our director, because I remember watching Wild Rose with Jessie Buckley. Its a tiny story, but he managed to craft it in a way that was super character-driven. To me, it was more important to bring a director that cares about emotional performances and the story, rather than the way the action looks. And she likes working with her spouse. 'Jaron and I were always on the same page. He comes from the business side of it, and we had a really great opportunity when he sold his entire [real estate] portfolio in Tel Aviv. 'Either he was going to continue real estate or come work with me, and I was like, Lets work together, because he was the missing piece. Jaron has the business mind, and who else can take care of my interests better than my life partner. Will they like it? 'Theres never a moment when Im like, Theyre gonna love this,' shared the successful actress Coppola set her right: It was a massive Hollywood icon who helped calm her nerves. 'I remember speaking to Francis Ford Coppola, and I asked him, So how does it feel to be a national treasure?' she said to writer Hannah Jackson She hopes audiences are thrilled. 'We wanted it to be thrilling and exciting and have people at the edge of their seats, not just a story where you can tell what the end is going to be,' said Gal. 'So thats a tough question for me to answer as far as inspiration, because weve tried not to take too much from others. 'We did make a big scopey movie like the Mission Impossible and Bond films. We shot in five different locations. It was important for us that most everything that we could have done for real weve done for real, as far as the action goes. But we really tried to make an original piece, and I hope it feels that way.' They filmed in Iceland, Morocco, Lisbon, London, and Italy in the Alps. 'Theyre all special. I must say I really, really enjoyed Lisbon because I had never been there. I enjoyed everything about it as far as the people, the food, and the culture. It was so easy to film there. There was good energy.' He helped: Coppola is best known for his The Godfather trilogy. 'He said, You know, something? Im always filled with doubts. Im always afraid theyre not going to like it. I just follow my heart and I come into it humble. I think this was one of the biggest lessons' The Godfather director: She added, 'Im sitting with the legend Francis Ford Coppola, and hes talking about how humble and insecure he can get. I was like, Okay, I can be insecure all the time'; seen in 2022 Later comes Snow White, where she plays the villain. 'It was a great shift. I cant believe I got to play the Evil Queen, the first evil villain in the history of Disney. 'I get to sing and explore my theatrical, evil dark side. The first four days, I was really in character, meaning like, it was hard for me to come out of the character, I was so in it. 'Its like doing theater. Everything is bigger. Everything is more dramatic. It was a lot of fun.' She was photographed by Celeste Sloman and styled by Cristina Ehrlich. Australian supermodel Gemma Ward swapped the runway for the red carpet on Monday as she attended the press night for West End production 2:22 A Ghost Story in London. The 34-year-old oozed elegance as she arrived at The Apollo Theatre, clad in a black pencil gown and matching block heels. Gemma's sleek frock featured an asymmetric hemline, form-fitting silhouette and a unique capelet detail that perfectly complemented her svelte physique. Styling her wavy blonde locks in a side parting, Gemma completed her glamorous ensemble with statement drop earrings, a black evening bag and a bold cat-eyed makeup look. The mother-of-three looked thrilled as she prepared to watch a special performance of 2:22 A Ghost Story following the play's latest cast announcement last month. Australian supermodel Gemma Ward, 34, (pictured) swapped the runway for the red carpet on Monday as she attended the press night for West End production 2:22 A Ghost Story in London 2:22 A Ghost Story is a supernatural thriller about a tense dinner party, with Jenny believing the house she shares with Ben is haunted. The West End thriller relies heavily on what's known as stunt casting where a celebrity, often with little or no acting experience, is given a role to sell tickets. An array of huge celebrity names have taken to the stage in the rotating cast, including the likes of Cheryl, Lily Allen, Laura Whitmore and Tom Felton. Gemma oozed elegance as she arrived at The Apollo Theatre, clad in a black pencil gown and matching block heels Her sleek frock featured an asymmetric hemline, form-fitting silhouette and a unique capelet detail that perfectly complemented her svelte physique The newest cast includes pop star Cheryl, One Tree Hill actress Sophia Bush and Game of Thrones star Ricky Champ. An Australian version of the play will also open in Melbourne later this year, with Orange Is The New Black star Ruby Rose fronting the cast. 'I'm very excited. I've always wanted to do theatre, and this is my first play,' Rose told The Herald Sun on Monday. It was a day Erica Walker had been looking forward to. She logged on to join the waiting list for a housing choice voucher in Norfolk. Then the technical problems started, and once again she found herself unable to even join the waitlist. Ive been trying forever but Im never able to get it accomplished, Walker, 40, said earlier this month. And even if she had succeeded, she would have joined a waitlist that is overcrowded with names. Across the seven cities of Hampton Roads, there are tens of thousands of households trying to get housing choice voucher, as part of a rental aid program administered by local housing authorities and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Roughly 2.3 million low-income households are aided by the program, which is funded by the federal department and it is the departments largest rental assistance program, according to HUD. Rent has just tremendously gone up, Walker said. Its just so expensive. Two-year-old Lauryn Walker latches onto her mother Erica Walker at their Chesapeake, Va. home on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. This year in Hampton, 18,000 people applied during the window to apply for a voucher between the morning of May 11 to the end of May 13. All those applications are to be put into a lottery and 5,000 of the applicants would be randomly chosen to join the waitlist, according to the HRHA website. In Norfolk, there were 10 vouchers issued in April and there are almost 13,800 people on the Norfolk waitlist, according to the most recent data from the May NRHA meeting agenda. About 20% of the households on the waitlist include someone who is disabled, roughly a quarter are single, about half are families and the remainder are elderly, according to the data. The number of voucher units leased has been increasing over recent years up to just over 4,130 from almost 3,400 in 2019. Roughly 11,000 people applied to Virginia Beachs HCV wait list, which was open only for 12 hours on Nov. 9, 2021, for the first time since 2012. There are still roughly 11,000 people on the wait list because some have been waiting since 2012 , according to Virginia Beach staff. Portsmouths waiting list was last open for 2 1/2 in 2016; more than 6,000 applications were submitted, according to Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority staff. There were over 3,600 households on the waitlist as of March 2023, according to the most recent data available from staff. There are over 1,400 households using typical HCVs in Chesapeake with a waiting list of 10,201 as of the end of April, according to John Kownack, executive director of the Chesapeake Redevelopment and Housing Authority. The authority there issued just over 200 vouchers two weeks ago and aims to issue another 20 vouchers a month over the next several months. In Suffolk, there are just over 3,250 households on the voucher waitlist, which was last opened in October 2020 for three days, according to Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority staff. Voucher holders there typically find homes within two to four months. The waitlist is shortest in Newport News, where there are less than 400 households on the currently closed HCV wait list, according to Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority staff. For families like Walkers, its harder and harder to keep pace with the increasing cost of living. It just adds up and I feel like Im not getting ahead, she said. Ian Munro, 757-447-4097, ian.munro@virginiamedia.com New Love Island star Molly Marsh reportedly shared a string of flirty messages with Ronan Keating's son Jack before signing up for the ITV dating contest. The West End performer, 21, from Doncaster, is joining the cast of the 2023 ITV2 summer series, which is set to kick off on Monday evening. But before signing up to the show, the influencer reportedly shared 'flirty' messages with former Love Island Casa Amor bombshell Jack. They were said to have had a 'spark' after exchanging a string of messages following his appearance on Love Island last summer. A source told The Sun: 'Molly and Jack were texting and there was a real spark when it first began, it was flirty banter. Fling? New Love Island star Molly Marsh reportedly shared a string of flirty messages with Ronan Keating's son Jack before signing up for the ITV dating contest Flirty: Before signing up to the show, the influencer reportedly shared an array of 'flirty' messages with former Love Island Casa Amor bombshell Jack 'They knew each other through her influencer work and he seemed really keen. 'It fizzled out before they actually met up though and there was less interest from Molly's side to be honest, but he still likes all her photos online.' MailOnline has contacted Jack's representatives and ITV for comment. Jack has recently become a father for the first time after shocking fans with his surprise baby news in March. He shares his daughter with his ex, artist Keely Iqbal, who he co-parents with, and he confirmed his daughter is called Maya Ann Keating earlier this month. When his daughter was born, Jack had appeared on Love Island eight months previously, meaning his daughter was likely conceived before his stint on the show. Jack has not been public about a relationship since leaving the Love Island villa last summer but his daughter's mother was revealed to be artist Keely earlier this year. Back in February, Jack insisted he was single, telling The Independent: 'I'm still single and ready to mingle. 'I'm on Hinge [the dating app], but I don't use it too seriously. I dip in every once in a while and I'm enjoying being single.' His reported flirty messages with Molly come just days ahead of her debut in the Love Island villa on Monday. Molly is a West End performer and social media creator, as well as the daughter of Coronation Street actress Janet Marsh. She currently boasts 26,000 followers on Instagram under the handle @mollygracemarsh. Chatting: They were said to have had a 'spark' after exchanging a string of messages after his appearance on Love Island last summer (pictured on the show) Fatherhood: Jack has recently become a father for the first time after shocking fans with his surprise baby news in March. He shares his daughter with his ex Keely Iqbal Entrance: Meanwhile, West End performer Molly, 21, from Doncaster, is joining the cast of the 2023 ITV2 summer series, which is set to kick off on Monday evening Famous friends? Molly has interacted with several previous Love Island contestants who have gone on to be successful influencers, including Molly-Mae Hague Her grid is littered with snaps from her trip to the South African mansion, including in the beach hut and fire pit. Molly has interacted with several previous Love Island contestants who have gone on to be successful influencers. In October 2021, a beaming Molly shared a photo alongside former Love Island star Molly-Mae Hague at one of her Beauty Works events. A few months later in January 2022, Molly was once again seen partying it up with more Islanders, including Maura Higgins and season six's Siannise Fudge. Ryan Seacrest and girlfriend Aubrey Paige appeared to be living their best lives while enjoying a romantic trip to France. In a slideshow, uploaded to the 25-year-old model's Instagram account on Tuesday, the media personality, 48, and his other half posed for a sweet selfie in matching white fedoras with black bands. While shooting the camera a smoldering stare, the American Idol host could be seen adjusting the front of his hat while sitting by his partner, who he began dating back in 2021. For the occasion, Paige rocked a green patterned dress and structured blazer while her man sported a grey sweater layered over a blue and white striped button-down. The duo were pictured sitting under a white umbrella seemingly somewhere outside in the countryside, surrounded by trees. Twinning! Ryan Seacrest and girlfriend Aubrey Paige appeared to be living their best life while enjoying a romantic trip to France Glamorous: In a slideshow, uploaded to the 25-year-old model's Instagram account on Tuesday, the media personality, 48, and his other half posed for a sweet selfie in matching white fedoras with black bands Hanging with friends: Paige, who has more than 76,600 Instagram followers, also uploaded several more photos from their trip, which showed her and a few pals lounging on a large yellow couch in a room full of floor-to-ceiling windows Paige, who has more than 76,600 Instagram followers, also uploaded several more photos from their trip, which showed her and a few friends lounging on a large yellow couch in a room full of floor-to-ceiling windows. 'In the moment,' she captioned the post, which received 910 likes in nine hours. Seacrest's past romances included chef-model Shayna Terese Taylor (2013-2020) and Emmy-winning choreographer Julianne Hough (2010-2013). Last year, Seacrest revealed he hasn't ruled out having children. 'I think having kids at the right time would be great,' Seacrest said on an episode of Live with Kelly and Ryan. He continued: 'I have a fantastic family, a very small family. I have a niece, [my sister] Meredith has a daughter. My parents have been married 52 and a half years, so that's a high bar. So that's in my head.' He echoed a similar sentiment in 2021, when he said he wans 'to have kids' but joked his mom has given up hope of him making her a grandma. At the time, he told WSJ. Magazine that he was starting to think 'about blocking off certain times in my month or year or week to' focus on his personal life. 'In the moment,' she captioned the post, which received 910 likes in nine hours Couple's getaway: The duo are currently on a trip to France Wow: Paige documented the stunning property they were staying in Cheers! She photographed two glasses of wine on a table 'I do want to have kids. But I haven't even gone down that path, which is nuts at my age,' he acknowledged. He concluded: 'I think in the last year, it's become clear to me that yes, I do want to do that... I want to be available and present.' Earlier this year, Seacrest said farewell to his co-hosting gig on Live with Kelly and Ryan, after six seasons, to focus on American Idol and other projects. Paige attended Seacrest's final day on Live With Kelly And Ryan last month. Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo finally arrived on their romantic honeymoon in South America on Tuesday. The Made In Chelsea stars had a nightmare start to their trip as they were forced to travel to four different countries in 24 hours due to flight cancellations. But the newlyweds had a positive update for their Instagram followers as they finally arrived at the stunning destination. Jamie, 34, was all smiles as he and Sophie, 29, enjoyed a coconut while relaxing in their lavish accommodation. Meanwhile, Sophie went topless and donned a pair of skimpy white bikini bottoms while topping up her tan. Worth the wait: Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo finally arrived on their romantic honeymoon in South America on Tuesday Beaming: Jamie, 34, was all smiles as he and Sophie, 29, enjoyed a coconut while relaxing in their lavish accommodation Jamie's nightmare honeymoon with new wife Sophie went from bad to worse on Tuesday as his luggage got lost while jetting across countries in a bid to make it to South America. The Made In Chelsea star updated fans on the latest tragedy as he revealed on Instagram that amid all the jet-setting his luggage had been lost. Revealing that he was 'beginning to lose his patience' as this point, the newlywed shared a selfie in front of his upset looking wife. He shared: '32hrs later we arrive in Panama @sophiehabboo luggage is here. Mine isn't... it's been left in Columbia... patience is starting to go now [angry face emojis].' It was the latest tragedy to beset the pair after he revealed they were forced to visit no less than four countries in just 24 hours in a bid to get to their honeymoon destination. Earlier in the day, he shared a selfie as he wrote: 'Finally on flight two back to the UK from Amsterdam. This one was delayed 2.5 hours.' The TV personality shared a snap of Sophie looking at her phone while sat in the window seat of their plane as they jetted off on their third flight of the day to Columbia. Sharing a selfie of the couple looking less than impressed, the TV personality kept followers up-to-date and revealed his new wife had managed to stay calm despite the fiasco. He wrote: 'Now we're on a bus to a different terminal back in the UK.... This is mad. Proud @sohpiehabboo hasn't lost it yet'. He later added that he thought they were 'being pranked' as they also had no idea where in the world their luggage had found itself. Jamie continued: 'We're now put on different flights to Columbia and our luggage is still in Amsterdam... I think we're being pranked....' Once landing in Columbia in the very early hours of the morning, the Made In Chelsea star shared a video as the couples 'journey continued'. He said laughing: 'A little update for anyone who cares. We have arrived in Bogota in Columbia it's 3:15am. 'We now have to change flights and go to Panama and then change again to get to the other place. 'We don't even know if our luggage is with us because we think it's still in Amsterdam. The journey continues, isn't that right honey,' as Sophie trailed behind him in the airport. Jamie penned: '36hrs later... We're here (Bar some luggae)' Stunning: Sophie went topless and donned a pair of skimpy white bikini bottoms while topping up her tan Another blow: Jamie's nightmare honeymoon with new wife Sophie went from bad to worse on Tuesday as his luggage got lost while jetting across countries It comes after Jamie originally revealed on Monday the nightmare the happy couple were experiencing while jetting off to a lavish location for their honeymoon. He wrote: 'This is WILD... We're on our honeymoon to South America, connecting flight to Amsterdam. 'KLM are delayed but we still have time to make our flight. Without warning, they take us off our connecting flight. 'So now we have to fly back to London, then fly to Colombia, then fly to Panama, and then fly to our honeymoon destination. This is a total f*** up. Thanks @klm.' He then added: 'This actually means @sophiehabboo and I will visit four countries in 24 hours.' MailOnline has contacted KLM for more information. Jamie and Sophie tied the knot in an incredible ceremony in Spain earlier this month. However it wasn't all plain sailing in the lead up to the big day, as Sophie admitted during a row that Jamie revealed his plans to divorce her. Speaking on the new episode of their Nearlyweds podcast, Sophie revealed details a of a row where Jamie said: 'Urgh, I've got to stay married to you for at least a year.' Jamie explained that they would have to remain married for at least 12 months, otherwise people would comment that it was a short marriage. 'Delayed 2.5 hours': The Made In Chelsea stars revealed they had returned back to the UK from Amsterdam and jetted off on their third flight of the day to Columbia Off to a different terminal: Sharing a selfie of the couple looking less than impressed, Jamie kept followers up-to-date and revealed his new wife 'hasn't lost it yet' over the chaos On the Instagram page for the podcast, the couple shared a teaser from the episode, which was released after their second wedding ceremony in Sotogrande. The video was captioned: 'Jamie's plan to divorce Sophie after a year?! 1 day until THE WEDDING & we're just so excited so here's a little sneak peak at what's to come in next week's BIG WED POD.' At the start of the clip, Jamie told Sophie: 'It's so funny how our minds work because you're now so content that you're married to me.' Sophie then replied: 'And you're a little nervous Nancy.' Admitting she was right, Jamie said: 'Now I'm the stressed one. Joking that it was due to their recent legal marriage ceremony, which was held at Chelsea Registry Office, Sophie said: 'Because you're so upset you've married me. You're like f**k I'm locked in.' She revealed that Jamie previously revealed his plans to stay married to her for at least a year if things between them go south, saying: 'Once he said during an argument, "urgh I've got to stay married to you for at least a year. I was like, f**k you!' Clarifying his viewpoint, Jamie admitted: 'Yeah that's true. If it was before a year, everyone would be like well that was short. But a year, then you're like that's alright.' Love: Jamie and Sophie tied the knot in an incredible ceremony in Spain earlier this month Just married! Jamie explained that they would have to remain married for at least 12 months, otherwise people would comment that it was a short marriage Sophie then quipped: 'I'm going to slowly put Candy Kittens in my name, so you're locked in forever baby! Joking, everyone's going to think I'm a gold digger.' The couple tied the knot in their second wedding ceremony in Spain earlier this month. The former Made In Chelsea stars, who got married in front of their loved ones in south west London weeks before, said 'I do' in a grand ceremony after their legal ceremony The loved-up newlyweds have now shared their professional wedding video to Instagram, which includes all of the MIC original cast. Sophie looked elegant as she donned an embroidered white wedding dress with a huge lace veil. Jamie could be seen beaming as he wore a black suit with a matching bow tie and a white shirt, as he walked arm-in-arm with Sophie's friend Georgie Le Roux on arrival. Sophie and Jamie gave a glimpse of the lavish venue Sotogrande, the largest privately owned residential development in Andalusia. The couple shared a passionate kiss in front of the sunset after saying I do, as well as at the end of the aisle in front of their friends and family. The pair were joined by a number of their famous friends, including fellow former Made In Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh who looked resplendent in lemon yellow, while Love Island's Zara McDermott wore a floor-length blue dress with a thigh-high split and ruffled detail. Spencer Matthews was reunited with Jamie in Spain this week after Jamie failed to invite him to his UK wedding to Sophie in London last month. Incredible: Sophie, 29, looked elegant as she donned an embroidered white wedding dress with a huge lace veil Dapper: Jamie posed alongside his wedding party, who were all matching in black tuxedos, before the ceremony His fellow Made In Chelsea star Ollie Locke, 36, went shirtless as he wore a black dinner jacket and matching trousers for the evening. Ollie was seen arriving with his series co-star Olivia Bentley who looked glamorous in an off-the-shoulder red dress with keyhole detail at the front. Alongside the sweet clip, Jamie wrote: 'It happened.. To find true Love you must first find a true Friend' 'What an amazing night. I want to say thank you to all of our family and friends who came and have had to put up with all of our content over the past year Lucy Boynton exuded gothic glamour as she attended the Chevalier film screening in London on Tuesday. The actress, 29, showed off her quirky style in a purple metallic gown with black sleeves and lace detail. She opted for a bronzed makeup look with a dark smokey eye and a swipe of red lipstick. Lucy, who plays Marie Antoinette, swept her auburn tresses back into a stylish bun while posing on the red carpet. Meanwhile, Sian Clifford looked ultra-chic in a black plunging fringed jacket dress from the Spring/Summer 2023 Michael Kors Collection. Looking good: Lucy Boynton exuded gothic glamour as she attended the Chevalier film screening in London on Tuesday Glam: The actress, 29, showed off her quirky style in a purple metallic gown with black sleeves and lace detail Ruby Layla put on a glamorous display in an eye-catching red maxi skirt, teamed with a black satin crop top and chunky boots. Chevalier is based on the life of the titular French-Caribbean musician Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, played by Kelvin Harrison Jr. New images from the Stephen Williams-directed film showed Minnie portraying ballet dancer Marie-Madeleine Guimard, who was the star of the Paris Opera. Minnie sported a pink satin gown embellished with gold detailing and a cape as she was seen gesturing out to an audience during a performance. She sported a volumnious brunette wig adorned with floral detailing and gold spikes and accentuated her striking features with a vibrant touch of pink blusher. The Good Will Hunting star is portraying French ballerina Marie-Madeleine, who dominated the Paris Opera for nearly 30 years and married poet Jean-Etienne Despreaux after her retirement in 1789. Another image from the upcoming historical film showed Lucy embodying the late Mary Antoinette as she spoke with Kelvin's character Saint-Georges. She looked elegant in a pink Georgian-style gown, featuring gold stitching and a volumnious skirt, which she wore with a peach wig. Lucy accessorised her ensemble with a statement silver jewelled necklace as she was seen fixing Kelvin with a fierce stare. Kelvin, who is playing the titular character in the film, sported a light blue three-piece suit as he put on a very dapper display. Stunning: Lucy, who plays Marie Antoinette, swept her auburn tresses back into a stylish bun while posing on the red carpet with Sian Beauty: She opted for a bronzed makeup look with a dark smokey eye and a swipe of red lipstick Chic: Sian looked sensational in a black plunging fringed jacket dress from the Spring/Summer 2023 Michael Kors Collection Stylish: Ruby Layla put on a glamorous display in an eye-catching red maxi skirt, teamed with a black satin crop top and chunky boots. Looking good: Dujon Anderson and Henry Rowley looked dapper on the red carpet Gorgeous: Yasmin Evans wowed in a black lace mini dress which showed off her sensational figure Premiere: Lucy, Sian, Ronke Adekoluejo and Kelvin Harrison Jr posed for a group snap Saint-Georges was a composer in Marie Antoinette's court and she attended some of his concerts at the Hotel de Soubise before they had a falling out. The violin player conducted leading orchestras in Paris, while he was also an established fencer. Other images from the upcoming movie showed Kelvin on stage as Saint-Georges, showing off his talents with the violin as he performed with an orchestra. The biographical drama follows the life of the French-Caribbean musician, who rises to fame through his musical prodigy and becomes acclaimed in Paris. However, he is forced to battle with the racism of the 18th century regime and his complicated love life, before he falls out with Marie Antoinette. The film premiered at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival and is being released in the US on April 21, before its UK premiere on June 9. Speaking about the film, Samara Weaving recently revealed her co-star Kelvin almost quit during one of their love scenes . She explained that Kelvin was very tired after he had to learn the violin and how to fence for the new movie. Biographical film: Chevalier is based on the life of the titular French-Caribbean musician Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, played by Kelvin Harrison Jr (pictured) Elegant: Lucy put on a glamorous display in a Georgian gown as she embodied the late Mary Antoinette, the late Queen of France 'It was a Friday. We were in bed. I was super naked. We're making out and this is the time he decides to go, ''Ugh, I just want to quit",' she said. 'I couldn't believe it. I looked amazing,' she added. Samara said Kelvin soon regretted his words, adding: 'He felt bad and then he was like, ''I'm so sorry, I'm just really tired'', so yeah, my lovemaking almost got Kelvin to quit.' Samara is a rising star in Hollywood after starting her career on the long-running soap, Home and Away. The actress played Holmes in hit miniseries The Dropout, which depicted the rise and fall of the businesswoman's tech firm Theranos Amanda Seyfried has said she 'feels' for Elizabeth Holmes' two children as the fraudster is set to report to prison The Dropout star Amanda Seyfried admitted she 'feels' for Elizabeth Holmes' two young children as the fraudster is set to report to prison today. Speaking on Good Morning America, Seyfried, 37, said she regretted Holmes' impending prison sentence because 'those two kids are hanging in the balance.' 'As a parent, as a mom, I'm just like... life's not fair,' she added. 'But in a lot of ways, it's fair for her in particular.' The actress' comments came as Holmes, who Seyfried played in hit miniseries The Dropout depicting the rise and fall of controversial tech firm Theranos, is reportedly on her way to Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas. Amanda Seyfried (pictured) said she 'feels' for Elizabeth Holmes' two young children as the convicted fraudster reports to prison Elizabeth Holmes spent her last Memorial Day weekend as a free woman having some quality time with her family in San Diego Lifes not fair but in a lot of ways its fair for her, in particular. Amanda Seyfried on Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes set to report to prison. pic.twitter.com/UkgnViyW0p Good Morning America (@GMA) May 30, 2023 The convicted fraudster has exhausted her attempts at delaying her prison sentence after she previously delayed her time behind bars several times. In her last hours of freedom, she was seen soaking up the sun with her family over Memorial Day weekend. Holmes appeared to be in good spirits as she enjoyed her final days with her partner Billy Evans and their two young children. But she is now set to surrender to a federal facility miles away from the $9 million luxury San Diego mansion she shares with her family - which is expected to be Camp Bryan, a minimum security jail. The Theranos fraudster will be among several high-profile inmates inside the prison, alongside Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Jen Shah, who reported to Bryan in February to start a six-and-a-half-year sentence for her part in a telemarketing scam that robbed elderly and vulnerable Americans out of millions of dollars. Known as 'Club Fed', inmates in the lenient prison don't even sleep in cells, instead sharing four-person rooms with bunk beds. Holmes, who was estimated to be worth $4.5 billion at her peak, will also have the option of taking business classes from behind bars. Federal Prison Camp Bryan is the facility that was recommended Holmes be sent to by a judge, and it is currently unclear if she may report to a separate prison. Holmes, who shares son William, 2, and newborn daughter Invicta with partner Billy Evans, was seen heading back to their San Diego mansion after soaking up the sun at the beach on Saturday The 39-year-old convicted fraudster will finally report to a federal lockup on Tuesday, after managing to delay her start date last month Holmes and Evans spent quality family time at Tide Park, a secluded beach two miles north of their San Diego home Holmes was once seen as a business prodigy, with her health tech firm Theranos previously raising almost $1 billion from sophisticated investors including Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and media mogul Rupert Murdoch. When she dropped out of Stanford University in 2003 to found Theranos while still a teenager, she vowed to revolutionize the healthcare industry. She promoted a new technology that would be able to scan for hundreds of diseases and other potential health problems by analyzing just a few drops of blood. But the tech never came to fruition, and she was eventually convicted in 2022 of defrauding investors out of $100 million and was sentenced to 11-years behind bars. Seyfried played Holmes in hit miniseries The Dropout, depicting the rise and fall of controversial tech firm Theranos The grounds of FPC Bryan where Holmes is expected to report for her 11-year prison sentence She has twice appealed her sentence to delay her fate, but she is now set to serve time after US District Judger Edward Davila reset her revised prison-reporting date to May 30 earlier this month. The delay allowed her to enjoy one last Memorial Day weekend with her family, where she and Evans spent quality family time at Tide Park, a secluded beach two miles north of their home. Her two children, William and Invicta, gleefully ran around the beachfront in exclusive DailyMail.com pictures. At one point, Holmes, dressed in a black hooded beach cover, took her-three-month-old daughter Invicta for a dip into the ocean. Quality education can be imparted with digital ecosystem and better resource allocation The role of digital technology in education is increasingly becoming crucial globally, as it provides new and innovative forms of support to students, teachers, parents, and the learning process more broadly. The Covid pandemic has made this process much faster, relevant and robust. By deploying remote learning technologies through a combination of TV, radio, online and mobile platforms, a large number of institutions were able to cater to the educational needs of their students. The G20 Education Working Group Meeting on The Role of Digital Technologies in Education comes as a key development in this regard, highlighting a slew of present and prospective technological measures. Identification of core areas and themes to promote possible research and academic collaboration among educational institutions in G20 member countries, is a huge development, as the group comprises some of the most developed countries of the world, who use world-class research, innovation and cutting-edge technologies in this domain. The selection of priority areas for deliberations such as Foundational Literacy and Numeracy,Tech-enabled learning, Future of work and Research and innovation collaboration,- broad-based discussions with enriching inputs from sectoral experts. There is little doubt that during the past few years, G20 countries have made significant progress in expanding the use of digital technologies for improving access to quality education, however, the sharing of more tangible and effective educational practices and experiences did help recognize where participating countries are and what they need to improve upon. Here, we can collaborate to leverage technology further to achieve some common educational goals, as we still confront a lot of challenges in the process, especially when it comes to ensuring quality learning opportunities for all along with improving learning outcomes. What the world including some of the G20 countries, need is accessible, inclusive and equitable school education, higher education and skill development. It is digital technologies that can bring parity in the quality and accessibility of education at all levels. For example, India has around 1.48 million schools, 265 million school students and nearly 9.5 million teachers, with more than 20 regional languages as medium of instruction alongside 62 educational boards of instruction across the country. Moreover, lakhs of students received their higher education in different languages. In such a case, only digital technology can be expected to provide equitable and inclusive education, as a lot of content and expert teachers are still not available in regional languages. Hence, the union budget 2023 emphasises much on digitisation of education. The Digital India programme has received Rs 4,795.24 crore, and to boost digital infrastructure, the government has proposed initiatives like Digital Libraries and Digital Universities. States have also been urged to set up physical libraries at panchayat levels to provide infrastructure for accessing the National Digital Library resources. Digital initiatives with a focus on artificial intelligence terming it a step towards the digital revolution, have been hailed by all. Three centres of excellence for AI and 100 laboratories in engineering institutions for developing applications using 5G services, will only add to this process of digital revolution. Digital Universities aim to reach out to the remotest regions of the country with quality, skill-based and job-oriented courses and training. With the focus of the budget being on expanding reach, improving quality education, building capacity and strengthening the digital education ecosystem, we can now expect to have a world-class school and higher education system, which would be accessible to all. (The writer is a senior journalist) Prime Minister Modi has laid the ground for the Amrit Kaal and his era would be remembered for putting the country in the fast lane The ninth anniversary of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is an occasion to celebrate the successes of statecraft passionately demonstrated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in action with visible and verifiable impacts on the ground. PM Modi has also shown that decisive mandates deliver decisive governments. Political pundits must examine the achievements of the Modi government by dropping their coloured lenses to codify the messages for all the political parties in the larger interests of the country. Memory will certainly not fail to recall the days of 2012-14 when a maverick activist held a kangaroo court at Jantar Mantar to accuse and abuse each and everyone in politics. The Arvind Kejriwal tribe attacked the very institution of democracy by raising doubts in the minds of the people about the political class. He poured a truckload of muck on the participants of Indian democracy. The first task of PM Modi was to restore the trust of the people in the Indian democracy. This was done in record time, as the Jantar Mantar tribe shut their shops and also joined politics. The record turnout of the voters in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections demonstrates that PM Modi has restored the trust of the people in the Indian democracy fully. Now, no one abuses Indian democracy. Taking inspiration from PM Modi, youngsters are quitting even high-paying jobs to join politics. The greatest tribute to the nine years of PM Modis achievements as head of the government will be on the count of financial inclusion of over 48 crore people in the banking system of the country. The over one-third population of the country was not seen as worthy to be part of the formal economy by the Congress-led UPA government. These 48 crore people were pushed into the informal economy and also at the risk of losing their hard-earned money to chit funds and other financial fraudsters while also being vulnerable to the moneylenders. For the economists of the Congress pedigree, these 48 crore people were not deserving of being part of the economy. When they joined the Indian financial system on the call of PM Modi for their inclusion, they brought a whopping Rs1.90 lakh crores in deposits to the banking system. The Modi model of the economy must be studied by all, as the gains of financial inclusions were not limited to the beneficiaries of the Jan Dhan Scheme but even the banks, which have been reporting record profits while also meeting all norms of healthy banking norms. PM Modi brought empathy for the poor, women and the people at large in his caring statecraft. He brought the policy attention to areas that were never paid attention to. His first term addressed the dignity of women in the country, who had for ages been going in the darkness for toilet needs. According to the topmost priority to making India a defecation-free country, more than 11 crore toilets have been built in the country. By sanctioning over four crores of houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the Modi government has brought unprecedented changes for the better in the life of the people. Shelter and sanitation have been the hallmark of the Modi model of statecraft with empathy for the vulnerable sections of society. It should be examined why the Congress-led governments never thought of addressing the basic issues that concerned the well-being of the rural and the poor people. BY ensuring sanitary napkins for Rs 1, the Modi statecraft showed that the well-being of the people is at the core of the governance. This was again seen when once in a century pandemic struck the country. PM Modi first ensured that none in the country slept hungrily. His intervention to protect the people from hunger saw the launch of the Pradhan MantriGaribKalyan Anna Yojna for 80 crore people free of cost, and 1121 lakh metric tonnes of foodgrains were made available to the population so that they could meet the hardships caused by Covid-19 outbreak. Access to potable water is needed to safeguard the health of the people and save them from water-borne diseases. It will be a task for the economists to measure the savings for the people on their out-of-pocket expenses due to the expanding coverage of tap water in homes. Har Ghar Jal (Jal Jeevan Mission) is another example of the Modi government thinking of the well-being of the people, as more than eight crore rural households with more than 40 crore people have benefitted under the programme. Har Ghar Bijli (SaubhagyaYojana) also saw close to three crore households getting electrified under the scheme, covering over 99.9 per cent of the total households in the country. By March 2023, over nine crores of LPG connections were sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, fulfilling the promise of a HarGhar Gas Cylinder. This again bears the Modi model of economys concerns that the policies should think of the wellbeing of the people, as it served to protect the women from kitchen smoke. Once more the women in the country because of the policy intervention of the Modi government were protected from ailments due to exposure to kitchen smoke. Under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), close to 41 crore loans have been sanctioned since the launch of the scheme. Also, there has been a growth of more than 200 per cent in digital payment volume during the last four years since 2018-19. UPI transactions alone have grown eight times in the last three years, which is 50 times in the last four years. With over 41 crore people in India exiting poverty between 2005-06 and 2019-20 due to the committed efforts of the Modi government, we are today on track to eliminate extreme poverty by 2024. If the social sector gains from the caring touch of the Modi model of governance, the economy has to lie on firm legs to run the ground full steam to attain the $5 trillion tag in the next few years and also claim the status of the fourth largest economy. The economy is making good use of the extraordinary expansion of infrastructure, spanning roads, ports, waterways and airports, which hastened the making of a well-knit Indian economy with faster movements of goods. On the security front, the Modi government has an unparalleled track record of almost terrorism-free track record. Also, India has made its border infrastructure robust with accelerated developments in states with long border regions. North-eastern states are well-connected with all parts of India. Now, there is no reason in the country, which is without being connected with major cities in the country. This has been shown to the delegates who are taking part in several meetings of the G20 all across the country. By committing Rs 2.50 lakh crore for the railway infrastructure, the Modi government has brought much-needed energy and capacity to the national transporter, which carries the size of the population of Australia daily. It must be underlined that the Modi Era has laid the grounds for the Amrit Kaal for India. (The author is a policy analyst) PM Modi is facing united opposition from the non-BJP-ruled states. They have been ganging up against him despite their political differences One of the first things Prime Minister Narendra Modi did soon after assuming office nine years ago was dismantling the Planning Commission with a legacy of 65 years and setting up the Niti Ayog in January 2015. Even as the chief minister of Gujarat earlier, Modi had some ideas for a stronger Centre-State relationship and reforms. He hoped that Niti Ayog would strengthen this relationship. However, Modi still faces Opposition from the non-BJP-ruled states. They have been ganging up against him due to their political differences. The new chief minister's club is growing by the day as they work in tandem. Unsurprisingly, acting as a pressure group, some non-BJP chief ministers had boycotted Saturday's Niti Ayog meeting addressed by Modi. The conference's theme was "Viksit Bharat @2047: Role of Team India." These chief ministers could have participated and discussed 100 issues identified for the session. Instead, they stayed away. Nineteen Opposition parties also boycotted the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28. They held that President Draupadi Murumu and not Modi should have that honour. Those who boycotted included Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi), Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan), K. Chandra Shekhar Rao ( Telangana), Bhagawant Mann (Punjab), Nitish Kumar (Bihar), M.K. Stalin (Tamil Nadu), Pinaray Vijayan (Kerala), and Naveen Patnaik (Odisha). The last name was a surprise addition as Patnaik had been keeping equidistance from both Congress and BJP. He is said to have been upset that President Draupadi Murmu, hailing from Odisha, had not been invited to the inauguration of the new Parliament.K.C. Rao skipped the Niti Ayog meeting even last year. Having a running battle with the Centre, he claimed, "Chief Ministers do not get enough time to speak, and after a few minutes, a bell rings saying you should stop now." Mamata Banerjee wanted a revival of the Planning Commission instead of Niti Ayog, which she called a "paper tiger". Other chief ministers gave some excuses for their absence, like prior engagements. It was clear that they worked in tandem. It is not the first time such boycotts have taken place. Even during the Indira Gandhi era, late Andhra Pradesh chief minister N.T.Rama Rao walked out of the National Development Council protesting against the Centre. Doyens like the late Jyoti Basu. Ramakrishna Hegde and others, too, had walked out of the NDC meetings. As for Saturday's Ayog meeting, should the chief ministers have shown their anger by boycotting it, or should they have participated and explained their misgivings? They could have attended the meeting and presented their grievances or worn black flags. After all, it was a forum for interaction with other chief ministers and the Centre. The BJP sees the boycotts of the Aayog meeting and the inauguration of the new Parliament building as part of the Opposition's "Modi hatred". There have been several questions about the relevance of the Niti Ayog and its predecessor Planning Commission. While the Commission was seen as a White elephant, the Niti Ayog is seen as a toothless institution.The Planning Commission had two primary duties-implementation of the five-year plan and providing Finances to the states. NITI Aayog has no constitutional or statutory sanction. Its stated aim is to construct a dynamic and robust nation. Unlike the Planning Commission, it has no financial role. It is mainly the country's premier think tank. The Aayog has two hubs: "Team India Hub" and "Knowledge and Innovation Hub". In addition to developing long-term, strategic plans for the Government of India, the Aayog supports a federal cooperative structure. Critics say that it should focus on the implementation rather than only concentrating on the recommendations of the policies. India has emerged as a major global economy. The Ayog will be unable to transform an unequal society into a modern economy. It cannot influence public or private investment or policymaking. It needs to answer specific questions like why 90% of the workers are in the unorganized sector. Ayog should evolve into a much stronger organization. It lacks the states' confidence, particularly from the non-BJP chief ministers. petition among the states worked well during the Covid period. The Prime Minister held Zoom conferences and involved the chief ministers in pandemic relief. However, politics entered on Covid relief later with the non-BJP chief ministers complaining of step-motherly treatment from the Centre. Overall, the NITI Aayog needs to evolve into a much stronger organization. If it wants to be more effective, it requires the trust of the non-BJP chief ministers and their active participation. Only then a strong centre and strong states will emerge. (The writer is a senior journalist) Politics is a field paved with landmines and traps. It is a dangerous world and only the fittest will survive the arduous journey Many times one is forced to believe that George Santayanas words Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it were made after studying the political species in India. Recent history in India is proof of how narrow-minded and reluctant our leaders were in learning from the mistakes and blunders committed by their predecessors and contemporaries. The year 1980 marked the return of Indira Gandhi to power after she was demolished in the 1977 general election by the combined might of the Opposition parties. The slogan Indira is India and India is Indira was torn to pieces by the United Opposition. Nanaji Deshmukh, a political leader-turned-social activist remarked that Indira was not even Rae Bareli after the then Prime Minister was trounced in the election by Raj Narayan. (It is a sad fact that how many among us remember this political comedian with the green scarf on his head!). With the Janata Party constituents fighting unitedly against each other and coming crashing down within two years, the electorate was fed up and brought Indira Gandhi back to power. Sadly enough neither Indira Gandhi nor the Opposition had learnt anything from their failures. Indiras third tenure as Prime Minister began in style with her promise to the nation that hers would be a government that works and in the next five years she would provide drinking water and power to all villages in the country. The first scam of her third tenure broke out within weeks. The first budget presented by the then union finance minister saw some innocuous-looking alterations in the finance act, a surreptitious manner of helping persons who stood by her during the days when she was out of power. The amendments in the finance act helped Swraj Paul, the UK-based entrepreneur to make heavy investments in DCM and Escorts, two blue-chip corporate entities in India. Paul was on the verge of taking over the two Desi companies but the intervention by Arun Bharat Ram and Rajan Nanda, scions of the groups who were the Doon schoolmates of Rajiv Gandhi saved the day for DCM and Escorts. The period 1980 saw the introduction of colour TV in the country, India hosting the Asian Games 1982, the Non-Aligned Movement summit, Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet etc and Indira Gandhi was projected as a global leader by the Congress. But her handling of the Khalistani extremism led to her downfall. The truth is that by the end of 1983, Indira Gandhis image had taken a severe bearing while the Opposition started lining up behind S Chandrasekhar, the then-president of the Janata Party. Had Indira been not assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in the aftermath of Operation Bluestar (the Army action on Golden Temple) she would have bitten the dust in the 1985 general election. There were many scams also which dampened the image of the Prime Minister as well as the Congress party. The sympathy factor and the communal polarization helped Rajiv Gandhi to pulverize the Opposition in the election held in 1985. Rajiv too failed to learn from the mistakes of his mother and goofed up on the Sri Lankan Tamil issue resulting in him paying with his own life. After seeing the TV images of President Joe Biden hugging Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Hiroshima, the doubt that comes to ones mind is what would be the US Presidents attitude when Modi pays a State visit to the USA. The US Government is waiting to take up with him the human rights violations in Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Manipur. What is of concern to the US is the burning down of churches and attacks on priests and evangelists across India. All we can do is wish the Prime Minister a Bon Voyage and a safe return. (The writer is a senior journalist working as a Special Correspondent with The Pioneer. The views expressed are personal) Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Sunday dubbed the decision of various political parties to boycott of the inauguration of new Parliament building as an example of cheap politics and also slammed them for questioning the relevance of Sengol. The law minister said representatives of several opposition parties who had not supported the boycott call attended the event. Several Supreme Court judges and those holding constitutional posts also attended the programme in Lok Sabha chamber of the new building, he pointed out. We kept on requesting them (to attend). Even senior leaders requested. They ignored our requests and boycotted the event. This is an example of cheap politics, Meghwal told PTI Video. The minister recalled that when Meira Kumar was the Speaker during the UPA rule, there was a discussion on having a new Parliament building. But the idea was rejected and it was said a call will be taken when the next census takes place. Now, delimitation is near. The number of members of Parliament will go up. Where will they sit? he questioned. Responding to a question, he said those who boycotted the event will also appreciate the building when they see it, though they may not do so openly due to political compulsions. He said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was making statements out of political compulsions. He also questioned Congress leaders doubting the role and significance of Sengol sceptre when the British transferred power to India. A Virginia man was arrested Tuesday on murder and gun charges in the February killing of a local councilwoman who was found fatally shot in her SUV outside her home, New Jersey prosecutors said. Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said 28-year-old Rashid Ali Bynum, of Portsmouth, Virginia, was arrested without incident on first-degree murder and two second-degree handgun charges in the death of Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour. Ciccone said the investigation is still underway and didnt directly address a motive in Dwumfours death. She said Bynum was linked to a church that Dwumfour belonged to and appeared as a contact in her phone under an acronym that investigators linked to the church. Authorities tracked Bynums cellphone to the area of Sayreville, New Jersey, where Dwumfour was killed, and said a witness reported seeing someone who fits Bynums description in a vehicle that is connected to him, Ciccone said. Tuesdays announcement came nearly four months after Dwumfour was found gunned down in her white SUV outside the townhome community where she lived. Her death on Feb. 1 sent the community reeling. Dwumfour, a Republican, was elected to her first three-year term in 2021, when she ousted a Democratic incumbent. Colleagues recalled her as a soft-spoken devout Christian who could maintain her composure in contentious situations. Authorities announced the charges alongside Dwumfours family and state Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who addressed her relatives. There are no words that can be said to you that can make you whole. I know this, Platkin said. I know too often when were talking about victims of gun violence senseless acts of gun violence we feel the pain that you all feel today. Bynum was arrested in Chesapeake City, Virginia, and is awaiting extradition to New Jersey, Ciccone said. Its unclear if he has an attorney who can speak on his behalf. Days after Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal sought an appointment with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi to rally their support in his partys fight against the Modi Governments ordinance and defeat it in the Rajya Sabha, the Congress units of Delhi and Punjab on Monday bluntly told the party leadership to maintain distance from the AAP. The leaders from Delhi and Punjab have advised the party leadership not to speak about the Centres ordinance on control of services in the national Capital and not have any alliance with Kejriwal, who is mustering support from the Opposition to oppose the ordinance. Kharge had convened a meeting of leaders fromDelhi and Punjab to seek their opinion on the matter. Former Congress president Rahul was also present during the meeting. The leaders from Delhi and Punjab met the leadership separately. During the meeting, Delhi Congress leaders suggested that they should not have any alliance with the AAP. Reportedly several leaders from the Congress told the leadership to not support Kejriwal, calling his party the B-team of the BJP and claiming he harmed the Congress interests not only in Delhi and Punjab but other States as well. The Congress leaders further advised the party leadership that either the party should remain silent or should not support Kejriwal on the ordinance issue. However, the leaders have left it to the High Command to take a final decision. Congress leaders Ajay Maken, Arvinder Singh Lovely, Harun Yusuf, Delhi Congress president Anil Chaudhary attended the meeting. with Kharge and Rahul and shared their viewpoints on the issue. During the meeting, Delhi Congress explained to the party leadership why they should not support Kejriwal. Similar sentiments were expressed by Punjab leaders led by State unit chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, sources said. The Congress leadership will also meet party leaders from other States before deciding its position. After the meeting, Punjab Congress president Warring said they have put across their views before the party High Command and leftthe final decision to it. All the leaders have said the party High Command will decide and we have left it to Kharge to take the final decision, Warring said. He later tweeted a resolution passed by Punjab leaders who came to Delhi against the AAP Government in Punjab for its action against a journalist. Former party chief Navjot Sidhu said what transpired during the meeting was a secret and only the Congress chief or Rahul would divulge the details. He, however, said Indias Constitution is a sacred granth and he took inspiration from it. Addressing the media at the party headquarters, Venugopal, who was also present in the meeting said, Today we had discussions on this with Delhi and Punjab leadership. They have given their concerns and views and certainly we will take a final call in the coming days. Asked if the party has decided on Kharges meeting with Kejriwal on thelatters request, Venugopal said, We will let you know once its decided. Kejriwal has reached out to several Opposition leaders over the past few weeks in a bid to drum up support for his cause, The AAP knows it lacks the numbers to defeat the ordinance in the Lok Sabha butreceived support from Bharat Rashtra Samithi formerly known as Telangana Rashtra Samithi (abbr. TRS), Trinamool Congress, Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Senafaction, Sharad Pawars Nationalist Congress Party. Kejriwals reach-out to the Congress wasalso rebuffed by ex-AAP leader Alka Lamba, who is now with the Congress. On news last week that the Delhi CM had sought time to meet Kharge, Rahul and other top figures, Lamba tweeted AAP should apologise (first)...In his bid to muster numbers to defeat the BJP and its allies, Kejriwal needs the Congress 31 Rajya Sabha MPs; that of the Trinamool, the NCP and others on his side so far will fall short of the 93 lawmakers the BJP has on its own. Amid a festering leadership tussle in the Congress Rajasthan unit, the party on Monday said Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot have agreed to fight the upcoming Assembly elections unitedly and have left all issues to be resolved by the party High Command. Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said in view of the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly election, party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi had a detailed four-hour-long discussion with Ashok Gehlot. Sachin Pilot joined the deliberations later which was held at Kharges residence, he said. In this discussion, we have decided to fight the election unitedly. Both are in agreement that the Congress party has to go together and definitely we will win the election in Rajasthan, he told reporters after the meeting. It is very clear that Rajasthan is going to be a strong State for the Congress party. We are going to win. Therefore, both the leaders Gehlot ji and Sachin ji have decided to go together. The Congress party will fight elections unitedly, Venugopal also said. The AICC general secretary, organisation, said both the leaders have left all issues relating to Rajasthan to be resolved by the partys High Command. Earlier, seeking to resolve the infighting in Rajasthan Congress, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his bete noire Sachin Pilot met party chief Mallikarjun Kharge here on Monday in the presence of Rahul Gandhi. Sources said Gehlot began his meeting with Kharge at his residence at around 6 PM, and was joined by Rahul Gandhi a few minutes later. The Congress chief and Gandhi held deliberations with Gehlot for about half an hour, after which the partys in-charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Randhawa was called in. Pilot, who has been attacking the Gehlot Government over the issue of inaction on corruption during the previous BJP Government led by Vasundhara Raje, joined the meeting after two hours at Kharges residence. This is the first time after a long gap that the Rajasthan CM and his former deputy are meeting face to face in the presence of top party leadership. AICC general secretary KC Venugopal was also present at the meeting, the sources said.Kharge and Gandhi are holding parleys with leaders of poll-bound States in order to evolve the party strategy for the Assembly elections to corner the BJP in these States. The party leadership is also working hard to resolve the infighting in the Rajasthan unit ahead of the Assembly polls and set at rest the differences between the two leaders. The Congress brass had already held discussions with top leaders from Madhya Pradesh in the morning, after which Gandhi said the party would win 150 seats in the State. Earlier, Gehlot said the party High Command is strong and it will never offer any position to any leader or worker to pacify him/her. The meeting comes close on the heels of Pilots ultimatum that if three demands he made from the State Government were not met by the end of this month, he would launch a State-wide agitation. Pilot has asked for a high-level inquiry into the alleged scams that took place during the tenure of the former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Government, as one of his demands. Speaking to reporters earlier, Gehlot said there is no such tradition in the party to offer posts to any leader in order to pacify him. As far as I know, there is no such tradition in the Congress where any leader demands something and the party high command offers to give that position. We have not heard of such a formula ever, he said when asked about reports of a formula being worked out to rope in Pilot. Rubbishing such reports, he said it is only the creation of the media and some leaders may be getting such stories planted. Never has such a thing happened in the Congress so far and neither will it happen in the future. The Congress party and the high command is very strong and no leader or worker has the courage to demand any position. It does not happen like that, the Chief Minister asserted. Gehlot and Pilot have been engaged in a power tussle since the Congress formed Government in the State in 2018. In 2020, Pilot led a failed revolt against the Gehlot government after which he was removed from the posts of partys state unit president and deputy chief minister. Pilot had last month defied a warning from the party and went ahead with a day-long fast targeting Gehlot over his inaction on corruption by the previous Raje Government in the State. A key aide of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday confirmed that the much-awaited meeting of Opposition parties is likely to be held in Patna on June 12. State Minister and senior JD(U) leader Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said most parties opposed to the BJP are likely to take part in the extremely important meeting. It is now almost final that a meeting of most parties opposed to BJP will be held in Patna on June 12, he said. Most Opposition parties share the belief that the BJP will not win the 2024 Lok Sabha elections if those opposed to it put up a united fight, the JD(U) leader said. It is true that the initiative has been taken by our leader Nitish Kumar but we do not wish to claim any credit. Opposition unity is becoming a reality only because we are getting support from like-minded parties. Mocking the Nau saal bemisaal campaign of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi Government, Chaudhary said, The past nine years have indeed been unparalleled. During this period the nation was led astray from the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, whose statue was still unveiled abroad. The allusion was to the unveiling of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Hiroshima by Modi, who toured Japan recently. On the Sengol controversy, Chaudhary rubbished the Modi Governments claim that the sceptre was a symbol of the transfer of power. Even if the claim were true, what would it have signified? No transfer of power was taking place yesterday, the JD(U) leader said, referring to the inauguration of the new Parliament building where the sceptre was installed close to the Speakers chair. He also made light of the resignation from JD(U) of former Begusarai MP Monazir Hasan, who had on Sunday announced that he was giving up the partys primary membership. Last year our party conducted a huge membership drive. But Hasan had refused to renew his membership. So he ceased to be a JD(U) member. I wonder what he is trying to achieve through the charade, Chaudhary added. Posters, banners and messages came up in Manipur on Monday welcoming Union Home Minister Amit Shah on his four-day visit during which he will meet stake-holders to assess the situation and take steps to restore normalcy to the State that witnessed ethnic violence over the past few weeks. Shahs visit came on a day when the Indian Army and para-military forces rounded up at least 25 miscreants with arms, ammunition and grenades. A spokesperson for the defence forces said a number of people were detained with weapons after fresh incidents of firing and clashes broke out in and around Imphal valley on Sunday. During operations in Sansabi, Gwaltabi, Shabunkhol, Khunao in Imphal East, Army apprehended 22 miscreants with weapons and other war like stores. Five 12 bore double barrel rifles, three single barrel rifles, one country made weapon with double bore and one muzzle loaded weapon were recovered, he said in a statement. On Monday, an uneasy calm prevailed in Manipur, even as the death toll from Sundays clashes rose to five as three more people, who were undergoing treatment in hospitals, succumbed to their injuries, officials said. Meanwhile, Union Minister Nisith Pramanik, who is the Minister of State for Home Affairs said in Guwahati that the Centre was providing all support to Manipur and the situation was returning to normal. Pramaniks remarks came a few hours before Amit Shah began his four-day visit to the northeastern State. Shah will hold several rounds of security meetings to assess the situation and plan steps to restore normalcy during his first visit to the State since the ethnic clashes between the Kuki and the Meitei communities broke out on May 3. On Monday, posters and banners were seen in Imphal and several other districts. The welcome messages were issued by several civil society organisations of Manipur, sources said. We have learned that the Honble Union Home Minister of India is arriving in Manipur. In this regard, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) considers it a very positive step towards restoring peace. Under his able leadership, the people of Manipur are looking forward to restoration of peace and normalcy in Manipur, the organisation said. The United Peoples Front and the Kuki National Organisation, which work for the welfare of the Kuki Zo community in Manipur, said the Shahs visit is a positive initiative. This planned visit has given a sense of security among the Kuki Zo tribe. We look forward to his actions and directions to end this ongoing ethnic clashes between the two communities, the organisation said. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday praised the delicious flavour of dishes he enjoyed in Surguja. He was addressing villagers from Surguja division at his residence in Raipur. These villagers had hosted lunch for him during public interactions. Welcoming the villagers, Baghel said: You welcomed me in your houses with such warmth and affection. You served me meals with love. I am overwhelmed. I still remember the taste of delicious bhaji and other delicacies. I have got the opportunity to welcome all of you at my residence, an official statement quoted him as saying. The families were served traditional cuisines. Madhulika Prajapati from Karji village of Surguja presented a sketch of the Chief Minister with his mother. She said wants to pursue art from Khairagarh University. Bajrang Dal workers and cattle smugglers exchanged fire after a late-night car chase on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) expressway, according to an FIR lodged by police. Police said three cows and a calf were rescued from the black Scorpio, on which alleged cow smugglers had pasted Haryana Police stickers. The incident happened around 3 am on Monday in the Farukhnagar area, they said, adding that the vehicle has been seized. According to the FIR registered on the basis of a complaint filed by Bajrang Dal member Tinku, he along with other workers reached the Farrukhnagar toll after receiving the information that the smugglers will load the animals in their car and go towards Rajasthan through the expressway. After noticing the vehicle, they attempted to stop it but the driver sped away. The rear tyres of the car burst during the 8-km chase and the smugglers started firing at the cow vigilantes, Tinku alleged. We tried to nab the smugglers but all five got down from their car and one of them started firing. When we started firing in defence, they fled into the fields, taking advantage of the darkness, and the police were also reached on the spot, he said in his complaint. The cows have been taken to the gaushala, police said. An FIR has been registered against the unidentified accused under sections 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC, section 11-D of the Animal Cruelty Act and the Arms Act at Farrukhnagar police station on Monday. Crime branch and Piplani police station arrested 5 accused of Fedbank robbery case from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan and recovered hi-tech equipment, 3 country made pistols, fake Aadhaar cards. On April 5 at 10 am in Fed Gold Bank located in Indrapuri under Piplani police station area was targeted by 4 masked armed assailants who entered with the intention of robbing the bank but they failed to rob and escaped. During investigation information was received that one of the accused involved in the incident had also come to the bank on March 18, 2022 in connection with the gold loan, but due to lack of local ID, he was refused the gold loan. Initially Arun Sharma and Nitesh Yadav were identified who were also with four others in the rented room in Bhopal. Both the teams raided several places and arrested in the investigation Premraj Yadav, Shivam Kumar, Shivshek Ranjan , Vipin Kumar and Nitiraj alias Prince were was arrested and recovered 7 mobile phones, hi-tech equipment, 3 country made pistols, 20 cartridges, scissors, tape. In detailed interrogation, Shivam told that the entire incident was planned by Sunny Singh and Subodh Singh, who were lodged in Beur Jail, Patna while Niyatank was guiding from West Bengal jail. Shivam had gone back to Bhopal after seeing the location of Fed Bank before the incident, who went to Bihar and prepared Prashant alias Raja, Premraj, Shivshek alias Shivesh, Vipin and Nitiraj. Sunny Singh and Subodh Singh had sent fake Aadhaar cards, gold and modern equipment and mobile phones, country made pistols and cartridges. Jal Sahiyas, the dedicated community water workers in East Singhbhum, have taken to the streets to protest the non-payment of their honorariums. Expressing their deep frustration, the Jal Sahiyas have demanded swift action to address their grievances and have warned that if their concerns are not resolved, they will escalate the protests to a statewide level. Jal Sahiyas play a crucial role in ensuring the availability of clean water to communities in East Singhbhum. They are responsible for maintaining and monitoring water sources, conducting water quality tests, and promoting hygiene practices within their respective areas. However, despite their vital contributions, many Jal Sahiyas have been awaiting their honorariums for several months. The protest, organized by the Jal Sahiya Association of East Singhbhum, saw a significant turnout of community workers, who voiced their dissatisfaction over the delayed payments. Holding placards and chanting slogans, the protestors expressed their financial hardships caused by the non-payment of their dues. The district of East Singhbhum hosts around 2300 water bodies, all of which are managed by these Jal Sahiyas. Neetu Singh, the District President of Jharkhand State Jal Sahiya Sangh East Singhbhum, said: "We have been working tirelessly, ensuring clean water reaches every household in our communities. But our efforts seem undervalued and unacknowledged when we are not paid our honorariums on time. We are struggling to meet our basic needs, and it is disheartening." The Jal Sahiyas have submitted multiple representations to the concerned authorities, highlighting their predicament and requesting immediate action. However, with no substantial progress in addressing their concerns, the community workers have decided to intensify their protest. They have announced their intention to escalate the demonstrations to a statewide level if their honorariums are not disbursed promptly. The Jal Sahiya Association of East Singhbhum has urged the state government to intervene and resolve the issue urgently. They have emphasized the critical role Jal Sahiyas play in providing essential water services to communities and have stressed that the non-payment of honorariums not only affects their livelihoods but also undermines the efficiency and sustainability of the water supply system. Recognizing the severity of the situation, local activists and civil society organizations have expressed solidarity with the Jal Sahiyas. They have called upon the state government to prioritize the payment of honorariums and ensure the financial security of these frontline workers who contribute significantly to the well-being of the communities they serve. As the protest gains momentum, it serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by essential workers and the importance of recognizing their contributions. The Jal Sahiyas of East Singhbhum are determined to continue their fight for justice and remain hopeful that their demands will be met without further delay. The protest was organized over the issue of non-payment of honorariums and incentive amounts for the last 50 months. Ruling party in the State, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led Central Government for not inviting the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, to the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament Building and termed it black day in the history of the Country. Addressing a press meet at the party headquarter in the State Capital, JMM General Secretary cum Spokesperson, Supriyo Bhattacharya said that May 28, on which new Parliament Building was inaugurated, will be remembered as black day in the history of the Country. It was complete insult of the Constitution of India that the person holding highest Constitutional post was not invited by BJP and Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on the historic day. Hitting hard on BJP, Bhattachrya said that BJP is misleading people in the name of tribals. It is also an insult to the tribal community for holding the highest Constitutional post as tribal women BJP is not inviting her for the inauguration of the Countrys apex house but they will demand a vote from the people on the name of tribal women President. It does not happen only by observing Adivasi Gourav Diwas but where tribes have dignity but they prevent themselves from it, he added. When Ramnath Kovind was President of India then foundation stone was laid on the occasion also the Prime Minister himself laid the foundation stone instead of Kovind. The party uses this propaganda to get votes from the people in the elections. It is not an insult to only the President of India but an insult to 140 crore people of the Country. I think that a plea will also be filed in the Supreme Court on this issue, said Bhattacharya. The party General Secretary said that only the Supreme Court and President of India are two highest constitutional powers in the Country because both solemnize oaths to each other. But it matters o0f irony that the President solemnized oat to the Prime Minister, he himself forgot on the occasion. It is a complete insult to the highest constitutional post of the Country, he added. Bhattacharya attacked BJP for selecting the 140 birth anniversary date of Vinay Damodar Savarkar. He said that Savarkar had 19 times written apologized before British officers they have selected his birth anniversary of the inauguration of the parliament building, he added AAP national convener and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will meet CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Tuesday to seek support against the Centres Ordinance on control over administrative services in Delhi. Kejriwal has been reaching out to opposition leaders to garner their support against so that the Centres bid to replace the Ordinance with a law is defeated when the corresponding bill is brought in Parliament. Will meet Sitaram Yechury ji at CPM headquarters tomorrow (Tuesday) at 12.30 pm to seek their support against the Ordinance, kejriwal said in tweet on Monday. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief leader Uddhav Thackeray, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee have extended their support to the AAP on the issue after Kejriwal met them last week. Bihar Chief Minister and JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar as well as his deputy Tejashwi Yadav and RJD leader have also extended their support to Kejriwal in the matter. The Centre on May 19 promulgated the Ordinance to create an Authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, which the AAP government has said goes against 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. The Centre will have to bring a bill in Parliament to replace the Ordinance within six months of its promulgation. The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a man who went overboard early Monday morning from a cruise ship that was on its way back to Norfolk. The mans travel companion had reported him missing late Monday afternoon aboard Carnival Magic, which was returning Tuesday from a trip to the Bahamas, according to a statement from Carnival. After reviewing security footage, Carnival reported the passenger leaned over the railing of his stateroom balcony and dropped into the water at approximately 4:10 a.m. according to the statement. The Coast Guard said in a tweet Tuesday morning that the man went overboard 186 miles east of Jacksonville, Florida. Crews were using air and water assets to conduct the search. According to an update at about 3 p.m., crews planned to continue the search with air assets until sunset Tuesday and with water assets throughout the night. The Coast Guard crews have conducted searches on 4,044 square miles and have completed 19 hours of resource search hours. Carnival said the Coast Guard had released the cruise ship from search and rescue efforts and advised the ships captain to continue back to Norfolk. The Carnival Care Team is providing support to the guests companion and traveling party who are on board, the statement said. According to a GoFundMe page shared by his loved ones, Ronnie Peale Jr., 35, was celebrating his significant others birthday on the ship, and it was his first time going on a cruise. He is our social butterfly that was always on the move and loved to make friends with everyone, the description of the GoFundMe reads. The cruise was definitely a place he enjoyed. I never could of imagine something like this could happen. Devastated to say the least. Carnival Magic initially left Norfolk for its most recent trip on May 25. The ship has a guest capacity of 3,690 people, and it is about 1,004 feet in length. According to the companys website, the ship sails out of Norfolk and Miami and sails to the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada/New England and the Caribbean during its excursions. Trips can be anywhere from two to more than 10 days. Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com Union Bank of India Zonal Head and Field General Manager B.P. Das on Monday underlined the need for finding good business opportunities. He was addressing a meeting of the staff of the regional office during a visit to Raipur. He also held review meetings with branch managers. He asked them to fulfil all the targets for 2023-24. The banks Regional Head Anuj Kumar Singh said the bank is sanctioning loans under Union Nari Shakti Yojana especially for women entrepreneurs. The bank is also providing services under gold loan. In a significant development, the West Singhbhum Police recovered five improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at a jungle under the Tonto police station area of Goilkera West Singhbhum district about 110 km away from here this afternoon. The discovery of these hidden explosives highlights the proactive measures taken by the law enforcement agencies to neutralize potential threats and maintain public safety. Apart from this, on the way to Maradiri from Chhota Kuida village under Goelkera police station one pressure IED was also planted on the way, which was defused by the security forces. The operation, conducted by a specialized team of the West Singhbhum Police, focused on an area known for Naxal activities and their use of IEDs as a means of sabotage. Acting on credible intelligence, the police launched a search operation, and their meticulous efforts led to the successful detection and recovery of the explosive devices. The discovered IEDs were carefully concealed in different locations, indicating a deliberate attempt to cause harm and disrupt peace in the region. The prompt action taken by the West Singhbhum Police averted potential dangers and ensured the safety of local residents and security personnel. A senior official praised the efforts of the police personnel involved in the operation. He stated, "The discovery of these IEDs is a significant achievement and a testament to the professionalism and dedication of our law enforcement agencies. We remain committed to combating Naxal activities and ensuring the safety of the local population." The recovered explosive devices will undergo detailed forensic examination to gather crucial evidence and gather insights into the modus operandi of the Naxal groups. This information will aid law enforcement agencies in further strengthening their strategies to counter such threats effectively. The West Singhbhum Police have intensified their vigilance and surveillance activities in the region to preempt any potential Naxal operations. They have called upon local residents to remain cautious, report any suspicious activities or objects, and cooperate with the authorities to maintain law and order in the area. The unearthing of these IEDs serves as a reminder of the persistent challenges posed by Naxal activities in certain regions and the ongoing efforts to address them. The law enforcement agencies, through their proactive measures, continue to demonstrate their commitment to combating extremism and ensuring the security and well-being of the local population. The Delhi High Court has modified the sentence of life imprisonment awarded to a man for raping a woman, inserting sticks in her private parts, before strangling her, to 20 years in jail without remission. The High Court considered the diabolic and depraved manner in which the man took the victim to a solitary place and not only sexually assaulted her but inserted broken sticks in her vaginal and anal cavities before killing her by strangulation, and said he deserved imprisonment for a fixed term without remission. The court also noted the mitigating circumstances including that the man is 38 years old at the moment, has undergone 8 years of imprisonment and has to look after two minor children and a wife as there is nobody else in the family to take care of them. Considering the mitigating and extenuating circumstances, this court finds that a sentence of imprisonment for a period of 20 years without remission would serve the purpose. Consequently, the sentence awarded to the appellant by the trial court is modified to rigorous imprisonment for a period of 20 years without remission, a bench of Justices Mukta Gupta and Poonam A Bamba said. The High Court also asked the man to deposit a `60,000 fine and, if realised, the amount shall be paid as compensation to the legal heirs of the deceased woman. The High Courts verdict came on a plea by convict Ram Tej challenging his conviction and life imprisonment awarded by a trial court in May 2018 after holding him guilty for the rape and murder of the woman, who was in early thirties. Earlier, the High Court had refused to set aside the mans conviction for raping the woman and inserting sticks in her private parts before strangling her.The High Court upheld the mans conviction, saying the forensic evidence, including DNA analysis, clinch the case of the prosecution that the man did commit rape. Thus these two clothes as per DNA analysis, clinch the case of the prosecution that appellant committed the rape of the deceased, brutally inserted sticks in her vagina and anal cavities, tied her and strangulated her to death, it had said, adding it has found no error in the conviction judgment. According to the prosecution, the womans husband had in January 2015 reported her missing when she did not return home from work. The next morning, police found the half naked body of the woman with her neck and legs tied with a cloth in a nursery in Fatehpur Beri area in South Delhi. During the investigation, it was revealed that there were frequent calls between the victim and the accused. The man was tracked down and arrested on the basis of the call details. The leader of opposition (LoP) in the State Assembly, Yashpal Arya has said that instead of questioning the opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should give an account of his works during the last nine years of his tenure. He said that BJP came to power nine years ago making tall promises but now there is no talk of these promises. Arya said that the promises made to the farmers while taking back the draconian farm laws have not been implemented yet and the income of farmers has reduced instead of getting doubled as promised by the PM. He added that the debt burden in the country is increasing and is now more than $ 613 million. He said that the international price of crude oil was more than $ 120 per barrel during the UPA rule but even then the prices of diesel and petrol were kept in check. He said that now the crude price is around $ 75 per barrel but the price of petrol is more than Rs 100 per litre and diesel is Rs 95 per litre. The LoP said that the price of a cooking gas cylinder was Rs 410 during Congress rule which now costs more than Rs 1,100. He claimed that in the last five years, 4.13 crore beneficiaries of Ujjwala scheme have not refilled their gas cylinder. Launching an attack on the Modi government, Arya said that the demonetisation decision and GST enforcement damaged the economy severely. He said that PM Modi had promised that two crore jobs would be provided every year but the promise has remained unfulfilled. Taking a dig at the government he said that instead of creating new employment, the government has succeeded in reducing the existing ones. Arya added that the government has put the savings of the general public in LIC and SBI into peril and the corruption is at its peak in the BJP ruled States. The Modi government has given a clean chit to China even as the hostile neighbour continues to occupy Indian territory, he said. He claimed that the atrocities on women, Dalits, ST, OBC and minorities are increasing but the PM is maintaining a silence. The BJP government is attacking the constitutional bodies and is engaging in vendetta politics. He said that PM Modi had given the slogan of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao but the manner in which the women wrestlers were manhandled in Delhi shows the true face of the government. Chhattisgarh Health and Family Welfare Minister T.S. Singh Deo on Monday said tobacco not only affects the person consuming it but also people in the vicinity. There is a need to create awareness about this. He was holding a discussion with officials of Auckland University, New Zealand. The team led by him had detailed discussion with experts on the challenges facing in making the state tobacco free and towards controlling tobacco products. He said the world will observe World No Tobacco Day on May 31. Continuous efforts are being made to spread awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption on health. The Secretary, Health Department, Prasanna R, said the burden on the economy due to the increasing number of tobacco patients was also discussed, an official statement said. University officials said that compared to the income earned from tobacco products, more money is spent on the diseases caused by it. The New Zealand government has made a concrete policy to ban tobacco. With the target to create a smoke free generation, it has been made illegal for anyone born on or after 2009 to use/consume/sell tobacco products. The target is to make New Zealand a smoke-free generation by 2025. Union minister of State, Sanjeev Balyan said that the nine year tenure of the Central government so far under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a golden era in which the nation was brought out of hopelessness and infused with hope and development to make it a world leader. Addressing the media as part of the partys Mahasampark Abhiyan on Monday, Balyan gave a presentation on the various achievements of the Centre in these nine years. During the 10 years of UPA government before 2014, the news was full of scams, terrorist and anarchist activities aimed at weakening the nation with the economy deteriorating and development lacking. The BJP government under PM Modi created hope by undertaking historic works. The government achieved development on all fronts from infrastructural development to public welfare schemes and giving a new identity to national culture, spiritual and historical importance. There was a time when it was said that the USA protects the interests of its citizens even on foreign soil but today India is capable of protecting its citizens within its borders and abroad. The government safely evacuated more than 21,000 Indian students and citizens from Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen, Nepal, Afghanistan and other nations. During the Covid-19 pandemic, 220 crore vaccines were administered in record time and also provided to 50 nations. From independence till 2014, 10 lakh homes were made for the poor while the current government made 3.5 crore homes in nine years. The earlier governments didnt consider toilets important but we have constructed 100 per cent toilets across the nation. Only two crore homes had tap water till 2014 while we facilitated it in 12 crore homes, Balyan said. He further said that the Modi government had constructed 54,000 kilometres of highways. Compared to the total 74 airports till 2014, 74 new airports were constructed. The metro train service which was in five cities till 2014 has reached 15 cities while 700 new medical colleges were built to provide 70,000 new seats. The minister said that the Modi government has brought about a digital revolution with the nation now positioned second in mobile phone manufacturing and export. Becoming the worlds fastest growing economy, the nation jumped in rank from 10th to fifth position. He said that Uttarakhand has benefited the most from development schemes aimed at lending new identity to heritage. The government accords top priority to national security and has undertaken works like surgical strike, abrogation of article 370 and fully integrating Kashmir with the nation on a priority basis. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that these nine years have been dedicated to good governance and welfare of the poor. Earlier schemes were made according to vote bank considerations but PM Modi changed this and worked to ensure development for all. Inspired by the works done in these nine years also for Uttarakhand, the State government is moving decisively towards making Uttarakhand a model State by 2025, said Dhami. Earlier, the BJP State president Mahendra Bhatt exhorted the party workers to take the works of the government to every person in Uttarakhand especially the youths who have recently become adults so that they can understand the transformation that has taken place around them through government schemes since the time they were aged nine years. Some railway employees protested against the railway administration in front of the Vande Bharat Express at Dehradun railway station around 6 AM on Monday after getting information about the train being operated by a loco pilot of the Delhi division. The members of the Northern Railway Men's Union (NRMU) did not let Delhis loco pilot operate the train and it was ultimately operated by a loco pilot of the Dehradun division, said Ugrasen Singh, the secretary of NRMU, Dehradun. He said that when the Express was run by a loco pilot from Dehradun during the Vande Bharat trial, why was the loco pilot called from Delhi to operate it. He told The Pioneer, We protested because the Railways administration has appointed loco pilots for trains like Shatabdi, Jan Shatabdi and now Vande Bharat from Delhi division despite having all facilities available here. We expect the Railways to at least maintain a balance as per the guidelines. He claimed that the loco pilot from Delhi returned after the union members did not let him operate the express. He also said that they will continue to hold protests every day till the authorities concerned issue an order stating that a loco pilot from the Dehradun division will operate the express. On asking about the protest, the station superintendent of Dehradun railway station, Shashank Sharma told The Pioneer that there was no protest by employees and everything is sorted out. Everything is quite normal and no protest is going to happen that will affect the operation of Vande Bharat from Dehradun, he added. A police officer was suspended while another officer was served notice for negligence in connection with the arrest of a rape victims mother in Ratanpur town in Chhattisgarh, police said on Monday. Ratanpur Station House Officer Krishnakant Singh was suspended and SDoP Siddharth Baghel was served the notice on Sunday, Bilaspur Additional Superintendent of Police Rajendra Jaiswal said. Singh will be attached to the Bilaspur Police Lines. The action was taken based on a report submitted by a team led by Additional Superintendent of Police Rahul Dev to the Superintendent of Police Santosh Singh. Also, a local court bailed out the mother of the rape victim in the case on Monday. In March, a 19-year-old woman of Ratanpur had lodged a complaint of rape against a man following which he was arrested and sent to jail. The accused mans uncle and local BJP leader, Hakeem Mohammad, allegedly pressured the victim and her mother to withdraw the case against his nephew. He reportedly threatened to trap the two women in a false case. On May 19, one of the relatives of the accused lodged a complaint with the police against the rape survivors mother alleging she sexually abused her 10-year-old son. Acting on it, the police registered against the mother and arrested, triggering angry protests. Punjab Congress leaders have left the party's high command in a fix over the issue of extending support to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Rajya Sabha to oppose the Centres ordinance to create a National Capital Civil Service Authority. The partys senior leadership from Punjab unit, during a meeting with the Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, and former party chief Rahul Gandhi, along with AICC general secretary in-charge of organization K C Venugopal on Monday, has suggested that they should not back AAP on the central ordinance while maintaining that it would set a wrong narrative. Congress leaders from Punjab, where AAP is the ruling party, strongly impressed upon the high command not to extend any kind of support to Arvind Kejriwal and his brigade. At the same time, the party leaders have left to the high command too take the final call. Kharge called the Punjab leaders for a meeting after the Congress Legislative Party leader in Punjab Partap Singh Bajwa urged the high command to consult state unit before supporting the AAP as it had allegedly unleashed a witch-hunt against Congress leaders in Punjab. AAP had ousted the Congress from power in Punjab in 2022 Assembly polls. @AamAadmiParty & @ArvindKejriwal deserve no support or sympathy from @INCIndia. @AAPPunjab govt has launched ruthless witch-hunt against @INCPunjab leaders and workers and has made their lives hell by misusing the police and investigation agencies, Bajwa had tweeted. Bajwa, in related tweet, said: I appeal to INC high command to consult the leadership of Punjab, HP, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Gujarat & Karnataka before even considering helping AAP. It was instrumental in giving a political edge to BJP in these states. AAP is the B team of BJP and they are two sides of the same coin. Lets not protect a wolf in the sheeps clothing. Even as none of the party leaders disclosed what actually transpired during the meeting, it has been learnt that the state leaders emphatically and plainly stated that AAP shouldn't be supported in the matter of Ordinance, while suggesting that the Congress should maintain a distance from AAP. Majority of the state Congress leaders argued that the party top brass should not meet AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, arguing that the latter was trying to use the ordinance row to his political advantage. The ball is in the high commands court now to decide whether to support or oppose the Centres ordinanceWe have expressed out standwe have told them about our reservationsNow, it is on the high command to take the final decision, which they will convey to us soon, said Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, after the meeting. Among those who attended the meeting were the AICC in-charge of state party affairs Harish Chaudhary, state Congress president Amrinder Warring, Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha Partap Singh Bajwa, and other senior leaders including Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Rana KP Singh, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Manish Tewari, Amar Singh, Gurkirat Singh Kotli, and Bharat Bhushan Ashu. The ordinance, which would eventually be brought to the Parliament as Bill, will give Delhis Lieutenant Governor the final say on transfers and postings of civil servants instead of the State Government, that is currently headed by AAP. A senior party leader who attended the meeting, while talking with The Pioneer, shared that the meeting was stormy with the leaders strongly and clearly putting forth their views. This is very unusual situationAAP is ruling party in Punjab, and Congress is the principal oppositionWe will have to maintain complete distance from AAP and also this person (in reference to Kejriwal). We have conveyed this to the high command and they will take the call, said the leader. The senior leader added that one suggestion was that the party should stage a walk-out when the Bill is put to vote. As per information available, the Congress leaders contended that AAP-led Punjab Government had been hounding and persecuting the party leaders and workers, and muzzling free and independent media by misusing Vigilance. The mention of Punjab Vigilance Bureau recently issuing summons to the editor-in-chief of Punjabi newspaper Ajit, Dr Barjinder Singh Hamdard, was also mentioned in the meeting. Punjab Congress former chief Navjot Singh Sidhu refused to disclose details of the meeting. What transpired during the meeting is a secret and only the Congress chief or Rahul Gandhi would divulge the detailsIndia's Constitution is a sacred granth and I take inspiration from itBut, I can say emphatically that the values of the Constitution are at its lowest ebb, he said while citing instances where the Centre trampled upon the Constitution. When asked whether the Congress can enter into an electoral understanding with AAP for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Sidhu said: There cannot be an alliance when there are ideological differences. Punjab party affairs in-charge Harish Chaudhary said that the meeting was Congress internal issue. This was an internal meetingWe used our right to talk to the party high command. We have told the high command, he said. Indore Police commissioner Makrand Deuskar, Additional police commissioner Manish Kapuria have initiated arrest of all absconding rape accused within a fix time frame. Rau police team arrested a rape accused carrying an award of Rs 10000 after chasing the accused for 2000 kms from punjab who was absconding after raping a girl student preparing for competition exams in Indore. Rau police station Incharge TI Narendra Singh Raghuvanshi told The Pioneer that the accused Prince Rajput resident of U P was continuously charging the location and mobile phone. The family members of the accused challenged the police team that they can't catch the accused as the accused is from an influential background and from political family. The police team stayed for 5 days in punjab and caught him from the factory gate where the accused was working. Rau police a week ago arrested another rape accused Vinod Rao a resident of Rajasthan who was absconding after raping a girl at Indore and was hiding in Haridwar UP and carrying an award of rs 10000 on his head. DCP Zone 1 Aaditya Mishra led the cyber team and police team who arrested the accused A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that along with PM Mitra Park and Medical Device Park, the initiative to start Global Skill Park in Madhya Pradesh is helpful in providing employment to the youth. The work of preparing skilled youth and connecting them with employment will be done continuously in the state. To make the youth strength of the society, first of all it is necessary to make them skilful. Investment is coming continuously in Madhya Pradesh and youth are getting employment due to this investment. Utmost attention is being paid to skill upgradation of the youth. Chouhan was addressing the Mega Job Fair and Shramik Chaupal at Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Govindpura today. Union Minister for Labour and Employment and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav was present as a special guest. In the job fair, 640 appointments were given by various institutes. Describing the Mega Job Fair and Shramik Chaupal as useful, Chouhan congratulated the selected applicants. Offer letters and acceptance letters of schemes were also distributed to the selected applicants. Chouhan said that Prime Minister Modi remains concerned about providing employment to the youth. Along with this, he is also focused on skill upgradation. Today 640 youth got employment in the mega job fair. Chief Minister Chouhan said that employment is very important. On one hand there are employers who need skilled persons and on the other hand youth want employment. A mega job fair was organised for such youths who need jobs. Prime Minister Modi organises employment fairs every month. He hands out the offer letters. A comprehensive campaign to provide employment is going on in the country. In Madhya Pradesh too, work is being done to provide employment and enhancing investment by different companies. Madhya Pradesh is becoming a textile hub. Along with this, automobile and pharma hub are also being built. Work is also going on in the food processing sector. PM Mitra Mega Park will start in Dhar district. IT sector is working rapidly also. Employment will increase with the arrival of new investment. The Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to those institutions which have given employment to youth. He also gave information about the Mukhya Mantri Sikho-Kamao Yojana (Chief Minister's Learn-Earn scheme). Talking about labour welfare, Chouhan said that 4 Shramodaya Vidyalayas have been opened in the state, where only children of labourers' study. There is recruitment target of one lakh government posts by the month of August. After the completion of this recruitment will be done on 50 thousand posts. Welcoming Union Minister Yadav, Chief Minister Chouhan said that he has encouraged us all by coming to the mega job fair. He is also striving for the welfare of the workers. ESI dispensaries and hospitals are being upgraded in Bhopal, Jabalpur, Nagda. He has also assured to start a medical college in Dhar under the Ministry of Labour. The Chief Minister said that 9 successful years of Prime Minister Modi have been completed. In these years, the fate of the people and the picture of the country have changed. He has bestowed a big gift to give Madhya Pradesh the identity of Cheetah State. Madhya Pradesh was earlier a Tiger, Leopard and Gharial state. Now it has also become a Cheetah State. Union Minister Yadav has said today that you should not worry. When cheetahs come from other areas, they take time to adjust to the new environment. The Chief Minister said that he was very worried about the untimely death of 3 cheetah cubs. The Uttarakhand administration has started gearing up to meet the challenge of the Monsoon in the State. On Monday the secretary Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA), Ranjit Sinha held a video conferencing session with the district magistrates of all the districts in which the pre-monsoon preparations were discussed. In the meeting Sinha directed all the DMs to compulsorily conduct mock drills in their districts. He directed that all the departments concerned should appoint a senior officer as a nodal officer to deal with any situation of disaster so that the problems of the districts reach to the level concerned. Sinha said that all the districts should earmark the places of storage of water, edible items and medicines and the areas highly sensitive for disaster. He suggested that hoardings having the phone numbers and other details of the officers concerned should be placed near the roads. This would be helpful for the people in the situation of disaster. The secretary directed that the satellite phones, wireless sets and other things available in the districts should be in functional condition. In the meeting a detailed presentation was given on the staging area prepared in the situation of disaster, joint control room, shelter, tele- communication, media management and crowd management were discussed. The secretary directed the DMs and the state level officers to deal with any situation of disaster promptly and in a planned manner. The inspector general of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Ridhim Agarwal, additional secretary of disaster management Savin Bansal and the state level officers of all linear departments attended the meeting. The parents of the teenage girl who was stabbed and bludgeoned to death by a youth in northwest Delhi claimed they were not aware if she had any acquaintance with the accused and demanded capital punishment for him. Police said the victim, and the accused, 20-year-old Sahil, were in a relationship but had a quarrel on Saturday. Waiting at the Ambedkar Hospital to receive their daughters body, the victims parents said they were not aware if she had any acquaintance with Sahil. We need justice for our daughter. She was brutally stabbed multiple times and her head was smashed repeatedly with a stone. We want the accused to be hanged to death, her father Janak Raj said. Her mother said her daughter had been staying at her friend Neetus house in Shahbad Dairy for the past 15 days as the latters husband was out of the station for work. My daughter had been staying with Neetu and her two children for the past 15 days. Just yesterday (Sunday) around 1:30 pm, I spoke to my daughter. She told me that she would return home once Neetus husband was back and I was eagerly waiting for her. Little did I know that she would never return, she said. With teary eyes, she demanded justice for her daughter and said, The accused should be hanged to death. The victims father, a labourer, said the police have assured them justice for their daughter and they believe in the system. Recalling Sundays incident, he said her daughter was excited about organising the birthday party of her friends daughter and had gone out shopping. At the market, Sahil approached her and asked her to come with him. But when my daughter asked him why, he stabbed her multiple times and soon fell unconscious. He then smashed her head repeatedly with stones, he said. The victims parents said their daughter, who passed the class 10 exam this year never told them about Sahil. It was when the police informed us that we got to know about Sahil. Our daughter never told about being harassed by anyone, the victims father added. The family was in intense grief and pain as the 16-year-olds mortal remains were cremated Monday evening. The mother of the deceased, watching helplessly as the pyre was lit, said, We had our dinner and were planning to sleep when her daughters friend Bhawana knocked our door on Sunday around 9 pm. She informed us that someone has killed her daughter. We did not believe her words and I called Neetu, who told me that she had gone to market. We rushed to the spot and saw our daughter lying there in a pool of blood. We met a person in the hospital who said he was there at the spot and tried to save their daughter, but he was also attacked by the accused, she said. An elderly woman, who witnessed the Sundays incident, said, People gather near our house every evening and have liquor or drugs. When we try to disperse them, they abuse us and threaten us. Uncertainty grips admission in class 11 in the constituent colleges from the session 2023 -24. Constituent colleges in Jharkhand will not be holding admission, teaching and examination of the Jharkhand Academic Council of the class 11 and 12 from the session 2023 -24. This delinking of the intermediate teaching from the constituent colleges is in the light of the New Education Policy which wants total break up with intermediate admission, teaching etc of class 11 and 12 from the constituent colleges. A decision to this effect was taken at the 23.11.2022 meeting of the RUSA chaired by the secretary higher education and participated by secretary school education, chairman of the Jharkhand Academic Council, a couple of directors and a couple of the principals of the Ranchi based colleges. It's now weeks when the Jharkhand Academic Council has released the result of the Matriculation examination. CBSE and ICSE too have released their Matriculation results. It's time now for admission into class 11 and for places like Palamu the middle class families prefer constituent colleges for their wards class 11 and 12 teaching etc. And this embargo on admission in the constituent colleges for the session 2023 -24 has in class 11 etc has tripled the worries of the admission seekers and their guardians. There are some grey areas. First the RUSA wants proper mapping of all government and non governmental plus 2 schools in the vicinity of the constituent colleges catering till now plus 2 teaching etc. The mapping is of space, human resources, teachers etc in governmental and non governmental plus 2 schools so that once admission in class 11 is shut in the constituent colleges, these government and non governmental plus 2 schools are fit to take admission there. Professor in charge of the Yodh Singh Namdhari Mahila college Daltonganj Dr Mohini Gupta has expressed deep concern over the diktat of the RUSA saying this will affect hundreds of girl students to turn to co educational plus 2 for the pursuance to their class 11 teaching etc. Dr Mohini Gupta said "Girls feel academically happier to be in the Mahila college at least for their very foundation course class 11 teaching etc. Their parents will too have a lot of reservation for their girls going to co educational plus 2 schools." She said girls and their parents visit us asking for the admission in class 11. Another principal Dr Rana Pratap Singh of the JS college Daltonganj said if class 11 teaching goes off in our constituent college, our college will look all the more dry and without any charm. The RUSA meeting has however said where mapping is difficult to be done then in that case this delinking of class 11 teaching from the constituent colleges will be a phase out drive in which the number of the admission will be reduced gradually for 3 consecutive years. Ten Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims, most of them from Bihar, were killed and 57 others were injured on Tuesday as their bus fell into a gorge after ramming into the railing of a bridge here on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, officials said. The death toll may go up as Government Medical College Hospital Principal Shashi Soodan said two of the injured admitted there are critical. Officials said the bus, which was on its way to Katra from Amritsar, met with the accident in Jhajjar Kotli area. Katra is a base camp for the pilgrims visiting the famous shrine atop the Trikuta hills. "The accident took place at Jhajjar Kotli bridge. Ten people have died. Rescue operation is almost compete," Jammu Senior Superintendent of Police Chandan Kohli told PTI. "We are investigating the reasons behind the accident." Local residents, CRPF and police personnel rushed to the spot and launched the rescue operation. The fifty-seven injured have been admitted to the GMC hospital in Jammu and two of them are critical. "Two persons were brought dead in the hospital while others have died on the spot," said Soodan, the principal. A CRPF officer said 10 bodies have been recovered. The bus skidded off the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and rolled down the bridge over a nallah at Jajjar Kotli between 6.30 and 7 am, the officials said. They said most of the travellers were from Bihar's Lakhisarai and were on pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi for a religious function of their child. They were members of an extended family. Ravinder Panday, one of the travellers, said they felt that something hit the bus. "It lost balance and rolled down. The vehicle was on its way from Amritsar to Katra carrying people who were going for pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi," he said. The accident site looked horrific with bodies trapped under the mangled remains of the bus. Describing the accident, a witnesses said the bus was in the left lane, but it crossed over to the right side after the driver lost control, hit the railing of the bridge went down. The front wheels came off and got stuck in the parapet of the bridge. "We were hoing to pay obeisance to Mata Vaishno Devi temple and perform Mundan of our child. We were serval families together," said Ramesh Kumar, who escaped unhurt. For the journey to Katra, the vehicle, carrying a registration number of Uttar Pradesh (UP 81 CT 3537), should have taken a left turn nearly two kilometers before the spot of accident, but passengers said the driver seemed to have lost the direction and was probably going to the Udhampur-Srinagar side of the highway. On May 21, a 27-year-old woman was killed and 24 people were injured when a Rajasthan-bound bus carrying Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims overturned in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. The Congress' lone Lok Sabha member from Maharashtra, Suresh alias Balu Dhanorkar, died early Tuesday at a private hospital in neighbouring Gurgaon where he was admitted following complications after a surgery to remove kidney stones, a party leader said. He was 47. Dhanorkar is survived by wife Pratibha, an MLA, and two sons. "Balubhau breathed his last early Tuesday morning while undergoing treatment at a private hospital," Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe said. Dhanorkar's 80-year-old father Narayan Dhanorkar passed away in Nagpur on Saturday evening after a prolonged illness. The MP could not attend his father's last rites on Sunday. President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Indian Youth Congress President Srinivas B V and other leaders condoled Dhanorkar's death. "The news of the sudden demise of Balubhau Dhanorkar, Lok Sabha member from Chandrapur is very sad. He kept striving for the development of his region and Maharashtra," Murmu said on Twitter. "Saddened by the passing away of Lok Sabha MP from Chandrapur, Balubhau Narayanrao Dhanorkar Ji. He will be remembered for his contribution to public service and empowering the poor. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti," Modi said. Dhanorkar underwent a surgery for kidney stones at a Nagpur hospital on May 26 and was airlifted to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on Sunday after he developed complications. "He was admitted to a Nagpur-based hospital last week for the treatment of kidney stones. He was later shifted to New Delhi but he could not survive," Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat said. Dhanorkar's mortal remains will be kept at his hometown in Warora in Chandrapur district Tuesday afternoon for people to pay their last respects. The last rites will be held in Warora on Wednesday morning. Dhanorkar began his political career in the Shiv Sena led by Balasaheb Thackeray and rose through the party ranks to become a Member of the Legislative Assembly in 2014. He quit the Shiv Sena to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as a Congress candidate against BJP strongman and four-term Parliamentarian Hansraj Ahir. Dhanorkar defeated Ahir, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, by a margin of 44,763 votes and wrested the Chandrapur Lok Sabha seat for the Congress. He was the only Lok Sabha member of the Congress from Maharashtra. Dhanorkar's wife Pratibha is a Member of Legislative Assembly from Warora-Bhadrawati assembly seat in Maharashtra. Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, said he was deeply saddened by the sudden demise of his colleague in the Lok Sabha. "The untimely demise of Dhanorkar has left a great void in the political circles in Maharashtra," he said. "Saddened to learn about the untimely passing away of Shri Suresh Narayan Dhanorkar, Congress MP (Lok Sabha) from Chandrapur Maharashtra. He was a grassroots leader. Our deepest condolences to his family, friends and followers, Kharge said. "I am saddened by the demise of Suresh Dhanorkar. He dedicated his life to fulfill the aspirations of the common people and carry their hopes and expectations to the Lok Sabha," Lok Sabha Speaker om Birla said. Rahul Gandhi said Dhanorkar's demise has caused an irreparable loss to the Congress family. "He will remain alive in our memories forever." Gandhi said. PTI SKU Http://ptinews.Com/images/pti.Jpg We bring the World to you" Disclaimer : This e-mail message may contain proprietary, confidential or legally privileged information for the sole use of the person or entity to whom this message was originally addressed. Sri Lanka is drafting a new legislation to curb the growing incidents of religious slander and online vitriol, according to the countrys religious affairs minister. The move comes after a stand-up comedian Nathasha Edirisooriya allegedly made certain derogatory remarks on religions, which she uploaded online. Edirisooriya offered an apology, but a complaint was filed and she was taken into custody on Sunday while trying to fly out of the country. Lankas Minister of Buddhashasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickramanayaka on Sunday said a legislation would soon be passed to curb the growing incidents of religious slander in the country. They will stop all incidents of demeaning religion on social media, he asserted.The controversy surrounding Edirisooriyas comments is not a one-off incident. Earlier this month, Pastor Jerome Fernando, a self-styled Godman, was accused of derogatory comments on Lord Buddha, which went viral on social media. On May 15, President Ranil Wickremesinghe ordered the Criminal Investigation Department to launch an immediate investigation into the matter, arguing that such statements could create religious conflicts in the country. Like Edirisooriya, Fernando also offered an apology. He has, however, fled to Singapore and filed a fundamental rights petition to block his impending arrest.In January, a popular Youtuber Sepal Amarasinghe was sent to police custody for making disparaging comments on the Sacred Tooth relic of Lord Buddha. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in Kandy. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha. The arrest came after parliamentarians across the aisle unanimously condemned Amarasinghes comments on his YouTube channel. Amarasinghes YouTube channel has nearly 80,000 subscribers and the outspoken man is well-known on social media for his unorthodox views that challenge what he claims are parochial traditions and customs. Over 74 per cent of Sri Lankas 22 million population are Buddhists. China Everbright Environment Group Limited (OTCMKTS:CHFFF Get Rating) was the target of a significant drop in short interest during the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 16,514,400 shares, a drop of 12.7% from the April 30th total of 18,926,400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently days. China Everbright Environment Group Price Performance Shares of CHFFF remained flat at $0.42 during mid-day trading on Monday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $0.42 and a 200 day simple moving average of $0.42. China Everbright Environment Group has a 52 week low of $0.40 and a 52 week high of $0.71. Get China Everbright Environment Group alerts: About China Everbright Environment Group (Get Rating) See Also China Everbright Environment Group Limited, provides environmental solutions worldwide. The company's Environmental Energy Project Construction and Operation segment constructs and operates food waste and leachate treatment, sludge treatment and disposal, methane-to-energy, fecal treatment, fly ash landfill, medical waste treatment, and solid waste treatment projects, as well as waste-to-energy plants. Receive News & Ratings for China Everbright Environment Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Everbright Environment Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Industrias Bachoco (NYSE:IBA Get Rating) in a report published on Saturday morning. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the stock. Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut Industrias Bachoco from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $56.00 price target for the company. in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Get Industrias Bachoco alerts: Industrias Bachoco Stock Performance NYSE:IBA opened at $53.00 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $56.48 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $53.83. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.62 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06, a quick ratio of 2.68 and a current ratio of 3.78. Industrias Bachoco has a 1 year low of $38.04 and a 1 year high of $66.25. Institutional Trading of Industrias Bachoco About Industrias Bachoco A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Citigroup Inc. acquired a new stake in Industrias Bachoco in the 1st quarter worth about $27,000. Luken Investment Analytics LLC acquired a new position in shares of Industrias Bachoco in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. UBS Group AG acquired a new position in shares of Industrias Bachoco in the 4th quarter valued at about $39,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its stake in shares of Industrias Bachoco by 1,285.0% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,385 shares of the companys stock valued at $71,000 after purchasing an additional 1,285 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cutter & CO Brokerage Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Industrias Bachoco in the 1st quarter valued at about $205,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 3.08% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) Industrias Bachoco SAB de CV is a holding company, which engages breeding, processing, marketing poultry, such as chicken, eggs, balanced feed, swine, and other products. It operates through Poultry and Other segments. The Poultry segment includes chicken and egg operations. The Other segment consists of operations of swine, balanced feed for animal consumption and other by-products. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Industrias Bachoco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Industrias Bachoco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Spark New Zealand Limited (OTCMKTS:SPKKY Get Rating) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 22,300 shares, a growth of 36.0% from the April 30th total of 16,400 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 44,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.5 days. Spark New Zealand Stock Performance Shares of OTCMKTS:SPKKY traded down $0.09 during trading on Monday, hitting $15.96. The companys stock had a trading volume of 22,300 shares, compared to its average volume of 22,131. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $15.88 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $16.19. Spark New Zealand has a fifty-two week low of $13.71 and a fifty-two week high of $17.33. Get Spark New Zealand alerts: Spark New Zealand Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 17th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 16th were given a dividend of $0.0631 per share. This is a boost from Spark New Zealands previous dividend of $0.06. This represents a dividend yield of 4.77%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 15th. Spark New Zealand Company Profile Spark New Zealand Ltd. engages in the provision of telecommunications and information and communications technology (ICT) services. The company was founded on February 24, 1987 and is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Spark New Zealand Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Spark New Zealand and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. South Africa: Crime hinders growth in tourism sector Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille says safety is one of the major issues affecting growth in the tourism sector. De Lille said crime must be collectively addressed so that the sector can grow. Addressing media after meeting the MECs responsible for Tourism and stakeholders in the tourism sector in Sandton on Monday, De Lille said crime affects tourism in many parts of the world. South Africa is no different and across the world, countries are grappling with these issues with instability and wars in some countries. The Minister said an enhanced visitor experience takes into consideration the improvement of local destinations through cleanliness, safety and security, access to information, as well as provision of quality services and an authentic experience. Tourism is not only an economic activity but an essential vehicle that promotes a mutual understanding between a tourist and host community. Tourism is recognised for its immense potential and its significant contribution to the economy. Safety is one of the major issues affecting the tourism sector and as partners, government and the private sector agreed tourism safety is a priority that we need to address collectively so that we can grow the sector and remove any obstacles standing in the way of that objective. We discussed the risks related to tourism and the strategies and actions that need to be implemented to improve tourism safety, as agreed to in the 2018 Tourism Safety Strategy, De Lille said. De Lille met with stakeholders, including the National Prosecuting Authority and the SA Township and Village Tourism Organisation (SATOVITO), to discuss the risks related to tourism safety and measures that need to be implemented to improve tourism safety. Also taking part in the meeting was the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the private sector, including the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA). As government, we want to form partnerships with the private sector to address this, including deploying more safety tourism monitors, to key tourist sites and using technology to improve tourism safety, De Lille said. She said the meeting agreed on the establishment of the National Tourism Safety Forum (NTSF) to coordinate integrated safety response mechanisms for tourists in distress. De Lille said the meeting agreed on the employment of the Tourism Monitors Programme (TMP). The Minister said this is part of the broader government intervention that involves training, mentorship and deployment of unemployed youth in identified tourism attractions and sites. According to De Lille, the key objectives of the TMP are enhancing tourism safety awareness at key tourism attractions and sites, upskilling of unemployed youth and reducing tourist vulnerabilities. The key performance areas of the appointed tourism monitors include, but are not limited to, patrolling within the identified attraction areas, raising tourism awareness and providing information to tourists, and reporting any crime incidents to SAPS and other relevant enforcement agencies, De Lille said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-05-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Experts discuss data security governance at forum in Beijing People's Daily Online) 13:43, May 30, 2023 The Data Security Governance and Development Forum of the 2023 Zhongguancun Forum was recently held at the Zhongguancun Exhibition Center in Beijing. In 2022, China's internet users surpassed 1.06 billion, accounting for 75.6 percent of the country's population. With the digital economy permeating every facet of people's lives, reinforcing data security governance and safeguarding data development and applications have become major topics in the digital age. Sun Weimin, chief engineer of the Cyberspace Administration of China, speaks at the Data Security Governance and Development Forum of the 2023 Zhongguancun Forum. (Photo courtesy of the organizer of the forum) Sun Weimin, chief engineer of the Cyberspace Administration of China, highlighted that the internet security of major internet companies is primarily handled by governmental oversight, which has led to a lack of internal initiative for these companies to bolster cyber security. This has resulted in security measures trailing behind internet development for a considerable duration. Feng Dengguo, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, speaks at the Data Security Governance and Development Forum of the 2023 Zhongguancun Forum. (Photo courtesy of the organizer of the forum) Data security faces threats from six areas, including leakage, damage, unauthorized disclosure of personal data, loss of control, misuse, and corruption or loss, said Feng Dengguo, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Emphasizing the importance of data utilization security as a new focus, Feng proposed measures such as aligning with global data security technology trends, enhancing efforts to formulate data security laws and regulations, and implementing practical security solutions and standards to ensure the sustainable and stable growth of the data industry. Yang Qiang, a chair professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and Canadian Academy of Engineering, speaks at the Data Security Governance and Development Forum of the 2023 Zhongguancun Forum. (Photo courtesy of the organizer of the forum) Emerging data security technologies in recent years, including trustworthy federated learning a type of privacy-preserving algorithm have been providing solutions to balance the trade-off between data security and data sharing. Yang Qiang, a chair professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and Canadian Academy of Engineering, introduced trustworthy federated learning and federated learning models at the forum. He said that the main concept of federated learning is closely related to privacy computing, and its aim is to utilize data while maintaining confidentiality. During a roundtable discussion at the forum, Hong Yanqing, a professor from the Beijing Institute of Technology, argued that despite Chinese law enforcement agencies not levying hefty fines for data security breaches like their European counterparts, the country's law enforcement coverage rate is very high. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Graham (NYSE:GHM Get Rating) was downgraded by equities researchers at StockNews.com from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report issued on Monday. Separately, TheStreet upgraded Graham from a d rating to a c- rating in a research note on Monday, February 6th. Get Graham alerts: Graham Stock Performance GHM stock traded up $0.23 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $11.54. The stock had a trading volume of 4,900 shares, compared to its average volume of 36,235. The stock has a market capitalization of $122.79 million, a PE ratio of -192.33 and a beta of 0.49. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $12.72 and a 200 day simple moving average of $11.70. Graham has a fifty-two week low of $6.51 and a fifty-two week high of $14.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 1.31 and a quick ratio of 1.03. Institutional Trading of Graham About Graham A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of GHM. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. bought a new position in Graham in the 4th quarter valued at about $52,000. Barclays PLC acquired a new stake in Graham during the 1st quarter worth approximately $74,000. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its holdings in Graham by 297.5% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 8,002 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $105,000 after purchasing an additional 5,989 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG boosted its stake in Graham by 40,476.2% in the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 8,521 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $111,000 after purchasing an additional 8,500 shares during the period. Finally, Auto Owners Insurance Co acquired a new position in Graham in the 4th quarter valued at $106,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.47% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) Graham Corp. engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of equipment for the energy, defense, chemical, and petrochemical industries. Its products include surface condensers, ejector, heliflow spiral tube heat exchangers, desuperheaters, and mircromix water heaters. The company was founded on March 7, 1983 and is headquartered in Batavia, NY. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Graham Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Graham and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com cut shares of Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH Get Rating) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note released on Friday. Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Molina Healthcare from $307.00 to $282.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 21st. Truist Financial reduced their price objective on Molina Healthcare from $400.00 to $380.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 10th. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on Molina Healthcare in a report on Thursday, April 20th. They set an overweight rating and a $354.00 price objective on the stock. Credit Suisse Group raised their price objective on Molina Healthcare from $347.00 to $350.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on Molina Healthcare from $360.00 to $348.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Molina Healthcare currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $354.75. Get Molina Healthcare alerts: Molina Healthcare Price Performance Shares of MOH stock opened at $273.03 on Friday. Molina Healthcare has a 52-week low of $249.78 and a 52-week high of $374.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 1.47 and a current ratio of 1.47. The firm has a market capitalization of $15.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.60, a P/E/G ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 0.68. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $284.16 and a 200 day moving average price of $298.92. Insider Transactions at Molina Healthcare Molina Healthcare ( NYSE:MOH Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The company reported $5.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.13 by $0.68. Molina Healthcare had a return on equity of 36.20% and a net margin of 2.64%. The firm had revenue of $8.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.31 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $4.90 EPS. Molina Healthcares quarterly revenue was up 4.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Molina Healthcare will post 20.25 earnings per share for the current year. In other news, Director Daniel Cooperman sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $276.77, for a total value of $1,383,850.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 4,944 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,368,350.88. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Molina Healthcare A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. ProShare Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Molina Healthcare by 52.8% in the 1st quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 12,910 shares of the companys stock worth $3,453,000 after purchasing an additional 4,462 shares in the last quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Molina Healthcare during the 1st quarter worth about $4,941,000. Toroso Investments LLC lifted its position in Molina Healthcare by 233.6% during the 1st quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 3,993 shares of the companys stock worth $1,068,000 after acquiring an additional 2,796 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its position in Molina Healthcare by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 150,377 shares of the companys stock worth $40,222,000 after acquiring an additional 1,515 shares during the period. Finally, B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Molina Healthcare by 45.7% during the 1st quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 1,531 shares of the companys stock worth $409,000 after acquiring an additional 480 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.25% of the companys stock. Molina Healthcare Company Profile (Get Rating) Molina Healthcare, Inc engages in the provision of health care services. It operates through the following segments: Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace, and Other. The company was founded by C. David Molina in 1980 and is headquartered in Long Beach, CA. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Molina Healthcare Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Molina Healthcare and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Siam Cement Public Company Limited (OTCMKTS:SCVPF Get Rating) saw a large decrease in short interest in May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 970,000 shares, a decrease of 23.6% from the April 30th total of 1,269,400 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 9,700.0 days. Siam Cement Public Stock Performance OTCMKTS:SCVPF remained flat at $8.87 during mid-day trading on Monday. Siam Cement Public has a 52-week low of $8.87 and a 52-week high of $10.64. The company has a fifty day moving average of $9.09 and a 200 day moving average of $9.42. Get Siam Cement Public alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Citigroup upgraded shares of Siam Cement Public from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, April 28th. About Siam Cement Public The Siam Cement Public Co Ltd. is an investment holding company, which engages in the business of industrial supplies and construction industries. It operates through the following segments: SCG Cement-Building Materials, SCG Chemicals, SCG Packaging, and Other. The SCG Cement-Building Materials segment manufactures and sells of grey cement, ready-mixed concrete, white cement, dry mortar, roof tiles, concrete paving blocks, ceramic tiles, sanitary wares, and sanitary fittings; and distribution of cement, building and decorative products, as well as importing fuel products, waste paper, and scrap iron. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Siam Cement Public Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Siam Cement Public and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. UBS ETRACS 2xLeveraged Long Wells Fargo Business Development Company Index ETN (NYSEARCA:BDCL Get Rating)s share price fell 0.4% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $2.35 and last traded at $2.44. 173,800 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 37% from the average session volume of 274,265 shares. The stock had previously closed at $2.45. UBS ETRACS 2xLeveraged Long Wells Fargo Business Development Company Index ETN Stock Down 0.4 % The firms 50 day moving average is $2.44 and its two-hundred day moving average is $2.44. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for UBS ETRACS 2xLeveraged Long Wells Fargo Business Development Company Index ETN Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UBS ETRACS 2xLeveraged Long Wells Fargo Business Development Company Index ETN and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH Get Rating) was downgraded by equities researchers at StockNews.com from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Monday. Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Piper Sandler started coverage on UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Thursday. They set an overweight rating and a $580.00 price objective for the company. Stephens reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $605.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Tuesday, February 28th. Loop Capital raised their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $590.00 to $600.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. They issued an overweight rating and a $591.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $592.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Monday, April 17th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $601.38. Get UnitedHealth Group alerts: UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 0.8 % NYSE UNH traded up $3.82 on Monday, hitting $481.52. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,135,200 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,323,481. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $490.02 and its 200 day simple moving average is $498.22. UnitedHealth Group has a 52-week low of $449.70 and a 52-week high of $558.10. The firm has a market cap of $448.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.02, a PEG ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. Insider Activity UnitedHealth Group ( NYSE:UNH Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Friday, April 14th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.26 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $6.24 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $91.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $89.77 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 6.16% and a return on equity of 27.05%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 14.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $5.49 EPS. Research analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group will post 24.97 EPS for the current fiscal year. In related news, CEO Andrew Witty sold 6,160 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $487.49, for a total transaction of $3,002,938.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 86,564 shares in the company, valued at $42,199,084.36. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other UnitedHealth Group news, CEO Andrew Witty sold 6,160 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $487.49, for a total transaction of $3,002,938.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 86,564 shares of the companys stock, valued at $42,199,084.36. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,008 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, April 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $484.58, for a total transaction of $488,456.64. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 10,359 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,019,764.22. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 8,852 shares of company stock valued at $4,313,962 in the last ninety days. 0.35% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. MFA Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 4.8% in the third quarter. MFA Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 414 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $209,000 after acquiring an additional 19 shares in the last quarter. Wealthquest Corp raised its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 4.4% during the third quarter. Wealthquest Corp now owns 470 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $237,000 after buying an additional 20 shares during the last quarter. Formidable Asset Management LLC grew its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 1.5% during the third quarter. Formidable Asset Management LLC now owns 1,366 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $741,000 after acquiring an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. Apeiron RIA LLC lifted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Apeiron RIA LLC now owns 2,581 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $1,222,000 after purchasing an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nicolet Advisory Services LLC grew its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 3.9% during the third quarter. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC now owns 562 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $280,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.31% of the companys stock. UnitedHealth Group Company Profile (Get Rating) UnitedHealth Group, Inc engages in the provision of health care coverage, software, and data consultancy services. It operates through the following segments: UnitedHealthcare, OptumHealth, OptumInsight, and OptumRx. The UnitedHealthcare segment utilizes Optums capabilities to help coordinate patient care, improve affordability of medical care, analyze cost trends, manage pharmacy benefits, work with care providers more effectively, and create a simpler consumer experience. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for UnitedHealth Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UnitedHealth Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. African Rainbow Minerals Limited (OTCMKTS:AFBOF Get Rating) saw a significant drop in short interest in May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 6,100 shares, a drop of 11.6% from the April 30th total of 6,900 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 61.0 days. African Rainbow Minerals Price Performance AFBOF stock opened at $11.50 on Tuesday. African Rainbow Minerals has a 52 week low of $11.50 and a 52 week high of $18.00. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $12.86. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for African Rainbow Minerals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for African Rainbow Minerals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Credit Suisse Group AG (NYSE:CS Get Rating) has been given a consensus rating of Hold by the fourteen research firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, six have given a hold recommendation and two have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $3.63. Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. Kepler Capital Markets lowered shares of Credit Suisse Group from a hold rating to a reduce rating in a research report on Monday, February 13th. StockNews.com started coverage on Credit Suisse Group in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Citigroup lowered shares of Credit Suisse Group from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 16th. Get Credit Suisse Group alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On Credit Suisse Group Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of CS. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its holdings in Credit Suisse Group by 6.8% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 49,762 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $195,000 after acquiring an additional 3,164 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its holdings in Credit Suisse Group by 70.3% in the second quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 7,931 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 3,273 shares during the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc raised its stake in Credit Suisse Group by 84.5% in the third quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 7,318 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $166,000 after buying an additional 3,351 shares in the last quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Credit Suisse Group by 8.7% during the 3rd quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 44,306 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $174,000 after buying an additional 3,540 shares during the last quarter. Finally, US Bancorp DE boosted its position in shares of Credit Suisse Group by 8.9% during the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 50,292 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $395,000 after acquiring an additional 4,130 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 11.20% of the companys stock. Credit Suisse Group Trading Up 1.7 % Credit Suisse Group Increases Dividend Shares of CS opened at $0.87 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 1.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.79. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $0.88 and a 200 day moving average price of $2.43. Credit Suisse Group has a 12-month low of $0.82 and a 12-month high of $7.35. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 1.26. The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 24th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 11th were paid a $0.0547 dividend. This is a positive change from Credit Suisse Groups previous dividend of $0.05. The ex-dividend date was Monday, April 10th. This represents a dividend yield of 4.5%. 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. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Credit Suisse Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Credit Suisse Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bridges Investment Management Inc. lowered its position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Get Rating) by 1.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 69,534 shares of the companys stock after selling 800 shares during the period. Bridges Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Altria Group were worth $3,178,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Sei Investments Co. raised its stake in Altria Group by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 404,894 shares of the companys stock valued at $21,248,000 after buying an additional 6,324 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in Altria Group by 5.2% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 18,647 shares of the companys stock valued at $974,000 after purchasing an additional 929 shares in the last quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P purchased a new stake in Altria Group in the first quarter worth about $25,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 2,711,773 shares of the companys stock valued at $141,690,000 after acquiring an additional 89,334 shares during the period. Finally, First Western Trust Bank purchased a new stake in Altria Group in the 1st quarter worth approximately $498,000. 58.68% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Altria Group alerts: Altria Group Stock Performance MO stock traded down $0.62 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $43.99. 1,696,397 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,794,002. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $45.46 and a 200 day simple moving average of $45.85. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $40.35 and a 12 month high of $54.37. The company has a market capitalization of $78.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 0.59. Altria Group Announces Dividend Altria Group ( NYSE:MO Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.19 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $4.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.89 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 245.43% and a net margin of 22.44%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.12 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.06 EPS for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a $0.94 dividend. This represents a $3.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.55%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 120.90%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts recently weighed in on MO shares. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Citigroup decreased their price target on shares of Altria Group from $49.50 to $47.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus started coverage on Altria Group in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. They issued a buy rating and a $52.00 target price on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Altria Group has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $44.67. Altria Group Profile (Get Rating) Altria Group, Inc operates as a holding company, which engages in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes in the United States. It operates through the following segments: Smokeable Products, Oral tobacco products, and Wine. The Smokeable Products segment consists of cigarettes manufactured and sold by PM USA and machine-made large cigars and pipe tobacco manufactured and sold by Middleton. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Aegon (NYSE:AEG Get Rating) has received an average rating of Hold from the ten research firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $5.15. AEG has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Bank of America began coverage on Aegon in a research note on Tuesday, April 4th. They issued a neutral rating for the company. StockNews.com downgraded Aegon from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday. Get Aegon alerts: Aegon Trading Down 1.5 % NYSE:AEG opened at $4.49 on Tuesday. Aegon has a 1 year low of $3.76 and a 1 year high of $5.68. The business has a fifty day moving average of $4.42 and a 200-day moving average of $4.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 0.09 and a quick ratio of 0.09. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Aegon Company Profile Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC acquired a new position in shares of Aegon during the 3rd quarter valued at about $26,000. Penserra Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Aegon during the 3rd quarter valued at about $34,000. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Aegon during the 1st quarter valued at about $34,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Aegon by 3,154.7% in the 1st quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 8,625 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 8,360 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Spire Wealth Management grew its holdings in Aegon by 52.4% in the 1st quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 8,948 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 3,078 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 19.30% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) Aegon NV is an international financial services company, which engages in the provision of investment, protection, and retirement solutions. It operates through the following segments: Americas, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, International, Asset Management, and Holding and Other Activities. The Americas segment covers business units in the United States and Brazil, including any of the units activities located outside these countries. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Aegon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Aegon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Delta Asset Management LLC TN decreased its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK Get Rating) by 1.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 14,531 shares of the companys stock after selling 237 shares during the quarter. Delta Asset Management LLC TNs holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $1,612,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in MRK. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 2,671.4% in the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 5,099,334 shares of the companys stock valued at $418,400,000 after acquiring an additional 4,915,334 shares during the period. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec grew its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 256.3% during the first quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 4,882,173 shares of the companys stock worth $400,582,000 after buying an additional 3,511,900 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 1.4% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 224,134,448 shares of the companys stock worth $19,302,459,000 after buying an additional 3,081,402 shares during the last quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC grew its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 48.1% during the third quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 5,840,313 shares of the companys stock worth $503,115,000 after buying an additional 1,897,517 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 17.3% during the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 9,760,711 shares of the companys stock worth $800,866,000 after buying an additional 1,441,584 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 72.89% of the companys stock. Get Merck & Co. Inc. alerts: Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Down 1.5 % Shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock traded down $1.65 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $109.42. 2,327,759 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,747,544. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 1.44 and a quick ratio of 1.19. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 1-year low of $83.05 and a 1-year high of $119.65. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $137.49 and a 200-day moving average price of $139.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $277.65 billion, a PE ratio of 21.69, a P/E/G ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 0.34. Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend Merck & Co., Inc. ( NYSE:MRK Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.34 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $14.49 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.81 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 22.52% and a return on equity of 37.92%. Merck & Co., Inc.s quarterly revenue was down 8.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.14 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 6.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.73 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $2.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.67%. Merck & Co., Inc.s payout ratio is 57.03%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, VP Rita A. Karachun sold 15,875 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.53, for a total value of $1,865,788.75. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 45,710 shares in the company, valued at $5,372,296.30. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, CEO Robert M. Davis sold 143,329 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.93, for a total transaction of $16,472,801.97. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 271,817 shares in the company, valued at $31,239,927.81. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, VP Rita A. Karachun sold 15,875 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.53, for a total transaction of $1,865,788.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 45,710 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,372,296.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 488,258 shares of company stock worth $56,481,018. Insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on MRK. BTIG Research lowered shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Sunday, April 16th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $128.00 to $130.00 in a research report on Monday, May 1st. Citigroup upgraded shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $105.00 to $130.00 in a report on Thursday, April 13th. Mizuho restated a buy rating and issued a $130.00 price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a report on Monday, April 10th. Finally, Societe Generale lowered shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, March 28th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $120.75. Merck & Co., Inc. Profile (Get Rating) Merck & Co, Inc is a health care company, which engages in the provision of health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products. It operates through the following segments: Pharmaceutical, Animal Health, and Other. The Pharmaceutical segment includes human health pharmaceutical and vaccine products. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MRK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Merck & Co. Inc. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Merck & Co. Inc. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. American Century Companies Inc. grew its stake in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Get Rating) by 0.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 5,345,179 shares of the credit services providers stock after purchasing an additional 40,394 shares during the period. Mastercard makes up about 1.5% of American Century Companies Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 6th largest position. American Century Companies Inc. owned about 0.56% of Mastercard worth $1,858,679,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in MA. International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Mastercard by 27,553.9% during the 4th quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 986,967 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $1,767,000 after purchasing an additional 983,398 shares in the last quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc boosted its position in shares of Mastercard by 56.7% in the 3rd quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc now owns 1,925,743 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $547,566,000 after buying an additional 696,961 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Mastercard by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 77,259,535 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $21,967,977,000 after buying an additional 568,155 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of Mastercard by 84.0% in the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,025,552 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $356,618,000 after buying an additional 468,101 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Veritas Asset Management LLP boosted its position in shares of Mastercard by 18.0% in the 4th quarter. Veritas Asset Management LLP now owns 2,994,532 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $1,041,289,000 after buying an additional 456,023 shares in the last quarter. 74.51% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Mastercard alerts: Insider Transactions at Mastercard In other news, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 125,816 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $381.85, for a total value of $48,042,839.60. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 99,808,197 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $38,111,760,024.45. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Mastercard news, insider Raghuvir Malhotra sold 11,398 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $381.62, for a total value of $4,349,704.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 9,465 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,612,033.30. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 125,816 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $381.85, for a total transaction of $48,042,839.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 99,808,197 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $38,111,760,024.45. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 542,079 shares of company stock valued at $207,174,711. Insiders own 0.29% of the companys stock. Mastercard Stock Down 1.7 % NYSE:MA traded down $6.25 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $368.12. The stock had a trading volume of 1,562,315 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,735,476. The company has a market cap of $348.92 billion, a PE ratio of 37.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a current ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.84. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $371.23 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $362.45. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1-year low of $276.87 and a 1-year high of $392.20. Mastercard (NYSE:MA Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The credit services provider reported $2.80 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.71 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $5.75 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.64 billion. Mastercard had a net margin of 42.33% and a return on equity of 169.12%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 11.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.76 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Mastercard Incorporated will post 12.27 EPS for the current year. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. KeyCorp boosted their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $425.00 to $430.00 in a research report on Monday, April 24th. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of Mastercard from $414.00 to $442.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Credit Suisse Group upped their target price on shares of Mastercard from $390.00 to $400.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Tigress Financial upped their target price on shares of Mastercard from $472.00 to $476.00 in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Mastercard in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and nineteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $417.27. About Mastercard (Get Rating) Mastercard, Inc is a technology company, which engages in the payments industry that connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments, and business. It offers payment solutions for the development and implementation of credit, debit, prepaid, commercial, and payment programs. The company was founded in November 1966 and is headquartered in Purchase, NY. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Mastercard Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mastercard and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Medtronic (NYSE:MDT Get Rating) had its price objective decreased by Truist Financial from $93.00 to $90.00 in a research note published on Friday, The Fly reports. MDT has been the subject of several other reports. Barclays upgraded shares of Medtronic from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, April 24th. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and set a $89.00 target price on shares of Medtronic in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on shares of Medtronic from $80.00 to $87.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Medtronic from $90.00 to $92.00 in a research note on Friday. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their target price on shares of Medtronic from $100.00 to $99.00 in a research note on Friday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $90.53. Get Medtronic alerts: Medtronic Stock Performance Medtronic stock opened at $81.46 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $84.88 and a 200-day moving average price of $82.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 1.81 and a current ratio of 2.39. Medtronic has a fifty-two week low of $75.76 and a fifty-two week high of $100.61. The company has a market capitalization of $108.38 billion, a PE ratio of 28.89, a P/E/G ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.71. Medtronic Increases Dividend Medtronic ( NYSE:MDT Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 25th. The medical technology company reported $1.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.56 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $8.54 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.25 billion. Medtronic had a net margin of 12.03% and a return on equity of 13.54%. Medtronics revenue was up 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.52 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Medtronic will post 5.06 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Investors of record on Friday, June 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.69 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 22nd. This represents a $2.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.39%. This is a positive change from Medtronics previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. Medtronics payout ratio is 96.45%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Medtronic Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in MDT. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Medtronic by 0.9% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 123,861,994 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $10,001,857,000 after buying an additional 1,056,995 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in shares of Medtronic by 5.1% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 115,998,561 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $9,366,883,000 after acquiring an additional 5,620,477 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its position in shares of Medtronic by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 58,989,713 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $4,802,998,000 after purchasing an additional 928,929 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its position in shares of Medtronic by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 29,945,349 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $2,414,194,000 after purchasing an additional 88,302 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Medtronic by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 27,222,300 shares of the medical technology companys stock worth $2,112,247,000 after acquiring an additional 423,715 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.37% of the companys stock. About Medtronic (Get Rating) Medtronic Plc is a medical technology company, which engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of device-based medical therapies and services. It operates through the following segments: Cardiovascular Porrtfolio, Neuroscience Portfolio, Medical Surgical Portfolio, and Diabetes Operating Unit. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Medtronic Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Medtronic and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nordic American Tankers Limited (NYSE:NAT Get Rating) shares traded down 5.2% on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $3.59 and last traded at $3.61. 1,167,152 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 63% from the average session volume of 3,148,950 shares. The stock had previously closed at $3.81. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of Nordic American Tankers from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 23rd. TheStreet upgraded shares of Nordic American Tankers from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research report on Monday, May 22nd. B. Riley increased their price objective on shares of Nordic American Tankers from $5.00 to $5.50 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 28th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on shares of Nordic American Tankers from $4.50 to $5.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $5.25. Get Nordic American Tankers alerts: Nordic American Tankers Stock Down 4.7 % The companys fifty day moving average price is $3.67 and its 200-day moving average price is $3.53. The stock has a market cap of $757.94 million, a P/E ratio of 9.07 and a beta of 0.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.96. Nordic American Tankers Announces Dividend Nordic American Tankers ( NYSE:NAT Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 22nd. The shipping company reported $0.22 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.20 by $0.02. Nordic American Tankers had a net margin of 37.03% and a return on equity of 16.91%. The company had revenue of $87.09 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $79.55 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted ($0.14) EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Nordic American Tankers Limited will post 0.63 EPS for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 6th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 16.53%. Nordic American Tankerss payout ratio is 142.86%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its position in shares of Nordic American Tankers by 2.8% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 510,212 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $1,087,000 after buying an additional 14,048 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its stake in Nordic American Tankers by 25.3% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 606,947 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $1,293,000 after acquiring an additional 122,381 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Nordic American Tankers by 26.6% during the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 128,599 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $274,000 after acquiring an additional 26,995 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its stake in Nordic American Tankers by 11.1% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 257,510 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $548,000 after acquiring an additional 25,644 shares during the period. Finally, BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in Nordic American Tankers by 3.8% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 9,897,210 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $21,082,000 after acquiring an additional 366,761 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 40.41% of the companys stock. Nordic American Tankers Company Profile (Get Rating) Nordic American Tankers Ltd. operates as an international tanker company. It owns and operates Suezmax crude oil tankers. The company was founded by Herbjorn Hansson on June 12, 1995 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Nordic American Tankers Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nordic American Tankers and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI Get Rating) (TSE:CNR) saw a significant increase in short interest in the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 6,250,000 shares, an increase of 21.4% from the April 30th total of 5,150,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,190,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 5.3 days. Currently, 1.0% of the shares of the company are sold short. Canadian National Railway Stock Up 0.4 % Canadian National Railway stock traded up $0.45 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $114.42. The stock had a trading volume of 594,412 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,127,509. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $118.53 and its 200-day simple moving average is $119.97. Canadian National Railway has a 1-year low of $103.79 and a 1-year high of $129.89. The stock has a market capitalization of $75.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a current ratio of 0.74. Get Canadian National Railway alerts: Canadian National Railway Cuts Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, June 9th will be paid a $0.5835 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 8th. This represents a $2.33 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.04%. Canadian National Railways dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 37.98%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Canadian National Railway Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BCK Partners Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Canadian National Railway in the first quarter worth approximately $2,575,000. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in shares of Canadian National Railway by 26.2% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 931,027 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $124,888,000 after purchasing an additional 193,116 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in shares of Canadian National Railway by 3.1% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 762,341 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $102,260,000 after purchasing an additional 22,984 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL increased its position in shares of Canadian National Railway by 1.4% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 60,441 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $8,107,000 after acquiring an additional 807 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allianz Asset Management GmbH increased its position in shares of Canadian National Railway by 18.9% during the first quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 33,602 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $4,511,000 after acquiring an additional 5,349 shares during the last quarter. 86.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Several research firms have issued reports on CNI. Desjardins boosted their price objective on Canadian National Railway from C$178.00 to C$180.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 25th. Royal Bank of Canada raised Canadian National Railway from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. StockNews.com began coverage on Canadian National Railway in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating for the company. Susquehanna upped their target price on Canadian National Railway from $114.00 to $116.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 25th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised Canadian National Railway from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $143.22. About Canadian National Railway (Get Rating) Canadian National Railway Co engages in rail and related transportation business. Its services include rail, intermodal, trucking, supply chain services, business development and maps and network. Its offers their services in automotive, coal, fertilizer, food and beverages, forest products, dimensional loads, grain, metals and minerals and petroleum and chemicals industries. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Canadian National Railway Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian National Railway and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Twilio Inc. (NYSE:TWLO Get Rating) shares were up 4.8% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $63.84 and last traded at $62.98. Approximately 2,830,890 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 40% from the average daily volume of 4,723,983 shares. The stock had previously closed at $60.10. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group cut Twilio from a buy rating to a neutral rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $90.00 to $53.00 in a report on Thursday, May 11th. Mizuho cut Twilio from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $90.00 to $55.00 in a report on Friday, May 12th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Twilio in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. KeyCorp upped their price target on shares of Twilio from $77.00 to $89.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Twilio from $82.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 10th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seventeen have issued a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $79.11. Get Twilio alerts: Twilio Price Performance The company has a market capitalization of $11.53 billion, a PE ratio of -8.03 and a beta of 1.47. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $56.87 and a 200 day simple moving average of $56.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10, a quick ratio of 6.16 and a current ratio of 6.16. Insider Transactions at Twilio Twilio ( NYSE:TWLO Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 9th. The technology company reported ($0.37) earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.58) by $0.21. Twilio had a negative return on equity of 6.91% and a negative net margin of 34.79%. The firm had revenue of $1.01 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $999.82 million. Equities analysts anticipate that Twilio Inc. will post -1.53 EPS for the current year. In related news, CFO Aidan Viggiano sold 6,226 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $63.76, for a total value of $396,969.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 213,577 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,617,669.52. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other Twilio news, insider Dana Wagner sold 1,977 shares of Twilio stock in a transaction on Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.49, for a total value of $89,933.73. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 157,506 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,164,947.94. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Aidan Viggiano sold 6,226 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, March 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $63.76, for a total value of $396,969.76. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 213,577 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,617,669.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 13,256 shares of company stock valued at $787,689. Company insiders own 4.20% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TWLO. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Twilio by 25.6% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,121,939 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $2,162,627,000 after purchasing an additional 2,678,049 shares during the last quarter. SRS Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in Twilio by 398.3% in the 1st quarter. SRS Investment Management LLC now owns 3,019,695 shares of the technology companys stock worth $201,202,000 after buying an additional 2,413,702 shares during the period. Generation Investment Management LLP raised its position in Twilio by 45.1% during the 4th quarter. Generation Investment Management LLP now owns 7,286,340 shares of the technology companys stock worth $356,739,000 after buying an additional 2,265,233 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC lifted its position in Twilio by 28.2% during the first quarter. FMR LLC now owns 9,589,225 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $638,930,000 after purchasing an additional 2,109,091 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Twilio during the 4th quarter valued at about $84,442,000. 78.68% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Twilio (Get Rating) Twilio, Inc engages in the development of communications software, cloud-based platform, and services. Its products include Twilio flex, messaging, programmable voice, programmable video, elastic SIP trunking, and IoT. The company was founded by John Wolthuis, Jeffery G. Lawson, and Evan Cooke in March 2008 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Twilio Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Twilio and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. I am pleased to present to you the Director's Report for Greenfern Industries for the fiscal year ending on 31st March 2023. I am proud to report that the company has continued to make progress towards its goals, despite the challenges of the global economic environment and the difficulties of the medicinal cannabis scheme in its current format here in New Zealand. Notwithstanding these difficulties we have maintained a upward growth trajectory while focusing on our strengths of growing premium, wholly indoor grown medicinal cannabis flower at our ever expanding facility in Normanby Taranaki. Financial Performance Greenfern Industries has achieved an improved financial performance in the past year, with a revenue of $1 million, representing an increase of 368% over the previous year. Our net loss after tax was $2.03 million, a 1% increase compared to last year. This revenue result puts us ahead of our listed peers in terms of revenue numbers and we expect this to increase over the next financial year as we begin to move our medicinal cannabis flower products into overseas markets. This growth can be attributed to the successful implementation of our strategic plan, which prioritised improving our operational efficiency and growth within the Australian prescriber market and investing in new product development within this sector. Market Expansion We have expanded our market presence in Australia in the past year, with the launch of several new products that have been well received by our customers. To date we have acquired 1617 new patients while enjoying a return patient rate on average per month of 39%. We continue to look towards expanding further into the Australian market and continue to investigate new avenues. Environmental Sustainability At Greenfern Industries, we are committed to conducting our business in an environmentally sustainable manner. We have continued to focus on reducing our carbon footprint by implementing energy-efficient technologies, reducing waste, and improving our supply chain. We have maintained our net carbonzero certification via Toitu Envirocare and are the only company in New Zealand from our sector to do so. Corporate Social Responsibility Our commitment to corporate social responsibility remains a key priority. In the past year, we have involved local hapu and iwi in our decision making and bought them along on the growth journey of our facility in Normanby Taranaki. We remain a Bcorp registered business. B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. I personally spoke as part of a panel at a medicinal cannabis industry day in Auckland to industry peers alongside PWCs Partner of Sustainability & Climate Change Andrew Jamieson and also B Lab Aotearoa New Zealands manager Qiulae Wong. We continue to play our part to help benefit the future of New Zealand. Highlights Achieving Bcorp certification Expanded our relationship with leading Australian medicinal cannabis prescriber Cannvalate Gaining our GACP (Good Agricultural and Collection Practices) via Control Union who are an internationally recognised certification board. Securing a binding offtake agreement for our medicinal cannabis that will be grown in nearly complete Stage 2 cultivation facility with Ampyl Sciences. Ampyl Science via their export company CannFX has been the first company to export commercial amounts of New Zealand grown medicinal Cannabis into Germany and the UK. We continue to work closely with them to expand our ability to scale our operations. Maintained our net carbonzero certification with Toitu Envirocare Being part of a trio that was awarded a further Bioresource Processing Alliance (BPA) grant to research high-value products from the by-products of hemp seed processing alongside industry partners Hemp Connect and Callaghan Innovation Successful raise of approximately 1.74 million on market via a rights issue. Achieving stringent minimum quality testing standards for our indoor grown premium medicinal cannabis verified by an overseas GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certified Lab. This is an essential prerequisite for exporting medicinal cannabis starting material flower. Outlook Despite the ongoing uncertainty in the global economy, we remain optimistic about the future of Greenfern Industries. We will continue to focus on improving our operational efficiency, investing in new product development, expanding our market presence, and conducting our business in an environmentally sustainable and socially responsible manner. We are confident that these efforts will help us to achieve our long-term growth objectives and create value for our shareholders. On behalf of the board, I would like to thank our employees, customers, shareholders and stakeholders for their continued support and commitment to Greenfern Industries. Sincerely, Dan Casey, Managing Director Greenfern Industries Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Fonterra confirms Milk Price Panel changes Ryman Director Nominations PEB - Clarification of Novitas Timeline Synlait intends to divest Dairyworks & Talbot Forest Cheese June 2nd Morning Report Alan Isaac appointed to NZ Markets Disciplinary Tribunal June 1st Morning Report Kiwi Property Notice of Meeting Scott continues momentum off the back of strong H1 results Chorus submits 2022 fibre regulatory report Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy met Union water resources minister Gajendra Shekawat and urged him for his nod to the revised estimates of the Polavaram irrigation project and release of funds for expeditious execution of the project. Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy returned to AP on Monday after the completion of his three-day visit to New Delhi. The Chief Minister, during his stay in the national capital, took part in the inauguration of the new Parliament building and held meetings with several Union ministers including Amith Shah and Nirmala Sitharaman. The CM met the Union home minister on Sunday night at the latters residence. He is learnt to have urged Shah for his intervention to amicably and expeditiously resolve the unresolved bifurcation-related issues between AP and Telangana. The CM took up the issues like division of assets and liabilities between AP and TS as per provisions of Schedule IX and X of AP Reorganisation Act, 2014 and also the pending power arrears from Telangana to AP keeping in mind the financial condition of the AP power utilities. The CM met Union water resources minister Gajendra Shekawat and urged him for his nod to the revised estimates of the Polavaram irrigation project and release of funds for expeditious execution of the project. The central minister is learnt to have responded positively to the CMs requests. The CM had also met Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Soldiers patrol along the violence hit area of Dolaithabi village in Manipur. Fresh deadly clashes were reported on May 28 in Manipur although the exact number of fatalities was not immediately clear. (AFP) Manipur Violence: Tension has escalated over the last few weeks in Manipur with repeated incidents of arson and violence. While the state government and the Centre are trying to keep the situation under check, ethnic clashes continue to create unrest in the northeastern region of the country. So fa4r, 80 people have died in the violence. The government has tried in vain to impose a slew of rules in the region, including internet shutdown and shoot at sight orders, to bring the situation under control. Here are 10 things you must know about what happened in Manipur so far... On April 19, 2023, the state government was ordered by the Manipur High Court to submit a 10-year-old recommendation to the Union Tribal Affairs ministry to include Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes list, after hearing a petition filed by the Meitei Tribal Union Following the court's order, the tribals in Manipur took out a Tribal Solidarity March, against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) Status. This triggered a clash between the communities on May 3. Their contention was that the Meitei already had an edge in terms of demography and politics and were much ahead in several aspects, including academics when compared to the tribals of the state They argued that granting of ST status to Meitei would render them jobless. They also said they were scared of losing their lands a granting ST status would give the Meitei community permission to acquire land in the hills. It may be recalled that Manipur Chief Minister had ordered an eviction drive against illegal occupants of the protected forest land in February 2023. However, people in the Kuki region refused to leave saying it was their right to live there leading to minor clashes. The government had also pressed into service policemen and JCBs for the eviction. So tensions had already flared up following that incident. Suspension of Internet services was extended by the government following clashes. The government also set up a helpline to prevent gossip mongers from spreading misinformation Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is flooded with a bunch of pleas challenging the High Court's order on granting ST status to the Meitei community. The Apex Court has sought a status report on the clashes between Kukis and the Meitei community. The court is scheduled to hear the matter in the first week of July. The security forces have shot at least 33 militants from different groups in a bid to curb the sporadic incidents of violence in the northeastern state, according to Manipur CM N Biren Singh. On Saturday, Army chief General Manoj Pande paid a visit to the strife-torn region to assess the situation Meanwhile, the Indian Army and the Assam Rifles have evacuated 35,000 civilians from the conflict areas to safer zones. Humanitarian air and relief materials too were made available to the displaced civilians. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is on a four-day visit to Manipur. He chaired a high-level meeting with ministers of the state and CM N Biren Singh to plan measures to restore law and order situation in the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually addresses the flag-off of Assam's first Vande Bharat express in Guwahati, from New Delhi, Monday, May 29, 2023. (Photo: PTI) NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public rally on May 31 in poll- bound Rajasthan where the ruling Congress is trying hard to put its house in order before the polls. The rally is being seen as the start of the BJPs campaign for the Assembly polls due by the end of this year. Modis rally in Ajmer is part of the BJPs celebration of the completion of nine years of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. The PM will high- light his governments achievements in the past nine years and the projects that the state has got from the Centre, while seeking support for a "double engine government". The BJP will launch a month-long campaign from May 30 to mark the ninth year of the Modi government in all states. With the PMs rally, the BJPs Rajasthan unit will also launch its "Sampark se Samarthan" campaign to reach out to maximum households ahead of the Assembly polls. This will be the PMs fifth visit to the state in the past eight months and the BJP is hoping that the PMs visit will better its performance in the region, which has nearly 29 Assembly seats. For the BJP, the deteriorating law and order situation, corruption, appeasement and misgovernance will be the main poll planks against Ashok Gehlot government. During the last Assembly polls, the BJPs performance had significantly reduced in the region when it managed to win about a dozen seats as compared to 2013, when it bagged 27 out of 29 Assembly seats. While the weather could play spoilsport, the BJP state unit claimed it made all arrangements keeping in mind the weather predictions for May 31. The BJP will also launch a campaign against the Ashok Gehlot government in the first week of next month as part of its poll strategy highlighting how the Congress government has "failed" to fulfil its promises. Published on: May 30, 2023 | Updated on: May 30, 2023 Congress leader K.C. Venugopal with party leaders Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot after a meeting at party President Mallikarjun Kharge's residence, in New Delhi, Monday. (PTI Photo/Kamal Kishore)( New Delhi: After a meeting with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, the Congress on Monday projected a united front saying that the two leaders will fight together against the BJP in the upcoming elections. Reportedly, the discussion between the Congress chief and Rahul Gandhi with the Rajasthan CM Gehlot and Sachin Pilot lasted for four long hours in the national capital on Monday. Talking to the media after the discussion, KC Venugopal said, "We have decided to fight elections unitedly. Definitely, we will win the elections in Rajasthan. Both Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot have unanimously agreed with the proposal." "We have decided that both leaders have agreed to go together. It will be a joint fight against BJP, we will win the state (Rajasthan)," he added. Earlier in the day, in view of the political tussle in Rajasthan, Congress High Command summoned Ashok Gehlot and his deputy Sachin Pilot for separate meetings with party president Mallikarjuna Kharge in the national capital. Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot have been engaged in a power tussle since 2020. The delegation led by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will meet President Droupdai Murmu on May 30, to discuss the situation in the state. Earlier on May 15, Former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader Sachin Pilot gave an ultimatum to his own party's government in Rajasthan to probe the alleged paper leak scam that happened during the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule in the State. He warned the Gehlot government that if his demands were not met by this month, he would agitate across the state. Pilot's 5-day Jan Sangharsh Yatra' to protest against the inaction of the Rajasthan government in the alleged corruption cases during the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in the State. Assembly polls are scheduled to be held in Rajasthan later this year and the Congress party is seeking another term ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha polls in 2024. A 21-year-old Indian-origin student was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Philadelphia, a media report said. Jude Chacko, hailing from Kerala's Kollam district, was gunned down while he was returning from work on Sunday (local time), Khaleej Times reported. Also Read: B'luru: Seven-member gang held for killing driver over card game dispute His parents migrated to the US more than 30 years ago. Chacko, a student who also worked part-time, was attacked by two men during a robbery attempt, the report said citing police officials. His funeral is likely to be held at a Malankara Catholic Church in Philadelphia on Saturday. In April this year, Saiesh Veera, a 24-year-old student from Andhra Pradesh, was shot dead by unknown men at a fuel station in Ohio. A joint investigation team probing the violent attack on the historic Corps Commander House or the Jinnah House here on May 9 has summoned former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday. Khan, the chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has been asked to appear before the JIT at 4 pm at the Qilla Gujjar police headquarters in Lahore. He has been called for questioning in a case registered with the Sarwar Road police station against the attack. Jinnah House (Corps Commander House) was torched by arsonists following the anti-government protests against the arrest of former prime minister Khan on May 9. A large number of PTI party workers May 9 stormed the Jinnah House and set it on fire after vandalising it. Also Read: Talks possible if Imran Khan apologised to nation for May 9 carnage: Pak minister Dar A joint investigation team (JIT) formed by the Punjab interim government to probe arson attacks on Jinnah House and the Askari Corporate Tower in Lahore on May 9 summoned Khan on Tuesday, sources were quoted as saying by the Geo News. Khan's arrest sparked days of street protests after which the PTI leaders' exodus started, as security forces launched a crackdown against the party following the attacks on civil and military institutions. At least eight people were killed in the violent protests in the country. The violent protesters torched a static plane in the Mianwali district of Punjab, the hometown of Khan and attacked the ISI building in Faisalabad. The mob stormed the Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi for the first time. According to police over a dozen military installations were vandalised or torched during the two-day violent protests. The JIT headed by Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Kamran Adil has asked the former prime minister who was removed from office via a vote of no-confidence in April last year to appear before the probe body at 4 pm. The JIT will grill Khan in connection with the May 9 riots. The Punjab Home Department has constituted 10 different JITs to probe into the attacks and violent protests on May 9, which the army dubbed "Black Day". The deposed prime minister was nominated in several FIRs lodged at different police stations in the province, the report added. After receiving the notice from the JIT, Khan has consulted with his legal team but it could not be decided yet whether the PTI chairman will appear before the probe body or not, the report added. Fugitive Malaysian financier Jho Low, wanted for his key role in the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal, is believed to be hiding in Macau, Malaysia's anti-graft agency told Reuters, confirming an earlier report by Al Jazeera. Pakistan's government has enacted a new law to provide the right of appeal against conviction by the Supreme Court under its original jurisdiction, possibly creating an opportunity for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to challenge his disqualification, it emerged on Monday. Sharif was disqualified in 2017 by a five-member bench of the apex court but he couldn't file an appeal as there was no law to challenge the judgment of the top judiciary. President Arif Alvi on Friday signed the Supreme Court (Review of Judgements and Orders) Bill, 2023 that provides the right of appeal under Article 184 of the Constitution, which was not available in the past. The law applies to past verdicts as well. According to the statement of objects and reasons of the bill, it is necessary to ensure the fundamental right to justice by providing for meaningful review of judgments and orders passed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the exercise of its original jurisdiction under Article 184. Also Read | Talks possible if Imran Khan apologised to nation for May 9 carnage: Pak minister Dar It also states that in case of the apex court judgment under Article 184 of the Constitution, the scope of review shall be the same as an appeal under Article 185. "In case of judgments and orders of the Supreme Court in exercise of its original jurisdiction under Article 184 of the Constitution, the scope of review on both facts and law shall be the same as an appeal under Article 185 of the Constitution," the law reads. The law also states that for reviewing a suo motu judgement, a bigger bench than the one that issued the order will hear the case. The Supreme Court Bar Association's former president Amanullah Kanrani welcomed the new law and said it was demanded by the legal community. "Nawaz Sharif can challenge his disqualification within 60 days of enactment as provided in the law, he said. However, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said that Sharif cannot get benefits as he had filed a review against his conviction. He had filed a review which was rejected, Tarar said. Gohar Khan, a lawyer representing Imran Khan, said that the new law would be challenged. It is an effort to interfere in the affairs of the judiciary and it will be challenged, he said. It is believed that the law has been enacted with Sharif in mind and the law minister has tried to divert attention so that it is not challenged. It is said that Sharif had filed a review against the conviction but it was not akin to the right of appeal given in the new law. The Directors are pleased to present an improved result for the 12 months ended 31 March 2023 after a severe slowdown impacted by the spread of COVID-19. Unaudited Financial Results Summary The financial statements of AFC Group Holdings Limited (AFC Group) are still in the process of being audited for the year ended 31 March 2023, and the company is not aware of any likely qualification. AFC Group achieved revenue growth during the FY2023 period, which was 159% higher than the prior financial year ended 31 March 2022. This is due to the fact that the company has been actively increasing its sales channels in both domestic and overseas markets. The re-opening of borders has contributed to an increase in customers and revenue generated. The Group reports an unaudited net loss of $0.18 million for the year. This compares with a net loss of $0.74 million for the previous year. The majority of expenses were identified as employee salaries, sales incentives, and depreciation expenses. The Companys dividend policy is not to pay dividends, and the company is accordingly not proposing to pay any dividends for the period ended 31 March 2023. In FY2023, a positive net cash inflow of 0.06 million from operating activities has been recorded for the first time since being hit hard by COVID-19. For the year ended 31 March 2023, the net assets were NZ$0.37 million, and fixed assets were NZ$1.48 million. The annual sales revenue for the year ended 31 March 2023 was NZ$1.08 million. The market capitalisation value was NZ$3.66 million. Please refer to the attached Unaudited Annual Results Announcement for detailed results. Outlook The FY2023 result was in line with the boards expectations. AFC Group is aware of how uncertain the future is. However, the Group has developed a list of actions to get through the current difficult situation, enable future revenue growth and return value to our shareholders: AFC Longview Limited (AFCLV and Longview Estate) 1. AFCLV continues to explore its sales channels and marketing campaign. The company changes its pricing strategy for the White Diamond wine to target high-end customers and increase sales. 2. Longview Estate actively participated in wine exhibitions, such as Winetopia and NZ Wine Roadshows, to promote wine and increase sales. 3. AFCLV is committed to developing export markets by launching marketing campaigns, such as free wine knowledge courses, White Diamond wine tastings for the business elite, bundling of White Diamond wines with high-end travel, and establishing White Diamond partnerships. 4. Longview Estate has taken actions to cut costs, such as better work schedules, organisation and people management. 5. AFCLV has around $0.45 million in domestic sales contracts to be fulfilled in FY2024. AFC Biotechnology Manufacture Co Ltd (AFCBIO) 1. AFCBIO will cooperate with distributors to launch marketing campaigns in the domestic market. AFCBIO has signed a significant distribution contract with a new distributor. The sales are expected to increase in FY2024. 2. AFCBIO will focus on the promotion and sales of its key products (DD Masks). The re-opening of borders will continue to bring in more customers to AFCBIO, thus generating more sales. 3. AFCBIO will continue its cost management actions to control costs. AFC Group Holdings Limited (AFC) 1. All directors will voluntarily receive no director fees in FY2024 to support the business development. 2. AFC has cut down its rent costs by renting a lower-cost office and will remain that way. 3. AFC will attend the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) to promote the group and its products. 4. AFC continues to help and provide more opportunities for New Zealand small and medium enterprises to enter the Chinese market. AFC Group has actively participated in China (Anhui) 5G International Food City and the "EFOODLINE" global e-commerce platform. On behalf of the Directors of AFC, the Company extends its thanks to the shareholders for their support of the Company. Annual Report and Annual Meeting AFC expect to release our Annual Report before the end of June, and we are planning to hold our Annual Meeting in early September 2023. Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Fonterra confirms Milk Price Panel changes Ryman Director Nominations PEB - Clarification of Novitas Timeline Synlait intends to divest Dairyworks & Talbot Forest Cheese June 2nd Morning Report Alan Isaac appointed to NZ Markets Disciplinary Tribunal June 1st Morning Report Kiwi Property Notice of Meeting Scott continues momentum off the back of strong H1 results Chorus submits 2022 fibre regulatory report Congress on Tuesday knocked on the doors of the Rashtrapati Bhavan seeking President Droupadi Murmu's intervention in bringing normalcy in violence-hit Manipur and demanded a "high-level Inquiry Commission" headed by a serving or retired Supreme Court judge to investigate the chain of incidents that started on May 3. A delegation led by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge met Murmu and handed over a four-page memorandum with a 12-point charter of demands, while insisting that there has been "serious deficit" in the BJP-led government's efforts to tackle the arson and violence though they did not want to resort to blame game. "Though there were several lapses in the management of the situation at the early stages of violence, leading to the present imbroglio. Now it is not the time to point fingers, but to act...The Congress party is a responsible political party and is ever ready to lend support to any initiative to restore peace, normalcy and harmony in the state of Manipur," the memorandum said. Also Read: Shah meets women leaders, prominent people, civil society groups in Manipur The memorandum demanded "firm and sustained efforts" to control violence, adequate compensation for those who were killed in violence, immediate steps to control all militant groups, rehabilitation of all displaced people, special effort to trace missing people and taking over of relief camps by state administration among others. "...If these suggestions above are implemented in earnest, peace can perhaps be restored once again," it said. It claimed people have demonstrated a "severe trust deficit" both in the administration and law enforcement agencies, which needs immediate redressal and without fixing this, it would be "extremely difficult" to restore normalcy in Manipur. Those who were part of the delegation were former Chief Minister Ibobi Singh, Congress leader Mukul Wasnik, former Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam and Manipur Congress president Keisham Meghachandra Singh and Congress state in-charge Bhakta Charan Das. Addressing a press conference after the delegation met the President, Congress General Secretary (Communication) Jairam Ramesh alleged that the present situation in Manipur was due to the "divisive politics" of the BJP. He also alleged that the same militant groups, whose tacit support the BJP had taken in the Assembly election, are fanning violence in the state. "It is the intelligence failure, the administrative failure and the political failure in Manipur," he said adding that the current crisis is because of the intent and policies" as well as the lack of political will on the part of the state and central governments. "This is the second time in the last 22 years. Manipur burned in the June of 2001 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji was the prime minister, Manipur is burning in 2023 when Narendra Modi is the prime minister. There is something in the politics and ideology of the BJP, there is something in the way the BJP manages the diversity of Manipur and other states that is not conducive to social harmony in the long run," he said. Ibobi Singh claimed Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have remained silent so far and their intentions were not resolving the crisis and bringing immediate peace. "Why is the prime minister silent? Why is Amit Shah silent? They have remained a silent spectator," he said. (ENDS) India is a "major partner" in the UN's strategy for the digital transformation of peacekeeping, the United Nations peacekeeping chief has said, as he lauded the country's commitment and engagement through key initiatives such as ensuring accountability for crimes against the Blue Helmets. India is currently the third largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping, with over 6,000 military and police personnel deployed to Abyei, the Central African Republic, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, the Middle East and Western Sahara. "India is a major player in the world, in the UN, in multilateralism, and it's a major player in peacekeeping as well, including but not only through the importance of its contribution in terms of troops and police. We're also supported in many other ways, including in terms of the initiatives that we take to improve peacekeeping," Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix told PTI in an exclusive interview. Also Read | UN agencies warn of starvation risk in Sudan, Haiti, Burkina Faso and Mali, call for urgent aid The UN peacekeeping chief highlighted the "important role" played by peacekeepers from India, one of the significant troop and police-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping. Lacroix said that India's "engagement and commitment" in support of peace operations is critical, both politically through its contribution and in support of the department's initiatives. He further underlined the "role of India in supporting our initiative to make sure that peace operations will be up to speed in terms of digital technologies because this is absolutely critical. We have a strategy for the digital transformation of peacekeeping. And India is a major partner in that regard," he said. The UN marked 75 years of peacekeeping and commemorated the International Day of UN Peacekeepers on May 29 with this year's theme of "Peace begins with me'. Three Indian peacekeepers, who lost their lives serving under the UN flag last year, were among the 103 military, police, and civilian peacekeepers honoured posthumously with the prestigious Dag Hammarskjold Medal at a solemn ceremony last week. Border Security Force personnel Head Constables Shishupal Singh and Sanwala Ram Vishnoi, who served with the Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and Shaber Taher Ali, who served in a civilian capacity with the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) were awarded the medal posthumously at UN headquarters on May 25. Under its Presidency of the Security Council in August 2021, India, in collaboration with the UN, announced the rollout of the UNITE AWARE platform, a "situational awareness software programme that allows a Peacekeeping Operations Centre to visualise and analyse the ground situation in a conflict zone on a real-time basis." Earlier this year, India deployed a platoon of women peacekeepers to the UN Mission in Abyei, the country's largest single unit of female Blue Helmets in a UN mission since 2007, heralding New Delhi's intent of increasing significantly the number of women in peacekeeping contingents. The platoon is deployed in Abyei as part of the Indian Battalion in the United Nations Interim Security Force, Abyei (UNISFA). Lacroix said among the initiatives undertaken to improve peacekeeping, improving the role and increasing the number of women in peacekeeping is vital. He said that he recently visited the base of "our Indian contingent in Abyei", a camp "designed to be welcoming" to both female and male peacekeepers. "Having more women in peacekeeping essentially means more effective peacekeeping. We want to be an active player in carrying forward the agenda of the UN, in terms of women empowermentin addition, we want to be more representative of the community we serve," Lacroix said. Also Read | Breached Sudan truce extended five days: US, Saudi mediators Lacroix appealed to India and other troop and police-contributing countries to provide not just more women in units that are deployed but also more female candidates for senior positions in the military, police and civilian areas. In December last year, when India was UNSC President, before the end of its tenure as a non-permanent member, it launched the 'Group of Friends' to promote accountability for crimes against peacekeepers, which Lacroix described as "critically important". Noting the progress over the last couple of years in ensuring perpetrators of crimes against peacekeepers are brought to justice, he said 72 individuals had been convicted since 2019. While this is a positive step, Lacroix said there is a need for much more accountability. "The role of our member states to that effect is critical. More accountability for those crimes will mean more security for our peacekeepers. There's a very close linkThis is really one of the top priorities moving forward." He voiced concern over attacks against peacekeepers, particularly by armed groups operating in many regions where peacekeepers are deployed. "Therefore, this initiative by India on accountability for crimes against peacekeepers is highly important because we absolutely need to make progress in terms of accountability," the peacekeeping head said. Lacroix noted that the environment where peacekeepers perform their duties is becoming increasingly dangerous. "The environment in which our peacekeepers operate has become much more dangerous. We're faced with new forms of threats, and one of them is fake news and disinformation," he said, underlining the need to address these threats with more capacity, training and resources. "We are operating sometimes in places where you could argue that there is no peace to keep, but then the question that always needs to be asked is what is the alternative, and what is a fair assessment of what peacekeeping is bringing to these population, to these areas affected by conflict," he said. Lacroix said that the critical challenge UN peacekeeping faces "is political because peacekeeping missions have a political objective, irrespective of their mandate, and they are much more likely to succeed when the peace processes that they support is actively supported by our member states and in a way that is united." He asserted that it was unfortunate that UN member states "are not united anymore. We have a divided international community and a divided Security Council. That has a major impact on the ability of our peacekeeping missions to reach their ultimate goal, which is to actively and successfully support the peace process and then leave." Lauding the critical role of peacekeepers, he said, "We have many situations in which ceasefires are being protected, and it means that through our peacekeepers, we're preventing the resumption of hostilities in many places where we are deployed. Every single day, our peacekeepers are protecting hundreds of thousands of civilians." Over two million peacekeepers from 125 countries have served in 71 worldwide operations in the last 75 years. Today, 87,000 women and men serve in 12 conflict zones across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The Congress on Tuesday accused the Narendra Modi government of being "anti-daughter" for protecting those accused of sexual exploitation and not standing with the "daughters" who brought pride to the country. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of giving long lectures on respect for women from the Red Fort and yet protecting those accused of harassing women. Kharge's remarks came on the heels of weeks-long protest by wrestlers, who on Tuesday descended in Haridwar with a plan to immerse their medals in the Ganga. Also Read | Wrestlers halt plan to immerse medals in Ganga, give five days time to government He also asked why there was stubbornness on the part of the government in giving justice to the wrestlers, who have been agitating against WFI president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment charges against him. "The daughters of India are saying that 'police and system' are no longer sacred. Every one has seen in the last few days what has happened to the daughters who have brought laurels to the country. "Modi ji gives long lectures on respect for women from the Red Fort, but the one who is accused of sexual exploitation has full protection," he said in a tweet in Hindi. , , 1/2 Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) May 30, 2023 "After all, what is the stubbornness, why can't daughters get justice? Why only daughters are made to stand in the dock? Why were they turned helpless to flow their medals in Ma Ganga," Kharge asked. "Save the criminal, not 'save the daughter'. Hurt the pride of the country," the Congress chief said in another tweet. Also Read | UWW condemns detention of wrestlers, threatens to ban WFI if polls not held in time Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said Sakshi Malik is the only woman to have won a medal in wrestling in the Olympics. On August 18, 2016, Sakshi raised the honour of the entire country and the tricolour, she said. But today she has turned so helpless that she is sitting on the banks of the Ganga to immerse her medals, she said. "If this does not indicate that the government's soul is dead and the prime minister has become a dictator...then what else is this?" Shrinate asked. "We accuse the Narendra Modi government of protecting those accused of sexual exploitation and not standing with the daughters who brought pride to the country. "Why does Prime Minister Narendra Modi continue to provide protection to those perpetrating crimes against women," she said in an interaction with reporters. She alleged "the king" has remained silent on the appeals made to him by female wrestlers all along their protest. "We urge the daughters not to take any such step which diminishes the honour they have earned for themselves and the country. We would urge them not to throw their medals in the river," she said. The Congress leader said history is witness that those who do not respect the honour and dignity of women are made to suffer. "We say this government is 'anti-daughter.' Why could Modi ji not break his silence and assure them of justice? And all this is being done to save just an MP who is accused of rape under the POCSO Act. Is this the respect for 'nari-shakti,'" she said and wondered whether there will now be a positive response from the government within the five-day ultimatum given to it by the wrestlers. She said the government which once hailed these women for their sportsmanship is now calling into question their nationalist credentials. She also said no notice has been sent by the National Commission for Women to the accused even after such grave charges. Wrestlers have been protesting for weeks against Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh with allegations that he sexually harassed several female players, including an underage one. Wrestlers, many of whom Olympic medal winners, were on Sunday forcibly removed by police from their protest site on Jantar Mantar where they had been camping since April 23. The protesters reached Haridwar on Tuesday to flow their medals in the river but were stopped from doing by BKU's Naresh Tikait and other khap panchayat leaders. The grapplers have been demanding the immediate removal and arrest of Singh, against whom Delhi Police has registered two FIRs for alleged sexual exploitation, including one under the POCSO Act. Delhi's Rohini court on Tuesday sent Sahil, who brutally killed his girlfriend in the Shahbad Dairy area, to two-day police remand. The deceased girl, a resident of JJ Colony in Shahbad Dairy, was stabbed to death on Sunday evening. The police arrested the 20-year-old accused from Bulandshahr (Uttar Pradesh) on Monday. Also Read Shahbad Dairy Murder: Initial probe reveals break-up drove Sahil to kill girl The accused, Sahil, who is also a resident of JJ Colony in the area, reportedly stabbed the girl more than 20 times and also hit her with a boulder. He worked as a Fridge-AC repairing mechanic, said a senior police official. A video of the incident is taking rounds on social media. In the video, Sahil, who is wearing a blue T-shirt, can be seen stabbing the girl. Around seven to eight bystanders are present, standing and observing as he stabs her. The police official said that the victim was in a relationship with Sahil but they had an argument on Sunday. "The deceased was on her way to attend the birthday of her friend's son when Sahil intercepted her and brutally killed her. A case under section 302 (murder) of the IPC has been registered on the complaint of the victim's father," the official added. As per initial autopsy report, the girl was stabbed 16 times and her skull ruptured after she was attacked by a blunt object, however, a detailed report is awaited. Former Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia is planning to move the Supreme Court against Delhi High Court's decision rejecting his bail plea in the excise policy case. The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea for bail moved by the AAP leader saying the charges against him are serious in nature. A single bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma pronounced the order on the application filed by Sisodia. The court said the charges against the applicant were serious in nature and the possibility of witnesses being influenced can't be ruled out due to his stature. The court had reserved the order in the case on May 11. Sisodia, 51, was arrested by the CBI on February 26, this year. The CBI had lodged the case on August 17, 2022 under Section 120B of the IPC and Section 7 of the PC Act, 1988. A total of 15 persons were specifically named in the FIR, including Sisodia, who was the Deputy Chief Minister as well as Excise Minister of the Government of NCT of Delhi (GNCTD), for various irregularities in framing and implementation of the now scrapped excise policy for the year 2021-22. A kiln from the Kushan period, a 4th century terracotta plaque on an amulet of Gaja Laxmi, and dozens of coins have been unearthed at the Purana Qila excavation. Union minister G Kishen Reddy visited the site on Tuesday, even as officials of the culture ministry said that the findings show evidence of continuous civilisation in Delhi dating to 2500 years, predating the Mughals and the Sultanate. The ongoing excavation was mounted in January this year, and the Archaeological Survey of India, in a release, said that the aim was to establish a complete chronology of the site. Excavations have been done till a depth of 5.50 metres, and notable findings include a stone image of Vaikuntha Vishnu from the Rajput period, a terracotta plaque of Gaja Laxmi dating to the Gupta period, a stone image of Ganesha from the Mughal era. Also Read: Union Culture Minister Reddy visits Purana Quila excavation site Apart from that, seals and sealings have been found which indicate the movement of goods along a trade route, beds in various raw materials which have been found in both finished and unfinished forms, iron slides, a bone needle, coins, terracotta figurines of humans and animals. ASIs Vasant Kumar Swarnkar who has been carrying out the excavation said that currently, structures from the early Kushana level have been exposed. He had earlier carried out excavations in 2013-14 as well as 2017-18. When we speak of Delhi, we are talking of the medieval period, spanning the Sultanate and Mughal eras, as well as the Colonial period. However, the ancient city of Indraprastha has continuously had human civilisation in the last 2500 years, spanning nine cultural levels over different historical periods, Swarnkar said. These include the Pre-Mauryan, Mauryan, Sunga, Kushana, Gupta, Post-Gupta, Rajput, Sultanate, and Mughal periods, he added. Purana Qila was first excavated by Prof. BB Lal in 1955 and then in 1969-70. Our findings show that the habitation area had the Yamuna on one side and a highway on the other. The highway, which was a trade route dating to the Mauryan period, is now across what we know as the Mathura Road leading up to the National Zoological Park. Ashoka period rock edicts found in East of Kailash earlier show that the trade route existed, Swarnkar added. The Centre has given clearance for a foreign trip of a Kerala delegation led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to the US and Cuba from June 8 to 18. The Centre recently denied clearance to the chief minister to attend an investor meet in UAE. Moreover, BJP leaders have been citing foreign trips of Kerala CM and ministers as one reason for the financial crisis of Kerala. Also Read | Manner of inaugurating new Parliament building unbecoming of our nation: Kerala CM The CM-led delegation would be attending the Loka Kerala Sabha meeting of Malayali NRIs in the US. A meeting with officials of the World Bank is also planned. Finance Minister K N Balagopal, Health Minister Veena George, speaker A N Shamseer and senior officials will be part of the delegation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday greeted people on the statehood day of Goa, describing the state as an exquisite blend of serenity and vibrancy which continues to inspire with its unique culture and enduring spirit. A former Portuguese colony, Goa became a part of India in 1961 and was made a Union Territory, which also included Daman and Diu. It became a full-fledged state on this day in 1987. It is India's smallest state by area and is a favourite tourist destination. Modi tweeted, "Best wishes on Goa Statehood Day! Goa, an exquisite blend of serenity and vibrancy, continues to inspire with its unique culture and enduring spirit. I pray for the well-being and prosperity of Goans and hope they continue to strengthen India's development trajectory." Stem, Inc. (NYSE:STEM Get Rating) has earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the fifteen analysts that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have issued a hold recommendation and eight have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $12.42. STEM has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. TD Cowen decreased their price objective on Stem from $11.00 to $8.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on Stem from $15.00 to $12.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. Guggenheim decreased their price objective on Stem from $14.00 to $11.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. Evercore ISI began coverage on Stem in a research report on Tuesday, May 23rd. They set an outperform rating and a $11.00 target price on the stock. Finally, UBS Group reduced their target price on Stem from $9.50 to $8.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 9th. Get Stem alerts: Stem Stock Up 4.2 % STEM opened at $4.93 on Tuesday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $4.84 and its 200-day simple moving average is $8.10. Stem has a one year low of $3.71 and a one year high of $18.02. The stock has a market capitalization of $766.76 million, a P/E ratio of -5.19 and a beta of 2.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 1.70 and a current ratio of 1.85. Stem ( NYSE:STEM Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported ($0.29) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.24) by ($0.05). The firm had revenue of $67.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $63.34 million. Stem had a negative net margin of 37.59% and a negative return on equity of 26.02%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 63.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted ($0.21) EPS. Analysts anticipate that Stem will post -0.64 EPS for the current year. Stem announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, May 3rd that allows the company to buyback $500.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to reacquire up to 81.1% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are often an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued. Insider Buying and Selling at Stem In other Stem news, CEO John Eugene Carrington sold 13,216 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.33, for a total transaction of $83,657.28. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 111,422 shares in the company, valued at approximately $705,301.26. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, insider Kim Homenock sold 27,063 shares of Stem stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.72, for a total value of $181,863.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 69,731 shares in the company, valued at approximately $468,592.32. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO John Eugene Carrington sold 13,216 shares of Stem stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.33, for a total value of $83,657.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 111,422 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $705,301.26. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 48,132 shares of company stock worth $297,875 in the last 90 days. 9.12% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Trading of Stem Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Stem by 2.6% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,631,078 shares of the companys stock worth $181,838,000 after purchasing an additional 350,707 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in Stem by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 9,306,475 shares of the companys stock valued at $52,768,000 after acquiring an additional 104,185 shares in the last quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group raised its stake in Stem by 98.6% during the 4th quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 6,111,511 shares of the companys stock valued at $54,637,000 after acquiring an additional 3,033,830 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its stake in Stem by 87.4% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 4,295,030 shares of the companys stock valued at $24,353,000 after acquiring an additional 2,002,840 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp raised its stake in Stem by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,095,630 shares of the companys stock valued at $17,552,000 after acquiring an additional 36,580 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 52.10% of the companys stock. About Stem (Get Rating) Stem, Inc operates as a digitally connected and intelligent energy storage network provider in the United States and internationally. It offers energy storage systems sourced from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The company also provides Athena, an artificial intelligence platform, which offers battery hardware and software-enabled services to operate the energy storage systems. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Stem Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stem and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. B&G Foods, Inc. (NYSE:BGS Get Rating) has received an average recommendation of Hold from the nine brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and five have issued a hold rating on the company. The average 12-month target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $15.75. Several equities research analysts have commented on the company. StockNews.com began coverage on B&G Foods in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of B&G Foods from $15.00 to $16.00 in a research report on Monday, May 8th. Finally, TheStreet raised shares of B&G Foods from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a report on Friday, March 24th. Get B&G Foods alerts: B&G Foods Stock Up 0.5 % NYSE:BGS opened at $13.01 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.65, a current ratio of 4.06 and a quick ratio of 1.02. The firms 50-day moving average price is $14.89 and its 200-day moving average price is $13.82. The company has a market capitalization of $939.45 million, a PE ratio of -29.57 and a beta of 0.45. B&G Foods has a 1-year low of $10.91 and a 1-year high of $26.13. B&G Foods Dividend Announcement B&G Foods ( NYSE:BGS Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported $0.27 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.26 by $0.01. B&G Foods had a negative net margin of 1.48% and a positive return on equity of 8.59%. The business had revenue of $511.81 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $528.18 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.34 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that B&G Foods will post 1.01 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be paid a dividend of $0.19 per share. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.84%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th. B&G Foodss dividend payout ratio is currently -172.73%. Insider Transactions at B&G Foods In related news, CFO Bruce C. Wacha sold 12,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $14.81, for a total transaction of $185,125.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 46,491 shares in the company, valued at $688,531.71. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 2.80% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in shares of B&G Foods by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 11,268,543 shares of the companys stock valued at $185,818,000 after acquiring an additional 145,921 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in B&G Foods by 5.6% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 8,543,629 shares of the companys stock valued at $140,884,000 after purchasing an additional 453,830 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its position in B&G Foods by 2.3% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,829,591 shares of the companys stock worth $64,883,000 after buying an additional 85,627 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of B&G Foods by 3.2% in the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,368,223 shares of the companys stock worth $21,249,000 after buying an additional 42,781 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its position in shares of B&G Foods by 8.2% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,337,741 shares of the companys stock valued at $22,059,000 after buying an additional 101,926 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 63.71% of the companys stock. B&G Foods Company Profile (Get Rating) B&G Foods, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the manufacture, sale, and distribution of shelf-stable frozen food, and household products in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Its products include frozen and canned vegetables, hot cereals, fruit spreads, canned meats and beans, bagel chips, spices, seasonings, hot sauces, and wine vinegar. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for B&G Foods Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for B&G Foods and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. by M.K. Bhadrakumar Among the host of implications for international security stemming out of Turkish President Recep Erdogans election victory in the runoff on Sunday be it in the Black Sea, Eastern Mediterranean, Transcaucasus, West Asia or Eurasian integration what stands out is his mediatory role in the Ukraine conflict. The international community puts China as the frontrunner in the race for peacemaking in Ukraine but dont be surprised if Erdogan overtakes Xi Jinping to the finishing line. The Japanese government in its congratulatory message to Erdogan expressed the hope for cooperation to bring closer a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict and ensure security in the region. Jubilant crowds outside the Presidential Complex to celebrate President Recep Erdogans election victory, Ankara, May 28, 2023 Moscow walked the fine line during the Turkish election campaign, which is a tacit recognition of the fact that Erdogan is a strong ruler. Russia will need to be watchful since Erdogan can also be fiercely independent and stubborn. Equally, it is wrong to assume that Turkiyes transatlantic bridge has broken down. Erdogan is at the peak of his power and Washington is acutely conscious of it. Thus, in the Turkish-US-Russian triangle, Erdogan has the upper hand currently. Significantly, a high-ranking Russian diplomat in the Russian Foreign Ministry reiterated on the eve of the Turkish election that Ankaras continued weapons supplies to Ukraine dented its credentials to be a mediator between Moscow and Kiev. As the diplomat put it, Ankara has repeatedly declared its intent to secure a speedy ceasefire in Ukraine and revive the negotiating process through its mediation. Arms and military equipment supplies to the Kiev regime directly contradict such intentions and are at odds with the role of a mediator. Indeed, a Turkish company, Baykar Makina, which is owned by a relative of Erdogan, has supplied the Ukrainian forces with its Bayraktar TB2 strike and reconnaissance drones in the early phases of the conflict. There was even talk that the Turkish company was setting up a factory to produce the advanced drone in Ukraine and that the detailed design phase for the plant has been completed. Turkiye and Ukraine last year also signed a deal to establish a second manufacturing plant in Ukraine after the two countries deepened their cooperation in the defence industry for the co-production of crucial engines for aerial vehicles and tech transfer. Baykars Bayraktar TB2 drones have a proven track record of success in conflicts in Libya, Syria, and Nagorno-Karabakh. Ukraine features prominently in Baykars supply chain, especially with the new heavy-lifter drone, Akinci, and the unmanned fighter jet, Kizilelma, or Golden Apple. Both use Ukrainian engines from Motor Sich MSICH.UAX and from Ivchenko-Progress. Baykar expected to net around $1bn in export revenues last year, about 50 percent higher than in 2021 ($650m), and a further 50 percent growth is expected in 2023. Again, since August last year, Ankara has also been provided Kiev with Kipri mine-resistant armoured vehicles to the Ukraine military. Yet, Moscow is far from in any threatening mood. Instead, the Russian approach is to put rings of engagement around Erdogan and make him a captive of the optics of a great friendship between the two presidents. In his congratulatory message to Erdogan, Putin called him dear friend. Turkiye hosted peace talks in Istanbul between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in March last year, a month after Moscows special military operation began. It resulted in a deal. But Washington and London got so flustered that a massive information war was triggered by MI6 on an alleged massacre of civilians in Bucha near Kiev by the Russian troops. The then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson rushed to meet Zelensky with an offer that Ukraine had a far better option to take western military help and defeat Russia. Of course, all that is history now. But there is no question that if Zelensky changes his mind, Erdogan will step in. By the way, Turkey rejects Russias annexation of Crimea. The collapse of the Istanbul deal didnt discourage Ankara from mediating a grain deal between Moscow and Kiev together with the UN last summer, which is still working. Turkiye has repeatedly called for peace talks to be revived, offering its services as mediator. As recently as in late March, Erdogan said peace in Ukraine could be achieved through serious, determined mediation. Meanwhile, Erdogans special relationship with Putin helped secure the latest extension of the grain deal. Erdogan advocates a balanced approach toward Russia, and he frequently interacts with Putin. Turkiye is the only NATO member country that refuses to impose sanctions against Russia. That said, Erdogan also keeps the line open to President Biden. On his part, Biden conveyed his greetings to Erdogan within hours of the election results on Sunday. Biden called for cooperation to meet global challenges. Washington played safe on Turkish election saying it would deal with whoever won. Clearly, Washington realises that Erdogan will be heading a strong presidency and will not be a pushover, and the US cannot afford to alienate Turkiye, as the Ukraine crisis is reaching a criticality. Turkish-American relationship has never been easy but both sides are used to keeping it in equilibrium. Without Turkey, NATO loses traction in Eastern Mediterranean, while Turkey needs the West to balance its strategic autonomy. Washingtons priority at the moment will be to dissuade Turkey from helping Russia to circumvent the sanctions. The big question is whether Zelensky will be willing to return to the peace talks. Compared to the situation last year at the Istanbul talks, Zelensky holds a weak hand. Russia has gained the upper hand in the battlefield. Russias new territories Lugansk, Donetsk, Zaporozhye and Kherson oblasts are new facts on the ground. Therefore, peace talks has become a paradigm of complex probability that is inherently multi-dimensional and, one may say, a shift in that direction on Zelenskys part will depend on his observing, understanding, and interacting with the radical change in the ground situation as well as in the power play within his own camp. The factionalism in the power structure in Kiev has lately aggravated. The unexplained disappearance from public view of the commander-in-chief General Valery Zaluzhny for the past few weeks since April 13; the ascendance of the intelligence chief Kyrylo Budano (who enjoys American backing); the hollowing out of the Ukrainian military which suffered a series of reverses lately; the procrastination in launching the counter-offensive all this suggests that serious disaffection is building up within the military against Zelenskys leadership. Consequently, the prospects of peace talks have receded. But that will not stop Erdogan and Putin from deepening the Turkish-Russian cooperation, which is rich in content and wide-ranging. Different perceptions or viewpoints have not discouraged the two leaders who are fundamentally committed to the win-win relationship. Therefore, if and when the climate for peace talks on Ukraine improves, Erdogan is certain to be the early bird to position himself for a mediatory role. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Infosys Limited (NYSE:INFY Get Rating) by 124.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,413,186 shares of the technology companys stock after purchasing an additional 783,125 shares during the quarter. Franklin Resources Inc.s holdings in Infosys were worth $25,451,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of INFY. Schubert & Co increased its holdings in Infosys by 73.8% in the 4th quarter. Schubert & Co now owns 1,557 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 661 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Infosys by 75.6% in the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,902 shares of the technology companys stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 819 shares during the last quarter. Destiny Wealth Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Infosys by 42.9% in the 4th quarter. Destiny Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,922 shares of the technology companys stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 577 shares during the last quarter. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Infosys in the 3rd quarter worth about $38,000. Finally, Glassman Wealth Services grew its holdings in shares of Infosys by 26.0% in the 4th quarter. Glassman Wealth Services now owns 2,800 shares of the technology companys stock worth $50,000 after purchasing an additional 578 shares during the last quarter. 12.68% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Infosys alerts: Infosys Trading Up 1.3 % Infosys stock opened at $15.87 on Tuesday. Infosys Limited has a 1 year low of $14.71 and a 1 year high of $20.60. The company has a market cap of $65.64 billion, a PE ratio of 22.35, a PEG ratio of 2.08 and a beta of 0.99. The companys 50-day moving average is $15.90 and its two-hundred day moving average is $17.68. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Infosys ( NYSE:INFY Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 13th. The technology company reported $0.18 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.19 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $4.55 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.73 billion. Infosys had a net margin of 16.37% and a return on equity of 31.78%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.18 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Infosys Limited will post 0.76 EPS for the current year. Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on INFY shares. Credit Suisse Group lowered shares of Infosys from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a report on Friday, April 14th. Nomura downgraded shares of Infosys from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. Wedbush reduced their price target on shares of Infosys from $25.00 to $22.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 13th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Infosys in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Macquarie downgraded shares of Infosys from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Sunday, April 16th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $18.57. Infosys Company Profile (Get Rating) Infosys Ltd. is a digital services and consulting company, which engages in the provision of end-to-end business solutions. It operates through the following segments: Financial Services, Retail, Communication, Energy, Utilities, Resources, and Services, Manufacturing, Hi-Tech, Life Sciences, and All Other. 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. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. lifted its position in InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (NYSE:IHG Get Rating) by 153.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 30,026 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 18,163 shares during the period. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd.s holdings in InterContinental Hotels Group were worth $1,752,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Signaturefd LLC increased its position in shares of InterContinental Hotels Group by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 6,703 shares of the companys stock valued at $326,000 after acquiring an additional 198 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its holdings in InterContinental Hotels Group by 22.0% in the first quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,211 shares of the companys stock valued at $83,000 after purchasing an additional 218 shares during the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. boosted its holdings in InterContinental Hotels Group by 46.2% in the third quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 899 shares of the companys stock valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 284 shares during the last quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. boosted its holdings in InterContinental Hotels Group by 5.2% in the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 6,250 shares of the companys stock valued at $413,000 after purchasing an additional 307 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quadrant Capital Group LLC boosted its holdings in InterContinental Hotels Group by 9.7% in the third quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 3,520 shares of the companys stock valued at $171,000 after purchasing an additional 312 shares during the last quarter. 4.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get InterContinental Hotels Group alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have recently issued reports on IHG. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Peel Hunt lowered shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, January 30th. StockNews.com raised shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, May 25th. Barclays lowered shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, March 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from GBX 6,200 ($76.62) to GBX 6,000 ($74.15) in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $5,466.67. InterContinental Hotels Group Trading Up 0.4 % InterContinental Hotels Group Increases Dividend IHG stock opened at $66.79 on Tuesday. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC has a 12 month low of $47.06 and a 12 month high of $72.10. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $67.82 and a two-hundred day moving average of $65.52. The company also recently declared a Semi-Annual dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 31st were issued a dividend of $0.945 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 30th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.9%. This is an increase from InterContinental Hotels Groups previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.44. InterContinental Hotels Group Company Profile (Get Rating) InterContinental Hotels Group Plc owns and operates hotels. The firms hotel brands include: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites, EVEN Hotels, IHG Rewards Club, Kimpton and HUALUXE Hotels and Resorts. It operates through the following segments: Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa, Americas, Greater China and Central. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for InterContinental Hotels Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for InterContinental Hotels Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A protest was held at Ballyronan Marina to raise awareness of sewage pollution in the North's waters. The demonstration at the marina, which sits on Lough Neagh, was one of many held across the UK organised by Surfers Against Sewage on May 20. The Lough was chosen because around 200,000 tonnes of raw sewage is discharged into its catchment area annually despite it being the source of drinking water for 750,000 people. Surfers Against Sewage representative for the North, Declan McMenamin, said the North faces serious obstacles in its fight for clean water. What we're trying to do here is raise awareness within Northern Ireland about the issues we have here and we have a lot of issues, he said. We don't have a functioning government at the minute and the issue is partly down to funding. NI water will say 'well it's up to the DFI to provide the infrastructure' and the DFI will say 'well we don't have the budget'. But this is a health issue. Since Covid more and more people have taken to inland water swimming, sea swimming. There's been a huge change in how people interact with the ocean but if it's not safe to take your kids there or it's not safe to swim there then we need to highlight that. It was recently reported that a nine-month-old dog named Harley reportedly died after drinking water from Lough Neagh. Two other dogs, Winnie and Milo, reportedly died last year after interacting with the lake. The Antrim and Newtownabbey Council carried out an investigation into the water following the deaths last year and concluded it was of excellent quality. A postmortem of one of the dogs found nothing microscopically observed to explain the unexpected death of the dog. It then removed precautionary advice against bathing in the lough. Surfers Against Sewage wants to see bathing spots protected from discharges and a 90% reduction in sewage discharges by 2030. The group helped highlight the massive profits made by water companies last year despite the regular polluting discharges. The chief executives of Yorkshire Water and Thames Water and the owner of South West Water even declined to accept bonuses this year following sustained pressure. The group is hoping to launch some new ways to keep people safe from polluted water in the near future. We've developed our own app called the 'Safer Seas and River Service App' that gives realtime sewage alerts. We have been working with Daera and AFBI to get it up and running for the bathing season this year. We're also trying to set up something so people can report to us if they feel sick after being in the water and then we can be reactive and test the water quality at that time because at the minute the testing period is only from 1 June to 15 September and more and more people are using the water all year round, Declan said. Across the North, seven million tonnes of raw sewage are discharged into its waters a year. NI water was found to be responsible for 591 polluting discharges between 2017 and 2021 but was fined just nine times.A representative of NI Water said it needed more investment to solve the issue. There has been significant underinvestment in NI Water for a prolonged period and this has affected the performance of the wastewater assets across the whole of Northern Ireland. NI Water has been investing significantly in sewer network and environmental modelling, as well as instrumentation technologies to establish the regulatory status of CSO discharges across Northern Ireland. The status is determined by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. Spills, when they do occur to the environment, happen when sewers are at or exceeding their design capacity due to heavy rainfall, i.e., storm conditions, when large volumes of stormwater run-off are entering the combined sewer system. Overflows then operate in wet weather and there are spills into waterways, which prevent the flooding of homes, businesses, and schools, which would present public health hazards. These highly diluted flows spill into the environment where they are even further diluted in receiving watercourses. They said the issue could take nearly two decades to fix. Within the Price Control period (2012/22 2026/27), NI Water has prioritised [around] 300 million to address unsatisfactory intermittent discharges from its sewer network which includes the Lough Neagh drainage catchment. This investment was agreed with the Independent Utility Regulator and key stakeholders which includes the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. NI Water will invest 2.2 billion during the PC21 period (2021/22 to 2026/27), with over 1bn being invested in wastewater assets. However, the full scale of the wastewater capacity issues across Northern Ireland will realistically take at least 12 - 18 years, or two to three Price Control periods, to address. It is therefore critical that the PC21 business plan is fully funded, and all future investments will depend on the provision of funding to NI Water by the NI Executive. A campaign calling for the restoration of rail to Limavady is holding a launch event in the Roe Valley Arts Centre on Thursday 8th June. Into The West campaigns for the improvement and expansion of rail across counties Derry, Tyrone, Fermanagh and Donegal. The organisation was founded in 2004 when they successfully defeated a proposal to shut the railway line between Derry and Coleraine. Since then the group has helped secure major investment in the railway line, as well as a new transport hub in Derry city. In recent years the group has broadened its focus onto making the case for the restoration of key rail routes across the west of the province of Ulster. And now they are launching a campaign to see rail restored to the town of Limavady. Limavady has a population of 13,000 people, and over the last few decades has been one of Northern Irelands fastest growing towns. Despite sitting only 3 miles from the railway line that runs between Derry, Coleraine and Belfast, Limavady has been left without a railway station of its own since 1950. Even the nearby halt at Limavady Junction was removed almost half a century ago in 1976. Since these closures two whole generations have been raised in Limavady without access to a transport mode that most of the rest of the island takes for granted. And that has had a negative impact upon the economy, population and tourism appeal of the town and the Roe Valley - with Limavady left feeling disconnected and on the periphery. The publics desire to see rail return to areas across the North-West that lost it has remained strong ever since. This was shown last year when the public consultation for the cross-border All-Island Rail Review Strategy saw 40% of all contributions coming from this region. Into The West are therefore launching a campaign that calls for Limavady to be restored to its rightful place on the Northern Irish rail network. Chair of Into The West, Steve Bradley, commented: Limavady has a population size that justifies a rail service, and it sits tantalisingly close to a major inter-city train line. Yet for too long the railway network has ignored Limavady, leaving the town feeling isolated and neglected in infrastructure terms. "Into The West made a detailed submission to the All-Island Strategic Rail Review last year and one of our proposals was for rail to be restored to Limavady. We feel it is now time to start building public support across the North West for rail to be brought back to the Roe Valley. "And as the first step in that were holding a public meeting on 8th June to engage local residents and elected representatives on the case for bringing rail back to Limavady. Into The West have identified three short, medium and long-term proposals for how Limavady can be linked to the rail network, which they will outline at their public meeting on June 8th. The free event is being held at 7pm in the Roe Valley Arts Centre, 24 Main Street, BT49 0FJ, and is open to everyone. Into The West have also specifically invited all Causeway Coast and Glens Borough councillors to attend, as well as the MP and MLAs for East Derry. Mr Bradley concluded: In an era of climate change, poor air quality, increasing road congestion and unbalanced regional development, it is no longer acceptable for key towns like Limavady to be left without rail. "There is a very strong case for the restoration of rail here - but it wont happen without a strong display of public support and pressure. We held similar events last year in Omagh, Dungannon, Strabane and Letterkenny which all attracted bumper crowds, and we expect interest levels will also be high in Limavady. "It is therefore essential that people across the Roe Valley and beyond get behind our campaign to show politicians and civil servants that the public demands the reintroduction of rail to this town. "Its finally time to end Limavadys 73 years of being cut off from the Northern Irish rail network. Anyone interested in attending is being asked to register in advance via the following Eventbrite link: Bringing Rail Back to Limavady Tickets, Thu 8 Jun 2023 at 19:00 | Eventbrite. Registration isnt essential (people can still turn up on the night), but it will help Into The West manage numbers with the venue. Members of Northern Irelands Eritrean community gathered in Derry at the weekend to celebrate their countrys 32nd Independence Day anniversary. It was the first time the occasion has been marked in the city. Traditionally events are held in Belfast where the Eritrean population numbers in its thousands. Derry still only has a very small community from the east African country. But on Saturday 42 men and women made their way to the North West Migrants Forums headquarters on Fountain Street. The Eritrean War of Independence ended in May 1991 with victory over Ethiopia, regarded at the time as one of Africas strongest armies. The triumph propelled rebel leader Isaias Afwerki to power and since then the country has had no other president. Nor has it held any national elections. Initially Afwerki was described by US President Bill Clinton as a renaissance leader. But in the years since he has been described as an unhinged dictator by Washingtons envoy to the country. Afwerkis brutal years of rule have sparked a mass exodus with many thousands of Eritreans pouring into Europe in the hope of securing international protection. Prior to Saturdays celebrations those gathered in Derry offered up prayers for those who gave their life in pursuit of independence. They then discussed the current political state of their home nation with a range of opinions being put forward. That was followed by the serving of a variety of Eritrean dishes and desserts. One of the organisers, Idris Mahmud Mohammed, said it was a poignant but enjoyable day for everyone who attended. Here in Derry we only have a very small number of Eritreans. In other parts of Northern Ireland it is much more, maybe two or three thousand. So normally they celebrate in Belfast but this year they wanted to bring it here to the city. Some of those who gathered in the Fountain Street centre on Saturday afternoon. Before we started we remembered our dead brothers who sacrificed their lives to set us free. After that everyone gave their opinion on what is happening back home. A key component of the discussions was the need for a more cohesive approach in Derry. In Belfast the Eritrean community is well established and regularly holds events and meetings. We talked about wanting to have a community here in Derry, a legal entity either through the embassy or the Northern Ireland government, said Idris. North West Migrants Forum volunteer and Eritrean native Idris Mahmud Mohammed with a cake to mark 32 years since his country gained its independence from Ethiopia. We agreed that such an organisation would be good in terms of us helping and looking out for each other. With all that done we started enjoying our traditional Eritrean dishes. It was a nice day and we have to send a big thank you to the North West Migrants Forum for the hall and for allowing us to celebrate. Hsinchu, Taiwan May 30, 2023 Andes Technology Corporation (TWSE: 6533), a Founding and Premier member of RISC-V International and a leading provider of high-performance, low-power 32/64-bit RISC-V processors, has established AndeSentry as a collaborative framework through which companies within the RISC-V ecosystem can work together to enhance RISC-V solutions security against a wide range of threats, including both cyber and physical attacks. As embedded, automotive, and IoT markets continue to expand, device and data security have become critical priorities for both consumers and governments. Increasingly attackers will try to hack the systems with various kinds of methods like side-channel attacks, fault injection attacks, physical attacks, etc. To prevent information leakage and system misuse due to attacks, all embedded systems and IoT devices must address security aspects in their designs. AndeSentry offers a comprehensive portfolio of solutions to help companies developing RISC-V based solutions achieve their security and business goals. Addressing security concerns with a single solution can be challenging. To overcome the issue, the AndeSentry Collaborative Framework integrates Andes and its partners' security solutions within the RISC-V ecosystem to provide a range of security solutions that cover every aspect of security requirements. These solutions include isolated execution, application integrity, RoT, cryptography IPs, secure elements, secure boot, secure debug, secure monitors for TEE, and continue to expand. They are suitable for commercial use and can enable users to meet the requirements to comply with international security standards or to pass security certifications for different applications like IoT, consumer, and automotive. Moreover, some of the solutions have pre-integrated demos and are ready for evaluation to shorten the development cycle. "We are excited to announce that AndeSentry is providing a collaborative framework enabling different companies within the RISC-V ecosystem to work together to provide comprehensive security solutions for RISC-V SoCs targeting embedded and IoT systems," said Charlie Su, President and CTO of Andes Technology. Hex-Five, PUFsecurity, Rambus, Secure-IC, TrustKernel, Zaya, and others have joined the AndeSentry program. We welcome other security solution providers to join us in helping chipmakers secure their IoT SoCs." About Andes Technology Eighteen years in business and a Founding Premier member of RISC-V International, Andes is a publicly-listed company (TWSE: 6533; SIN: US03420C2089; ISIN: US03420C1099), a leading supplier of high-performance/ low-power 32/64-bit embedded processor IP solutions, and the driving force in taking RISC-V mainstream. Andes fifth-generation AndeStar architecture adopted the RISC-V as the base. Its V5 RISC-V CPU families range from tiny 32-bit cores to advanced 64-bit Out-of-Order processors with DSP, FPU, Vector, Linux, superscalar, and/or multi/many-core capabilities. By the end of 2022, the cumulative volume of Andes-Embedded SoCs has surpassed 12 billion. For more information, please visit https://www.andestech.com. Year 3 Review of Implementation of 'Global Ireland: Ireland's Strategy for Africa to 2025' Publication Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs today presented to Government a report on the third year of the implementation of Irelands Africa Strategy. The report highlighted the deepening political, economic and people-to-people connections between Ireland and the continent of Africa. Among the key highlights in the report are: Trade in goods between Ireland and Africa increased by 17% between 2021 and 2022, standing at 2.8 billion. Ireland donated more than 2.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in 2022, mostly to African countries including Botswana, Burkina Faso, Djibouti and Sudan. Ireland invested over 100 million in humanitarian and development assistance to mitigate the food crisis in the Horn of Africa in 2022. The growth of Irelands diplomatic footprint in Africa in 2022 included the formal establishment of diplomatic relations with Mauritania and the first presentation of credentials by an Irish Ambassador in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Notable progress was made in 2022 in expanding educational and research links, with 121 students from Africa awarded Fellowships for Masters-level study in Ireland, up from 72 in 2019. Please see the full Year 3 Review of Implementation of 'Global Ireland: Ireland's Strategy for Africa to 2025' | Samsungs Galaxy phones have always offered innovative smartphones that offer amazing value to tech-savvy Gen MZ consumers. The company is gearing up to unveil a new exciting Galaxy phone which is expected to elevate the mid-premium phone experience to a whole new level of awesome! It is pegged to include top-of-the-line features from the flagship S-series like the flagship Nightography camera and a premium design with a linear camera layout The highly-anticipated Galaxy phone is expected to slay in the segment. The excitement surrounding the launch of Galaxy F54 5G is palpable, and you can secure your unit by pre-reserving it today! Allow us to delve deeper into the reasons why we are excited about the forthcoming Galaxy phone launch! Nightography Camera to inspire creativity The upcoming Galaxy smartphone will make some of the cutting-edge innovations from the Galaxy S series like the Pro-level camera that makes features like Nightography, No Shake Cam and Astrolapse accessible to the masses at a competitive price. Samsung's Nightography camera is designed specifically to tackle the challenges of low-light photography and videography. You wont be missing out on spontaneous opportunities to document beautiful cityscapes or iconic landmarks at night. Whether you're recording a concert, capturing the ambience of a wedding reception, or seeking to immortalise a romantic scene in a softly lit restaurant, Samsung's Nightography camera ensures that you effortlessly capture vivid and visually captivating photos and videos in all lighting. So, how does this magic work? As Narasimha Pai from Samsung R&D Institute India, Bangalore (SRI-B) explains, Nightography captures and processes many frames, discarding those with blur and artefacts. The SRI-B team developed a heterogeneous computing pipeline using all available compute units to ensure fast multi-frame processing. Developing and optimising high-resolution AI models for smartphones was also quite challenging. There is also No Shake Cam (OIS) that can help you capture smoother, shake-free videos and pictures spontaneously. This is particularly helpful when you are shooting moving objects like a jolly pet or an energetic child and dont want to lose sharp details. Similarly, the Astrolapse is an exciting new Samsung camera mode that helps you capture the splendour of the night sky with artistic light trails and other intricate details. With all such interesting features, the upcoming phone will empower users who have a passion for spontaneous content creation, providing them with the tools they need to capture moments effortlessly and with exceptional detail. Premium design and all-day power The upcoming Galaxy phone will incorporate the premium signature design of the Galaxy smartphones, featuring a sleek and streamlined camera layout with a metal cam deco. This is a clean, minimalist design that captures the fundamental essence of its form. The soft, rounded corners will enhance its ergonomics, making it more comfortable to hold and operate. Pre-reserve on Flipkart now for amazing benefits! This upcoming smartphone will offer several exciting flagship features, making it even more exciting for dynamic youngsters who have a penchant for creating content on the go and individuals who heavily rely on their phones for various tasks and want to steer clear of any battery life worries. If you are captivated by these camera-centric features making their way to the Galaxy F series, you can pre-reserve the device at only Rs. 999 and get Rs. 2000 off during pre-book. Galaxy F54 5G smartphone will be available on Flipkart and Samsung.com. The device is launching in India on June 6th, 2023. If you dont want to miss out, you can go ahead and preserve your unit here. [Brand Story] The mid-range Android segment is one of the most competitive in the Indian market. With smartphones that are touching flagship territory in terms of performance and features, the mid-range buyer these days is spoilt for choice amid so many options to pick from. Now, there are several brands that have a strong foothold in this market. For example, Xiaomi, iQOO, Realme, OnePlus, and even Samsung are some of the most popular brands in the sub-Rs 30,000 or sub-Rs 25,000 price bracket. Then, there are brands like Infinix, Tecno, and the likes that dont share the same level of popularity. Oppo is a brand that comes in the former category, but the company hasnt really made too much noise in the mid-range segment, despite being a prominent player in the market. While Oppo doesnt offer the most high-performance devices in the segment, the companys focus is more on the overall look and feel and unique features that intrigue a lot of people. The companys latest mid-ranger, the Oppo F23 5G also comes with a similar aim in mind. I tested the Oppo F23 5G here at Digits test lab in Noida for a couple of weeks, and here is what I think about this smartphone: Oppo F23 5G: Design Design-wise, the Oppo F23 5G is very similar to its smaller cousin, the Oppo A78 5G that was launched earlier this year. We get a polycarbonate back panel with an oval-shaped camera module. We also get a glossy strip running down from the camera module, which adds a bit of contrast to the back panel design. The polycarbonate back panel, however, doesnt feel very sturdy and the in-hand feel isnt very premium. We get two colours with the Oppo F23 5G - a cool black and a bold gold colour, both with a similar-coloured gloss strip running down from the camera module. Up front, things are rather simple. We get a hole punch display with thin bezels, but the chin is a bit thick. The Oppo F23 5G has flat edges, but the back panel curves around the edges. The display also doesnt merge into the frame as seamlessly as I would have liked, but that is a very minor design detail. Apart from this, the Oppo F23 5G is quite lightweight. We measured the weight of the smartphone and it came out to be 192 grams, which is exactly what Oppo claims with the smartphone. Overall, the Oppo F23 5Gs design is very basic. It's lightweight and looks quite nice with the two-tone gloss strip, but the build quality is not very good. We get a 6.7-inch display, so the size is big, but not too unbearable. The orientation is more on the tall side rather than wide, and the front is also pretty basic with the hole-punch display, which is something we see on pretty much every smartphone in this range. Oppo F23 5G: Display The Oppo F23 5G has a 6.7-inch IPS LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The display on the smartphone is just average. We get an IPS LCD display, and the colours seem a bit too saturated. While watching content on YouTube, I found the Oppo F23 5Gs display to have a bit too many highlights, which is not too good. It also doesnt support HDR content on apps like YouTube and Netflix. In terms of responsiveness, however, this display is pretty good. We get a 120Hz refresh rate, which just makes scrolling through the menus and other things on this device absolutely slick and smooth. The display is also bright enough. We put the luminance to test using a Lux Meter, and the Oppo F23 5G showed a maximum luminance of 576 nits, and a minimum of 6 nits on a plain white screen. This is not too bad, and I didnt face any problems with the smartphones sunlight visibility. Oppo F23 5G: Performance Coming to performance, the Oppo F23 5G has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC paired with 8GB of RAM. Now, this smartphone is priced at Rs 24,999 in India, and for that money, a Snapdragon 695 chip isnt really considered worth it. For example, you can get the same chip on smartphones under Rs 20,000 easily. Further, smartphones in this range offer far more powerful processors. We did test these numbers, and the benchmark scores are pretty average. On AnTuTu, the Oppo F23 5G scored 412,540 points, which is good for a smartphone overall, but not for a mid-range device priced around 25,000. There are similar-priced products in the market that offer almost double the score, so this feels a bit low for the Oppo F23 5G. On Geekbench also, the scores are just average. The Oppo F23 5G gave us a pretty decent single-core score of 899 points, while on the multi-core front, the Oppo F23 5G was again behind most rivals with a score of 2080 points. In another CPU-based benchmark, the Oppo F23 5G lagged behind many rivals. For example, in the PC Mark Work 3.0 benchmark, the Oppo F23 5G scored 9,720 points. This score, however, is close to what many rivals put out. Coming to GPU-based tests, here also the Oppo F23 5G didnt show anything impressive. In the 3D Mark Wildlife test, the Oppo F23 5G scored 1,211 points, which is way less than some of the other devices in this range were able to put out. The storage used on the Oppo F23 5G is of UFS 2.2 standard. Now, this is not the latest storage standard, even in this range and the numbers show. The read and write speeds are similar to other smartphones that use UFS 2.2, but since this is an older storage standard, it falls behind the ones that use UFS 3.1 or above. Oppo F23 5G: Battery The battery on the Oppo F23 5G is a 5,000mAh unit with support for 67W fast charging. Now, the smartphone uses a 6nm chip and so the battery consumption is not all that bad. Over and above, we get 67W fast charging which takes just over 45 minutes or something to charge from 0 to 100. The battery backup on the Oppo F23 5G is great. We played games, watched videos, used the camera, GPS, and pretty much everything to test the battery drain, and the smartphones battery backup was impressive throughout. For example, a 15-minute Call of Duty: Mobile session only drained 4 percent of the smartphones battery and 30 minutes of watching videos on YouTube on the highest resolution and full brightness also drained only 4 percent of the battery. Oppo F23 5G: Camera Coming to the camera, there are a lot of things going on in the Oppo F23 5G. For starters, we get a triple rear camera setup with a 64-megapixel primary shooter, a 2-megapixel depth sensor, and a 2-megapixel microscope shooter. This third 2-megapixel microscope shooter is probably the coolest feature on the Oppo F23 5G. What it does is convert your Oppo F23 5G into a handheld microscope. The results from this look straight out of a microscope. During my time with the Oppo F23 5G, I clicked several things like leafs, leather, metal, wood, and even human skin. Every time, the camera showed details that are just not visible with a naked eye. Apart from the microscope camera, the Oppo F23 5Gs primary camera performs pretty well. The 64-megapixel sensor takes nice and sharp photos, and even focuses on the subject nicely, in order to give it a nice depth effect. In challenging light, the images are a bit grainy and lack detail, but that is managed well by turning on the night mode, where the camera takes in light from the closest sources, in order to make for a vibrant image. We also get a 2-megapixel depth sensor for portraits. The portraits also arent great. The smartphone smoothens the skins a bit too much, and the details are also not the best. Further, I found the colours to be a bit dull in portraits and the edge detection is also not the best we have seen. At times, the Oppo F23 5G messed up with detecting the edge. The front camera on the Oppo F23 5G is good. The images are crisp, sharp and vibrant in terms of the colour profile. Oppo F23 5G: Verdict So that was our review of the Oppo F23 5G. It is a pretty basic Android device, but comes with some interesting features like the microscope camera. We get a basic build with a polycarbonate back, a hole-punch display up front, and flat edges. The camera is also not all that great, and we get very basic performance, which a sub-Rs 20,000 smartphones can easily put out. Overall, it is not a smartphone that I can recommend for a 24,999 price tag since there are a lot of better options available in the same range. However, if you are not concerned about performance or camera, and want something that offers you a good party trick, then the Oppo F23 5G is a good option 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. Ambient Photonics' groundbreaking indoor PV solar cell innovation to spark a sustainable revolution The battery-powered electronics products are everywhere. But there have raised economic and ecological concerns. The carbon footprint and environmental impact of emerging contaminants from battery waste in consumer electronics have become the barrier to achieving the ESG targets for global brands and the supply chain partners. As the unmatched leader of the global semiconductor industry and electronics manufacturing services, Taiwan OEM/ODM vendors compete on the world stage are tackling these challenges by looking for tech innovations and sustainability solutions. The basic requirements are addressing to reduce carbon emissions, battery charging anxiety and operational costs of swapping batteries. Ambient Photonics, located in Scotts Valley, California, addresses the growing environmental impact of disposable batteries. The company introduces high power density photovoltaic (PV) solar cells using low-light indoor energy harvesting technology to enable electronics device manufacturers to reduce the carbon footprint of their products by eliminating disposable batteries. This indoor-powered solar cell also equipped with design flexibility for optimizing the product features for electronics devices. Different with a traditional rooftop solar power system, or PV system, Ambient Photonics implements an industrial printing technology to form a thin-film coating on a glass substrate with patented materials and industrial chemistry, described by Bates Marshall, the cofounder and CEO of Ambient Photonics. This technology is a new generation of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) and provides two major advantages. One is the optimization of solar power density, and the second, the cost effective scaling manufacturing. The company has started to certify the high-volume, fully-automated mass production lines and get ready for scaling up manufacturing in Q3 2023 in its new factory Fab 1, located in Scotts Valley. For the commercial products of the company, the indoor PV solar cells have generated 15.6 micro Watt per square centimeter under indoor light illuminance of 200 lux when applying standardized PV power measurement in industry. This power density specification has 3.5 times higher than the competitors. And the open voltage of the product is approaching 1 volt, which is 2.5 times higher than others. These best-in-class features transform indoor light into energy with three times more power density than conventional technology, Marshall highlighted. Looking at the outlooks of the PV solar cell of the company, there is a uniform black color glass substrate without any metal grid patterns like traditional PV cells. The customized cutting dimension of the PV solar cell is ranging from 3.25 to 75 centimeters (CM) with the thickness of 2.2 millimeters. Furthermore, these solar cells may take varying shapes instead of a rectangular or square forms depending on the best-fit with the industrial design of user's electronics devices. Marshall noted that there is a high degree of flexibility for customization. Apart from the offerings of application development Kit (ADK) to help electronics companies integrate the PV solar cell into their devices, Ambient Photonics set one sales office in Taipei with engineering support to provide integrated services to Taiwan OEM/ODM partners. Meanwhile, the target applications are aiming the consumer electronics devices of Internet of Things, industrial sensing and smart retail applications. The major listings of end products include remote control, computer keyboards, mice and smart electronic shelf labels in the retail stores. The electronic device manufacturers engage partnership with Ambient Photonics considering not only to improve product sustainability but also reduce operation costs from their special business needs. Things like hotel smart door lock solutions could save money and time for changing batteries while integrated with indoor PV solar cells. There are more advanced applications to be found in the future. Considering the intense competition in electronics market sectors and with growing numbers of enterprises joining international climate advocacy initiatives, corporate leaders have come to recognize that carbon reduction is now critical to competitiveness. Taiwan electronics manufacturing services and OEM/ODMs realize that low-carbon production will be essential to their future. The electronic supply chains are at the forefront of sustainability, Marshall highlighted. He will visit Computex 2023 to gather further opportunities with Taiwan electronics partners. To learn more about indoor PV solar cell innovation and energy harvesting for connected devices, please logon Ambient Technology website here: https://ambientphotonics.com/technology API PV cell applications Italian Startup Participating in InnoVEX The Italian Trade Agency is the governmental bureau that supports the business development of Italian companies abroad and promotes the attraction of foreign investment in Italy. The Italian pavilion at InnoVEX 2023, organized by the Agency, will present 5 start-ups. Read below what they will present at the fair and come to meet them in person! Boatsandgo is an Italian innovative startup that has developed the first meta-search engine in the world to compare charter yachts, boat rental, and boat-sharing deals. Users can compare deals from hundreds of sites and get the right boat at the right price. A meta-search engine designed to help the User easily organize a boat vacation (like Trivago for hotels or Skyscanner for flights). Users will save time, money and go directly to the booking sites. Boatsandgo has developed a metasearch algorithm (2020) tested it and delivered a working MVP by the end of 2021. It is now running marketing test campaigns, getting early traction data. Boatsandgo also offers a SaaS solution for those fleets and operators that are scarcely digitalized or not digitalized at all. This freemium software not only lists the offers of new boats on Boatsandgo and other partner platforms but is a full digital tool to manage all the business, from a booking manager to cashless payments, tools for websites, and many more features. The SaaS solution has been released for test in early February 2023. The premium features will generate an additional revenue line. The business model is based on three revenue lines: a reloadable pay-per-click system for those Users that are redirected to the dealer site and a 10% fee on successful bookings generated from those Users that closed a deal, Premium SaaS. Boatsandgo addresses a huge market. The global charter and rental boat market has a value of 50 billion USD (source il sole24ore, 2020) and 7 billion USD in Europe alone with a yearly growth of over 6%. The search for the keyword "rent a boat" shows a constant yearly growth of 20% on Google Trends. My-Money is a patented and revolutionary payment system, completely biometric and device-free. Credit card fraud is increasing daily, while 30% of the world's population doesn't have access to the Internet and 50% of people worldwide don't have a smartphone. All our life is inside our phones, making it our biggest weakness. That's the reason why we have created a new payment system, making it extremely secure, easy, and fast. Secure: no more frauds thanks to biometrics, no one will be able to clone your cards or steal your identity, because our system is based on the recognition of your fingerprint, and the biometric readers are FBI certified: this means that they are able to detect if your finger is alive, and if it is you: a fake fingerprint or a dead finger will not work. Easy: everyone will be able to use it. No more barriers due to technological misalignment, or to the wealth or poverty of a country, or to the age of the user, or to disability: reach out your finger and pay, everywhere and anywhere, because you will no longer have to worry about having your phone run out of battery, or if you have it with you, or if you can afford the latest generation phone. Fast: paying using your finger is a natural gesture. No more queues at the entrance of the underground or at the entrance to the stadium. With My-Money you will have the highest security level on the market today for payment systems and access to crowded areas. From today, you will no longer need to carry a credit card, cash, or your phone to access these services. All will be fast, easy, and secure. For everyone. My-Money: the world on you. TimelapseLab is a Contech startup that designs time lapse devices for construction sites with a functional AI-based platform that allows remote site monitoring and generates professional time lapse videos for construction sites to use for reporting, marketing and internal communication. We help digitalize project management, HSE monitoring, and documentation of the site. We combine the production of plug-and-play industrial devices, resistant to all critical issues with no maintenance or SD card needed, with a functional management platform for remote control of jobs. We offer a system conceptually different from surveillance cameras: our devices take photos at regular intervals and do not record videos. Photos can be stored for years with no privacy issues or limitations. Our key features include alerts in case of dangerous situations (missing PPE), image certification, integration with other software, site comparison at different stages, and image analysis for reporting purposes. We provide precious information and actionable insights to our clients, such as the number of excavators or aerial platforms on site, number of people on site, PPE (e.g., lack of helmets), most and least active days, etc. Data can be drawn from customizable timeframes and visualization is easy to understand and share. We also provide automatic timelapse videos and 4K photos for better marketing and communication, helping reduce costs, allocate resources, monitor safety measures, and achieve better communication. An integrated blurring software makes the system privacy compliant. We target several professional roles: HSE manager, Project Manager, Engineer, and Marketing Manager. We work in different fields: oil & gas, construction, real estate, industrial plants, and shipyards. Travel Verse is a tech company founded in 2023 that applies the concept of Metaverse to the travel industry. We work with Blockchain, Digital Twins, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual, and Augmented Reality, Internet of Things. We give travel agencies and tour operators the possibility to represent their travel offerings to customers in an innovative way. We recreate physical structures like hotels or monuments in Virtual Reality, more extensive settings like islands or oases, experiences like diving or hiking, and so on. Travel packages are turned into immersive experiences with gamification elements, where users can explore tourist locations and facilities and get a preview of their future trips. Visual Note produces an innovative patent-based device, that accelerates the guitar learning process, composed of a foil with LEDs to be applied directly to the guitar fretboard, a controller, and a mobile app to manage its functions. It's able to show directly on the guitar or onto the mobile phone virtual fretboard, where to put your fingers and thanks to the audio guide you'll be able to follow the rhythm. Bmodel is a subscription freemium app with the one-of-a-kind option to add a hardware device to enhance the experience. The product is on the market, the company has just closed several investment rounds, created an international advisory board (members from Carlyle, BC Company, Pai Partners etc. are involved), and signed a distribution agreement in Italy with an option for the EU market. EU-Taiwan symposium explores satellite industry cooperation and challenges At the 2023 EU-Taiwan Space Opportunity Symposium on May 29, leading players in Taiwan's satellite industry gathered to explore cooperation opportunities with the European Union (EU). The event was co-organized by the European Economic and Trade Office, the EU's representative office in Taiwan, and the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA). In his opening remarks, Dr. Jong-Shinn Wu, the Director General of TASA, highlighted that Taiwan has been developing its space industry for thirty years and possesses a strong niche competency in the international satellite market. He emphasized Taiwan's potential to leverage its mature footing in 5G-related technologies from its electronics manufacturing industry and extend into the realm of satellite communication. As a result, TASA is expanding the use of Taiwan-made components in domestic satellite manufacturing and launch programs. Formerly known as the National Space Organization, the entity underwent re-organization and officially became Taiwan Space Agency in 2023. In his remarks, Wu also said that the space domain has recently gained a security dimension - an observation shared by his colleague Frank Lo, who oversees TASA's international cooperations. Lo observed the increasing dual-use nature of space as a result of geopolitical dynamics, noting the technological dimensions of regional security pacts like AUKUS. Referring to the recent bankruptcy of Virgin Orbit, he also warned that "all that glitters is not gold" when it comes to space industry investment. Dr. Vesselin Vassilev, a board member of the Belgium-based non-profit organization SME4SPACE, which represents SMEs in Europe's space industry, remarked that the development of space industry has become bottom-up recently, noting the greater role played by the industry instead of governments. Commenting on EU-Taiwan cooperation in space, Vassilev highlighted the importance of aligning both sides' priorities as the greatest challenge. Dr. Yu-Jiu Wang, the founder of Tron Future Tech and now serves as its chairman and CEO, also shared his views of the phased-array satellite communication development in Taiwan. Tron Future Tech specializes in active electronically scanned array (AESA) for drone and space applications. Highlighting the role played by the satellite communication network Starlink in the Ukraine war and Taiwan's geoplitical circumstances, Wang emphasized the serious need for Taiwan to build its own satellite communication constellation, especially when SpaceX founder Elon Musk has previously expressed opinions that made one doubt if Starlink would come to Taiwan's aid in an event of military invasion. Wang also drew attention to Taiwan's fragile internet infrastructure, indicating that Taiwan is connected to the world through only 14 international submarine cables. Citing recent media reports on the damaged cables of Matsu islands, an archipelago of islands in East China Sea governed by Taiwan, and reports on Chinese military practice to sever Taiwan's internet, Wang emphasized the urgency of the matter. When it comes to Taiwan's industrial capability to support TASA's mission, Wang pointed to domestic antenna assembly vendors like RapidTek, TMYTek, Wistron NeWeb, and domestic frontend IC vendors like MediaTek. In terms of baseband processors, Wang noted MediaTek and Realtek also have the required capabilities. Notably, Tron Future has the capability to support all three segments from baseband IC, frontend IC to antenna assembly. When it comes to foundry capability, Wang pointed to the gallium arsenide (GaAs) foundry Win Semiconductor, which is the world's biggest GaAs foundry with approximately 77% global market share in 2021. Alongside its semiconductor manufacturing base, Taiwan also has domestic B5G payload and user terminal testing capabilities covering large OTA CATR (Over-The-Air Compact Antenna Test Range) chamber, radiation and thermal vaccum. Wang estimated that Tron Future will have the technological readiness to support CubeSat constellation deployment from 2026 and B5G/6G constellation deployment from 2028. However, the Tron Future founder noted that Taiwan's satellite industry development still faces challenges in terms of domestic launch services, electronic propulsion technology for orbit maneuvering, and the laser intersatellite link serving as a constellation backbone network. Dr. Yu-Jiu Wang, the founder of Tron Future Tech, saw the serious need to develop Taiwan's own satellite communication constellation Dr. Jong-Shinn Wu, the Director General of Taiwan Space Agency Computex 2023 Computex returned to the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center in 2023 after its absence from 2020-2022 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the spotlights of the show include high-performance computing hardware, smart applications, next-generation communication technologies, and green energy with exhibitors showcasing their innovations for next-generation deployment such as AI, eco-friendly devices and systems. In 2009 there were reports that Internet based hackers had made off with the manufacturer database for the new F-35 stealth fighter. The data theft was believed to be for China, which had two stealth fighters, the 37-ton J-20 and 28-ton FC-31, which is still in development. The J-20 made its first flight in 2011 and entered service in 2917. There were problems that delayed mass production until 2022. As of early 2023 only about 200 J-20s were in service. The J20 was the first Chinese designed and built modern jet fighter. China saw the J-20 as similar to the American F-22 while the FC-31 would be similar to the American F-35. It did not turn out as China had hoped and until 2015 there were few details revealed about the FC-31. In 2015 someone in China anonymously posted performance data for the new 18 ton FC-31/J-31 stealth fighter. This was in the form of a sales brochure (for trade shows) that had not been distributed to the public. Up to 2015 the manufacturer has been vague about J-31 performance data. This despite the fact that the J-31 had been showing up at Chinese weapons shows. The 2015 promotion was all about looking at the impressive appearance of the J-31, not crunching any numbers. It gets more interesting when you realize that the recently posted data ascribes better engine performance than actual engines the Chinese have in service or access to. There were also descriptions of J-31 electronics that sounded more like a Chinese wish list rather than anything the Chinese have or are known to be developing. Many in the industry see this as some kind of desperate publicity stunt. Efforts to sell the J-31 to export customers have failed. It was later revealed that in late 2014 China quietly approached some potential customers about buying J-31s. For export customers the J-31 would be called the FC-31 and it was understood that this version would not have all the best equipment the Chinese J-31 had. Pakistan expressed some interest, but then Pakistan is the largest export customer for Chinese weapons. Pakistan apparently thought it best to wait a bit because it was unclear how ready the J-31 was for active service. Since 2012 China has been testing the J-31 Falcon Eagle (from an inscription on the tail). While it looks like the American F-22, its also smaller than Chinas other stealth fighter, the J-20, which has been around longer. The J-31 was built by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, which also makes the J-11, an illegal Chinese copy of the Russian Su-27. The J-31 has some characteristics of the F-35 as well and appears to be something of an F-35 to the earlier J-20s effort to match the American F-22. The J-31 flew for the first time in October 2012 and at that point there were at least two prototypes. The designer talked of the J-31 being able to operate off an aircraft carrier, like the U.S. F-35 and the Chinese J-15, a J-11 variant. A carrier version is in development. One advantage of the J-31 is that it has two engines, compared to one for the 31 ton F-35. In theory this means the J-31 could carry more weapons, but this is less crucial with all the guided weapons available. Another problem is that the J-31 was using Chinese engines, which are less powerful and reliable, even when two are used, compared to the single engine in the F-35C. The J-31 is further evidence that China is determined to develop its own high tech military gear. While China is eager to develop advanced military technology locally, it recognizes that this takes time and more effort than nations new to this expect. Thus, China is trying to avoid the mistakes Russia made in this area. That means having competing designs and developing necessary supporting industries as part of that. All this takes a lot of time and involves lots of little (and some major) failures. The Chinese are doing it right and are willing to wait until they get military tech that is truly world class. Originally the J-31 was supposed to be ready for service by 2019 and have ground attack as well as air-to-air capabilities. As of 2023 the J-31 is still stuck in the prototype stage. Meanwhile, the F-35 has been very successful and the Chinese pay close attention to that. New or prospective customers for the F-35 are attracted by the enthusiasm of those who have flown the F-35. There are only about 1,200 F-35 pilots, and about ten times as many maintainers who keep F-35s ready to fly. The U.S. Air Force, the largest F-35 user, has a shortage of trainers and is having problems keeping up with total demand for pilots. Most F-35 pilots are transitions, that is experienced fighter pilots transitioning to the F-35. These require much less training time and the Americans are concentrating on expanding their transition program. F-35 pilots all confirm that the F-35 is not just a modern stealth aircraft, but incorporates software and a degree of built-in automation that produces a spectacular, easy to use and very effective pilot experience. The F-35 has a large number of sensors, including receivers for electronic signals, six cameras and a very capable radar, and the fusion of all that data and presentation to the pilot based on the current situation is impressive. This fusion makes the F-35 much easier to fly, despite all the additional capabilities it has. This sort of thing is not a new idea. By the 1990s it was recognized that this new technology, called data fusion, would be a key capability for combat aircraft as well as ships and ground forces. Put simply, it's all about taking real-time video camera, radar and sensor data plus other information about the battlefield situation from databases and current reports, and combining it to provide commanders with a better understanding of current operations, preferably in real-time if you are a fighter pilot. Pilots agree that the heart of the F-35s superior capabilities is its software along with digital communications with ships, other aircraft and troops on the ground. The F-35 is apparently the best working example of this so far and what is learned from the F-35 software has become the basis for updated software for older aircraft. But beyond the data fusion, and automatic sharing with other aircraft or systems on the ground, the pilots were impressed about how effective the pilot assistant software was. This is another concept that has been around for decades and more frequently installed in new aircraft. These minor advances get reported but never make headlines. But given the F-35s' stealth, maneuverability and sensor/data fusion, most pilots quickly become enthusiastic proponents of the aircraft. China wont discuss its plans to incorporate these F-35 data management capabilities into their stealth fighters. The Chinese do like to talk about their research into AI (Artificial Intelligence) systems. The F-35 software is more complex and omnipresent throughout the aircraft than in any previous warplane. Because of that, it requires a major effort to implement and test any software changes. Some major upgrades are needed in how F-35 software changes are made and how quickly. In wartime this would be essential as otherwise vulnerable aircraft would be grounded when needed most. As of 2023 over 900 F-35s have been delivered, mostly to the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps. In 2018 alone 133 were delivered and that rose to 141 in 2020 with additional slight increases in annual deliveries until 2023. By the end of 2020 about 650 F-35s were in service, a status that takes place months after delivery. Over 4,000 F-35s are expected to be delivered by the mid-2030s with more than 70 percent going to the United States. The F-35A is a 31-ton, single engine fighter that is 15.7 meters (51.4 feet) long with a 10.7-meter (35 foot) wingspan. The F-35A can carry 8.1 tons of weapons in addition to an internal 20mm four-barrel autocannon. Before the SDB (GPS guided Small Diameter Bomb) arrived, four internal air-to-air missiles (or two missiles and two smart bombs) plus four external smart bombs and two missiles could be carried. A new bomb rack allows the F-35 to carry eight SDBs internally. All sensors are carried internally and max weapon load is 6.8 tons. The aircraft is very stealthy when just carrying internal weapons. In 2001 the U.S. believed 5,100 F-35s would be sold but the rising costs and increasing delays drove that down to 3,100 by 2013 and 2,500 by 2018. Now that some F-35s are actually in service and getting good reviews from users, sales are increasing. The aircraft carrier F-35C was supposed to enter service in 2018 but that didnt happen until January 2020. That has no impact on foreign sales because few, if any, export orders were ever expected for the F-35C. Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) recently welcomed 40 Transition Year (TY) students from various local secondary schools on to campus to participate in a week of computing and creative workshops. It was a free event and was facilitated by volunteer DkIT staff across all 3 departments in the School of Informatics and Creative Arts. Students took part in workshops on topics such as: Programming, Web Development, Animation, Film, Games Development and Networking. At the event students also got an introduction to data science, which is a huge part of one of the Institutes popular new courses: Mathematics & Data science. This course and the Computing Systems & Operations course were introduced to great success this year, and both were developed in consultation with industry to ensure DkIT are teaching the skills most required for business. A spokesperson said: "The Computing Industry is one of the biggest sectors of the economy and qualified graduates are constantly in demand both nationally and internationally with many DkIT students receiving job offers before graduating. DkIT are delighted to report that 75% of graduates from the BSc in Computing were in employment within 6 months of graduating and over 60% of them earning 30-50k. "From the BSc (Hons) in Computing in Games Development 83% were in employment within 6 months of graduating with all working in Ireland, and from the BSc (Hons) in Computing in Software Development 91% were in employment with 73% earning 30-50k within 6 months of graduating. "This recent event allowed TY students to get a taste of a wide variety of computing and creative subjects to help inform their decisions as they move closer to leaving school in the next few years. Along with in depth overviews of computing related topics, students were also given a tour of the Carroll's building, which houses the Institutes state-of-the-art facilities in TV/Film, Audio/Video Production and Computing." For more information on the diverse range of computing courses offered by DkIT visit www.dkit.ie May 31 is World No Tobacco Day, a day in which the World Health Organisation highlight the harmful impact tobacco has on human health and our environment. Irish environmental charity, Clean Coasts, is warning people about the impact of smoking related litter on marine environment and wildlife, and are asking smokers to dispose of their butts correctly. On June 1, Irelands bathing season starts, and Clean Coasts are launching a campaign asking people to dispose of their smoking related litter correctly to protect our environment and marine life. Ireland has amazing beaches and coastal landscapes, including 94 Blue Flag and 65 Green Coast Award sites, and Clean Coasts says that everybody can play a key role in protecting them. In Ireland, cigarette butts are the most common item found on Irelands beaches and they account to for almost 50% of all discarded waste in the country. For the past several years, cigarette butts have been the top litter item found on Irish beaches during the Big Beach Clean, Clean Coasts' end of bathing season call to action sponsored by Irish business Cully and Sully. Cigarette butts and filters are often assumed to be biodegradable, but in fact, one cigarette butt might take over a decade to decompose. Cigarette filters are made of a plastic called cellulose acetate, which does not biodegrade and can remain in the environment for very long periods of time in the form of microplastics. Globally littered cigarette butts amount to an estimated 0.3 million tons of microfibers released per year. When ingested, the hazardous chemicals in microplastics cause long-term mortality in marine life, including birds, fish, mammals, plants and reptiles. According to research, just one cigarette butt per litre of water leaches enough toxins to kill half the freshwater or saltwater fish exposed to it. In addition to cigarette butts, volunteers hosting clean-ups have noticed that incorrectly discarded vapes are also increasing. Vapes are made of materials such as plastic, rubber and metal that dont break down naturally, and 1.3 million single-use vapes are thrown away every week. Clean Coasts are highlighting the work of community groups to tackle smoking litter on their local beach, and hope to inspire other groups and communities to take action in their local community. Two such groups that worked to create awareness locally about smoking related litter are Bettystown Tidy Towns in Co. Meath, and Keep Our Beaches Clean in Louisburgh, Co. Mayo. These community groups took the time to raise awareness within their communities about the impact smoking related litter and why it should be disposed of correctly, with pilot projects that entailed the installation of cigarette bins and informational stickers in key spots in their local area. Kirsty MacKenzie, a member of Bettystown Tidy Towns commented: Bettystown Tidy Towns made the decision to use the Clean Coasts grant to purchase cigarette butt bins after feedback from our volunteers. We regularly litter pick around the village and cigarette butts are one of the most commonly reported litter item that we find. There are several streams running through Bettystown and we are very conscious of trying to stop litter of all kinds from reaching the sea. "We decided to install cigarette butt bins at specific points around the village where our volunteers have reported significant issues with cigarette litter. We are pleased to say that we have seen a reduction in cigarette litter in the village since the installation of the bins and we will continue to promote their use. Louise Hastings, from Keep Our Beaches Clean, commented: We were having a big issue with butts being thrown in a few areas in particular, the pier, the carpark, the toilets and some hot spots on the beach. The volunteers were spending so much time picking up the butts, it's so tedious. "We decided to apply for a grant in the hope of purchasing the bins. We are hoping this solves the issue and the volunteers won't have to spend so much time breaking their backs picking them up. Clean Coasts has released resources for people to learn more about the issue and create their own campaign. Moreover, they are inviting Clean Coasts groups and communities living in an area affected by the issue to get in touch if they would like to host a similar initiative on their local beach, by visiting their website at www.cleancoasts.org. Off the south coast of China (Hainan), the Chinese navy is installing underwater communications cable links with its small land bases in the South China Sea. China currently occupies fifteen reefs and artificial (with dredged up sand) islands. This island building process began over a decade ago and by 2015 the dredging had created seven artificial reefs and small islands for China to begin construction of buildings on six. The three largest (Mischief Reef, Fiery Cross Reef and Subi Reef) eventually had roads, docks, airstrips and aircraft hangars on six of them with construction or reconstruction continuing to the present. By 2022 China claimed to have 5,000 personnel stationed on these islands and most had radars and a growing number of weapons installed. There were shelters for anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles, as well as hangars for aircraft to protect them from the corrosive effect of salt water. This is something navies with aircraft carriers have to do for aircraft based on the carriers. Without the application of anti-corrosion coating, the aircraft soon develop equipment problems. The salty sea air is a problem for radars and other exposed electronic equipment components. The underwater communications cables will lessen dependence on equipment providing wireless communications. By 2020 China was operating some of its Y-8FQ ASW (Anti-submarine Warfare) aircraft from a 3,100 meter (10,000 foot) airstrip on the Fiery Cross (Yongshu) Reef airbase. This base was completed in 2016 by dredging up enough sand to create a 271 hectare (677 acre) artificial island. Before that, there were two tiny islands that were rocky outcroppings only exposed at low tide. Those rocks were the part of the reef that was a hazard and one of the ships that sank there in the 19th century was the Fiery Cross. The reef was most frequently visited by Vietnamese fishermen because the closest land, 600 kilometers away, was Vietnam. Rarely did Chinese fishermen visit because China was over a thousand kilometers away. China made a claim to the area in the 1930s, when Vietnam was a French colony and China was at war with Japan. In the 1970s China used force (some brief naval skirmishes) to force Vietnam out of the area. The Chinese claim is not recognized by international treaties, which China has signed, specifying who owns what offshore. Fiery Cross Reef is within the Spratly Islands. China describes the Fiery Cross facility as a naval rescue station but most of the time military aircraft are operating from the airbase. As many as 500 military personnel are stationed on Fiery Cross but the normal garrison is about half that. The base now has air-search radar and anti-aircraft weapons. There are also docks large enough to accommodate an aircraft carrier and storage areas for water and fuel. While some rainwater can be captured, most water must be shipped in. Vegetables have been grown in its sandy soil, but that requires freshwater. All supplies have to be regularly shipped in from mainland China. A special fleet of transports has been built to supply the growing number of South China Sea bases. The Spratlys are a group of some 100 islets, atolls, and reefs that total only about five square kilometers (1,200 acres) of land, but sprawl across some 410,000 square kilometers of the South China Sea. About 45 of the islands are currently occupied by small numbers of military personnel. China claims them all but long occupied only eight while Vietnam has occupied or marked 25, the Philippines 8, Malaysia 6, and Taiwan one. In 2014 China began its sand dredging operation to turn three reefs into artificial islands. Fiery Cross is the largest of these, so far. The Fiery Cross airbase, which occupies most of the island, has twelve reinforced concrete hangars for combat aircraft and four larger hangars for aircraft like the Y-8, which is similar to the American C-130 and used for a wide variety of special tasks, like EW (Electronic Warfare), ELINT (Electronic Intelligence Collection), AWACS (aerial warning and control), AEW (early warning) and ASW (anti-submarine warfare). Most of the 150 Y-8s (and slightly longer Y-9s) are still used as transports but over the years at least a third of the Y-8s have been converted to other uses. By 2021 the hardest working ships in the South China Sea were two Chinese two replenishment (sustainment) ships designed expressly to support Chinese islands created or occupied in the South China Sea. Despite being less than ten years old, the two ships are scheduled for upgrades and eventually some major maintenance. The first of these ships entered service in 2015 and second in 2019. Named Sansha 1 and Sansha 2, they are kept busy supplying Sansha City Island and many smaller islands to the south. The two Sansha ships are actually a smaller (7,800 ton) replenishment ship designed specifically for moving up to 2,200 tons of supplies and equipment per voyage to a lot of small island bases in the South China sea. They are RO/RO (Roll On/Roll Off) type ships so it is easier to drive vehicles off onto the docks being built on many of these tiny (some man-made) islands. The Sanshas have a helicopter pad for small (four ton) helicopters like the Z-9. They will replace most of the collection of commercial ships currently used to resupply these island bases. All Chinese activity and territorial claims got rolling in a big way after 2012, when China declared one of the Paracel islands (Woody Island) to be the center of a new Chinese municipality (city). Sansha is now one of 19 prefectures of Hainan province in southern China. Hainan is itself a large island off the Chinese coast with a population of ten million. Sansha City is the smallest prefecture in Hainan in terms of land area (13 square kilometers) and population (a few thousand). Sansha is actually Woody Island and dozens of smaller bits of land (some of them shoals that are under water all the time) in the Paracels and the Spratly Islands to the south. In fact, the new "city" lays claim to two million square kilometers of open sea (57 percent of the South China Sea). This is part of a strategy based on the ancient principle that, when it comes to real estate, "possession is 9/10ths of the law." It's the law of the jungle, because all the claimants are armed and making it clear that, at some point down the road, force will be used to enforce claims. Since 1975, there have been two naval battles, and dozens of minor clashes by the rival claimants to the Paracels. With the establishment of Sansha City, China is saying the next time it could be a war, because a government has to defend its sovereign territory. Currently Woody Island has a permanent population of nearly two thousand people who have to be supplied, even with water, at great expense from the Chinese mainland. Most island occupants are military and police personnel, who serve on the island for two years, and civilian officials, who serve six-month tours. There is a small fishing community and facilities for fishing boats to tie up and the crews to come ashore for some rest. There are also some tourist attractions. Woody Island is about 340 kilometers from Chinese territory (Hainan Island) and thus within China's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The expense of maintaining Sansha is a minor cost when you consider that this move makes many disputed islands, atolls, and reefs officially part of China, at least as far as China is concerned. China will frequently contact foreign military aircraft flying over or past one of their occupied artificial islands and warn them that Chinese permission is needed for overflights. So far, the foreign aircraft have ignored these warnings and their governments quietly informed China that firing on any of these aircraft would result in return fire against its island bases. If there is any escalation, China will have to start it and face the consequences. The Chinese military has been undergoing continuous reforms and modernization since the 1980a, when the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) adopted a market economy that led to decades of sustained economic growth that made the Chinese economy the second largest, after the United States, in the world. During those years of economic reforms and growth the Chinese military underwent similar reforms and modernization. The CCP has paid attention ensuring that the military modernizations and reforms do not overlook or weaken the core purpose of the military; to keep the CCP in power. Carrying out this program was made easier because modernization meant a smaller military. Higher standards for carefully selected and better trained troops was a lesson learned from Western nations, who had been using this approach since the late 20th century. This meant fewer, or no conscripts and encouraged more troops to make a career of the military. By the late 1990s China was openly, deliberately and rapidly modernizing armed forces on the Western model. The latest innovation is to deal with the shortage of well trained supervisory personnel for combat support. The Chinese solution was to offer qualified high school and college students the opportunity to enter the military as a junior NCO after several years of technical training in civilian schools. There are also shorter courses for basic military training and advanced training on supervising support troops. Successful completion of this training enables the students to enter military service as an NCO. For university graduates the NCO job can eventually lead to officer rank. This deals with the shortage of effective officers in combat support services. The first batch of these technical NCOs contains about 20,000 individuals. Most of these are trained for jobs in the navy, air force and missile forces. The technical skills produced by the program are mainly about operating and maintaining modern warships, aircraft and strategic missile systems. Communications and computer systems are another often part of this. In the past the military often had to put NCOs and officers with no technical training in charge of new troops that had just received basic technical skills training. Most of the troops with tech training did not make a career in the military. Instead, they left the military and got better paying tech jobs in civilian organizations. At the very least, the new Chinese technical NCO program provides an incentive to stay in the military and obtain more training and higher rank (and pay). To Chinese military leaders, technical proficiency was one of the less obvious reasons for the success of American troops since the 1980s. The Chinese were impressed with how the American led force demolished the Iraqi army in 1991. This Hundred Hour War was an impressive demonstration of how a well-equipped and well-trained all-volunteer force could roll over a Soviet-style, largely conscript opponent, even when outnumbered. There were several instances during that short war when outnumbered American units defeated larger Iraqi forces. Chinese officers looked at that and decided that this was the kind of military China needed. This attitude was reinforced in 2003 when two American and one British divisions invaded and defeated Iraq in a few weeks. In both those wars the Americans allowed TV journalists to accompany the combat units, so there was lots of videos for Chinese troops and officers to study. By 2003 China was still hampered by a force modeled on the Russian (Soviet Union) model, an organizational style that had largely been discredited. China still depended on conscription for a lot of its troops and were only beginning to build an effective NCO (sergeants and petty officers) corps along with better trained and selected officers. China found that it was a lot easier to obtain modern weapons and combat uniforms than it was to train the troops to fight like the Westerners. Changing recruiting, training and leadership methods is still a work in process, even after about 25 years of effort. For example, one crucial factor in achieving combat effectiveness similar to the Americans was unit cohesion. U.S. combat units trained for over a year to create a brigade that was ready to deploy overseas for combat. That preparation period could be compressed, but only if most of the same troops remained with the unit. This was, and still is, impossible for Chinese army units. The problem is that a third of the two million strong Chinese military are still conscripts, most of whom are gone in two years. Most of those conscripts are in the army, which accounts for about half the military personnel. It gets worse. Until recently, every year all the new conscripts came in at once. The traditional induction date for new recruits was November first. Like their Russian mentors, China inducted most of its new troops at one time. Russia does it twice a year, but China only recently adopted that approach. November was at the end of the main harvest season and most young men had little to do over the winter months so Russia, and China, favored this time of the year to induct new and train recruits. In China this was made worse because these new recruits were trained by local (to where they lived) military units. This meant these units, especially the army ones, lost about a third of their troops and had to assign another five or ten percent of the unit to training the new conscripts. In effect most army units were much less effective for half the year. The navy, air force and rocket forces had far fewer conscripts and were not much disrupted by the annual induction and discharge of conscripts. In fact, most ship crews have no conscripts at all. This was much the same in front-line air force and rocket (ballistic missile) units. Some elite army units, like special operations and airborne, had far fewer conscripts and were not disrupted. Since 2015 China has been addressing this problem by moving the induction date back to a month or so, so induction takes place a month or so after high school and college students graduate. Induction was then conducted twice a year and in 2020 a new schedule of even more frequent inductions was to begin in January 2020. The coronavirus disrupted that and that new program will instead begin in 2023. The plan is to eventually induct new troops year-round, as in the West. To make that work the Chinese also shifted to separate basic training centers. Again, this was based on the Western model. By 2020 Chinese combat units were able to train and be combat ready as their American counterparts were. However, this requires that the Chinese program to build a Western style NCO force succeeds. So far the NCO program seems to be working but this sort of thing takes time, and another decade or two will be needed to complete. The new technical NCO program addressed a segment of that problem that had long defied solution. Another major change in the Chinese military is persuading more high school and college graduates to volunteer for service and stay in for up to ten years. Until the last few decades there were not a lot of Chinese high school and college graduates in general and the military ran its own schools and did not depend on civilian universities for new personnel. Times have changed and that was one reason for changing the induction date to August 1st, to make it easier to attract new graduates before they found good jobs in the civilian economy. Its a simple idea that makes a big difference. Changing over to a Western style year-round induction system requires many more internal changes and more expense. Changing the annual induction date, on the other hand, was a lot cheaper. Since 2008 the Chinese military has made themselves more attractive to college grads and has been able to attract more of them. While about 150,000 college grads join each year, the military has not been able to attract many from the top universities. These are the men needed by the senior military leadership in 20-30 years, when Chinese forces will be much more powerful and complex. That's because the Chinese military is getting a lot more high-tech gear, a process that will continue in the future. It is obvious that it will require high quality leaders to get the most out of it. At the moment it looks like the high-end gear will arrive on schedule but not the high-end leadership. There are too many more attractive opportunities in the civilian economy and the conscription process is corrupt enough that anyone who doesn't want to be in the military can avoid it, while many who need a job but are not qualified can bribe their way in. This is troubling because the government, and to a lesser extent the military leadership, want to do something about corruption in the military. This problem can best be addressed with better quality leadership at the top. The current leadership knows that many of its senior officers are dirty. All these guys came up in the wake of the calamitous 1960s "Cultural Revolution." This disaster discredited the communists and led to the economic reforms (a market economy) of the 1980s. The Communist Party is still in charge but wants to deal with corruption (which is fomenting rebellious attitudes among the people) and increase the quality of leadership in the military. This is proving to be difficult. The corruption problem is made worse by the fact that conscription is handled by local entities, which are run by local politicians who are often corrupt, or willing to tolerate a lot of corruption. The military has tried to address this by sending more army personnel to increase the number of them assisting the local officials while also trying to spot who is corrupt and report those officials for prosecution. The Chinese armed forces have changed a lot since 2000. Uneducated country boys are no longer welcome. Then again, neither are tattooed and pierced urban hipsters or anyone who snores. In the 1990s, the military was, as the Chinese like to say, a "peasant's army." Worse, none of the officers or NCOs had any combat experience. The last of the Korean War vets were gone and the few veterans of the 1979 war with Vietnam were still trying to forget that disaster. The army was largely non-mechanized, with many primitive weapons and aging equipment. That has all changed in the last decade. Now most of the troops are better educated, more experienced, and largely from urban areas. Most of these troops are single children, the result of the "one child" policy. Officially introduced in 1978, this draconian solution to population growth did not really get going until the 1980s. In the last decade nearly all the new recruits came from single child families. Often called "little princes," their parents (and grandparents) lavished them with all the attention usually spread among many more kids. Often described as spoiled, these kids did get more adult attention, better education, and more of everything. They enter the military with lots of skills like computers, driving, and the ability to learn new stuff in a hurry. The best of these kids went to the top universities and few choose the military as a career. The army has found that this new generation is much more capable and quicker to learn. Senior commanders welcome this because it's the kind of manpower Western forces use to achieve very impressive results on the battlefield. Chinese NCOs and officers have learned how to work around the bad habits (selfishness, insubordination, stubbornness) of some little princes and make the most of the talents these troops bring with them. The most incorrigible little princes are just tossed out. The Chinese military is smaller now than in 2000. Back then there were 2.4 million, 40 percent of them conscripts. That eventually became two million, with a third of them conscripts. Most Chinese troops are volunteers. Technically, about 700,000 men are conscripts that serve for two years, with each year's class of conscripts inducted in the autumn. Only about 350,000 conscripts are inducted each year, and nearly all of these tend to be volunteers. That's because only about four percent of each year's crop of 18-year-old males is needed. How do they decide who to take? Naturally, the army tries to get the most physically, psychologically, and educationally fit for the armed forces. To that end the military has been administering tests to draftees for nearly two decades now. If you're not literate (over 90 percent of Chinese are), they don't want you. But the better educated 18-year olds don't want to go into the military, not with that booming economy out there. If selected, most of these lads bribe their way out or simply rely on there being enough qualified volunteers to satisfy the recruiting officials. A lot of young men who don't have much education very much want to get into the military. For one thing, it's a job, and there are opportunities for education and advancement. The military tries to identify the more capable among these poor, uneducated young men, so they can be taken into service. Men who have been accepted by a university are automatically exempt, as are those with a criminal record. Drug addicts, the physically or mentally infirm, and anyone who just doesn't seem right to the examiners, are exempt from conscription. And for many of those who are perfect, there are numerous officials willing to take a bribe and get you off the list. The work of deciding who actually gets drafted is done by thousands of draft boards or, as the Chinese call them, People's Armed Forces Departments (PAFD). Each is assigned a quota, based on how many 18-year olds are coming of age in a town or city neighborhood. Since these locations vary greatly in the wealth and educational levels of the inhabitants some PAFDs have an easy time of it, while others have to struggle to meet their quota. In some wealthy PAFDs hardly anyone wants to go and some interesting soap operas ensue. In less wealthy PAFDs bribes will be paid to get some kids in. Not large bribes but you get the picture. In the late 1990s, the operation of the PAFDs was turned over to the military, in an attempt to reduce corruption and ensure that the best quality recruits were obtained. This was only partially successful because most of the people running each PAFD were still locals and often reported to corrupt local officials. Partly in response to this dramatic change, China recently revised its Military Service Law (which stipulates how troops are recruited, their living conditions, and benefits in general) for the first time since the 1990s. In an attempt to get more highly educated young Chinese to join, living conditions are being improved and pay has been increased. Moreover, in recognition of the fact that many of the brightest troops will not make a career out of the military, the new law gives departing troops help in getting a good civilian job. One of the more attractive benefits is help with college tuition for soldiers who successfully complete their service. The Chinese probably noted how successful the U.S. G.I. Bill educational benefits were in attracting prime recruits. China will eventually have a Western quality military, or something very close to it. The Chinese realize this takes time, as in several decades. The Chinese are willing to take the time, make the effort and do it right. Announcing Safety21 May 30, 2023 Congresswoman Summer Lee announced on May 30 that Carnegie Mellon University will lead a national consortium that will receive $20 million over the next five years from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to establish Safety21, a new University Transportation Center (UTC). The consortium includes partners from across the U.S. who will collaborate to ensure that autonomous, networked, shared, and integrated transportation technologies and systems are developed and deployed with safety, equity, and sustainability in mind. Their work will bolster the nations competitive edge in domestic production and global leadership of these technologies and provide training for the transportation workforce. The transportation sector of our economy is undergoing a revolution. In the past decade, advances in sensing technologies, computing power and wireless communications coupled with AI and machine learning are directly addressing the quality and quantity of the transport of people and goods. Electric vehicles are poised to overtake gasoline-powered cars, with more driver-assist safety features than ever. Yet, there are over 40,000 automotive fatalities per year in the U.S., mostly due to human error. Technology promises much, but the state of the art in highly automated vehicles is not mature enough for widespread deployment. Failures of autonomy features raise legitimate questions of trust, and connectivity presents new threats to privacy and cybersecurity. At this critical juncture, to remain competitive, domestic industry needs innovative technologies, policy frameworks, and well-trained workers. To address these challenges, Safety21 will seek inclusive input from stakeholders, including communities, workers, users, vehicle manufacturers, and researchers as it takes a holistic, system-of-systems approach to advancing connected and automated vehicle technologies and intelligent infrastructure. This award from the U.S. Department of Transportation affirms Carnegie Mellons long-established leadership in developing technology and informing policy to improve our nations transportation network. The impact of Safety21s research will be expanded by the Centers intentional focus on equal access to safe and sustainable transportation for all communities, says Farnam Jahanian, president of Carnegie Mellon. Carnegie Mellon is leading the consortia that spans across Morgan State University, The Ohio State University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The Community College of Allegheny County and the Community College of Philadelphia will receive support for innovative workforce programs tailored for the existing and emerging transportation workforce. Through Safety21, faculty and student researchers will capitalize on the opportunities and risks that automated and connected vehicles present. The knowledge they create will be shared with transportation managers, companies, and community organizations, resulting in technology transfer and deployment, says William H. Sanders, dean of Carnegie Mellon College of Engineering. Safety21 is yet another example of the important work we are doing at the critical nexus of technology and society, said Ramayya Krishnan, dean of Carnegie Mellon Universitys Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy. As technological advancements in AI and electric vehicles continue to emerge, we must operate with a concentrated focus on the importance of safety, equity and the environment. Raj Rajkumar, the George Westinghouse Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon, will lead Safety21. Rajkumar, who has earned global recognition for autonomous vehicle research, was the director of Carnegie Mellons last UTC, Mobility21. Safety21 will be the fourth UTC that Carnegie Mellon has managed since 2012. Safety21s project portfolio will enhance transportation safety through research, development, and deployment of breakthrough technologies and policy innovations. Additionally, we seek to broaden our impact by ensuring communities have equal access to safety technologies; evaluating energy use and emissions; and supporting domestic commercialization, entrepreneurship, and public policy to rally economic strength and global competitiveness, says Rajkumar. Out of five National UTC grants awarded in 2023, Safety21 is the one National Center with the theme of improving safety. UTC funding is authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. To address these challenges, Safety21 will seek inclusive input from stakeholders, including communities, workers, users, vehicle manufacturers, and researchers as it takes a holistic, system-of-systems approach to advancing connected and automated vehicle technologies and intelligent infrastructure. This award from the U.S. Department of Transportation affirms Carnegie Mellons long- established leadership in developing technology and informing policy to improve our nations transportation network. The impact of Safety21s research will be expanded by the Centers intentional focus on equal access to safe and sustainable transportation for all communities, says Farnam Jahanian, president of Carnegie Mellon. Carnegie Mellon is leading the consortia that spans across Morgan State University, The Ohio State University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The Community College of Allegheny County and the Community College of Philadelphia will receive support for innovative workforce programs tailored for the existing and emerging transportation workforce. Through Safety21, faculty and student researchers will capitalize on the opportunities and risks that automated and connected vehicles present. The knowledge they create will be shared with transportation managers, companies, and community organizations, resulting in technology transfer and deployment, says William H. Sanders, dean of Carnegie Mellon College of Engineering. Safety21 is yet another example of the important work we are doing at the critical nexus of technology and society, said Ramayya Krishnan, dean of Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy. As technological advancements in AI and electric vehicles continue to emerge, we must operate with a concentrated focus on the importance of safety, equity and the environment. Raj Rajkumar, the George Westinghouse Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon, will lead Safety21. Rajkumar, who has earned global recognition for autonomous vehicle research, was the director of Carnegie Mellon's last UTC, Mobility21. Safety21 will be the fourth UTC that Carnegie Mellon has managed since 2012. Safety21's project portfolio will enhance transportation safety through research, development, and deployment of breakthrough technologies and policy innovations. Additionally, we seek to broaden our impact by ensuring communities have equal access to safety technologies; evaluating energy use and emissions; and supporting domestic commercialization, entrepreneurship, and public policy to rally economic strength and global competitiveness, says Rajkumar. Out of five National UTC grants awarded in 2023, Safety21 is the one National Center with the theme of improving safety. UTC funding is authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. A TD has queried serious delays in Cork City Councils social housing pipeline as highlighted in a Government report, but the council has said the document does not relate to current data. Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould criticised what he called lengthy delays in the construction of social housing, which are leaving potential homes unbuilt. Mr Goulds comments relate to analysis undertaken by his office of the Department of Housings construction status progress report for Q4 of 2022. Mr Gould said there were currently 861 social homes at various stages of construction in Cork City, and over 40% had been delayed for at least a year, a statement the council has described as inaccurate. Working from the data contained in the report, Mr Gould said 364 of those homes in the pipeline had been held up since at least the first quarter of 2022. A spokesperson for Cork City Council said the report was a high-level national report giving an overview of projects and their current status and needs to be read in the context of it being completed in Q4 of 2022, and updates for the first quarter of 2023 would need to be taken into account. However, Mr Gould has argued that the data shows a lack of progress on some projects. There are plans for 37 units on Boyce St, he said. These have been flagged for decades. Despite the huge demand for these potential homes, there has been little progress on these plans since at least March 2018. These could be homes; people in Cork City are crying out for homes. Instead, these plans have been gathering dust for over five years now. The Sinn Fein TD said the departments report showed 114 homes that could be built which had instead been sitting at various stages of construction for at least three years. It should not take three years to build 11 homes, but Cork City Council have been on site, on Redforge Rd, building 11 homes since the first quarter of 2020, he said. I have written to the minister and Cork City Council to ask them to make clear where these delays are coming from and what is being done to resolve this. Mr Gould said the delays were unacceptable, and a direct consequence of the Governments policies. The council spokesperson said that it was important to highlight that some of the projects cited in The Echos query had commenced before or during the pandemic, with the associated effects of construction shutdowns, and material and supply chain delays, which were further exacerbated by the impact of the Ukrainian war on supply chain. Rejecting the suggestion some of its social housing projects were stalled, the council said: All projects listed are either completed, onsite, or are live within the four-stage process and progressing to site-start. It is therefore completely inaccurate to state that 40% of the programme is stalled. Referring to the 37 social housing units planned for Boyces St, the spokesperson said: This is phase two of a two-phase development. Phase one is now completing, enabling works are complete on phase two, and the main housing contract will progress on this site on completion of phase one. On the claim, cited within the departmental report, that Cork City Council has been on site, on Redforge Rd, building 11 homes since the first quarter of 2020, the spokesperson said: This project referred to is a Respond housing development, not a Cork City Council direct build project. This is the final phase of four phases totalling 80 homes this final phase is currently completing. However, Mr Gould criticised what he described as a lack of urgency from the Government when it came to the completion of social housing projects. They are allowing these projects gather dust for years upon years, said the Cork North Central TD. We have a minister announced, to much fanfare, that there are 19,000 homes in the pipeline. How many of these are facing similar delays? The number of people on the social housing list in Cork City rose by 380 last year to 7,190 people. People need housing they are crying out for it. These delays are compounding the housing crisis in Cork City. GOVERNMENT TDs have welcomed the announcement of over 55m in funding for Cork projects in the HSE Capital Plan 2023, while opposition representatives have said the plan lacks vision. Fianna Fail TD for Cork North Central Padraig OSullivan welcomed the plan, saying that funding had been secured to progress the proposed elective hospital in Glanmire to design stage by the end of the third quarter of this year. He also welcomed the allocation of over 13.5m in funding for works at Cork University Hospital. However, Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould said the HSE Capital Plan 2023 showed there was no real plan to resolve the crisis in healthcare in Cork city and county. Mr O'Sullivan said that particularly welcome is the development of the new six-storey block at CUH to accommodate three floors of critical care beds, a total of 58 beds. Theres an allocation of 1.5m for the paediatric department phase two, inpatient bed provision including 74 beds, 50 children and 24 infant beds, between the Mercy and CUH, and the money for the helipad, 1.91m, is there, Mr OSullivan said. Mr OSullivan welcomed the total allocation of 1.51m to the Mercy University Hospital, with 260,000 going to a new 30-bed ward. He also welcomed the allocation of 7.4m in funding for the reconfiguration and extension of the Carraig Mor centre in Shanakiel, providing 18 single bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. Colm Burke, Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central, welcomed the plan, noting that it allowed for the finalisation of the 50-bed Blarney Community Nursing Unit, which he said should be completed by late 2023 or early 2024. Then theres a whole lot of other projects in relation to community healthcare, like Kinsale, Kanturk, Macroom, Mr Burke said. St Finbarrs Hospital, for instance, theres the replacement of 20 replacement single bedrooms, and then refurbishing 50 beds, so thats very welcome as well. Also welcoming the allocation of funding for the CUH paediatric unit, Mr Burke said that project needed now to be progressed. Defending the Governments record on health in Cork city, Mr Burke cited the roll-out of services on the northside of the city. In Cork North Central in the last two years, an extra 140 beds in real terms, between community care and hospital beds, have been provided in a very short time frame, he said. However, Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central, Thomas Gould, said the HSE Capital Plan 2023 showed there was no real plan to resolve the crisis in healthcare in Cork city and county. There will be no major projects delivered in 2023, there is no plan to resolve issues with the Emergency Department in the Mercy Hospital, and there are no plans to progress vital primary care services in Blarney, Ballyvolane or Mayfield, Mr Gould said. The reality is that our health service is on its knees." Sean Sherlock, Labour Party TD for East Cork, said that regarding hospitals such as Mallow, where there is capital expenditure by the HSE at present, there needed to be a vision for a service that would ensure more capacity could be taken out of CUH and people could be treated locally within their own community. What I want to see within those 48 beds [allocated for Mallow] in the capital plan, is some capacity for rehabilitation services, Mr Sherlock said. For example, Mallow is located in the heart of Munster but a lot of people have to go to Dun Laoghaire for services. If a certain number of beds were allocated and if the vision is right, a hospital like Mallow could provide such rehabilitation services. We could triage a lot of people away from CUH if the referral protocols were robust and fit for purpose, he said. More and more people could be treated in hospitals like Mallow if the referral pathways were fit for purpose and that needs to be looked at as a matter of urgency. A CORK-BASED death doula has opened up about how people are contacting her to plan their own funerals in a bid to face their own crippling mortality issues. Stefanie Blech, who lives in Youghal, was speaking about the surge in demand for death doulas locally. Often referred to as death midwives, death doulas provide emotional and physical support for those tackling devastating end of life transitions. It comes amid the rapid growth of death cafes across the country, which offer a space for people to meet and discuss death over coffee and cake. Stefanie, who previously worked as a social worker specialising in palliative care, recently enjoyed an impressive turn out at a death cafe she hosted in Myo Cafe on Popes Quay. The German native has received all manner of calls from people in Cork asking about her services. One request came from a woman who planned a living wake to confront her mortality fears despite being fit and healthy. Stefanie described how the woman wrapped herself in a shroud, experiencing the event from the point of view of the deceased. The woman had just experienced her own mothers passing, Stefanie said. After seeing her funeral, she knew she wanted to do things differently. She wanted to experience how it would feel for her so decided to have a kind of living wake. Obviously, she knew she wouldnt be able to have it anywhere else but her home. It was a celebration of her life even though she hadnt yet died. "She only invited the people who were very close to her. Im sure they thought it was very strange, but they came along anyway as they knew it was important to her. She wanted to gather a sense of what elements were important to her so she could have the type of ceremony she wanted for when the time came. It was a very beautiful even if it was very quirky. Stefanie said that death is still very much a taboo in Irish culture. I think there is a lot of silence around exploring the deeper elements of the topic, and being comfortable talking about death. Speaking about death can be difficult for some, she says. It may be something they have never given a lot of space to. Often grief is never processed which makes going into this conversation about death and mortality painful. Speaking about the role of death doulas, Stefanie said: It is a very deep and heartfelt experience. The beauty is being together with that person and gaining an understanding of their belief system and how they approach death. "Ive spoken to different people about their reasons for becoming death doulas," she added. "Some are doing the work because they supported a loved one dying and want to do the same for other people. "Others never experienced anyone close to them dying and just had a calling. According to Stefanie, support is vital for anyone considering the career path. Of course, in every kind of caring and interactive role we do that aspect of boundary or self-care is very important. While it does emotionally move you and you form a connection with the person who is dying, having clear boundaries is very important. You cant be everything for that person so this is where the community network comes in. You have to reach out to other people and professionals to fill in the support structure that is needed. CALLS for intervention relating to a Cork nursing homes decision to leave the Fair Deal Scheme were further amplified as relatives took to the streets in protest. Family members and loved ones of residents of Beaumont Residential Care turned up at the Tanaiste Micheal Martins Cork office this week, calling for the Government to increase payments to Beaumont nursing homes. Some 56 residents of the CareChoice facility are currently residing there under the Fair Deal Scheme. However, the centre said it has no choice but to pull out of the scheme if payments continue at their current level. Anne Rodgers, who is the daughter of one resident, said they want to support Beaumont at a time when they are coming under extreme pressure. The nursing home said it has been forced by the actions and inactions of the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to leave the scheme under which the HSE funds a percentage of a residents nursing home fees. Anne said that families are now seriously concerned about the fate of their family members in the nursing home. We dont know what will happen or where our relatives will end up, she said. Nobody is negotiating with CareChoice. This is why we are protesting. We want to support CareChoice, and [we] understand why they did what they did. She said that more dignity needs to be afforded to older people. Speaking about her own mother Brid, who suffers from vascular dementia, and is a resident of the nursing home, she said: My mum is immobile and non-verbal. To move her would be really detrimental to her wellbeing. We have already said that if she was to get fiercely ill she cant be transferred to a hospital because of the trauma she would endure. I cant really comprehend it, to be honest. We are doing this to give a voice to residents. This is their home, and the residents are each others friends and family. The carers have invested interest in the residents. They know them so well. Although this is end-of-life care for my mother, there is still no timeline on how long she will be there. She is nonverbal, immobile, and needs an awful lot of care. She emphasised the importance of looking out for societys more vulnerable members. We are talking about very vulnerable, very elderly people, she said. They deserve dignity. Thats all I can give my mum now. What we are asking for is a fair deal. We are only asking for the same amount that residents in public nursing homes get. There needs to be consistency across the entire nursing home sector. 'SADDENED' The nursing home released a statement to The Echo in relation to the Fair Deal Scheme. Beaumont Residential Care is very saddened to announce that the home has now left the Fair Deal Scheme as a result of the actions and inactions of the NTPF, CareChoice Group CEO Stuart Murphy stated. This is a very difficult and sad day for the Fair Deal residents who reside in the home and also for their families. Over the last seven months we have tried to persuade the NTPF, HSE, and Department of Health to engage with us in relation to the chronic underfunding of caring for the Fair Deal residents in the CareChoice Group, including Beaumont Residential Care, but there has been no meaningful engagement. More recently we have tried our very best to persuade the HSE and the Department of Health to fund the cost of caring for Fair Deal residents in Beaumont Residential Care outside of the Fair Deal Scheme. Given the unwillingness of the Department of Health to find a solution to the funding of the Fair Deal residents in Beaumont Residential Care, we have advised the Fair Deal residents that they can continue to reside in the home for the next month without facing any additional charges. During this month, CareChoice will continue to advocate to try to ensure that the Fair Deal residents can remain in their home. This issue can only be solved by the HSE or through Government intervention at a senior level, as the NTPF are unwilling to solve it. A spokesperson for the nursing home said the Fair Deal rate that the six CareChoice Cork homes require in order to be sustainable is 1,270 per week, and the NTPF is unwilling to agree to this sustainable rate. The NTPF have stated that they face budgetary constraints from the HSE, while at the same time the HSE is paying over 1,800 per week to care for a resident in its Cork homes, the spokesperson said. The HSE has increased the funding for the Cork rates for its homes by 183 per week, while at the same time the NTPF is insisting on an average increase of 16 per week for the CareChoice homes in Cork. These differences are completely unjustifiable. The NTPF said it does not comment on individual negotiations. A spokesperson stated: Under Section 41 of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009, the NTPF is the designated body to agree maximum prices with private and voluntary nursing homes for the purpose of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme [aka the Fair Deal Scheme]. As part of this function, the NTPF will enter into approved nursing home agreements with registered nursing homes to record the maximum price(s) that have been negotiated. The NTPF does not comment on its negotiations with individual nursing homes. A young woman with a Benzodiazepine addiction was released from a jail sentence on April 21, and by April 22 she had committed the first of a new spate of crimes. Now at Cork District Court, 24-year-old Kelsie Flynn, of no fixed address, has pleaded guilty to her latest series of offences. Judge Colm Roberts noted that she was back in trouble within just 24 hours of her release from prison. She was stealing goods at Cork City centre premises including Penneys, Dealz, Phelans pharmacy, and Lifestyle Sports. She was also committing public order offences and getting caught with Benzodiazepine-type tablets on her person. Defence solicitor, Frank Buttimer, said: She is addicted to Benzodiazpines. She engaged well with the services while she was in Limerick prison. And yet, Judge Roberts commented, she was back in trouble the day after her release. Judge Robert said: It is quite clear the difficulty for this young lady is her addiction. The most appropriate resolution would be to have her go for drug treatment. But the court can only give a suspended sentence and make it a condition of the suspended sentence there is not any drug treatment facility run by the court service or the prison service. In terms of the risk of letting her walk free, the judge expressed concerns about the company she would keep: The people she knows, very few of them are going to mass every day and are sober and have taken the pledge. Some form of custodial sentence has to be imposed, with regret. Judge Roberts imposed a number of sentences with the combined effect of her having an overall jail term of 18 weeks, and a four-month sentence hanging over her on her release from prison. I think she has little or no regard for the people she is stealing from, but poverty and drug addiction are the reasons. She could easily be doing two years (in prison) with the offences she has committed. She is getting a break. I hope she gets herself clean and gets on to a treatment programme and gives herself a chance. A MEMBER of An Garda Siochana was allegedly bitten on the right hand by a woman arrested for suspected shoplifting. Dorota Smolarczyk, aged 47, of The Orchard, Woodville, Dunkettle, Glanmire, Co Cork, appeared at Cork District Court on charges arising out of the alleged incident. Sergeant Pat Lyons said the DPP had directed that the case could be heard summarily at Cork District Court. It was then a matter for Judge Colm Roberts to hear an outline of the allegations so that he could decide if he would accept jurisdiction to deal with the matter. Sgt Lyons said it was alleged that the defendant was intoxicated to such an extent that she was a danger to herself or others, engaged in threatening behaviour, committed a theft at Dunnes Stores, Ballyvolane, and assaulted Garda Martin OConnell causing him harm. She was arrested and taken to Mayfield Garda station. While being escorted from the patrol car to the custody suite, Dorota Smolarczyk attacked Garda OConnell and bit his hand, piercing the skin and drawing blood. Garda OConnell had to have a tetanus injection following the wound to his right hand, Sgt Lyons said. Judge Colm Roberts directed that a copy of the prosecution statements would be sent to defence solicitor, Eddie Burke. Judge Roberts adjourned the case until July 11 at Cork District Court. WARNING: Readers may find the following article upsetting A vulnerable prisoner found suspended from a ligature in his cell last year had two appointments to see a psychiatrist cancelled shortly before his death, due to a lack of prison staff. A new report by the Inspector of Prisons (IoP) into the death of a 24-year-old Polish national at Cork Prison on January 15, 2022, heard he had no history of mental health issues but was upset about the incident which resulted in his incarceration. As a result of its investigation into the death of the man, identified only as Mr C, the IoP has called on the Irish Prison Service (IPS) to ensure healthcare appointments for prisoners are not cancelled because prison staff are unavailable to escort them. The prisons watchdog said the availability of escort prison staff was particularly critical for referrals to psychiatric in-reach clinics and any cancelled appointment should be rescheduled as a matter of urgency. It recommended that the necessary staffing resources for accompanying prisoners to such clinics should be ring-fenced in the Regime Management Plans of all prisons in Ireland. The IoP revealed the prisoner had engaged in an act of self-harm as he was being brought from Bandon District Court to the local garda station. Mr C was referred by a prison nurse to a psychiatric clinic on both December 28 and December 29, 2021, but both visits were cancelled due to a lack of prison staff to escort the inmate. The report showed that another referral was made for Mr C to see a psychiatrist on January 17, 2022. It also highlighted how a prison doctor had claimed there was a backlog of patients attending psychiatric clinics due to an absence of prison officers to escort prisoners. FAMILY'S CLAIMS Mr Cs family claimed he and his girlfriend had been seriously assaulted by their neighbours which resulted in him receiving over 100 stitches. They said the deceased had used pepper spray on his assailants in order to protect his girlfriend. Mr Cs mother said her son, who came to Ireland in 2017 to join his brother, was afraid in prison as he had never been in trouble before. He had been moved to a cell on his own for protection as a relative of his assailants was also in custody in Cork Prison. The report noted that Mr Cs family did not believe he should have been in custody and were annoyed that his attackers had retained their freedom. They also told the IoP that they believed he had been treated more harshly by the courts because he was not Irish. CALL Mr C was remanded in prison on December 6, 2021, in relation to the incident and was sentenced to four months in prison by Bandon District Court on January 7, 2022. He was also facing another court appearance on January 20, 2022. on further charges in relation to the use of pepper spray. The report revealed he had spoken to his pregnant girlfriend by phone for over four-and-a-half minutes just after midnight on January 15, 2022. Just over an hour later, he was found suspended from a ligature in his cell by prison staff who unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate him. The IoP found Mr C had expressed suicidal thoughts during the call to his girlfriend and was anxious about his upcoming court case. The inspector, who examined the content of the recorded call, said Mr C had admitted that thoughts of those who assaulted him being free was driving him crazy and he was expecting a prison sentence of a few years for assaulting them. The IoP said it did not have access to two notes that were found in the prisoners cell. In a 16-page report, the inspector said prison staff should keep records of any healthcare appointments for prisoners that are cancelled due to acute staff shortages or other operational reasons. In response to the report, the IPS said it accepted a series of recommendations by the prisons watchdog. The IPS said it was considering how to ensure prisoners were seen by relevant clinicians during times of staff shortages and would revert back to the IoP once the process had been completed. HELPLINES: Aware Mental health support for those impacted by depression, bipolar disorder & anxiety. Call 1800 80 48 48 Grow Mental health support & recovery. Call 1890 474 474 Pieta Help for people who are suicidal and/or engaging in self-harm. Call 1800 247 247 or 01 623 5606 Samaritans Call 116 123, text 087 2609090 or email jo@samaritans.ie Shine Support for people affected by mental ill health. Call 01 541 3715 Russian efforts to declare the ten-month battle for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut a victory were disputed by revelations about Russian losses and continued advances by Ukrainian forces. When Russia declared victory in Bakhmut, Ukrainian forces were still holding western portions of the city. As Russia began moving most of its troops from the city after the victory announcement, Ukrainian forces advanced and reoccupied the territory Russians had recently captured. The Russian victory was further tarnished when Wagner Group officials complained that they lost 20,000 troops killed and many more wounded during the long battle for the city. Wagner accused the Defense Ministry of not supplying Wagner with sufficient ammunition and supplies to speed up the fighting and reduce Russian (especially Wagner) losses. Ukraine does not release casualty data but it was obvious from satellite photos and reports from eyewitnesses that Ukrainian casualties were much lower because the Russians were doing most of the attacking without using many armored vehicles or tanks. Ukrainian forces largely fought from inside buildings or well-protected bunkers and had several safe (from enemy fire) displacement routes prepared so that the Ukrainian troops could safely abandon a position and move to another. These protected routes were also used to bring in supplies or evacuate casualties. The Internet chatter about losses in Bakhmut confirmed the heavier Russian losses. Some Ukrainians criticized the defense of the city because of the Ukrainian losses. In the end, the Battle for Bakhmut absorbed all the offensive forces available to the Russians and basically lost most of those troops taking a city where a proclaimed victory turned out to be an embarrassing defeat. Russia is rebuilding an offensive force in Russia but this process wont be complete for another year. Meanwhile the reluctant conscripts and mobilized reservists in Ukraine have little training, few weapons and poor leadership. Russia is also training more junior combat officers to replace the heavy losses suffered in early 2022. Most of the Russian losses at Bakhmut were not Russian soldiers but Russian mercenaries working for the Wagner Group, a private military contractor organization formed in 2014 on the order of Vladimir Putin. He asked Yevgeny Prigozhin, one of the wealthy Russian businessmen who backed Putin, to organize it and that included finding an experienced special operations officer to run day-to-day operations. This turned out to be retired spetsnaz Lt. Col. Dmitry Utkin, whose code name was Wagner. Utkin understood that Wagner Group was created for carrying out illegal military operations outside Russia. The first of these was the 2014 seizure of Crimea from Ukraine. Wagner Group has been in Ukraine ever since and increased its personnel there to over 50,000 by 2022. Smaller number of Wagner Group personnel work around the world as highly paid mercenaries working for foreign governments, especially in Africa. Wagner Group requires large payments from the Russian government to keep its operations going and expanding. These payments are illegal, if only because private military contractors are illegal in Russia. Recently additional military contractor organizations have been created by powerful Russian businessmen. To many Russians, this proliferation of private armies seems to be the prelude to another Russian Civil War. The heavy dependence on Wagner Group forces in Ukraine is the result of Wagner Group having access to more money and fewer restrictions than the Russian Defense Ministry and military. The high cost of operation Wagner Group has been noticed because Wagner Group operations are often noted as a reason for the heavy economic sanctions imposed on Russia by NATO countries because of the fighting in Ukraine. Initially, the invasion force included no mercenaries, just military personnel. This force was largely destroyed during the first few months of fighting. Putin promised a short war and now was stuck with a much larger war that eventually threatened his position as Russian leader. Putin brought in the Wagner Group to save the situation in Ukraine. Wagner Group made a difference, but not enough to change the likely outcome of the war. This led to Wagner Group and the Defense Ministry blaming each other for the mess. The war in Ukraine is not popular inside Russia and that has made it difficult for the military to recruit new troops to fight in Ukraine. Russia conscripts a quarter million young Russian men each year for one year of conscript service. The law stipulates that conscripts cannot be sent to a combat zone outside Russia. Putin tried to get around this by declaring Ukraine was actually part of Russia and Russian troops were there to put down an insurrection. Most conscripts and especially their parents, did not go along with this. This forced the government to spend a lot more money to get more nominally volunteers (contract soldiers) by forcing men with military service or and many with none to be mobilized into the military as highly paid contract soldiers. This worked initially until reports of the high casualty rates of contract soldiers in Ukraine became widely known. This led to more illegal schemes to obtain volunteers. This included forcing or deceiving conscripts into signing contracts to serve longer as contract soldiers. The war-related sanctions on Russia had caused an economic recession and good civilian jobs were hard to find. Pay for contract soldiers was completive with similar jobs and that was not a bad deal when there was not a war going on in Ukraine. So far this year, Russia has recruited nearly 200,000 contract soldiers. Most of these have no training and this means a few months, or at least weeks, of training is needed to make these men useful, rather than an obstacle, in combat. Wagner Group is not restricted in how it recruits and it was able to recruit many convicts from prison. The deal was that if they survived their six month contract they would be free to leave and would also get a pardon and not return to prison. The Defense Ministry later tried this but had little success as Wagner Group had few restrictions on how it handled convict contract soldiers. If any of these men disobeyed orders or faltered in combat, they could be killed on the spot. That was standard practice in the Russian military during World War II and was enforced by special secret police (NKVD) units and political officers (Zampolits) assigned to commanders of units company or larger on up. Zampolits could execute reluctant soldiers or commanders. Wagner Force is the only military organization in Russian that is allowed to use this older but now officially forbidden, leadership style. Its common knowledge that Wager Group operates this way and anyone joining knows it. Some Russians have called for the military to adopt the old-school disciplinary procedures, Most Russians do not want that, or the Wagner Group, the war in Ukraine or Vladimir Putin. This has led to more popular opposition to the war and Putin and more of the opposition are resorting to violence because nothing else seems to work. Putin stays in power by dealing with the opposition. That comes at a visible cost. Many Russians are getting out of Russia to avoid military service or unemployment or simply because of Putins autocratic rules. Putins response was to declare it illegal to leave Russia without official permission. Many are leaving despite the restrictions; via whatever way they can come up with. Putin always admired the Soviet Union and now he is turning Russia back into a totalitarian police state. Those who back Putin believe Russia will eventually prevail in Ukraine, even if it takes decades. Most Russians, Ukrainians and NATO members disagree and now consider Russia a threat to everyone. May 29, 2023: Ukrainian air force leaders believe that Ukraine needs about fifty F-16 fighters to deal with the Russian air force. NATO recently agreed to provide these aircraft, which Russia does not want to face in combat. Since the end of the Cold War in 1991, the F-16 has been the most frequently purchased combat aircraft. This is because the F-16 has a long track record of reliability and success against Russian built warplanes. F-16s have regularly defeated Russian aircraft in the air as well as Russian air defense systems. It is easier to fly and maintain than Russian warplanes and very effective at air-to-air combat and attacking ground targets. Even without the F-16s, Ukraines Russian made warplanes have prevented the larger Russian air force from gaining air supremacy over Ukraine. The Ukrainian F-16s will put the Russian air force on the defensive and expose Russian targets to more effective airstrikes. May 28, 2023: In Turkey, president Recep Erdogan won another five year term, extending his rule of Turkey to 25 years. This was a surprise outside Turkey, where Turkish economic and corruption problems as well as a unified opposition seemed to doom Erdogans reelection hopes. Erdogan remaining in power is bad news for NATO and encouraging to Vladimir Putin. Erdogan and Putin often cooperate, despite the fact that NATO was formed to protect members from Russian aggression. May 27, 2023: Russian launched its largest yet cruise missile attack on the Ukrainian capital. Because only 54 Shahed-136 missiles were used, all but two of them were shot down. The attack was at night, which Russia believes makes the Shahed-136 harder to detect and shoot down. Because this attack was at night there were fewer people on the street and there was only one casualty, a man killed by falling debris from a building that was hit. Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian cities and military facilities are increasingly ineffective. Ukraine has built a layered air defense system that makes it impossible for Russia to obtain air superiority and carry out airstrikes. The forced Russia to use air, ground and ship launched cruise and ballistic missiles. A year of this has left Russia short of enough guided munitions to make regular or massive attacks. Steady improvements in Ukrainian air defenses had led to a higher proportion (often 100 percent) of Russian missiles destroyed. Some still get through, but that is increasingly rare. For example, today Russia launched another barrage of missiles against Ukraine, using 48 missiles of various types. Only ten were conventional cruise (Kh-101/555) missiles while seven were S-300 anti-aircraft missiles modified to operate as a short range cruise missile and the remaining 31 were Iranian Shahed-136 missiles. These weigh 200 kg (440 pounds) and are armed with a warhead containing 30 to 50 kg, most of it explosives. Thats not a lot because most cruise missiles carry warheads weighing half a ton (500 kg) or more. The Shahed-136 warhead will damage, not destroy, most structures it hits. Shahed-136 is launched using a rocket motor that gets it into the air and then detaches and falls away. To be effective Shahed-136 is launched in swarms, which was the case with this attack. Shahed-136 is propeller driven using a noisy gasoline engine. Aptly described as low (altitude), slow and loud, Shahed-136 is easy to detect and shoot down. All these missiles were launched from different bases and approached their Ukrainian targets from different directions in an effort to reduce the effectiveness of Ukrainian anti-aircraft defenses. The ten cruise missiles were intercepted as were 23 of the Shahed-136s and two reconnaissance UAVs used to spot specific targets for the attack. The attack was aimed at targets in several cities and towns. Attacks like this are increasingly rare because Russia has used up most of its pre-war stockpile of missiles and is now relying on newly manufactured or obtained (from Iran) missiles. Because of the unexpected effectiveness of Ukrainian antimissile defenses, Russia accumulates as many different cruise missiles as possible before launching a large scale attack that will ensure that some of the missiles reach targets. May 26, 2023: The UAV division of the Kalashnikov company is expanding the types of UAVs it manufactures, putting more emphasis on UAVs operating as cruise missiles; carrying explosives on a one way attack mission. This is not the first combat UAV Kalashnikov has developed. In 2019 they introduced the first of three models of its Lantset loitering munitions. All versions of Lantset are small, propeller-driven UAVs that send back a video signal to the operator and carry an explosive warhead. Initially Lantset came in two sizes. Lantset 1 weighs 5 kg (11 pounds), can stay airborne for 30 minutes and carries a 1 kg (2.2 pound) warhead. Lantset 3 weighs 12 kg (26 pounds), can stay airborne for 40 minutes and carries a 3 kg (6.6 pound) warhead. In 2021 a KUB-BLA maritime version was introduced that had a delta wing design with a propeller in the rear. This naval model is small, being 1.2 meters (48 inches) long with a 950mm (37 inch) wingspan. Endurance is 30 minutes and explosive payload is 3 kg (6.6 pounds). This one has not been offered for sale yet but has been flight tested and is to be equipped with a guidance system that enables groups of KUB-BLAs to operate autonomously in a swarm to attack a target or targets. 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 24, 2023: After two weeks of dedicated and persistent Ukrainian artillery attacks on Russian artillery, rocket launchers and large (120mm and up) caliber mortars the artillery systems available to Russian forces has been reduced by nearly 2,700 along the 1,500 kilometer front line in southeastern and southern Ukraine. In one day this effort destroyed 40 Russian systems. The Ukrainians are using counterbattery artillery spotting radars and reconnaissance USVs as well as reports from Ukrainian civilians and special forces sent into Russian occupied Ukrainian territory to find targets and call in artillery fire. The small Ukrainian infantry special forces units are also collecting details of Russian defenses, details that are missed just using aerial and satellite reconnaissance. May 23, 2023: In Germany crew training for Ukrainians using 110 Leopard 1 tanks has been completed. The Leopard 1 entered service in 1961 and began getting replaced by Leopard 2s in 1979. Some 3,600 Leopard 2s have been built since 1979, most of them before the Cold War ended in 1991. In the 1990s major users of Leopard 2s retired many of these tanks. Germany had 2,100 Leopard 2s and retired most of them by selling them off, at very attractive prices, to friendly countries. Despite this flood of low cost Leopard 2s, many nations kept their Leopard 1s. The 42-ton Leopard 1 and its 105mm gun could deal with any Russian tank, but not as efficiently as a 61-ton Leopard 2 and its 120mm gun. Ukrainians have been building tanks for nearly a century and know these combat vehicles quite well. A hundred Leopard 1A5s will overwhelm the Russians faster than a few dozen Leopard 2s and Challengers 2s. There were more Leopard 1A5s available from European nations that realized their values and put them in storage rather than scrapping them. The Ukrainians are using the Leopard 1s to support their infantry, especially the infantry traveling in IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles). These have thinner armor than the Leopard 1s but with the direct attack firepower provided by the 105mm guns of the Leopard 1s and mobile artillery further back, provide a combined arms attack force the Russians are not prepared to handle. This mobile attack force can move to portions of the front line the Russians were not able to fortify with tank obstacles and landmines. This is what the Russians feared the Ukrainians might do and it means the elaborate defenses Russia has built will be bypassed and the Ukrainian mobile units will capture large portions of Russian occupied Ukraine. This is the sort of fighting not seen in Europe since World War II. These were the tactics the Germans used in 1941-42 and the Russians when they counterattacked from 1943 to 1945 to end the war. May 22, 2023: In northeastern Ukraine several American MRAP armored trucks carrying nearly a hundred members of the Freedom of Russia Legion crossed the border into the Russian province of Belgorod. After three days of fighter the attackers returned to Ukraine with three captured Russian armored vehicles and gave a press conference and declared that this was the first of many such attacks by the Freedom of Russia Legion, which is determined to end the war in Ukraine and prevent the Russian economy from being permanently damaged by over a year of economic sanctions. The attackers released UAV video showing Russian soldiers panicking and refusing to fight while seeking places to hide. The Russian government had a hard time responding to this kind of threat and blamed a recent series of attacks inside Russia on similar groups. These attacks have cut railroad lines, derailed trains and blown up military targets inside Russia and Russian occupied Crimea, which Russia claims is now part of Russia. May 21, 2023: Russia continues to keep most of its Black Sea fleet in the port of Novorossiysk, which is on the east coast of the Black Sea. Russia built a naval base at Novorossiysk that was completed in 2012. Two years later Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula and the naval port of Sevastopol from Ukraine. In the late year constant attacks on Russian warships by Ukrainian USVs (Unmanned Surface Vehicles) and UAVs as well as anti-ship missiles has forced Russia to use Novorossiysk as their main naval base for the Black Sea Fleet. From this port small Russian warships carry out patrols near Crimea but rarely further west where the main Ukrainian port of Odessa is. From there Russian warships armed with Kalibr cruise missiles can launch attacks on Ukrainian cities and military bases. May 20, 2023: The Russian air force has ordered that most of its SU-25 ground attack aircraft be upgraded to the Su-25SM3 standard that was developed in 2012 in an effort to match the capabilities of the American A-10C. a recent (2005) upgrade to the 1970s A-10 design that added the ability to use guided bombs and missiles. The Americans went ahead and upgraded most of their A-10s while Russia dropped plans to upgrade all the Su-25s because the money was not available. The few aircraft upgraded to Su-25SM3a were tested and found quite effective and popular with pilots. Su-25s have been heavily used in Ukraine by Russia and the Ukrainians, who inherited many Su-25s when the Cold War ended and kept them in service. May 19, 2023: Russia has agreed to allow Cubans living in Russian to join the army as contract soldiers and, after a year of service, receive Russian citizenship. Thousands of Cubans already live and work in Russian as expatriates, on work visas. Russia and Cuba have been allies for over sixty years and many Cubans learn Russian while in Cuban schools. Russian encourages Russian speaking Cubans with essential skills, especially doctors, to come work in Russia. Cuban engineers and other technical personnel have also migrated to Russia. May 18, 2023: Ukraine reported that Russia lost 660 soldiers, four tanks, 21 cruise missiles and ten UAVs in the last 24 hours. In the last year the major source of Russian losses has been the fighting near the city of Bakhmut. Russian commentators noted that Russia lost more troops (over 20,000) than the 15,000 that were lost in eight years during nine years of fighting in Afghanistan during the 1980s. 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 17, 2023: Russia continues to ignore American requests for comment on why the Russian Kosmos 2558 has spent eight months locked in the same orbit as USA-326, an otherwise secret American spy satellite. The Russian satellite has remained 60 kilometers from the American satellite, which is close enough to visually and electronically monitor what USA-326 was doing. Last year the United States accused Russia of deliberately launching their Kosmos 2558 satellite on August 1st 2022 and placing it in the same orbit as a new American spy satellite launched earlier (February). Within 24 hours of launch Kosmos 2558 locked into the same orbit as the new American surveillance satellite, but 60 kilometers away and clearly capable of getting closer. This is what is known as an inspector satellite that closely examines other satellites to determine their capabilities and weaknesses. May 15, 2023: Russian reserves of 152mm artillery munitions are exhausted and production facilities in Russia are unable to supply additional shells quickly enough to refill the depleted war reserve. Russia received 300,000 shells from Iran and a similar amount from North Korea. South Korea maintains a large stockpile of 155mm shells and that has persuaded North Korea to limit the number of shells they send Russia. NATO nations have provided Ukraine with over a million 155mm shells and a smaller quantity of 152mm shells. NATO nations have more production capabilities for artillery shells but not enough to keep the Ukrainians supplied with what they need. This means that both Ukrainian and Russian forces have less artillery ammunition than they need. This favors the Ukrainians, who's attacking forces will face less artillery fire while they are advancing and out in the open. May 14, 2023: Two Russian colonels were killed in eastern Ukraine near Bakhmut. During 15 months of fighting Russia has lost an unusually large number of senior (colonels and generals) officers. This is the result of overall poor leadership in the military as well as the continuing corruption. Senior officers go to the front line to see for themselves before they act against the corrupt officials. Shortages of amm0, weapons, medical care and food are all usually the result of someone stealing it before the troops get it. Heavy losses during the first few months of the war caused heavy losses among junior officers and these take time to replace. 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. May 7, 2023: The three nations (China, Russia and Pakistan) that have the most economic activity with Afghanistan are urging the IEA to help Afghanistan as well as the IEA by allowing women to work. Another needed activity is cracking down on the drug cartels and Islamic terror groups that currently operate freely. So far the IEA has ignored these suggestions. In response, the world largely ignored the IEA and Afghanistan. May 6, 2023: Vladimir Putin has ordered major changes in Russias UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) design and production capabilities. The Ukraine War saw Russia suffering heavy UAV losses due to Ukrainian countermeasures and shortcomings in Russian UAV design and tactics. Putin ordered expansion of Russian UAV production and less dependence on foreign, especially Western, components. To pay for this Putin budgeted $59 billion for procurement of 670,000 Russian UAVs through the end of the decade. Most of the new UAVs will be smaller models, especially quadcopters, while 16,000 will be larger (half-ton and up) models. Ukrainian forces made heavy and effective use of commercial quadcopters during the current war. Noting that, Putin is also expanding training for UAV operators and designers. This heavy spending makes possible the construction of more production facilities, including factories producing all the needed components. Putin expects Russian industry to develop effective substitutes for foreign components by the end of the decade. This will be difficult because foreign producers not only design and build better components but are constantly developing new technologies. Even after the demise of the inefficient Soviet industries in the 1990s, Russia was unable to replace them with Western quality equivalents. Since the 1990s Russia has lost a lot of the local tech talent; this exodus accelerated after Russia seized Crimea in 2014 and especially since Russia invaded Ukraine over a year ago. Putin pledged to exempt technical talent from being mobilized into the army for the Ukraine War but proved unable to prevent local officials from ignoring these restrictions. The talent saw this coming and now Russia has a shortage of skilled workers in general. The talent began leaving as soon as the Soviet Union collapsed. This allowed Russians to freely travel abroad. In the last year Putin has enacted laws limiting trips outside Russia but its too late. May 5, 2023: In southern Syria (Daraa province) there has been a lot of random violence in the province so far in 2013, with at least 181 separate incidents of violence that left 136 dead and hundreds wounded. A lot of this is related to the Russian presence in the area. The violence is mainly against Syrian army personnel. This level of violence remained fairly constant since 2018. This is part of the undeclared war between Iranian and Syrian forces going on there since 2018. Anonymous assassins use pistols and hidden bombs to kill those who work, or worked for government forces or Russia and Syria backed local militias. There are also attacks against former members of ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) and other militant groups. These victims had accepted amnesty. Russian and Assad forces openly force Iran-backed groups and individuals out of the area. There is no open violence because Iran, Syria and Russia are still officially allies. Israel sometimes fires on Iranian forces operating in Daraa, especially near the Israeli border. Israel also shares intel with Russia and Syria about Syrian officers who are secretly working for Iran. The Iranians pay well, and in dollars. Israel will sometimes release evidence of this to the media, so that Iranians back home have another reason to oppose Iranian foreign wars. Negotiations have been underway between Iran and Russia/Syria since 2020 but have not made much progress. The covert Iranian violence is just another incentive for Syria to get the Iranian agents out of the area. In 2022 and 2023 much of the violence is from other groups, some of them criminal gangs retaliating against those who refuse to pay for protection from the violence. Daraa is the most violent province but similar violence continues in many parts of Syria. May 4, 2023: Ukraine is delaying the start of its much anticipated offensive against Russian troops occupying portions of Ukraine. The delay is caused by the growing number of Western tanks arriving in Ukraine or adjacent NATO countries where training on new equipment usually takes place. For over a year Ukrainians have asked NATO countries for Western tanks like the M1, Leopard and Challenger. The superiority of these tanks over anything Russia has is well known. For Ukraine, the more of these tanks they have, the fewer Ukrainian troops will be killed or wounded. The Ukrainian troops know as well as the largely demoralized Russian soldiers. The Ukrainians are delaying the offensive so they can incorporate as many of the Western tanks as they can. As of early May, Ukraine had received and put into service 14 Leopard 2A6s from Germany and 14 Challenger 2 tanks from Britain. The Leopard 2A6 is a 61 ton tank with a more powerful version of the NATO standard 120mm tank gun and exceptional fire control and protection. The Challenger 2 is a 64-ton tank that has similar combat performance to the 2A6 even though the Leopard is more up-to-date. For all practical purposes these two tanks outclass anything the Russians have. May 2, 2023: Russia sent some of their TOS-1A tank-mounted thermobaric 220mm rocket launchers to Ukraine a month ago and have been training airborne troops how to use these unique weapons. They were recently used in eastern Ukraine by Russian airborne troops. A TOS-1A vehicle carries 24 220mm rockets while a separate reload vehicle carries two pods containing rockets. An empty pod on the TOS-1A vehicle can be removed and replaced with a full pod in minutes. Thermobaric is one of several terms for fuel-air explosives (FAEs). Another popular term is vacuum bomb. Russians favor the term thermobaric while Americans prefer FAE. These weapons are a relatively recent development. Efforts to develop a workable FAE began over a century ago, during World War I (1914-18). Efforts continued after the war and through World War II (1939-45) and into the 1950s. In the 1960s the Americans came up with a workable and reliable FAE design and used it a lot during the Vietnam War. Russia got their thermobaric tech perfected a decade after the United States. Russia considered FAE devices chemical weapons and saw their TOS-1A vehicles as flamethrowers. Many NATO and Russian-backed nations also obtained or developed some FAE weapons. FAEs are incredibly destructive, because they literally create a fireball. These range in size from a few meters in diameter to over 500 meters, The smallest ones are FAE hand grenades or small projectiles while the larger ones are aircraft-transported bombs. Some short range ballistic missiles also have optional FAE warheads. Technically, FAE devices can be incredibly destructive, incinerating anyone inside the fireball. Efforts to ban FAEs as inhumane and a crime against humanity have failed. This is largely because FAEs are simply a specialized explosive that is not radioactive and does not generate a lot of metal fragments. FAEs can do things high-explosives cannot do. Clearing minefields is one example. Another is destroying an enemy position in a remote area with a lot of underground bunkers and surrounded by minefields. Since September 11, 2001 American forces have regularly used FAEs, some air dropped, to clear minefields. FAEs will detonate the mines and reach deep into caves or bunkers to kill anyone in there. Islamic terrorists have tried, with mixed success, to include improvised FAEs for major attacks. Russia first used TOS-1 vehicles in Afghanistan during the 1980s. At the time, the TOS rockets only had a range of 3,500 meters (about two miles) and demonstrated sufficient performance there and later in Syria and Iraq to revive sales of some older systems. One of the more unique among these revived weapons is the TOS-1A. The TOS stands for heavy flamethrower system because the TOS-1A only fires rockets equipped with FAE (Fuel Air Explosives) warheads. The TOS-1A is a 45 ton vehicle that uses a T-72 tank chassis with the turret replaced by a box-like launcher for 24 220mm rockets. These come in two sizes, one is 3.3 meters (20.8 feet) long and weighs 173 kg (381 pounds) while the other is 3.7 meters (12.1 feet) long and weighs 217 kg (478 pounds). The larger rocket has a longer (6,000 meters) range. The TOS-1A is not a direct-fire weapon but the vehicle is meant to get close to the target and is equipped with a laser range finder and computerized fire control system to elevate the launcher to the right angle to put the unguided rocket as close to the target as possible. May 1, 2023: Recent Russian air strikes against Ukrainian cities using Iranian Shahed-136s resulted in one of the UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) developing engine trouble and landing intact. This enabled Ukrainian and foreign investigators to scrutinize the construction of the Shahed-136. Most of these that run into engine problems crash and explode. This one had been given contaminated fuel that caused the UAV to gradually descend and hit the ground without enough impact to set off the warhead contact fuze. Obtaining an intact aircraft allowed for a more thorough inspection to be done. The MD-550 engine was built in Iran and it was confirmed that this was indeed an illegal copy of the German L-550 engine. Iran had obtained one of these engines in 2006 and used it in several UAVs, including Shahed-136. The L-550 entered production in the 1980s and was a popular engine for ultralight aircraft and UAVs. Legal copies of the L-550 cost about $15,000 each. That means a Shahed-136 costs about twice the original estimate of $20,000 each. A Shahed-136 weighs 200 kg (440 pounds) and is armed with a warhead containing 30 to 50 kg, most of it explosives. Thats not a lot because most cruise missiles carry warheads weighing half a ton (500 kg) or more. The Shahed-136 warhead will damage, not destroy, most structures it hits. Shahed-136 is launched using a rocket motor that gets it into the air and then detaches and falls away. April 30, 2023: In the latest arms shipment to Ukraine the United States included thousands of M21 anti-tank mines. The metal, 8 kg (17.5 pound) mines that, once planted and armed, will detonate when anything moving over it weighs more than 136 kg (300 pounds), sending a curved metal bar upwards. This will blow the track off a tank and can also penetrate up to 50mm of armor. Tanks and smaller armored vehicles running over an M21 become mobility kills. This means they cannot move because of damaged tracks and/or tires/track wheels and suspension system. If this happens during combat, the vehicles and their crews are in big trouble. That often means the crew abandons the vehicle and seeks shelter elsewhere. Historically, most tank and armored fighting vehicle (AFV) losses come from mobility kills. The Ukraine War was unique because top attack ATGMs (anti-tank guided missiles) were able to destroy tanks and AFVs by causing the turret to explode and kill the entire crew. Now the Ukrainians are on the offensive and have to devote a lot of men and resources to removing anti-tank and anti-personnel mines. With the M21 mines the Ukrainians can protest quiet sectors of the front line from surprise armored attacks with these mines. Russia has used a lot of anti-personnel and anti-tank mines in Ukraine and the Ukrainian forces have been supplied with equipment and training to find and destroy or disable them. Russia has deployed thousands of these mines in the southeast to disrupt a Ukrainian offensive. Russia has mapped these minefields in case they are no longer needed and the mines can be removed. If Russia is defeated, those minefield maps are unlikely to be given to the Ukrainians and the mines will be a public hazard for years to come. Ukraine will have to maintain mine-clearing teams and await reports from local civilians about minefield discoveries. April 29, 2023: Russian troops are still in Libya, a North African country that remains divided and deadlocked. There are two main factions, one in the east based in Tobruk and another in Tripoli, in the west. The UN backs the Tripoli faction, as do local Islamic militias and Turkish troops and their mercenaries. The eastern faction controls most of the oil and export ports. Russian Wagner Group mercenaries are based in the east but now see themselves as peacekeepers and work with the Turks to maintain a ceasefire. This allows Russian oil firms to operate in Libya and do work for the Libyan national oil company. Both factions support national elections to unite the country but neither faction trusts the others enough to proceed with elections. Russia and the Turks refuse to withdraw their troops from Libya until they receive guarantees that their interests in Libya are respected. The UN and NATO oppose that because the Tripoli faction wants to legitimize an illegal treaty signed by the Tripoli faction in 2019 granting Turkey some of Greeces offshore oil and natural gas rights in an area between Libya and Turkey that ignores existing, and internationally recognized, claims on that area. Turkey and Greece are both NATO members and NATO backs Greece in this matter. Turkey wont withdraw its forces from Libya until a new national Libyan government assures the Turks that the illegal agreement is confirmed by a national Libyan government. Many people in both factions do not want to be stuck with a treaty that the UN and NATO consider illegal. Russia is no friend of NATO and is currently at war with NATO in Ukraine. Turkey is also a NATO member but most other NATO members would like to expel the Turks from NATO and there is no legal mechanism for that. Turks and Russians are troublemakers in Europe and Libya is a foreign branch of that mischief. April 28, 2023: Britain began deliveries of its Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine during the last few weeks. Now the Ukrainians have to test and tweak the improvised fire control system of Ukrainian Su-24 and MiG-21 warplanes to ensure that the British missile can be effectively delivered from these Russian -designed aircraft. CORK Airport is gearing up to celebrate a major milestone this week as it welcomes its one millionth passenger of 2023, with expectations that more than 56,500 passengers will pass through Irelands second-busiest airport this June bank holiday weekend. As the peak summer season begins, the busiest day of the bank holiday weekend will be Friday, June 2, said spokesperson Barry Holland. This weekends passenger figures indicate an increase of 13% on the June bank holiday 2022 and a 3% increase on June bank holiday 2019. Commenting on the June bank holiday passenger numbers, Cork Airport managing director Niall MacCarthy said: Summer 2023 is shaping up to be busier than 2019 passenger levels at Cork Airport. Our team is trained and ready to welcome our passengers with a smile on their face and provide an easy, calm, friendly experience this June Bank Holiday. We encourage anyone south of Kildare who hasnt booked their summer holidays yet, to book through Cork Airport. Good-value online car parking and a smooth, quick passenger experience are our unique selling points, which we take great pride in delivering to our passengers. With 44 direct routes to the UK and continental Europe on offer this summer, Cork Airport provides a hassle-free start to any summer holiday, said Mr Holland. This week, Ryanair will commence two new routes, to Seville in Spain and La Rochelle in France, on Thursday, June 1, and Sunday, June 4, respectively. The services will both operate twice weekly and will provide even more choice for consumers across the south of Ireland when booking their summer holidays. Ryanair is also set to increase frequency on its East Midlands service from two to three times weekly. Passengers are advised to allow sufficient time for a pleasant airport experience. It is advised that passengers arrive at least 90 minutes before their flight is due to depart. For further information, including the best deals on car parking and helpful tips on how to prepare for airport security, passengers are encouraged to visit corkairport.com. Read More Ryanair add extra flight each week from Cork Airport to UK destination . AS soon as the first rays of summer sunshine burst through the clouds, lots of Irish people go rummaging in attics, at the back of wardrobes and under beds for their summer clothes. These are the shorts, t-shirts and sundresses that get an outing for a few weeks of the year, before returning to their vacuum packed storage space until the following summer. If the weather gods are smiling, you might get to wear your summer clothes for four months of the year, but most of the year that summery stash of style waits in the dark to be summoned for when the temperature gauge goes over 17C degrees. Every year, there is an explosion of summer clothes in shops promising a Riviera-esque lifestyle, with wafty kaftans, lurid bikinis and floppy sun hats, and we buy them despite the fact we already have a bag of kaftans, bikinis and sun hats packed away since last year. Obviously, kids grow, clothes get old and need to be replaced, and bodies dont stay the same shape forever, so there is a need for new clothes occasionally, but according to the British Fashion Council, there are enough clothes on the planet right now to dress the next six generations of the human race. Think about that for a minute. We have enough clothes already in existence to dress the whole world for the next 100 years. Think of all the land, energy and effort required to grow, for example, cotton. The weaving, dyeing, cutting, sewing, shipping of garments around the world soaks up huge amounts of time, money and natural resources. How can a cotton sundress cost just 17, considering all the elements that are required to produce that dress? How bad fast fashion is for the planet and for garment workers has been explored in numerous documentaries and articles over the years, which is why I was surprised to recently see snaking queues on Opera Lane to access the pop-up shop of the biggest fast fashion online brand, Shein. Has everyone forgotten the problems with fast fashion, or is the lure of a cheap new purchase fix irresistible? Shein has been dubbed fast fashion on steroids or ultra fast fashion. It churns out cheap clothes in enormous numbers, satisfying consumers desire for something new or something fashionable on social media. You can order a T-shirt for 4 and shorts for 6, and the company offers free standard shipping on orders over 19. Shein uses social media influencers and sophisticated algorithms on its apps to drive consumption and sales. Consumers cant get enough of its business model. Some 75 million active shoppers around the world made Shein $30 billion in 2022, a 91% increase on the $15.7 billion it made in 2021. It is a fashion beast. Last year, a Channel 4 documentary in the UK revealed that those numbers come with a huge environmental and human cost. The documentary showed how Chinese garment workers got paid approximately 4 cent for every item they sewed, and toiled for 17 hours a day to earn just 20 a day. Workers got one day off a month and worked in a relentless, pressured environment. These are conditions that contravene Chinese labour laws and Sheins own company policy. Shein was recently valued at $68 billion, which probably explains why IDA Ireland and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney were happy to smile for photos with company representatives at the opening of Sheins EMEA headquarters in Ireland. Shein will create 30 new jobs in Ireland this year, with the promise of more into the future, but I imagine those Irish workers will be earning more than 20 a day. Its ten years since a Bangladeshi clothes factory in Rana Plaza collapsed, killing 1,134 people and injuring 2,500 more. The deaths of those workers caused worldwide outrage and led to a landmark agreement between big fashion brands and trade unions to ensure safer working conditions. Bangladeshi workers can now identify safety hazards in the workplace, report and have them fixed, and the agreement has made factories safer for the more than two million people who work in Bangladesh. But where is the outrage for the 15 million garment workers in China? They dont all labour in the poor conditions identified by the Channel 4 documentary, but when will shoppers understand that if something is cheap, its because someone isnt being paid enough somewhere. How much would a #Sheinhaul cost if the workers were paid a living wage in acceptable working conditions? The fashion industry has doubled its production in the last 15 years and 73% of the 53 million tonnes of clothing created each year are incinerated or landfilled. Total madness. We all need clothes, but we dont need clothes that are stitched together with the exploitation of our fellow humans and the planets finite resources. Supposedly, theres a sunny week ahead, so resist the lure of fast fashions summery offerings and go have a good rummage in your old summer clothes bag. Spend your money on 99s instead! Stephen Maguire Updated at 20:27 A man killed in a workplace explosion in Co Donegal has been named locally as Stephen Montgomery. Mr Montgomery, who was 43-years-old, was a married man with one grown-up child and was from the nearby seaside village area of Dunfanaghy. He was working breaking up rock while working at a house at a site at Bloody Forelands in Gaoth Dobhair earlier today when tragedy struck. It is understood that Mr Montgomery was operating machinery when an explosion occurred. The emergency services rushed to the scene while Gardai sealed off the area. The Health and Safety Authority also confirmed that they were aware of the incident and had sent investigators to the site. Members of the Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal were also requested to attend the scene. Gardai evacuated the area and also closed roads leading to the scene of the explosion. Mr Montgomery's body was later removed to Letterkenny University Hospital where a post-mortem is due to take place. Army explosive experts ate the scene of the tragedy in Donegal. (Photo Joe Boland) The exact details of how the tragedy occurred have not yet been released. It is understood that two other men were working at the site when the incident happened. However, it is not understood that either of these men were injured. A Garda spokesperson confirmed they are investigating the incident involving an 'apparent explosion'. They also confirmed that the Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal has been requested to attend the scene. A spokesperson said "Gardai are currently at the scene of an apparent explosion at a location on the outskirts of Bunbeg, Co. Donegal this afternoon Monday, May 29th, 2023. "An Garda Siochana has evacuated the surrounding area and the Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal has been requested. The road is currently closed, and local diversions are in place. The Health and Safety Authority have been notified." The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has confirmed they are aware of the incident and have launched an investigation. Meanwhile, a minute's silence was held at today's meeting of Donegal County Council in honour of the man who lost his life in the tragedy. Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Liam Blaney, offered his condolences to the family of the bereaved man. 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. People walk on the waterfront Bund in Shanghai during a record high temperature of 105F on July 21, 2017. The heat in Shanghai on May 29, 2023 was 97F, a record high for the month of May. STR / AFP via Getty Images In a continuation of a string of hot weather in China that began in March, Shanghai had its hottest May day in more than a century Monday when the temperature spiked to 97 degrees Fahrenheit. The previous record of 96.26 degrees Fahrenheit set first in 1876 and last in 2018 was recorded by the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau, Reuters reported. A historic day! Southern China was hit by the strongest heat wave in May. Today, more than 200 stations broke or tied record[s] in May, and at least 10 stations set the highest record in history. The heat will continue tomorrow, and the temperature in Yunnan will hit a new high, Jim Yuan, a researcher at the China Meteorological Association, said in a tweet. With the hottest months yet to come, extreme hot weather is supposed to bake several of the countrys southern provinces over the next few days, as forecasters predict another sweltering summer, reported Reuters. I almost got heatstroke, its really hot enough to explode, one person posted on Weibo from Shanghai, as Phys.org reported. Parts of southwest Chinas Sichuan province were previously given high-temperature warnings as temperatures soared to 107.6 degrees Fahrenheit, according to local media, as reported by Reuters. Some Sichuan metropolitan areas will feel the mercury rise to 100.4 to 107.6 degrees Fahrenheit in the next three to five days. Leading up to Wednesday, most parts of southern China will experience temperatures higher than 95 degrees Fahrenheit, with some getting up to 98.6 to 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit. No stranger to extreme weather, some areas of the country have been experiencing torrential rainfall. According to local emergency responders in northeast Sichuan province, thousands of residents have been evacuated because of the heavy rainfall. There was also a risk of flooding in Chongqing, with Jialing river water levels expected to swell around 19.69 feet. Scientists say extreme weather events worldwide have been exacerbated by climate change and are predicted to continue. It is probable that this year through 2027 will be the hottest five-year span on record globally, according to the United Nations, as the Times of India reported. Last year, more than 50 days were recorded as being more than 95 degrees Fahrenheit in Shanghai, reported CNN. Its an environmental problem; the world is going to get hotter and hotter. I have the feeling that summers are becoming much hotter every year, Shanghai resident Wu told Agence France-Presse, as the Times of India reported. Im turning on the air conditioning sooner than before. Silk Road spirit deepens China-Central Asia bond 15:19, May 30, 2023 By Muhammad zamir Assadi ( People's Daily Online This photo taken on May 16, 2023 shows an installation of the China-Central Asia Summit in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Xinhua/Li Jing) The lush green city of Xian, the capital of Shaanxi province, with blooming peony flowers, has just hosted the China-Central Asia Summit that established new multilateral cooperation mechanisms in various fields between them, lauded by the international community. The historic gathering hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping included the heads of state of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, and has opened a new chapter in the diplomacy and development philosophy of China and Central Asia. The valued and prestigious summit born from the China + Central Asia (C+C5) cooperation mechanism established in 2020 shows the growing and increasing demand for deepening cooperation between both sides, which is meant to meet the needs of their people. The gathering has generated a very strong, loud, and clear message to the world that there is no space for protectionism and isolationist forces, and that globalization and a unity approach will dominate for a better understanding of each other and sustainable peace. The summit hosted in Xian sets an example that China values regional development, progress, sustainable security, and understanding between civilizations by joining hands with those who wish to prosper by rejecting the Western agenda of hostilities and destruction. It has become an eminent fact that China is not only focusing on its own development but also sharing the gains with others by enhancing common progress at the regional and international levels. With the solid steps of engagement with its reliable partners of development, China is fulfilling the dream of the Asian century by providing more opportunities for prosperity for peace-loving nations in Asia that have been facing an onslaught of non-Asian countries for a long time. The presence of regional leaders in Xian highlights the emerging trends of cooperation and deepening bonds with China, which has always been open to the development of fruitful relationships by building new approaches to openness. It must be noted the collective attendance of these Central Asian nations has shown the diplomatic and development mood of the region, and that deepening the connection and exchanges with China is the top priority for them. It is also important to note that the declarations of meetings held by China and Central Asian nations carry a very transparent and strong message that they want to stick to their agenda of development beneficial for the people, and they cannot be used as a proxy to destabilize peace and stability in the region. Chinese technicians pose for a photo with Uzbek drivers on an electric locomotive in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Dec. 17, 2020. (Photo by Zafar Khalilov/Xinhua) The keynote speech of President Xi at the summit drafted the blueprint of more meaningful cooperation between both sides by stating that China is ready to take the summit as an opportunity and work closely with Central Asian countries to ensure the China-Central Asia cooperation is well planned, effectively implemented and steadily advanced. The historic speech by President Xi at the summit has pushed the opening up of new prospects and platforms for China-Central Asia cooperation, while Central Asian leaders who attended expressed their confidence and resolved to strengthen cooperation with China and pursue common development. The friendly neighbors connected with rivers and mountains carry a splendid history of the starting point of the Silk Road that has been embedded into the development and diplomatic vision of China and Central Asia based on mutual respect and harmony. The strengthening of the relationship between China and the Central Asian region following the summit has emerged as a significant milestone that paves the way for a new era of expanded cooperation with the creation of a fresh roadmap for their partnership. The engagements at the summit have demonstrated that China and Central Asian countries will be pushing a comprehensive understanding by deepening mutual trust on security and regional development. The win-win cooperation between China and the Central Asian countries under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has already built solid cooperation platforms, which have benefited both sides. The successful participation of Central Asian countries in BRI has generated notable and significant benefits for all that have also pushed forward the relationship between peoples on all sides. A technician checks the facilities of the China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline in Khorgos, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Nov. 11, 2015. (Photo/Xinhua) These bilateral projects are turning into multilateral cooperation as the preparations for the flagship project of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway have initiated, which testifies to the common objectives and aspirations of China and Central Asian nations to improve energy, transportation, and other infrastructure along the Silk Road in the region. The pragmatic and strategic partnership between China and Central Asia has ushered in a new era of understanding and strengthened meaningful cooperation by injecting and yielding durable results. The summit has drawn a comprehensive and fruitful outcome that will be realized in multiple areas including security, economy, and politics as the participants have reached a new consensus of cooperation amid the expectations of supporting each other. Mutual understanding based on the meaningful consultations of China-Central Asian countries with the scope of a shared future in the fields of economy, trade, finance, and credit is emerging as a source of integration of thoughts and commonalities. These areas of collaboration are opening up market potentials for both sides to explore the booming demands of businesses, where manufacturers and goods become attractive for their affordability and quality. Trade between China and five Central Asian countries reached $70 billion in 2022, and expanded by 22 percent in the first quarter of 2023. This shows that trade and economic cooperation between the two sides has achieved tangible and solid outcomes since the establishment of ties. The close bond between China and Central Asia would not only benefit the two sides but also the rest of the world by helping regional and global economies grow faster. The summit has laid the solid foundations for the development of closer ties to promote and project the combined interests in a unified position. And the benefits will be cultivated by generations to come. The author is a researcher on diplomacy and a media fellow of the China-South Asia and South East Asia Press Centre. (Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang) According to the latest audit from NASA's inspector general, the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket designed to take astronauts to the Moon is substantially over budget and far behind schedule. NASA's spending on the Artemis Moon Program is expected to reach $93 billion by 2025, including the $23.8 billion already spent on the SLS system through 2022. That sum represents "$6 billion in cost increases and over six years in schedule delays above NASAs original projections," says the report. One of the issues has been integrating older NASA technology with newer systems. "These increases are caused by interrelated issues such as assumptions that the use of heritage technologies were expected to result in significant cost and schedule savings compared to developing new systems for the SLS," the audit states. "However, the complexity of developing, updating and integrating new systems along with heritage components proved to be much greater than anticipated." The Artemis Moon mission project was based on the Constellation program, launched in 2005 with the goal of returning to the Moon by 2020. Following its cancellation, the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 mandated construction of the SLS and required the repurposing of existing technology, contracts and workforce from Constellation. Mat Smith The Morning After isnt just a newsletter its also a daily podcast. Get our daily audio briefings, Monday through Friday, by subscribing right here. The biggest stories you might have missed The best gaming handhelds in 2023 Microsoft's Xbox Elite Series 2 controller is $35 off right now The best VPN for 2023 ARM's latest CPUs push Android phone makers toward 64-bit only devices It replies to natural speech, though the responses are... stilted. NVIDIA NVIDIAs Avatar Cloud Engine (ACE) technology could allow gamers to speak naturally to non-playable characters (NPCs). The company revealed the tech during its generative AI keynote at Computex 2023, showing a demo called Kairos. The dialogue is rather wooden, but feeding voice-based interactions could be an interesting new dynamic in games. It uses NVIDIA NeMo tech for building, customizing and deploying large language models customized with lore and character backstories while using guardrails to protect against inappropriate conversations. It also deploys a speech recognition and speech-to-text tool called Riva, along with NVIDIA's Omniverse Audio2Face "for instantly creating expressive facial animation of a game character to match any speech track." Check out how it looks below. Continue reading. Nearly 3,000 EV chargers are also coming to apartments and offices. The Canadian government revealed Tesla will open access to some of its existing Supercharger network to other brands' EVs. This will start later this year with a pilot route between Ottawa, the capital, and Sudbury. There will be 750 opened stations by the end of 2025, and "at least" 350 of those will be speedy 250kW Superchargers. That performance is important, given the focus on long-distance travel. The government is teaming up with partners to help install nearly 3,000 EV chargers in multi-use residential buildings, offices, public places and fleets. The majority of the chargers will be Level 2 with around 100 faster Level 3 outlets. Continue reading. It's reportedly rolling out to more users soon. WhatsApp's newest update takes a page out of work-centric video call platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams. The messaging app is adding a screen-sharing feature that will record and display the contents of your screen with whoever is on the other end of the video call, according to WABetaInfo. Screen sharing is only available to select Android beta testers right now but should roll out to more users in the coming weeks. However, it might not work on older Android models, bigger group calls or with people who don't have WhatsApp's latest version. Continue reading. Tuesday, May 30, 2023 It Was an Over-the-Top Book Affair to Remember! A close friend of an author and her family simply said, I want to give a book party for you and she did. And what a party it was! The words, You must remember this flowed through my mind as I attended an over-the-top Book Launch of a book that I was the Book Shepherd with a few years ago. An unforgettable book launch. Why not yours? Meet To Tuscany with Love Author Gail Mencinis debut novel. To Tuscany with Love launched with all the fanfare deserving of a Dan Brown. The author thought it was a small party and a book signing hosted by her friend. As the book grew an audience, USA Today recommended it as Inspirational Womens Fiction. It was the party of all book parties AND, as the invited guests walked into the Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado; the hallway had vases of sunflowers throughout. The doorway to the room the party would be in greeted us with a large poster of the book cover with balloons. We entered and then, Oh My! Two men playing mandolins were seated on the left throughout the evening, a delightful backdrop to the next three hours. Tables surrounded the ballroom, with vases bursting with sunflowersthe table clothes and chair covers to match the theme and books main covers. Imagine this a huge ice sculpture that was shaped like a bookfront and back cover and pages within was the front and back covers (think three feet tall) surrounded by a sea of huge shrimp, oysters on the half shell, crab cocktail. A curving buffet table laden with Italian yummies, appetizers, and olives that ended with a carving station of perfectly cooked beef with three sauces to add to freshly baked bread for the perfect sandwich. In the center, happy attendees quickly discovered ravioli that was mouth-watering perfect. Do you like fish cakeslike shrimp, salmon or crab? Have you tried lobster cakes?well my mouth did a happy dance in appreciation as these gems beckoned to me next to the ravioli that others were doing flip-flops over. An espresso and latte cart was waiting for all along with a dessert display that was simply delicious. And oh, yes, vino. Plenty of vino. A display of To Tuscany with Love books was elegantly stacked to the right with author Gail and several helpers to process credit cards and placed elegantly wrapped books in bags. Over 250 plus copies walked out the door with enthusiastic buyers and readers to be. All sales were credited to a local book store so that they would show up via Bookscan BN has now put in an order. On Sunday, the Denver Post revealed that To Tuscany with Love was #1 in Fiction in the Metro-Denver area. As it should have been! People schmoozed, ate in line, and had a simply fantastic time. When the over-whelmed and joyful author finally stood up from the long lines in front of her to thank her DEAR friends and hosts Susie and Greg Stevenson (she had no idea what they had planned or were doing until she had walked in to set up her booksafter all, it was just supposed to be a little book party); other friends; people who were there that she didnt know but were now new friends; the team that worked on the book, she was gracious, fun and told all just a little about the bookshort, succinct, engaging. This Book Shepherd was proud of her author! So were her editors, and cover and interior book designer Nick Zelinger of NZ Graphics. Do friends count? Indeed they can and do. Does creating a book that is quality inside and out count? Yes, it does. Does connecting partnering with a key bookstore in the community count? Yes, its a smart, strategic move. A perfect evening for a perfect author, a perfect book, a perfect book launch. Bravo! Get the book, To Tuscany with Love, and continue the party. You can find it HERE. And what are you going to do for your book launch? Admittedly, few have a friend like Gail Mencini did to pull off a book launch extravaganza. But you have YOU to start with. Are you ready to shout out? To invite friends, family, fans to a special event? A special place? Just somewhere to celebrate you and your book? Dr. Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. Often, she must roll up her writing sleeves and become a Book Doctor, juicing up storylines and author words. She empowers authors and works directly with authors who want to be seriously successful and has been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 44 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Success for Authors and Writers, and How to Create a Million Dollar Speech. Her personal memoir When God Says NO-Revealing the YES When Adversity and Loss Are Present is a #1 bestseller on Amazon and her historical fiction debut Secret Journey. Collectively, her books have earned over 45 book awards. Judith speaks throughout the year at publishing conferences. Throughout the year, she holds Judith Briles Book Unplugged in-person and online experiences: Publishing, Speaking, Marketing, and Social Media. All are two-day intensives limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. Join Judith live for the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast on the Toginet Radio Network HERE. Follow @AuthorUYOUBooks and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a Like at AuthorYOU, and join the Facebook group Book Publishing with The Book Shepherd. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her. 2023 Judith Briles The Book Shepherd All Rights Reserved. Tuesday, May 30, 2023 BRINGING YOU CURRENT INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO HELP TREAT AND HEAL BRAIN WOUNDS: CONCUSSIONS, TBI, PTSD This report deviates a bit from a focus on Brain Wound healing. It steps up to a strategic level and asks a hard question: What is it going to take to change the way the VA thinks about Veteran overall health and wellness? More importantly, how do we as a society get institutions to open up to obvious truths and accept that there is an additional way to think more broadly and ACT to heal wounds, reduce costs and suffering, and restore lives and families? ********************* Memorial Day. Remembering. Reverence. Celebration. Resolve. Speeches, TV Specials, Proclamations, documentaries, parades, fireworks and reverential religious ceremonies make clear on Memorial Day that we care about veterans and active duty service members, living and dead, who have fought and in too many cases died to preserve American freedoms. Lost in the Rolling to Remember rallies, in too many cases, are the avoidable deaths that are little noted nor long remembered. Suicide rates among active-duty military members are currently at an all-time high since record-keeping began after 9/11 and have been increasing over the past five years at an alarmingly steady pace. In fact, some branches of the Armed Forces are experiencing the highest rate of suicides since before World War II. Rates of Special Operations deaths due to suicide may be even higher. In 2021, research found that 30,177 active duty personnel and veterans who served in the military after 9/11 have died by suicide compared to the 7,057 service members killed in combat in those same 20 years. That is, military suicide rates are at least four times higher than deaths that occurred during military operations. [While those numbers are alarming, another DOD report catalogs an average of 6,100 Veteran suicides every year for 20 years, placing the likely number of suicides across active duty, veteran, National Guard, and Reserve service members at closer to 122,000 suicides.] Added to that figure must be those spouses and family members of service members who are suicide victims: in 2020, the same report found that 202 dependents died by suicide, including 133 spouses and 69 other dependents, and that firearms were the primary method of suicide death for both Service members and family members. (For reference, CBS 60 Minutes, Vietnam 101, 4 Oct 86] broadcast that more than 100,000 Vietnam veterans were suicide victims. In 1988, a network news anchor [CBS Reports: The Wall Within, 2 Jun 88] asserted that between 26,000 and 100,000 suicides had occurred among Vietnam veterans depending on which reputable source you believe.) Suicide. Lethal. Final. And in too many cases preventable. If only. If only something or someone had noticed. If someone had taken the time to remember that as a nation we are not very good at diagnosing, let alone treating, some underlying damage done to warriors that have been called unblooded wounds. Invisible wounds. Shell shock. Soldiers heart. Battle fatigue. PTSD. Traumatic Brain Injury. Were good at studying and naming, but miserable at actually diagnosing and treating brain wounds that in too many cases lead to suicidal ideation. Done properly and the VA and DOD so far are not doing it properly root cause analysis of the mental health condition of combat veterans and the families of those veterans, will discover an epidemic of brain wounds large and small among the force. The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) reported nearly 414,000 TBIs among U.S. service members worldwide between 2000 and late 2019. A more accurate estimate is that 877,450 brain wounds are festering among post-9/11 veterans. Mis-diagnosed and mal-diagnosed brain wounds are a plague among veterans, particularly those being mustered out of the military with Other Than Honorable discharges (estimated between 100,000 and 200,000 bad paper discharges since 9/11.) And Memorial Day properly understood would also have a silent moment for Veterans who have suffered and died needlessly due to Lower Limb Amputations (LLAs). Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs) leading to LLAs have been responsible for 796,340 Veteran deaths since 9/11, more than all service member deaths since the start of World War I (624,147). Wounds, whether to the feet or to the head, can be diagnosed and treated prior to avoidable death. Unfortunately, this is not reality. We can leave it to Inspectors General to discover whether the deaths are due to negligence, policy, institutional resistance, ignorance, mistakes, or simple bureaucratic business as usual. Wounds such as DFUs and brain injury can be safely and effectively treated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). The FDA and CMS and medicine in general accept and use HBOT with insured coverage for DFUs. [Unanswered is the Question we have posed to the VA for years: Why are veterans not even informed that HBOT is approved, available outside the VA, and insured?] Over twenty peer-reviewed studies attest to the safety and efficacy of HBOT to treat and help heal brain wounds. Since youve read this far, we owe it to those who died in service to the nation, those in the throes of suffering, and those who will volunteer to carry the burden of military service for us, to act on the knowledge that we can do better. These wounded men and women need not die. We must do better. We in the TreatNOW Coalition can point to over 21,000 safe and effective successes treating and healing brain wounds in the last decade. Ten states have passed legislation calling for the use of Hyperbaric Oxygenation to heal brain wounds/TBI/PTSD. Congress is awakening with Bills from Congressman Murphy, MD and Senator Tuberville calling for action. Were winning, just not fast enough. Information provided by TreatNOW.org does not constitute a medical recommendation. It is intended for informational purposes only, and no claims, either real or implied, are being made. Manzini The escalating cost of farming inputs is one of the biggest challenges faced by commercial maize farmers locally. This has contributed to the downward trend in maize production performance for the past three years. At least 22 per cent of Eswatinis population is projected to be living in a food shortage crisis. This is according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Acute Food Insecurity Analysis for June 2022 to March, 2023. Shortage Mavela Sigwane, Head of Business Transformation at the Federation of Eswatini Business Community (FESBC), said the shortage of maize in the country was embarrassing because maize was the countrys stable food. He said the country had enough irrigated farms, which guaranteed that every year farmers were supposed to grow sugar cane. He said while they were still in that period, farmers could start ploughing maize that would be harvested after three months. Stable Minister of Agriculture Jabulani Mabuza said, evidently, that maize was a stable crop that provided food and income for millions. However, it was often plagued by challenges like pests and diseases, climate change, and limited access to quality inputs and resources. It is on this premise that I am pleased to be a part of the launch of the Commercial Maize Project, a new project in the country that is aimed at commercialising maize production in Eswatini and, by extension, will circumvent some of the above cited challenges, mentioned that minister. Mabuza said His Majestys Correctional Services have committed 114ha towards commercial maize production on their Bhalekane Farm. Considering the national demand for maize, more production land will be committed to this project. The BE CEO, Nathi Dlamini, added that BE recently had a one-on-one with the new management team of NMC specifically in an endeavour to establish how they plan to overcome the challenges before them. To make a long story short, we were inspired beyond measure when we left the meeting as their dedication to a turnaround was unmistakable, mentioned Dlamini. Alexander Lukashenko has offered nuclear weapons to countries willing to join Belarus and Russia in the fight against Ukraine. Alexander Lukashenko wants other nations to join his alliance with Russia The Belarusian leader, a close ally of Putin, made the comments in an interview just days after the transfer of some nuclear weapons from Moscow to Minsk had started. During the interview on Russian state television, Lukashenko said: "No one minds Kazakhstan and other countries having the same close relations that we have with the Russian Federation. "It's very simple. Join the Union State of Belarus and Russia. That's all: there will be nuclear weapons for everyone." The Agreement on Establishment of the Union State of Belarus and Russia Treaty set up a legal basis for economic, technological and border security alliance among other things between the two countries. It is not clear how wide Lukashenko's invitation to join the Union State was extended but no other specifics have been offered. The Belarusian tyrant confirmed last week that the transfer of nuclear weapons from Russia to Belarus had begun following an agreement between the two nations. Lukashenko said: "It was necessary to prepare storage sites, and so on. We did all this. Therefore, the movement of nuclear weapons began." The leader has also pledged that the weapons will be safe. He said: "This is not even up for discussion. Don't worry about nuclear weapons. We are responsible for this. There are serious issues. Everything will be alright here." A service dog got an honourary diploma. A dog in New Jersey got a college degree A graduation ceremony in New Jersey paid tribute to Grace Marianis pooch, Justin. Grace - who uses a wheelchair and received an undergraduate degree in education - was not the only one acknowledged for their hard work as Justin was given a certificate congratulating him on staying by her side at all times during her lessons at Seton Hall University. Grace - who plans on becoming a teacher for kids with special needs - revealed her intention to have her yellow lab remain with her. A video of the moment was posted on Twitter, with the caption: Seton Hall President Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D. presents Justin, the service dog for Grace Mariani, of Mahwah, NJ, with a diploma for attending all of Graces classes at Seton Hall. Vladimir Putin is facing increasing hostility from the Wagner mercenary group. Vladimir Putin is under threat from the Wagner group Warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin is thought to be working with unidentified figures within Putin's circle in an attempt to oust the despot from power, war analyst Igor Strelkov has claimed. Strelkov, the former defence minister of the Donetsk People's Republic, explained that now that Wagner is pulling out of the besieged city of Bakhmut, the military muscle could be used against Putin. In a message to his 800,000 Telegram followers, Strelkov said: "No later than late summer the internal political situation in the country might change beyond recognition. "Prigozhin has declared war on part of the military and state elite. Naturally he is not alone. If he was just by himself, he would have been eliminated. "Naturally he has a very strong roof (close to Putin's circle)." Strelkov continued: "He is a member of the ruling mafia, of one of it's groupings. And now we are observing how one of the groupings is breaking the current situation. "We see the declaration of a coup attempt... I don't know what will happen next. Wagner is rushing to move its men back to bases. And its bases are scattered all around European Russia. "This allows me to conclude that (pre-revolutionary) social turmoil has started (against Putin)." Manzini The government has tasked ESWADE and NMC to produce over 30 000 metric tonnes of grain maize through the commercial maize project. ESWADE is the Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise, and NMC is the National Maize Corporation. This launch took place yesterday at The George Hotel in Manzini, millers, maize growers and different associations were present at the event. This means that commercial maize farmers, millers, and businesses that want to trade maize can now approach NMC and request assistance in terms of funding and market accessibility. This project has the mammoth task of assisting the country to attain its food and nutrition security through the production of 30 000 metric tonnes of grain maize on an annual basis. Amalgamation This task is to be achieved through the amalgamation of farmers under Eswatini Nation Land (ENL) and commercial maize production on the government farms. For the project to be a success, the government has allocated E44 million, entrusting ESWADE with the facilitation of maize production in the country through the commercial maize project and a partnership with NMC. It means farmers and commercial maize producers have been afforded an opportunity to supply the government with maize, and in turn, the government would assist them through loans and further avail a market for them. NMC is the market that has been availed for the farmers through the commercial maize project, and they have assured that their buying prices have been revised. Through the commercial maize project, a revolving fund was recreated in 2022 to assist maize farmers with the ever escalating cost of farming inputs, among other things. The total value of inputs disbursed to date is over E5 081 337.34, which supported farmers towards the production of 5 000 metric tonnes. ESWADEs Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sam Sithole, exclusively told the business desk the government has demonstrated prioritisation of food security in the country by means of availing some of its farms, including Buseleni and Ngwempisi, for the purpose of maize production. Supported The CEO said through the National Grains Farmers Association and the Regional Grains Association in the Shiselweni, Hhohho, Manzini, and Lubombo regions, a total of 17 farmers (Shiselweni (8), Hhohho (5), Manzini (3), and Lubombo (1)) were supported through the maize input support revolving fund. The total value of inputs and area under production were E83 074 and 172.5 ha, respectively. Farmers were able to repay the sum of E766 313.30 of the total amount loaned, giving a 91.3 per cent success rate for the revolving fund. Only two farmers were recorded to have been unable to repay their loans from Manzini and Hhohho regions, respectively, he added. Sithole mentioned that the total contribution of the ENL farmers and the government farms was 778.14 metric tonnes. From these figures, he said it was clear that the farmers have the experience, commitment and zeal to assist the country in reaching its food and nutrition security ata the earliest possible time. NMC assured that the market for maize would always be available in the country, and farmers should upscale production to meet the target. NMC CEO Mavela Vilane added that prior to this establishment, there was no fund targeting the commercialisation of maize. Stars of the Star Trek: Strange new Worlds show were beamed in from LA and New York to join MCM Comic Cons first holographic panel for fans in London. Stars of the Star Trek: Strange new Worlds show were beamed in from LA and New York to join MCM Comic Cons first holographic panel for fans in London Rebecca Romijn, 50, who plays Una Chin-Riley) on the Paramount+ show, as well as Ethan Peck, 37, (Spock), Celia Rose Gooding, 23, (Nyota Uhura) and Melissa Navia, 38, (Erica Ortegas) delighted fans when their digital selves appeared for an exclusive panel hosted by Alex Zane, 44, on Friday. (26.05.23) Rebecca said: We have just literally been beamed in. Its another example of technology existing in Star Trek 40 or 50 years before it existed in real life, much like the flip phone and tricorderswild! During the panel, the stars also discussed filming the most recent series and revealed behind-the-scenes secrets from the set, with fans also treated to an exclusive first look at the upcoming series. Fans of Star Trek have grown accustomed to seeing their favourite stars beamed from place to place using the transporter on the U S S Enterprise over the last 56 years. As a homage to the age-old Star Trek hallmark, Paramount+ worked with the global leader in live hologram technology, ARHT, to create a fitting, unique and iconic experience for fans attending MCM Comic Con in London. The technology provided the opportunity for the stars to get as close to an authentic beaming in experience as possible in real-life. Cameron Dillavou, international chief marketing officer at Paramount+ said, We are excited to bring Star Trek: Strange new Worlds to life in the real world. We wanted to provide a mind-blowing, state-of-the-art experience for fans at MCM London Comic Con and having our stars attend as holograms while they are still in the US was the perfect way to do that. We hope fans of the show are as thrilled by the panel experience as we are. Melissa Navia added: I think that fans will be most excited to see 10 new episodes of Strange new Worlds. The fans have been telling us all year that they have been watching season one over and over again and thats the highest compliment you can get as an actor or storyteller. Season two of the show, which also features the return of special guest star Paul Wesley, 40, as James T Kirk and new addition Carol Kane, 70, in a recurring role as Pelia, will premiere on Paramount+ from 15 June. Brazilian cotton exports to Bangladesh rose in value but dropped in volume during 2022. Brazil shipped 240.572 million kg of cotton (HS Code 5201) over the past year. The natural fibre was valued at $489.971 million during the same period. The export for the first quarter of this year was worth $143.962 million, accounting for 75.984 million kg of cotton. Brazil exported 240.347 million kg of cotton in 2022, valued at $489.971 million. In contrast, the shipment was larger in 2021, amounting to 261.721 million kg and was priced at $430.347 million, according to Fibre2Fashions market insight tool TexPro. Cotton prices reached a record level last year, boosting the value of the natural fibre, despite a decrease in the total quantity of cotton exported to Bangladesh. In 2020, Brazil's cotton exports amounted to $314.005 million (211.738 million kg), and in 2019, they were valued at $308.884 million (189.895 million kg). Back in 2018, the export value was $163.013 million for 93.210 million kg of cotton. In 2022, Brazilian cotton exports to Bangladesh increased in value to $489.971 million but decreased in volume to 240.572 million kg. Despite lower quantities, record cotton prices inflated the export value. Bangladesh was the third-largest market for Brazilian cotton, accounting for 13.33 per cent of total exports. China and Vietnam were the top 2 markets. In 2022, Bangladesh was the third-largest market for Brazilian cotton, accounting for 13.33 per cent of its total exports valued at $3.676 billion. China and Vietnam were the first and second largest markets, respectively, with China holding a 29.45 per cent share and Vietnam a 14.87 per cent share. Pakistan and Turkiye were also among the top five markets for Brazilian cotton exports, according to TexPro. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL) Ruffled Love Bodycon Black Bow Beauty Old Hollywood When in Rome Denim dreams It would be an understatement to say that Priyanka Chopra Jonas is unstoppable. The celebrity seems to be enjoying the rush of a busy existence at all times, and she doesn't even let geographic limits stand in her way. Film festivals, red carpet screenings, worldwide collaborations, family holidays, fashion weeks. No matter what she wears, there is always an elegance to the way she dresses. Her style is a mix of two parts eccentric to one part haute couture. Priyanka knows how to whip up a stunning look whether she's strolling down the street or gliding on a red carpet.As part of her promotional outfits for the spy action thriller TV series Citadel, the global dominator has been serving out back-to-back fashion highlights. As part of the promotional tour, the actress travelled to major cities around the world, including Mumbai, London, and Italy. She left her mark and spread her charm while donning a variety of colourful outfits, including a marabou-feather green robe and a red hot corseted dress.The actor's promotional appearances were only temporarily put on hold by the Met Gala, where she dazzled in a black dress with a daring thigh-high slit. However, the actress was quickly back in action for the promotion of her second project, the rom-com film Love Again in New York.From edgy denim gowns glamorous corseted dresses to we look back at her best promotional looks this season.The star chose to wear a printed turquoise strapless gown with a ruched waist, a daring high thigh-slit, and an eye-catching bow accent in the back while promoting Citadel in New Delhi, India. The dress featured a flouncy tulle-like material with small spotted black prints all over. Jewelry pieces made of yellow gold and diamonds and the black platform Mary Jane heels helped Priyanka complete the ensemble. A lined smokey eye gave the glam look all the edge it needed.A black dress is always in vogue! And Priyanka Chopra keeps proving this time and again. The international diva was photographed donning a black bodycon maxi dress with a thigh-high split on one side that hugged her shape. Priyanka Chopra Jonas was wearing a matching fabric belt around her waist and a turtleneck with the outfit. The star chose to accessorise her outfit with little gold hoops. Additionally, she wore her hair up in a stylish messy bun. Priyanka chose nude lipstick and subtle smokey eyes for her makeup. A muted blush was used to highlight the high features of her face.On April 3, the actress and philanthropist, who was promoting Citadel alongside co-star Richard Madden, attended a special screening of the new thriller show while sporting a form-fitting gold maxi dress with a metallic sheen. Despite the gown's simplicity, every fine detail elevated her appearance, making it one of her most exquisite moments to date. The elegant, head-turning gown had a plunging V-neckline, long sleeves, defined shoulders, ruched details at the midsection, and a large black velvet bow as a subtle touch to the shimmering fabric. Priyanka Chopra Jonas completed the glam look with a simple pair of pointed-toe black shoes and matching metallic nails.On April 18, she was seen in a stunning red dress for the series' international premiere in London. The magnificent dress worn by Priyanka was inspired by the night sky. It was in the colour "Antares red" and featured a shaping corset with an off-the-shoulder neckline and a full-length skirt that beautifully highlighted the Citadel actor's figure. Priyanka Chopra Jonas had a radiant aura about her that was ideal for the stature of the lead actor in a major worldwide television series thanks to the exquisite tailoring and the luscious crimson of the fabric.The fan-shaped earrings by Priyanka had a rose gold openwork design that was adorned with pave diamonds and pear-shaped rubies. She also picked out two eye-catching rings for her fingers. Her hair was side-parted and done in retro Hollywood waves, elevating the appearance and giving it an air of old-school glamour. Her strong red lip matched the dress, and black eyeliner completed the look.One particularly eye-catching moment was the parrot green gown Priyanka Chopra Jonas wore in Rome. The feather details gave the outfit that old-world feeling of glamour, while the plunging V-neckline offered a hint of sensuality. Green has been shown on the runway in a variety of shades, from emerald to olive, and has made a statement in clothing items like dresses, suits, and accessories. Priyanka integrated this trend by glamorizing her look with jewellery that elevated it. The diamonds and cushion-cut emeralds sparkled in contrast to the green attire. The jewellery was nicely proportioned and enhanced the dress without being too much. In keeping with the theme, she accessorised her ensemble with a unique small bag in emerald green.A sleek kohl-filled smokey eye and sleek makeup enhanced Chopra's innate beauty. The feathered parrot green dress was softly contrasted by the pillowy soft purple crimson lip appearance, which added a hint of drama to the whole look. Chopra's hairdo was the ideal option for the situation, completing the refined and beautiful image. The stylish updo, which still had a few tresses hanging down to frame her face, gave the ensemble a tenderness.Priyanka Chopra chose a garment so glitzy while promoting her most recent screening that it even compares to the outfit she wore to the 2023 Met Gala. She upped the ante with a stunning icy blue gown when she attended a screening of her new romance film, Love Again, with her husband Nick Jonas. From the voluminous ruched off-the-shoulder sleeves to the enormous bow and attached train that graced the back, the outfit included various dramatic embellishments. The dress hugged her figure until it reached just below her knee, at which point it flared out into a dramatic bell shape. It also had an exaggerated mermaid silhouette. Priyanka chose a diamond-studded hoop necklace and a drop necklace as her accessories. In 2003, Jaaved Jaaferi starred in the fantasy action comedy Jajantaram Mamantaram, a genre that was primarily associated with Hollywood superhero movies. Based on Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, the film revolves around Aditya who saves the tiny locals on a magical island from an evil giant called Jhamunda (Joy Fernandes).Recently, in an interview with a leading news portal, Jaaved Jaaferi remarked on the shooting of the film.He said that the entire film was very heavy on VFX and he had to shoot the entire thing in front of the blue screen. Back then, there were no green screens so the film was shot entirely on the blue screen. He mentioned that the difficult part of the shoot was that there were no people and for the cue, he had to speak his dialogues by looking at little matchsticks or wooden pieces.He further explained the process and said, "If the film shows a dwarf sitting on my shoulder, I was talking to the matchstick placed on my shoulder. The only time I had an actor in front of me was during the climax, where I fought with Jhamunda. Thats because we both were of the same size."According to Jaaved, the film provided him with a lot of opportunities to grow as an actor because reacting without any movement or emotion was quite difficult. Aside from these challenges, he also seriously hurt himself during filming a sequence.He shared that it was not during the iconic climax fight with Jhamunda but the injury occurred when he slipped off a box that he was standing on. He recounted that he tore his knees meniscus and that it took a lot of time to recover.He further talked about his reaction to hearing the film's script and stated that he was always fascinated by the idea of giving a desi twist to Gulliver's Travels' characters.Recalling the time when Jajantaram Mamantaram was released, Jaaved said, "I remember theatre owners were on strike for around three weeks and because of that, we lost out on a lot of business. The film could have done much better otherwise.""But it still ended up becoming one of the most-watched childrens movies on TV later. Even today, when I stop at signals, kids who come to ask for money, recognise me as Aditya and excitedly shout Areee Jhamunda...aree Aditya. This is happening after 20 years so it definitely feels good," he concluded.Jajantaram Mamantaram is still one of the most popular films among children and is still considered iconic among millennials. Pooja Bedi The Kapil Sharma Show: Actress Pooja Bedi was considered among the most sexy and glamorous actresses of her time. She made her Bollywood debut with Vishkanya in 1991. Glorified for being the boldest, Pooja has always been very vocal about things in her life. She recently joined her daughter Alaya F and father, veteran actor Kabir Bedi, on The Kapil Sharma Show, where Pooja recalled a dreadful incident when a fan broke into her house holding her bikini. POOJA BEDI RECALLS WHEN A FAN BROKE INTO HER HOUSE HOLDING HER AUCTIONED BIKINI During a segment on The Kapil Sharma Show, Pooja Bedi recalled a frightful incident when a man crashed into her house. As there was no internet during that time, people would get in touch with you personally, she shared. Pooja recalled a crazy incident when she encountered a fan who named himself Anais-Anais, which was the name of her favourite perfume. Adding to how creepy he was, Pooja said he would call her 1000 times a day and used to frequently send her letters written with his blood. Alaya F Shares A Happy Family Picture With Nana Kabir Bedi And Mother Pooja Bedi! Recalling a time, Pooja shared that the man had barged into her home holding her bikini from her movie Lootera, which was auctioned. He kept her troubled until her marriage. Pooja stated, "My bikini from Lootera was auctioned, and he bought it, when asked why he bought it he said, "I could hug her bikini if not her". I sat him down and tried to make him understand calmly, but he troubled me for the longest time till I got married." POOJA BEDI'S PERSONAL LIFE Pooja Bedi tied the knot in 1994 with Farhan Furniturewalla after dating for three-and-a-half years. However, the couple got separated after 12 years of marriage and got divorced in 2003. U-Turn Full Movie Leak: Alaya Fs Thriller Available For Free Download Within Hours After Release: Reports Richard Rishi is a popular Tamil actor, who gained his fame from acting in several Kollywood movies. His recent projects include the controversial movie, Draupathi. The actor, who is also the brother-in-law of Tamil star Ajith Kumar and brother of his wife and former actress Shalini, has now made the headlines after he shared photos with Tamil actress Yashika Aanand. In the dim-lighted photo, Yashika can be seen planting peck on his cheek. As soon as he shared the photo on his social media space, fans took to the comments section and started coming up with their own speculations about what is happening between them. While some fans started to congratulate them assuming that they were in a relationship, others pointed out that they have a 22-year-old gap between them. For the unversed, Yashika Aanand is a former Tamil Bigg Boss contestant, who took part in the reality show's second season. She is one of the most-popular contestants and her romantic angle with a fellow-contestant, Mahat Raghavendra. However, after getting out of the house, they parted ways and continued as friends, while Mahat got married to his long-term girlfriend. On the acting front, she starred in the adult comedy drama, Iruttu Arayil Murattu Kuthu before appearing in Bigg Boss. Later, she went on to act in several movies such as Zombie, Bestie, Kazhugu 2, etc. Recently, she made the headlines when she met with an accident while travelling with her friends on a car. She even lost one of her friends in the accident. After her recovery from the accident, she appeared in the fifth season of Tamil Bigg Boss to encourage the contestants to perform well. Though neither Yashika nor Richard have opened up about their relationship status, it is still making the headlines widely and fans are anticipating an official announcement from them soon. Let us wait and see if that happens. Fahmaan Khan and Sumbul Touqeer Khan's tiff has been the talk of the town for a while now and it has left the fans heartbroken. A lot has been said about the Imlie duo's fallout and fans have been hoping for Sumbul and Fahmaan to resolve the differences. Interestingly, this much talked about tiff has once again made the headlines after Fahmaan opened up about which exactly went wrong between him and Sumbul. This happened during his recent interview with Bollywood Bubble wherein he revealed how things changed between them after Sumbul returned from Bigg Boss 16. For the uninitiated, as Sumbul had participated in Bigg Boss 16, Fahmaan was seen rooting for her and made sure to support her and cheer for her on social media. This isn't all. He even went inside the Bigg Boss house to support her when she was in need and their chemistry did win hearts. However, Fahmaan revealed how Sumbul's behaviour had changed after the latter's stint on the popular reality show. He revealed that his father was quite upset ever since a BTS video from Ishq Ho Gaya went viral while Sumbul was inside the BB house. And things worsened after the Imlie actress refused to collaborate with Tabish Pasha for song post her exit from BB16. While Fahmaan admitted that he tried convincing her father Touqeer Hassan Khan to let her do the song. But Touqeer Hasan was adamant. Though Fahmaan stated that he assured Sumbul that professional stuff will not affect their bond, he revealed that their bond changed thereon and that the Imlie actress didn't even reply to her messages. "Jab 15 mere messages jate hain tab shayad ek reply aata hai uska. Uski galti hai nahi. It's just how things have panned out. I have tried solving it. Eid ko maine call kia teeno ko, teeno ne phone ni uthaya mera. Mujhe bura lagta hai is baat ka ki ye media, ye fandoms inse pehle meri dosti thi na usse. It was before that. For me that mattered. Losing out on a friend matters. I messaged her the other day also, I said, 'I can't believe that I can't call you man. This is so bad'. She said, 'Meri galti nahi hai'," Fahmaan stated. Meanwhile, Fahmaan stated he misses the friend he had in Sumbul and wouldn't mind resolving things with her. Talking about the work front, Fahmaan is currently seen playing the lead in Pyar Ke Saat Vachan Dharampatnii with Kritika Singh which is going off air next month. Fahmaan-Sumbul Fallout: Fahmaan Khan and Sumbul Touqeer Khan are currently among the most loved celebrities on the small screen. Ever since they romanced each other in Gul Khan's hit Star Plus show Imlie, fans have been shipping them as SuMaan. The duo bid adieu to the much-loved show last year after the announcement of a generation leap, however, their fans are still hoping for their reunion onscreen. While their shippers were hopeful that they'll soon team up for a project soon, at least for a music video,it looks like even that's not going to happen in the near future. FAHMAAN KHAN CONFIRMS HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH SUMBUL HAS ENDED We're saying so because everything is currently not well between the Imlie BFFs. While there were constant rumours about their fallout ever since Sumbul Touqeer Khan refused to star in Beirada with Fahmaan, the actor has finally confirmed the same in a recent interview. While you can check all the explosive details shared by Fahmaan Khan about their tiff here, we're today going to talk about Sumbul's younger sister Saniya Touqeer. Amid the ongoing SuMaan controversy, Saniya took to social media and posted a note asking netizens to unfollow her. Yes, you read that right! Fahmaan Khan CONFIRMS Fallout With BFF Sumbul Touqeer, Reveals Reason & Says 'Mujhe Wo Baat Chubhi...' SUMBUL TOUQEER'S MESSAGE AMID SUMAAN FALLOUT Well, the ongoing issues between Sumbul-Fahmaan and fan wars on social media are the major reasons behind it. Taking to her Instagram stories, she wrote, "This has been happening for a long time now and I guess I should be vocal about it. If you'll have been something to say about my family or my sister kindly do it on their account. I post poems and I post my photos for people who follow me for me. I honestly don't like the fact that my poems have more comments about the on going issues with my sister instead of something related to my poem. If you follow me because I am Sumbul's sister, kindly unfollow. The long paragraphs some people be posting on my posts are not even getting noticed. FAKE NEWS! Fahmaan Khan NOT Entering Neil Bhatt, Ayesha Singh's Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin Post Leap In another Insta story, she added, "No offence intended." Take a look at her Instagram stories below: For the unversed, Sumbul shares a close bond with Saniya and they often share adorable pictures with each other on social media. Fans should also understand that the siblings of relatives of celebrities have their personal lives too and they shouldn't bombard their social media posts with irrelevant comments. Keep watching this space for more updates! Sumbul Touqeer pet death: Sumbul Touqeer is grief-stricken as she has lost one of her pets. On Tuesday (May 30), the Bigg Boss 16 contestant penned a heartfelt note on social media to express her pain after her pet cat Clouds passed away. SUMBUL TOUQEER GETS EMOTIONAL While she didn't reveal the cause of her pet's death, the Imlie star shared a post on her official Instagram handle along with a picture. Sumbul shared a glimpse of a bracelet featuring a cat in the photo. Her note is enough to signify her pain after the loss of her beloved four-legged friend. Earlier this year, the 19-year-old brought home two cats- Khurram and Clouds. She chose the cutest names for her pet cats, sharing pictures on social media. "Clouds.... I love you ......I'll hold you safe in my heart forever....may you find peace my bachchu...... you lived with us for only a month but you gave memories to cherish forever......... I miss you. I'll always love you (sic)," she wrote while expressing grief. SUMBUL TOUQEER FANS SEND HER LOVE AND SUPPORT Fans have flooded the comments section with their messages, asking their favourite actress to stay strong. One user wrote, "Ah whatever happened sum, take care of yourself! Of course , clouds would stay within our hearts forever and ever." "Love you sumbul so much apna khyaal rkha kro yrr you are very precious for us," another commented. A fan said, "We'll miss you Clouds, with her we also loved you. we'll miss how you use to stare at our Sum. I bet she enjoyed her time spent with you @sumbul_touqeer Take care (sic)." SUMBUL TOUQEER-FAHMAAN KHAN FIGHT? WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT FALLOUT After weeks of speculations, Fahmaan Khan confirmed his fallout with Sumbul Touqeer. He stated that he will remain friends with his Imlie co-star, adding that things turned messy because of the music video. The DharamPatnii actor confirmed that Sumbul was supposed to feature in his music video Beirada, however, she later backed out. The TV heartthrob said that he was upset when he got to know about his father asking her not to do the music video with him. Fahmaan Khan added that he issued an apology to Sumbul's father as the latter felt he didn't support her 'enough' during her stint in Bigg Boss 16. The fans suggested Sumbul Touqeer to avoid any sort of negativity after Fahmaan's interview went viral on the internet. An Instagram user commented on the post, "Sumbul take care of your mental health, always loved your and fahmaan's bonding. It's so sad aj ye din dekhna pad raha hai. Sumbul tum aur fahmaan mil ke sab kuch sulajh leti. Chiz ko itne din tak drag karke friendship ko majak banake rakh diya.Ek dusre ko family, brilliant friend bola. Sab family main hi hota hai ye sab. But sab patch up ho jata hain. Itna weak friendship thi? (sic)" Keep watching this space for more updates. TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - The Japanese stock market is notably lower on Tuesday, giving up some of the gains in the previous three sessions, with the Nikkei 225 falling below the 31,100 level off recent 33-year highs, following the lack of cues from global markets overnight, as traders booked some profits after the recent rally which took the index to 33-year highs. The benchmark Nikkei 225 Index is down 143.81 points or 0.46 percent at 31,089.73, after hitting a low of 31,077.22 earlier. Japanese shares ended sharply higher on Monday. Market heavyweight SoftBank Group is losing almost 4 percent, while Uniqlo operator Fast Retailing is adding almost 1 percent. Among automakers, Honda is edging up 0.3 percent, while Toyota is edging down 0.5 percent. In the tech space, Advantest is gaining almost 1 percent and Screen Holdings is adding more than 1 percent, while Tokyo Electron is edging down 0.3 percent. In the banking sector, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial is edging down 0.2 percent and Mizuho Financial is losing almost 1 percent, while Mitsubishi UFJ Financial is edging up 0.4 percent. The major exporters are mostly weak. Mitsubishi Electric is losing almost 1 percent, while Canon and Sony are edging down 0.1 to 0.2 percent each, while Panasonic is gaining almost 1 percent. Among the other major losers, Mitsubishi Chemical is losing almost 4 percent, while Sapporo Holdings, Sumco and Teijin are down almost 3 percent each. Conversely, Kobe Steel is gaining more than 4 percent, Citizen Watch is adding more than 3 percent and Fujikura is up almost 3 percent. In the currency market, the U.S. dollar is trading in the 140 yen-range on Tuesday. The Wall Street was closed on account of Memorial Day holiday on Monday. The shares closed sharply higher on Friday. The major European markets ended modestly lower with investors largely making cautious moves, focusing on U.S. debt ceiling talks. Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 ended lower by 0.2% and 0.21%, respectively. The Switzerland market was closed for Pentecost. Crude oil prices eked out modest gains on Monday after U.S. President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., reached an agreement in principle to raise the debt ceiling and avoid a potentially disastrous default by the U.S. government. West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures for July settled at $72.94 a barrel, up $0.27 or 0.4 percent. 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. We must be very clear that the future of emaSwati depends on the ability of the present political and technical leadership to take hard decisions to ensure that we have energy. The development of the country depends 100 per cent on securing enough energy for our present needs and future generations. This will determine whether the kingdom becomes a nation of masters or a nation of slaves within SADC. This will determine if we can attract investments, particularly from South Africa, as it goes through its energy crisis or not. South Africa will come very close to being a failed State simply because of its involvement in BRICS and its stand on geopolitics. Its stand is weakened by the fact that a house divided cannot stand and the ANC is divided and full of sellouts. We should realise that this is our only chance to get funding for our own thermal power plant and get our house in order. In fact, I think this is the single most important project in the country presently. Botswana took the decision a few years ago and now has a thermal power station. Taiwan must help us in this regard, because I am sure that Mainland China would not hesitate to fund this project had we gone with them. Taiwan has done a lot for Eswatini, but this would represent its greatest contribution. In fact, Taiwan has the technology to reduce carbon emissions from thermal power stations and the ability to make this technology available. Lubhuku Thermal Power Plant According to the EEC website, the Lubhuku Thermal Power Plant project has completed a feasibility study which has determined that a 300MW plant can be constructed comprising 3x100MW. Phase 1 of the project entails the construction of 2x100MW which was expected to commence in 2022. This seems not to have happened, maybe I am wrong. The projects total investment cost is estimated to be US$684.32m, (E13 460 250 000 in todays exchange rate) and EEC is expected to contribute 10 per cent equity to the finding of the project. I would suggest that pension funds and the general public within the country also take up a stake. Thirteen billion is a lot of money for all intended purposes, however, it would be worth it for the future generations of emaSwati. Our present energy generation capacity through hydro power stations is as follows: * Edwaleni Power Station --------------- 15 MW * Maguga hydropower Station ---------- 20MW * Ezulwini hydropower Station --------- 20MW * Maguduza hydropower Station ------- 5.6MW The total is 60.6 MW of energy from our hydro power stations. We get a small portion of our locally produced energy from solar, but the bulk, around 70 per cent, is imported from South Africa and Mozambique. With the situation in Eskom, we need to honestly look at putting all our energy into the thermal power plant and possibly other sources such as hydrogen. We are in serious trouble and those who are in decision-making positions must act now and act fast. Its no longer about the renewal of the supply contract in the year 2025, but about the availability of electricity to sell. They must forget the climate change rhetoric as we need to save our people from a horrible future without energy, which will translate to no development and thus no jobs. Industry and businesses will close down. Our country needs only 300MW to power our livelihood and our very existence but funding is blocked and all kinds of difficulties are put in our way. Load-shedding in Eswatini The Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) has introduced load-shedding in Eswatini. According to the EEC website, load-shedding is a deliberate interruption of electricity supply to avoid a countrywide blackout due to high demand. There is nothing normal about load-shedding. It reflects an inherent failure in the power supply system. If you have enough power there would be no need for load-shedding. It hinders development in every way possible. The greatest engine for development is energy. History has shown us that the development and economic growth of rich countries have been achieved through the exploitation of cheap energy sources. The kingdom of Eswatini has huge deposits of high-quality coal that could be mined to produce cheap energy. The window for this cheap energy source is fast closing as climate change rhetoric intensifies. China has intensified its production of energy through coal so as to maximise what it can achieve with this cheap energy before switching to renewable energy. When they reach this stage of renewable energy, they will make it very difficult for anyone to use fossil fuels and they will sell all the components for renewable energy. We need to move and move fast so that we can attract investments and make enough money with fossil fuel energy to be able to buy renewable energy technology. Reality of our future The developed world achieved its development through cheap energy from fossil fuels. There have been great improvements in clean energy solar wind and hydro, but the costs are still too high despite recent considerable reductions. The efficiency and output are still not reliable on days without the sun and the wind output is still not sufficient enough to rely on it 100 per cent. The reality is that we still need coal-powered energy and a lot of it. Only those with cheap energy will survive this last stretch to the year 2050. Everything will run on electricity including cars, buses and all forms of transportation. His Majesty the King last weekend blessed projects worth billions of Emalangeni and we were all excited at the development. The future of these projects depends on an adequate supply of electricity. We cant be planning our future based on load-shedding. The cost of fuel for generators to keep the lights on during these planned load-shedding episodes is too much. We cannot be taking one step forward and two steps backward. Comment septembereswatini@gmail.com CHANGZHOU, China, May 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TrinaTracker, a leading smart solar tracker solution provider under Trina Solar Co., Ltd. (SHA: 688599), recently signed an agreement with Dongfang Electric International Corporation ("DEC International") to provide 510MW solar trackers for solar projects in Uzbekistan. The contract signing ceremony was held on the first day of the 16th International Photovoltaic Power Generation and Smart Energy Conference & Exhibition (SNEC PV Power Expo) held in Shanghai from May 24-26, 2023. According to the contract, TrinaTracker will supply Vanguard 1P solar trackers to the Jizzakh and Samarkand solar power plants in Uzbekistan. Once connected to the grid, the two projects will generate 1.1 terawatt-hours (TWh) of renewable electricity annually, cutting an annual average of around 110,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions. Both are key projects in support of the government's agenda to transition to a green economy in the country. This is the second project TrinaTracker has landed as the exclusive supplier for solar plants in Uzbekistanin support of the country's solar power development target of 4GW by 2026 and 5GW by 2030. The country aims to develop high quality solar power plants in a bid to maximize the benefits of solar energy in the energy system. TrinaTracker previously provided 2618 sets of solar trackers for the 100 MW Nur Navoi Solar Project, the country's first solar power plant, which was inaugurated in August 2021. Meanwhile, TrinaTracker's selection once again as the sole tracker supplier reflects the excellent product performance of previous projects, as well as wider local market acceptance, building on the Company's strong foundation for further development in Uzbekistan. "Trina Solar has 25 years' experience in the solar industry and has consistently held the position of a top tier company. This gives confidence to project owners and developers from both product and branding perspectives," said Wang Ai, vice president of DEC International. "TrinaTracker has already had a successful experience in Uzbekistan, and their 'product+service' lifecycle solution has proven to be good, so we're confident the construction of the Jizzakh and Samarkand projects in collaboration with TrinaTracker will also be successful." Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2087813/image_5027490_52411717.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/trinatracker-signs-510mw-solar-tracker-deal-for-uzbekistan-solar-projects-301836836.html Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR Simon Jose to step down from his position as Chief Commercial Officer and member of the Idorsia Executive Committee to pursue other opportunities Otto Schwarz will advise the management team on commercial operations Allschwil, Switzerland - May30, 2023 Idorsia Ltd (SIX: IDIA) today announced that Simon Jose will leave his position as Chief Commercial Officer and member of the Idorsia Executive Committee to pursue other opportunities. Otto Schwarz has agreed to advise the management team on commercial operations from July 1, 2023. Jean-Paul Clozel, MD and Chief Executive Officer of Idorsia commented: "Simon has made a significant contribution to Idorsia, establishing our commercial organization from scratch, while preparing two products for launch in different geographies. He leaves a solid foundation for the Idorsia team to build on, and I wish him every success with his future." Jean-Paul Clozel continued: "The task ahead of us is to translate the excellent prescriber and patient feedback, as well as the solid demand for QUVIVIQ into a global commercial success and bring the company to sustainable profitability. Having worked with Otto Schwarz at Actelion and as a consultant for commercialization of daridorexant in the early days of Idorsia, I have absolute confidence that he is the right person to provide a fresh perspective and help the management team steer our commercialization efforts." About Otto Schwarz Otto is a highly accomplished industry executive with more than 35 years of experience. He has launched multiple major specialty products on a global basis. Most recently, Otto served as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Actelion Executive Committee, until the acquisition of Actelion by Johnson & Johnson. Prior to Actelion, Otto also served as Executive Vice-President Commercial Operations at Nycomed, and Executive Board Member at Altana Pharma. He also spent almost 20 years with Schering-Plough and Eli Lilly in Switzerland, Canada, the US and Germany. Otto Schwarz is an Austrian citizen and has a PhD in pharmaceutical chemistry from Vienna University. Notes to the editor About Idorsia Idorsia Ltd is reaching out for more - We have more ideas, we see more opportunities and we want to help more patients. In order to achieve this, we will develop Idorsia into a leading biopharmaceutical company, with a strong scientific core. Headquartered near Basel, Switzerland - a European biotech-hub - Idorsia is specialized in the discovery, development and commercialization of small molecules to transform the horizon of therapeutic options. Idorsia has a 20-year heritage of drug discovery, a broad portfolio of innovative drugs in the pipeline, an experienced team of professionals covering all disciplines from bench to bedside, and commercial operations in Europe, Japan, and the US - the ideal constellation for bringing innovative medicines to patients. Idorsia was listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker symbol: IDIA) in June 2017 and has over 1,300 highly qualified specialists dedicated to realizing our ambitious targets. For further information, please contact Andrew C. Weiss Senior Vice President, Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 91, CH-4123 Allschwil +41 58 844 10 10 investor.relations@idorsia.com media.relations@idorsia.com www.idorsia.com (http://www.idorsia.com) The above information contains certain "forward-looking statements", relating to the company's business, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "estimates", "believes", "expects", "may", "are expected to", "will", "will continue", "should", "would be", "seeks", "pending" or "anticipates" or similar expressions, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Such statements include descriptions of the company's investment and research and development programs and anticipated expenditures in connection therewith, descriptions of new products expected to be introduced by the company and anticipated customer demand for such products and products in the company's existing portfolio. Such statements reflect the current views of the company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Anhang May30, 2023, Oslo, Norway: PGS, together with JV consortium partners TGS and SLB have secured pre-funding to expand MultiClient 3D coverage in the prospective Sarawak Basin offshore Malaysia. The survey will cover approximately 6,800 square kilometers and the Ramform Sovereign is scheduled to commence acquisition in June 2023 and complete in August. The survey is the second phase of a multi-year contract awarded initially by PETRONAS in August 2020 to acquire and process up to 105,000 km of MultiClient 3D data over a 5-year period in the Basin. First phase of the Sarawak program was acquired in 2021 and covered 8,400 square kilometers. "The Sarawakbasincomprisesa proven petroleum systemwith many producing fields already present in the Central Luconia province. By acquiring MultiClient data with our Ramform vessels and GeoStreamer technology,PGS and partnerswill provide high qualityregional scale seismic data thatwill improveunderstanding of the petroleum systems and allow for prospect level AVO analysis and leads mappingbeyond the established offshore Sarawak producing assets," says President & CEO in PGS, Rune Olav Pedersen. "As the custodian of Malaysia's petroleum resources, Malaysia Petroleum Management (MPM), PETRONASis actively enhancing seismic data sets in the country that will introduce new plays to be explored to our clients, especially in imaging the pre MMU play in the deep-water area of Sarawak Basin," he added. PGS announces contract awards and MultiClient projects as stock exchange releases if the contract has a value of $10 million or more, MultiClient projects with a duration of 2 months or more and strategically important contracts. FOR DETAILS, CONTACT: Bard Stenberg, VP IR & Corporate Communication Mobile: +47 99 24 52 35 *** PGS ASA and its subsidiaries. *** The information included herein contains certain forward-looking statements that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. These statements are based on various assumptions made by the Company, which are beyond its control and are subject to certain additional risks and uncertainties. The Company is subject to a large number of risk factors including but not limited to the demand for seismic services, the demand for data from our multi-client data library, the attractiveness of our technology, unpredictable changes in governmental regulations affecting our markets and extreme weather conditions. For a further description of other relevant risk factors we refer to our Annual Report for 2022. As a result of these and other risk factors, actual events and our actual results may differ materially from those indicated in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The reservation is also made that inaccuracies or mistakes may occur in the information given above about current status of the Company or its business. Any reliance on the information above is at the risk of the reader, and PGS disclaims any and all liability in this respect. --END-- Exclusive Financial Advisor for Limited Recourse Debt Financing to Fund Majority of First Commercial Project EL DORADO, Ark., May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Standard Lithium Ltd. ("Standard Lithium" or the "Company") (TSXV: SLI) (NYSE American: SLI) (FRA: S5L), a leading near-commercial lithium company, has signed a mandate with BNP Paribas (BNP) to act as exclusive financial advisor to the Company in connection with limited recourse debt financing. The debt financing will be used to fund the majority of the Company's proposed first commercial project, the Lanxess 1A Project, located near El Dorado in southern Arkansas. BNP Paribas is a global leader in the financial advisory and project financing role for battery and critical mineral projects. Dr. Andy Robinson, President of the Company, commented, "We are delighted to start this engagement with BNP Paribas. Standard Lithium is in the closing stages of the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for our first commercial project, the Lanxess 1A project. As we move towards commercialization, we have kicked off the necessary financial processes to ensure the most capital efficient way to fund our first full-scale project. BNP brings an excellent track record of advising and securing debt financing for similar sustainable, battery and critical mineral projects, and we look forward to working closely with them as we endeavor to secure project financing for construction anticipated to begin next year." Antonio Pichardo, Director at BNP Paribas, said, "We are pleased to partner with Standard Lithium for this landmark debt financing. This new project is a testament to their commitment to environmental protection and demonstrates that we can meet the growing demand for lithium. BNP Paribas is determined to strengthen our climate action, in order to help our clients and our world to face the challenges of the future. We are looking forward to helping establish Standard Lithium as a leading producer of responsible lithium for the rapidly growing electric vehicle market." About BNP Paribas BNP Paribas is the European Union's leading bank and key player in international banking. It operates in 65 countries and has nearly 185,000 employees, including more than 145,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main fields of activity: Commercial, Personal Banking & Services for the Group's commercial & personal banking and several specialised businesses including BNP Paribas Personal Finance and Arval; Investment & Protection Services for savings, investment and protection solutions; and Corporate & Institutional Banking, focused on corporate and institutional clients. Based on its strong diversified and integrated model, the Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates and institutional clients) to realise their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. In Europe, BNP Paribas has four domestic markets: Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg. The Group is rolling out its integrated commercial & personal banking model across several Mediterranean countries, Turkey, and Eastern Europe. As a key player in international banking, the Group has leading platforms and business lines in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific. BNP Paribas has implemented a Corporate Social Responsibility approach in all its activities, enabling it to contribute to the construction of a sustainable future, while ensuring the Group's performance and stability. About Standard Lithium Ltd. Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company with a portfolio of projects in progress. The Company's flagship projects, the LANXESS Property Project and the South West Arkansas Project, are located in southern Arkansas near the Louisiana state line. The Company is focused on the evaluation and testing of commercial lithium extraction and purification from brine sourced from approximately 180,000 acres of leases across these two projects. The Company operates a first-of-a-kind industrial-scale DLE Demonstration Plant at the LANXESS Property Project. The scalable, environmentally friendly process eliminates the use of evaporation ponds, reduces processing time from months to hours and greatly increases the effective recovery of lithium. A Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) and Front-End Engineering Study (FEED) for Phase 1A of the LANXESS Property Project commenced in September 2022. A Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) of the South West Arkansas Project commenced in May 2022. The Company is also pursuing the resource development of other projects in the Smackover Formation in East Texas, as well as approximately 45,000 acres of mineral leases located in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California. Standard Lithium is jointly listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American under the trading symbol "SLI"; and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "S5L". Please visit the Company's website at https://www.standardlithium.com . Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to development of a commercial lithium plant, completion of definitive feasibility study, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration and drilling activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. On completion, this deal would mark Regnology's fifth acquisition in less than a year as part of its accelerated growth and value-generating strategy Regnology, a leading software provider with a focus on regulatory reporting solutions, announces today it expects to sign a definitive agreement to acquire Invoke, a French-based provider of financial, regulatory, and tax reporting solutions for supervisory authorities, and reporting entities. On completion of the agreement, the deal would mark the fifth acquisition in less than a year for Regnology. With 160+ full-time employees, Invoke serves over 1,800 regulated entities and supervisory authorities throughout Europe with its XBRL-based banking, insurance, and tax reporting solutions. Invoke's corporate tax solution will complement Regnology's financial tax reporting solution and open a new growth area for the company. Rob Mackay, CEO of Regnology, comments: "The round of recent deals we have undertaken, culminating with today's announcement, sets Regnology on an accelerated path for growth internationally. Invoke's advanced solutions would complement our technology stack while its team's deep knowledge of the French and Luxembourg markets, in particular, would strengthen our ability to deliver superior RegTech and tax reporting solutions on a wider scale." The contemplated acquisition would follow on the heels of Regnology's acquisition of UK-based statistical SDMX reporting specialist Metadata Technology earlier this month. This strategic deal was preceded by the purchase of KPMG's K-Helix reporting software business unit and the acquisition of Brussels-based reporting specialist b-fine in November 2022. In June 2022, Regnology announced a deal to acquire PwC UK's Tax Information Reporting (TIR) software business. "The acquisition of Vizor in 2021 was the founding step for the advent of Regnology. Combined with our organic growth, our M&A activity over the past 12 months continues to supercharge our business, significantly accelerating our international expansion and consolidating our RegTech and SupTech offering into a powerful integrated regulatory reporting platform," said Bobby Rahman, Head of M&A for Regnology "We were impressed by the momentum of Invoke over the past two years under Raphael's leadership. The proposed acquisition of Invoke would bring Regnology closer than ever to realizing our vision of providing the global community of regulators and regulated financial institutions with best-in-class, end-to-end solutions that can solve regulatory complexity with better data quality and unlock unprecedented efficiencies," added Mackay Raphael de Talhouet, CEO of Invoke continued: "This proposed deal could come as a natural leap forward for Invoke. Regnology shares the same entrepreneurial vision and innovation focus ISAI Expansion and Sagard NewGen had when they acquired Invoke in 2021. Our regulatory and tax expertise, local knowledge, and advanced solutions would be a natural fit for Regnology, and we believe a combination would offer amazing growth opportunities." The contemplated acquisition is subject to further due diligence and conditions including information and consultation with Invoke's works council, agreeing and executing any definitive agreement. About Regnology Regnology is a leading technology firm on a mission to bring safety and stability to the financial markets. With an exclusive focus on regulatory reporting and more than 34,000 financial institutions, 60 regulators, international organizations and tax authorities relying on our solutions, we're uniquely positioned to bring greater data quality, efficiency and cost savings to all market participants. With over 850 employees in 15 countries and a unified data ingestion model powering our work, our clients can quickly implement and derive value from our solutions and easily keep pace with ongoing regulatory changes. Regnology was formed in 2021 when BearingPoint RegTech, a former business unit of BearingPoint Group, joined forces with Vizor Software, a global leader in regulatory and supervisory technology. For more information about Regnology, connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Visit our website: www.regnology.net About Invoke Invoke is a French-based software vendor specializing in SaaS solutions dedicated to financial, tax and regulatory reporting. A leading player in the field of French tax management for large and mid-sized companies, Invoke has also established itself as a SaaS leader in RegTech and SupTech in Europe due to its innovative solutions for regulatory reporting and prudential supervision. It's cutting-edge expertise, particularly in XBRL and inline XBRL technologies, makes Invoke a preferred partner for national and supranational supervisory authorities, as well as for banks, insurers and company groups required to comply with national and European regulatory requirements, including CRD V, Solvency II and ESEF. As an EDI partner of the French tax authority, (DGFiP), a founding member of XBRL France and a direct member of XBRL International, Invoke currently supports 1,800 customers in 34 countries. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230529005204/en/ Contacts: Mireille Adebiyi Chief Marketing Officer, Regnology mireille.adebiyi@regnology.net Val-d'Or, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2023) - Bonterra Resources Inc. (TSXV: BTR) (OTCQX: BONXF) (FSE: 9BR2) ("Bonterra" or the "Company") is pleased to announce more results from the now completed infill and expansion drilling campaign at the Barry underground project, which holds 0.5 million ounces of Measured and Indicated Mineral resources and 0.7 million ounces of Inferred Mineral resources according to the last mineral resources estimate (the "2021 MRE", see press release dated June 23, 2021). The primary goal of this campaign was to convert mineral resources to a higher confidence category and enhance the interpretation and grade continuity of the mineralization, primarily in the upper section of the deposit. In total, 31,349 metres ("m") (91 holes) of infill drilling has been completed from surface since August 2022. The Company has received assays for 89 holes so far, including the holes disclosed in this release (see press releases dated November 15, 2022, December 12, 2022, March 27, 2023, and May 1, 2023, for previously released holes). To date, 1,619 samples are pending results. Highlights include: 8.2 g/t Au over 8.2 m, including 16.6 g/t Au over 3.4 m and 54.5 g/t Au over 0.5 m in hole MB-23-593A 5.0 g/t Au over 7.2 m, including 23.0 g/t Au over 0.7 m and 16.2 g/t Au over 0.6 m in hole MB-23-599 7.2 g/t Au over 3.7 m, including 30.0 g/t Au over 0.5 m in hole MB-23-601A 6.4 g/t Au over 2.9 m, including 16.9 g/t Au over 1.0 m in hole MB-23-611 Operational Updates In addition to the cost saving initiatives announced in November 2022 and March 2023 (see press releases dated November 23, 2022, and March 6, 2023), the Company implemented a new working schedule at the Barry site in April 2023 and expects to reduce fixed camp costs by 50% or approximately $0.5 million ("M") in 2023. Also, the Company received proceeds of $0.4 M in Q1 2023 from the rental of the Bachelor camp during the construction of the proposed Kuikuhaacheu hydroelectric power transmission line from the Waswanipi substation to the Windfall gold project, which is approximately 15 kilometers ("km") from Bonterra's Barry and Gladiator deposits. More revenue is expected for the rest of the year. Finally, the Company is currently undertaking the cleaning of the Bachelor Mill to recover the gold trapped in the circuit from past production activity. This work is expected to take place in the ensuing months and the revenue generated is expected to support the Company's exploration activities. Marc Andre Pelletier, President and CEO commented: "Several revenue-generating and cost-cutting initiatives are currently underway to bolster our operations and facilitate our renewed focus on exploration in the Urban-Barry camp. We share the same belief as our neighbors, Gold Fields and Osisko Mining, in the untapped potential for new discoveries within the Urban-Barry camp. The findings announced today provide further confirmation of the Barry deposit's depth potential, with the 800 Zone remaining open down plunge to the East. We are pleased with the progress of our ongoing drill campaigns at Panache South and Barry North-East, following our updated work schedule, and we thank our employees for their flexibility." Exploration Updates The Company has allocated one drill rig to its Barry North-East regional exploration program, which consists of eleven drill holes covering 3,200 m (See Figure 3). This program targets induced polarization anomalies along the Mazeres fault corridor, located three km to the northeast of the Barry deposit. So far, four drill holes covering 1,654 m have been completed. The Company also commenced a 3,500 m exploration and follow-up drill program at the Panache South target area. The program is currently testing targets North of historical showing of 12.9 g/t Au over 0.5 m and 3.2 g/t Au over 0.4 m as well as showings from the 2021 drill campaign where significant gold mineralization was intersected such as 5.5 g/t Au over 1.5 m, including 16.2 g/t Au over 0.5 m, 23.1 g/t Au over 2.3 m, including 62.3 g/t Au over 0.8 m, and 30.6 g/t Au over 1.5 m, including 91.4 g/t Au over 0.5 m from shear-hosted quartz carbonate vein systems (Panache South drill hole references in this paragraph are from the Company's press release dated March 1, 2022). So far, two drill holes totalling 909 m have been completed. Diamond Drilling Results Highlights: Figure 1 - Barry Project - Surface plan, holes, and location of highlights To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1528/167892_478314b22458d8f0_001full.jpg The infill drill program at the Barry underground project was designed to convert the Inferred resources from the 2021 MRE into Indicated resources by decreasing the drill spacing to 25 m and to expand the mineralization in the sub-vertical 800 Zone at depth. The results presented in this release keep on defining the high grade ore shoots between 100 and 200 m below the surface and better delineate the mineralization in the lesser drilled portion of the 800 Zone around 250 m below the surface. Figure 2 - Barry Project - Long Section, 800 Zone Looking northwest To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1528/167892_478314b22458d8f0_002full.jpg The latest infill drilling results from the 800 Zone demonstrate the continuity of the mineralization. Hole MB-23-593A returned results of 8.2 g/t Au over 8.2 m including 54.5 g/t Au over 0.5 m, hole MB 23-599 returned 5.0 g/t Au over 7.2 m including 16.2 g/t Au over 0.6 m, as well as hole MB 23-601A returned 7.2 g/t Au over 3.7m including 30 g/t Au over 0.5m and finally the MB 23-611 returned 6.4 g/t Au over 2.9 m including 16.2 g/t Au over 2.0 m. All the results confirm the plunge of the gold trend, its extension at depth and the potential to increase the mineral resources for the 800 Zone. Figure 3 - Urban-Barry Project - Regional exploration targets To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1528/167892_478314b22458d8f0_003full.jpg The Barry North-East and the Panache South properties are located on the west portion of the Urban-Barry camp, in the Macho mafic volcanic formation, where the Barry deposit and Moss showings occur along the Mazeres fault system striking N60 toward the Osisko Mining's Windfall deposit. The Panache showing located in the northeast portion of the area occurs along the Milner fault which also hosts the Fox and Fox West Zones owned by Osisko Mining. Barry Deposit Geology The Barry gold deposit is characterized by three dominant sets of structures, all dipping to the southeast. The sub-vertical shear zones and the H-Series shear zones dipping 25 to 40 degrees are hosted within intermediate to mafic volcanics and tuffs with local felsic intrusions. Contact zones dip from 50 to 65 degrees along the lower and upper contacts of the D1, D2 and D3 felsic intrusions with mafic volcanics. Gold mineralization is associated with disseminated sulphides within shear zones and veins with local visible gold. The Barry deposit has been delineated over 1.4 km along strike and 700 m below surface and remains open for expansion. Table of diamond drill hole results: The following table shows the significant intersections of the drill holes presented in this press release. Program Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Grades (g/t Au) Metal Factor (Length X Grades) Zones Underground Infill MB-23-593A 144.5 188.7 44.2 0.4 19.7 D1 Intrusive Underground Infill MB-23-593A 191.0 199.2 8.2 8.2 67.6 800 Underground Infill MB-23-593A Including 195.1 198.5 3.4 16.6 56.5 800 Underground Infill MB-23-593A And Including 197.0 197.5 0.5 54.5 27.3 800 Underground Infill MB-23-595 145.3 151.9 6.6 1.6 10.7 800 Underground Infill MB-23-595 Including 147.2 147.7 0.5 7.4 3.7 800 Underground Infill MB-23-597 282.4 285.8 3.4 1.9 6.5 800 Underground Infill MB-23-599 285.6 292.8 7.2 5.0 35.6 800 Underground Infill MB-23-599 Including 285.6 286.3 0.7 23.0 16.1 800 Underground Infill MB-23-599 And Including 288.0 288.6 0.6 16.2 9.7 800 Underground Infill MB-23-601A 238.0 240.2 2.2 3.3 7.2 Underground Infill MB-23-601A 255.8 259.5 3.7 7.2 26.7 D1 intrusive Underground Infill MB-23-601A Including 257.5 258.0 0.5 30.0 15.0 D1 intrusive Underground Infill MB-23-601A 303.0 307.7 4.7 2.4 11.4 800 Underground Infill MB-23-602 185.6 187.5 1.9 11.4 21.7 New H Underground Infill MB-23-602 Including 185.6 186.3 0.7 24.4 17.1 New H Underground Infill MB-23-602 227.0 235.0 8.0 1.1 9.1 800 Underground Infill MB-23-602 Including 232.0 232.5 0.5 6.4 3.2 800 Underground Infill MB-23-603 354.3 357.5 3.2 3.1 10.1 800 Underground Infill MB-23-603 Including 355.4 356.1 0.7 11.4 8.0 800 Underground Infill MB-23-604 76.9 81.3 4.4 1.4 6.3 Underground Infill MB-23-604 257.4 312.5 55.1 0.2 9.3 D1 Intrusive Underground Infill MB-23-605 319.5 327.0 7.5 2.0 15.2 800 Underground Infill MB-23-605 Including 322.0 324.6 2.6 5.1 13.2 800 Underground Infill MB-23-611 122.1 125.0 2.9 6.4 18.5 800 Underground Infill MB-23-611 Including 122.1 123.1 1.0 16.9 16.9 800 Notes: 1) The meterage represents the actual length of the drilled lengths. 2) Estimated true widths for the Barry interpreted zones are as follows: D series, AB series, H series 70% to 90% of core length, 800 series 50% to 70% of core length. 3) The mineralized intervals listed are above 0.5 g/t Au and with metal factor (grades x thickness) above 5. 4) Gold grades are uncut. Quality Control and Reporting Protocols The Barry project's drill core gold analyses are performed at Actlabs located in Ste-Germaine-Boule, Quebec. The external laboratories employ a rigorous QA-QC analysis program that meets industry standards. The analyses are carried out by fire assay (A.A.) with atomic absorption finish and with gravimetric finish for assay above 10 g/t Au at Actlabs and AGAT laboratories. Blanks, duplicates, and certified reference standards are inserted into the sample stream to monitor the Laboratory's performance. The Company's QA-QC program requires that at least 5% of samples be analyzed by an independent laboratory. These verification samples are sent to ALS Minerals laboratory facility located in Val-d'Or, Quebec. The verifications show a high degree of correlation with the Laboratory's results. Qualified Person Donald Trudel, P.Geo., (OGQ # 813) Director of Geology of the Company oversees all exploration activities on the Urban- Barry property and has compiled and approved the information contained in this press release. Mr. Trudel is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 on standards of disclosure for mineral projects. About Bonterra Resources Inc. Bonterra is a Canadian gold exploration company with a large portfolio of advanced exploration assets anchored by a central milling facility in Quebec, Canada. The Company has four main assets, Gladiator, Barry, Moroy, and Bachelor that collectively have a total of 1.24 million ounces in Measured and Indicated categories, and 1.78 million ounces in Inferred category. Importantly, the Company owns the only permitted and operational gold mill in the region. Bonterra is focused on graduating from advanced exploration to a development company to deliver shareholder value. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Marc-Andre Pelletier, President & CEO ir@btrgold.com 2872 Sullivan Road, Suite 2, Val d'Or, Quebec J9P 0B9 819-279-9304 | Website: www.btrgold.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Caution regarding forward-looking statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" that is based on Bonterra's current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections. This forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements with respect to Bonterra's exploration and development plans and placing the Bachelor-Moroy deposit under long-term care and maintenance. The words "will", "anticipated", "plans" or other similar words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking information. This forward-looking information includes namely information with respect to the planned exploration programs and the potential growth in mineral resources. Exploration results that include drill results on wide spacings may not be indicative of the occurrence of a mineral deposit and such results do not provide assurance that further work will establish sufficient grade, continuity, metallurgical characteristics, and economic potential to be classed as a category of mineral resource. The potential quantities and grades of drilling targets are conceptual in nature and, there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource, and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the targets being delineated as mineral resources. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Bonterra's actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include but are not limited to: uncertainties related exploration and development; the ability to raise sufficient capital to fund exploration and development; changes in economic conditions or financial markets, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political, and competitive developments; technological or operational difficulties or inability to obtain permits encountered in connection with exploration activities; and labour relations matters. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect our forward-looking information. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking information. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167892 LONDON, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- deskbird, a leading tech company offering workplace solutions for hybrid companies, was recently recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in 2023. During the assessment, the company received outstanding scores across several aspects of its workplace, such as leadership, learning opportunities, trust, and employee personal growth, resulting in its recognition among the employer of choice. Best Places to Work is an international HR certification program providing employers in different countries the opportunity to learn more about the engagement and satisfaction of their employees and honor those who deliver an outstanding work experience with the highest standards regarding working conditions. "Thrilled to share that deskbird has received the Best Places to Work award!" said Jonas Hess, CPO & Co-founder of the company. "Our journey has been guided by some of our core values - holy team, ownership, a bias for action, active listening, and curiosity. These values shape our unique culture and decision-making, helping us collaborate effectively and deliver top-notch customer experiences. Huge shout-out to our team, whose dedication has turned these values from words on a page into our reality. As we continue embracing these values, I'm confident we'll keep growing and making waves in our industry." Ivan Cossu, CEO & Co-founder, added, "One of our core values at deskbird is: think big each day. Our unwavering belief is that we can turn our most ambitious aspirations into reality by being the best version of ourselves - day in, day out. This award validates our commitment to excellence, motivates us to continue pushing boundaries, and serves as a reminder that our distinct culture makes deskbird exceptional. Receiving the Best Place to Work award is an incredible milestone for us. It reinforces our commitment to creating an exceptional workplace with exceptional people." Within the scope of the research conducted by the Best Places to Work organization, 98% of the employees rated the company high regarding its teamwork efforts and creating a respectful and fair environment. The Best Places to Work organization, which operates on a global scale, has been conducting analysis and research across 10,000 companies and over 25 million employees annually. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/deskbird-earns-the-certification-as-one-of-the-best-places-to-work-in-2023-301837024.html PRINCETON, N.J., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ETS announced today that the TOEFL iBT test has been approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for use in Canada's Student Direct Stream (SDS), an expedited study permit processing program for international students from 14 countries who plan to enroll in one of Canada's postsecondary designated learning institutions. Previously, only one English-language testing option was authorized for the SDS route. The expansion to include TOEFL iBT is a welcome change for test takers who now have the option to select which test works best for them. "We are thrilled to be unlocking more opportunities for students to access one of the world's most desirable study abroad destinations," said Rohit Sharma, Senior Vice President of Global Higher Education and Workskills at ETS. "Not only will the addition of TOEFL benefit the hundreds of thousands of students who take advantage of the SDS route each year, but institutions can feel confident knowing that they can access a wider pool of applicants who can demonstrate their skills with the premier test of English-language proficiency." Students can begin sending TOEFL iBT scores as part of their SDS application beginning August 10, 2023. This is available to legal residents in Antigua and Barbuda; Brazil; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; India; Morocco; Pakistan; Peru; Philippines; Senegal; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Trinidad and Tobago; and Vietnam. The TOEFL iBT test is already accepted by 100% of Canadian universities and is also the world's most widely accepted English-language test, used by more than 12,000 institutions in more than 160 countries worldwide. Today's announcement follows a recent announcement from ETS that it is enhancing the TOEFL iBT test beginning July 2023, in which test takers will experience a shortened test, a simplified registration process and increased score transparency. To learn more about applying for SDS, including eligibility criteria, please visit the Government of Canada website. For more information on TOEFL iBT, including how to register, access to practice materials and more, visit www.ets.org/toefl. About the TOEFL iBT test The TOEFL iBT test, created by ETS, is the most respected, accepted and preferred test of academic English-language proficiency, used for study, work and immigration. More than 12,000 institutions in more than 160 countries worldwide use TOEFL iBT scores to make high-stakes decisions. The test boasts 100% acceptance in popular English-speaking destinations including the United States, Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. The test is backed by decades of research and has helped millions of learners on their study abroad journeys. It's a crucial part of the TOEFL Family of Assessments, which houses a TOEFL test for each stage of English-language proficiency, starting with learners 8+. For more information, visit www.ets.org/toefl. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1891130/4058556/ETS_Logo_navy_gold_300___Copy_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/toefl-ibt-approved-for-canadas-student-direct-stream-301836807.html BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - French stocks traded lower on Tuesday amid growing doubts about the strength of China's post-Covid recovery and signs of increasing tensions between Washington and Beijing. China reportedly declined a U.S. invitation for a meeting between U.S. defense secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese defense minister Li Shangfu at a forum in Singapore later this week. Investors were also focused on the latest U.S. debt ceiling developments after a handful of Republican lawmakers said they would oppose a deal to raise the United States' $31.4 trillion debt ceiling. The benchmark CAC 40 was down 27 points, or 0.4 percent, at 7,276 after declining 0.2 percent the previous day. Among the prominent decliners, Danone and Pernod Ricard and TotalEnergies were down around 1 percent each. 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. Options Technologythe leading Capital Markets services provider, today announced the opening of its new Paris office. The expansion is part of Options' strategic plans and will serve as a hub for the company's operations in European markets. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230530005320/en/ Options opens new Paris office to enhance service offering, provide localised client support and strengthen relationships with key industry partners in the region. (Graphic: Business Wire) The Paris office enables Options to enhance its service offering further, providing localized client support and strengthening relationships with key industry partners. Options' President and CEO, Danny Moore, commented, "We are delighted to be opening our new office in Paris, which represents an exciting step forward for Options in Europe. We believe establishing a local presence in Paris will enable us to serve our clients better, expand our regional reach, and continue our rapid growth trajectory. We are equally excited to announce Emma Sharkey as the Paris office team lead. Her experience and dedication have been invaluable throughout this project and will enable our continued success, expansion of services and team development in the region." The opening of the Paris office, situated in the city's 8th Arrondissement, is part of Options ongoing expansion strategy. The company has experienced significant growth in recent years, establishing a strong presence in Toronto, Chicago, and Auckland to complement its strong foothold in New York, London, Singapore, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Today's news comes as the latest in a series of exciting development for Options, including its partnership with ETD, its testing of OpenAI with real time market data in Azure and its achievement of Infrastructure Solutions Partner status with Microsoft In 2019, Options received investment from Boston-based Private Equity Firm, Abry Partners. This investment has enabled Options to accelerate its growth strategy and develop its technology platform whilst expanding its reach in key financial centres globally. About Options (www.options-it.com): Options Technology is the No. 1 provider of IT infrastructure to global Capital Markets firms, supporting their operations and ecosystems. Founded in 1993, the firm began life as a hedge fund technology services provider. Today, the company provides high-performance managed trading infrastructure and cloud-enabled managed services to over 550 firms globally, providing an agile, scalable platform in an Investment Bank-grade Cybersecurity wrapper. Options clients include the leading global investment banks, hedge funds, funds of funds, proprietary trading firms, market makers, broker/dealers, private equity houses, and exchanges. With offices in 8 key cities; New York, Toronto, Chicago, London, Belfast, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Auckland, Options are well placed to service its customers on-site and remotely. In 2019, Options secured a significant growth investment from Abry Partners, a Boston-based sector-focused private equity firm. This investment has enabled Options to considerably accelerate its growth strategy to invest further in its technology platform and expand its reach in key financial centres globally. Options has been named among the UK's leading growth companies in the 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017 Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 league table. For more on Options, please visit www.options-it.com follow us on Twitter at @Options_ITand visit our LinkedIn page About Abry Partners (www.abry.com) Abry is one of the most experienced and successful sector-focused private equity investment firms in North America. Since its founding in 1989, the firm has completed over $82 billion of leveraged transactions and other private equity or preferred equity placements. Currently, the firm manages over $5.0 billion of capital across their active funds. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230530005320/en/ Contacts: For further information, please contact: Press Contact: Niall McAleer Email: niall.mcaleer@options-it.com MADLANGeMPISI Nazareth Baptist Church leader Unyazi Lwezulu christened the Shembe Madlangempisi site Vumani Home Temple. This was during the church leaders first visit to the Madlangempisi site, which according to Eswatini-based Reverend Mpendulo Mkhonta, was awarded to the church to use according to their will. Mkhonta said it was the leader of the Magagula clan and the areas late Chief Mdumba Magagula who gave the land to Shembe. Today (yesterday) Unyazi Lwezulu christened this holy place as the Vumani Home Temple. This is the site where the churchs temple will be built. Shembe will also be staying here during his future visits in the country as his homestead will also be built here, next to the temple, said Mkhonta. Meeting This was after the church leaders, both those who had come from neighbouring South Africa (SA) with the church leader and those based in the country, had a brief meeting with Unyazi Lwezulu at the site where his houses would be built. The media was not allowed to take pictures of the meeting as leaders of the church highlighted that some of the proceedings were sacred and were not for public consumption. People of Madlangempisi and neighbouring areas pushed and shoved to get his attention, with the hope that he would pray and bless them. The residents, most of whom are members of the church, which is also known as Shembe, gathered at the Madlangempisi site. They included the young and old, as well as those who lived with disabilities. Most of the residents brought along water containers to receive blessed water. Blessed The blessed items were not limited to just water, but others brought along items such as soaps and petrollium jelly, which was to be blessed by the church leader. Unyazi Lwezulu arrived just before noon in the company of other leaders and delegates, some from KwaZulu-Natal. It is worth noting that most of the South Africans who were part of the church delegation were clad in their traditional Zulu attires. They included a section of warriors, women and maidens who sang songs of praise at the arena for the better part of the day. The Shembe leader spent most of the day seated under a gazebo pitched next to a mini-van, where he would at times go inside to spend time with a companion, whose identity could not be confirmed. A female toddler was also spotted seated under the gazebo. After some of the residents and believers had received holy water, they were asked to go and sit in front of the church leaders gazebo for blessings. The same applied for those who wished to offer offerings and gifts, they were asked to go and sit in front of the church leader for further instructions. Among the donated gifts and offerings were goats and a cow. Some of those who came to the Madlangempisi site expressed their joy on having gotten a chance to come close to the church leader. They said he was an immortal earthly god who was able to relay messages directly to the heavenly God and that was why they believed that if they reported their suffering and asked for help through him, God would be quick to assist and answer their prayers. The leader will now await to join their Majesties on Saturday and Sunday, during the Sabbath Service to be held at Ludzidzini Royal Residence, before his return to South Africa, according to Reverend Mkhonta, who is the Hhohho overseer of the Nazareth Baptist Church in Eswatini. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices fell over 2 percent on Tuesday, with doubts about China's economic recovery and uncertainty on whether the Congress will approve the debt deal weighing on prices. Benchmark Brent crude futures fell 2.2 percent to $75.42 a barrel, while WTI crude futures were down 2.1 percent at $71.13. After April economic readings came in below estimates, investors remain concerned that China's post-Covid recovery is faltering. Also, a new coronavirus variant spreading in China is expected to infect nearly 65 million every week by the end of June. Meanwhile, concerns about the U.S. debt ceiling pact grew after a handful of Republican lawmakers said they would oppose the deal to raise the United States' $31.4 trillion debt ceiling. Later today, the House Rules Committee is scheduled to consider the package and vote on sending it to the full House for a vote expected Wednesday. U.S. President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy expressed confidence on Monday that the debt-ceiling deal will pass Congress. The odds of a U.S. default currently remain low, but the consequences could be dire. Incidentally, the debt deadline nearly coincides with the OPEC+ policy meeting on June 4, and there is much uncertainty over whether the member countries will increase their output cuts. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. COVINA, Calif., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Prophecy Market Insights "Intraocular Lens Market Flourishes with 7.2% CAGR, Envisaged to Cross US$ 7.9 billion Mark by 2032." What is the Overview of Intraocular Lens Market? Intraocular Lenses (IOLs) are artificial, permanent lenses which can replace eye's natural lens for restoring near & distant vision. Firstly, lens is removed by process called as phacoemulsification. Small incision is made in edge of cornea, then lens is broken into small pieces & are rinsed from eye, then IOL is folded & inserted through small incision so that it can rest in same clear capsule where natural lens once did. Presence of major key players and new launch product of intraocular lens has provided lucrative opportunities in market growth. Growing geriatric population and eye disorders like diabetic retinopathy and other disease has further fruitful the demand for Intraocular Lens market growth. The shift to digital platforms has created rapid increase in vision demands, to meet this demand new advanced IOLs (intraocular lens) platform provides best and improved vision. However, due to beneficial properties, to improve the vision, Intraocular Lense market is expected to boosts the growth over the forecast period. Key Highlights: In March 2021 , Johnson & Johnson Vision's Tecnis Eyhance and Eyhance Toric II intraocular lenses approved by U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration). New improved lenses help in improving intermediate vision and also help in delivering of 30% better image contrast in low light at 5mm than typical monofocal lens. , Johnson & Johnson Vision's Tecnis Eyhance and Eyhance Toric II intraocular lenses approved by U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration). New improved lenses help in improving intermediate vision and also help in delivering of 30% better image contrast in low light at 5mm than typical monofocal lens. In September 2022 , SIFI announced new scientific data and launched new intraocular lens at "The European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons" (ESCRS) in Milan ( Italy ). SIFI launched new Evolux a novel extended monofocal intraocular lens which was based on non-diffractive profile and hydrophobic material. Order free Sample Copy of the Report: https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-sample/251 What is Prophecy's Analyst View on Intraocular Lens Market? Diabetes cause damage to eyes which leads to poor vision and blindness. To overcome the eye disorders Intraocular Lenses are useful for improving vision and to live the normal life which, in turn facilitate the demand for market growth. Moreover, rising prevalence of diabetic patients & cataracts, technological advancement, robust healthcare infrastructure, and rising medicare expenditure to enhance eye care is anticipated to increase demand for Intraocular Lens in future. Market Growth and Size: The intraocular lens market has been experiencing steady growth due to an increasing prevalence of cataract and other age-related eye disorders, as well as advancements in lens technology. According to various reports, the global IOL market was valued at around USD 3 -4 billion in 2020 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5-7% over the forecast period. Cataract Surgery Driving Demand: Cataract surgery is the primary driver for the IOL market. As the global population ages, the number of people diagnosed with cataracts is increasing, leading to a higher demand for cataract surgeries. Additionally, technological advancements in surgical techniques, including the use of premium IOLs for better vision outcomes, have further fueled the demand for intraocular lenses. What recent developments are there in the Intraocular Lens Market? Premium IOLs: Premium IOLs have gained popularity in recent years. These lenses offer advanced features beyond standard monofocal lenses, such as multifocality or extended depth of focus, which can provide patients with a wider range of vision, reducing the need for glasses after surgery. Additionally, toric IOLs are designed to correct astigmatism, further enhancing visual outcomes. Premium IOLs have gained popularity in recent years. These lenses offer advanced features beyond standard monofocal lenses, such as multifocality or extended depth of focus, which can provide patients with a wider range of vision, reducing the need for glasses after surgery. Additionally, toric IOLs are designed to correct astigmatism, further enhancing visual outcomes. Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) Lenses: EDOF lenses have emerged as a promising technology in the IOL market. They provide an extended range of vision, reducing the dependence on glasses for both near and distance vision. These lenses work by using a combination of diffractive and refractive optics to extend the focal range. EDOF lenses have emerged as a promising technology in the IOL market. They provide an extended range of vision, reducing the dependence on glasses for both near and distance vision. These lenses work by using a combination of diffractive and refractive optics to extend the focal range. Accommodating IOLs: Accommodating IOLs aim to mimic the natural accommodation of the eye, allowing patients to focus on objects at different distances without the need for glasses. These lenses use specific mechanisms, such as changes in lens shape or movement, to adjust focus. While still in development and refinement, accommodating IOLs hold potential for enhancing visual outcomes. Accommodating IOLs aim to mimic the natural accommodation of the eye, allowing patients to focus on objects at different distances without the need for glasses. These lenses use specific mechanisms, such as changes in lens shape or movement, to adjust focus. While still in development and refinement, accommodating IOLs hold potential for enhancing visual outcomes. Enhanced Materials: Advances in IOL materials have focused on improving biocompatibility, durability, and optical properties. Hydrophobic acrylic lenses have gained popularity due to their excellent optical clarity and low post-operative complications. Additionally, researchers are exploring new materials, such as bioengineered polymers, to enhance the flexibility and accommodative properties of IOLs. What are some challenges faced by the Intraocular Lens Market? High Cost: IOLs can be expensive, particularly premium lenses with advanced features. The cost of these lenses may limit accessibility for certain patient populations, especially in regions with limited healthcare resources or where insurance coverage is inadequate. Cost containment efforts and reimbursement policies play a significant role in addressing this challenge. IOLs can be expensive, particularly premium lenses with advanced features. The cost of these lenses may limit accessibility for certain patient populations, especially in regions with limited healthcare resources or where insurance coverage is inadequate. Cost containment efforts and reimbursement policies play a significant role in addressing this challenge. Regulatory Approval and Safety Concerns: IOLs are regulated medical devices that require rigorous testing and approval from regulatory authorities, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Stringent regulations and the lengthy approval process can slow down the introduction of new IOL technologies to the market. Additionally, ensuring the long-term safety and efficacy of these devices is critical for patient well-being. IOLs are regulated medical devices that require rigorous testing and approval from regulatory authorities, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Stringent regulations and the lengthy approval process can slow down the introduction of new IOL technologies to the market. Additionally, ensuring the long-term safety and efficacy of these devices is critical for patient well-being. Surgeon Training and Skill: Implanting IOLs requires specialized surgical skills. Training new surgeons and ensuring a sufficient number of skilled professionals to meet the growing demand can be a challenge. Continuous professional education and training programs are essential to address this challenge and maintain the quality of cataract surgery outcomes. Implanting IOLs requires specialized surgical skills. Training new surgeons and ensuring a sufficient number of skilled professionals to meet the growing demand can be a challenge. Continuous professional education and training programs are essential to address this challenge and maintain the quality of cataract surgery outcomes. Post-operative Complications: Although cataract surgery with IOL implantation is generally safe, there can be post-operative complications such as infection, inflammation, or lens dislocation. These complications can impact patient satisfaction and visual outcomes. Ongoing research and development aim to reduce the incidence of complications and improve patient outcomes. Although cataract surgery with IOL implantation is generally safe, there can be post-operative complications such as infection, inflammation, or lens dislocation. These complications can impact patient satisfaction and visual outcomes. Ongoing research and development aim to reduce the incidence of complications and improve patient outcomes. Patient Selection and Expectations: Selecting the most appropriate IOL for each patient requires considering various factors such as ocular health, lifestyle, and patient expectations. Managing patient expectations and ensuring realistic outcomes are important for patient satisfaction. Clear communication between surgeons and patients regarding the benefits and limitations of different IOL options is crucial. Request Free Pdf copy of the report: https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-pdf/251 Who are the Key Manufacturers in Intraocular Lens Market? Johnson & Johnson Vision Carl Zeiss Meditec AG Bausch & Lomb Incorporated EyeKon Medical Inc. SIFI S.p.A. Alcon Inc. Rayner Group HumanOptics Holding AG Hanita Lenses STAAR SURGICAL What are the Drivers and Restrains of Intraocular Lens Market? Drivers: Increasing Prevalence of Eye Disorders: The rising global prevalence of eye disorders, such as cataract, presbyopia, and refractive errors, is a significant driver for the IOL market. As the population ages and the incidence of these conditions increases, the demand for cataract surgeries and refractive procedures rises, boosting the demand for IOLs. The rising global prevalence of eye disorders, such as cataract, presbyopia, and refractive errors, is a significant driver for the IOL market. As the population ages and the incidence of these conditions increases, the demand for cataract surgeries and refractive procedures rises, boosting the demand for IOLs. Technological Advancements: Advances in IOL technology, including the development of premium IOLs with advanced features such as multifocality and extended depth of focus, drive market growth. These advancements provide improved visual outcomes and reduce dependence on corrective eyewear, enhancing patient satisfaction and quality of life. Advances in IOL technology, including the development of premium IOLs with advanced features such as multifocality and extended depth of focus, drive market growth. These advancements provide improved visual outcomes and reduce dependence on corrective eyewear, enhancing patient satisfaction and quality of life. Growing Awareness and Adoption of Refractive Surgeries: Increasing awareness about the benefits of refractive surgeries, such as LASIK and phakic IOL implantation, drives the demand for IOLs. Refractive surgeries offer an alternative to traditional glasses or contact lenses and contribute to the growth of the IOL market. Increasing awareness about the benefits of refractive surgeries, such as LASIK and phakic IOL implantation, drives the demand for IOLs. Refractive surgeries offer an alternative to traditional glasses or contact lenses and contribute to the growth of the IOL market. Favorable Reimbursement Policies: Adequate reimbursement policies and insurance coverage for cataract surgery and IOL implantation positively impact market growth. It ensures affordability for patients and incentivizes healthcare providers to offer these procedures. Restrains: High Cost of Premium IOLs: Premium IOLs, which offer advanced features and improved vision outcomes, tend to have a higher cost compared to standard monofocal IOLs. The high cost can be a barrier to adoption for certain patient populations, leading to limited market penetration. Premium IOLs, which offer advanced features and improved vision outcomes, tend to have a higher cost compared to standard monofocal IOLs. The high cost can be a barrier to adoption for certain patient populations, leading to limited market penetration. Regulatory Challenges: IOLs are regulated medical devices that require stringent testing and regulatory approval. The lengthy and complex approval processes can delay the introduction of new IOL technologies to the market, hindering market growth and innovation. IOLs are regulated medical devices that require stringent testing and regulatory approval. The lengthy and complex approval processes can delay the introduction of new IOL technologies to the market, hindering market growth and innovation. Lack of Healthcare Infrastructure: In some regions, particularly in developing countries, the lack of adequate healthcare infrastructure and resources can limit access to cataract surgeries and IOLs. Limited healthcare facilities, trained professionals, and affordability issues pose challenges to market growth. In some regions, particularly in developing countries, the lack of adequate healthcare infrastructure and resources can limit access to cataract surgeries and IOLs. Limited healthcare facilities, trained professionals, and affordability issues pose challenges to market growth. Post-operative Complications: While cataract surgery with IOL implantation is generally safe, there can be post-operative complications such as infection, inflammation, or lens dislocation. These complications may impact patient outcomes and satisfaction, creating potential restraints for the market. While cataract surgery with IOL implantation is generally safe, there can be post-operative complications such as infection, inflammation, or lens dislocation. These complications may impact patient outcomes and satisfaction, creating potential restraints for the market. Alternative Vision Correction Methods: The availability of alternative vision correction methods, such as glasses, contact lenses, and laser refractive surgeries, may affect the demand for IOLs. Some individuals may opt for these alternatives rather than undergoing invasive surgery, particularly if their visual impairment is mild or if they have concerns about surgical procedures. Request Customization: https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-customization/251 Geographical insights on Intraocular Lens Market: North America : North America has a well-established healthcare infrastructure, advanced medical technologies, and high healthcare expenditure, contributing to the growth of the IOL market. The region has a significant presence of key market players and is often an early adopter of new IOL technologies. Factors such as an aging population, high prevalence of cataract, and increasing demand for premium IOLs drive market growth in this region. has a well-established healthcare infrastructure, advanced medical technologies, and high healthcare expenditure, contributing to the growth of the IOL market. The region has a significant presence of key market players and is often an early adopter of new IOL technologies. Factors such as an aging population, high prevalence of cataract, and increasing demand for premium IOLs drive market growth in this region. Europe : Europe is another significant market for IOLs. The region has a large geriatric population, which fuels the demand for cataract surgeries and IOLs. Countries such as Germany , France , and the United Kingdom are major contributors to the European IOL market. Favorable reimbursement policies and well-established healthcare systems support market growth in this region. is another significant market for IOLs. The region has a large geriatric population, which fuels the demand for cataract surgeries and IOLs. Countries such as , , and the are major contributors to the European IOL market. Favorable reimbursement policies and well-established healthcare systems support market growth in this region. Asia Pacific : The Asia Pacific region is expected to witness substantial growth in the IOL market. Factors such as a large population, increasing healthcare expenditure, growing awareness about eye health, and improving healthcare infrastructure contribute to market growth. Countries like China and India are experiencing a rise in the number of cataract surgeries and the adoption of premium IOLs. However, challenges related to access to healthcare and affordability may exist in certain areas of the region. The region is expected to witness substantial growth in the IOL market. Factors such as a large population, increasing healthcare expenditure, growing awareness about eye health, and improving healthcare infrastructure contribute to market growth. Countries like and are experiencing a rise in the number of cataract surgeries and the adoption of premium IOLs. However, challenges related to access to healthcare and affordability may exist in certain areas of the region. Latin America : The Latin American market for IOLs is growing steadily. Countries such as Brazil and Mexico have a significant patient pool and increasing healthcare expenditure, driving market growth. Government initiatives to improve healthcare infrastructure and expand access to cataract surgeries and IOLs also contribute to market development in this region. The Latin American market for IOLs is growing steadily. Countries such as and have a significant patient pool and increasing healthcare expenditure, driving market growth. Government initiatives to improve healthcare infrastructure and expand access to cataract surgeries and IOLs also contribute to market development in this region. Middle East and Africa : The Middle East and Africa region show potential for market growth, particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Factors such as improving healthcare infrastructure, increasing healthcare expenditure, and a growing aging population contribute to market expansion. However, challenges related to accessibility and affordability of advanced IOL technologies may exist in some countries within this region. Browse Other Related Research Reports from Prophecy Market Insights: Contact Lenses Market worth US$ 11.70 billion 2020 with a CAGR of 5.7% Smart Contact Lenses Market is estimated to be US$ 916.17 million by 2030 with a CAGR of 10.40% during the forecast period Orthokeratology Contact Lens Market, By Type (Soft Contact Lens and Breathable Glasses), By Applications (Adult and Teenage), and By Region ( North America , Europe , Asia Pacific , Latin America , and Middle East & Africa ) - Trends, Analysis and Forecast till 2029 About Prophecy Market Insights: Prophecy Market Insights is a leading provider of market research services, offering insightful and actionable reports to clients across various industries. With a team of experienced analysts and researchers, Prophecy Market Insights provides accurate and reliable market intelligence, helping businesses make informed decisions and stay ahead of the competition. The company's research reports cover a wide range of topics, including industry trends, market size, growth opportunities, competitive landscape, and more. Prophecy Market Insights is committed to delivering high-quality research services that help clients achieve their strategic goals and objectives. To know more Contact Us: Sales Prophecy Market Insights U.S.:+1 860 531 2574 RoW:+91 7775049802 mailto:sales@prophecymarketinsights.com Website: www.prophecymarketinsights.com LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2067755/Prophecy_Market_Insights_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/latest-report-intraocular-lens-market-is-estimated-to-be-us-7-9-billion-by-2032-with-a-cagr-of-7-2-over-the-forecast-period-2022-2032-301837059.html The International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC) which is led by the Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates , in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, will provide the law enforcement community with a global platform to coordinate efforts and enhance cooperation in the fight against crimes that affect the environment. I2LEC announced the pledge during the 32nd session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, which was held last week at the Vienna International Centre. VIENNA, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The I2LEC pledge, presented by the Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), gained support from more than 20 countries and civil society organizations from across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia and North and South America. The pledge was conceptualized by the Global Expert Working Group which gathers representatives of the UAE Ministry of Interior, UNODC and its partners to provide strategic guidance to I2LEC, a platform coordinating global law enforcement community's response to climate change. The side event, organized on the occasion of the 32nd session of the UN CCPCJ, was a panel discussion between senior officials of the UAE, the UNODC, INTERPOL and the Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI). During the discussion, the panellists highlighted the importance of giving law enforcement agencies the means to effectively address crimes that affect the environment, including by supporting further research and analysis into the patterns, trends and impacts of such crimes. They also stressed the importance of involving the international law enforcement community in the climate change dialogue, to better anticipate and mitigate related challenges that may impact law enforcement operations. Presenting the I2LEC pledge, H.H. Lieutenant General Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the United Arab Emirates said: "Law enforcement agencies face a constant dual imperative: to combat the criminal threats of today and to pre-empt the challenges of tomorrow. There is perhaps no bigger challenge we collectively face than the threat posed by climate change. This harsh reality needs to be recognized on a global scale in order to ensure better management of rapidly evolving and challenging climate change scenarios. The wide support that I2LEC pledge has received from more than 20 Member States and international partners immediately after its launch makes us very optimistic about the success of our combined response to this challenge. Under the strategic guidance and directions of the UAE's leadership, the I2LEC pledge continues to be circulated throughout the international community for further endorsement, with the aim of gathering the broadest possible support to the initiative by raising global awareness, enhancing international and interagency cooperation, operational and research capacities, as well as encouraging law enforcement agencies to transition to low-carbon models, among other priorities. We expect it to serve as a model framework for increasing global law enforcement community's resilience to climate change." The UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior further described the pledge as a unique opportunity to raise the profile of law enforcement agencies' role in climate change mitigation, ahead of the COP28 that will be hosted in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 30 November to 12 December 2023. Ms. Ghada Waly, Director General of the UN Office at Vienna and Executive Director of UNODC commented on the unveiling of the I2LEC pledge: "Organized crime poses a major threat to our environment, with organized criminal groups around the world are exploiting the environment and its resources. This exploitation has a serious impact on our ecosystems and on the lives of millions of people who depend on these natural resources for their livelihoods. It is our hope that the I2LEC pledge announced by the UAE will serve as a call to action for the global law enforcement community to foster greater cooperation in the fight against crimes that affect the environment. UNODC stands ready to support law enforcement agencies in their efforts, by contributing its research capacity as well as the wealth of experience and expertise available under its Global Programmes that focus on crimes that affect the environment and the international legal framework including the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the United Nations standards and norms relevant to law enforcement mandates and functions." The pledge is currently being circulated by the UAE Ministry of Interior to gather the broadest possible support for I2LEC. Among its main priorities, the initiative aims to increase awareness and knowledge about crimes that affect the environment and their impacts to better inform law enforcement policies, strategies, practices and operations; enhance law enforcement agencies' capacity as well as interagency and international cooperation to prevent and combat such crimes, and to effectively carry out their mandates and functions in the context of evolving and emerging challenges posed by climate change; and encourage the adoption of sustainable practices by law enforcement agencies. In addition to I2LEC, the UAE Ministry of Interior has established the Secure Communities Forum (SCF) which, in partnership with the Joint Environmental Unit (JEU) of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), has launched one of the world's first training programmes dedicated to educating frontline first responders and law enforcement officers on the impacts of climate change for routine emergencies and disaster scenarios. Drawing upon international expertise in the law enforcement, climate, public safety and humanitarian fields, it offers a much-needed universal training on the evolving challenges of climate change. Trainees will receive a certificate from the SCF and the UN JEU upon completion of the training modules. Access to the training can be found here: https://learning.eecentre.org/course/view.php?id=44 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/i2lec-pledges-to-enhance-the-role-of-law-enforcement-agencies-in-the-fight-against-crimes-that-affect-the-environment-301837067.html [NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA] TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / One Bullion Limited ("One Bullion") and Goldrange Resources Corp. ("Goldrange") are pleased to announce that they have entered into a non-binding letter of intent (the "LOI") setting out the initial terms of a proposed business combination between the parties (the "Transaction"). Goldrange is a private company existing under the laws of Ontario that currently holds interests in the properties known as the La Debo and Tienko Projects located in Cote d'Ivoire, West Africa, and the formerly Barrick Gold-held Golden Heights Project located along the Lake Victoria Greenstone Belt in Tanzania, East Africa (collectively, the "Goldrange Projects"). One Bullion is a private company existing under the laws of Ontario, which currently holds interests in the former B2 Gold Vumba and Maitengwe Greenstone Belts in Northern Botswana and the northern extension of the Kraaipan Greenstone Belt in southern Botswana formerly held by Harmony Gold (collectively, the "One Bullion Projects"). Property Interests of the Resulting Issuer Upon closing of the Transaction, One Bullion (the "Resulting Issuer") will directly or indirectly hold the property interests set forth below. Goldrange Projects The flagship La Debo Project in Cote d'Ivoire is a Brownfields exploration project hosting a number of identified target zones with potential for economic gold mineralisation. To date an extensive program of regional methodical exploration in the form of mapping, soil sampling, trenching, pitting and drilling has been conducted, resulting in the identification of target zones. Only two of these areas have been drilled to an advanced status, resulting in a National Instrument 43-101 (" NI 43-101 ") Preliminary Economic Assessment dated October 10, 2016 entitled "J3139-JOFEMA, La Debo Au, Cote d'Ivoire" prepared by the MSA Group (Pty) Ltd. Open pit mining and processing assumptions have indicated that the deposit has "reasonable prospects for economic extraction". Detailed exploration on the other regional La Debo gold target areas remains ongoing. ") Preliminary Economic Assessment dated October 10, 2016 entitled "J3139-JOFEMA, La Debo Au, Cote d'Ivoire" prepared by the MSA Group (Pty) Ltd. Open pit mining and processing assumptions have indicated that the deposit has "reasonable prospects for economic extraction". Detailed exploration on the other regional La Debo gold target areas remains ongoing. The Tienko Project in northern Cote d'Ivoire has undergone extensive advanced exploration, resulting in several delineated mineralised target corridors as identified in a NI 43-101 Technical Report entitled Tienko Project, Republic of Ivory Coast dated 30 September 2021 prepared by QP Dr. Deon Vermaakt. The Golden Heights Project in the Lake Victoria Greenstone Goldfields of northwest Tanzania is the site of extensive legacy workings. The mineralised reefs have a combined strike length of 8 km and have never been drill tested at depth. Core drilling is planned for the third quarter of 2023. In aggregate, more than US$16 million has been spent on the Goldrange Projects to date through historical exploration investment and current exploration and drilling. One Bullion Projects One Bullion has a beneficial interest in 9 prospecting licences in Botswana, Southern Africa. Seven of the licences have been issued to the One Bullion's 100 % owned subsidiary, Premier Gold Resources (Pty) Ltd. These seven licences are collectively referred to as the Marcelle Group Project, comprising the Kraaipan, Vumba and Maitenge Projects. Two of the Kraaipan licences are 100% owned by Gouta Resources in which One Bullion also has a 100% interest. The Kraaipan Project is situated in southern Botswana on the prospective Kraaipan Greenstone Belt, which straddles the border between Botswana and South Africa. One Bullion controls 100 % of nine licenses covering almost 3,000 km 2 of this gold belt. The South African Portion of the Kraaipan Greenstone Belt is mined and operated predominantly by Harmony Gold. The belt is known to host economic gold in several deposits, with the Kalgold mine being one of the most well known in the region with over 3 million ounces of gold resources. Artificial Intelligence (AI) targeting, using magnetic and gravity data through computer learning, was conducted on the Kraaipan Gold Project to delineate prospective follow up targets.Numerous target areas were generated, which otherwise may not have been identified due to the thick aeolian Kalahari sands overburden. The AI results were then confirmed with a 1,177 km IP geophysical survey, which yielded more than 49 linear km of potential greenstone belt targets. One Bullion intends to further narrow down the targets with follow-up exploration inclusive of a 20,000 metre drilling program to launch in Q3 2023. of this gold belt. The South African Portion of the Kraaipan Greenstone Belt is mined and operated predominantly by Harmony Gold. The belt is known to host economic gold in several deposits, with the Kalgold mine being one of the most well known in the region with over 3 million ounces of gold resources. Artificial Intelligence (AI) targeting, using magnetic and gravity data through computer learning, was conducted on the Kraaipan Gold Project to delineate prospective follow up targets.Numerous target areas were generated, which otherwise may not have been identified due to the thick aeolian Kalahari sands overburden. The AI results were then confirmed with a 1,177 km IP geophysical survey, which yielded more than 49 linear km of potential greenstone belt targets. One Bullion intends to further narrow down the targets with follow-up exploration inclusive of a 20,000 metre drilling program to launch in Q3 2023. The Vumba Project is situated in northeastern Botswana and consists of one license located on the Vumba Greenstone Belt of the Zimbabwe Archean Craton. Legacy and recent exploration has included the digging of 92 trenches and 16 pits, as well as the drilling of 111 RC and 25 diamond holes. Wireframing and 3D block modelling was conducted on the historic drill data. In 2019 the identification of five historical adits by One Bullion led to the sampling of adit stockpile material and on the back of these encouraging results, a recent follow up diamond drilling program confirmed gold at depth. One Bullion intends to explore further by drilling the remaining 5 km strike length of the ore body. The Maitengwe Gold Project 1 is also situated in northeastern Botswana and consists of two licenses located on the Maitengwe Greenstone Belt of the Zimbabwe Archean Craton. Grab samples were taken from different outcropping lithologies which had gold contents of up to 4.94 g/t Au. AI targeting was further conducted on the Maitengwe Gold Project to delineate prospective follow up targets. Further IP geophysical surveys indicated potential continuous mineralisation over a lengthy strike distance. Several gold target areas have been identified and will be followed up in Q4 2023 with drilling. is also situated in northeastern Botswana and consists of two licenses located on the Maitengwe Greenstone Belt of the Zimbabwe Archean Craton. Grab samples were taken from different outcropping lithologies which had gold contents of up to 4.94 g/t Au. AI targeting was further conducted on the Maitengwe Gold Project to delineate prospective follow up targets. Further IP geophysical surveys indicated potential continuous mineralisation over a lengthy strike distance. Several gold target areas have been identified and will be followed up in Q4 2023 with drilling. The Aruba Project is situated in southern Botswana and is primarily comprised of the Molopo Farms Complex ("MFC"). The Complex is known to have been emplaced during the same geological period as the world renowned multi PGM and chromite Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa. The MFC is underexplored due to Kalahari overburden. However PGM and Ni-Cu discoveries have become evident along its margins. In addition the Aruba Project has exposure to the Transvaal Supergroup, which currently hosts more than 70% of the world's economic manganese deposits. At present, the Aruba assets are subject to a proposed transaction where One Bullion intends to sell its interest in the Aruba Project for an aggregate of 13,000,000 common shares of Silverfish Resources Inc. ("Silverfish"), representing approximately 48.5% of its issued and outstanding shares (the "Silverfish Transaction"), as further detailed below. Transaction Structure and Terms The Transaction is subject to negotiating and entering into a definitive agreement (the "Agreement") between One Bullion and Goldrange and is expected to be completed by way of a three-cornered amalgamation pursuant to which Goldrange shall amalgamate with a wholly owned subsidiary of One Bullion and former shareholders of Goldrange ("Goldrange Shareholders") shall receive such number of common shares of One Bullion ("OBL Shares") as will result in Goldrange Shareholders holding approximately 40% of the OBL Shares (on a fully diluted basis) immediately following completion of the Transaction (assuming the conversion of the Bridge Loan (as defined below), but without giving effect to any common shares of Goldrange ("Goldrange Shares") issuable pursuant to any of Goldrange's property option agreements) (the "Exchange Ratio"), and existing One Bullion shareholders holding approximately 60% of the OBL Shares (on a fully diluted basis). In addition, it is expected that following the completion of the proposed Transaction, all existing convertible securities of Goldrange will become exercisable for OBL Shares in lieu of Goldrange Shares, subject to adjustment in number and exercise price in accordance with the Exchange Ratio. In connection with the Transaction, OBL intends to extend a convertible bridge loan to Goldrange in the aggregate principal amount of C$1,600,000, subject to increase in limited circumstances as may be agreed upon by the parties (the "Bridge Loan"). Goldrange will use the proceeds of the Bridge Loan to settle part of its existing indebtedness. The Bridge Loan is expected to bear interest at a rate of 12% per annum and mature on August 31, 2023. The principal and interest owing under the Bridge Loan are convertible into Goldrange Shares at a deemed price of C$0.13 per share as follows: at any time at the option of OBL; automatically immediately prior to completion of the Transaction; or automatically if One Bullion elects to terminate the Agreement for reasons specified in the Bridge Loan. The Agreement is expected to provide customary deal-protection measures, including alternative transaction and confidentiality provisions for each of One Bullion and Goldrange. The Transaction remains subject to conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, receiving all applicable shareholder and regulatory approvals, and One Bullion and Goldrange each satisfying customary closing deliverables. There can be no assurance as to the final terms or timing of closing the Transaction, or if it will be completed at all. Silverfish Transaction Update As noted above, the Aruba Project is currently the subject of the Silverfish Transaction pursuant to which One Bullion will sell 100% of its interest in the project pursuant to a purchase and sale agreement between One Bullion and Silverfish, in consideration of an aggregate of 13,000,000 common shares of Silverfish. Silverfish is a publicly traded company, whose common shares are listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange. The Silverfish Transaction remains subject to the satisfaction of various conditions precedent in favour of both One Bullion and Silverfish. These include approval from the applicable government authorities in Botswana, which is expected in the near term. The Silverfish Transaction is anticipated to conclude before the Transaction with Goldrange closes. General The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and accordingly may not be offered or sold within the United States or to "U.S. persons", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act ("U.S. Persons"), except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities of One Bullion or for the account of benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. Persons. All technical and scientific information concerning the One Bullion Projects set forth herein has been prepared by or under the supervision of Nico Scholtz, a "qualified person" within the meaning of NI 43-101. All technical and scientific information concerning the Le Debo Project set forth herein has been prepared by or under the supervision of "qualified persons" within the meaning of NI 43-101 from the MSA Group (Pty) Ltd. All technical and scientific information concerning the Tienko Project set forth herein has been prepared by or under the supervision of Dr. Deon Vermaakt, a "qualified person" within the meaning of NI 43-101. All technical and scientific information concerning the Golden Heights Project set forth herein has been prepared by or under the supervision of Helen Pein, CEO of Goldrange and a "qualified person" within the meaning of NI 43-101. Potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature, that there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource at any of the projects of One Bullion or Goldrange and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in any such target being delineated as a mineral resource. About One Bullion One Bullion was established in 2018 with the goal to become a world-class mining and exploration enterprise while striving conscientiously to make the right decisions to do what is best for the environment and the local communities in Botswana, and at the same time, ensure a profitable future for its stakeholders. One Bullion currently holds three high-profile projects covering 8,004 km2 in the country of Botswana. About Goldrange Goldrange is a resource exploration and development company with an initial focus on assembling a portfolio of prospective gold projects throughout Africa. Currently, Goldrange is party to certain option agreements relating to two highly accretive advanced projects in Cote d'Ivoire and to an option agreement relating to an early stage prospective multimillion-ounce potential project in Tanzania. For further details please contact: One Bullion Limited Arno Brand, Chief Executive Officer 416-561-4095 abrand@boswellprojects.com Goldrange Resources Corp. Helen Pein, Chief Executive Officer helen@goldrangeresources.com Cautionary Note About Forward-Looking Statements and Information Certain information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements", including, without limitation, statements containing the words "will", "may", "expects", "intends", "anticipates", and other similar expressions that constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements encompass, but are not limited to statements relating to the anticipated terms of the Transaction, Bridge Loan, and Agreement, including the Exchange Ratio, the timing and nature of future exploration activities, and the anticipated completion of the Silverfish Transaction. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties comprising but not limited to: the viability and prospective nature of the Goldrange Projects and One Bullion Projects, the exploration and development of the Goldrange Projects and One Bullion Projects, the ability of the parties to negotiate and enter into the Agreement, the anticipated capitalization of the Resulting Issuer, the ability of the parties to satisfy the conditions of the Transaction (as well as receipt of all necessary shareholder and regulatory approvals), the ability of One Bullion and Silverfish to satisfy the conditions of the Silverfish Transaction (including receipt of applicable regulatory approvals), the timing of closing the Transaction and/or Silverfish Transaction, if at all, and general economic and market factors, competition, and potential economic disruption. Although One Bullion and Goldrange have attempted to identify important aspects that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be others 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. Neither One Bullion nor Goldrange undertakes to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. 53018961.7 1 Disclosure derived from technical report dated August 19, 2021, entitled "An Independent Technical Report on the Prospecting Licenses of One Bullion Limited, Botswana" prepared by Nico Scholtzfor One Bullion. SOURCE: Goldrange Resources Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757829/One-Bullion-Limited-and-Goldrange-Resources-Corp-Announce-Proposed-Business-Combination TOKYO, May 30, 2023 - (JCN Newswire) - Mazda Motor Corporation's production and sales results for April 2023 are summarized below.1. Domestic ProductionMazda's domestic production volume in April 2023 increased 141.3% year on year due to increased production of passenger vehicles.[Domestic production of key models in April 2023]CX-5:33,557 units(up 123.3% year on year)MAZDA3:10,010 units(up 212.5%)CX-90:6,339 units2. Overseas ProductionMazda's overseas production volume in April 2023 increased 84.2% year on year due to increased production of passenger vehicles.[Overseas production of key models in April 2023]CX-30:8,925 units(up 77.6% year on year)MAZDA3:6,131 units(up 74.9%)CX-50:4,030 units(up 107.9%)II. Domestic SalesMazda's domestic sales volume in April 2023 increased 88.2% year on year due to increased sales of passenger and commercial vehicles.Mazda's registered vehicle market share was 5.3% (up 2.2 points year on year), with a 2.2% share of the micro-mini segment (up 0.4 points) and a 4.2% total market share (up 1.6 points).[Domestic sales of key models in April 2023]CX-5:2,743 units(up 75.6% year on year)CX-60:2,096 unitsMAZDA2:1,726 units(up 53.4%)III. ExportsMazda's export volume in April 2023 increased 100.4% year on year due to increased shipments to North America, Europe, Oceania and other regions.[Exports of key models in April 2023]CX-5:30,567 units(up 74.6% year on year)MAZDA3:8,227 units(up 145.7%)CX-90:6,816 unitsIV. Global SalesMazda's global sales volume in April 2023 increased 6.2.% year on year due to increased sales in Japan, Europe, and the U.S.[Global sales of key models in April 2023]CX-5:27,954 units(down 14.2% year on year)CX-30:14,708 units(up 2.6%)MAZDA3:11,800 units(down 12.7%)For more information, visit https://newsroom.mazda.com/en/publicity/release/2023/202305/230530a.html.* Overseas production figures indicate Mazda-brand units coming off the production line (excluding CKD units).* Global production figures are the sum total of domestic and overseas production volumes.* All information in this press release is as of the release date. No updates after that date are reflected.Source: mazdaCopyright 2023 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Today, Volatus Aerospace Corp. (TSXV:VOL)(OTCQB:VLTTF) ("Volatus" or "the Company") announces it has received a Transport Canada special authority to operate heavy crop spraying drones weighing over 25 kg anywhere in Canada. This special authority enables pilots who are trained through Volatus Aerospace's training program, operating in compliance with Transport Canada's conditions outlined in the approval, to operate throughout Canada. "The current advanced drone regulations in Canada restrict the flight of a remotely piloted aircraft weighing over 25 kg within national airspace, this approval permits Volatus Aerospace to operate a heavy crop spraying drone, which has a maximum takeoff weight of 101 kg," explained Reno Matthews, Director of Regulatory Compliance for Volatus Aerospace. "This unlocks our ability to offer compliant drone crop spraying services across Canada for our precision agriculture clients." Because of its ability to surgically target plants and provide unparalleled spray control, drone crop spraying has been increasingly adopted world-wide as a cost-efficient and greener method for maintaining crops. "Using traditional methods, like crop dusting aircraft, is not only costly but imprecise as healthy plants are treated with unnecessary chemicals alongside diseased ones. Drones use less product and can focus only on the plants that need treatment, making it a more efficient, safer, and cost-effective way to maintain crops," added John Johnstone, Sales Director for Agriculture at Volatus Aerospace. "Consumers want less chemicals on their products and it is better for the environment, it is the future of agriculture." The dispersal of some chemicals is pending Health Canada approval; however, non-pesticide type treatments are largely unrestricted today. Moreover, big Ag companies, such as Bayer, are taking steps to help farmers benefit from these new technologies. According to FACT.MR, the global drone spraying services market is expected to reach a valuation of $213.7 million USD in 2023 and is predicted to accelerate at a combined annual growth rate of 24.7% to top market size of $ 1,942.9 million USD by 2023. In Canada, primary farming consists of more than 189,000 farms covering 62.2 million hectares. About Volatus Aerospace: Volatus Aerospace Corp. is a leading provider of integrated drone solutions throughout North America and growing into Latin America and globally. Volatus serves civil, public safety, and defense markets with imaging and inspection, security and surveillance, equipment sales and support, training, as well as R&D, design, and manufacturing. Through our subsidiary, Volatus Aviation, we are introducing green and innovative drone solutions to supplement and replace traditional aircraft and helicopters for long-linear inspections such as pipeline, energy, rail, and cargo services. Volatus is committed to carbon neutrality; the fostering of a safe, equitable and inclusive workplace; and responsible governance. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" (or other variations of the foregoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or come to pass. Forward-looking information includes information regarding: (i) the anticipated benefits of, and estimated revenue to be generated by, the master service agreement; (ii) the business plans and expectations of the Company; and (iii) expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Forward-looking information is based on currently available competitive, financial, and economic data and operating plans, strategies, or beliefs of management as of the date of this news release, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors may be based on information currently available to the Company, including information obtained from third-party industry analysts and other third-party sources, and are based on management's current expectations or beliefs. Any and all forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflects expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Forward-looking information and forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to it and on assumptions it believes to be not unreasonable in light of all of the circumstances. In some instances, material factors or assumptions are discussed in this news release in connection with statements containing forward-looking information. Such material factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to: the anticipated benefits and revenues of the master service agreement to the Company; the commercialization of drone flights beyond visual line of sight and potential benefits to the Company; meeting the continued listing requirements of the TSXV; and including, but not limited to, those factors set forth in the Company's Annual Information Form under the section "Risk Factors". Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and, other than as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release TSXV: VOL Contact Details Rob Walker +1 204-955-2647 rob.walker@volatusaerospace.com Company Website https://volatusaerospace.com SOURCE: Volatus Aerospace Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757591/Volatus-Aerospace-Receives-Canada-Wide-Approval-to-Operate-Heavy-Spray-Drones-for-Precision-Agriculture TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Metalite Resources Inc. (CSE:METL)(OTC:JNCCF) (Frankfurt:5VHA) ("Metalite" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an overview of its portfolio of assets obtained through the recent acquisition of Next Generation Resources Inc. ("NextGen") and provide an update on its lithium exploration activities in Liberia. Highlights The recent acquisition of NextGen provides the Company with control and access to a portfolio of properties in Liberia which are highly prospective in lithium, rare earth elements, base metals and gold in an under-explored portion of the West African craton. Metalite's portfolio of eight Reconnaissance Licenses (granted or pending as set out below) encompasses 3,228 km 2 which are distributed across the country targeting exploration hotspots with numerous occurrences of pegmatites, coltan, rare earth elements, base metals and gold occurrences mapped and reported by USGS. which are distributed across the country targeting exploration hotspots with numerous occurrences of pegmatites, coltan, rare earth elements, base metals and gold occurrences mapped and reported by USGS. Initial site visits, reconnaissance soil sampling, prospecting and mapping programs were completed in 2022. A total of 7,764 soil samples, and 137 rock samples were collected mostly from pegmatites. Samples are being analysed using a portable handheld XRF. Based on these results selected anomalous samples will be sent for geochemical analysis. 444 soil and 137 rock samples have been sent to the laboratory for analysis. Liberia first mover advantage for battery metals exploration. Geological Background of Liberia Metalite's portfolio of Liberian assets includes two active reconnaissance licenses and six Reconnaissance Licenses in various stages of renewal/application covering 3,228 km2 (Figure 1). The licences are located in favourable geologic settings that have the potential to host lithium and rare earth elements (REE) deposits in addition to gold and polymetallic base metal deposits. Prior to its acquisition by Metalite, NextGen had been actively investigating the LCT (Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum) Pegmatite potential of Liberia. Desktop studies and a compilation of historical geological, geophysical, and geochemical data was completed. Reconnaissance licence selection was based on the results of this work. Liberia is underlain by rocks of the west African craton and straddles the boundary between the Archean (3260-2850 Ma) and Paleoproterozoic (2150-1800 Ma) basement rocks. The Archean rocks in central and western Liberia are characterized by gneisses, locally migmatitic, which are infolded with supracrustal greenstone belts of metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks. In northern Liberia late-Archean granitoids intrude these strata. Eastern Liberia is underlain by Eburnean age tightly folded paragneiss, migmatite and amphibolite interpreted to be part of the Paleoproterozoic Birimian sequence (2200-2100 Ga). The prominent structural trend throughout most of the country is northeast to east-northeast. Along the coast to the southwest of the Archean basement is a north-northwest trending belt of Archean and Paleoproterozoic age metamorphosed sedimentary and mafic igneous rocks that were deformed during the much younger Pan African orogeny (580 Ma). Mineral Deposits of Liberia In comparison with other West African countries, the geology of Liberia is poorly understood and there has been limited recent systematic mineral exploration for most commodities, except gold. The mining sector in Liberia is currently dominated by iron ore, gold, and artisanal diamond production. Historically, Liberia was a major iron ore producer, exporting 20 million tonnes annually up until 1980; however, the civil war (1992-2003) resulted in the suspension of all mining operations. Iron ore production has since resumed and totalled 5 million metric tonnes from the Tokadeh deposit in 2021. The most economically significant gold deposits are associated with northeast-trending fault structures in both the Archean and Paleoproterozoic rocks (Figure 1). Liberian gold production totalled 252,708 troy ounces from the New Liberty and Kokoya deposits and artisanal sources in 2021. Diamond deposits, primarily exploited via alluvial and artisanal diamond mining, are widespread throughout the country. Production totalled 63,207 carats in 2021. Metalite Liberian Exploration Update In 2022, reconnaissance scale soil sampling and prospecting/mapping programs were initiated on five of Metalite's eight reconnaissance licences (granted or pending as set out above). A total of 7,764 soil samples and 137 rock samples were taken during the field program. All these samples are being analysed using a Niton XL3t 950 GOLDD+ XRF. Although XRF units are not capable of detecting lithium directly they are very effective at analysing for the suite of pathfinder elements commonly associated with LCT Pegmatites (B, Be, Cu, Cs, Hf, K, Nb, Rb, Ta, Sn, W and Zr) as well as gold, REE and polymetallic base metal deposits. After processing these results it is anticipated that selected anomalous samples will be sent to ALS Laboratories for geochemical analysis. 444 soil and 137 rock samples have been sent to the laboratory for analysis to date. The results of this work will be reported when all results have been received, and the data sets interpreted. Figure 1. Geology of Liberia and illustrating the location of Metalite's reconnaissance licences. Nimba North (P3) and Nimba South (P2) Reconnaissance Licenses The Nimba North and South reconnaissance licenses which are under application for an extension cover 616 and 562 km2 respectively, in Nimba County north-eastern Liberia (Figures 1 and 2). The bedrock geology consists of leucocratic gneiss to the west and Melanocratic gneiss, quartzite and iron formation units to the east. The contact between the two packages is marked by a northeast-trending fault zone that may be related to the Cestos shear zone located to the south where gold mineralization is known to occur. Numerous coltan (columbite-tantalite) and tin occurrences were documented in the area by the USGS in 1979 and recompiled in 2007. A total of 5,503 soil samples and 44 rock samples were taken in 2022 (Figure 1). Soil samples were taken at a depth of 40 cm on 500 m grid lines at 250 m intervals. Most of the rock samples were from pegmatite dikes. The results of the XRF analyses are pending. Figure 2. Nimba North (P3) and Nimba South (P2) license map illustrating geology, mineral occurrences, soil and rock samples. Zorzor (P4) Reconnaissance Licence The Zorzor reconnaissance license which is under application for an extension covers 430 km2 in Lofa County, northern Liberia. The bedrock geology is dominated by granitic gneiss. To the northwest there is a large granite intrusion. A total of 1,838 soil samples and 26 rock samples were taken in 2022 (Figure 3). Soil samples were taken at a depth of 40 cm on 500 m grid lines at 250 m intervals. Most of the rock samples were from pegmatite dykes. Potential for LCT pegmatites and REEs within the migmatitic rocks within the granitic gneiss is high, particularly in proximity to the granite intrusion on the north boundary of the licence. Copper mineralization has been documented in the eastern part of the licence area. The results of the XRF analyses and are pending. Figure 3. Zorzor P4 license map illustrating geology, mineral occurrences, soil and rock samples. Pleebo (P6) and Harper (P7) Reconnaissance Licenses The Pleebo (P6) and Harper (P7) reconnaissance licenses cover 186 and 107 km2 respectively, in Maryland County, south-eastern Liberia (Figures 1 and 4). The bedrock geology is dominated by quartz diorite schists with lesser units of mica schist and amphibolite. A total of 423 soil samples and 67 rock samples were taken in 2022 (Figure 4). Soil samples were taken at a depth of 40 cm at 100 m intervals. on reconnaissance grid lines. Most of the rock samples were from pegmatite dikes. The results of the XRF and laboratory analysis are pending. Figure 4. Pleebo P6 and Harper P7 license map illustrating geology, mineral occurrences, soil and rock samples. 2023 Exploration Strategy Metalite's 2023 exploration strategy is simple, cost effective and executable. Metalite plans to continue reconnaissance scale soil programs and integrate stream sediment sampling programs on its licenses going forward. In addition, initial mapping / prospecting programs are expected to be implemented. Active and historical artisanal mining sites are also planned to be mapped. Data will be collected digitally, and all samples analyzed using a Niton XL3t 950 GOLDD+ XRF. Once the XRF results have been interpreted selected samples will be sent to for further analyses. Management believes that this data will provide vectors used to delineate exploration targets for LCT Pegmatites, RREs, gold, and polymetallic base metal deposits. The information in this news release was compiled and reviewed by David Melling, P.Geo who acts as Metalite's Qualified Person, under National Instrument 43-101 rules for mineral deposit disclosure. Mr. Melling is a Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo) and a registered member of the Engineer and Geoscientists of British Columbia (no. 18999) a Recognized Professional Organization. Mr. Melling is Metalite's CEO and has sufficient experience relevant to the crystallization of lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) type pegmatite deposits under evaluation. About Metalite Resources Inc. Metalite Resources Inc. is a Canadian junior mineral exploration issuer uniquely positioned to generate incremental shareholder value through its vast battery metals focused license portfolio in Liberia, West Africa and an extensive precious metals focused project portfolio in NSW, Australia. The Company has 6 Australian projects covering over 600 sq km's in NSW and includes 67 historical mines and prospects focused on Gold and Silver, along with various indicator minerals that occur along with these precious metals. With the recent acquisition of Next Generation Resources, the Company has amassed a set of eight highly prospective licenses (either granted or pending grant) that show evidence of high-potential mineralization containing various lucrative metals, including Lithium, REEs, Cobalt, Nickel, Copper, Zinc, Aluminium and Gold. For further information please contact: Ryan Bilodeau (416) 910-1440 info@metaliteresources.com To learn more, please visit https://www.metaliteresources.com/ . Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements." All statements, other than statements of historic fact, that address activities, events or developments that Metalite believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate, "expect," and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may," "will," "can," "should," "could," or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of Metalite based on information currently available to Metalite. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of Metalite to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on Metalite. Forward looking statements in this press release include statements regarding the applications for reconnaissance licenses or extensions thereof and planned exploration activities and the timing thereof. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, failure to complete the extension and/or application process for certain exploration licenses and or the failure to keep granted licenses in good standing, failure to successfully complete financings, capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates, production rates varying from estimates, changes in world mineral commodity markets, changes in equity markets, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, equipment failure, unexpected geological conditions, imprecision in resource estimates, success of future development initiatives, competition, operating performance of facilities, environmental and safety risks, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain tenure to properties and/or necessary permits and approvals, and other development and operating risks. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Metalite disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although Metalite believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release SOURCE: Metalite Resources Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757998/Metalite-Provides-Update-on-Its-Lithium-Exploration-Activities-in-Liberia UK High Court upholds Financial Ombudsman Service's support for families and individuals who were mis-sold "fractional" timeshare ownership schemes Thousands of victims were wrongly sold fractional schemes or "upgrades" by major timeshare companies. Judge rules that these schemes breach consumer protection laws and timeshare regulations In echoes of the PPI scandal, Mrs Justice Rowena Collins Rice also rules that banks providing the loans for these fractional ownership schemes are liable to recompense customers in full both loans and interest payments Victims must have taken out loans or made interest payments within the last six years to be eligible Praetorian Legal represents hundreds of victims who are now entitled to full compensation, and urges other victims to claim what they are owed Tens of thousands of British families are in line for life-changing windfalls after a High Court judge ruled that a popular form of timeshare scheme was systematically mis-sold. Banks including Barclays and Clydesdale, which lent victims the money to make these mis-sold investments, must now repay borrowers in full, Mrs Justice Collins Rice has ordered. The judgment comes after the banks challenged an earlier decision by the Financial Ombudsman Service to put banks on the hook for the repayments. Following a judicial review, the FOS ruling has been upheld and as a result the banks are liable to repay an estimated 100 million to investors who have so far lodged complaints with the FOS. Gary Smith, executive director of claims firm Praetorian Legal, represents hundreds of individuals and families who bought so-called "fractional ownership" timeshares from the early 2010s onwards. He urges thousands more victims who have not come forward so far to do so. Consumers were sold these schemes on the basis they were investments as well as holiday destinations which is a breach of consumer protection rules and timeshare regulations. Victims typically took out loans of tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds to fund their purchase of these long-term schemes. Families were put under financial pressure by entering into these loan agreements. Some buyers were saddled with growing debts as interest charges accumulated over years. But their ability to exit the schemes was very limited. Gary Smith said: "We welcome today's ruling, which at long last provides families with certainty that they will get the money they are owed. Our understanding is that the banks in question are now making provisions in their account to remediate victims of this mis-selling, and establishing a claims mechanism that hopefully should see remediation happen with a minimum of fuss. Of vital importance now is that victims, who may not be aware of this recent ruling, come forward with their complaints, so that they can get remediated. We must not allow a "lost generation" of hard-working families and elderly people to miss out on this chance to claim what is rightfully theirs. Anyone who took a bank loan to pay for a fractional ownership scheme in the last six years, or who took out a bank loan before 2016 but has made interest payments on it within the last six years, should be eligible for compensation. It is right that banks are footing the bill for this. They funded and benefited from unscrupulous timeshare companies preying on families with high-pressure sales tactics and false investment promises. Some of those timeshare companies have unsurprisingly gone bust in the meantime. As for Barclays, Clydesdale and Hitachi, if they hadn't turned a blind eye to what the timeshare firms were doing, they wouldn't be in this position now." Further details of the recent ruling and its implications are below. The reference for the court case, heard at the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court, is EWHC 1069 (Admin), Case Nos: CO/506/2022 CO/4312/2021. The ruling can be found online here. Making a Claim To be eligible to claim, you must have made a finance payment towards your fractional ownership timeshare scheme at any point from 1 January 2018 onwards. Your loan agreements can have been set up at any point from 2012 onwards, so long as you have made at least one repayment to the finance company after January 1, 2018 to date. Praetorian Legal are specialists in timeshare termination. A claims management company authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, Praetorian Legal have managed these processes on behalf of thousands of victims. For further advice and guidance and support in making a claim, contact Praetorian Legal by phone, email, or through the Praetorian Legal website. Don't let the banks hold onto money which should rightly be returned to you. Background to the ruling Between 2012 and 2018, an estimated 20,000 customers purchased so-called "fractional ownership" schemes, typically financed by high-interest loans from lenders such as Barclays, Shawbrook, Hitachi, and Clydesdale. Many customers were subsequently dissatisfied with a number of terms and conditions attached to their timeshare contracts, from maintenance costs to accommodation availability. Crucially, an important part of the sales pitch made by the timeshare sellers- which included companies such as Diamond Resorts and Club La Costa -was that the timeshares were an investment. The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) subsequently received hundreds of complaints from aggrieved customers of fractional ownership schemes. It then identified two test cases to investigate in further detail. Its conclusions were that these schemes had been marketed as investments, which is prohibited under Section 14(3) of the Timeshare, Holiday Products, Resale and Exchange Contracts Regulations 2010. The Ombudsman's findings also affirmed that it was the lenders, having provided financing on these transactions as creditors, who were ultimately responsible for this mis-selling as per Section 56 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Two banks who funded these timeshare products Barclays and Shawbrook challenged the Ombudsman's findings by way of judicial review. In a judgment issued on May 5, 2023, High Court Justice Rowena Collins Rice dismissed this challenge. In their challenge, the banks had argued that it was possible for timeshare agreements to be sold without any element of investment. The judge, however, dismissed this argument, noting that while this may have been possible in theory, this was not what happened in practice. The banks also argued it was the timeshare companies who were ultimately responsible for the mis-selling. The High Court also struck this down, noting that the unfair contracts in question should be attributed to the lenders under the deemed agency provisions of the Consumer Credit Act. Consumer Implications The recent High Court judgment means that providers of loans for fractional ownership timeshare schemes must reimburse victims for what they paid into these schemes, including the interest paid on loans. The reimbursement process will be managed by the FOS. Approximately 5,000 claims representing an estimated total of more than 100 million have already by been lodged and will be processed for remediation. However, the total universe of potential claims is believed to be five times this 25,000 claims and a total of 500 million. This represents approximately 20,000 victims, some of whom paid into multiple schemes. The above figures are conservative estimates based on the known number of fractional ownership schemes sold by Club La Costa and Diamond Club, the approximate total interest paid by victims on these schemes, the number of claims currently managed by Praetorian Legal, and the approximate number of claims managed by other claims management companies. ENDS View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230530005404/en/ Contacts: Telephone: +44 (0)121 272 3100 Email: enquiries@praetorianlegal.com Media enquiries Palatine Communications: praetorian@palatine-media.com Tokyo, Japan and Leinfelden, Germany, May 30, 2023 - (JCN Newswire) - Daimler Truck Holding AG ("Daimler Truck") Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation ("MFTBC"), Hino Motors Ltd. ("Hino") and Toyota Motor Corporation ("Toyota") today concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on accelerating the development of advanced technologies and merging MFTBC and Hino.Collaboration detailsDaimler Truck, MFTBC, Hino, and Toyota will collaborate toward achieving carbon neutrality and creating a prosperous mobility society by developing CASE technologies (Connected / Autonomous & Automated / Shared / Electric) and strengthening the commercial vehicle business on a global scale.- MFTBC and Hino will merge on an equal footing and collaborate in the areas of commercial vehicle development, procurement, and production. They will build a globally competitive Japanese commercial vehicle manufacturer.- Daimler Truck and Toyota will equally invest in the (listed) holding company of the merged MFTBC and Hino. They will collaborate on the development of hydrogen and other CASE technologies to support the competitiveness of the new company.Common to the corporate philosophies of all four companies is the desire to contribute to a prosperous society through mobility. To continue to be an essential force of transformation in the world, the four companies intend to promote the use of environmentally friendly vehicles and increase the value of mobility in the world's social systems.By joining forces, MFTBC and Hino would create synergies and enhance the competitiveness of Japanese truck manufacturers, helping to strengthen the foundation of the Japanese and Asian automotive industries and contributing to their customers, stakeholders and society.Both Daimler Truck and Toyota count global full lineups tailored to local needs among their corporate strengths and--toward achieving carbon neutrality--value multi-pathways that provide diverse options based on local conditions and how their customers use vehicles.Martin Daum, CEO of Daimler Truck, "We at Daimler Truck are very proud of our products, because trucks and buses keep the world moving. And soon they will even do so with zero emissions. So there is a great future ahead--and today's announcement is a crucial step in making that future work economically and in leading sustainable transportation. The planned new company will be a major force in Southeast Asia and an important associate of the Daimler Truck family."Koji Sato, CEO of Toyota Motor Corporation, "This collaboration among our four companies is a partnership for creating the future of commercial vehicles in Japan and the future of mobility society. Our four companies will work together with a shared vision of achieving carbon neutrality by strengthening CASE technologies and of changing the future of commercial vehicles and building the future together by solving social issues."Karl Deppen, CEO of MFTBC, "This close collaboration will enable us to accelerate the decarbonization of the transportation industry, creating an even stronger Japanese commercial vehicle manufacturer. Under the two well-established brands of FUSO and Hino, we will continue to take a leading role in serving customer needs in Japan, Asia and beyond."Satoshi Ogiso, CEO of Hino, "We will unite our aspirations to 'support mobility and contribute to society' and, hand in hand, accelerate advanced technology development in order to overcome the increasingly fierce global competition. Through these efforts, we will strive to tackle societal challenges such as achieving carbon neutrality."Details on the scope and nature of the collaboration including the name, location, shareholding ratio and corporate structure of the new holding company will be decided over the course of the next 18 months. The parties envisage signing of definitive agreements in the first quarter of 2024 and aim to close the transaction by the end of 2024. Once all parties involved reach an agreement, they will move forward based on the approval of the relevant boards of directors, shareholders, and authorities.For more information, visit https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/39249527.html.Source: Toyota Motor CorporationCopyright 2023 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. MBABANE - Following the discovery of my sons body, I have never had any peaceful sleep. I constantly dream about the scene of his discovery. These submissions were made by the father of the late Thabani Nkomonye, in his application to be allowed to file a letter of demand and institute legal proceedings against government. I constantly have flashes of his picture lying there lifeless in the thorny thicket, submitted the father. In motivating the application, Dumisa Nkomonye, brought it to the attention of the court that he had been hospitalised due to depression and he also suffered and continue to suffer from high blood pressure. Sometimes I have to resort to sleeping drugs in order to attain sleep as I have developed insomnia. At times, I resort to drinking alcohol in order to get sleep as I am scared that I have taken too much sleeping tablets. My life has changed drastically and I am no longer a happy person, submitted the father. Thabanis body was found near Nhlambeni on May 13, 2021, after, according to the coroners report; he had been flung out of the Mazda Demio he was driving when it was involved in an accident. Following the findings of the coroner, Thabanis father and his (Thabanis) mother, Siphiwe Mkhabela, want to serve a letter of demand to government but they are now time-barred as the 90 days from the date the alleged wrong occurred had elapsed. Demand The Limitation of Proceedings act of 1972 provides that if a person wants to sue the government for a civil wrong, she or he has to serve the attorney general (AG) with a letter of demand within 90 days from the date the alleged civil wrong occurred. The applicants (Dumisa and Siphiwe) want the High Court to declare Section 2(1) of the Limitation of Proceedings act of 1972 unconstitutional. Respondents in the matter are the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini, National Commissioner of Police William Dlamini and the attorney general (AG). Dumisa narrated to the court that on May 8, 2021, a black Mazda Demio with registration number VSD 584 AS, driven by his son Thabani, was involved in an accident near Nhlambeni along the MR 9 public road. He told the court that the accident was attended to by the Matsapha Traffic police officers; Bhoncozi Kunene, Isaac Msibi and officer Thusi, who alleged that they came across the accident, while conducting a routine patrol around Hobile Masundvwini. According to the applicant (Dumisa), the car was then towed to the Matsapha Police station at the instruction of the three police officers on the same night where it was discovered. He said the police alleged that the driver of the vehicle was not in the vehicle or around the scene and despite diligent search by them he was not found. The applicant recounted that his family then went to report Thabani as a missing person on May 11, 2021 at the Manzini Police Station. He brought it to the attention of the court that on May 13, 2021, the Manzini police called him and his family to advise that they had located Thabanis car at Matsapha Police Station and it had been involved in an accident. He alleged that together with some family members, they went to the Manzini Police Station for a formal report and it was agreed that they should proceed to the scene of the accident with the police. These are allegations whose veracity is still to be tested in court and the respondents are yet to file their papers. Upon arrival at the scene of the accident, and hardly three minutes of my search, I discovered my sons body dumped in a thicket of thorny shrubs (lusekwane) with his foot visibly protruding from the thicket. I collapsed on the ground as I was shocked and I cried heavily. Thabanis mother came behind me and witnessed the body and she too fell on the ground and started crying, submitted Dumisa. Restrictions He submitted that because of the COVID- 19 restrictions at that time, it became difficult for the family to congregate and to mourn the death of Thabani. He said their bereavement was a difficult era. As if to add salt to the wound, on the May 21, 2021, during the memorial service of my late son, at St Pauls High School in Manzini, without any provocation or justification whatsoever, the police invaded the memorial service and fired tear gas canisters and rubber bullets on us and dispersed all the mourners. The shock and indignity I experienced is indescribable, averred the applicant. He highlighted that the discovery of his sons body on May 13,2021 sparked a nation-wide uproar which culminated into protests hash tagged Justice for Thabani, since his death was questionable to them and to the public at large. Dumisa submitted that on May 17, 2021, a coroner was appointed in terms of Section 26 of the Inquest Act, 1954 by the then acting prime minister to conduct an inquest into the circumstances surrounding his death. The said inquest took its toll on us as his immediate family particularly myself and his mother. I could not believe that my beloved son had pre-deceased me, more so in the manner that he did and also because I had to be reminded about his passing every day when the witnesses were making their submissions and the public making comments on social media platforms about his death on a daily basis, contended Dumisa. According to Dumisa, the coroner confirmed in her report when making her findings that the Matsapha police were negligent in handling the accident scene and particularly did not follow procedure when conducting the search for Thabani at the accident scene. Confined He said the coroner found that instead of instituting a search party within eight hours of the accident and conducting a search within a 100 metre radius of the scene, the police confined themselves to a seven metre radius while Thabanis body was found within 18 metres of the accident scene. The polices negligence is a factual, direct and legal cause of the damages I have suffered as result of the shock and psychological stress I have undergone and continue to undergo as a result of me discovering my sons body in a thorny thicket, submitted the applicant. It was his contention that had the police conducted a proper search for Thabani at the time of the accident and followed proper procedure in doing so, he would not have suffered the shock and psychological trauma he allegedly suffered during the time when his son was reported missing to the time of his discovery. He argued that had the police followed the laid down procedure, he would not have suffered the shock and psychological trauma as well as the post traumatic consequences arising from him discovering his lifeless body near the accident scene. NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Boston Scientific One in five American adults has a diagnosable mental health condition. Yet all too often, our friends, co-workers, neighbors and family members suffer emotionally and either don't recognize the symptoms of a disorder or don't feel comfortable asking for help. And sometimes, we're the ones suffering in silence. Boston Scientific is committed to reducing the stigma of mental illness in the workplace and helping employees discover the tools, techniques and resources they need. Your employee benefits may vary based on where in the world you join us. For Mental Health Awareness Month, learn about the ways we support the wellbeing of our workforce in the U.S. 1. Out-of-network? Not anymore! Access should never be a barrier to mental health care. Yet between the current national shortage of mental health providers and the cost of care in the U.S., it can often be difficult to find available providers within an insurance network, yet expensive to go outside the network. That's why Boston Scientific covers a range of services for behavioral and mental health - and should you require those covered services out-of-network, we simply cover it as though it were "in-network," so you can get the support you need. 2. Telehealth for adults and teens Mental health among adolescents is worsening, continuing a decade-long downward trend, according to a distressing recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report; it discovered that 42% of high school students felt persistently sad or hopeless, and 22% seriously considered attempting suicide. Worried about your teenager? Think they may need to talk to someone? Virtual mental health appointments through Teladoc offer a convenient and cost-effective way of getting care for both adults and adolescents. Therapists are available by appointment via phone or video seven days a week to assist your teen with issues like school stress, family challenges, depression, eating disorders and more. And of course, they're always there for you and other eligible family members, too. 3. Free counseling sessions Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a no-cost, supportive service to help employees and their families address personal issues that may arise. It is staffed by master's and doctoral level clinicians who are prepared to listen and help you find ways to cope. We provide five free, confidential sessions per topic per year for employees and their household family members. (For example, you and each of your household family members could have five sessions for anxiety counseling and five sessions for grief counseling-up to five sessions per year for five separate topics.) In addition, EAP provides expert help to guide you through life stressors such as finances, elder care situations, parenting issues and legal needs. 4. Therapy in your pocket 24/7 Also available for free through our EAP, Computerized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CCBT) is a digital self-care tool available anytime on your mobile phone. Created by a team of mental health professionals, it consists of simple, science-based activities, personalized to fit your life. Use the app to enhance your mental health and well-being, tackle stress and anxiety and improve mindfulness and sleep - on your schedule. 5. A personal healthcare advocate Navigating healthcare can be a little like running through a maze: confusing, sometimes overwhelming, quite possibly endless. Wouldn't it be nice to have someone to guide you through the mental health journey? Guess what: Expert guidance is but a phone call away with our third-party health care advocates. Whether you're looking to find a therapist or understand your medication plan, need case management or admittance support or have billing or coverage questions, your advocates are ready to help simplify your healthcare experience at every point in the process. 6. Year-round wellbeing webinars, seminars and events Mental health awareness is integrated into daily life at Boston Scientific in so many ways. Take our fitness centers, for example, where you're encouraged to drop in for a stress-relieving workout, borrow a bicycle for a lunchtime ride or attend a calming meditation session. Throughout the year, you can also attend virtual seminars on a number of mental health topics or take advantage of our periodic on-site mental health fairs. In addition, we are rolling out a new training for people leaders in collaboration with Zevo Health to recognize common signs of mental distress and identify support for colleagues. And because a support network is crucial for mental health, our WellBeing SharePoint site, WellBeing Yammer group and LEAD (Leadership, Education and Allies for Disabilities) employee resource group give employees a place to connect and share. Learn more about what makes Boston Scientific a "Best Place to Work" by exploring its wide range of employee benefits. View original content here. Our benefits connect employees to the mental health care they need. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Boston Scientific on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Boston Scientific Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/boston-scientific Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Boston Scientific View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/758008/Six-Boston-Scientific-Benefits-That-Support-Employee-Mental-Health Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2023) - Prismo Metals Inc. (CSE: PRIZ) (OTCQB: PMOMF) ("Prismo" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it will host an investor update Zoom call at 9:00 am PDT on Thursday June 1st, 2023. In attendance from Prismo Metals will be Dr. Craig Gibson, President & CEO, Steve Robertson, Technical Advisor for the Company's Hot Breccia copper project in Arizona, Alain Lambert, incoming Executive Chairman and Jason Frame, Manager of Communications. Format: Management presentation (15 to 20 minutes) on each of the Company's three projects, followed by a question period (5 to 10 minutes). Please email your questions before or during the meeting to jason.frame@prismometals.com. Zoom Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81972868178?pwd=c3hLdFQ0RThCRkVZVDdlUlpkalpYQT09 The investor update will be posted on the Company's website immediately following the meeting. "We are entering an exciting phase of our Company's development with the 2023 fully funded drilling program of our three projects having started," said Dr. Craig Gibson, President and CEO. "We recently announced the start of our drilling program at Palos Verdes for a minimum of 2,500 meters as well as the expected start of drilling at Los Pavitos in the second half of June. Drilling of our Hot Breccia copper project in Arizona is planned for the third quarter. We feel it is important to give our shareholders an opportunity to ask questions directly to management and we look forward to speaking with you on June 1st." About Prismo Metals Inc. Prismo Metals Inc. (CSE: PRIZ) (OTCQB: PMOMF) is mining exploration company focused on two precious metal projects in Mexico (Palos Verdes and Los Pavitos) and a copper project in Arizona, United States (Hot Breccia). Please follow @PrismoMetals on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. For more information, please refer to the Company's website at www.prismometals.com. 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 management's discussion and analysis for the financial year ended December 31, 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: Craig Gibson President and CEO Email: craig.gibson@prismometals.com Jason Frame Manager of Communications Tel: 587-225-2599 Email: jason.frame@prismometals.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167951 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2023) - Coho Collective Kitchens Inc. (TSXV: COHO) ("Coho" or the "Company") is pleased to provide further information regarding its proposed acquisition (the "Acquisition") of Purebread. Bakery Inc. ("Purebread"). Purebread Financial Highlights Purebread is one of Canada's most respected independent retail brands with exceptional customer loyalty. Currently, Purebread has six operating locations which generated the following unaudited financial results for the trailing 12 months ended January 31, 2023: Revenue of $10.0M Gross Margin of 70% Adjusted EBITDA of $1.7M(1) (1) This is a Non-IFRS Measure. For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income see "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" below. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, Purebread generated $9.3M (unaudited) of revenue, which represents a 42% increase compared to $6.6M (unaudited) of revenue for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. In addition, Purebread's seventh location will open in June 2023 at Vancouver International Airport with expected annual revenue of $3.5M. Additional information regarding Purebread and the business of the Company following completion of the proposed Acquisition is available in a corporate presentation that has been posted within the Company's investor relations website - https://www.cohocollectivekitchens.com/. Coho Financial Highlights Coho is Canada's largest shared kitchen space company with nine locations in Western Canada, growing to 18 locations across the country, which represents a $22.0M revenue opportunity by fiscal year 2026[1]. Coho has high brand recognition within target segment, a Waitlist Value[2] at over $3.1M and 98% member retention rate. 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. Coho Collective Contacts Andrew Barnes, Chief Executive Officer andrew@cohocommissary.com (778) 877-6513 Investor Relations invest@cohocommissary.com (604) 243-7355 Non-IFRS Financial Measures We report our financial results in accordance with IFRS. This press release was prepared using results and financial information determined under IFRS. In addition to IFRS financial measures, this press release also contains non-IFRS financial measures, non-IFRS ratios, capital management measures and other supplementary financial measures used by management to assess the Company's operational performance including Adjusted EBITDA and Waitlist Value. These measures do not have a standardized meaning under IFRS. It is likely that the non-IFRS financial measures used by the Company will not be comparable to similar measures reported by other issuers or those used by financial analysts as their measures may have different definitions. The measures used by the Company are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for IFRS financial performance measures. Generally, a non-IFRS financial measure is a numerical measure of an entity's historical or future financial performance, financial position or cash flows that is neither calculated nor recognized under IFRS. Management believes that such non-IFRS financial measures are important as they provide readers with a better understanding of the results of our recurring operations and their related trends, while increasing transparency and clarity into our operating results. Management also believes these measures to be useful in assessing the Company's capacity to fulfill its financial obligations. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for COVID-19 government support, one-time and incremental costs for new locations, provisions for operational and financial oversight, and certain other costs. A reconciliation of Purebread's Adjusted EBITDA to net income determined in accordance with IFRS is provided for the periods presented. PUREBREAD in CAD $000s FY2021 FY2022 TTM Jan 2023 Total Revenue $ 6,577 $ 9,331 $ 10,031 Revenue growth 14% 42% Gross Margin $ 4,705 $ 6,608 $ 6,981 Gross margin (%) 72% 71% 70% Net Income $ 1,036 $ 585 $ 458 Amortization 304 846 846 Taxes 274 108 108 EBITDA $ 1,614 $ 1,539 $ 1,412 EBITDA margin (%) 25% 16% 14% Total adjustments $ (445 ) $ 12 $ 279 Adjusted EBITDA $ 1,169 $ 1,551 $ 1,691 Forward-Looking Information Any "financial outlook" or "future oriented financial information" in this press release, as defined by applicable securities legislation, including (but not limited to) the completion of the acquisition of Purebread by Coho, future revenues of Coho or Purebread and the future revenue of Purebread's upcoming location at the Vancouver International Airport following the proposed Acquisition has been approved by management of Coho. Readers are cautioned that any such financial outlook or future oriented financial information contained herein is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Coho and its management believe that the prospective financial information has been prepared on a reasonable basis, reflecting management's best estimates and judgments, and represent, to the best of management's knowledge and opinion, the Coho's expected course of action. However, because this information is highly subjective, it should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future activities or results. This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, including, without limitation, our statements related to: the completion of the Acquisition; the impact of the Acquisition on the Company's business and its growth plans; the costs savings and synergies anticipated from the Acquisition, and the Company's growth and acquisition plans in general. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, and contingencies. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may", "should", "will", "could", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "anticipate", "expect", "believe" or "continue", or the negative thereof or similar variations. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the estimated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Coho's statements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and conditions, many of which are outside of Coho's control, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding the Acquisition, including: that Coho will not be able to complete the Acquisition on the terms announced, within the anticipated timeline, or at all; that the actual impact of the Acquisition on Coho's business and growth strategy will not be as currently anticipated; that Coho's other assumptions in making forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect; adverse market conditions; that the parties may not obtain all required consents or approvals for the Acquisition (including the approval of the TSXV); risks inherent in the ghost-kitchen, retail bakery, or coffeehouse sectors in general; that future results may vary from historical results; and competition in the markets where Coho operates. Except as required by securities law, Coho does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise. Financial Outlook This press release contains future-oriented financial information and financial outlook information (collectively, "FOFI") (including but not limited to) future revenues of Coho or Purebread and the future revenue of Purebread's upcoming location at the Vancouver International Airport has been approved by management of Coho which is subject to the same assumptions, risk factors, limitations, and qualifications as set out below under the heading "Forward-Looking Information". The actual financial results of the combined company may vary from the amounts set out herein and such variation may be material. Coho and its management believe that the financial outlook has been prepared on a reasonable basis, reflecting management's best estimates and judgments and the FOFI contained in this press release was approved by management as of the date hereof. However, because this information is subjective and subject to numerous risks, it should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future results. Except as required by applicable securities laws, Coho does not undertake an obligation to update such FOFI. FOFI contained in this press release was made as of the date hereof and was provided for the purpose of providing further information about the combined company's anticipated future business operations. Readers are cautioned that the FOFI contained in this press release should not be used for purposes other than for which it is disclosed herein. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved the contents of this press release. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale or any acceptance of an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. All financial figures are approximate and in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted. THIS PRESS RELEASE IS INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION IN CANADA ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. [1] The Company expects to generate $11.0M from its current nine locations and an additional $11.0M from nine future locations in fiscal 2026. [2] Waitlist Value is defined as all forecasted revenue for future members that have been placed on the waitlists at all Coho commissary locations. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167995 Property covers the McInnes Lake greenstone belt in a similar geological setting to Frontier Lithium's Pak Lithium Project located 50 km to the northeast Victoria, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2023) - GoldON Resources Ltd. (TSXV: GLD) ("GoldON" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that fieldwork has commenced on its 100%-owned McInnes Lake property (the "Property") that covers the majority of the McInnes Lake greenstone belt in northwestern Ontario. Fieldwork will consist of mapping and sampling to follow up on the elevated lithium (Li) values newly discovered (50 to 1,126 ppm) in metavolcanic host rocks distributed proximal to the main plutons on the Property that may reflect exomorphic dispersion outwards from exposed and blind pegmatitic granite plutonic centres. Figure 1. Location and scale of the McInnes Lake Property to Frontier Lithium's Pak Project, with McInnes OGS geology. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7436/167910_0b950ed724f70914_001full.jpg The goals are to establish if lithium dispersion patterns are present around the McInnes North and Lower Bay fertile granite plutons, attempt to find a bedrock source of the 1,126 ppm Li value, and look for rare element minerals (including holmquistite, beryl, and spodumene) in the plutons and adjacent external pegmatites. Several pegmatite minerals are white and could have been easily overlooked by previous Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) mapping. About the McInnes Lake Property: The underexplored 12,598-hectare Property was originally staked for its deep crustal-scale features and similarities to the Red Lake Camp. GoldON's fieldwork has discovered several new showings that confirm the presence of a fertile peraluminous granite setting. Geological similarities include the E1 fault that is inferred to pass right through the pluton area and may have been a controlling structure for the emplacement of fertile granites, and related lithium-rich pegmatite melts. This is a similar setting to the Pakeagama Lake peraluminous parent granite and derived LCT-petrogenetic family pegmatites located 50 km to the northeast along the Bearhead fault system, where Frontier Lithium1 has delineated NI 43-101 Measured & Indicated resources of 26 million tonnes (mt) of 1.62% Li2O and Inferred resources of 32.4 million tonnes of 1.41% Li2O. The technical information presented in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Frederick W. Breaks, PhD, P. Geo, a qualified person for exploration, as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Figure 2. Granitic pegmatite sample from >70 m wide pegmatite zone on the east shore of McInnes Lake. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7436/167910_0b950ed724f70914_002full.jpg About GoldON Resources Ltd. GoldON is an exploration company focused on discovery-stage properties located in the prolific greenstone belts of northwestern Ontario, Canada. Our goal with a property is to add value by defining (or redefining) the exploration opportunity, maintain ownership control during the value creation phase of discovery, and then source a well-financed partner capable of accelerating discovery, resource definition, and development. For more information, you can visit our website at goldonresources.com, download our investor presentation by clicking here, and follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GoldONResources. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Signed "Michael Romanik" Michael Romanik, President GoldON Resources Ltd. Direct line: (204) 724-0613 Email: info@goldonresources.com 179 - 2945 Jacklin Road, Suite 416 Victoria, BC, V9B 6J9 Forward-Looking Statements: This news release may contain "forward-looking statements" that 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. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Referenced Sources 1Frontier Lithium: https://www.frontierlithium.com/_files/ugd/dec7de_844a5e2cc2234a1babbbea1879ce5573.pdf To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167910 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2023) - District Metals Corp. (TSXV: DMX) (FSE: DFPP); ("District" or the "Company") is pleased to report that Bergslagen Metals AB (a 100% owned Swedish subsidiary of District) has received approval from the Bergsstaten (Mining Inspectorate) for the Tasjo nr 101 to 105 mineral license applications to explore for vanadium, nickel, molybdenum, zinc, and rare earth elements (REE) located in the Jamtland and Vasterbottens Counties, north-central Sweden (Figure 1). Similarly to District's Viken Property that controls 68% of the uranium-vanadium Viken Deposit, the Tasjo Property was assembled to target sedimentary rocks that are known to host critical energy metals and minerals. Tasjo Property Highlights: The Tasjo nr 101 to 105 mineral licenses cover an area of 15,625 hectares (ha) that are prospective for uranium, REE, phosphate, vanadium, molybdenum, nickel, zinc, and copper. In the Tasjo area, Cambro-Ordovician sedimentary units overlie the Proterozoic intrusive basement, which is a similar geological setting that hosts the Viken Deposit. The Tasjo Field was historically estimated to host 75 to 150 million tonnes grading 0.03 to 0.07% U3O8, 0.11 to 0.24% REE, and 3.75 to 7.5% phosphate (P2O5)1. This historical exploration target estimate is based on a 1964 Report by G. Armands, Swedish Atomic Energy Company, and the Company is not treating it as a current mineral resource estimate. The potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature, as there has not been sufficient exploration to define the target at this time; and it is uncertain that further exploration would result in the definition of a current resource. The magnitude of the exploration target was confirmed in a 2008 NI43-101 technical report by Andrew Browne of Geosynthesis Pty Ltd. Shallow historical drilling in the Tasjo area returned positive results for uranium, REE, and phosphate in the Ordovician lycophoria schist while the much thicker underlying Cambro-Ordovician Alum Shale (Viken Deposit host unit) was not fully explored2. The Tasjo area hosts one of the thickest units of Alum Shale in Sweden that can reach up to 400 meters in thickness due to folding and overthrusting2. Mineral License Tasjo nr 104 contains a historical drill hole completed by the Swedish Geological Survey (SGU) in 1979 that encountered Alum Shale from surface to the end of hole depth at 258.3 m. It was logged several years after drilling and the drill core was not assayed. There is currently a moratorium on uranium mining and exploration that was imposed in 2018. The Swedish Government has a positive stance on re-evaluating and lifting the moratorium. Garrett Ainsworth, CEO of District, commented: "Our acquisition of the Tasjo Property through mineral license application is part of District's strategy in building a portfolio of energy metals properties in Sweden. The Alum Shale is a potentially significant source of critical metals and minerals necessary for the green energy transition towards a low-carbon future at a time when domestic security of supply has become a priority for many European Countries. The Company and its consultants continue to monitor developments with regard to the lifting of the moratorium on exploration and mining of uranium in Sweden. District remains optimistic that the current Swedish government is committed to re-evaluating the moratorium and pursuing policies which are positive for Sweden and a low-carbon Europe." Background The Alum Shale in Sweden contains several of the innovation-critical metals and minerals used for the development of green technology needed to respond to the transition of zero-emission and electrification of society. Alum Shale are rocks where most of the constituent minerals originate from the sediments that were once deposited in the sea that covered large parts of Sweden, some 500 million years ago, which are now found at surface along the mountain edge of the Caledonian Front. Thrusting and deformation within the Alum Shale formation can result in thickening of over 100 m sequences. Alum Shale contains various concentrations of metals and minerals currently included in the European Union (EU) list of Critical Raw Materials. Over time, additional metals and minerals may also be added to the EU list, which are not currently considered critical but where innovations and accessibility can change the status of their importance. In the future, this may further strengthen the utilization of Alum Shale as a natural resource3. At the Tasjo area, Alum Shale of Upper Cambrian age is found within the Fjallbranna Formation and is overlaid by the Ordovician Norraker Formation (previous Graywacke-Shale Formation). The Norraker Formation was deposited in a hinge zone representing the transition from a limestone dominated shelf facies towards east and successively deeper marine environment towards west with turbidite facies epiclastic sediments. Due to tectonic deformation and thrusting the thickness of the Alum Shale locally becomes more than 300 m thick. At Tasjoberg, drill hole Kyrk-Tasjo 79001 (Figure 1) encountered Alum Shale from surface to a depth of 258.3 m, which was logged several years after drilling and was never assayed. The basal part of the overlying Norraker Formation is a calcareous, glauconitic, phosphatic sand- siltstone that is 5 to 8 m thick. It contains several coarse to fine repetitions until it passes into overlying siltstone and shale. This glauconitic-phosphatic unit is found throughout the Lower Paleozoic sequence from Skane to Jamtland on top of the Alum Shale Formation. In the Tasjo area this phosphatic Lycophoria unit is unusually thick (Figure 1). The phosphorus sediments are thought to have formed by upwelling of cold seawater onto a warmer shelf causing precipitation of apatite similar to phosphorite deposits. In 1957, AB Atomenergi (Swedish Atomic Energy Company) discovered anomalous uranium in the Tasjo Field in northernmost Jamtland close to the border to the Vasterbotten County. Uranium was found in glauconite-phosphorite shale within the basal Ordovician unit that is outcropping sporadically within an area of 20 to 30 km long and 10 km wide. In total 68 drill holes were completed from 1961 to 1964 by AB Atomenergi. The area has also been drilled by Stora Kopparberg AB (7 drill holes), SGU (38 drill holes), and Vattenbyggnadsbyran (41 drillholes), which totals 8,005 m of drilling. The investigations were focused on the Lycophoria Schist with little attention given to the Alum Shales2. Both Mawson Energy and Continental Precious Minerals held mineral licenses in the Tasjo area from 2005 to 2012 for uranium and vanadium. Mawson drilled 53 shallow holes at the Kronotorpet prospect, and Continental Precious Minerals drilled 378 m in four holes. Figure 1: Tasjo Mineral Licenses To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7971/167922_36bc61bf441cd826_002full.jpg References 1 Armands, G., 1964: Geologiska undersokningar i Tasjo-omradet under 1963 och 1964 (in Swedish); AB Atomenergi KOP-102. [English translation: Geological investigations in the Tasjo area, 1963 to 1964]. The Company is not treating this historical exploration target estimate as a current mineral resource and a qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify this estimate as a current mineral resource. The historical exploration target estimate predates current CIM (Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum) categories, and Company is not aware of any more recent mineral resource estimate for the Tasjo Property. 2 Browne, A., 2008: Report on Current Resource Estimates for Klappibacken and Duobblon Uranium Properties, and Review of Tasjo Uranium Project, Northern Sweden. Prepared for Mawson Resources Limted by Andrew Browne of GeoSynthesis Pty Ltd. Report number 080204. Report date: 22 February 2008. 3 https://www.sgu.se/en/mineral-resources/mines-and-environmental-impact/alum-shale/ Technical Information All scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared by, or approved by Garrett Ainsworth, PGeo, President and CEO of the Company. Mr. Ainsworth is a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The data disclosed in this news release is related to historical drilling results. District has not undertaken any independent investigation of the sampling nor has it independently analyzed the results of the historical exploration work in order to verify the results. District considers these historical drill results relevant as the Company is using this data as a guide to plan exploration programs. The Company's current and future exploration work includes verification of the historical data through drilling. Mr. Ainsworth has not verified any of the information regarding any of the properties or projects referred to herein other than the Tasjo Mineral Licenses. Mineralization on any other properties referred to herein is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Tasjo Mineral Licenses. About District Metals Corp. District Metals Corp. is led by industry professionals with a track record of success in the mining industry. The Company's mandate is to seek out, explore, and develop prospective mineral properties through a disciplined science-based approach to create shareholder value and benefit other stakeholders. District is a polymetallic exploration and development company focused on the Viken and Tomtebo Properties in Sweden. The Viken Property covers 68% of the uranium-vanadium Viken Deposit, which is an asset with substantial exploration and development expenditures that resulted in the definition of large historic polymetallic resource estimates and positive economic studies in 2010 and 2014. The Viken Deposit is amongst the largest deposits by total historic mineral resources of uranium and vanadium in the world. The advanced exploration stage Tomtebo Property is located in the Bergslagen Mining District of south-central Sweden and is situated between the historic Falun Mine and Boliden's Garpenberg Mine that are located 25 km to the northwest and southeast, respectively. Two historic polymetallic mines and numerous polymetallic showings are located on the Tomtebo Property along an approximate 17 km trend that exhibits similar geology, structure, alteration and VMS/SedEx style mineralization as other significant mines within the district. For further information on the Tomtebo Property, please see the technical report entitled "NI 43-101 Update Technical Report on the Tomtebo Project, Bergslagen Region of Sweden" dated effective October 15, 2020 and amended and restated on February 26, 2021, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors "Garrett Ainsworth" President and Chief Executive Officer (604) 288-4430 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information. This news release contains certain statements that may be considered "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. 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 statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" and any similar expressions. 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 management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. Forward-looking statements in this news release relating to the Company include, among other things, statements relating to the Company's Tasjo Property licenses to explore for vanadium, nickel, molybdenum, zinc, rare earth elements (REE) located in Jamtland and Vasterbottens Counties, north-central Sweden; the Company's planned exploration activities, including its drill target strategy and next steps for the Tasjo Property; and the Company's interpretations and expectations about the results on the Tasjo Property. 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 the Company believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances, as of the date of this news release, including, without limitation, assumptions about the reliability of historical data and the accuracy of publicly reported information regarding past and historic mines in the Bergslagen district; the Company's ability to raise sufficient capital to fund planned exploration activities, maintain corporate capacity; and stability in financial and capital markets. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of opinions, assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date such statements are made, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to risks associated with the following: the reliability of historic data on District's Properties; the Company's ability to raise sufficient capital to finance planned exploration (including incurring prescribed exploration expenditures required by the Tomtebo Purchase Agreement, failing which the Tomtebo Property will be forfeited without any repayment of the purchase price); the Company's limited operating history; the Company's negative operating cash flow and dependence on third-party financing; the uncertainty of additional funding; the uncertainties associated with early stage exploration activities including general economic, market and business conditions, the regulatory process, failure to obtain necessary permits and approvals, technical issues, potential delays, unexpected events and management's capacity to execute and implement its future plans; the Company's ability to identify any mineral resources and mineral reserves; the substantial expenditures required to establish mineral reserves through drilling and the estimation of mineral reserves or mineral resources; the Company's dependence on one material project, the Tomtebo Property; the uncertainty of estimates used to calculated mineralization figures; changes in governmental regulations; compliance with applicable laws and regulations; competition for future resource acquisitions and skilled industry personnel; reliance on key personnel; title matters; conflicts of interest; environmental laws and regulations and associated risks, including climate change legislation; land reclamation requirements; changes in government policies; volatility of the Company's share price; the unlikelihood that shareholders will receive dividends from the Company; potential future acquisitions and joint ventures; infrastructure risks; fluctuations in demand for, and prices of gold, silver and copper; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; legal proceedings and the enforceability of judgments; going concern risk; risks related to the Company's information technology systems and cyber-security risks; and risk related to the outbreak of epidemics or pandemics or other health crises, including the recent outbreak of COVID-19. For additional information regarding these risks, please see the Company's Annual Information Form, under the heading "Risk Factors", which is available at www.sedar.com. These factors and assumptions are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors and assumptions that could affect the Company. These factors and assumptions, however, should be considered carefully. Although the Company has attempted to identify factors that would cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in the forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Also, many of such factors are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167922 BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The pound firmed against its major counterparts in the European session on Tuesday, as the U.S. debt ceiling deal readies for vote. Later today, the House Rules Committee is scheduled to consider the package and vote on sending it to the full House for a vote expected Wednesday. U.S. President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy expressed confidence on Monday that the debt-ceiling deal will pass Congress. The deal has to be passed before June 5, when the Treasury will run out of cash to meet its obligations. Receding concerns over a default on debt payments boosted sentiment. The pound climbed to a 5-1/2-month high of 0.8630 against the euro and a 5-day high of 1.1217 against the franc, off its early lows of 0.8673 and 1.1154, respectively. The pound may find resistance around 0.84 against the euro and 1.15 against the franc. The pound advanced to more than a 7-year high of 174.27 against the yen and a 6-day high of 1.2431 against the greenback, from an early low of 172.98 and a 4-day low of 1.2326, respectively. The currency is seen finding resistance around 177.00 against the yen and 1.27 against the greenback. Looking ahead, Canada current account data for the first quarter, U.S. house price index for March, consumer confidence for May and U.S. Dallas Fed manufacturing index for May are slated for release in the New York session. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Das ultimative Rendite-Paket fur unruhige Zeiten Big Pharma Boom! Stabile Ertrage, gunstige Bewertung. Chart-Profi Stefan Klotter hat fur Sie exklusiv funf Blue Chips aus der Pharma-Branche gefunden. Jetzt kostenlos herunterladen! Hier klicken LONDON (dpa-AFX) - BioLight Life Sciences Ltd. announced Tuesday it has signed a research collaboration agreement with Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALXN), a subsidiary of AstraZeneca plc (AZN, AZN.L), focusing on exploring a groundbreaking technology that utilizes natural tears for the potential diagnosis of retinal diseases. The study, financed by Alexion and BioLight, will evaluate a screening technique that analyzes components of the tear film, an outer eye surface fluid layer. The Technology was licensed from Harvard University and will be utilized to analyze tear samples. The study will be conducted at the Tel Aviv Medical Center and led by Prof. Anat Loewenstein, Chair of the Ophthalmology department. 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. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2023) - Psyched Wellness Ltd. (CSE: PSYC) (OTCQB: PSYCF) (FSE: 5U9) (the "Company" or "Psyched Wellness"), a life sciences company focused on the production and distribution of health and wellness products derived from the Amanita Muscaria mushroom, is excited to announce that it has entered into a binding agreement effective May 28, 2023 (the "Term Sheet") with Gotham Green Fund III, L.P. and Gotham Green Fund III (Q), L.P. (together, "Gotham Green") pursuant to which the Company shall complete a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of units in the capital of the Company (each, a "Unit") for aggregate gross proceeds of up to US$7,500,000 (approximately C$10,217,250) at a price of C$0.07 per Unit in two tranches, the first of which will be for US$500,000 (approximately C$681,150) and the second is expected to be for up to US$7,000,000 (approximately C$9,536,100), each of which is subject to closing conditions. The Offering will be led by Gotham Green, and it is anticipated to include affiliates and/or co-investors (together, "Investor Group"). "Psyched Wellness's work over the past four years has been ground-breaking, with the Company developing its proprietary extract of the federally legal Amanita Muscaria mushroom, AME-1, and proving its safety for human consumption through extensive studies and United States GRAS certification. With this proposed investment, we would aim to fund and facilitate the nationwide rollout of mainstream consumer products centered around AME-1, and we look forward to working closely with the Company," said Harrison Aaron, Principal at Gotham Green Partners. Jeff Stevens, Psyched Wellness Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Management and the board of directors are thrilled to share this announcement with our investors. Attracting this prospective majority investment from Gotham Green Partners is a clear validation of what we've accomplished to date in pioneering a legal path to market for products derived from the Amanita Muscaria mushroom. We believe that the closing of this strategic investment would ensure the Company is able to capitalize upon its first-mover advantage and fund its next stages of growth, with the scale of the proposed US$7,500,000 (approximately C$10,217,250) capital infusion demonstrating the scope of the opportunity both parties see for AME-1 and other Amanita Muscaria products within the mainstream consumer packaged goods space." Offering Details Each Unit will consist of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one (1) Common Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one (1) additional Common Share (each, an "Additional Share") at a price of C$0.10 per Additional Share at any time for a period of sixty (60) months from the date of issuance, subject to the Acceleration Clause (as defined herein). Subject to compliance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"), in lieu of exercising the Warrants for cash, the holder thereof may exercise the Warrants on a cashless basis, based on the value of the Warrants at the time of exercise. Should the Common Shares trade above an average of C$0.40 per Common Share on the CSE on a volume-weighted basis over any 30 consecutive trading days (the "30 Day VWAP") prior to the Warrant expiry date, on volume of at least twenty-five million (25,000,000) Common Shares traded over such 30 days, subject to compliance with the policies of the CSE, the Warrants will automatically be exercised on a cashless basis, with the value of the Warrants at the time of exercise determined by such 30 Day VWAP for the purposes of determining the number of Common Shares to be issued on such cashless exercise. The Offering will be offered for purchase and sale to investors in the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to available exemptions from the registration requirements under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), provided that no prospectus, registration statement or similar document is required to be filed. Pursuant to the terms of the Term Sheet, the initial tranche is scheduled to close on or about June 5, 2023 for aggregate gross proceeds of US$500,000 (approximately C$681,150) (the "Initial Tranche"). Pursuant to the polices of the CSE, closing of the second and final tranche, which is expected to be for up to US$7,000,000 (approximately C$9,536,100) ("Tranche 2") is subject to prior approval by Shareholders (as defined herein) and is scheduled to close within five (5) business days following the satisfaction and/or waiver of the Tranche 2 Closing Conditions (as defined herein). All securities issued under the Offering will be subject to: (i) a four (4) month and one (1) day hold period from the date of issuance and (ii) applicable legends as required pursuant to U.S. Securities Act. The securities to be offered pursuant to the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any United States state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable United States state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Company has agreed with the Investor Group that for a period of eighteen (18) months following the Tranche 2 closing, consent of a supermajority of the board of directors of the Company (the "Board") (at least 5 of 7 Board members) will be required for (i) expenditures in excess of C$200,000 (inclusive of (a) multiple expenditures with a single vendor over the span of up to six (6) months which total in excess of C$200,000 and (b) new headcount additions with total annual compensation in excess of C$200,000). Annual General and Special Meeting The Company is pleased to announce that it will hold an annual general and special meeting (the "Meeting") of holders of Common Shares ("Shareholders"), to approve certain annual and special matters, including the approval of Tranche 2 of the Offering, at the offices of Branson Corporate Services Ltd., located at 77 King Street West, Suite 2905, TD Centre North Tower, Toronto, Ontario M5K 1H1 on July 11, 2023, at 10:00 am (Toronto time). Shareholders registered on the books of the Company as of June 1, 2023 are the Shareholders entitled to receive notice of the Meeting and vote at the Meeting. The notice of Meeting, management information circular and related Meeting materials will be available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at http://www.psyched-wellness.com in due course. Initial Tranche Closing of the Initial Tranche is conditional upon the completion of the following (the "Initial Tranche Closing Conditions"): (i) customary closing conditions, including all relevant corporate and regulatory approvals being obtained (including, but not limited to, CSE approval, if necessary); (ii) the officers of the Company and Board members entering into support and voting agreements to vote their Common Shares in favor of the Offering at the Meeting; (iii) the Company and Investor Group entering into the Investor Rights Agreement (as defined herein); and (iv) the Company granting exclusivity to the Investor Group for a period of ninety (90) days following the closing of the Initial Tranche. Tranche 2 Closing of Tranche 2 is conditional upon the completion of the following (the "Tranche 2 Closing Conditions"): (i) the satisfactory completion of due diligence by the Investor Group, in the Investor Group's sole discretion; (ii) customary closing conditions, including all relevant corporate and regulatory approvals being obtained (including, but not limited to, CSE approval, if necessary, and Shareholder approval at the Meeting) (iii) the Investor Group, as applicable, delivering executed personal information forms, as required pursuant to the policies of the CSE; (iv) the Investor Group, as applicable, entering into lock-up agreements with the Company to refrain from selling any securities of the Company for a period of twelve (12) months following closing of Tranche 2; and (v) the Company entering into new employment agreements with its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer, which provide for among other things, a base salary, incentive bonus structure, a "top-up" of incremental equity incentives subject to time-based vesting, severance and an acceleration in vesting of certain equity securities upon involuntary termination within twenty-four (24) months following closing of Tranche 2. Upon closing of Tranche 2, the Company has agreed to reimburse the Investor Group for reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the Offering in the amount of up to C$15,000. Investor Rights Agreement On closing of the Initial Tranche, the Company and Investor Group will enter into an investor rights agreement (the "Investor Rights Agreement") providing that: (i) upon closing of the Initial Tranche, the Investor Group will have the right to nominate one (1) director to sit on the Board for a period of twelve (12) months following closing of the Initial Tranche and (ii) if Tranche 2 closes, the Investor Group will have the right to nominate two (2) additional directors to sit on the Board, one (1) director to the audit committee and the right to jointly nominate an additional one (1) director with the Company for a period of twelve (12) months following the closing of Tranche 2. Following the twelve (12) month period, the directors of the Company will be nominated, appointed and elected in the normal course, provided that the Investor Group agrees that no more than three (3) Board members may be employees or partners of the Investor Group and/or its affiliates. If the Initial Tranche and Tranche 2 of the Offering close, and assuming the Bank of Canada exchange rate is 1.3623 (US$ to C$), the Investor Group is expected to have beneficial ownership of 291,921,428 Common Shares (comprised of 145,960,714 issued Common Shares and up to a further 145,960,714 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants), which represents 51.80% of the current issued and outstanding Common Shares on a non-diluted basis and 68.25% on a partially-diluted basis. For further information, please contact: Jeffrey Stevens Chief Executive Officer Psyched Wellness Ltd. Tel: 647-400-8494 Email: jstevens@psyched-wellness.com Website: http://www.psyched-wellness.com About Psyched Wellness: Psyched Wellness is a Canadian-based health supplements company dedicated to the distribution of mushroom-derived products and associated consumer packaged goods. The Company's objective is to create premium mushroom-derived products that have the potential to become a leading North American brand in the emerging functional food category. The Company is in the process of developing a line of Amanita muscaria-derived water-based extracts, teas and capsules designed to help with three health objectives: promote stress relief, relaxation and assist with restful sleeping. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the objectives, distribution, and development of the Company's business and products and future activities following the date hereof, including the distribution of mushroom-derived products and associated consumer packaged goods; the Company's objective to create premium mushroom-derived products that have the potential to become a leading North American brand in the emerging functional food category; the development of the Company's Amanita muscaria-derived water-based extracts products and the uses and potential benefits of Amanita Muscaria; the anticipated size, timing of the closing(s), number of placees, and tranches of the Offering; the anticipated completion of the Offering under the stated terms, including the satisfaction and/or waiver of the Initial Tranche Closing Conditions and Trance 2 Closing Conditions; the anticipated use of the proceeds from the Offering; the receipt of the requisite approvals, including Shareholder and CSE approval; and the Company's intention to hold its Meeting for the purposes and under the timeline as stated herein. Forward-looking information in this news release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: the Company carrying out its objectives, distribution, and the development of its business and products and future activities following the date hereof as intended; the Company creating premium mushroom-derived products that have the potential to become a leading North American brand in the emerging functional food category; the Company developing its Amanita muscaria-derived water-based extracts products and them having the uses and potential benefits of Amanita Muscaria; the Company completing the Offering under its stated terms; the Company's allocating the proceeds from the Offering as intended; the Company obtaining requisite approvals, including Shareholder and CSE approval; and the Company holding its Meeting for the purposes and under the timeline stated herein. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the Company's inability to carry out its objectives, distribution, and/or the development of its business and products and future activities following the date hereof; the Company's inability to achieve its objective to create premium mushroom-derived products that have the potential to become a leading North American brand in the emerging functional food category; the Company's inability to develop its Amanita muscaria-derived water-based extracts products and/or the products not having the uses and/or potential benefits of Amanita Muscaria; the Company's inability to complete the Offering under its stated terms or at all, including the inability to satisfy and/or get waiver of the Initial Tranche Closing Conditions and/or Trance 2 Closing Conditions; the Company's inability to allocate the proceeds from the Offering as intended; the Company's inability to obtain the requisite approvals, including Shareholder and CSE approval; and the Company's inability to hold its Meeting for the purposes and under the timeline stated herein or at all. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. 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 and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT INTENDED 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/167998 TOKYO, JAPAN / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Spider AF, a leading provider of digital ad fraud and lead fraud prevention, has announced its expansion into New York, USA and Cork, Ireland. These new locations will enhance the company's ability to serve its global client base and capitalize on growing market opportunities in both regions. The global impact of ad fraud prevention has become a significant concern, with the digital advertising industry experiencing approximately 9.3 trillion yen (680 billion USD) in damages due to ad fraud in 2022 alone. Spider AF's solutions are specifically designed to detect fraud, safeguard brand reputation, and maximize advertisers' return on investment. "Our expansion into New York, USA and Cork, Ireland demonstrates Spider AF's commitment to delivering advanced solutions in the fight against ad fraud. We believe that our expertise and innovative solutions will be well-received in these new markets, contributing to the overall growth of the digital advertising industry," said Satoko Ohtsuki, CEO of Spider AF. This expansion marks a significant milestone for Spider AF and reinforces the company's dedication to helping advertisers protect their investments and achieve their business objectives. With the opening of these new offices, Spider AF aims to increase its overseas client base to 50% of the total by 2024, further establishing itself as a global leader. New York, as a city with a rich media and advertising heritage, serves as a hub for digital advertising in North America. With the presence of major media companies and advertising agencies, it offers a dynamic ecosystem of innovation and growth in the digital advertising industry. Spider AF's expansion into New York will enable the company to tap into this thriving environment and leverage the expanding market opportunities in the region. Cork, Ireland, is renowned for its thriving technology industry and a talented pool of professionals in technology, software engineering, and data analytics. The city hosts various technology hubs and multinational technology companies, including Apple, Dell, and Pfizer, which have established operations in Cork to harness the local talent pool. By expanding into Cork, Spider AF will have access to this pool of expertise and benefit from the supportive business environment, positioning itself for growth and innovation throughout Europe. For more information about Spider AF, please visit https://spideraf.com. Contact Information Will Nunan Head of marketing will@spideraf.com SOURCE: Spider Labs View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757528/Spider-Labs-Establishes-New-Offices-in-New-York-USA-and-Cork-Ireland The Trust Project Wins for Best Credibility Initiative for Local Journalism in the Americas PACIFICA, Calif., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Trust Project, the nonprofit, nonpartisan global network of news organizations working to affirm and amplify journalism's commitment to transparency, accuracy, and inclusion, was honored with the Digital Media Americas Award for Best Credibility Initiative for Local Journalism in the Americas during the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) Latin American conference held in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico earlier this month. The Trust Project's Trust Indicators were featured in the award along with case studies from three Trust Project members - Brazil'sA Gazeta, Canada'sFrancopresse, and The Examiner News, based in Westchester, New York. The Trust Indicators are a "gold standard" in journalism transparency-showing who and what is behind a news story. "This award recognizes that journalism built upon integrity stands apart from other kinds of information. Our efforts form a bulwark against the tide of dis- and misinformation spreading fear and division worldwide," said The Trust Project's CEO, Sally Lehrman. A Gazeta found that trust has become a very strong reason for its audience to rely on its brand. The news outlet attributed a 40 percent jump in advertising revenue in 2022 to its strengthened transparency and credibility based on the 8 Trust Indicators. Francopresse reported that since they earned the Trust Mark from the Trust Project, they have seen significant interest from advertisers and funders and a higher open rate for their newsletter. The Examiner News reported that its Trust Project association has helped it address public confusion about what is and isn't honest news and an increase in readership. In addition to the Trust Project's win, Trust Project News Partners Agencia Lupa (Brazil), La Nacion (Argentina), and The Washington Post all took home awards as well. "We here at WAN-IFRA congratulate all the winners of the 2023 Americas Digital Media Awards. The Trust Project entry showed that it and its partners are truly dedicated to trust and transparency in the news and have shown that it has been a significant factor in building stronger relationships with their audiences. We need to encourage the region to promote more projects that provide credibility and trust," said Daniela Bermudez, Digital Manager for Iberoamerica, WAN-IFRA. About WAN-IFRA WAN-IFRA is the World Association of News Publishers. Its mission is to protect the rights of journalists and publishers around the world to operate independent media. WAN-IFRA provides its members with expertise and services to innovate and prosper in a digital world and perform their crucial role in society. With formal representative status at the United Nations, UNESCO and the Council of Europe, it derives its authority from its global network of leading news publishing companies and technology entrepreneurs and its legitimacy from its 60 national association members representing 18,000 publications in 120 countries. www.wan-ifra.org . About the Trust Project: The nonprofit, nonpartisan Trust Project is a global network of news organizations working to affirm and amplify journalism's commitment to transparency, accuracy, and inclusion. The Trust Project created the 8 Trust Indicators , which are a collaborative, journalism-generated standard for news that helps both regular people and the technology companies' machines easily assess the authority and integrity of news. The Trust Indicators are based in robust user-centered design research and respond to public needs and wants. For more, visit: https://thetrustproject.org/faq/ . Media Contact Rebecca Nowacek rebecca@purposenorthamerica.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1374266/Trust_Project_Teaser_Facebook_EN.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/the-trust-projects-8-trust-indicators-win-big-at-the-prestigious-2023-wan-ifra-digital-media-americas-awards-301836139.html MANZINI Security personnel assigned to voter registration centres will be paid at a daily rate of E250 each for overseeing these centres. Currently assisting in ensuring that there are no elements of crime at the voter registration stations are personnel from His Majestys Correctional Services (HMCS) and the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS). There are said to be over 470 voter registration centres countrywide, wherein these officers are deployed. According to sources, places which were deemed hotspots at the height of the political unrest have been beefed up with more security personnel to suppress any possible threat that may occur. The sources claimed that such areas had over 10 security personnel, while those which were not deemed a threat had a limited number of security personnel. Rotate It has been gathered that the security personnel from the various duty stations shall rotate the shifts at the voter registration centres, such that a majority of them benefit from the E250 per day. It is worth noting that in the 2018 national elections, personnel from the State security forces were awarded the same amount to render their services. During the registration stage in 2018, about 3 080 officers were paid E35 866 650. A majority of these officers were security personnel, who were 1 218 and they were paid E250 per day for 42 days. Also, in this stage, there were registration clerks who also received the same amount over 47 days. Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) Communications Officer Mbonisi Bhembe confirmed that the security personnel would be awarded a token of appreciation for their services. Bhembe, however, requested not to divulge the amount to be offered to each officer. He said the monetary terms of the agreement were between two entities and it would not be proper to divulge them. Furthermore, he confirmed that there were over 400 voter registration stations. Meanwhile, it is worth noting that during the national elections in 2018, the EBC paid just over 9 000 officers who were engaged from the nomination stage until the secondary elections. Engaged The bulk of the officers were polling officers who stood at 6 760. The polling officers were engaged for about 15 days at a daily rate of E250. The total amount budgeted for the polling officers stood at E25.3 million. The EBC further engaged the services of about 66 returning officers, who for 45 days were paid at a daily rate of E450, while the 441 presiding officers were remunerated E350 per day. The commission had engaged 150 drivers for the elections. There were 132 heavy duty truck and bus drivers who were paid at a rate of E350 per day for six days. The EBC also engaged about 12 of its own drivers at a rate of E250 per day, and additional ones also at the same pay rate. For the post elections, a total of 11 EBC drivers were engaged, also at a rate of E250 per day. Leading to the secondary elections in 2018, the EBC had already paid out about E35 million in personnel costs. This means that in 2018, the registration process had a cumulative remuneration to personnel of E35 million. For the elections, the EBC had set aside E85 million for personnel costs. The bulk of the money was paid out to the officers who were hired for the nominations. On the other hand, the primary and the secondary elections stages had personnel costs of about E39 525 250. The highest paid were the returning officers, accountants, human resources and legal advisor, who were remunerated a daily rate of E450. PQShield is a leading contributor to NIST's process to standardise post-quantum cryptography, which concludes this summer The company is experiencing high commercial demand for implementations of its quantum-proof cryptography PQShield has signed an MoU with Tata Consultancy Services to support their clients in the transition to quantum-proof security PQShield has also entered into a collaboration with eShard on advanced side-channel protection for critical systems LONDON, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PQShield today announces a series of deals that reflect growing commercial demand for the real-world implementation of post-quantum cryptography (PQC). The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading IT Services, consulting, and business solutions organization, to help clients transition to quantum-secure solutions and a collaboration with eShard , a side-channel analysis and testing tools provider, to further accelerate advanced side-channel secured implementations of PQC that are critical for high-security standards across industries. Commercial demand for quantum preparedness is surging following a series of developments that have put the issue high on the global cybersecurity agenda. The US, which serves as a global bellwether for cybersecurity policy, enacted the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act 2022 and provided additional guidance through the National Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence (NCCoE) in early 2023 - both are designed to help organisations understand the security architecture in their networks and secure them against quantum-enabled cybersecurity threats. Elsewhere, the UK government launched its landmark National Quantum Strategy in early 2023, as did Australia , while Germany outlined a national action plan for quantum computing. Late last year, the NSA issued specific guidance on the transition to post-quantum cryptography, mandating a transition for software by 2025. PQShield recently launched its 'Where is your Cryptography?' whitepaper in conjunction with Robert Hannigan, Cybersecurity Adviser and former Director of GCHQ (who established the UK National Cyber Security Centre), to support organisations transition to post-quantum cryptography. Today, the company announces the following agreements and partnerships, which all point to growing commercial demand for post-quantum cryptographic solutions and further advance its cryptographic IP. In consulting, PQShield has signed an MoU with Tata Consultancy Services . Consultancies and systems integrators like TCS will be crucial to the global cryptography migration process. PQShield's world-leading expertise and products will be used to support TCS' clients who are working to modernise their cryptographic infrastructure and migrate to post-quantum cryptography. By partnering with TCS, businesses will be able to streamline their crypto modernisation efforts, minimise risks, and safeguard their businesses comprehensively. In side-channel analysis, eShard , a leading provider of side-channel analysis and testing tools, entered a partnership to enable enhanced side-channel analysis and validation of PQShield's secure hardware IP, especially for critical applications. This extends PQShield's existing work to deliver trusted and highly-secure implementations of quantum-safe cryptography on chips, in applications and in the cloud, having already built a dedicated side-channel attack test lab with partner, Riscure. In the last few months, the company has consolidated its position as the only established provider of post-quantum solutions at all stages of the post-quantum cryptography journey and launched a new, commercial licensing model to offer end-users, consultants and SIs comprehensive and flexible design, sales and manufacturing rights to its cryptographic IP, to cater for a variety of use-cases. PQShield also continues to play a vital role in policymaking discussions and standard-setting projects, as well as supporting the wider global migration to post-quantum cryptography: In telecoms, PQShield advised on the GSMA's Post Quantum Telco Impact Assessment White Paper , which recommends that network operators begin deploying post-quantum cryptography as soon as algorithms are standardised by NIST. In the migration to quantum-resistant cryptography, PQShield recently entered a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the NCCoE, the cybersecurity division of NIST, to develop practices to ease the migration to post-quantum cryptography from current public-key algorithms. In other policymaking and standard-setting discussions, PQShield also contributed to and led post-quantum cryptography projects with RISC-V, the Internet Engineering Task Force, GlobalPlatform, and the World Economic Forum, amongst others. PQShield is a leading contributor to the NIST process to standardise post-quantum cryptography that concludes this summer, and advised on or contributed to all of the algorithms announced in the first group of winners in July 2022. PQShield's CEO & founder, Ali El Kaafarani, said: "Quantum computers pose a particular threat to large organisations given the sprawling nature of their cryptographic infrastructure and their reliance on secure communications. We're seeing a significant shift in the commercial landscape as more of these businesses wake up to the urgency of the problem and seek out a solution. "We are encouraged that businesses like TCS are helping their clients to modernise their cryptography, as more businesses move beyond crypto-discovery to real-world implementation of post-quantum cryptographic solutions." Santha Subramoni, head of cybersecurity practice, TCS, said: "As a strategic partner to some of the world's leading businesses on their digital transformation journeys, we work with our customers to not only protect them from today's threats, but also prepare them for the challenges of tomorrow. The quantum cybersecurity threat poses foundational risks to how we secure information on the internet today, and we're working with our customers to develop a strategy and roadmap for quantum-proof security. We're glad to partner with PQShield in this journey of helping enterprises be cyber confident in the quantum era." Robert Hannigan, Cybersecurity Adviser and former Director of GCHQ, said: "Quantum computing will render our current encryption methods obsolete. A practical approach to assessing business risk, especially within critical security infrastructure and networks, followed by a pathway to mitigating the quantum threat focused on real-world implementations of post-quantum cryptography, is now urgently needed. PQShield have helped shape post-quantum cryptography standards globally, leaning on their academic pedigree and real-world commercial experience. The team's authoritative expertise and resources like this paper will be invaluable for any organisation seeking to prepare for our post-quantum future." About PQShield PQShield is a post-quantum cryptography (PQC) company creating the global standards and core technologies to power the future security layer of the world's leading organisations. Its quantum-secure cryptographic solutions work with companies' legacy systems to protect sensitive data now and for years to come. It is the only cybersecurity company that can deliver high-quality secure implementations of quantum-safe cryptography on chips, in applications, and in the cloud, and is also an authority on PQC side channel attack resistance, having built a dedicated SCA test lab with partner, Riscure. PQShield is also a leading contributor to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) post-quantum cryptography standardisation project, and has contributed multiple cryptographic extensions to RISC-V. Headquartered in the UK, with teams in the United States, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Japan, PQShield is principally backed by Addition, Crane Venture Partners, Oxford Science Enterprises (formerly OSI), Kindred Capital, and InnovateUK. Its latest white papers are available to read here . About Tata Consultancy Services Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, consulting and business solutions organisation that has been partnering with many of the world's largest businesses in their transformation journeys for over 55 years. Its consulting-led, cognitive powered, portfolio of business, technology and engineering services and solutions is delivered through its unique Location Independent Agile delivery model, recognized as a benchmark of excellence in software development. TCS Cybersecurity offers a comprehensive portfolio of cybersecurity services including consulting and advisory, security-as-a-service, industry-nuanced solutions, and managed security services across areas including detection and response, identity and access management, vulnerability management, governance, risk and compliance, data privacy and protection, digital forensics and incident response, cloud security, data security, and IT/OT security services. About eShard eShard is a leading provider of side channel analysis and testing tools, with a focus on ensuring the security of embedded systems. Founded in 2015, eShard has worked with a wide range of customers in industries ranging from automotive to defense. Learn more at www.eshard.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2086877/PQShield_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/pqshield-announces-major-new-collaborations-with-tata-consultancy-services-and-eshard-as-organisations-commit-to-implementing-post-quantum-cryptography-301835957.html EQS Post-admission Duties announcement: Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd.: Announcement on the Completion of Cancellation of Certain Share Options in the 2021 A-Share Option Incentive Scheme and the 2022 A-Share Option Incentive Scheme 30.05.2023 / 15:06 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG Announcement on the Completion of Cancellation of Certain Share Options in the 2021 A-Share Option Incentive Scheme and the 2022 A-Share Option Incentive Scheme Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt / Hong Kong, 30 May 2023 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (the "Company" or "Haier Smart Home", D-share 690D.DE, A-share 600690.SH, H-share 06690.HK) today published an announcement in accordance with applicable trading rules of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and applicable PRC laws in relation to the Completion of Cancellation of Certain Share Options in the 2021 A-Share Option Incentive Scheme and the 2022 A-Share Option Incentive Scheme. The announcement is fully available at: https://smart-home.haier.com/en/dggg/P020230530713485070956.pdf?appdesc=Announcement%20on%20the%20Completion%20of%20Cancellation%20of%20Certain%20Share%20Options%20in%20the%202021%20A-Share%20Option%20Incentive%20Scheme%20and%20the%202022%20A-Share%20Option%20Incentive%20Scheme IR Contact: Haier Smart Home Hong Kong T: +852 2169 0000 Email: ir@haier.hk Press Contact: CROSS ALLIANCE communication GmbH Sara Pinto Sven Pauly pi@crossalliance.de T: +49 (0) 89 1250903 35 About Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.: Haier is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household appliances with a focus on smart home solutions and customized production. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. develops, produces and distributes a wide range of household appliances. These include refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, water heaters, kitchen appliances as well as small household appliances and an extensive range of intelligent household appliances. The Company distributes its products through leading household brands such as Haier, Casarte, Leader, Candy, GE Appliances, AQUA and Fisher & Paykel. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. has launched Smart Home Experiential Cloud, which connects homes, users, enterprises and ecosystem partners, and facilitates the integration of Haier's online, offline and micro-store businesses and supports user interaction to further optimize the user experience. 30.05.2023 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com Contact: Oak Fund Services (Guernsey) Limited Company Administrator Attn: Hannah Crocker Tel: +44 1481 723450 Eurocastle Announces Posting of 2023 Annual General Meeting Notice Guernsey, 30 May 2023 - Eurocastle Investment Limited (Euronext Amsterdam: ECT) ("Eurocastle" or the "Company") today announces that notice of its Annual General Meeting containing the full text of the proposed resolutions and a proxy statement has been mailed out to all holders on record as of Friday, 26 May 2023. In addition, the Company has posted the Annual General Meeting notice on its website under Periodic Reports and Shareholder Communications in the Investor Relations Section. As previously announced, Eurocastle will hold its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, 14 June 2023, at the Company's registered office at 2:00 pm Guernsey time (3:00 pm CET). ABOUT EUROCASTLE Eurocastle Investment Limited ("Eurocastle" or the "Company") is a publicly traded closed-ended investment company. On 18 November 2019, the Company announced a plan to realise the majority of its assets with the aim of accelerating the return of value to shareholders. On 8 July 2022, the Company announced the relaunch of its investment activity and is currently in the early stages of pursuing its new strategy by initially focusing on opportunistic real estate in Greece with a plan to expand across Southern Europe. For more information regarding Eurocastle Investment Limited and to be added to our email distribution list, please visit www.eurocastleinv.com. Full-cycle verification platform, Sumsub, revisits fraud data statistics from Q1 2022 after Q1 2023 reports come in Sumsub, a global verification platform providing customisable Know Your Customer (KYC), Know Your Business (KYB), transaction monitoring, and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) solutions for the whole customer journey, today releases new fraud statistics for the United Kingdom and Europe, highlighting that forced verification and deepfakes are on the rise. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230530005196/en/ Sumsub UK Fraud Statistics (Graphic: Business Wire) The findings, based on anonymised verification data collected by Sumsub, show forced verification has emerged as a growing trend worldwide. In Germany alone, forced verification grew by 1500% as a proportion of all fraud cases, from 0.3% in the full year 2022 to 5% of all fraud in Q1 2023. In Great Britain and Europe, as well as in North America, the proportion of deepfakes among all fraud cases grew considerably from 2022 to Q1 2023. This proportion jumped from 1.2% to 5.9% in the UK, from 1.5% to 7.6% in Germany, and from 0.5% to 5% in Italy, respectively. Simultaneously, printed forgeries, which represented 16% 23% of all fraud in 2022, dropped to 0.1% and less last quarter. Industries impacted by fraud Sumsub's report highlights the following trends in digital fraud in Great Britain within various industries: The proportion of fraud in consulting almost tripled (from 1% to 3%); almost tripled (from 1% to 3%); Fraud rate in crypto services nearly doubled and reached 1.6% in Q1 2023, however fintech fraud decreased from 3% to 1%; services nearly doubled and reached 1.6% in Q1 2023, however fraud decreased from 3% to 1%; E-commerce fraud grew 1.5-fold to 1.3% over the year; fraud grew 1.5-fold to 1.3% over the year; As for Q1 2023, IT service platforms demonstrated relatively high fraud rates of 1.5%. Across continental Europe, there are several points of catchy data as well: The highest fraud was noticed in the shared mobility industry (4% in Spain and 3.6% in France); industry (4% in Spain and 3.6% in France); From Q1 2022 to Q1 2023, like in the UK, fraud rates in consulting multiplied from 1.3% to 4% in Germany, from 0.4% to 2.8% in France, and from 1.4% to 3.6% in Spain). Last quarter the proportion of fraud in crypto and fintech was noticeable as well, constituting over 2% in Spain and over 1.1% in Germany, whereas in France crypto fraud grew from 1.8% to 3.8% in Q1 2023 compared to Q1 2022. Noticeably, Sumsub's internal experts see the rising trend of past-KYC stage scams across all industries, which underlines the importance of the full-cycle verification to protect the whole user journey. Document fraud trends As for the document types being used for online verification, according to Sumsub global data, the most popular document for identity checks in the UK, like in the US, is driver's license, while in continental Europe ID cards are predominant. The least secure document type in the EU is passport (with fraud levels as high as 5% in Spain and 3.3% in Germany), but in the UK ID cards are being forged most often (3.4% of cases). The dynamics with fraud types between Q1 2022-Q1 2023 is worthy of attention. Last year, the top three fraud types were: Liveness bypass , a method of fraud where criminals swapp-in or edit biometric data (23% of all fraud in the UK and France, 25% in Spain); , a method of fraud where criminals swapp-in or edit biometric data (23% of all fraud in the UK and France, 25% in Spain); Printed documents (over 17% in Britain and France and over 20% in Italy and Spain); (over 17% in Britain and France and over 20% in Italy and Spain); Edited ID card (21% in the UK and 22% in Germany). Last quarter, the top three fraud types in both the UK and EU were identity document forgery (40% of all fraud in Britain and Italy, and over 25% in Germany and Spain), liveness bypass (about 13-16% of all fraud cases) and edited ID card (14-16% in the UK, France and Germany). Identifying who is committing fraud The oldest fraudsters in the world are in the US. In Q1 2022, their average age was 43 years old and shifted to around 40 in Q1 2023. In the UK, the average age of fraudsters was 32 in Q1 2022 and 35 years old in Q1 2023. As for the gender breakdown, in Q1 2022, a third (34%) of all fraudsters in the UK were female. In Q1 2023, females represented only 21% of fraudsters in Great Britain. In 2022, the most popular hour for committing fraud in the UK was 2 p.m. GMT, and in Q1 2023, it was 12 p.m. In Great Britain, the lowest amount of fraud happened at 4-5 a.m. GMT in 2022-2023. Commenting on the report, Pavel Goldman-Kalaydin, Head of AI ML at Sumsub, said: "We've seen a pattern of forced verification globally, when it is visible that a person whose photo is taken or who's passing the liveness check is doing so involuntarily while being held by others' force. It is alarming that the proportion of such fraud is growing. "Deepfakes have become easier to make and, consequently, their quantity has multiplied, as is also evident from the statistics. To create a deepfake, a fraudster uses a real person's document, taking a photo of it and turning it into a 3D persona. Anti-fraud and verification providers who do not work constantly to update deepfake detection technologies are lagging behind and put both businesses and users at risk. Upgrading deepfake detection technology is an essential part of modern effective verification and anti-fraud systems," Goldman-Kalaydin added. Sumsub unites user and business verification, transaction monitoring, fraud prevention, and case management solutions into a single dashboard. For more information on Sumsub, please visit: https://sumsub.com. About Sumsub Sumsub is a full-cycle verification platform that secures the whole user journey. With Sumsub's customizable KYC, KYB, transaction monitoring and fraud prevention solutions, you can orchestrate your verification process, welcome more customers worldwide, meet compliance requirements, reduce costs and protect your business. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230530005196/en/ Contacts: Anna Treshcheva anna.treshcheva@sumsub.com London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2023) - The world has been turned on its head. Most industries are reducing the pace of innovation and aiming for survival instead of growth. But insurance is not most industries. Instead of slowing down, this is the time to come together and capitalise on the unprecedented level of change surrounding us. We must transform - not in the distant, idealised future, but today. That's why Reuters Events are inviting you to The Future of Insurance Europe 2023, Europe's most senior insurance event with 350+ decision makers, taking place 28th-29th November, Hotel Novotel Amsterdam City. Pre-order the brochure today to be kept in the loop for exclusive discounts, speaker announcements and more! During the 2-day networking-packed meeting, they will cover the fundamental challenges facing teams and departments from across the business, including integrating new technology such as AI, addressing evolving customer demands, optimising your claims process and more. With the right people, partnerships, and solutions, these challenges can be overcome. FOIEurope 2023 is the meeting point for forward-thinking leaders to find all three - this is your business case to attend! In the meantime, here's the first release of 2023 speakers heading to Amsterdam: Amelie Breitburd, CEO , Lloyd's Europe , Henrik Ryden, CEO Nordics , Marsh McLennan , Tibor Boettcher, CEO , Volkswagen Insurance Company , Ian Thompson, Group Chief Claims Officer , Zurich , Bruno Scaroni, Group Chief Transformation Officer , Generali , Cyril Steffen, Chief Claims Officer, Europe , AXA , Imre Sztano, Chief Digital Officer , NN International Insurance , Adam Powell, COO and Co-Founder , Policy Expert , Raphael Gusdorf, Chief Digital Officer , AG2R La Mondiale , Danilo Raponi, Group Head of Innovation , Generali , Florian Hamel, Head of Global Technology Delivery , AXA XL Philippe Knepfler, Head of Business Development, Chief Innovation Officer , Covea Affinity , Hanbing Ma, Head of Innovation & Digital Transformation , ERGO Group AG , Colin Masson, Group Claims Director , Munich Re Specialty , Firas Ben Hassan, Lead Data Scientist , Allianz Technology , Maria Jesus De Arteaga Larru, Head of P&C Personal Lines & Pricing and Head of Claims , AXA , Fiona Sperry, Head of Complex Claims, QBE Europe Order your brochure to view the agenda, event exhibitors and so much more Get in touch with nuriya.powell@thomsonreuters.com for more information about attending or getting involved at the event. Contact: Nuriya Powell nuriya.powell@thomsonreuters.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167440 The Angus Vein is one of 6 mineralized vein structures identified to date in the Campbell-Crawford prospect and Kuya Silver has intersected mineralized veins in all Campbell-Crawford reported drill holes Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2023) - Kuya Silver Corporation (CSE: KUYA) (OTCQB: KUYAF) (FSE: 6MR1) (the "Company" or "Kuya Silver") is very pleased to announce additional assay results from the Campbell-Crawford area (Table 1; Figure 1). These results include remaining drill hole assay results from hole 23-SK-08 (3.80 m previously reported in Kuya Silver news release dated April 4, 2023), as well as drill holes 23-SK-11, -12 and -13. To date, the Company has reported a total of 1,287 m in four drill holes of a total 2,334 m in seven drill holes at Campbell-Crawford. Highlights: Hole 23-SK-13 Angus Vein intersected 5,935 g/t (191 oz/t) silver, 0.06% cobalt over 1.00 m (from 258.19 m) within a wider mineralized zone of 2,424 g/t (77.9 oz/t) silver, 0.03% cobalt over 2.49 m, deeper and along trend from discovery hole 23-SK-08 intersection 5 additional silver or cobalt mineralized veins or vein zones including 151 g/t silver over 1.27 m (from 252.73 m) Hole 23-SK-08 Mineralized zone of Angus Vein has been widened to 15,372 g/t (494 oz/t) silver over 3.34 m (from 234.90 m) with an additional 514 g/t silver assayed over 0.30 m 4 additional silver or cobalt mineralized veins or vein zones were intersected, including: 202 g/t silver, 0.06% cobalt over 3.54 m (from 243.00 m) including 469 g/t silver and 0.19% cobalt over 0.40 m and 536 g/t silver over 0.80 m 218 g/t silver over 2.60 m (from 250.00 m) including 1,050 g/t silver over 0.30 m Additional new mineralized veins (anomalously to highly mineralized) were intersected in all four drill holes, each with potential for wider veins and/or higher grade silver/cobalt mineralization closer to the Nipissing Diabase rock contact: 5 total veins or vein zones in hole 23-SK-08 (including Angus Vein) 2 total veins in hole 23-SK-11 2 total veins in hole 23-SK-12 6 total veins or vein zones in hole 23-SK-13 (including Angus Vein) Vein mineralization remains open in all directions at Campbell-Crawford Kuya Silver is pleased to announce the promotion of David Lewis to Vice President, Exploration (effective July 1, 2023) Upcoming Webinar: Kuya management to present an update from the Silver Kings Project on Friday June 2, 2023, at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EDT Registration: https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/KuyaJune2023 Assays are pending for drill holes 23-SK-01 to -06 (North Drummond and Silver Leaf targets, Kerr Lake area) and 23-SK-07, -09 and -10 (Campbell-Crawford area). David Lewis, Kuya Silver Vice President Exploration, commented: "I am very pleased to report that we have intersected high silver grades over good widths twice in the Angus Vein, first with discovery hole 23-SK-08 and now, 18 m deeper and 10 m along trend, in hole 23-SK-13. Silver in the Cobalt mining camp is known to hug the lower Nipissing Diabase contact, which our drilling of the Angus Vein is confirming, and mineralization remains open particularly along trend. We are very encouraged to have identified numerous other mineralized veins in these drill holes, each of which has the potential for higher grades nearer to the diabase contact. The Campbell-Crawford prospect is showing classic signs of a significant Cobalt, Ontario-style silver/cobalt deposit and, with our updated understanding of the mineralization, we're ready to test the size and grade of the area." David Stein, Kuya Silver's President and CEO, stated: "In a very short period of time, Kuya Silver has made an exciting new discovery at the Campbell-Crawford prospect with very limited drilling to date. We are especially enthusiastic about the number of mineralized vein structures identified in this vein cluster given the presence of high-grade silver demonstrated by the Angus Vein. The recognition of multiple veins in close proximity and bonanza-style native silver mineralization are two important hallmarks of the larger historic producers in the Cobalt camp, and although we are in the early days of exploring this new area, Kuya Silver is off to a fantastic start." David Stein continued, "I am also very pleased to announce the promotion of David Lewis, P. Geo., to VP Exploration. His leadership on our geological team has been critical to Kuya Silver's success over the past few years, and as our exploration programs expand in both Peru and Canada we entrust him to take a greater role in the Company's growth." Angus Vein High-Grade Silver Mineralization Expanded The Angus Vein has now been intersected in three oriented drill holes with drastically different silver/cobalt grades (Figure 1). The mineralized grades can be linked to the vertical distance from the Nipissing Diabase rock contact (Figure 2): 15,372 g/t silver, 0.08% cobalt over 3.34 m approximately 10 m below the diabase contact in Archean volcano-sedimentary rocks (23-SK-08 - 237 m), 2,424 g/t silver, 0.03% cobalt over 2.49 m approximately 30 m below the diabase contact in Archean volcano-sedimentary rocks (23-SK-13 - 258 m), and Low grade cobalt and arsenic identified by pXRF over 0.03 m (3 cm) carbonate vein approximately 115 m above the Nipissing Diabase contact and within the diabase (23-SK-07 - 108 m). These three intersections match well with the mining camp model: mineralized vein structures are traditionally the most prolific close to the Nipissing Diabase contacts. Historically, the Archean volcano-sedimentary rocks are generally more prolific host rocks than the Nipissing Diabase, but extremely high silver grades are sometimes known just into the diabase host (for example Keeley-Frontier, Silver Cliff mines; Sergiades 1968) and this zone is untested at Campbell-Crawford. Figure 1: Drill plan map and vertical drill section with newly-defined mineralized veins at Campbell-Crawford prospect To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5945/168001_414b069c744daad9_001full.jpg. The assay results also indicate metal zonation with high-grade silver zones transitioning into mixed silver-cobalt-nickel zones at depth or on vein margins (see January 9, 2023 news release). Very importantly, the NE-trending Angus Vein orientation and metal zonation suggests that these zones track along the lower diabase contact and may continue along trend (Figure 1, 2); other NE-trending veins, indicated in these drill results and especially veins drilled within the Nipissing Diabase, have the same mineralizing potential as the Angus Vein near the lower diabase contact, with associated significant to high grades of silver, cobalt and nickel. Figure 2: Geological map with idealized vertical section of major rock units in the Cobalt mining camp. Geology superimposed on LiDAR hillshade digital elevation model (DEM) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5945/168001_414b069c744daad9_002full.jpg. Note: Portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) is a rapid and non-destructive analytical method used to precisely measure the point source (or spot) elemental composition of materials. Portable XRF measurements were captured using a handheld Thermo-Scientific Niton XL3t instrument, which was professionally calibrated in 2021 by Elemental Controls in Mississauga, Ontario. David Lewis, M.Sc., P.Geo. Promoted to Vice President, Exploration (effective July 1, 2023) Mr. Lewis is a structural and exploration geologist who joined Kuya Silver in 2021 to manage the Kerr Project and Silver Kings Joint Venture. He has 20 years' experience in applied structural geology in consulting, mineral exploration, government, and academic roles throughout Canada and internationally, including in Arizona (USA), Greenland, and Mali (West Africa) on a variety of mineral deposit types. He was involved in defining structural controls on the Rosemont Skarn Deposit with Hudbay Minerals in 2018, the expansion and definition of the 1 km+ Tarabala gold trend with Compass Gold in 2020, the 71 m drilling intercept of the polymetallic Niish zone with Laurion Mineral Exploration in 2021, and he led the grassroots discovery of the silver-cobalt Angus Vein with Kuya Silver in 2023. In the Cobalt, Ontario mining camp, David worked as Senior Exploration Geologist with First Cobalt Corp. (2017-2019; now Electra Battery Materials Corp.) and now directs mineral exploration as the Technical Qualified Person at the Silver Kings Project on behalf of Kuya Silver Corp. In addition to his work with Kuya Silver, David teaches Structural Geology and Rock Mechanics at Fleming College, Lindsay, Ontario. David obtained his B.Sc. in Geological Sciences from the University of Saskatchewan and M.Sc. in Geology at Laurentian University. Ongoing Work Plans A surficial bedrock stripping program is commencing shortly in the Campbell-Crawford area to identify and trace surficial mineralized veins. Veins will be uncovered both along and across trend, testing for vein density, orientation and continuity and projected to depth, in preparation for a 2023 phase 2 drill campaign. Upcoming Webinar Kuya Silver's President and CEO, David Stein and VP Exploration, David Lewis will be presenting an update from the Company's Silver Kings project in a live webinar taking place on Friday, June 2nd at 11:00 AM PST/ 2:00 PM EDT. To register for the event please click the link below. Participants are encouraged to submit any questions for the Company prior to the event by emailing info@kuyasilver.com. Register: https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/KuyaJune2023. References Sergiades, A.O. 1968. Silver Cobalt Calcite Vein Deposits of Ontario; Ontario Department of Mines, Mineral Resources Circular No. 10, 498p. Quality Assurance and Quality Control The drill core samples were logged and sampled with limestone blank material and standard reference material added in sample sequence and/or following visual identification of silver or cobalt mineralization. The samples were cut or split perpendicular to veining by core saw and were secured in labelled vinyl sample bags. Samples were shipped to AGAT Laboratories in Mississauga, Ontario, where they were weighed, crushed and pulverized. Silica wash material was used to clean the equipment between each pulverization for samples analyzed by Screened Metallics at SGS Labs. At AGAT Labs, samples were digested by 4-acid and analyzed by ICP-OES (maximum undiluted detection limit of 500 g/t silver). At SGS Labs, samples were processed by 500 g Screened Metallics. This method is suitable for coarse native metals (e.g. gold, silver, copper, palladium and platinum) with no upper detection limit. Samples were screened to 106 microns and fire assayed. National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. David Lewis, P.Geo., Exploration Director of Kuya Silver and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. About Kuya Silver Corporation Kuya Silver is a Canadian-based mineral exploration and development company with a focus on acquiring, exploring, and advancing precious metals assets in Peru and Canada. For more information, please contact: David Stein, President and Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (604) 398-4493 info@kuyasilver.com www.kuyasilver.com Reader Advisory This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information," including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may," "would," "could," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "must," "next," "propose," "new," "potential," "prospective," "target," "future," "verge," "favourable," "implications," and "ongoing," and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking information. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing statements, any discussion of the potential of exploration targets and assay results, is forward-looking information. Investors are cautioned that statements including forward-looking information are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including but not limited to fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market, and business conditions. There can be no assurances that such forward-looking information will prove accurate, and therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of the risks and uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Table 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5945/168001_kuya_table.png. Table 1: Assay data for drill holes 23-SK-08, -11, -12 and -13 from the Campbell-Crawford prospect. Silver was processed by Screened Metallics (SM) and ICP-OES, with more precise values for Screened Metallics. Silver Equivalency (AgEq) was calculated using silver values of $23.14 (USD) per troy ounce and cobalt values of $29,255 (USD) per tonne, obtained on May 29, 2023. Drill hole collar information was presented in April 4, 2023 Kuya Silver news release. Grades do not represent true width of mineralization. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168001 Industry-Leading Revenue Strategist to Help Drive Company's Next Phase of Growth Keepit, the market leader in cloud data protection and management, today announced the appointment of Craig Bumpus to the position of Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). In this role, Bumpus will be responsible for building Keepit's go-to-market and associate strategies and setting a clear and concise direction in close collaboration with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frederik Schouboe. "Our aggressive growth and continued focus on technological innovation has brought Keepit to a new intersection where coordination and orchestration of projects and initiatives is critical," said Schouboe. "As CRO, Craig will be a central part of ensuring that the company establishes a red thread throughout our go-to-market approaches. Keepit is focused on building the right commercial strategy, bolstering our commercial preparedness and aligning execution across markets and channels. Craig has a well-established track record as a leader of high-performance teams, and his customer-first approach is a great fit for Keepit. We are excited to welcome him to the company." With nearly three decades in the information technology (IT) industry, Bumpus is a seasoned revenue and business leader with extensive experience in channel development, sales enablement, operations, customer success, and go-to-market strategy. Prior to joining Keepit, he served as CRO at Qumulo and at UiPath, where he grew the company from $25 million to over $400 million. Other previous roles include serving as senior vice president of Sales at Nutanix, where he scaled the company from $70 million to over $1 billion, and serving in senior sales leadership roles at Sophos, Cisco Systems, Utimaco and DPC. "Keepit is growing lightning fast and is on an ambitious and complex mission of continued evolution and expansion. I look forward to the opportunity to help shape the channel strategy of this company and work with a team that has demonstrated tremendous innovative capabilities," said Bumpus. "Keepit's unique technology provides endless opportunities to evolve further in the data protection space. The genius of the tech stack and the adaptability of its services allow Keepit to continuously serve the data protection needs of businesses and organizations as they step into the fully cloud-based future." Keepit has customers all over the world. For more information on customer cases, visit https://www.keepit.com/customers/. About Keepit Keepit is a software-as-a-service company that protects cloud data for organizations, ensuring business continuity and access to information. Keepit is the world's only independent backup and recovery solution and keeps data tamper-proof and resilient to cyberattacks and human error. Headquartered in Copenhagen with offices and data centers globally, Keepit is trusted by companies worldwide and across all industries to protect and manage their SaaS data. For more information visit www.keepit.com or follow Keepit LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230530005430/en/ Contacts: RedIron PR for Keepit kari@redironpr.com NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Avantor Originally published on Avantor Sustainability By Michael Stubblefield, President and Chief Executive Officer, Avantor At Avantor, we play an important role in creating a better world through the work we do in helping our customers solve complex scientific challenges. We recognize the importance of operating sustainably and have embedded sound environmental, social and governance practices across our business. Our Science for Goodness sustainability platform enables us to continually measure and report progress against four key pillars, which are aligned with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These four areas of focus - People & Culture, Innovation & Environment, Community Engagement and Governance & Integrity - guide our sustainability efforts and provide the framework for creating long-term value for our associates, customers, suppliers, shareholders and communities. We are holding ourselves accountable, and in 2022 linked specific Environmental, Social and Governance Goals to executive compensation. Over the past year, we made important strides against our goals. For example, we are on pace to exceed our 2025 greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets. As of the end of 2022, we reduced our Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions by 12% compared to our baseline reduction goal of 15% by 2025. We also achieved our leadership diversity goals for 2022, with women now accounting for more than 36% of leadership positions at Avantor. Avantor's commitment to diversity begins with our Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team, who firmly believe that diverse viewpoints strengthen decision-making. While we've made important strides, we're not yet at parity and will continue to build upon this progress. We are upholding our commitment to enhance sustainability at the highest level, and in April 2023, were pleased to become a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). By joining the UNGC, Avantor is embedding sustainability practices into our DNA, including responsibilities across human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. While we are proud of the progress we have made thus far, we know that there is more to do and look forward to sharing ongoing updates as we continue the important work toward our 2025 sustainability goals. Thank you. To learn more, download the Avantor 2023 Science for Goodness Sustainability Report here. Photo: Michael Stubblefield, President and Chief Executive Officer, Avantor View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Avantor on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Avantor Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/avantor Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Avantor View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/758022/AvantorR-2023-Sustainability-Report-Message-From-Our-CEO NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / KeyBank: The KeyBank Foundation has awarded a $25,000 capacity building grant to Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity. The grant will help to fund an Assistant Construction Manager for the organization, helping grow the organization's capacity to provide safe and affordable housing to low-income families in Niagara County. Currently, Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity's small staff consists of just two full-time administrative positions and one full-time construction position. KeyBank Foundation's funding will help to build the organization's construction capacity, allowing them to expand the number of homes built and also begin offering owner-occupied critical home repairs, which the organization hopes to begin offering in late 2023. "We are proud to support Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity and help them build capacity to continue and expand their efforts to provide safe, affordable housing," said Elizabeth Gurney, KeyBank's Director of Corporate Philanthropy. "Their transformative work is making a difference and helping advance social, racial, and environmental equity in our community." Executive Director of Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity Gina Beam said, "We are incredibly grateful to the KeyBank Foundation for funding this position. It will help us build capacity so that Niagara Area Habitat can strengthen the foundation of its work in Niagara County thus helping more families attain affordable housing and stability." Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity has been part of Niagara County's history for 30 years. From humble beginnings in 1993, it consisted of a small, but strong core group of dedicated volunteers. It hired its first full-time employee in 2018 and has grown to a full-time staff of three. During these 30 years, the organization has built 30 homes for local families - helping more than 66 children grow up in a safe and affordable home. Through affordable mortgages to Habitat Partner Families, almost $1 million in tax revenue has been returned back to the local community. The homes are located in Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda, each one creating more than $70,000 in positive impact to the respective cities while providing strength, stability, self-reliance and shelter for numerous families and the neighborhoods in which they live. 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/758019/Niagara-Area-Habitat-for-Humanity-Receives-25000-KeyBank-Foundation-Grant BROWNSVILLE, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Lic. Olga Patricia Sosa Ruiz, the Head of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, recently conducted an official tour of the NovaLink maquiladora in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. She verified the guaranteed working conditions for the more than 1,800 employed at this industrial complex. Lic. Ruiz has expressed a desire to get to know the companies under her jurisdiction. She accepted the invitation to visit the NovaLink Matamoros facilities during her statewide tour and see for herself the working conditions and culture built by the NovaLink staff. NovaLink Tour Olga Patricia Sosa Ruiz, the Head of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, tours the NovaLink factory in Matamoros, Mexico. Accompanied by Jose Ives Soberon Mejia, the General Director of the Labor Conciliation Centers in Tamaulipas, as well as Juan Villafuerte, the General Secretary of SJOIIM, Roberto Mattus, the General Director of INDEX Matamoros, and the staff from NovaLink, Secretary Ruiz conducted an extensive goodwill inspection of the facilities. Secretary Ruiz stressed the importance of upholding labor rights as a cornerstone of labor humanism. She highlighted the directive of Governor Americo Villarreal Anaya to foster collaboration among companies, unions, and workers. Secretary Ruiz had the opportunity to meet many NovaLink employees during her tour as well as meet and discuss current issues with Roberto Hinojosa, Head of Human Resources, and Jason Wolfe, President/CEO. "It was a great pleasure to have Secretary Ruiz select NovaLink as a company she would like to visit. We take our role in the Matamoros community very seriously and are honored to have received such high praise from Secretary Ruiz and her office. I enjoyed the opportunity to discuss issues facing our community that have the potential to stifle growth and how I feel she could play a major role in assisting our city and the state to be the recipient of the many growth and infrastructure opportunities that are present. I look forward to working with Secretary Ruiz and sharing ideas on how we can improve the relations between the government, unions and companies in our state," said Wolfe. Expressing satisfaction with NovaLink's productivity and commitment, Secretary Ruiz commended the company for providing nearly 2,000 families with decent and secure employment. She also highlighted the exemplary Tamaulipas workforce, both men and women, who contribute to the company's success. "We are very pleased to see such a productive Mexican company established in Matamoros and providing decent and safe work for almost 2,000 families, and this is also due to the high quality of the Tamaulipas workforce, both men and women, who work in a committed and professional manner," said Secretary Ruiz, referring to the NovaLink workforce, where women are the majority with 60 percent of the total workforce. NovaLink is a best-in-class solution for domestic and international manufacturers seeking operations with proximity to the U.S. For information on NovaLink, please visit their website: https://novalinkmx.com. Contact Information: MICHAEL DILLON Vice President Marketing and Business Development mdillon@novalinkmx.com 956-621-7362 Jason Wolfe President and CEO jwolfe@novalinkmx.com 956-621-7362 SOURCE: NovaLink View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757355/Ministry-of-Labor-and-Social-Welfare-Ensures-Safe-Working-Conditions-at-NovaLink-Maquiladora-in-Matamoros-Mexico NASHVILLE, TN / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / VoluMetrix, a Nashville-based biotech startup dedicated to creating a new wave of solutions for vital monitoring to enhance well-being, announced today that it has been awarded a Phase IIb Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant expected to total $3 million over three years from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, part of the National Institute of Health. This grant, in conjunction with prior financing, supports the development and validation of NIVAHF, a device designed to provide non-invasive volume status monitoring for heart failure patients. NIVA|HF Heart failure affects over 6 million Americans and is the most common reason for hospitalization of elderly patients.1 Current heart failure monitoring is inadequate with a majority of patients monitored by clinical symptoms and weights, which are late and unreliable indicators.2 Monitoring cardiac filling pressures is the gold standard in heart failure, but this requires invasive procedures or implanted devices.3 VoluMetrix has developed the investigational NIVAHF, a wrist-worn device designed to provide non-invasive, real-time estimates of cardiac filling pressure from hospital to home. "The SBIR funding will assist VoluMetrix in bringing NIVAHF into patients' lives. For us, this NIH SBIR funding allows research discoveries to become healthcare realities for our patients." - Colleen Brophy M.D., VoluMetrix Chief Medical Officer. The NIH SBIR program provides an important funding mechanism for innovative solutions that address public health challenges. These programs focus on small businesses with high-impact technologies that have strong potential for commercialization. VoluMetrix is pleased to receive this prestigious and highly competitive award and to fulfill the program goals by bringing NIVAHF to patients and clinicians. What is NIVA Technology? NIVA is a proprietary venous waveform technology from VoluMetrix, representing a major innovation in vital monitoring technology. The venous waveform is an energy-based signal generated by the heart and respiratory activity that reflects numerous physiologic conditions, including pulse rate and respiration, as well as intravascular and extravascular dynamics. NIVA is being developed to optimize hemodynamic assessment in three key ways: signal capture (using a non-invasive wrist sensor), signal deconstruction (mapping individual amplitudes within a patient's waveform), and signal decoding. About VoluMetrix VoluMetrix is a Nashville-based company that is dedicated to creating a new wave of solutions for vital monitoring to enhance well-being. As pioneers of non-invasive venous waveform technology, we are partnering closely with patients and practitioners to develop the pathway toward the optimal implementation and utilization of our technology, from hospital to home. NIVA technology is investigational and is not available for sale in the United States. Research reported in this press release was supported by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award number R44HL140669. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.volumetrix.com. Contact Information: Annie Alvis Chief Operating Officer annie@volumetrix.com SOURCE: VoluMetrix View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757607/VoluMetrix-Awarded-3-Million-NIH-SBIR-Phase-IIb-Grant-to-Propel-Development-of-Non-Invasive-Heart-Failure-Monitoring-NIVAHF MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Acuitytec, a leading provider of global KYC, KYB, KYT, compliance, and multi-layered fraud prevention solutions, is thrilled to announce a significant visual branding revamp and the launch of its new website. AcuityTec Unveils Brand Revamp The revolutionized brand, messaging and graphic style underscore AcuityTec's commitment to providing cutting-edge technology and innovative fraud defence to businesses worldwide. Multi-layered and automated verifications to secure customers and their transactions is more imperative than ever. In 2022, global cyber-attacks increased by 38% and account takeovers increased by 131% - sophisticated fraudsters are not slowing down. With over 10 years of industry expertise, AcuityTec brings clarity, confidence and trust in one platform for businesses to safeguard and stay agile in the ecosystem. The brand revamp marks an exciting milestone for AcuityTec, reinforcing its position as an innovative global leader and aligning perfectly with AcuityTec's trust, security, and innovation core values with contemporary, eye-catching, and sleek designs. The new visual representations of the brand reflect the company's growth, maturity, and dedication to providing unparalleled client services. Alongside the visual brand style update, AcuityTec is thrilled to announce the launch of its new website to showcase its comprehensive platform. Key features include: Intuitive User Experience: A meticulous design offers a user-friendly and intuitive experience. Visitors can easily navigate and access the information they need quickly and efficiently. Enhanced Product Descriptions: AcuityTec's range of data and fraud mitigation solutions are described in detail, providing businesses with a detailed understanding of the features and benefits of each service. Multi-Lingual: Recognizing the diverse global audience and the importance of seamless communication, the website provides content in English, Spanish, and Portuguese with other multi-lingual support. Easy Book Demo: Visitors can book a demo experience firsthand and how AcuityTec's advanced KYC, KYB, and compliance solutions can address their unique business requirements. News Center: The new website included a library of articles where visitors can access informative industry insights into the evolving landscape of KYC, fraud prevention and compliance. Commenting on the brand revamp and website launch, Eric Gounder, Director Business Developments of AcuityTec, said, "We are thrilled to unveil our refreshed brand representation and launch our new website. This marks an important step forward in our journey to provide next-generation technology for advanced KYC and fraud defence worldwide. With our revamped brand and enhanced online presence, we are better positioned than ever to meet the evolving needs of our clients and help them navigate the complex landscape of KYC, compliance and fraud prevention." About AcuityTec AcuityTec is a leading provider specializing in global KYC, KYB, compliance and advanced fraud defence through a single API. With a commitment to trust, security, and innovation, AcuityTec empowers businesses worldwide to welcome more users and process more transactions safely and securely; with trust and confidence, risk and fraud exposure is managed. For more information, visit www.acuitytec.com or contact sales@acuitytec.com. For media inquiries, contact marketing@acuitytec.com. Contact Information Eric Gounder Director Business Developments eg@acuitytec.com +1-866-504-2170 SOURCE: AcuityTec View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757621/AcuityTec-Unveils-Brand-Revamp-and-New-Website-to-Support-Its-Global-KYC-KYB-Compliance-and-Fraud-Defence-Solutions XENOTHERA announces its participation in the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) congress, where the world's cancer experts gather each year to share the latest clinical trial data and innovations in cancer research and education. On this occasion, XENOTHERA (Nantes, France) publishes two abstracts demonstrating the value of its technology against cancers. For nearly ten years, XENOTHERA has been developing innovative drugs based on its glyco-humanized polyclonal antibody (GH-pAb) technology. XENOTHERA's antibodies address major therapeutic needs in several therapeutic areas, including oncology, immunosuppression, viral and bacterial infections. XENOTHERA's GMP platform allows for accelerated development thanks to its internal biomanufacturing facility, its clinical experience (400 patients exposed to GH-pAb), and its clinical and regulatory mastery. In less than 8 years, three of XENOTHERA's GH-pAbs have been introduced in humans, in transplantation, Covid and infectious diseases. During clinical trials already conducted (phase I, phase II, phase III), GH-pAbs have demonstrated their safety and therapeutic potential. At the ASCO congress, XENOTHERA details the properties of its fourth GH-pAb, XON7, active against solid tumors and in hematology, by publishing two abstracts. The first abstract (#421432) presents the anti-cancer activity of XON7 on more than 10 solid tumors including non-small cell lung (NSCL), pancreas, liver, colon, prostate, and several lymphomas, in vitro and in vivo. The second abstract (#421642) presents the synergy between XON7 and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in vivo in non-small cell lung cancer. XON7's recognition of multiple solid tumors and its ability to act synergistically with ICIs confirms its status as a promising candidate for a new line of treatments for several cancers that affect millions of patients. Based on fundamentally innovative and different mechanisms of action, XON7 is presented as "first in class", and limits the risk of tumor escape unfortunately observed with many treatments. The first clinical trial of XON7 is scheduled to start before the end of 2023. XENOTHERA's presence at ASCO 2023, an event known for highlighting new discoveries in optimizing patient care, improving access and developing new treatments, allows the company to raise awareness of its technology within the international medical community. About XENOTHERA: Founded in 2014 by a team gathering renowned scientists (Prof. Jean-Paul Soulillou, Nantes, Prof. Jean-Marie Bach, Nantes, Prof. Emanuele Cozzi, Padova, Prof. Cesare Galli, Cremona) and under the presidency of Odile Duvaux since its inception, XENOTHERA is a Nantes-based biotech company developing new therapeutic modes in many fields (immunology, oncology, viral infections, ...). The company develops treatments based on a unique proprietary antibody technology. Its technological platform is built on a dual expertise in genetics and immunology. The biotech has a complete portfolio of products, three of which are in the clinic: LIS1, an immunosuppressant for solid organ transplantation; XAV-19, an anti-Covid treatment for patients with moderate disease; XAB05, for the prevention and treatment of multi-drug resistant bacterial infections; and LIS22 in onco-hematology. XENOTHERA is part of the scientific and medical environment of the Pays de la Loire region (France). Since its creation, the company has raised 43 million euros, its main investors being the Pays de la Loire Region, BPI France and the European fund EIC Fund. For more information: www.xenothera.com Follow XENOTHERA on social networks: LinkedIn Twitter View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230530005155/en/ Contacts: IZsoGOOD Ingrid Zemor +33 6 73 72 99 92 xenothera@izsogood.co Innovative Training Program Aims to Address Shortage of School Leaders in Israeli Schools HOLON, Israel, May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Darca Schools, a leading school network providing equal educational opportunities for Israel's most underserved communities, is today well underway into the second year of its innovative training program, the Education Leadership Accelerator (ELA). This groundbreaking program fully funded by the Azrieli Foundation is part of an ongoing effort to lift Israel's entire high school education system. "The biggest drivers of positive change in our high schools are principals, and excellent leadership is a key tenet of our successful approach. It's clear that schools in Israel are struggling to recruit and retain exceptional leaders for these under-resourced, underappreciated and overworked roles," said Dr. Gil Pereg, founding CEO of Darca Schools. "To fill this critical vacuum of leadership that brings about positive change, the ELA program has shown it greatly expands the pool of available leaders by offering them the training and resources they need to help their students succeed." A shortage of critical experienced school administrators remains a challenge across the state of Israel. As reported in a 2019 report in TheMarker, the State's Ministry of Education generally faces a shortage of 200 to 300 certified administrators each September. Further exacerbating this problem, approximately a quarter of new principals end up leaving the job within their first two years, illustrating inadequate preparation and training of these professionals before they take on their leadership roles. Darca's ELA program, when fully ramped up, will provide the resources to recruit as many as 70 fellows annually and put them on a track to lead a high school as principals within three years. The ELA program integrates theoretical learning with an experiential, on-the-ground training program. This includes job shadowing and site visits, among other components, embracing the case study method to simulate the real-life challenges a traditional curriculum is unable to convey. At the onset, ELA fellows are paired with practicing principals to observe in person the scope of responsibilities and best practices. On top of these apprenticeships, site visits reinforce the contextual grounding for new principals. These also include international tours showcasing new approaches to innovative pedagogy and social education. About Darca Now in its 12th year, Darca Schools draws on its innovative and business-oriented management to transform challenge-ridden schools in Israel's underserved communities into educational institutions of the highest quality. Impacting more than 25,000 students from 47 schools under management, Darca's measurable achievements prove that by narrowing funding gaps and expecting nothing less than excellence, change is possible across the entirety of education systems. The Network's highly regarded Board of Directors, with representation from its strategic philanthropic partners Youth Renewal Fund, the Azrieli Foundation and the Gerald and Gail Ronson Family Foundation, set Darca's ambitious vision and in addition to generous philanthropic resources, contribute their respective and invaluable leadership. Through empowering school leadership, incentivizing teachers, and furnishing students with resources that spark their curiosity and instill a strong sense of self-belief, Darca is accelerating students' paths to success. For more information, please visit www.darca.org.il. Contact Filizer communication filizer@filizer.co.il A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/672d0744-4d6a-421a-ad4e-61360c966462 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Edison International Watering a newly planted Brisbane box tree in an Inglewood residential neighborhood. PHOTO CREDIT: Erika Potter Energized by Edison By Erika Potter ENERGIZED by Edison Writer Inglewood has an aging tree population with many trees near the end of their lifespan. But older trees are less effective at providing shade, cooling the air or sequestering carbon dioxide. This can contribute to the urban heat island effect, which occurs when cities replace the natural land cover with dense concentrations of pavement, buildings and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat. "This neighborhood sits between the 405, 110 and 105 freeways and has planes flying overhead all day, so the air pollution here compared to other places in L.A. is pretty bad," said Danny Padilla, TreePeople Urban Forestry team member. "I like to look at these trees as natural filters to help clean the air." Edison International and Southern California Edison employees and their families spent a recent beautiful Saturday morning on a busy residential street in Inglewood planting Brisbane box and African sumac trees specifically chosen by TreePeople for their ability to sequester carbon dioxide. Since 2010, Edison has provided more than $950,000 to support TreePeople's urban and mountain forestry and tree canopy initiatives. "TreePeople is working in our communities to not only plant the next generation of trees, but also grow the next generation of stewards with groundbreaking environmental education programs, workforce development and training, and other outdoor equity programs that ensure young people from underserved communities get to experience wonder and awe of the natural world," said Jered Lindsay, SCE senior attorney and TreePeople board member. In addition to planting trees in Inglewood, Edison volunteers celebrated Earth Month by participating in a series of events aimed at preserving and protecting the environment, including invasive species removal and trail maintenance throughout SCE's service area. "We are proud to work with our nonprofit partners to create a positive impact on the environment. Our collaborative efforts demonstrate our commitment to sustainability and the well-being of our communities," said Beth Foley, vice president of Corporate Communications & Philanthropy at SCE and Edison International. Almost 100 Edison employees, family and friends worked alongside the California State Parks Foundation, where hundreds of pounds of invasive mustard plants were removed from state parks in Brea, Culver City and Newport Beach. "We're grateful for the work Edison International is doing to help preserve and protect our state parks. Their support is crucial in helping us keep our parks healthy and beautiful for generations to come," said Emily Doyle, Climate Resilience program director of the California State Parks Foundation. Edison International has supported California State Parks Foundation Earth Day events since 2006, providing over $1 million to the organization since 2003. In addition to the invasive species removal events, Edison employees volunteered with nonprofit organizations Food Exploration and Discovery and SistersWe for tree planting events in Monrovia and San Bernardino, respectively. Volunteers also worked with the Ventura Land Trust for trail maintenance in Harmon Canyon, aimed at preserving and enhancing the natural habitat for local wildlife. Edison International's efforts during Earth Month reflect its commitment to partnerships with nonprofits that are making a meaningful impact on the environment and creating a more sustainable future for all. To learn more about Edison International's commitment to sustainability and the environment, visit edison.com/sustainability. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Edison International on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Edison International Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/edison-international Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Edison International View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/758047/Fighting-Pollution-Urban-Heat-and-Wildfires-With-Trees Travel App Visited Compiles Over 1.66 Million Users' Data to Determine the Most Famous Greek and Roman Destinations TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / The travel app Visited by Arriving In High Heels Corporation has released a list of the top 10 Greek and Roman ruins to visit. The data is based on over 1.7 million users who have marked which ancient sites they have been to. Most Visited Ancient Sites Visited, available on iOS or Android, allows users to mark off where they've been and plan dream getaways based on travel lists, experiences, personalized travel map and inspirational photos. Picking a travel destination just got a lot easier with the Visited app. According to Visited, the most popular Greek and Roman ruins around the globe are found mostly in Rome, Athens and area. "While it is not surprising that the top list includes sites in Rome and Athens, what was interesting that Bath, England made it to the top 10 list of most visited Greek/Roman ruins, and that Turkey's Ephesus did not," explained the founder of the popular travel app, Anna Kayfitz. The Coliseum is the top ancient ruin to visit. The Coliseum is the largest ancient amphitheater ever built and was the site of Rome's famed gladiator matches. Pantheon is a former Roman temple and one of the best-preserved Roman ruins. The site in Rome is the second most visited ruin to visit. The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient hilltop citadel that includes the Parthenon. Castel San Angelo also known as the Mausoleum of Hadrian was once the tallest building in Rome and is now a historic museum. Arch of Titus is the fifth most visited destination on the list. The honorific arch in Rome was built in the 1st century AD. The Forum of Caesar was built by the Roman leader Julius Caesar in Rome in 46 BC. Ancient Agora of Athens is an ancient Greek agora - or gathering place - located northwest of the Acropolis. Forum of Trajan was the last of the Imperial fora - or public meeting places - to be constructed in ancient Rome. Bath is a site with ancient Roman baths located in Bath, England. Palatine Hill and Stadium is an open-air museum and the centermost hill of the 7 hills of Rome. To browse more top travel lists, see the most popular destinations, and create a personalized travel map, users can download Visited on iOS or Android. Get the full Visited 2022 travel report for more travel stats with the most visited destinations based on U.S. and international travelers. To learn more about the Visited Map App, visit https://visitedapp.com. About Arriving In High Heels Corporation Arriving In High Heels Corporation is a mobile app company with apps including Pay Off Debt, X-Walk, and Visited, their most popular app. Contact Information Anna Kayfitz CEO anna@arrivinginhighheels.com SOURCE: Arriving In High Heels Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/756239/Top-10-Most-Popular-Greek-Roman-Ruins-According-to-Visited BROOKLYN, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Cloud DX (OTCQB:CDXFF)(TSXV:CDX), a leading provider of digital healthcare and remote patient monitoring solutions across North America announced today that Company CEO Robert Kaul has been invited to present at the Healthcare IT Virtual Conference Part II, presented by Maxim Group LLC and hosted by M-Vest, on Thursday June 1, 2023. The Conference starts at 9:00 a.m. EDT. Allen Klee, Research Analyst at Maxim Group, sits down with Healthcare IT companies to discuss solutions to improve health care outcomes and lower costs. The healthcare system faces pressure from labor shortages, higher costs, lack of transparency, and managing reimbursements. This conference highlights companies that provide solutions with the use of telehealth, at home monitoring, specific chronic conditions treatment programs, marketplaces that create better pricing, and use of AI. This conference will be live on M-Vest. To attend, just sign up to become an M-Vest member. Click Here to Reserve your seat About Cloud DX Accelerating digital healthcare, Cloud DX is on a mission to make healthcare better for everyone. Our Connected Health remote patient monitoring platform is used by healthcare enterprises and care teams across North America to virtually manage chronic disease, enable aging in place, and deliver hospital-quality post-surgical care in the home. Our partners achieve better healthcare and patient outcomes, reduce the need for hospitalization or re-admission, and reduce healthcare delivery costs through more efficient use of resources. Cloud DX is the co-winner of the Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, 2022 Top Innovator by Canadian Business, a 2021 Edison Award winner, a Fast Company "World Changing Idea" finalist, and one of "Canada's Ten Most Prominent Telehealth Providers." Cloud DX is an exclusive virtual care partner to Medtronic Canada, Teladoc Health Canada, and Equitable Life of Canada. For more information on Cloud DX (TSXV:CDX), please visit www.clouddx.com and see the Cloud DX Investor Site Social Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/CloudDX Facebook https://www.facebook.com/clouddxinc/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/cloud-dx/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cloud.dx/ For media inquiries please contact: Cloud DX Marketing 888-543-0944 marketing@clouddx.com For investor inquiries please contact: Jay Bedard Cloud DX Investor Relations 647-881-8418 jay.bedard@clouddx.com Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release. In particular, this news release includes certain forward-looking statements concerning the Offering, including the terms of the Offering, the completion of the Offering, the estimated closing date and the anticipated use of proceeds, as well as management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Corporation has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, information concerning the receipt of approval from the TSX Venture Exchange and the use of proceeds. Although management of the Corporation 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. 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: Cloud DX Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/758052/Cloud-DX-to-Participate-in-the-Healthcare-IT-Virtual-Conference-Part-II-Presented-by-Maxim-Group-LLC-and-hosted-by-M-Vest-on-Thursday-June-1st-at-900-AM-ET Regulatory News: Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE: PM) will host a live webcast of the company's remarks and Q&A session with Emmanuel Babeau, Chief Financial Officer, at the 2023 Deutsche Bank Global Consumer Conference at www.pmi.com/2023deutschebank on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at approximately 9:15 a.m. CET (3:15 a.m. ET). The webcast will provide a live stream of the entire PMI session. The webcast may also be accessed on mobile devices by downloading PMI's free Investor Relations Mobile App at www.pmi.com/irapp. The presentation slides will be available at www.pmi.com/2023deutschebank. An archived copy of the webcast will be available until 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, July 7, 2023, at the same site. Philip Morris International: Delivering a Smoke-Free Future Philip Morris International (PMI) is a leading international tobacco company working to deliver a smoke-free future and evolving its portfolio for the long term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's current product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products. Since 2008, PMI has invested more than USD 10.5 billion to develop, scientifically substantiate and commercialize innovative smoke-free products for adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, with the goal of completely ending the sale of cigarettes. This includes the building of world-class scientific assessment capabilities, notably in the areas of pre-clinical systems toxicology, clinical and behavioral research, as well as post-market studies. In November 2022, PMI acquired Swedish Match a leader in oral nicotine delivery creating a global smoke-free champion led by the companies' IQOS and ZYN brands. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized versions of PMI's IQOS Platform 1 devices and consumables and Swedish Match's General snus as Modified Risk Tobacco Products (MRTPs). As of March 31, 2023, PMI's smoke-free products were available for sale in 78 markets, and PMI estimates that approximately 18.5 million adults around the world had already switched to IQOS and stopped smoking. Smoke-free products accounted for approximately 35% of PMI's total 2023 first-quarter net revenues. With a strong foundation and significant expertise in life sciences, PMI announced in February 2021 its ambition to expand into wellness and healthcare areas and, through its Vectura Fertin Pharma business, aims to enhance life through the delivery of seamless health experiences. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230530005441/en/ Contacts: Philip Morris International Investor Relations: Stamford, CT: +1 (203) 904 2410 Lausanne: +41 (0)58 242 4666 Email: InvestorRelations@pmi.com Media: David Fraser Lausanne: +41 (0)58 242 4500 Email: David.Fraser@pmi.com NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Regions Bank Karla Macareno (left) is part of the Asia Society's Young Leaders Internship Program providing participants with event planning and an extensive variety of life skills. Regions Commercial Banking relationship manager Megan Bickel connected with students engaged in the program for an interactive conversation about building savings, raising credit scores and additional financial insights. By Kim Borges During Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in May, Regions Bank is celebrating and honoring the rich history and traditions of diverse communities. Here, we highlight a Regions community partner working to advance greater cultural understanding. To you, they're simply cloth napkins and place cards. To Karla Macareno, they're essential tools. "I didn't know how much it takes to do an event," said Macareno, an intern at the Asia Society in Houston, Texas. "It takes a lot of supplies, a lot of hard work and dedication, a lot of people to do this." This includes weddings, proms, birthday parties, corporate events and even educational workshops like the Inner City Capital Connections training Regions Bank brought to Houston for more than 50 under-resourced entrepreneurs in late 2022. The Asia Society hosts more than 300 events annually. Regions also supports the nonprofit's Young Leaders Internship Program offering students like Macareno the opportunity to not only develop hands-on skills with event preparation, but to gain lifelong teambuilding and leadership skills as well. Commercial Banking relationship manager Megan Bickel also connected with the Young Leaders program interns in April to discuss building savings, raising credit scores and other financial wellness insights. The students led the conversation just as much as I did. I learned just as much from them as they hopefully did from me. Megan Bickel, Commercial Banking relationship manager at Regions "Money can be a hard thing to talk about, but this group asked wonderful questions," said Bickel. "They are eager to be successful in life. We had an open dialogue. The students led the conversation just as much as I did. I learned just as much from them as they hopefully did from me." "For me, it was very beneficial," Macareno confirmed. "I'm a whole newbie to savings. There were several times during our conversation with Megan when I thought, 'I'm going to write that down.'" Charles Gonzalez, event manager at the Asia Society, has observed Macareno's growth in many other areas thanks to the Young Leaders Internship Program. "Karla is smart, dependable, confident and quick and eager to learn new things," said Gonzalez. "As her confidence grows, she is now conducting some of our site visits with new clients and creating new client rental contracts. She's been a tremendous help during our busiest time of year." And Macareno had a rare opportunity to actually enjoy, rather than work, an event during the Asia Society's Tiger Ball, the nonprofit's largest annual fundraiser. A donor offered program interns the chance to experience the evening at no cost. "I'd never been to a gala before," said Macareno. "When I heard about it, I said, 'I can go too?' and they said, 'Yeah, you can come.' We danced, we ate, we got to have a good time. Everybody was so happy to be there. I don't usually wear dresses, but I got out of my comfort zone and said, 'Let's do this.'" The Asia Society was a great place to start my internship. I've been able to make strong relationships with everyone. They're friendly, they're supportive, they're awesome! Karla Macareno Beyond feeling like the belle of the ball, Macareno came away with an even greater appreciation for those involved with making the night's event magic happen. "They worked so much, they were tired, but they managed to work through it," she said. "It always takes a whole team to pull off events." While Macareno wasn't initially sure she wanted to enter the events industry, her internship experience has opened her mind. "Event planning is now one of my top job searches because of what I did here," she explained. "I didn't think I was going to like it as much as I did." She's grateful to Regions for offering her the avenue to make that discovery. "This opportunity is meant for me to grow more from this position and take all of the learning I've been doing with me for my future jobs," she said. "The Asia Society was a great place to start my internship. I've been able to make strong relationships with everyone. They're friendly, they're supportive, they're awesome!" View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Regions Bank on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Regions Bank Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/regions-bank Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Regions Bank View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/758061/Turn-of-Events Sydney, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2023) - Austral Gold Limited (ASX: AGD) (TSXV: AGLD) ("Austral" or "the Company") advises that shareholders of the Company passed all resolutions in the Notice of Meeting dated 28 April 2023 at the General Meeting held today at 8:30am (AEST) by way of poll. A summary of proxy votes and the number of votes cast on each poll is attached, in accordance with ASX Listing Rule 3.13.2 and Section 251AA(2) of the Corporations Act 2001. Release approved by the Company Secretary of Austral Gold, Chelsea Sheridan. 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 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 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 Company's 2023 forecasted production and its strategy to restart profitable mining operations at it's Casposo/Manantiales Mine Complex. 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. The following information is provided in accordance with section 251AA(2) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and ASX Listing Rule 3.13.2. Resolution details Instructions given to validly appointed proxies (as at proxy close) Number of votes cast on the poll (where applicable) Resolution Result Resolution Resolution Type For Against Proxy's Discretion Abstain For Against Abstain* Carried / Not Carried 1 Adoption of Remuneration Report Ordinary 13,138,260 81.88% 2,579,149 16.07% 329,207 2.05% 431,984,708 13,467,467 83.93% 2,579,149 16.07% 431,984,708 Carried 2 Re-Election of Director - Mr Wayne Hubert Ordinary Withdrawn 3 Re-Election of Director - Mr Eduardo Elsztain Ordinary 446,800,310 99.87% 457,608 0.10% 151,207 0.03% 622,199 447,301,517 99.90% 457,608 0.10% 622,199 Carried 4 Re-Election of Director - Mr Saul Zang Ordinary 446,799,623 99.87% 457,985 0.10% 149,207 0.03% 624,508 447,298,830 99.90% 457,985 0.10% 624,508 Carried 5 Re-Election of Director - Mr Pablo V. Del Carril Ordinary 446,676,375 99.84% 581,233 0.13% 149,207 0.03% 624,508 447,175,582 99.87% 581,233 0.13% 624,508 Carried 6 Re-Election of Director - Mr Robert Trzebski Ordinary 446,676,375 99.84% 581,233 0.13% 149,207 0.03% 624,508 447,175,582 99.87% 581,233 0.13% 624,508 Carried 7 Re-Election of Director - Mr Ben Jarvis Ordinary 446,709,547 99.85% 559,061 0.12% 149,207 0.03% 613,508 447,208,754 99.88% 559,061 0.12% 613,508 Carried 8 Approval of 10% Capacity to Issue Equity Securities Ordinary 444,697,874 99.35% 2,757,934 0.62% 149,207 0.03% 426,310 445,197,081 99.38% 2,757,934 0.62% 426,310 Carried 9 Issue of Unlisted Options under Austral Gold Limited Stock Incentive Plan to Mr Wayne Hubert Ordinary Withdrawn 10 Issue of Unlisted Options under Austral Gold Limited Stock Incentive Plan to Mr Eduardo Elsztain Ordinary 13,056,431 81.50% 2,860,379 17.85% 104,207 0.65% 432,010,308 13,160,638 82.15% 2,860,379 17.85% 432,010,308 Carried 11 Issue of Unlisted Options under Austral Gold Limited Stock Incentive Plan to Mr Saul Zang Ordinary 13,056,431 79.69% 2,860,379 17.46% 466,511 2.85% 431,648,004 13,522,942 82.54% 2,860,379 17.46% 431,648,004 Carried 12 Issue of Unlisted Options under 13,056,431 2,860,379 466,511 431,648,004 13,522,942 2,860,379 431,648,004 Carried Austral Gold Limited Stock Incentive Plan to Mr Stabro Kasaneva Ordinary 79.69% 17.46% 2.85% 82.54% 17.46% 13 Issue of Unlisted Options under Austral Gold Limited Stock Incentive Plan to Mr Pablo Vergara Del Carril Ordinary 12,934,066 78.95% 2,982,744 18.21% 466,511 2.85% 431,648,004 13,400,577 81.79% 2,982,744 18.21% 431,648,004 Carried 14 Issue of Unlisted Options under Austral Gold Limited Stock Incentive Plan to Mr Robert Trzebski Ordinary 12,934,066 78.95% 2,982,744 18.21% 466,511 2.85% 431,648,004 13,400,577 81.79% 2,982,744 18.21% 431,648,004 Carried 15 Issue of Unlisted Options under Austral Gold Limited Stock Incentive Plan to Mr Ben Jarvis Ordinary 12,934,066 78.95% 2,983,873 18.21% 465,382 2.84% 431,648,004 13,399,448 81.79% 2,983,873 18.21% 431,648,004 Carried * Votes cast by a person who abstains on an item are not counted in calculating the required majority on a poll. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168015 NEW BEDFORD, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / The newest, most modern vessel in the New England groundfish fishery, the F/V Nobska, has returned to port after its successful inaugural deployment. The vessel was acquired earlier this year by Blue Harvest Fisheries, as part of the company's investment in the future of its groundfish operations. The Nobska embarked on four back-to-back trips between April 7 and May 10, and landed 335,000 pounds of fish in its home port of New Bedford, Massachusetts, with additional landings in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The catch included several groundfish species, including monkfish, flounder, haddock, Acadian redfish, hake, and pollock. A series of three to four back-to-back trips, followed by a short break for maintenance and crew rest, is a typical operational plan for this vessel. F/V Nobska The Nobska sailed under the leadership of Captain Aldie Leeman, and with the same crew as before the Blue Harvest Fisheries acquisition. "We're very pleased with the performance of the Nobska on its maiden voyage, and are excited to see its future potential," said Chip Wilson, CEO of Blue Harvest Fisheries. "We are confident in the future of the groundfish fishery, and vessels like the Nobska are an important part of that future." Blue Harvest Fisheries acquired the Nobska in February from Maine, where it previously operated as the Francis Dawn. Built in 2019, it is a state-of-the-art vessel that replaces an older Blue Harvest Fisheries vessel, also named the Nobska. It includes features like a modern electronics system, and a slurry ice/vat system for the fish hold that allows it to keep groundfish fresher for longer. F/V Nobska "This is the first step in implementing our long-term investment strategy for groundfish," said Wilson. "With these investments Blue Harvest Fisheries will be able to consistently offer high-quality groundfish, like those just landed by the Nobska." Blue Harvest is also making plans to launch a sixth groundfish vessel, the Schelvis (named after the Dutch word for haddock). With a registered length of 85', and gross tonnage of 175 tons, Schelvis was purchased as part of the company's 2020 acquisition of 12 vessels and 27 fishing permits from the Carlos Rafael family. The vessel, which never fished under the Rafael family ownership, will make its first Blue Harvest Fisheries voyage upon completion of a $1.9 million upgrade. The Schelvis will be run by Captain Luke deWildt, who has 25 years of industry experience. He was previously captain of the F/V Teresa Marie III for 18 years, the last four under Blue Harvest Fisheries ownership. F/V Schelvis Captain deWildt stated that he is "looking forward to the utilizing the upgrades on this newly renovated vessel," which represents the newest class of vessels in the fishery. It will be safer for his crew, and with state-of-the-art equipment and electronics, he expects the Schelvis to be among the top performing vessels in the fishery. About Blue Harvest Fisheries Blue Harvest Fisheries is a leading harvester of premium quality seafood sustainably caught from MSC certified fisheries in the United States. The company operates its own fleet of groundfish vessels as well as offload facilities in New Bedford and Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Blue Harvest Fisheries supplies haddock, ocean perch (Acadian redfish) and Atlantic pollock (saithe) as well as other groundfish harvested in the waters off New England. PRESS CONTACT Robert Vanasse Stove Boat Communications (202) 333-2628 bob@stoveboat.com SOURCE: Blue Harvest Fisheries View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/758053/Blue-Harvest-Fisheries-Newest-Vessel-Nobska-Successfully-Completes-First-Series-of-Fishing-Trips Booka, the leading digital platform for children's ebooks, enters the Greek market, captivating young readers with its content. This expansion comes after Booka's success in gaining a significant share of the digital reading market among English and Spanish-speaking audiences. In addition to this exciting development, Booka proudly announces its sponsorship of the renowned Limassol Book Fair. This annual event brings together publishers, authors, educators, and book enthusiasts from around the world to celebrate literature and cultural exchange. Later this year, Booka will announce its Greek version, which will offer a diverse collection of engaging and educational Greek-language books for children aged 0 to 9. With interactive storytelling and innovative features, Booka aims to nurture a love for reading from an early age, enhancing the juvenile literary landscape of the Greek market. Andrey Mishenev, CEO of Booka, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "Children's books occupy a significant market share in both Greece and Cyprus, and we see great potential. We are entering this market initially with our content, and we hope to attract more publishers to join us in expanding the Greek language library." Booka's participation in the Limassol Book Fair is one of a series of actions aimed at promoting literacy and supporting cultural initiatives. In a world of digital screens and technology, Booka's mission becomes even more fundamental for nurturing the love of reading into this new generation of children. For more information and to download the app, visit Booka's website. Stay connected with Booka on social media for the latest updates. About Booka: Booka is a leading digital platform for children's ebooks, providing an extensive collection of engaging and educational books for children aged 0 to 9. With features like "Booka Reads" and "Read to Me," Booka aims to foster literacy and a lifelong passion for books. More information Website: https://appbooka.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/appBooka Twitter: https://twitter.com/appBooka Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/appbooka/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230530005168/en/ Contacts: For Press Enquiries: Andrey Mishenev Email: am@appbooka.com Nomination of Florence Dupre as a member of the Board of Directors Regulatory News: Oncodesign Precision Medicine (OPM) (ISIN: FR001400CM63; Mnemonic: ALOPM), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in precision medicine for the treatment of resistant and metastatic cancer, today announced the results of its annual General Meeting, which took place at 2:30pm on 30 May 2023, and the nomination of Florence Dupre as a member of its Board of Directors. Karine Lignel, Deputy CEO and COO, said: "I am very pleased with the way that OPM's first annual General Meeting since its IPO in October 2022 took place. This is an important time of year when the Management, the Board of Directors and our shareholders gather to take decisions that will guide our future development projects. I am also particularly delighted that Florence Dupre has joined our Board of Directors. As an experienced manager in the heart of the French healthcare ecosystem, she represents a real asset for our team and for the Company, particularly in supporting our CSR policy." Nomination of Florence Dupre to the Board of Directors Florence Dupre, a leading healthcare executive with over 28 years' experience in the sector, joins the OPM team as a member of the Board of Directors. Florence Dupre holds a Master's degree in biology and biochemistry from the Ecole Normale Superieure ULM, as well as a Master's degree in marketing management from ESSEC. After contributing to several product launches for international pharmaceutical companies, she began entrepreneurial activities by setting up the French subsidiaries of BioAlliance Pharma (now Onxeo) and Vifor Pharma. Then, she joined AbbVie, where she held international responsibilities for sales and transformation. Following this, she became President of the French subsidiary of Medtronic, a world leader in healthcare technologies, at a time when the group was changing its business model during the COVID-19 pandemic. During her 2.5-year term, she focused on operational efficiency, customer service quality and the subsidiary's visibility within the ecosystem. Florence Dupre was also a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Syndicat National des Technologies Medicales (SNITEM), and a member of the Management Board of the Fondation Universite Rennes. In 2022, her article entitled "Diriger, c'est faire grandir" ("Leading is growing up") was published in Les Echos, and she received the "Coup de cur" award from the Expressions de France Association for her commitment to inclusion in the workplace. In 2023, Le Figaro devoted a profile to her entitled "L'entreprise est aussi un laboratoire citoyen", and she was highlighted by the R&B et Associes agency as one of ten exceptional women on International Women's Rights Day. She is also the godmother of the 15th promotion of ESSEC's Women Board Ready programme. Florence Dupre commented: "I am very honoured and proud to be able to contribute to OPM's development as a Board member. The core business of this biotech and the quality of its teams illustrate how artificial intelligence and digital technology are revolutionizing the whole value chain of the healthcare industry, starting with the discovery and development of new targets About Oncodesign Precision Medicine (OPM Oncodesign Precision Medicine (OPM), the result of the transfer of Oncodesign's Biotech and AI activities, is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in precision medicine to treat resistant and metastatic cancers. OPM's innovative technologies are (i) OncoSNIPER for the selection of therapeutic targets using artificial intelligence; (ii) Nanocyclix for the design and selection of macrocyclic small molecule kinase inhibitors and (iii) Theranostics for the design and selection of radiolabeled biological molecules for systemic radiotherapy. From these technologies, OPM has built a portfolio of therapeutic products. A first drug candidate based on the Nanocyclix technology entered the clinical phase in 2022, in partnership with SERVIER (which exercised its option for an exclusive worldwide license on the program) to treat Parkinson's disease. ODS 101 is OPM's second candidate to enter the clinic, in the treatment of chronic immuno-inflammatory diseases. Finally, OPM is also collaborating with Servier to discover new therapeutic targets for the treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma based on its OncoSNIPER technology. In addition, OPM is seeking a partner for Florepizol, a radiotracer specific for the mutated EGFR target, which has successfully completed Phase 1. Two projects are in early partnership phase with TIUMBIO (pulmonary fibrosis) and SEngine in oncology. Finally, OPM has a significant portfolio of early-stage projects with Nanocyclix and Theranostics in oncology. With this portfolio of molecules and diversified therapeutic targets, OPM's mission is to discover effective therapies to treat resistant and advanced cancers. Based in Dijon, at the heart of the university and hospital cluster, OPM has 25 employees. More info at: oncodesign.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230530005498/en/ Contacts: OPM Philippe Genne Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tel: +33 (0)3 80 78 41 93 investisseurs@oncodesign.com NewCap Investor Relations Mathilde Bohin Alban Dufumier Tel: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 95 oncodesign@newcap.eu NewCap Media Relations Arthur Rouille Tel: +33 (0)1 44 71 00 15 oncodesign@newcap.eu EQS-News: Ignite Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l. / Key word(s): Offer Ignite Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l.: Intended Partial Cash Offer 30.05.2023 / 19:30 CET/CEST The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM AUSTRALIA, CANADA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND, SOUTH AFRICA OR THE UNITED STATES (INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS) OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION, OR TO ANY PERSON, WHERE TO DO THE SAME WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION. This announcement is not an offer, whether directly or indirectly, in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa or the United States (including its territories and possessions) or in any other jurisdiction where such offer pursuant to legislation and regulations in such relevant jurisdiction would be prohibited by applicable law. Shareholders not resident in Austria or the Netherlands who wish to accept the Offer (as defined below) must make inquiries concerning applicable legislation and possible tax consequences. In the United Kingdom, this announcement is only being made to and directed at (i) investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Financial Promotion Order")) or (ii) high net worth entities and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling with Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Financial Promotion Order. Shareholders should refer to the offer restrictions included in the section titled "Important information" at the end of this announcement and in the offer document which will be published shortly before the commencement of the acceptance period under the Offer. PRESS RELEASE 30 May 2023 INTENDED PARTIAL CASH OFFER by Ignite Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l. (the "Bidder") for 9,403,539 shares, representing 20% of the issued and outstanding share capital of RHI Magnesita N.V. (the "Company") at GBP 28.5 per share OPPORTUNITY FOR SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY TO CRYSTALLISE THEIR INVESTMENT IN THE COMPANY AT A COMPELLING VALUATION AND SIGNIFICANT PREMIUM THE BIDDER IS INDIRECTLY MANAGED BY RHONE HOLDINGS VI L.L.C. The shares in the Company, in the form of dematerialised depositary interests representing entitlements in the shares, are admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange and the Vienna Stock Exchange (Wiener Borse). Key highlights and summary of the Offer The Bidder is pleased to announce its intention to offer GBP 28.5 in cash per ordinary share in the Company (the " Offer Price " and such shares, the " Shares "), for 9,403,539 Shares (the " Offer Shares "), representing 20% of the Company's issued and outstanding share capital (the " Offer "). " and such shares, the " "), for 9,403,539 Shares (the " "), representing 20% of the Company's issued and outstanding share capital (the " "). The Offer Price will not be reduced in respect of the dividend of EUR 1.10 per Share declared by the Company on 24 May 2023 for the financial year ended 31 December 2022 (the " Declared Dividend "). The announced record date for the Declared Dividend is 9 June 2023 and the Declared Dividend is due to be paid by the Company on 6 July 2023. "). The announced record date for the Declared Dividend is 9 June 2023 and the Declared Dividend is due to be paid by the Company on 6 July 2023. The Offer Price together with the GBP equivalent of the Declared Dividend, being GBP 0.95, [1] value the Shares at GBP 29.45 each (the " Resulting Share Value "). value the Shares at GBP 29.45 each (the " "). The Offer Price values the Company's issued and outstanding share capital as at the date of this announcement at approximately GBP 1,340.0 million, or EUR 1,543.6 million. [2] The Resulting Share Value would value the Company's issued and outstanding share capital as at the date of this announcement at approximately GBP 1,384.9 million, or EUR 1,595.3 million. The Offer Price will represent a premium of: approximately 39.02% compared to the closing price of GBP 20.50 of a Share on the London Stock Exchange on 26 May 2023, which was the last Trading Day (as defined below) prior to the announcement of the Offer; approximately 30.36% compared to the volume-weighted average trading price of GBP 21.86 [3] of a Share on the London Stock Exchange during the last one month prior to the announcement of the Offer. The Resulting Share Value will represent a premium of: approximately 43.68% compared to the closing price of GBP 20.50 of a Share on the London Stock Exchange on 26 May 2023, which was the last Trading Day (as defined below) prior to the announcement of the Offer; approximately 34.73% compared to the volume-weighted average trading price of GBP 21.86 [4] of a Share on the London Stock Exchange during the last one month prior to the announcement of the Offer. The acceptance period is expected to commence on or around 19 June 2023 and expire on or around 10 July 2023. The Bidder will reserve the right to extend the acceptance period of the Offer. All references to Shares shall be deemed, where the context so permits, to be or include references to, the dematerialized depositary interests representing entitlements to Shares. Background to the Offer The Bidder is a wholly owned subsidiary of a number of limited partnerships which are indirectly managed by Rhone Holdings VI L.L.C. ("Rhone"). Rhone indirectly manages a series of parallel investment and co-investment vehicles ultimately controlled by Rhone Capital L.L.C., which, together with certain affiliates, comprises a global private equity firm with a focus on investments in market leading businesses with a pan-European or transatlantic presence and expansion prospects. The Offer will provide Rhone with an opportunity to invest in the Company by means of a partial cash offer. Minority position and board representation Under the terms of the Offer, the Bidder aims to acquire a non-controlling minority position in the Company. If the Offer is successful, the Bidder would seek to achieve appropriate representation in the board of directors of the Company. No relationship agreement or any other governance arrangement has been agreed between the Bidder and the Target Company. The Offer Under the terms of the Offer, which will be subject to the conditions and further terms set out in this announcement, and to be set out in the offer document, the Bidder will offer GBP 28.5 in cash per Share in the Company. However, shareholders tendering into the Offer may elect to receive the EUR equivalent of GBP 28.5 per Share as determined using the 12:00 p.m. London time Bloomberg Fixing (BFIX) exchange rate expressed as the amount of EUR per one unit of GBP, as published on the relevant Bloomberg page (BFIX), on the first Trading Day following the end of the acceptance period on which the London Stock Exchange is open for the trading of shares (i.e. expected to be on or around 11 July 2023, or a later date if the acceptance period is extended). "Trading Day" means a day on which the London Stock Exchange is open for the trading of shares. The Offer Price will not be reduced in respect of the Declared Dividend. Should the Company, prior to the settlement of the Offer, announce, declare, make, pay or distribute dividends or any other distribution or transfer or return of value to its shareholders other than the Declared Dividend, the Bidder reserves the right to make an equivalent deduction to the consideration payable for the Offer Shares in the Offer. The Offer does not relate to the acquisition of Shares held by the Company in treasury. The Offer Price values the Company's issued and outstanding share capital as at the date of this announcement at approximately GBP 1,340.0 million, or EUR 1,543.6 million.[5] The Resulting Share Value would value the Company's issued and outstanding share capital as at the date of this announcement at approximately GBP 1,384.9 million, or EUR 1,595.3 million. Acceptances of the Offer will be irrevocable. As of the time of this announcement, the Bidder and its affiliates do not hold any Shares or any financial instruments that give a financial exposure to Shares. The Bidder reserves the right to amend the Offer to increase the number of Offer Shares to an amount of Shares not exceeding 29.9% of the Company's issued and outstanding share capital. The Bidder does not currently expect that any non-resident Indian capital gains tax will be required to be withheld at source at the time of settlement of the Offer because the Bidder expects to reach certain conclusions about the value of the Company's assets, among other things. However, if the Bidder, in its sole discretion, is unable to reach these conclusions, the consideration payable for the Offer Shares may be subject to withholding of tax at source in respect of capital gains or other taxes to the extent applicable. The terms of the Offer will provide that if the Bidder determines that under applicable law, withholding is required in respect of the Offer Price, the Bidder will be authorised to make such withholding and will not be required to pay additional amounts in respect of such withholding. The Offer will be conditional upon the conditions referred to in "Conditions to completion of the Offer" below. If such conditions are not satisfied, or waived by the Bidder, then the Offer may be withdrawn or will lapse. Conditions to completion of the Offer Completion of the Offer will be subject to the satisfaction, or waiver by the Bidder, of the following conditions prior to the Bidder's announcement of the final results of the Offer: 1. by the date falling 105 calendar days after the start of the acceptance period (i.e. expected to be no later than 2 October 2023), which date may be extended by the Bidder, each of the competition authorities in Germany, India and Mexico, the foreign investment authorities in Germany, Italy and Spain, and such other competition and foreign investment authorities which the Bidder shall have determined that the consent, approval, clearance, confirmation or licence thereof is required or advisable for the formation and funding of the Bidder or any other acquisition vehicle, or completion of the Offer under the applicable competition or foreign investment laws, having: (i) granted (or being deemed to have granted following the expiry of applicable statutory review periods) their consent, approval, clearance, confirmation or licence under the applicable competition or foreign investment laws, such consent, approval, clearance, confirmation or licence being unconditional or subject only to such conditions as may be acceptable to the Bidder acting in its sole discretion; or (ii) confirmed that the Offer or the formation and funding of the Bidder or any other acquisition vehicle (as the case may be) does not fall within the jurisdiction of the relevant foreign investment or competition law (together with the consents, approvals, clearances, confirmations or licences in paragraph 1(i), the "Competition and FDI Approvals"); 2. there being no circumstances having occurred since 31 December 2022 (being the date of the Company's latest audited consolidated financial statements) which would or might be expected to result in a material adverse effect on, or material reduction in, all or any of the business, assets, liabilities, profits, sales, results, liquidity, equity ratio, equity, financial or trading position or prospects or operational position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries (together referred to as the "Group"), taken as a whole, including but not limited to: (i) the Company having resolved on or distributed an in-kind dividend; (ii) any member of the Group being insolvent or overindebted or in the process of liquidation or insolvency or restructuring proceedings or the initiation of insolvency proceedings in relation to any member of the Group having been rejected by court due to the lack of assets; (iii) the number of Shares having increased or the general meeting of the Company or the Company's board of directors having adopted any resolution that, if implemented, would result in an increase in the number of Shares; (iv) the general meeting of the Company having resolved on an amendment to the articles of association that would affect the rights attaching to Shares or the nature (class) of the Shares or the depositary interests; and (v) the general meeting of the Company having resolved on a liquidation, merger, split or spin-off; 3. there being, since the date of this announcement, no: (i) material adverse change or significant volatility and disruption in the financial (including conditions in any of the financial markets) or economic conditions in Austria, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands or internationally; (ii) outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof, act of terrorism, declaration of emergency or martial law, outbreak of a pandemic or contagious disease (including the worsening of the COVID-19 pandemic) or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in the political, financial or economic conditions in Austria, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands or internationally, or there being any material escalation of such event having occurred since the date of this announcement; (iii) suspension or material limitations imposed on trading in any securities of the Company by the London Stock Exchange, the Vienna Stock Exchange (Wiener Borse) or any over-the-counter market, or minimum or maximum prices for trading having been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices having been required by any such exchanges or by any governmental authority in the United Kingdom, Austria or the Netherlands; (iv) general suspension of or limitation on trading in securities in the securities or financial markets in Europe, the United Kingdom or the United States, whether or not mandatory; (v) material adverse change in the securities or financial markets in Europe, Austria, the United Kingdom or the United States generally; (vi) decrease of more than 10% in the market price for the Shares on the London Stock Exchange or the Vienna Stock Exchange (Wiener Borse), or in the general level of market prices for equity securities in the FTSE 250 Index or the ATX Prime Index, in each case, for a period of three consecutive days on which the London Stock Exchange or the Vienna Stock Exchange (Wiener Borse) (as applicable) is open for the trading of shares; (vii) material disruption having occurred with respect to the CREST, Clearstream or Euroclear systems in the United Kingdom or Europe, or with respect to the systems of OeKB CSD GmbH (the Austrian central securities depositary); or (viii) declaration of a banking moratorium by the United Kingdom, Austria, the Netherlands, any other member state of the European Economic Area, the United States or the New York authorities, in each case (i) to (viii) the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Bidder, acting in its sole discretion, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the Offer; 4. the Bidder receiving valid acceptances to such an extent that the Bidder will become the owner of Shares representing at least 20% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the Company; 5. other than in respect of condition 1. above, no central bank, government or governmental, quasi-governmental, supranational, statutory, regulatory, environmental or investigative body, court, trade agency, professional association, institution, employee representative body, or any other such body or person whatsoever in any jurisdiction (each a "Third Party" and all collectively "Third Parties") having decided or given notice of a decision to take, institute, implement or threaten any action, proceeding, suit, investigation, enquiry or reference (and in each case not having withdrawn the same), or having required any action to be taken, or otherwise having done anything, or having enacted, made or proposed any statute, regulation, decision or change to published practice (and in each case, not having withdrawn the same), and there not continuing to be outstanding any statute, regulation, decision or order which would or might reasonably be expected to: (i) make the Offer or its implementation void, illegal and/or unenforceable under the laws of any relevant jurisdiction, or otherwise, directly or indirectly, prevent, prohibit, restrain, restrict, challenge, impede, delay, hinder or otherwise interfere with the same, or impose additional material conditions or obligations with respect thereto, or otherwise challenge or require amendment to the terms of the Offer; (ii) impose any material limitation on, or result in a material delay in, the ability of the Bidder directly or indirectly, to acquire or hold or to exercise effectively all or any rights of ownership in respect of shares or other securities in the Company; or (iii) other than pursuant to the implementation of the Offer, require the Bidder or any of its affiliates or any member of the Group to acquire, or offer to acquire, any shares or other securities (or the equivalent) of, or interest in, or any asset owned by, any member of the Group that may be owned by a third party, and, to the extent applicable, any waiting and other time period (including any extension thereof) during which any such Third Party could decide to take, institute, implement or threaten any such action, proceeding, suit, investigation, enquiry or reference or take any other step under the laws of any relevant jurisdiction in respect of the Offer or otherwise intervene having expired, lapsed or been terminated (as the case may be); 6. since 31 December 2022 (being the date of the Company's latest audited consolidated financial statements), no member of the Group having: (i) purchased, redeemed or repaid or announced any proposal to purchase, redeem or repay any of its own shares or other securities or reduced or made any other change to any part of its share capital, including but not limited to having issued or agreed to issue or authorised or proposed or announced its intention to authorise or propose the issue, of additional shares of any class, or securities or securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, or rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or acquire, any such shares, securities or convertible securities or transferred or sold or agreed to transfer or sell or authorised or proposed the transfer or sale of shares out of treasury; (ii) been unable, or admitted in writing that it is unable, to pay its debts or commenced negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling or restructuring any of its indebtedness, or having stopped or suspended (or threatened to stop or suspend) payment of its debts generally or ceased or threatened to cease carrying on all or a substantial part of its business; or (iii) taken or proposed any steps, corporate action or had any legal proceedings instituted or threatened against it in relation to the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, its winding-up (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution, reorganisation or for the appointment of a receiver, administrator, manager, administrative receiver, trustee or similar officer of all or any of its assets or revenues or any analogous or equivalent steps or proceedings in any jurisdiction or appointed any analogous person in any jurisdiction or had any such person appointed. The Bidder will reserve the right to waive the fulfilment of any one or more of the conditions above. The Offer will be subject to the Competition and FDI Approvals. The Bidder intends to submit the relevant merger control and FDI notifications to the competent authorities as soon as practicable after the publication of this announcement. While there can be no assurance that the Competition and FDI Approvals will be received, or any assurance regarding the date by which such approvals will have been received, the Bidder is not aware of any material impediment to receipt of the Competition and FDI Approvals. The Bidder will reserve the right to withdraw the Offer in the event it becomes clear that any of the above conditions is not satisfied or cannot be satisfied. Scale down of acceptances In case the total amount of tendered Shares together with any Shares (the "Additional Shares") acquired by or on behalf of the Bidder in parallel to the Offer exceeds the amount of Offer Shares, all duly submitted acceptances will be scaled down pro rata to such number of Shares as shall not exceed the amount of Offer Shares less Additional Shares. If the consequence of such scaling down would require the Bidder to acquire a fractional number of Shares pursuant to the Offer, the amount will be rounded down to the next integral number. The total amount of Shares acquired by the Bidder under the Offer, together with any Additional Shares, shall not exceed 20% of the Company's issued and outstanding share capital. If there are changes to the share capital of the Company after the date of the Offer which would result in the tendered Shares together with any Additional Shares representing more than 20% of the Company's issued and outstanding share capital, and the Bidder has waived satisfaction of conditions 2. and 6. above (to the extent relevant), after any scale down referred to above (if applicable), all duly submitted acceptances will be (further) scaled down pro rata such that the total number of Shares acquired under the Offer, together with any Additional Shares, does not exceed 20% of the Company's issued and outstanding share capital. If this (further) scale down would require the Bidder to acquire a fractional number of Shares pursuant to the Offer, the amount will be rounded down to the next integral number. Indicative timetable The acceptance period of the Offer is expected to commence on or around 19 June 2023 and expire on or around 10 July 2023. The acceptance period may expire before the conditions precedent to the Offer are fulfilled (or waived by the Bidder). Acceptances of the Offer made during the acceptance period will be irrevocable. The Bidder will reserve the right to extend the acceptance period of the Offer. An offer document regarding the Offer is expected to be made public shortly before the commencement of the acceptance period. Assuming that the Offer is declared unconditional no later than on or around 28 August 2023, settlement is expected to begin on or around 11 September 2023. Non-application of UK Takeover Code or Austrian Takeover Act The Company's registered office is in the Netherlands and its administrative office and place of central management and control are in Austria. Therefore, pursuant to section 3(a) of the introduction thereto, the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Code") does not apply to the Offer and the Offer is not subject to the jurisdiction of, or being regulated by, the UK Panel on Takeovers and Mergers. The Company is a public limited liability company incorporated under Dutch law, with its registered seat in Arnhem, the Netherlands. Therefore, only section 27c of the Austrian Takeover Act ("ATA") is relevant to the Company. As the Offer is a voluntary public partial offer, pursuant to section 27c ATA, the ATA does not apply to such offers and the Offer is not subject to the jurisdiction of, or being regulated by, the Austrian Takeover Commission. Governing law and disputes The Offer, as well as the agreements entered into between the Bidder and the Company's shareholders as a result of the Offer, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute regarding the Offer, or which arises in connection therewith, shall be exclusively settled by the courts of England and Wales. Advisers The Bidder has retained Citigroup Global Markets Limited ("Citi") as financial adviser and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, Schonherr Rechtsanwalte GmbH and Stibbe N.V. as legal advisers. For further information, please contact: Brunswick Charles Pretzlik +44 20 7404 5959 Emily Trapnell IgniteBrunswick@brunswickgroup.com Citi Andrew Miller-Jones +44 20 7986 3463 Information about the Offer is available at: www.information-hosting.com The Company in brief The Company, together with its subsidiaries, is a global supplier of high-grade refractory products, systems and solutions which are critical for high-temperature processes exceeding 1,200C in a wide range of industries, including steel, cement, non-ferrous metals and glass. With a vertically integrated value chain, from raw materials to refractory products and full performance-based solutions, the Company and its subsidiaries serve customers around the world, with around 13,500 employees as of 31 December 2022 in 33 production sites and more than 70 sales offices. Shares in the Company, in the form of depositary interests, are listed on the London Stock Exchange and the Vienna Stock Exchange (Wiener Borse). Important information The Offer is not being made and will not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, the United States (including its territories and possessions) or any other jurisdiction where local laws or regulations may result in a significant risk of civil, regulatory or criminal exposure if information concerning the Offer is sent or made available to holders of Shares in that jurisdiction (together, the "Restricted Jurisdictions") by use of mail or any other communication means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile transmission, electronic mail, telex, telephone and the Internet) of interstate or foreign commerce, or of any facility of national securities exchange or other trading venue, of a Restricted Jurisdiction, and the Offer cannot be accepted by any such use or by such means, instrumentality or facility of, in or from, a Restricted Jurisdiction. Accordingly, this press release or any documentation relating to the Offer are not being and should not be, directly or indirectly, sent, mailed or otherwise distributed or forwarded in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction. Persons receiving this announcement, the offer document, any related documentation including but not limited to forms of acceptance (including banks, brokers, dealers, custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise distribute or send them in, into or from such jurisdictions as doing so may invalidate any purported acceptance of the Offer. Any purported acceptance of the Offer resulting directly or indirectly from a violation of these restrictions will be invalid and acceptances of the Offer made by a person in a Restricted Jurisdiction or any agent, fiduciary or other intermediary acting on a non-discretionary basis for a principal giving instructions from within a Restricted Jurisdiction will be disregarded. This press release is not being, and must not be, sent to shareholders with registered addresses in a Restricted Jurisdiction. Banks, brokers, dealers, custodians, nominees and trustees holding Shares for persons in a Restricted Jurisdiction must not forward this press release or any other document received in connection with the Offer to such persons. The communication of this announcement, the offer document and any other documents or materials relating to the Offer is not being made and such documents and/or materials have not been approved by an authorised person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. The communication of such documents and/or materials is only being made to (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom; (ii) investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Financial Promotion Order")) or (iii) high net worth entities and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling with Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Financial Promotion Order (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). Any investment activity to which this announcement relates will only be available to and will only be engaged with relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this announcement or any of its contents. Citi, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority ("PRA") and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") and the PRA, is acting as financial adviser for the Bidder and certain affiliates of the Bidder and for no one else in connection with the matters described in this announcement and the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Bidder and its certain affiliates for providing the protections afforded to clients of Citi nor for providing advice in connection with the Offer, or any other matters referred to in this announcement. Neither Citi nor any of its affiliates, directors or employees owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, consequential, whether in contract, in tort, in delict, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Citi in connection with this Announcement, any statement contained herein, the Offer or otherwise. Statements in this press release relating to future status or circumstances, including statements regarding future performance, growth and other trend projections and other benefits of the Offer, are forward-looking statements. These statements may generally, but not always, be identified by the use of words such as "anticipates", "intends", "expects", "believes", or similar expressions. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements due to many factors, many of which are outside the control of the Bidder. Any such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Bidder has no obligation (and undertakes no such obligation) to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except for in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. [1] All currency conversions between GBP and EUR in this announcement were calculated based on a EUR/GBP exchange rate of 0.86811, being the Bloomberg Fixing (BFIX) EUR/GBP exchange rate as at 16:00 London time on 26 May 2023. [2] Based on 47,017,695 issued and outstanding ordinary shares, which is derived from 49,477,705 total issued ordinary shares in the Company, after excluding 2,460,010 ordinary shares held by the Company in treasury. [3] Source: Bloomberg AQR for RHIM LN (Bloomberg Definition), rounded to two decimal places. [4] Source: Bloomberg AQR for RHIM LN (Bloomberg Definition), rounded to two decimal places. [5] Based on 47,017,695 issued and outstanding ordinary shares, which is derived from 49,477,705 total issued ordinary shares in the Company, after excluding 2,460,010 ordinary shares held by the Company in treasury. This information is provided by Reach, the non-regulatory press release distribution service of RNS, part of the London Stock Exchange. 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 . 30.05.2023 CET/CEST This Corporate News was distributed by EQS Group AG. www.eqs.com CHICAGO, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Arizton's latest research report, the rail entrance systems market will grow at a CAGR of 4.87% during 2022-2028. To Know More, Download the Free Sample Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3820 Browse In-Depth TOC of the Rail Entrance Systems Market????? 77 - Tables?????? 66 - Charts? 209 - Pages???? According to the World Bank Group, railways are recognized as a climate-smart and efficient mode of transportation for both people and freight. They offer a means to promote economic growth while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. Leveraging its expertise and extensive experience, the World Bank Group actively engages in the restructuring and oversight of railways worldwide. It conducts comprehensive research and analysis on railway systems in more than 20 countries across Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. The World Bank Group demonstrates its commitment by supporting 16 investment projects totaling $6.9 billion in the railway sector. This financial assistance aims to facilitate the modernization and improvement of railway infrastructure. As a result, outdated assets are replaced with new ones and advanced systems with enhanced safety features and monitoring capabilities are introduced. Such endeavors provide manufacturers in the rail entrance systems market opportunities as customers involved in upgrading and modernization initiatives seek to install more sophisticated entrance systems. This increased focus on infrastructure upgradation and modernization is a significant driver for the rail entrance systems market. The growing utilization of railways and customers' rising expectations for improved services have generated demand for new infrastructure investments. This, in turn, fuels the need for advanced entrance systems. Investments in modernization efforts are expected to drive further demand for rolling stock and its components, including train seating, control systems solutions, and doors. As a result, the global rail entrance systems market is poised for growth in the coming years. In conclusion, the World Bank Group's active involvement in the rail sector and ongoing infrastructure upgradation and modernization initiatives propel the development of the rail entrance systems market. Investments and improvements in railway systems globally create opportunities for manufacturers, who are increasingly sought after to provide advanced entrance solutions to meet customers' evolving needs. Rail Entrance Systems Market Report Scope Report Attributes Details Market Size (2028) USD 1.89 Billion Market Size (2022) USD 1.42 Billion CAGR (2022-2028) 4.87 % Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023-2028 Market Segmentation Type, Sales Channel, and Geography Geographic Analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa Countries Covered Germany, France, the UK, Russia, Italy, Spain, Poland, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, the GCC, and South Africa Market Dynamics Stringent Government Regulations Increasing Popularity of Rail Transport Growth in Rail Rolling Stock Looking for More Information? Download the Free Sample Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3820 Rising Use of Automation & IoT in Railways Boosting the Market Growth The rapid Internet of Things (IoT) adoption has yielded substantial benefits across multiple industries, including the railway sector. IoT-driven solutions have emerged as pivotal contributors to enhancing safety and improving the reliability of services within railways. Among the various areas where IoT-based solutions demonstrate significant potential, the automation of rail door systems stands out, enabling seamless transitions between automatic and manual door operations. By harnessing the capabilities of IoT technology, the reliability and safety of train doors can be closely monitored and effectively enhanced. A deeper exploration of IoT-based solutions in this domain holds the promise of greatly improving rail transportation's overall reliability and safety. The IoT has revolutionized the railway industry by facilitating the interconnectivity of devices, sensors, and systems, enabling the collection and analysis of real-time data. This wealth of information empowers railway operators to monitor and manage train operations more efficiently, enhancing safety measures and improving service reliability. In the specific context of rail door systems, IoT-based solutions enable seamless automation, ensuring the timely opening and closing of doors while providing real-time feedback on their performance. Rail operators can monitor critical parameters such as door status, motion, and alignment by deploying IoT-enabled sensors and devices. This continuous monitoring facilitates proactive maintenance and troubleshooting, enabling timely interventions to address potential issues before they escalate. Additionally, IoT-driven solutions provide real-time alerts and notifications to passengers and operators, ensuring prompt responses to any anomalies or emergencies related to the functioning of rail doors. These capabilities significantly contribute to the overall safety and reliability of rail transportation. Moreover, IoT-based automation of rail door systems offers a range of benefits, including increased efficiency, improved passenger flow, and enhanced accessibility. Automated doors can operate seamlessly, synchronized with train schedules and station stops, minimizing delays and optimizing boarding and alighting processes. Furthermore, IoT technology enables the integration of various data sources, such as passenger counts, weather conditions, and platform occupancy, allowing for adaptive door control and optimized resource allocation. In conclusion, the increasing adoption of IoT in the railway industry is transforming the way rail transportation operates. IoT-driven solutions offer immense potential in automating rail door systems, leading to improved safety, reliability, and efficiency. Real-time monitoring and data analysis enables proactive maintenance, timely interventions, and optimized operations. By further exploring and harnessing the capabilities of IoT-based solutions, the railway industry can unlock significant advancements in reliability, safety, and passenger experience. Opportunities for Energy & Environment in Railway The railway industry offers significant advantages for the energy sector and the environment, as it facilitates the expansion of energy sources and promotes efficient mobility. Rail transportation plays a vital role in contributing to environmental sustainability by reducing transportation energy consumption and mitigating carbon dioxide and local pollutant emissions. This scenario opens avenues for developing innovative, sustainable, and environmentally friendly products in the energy-efficient rail sector. Anticipated growth in the rail entrance systems market is driven by the escalating demand for sustainable solutions, propelled by the imperative of achieving energy efficiency within railway operations. Railways provide a mode of transportation that supports the efficient movement of goods and people while minimizing energy consumption and mitigating environmental impacts. By leveraging rail transportation, energy sources can be effectively utilized and harnessed for increased efficiency and reduced reliance on carbon-intensive alternatives. This synergy between the railway industry and the energy sector presents opportunities for creating advanced technologies and solutions that contribute to a greener and more sustainable future. In line with the growing global focus on sustainability, there is an increasing demand for rail entrance systems that align with energy-efficient railway operations. These systems are designed to optimize energy consumption, minimize waste, and integrate advanced technologies for improved performance and environmental impact. This demand surge, driven by the imperative of achieving energy efficiency and reducing carbon footprints, is expected to propel the rail entrance systems market growth during the projected period. Manufacturers and stakeholders in the rail entrance systems market are poised to benefit from this upward trajectory, as they can leverage the rising demand for sustainable solutions. By investing in research and development, innovation, and the application of environmentally friendly practices, industry players can seize opportunities to provide cutting-edge products that meet the evolving needs of the energy-efficient rail sector. Hence, the railway industry substantially benefits the energy sector and the environment, promoting expanding energy sources and enabling more efficient mobility. The focus on reducing transportation energy consumption and minimizing emissions creates a favorable environment for developing sustainable and eco-friendly products in the energy-efficient rail sector. As the demand for sustainable rail entrance systems continues to rise, driven by the need for energy-efficient railways, the rail entrance systems market is expected to witness significant growth in the forecast period. Buy the Report Now: https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/rail-entrance-systems-market Post-Purchase Benefit??????? 1hr of free analyst discussion 10% of customization Europe to Hold the Largest Share in the Rail Entrance Systems Market Germany, the UK, France, Russia, Spain, Italy, and Poland are key markets for rail entrance systems in the region. In Germany, the country's well-established and high-quality rail network has positioned it as one of the preferred modes of transportation, offering efficiency and reliability. Furthermore, the government is actively investing in expanding the capacity and digitizing the rail network. With a committed investment of around $68 billion over a ten-year period, the growth and advancement of the rail industry in Germany will drive the demand for rail entrance systems, thus contributing to the overall market growth. Key Company Profiles Knorr-Bremse Nanjing Kangni Mechanical & Electrical Wabtec Polarteknik Oy DOORspec Allegion EKE-Electronics ELMESY Fuji Electric igus Imfuyo IMI Norgren Kalsi Automatic Door System Nabtesco Corporation Siemens Schaltbau Holding AG Tamware PSI Technologies Market Segmentation Type Automatic Mechanical Sales Channel OEM Aftermarket Geography Europe Germany France The UK Russia Italy Spain Poland APAC China Japan India South Korea Australia North America The US Canada Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina Middle East & Africa & The GCC South Africa Check Out Some of the Top Selling Research Reports: Door Closer and Exit Devices Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2023-2028: The global door closer and exit market to reach USD 4.76 billion by 2028. Europe is projected to have the highest growth rate during the forecast period. ASSA ABLOY, Allegion, Dormakaba, GEZE, and ISEO are the key players in the market. 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Automated Guided Cart Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2023-2028: The global automated guided vehicle market shipments to reach 24,258 units by 2028. APAC dominated the global automated guided cart market in 2022 and is expected to continue its dominance during the forecast period owing to online retail and automotive industry growth. Table of Content 1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 2 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES 3 RESEARCH PROCESS 4 SCOPE & COVERAGE 4.1 MARKET DEFINITION 4.1.1 INCLUSIONS 4.1.2 EXCLUSIONS 4.1.3 MARKET ESTIMATION CAVEATS 4.2 BASE YEAR 4.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY 4.4 MARKET SEGMENTATION 4.4.1 MARKET BY TYPE 4.4.2 MARKET BY SALES CHANNEL 4.4.3 MARKET SEGMENTATION BY GEOGRAPHY 5 REPORT ASSUMPTIONS & CAVEATS 5.1 KEY CAVEATS 5.2 CURRENCY CONVERSION 5.3 MARKET DERIVATION 6 PREMIUM INSIGHTS 6.1 MARKET OVERVIEW 6.1.1 MARKET TRENDS 6.1.2 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES 6.1.3 MARKET ENABLERS 6.1.4 MARKET CHALLENGES 6.2 SEGMENT OVERVIEW 6.3 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE 7 MARKET AT A GLANCE 8 INTRODUCTION 8.1 OVERVIEW 8.2 RAIL VEHICLE TYPES 8.2.1 HIGH-SPEED RAILS (HSR) 8.2.2 METROS 8.2.3 LIGHT RAIL VEHICLES (LRT) 8.2.4 REGIONAL & COMMUTER TRAINS 8.2.5 PASSENGER CARS 8.2.6 MONORAILS 8.3 RAIL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS 8.3.1 HIGH-SPEED RAILS 8.3.2 METRO 8.3.3 MONORAIL 8.4 VALUE CHAIN 8.4.1 MATERIAL SUPPLIERS 8.4.2 MANUFACTURERS 8.4.3 DISTRIBUTORS 9 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES & TRENDS 9.1 RISING USE OF AUTOMATION & IOT IN RAILWAYS 9.2 RISING DEMAND FOR HIGH-SPEED TRAINS 9.3 OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT IN RAILWAY 10 MARKET GROWTH ENABLERS 10.1 STRINGENT GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS 10.2 INCREASING POPULARITY OF RAIL TRANSPORT 10.3 GROWTH IN RAIL ROLLING STOCK 11 MARKET RESTRAINTS 11.1 VOLATILITY IN RAW MATERIAL PRICES 11.2 RAIL DOOR CALIBRATION 12 MARKET LANDSCAPE 12.1 MARKET OVERVIEW 12.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 12.3 FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS 12.3.1 THREAT OF NEW ENTRANTS 12.3.2 BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERS 12.3.3 BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS 12.3.4 THREAT OF SUBSTITUTES 12.3.5 COMPETITIVE RIVALRY 13 TYPE 13.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE 13.2 MARKET OVERVIEW 13.3 AUTOMATIC 13.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW 13.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 13.3.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY 13.4 MECHANICAL 13.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW 13.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 13.4.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY 14 SALES CHANNEL 14.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE 14.2 MARKET OVERVIEW 14.3 OEM 14.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW 14.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 14.3.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY 14.4 AFTERMARKET 14.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW 14.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 14.4.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY 15 GEOGRAPHY 15.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE 15.2 GEOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW 16 EUROPE 16.1 MARKET OVERVIEW 16.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 16.3 MARKET SEGMENTATION 16.4 TYPE 16.4.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 16.5 SALES CHANNEL 16.5.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 16.6 KEY COUNTRIES 16.6.1 GERMANY: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 16.6.2 FRANCE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 16.6.3 UK: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 16.6.4 RUSSIA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 16.6.5 ITALY: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 16.6.6 SPAIN: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 16.6.7 POLAND: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 17 APAC 17.1 MARKET OVERVIEW 17.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 17.3 MARKET SEGMENTATION 17.4 TYPE 17.4.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 17.5 SALES CHANNEL 17.5.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 17.6 KEY COUNTRIES 17.6.1 CHINA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 17.6.2 JAPAN: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 17.6.3 INDIA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 17.6.4 SOUTH KOREA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 17.6.5 AUSTRALIA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 18 NORTH AMERICA 18.1 MARKET OVERVIEW 18.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 18.3 MARKET SEGMENTATION 18.4 TYPE 18.4.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 18.5 SALES CHANNEL 18.5.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 18.6 KEY COUNTRIES 18.6.1 US: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 18.6.2 CANADA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 19 LATIN AMERICA 19.1 MARKET OVERVIEW 19.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 19.3 MARKET SEGMENTATION 19.4 TYPE 19.4.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 19.5 SALES CHANNEL 19.5.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 19.6 KEY COUNTRIES 19.6.1 BRAZIL: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 19.6.2 MEXICO: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 19.6.3 ARGENTINA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 20 MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA 20.1 MARKET OVERVIEW 20.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 20.3 MARKET SEGMENTATION 20.4 TYPE 20.4.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 20.5 SALES CHANNEL 20.5.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 20.6 KEY COUNTRIES 20.6.1 GCC: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 20.6.2 SOUTH AFRICA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 21 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE 21.1 COMPETITION OVERVIEW 22 KEY COMPANY PROFILES 22.1 KNORR-BREMSE 22.1.1 BUSINESS OVERVIEW 22.1.2 PRODUCT OFFERINGS 22.1.3 KEY STRATEGIES 22.1.4 KEY STRENGTHS 22.1.5 KEY OPPORTUNITIES 22.2 NANJING KANGNI MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL 22.3 WABTEC 23 OTHER PROMINENT VENDORS 23.1 POLARTEKNIK OY 23.1.1 BUSINESS OVERVIEW 23.1.2 PRODUCT OFFERINGS 23.2 DOORSPEC 23.3 ALLEGION 23.4 EKE-ELECTRONICS 23.5 ELMESY 23.6 FUJI ELECTRIC 23.7 IGUS 23.8 IMFUYO 23.9 IMI NORGREN 23.10 KALSI AUTOMATIC DOOR SYSTEM 23.11 NABTESCO CORPORATION 23.12 SIEMENS 23.13 SCHALTBAU HOLDING AG 23.14 TAMWARE 23.15 PSI TECHNOLOGIES 24 REPORT SUMMARY 24.1 KEY TAKEAWAYS 24.2 STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS 25 QUANTITATIVE SUMMARY 25.1 TYPE 25.2 SALES CHANNEL 25.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY 25.4 EUROPE 25.4.1 TYPE 25.4.2 SALES CHANNEL 25.5 APAC 25.5.1 TYPE 25.5.2 SALES CHANNEL 25.6 NORTH AMERICA 25.6.1 TYPE 25.6.2 SALES CHANNEL 25.7 LATIN AMERICA 25.7.1 TYPE 25.7.2 SALES CHANNEL 25.8 MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA 25.8.1 TYPE 25.8.2 SALES CHANNEL 26 APPENDIX 26.1 ABBREVIATIONS About Us:??????????????????????????? Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovative and quality-driven firm that offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients worldwide. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services.????????????????????????? We offer comprehensive market research reports on consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals, materials, I.T. and media, logistics, and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts.?????????????????????????? Arizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports.??????????????????????????? Contact Us???????????????????????? Call: +1-312-235-2040??????????????????????? ????????? +1 302 469 0707?????????????????????? Mail:?enquiry@arizton.com???????????????????????? Contact Us:?https://www.arizton.com/contact-us???????????????????????? Blog:?https://www.arizton.com/blog???????????????????????? Website:?https://www.arizton.com/???????? Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2088177/Rail_Entrance_Systems_Market.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/818553/Arizton_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/rail-entrance-systems-market-flourishing-as-railways-embrace-upgraded-infrastructure-the-market-is-predicted-to-worth-1-89-billion-by-2028---arizton-301837569.html NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Lenovo Mary Jacques, Executive Director Global ESG & Regulatory Compliance As we celebrate Earth Month, it's important to pause and reflect on the progress that Lenovo has made, and to acknowledge the hard work that lies ahead. As Executive Director of Lenovo's Global ESG programs and leader of the team driving Lenovo's emissions reduction goals, I am immensely proud that we announced our net-zero emissions goal earlier this year after having them validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. In line with this and Lenovo's global sustainability commitments, it's critical for us to track consumer perception of sustainability issues and ensure that we're not only meeting our customers where they are, but also bringing them along for the journey. Lenovo recently conducted a survey of 10,000 individuals across eight diverse markets to track consumer perception of sustainability issues. What we found was a high level of concern about climate change, and a significant gap in understanding about the terms being used. Additionally, the majority of those surveyed believed that companies are not taking enough action to mitigate climate change. 83% stated they are extremely, very, or somewhat concerned about climate change 83% of respondents who felt action needs to be taken to address climate change responded that corporations are not doing their part 66% could not decipher the difference between 'carbon neutral' and 'net-zero' This gap in understanding is by no means the fault of the general public, and their expectations of corporations and governments are not misplaced. While climate scientists, governments and the media have been raising awareness of global warming for decades, the most valid and science-based communications are often full of technical jargon and easy to misunderstand. While we work to increase public understanding of climate change, these survey results highlight that there is more for us to do as corporations to help realize a net-zero future. To get there, I see three urgent tasks at hand: Streamlined and approachable sustainability communications: Corporations have a role to play in educating consumers about climate change and what's needed to address it. Bringing ideas to life through meaningful, accessible examples is key. At Lenovo, we're developing engaging examples across our stakeholder groups to further understanding. For our employees, we're developing learning modules to equip our salesforce with the information they need to represent the impact of Lenovo's sustainability innovations and services. We've also integrated our environmental advancements into our global internal communications, providing resources and analogies to help all Lenovo employees appreciate our commitments. Our partnership with Wine To Water, an organization focused on increasing access to clean water, is helping us share relatable stories with all our stakeholders about access to clean water, an issue that is set to become more urgent as we see more evidence of the growing impacts of climate change. Collaboration with companies and governments: Climate change is not something that one company can address on its own. Impact will only be felt when businesses are ready to take action to help accelerate global efforts by boosting investments and innovation, working across industries and value chains to promote meaningful commitments, and advocating for sound government actions and policies around climate change mitigation. While governments have a role to play in putting in place sufficient rules and frameworks to ensure that organizations have a fair competitive landscape while investing in net-zero commitments, it's up to organizations like Lenovo to innovate to meet the sustainability standards of the future. Corporations must use their platforms to influence: Corporations are powerful actors in society and have both the means and the influence to better align their activities to build a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable economy. It's up to corporations to take greater responsibility, leverage their platforms to reach consumers and others in their value chain, and accurately inform them to scale change. As a global technology company, we understand that the decisions we make impact future generations. That's why we are taking a credible and accountable path to emissions reduction by aligning with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). This approach ensures that our targets are thoroughly examined and that we're held accountable to them. SBTi's validation of our targets also means that our performance against our targets will contribute to a wider body of data tracking how to manage and reduce emissions. All of these efforts align to the goals set forth in the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Everyone plays a role in reaching a net-zero future and thousands of companies are currently in line to have their emissions reduction goals validated by SBTi. While I'm extremely proud that Lenovo is the first PC and smartphone maker and 139th company in the world to receive validation to the Net-Zero Standard, an early start doesn't guarantee that we will be the first to reach net-zero. Collaboration and best practice sharing will be vital to expediting collective progress. We will be cheering on the progress of everyone in the race, because as everyone plays a role in a net-zero future, everyone's future also depends on net-zero. This is a time for thinking big, for collaborating, and for pushing the boundaries of what we think is possible. The only way we can act against climate change is by working together and sharing best practices for a more collaborative and smarter future for all. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Lenovo on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Lenovo Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/lenovo Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Lenovo View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/758111/Looking-Ahead-What-it-Will-Take-to-Reach-Net-Zero WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Tesla Inc. (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk initiates a crucial China visit by meeting with the country's foreign minister in Beijing. This visit marks his return to Tesla's primary manufacturing center after a three-year absence. Following China's decision to reopen its borders and revise its zero-COVID policy in December, several prominent CEOs from top U.S. companies have been visiting the country. In March, Tim Cook of Apple (AAPL) paid a visit, and this week, Jamie Dimon from JP Morgan (JPM) and Laxman Narasimhan from Starbucks (SBUX) are also in China. This trend continues with Musk's current trip to the country. Musk had a meeting with Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang shortly after his arrival in Beijing. Qin assured Musk that China is dedicated to enhancing the business environment for investors, including Tesla. He used a driving metaphor to describe the China-U.S. relationship, emphasizing the need to apply brakes when necessary, avoid risky behavior, and skillfully accelerate to promote mutually beneficial cooperation. Musk expressed his willingness to expand Tesla's operations in China and voiced his opposition to the idea of separating the U.S. and China economies. He described the two countries as 'conjoined twins,' highlighting their interconnectedness and interdependence. After the United States, China holds the position of being Tesla's second-largest market. Following his arrival in China, Elon Musk, who is also the owner of Twitter, maintained a low profile on the platform. Twitter is banned in China but can be accessed by some users through a virtual private network (VPN). Musk also refrained from posting on his official Weibo account, which is a popular social media platform in China. During his trip, Elon Musk is anticipated to meet with various high-ranking Chinese officials and visit Tesla's manufacturing plant in Shanghai, as per Reuters' report on Monday. However, the specific individuals he would meet and the topics to be discussed remain unclear. According to a source familiar with the matter, a meeting with Zeng Yuqun, Chairman of CATL (300750.SZ), a major Chinese battery supplier for Tesla, is also scheduled to take place in Beijing. Tesla is facing growing competition from Chinese-made electric vehicles, and there are concerns regarding the expansion plans for its Shanghai plant, which serves as its primary production hub. Some analysts view China's electric vehicle market, the largest in the world, as a highly profitable opportunity for Tesla and therefore expect the company to prioritize the expansion of its presence in China. Tesla's Shanghai plant is the central hub for the company's global production. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Das ultimative Rendite-Paket fur unruhige Zeiten Big Pharma Boom! Stabile Ertrage, gunstige Bewertung. Chart-Profi Stefan Klotter hat fur Sie exklusiv funf Blue Chips aus der Pharma-Branche gefunden. Jetzt kostenlos herunterladen! Hier klicken Fuji Corporation (headquarters: Chiryu, Aichi, Japan; Chairman and CEO: Nobuyuki Soga) has agreed to a partnership with J.A.M.E.S. GmbH (headquarters: Taufkirchen, Germany; CEO: Andreas Muller) to promote the growth of additive electronics. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230530005548/en/ JAMES_x_FUJI (Graphic: Business Wire) Fuji has developed a unique electronics 3D printer-FPM-Trinity-that combines resin substrate printing, circuit printing, and component mounting to enable complete additive manufacturing of electronic devices in a single machine. In this area, Fuji is pleased to announce a partnership with J.A.M.E.S., which has established an online community for the development of Additively Manufactured Electronics (AME). J.A.M.E.S. (https://j-ames.com) was formed specifically to promote the development of AME and the company aims to explore the limits of AME and help turn it into a technology that anyone can use. The J.A.M.E.S. community is a place for manufacturers and users to communicate in real time, thereby enabling cross-company collaboration and sharing of knowledge. Through this partnership agreement, Fuji aims to create opportunities to propose new ideas and solutions using FPM-Trinity, and to spread the use of AME in the electronics industry. The platform also provides an opportunity to make use of the J.A.M.E.S. network to exchange information with users, which can be used to improve the value of Fuji's products and inform its business strategy. Comment from J.A.M.E.S. CEO: "We are excited to partner with Fuji Corporation and gain access to their innovative technologies and insights." Fuji and J.A.M.E.S. will provide forward-thinking solutions and ideas to the electronics community via this collaboration. FPM-Trinity features 1. Electronics 3D printer combining resin printing, circuit printing, and parts placement in a single machine 2. Digital printing process directly from CAD data, so there is no need for additional processes such as mask creation 3. Go from data input to completion in one day 4. Enables the creation of devices with 3D form factor 5. Sustainable manufacturing process that minimizes waste materials FPM-Trinity future developments Fuji currently offers a sample manufacturing service using the FPM-Trinity. We are also working to towards releasing the machine itself for sale. Fuji will further the development and diffusion of its additive manufacturing technology, thereby providing solutions to industry issues such as the acceleration of the internet of things, the realization of a sustainable society, and the shortening of product development cycles. What is Additively Manufactured Electronics (AME)? Conventionally, printed circuit boards (PCBs) are manufactured by a subtractive process in which unnecessary copper and resin are etched away through wet processes. In contrast, with additive manufacturing, 3D printers are used to selectively apply material only to required locations, meaning that material use and liquid waste are minimized. When this method is applied to electronics, it is known as Additively Manufactured Electronics (AME), a field that is gathering a lot of attention. Company overview Company name: FUJI CORPORATION Chairman and CEO: Nobuyuki Soga Address: 19 Chausuyama, Yamamachi, Chiryu, Aichi 472-8686 Japan Founded: April 1959 Main business: Development, manufacturing, and sales of SMT pick and place machines and machine tools Capital: 5,878 million yen Website: https://www.fuji.co.jp/en/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230530005548/en/ Contacts: Daisuke Nogiwa, Director, Fuji Innovation Lab Email: fpm-t@fujiamerica.com Skyepharma is a France-based CDMO with over 20 years of innovation and development expertise and a renowned player in the global biopharma and consumer health industries. The company's unique offer in the biomanufacturing process spans all stages of clinical development, marketing and product lifecycle The proposed transaction would value Skyepharma at an enterprise value of circa. 50 million and an equity value of circa. 52 million. eureKING would acquire, for cash,circa. 58.1% of the share capital (on a fully-diluted basis) of Oleron Pharma which holds 100% of the share capital of Skyepharma. The remaining circa. 41.9% would be contributed by the main shareholders of Oleron Pharma to eureKING, who would be subject to a lock-up undertakingpost closing. eureKING intends to finance the 30.2 million purchase price for the shares acquired in cash through commitments of certain existing shareholders of eureKING not to redeem their Market Shares1 ahead of the completion of the transaction, and/or additional equity funding raised from existing shareholders and/or new investors through a private placement conducted ahead of the closing of the transaction. The proposed transaction would represent the first cornerstone of eureKING's project to pursue bolt-on acquisitions to add innovative companies from the fast-growing biotherapies CDMO segment to its platform to create a bio-CDMO leader and which could result in additional transactions. These transactions may be announced before the completion of the proposed transaction. Paris and Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, France, May 30, 2023 - eureKING (ISIN: FR0014009ON9, Euronext Paris), the first European special purpose acquisition company ("SPAC") in healthcare dedicated to bioproduction, today announced that it has signed, on May 25, 2023, a put option agreement for 100% of the share capital of Oleron Pharma, the 100% holding company of Skyepharma. Skyepharma is an innovative and fully integrated French CDMO player with 20 years of innovation and development experience in drug development and delivery of oral technologies. This follows eureKING's announcement on May 16, 2023, that it had submitted a firm offer on the basis of which it has been granted an exclusivity period with a view to acquiring Skyepharma. The proposed transaction would represent the first cornerstone of eureKING's project to pursue bolt-on acquisitions to add innovative companies from the fast-growing biotherapies CDMO segment to its platform to create a bio-CDMO leader. eureKING has a clear and identified roadmap to bolster Skyepharma's technology platform to consolidate the highly fragmented European market in biomanufacturing capacity, such as state-of-the-art facilities to manufacture cell and gene therapies in Europe. This could result in additional transactions being pursued by eureKING. These transactions may be announced even before the completion of the proposed transaction. The proposed transaction would constitute the "Initial Business Combination" (or "IBC"), described in the IPO Prospectus of eureKING. It would be completed (i) through the acquisition for cash by eureKING of (x) 55% of the shares of Oleron Pharma held by Mr. David Lescuyer, Mr. Benoit Mougeot, Mr. Xavier Mathiot, Mr. Frederic Checot, Mr. Laurent Rigaudeau, Mrs. Isabelle Cachard (the "Rollover Shareholders", who are managers and employees, or former employees of Skyepharma), and (y) all the bonds with warrants (obligations a bons de souscriptiond'actions) issued by Oleron Pharma and held by Bpifrance through the Fonds de Renforcement des PME ("Bpifrance") (the "Acquisition"),2 and (ii) through the contribution to eureKING by the Rollover Shareholders of their remaining 45% shares of Oleron Pharma (the "Contribution"). After completion of both the Acquisition and the Contribution, Oleron Pharma, and thus Skyepharma, will be fully owned by eureKING. In order to fund the 30.2 million purchase price for the Acquisition, eureKING intends to seek from its existing shareholders' commitments not to redeem their Market Shares upon completion of the Initial Business Combination, and/or, as needed, to raise additional equity financing from its existing shareholders and/or from new investors, through a private placement of its ordinary shares (a "PIPE" financing). The new ordinary shares to be issued by eureKING as consideration for the Contribution (the "Contribution Shares") and the new ordinary shares to be issued in the context of the PIPE (the "PIPE Shares"), will be listed and traded on the Professional Segment (CompartimentProfessionnel) of the regulated market of Euronext Paris on the settlement and delivery date of the Initial Business Combination. Two prospectuses will be prepared and submitted to the approval of the AMF for that purpose, one in relation to the Contribution (the "Contribution Prospectus"), which will be made public at least two weeks ahead of the extraordinary shareholders' meeting of eureKING called to approve de Contribution, and one in relation to the PIPE (the "PIPE Prospectus"). Upon completion of the IBC, eureKING's shares will remain listed on the Professional Segment (CompartimentProfessionnel) of Euronext Paris. A transfer of listing from the Professional Segment to the General Segment of Euronext Paris is not considered concomitantly with the completion of the Initial Business Combination. This press release does not constitute the "IBC Notice" triggering the redemption period for eureKING's Market Shares. The "IBC Notice" will be published by eureKING at a later stage (see paragraph 3 "Steps of the Completion of the Initial Business Combination" below). Investors are reminded of the risks relating to eureKING and an investment in eureKING's securities, as described in the Risk Factors section of the IPO Prospectus. 1Presentation of Skyepharma Skyepharma is a leading French fully integrated CDMO player, capable of offering complete and tailor-made services to clients, from early-stage development projects, scale-up, and technological transfer to industrial manufacturing, including packaging, serialization and aggregation. Skyepharma was created in 1996 and it acquired its current industrial site, in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, near Lyon in 1997. In 2016, it merged with Vectura, a larger CDMO, until it was spun-off in a management buy-out by the current management, supported by Bpifrance, in 2021. Skyepharma offers a complete and bespoke solution, over the entire value-chain: Early stage: drug formulation conception, small batch production (including batches already compliant with the "good manufacturing practices" regulatory requirements and clinical trial support. Program scale-up: implementation of different quality control processes, increase in the size of the batches being produced, and validation or the batches being produced. Technology transfer: from the lab to the production floor or from another CDMO. Flexible production: capacity to vary the size of the batches and to produce drugs in all available forms (tablets, liquid, powder, etc.) Full packaging options: bottles, vials, capsules, blisters, etc. Supply chain: storage, temperature control, inventory management. Quality control: quality insurance, quality testing, regulatory support. In particular, Skyepharma's Skyehub Model, launched in 2022, is an innovative solution that can host dedicated and customized biomanufacturing facilities within Skyepharma's premises, allowing customers to leverage the company's unique quality system as well as its services and, at the same time, preserve intellectual property. The Skyehub model has had an initial focus on live biotherapeutic products and has recently signed a partnership, in February 2022, with MaaT Pharma, a French, Euronext Paris listed, biotech company, becoming the first company resident of SkyeHub Bioproduction. Skyepharma's c.22,000 square meter production site and headquarters in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier are set on c.65,000 square meters of land, with therefore ample capacity for extension. Skyepharma is a fast-growing business with an attractive future profitability trajectory. Skyepharma has had revenue growth of more than 140% in the past six years (from 11 million in 2018 to 22 million in 2022), representing a CAGR from 2019 to 2022 of over 16%. Its operating income (resultatd'exploitation) for the 2022 fiscal year represented a loss of 1.4 million. The total of its balance sheet as of December 31, 2022, amounted to 38.6 million and its bank debt (gross) to 1.1 million. The reader's attention is drawn to the fact that these figures are extracted from Skyepharma's unaudited, stand alone, French GAAP financial statements. Skyepharma is currently in the process of producing IFRS financial statements for the years 2021 and 2022, which will be included in the Contribution Prospectus and the PIPE Prospectus and, to the extent available at the time, in the IBC Notice. There can be significant differences between French GAAP and IFRS financial statements and therefore caution should be applied when relying on the above French GAAP numbers. The management team, under Mr. David Lescuyer (CEO) and Mr. Benoit Mougeot (CFO), who led the management buy-out in 2021, was able to turn the loss-making industrial Vectura branch into a successful company. 2Structure of the Initial Business Combination The Acquisition would be completed pursuant to a sale and purchase agreement (the "Sale and Purchase Agreement") to be entered into between eureKING, on the one hand, and the Rollover Shareholders and Bpifrance. As a consideration for the Acquisition, eureKING will pay a 30.2 million purchase price in cash. As consideration for the Contribution, eureKING will issue to the Rollover Shareholders ordinary shares representing a circa. 21.8 million contribution value, bringing the overall consideration for the Initial Business Contribution to circa. 52 million. The Contribution would be completed pursuant to the Sale and Purchase Agreement as well as a contribution agreement to be entered into between eureKING and the Rollover Shareholders (the "Contribution Agreement"). The Sale and Purchase Agreement (appended to the Put Option Agreement signed on 25 May 2023) would provide, inter alia, the following: the proposed transaction would be subject to (i) the prior authorization of the competent authorities with respect to foreign direct investment regulations, and (ii) the approval of the shareholders of eureKING; representations and warranties would be granted by the shareholders of Skyepharma, pursuant to customary terms and conditions for this type of transaction. eureKING has also agreed to cover, up to 300,000 euros, certain costs of the Rollover Shareholders in the event the Initial Business Combination would not be approved by eureKING's shareholders. As consideration for the Contribution, eureKING will issue circa. 2.18 million Contribution Shares. The value of one Contribution Share for the purpose of determining the exchange ratio would amount to 10.00, representing a circa. 21.8 million contribution value. In due course, Skyepharma and eureKING would file a joint request with the president of the commercial court of Paris to appoint one contribution appraiser (commissaire aux apports), who would be asked to assess the value of the ordinary shares of Skyepharma to be contributed to eureKING in the context of the Contribution, to confirm that it is not over-valued and that it corresponds at least to the share capital increase of eureKING, increased by the contribution premium and to confirm, in accordance with the AMF recommendation DOC-2020-06, that the exchange rate is fair. The fair market value of Skyepharma resulting from the consideration presented above will not reach at least 75% of the funds raised in the initial public offering of eureKING, i.e. at least 115.4 million, and eureKING will therefore ask its shareholders to waive this requirement, as detailed in paragraph 10 "Proposed changes to the eureKING Articles of Association and terms and conditions of the Market Warrants and Founders' Warrants". eureKING believes that, despite not reaching the thresholds, the acquisition of Skyepharma would nevertheless meet all of the other conditions set forth in the IPO prospectus and would be in the best interest of eureKING and its shareholders. The Rollover Shareholders, who hold as of today 100% of the capital of Oleron Pharma, would sell 55% of their 515,300 Oleron Pharma shares (for an overall 26.6 million cash consideration), and contribute the remaining 45% to eureKING. Bpifrance would sell 100% of its 500,000 Oleron Pharma bonds with warrants attached (obligations a bons de souscriptiond'actions) for a 3.6 million cash consideration. The shares sold and contributed by the Rollover Shareholders and the bonds with warrants attached sold by Bpifrance will represent 100% of the share capital of Oleron Pharma on a fully diluted basis. Oleron Pharma itself holds 100% of the share capital of Skyepharma. The bonds with warrants (OBSA) are the only other equity/equity-linked securities issued by Oleron Pharma and Skyepharma. The implementation of the Initial Business Combination will require convening a shareholders' meeting of eureKING to approve, in particular, the Contribution. 3Steps to the Completion of the Initial Business Combination Following the execution of the Put Option Agreement on May 25, 2023, Skyepharma will initiate the required information consultation procedure with its workers' council. This can take up to four weeks, or eight if the workers' council requires the appointment of an expert to assist the council in its appreciation of the Initial Business Combination. In parallel, the parties will initiate the foreign investment control procedure with the French ministry of finance. Upon completion of the workers' council information-consultation procedure and subject to the exercise of the Put Option, which is conditional upon the approval by the shareholders of eureKING of certain amendments to the by-laws of eureKING required to complete the proposed transaction (see paragraph 10: "Proposed changes to the eureKING Articles of Association and terms and conditions of the Market Warrants and Founders' Warrants" below), the Initial Business Combination will be formally submitted to eureKING's Board of Directors. As described in the IPO Prospectus, this will require the approval of two-thirds of its independent members. The Board of Directors has already reviewed the proposed transaction on April 20, 2023, and has unanimously approved the execution of the Put Option Agreement on May 25, 2023. The Sale and Purchase Agreement and the Contribution Agreement will then be executed and eureKING will publish the "IBC Notice" as this term is defined in the IPO Prospectus3. The publication of the IBC notice will trigger the start of the 30 days redemption period during which the holders of Market Shares of eureKING will be able to request the redemption of their shares. The results of the redemption procedure will be published as soon as available. The Contribution Prospectus will then be submitted to the approval of the Autorite des Marches Financiers. It will be published at least two weeks before the extraordinary shareholders' meeting of eureKING that will have to be convened to approve the Contribution. The closing of the Initial Business Combination will take place as soon as possible after this extraordinary shareholders' meeting. The PIPE Prospectus will be submitted to the approval of the Autorite des Marches Financiers and published on or before the closing. Within 30 calendar days after the closing, the holders of the Market Shares who will have requested the redemption of their shares will receive 10.30 per market share. A detailed calendar of the steps to the completion of the Initial Business Combination will be included in the IBC Notice, but it is currently expected that the closing of the Initial Business Combination would occur on or about August 31, 2023 (subject to the extension of the current deadline by which the Initial Business Combination has to be completed - see paragraph 10: "Proposed changes to the eureKING Articles of Association and terms and conditions of the Market Warrants and Founders' Warrants"). 4Financial information The financial information regarding Skyepharma presented above is extracted from its unaudited French GAAP financial statements. Skyepharma is currently in the process of producing IFRS financial statements for the years 2021 and 2022. These financial statements, together with pro forma financial statements on eureKING reflecting the situation following the completion of the Initial Business Combination, will be included in the Contribution Prospectus and the PIPE Prospectus and, to the extent available at the time, in the IBC Notice. Risk Factors relating to eureKING following the Initial Business Combination and the Initial Business Combination itself will be outlined in the IBC Notice and spelled out in the Contribution Prospectus and the PIPE Prospectus. 5Conflicts of interest The Initial Business Combination with Skyepharma does not give rise to the type of conflict of interest between eureKING, the Founders4 and their affiliates that would require the implementation of the conflicts of interest management procedures described in "Provision relating to conflict of interests" on pages 117-118 of the IPO Prospectus. In particular, in this context, no fairness opinion on the Initial Business Combination will be sought by the Board of Directors. 6Share capital of eureKING structure after completion of the Initial Business Combination As of the date of this press release, the share capital of eureKING is composed of the following securities: 15,000,000 Market Shares Convertible into ordinary shares of eureKING upon completion of the Initial Business Combination 5 million Founders' Shares (Class A1, A2 and A3) Progressively convertible into ordinary shares of eureKING upon completion of the Initial Business Combination as further detailed below. 15 million Market Warrants Exercisable for ordinary shares of eureKING (two warrants for one share) at an 11.50 strike price upon completion of the Initial Business Combination and for a period of five years. Redeemable by eureKING at 0.01 if the eureKING share price attains 18.00, unless previously exercised by their holders after the publication of eureKING's decision to redeem. eureKING can also exercise its redemption right at 0.01 when the eureKING share price is between 11.50 and 18.00, but the warrants are then exercisable for a higher number of eureKING ordinary shares, reflecting the value of the option embedded into the warrants. 897,000 Founders' Warrants Identical to the Market Warrants, but for the redemption features. Upon completion of the Initial Business Combination, all the Class A1 preferred shares issued by eureKING (representing 50% of all Founders' Shares) and all the Market Shares (other than, in respect of the Market Shares, those for which eureKING will have received a request for redemption from their holders) will be automatically converted into ordinary shares of eureKING in accordance with the articles of association of eureKING (the "eureKINGArticles of Association") and the IPO Prospectus. Such ordinary shares of eureKING will be admitted to trading on the Professional Segment (CompartimentProfessionnel) of the regulated market of Euronext Paris. It is specified that the outstanding Class A2 shares and Class A3 shares issued by eureKING (each class representing 25% of all Founders' Shares) will not be converted into ordinary shares upon completion of the Initial Business Combination, but shall be converted into ordinary shares of eureKING in accordance with and under the terms and conditions provided for in the eureKING Articles of Association: each Class A2 share is convertible into one ordinary share of eureKING if, as from the date of completion of the Initial Business Combination, the volume weighted average price of the ordinary shares for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period exceeds 12.00, each Class A3 share is convertible into one ordinary share of eureKING if, as from the date of completion of the Initial Business Combination, the volume weighted average price of the ordinary shares for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period exceeds 14.00. Until their conversion into ordinary shares, the Class A2 and Class A3 shares will not be listed. The terms and conditions of the Class A2 and Class A3 shares do not provide for any conversion mechanism should the price of the ordinary shares not attain the 12.00 or 14.00 thresholds after a certain time. Therefore, should the share price of the ordinary shares of eureKING permanently remain below these thresholds, these two classes of preferred shares will remain outstanding until the shareholders of eureKING and the holders of the Class A2 and Class A3 shares decide to modify their terms and conditions to that effect. This is not currently contemplated. Further, these Class A2 and Class A3 are subject to a lock-up until their potential conversion into ordinary shares (see also paragraph 8: "Lock-ups undertakings"). 7Shareholding of eureKING before and after the completion of the Initial Business Combination The current shareholding of eureKING is as follows: Shareholders Founders' Shares % MarketShares % Total % Michael Kloss 270 266 5,41% 69 000 0,46% 339 266 1,70% Gerard Le Fur 270 266 5,41% 69 000 0,46% 339 266 1,70% Alexandre Mouradian 270 266 5,41% 0 0 270 266 1,35% Christophe Jean 27 026 0,54% 0 0 27 026 0,14% Hubert Olivier 27 026 0,54% 6 900 0,05% 33 926 0,17% Rodolphe Besserve 27 026 0,54% 6 900 0,05% 33 926 0,17% eureKARE 2 012 349 40,25% 428 026 2,85% 2 440 375 12,20% Total Initial Founders 2 904 225 58,08% 579 826 3,87% 3 484 051 17,42% VTT Fund Ltd 919 228 18,38% 592 639 3,95% 1 511 867 7,56% Aroma Health AG 656 592 13,13% 423 313 2,82% 1 079 905 5,40% Lagfin S.C.A. (Lussemburgo, succursale di Paradiso) 334 861 6,70% 1 215 889 8,11% 1 550 750 7,75% JAM Invest Sarl 131 318 2,63% 84 663 0,56% 215 981 1,08% Jacques Lewiner 26 264 0,53% 16 933 0,11% 43 197 0,22% Guillaume Destison 19 698 0,39% 12 699 0,08% 32 397 0,16% Stefan Berchtold 7 814 0,16% 5 038 0,03% 12 852 0,06% Total CornerstoneInvestors 2 095 775 41,92% 2 351 174 15,67% 4 446 949 22,23% Total Founders 5 000 000 100,00% 2 931 000 19,54% 7 931 000 39,66% Investors 0 0 12 069 000 80,46% 12 069 000 60,35% TOTAL 5 000 000 100,00% 15 000 000 100,00% 20 000 000 100,00% During the course of January and February 2023, Mr. Mouradian sold on the market all of the 69,000 Market Shares he had acquired in the initial public offering of eureKING. The shareholding of eureKING following the completion of the Initial Business Combination will depend upon various parameters that are unknown at this stage: As indicated above, the 30.2 million purchase price of the Acquisition will be financed through commitments from its existing shareholders not to redeem their market shares and/or from additional equity financing from its existing shareholders and/or from new investors. The shareholders committing not to redeem their Market Shares could be among the Cornerstone Investors listed above, or could be other holders of Market Shares. The same applies to the existing shareholders providing additional equity financing, if any. Finally, the amount of financing coming from new investors is unknown. Further, eureKING will need to raise financing to finance its operations after completion of the Initial Business Combination, including in the context of the bolt-on acquisitions referred to above and which could result in additional announcements even before the completion of the Initial Business Combination. As indicated in the IPO Prospectus, in the case of an Initial Business Combination: (i) The Initial Founders have committed not to redeem their 579,826 Market Shares. Therefore it's an amount of 5,798,260 (579,826 Market Shares at 10.00) which will remain in the Secured Deposit Accounts into which the proceeds of the issuance of the Market Shares were deposited.5 (ii) The Cornerstone Investors, on their end, retain the possibility to redeem their 2,351,174 Market Shares, but have agreed to forego the 0,30 redemption premium that other holders of Market Shares would be entitled to upon redemption. Therefore, an amount of 705,352.20 (2,351,174 Market Shares at 0.30) will remain in the Secured Deposit Accounts into which the proceeds of the issuance of the Market Shares were deposited if the Cornerstone Investors were to redeem their Market Shares. However, assuming that commitments not to redeem (from the Cornerstone Investors and/or other holders of Market Shares - as the Initial Founders have committed no to redeem their Market Shares as described above) would be sufficient to finance the 30.2 million Acquisition purchase price, the redemption of all the Market Shares for which non-redemption commitments would not have been obtained, and that no further equity financing would be needed, the Rollover Shareholders would end-up holding 31.1% of the share capital of eureKING following the completion of the Initial Business Combination. 8Lock-up undertakings The Founders have accepted, in the context of the initial public offering of eureKING, to be bound by the following lock-up undertakings: 1) Before completion of the Initial Business Combination, the Founders will not be able to transfer their Founders' Shares, Founders' Warrants, Market Shares and Market Warrants, except that the Cornerstone Investors retain the possibility to redeem their Market Shares (but at 10,00 each, i.e. without the 0.30 redemption premium applicable to the other Market Shares). 2) After completion of the Initial Business Combination: a) the Ordinary Shares to be issued upon conversion of the Founders' Shares or exercise of the Founders' Warrants will not be transferable until the earlier of: (a) the first anniversary of the completion of the Initial Business Combination; and (b) the 181st day after the completion of the Initial Business Combination, if and when the volume weighted average price of an ordinary share exceeds 12 for any 20 trading days in any 30 consecutive trading days period (whereby such 20 trading days do not have to be consecutive) during the period commencing on (and including) the completion of the Initial Business Combination and ending on (but excluding) the first anniversary of the completion of the Initial Business Combination; b) the Founders' Shares not yet converted into Ordinary Shares (Class A2 and Class A3 preference shares), the Founders' Warrants not yet exercised and the Market Warrants held by the Founders and not yet exercised, will remain subject to a lock-up undertaking until they are converted or exercised;6 but c) the Ordinary Shares to be issued upon conversion of the Market Shares held by the Founders or upon exercise of the Market Warrants held by the Founders will no longer be subject to any lock-up undertaking. The Rollover Shareholders will enter into lock-up undertakings pursuant to which they have agreed to be bound by a lock-up undertaking identical to that of the Founders described in 2)a) above with respect to the ordinary shares of eureKING they will receive in the context of the Contribution. 9Governance Following the completion of the IBC, Mr. David Lescuyer, CEO of Skyepharma, will join the Board of Directors of eureKING. The future composition of the Board of Directors after the completion of the Initial Business Combination is not determined yet. Although it is expected that some members of the existing Board of Directors will remain Board members, some may be replaced. Any new appointments, including that of Mr. David Lescuyer, will be decided by the extraordinary shareholders' meeting that will be called to decide upon the Contribution. The information about the composition of the Board of Directors at that time, including about any new members, will be provided at the latest when this shareholders' meeting is convened. At any rate, the composition of the Board of Directors will continue to comply with the applicable independence and gender requirements. As indicated in the IPO Prospectus, Mr. Michael Kloss, CEO of eureKING, Mr. Stefan Berchtold, CFO of eureKING, and Mr. Peter Eckenberg, CTO of eureKING, will receive a deferred bonus of, respectively, 800,000, 100,000 and 100,000 in connection with the completion of the Initial Business Combination. The exceptional remuneration of Mr. Michael Kloss described above will only be paid to him after a favourable vote of the shareholders of eureKING convened in an ordinary general meeting in accordance with the provisions of Article L. 22-10-34, II of the French Code de commerce (ex post vote). 10Proposed changes to the eureKING Articles of Association and terms and conditions of the Market Warrants and Founders' Warrants As indicated in the May 16, 2023, press release regarding Skyepharma, eureKING intended to propose to its shareholders, to approve the following modifications to the eureKING Articles of Association and to the terms and conditions of the Market Warrants and the Founders' Warrants: Streamlining the procedures to redeem the Market Shares, namely doing away with the requirement that Market Shares to be redeemed be held in registered form; Extending the deadline to complete the Initial Business Combination from August 13, 2023, currently, to October 31 st , 2023, so as to ensure that there is enough time to complete the Initial Business Combination; and , 2023, so as to ensure that there is enough time to complete the Initial Business Combination; and Waiving the requirement that the fair market value of the target of the Initial Business Combination be at least 75% of the funds raised in the initial public offering of eureKING, i.e. at least 115,4 million, as the fair market value of Skyepharma is below this threshold. eureKING has decided that only the proposal to streamline the procedures to redeem the Market Shares will be put to the vote of the shareholders at the annual shareholders' meeting to be held on June 30, 2023 (and at the special meeting of the holders of Market Shares convened for the same day). The notices of these two meetings have been published in the Bulletin des Annonce Legales Obligatoires on May 26, 2023. The proposal to: Extend the deadline to complete the Initial Business Combination from August 13, 2023, currently to a later date, so as to ensure that there is enough time to complete the Initial Business Combination; and Waive the requirement that the fair market value of the target of the Initial Business Combination be at least 75% of the funds raised in the initial public offering of eureKING, will be put to the vote of the shareholders and of the holders of the Market Shares, Market Warrants, Founders' Shares and Founders' Warrants during meetings to be convened at a later date (but in any case before August 13, 2023). Further information on the timing of this ad hoc shareholders' meeting will be published ahead of the annual, June 30, 2023 shareholders' meeting. Advisors BNP Paribas and Societe Generale are acting as financial advisors to eureKING and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and Linklaters LLP are acting as legal advisors to eureKING. Claris Avocats is acting as legal advisor to Skyepharma. About eureKING Founded in March 2022, eureKING is a French SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company) formed with the aim of acquiring European companies in the field of cutting-edge biomanufacturing, with the ambition of creating a leading bio-CDMO in Europe capable of meeting the growing outsourcing needs of this industry. eureKING has chosen to focus on three highly specialized and strategic segments of the biopharmaceutical industry: the production of biologics, in particular new generations of monoclonal antibodies or complex proteins, the production of cell and gene therapies and the production of live biotherapeutics (with applications in the microbiome). With a 150 million capital raising in May 2022, eureKING is led by an international management team of experienced healthcare industry talent, 100% dedicated to the SPAC project and its development strategy. eureKING is supported by a Board of Directors with complementary pharmaceutical and financial expertise to achieve its goal of developing and promoting the promising biomanufacturing sector in Europe on an international scale. eureKING is listed on the professional compartment of Euronext Paris since May 12, 2022. www.eureking.com About Skyepharma SKYEPHARMA is an independent French pharmaceutical CDMO, 100% owned by its management team and Bpifrance. Skyepharma is an expert CDMO specialized in the formulation, development and manufacturing of complex oral solid forms, with a specific expertise and proprietary technologies on modified release products. Skyepharma is based in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, France. The current factory, dedicated to its activity, occupies 22,000m, on a 60,000m piece of land. Skyepharma has decided to allocate a portion of the available land to establish its SkyeHub Bioproduction, an innovative model designed to offer clinical and commercial production capacities to biotech companies. This SkyeHub model includes the construction of dedicated buildings, with specifically designed surfaces and premises, together with transverse support services such as quality, maintenance, batch release, and other services. www.skyepharma.com Media Contacts eureKING Image Sept Leslie Jung-Isenwater / Sergio de la Calle / Florence Coupry eureking@image7.fr +33 (0)1 53 70 74 70 Disclaimer The release, publication or distribution of this communication in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by laws or regulations. Therefore, persons in such jurisdictions into which this communication is released, published or distributed must inform themselves about and comply with such laws or regulations. eureKING assumes no responsibility for any violation of such restriction by any person. This communication is not a prospectus but an advertisement provided for information purposes only. It does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction, or an advice or recommendation with respect to such securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. Forward-Looking Statements This communication includes objectives, forecasts or other forward-looking statements that may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "estimate," "plan," "outlook," and "project" and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Such objectives, forecasts or other forward-looking statements with respect to revenues, earnings, performance, strategies, prospects and other aspects of the businesses of eureKING, Skyepharma and the combined company after completion of the proposed initial business combination are based on current data (including information provided to eureKING by Skyepharma and its shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction), as well as assumptions and analysis made by eureKING in light of its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Such forward looking statements may evolve or be revised due to a number of risks and uncertainties, including in particular the risks factors referred to above. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. eureKING expressly declines any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any objectives, forecasts or other forward-looking statements made in this communication, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law or regulation. Industry and Market Data Statements made in this communication regarding the beliefs of eureKING on the biomanufacturing sector, market and corporate landscape in European jurisdictions are based on research conducted by eureKING, on publicly available information published by third party and, in some cases, on management estimates based on their industry, experience and other knowledge. While eureKING believes this information to be reliable, eureKING has not independently verified such third party information, and does not make any representation or warranty as to the completeness of such information set forth in this communication. It is also possible that the data and estimates may be inaccurate or out of date, or that the forecast trends may not occur for the same reasons as described above, which could have a material adverse impact on eureKING's results of operations, financial condition, development or prospects. Trends in the industry, market and corporate landscape in European jurisdictions may differ from the market trends described in this communication. Estimates The historical figures related to Skyepharma included in this communication have been provided to eureKING by Skyepharma and its shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction described herein. 1 As described in the Prospectus approved by the Autorite des Marches Financiers on May 6, 2022, under no. 22-134 for the purpose of the initial public offering of eureKING (the "IPO Prospectus"). 2 The exercise of the warrants (bons de souscriptiond'actions) attached to the bonds, would result in the issuance of shares representing circa. 6% of the shares of Oleron Pharma. The total of the shares and other securities of Oleron Pharma thus sold in the context of the Acquisition would represent 58.1% of the share capital of Oleron Pharma (on a fully diluted basis). In practice, eureKING will purchase the bonds directly and renounce to the exercise of the warrants as eureKING would already hold 100% of the share capital of Oleron Pharma post-closing of the proposed transaction. 3 For a description of the future contents of the IBC Notice, see "Information to the public and the Shareholders relating to the Initial Business Combination" in the IPO Prospectus. 4 As described in the IPO Prospectus, and namely (i) eureKARE, Mr. Michael Kloss (CEO of eureKING), Mr. Gerard Le Fur (chairman of the Board of Directors of eureKING), Mr. Alexandre Mouradian (Chairman and CEO of eureKARE and observer to the Board of Directors of eureKING), Mr. Christophe Jean, Mr. Hubert Olivier, Mr. Rodolphe Besserve (observer to the Board of Directors of eureKING)(the "Initial Founders"), and (ii) VTT Fund Ltd, Aroma Health AG, Lagfin S.C.A. (Lussemburgo, succursale di Paradiso), JAM Invest Sarl, Jacques Lewiner, Guillaume Destison and Stefan Berchtold (CFO of eureKING)(together, the "Cornerstone Investors"). 5 In addition to the commitment not to redeem their Market Shares, the Initial Founders have agreed to forego the ,0.30 liquidation premium they would normally be entitled to in case of liquidation of eureKING if no Initial Business Combination is completed by August 13, 2023. The corresponding amount, 173,947.80 has therefore not been deposited in the Secured Deposit Accounts into which the proceeds of the issuance of the Market Shares were deposited. 6 This specific lock-up undertaking, relating to the Founders' Shares, Founders' Warrants and Market Warrants not yet converted or exercised is pursuant to the shareholders' agreement entered into among the Founders. This lock-up undertaking can therefore be waived or amended by the parties to this agreement. NEW YORK, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- InterVest Capital Partners ("InterVest") is pleased to announce that the firm has been named as the Best Islamic Fund Manager and Best Islamic Leasing House by Euromoney Magazine again for 2023. Recognized now for multiple years, InterVest continues its success in leasing, real estate and specialty finance having established over 130 vehicles with invested and committed capital exceeding USD16 billion since 1999. InterVest Capital Partners, formerly known as Wafra Capital Partners, is an SEC registered investment adviser based in New York, focused on asset-based lending, leasing and other structured finance verticals as well as real estate. Prior to January 1, 2012, the InterVest Capital Partners team was part of the Structured Finance division of Wafra Inc. InterVest was recognized for its innovation and track record in the world of Islamic finance, consistently evolving and expanding its reach across the specialty finance space. The firm has diverse sectoral exposure covering multiple verticals across niche private debt including but not limited to aerospace; healthcare; transportation; construction; energy; consumer; technology; and real estate. According to InterVest CEO, Michael Gontar, "We are thrilled to be recognized once again by Euromoney Magazine in this prestigious category of our peers. We congratulate our friends and partners who have contributed to our outstanding performance. We remain focused on investing and innovating within the Islamic finance and the broader specialty finance market." Since 1999, the firm's Leasing and Finance Program has established over 130 funds with committed capital exceeding USD16 billion. To date, all asset-based and structured finance funds have distributed their target current yield and have achieved their target returns to investors. Since 2004, the firm has managed seven international real estate funds, a real estate debt fund and a global real estate securities fund, and co-managed over 15 multi-family and office real estate transactions. For more information about InterVest Capital Partners, please visit www.intervest.com . View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/intervest-capital-partners-named-2023-best-islamic-fund-manager-and-best-islamic-leasing-house-by-euromoney-magazine-301837751.html Conference call will be held on June 2, 2023, at 11AM ET VANCOUVER, BC, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Zoomd Technologies Ltd. (TSXV: ZOMD) (OTC: ZMDTF) and its wholly owned subsidiary Zoomd Ltd. (collectively, "Zoomd" or the "Company"), the marketing technology (MarTech) user-acquisition and engagement platform, today reported its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The Company's financial statements and management discussion and analysis ("MD&A") are available on SEDAR under the Company's profile. All currency references in this press release are in USD. Key Financial Highlights Achieved strong gross margins of 40% in 1Q23 versus 30% in 1Q22. Achieved positive Adjusted EBITDA of $0.2M in 1Q23. in 1Q23. Ended 1Q23 with a cash balance of $2.7M and no long-term debt. Management Commentary Amit Bohensky, Chairman of Zoomd Technologies, stated, "During the first quarter of 2023, our business faced ongoing macroeconomic challenges, particularly in the fintech, cryptocurrencies, and e-commerce sectors. Under the guidance of our new CEO, Ido Almany, we are currently undertaking a thorough analysis and evaluation of each business line and supporting operations with the objective of consolidating and significantly streamlining our cost structure. We have identified several areas of inefficiency that are currently under active discussion by management and awaiting subsequent approval from the board. As of the date hereof, a final decision has not been made, and discussions are still currently underway. We anticipate that final decisions on each business line and supporting operations will be made imminently. Once these decisions are finalized and the corresponding measures are implemented, we believe they will lead to improved bottom line and increased cash flow for the Company." First Quarter 2023 Highlights Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2023 , were $8.6 million , a 47% decline relative to Q1 2022. The decrease in revenues is primarily as a result of global macroeconomic conditions that impact client advertising budgets in general and especially in areas of Fintech and in particular Cryptocurrency. , were , a 47% decline relative to Q1 2022. The decrease in revenues is primarily as a result of global macroeconomic conditions that impact client advertising budgets in general and especially in areas of Fintech and in particular Cryptocurrency. Gross profit margin was 40% for the three months ended March 31, 2023 , versus 30% for the same period last year, reflecting lower revenues from the cryptocurrency segment which carries lower margins. , versus 30% for the same period last year, reflecting lower revenues from the cryptocurrency segment which carries lower margins. Research and Development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2023 , were $1.2M , a 20% decrease relative to Q1 2022, reflecting lower deprecation and other R&D expenses. , were , a 20% decrease relative to Q1 2022, reflecting lower deprecation and other R&D expenses. Selling, General and Administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2023 , were $3.1M , a 16% increase YOY, primarily reflecting increases in expenses incurred as a result of new employees joining the Company, primarily after the acquisition of Albert. , were , a 16% increase YOY, primarily reflecting increases in expenses incurred as a result of new employees joining the Company, primarily after the acquisition of Albert. Other expenses - Impairment for the three months ended March 31, 2023 , are software costs write off in the amount of $2.8M . , are software costs write off in the amount of . Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2023 , was $0.2M as compared with Adjusted EBITDA of $1.9M for the three months ended December 31, 2022 . The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily attributed to the decrease in revenue. , was as compared with Adjusted EBITDA of for the three months ended . The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily attributed to the decrease in revenue. Operating loss was $3.5M for Q1 2023, compared to an operating profit of $0.9M in Q1 2022, and was primarily attributable to the impairment of intangible assets, which are the software costs write off. for Q1 2023, compared to an operating profit of in Q1 2022, and was primarily attributable to the impairment of intangible assets, which are the software costs write off. As of March 31, 2023 , the Company's cash and cash equivalents amounted to $2.7 million , and no long-term debt. , the Company's cash and cash equivalents amounted to , and no long-term debt. On March 28, 2022 , the Company announced that it has acquired substantially all of the assets of Albert Technologies Ltd. and Albert Technologies' Inc in a cash and share deal. As partial consideration for certain of Albert's employees hired by the Company, the Company has entered into certain shares for services arrangements with such employees totaling up to $0.2M worth of company shares, to be issued upon the completion of the services to the Company and using the price per share at the time of issuance. In September 2022 , the Company issued 333,863 shares to Albert's employees with a deem price per share of CAD$0.39 . In May 2023 , the Company issued 804,923 shares to Albert's employees with a deem price per share of CAD$0.16 . , the Company announced that it has acquired substantially all of the assets of Albert Technologies Ltd. and Albert Technologies' Inc in a cash and share deal. As partial consideration for certain of Albert's employees hired by the Company, the Company has entered into certain shares for services arrangements with such employees totaling up to worth of company shares, to be issued upon the completion of the services to the Company and using the price per share at the time of issuance. In , the Company issued 333,863 shares to Albert's employees with a deem price per share of . In , the Company issued 804,923 shares to Albert's employees with a deem price per share of . Zoomd's Board of Directors is reviewing and considering potential changes to optimize business lines and product offerings for improved growth and profitability. Conference Call Amit Bohensky, Founder and Chairman, will hold a conference call to discuss the quarter's financial results at 11AM ET on June 2, 2023. Interested parties can listen via a live webcast, from the link available in the Investors section of Zoomd's website at https://zoomd.com/investors/ or at https://app.webinar.net/v87wJ1YJxdQ A replay will be available after the call, in the Investors section of the Company's website at https://zoomd.com/investors/ or via https://app.webinar.net/v87wJ1YJxdQ. About Zoomd: Zoomd (TSXV: ZOMD) (OTC: ZMDTF), founded in 2012 and began trading on the TSX Venture Exchange in September 2019, offers a site search engine to publishers, and a mobile app user-acquisition platform, integrated with many global digital media outlets, to advertisers. The platform unifies more than 600 media sources into one unified dashboard. Offering advertisers, a user acquisition control center for managing all new customer acquisition campaigns using a single platform. By unifying all these media sources onto a single platform, Zoomd saves advertisers significant resources that would otherwise be spent consolidating data sources, thereby maximizing data collection and data insights while minimizing the resources spent on the exercise. Further, Zoomd is a performance-based platform that allows advertisers to advertise to the relevant target audiences using a key performance indicator-algorithm that is focused on achieving the advertisers' goals and targets. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CAUTION REGARDING NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES This press release refers to "Adjusted EBITDA" which is a non-IFRS financial measure that does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. The Company's presentation of this preliminary financial measure may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. This preliminary financial measure is intended to provide additional information to investors concerning the Company's estimated results. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, as adjusted for share-based payments and one-time non-operating expenses and is a measure of a company's operating performance. Essentially, it's a way to evaluate a company's performance without having to factor in financing decisions, accounting decisions or tax environments. Management uses this non-IFRS measure as a key metric in the evaluation of the Company's performance and the consolidated financial results. The Company believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors in their assessment of the operating performance and the valuation of the Company. However, non-IFRS financial measures are not prepared in accordance with IFRS, and the information is not necessarily comparable to other companies and should be considered as a supplement to, not a substitute for, or superior to, the corresponding measures calculated in accordance with IFRS. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and operating profit is available in Zoomd's MD&A located on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com which is incorporated by reference into this press release. DISCLAIMER IN REGARD TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to Zoomd's future outlook, its future ability to successfully continue its growth, its ability to improve profitability as a result of the ongoing management review, as well as its ability to continue expanding into new geographies and industries. Forward-looking statements are based on our current assumptions, estimates, expectations and projections that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, technological, legal, privacy matters, political and social uncertainties (including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current war in Ukraine), the extent and duration of which are uncertain at this time on Zoomd's business and general economic and business conditions and markets. There can be no assurance that any of the forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The reader should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Company Media Contacts: Amit Bohensky Chairman Zoomd ir@zoomd.com Website: www.zoomd.com Investor relations: Lytham Partners, LLC Ben Shamsian New York | Phoenix ZOMD@lythampartners.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1039696/Zoomd_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/zoomd-technologies-reports-first-quarter-2023-financial-results-and-management-update-301837768.html VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd. ("Quartz Mountain" or the "Company") (TSXV:QZM)(OTC PINK:QZMRF) announces that Robert Dickinson has resigned as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and will remain Chairman, and that Trevor Thomas, Secretary of the Company, has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Company pending recruitment of a permanent replacement. Mr. Thomas has practiced in the areas of corporate commercial, corporate finance, securities and mining law since 1995, both in private practice environment as well as in-house positions and is currently general counsel for Hunter Dickinson Inc. Prior to joining Hunter Dickinson Inc., he served as in-house legal counsel with Placer Dome Inc. The Company also announces that Leonie Tomlinson has resigned as the President and a director of the Company to pursue other opportunities. The Company would like to thank Ms. Tomlinson for her contributions to Quartz Mountain over her time with the Company and wishes her well in her future endeavors. About Quartz Mountain Quartz Mountain is a mineral exploration company based in Vancouver, Canada. It is focused on acquiring, exploring, developing, and transacting high-value gold, silver, and copper projects in British Columbia ("BC"). The Company currently holds 100% of the Maestro gold-silver-copper-molybdenum property and the Jake porphyry copper-gold property located north of Smithers, BC. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Robert Dickinson, Chairman For further details, contact Robert Dickinson, Chairman at: T: (604) 684-6365 or within North America at 1-800-667-2114. E: info@quartzmountainresources.com W: www.quartzmountainresources.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 release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking-statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts 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 the forward-looking statements. Assumptions used by the Company to develop forward-looking statements include the following: the Company's projects will obtain all required environmental and other permits and all land use and other licenses, studies and exploration of the Company's projects will continue to be positive, and no geological or technical problems will occur. For more information on the Company, and the risks and uncertainties connected with its business, investors should review the Company's home jurisdiction filings as www.sedar.com and its filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. SOURCE: Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/758167/Quartz-Mountain-Announces-Board-and-Management-Changes Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2023) - NuGen Medical Devices Inc. (TSXV: NGMD) (the "Company" or "NuGen") is pleased to announce that it is hosting an investor lunch presentation on June 15th at Modus Restaurant, located at 145 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5H 1J8 at 12:00 p.m. EDT, limited to 70 attendees. "Maintaining the philosophy of treating our investors as customers, I cordially invite shareholders and interested parties to our Investor Lunch Presentation to be held on June 15th, 2023" commented Tony Di Benedetto, Executive Chairman. "We will be showcasing our InsuJet device and discussing international sales forecasts as we look to the commercial rollout of InsuJet now approved in 42 countries. Having recently completed two private placements totalling gross proceeds of $4,450,000, sales and marketing efforts are now well underway." Interested parties must RSVP at the information provided below, as space is limited to 70 attendees. To RSVP, please email Morna Gorman at morna@nugenmd.com . The lunch will be comprised of a 30-minute corporate presentation, as well as product displays and demonstrations of NuGen's InsuJet device, followed by a Q&A period and reception to follow. Key management and personnel from NuGen that will be in attendance includes: Tony Di Benedetto, Executive Chairman Tony Di Benedetto is a Canadian technology entrepreneur with over 30 years of hands-on experience in building, operating, and divesting technology companies. Most recently, Mr. Di Benedetto was the co-founder of Drone Delivery Canada Corp., which he took public and successfully raised over $120M in equity financing, achieving a market capitalization in excess of $550M. Mr. Di Benedetto has also co-founded several technology companies including Data Centers Canada - a colocation data center facility in Vaughan, Ontario - which he later sold to TeraGo Networks Inc. Other technology enterprises Mr. Di Benedetto developed include system integration/managed services businesses, hosting, and one of southern Ontario's largest fixed wireless broadband networks, all of which he successfully divested. Mr. Di Benedetto holds a degree from York University. Richard Buzbuzian, President and CEO Richard Buzbuzian is a capital markets executive with over 25 years of investment experience in Canada and Europe. Most recently, Mr. Buzbuzian was president and a director of Drone Delivery Canada Corp., which he co-founded, took public, and raised over $120M Canadian in equity financings, achieving a market capitalization in excess of $550M. Mr. Buzbuzian holds a degree from the University of Toronto. Nicky Canton, COO Nicky Canton has a background in industrial design engineering as well as business administration with more than 13 years of experience in product development, manufacturing, and regulatory compliance of healthcare products, and more particularly, needle-free injection systems. Mr. Canton was involved in the early development of the current InsuJet needle-free injector and has been responsible for both development and production scale-up. Besides R&D, his expertise includes risk management, regulatory compliance, supplier management including manufacturing processes, injection moulding, assembly of medical devices, sterile packaging, and sterilization. He has established two manufacturing sites for NuGen's needle-free injectors and manages their day-to-day operations. Mr. Canton has filed and obtained several patents related to technology of needle-free injection systems in China, Europe, and the United States. Veronique Laberge, CFO Veronique Laberge is a chartered professional accountant and holder of the title of auditor. With more than 17 years of experience in professional practice, she specializes in certification mandates, general accounting and acts as a consultant for public and private companies. Karen Dunlap, Director Karen Dunlap was President/COO, The Americas, UK, Europe and Board Director at Sol-Millennium Medical Group from September 2011 to December 2019, responsible for the acquisition of devices in order to launch into the US and overseeing markets to develop a strategic platform and establish a global sales/marketing team. Ms. Dunlap was Vice President Sales for NMT, partnering with Pharmaceutical Companies on specific medication delivery, and Regional Manager for Medfusion and Medex, focused on the Neonatal and Pediatric markets, where she has extensive experience in accurate medication delivery systems. Dr. John, Leombruno, Independent Director Dr. John Leombruno has executive level experience in many areas of the pharmaceutical industry, including market access, medical information, pharmacovigilance, medical affairs, and business development. He co-founded Patient Direct (a patient support and specialty pharmacy provider) and GMD Distribution (a pharmaceutical distribution, patient support and specialty pharmacy services firm), both of which were acquired by McKesson Canada between 2010 and 2017. In 2019, Dr. Leombruno started OkRx, a Canadian Healthcare software company focusing on helping patients, prescribers, insurers, and pharmaceutical companies manage specialty medications. Dr. Leombruno is formally trained as a Pharmacist and has earned an MBA from Queen's University and a Ph.D. in Pharmacoepidemiology from the University of Toronto. About NuGen Medical Devices NuGen is an emerging specialty medical device company developing the next generation of needle-free technologies and other innovative medical delivery products. The company's products, which include the InsuJet and PetJet needle-free injection systems, are designed to improve the lives of millions of people and animals. NuGen continues to receive approval in numerous countries, including Canada. NuGen's products are designed for use in several important fields including, but not limited to, diabetes, veterinary medicine, and vaccines. For further information, please visit: Websites: www.insujet.com and www.nugenmd.com Instagram: @NuGenMD Twitter: @NuGenMD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nugenmd/ For further information, please contact: Tony Di Benedetto Executive Chairman (416) 791-9399 tony@nugenmd.com Richard Buzbuzian President & CEO (647) 501-3290 richard@nugenmd.com To arrange a media interview with NuGen, please contact: Nelson Hudes Hudes Communications International (905) 660-9155 nelson@hudescommunications.com Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Information: Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements 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 information. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168010 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2023) - Carlin Gold Corporation (TSXV: CGD) (the "Company" or "Carlin") is pleased to announce that it intends to complete a restructuring transaction whereby it will complete a consolidation, private placement and shares-for-debt transaction. Consolidation The consolidation will be conducted on the basis of one (1) post-consolidated common share for every ten (10) pre-consolidated common shares (the "Consolidation"). Currently, a total of 88,939,464 common shares of the Company are issued and outstanding and, after the Consolidation, the Company will have approximately 8,893,946 issued and outstanding common shares. The Consolidation is subject to the approval of the TSXV and, once the Consolidation is approved, a new CUSIP number and letter of transmittal will be sent out to registered shareholders of the Company by the Company's transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company of Canada. The Consolidation is not subject to shareholder approval and no name change will be completed in conjunction with the Consolidation. The board of directors of the Company believe that the Consolidation is in the best interest of its shareholders as it is anticipated that the Consolidation will provide the Company with greater flexibility to arrange financings and complete strategic transactions and mineral property acquisitions. Private Placement of Units The Company also announces a non-brokered private placement offering of up to 5,000,000 units (the "Units") at a price of $0.12 per Unit (on a post-Consolidation basis) to raise gross proceeds of up to $600,000 (the "Private Placement"). Each unit will consist of one common share of the Company and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder, on exercise thereof, to purchase one additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.20 per share for a period of five years from the completion of the Private Placement. The Private Placement is subject to all necessary regulatory approvals, including acceptance from the TSXV. All securities issued in connection with the Private Placement will be subject to a four-month hold period from the closing date under applicable Canadian securities laws, in addition to such other restrictions as may apply under applicable securities laws of jurisdictions outside Canada. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Private Placement for general working capital purposes. Shares for Debt Transaction The Company also intends to issue 4,600,000 common shares of the Company (the "Settlement Shares") at a deemed price of $0.15 per share (on a post-Consolidation basis) in full and final settlement of outstanding debts totaling $772,539 (the "Debt") owing to certain directors and officers of the company for management fees (the "Debt Settlement"). The Company is proposing to issue the Settlement Shares in order to preserve cash to fund future operations. The issuance of Settlement Shares to K. Wayne Livingstone and Robert D. Thomas, each a director of the Company, and to Aris Morfopoulos, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company (collectively, the "Related Parties"), will each be considered to be a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The issuance of Settlement Shares, as it relates to the Related Parties, is exempt from the minority approval and formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to subsections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101. The Debt Settlement is subject to all necessary regulatory approvals, including acceptance from the TSXV. All securities issued in connection with the Debt Settlement will be subject to a four-month hold period from the closing date under applicable Canadian securities laws, in addition to such other restrictions as may apply under applicable securities laws of jurisdictions outside Canada. About Carlin Carlin controls two 100% owned gold exploration properties in Nevada, the Cortez Summit property and Willow property, both containing Carlin-style gold targets. Cortez Summit lies about 1 kilometer north-east of the north end of Nevada Gold Mines' ("NGM") Goldrush deposit and east of Barrick Gold Corporation's ("Barrick") Fourmile resource. The Goldrush deposit, currently under development, has a reported underground mineral resource with 6.6 million oz grading 7.8 g/t. indicated and 1.2 million oz grading 7.6. g/t Au inferred, for an attributable (61.5%) total of 7.8 million oz (Barrick 2019 annual report) of the overall NGM resource of 12.7 million oz. The Fourmile resource, owned by Barrick, and located directly north of Goldrush and west of Cortez Summit, has an indicated and inferred resource containing 2.55 M oz Au grading 10.6 gpt Au (Barrick 2021 annual report). NGM has completed a stand-alone underground feasibility study for the Goldrush deposit (Barrick Q3 2021 report). An Environmental Impact Statement has been completed, and a Record of Decision is expected in the second half of 2023 (Barrick Q1 2023 MD&A). The Willow property is an early-stage project in Elko County north of the town of Wells, Nevada. Willow is located within a potential new gold belt that contains the Long Canyon mine being operated by NGM. "K. Wayne Livingstone" K. Wayne Livingstone, President and Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (604) 638-1402 Website: www.carlingold.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 news release. Forward-Looking Statements: 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. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things: the Consolidation; the Private Placement; and the Debt Settlement. These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the Company not receiving the necessary regulatory approvals in respect of any of the transactions contemplated herein. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that the Company will receive the necessary regulatory approvals in respect of each of the transactions contemplated herein. 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, except as required by applicable securities laws. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168089 Responds to global demand for biosafety testing for drug development and commercialization Expansion creates nearly 500 new jobs in Glasgow and Stirling Company's investment to boost global testing capacity now tops 350 million since mid-2022 GLASGOW, Scotland, May 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Merck, a leading science and technology company, invests 35 million in biosafety testing at its Glasgow and Stirling sites, Scotland. Biosafety testing is a critical step in the drug development and manufacturing process that ensures drugs are safe, efficacious, and meet regulatory requirements. The expansion will create nearly 500 new jobs, bringing Merck's workforce to over 1,200 employees across the two sites. "We remain committed to ensuring the safety of the world's medicines through our state-of-the-art testing solutions for our customers around the world that drive new treatments," said Dirk Lange, Head of Life Science Services, Merck Life Science. "Since mid-2022, we have announced investments of more than 350 million in our global testing network to meet the growing demand for these services." The centerpiece of the investment is a new, 1,200-square-meter facility in Glasgow, which will house molecular biology and sequencing services. The company will expand testing capacity in its current buildings with biosafety testing, analytical development, and viral clearance suites. The latest investment follows the company's recent Rockville, Maryland, USA, and Shanghai, China testing expansions. "Merck has a wealth of testing expertise spanning over 75 years, including 33 years here in Scotland," said David McClelland, Site Head and Managing Director for the Scottish sites. "The biosafety testing services at our sites in Glasgow and Stirling have been experiencing strong, double-digit growth for several years. This investment is a significant announcement for Merck in Scotland and an acknowledgment of the great work of our on-site teams." With its BioReliance testing services portfolio, Merck performs more than 20,000 studies in the UK annually for more than 500 clients globally. BioReliance Contract Testing Services and the recently formed Millipore CTDMO Services are part of the Life Science Services business unit, which together with the Process Solutions business is one of Merck's "Big 3" growth drivers. The company aims to increase its Group sales to approximately 25 billion by 2025. Around 80% of the planned sales growth is to come from the "Big 3" businesses. All Merck news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the Merck website. Please go to www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service. About Merck Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across life science, healthcare and electronics. More than 64,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From providing products and services that accelerate drug development and manufacturing as well as discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices - the company is everywhere. In 2022, Merck generated sales of 22.2 billion in 66 countries. Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck's technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as MilliporeSigma in life science, EMD Serono in healthcare, and EMD Electronics in electronics. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2087007/M3484_221004_330.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/merck-increases-global-commitment-to-biosafety-testing-with--35-million-investment-in-scotland-301836171.html AstriVax, a Leuven, Belgium-based provider of a plug-and-play vaccine platform, received a grant of 2.5M. The government grant was awarded by Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO). The company intends to use the funds to advance its technology and its vaccine platform. Founded in 2022 and led by Hanne Callewaert, Ph.D., CEO, AstriVax develops novel prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines that have reduced cold chain requirements, and offer broad and long-lasting protection against various infectious diseases. The non-dilutive financing builds upon the 30m seed financing raised in 2022. AstriVax is supported by V-Bio Ventures, Fund+, Flanders Future TechFund managed by PMV, Thuja Capital, Ackermans & van Haaren, OMX Europe Venture Fund (Merieux Equity Partners and Korys), BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity, and the KU Leuven Gemma Frisius Fund. FinSMEs 30/05/2023 Vector Capital, a San Francisco, CA-based private equity firm specializing in transformational investments in established technology businesses, acquired Riverbed Technology, a San Francisco, CA-based IT solutions provider that delivers secure digital experiences and accelerates enterprise performance to global corporations. Riverbeds existing lenders will continue to support the company by providing it with a new credit facility at closing. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. The transaction is subject to standard and customary closing conditions including the receipt of regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the coming months. Led by Dan Smoot, President and CEO, Riverbed Technology is a leader in unified observability, offering two portfolios: Alluvio by Riverbed, a differentiated Unified Observability portfolio that unifies data, insights, and actions across IT, so customers can deliver secure digital experiences; and Riverbed Acceleration, providing secure acceleration of any app, over any network, to users anywhere. FinSMEs 30/05/2023 Wellplaece, a San Francisco, CA-based provider of a platform for dental offices to source products, raised $5.5M in Seed funding. The round was led by Eniac Ventures and Bee Partners, with participation from Erik Anderson, Co-founder CEO WestRiver Group; Haroon Mokhtarzada, CEO & Co-founder of TrueBill and RocketMoney; Andy Oreffice, former CCO of Affordable Healthcare; and entrepreneur Francis Hellyer. The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its business reach. Co-founded by Caen Contee, and Ivan Bertona, Wellplaece offers a performance-based business model that leverages built-in AI to deliver savings to its clients, Dental Support Organizations (DSOs) and dental practices everywhere. Clients are billed after their orders are processed, placed, and confirmed delivered. Its proprietary technology shops a network of suppliers on the clients behalf, resulting in a streamlined access to the right products for a better price. Wellplaece places the order and manages supplier logistics while charging the client once for the aggregated cart of supplies. In addition, the system manages returns and chargebacks when necessary. The system also provides data to power interoffice optimization, decision making, and business intelligence, particularly valuable toward the management of group practices. FinSMEs 30/05/2023 Unsung heroes can be found in every corner of India, and its time we told their stories. From Bijiyashanti Tongbram, a young entrepreneur from Manipur, to Kandoni Soren Warrior of Jungle, to Ashaita Mahajan an inclusive cafe owner, and more, these heroes are quietly and determinedly transforming the country around us. Nari Shakti slakes thirst of Babita Rajput led over 100 women in digging through a mountain to bring water to her village. Rising India is honouring Babita Rajput, a resident of Agrotha village in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh, who led a group of over 100 women in solving the water crisis in their village. The women collaborated with an NGO that works in the field of water conservation and dug through an entire mountain to connect their dried-up pond to a nearby canal. This allowed rainwater to flow directly into the pond. Babita became an inspiration to the women who carried out this mammoth task. Her efforts have been widely appreciated, and she continues to inspire others to work towards solving water-related issues in their communities. Babitas leadership and determination have made a significant impact in addressing the water crisis in her village. Warrior of the jungle Kandoni Soren mobilised 40 women from her village to guard their forest against illegal cutting of trees. Meet Kandoni Soren, a home guard with the Jamshedpur Police, who leads a group of tribal women in Sarkaghat, Jharkhand, to protect their forest from illegal tree felling. Kandoni started the initiative, called Hariyali Sakaam, in 2011, after witnessing unprecedented tree felling from the forest. The group of tribal women, armed with sticks, bows, and arrows, venture into the forest every day to keep an eye out for illegal tree cutters. At times, they manage to catch the culprits red-handed and shoo them away. Over the years, the group has expanded to 40 women who keep a 24-hour vigil on the forest to protect their natural resources. Kandonis initiative has helped curb illegal tree felling by 80-90%. Kandonis work has earned her the respect and support of her colleagues and fellow villagers. School to save a martial art Silambam teacher Rathinam has trained over 10,000 students in a bid to save a dying martial art form. Pulithevan Silamba Training School in Chinnamanur has been providing free Silambam training to students above the age of 5 for the past 34 years. The schools teacher, Rathinam, has trained over ten thousand students so far. Silambam, is the traditional martial art of Tamil Nadu, and is believed to have originated 12,500 years ago. It is considered the mother of all martial arts practiced by the Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas. The Cleanliness Ambassador Bilal Ahmed Dar has removed over 12000 kilos of waste from Kashmirs Lake Wular. Bilal Ahmed Dar, a resident of Bandipora district in Jammu and Kashmir, gained national recognition when he was named the brand ambassador for cleanliness by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation. In 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned him in his Mann Ki Baat radio address, congratulating the 18-year-old for cleaning more than 12,000 kg of garbage from Wular Lake in just one year. Dars efforts have not stopped there, and he continues to work to clean up other water bodies in Kashmir. His dedication and hard work are an inspiration to others, and he has become a symbol of the power of individual action to effect positive change in the world. An inclusive cafe owner Ashaita Mahajan empowers differently-abled individuals by providing them with dignified employment. Inspired by her cousin with autism, Ashaita collaborated with her aunt to establish the Yash Charitable Trust in 2014. One of the trusts first ventures was the Arpan Dabba Service, which employed only persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (PwIDDs). Following the initiatives success, the idea for Cafe Arpan was born. The cafes interior is designed to be welcoming to everyone, and the employees are curated in accordance with their abilities so they can operate the entire cafe with the aid of two support staff. Since its opening in 2018, Cafe Arpan has gained a loyal customer base and received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the community. Despite facing some setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cafe Arpan is eager to return to pre-COVID times and continue its mission of inclusion and empowerment. The separation of Harry and Meghan was bound to happen. I guess its difficult to stay henpecked for too long. According to Sky News Contributor Daisy. The Royal Family would absolutely welcome Prince Harry back home and most of them expect him to return. So, is the brand Harry & Meghan finally breaking up? Experts believe that its for sure, since all is not well in the fairytale marriage. Prince Harry has been called the prodigal prince for years. Charles will take him back home with open hands. William will also welcome him back; after all they are brothers. On the other hand, ex-royal staff believes that Meghan Markle brainwashed Prince Harry and tied him down to the California mansion. On a lighter note sky news also mentioned that probably Harry was whipped. Paul Burrell, Princess Dianas former butler claims Prince Harry will return to the UK for good but without Meghan Markle. According to a Mirror report, the late queen also believed that Harry will return to her when Harry and his wife Meghan Markle have quit the Royal Family in favour of a life away from the spotlight, moving to LA with son Archie. Dianas former butler believes that Harry is planning to move back to UK Princess Dianas former butler has sensationally claimed Prince Harry has finally woken up to the truth about his wife and will soon return to the UK for good. In conversation with GB News, Paul Burrell who worked for Diana for more than 10 years until her death in 1997 has claimed the Duke of Sussex is staying with his wife, Meghan, only for the sake of their two children, Archie, 4, and Lilibet, 1. According to a report published in nzherald.com, Burrell says, Am I the only person in the UK that is thinking, has Harry finally woken up to the truth? Has he finally seen the truth of what his wife is doing and that hes been brainwashed and mesmerised by her beauty or something? Because we all know that but he doesnt seem to see it, Burrell said. He added that he wants Harry to be happy and see his family grow but admitted there was a niggling doubt in his mind and he believed the prince would return to the UK for good and be welcomed with open arms by both his father King Charles and brother Prince William, despite reports of their estranged relationship. I have no doubt that, when this happens, because we all know that it will happen, when it does happen then he will return to the United Kingdom and I think his father, the King, and his brother, the Prince of Wales, will both greet him back into the country with open arms. Harry & Meghans split, what experts have to say? 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. Meghan Markle is a like cuckoo in the royal nest and this will destroy her marriage As per reports, British politician Chris Mullin has strong and negative opinions about Meghan Markle and other members of the royal family. Mullin branded the actress as a cuckoo and disapproved of her woke Californian hang-ups. Meghan Markle is a cuckoo in the royal nest and her woke Californian hang-ups will destroy her marriage to Prince Harry, a senior UK politician said. Despite his lack of a personal relationship with the Sussexes, he claimed Prince Harry would come limping home when their relationship ends in tears. According to the Royal Observer, the author later compared his household to the Sussexes and was annoyed by Meghans discomfort with comments rooted in anti-Blackness. Mullin whose wife is Vietnamese claimed derogatory questions about complexion are not in the least offensive because although his daughter isnt half-Black, him being a parent to a biracial child empowered him to make his various accusations against the Duchess of Sussex. (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. Guardians bring cultural relics closer to general public People's Daily Online) 16:00, May 30, 2023 Guo Zhongxing, in his 50s, is a guardian of the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall. He was hosting a live-streaming session to present the beautiful scenery of the Great Wall to viewers. Guo Zhongxing hosts a live-streaming show on the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall. (Photo courtesy of Guo Zhongxing) Located in Luanping county of Chengde city, north China's Hebei Province, the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall boasts of magnificent scenery and preserves many defense walls. In 2019, the Great Wall National Cultural Park started renovating, and the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall was made a key part under the project. Guo, head of the cultural relics protection center at the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall, has been working there for 25 years. In over a year, he has been holding one live-streaming session almost every day to help his more than 320,000 followers better appreciate the beauty of the Great Wall. In April 2020, Guo opened an account on a short-video platform and started to post videos of the Great Wall on it. After watching Guo's videos, many people came to visit the Jinshanling section. Guo Zhongxing hosts a live-streaming show on the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall. (Photo courtesy of Guo Zhongxing) In recent years, more and more grassroots guardians are making innovative efforts to protect cultural relics. Huang Zijue, 35, is director of the cultural relics and tourism management office at the ruins site of the Zhongshan Principality, which was a kingdom of the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.), in Pingshan county, Hebei Province. He has led an effort to create cultural and creative products inspired by characters of the Zhongshan Principality and artifacts unearthed from the tomb of the King of the Zhongshan Principality. The products, sold on e-commerce platforms and live-streaming sessions, have won the hearts of Chinese consumers. They've also reached consumers in Japan, South Korea and France. Huang Zijue carves inscriptions on a cultural and creative product. (Photo courtesy of Huang Zijue) Huang believes that the cultural relic resources of the Zhongshan Principality should be exploited to help people understand the ancient kingdom. Thanks to the efforts of Huang and his colleagues, the exhibition hall for displaying cultural relics of the ancient kingdom has been renovated, the ruins site of the Zhongshan Principality is able to better accommodate tourists, and a series of cultural and creative products have been rolled out. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) NGN International, a leading cyber security company, played a key role at this year's Bahrain Smart Cities Summit showcasing its innovative solutions and highlighting the pivotal role of technological innovation in boosting the security of sustainable cities. The two-day summit, which was held recently at the Gulf Hotel, attracted more than 250 professionals from both the government and private sectors, including engineers, consultants, technology experts, sustainability specialists, academia representatives as well as delegations from across the GCC countries. Held under the patronage of Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Engineer Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, the event provided a platform for cutting-edge discussions on smart cities and fostering innovation in the region. Ilya Leonov, the Chief Technology Officer at NGN was a distinguished speaker in a panel discussion held at the summit titled "Safe City - Future Proofing for Tomorrow & Beyond". Lauding the event, Leonov said the insightful discussion was centered around the "Evolution of safe cities; The imminent challenges that lie ahead, and the Potential technological and political solutions that can empower cities to safeguard the well-being and security of their residents, while equipping them to tackle future adversities. During the panel discussion, he delved into the pivotal role of technological innovation in enhancing the security measures of sustainable cities. He also highlighted a myriad of advancements in the field of technology, including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and extensive data analysis. Leonov further expounded on various applications of artificial intelligence in smart cities, emphasizing the significance of formulating comprehensive future strategies for the seamless transition of cities into smart ecosystems, both in the short and long term. Its been nine years of Narendra Modi. After first being sworn in as prime minister of India on 26 May 2014 and then storming back to power in 30 May 2019, its been nine unforgettable years of the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime. In these years, there have been many highs and a few lows. But one of the most significant highs in the Modi era has been how the prime minister has helped the nation slowly but surely shed its colonial baggage. Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Indias 76th Independence Day in 2022, he had said, In no part of our existence, not even in the deepest corners of our mind or habits should there be any ounce of slavery. It should be nipped there itself. We have to liberate ourselves from the slavery mind set which is visible in innumerable things within and around us. Catch all the live updates from 9 years of Modi government HERE And Modi has been untiring in his efforts to ensure India give up the colonial-era mentality and move towards an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Also read: 9 Years of Modi Government: From a new Parliament to Statue of Unity, the architectural wonders of Narendra Modis India Lets take a look. New Parliament Two days before his nine-year anniversary, on 29 May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a grand event inaugurated the new Parliament building, which also saw the installation of the historic sengol in the Lok Sabha chamber. Before the grand inauguration, Modi had tweeted, May this iconic building be a cradle of empowerment, igniting dreams and nurturing them into reality. May it propel our great nation to new heights of progress. Speaking from the new triangular, four-storey high structure, Modi had said that the country had left behind its colonial past, referring to the old Parliament building that was built by the British when they ruled India. India is the mother of democracy, Modi said, as lawmakers thumped their desks. Several years of foreign rule stole our pride from us. Today, India has left behind that colonial mindset. The new building, designed by Ahmedabad-based Bimal Patel at an estimated cost of Rs 970 crore, is a true representation of India with material used for the new building being sourced from across the country. For instance, the teakwood used in the building is sourced from Nagpur in Maharashtra, whereas the red and white sandstone comes from Sarmathura in Rajasthan. The Kesharia green stone has been procured from Udaipur, the red granite from Lakha near Ajmer and the white marble has been sourced from Ambaji in Rajasthan. Also, the Lok Sabha chamber has a peacock theme, representative of our national bird whereas the new Rajya Sabha hall is built on the lotus theme Indias national flower. Rajpath renamed Kartavya Path In line with his resolve for New India in Amrit Kaal to remove any trace of colonial mindset, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kartavya Path in New Delhi on 8 September 2022. The Narendra Modi government renamed the iconic stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate in Delhi as a way to shed the colonial baggage. Rajpath the ceremonial boulevard that runs from Rashtrapati Bhawan all the way down to Vijay Chowk and India Gate, and ends at the 16th century fort, Purana Qila was named by the British as Kingsway in honour of King George V who visited this new city during the Delhi Durbar of 1911 and proclaimed the shift of the capital from Calcutta to the erstwhile centre of Mughal power. Like much of central Delhi, Rajpath was designed by British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. It was set up to offer an uninterrupted view of the new city from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, which was the Viceroys palace at the time and today serves as the official residence of the President of India. Following the independence of India, the road was given its Hindi name, Rajpath, in place of its English designation. This represents a mere translation more than a substantial renaming, since Rajpath in Hindi is broadly analogous in meaning to Kings way. On the day of the inauguration, Modi had said: Today, we are filling the picture of tomorrow with new colours, leaving behind the past. Today, this new aura is visible everywhere, it is the aura of confidence of new India. Kingsway, that is, Rajpath, the symbol of slavery, has become a matter of history from today and has been erased forever. Today, a new history has been created in the form of Kartavya Path. I congratulate all the countrymen for their freedom from yet another identity of slavery, in this Amrit Kaal of Independence. King George V replaced by Netaji In January 2022, on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Prime Minister Modi unveiled a hologram statue of the freedom fighter at India Gate. The 28-foot-long hologram statue was installed under a canopy, which was empty since 1968 when the statue of King George V was removed. This hologram statue is a placeholder for a 25-foot-long statue of Netaji made of granite. While unveiling the hologram statue, PM Modi had said the country is correcting mistakes made after independence when, according to him, efforts were made to erase the contribution of several great personalities along with the nations heritage and culture. Later, on 8 September last year, the prime minister unveiled the statue of Netaji at India Gate. While dedicating the black granite statue to the country, Modi said: If after independence India had followed the path of Subhas Babu, what heights would the country be at today! But unfortunately, this great hero of ours was forgotten after independence. His ideas, even the symbols associated with them, were ignored. It is our effort that Netajis energy should guide the country today. Netajis statue on the Kartavya Path will become a medium for that, he had added. A new naval ensign In his pursuit to move past colonial vestiges, Prime Minister Modi also felt that it was necessary to have a new naval ensign, which would be a representation of India. Hence, on 2 September while commissioning Indias first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, he also unveiled the new Indian Navy ensign, inspired from the seal of the great Indian emperor, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The new ensign sees the Tricolour placed on the upper canton (top left) of the flag, and on the right a blue octagonal shape that encompasses the national emblem sits atop an anchor, which depicts steadfastness, the Navy said. The octagonal shape was designed to represent eight directions, symbolising the multi-directional reach and multi-dimensional operational capability of the Indian Navy, while the twin golden borders surrounding it are said to draw inspiration from Chhatrapati Shivaji. Below the shield, within the octagon, is inscribed the motto of the Indian Navy Sam No Varunah (a prayer to the God of the sea, Varuna). The new naval ensign, which the PM unveiled in Kochi replaces the present ensign that carries the Saint Georges Cross with the Tricolour in the canton (top left corner of flag). Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Modi had said, Till now the identity of slavery remained on the flag of Indian Navy. But from today onwards, inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji, the new navy flag will fly in the sea and in the sky. No more Abide With Me hymn Another example of India moving away from Indias colonial past was the decision to replace the Christian hymn Abide with me at the Beating Retreat Ceremony during the Republic Day celebrations in 2022 with Kavi Pradeeps Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon. The Beating Retreat ceremony had earlier also seen the introduction of classical instruments such as sitar, santoor, and the tabla. Merging Amar Jawan Jyoti with National War Memorial Amar Jawan Jyoti, the eternal flame, was merged with the flame of the National War Memorial (NWM) in 2019. Also read: The flame of Amar Jawan Jyoti has finally got a fitting space The NWM houses the names of all Indian martyrs from all the wars, including 1971 and wars before and after it. The NWM is thus a memorial for all soldiers who have either laid down their lives or will do so in the future in the service of independent India. Renaming Andaman and Nicobar islands Taking a page out of Netaji Subhas Chandra Boses book, PM Modi in December 2018 renamed three islands of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. Back in 1943, Bose had suggested that Andaman and Nicobar Islands be renamed as Shahid and Swaraj Dweep respectively. In a tribute to the freedom fighter, Ross Island was renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, the Neil Island as Shaheed Dweep and the Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep. Shedding other colonial baggage Modi in his nine years of power has undertaken many other steps to ensure that India moves away from its colonial past. In 2017, then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented the Budget on 1 February in a break from the past where the Budget was announced on the last day of February. The Rail Budget was also merged with the Union Budget after it had been presented separately for 92 years, in yet another departure from British-era practices. Moreover, the Race Course Road in Lutyens Delhi was renamed to Lok Kalyan Marg in 2016. Prime Minister Narendra Modis famous residential address 7, Race Course Road thus became 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. And since 2014, Modi government has repealed more than 1500 old and obsolete laws. Most of these laws were remnants of the British era. 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. At a time when the world is being more accepting of the gay, lesbian, transgender community (LGBTQ), Uganda has taken a step backwards by signing into law some of the harshest anti-LGBTQ laws in the world. On Monday, Ugandas president Yoweri Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law, which includes the death penalty for aggravated homosexuality which includes sex with a minor, having sex while HIV positive and incest. The new law criminalises sex education for the gay community and makes it illegal not to expose what it calls perpetrators of aggravated homosexuality to the police. It calls for rehabilitation widely discredited conversion therapy for gay offenders. The passage of the law has prompted reactions from across the world with US president Joe Biden calling the law a tragic violation of universal human rights and urging the African nation to repeal the legislation immediately. The US president also said that Washington was considering additional steps, including the application of sanctions and restriction of entry into the United States against anyone involved in serious human rights abuses or corruption. While Ugandas anti-LGBTQ law is considered as perhaps the harshest of them all, the country isnt alone in discrimination against the marginalised community. There are other countries across the globe that has imposed very strict laws against LGBTQ persons, with some countries also having the death penalty for it. Heres a look at some of the strictest laws enforced against the LGBTQ community. Iran Death sentence In Iran, same-sex sexual activity is prohibited under the Penal Code 2013, which criminalises acts of livat, tafkhiz, musaheqeh, and other intimate acts. These provisions carry a maximum penalty of death. Both men and women are criminalised under this law. According to the Iranian law, Article 236 states that tafkhiz defined as putting a male sex organ between the thighs/buttocks of another man can attract a punishment of 100 lashes or even the death penalty if the active party is non-Muslim. Similarly, Article 239 mandates that musaheqeh defined as a woman putting her sex organ on the sex organ of another woman is punishable with 100 lashes. In February 2022, the country executed two men after they were convicted for same-sex sexual activity. According to some reports, Irans regime has executed between 4,000 and 6,000 gays and lesbians since the nations Islamic revolution in 1979. Yemen Death by stoning Same-sex activity is looked down upon in this Middle Eastern nation and according to the law it can even attract the death sentence. The law in Yemen has criminalised the act of sodomy, whether conducted by men or by men and women, with a maximum punishment of 100 lashings or up to one year imprisonment if unmarried. Where the accused is married, a penalty of death by stoning can be imposed. Sexual intercourse between women attracts a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment. A 2020 US US Department report claimed that there have been no known state executions of LGBT people in more than a decade in the country. Saudi Arabia Stoned to death Under the countrys interpretation of sharia law, a married man engaging in sodomy or any non-Muslim who commits sodomy with a Muslim can be stoned to death. All sex outside of marriage is illegal. Mauritania Death by stoning The African nation has criminalised same-sex sexual activity between men and between women and as per their law, it can attract a maximum penalty of death by stoning. According to Human Dignity Trust, there is evidence of the law being enforced in recent years, though little information is available about the extent of discrimination and violence against LGBT people. Brunei Stoning to death In April 2019, Brunei made headlines for its new strict Islamic laws. The tiny oil-rich Asian kingdom made anal sex and adultery offences punishable by stoning to death. However, after international condemnation, the countrys ruler, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah said he would extend a moratorium on capital punishment. Our full coverage on LGBTQ rights across the world Uganda passes bill banning identifying as LGBTQ: Other countries where it is illegal to be gay Why are same-sex families under threat in Hungary? I Do: Will India become the next country to approve of same-sex marriages? Explained: What do the colours of the Pride Flag stand for? Nigeria 14 years imprisonment In 2014, the then-president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, signed the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act. As per the law, it not only bans gay marriage, but also bans the registration of gay clubs, societies and other organisations supporting the LGBT community. Additionally, public displays of affection between gay people is also prohibited. Anyone found guilty of homosexuality can be put in prison for up to 14 years. While this law is applied across the entire country, 12 northern states have their own laws, punishing gay men and women with death by stoning. Tonga 10 years jail time Tonga has outlawed all same-sex relations and criminalises various forms of gender expression. The countrys Criminal Offences Act allows for corporal punishment, specifically whipping, for the individual convicted of sodomy. Men and women face jail terms of a decade if found guilty of same-sex sexual activity. While prosecutions under the law are rare, stigma, violence and discrimination against members of the LGBTQ+ community continue to exist. Malaysia 20 years in jail and whipping The country has criminalised same-sex sexual activity between men and between women. Sentences include a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment with whipping. 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 man feels no remorse for killing his 16-year-old girlfriend. She was brutally stabbed 20 times and bludgeoned with a stone to death by 20-year-old Sahil Sarfaraz in Delhis Shahbad Dairy area. Sahil was arrested from Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh hours after the brutal Delhi murder. Heres what led to the arrest of the accused, who works as an AC and refrigerator technician in Delhi? A phone call resulted in his arrest The accused in the murder of a minor girl in New Delhis Shahbad Dairy area was arrested after he made a phone call to his father, police said on Monday. Police, while revealing the details of how Sahil was arrested, said that the accused went into hiding after switching off the phone. After murdering the girl, Sahil went to Rithala and dumped the weapon before taking a bus to Bulandshahr. He had switched off his mobile phone after the incident and headed for his aunts house in Bulandshahr in a bus, police said. Also read: Delhi teen murder & other crimes of passion that shook India Police told ANI that technical surveillance was put on him after the accused had called his father. After the incident, the accused fled and went to his relative in Bulandshahr to hide. However, after reaching there, he called his father and after that, the police arrested him through technical surveillance, police sources said. Police also said that the accused Sahil had switched off his mobile after committing the murder. The accused Sahil had switched off his mobile after committing the murder after which he went to his aunts house in Bulandshahr by bus, police sources said. CCTV footage shows Sahil hitting the girl According to police, the initial reports suggest that the girls head was attacked with a blunt object, which caused the skull to rupture. As reported by One India, the girl was found to have 34 injury marks on her body and her skull was ruptured. The minor was allegedly killed after being stabbed multiple times and her head being crushed with a boulder in New Delhis Shahbad Dairy area, the police said. The preliminary post-mortem report of the minor girl revealed that her skull was crushed with a stone slab after being stabbed by the accused Sahil in the Shahbad Dairy area of Delhi on Sunday night, police said on Monday. However, the police are still waiting for the detailed post-mortem report. According to the police, there was a delay of about 25 minutes in informing the police about the incident. None of the bystanders made a PCR call and it was a police informer who alerted the police about the incident, following which a police team was rushed to the spot around 9.30 pm. The CCTV visuals also appeared where the accused can be seen stabbing the girl multiple times and then hitting her head with a boulder. Several locals can be seen present there but no one intervened in the matter. Delhi Police revealed that the accused was enraged after his break-up with the victim and the fight between them a day earlier triggered the horrific act. As per the police, the accused was in a relationship with the victim, but they had a quarrel on Sunday night after which he killed her. The police had registered FIR in the matter under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Shahbad Dairy Police Station. Victim wanted to end their relationship According to sources, the victim also had a tattoo on her hand which mentioned the name, Praveen. The accused Sahil and the girl were friends for the last three years. The victim wanted to separate from Sahil but he was angry about this. There was also a fight between the two on Saturday in which the girl also threatened Sahil to complain to the police, sources said. According to a report by One India, Sahil suspected the victim of having an affair with her ex-boyfriend who had allegedly threatened to kill her. The girl had stopped talking to Sahil a few days ago, and had had a fight with him a day before she was killed. During the investigation Sahil told police that he had no regrets. With inputs from ANI 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 is planning to axe thousands of cedar trees in the coming years. The decision has been taken amid the Asian countrys battle with hay fever every year. In a ministerial meeting on Tuesday (30 May), the Japanese government unveiled measures aimed at tackling hay fever triggered by pollen from cedar and cypress trees. As per Japanese broadcaster NHK, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at the meeting: Hay fever is a cause of suffering for many citizens and a social problem that has not been addressed effectively. Its necessary to implement prompt action with an eye on the future. What are the proposed measures and why do cedar trees have to be chopped? How hay fever affects the population in Japan every year? Lets take a look. Proposed plan The Japanese government plans to reduce areas of artificially planted cedar trees by around 20 per cent over the next 10 years from the current 50,000 hectares of the trees per year to 70,000, reported Kyodo news agency. This will be done with the aim to slash the countrys pollen count by half in 30 years. The government has decided to plant other species of trees or those varieties of cedar that shed less pollen in these cleared areas, as per the agency. The proposed plan also includes promoting the use of timber from domestic cedar trees by encouraging home builders. Another proposal is to employ supercomputers and artificial intelligence to improve pollen forecasts. Japan will also invest in medical care to prevent the onset of hay fever. In order to alleviate symptoms, the government will boost the production of immunotherapy drugs to cover up to 1 million people over five years from the current 250,000, reported Japan Times. These measures are expected to be included in a set of economic policies that will be adopted in June. Japans cedar trees Japans seasonal hay fever which is estimated to affect 40 per cent of the population is blamed on the countrys large number of cedar trees. As per the World Economic Forum report, nearly 70 per cent of hay fever cases are attributed to cedar pollen in Japan. Cedar trees cover 18 per cent of the countrys forests, the report added. After the end of the Second World War, the East Asian nation planted trees at a rapid rate under the reforestation programme to bolster the construction industry, reported The Guardian. These trees start shedding pollen at the beginning of every year, prompting a bout of hay fever cases. ALSO READ: Why the Japanese are taking lessons on how to smile Hay fever outbreak The symptoms of hay fever are similar to those of a cold such as a runny nose, itchy, watery eyes and sneezing. Some people can also suffer from shortness of breath and earache. If the pollen allergy symptoms are severe, it can also lead to loss of sleep and even affect work. According to a 2020 study conducted by Panasonic Holdings Corp, around 80 per cent of hay fever patients in Japan said that the allergy reduced their productivity. The company projected that hay fever causes an economic loss of 221.5 billion yen ($1.7 billion) per day because of reduced concentration and working ability in employees, as per Bloomberg. A survey carried out by a group of ear, nose and throat specialists found a steady surge in hay fever cases since the late 1990s, with 2019 seeing 42.5 per cent patients, an increase from 29.8 per cent in 2008 and 19.6 per cent in 1998, reported Kyodo News. In Japans capital Tokyo, pollen levels reached their highest in a decade in April this year. Addressing a parliamentary committee at the time, Kishida had said that hay fever has become a social problem. Some companies in the country have also offered hay fever allowances which workers can use on getting treatment. ALSO READ: Allergic Rhinitis: A neglected disease sharing symptoms with COVID-19; heres how to identify it As The Guardian noted, the hay fever outbreak could be a reason why people in Japan are hesitant to shed masks in public despite the government having lifted the requirement to prevent COVID-19. The amount of pollen is so high this year that [mask-wearing] is unlikely to end for some time, a spokesperson for Unicharm, Japans biggest manufacturer of disposable masks, earlier told the Yomiuri Shimbun. According to Japan Weather Association, the situation has been made worse owing to high temperatures than usual. On how to deal with hay fever, Yoko Tsukamoto, a professor of infection control at the Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, told South China Morning Post (SCMP), Wear a covering over your nose and mouth and protect your eyes from the pollen spores with glasses. Anyone who suffers from hay fever should also avoid rubbing their eyes and wash their hands regularly. It is impossible to avoid pollen entirely, so the advice is to reduce the amount you breathe in to the minimum and to avoid accumulating pollen, she 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. A Chinese city is trying a novel approach to collect its debts by publicly naming and shaming companies in newspapers. The city of Wuhan the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic on Friday named 259 firms that had outstanding dues and asked them to pay up. The move comes in the backdrop of Chinas local governments facing a cash crunch. Lets take a closer look: What happened? According to Bloomberg, Wuhans finance bureau published a list of 259 companies that owe more than $42.4 million since December 2018 in the Yangtze River Daily. Bloomberg quoted the Wuhan Municipal Bureau of Finance as saying in the page-long article that those named need to immediately perform the relevant statutory debt repayment obligations. A car manufacturer with outstanding dues of 23.5 million yuan is Wuhans biggest debtor. The public notice also lists some district financial bureaus as well as several state-affiliated outfits including the Securities Times, as per Bloomberg. However, Yicai reported that the borrowed funds ranged from just over 10,000 yuan to more than 10 million yuan ($1.45 million), with the total amount exceeding 100 million yuan ($14.47 million). Yicai cited a debt collection list jointly published by the regulator and Wuhan Yangtze River Asset Management Co. Debtors include district finance bureaus, scientific research units, state-owned enterprises, units of listed companies as well as private firms, according to a screenshot of the list shared by Yicai. The debtors, their corresponding guarantors and successors were requested to repay their debts to the asset management firm immediately after 26 May, Yicai reported. State-owned Wuhan Yangtze River Asset Management Co is a professional platform responsible for the disposal of various non-performing assets in the central city, according to its official website. It is delegated to recover the above-mentioned borrowed funds for the government to the maximum extent, Yicai reported. Why is China doing this? The move comes in the backdrop of Chinas local governments facing a cash crunch. Like most places in China, Wuhan governments revenue has taken a big hit in recent years weighed down by COVID, a faltering economy and a prolonged property crash. The municipal governments revenue slid to 50.77 billion yuan in the years first quarter an 8.5 per cent decline over the same period the previous year. CNN reported that the finance bureau said it was unsuccessful in collecting the debts and was offering rewards to anyone able to provide useful information about the debtors financial assets. Chinese leader Xi Jinpings zero-Covid campaign has exhausted the budgets of many cities and provinces, after they spent billions of dollars on frequent Covid lockdowns, mass testing and quarantine centres before last Decembers policy U-turn. According to CNN Business, a real estate crash has exacerbated the problem, as local governments rely heavily on land sale revenues. The government was relying on rapid GDP growth and soaring land prices to service its debt, Cheng Juelu, a Shanghai-based economist and expert on Chinas local government debt, told Al Jazeera. However, the pandemic and the real estate market situation have turned those assumptions on their head. Al Jazeera quoted the National Bureau of Statistics as saying that barring Shanghai, every one of Chinas 31 provinces and municipalities reported fiscal deficits in 2022. The Chinese governments ability to control the situation remains in doubt, Cheng said. The debt problem has been growing for years, and while the governments measures may provide some temporary relief, they do not address the root causes of the problem. Hu Mingdan, a civil servant in eastern China, told Al Jazeera that her and her colleagues salaries were delayed for more than three months in the first time in over a decade. it was hard because we have families to feed, Hu, from Nanchang, Jiangxi province, told the outlet. This was unimaginable before. Shi Zhengwen, a professor at China University of Political Science and Law, told Bloomberg such an action is exceedingly rare. Shi said this move reflects the current challenges for local government finances, as debt collection is not as urgent when funds are abundant, said Shi. Shi added that Chinas finance ministry has been calling for belt-tightening and this action may be the local government indicating that it is paying close attention to the diktat. Wuhans announcement came just days after the official financing arms of Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, struggled to raise enough money to pay what they owed their bondholders. Yunnan is one of the most indebted provinces in the country, with its outstanding debt to fiscal income ratio hitting more than 1,000 per cent last year, CNN Business reported. Wuhan and Yunnan arent alone. According to CNN Business, Guizhou, one of Chinas poorest provinces, publicly admitted defeat in April in trying to sort out its finances and appealed to Beijing for help to try to avoid default. Al Jazeera quoted the Centre for Development Research as calling Guizhous debt a significant and urgent issue and saying it had become unusually difficult to pay off. CNN Business reported that some cities have already slashed medical benefits to seniors in view of tightening budget which has sparked protests. Meanwhile, other vital services remain at risk. According to Al Jazeera, public schools are being sold, contracts with private firms being rolled back and pensions are being cut. Analysts say Chinas outstanding government debts surpassed 123 trillion yuan ($18 trillion) last year, of which nearly $10 trillion is so-called hidden debt owed by risky local government financing platforms. 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. India is becoming digital with people resorting to shopping and ordering food online and choosing online payment for such transactions and much more. In March 2023, the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) transactions reached a record high of 865 crores, valuing a record of Rs 14.07 lakh crore, as per a Times of India (TOI) report. The volume of transactions was 18 per cent more than in February 2023 728 crores. However, as UPI transactions witness growth, so have incidents of online fraud and scams. As per the Union ministry of finance, more than 95,000 fraud cases linked to UPI transactions were recorded in 2022-23, an uptick from 84,000 incidents in 2021-22. Lets take a look at how UPI scams take place and what you can do to protect yourself. Asking for UPI PIN Sometimes, fraudsters lure victims with the promise of sending money. They then ask their target to enter their UPI PIN to receive the amount. If the victim obliges and enters UPI PIN, the scammer can then easily use it to withdraw money. For receiving money, no PIN is required. Anyone asking you for a PIN is a scammer, Prashant Gautam, DCP (IFSO) told the English daily TOI. Money sent by mistake As per a Delhi Police officer, scammers usually send some amount through UPI apps such as Paytm, Google Pay, PhonePe, etc. to their potential target and then call them saying it was a mistake, reported TOI. Following this, the cybercriminal shares a link with the target, asking them to use it to return the money. If someone clicks on the link, they lose control of their digital wallet and bank account, which then becomes accessible to the scammer. Customer care scam People also fall for fraudsters who claim to be customer care executives, the police told TOI. A government teacher was recently duped after he called the top search number on Google, believing it to be Google Pays customer care number. After he lodged a complaint about faulty transactions on the Google Pay app, the scammer assured the teacher of help and asked for his personal bank details. After the teacher gave the details, the fraudster drew out Rs 2.50 lakh from his bank account, reported the English newspaper. A police officer told TOI that sometimes cybercriminals, pretending to be customer care executives, threaten users with the blocking of their e-wallet if they do not complete KYC or update their Aadhaar or PAN information. Later, under the pretext of verification, they ask the victims to download third-party access apps through which they get remote access to the digital wallets, the officer explained. ALSO READ: How scammers tricked 81 UPI users in Mumbai and stole over Rs 1 crore in KYC scam Sending QR codes Another method being used by fraudsters is through QR codes. The scammer tells their target that the money will be sent using a QR code. When the code is scanned by the victim, he or she is asked to enter the UPI PIN. If the PIN is shared, the money, instead of being credited, is deducted from the users account, a Delhi Police officer was quoted as saying by TOI. How to avoid falling for UPI fraud? People should know that UPI payments are safe. It is only when a scammer gets access to your UPI PIN or one-time password (OTP) or you click on a malware link that you become vulnerable to fraud. Never share UPI PIN UPI PIN is the number that you enter for making a transaction or adding a new payment account. You should not share this number with anyone, especially strangers. Remember that customer care executives or banks will never call you to share this or OTPs. Regularly change your UPI PIN Just like your email or social media account passwords, you should also keep changing your UPI PIN frequently. Do not use public Wi-Fi for UPI payments While making a UPI payment, it is better to use your own mobile internet or a Wi-Fi connection at your place. You must avoid making online financial transactions, including UPI payments, through public Wi-Fi. Be sceptical When it comes to unknown emails or links, it is always better to be safe than sorry. As Gadgets Now noted, fraudsters send malware or malicious attachments in emails or links sent via SMS or messenger apps. These viruses or malware can hack your phone and get access to your banking details or other private information. So, if someone claims they have accidentally sent you money and then shares a suspicious link to return it, always verify their identity. Do not download remote access apps such as AnyDesk or Teamviewer if a stranger asks you to as that will provide them access to your device. With a presence of mind and adopting a suspicious attitude, you can protect yourself from falling for such cyber frauds. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. After the cloud of controversy surrounding his appointment, the removal of Prime Minister Fumio Kishidas son from office is now making headlines. In Japan, where nepotism is often viewed as a by-product of the political system, this unprecedented event unfolded when the prime minister himself announced his sons dismissal as his aide. But why did he remove his son from the office? Inappropriate behaviour Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida said Monday he will remove his son from the position of his secretary due to inappropriate behaviour at the official residence. Shotaro Kishida, his fathers executive secretary for political affairs and eldest son, invited a group of people including relatives to a year-end party on 30 December at the prime ministers official residence. Photos published by the weekly Shukan Bunshun magazine show Kishidas son and relatives posing on red-carpeted stairs in an imitation of the group photos taken of newly appointed Cabinets, with his son at the centre the position reserved for the prime minister. Other photos showed guests standing at a podium as if holding a news conference. His behaviour last year at the public space was inappropriate for a political secretary, and we have decided to replace him, Kishida told reporters. He said his son will be replaced by another secretary, Takayoshi Yamamoto, on Thursday. Shotaro will resign on 1 June, he added. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida appointed his eldest son as executive secretary in charge of political affairs on 4 October, 2022. Opposition questions his appointment Kishida had reprimanded his 32-year-old son, but criticism erupted from Opposition parties, which called for his removal. Opposition legislators slammed the photographs and the younger Kishidas attitude, as well as his fathers decision to hire him in the first place. This is too late. I suspect (Kishida) appointed someone who is not capable (of being the) prime ministers aide to the post, said Seiji Osaka, a senior lawmaker with Japans largest Opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, as reported by Kyodo news agency. The appointment itself had a strong element of intermingling public and private interests. Resignation is only natural, Kenta Izumi, the leader of the largest Opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, told reporters on Monday. The head of another Opposition group, Nobuyuki Baba of the Japan Innovation Party, told Kyodo news that Kishidas son should have acted with awareness of his position. Fumio Kishida faces new trouble after G7 boost The revelations emerged shortly after Kishida gained popularity as Japan hosted the G7 conference in Hiroshima earlier in May. After battling plummeting approval ratings late last year, the government saw support jump to 46 per cent in May, before the magazine report about the party was published, according to public broadcaster NHK. Kishida appointed his son as policy secretary in October, one of the prime ministers eight secretaries. The decision, regarded as a move towards grooming him as his heir, was criticised as nepotism, which is usual in Japanese politics, which has long been ruled by hereditary politicians. Shotaros appointment as his father Fumios executive secretary in October had already caused him grief. Shotaro was reportedly using official cars to go sightseeing and to buy gifts in Europe while his father was touring G7 member countries. Fumio Kishida also lost four Cabinet ministers in the space of three months late last year, either as a result of allegations of financial irregularities or of links to the controversial Unification Church. 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 accidental firing of the Brahmos missile into Pakistan last year cost the exchequer Rs 24 crore apart from straining relations between the two countries, the Centre told the Delhi High Court, as per a report by Hindustan Times. The Union government was justifying the dismissal of three Indian Air Force officers including a Wing Commander for gross negligence, the report added. The Centre was opposing a petition filed by Wing Commander Abhinav Sharma against termination from service, the report said. Considering the sensitive nature of the subject matter having widespread ramifications for the security of the State, a conscious and considered decision was taken in good faith to terminate the service of the petitioner under the Presidents pleasure clause. Such a decision has been taken in the Indian Air Force after 23 years as facts and circumstances of the case warranted such action, HT quoted the Centre as saying. The petitioner said that he was imparted professional and practical training only for duties which are purely of maintenance in nature and not on the conduct of operations. He said he performed all his duties as per the Combat SOP governing the operations and that the cause of the incident was solely operational in nature. The missile incident On 9 March 2022, an unarmed BrahMos missile accidentally landed in Pakistan. No casualties were reported in the incident. Following the misfiring, Pakistan had summoned Indias Charge dAffaires in Islamabad to lodge a protest over unprovoked violation of its airspace. The Indian defence ministry had termed the incident deeply regrettable. On March 9, in the course of routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile. The government of India has taken a serious view and ordered a high-level Court of Enquiry, the defence ministry had said. A joint India-Russia venture, BrahMos is a medium-range missile that can be fired from submarines, warships, aircraft, and land. Notably, BrahMos is capable of carrying nuclear warheads. 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 CBI has filed a corruption case against British Aerospace (BAE) Systems and Rolls Royce India Pvt Ltd, top executives of its Indian unit and arms dealers for allegedly paying bribes through arms dealers Sudhir Choudhrie and his father Bhanu Choudhrie to clinch a deal in 2004 from India for Hawk advanced jet trainers, officials said. The CBI has registered a case against Tim Jones, Director Rolls Royce India, alleged arms dealers Sudhir Choudhrie and his son Bhanu Choudhrie, Rolls Royce Plc and British Aerospace Systems under IPC section 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating) and provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act after completing a six-year-old preliminary enquiry registered in December 2016. A British court order in 2017 also mentioned the alleged involvement of intermediaries and payment of commission by the company for swinging the deal, they said. It is alleged that during 2003-12, these accused entered into a conspiracy with unidentified public servants who abused their official positions in lieu of huge bribes, commissions and kickbacks paid by Rolls Royce to approve the aircraft purchase. The company paid intermediaries, even though the agreements, integrity pacts and associated documents of the deal prohibited such payments, the CBI FIR has alleged. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had approved the procurement of 66 Hawk 115 AJTs on September 3, 2003, under which 24 BAE Hawk 115Y AJTs in flyaway condition with all the accoutrement along with material for 42 aircraft to be manufactured by HAL were cleared for GBP 734.21 million, equivalent to Rs 5653.44 crore (calculated at Rs 77 per GBP), was sanctioned. Procurement of 42 aircraft, to be licence manufactured by HAL at an additional cost of GBP 308.247 million, equivalent to Rs 1944 crore, and a payment of GBP 7.5 million to Rolls Royce as a Manufacturers licence fee was also cleared. Subsequent contracts signed with Rolls Royce/BAE had an integrity clause that barred the engagement of any middlemen or payment of a commission. In case of violation, the company could have been debarred for any Government of India work for the next five years besides penalty. The contracts also included a penal clause for using undue influence where the supplier had to give an undertaking that no commission or fee was paid to any person in relation to the contract. HAL delivered 42 aircraft to the Indian Air Force between August 2008 and May 2012. In January 2008, HAL requested the Defence Ministry approval for the licence manufacturing of 57 additional Hawk Aircraft, of which 40 were for the Air Force and 17 for the Navy, for Rs 9502 crore. A contract was signed between HAL and BAE on August 30, 2010, which also contained a clause prohibiting the use of undue influence and payment of a commission. HAL delivered the aircraft between March 2013 and July 2016. In 2012, media reports alleging corruption in the Rolls Royce operations surfaced, resulting in an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office, London. The company prepared a Statement of Fact that disclosed its corrupt payments concerning transactions with countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and India. A deferred prosecution agreement was reached between the company and SFO. The Statement of Fact disclosed that during a survey conducted by the Income Tax department on January 9, 2006, the department seized vital documents pertaining to the list of intermediaries who were paid for securing the deal. The Statement of Fact was cited in a judgment by Crown Court Southwark, UK which showed that a sum of GBP 1.85 million was paid to an intermediary to retrieve the list of intermediaries seized by the IT department during a survey of Rolls Royce India during 2006 to prevent the list falling into the hands of Defence Ministry which could have resulted in the termination of the contract and a CBI probe. The tax department had recorded the statement of Jones, the then Director of Rolls Royce India. It is alleged that Rolls Royce Plc was involved in bribing tax officials and other officials to prevent an investigation by Indian authorities into its tax affairs and use of intermediaries in the deal, the FIR alleged. The judgment revealed the concealment of involvement of intermediaries in the defence business in India between 2005 and 2009 by Rolls Royce despite restrictions imposed by the Government of India through an integrity pact on payment of commissions/fees to intermediaries. There are reasons to believe that significant amounts paid to intermediaries were routed to public servants in India, the FIR alleged. The Crown Court Judgment specifically mentions payment of GBP one million by Rolls Royce to an intermediary for increasing the license fee from GBP 4 million to 7.5 million, it alleged. The CBI also alleged that GBP 100 million were paid by Russian Arms companies into a Swiss account in the name of Portsmouth, a company associated with Sudhir Choudhrie for defence deals with Russia for the purchase of MIG aircraft. Out of this amount, the companies in the name of Choudhries family, namely Belinea Services Ltd, Cottage Consultants Ltd and Carter Consultants Inc. received GBP 39.2 million, GBP 32.8 million and GBP 23 million, respectively, between October 2007 and October 2008, the FIR alleged. It said Sudhir Choudhrie and Bhanu Choudhrie, allegedly unregistered Indian agents and middlemen who worked for Rolls Royce and BAES in securing the award of contract for the supply of Hawk aircraft in question, used undue influence on Indian public servants to induce the Government of India to approve the deal, it alleged. With inputs from PTI New Delhi: A Delhi court on Tuesday took cognisance of a charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate in the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case against AAP leader and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. Special Judge M K Nagpal said there was enough prima facie evidence to take cognisance of the charge sheet and issued production warrant against Sisodia for June 1. Sisodia was arrested by the ED in this case on March 9 from Tihar Jail where he is currently lodged in judicial custody. The 51-year-old Aam Aadmi Party leader was first arrested by the CBI, which is also probing this case. The Delhi High Court Tuesday denied him bail in the case being probed by the CBI, saying having been the deputy chief minister and excise minister, he is a high-profile person who has the potential to influence the witnesses. The about 270-page ED charge sheet had annexures running into 2,000 pages. The agency had called Sisodia a key conspirator in this case. It had alleged in the previous charge sheets that the liquor policy scam was a conspiracy hatched by some of the big political leaders of the AAP and the so-called South Group comprising BRS leader K Kavitha, YSR Congress MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy and others who used proxies and dummies to conceal their involvement. Kavitha is the daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Dubai Industrial City, a member of Tecom Group, will showcase UAE manufacturing sectors prowess at the second edition of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technologys (MoIAT) Make it in the Emirates Forum. Organised by MoIAT in partnership with the Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), the forum from May 31 to June 1 is an extension of the Make it in the Emirates initiative under MoIATs national industrial strategy, Operation 300bn. The initiative aims to establish the UAE as a global hub for future industries and encourage investors, innovators, and developers to manufacture products locally, taking advantage of the favourable business climate and benefits. Supporting Operation 300bn Dubai Industrial City will appear at the forum in support of the Operation 300bn and Make it in the Emirates strategies, as well as Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to double the size of Dubais economy over the next decade by promoting innovation and foreign investments, and encouraging self-sufficiency in sectors including manufacturing and logistics. Malek Al Malek, Chairman of Tecom Group, will participate in a panel discussion on Day 1 of the Make it in the Emirates Forum, shedding light on enhancing industrial competitiveness through R&D and technology. Saud Abu Alshawareb, Executive Vice President Industrial Leasing at Tecom Group, will participate in a panel discussion titled Role of Industrial Zones at Make it in the Emirates Forum. Due to be held on Day 2 of the event, the panel will discuss the impact of industrial zones in the UAEs manufacturing strategy. Global hub Commenting on Dubai Industrial Citys role in growing the UAEs and Dubais manufacturing economy, Alshawareb said: Operation 300bn and Dubai Economic Agenda D33 are strengthening the business-friendly environment that has over the years made the UAE and Dubai a global hub for investors, talent, and innovation in the manufacturing sector. Dubai Industrial City is among the regions largest fully equipped, purpose-built manufacturing, and logistics ecosystems, and provides an environment that empowers businesses to pursue sustainable growth in the region and beyond. Our partnerships with public- and private-sector organisations provide several pathways to progress in the UAEs and Dubais industrial sectors, and we look forward to raising awareness of these opportunities at the Make it in the Emirates Forum this year. A centre of manufacturing excellence Established in 2004, Dubai Industrial City is one of the regions largest industrial manufacturing and logistics hubs. It is home to more than 800 customers and 300 operational factories across a world-class master plan divided into six sector-focused zones that encourage collaboration and eliminate supply chain uncertainties for manufacturers. Dubai Industrial City will be joined at the Make it in the Emirates Forum by key customers contributing to the UAEs and Dubais economic goals through strategic manufacturing investments at the district. Dubai Industrial Citys strategic location, transport connectivity options, and alignment with government roadmaps will continue to deliver more such success stories in the UAEs manufacturing sector, Alshawareb said, adding: As business enablers, our recently confirmed strategic partnerships with MoIAT will further strengthen the UAEs reputation as a global destination for future industries and promote industrial decarbonisation. Financing projects We are also building on our partnership with Emirates Development Bank (EDB), which approved more than AED513 million ($140 million) towards financing projects and businesses based in our district in 2022. During the launch of Dubai Industrial Citys #MakeBrilliance initiative this May, EDB committed to providing our customers AED1 billion in the next three to five years, and this partnership will help to foster a more competitive industrial ecosystem with the private sector in the UAE and Dubai. The Make it in the Emirates acts as a platform for corporations and the government to discuss opportunities, address challenges, and explore the competitive advantages available in the UAE, such as incentives, enablers, infrastructure, financing, and partnerships. One of the regions key industrial events, the forum will focus on sustainable industrial development, carbon reduction, and increasing the industrial sectors contribution to climate action. Dubai Industrial City is part of Tecom Groups portfolio of business districts that includes Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Science Park, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Design District (d3).-- TradeArabia News Service Public apathy in the case of the notorious Shahbad Dairy murder case in which a teen girl was stabbed and bludgeoned to death by Sahil Sarfaraz amid thoroughfare reached its pinnacle when locals who witnessed the attack and did not intervene also did not call the police even as the girl lay dead in a pool of her own blood. The 16-year-old was first stabbed multiple times, then her head was bludgeoned by Sahil Sarfaraz. Her lifeless body lay at the crime spot for over half an hour. According to police sources, they received the first call from a local after 9 PM and the CCTV footage showed Sahil started attacking her at 8:44 PM and continued till 8:46 PM until she succumbed. He later walked off on foot to Rithala where he dumped the murder weapon and later boarded two buses to reach Bulandshahr. He was arrested from there, the next day, ANI reported. Post his arrest, Sahil showed no remorse for the act. According to police he could not answer some of the questions police had for him. And so, cops believe that he is trying to mislead them. It seems only half of the facts which led to this brutal murder have been revealed so far. Apart from the motive, it is still unclear why the victim was not living with her parents from past 10 days. The girls family told police that she was living with her friend since past 10 days. About this friend, the family informed that her husband is in jail and she has an infant daughter. The deceased was supposed to return to her house the day she was killed. Sakshis mother, while demanding capital punishment for the accused, said that the daughter was living in her friends house for the last 10 days. However, she also says that she tried to ask the daughter about Sahil several times, but she did not tell anything. What Police have found so far? 1. Tattoo: According to News 18 report, the victim had a tattoo on her hand bearing the name Praveen which police say could also be a cause of frequent fights between Sahil and the girl and her eventual killing. 2. Sahil, an AC mechanic and the deceased girl were reportedly in a relationship since 2021. However, recently, the victim had broken off ties with Sahil and was reportedly willing to reunite with her ex-boyfriend, whose name has not been revealed. Over this, Sahil had also threatened to kill the girl. 3. According to a report by News18, it has been revealed that the accused Sahil had been engaging in conversations with multiple girls on social media. The report indicates that upon discovering this, Sakshi expressed her desire to end her relationship with Sahil and avoid any further communication with him. 4. Sahil had purchased a knife approximately 15 days prior to the incident and had premeditated Sakshis murder. 5. During the police interrogation, Sahil allegedly confessed that his anger stemmed from Sakshis apparent disregard towards him. What still needs to be uncovered? Despite witnessing the horrific attack as it happened, why did locals didnt make any effort to stop him? After stabbing the victim multiple times and smashing her head repeatedly with a rock, Sahil walks for 3 kilometre. Literally no one called police for the next 20 minutes Niether did anyone go near to the victims dead body. Was it just a coincidence or lack of apathy in people or they were letting Sahil escape from the crime scene? Police say the victim was on her way to attend birthday party of her friends son and the accused intercepted her. But the family says she has not been at home since 10 days. Where was she 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 preliminary findings of the post-mortem report of 16-year-old Sakshi who was stabbed and battered to death by her boyfriend in Shahbad Dairy area of Delhis Rohini say that the minor was stabbed with a knife about 16 times, in which six times in the throat. The skull of the minor girl was ruptured after it was smashed with a blunt object, the preliminary findings citied by news agency ANI suggested. The detailed post-mortem report is yet to be received by the police. The Police have arrested the accused in the case, 20-year-old Sahil, from Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh hours after the heinous crime. The minor Hindu girl was killed on Sunday evening by Sahil, her alleged boyfriend. CCTV footage that captured the crime showed the accused stabbing her multiple times. Sahil, who worked as AC and fridge mechanic, is seen picking up a boulder lying nearby and battering the minor with it. Several locals can be seen present there but no one stopped the accused when he was brutally stabbing the teenaged in the matter. No regrets A report by NDTV quoted police saying that during his overnight interrogation, Sahil had said he had no regrets about killing Sakshi. He allegedly said that the girl wanted to break up with him and that she was involved with a former boyfriend. Also Read: Girl had tattoo of another man, threatened Sahil with police complaint: 10 BIG developments in Delhi murder The report further said that Sahil also claimed that the girls ex-boyfriend was a hooligan, whom he feared. Sahil and Sakshi were allegedly dating for three years but lately, she had ended the relationship, the police said. He said he was enraged as the girl had been ignoring him for some time, the report quoted police sources as saying. Murdered in drunk state The report further said that Sahil was allegedly drunk when he attacked the Sakshi. He attacked the girl on Sunday evening when she was on her way to a friends sons birthday party. Sahil met her mid-way and pinned her to a wall. He then mercilessly stabbed and kicked her in full public view. He continued even when she went still. Later, he picked up a slab and hit her multiple times before fleeing from the spot. He returned to smash her head with the slab. The girls body laid on the street for about 25 minutes before someone called the police. On Tuesday, police said that after murdering the girl, Sahil went to Rithala. Meanwhile, he dumped the weapon before taking a bus to Bulandshahr. Delhi Police sources told ANI that Sahil switched off his phone since the murder but a technical surveillance was put soon after he had called his father. Police informed that the duo had a quarrel the previous evening. Sahil was also allegedly furious after he saw a tattoo of another mans name on his alleged girlfriends hand. 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. BJP MP Hans Raj Hans on Tuesday visited the residence of the 16-year-old girl, who was murdered by 20-year-old Sahil Sarfaraz in the Shahbad Dairy area of Delhi. Slamming Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the BJP leader told ANI, Shame on any party that is doing politics after such a tragedyThere were so many people there, they should have caught him then and there. It pained me to see that video. He added, I have spoken with the PoliceYou will not be able to watch the complete video (of the crime) if you are a parent, you will not be able to sleep. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced compensation of Rs 10 lakhs to the victims family. It is a very painful incident. Delhi government will give compensation amount of Rs 10 lakhs to the girls family and we assure them that our government will ensure that the accused gets the strictest punishment. We are worried about the overall law and order situation in Delhi. Minister Atishi will visit the family, he said. The minor girl was stabbed over 20 times and bludgeoned to death in a busy bylane as passersby looked on in northwest Delhis Shahbad Dairy area an incident that has drawn massive outrage as the video of the horrific killing appeared online. Sahil was arrested from Aterna village in Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh on Monday. The victim received 34 injuries on her body and her skull was ruptured, Delhi Police said. The two were in a relationship but had a quarrel on Saturday. The victim had gone shopping on Sunday evening for the birthday party of her friends child when she was accosted by Sahil in the densely populated neighbourhood, they said. A nearly 90-second video of the incident that was shared online showed the accused pinning the victim to a wall with one hand and stabbing her repeatedly. He did not stop even when the girl slumped to the ground, jabbing the knife into her over 20 times, kicking her and then slamming a cement slab on her repeatedly. In a shocking display of public apathy, people can be seen passing by, with some bystanders staring in alarm, but not doing anything to stop the brutal attack. The accused is seen walking away from the victim in a casual manner, only to turn back and again hit her with the slab before leaving the site. Delhi Police PRO Suman Nalwa said the accused Sahil worked as a fridge and AC mechanic. He lived in a rented accommodation with his parents and three siblings in Shahbad Dairy area. In Bulandshahr, Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) Bajrangbali Chaurasia said that Sahil had fled to his aunts place in Aterna village, from where he was arrested by Delhi Police and taken to the national capital after completing necessary formalities. A case under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered at Shahbad Dairy police station on the complaint by the victims father, the Delhi Police added. The police suspect that strained relationship of the accused with the victim could be a possible reason behind the crime. (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 many as 10 people were killed and 55 injured after a bus carrying pilgrims to the Vaishno Devi shrine skidded off a bridge and fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Tuesday. The bus, which was on its way to Katra the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the famous shrine atop Trikuta hills, met with the accident in Jajjar Kotli area, they said. Rescue operation is almost complete. SDRF team is also present on the spot. The bus was carrying more passengers than the prescribed limit and will be probed during the probe, said Chandan Kohli, SSP Jammu. As the word spread about the accident, local residents and police immediately rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation. The injured were taken to the Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu. CRPF, Police and other teams are also here. Ambulances were called and the injured were immediately rushed to the hospital. Bodies have also been taken to the hospital. A crane is being brought here to see if someone is trapped under the bus, said Ashok Choudhary, Assistant Commandant CRPF, had said earlier. We are being told that the bus was coming from Amritsar and that people from Bihar were onboard. They perhaps lost their way to Katra and reached here, he added. On 21 May, a 27-year-old woman was killed and 24 people were injured when a Rajasthan-bound bus carrying Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims overturned in Jammu and Kashmirs Reasi district. 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 gruesome murder of a minor Hindu girl by her alleged boyfriend on a bustling street in northwest Delhis Shahbad Dairy area continue to shock people. The 16-year-old was brutally stabbed 20 times and bludgeoned with stone to death by the accused, 20-year-old Sahil Sarfaraz, who worked as an AC and refrigerators technician. Sahil was arrested from Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh hours after the brutal Delhi murder. As police dive deep in the Delhi murder case, more and more revelations are coming to fore that would leave people shocked about the motive of Sahil behind killing the minor girl. Delhi murder: Top 10 updates 1- After murdering the girl, Sahil went to Rithala and dumped the weapon before taking a bus to Bulandshahr 2- Delhi Police sources told ANI that Sahils phone was switched off since the murder and it has been recovered by the cops 3- Sahil changed two buses to reach Bulandshahr. He evaded a few questions by the Police and has been doing so to perhaps mislead the cops investigating the case 4- Police said that technical surveillance was put on Sahil after he had called his father 5- According to the police, the accused was in a relationship with the victim. The duo had a quarrel the previous evening 6- Recently, the verbal spat between Sahil and the minor victim had increased after the girl wanted to end their three-year-long relationship. She even threatened to go to police 7- A report by NDTV quoted sources saying that the minor girl had pointed a toy pistol at the man a few days ago to scare him away 8- The girl had a tattoo of another mans name Praveen on her hand which had angered Sahil, a NDTV report mentioned sources as saying 9- On Sunday night, Sahil had got into a fight with the girl after she had planned to attend a friends sons birthday party. He then intercepted and stabbed her multiple times in a horrific attack 10- The preliminary post-mortem report of the minor girl revealed that her skull was crushed with a stone slab after being stabbed by the accused Sahil Meanwhile, locals where the incident took place confessed why they did not turn up to stop Sahil from committing the heinous crime. Shahbad Dairys goons are notorious across the city and we do not dare to encounter them, a local told Hindustan Times. Residents said they were wary of falling into troubles as these drug abusers carry blades at times. 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. Starting from 1 June, electric scooters are set to become more expensive as the government subsidy provided to electric two-wheeler manufacturers will be reduced. The subsidy reduction is part of the governments second phase of the Faster Adoption of Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India (FAME) scheme. The Ministry of Heavy Industries issued a notification stating that the subsidy under FAME II will be decreased from Rs 15,000 per kWh to Rs 10,000 per kWh. Additionally, the maximum subsidy offered under the scheme will be capped at 15 per cent of the ex-factory pricing, a significant reduction from the previous 40 per cent subsidy. The decision to reduce the subsidy was made following a meeting between government representatives and 24 electric two-wheeler manufacturers earlier this month, reported PTI. The FAME II scheme, according to the government, aims to incentivize the purchase of electric vehicles and promote their wider adoption, particularly in public and commercial transport sectors such as electric three-wheelers (e-3W), electric four-wheelers (e-4W), and electric buses. The Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV) strongly criticised the governments decision, stating that the sudden reduction in subsidies could lead to a significant decline in electric vehicle adoption, negatively impacting the entire industry for a substantial period of time, reported NDTV. Media reports suggest that start-up players in the electric mobility sector welcomed the governments decision, seeing it as an opportunity for the electric vehicle industry to become self-reliant. The FAME II scheme was initially implemented on 1 April, 2019, and was extended for an additional two years in June 2021, extending the subsidy scheme until 31 March, 2024. However, a PTI report suggests that the government does not intend to further extend the subsidy beyond March 2024 or introduce a third phase of the FAME scheme. 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: India will host the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the virtual format on July 4, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Tuesday. However, it did not cite reasons for holding the summit in the virtual mode. Last year, the in-person SCO summit took place in the Uzbek city of Samarkand that was attended by all top leaders of the grouping including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. India assumed the rotating chairmanship of the SCO at the Samarkand Summit on September 16 last year. Under Indias first-ever chairmanship, the 22nd summit of the SCO Council of Heads of State will be held in the virtual format on July 4, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the MEA said in a statement. India hosted the foreign ministers of the SCO at a two-day conclave in Goa earlier this month. The MEA said all the SCO member states China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have been invited to attend the summit. In addition, Iran, Belarus and Mongolia have been invited as observer states. As per SCO tradition, Turkmenistan has also been invited as the guest of the chair, it said. The SCO is an influential economic and security bloc and has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017. Heads of the two SCO bodies, the secretariat and the SCO RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure), will also be present. The MEA said heads of six international and regional organisations have also been invited to the summit. The organisations are the UN, the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization), EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) and CICA (Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia). The theme of the summit is Towards a SECURE SCO. The SECURE acronym was coined by Prime Minister Modi at the 2018 SCO summit and it stands for Security; Economy and Trade; Connectivity; Unity; Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity; and Environment. These themes have been highlighted during Indias chairmanship of the SCO. India has set up new pillars of cooperation under its chairmanship startups and innovation; traditional medicine; digital inclusion; youth empowerment; and shared Buddhist heritage, the MEA said. In addition, India has worked towards fostering greater people to people ties that celebrate the historical and civilizational bonds between our nations. These include the various socio-cultural events hosted by Varanasi under the framework of the first-ever SCO cultural and tourist capital for 2022-23, it said. India was made an observer at the SCO in 2005 and has generally participated in the ministerial-level meetings of the grouping, which focus mainly on security and economic cooperation in the Eurasian region. Kashmir Freedom Fighters (KFF), an offshoot of a Pakistan-sponsored terror group on Tuesday released a statement vowed to continue killing non-local Hindus and Pandits, living in the region. In a letter issued by the terror outfit, the terror group claimed responsibility for the killing of Deepak Kumar in Anantnag on Monday night and warned non-Hindus and Pandits of the consequences. This evening our cadre successfully eliminated a non-local Hindu namely Deepak Kumar in Janglat Mandiarea of Anantnag. We will not spare any Hindu or Pandit coming to Kashmir under the pretext of earning bread and butter, KFF said in a letter. In a second such incident in Kashmir this year, Deepak Kumar from Udhampur district of Jammu region, who was working with a private circus in Anantnag was killed by suspected militants in Anantnag on Monday night. A PTI report quoted police as saying that Kumar had gone to a nearby market to buy milk when two motorcycle-borne youths fired three bullets at him from a close range at 8.30 pm. He was taken to hospital where he died. Terrorists fired upon one civilian namely Deepu R/O Udhampur working at private circus mela at an amusement park near Janglat Mandi in Anantnag. He was taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Case registered, investigation going on, J&K Police said in a tweet. In a similar incident, a Kashmiri Pandit who worked as a security guard at a bank was killed by unidentified militants at Achan village in Pulwama, South Kashmir on February 26. J&K Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the attack and said: Our security forces remain committed in their resolve to thwart the designs of terrorists and all efforts will be made to bring the perpetrators to justice. Pained by the news of yet another targeted attack against a civilian in the Anantnag area of South Kashmir. The murder of Deepak who worked with a travelling circus to earn an honest living is an abomination & I condemn this militant attack unreservedly, former Chief Minister and NC leader Omar Abdullah tweeted. With inputs from agencies Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday visited Manipurs Churachandpur, which witnessed some of the worst violence, earlier this month, to hold talks with Kuki civil society leaders. He also held a series of discussions with different Meitei groups, women groups and prominent personalities earlier during the day in Imphal before flying to the headquarters of the hill district by the same name. This is Shahs first visit to the northeastern state since ethnic clashes broke out earlier this month. The clashes, which have claimed over 75 lives, first broke out in Manipur after a Tribal Solidarity March was organised in the hill districts on 3 May. Among others, Shah who was accompanied by IB chief and Home Secretary, met political and social leaders from the Kuki community to understand their grievances and find ways to bring peace to the northeastern state, which has witnessed a series of clashes between Meiteis and Kukis. #WATCH | Manipur: Union Home Minister Amit Shah holds a meeting with the members of the different Civil Society Organisations in Imphal, to take stock of the situation in the state. pic.twitter.com/4SIKPnFQDw ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2023 He held three rounds of talks with various groups such as Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) and other civil society organisations. He also met five Kuki MLAs from the BJP. We demanded total separation from Manipur both political and geographical. We also sought Presidents Rule as the law and order has totally collapsed in the state, ITLF secretary Muan Tombing told PTI. The Home Minister on his part, requested the Kuki society to maintain peace for the next 15 days with an assurance of sending more security personnel for the safety of common people, he added. Asked why Shah mentioned only 15 days, Tombing said, He told us that the CBI will be entrusted with carrying out a detailed probe to find out the reasons behind this prolonged clash. Besides, a judicial enquiry will also be announced. Shah announces compensation for victims of ethnic clashes Earlier in the day, the government announced it will provide a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of those who died in the ethnic conflict and a job to a family member. The compensation amount will be borne equally by the Centre and the state, an official release said. The decision was taken at a meeting between the Union Home minister and Chief Minister N Biren Singh in the presence of the council of ministers on Monday night. During the meeting, it was also decided to ensure that essential items such as petrol, LPG, rice and other foodgrains will be made available in large quantities to cool down rising prices. In Imphal, Shah held consultations on Tuesday with stakeholders starting with a breakfast meeting with a group of women leaders at Raj Bhavan as part of his initiative to bring peace to the violence-hit state. Held a meeting with a group of women leaders (Meira Paibi) in Manipur. Reiterated the significance of the role of women in the society of Manipur. Together, we are committed to ensuring peace and prosperity in the state, Shah tweeted. After that he met several CSO groups and prominent personalities from the Meitei community at the Secretariat before leaving for Churachandpur. Had a fruitful discussion with the members of the different civil society organisations today in Imphal. They expressed their commitment to peace and assured that we would together contribute to paving the way to restore normalcy in Manipur, he added. After meeting Shah, Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) coordinator Jeetendra Ningomba said they requested the Union Home Minister to take appropriate measures to protect the territorial and administrative integrity of the state. We also demanded immediate abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Kuki militant groups and devise effective counter-terror actions. Besides, we asked for replacement of Assam Rifles for their softness towards the Kukis, he added. He claimed that Shah had assured the delegation of no compromise on Manipurs territorial integrity. After coming from Churachandpur, Shah met with some opposition political parties, while he is likely to meet all the BJP MLAs and party functionaries on Tuesday night, sources said. He later reviewed the situation with security officials, tweeting, Reviewed the security situation in Manipur in a meeting with senior officials of the Manipur Police, CAPFs and the Indian Army in Imphal. Peace and prosperity of Manipur is our top priority, instructed them to strictly deal with any activities disturbing the peace. Manipur has been hit by ethnic conflict for nearly a month and witnessed a sudden spurt in clashes and firing between militants and security forces on Sunday, after a relative lull for over a fortnight. The death toll from clashes has gone up to 80, officials said. The Home Minister who flew into Imphal on Monday night was accompanied by the Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Director of the Intelligence Bureau Tapan Kumar Deka. Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan in Pune said that challenges in Manipur have not disappeared, but expressed hope that things will settle down in some time, while noting the ongoing situation in the North Eastern state is not related to insurgency. We are helping the state government with the problem, he added. I would like to say that the Army and Assam Rifles have done an excellent job there and may have saved a large number of lives. Hopefully this will settle and the government there will be able to do the job with the help of CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) etc, the CDS said. 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. Challenges in Manipur have not disappeared, said Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Tuesday, expressing hope that things will settle down in some time. The situation now in the northeastern State is not related to insurgency. It is a clash between two ethnicities and a situation of law and order, he said. Talking about the situation in Manipur, he said The Army, Assam Rifles were deployed in Manipur before 2020. Since the challenges of the northern borders were far more, we were able to withdraw the Army. Since the insurgency situation had normalised, we were able to do that. We are helping the State government with the problem, the CDS said. I would like to say that the armed forces and Assam Rifles have done an excellent job there and may have saved a large number of lives. Though the challenges in Manipur have not disappeared, it will take some time. Hopefully, this will settle and the government there will be able to do the job with the help of CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) etc, he said. Chauhan was in Pune on Tuesday to review the passing out parade of the 144th course of the National Defence Academy (NDA). The death toll from clashes since ethnic rioting began on May 3 in Manipur has gone up to 80, according to officials. In his address to the cadets, Chauhan spoke out about the deployment of Chinas PLA (Peoples Liberation Army) along the northern borders. We see the war in Europe, the deployment of Chinas PLA along the northern borders and geo-political crisis in neighbouring countries. These crises present a challenge to India, but the armed forces are firm to maintain the legitimacy of Indias claims and peace in the region, he said. Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday met with a delegation of different civil society organisations in Imphal. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh was also present during the meeting. Shah on Monday arrived in Manipur on a four-day-long visit to the state, which has seen violence between ethnic communities. Five persons, including a Manipur Police Officer, were killed, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs house was vandalised and over 1,000 arms and ammunition were reportedly looted by a mob from armouries of Manipur Rifles and India Reserve Battalion on Sunday. With inputs from agencies Rome, May 30 (UNI) At least 41 soldiers of NATO KFOR contingent received injuries in clashes in Kosovo, la Repubblica newspaper reported on Monday. The injured NATO KFOR soldiers included 11 Italians, with three being in serious condition, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said. "I want to express my solidarity with the military of the KFOR mission, who were wounded in Kosovo during clashes between Serbian demonstrators and the Kosovo police. Among them are 11 Italians, three of whom are in serious condition, but there is no threat to their lives. The Italian military continues to carry out their duties in the name of peace," Tajani said on Twitter. Earlier in the day, director of the Clinical Hospital Center in the city of North Kosovska Mitrovica in northern Kosovo, Zlatan Elek, said that as a result of clashes between Serbs and the police of self-proclaimed Kosovo, as well as the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) contingent, at least 50 citizens were injured, including two seriously injured. UNI/SPUTNIK GNK Friendship between India and US has never been stronger, the American ambassador to India Eric Garcetti told CNN-News18 Managing Editor Zakka Jacob in an exclusive interview on Tuesday. India is a global force of cooperation, the bilateral relationship between India and US is historic and it is generational Garcetti said. India is a global force of cooperation,the bilateral relationship between India and U.S. is historic and it is generational says U.S. ambassador to India @ericgarcetti in his first television interview with News18s @Zakka_Jacob #India #USA pic.twitter.com/KSEnUS9EUX News18 (@CNNnews18) May 30, 2023 Coming to India has been phenomenal. It feels like home, 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. As part of a month-long outreach campaign by the BJP to mark its nine years in power at the Centre, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally in Rajasthans Ajmer district on Wednesday. Modi will travel by helicopter from Kishangarh airport to the holy town of Pushkar, where he will offer prayers at the Brahma temple and visit the ghats, according to party leaders. He will then travel by helicopter to Kayad Vishram Sthali on the Jaipur road to address the rally. Union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and Kailash Chaudhary, and other BJP leaders from Rajasthan will attend the meeting. Ajmer North MLA Vasudev Devnani said BJP workers from 45 assembly and eight Lok Sabha constituencies are being mobilised for the rally. The constituencies fall in the districts of Ajmer, Nagaur, Tonk, Bhilwara, Rajsamand, Jaipur and Pali. Of these 45 assembly seats, 21 are held by the Congress, 19 by the BJP, three by independents and two by the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party. Over the past few weeks, Modi has also visited Rajsamand and Sirohi. This BJP event comes soon after the Congress leadership at the Centre held discussions with Gehlot and Pilot in an effort to patch up their differences ahead of the assembly polls later this year. The party claimed that the two leaders agreed to fight the elections unitedly. BJP leaders have already held press conferences in several states already to mark Modis nine years as prime minister. The PMs rally will flag the beginning of a series of party meetings as part of a major outreach campaign. Union ministers and senior BJP organisational members will travel across the country to mark the Modi governments ninth anniversary, in what is also seen as the ruling partys mega outreach to drum up support as the 2024 Lok Sabha elections approach. With inputs from PTI A non-Muslim worker, named Deepu, was shot dead by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists when he had gone to a market for purchasing milk in Jammu and Kashmirs Anantnag district. Deepu, who belonged to Udhampur district of Jammu region, was working in a circus that was camping at Janglaat Mandi area which was provided security, officials said. The circus people had their own security as well. He was the sole breadwinner of the family. My eyes are defective for the last four years. My father is visually impaired, he cant work. We are completely destroyed. We want justice. What was our fault? Deepus brother told ANI. Udhampur, J&K | He was the sole breadwinner of the family. My eyes are defective for the last four years. My father is visually impaired, he can't work. We are completely destroyed. We want justice. What was our fault?: Brother of Deepu, a resident of Udhampur who was shot dead pic.twitter.com/IPd58kEssX ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2023 According to officials, Deepu had gone to a nearby market to purchase milk when two motorcycle-borne youths fired three bullets at him from a close range at 8.30 pm. The worker was taken to the hospital where he was declared brought dead, they said. ADGP Vijay Kumar was closely monitoring the situation and directed the district police to intensify their search to nab the killers at the earliest. A little known outfit, Kashmir Freedom Fighter, believed to be a shadow outfit of banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the killing. Terrorists fired upon one civilian namely Deepu R/O Udhampur working at private circus mela at amusement park near Janglaat Mandi in #Anantnag. He was taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, the Kashmir Zone Police tweeted. Police said a case has been registered and investigation is going on. (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-based chief of banned terror outfit Khalistan Liberation Force and International Sikh Youth Federation chief, Lakhbir Singh Rode, was the mastermind behind the 2021 bomb explosion in a Ludhiana court in December 2021 that left a suspected terrorist dead and six civilians injured, National Investigation Agency (NIA) said in its supplementary chargesheet. The chargesheet was filed on Monday in a special NIA court in Mohali district in Punjab against Lakhbir Singh alias Rode and Harpreet Singh alias Happy Malaysia in the Ludhiana Court complex bomb blast case, in which one person was killed and six others injured on December 23 in 2021. Rode of Moga district in Punjab is reportedly in Pakistan from where he had smuggled Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) into India for triggering explosions across Punjab, said the NIA in the chargesheet. Rode is chief of banned outfits, Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and International Sikh Youth Federation (ISFY). However, Happy Malaysia of Amritsar district was arrested in December 2022 at the Indian Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), Delhi, on his arrival from Malaysia. Both the terror accused have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Explosive Substances Act and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act 1984 in the chargesheet. Investigations by the NIA revealed that the IED that exploded in the Ludhiana Court complex had been smuggled into Punjab by Rode from across the border, said the NIA. He had smuggled these IEDs with the help of Pakistan-based drug smugglers and their Indian associates, including Harpreet Singh. The case was initially registered on December 23 in 2021 by Punjab Police and subsequently taken over by the NIA in January 2022. With inputs from agencies Monday became horror-day for Delhi as Sakshi, 16, was stabbed multiple times on Sunday evening by Sahil Khan, who was caught in the act by a CCTV camera as if seized by a frenzy. As if knifing was not enough, the accused bludgeoned her head with a concrete slab. Dubbed as love jihad by many, accused Sahil Khan fled the scene though several people kept looking on or passed by unruffled by how he had brutalised Sakshi. He was later arrested from UPs Bulandshahr. In this gruesome act of depravity, there are six major actors that are in the eye of the storm. 1. Sakshi: All of 16, she was knifed 16 times, 6 in the throat, so much so that her entrails came out. Her head was, as per the preliminary post-mortem report, smashed to pieces. 2. Sahil Sarfaraz or Khan: The accused was caught murdering Sakshi on CCTV. He is said to be two-timing Sakshi and was upset, reportedly, as the victim had started talking to her ex-boyfriend. She even had the latters tattoo. Sakshi had wanted to break-up, according to reports, from Sahil Khan and had also threatened to go to the police if he did not relent. He is 20, repairs ACs and fridges. 3. Praveen: According to reports, Praveen was Sakshis ex-boyfriend. He is in UPs Jaunpur. It was his name that Sakhsi had got tattooed on her hand. 4. Neetu: She is Sakshis friend. It was at her kids birthday party that Sakshi was going to when Sahil Sarfaraz jumped her. Interestingly, Neetus husband is in Tihar jail. In the days leading to her murder, Sakshi was living at Neetus place. Therefore, she becomes a crucial witness to what transpired between Sahil Khan and Sakshi. 5. Arti: Another friend of Sakshi. Arti was the last person Sakhsi met before being killed. The two had, as per reports, met at the weekly bazaar in Shahbad Dairy area. Reportedly, Arti had said that Sakshi told her that Sahil Khan was stalking her. 6. Akash: Sahils friend, the two were seen standing at the scene of crime in the hours leading to the murder. He can give crucial clues. 7. Jhabru: He is another of Sahil Khans friend. He is a resident of the same area. Reportedly, Sakshi was close to Jhabru and that the latter had warned Sahil not to hassle Sakshi. Also Read: Dilli Ka Dil? Minor girl knifed 34 times, people walk by. Times when Delhi-ites were caught sauntering past gory murders 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 new video of Sahil Sarfaraz from the spot where he brutally stabbed and killed his 16-year-old alleged girlfriend Sakshi has surfaced. In the CCTV clip captured moments before the heinous crime, he can be seen talking to a man at Delhis Shahbad Dairy. The video which has now gone viral, shows Sahil donning a blue T-shirt and talking to a man dressed in black at the same spot where he later killed the minor Hindu girl. From the clip, it appeared that Sahil was waiting for Sakshi to cross the area to go to her friends sons birthday. A report by NDTV quoted officials saying the man who was talking to Sahil has been identified as Akash. Delhi murder case On Sunday evening, Sahil stabbed Sakshi multiple times and later picked up a heavy stone and bashed her repeatedly. The disturbing video of the incident left people traumatised. Disturbing visuals Man named Sahil (father's name Sarfaraz ) stabbed a minor Hindu girl multiple times, leaving her in a pool of blood in Delhi. People stood watching & nobody came forward to save her. Minor girl succumbed to injuries during treatment. Horrible horrible pic.twitter.com/1WpMVTUGVT BALA (@erbmjha) May 29, 2023 The locals informed the police who arrived at the spot to find the girl's body lying in pool of blood. Police said that Sahil and Sakshi were in a relationship for three years. They had a quarrel on Sunday. Also Read: Girl had tattoo of another man, threatened Sahil with police complaint: 10 BIG developments in Delhi murder Sahil, who worked as AC and fridge technician, was allegedly upset because Sakshi wanted to break up with him. She even threatened to go to the police and register a complaint against him. "Sahil said he was enraged as the girl had been ignoring him for some time and that he has no regrets," NDTV report quoted sources as saying. He was also angry with a tattoo of another mans name Praveen on Sakhshi's hand. How police arrested Sahil? After murdering his alleged girlfriend, Sahil fled from the spot and reached Rithala (in Northwest Delhi closer to Rohini) and dumped the weapon he used to stab Sakshi. He then switched off his mobile phone and took a bus to Bulandshahr to for his aunts house. Don't Miss: Shahbad Dairy Murder: All of 16, Sakshi was stabbed 16 times, 6 in throat He changed two buses to reach Bulandshahr in the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh. Police had put technical surveillance on Sahil after he had called his father. They arrested him and brought him to Delhi. On Tuesday, he was sent to the police custody for two days. 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. An article on 2020 US presidential elections, Death by a thousand cuts: How Trump was robbed, details how Donald Trump was made to lose not by in the face criminality-like outright hacking of voting machines, but what can be better described as death by thousand cuts. None of these acts on its own amounted to prima facie wrongdoing, but in reality each is a scam that maintained a veneer of respectability. The article talks about how they changed election laws just before the polls in such a way where previously illegal practices were made legal (mail in ballots and standards of verification), role of Big Tech that hid anything about Joe Biden and his family corruption, particularly his son Hunter Biden laptop explosive revelations, $400 million donation by Mark Zuckerberg that created organisations that state governments hired to run the election in swing states across the nation, among others. The Zuckerberg-funded activist organisations which were supposed to be non-partisan focused their resources on multiple ways to benefit Biden and impede Trump in carefully selected counties with slim electoral vote margins. To top it all, Big Tech banned any criticism of the election. The article summarises the US 2020 election as, in combination, an election where western deep state used extraordinarily and deceitful measures as a new form of institutional gerrymandering particularly in few swing states to change the outcome of the election. While the situation in Bharat is not exactly the same as in the United States, the end goal of subversion of the election process to institute regime change in 2024 has actually started happening in full swing by the breaking India forces using various methods. The detailed micro and macro planning by well-funded experts cannot be missed by anyone with a discerning eye. Word is that there are about 220 to 240 Lok Sabha seats identified across the country where there is tacit agreement among Opposition parties to field only one strong candidate with a sprinkling of weak candidates from the rest of the Opposition parties. These locations must have been carefully selected with thin margins to engineer an outcome. Just as the article on US elections said, there is nothing wrong on the surface but the voter as well as competition (BJP) is deceived that it is a multi-party candidate election whereas in truth it is not. Just as in the US where supposedly non-partisan organisations created using a very large donation by Zuckerberg manipulated elections in carefully selected areas, India has its own set of NGOs, literally thousands funded by foreign entities. Adding to this, as documented in works like Snakes in the Ganga, there are many entities ostensibly created as companies providing services in the remote areas to circumvent Foreign Contribution Regulation Act laws. On the surface they are providing services but their reach is being used to propagate subtle messages to affect election outcomes. Their extensive reach to the last-mile voter can have deadly consequences for holding a free and fair election. In recently-held elections in Karnataka, third party campaigning is believed to have been done by several NGOs in the remote areas more than a year before the election, saying that the ruling BJP is a 40 percent cut party. The problem is these subtle campaigns are done in the name of NGOs established for public good or in the name of providing service. Worse, in the case of Karnataka it did not give a full picture of corruption in the state where the then Opposition party itself was led by someone accused of amassing thousands of crores of rupees in corruption. Free and fair elections in India are challenged by another phenomenon called freebies. The recent Karnataka elections is again a case in point (along with other states like Punjab, Delhi) where freebies promised are believed to have played a large role in election outcome. This will be one of the strategies that could be used in 2024 as well with carefully planned messages propagated through media, NGOs, dubious service organisations and third-party campaigning. This freebie culture raises many questions that the country needs to urgently address if democracy is to be preserved. First, these are not funded by politicians or political parties promising them, it is taxpayer funds. Do the parties have agreement from taxpayers to give away their funds? Then, there is even the issue of whether the promises made during elections to get votes can even be met, as is seen in Karnataka where big promises are made before elections and after winning elections, so many ifs and buts have been put in place to receive these freebies, which according to some outlets make almost everyone ineligible. None of the parameters for receiving the freebies was ever announced nor a true picture was given to voters before the elections. If voters were enticed and duped with such false promises, how can that be considered a free and fair election? On the other hand, if the promises for freebies are kept after winning elections causing a large drain on the state budget, were the voters informed of the consequences of the drain, the lack of funds to do development projects and other state-provided services? Then there is the question of making secret promises to sections of the voting community. Going back to Karnataka, after the election results were announced Muslim leaders stated that they were promised a Deputy CM and five ministerial positions that must have certainly helped to gain a large number of votes of that community which constitute about 13 percent of the total voter community in the state according to the 2011 census. When such wild promises are made, should this not be informed to the rest of the voting community before the elections so that an informed decision can be made by them? Yes, the bluff can be called when the next election comes after five years, but the voters get stuck for five years. One suspects this ploy will be used in 2024 as well, with deadly consequences. Last but not the least, there may be attempts at creating multiple artificially created regional and national disturbances to divide and incite communities using well-devised toolkits. One really hopes Bharat is prepared for these highly sophisticated and well-funded toolkits seeking to destabilise the country and usher in a regime change. The 2024 election will be a momentous one, in that case. The writer is a US-based activist who has played a critical role in the introduction of paper trail for Indias Electronic Voting Machines called VVPAT. 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. FP Staff Tecno Mobile has recently unveiled its latest smartphone lineup, known as the Tecno Camon 20 series. This series includes three models: the Camon 20, Camon 20 Pro 5G, and Camon 20 5G Premier. The Camon 20 is a budget-friendly option priced under Rs 15,000 and offers all the essential specifications. On the other hand, the higher-end variants come with 5G support. The Tecno Camon 20 series is specifically designed for users seeking an aesthetically pleasing smartphone with enhanced camera capabilities and improved performance. Tecno Camon 20 series: Specifications and features The Tecno Camon 20 series features a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 500 nits. These smartphones also include an in-display fingerprint sensor and have an IP53 rating for dust and splash resistance. Powering the Tecno Camon 20 series is the MediaTek Helio G85 processor, and the smartphones are equipped with VC liquid cooling and high polymer gel for better thermal management. All models in the series offer an 8GB RAM option, which can be expanded by an additional 8GB using virtual RAM support. In terms of battery, the Tecno Camon 20 and Camon 20 5G variants are equipped with a 5000mAh battery with 33W fast charging support. As for the high-end variant, the Tecno Camon 20 Premier 5G, it comes with a 5000mAh battery and 45W fast charging support. For photography enthusiasts, both the Tecno Camon 20 and Camon 20 Pro feature a triple rear camera setup, consisting of a 64-megapixel primary camera, a 2-megapixel depth camera, and a macro camera. Meanwhile, the Tecno Camon 20 Premier 5G offers a 50-megapixel primary camera, a 108-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. All variants in the series come with a 32-megapixel front camera accompanied by dual-LED flash. When it comes to connectivity options, the Tecno Camon 20 is compatible with 4G networks, while both the Camon 20 Pro and Camon 20 Premier support 5G network connectivity. Tecno Camon 20 series: Pricing and availability In India, Tecno has set the price of the budget smartphone, Camon 20, at Rs 14,999. This smartphone comes in a single variant with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal memory, expandable with additional RAM support. It is available in Predawn Black, Serenity Blue, and Glacier Glow color options. As for the Camon 20 Pro 5G, it offers two variants: one with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal memory, and another with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of memory. These variants are priced at Rs 19,999 and Rs 21,999, respectively. The Camon 20 Pro 5G is available in Serenity Blue and Dark Welkin colour options. Regarding the top-tier model of the series, the Tecno Camon 5G Premier, the company has not yet disclosed the price. The prices are expected to be announced in the third week of June 2023. The 5G Premier model is also offered in Serenity Blue and Dark Welkin colour options. The Tecno Camon 20 will be available for purchase on Amazon starting from May 29, while the Tecno Camon 20 Pro 5G will be available for sale from the second week of June. The Tecno Camon Premier 5G will be available for purchase from the third week of June. Nvidia Corp is poised to surpass a market capitalization of $1 trillion, becoming the first U.S. chipmaker to achieve this milestone. In premarket trading, the companys shares were up by 3.5 per cent at $402.91. In 2021, Meta (formerly known as Facebook) reached a trillion-dollar market capitalization, while other U.S. companies such as Apple Inc, Alphabet Inc, Microsoft Corp, and Amazon.com Inc are already part of this exclusive club. Nvidia attracted significant attention in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) after surpassing analysts expectations with its revenue forecast last week, exceeding them by over 50 per cent. Financial analysts on Wall Street described Nvidias forecast as unfathomable and cosmological, leading to a wave of price target increases. The highest price target estimated the companys value at approximately $1.6 trillion, aligning with Google-parent Alphabet. The surge in Nvidias shares, which increased by about 25 per cent last week, sparked a rally in AI-related stocks and provided a boost to other chipmakers. As a result, the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index closed on Friday at its highest level in over a year. The success of OpenAI-owned ChatGPT, which includes rapid advancements in generative AI capable of engaging in human-like conversations and creating various forms of content such as jokes and poetry, has prompted tech giants like Alphabet and Microsoft to explore and leverage the potential of this technology. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Nvidias CEO Jensen Huang made a resounding declaration saying that artificial intelligence (AI) has eliminated the digital divide and made computer programming accessible to everyone. Speaking at the Computex forum in Taipei, Huang emphasized that AI is driving a computing revolution and enabling new possibilities. As a leading supplier of chips and computing systems for AI, Nvidia has become the worlds most valuable listed semiconductor company. The company recently provided a strong revenue forecast for the second quarter, surpassing Wall Street estimates. It also acknowledged the rising demand for its AI chips, which power services like ChatGPT. Huang showcased the capabilities of AI during his speech, demonstrating how a program can generate a short pop song with just a few words of instruction. He also unveiled new applications, such as a partnership with advertising group WPP (WPP.L) to create generative AI-enabled content for digital advertising. Nvidia has faced challenges in meeting the high demand for its AI chips. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who reportedly plans to establish an AI startup, mentioned in an interview that obtaining the companys graphics processing units (GPUs) is considerably harder than getting drugs. 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, May 30 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday called on Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, who is on a three-day State visit. He said the King's visit, marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties, reaffirms the strong civilizational bond between the two nations. In a tweet, the EAM said: Honoured to call on King HM Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia. His visit, as our two countries celebrate 70th anniversary of our diplomatic relations, reaffirms the strong civilizational bond between us. Today that is expressed in cooperation in heritage conservation, demining, water conservation and socio-economic projects. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the King will hold bilateral talks at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the evening. India and Cambodia enjoy warm and friendly relations marked by civilisational, cultural and economic linkages and deep-rooted people-to-people ties. The multifaceted relationship is based on shared cultural values, commitment to foster economic growth, collaboration in the fields of defence & security and convergence on regional and global issues, a statement said. India actively assists Cambodia in capacity building & human resource development through training slots under the ITEC and scholarships under ICCR. 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 being carried out under GoI funding. India has extended a grant of USD 1.5 million for purchase of demining equipment and has offered a line of credit worth USD 50 million Line of Credit for procurement of defence equipment from India. Customised training courses are conducted for Cambodian Army personnel in India and Mobile Training Teams from Indian Army have been deployed to Cambodia for training Cambodian Army personnel. 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. King Norodom Sihamoni is accompanied by a 27-member high level delegation, including the Minister of Royal Palace, Vice President of the Senate, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and other senior officials from the royal palace and the ministry of foreign affairs. India and Cambodia established diplomatic relations in 1952. UNI RN US President Joe Biden is finalising an executive order to restrict American investment in Chinas defence industry, the move which is likely to further ratchet up a campaign that Beijing calls economic coercion, according to a report. According to a Russia Today report, citing Axios, the order will be released later this summer. Rumors of an impending order have circulated in the US media since April, but Axios sources said that work on the decree was slowed by Washingtons efforts to convince its G7 allies to issue similar restrictions. Clear progress on this issue was made at the G7 summit in Japan this month, the report cited a source as saying. Uncertainty exists around how widely the decree would define Chinas defence industry. The Biden administration has previously sanctioned Chinas military-industrial complex, which is nearly wholly owned by the government. According to a Bloomberg report last month, the edict will instead cover the fields of semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing, stressing that all of these technologies have military uses. In last October, the Biden administration published a sweeping set of export controls, including a measure to cut China off from certain semiconductor chips made anywhere in the world with US tools, vastly expanding its reach in its attempt to slow Beijings technological and military advances. Furthermore, the US is currently in talks with Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan to formalise the so-called Chip 4 Alliance, which Beijing sees as an attempt to exclude China from semiconductor supply chains. Biden and his representatives defend these actions on the grounds of national security, but Wang Wenbin, a spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, asserted last month that Washingtons real goal is to deny China its development rights. It is pure economic coercion. Beijing responded to the semiconductor export controls in kind, barring chips made by US firm Micron from being used in its national infrastructure and investigating the company for potential cyberspace security risks. Were not looking to decouple from China, were looking to de-risk and diversify our relationship with China, Biden said at the conclusion of the G7 summit. However, a joint communique released by the group accused China of posing a military and economic threat to the US and its allies, to which Beijing responded by condemning the anti-China gathering and issuing a formal complaint to the Japanese government. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. With an eye to putting astronauts on the moon before the end of the decade, China on Tuesday sent three astronauts to its Tiangong space station, including a civilian scientist, according to state media. The worlds second-largest economy has invested billions of dollars in its military-run space programme in a push to catch up with the United States and Russia. China built its own space station after it was excluded from the International Space Station, largely due to U.S. concerns over the Chinese space programs intimate ties with the Peoples Liberation Army, the military branch of the ruling Communist Party. Chinas first manned space mission in 2003 made it the third country after the former Soviet Union and the U.S. to put a person into space under its own resources. The Shenzhou-16 crew took off atop a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China at 9:31 am (0131 GMT), AFP journalists saw. The launch was a complete success and the astronauts are in good condition, said Zou Lipeng, director of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Dozens of employees from the space programme, many of whom live year-round on the huge site, attended the launch, snapping selfies with the rocket in the background. Children played as they waited for the launch, some waving Chinese flags as they sat on their parents shoulders. Spectators let out a loud wow, shouting good luck and waving as the rocket took off in a cloud of ochre smoke. Leading its crew is commander Jing Haipeng on his fourth mission, as well as engineer Zhu Yangzhu and Beihang University professor Gui Haichao, the first Chinese civilian in space. China was the third country to put humans in orbit, and Tiangong is the crown jewel of its space programme, which has also landed robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon. Shenzhou-16 is the first mission to Tiangong since it entered its application and development stage, authorities said. The Shenzhou craft will dock at the space stations Tianhe core module. The crew will then meet their three colleagues from the Shenzhou-15 flight, who have been at the station for six months and will return to Earth in the coming days. Shenzhou-16 will carry out a number of experiments during the mission, including in high-precision space time-frequency systems, general relativity, and into the origin of life, CMSA spokesperson Lin Xiqiang told reporters on Monday. The space station was resupplied with drinking water, clothing, food and propellant this month in preparation for Shenzhou-16s arrival. One expert told AFP that Tuesdays mission represented a regular crew rotation flight, but even that was significant. Accumulating depth of experience in human spaceflight operations is important and doesnt involve new spectacular milestones all the time, said Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer and astrophysicist at the HarvardSmithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Heavenly palace Plans for Chinas space dream have been put into overdrive under President Xi Jinping, and it is planning to build a moon base. The overall goal is to achieve Chinas first crewed landing on the Moon by 2030 and carry out lunar scientific exploration and related technological experiments, CMSA spokesman Lin said. The final module of Tiangong which means heavenly palace successfully docked with the core structure last year. The station carries several pieces of cutting-edge scientific equipment, state news agency Xinhua reported, including the worlds first space-based cold atomic clock system. Tiangong is expected to remain in low Earth orbit at an altitude between 400 and 450 kilometres (250 and 280 miles) for at least 10 years. It is constantly crewed by rotating teams of three astronauts. China has been effectively excluded from the International Space Station since 2011, when the United States banned NASA from engaging with the country pushing Beijing to develop its own orbital outpost. Chinas space agency reiterated on Monday it is actively seeking international cooperation in the project. China plans to send two crewed space missions to Tiangong every year, according to the CMSA. The next will be Shenzhou-17, with an expected launch in October. With inputs from agencies The Chinese government declined an invitation from the US for a meeting between Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu that would have taken place in Singapore this week, the Pentagon announced on Monday. Overnight, the PRC informed the US that they have declined our early May invitation for Secretary Austin to meet with PRC Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu in Singapore this week, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said in a statement, refering to the Peoples Republic of China. The PRCs concerning unwillingness to engage in meaningful military-to-military discussions will not diminish (the Defense Departments) commitment to seeking open lines of communication with the Peoples Liberation Army, Ryder said. A senior US defence official described the declined invitation as just the latest in a litany of excuses, saying that since 2021, China has declined or failed to respond to over a dozen requests from the Department of Defense for key leader engagements, multiple requests for standing dialogues, and nearly ten working-level engagements. Li was sanctioned by the US government in 2018 for buying Russian weapons, but the Pentagon says that does not prevent Austin from conducting official business with him. Austin is due to travel to Singapore later this week to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, a defense summit where he met Lis predecessor Wei Fenghe last June. Austin and Wei met again in Cambodia later in 2022, but tensions between Washington and Beijing soared this year over issues including Taiwan and an alleged Chinese spy balloon that was shot down by a US warplane after traversing the country. Austin and other US officials have been working to shore up alliances and partnerships in Asia as part of efforts to counter increasingly assertive moves by Beijing, but there have also been tentative signs that the two sides were working to lower the temperature. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi in Vienna earlier this month, and President Joe Biden recently said ties between Washington and Beijing should thaw very shortly, citing the spy balloon incident as a factor that had boosted tensions. 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. Virginia Woolf, the famous 20th century English writer, stated in one of her extended essays titled A Room of Ones Own, that A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction. Throughout history, women have contributed greatly to society in all areas. Many female authors wrote under alternate male pseudonyms or chose to publish using various pen names. A variety of reasons contributed to the cause but the one that overshadowed all was the male gaze. For many, it was not easy to break free from preconceived gendered norms, yet they persisted in expressing themselves in different ways. In a similar set of events, away from the Talibans intriguing eyes, Afghan woman Behishta Khairuddin chose to study in a small science lab of her own. Behishtas Journey In 2021, Behishta, 26, set about educating herself, not outside the country but within her home. As the Taliban tightened their grip on Afghanistan, preventing women from pursuing education, Behishta forged ahead with her passion for chemical engineering. She is among hundreds of students from the top institute in India, IIT-Madras, who have cleared their post-graduation programmes this year. I dont feel any regret. If you stop me, I will find another way. I feel sorry for you Taliban because you have the power, you have everything, but you are not using that. Its you who should be sorry, not me, she told The Times of India over the phone. She added in the interview that she did not receive any response from ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations, which provides scholarships to Afghanistan students). Moreover, the Council also deactivated her portal account. It was then that Behishta Khairudddin connected with a IIT Madras professor, Raghunathan Rengasamy. Hurdles encountered by Behishta Despite an unstable Wi-Fi connection, fear of Taliban and no proper equipment, Behishta enrolled herself at IIT-Madras, one of Indias most prestigious institutes. Due to diplomatic fall out, her geographical location kept her in the north of Afghanistan, far from the halls of academia to study for her masters degree. Despite the obstacles, Behishta transformed her home into a secret laboratory. In pursuit of knowledge, she conducted experiments with borrowed beakers and microwave ovens from her sister. Her education was furthered by using everything at her disposal for two years in solitude. The youngest of all the siblings, Behishta Khairuddin has received immense support from her family. Her goal is to bridge the education gap in Afghanistan. Academics are more appealing to her than industrial jobs. As a result of her accomplishments, she now stands among hundreds of students who have successfully completed their post-graduation programme. Talibans return in Afghanistan has already led to the exclusion of girls from secondary schools and ban on women attending universities, according to a BBC report. It is a remarkable achievement for a woman in a country where such dreams are becoming increasingly rare. 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 male passenger on an Air India flight from Goa to Delhi physically attacked a crew member on Monday, resulting in the passenger being handed over to security personnel upon landing at Delhi airport. This incident adds to the series of recent occurrences involving unruly passenger behavior aboard aircraft. The airlines spokesperson stated that the passenger not only verbally abused the crew members but also physically assaulted one of them during the flight. Upon reaching Delhi, the passenger continued to display unprovoked and aggressive behaviour, leading to their handover to security authorities. The incident has been reported to the regulatory authorities. Unfortunately, further details about the incident are not immediately available. The Air India spokesperson however emphasized that the safety of both the crew and passengers is their top priority. They strongly condemned the unruly behavior exhibited by the passenger and assured full support to the affected crew members. Air India recently issued a two-year flying ban to an individual who caused physical harm to two female cabin crew members during a Delhi-London flight on April 10. What happens if you misbehave in Flight? The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has established regulations that allow for varying durations of flying bans for unruly air passengers. The regulations categorize unruly passenger behavior into three levels. Level 1 encompasses unruly actions such as physical gestures, verbal harassment, and disorderly intoxication. Level 2 involves physically abusive conduct such as pushing, kicking, or sexual harassment. Level 3 includes life-threatening behavior such as damaging aircraft operating systems, engaging in physical violence like choking, or committing murderous assaults. Based on the severity of the unruly behavior, an internal committee established by the respective airline can determine the duration of the flying ban imposed on the passenger. The committee assesses the level of misconduct and decides the appropriate length of the ban, in accordance with the guidelines provided. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Brushing aside a flurry of peace initiatives from China, Brazil, the Vatican and South Africa in recent months, a top aide to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Kyivs peace plan is the only way to end Russias war in Ukraine and the time for mediation efforts has passed. According to a Reuters report, Chief diplomatic adviser Ihor Zhovkva said that Ukraine had no interest in a ceasefire that locks in Russian territorial gains, and wanted the implementation of its peace plan, which envisages the full withdrawal of Russian troops. There cannot be a Brazilian peace plan, a Chinese peace plan, a South African peace plan when you are talking about the war in Ukraine, Reuters quoted Zhovkva as saying in an interview late on Friday. Zhovkva played down the prospects of calls for dialogue with Russia made by Pope Francis who described Ukraines occupied territories as a political problem. In this period of open war, we dont need any mediators. Its too late for mediation, he said. Zelenskyy made a major push to court the Global South this month in response to peace moves from some of its members. He attended the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia on 19 May, holding talks with host Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Iraq and other delegations. He then flew to Japan where he met the leaders of India and Indonesia important voices in the Global South on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit of major economic powers in Hiroshima. Zhovkva said the reaction to Ukraines 10-point peace plan had been extremely positive at the G7 summit. Not a single formula (point) had any concerns from the (G7) countries, Zhovkva said. Wooing Global South leaders Kyiv wanted G7 leaders to help bring as many Global South leaders as possible to a Peace Summit proposed by Kyiv this summer, he said, adding that the location was still being discussed. While Kyiv has staunch backing from the West in its struggle against the Kremlin, it has not won the same support from the Global South a term denoting Latin America, Africa and much of Asia where Russia has invested diplomatic energy for years. Moscow has bolstered ties with Global South powers during the war in Ukraine, including by selling more of its energy to India and China. In response to a Western embargo on seaborne Russian oil imports, Russia has been working to reroute supplies away from its traditional European markets to Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Russias Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who was in Nairobi on Monday hoping to nail down a trade pact with Kenya, has repeatedly travelled to Africa during the war and St Petersburg is due to host a Russia-Africa summit this summer. In a sign of how Ukraine is trying to challenge Russias diplomatic sway, Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba embarked on his second wartime tour of Africa last week. Ukraines Zhovkva said winning backing in the Global South was a top priority. While Ukraine focused on ties with Western partners at the invasions start, securing peace was a matter of concern for all countries, he said. Russia want talks based on new realities Russia has said it is open to peace talks with Kyiv, which stalled a few months into the invasion. But it insists that any talks be based on new realities, meaning its declared annexation of five Ukrainian provinces it fully or partly controls a condition Kyiv will not accept. China, the worlds second-largest economy and Ukraines top trade partner before the war, has touted a 12-point vision for peace which calls for a ceasefire but does not condemn the invasion or oblige Russia to withdraw from occupied territories. Beijing, which has close ties with Russias leadership, sent top envoy Li Hui to Kyiv and Moscow this month to encourage peace talks. Zhovkva said the envoy was briefed in detail on the situation on the battlefield, at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the power grid and the transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia, which Kyiv says is a Russian war crime. He listened very attentively. There was no immediate response we will see. China is a wise country which understands its role in international affairs. 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 many as 46 Palestinians were injured in the West Bank city of Nablus as Israeli forces launched operations across the West Bank on Tuesday morning, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. Israels military said it arrested two people suspected of terror offences in the Nur Shams refugee camp, just east of the flashpoint Palestinian city of Tulkarem. Forces were met with a massive fire, The National report said, citing a statement from the army. One soldier was injured after Molotov cocktails and live rounds were fired at troops, added the statement. According to the report, the military searched buildings and questioned suspects. It also used riot dispersal measures to control crowds. Citing Palestinian media, the report said that Israeli forces used a military bulldozer and prevented ambulances from entering Nur Shams. Forces also conducted operations in the towns of Silwad and Abu Dis, arresting three more suspects. The military surveyed two properties as part of early preparations to demolish the homes of terror suspects, a highly controversial practice which Israel says it uses as a deterrent. It added that one of the properties was linked to a Palestinian who had killed three members of a British-Israeli family in April. The military said it was joined overnight by personnel from the Israel Security Authority and border police. 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. Just hours after it was reported that Elon Musk would visit China to meet a few unnamed government officials, a private jet that is used by the Tesla CEO arrived in Beijing. While it is anticipated that Musk will have a meeting with high-ranking Chinese officials, the main reason why Musk has paid a visit to China, is to go to Teslas Shanghai facility. This marks his first visit to China in three years. A (not so) hush-hush visit It is still unclear as to who in the Chinese government will Musk meet and for what reasons, but the speculation is causing some major concerns back at the White House. In an official statement, Chinas foreign ministry expressed its welcome to Musk, along with other business leaders, who are interested in fostering mutually beneficial cooperation. Back in March, Reuters reported that Musk had intentions of visiting China and was seeking a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Neither Tesla, Musk, nor the Chinese media have reported Musks arrival in Beijing Visit comes at an odd time for Elon Musk, Tesla, as well as for US-China relations| This visit occurs amidst a period of heightened competition for Tesla from domestically produced electric vehicles in China. Additionally, there are some uncertainties regarding the expansion plans for the Shanghai factory complex, which Musk last visited in early 2020. Interestingly, the visit comes at a time when tensions between China and the US, are at an all time high. The tech war between China and the US is also at its peak. Following the United States, China stands as Teslas second-largest market, and the Shanghai plant serves as the companys primary production facility for electric vehicles. Of significant importance to observers of Tesla are the fulfilment of expected updates on the progress of its expansion plans at the Shanghai plant, aiming to increase annual output by 450,000 vehicles. In April, Tesla announced its intention to construct a neighbouring factory dedicated to manufacturing Megapack energy storage products. Additionally, there remains uncertainty regarding the approval from Chinese regulators for the introduction of Teslas advanced driver assistance features, which are already available in other markets. These features are part of the Full Self Driving software that Tesla offers at a price of $15,000 per vehicle. Musks SpaceX Business in China On his flight to China, Musk took to Twitter and posted about the progress of Chinas space program, which has set a goal of landing a crew on the moon before 2030. In his tweet, Musk expressed that the Chinese space program is significantly more advanced than what most people realize. Chinese researchers have been closely monitoring Musks space company, SpaceX, and the military implications of its Starlink satellite network, particularly in light of Russias invasion of Ukraine. In response to Starlink, state-owned Chinese companies are hastily working to launch their own low-Earth orbit communication satellites. Chinese military researchers have examined Starlink as a potentially threatening technology, as indicated by research reviewed by Reuters. India and the US are working in collaboration to bring terrorists to justice, said Eric Garcetti. The US ambassador to India said a US court has consented to request for extradition of Tahawwur Rana to India, a Pakistan-origin Canadian businessman, where he is sought for his role in 2008 Mumbai terror attack and it should happen. In an interview to ANI, Garcetti said: The system allows for an appeal, but the court did give the mandate that this extradition should occur. And thats my expectation. India, US lived through trauma & tragedy Garcetti reminisced how Americans too lost their lives in 26/11 Mumbai attacks. We have all lived through trauma and tragedy, he added. The mandate of extradition of Rana, convicted in 2011 of supporting an Islamic militant group blamed for Mumbai attack, is the recent example of India and the US standing together to bring terrorists to justice. There are a couple more steps of appeals, but its that sort of collaboration and cooperation where our people are working together to bring terrorists to justice, and we wont stop, he added. US court clears Tahawwur Ranas extradition On June 10, 2020 India filed a complaint seeking the provisional arrest of 62-year-old Rana with a view towards extradition. Soon after this, he was arrested in the US. During court hearings, US government attorneys argued that Rana was aware that his childhood friend Pakistani-American David Coleman Headley was involved with the Lashkar, and that by assisting Headley and affording him cover for his activities, he was supporting the terrorist organisation and its associates. The US court in the order dated May 16 said based on the foregoing Rana is extraditable for the offences for which extradition has been requested. NIA has probing into Ranas role in the 26/11 attacks carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists in 2008. Congress demands Railway Minister's resignation 04 Jun 2023 | 7:17 PM New Delhi, June 4 (UNI) The Congress on Sunday launched a scathing attack at the centre's BJP-led government over the train accident in Odisha's Balasore district, accusing it of "negligence and incompetence", and also demanded resignation of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. see more.. Cong slams BJP govt over Odisha train accident; demands resignation of Railway Min 04 Jun 2023 | 6:58 PM New Delhi, June 4 (UNI) The Congress on Sunday launched a scathing attack at the BJP-led government at the Centre over the train accident in Odisha's Balasore district, accusing it of "negligence and incompetence", and also demanded resignation of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. see more.. US President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill send condolences on train crash 04 Jun 2023 | 1:06 PM New Delhi/Washington, June 4 (UNI) US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden said they are heartbroken by the tragic news of the deadly train crash in India, and their prayers go out to those who lost loved ones in the crash and the many who were injured in the terrible accident, the White House said in a statement. see more.. NIEPVD a new ray of hope for visually impaired persons 03 Jun 2023 | 9:41 PM By Chanchal Mukherjee Dehradun, June 3 (UNI) The National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (Divyangjan) is showing a new ray of hope to visually impaired persons from across the country. Teaching them skills is not just to survive but also to make sure that the visually challenged can pursue their passion and hobbies, the Institute has become a pioneer in bringing visually handicapped persons into the mainstream. see more.. A court in Libya handed down sentences to individuals involved in a violent campaign carried out by the Islamic State (IS), resulting in 23 people being sentenced to death and another 14 receiving life imprisonment. This campaign involved the beheading of a group of Egyptian Christians and the capture of the city of Sirte in 2015. According to a statement from the Attorney Generals office, one person received a 12-year prison term, while six others were sentenced to between 6 and 10 years, one person to 5 years, and six individuals to 3 years. Additionally, five individuals were acquitted, and three others passed away before their trial. The Libyan branch of IS became a significant stronghold for the militant group, operating beyond its original territories in Iraq and Syria. It capitalized on the chaos and conflict that ensued after a NATO-supported uprising in 2011. In 2015, the group launched an assault on the luxurious Corinthia Hotel in Tripoli, resulting in the deaths of nine people. They then proceeded to abduct and behead numerous Egyptian Christians, showcasing these gruesome executions in propaganda videos. After gaining control over Benghazi, Derna, and Ajdabiya in eastern Libya, IS seized the central coastal city of Sirte. They held control over Sirte until late 2016, imposing a harsh regime of public morality and implementing brutal punishments. Mustafa Salem Trabulsi, the leader of an organization supporting families who lost loved ones to the group or experienced disappearances, expressed his initial desire for all the suspects to receive the death penalty. However, he acknowledged and accepted the final outcome of the trial. My son is missing and my relative, my brother-in-law, was murdered in Sirte Square, he said. Speaking in court on Monday, Fawzia Arhuma said she welcomed the death sentences after her son was killed by the group at a power station near Sirte. Today my son raised my head. Today I buried my son, she 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 Malaysian coastguard announced Tuesday that they were interrogating the crew of a Chinese vessel that was detained on suspicion of plundering two shipwrecks from the British World War II era. During the inspection of the Chinese-registered vessel, officials discovered unexploded cannon shells. Nurul Hizam Zakaria, the Chief of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency in Johor state, stated that the focus of their investigation was to determine the origin of these cannon shells. Multiple agencies are currently searching the large ship for further evidence. The vessel, originating from Fuzhou, China, had a crew of 32 individuals, including 21 Chinese nationals, 10 Bangladeshis, and one Malaysian. Some of the crew members are under police custody for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation. In addition to the suspicion of looting, the case involves the discovery of explosives. An anonymous senior maritime official informed AFP that the metal fragments and cannon shells found on board the ship might have come from two sunken British warships. Photos and a video shared by the coastguard depicted corroded metal pieces, shells, as well as a substantial crane and gas torches used for metal cutting. The coastguard suggested that these shells could be related to the unexploded World War II-era ordnance discovered at a jetty in Johor on May 19, according to a statement released on Monday. Nurul Hizam emphasized that the Malaysian maritime agency would not tolerate any illegal salvage operations within Malaysian waters. Safeguarding and preserving their national treasures was of utmost importance, and looting was condemned as an uncivilized act. In the South China Sea, the HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, British warships, fell victim to torpedo attacks by Japanese aircraft, resulting in the tragic loss of hundreds of British sailors. This assault occurred on December 10, 1941, just three days after the Japanese attack on the US fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. According to the BBC, the Ministry of Defence in Britain has strongly condemned the desecration of these maritime military graves. There have been reports indicating that scavengers have specifically targeted the wrecks of these two World War II vessels. Recent articles in Malaysias New Straits Times newspaper have revealed that illegal salvage operators have focused on extracting high-grade aluminum and brass fixtures from the British warships. (With inputs from agencies) A Boeing-777 aircraft of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was seized by Malaysia at the Kuala Lumpur Airport due to non-payment of aircraft lease dues, according to local media reports. The PIA plane was seized on the order of a local Malaysian court over the non-payment of $4 million, Daily Pakistan reported. This was for the second time when a PIA plane was seized. Earlier, it was stopped from flying after the passengers had boarded the plane, the report said. Back then, Pakistan used diplomatic channels to assure payment of dues and got permission for the flight. After the plane was seized, PIA had to send another plane to Kuala Lumpur to airlift the crew and passengers stranded following the incident. The Boeing 777 aircraft was owned by the PIA, according to a PIA spokesperson, who added that the company submitted false facts and figures to get stay order, the report 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. Nepal Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal Prachanda will be on a four-day visit to India starting Wednesday. As part of his trip, Prachanda, along with a high-level delegation, will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders to further strengthen the age-old, multifaceted and cordial ties. This will be the 68-year-old Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) leaders first bilateral visit abroad after assuming office in December 2022. Ahead of his visit, Prachanda said that he would raise long-term power trade issue with New Delhi and hoped that the bottleneck will be sorted out to ensure the Himalayan nation becomes a favourable market for its surplus energy. There are some understandings relating to energy with India, which is of long-term interest to Nepal, the Prime Minister pointed out. We will raise some issues relating to long-term power trade with India during my visit, Prachanda told Nepals National News Agency (RSS), Government daily Gorkhapatra quoted Prachanda as saying. Prachanda said this is what the Nepalese people have been seeking for many years. It is our realisation that if we cant find out the proper market for energy after our production starts, then big investments wont come, said the Prime Minister. I think this bottleneck will be sorted out during my visit, he said adding, We expect that Nepal will get a favourable market. Nepal on Sunday decided to allow Indias Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) Limited to develop a second hydropower project in the country. At present SJVN is developing a 900-MW Arun -III hydroelectric project, a run-of-river located on the Arun River in Eastern Nepal, scheduled to be completed in 2024. A meeting of the Investment Board Nepal (IBN) chaired by Prime Minister Prachanda approved the draft project development agreement (PDA) to be signed with Indias state-owned SJVN to develop the 669-megawatt (MW) Lower Arun Hydropower project in eastern Nepal, an official statement said on Sunday. Our main concern for many years is creating an atmosphere for tri-country power trade among Nepal, India and Bangladesh. He said there has been an agreement in principle to supply 50 MW of power to Bangladesh via the Indian grid for the time being. Besides, I think my visit will pave the way to move forward the matters relating to trade and transit, which has been pending for the past few years, the Prime Minister said. He said we will also move forward with matters relating to constructing a dry port in Dodhara Chadani. There are several issues besides these, which we will raise in the national interest of Nepal, he said. We will hold constructive dialogue if there is any problem between us, he added. The border issues are being raised at the peoples level. We will try to sort out these issues through diplomatic channels, he added. I think both sides are busy with the homework for better outcomes from my visit in the interest of both the countries, said Prachanda. On Sunday, he met former premiers, foreign ministers and leaders of different political parties to discuss matters related to his upcoming visit to India, according to his aides. The Prime Minister said he will also raise the issue of providing air routes to Nepal during the bilateral talks. We are seriously discussing the matter regarding the air route and we are expecting some positive outcome on the issue, he added. During his visit, the prime minister is also scheduled to pay a courtesy call to President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. The prime minister is also scheduled to visit Ujjain and Indore, Madhya Pradesh before returning to Kathmandu on 3 June. 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. North Korea has said it will launch its first military spy satellite in June and described space-based reconnaissance as crucial for monitoring the United States reckless military exercises with rival South Korea. The statement came a day after North Korea notified Japans coast guard that it plans to launch a satellite sometime between 31 May and 11 June, and that the event may affect waters in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and east of the Philippines Luzon Island. Japan said Monday it had been informed by Pyongyang that a satellite launch could happen as early as this week, but Tokyo warned the North may in fact be planning a sanctions-defying ballistic missile test. The Norths state Korean Central News Agency cited Ri Pyong Chol, vice-chairman of the ruling partys central military commission, as saying the military reconnaissance satellite No. 1 would be launched in June. That satellite, along with various reconnaissance means due to be newly tested, are indispensable to tracking, monitoring and coping with in advance in real time the dangerous military acts of the US and its vassal forces, the statement said. Citing reckless acts by Washington and Seoul, Ri said North Korea felt the need to expand reconnaissance and information means and improve various defensive and offensive weapons in an effort to bolster military preparedness. The official also accused the United States of conducting hostile air espionage activities on the Korean peninsula and in its vicinity, according to the KCNA dispatch. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told officials to gather intelligence on North Koreas notification about the launch of a ballistic missile that it describes as a satellite, his office said in a tweet. Even if its described as a satellite, a launch using ballistic missile technology would be a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and would threaten peoples safety, Kishida told reporters. In 2012 and 2016, Pyongyang tested ballistic missiles that it called satellite launches. Both flew over Japans southern Okinawa region. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this month inspected the countrys first military spy satellite as it was prepared for launch, and gave the green light for its future action plan. Cannot be justified In 2021, Kim had identified the development of such satellites as a key defence project for the North Korean military. Because long-range rockets and space launchers share the same technology, analysts say developing the ability to put a satellite in orbit would provide Pyongyang with cover for testing banned intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Japans defence ministry issued an order to shoot down any ballistic missile confirmed to be on course to fall into its territory. South Koreas foreign ministry condemned the launch plan, but officials did not confirm to AFP if Seoul had been directly notified of it. North Koreas so-called satellite launch is a serious violation of UN Security Council resolutions banning all launches using ballistic missile technology, and is a clearly illegal act that cannot be justified under any pretext, the ministry said. South Korea and Japan have been working to mend long-frayed ties, including with greater cooperation on North Koreas military threats. Unusual stance Meanwhile, Kishida on Monday reiterated that Tokyo is open to talks with Pyongyang. North Korean state media on Monday published a statement from the countrys vice-minister of foreign affairs, appearing to endorse a conciliatory approach to relations with Japan an unusual stance from Pyongyang. If Japan avoids being shackled by the past, and seeks a way out for improving the relations, there is no reason for the DPRK and Japan not to meet, said the statement from Pak Sang Gil, using the initials of North Koreas official name. Pak said, however, that Japan needs to move on from sticking points such as the abduction issue for ties to improve. Japan suspects dozens of people who are still missing were abducted by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 1980s to train spies in the Japanese language and culture. 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 order to pave the way for a board meeting before a financing program expires at the end of June, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission chief for Pakistan said that the IMF remains in touch with Pakistans authorities for the same. Ordinarily, a board meeting on a review of the program would require a prior staff-level agreement, which in Pakistans case would unlock $1.1 billion in financing for the cash-strapped South Asian nation as part of a $6.5 billion IMF package. The staff-level agreement has been delayed since November, with more than 100 days gone since the last staff-level mission to Pakistan, the longest such delay since at least 2008. This engagement will focus on the restoration of foreign exchange proper market functioning, the passage of an FY24 budget consistent with program goals, and adequate financing, IMF mission chief Nathan Porter said. On Sunday, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan will share its budget details with the fund. He added that he would like the IMF to clear its 9th review before the budget, which is due to be presented in early June, as all the conditions for that had already been met. They have asked for some more things again, we are ready to give that too, they say that give us budget details, we will give it to them, Dar said in an interview with Geo TV. He said it would not work for Pakistan if the IMF combined the 9th and 10th review of the bailout, adding, We will not do it, (we) see this is (as) unfair. Porter said that broadly speaking, overcoming the present economic and financial challenges would require sustained policy efforts and reforms for Pakistan to regain strong and inclusive private-led growth. While the IMF does not comment on domestic politics, Porter said it hopes a peaceful way forward is found in line with the Constitution and the rule of law, referring to Pakistans political instability. With inputs from agencies On Memorial Day, gunfire erupted on a beachside promenade in Hollywood, Florida, sending people frantically running for cover. Nine people were injured, according to The Associated Press. Deanna Bettineschi, a police spokesperson, said that several of the wounded were taken to a childrens hospital. According to Yanet Obarrio Sanchez, a spokesperson for Memorial Healthcare System, the nine people hurt, included six adults and three children, and all of them were in stable condition. Watch the viral video: Another mass shooting Hollywood Beach, Florida When will it stop? pic.twitter.com/df6H679nsK David Leavitt (@David_Leavitt) May 29, 2023 Four children between the ages of 1 and 17 were hit, along with five adults between 25 and 65. One was in surgery late Monday while the others were stable, she said. It was not immediately clear if the hospital was counting a 17-year-old as an adult. The shooting happened shortly before 7 pm. A fight broke out, at least one gun was pulled and shots were fired. At least one person was in custody, but police were looking for more suspects, reported AP. Police Chief Chris OBrien said thousands of people were in the area and dozens of police officers responded, including some who were nearby. He added, Its unfortunate we have law-abiding citizens who come to our beaches and that gets interrupted by a group of criminals. The incident happened on the Hollywood Oceanfront Broadwalk near a convenience store, a Ben & Jerrys ice cream store and a Subway sandwich shop. Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy said in a statement, said, according to AP, Thank you to the good samaritans, paramedics, police and emergency room doctors and nurses for their immediate response to aid the victims of todays shooting. Hollywood Beach is a popular beach destination about 17 kilometers south of Fort Lauderdale and 32 kilometers north of Miami. The beach was expected to see more visitors than usual because of the Memorial Day holiday. 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. Ahead of the BRICS foreign ministers meeting and summit, the South African government has granted diplomatic immunity to all participating officials, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials, according to a report. Putins immunity ahead of the summit in August is crucial given the International Criminal Courts (ICC) arrest warrant issued against the Russian leader in March for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. As a norm, since South Africa is a member of the ICC, it is obliged to arrest Putin when he is in the country. Despite this, South Africa, as the current chair of the BRICS alliance, has officially invited Putin to the summit in August. According to a report in Daily Maverick, a South African-based publication, a gazetted notice was issued by the International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor for the Diplomatic Immunity and Privileges Act to be granted to all international officials at BRICS-related events in the country. The notice, signed on 19 May and gazetted on Monday, states that Putin and his international counterparts will be granted immunities and privileges provided in terms of Section 6(1)(a) of the act, added the report. A spokesperson for Pandor said the notice was routine, and such notices were issued every time there was a similar international meeting in South Africa. The act states that this immunity is granted to officials and experts of the United Nations, any specialised agency or organisation, and representatives of any state participating in an international conference or meeting convened in South Africa. Section 6(1)(a) of the act sets out that immunities are specifically provided for in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, 1946, or the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the specialised agencies, 1947, as the case may be, in respect of the participation in conferences and meetings. Immunity from personal arrest or detention and from seizure of their personal baggage, and, in respect of words spoken or written and all acts done by them in their capacity as representatives, immunity from legal process of every kind, the document reads. Putin presence at BRICS bone of contention The International Relations Department is also seeking a legal opinion on how to deal with the ICCs arrest warrant. Putins possible attendance at BRICS has been a bone of contention since the warrant was issued. It has now been confirmed that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will take part in the BRICS foreign ministers meeting in Cape Town on Thursday and Friday. Accordin to the Daily Maverick, Opposition leader John Steenhuisen, meanwhile, filed an application seeking an urgent order to the government to arrest Putin if the ICC requests South Africa to arrest him if he sets foot in the country. Steenhuisen, has requested a three-part order, which seeks to confirm that the other respondents to his application are obliged to ensure that Putin is arrested if he enters South Africa. Steenhuisen seeks an order confirming that the director-general of justice, on receipt of a request from the ICC to arrest and surrender Putin, must forward the arrest warrant to a magistrate. The other respondents are the President, the minister and the director-general of Justice and Constitutional Development, the minister and director-general of International Relations and Cooperation, the minister and the national commissioner of police and the Deputy President. Legal loophole The South African government had indicated that it is seeking a legal loophole that would allow it to host Putin without violating the ICC Rome Statute. This loophole would be found in Article 98 of the Rome Statute. While Article 27 of the Rome Statute stipulates that even sitting heads of state are not immune from prosecution by the ICC, Article 98 appears to provide an exception to this general rule. Article 98(1) states, The Court may not proceed with a request for surrender or assistance which would require the requested State [in this case South Africa] to act inconsistently with its obligations under international law with respect to the State or diplomatic immunity of a person of a third State, [in this case Putin and Russia] unless the Court can first obtain the cooperation of that third State for the waiver of the immunity. On the face of it, this article appears to suggest that the ICC could not ask Pretoria to arrest and hand over Putin unless Russia agreed to waive Putins immunity from prosecution which Moscow would obviously not give. South Africa tried to invoke Article 98 when the ICC asked it to arrest and surrender then-Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. But the ICC ruled then that because the UN Security Council had referred the Sudan situation to the ICC, Article 98 did not apply. However, the Ukraine situation under which the ICC issued a warrant of arrest for Putin, was not referred to the ICC by the UN Security Council. It was taken up by the ICC prosecutor. South Africa might face an even greater obstacle in its own ICC Implementation Act which is also explicit that sitting heads of state do not enjoy immunity from prosecution but without any qualification like Article 98, the Daily Maverick reported. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. An Indian prisoner reportedly died while being detained at the Malir prison in Karachi, Pakistans southern port city. According to reports, the deceased named Balo became third Indian to die in Pakistan jail within a month. Balo, son of Jetha, was arrested in 2020 for crossing into Pakistans territorial waters and subsequently placed in Malir prison. On May 22, while receiving treatment at the National Cardiovascular Diseases Institute, the Indian prisoner passed away, according to Muhammad Arshad, the Superintendent of Malir prison. Arshad was quoted in an Arab news report saying that the body is currently being held in Edhi cold storage, as the prison authorities are awaiting the completion of legal formalities before handing it over to Balos relatives. Fishermen from both India and Pakistan often face detainment on charges of violating each others territorial waters. Due to the lack of clear demarcation in the Arabian Sea between the two countries borders, many fishing boats lack the necessary technology to accurately determine their precise location. Consequently, these fishermen often find themselves in prolonged detention, even after serving their initial sentences. Tragically, on May 8, another Indian fisherman named Soma Deva, aged 50, also died in the same prison. Deva had been suffering from lung and heart diseases, and despite being provided with treatment in a hospital, his condition deteriorated over time leading to his death, as reported by the jail authorities. Shortly after the passing of Zulfiqar, another Indian inmate in Malir prison, his death was confirmed by Faisal Edhi, chairman of the Edhi Foundation, which is responsible for the morgue where deceased inmates bodies are kept. While Superintendent Arshad claims that medical assistance is provided to inmates within the prison and at major hospitals, the troubling reality is that at least four Afghan nationals have also lost their lives while being detained in Malir prison since November 2022. Faiz Muhammad, who arrived in Pakistan from Afghanistan seeking medical treatment for his sister-in-law, tragically passed away in Malir prison after being diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes, and depression resulting from a severe ear infection earlier this year. Taj Muhammad, detained in January 2022, passed away nine months later, while Abdul Khalil, another Afghan inmate taken into custody in November 2022, died in December. Additionally, Wali Khan, an Afghan arrested in November, met his demise in late January 2023. These incidents cast doubt on the conditions and care provided to prisoners, prompting scrutiny into the situation. (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 Musk, the billionaire owner of Twitter and the ever-so-consistent crusader of freedom of speech may be planning Twitters exit from the European market. That is, if the social media platform isnt banned across most of the continent first. Twitter is looking at a potential ban in parts of Europe after Musk made Twitter pull out of an upcoming agreement which is being signed by all social media platforms to take measures to stop the dissemination of fake news and other forms of disinformation. Is Twitter really exiting Europe? Twitters recent action suggests that Elon Musk may be contemplating the closure of the platform in Europe or potentially facing substantial fines. This course of action is prompted by the introduction of new legislation known as the Digital Services Act (DSA), which is set to come into effect in August. The DSA mandates prominent social media platforms to actively monitor and identify disinformation, a task that was previously optional. The European Commissioner has affirmed that combatting disinformation will now be a legal obligation under the DSA. According to a tweet from EU industry chief Thierry Breton, Twitter has decided to withdraw from the EU voluntary code of practice against disinformation. However, this does not exempt Twitter from its obligations, as the Digital Services Act (DSA) will still require the platform to take actions against disinformation and bot farms, provide transparent warnings about political advertising, and support fact-checking. No requirement to remove content, but flag them Under the DSA, Twitter is not mandated to remove content, but it must offer mechanisms for users to report illegal content. By opting out of the current agreement, Twitter exposes itself to potential penalties under the DSA, including fines of up to 6% of its annual revenue imposed by the European Commission. European officials have cautioned Musk and Twitter that non-compliance with the rules could lead to the platform being banned in the EU. The significance of the DSA increased following a whistleblowers revelation that Facebook and its parent company, Meta, prioritized profit over addressing misinformation and hate speech. Elon Musks topsy-turvy stand on free speech Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, has been posting content on the platform that pushes the boundaries of what could be flagged under the DSA and another EU policy concerning hate speech. Musk has been known for his advocacy of free speech and has frequently voiced opposition to moderation. However, Musks advocacy of free speech has been anything but consistent. Musk has added several addendums to his definition of free speech. Over the months since he has taken over Twitter, Musk has had to come face to face with the fact that content moderation is part and parcel of running a social media platform. If not for the users, then upon government requests, Twitter and social media platforms have to take down certain content, or restrict its reach, if it wishes to continue to operate in the country. Unfortunately for Musk, he has been categorically on the wrong side of the aisle, no matter what he says. While proclaiming to be a free speech absolutist, Musk sided with President Erdogan in the Turkish elections, by restricting the reach or shadow-banning the accounts of several prominent leaders of the Opposition. Considering the anticipated crackdown under the DSA, there are speculations that Twitter may find it more convenient to cease its operations entirely in the EU. New Delhi, May 30 (UNI) Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, who is on a three-day State Visit, was on Tuesday accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, and greeted by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a tweet said: A red carpet welcome for our esteemed guest. President Droupadi Murmu @rashtrapatibhvn & PM @narendramodi greeted H.M. King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia at a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Later, the Cambodian king went to Rajghat to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. Reminiscing the Mahatma. H.M. King Norodom Sihamoni paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat, the spokesperson said in another tweet. The visit of the Cambodian King comes as the two countries mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year. It is also the first such visit from Cambodia in almost 60 years, with the last visit by King Norodom Sihanouk in 1963, the present Kings father. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will call on the King at Hotel Oberoi, followed by a call by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. In the evening there will be a meeting with Prime Minister Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan, followed by a meeting with President Murmu, who will also host a State Banquet in his honour. The Cambodian King leaves for home on Wednesday morning. India and Cambodia enjoy warm and friendly relations marked by civilisational, cultural and economic linkages and deep-rooted people-to-people ties. The multifaceted relationship is based on shared cultural values, commitment to foster economic growth, collaboration in the fields of defence & security and convergence on regional and global issues, a statement said. UNI RN In a controversial move, Ugandas President Yoweri Museveni signed one of the worlds strictest anti-LGBTQ laws, including the death penalty for aggravated homosexuality. The move has attracted the ire of Western countries including the potential risk of facing sanctions from aid donors. Reacting on the issue, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the United States is deeply troubled by Ugandas passage of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, a law that undermines the human rights, prosperity, and welfare of all Ugandans. The United States urges the government of Uganda to refrain from implementing laws that undermine human rights. Ugandas Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) threatens the lives of its people as well as the countrys prosperity. The United States urges the immediate repeal of the AHA to protect the human rights of all Ugandans. https://t.co/3djhKSJ0F4 Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) May 30, 2023 The department of state will develop mechanisms to support the rights of LGBTQI+ individuals in Uganda and to promote accountability for Ugandan officials and other individuals responsible for, or complicit in, abusing their human rights, he said. I have also directed the department to update our travel guidance to American citizens and to U.S. businesses as well as to consider deploying existing visa restrictions tools against Ugandan officials and other individuals for abuse of universal human rights, including the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons, he added. US President Joe Biden on Monday slammed Uganda president Yoweri Museveni for signing a new anti-homosexuality law, and called it a tragic violation of universal human rights. US President Biden also demanded its immediate repeal. The US President said that no one should live in fear for their life or be subjected to violence and discrimination. Same-sex relations were already illegal in Uganda, as in more than 30 African countries, but the new law goes further. It stipulates capital punishment for serial offenders against the law and transmission of a terminal illness like HIV/AIDS through gay sex. It also decrees a 20-year sentence for promoting homosexuality. The Ugandan president has today legalised state-sponsored homophobia and transphobia, said Clare Byarugaba, a Ugandan rights activist. United States President Joe Biden called the move a tragic violation of human rights and said Washington would evaluate the implications of the law on all aspects of U.S. engagement with Uganda. We are considering additional steps, including the application of sanctions and restriction of entry into the United States against anyone involved in serious human rights abuses or corruption, he said. The enactment of Ugandas Anti-Homosexuality Act is a tragic violation of universal human rights one that is not worthy of the Ugandan people, and one that jeopardises the prospects of critical economic growth for the entire country. I join with people around the world including many in Uganda in calling for its immediate repeal. No one should have to live in constant fear for their life or be subjected to violence and discrimination. It is wrong, Biden said in an official statement. Biden also said that ever since the Anti-Homosexuality Act was introduced, reports of violence and discrimination targeting Ugandans who are or are perceived to be LGBTQI+ are increasing. A presidential photo of Museveni showed him signing the law with a golden pen at his desk. The 78-year-old has called homosexuality a deviation from normal and urged lawmakers to resist imperialist pressure. A local organisation, Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum, and 10 other individuals later filed a complaint against the law at the constitutional court, one of the petitioners, Busingye Kabumba, told Reuters. Museveni had sent back the original bill passed in March, asking parliament to tone down some provisions. But his ultimate approval was not seen as in doubt in a conservative country where anti-LGBTQ attitudes have hardened in recent years, in part due to campaigning by Western evangelical church groups. Uganda receives billions of dollars in foreign aid each year and could now face adverse measures from donors and investors, as happened with a similar bill nine years ago. With inputs from agencies Russia said drones from Ukraine struck Moscow on Tuesday, while Kyiv was also hit by air for the third time in 24 hours, reports said. A Russian politician said this was the worst such attack on Moscow since World War Two. Since Russia sent troops into its neighbour in February last year, the war has largely been fought inside Ukraine, though Moscow has reported some attacks on its territory and said one was an assassination attempt against President Vladimir Putin. Tuesdays early morning raid targeted some of Moscows wealthiest areas including a western zone where Putin and the elite have residences. He was later in the Kremlin and received a briefing on the attack, a spokesman said. Russias defence ministry said eight drones sent by Kyiv were shot down or diverted, though Baza, a Telegram channel with links to the security services, said more than 25 were involved. Two people were injured while some apartment blocks were briefly evacuated, according to Moscows mayor. Residents said they heard loud bangs followed by the smell of petrol. Some filmed a drone being shot down and a plume of smoke. Lawmaker Maxim Ivanov called it the most serious assault on Moscow since the Nazis, saying no citizen could now avoid the new reality. You will either defeat the enemy as a single fist with our Motherland, or the indelible shame of cowardice, collaboration and betrayal will engulf your family, he said. Earlier this month, two drones exploded over the Kremlin in an attack Russia also blamed on Kyiv and said was aimed at Putin. The sabotage and terrorist attacks of Ukraine will only increase, said another Russian lawmaker, Alexander Khinshtein, who called for a radical strengthening of defences. (With inputs from Reuters) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Residents of a predominantly Muslim town in the southwest region of China clashed with the police over the weekend as they attempted to prevent the demolition of a centuries-old mosques domed roof. This incident is part of the Chinese Communist Partys growing efforts to exert control over religious practices. In the viral video, it can be seen that the crowd was met with resistance from dozens of riot gear-clad officers as they approached the entrance of the Najiaying Mosque on Saturday morning. Subsequent clips revealed that the police eventually retreated, while protesters staged a sit-in outside the gate. Footage from Chinas Yunnan province allegedly shows clashes between Hui Muslims and police after being denied mosque entry. Online info hints at authorities planning mosque demolition. pic.twitter.com/f0MTjZZqZg Mete Sohtaoglu (@metesohtaoglu) May 29, 2023 According to The Washington Post, the incident seems to be linked to a court ruling from 2020 that deemed certain recent renovations to the mosque illegal and ordered their demolition. The Najiaying Mosque, which may have a history dating back to the 13th century, has undergone several expansions over the years, including the addition of buildings, four minarets, and a domed roof. In 2019, a part of the structure was designated as a protected cultural relic, reported The Washington Post. However, the Chinese Communist Party has recently intensified its restrictions on religious practices. Yunnan is located in a remote and ethnically diverse region of China. It is often seen as an example of a place with diverse ethnic and religious identities, where residents are skilled at navigating various affiliations and demonstrating political flexibility when necessary. 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 a phone call on Monday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan reportedly reiterated Ankaras intention to purchase F-16 fighter fighters from the US to which President Joe Biden told Erdogan that Washington wanted Ankara to end its opposition to Swedens joining NATO. According to Reuters, the conversation started when Biden called Erdogan to congratulate him on winning the Sunday election for president of Turkey. I spoke to Erdogan. I congratulated Erdogan. He still wants to work on something on the F-16s. I told him we wanted a deal with Sweden, so lets get that done. And so well be back in touch with one another, Reuters quoted Biden as telling reporters before departing the White House for Delaware. Asked if he expected any movement from Erdogan on Swedens NATO membership, Biden added, I raised that issue with him. Were going to talk more about it next week. Turkey yet to approve Swedens NATO bid Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership last year, ditching long-held policies of military non-alignment following Russias invasion of Ukraine. Bids for membership must be approved by all NATO members. Turkey and Hungary have yet to approve Swedens bid. Turkey has sought to buy $20 billion worth of F-16s and nearly 80 modernisation kits from the United States. But the sale has been stalled due to objections from the US Congress over Ankaras refusal to green light to NATO enlargement, its human rights record and Syria policy, even though the Biden administration has repeatedly said it supports the sale. A much smaller $259 million package including avionics software upgrades for Turkeys current fleet of F-16 fighter aircraft was cleared by US Congress earlier this year, days after Turkey ratified Finlands NATO accession. Quid pro quo between US, Turkey? The Biden administration has repeatedly rejected any assertion of any quid pro quo between the sale and the NATO enlargement, although Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in January said the US side made it clear that an approval of NATO bids would be viewed positively by the Congress. A bipartisan group of senators in a February letter to Biden said Turkeys failure to ratify the accession protocols for Sweden and Finland, which was still waiting at the time, would call into question this pending sale, referring to the F-16s. A source familiar with the discussions said the United States had previously told Turkey it would be hard to get Congress to approve the F-16 deal if Ankara doesnt green light Sweden. Turkey ratified Finlands NATO accession in late March, but has continued to object to Sweden, saying Stockholm harbors members of militant groups it considers to be terrorists. Hungary has also not yet approved Swedens bid. Seeing Sweden join NATO by mid-July when the alliance is due to hold a leaders summit in Lithuania is among the top priorities for Washington. The Turkish Presidency in a statement on the call between Biden and Erdogan said the two leaders agreed to deepen cooperation on all aspects of their bilateral ties, which have grown in importance in the face of regional and global challenges. 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. Xiaomi under its Redmi brand today announced the Redmi Note 12T Pro smartphone in China, as it had promised. The phone feature a 6.6-inch FHD+ LCD screen with 144Hz 7-step variable refresh rate, support for DC dimming and Dolby Vision and a 16MP front camera inside the punch-hole. It is certified with DisplayMate A+ ratings. It is powered by Dimensity 8200-Ultra SoC with support for VC liquid cooling, has up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 512GB UFS 3.1 storage. There is a 64MP rear camera along with and a 8MP ultra-wide-angle and a 2MP macro camera. It has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The phone packs a 5,080mAh with support for 67W wired charging. Redmi Note 12T Pro specifications 6.6 FHD+ (2460 x 1080 pixels) LCD screen with up to 30 / 48 / 50 / 60 / 90 / 120 / 144 variable refresh rate, DC dimming, 10-bit color depth, Dolby Vision, HDR10, 650 nits peak brightness, 2047 levels of brightness adjustment Up to 3.1GHz Octa Core MediaTek Dimensity 8200-Ultra 4nm processor with Mali-G610 MC6 GPU 8GB LPDDR5 RAM with 128GB / 256GB, 12GB LPDDR5 RAM with 256GB / 512GB UFS 3.1 storage Android 13 with MIUI 14 Dual SIM 64MP Omnivision OV64B 1/2 sensor, 8MP ultra-wide lens with 119 FOV, 2MP macro camera, 4K video recording 16MP front camera with OmniVision OV16A1 sensor, 1080p video recording Dimensions: 163.64x 74.29x 8.87mm; Weight: 200g 3.5mm audio jack, Stereo Dual Speaker, Dolby Atmos Side-mounted fingerprint scanner, IR sensor, X-axis linear motors Splash resistant (IP53) 5G SA/NSA, Wi-Fi 6 (2.4 + 5GHz), supports 22 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.3, Beidou | GPS (L1+L5) |GLONASS | QZSS (L1+L5), NFC 5080mAh battery with 67W fast charging support Pricing and availability The Redmi Note 12T Pro comes in Ice fog white, Carbon black and Harumi blue colours and is priced at 1599 yuan (US$ 226 / Rs. 18,660 approx.) for 8GB + 128GB, 1699 yuan (US$ 240 / Rs. 19,830 approx.) for 8GB + 256GB, 1799 yuan (US$ 254 / Rs. 20,995 approx.) for 12GB + 256GB and the top-end 12GB + 512GB model costs 1999 yuan (US$ 282 / Rs. 23,330 approx.). It is available to order and will go on sale in China from tomorrow, May 31. It could launch in India as Redmi K60i . Source New Delhi, May 30 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held talks with visiting Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, during which the two sides discussed bilateral ties and ways to advance the partnership in capacity building, tourism, culture and defence among other things. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a tweet said: Providing a filip to India-Cambodia ties. PM @narendramodi held a warm meeting with H.M. King Norodom Sihamoni. Reviewed bilateral relations and discussed ways to advance India-Cambodia partnership in domains of capacity building, human resource development, tourism, culture and defence. Also exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues. Earlier in the day, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar held a bilateral meeting with the Cambodian King during which they held wide-ranging discussions on bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest. The Vice Presidents Office in a tweet said that the VP also recalled the warm welcome and good discussions during his visit to Cambodia for the India-Asean summit last year. Honble Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar met with His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, the King of Cambodia and recalled the warm welcome and good discussions during his visit to Cambodia for India-ASEAN and East Asia Summits in November 2022. They had wide-ranging discussions on bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a tweet said the discussions covered capacity building, conservation of architectural monuments, defence cooperation including de-mining and parliamentary cooperation VP Jagdeep Dhankhar @VPIndia met H.M. King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia during latters State visit to India. Discussions covered multiple areas of bilateral relations including capacity building, conservation of architectural monuments, defence cooperation including de-mining & parliamentary cooperation. EAM S Jaishankar also called on the Cambodian King earlier in the day. Honoured to call on King HM Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia. His visit, as our two countries celebrate 70th anniversary of our diplomatic relations, reaffirms the strong civilizational bond between us. Today that is expressed in cooperation in heritage conservation, demining, water conservation and socio-economic projects. India and Cambodia enjoy warm and friendly relations marked by civilisational, cultural and economic linkages and deep-rooted people-to-people ties. The multifaceted relationship is based on shared cultural values, commitment to foster economic growth, collaboration in the fields of defence & security and convergence on regional and global issues, a statement said. India actively assists Cambodia in capacity building & human resource development through training slots under the ITEC and scholarships under ICCR. 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 being carried out under GoI funding. India has extended a grant of USD 1.5 million for purchase of demining equipment and has offered a line of credit worth USD 50 million Line of Credit for procurement of defence equipment from India. Customised training courses are conducted for Cambodian Army personnel in India and Mobile Training Teams from Indian Army have been deployed to Cambodia for training Cambodian Army personnel. 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. King Norodom Sihamoni is accompanied by a 27-member high level delegation, including the Minister of Royal Palace, Vice President of the Senate, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and other senior officials from the royal palace and the ministry of foreign affairs. India and Cambodia established diplomatic relations in 1952. The visit by the King to India comes after nearly six decades. The last visit to India was by King Norodom Sihanouk in 1963, the present Kings father. Earlier in the morning, the King was accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, after which he visited Rajghat to lay a wreath at the mausoleum of Mahatma Gandhi. President Droupadi Murmu will host a State Banquet in his honour this evening. UNI RN New Delhi, May 29 (UNI) President Droupadi Murmu will pay a State Visit to Suriname, in the northern coast of South America, and Serbia, in southeast Europe, from June 4-9. President will be visiting Paramaribo, Suriname from June 4-6 at the invitation of Suriname President Chandrikapersad Santokhi. President Murmu will be the Chief Guest of the celebrations organized on June 5 in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in Suriname, a statement said. President Murmu will hold bilateral talks with President Santokhi. She will also visit places of historical and cultural importance and interact with the members of Indian community and diaspora. On the second leg of her visit, President Droupadi Murmu will pay a State Visit to Serbia from June 7-9, at the invitation of the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic. During the visit, President Murmu will have a bilateral meeting with President Vucic, and meet the Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, and Speaker of the National Assembly Vladimir Orlic. President Murmu will also address a business event and interact with the Indian community and friends of India. President Murmus visit to Suriname will be her first State Visit since assuming the office of the President last year. The visit of President Murmu to Suriname, following closely the visit of President Santokhi to India in January 2023, will provide further impetus to the ongoing momentum in bilateral relations. Presidents Murmus State Visit to Serbia is the first-ever visit by a Head of State from either side and reflects Indias commitment to further strengthen bilateral trade and economic, cultural and people-to-people ties, the statement added. UNI RN New Delhi, May 30 (UNI) Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday called on the Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni during which they held wide-ranging discussions on bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest. The Vice Presidents Office in a tweet said that the VP also recalled the warm welcome and good discussions during his visit to Cambodia for the India-Asean summit last year. Honble Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar met with His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, the King of Cambodia and recalled the warm welcome and good discussions during his visit to Cambodia for India-ASEAN and East Asia Summits in November 2022. They had wide-ranging discussions on bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a tweet said the discussions covered capacity building, conservation of architectural monuments, defence cooperation including de-mining and parliamentary cooperation VP Jagdeep Dhankhar @VPIndia met H.M. King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia during latters State visit to India. Discussions covered multiple areas of bilateral relations including capacity building, conservation of architectural monuments, defence cooperation including de-mining & parliamentary cooperation. Earlier in the day, the Cambodian King, who is on a three-day state visit to India, was accorded a ceremonial reception at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Later External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on the King. In the evening, the Cambodian King will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan. He will later meet President Droupadi Murmu, who is hosting a State Banquet in his honour. UNI RN Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts 1. Laguna de Guzman The Laguna de Guzman is one of Mexico's northernmost lakes. Located very close to the border with Texas, the lake indirectly gets water from the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range, since the Casas Grandes river flows from there into Guzman. The lake is fully located inside Chihuahua and is at an elevation of over 1,000 meters above sea level. In the latter part of the 21st century, the state of Chihuahua (which happens to be the largest state in Mexico by physical size), has faced water scarcity and pollution. This has put its several bodies of water, such as Guzman Lake, at risk of drying up. 2. Laguna El Cuervo Located in the central-southern part of Chihuahua state, Laguna El Cuervo (which translates to "the crow") sits between the Sierra San Pablo and Cerro El Tecolote mountains. The lake is also bordered by a smaller reservoir called La Ceja, which translates to "the eyebrow". Like many bodies of water, El Cuervo has dried up over the years, which is why it is occasionally referred as a lagoon rather than as a lake. 3. Lago de Santiaguillo Lago de Santiaguillo is a popular spot in Durango for camping and various other outdoor activities. It is located almost exactly in the center of Durango state, and also houses many different species of aquatic birds, amphibians, and mammals. Santiaguillo was designated a Ramsar site (based on a UNESCO treaty concerning water conservation) in 2012. Due to the threats that global warming presents to the lake's survival, both federal and state governments have implemented efforts to manage and preserve Santiaguillo. Lago de Santiaguillo is a popular spot in Durango for camping and various other outdoor activities. It is located almost exactly in the center of Durango state, and also houses many different species of aquatic birds, amphibians, and mammals. Santiaguillo was designated a Ramsar site (based on a UNESCO treaty concerning water conservation) in 2012. Due to the threats that global warming presents to the lake's survival, both federal and state governments have implemented efforts to manage and preserve Santiaguillo. 4. Laguna de Tamiahua The Laguna de Tamiahua is one of the largest coastal lagoons in Mexico. Fully located inside the state of Veracruz, the lake is directly next to the much larger Gulf of Mexico. Tamiahua is a word of Nahuatl and Huasteco origin that can either mean "in the soil's corn flowers" or "place of abundant water". The lake shares its name with a nearby municipality. The lake receives much attention from local fisheries, as well as tourists who visit the area. 5. Lago de Chapala Lake Chapala is perhaps one of Mexico's best known bodies of water. Mostly located in the state of Jalisco, but also having a part of it in Michoacan, Chapala is by far the largest freshwater lake in the country. It is very close to Guadalajara, one of the most important cities in Mexico, and is an important water source for the city and the state. It also houses a variety of different animals. Chapala Lake is popular with locals and tourists alike, as they can either walk by and see the body of water or practice kayaking on the lake. 6. Lago de Cuitzeo Lago de Cuitzeo is one of Mexico's largest lakes. With a basin of over 300 square meters, Cuitzeo has dramatically dried up over time. The desertification of the freshwater lake has had a direct impact on nearby villagers, farmers, and fishermen who depend on the lake for their survival and livelihood. Lago Cuitzeo is inside the state of Michoacan and is located near the Tres Cerritos archaeological zone. 7. Lago de Patzcuaro Patzcuaro Lake sits nearby the important city of Morelia, Michoacan. The lake is a popular tourist attraction, and activities like motorboat tours are offered. Tourists may enjoy the panoramic views of Patzcuaro, which sometimes feature Michoacan's famous monarch butterflies and their annual migration. Lake Patzcuaro is one of Mexico's largest lakes. 8. Lago Texcoco Inhabitants of Mexico City have sadly suffered several major earthquakes in the latter half of the 20th century and at the beginning of the 21st century. The damage done by the 1985 and 2017 earthquakes was partly attributed to the fact that Mexico City was unusually built over a lake: Lake Texcoco. The lake has significantly dried up over the years, and is located near by the Mexico City International Airport. Multiple conservation efforts have been implemented over the years by federal and state governments to try to save the lake's wildlife. Inhabitants of Mexico City have sadly suffered several major earthquakes in the latter half of the 20th century and at the beginning of the 21st century. The damage done by the 1985 and 2017 earthquakes was partly attributed to the fact that Mexico City was unusually built over a lake: Lake Texcoco.The lake has significantly dried up over the years, and is located near by the Mexico City International Airport. Multiple conservation efforts have been implemented over the years by federal and state governments to try to save the lake's wildlife. 9. Laguna Catemaco The state of Veracruz has a large coastline, which may explain why the Spanish conquistadors led by Hernan Cortes first arrived in 1519 at the islet of Chalchiucueyetl-cuecan. In the southern part of the state, Lake Catemaco is located near an eponymous city known for its tradition of "brujos" or "witches". Tourists who visit Catemaco are often interested in rituals such as "limpias", where the "brujos" perform various rituals to cleanse visitors of evil spirits. The freshwater lake is also an important source for fisheries in the area. 10. Laguna del Ostion Laguna del Ostion, which means "Oyster's Lake", is fully located inside the state of Veracruz. This body of water is inside Pajapan, a municipality that is near the state capital, Xalapa. Indigenous groups in Veracruz, have become known for their efforts to save nearby bodies of water like Laguna del Ostion, since in many cases these are their only sources of drinking water. Laguna del Ostion is also home to multiple species of fish, clams, and of course, oysters. Source: Author Lpez This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system. Issue Date: 29th May 2023 Gardai are currently at the scene of an explosion at a location on the outskirts of Bunbeg, Co. Donegal this afternoon Monday, 29th May 2023. An Garda Siochana has evacuated the surrounding area and the Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal has been requested. The road is currently closed and local diversions are in place. The Health and Safety Authority have been notified. National Ambulance Service and Donegal Fire Brigade are also in attendance at the scene of the incident. An Garda Siochana is not in a position to confirm any casualties at this time. No further information is available at this time. Updates will be provided when appropriate. Google Admits to Scrapping Second Pixel Fold Model That Was In The Works News lekhaka -Subhrojit Mallick Those who had pre-ordered the Pixel Fold are waiting with bated breath for the foldable smartphone to arrive in about another month. Now, in a recent podcast, Google has revealed that there was a second foldable smartphone in the works that the company scrapped before it could be launched. In the latest episode of the Made by Google Podcast, where the most recent Google products are discussed, the company admitted to there being a second Pixel Fold model that never really saw the light of day. Second Pixel Fold Didn't Make the Cut In the latest episode, the speakers included podcast host Rachid Finge and three members of Google's design team. These were Ivy Ross (Vice President and Head of Design for Google Hardware Products), Isabelle Olsson (Head of Industrial Design for Home, Wearables, and CMF), and Claude Zellweger (Director of Design). The crux of the conversation was about the make, build and design of the three latest products in Google's lineup, Pixel 7a, the Pixel Fold, and the Pixel Tablet. While speaking about the Pixel Fold, and its hinge design, Ivy Ross said, "I'm really proud of the team because there was another foldable model that we had created, that we had the discipline to hold back and say "nope, it's not good enough yet," and really wait until we felt like we could do something that was good enough or better than what was out there already. So, it's really a testimony to the fact that we're able to do that and recognize when something isn't good enough." Was This The Pixel Flip? Not much else was revealed about this scrapped model. However, many wondered if this may have been the Pixel Flip. The rumours are based on hints dropped on there being a possibility of a Pixel Flip. During an interview at Google I/O 2023 with Google Pixel Product Manager George Hwang, he answered that the company is interested in exploring different form factors and technologies, including the flip-style design. The latest revelation about the scrapped foldable phone does hint at Google's efforts to innovate and bring forth new technologies and designs to the smartphone market. 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of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's reply to a media question in connection with the statements by the President of the Brazzaville Foundation NGO on food security problems 26 May 2023 21:24 1027-26-05-2023 Question: The interest in the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative does not abate. The deal provides for the supplies of Ukrainian grain and Russian fertilisers to the world market. Western capitals are trying to assure the developing nations, especially Africans, that the threat of famine and shortage of fertilisers are linked with the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Recently, President of the Brazzaville Foundation NGO Jean-Yves Ollivier made a statement to this effect. How would you comment on this? Maria Zakharova: I see there is a need to recall how matters stand in reality. The implementation of the Black Sea Initiative as part of the interconnected Istanbul agreements of July 22, 2022 is accompanied by serious distortions. A large part of Ukrainian grain (over 30 million tonnes) exported since August 2022, was delivered to the well-fed industrialised countries, primarily to the EU. A mere 2.5 percent of this grain went to the poorest African states with the UN World Food Programme's assistance. Today, Russian representatives in the Istanbul-based Joint Coordination Centre are literally fighting to include bulk carriers bound for Africa into the Black Sea Initiative. On the contrary, Ukrainian official are insisting on priority registration of the biggest vessels in a bid to gain maximum profits. They have no interest in the starving Africans. Nor do they care about supplies of ammonia to Africa for the production of fertilisers badly needed by tens of millions of African households. Russia is ready to launch the Tolyatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline without any delay, within a matter of days, but Kiev has been impeding this by adding more and more preconditions for almost a year. Those who know the real situation understand that Kiev, fully supported by Washington and its allies, does not care one bit about ensuring food security and countering famine in Africa. There is every reason to criticise Western capitals and urge them to make real efforts to counter famine in Africa. For our part, we are open for a sincere and honest discussion with every country, primarily, with our African friends, of the real reasons for the threat of famine in Africa and those that created it. We can explain what forced obstacles we have to overcome to ensure unconditional fulfilment of our international commitments on the supplies of food, fertilisers and other strategic goods to the countries that need them the most. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Finland hosts 'Arctic Challenge Exercise' with NATO allies Iran Press TV Monday, 29 May 2023 5:34 PM Finland has kicked off a military air exercise involving over a dozen NATO allies and a total of 150 aircraft, only weeks after it joined the US-led military alliance. The Arctic Challenge Exercise involves 3,000 soldiers and fighter jets from 14 nations, 12 of which NATO members. The maneuvers will go on for virtually two weeks. The exercise started with simulations of defensive operations to protect airspace from attackers, with offensive elements such as air-to-ground attacks introduced later on, according to Colonel Henrik Elo from the Finnish Air Force. The fighter-jet training event will be held in Rovaniemi and Pirkkala in Finland, Lulea in Sweden and Orland in Norway. Aside from the three Nordic hosts, Denmark, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States will also participate. NATO's Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft (AWACS), capable of monitoring an area almost as big as Poland, will also participate in the exercise. "We currently have the first big rotation underway," Colonel Elo said. "As the exercise progresses, the scenarios get progressively more difficult." "This is the biggest one of these exercises organized so far." The colonel said being able to "coordinate with our NATO allies and partners on the performance of the different equipment is really significant." US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is also due to travel to Finland this week, according to the State Department. Finland joined NATO in April, bringing with it a trained, active armed force of about 30,000 with a wartime strength of 280,000 into the bloc. The Nordic country shares a 1,300-kilometer border with Russia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Heavy clashes continue in Sudan as UN warns of starvation Iran Press TV Monday, 29 May 2023 5:01 PM Heavy clashes have been reported in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, hours before a shaky ceasefire between the warring sides expires as the United Nations warns of starvation in the crisis-hit country. On Monday, residents reported they had heard sustained clashes from Sunday into Monday in the south and west of Omdurman, one of three adjoining cities that make up Sudan's greater capital. Moreover, residents across the River Nile in southern Khartoum also reported clashes late on Sunday. Sudan's ruling military council, which has the full support of the army, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a rebellious group, have been locked in a power struggle that erupted into conflict on April 15, claiming the lives of hundreds and driving nearly 1.4 million people from their homes. Both sides have announced they are considering extending the week-long ceasefire brokered by Saudi Arabia and the United States that had brought some respite from the conflict. The truce, which was designed in an attempt to allow the distribution of aid, is due to expire at 9.45 p.m. (19:45 GMT) local time on Monday. "Since yesterday evening there has been bombardment with all types of weapons between the army and the Rapid Support. We're in a state of great fear. Where's the truce?" said Hassan Othman, a 55-year-old resident of Omdurman. The ceasefire, however, was repeatedly violated by both sides, impeding the delivery of humanitarian access and restoration of essential services. According to figures of the ministry of health, more than 700 people have lost their lives across the country so far. The real death toll, however, is likely much higher. Shortly after the outbreak of clashes in mid-April, the military council, headed by Army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, declared dissolution of the RSF, which is led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti. The RSF is a former militia that was due to merge with the army and whose leaders shared power in a ruling military council. Its current leader, Hemedti, has played a prominent role in the turbulent politics for 10 years, helping topple then President Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and later quashing protests by Sudanese seeking democracy. The RSF was created in 2013 and its planned integration into the regular army was a key element of talks to finalize a deal that was hoped to restore Sudan's civilian transition and end the politico-economic crisis sparked by the military's 2021 coup by Burhan and Daglo in post-Bashir era. During the past weeks, factories, offices, homes and banks have been looted or destroyed in Khartoum. Power, water and telecommunications are often cut, and there are acute shortages of medicines and medical equipment. Food supplies have also been running low in the capital. Meanwhile, two UN agencies, namely the World Food Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization, warned of rising food emergencies, including starvation, in Sudan due to the civil war. They called for urgent attention to save both lives and jobs in Sudan, as there are communities already facing or projected to face starvation or otherwise risk a slide "toward catastrophic conditions." The UN agencies in their report also warned of a possible spillover of the conflict. They warned one million people are expected to flee the country. They also said an additional 2.5 million inside Sudan will face acute hunger in the coming months as supply routes through Port Sudan are disrupted by safety issues. The fighting has stoked fears of a prolonged conflict that could plunge the country into deeper chaos, dashing long-held hopes for a transition to civilian-led democracy. The UN, the Arab League and many countries in the world have already urged the opposing sides to show restraint and engage in dialog to end the hostilities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wider Europe Briefing: A Key European Summit In Moldova; And Why It's So Hard To Seize Russian Assets By Rikard Jozwiak May 29, 2023 Brief #1: What To Expect When European Leaders Descend On Moldova This Week What You Need To Know: On June 1, the leaders of the EU's 27 member states and their counterparts from 20 other European countries gather at the private Mimi Castle and winery some 30 kilometers outside the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, for the second summit of the European Political Community (EPC). The EPC, a brainchild of French President Emmanuel Macron, was launched last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine as an intergovernmental forum for political discussions on the future of Europe. At its inaugural summit in Prague in October 2022, Macron referred to the meeting as "an opportunity to build a strategic intimacy in Europe." He was also quick to dismiss the notion that it was some sort of substitute for EU membership, calming the nerves of leaders in the Western Balkans and the EU's Eastern neighborhood. Still, a more impertinent description of the whole event is "yet another European talking shop," not too dissimilar from, say, the Council of Europe. So, don't expect the EPC to morph into an organization with a budget, secretariat, flag, or anthem. Deep Background: Despite being short on outcomes so far, feedback from leaders after the Prague meeting suggested they liked the idea of a forum that provided a "looser setting" where they could chitchat and not be bound by the kind of structures and strict speaking times that are imposed by other, more formal political organizations. The Chisinau meeting is scheduled to last a little over five hours, with a short opening ceremony followed by four roundtables dealing with topics such as energy, security, connectivity, and mobility. After a working lunch, the biggest chunk of the agenda is meant for various bilateral meetings -- possibly the most interesting aspect of the day, even though the intimate setting, with few diplomats present, will make it difficult for media to tease out whether any breakthroughs or breakdowns occurred. There will also be a family photo, which might be the most interesting aspect for posterity. Three European microstates -- Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino -- have joined the EPC since the Prague meeting, so the only European countries without a representative in Chisinau, apart from the Vatican, are Belarus and Russia. That is telling. And it sure looks like the EPC is here for the foreseeable future. A summit is already planned for the Spanish city of Granada in early October, and then another for the United Kingdom in the first half of 2024, with the hosts rotating every six months between EU and non-EU countries. Drilling Down Perhaps the most interesting meeting could be on the summit's sidelines between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. They met in Brussels in May under the auspices of European Council President Charles Michel in search of a comprehensive peace agreement between Yerevan and Baku over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. While the meeting lasted four hours, there were no specific achievements apart from the understanding that they should meet as often as necessary. The same trio is likely to be flanked by Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Chisinau in what can only be interpreted as a clear European push to play a bigger role in settlement efforts in which Moscow has so far seemingly called many of the shots. Because Paris is often accused of being too close to Yerevan, there has been a conscious push by Brussels to include Berlin in order to ensure more balance in the talks. Senior EU officials speaking on the condition of anonymity continue to stress that the added advantage of Brussels becoming more engaged on this issue is that "the EU has no hidden agenda here" and is willing to grant time and a platform to facilitate talks for as long as it takes. The expected Aliyev-Pashinian meeting comes just a week after Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted them in Moscow -- a gathering that concluded with the two leaders verbally sparring in front of the assembled media. But don't expect a breakthrough in Chisinau, as more meetings are scheduled in the next few months: in Brussels again in July with just Michel; and then possibly at the next EPC summit in Granada. But gestures related to the Karabakh conflict, such as the release of detainees, demining initiatives, or the unblocking of transport links could be in the cards. There could also be a larger role for the EU monitoring mission in Armenia that was set up earlier this year with the aim of contributing to stability at the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Europeans will also look to get some sort of assurances from Baku regarding the rights and security of ethnic Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh. For months, Azerbaijan has been blockading a key road that connects Yerevan to Nagorno-Karabakh. On other matters, are there likely to be any concrete deliverables at the summit? Don't rule out something more tangible on, for example, the strengthening of Solidarity Lanes with Ukraine, a commitment on reducing or eliminating roaming costs , or the possibility of increasing exchanges of diplomats and civil servants among countries. with Ukraine, a commitment on reducing or , or the possibility of increasing exchanges of diplomats and civil servants among countries. A discussion paper written ahead of a security roundtable at the summit, which will be co-chaired by Poland and the United Kingdom, includes a focus on boosting cybersecurity. The text, seen by RFE/RL, notes that "Russian aggression against Ukraine is taking place in cyberspace in a form of incidents and malicious cyberactivities conducted by state-sponsored groups as well as by cybercriminals." It also suggests that more should be done to boost resilience to cyberattacks in countries neighboring Russia and in the Western Balkans. The document also talks of more financial support to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in order to safeguard the Ukrainian nuclear power plant at Zaporizhzhya and the need for governments and civil society "to identify societal weaknesses which are targeted to facilitate information operations by malign actors, and which polarize and destabilize communities, e.g. ethnic minorities or marginalized communities, migrants, gender/sexual issues, and political/democratic processes and participation." The summit will doubtless shine a spotlight on Moldova and its president, Maia Sandu, in what is the biggest political gathering in the country's history. In its run-up, the EU has already agreed to set up a civilian mission there to counter hybrid threats as well as to impose sanctions on two Moldovans accused of undermining the territorial integrity of Ukraine, and five more, including oligarchs Vladimir Plahotniuc and Ilan Shor, for allegedly destabilizing Moldova. a civilian mission there to counter hybrid threats as well as to impose sanctions on two Moldovans accused of undermining the territorial integrity of Ukraine, and five more, including oligarchs Vladimir Plahotniuc and Ilan Shor, for allegedly destabilizing Moldova. Beyond Sandu's big moment, there will be other leaders vying for attention. If Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy shows up (he was absent at the Prague summit), he is likely to dominate the headlines. Meanwhile, there was no indication yet of whether Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be ready to travel so soon after securing another five-year term in a May 28 presidential runoff. Brief #2: The Long Road To Seizing Frozen Russian Assets What You Need To Know: One widely discussed aspect of the war in Ukraine is how to finance the reconstruction of the country once the fighting ends. It is estimated by both the United Nations and the European Union that Kyiv needs over $400 billion in the next decade to rebuild its economy, a figure that will rise as the war grinds on. While Western partners are almost certain to provide economic aid for the foreseeable future via loans, grants, and investment in infrastructure, there is a growing sense that Russia must foot some of the bill. In the final statement from the G7 summit in Hiroshima on May 19-21, the leaders of the seven leading Western economies concluded that "we will continue to take measures available within our domestic frameworks to find, restrain, freeze, seize, and, where appropriate, confiscate or forfeit the assets of those individuals and entities that have been sanctioned in connection with Russia's aggression." The leaders added that "we reaffirm that, consistent with our respective legal systems, Russia's sovereign assets in our jurisdictions will remain immobilized until Russia pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine." The big question is how likely this might be achieved. There are several avenues to using frozen Russian cash for the reconstruction, but all of them are complicated. To keep such assets in the West frozen until Russian repayment, as the G7 statement alluded to, is a long game. It also risks backfiring if governments, notably within the EU, were to stray from the unanimity that is required every six months to roll over sanctions on Russia. The question then becomes whether it's possible to use some of the frozen wealth right away, either by confiscating assets held by individuals who have been targeted by the EU or by actively investing some of the Russian state reserves that EU member states are holding, many in the form of sovereign bonds. Deep Background: In the EU, it is the European Commission that oversees actions regarding frozen Russian assets within the bloc. Already in March 2022, it created a Freeze And Seize Task Force tasked mainly with ensuring that all member states implement the bloc's (by now 10) packages of Russia sanctions but also increasingly to explore the legal options on the use of seized Russian assets. In November 2022 and in March, the European Commission sent out discussion papers to member states detailing the options. Seen by RFE/RL, the papers paint a rather pessimistic picture of what is legally possible and how much Russian money the EU can realistically channel for future Ukrainian rebuilding. The EU has so far frozen an estimated 20 billion euros ($21.4 billion) worth of assets belonging to the 1,500-plus people so far sanctioned for undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity. But the chances are small that this money can be used in any way. EU legislation stipulates that the freezing of assets alone cannot be considered a first step toward confiscation. It is considered private property and, as such, requires compensation in the event of deprivation. Drilling Down One of the European Commission papers on the confiscation issue notes that previous rulings by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) suggest that sanctions like asset freezes are "of temporary and nonpunitive nature." In other words, by that reading, it's clearly a restriction but cannot be seen as a criminal punishment. It simply concludes that "from both legal and sanctions policy perspectives, it is important to preserve the temporary and noncriminal nature of sanctions to avoid raising the procedural and evidentiary thresholds required for the adoption of sanctions in the first place." There is an argument that the only way money can be confiscated is if the individual possessing the frozen assets is convicted of a criminal offense. This is a long and arduous process but something that the EU and its member states are looking into. The European Commission has already asked Eurojust and Europol, the EU's two agencies for criminal justice and law enforcement cooperation, to cross-check the list of sanctioned individuals against their databases; they identified criminal links relating to 71 individuals and three sanctioned companies. Another possibility is to legally consider some Russian entities such as companies or organizations criminal or terrorist organizations and therefore regard individuals as criminally liable for their association. That could facilitate confiscation, but in order for that to happen, national or EU laws must be rewritten to include such a possibility. Consensus among the 27 EU member states is needed for that and, so far, that has not been possible. The most likely option right now might be the "active management" of frozen Russian state assets belonging to the Russian Central Bank and affiliated entities. It is estimated that some $300 billion is frozen worldwide, with up to two-thirds of that in the EU. But even if all the legal hurdles are cleared, not all the assets would be available. Firstly, under international law, rules on state immunity would have to be assessed. That would likely cover Russian Central Bank assets that are necessary for sovereign functions like monetary policy, although it is unclear if international immunity would extend to assets used for commercial purposes. What the EU is therefore examining is potentially selling Russian sovereign bonds on the market and handing over the proceeds to Ukraine. Legal changes would be required, but it's unclear whether it would be worth it. The European Commission calculated that annual revenues of around 2.6 percent could be generated by selling short-term bonds. That could provide several billion dollars to Ukraine, but no more. Discussions have been held among representatives of various EU member states, but there appears to be some reluctance on their part. The EU doesn't want to go it alone; it would prefer that the United States do the same in order to alleviate fears among other central banks around the world that their dollar or euro reserves in the West are not safe from confiscation. Looking Ahead On May 29, the annual Globsec Bratislava forum kicks off in the Slovak capital. It is arguably the biggest think-tank event in Central and Eastern Europe, with leaders including French President Macron debating the latest developments in Europe and beyond for a full three days. I will be there to moderate panels on the future of both EU defense policy and the European neighborhood. Feel free to come and say hello or catch up over a coffee in Bratislava. I'll be writing about the forum in the next edition of the Wider Europe newsletter on June 5. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/wider-europe-briefing- jozwiak-moldova-armenia-azerbaijan/32432535.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 Civil Society The Biggest Casualty Of Crackdowns In Tajikistan And Uzbekistan's Autonomous Regions By Chris Rickleton May 29, 2023 ALMATY -- Tajikistan and Uzbekistan last year waged deadly crackdowns to crush protests that erupted in the autonomous regions of the Central Asian nations. Dozens of people were killed and hundreds arrested in Tajikistan's restive Gorno-Badakhshan (GBAO) and Uzbekistan's autonomous Karakalpakstan regions. But experts say civil society has been the biggest casualty of the crackdowns, with prominent human rights activists, journalists, and local leaders targeted in the authoritarian nations. "One feature that has unified Tashkent and Dushanbe's crackdowns in Karakalpakstan and GBAO has been a concerted effort to muzzle the messenger -- to silence civic leaders who gave voice to the grievances of their local populations for a greater say in how their provinces are governed," said Steve Swerdlow, a lecturer at the University of Southern California. In Tajikistan, the government's crackdown on protests over local grievances in Gorno-Badakhshan in May 2022 killed at least 16 people, although RFE/RL journalists verified 34 deaths. In July, Uzbek security forces used lethal force to crush protests over mooted constitutional changes affecting the status of Karakalpakstan, causing 21 deaths, according to an official toll. Many of those targeted in the crackdowns have been accused by the Tajik and Uzbek authorities of promoting separatism and inciting violence, charges that human rights groups have called politically motivated. 'Total Elimination Of Any Potential Activism' One of the most prominent figures caught up in the crackdown in Tajikistan was Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva, a rights activist and journalist from the Pamiri ethnic minority. The authorities have accused leaders of the community, which make up the majority of GBAO's estimated 250,000 inhabitants, of fomenting the unrest in the region. In December, Mamadshoeva was sentenced to 21 years in prison on extremism charges. She was transferred from a holding facility to a women's prison to serve her sentence earlier this month. Shortly after the arrest of Mamadshoeva and her former husband, Kholbash Kholbashov, state television aired footage that purportedly showed the pair confessing to helping plan and organize the protests. But just days earlier, Mamadshoeva denied any involvement in an interview with the correspondents of RFE/RL's Tajik Service in the capital, Dushanbe. After the interview ended, unidentified men attacked the journalists and confiscated their equipment, meaning the interview was never broadcast. A source close to Mamadshoeva's case, who spoke to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity, said her jailing was punishment for her regular posts about the 2021 killing by Tajik security forces of a young Pamiri man called Gulbidin Ziyobekov, as well as her long history of critical journalism. "As a woman and as a mother the case touched her. She could not stand to one side," the source said. Anger over Ziyobekov's death and Dushanbe's decision to remove local officials fueled the May protests. The problems in Gorno-Badakhshan and mutual mistrust between the local population and the central government date back to the country's 1992-97 civil war. During the conflict, local leaders like Mamadshoeva and Kholbashov were on the side of the United Tajik Opposition (UTO). A peace settlement followed, and Dushanbe's sometimes shaky grip over the mountainous region saw a highly participatory civic culture emerge that was absent in other parts of Tajikistan, where Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has all but eliminated any formal political opposition. That saw the rise of so-called informal leaders in Gorno-Badakhshan. Much to Dushanbe's displeasure, these local leaders enjoy great influence among their communities. Zamira Dildorbekova of the Aga Khan's Institute of Ismaili Studies in London, said that residents of the region do not view civil society as a "counteragent to the government." Instead, "while calling for greater accountability and transparency, the role of civil society and civil activism is largely perceived...as one to promote development, provide various services to the community where those are inadequate or absent," Dildorbekova told RFE/RL. Many Pamiris are followers of Ismailism, a branch of Shi'ite Islam, while most people in the rest of Tajikstan are Sunni Muslims. The Aga Khan Foundation, which is affiliated with the foreign-based spiritual leader of the Ismailis, has been involved in investment and charity projects in Gorno-Badakhshan and other parts of Tajikistan. Space for civil society is now severely shrinking, according to observers. After suppressing the May protests, Tajik security forces targeted, arrested, and in some instances killed a number of prominent informal leaders viewed as counterweights to Dushanbe's attempts to control the region. After that came scores of arrests, including of activists who had formed an ad hoc committee to demand a fair investigation into Ziyobekov's death. Earlier this month, ahead of the one-year anniversary of the military operation that crushed the protests, five representatives of civic groups in GBAO complained that they were under pressure from the government to voluntarily dissolve their organizations. "It seems that the government has no need for [our] organizations," a source affiliated with the organizations, who requested anonymity for fear of retribution, told RFE/RL's Tajik service. Commenting on the claims by the civil society representatives, a spokesman for the GBAO government said that only NGOs which had "interacted with the region's criminal groups" were subject to closure, and denied suggestions of a wider policy. The spokesman claimed that "numerous violations were found in [the] statutes and registration documents" of these organizations. But Dildorbekova of the Institute of Ismaili Studies said Tajikistan's government is set on "a total elimination of any potential civil activism or any type of agency, including at an individual level, that may be perceived by authorities as able to threaten the regime in any way, at any point of time." Karakalpakstan Violence In Uzbekistan, the authorities have also targeted prominent civic leaders, including Dauletmurat Tajimuratov, an outspoken Karakalpak lawyer and journalist. In January, Tajimuratov was handed 16-year prison term over the unprecedented anti-government protests in Uzbekistan's autonomous republic of Karakalpakstan last year. He was accused of attempting to overthrow the local government with the aim of installing himself as Karakalpakstan's ruler. In an interview with RFE/RL during his appeal hearing last week, Tajimuratov's lawyer Sergei Mayorov called his client "a political prisoner, upon whom the authorities laid the blame for their mistakes." The errors that Mayorov was referring to included the Uzbek authorities' decision to draft constitutional amendments that would have done away with the 2 million-strong region's legal right to hold a referendum on secession from Uzbekistan. Tajimuratov and other public figures openly opposed the move, and it was his arrest that appeared to provoke a large protest in the territory's capital, Nukus, on July 1. Unlike GBAO, Karakalpakstan is an autonomous republic and has its own flag and parliament, while the Karakalpak language, similar to Kazakh, has official status. The government walked back the changes following the deadly protests during which security forces fired into crowds. Despite Karakalpakstan's special status, central government control over the republic has been tight, and space for activism arguably even more limited than elsewhere in Uzbekistan. During his trial, Tajimuratov praised Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev for his reforms since coming to power in 2016, which he said had allowed activists to raise and discuss problems. But many experts have said that last year's violence could mark a definitive end to the authoritarian regime's so-called thaw. Tajimuratov was one of more than 20 defendants sentenced in January, and dozens more received punishments in March. "I think we can say that the key to reforms and freedoms in Uzbekistan lies in what happens now in Karakalpakstan," said Aqylbek Muratov, a longtime Karakalpak activist based in Kazakhstan. "Because if you have repression in one region and not in another, the ethnic tensions that already exist will only grow more quickly. It won't be sustainable. Whatever policy Tashkent decides for Karakalpakstan, we will see the effects in Uzbekistan as a whole," Muratov said. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/tajikistan-uzbekistan- gbao-karakalpakstan-civil-society/32433142.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 HRW Urges Vigilance On Cluster Munitions, Chides Russia For Usage In Ukraine By RFE/RL May 29, 2023 Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for greater global efforts to ensure an international treaty banning cluster munitions achieves its goal of ending the usage of such weapons, which it says are being used "repeatedly" by Russia in its war against Ukraine. HRW said in a report released on May 29 that the Convention On Cluster Munitions, adopted on May 30, 2008, in Dublin, "is being tested as never before." The report details how cluster munitions are being used in several conflict areas of the world, including by Russia, which HRW says has "repeatedly" used them since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, causing hundreds of civilian casualties and damaging civilian objects, including homes, hospitals, and schools. "A single Russian cluster munition attack on a train station in Kramatorsk on April 8, 2022, killed at least 58 civilians and wounded 100 others. The stigma created by the convention has led to widespread international condemnation of these attacks," the report says, noting Ukrainian forces have also used cluster munitions on several occasions. Russia and Ukraine are not signatories of the treaty. HRW also said that the Syrian-Russian military alliance used cluster munition rockets in attacks on camps for internally displaced people in Syria's Idlib Province in November, killing and wounding civilians. Cluster munitions are launched by artillery, rockets, missiles, and aircraft. The weapons open in midair and disperse dozens or hundreds of submunitions, also called bomblets, over a wide area. Many submunitions fail to explode on initial impact, leaving duds that can indiscriminately wound and kill, like land mines, for years until they are cleared and destroyed. The Convention On Cluster Munitions bans the use, production, acquisition, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster munitions and requires the destruction of stockpiles. HRW said there have been no reports of new use, production, or transfers of cluster munitions by the 123 nations that have signed or ratified the convention. However, a handful of countries outside the treated have produced or used cluster munitions, the group said. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/hrw-cluster-bombs- munitions-ukraine-russia/32432653.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 Russia Warns of Asia Pacific Militarization After US, Papua New Guinea Sign Defense Pact Sputnik News 20230529 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A military pact signed last week by the United States and Papua New Guinea will provide Washington with a foothold in the South Pacific and allow it to continue militarizing the Asia-Pacific region, the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday. The deal was signed by PNG Prime Minister James Marape and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who came to the Pacific island nation's capital, Port Moresby, as a stand-in for President Joe Biden after he canceled his planned trip over the debt-ceiling crisis. "The existence of this pact ... can only be interpreted as another step forward toward militarizing the Asia-Pacific region, escalating military tensions and dragging Port Moresby into Washington's geopolitical games aimed against Russia and China," Maria Zakharova said. The PNG government issued a statement ahead of the signing ceremony seeking to address concerns at home about its shift away from neutrality, as the US has made no secret of its plans to counter China's growing influence in the region. The US Department of State said the pact would form a foundation around which the two countries would enhance their security cooperation. "Despite official claims that the PNG territory will not be used as a launchpad for wars, the contents of the agreement provide evidence to the contrary. Washington's ultimate goal is clearly of a neo-colonial nature. It is to turn the largest South Pacific island nation into an outpost for projecting its military power in the Asia-Pacific region," Zakharova said. Australia and PNG also announced their intention to sign a security treaty in January. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address European Parliament Rapporteur Urges Pristina to Withdraw Forces From North Kosovo Sputnik News 20230529 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The European Parliament's rapporteur for Kosovo, Viola von Cramon, called on Kosovo Albanian authorities to withdraw its special police from the north of the self-proclaimed republic and to sit for talks with Kosovo Serbs. Earlier in the day, hundreds of Kosovo Serbs came to local administration buildings demanding the withdrawal of Kosovar police and officials. NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) mission's troops with crowd dispersal devices were deployed in the municipalities of Zvecan, Leposaviq and Zubin Potok. In Zvecan, the crowd tried to approach the administration building, but was stopped by the police. "Dialog within Kosovo is the only way out of this and that is my eye. At least call on the Kosovo authorities to think about confidence building measures such as the withdrawal of the special police there, and sit together at the negotiating tables ... Kosovo government seem to risk too much with this maneuvers in the north. And we think that they should rather ask themselves if this is a good government ... Is that the form of good governance we are wishing for?" von Cramon told a briefing in Pristina. Earlier in the day, US Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffrey Hovenier met with Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani and stated that the elected municipal heads from the Albanian parties ought to perform their duties, but have no right to occupy the local government buildings by force. Also on Monday, KFOR called on Kosovars and Serbs to refrain from actions that could escalate tensions in the partially-recognized republic and said it remained in close contact with the authorities from all sides. On Saturday, Serbia's National Security Council condemned KFOR for standing by while Kosovar police used force to install new Albanian mayors in Serb-majority northern provinces. Later in the day, Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic said the Serbian army was deploying its units near Kosovo in anticipation of provocations. The current escalation could turn into a direct conflict at any moment, the minister added. The tensions escalated after Kosovo authorities attempted to appoint Albanians as mayors in the north of the province following the April 23 elections for local self-government bodies. The elections were boycotted by ethnic Serbs and declared valid despite a 3.5% voter turnout. Kosovar police used tear gas to break up peaceful demonstrations by ethnic Serbs protesting the outcome of April 23 elections and stormed several municipal buildings. In response Serbia, which has never recognized Kosovo's independence and continues to refer to it as its province of Kosovo and Metohija, put its armed forces on full combat alert. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Spain's Sanchez Dissolves Parliament, Calls Early Elections as His Party Loses Elections Sputnik News 20230529 MADRID (Sputnik) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Monday the dissolution of the parliament and called early elections for July 23 after his party, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), has lost local elections. "I informed the head of state [King Felipe VI] of the decision to convene the Council of Ministers this afternoon to dissolve the Cortes [Generales] and proceed with the calling of general elections," Sanchez said during a speech broadcast on the Spanish channel, adding that the early elections are scheduled for July 23. Spain's opposition People's Party (PP) won in Sunday's municipal elections, surpassing the PSOE. The PP won 7.43 million votes, which is 3.4 percentage points more than the PSOE. The prime minister's party lost in 12 capitals of the autonomous communities in which it had the lead before the elections. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Relocated Refugees in Malawi Decry Dehumanizing Conditions By Lameck Masina May 29, 2023 In Malawi, hundreds of people who were forcibly relocated to the country's only refugee camp are complaining of poor conditions with no food, clean water or shelter. The U.N.'s refugee agency and the World Food Program say they cannot cater to the needs of those at the highly congested camp because of funding shortfalls. Malawi's government recently started to forcefully relocate about 8,000 refugees or asylum seekers who were residing in areas outside the Dzaleka refugee camp. The action followed the expiration of an April 15 deadline the government had given refugees to move to the camp. Officials say the refugees are violating a government policy that requires them to live within the boundaries of the camp. More than 1,000 refugees have so far relocated to the camp, where they have complained of dehumanizing conditions. Robert Habimana, a refugee from Rwanda, left Dzaleka in 2008. He moved to the capital, Lilongwe, where he was running a restaurant business. Habimana told VOA on Monday that he and his family of five children have not eaten since they were transferred to the camp on Friday evening. "We have nothing; we have no food," Habimana said. "We have no kitchen utensils; we are just suffering. Many people left their things." Sabina Goma, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, said police are preventing refugees from collecting items they left behind when they were put into police vehicles during the roundup. She said refugees are sleeping in the open without blankets and children are not going to school. Police are not allowing refugees to return to their places to collect their possessions, she said, even with authorization from camp officials. She spoke of roadblocks and described the situation as if officials "just dumped us here like waste in a bin." Harry Namwaza, deputy police spokesperson for the Malawi Police Service, said the roadblocks are just some of the strategies police are using to prevent newly relocated refugees from escaping the camp. "We have reports which we are investigating that some of these people are even returning to operate their previous businesses which is against the law," he said. "So they may claim that they want to get essentials, yet they just want to go back just to be operating their business. So, that is why we have put up some of these sporadic roadblocks just to check who is going out and for what purpose." Namwaza said police will soon start returning containers of property they seized from the refugees. The United Nations' refugee agency, UNHCR, said Dzaleka camp is severely overcrowded. The camp was designed to accommodate about 12,000 people but now is home to over 50,000 refugees from the DRC, Burundi, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Somalia. Many have escaped war and internal conflicts in their respective countries. The agency said further congestion could lead to disease outbreaks. The country director for the World Food Program in Malawi, Paul Turnbull, told VOA that the overcrowding will expose camp residents to hunger. "The relocation of refugees and asylum-seekers to Dzaleka is likely to increase the numbers of people requiring food assistance at the camp," Turnbull said. "WFP is already having to distribute reduced rations due to funding shortfalls. In the current context, ensuring the continuation of assistance to refugees and asylum seekers in the camp is critical." Some international and local rights campaigners, including the Center for Human Rights and Rehabilitation, have asked Malawi to halt the relocations, saying it is causing unnecessary suffering to the refugees and their children. The Malawian government has refused to budge, saying it gave refugees enough time to relocate to the camp voluntarily. The camp was meant to accommodate 10,000 to 12,000 refugees but now is home to more than 50,000. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Spanish PM Calls Snap Election Following Results of Regional, Local Polls By VOA News May 29, 2023 Spain's prime minister called early general elections on Monday after unsatisfactory results in regional and local elections Sunday. Speaking on national television, Pedro Sanchez said he would dissolve parliament and Spain would hold snap elections on July 23. "I have taken this decision given the results of the elections held yesterday," Sanchez said, speaking from the Moncloa presidential palace. "Although yesterday's elections had a local and regional scope, the meaning of the vote conveys a message that goes beyond that. That is why, as both prime minister and PSOE's secretary-general, I take personal responsibility for the results," Sanchez said. Sanchez said he had spoken to King Filipe VI about the decision and would hold an emergency Cabinet meeting later Monday to dissolve parliament. The results of regional elections showed the Spanish electorate swinging to the right with the Popular Party winning 31.5% of the vote, while Sanchez's Socialists - PSOE - Spanish Socialist Workers' Party - and its ally Podemos took 28.2%. The PP won seven municipalities of the 12 contested, and dominated in several regions previously won by PSOE, including Valencia, Aragon and La Rioja. It remains to be seen, however, whether PP will form regional governments alone, or have to enter a coalition with the far-right Vox party. Some information of this report came from Agence France-Presse, The Associated Press and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address First WFP food assistance distributed in Khartoum World Food Programme 29 May 2023 PORT SUDAN -- Distributions of United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) food assistance began on Saturday for thousands of people who have been trapped in Sudan's capital Khartoum since fighting broke out six weeks ago. The distributions come in the last days of the seven-day ceasefire agreed by both conflict parties, which is set to expire on Monday evening. "This is a major breakthrough. We have finally been able to help families who are stuck in Khartoum and struggling to make it through each day as food and basic supplies dwindle," says Eddie Rowe, WFP's Country Director in Sudan. "We have been working round the clock to reach people in Khartoum since the fighting began. A window opened late last week which allowed us to start food distributions. WFP must do more, but that depends on the parties to the conflict and the security and access they realistically guarantee on the ground." WFP is rapidly expanding the distribution of emergency food assistance across the country. Here are the latest updates: WFP has distributed food assistance to 12,445 people in both Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) controlled areas of Omdurman, part of the Khartoum metropolitan area. Three days of distributions started on Saturday and are the first by WFP in the capital since fighting broke out in Khartoum on 15 April. More food assistance has been prepositioned to continue distributions in Khartoum for as long as the security situation allows. WFP plans to reach at least 500,000 people in Khartoum. Over the weekend, food and nutrition distributions also began in Wadi Halfa in Northern State to around 8,000 Sudanese who have fled Khartoum and are making the long journey to Egypt. Late last week, WFP also began distributions to 4,000 newly displaced people in Port Sudan. WFP has rapidly scaled up support in Sudan to reach 675,000 people so far with emergency food and nutrition assistance in 13 of the country's 18 states since operations resumed less than a month ago on 3 May. WFP is expanding to support 5.9 million people across Sudan over the next six months as hunger rises. WFP is also providing emergency telecoms services to all United Nations agencies and the wider humanitarian community in Sudan where basic connectivity is challenging. WFP requires US$731 million to reach 5.9 million conflict-affected people country-wide in the next six months. WFP urgently calls on all parties to enable the safe delivery of urgently needed food aid, especially in Khartoum State where fighting has been raging for six weeks. An estimated 2 - 2.5 million people in Sudan are expected to slip into hunger in the coming months because of the ongoing violence. This would take acute food insecurity in Sudan to record levels, with more than 19 million people affected, 40 percent of the population. # # # The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Young people are majority re-infected with COVID-19 in current wave: epidemiologist Global Times By GT staff reporters Published: May 29, 2023 10:29 PM With China entering a "wave-like" stage of COVID-19 infections, young people are the majority who get re-infected, and they have mild symptoms, said epidemiologists, dismissing severe risks of the recent surge. Several local governments rolled out new vaccines targeting Omicron variants to strengthen the population's immunity. Recently, sporadic COVID-19 infections were reported in many cities across China, many of which are suffering from the second COVID-19 infection wave since last winter. Li Tongzeng, chief physician in the respiratory and infectious diseases department at Beijing You'an Hospital, told the Global Times that the fever clinic recently received an increasing number of patients whose symptoms include fever, respiratory problems and coughing. A few patients suffered from vomiting and diarrhea. Li said that most of those who are infected for a second time have milder symptoms than the first time, and their test result could turn negative within three or five days. The number of COVID-19 infections in China has increased since late April and entered a low-level and wave-like stage from mid-May with most cases showing only mild symptoms, experts from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Sunday. Most of those who got infected again are young people, with mild symptoms in the upper respiratory tract, Tong Zhaohui, a respiratory and critical illness expert and director of the Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, told the Global Times. He said that antibodies left over from previous infections remain, so there's nothing to worry about. Versions of the Omicron subvariants, including XBB, remain the dominant variants in China, Chen Cao, a researcher from the CDC, was quoted by media as saying on Monday. He noted that the XBB subvariants account for 95.2 percent of the variants they sampled from May 15 to 21. There are also concerns about the impact of COVID-19 sequela. Tong said that if symptoms such as fatigue, sleep deprivation or others persist for three months, then they can be categorized as sequela. But the expert said only a handful of patients suffer from COVID-19 sequela at the moment, and those whose COVID-19 symptoms persist for longer than three months are usually people with higher risks. Although they dismissed the severe risk of this infection wave, epidemiologists again stressed the importance of vaccinating high-risk groups, such as old people and people with underlying diseases. According to Sinocelltech, a Chinese pharmaceutical enterprise, its newest vaccines targeting four types of COVID-19 subvariants including Omicron have been used in Beijing and other cities. China's national authority on May 24 approved clinical trials on the efficacy of SA58, a new anti-COVID-19 monoclonal antibody nasal spray that was jointly developed by Chinese vaccine manufacturer SINOVAC and a research team led by Chinese scientists Cao Yunlong and Xie Xiaoliang, SINOVAC told the Global Times on Monday. It said that the antibodies can effectively neutralize Omicron subvariants such as XBB, XBB.1 and XBB.1.5. Last week, some community hospitals in Shanghai introduced new vaccines covering the Omicron variants, including the protein subunit vaccine and the mRNA vaccine, which are available for people aged above 18. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China set to send its first civilian astronaut into space Iran Press TV Monday, 29 May 2023 8:48 AM China has announced plans to send into space its first civilian astronaut alongside two military crew members on the Shenzhou-16 space mission. China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) spokesperson Lin Xiqiang told reporters on Monday that the country's first civilian astronaut is Gui Haichao, who will be sent to space tomorrow morning. Gui will take off on Tuesday along with two other astronauts from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China for the Tiangong space station as part of a three-person mission. "Payload expert Gui Haichao is a professor at Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics," the CMSA spokesperson said. Gui will "mainly be responsible for the on-orbit operation of space science experimental payloads". Hitherto, all Chinese astronauts sent into space so far have been members of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The mission will be led by Shenzhou-16 mission commander Jing Haipeng, a major general in the PLA, who is on his fourth journey into space, according to state media. The third crew member on the mission is Zhu Yangzhu, a PLA engineer. The group is headed to Earth's lower orbit, between 400 and 450 kilometers, where their space rocket will dock on the Chinese-made, owned, and manned Tiangong [heavenly palace] space station. The construction of China's third and permanent space station, Tiangong, which officials say is open to international collaboration, was completed in 2022. The space station, which is designed for a lifespan of at least a decade, is run by rotating 3-member crews who conduct scientific experiments and test new space technologies during their stay at the site. In 2011, the US government banned NASA from engaging with Chinese space agencies and as a result, Chinese astronauts have not been able to visit the International Space Station. However, under President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government has invested billions of dollars into its space projects. China has been able to make huge progress in this regard and is currently up to par with its rivals in space, namely, the United States and Russia. A report compiled and published by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in March found that China was pulling ahead in the race for global technological dominance far quicker than previously thought. Xi, who has underscored the importance of investment in science and technology, is pulling the nation way ahead in high-impact research across domains including defense, space, robotics, energy, the environment, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence, the report said. "China's lead is the product of deliberate design and long-term policy planning, as repeatedly outlined by President Xi Jinping and his predecessors," the report wrote. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan: North Korea says will launch military satellite next week Iran Press TV Monday, 29 May 2023 2:51 AM Japan says North Korea has informed it of a plan to launch a military satellite next week, adding it believes Pyongyang may be planning to launch a ballistic missile. The rocket launch is to take place between May 31 and June 11, a Japanese Coast Guard official said on Monday, adding that it will then fall somewhere in waters near the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and east of Luzon Island in the Philippines. The new development came after North Korea conducted a series of missile and weapons tests in recent months, including a new, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The Japanese prime minister's office said in a tweet that Fumio Kishida has issued instructions "on North Korea's notification about the launch of a ballistic missile that it describes as a satellite." The tweet added that Kishida has told officials to gather intelligence, remain vigilant and closely coordinate with allies, including the United States and South Korea, on the matter. Japan's Defense Ministry, for its part, said it has issued an order for the Air Self-Defense Force to destroy any ballistic missile confirmed to be on course to fall into the country's territory. The ministry added that the country's forces would be authorized to use Standard Missile SM-3 and Patriot Missile PAC-3 to shoot down a projectile in mid-air. Last month, North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, ordered the launch of the country's first military reconnaissance satellite as a deterrent measure against persisting US-led war games near its waters, which Pyongyang views as rehearsals for invasion of its territory. Kim said one of the objectives of developing the country's satellite industry is to gain the capability to "use preemptive military force when the situation demands." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Qin Gang meets Zimbabwean FM, signaling solid China-Africa cooperation Global Times By Liu Caiyu Published: May 29, 2023 10:19 PM Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang held talks with visiting Zimbabwean Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Frederick Shava in Beijing on Monday. Observers said Shava's visit sends a signal that China-Africa cooperation and relations are as solid and bright as usual. In the four decades since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Zimbabwe, no matter how the international situation has changed, the traditional friendship between the two countries has always been as firm as a rock and they have always been good brothers and partners who trust and support each other, Qin told Shava during their meeting in Beijing on Monday. Qin pointed out that China will, as always, firmly support Zimbabwe in opposing external interference and sanctions and taking a development path suited to its national conditions. According to the Xinhua News Agency, the US has been piling sanctions on Zimbabwe since 2001, following a Zimbabwean government decision to repossess land from minority white farmers for redistribution to landless indigenous Zimbabweans. The country's sanction-induced economic mire has inflicted a myriad of real challenges on Zimbabweans, especially amid an unprecedented global pandemic. The distressing effect of the sanctions on the viability of businesses in Zimbabwe has prompted an outcry against the economic punishment both in and outside the country, Xinhua reported. China is willing to deepen its sharing of governance experience with Zimbabwe, enhance synergy of development strategies, promote high-quality joint construction of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, and implement various cooperation measures with Africa within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Qin noted. Together with Zimbabwe, China will tap the potential of cooperation in investment, trade, energy and mineral resources, clean energy and human resources development, and upgrade cooperation between the two countries, Qin said. Qin also told his Zimbabwean guest that China will continue to encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in Zimbabwe. China is ready to work closely with the country in international cooperation to promote the implementation of the initiatives on global development, global security and global civilization. Shava's visit came amid intensive visits by African leaders to Beijing. Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen Hassen visited China from May 24 to 28. President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Felix Tshisekedi also paid a state visit to China between May 24 and 29. Earlier this month, President Isaias Afwerki of the State of Eritrea wrapped up his four-day visit to China and in April, President of the Gabonese Republic Ali Bongo Ondimba also paid a visit to China. "The visit by Zimbabwe's foreign minister strengthens the signal that African countries are optimistic about developing ties with China and that their willingness to cooperate with China is high, even though there are some forces sowing discord," He Wenping, a senior research fellow at the Institute of West Asian and African Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday. China stands in solidarity with Zimbabwe in its consistent call for the unconditional removal of Western sanctions. More efforts could be made to help Zimbabwe resume economic development, He noted. Zimbabwe's cooperation with China ranges from infrastructure construction and mineral cooperation to investment and trade, and more practical cooperation can be explored, He said. During the meeting with Qin on Monday, Shava said Zimbabwe firmly upholds the one-China policy, supports the principle of One Country, Two Systems, and supports the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China. Shava also thanked China for its support in helping the country's poverty reduction efforts and the fight against COVID-19. Zimbabwe stands ready to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China in various fields, strengthen cooperation under the framework of the Africa-China Cooperation Forum and push bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new level, he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on May 29, 2023 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China At the invitation of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Special Envoy of President Xi Jinping and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Peng Qinghua will attend President Bola Tinubu's inauguration ceremony in the capital of Nigeria Abuja on May 29. Xinhua News Agency: According to reports, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui just wrapped up his visit to Ukraine and other countries. Could you share more with us on this visit? During the visit, has the Chinese side put forward a more specific proposal for the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis? What does China plan to do next? Mao Ning: From May 15 to 26, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui visited Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany, the EU Headquarters and Russia to have extensive contact and exchanges with various parties on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, make clear China's position and propositions, listen to the opinions and advice from various parties, and build up international common understandings. All parties attach high importance to Special Representative Li Hui's visit, fully recognize China's positive role in promoting talks for peace, commend China's call for respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity and observing the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and express the hope that China will continue to exercise its constructive influence. At present, the Ukraine crisis is still at a critical juncture. Going forward, China will continue to act upon President Xi's call for joint efforts in four areas, four principles and three observations, strengthen dialogue and communication with all parties, continue to build up common understandings and mutual trust, encourage the international community to find the broadest common understandings and make China's contributions to a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. Reuters: North Korea has notified Japan of a planned satellite launch between May 31 and June 11. Has China received any notice from North Korea about the launch? If so, does China have any concerns about the launch? Mao Ning: The situation on the Korean Peninsula has come to where it stands today for a reason. It is hoped that relevant sides can grasp the crux of the issues, strive for a political settlement and address each other's legitimate concerns in a balanced way through meaningful dialogue. CCTV: We noted that recently many countries spoke highly of the work of Chinese medical teams. For example, President Umaro Sissoco EmbalA of Guinea-Bissau awarded the Chinese medical team National Order of Merit, Cooperation and Development Medal. The eighth medical expert team dispatched by the Chinese People's Liberation Army to Laos was awarded the Lao People's Army Medal of Valor by the Ministry of National Defence. The Cambodian Ministry of Health awarded the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) anti-COVID team from China the Knight Medal of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The performance of Chinese medical teams abroad was highly recognized. What's your comment? Mao Ning: China dispatched its first medical aid team abroad 60 years ago. Since then, a total of 30,000 medical personnel have treated over 290 million local patients in 76 countries and regions, including Africa and Asia, with widely recognized achievement. As a developing country, China has always shared weal and woe with fellow developing countries. The 60-year international medical assistance demonstrates that the Chinese people love peace, value life and have the original aspiration of mutual help and common pursuit of happiness with other developing countries. Chinese medical aid teams are now working hard at 115 sites in 56 countries around the world. China will continue to provide assistance to fellow developing countries and improve the health and well-being of people around the world with concrete actions. AFP: Amnesty International said last week that a Uyghur man named Abuduwaili Abudureheman has been missing after arriving at the Hong Kong airport. A friend of Mr. Abuduwaili said that Chinese police appeared to have stopped him for questioning at the Hong Kong airport, but Hong Kong government has said Mr. Abuduwaili never entered the territory. Is the Chinese side able to confirm Mr. Abuduwaili's whereabouts. Is he in the Chinese mainland? And if so, what is his location and have Chinese authorities taken any action against him? And if so, for what reason? Mao Ning: I am not aware of the specifics. China News Service: We noted that recently leaders and foreign ministers from African countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sierra Leone, visited China. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang at the Africa Day Reception said that China-Africa relations have entered a fast track. How do you view the current China-Africa relations and the prospect of China-Africa cooperation? Mao Ning: Over the years, guided by the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, and of pursuing the greater good and shared interests in developing China's relations with Africa put forth by President Xi Jinping, China-Africa relations have been brought to new heights and entered a new stage of building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future. Exchanges and cooperation between the two sides have been growing with the "acceleration button" on, and entered a fast track, demonstrating strong vitality. Following Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan's state visit to China soon after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, African leaders and foreign ministers paid visits to and attended events in China, including President of Gabon Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Eritrea Isaias Afwerki, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Tshisekedi and Prime Minister of Cote d'Ivoire Patrick Achi. Carrying forward the fine tradition of China's diplomacy, Foreign Minister Qin Gang visited five African countries, the African Union Headquarters and the League of Arab States Headquarters 10 days after he came into office. Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) Zhao Leji visited Senegal and Morocco not long ago. The world today faces many challenges. Being the world's largest developing country and the continent home to most developing countries, China and Africa need solidarity and cooperation more than ever. The two sides will join hands to practice true multilateralism, firmly safeguard each other's legitimate and lawful rights and interests, actively advance our respective modernization with distinctive features, push forward the reform of the global governance system, pursue common security and strengthen exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations. We will make the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation as alive as ever across the vast lands of China and Africa, jointly build a closer high-level China-Africa community with a shared future and turn it into a pacesetter for building such a community for mankind.a NHK: For four times the DPRK has notified international organizations that it will launch "satellites" but in fact launched ballistic missiles instead. The DPRK has violated UN Security Council resolutions by launching ballistic missiles. Is China opposed to the launch this time? Mao Ning: I shared China's position on the Korean Peninsula issues right now. We believe that the situation on the Korean Peninsula has come to where it stands today for a reason. Relevant parties need to think hard how the current situation emerged and address each other's legitimate concerns in a balanced way through dialogue. Reuters: Western officials familiar with special envoy Li Hui's recent trip to Europe say China is proposing a ceasefire that would leave Russia in possession of parts of Ukraine, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. Can you confirm that China is proposing this and why? Mao Ning: China has released timely readouts on Special Representative Li Hui's visit. Please refer to them for authentic information. I also noted that the Foreign Minister of Ukraine publicly said that he contacted other parties and no country said Special Representative Li Hui made the remarks reported by The Wall Street Journal.a AFP: Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoAYan has been reelected for a new term. Does the Chinese side have any comment on his reelection? Mao Ning: We congratulate President Recep Tayyip ErdoAYan on his reelection as the President of TArkiye. We support TArkiye in following a development path that suits its own national realities and hope that under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip ErdoAYan, TArkiye will continue to score new achievements in its development. China attaches high importance to its relations with TArkiye. In recent years, under the guidance of the two heads of states, both countries have achieved fruitful outcomes in cooperation in various fields, which benefits the two peoples. China stands ready to work with TArkiye to scale new heights in the China-TArkiye strategic relationship of cooperation. Dragon TV: As far as we know, the upcoming 8th Annual Meeting of the New Development Bank (NDB) will be held in Shanghai. Could you share more with us? Mao Ning: The New Development Bank (NDB) Eighth Annual Meeting will be held in Shanghai from May 30 to 31. On the morning of May 30, Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang will attend the opening ceremony and deliver an address. The NDB is a landmark outcome of BRICS cooperation. With the support of BRICS members, the NDB has made new positive progress in its business operations, institution-building and membership expansion and become an important emerging force in international multilateral development institutions. This annual meeting will plan for the development of the NDB going forward. As the host, China stands ready to continue to deepen all-round cooperation with the NDB and support its growing stronger.a Global Times: Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong said during a speech at the Nikkei Forum 28th Future of Asia that in terms of democracy, "we do not blindly copy what others do...and develop a model that is suitable for our needs." He added that countries, all with their own deep cultures and long histories, have developed their own governance and political systems over time. The people in many of these countries are quite happy with their systems, rather than to have external parties impose their values or systems on them, and others need to respect that. He noted that the world cannot be easily distilled into binary labels of democracy or autocracy,and "it is far more important for us to find ways for countries to build common cause with one another, to coexist and work together despite our differences." Do you have any comment on this? Mao Ning: Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's remarks on democracy is based on Singapore's own successful practice and speaks to the aspirations of many countries. As we all know, there is no one-size-fits-all model for democracy. As long as it suits a country's national realities and represents the interests of the people, it is a true democracy that works. Despite their different national conditions, China and Singapore have both found democratic paths that suit them and have their own characteristics. We firmly oppose any act of instigating "democracy vs. authoritarianism" and historical retrogression that tries to drag the world back to the Cold War era. China stands ready to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning with Singapore and other countries in the world, advocate the common values of humanity featuring peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, promote democracy in international relations, and make due contribution to the diversity of political civilization and promoting the common values of humanity. Kyodo News: The first question is that the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) ministerial meeting was held in the US on May 27 and negotiations on an international supply chains deal were substantially completed. What's the foreign ministry's comment? The second question is that Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura Yasutoshi and US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo agreed to strengthen cooperation in the field of next-generation semiconductors. A joint statement was issued saying that semiconductor research centers of the two countries are encouraged to work together and formulate a roadmap for chip-related technological and human resource development. Is China concerned that US-Japan semiconductor cooperation may pose negative influence to China? Mao Ning: We always believe that 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 or exclusive. The industrial and supply chains are shaped and developed by the laws of market dynamics and the choices of businesses. Disrupting the function of the market, politicizing normal trade activities and setting barriers to hinder industrial cooperation such as semiconductor cooperation is the biggest risk to supply chain stability. We noted relevant reports on US-Japan semiconductor cooperation. It is China's consistent belief that the cooperation between countries should not target any third party and we oppose putting up exclusionary blocs and engaging in discriminatory and exclusive cooperation. We believe that one should not undermine other countries' interests to perpetrate hegemony or protect selfish interests. We will closely follow the developments and firmly safeguard our rights and interests. Yonhap News Agency: The ROK and the US said that the DPRK's launch of a satellite would violate UN Security Council resolutions. What is China's position on this? Mao Ning: China's position on the Korean Peninsula issues remain unchanged. All parties need to see clearly the root cause and history of how the situation on the Korean Peninsula has come to where it stands today, face up to the crux of the problem, adhere to the direction of political settlement, and find a way that can address each other's legitimate concerns in a balanced manner through meaningful dialogue. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address British minister raised Jimmy Lai case with China's vice president but to no avail U.K. should do more to pursue those responsible for an crackdown on dissent, group says By Jojo Man, Ng Ting Hong and Chingman for RFA Cantonese 2023.05.29 -- British foreign minister James Cleverly raised the case of jailed Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai with a top Chinese official recently to no avail after a court in the city rejected Lai's judicial review over the hiring of a top British lawyer, according to a government report published on Thursday. "I raised [Lai's] case with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng earlier this month, and we have raised it at the highest levels with the Hong Kong authorities," Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Cleverly said in a statement introducing his government's six-monthly review of the situation in Hong Kong, a former British colony. Han attended the coronation of King Charles III in London on May 6, amid growing criticism of the ruling Conservative Party, which appears to be backing away from promises of a tough stance on China. Cleverly didn't say if a face-to-face meeting with Han had taken place, but said his government would "work with China where our interests converge while steadfastly defending our national security and our values." He accused the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities of deliberately targeting "prominent pro-democracy figures, journalists and politicians in an effort to silence and discredit them." He called on the Chinese Communist Party and the Hong Kong government to implement recommendations made by the United Nations Human Rights Council last July, which included repealing a national security law that has been used to justify a crackdown on peaceful political opposition and public dissent in the wake of the 2019 protest movement. "The Hong Kong authorities use the National Security Law and the antiquated offense of sedition to persecute those who disagree with the government," Cleverly said, pointing to the ongoing trial of 47 opposition politicians and democracy activists for "subversion" after they organized a democratic primary election in the summer of 2020, as well as Lai's national security trial for "collusion with a foreign power." He said Beijing "remains in a state of non-compliance" with a bilateral treaty governing the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to Chinese rule, pointing to a "steady erosion of civil and political rights and Hong Kong's autonomy." Benedict Rogers, who heads the London-based rights group Hong Kong Watch, called for further action against "those who are actively undermining China's obligations to the people of Hong Kong." "A failure to do so will only embolden the Chinese government to deepen its human rights crackdown, putting at risk not only Hong Kongers but U.K. nationals and businesses operating in the city," Rogers said in a statement responding to the government report. Emergency visas In April, British lawmakers called on their government to issue emergency visas to journalists at risk of arrest or prosecution in Hong Kong, and to apply targeted sanctions to individuals responsible for Lai's arbitrary arrest and prosecution. The group also expressed concerns over last week's ruling by Hong Kong's Court of First Instance, which rejected an appeal from Lai's legal team after the city's leader John Lee ruled that his British barrister, Tim Owen KC, couldn't represent him. Policy director Sam Goodman said Hong Kong's courts no longer have enough judicial independence to act as a check on the current national security crackdown, nor to ensure a fair trial for political prisoners. "There is no such thing as a common law system which operates with 'Chinese Communist Party' characteristics," Goodman said, adding that Hong Kong's "common law system ... has been systematically dismantled by Beijing." Exiled former pro-democracy lawmaker Ted Hui welcomed the criticism of Hong Kong's human rights record. "In the long run, it will ... unite our allies in free countries, and they will take a relatively tough stance, which will have an effect on their leadership," Hui said. "If more allies of free countries clearly say that Hong Kong's human rights are regressing, and that the national security law is a violation of human rights, then that is a very clear position," he said. The Hong Kong government slammed the U.K. report as "malicious slander and a political attack on Hong Kong," while Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the British government "has yet to wake up from its colonial dream." "It continues ... to interfere in Hong Kong affairs through a misleading 'report' which is steeped in ideological bias and inconsistent with the facts," Mao told a regular news conference in Beijing. Lai's son Sebastien warned earlier this month that Hong Kong is now a "risky" place to do business, and that arbitrary arrests, sentences and raids will likely continue under the national security crackdown. International press freedom groups say the ruling Communist Party under supreme leader Xi Jinping has "gutted" press freedom in the formerly freewheeling city, since Lai's Apple Daily and other pro-democracy news outlets were forced to close. 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 'Taliban forces received proper response for cross-border fire' IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency May 29, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- The interior minister of Iran has said that a proper response was given to the Afghan border guards who fired at Iranians last week, adding that there is currently no problem in the border between Iran and Afghanistan. Ahmad Vahidi made the remarks on Monday while speaking about the recent border tension between Iran and its eastern neighbor Afghanistan. The clashes in the joint border area were minor, said Vahid, adding, however, that a proper response had been given to the Afghan border guards who had decided to open fire at Iranian border guards. Two Iranian border guards were killed in clashes with Taliban forces on the joint border with Afghanistan on Saturday. A day later, Commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Force Brigadier General Kioumars Heidari warned against any repetition of dangerous incidents on the border between Iran and Afghanistan. 1483**9417**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran-Iraq security agreement 'roadmap' for ensuring lasting security at borders: SNSC chief Iran Press TV Monday, 29 May 2023 6:09 PM The secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) says the recent security agreement between Iran and Iraq provides a roadmap for ensuring durable security at their common borders and lays the groundwork for expanding cooperation in other areas. Ali-Akbar Ahmadian made the statement in a meeting with visiting Iraqi National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji on Monday as the two exchanged views and discussed the implementation of the Tehran-Baghdad security agreement signed in March, as well as the most important regional and international developments. Ahmadian lauded the security agreement, which he said was the result of months of negotiations and joint efforts by the two countries, as a very appropriate and strategic measure and underscored the strict implementation of its provisions. "We, within the framework of the agreement, expect the Iraqi government to guarantee the security of the country's borders with Iran as soon as possible, while ending the presence of counterrevolutionary elements in the country," Ahmadian noted. The SNSC chief underlined that the long-standing religious and civil roots between Iran and Iraq guaranteed the "deep and extensive relations" between the two countries. Iran's policy has always been to support a government based on the will of the people in Iraq, Ahmadian said, adding, "The blood of the martyrs of the two countries in the relentless fight against terrorism and insecurity is intermingled, the most exemplary of which is the martyrdom of top resistance commanders, Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis." The two influential commanders, along with their comrades, were assassinated in a drone strike near Baghdad International Airport on January 3, 2020, which was directly ordered by former US president Donald Trump. Ahmadian also said the will of the Islamic Republic is to expand and deepen relations with neighboring countries, especially the friendly and brotherly country of Iraq, adding that to implement this policy, "We are ready for bilateral and multilateral cooperation and interaction in all areas." Araji, for his part, voiced Iraq's commitment to the border security agreement with Iran, saying the stability and development of Iran and Iraq help promote not only the two countries' security but also the entire region's peace and progress. "We consider Iraq's security as that of Iran's," Araji underlined. The top security adviser expressed the Iraqi government's willingness and determination to continue its close relations, cooperation, and interaction with Iran in all areas. Iran and Iraq signed a security agreement that includes coordination in protecting the border between the two countries in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on March 19. Anti-Iranian terrorist groups residing in the Iraqi Kurdistan region have increased their malign activities, especially in border areas. Responding to the activities, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) launched several rounds of airstrikes against their positions since September 24 last year, vowing to continue the attacks till the groups are unarmed. Iran has, on countless occasions, warned the Iraqi Kurdistan's local authorities that it will not tolerate the presence and activity of terrorist groups along its northwestern borders, saying the country will give a decisive response should those areas become a hub of anti-Islamic Republic terrorists. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Families Of Executed Iranian Protesters Say The Government Continues To Pressure Them By RFE/RL's Radio Farda May 29, 2023 The family of executed protester Majid Kazemi says Iranian authorities have launched a campaign against it, suspending Kazemi's father's retirement benefits and firing his sister from her job just 10 days after his death sentence was carried out. Mohammad Hashemi, Kazemi's cousin, also revealed on Twitter on May 29 that Kazemi's brothers, Mehdi and Hossein, remain in the custody of the Islamic republic's security institutions after speaking out and pleading for a stay of the death penalty prior to his May 19 execution. According to a correspondent for RFE/RL's Radio Farda, Amir Kazemi, another cousin of Majid, confirmed that the family remains in the dark about the whereabouts and condition of Majid's brothers. Amir Kazemi suggested that the arrest of these family members -- his sister was also detained but later released -- was an attempt to prevent a memorial service for Majid Kazemi. Following the execution of Kazemi and two other young protesters, the government has ratcheted up pressure on their families. The executions sparked widespread public outrage, with rights groups and several governments criticizing the authorities for conducting hasty trials, forcing "confessions," and denying the accused due process. Majid Kazemi, Saleh Mirehashemi, and Saeed Yaqoubi were arrested for the alleged killing of two Basij paramilitary force members and a law enforcement officer during protests in November 2022. However, based on a picture of the court verdict made public by the defendants' families, the death sentences for the three were not issued for murder, but instead for "waging war against God," a crime often applied to political dissidents. The Basij members died at the height of widespread protests ignited by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September 2022 while she was in police custody for allegedly breaking rules concerning the Islamic head scarf, known as a hijab. All three said they were innocent of the charges and were being made scapegoats for the deaths. Saleh Mirehashemi's mother released an audio file on social media three days after the executions saying her husband had been handcuffed by government forces and prevented from holding a ceremony honoring their son. Videos have also emerged showing security forces stationed around Saeed Yaqoubi's house in recent nights. Authorities warned for months after unrest broke out following Amini's death that they would react harshly to any dissent. Lawmakers have pushed the judiciary to render the death penalty in trials for those arrested during the protests, which are seen as one of the biggest threats to the Islamic leadership since it took power in 1979. So far, Iranian authorities have followed through with their threats by executing at least seven protesters, including the three on May 19. Human rights activists say authorities in Iran are using the executions to try to instill fear in society rather than to combat crime. Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-executed-protesters- families-pressure/32432910.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 Toqaev 'Appreciates' Lukashenka's 'Joke' Proposal For Kazakhstan To Join Russia-Belarus Union By RFE/RL May 29, 2023 Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev has called a proposal by the authoritarian ruler of Belarus, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, for Kazakhstan to join the so-called Russia-Belarus Union State a "joke" that has no resonance in the Central Asian country, given its commitments to other international treaties. Toqaev said on May 29 while meeting with farmers of the North Kazakhstan region that he "duly appreciated the joke" by Lukashenka that he expressed in a televised interview with a Russian journalist over the weekend that Kazakhstan should join the union, which was created on paper in the 1990s and has been negotiated off and on since, but "there is no need" to join. "Because there are other integration groupings, first of all the Eurasian Economic Union," Toqaev said. He also touched on Russia's controversial plans to place tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, which borders NATO members Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland. "As for the nuclear weapons, we do not need them because we joined the Nonproliferation Treaty and the Partial Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty. We remain loyal to our obligations defined by these two international documents," Toqaev said. Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Ukraine gave up their nuclear weapons in the 1990s after they joined the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The three former Soviet republics also signed the Budapest Memorandum in 1994 -- as did Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom -- which barred the superpowers from threatening or using military force or economic coercion against the three. However, Russian authorities have repeatedly raised the specter of the potential use of nuclear weapons since launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with the frequency of the warnings increasing as Moscow's aggression against Ukraine continues. Last week, Toqaev said at a Eurasian Economic Union (EES) meeting in Moscow that integration within the group was different from the controversial Russia-Belarus Union State. "I am sorry, even nuclear weapons are being shared by the two," Toqaev said as he tried to emphasize that other EES states such as Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan were attempting to stay away from getting involved in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In a televised interview aired on May 28, Lukashenka commented on Toqaev's statement at the EES session regarding the nuclear weapons "shared" by Belarus and Russia, saying that former Soviet republics, including Kazakhstan, longing to own nuclear weapons can join Russia-Belarus Union State as well. With reporting by Tengrinews, Inbusiness.kz, and Rossia TV Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-russia-belarus-union- joke/32432874.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 Japan's new anti-Russia measures 27 May 2023 12:18 1030-27-05-2023 We have noted the 20th set of sanctions by the Fumio Kishida administration against Russia, as well as Russian individuals and legal entities, which was made public on May 26. It seems that Tokyo has set itself the task of breaking into the lead when it comes to anti-Russian restrictions. We continue to monitor the practical implementation of such steps and assess their possible impact on national security and the economy. In any case, such illegitimate actions by official Tokyo will not go unanswered. We have also noted yet another attempt by the Japanese government (represented by Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno) to accuse our country of "nuclear blackmail". The desire to ascribe to Russia a non-existent intention to use nuclear weapons in the context of the events in Ukraine is nothing other than cynical and unscrupulous speculation. There has been no change in our approach to this issue. We call on Tokyo to show similar concern with regard to the US nuclear weapons already deployed in Europe. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Interior Ministry Puts US Senator Graham on Wanted List Over Russophobic Remarks Sputnik News 20230529 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian Interior Ministry has put US Senator Lindsey Graham on the wanted list on criminal charges in connection with his Russophobic remarks made during a meeting With Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. "Grounds for search: [Graham is] wanted on criminal charges," the ministry's database said. Graham, who represents South Carolina in Congress, was filmed meeting with Zelensky in Kiev on May 26, when he said that getting Russians killed in the conflict with Ukraine was the best money the United States has ever spent. Russian Investigative Committee chief Alexander Bastrykin has instructed the relevant authorities to initiate a criminal investigation into the remarks. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin Signs Law on CFE Treaty Denunciation Sputnik News 20230529 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a law on the denunciation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) by Moscow. The relevant document is published at the official legal information portal. Russia will not feel direct consequences of the denunciation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday. "Well, now there shouldn't be any direct ones, because the fact is that it was already ... a non-working mechanism and, believe me, not because of the fault of Russia. Here, in this case, the Russian side brought the de facto situation into line. So now there will be no direct consequences," Peskov told reporters. Earlier, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Russian Federation Council has supported a bill on the denunciation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe at a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov. The CFE Treaty was signed in Paris in 1990 by representatives of 16 NATO member states and six Warsaw Pact members. The treaty introduced limits on major types of conventional military equipment in Europe and provided for the destruction of surplus weapons. In 1999, an updated version of the treaty was signed at the Istanbul summit of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to reflect the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact and the expansion of NATO. However, the adapted version was ratified only by Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. In 2007, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree suspending the country's participation in the CFE until NATO countries ratified the adaptation agreement and begin implementing their obligations under the document. At the same time, Russia remained a party to the treaty. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan's Navy set to take delivery of second homemade corvette next month ROC Central News Agency 05/29/2023 10:32 AM Taipei, May 29 (CNA) Taiwan's Navy is expected to take delivery of the nation's second domestically built Tuo Chiang-class corvette next month, a military source told CNA on Monday. The Tuo Chiang-class corvette is a Taiwanese-designed and manufactured class of fast and stealthy multi-purpose corvettes built for the Republic of China (Taiwan's official name) Navy. A prototype of the corvette named Tuo Chiang (PGG-618) was commissioned in 2015. Meanwhile, the first full version of the Tuo Chiang-class corvette, the Ta Chiang, was launched in December 2020. The second one, the Fu Chiang was launched in September 2022, while the third and latest one, the Hsu Chiang, was launched in February. A military source told CNA on Monday that the Fu Chiang corvette will be delivered to the Navy sometime in June to officially begin related training before being commissioned to the armed forces. According to the Navy, the Tuo Chiang-class ship has a maximum speed of 30 knots, displacement of 685 tonnes, and an operational range of 1,800 nautical miles. It was developed to address a common weakness of traditional small warships, such as patrol craft and corvettes, which is that they are not fit for use over extended periods of time in the rough seas around Taiwan. The Tuo Chiang-class corvettes are fitted with subsonic Hsiung Feng-II missiles, supersonic Hsiung Feng-III anti-ship missiles, a 76 mm cannon, and Tien-Chien II air defense missiles. They are named after rivers and creeks in Taiwan and/or famous ROC Naval vessels, with the names selected following a public vote. Tuo Chiang is named after a former patrol vessel that helped to defend Chinese warships in a cross-Taiwan Strait sea battle in 1958. Fu Chiang and Hsu Chiang are named after rivers in eastern Hualien County and northern Keelung City. The Navy is set to build a total of 11 Tuo Chiang-class corvettes by the end of 2026. (By Matt Yu and Joseph Yeh) Enditem/cs NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Fort Polk, LA (71446) Today Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 87F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early. Isolated thunderstorms may develop late. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%. Taiwan's Navy to Receive 4th Tuo Chiang Corvette in June Sputnik News 20230529 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Taiwanese navy will receive its fourth Tuo Chiang multipurpose stealth corvette in June amid tensions in the Taiwan Strait with China, a Taiwanese state news agency reported on Monday, citing a source. A total of 11 such ships are to be built for the Taiwanese navy by the end of 2026, the report said. The corvette is 60.4 meters (198 feet) long and 14 meters wide, with a maximum speed of 30 knots and a displacement of 685 tonnes. The ship is armed with eight Hsiung Feng-III supersonic anti-ship missiles, eight Hsiung Feng-II subsonic anti-ship missiles, a 76 mm cannon and Tien-Chien II air defense missiles. Taiwan's Lungteh Shipbuilding is involved in the production of the Tuo Chiang corvettes. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Congratulations to President of the Republic of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan Vladimir Putin sent his congratulations to Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his re-election as President of the Republic of Turkiye. May 28, 2023 21:30 The message reads, in part: "The victory in the elections was the logical outcome of your dedicated work as President of the Republic of Turkiye, a clear demonstration of the Turkish people's support for your efforts to consolidate state sovereignty and pursue an independent foreign policy. We appreciate your contribution to strengthening the friendly Russian-Turkish relations and mutually beneficial cooperation in various areas. I would like to affirm my readiness to continue our constructive dialogue concerning relevant issues on the bilateral, regional and international agenda. We attach much importance to the consistent implementation of planned joint projects, first and foremost, construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant and the creation of a gas hub in Turkiye." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Telephone conversation with President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan. May 29, 2023 21:00 Vladimir Putin warmly congratulated Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his re-election as the head of state and emphasised his strong contribution to the development of Russian-Turkish relations in a constructive and mutually beneficial way. He noted that the support expressed by the Turkish people for their leader opens new prospects for expanding practical bilateral cooperation in different areas. Having expressed his gratitude for the congratulations, the President of the Republic of Turkiye reaffirmed his commitment on further joint work on the entire current agenda. It was agreed to maintain personal contact. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkiye May Intensify Talks With Russia on Gas Hub Project in Near Future - Source Sputnik News 20230529 ANKARA (Sputnik) - Turkiye may intensify the negotiation process on the gas hub project proposed by Russia in the near future, a source in the Turkish leader's administration told Sputnik on Monday. "I think that negotiations on this topic will intensify in the near future. President [Erdogan] himself yesterday, in fact, made public his program, named this project among the priorities," the source said. Turkiye's Supreme Election Council said on Sunday that incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had won the second round of the presidential election with 52.14% of the vote. During his address to supporters after winning the runoff, Erdogan promised to implement the gas hub project. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lavrov says Russia will respond to F-16 deliveries to Ukraine Iran Press TV Monday, 29 May 2023 7:00 PM Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Russia's military is capable of reacting to the deliveries of Western F-16 warplanes to Ukraine. The United States and its allies in Western Europe have already announced plans to launch training programs for Ukrainian pilots to fly the US-made fighter jets. Lavrov, who was speaking at a press conference in Kenya on Monday, said Denmark and the Netherlands had a "desire to please the hegemon" in planning to train Ukrainian pilots. "In European affairs and at European forums, these countries are actively pursuing Washington's line, first and foremost," the Russian foreign minister stated. In recent weeks, an international coalition has been formed to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, which is in a desperate need of upgrading its air force with advanced warplanes. A number of countries have volunteered to host the training of Ukrainian pilots. Poland, a neighbor to Ukraine and one of its biggest supporters, has said for months it is ready for the training. Earlier, Russia had warned against sending the aircraft. Moscow believes the move raises the question of NATO's direct military involvement in the war. Initially, President Joe Biden had said the United States would not provide Ukraine with the jets. Earlier this month, however, the US president told leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) countries in Japan that Washington was prepared to help train the Ukrainian pilots of F-16 fighter jets. Lavrov did not specify how Russia would respond to the deliveries. He only said he had "no doubt that our armed forces have the ability to react to this." A day earlier, he had warned that the US and its allies were "playing with fire" by boosting their support for Kiev. The Russian foreign minister said the F-16 episode was "an unacceptable escalation." "I think there are reasonable people in the West who understand this. But everything is being dictated by Washington, London, and their satellites inside the EU." Ukraine, which largely operates aged Soviet-era warplanes, has placed the US-made F-16 at the top of its wish list. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia says hit military bases in missile barrage on Ukraine Iran Press TV Monday, 29 May 2023 3:07 PM Russia says all the targets in Ukraine assigned by the military were hit in an overnight barrage of missiles. For the second time in 24 hours, the Russian military targeted Ukraine's capital, Kiev, in a series of attacks on Monday, which, according to the defense ministry, "hit all assigned targets." The ministry said long-range precision-strike missiles had struck storage facilities with "ammunition, weapons and military equipment supplied by Western countries." In Kiev, however, Ukrainian authorities, claimed air defenses had downed all the Russian projectiles. "A total of 11 missiles were fired: 'Iskander-M' and 'Iskander-K' from a northerly direction," said the commander of Ukraine's armed forces Valery Zaluzhny. "All the targets were destroyed by air defenses." Russian drones and cruise missiles were also hit by Ukraine's air defense, according to authorities, who said 29 of the 35 drones and 37 of the 40 cruise missiles fired overnight by Russia had been targeted. In a rare acknowledgment, Kiev also said overnight strikes caused damage to the facilities in the capital as well as the western region of Khmelnitskiy. "Another difficult night for the capital," Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on the Telegram messaging channel on Monday. The Khmelnitskiy region governor's office said work continued "to contain fires in storage facilities for fuel and lubricants and munitions." Meanwhile, Moscow said Ukraine has stepped up drone and sabotage attacks against targets inside Russia. Kiev has used Britain's Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles to hit Russian supply depots and command posts as well an civilian targets in the frontline in Russian-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine, according to Moscow. Russia has always warned the West against providing Ukraine with longer-range missiles, saying the move will escalate the war. Earlier this month, Britain became the first country to say it had started supplying Kiev with long-range cruise missiles. Germany said Saturday it had received an official request from Kiev to provide it with Taurus air-to-surface missiles, which would allow Kiev to strike well inside the Russian territory with a range of more than 500 kilometers. The Taurus missile can deliver a warhead weighing nearly half a ton, roughly the same as Storm Shadow, against a fortified target up to 310 miles (about 500 kilometers) away. The missile is launched from a fighter jet. The Russian capital, Moscow, lies 280 miles (about 450 kilometers) from the border with Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lindsey Graham under fire for cheering death of Russian soldiers Iran Press TV Monday, 29 May 2023 7:08 AM US Senator Lindsey Graham has come under fire for cheering the death of Russian soldiers fighting in pro-Moscow regions in eastern Ukraine. During a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev last week, Graham said that "Russians dying" in Ukraine is the "best money the US has ever spent" in reference to the tens of billions of dollars of American military aid sent to Kiev to fight Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov hit back at Graham's provocative remarks, saying the Republican lawmaker from South Carolina is a "shame" to the United States. "It is difficult to imagine a greater shame for the country than to have such senators," Peskov said on Sunday. Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev called Graham an old fool, in a post on his Telegram account. "The old fool Senator Lindsey Graham said that the United States has never spent money so successfully as on the murder of Russians," Medvedev said. "He shouldn't have done that." "In his beloved America, not only ordinary people are regularly killed, but dirty money is also being spent on killing senators. He should recall the sad fate of Robert Kennedy, Huey Long, Clementa Carlos Pinckney, John Milton Elliott, Wayne Owens, and other American politicians," he warned. Medvedev said last week that broader military involvement and providing more destructive and advanced weapons by Western nations to Ukraine increases the probability of a "nuclear apocalypse." Graham made the remarks during his third visit to Ukraine since Russia launched its "special military operation" in Ukraine in February 2022. Following Graham's visit to Kiev, the Russian ambassador to London warned that the continued military support of Western countries to Kiev would result in an escalation of the war. Andrei Kelin said on Sunday that the military support of the collective US-led Western countries risks prolonging the conflict and taking it to "a new dimension." Kelin said the Western nations providing arms and munitions to Kiev were making "a big idealistic mistake to think that Ukraine may prevail." "Russia is 16 times bigger than Ukraine, we have enormous resources," he said. Russian officials have repeatedly said that the collective Western nations were engaged in a proxy war against Russia over Ukraine, warning that the conflict could escalate into a much bigger fight. At his meeting with Zelensky, Graham also called on his government to increase its military aid as US President Joe Biden announced his decision to support the delivery of much sought F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Last year, Graham pleaded for "somebody in Russia" to "step up to the plate" and assassinate President Vladimir Putin, and do the country and the world "a great service." He cited historical examples of plots to kill famous political leaders, including Julius Caesar and Adolf Hitler. Graham's blistering remarks, threatening Russian soldiers and their leader have been regarded as an "unacceptable and outrageous" stance by Russian politicians. Meanwhile, the collective Western nations have supplied Ukraine with tens of billions of dollars worth of weapons, including rocket systems, drones, tanks, armored vehicles, and communication systems. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zelensky pushes for 50-year sanctions on Iran after making 'worthless' accusations Iran Press TV Monday, 29 May 2023 7:06 AM Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has submitted a draft resolution to the parliament proposing sanctions on Iran for a period of 50 years, over baseless allegations concerning Iran's arms supply to Russia. Introduced on Sunday, the bill includes a complete ban on trade with Iran, investments, and transferring technologies. It forbids Iranian transit across Ukrainian territory as well as the use of its airspace and prevents the withdrawal of Iranian assets from the East European country. The bill also prohibits the National Bank of Ukraine from registering an international payment system operated by Iran, obliging the cabinet, the Foreign Intelligence Service, and the Security Service to implement the anti-Iran restrictive measures. The Ukrainian parliament is expected to back the sanctions bill, which has already been approved by the National Security and Defense Council. The legislature has not scheduled the vote yet, according to its website. Zelensky's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said the draft resolution is a response to Iran's alleged arms supply to Russia. In a video address last week, Zelensky claimed that Iranians were being dragged to "the dark side of history" over Tehran's alleged supply of drones to Moscow. In response, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani said the Ukrainian president had put up a "political show" full of "worthless" allegations in a bid to attract more Western arms. "The repetition of false claims by the Ukrainian president against the Islamic Republic is in line with the propaganda and media war of the anti-Iranian axis against Iran's government and people with the aim of securing as much arms and financial aid as possible from Western countries," he said in a statement on Saturday. Ukraine and Western countries have repeatedly accused Iran of providing Russia with military drones for use in the war, a charge categorically rejected by Tehran. The anti-Iran claims first emerged last July, with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan alleging that Washington had received "information" indicating that the Islamic Republic was preparing to provide Russia with "up to several hundred drones, including weapons-capable UAVs on an expedited timeline" for use in the Ukraine military operation. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in November dismissed media controversy over Iran's alleged support for Russia in the war, adding, however, that Tehran had provided Moscow with a limited number of drones months before the operation in Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Launches Rare Daytime Air Strikes On Ukrainian Capital By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service May 29, 2023 KYIV -- Explosions rocked the skies above Kyiv as Russian forces carried out rare daytime air strikes on the Ukrainian capital hours after bombarding it overnight with missile and drone attacks. The drama, visible in the skies over the city, started soon after air-raid sirens wailed at 11 a.m. in Kyiv on May 29, prompting many to seek shelter in subway stations and basements, an RFE/RL correspondent in the city reported. "Blasts could be seen in the sky from several places in the city, including downtown Kyiv," the correspondent said. "The explosions set off car alarms across the city, and loud booms could be heard, [possibly] from rockets being shot down by air defenses," he added. Eyewitnesses said they heard at least 10 explosions in Kyiv, as the sky above the city filled with blast clouds and smoke trails. Speaking to RFE/RL near a subway station in Kyiv's Podil district, several locals said air raids had become the reality of their everyday lives since the war began. "These attacks are yet another problem we have to deal with because of this war," pensioner Ivan Chihir said. Another resident, Karyna Lypytska, said she takes shelter in the corridors of her home when air raid sirens go off. Lypytska said she fears that the air strikes will likely continnue for some time. A military officer who didn't want to give his name told RFE/RL that the latest Russian attack on Kyiv was a "failure" because Ukraine's defense system managed to repel it completely. "It's Russia's last breath," he said. The city's military administration said that air defenses shot down all 11 Iskander missiles launched by Russia at Kyiv in the daytime attack. The claim could not be independently verified. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said emergency services had been dispatched to "respond to a call near the center of the city." He urged residents to shelter in place, saying that "the attack on Kyiv continues." "The enemy used missiles of a ballistic trajectory -- preliminarily Iskanders. There is a possibility that S-300 and S-400 missiles were also used," Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat told Ukrainian media. 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 after a lull of nearly two months, targeting military facilities and supplies with waves of attacks several times a week. On May 28, Kyiv came under what Ukrainian officials described as the "largest" drone attack on the city since the start of the war. That attack was "carried out in several waves, and the air alert lasted more than five hours," according to Serhiy Popko, the head of Kyiv's military administration. Elsewhere, the governor of Russia's Belgorod region that borders Ukraine's Kharkiv region said on May 29 that Ukrainian forces were shelling several border settlements. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram that two industrial facilities in the border town of Shebekino had been shelled and four employees had been wounded. Several villages were left without electricity in the aftermath of the shelling, he added. Belgorod has repeatedly come under attacks from Ukrainian forces since the Russian invasion began in February 2022. With reporting by Aleksander Palikot in Kyiv, Reuters, and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kyiv- air-strikes-repelled-russia-invasion/32432286.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 Zelensky's Aide Mulls Creating Demilitarized Zone in Russian Regions Bordering Ukraine Sputnik News 20230529 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said on Monday that he hopes to create a demilitarized zone 100-120 kilometers (62-74 miles) wide in Russian regions bordering Ukraine. "The key topic of the post-war settlement should be the establishment of safeguards to prevent a recurrence of aggression in the future," Podolyak tweeted, adding that it will be necessary to introduce a demilitarization zone of 100-120 km to ensure security for residents of Kharkov, Chernigov, Sumy, Zaporozhye, Lugansk and Donetsk regions and protect them from shelling. The presidential aide suggested creating such a zone on the territory of Russia's Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk and Rostov regions. "Probably with a mandatory international control contingent at the first stage," Podolyak wrote. "Such statements by Ukrainian officials confirm their complete detachment from reality and their persistent hostile aspirations," a Sputnik source in Moscow said, commenting on Podolyak's remarks. In late February, Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said that Ukraine was considering the creation of a security zone along its 1991 border with Russia that would cover territory up to 100 kilometers deep. In December 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the only way to end hostilities in Ukraine was for Russia to withdraw its troops to the 1991 borders. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Stephen S. Roach in Project Syndicate: In his now-classic 2018 book, AI Superpowers, Kai-Fu Lee threw down the gauntlet in arguing that China poses a growing technological threat to the United States. When Lee gave a guest lecture to my Next China class at Yale in late 2019, my students were enthralled by his provocative case: America was about to lose its first-mover advantage in discovery (the expertise of AIs algorithms) to Chinas advantage in implementation (big-data-driven applications). Alas, Lee left out a key development: the rise of large language models and generative artificial intelligence. While he did allude to a more generic form of general-purpose technology, which he traced back to the Industrial Revolution, he didnt come close to capturing the ChatGPT frenzy that has now engulfed the AI debate. Lees arguments, while making vague references to deep learning and neural networks, hinged far more on AIs potential to replace human-performed tasks rather than on the possibilities for an artificial general intelligence that is close to human thinking. This is hardly a trivial consideration when it comes to Chinas future as an AI superpower. Thats because Chinese censorship inserts a big if into that future. More here. Russia's Kursk to Reinforce Borders After Kiev's Attacks on Neighboring Regions - Governor Sputnik News 20230529 VORONEZH, Russia (Sputnik) - Local authorities will continue to strengthen the borders in Russia's Kursk Region following recent breakthroughs by Ukrainian saboteurs in the neighboring Bryansk and Belgorod regions, Kursk Region Governor Roman Starovoyt, said on Monday. "We have seriously analyzed the events that took place in the Bryansk and Belgorod regions, the incursion of sabotage groups from Ukraine into Russian territory. We have drawn all the conclusions ... Therefore, we will continue to strengthen the state borders, we will continue to strengthen the fortifications that are being built in the region today," Starovoyt said at an operational meeting. He added that after Russia's May holidays, the voluntary people's guard began round-the-clock patrols of critical infrastructure in the six border regions. "We also have a control group of the voluntary people's guard. We worked without warning during the night from Saturday to Sunday. The control group went out and drove through all six border regions ... We found the vigilantes everywhere, we talked to all of them. We will continue this work," Starovoyt said. After Moscow launched its special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian troops began carrying out attacks on Russia's border regions, including the Kursk Region. In December, a voluntary people's patrol group was created in the region to protect critical infrastructure and ensure fire safety. In February, Starovoyt said he would lead the group. On May 22, a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group infiltrated the territory of the Grayvoronsky District of the Belgorod Region, prompting a counter-terrorist operation. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, over 70 Kiev militants were eliminated during the operation. In early March, Bryansk Region Governor Alexander Bogomaz said that a Ukrainian sabotage group had infiltrated from Ukraine into the territory of the village of Lubechane in the Klimovskyi District. The saboteurs fired at a moving car, killing two people and injuring a child. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Armed Forces Able to Respond to Training of Ukrainian Pilots to Fly F-16 - Lavrov Sputnik News 20230529 NAIROBI (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces have the ability to respond to the intention of Western countries to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday. "As for Denmark and the Netherlands and their intention to be at the forefront of those who train Ukrainian pilots on Western aircraft, well, there is, first of all, a desire to please the hegemon. These countries are actively pursuing Washington's line in European affairs. As for our reaction, I have no doubt that our armed forces have the ability to respond to this," Lavrov told reporters during his visit to Kenya.An international coalition has been formed in recent weeks to provide Ukraine with F-16, the fighter jet of its choice, and training. Several countries have volunteered to host the training of Ukrainian pilots, but it has not yet been decided which of them and when would do it. The deliveries of fighter jets are planned for the long term, not for Kiev's immediate operations, the White House said last week. Russia calls possible deliveries of F-16s another stage of escalation and warns that the equipment will become a legitimate target for Russian forces. African Initiative Sergey Lavrov responded to Sputnik's corresponded question concerning African peace initiative. "Regarding the African initiative, Washington and London probably cannot accept, as they have publicly stated more than once, anything other than the so-called Zelensky peace formula, which they are implementing in every possible way in all documents of the G7, NATO, the European Union and demand everyone stick to. Let me remind you that this formula means the pullout of Russian troops and Russia's withdrawal from all territories - Crimea, the Donbass and the other new territories - the Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions. After that, a tribunal against Russia, and against the Russian leadership. And then, payment of so-called reparations. And only after all this, will Ukraine graciously agree to sign a peace treaty. Considering that two or three years ago, Zelensky said that if someone among Ukrainian citizens feels that they are Russians, then for the sake of their children's and grandchildren's future, go and "leave for Russia'. Given what Mr. Danilov and Mr. Podolyak said, namely, that after the return of Crimea and the eastern territories of Ukraine, they will obliterate everything Russian there, up to and including the physical destruction of Russian citizens. This position by the West and its commitment exclusively to this barbaric, bestial formula of Zelensky means that they are ready to support genocide. There is nothing more for me to add here," Lavrov said. On May 16, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said he had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, on behalf of African countries, and presented them with a peace initiative from Zambia, Senegal, the Republic of Congo, Uganda, Egypt and South Africa. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Address by the President of Ukraine to the American people on the US Memorial Day President of Ukraine 29 May 2023 - 19:31 On behalf of all Ukrainians, I would like to honor the courage and self-sacrifice of all Americans who stood in defense and keep defending freedom. Your freedom stood, thanks to those who fought for it. Our freedom will stand, thanks to those who are fighting for it. The freedom is underpinned by the bravery of the best of their kind and by the readiness of young men and women who serve their nation in the military to become the best of their kind and make their bravery the basis for the future of their nation. When we remember the warriors who sacrificed their lives in the name of freedom, we recall the reason - why we are alive, why we live the way we like and why our free nations stand. It is our duty - to teach children that freedom cannot be taken for granted. It is our duty - to teach them to be grateful. It is our duty - to acknowledge each and every one who dedicated their lives to defend the freedom, the noble and free banner of their country and people. It is our duty to remember - what price was paid to keep the light of freedom, despite all dark times that came down. We, Ukrainians, will always be grateful to the US and every American for an extraordinary support which helps us confine the Russian tyranny to the losers - those who lost to freedom. My special gratitude on this Memorial day goes to all Americans of different times - sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, who became warriors and whose strength turned into the strength of freedom and who were destined to show to the world that freedom will always shine bright on the hill. Let our victory, of the Ukrainian warriors, make this light shine brighter! God bless America! NNN! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Latest in Ukraine: Russia Targets Kyiv with Daytime Attacks By VOA News May 29, 2023 New developments: New Russian airstrikes were reported in Kyiv on Monday. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will investigate U.S. allegations that a Russian ship had collected weapons from a naval base near Cape Town last year, his office said Sunday in a statement. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed Sunday that senior Kremlin officials banned reporting about him on state media. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the promise by some Western countries to provide F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine is an "unacceptable escalation," and accused the West of what he called an attempt to "weaken Russia," Russian state-controlled media reports. "It's playing with fire," Lavrov said, as quoted by Russia's foreign ministry. Ukrainian officials reported on Monday new daytime Russian airstrikes on Kyiv after two nights of intense aerial assaults on the capital city. During the morning hours, debris from missiles intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses fell in parts of the city, landing in the middle of traffic on a roadway, while also starting a fire on a building's roof. At least one civilian was injured. Ukraine said it shot down all 11 ballistic and cruise missiles Russia aimed at Kyiv. But Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram there were explosions in the central part of the city and told people to stay in shelters. The attacks Monday followed what Klitschko said was "another difficult night for the capital." Across the country, the Ukrainian air force said that over Sunday night it shot down 37 out of 40 cruise missiles and 29 out of 35 drones launched by Moscow's forces. But at least one person was killed and 18 wounded in the attacks, authorities said. Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said Russian forces targeted the city for the 15th time in May. Authorities in western Ukraine said Russian strikes hit a military facility in Khmelnytskiy, knocking five aircraft out of service. "Russia's drone and missile attacks on peaceful Ukrainian cities cannot be seen as usual, no matter how frequent they grow," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted. "They are all war crimes and must be stopped by further strengthening Ukraine's air defense, including with F-16s, and defeating Russian aggression as such." The consistent aerial attacks have come ahead of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive that Kyiv leaders have said will seek to reclaim territory Russia seized in eastern Ukraine since it launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Iran sanctions Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy introduced a bill Sunday proposing 50 years of additional sanctions against Iran. Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said the bill was a response to what Kyiv says is Tehran's weapons supplies to Moscow. The draft includes a complete ban on trade with Iran, on investments, and transferring technologies. If the bill becomes law, Ukraine will forbid Iranian transit across the Ukrainian territory as well as use of its airspace and freeze Iranian assets. Kyiv and its allies say Iran has been supplying Russia with arms, including hundreds of drones, since Moscow invaded Ukraine last year. Tehran rejects the allegations. Initially, Iran denied supplying Shahed drones to Russia but later said it had provided a small number before the conflict began. Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Selbyville, Delaware, May 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VRLA SLI battery market is expected to cross a valuation of USD 13 billion by 2032, according to the latest research report by Global Market Insights Inc. VRLA SLI batteries are commonly used in various applications such as automotive vehicles, motorcycles, boats, and recreational vehicles. They are known for their reliability, maintenance-free operation, and ability to provide high starting power. One of the key drivers of the industry growth is the increasing demand for automotive vehicles globally. As the automotive sector continues to expand, the need for high-performance batteries to power vehicles' starting, lighting, and ignition systems has risen. VRLA SLI batteries offer excellent cranking power, making them ideal for automotive applications. Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/5690 Numerous advantages of GEL VRLA SLI batteries VRLA SLI battery market share from the GEL batteries technology segment will grow significantly by 2032. GEL VRLA SLI batteries are a variant of VRLA batteries that utilize a gel electrolyte instead of the traditional liquid electrolyte. The gel electrolyte is created by adding a gelling agent to the battery acid, resulting in a thick, gel-like consistency. This design offers several advantages, including improved resistance to vibration, enhanced cycle life, and reduced risk of acid leakage. GEL VRLA SLI batteries are commonly used in applications that require reliable starting power and resistance to harsh operating conditions, such as off-road vehicles, motorcycles, and marine equipment. Growing sales of VRLA SLI batteries from OEMs VRLA SLI battery industry size from the OEM segment is expected to grow significantly by 2032. One common approach by OEMs is through direct sales to automotive manufacturers and other OEMs. They often integrate VRLA SLI batteries into their vehicles or equipment during the manufacturing process, ensuring compatibility and optimal performance. OEMs also collaborate with authorized distributors or dealers to reach a broader market. These distributors work closely with OEMs to promote and sell VRLA SLI batteries to retailers, service centers, and end-users. They also establish partnerships with aftermarket suppliers, providing VRLA SLI batteries as original replacement parts for their equipment. Increasing popularity of electric vehicles in North America North America VRLA SLI battery market has experienced steady growth in recent years. North America is a prominent regional market for automotive, recreational, and marine industries, which are key end-users of VRLA SLI batteries. The demand for VRLA SLI batteries in the region is primarily driven by the growing automotive sector. The region has a large fleet of vehicles, including cars, trucks, and motorcycles, which rely on VRLA SLI batteries for reliable starting power. The increasing popularity of electric and hybrid vehicles in North America has further contributed to the demand for VRLA SLI batteries for auxiliary systems. Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/5690 Key players in the global VRLA SLI battery business landscape Some of the key players in the market for VRLA SLI battery include Hankook & Company Co., Ltd., East Penn Manufacturing Company, Continental Battery Systems, Crown Battery, Accumulators Moura SA, GS Yuasa International Ltd., Interstate Batteries, ACDelco, Amara Raja Group, MOLL Batterien GmbH, FIAMM Energy Technology S.p.A, Enersys, Exide Technologies, Clarios, and GS Yuasa International Ltd. Global VRLA SLI Battery Industry News: In May 2023, Continental Battery Company partnered with Battery Systems into growing brands of products and services. This collaboration will expand the companys footprint across the United States with an aim to provide premium services. Partial Table of Contents (ToC) of the report: Chapter 2 Executive Summary 2.1 VRLA SLI battery industry 360 synopsis, 2019 - 2032 2.1.1 Business trends 2.1.2 Technology trends 2.1.3 Sales channel trends 2.1.4 Regional trends Chapter 3 VRLA SLI Battery Industry Insights 3.1 Industry ecosystem analysis 3.1.1 Vendor matrix 3.2 Regulatory landscape 3.3 Industry impact forces 3.3.1 Growth drivers 3.3.1.1 Burgeoning expansion in the automotive industry 3.3.1.2 Rising investment toward R&D projects across automotive sector 3.3.1.3 Ongoing advancements across battery technologies 3.3.2 Industry pitfalls & challenges 3.3.2.1 Increasing penetration of alternative battery chemistries 3.3.2.2 Stringent government regulations 3.4 COVID- 19 impact on the industry outlook 3.5 Growth potential analysis 3.6 Porter's Analysis 3.6.1 Bargaining power of suppliers 3.6.2 Bargaining power of buyers 3.6.3 Threat of new entrants 3.6.4 Threat of substitutes 3.7 PESTEL Analysis Browse Our Reports Store GMIPulse @ https://www.gminsights.com/gmipulse Browse related reports: VRLA Battery Market Size By Application (Stationary {Telecommunications, UPS, Control & Switchgear}, Motive, SLI {Automobiles, Motorcycles}), By Technology (AGM, GEL), By Sales Channel (OEM, Aftermarket) & Forecast, 2023 2032 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/vrla-battery-market SLI Battery Market Size by Technology {Flooded, EFB, VRLA (AGM, GEL)}, By Sales Channel (OEM, Aftermarket), COVID-19 Impact Analysis, Regional Outlook, Application Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2022-2030 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/sli-battery-market Lead Acid Battery Market Size - By Application (Stationary {Telecommunications, UPS, Control & Switchgear}, Motive, SLI {Automobiles, Motorcycles}), By Construction (Flooded, VRLA {AGM, GEL}), Sales Channel, & Forecast, 2022 2030 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/lead-acid-battery-market About Global Market Insights Inc. Global Market Insights Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider, offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy, and biotechnology. Phoenix, May 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Phoenix, Arizona - Small Biz Marketing AZ .com, a company based in Phoenix, AZ, is offering their expertise to guide businesses with regards to PPC pay per click advertising near me for local businesses. 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The debt financing will be used to fund the majority of the Companys proposed first commercial project, the Lanxess 1A Project, located near El Dorado in southern Arkansas. BNP Paribas is a global leader in the financial advisory and project financing role for battery and critical mineral projects. Dr. Andy Robinson, President of the Company, commented, We are delighted to start this engagement with BNP Paribas. Standard Lithium is in the closing stages of the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for our first commercial project, the Lanxess 1A project. As we move towards commercialization, we have kicked off the necessary financial processes to ensure the most capital efficient way to fund our first full-scale project. BNP brings an excellent track record of advising and securing debt financing for similar sustainable, battery and critical mineral projects, and we look forward to working closely with them as we endeavor to secure project financing for construction anticipated to begin next year. Antonio Pichardo, Director at BNP Paribas, said, We are pleased to partner with Standard Lithium for this landmark debt financing. This new project is a testament to their commitment to environmental protection and demonstrates that we can meet the growing demand for lithium. BNP Paribas is determined to strengthen our climate action, in order to help our clients and our world to face the challenges of the future. We are looking forward to helping establish Standard Lithium as a leading producer of responsible lithium for the rapidly growing electric vehicle market. About BNP Paribas BNP Paribas is the European Unions leading bank and key player in international banking. It operates in 65 countries and has nearly 185,000 employees, including more than 145,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main fields of activity: Commercial, Personal Banking & Services for the Groups commercial & personal banking and several specialised businesses including BNP Paribas Personal Finance and Arval; Investment & Protection Services for savings, investment and protection solutions; and Corporate & Institutional Banking, focused on corporate and institutional clients. Based on its strong diversified and integrated model, the Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates and institutional clients) to realise their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. In Europe, BNP Paribas has four domestic markets: Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg. The Group is rolling out its integrated commercial & personal banking model across several Mediterranean countries, Turkey, and Eastern Europe. As a key player in international banking, the Group has leading platforms and business lines in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific. BNP Paribas has implemented a Corporate Social Responsibility approach in all its activities, enabling it to contribute to the construction of a sustainable future, while ensuring the Group's performance and stability. About Standard Lithium Ltd. Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company with a portfolio of projects in progress. The Companys flagship projects, the LANXESS Property Project and the South West Arkansas Project, are located in southern Arkansas near the Louisiana state line. The Company is focused on the evaluation and testing of commercial lithium extraction and purification from brine sourced from approximately 180,000 acres of leases across these two projects. The Company operates a first-of-a-kind industrial-scale DLE Demonstration Plant at the LANXESS Property Project. The scalable, environmentally friendly process eliminates the use of evaporation ponds, reduces processing time from months to hours and greatly increases the effective recovery of lithium. A Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) and Front-End Engineering Study (FEED) for Phase 1A of the LANXESS Property Project commenced in September 2022. A Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) of the South West Arkansas Project commenced in May 2022. The Company is also pursuing the resource development of other projects in the Smackover Formation in East Texas, as well as approximately 45,000 acres of mineral leases located in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California. Standard Lithium is jointly listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American under the trading symbol SLI; and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol S5L. Please visit the Companys website at https://www.standardlithium.com . Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain Forward-Looking Statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, target, plan, forecast, may, schedule and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to development of a commercial lithium plant, completion of definitive feasibility study, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration and drilling activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Companys current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. Dublin, May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Preimplantation Genetic Testing Market by PGD/PGS, by Type, by Application, And by Region - Global Forecast To 2023-2033" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global preimplantation genetic testing market size was USD 598.5 million in 2022 and is expected to reach at USD 1,749.0 million by 2033 with a CAGR of 10.24% during the forecast period 2023-2033. Preimplantation diagnostic and screening procedures are contributing to the rise of single-gene, mitochondrial, and other gene-related diseases, is one of the factors contributing to the market growth. Furthermore, future advancements in genetic diagnostics is expected to fuel market growth. However, the global market for preimplantation genetic diagnosis is anticipated to experience growing challenges due to the lack of available embryos for transfer. The rising need for preimplantation diagnostic and screening procedures has been attributed to the increase of single gene, mitochondrial, and other gene-related diseases. According to projections from the Florida Department of Health, around one in every 28 infants in Florida is given a birth defect diagnosis each year. For a successful pregnancy, preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is used before the IVF process. PGD can be used in IVF cycles for women who have had numerous losses or whose most recent pregnancy had a defective chromosome. PGD can help couples who are susceptible to inherited diseases, which will have a good impact on the market. The future advances in genetic diagnosis, such as the introduction of the PGT monogenic illness diagnosis (PGT-M), encourage industrial expansion. In order to overcome the difficulties of prenatal diagnosis and exclude the possibility of elective abortion, PGT-M focuses on identifying Mendelian genetic disorders in the embryo is expected to propel the market growth during the forecast period. Segmentation By PGD/PGS In 2022, the PGD segment accounted for the highest revenue share. This may be ascribed to rising knowledge of genetic testing for a particular gene mutation among healthcare providers and clients. The expansion is fuelled by the increasing prevalence of single gene illnesses and translocation instances as well as the efficient use of NGS technology for genetic testing by commercial companies. However, the PGS segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. This is due to the IVF techniques' effective evolution and ongoing increase in demand. Furthermore, due to the superior facilities, many IVF procedures are carried out in large-capacity labs. This raises the standard of PGS services, which in turn fuels growth. PGS services allow for the chromosomal abnormality screening of embryos. Couples with advanced reproductive ages repeated IVF rounds, and a history of miscarriage are advised to use these services. By Type In 2022, the implementation of PGT for detecting chromosomal abnormalities segment accounted for the highest revenue share due to the ongoing development of aneuploidy detection methods, which are quite common in older mothers. However, the human leukocyte antigen (hla) typing segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.The sector is expected to develop due to the high success rate of hematopoietic reconstitution in infants brought on by stem cell transplantation obtained from the HLA-matched children. By Application In 2022, the embryo HLA typing for stem cell therapy segment accounted for the highest revenue share due to the increased survival rate associated with hematopoietic stem cell transplants from related, matched donors as opposed to those from unrelated donors. However, the inherited genetic diseases segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. The need is increased by the growing incidence of inherited genetic illnesses in children, including cystic fibrosis, haemoglobin abnormalities, and others, as well as the transmission of these diseases to subsequent generations. Regional Markets In 2022, the Europe region accounted for the highest revenue in the preimplantation genetic testing during the forecast period. The market is growing due to the rising adoption of IVF treatments caused by the significant number of late pregnancy instances. The European PGT business is also boosted by lax standards governing aneuploidy screening. However, The Asia-Pacific region is predicted to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. Emerging nations like China and India are engaged in a variety of reproductive health improvements, along with the introduction of various supportive legislative laws. It is believed that the existence of regulatory agencies such as the Japanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (JSOG), which authorizes and monitors the difficulties related to reproductive health in Japan, will be favourable for regional development. Additionally, a high acceptance of PGT workflow results from increasing IVF treatment usage, which promotes the Asia Pacific PGT market. Competitor Insights Key players in genetic diagnostics constantly incorporate new technologies to successfully apply PGT and screening, which considerably increases their market share. Several strategic efforts are adopted by key companies, including regional expansions, joint innovations, and new product developments. For instance, Thermo Fisher Scientific partnered with First Genetics JCS in July 2020 to commercialize next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based diagnostics in Russia. First Genetics JCS is a producer of diagnostic tools and IVD kits designed to advance molecular genetic technologies into clinical practice. This in-depth research study concentrates on the size and projections of the worldwide and regional markets for a variety of pgd/pgs, type and application segments from 2023 to 2033. Segmentation: Preimplantation Genetic Testing Market Report 2022 - 2033 By PGD/PGS Revenue, USD Million), 2022 - 2033 Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS) By Type (Revenue, USD Million), 2022 - 2033 Chromosomal Abnormalities X-linked Diseases Embryo Testing Aneuploidy Screening HLA Typing Other PGT Types By Application (Revenue, USD Million), 2022 - 2033 Embryo HLA Typing for Stem Cell Therapy IVF Prognosis Late Onset Genetic Disorders Inherited Genetic Disease Others By Region (Revenue, USD Million), 2022 - 2033 North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany France UK Spain Italy Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India Australia South Korea Rest of APAC Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina Rest of LATAM Middle East & Africa South Africa GCC Rest of MEA Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 200 Forecast Period 2022 - 2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $598.5 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $1749 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 10.2% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: 1. Research Methodology 2. Introduction: Preimplantation Genetic Testing 3. Executive Summary 4. Market Dynamics 4.1. Market Drivers 4.1.1. Growing geriatric population 4.1.2. Rising cases of genetic conditions 4.1.3. Rising chronic disease prevalence 4.1.4. Rise in the use of therapies and medicine aids 4.2. Market Restraint 4.2.1. Expensive cost of therapy 4.2.2. Its adverse effects 4.2.3. General lack of awareness 4.3. Market Opportunities 4.3.1. Rising Investment Opportunities 4.3.2. Favorable Policies 4.3.3. Increasing end use 4.4. Market Trends 4.4.1. New Product Launches 4.4.2. Use of cutting-edge technology 4.4.3. Innovative Methods and new techniques 4.5. Market Challenges 4.5.1. Longer Duration Development 4.5.2. Lack of awareness among individuals 4.5.3. Lack of expert counseling 5. Market Environment Analysis 6. COVID-19 Impact Analysis: Preimplantation Genetic Testing Market 7. Market Analysis by PGD/PGS 8. Market Analysis by Type 9. Market Analysis by Application 10. Regional Market Analysis 11. North America Preimplantation Genetic Testing Market 12. Europe Preimplantation Genetic Testing Market 13. Asia Pacific Preimplantation Genetic Testing Market 14. Latin America Preimplantation Genetic Testing Market 15. MEA Preimplantation Genetic Testing Market 16. Competitor Analysis 17. Company Profiles 18. Conclusion 19. Recommendations A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes Quest Diagnostics Incorporated Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Good Start Genetics F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings Bioarray S.L. California Pacific Medical Center Reproductive Health Science Ltd. Natera Inc. CooperSurgical Inc. Genea Limited Reproductive Genetic Innovations Inc. IGENOMIX LLC Combi Matrix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/uv951t 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 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Marine Adhesive Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report, By Resin Type, By Substrate (Metals, Plastics), By Application, By End-use (Cargo Ships, Boats), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global marine adhesive market size is expected to reach USD 703.21 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 6.7% from 2023 to 2030. The industry growth is majorly driven by the growing leisure marine and recreational boating industry and advancing shipbuilding industry worldwide. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Japan, China, and South Korea accounted for a share of approximately 90.0% of the global marine vessel production with China leading the global shipbuilding industry. The country accounts for a share of approximately 40.0% of the total marine vessels produced worldwide, followed by Japan and South Korea. Additionally, China accounts for a share of approximately 60.0% of the bulk carriers, approximately 49.0% of the container ships, approximately 47.0% of the general cargo ships, and approximately 45.0% of the offshore vessels manufactured worldwide. This advancing shipbuilding industry in Asia Pacific region is contributing to growth of the product market. Moreover, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) of the U.S.. The sales of recreational boats in the country witnessed an increase of 12.0% in 2020 than their sales in 2019. Thus. The U.S. witnessed sales of more than 310, 000 new boats in 2020 that were the highest in the recreational boating industry of the country since 2008. Moreover, the sales of boats and marine products, as well as the costs of services, reached USD 47.0 billion in 2020 in the U.S. witnessing a growth of 9.0% in the same year as compared with that of 2019. Thus. The increasing demand for the recreational boating activities is expected to surge demand for the boats during the forecast period, thereby fueling demand for the marine adhesives used in them. However, tankers that are used for transporting, loading, or unloading oil and chemicals at ports generate volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are harmful to the environment. To control these emissions from the tankers. The adhesives market has always been under strict scrutiny from diverse regional- and country-level regulatory bodies, including the International Maritime Organization. Thus, high level of VOC emission is acting as a restraining factor for the growth of product market. Marine Adhesive Market Report Highlights The global marine adhesive market is estimated to advance with a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5% from 2023 to 2030. This is attributed to the increasing demand for the product from shipbuilding industries Epoxy in the resin type segment dominated the market with a revenue share of 49.7% in 2022. This growth is attributed to its high strength, as well as resistance to high temperatures, outdoor weathering, and solvents Metal in substrate segment dominated the global market with a revenue share of 68.2% in 2022. This is attributed to their excellent mechanical properties, structural integrity, and low cost compared to other substrates Deck systems in the application segment dominated the market with a revenue share of 39.1% in 2022. A deck is a covering over the hull or the compartment of a ship. Based on their location on a ship's deck, decks can be classified into six types, namely main deck, poop deck, foredeck, lower deck, upper deck, and weather deck. The growing demand for ships is further driving the demand for deck systems during the forecast period Cargo ships in the end-use segment dominated the market with a revenue share of 45.5% in 2022. This growth is due to the increasing import and export through marine worldwide As per the data published by the UNCTAD. The world commercial fleet grew by 63.0 million deadweight tons between January 2021 and January 2022. As per the Electronic Quality Shipping Information System. The general cargo ships contributed around 13.4% of the global fleet in 2020 Asia Pacific region dominated the global market with a revenue share of 42.6% in 2022. This growth due to the Strong economic development coupled with population expansion in countries such as China and India As per "Make in India" program implemented by the Indian government, USD 650.0 billion is likely to be invested in urban infrastructure projects during the next 20 years. The government of India has identified 99 smart cities with a valuation of USD 31.38 billion. The growing demand for the commercial and residential infrastructure is expected to augment growth of the marine adhesives market Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1 Methodology and Scope Chapter 2 Executive Summary Chapter 3 Marine Adhesives: Market Variables, Trends & Scope Chapter 4 Marine Adhesive Market: Supplier Portfolio Analysis Chapter 5 Marine Adhesives Market: Resin Type Estimates & Trend Analysis 5.1 Resin Type Movement Analysis & Market Share 5.1.1 Epoxy 5.1.2 Polyurethanes 5.1.3 Acrylic 5.1.4 Other ADHESIVES Chapter 6 Marine Adhesives Market: Substrate Estimates & Trend Analysis 6.1 Substrate Movement Analysis & Market Share 6.1.1 Plastics 6.1.2 Composite 6.1.3 Metal 6.1.4 Other Substrates Chapter 7 Marine Adhesives Market: Application Estimates & Trend Analysis 7.1 Application Movement Analysis & Market Share 7.1.1 Deck Systems 7.1.2 Glazing 7.1.3 Panel Bonding 7.1.4 Other Chapter 8 Marine Adhesives Market: End-Use Estimates & Trend Analysis 8.1 End-Use Movement Analysis & Market Share 8.1.1 Cargo Ships 8.1.2 Passenger ships 8.1.3 Boat 8.1.4 Other End-Uses Chapter 9 Marine Adhesives Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis Chapter 10 Marine Adhesives Market: Competitive Landscape Companies Mentioned Henkel 3M Sika Huntsman International Ashland Inc. AVERY DENNISON CORPORATION Dow Exxon Mobil Corporation H.B. Fuller Scott Bader Company Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ehuu7r 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 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "South & Central America Colorectal Procedure Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis - by Product, Surgery Type, End User, and Indication" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The colorectal procedure market in South & Central America is expected to grow from US$ 664.91 million in 2022 to US$ 1,427.31 million by 2028. It is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 13.6% from 2022 to 2028. The colorectal procedural market players focus on launching new products to expand their geographic reach and enhance capacities to cater to a greater than existing customer base. In August 2021, Ethicon announced the ECHELON CIRCULAR Powered Stapler results. The product helped in 74% reduction in the anastomotic leak and a 44% reduction in 30-day inpatient hospital readmission rates after colorectal surgery compared to the manual circular staplers. Similarly, Medicare, the popular government insurance program, provides cover for PAP tests, pelvic exams, and clinical colon examinations for colorectal cancer screening every two years. Such programs and developments and launch of new products are likely to bring new trends in the colorectal procedural test market in the coming years, thereby supporting its growth. Market Overview The South & Central America colorectal procedure market is further segmented into Argentina, Brazil, and the Rest of South & Central America. The aging population and an increasing colorectal cancer prevalence are they major factors contributing to the market growth in this region. The market growth is also attributed to advancements in technology, which help lower the incidence of colorectal cancers. Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer in Brazil and poses a significant public health concern. According to the Brazilian Ministry of Health, the incidence of colon cancer has significantly gone up, and it can be associated with the increased pesticide application to the crops. In 2020, ~55,102 new colorectal cases were recorded in Brazil, per the Globocan 2020 data; ~27,346 cases were found in males, while ~27,756 cases were reported in females. ~30% of all colorectal cases correspond to rectal tumors requiring complex multidisciplinary treatment. The Brazilian Society of Surgical Oncology (SBCO) has published guidelines for treating rectal cancer, which address the main issues of the daily clinical practice, to provide surgeons treating rectal cancer with the most up-to-date information based on the best evidence in the literature. South & Central America Colorectal Procedure Market Segmentation The South & Central America colorectal procedure market is segmented into product, surgery type, end user, indication and country. Based on product, the South & Central America colorectal procedure market is divided into endoscope, electrosurgery, handheld devices and visual systems, sealing and stapling devices, ligation clips and dilators and speculas, cutter and shears, accessories, and others. Based on surgery type, the South & Central America colorectal procedure market is segmented into right hemicolectomy, left hemicolectomy, subtotal colectomy, low anterior resection, abdomino-perineal resection, and others (including endoscopic surgery). Based on end user, the South & Central America colorectal procedure market is segmented into hospitals and clinics, surgery centers, and others. Based on indication, the South & Central America colorectal procedure market is segmented into colon polyps, Crohn's disease, colorectal cancer, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and other indications. Based on country, the market is segmented into Brazil, Argentina, and the Rest of South & Central America. Brazil dominated the market share in 2022. B. Braun Melsungen AG; Boston Scientific Corporation; Cardinal Health Inc.; Ethicon (Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.); Medtronic; and Olympus Corporation are the leading companies operating in the colorectal procedure market in South & Central America. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 142 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value ($) in 2022 $664.91 Million Forecasted Market Value ($) by 2028 $1427.31 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 13.6% Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Key Takeaways 3. Research Methodology 4. SAM Colorectal Procedure Market - Market Landscape 5. SAM Colorectal Procedure Market - Key Market Dynamics 5.1 Market Drivers 5.1.1 Increasing Prevalence of Colorectal Cancer 5.1.2 New Product Launches 5.2 Market Restraints 5.2.1 Complications Associated with Colorectal Procedure 5.3 Future Trends 5.3.1 Development and Launch of Innovative Products 5.4 Impact Analysis 6. Colorectal Procedure Market - SAM Analysis 7. SAM Colorectal Procedure Market Analysis and Forecasts To 2028 - By Product 8. SAM Colorectal Procedure Market Analysis and Forecasts To 2028 - By Surgery Type 9. SAM Colorectal Procedure Market Analysis and Forecasts To 2028 - By End User 10. SAM Colorectal Procedure Market Analysis and Forecasts To 2028 - By Indication 11. SAM Colorectal Procedure Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2028 - Country Analysis 12. Colorectal Procedural Market -Industry Landscape 13. Company Profile 14. Appendix A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes B. Braun Melsungen Ag Boston Scientific Corporation Cardinal Health Inc. Ethicon (Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.) Medtronic Olympus For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/o1x5kx 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 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medaro Mining Corp. (CSE: MEDA OTC:MEDAF FWB:1ZY) (Medaro or the Company) is pleased to announce that the CSE has accepted for filing the share purchase agreement (the SPA) to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of 1411409 B.C. Ltd. (the Target), a company holding a 100% interest in the mining claims comprising the James Bay Pontax Project (the Project) in Quebec, Canada (the Acquisition). The Project is comprised of 101 mineral claims covering approximately 5,800 hectares (58 square kilometers) located in the heart of Lithium-rich Eeyou Istchee, James Bay Territory of Quebec. The Project is in a highly active prospective zone of James Bay Area, being situated 30 km south of Allkem Limiteds James Bay Lithium Project which has a published Mineral Reserve Estimate of 40.3Mt at 1.4% Li2O1. About 1 km west of the Project lies Stria Lithium Inc.s (Stria) Pontax Project, which hosts the Pontax Lithium Showing. Strias previous 25 hole, 3,286 meter drill program produced the following highlights; 15.6 m of 1.6% Li2O at 83.9 mts depth, and 4.8 mts of 2.6% Li2O at 19.4 m. In addition, Brunswick Exploration drilled 18 holes for 3,712 m on its Anatacau West project, neighbouring Allkems James Bay Lithium Deposit. Partial results include a 26.5 mt. intercept of 1.51% Li2O. Figure 1: Medaro James Bay Pontax Lithium Claims The Pontax project has two other high-profile neighbors. Patriot Battery Metals Inc. owns a block of 35 mining titles, 6km to the west and has previously announced a proven and probable resource of 37.2 million tonnes at 1.3% Li2O on its Corvette Property. Li-FT Power Ltd. contains the Moyenne Project directly south of Mederos property. Several geochemical anomalies in Lithium and Tantale were recently delimited from a regional till sampling on this property. Figure 2: James Bay Pontax Region Map 1 The Project is located in LaGrande Subprovince, close to the boundary with the Nemiscau Subprovince. Both Subprovinces are separated by the Causabiscau Shearzone. The Project is underlain with granitoids of diverse composition within which are found dismembered volcanic units that could represent remnants of the Chambois Greenstone Belt. While the Project has not yet been prospected for lithium, anomalous Li values (up to 17.7 ppm Li) from a regional lake bottom sediment survey (Beaumier 1996)2 are reported on the Project. For comparative purposes, the highest Li value reported on Strias Pontax Property is 16.6 ppm Li. Most of these anomalous Li values are located at or in the vicinity of Chambois Lake. In addition, high resolution satellite imaging shows an abundance of NE-SW aligned outcrops most notably in the surroundings Chambois Lake. A Hydro-Quebec powerline traverses the center of the Project where a large part of these outcrops are found, which may facilitate their accessibility. Figure 3: James Bay Pontax District Map Transaction Terms Pursuant to the SPA, Medaro has agreed to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Target in exchange for (i) 1,200,000 common shares in the capital of the Company at a deemed issue price of $0.10 per share (the Consideration Shares) (ii) a cash payment of $7,500 and (iii) a commitment to incur $150,000 in exploration expenditures over the twelve (12) months following closing. The Consideration Shares will be subject to resale restrictions, contemplating release in three equal tranches every four (4) months following the closing date of the Acquisition. The Company will also pay a bonus of $150,000 to the vendors of the Target (the Contingent Cash) if, in carrying out exploration on the Project, the Company intersects five (5) intercepts of spodumene-bearing pegmatite dykes grading a minimum of 1.20% Li2O over a minimum of 1.5 meters. Michael Mulberry, CEO of Medaro, states We are very excited to be adding such a significant Project to our stable of projects in Medaro. The Pontax project will double our footprint in Quebec. The project is in a very active and prolific area of lithium exploration in Quebec. The close proximity to our CYR south project will make us one of the more significant land package holders in the area. Our 2023 exploration program planned for both properties shows our commitment and excitement for both projects, as this area of Quebec has proven to be a significant area for the exploration of the spodumene in pegmatites grading significant values of lithium and lithium carbonate. We think the potential for discovery in the Pontax area is huge, as indicated by the interest of many other serious exploration companies in the area. This will be a significant asset for Medaro. Qualified Person Isabelle Robillard, P. Geo, a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. References 1. ALLKEM LIMITED NI 43-101 Technical Report Feasibility Study, James Bay Lithium Project, Quebec, Canada, January 11, 2022, prepared by G. Mining Services Inc. 2. BEAUMIER, M. and KIROUAC, F. (1996). Serie de cartes geochimiques couleur. Echantillonnage des sediments de lac. Region du lac Nemiscau, ministere des Ressources Naturelles du Quebec, Quebec, MB 96-22, 33 p. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Michael Mulberry CEO & Director About the Company The Company is a lithium exploration company based in Vancouver, BC, and holds options over the Darlin, Rapide, Lac La Motte and CYR South lithium properties in Quebec and the Yurichson Uranium property in the Athabasca basin in Saskatchewan. The Company is a party to a joint venture agreement that engages the Company in the development and commercialization of a new process to extract lithium from spodumene concentrate. For more information, investors should review the Companys filings that are available at www.sedar.com. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the closing of the Acquisition, exploration at the Project, and the Companys hopes for the Project, are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. Contact Information info@medaromining.com 778-837-7191 Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7f953ac0-a923-4f63-a7b8-6adf2e847b44 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/778ba4ca-dab4-4de0-b275-39198e4a10f8 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/37c2bfb2-1923-4a01-826d-86acaa821aaa - Firm is poised to displace traditional diesel generator market with clean, portable power as businesses and the military move to renewable solutions Lindon, Utah, May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Renewable Innovations (RI) (OTC: REII), a leader in the zero-carbon, green solutions alternative fuel industry, today announces the acceleration of hydrogen-powered mobile power systems with the delivery of its Mobile Power Generator (MPG) to the US military. The MPG is the first hydrogen-based all-in-one mobile rapid power system in the world with Grid-tie capability, 180 kWh of battery reserves, over 40 kgs of on-board hydrogen, and BEV Rapid charging. Packed inside its small footprint is a silent power system that uses General Motors hydrogen fuel cells and EV batteries. It can be used anywhere for grid-free and diesel-free mobile power generation. Were at a key point in our transition from a carbon-based energy economy and our customers are looking for solutions across a wide range of power needs, noted Robert Mount, CEO, Renewable Innovations. With our MPG, they can transform their diesel-based portable and emergency power generation from one of the dirtiest for our environment to a green solution. Plus, the MPG delivers a host of other benefits, from the quiet operations that is key for our government, commercial, and military customers, and built-in Electric Vehicle rapid charging needed in todays EV forward world. With demand as high as ever, we are pleased to have market- ready products available as the world transitions to clean power. The company anticipates delivering a number of additional systems to the military and other customers over the next several quarters. Inside the MPG The Renewable Innovations MPG offers a long list of benefits compared to traditional diesel-powered solutions. By using hydrogen as the power source and hydrogen fuel cells as the engine, the MPG is both carbon-free and silent, as hydrogen fuel cells have minimal mechanical systems. Whether the units are at the front lines of the military or at a local food truck event, they are silent and pollution free. MPGs also provide flexible power options, with the ability to supply continuous facility or scene AC power up to 60 kW and meet the growing need for portable EV charging with its DC EV RAPID charger at up to 180 kW. Hydrogen-powered Mobile Power Generator by Renewable Innovations Towable with a standard pickup truck Hydrogen fuel cell and all power management systems integrated into the trailer to provide electrical power On-board hydrogen tanks Building and equipment connectors to supply AC power up to 60 kW DC EV RAPID charger at up to 180 kW <30 mins to full charge A huge market opportunity for clean mobile power With the overall global diesel generator market expected to reach $26B by 2029 and the global military generator sector projected to reach $2B by 2031, these new green mobile power systems have a large market opportunity to displace diesel and offer customers a fast and effective way to lower their carbon footprint. Portable power generation is used across industries for primary and back-up emergency power, from power plants and massive scale data centers through outdoor events and frontlines of public safety and military operations. Additionally, the mobile and clean, silent nature of the MPG makes it ideal for the film industry, racetracks, and transportation hubs, like airports. Currently, the primary source for power for industrial mobile power is diesel - one of the most harmful categories of power generation producing high levels of particulates and smog-forming contaminants. Our MPG is positioned to disrupt the current portable power generation market, Mount emphasized. Its ability to deliver a diesel-free, grid-free and green mobile power system, will help organizations be more operationally resilient and also accelerate their sustainability goals. About Renewable Innovations, Inc. Renewable Innovations, Inc. (OTC: REII) is a leading hydrogen and fuel cell integration solutions provider. Headquartered in Utah, with team members across Europe, New Zealand, and throughout the USA, Renewable Innovations is accelerating the growth and opportunities within the renewable economy. Their team of industry leaders brings extensive experience and invaluable connections across the renewable, hydrogen, and alternative energy sectors. Along with their partners, investors, and clients, they are making major technological advancements with products and solutions to lead the world into a new and exciting carbon-free future. More Information info@renewable-innovations.com Forward Looking Statement This news release contains 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, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words like plans, expects, will, anticipates, believes, intends, projects, targets, estimates or other words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events which may not be accurate or realized, and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Renewable Innovations control, including but not limited to regulatory approvals and market conditions. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is included in Renewable Innovations filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Renewable Innovations disclaims and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable law. Brokers and Analysts Chesapeake Group 410-825-3930 info@chesapeakegp.com Attachments OWATONNA, Minn., May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- High Bar Brands is proud to announce the addition of two new Territory Managers to its sales team: Clint Hulse and Luis Siller. With a passion for sales and a dedication to providing customers with high-quality products, both Hulse and Siller are excited to join the High Bar Brands family. Hulse, the new Mideast Territory Manager, will support Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The Ohio native has extensive experience managing multi-state territories and calling on direct accounts. "My skillset aligns with what High Bar Brands was looking for, Hulse said. I look forward to meeting customers and building relationships." Siller, who will manage the Northeast Mexico Territory, has a background in engineering and lean manufacturing, and hes excited to use his heavy-duty experience to help drive HBB sales. "I have worked in the tractor trailer industry for several years, and I look forward to earning my customers trust and loyalty, Siller said. Driving sales growth and surpassing targets will be a rewarding challenge that I eagerly embrace. As we acquire additional brands, the needs of the HBB sales department grow, so were excited to have Clint and Luis join our team, HBB VP of Sales and Business Development Derek Quys said. About High Bar Brands High Bar Brands, LLC, is the preferred solutions provider to the commercial vehicle industry with our family of iconic brands. Driven by innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit, we strive for total customer satisfaction through our passionate team and superior products. Our company was born from the partnership between two solution-based brands Minimizer and Premier Manufacturing. Following the acquisition of Viking Sales, these three iconic suppliers have provided HBB with proven processes and a customer-centric approach. That connection with drivers, fleet owners, and maintenance managers across North America is crucial to R&D and has helped our team design and develop numerous patented technologies. High Bar Brands is renowned for its go-to-market strategies catapulted by a robust distribution network. We pride ourselves on delivering our message of quality and service throughout our distribution network all the way to the end-user. Employees are afforded best-in-class operations equipment, creating a powerful production facility and efficient office environment. High Bar Brands is proud to be a member of the toughest industry. Driven by customer needs, their success is what drives our business. Attachments New York, May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Magnesium Alloys Market Report 2023-2033" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06463260/?utm_source=GNW The Magnesium Alloys Market Report 2023-2033: This report will prove invaluable to leading firms striving for new revenue pockets if they wish to better understand the industry and its underlying dynamics. It will be useful for companies that would like to expand into different industries or to expand their existing operations in a new region. The Increasing Demand for Lightweight Materials in Various Industries The magnesium alloys market is a growing market, driven by the increasing demand for lightweight materials in various industries such as aerospace, automotive, and electronics. Magnesium alloys have several advantages over other materials, including high strength-to-weight ratio, good corrosion resistance, and excellent machinability, making them an attractive option for manufacturers looking to improve the performance and efficiency of their products. The market is expected to continue to grow in the coming years, driven by increasing investments in the automotive and aerospace industries, the growing trend towards sustainability and reducing carbon emissions, and the increasing adoption of magnesium alloys in emerging markets. What Questions Should You Ask before Buying a Market Research Report? How is the magnesium alloys market evolving? What is driving and restraining the magnesium alloys market? How will each magnesium alloys submarket segment grow over the forecast period and how much revenue will these submarkets account for in 2033? How will the market shares for each magnesium alloys submarket develop from 2023 to 2033? What will be the main driver for the overall market from 2023 to 2033? Will leading magnesium alloys markets broadly follow the macroeconomic dynamics, or will individual national markets outperform others? How will the market shares of the national markets change by 2033 and which geographical region will lead the market in 2033? Who are the leading players and what are their prospects over the forecast period? What are the magnesium alloys projects for these leading companies? How will the industry evolve during the period between 2023 and 2033? What are the implications of magnesium alloys projects taking place now and over the next 10 years? Is there a greater need for product commercialisation to further scale the magnesium alloys market? Where is the magnesium alloys market heading and how can you ensure you are at the forefront of the market? What are the best investment options for new product and service lines? What are the key prospects for moving companies into a new growth path and C-suite? You need to discover how this will impact the magnesium alloys market today, and over the next 10 years: Our 356-page report provides 161 tables and 218 charts/graphs exclusively to you. The report highlights key lucrative areas in the industry so you can target them NOW. It contains in-depth analysis of global, regional and national sales and growth. It highlights for you the key successful trends, changes and revenue projections made by your competitors. This report tells you TODAY how the magnesium alloys market will develop in the next 10 years, and in line with the variations in COVID-19 economic recession and bounce. This market is more critical now than at any point over the last 10 years. Forecasts to 2033 and other analyses reveal commercial prospects In addition to revenue forecasting to 2033, our new study provides you with recent results, growth rates, and market shares. You will find original analyses, with business outlooks and developments. Discover qualitative analyses (including market dynamics, drivers, opportunities, restraints and challenges), cost structure, impact of rising magnesium alloys prices and recent developments. This report includes data analysis and invaluable insight into how COVID-19 will affect the industry and your company. Four COVID-19 recovery patterns and their impact, namely, V, L, W and U are discussed in this report. Segments Covered in the Report Market Segment by Estimation Market Value (US$ Million) Market Volume (Kiloton) Market Segment by Category Wrought Magnesium Alloys Cast Magnesium Alloys Market Segment by Processing Method Solid State Processing Vapour Processing Liquid Processing Market Segment by End-Use Alloying with Aluminium As a Structural Metal Iron and Steel Processing Electrochemical Use Market Segment by Application Aerospace and Defence Automotive Industry Consumer Goods Medical Industry Other Application Market Segment by Type AZ31 AZ91 ZK60 Elektron 21 WE43 Other Type In addition to the revenue predictions for the overall world market and segments, you will also find revenue forecasts for four regional and 20 leading national markets: North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany Russia United Kingdom France Ukraine Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan Malaysia Australia South Korea Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East and Africa GCC South Africa Rest of Middle East and Africa The report also includes profiles and for some of the leading companies in the Magnesium Alloys Market, 2023 to 2033, with a focus on this segment of these companies operations. Leading companies and the potential for market growth Advanced Magnesium Alloys Corporation (AMACOR) Dead Sea Magnesium Dynacast International Ka Shui International Holdings Ltd Magnesium Elektron Magontec Meridian Lightweight Technologies Inc. Nanjing Yunhai Special Metals Co., Ltd. POSCO Shanghai Regal Magnesium Limited Company Shanxi Credit Magnesium Co., Ltd Shanxi Yinguang Huasheng Magnesium Co., Ltd. Smiths Advanced Metals Spartan Light Metal Products U.S. Magnesium LLC Overall world revenue for Magnesium Alloys Market, 2023 to 2033 in terms of value the market will surpass US$1,622.2 million in 2023, our work calculates. We predict strong revenue growth through to 2033. Our work identifies which organizations hold the greatest potential. Discover their capabilities, progress, and commercial prospects, helping you stay ahead. How will the Magnesium Alloys Market, 2023 to 2033 report help you? In summary, our 350+ page report provides you with the following knowledge: Revenue forecasts to 2033 for Magnesium Alloys Market, 2023 to 2033 Market, with forecasts for type, category, processing method, end-use, and application, each forecast at a global and regional level discover the industrys prospects, finding the most lucrative places for investments and revenues. Revenue forecasts to 2033 for four regional and 20 key national markets See forecasts for the Magnesium Alloys Market, 2023 to 2033 market in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa. Also forecasted is the market in the US, Canada, Brazil, Germany, France, UK, Russia, Ukraine, China, Malaysia, Japan, and Australia among other prominent economies. Prospects for established firms and those seeking to enter the market including company profiles for 15 of the major companies involved in the Magnesium Alloys Market, 2023 to 2033. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06463260/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Washington, DC, May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On June 5, the United States Mint (Mint) will begin shipping the third coin in the 2023 American Women Quarters (AWQ) series honoring Eleanor Roosevelt. The Mint facilities at Philadelphia and Denver manufacture these circulating quarters in the AWQ Program. Eleanor Roosevelt is well known as a leader, reformer, first lady, and author. Appointed by President John F. Kennedy, she served on the National Advisory Committee of the Peace Corps, as well as Chair for the Presidents Commission on the Status of Women. Her advocacy efforts culminated in the drafting and passage of the landmark Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The third coin of the 2023 American Women Quarters Program honors the life and legacy of Eleanor Roosevelt, said Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson. She was the first chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights, advocating diligently for the civil liberties and needs of the poor, minorities, and the disadvantaged. The reverse was designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Designer Don Everhart, and sculpted by United States Mint Medallic Artist Craig Campbell. It was an incredible honor to be trusted with sculpting this tribute to an American icon, said Campbell. Eleanor Roosevelt had such an amazing impact on our country and the world, and in this design, we see Mrs. Roosevelt with a globe and scales representing the worldwide equality she worked so hard for through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The reverse (tails) depicts Eleanor Roosevelt and the scales of justice against a backdrop representing the globe, symbolic of her impactful work with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Inscriptions are UNITED STATES of AMERICA, QUARTER DOLLAR, E PLURIBUS UNUM, ELEANOR ROOSEVELT, and UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS. The obverse (heads) depicts a portrait of George Washington originally composed and sculpted by Laura Gardin Fraser to mark George Washingtons 200th birthday. Though her work was a recommended design for the 1932 quarter, then-Treasury Secretary Mellon ultimately selected the familiar John Flanagan design. Of Fraser, Director Gibson said, I am proud that the new obverse design of George Washington is by one of the most prolific women sculptors of the early 20th century. Laura Gardin Frasers work is lauded in both numismatic and artistic circles. Ninety years after she intended for it to do so, her obverse design has fittingly taken its place on the quarter. Obverse inscriptions are LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and 2023. The design is common to all quarters issued in the series. Each 2023 AWQ honoree is a powerful, inspiring example of the breadth, depth, and range of accomplishments, and the experiences demonstrated by these extraordinary women speak to the contributions women have always made in the history of our country. Coins featuring additional honorees will continue to ship in 2023 through 2025. View images of the Eleanor Roosevelt quarter here. In addition to Eleanor Roosevelt, the AWQ honorees for 2023 are: Bessie Coleman pilot, advocate, and pioneer who flew to great heights as the first African American and first Native American woman pilot, as well as the first African American to earn an international pilots license. pilot, advocate, and pioneer who flew to great heights as the first African American and first Native American woman pilot, as well as the first African American to earn an international pilots license. Edith Kanakaole - Edith Kekuhikuhipuuone o na alii o Kohala Kanakaole was an indigenous Hawaiian composer, chanter, kumu hula, and a venerated cultural icon. Her efforts and work preserved the history, culture, heritage, and way of life of an entire people. - Edith Kekuhikuhipuuone o na alii o Kohala Kanakaole was an indigenous Hawaiian composer, chanter, kumu hula, and a venerated cultural icon. Her efforts and work preserved the history, culture, heritage, and way of life of an entire people. Jovita Idar a Mexican-American journalist, activist, teacher, and suffragist. She devoted her life to fighting against separatist ideologies and sought to create a better future for Mexican Americans. a Mexican-American journalist, activist, teacher, and suffragist. She devoted her life to fighting against separatist ideologies and sought to create a better future for Mexican Americans. Maria Tallchief Americas first prima ballerina who broke barriers as a Native American ballerina who exhibited strength and resilience both on and off the stage. Authorized by Public Law 116-330, the American Women Quarters Program features coins with reverse (tails) designs emblematic of the accomplishments and contributions of American women. Beginning in 2022 and continuing through 2025, the Mint is issuing five quarters in each of these years. The ethnically, racially, and geographically diverse group of individuals honored through this program reflects a wide range of accomplishments and fields, including suffrage, civil rights, abolition, government, humanities, science, space, and the arts. Please consult with your local banks regarding the availability of AWQ Program quarters honoring Eleanor Roosevelt in the middle to the latter part of June. Numismatic Products This groundbreaking coin program is an excellent way to remind future generations what can be accomplished with vision, determination, and a desire to improve opportunities for all. Subscribe to the program today to ensure fulfillment of your favorite product through 2025. About the United States Mint Congress created the United States Mint in 1792, and the Mint became part of the Department of the Treasury in 1873. As the Nations sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage, the Mint is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint also produces numismatic products, including proof, uncirculated, and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; silver and bronze medals; and silver and gold bullion coins. Its numismatic programs are self-sustaining and operate at no cost to taxpayers. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Visit https://www.usmint.gov/learn/coin-and-medal-programs/american-women-quarters for information about the American Women Quarters Program. Visit https://www.usmint.gov/about for information about the United States Mint. Visit and subscribe to the United States Mints YouTube channel to view videos about the United States Mint. Visit https://catalog.usmint.gov/email-signup to subscribe to United States Mint electronic product notifications, news releases, public statements, and our monthly educational newsletter, Lessons That Make Cents . . Sign up for RSS Feeds from the United States Mint and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. # # # United States Mint Connecting America through Coins Attachment New York, May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Vaccine Contract Manufacturing Market Report 2023-2033" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06463257/?utm_source=GNW The Vaccine Contract Manufacturing Market Report 2023-2033: This report will prove invaluable to leading firms striving for new revenue pockets if they wish to better understand the industry and its underlying dynamics. It will be useful for companies that would like to expand into different industries or to expand their existing operations in a new region. Increasing Global Demand, Product Innovation and Cost Effectiveness Driving Market Growth The global demand for vaccines has been rising due to various factors, including population growth, aging populations, and the emergence of infectious diseases. This increasing demand creates opportunities for contract manufacturers to support vaccine developers in meeting the production needs, especially during pandemics or widespread outbreaks. Advances in vaccine research and development have led to the discovery of new vaccines and improved formulations. Contract manufacturers play a crucial role in translating these innovations into commercial products. As vaccine developers focus on RandD activities, they often seek external partners to handle manufacturing operations, driving the demand for contract manufacturing services. Contract manufacturing can provide cost-effective solutions for vaccine production. Establishing and maintaining large-scale manufacturing facilities can be capital-intensive for vaccine developers, while contract manufacturers can leverage their existing infrastructure, equipment, and expertise to produce vaccines at a lower cost per unit. This cost advantage makes contract manufacturing an attractive option for vaccine developers. Regulations, Intellectual Property and Capacity Challenges to Hamper Industry Growth The vaccine manufacturing industry is highly regulated, and contract manufacturers need to comply with stringent regulatory requirements imposed by regulatory authorities such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Adhering to these regulations can be complex and time-consuming, leading to delays in production and increased costs. Vaccines often involve patented technologies and proprietary manufacturing processes. Contract manufacturers may face limitations or restrictions in accessing or using these technologies due to intellectual property rights held by the vaccine developers. Negotiating licensing agreements and protecting intellectual property can be challenging and may restrict the participation of certain contract manufacturers in the market. The manufacturing capacity for vaccines is limited, and there is often high demand, particularly during pandemics or widespread outbreaks. Contract manufacturers may face challenges in scaling up production to meet the required volumes within tight timelines. Limited capacity can result in delays, supply shortages, and increased competition among contract manufacturers for available projects. What Questions Should You Ask before Buying a Market Research Report? How is the vaccine contract manufacturing market evolving? What is driving and restraining the vaccine contract manufacturing market? How will each vaccine contract manufacturing submarket segment grow over the forecast period and how much revenue will these submarkets account for in 2033? How will the market shares for each vaccine contract manufacturing submarket develop from 2023 to 2033? What will be the main driver for the overall market from 2023 to 2033? Will leading vaccine contract manufacturing markets broadly follow the macroeconomic dynamics, or will individual national markets outperform others? How will the market shares of the national markets change by 2033 and which geographical region will lead the market in 2033? Who are the leading players and what are their prospects over the forecast period? What are the vaccine contract manufacturing projects for these leading companies? How will the industry evolve during the period between 2023 and 2033? What are the implications of vaccine contract manufacturing projects taking place now and over the next 10 years? Is there a greater need for product commercialisation to further scale the vaccine contract manufacturing market? Where is the vaccine contract manufacturing market heading and how can you ensure you are at the forefront of the market? What are the best investment options for new product and service lines? What are the key prospects for moving companies into a new growth path and C-suite? You need to discover how this will impact the vaccine contract manufacturing market today, and over the next 10 years: Our 375-page report provides 143 tables and 229 charts/graphs exclusively to you. The report highlights key lucrative areas in the industry so you can target them NOW. It contains in-depth analysis of global, regional and national sales and growth. It highlights for you the key successful trends, changes and revenue projections made by your competitors. This report tells you TODAY how the vaccine contract manufacturing market will develop in the next 10 years, and in line with the variations in COVID-19 economic recession and bounce. This market is more critical now than at any point over the last 10 years. Forecasts to 2033 and other analyses reveal commercial prospects In addition to revenue forecasting to 2033, our new study provides you with recent results, growth rates, and market shares. You will find original analyses, with business outlooks and developments. Discover qualitative analyses (including market dynamics, drivers, opportunities, restraints and challenges), cost structure, impact of rising vaccine contract manufacturing prices and recent developments. This report includes data analysis and invaluable insight into how COVID-19 will affect the industry and your company. Four COVID-19 recovery patterns and their impact, namely, V, L, W and U are discussed in this report. Segments Covered in the Report Process Upstream Process Downstream Process Downstream Process Fill and Finish Operations Analytical and QC Studies Vaccine Packaging Upstream Process Mammalian Expression Vaccine Type Bacterial Expression Vaccine Type Yeast Expression Vaccine Type Baculovirus/insect Expression Vaccine Type Other Upstream Process End-use Human Use Veterinary Type Subunit Vaccines Live Attenuated Vaccines Conjugate Vaccines Inactivated Vaccines Toxoid Vaccines Viral Vector Vaccines Recombinant Vector Vaccines Other Vaccine Types Operation Preclinical Clinical Commercial Company Size Small Manufacturers Mid-sized Manufacturers Large Manufacturers Very Large Manufacturers In addition to the revenue predictions for the overall world market and segments, you will also find revenue forecasts for five regional and 21 leading national markets: North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany UK France Italy Spain Russia Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India Australia South Korea Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America MEA GCC South Africa Rest of MEA The report also includes profiles and for some of the leading companies in the Vaccine Contract Manufacturing Market, 2023 to 2033, with a focus on this segment of these companies operations. Leading companies and the potential for market growth Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Batavia Biosciences B.V. Bavarian Nordic Catalent Inc Charles River Laboratories Curia Global, Inc. Emergent BioSolutions FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation ICON plc IDT Biologika Lonza Recipharm AB Richter-Helm BioLogics GmbH and Co. KG Vibalogics WuXi Biologics Overall world revenue for Vaccine Contract Manufacturing Market, 2023 to 2033 in terms of value the market will surpass US$3,095.0 million in 2023, our work calculates. We predict strong revenue growth through to 2033. Our work identifies which organizations hold the greatest potential. Discover their capabilities, progress, and commercial prospects, helping you stay ahead. How will the Vaccine Contract Manufacturing Market, 2023 to 2033 report help you? In summary, our 370+ page report provides you with the following knowledge: Revenue forecasts to 2033 for Vaccine Contract Manufacturing Market, 2023 to 2033, with forecasts for process, upstream, downstream, end-use, type, operation and company size each forecast at a global and regional level discover the industrys prospects, finding the most lucrative places for investments and revenues. Revenue forecasts to 2033 for five regional and 21 key national markets See forecasts for the Vaccine Contract Manufacturing Market, 2023 to 2033 in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and MEA. Also forecasted is the market in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, France, UK, Italy, China, India, Japan, and Australia among other prominent economies. Prospects for established firms and those seeking to enter the market including company profiles for 15 of the major companies involved in the Vaccine Contract Manufacturing Market, 2023 to 2033. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06463257/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ NEW YORK, May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New York City's groundbreaking cryptocurrency project, NYAN Meme Coin (CRYPTO: NYAN) ($NYAN ), is taking a stand against animal cruelty. The project emerges as a beacon of hope amid the distressing realities experienced by animals in Vietnam and China. Unbelievably, cats and dogs, which we usually associate with warmth and companionship, are commonly used as food in these regions. Moreover, the Yulin Festival, an annual event in Guangxi, China, which perpetuates the mistreatment of animals, is a stark reality check for our furry companions. Their desire for love is often met with unthinkable cruelty. Amid these harsh circumstances, a Vietnamese woman named Quyen is making a difference. Frequently featured by the media for her tireless efforts, Quyen operates a self-funded animal shelter, aiming to rescue animals from slaughterhouses, providing medical treatments, nourishment, and safe space. Despite her unwavering commitment, limited funds and awareness of her cause make it a daunting task. You can learn more and support Quyen's mission directly from her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/nhuquyen.huynhthi.10?mibextid=LQQJ4d . Fortuitously, the NYAN Meme Coin team crossed paths with Quyen due to an unexpected interaction in a Ho Chi Minh hotel lobby. The team had launched the NYAN project, named after the Japanese word for "meow," with a primary objective to support animal welfare, specifically cats. After learning about Quyen's laudable initiative, they were inspired to contribute to her operation. The NYAN Meme Coin project is unique, leveraging the financial potential of meme coins to fund animal shelters worldwide. Emphasizing support for disadvantaged countries, where even a small amount of money can make a significant impact, NYAN aspires to construct more animal shelters in the future. NYAN's inspiration originates from a 2011 YouTube phenomenon. A Poptart Cat animation by Sarah June (aka "saraj00n") combined with the voice of Momone Momo saying "Nyanyanyanyanyanyanya!" became a viral sensation. NYAN Meme Coin strives to replicate this internet success but with real-world contributions to animal shelters. https://twitter.com/Nyanmemecoin/status/1661011804200501248 shows an emotionally charged video where NYAN sponsored an influencer to meet Quyen and learn more about her cause. NYAN Meme Coin, a project backed by various crypto veterans and whales, operates on a renounced contract, ensuring its trustworthiness by eliminating the possibility of a rug pull. To maintain decentralization and emphasize community, the project team remains anonymous. Joining the NYAN community gives you an opportunity to make a positive impact on our furry friends' lives. Through collective effort, we can change lives. Remember, memes are fun, but NYAN is much more than an ordinary meme it's a movement with a purpose! For more information, follow NYAN at https://www.nyanmemecoin.com/ and https://twitter.com/Nyanmemecoin . Contact: NYAN Meme Coin press@nyanmemecoin.com www.nyanmemecoin.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b54e6f49-993b-46c1-bec7-2905af54761f As per the report by Visiongain, the AI-based Clinical Trial Solution Providers Market was valued at US$1,232.0 million in 2022 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 23.3% during the forecast period 2023-2033. Visiongain has published a new report: AI-based Clinical Trial Solution Providers Market 2023-2033 . Forecasts by Mode of Delivery (Cloud-based, On-premises, Hybrid Solution), by Clinical Trial Phase (Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3), by Therapeutic Area (Oncological Disorders, CNS Disorders, Infectious Disorders, Cardiovascular Disorders, Metabolic Disorders, Others), by End Users (Pharmaceutical Companies, Academia, Others) AND Regional and Leading National Market Analysis PLUS Analysis of Leading Companies AND COVID-19 Impact and Recovery Pattern Analysis Utilizing outsourcing and strategic alliances among providers of AI-based clinical trial solutions presents a substantial opportunity within the market. As the demand for AI-driven solutions in clinical trials continues to increase, outsourcing and strategic partnerships enable solution providers to enhance their capabilities and explore new markets. Solution providers can obtain specialised knowledge or resources through outsourcing that might not be accessible internally. For instance, a solution provider can delegate certain aspects of AI solution development or implementation to a third-party vendor possessing specific proficiency in that particular area. This approach enhances the quality and efficiency of solution delivery, while simultaneously reducing costs and mitigating risks. For instance, In January 2023, AiCure's platform for tracking medication adherence was developed in conjunction with the Defence Health Agency's (DHA) PTSD Drug Treatment (PTSD-DT) programme. In addition to using its digital biomarker system to track and record the subtleties of a patient's reaction, the objective was to help patients adhere to challenging treatment regimens. Collectively, the market stands to gain a substantial opportunity through the utilization of outsourcing and strategic alliances among providers of AI-based clinical trial solutions. Download Exclusive Sample of Report https://www.visiongain.com/report/ai-based-clinical-trial-solution-providers-market-2023/#download_sampe_div How has COVID-19 had a significant positive impact on the AI-based clinical trial solution providers market? The market for vendors of AI-based clinical trial solution has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This impact has been influenced by a number of things. COVID-19 has brought attention to the demand for more reliable and effective clinical trial procedures. Traditional methods of conducting trials, such as in-person visits and site-based monitoring, became challenging due to lockdowns, travel restrictions, and social distancing measures. As a result, there has been an increase in demand for AI-based solutions that allow for decentralised data collecting, virtual trials, and remote patient monitoring. These technologies have helped to ensure the continuity of clinical trials and maintain patient safety during the pandemic. The urgency to find treatments and vaccines for COVID-19 has accelerated the development and adoption of AI-based clinical trial solutions. AI algorithms and machine learning models have been leveraged to analyze large datasets and identify potential drug candidates, predict patient outcomes, and optimize trial design. These AI-driven approaches have enabled researchers and pharmaceutical companies to expedite the discovery and development of new therapies, contributing to the global response to the pandemic. AI-based clinical trial solution providers have played a crucial role in facilitating data integration and interoperability across different research institutions and organizations. The pooling of resources, information, and data made possible by this collaboration has sped up our study of the virus and how it affects patients, ultimately resulting in more successful and efficient clinical trials. These technologies have proven their value in overcoming the challenges posed by the pandemic and have the potential to transform the way clinical trials are conducted in the future, making them more agile, patient-centric, and data-driven. How will this Report Benefit you? Visiongains 270-page report provides 104 tables, 147 charts/graphs. Our new study is suitable for anyone requiring commercial, in-depth analyses for the AI-based clinical trial solution providers market, along with detailed segment analysis in the market. Our new study will help you evaluate the overall global and regional market for AI-based clinical trial solution providers. Get financial analysis of the overall market and different segments including mode of delivery, clinical trial phase, therapeutic area, and end-users, company size and capture higher market share. We believe that there are strong opportunities in this fast-growing AI-based clinical trial solution providers market. See how to use the existing and upcoming opportunities in this market to gain revenue benefits in the near future. Moreover, the report will help you to improve your strategic decision-making, allowing you to frame growth strategies, reinforce the analysis of other market players, and maximise the productivity of the company. What are the Current Market Drivers? Increasing adoption of AI-based solutions in clinical trials The increasing acceptance of AI-based clinical trial solutions serves as a primary catalyst for the market of AI-based clinical trial solution providers. These solutions provide numerous advantages, including enhanced efficiency, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness, all of which are crucial in the dynamically evolving clinical trial arena. By leveraging AI-based solutions, the time and expenses associated with clinical trials can be reduced, while simultaneously improving patient recruitment and retention, enhancing data quality, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Consequently, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, contract research organizations (CROs), and academic institutions are displaying a growing interest in and adoption of AI-based clinical trial solutions. For instance, AiCure, a company specializing in AI-powered software for patient monitoring and adherence, has recently unveiled a collaboration with BioClinica, a clinical trial management services provider. This partnership aims to integrate AiCure's technology into BioClinica's clinical trial imaging and data management solutions, resulting in enhanced patient monitoring and improved data quality. King's College London and NVIDIA, a well-known technology company with a focus on AI and graphics processing units (GPUs), have established a strategic relationship. The collaboration focuses on the development of AI-powered tools for medical imaging analysis, particularly in the area of brain scans. The primary objective is to create algorithms capable of automatically analyzing brain scans and detecting neurological disorders. Technological advancements of AI-based solutions for clinical trials The market for suppliers of AI-based clinical trial solutions is significantly fueled by technological improvements in these solutions. The field of AI is continuously progressing, witnessing the emergence of novel technologies and approaches on a regular basis. These technological developments are propelling the creation of highly refined and advanced AI-based solutions for clinical trials. Consequently, these solutions are becoming more effective, accurate, and efficient, surpassing previous benchmarks in the field. The utilization of machine learning algorithms represents a notable technological advancement in this domain. These algorithms possess the ability to analyze extensive datasets and uncover intricate patterns and insights that would be challenging or unattainable for humans to discern. As a result, machine learning algorithms have the potential to enhance patient recruitment, optimize trial designs, and mitigate the time and expenses associated with clinical trials. Download Exclusive Sample of Report https://www.visiongain.com/report/ai-based-clinical-trial-solution-providers-market-2023/#download_sampe_div Where are the Market Opportunities? Rising Collaborations and Partnerships among Players Collaboration and strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations (CROs), academic institutions, and technology providers offer significant opportunities. By joining forces, AI-based clinical trial solution providers can leverage each other's expertise, resources, and networks to develop innovative solutions and access new markets. For instance, In March 2023, in order to use Median Technologies' AI-powered precision medicine platform for the treatment of haematological tumours, Median Technologies plc partnered with Charite - Universitatsmedizin Berlin (Charite). In order to improve outcomes for patients with haematological cancer, the collaboration aims to investigate the possibilities of Median Technologies' precision medicine platform. In February 2023, with an emphasis on oncology, Tempus and Pfizer collaborated to enhance the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in medicinal research. Through the cooperation, Pfizer will have access to Tempus' platform with AI capabilities and large database of de-identified, multimodal data. Competitive Landscape The major players operating in the AI-based clinical trial solution providers are Medidata (Dassault Systemes), Merative, Saama Technologies, LLC, Exscientia, Innoplexus, Median Technologies, Deep6.ai, AiCure, BioAge Labs, Inc., Intelligencia.ai among others. These major players operating in this market have adopted various strategies comprising M&A, investment in R&D, collaborations, partnerships, regional business expansion, and new product launch. Recent Developments In April 2023, Medidata, a Dassault Systemes company, announced that Lambda Therapeutics is implementing Medidatas cloud-based clinical solutions Rave EDC, Rave RTSM, and Rave Imaging. This will further augment their clinical trial efficiency by automating and streamlining data management workflows, and securely delivering higher quality data for faster insights. In March 2023, Exscientia plc collaborated with Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin (Charite) to utilise Exscientias AI-driven precision medicine platform in haematological cancers. Under the collaboration, Charite will evaluate the potential of Exscientias precision medicine platform to select better treatments and improve outcomes for patients with haematological cancers. Each patient sample will be prospectively evaluated with a broad panel of marketed drugs, including drugs that may not yet be approved for the indication, to determine a comparative response profile, ex vivo. To access the data contained in this document please email oliver.davison@visiongain.com To find more Visiongain research reports on the Pharma sector, click on the following links: Do you have any custom requirements we can help you with? Any need for a specific country, geo region, market segment or specific company information? Contact us today, we can discuss your needs and see how we can help: oliver.davison@visiongain.com About Visiongain Visiongain is one of the fastest-growing and most innovative independent market intelligence providers around, the company publishes hundreds of market research reports which it adds to its extensive portfolio each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis across 18 industries worldwide. The reports, which cover 10-year forecasts, are hundreds of pages long, with in-depth market analysis and valuable competitive intelligence data. Visiongain works across a range of vertical markets with a lot of synergies. These markets include automotive, aviation, chemicals, cyber, defence, energy, food & drink, materials, packaging, pharmaceutical and utilities sectors. Our customised and syndicated market research reports offer a bespoke piece of market intelligence customised to your very own business needs. Contact: Vancouver, British Columbia, May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The year 1928 was a big one in human history: the first trans-pacific flight occurred, sliced bread was invented, and in Vancouver, B.C., restaurateur Nat Bailey opened the very first location of White Spot on June 16, 1928. Its been 95 years since that beginning, and in that time, Canadas longest-running restaurant chain has weathered a depression, recessions, global events, and a pandemic and remains a beloved family favourite throughout British Columbia. We are so proud of what weve built here, said Warren Erhart, President & CEO, White Spot Restaurants, who retires this summer after 33 years of dedicated leadership. Weve been operating for almost a century, and over that time the values on which Nat Bailey founded White Spot have only grown stronger. Nat would be proud if he could see us today. To celebrate, a special limited time only 95th anniversary menu will be offered from June 5 to July 16, spotlighting the item that started it all: BBQ Chicken. Beef was in short supply when Nat opened that first drive-in on Vancouvers Granville & 67th Ave., so White Spot earned its first loyal fans by serving barbecued chicken. In a nod to its dynamic history, the special anniversary menu includes items like Crispy Fried Chicken, Half Rack Ribs & Crispy Chicken, a BBQ Chicken Sandwich, Crispy Fried Dills and, of course, the BC Chicken Burger with secret Triple O sauce. To add to the festivities, the menu will also feature a Birthday Cake Shake, while kids Pirate Paks will offer a birthday cake shake or birthday cake sundae option. This celebration is not only of this notable anniversary, but also of the iconic B.C. brands legacy within the communities in which it operates and the admiration and recognition it has garnered. For 95 years, White Spot has consistently served delicious food with memorable service; provided continuous, steadfast community support; and remained committed to local ingredients and suppliers. As recently as this year, White Spot has been recognized among B.C.s top 10 most loved brands by BC Business Magazine and received the Greater Vancouver Board of Trades Rix Award for Engaged Corporate Citizenship. White Spots long-standing support of the people and communities it operates in is as legendary as its food. "From the moment White Spot first became involved with our foundation, their support has been unwavering, said Mel Zajac, Chairman of the Zajac Ranch for Children. They understood our dream of creating a camp for children who otherwise would never have the opportunity to go, and they helped make it happen. Were happy to celebrate this milestone with White Spot. We have such a strong foundation on which to continue building a bright future, said incoming White Spot President, Trent Carroll. This is an exciting time for the White Spot brand, so its wonderful to look back and celebrate where we came from, said Carroll. Our business has seen substantial growth, particularly driven by the Triple Os brand expanding into locations beyond British Columbia, including: Alberta, Ontario, and even internationally into markets like Hong Kong. Its remarkable to think it all started back in 1928 with that first drive-in. For the latest news about White Spot, register to receive Spot Club emails at whitespot.ca, become a fan of /whitespot on Facebook or follow @White_Spot on Twitter, @whitespot_restaurants on Instagram and @whitespotrestaurants on YouTube. For the latest news about Triple Os, register to receive Triple Os emails at tripleos.ca, become a fan of /tripleosrestaurant on Facebook or follow @TripleOs on Twitter, @tripleosrestaurant on Instagram and @TheTripleOs YouTube. ABOUT WHITE SPOT HOSPITALITY | Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, White Spot is Canadas longest-running restaurant chain. Founded in 1928, when Nat Bailey launched Canadas first drive-in restaurant at Granville and 67th, the 95-year-young chain serves more than 17 million guests annually at 132 White Spot and Triple Os (their premium quick-service restaurants) located throughout B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Asia. They also own and operate five mobile food trucks plus a newly opened R+D Kitchen by White Spot, their test kitchen restaurant concept located at the Amazing Brentwood in Burnaby. Baileys original vision was to build a restaurant that served the highest quality, unique tasting food and White Spot remains committed to continuing this tradition in each and every meal. White Spot Hospitality is proud to be recognized with the platinum status designation as one of Canadas Best Managed Companies, is one of Canadas top 150 iconic brands as awarded by Interbrand Canada, has been awarded a gold medal for excellence in franchising by the Canadian Franchise Association, and is one of B.C.s Most Loved Brands as recognized by Ipsos. | whitespot.ca tripleos.ca -30- PHOTOS For a selection of high-resolution photos, click on the images above or below or download via Google Drive. Attachment Calgary, Alberta, May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calgary, Alberta (May 30, 2023) - Maserati of Alberta's is thrilled to announce their three year partnership with The National Music Centre through their annual Motors & Music event. The partnership helps to promote the importance of music education and its impact on society. The unforgettable celebration of luxury, music and philanthropy took place on Saturday April 29, 2023 at Calgary's Air Partners private jet hangar. The hangar transformed into a stunning space, featuring a variety of luxury cars, private jets, and fighter jets, as well as live music from legendary Canadian musician Randy Bachman. During the event, Maserati of Alberta revealed the new Maserati GranTurismo, making it the first dealership in North America to do so. The annual Motors & Music charity fundraiser brought together prominent business leaders and social elites in support of the National Music Centre. The event featured a silent auction with a limited number of guitars from Randy Bachman's personal collection. Additionally, attendees had the opportunity to view a specially curated collection of watches from Ulysse Nardin & Calgary Jewellery. Interviews with Andrew Mosker, CEO of the National Music Centre, are available upon request. Carlo Galasso Sr. expressed his excitement for the three-year partnership with the National Music Centre, stating that "At Maserati of Alberta, we believe that music and luxury share a common thread - they both have the power to inspire and uplift the human spirit. We are thrilled to partner with the National Music Centre to support their mission of promoting music and education. Our annual Motors & Music fundraiser is a celebration of this partnership, bringing together Calgary's most prominent business leaders and organizations to make a positive impact in our community." "We are thrilled to partner with Maserati, a brand that shares our passion for innovation and creativity. This partnership will help us expand our reach and provide even more opportunities for people to discover and explore the transformative power of music," says Andrew Mosker, President and CEO of the National Music Centre. Maserati of Alberta would also like to thank the following sponsors for their contributions that made this years event possible: Calgary Jewellery, Ulysse Nardin, the National Music Centre, The Flight Hangar Museum, The Concord, Air Partners, Crew Calgary, OP Elite Wealth Group, Bears Paw Contracting, The Kingly, Vault Pipelines, Daniel Lawrance-Lopez, The Agency, Pro Sim West and Modern Rentals. Food and Beverages were kindly provided by Linas, Home by David, The Porch, Fine Print, LIFT, The Moon Tea House, Hayloft Cafe, Lusso, Moet & Chandon, Remy Martin, Botanist Gin, Dandurand, Money Bags Vodka (Gene Simmons), Artingstalls Gin, Tigers Tea and El Tequileno. -30- Attachment NEW YORK, May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Digital marketing services pioneer Kepler has been selected as the global Amazon marketing partner by Versuni - formerly known as Philips Domestic Appliances. The new partnership will see Kepler manage and administer media spending across Amazons various channels, including sponsored listings, search ads and connected TV. Versuni is a global market leader in home appliances and their purpose is to turn houses into homes. The companys portfolio spans kitchen appliances, coffee, climate care, garment and floor care. Versuni has been in the midst of transforming its business to become e-commerce centric. As a result, retail media which Insider Intelligence pegs as a $45 billion market in the US alone is a crucial part of Versunis media strategy. The company was seeking a partner that can take its execution to a new level. In recent years, the investment in advertising on Amazon has experienced remarkable growth, evolving into a vital component not only in our media planning but also as a catalyst for substantial business outcomes, said Alex de Ruwe, Head of Media at Versuni. As a result, we require a partner who possesses profound expertise in this intricately nuanced field and the capability to seamlessly integrate Amazon advertising into our wider advertising and retail operations. Kepler checked all the boxes. We sought a partner who grasps the significance of data and technology in optimizing our advertising endeavors, emphasized Wiktoria Malicka, Global Amazon Media Manager at Versuni. Keplers expertise in data-driven planning and automated media buying aligns perfectly with Versunis core objective of engaging our customers at the right moment with the right message throughout their customer journey. Kepler has worked with a growing list of top retail marketers for several years, providing integrated, full services solutions for omnichannel brands. The group focuses not only on paid advertising, but helping such clients develop seamless consumer experiences which extend from discovery to shopping and purchase. We are excited to partner with such a forward leaning, innovative client as Versuni, said Martin Kelly, CEO of Kepler EMEA and APAC. This assignment is further validation of Keplers early investments in commerce capabilities and proprietary ad buying technology. We cant wait to get started helping Versuni drive meaningful revenue growth through our joint efforts. About Versuni Versunis mission is turning houses into homes. The company believes that home is more than a house. With more than 900 patents on its name, Versunis portfolio spans kitchen appliances, coffee, air, garment- and floor care. Products under the Philips brand include the Philips Airfryer, Espresso Machine with LatteGo, PerfectCare Steam Generator, Air Purifier and AquaTrio Cordless Vacuum. Their other brands are: Saeco, Gaggia, Preethi, Philips Walita, LOR Barista and Senseo. Versuni is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and has innovation, manufacturing, and commercial centers across the globe, with a footprint in over 100 countries. Its successful product ranges adhere to EcoDesign requirements and reflect the companys commitment to sustainability best practices. Versuni is a former business division of Royal Philips and was formerly known as Philips Domestic Appliances. About Kepler Kepler is a global agency built for a digital world. We help clients harness the immense power of data, technology, and human understanding to transform their marketing, forge more personalized consumer connections, and derive breakthrough business impact. Founded in 2012, the company is a member of kyu, a strategic operating unit of Hakuhodo DY Holdings Inc. Fellow kyu companies include: IDEO, Sid Lee, SYPartners, Godfrey Dadich, and BEworks. More information can be found at www.keplergrp.com. For additional details from Kepler, contact: Alissa Pemberton apemberton@keplergrp.com (917) 679-4291 Zefiro recently gained plugging and abandonment capabilities in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia through the acquisition of an operator that was established in 1970. On May 24, 2023, one of the worlds largest carbon registries published the first-ever methodology allowing carbon credits to be earned from plugging orphaned oil and gas wells. As a result, Zefiro now plans to accelerate its well-plugging operations to reduce methane emissions, which the Company can capitalize on by originating carbon credits as an additional revenue source. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ZEFIRO METHANE CORP. (the Company, Zefiro, or ZEFI) is pleased to announce that a first-of-its-kind methodology has been published by the American Carbon Registry (ACR) allowing carbon credits to be created from the reduction of methane emissions by plugging orphaned oil and gas wells in Canada and the United States. The ACR was founded in 1996 as the first private voluntary greenhouse gas registry in the world and has issued over 100 million metric tons of carbon offset credits, which is the equivalent of removing over 21 million cars from the worlds highways for one year1. In a press release dated May 19, 2023 , Zefiro announced its acquisition of a majority ownership stake in Plants & Goodwin, Inc. (P&G), a third-generation family business with more than 100 employees that specializes in oil and gas plugging and abandonment operations in four U.S. states. By having an established well-plugging operation under the Zefiro umbrella, the Company is now positioned to originate carbon credits through the new ACR methodology, which can contribute to addressing the funding gap for plugging orphaned oil and gas wells, a deficit that is presently estimated to be in the tens of billions of U.S. dollars2. In a press release dated May 24, 2023 , ACR announced that it has officially approved and published Methodology for the Quantification, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions from the Plugging of Orphaned Oil and Gas (OOG) Wells. A well is considered orphaned when it is inactive (i.e., not producing oil or gas in any meaningful quantity), is left unplugged, and has no solvent owner of record. Many such wells in the United States have fallen into a state of disrepair and are now leaking methane (one of the most harmful greenhouse gases, over 25 times more potent than carbon), which can cause damage to the earths atmosphere and potentially harm those residing nearby. Although approximately USD $4.7 billion in funding was made available through the REGROW Act2 to plug orphaned oil and gas wells, a Columbia University report estimates that to plug just 500,000 wells could cost as much as USD $24 billion2. ACR is a Rockefeller family institution under Winrock International . More information about the organization can be found on its website at the following link: https://americancarbonregistry.org/ Zefiro Head of Operations Matt Brooks (left) and Chief Executive Officer Curt Hopkins (right) are pictured at the site of a well-plugging project in February 2023. Under the ACRs new methodology published on May 24, 2023, Zefiro will be able to originate carbon credits from plugging wells using its existing resources and capabilities. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0bd710fb-2828-46d0-9cf8-08ffe2168650. Readers using news aggregation services may be unable to view the media above. Please access the Investors section of the Companys website for a version of this press release containing all published media. Zefiro Chief Commercial Officer Tina Reine noted, ACR has shown commitment in the launch of this methodology. It moves the market forward with a much-needed framework for addressing methane emissions from leaking orphaned wells. Many of these leaks contribute to additional environmental problems including groundwater contamination. Additionally, the new methodology addresses the need for more avenues to create high-quality offsets within the voluntary carbon market. This methodology can scale emission reductions in a sector that seeks environmental solutions. Zefiro Chief Executive Officer Curt Hopkins commented, We have long anticipated that a major carbon registry such as ACR would put out a methodology allowing carbon credits to be generated by decommissioning orphaned wells that are leaking methane, and we are excited about capitalizing on this opportunity. In the United States, there are currently fairly limited resources for plugging orphaned oil and gas wells in terms of labour, equipment, and expertise, which makes our recent acquisition of P&G all the more meaningful in the context of this development. With P&G now being a subsidiary of Zefiro that has more than 100 employees, an arsenal of heavy-duty equipment, and a legacy of more than 50 years and three generations of family operations in the Marcellus and Utica basins, I believe that we are very favourably positioned to establish a leading position in the emerging market segment of originating carbon credits by plugging orphaned wells. Zefiros management team consists of some of the earliest players in the carbon markets, including founding team members of J.P. Morgans carbon trading desk in 2008. By leveraging these combined capabilities, I believe we have an unprecedented opportunity to help institutions and corporations achieve Net Zero, as we work towards building a greener and more sustainable future. Sources 1 - Winrock About Us Handout (Winrock International) August 2022 2 - ACR Approves First-of-a-Kind Carbon Crediting Methodology for Plugging Orphaned Oil and Gas (OOG) Wells (American Carbon Registry) May 24, 2023 On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company, ZEFIRO METHANE CORP. Curt Hopkins Curt Hopkins, CEO For further information, please contact: Zefiro Investor Relations 1-800-274-ZEFI (1-800-274-9334) investor@zefiromethane.com About Zefiro Methane Corp. Zefiro develops methodologies to reduce methane emissions by plugging orphaned and abandoned oil/gas wells, while originating carbon credits. Under executive leadership to include the former carbon market team at J.P. Morgan, Zefiro actively deploys crews to decommission wells throughout the United States. With unprecedented global demand for carbon offsets as corporations and institutions work towards net-zero targets, Zefiro is strategically aligning with industry leaders for a greener future. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as seeks, believes, plans, expects, intends, estimates, anticipates and statements that an event or result may, will, should, could or might occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. Forward-looking information in this press release includes statements regarding the Company, the Companys business, the industry in which the Company operates, the Companys opportunities, strategies, competition, expected activities and expenditures as the Company pursues its business plan, the adequacy of the Companys available cash resources and other statements about future events or results. The forward-looking information reflects managements current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed timeframes or at all. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include: (i) adverse general market and economic conditions; (ii) changes to and price and volume volatility in the carbon market; (iii) changes to the regulatory landscape and global policies applicable to the Company's business; and (iv) other factors beyond the control of the Company. The Company operates in a rapidly evolving environment where technologies are in the early stage of adoption. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is impossible for the Companys management to predict all risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all factors on Companys business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions, including assumptions regarding general market conditions, the availability of financing for proposed transactions and programs on reasonable terms, and the ability of outside service providers to deliver services in a satisfactory and timely manner. The forward-looking information included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and the Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Saskatoon, SK, Canada, May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MatchCraft, a global provider of digital advertising solutions and Vendasta, a leading digital marketing software platform announced today that they have both received Siinda awards. MatchCraft won a silver for Technical Innovation and Vendasta won a bronze for Digital Innovation. The awards were given out in Berlin, Germany. Siinda is recognized as the leading European based non-profit association of companies in the local search, digital advertising, and information industry sectors. MatchCraft was recognized for its achievements in digital advertising technology, specifically for its groundbreaking YouTube reporting integration and Social Estimator Ad Mock-up tool. Vendastas award recognized its release of Automations, which allows users to connect events and APIs in its system to customize the flow of data. Vendasta was also one of the early leaders in integrating AI into its flagship products to help SMBs take advantage of AI-powered marketing solutions. The Siinda Awards, renowned for honoring excellence in digital marketing across Europe, highlight industry leaders who demonstrate remarkable innovation and deliver outstanding results. MatchCraft's Silver award in the Technical Innovation category underscores its commitment to pushing the boundaries of digital advertising solutions and driving progress in the industry. "We are thrilled to receive the Silver award for Technical Innovation from Siinda," said Alex Dionysian, CTP of MatchCraft. "This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our talented team, who constantly strive to provide our clients with cutting-edge solutions. Our YouTube reporting integration and Social Estimator Ad Mock-up tool have revolutionized the way businesses approach digital advertising and deliver measurable results." MatchCraft's award-winning YouTube reporting integration enables businesses to effectively analyze and optimize their advertising campaigns on the popular video platform. The integration provides comprehensive insights and data-driven recommendations, allowing advertisers to make informed decisions and maximize the impact of their YouTube campaigns. We have been releasing some incredibly innovative products over the past year, including our early adoption of AI, said Brendan King, CEO of Vendasta. The Siinda award confirms that we are truly pushing the boundaries to make our customers digital marketing easier and more effective. Vendastas work in APIs has made it much easier for customers to customize the flow of data and tie together Vendastas system with external systems with zero or minimal code. As well, Vendasta was one of the first companies to integrate AI directly into its flagship reputation management and social marketing products. The result is that customers are able to perform routine tasks faster, more accurately and more efficiently. MatchCraft was acquired by Vendasta in early 2022, the first major acquisition for the Canadian based software as a service company. MatchCraft has continued to operate largely independently since the acquisition. About Vendasta Vendastas core purpose is to drive local economies by democratizing technology for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). We accomplish this by providing a robust platform to local experts around the worldour channel partners. Partners use Vendastas technology to market, sell, bill, fulfill, and deliver digital solutions to their SMB clients. Vendastas platform and marketplace are tightly integrated into an operating system delivered to SMBs, providing a single sign-on to digital products and analytics. Vendasta serves 60,000+ channel partners, who in turn work with more than six million SMBs worldwide. Sign up is free to explore at www.vendasta.com. About MatchCraft MatchCraft, a Vendasta company, leads the market in offering digital marketing companies scalable local advertising solutions. MatchCrafts award-winning advertising technology enables companies to successfully sell and manage search, display, video, and social campaigns for their advertisers. MatchCrafts platform combines sophisticated bidding, budget, & campaign management technology with a team of digital marketing experts to deliver exceptional ROI for local merchants around the world. MatchCraft is a global company with team members across the US, Europe, Latin America, and India. -30- New York, NY, May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thor Equities Group, a global leader in urban real estate development, leasing and management, announced it has purchased a multi-building 23-acre warehouse site on Long Island in New York. This is Thors first investment in the Long Island market. The property is located at 377 Carlls Path in the Deer Park neighborhood and is a Class-B warehouse and distribution complex. Originally constructed in 1956 and later renovated in 1995, the property offers excellent proximity to the approximately three million Long Island residents as well as access to the NYC boroughs. We are thrilled to add this Deer Park site to our expansive portfolio of properties and we are exploring all options for plans to improve the property, said Chairman and CEO of Thor Equities Group Joe Sitt. This area of Long Island is prime for growth and we look forward to the endless potential that this property has to offer. There is currently 6.5 acres of undeveloped space, while there are also four separate structures occupying the site, which was purchased through a bankruptcy auction. ### About Thor Equities Group Thor Equities is a leader in the development, leasing and management of office, industrial, laboratory, residential, hotel and mixed-use assets in premier urban locations worldwide. The company operates in major cities around the globe and has a property portfolio totaling $20 billion with a development pipeline in excess of 50 million square feet. Thor has a strong presence on three continents and in addition to its US holdings, the company has assets in European gateway cities including London, Paris, Madrid, and Milan, and is the largest developer in Mexico through its Latin American division with a development pipeline of over 18 million square feet. Thor maximizes returns for institutional investors by recognizing a propertys potential, reducing operating expenses, increasing tenant satisfaction, leveraging market trends to maintain a long-term competitive edge. For more information, visit www.thorequities.com. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monument Mining Limited (TSX-V: MMY and FSE: D7Q1) ("Monument" or the "Company") is pleased to update the progress at the Selinsing Sulphide Project. The ramp-up of the flotation plant has made great headway, with the mill feed rate of 113 dry tonnes per hour achieved, being 95% of the design capacity of 119 dry tonnes per hour. The plant construction and mine development consumed a total of $18 million, in line with the budget. President and CEO Cathy Zhai commented, We are very pleased with the flotation plant ramp-up progress as we head towards full commercial production. We have commenced sulphide production in January 2023 and continue testing and adjusting to improve plant performance through the action plan. Despite several incidental plant shutdowns during March to May, the plant is expected to reach its near or full production level by June 2023, within the planned ramp up period of three to six months. To date, the flotation plant has produced approximately 3,450 dry metric tonnes (DMT) of concentrate with an average gold grade of 36.20 g/t, containing 4,015 troy ounces of gold. Several export permits have been recently granted by the relevant authority and concentrate shipments are currently in progress. Figure 1. Concentrate in Tent is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f39acde0-f30d-4cb5-ba04-acfcffe21613 Figure 2. Concentrate Storage Construction is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/616859ef-54ec-4981-af79-7bf9dbeb3575 Flotation Plant Production Ramp-up The ramp-up of the flotation plant continued, with the mill feed rate of 113 dry tonnes per hour achieved, being 95% of the design capacity of 119 dry tonnes per hour. During this ramp-up process bottlenecks have been identified and the team has been working to correct them in order to ramp up to commercial production. The ramp-up period is expected to be completed in June 2023. Certain design deficiencies have been detected and revision of designs have been received to improve performance efficiencies including design of a new rougher flotation tailings hopper and associated pipework, structural and civils drawings and specifications for the new concentrate thickener overflow pumps. Pump suction and delivery lines will be upgraded as well as the power supply to the bigger motors required. None of the above works has material impact on our current flotation plant operations. The flotation plant experienced major shutdowns from early March to first week of May. The Metso-Outotec concentrate thickener rake drive gearbox was broken, replaced by a new gear box assembled in Australia, airfreighted to Malaysia, and installed. The concentrate thickener was then recommissioned, and all concentrates were recovered to the circuit. Further loss of production occurred in April until May as the filter press cloths started failing prematurely due to manufacturing defects; the supplier has accepted the defects and will supply two new sets of higher permeability filter cloths. In the meantime, replacement filter press cloths were sourced and delivered from local suppliers. Management is focused on reviewing all critical parts and in advancing the procurement plan. Construction of the new concentrate shed continued with the concrete floor poured and the erection of structural steelwork commencing. The shed is expected to be completed by mid-June and will hold enough capacity for over 4,500 tonnes of concentrate or one months production. Construction of the 100-tonne capacity weighbridge was completed, and the unit was calibrated and certified by the Metrology Corporation of Malaysia. Manufacture of the 1 tonne bulk bagging system has been completed in the UK and is ready to be shipped to Malaysia. Figure 3: Weighbridge is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/184810b7-a354-4785-a5d4-e65d2c2e99d0 Figure 4: Ammonium Nitrate Storage Area is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a0da4743-e701-4cae-8553-f15f6ce7be1f Mining Mining of the first stages of Buffalo Reef pits BRC2 and BRC3 continued, transition sulphide ore was delivered to the ROM pad and oxide ore to stockpiles elsewhere. The stockpile of around one month of process plant feed of 80,000 tonnes was maintained, with mining production over the next six months expected to boost this to at least three months or 240,000 tonnes of ore. The arrival of the new mining fleet will help enhance the mining rates. Unexpected heavy rain in February 2023 slowed down the mining rates and explosives delivery shortages were experienced from supplier Austin Powders due to their implementation of a stricter explosive trucking policy. The explosive supply situation will be helped by the opening of a new storage facility at Bentong, which is much closer than the current supply from Kuala Lumpur. In addition, a new depot for raw materials including ammonium nitrate is being constructed at the Selinsing mine site. These developments will ensure the availability of explosives in the future by providing alternatives. Construction of this facility is ongoing and scheduled for initial use in June 2023. Government Permits Recently, several export permits and transportation permits have been granted to Selinsing which enable Selinsing to initiate the shipment for its first sales. Around the Hari Raya holiday on April 21st, the new operational mining scheme (OMS) expired on April 16th, 2023 and was renewed on April 20th, 2023. The annual and monthly blasting permits expired along with the OMS and there was insufficient time for the requisite approvals for these permits before the Hari Raya holiday period. The two blasting permits were issued on May 11th, 2023 when mining activities resumed. Concentrate Sales Preparation Off take agreements or business confirmation letters for off-take of Selinsing gold concentrate have been signed with several concentrate buyers under competitive commercial terms. Several buyers have received export permits and the shipments are underway. The first 2,000 DMT of gold concentrate production is now available for sale and the royalties for this concentrate have been paid to the parastatal Pahang Mining Corporation. Risks The Company closely monitors uncontrollable risk factors with building and operation the flotation plant including: change of market conditions, change of gold prices, operation risks including critical parts shortages which may cause a longer than expected ramp up period, and changes in regulatory restrictions in relation to arsenic level contained in gold concentrate. About Monument Monument Mining Limited (TSX-V: MMY, FSE: D7Q1) is an established Canadian gold producer that 100% owns and operates the Selinsing Gold Mine in Malaysia and the Murchison Gold Project in the Murchison area of Western Australia. It has 20% interest in Tuckanarra Gold Project jointly owned with Odyssey Gold Ltd in the same region. The Company employs approximately 200 people in both regions and is committed to the highest standards of environmental management, social responsibility, and health and safety for its employees and neighboring communities. Cathy Zhai, President and CEO Monument Mining Limited Suite 1580 -1100 Melville Street Vancouver, BC V6E 4A6 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION visit the company web site at www.monumentmining.com or contact: Richard Cushing, MMY Vancouver T: +1-604-638-1661 x102 rcushing@monumentmining.com "Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release." Disclaimer Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes statements containing forward-looking information about Monument, its business and future plans ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are statements that involve expectations, plans, objectives or future events that are not historical facts and include the Company's plans with respect to its mineral projects, expectations regarding the completion of the ramp-up period to target production level at Selinsing and the timing thereof, expectations regarding the Companys continuing ability to source explosives from suppliers, expectations regarding completion of the proposed storage shed and ammonium nitrate depot and the timing thereof, and the timing and results of the other proposed programs and events referred to in this news release. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". The forward-looking statements in this news release are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and certain other factors include, without limitation: risks related to general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; uncertainties regarding the results of current exploration activities; uncertainties in the progress and timing of development activities, including those related to the ramp-up process at Selinsing and the completion of the proposed storage shed and ammonium nitrate depot; uncertainties and risks related to the Companys ability to source explosives from suppliers; foreign operations risks; other risks inherent in the mining industry and other risks described in the management discussion and analysis of the Company and the technical reports on the Company's projects, all of which are available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Material factors and assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements in this news release include: expectations regarding the estimated cash cost per ounce of gold production and the estimated cash flows which may be generated from the operations, general economic factors and other factors that may be beyond the control of Monument; assumptions and expectations regarding the results of exploration on the Company's projects; assumptions regarding the future price of gold of other minerals; the timing and amount of estimated future production; assumptions regarding the timing and results of development activities, including the ramp-up process at Selinsing and the completion of the proposed storage shed and ammonium nitrate depot; expectations that the Company will continue to be able to source explosives from suppliers in a timely manner; costs of future activities; capital and operating expenditures; success of exploration activities; mining or processing issues; exchange rates; and all of the factors and assumptions described in the management discussion and analysis of the Company and the technical reports on the Company's projects, all of which are available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. MINNEAPOLIS, May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Women in eDiscovery, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization that brings together women interested in technology related to the legal profession, announced today the expansion of its leadership team with the addition of three positions. Patti Zerwas has been named director of programming. Maribel Rivera has been named director of special events. Emily Bartkowicz has been selected as director of charity. In the newly created role of director of programming, Patti Zerwas is responsible for initiating, implementing and evaluating programs according to the strategic objectives of the organization. Zerwas is a discovery project manager at Haynes and Boone. She has been a member of Women in eDiscovery since 2016 and has served most recently as the WiE South-Central regional director. She has held numerous positions with the Houston Chapter, including chapter director, assistant director, meetings director and secretary. She also served on the planning committees for the 2019 and 2022 Women in eDiscovery WiECON conferences. I am honored and excited for the opportunity to continue to support Women in eDiscovery as the new programming director, states Zerwas. Im looking forward to helping to facilitate the goals of WiE to empower and provide educational and leadership opportunities to the membership of our organization. In the new role of director of special events, Maribel Rivera organizes the planning and execution of various events, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Rivera is vice president of strategy and client engagement at the Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists, overseeing the global community and ACEDS partnership network. Rivera has been a member of WiE since 2010 and previously served on the board of Women in eDiscovery New York from 2013 to 2016 as chapter meetings director. She has also supported Women in eDiscovery events at conferences such as Legalweek and most recently served on the marketing committee for the 2022 WiECON held in San Diego. Im honored to take on the role of director of special events for Women in eDiscovery, says Rivera. I aim to work with the executive board and local contacts to plan global events that impact our members professional careers. Working closely with the director of programming, the director of charity and the local chapters, my first task is to work on a global strategic plan and execute events that showcase our mission and values. Lets make these events unforgettable and empower Women in eDiscovery members to achieve their professional goals! Emily Bartkowicz, as director of charity, will manage the planning, organization and direction of WiEs charitable operations and programs. Bartkowicz is a 20-year veteran of the legal industry and currently serves as the litigation support manager at Akerman LLP. She has been involved in Women in eDiscovery for the last four years, including helping to establish the Miami Chapter, serving as the chapter director and serving on the 2022 WiECON planning committee. I owe so much of my personal and professional development to WiE and am extremely honored to continue my service as the director of charity, states Bartkowicz. I have long been a proponent of giving back to the community and supporting the great work done by nonprofits. I look forward to building relationships and providing support to organizations that share WiEs mission: providing opportunities to women to grow both personally and professionally. We are excited to expand our leadership team by adding these new roles, which will help better serve the WiE community and legal tech industry, describes Jackie Rosborough, executive director of Women in eDiscovery. We look forward to leveraging the experience and creativity these talented and passionate women bring to their new roles. WiE is looking to continue to expand the leadership team with the following positions: IT specialist Director of marketing and communications If you are interested in joining Women in eDiscoverys leadership team or to learn more about the open positions, please contact ED@womeinediscovery.org. About Women in eDiscovery Women in eDiscovery (www.womeninediscovery.org) is an organization that brings together women around the world who are interested in technology related to the legal industry. Its goal is to provide opportunities for businesswomen to grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support and recognition. Contact: Vicki LaBrosse Director of Marketing and Public Relations Women in eDiscovery pr@womeninediscovery.org 651.552.7753 KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) (the Company) today announced that Jeff Jones, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Tony Bowen, Chief Financial Officer, will host virtual investor meetings and a fireside chat at the Oppenheimer 23rd Annual Consumer Growth & E-Commerce Conference on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. The fireside chat will take place at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time. To join live, the webcast can be accessed directly at https://wsw.com/webcast/oppenheimer29/hrb/2538180. A replay of the webcast will be available for 90 days on the Companys Investor Relations website after the conference at https://investors.hrblock.com/financial-information/events-calendar. To request a meeting, please contact your Oppenheimer salesperson. About H&R Block H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) provides help and inspires confidence in its clients and communities everywhere through global tax preparation services, financial products, and small-business solutions. The company blends digital innovation with human expertise and care as it helps people get the best outcome at tax time and also be better with money using its mobile banking app, Spruce. Through Block Advisors and Wave, the company helps small-business owners thrive with year-round bookkeeping, payroll, advisory, and payment processing solutions. For more information, visit H&R Block News or follow @HRBlockNews on Twitter. For Further Information Independence, Ohio, May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Groveport residents will soon have a new place to call home with the addition of Redwoods 15th Columbus-area neighborhood. Redwood Groveport offers residents seven different single-story floor plans that range in size from 1,294-1,620 square feet. Each of the 140 new apartment homes includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms, ample storage options as well as an attached two-car garage. Living in a Redwood Neighborhood comes with a host of desirable advantages, including: Spacious, eat-in kitchens with large pantries Open floor plans Large closets Washer and dryer hookups Full-size appliances Vaulted ceilings Upgraded finishes and features Extra living space, commonly used for an at-home office or gym Pet-friendly accommodations residents are permitted up to three pets Private entrances with individual street addresses Personal patios Special savings opportunities via the Redwood Perks Program for example, Redwood Groveport residents will receive discounted rates to the local recreation and senior centers Thanks to its picturesque, wooded lot, this particular location offers residents a peaceful and private setting without sacrificing convenience, said Taylor Haley, Director of Property Operations at Redwood. The new neighborhood is just minutes from all the amenities of Downtown Groveport and offers easy access to all the major highways. Redwood Groveport is located at 5056 Sunflower Drive. Monthly rent starts at $1,799 and interested residents can begin the leasing process online. Since 1991, Redwood has been reinventing the traditional apartment rental experience. The company has developed and manages 15,000 apartment homes in 120+ neighborhoods throughout the Midwest and Carolinas. #### About Redwood Living, Inc. Redwood Living, Inc. (Redwood) is an innovative development and property management company with neighborhoods in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, North Carolina, South Carolina and Kentucky. In 2023, Redwood will welcome its first neighborhood in Nebraska. The success of Redwood's approach to construction, development and property management continues to be validated in new and existing markets. Redwood is a company that believes in its mission, product and amazing people. It creates a simplified, relaxed lifestyle for residents, and offers a rewarding atmosphere for its employees. For more information, visit www.byredwood.com. Leasing Contact: Groveport@byredwood.com (833) 213-1900 Attachments Not for Distribution to United States Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alaska Energy Metals Corporation (TSX-V: AEMC, OTCQB: MLRKF) (Alaska Energy Metals or the Company) announces that it has closed the non-brokered private placements announced on May 12, 2023, raising total gross proceeds of $2,609,180 by the sale of an increased total of 9,318,500 common shares of the Company (each, a Share). Gross proceeds of $2,091,180 were issued under the listed issuer financing exemption by the sale of 7,468,500 Shares, and gross proceeds of $518,000 were issued under other prospectus exemptions (the Non-LIFE Offering) by the sale of 1,850,000 Shares. Commissions totaling $61,404 were paid to finders, together with 407,110 Shares (the Finders Shares) and 626,410 Share purchase warrants (each, a Finders Warrant). Each Finders Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Share at a price of $0.28 for a period of 12 months from the date of issue. A due diligence fee of $30,000 was also paid. The Shares issued under the Non-LIFE Offering, the Finders Shares, the Finders Warrants, and the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Finders Warrants are subject to a hold period expiring October 1, 2023. About Alaska Energy Metals Alaska Energy Metals Corporation is focused on delineating and developing a large polymetallic exploration target containing nickel, copper, cobalt, chrome, iron, platinum, and palladium. Located in development-friendly central Alaska near existing transportation and power infrastructure, the project is well-situated to become a significant, domestic source of critical and strategic energy-related metals. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Gregory Beischer Gregory Beischer, President & CEO FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Gregory A. Beischer, President & CEO Toll-Free: 877-217-8978 | Local: 604-638-3164 This news release does not constitute an offer for sale, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, in the United States or to any U.S Person (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act)) of any equity or other securities of the Company. The securities of the Company have not been, and will not be, registered under the 1933 Act or under any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to a U.S. Person absent registration under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws or an applicable exemption therefrom. Toronto, May 25, 2023 - Idaho Champion (CSE: ITKO) (OTCQB: GLDRF) (FSE: 1QB1) ("Idaho Champion" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has changed its name to "Champion Electric Metals Inc." ("Champion Electric") and will change its stock trading symbol on the Canadian Securities Exchange from "ITKO" to "LTHM". The Company expects the symbol change to take effect on or around May 29, 2023. No action will be required by existing shareholders with regards to the name and symbol change. Champion Electric's new CUSIP Number will be 15850F105 and the new ISIN will be CA15850D1053. The Company is focused on the exploration of its highly prospective lithium properties in Quebec, Canada and cobalt properties in Idaho, United States. About Champion Electric Metals Inc. Champion Electric is a discovery-focused exploration company that is committed to advancing its highly prospective lithium properties in Quebec, Canada and cobalt properties in Idaho, United States. In addition, the Company owns the Baner gold project in Idaho County and the Champagne polymetallic project in Butte County near Arco. The Company's shares trade on the CSE under the trading symbol "ITKO", on the OTCQB under the trading symbol "GLDRF", and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "1QB1". Idaho Champion strives to be a responsible environmental steward, stakeholder and contributing citizen to the local communities where it operates, taking its social license seriously, employing local community members and service providers at its operations whenever possible. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF CHAMPION ELECTRIC "Jonathan Buick" Jonathan Buick, President and CEO To learn more, please visit the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com or the Company's corporate website at www.idahochamp.com. For further information, please contact: Nicholas Konkin, Marketing and Communications Phone: (416) 567-9087 Email: nkonkin@idahochamp.com THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY OFFER, SALE, OR SOLICITATION OF SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SALE, OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Statements with respect to completion of the private placement financing of the expected size or at all, the expected closing date, obtaining the necessary approvals to complete the financing and the Company's expected work programs in 2023 are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of the Company, including discussions with investors and other participants in the private placement. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based on are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, including that the Company including but not limited the risk that market conditions, commodity prices, or other circumstances can affect the Company's ability to complete the financing, as well as other risks with respect to the Company described in the Company's public disclosure filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Lomiko Metals Inc. (TSX.V: LMR) ("Lomiko Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has filed the Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) Technical Report following National Instrument 43-101 - Disclosure Standards for Mining Projects on its La Loutre Project, where Lomiko has mineral rights. The technical report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate Update for the La Loutre Project, Quebec, Canada" and dated May 26, 2023 (with an effective date of May 11, 2023) was prepared for Lomiko by the firm InnovExplo of Val-d'Or. The independent technical report is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under the Lomiko issuer profile. During the final validation and completion of the Technical Report, adjustments were made to the mineral resource estimate statement disclosed in the April 13, 2023, news release and therefore the mineral resource tonnage in all categories has been amended. The adjustments now show an increase of 184% versus the previously published increase of 195% in tonnage for the Indicated Mineral Resource Category. See the news release dated April 13, 2023 entitled "Lomiko announces Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for La Loutre Natural Flake Graphite Property in Southern Quebec Achieving 195% Increase in Tonnage in the Indicated Mineral Resource Category" which summarized certain key results, assumptions and estimates contained in the Technical Report filed on SEDAR. The adjustments also contributed to increasing the overall grade from 4.50% to 4.59% which removed lower grade material from all categories. Mineral resources adjustments are presented in Table 1 for the updated 2023 MRE statement which was filed. Table 1. Mineral Resource Estimate Statement of the La Loutre Property Deposit Cut-off (%) Indicated resource Inferred resource Tonnage (kt) Graphite (%) Graphite (kt) Tonnage (kt) Graphite (%) Graphite (kt) EV 1,5 24,267 5.80 1,407 3,067 4.29 132 Battery 1,5 40,429 3.86 1,562 14,384 3.60 518 TOTAL 64,696 4,59 2,969 17,452 3.72 650 Notes to accompany the Mineral Resource Estimate: 1. The independent and qualified persons for the mineral resource estimate, as defined by NI 43 101, are Marina Iund, P.Geo. (InnovExplo Inc.), Martin Perron, P.Eng. (InnovExplo Inc.)., Simon Boudreau, P.Eng. (InnovExplo Inc.). and Pierre Roy, P.Eng. (Soutex Inc.). The effective date of the estimate is May 11, 2023. 2. These mineral resources are not mineral reserves as they do not have demonstrated economic viability. The mineral resource estimate follows current CIM Definitions (2014) and CIM MRMR Best Practice Guidelines (2019). 3. The results are presented undiluted and are considered to have reasonable prospects of economic viability. 4. The estimate encompasses two mineralized domains (EV and Battery) using the grade of the adjacent material when assayed or a value of zero when not assayed. 5. No capping was applied on 1.5m composites. 6. The estimate was completed using sub-block model in Leapfrog Edge 2022 with user block size of 5m x 5m x 5m and minimum block size of 2.5m x 2.5m x 2.5m. Grades interpolation was obtained by ID2 using hard boundaries. 7. Bulk density values were applied by lithology (g/cm3): mineralized domain = 2.82; paragneiss = 2.8; quartzite = 2.73; pegmatite = 2.63, marble = 2.75 and OB = 2.0. 8. The mineral resource estimate is classified as indicated and inferred. The Indicated mineral resource category is defined with a minimum of three (3) drill holes in areas where the drill spacing is less than 55 m, and reasonable geological and grade continuity have been demonstrated. The Inferred category is defined with a minimum of two (2) drill holes in areas where the drill spacing is less than 100m, and reasonable geological and grade continuity have been demonstrated. Clipping boundaries were used for classification based on those criteria. 9. The mineral resource estimate is pit-constrained with a bedrock slope angle of 50 and an overburden slope angle of 30. It is reported at a graphite cut-off grade of 1.5%. The cut-off grade was calculated using the following parameters: processing cost = C$13.04; product transporting cost = C$41.16; mining cost (rock) = C$3.70; mining cost (OB) = C$2.90; graphite price = US$1,098.07 /tonne of graphite; USD:CAD exchange rate = 1.32; graphite recovery to concentrate product = 94.7%. The cut-off grade should be re-evaluated in light of future prevailing market conditions (metal prices, exchange rates, mining costs etc.). 10. The number of metric tons was rounded to the nearest thousand, following the recommendations in NI 43 101 and any discrepancies in the totals are due to rounding effects. 11. The authors are not aware of any known environmental, permitting, legal, title-related, taxation, socio-political, or marketing issues, or any other relevant issue not reported in the Technical Report, that could materially affect the Mineral Resource Estimate. Qualified Person for technical content at La Loutre The MRE was prepared by Marina Iund, P. Geo., Martin Perron, P.Eng. and Simon Boudreau, P.Eng. from InnovExplo Inc, and Pierre Roy, P.Eng., from Soutex. Mrs. Iund and Mr. Perron, Boudreau and Roy have reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release as it relates to the MRE. The information in this press release has been prepared and approved by Ms. Gordana Slepcev P.Eng., who is the Company's COO and registered professional engineer in the province of Ontario, a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 guidelines. About Lomiko Metals Inc. The Company holds mineral interests in its La Loutre graphite development in southern Quebec. The La Loutre project site is located within the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg (KZA) First Nation's territory. The KZA First Nation is part of the Algonquin Nation and the KZA traditional territory is situated within the Outaouais and Laurentides regions.? Located 180 kilometres northwest of Montreal, the property consists of one large, continuous block with 76 mineral claims totalling 4,528 hectares (45.3 km2). The Property is underlain by rocks belonging to the Grenville Province of the Precambrian Canadian Shield. The Grenville was formed under conditions that were very favourable for the development of coarse-grained, flake-type graphite mineralization from organic-rich material during high-temperature metamorphism. In addition to La Loutre, Lomiko is working with Critical Elements Lithium Corp. towards earning its 70% stake in the Bourier Project as per the option agreement announced on April 27th, 2021. The Bourier project site is located near Nemaska Lithium and Critical Elements south-east of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory in Quebec which consists of 203 claims, for a total ground position of 10,252.20 hectares (102.52 km2), in Canada's lithium triangle near the James Bay region of Quebec that has historically housed lithium deposits and mineralization trends. On behalf of the Board, Belinda Labatte CEO and Director, Lomiko Metals Inc. For more information on Lomiko Metals, review the website at www.lomiko.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 news release. Contact Contact Gordana Slepcev at 647-391-7344 or Belinda Labatte at 647-402-8379 or at 1-833-456-6456 or 1-833-4-LOMIKO or email: info@lomiko.com. VANCOUVER, May 29, 2023 - SKRR Exploration Inc. (TSXV: SKRR) (FSE: B04Q) ("SKRR" or the "Company") announces that it entered into a debt settlement agreement with an arm's length party of the Company, to settle an aggregate $50,000 of debt in consideration for the issuance of an aggregate 1,000,000 common shares (the "Shares") at a deemed price of $0.05 per Share (the "Debt Settlement"). The debts are for unpaid advisory fees. The Debt Settlement is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval, and all Shares will be subject to a four month hold period. 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 news release. Cautionary Statement Regarding 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 Debt Settlement, and other statements relating to 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, 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. EL DORADO, May 30, 2023 - Standard Lithium Ltd. ("Standard Lithium" or the "Company") (TSXV: SLI) (NYSE American: SLI) (FRA: S5L), a leading near-commercial lithium company, has signed a mandate with BNP Paribas (BNP) to act as exclusive financial advisor to the Company in connection with limited recourse debt financing. The debt financing will be used to fund the majority of the Company's proposed first commercial project, the Lanxess 1A Project, located near El Dorado in southern Arkansas. BNP Paribas is a global leader in the financial advisory and project financing role for battery and critical mineral projects. Dr. Andy Robinson, President of the Company, commented, "We are delighted to start this engagement with BNP Paribas. Standard Lithium is in the closing stages of the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for our first commercial project, the Lanxess 1A project. As we move towards commercialization, we have kicked off the necessary financial processes to ensure the most capital efficient way to fund our first full-scale project. BNP brings an excellent track record of advising and securing debt financing for similar sustainable, battery and critical mineral projects, and we look forward to working closely with them as we endeavor to secure project financing for construction anticipated to begin next year." Antonio Pichardo, Director at BNP Paribas, said, "We are pleased to partner with Standard Lithium for this landmark debt financing. This new project is a testament to their commitment to environmental protection and demonstrates that we can meet the growing demand for lithium. BNP Paribas is determined to strengthen our climate action, in order to help our clients and our world to face the challenges of the future. We are looking forward to helping establish Standard Lithium as a leading producer of responsible lithium for the rapidly growing electric vehicle market." About BNP Paribas BNP Paribas is the European Union's leading bank and key player in international banking. It operates in 65 countries and has nearly 185,000 employees, including more than 145,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main fields of activity: Commercial, Personal Banking & Services for the Group's commercial & personal banking and several specialised businesses including BNP Paribas Personal Finance and Arval; Investment & Protection Services for savings, investment and protection solutions; and Corporate & Institutional Banking, focused on corporate and institutional clients. Based on its strong diversified and integrated model, the Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates and institutional clients) to realise their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. In Europe, BNP Paribas has four domestic markets: Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg. The Group is rolling out its integrated commercial & personal banking model across several Mediterranean countries, Turkey, and Eastern Europe. As a key player in international banking, the Group has leading platforms and business lines in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific. BNP Paribas has implemented a Corporate Social Responsibility approach in all its activities, enabling it to contribute to the construction of a sustainable future, while ensuring the Group's performance and stability. About Standard Lithium Ltd. Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company with a portfolio of projects in progress. The Company's flagship projects, the LANXESS Property Project and the South West Arkansas Project, are located in southern Arkansas near the Louisiana state line. The Company is focused on the evaluation and testing of commercial lithium extraction and purification from brine sourced from approximately 180,000 acres of leases across these two projects. The Company operates a first-of-a-kind industrial-scale DLE Demonstration Plant at the LANXESS Property Project. The scalable, environmentally friendly process eliminates the use of evaporation ponds, reduces processing time from months to hours and greatly increases the effective recovery of lithium. A Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) and Front-End Engineering Study (FEED) for Phase 1A of the LANXESS Property Project commenced in September 2022. A Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) of the South West Arkansas Project commenced in May 2022. The Company is also pursuing the resource development of other projects in the Smackover Formation in East Texas, as well as approximately 45,000 acres of mineral leases located in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California. Standard Lithium is jointly listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American under the trading symbol "SLI"; and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "S5L". Please visit the Company's website at https://www.standardlithium.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to development of a commercial lithium plant, completion of definitive feasibility study, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration and drilling activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/ VANCOUVER, May 30, 2023 - Finlay Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: FYL) ("Finlay" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to the Company's news release dated May 8, 2023, the Company has closed, subject to receipt of final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V"), its private placement financing for total proceeds of $550,000 (the "Private Placement"). The Private Placement consisted of the issuance of: (i) 3,333,333 flow-through units ("FT Units") at a price of $0.06 per FT Unit (the "FT Unit Price"), with each FT Unit comprising one common share of the Company which qualifies as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and one-half of a non-flow-through warrant (each whole warrant a "Unit Warrant"), and (ii) 7,000,000 non-flow through units ("NFT Units") at a price of $0.05 per NFT Unit (the "NFT Unit Price"), with each NFT Unit comprising one non-flow-through common share of the Company and one-half of a Unit Warrant. Each whole Unit Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one additional non-flow-through common share of the Company (a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.10 per Warrant Share for a period of twenty-four months from the closing of the Private Placement. All securities issued under the Private Placement are subject to a four-month hold period expiring on September 30, 2023. The Company paid no finder's fees. The Company expects to use the proceeds raised from the Private Placement to continue its work on its Silver Hope and ATTY Properties and for working capital. In connection with the Private Placement, Ilona B. Lindsay ("Ms. Lindsay"), a director and officer of the Company, purchased a total of 3,333,333 FT Units and 6,000,000 NFT units. The issuance of such FT and NFT Units to Ms. Lindsay constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Policy 5.9 of the TSX-V and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") as a result of Ms. Lindsay being a director, officer and an insider (as defined under applicable securities laws) of the Company. The Company is relying on the exemption from the formal valuation requirement in section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 (as a result of its common shares being listed on the TSX-V) and the exemption from the minority approval requirement in section 5.7(1)(b) of MI 61-101 (as neither the fair market value of the total FT and NFT Units distributed to Ms. Lindsay pursuant to the Private Placement, nor the consideration paid by Ms. Lindsay, exceeded $2,500,000). The securities being offered will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and may not be offered or sold within the United States absent registration or an exemption from the registration requirements. 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. About Finlay Minerals Ltd. Finlay is a TSXV company focused on exploration for base and precious metal deposits in northern British Columbia. Finlay trades under the symbol "FYL" on the TSXV and under the symbol "FYMNF" on the OTCQB. For further information and details, please visit the Company's website at www.finlayminerals.com On behalf of the Board of Directors, Robert F. Brown, P. Eng. President & CEO Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Information: This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements with respect to the use of the private placement proceeds. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Although Finlay believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploration results, availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, and the other risk factors described in Finlay's filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions including, among other things, assumptions regarding general business and economic conditions, the timing and receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals, the ability of Finlay and other parties to satisfy stock exchange and other regulatory requirements in a timely manner, the availability of financing for Finlay's proposed transactions and programs on reasonable terms, and the ability of third-party service providers to deliver services in a timely manner. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Finlay does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. SOURCE Finlay Minerals Ltd. Drilling highlights include 1.62 gpt gold over 24m and 2.27 gpt gold over 7m Toronto, May 30, 2023 - RosCan Gold Corp. (TSXV: ROS) (FSE: 2OJ) (OTCQB: RCGCF) ("Roscan" or the "Company") is pleased to announce additional exploration results from 12 Reverse Circulation ("RC") holes totaling 1,963 meters at Kabaya (KB3). These step-out RC holes have expanded the strike length of mineralization at KB3 to 600 meters from 300m (Figure 1), with a width of 100 meters. It remains open at depth and laterally with a plunging angle of approximately 10 towards south. Additionally, these results indicate an increase in mineralization of about 70 meters below the existing 1,500-dollar pit shell. To fully capture the potential of the KB3 extensions of the gold mineralization, further infill and deeper drilling is required to enhance the resource estimation. The cumulative gold strike length at KB1-KB2 and KB3 currently spans 1,800 meters, with a width ranging from 150 meters (KB1-2) to 100 meters (KB3). The mineralization extends to a depth of 150 meters to 250 meters at KB2. A 500-meter gap exists between KB3 and KB1-2, and the primary gold mineralization in this area has not been thoroughly explored or tested to its full extent. Drilling Highlights: KB3 Reverse Circulation Drill Holes 1.62 gpt gold over 24 m from drill hole RCDBS22-0134b from 26m Including 3.36 gpt gold over 5m from 28m 2.27 gpt gold over 7m from drill hole RCDBS22-0136 from 27m Including 7.12 gpt gold over 1m from 32m And 1.47 gpt gold over 15m from 160m. Including 3.96 gpt gold over 1m from 161m Including 3.18 gpt gold over 1m from 169m 1.13 gpt gold over 7m from drill hole RCDBS23- 0146 from 133m And 6.04 gpt gold over 2m from 152m 31.37 gpt gold over 1m from drill hole RCDBS23-0147 from 137m Notes: 1: True width yet to be determined; 2: Table 1 - Assay Highlights, 3: 0.5gpt used as cut-off with 2m internal dilution, 4: No top-cut. Nana Sangmuah, President and CEO, stated, "As part of our 2023 work program, we have completed approximately 17,000 meters of drilling in the main resource areas, as well as tested new targets outside the current resource footprint. These results should be available in the coming weeks. Drilling at Kabaya continues to expand the footprint of the gold mineralization, which bodes well for further resource growth. The positive results obtained beneath the existing K3 pit shell, within the fresh rock, are particularly encouraging as they suggest the presence of a larger mineralized system. This development strengthens our confidence in the untapped potential of the area." Figure 1: Kabaya gold deposit, KB3 drilling plan view, gold contouring envelopes projected to the surface and drill hole locations. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4821/167897_ded50a2b842069a7_001full.jpg The Kabaya gold mineralization is disseminated and associated with a strong kaolinization. The gold host rock alternates between tuffaceous and greywacke facies crosscut by younger dolerite sills and dykes (Figures 2 and 3). At KB3, the higher-grade zone does not appear at the surface and, from the longitudinal section, the mineralization is plunging around 10-15 to the South. This relatively higher grade has not been captured in our resource estimation (Press Release June 8th, 2022). Figure 2: Kabaya gold deposit, KB3 satellite North, section A 1390700N To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4821/167897_ded50a2b842069a7_002full.jpg Figure 3: Kabaya gold deposit, KB3 satellite North, section A 1390600N To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4821/167897_ded50a2b842069a7_004full.jpg The Kabaya mineralization is part of the prolific regional Siribaya-Mankouke-Seko structural corridor (Figure 4). It is located on the Eastern edge of this major structure as well as Mankouke South gold body. Roscan's large land package has a strategic position covering a substantial portion of this significant structural corridor by over 25km, including the splays around the intrusive pluton of Disse, where several mineralized bodies were discovered. Figure 4: Roscan permit map showing Airborne Magnetic geophysics, the resources zones, targets under development and nearby gold deposits To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4821/167897_ded50a2b842069a7_005full.jpg Drilling and Analytical Protocol Roscan uses Geodrill Reverse Circulation (RC) to drill until maximum 170m to reach the target. In 2021, (holes RCDBS21-026 to RCDBS21-048), the samples were sent for preparation and 50g fire assays to Bureau Veritas Bamako laboratory and since January 2022, the samples are sent to the ALS Laboratories in Bamako, Mali and assayed at their analytical facilities to Ouagadougou for 2 kg Bottle Roll with atomic absorption finish including tail analysis by fire assays for results more than 0.05ppm. Roscan applied industry-standard QA/QC procedures to the program using reference materials, blanks, standards, and duplicates. Table 1: Drillhole Highlights at Kabaya KB3 (Dabia South) Cannot view this image? Visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4821/167897_table1.jpg Table 2: Drillhole ID of Kabaya KB3 (Dabia South) Cannot view this image? Visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4821/167897_Table2.jpg Qualified Person (QP) and NI 43-101 Disclosure Greg Isenor, P. Geo., Director for the Company, is the designated Qualified Person for this news release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") and has reviewed and verified that the technical information contained herein is accurate and approves of the written disclosure of same. About Roscan RosCan Gold Corp. is a Canadian gold exploration company focused on the exploration and acquisition of gold properties in West Africa. The Company has assembled a significant land position of 100%-owned permits in an area of producing gold mines (including B2 Gold's Fekola Mine which lies in a contiguous property to the west of Kandiole), and major gold deposits, located both north and south of its Kandiole Project in West Mali. For further information, please contact: Nana Sangmuah President & CEO Tel: (902) 832-5555 Email: info@Roscan.ca Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, and other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, including those risks set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis as filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including that all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals will be received as and when expected. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167897 CALGARY, May 30, 2023 - Uravan Minerals Inc. ("Uravan" or the "Company") (TSXV: UVN) held its Annual General and Special Meeting of shareholders on May 23, 2023, for the financial year ended December 31, 2022 (the "Meeting"). At the Meeting the shareholders passed, among other things, an ordinary resolution approving the Company's acquisition of Nuclear Fuels Inc. ("Nuclear Fuels") (the "Transaction") as contemplated in the Business Combination Agreement dated April 19, 2023 (the "Definitive Agreement"), announced in a press release May 8, 2023. Summary of the Transaction The Transaction, as approved by the shareholders at the Company's Meeting, includes: the acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of Nuclear Fuels in exchange for 41,750,225 post-consolidated common shares of the Company. It is expected that shareholders of Nuclear Fuels will hold an aggregate of approximately 90.4% of the Resulting Issuer's common shares, with current shareholders of the Company holding the remaining the remaining 9.6%. a name change from Uravan Minerals Inc. to Nuclear Fuels Inc., a share consolidation of the Company's Common Shares on the basis of one existing common share for each eight-tenths (0.8) of one post-consolidation common share, the continuation of the Company from Alberta to British Columbia, and the listing of the common shares of the Company following completion of the Transaction (the "Resulting Issuer") on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE"), and corresponding delisting from the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"). Details of the Transaction between Uravan and Nuclear Fuels are set forth in the Company's Management Information Circular, which can be viewed, along with the Definitive Agreement at the Company's website: www.uravanminerals.com and/or the Company's filings at www.sedar.com. The Definitive Agreement provides that on closing of the Transaction the board of directors of the Resulting Issuer (Nuclear Fuels) will be comprised of Michael Collins, William Sheriff, David Miller, Eugene Spiering and Larry Lahusen. In addition, Monty Sutton and Jacqueline Collins have agreed to act as the Chief Financial Officer and the Corporate Secretary of the Resulting Issuer (Nuclear Fuels), respectively. Following completion of the Transaction, enCore Energy US Corp, a wholly owned subsidiary of enCore Energy Corp. (NYSE:EU, TSXV:EU) will hold approximately 19.9% of the Resulting Issuer (Nuclear Fuels). Trading in the Common Shares of Uravan were halted in connection with the announcement of the Transaction and will remain halted until completion of the Transaction and listing of the Resulting Issuer (Nuclear Fuels) on the CSE, or until termination of the Transaction. Closing of the Transaction is subject to the approval of the listing of the common shares of the Company on the CSE. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. The Transaction between the Company and Nuclear Fuels was negotiated at arm's length. Information Regarding Nuclear Fuels Nuclear Fuels was incorporated on May 25, 2022, and is focused on the exploration for critical metals and natural uranium occurrences. Nuclear Fuels owns two wholly owned subsidiaries, being: Hydro Restoration Corporation incorporated in the State of Delaware, which holds the Kaycee uranium property in Johnson County, Wyoming and the Bootheel uranium project in Albany County, Wyoming; and Belt Line Resources, Inc. incorporated in the State of Texas, which holds the Moonshine Springs uranium property in Mohave County, Arizona. Nuclear Fuels also holds an option to acquire the following properties: LAB Critical Metals project in Newfoundland and Labrador and Hightest Bootheel uranium property in Albany County, Wyoming. Nuclear Fuels is well funded with approximate cash holdings of $7 million (Canadian Dollars). Following completion of the Transaction, the business of the Resulting Issuer (Nuclear Fuels) is anticipated to be focused on the advancement of the LAB Critical Metals Project and the Kaycee Property. The Resulting Issuer (Nuclear Fuels) intends to review potential exploration opportunities on its other properties and actively investigate other potential uranium acquisitions. Further information on Nuclear Fuels' current project holdings is available in the Company's Management Information Circular. Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to approval for listing of the resulting company on the CSE. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or listing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, Inc. nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the polices of the TSX Venture Exchange) has approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release SOURCE Uravan Minerals Inc. press release Sharm El-Sheikh, 26 May 2023 (ECA) - Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Hanan Morsy, has called for continued collective action in support of the Africa High-level Working Group on Global Financial Architecture (HLWG). Our key objective is to build African consensus on what needs to be done and amplify the continent's voice on the global stage, said Ms. Morsy, adding, The work of this group (HLWG) shows that when we come together, we can move mountains. Ms. Morsy co-chairs the HLWG with African Union Commissioner Albert Muchanga and Ghanas Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta. In her remarks during a meeting with heads of regional and continental institutions, held on 25 May on the margins of the African Development Bank (AfDB) annual meetings in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, Ms. Morsy lamented the high cost of debt incurred by African governments. "Debt service composes 22% of revenue" in Africa, limiting countries ability to make essential investments in health, education, and infrastructure to help operationalize the AfCFTA. Ms. Morsy underscored the urgent need to fix the global debt architecture so that countries in debt distress can obtain swift and effective debt restructuring. The ECA Chief Economist highlighted some of the near-term reform proposals put forth by the HLWG, including the need to: suspend debt service for all countries entering the Common Framework restructurings to provide relief and incentivize speedy restructurings; expand eligibility to middle-income countries; establish Expanded Creditor Committees to incorporate private sector creditors, smooth coordination challenges, and accelerate restructurings; establish a Comparability of Treatment formula to reduce technical disputes and accelerate restructurings further; and bolder use of IMF Lending into Arrears policies to reduce leverage of holdout creditors. Credit enhancement tools and guarantee facilities would also help unlock more resources for investment, she noted. Such mechanisms can be combined with debt-for-climate investment swaps, which allow reducing countries debt servicing costs and create fiscal space. Ms. Morsy urged stakeholders to rally behind a proposal by the AfDB and the Inter-American Development Bank for the rechanneling of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) through Multilateral Development Banks. This will increase the leverage of SDR resources and provide much-needed liquidity, Ms Morsy noted. The meeting was chaired by AfDB President Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina, who commended the work of the ECA and the HLWG, adding that On the issue of debt resolution, I think AfDB and ECA will continue to work very hard to ensure that Africa has a common voice. The meeting was attended by over 18 heads of African regional and continental institutions. The High-level Working Group is coordinated by the ECA. It comprises African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the African Union, the African Development Bank, Afreximbank, and the World Bank, and includes the participation of IMF staff and Executive Directors. The Group serves as a forum to develop reform proposals for the global financial architecture and strengthen the African voice on the global stage. -Ends- About the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Established by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN) in 1958 as one of the UNs five regional commissions, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africas (ECAs) mandate is to promote the economic and social development of its Member States , foster intraregional integration and promote international cooperation for Africas development. ECA is made up of 54 Member States and plays a dual role as a regional arm of the UN and as a key component of the African institutional landscape. For more information, visit: www.uneca.org Issued by: African Institute for Economic Development and Planning Rue du 18 Juin (behind the National Assembly) Dakar Senegal Tel.: (+221) 33 829 55 00 / 33 829 55 27 Website: www.uneca.org/idep A former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has urged Nigerians to pray for the success of the country and ite new leadership. He told journalists in his office in Ikoyi, Lagos, that it is only by prayers that the country can overcome its current challenges. George said if Nigerians can excel in other countries, there is nothing preventing them from doing well in their country, if an enabling environment is created. He lamnted instead of the nation's leaders to address the challenges facing the country they were setting the citizens against one another. "The problems I am talking about, were inflicted on ourselves. I hope those who can handle it and put a smile on our faces will run this country. "It is like a ship that is taking in water and you are not stalking it. Who wants us now? The G20 nations don't invite us again, they are now talking of Rwanda. We sent our men to help in liberating South Africa, we sent our men, our officers to liberate Zimbabwe, we sent our men to liberate Liberia and Mali, so what is wrong with us? "The tribes are now set against one another, this tribe will be fighting that tribe, for God sakes, when you were to be given birth to, did you make arrangements with God that you want to be Yoruba, Ijaw or Hausa or Fulani, who chose? And from my training, either Muslim or Christian, the training is to do unto others as you want them to do unto you, that is the basic norm of life. Speaking about his party the PDP, he said the party needed to be sanitised, fumigated and cleaned up to be able to serve the purpose its founding fathers had in mind when the party was formed. F1 legend Gerhard Berger says Fernando Alonso's 2023 season reminds him of his own past. Back-to-back reigning champion Max Verstappen looks set to cruise to a third consecutive title this season - with fellow two-time champion Alonso, 41, increasingly shaping up as his main rival apart from Sergio Perez. "I read somewhere that Verstappen and Perez is the repeat of Senna against Prost. Yes, Verstappen is in this league," Berger told Kronen Zeitung newspaper. "Perez is doing his best to stay close to Max, but to me it looks like Verstappen is going it alone." That leaves Aston Martin's Alonso as the only real challenger behind the dominant Red Bulls - a situation Berger says reminds him of 1988 when McLaren won almost every race while he trailed home in third place for Ferrari. "I was in the same role that Alonso is in today," said the 63-year-old Austrian. In that year, Senna and Prost won 15 of the 16 grands prix in 1988 - with Berger the only non-McLaren driver to break the perfect run. "I look back on it with fondness," Berger said. "Not because I beat the McLarens, but because it was a special story to win with Ferrari in Monza. "The 1988 season reminds me a bit of this year. These are similar circumstances. I was like Alonso, in the waiting position, often at the front, waiting for something to happen." Berger, however, isn't sure Red Bull can break McLaren's record of winning almost 95 percent of all the grands prix in a single season. "We can't forget that there are many more races than there used to be," he said. "So it's hard to believe that all the races will be run without incidents or technical problems. "But purely in terms of performance, it is certainly possible," Berger warned. So even if a clean-sweep for Red Bull is unlikely, Berger thinks Verstappen is in line to eventually smash all of the existing F1 records. "I'm confident Max can break all the existing records in Formula 1, including Hamilton's 103 wins. He says it's not important to him, but that will change in the future." (GMM) ADK Consortium confident in economic turnaround ... and marks 50th Elizabeth Nyaadu Adu Business News May - 26 - 2023 , 10:30 ADK Consortium has expressed confidence in the economic fortunes of the country describing the current challenging situation as headwinds which will soon abate. It has also expressed its commitment to continue providing innovative infrastructure projects for the country despite the current economic challenges. The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the company, Horiato Pitcher, expressed his optimism in an interview with the Daily Graphic shortly after the company climaxed its 50th anniversary with a thanksgiving service in Accra on Wednesday. He admitted that the company had faced some challenges in the last few years, saying The reason is because obviously, once the economy suffers, projects tend to suffer. Indeed there are many projects that are ongoing currently that the payments are delaying but with our capacity over the years, we are able to weather these storms, we can spice projects and wait for payments to come in. He said the company Antwi-Donkor, Krakue (ADK) and Partners, from its humble beginnings as a quantity surveying firm, had grown to become a leading consortium in the infrastructure development consultancy space in Ghana under the visionary leadership of Dr Michael Krakue, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the consortium. He said ADK had, as its guiding principle, the delivery of value and satisfaction to its clients and had earned a reputation as a professional, reliable and efficient company, with a sterling record for delivering construction projects on time and within budget, without compromising quality and attention to detail. We are thankful to God for the 50 years journey so far, it has been challenging but great and exciting. We would like to believe the future is bright; we have a lot of projects ongoing that can take us through the next three or four years and obviously with our capacity, I guess, so long as there are projects to supervise and design, the future looks bright enough for the next five decades, he said. He said in the five decades of its existence, ADK Consortium had consulted on several projects of diverse types, sizes and complexities; including feasibility studies, design to construction supervision, for both private clients and government institutions. These projects, he said, included the multi-million dollar conversion of the State House Tower Block into offices for Members of Ghanas Parliament, otherwise known as Job600, an iconic project completed in 2015; the 3ks' Water Project, a Government of Ghana-funded project aimed at providing Kumawu Community with potable water supply; the rehabilitation and expansion of existing water supply systems in Konongo and the Kwahu Ridge communities, and the development of Kumasi Airport Phase II & III. The rest include the Ghana Government Priority Hospital Infrastructure Project (Agenda 111); Toyota Ghana /University of Ghana Workshop and Training Centre; the design review and construction supervision of Kumasi inner city roads, and the design review and construction supervision of selected roads in Sekondi-Takoradi. CSR As part of its 50th anniversary, the company on March 14, 2023, and February 9, 2023, donated to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital-Child Health Department and the Regional Maritime University respectively to commemorate the anniversary. Awards Some awards won by the company over the years include Ghana Business Awards, 2021 Consultancy Firm of the Year; Global Business Excellence Awards, 2021 Engineering Company of the Year; MEA African Excellence Awards, 2021 Best Engineering Consultancy; West African Business Excellence Awards, 2021 Consultancy Company of the Year, and Ghana Business Awards Engineering Company of the Year, 2019. Banks recapitalisation: Local banks can consider mergers... But with a lot of caution Charles Benoni Okine Business News May - 30 - 2023 , 03:07 Locally owned banks in the country are being urged to critically consider mergers as one of the most effective business strategies that can be used for capital restructuring purposes. It can also be used as a measure to improve the capital adequacy of banks, a senior financial analyst with Deloitte Ghana has said. The Bank of Ghana last week signalled to banks in Ghana to submit their recapitalisation plans for review following the implementation of the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) which created serious challenges for the capitals of banks last year. Government, as part of efforts to secure a $3 billion bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), undertook a major debt restructuring exercise meant to reduce its debts to sustainable levels over the medium term. The debt exchange exercise, which was mostly patronised by players in the banking sector, resulted in creating serious financial challenges as 16 of them recorded heavy losses at the end of the 2022 financial year. The industry posted before-tax losses of GH8.0 billion in 2022 compared with a profit of GH7.4 billion recorded in 2021. After-tax loss was GH6.6 billion in 2022 relative to profit-after-tax of GH4.8 billion in 2021. The main profitability indicators, namely, return-on-assets and return-on-equity all turned negative in 2022 because of the industrys loss position. Much as the banks turned around their profitability fortunes in the first quarter of the year, most of them still face enormous challenges as their stated capital has dropped, a development that has forced the central bank to direct all banks whose capital have been affected by the DDEP to submit their recapitalisation plans to the bank by end of September this year. They are, according to the BoG, expected to approach their shareholders first to recapitalise their business or resort to the yet-to-be-operationalised Financial Stability Fund for assistance. Until the DDEP, banks in the country had been resilient and fairly stable after the financial sector clean-up saw their stated capital raised to a minimum of GH400 million. Merger triggers Industry watchers have warned that the present development within the sector is likely to force some the few locally owned banks to merge in view of the fact that they do not have many options like their foreign-owned counterparts which might fall on their mother banks for recapitalisation. Much as the Ghana Financial Stability Fund has been created with about US$350 million presently in the vault, questions still linger whether the funds accrued so far will be enough to patch the gaping hole created in the finances of the affected banks. It is expected that mergers by the local banks in particular would be considered as a critical measure to prevent sanctions from the central bank which could include withdrawal of operational licence. Caution But as a matter of caution, the senior financial analyst at Deloitte Ghana, Dennis Brown, said any the decision to merge two or more banks would have to depend on other important factors other than capital expansion. The overarching factor will be to determine whether the merger will make business sense or will result in a viable business post-merger. This will depend on other factors such as similarity of organisational cultures, suitability of systems, policies and resources, market synergy and other post-merger integration factors, Mr Brown said when answering a question from the Graphic Business as to how local banks could shore up their capital after the call from the central bank on banks to submit their recapitalisation plans. He, however, warned that the decision for local banks to merge should not be influenced only by the recent economic events but also by the factors mentioned above. Banks to undergo corrective measures by September Korsi Dzokoto Business News May - 30 - 2023 , 03:05 One of the structural benchmark actions imposed by the IMF on Ghana is for Bank of Ghana to approve the plans of all banks that were negotiated during the previous quarters. These plans aimed to rebuild capital buffers and initiate corrective actions on institutions whose plans were not considered credible. The objective of this action was to promote financial stability and bolster the financial sector's contribution to medium-term growth by the end of September 2023. The analysis of the IMF shows that Ghana's banking sector faced challenges related to capital adequacy and overall stability. The plans negotiated with the banks aimed to address these challenges by focusing on rebuilding capital buffers. Rebuilding capital buffers refers to the process of strengthening the banks' capital positions to ensure that they have sufficient reserves to absorb potential losses and maintain their financial stability. This could involve measures such as capital injections, asset sales, profit retention, or other actions aimed at increasing the capital base of the banks. The IMF structural benchmark action required the approval of these negotiated plans by relevant authorities, likely including the Bank of Ghana, Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities. The approval process ensures that the plans are consistent with regulatory requirements, adequately address the capital needs of the banks and other financial institutions and align with the overall objectives of promoting financial stability. Additionally, the IMF condition emphasises the need to initiate corrective actions on institutions whose plans are not considered credible by September 2023. This indicates that the authorities would closely evaluate the viability and feasibility of the proposed plans. If a bank's plan is deemed not credible, it implies that it may not be sufficient to address the capital deficiencies or ensure the bank's long-term viability. In such cases, corrective actions would be initiated, which could include additional capital requirements, restructuring, or other measures to resolve the issues and safeguard financial stability. Corrective Actions 1. Bank Amalgamation: In cases where multiple banks are facing significant challenges, bank amalgamation can be a viable option. This involves merging two or more banks to create a stronger and more resilient entity. By combining resources, expertise and customer bases, the amalgamated bank can achieve economies of scale, enhance its risk management capabilities, and improve its overall financial position. Bank amalgamation can contribute to a more stable and efficient banking sector by eliminating weaker institutions and creating stronger market players. 2. License Withdrawal: In extreme cases where a bank's financial situation or operations pose a severe risk to financial stability, authorities may consider the withdrawal of its banking licence. This measure involves revoking the bank's authorisation to operate as a financial institution. Licence withdrawal is a last resort option used when other corrective measures have been deemed insufficient or unfeasible. By withdrawing the licence, the authorities aim to protect depositors, safeguard the financial system and prevent further damage from occurring. 3. Prompt Corrective Action (PCA): PCA is a regulatory framework that allows authorities to intervene in a bank's operations and impose specific measures based on its financial condition. These measures can include capital injection, restrictions on expansion or lending activities, governance changes, or even the appointment of an administrator. PCA is typically triggered when a bank fails to meet certain capital adequacy or asset quality thresholds. It is aimed at addressing the bank's weaknesses early on and preventing them from deteriorating further. 4. Resolution and Restructuring: In cases where a bank is deemed non-viable or unable to recover on its own, a resolution and restructuring process may be initiated. This involves a coordinated effort to stabilise the bank's operations, protect depositors' interests, and minimise the impact on financial stability. Resolution measures can include the sale of assets and liabilities to another institution, the creation of a bridge bank to take over critical functions, or the implementation of a bail-in mechanism where creditors contribute to the bank's recapitalisation. 5. Undertaking Restructuring Initiatives: Implementing restructuring initiatives can be an effective way to address operational inefficiencies and improve the overall governance of the bank. This may involve streamlining operations, optimising cost structures, and enhancing risk management practices. By making the necessary organisational adjustments, the bank can improve its efficiency, reduce risks, and enhance its ability to generate sustainable profits. 6. Considering Management Changes: In cases where there are concerns about the leadership or governance of the bank, management changes may be necessary. This can involve appointing new executives with relevant expertise and experience to lead the institution in a more effective and prudent manner. By ensuring capable and qualified leadership, the bank can instil confidence in stakeholders and implement necessary reforms. The objective of promoting financial stability and bolstering the financial sector's contribution to medium-term growth underscores the importance of a sound and stable banking system for overall economic development. A well-capitalised and resilient banking sector can support credit expansion, facilitate investment and contribute to sustainable economic growth. Failure to achieve the objective of rebuilding capital buffers and implementing necessary corrective actions could have adverse consequences. It may weaken the stability of the banking sector, reduce investor confidence, and hinder the sector's ability to support economic growth. It could also pose risks to depositors' funds and undermine the overall financial system. These specific options, among others, form part of the corrective actions that authorities can initiate to address concerns with a bank's non-credible plans. The selection of appropriate measures depends on the specific circumstances and challenges faced by the institution. By implementing these measures, the authorities aim to rectify the underlying issues, strengthen the bank's operations, and ensure the stability and resilience of the financial system. Campaign to increase SME financing launched Business Desk Report Business News May - 30 - 2023 , 10:49 A three-year campaign meant to increase financing to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and build the local financing ecosystems has been launched in Accra. Dubbed, Catalytic Capital Africa (2CAfrica), the initiative seeks to pool patient and low-cost funds for SMEs to use in unlocking their potential into global giants. It was launched at the inaugural West Africa Deal Summit to drive catalytic capital to fill the $331 billion Small and Medium Enterprise financing gap in Africa. The event which brought together over 200 delegates from across West Africa was organised by Impact Investing Ghana (IIGh) and the Nigeria National Advisory Board for Impact Investing (Nigeria NABII) together with impact investing task forces in Burkina Faso and Senegal. The summit brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and development practitioners from the private sector, development finance institutions, government, and civil society organizations to explore and accelerate innovative approaches to increase catalytic capital for SMEs and to identify investment opportunities with high potential for social and environmental impact. Visionary leadership Speaking at the summit, the Board Chair of Impact Investing Ghana, Alex Aseidu, underlined the need for visionary leadership, good governance and patient capital to deliver jobs for Africas young people. He called for delegates to back their commitments with action - financing and practical market-based solutions that can deliver jobs and address some of the pressing social problems Africa faces. The Board Chair of Nigerian NABII, Mrs Ibukun Awosika, called for honest conversations about why the SME financing gap persists and what has not worked in driving appropriate financing to SMEs. She said there was the need for more equitable partnerships between foundations, governments, international development and DFIs and other catalytic capital providers on one hand and local ecosystem actors on the other hand to amplify local solutions and ensure sustainability and impact. Joint statement In a joint statement at the summit, the participants reiterated their commitment to increasing the flow of catalytic capital in the sub-region to propel growth. The delegates said they were committed to deploy capital and called on catalytic capital providers to join them in building local financing ecosystems and increasing financing for SMEs. They launched the three-year Catalytic Capital Africa (2CAfrica) campaign to track commitments and progress. Demand for sustainability in business environment (1) Nana Ama Eson-Mensah Business News May - 30 - 2023 , 02:40 Todays businesses must develop a broad awareness and understanding of the economic, environmental and social changes and challenges they face, as well as the profit-making alternatives available to them based on their corporate governance framework. Corporate governance processes and structures in most businesses have evolved over time to rely on "low-demand" control mechanisms such as ethics, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability. There is a large body of literature on the first two dimensions of ethics and CSR, but the third dimension - sustainability - a catchword for good business practices in this context is now gaining traction. Consequently, the business environment is evolving into a demand for sustainability, which considers how to conduct business without adversely affecting the environment, community or society as a whole. Employee, client and supplier constituent communities now recognise that questionable ethical behaviours, challenges and issues such as bribery, kickbacks, false advertising, deceptive marketing, and environmental harm, among other actions, necessitate different but long-term responses or solutions, so they have risen to develop, use, and uphold more normative ethical standards that are sustainable in nature to deal with such ethical behaviours, challenges and issues. Creation The term sustainability originated in the practice of forestry, where it first meant not taking more wood from the forest than the forest needed to regenerate. Hans Carl von Carlowitz's 1713 book Silvicultura Oeconomica documented the first use of the German term for sustainability, Nachhaltigkeit - and the content predated the act of conservation, growing, and using wood in a continuous, steady, and persistent manner. Because many societies were dealing with deforestation, desertification, drought, soil erosion, silted rivers, urban air pollution, and intermittent crop failure, ecological harvesting of forests reflected a growing understanding of the importance of living within biophysical boundaries and preventing resource overuse. Jared Diamond, an academic and science author, recently explained how historical societies collapsed due to overstretching local environments, and listed the five factors that will seal the ruin as: Environmental damage Climate change (man-made or non-man-made), Hostile neighbours, Friendly trade partners (or lack thereof), and the Societys response to its environmental problems all of which are related to von Carlowitz's and todays concerns about the concept of sustainability. Throughout the period, some societies or individuals recognised patterns of what has come to be known as "unsustainable living" and began to respond differently because the eighteenth century saw the continuation of Europe's unsustainable industrialisation, and other practices further activated an alternate path to destruction. Following the deforestation and exhaustion of its lands, many European countries appropriated and exploited untouched resources in the foreign world to continue their quest for more resources. Despite these complications, changing attitudes of humans and their relationship with the natural world served as rational foregrounds for the modern sustainability movement. However, in response to the need to balance man's needs for optimal living conditions against nature's requirements, the Brundtland Report of 1987 established sustainability as a policy concept, balancing present needs against available resources, and short-term development against long-term development. Six years later, in 1992, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the Rio Conference or Earth Summit, was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, breathing new life into sustainability. Because the issues of sustainability were deemed too large for individual member states to handle at the time, the Earth Summit was held to mobilise other member states to act sustainably in preventing further environmental degradation. Recently, it has gained popularity in the policy and development sectors as a reflection of desired public and international development programmes and has been championed by the United Nations System, first as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with an end date of 2015, and now as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with an end date of 2030. Clarities Though the term sustainability has grown in popularity as a societal goal in the business and development sectors, there is no precise definition, making it difficult to agree on a universal amid varied data. According to some writers, it is part of a political agenda that articulates an ecological concept for which several research and assessment models were developed to study, measure, and highlight. Others argue that, rather than meeting current needs, sustainability should be defined as the well-being of future generations in terms of non-renewable natural resources. To the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN), sustainability is a more constructive philosophy of social transformation and a more dynamic appreciation of the interplay between the environment, the economy, and human well-being. This column and the subsequent discussions on this page will follow UNESCO's definition of sustainability as a long-term concern or goal. Components The three pillars of sustainability (environmental, economic and social) are intertwined and cross-cutting, but they are adopted independently by different disciplines due to each pillar's unique set of rules and procedures. However, because the pillars are interdependent, a weakening of any of them could render the entire "societal goal" unsustainable, most efforts must be focused on utilising one pillar to solve a pressing problem at a time while drawing substantial support from the remaining two. UNESCO states that our greatest challenge is to sustain the planet that sustains us, and this serves as the foundation for bidding to achieve the first pillar's ecological goal. Environmental sustainability arose as a result of global disruptions and is intended to advance human welfare and sustainable development by safeguarding raw materials sources used for human needs and ensuring that human waste sinks are not exceeded while avoiding harm to humans and the environment. Gold Fields meets production, cost guidance target: Generates US$900m in 2022 Charles Benoni Okine Business News May - 30 - 2023 , 03:18 Global mining giant, Gold Fields, met its production and cost guidance target, propelling it to generate almost US$900m in cash in 2022. The development enabled the company to fund growth activities, one in Canada, pay record dividends to shareholders and reduce net debt to the companys lowest level in over a decade. It also helped the company in its quest to be one of the top performers among its peers since early last year resulting in a share price increase by 67 per cent on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and by 48 per cent on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) since the start of the year. The Chairperson of the Gold Fields Board of Directors, Yunus Suleman, announced this at the companys annual general meeting monitored online by the Graphic Business. The year under review was the year in which the company started implementing its three-pillar strategy that was approved by the board. While this in part reflects the stronger gold price it also mirrors investors confidence in our near-term growth options as well as our ability to consistently meet production and cost guidance and as such translating this gold price to the bottom-line, he said. The people impact With regard to the companys people, he said management has initiated a number of programmes to strengthen the culture, which was identified as a key enabler for the implementation of the companys strategy by unlocking the full potential of all its people. The board actively supports building a culture of care, respect and inclusivity among our increasingly diverse workforce. Above all, this means keeping our people both physically and psychologically safe. As such, Gold Fields expanded its definition of zero harm to embed a zero-tolerance approach to harassment, bullying and discrimination. The Board commissioned an independent review enabling employees to share their experiences and we will use their feedback to work with management to address shortcomings and capitalise on opportunities for improvement, he said. Attention on ESG Building on the companys leading commitments to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is the second pillar of the companys strategy. Mr Suleman said Gold Fields committed in December 2021 to a range of 2030 full operational capacity targets for its six sustainability priorities three of them focused on our people and stakeholders and the other three dealing with our environmental impact. We started implementing these targets in 2022 and are on track to meet them by 2030 as you would have seen in the ESG webcast Gold Fields presented earlier this month. Highlights included the launch of two new solar plants at South Deep and Gruyere and the US$913m in value created for our host communities. Mr Suleman also said most community value creation is a programme the firm is particularly proud of because host communities are one of its closest and most important stakeholders. Ghana operations, other JVs Mr Suleman made reference to the proposed joint venture (JV) between Tarkwa mine in Ghana and the neighbouring Iduapriem mine owned by AngloGold Ashanti, with Gold Fields being the managing operator. If supported by the Ghanaian government, it will create Africa's largest gold mine, with almost immediate production and financial benefits, he said. Gold Fields, earlier this month, also announced the joint venture with Osisko Mining to develop the world-class underground Windfall project in Quebec, Canada. This deal not only provides the company with long-term, quality growth but also an entry into Canada, a Tier 1 mining jurisdiction which the company has long sought access to. Gold Fields has already transferred the C$300m required as part of the signature payment with the remaining C$300m payable on receipt of all the required regulatory approvals. Mr Suleman said both of those transactions were welcomed by shareholders and investors as an affirmation of its growth strategy, adding that Our strong operational performance and execution of these key strategic transactions are testament to the strength of the management and operational teams that we have in place. Workplace surveys The Chairperson of the Social, Ethics and Transformation (SET) Committee of the Board, Jacqueline McGil, for her part, said Over the past year, Gold Fields conducted several workplace surveys, including one by world-renowned expert Elizabeth Broderick, to understand how our people experience our workplaces, how we can address issues that are potentially causing harm and how, ultimately, we can ensure safe and respectful workplaces. She said once received, the findings of those comprehensive reviews would be assessed by the board and management, with improvement actions to be planned and implementation commencing in the second half of this year. I should add that there is already some great work underway throughout the business, and I particularly commend the Australian region on the work it has done in creating its Respectful Workplaces #listenprogram and leadership materials. This is already fostering some important conversations in the business about what a respectful workplace looks like for all of our people. Ms McGill said Gold Fields also seeks to collaborate with its employees to create and nurture a culture that attracts and retains a diverse, highly skilled and talented workforce. She said while the company has made progress in improving the proportion of women in its workforce it has risen from approximately 15 per cent six years ago to 23 per cent at the end of last year. We still have work to do to attract and retain female talent. A focused retention and recruitment programme is in place to ensure that we achieve our target of 30 per cent female representation by 2030, she added. analysis China is an important economic player in Africa. In 2021 alone, China accounted for nearly US$5 billion in foreign direct investment in African countries. The rapidly increasing Chinese presence across Africa has become a contentious issue both for Beijing and African governments. In particular, mega projects funded by China have resulted in public controversies about the relationship between external investments and public debt. China is Africa's biggest bilateral lender. In 2020, it held over US$73 billion of Africa's public debt and nearly US$9 billion of its private debt. Due to this, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has accused China of leaving countries "trapped in debt". Kenya has been no exception. China's involvement in the construction of Kenya's Standard Gauge Railway is a typical example of controversies brought by China-supported investments. These include issues of increasing socio-economic inequalities between different population groups advanced by large-scale investments, local labour mistreatment by Chinese managers, accusations of neo-colonialism, and the long-term sustainability of loans issued by the Exim Bank of China for projects. In 2022, with a total debt of US$6.83 billion, China was Kenya's biggest bilateral creditor. Out of this amount, US$5.3 billion was advanced by the Exim Bank of China to finance the Standard Gauge Railway. It is against this background that our study asked if Chinese actors indeed determined how mega-infrastructures are realised in African countries. We examined the specific ways in which Chinese state-owned enterprises are involved in the construction of Kenya's Standard Gauge Railway. We analysed how infrastructure development was realised on the ground and how Chinese construction companies shaped the process. The study showed that the decisions of Chinese state-owned enterprises in Kenya do not necessarily present a grand Chinese strategy. Instead, they result from changing political and economic circumstances in China, and reflect both state and private Chinese interests. Acknowledging these dynamics is important because it demonstrates how narratives about China's involvement in mega-infrastructure development might overemphasise the power of the Chinese state. Simultaneously, this highlights that African governments have more power to influence their industrial development and the sustainability of large-scale projects than mainstream narratives acknowledge. Flagship projects Alongside other large projects, such as the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor, the Standard Gauge Railway is central to Kenya's national development programme Vision 2030. This is supposed to industrialise the country and advance socio-economic development. But the sustainability of the railway project and its contribution to government debt has been widely debated. In 2022, according to the National Treasury, Kenya's debt stood at KSh9.15 trillion (US$74.1 billion), equivalent to 67% of the country's GDP. There are also concerns whether Chinese contracts protect national interests. We took a closer look at the project to see if these fears were well founded. Between May 2019 and September 2020, we conducted interviews during multiple visits to Chinese construction camps alongside the railway construction sites. We interviewed managers and employees in construction and operational departments of China Road and Bridge Corporation, the main railway project contractor. We interviewed informants from the public sector in Kenya, including from Kenya Railways Corporation and Kenya Ports Authority. We also spoke to local government workers, private sector representatives, lawyers and scholars. Our research is unique because we directly engaged with the Chinese actors that built Kenya's new railway. Their perspectives have been lacking in both public and academic debates. This is because public engagement of Chinese contractors is usually strictly guarded due to the state ownership of these enterprises. Our interviews revealed that in Kenya, China Road and Bridge Corporation constantly shifted its strategies. It also adapted to local circumstances in the country and across East Africa, rather than only imposing its strategic priorities. This compromised its own interests of economic productivity and its public image. Our finding runs counter to any grand visions of transformative infrastructure development, the lens through which Kenya's rail project has been interpreted. The trade-offs We found that the Chinese entity had adopted a method called the "Early Entry Scheme" to resolve issues of delayed land compensation. This involved direct, case-by-case negotiated payments to landowners. As a result, owners vacated land for project construction before the land settlement was officially approved by the National Land Commission of Kenya. This is uncommon among international contractors. Land compensation for a national infrastructure project is usually a responsibility of national governments. But with the delayed national compensation process, the China Road and Bridge Corporation resorted to the Early Entry Scheme. In Kenya, this scheme was driven by various concerns. Cost-saving was one. The Chinese company had learnt from the first phase of the project that the late delivery of even a small parcel of land could raise the cost of the project if labour and equipment were idle. Another concern was political. For a flagship project funded by the Chinese government, on-time delivery was crucial to promote China's image as an efficient development partner. Another interesting aspect of the project was how the Chinese company became the main operator of the Standard Gauge Railway - not just the construction contractor. According to our interviews, operating the railway would not benefit the company financially. But the stakes were too high to leave it to chance. Operational challenges that a new company could experience might have affected the public image of the project, as well as the corporation itself. Therefore, the company had to balance its short-term financial interests with long-term reputational concerns. So far, there hasn't been clear evidence of the Standard Gauge Railway contributing to Kenya's national economic development. The current investment in the railway between Mombasa and Naivasha (120km away from Nairobi) is not enough to boost the economy. This could only be realised if the railway connected global maritime trade to the hinterland of East Africa, to accelerate transport efficiency at a regional scale. But the Kenyan and Ugandan governments did not manage to agree on financing terms to extend the project. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya Transport Investment By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. For this reason, in 2018, the Exim Bank discontinued funding for extending Kenya's railway line to Uganda. This shows that Beijing's strategies of infrastructure development are not set in stone but change, and can even be reversed, due to shifting circumstances in overseas regions. Still, there are clear winners. Though the long-term profitability of Kenya's Standard Gauge Railway remains in question, China Road and Bridge Corporation managed to enhance its global market position. In Kenya alone, despite the controversies that surround the new railway, the corporation was given new tenders to complete other key national projects, such as the Nairobi Expressway. As we show in our study, this is not necessarily an outcome of a grand strategy in Beijing. Instead, this is a result of dynamic and ever-changing efforts of Chinese companies that try to align multiple demands between their own economic interests and various political priorities in China and across Africa. This highlights that African countries are not passive recipients of Chinese-funded projects. They have an important role to play in counterbalancing Chinese actors to shape how these projects are realised on the ground. Gediminas Lesutis, Marie Curie Fellow, University of Amsterdam Zhengli Huang, Post-doctoral Researcher, Tongji University GPHA moots review of port tariffs Maclean Kwofi Business News May - 30 - 2023 , 03:08 The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) is mooting for a review of port tariffs and subsequent restructuring of services rendered at the countrys two seaports for the shipping lines and shippers. When approved, the new tariff regime would be applied to 13 schedules including port dues, port operator license fees, vessel handling charges, stevedoring charges, and receipt and delivery charges, among others. The last tariff adjustment which took effect on March 1, 2021, saw an average increase of 15.74 per cent for 20-footer containers and 16.81 per cent for 40-footer containers. It affected only services rendered to shipping lines. As a result, the Ghana Shippers' Authority (GSA), an agency mandated to protect the interests of Ghanaian shippers, started engaging stakeholders to collect inputs into the proposals by the port authority. It was after the port authority notified the GSA of its decision to review the tariff regime as a result of the rising cost of providing port services in the country. As required by law, the GSA, on May 16, 2023, commenced what would be a series of engagements with key stakeholders; the first of which was a meeting with the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) in Accra to collate opinions and report back to the GPHA. The engagements would enable the port authority to factor in the concerns of key stakeholders in the final decision-making to enable a smooth implementation. The second in the series of meetings to be held on the issue, the GSA engaged the Shippers' Councils of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Key industry players in the process include the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), Ghana Chamber of Mines, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), and Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL). They sought clarification on pertinent issues including receipt and delivery charges and tariff schedules which have been revised according to the proposed rates of the GPHA. Feedback The Head of the GSA Freight and Logistics Department, Fred Asiedu-Dartey, noted that the feedback would be forwarded to the GPHA to be factored into the final decision. He said that the GSA would continue with the engagements to collate the views of more stakeholders to enrich the review of the proposed tariffs. The proposals from the GPHA for the review would affect 13 tariff schedules including port dues, port operator license fees, Vessel handling charges, stevedoring charges, receipt and delivery charges among others, he said. Mr Asiedu Dartey assured GUTA and its members that the GSA would provide them with the information required to enable them to have fruitful deliberations to provide feedback. This is an effort to ensure that your businesses do not suffer. We are open for further deliberations on the proposed tariff review, so the information you require will be provided, he said. Ample time The President of GUTA, Joseph Obeng, asked for ample time to enable members to discuss the pros and cons of the proposals by the GPHA before implementation. We will need some time, maybe two weeks, to have internal deliberations on the proposal. We will also require assistance from the GSA to identify the areas in the proposal which directly affect us to enhance our deliberations, he said. Reason behind review Multiple sources at GPHA said the tariff adjustment was to help generate more revenue to settle loans secured to develop port infrastructure, including the Terminal Three of the Tema Port. One of the sources maintained that the authority was finalising a new tariff. The GPHA wants to review a few tariff items for its vessel handling on containerised cargo and it is targeting shipping lines and individual shippers. The new tariff at this period was crucial to help the port authority to recover some of the investments it had made concerning the construction of Terminal Three, it said. Charges A source with the shipping lines stated that depending on their cost structure, the shipping lines would pass on liner charges imposed by GPHA or a port authority as freight or a local charge. The representing agents of the shipping lines in Ghana do not have a say. Once their principal owners direct them on how to apply the tariff, they go by that directive and so they can decide to apply it as freight or charge it locally. It is the prerogative of the shipping line owners to decide where to implement it. Before the shipping lines would introduce a new fee, the source stated that the GPHA had the responsibility to inform the market within a specific time frame and that was what they were currently doing under the circumstances. As I said, agents here dont have control. It is their principals that do and they are going to direct them to charge so much and that is what the agents will do. Lack of connectivity infrastructure negatively impacting MNOs MTN CEO Charles Benoni Okine Business News May - 30 - 2023 , 05:49 The lack of connectivity infrastructure in some areas is a major obstacle preventing Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) from being competitive in Ghana's telecoms market, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN, Selorm Adadevor, has said. Sharing valuable insights into connectivity in the country, he, however acknowledged what he described as the significant growth in connectivity through both inland and undersea infrastructure. Consequently, Mr Adadevor said MTN Ghana, for instance, has partnered the government, particularly the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, to bridge the digital divide and provide access to essential communication services to all. The MTN CEO was sharing his thoughts as he joined other panellists at a forum organised by the National Communications Authority (NCA) to call for increased collaboration between the public and private sectors to improve communication connectivity in Ghana. The panel discussion held as part of the World Telecommunications and Information Society Day (WTISD-23) celebration, which was commemorated globally on May 17th, 2023, was on the theme: "Public-Private Partnership to Improve Connectivity" and brought together key stakeholders to explore collaborative efforts to enhance connectivity. The other panellists included the Administrator of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), Prince Ofosu Sefah, Country Manager for MainOne, Emmanuel Kwarteng, and a representative from the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), Solomon Richardson. Commitments Mr Adadevor said as part of MTNs collaboration with the sector ministry, the telecom giant had committed to investing $25 million in an ICT hub. This investment, which has been discussed with the sector Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, aims to provide digital skills education, particularly for youth and girls and enhance ICT literacy. Mr Adadevoh also highlighted MTN Ghana's collaboration with GIFEC in the Ghana Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project (GRT&DIP). Through this project, he said MTN was involved in building 2016 rural sites to improve telephony and digital access in rural areas. Connectivity Mr Ofosu Sefah, for his part, discussed the Fund's primary programmes focused on rural connectivity, cyber labs, and ICT capacity-building. These programmes, he said, served as the foundation for achieving meaningful connectivity. He said GIFEC's commitment was to ensure that underserved and unserved communities had access to connectivity. Mr Ofosu Sefah also reiterated the challenges they faced in providing devices to facilitate access and connectivity stressing that this underscored the importance of capacity-building initiatives to empower users in utilising these devices and making the most of the available access. Further, he expressed GIFEC's intention to collaborate with investors in line with their vision of expanding connectivity to unserved and underserved communities adding that GIFEC recognised the necessity of making infrastructure available to accomplish this goal. Infrastructure Mr Richardson, the Director for Technical Services at NITA, underscored NITA's focus on providing the necessary infrastructure to connect all government institutions in supporting the government's digital agenda. He mentioned the e-government connectivity project which ensured that every district had a minimum capacity of one Gigabyte (1GB). Additionally, he hinted that NITA was establishing last-mile connectivity within districts where infrastructure was available, enabling health facilities, police stations, and other government agencies to connect with the district population. He also said the government, in collaboration with GIFEC, Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, NITA, and partner agencies had initiated various programmes to equip the public with essential skills for utilising these technologies. Fibre cuts Mr Emmanuel Kwarteng from MainOne said the challenge of fibre cuts remained significant in the industry. MainOne, for instance, spends at least $6 million dollars to repair the fibre whenever there is a cut. To address this issue, he said, the company had implemented an Automatic Identification System (AIS) to monitor the country's shores, covering approximately 120 kilometers. The terrestrial aspect, on the other hand, involves multiple licensed players engaged in metro operations whose costs increase due to frequent fibre cuts. Mr Kwarteng also said MainOne had been proactively collaborating with industry regulators to educate road contractors and engineers, ensuring that they were aware of the importance of protecting fibre infrastructure. Mastercard prepares businesses against cyber attacks Charles Benoni Okine Business News May - 30 - 2023 , 04:08 We must help businesses prepare for cyber attacks in order to decrease financial risk by identifying data breaches, assessing cyber threats by acting on insights, Country Director of Mastercard Ghana, Bossman Kwapong, has said. In justifying his call, he said as the digital economy grew, so did the intentions of cyber criminals who were ready to exploit weak links. Consequently, he said in its quest to contribute its quota to halt the increasing rate of cyber attacks in the digital economy, Mastercard had partnered with the Ghana Cyber Security Authority (CSA) to fight the menace. Speaking at the maiden Fraud and Cyber Security Forum in Ghana organised by Mastercard, he said 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 event brought together key players in the ecosystem, including financial institutions, regulators and fintechs to examine the latest fraud trends to address crucial aspects of cybersecurity in Ghana. It covered the latest attack methods utilised 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 negatively impact business profitability. Mastercard also demonstrated its cutting edge fraud detection solution, such as the Decision Intelligence solution which utilises advanced technologies and tools to quickly detect and prevent fraudulent activities in real-time, thereby helping to protect customers' accounts and transactions. Threat With the increased adoption of digital services, new payment flows and connected supply chains, cyber risk is one of the top risks faced by organisations today. It has, therefore, become essential that this risk is well understood and managed by organisations to protect themselves and their customers. The threat of cybercrime is also growing, with identity theft, ransomware, and phishing attacks becoming more common. Against this background, Mastercard recognised the seriousness of these threats and places a high priority on fraud prevention and cybersecurity in all the countries where it operates. Equipping banks The acting Director-General of the CSA, Dr Albert Antwi-Boasiako, explained that the meeting by Mastercard was 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, he said, adding that 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, he said. The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Ernest Addison, for his part said the bank was pleased to partner with global technology leaders such as Mastercard to fight cyber crimes. The positive work this organisation 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, said. Online security The CEO of Ghana Bankers Association, John Awuah, 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. He said Mastercard remained committed to delivering innovative and effective solutions to its customers in Ghana by helping to create a secure and inclusive digital future. Through partnerships with organisations such as the Cyber Security Agency of Ghana, he noted that Mastercard remained committed to promoting cybersecurity and fraud prevention across Ghana and beyond. Filmmakers urged to market nation Delali Sika Showbiz News May - 30 - 2023 , 06:28 Film-makers have been urged to be deliberate in shaping peoples perception of the country through their storylines. The Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Ben Anane-Nsiah, also stressed the need for them to be more creative and realistic in their storylines to make their films compelling to watch. "You influence what people think about a destination and if you are deliberate about it you can get a lot of converts. Even those who have not been here would have the desire to come. "Being in Ghana can be fun so it is important that those of you who are film-makers deliberately show the reality of our situation and not what we often see. We need to change the narrative," he added. Event He was speaking yesterday during a meeting with students from the Georgia State University in the US who were in the country to learn about the country's film industry. Also present were representatives from the Ghana Tourism Authority, the National Film Industry, GH Media School, Accra Film School, Animax Studios, Mills Media, the University of Ghana and the Department of Film and TV and University of Media, Arts and Communication, among others. Some of the issues discussed included the importance of script writing and role of the crew in film-making. From the discussions, it emerged that the countrys film industry was gradually making strides although there was still room for improvement in telling the Ghanaian story. Situation According to Mr Anane-Nsiah, there were rich and poor people in Ghana just as there were in every country, therefore, the creative should not paint Ghana as the worst in the world as portrayed in some of their storylines. Paint the right picture to encourage people to consider the nation as their destination. I am sure if I tell you to choose between going to Uzbekistan or southern France for a vacation, you will choose the latter. The reason is Uzbekistan does not mean anything to you, but at least southern France does because of the positive things that are projected in their films," he added. Relevance The CEO of the National Film Authority, Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante, spoke on the relevance of film and creative arts in general in tourism promotion. We all know that Ghana has set off on this amazing journey to attract the world and, indeed, our tourism numbers have gone up, she said. Ms Asante said the country could also take advantage of the phenomenon called film tourism by building the capacity of industry players and sharing experiences with best practices. We want to expand into so many opportunities and we are ready for collaborations and sharing of energies as opposed to come and take and go. So that's why we are very excited that you took the time to visit us here, she added. Read also Shirley Frimpong Manso is not celebrated enough Actress Luckie Lawson Master Richard says showbiz in Ghana doesnt pay 75 Years of UN Peacekeeping: Peace begins with me Daily Graphic Opinion May - 30 - 2023 , 10:37 The General Assembly, in its resolution 57/129, designated 29th May as the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. This was the day in 1948 when the first United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission named the "United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation", or UNTSO, began operations in Palestine. On this day, we pay tribute to the professionalism, dedication and courage of all the men and women serving in UN peacekeeping operations and honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace. Since the first UN Peacekeeping mission was established, about 3,900 military, police and civilian persons have lost their lives in the service of peace, as a result of acts of violence, accidents and diseases. On May 29, UN offices, alongside member states and non-governmental organisations, hold solemn events to honour fallen peacekeepers. At the UN Headquarters in New York, the Secretary-General presides over a wreath-laying ceremony in honour of all peacekeepers who lost their lives while serving under the UN flag. In addition, the Dag Hammarskjold Medal is awarded posthumously to the peacekeepers who have fallen while serving in the cause of peace, during the preceding year. UN Peacekeeping operations use the day to strengthen bonds with the local populations that they have been deployed to serve. Prominent contributor As a prominent contributor, currently the seventh largest, of UN peacekeepers, Ghana will join the rest of the world to commemorate the day with a flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremony in memory of the fallen heroes and to pay tribute to the thousands of Ghanaian military troops, police and prisons officers and civilians who continue to serve in UN peacekeeping operations all over the world. Who are the peacekeepers? UN peacekeepers come from all walks of life, with diverse cultural backgrounds and from an ever-growing number of member states. When they serve under the UN, they are united by a commitment to maintain or restore world peace and security. They share a common purpose to protect the most vulnerable and provide support to countries in transition from conflict to peace. Peacekeepers are the military, police and civilians all working together. The roles and responsibilities of peacekeepers are evolving as peacekeeping mandates become more complex and multidimensional. Peacekeeping operations have developed from simply monitoring ceasefires to protecting civilians, disarming ex-combatants, protecting human rights, promoting the rule of law, supporting free and fair elections, minimising the risk of landmines and much more. Theme The theme for this years day is Peace Begins with Me: 75 Years of UN Peacekeeping. For 75 years, peacekeepers have helped countries to navigate the path from conflict to peace. As ordinary people working in dangerous conditions to achieve extraordinary outcomes, their courage and commitment inspire us to take action. Today, peace-making is harder than ever amidst rising global political tensions. Conflicts are more complex and prolonged, peacekeepers face terrorists, armed groups and their allies who have access to powerful modern weapons and technology. Misinformation and disinformation are fueling violence against UN personnel and partners. Attacks against peacekeepers increased from 280 in 2020 to 463 in 2021. It is critical to draw attention to the fact that for peace to reign, individuals have a responsibility to respect one another, co-exist and maintain peace. Aside from a flag-raising ceremony at the forecourt of the State House today, the ministry will also plant trees in memory of Ghanaian fallen heroes and host a photo exhibition. These activities are to demonstrate Ghanas continuous significant role and recognition of UN peacekeeping as key to promoting peace and security in the world. The occasion will also provide the opportunity for the UN and the government of Ghana to reaffirm their commitment to supporting peace and security. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, and the UN Resident Coordinator, Charles Abani, will address the gathering, which will be attended by selected members of the security service agencies, students, the diplomatic community and the media. The essence of the flag-raising activities includes creating and increasing awareness of UN peacekeeping among the media, promoting partnerships as critical to protection and peacebuilding and issuing a call to collective action, promoting the tangible impact of peacekeeping through social media and recognise the service and sacrifice of peacekeepers facing increasing threats to their own health and well-being as well as the communities they serve. Let us all pay tribute to those who have lost their lives in the pursuit of peace and get our communities involved to appreciate the service and sacrifice of UN peacekeeping. By the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration From Kumawu to Assin North Rodney Nkrumah-Boateng Opinion May - 30 - 2023 , 07:42 Beyond the obvious fact that I belong to the NPP, I had a few personal reasons to follow keenly the Kumawu bye-election campaign and matters arising. Unfortunately, work and other commitments prevented me from setting foot in the constituency during the period. For starters, my father was the Manwerehene of the Kumawu Traditional Area before his passing in 2015, so I have a deep sense of belonging to Kumawu, even though I have not visited in quite a while. The Kumawuhene, Barima Sarfo Tweneboa Kodua (AE67), was one year my senior at the Opoku Ware School. We were in the same house (St John) and were quite good friends back then. Of course, his royal status means that certain protocols serve as some sort of barrier at present, but I keep making mental notes to visit him one weekend. Finally, the runner-up in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) primary for the bye-election, Mrs Ama Serwah Nerquaye-Tetteh, is a valued friend and former work colleague. Of course, I hoped she would win but the good delegates had other ideas and were ultimately vindicated. Pre-election Ordinarily, the Kumawu bye-election should have been an open-and-shut affair. The NPP has held the seat since the 1996 election. However, in 2020, the NPPs candidate, the emergence of an independent candidate, Kwaku Duah, who was a chip off the NPP block, managed to garner 39.96 per cent in the 2020 Elections. With his re-entry into the race this year, some genuinely believed he could cause the NPP to lose the seat. In particular, they expected party supporters to either stay away in droves or vote for the independent candidate in protest against youth unemployment, the lack of development projects in the constituency among others. This of course would have been a major coup for the National Democratic Congress (NDC). They would have run away with such an upset and excitedly claimed it was a barometer of the national mood following our current economic challenges. They would have brandished it as a harbinger of things to come in the 2024 Election. The confidence with which some predicted an NPP loss was quite amusing, really. Of course, the NPP refused to be complacent and brought out all its arsenal to campaign down to the wire, as it should have. Outcome It all turned out to be a damp squib, really for the doomsayers. The NPPs Ernest Yaw Anim prevailed by winning over 70 per cent of the valid votes cast. In 2020, the late Philip Basoah garnered 51.11 per cent of the valid votes to win the seat. The independent candidate Kwaku Duah of yesteryear saw his votes fall spectacularly from 11,698 in 2020 to 2,478 votes in the bye-election. Contrary to the social media predictions of low turnout, the figure stood at an impressive 62 per cent. The NPP voter numbers, compared to 2020, did not depreciate as had been wildly speculated, even though it increased only marginally by around 300 votes. Bottom line, NPP retained the seat. I believe in the mantra that all politics is local. I find it extraordinary that the national economic situation can simply be extrapolated to a constituency in a bye-election with confident predictions, without taking into account local dynamics, trends and perspectives. What I found remarkable, post-election, was the grumbling on some social media platforms that seemed to begrudge and almost denigrate the people of the Kumawu Constituency for voting as they did, with some berating them for auto-pilot votes, rather than considering the national economic outlook. Such posturing, beyond being insulting, is ignorant of the fundamental fact that in all democratic dispensations, political parties have their heartlands or strongholds from which it is nigh-impossible to dislodge them, no matter what. For instance, starting with the 2000 United States presidential election, the terms "red state" and "blue state" have referred to US states whose voters vote predominantly for one party the Republican Party in red states and the Democratic Party in blue states in presidential and other statewide election. In the UK, it would take a seismic shift for say, Hackney Constituency to vote Conservative or Kensington to vote Labour, whatever the performance of either party in government. There is always a rump of dependable seats for either party. The notion of Kumawu or indeed Bantama or Manhyia South voting NDC, whatever an NPP governments performance, is as fanciful as expecting the NPP to win the Ketu South or Ketu North seat, whatever an NDC governments performance in office. Of course, there may be flukes here and there such as Hohoe swinging to the NPP for the first time in 2020, but ordinarily, some things are just what they are. Assin North On the other hand, Assin North, which is likely to be declared vacant by the Speaker anytime soon following the Supreme Courts recent order, presents a different scenario. Perhaps, a voting trend analysis since 2012 would help. In the 2020 presidential election, President Akufo-Addo beat Mr John Mahama by about 1000 votes in the constituency, whilst Mr Quayson, the NDC candidate, beat the incumbent NPP candidate, Ms Abena Durowaa Mensah, by 3,305 votes. Earlier, in the 2016, again President Akufo-Addo beat Mr Mahama by just under 2,000 votes, whilst the NPPs Abena Mensah snatched the parliamentary seat from the NDC incumbent, Samuel Ambre, beating him by 4,802 votes. In 2012, the then President Mahama beat the NPPs Nana Akufo-Addo by about 3,000 votes in the presidential election, whilst Samuel Ambre of the NDC beat the NPPs Ebenezer Appiah-Kubi by 2,057 votes to take the seat. Prior to that, since 2000, the NPP had held the seat. Clearly, from the data, Assin North could be anybodys game and is what can be called a swing constituency. From all indications, the NDC is likely to field Mr Quayson as its candidate, subject of course to what the delegates say. The fact that he won in the last election clearly gives him some impetus as a popular and strong candidate and his party is likely to milk the sympathy vote in addition. Of course, the party cannot afford to completely ignore his ongoing criminal case where he is facing the serious charges of perjury and others. The decision to field him and any possible risks that may emanate from it, lie entirely with them and Mr Quayson. In a skirt-and-blouse situation, President Akufo-Addo beat Mr Mahama in the presidential elections of 2020, with the NDC winning the parliamentary seat. This indicates that there must have been some disaffection in the parliamentary primary in the constituency. If that is resolved and the right person is selected, it would be a huge boost for the party. Mr Quaysons 3,305 vote majority of 2020 is not unassailable, especially when one notes that in that election, he was able to wipe out Ms Mensahs 2016 gap of 4,802 against the NDC incumbent. Stakes The stakes are very high as the two parties lock horns in a fierce battle for the soul of the Assin North Constituency. Whichever party wins the bye-election will receive a huge psychological boost as we prepare for the 2024 general election. I can see the two parties entire machinery relocating to the constituency to try to mop up every single vote in what I call Passion for Assin. You blink, you sink. I have no family or emotional links to Assin North. But I intend to lace up my boots and storm the constituency for the elephant fraternity. The writer is Head, Communications & Public Affairs Unit, Ministry of Energy, Accra. Ghanas Epidemic Preparedness Fund: A story of the two builders? Zadok Kwame Gyesi Opinion May - 30 - 2023 , 21:38 A popular Biblical story or parable is told of two builders in the teachings of Jesus Christ. One built his house on a rocky foundation but the other chose to build his house on sand. They all completed their buildings and went into it, probably with their families. It was not too long after they had moved into their houses when their buildings faced an unexpected test in a form of storm, rain and floods. According to the Bible, the rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house that was built on rock; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. However, when the other house whose foundation was built on sand, was subjected to the same condition, according to the Bible, it fell with a great crash. This is recorded in Matthew 7:24-27. Building on the sand is much easier than building on the rock. It costs less, it is faster and requires less effort. And so, the unwise builder, who did not consider what the future holds for his building decided to ignore his security and built his house on the sand. Even though the story has more theological meanings or interpretation than that of health, this story teaches an important lessonpreparing for the unknown. Just as preparation and making the right decisions are key in building, such conditions are equally critical in the health sector, particularly in the area of public health emergency preparedness. Epidemic preparedness is key in the health sector. The reason is that one cannot tell when an epidemic will occur and because we cannot tell when an epidemic will occur, the best thing to do is to prepare our health systems such that they can easily absorb any shocks that may occur in the form of disease outbreaks or public health emergencies. Just as the builder who built his house on rock and prepared for the unknown future saved himself and his family from the unexpected natural disaster, making preparation for public health emergencies will not only save lives, it will not put a strain on the national budget for an unplanned expenses. This is because the system has been designed to take up such challenges and so it will not be taken us by surprise. Failure for us as a nation to make provisions for public health emergencies will only cause us to suffer the calamity that the unwise builder suffered. The reason he suffered was because he did not think about those natural disasters and therefore did not prepare his house to face such challenges. Threats of epidemics We are constantly threatened by epidemics. It is for this reason our elders say no one knows tomorrow. The fear of the unknown only calls for preparation. Even though nobody wishes to experience any epidemics in this country, we cannot also rule out the fact that we live in a world where we are not immune from experiencing epidemics. Ghana has experienced a number of disease outbreaks including Chickenpox, Cholera, Measles, Meningitis, Yellow Fever, Marburg virus Disease, Lassa fever, Monkey Pox, and COVID-19 pandemic. These epidemics should serve as a lesson for us to prepare ourselves for other epidemics. The difference, however, is that those who prepare for epidemics are not overwhelmed when they encounter such incidents. But the same cannot be said for those who do not make any preparations for them at all. Why epidemic preparedness Epidemic preparedness is not only about putting aside dedicated funds, it includes but not limited to building the capacity of health workers and health institutions to remain ready to face any unplanned public health emergencies. It is for this reason that SEND Ghana, a civil society organisation (CSO), rallied its network members to petition the Presidency and Parliament for the establishment of a public health emergency fund (PHEF) to enable the country to respond adequately to epidemics. The petition received endorsement from almost 600 individuals and other CSOs in 2022. According to SEND Ghana and its partners, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the strain it put on the health sector underscored the importance of such a fundPHEF. The petition said the idea of a PHEF was nothing new but originated from the government itself through a policy to set up the PHEF as part of the countrys Medium-Term National Development Policy Framework (MTNDPF) from 2022 to 2025. Such a fund will be critical in helping increase resilience in Ghanas health system to prepare and respond with urgency to current public health risks and future epidemics and pandemics, the petition indicated. The petition further indicated that even without any new epidemic, the country continue to experience re-occurring disease outbreaks such as cholera, meningitis and influenza, which needed to be handled effectively and efficiently. For SEND Ghana, Responding too late to disease outbreaks costs lives and affects economic growth, national security, and the well-being of people. The poorest and most vulnerable people in developing economies such as Ghana are the most affected. Epidemic preparedness fund is constitutional Ghana scored poorly in the 2021 Global Health Security Index, which was a measure of countries' preparedness to prevent epidemics. The country scored 27 out of 100 with no change from 2019. This means that there is more work to be done, particularly in the areas of building infrastructure, acquiring medical logistics, developing human resources, and investing in health research. A Public Health expert, Mr. Augustine Donkor believes that a fund to help the country deal promptly and adequately with epidemics, including pandemics was in line with the directive principle of state policy enshrined in Article 34 of the 1992 Constitution which promotes the right to good health. Article 36 (10) of the 1992 Constitution makes it mandatory for the state to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of all persons in employment. Mr. Donkor said the country was a signatory to the Abuja Declaration which makes it a duty for the country to allocate at least 15 per cent of its total expenditure to the health sector. He expressed the concern that for more than two decades after the signing of the Abuja Declaration, the country has still not met the targets of the Declaration. For instance, the World Bank has established the Pandemic Fund, a financial intermediary fund for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response to strengthen the capability of low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) to address crucial health system gaps through investments and technical support. Capacity building For her part, Dr Agnes Amoah, an epidemiologist, explained that funds were needed to build the capacity of health workers and institutions so as to prepare them for epidemics. She noted that even though it is important to have a dedicated budget for epidemics, if the government did not build the capacity of the health workforce before epidemics, allocated funds alone might not help to address disease outbreaks. "We should be building our capacity in all aspects and also saving and mobilizing funds for epidemic preparedness. We must get to the point where we are ever ready to face any disease outbreak, she noted. Dr. Amoah said the country needs a robust and resilient health structure to aid research into diseases for timely detection of future epidemics, calling on the government to establish modern Centres for Disease Control in all the regions of the country. The Director of the Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC), Dr. Kwaku Poku Asante also called for more support for health research centres across the country, explaining that strengthening the existing health research centres will contribute greatly to the countrys health sector in timely detection of diseases. He said considering the strategic location of Ghana where many people transit through the countrys borders, the country was more susceptible to diseases, hence the need to strengthen its surveillance and health research. For him, health financing is very critical to effective healthcare delivery. Conversion of COVID-19 Fund Some advocates for PHEF, including SEND Ghana, have even called on the government to convert the COVID-19 Trust Fund into the PHEF fund. The COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy, 2021, Act 1068, was enacted by Parliament in 2021 to impose a special levy on the supply of goods and services and imports to raise revenue to support COVID19 expenditures and other related matters. The COVID-19 Fund since its creation has mobilised some substantial amount of money. Data released by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) within eight months after the fund came into operation showed that an amount of GH773.93 million had been mobilised. The figure has since increased to GH889 million by the end of 2021 and GH1.14 billion in 2022 with the government anticipating to collect some GH2.5billion this year2023. Even though the World Health Organisation (WHO) on May 5, 2023, announced that COVID-19 was no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), with President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo also declaring same in Ghana on Sunday, May 28, 2023, the President however appealed to Ghanaians to continue to pay the COVID-19 Levy. The Presidential Advisor on Health, Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare, does not seem to agree with those calling for the COVID-19 Fund to be converted into PHEF. He said the process is not an easy one as perceived by PHEF advocates. He said the COVID-19 Levy was created by an Act of Parliament and to convert it into other uses must also go through the same parliamentary procedure. He, however, said government was seriously considering setting up an epidemic preparedness fund. Female students overtake males at AMECO congregation Alberto Mario Noretti Education May - 30 - 2023 , 08:36 For the first time since its establishment more than 75 years ago, the E.P. College of Education, Amedzofe (AMECO), has admitted more female students than males. Out of the 216 fresh students admitted by the college last academic year, 114 were females and 102 were males. The Principal of the college, Dr Dickson Tsey, who announced this at the 15th congregation of the institution, noted that the development was in line with the policy of the college to close the male-female ratio. Enrolment He said the college with a current enrolment of 1,076, had also admitted applicants from all the 16 regions in a move to promote cultural integration and cohesion among the students. The 174 students graduated with Bachelor of Education in Basic Education (Primary and Junior High School) degrees. Out of the number, seven attained First Class Honours. They were among the first batch students to graduate with degrees in the colleges of education. Dr Tsey said in a move to maintain and further raise AMECOs standard as a citadel to knowledge, the academic board had introduced a new programme in Early Grade Course in the 2021/ 22 academic year. He gave an assurance that the college had procured the needed facilities for the smooth running of the course and appealed to the government and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to continue supporting the programme with great zeal and resources to sustain it. Infrastructural needs The principal touched on the infrastructural needs of the college, and said in the absence of a modern college auditorium, AMECO held official events in the open and that was very disheartening. Meanwhile, he said, the college was undertaking a 180-capacity two-storey female hostel project, with funding solely from its Internally Generated Fund (IGF). The project which took off in 2021, and was now about 80 per cent complete would ensure the admission of more female students, the principal added. Apart from that, Dr Tsey said, an administration block annex had been constructed by the college, by utilising using IGF. He acknowledged the support from old students of the college in a project to construct a 10-seater modern toilet facility for the female students, saying the project which had reached the roofing and tiling level would be completed soon. Congratulations The Ho West District Chief Executive (DCE), Ernest Victor Apau, congratulated the fresh graduates and urged them to work hard in the spirit of patriotism to contribute to progress in the country. He said Amedzofe, the highest human settlement in Ghana, was a town with strategic location, with first class tourism features. The AMECO Alumni President, Agbeko Lotsu, urged the fresh graduates to continue to learn and aspire to greater heights in knowledge. KNUST launches inaugural research week Emmanuel Baah Education May - 29 - 2023 , 16:31 The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has taken a significant step in promoting research and driving academic excellence with the launch of its inaugural Research Week. Themed "Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Science and Technology for a Sustainable Future," this week-long event aims to advance knowledge in science and technology by creating an enabling environment for relevant research, quality teaching, entrepreneurship training, and community engagement to enhance the overall quality of life. KNUST, known for its research-intensive agenda, seeks to highlight the ingenious research conducted by its faculty, students, and partners across a wide range of disciplines. The launch of this celebration, held on Monday, May 29, 2023, coincided with the 10th anniversary of the Office of Grant and Research (OGR), established by KNUST in 2013 to provide research management services and support research activities. The Research Week includes various events such as a scientific conference and symposium, culminating on the night of Friday, June 2, 2023, with the inaugural Research Excellence Awards held at the Great Hall of KNUST. These awards aim to recognize researchers who have made outstanding contributions to KNUST's grant portfolio and research enterprise. Distinguished guests at the launch included Ambassador Nana Effah-Apenteng, Chairman of the KNUST Council, and Professor Ellis Owusu-Dabo, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Board Chair of OGR. Ambassador Nana Effah-Apenteng(middle), Council Chairman, KNUST, Professor Mrs Rita Akosua Dickson (4th left), the VC, KNUST, and other dignitaries in a group photograph, after the opening session of the maiden Research Week launch in Kumasi. The celebration features renowned speakers such as Professor Richard Adanu, Rector of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons; Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprises Agency; and Professor Solomon Ofori-Acquah, Director of the West African Genetic Medicine at the University of Ghana. In a bid to inspire young minds, KNUST is opening its doors to students from Junior High Schools in the local area, providing them with exposure to career opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) research. Professor Mrs. Rita Akosua Dickson, the Vice Chancellor of KNUST, emphasized the university's commitment to research as reflected in its 2020-2024 Action Plan. This plan aims to position KNUST as a globally competitive research-intensive institution, driving advancements in science and technology for industrial and social progress, and contributing to sustainable development on both national and global levels. Asantehene destools Antoa chief Graphic.com.gh May - 29 - 2023 , 21:57 The chief of Antoa in Asanteman, Nana Kwame Owusu Agyeman has been destooled. The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in a ruling destooled the Antoa chief following a number of offences including multiple sale of lands. The ruling was delivered by Otumfuo, who is the President of the Kumasi Traditional Council on his first sitting on Monday, [May 29, 2023] after his trip to the United Kingdom (UK) for the coronation of King Charles III. Nana Kwame Owusu Agyeman has been on the Antoa stool for the last 23 years. The chief is reported to have gone against the customary laid out and accepted procedures in installing his nephew to take over from him. When he was confronted by his kinsmen and elders to seek the permission of Otumfuo, he reportedly ignored them. After hearing his case on Monday evening, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II ruled against him and ordered his destoolment. The destoolment rites have since started. analysis Ghana's informal urban markets play a key role in the country's economy. They employ more than 80% of the people who work in the informal sector. They create livelihoods for traders, give urban residents access to essential household products, and add value to the culture of urban life. Most market traders rely on credit from financial institutions, family and friends. Few have insurance. Without insurance, traders are left vulnerable to fire disasters, as urban markets are prone to fire outbreaks. There are no statistics on the number of fires that have gutted markets in Ghana. That's because the numbers fall under the Ghana National Fire Service's classification of commercial fires. In 2022 there were 986 recorded commercial fires in Ghana. Urban market fires in the informal sector have received relatively little attention from local governments compared to flood disasters. And research shows that local government authorities have failed to include fire risk in their urban management and development plans. Our study showed that risk communication is an important part of fire disaster management. Providing adequate information on fire risks is crucial in disaster prevention and response. But effective fire risk communication requires that authorities engage regularly with communities. In this case, traders. It must do so in a way that draws on community knowledge and practices. Risk communication in informal urban markets We did our research in the Makola and Nima markets in Accra, Ghana's capital city. The Makola market is large, having more than 35,000 traders and hawkers. It was established in 1924 and has grown in an unregulated way. The Nima market is much smaller but has also grown haphazardly in a slum area. The selection of these two markets enabled us to compare and understand socio-cultural factors affecting fire risk communication. We combined interviews and focus group discussions with market women, executives of traders' unions, and officials of the Ghana National Fire Service, the National Disaster Management Organisation, and the Regional Coordinating Council. One of our key findings was that informal traders lose trust in the authorities when they fail to keep the promises made after previous fire disasters. This leads to traders' distrust of risk communication information and actions by authorities. In addition, fire risk communication by the authorities has been ineffective because of limited engagement between traders and city authorities. Traders told us that a continuous relationship with officials of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly would have helped reduce market fires. There was also the issue of language, which hampered effective fire risk communication. Some traders said that most radio discussions on fire risks and hazards were conducted in languages they did not understand. For instance, in the Nima market, which is dominated by traders from northern Ghana and neighbouring west African countries, the traders mentioned that fire risk communication was delivered by traders' association executives mostly in English and other southern languages. Traders weren't proficient in these. Obviously, being unable to understand a particular language affects the ability to comprehend a message. Religious beliefs also contributed to the way traders perceived fire risk communication messages. Some traders attributed fire outbreaks to the wrath of God on some traders due to perceived corrupt trading activities or punishment for moral failures. Top-down approach doesn't work Our research shows that top-down risk communication involving authorities has been ineffective in reducing disasters. Research shows that communication is most effective when it involves authorities and residents at risk or affected by disasters. This allows for the development of communication strategies that are embedded in the cultures and environments of the communities. Each community's culture contains strategies and practices for dealing with disasters. Tapping into this makes risk communication more effective and builds social resilience. It shapes a community's perception of risks. Our findings point to issues which city authorities and disaster management institutions should consider when planning communication on fire risks in informal urban markets. Firstly, they should incorporate traders' circumstances in all communication plans. They should also work within each market's existing social structures, including traders' associations. Trust is crucial - so disaster management agencies must respond to the needs of traders and, most importantly, live up to their responsibilities and promises. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Ghana Business By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. To be effective, fire risk communication strategies must not only be supported by formal institutions such as government agencies but also be rooted in and sensitive to each market's socio-cultural dynamics and networks. Stephen Leonard Mensah, graduate research assistant at the University of Ghana, is a contributing author Seth Asare Okyere, Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Arizona Louis Kusi Frimpong, Lecturer, University of Environment and Sustainable Development Matthew Abunyewah, Research Fellow, The Australasian Centre for Resilience Implementation for Sustainable Communities, Charles Darwin University Stephen Kofi Diko, Assistant Professor, University of Memphis Foundation launches sanitary pad support fund Linda Sah May - 30 - 2023 , 09:00 Brave Foundation, a non-for-profit organisation, has launched a sanitary pad support fund for 500 girls in the country. The move is to ensure that girls in deprived regions have access to sanitary pads for a whole year. The launch of the initiative was held as part of this years Menstrual Hygiene Day. Sanitary Pad The Brave Sanitary Pad Fund - School Adoption Programme is a unique programme that helps identify girls and young women between 13-24 years in dire need alongside menstrual hygiene and sexual reproductive health education. Our 505 beneficiaries, chosen via a thorough needs assessment, will be provided with a total of 60,600 disposable sanitary pad units across the span of one year, a statement issued by the organisation said Beneficiaries Marking the day, it said the foundation celebrated the Menstrual Hygiene Day with beneficiaries from the Apedwa SDA Primary School, in collaboration with Medley Choir Ghana as part of its School Adoption Programme, which formed part of its support for the 505 girls across the selected regions. The beneficiaries include 100 girls each from the North-Eastern Christian Academy, Yendi (Northern Region) and Our Lady of Apostles College of Education, Cape-Coast (Central Region), 150 girls across three cluster of schools in the Ahafo Region, 100 girls from the Kyabobo Girls Senior High School, Nkwanta (Oti Region) and 55 girls from the Apedwa SDA Primary School (Eastern Region) it emphasised. The key partner and supporter for the majority of the free provision of the disposable sanitary pads, it said was Planera UK, producers of Fluus flushable sanitary pads. It said the pads were unique because they were not only user-friendly but also environmentally friendly, setting a new standard for menstrual hygiene products globally. It said the remaining sanitary pad units would be supplemented through the organisations innovative business model of retailing for revenue-generation for impact. Initiative The initiative also has Transmed Ghana Ltd, the exclusive distributor for Always Sanitary Pads in Ghana as partners. It will provide Always pads at a discounted wholesale price to support revenue generation for the Support fund. The initiative is calling on the public to support this cause by making direct donations or by purchasing sanitary pads through us for personal use and/or sanitary pad care kits to be donated directly to girls within our School Adoption Programme. The organisation is founded by Executive Director, Tracy A. Owusu-Addo (Tracy Sarkcess). 2 Graphic staff laid to rest Justice Agbenorsi & Dickson Worlanyo Dotse May - 30 - 2023 , 08:11 Uncontrollable tears, shock and reflections engulfed the burial and final funeral rites of two staff of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) last Saturday. At a well-attended ceremony, the mourners, comprising both management and staff of the GCGL, friends and loved ones, joined the families of Francis Bold-Quainoo of the Procurement, General Services Unit and Maxwell Etse Yao Ocloo of the News Department, to pay their final respects at two separate burial and funeral services which took place concurrently. At the Holy Ghost Temple of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) at Adentan, a suburb of Accra, the solemn mood was further subdued with various moving tributes eulogising, Maxwell, the photojournalist and peoples man whose presence was easily noticeably anywhere he went. For Maxwell, an Assistant Photojournalist of the Photo Unit, the casket containing his remains was opened to the public at 8 a.m. for filing past, while the remains of Francis was ready for filing past as early as 7 a.m. The Managing Director, Ato Afful, led staff of the GCGL to commiserate with the family at Maxwells funeral, while the Director,Technical Services,GCGL, Charles Amoako, was head of the team who mourned with the family of Francis. Tributes For some of the mourners, it was difficult to come to terms with the fact that Maxwells byline would no longer be seen in the Daily Graphic, while others could just not hold back their tears. A Corporate Communications Officer of the GCGL, Yvonne Aryee, in a tribute on behalf of the company, described Maxwell as a vibrant member of the photos unit, who contributed immensely to other brands of the company by sharing innovative ideas in photography to complement stories and articles. He was strong-willed and never stopped at anything until what he wanted was achieved. Because of that, he did not disappoint, particularly when he was assigned at any time, he handled issues at work as if his life depended on that, the tribute said. His mother, Peace Aku Ocloo, described her sons demise as an early goodbye, saying she wished he had lived longer to fulfill all the promises he had made to her. Yes, I grieve today but I am comforted knowing that you are resting peacefully with the Lord whom you loved and served in your lifetime, so I do not say goodbye forever but farewell until we are reunited in the bosom of the Lord, he said. She added, As the thoughtful son that you were, you did your very best to attend to my needs as much as you could. Francis For Francis, his wife, Mary Morgan Sam, referred to her late husband as a hero and a man of the people who stood by his family and loved unconditionally. She also described him as a man who was so full of life and always put a smile on people's faces because he believed in sharing and caring. You will always be in my heart and the love I have for you will never die. The children and I will always remember and pray for you. You are in heaven now and I know you are looking down at us with a big smile. Goodbye, my dear husband, the tribute said. Eulogies also poured in for Bold-Quainoo from his children, siblings, the royal family of Nankessido, Saltpon, where he hailed, the Assemblies of God Church, associates from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of which he was an active member, all of whom testified to his outstanding character. Work ethics The Estate Coordinator of the GCGL, Abednego Kwao, who read the tribute on behalf of the company, testified to Bold-Qauinoos hard work and described him as someone who maintained the posture of a reliable and dependable leader, adding that his contributions to the growth of the company were exceptional. Bold-Quainoo's work ethic was more than remarkable; he had the drive, commitment and integrity. We wish we had many more like him. We will miss you sorely, Mr Kwao added. Exhortation The Senior Pastor of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Prophet Christopher Yaw Annor, who officiated Maxwells burial service, in his exhortation, premised on the book of 2 Samuel 12, said David, while his son was sick, prayed for him before he later passed. Drawing some lessons from the story, the senior pastor urged the congregation to show love to those in need. Sometimes, people are sick at the hospital and they just need money to buy medicine and they wont get. But if the person dies, we get money to buy coffin, if you have something to spend on me, spend it now while I am alive, Prophet Annor stated. He urged the public to use the farewell service to live a righteous life by dedicating their lives to the Christian faith, while living at peace with everyone. Ghana ranked 7th in UN peacekeeping operations Juliet Akyaa Safo May - 30 - 2023 , 06:22 The United Nations (UN) has ranked Ghana seventh out of the 122 contributing countries in peacekeeping as of March this year. The total number of peacekeepers deployed globally by the UN as of March this year was 76,712, comprising 70,257 males and 6,455 females. Out of the total number of 6,455 women deployed, Ghana had 429 of them. This makes Ghana the fourth highest in the world and second in Africa on women deployment. In all, Ghana has so far deployed a total of 2,762 peacekeepers to various parts of the world. UN Peacekeeping Day The UN Resident Coordinator, Charles Abani, made this known during a flagraising and wreath laying ceremony to commemorate the 75th International Day of UN Peacekeepers on the theme: Peace begins with me: 75 years of UN Peacekeeping in Accra yesterday. The event was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (MFARI) at the forecourt of the State House in Accra yesterday. Men and women who have dedicated their lives to upholding peace and security around the world and also contributed to peacekeeping were rewarded for their various contributions. Tributes were also paid to fallen heroes who died in the course of peacekeeping operations. A symbolic tree planting exercise was held to honour fallen peacekeepers globally. Commendation Mr Abani commended Ghana for her unwavering commitment since its first participation in the operations in the 1960s by providing soldiers, police officers and civilian personnel to numerous peacekeeping operations across the globe. Earlier this month, 700 Ghanaian peacekeepers, including 68 women were awarded the prestigious UN medal for their commitment to shaping a more peaceful and prosperous future for the peace of the worlds youngest nation, he said. Mr Abani also expressed appreciation to Captain Cecelia Erzuah who served as a peacekeeper with the UN Interim Security Forces in Abyei for receiving the 2022 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. The award was for her advocacy role on gender equality and community engagement to address the peoples concerns. According to Mr Abani, the dedication and sacrifices of peacekeepers could not be monetised due to the fact that some had paid a price with their lives in the course of peace under the UN flag. The legacy of these peacekeepers should inspire us to take action, recognising the fact that peace begins with you, me and us, he added. Mr Abani further said that attaining peace was the collective responsibility of everyone and not just the sole efforts of international organisations and governments. He reaffirmed the UN's commitment to continue to be a reliable partner in the agenda for peacekeeping. Support The Deputy Minister of Defence, Kofi Amankwa-Manu, called for all hands on deck to support peacekeeping operations, provide the necessary resources and also empower peacekeepers with the tools they need to carry out their mission. The Deputy Minister of the MFARI, Thomas Mbomba, said there was the need to strengthen partnership between the UN and regional and sub-regional bodies such as the AU and the European Union. Mr Mbomba announced that Ghana would be hosting the upcoming Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference in December this year. Koforidua Prisons receives support from Lutheran Media Ministry Haruna Yussif Wunpini May - 30 - 2023 , 12:34 The Lutheran Media Ministry Ghana has donated food and non-food items worth GH10,000 to the inmates of the Koforidua Prisons in the Eastern Region. The items included five bags of rice, a gallon of cooking oil, a bag each of sugar and gari, two bags of washing powder, three bundles of toilet roll, 60 bags of sachet water and three boxes of soap. Presenting the items at the prison yard last Sunday, Benjamin Kyei of the Media Unit of the church said it was the duty of Christians to give to the needy. Mr Kyei said the church also shared the word of God with the inmates in the prisons to enable them mend their ways and become good citizens in the future. He advised the inmates not to revisit the crime they committed which led them to prison. Incarceration Citing the life of Joseph in the Bible, who was imprisoned but later became a prime minister, Mr Kyei urged the inmates to see their incarceration as temporary and a blessing in disguise. The Media Manager of the church, Kwasi Sarpong, said it was not impossible for God to raise some of them to a high pedestal although they had been prisoners. He indicated that although going to prison was a form of punishment, it was also a means to reform and urged them to lead exemplary lives after serving their prison terms. An officer of the Koforidua Prisons, DSP Leticia Ohemeng, who received the items on behalf of the inmates, commended the Lutheran Media Ministry for the gesture. "Prisoners are not the only vulnerable people in the country so for the donors to have settled on us as recipients for this generous gesture deserves praise and commendation, she indicated. Vulnerable inmates DSP Ohemeng appealed to all churches, institutions and well-to-do individuals in society to contribute to support the vulnerable inmates to receive Gods blessing. They are our people in prisons today and when they are released, they will return to their communities and be changed persons, but if we do not take proper care of them, they will die of hunger while in prison, she stated. She said the inmates appreciated the donation and that it would improve their situation. DSP Ohemeng thanked the Lutheran Media Ministry for coming to the aid of the inmates and prayed to God to forgive their crimes. Ship owners, agents mark 30th anniversary Della Russel Ocloo May - 30 - 2023 , 07:49 The Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana (SOAAG) has marked its 30th anniversary and renewed commitment to work with the government and other stakeholders to ensure that the country's maritime industry remains competitive and attractive to shipping lines. The association, which was founded in 1993, represents shipping lines operating in Ghana. It has played a key role in the development of the country's maritime industry, and continues to be a strong advocate for the interests of its members. Representatives from the maritime trade sectors including a number of dignitaries, from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, and representatives of shipping lines operating in Ghana, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and key players attended the event. Awareness Speaking at a dinner event to mark the celebrations, the Executive Secretary of the association, Perpetual Osei-Bonsu, said that the association would continue to work to raise awareness of the importance of the maritime industry to the countrys economy. Addressing the theme: Celebrating 30 Years of Collaboration: The SOAAG Story, she said over the past three decades, SOAAG members had made significant contributions to the country's maritime business and excelled as the foundation of the country's international trade. Ms Osei-Bonsu highlighted that the operations of members of the association had a profound impact on the local economy, generating employment opportunities and contributing to the country's revenue through tax payments. The Executive Secretary also acknowledged the challenges faced by the industry which ranged from fuel cost, labour, and increasing insurance premiums. She said those factors had put pressure on shipping companies' profits while political instability in key shipping lanes had caused some level of disruption to trade and impacting many economies. The General Manager in charge of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at the GPHA, Esther Gyebi-Donkor, in a solidarity message challenged members of the association to collaborate with relevant stakeholders and work together to help reduce the cost of doing business in the country. An executive member of SOAAG, Adam Imoru Ayarna, in his welcome remarks, noted that whereas there had been difficult moments within the shipping trade front, members of the association had always opted for dialogue and negotiations which had been mutually beneficial. Indeed, the mutual cooperation existing between us and our stakeholders has lent support to the continuous growth of the industry and we must continue to foster the spirit of goodwill, he said. SOAAG and its members, Mr Ayarna said, would count on the cordial relationship in the years ahead as they collectively worked to position the country as the maritime and trade hub of West Africa. Adopt best decentralisation, local governance practice - Nana Ato Arthur entreats sub-Saharan nations Emelia Ennin-Abbey Politics May - 30 - 2023 , 06:34 The Head of Local Government Service, Dr Nana Ato Arthur, has entreated sub-Saharan Africa to adopt best practices in the decentralisation and local governance of Ghana. He mentioned participatory governance and access to public information, accountability and inter-service collaboration and cooperation within metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) in the country as some of the best practices. Dr Arthur added that district authorities played vital roles in the local governance system and democracy, leading to development at the local level. He said the basic focus of decentralisation policy implementation in the country depended on five dimensional reforms legal and policy, political administrative, fiscal, human resource development and institutional change. Courtesy call Dr Arthur was speaking during a visit to his office in Accra yesterday by some foreign students of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). The students who are pursuing Masters in Public Sector Management at GIMPA in Accra, are from Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Gambia. They discussed best practices in decentralisation and local governance systems that pertained in their respective countries. According to Dr Arthur the Office of the Head of Local Government Service remains the entity that provides technical and operational support to the 261 MMDAs across the country. The leader of the delegation, Ernest Gwehi Sharpe, lauded the gains Ghana had made in local governance and decentralisation and entreated other countries to tap into the gains. He thanked the Head of Local Government Service for granting the delegation audience. Ashanti NPP grateful to supporters Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor Politics May - 30 - 2023 , 07:27 The Ashanti Regional Executive of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have expressed their appreciation to the people of Kumawu and the NPP faithful in the region for their turnout during the recently held by-election in the constituency. They said the voter turnout during the by-election had been one of the highest in recent times and thanked the electorate for turning out in their numbers to give the party the needed win. Addressing the media yesterday to mark their first anniversary in office since the last regional conference, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, debunked the assertion that the NPP improved its votes in the region with a little over 300 votes while the National Democratic Congress (NDC) improved on its performance in the last December parliamentary election. He said the NPP performed better in terms of percentages. High performance Chairman Wontumi explained that even though the NDC may claim to have garnered more votes in the by-election than they did in the last December election, in the December election, the NPP had 51.11 per cent of the votes while in this by-election, we had 70.91 per cent of the votes. According to him, the NPP rather improved on its performance by 19.80 per cent while that of the NDC was less than 10 per cent (8.96). He said it could not, therefore, be true that the NDCs performance was better than that of the NPP. Winner Ernest Yaw Annim of the NPP won the by-election with 15, 264 votes, with Kwasi Amankwaa of the NDC placing second with 3,727 votes. In the last December parliamentary election, the NDC candidate had 2,439 votes representing 8.33 per cent of the total votes cast while the NPP candidate had 14,960 votes representing 51.11 per cent of the votes. Breaking the 8 Chairman Wontumi said the Kumawu victory was a dress rehearsal for the 2024 election and assured Ghanaians and the NPP faithful in particular that the party was on course to break the eight. He said a comparative analysis of the previous two terms in office of the two parties put the NPP poles ahead of the NDC and believed that the electorate would retain the NPP in power to continue its good work. He said most of the social intervention policies being enjoyed by Ghanaians were introduced by the NPP government and cited examples such as the Free SHS, the abolition of capitation in the Health Insurance Scheme, Planting for Food and Jobs, Metro Mass Transportation, among others, which he said were targeted at the vulnerable in society. Support He called on Ghanaians, especially party supporters to continue to give the government the needed support to transform the economy for the benefit of all. The regional chairman said the current challenges being experienced by the country were not peculiar to Ghana alone but expressed the hope that things would soon normalise. Court to hear Kpessa-Whytes contempt case today Daily Graphic Politics May - 30 - 2023 , 06:52 A political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, and member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof. Michael Kpessa-Whyte, is scheduled to appear before the Supreme Court today to answer questions and to explain why he should not be cited for contempt. The lecturer shared a reflection on the insights from a book by one David A. Kaplan (2018) titled; The Most Dangerous Branch: Inside the Supreme Court in the Age of Trump, a book which alleges assault on the US Constitution, and addresses the recent attempt by some democrats in the US to increase the number of justices at the apex court from nine to 13. Tweets But Prof. Kpessa-Whyte went beyond his reflection and tweeted that: The highest Court of the Land has been turned into a Stupid Court. He said in the tweet that the judges 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, it said. Summons Subsequently, the court, apparently unhappy with the tweet, issued a summons to him that his May 19, 2023, tweets were contemptuous and scandalous. Attached to the summons were copies of a series of publications by various portals arising from Prof. Kpessa-Whytes tweet. His comments followed the Supreme Courts 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. Explanation In an attempt to explain himself ahead of todays appearance in court captured in an apology and retraction statement, the NDC member said he observed that some media publications sought to associate his tweet with the decision by the Supreme Court. But honestly, at the time of my tweet, I had no knowledge of the Supreme Courts decision as at 9:59am when I did the tweet, he said. Apology In his apology and retraction, Prof. Kpessa-Whyte said the tweet was not done with the intent to scandalise, or denigrate a revered institution such as the Supreme of Ghana for which he has tremendous amount of respect and admiration. These are consequences I have never intended, though I do accept responsibility that I could have exercised better judgement in my choice of words. Please permit me to state unequivocally that I have no reason to slander our Supreme Court, and I hereby sincerely apologise unreservedly for any pain and discomfort my tweets caused the Chief Justice, the Supreme Court and the entire judiciary. I hereby retract the tweet in question, accordingly, the tweet has been deleted completely and I pray for forgiveness, the statement said. Fred Oware, Ayisi Boateng, Awuku, others pick NPP presidential nomination forms for Bawumia Graphic.com.gh Politics May - 30 - 2023 , 19:01 The Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has officially entered the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flag bearer race as he has picked nomination forms. The forms were picked on his behalf by members of his campaign team, led by Fred Oware, a former Vice Chairman of the NPP, Dr George Ayisi Boateng, a founder member of the NPP and Ghana's former High Commissioner to South Africa, Sammi Awuku, a former National Organiser of the NPP and now Chief Executive Officer of the National Lotteries Authority at the party headquarters on Tuesday. This was after paying the GH50,000 nomination fee to the Presidential and Parliamentary Election Committee. Mr Oware and his team later handed over the nomination papers to Dr Bawumia at his office at the Jubilee House, the seat of the presidency. This settles days of speculations whether the Vice-President has picked the nomination forms or not to contest the partys presidential primary slated for November 4, 2023. A group calling itself Friends of Bawumia last Friday (May 26) attempted to pick the forms for Dr Bawumia, when the party opened nominations for the presidential primary. They were however unable to provide an authorisation to that effect, hence they were not presented with the forms. With this development, Vice-President Bawumia becomes the sixth aspirant to pick the NPPs presidential nomination forms. The rest are former Minister of Energy, Boakye Agyarko, who was the first to pick the forms, a former NPP general secretary and presidential spokesperson, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong; a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Mampong, Francis Addai Nimoh; a former minister of state, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku and a former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto. Mr Oware who picked the forms on behalf of Dr Bawumia said they wanted it low key because it was a private affair. Ghana, Korea to deepen strategic partnership Ofori-Atta Emmanuel Bruce Politics May - 30 - 2023 , 06:51 Ghana and Korea have agreed to develop a strategic partnership based on technology, agriculture and education. The focus on these three key sectors reflects the shared vision of both countries to deepen collaboration and leverage their expertise and resources for mutual growth and progress. The strategic partnership is expected to harness technology for innovation, enhance agricultural productivity, and promote educational opportunities. By combining forces in these areas, Ghana and Korea are poised to drive economic development and secure a prosperous future for their citizens. Courtesy call The two nations came to the agreement when the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on the South Korean Prime Minister, Han Duck-soo, on the sidelines of the International Conference for the 60th Anniversary of Korea's five-year Economic Development Plan in the capital Seoul. Briefing the Daily Graphic from Seoul, Mr Ofori-Atta said; "It has been a very insightful trip, crowned with a productive meeting with Prime Minister Duck-soo. The minister said the strategic partnership would accelerate economic growth, generate employment opportunities, and strengthen trade relations between the two countries. He said the partnership held tremendous potential for knowledge sharing, technology transfer and capacity building. Ghana stands to benefit from Korea's advancements in technology, while collaboration in agriculture can address food security challenges, increase productivity and promote sustainable practices, Mr Ofori-Atta added. The Finance Minister said the focus on education underscored the importance of equipping the workforce with the skills required for the future job market. Mr Ofori-Atta expressed optimism about the strategic partnership, emphasising the positive impact it would have on both economies. "By leveraging technology, agriculture and education, we can achieve sustainable growth and shared prosperity," he stated. For his part, Prime Minister Duck-soo expressed optimism that the partnership would yield great benefits for both nations. He also thanked the Ghanaian delegation for the visit to South Korea. analysis South Africans are among the heaviest drinkers in the world. The country has the highest per capita rate of alcohol consumption in Africa. Excessive drinking is especially widespread in the Western Cape. Research estimates that per capita alcohol consumption in the province is between 30% and 40% higher than the national consumption. Alcohol use contributes to over 200 different diseases, injuries and conditions. It is also a risk factor for gender-based violence and violent crime. In a bid to reduce alcohol-related harms in the province, the Western Cape government has proposed a policy to restrict trading hours for onsite alcohol consumption. International research shows that reducing trading hours is an effective way to curb alcohol consumption and its associated harms. This type of policy is also supported by the World Health Organization. My colleagues and I at the University of Cape Town recently conducted a modelling study. We wanted to determine the health and economic impacts of restricting the hours of onsite alcohol consumption. We considered three latest closing-time scenarios: midnight, 1am and 2am. Data for the model baseline was drawn from national surveys on alcohol consumption, the national treasury's annual budget reviews and publications from Statistics South Africa and the South African Medical Research Council. We estimated the impact of each of the proposed closing times on the number of cases and deaths associated with certain health conditions. The study also assessed the policy's impact on alcohol expenditure, excise tax, value added tax and retail revenue. Finally we estimated the impact on the cost of combating alcohol-related crime in the Western Cape. Our results make it clear that limiting the hours for onsite consumption of alcohol will save lives. It will also prevent alcohol-related diseases and injuries, and reduce hospital and crime prevention costs. On the other hand, national tax revenue and revenue to the alcohol industry will decrease. The findings We looked at how the policy might affect public health costs of six alcohol-related conditions. We also factored in the hospital costs of treating these conditions. The conditions we looked at were: road injury; intentional injury; liver cirrhosis; HIV; TB; and breast cancer. Model estimates suggest that all closing-time scenarios correspond to decreases in six areas. These are: alcohol consumption number of deaths due to the six alcohol-related conditions number of cases of these six conditions hospital costs of these conditions cost of combating alcohol-related crime revenue from alcohol sales and alcohol taxation. We estimated how much lower the number of cases of the six conditions would be over the next 20 years. The cases averted were: 163,800 to 453,000 under the midnight closing-time scenario 88,700 to 220,300 (1am scenario) 12,600 to 28,300 (2am scenario). Correspondingly, the total hospital cost saving over the next 20 years is between: R326.8 million and R890.2 million (midnight scenario) R130.5 million and R381.2 million (1am) and between R18.7 million and R46.0 million (2am). (At the time of publication the exchange rate was R19.42 to the US$) In the year following the policy's introduction, tax revenue (excise and value added tax) on alcohol sales is expected to decrease by between R100 million and R333 million under a midnight closing-time scenario. Under the 1am scenario it would fall by between R54 million and R179 million. And in the 2am scenario tax revenue would fall by between R9 million and R27 million. Retail revenue would decrease by between R328 million and R1,093 million (midnight closing time), between R176 million and R587 million (1am) and between R27 million and R89 million (2am). What this all means The Western Cape government has expressed a clear commitment to protecting health in the Alcohol Harms Reduction White Paper. Introducing uniform trading-time restrictions for onsite retailers of alcohol is a good first step. A midnight closing time restriction is the most pro-health policy option. A 2am closing time is the most pro-industry. But the research does suggest that, from a public health standpoint, the 2am closing time still represents a modest improvement on the status quo. Applying evidence-based policies to reduce alcohol consumption is necessary to reduce alcohol-related harms and deaths. The possibility of limited economic costs should not be a deterrent to this policy objective. The alcohol industry may also point to the direct, indirect and induced job losses resulting from this policy. Concerns about employment losses are genuine and valid. But employment losses are only one side of the issue and should be considered with caution. One needs to consider the overall effects of the policy on employment. Jobs will be created in sectors attracting new demand as people spend some of their money on goods and services other than alcohol. It is nearly impossible to predict the number of jobs that will be created directly because of the policy, or because of the lives saved and lengthened. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines South Africa Governance Health By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. What more needs to be done Whatever closing time the government chooses, this policy won't solve every problem. It will need to be enacted alongside other policy interventions geared towards reducing alcohol consumption and its associated harms. These policies include banning alcohol advertising; adopting a minimum alcohol unit price; reducing the legal limits for drinking and driving; and making it easier for people to get counselling and medically assisted treatment if they struggle with alcohol dependence. A comprehensive policy framework that targets alcohol consumption at an individual and societal level will be required to combat alcohol-related illness and death, and the adverse health, economic and social consequences. Sam Filby, Research Officer, Research on the Economics of Excisable Products, University of Cape Town Pressure group, OccupyGhana is amazed at the governments decision to enact the Conduct of Public Officers Act. According to OccupyGhana, government is on the move to enact the Conduct of Public Officers Act because it is being forced to do so by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), following Ghanas application for a US$3 billion bailout. OccupyGhana claims the government was asked to enact the Act as part of the conditions for the IMF bailout. In a letter dated May 30, 2023, addressed to the Chief of Staff, OccupyGhana said the group was amazed at the governments decision because it had called on the government many times to do so but the government refused with the explanation that, there are adequate provisions that deal with the conduct of public officers in the existing law, and therefore Cabinet has declined approval for the Memorandum. OccupyGhana thinks that, for the government to now make a U-turn on the same issue which it refused to give an ear to, surprises them. Attached below is a copy of the statement Dear Madam: RE: RIGHT TO INFORMATION REQUEST ON THE STATUS OF THE DRAFT CONDUCT OF PUBLIC OFFICERS BILL, 2022 The above-entitled matter refers. OccupyGhana is pleasantly amazed and amused to read that the Government has finally agreed to enact the Conduct of Public Officers Act, because it is now being compelled by the International Monetary Fund to do so, as part of the conditionalities for the US$3Billion Extended Credit Facility Arrangement for Ghana. We have written to your office several times to demand that Cabinet approves the draft Conduct of Public Officers Bill, 2022 that was submitted to Cabinet by the Attorney-General, and then send it to Parliament for debate and enactment. We kept the pressure on until the Government slammed the door in our faces. In your letter to us dated 14 February 2023, ref OPCA.3/3/140223, you stated emphatically that Cabinet has taken the view that there are adequate provisions that deal with the conduct of public officers in the existing law, and therefore Cabinet has declined approval for the Memorandum. What was even more shocking was that the Office of the President chose to wrongfully stamp this letter as CONFIDENTIAL and then mark each page as SECRET. You have neither acknowledged nor responded to our letters to you dated 20 and 27 February 2023, challenging this illegal branding of the letters and demanding their withdrawal. Overall, Cabinets refusal to approve the draft Bill flew in the face of all the promises that this Government had made to Ghanaians on this matter, including, particularly the following statement at page 105 of the New Patriotic Partys 2020 Manifesto: [Attached] Disappointed at this volte-face, we considered several options including petitioning the Right to Information Commission for a determination of the absurd claim of confidentiality and secrecy. We also considered suing the Government or presenting a bill to Parliament to amend the specifically offending portion of section 1 of the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act 1998 (Act 550), which unconstitutionally extends by six months, the fixed times that the Constitution provides for assets declaration by public officers. That is why we are amazed and amused that the Government, now under pressure from the IMF, is promising to pass into law, the Bill that you told us, as recently as February of this year, would not be approved. We note that the IMF COUNTRY REPORT No 23/169, page 22, paragraph 44, says The authorities are also committed to addressing weaknesses in the existing asset declaration system for public officialswhich currently lacks an effective verification processby enacting a new Conduct of Public Officers Act. We are tickled that in the attachment titled MEMORANDUM OF ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL POLICIES, at page 69, paragraph 52, the Government itself says We will continue to strengthen organizational and legal arrangements for addressing corruption and enhancing accountability and integrity: This will include improvements in the existing asset declaration system. The enactment of Conduct of Public Officers Act will notably seek to address current weaknesses of this system. Then there is the Statement by Messrs Bijani, Sassanpour and Akosah dated 17 May 2023, which says at page 6: The authorities are committed to address macro-critical gaps in Ghanas governance framework, enhance accountability and fight corruption forcefully. They will enact the Conduct of Public Officers Act to address identified weaknesses in the existing asset declaration system. We are glad and saddened at the same time that the Government that thumbed its nose at us on this issue, has now found its way back to the table, compelled, not because the activism of well-meaning citizens, but because Ghanas current economic dire straits and the dictates of the IMF. We however wish to assure the Government that we remain ready and willing to assist Cabinet in reconsidering the draft Bill, approving it and sending it to Parliament for debate and enactment. We have therefore taken steps to address the previous, false claim by Cabinet that everything that the draft Bill seeks to do is already covered by existing law. We are attaching to this letter, a 20-page table containing our comparative analyses of the Bill and existing law, to show that contrary to what Cabinet claimed and which was communicated to us in your 14 February 2023 letter, the vast majority of the Bills clauses do not exist already in Ghana law. It is still our conviction that passing the Bill into law will go a long way to properly regulate the conduct of public officers, and bring to pass the Governments new promise to the IMF that the new Act will address current weaknesses of [the assets declaration] system and strengthen organizational and legal arrangements for addressing corruption and enhancing accountability and integrity. Yours in the service of God and Country, OccupyGhana H2X Global has been awarded a contract valued at up to 240 million Swedish Kronor ($US22.9 million) to supply hydrogen fuel-cell trucks for the city of Gothenburg, Sweden. Upon completion, this contract will establish the largest fleet of its kind in Sweden. The award, received by H2X Globals subsidiary H2X Gothenburg AB, comes from a second public tender released in December 2022. H2X Global has successfully secured vehicles in 12 out of the 13 categories specified in the tender, covering both 18 and 26 tonne vehicle classes. The hydrogen fuel cell-powered trucks are designed to meet a range of truck configurations required by Renova, including tail lift dumpers, garbage compactors, hook lifts, and crane loaders. The vehicles offer the same range and load capacity as traditional fossil-fuelled vehicles while delivering zero emissions. Renova AB, the citys waste management operator owned by ten municipalities in western Sweden, will be responsible for operating these vehicles. The development and operation of the vehicles are planned to take place over the next three years. Furthermore, the introduction of these vehicles will drive demand for the hydrogen refueling station commissioned by Hynion, among others. The station, set to open near Renova by Q1 2024, will support Gothenburg City and Renova AB in their commitment to transition their fleet to zero emissions. The commitment is to assemble the vehicles locally in Sweden. This approach will contribute to employment generation in the region of Gothenburg while improving logistics and sustainability in production. These commitments form a vital part of H2X Globals local development and its goal of making hydrogen a cost-competitive solution for the decarbonization of back-to-base fleet operations. Indias state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) said that oil output from the Sakhalin-1 project in Russia has returned to a plateau level of 190,000 - 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) from zero. Sakhalin-1 produced an average of 227,000 bpd in 2021. Following the onset of sanctions against Russia due to the war in Ukraine, Russia seized the Sakahlin-1 asset and ExxonMobil, the operator, exited Russia. ONGC, through ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL), its overseas investment arm, holds a 20% stake in the project. In April 2023, Russias Rosneft offered dividend payments to OVL against its 20% stake, rather than equity oil. ONGC hopes to reclaim its 20% stake in the project in the coming months after some terms and conditions are fulfilled, according to Rajarshi Gupta, managing director of OVL. In March 2023, Igor Sechin, CEO of Rosneft Oil Company, made a working trip to India, during which he met with officials from the Indian government, as well as with the heads of some of the countrys largest oil and gas companies. During the trip, Rosneft Oil Company and Indian Oil Company signed a term agreement to increase oil supplies substantially as well diversify the grades to India. The parties also discussed ways of expanding cooperation between Rosneft Oil Company and Indian companies in the entire value chain of the energy sector, including possibilities of making payments in national currencies. Particular attention was paid to the ongoing implementation of joint projects between Rosneft and its Indian partners, including Sakhalin-1, Taas-Yuryakh and Vankorneft. The parties also noted a significant increase in turnover between Russia and India. According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India, Russia for the first time in history has become one of the five largest trading partners of Indiathe volume of trade between the countries in 2022 reached 38.4 billion dollars. Gupta said that OVL is not in a hurry to retrieve its less than US$100 million pending dividend from Sakhalin-1 and could consider reinvesting it in the project. Indian companies (OVL, Oil India Limited, Indian Oil Corporation, and Bharat Petroresources) also have been owners of 49.9% of the Rosnefts subsidiary JSC Vankorneft since 2016. This company is located in Krasnoyarsk Territory and develops the Vankorskoye oil and gas condensate field, one of the biggest fields discovered and brought on stream over the last 25 years in Russia. A consortium of Indian companies (Oil India Limited, Indian Oil Corporation and Bharat Petroresources) also owns 29.9% of Taas-Yuryakh Neftegazodobycha, which develops the Central Block and the Kurungsky license block of the Srednebotuobinskoye field which is among Rosnefts largest assets in Eastern Siberia. Samsung officially launched its self-repair program in South Korea covering smartphones, laptops and TV repairs. Users will be able to order spare parts and tools for self-repairs covering the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S22 series of smartphones. The program covers display, back cover and charging port parts and the required tools to complete the repair. Samsung is expected to add support for more devices in the future. In addition, users will be able to order spare parts for the Galaxy Book Pro 15.6-inch notebook as well as three TV models of the UN32N4000 series. Laptop repairs include display, touchpad, fingerprint/power button, front case, rear case and rubber elements. Samsung South Korea will provide official repair manuals and videos for each supported repair via its official website. Following smartphone repairs, users will be able to perform a self-diagnosis inside the Samsung Members app to assess their repair. Users will be able to return their used parts to Samsung for a partial refund and safe disposal. Source (in Korean) Back in early March, vivo released the V27 Pro. Now, mere weeks later, the Chinese company is ready to unveil the V29 Pro. We're not sure what's going on here - normally jumping a couple of numbers forward is what successors do in vivoland, but a new release so soon is pretty weird. Regardless, vivo Philippines put up a teaser page for the upcoming V29 Pro, which is "coming soon". Thankfully, that page reveals most of the handset's main specs, so let's go through them and see how this model compares to the V27 Pro, at least on paper. The V29 Pro comes with a 6.7-inch 1080p 120 Hz curved OLED touchscreen, a "64 MP triple rear camera solution", a 50 MP main front-facing camera (implying there's more than one), and a 5,000 mAh battery with support for 66W fast wired charging. The phone will have 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Those are some pretty good specs, and compared to the V27 Pro, the V29 Pro has possibly the same screen, a different main rear camera (64 MP on the new model, 50 MP on the old one), and a bigger battery. The V27 Pro is also offered with 12 GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, but it has other versions too. Naturally, the V29 Pro should be running Android 13 with vivo's Funtouch 13 on top when it does become fully official. Source | Via analysis The forced return of migrants from the European Union (EU) to their countries of origin continues to be a source of major tension in African countries as well as EU member states. The result has been that the EU - and individual member states - have been scrambling to come up with ways to improve cooperation on migration. What EU countries want is for countries of origin to take back migrants that are not able to live legally in Europe. But return rates from the EU to Africa are the lowest compared to other world regions and have even decreased in the last decade. For example, only 9% of Senegalese with an order to return from the EU did so between 2015 and 2019. In other words, of the 30,650 Senegalese migrants who received an order to leave from a European country between 2015 and 2019, only 2,805 did. Forced return necessitates the cooperation of countries of origin through for example issuing travel documents or allowing flights to land. Based on my recent work and broader research project, I argue that returns are so low in part because European policy makers ignore the competing issues and interests African stakeholders face. I also show how West African states resist cooperating on returns. Their strategies range from reluctant compliance with deportations of their citizens to proactive noncompliance, which has included incidents or threats of violence. My findings help explain why current migration partnerships continue to have little effect on returns. Migration partnerships coming up empty Apart from Rwanda, which has signed a deal with the UK to take in asylum seekers, not yet implemented, returns from European countries are hugely unpopular in most African countries. The EU's Partnership Framework was established in June 2016. It sought to mobilise the instruments, resources and influence of both the EU and member states to establish cooperation with partner countries in order to "manage" migration flows. It stated that the priority was to achieve fast returns. It named five priority countries for this approach: Ethiopia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal, seeking to establish tailored migration compacts with them. This framework has so far largely failed to achieve better migration cooperation. The same applies to the New Pact on Migration and Asylum from 2020, and a revised visa code which allows visa restrictions for countries not adequately cooperating on returns. Forced returns, especially back to west Africa, remain low as noted above. There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly, deportations are often violent and traumatic events for those being returned and involve serious human rights violations. For example, a Senegalese migrant rights group recently documented a case of a person who was deported from a closed psychiatric institution in Germany without medication, medical records or telephone and other personal belongings and was left to fend for himself on arrival. Governments wanting to take care of their citizens will want to avoid this. Secondly, returns can come at the cost of important remittances (often higher than development aid). For example, Nigeria is the largest net remittance-recipient country in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2017, the country received US$22 billion in official remittances, representing 5.9% of Nigeria's GDP. In comparison, official development assistance came to US$3.36 billion, only 0.89% of GDP. Thus, countries calculate that returns could reduce remittances. And reintegrating deportees comes with social and economic costs. Thirdly, countries feel that they are badly treated by their European counterparts. Legal migration pathways are limited and the EU approach has become increasingly punitive. There are stricter visa conditions for countries not seen to be adequately cooperating on returns, like The Gambia or Senegal. Governments respond in various ways to return pressures from the EU. A range of responses The research considered the interests of governments in Nigeria, Senegal and The Gambia. It built on 129 interviews with policymakers, politicians, civil society activists and academic experts in these countries and in the EU. Countries' responses range from reluctant compliance to reactive and proactive noncompliance. They are likely to use all these strategies at different times, sometimes simultaneously. Responses are influenced by the often conflicting pressures governments face domestically and externally. Reluctant compliance is when countries comply with deportations, but only reluctantly. For example informal return agreements signal compliance to international partners but attract less scrutiny from parliamentary oversight bodies or the general public. This strategy can, however, backfire and cause distrust and outrage from citizens. Reactive noncompliance includes calling out technical issues and causing delays in return operations. States may fail to identify whether migrants are their citizens, or fail to issue travel documents of migrants awaiting deportation. This can be a less costly strategy than outright refusing deportations, while increasing domestic approval. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Migration Africa By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Proactive noncompliance is the most extreme response. This is when states are more direct in their refusal to cooperate with returns. It includes, for example, stalling on negotiations for a formal return agreement. Senegal and Nigeria have taken this route. The Gambia even implemented a moratorium on all (chartered) deportation flights for a few months. Proactive noncompliance holds the most potential for governments to improve their domestic legitimacy - especially during elections. But it can come at the cost of international support. In the case of The Gambia, for example, the EU has imposed visa sanctions. Way forward EU stakeholders could do more to consider the interests that African countries have when it comes to accepting returnees. Ratcheting up the pressure will produce more resistance. Rather, the EU should focus on repairing relationships. One way would be to offer migration pathways that are accessible, visible and credible. Tying this to return pressures is not likely to work, and will not improve relationships in the long run. Franzisca Zanker, Senior research fellow, Arnold Bergstraesser Institute Joaquin Cook, Bank of Guam president and CEO, at the bank headquarters in Hagatna on July 7, 2021. Guam is recovering from Typhoon Mawar without a plan, according to Mayors Council of Guam President Jesse Alig, who said residents are suffering needlessly because of government ineptitude. Mawar was nothing compared to what were going through right now. Shame on us, Alig told lawmakers during an emergency legislative session Tuesday. My people will not live like pigs because of this governments ineptness. Nobody, no CHamoru, no Guamanian, deserves to live like this. The storm happened six days ago, Alig said, and some villages are only now getting access to heavy equipment. Alig, who is the mayor of Piti, said his village needs heavy equipment, chainsaws and fuel. A Department of Public Works truck came strolling by the village without stopping, he said. Before I came here, you know what the chief of police told me? That I have to wait in line for gas, Alig told senators. Lawmakers were debating a bill by Speaker Therese Terlaje that would give the governor an additional transfer of authority, of $50 million from the general fund, to pay for typhoon recovery. The budget law already gives the governor a $50 million transfer authority, and Bill 127 would increase it to $100 million. The problem is, if theres money, why in heavens name are we not using it six days after the storm? Alig asked. Alig said the government is full of talk and is making plenty of mistakes. Theres no gas shortage, but you have to wait six hours (for gas)? he said. The government recently set up staging areas for green waste, Alig said, but there still are no places to put metal or lumber from damaged or destroyed homes. Alig said he told village residents to ignore the governments anti-burning instructions and said they should put their metal waste along Marine Corps Drive so Public Works will eventually pick it up. Dont burn? Where are they gonna put the trash? You know what I told my people? Burn it, Alig said. FEMA has had representatives on Guam since before the storm, Alig said, but federal distribution of bottled water started only Tuesday, and FEMA still is not distributing food. Alig said he has been distributing bottled water he bought personally, and some village residents have been helping by donating water and ice. He said mayors of larger villages dont have the resources to provide similar aid to hundreds of displaced families in their villages. (Guam Waterworks Authority) lied to the governor. GWA lied to us, the people of Guam, when it said it would be ready for the typhoon, Alig said. He said the government also did not consider that many of Guams residents are diabetic and need ice to keep their insulin cold and need access to working dialysis centers. He said he drove to dialysis centers to see if they are open so he would have information for the public. I didnt come here to cry, but honestly I called a friend because I had to cry this morning, Alig said. If our people are crying, we shouldnt be here. We should be out there helping them. And thats why I asked to go first, so I can go back to help my people. Editors note: Businesses and organizations can send their information to news@guampdn.com for publication. District Court of Guam Due to damage caused by Typhoon Mawar, the District Court of Guam will remain closed through June 1 and will open on June 2 for providing emergency and essential services and conducting essential proceedings. Any proceeding scheduled through June 1 will be rescheduled. All filing deadlines are tolled through June 5. The courts civil, criminal and bankruptcy CM/ECF system are now available for electronic filing and will be monitored by court staff. See General Order 23-0013 and contact the court at clerks@gud.uscourts.gov with any questions that you may have. Guam Community College The Guam Community College is closed to the public this week as employees assess and prepare for reopening at a later date. For questions contact (671) 482-4320. University of Guam The University of Guam Finakpo Summer Session A will be postponed until June 13. For more information, contact Admissions at admitme@triton.uog.edu. The special meeting of the University of Guam Board of Regents is scheduled for 5 p.m. June 6, in the Office of Information Technology, Student Computer Lab, Room 108C, UOG. The meeting will be publicly accessible by registering for Zoom access at https://zoom.us/j/94901255380 A working session will be held in the Presidents Conference Room at 4:30 p.m. A broadcast of the 5 p.m. meeting via video livestream will be available on the UOG YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/uogtritons. Guam Chamber of Commerce Guam Chamber General Membership Meeting was scheduled for May 31 at 11:30 a.m., at the Micronesia Ballroom, Hilton Guam Resort & Spa. The meeting will be canceled due to structural damages, limited supply in gas, low to no running water, and power. Bank of Hawaii Bank of Hawaiis Hagatna Branch will reopen on May 30, according to information released by the bank. Hagatna and Harmon branches to resume normal operating hours. Weekdays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays: closed Given the power outages across the West Pacific region, some Bank of Hawaii ATMs on Guam and Saipan are not functioning. For a current list of ATMs that are operating on Guam and Saipan, please visit the Bank of Hawaii website at: https://www.boh.com/mawar. Call Center operations remain open to assist customers. West Pacific region customers may continue to contact Bank of Hawaii through its Call Center at 1-877-553-2424 for Guam and Saipan. Bank of Hawaiis Call Center on Guam will be automatically re-routed to Hawaii. Online and mobile banking services will continue to operate unless power interruptions are experienced. Bank of Hawaii will also place public updates on all of its social media platforms (Facebook: www.facebook.com/bankofhawaii, Instagram: www.instagram.com/bankofhawaii and Twitter: www.twitter.com/bankofhawaii), as well as its website: www.boh.com. Guam Regional Medical City The Guam Regional Medical City continues to recover from damage incurred by Typhoon Mawar. To continue to assure the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, the hospital continues to suspend its visitation hours until further notice. Outpatient appointments and elective surgery have been postponed and will be rescheduled. GRMC staff will be contacting patients to reschedule. Dulce Nombre de Maria, Hagatna The Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagatna, resumes its regular schedule of Masses, announced by Monsignor James Benavente, pastor, according to a release from the church. The Cathedral-Basilica generator is operational and will provide power during the Masses. GCA Trades Academy The GCA Trades Academy will be closed until utilities are restored. All classes including summer school have been postponed until further notice. Please stay tuned to announcements. While the Office of the Attorney General is continuing its investigation into United Airlines post-typhoon fares to Guam, an airline representative explained why high ticket prices were displayed on the companys website. In one case, a June 1 economy ticket from Honolulu to Guam was offered for $7,994. Dan Weiss, Uniteds managing director of Global Government and Regulatory Affairs, said all Guam flights between 1 p.m. May 23 and 3 p.m. May 29 were canceled because of the airports closure. Passengers scheduled to fly on those days were re-booked on flights immediately following the airports opening, which resulted in limited to no availability on United-operated flights for several days, On days with no availability for United flights, the website typically defaults to displaying itineraries involving other airlines connecting in Japan, which are often priced at much higher economy class prices due to industry fare combinability rules. The June 1 itinerary involved a flight from Honolulu to Narita operated by All Nippon Airways, and a flight from Narita to Guam operated by United. Uniteds website in normal course of business combines the partner fare with Uniteds fare and makes these itineraries available to the traveler, Weiss wrote. United confirms it does not sell an economy fare of or close to $7,994 for travel between Tokyo NRT and Guam. When the fares were brought to the attention of the company, United disabled the functionality on its website that allows these types of itineraries to be displayed for travel to/from Guam. While the pricing for the combined flights is correct, Weiss said the high-priced itineraries were giving the wrong impression about fares United makes available to the public. He noted that a travel waiver is in effect for tickets to and from Guam through June 5, and Weiss provided sample fares reflecting lower rates. Weiss also said United is operating relief flights to Guam and partnering with nonprofits and federal agencies to assess how best United can support relief and reconstruction efforts for our flight operations, our employees, and for the broader Guam community. On Monday, Attorney General Douglas Moylan announced his office launched a Consumer Protection Act investigation of United Airlines. Guam law forbids merchants from raising the prices of goods or services because of a disaster-related shortage. Moylan said the investigation will continue as it remains in its preliminary stages and as more information is obtained and confirmed. Haiti - Cap-Haitien : Logo contest, open submissions The Municipal Commission of Cap-Haitien is launching a competition for the creation of a logo that will serve as a graphic identity to sell the "Okap Fiesta" concept. Central theme : "Cap Haitien, a Caribbean Cultural Destination". Objective : - Create the visual identity of the "Okap Fiesta" - Promote Cape Town as a Caribbean Cultural Destination Logo features : Originality : The logo must be original and must not project any resemblance to another existing logo; Simplicity : The colours, characters and shapes used must allow the logo to be easily and quickly identified; Readability : The logo must be readable on a 3cm X 3cm format, easily recognizable and memorable. Technical constraints : - Be polychrome (several colors); - Include no more than three (3) colors; - Be in formats : JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PDF - 300 DPI resolution - Keep the format of the creation software in case of gain: Al, Photoshop, Corel, Autocad or other. Conditions of participation : - This free contest is intended for young Haitian graphic designers; - Be under the age of 30; - The committee greatly encourages the participation of women; - The shortlisted accept the publication of their logos on the Okapfiesta Facebook page. - The contest winner accepts that the logo proposal becomes the exclusive property of the Town Hall of Cap-Haitien. The winner will relinquish all copyright and distribution rights to the use of the logo. Deadline : Submit the work before June 10, 2023 at 11:00 am (ET) to the following email address : Okapfiesta2023@gmail.com with for subject of "doter la Municipalite capoise d'une plateforme de Coordination, de synchronisation et d'organisation d'evenements culturels, artistiques, intellectuels et sportifs allant de 20 Juin Jusqu'au 20 septembre 2023." Premium : 500 US dollars to the winner HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - FLASH : Hunger in the world, Haiti, the Sahel and Sudan on high alert Monday, May 29, 2023, the UN declared that Haiti, the Sahel and Sudan are now part of the areas on maximum alert, part of their population is exposed to famine or at risk of suffering it, corresponding to phase 5 of IPC a situation that requires "urgent" attention from the international community. These 3 countries join Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen which were already on high alert. In a joint report, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP) explain "This is due to the severe restrictions on the movement of people and goods in Haiti, as well as in Burkina Faso and Mali, as well as the recent conflict in Sudan." HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Education : National learning recovery program for students, more details Monday, May 2023, 29 at a press conference today, several officials from the Ministry of National Education provided details on the National Learning Recovery Program. This program launched by Minister Manigat on May 15, 2023 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39522-haiti-flash-state-exams-support-program-for-9th-af-and-secondary-students.html began in the Departmental Directorates, particularly in the West Department where several learning centers opened the weekend of May 26 and 27 for students in the 9th year of fundamental and secondary 4. The learning compensation program has three components : The first component concerns the recovery of learning losses. This part concerns pupils in the 7th, 8th and 9th fundamental years, and pupils in classes from secondary 1 to secondary 4. Miguel Fleurijean indicates that there are approximately 850 trainee teachers who have graduated from the CFEF, Faculty of Applied Linguistics, IERAH/ISERSS, ENARTS, normal schools, UPRs that work with students, throughout the territory, from Monday to Friday. The second concerns the acceleration of learning to help students prepare for this year's official exams such as the 9th and the baccalaureate. This part will take place on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. It is the teachers who have already proven themselves in the system who will work with the students who will write the state exams; 9th years and secondary 4 students. The third part concerns the consolidation of learning. For this part the Director Miguel Fleurijean explains that it is a work that is done with the idea of appreciating the kind of skills that the students have after having finished following these courses; skills for life, skills to pass exams and pursue university studies. Overall, the learning compensation program mobilizes 2,500 teachers, including trainee teachers. In order to reach 300,000 candidates from the 9th year of the fundamental and the secondary 4 who will take part in the State exams, the ministry has combined a series of strategies and tools that can help it reach all these students, public students schools such as private school students. One of the strategies is to provide these courses in learning recovery centers. There are 37 centers of this type that have opened their doors in the West department. Others are opening their doors in other departments. Another strategy consists in broadcasting these courses on the Educational Radio of the Ministry (102.1 FM) and on the radios of Port-au-Prince and in the provincial towns. The Ministry must distribute these courses on digital keys and digital cards to students in public and private schools so that a student or a teacher can consult them on a computer, telephone or digital tablet. Kendy Nicolas specifies that all these educational resources are in accordance with the Ministry's official curriculum. As part of the courses taking place on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, for this first weekend, 19,000 students from the 9th year of fundamental and secondary 4 attended the 36 centers in the West department. Note that this program has received financial support from several international institutions such as Education Cannot Wait, UNICEF and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39522-haiti-flash-state-exams-support-program-for-9th-af-and-secondary-students.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39417-haiti-notice-course-of-compensation-and-acceleration-of-learning-for-students-of-9th-af.html HL/ HaitiLibre Published on 2023/05/29 | Source Will actors Kim Nam-gil and Kim Young-kwang meet on Netflix's "Trigger"? Advertisement On the 18th, Netflix told Celeb Media, "We are reviewing several works in the process of finding good works, and it is one of them. We ask for your understanding that it is difficult to tell you more because nothing has been decided yet". Kim Young-kwang and Kim Nam-gil's agencies also said, "We are considering positively". Earlier, it was reported that Kim Nam-gil and Kim Young-kwang were cast as the main characters of "Trigger". The work is expected to be released through Netflix. Kim Young-kwang is said to have been offered the role of Moon Baek, who has a four-dimensional charm that becomes a key figure in the weapons broker world, while Kim Nam-gil has been offered the role of Lee Do, aa current police officer. The director of "Trigger" is Kwon Oh-seung of the movie "Midnight". Mr Tinubu's predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, gave similar assurance at his inauguration in 2015. President Bola Tinubu has promised to govern according to the Nigerian constitution and the rule of law, a promised departure from the path toed by his predecessor. Mr Tinubu gave the assurance at his inauguration on Monday, promising that respect for the constitution and the rule of law will underpin his economic programmes. Mr Tinubu's predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, made a similar promise at his inauguration in 2015. But within the first seven months, the Buhari administration descended into the fray of violation of rights with the massacre of Shiites in Zaria, Kaduna States, and serial violations of court orders. In the first few months in office, the Buhari administration disobeyed a series of court orders granting bail to a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, and the leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. This attitude became a defining feature of the administration, sustaining a culture of defiance of court orders and disregard for the rule of law throughout his eight-year rule. In its dying days in office, the Buhari administration pursued an unpopular naira swapping policy in arrogant insensitivity to untold hardship it brought on millions of Nigerians. Unmoved by the suffering of Nigerians, Mr Buhari for weeks refused to obey a Supreme Court order that directed him and the Central Bank of Nigeria to recognise the legal tender status of old naira notes they had withdrawn from circulation without adequate replacement with their new versions. The final decision of the Supreme Court on the matter, in March, adjudged Mr Buhari a violator of the court order, a description that he serially exhibited in his eight years in office. Mr Tinubu, who belongs to the same party - the All Progressives Congress (APC) - as Mr Buhari, took over the reins of power on Monday with many of the issues, including the naira crisis, and Nnamdi Kanu situation, still unresolved. In what appears to be Mr Tinubu's plan to toe a different path, the new president said he would base his economic policies on the rule of law and security, with the participation of women and the youth. He said, "In the coming days and weeks, my team will publicly detail key aspects of our programme. Today, permit me to outline in broad terms a few initiatives that define our concept of progressive good governance in furtherance of the Nigerian ideal: Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "The principles that will guide our administration are simple: "Nigeria will be impartially governed according to the constitution and the rule of law. "We shall defend the nation from terror and all forms of criminality that threaten the peace and stability of our country and our subregion. "We shall remodel our economy to bring about growth and development through job creation, food security and an end of extreme poverty. "In our administration, Women and youth will feature prominently. "Our government will continue to take proactive steps such as championing a credit culture to discourage corruption while strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of the various anti-corruption agencies." Published on 2023/05/29 | Source New photos 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 blog Maternal mental health is a critical yet often overlooked issue that effects the experience and quality of a woman's health during the perinatal period -- the period which includes pregnancy and up to two years following childbirth. Pregnancy, childbirth, and early motherhood can be quite challenging as they often result in significant changes to a woman's physical well-being, appearance and financial circumstances. Consequently, many women experience changes in their mental health which can have a negative impact on their general health and, as a result the well-being of their infants and family. In 2019, Nigeria Health Watch conducted a baseline study on the causes of maternal deaths in Nigeria. The findings, documented in a report titled "Why are Women Dying While Giving Birth in Nigeria", revealed that many women face mental health challenges during pregnancy and after childbirth, among other things. Women reported high levels of anxiety throughout their pregnancies, with limited access to support services. Their anxieties were particularly focused on labour and the fear of dying while giving birth, which was exacerbated by reports of maternal deaths within their communities. The lack of information on the causes of these deaths understandably heightened their fears. Furthermore, women reported a lack of emotional and practical support, particularly from their partners, during pregnancy. Unfortunately, the mental health of these women was not adequately addressed during antenatal or postnatal care, as 'God' was often referred to as their only coping mechanism for worries and fears. The hidden struggles of maternal mental health Until recently, there has been minimal discourse regarding the psychological impact of pregnancy and childbirth on women's mental health. Common perinatal mental disorders (CPMDs), such as depression, anxiety disorders, and postpartum psychosis, pose significant and lasting effects on women's health and quality of life. Globally, 10% of pregnant women and 13% of new mothers experience a mental health disorder, primarily perinatal depression. The burden is even higher in developing countries, where approximately 25% and 19% of women experience mental health disorders in their antenatal and postnatal periods, respectively. In Nigeria, perinatal depression affects up to 10% to 30% of women. Aside from negatively affecting a mother's ability to care for her child, perinatal depression increases the risk for suicide, which is a serious public health concern that has been estimated to become the major cause of maternal deaths in developing countries. Maternal mental health issues have been related to the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in developing countries, with one in five mothers of full-term infants suffering from a perinatal mental health issues. In addition to the impact on the health and well-being of the new mother, perinatal mental health disorders can have a number of short- and long-term negative repercussions on the physical, cognitive and emotional development of her baby. These include preterm birth, low birth weight, poor mother-to-child interaction, infant undernutrition and stunting, poor infant development and increased dropout rates for recommended immunisations. The Intersection of maternal and mental health The hospital or health facility where a woman receives antenatal and postnatal care can be a great location for assessing and treating her mental health. However, in Nigeria, the major of health facilities to which pregnant women have access to, especially primary health facilities, are inadequately equipped to provide mental health services as these services are often concentrated in secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities. Recognising the importance of mental health in the perinatal period and incorporating mental health assessments into routine care is essential for early detection, intervention, and support. By incorporating mental health screenings and assessments into standard prenatal care, health care providers can identify signs of distress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges that may arise during pregnancy. In addition, postnatal care visits offer a critical opportunity to assess a woman's mental health during the vulnerable early weeks and months of motherhood. The postnatal period is characterised by significant adjustments, hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, and the challenges of caring for a newborn. Healthcare providers can use this time to evaluate a woman's emotional state, support her transition into motherhood, and provide appropriate interventions if needed. Integrating mental health into maternal health services Nigeria's Mental Health Bill, the National Mental Health Act, 2021, which was enacted into law in January 2023, provides a legal framework to develop a dedicated guideline for maternal mental health care in order to provide adequate mental health support to mothers during the perinatal period. This significant legislation mandates the Federal Ministry of Health (FmoH) to provide a supportive framework for community-based mental health services and to integrate mental health into disease-specific programmes, including those focused on maternal, sexual, and reproductive health. However, five months after the enactment of this Bill, there has been limited progress in implementing its provisions. The Mental Health Act recognises the importance of integrating mental health into maternal health service delivery. It is, therefore, critical to develop a 'Maternal Mental Health Service Delivery' framework or guideline to provide a clear roadmap for the process of integrating mental health into maternal health services. The guideline will ensure that healthcare providers have the necessary tools, knowledge, and support to deliver effective and integrated care to pregnant women, promoting their overall well-being during the perinatal period. In line with World Health Organization (WHO) Guide four point steps for the Integration of Perinatal Mental Health into Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services, the guideline should incorporate the following; 1. Provision of Care: Focus on promoting, preventing, and treating perinatal mental health conditions in MCH services. This includes creating a supportive environment to reduce stigma, ensuring respectful care, providing psychoeducation, stress management, social support (including partner and family support), promoting functioning and life skills, and implementing mental health condition recognition through screening and risk factor identification. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Health Nigeria By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. 2. Integration of Programmes: Plan for effective integration of perinatal mental health into MCH services. Successful implementations have been observed in countries like South Africa -- originally initiated by the Perinatal Mental Health Project (PMHP) -- an independent initiative based at the University of Cape Town. Services integrated include, screening, testing and psychiatry. This has enabled 90% of all women attending antenatal care in the maternity clinics to be offered mental health screening and 32% qualified for referral being offered appropriate counseling. Recently, this service is being integrated into the public health systems in South Africa. 3. Provision of Care for specific needs: Tailor and provide inclusive care for vulnerable groups of women during the perinatal period. 4. Monitoring and Evaluation: Implement monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure the effectiveness of perinatal mental health services. However, the representation of women in global health leadership must be promoted to create a more inclusive and gender-responsive approach to addressing maternal mental health. Women leaders bring a unique perspective rooted in their own experiences and understanding of women's health issues. They can advocate for the inclusion of maternal mental health as a priority on the global health agenda, ensuring that policies, programmes, and resources are directed towards addressing this critical area. Their influence, advocacy, and expertise contribute to raising awareness, influencing policy, and driving actions that ensure women receive the necessary support and access to quality mental health services during pregnancy and the postnatal period. BOONE, NC Internationally acclaimed jazz artist Emmet Cohen and his award-winning trio take to the Appalachian Theatre stage in Boone at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 10 as a headliner event during the 2023 High Country Jazz Festival. It is one of 14 separate events in ten different locations throughout Boone and Blowing Rock that are part of the 2023 festival, which runs from June 9 through 11. Tickets for The Emmet Cohen Trio are $35 and $42. More than half of the 14 events are free of charge to the general public with tickets on sale for headliner performances via the festival website: www.highcountryjazzfestival.org All About Jazz writer Zachary Weg observed, [Cohen is] not just the poster man for contemporary jazz, breathing 2020s finesse onto early twentieth century swing, he is a supremely gifted and impassioned artist of the highest order. Emmet Cohen won the 2019 American Pianists Award and appears regularly with jazz greats Benny Golson, Tootie Heath, and Lea DeLaria among others. During the 2020 pandemic lockdown, he gained fame with weekly live-streamed performances featuring a wide range of jazz works. Cohen has appeared in varied international jazz events, including the Newport, Monterey, Detroit, North Sea, Bern, Edinburgh, and Jerusalem jazz festivals, as well as the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia. The Emmet Cohen Trio consists of Cohen on piano, Joey Ranieri on bass, and Kyle Poole on drums. They have performed at the Village Vanguard, the Blue Note, Dizzys Club Coca-Cola, Birdland, Jazz Standard, Londons Ronnie Scotts, Jazzhaus Montmartre in Copenhagen, Lincoln Centers Rose Hall, the Cotton Club in Tokyo, and the Kennedy Center. The New York Times wrote that, Cohen has a breezy, phlegmatic command at the keyboard, and a deep well of historical jazz references at his fingertips. If he wasnt already an obvious heir apparent to the neo-traditional jazz mantle, his win at last weekends American Pianists Awards ought to make it official. Surprisingly, Emmet will be making his High Country debut during our 23 Festival, said Todd Wright, co-chair of the leadership team for the weekend long event. His incredibly talented trio of musicians are all in their 30s and will give our audiences a chance to hear what theyve been missing from the younger crowd. Jazz has an incredible lineage that continues today through such talented artists as Cohen performing Live from Emmets Place in NYC on a weekly basis. Wright is alluding to the eight lucky guests who gather at Cohens fifth-floor walk-up in Harlem while thousands more from around the world tune into livestreams of the event on Facebook and YouTube. Cohens concert is one of four events on Saturday, June 10 with live music morning, noon, and night on the schedule, beginning with student artists in the morning and well-established jazz legends that evening. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Marquee Jazz showcases students in Wrights Jazz Studies Program performing popular works underneath the historic, award-winning art deco facade and marquee at the Appalachian Theatre. This event is free to the public. For two hours on Saturday morning, the brightest and best of my students, or at least the early risers, will show up to demonstrate the teachings they have learned during their tutelage at Appalachian, said Wright. Im very proud of this group of aspiring professionals. From noon to 3 p.m., a High Country Jazz Lunch takes place at Lost Province Brewing Company, located at 130 North Depot Street in Boone, just a short walk from the App Theatre featuring The Ron Brendle Trio with Andy Page. Ron is a seven-time Creative Loafing magazine Jazz Artist of the Year and recipient of Jazz Composition grants from both the Arts and Science Council of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and the North Carolina Arts Council. While there is no cover charge for this event, reservations are encouraged. Audiences will then head over to the App Theatre for the 7:30 p.m. performance by The Emmett Cohen Trio. From 10 p.m. until midnight, jazz enthusiasts and musicians from near and far will gather at Beacon Butcher Bar in Boone for a Late Night Jazz Festival Jam Session. It will be a chance to enjoy your favorite beverage and tasting menu while listening to emerging talents and seasoned veterans celebrating this beloved art form. The Beacon is located at 125 Graduate Lane in the 1700 block of Highway 105 next to the iconic Water Wheel. This event is free of charge and no advance reservations are necessary. The goal of the High Country Jazz Festival is to host exceptional and engaging jazz experiences for local residents and regional audiences with proceeds to support arts, education, and civic programs that enrich our High Country home. The three-day celebration of the art form of jazz is a unique partnership between the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country (ATHC), Boone Sunrise Rotary, and the Jazz Studies Program at Appalachian State University. The 2023 festival is presented by Mast General Store with additional support from Explore Boone and Hampton Inn & Suites, Boone. The festival is offering an all-event ticket, which includes admission to all three headliner performances. There are two options: Premier ($110, including taxes and fees, with prime seating for Appalachian Theatre performances) and Regular ($95, including taxes and fees). To purchase tickets, please visit the festivals official website at www.highcountryjazzfestival.org. About the Appalachian Theatre The mission of the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country is to revitalize and sustain this historic community touchstone as a quality home for diverse artists and audiences with a special focus on programs that celebrate our distinctive Appalachian heritage and enhance our capacity to serve as an economic catalyst for Boone and the High Country. Once a gorgeous 999-seat Art Deco movie house, the building closed in 2007 and sat empty and gutted for years. On October 14, 2019, the Appalachian Theatre reopened its doors after a $10 million renovation that brought the distinctive Art Deco details back to this historic theatre and created a new 629-seat, state-of-the-art, acoustically pristine venue for live concerts, films, plays, and dance performances. The historic Appalachian Theatre has entertained regional audiences in the heart of downtown Boone, North Carolina since 1938. www.apptheatre.org About Boone Sunrise Rotary Boone Sunrise Rotary brings together business, professional and civic leaders within our community. Rotary promotes integrity, understanding and goodwill locally, nationally, and worldwide. The proceeds from the festival will further Rotarys commitment to humanitarian and civic service and will go directly to many of the local nonprofit organizations that serve the High Country. www.boonerotary.org About the Jazz Studies Program The Jazz Studies Program at Appalachian State University identifies students with a special interest in jazz, promotes high standards of jazz performance, and expands the circle of students who have meaningful experiences with jazz during their college careers. Program support will help provide student enrichment, off-set performance tour costs, student scholarships, host acclaimed jazz clinicians and the purchase of music and supplies. www.music.appstate.edu Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket Senni Moilanen , the board chairperson at Helsinki Pride, told Helsingin Sanomat on Friday that the controversial decision stemmed from a general discussion on the eligibility criteria imposed on commercial and non-commercial partners of the annual event celebrating gender and sexual minorities. HELSINKI PRIDE COMMUNITY has confirmed and shed light on the reasoning for its decision to not co-operate with the Centre and National Coalition in 2023. Such discussions, she added, have been had on an annual basis already for decades. The board met twice to weigh up its decision on the two political parties, with already the first meeting provoking serious discussion on whether the community should restrict partnerships with all political parties, a question that is the subject of regular feedback. The conclusion drawn at the meeting was that the issue is difficult. We decided to take a moment to mull over and allocate a bit of time for information gathering, recounted Moilanen. In the second meeting, the board established a set of criteria for partnerships. This year we examined our partnerships through the lens of what kind of human rights policy has each party pursued in the past year from the viewpoint of the rainbow community. The trans act emerged as a central consideration, she told. The Centre and National Coalition were ultimately ruled unsuitable partners on grounds that some of their members had voted against the government bill to reform the trans act, after each party had defined the vote as an issue of conscience. It was a disappointment to us that you can approach human rights as an issue of conscience, Annu Kemppainen, the executive director of Helsinki Pride, stated to Helsingin Sanomat. The board also reviewed how lawmakers from different parties have commented on the topic in public, finding that some have done so in a transphobic if not outright violent manner, according to Moilanen. This, she added, has contributed to creating a climate that is unsafe and harmful for gender and sexual minorities. Our duty is primarily to ensure the safety of our members. Kemppainen added that Helsinki Pride is disappointed that some parties have refrained from rejecting the transphobic remarks of their members. Because the organisation exists fundamentally to promote the interests of the rainbow community, it opted against providing visibility to such lawmakers this year. She added that the decision was not made against any individual lawmakers, but rather at the organisational level. Helsinki Prides partnerships have nothing to do with party politics. Were an unaffiliated human rights organisation and thatll be the case also in the future, emphasised Kemppainen. Moilanen on Friday also expressed her regret that the decision was subject to some misinterpretations, underscoring that the decision applies exclusively to the parties presence at this years event. Petteri Orpo, the chairperson of the National Coalition, viewed earlier last week that the decision was unusual. Im very sad about the decision. I think its a political decision, rather than a factual one, he commented at the House of the Estates on Tuesday, 23 May. This offends many people in our party, and I think its unusual. Aleksi Teivainen HT A recent study conducted by researchers Mari Vaattovaara and Pekka Vuori sheds light on significant changes in housing construction in the Helsinki metropolitan area and Tampere between 2015 and 2021. The study, titled "Changes in Housing Construction in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and Tampere, 2015-2021," reveals a surge in the construction of predominantly small rental studios and one-bedroom apartments. With the publication set for June 1, 2023, at 10:00 on the City of Helsinki's website, Vaattovaara and Vuori will provide detailed insights into their findings during a press conference on the same day. Over the past years, housing construction in Helsinki and Tampere has witnessed a record number of smaller units, primarily studio apartments and one-bedroom flats. The researchers' analysis of housing construction trends between 2015 and 2021 indicates a substantial shift towards compact living spaces. In Espoo and Helsinki, the combined share of studio apartments and one-bedroom units accounted for approximately 57%, while in Vantaa, the figure reached nearly 70%. Tampere stood out with a staggering 76% of newly constructed units falling into these categories. Additionally, the average size of recently completed dwellings experienced a significant decline during the period of 2019-2021. The study highlights the growing dominance of rental properties in the new housing market. The majority of the newly constructed small units have been allocated for rental purposes, with homeownership becoming increasingly marginal. Despite the substantial housing production, the number of small owner-occupied apartments has even decreased. This trend suggests that accessing homeownership, particularly for young individuals, has become more challenging. The decrease in homeownership is not limited to newly constructed units but also affects the existing housing stock. A notable development in the Helsinki metropolitan area is the shift towards constructing larger apartment buildings in Helsinki compared to Espoo and Vantaa. Professor Mari Vaattovaara, an expert in urban geography at the University of Helsinki, points out that the current construction in Helsinki prioritizes more spacious multi-story apartments. Furthermore, Helsinki surpasses its neighboring cities in the production of affordable rental and housing cooperative units supported by the government. The newly developed residential areas in Helsinki also exhibit a more balanced demographic composition compared to other areas in the region. The researchers draw attention to the emergence of several new areas in the Helsinki metropolitan region, particularly in Vantaa and Espoo, where rental housing predominates, and family-oriented dwellings are scarce. The demographic composition of these areas is already showing signs of potential segregation, as highlighted by population expert Pekka Vuori. The recent study by Mari Vaattovaara and Pekka Vuori sheds light on the transformation of the housing market in the Helsinki metropolitan area and Tampere. The findings reveal a significant shift towards smaller units, with rental apartments becoming the norm. The decrease in homeownership and the potential implications of segregation in certain areas raise concerns about housing accessibility and diversity. These insights can inform policymakers and urban planners in their efforts to address the evolving housing needs of the growing population in these regions. The complete research report will be available on the City of Helsinki's website starting from June 1, 2023. HT In 2021, municipalities across Finland were able to maintain their greenhouse gas emissions at the previous year's level, according to the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke). While progress was made in transitioning towards low-carbon heating methods, the increased consumption of heating energy in buildings slowed down the positive emissions trend. The most significant reductions in emissions were observed in road transport, thanks to the increased use of bio-based liquid transport fuels such as petrol and diesel. Additionally, the total mileage decreased slightly compared to the previous year. However, emissions from district heat production saw a rise of approximately five percent, despite a nine percent decrease in emissions per unit of energy produced. This increase in emissions was attributed to a 15 percent increase in energy consumption in the sector. The consumption of electricity also saw an eight percent increase, leading to a greater reliance on fossil fuels in electricity production. Consequently, the specific emission factor of electricity production slightly increased compared to the previous year. Santtu Karhinen, Senior Research Scientist at the Finnish Environment Institute, explained that 2020 was an exceptional year due to the global pandemic, which affected societal functions and resulted in warmer weather. In contrast, 2021 was significantly colder, and society began to recover from the initial shock of the pandemic. Emissions from waste treatment decreased by 5.4 percent compared to the previous year, with the waste sector accounting for 4.5 percent of total emissions in 2021. The reduction in emissions was mainly due to the recovery of landfill gas and the limitation of landfilling biodegradable waste. Fluorinated greenhouse gas (F-gas) emissions decreased by seven percent, and emissions from agriculture decreased slightly over one percent compared to the previous year. The distribution of emissions across different sectors remained relatively unchanged from the previous year. The main sectors with significant emissions that require targeted reduction measures are road transport (27 percent), agriculture (20 percent), district heat consumption (14 percent), and electricity consumption (heating and consumer electricity totaling 12 percent). Despite the consistent emissions levels in 2021, positive long-term emissions trends can be observed. From 2005 to 2021, greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 27.7 percent in almost all Finnish municipalities. Monitoring Emissions in Accordance with the Climate Act The Climate Act requires municipalities to prepare or update a climate plan at least once per council term, including information on greenhouse gas emissions development. The Finnish Environment Institute maintains an emissions data service for municipalities and regions to comply with the Climate Act. The emissions data service will present emissions in accordance with the Hinku calculation rules without carbon offsets as the default for emissions monitoring, as advised by the Climate Act. Reporting and communications regarding the results will also align with the legislative requirements. Karhinen emphasized that to monitor the ambitious emissions reduction targets of the Hinku network municipalities, the emissions data service will continue to present emissions according to the Hinku calculation rules, including carbon offsets. The emissions information service will provide results without the limitations of the Hinku calculation rules and differentiate emissions for the effort sharing sector and emissions trading. Regional Disparities in Emissions per Capita Significant differences in emissions and their development still exist between municipalities and regions. Emissions per capita are lowest in the southern regions, but the northern regions of Lapland, North Ostrobothnia, and Kainuu experienced the most considerable relative decrease in emissions per capita. Regional disparities can be attributed to factors such as economic structure, geography, weather conditions, and fuel use in district heating. Developing Emissions Calculation The recently published emissions calculations underwent a few changes that affected both the 2021 results and previously published emissions time series. These changes included updating the characterisation factors used to aggregate the global warming potential (GWP) of different greenhouse gases. The calculation of industrial emissions was modified to exclude emissions from all emissions trading industries, regardless of the gas emitted. This change significantly reduced industrial emissions monitored in Hinku calculations in some municipalities. Other changes include specifying wastewater calculations in waste treatment emissions to account for centralised and decentralised wastewater treatment and updating emission factors related to street and road network mileage in road transport calculations. The emissions information service will be expanded to include emissions data from 1990, as some municipalities have chosen it as the reference year for their emissions targets. Preliminary data on emissions for 2022 will be published in autumn 2023 and finalized in spring 2024. The municipal emissions calculation system has received funding from the European Union's Life IP Canemure project. In conclusion, while municipalities in Finland maintained their greenhouse gas emissions at the previous year's level in 2021, challenges remain in sectors such as road transport, agriculture, district heat consumption, and electricity consumption. Monitoring and targeted reduction measures are necessary to achieve further emissions reductions and address regional disparities. The ongoing development of emissions calculations and the adherence to the Climate Act will aid municipalities in their climate planning and mitigation efforts. HT The other parties didnt listen to us. The Finns Party and National Coalition had drawn up their own base document, which was approved by the Christian Democrats. The Swedish Peoples Party didnt approve it. It wasnt a genuine negotiation in our view, she stated to YLE on Monday. ANNA-MAJA HENRIKSSON , the chairperson of the Swedish Peoples Party, has accused the Finns Party and National Coalition of devising the immigration policy outlines by themselves. I hope that everyone understands going forward that youre trying to create a common government programme, that you have four parties involved [in the negotiations] and that they decide on the programme together. It shouldnt be that two look for an agreement together and get the others to support it. The Swedish Peoples Parliamentary Group on Saturday decided to insist on continuing the discussions to amend the policy outlines. Chairperson Anders Adlercreutz on Monday said the climate and immigration-related discussions held over the weekend were lacking but added that the group succeeded in introducing revisions, removals, restrictions and specifications to the policy outlines. Riikka Purra, the chairperson of the Finns Party, contrastively stated that the amendments amounted to no substantial changes. Henriksson on Monday said the Swedish Peoples Party will not make its final decision on whether to join the ruling coalition until the government programme has been finalised. Is it something we can approve? I dont know whether this will result in a government or not. The coming days and weeks will tell. The events of recent days have provoked a number of concerned statements from the ranks of the Swedish Peoples Party. Julia Stahle, the chairperson of the party's youth wing, the Swedish Youth, on Monday announced she will withdraw from the coalition formation negotiations, citing a disconnect between the compromise on immigration policy outlines and the objectives of the Swedish Peoples Party. The party, she believes, should abandon the coalition formation negotiations altogether. Eva Biaudet, one of the most seasoned coalition negotiators in the Swedish Peoples Party, revealed to Demokraatti that she would prefer to vacate her seat in the working group on immigration policy, saying the situation is intolerable. Biaudet has repeatedly expressed her reservations about joining a ruling coalition with the Finns Party. Henriksson told YLE that she has discussed the situation with both Biaudet and Stahle. The former, she said, is expected to return to the negotiation table today after a one-day break in the meeting schedule of the working group. Replacing Biaudets expertise and experience would be difficult, acknowledged Henriksson. I hope that shell continue, but shell decide for herself how long she wants and has the capacity to participate. I was glad to hear that the message was that shed be returning tomorrow, she commented. Also others have voiced their concerns about the looming prospect of governing with the Finns Party. Simon Granroth, the outgoing chairperson of the Swedish Peoples Party in Helsinki, told Helsingin Sanomat yesterday he is worried about a backlash for the party if the ongoing coalition formation negotiations yield a ruling coalition. The Swedish Peoples Party, he viewed, should rather look to broaden its support and profile itself as a liberal and progressive party. Im afraid that if we get a government programme based on conservative values, itll have long-term repercussions for the Swedish Peoples Party, he said to the daily newspaper. The issues important to us are climate, human rights, liberal markets and otherwise open society. Whats left if these values arent reflected in the upcoming government programme? Granroth himself is not involved in the negotiations but said he has monitored them from the sidelines with concern. Patrik Gayer, a former senior aide for the Swedish Peoples Party, warned the current party leadership that joining a right-wing ruling coalition could have long-term consequences for the partys popularity and influence in the political arena. The coalition, he said, would inevitably make decisions that would draw the ire of liberal supporters. Itd strengthen the Swedish Peoples Partys image as a single-issue party, he said to Helsingin Sanomat. The party could no longer attract Finnish-speaking liberal voters, but itd increasingly have to focus on more conservative voters outside cities. This would go against what he believes are inevitable trends: urbanisation and voters becoming increasingly liberal in terms of values. He also cautioned against the sunk-cost fallacy, the idea that the party should not abandon the negotiations given how much it has already invested in them even if it meant making more costly compromises on difficult issues. Gayer added that he is no longer part of the party leadership and has no insider information on the negotiations. My impression of the situation may be wrong, he reminded. Aleksi Teivainen HT The memorandum, titled " Putting Nature at the Heart of the European Green Deal: Building Blocks for the Next European Commission ," urges the upcoming Commission, set to take office in late 2024, to continue and update the European Green Deal to tackle the climate crisis and halt biodiversity loss. In a new memorandum released by the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, it is proposed that the European Union (EU) can effectively address the ecological crisis, enhance resilience, and create new markets by prioritizing nature in decision-making processes and integrating the circular economy into the EU single market. Jyrki Katainen, President of Sitra and former Vice-President of the European Commission, emphasizes the significance of the European Green Deal in accelerating Europe's green transition amidst the escalating ecological crisis. Katainen states, "The next European Commission should adopt an ambitious agenda to make Europe a pioneer in harnessing innovation and markets to preserve biodiversity. What we need is a European Green Deal 2.0." To put this into action, Sitra suggests the adoption of a "Green Deal 2.0" that places a high value on nature within the decision-making processes of governments, businesses, and consumers. Achieving this goal involves making the value of nature more visible and incorporating nature considerations into key policies. One key recommendation is for the EU to elevate its ambitions for natural capital accounting by swiftly and comprehensively adopting the complete international framework of ecosystem accounting. This would enable monetary accounts to reflect the financial value of ecosystems and the ecosystem services they provide to member states' economies. To prevent any net loss of ecosystems or ecosystem services, the EU, member states, and local authorities should ensure biodiversity offsets are implemented. Considering that land use is a major driver of biodiversity loss, the upcoming reform of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) should aim to gradually shift away from area-based and animal-based support payments towards results-based payments that incentivize the enhancement and maintenance of ecosystem services. Furthermore, Sitra highlights the importance of considering the biodiversity footprint of Europeans beyond Europe's borders. The EU and its member states should assess various policy measures to decrease European consumption of commodities that have significant negative impacts on biodiversity. In addition to prioritizing nature, Sitra strongly recommends the EU reinforce its transition to a circular economy within the single market. Market regulations can be utilized more effectively to drive demand for materials, products, and services based on circular principles. Jyrki Katainen emphasizes the benefits the EU single market has provided to European citizens and member state economies over the past 30 years. To ensure the market continues to generate innovation and employment opportunities, maximizing available resources becomes essential. Embracing the circular economy not only reduces the EU's reliance on imported raw materials but also enhances the economy's resilience. The memorandum's release coincides with the World Circular Economy Forum 2023, a leading global event focused on the circular economy, organized by Sitra and Nordic Innovation in Helsinki. The forum brings together forward-thinking individuals and showcases trailblazers who are assisting governments, industries, businesses, and households in adopting circular practices. Jyrki Katainen calls on stakeholders in Brussels and all member states to contribute their suggestions for the future European Green Deal. This collaborative approach ensures a comprehensive and well-rounded strategy for addressing the ecological crisis and promoting sustainable development throughout the EU. By putting nature at the center of decision-making and advancing the circular economy within the EU single market, the European Union has the potential to combat the ecological crisis, foster resilience, and unlock new opportunities for growth and innovation. As the next European Commission prepares to take office, the recommendations put forth by Sitra provide a roadmap for building upon the European Green Deal and striving towards a sustainable and prosperous future for Europe. HT "As we further deepen our partnership with Nigeria, I look forward to drawing even more on the ideas and energy of this dynamic connection between our countries," he added. United States President Joe Biden, on Monday, commended Nigerians on the inauguration of a new president, Bola Tinubu. "On behalf of the people of the United States, I send warm wishes to the government and people of Nigeria as they inaugurate a new President," he said in a statement. Mr Biden said his administration has worked to strengthen ties between the United States and Nigeria, and he looks forward to working with Mr Tinubu to support economic growth, advance security, and promote respect for human rights. "The people-to-people connections between our two countries run particularly deep, nurtured by a vibrant Nigerian Diaspora in the United States. "As we further deepen our partnership with Nigeria, I look forward to drawing even more on the ideas and energy of this dynamic connection between our countries," he added. According to Mr Biden, as Africa's largest democracy and economy, Nigeria's success is the world's success. Elected leaders, he said, owe it to their people to show that democracy can deliver for their needs and the United States will continue to work closely with Nigeria, as a friend and partner, to deliver a more peaceful and prosperous future for our world. Mr Biden had announced a 9-person Presidential Delegation to represent him and America at Mr Tinubu's inauguration. The delegation was led by Marcia Fudge, US Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Mr Tinubu on Monday in a ceremony in Abuja took his oath of office as Nigeria's 16th president since 1960. "The shower of awards confirms that we are engaged in impactful activities. We owe this success to every Finnish Junior Chamber member for their outstanding work," exclaimed Taru Mikkonen , the National President of Finland's Junior Chambers. Finnish Junior Chamber International (JCI) received recognition in various categories at the JCI European Conference, the annual continental gathering of young chamber organizations in Europe. The awards were presented on May 27, 2023, in Bucharest, Romania. The Finnish Junior Chambers secured two national-level project category awards. The "Leadership Barometer" won the Best National Flagship Program category. This project examined how young people perceive leadership in today's companies, the type of leadership they desire, and the leadership and organizational models that can lead Finnish companies to global success in the future. The Leadership Barometer was carried out by the Finnish Junior Chambers, the TYO2030 program, and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. The second national-level category victory was achieved by the "Youth Financial Literacy" project in the Best National Growth & Development Program category. The project aimed to increase young adults' awareness of responsible financial management, personal financial organization, and foster a new generation of responsible consumers. The project was implemented in over 30 locations and gained visibility, including at the SuomiAreena event. In the individual award categories, Malviina Metsanvirta from Rauman Junior Chamber won the Most Outstanding New Member award. Despite being in her first year of involvement, she demonstrated remarkable dedication and set a positive example for the entire organization. The winners of national and individual awards will progress as European candidates for the corresponding global-level award categories, with the winners being honored at the World Congress in Zurich from November 14 to 18, 2023. In the local chamber project categories, Finland achieved three victories. The Jarvenpaa Junior Chamber won the Best Local Growth & Development Program category with their "Tuusulanjarvi Rundi" board game project, which enhanced the local community and chamber's activities. The Lappeenranta Junior Chamber won the Best Local Individual Development Program category with their "From Beginner to Money Guru" investment event aimed at young people. The Oulu Junior Chamber won the Best Inter-organization Collaboration Project category with their "Arvoseminaari" project, an annual event focused on responsibility and value-based leadership. In addition to these victories, Finland secured top-three placements on seven occasions and emerged as the most awarded country in Europe overall. The following achievements were notable: Most Outstanding Member: Heidi Lehto (JCI Cosmopolis, Helsinki) (JCI Cosmopolis, Helsinki) Best Local Growth & Development Program: JCI Siilinjarvi 2.0 (Siilinjarvi Junior Chamber) Best Local JCI RISE Project: "Maalaismimmit" Podcast (Keurusselka Junior Chamber) and "SiksesFiin" Gala Concept (Rauman Junior Chamber) Best International Cooperation Project: Support Group for English-Speaking Chambers (JCI Cosmopolis, Helsinki) Best Inter-organization Collaboration Project: "Turun Kehittaja" (Turun Junior Chamber) Most Outstanding Local Project: "Tuusulanjarven Rundi" (Jarvenpaa Junior Chamber), selected as the best project among all project categories. The outstanding achievements of Finnish Junior Chamber International highlight the dedication and excellence of its members in driving positive change and impactful projects. These accomplishments pave the way for continued success and recognition at the global level, further enhancing Finland's reputation as a leader in youth engagement and development. HT Pardee rolls out Mammo on the Go UNC Health Pardee launched its mobile mammography program, Mammo on the Go, with the unveiling of the bus during a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week. The mobile unit offers state-of-art, digital 3D breast imaging and early detection services to women in Buncombe, Henderson, Polk, and Transylvania counties. The bus is staffed by female mammographers who are specially trained and certified in breast imaging and board-certified radiologists interpret all images. Many women report missing their annual exam because they are too busy, cannot take time off work, or dont have access to a nearby screening location, said Dr. Jennifer McAlister, breast surgical oncologist, Pardee Cancer Center. Were excited to launch our mobile mammography program and make it more convenient for patients to receive these important screenings. With Mammo on the Go, patients never have to sacrifice time, quality, or Pardees full-service care. Whether receiving a screening on the mobile unit or at the breast center, patients experience the same personalized and timely care. If an issue is detected from the exam, Pardee provides follow-up and scheduling for additional imaging. To be eligible for screening on the mobile mammography bus, patients must be over 40 years of age, have a referring provider to accept results, not be pregnant or currently breastfeeding, not have any new breast problems or concerns, not have had a mammogram in the last 12 months, and be able to get on and off the bus independently. Mammo on the Go is available for site visits to businesses, organizations, and special events across Western North Carolina. To learn more about scheduling an appointment or to request a site visit for your business, church, physicians office or organization, visit MammoOnTheGo.com. A CHARITY set up in memory of a boy from Emmer Green who died from a brain tumour has received a 12,000 donation. The money came from Reading crematorium, where the funeral of 13-year-old Charlie Ilsley took place following his death in December 2020. His mother Toni received the cheque on behalf of Team Charlie, the charity which supports children with brain tumours across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Gloucestershire. The money was raised through a national scheme in which relatives of people who are cremated can consent to metal body parts being collected and recycled to raise money for charity. Staff at the crematorium off Henley Road, Caversham, chose to give its share to Team Charlie. Mrs Ilsley, of Buckingham Drive, said she was delighted by the donation but found it difficult returning to the crematorium. I cried my eyes out it was really hard, she said. I havent been there since we went with Charlie and it brought back a lot of memories. I could see us going with the carriage I got a real flashback. But they were all so lovely. They gave me a cup of tea and we had a chat and a cry. It was hard but I knew I had to go. Ive faced another demon now, I suppose. 12,000 is absolutely amazing. It means we can crack on and help children now if we get any referrals straight away. Claire Brown, 47, a trustee of Team Charlie, said; I thought the amount would be about 100. Then I had a phone call to say they would pay 12,000 into our account and I nearly dropped the phone. Never in a million years did I think it would be that much. We were blown away. She said the charity was in touch with the teams that care for sick children at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading. They refer children to us, so if they have last wishes or want a PlayStation or to go to Legoland or have a bit of a treat we can organise it, she said. Its going to fund so many kids wishes. Gerri Excell, a bereavement support officer with Reading Borough Council, said the criteria for choosing the beneficiary was it had to be a bereavement charity and local. She added: A lot of us knew the story of Charlies fight. He had his funeral here and it was a unanimous decision by the team. We were all very struck by how strong Toni came across. Its lovely when you give a cheque to such a worthy charity for it to be spent on children and families going through the most tragic time. We were delighted to hand over the money. Meanwhile, a concert in Charlies memory will take place later this month. Pupils from the Hill primary and Highdown School, which Charlie attended, will sing with the Reading Phoenix Choir. Somewhere over the Rainbow: A Concert for Charlie will take place at Highdown School in Emmer Green on June 24. Tickets cost 10 or 5 for children with all funds going to Team Charlie. To book, visit https://tinyurl.com/Charlie-tickets THIS bittersweet comedy by Sandi Toksvig has been lovingly brought to the Progress stage by director Christine Moran, assisted by Lauren Boys. The drama is set in an old peoples home in Gravesend during a period of stormy weather, when the waters are rising, threatening to flood the building. The homes lounge, that uncomfortable blend of institutional and domestic, has been convincingly realised by Aidan Morans set, authentic down to the last detail, including the original paintings on the wall. First we meet Gloria in her luminous trainers, magnificently played as a chaotic force of nature by Melanie Sherwood. Juliet England, as former actress Maureen, comically hides behind her headphones. Sisters May and June dont get on. Jo Metcalf is superb as the acerbic May, glowering and sniping from her wheelchair. Liz Paulo is pitch perfect as the sanctimonious June, trying fruitlessly to engage her fellow residents with the truisms in her angel bowl. Enter feisty care assistant Hope Daley (vividly brought to life by Doris Allimadi), drafted in to support the residents as they are evacuated from their home. Hope is alarmed to be missing one person she was expecting. She searches and reappears with a confused resident the others dub St Michael due to the label in her clothes. Rowena Sterry steals the show as the baffled elderly lady with a fruity past. The residents confident assertion that Someone will come begins to sound empty as the storm gathers (wonderful sound design by Chris Gunner-Lucas and lighting by Steph Dewar). A predatory intruder (Dean Stephenson) is seen off by Maureen who, it turns out, has had more than her fair share of combatting men. By the second act, the crisis has deepened and the resourceful women decide to build themselves a makeshift ark of tabletops and empty water canisters all tied together, in very British fashion, with bunting. As they work, the revelations and confessions of lifes big challenges and small victories begin to emerge, as does the buried wisdom of St Michael. Its clear that all the women have been let down in some way, but their resilience is impressive as they build their escape raft and even allow themselves to party a bit. This is a marvellous production exploring womens experiences, good and bad, with wit and sensitivity. Superb performances and direction evoke sadness and joy in equal measure, celebrating all that elderly people have to offer. Susan Creed President Bola Tinubu has mourned the death of Daar Communications founder and owner of African Independent Television, Raymond Dokpesi, saying he would be sorely missed. Dokpesi died on Monday afternoon at an undisclosed hospital in Abuja. Tinubu's condolence message was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by his media officer, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz. The President described the death of the media mogul as a huge loss to the Nigerian media industry and the country. He said, "The death of High Chief Raymond Dokpesi is a blow to the media industry where he has played pioneering roles in private broadcasting. His pacesetting investment in the industry is an inspiration to many who come after him. "The history of the evolution of the Nigerian media industry will be incomplete without prominent mention of Dokpesi and his giant footprints on the media landscape. "I express my sincere condolences to the management and staff of Daar Communications and the family of the late media entrepreneur for this monumental loss." No fewer than 10 countries have formally presented their goodwill messages and letters of support and solidarity to President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja. The letters were presented Monday to the president by the special envoys and heads of missions of the countries after his inauguration as the 16th President of Nigeria. The countries that presented their support letters, according to a statement issued by Tunde Rahman of the President's media office, included United Kingdom, United States, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Brazil, South Korea, Israel, Cape Verde, Somalia and Nicaragua. While congratulating President Tinubu, the new UK High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, presented letters from British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, King Charles and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. The US delegation led by Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Marcia L. Fudge, paid a courtesy call on President Tinubu and had a brief bilateral discussion with him. Also, the South Korean delegation had bilateral discussions with Tinubu. While delivering a letter of invitation from South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for Tinubu to visit that country soon, the delegation also sought increase relations between the two nations. On its part, the Saudi Arabian delegation delivered a goodwill message from the Saudi Royal House to the Nigerian president. A special envoy of the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida equally paid a call on President Tinubu and extended a hand of support and fellowship. In the same vein, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a delegation which met with Tinubu and expressed willingness to work with the country in the area of fin-tech. Others who met with President Tinubu and pledged cooperation with Nigeria included delegations from Brazil, Somali, Cape Verde and Nicaragua. . WHIAANHPI, OPM, and DOT partner to organize the federal governments first and largest professional development event for AA and NHPI public servants in nearly a decade. More than 1,000 employees from 100+ federal agencies register to join the hybrid convening. WASHINGTON, DC On May 23, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration hosted a conference focused on supporting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) federal employees and cultivating leaders within the federal governmentmarking the first time such an event has been held at this scale and by any administration since 2014. The government-wide convening, held at the U.S. Department of Transportations (DOT) headquarters in Washington, DC, drew hundreds of AA and NHPI public servants from across the country. Hundreds more tuned in virtually for select portions of the all-day program, which was organized by the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) in close partnership with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the DOT. Collectively, more than 1,000 employees representing over 100 federal agencies registered to attend the hybrid conference. Through a fireside chat discussion and breakout sessions with Biden-Harris Administration leaders, attendees explored the most urgent challenges facing AA and NHPI public servants and celebrated AA and NHPI Heritage Month under the theme Visible Together. The conference welcomed plenary speaker Michelle Kwan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to Belize, where she shared how she continues to exemplify leadership through the lens of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in her distinguished career in public service. Federal employees, OPM facilitators, and subject matter experts also discussed ways to foster career advancement, develop leadership skills, and strengthen the pipeline for AA and NHPIs at all levels of the federal workforce. While three members of President Joe Bidens historically diverse Cabinet are Asian American, and representation is evident throughout staffing at every level of the Administrationwith 14 percent of candidates appointed or nominated to positions within the Biden-Harris Administration identifying as AA and NHPI as of December 2022the story is different for the federal governments civil service. According to OPM demographic diversity data, Asian Americans made up 6.49 percent of the total federal workforce in Fiscal Year 2021, while Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPIs) comprised 0.56 percent. Of federal employees at the Senior Executive Service (SES) level, just 4.68 percent were Asian American, and 0.16 percent were NHPI. OPM recognizes that with each unique perspective in our workforce, we are better prepared to meet the diverse needs of the American people, said OPM Director Kiran Ahuja. Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander federal employees contribute every day to the vital work of the federal government and support its mission to serve the American people. We are proud to celebrate AA and NHPI Heritage Month and recognize the talents they bring to public service. AA and NHPI participation across all levels of government allows our communities to have a seat at the table, and we are stronger when the federal workforce reflects the diversity of America, said Krystal Kaai, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. This conference reaffirms the Biden-Harris Administrations commitment to promoting government service, empowering AA and NHPIs, and attracting and retaining top talent, especially for the Senior Executive Service. Most importantly, we are ensuring that the contributions and humanity of AA and NHPI federal employeeswhose work impacts millions of Americans and future generationsare seen and valued. President Biden re-established and reinvigorated WHIAANHPI in May 2021 through Executive Order 14031. The Initiatives whole-of-government approach comprises a mandate to foster the recruitment, career and leadership development, retention, advancement, and participation of AA and NHPI public servants at all levels of the Federal workforce. Separately, the President signed Executive Order 14035 in July 2021 to create a government-wide initiative to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the federal government. In January 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration released its first-ever national strategy to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities, which outlines commitments from dozens of agencies including all 15 executive departments in the Presidents Cabinet. Various agencies including OPM and DOT identified addressing barriers to the hiring and promotion of AA and NHPI employees; strengthening Employee Resource Groups; forging partnerships with educational institutions that serve AA and NHPIs; and cultivating mentorship opportunities for aspiring AA and NHPI leaders as high-priority goals. The May 23 conference builds upon WHIAANHPIs previous partnership with OPM on webinars to help community members jumpstart their federal careers and encourage AA and NHPI students to apply to the Presidential Management Fellows Program, the federal governments flagship leadership development program for advanced degree holders. Earlier this month, the White House Forum on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, co-hosted by WHIAANHPI, featured a breakout convening with dedicated to promoting careers in the federal government, where agency and program representatives highlighted opportunities including AmeriCorps, U.S. Public Health Service, presidential appointments, and the Pathways internship program. In December 2022, WHIAANHPI also collaborated with the White House Fellows Foundation and Association to provide an overview of the 2023-24 White House Fellows Program. ### The White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI), established by President Joseph Biden through Executive Order 14031, is charged with coordinating a whole-of-government agenda to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities. The weeklong cease-fire, which barely held amid reports of ongoing fighting, was extended shortly before it was set to expire. Mediators Saudi Arabia and the US argue the truce helped with humanitarian assistance. Sudan's military and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have agreed to extend a flimsy 7-day cease-fire agreement for five extra days, as mediators Saudi Arabia and the US maintain hope it could lead to a longer-term truce. In a joint statement, Saudi Arabia and the US acknowledged the many breaches to the weeklong cease-fire committed by both parties. However, they stressed that the truce enabled the delivery of humanitarian assistance despite being "imperfectly observed." "The extension will provide time for further humanitarian assistance, restoration of essential services, and discussion of a potential longer-term extension," the two countries said. A day earlier, mediators from the two countries accused both the army, under the leadership of General Abdel Fattah Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo's RSF of "posturing for further escalation." Sources told the Reuters news agency amendments to the new deal were underway to produce a more effective truce. What is happening on the ground? Amid the truce talks and cease-fire announcements, the two warring parties are still engaged in fighting. Residents of the capital Khartoum told the French AFP news agency street battles were rife on the streets on Monday, and that they could hear gunfire, as well as artillery fire in the south of the city. "Since yesterday evening there has been bombardment with all types of weapons between the army and the Rapid Support," Hassan Othman, a 55-year-old resident of Omdurman, told Reuters by phone. "We're in a state of great fear. Where's the truce?" Residents also told Reuters they could hear airstrikes in Omdurman, part of Greater Khartoum, on Monday. The military has been relying on airstrikes to target RSF forces taking position in the capital's neighborhoods. Meanwhile, also on Monday, the United Nations' World Food Program announced starting to reach thousands of Khartoum's trapped residents in a "major breakthrough." Many residents of the capital have found themselves trapped in their homes amid the fighting, unable to stock up on essentials due to the dangerous situation on the streets. The fighting, ongoing since mid-April, has killed hundreds and displaced over a million, hundreds of thousands of whom crossed into neighboring countries to seek refuge. (AFP, Reuters) Collegedunia, India's leading Education Portal, has bagged the prestigious Ed-Tech Company of the Year Award - Enterprise Technology at the renowned ASSOCHAM's 16th International Education Leadership & Skill Development Summit 2023, held on May 26th in New Delhi. The award highlighted Collegedunia's relentless pursuit of excellence, innovation, and the drive to enhance the educational experience for millions of students. Additionally, Mr Sahil Chalana, the visionary Founder and CEO of Collegedunia, was honored as the Edupreneur of the Year, a testament to his remarkable leadership and entrepreneurial spirit in the education industry. Mr Chalana's passion for transforming the landscape of higher education in India has been instrumental in Collegedunia's success and its impact on shaping the future of learning. The summit aimed to align with India's G20 Education Aspirations, focusing on the theme of Strengthening the Social Fabric with Values & Ethics-based Education, alongside Life Skills. Collegedunia participated as the Principal Partner in ASSOCHAM's Summit. The summit focused on important aspects such as G20 Education, National Education Policy, and Education Vision. The Summit was attended by prominent figures, including Chancellors, Vice Chancellors, Principals, Deans, Directors from esteemed institutions, innovative Ed-Tech start-ups to foster collaboration and envision an education ecosystem with global standards. The event witnessed participation from esteemed policymakers, including Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, President of the Indian National Science Academy, Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe Chairman, National Educational Technology Forum (NETF), Prof. (Dr.) Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General of the Association of Indian Universities, Prof. T. G. Sitharam, Chairman of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister of State for Education, which further enriched the discussions and added credibility to the event. Collegedunia's exceptional innovation in the field of Edtech was acknowledged as it stood out among numerous nominations in the prestigious 'Edtech Company of the Year' category. Commenting on the achievement, Mr Sahil Chalana said, "We are truly humbled to receive the Ed-Tech Company of the Year award. At Collegedunia, we believe that universities play a vital role in shaping successful careers, and it is our mission to ensure that students have access to the best educational resources and opportunities. The award serves as a testament to our relentless pursuit of excellence and our commitment to transforming education in India." The summit fostered productive discussions and facilitated the exchange of ideas, resulting in the development of a detailed action plan and a roadmap for a progressive education system in India. Collegedunia's remarkable achievements reinforce the company's dedication and leadership in shaping a transformative education landscape that empowers students and prepares them for success. 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. As MS Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings lifted its fifth Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy by winning against Gujarat Titans during the early hours on Tuesday, fans took to the streets of Bengaluru and celebrated the dramatic win of their favorite team. At midnight, fans were seen cheering, jumping and shouting the victory slogans in the streets of IT capital. Bengaluru people take to the streets at midnight to celebrate CSK win. Also Read - Being a Kannadiga..: Ex CM Siddaramaiah after watching IPL match in Bengaluru In a video that took social media by storm, people who gathered at Marathahalli area in Bengaluru were chanting Dhoni, Dhoni, after CSK won by five wickets. A user named Bhaskar Atmuri shared a video and wrote, Massive celebrations at Bangalore streets. Congratulations CSK. Another fan named Nani too shared the visuals from the celebration and wrote, One man, millions of emotions. @msdhoni The Legend. Celebrations at Marathahalli Bangalore. A few fans in Banashankari even bursted firecrackers to celebrate the victory of CSK. In a thrilling chase of revised target 171 in 15 overs, Ravindra Jadeja smashed a six and a four on the last two balls that helped CSK upstage GT in the final clash at Ahmedabads Narendra Modi stadium. With the win, CSK have levelled Mumbai Indians' (MI) record for winning the most titles in the history of the IPL. Bengaluru's home team Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) failed to reach the play offs in this season. A day after academicians met Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah over the hijab ban in educational institutes and changes to textbooks brought in by the former BJP government, state education minister Madhu Bangarappa on Tuesday said that the Congress government will take a decision that will benefit all students. State education minister says decision on Hijab ban will be in students favour. (ANI) Refusing to comment on the hijab row as the matter is sub-judice, Bangarappa said, The case is currently in the court and the law department will fight it legally. It would be wrong to comment on it further. But we will take a decision that will benefit all students. On Monday, about 30 academicians met CM Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru, and submitted a memorandum with various demands to reform the education sector. Thousands of girls are deprived of education due to the hijab controversy, they said in the memorandum, urging the government to revoke a ban on students wearing the hijab to classes. Also Read: Hijab to anti-conversion: New Congress govt to review contentious Karnataka decisions A controversy erupted in the state in December 2021 when six students of a government pre-university college in Udupi district protested after being barred from attending classes for wearing the headscarf. After the state government issued an order banning entry to classes of students wearing the hijab, the matter reached the Karnataka high court on January 31 last year. While the high court ruled that hijab is not essential to the practice of Islam, the Supreme Court in October last year referred the case to a bench led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud. Ahead of the elections, the Congress in its manifesto said that the BJP distorted textbooks by insulting great souls of Karnataka such as Vishwaguru Basavanna, Rashtrakavi Kuvempu. The party promised it will restore the true values of Bharath and Karnataka and scientific temper. On Tuesday, Bangarappa, who was the vice president of the Congress manifesto committee, said, We have already said that students come to schools to get educated and we dont want it to be disturbed, and there should be no mistake on part of the government or me or officials or the system in this regard. We have given the commitment. He further said, In the manifesto, we had said clearly that textbook revision will take place in the interest of the students future. We dont want their minds to get polluted. The textbooks with changes made by the BJP government have already been dispatched and the school session begins from Wednesday. The challenge before us now is, how we will do it (review the changes) with care, without affecting the students and their studies, Bangarappa said. The commitment in the manifesto will be taken forward with the guidance of the chief minister and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, he said. Congress leader and public works minister Satish Jarkiholi also said that the textbooks will be reviewed. We will remove the unnecessary content in the textbooks. The process of addition and removal of new text will be done based on the report given by the expert committee, he said in Belagavi. The Congress government is expected to set up a committee to review the revisions made to the textbooks, a senior leader familiar with the matter said. Former CM Basavaraj Bommai, however, took exception to the Congress governments plans of reviewing the changes made to the textbooks. We had introduced certain new lessons based on Indian culture, literature and principles. However, the new government is trying to target this, and is set to form a new committee to reverse this. The society will respond to this, Bommai said. Parents are observing the moves of the new government. Students should not be inconvenienced due to frequent revisions in textbooks. Let us see how responsibly this government will behave, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Karnataka government on Tuesday announced the increase of Dearness Allowance (DA) to all state government employees and pensioners from 31 per cent to 35 per cent. A government order regarding the same has been issued and it is with effect from January 1, 2023. The DA hike has been a long-standing demand of state government employees and pensioners. Karnataka government announces DA hike to its employees and pensioners.(PTI) A tweet from Karnataka's chief minister officer read, Happy news to all my dear government employee friends. The government has decided to increase the Dearness Allowance from 31% to 35% of the basic pay/basic pension with effect from 1st January 2023. This new increase in the DA is applicable to all full-time government employees, employees of Zilla Panchayats, full time employees of aided educational Institutions and universities who are on regular payroll. In March, the government employees of Karnataka protested for revision of their salaries, implementation of the 7th pay commission report and reintroduction of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). Former CM Basavaraj Bommai then announced that he will constitute a committee ask it to submit a report on the demands. However, the BJP lost the assembly election in Karnataka and the Congress party has now revised the salaries of government employees by increasing the DA. The employees are now expecting the new government to take a decision on reintroduction of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). The Halasuru Gate police on Tuesday dropped the case filed against residents of Malleshwaram who had participated in a peaceful march against the Sankey Tank flyover and road widening project in Bengaluru, officials familiar with the matter said. Cases dropped against Malleshwaram residents who participated in march against Sankey tank flyover. (HT photo) The Karnataka high court on May 29 issued a stay order on all further investigation into the First Information Report (FIR) against the petitioners who had taken part in the protest on February 19. Following this, the Halasuru Police closed the case and filed a B-report (closure report) on Tuesday, officials with the matter said. he police in Malleshwaram constituency had filed an FIR against over 70 citizens under sections 341(wrongful restraint), 141(show of criminal force), 149 (unlawful assembly), and 283 (causes danger, obstruction or injury to any person in any public way) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which pertain to wrongful confinement, unlawful assembly, and obstruction of public way. The police had claimed that citizens had violated these sections during a peaceful Sunday morning walk on February 19, in Sankey Tank, to Save Sankey. Over 200 residents from Malleshwaram, Vyalikaval, and Sadashivanagar areas had participated in the protest march. Citizens had however refuted these charges, citing video evidence to show the protest was peacefully held. After citywide opposition to these actions against protesting citizens, the case was transferred to Halasuru Gate police station for an unbiased investigation. Members of various resident welfare organisations had also taken up a signature campaign against the FIR and met city police commissioner Pratap Reddy last month, demanding that the case be closed. The FIR serves to create a chilling environment in the city that is known for the active participation of citizens. It is a violation of our constitutional right of freedom to speech and expression, peaceful assembly and our right to life, they had said in the letter. Kimsuka Iyer, a citizen who has been a key member of the movement against the flyover right from the start, said, We are hopeful that the new government, who in February, as the opposition, strongly supported us in our efforts to stop the unscientific Sankey Flyover, will officially cancel the unscientific Sankey Flyover and road widening project, and put an end to all the unscientific infrastructure projects that had been announced. We urge the government to constitute the BMLTA, and ensure that all solutions to traffic problems are undertaken by mobility experts. This must be done by undertaking a thorough feasibility study and public consultation, and prioritising the needs of pedestrians, public transport and green cover, Iyer added. I never doubted the high court would uphold our constitutional right. This is one more victory for active citizens and democracy, Avijit Michael, another member of the protest, said. The proposed widening of Sankey Tank Bund Road and the flyover from T Chowdaiah Road to 18th Cross in Bengaluru has drawn criticism from residents, civic activists and urban experts. According to the residents, the project will not reduce the traffic congestion in the area and the felling of trees close to the bund could have serious ecological implications. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Karnataka government on Tuesday appointed Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) B Dayananda as the new Bengaluru city police commissioner and transferred C H Pratap Reddy to the internal security division as the Director General of Police (DGP). B Dayananda is a 1994 batch IPS officer, who has served as the Mysuru city police commissioner in 2015. Amid more shuffling of IPS officers in top posts, the government also promoted Dr M A Saleem, the special commissioner for traffic, as the Criminal Investigation Department's (CID) DGP for Special Units and Economic offences, Bengaluru. Meanwhile, ADGP K V Sharath Chandra, who was the existing CID head, was transferred to the Intelligence department. ALSO READ | Alok Kumar set to return as Bangalore Police Commissioner? The post of Director General of Police, Internal Security Division, Bengaluru is declared equivalent in status and responsibilities to the cadre post of Director General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, Bengaluru under Rule 12 of IPS (Pay) Rules 2016 as included in Schedule II of the said rules, a notification from the state government said. K. V. Sharath Chandra, ADGP, CID, Bengaluru is transferred with immediate effect and posted until further orders as ADGP, Intelligence, it added. Who is Bengaluru's new top cop, B Dayananda? B Dayananda is a 1994 batch IPS officer, who has served as the Mysuru city police commissioner in 2015, after which he was appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Intelligence, Bengaluru. He has also served as the joint commissioner of police for crime and traffic in Bengaluru, a report said. The Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab will expand its cabinet on Wednesday by inducting two party MLAs as ministers even as local bodies minister Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar tendered his resignation. The resignation of Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar, who is an MLA from Amritsar South, came after his statement backing Daily Ajits editor-in-chief Barjinder Singh Hamdard appeared in the newspaper. (HT photo) The two AAP MLAs to be inducted as cabinet ministers are Gurmeet Singh Khudian and Balkar Singh. Khudian is MLA from Lambi and was AAPs giant slayer who defeated Akali patriarch and five-time chief minister Parkash Singh Badal in the state polls last year. Balkar, a former police officer, is MLA from the Kartarpur reserved seat. It falls in the Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency won by the party in a bypoll on May 13. Both are first-time legislators. Mann has forwarded Nijjars resignation to governor Banwari Lal Purohit for early acceptance. A spokesperson of the chief ministers office said: The CM has impressed upon the governor to accept the resignation of Nijjar, who has resigned on personal grounds. The names of Balkar Singh and Khudian have been proposed for inducting them as cabinet ministers, the spokesperson said. The resignation of Nijjar, who is an MLA from Amritsar South, came after his statement backing Daily Ajits editor-in-chief Barjinder Singh Hamdard appeared in the newspaper. It is learnt that Nijjars statement has not gone down well with the Mann government. Hamdard is under VB scanner over alleged misuse of funds for setting up the Jang-e-Azadi Memorial. Nijjar had found a place in the cabinet in the first expansion in July last year. Earlier, he was elected as the protem speaker of the assembly after the AAP formed the government. He is also the president of Chief Khalsa Diwan, a 118-year-old Sikh organisation that runs more than 50 educational institutes and various human welfare institutions. Before Nijjars resignation, Punjab cabinet had 15 ministers, including the chief minister. Mann, who took over as the chief minister on March 16 last year, first expanded the cabinet by inducting five MLAs as ministers in July 2022, and then one more was inducted in January this year. The constitutional cap allows 18 ministers, including the chief minister, which is 15% of the number of members of the state assembly. AAP national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and several of his ministers are expected to come to Chandigarh on Wednesday to attend a dinner to be hosted by chief minister Bhagwant Mann at his residence for party leaders, including MPs and MLAs. The Delhi chief minister will not be present at the oath-taking ceremony of the new ministers, a senior party leader said. With inputs from HTC Amritsar SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A day after city-based businessman and his pilot friend were attacked by armed men at the KFC chowk on Airport road, police have tracked down the vehicle registration number of Toyota Fortuner car being driven by the assailants. Police identify SUV used by assailants who attacked a local businessman and his pilot friend in Mohali. (HT File) Sources said the Toyota Fortuner said the vehicle used in the crime had been purchased merely a day prior to the crime. Balongi station house officer (SHO) Parivinkal Grewal said the vehicles registration number has been tracked and a hunt is on to arrest the accused. It has also come to light that one of the victims, Udayveer Singh, 25, hails from the same village of slain Youth Akali Dal leader Vikramjeet Singh, alias Vicky Middukhera, who was shot dead in Sector 71 in August 2021. However, Udayveer Singh has studied and currently resides with his parents in Mohali. Gurnam Singh, a commercial pilot is a resident of Sector 39, Chandigarh. Despite repeated attempts, Udayveer could not be reached for comments. He had been attacked by assailants and sustained injuries to his face. The incident had taken place during the wee hours of Sunday while the duo was headed to Jalandhar. A case under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 379- B (snatching), 323 (assault), 341 (wrongful restraint), 148 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code had been registered against the unidentified assailants. Amid wails of his pregnant wife and other family members, the body of Deepu, a circus worker, was cremated at his native village Thial in Majalta block of Udhampur on Tuesday afternoon. He was killed by terrorists in a targeted attack in Anantnag on Monday evening. Deepu, a circus worker, who was gunned down by terrorists. (HT Photo) Deepus visually impaired elder brother Raju lit the pyre. Additional SP, tehsildar, village sarpanch, BJP leaders RS Pathania and Pawan Khajuria among others who paid their last respects. Earlier, Deepus wife Sakshi, said, On Monday, he worked the entire day at the circus because he had to send money home. In the evening, he called the contractor over phone telling him that he needed 8,000. Thereafter, he was resting inside the tent and then went outside to bring food, water and milk. Normally, I used to accompany him but yesterday, I didnt go as it was raining. While he was out, I heard gunshots, four to five, followed by his cries. I sought help from others and then ran towards the direction of firing. I saw him lying in a pool of blood. When I picked him up, he was breathing. A man came to my help and took him to hospital on his scooty, where Deepu breathed his last. Lashkar hand suspected behind killing Police believe the attack was carried by Lashkar militants. Soon after the killing, Army and Police launched a cordon and search operation in the area to trace the attackers. However, militants managed to escape under the cover of darkness. A senior police officer said that Lashkar could be behind the killing of Deepak Kumar. We have got some leads and the killers will be identified soon, he added. L-G announces 5 lakh ex-gratia Lieutenant governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha has approved an ex gratia of 5 lakh for the next of kin of Deepu. Mondays targetted killing on a hapless and unarmed circus worker comes just after Kashmir hosted the G20 Summit from May 22 to 24. In February, terrorists had killed a Kashmiri Pandit in Pulwama. The deceased Sanjay Sharma was working as a guard at a banks ATM in his village. He was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. In November last year, two labourers hailing from Kannauj district in Uttar Pradesh were killed by terrorists in Shopian. The terrorists had lobbed a grenade in Harmen, Shopian in which two labourers named Monish Kumar and Ram Sagar were injured. They succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. At Bhattal Morh in Udhampur, angry people had staged a dharna in protest against the targeted killing of Deepu. They demanded that the attackers be eliminated and the family be given adequate compensation. The protestors also shouted anti-Pak slogans. Meanwhile, body of the deceased reached his house around 2 pm. BJP leaders from Udhampur Pawan Khajuria and RS Pathania were the first to reach his house. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A camp in Tomtoma in Chad is home to 6,500 refugees from Sudan, and is only one of the smaller such facilities. As Sudan's warring generals make and break ceasefire agreements, tens of thousands of people continue to flee the country. People from the violence-stricken Darfur region in particular seek help -- and hope -- in Chad. Bornon Khamis Haroun remembers the nice things she had: A lovely home with pretty mats and her own bed to sleep on. And then overnight, her country, Sudan, turned into a warzone, forcing the 25-year-old to flee. Just over a month after heavy fighting broke out across Sudan, Haroun gathered her five children and left her hometown of Kanga Haraza, a village in West Darfur. They walked for two days to cross the border into Chad with nothing but the clothes on their backs. The shelter at a camp in Borota, a village in the hot and arid eastern Chad region, is a far cry from the life the family had known before. The structure is made up of nothing more than tree branches dug into the ground, covered with colorful fabric. At best, it can be described as a tent. Sitting in her new home, Haroun opens up. "My husband was killed," she says tersely. "In the bush. He went to look for firewood and he got killed." Another Darfur crisis Haroun and her children are just a few of hundreds of thousands of people who were forced to flee Sudan into neighboring countries. Some 259,000 people have fled the country since the fighting began, according to the UN's migration agency, and a further 1.8 million people have been internally displaced in Sudan. Blaise Dariustone / Deutsche Welle Refugees from Sudan like this woman and her son in Borota camp in Chad don't know what the future holds The fighting between the heads of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has turned into a humanitarian crisis despite a fragile truce signed last week. That truce is now set to expire on Monday night. Much of the fighting between the two factions has raged around the Sudanese capital Khartoum as well as the Darfur region, which is where most people escaping to Chad, like Haroun, come from. A restive region, Darfur was still reeling from its violent past when the civil war began in April. Hundreds of thousands have been killed in Darfur since 2003, when Arab militias first turned on non-Arab populations to suppress a rebellion against Sudan's former dictator Omar al-Bashir. But with the recent surge in violence, Darfur has once again become a crisis hotspot. The UN says that at least 96 people have died in West Darfur state alone, as militiamen were reported looting and destroying entire villages. Limited resources Compared to others, Haroun is a recent addition to the camp in Borota. Women and children have been streaming across the border since fighting in Sudan started. Haroun is not yet registered at the camp, and so she cannot receive food aid. For now, she has to rely on the generosity of her neighbors, who themselves have very little. Aid agencies say that at least 60,000 Sudanese people are now in Chad alone, many of whom are yet to register. The Borota camp is currently the biggest of a network of camps, where more than half of these new arrivals reside. Blaise Dariustone / Deutsche Welle Medical care is limited at Tomtoma camp, as scores of children continue to contract malaria. Resources for people like Haroun are limited; there is a well which was dug by aid agencies to provide water to these refugees but it is always crowded there. Women cook meager meals over open fires in front of their improvised tents. Elsewhere, the conditions are even worse. Chadians also suffering Among those seeking safety in Chad are Chadian nationals, who for many years lived in Sudan. Since they originally come from Chad, they are not classified as refugees, as the majority of humanitarian help is focused on Sudanese refugees. At a camp in Tomtoma village several hours away, some 7,000 returnee Chadians are trying to get by. A fast-drying well is their main source of water and food aid is slow to come. Recently, a mobile clinic opened but is tightly packed with mothers seeking malaria treatments for their children. Despite the dire conditions, many say they won't return to Sudan as long as there is no peace. "My only wish is that they help us settle here permanently," says Sadie Idja, a mother of three. "What's happening is horrible." Refugees upon refugees Bachiaka Singare, a coordinator with the World Food Program, says that there were severe funding shortfalls even before the civil war and these are now affecting the current situation. "I think it's one of the most urgent crises right now, where you really have to be sensitive as to where you deploy the means. Otherwise lives will be at risk," Singare says. "And right now, we don't even have the means." Blaise Dariustone / Deutsche Welle Chadian locals like this villager near Tomtoma camp worry that the influx of refugees from Sudan could result in scarcities. Since the Darfur crisis first began two decades ago, refugee camps have sprung up across Chad. They hold some 400,000 refugees by now, many of whom are still almost exclusively reliant on aid. Those camps have long been semi-permanent settlements, which remain underfunded. Between life and death Catching up with the funding gap won't be easy, as Chad's ability to take care of people fleeing the violence in Sudan keeps shrinking. Singare says that above all, as more and more people are trying to escape the conflict, new locations with proper housing infrastructure need to be established in more secure areas. He highlights that the camps in Chad are positioned so close to Sudan that refugees have been going back and forth to collect their personal belongings from the same volatile villages which they fled in the first place. Last week, one such refugee who ventured back across the border into Sudan was killed, an aid official, who was not officially authorized to speak to media, told DW News. Haroun says she will focus on rebuilding her life, despite the difficulties ahead. "The war has driven me away from my home," Haroun says, her voice breaking. She wipes away her tears and admits: "I don't know what to do." Blaise Dariustone contributed to this article Edited by Sertan Sanderson Around six days after Congress councillors skipped the meeting called by the mayor and municipal corporation officials to give a presentation on the proposed new integrated waste processing plant in Dadumajra, party officials agreed and decided to conduct a meeting on June 1. Congress councillor will attend the Chandigarh MC meeting to discuss integrated waste processing plant. (HT File) A meeting of the Congress councillors was held at Rajiv Gandhi Congress Bhawan on Tuesday, chaired by partys UT president HS Lucky. It was decided that Congress will attend the presentation on the garbage processing plant, as requested by mayor Anup Gupta. It was felt that the party should see this presentation with an open mind in the interest of the city, Congress councillor Gurpreet Singh Gabi said. The councillors will meet again and take a call on the proposed plant after the presentation. Congress councillors had earlier missed the meeting earlier this week, terming the MCs move of calling separate meetings for each political party unethical, alleging that the ruling BJP already held a confidential meeting and important project details may not be shared with other parties. The mayor and MC officials conducted a meeting with BJP councillors and party leaders on May 23, despite a public holiday on account of the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev. The officials planned to hold a confidential meeting, but when the news broke out, they missed no chance to say that Congress and AAP will be invited too, Gabi had said. The General House meeting held on May 13, saw the civic bodys proposal of setting up the plant at the Dadumajra landfill being turned down, citing that the mayor was not included in the high-power committee to frame the project proposal. Aimed at effectively tackling the citys daily waste generation of 550 MT, the new plant, with a capacity of 600 tonnes per day, is proposed to comprise three facilities one each for dry, wet and horticulture waste. Proposed to be spread over 20 acres, it will be set up on a part of the Dadumajra landfill after clearing the area. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Upping the ante, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday said that the Himachal Pradesh government would allocate power projects to companies only if the state gets a higher percentage of royalty. At present, the state gets 12% free power royalty share in the projects. The lease of the 110-MW Shanan hydel project lease runs out March 2, 2024, but Punjab is firm on its claim over the project in Mandi districts Jogindernagar town. The project was built in 1925 under a 99-year lease deed executed between Jogendra Sen Bahadur, the then ruler of Mandi state, and colonel BC Batty, the then chief engineer of the government of Punjab. (HT file photo) We dont have many resources. Water is a precious resource that Himachal Pradesh has given to (public sector) companies, such as NHPC, NTPC and SJVNL. It is the states right to get a higher percentage of royalty in the projects, Sukhu told reporters on the sidelines of the swearing-in ceremony of Himachal Pradesh high court chief justice MS Ramachandra Rao in Shimla. Also read: Himachal Pradesh-Punjab standoff over Shanan hydel project Sukhu said the previous BJP government had deferred free power royalty by 12 years that was against the interest of the state. He said that he had met Union power minister RK Singh and taken up the issue. I also raised the issue of handing over the Shanan power project in Mandi to Himachal Pradesh. Its lease is expiring soon and the Union minister assured me that he will inform me about the next step after studying the legal aspects, Sukhu said. The lease of the 110-MW Shanan hydel project lease runs out March 2, 2024, but Punjab is firm on its claim over the project in Mandi districts Jogindernagar town. The project was built in 1925 under a 99-year lease deed executed between Jogendra Sen Bahadur, the then ruler of Mandi state, and colonel BC Batty, the then chief engineer of the government of Punjab. According to the agreement, Mandi state provided land for the project and the water of the Uhl, a tributary of the Beas river, in lieu of 500KW of free electricity. The 48-MW Stage-I project was opened on March 10, 1933. The Punjab government enhanced its capacity to 60MW in 1982 and later to 110 MW. To raise stopping of NPS share with Centre The Himachal Pradesh chief minister said that he was headed to the national capital where he and his team of officials would meet Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Last year, the states loan limit was 14,500 crore, which the Centre has cut down by 5,000 crore. The Centre has stopped the matching grant of National Pension Scheme (NPS) share of 1,780 crore. We will raise these issues, Sukhu said. The Congress had swung the vote in the recent Himachal Pradesh assembly elections by promising to implement the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), which the state cabinet notified on May 5, putting a burden of 1,000 crore on the state exchequer in the 2023-24 fiscal. The state government had stopped depositing its contribution under NPS from April this year and now it has been decided that contribution of those who opt for NPS shall be continued to be deposited with the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL). The chief minister said he planned to meet Union minister of environment, forest and climate change Bhupender Yadav and seek relaxation in Forest Conservation Act (FCA) and Forests Rights Act (FRA) clearances so that developmental projects can be expedited. Says NPA withdrawn for new recruits Replying to a query on doctors going on a strike against the state governments decision to withdraw their non-practising allowance (NPA), the chief minister said: The issue has been blown out of proportion. For the first time, doctors who are getting NPA have gone on strike. They should have clarified the matter with the government before going on strike. The decision wont affect those who already have the job. Sukhu said that the Association of Dental Doctors met him recently, seeking government recruitment for dentists. They were ready to forgo the NPA. It was after this that the government advertised 38 posts of dental doctors and the notification related to withdrawal of NPA was issued and it covered Ayush and allopathy doctors. If allopathy doctors want the government to restore the NPA while making new recruitments, we will definitely think on it, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ten days after being booked for holding a lucky draw illegally, a Machhiwara store owner landed in the police net on Monday. The accused had promised his customers to distribute the prizes on May 30. Before he could distribute the prizes, the police arrested him. The accused was selling a coupon for 399 luring locals with luxury cars, jeep, tractor, Royal Enfield Bullet and expensive mobile phones in the lucky draw (Getty Images) Despite being booked for operating an illegal lucky draw, the accused identified as Prince Nagpal had gone live on his social networking site account and announced the names of the winners. The accused announced at least 151 winners who had won cars, bikes and expensive mobile phones. The accused was selling a coupon for 399 luring locals with luxury cars, jeep, tractor, Royal Enfield Bullet and expensive mobile phones in the lucky draw. An FIR was lodged against him following the statement of Sukhwinder Singh of Machhiwara on May 19. Sukhwinder Singh, the complainant, stated that though the state lottery department has already banned lucky draws, the shopkeeper had sold coupons in the name of sale promotion. Inspector Davinderpal Singh, SHO at police station Machhiwara, said that a case under Section 7 (3) of Lottery Act and Section 420 of the IPC was lodged against the accused. The SHO added that the police will seize all 151 prizes which he had announced to distribute among the winners. It is learnt that the director state lottery had already banned any kind of lucky draws being held by different groups in the name of sale promotion. Mussoorie : The much-awaited helicopter service to the Hemkunt Sahib shrine in Chamoli district is likely to begin this week. The much-awaited helicopter service to the Hemkunt Sahib, a Sikh shrine, in Chamoli district is likely to begin this week . Now, it will be convenient for pilgrims, who currently walk around 19km to reach the highest Sikh shrine. Deccan aviation officials, who have been assigned the task to operate on the route, through a letter dated May 23, requested for a director general of civil aviation (DGCA) inspection. They said the helicopter --- VT-DCB --- is currently positioned at Jolly Grant airport awaiting a green signal. Chairman of the Gurdwara Hemkunt Sahib Management Trust NS Bindra said: It has been our long-standing demand to start a helicopter service from Govind Ghat to Ghangria, which is around 13km on foot. We are hopeful that the services will begin once the DGCA inspection for the services concludes. Confirming the development, Chamoli district disaster management officer NK Joshi said: After the inspection of the helicopter and the route, the DGCA will give a final approval to the helicopter operations to Hemkunt Sahib. The construction of helipad at Ghangria has been completed and it is ready to host devotees heading towards Hemkunt Sahib shrine. The one-way trip to the shrine has been priced at 2,975 and it will benefit the elderly and people who are unable to walk for over 16km of trek on foot to the Hemkunt Sahib shrine, said Bindra. A Sikh pilgrim, Harnaam Singh (60) said: With the commencement of the helicopter service, devotees like me who cannot walk a distance will be able to visit Hemkunt Sahib for darshan. The helicopter service with nine operators is already functional for the Kedarnath shrine from Guptkashi, Phata and Ukhimath. In a bid to cater to the passengers in ticket booking and other services, two new customer service centres have been set up at the Ludhiana Railway Station as the existing counters will be shifted amid the ongoing project to redevelop the railway station. Ludhiana Railway Station sees a footfall of around 1 lakh passengers on average, meanwhile, the platform caters to around 100 passenger trains every day. (Manish/HT) The new help desks have been set up on both new entry points of the railway station which will be made functional from June 2 onwards. The railway authorities will completely shut the existing main entry gate as the heavy equipment to be used in the construction will be installed there. The station sees a footfall of around 1 lakh passengers on average, meanwhile, the platform caters to around 100 passenger trains every day. Railway officials also shared that the parking lot at the main entry gate will also be shifted to the new sites. Railway officials said that it will be made sure that the passengers undergo minimal inconvenience due to the project and that the activities at the railway station continue to function normally. A railway official said the move will increase congestion at the railway station as the proposed alternative gates are too narrow and the parking space will also be reduced. The offices of the station director, station superintendent, health officer, travelling ticket examiner and railway protection force are being shifted to the temporary offices created towards the north end of the railway station. In April, the station director of Ludhiana Railway Station requested the city police to deploy traffic police personnel at the new entry gates. Under this project, the British-era building of the Ludhiana Railway station will be completely demolished and a multilevel railway station will be built to cater to the increased population and modern requirements. The project under which the station will be completely remodelled also includes linking the junction with the Sham Nagar Road, which will provide a direct link to the ISBT, construction of a ramp from the main railway station road (old GT road), upgrading of parking areas, reconstruction of existing residential quarters in the vicinity of the station, redesigning of entry and exit points from the civil lines and upgradation of the railway yard to ensure smooth rail traffic. The work to redevelop the Ludhiana Railway Station will be completed for 478 crores within three years Three years after retiring from the Chandigarh police department amid the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 without farewell, over 50 personnel are still awaiting a proper send-off or a memento of appreciation for their years of service. Chandigarh cops who retired during Covid pandemic are still awaiting a proper send-off. (HT File) Notably over 50 cops including superintendents of police (SP), inspectors, sub- and assistant sub-inspectors and head constable, retired on May 31, 2020, but were not given a formal adieu by the department due to the restrictions on public gatherings. Former Chandigarh SP Roshan Lal, who was among the group, has now written to inspector general of police Raj Kumar Singh to arrange for a farewell for the retirees. Lal, who began his career as a constable was awarded eight promotions, including two outstanding, over the course of his 40 years of service. He was promoted to sub-inspector on March 19, 1991, for his work that was crucial in nabbing a terrorist. During the pandemic, no retirement party was organised. Now the situation has normalised, therefore all police officials who retired during Covid, but did not get a party may be invited only for encouragement and to make them feel that the department still cares about them. During our service, some part of our pay was deducted as welfare. All farewell expenditure was met from that money. We gave farewells to many officers but we are still waiting, wrote Roshan Lal in his e-mail to the IG. A few other officers were also despondent over not being given a proper farewell. I remained associated with the IT cell since 1984 and introduced many advanced technologies in the functioning of the police. We deserve the respect for our long years of service, retired inspector Parveen Sharma said. Lal also proposed a WhatsApp group for pensioners, saying, After retirement, many police officers settle outside Chandigarh and do not have any information regarding their pension benefits and other dues/emoluments for which they have to visit the police headquarters. A group may be created and important alerts. Addressing the issue of the farewell, IG Raj Kumar Singh said those who did not receive a farewell amid Covid will be honoured at a special police function. No ceremonies were possible during Covid restrictions and thus the cops could not get a formal farewell. We recently had a word regarding the same and thus those cops will soon be invited to a police function for the honour, he said. Retiring officers traditionally receive a farewell at the GO Mess in Police Lines. The families of retirees are invited and the UT top cop presents them with mementos, which is followed by speeches by senior police officers and tea. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Amid reports that Panjab University (PU) was planning to remove Punjabi as a compulsory subject at graduation level, evoking criticism and confusion, PU authorities have confirmed that the speculations were false and Punjabi will continue to remain compulsory as before. Panjab University vice-chancellor Renu Vig confirmed, Punjabi will be taught in all six semesters. (HT) On May 1, during the meeting of the board of undergraduate studies in Punjabi, School of Punjabi Studies, PU, it was unanimously resolved that the minor course on adoption of the National Education Policy (NEP) be Punjabi and it should be taught in all six semesters of graduation. Students who have not studied Punjabi at any level or stage will opt for Modern Indian Language (basic Punjabi) as a compulsory subject. However, the agenda approved by the PU syndicate for adoption of NEP on May 27 listed Punjabi as an ability enhancement course (AEC) and the History and Culture of Punjab as a common value-added course (VAC). As per UGC guidelines, the AEC courses are taught up to fourth semester, while VAC courses are taught up to second semester, which led many to believe that Punjabis compulsory status was being revoked. A syndicate member, who attended the meeting and wished not to be named, said the syndicate was presented with the course design for only the first year of UG courses, where Punjabi had been mentioned as a compulsory subject, which is why the agenda was approved. A senior member of the syndicate confirmed that till now the curriculum had been designed for the first year only, but there was no question of revoking Punjabis compulsory status in the undergraduate degrees. PU vice-chancellor Renu Vig also confirmed this: Punjabi will be taught in all six semesters. As per the curriculum structure shared by her, Punjabi has been offered the status as a separate vertical and exams worth two credits will be taken in the first and second semester for Punjabi. She said the authorities will also consider including Punjabi under one of the other subject baskets as suggested by the UGC. MP writes to Vice-President Meanwhile, AAPs Rajya Sabha member Vikramjit Sahney on Tuesday took up the issue with Vice-President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is also the PU chancellor. Through a letter, Sahney said the PU syndicate took the arbitrary decision to make Punjabi as a minor subject. As a result, its teaching will be limited to two semesters only with two credits. He said the syndicate had no authority to change the decisions of board of studies and language faculty. All it can do is, refer back the recommendations for reconsideration. There are more than 200 colleges in Punjab affiliated to PU where this decision will be of far-reaching results. Moreover, this decision is also contrary to the Punjab Official Language Act and attracts legal bindings, the MP wrote, seeking the chancellors intervention in the matter. Former Punjab education minister and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema also took to social media to protest the decision to include Punjabi as an ability enhancement course. Terming it an anti-Punjabi decision, he said it needed to be reversed immediately. The joint action committee (JAC) of PU student bodies also submitted a memorandum demanding that the decision be withdrawn. Even a casual mention of Kolkata (then Calcutta) takes me back to my teenage days when the City of Joy meant so much to us. Growing up in the 70s and the first half of the 80s as a school student in Delhi, my visit to Calcutta, along with parents, elder sister and younger brothers during our summer vacations used to be charming interludes in an otherwise hectic school life, burdened with algebra formulas and chemical equations. Our destination used to be our eldest maternal aunts house tucked away in one of the suburbs. It was a sprawling two-floor mansion with big rooms, a spacious courtyard, and a windswept terrace from where one could behold the majestic rows of tall coconut trees swaying in the gentle breeze. (Shutterstock) Our destination used to be our eldest maternal aunts house tucked away in one of the suburbs. It was a sprawling two-floor mansion with big rooms, a spacious courtyard, and a windswept terrace from where one could behold the majestic rows of tall coconut trees swaying in the gentle breeze. Her house was like our second home. It used to be unalloyed bliss spending time with both Maasi and Mesho, who would smother us with affection and care. Moreover, the verdant ambience of the place made us temporarily forget the monotony of a mechanical Delhi life. The beautiful pond with its unruffled waters in front of the house was our favourite haunt. In the soft-coloured glow of dawn, we would drink in the ethereal view of ducks swimming and creating ripples and reflections, while a gentle breeze caressed us. My younger brother and I would observe, with a rare interest, the absorbing adda sessions in tea shops near Meshos house right from the early morning. Come evening, our Mesho would promptly go to the nearby market and ply us with tangy Bengali snacks, popularly known in Bengali as tele bhaja comprising begunis (aubergine fritters), peyajis (onion fritters) and the not-to-be-missed aloo chop. While our elder sister would lay claim to the spicy aloo chop, we three brothers would gorge on begunis and peyajis. In those days, load shedding, especially at night, used to be a veritable nightmare. No sooner did we settle into bed after hanging the mosquito net, the house would plunge into darkness. The load-shedding would test our nerves, as we would grapple with mosquito bites late into the night while wiping away the beads of sweat trickling down our face. Lunch used to be a gala affair almost every afternoon. We would relish the spicy rohu fish curry cooked in mustard by Maasi, accompanied by mishti doi (sweet curd) and rosogollas to our hearts content. The rohu used to be freshly caught from the pond for the meal. Watching the majestic Howrah Bridge from a close distance while travelling in a ferry with Mesho used to be another dreamlike experience for us. The water of the Ganga shimmered in the morning sun. Those were the days! After the death of Maasi and Mesho, the mansion is in a dilapidated state. No one lives there now. The pukur (pond) has long dried up and flats and buildings have come up in the area, denuding the place of the greenery and calmness it once symbolised. I wish I could turn the clock back to those halcyon days when life used to be simple without social media and mobile phones. mukherjee.dashing@gmail.com The writer is a Delhi-based freelance journalist and can be reached at mukherjee.dashing@gmail.com. A spat over watching the final IPL match between the Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans turned ugly after a retired armyman opened fire targeting his wife, daughter and brother-in-law (wifes husband) at Baddowal village of Mullanpur Dakha on Monday night. He also opened the cap of the LPG gas cylinder. The accused opened fire targeting the police party when the cops reached the spot. The police arrested the accused after two hours. A case of attempt to murder has been lodged against the accused at Mullapur Dakha police station.(File photo for representation) The police have recovered a .12 bore rifle, two bullets and six shells from the accused identified as Gurtej Singh, 45, of Baddowal. A case of attempt to murder has been lodged against him at Mullapur Dakha police station. Inspector Daljit Singh Gill, SHO at police station Dakha, said that they received a call to the police control room from Gurpreet Kaur, 42, wife of the accused. She stated that her husband is trying to kill her, daughter, and her brother Talwinder Singh of Kishangarh of Raikot. She added that her husband opened fire targeting them with intention to kill them, however, they escaped unhurt and locked themselves in the room. Also Read| Delhi reached lowest point: AAP lists crimes against women in capital The SHO added that when they reached the spot, they found the man holding a rifle and trying to explode the LPG gas cylinder. When police asked him to surrender, the accused opened fire targeting the police. After the police cordoned off the area, the accused hid in the fields. The police arrested him and lodged an FIR under Sections 307, 353, 186 and 506 of the IPC, and Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act against him. The woman stated that her husband who was in an inebriated condition was watching the IPL match and shouting. When she told him not to shout as the neighbours were disturbed, he indulged in a spat with her. Things turned ugly when her husband took out his rifle and opened fire targeting her. She locked herself and her daughter in the house and informed her brother. When her brother reached there, her husband opened fire at his car. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Focal Point police arrested a sanitary worker and his two aides for robbing a shopkeeper of 20,000 after injuring him with a sharp-edged weapon. The police recovered 17,000 in cash, one bike and two sharp-edged weapons used in the crime from their possession. Inspector Amandeep Singh Brar, SHO at police station Focal Point, stated that Satish Gupta, 42, of Jivan Nagar filed a complaint that the accused had robbed him of 20,000 in cash after barging into his home. (Getty images) The accused have been identified as Ankit alias Amit, Pardeep Kumar of Rajiv Gandhi Colony and Bittu alias Bahubali of Ram Nagar of Mundian. Inspector Amandeep Singh Brar, SHO at police station Focal Point, stated that Satish Gupta, 42, of Jivan Nagar filed a complaint that the accused had robbed him of 20,000 in cash after barging into his home. The accused also injured him with the sharp-edged weapon. The police lodged an FIR under Sections 452, 379-B and 34 of the IPC against the accused and initiated an investigation. The SHO added that the police on Monday arrested the accused. Satish Kumar stated that he owns a building where he built labour quarters and rented it out to the labourers. Ankit works as a sanitary worker in the quarters. On May 27, the accused knocked at the door. When he opened the door, the accused overpowered him. He fled after robbing them. The inspector added that Bittu alias Bahubali is already facing trial in a case of rape lodged against him in 2021 at police station Focal Point. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Montevideo, Uruguay As a matter of global justice, the climate crisis has rightfully made its way to the world's highest court. On 29 March 2023, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously adopted a resolution asking the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to issue an advisory opinion on the obligations of states on climate change. The initiative was led by the Pacific Island state of Vanuatu, one of several at risk of disappearing under rising sea levels. It was co-sponsored by 132 states and actively supported by networks of grassroots youth groups from the Pacific and around the world. Civil society's campaign In 2019, a group of law students from the University of the South Pacific formed Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC), a regional organisation with national chapters in Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. PISFCC advocated with the Pacific Island Forum - the key regional body - to put the call for an ICJ opinion on its agenda. The government of Vanuatu announced it would seek this in September 2021, and Pacific civil society organisations (CSOs) formed an alliance - the Alliance for a Climate Justice Advisory Opinion - that has since grown to include CSOs and many others from around the world, including UN Special Rapporteurs and global experts. The campaign made heavy use of social media, with people sharing their stories on the impacts of climate change and emphasising the importance of an ICJ opinion to help support calls for climate action, including climate litigation. It organised globally, sharing a toolkit used by activists around the world, and took to the streets locally. In Vanuatu, where it all started, children demonstrated in September 2022 to call attention to the impacts of climate change as their country's single greatest development threat and express support for the call for an ICJ opinion. In the run-up to the UNGA session that adopted the historic resolution, thousands of CSOs from around the world supported a letter calling for governments to back the vote. The ICJ's role The ICJ is made up of 15 judges elected by the UNGA and UN Security Council. It settles legal disputes between states and provides advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by other parts of the UN system. The questions posed to the ICJ aim to clarify the obligations of states under international law to protect the climate system and environment from human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. They also ask about the legal responsibilities of states that have caused significant environmental harm towards other states, particularly small islands, and towards current and future generations. To provide its advisory opinion, the ICJ will have to interpret states' obligations as outlined in the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 2015 Paris Agreement as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and a variety of international covenants and treaties. It may consider previous UNGA resolutions on climate change, such as the recent one recognising access to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a universal human right, and other resolutions by the UN Human Rights Council and reports by the Office of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights and its independent human rights experts. It may also take into account decisions by UN treaty bodies and its own jurisprudence on climate and environmental matters. Next steps According to its statute, the ICJ can seek written statements from states or international organisations likely to have relevant information on the issue at hand. On 20 April, it communicated its decision to treat the UN and all its member states as 'likely to be able to furnish information on the questions submitted to the Court' and gave them six months to submit written statements, after which they will have three months to make written comments on statements made by other states or organisations. Civil society doesn't have any right to submit formal statements, so climate activists are urging as many people as possible to advocate towards their governments to make strong submissions that will lead to a progressive ICJ opinion. After submissions close, the ICJ is likely to take several months to deliberate, so its opinion may be expected at some point in 2024, likely towards the end of the year. Advisory opinions aren't binding. They don't impose obligations on states. But they shape the global understanding of states' obligations under international law and can motivate states to show their compliance with rising standards. An ICJ opinion could positively influence climate negotiations, pushing forward long-delayed initiatives on funding for loss and damage. It could encourage states to make more ambitious pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions. It might also help raise awareness of the particular risks faced by small island states and provide arguments in favour of stronger climate action, helping climate advocates gain ground within governments. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Climate Africa International Organisations By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. A progressive advisory opinion could also help support domestic climate litigation: research shows that domestic courts are increasingly inclined to cite ICJ opinions and other sources of international law, including when it comes to determining climate issues. The risk can't be ruled out of a disappointing ICJ opinion merely reiterating the content of existing climate treaties without making any progress on states' obligations. But climate activists find reasons to expect much more: many see this as a unique opportunity, brought about by their own persistent efforts, to advance climate justice and push for action that meets the scale of the crisis. Ines M. Pousadela is CIVICUS Senior Research Specialist, co-director and writer for CIVICUS Lens and co-author of the State of Civil Society Report. Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau Chitkara International Schools Class 12 student Arryan Madhu Chitkara presented his project, The Communicator Mask, during the National Technology Week 2023, which was held under the theme School to Startup - Igniting Young Minds to Innovate May 11 to 14 at the Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The Communicator Mask, which was developed as a solution to addressing mask-related communication barriers, common during the Covid-19 pandemic, and affected the people with hearing disorders, makes use of technology to enhance voice clarity while ensuring safety and protection of the speaker. Chandigarh Chitkara International Schools Class 12 student Arryan Madhu Chitkara. (HT Photo) 1.1 crore sanctioned for parking at Pkula courts Panchkula Haryana assembly speaker Gian Chand Gupta on Tuesday announced that an estimate of 1.1 crore has been sanctioned for construction of parking at district court. He was interacting with the members of the DBA Panchkula on Tuesday. Gupta said the estimated budget for construction has already been provided to PWD (building and roads). He said the construction of parking will commence after getting clearance from the high courts construction committee. The DBA also urged Gupta to get the nallah flowing alongside the court to be covered. Awareness drive for e-rickshaws begins Chandigarh Chandigarh Traffic Police on Tuesday initiated a campaign to raise awareness among the e-rickshaw drivers regarding traffic rules and guidelines, which are mandatory for registration and driving on city roads. During the campaign many e-rickshaw/e-cart drivers were apprised about the rules. A few of the drivers have started wearing uniforms and got the registration of e-rickshaw/e-carts, for their own safety and for other road users as well. We will continue this drive to create awareness among drivers, a traffic officer said. PU exams scheduled for today postponed Chandigarh Panjab University (PU) authorities have postponed all exams for undergraduate and postgraduate students that were to be held on Wednesday. The decision has been taken due to administrative reasons, and a fresh date for the exams will be notified later. PGGC-11 pays homage to martyr Joy Lal Chandigarh Post Graduate Government College, Sector 11, paid homage to Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force deputy commandant Joy Lal, who was martyred in a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir. An alumni, Lal was awarded a medal for his commendable services in the ITBP force. There was a wreath laying ceremony that was carried out with full honour to pay respect to the son of the college on his martyrdom day May 39 1999. Principal Sangam Dutta Kapoor thanked his wife Geeta Lal for her presence in his alma mater. Goa Day marked at Punjab Raj Bhawan Chandigarh Punjab Raj Bhawan on Tuesday marked the 36 Goa Foundation Day. The event, which commemorates the formation of the state of Goa, witnessed a gathering of dignitaries, government officials and other guests, who joined together to honour the rich cultural heritage of Goa. The event was organised in collaboration with the Goan community residing in Punjab and Chandigarh and aimed at strengthening the bond between people of Goa and Punjab/Chandigarh and to celebrate the unity and diversity of India. A West Bengal native allegedly murdered his 19-year-old colleague during a drinking session at an industrial unit in Ambalas Mahesh Nagar area, police said on Tuesday. A West Bengal native allegedly murdered his 19-year-old colleague during a drinking session in Ambalas Mahesh Nagar area. (Getty Images) The accused was identified as Suraj, who was working as a labourer with the victim, Nikhil, 19, at the factory. Nikhil lived on the factory premises itself. His brother Sanjeev Kumar, a native of Bihars Vaishali district, said on Sunday night, Suraj and Nikhil got together at the latters room to consume alcohol. Sanjeev said he received information around 9.30 pm that his brother had been murdered. On reaching the room, he found injuries on his chest, neck, face and head. Following his allegation that Suraj had murdered his brother, police booked him under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code at the Mahesh Nagar police station on Monday. On Tuesday, an autopsy was conducted at the sub-divisional civil hospital in Ambala Cantonment. Inspector Rampal Singh, SHO, Mahesh Nagar police station, said, The body was handed over to the family for last rites after the autopsy. There are blunt injuries on the body. We are probing if he was attacked with a weapon or he pushed off from height. The reason behind the murder also remains unknown. Further investigation is underway to nab Suraj. Hours after protesting wrestlers announced to throw their medals into the Ganga in Haridwar on Tuesday evening before going on an indefinite hunger strike at India Gate, several khap leaders, farmer activists and women activists thanked the wrestlers for giving their medals to Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) national president Naresh Tikait. The BKU chief took the medals from wrestlers and sought a five-day period from them. Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) president Gurnam Singh Charuni (File photo) Farmer leader Azad Palwan said the khaps and farmer bodies have called a meeting in Sonepat on June 4 and they will intensify the protest. He also requested the wrestlers to trust khaps and farmer bodies. Earlier, the wrestlers took to Twitter and shared a post about the chain of events that have unfolded in recent days and the way authorities handled the situation. The protesting wrestlers said they will visit Haridwar and throw their medals in the Ganga at 6 pm on Tuesday. They said they will sit on a hunger strike at India Gate after throwing their medals. Kandela Khap head Om Parkash Kandela said he was pained to hear about wrestlers plan to throw their medals into the Ganga and also had requested them not to do so. I am happy that these wrestlers have taken back their decision. Our wrestler daughters had to hide in fields to evade police arrest and the accused is roaming freely. These medals have a meaning for rural and farming communities. The government should order the police to arrest the WFI chief immediately, he added. Jat leader Yashpal Malik said he held an emergency online meeting after hearing the news about wrestlers immersing their medals in the Ganga and also requested the protesters to rethink. We will support every call given by the wrestlers. They are our nations pride and should remain hopeful and patient. We are waiting for their next call. They have made a good decision by giving their medals to the BKU chief. These medals are our nations monument and it took them years to win these medals, he added. Former chief minister and leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda said these medals were achieved due to hard work of these wrestlers. The entire country, which was in a jubilant mood after your victory, is standing by you. People love you wholeheartedly, he said. Haryana sarpanch association president Ranvir Singh Samain also said the elected village heads are standing in solidarity with wrestlers. Will take strong decision in Sonepat meeting: Farmer leader Karnal Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) president Gurnam Singh Charuni has urged protesting wrestlers to not get demoralised and said the BKU members will take their fight further. He said farmers of the state will take a strong decision in its June 4 meeting at Sonepat. You are right at your stand but I request our daughters to give us time till June 4 and we will force this government to take action on their complaint, said Charuni in a video message. He said, These medals are our nations pride and coming generations will seek inspiration from these medals. If the wrestlers are feeling discouraged and think that the movement has been derailed, I promise them that we will take a decisive step by June 4. He said the BKU has called a state-level meeting at Mundlana of Sonepat on June 4 and the BKU will take wrestlers fight further. The brutal killing of a 16-year-old girl in north-west Delhis Shahbad Dairy on Sunday was planned over three days, and triggered by a verbal spat between the accused, Sahil, and the deceased last Thursday, according to police officers involved in the probe. Security officers outside the residence of the 16-year-old girl who was allegedly stabbed to death by Sahil at Shahbad Dairy in New Delhi on Tuesday. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo) This contention indicates this was not a crime of passion, as earlier suspected, but a premeditated murder, the officers added. According to police, on Sunday afternoon, the 20-year-old, who had been stalking the girl, waited in the lane where one of the girls friends lived. He eventually approached her as she emerged from a public toilet, stabbed her multiple times with a knife, and pounded her body with a stone slab even as passerby did not intervene. The knife used in the killing was bought by Sahil in Haridwar, officers said, but it was not immediately clear when or why he had purchased it. Sahil told police that since their confrontation on Thursday, where the girl allegedly insulted him, he held a grudge against her, said Dependra Pathak, special commissioner of police (law and order). This was a premeditated murder, and we are building a watertight case to ensure he is given the harshest punishment, Pathak added. Investigators will soon reconstruct the crime scene, the officer said. Sahil has told the police that after the murder, he went to Rithala Metro station, where he dumped the knife, boarded a Metro to Anand Vihar, and then travelled to his aunts home in Uttar Pradeshs Bulandshahr. He was eventually arrested from there on Monday. On Tuesday, a Delhi court sent him to two days in police remand. Police are yet to recover the knife used in the murder, although they have seized Sahils phone, and the bloodstained clothes he allegedly wore at the time of the crime. Police have also accessed chats between Sahil and the girl to establish if they communicated in the days leading to the murder. Also Read: Delhi cops quiz Shahbad residents seen on CCTV, to join probe The two were allegedly in a relationship for the last two years till earlier this month, according to police, and had recently stopped seeing each other. The parents of the deceased, however, have denied having any information of the two being in a relationship. A second investigator aware of the case said that the girl and Sahil first met in Shahbad Dairy about two years ago. They became friends, and would often meet at the homes of the two of the girls friends in the same neighbourhood, said the second officer, who asked not to be named. A fortnight ago, the girl broke up with Sahil, and resumed her friendship with another man from the same neighbourhood, the officer added. Sahil couldnt accept that the girl had broken up with him. On Thursday, he met her and was adamant that she resume their relationship. When the girl refused, Sahil began abusing her in front of three of her friends, Pathak said. Her friends allegedly threatened to beat Sahil, while the girl allegedly insulted him. Over the next three days, Sahil planned to kill the girl, said Pathak. Filling in more details, Ravi Kumar Singh, deputy commissioner of police (outer north), said that on Sunday night, the girl was going for a birthday party at her friends home, and went to a nearby public toilet to get ready. There was no toilet at the place where the girl was staying so she went to the public toilet to change, Singh added. At 8.30pm, Sahil went near the victims friends house in the hope of waylaying her. While he waited, one of his friends saw him and asked him why he was loitering around, said a third investigator, citing CCTV footage from the spot. Minutes later, as the girl emerged from the public toilet and walked towards her friends house, Sahil attacked her, police said. The first time the police was alerted was by a local resident about 10-15 minutes after Sahil had fled the spot. The beat constable had already reached the sport, and he informed the area SHO and ACP about the incident, said fourth police officer, asking not to be named. During questioning, Sahil told the police that after the murder he first went to a public park, waited there for a few minutes and then headed to Rithala Metro station, about 6-7km from the murder spot, in an e-rickshaw. He disposed of the knife somewhere near the station, but hasnt been able to point out the exact location, the officer added. Police established the identity of the suspect from the CCTV footage of the murder, and detained Sahils father Mohammad Sarfaraz, on Monday. Police have also questioned the girls three friends about the events preceding the murder, and about the relationship between Sahil and the victim. Another friend of the deceased, who lives in Jaunpur, UP, has been asked to join investigation, officers said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sanjeev K Jha In his reporting career of over 20 years, Sanjeev K Jha has covered bureaucracy, politics, ISI activities in border areas, music and Bollywood. Presently, he covers crime in the national Capital. ...view detail Two days after a 16-year-old girl was murdered by her former boyfriend in northwest Delhis Shahbad Dairy area, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced a monetary assistance of 10 lakh to the deceaseds family, and said that his government will hire top lawyers to ensure that the accused is accorded the strictest of punishments in the case. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury address a joint press conference over the murder of a 16-year-old girl in Shahbad Dairy in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI) On Sunday, a 20-year-old man identified as Sahil stabbed the girl at least 16 times and bludgeoned her with a stone slab, even as several passersby did little to intervene, the police said. The murder was caught on a surveillance camera and led to widespread outrage across the Capital. Sahil was arrested on Monday from Uttar Pradeshs Bulandshahr, and was brought to the national Capital later in the evening. Also Read: Delhi Shahbad Dairy murder: DCW chief meets girl's family, demands death penalty On Tuesday, Kejriwal said, It is a deeply distressing incident. The Delhi government will provide a compensation amount of 10 lakh to the girls family, and we assure them that our government will ensure that the accused receives the strictest punishment. Delhi minister Atishi visited the girls family, and accused lieutenant governor VK Saxena under whose jurisdiction comes the citys policing of failing to keep the citys streets safe. She said, Parents in Delhi are grappling with the question of whether they should send their daughters to college and work when girls continue to fall victim of violence on the streets. As a woman and a minister of the elected government, I earnestly request the LG to fulfil his constitutional responsibility of improving law and order in Delhi, instead of hindering the work of CM Arvind Kejriwal, and of prioritising the safety of Delhis daughters and women. Also Read: Shahbad Dairy locals surrounded teens body: Cop who first arrived at scene Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Hans Raj Hans, who also met the deceaseds family and handed over a cheque for 1 lakh, accused the Aam Aadmi Party of politicising the murder. The Delhi Police will get the harshest punishment for the accused. Not only the people of Delhi or BJP workers but also the Central government is distressed by the murder, he said. Meanwhile, Delhi Congress chief Anil Kumar said both the BJP-ruled Central government and the Kejriwal-led AAP government were responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation in Delhi. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced an ex gratia of 10 lakh for the family of the 16-year-old girl who was stabbed to death by her boyfriend in the city's Shahbad Dairy area. Kejriwal told a press conference that minister Atishi would be visiting the girl's family, and the government would ensure that the accused receives the harshest punishment. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. It is a deeply distressing incident. The Delhi government will provide a compensation amount of Rs. 10 lakhs to the girl's family, and we assure them that our government will ensure that the accused receives the strictest punishment, Kejriwal said. Referring to the CCTV footage of the gruesome murder that occurred on Sunday, he said, It is unbearable to witness such visuals where the murderer violently takes the girl's life. The chief minister also expressed concern over the law and order situation in the national capital, requesting the central government, which controls Delhi Police, to fulfil their responsibilities. He said, We are concerned about the law and order situation in Delhi. We request them to allow us to perform our duties and fulfil their responsibilities as well. We will carry out what the Constitution has assigned to us, and the same is expected from them. CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury was also present at the press conference as the Left party came out in AAP's support to oppose the Centre's ordinance on the control of administrative services in Delhi. The girl was stabbed 16 times According to initial findings from the autopsy, as reported by news agency ANI, the girl was stabbed 16 times and suffered a fractured skull after being assaulted with a blunt object. The CCTV footage captured the horrifying attack, in which the killer also used a large stone to attack the girl. The video, which Hindustan Times has viewed but chosen not to publish, shows the girl being pinned to a wall and repeatedly stabbed by the accused. Shockingly, the murder took place in plain view of people passing by just inches away from the attacker. The incident occurred in the jurisdiction of Shahbad Dairy Police Station in Delhi, and the body of the girl, a resident of the local JJ Colony, was discovered lying on the streets. Sahil was caught after his phone call to father Sahil, who brutally stabbed his girlfriend to death, was arrested in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshah on Monday. According to police sources cited by ANI, Sahil had switched off his phone and gone into hiding following the incident. However, his location was revealed when he made a phone call to his father. The accused previously worked as a mechanic specializing in AC and refrigerators, and was involved in a relationship with the victim. On Sunday night, the duo got into a fight following the girl's plan to attend a friend's son's birthday party. The accused then intercepted and stabbed her multiple times in a horrific attack. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Delhi high court on Tuesday denied bail to former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case related to the alleged excise policy scam in the national capital. A single-judge bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma pronounced the judgment, saying given the influential position, the tampering of the evidence cannot be ruled out as most of the witnesses are public servants. The CBI had arrested Manish Sisodia for alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. (PTI file ) Observing that the allegations against Sisodia are very serious in nature, the court stated that the influencing of the witnesses cannot be ruled out. During arguments, the CBI had reportedly opposed the bail plea moved by Sisodia and stated, The applicant (Sisodia) enjoys close nexus with the executive, offices and bureaucrats and his influence and clout is evident. His party colleagues holding high ranks continue to make factually wrong claims in order to influence the investigation and also claiming the applicant to be a victim of a political vendetta. A perusal of the said statements by this political leader (s) during the press conferences would reveal how the entire efforts of not only the Applicant but his party colleagues as a whole are to shield the accused, stated CBI in its reply opposing bail plea of Sisodia, the CBI said. During the arguments earlier, Sisodia through senior advocate Dayan Krishnan submitted that the CBI has no evidence to show his involvement in the alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of the Government. The lawyer submitted that every accused in the CBI case has been released on bail except Sisodia. Earlier, the Delhi HC had issued notice to CBI on a bail plea moved by Sisodia challenging a trial court order denying bail to him in a CBI case related to excise. The CBI had arrested Sisodia for alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 following several rounds of questioning. He has challenged the March 31 order of a trial court which had dismissed Sisodia's bail plea in the matter, saying he was "prima facie the architect" of the "scam" and had played the "most important and vital role" in the criminal conspiracy related to alleged payment of advance kickbacks of 90-100 crore meant for him and his colleagues in the Delhi government. He is also in custody in a related money laundering case. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose has asked the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government to provide the name of a third official who could be considered as the state election commissioner (SEC). The state government initially proposed former chief secretary Rajiva Sinha but the governor returned the file, asking why Sinha should be the only one on the shortlist. West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after a fire broke out at a multi-storey building close to Raj Bhavan in Kolkata on May 10 (PTI File Photo) Subsequently, the government added the name of Ajit Ranjan Burman, additional chief secretary. But the Raj Bhawan has sought a third name. The government is yet to select an officer, said the government official familiar with the matter. Bose declined to comment on the tussle between his office and the Trinamool Congress government. The right decision will be taken at the right time, the governor said. The SECs office fell vacant on Monday when SK Das stepped down on completing his term. The state election commission is mandated to conduct elections to urban local bodies and panchayat bodies in the state. The first task of the next SEC will be to conduct the panchayat elections. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said: The post is vacant now and panchayat elections are approaching. This is the first time we are facing this sort of trouble. Let good sense prevail. I will not bow before anyone. Banerjee said the state government sent the name to Raj Bhawan before the tenure of the last SEC came to an end. If the governor wants another name he can say it, she said. Raising questions on the SECs appointed by the TMC government in the past, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded the deployment of central paramilitary force for the panchayat polls, recalling that the TMC won 34% of the panchayat polls without a contest in 2018. Samik Bhattacharya, Bengal BJPs chief spokesperson, said, TMC wants SECs of its choice so that elections can be manipulated. The governor is empowered by the Constitution to protect the democratic rights of citizens. TMC state vice-president Jay Prakash Majumdar said: No law says a governor can stop the appointment of SEC because it is the prerogative of the state. A governor can send back a file with queries but ultimately, he has to give his nod to the appointment of an officer recommended by a state. The TMC leader said the governors office in several Opposition-ruled states was being controlled by the Centre to serve the BJPs interests. The Centre is directly or indirectly interfering in the affairs of governments run by opposition parties, Majumdar said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON LUCKNOW Police and Meta Companys intervention helped prevent a possible suicide attempt by an 18-year-old student, who posted a reel on social media while lying on a railway track in Hamirpur on Wednesday (May 24). The youth said he tried to take the extreme step after a fight with his friend, said cops. Trains The social media cell of Hamirpur, along with the social media centre of the state police headquarters and the police team that saved the youth were felicitated by UP DGP RK Vishwakarma on Tuesday. (Pic for representation) The post was uploaded on Instagram by the youth living in Maudha area of UPs Hamirpur district. On Wednesday, the social media centre at State Police headquarters, Lucknow, received an alert through email and call from Meta Company (Facebook headquarters). Taking cognizance of it, the social media centre immediately informed the Hamirpur police about the location of the youth, stated a press note by UP Police. Trains coming from both the sides were stopped on the said track through the railway guard and the youths life was saved, the press note informed. Subsequently, the student was also counselled by the police. The social media cell of Hamirpur, along with the social media centre of the state police headquarters and the police team that saved the youth were felicitated by UP DGP RK Vishwakarma on Tuesday. He gave them a certificate. Known for their long length, lustre and resilience, around 20,000 kg of wool from New Zealand was used to make the carpets that adorn the floors of the new Parliament building, said a senior official of Bhadohi-based Obeetee Carpets, the company behind the project. Carpets in the making at the Bhadohi factory (Sourced) The wool for the carpets was sourced from the farms in the northern and southern regions of New Zealand. Its high-lustre and resilience make it one of the best fibres for handmade carpets. Around 20,000 kg of the scoured wool was imported. The yarn was made under our supervision at a spinning mill in Bikaner, said Sudhir Rai, the production head of Obeetee, adding the yarn was then delivered to a factory in Gopiganj. Also Read: What is Foucaults Pendulum installed in new Parliament buidling? Explained Rai claimed Obeetee used a special technique to dye the carpets and give them a heathered texture. The carpets were then given a special wash to bring out their high lustre, he said. Stating that different designs were selected for Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, he explained the carpets for the lower house have peacock feather motifs and 38 shades were used to create an ombre. The carpets for the visitors and media galleries sport a different hue. The inspiration for the Rajya Sabhas carpets is the national flower, lotus. The lotus motif was created out of 12 shades to create a light pink to deep red ombre, he added. The factory where the carpets were made was also audited by the parliament security to ensure ethical work practices and that all the workers had Aadhaar registration, the official said. Also Read: New Parliament is made with all colours of India; Check what comes from where 314 looms, 900 weavers As many as 314 looms and over 900 weavers were engaged to get the final product, Rai said. Master weaver Ganesh Maurya, a resident of Jangiganj, said, We weaved the carpets on traditional handlooms. Before we started weaving, we were told about the designs. It is a matter of great joy that the carpets made by us are adding to the beauty of the Parliament building, Maurya said and added that they had worked rigorously for five months. Vishwa Soti, who hails from Garhwa, Jharkhand and was involved in the project, said, We weave carpets daily. But weaving the ones meant for the new Parliament building was a unique experience. Soti said he knew what the carpets were meant for even when was stitching them, but couldnt disclose the information to anyone. Mohd Abbas Akram said around a thousand weavers worked shoulder-to-shoulder to make the carpets. Over 70% of the weavers are locals while the rest are from neighbouring states, he said. Rai, the Obetee official, said meticulous planning and monitoring were required to ensure that the pieces were individually designed and create a seamless continuity in the aesthetics of the building. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The President of the United States of America Joe Bidden has expressed disappointment with the government of Uganda following the enactment of the anti homosexuality act. In a statement released by the White House, President Biden said the Act is a tragic violation of universal human rights, and not worthy of the Ugandan people as it jeopardizes the prospects of critical economic growth for the entire country. "I join with people around the world including many in Uganda in calling for its immediate repeal. No one should have to live in constant fear for their life or be subjected to violence and discrimination. It is wrong," Biden said. According to Biden, the Anti-Homosexuality Act has joined a list of alarming trends of human rights abuses in Uganda, hence a threat to everyone residing in Uganda, including U.S. government personnel, the staff of our implementing partners, tourists, members of the business community, and others. "As such, I have directed my National Security Council to evaluate the implications of this law on all aspects of U.S. engagement with Uganda, including our ability to safely deliver services under the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and other forms of assistance and investments. My Administration will also incorporate the impacts of the law into our review of Uganda's eligibility for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). And we are considering additional steps, including the application of sanctions and restriction of entry into the United States against anyone involved in serious human rights abuses or corruption." In a bid to help prisoners reintegrate better into the society after coming out of jail, the UP government is imparting skill training to them in various trades under the Prime Minister skill development program, said a press note shared by the media cell of the state government on Tuesday. A total of 1,011 prisoners were trained in 18 trades in eight district jails of Agra zone. (HT file) Within the last year, 8,160 prisoners received training in about 60 trades. Training is being imparted in about 60 trades, including computer software, carpentry, mason, mobile, beautician, bakery, sewing, embroidery, wood art, motor binding, computer, electrician, tailoring, electrical wiring, electric, plumbing, earthen lamps and utensils, compost manure, electronics, dairy farming and vermin-composting and fisheries among others, it said. The press note further said a total 376 prisoners received training in 12 trades in 5 district jails of the Ayodhya zone. They included 155 prisoners who were trained in Barabanki district jail, 84 in Gonda, 30 in Bahraich, 93 in Ambedkar Nagar and 14 in Ayodhya. Similarly, 373 prisoners received training in 8 trades in 9 district jails of Gorakhpur zone, including 25 prisoners of Gorakhpur district jail, 68 in Deoria, 46 in Maharajganj, 25 in Basti, 35 in Siddharthnagar , 20 in Azamgarh, 45 in Ballia, 93 in Mau and 16 in Sant Kabir Nagar. In Bareilly zone, 1,010 prisoners received training in 20 trades in six jails. They included 120 prisoners in Bareilly central jail, 117 in Pilibhit district jail, 244 in Budaun, 234 in Shahjahanpur, 105 in Moradabad and 190 in Bijnor. In Kanpur zone, 388 prisoners received training in 15 trades in six jails. They included 65 prisoners of Fatehgarh central jail, 102 in Fatehgarh district jail, 55 in Orai, 53 in Lalitpur, 5 in Kannauj and 108 in Jhansi. At least 541 prisoners received training in 17 trades in central, district and sub-jails of Prayagraj zone. They included 50 prisoners of Naini central jail in Prayagraj, 20 in Pratapgarh district jail, 64 in Chitrakoot, 159 in Kaushambi, 123 in Fatehpur, 20 in Banda and 105 in Mahoba sub-jail. In Meerut zone, at least 3,225 prisoners received training in six district jails. They included 351 inmates of Meerut district jail, 465 in Ghaziabad, 250 in Gautam Buddh Nagar, 1,012 in Bulandshahr, 31 in Saharanpur and 1,126 in Muzaffarnagar, it said. Besides, a total of 1,011 prisoners were trained in 18 trades in eight district jails of Agra zone. As many as 975 prisoners received training in 23 trades of Lucknow zone jails. They included 188 prisoners of Nari Bandi Niketan in Lucknow, 106 prisoners of Model jail in Lucknow, 152 in Unnao district jail, 169 of Sitapur district jail, 59 in Kheri, 110 in Hardoi and 191 in Rae Bareli. On the other hand, 251 prisoners received training in five trades in six jails of Varanasi zone, the press note added. The U.P. technical education department will scrutinise documents relating to land records, existing classrooms, infrastructure, etc of the 401 B Pharma institutions affiliated to the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) in the state. The department will also check if they are meeting all other infrastructure prerequisites. For representation only (HT Files) Prof JP Pandey, vice-chancellor, AKTU, said, The technical education department will carry out this exercise only to ensure that the quality of education is maintained in these institutions so that students do not suffer. They have sent a letter to the university and a proforma that will be adhered to in the verification process of B Pharma institutions. There were 104 pharmacy colleges affiliated to AKTU in the 2017-18 session. The number increased to 401 by 2022-23. The department felt that it is imperative to verify the infrastructure available in these institutions. Annavi Dinesh Kumar, special secretary, technical education, has written a letter in this regard. The department may even cancel the no objection certification (NOC) given in the past to the institutions if they have not been able to comply with the norms set for the institutions by the government, an official said. Pharmacy institutes have rarely complained of seats lying vacant, unless they are new. Students have a lot of options to branch out once they complete their graduation [in pharmacy] and its easy to apply for higher education, said a professor of pharmacy. He said that fierce competition in other health science sectors has also contributed to the popularity of pharmacy courses. The competition for medical seats is so strong at present that more and more students are opting for pharmacy courses after failing to get a seat in medicine. This has led to many new institutes. Generally, around 50% of the batch is easily placed in the placement season, while the rest pursue higher education, an official said, adding that in some cases, placements are much better in pharmacy colleges as compared to some engineering colleges. While pharmacy institutes are positive that they will continue to attract students year after year, experts have expressed concern over the rate at which these institutes are cropping up, especially in states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. While the number of seats across India for degree and diploma pharmacy courses increased to 2,62,698 in 2019-20 from 2,04,951 in 2018-19, the number of institutes rose to 3,276 in 2019-20 from 2,306 in 2018-19. The intake capacity of pharmacy institutes across the country, for degree and diploma courses, has gone up by nearly 30% in 2019-20 as compared to 2018-19, suggests data from the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Pharmacy has been trending for the past two years. The AICTE approved many new pharmacy institutes in recent times. Weve been very strict with our rules and only approved those colleges which have appropriate infrastructure and staff, said an official. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Congress lone Lok Sabha member from Maharashtra, Suresh aka Balu Dhanorkar, passed away at a private hospital in New Delhi on Tuesday morning. He was hospitalised for kidney stones in Nagpur but later shifted to Delhi after his condition turned critical. He represented Chandrapur Lok Sabha constituency. Suresh aka Balu Dhanorkar. (Twitter/kcvenugopalmp) The 47 year-old member of Parliament (MP) is survived by his wife Pratibha, an MLA from the Warora-Bhadrawati assembly seat, and two sons. Dhanorkar underwent treatment for kidney stones at a hospital in Nagpur on May 26 and was rushed to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, neighbouring Delhi, on Sunday after some complications, said senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat. Dhanorkars sudden illness, his condition turning critical and news of his death within two days is unimaginable, unbelievable and shocking, said Ashok Chavan, former chief minister. This is the second death in the family in the last three days as Dhanorkars 80-year old father Narayan Dhanorkar died in Nagpur last Saturday after prolonged illness. The Congress MP could not attend the final rites of his father. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge condoled the death of the party MP. Saddened to learn about the untimely passing away of Shri Suresh Narayan Dhanorkar, Congress MP (Lok Sabha) from Chandrapur Maharashtra. He was a grassroots leader. Our deepest condolences to his family, friends and followers. May they get the strength to overcome this loss, Kharge tweeted. Dhanorkars body will be flown to his home town, Warora, this afternoon. The last rites are likely to be held on Wednesday. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A forest department employee has been killed in Assams Goalpara district after a group of suspected timber smugglers allegedly attacked him on Monday night, officials said. Three other employees are critically injured. The smugglers used bamboo sticks, machetes and other sharp objects to attack the forest personnel. (Representative Image) The incident took place at Krishnai Salpara Darapara area in Goalpara. Based on a specific information, a team of our officials went to Boro Matia Reserved Forest area to conduct a search operation against alleged illegal timber smuggling on Monday night. During the operation, the forest team confiscated a tractor and a large amount of timber, a forest official familiar with the development said. The deceased forest employee has been identified as Rajbir Ahmed (45). According to the officials, he was attacked with bamboo sticks and sharp objects. After the incident, police rushed to the spot and took the injured employees to a local government hospital. Doctors declared Rajbir Ahmed dead on arrival, the official said. The three injured staff have been identified as Mobinur Rahman, Mustafa Ali, and Najrul Islam. They have deep cuts and severe injuries. They have been sent to the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for advanced treatment and they are undergoing treatment, according to the officials. Bamboo sticks, machetes and other sharp objects were used to attack our employees, The preliminary investigation shows that miscreants along with the locals gathered and launched an attack on them, said an official. Meanwhile, locals on Tuesday staged a protest against the alleged killing of the forest department employee. They demanded immediate arrest of the culprits and also appealed to the government to assure adequate security to the forest officials. Police said that they have registered a complaint and they are trying to identify the accused. Once the injured persons recover, we will record their statements. We will try to identify the persons involved in the attack, after that, they will be arrested, an official said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Bihar police constable allegedly shot himself to death from the service revolver of his colleague in the barrack of Sitamarhi police line late on Monday evening. Police said that they will probe the matter thoroughly. (Representative Image) He is the fifth constable who has died by suicide in Bihar in the last five months. The reason behind the death is yet to be ascertained as no suicide note was found while a preliminary investigation has suggested that he was going through a domestic dispute. Police said that they will probe the matter thoroughly. The constable, identified as Kartik Kumar Gupta, was a resident of Mansi village in Khagaria district. He was inducted in the Bihar police in 2021 while his father run a tea stall at Mansi Chowk. At Sitamarhi, Kartik was deployed at the quick response team (QRT). After hearing a gunshot, I rushed to the spot along with my fellow colleagues. After entering the room, we found Kartkik lying in a pool of blood and a revolver found on the spot. A bullet pierced his neck. We informed our superiors, including the superintendent of police (SP), deputy SP and others, said Brajkishore, a constable. Sitamarhi SP Manoj Kumar Tiwari said that at least 20 policemen were staying at Barrack Number 300 when the constable shot himself to death. Further investigation was on. He said the family members of the deceased have been informed about the incident. The barracks room is sealed for collecting evidence from the spot. Asked about the reason behind the incident, the SP said it would be premature to say anything. The exact reason will be known after thorough investigation, he said adding that an accidental death report (ADR) has been registered on the basis of primary information. A forensic team has reached the spot to collect evidence, the SP said, adding that the body was handed over to his family members after autopsy at sadar hospital on Tuesday. If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist. Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918, Roshni Foundation (Secundrabad) Contact Nos: 040-66202001, 040-66202000, ONE LIFE: Contact No: 78930 78930, SEVA: Contact No: 09441778290 SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders are scheduled to visit Bihar in June as part of the partys mass contact programme to mark the Modi governments completion of nine years in office, said party leaders. The BJP will hold mass contact programmes in Bihar to mark the Modi governments completion of nine years in office. (File) The campaign will take place close on the heels of the united Opposition meet called by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on June 12. BJP state president Samrat Choudhary said PM Modi will address a public meeting in the state. The exact date and venue will be finalised later. Along with him (PM), several top leaders will also be in the state, he said. The BJPs programmes go on round the year. This is special as it will be on the completion of nine years of the Modi government. The mass contact programme, scheduled till June 30, will showcase the Modi governments achievements, he added. The main purpose is to let the people know what the BJP government of Narendra Modi has done for the state in the last nine years and what it could not do due to stubborn Nitish, who stalled many projects due to his ego, Choudhary said. People have faith in Narendra Modi, who is the leader of the largest party that has peoples trust, and Nitish Kumar is the leader of the smallest party that has been rejected in Bihar itself and continues to be at the mercy of the RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal), which is the synonym for all that went wrong in the state, he added. He added that the BJP is not bothered about the Opposition meet called by Nitish Kumar. The BJP is hardly bothered by the meeting of a group of rejected and dejected leaders fighting all sorts of corruption cases. Nitish Kumar knows being a leader of the smallest party, he has become a liability wherever he goes, but he cannot stop daydreaming, he said. Nitish Kumar has travelled to different parts of the country in the last couple of months to meet a string of Opposition leaders for stitching an alliance of the Opposition parties to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He has also been trying to prepare a level playing field for regional parties and the Congress. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bihar in June and address a public meeting organised by his party BJP, according to its state unit president Samrat Choudhary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI/PIB) The exact date and venue will be finalised later. Several top BJP leaders will also be in the state. The event is special, coming as it does on the completion of nine years of the Narendra Modi government, Choudhary said. A little less than a year left for the parliamentary elections, BJP has organised a month-long mass contact programme ending on June 30 in Bihar, a politically crucial state where the party suddenly found itself stripped of power in August last year when its ally, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumars JD-U, broke ranks and aligned with Lalu Prasads RJD and Congress to form a new government. The state accounts for 40 of the total 543 Lok Sabha seats in the country. BJPs organisational activities will include four big public meetings and the PM will attend one of them. For other public meetings, top BJP leaders will come. The main purpose is to let the people know what the BJP government of Narendra Modi has done for the state in the last nine years and what it could not do due to stubborn Nitish Kumar, who stalled many projects due to his ego. Nitish Kumar is the leader of the smallest party that has been rejected in Bihar itself and continues to be at the mercy of RJD, which is the synonym for all that went wrong in the state, he said. Referring to the meeting of anti-BJP leaders called by Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 12, Choudhary said it was nothing more than a desperate attempt on part of Nitish Kumar get resurrect his own sagging political image due to the huge trust deficit with him. Over the past few months, the Bihar CM has travelled to different parts of the country, meeting a number of leaders in his bid to stitch an alliance of parties to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ten pilgrims from Bihar, bound for Vaishno Devi shrine, died and 55 others were injured when the double-decker bus they were travelling in fell into a gorge on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway on Tuesday morning, officials said. At the accident site in Jammu on Tuesday. (ANI) The injured have been admitted to the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital in Jammu and two of them are critical, said GMC principal Shashi Soodan. The accident took place at Jhajjar Kotli bridge. Ten people have died. Rescue operation is almost compete, Jammu senior superintendent of police Chandan Kohli said. Most of the travellers were from Lakhisarai and were members of an extended family. They were on pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi for a religious function (mundan) of a child in the family. According to people known to the victims, they were going for the mundan ceremony for the two-year-old daughter of one Mukesh Sharma. They had left Lakhisarai on May 24 and first went to Amritsar, where Mukeshs father stays. Mukeshs neighbour Manjit Kumar told HT that the child whose mundan Ceremony was scheduled also died in the accident. It wasnt immediately clear whether Mukesh Sharma himself has survived the accident or not. Ravinder Panday, one of the travellers, said they felt something hit the bus. It lost balance and rolled down, he said. The accident site looked horrific with bodies trapped under the mangled remains of the bus. Describing the accident, a witness said the bus was in the left lane, but it had crossed over to the right side after the driver lost control, hit the railing of the bridge and went down. The front wheels came off and got stuck in the parapet of the bridge. For the journey to Katra, the vehicle, carrying a registration number of Uttar Pradesh (UP 81 CT 3537), should have taken a left turn nearly two kilometers before the spot of accident, but passengers said the driver seemed to have lost the direction and was probably going to the Udhampur-Srinagar side of the highway. Meanwhile, Bihar Police said people seeking assistance could call on its police control room number (0612-2294319) and number of Kashmir Police (0191-2542000/2542001). Offering her condolences, President Droupadi Murmu said the death of pilgrims in the bus accident was extremely unfortunate. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex gratia of 2 lakh to the next kin of each of those who were killed in the accident. Kumar said he has instructed Bihars resident commissioner in New Delhi to get in touch with the Jammu and Kashmir government to provide help to the victims. PUNE: Locals during protest after Charity Commissioner recently reconstituted the Temple trust where 80 percent trustees appointed are outsiders in Jejuri. (HT PHOTO) As a majority of the newly-appointed trustees on the Jejuri Temple Trust are not residents of Jejuri village, the locals have come out in strong protest against the decision claiming that it is politically motivated and that these outsiders do not know anything about the traditions, rituals, yatras and events of the temple. The locals have submitted a letter to the authorities, threatening to escalate the agitation and undertake an indefinite hunger strike if the newly-constituted trust is not dissolved and reconstituted. The former trustees on the Shri Martand Dev Sansthan Temple Trust completed their tenure in December last year after which the process of appointment of new trustees was started. Over 500 applications were received out of which, 95 applications were rejected while 350 candidates were interviewed. The list was whittled down to seven successful candidates who were appointed as trustees of the Jejuri Temple on May 19. The newly-formed trust comprises five members who do not reside in Jejuri, which is about 50 kilometres from Pune; one member who resides nine kilometres away from Jejuri; and only one who resides in Jejuri. That most of the trustees are not from Jejuri has irked the villagers of Jejuri, who have been protesting for the past five days against the decision taken by the joint charity commissioner of Pune, Sudhir Bukke. The villagers of Jejuri want a majority of the trustees to be informed locals. On Tuesday, the villagers and several other religious organisations met Pune district collector Rajesh Deshmukh and Bukke demanding that the decision be revoked and that the newly-constituted trust be dissolved and reconstituted. The locals submitted a letter to the authorities which reads, The outsiders are not aware of the rituals, traditions, yatras and events of the temple. In case of untoward incidents or emergency situations, they will not be able to reach on time. The villagers are furious over the decision and if the trust is not dissolved and reconstituted, it will result in an escalation of the protest where locals plan to undertake an indefinite hunger strike. On his part, Bukke said that the decision taken by the charity commissioners is unbiased and clearly without any political interference and that they will stay firm on the decision. All the trustees have met the required eligibility criteria for appointment as trustee of the temple. All the trustees are from different educational backgrounds and communities. The decision was taken as per the constitution of the trust and its the first time such a transparent process was followed, Bukke said. Whereas Deshmukh was not available for comment. As per the constitution of the Jejuri Temple Trust, any individual resident of Maharashtra who is a Hindu and a devotee of Lord Khandoba is eligible for appointment as a trustee of the temple. A resident of Jejuri, Hemant Sonawane, said that before selection of the trustees, the locals had requested the charity commissioner to appoint at least five people from Jejuri village as trustees and they were assured that a majority of the trustees would be locals. But later, only one local trustee was elected and the remaining six members are outsiders belonging to some political party, said Sonawane. Adv Shivraj Kadam, trustee of Shrimati Laxmibai Dagduseth Halwai Datta Mandir Trust, said, as long as the trustees fulfill the eligibility criteria and do their duty there should not be any problem if the Trustees are not local. The religious daily work has already been decided for years. The functions and Yatras are done as per the yearly calendar. There is no problem when it comes to religious programs. The administration and fund management and social arrangements for special events is done by the trustees. When it comes to the festivals and Yatras, the locals always have an upper hand. The daily worship work, prayers and other arrangements are done by the local people, he said. While reacting to the development, Deepak Jade, President of Shaneshwar Seva Trust, Chinchwad, said, local people have to be there in the Trust board as they are the ones who are aware about the local problems in the area. The number of local Trustees around 30 to 40 percent is enough for smooth functioning of the temple trust. Most important thing the Trustees have to come on board for genuine reasons and help in growth of the Temple trust and serve people. The intention should not be to gain fame or privilege at the Temple. Many times people just want to be a Trustee for a name. Trustee who are not local lack giving time and taking efforts for the growth of temple trust, he said. The presiding deity of the Jejuri Temple is Lord Khandoba, revered across Maharashtra, and the villagers claim that non-informed trustees are unaware of the traditions and rituals and the planning of fairs and yatras of the Khandoba Temple. BOX: Names of the newly-appointed trustees Abhijit Deokate Dr Rajendra Khedekar Mangesh Ghone (Jejuri) Vishwas Panse Anil Saundade Pandurang Thorave Popat Khomane (Kolvihire village which is nine km away from Jejuri) Following the incident of illegal sex determination at Satara and illegal abortion of female foetuses at Jejuri, the public health department has decided to tighten the noose around diagnostic centres and catch doctors involved in conducting gender tests. Following the incident of illegal sex determination at Satara and illegal abortion of female foetuses at Jejuri, the public health department has decided to tighten the noose around diagnostic centres (REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE) For this, the department has decided to conduct a special training for Asha workers, healthcare staff and Medical officers among others staff from Pune division (Pune, Solapur and Satara) by Medico legal experts. The training will be held on June 5, at the deputy director office in Pune. In this training, the strategy for effective implementation of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act and Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act will be discussed. Also, training for decoy operations, surprise visits, monitoring and identifying suspicious centres, and record checking will be conducted, said officials. This comes after three persons, including a doctor were booked by Jejuri police on May 14 under various sections of PCPNDT Act and MTP Act after it came to light that an expecting mother allegedly underwent illegal sex determination and termination of pregnancy at Shriram Hospital in Nira Village of Purandar Tehsil. Later it was found the woman had undergone illegal sex determination at an ultrasound centre in Lonand village of Satara. Dr Radhakishan Pawar, deputy director of health services, Pune region, said, Two incidents have come to light in the last eight months. We have a huge workforce of at least 5,000 Asha workers who know expecting mothers. We will train them to identify the suspicious diagnostic centres and doctors involved in illegal sex determination. The Asha workers will keep a close watch on the expected mothers in their area. We need to get to the crux of this nexus. The doctors and expecting mothers have a deal during such sex determination tests and thus no complains are made. Doctors walk away due to lack of evidence. The training will be provided by the Medico legal experts to make sure when the cases are filed we have enough proof that would stand the scrutiny of the court, Pawar added. Dr Nagnath Yempalay, district civil surgeon said, Through various programmes, the government has implemented several schemes for ensuring the safety of the girl child but, attitudinal changes are essential to ensure the safety of an unborn female foetus. We will conduct special drives and decoy operations with an aim to increase transparency and tighten the noose around offending doctors. Past incident Earlier, in October last year a 33-year-old woman from Talegaon, Pune developed serious complications and was admitted at Sassoon General Hospital after a botched up termination of pregnancy. She had allegedly undergone sex determination at a private clinic in Satara. Subsequently, the medical termination of pregnancy was carried out in Mahad. Nairobi About 60,000 people across Kenya are set to benefit from M-PESA Foundation-funded medical camps in the 47 counties, starting with Lamu County this week. The Sh46 million investment is expected to fund health information provision, provision of medical equipment and drugs for general healthcare, screening of select NCDs, dental care, eye care and management of diabetes and hypertension The first camp will be launched in Lamu County where the M-PESA Foundation has invested Sh1,700,000.00 in drugs and surgical equipment to support the provision of healthcare. "The programme we are launching today complements other landmark initiatives that we have rolled out in collaboration with various counties in a bid to address healthcare challenges. At the same time, we are looking to improve our approaches in order to reach as many people as possible. The medical camps are therefore an avenue to ensure better healthcare outcomes for local communities," said Nicholas Nganga, M-PESA Foundation Chairman. Some of the flagship health projects under M-PESA Foundation are: Daktari Smart, which is a telemedicine project in collaboration with Gertrude's Hospital Foundation. It provides specialist care to Kenyans who are in hard-to-reach and underserved areas in Lamu, Homa Bay, Baringo and Samburu counties. The Sh168 million programme has been in operation since 2021 with an objective of providing more than 32,000 children with access to specialist health services. The Foundation also has a reproductive health programme known as Uzazi Salama, which is set to benefit over 90,000 people in Homa Bay County. M-PESA Foundation, in conjunction with Flying Doctors, has a fistula programme that has seen over 400 women receive surgery and treatment since 2021. This week also, Safaricom Foundation launched the renovated Kiwayu Dispensary in Lamu, at a cost of KES 2m, , to further improve access to health services for the community. The Pune Municipal Corporations (PMC) anti-encroachment drive has been hampered by an abbreviated police force consisting of only 38 officers, as opposed to the sanctioned number of 158. On September 1, 2014, the state government approved 158 vacancies of policemen of various ranks, and despite the passing of nine years, there is a lengthy standing vacancy of 120 posts. According to the anti-encroachment department, an average of 20-22 officers are available on duty on a regular basis, making the anti-encroachment effort a major task for the civic authorities. (HT FILE PHOTO) The anti-encroachment section is now dealing with concerns connected to escalating challenges from organised hawkers, who do not hesitate to attack PMC workers on anti-encroachment duty. According to the anti-encroachment department, an average of 20-22 officers are available on duty on a regular basis, making the anti-encroachment effort a major task for the civic authorities. Previously, 11 villages were merged with the civic body, and then 23 villages were joined with the civic body, resulting in the PMC becoming one of the largest municipal corporations in terms of area. The State Home Department, in an order dated September 1, 2014, ordered the establishment of a dedicated branch titled Economic Offences and special cell for Civilians with 158 posts created to boost anti-encroachment and other activities undertaken by the civic body that require mandatory police protection. Reacting to the grim situation, Madhav Jagtap, chief of the Anti-Encroachment Department said, The government has sanctioned 158 posts, but we have only 38 policemen for various duties, making our anti-encroachment drives difficult and risky due to a lack of adequate police personnel. Many anti-encroachment drives lack police protection, making it impossible to remove unauthorised and illegal structures. During the second week of May, the anti-encroachment department officials were roughed up by the hawkers when they tried to remove the street hawkers and their illegal structures from the footpath on Boat Club Road. In March 2022, the Vishrantwadi police filed an FIR against 22 persons for impeding public officials while discharging their duties. They have been booked under relevant sections including section 353 of the Indian Penal Code. The first violent attack on the PMC staff took place in 2012 when a stone pelting incident took place in the Yerawada area during an anti-encroachment drive. The mob had injured anti-encroachment department officials including its current serving chief Jagtap, additional municipal commissioner Rajendra Jagtap, and other staff during the early morning drive. Anti-encroachment mandate To ensure that citizens do not face any inconvenience due to illegal construction. To declare Hawking Zones and Non-Hawking Zones & rehabilitate the hawkers from Non-Hawking Zones to Hawking Zones. To make Pune free from traffic congestion caused by unauthorised hawkers. To remove illegal encroachment and unauthorised hawkers on footpaths and roads. To keep areas like hospitals, railway stations, schools, religious places, government offices and silent zones free from unauthorised hawkers PUNE: Apart from Sassoon General Hospital (in pic), the other public hospital in the city for burn patients is Aundh District Hospital. (HT PHOTO) At a time when fire incidents in Pune are on the rise, there is ironically little or no increase in the number of burns wards/facilities across the city. As per data shared by the Pune Fire Brigade Department, as many as 6,767 fire incidents have been reported from 2016 till date. Of these; 1,073 fire incidents were reported in 2016; 1,058 in 2017; 1,353 in 2018; 975 in 2019; 699 in 2020; 658 in 2021; 694 in 2022; and 257 till the end of March 2023. Officials attribute the drop in fire incidents in 2020 and 2021 largely to the Covid-19 pandemic. Among public (state/government) health facilities in the city, there are only 20 beds in the burns ward of Sassoon General Hospital for critical burn victims. Considering the long stay and longer period required for recovery, these beds remain occupied for a longer period of time, doctors said. Dr Parag Sahastrabuddhe, head of the plastic surgery department at B J Medical College, said that there are 20 beds for burn patients at Sassoon Hospital and that they are always in demand. There are patients who come not just from Pune but also from other districts for treatment at our hospital. The patients who come to Sassoon are mostly critical cases with over 40% to 50% burn injuries. Such patients take one to two months for recovery. With advancement in treatment, the overall morbidity among burn patients has decreased, Dr Sahastrabuddhe said. Apart from Sassoon General Hospital, the other public hospital in the city for burn patients is Aundh District Hospital. However, it only handles minor burn injury cases while serious burn victims are sent to Sassoon Hospital. Private hospitals too are seeing an increase in burn patients. However, most people cannot afford the longer stay, nutritional support and medication at private hospitals. Dr H K Sale, president of the Association of Hospitals in Pune, said that a few private hospitals in the city provide basic treatment for burn victims but usually keep patients with higher degree of burn injuries. Patients with only 20 to 30% burn injuries are handled by private hospitals whereas those with higher degree of burn injuries are referred to Sassoon Hospital. There is no dedicated ward for burn patients at private hospitals, excluding at Surya Sahyadri Hospital. Nearly 90% of patients with higher degree of burn injuries cannot afford private hospitals. Even the remaining 10% patients cannot afford the treatment beyond a few days, Dr Sale said. According to Dr Jaisingh Shinde, director of Surya Sahyadri Hospital, the number of burn patients coming to the hospital has increased significantly. Most of the patients coming to us are children who have suffered burn injuries. After children, those suffering electrocution are coming to us. We have 10 beds reserved for burn victims at the hospital. Nearly 80% of the beds are always occupied. Burn injury patients are emergency patients and cannot be kept waiting, Dr Shinde said. Dr Sale said that there is need for a dedicated ward, specially trained staff and specialised doctors for burn patients. The team needs emotional training to handle burn patients. The medicines, antibiotics and collagen dressing are expensive parts of the treatment, Dr Sale said. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in January 2022 had declared plans to set up a specialty department for burn patients at (late) Chandumama Sonawane Hospital. However, the proposal was eventually put on the backburner. Health activist, Dr Sanjay Dabhade, said that the need of the hour is for the PMC to start a burns ward looking at the rising population of the city. The ward can be started at any of the PMC-run facilities and should be kept hygienic, Dr Dabhade said. Dr Abhijit More, health activist, said that the PMC is starting its medical college and should upgrade other healthcare facilities and hospitals as well. The PMC should start a burns ward at the Kamla Nehru Hospital. Once the medical college starts, they can shift the ward there. To run this ward, the civic body should appoint specialised staff and make sure that they have a healthy atmosphere to work in. In comparison to the PMC, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is investing a lot of funds in healthcare and doing much more for the citizens of Mumbai, Dr More said. Nilesh Mahajan, spokesperson of the Pune Fire Brigade Department, said, The department conducts regular inspections of buildings and commercial establishments, ensuring that fire safety regulations are followed. The department has appealed to commercial and private establishments to conduct fire safety audits on time. The department conducts workshops, and teaches children and adults alike about fire prevention, evacuation procedures, and the proper use of fire extinguishers. For his 2007 action thriller Shootout in Lokhandwala, Apoorva Lakhia cast Vivek Oberoi in one of the key roles. Vivek had called a press conference and alleged that actor Salman Khan had threatened him. There was an unofficial boycott against Vivek. When Apoorva started his film, he said many producers told him to drop the actor. Only a handful people including writer Sanjay Gupta and other actors Sanjay Dutt and Suniel Shetty backed Apoorva during this time. (Also read: Vivek Oberoi speaks his heart out on lobbying and bullying, 20 years after his infamous press conference: It been a hallmark of our industry) Apoorva Lakhia said many producers had told him not to cast Vivek Oberoi in his film. What is the film about? Shootout in Lokhandwala is based upon the actual 1991 gun battle that took place in Lokhandwala Complex in Mumbai between gangsters and the police. Sanjay, Suniel Shetty and Arbaaz Khan played police officers, while Vivek essayed the part of a notorious gangster. The ensemble cast also included Tusshar Kapoor, Rohit Roy, Aditya Lakhia, Shabbir Ahluwalia, and Amitabh Bachchan. Apoorva said he faced a difficult time after Vivek's casting In an interview with Siddharth Kannan for his YouTube channel, the filmmaker spoke about the tremendous pressure he was under. He said, "At that time when I casted Vivek, a lot of producers called me and said Replace him or we wont work with you. But I had given a commitment to Vivek, so how do you go back from a commitment? And Sanju sir supported me, Suniel Shetty supported me, Sanjay Gupta supported me. So if the guys are supporting me, I thought why should I think about the future? If Shootout became a hit, whoever rejected me will come back." He further added, "But Vivek was a good actor. Whatever he did was wrong, he shouldnt have done it, but that does not mean he is not talented. I am hiring for his acting abilities. I am not hiring any person for his personality. He is a professional and he was really good when I was reading with him. I think he did a fantastic job." Vivek on the unofficial boycott against him After its release, the action film was nominated for several awards. Recently, when Priyanka Chopra spoke up about moving to Hollywood after not finding work in Bollywood, Vivek had also shared his own experience. He had said how there was lobbying in the industry to make sure he was not involved in projects. He sat home for several months, before turning his attention to other avenues involving philanthropy and business. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar have been married since 1984. In a new interview, when Shabana was asked about her definition of love and her equation with Javed, the acclaimed actor said that they have 'huge fights' and 'want to kill each other' but they also have a lot of respect for one another. (Also read: Shabana Azmi says Satish Kaushik contemplated suicide after his first directorial failed: 'He was a dukhi aatma') Javed Akhtar with Shabana Azmi in an old photo the actor had posted on Instagram. Earlier this year, Shabana had shared a rare family photo on her Instagram, where she posed with Javed Akhtar and his children, Zoya Akhtar and Farhan Akhtar and his wife, actor Shibani Dandekar. Javed's first wife Honey Irani was also seen in the photo. Sharing the photo, Shabana had written in the caption, Hum sab saath saath hain (We are all together). Shabana on the definition of romance Javed was earlier married to screenwriter Honey Irani and shares two children with her actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar and filmmaker Zoya Akhtar. Now, in an interview with Filmfare, when Shabana was asked whether her definition of love has evolved over the years, the actor said, "I was never a romantic, to begin with. I find that young girls, maybe today it has changed today, but young girls during my era had great ideas about romance. It would be fed on the fairytales, storybooks, and all the little cartoon books they would read. But I was never like that because I saw my parents marriage, which started with a lot of romance and then evolved into friendship. So what I have valued greatly is friendship." Shabana says she has huge fights with Javed Akhtar Further detailing her relationship with Javed, she added, "Javed and I have huge fights and want to kill each other but at the end of the day, respecting the other person is important. We have the same worldview. We were children of parents who were so similar that we should have had an arranged marriage. Both our fathers were poets, they were both from communist parties and they were both Hindi film lyricists. Theres a lot of friendship between us. Javed is fond of saying that Shabana is my best friend. And this friendship is so strong that even marriage could not ruin it." Shabana was last seen in the 2022 movie What's Love Got to Do With It? directed by Shekhar Kapur. She will be next seen in Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani which is eyeing a July release. The first look poster of the film was shared recently. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Since her debut in Punjabi cinema with Best Of Luck in 2013, Sonam Bajwa has gone on to become one of the most popular stars in the industry. The actor will complete a decade in the industry this July. In an interview, she spoke about how she had turned down roles from Bollywood in the past as she was hesitant how the Punjabi audience would react. Sonam shared that she didn't accept a film that had a kissing scene in it because she didn't want to let people down, including her family. (Also read: Sonam Bajwa was bullied for her skin colour: As a Punjabi, I was not gori-chitti enough) Sonam Bajwa will be next seen in Carry On Jatta 3. Sonam's previous roles in Bollywood Previously, she had auditioned for the role of Mohini in Farah Khan's Happy New Year in 2014; the role eventually went to Deepika Padukone. She has also acted in the Hindi films Bala (2019) and Street Dancer 3D (2020) in smaller roles. Sonam's base is in Mumbai and she lives in the city when she is not shooting for her Punjabi films. She added that she was more open to seeing what Bollywood has to offer now, but she was much more careful in the past. Why Sonam said no to a kissing scene? In an interview with Film Companion, Sonam shared, "In Bollywood, I said no to a couple of things because I said, is Punjab going to be okay with it? Because we have that mentality that families should be okay, families should be watching. I was very scared to do a kissing scene in a film back then, because I thought how are people going to respond to it? How are these people who have made me who I am today, are they going to relate to it? Are they going to understand this is for the script? Is my family going to understand that this is for a film?" Sonam's next film Sonam's recent Punjabi film is Godday Godday Chaa with Tania, Gitaj Bindrakhia and Gurjazz. It was released in theatres on May 26, 2023. In June, she will be seen opposite Gippy Grewal in comedy sequel Carry On Jatta 3. The film has been shot in the UK and also stars Gurpreet Ghuggi, Binnu Dhillon, Nasir Chinyoti and Jaswinder Bhalla. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Late actor Chiranjeevi Sarjas wife Meghana Raj is a happy mother as her son, Rayaan, went to school for the first time. Taking to her Instagram, she shared some adorable pictures of her son, which were taken at school as well as at home. In her caption, Meghana wrote that she 'simply can't put the emotions I went through in words'. (Also Read | Meghana Raj shares touching post on late husband Chiranjeevi Sarjas birth anniversary) Meghana Raj and son Rayaan in front of late Chiranjeevi Sarja's picture. Meghana Raj shared pictures with her son Rayaan In one of the pictures, Meghana Raj held Rayaan in her arms as they stood in front of a photo frame of her late husband. Both of them smiled and flashed the thumbs-up sign. In another photo, Meghana had her finger on Rayaan's hand as the kid looked on. Meghana also penned a note Sharing the pictures, Meghana wrote, Once we become a parent it's not just the children crossing milestones but us as parents too! And today happens to be one such special day! Raayan's very first day of school! I simply can't put the emotions I went through in words... his very 1st step towards education, knowledge and most importantly life lessons (smiling emoji). Need All ur good wishes and blessings for our little one (folding hands emoji) @chirusarja #raayanrajsarja." Chiranjeevi's death In 2020, Meghana was five months pregnant when Chiranjeevi died due to a massive cardiac arrest. She has been raising her son as a single parent. In 2018, Chiranjeevi married Meghana. The couple were in love and dated each other for quite some time before tying the knot. A few weeks after Chiranjeevis death, Meghana described him as 'a piece of my soul' in a moving note. Chiru, I have tried & tried again but I am unable to put in words what I want to tell you. All the words in the world cannot describe what you mean to me. My friend, my lover, my partner, my child, my confidant, my husband you are much more than all of this. You are a piece of my soul, Chiru, Meghana had written. She had added, An unfathomable pain shoots through my soul every time I see the door and you dont walk in shouting Im home. There is a sinking feeling in my heart when I cant touch you every minute of every day. Like a thousand deaths, slow and painful. But then, like a magic spell I feel you around me. Every time I feel weak, you are around me like a guardian angel. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After his recent engagement with girlfriend Lauren Sanchez, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is in party mode. As per a report by people.com, the couple celebrated their engagement by having costly wine in the South of France recently. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez(Getty Images) Bezos and Sanchez ordered a $4,285 bottle of Dugat-Py Grand Cru from Domaine Bernard at La Petit Maison in Cannes, France. During the party, the couple were joined by Bezos' sister Christina Bezos Poore and her husband Steve Poore. ALSO READ| Freezing of eggs isnt guaranteed: Kourtney Kardashian makes big revelation, shares her struggle in growing family According to a source quoted by people.com, Bezos maintains a low profile as a guest at La Petite Maison. The restaurant where Bezos dined with Sanchez is known to play late-night band During their engagement, Bezos had gifted to Sanchez, a massive 20-carat ring, estimated to be worth a whopping $2.5 million. Notably, Bezos' $500 million superyacht named Koru, has a sculpture resembling Sanchez. The couple had recently spent time on the 417-foot ship near the coast of Spains Mallorca island. The superyacht is reportedly the worlds tallest sailing yacht. Koru was built in the Netherlands and stands as a remarkable three-masted sailing yacht with the capability to achieve speeds of up to 20 knots. The annual expenses associated with maintaining the yacht, amounts to approximately $25 million. Boasting ample space, it accommodates up to 18 guests and requires a crew of 40 sailors to operate and ensure its smooth navigation. The yacht has three levels, each exquisitely designed, with one deck featuring a swimming pool. Koru has a support vessel named Abeona, which houses a helipad, luxurious automobiles, jet skis, and other lavish amenities. Bezos went public about his relationship with Sanchez in 2019, after the billionaire's divorce from MacKenzie Scott. With MacKenzie, Bezos shares four children from his 25-years marriage. Sanchez is a former broadcast journalist who co-hosted the Good Day LA morning show from 2011 to 2017. Talking about Bezos in an interview, Sanchez once said: Hes so happy, he inspires me every day, he makes me a better person every day; hes the most loving human I know. Puneeth Rajkumars elder brother Raghavendra paid a special tribute to the late actor with a touching gesture. As a token of his love for his late brother, Raghavendra got a tattoo in memory of Puneeth. He also got the names of Puneeths daughters tattooed on his chest. Also read: ShivaRajkumar turns emotional seeing late brother Puneeth Rajkumars video at event, Nandamuri Balakrishna consoles him Puneeth Rajkumar's brother got a new tattoo. In October 2021, Puneeth died after suffering a massive cardiac arrest. He was very close to his brothers Shivrajkumar and Raghavendra. In a picture that has surfaced on social media, Raghavendra has the names of Puneeth, who was known as Appu and his daughters Toto and Nukki, tattooed on his chest. Toto and Nukki are the nicknames of Puneeth's two daughters, Vanditha and Drithi. Raghavendra is an actor as well as producer. He has starred in close to half a dozen films and was last seen playing a cameo in Puneeths film James, which was released posthumously. Gandhada Gudi was Puneeths last film. Directed by Amoghavarsha J S, the film is a documentary on the wildlife of Karnataka. In the film, Puneeth and the director embark on a journey across the length and breadth of the state, exploring its rich bio-diversity. Released in cinemas last October, the film was extremely well received by the audience. Several fans turned emotional during the first show on the release day. In 2020, Puneeth had signed a film titled Dvitva with filmmaker Pawan Kumar. The project was announced with much fanfare, and both Puneeth and Pawan were excited about joining hands. Trisha was signed as his co-star. Puneeth made his debut as a lead actor with 2002 Kannada film Appu. Some of his popular films include Abhi, Veera Kannadiga, Arasu, Raam, Hudugaru and Anjani Putra, among others. On October 29, 2021, Puneet died at the age of 46. Last year, Puneeth was conferred with Karnatakas highest civilian award the Karnataka Ratna posthumously on Tuesday, on the occasion of the 67th Kannada Rajyotsava (the state formation day). Actors Rajinikanth and Jr. NTR presided over the event as chief guests along with ex-Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Neha Marda, who had her baby girl recently, has revealed that her case got so complicated at one point that the doctors and her family had to discuss whether they should save the child or the mother. She took to her YouTube channel and shared her journey of child birth. (Also read: Balika Vadhu's Neha Marda calls breastfeeding in public absolutely normal) Neha Marda talks about her pregnancy in her new vlog. Responding to fans who have been asking if she had a C-section, Neha said in her vlog, "I had a super urgent C-section, jo definitely planned nahi tha. Earlier, it seemed like I might go for normal delivery. But due to an emergency and my BP fluctuations - my BP would fluctuate a lot and we had to take this decision. There was a time when actually doctors had a meeting with my family and asked bache ko bachaya jaaye ya maa ko bachaya jaye. Obviously mai yeh saare sawalo se durr thi (Doctors asked if they should save the baby or me, and I was away from these questions) because my family - my mother and husband were there to take their decision. But I was aware of it." Neha welcomed her first child, a baby girl in April. C-Section versus normal delivery C-sections are often planned as per the way a pregnancy develops, but that was not the way in Neha's case. She also said that the way a baby is born is irrelevant and all anyone may ask for is a healthy baby and mother. "Jin logo ka C-section hua hai, unko yeh na feel karaye, arey apne toh apne liye easy process kar liya. Pata sabko chlata hai, dard sabko hota hai, kisi ko pehle kisi ko baad mein. Importance yeh hai ki we have a healthy baby." She added that post-partum is not easy for either -C-sec and normal delivery. Neha also said that her BP caused her to have a lot of risks and ups and downs, but eventually, she had a healthy baby and that is all that matters. Neha Marda's pregnancy Neha delivered prematurely and had to be away from her newborn daughter for a little less than a month. Ever since they returned from the hospital, Neha has been sharing her experience of motherhood - the struggles as well as the moments she cherishes - on social media. Best known for her role in Balika Vadhu, Neha has also featured in popular shows such as Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev and Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai. Most recently, she was seen in Meet: Badlegi Duniya Ki Reet. 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 Eight people were killed and 50 other injured when a bus carrying pilgrims to the Vaishno Devi shrine skidded off the road and plunged into a gorge a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Tuesday. Visuals from the spot. The bus was travelling from Amritsar when the incident occurred on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, near Jajjar Kotli area. Assistant Commandant Ashok Choudhary of the central reserve police porce (CRPF) said, a joint operation involving the CRPF, police, and other teams is underway to conduct a rescue mission. He added that a crane has been deployed to see if more people are trapped under the bus. Ambulances were called and the injured were immediately rushed to hospital. Bodies have also been taken to the hospital. A crane is being brought here to see if someone is trapped under the bus. A rescue operation is underway," Choudhary was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. We are being told that the bus was coming from Amritsar and that people from Bihar were onboard. They perhaps lost their way to Katra and reached here," he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Nairobi The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution has terminated criminal case against Korogocho Member of Nairobi County Assembly Absalom Odhiambo Onyango. Prosecuting Counsel Anderson Gikunda told the court that criminal charges against Onyango have been withdrawn under Section 87 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Under the clause allow a public prosecutor to withdraw prosecution of any person at any time before judgment is delivered The MCA was charged with charged with incitement to violence, as a result parties went for reconciliation process which gave rise to matter to be withdrawn. Onyango was captured in a viral video inciting Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition supporters to stage protests in the city in a bid to force out President William Ruto's administration over alleged electoral fraud. 'Manipur situation nothing to do with': CDS Anil Chauhan as toll rises to 80 The challenges in Manipur have not disappeared, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Tuesday, but hoped that things will settle down in some time. He added that the situation in the northeastern state now is not related to insurgency. Read more Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan.(Jitender Gupta) Pakistani journalist returns home after abduction. He is Imran Khan's supporter A prominent Pakistani television journalist Sami Abrahim who went missing last week, reportedly over his public support for former prime minister Imran Khan, returned home after being released by his captors, his family and his employer said. Read more Watch: The truth behind MS Dhoni's eyes-closed visual before and after Jadeja's heist in last over of IPL 2023 final The IPL 2023 final between defending champions Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings was mostly about MS Dhoni. To a certain extent, the whole tournament was. Read more Kriti Sanon looks exquisite in Chikankari suit as she visits temple to seek blessings for Adipurush song Ram Siya Ram Actor Kriti Sanon is awaiting the release of Om Raut's upcoming film Adipurush with co-stars Prabhas and Saif Ali Khan. Actor Kriti Sanon is awaiting the release of Om Raut's upcoming film Adipurush with co-stars Prabhas and Saif Ali Khan. Amid this, Kriti visited a temple to seek blessings for the movie's newly-released song Ram Siya Ram - reflecting Raghava (Prabhas) and Janaki's (Kriti Sanon) longing for each other after her abduction. Read more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Eight people were killed when a bus carrying over 75 pilgrims from Amritsar in Punjab to the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu & Kashmirs Katra veered off a bridge and fell into a gorge at Jhajjar Kotli, around 35 km from Jammu, on Tuesday morning. This is the second such accident in the area since May 21. (ANI) Eight pilgrims have died and over 50 injured, said Ajat Manhas, a local police officer. A second police officer said that rescuers were immediately rushed to the scene and rushed the injured to Jammus Government Medical College and Hospital and a primary health centre in Jhajjar Kotli. One of the pilgrims on the bus said that he suddenly felt a jolt before the bus fell off the bridge into the gorge. He added that at least eight to 10 have died. Another pilgrim said he was sleeping when the bus suddenly went down. There was chaos all around... Vivek, a local resident, said that he saw the bus going down around 5.30am. ...I saw this bus being driven at a high speed on a curve. It appears that either the driver lost control or the brakes failed. I along with a few other locals immediately went down into the gorge and after some time police and CRPF officials reached the spot. This is the second such accident in the area since May 21 when a pilgrim died, and 23 others were wounded in Katras Moori. The ongoing turmoil in Manipur is primarily an ethnic clash and is not related to counter-insurgency, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan said on Tuesday, three days after the states chief minister N Biren Singh said 40 Kuki terrorists were killed by forces and characterised the fresh violence as one between militants and security personnel, not between communities. Security personnel on a route march at Churachandpur in Manipur on Tuesday. (PTI) Chauhan also told reporters in Pune that the challenges in the northeastern state, which has been on the boil since violence first broke out on May 3, have not disappeared, but expressed hope that the situation will settle down in some time. This particular situation in Manipur has nothing to do with counter-insurgency and is primarily a clash between two ethnicities. Its a law and order kind of situation and we are helping the state government, Chauhan, who was in Pune to review the passing out parade of the 144th course of the National Defence Academy (NDA), said. At least 80 people have died and another 40,000 displaced by ethnic violence between the tribal Kukis, who mostly reside in the hill districts, and the Meiteis, the dominant community in Imphal Valley. On Monday, Union home minister Amit Shah arrived in the state to defuse the tension that flared up last week after a brief lull. The CDS also said that armed forces were deployed for counter-insurgency operations in Manipur before 2020. But, he added, the forces were withdrawn later as the situation in the state normalised and the challenges along the northern border increased, an apparent reference to China. The army and Assam Rifles were deployed in Manipur before 2020. Since the challenges of the northern borders were far more, we were able to withdraw the Army. Since the insurgency situation had normalised, we were able to do that But right now, we are in a different situation altogether, trying to separate the communities fighting because of ethnic issues, he added. The CDS expressed hope that the situation in the northeastern state will settle down in some time. I would like to say that the armed forces and Assam Rifles have done an excellent job and saved a large number of lives. The challenges in Manipur have not gone, they have not disappeared. It will take some time but hopefully the issue should settle down and the state government will be able to do its job. Our focus then will be back to deal with the challenges which have not yet disappeared along the northern border. Thats important for us, Chauhan said. Clashes between the Kukis and Meiteis first erupted on May 3 during a protest against a proposed tweak to the states reservation matrix, granting scheduled tribe (ST) status to the latter. Violence quickly engulfed the state where ethnic fault lines run deep, displacing tens of thousands of people who fled burning homes and neighbourhoods into jungles, often across state and international borders. The authorities quickly clamped a curfew and suspended internet, pumping in additional security forces to force a break in the spiraling clashes. Internet is still not back in the state. Since then, the state has witnessed sporadic violence, with the army and paramilitary forces along with state police scrambling to restore normalcy. On Sunday, Singh had said that 40 Kuki militants were killed in a coordinated security operation in Imphal valley in four days and that the latest round of conflict was not between communities, but between Kuki militants and security forces. There were instances of militants armed with AK-47s, M-16s and sniper rifles firing at civilians, Singh said, stressing that these are not Kuki militants, but terrorists. Singh said that the crackdown was against Kuki militant groups that in 2008 had signed a suspension of operations agreement with the Centre and the state government confining their cadres to designated camps. But Singhs statements triggered outrage among Kuki groups and community leaders, who pointed out that the state government had unilaterally walked out of the tripartite pact earlier this year, and blamed two radical Meitei groups Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun for the violence. In a statement on Monday, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), a Kuki organisation, said: Such serious claims (that 40 Kuki militants were killed) cannot be made without proper evidence... We demand that he (CM) provide the names of those militants and the groups they belong to. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Centre has changed the cadre of a senior police officer for three years and sent him to Manipur where he will likely take up a key role, putting the spotlight on the unusual security arrangement in the violence-hit state where the top cop is currently not heading the operational command because he belongs to one of the two warring communities. Security personnel on a route march at Churachandpur in Manipur on Tuesday. (PTI) Rajiv Singh, a Tripura-cadre Indian Police Service (IPS) officer who is currently the inspector general of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), on Monday was moved to the Manipur cadre as a special case in public interest. The Manipur polices operational command is currently being handled by additional director general (ADG) Ashutosh Sinha , even though the state police force is headed by his senior, director general of police (DGP) P Doungel. A Manipur police officer, who asked not to be named, said the state government consciously decided to let Doungels junior take the lead in directing police action against the two warring groups, Meiteis and Kukis, because Doungel belonged to a prominent Kuki family. Also Read: Mamata slams Amit Shah over delay in visiting violence-hit Manipur On May 4, a day after the first clashes broke out in the state, the Manipur government issued an order and appointed Doungels junior, Ashutosh Sinha, a 1993 batch IPS officer, as the operational commander to bring normalcy in the state. The order also said that Sinha will work under the guidance of former CRPF chief Kuldiep Singh, who was appointed as the security adviser on May 4. On Monday, the home ministrys order appointing Singh said: The undersigned is directed to refer to the subject cited above and to convey the approval of the appointments committee of the cabinet for inter-cadre deputation of Shri Rajiv Singh, IPS (TR:93), presently working as IG, CRPF, from Tripura cadre to Manipur cadre for a period of three years from the date of joining, in relaxation of the policy as a special case in public interest. The ministry also directed CRPF to relieve Singh immediately. Until now, Sinha has been in charge of the state polices response to the clashes. He is assisted by 1994 batch IPS Lupheng Kailun, ADG (law and order). The reason Doungel, belonging to 1987 batch was not allowed to take decisions related to the operation, the officer cited above said, was because he hailed from the Kuki tribe. His father, C Doungel, a former Manipur state minister, was a prominent Kuki leader. The officer confirmed that while the DGP is on duty and attending office, he is not taking decisions related to the anti-riot operations. The clash in the state is between two communities. Maybe the government thought that any decision he takes will be misinterpreted by citizens, who are fighting against each other. DG sir is attending office. Even when his father passed away last week, he took only one day leave and reported for duty the following day, a second officer at the Manipur police headquarters said. The officer added that the operational commander position could have been given to the senior-most officer after Doungel, but that position was also occupied by his younger brother, C Doungel, an IPS officer of the 1990 batch. Doungel declined to comment. The Manipur polices public relations officer was also not available for a comment. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Chennai: On August 14, 1947 Lord Mountbatten was in Karachi for Pakistans Independence Day and he came to Delhi only past 7pm on that day, said senior Congress leader P Chidambaram citing historians on the sengol (sceptre) incident and adding that its amusing to watch a few who are spreading stories which never happened. Sengol', a historical sceptre from Tamil Nadu that was installed in the new Parliament building. (PTI) The former union finance minister said that historians who have chronicled Indias first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the last Governor-General of India C Rajagopalachari have documented what has really happened and the rest isnt historically accurate. Even yesterday the Tamil Nadu Governor (RN Ravi) told some story about it. But what is the truth? Historians have recorded it, Chidambaram said at a press conference here. According to history, the Tiruvavuduthai Adheenam went by train, not flight, to Nehrus doorstep on August 14, 1947 evening. They requested to see him and offered this to Nehru as a souvenir. At that time Nehru received several hundred memorabilia. It was all carefully kept in the Allahabad museum. On that day Mountbatten wasnt even in Delhi. He was in Pakistan and came to Delhi at 7 at night. He changed and came for independence celebrations around 11.30pm and at midnight Nehru made his speech. This is what happened. Historians have written the history. The rest of them add stories to it. Also Read | New Parliament building: Timeline, costs incurred, employment generated He added that they have neither hidden nor diminished what has transpired with the sengol. The gold plated sengol given to Nehru was taken from the museum and passed on by the Tiruvavuduthai Adheenam to Prime Minister Narendra Modi while he inaugurated the new Parliament on May 28 and he placed the sengol behind the Speaker. Several including Rajagopalacharis grandson and biographer Rajmohan Gandhi have questioned the sequence of events as claimed by the BJP-led union government. Union home minister Amit Shah, in a press conference before the inauguration, had said that when Viceroy Lord Mountbatten asked Nehru about the ceremony to be followed for the transfer of power and he consulted Rajagopalachari, the latter suggested the passing on of the sengol followed in erstwhile Tamil kingdoms. So the members of the adheenam handed over the sengol to Mountbatten, took it back, sprinkled it with holy water and handed it over to Nehru. According to the Modi government, we got independence only after he became Prime Minister. Some of them will even say we had no independence before him, chided Chidambaram. However, he said that they arent against the sengol being displayed in the parliament but the Congress and 19 other parties boycotted it only because the President of India Droupadi Murmu wasnt rightfully invited to inaugurate the new Parliament. A delegation of Congress leaders on Tuesday met President Droupadi Murmu and sought her intervention to help restore normalcy in Manipur, and a high-level inquiry panel headed by a serving or retired Supreme Court judge to probe the violence. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge led the delegation of Congress leaders which met President Droupadi Murmu (Twitter/kharge) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge led the delegation that handed over a 12-point charter of demands to restore peace in the northeastern state. Though there were several lapses in the management of the situation at the early stages of violence, leading to the present imbroglio. Now it is not the time to point fingers, but to act, the Congress memorandum said, listing the steps that should be taken. Union home minister Amit Shah landed in Manipur on Monday night, aiming to defuse ethnic tensions that have killed 80 people in the northeastern state this month. Amit Shah is expected to hold talks with all stakeholders over the next three days. Manipur has been convulsed by ethnic violence since May 3, with the bulk of the clashes between the Meitei community, which constitutes the majority of the states population, and the Kukis, who live largely in the hill districts. But after a period of relative calm, violence flared up in the past week with a string of clashes and shootings, culminating in Sundays deaths. The home ministry also inducted a senior Tripura cadre Indian Police Service officer Rajiv Singh into the state police. In a rare move, the home ministry changed Rajiv Singhs cadre from Tripura to Manipur. Singh is expected to be given a free hand to bring the situation under control. In their memorandum, the Congress also called for firm and sustained efforts to control violence in every part of the state for the immediate restoration of peace, harmony, and normalcy, and urged President Murmu to ask the Centre to immediately take all possible measures to control and confine all militant groups (including those under suspension of operations pact) and ensure that all armed civilian groups be stopped forthwith by taking appropriate action. The state government must immediately take over the management and maintenance of all relief camps and provide proper health and sanitation facilities for all, the Congress said in its memorandum. Later, addressing a press conference, AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the current situation in Manipur is a result of the divisive politics of the BJP which is clearly responsible. It is the intelligence failure, the administrative failure and the political failure in Manipur, Ramesh said, according to news agency PTI. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Trinamool Congress (TMC) poaching the lone Congress MLA in West Bengal is not designed to strengthen the opposition's attempts to form a common alliance against the ruling BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Congress veteran Jairam Ramesh warned on Tuesday, a day after Sagardighi legislator Bayron Biswas joined TMC, the state's ruling party. Congress MLA from Sagardighi assembly seat Bayron Biswas (right) joined the TMC at an event chaired by Abhishek Banerjee in West Midnapore districts Ghatal area (Twitter/aitcRajabar)(HT_PRINT) Three months after he was elected as a Congress MLA in a historic victory Bayron Biswas has been lured away by the TMC in West Bengal. This is a complete betrayal of the mandate of the people of the Sagardighi Assembly Constituency, tweeted Ramesh. He added: Such poaching which has happened earlier in Goa, Meghalaya, Tripura and other states is not designed to strengthen Opposition unity and only serves the BJP's objectives. The Trinamool's induction of Biswas comes at a time when, led by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, opposition parties have held a series of meetings to forge a common alliance to take on the saffron party in the next parliamentary elections, slated for April-May next year, with prime minister Narendra Modi and the BJP looking for a third straight term at the Centre. The central idea is to consolidate the 63% votes that did not go to the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls; these votes were scattered amongst various opposition parties. On June 12, non-BJP leaders will meet in Bihar's capital Patna for the first of many larger meetings towards this goal. Congress vs Trinamool Congress On March 2, Biswas came out as winner after votes were counted for the Sagardighi byelections, the polling for which was conducted on February 27. Also a Left-backed candidate, he defeated Trinamool's Debashish Banerjee by 22,986 votes. After the results, an angry TMC supremo, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, accused the grand old party and Left of having an immoral alliance with the BJP, the principal opposition in the state. The Congress' recent rout of the erstwhile BJP government in Karnataka has, however, led to Banerjee softening her stance. According to her, it must focus only in those states where it is strong, and let regional counterparts take the lead in states where it is weak. 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 Deepu, who was shot dead by terrorists in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday evening, was the sole breadwinner in his family, said his brother. Deepu, who was working in a circus, is survived by his father - who is visually impaired - and his sibling who too has had eyesight issues for the last four years. A family member of Deepu, a worker who was shot dead by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists in Anantnag district on Monday, mourns his demise, in Udhampur district.(PTI) He was the sole breadwinner of the family. My eyes are defective for the last four years. My father is visually impaired, he can't work. We are completely destroyed. We want justice. What was our fault? brother of Deepu was quoted by news agency ANI. Deepu, a non-Muslim worker from Udhampur, was attacked near Jagland Mandi in Anantnag where the circus team was camping. After being shot, Deepu was taken to a hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival. A case was registered and a probe is underway. The incident was one of the several targeted killings Jammu and Kashmir witnessed in the recent past. In February, terrorists had killed a Kashmiri Pandit man in Pulwama. The deceased Sanjay Sharma was working as an armed guard in his village. He was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. In November last year, two labourers hailing from Kannauj district in Uttar Pradesh were killed by terrorists in Shopian. The terrorists had lobbed a grenade in Harmen, Shopian in which two labourers named Monish Kumar and Ram Sagar were injured. They succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a fresh development in the brutal murder of a 16-year-old girl in Delhi's Shahbad Dairy area, the Delhi Police has revealed that Sahil, the 20-year-old accused, was enraged after his break-up with the victim and a fight between them, a day earlier triggered the gruesome killing, news agency PTI reported. Delhi Police arrests Sahil, accused of allegedly stabbing a minor girl in the Shahabad Dairy area of northwest Delhi, in Bulandshahr on Monday, (HT photo) The investigation revealed that the girl had been in a relationship with Sahil since 2021. However, when they frequently engaged in arguments and experienced a strained relationship, the girl stopped talking to Sahil. Despite her wishes, he persisted in approaching her and expressed a desire to reconcile, the report added. Also read | Hookah party, Sidhu Moosewala in killer Sahil's last Instagram post "... Even on Saturday, they had a fight which further worsened their relationship. This could be the reason behind the murder," an official told PTI. The police are also reportedly investigating a tattoo found on the victim's hand that bears the name "Praveen." They believe that this tattoo could have been a reason behind frequent arguments between Sahil and the girl. Read | Notorious goons: Why passersby refused to intervene in Shahbad Dairy murder of 16-year-old girl What we know about the murder case so far Sahil, a mechanic for AC and refrigerators, was arrested from Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh after a call from his aunt to his father helped police trace him from his aunt's home. Dependra Pathak, special commissioner of police (law and order), said, As soon as the police received the information about the womans death, Sahils parents were detained on Sunday night. We found that Sahil had been calling them, and on the basis of technical surveillance, a dedicated police team rushed for the identified location and nabbed Sahil near Bulandshahr. To ensure his arrest, his father was also taken with the police team. The chilling 9-second CCTV camera footage of the incident showed the accused pinning the victim to a wall with one hand and stabbing her repeatedly. He did not stop even when the girl slumped to the ground, jabbing the knife into her over 16 times, kicking her and then slamming a cement slab on her repeatedly. The detailed postmortem report is yet to be released. The police have registered an First Information Report (FIR) against Sahil under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Shahbad Dairy Police Station. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Nakuru Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has directed the police in rift valley to clear illicit brew and drugs or risk losing their jobs. Speaking during a conference on ending alcoholism and drug abuse in the regiob, Gachagua said the officers know those peddling illicit brew and drugs, which are threatening to wipe out a generation of youth. His ultimatum came weeks after similar instructions in counties within Mt Kenya region where Gachagua declared that nobody will be spared in the war against illicit alcohol and drug abuse. Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika suggested measures that will generate bigger sanctions for those selling illicit brews. She said the current fines meted out to those engaging in the sale of illicit liquor are not doing enough to curb the vice. Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal on Tuesday met the Shahbad Dairy murder case victim's family and demanded a death sentence for the accused within the next six months. She also urged the government and the courts to work towards giving the accused an exemplary punishment. DCW chief Swati Maliwal meets Delhis Shahbad Dairy murder case victim's family I just met the victim's family in Shahabad Dairy. Those people are very poor and their condition is very bad right now. The victim's mother cannot talk, she has fainted several times since morning, Swati Maliwal told the media. She added, There were so many people when the murder took place, but no one helped the girl. Even if they would've shouted, maybe the girl could've survived. Maliwal also assured that the women's panel is doing everything to bring justice to the victim's family. Our team is with the family since last night. Will get justice for their daughter, she said. Speaking on the law and order situation in the national capital, the DCW chief said, Today no one is scared in Delhi. People think that they could do anything with a woman or a child and the system won't do anything. In a horrific incident on Sunday, a 16-year-old girl was stabbed over a dozen times and bludgeoned to death allegedly by her 20-year-old boyfriend - identified as Sahil. The incident was caught on a CCTV camera in which several people also be seen standing near the incident, however, no one intervened. According to the police, the girl was breaking up her relationship with him which made the accused angry. On Sunday night, the two were reportedly arguing when Sahil killed the girl. The police arrested Sahil from Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr on Monday, following which he was sent to two days in police custody. Diverse syllabi and assessment criteria in Class 10 and Class 12 across the many education boards in the country -- the state boards, CBSE, ICSE, IB -- results in an uneven playing field for students appearing for competitive tests at the national level, a study by the central government has found. Diverse syllabi and assessment criteria in Class 10 and Class 12 across the many education boards in the country results in an uneven playing field for students, said a study. (ANI i) There were as many as 60 educational boards in 2021-22, according to the education ministrys study released on Tuesday. Indias National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recommended that there should be uniform benchmarks for learners across all school boards, which lead to the establishment of a national regulator PARAKH, short for Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development. The study was part of an exercise to enable PARAKH to set norms, standards and guidelines for student assessment and evaluation for all recognised school boards in the country. To be sure, education is a state subject, and not all states have even adopted NEP 2020. Also Read: SC dismisses plea against eligibility criterion of 75 per cent marks in Class 12 board exams for admission to IITs To be sure, it isnt clear how PARAKHs objectives are related to two results of the study highlighted by the ministry, widely differing pass percentages across boards and the proportion of students opting for certain streams. While indicative of an easier syllabi and generous scoring, a higher pass percentage in a certain board may also be a result of more proficient students. Indeed, even a casual perusal of the Annual State of Education Report (or ASER), which looks at learning outcomes, shows that proficiency varies widely across states. Nor is preference for a certain stream -- the study found that the proportion of students opting for science is higher in Andhra Pradesh ( 76%), Telangana (65%), and Tamila Nadu ( 62%) and considerably lower in Punjab(13%), Haryana (15%), and Assam (17%) -- indicative of anything other than the preference for STEM specialisation in the southern part of the country, a decades-long preference that, in fact, powered Indias IT boom in the 1990s. But the studys findings on the difficulties in moving across boards, and the lack of a level playing field for competitive exams are valid (although the existence of competitive exams for admission to just about any college education means board exams are pretty much redundant). Each Board follows its own standard, syllabus and time lines for exams and results. There is no level playing field for students in terms of standard and movement across the boards, the central assessment found. Different Syllabus followed by different boards creates barriers for national level common tests such as CUET, JEE, NEET etc. as compared to Central Board students, it added. CUET is a common entrance test for studying in central universities, JEE for engineering courses and NEET for medicine. The ministry has suggested that state boards should converge science syllabi with the central boards so that students have a level playing field for common entrance exams at the national level. To be sure, some people have pointed to the slipping standards even in so-called central boards, especially in science and math, with some state boards actually doing better. One cannot compare the results of different state boards when we know that the learning levels among students of these boards are very different. The government should first work on bringing the learning outcomes at par, a former governing body member of the Central Board of Secondary Education said, declining to be named. To come up with a standard assessment under PARAKH, the fastest path is to use data from CUET (Common University Entrance Test) and create an index of comparison between the various boards based on the performance of a statistically significant number of students who have taken both the board exams and the CUET within the same year for the same subjects, said educationist Meeta Sengupta. This can form the basis of a more formal exercise and other instruments of comparison and aligning board standards. The study also said that eight states have different boards for class 10 and 12 that show large deviation in performance of students between . This might be due to a different pattern and approach followed by the boards.Therefore convergence of secondary and higher secondary boards into a single board in a state can help students, it added. India's newly inaugurated Parliament building, unveiled on Sunday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, boasts several new features and installations compared to the old structure. One notable addition is the historical Sengol, a sceptre positioned next to the chair of the Lok Sabha Speaker in the chamber. Another intriguing installation is Foucault's Pendulum and can be found in the gallery section of the Constitutional Hall, adding to the new Parliament's unique elements. Foucaults Pendulum has been placed in the new Parliament building's Constitutional Hall.(Twitter/@ncsmgoi) The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) based in Kolkata took charge of installing the Foucault's Pendulum. According to The Indian Express report, this pendulum is the largest of its kind in India, standing at a towering height of 22 meters and weighing a substantial 36 kilograms. Similar to any other pendulum, Foucault's Pendulum possesses characteristics that pique one's curiosity. Let us delve into further details about its discovery. Foucaults Pendulum history and science behind -An experiment on Foucault's Pendulum was first carried out in 1851 by French scientist Leon Foucault, aiming to demonstrate the Earth's rotation, according to a Britannica report. -The experimental arrangement entailed suspending a heavy object at a height using a string, enabling unrestricted swinging in all directions. Once set in motion, the pendulum gradually altered its alignment over time. For example, if it commenced swinging in a north-south direction, it would gradually shift towards an east-west direction. Also Read | Why is new Parliament building triangular-shaped? All features explained -The experiment concluded that pendulum does not change its plane of motion, but the ground beneath it does. When aligned along the Earth's axis at the north and south poles, the pendulum returned precisely to its original position in 24 hours. -This phenomenon can be attributed to the pendulum's fundamental principle of swinging with a consistent pattern and operating under the influence of the invisible force of gravity. At other latitudes, it takes longer for the pendulum to realign with its original swinging orientation. -At the equator, the pendulum is perpendicular to the axis of rotation, resulting in it never altering its swing orientation. Foucaults Pendulum in New Parliament The Indian Express report said that Foucault's Pendulum is suspended from the ceiling of the Central Foyer in India's newly constructed Parliament building. To facilitate the pendulum's movement, a circular installation has been specifically designed on the ground, accompanied by a short grill that allows visitors to gather around it. The installation provides details indicating that at the latitude of the Parliament, the pendulum takes precisely 49 hours, 59 minutes, and 18 seconds to complete a full rotation. Making and installation The project of creating this entire pendulum was completed within a span of 10 to 12 months, and it was entirely made in India, as mentioned by Project Incharge Tapas Moharana in The Indian Express report. The pendulum was crafted from gunmetal and equipped with an electromagnetic coil to ensure smooth and uninterrupted movement. Moharana said, The suspension system is mounted on the ceiling, and there is a continuous power supply to eliminate any hindrances to the pendulum's motion. The first such pendulum was installed in Pune, and we made certain modifications for this installation. It was challenging to install the Foucaults Pendulum at such a height while ensuring its stability, the project incharge futher said. However, these were addressed. Last year, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) sought the expertise of Moharana, who serves as NCSM's Curator-D, and his team to facilitate the installation of Foucault's Pendulum. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lingamgunta Nirmitha Rao Trainee Content Producer at Hindustan Times Digital Stream. India's regional languages attract me. ...view detail The Government of French India have issued on order withdrawing their order of April 29, 1937, with regard to the stationing for an indefinite period of a detachment of the Indian military force in Chandernagore (Bengal). HT This Day: May 31, 1938 -- French rule by force in Pondicherry The detachment has already been recalled and added to the central permanent military corps in Pondicherry. The detachment, consisting of about 25 reserve men, was sent to Chandernagore consequent on certain alleged terrorist activities there a few years ago when a European Commissioner of Police, Mr. Quin, was shot dead. The new order is a sequel to the prevalence of continued disturbances and rioting in Pondicherry. PRESIDENTIAL DECREE INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT OF ELECTIONS M. Le Brun, the President of the French Republic, has issued a decree with regard to the conduct of elections to the various elected bodies such as the general assembly, local councils and municipal councils in the French settlements in India, where the different elections are adjourned sine die. His Excellency M. Crocicchia, Governor of French India, has formally promulgated the presidential decree in French India. It will be recalled that the Mudaliarpet municipal council was the first to be suspended by the Government of French India as from January 5 last for a period of three months, and the period of its suspension was extended to another period of three months subsequently. The Arianguppam and Oulgaret councils were then suspended. It is understood that the maximum period of such suspensions under the powers of the Governor of the Colony is only six months. Accordingly, fresh elections should have been held on or before June 5 in respect of the Mudaliarpet Commune, near Pondicherry. Consequent on the continued disturbances in Pondicherry, the Government of French India referred to the Minister for the Colonies for orders. The Home Government have found a way out for averting any untoward consequences on the eve of the elections by declaring them adjourned until further orders. It is learned that the temporary municipal commissions, appointed by the Government to carry on the municipal administrations of the respective communes, either suspended or dissolved consequent on the resignation of the councillors en bloc under public pressure would continue to function till the elections are held in those places. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hyderabad BJYM supporters protest over the group 1 preliminary exam paper leak, at TSPSC in Hyderabad. (PTI) As the Special Investigation Team of the Hyderabad police began probe into the alleged use of ChatGPT in cracking the answers in Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) recruitment tests, the commission on Tuesday announced debarring of the candidates who were arrested in the exam paper leak case, people familiar with the matter said. The SIT has so far arrested 49 people in the case, including four people on Monday, who had allegedly written the Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) and Divisional Accounts Officer (DAO) examinations with the help of ChatGPT and electronic devices. Out of 49 arrested, 37 persons had appeared for various recruitment examinations conducted by the commission. They would be served notices seeking an explanation within two days as to why they should not be debarred from writing any examinations in future. Based on their response, the commission will take a call on debarring them, an official, who refused to be quoted, said. The SIT authorities on Saturday arrested Poola Ramesh, a divisional engineer with Telangana State Northern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSNPDCL) at Peddapalli, who had allegedly purchased question papers of three examinations and sold them to at least 20 people. During the interrogation of Ramesh, the SIT authorities found that for two of the examinations for recruitment of AEE and DAO held on January 22 and February 26 respectively, he had arranged answers to some of the candidates using ChatGPT and electronic devices. At least seven candidates had entered the examination hall by carrying micro-Bluetooth devices, through which Ramesh had allegedly shared the answers, which he had obtained using ChatGPT. We are now investigating how these candidates could carry electronic devices into the hall and also transmission of question paper from the hall to Ramesh. We are suspecting that he might have taken the help of an examiner, a police official familiar with the development said. Cybercrime expert and faculty of Telangana State Police Academy Nallamothu Sridhar said ChatGPT has the capability to crack any examination paper within seconds. Since the two examination papers are technical, it is easier for obtaining answers using ChatGPT. The technology is so advanced that the answers could be transmitted to the candidate through electronic devices. The day is not far off when malpractices can be done using Augmented Reality, Sridhar said. The police official quoted above said Ramesh had allegedly made 25 lakh to 30 lakh on each paper for leaking the question paper and arranging the answers. On March 13, the Hyderabad police announced busting of the question paper leakage in the TSPSC by arresting nine persons. Subsequently, the TSPSC cancelled the examinations for Group-I, assistant engineers, veterinary assistant surgeons, divisional accounts officer etc, after the case was entrusted to a Special Investigation Team. As the investigation progressed, the SIT authorities arrested many others connected with the case. They also questioned TSPSC chairman B Janardhan Reddy, senior IAS officer Anitha Ramachandran who is the secretary of the TSPSC and others including members of the commission. Cases were booked against the accused under Sections 409 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code, besides Section 66 (b) (c) and 70 of Information Technology Act and Section 8 of Prevention of Examinations Malpractices Act. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The government has cleared nearly 1.06 million-tonne of grains, including wheat and rice, for export under the countrys diplomatic food assistance programme to four countries while an overall ban on wheat shipments out of the country and curbs on rice export will continue, an official said on Tuesday, requesting anonymity. India banned wheat export in May 2022 and introduced a 20% tariff on the export of non-basmati rice in August. (REUTERS) India banned wheat export in May 2022 and introduced a 20% tariff on that of non-basmati rice in August 2022 to shore up domestic supplies and control prices after poor harvests. It also banned the export of broken rice, which is a key ingredient of cattle feed. The ban exempted grain export for countries that request India for shipments to overcome shortages. At that time, food minister Piyush Goyal said although India was not a major exporter of wheat, it would supply to friendly countries facing a food crisis. The food ministry has cleared over 300,000-tonne of wheat shipments to Nepal, 200,000-tonne of broken rice to Indonesia, 500,000-tonne of broken rice to Senegal, and 50,000-tonne of broken rice to Gambia after discussions with the external affairs ministry under humanitarian food assistance. The country curbed grain exports after a heatwave plunged federally-held wheat reserves to a 14-year low last year. This year, the Food Corporation of India has purchased nearly 27 million of wheat for state-owned stockpiles, short of a targeted 34 million tonne. Under the World Trade Agreement rules, India cannot export publicly held grains intended for domestic welfare schemes. Food exports from government stocks can be exported only for humanitarian assistance through diplomatic channels. Last year, despite Indias ban, requests for food shipments were received from over a dozen countries as a global food crisis triggered by the Ukraine war crimped availability, pushing up prices. Outbound shipments had gone to Bangladesh, Oman, UAE, and Afghanistan among others with an undertaking by their governments that Indian wheat should be used for their own consumption and not trade or exports, the official cited above said. Unlike wheat, India is a major exporter of rice. In 2021-22, the country exported nearly 22 million-tonne of rice, about a sixth of its total output. India accounts for 40% of the worlds rice shipments. The government procures, or purchases, cereals at minimum support prices, which are then distributed to nearly 800 million beneficiaries through the public distribution system (PDS) under the National Food Security Act. According to the food ministrys calculations, the government will require 18.5 million-tonne of cereals for distribution under PDS and other welfare schemes, leaving it with a surplus of nearly 8.6 million-tonne. Official figures released on May 26 showed the government procured 52.06 million-tonne of rice during the kharif marketing season (2022-23) at minimum support prices, resulting in a payout of 1.6 lakh crore to over 10 million farmers. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday extended by a year a $1-billion credit facility provided to the Sri Lankan government to cope with an economic crisis, with officials saying this was done in response to a request from Colombo. The credit facility was extended through the State Bank of India (SBI) in response to a specific request from the Sri Lankan government (Twitter/ShehanSema) An amendment agreement to extend the credit facility, provided in March 2022 for procuring essential items, was signed in Colombo in the presence of Sri Lankas minister of state for finance, Shehan Semasinghe. India provided economic aid worth almost $4 billion, including lines of credit to purchase food, fuel and medicines, currency support and deferred payment of loans, to Sri Lanka last year so that the island country could cope with its worst economic crisis in decades. India reaffirms its commitment to the people of #SriLanka. The Amendment Agreement signed in presence of Hon. Minister @ShehanSema today will enable [Sri Lanka] to use the USD1 billion #Indian credit facility for the procurement of medicine, food, and other essentials for one more year beyond the original duration, that is, till March 2024, the Indian high commission in Sri Lanka said in a tweet. The credit facility was extended through the State Bank of India (SBI) in response to a specific request from the Sri Lankan government, and forms part of the multi-pronged assistance of $4 billion provided by India last year. Senior officials from Sri Lankas finance ministry and the Indian high commission were present at the event where the amended agreement was signed, while SBI officials joined virtually. Since last year, this credit facility has been used for urgent procurement of fuel, medicines, food items and industrial raw materials in line with the requirements and priorities of the Sri Lankan government. The Indian mission in Colombo said the assistance was in line with New Delhis Neighbourhood First policy. Indias continued support to Sri Lanka is a testament to our abiding commitment to stand with the government and the people of Sri Lanka towards early economic stabilisation and recovery, it said. New Delhi The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Monday launched NVS-01, the first second-generation navigation satellite series, NavIC or NAVigation with the Indian Constellation ostensibly Indias answer to Global Positioning System (GPS). PREMIUM NavIC is an independent stand-alone navigation satellite system. (ANI) While NavIC is an independent stand-alone navigation satellite system, currently operating on a regional scale, the Indian government has clarified its stand on developing it as a global satellite navigation system, on par with the USs GPS, Russias GLONASS, Europes Galileo and Chinas BeiDou, in coming years. In its present status, NavIC is competing with QZSS from Japan, which also targets only the Japanese and neighbouring regions. South Korea, which currently uses GPS, is also working to construct a satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS), which could help in accelerating the development of self-driving technology such as autonomous vehicles and drones in that country. Because of its strict security policies of mapping data and its strained political relations with its neighbouring country, North Korea, South Korea has not allowed Google to store its locational data on a foreign server, thus restricting the use of Google Maps in the country. Also Read: Chandrayaan-3 to be launched in July: ISRO chief Even though South Korea has local mapping services including Naver, Kakao, and T Map for regional navigation, these are often not very tourist friendly since they are primarily in Korean language. But South Korea aims to establish its own navigation service by 2035, further reducing positioning errors to the centimetre level. What is NavIC? To meet positioning, navigation and timing requirements of India, Isro established a regional navigation satellite system called NavIC, earlier known as the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS). NavIC is designed with a constellation of eight satellites and a network of ground stations operating 24X7. Three of these satellites are located in the geostationary orbit at approximately 22,000 miles above the earths surface and five in the geosynchronous orbit. In the case of a global navigation satellite system, the satellites have to be constantly moving across the globe. Also Read: Principles of science originated in Vedas, but repackaged as western discoveries: ISRO chairman S Somanath NavIC has a ground network consisting of a control centre, precise timing facility, range and integrity monitoring stations, and two-way ranging stations. It is signalled using dual frequency in the L5 (at 1,176.45 MHz) and S (at 2,492.028 MHz) bands of the microwave spectrum. GPS, however, uses a single frequency band. NavIC, therefore, provides better positioning accuracy of nearly 10 metres throughout the Indian landmass, as compared to the GPSs accuracy of 20 metres. NavIC, which was originally cleared in 2006 with a budget of $174 million, was made operational in 2018 after a delay of nearly seven years. Since 2018, NaVIC has been in operation. Why NavIC over global competitors? A senior Isro official explained that GPS and GLONASS, which are both global navigation systems being used in the world, are operated by the defence agencies of the US and Russia, respectively. Thus, there is a possibility that the civilian service can be degraded or denied at any given time. For instance, during the 1999 Kargil War, the Indian government requested the US to provide enemy locations, but this request was denied. If India had its own navigation system back then, there would have been no need to depend on another country for such information. NavIC is an independent regional system over the Indian region and does not depend on other systems for providing a position service within the service region. It is fully under the control of the Government of India, the official said. The official said that a new civilian signal has also been introduced in the L1 band (1,575.42 MHz), which will make it compatible for civilian navigation services. The NavIC L1 signal is also interoperable with the other GNSS (global navigation satellite system) signals. All forthcoming from 2023 NavIC satellites will broadcast SPS signals in the L1, L5 and S bands. This will help improve its application in the fields of transportation (land, water and air), location-based services, personal mobility, resource monitoring, surveying and geodesy, scientific research and safety-of-life alert dissemination. To expand reach, the government has directed all mobile phone manufacturers to make their new devices compatible with NavIC from January 2023. Though this is not a strict deadline, mobile manufacturers such as Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, etc. will have to redesign hardware and software of their phones to comply with and accommodate Indian and other global positioning systems. The official, however, added that realistically, they expect manufacturers to make devices compatible by 2025. Qualcomm has already launched three chipsets (Snapdragon 720G, 662, and 460) that support NavIC. In the years to come, we are hoping that most areas where navigation services are used, including food delivery apps, courier services, gaming services and insurance services, will all use our indigenous navigation service, instead of relying on services from other countries, the Isro official said. Rohan Verma, CEO and executive director of MapmyIndia, an Indian technology company that builds digital map data, telematics services, location-based SaaS and GIS AI technologies, said that Isros move to develop Indias very own navigation system is a big step towards its Aatmanirbhar Bharat goals (the governments self-reliant India campaign). Indias indigenous and Aatmanirbhar location positioning (PNT) signal satellite system will get stronger by Mondays NVS-01 launch. We are proud at MapmyIndia to support NavIC-based IoT devices and also build NavIC-based applications, Verma said. Future plans for NavIC Isro chairman S Somanath said the agencys ultimate aim with NavIC is to make it a global navigation system. However, to achieve that goal, the space agency will have to place more satellites in an orbit closer that the current constellation. Currently, NavICs reach is only 1,500km beyond Indian territory. But for our ships and airplanes travelling beyond that we will need satellites in medium earth orbit (MEO). So, to make this a global system, we can keep adding MEO satellites. This is the goal, he said. Currently, NavIC satellites orbit the earth in a geostationary or geosynchronous (GEO) orbit, or about 36,000km from the earth. MEO orbits occupy a space between GEO and low-earth orbit (LEO), or about 250-2,000km from the earth. Mondays launch, which placed the new NVS-01 satellite into orbit, and all its later versions will also ensure that even the less sophisticated, consumer-grade gadgets such as smartwatches can pick up the L1 signal, to increase civilian use. NEW DELHI: India will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit virtually on July 4, with people familiar with the matter saying the decision was the outcome of consultations over the past few days. The external affairs ministry decision comes weeks after external affairs minister S Jaishankar hosted the SCO Foreign Ministers meeting in Goa on May 5 (PTI) The external affairs ministry announced on Tuesday that the 22nd summit of the SCO council of heads of state will be held in the virtual format and chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The ministry didnt give any reasons for the decision. The people cited above said the option of holding the meeting virtually had always been on the table and a final decision was made on Monday. The decision was not due to any reasons connected to the schedules of leaders of SCO member states, the people said. The leaders of China and Russia are anyway expected to visit India for the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September, one of the people said. An in-person summit would have set up Russian President Vladimir Putins first visit to India since the start of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It would have also set the stage for possible meetings between the Indian premier and the leaders of China and Pakistan, both countries with which Indias relations are currently strained. India and China are currently locked in a military standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) that has entered its fourth year, taking relations to an all-time low. Ties between India and Pakistan were hit by a string of terror attacks blamed on Pakistan-based terror groups. Foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra visited the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, a large hall within the complex of the presidential palace, and inspected the facilities there on April 20 as it was being looked at as a possible venue for the SCO Summit. India has already invited the leaders of all SCO states China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to attend the summit. Iran, Belarus and Mongolia have been invited as observer states. In keeping with SCO tradition, Turkmenistan was invited as the guest of the chair. Heads of two SCO bodies the secretariat and SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) - will also attend the summit, along with the heads of six international and regional organisations, including the UN, Asean and Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA). The theme of the summit is Towards a SECURE SCO. The SECURE acronym stands for security, economy and trade, connectivity, unity, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and environment. India has set up new pillars of cooperation under its chairmanship, including startups and innovation, traditional medicine, digital inclusion, youth empowerment, and shared Buddhist heritage. It has also worked to foster people-to-people ties that celebrate the historical bonds between the member states. Indias chairmanship of SCO has been a period of intense activity and mutually beneficial cooperation between member states. India has hosted a total of 134 meetings and events, including 14 ministerial-level meetings, the external affairs ministry said. India remains committed to play a positive and constructive role in the organisation, and looks forward to a successful SCO Summit as the culmination of its chairmanship, it added. India assumed the rotating chairmanship of SCO for the first time in September 2022. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Indian Air Forces MiG-21 fighter jets have begun flying again after they were grounded for safety checks three weeks ago following a crash in Rajasthan on May 8 that proved fatal for three civilians on the ground, officials familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. The MiG-21 Bis (an upgraded MiG-21 variant flown for the first time in 1976) was further upgraded to MiG-21 Bison in India in 2000. (HT) The air force operates more than 50 MiG-21 Bison aircraft, the latest and last variant of the MiG-21. The crash in Hanumangarh in which three women were killed put the spotlight on the troubling safety record of Indias longest-serving fighter plane once again and forced the air force to ground the entire fleet. It is not uncommon for an aircraft fleet to be grounded for inspection after an unexplained crash or incident. Also Read: ALH Dhruv being cleared for urgent ops; no routine sorties The air force operates three squadrons of the MiG-21 Bison. The squadrons have resumed flying, with the fighter jets being cleared for operations in batches, said one of the officials, who asked not to be named. The IAF is set to retire these squadrons by 2025. The MiG-21 Bis (an upgraded MiG-21 variant flown for the first time in 1976) was further upgraded to MiG-21 Bison in India in 2000. I am happy that the government has decided to phase out the MiG-21s by 2025 and I hope this deadline doesnt change, Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd), director general, Centre for Air Power Studies, said after the May 8 crash. Also Read| No gender discrimination pursuant to recruitment under Agnipath Scheme: Delhi HC The MiG-21 Bisons were grounded at a time when most of the militarys advanced light helicopters (ALHs) were also grounded for checks after a string of incidents including the crash landing in Jammu and Kashmirs Kishtwar on May 4 in which a soldier was killed, and two pilots injured. The military has begun clearing the ALH Dhruv for urgent flying missions in batches after safety checks to keep itself operationally ready, but routine sorties are still no-go after the indigenous multi-mission chopper was grounded following three incidents in less than two months earlier this year. The IAF got its first single-engine MiG-21 in 1963 and progressively inducted 874 jets (different variants of the Soviet-origin supersonic fighter) to bolster its combat potential. More than 400 MiG-21s have been involved in accidents that have claimed the lives of 200 pilots in the past six decades. Of the 874 MiG-21s inducted, more than 60% were licence-produced in India. More MiG-21s have crashed than any other fighter because they formed the bulk of the fighter aircraft in the IAF for a long time. The IAF has had to keep its MiG-21 fleet flying longer than it would have liked because of the delay in the induction of new fighter jets. The IAF retired MiG-21 Bisons at the Srinagar-based 51 squadron, also known as Sword Arms, last September. Wing Commander (now Group Captain) Abhinandan Varthaman, who was awarded Vir Chakra for shooting down a Pakistani F-16 during a dogfight over the Line of Control on February 27, 2019, was with the 51 squadron then. The dogfight took place a day after the IAF bombed a terror facility in Pakistans Balakot. IAFs Mirage-2000s struck targets in Balakot on February 26, 2019, in response to the Pakistan-backed Pulwama suicide attack in Kashmir in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed 12 days earlier. Nakuru Former Mungiki leader, Maina Njenga has been charged with seven counts related to the outlawed sect. He denied all the charges when he appeared before Nakuru Principal Magistrate Kipkurui Kibelyon on Monday. Njenga was charged with being a member of an unuthorised group namely Mungiki, having records relating to the the group and addressing an illegal meeting at his home in Wanyoro area of Bahati Sub-County in. Nakuru. He is said to have committed the offences between May 11 and 12 together with 11 others not before court. The 11 were charged on May 9. The other charge stated that he attended the said illegal meeting, allowed the meeting to take place at his home and provided his premise for the meeting. Njenga was released on a conditional bond of Sh100,000 with an alternative of Sh50,000. The court restrained him from making statements relating to the matter in court or contacting the prosecution witnesses failure to which the bond would be cancelled. Maina presented himself in court amid tight security withing and around the Nakuru Law Court. Tens of armed police officers were stations along different roads leading to the law courts. Maina who vied for the Laikipia Senatorial seat in the last general elections was represented by six lawyers among them Martha Karua, George Wajackoya, Ndgwa Njiru, Orlale Cheche and Simon Mbugua. Also present in court were former Muranga Governor, Mwangi wa Iria, former Cabinet Secretary, Eugene Wamalwa and ousted Jubilee Secretary General, Jeremiah Kioni. The matter will be mentioned on June 20 for direction. New Delhi The military has started clearing the advanced light helicopter Dhruv (ALH) for urgent flying missions in batches after comprehensive safety checks to keep itself operationally ready, but routine sorties are still no-go after the indigenous multi-mission chopper was grounded following three incidents in less than two months earlier this year, officials aware of the matter said on Tuesday. PREMIUM Most ALHs operated by armed forces have been grounded for checks. (Courtesty: Army) Most ALHs operated by the armed forces were grounded for checks after the recent incidents -- including the crash-landing of an army helicopter in Jammu & Kashmirs Kishtwar on May 4 in which a soldier was killed, and two pilots were injured -- raised serious safety concerns. The pilots reported a technical fault to the air traffic control before the incident. The directorate general of military operations on May 22 wrote to different command headquarters about the restoration of flying of the ALH Dhruv, Rudra (the armed version of ALH) and the light combat helicopter (LCH). The Indian Air Forces latest LCHs were also grounded earlier as they inherit several features of the ALH. Also Read: MiG-21s begin flying again after Rajasthan crash ALH and LCH hepters are op endorsed to be cleared for op emer flg (operational emergency flying), the letter stated. Op endorsed here refers to helicopters that have been cleared in servicing and certified fit to fly, one of the officials cited above explained, asking not to be named. To be sure, it is not uncommon for an aircraft fleet to be grounded for inspection after an unexplained crash or incident. The DGMO letter accessed by Hindustan Times lays down two pre-conditions for restoring emergency flying. It says such resumption of flights will follow the prescribed satisfactory conduct of independent maintenance flight safety audit of critical items and systems, and compliance with safety-related special technical instructions and alert notices issued by the technical authorities. The two directives were issued after the May 4 crash, said a second official, who also asked not to be named. The DGMO instructions only talk about the resumption of critical operational missions. This operational flying includes air maintenance (cargo transport to forward areas), casualty evacuation and other missions to support forward deployments. Training sorties are, currently, not on, one official said, asking not to be named. HT reported on May 10 that a design review of a safety-critical system on the ALH may be in order, according to a top government regulatory body responsible for the certification of the airworthiness of military aircraft. The Bengaluru-based Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) wrote to the three services and the coast guard about this on April 23. It has ordered the design review of the booster control rods to improve the ALHs airworthiness. The call for the design review follows the ALHs troubling safety record. In the past five years, it has been involved in 12 accidents. The design review is critical as the Indian armed forces operate more than 330 twin-engine ALHs, designed and developed by state-run aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. HAL began delivering these helicopters in the early 2000s. CEMILAC, which functions under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), reached the conclusion that the design review of the booster control rods is mandatory after an expert committee, formed in the backdrop of a navy ALH ditching (emergency landing in water) into the Arabian Sea on March 8, explored the possible failures that led to the incident. These rods allow pilots to control the helicopters motion, and any failure can severely affect power input to the rotor blades and cause accidents. The committee, constituted by the CEMILAC chief executive (airworthiness), found that the most probable cause of the navy ALH incident on March 8 was a technical failure -- an error in the assembly of serrated washers in the booster control rods. It recommended short and long-term measures to enhance the safety of the ALH. The design, development and qualification of the steel booster control rods that are tolerant to assembly errors shall be expedited, and the compliance of the new design shall be aimed for implementation in six months to one year, CEMILAC wrote in the letter dated April 23 to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the three services, and the coast guard. Though the helicopters are matured from the design point of view, having been exploited for more than 3 lakh hours, still there is scope to review the design/lifting aspects of the safety-critical system by an expert committee as a long-term measure, said the letter, written by CEMILAC director (helicopters and missiles) DM Isack. CEMILAC prescribed measures for the resumption of ALH and LCH operations. Clearance for both platforms, limited to 100 flight hours each, will be given after mandatory inspections, it said. Further clearance for up to 500 flight hours or one year, whichever is earlier, will be based on the successful completion of two critical tests by HAL, it added. These tests involve the flight testing of two helicopters with instrumented control rod assembly for verifying the multi-axis loads on the control rods, and the fatigue testing of the rods with correctly assembled serrated washers to confirm their original capability. It is critical to fix the flaws on the ALH as there are flight safety implications. It plays an important operational role and India operates a large number of ALHs. Also, there are many potential foreign customers who are watching the helicopter closely, Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd), director general, Centre for Air Power Studies, said while commenting on the CEMILAC findings. Rajiv Singh, a 1993 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, is likely to be appointed as Manipur Polices operational commander after the Union home ministry ordered his transfer to the ethnic violence-hit northeastern state by changing his cadre as a special case in the public interest late on Monday. Security personnel in Imphal on Monday. (ANI) Singh, who was posted as inspector general (operations) at the Central Reserve Police Forces headquarters in New Delhi, joined IPS as a Tripura cadre officer. Singh is expected to take over as Manipur Polices operational commander on Wednesday. This will be the latest in a series of changes to the forces operational command. Manipur Police chief P Doungels house and other properties were vandalised after the violence was triggered in the state on May 3. On May 4, Doungels junior Ashutosh Sinha, additional director general (intelligence), was appointed as the overall operational commander to bring normalcy to the state. Sinha has been reporting to retired IPS officer Kuldiep Singh, who was appointed as the Manipur governments security advisor on May 4. A Manipur Police officer said Rajiv Singh is yet to join the force and that it was unclear if he will be the new head. We were told that he is still in Delhi and may arrive in the state in a day or two, said the officer, who did not want to be named. Armouries at the Manipur Rifles headquarters, police stations, and headquarters of the Indian Reserve Battalion were ransacked as violence escalated in the state. The scale of the violence prompted the government to deploy the army and paramilitary forces to quell it. On Monday, Union home minister Amit Shah arrived in Manipur amid sporadic incidents of violence. He has held a series of meetings to defuse tensions and was likely to visit Churachandpur days after ethnic violence broke out there before spreading to other parts of the state. Shahs visit is the Union governments highest-level intervention since the violence broke out. Army chief General Manoj Pande earlier on Saturday arrived in the state. At least 80 people have been killed and tens of thousands displaced in the state. Tensions have simmered since the Manipur high court on April 27 directed that the Meities, Manipurs dominant community accounting for 53% of its population, be included on the Scheduled Tribes list. Mostly tribal Kukis took to the streets against the directions beginning May 3. Thousands of security personnel have been patrolling the streets of major cities and remote villages. Curfew has been clamped in swathes of the state and the internet has been suspended for over three weeks now. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hyderabad The BRS led by KCR, which had been attacking the BJP, has started targeting the Congress after the Karnataka poll verdict. (PTI) The outcome of the assembly elections in Karnataka has changed the political dynamics in Telangana, with all the three major contenders the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- changing their political strategies in the run-up to the assembly polls in the state scheduled later this year. For the last one year, the BRS led by chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, which had virtually decimated the Congress reducing it to a single digit in the 119-member state assembly, had been focussing on attacking the BJP, which has emerged as a potential threat to the ruling party. The BJP, which had won four Lok Sabha seats in 2019 general elections, gave the ruling party a run for its money in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections held in December 2020 by winning 48 seats in the 150-member corporation as against 56 seats of the BRS. The BJP also dealt a shock to the BRS by winning by-elections to two assembly seats Dubbak and Huzurabad -- in the last two years. Added to this, the aggressive campaign launched by BJP state president Bandi Sanjay through his padayatra and various agitations has created an impression that the party is the front-runner for power in the coming assembly elections. That was precisely why KCR chose to convert his Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) into BRS and has been attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi aggressively. Though the general impression being created by the party is that KCR is looking for a role in national politics, his primary objective of attacking the BJP and Modi is to come back to power in Telangana for a third time, political analyst Suresh Dharur said. However, after Karnataka assembly elections wherein the Congress posted a resounding victory, there is a change in the tone of KCR and his party leaders. The Congress victory in the neighbouring state has boosted the morale of the party in Telangana, while that of the BJP has gone down. Apparently realising that it is the Congress, not the BJP, which may be a threat to the BRS, the chief minister and his party colleagues have gradually started stepping up attacks on the Congress. The Congress has failed to develop Telangana despite ruling the state for several decades. One cannot hope it will do anything good for the state in future. We shall not take Karnataka elections seriously, KCR said at a hurriedly convened meeting of the BRS state executive on May 17, two days after the Karnataka election results. KCRs cabinet colleagues like T Harish Rao and G Jagadish Reddy have also been attacking the Congress whenever there is an opportunity. PCC chief A Revanth Reddy has no moral right to talk about Telangana, as his party had sought to crush the movement for separate state, Reddy said on Monday. The Congress has got the much-needed boost after the Karnataka elections. The Telangana PCC chief extended an open invitation to senior leaders, who had defected from the Congress to the BJP, to return to the Congress fold. Speaking to reporters last week, Revanth Reddy said leaders like G Vivek, Konda Vishweshwar Reddy and Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy had quit the Congress in a fit of emotion. So was the case with former minister and BRS leader Eatala Rajender. They have no faith in the BJPs ideology but defected to that party due to political compulsions, he said. The PCC chief said those who wanted realignment of forces against KCR should come back to the Congress. The BJP, which was expecting an exodus of Congress leaders before the elections, noticed that they are now in second thoughts after Karnataka polls. I tried my best to bring leaders like former MP Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and former Congress minister Jupally Krishna Rao into the BJP by holding negotiations with them, but they tried to do reverse counselling, asking me to join the Congress, former minister and BJP legislator from Huzurabad Eatala Rajender told reporters on Monday. A Congress leader who pleaded anonymity said Revanth Reddy is also planning to consolidate the anti-BRS and anti-BJP votes by negotiating with other parties like Bahujan Samaj Party and YSR Telangana party for a possible alliance. On Monday, YSRTP president Y S Sharmila met with Karnataka Congress president and deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar at his residence in Bengaluru, a second such meeting in the last 10 days. Though Shivakumars office said it was just a cordial meeting between the two leaders and did not divulge any details, it led to the talk that Sharmila might be looking for an alliance with the Congress. PCC working president Mahesh Kumar Goud welcomed the meeting of Sharmila with Shivakumar. It is a good development. Any secular-minded leader can have a meeting with top Congress leaders, he said. The Telangana BJP, too, changed its strategy post-Karnataka elections. It has realised that the Hindutva card which did not fetch seats and votes in Karnataka would not work even in Telangana. Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay, who doesnt lose an opportunity to kick up Hindutva passions and attack All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), has suddenly started talking about uplift of OBCs and Adivasi issues. On Tuesday, Sanjay announced the constitution of a task force to study the issues pertaining to weaker sections and submit a report to the party so that it could incorporate the same in the party manifesto. Last week, Sanjay held an OBC Sammelan in Hyderabad and called upon the party workers to reach out to the backward classes and appease them to vote for it. The party adopted an OBC Declaration at the meeting, stating that the BJP would allocate a separate budget for the OBCs, if the party is voted to power. The party also announced provision of statutory status to BC Commission, which is teethless now, and see that it would be given all powers. The BC Declaration also included extension of unlimited financial assistance to all the BC students on a saturation basis to enable them to go abroad for higher studies. The three parties were hitherto groping in the dark to find the right formula to impress upon voters but they got a cue from Karnataka results, said another political analyst Ramu Suravajjula. He said in a way, the emphatic verdict of Karnataka voters against the BJP brand of politics gave a voice to the feeble secular and democratic forces in Telangana too. For the first time in recent times, Telangana political parties have gone for a quick course correction based on the verdict in the neighbouring state, Suravajjula added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Karnataka government has suspended a sub-inspector of police and two constables in Davanagagere district in connection with the death of a right to information activist (RTI), who allegedly jumped off a police jeep to escape from custody on Sunday, officials said on Tuesday. The RTI activist allegedly died while trying to escape from police custody on Sunday. (Representative Image) The state government has also handed over the case to the CID following a complaint by the victims family who accused the police of murdering him. Following the orders of the state government, the case was registered against the sub inspector (SI), and it has been handed over to the CID. We will give all assistance to the CID, Davanagere superintendent of police (SP) Arun told HT. The suspended SI, Krishnappa, and constables Devaraju and Irshad had been attached to the Gandhi Nagara police station. The deceased, H R Harish, a right to information (RTI) activist, was accused of illegally registering three house sites worth 2 crore. A first information report (FIR) was registered at Gandhi Nagara police station against him and an unknown woman who posed as Jayashri, advocate Lingaraju, Gandhi Nagara sub-registrar and staff. It is alleged that Harish created fake Aadhaar card and managed to register three house sites belonging to Jayashri on May 20. Hearing about the fake registration, plot owner Jayashri filed a complaint against Harish on May 23. Police booked him under IPC sections 506 (threatening with life), 149 (unlawful assembly in prosecution of the common object), 419 (cheat by impersonation), 420 (cheating), 465 (committing forgery),468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 471 (using forged document as genuine). According to police, when they called Harish for an enquiry, he tried to escape. Acting on a tip off on the night of May 27, SI Krishnappa and staff raided the house of Harishs wife and picked him up. While bringing him to the police station, he asked to stop the jeep near Golanahunase flyover and jumped to escape from police. After he was seriously injured, Harish was shifted to a private hospital in Davanagere where he succumbed to injuries at 4.30pm on Sunday. His wife and family members staged a protest in front of the hospital on Sunday accusing police of murdering him. A case was registered against SI Krishnappa and the two constables at Davanagere rural police station under IPC Section 302 (Punishment for murder). New Delhi Abdul Salam Bhuttavi died of a heart attack in a jail in Sheikhupura in Pakistans Punjab province. (HT) Lashkar-e-Taiba leader (LeT) Abdul Salam Bhuttavi, who helped prepare the terrorists who carried out the 2008 Mumbai attacks, has died in a Pakistani prison while serving a sentence for terror financing. The death of Bhuttavi, who also served as acting head of the LeT when the groups founder Hafiz Saeed was detained by Pakistani authorities in 2002 and 2008, was announced by several organisations affiliated to the terror group late on Monday night. The announcements said Bhuttavi died of a heart attack in a jail in Sheikhupura in Pakistans Punjab province on Monday afternoon. LeTs front organisations also issued a video purportedly showing the funeral of 78-year-old Bhuttavi that was held at the terror groups markaz or centre at Muridke, near Lahore, on Tuesday morning. Indian intelligence operatives too confirmed the death but said further details were not immediately available. Also Read| US court approves extradition of 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana to India In 2020, Bhuttavi was arrested and charged with terror financing by Pakistan and convicted along with Hafiz Saeeds brother-in-law Abdul Rahman Makki. He was given a prison sentence of 16-and-a-half-years. A total of 166 people, including nationals of several countries such as the US and the UK, were killed and dozens more injured as a 10-member LeT team targeted several locations in Mumbai over three days in November 2008. Pakistan arrested seven LeT members, including operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, for the attacks but there has been no progress in their trial. When the US treasury department sanctioned Bhuttavi in September 2011, it said he had been responsible for fundraising, recruitment and indoctrination of LeT operatives for 20 years. Also Read| In Pakistan, Javed Akhtar recalls 26/11 Mumbai attack: They are still roaming free' | Watch Bhuttavi...helped prepare the operatives for the November 2008 Mumbai attacks by delivering lectures on the merits of martyrdom. Bhuttavi has issued fatwas authorizing LeT/JuDs militant operations, has instructed group leaders and members, and is responsible for LeT/JuDs madrassah network, the US treasury department said in a statement at the time, referring to the Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), a front for LeT. The United Nations Security Council designated Bhuttavi as a terrorist in 2012 for being associated with al-Qaeda for participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts or activities by LeT. At the time, the Security Council described Bhuttavi as a founding member of LeT and deputy to Hafiz Saeed. Bhuttavi has served as the acting emir of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba/Jamaat-ud-Dawa (LeT/JuD) on at least two occasions when Saeed has been detained. Saeed was detained days after the November 2008 Mumbai attacks and held until June 2009. Bhuttavi handled the groups day-to-day functions during this period, and made independent decisions on behalf of the organization. Saeed was also detained in May 2002, the Security Council notification said. While Pakistani law enforcement agencies have acted against terror groups carrying out attacks within the country, they have not cracked down on anti-India terror organisations such as LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Even the action against Bhuttavi and other LeT leaders on charges of terror financing was taken due to pressure from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which had put Pakistan on its grey list for four years from 2018. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader Abdul Salam Bhuttavi, who helped prepare the terrorists who carried out the 2008 Mumbai attacks, has died in a Pakistani prison while serving a sentence for terror financing. Lashkar-e-Taibas Abdul Salam Bhuttavi was designated as a terrorist by the UN Security Council in 2012. He was convicted on terror financing charges in 2020 (File Photo) Bhuttavi was designated as a terrorist by the United Nations security Council in 2012. He was arrested and charged with terror financing by Pakistan several years later and convicted along with LeT founder Hafiz Saeeds brother-in-law Abdul Rahman Makki, in a terror financing case in August 2020. Bhuttavi was sentenced to 16-and-a-half-years. The death of Bhuttavi, who also served as acting head of the LeT when the groups founder Hafiz Saeed was detained by Pakistani authorities in 2002 and 2008, was announced by several organisations affiliated to the terror group late on Monday night. The announcements said Bhuttavi died of a heart attack in a jail in Sheikhupura in Pakistans Punjab province on Monday afternoon. LeTs front organisations also issued a video purportedly showing the funeral of 78-year-old Bhuttavi that was held at the terror groups markaz or centre at Muridke, near Lahore, on Tuesday morning. Indian intelligence officials too confirmed the death but said further details were not immediately available. A total of 166 people, including nationals of several countries such as the US and the UK, were killed and dozens more injured as a 10-member LeT team targeted several locations in Mumbai over three days in November 2008. Pakistan arrested seven LeT members, including operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, for the attacks but there has been no progress in their trial. When the US treasury department sanctioned Bhuttavi in September 2011, it said he had been responsible for fundraising, recruitment and indoctrination of LeT operatives for 20 years. Bhuttavi...helped prepare the operatives for the November 2008 Mumbai attacks by delivering lectures on the merits of martyrdom. Bhuttavi has issued fatwas authorizing LeT/JuDs militant operations, has instructed group leaders and members, and is responsible for LeT/JuDs madrassah network, the US treasury department said in a statement at the time, referring to the Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), a front for LeT. The United Nations Security Council designated Bhuttavi as a terrorist in 2012 for being associated with al-Qaeda for participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts or activities by LeT. At the time, the Security Council described Bhuttavi as a founding member of LeT and deputy to Hafiz Saeed. Bhuttavi has served as the acting emir of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba/Jamaat-ud-Dawa (LeT/JuD) on at least two occasions when Saeed has been detained. Saeed was detained days after the November 2008 Mumbai attacks and held until June 2009. Bhuttavi handled the groups day-to-day functions during this period, and made independent decisions on behalf of the organization. Saeed was also detained in May 2002, the Security Council notification said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The challenges in Manipur have not disappeared, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Tuesday, but hoped that things will settle down in some time. He added that the situation in the northeastern state now is not related to insurgency. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan.(ANI file) The situation in Manipur is nothing to do with counter-insurgency and is primarily a clash between two ethnicities. It's a law and order kind of situation and we are helping the state government. We have done an excellent job and saved a large number of lives. The challenges in Manipur have not disappeared and it will take some time but hopefully, they should settle down, Chauhan told reporters. The toll from clashes since ethnic rioting began on May 3 in Manipur has gone up to 80. The CDS's statement comes even as Union home minister Amit Shah landed in Manipur on Monday night, aiming to defuse ethnic tensions in the northeastern state, while security forces continued to fend off sporadic bursts of violence and apprehend people allegedly stealing and stockpiling weapons in the restive region. Chauhan was in Pune on Tuesday to review the passing out parade of the 144th course of the National Defence Academy (NDA). "The Army, Assam Rifles were deployed in Manipur before 2020. Since the challenges of the northern borders were far more, we were able to withdraw the Army. Since the insurgency situation had normalised, we were able to do that," he added. On China's PLA along the northern borders In his address to the cadets, Chauhan spoke out the deployment of China's PLA (People's Liberation Army) along the northern borders. The PLA deployment on the northern borders is not increasing day by day, it is at the same level as it was in 2020. So there is a challenge and the armed forces are taking all kinds of steps so that there is no untoward situation...We have been able to get back to all places except 2-Depsang and Demchok and negotiations are on, the CDS said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Congress party has submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu regarding the arson and violence in Manipur seeking her intervention into the matter to control the unrest in the northeastern state. It also alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government has shown a serious deficit in its efforts to contain the ethnic violence. Congress delegates meet with President Droupadi Murmu(Twitter) The party has placed a set of demands including firm and sustained efforts to control violence in every part of the state and immediate restoration of peace, harmony and normalcy. It has also urged for a high-level inquiry commission into the violence headed by a serving or a retired judge of the Supreme Court. It is with a deep sense of loss and hurt that we humbly submitted a memorandum to the President of India, for her kind intervention so that the extraordinary situation confronting Manipur can be redressed and normalcy can be brought in urgently, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a tweet. The memorandum was presented to the President on a day when Union home minister Amit Shah is on a visit to Manipur, aiming to defuse ethnic tensions in the northeastern state, while security forces continued to fend off sporadic bursts of violence. The Congress claimed in the memorandum that nearly 100 people have died due to the violence in the state, whereas, many have gone missing. "More than 2000 houses have been either burned or destroyed. Some 10000 people, including women and children, are still living in relief camps and safer places without proper health and sanitation facilities. Thousands of people are rendered homeless and displaced. Almost all educational institutions are closed, denying education to students," it said. The party has further demanded to cover the villages near the foothills of both communities with adequate security. A special drive must be carried out to trace missing people. "There is a need for immediate identification of those who have lost their lives and handing their bodies over to the bereaved families for the last ritesPayment of dignified and reasonable compensation for loss of life, property, and all other things concerned to all the victims and affected persons," the Congress said. Earlier, Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan said that the challenges in Manipur has not disappeared but it will settle down in some time. The situation in Manipur is nothing to do with counter-insurgency and is primarily a clash between two ethnicities. It's a law and order kind of situation and we are helping the state government. We have done an excellent job and saved a large number of lives. The challenges in Manipur have not disappeared and it will take some time but hopefully, they should settle down, he said. (With ANI inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday hit out at Union home minister Amit Shah over his delayed visit to the violence-hit Manipur, saying that the Centre should have gone to the state before, but they did not have the time. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee (File Photo) What will they do by going now? So many people have died. No one knows how many have died. The country wants to know the real picture in Manipur, Mamata Banerjee told the media. Earlier in the day, Amit Shah visited Churachandpur - where some of the worst riotings took place recently - to hold talks with Kuki civil society leaders. On this, the West Bengal CM said, I wrote a letter (to the Home Minister) yesterday stating that I want to go to Manipur for a day to meet the peace-loving people. I sent the letter yesterday, and that is the reason why he (Amit Shah) has gone there today. I want to be with the people of Manipur I have no intention to breach any protocol but wish to be with the peace-loving people of the state, she added. Amit Shah arrived in Manipur on Monday night and held a high-level meeting with chief minister N Biren Singh, and other leaders. He also held consultations with stakeholders on Tuesday starting with a breakfast meeting with a group of women leaders, as part of his initiative to bring peace to the violence-hit state. Earlier in the day, the Centre announced that it will give a compensation of 10 lakh to the kin of those who died during the ethnic conflict in Manipur. They will also provide one member of the family with a job. Tensions began in Manipur since May 3 after an interethnic violence erupted during a solidarity march called by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) in protest against an April 19 Manipur high court order directing the state government to consider giving Centre Scheduled Caste (ST) reservation to the Meitei community. At least 80 people have been killed in the violence so far. Thousands of people have been displaced and over 2,000 houses have been burned down across the state. According to reports, around 10,000 personnel of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles, besides those from other paramilitary forces have been deployed to bring back normalcy in the northeastern state. (With inputs from agencies) The National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) on Tuesday removed a contentious reference to Khalistan from the Class 12 Political Science textbook after a Sikh body alleged that it was a misrepresentation of the communitys history. NCRT said that the decision to drop the contentious content was taken as per the recommendation of an expert committee, which had examined the matter. (Representative Image) An NCRT statement issued on Tuesday said that the decision to drop the content was taken after an expert committee examined a representation by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which alleged that the text had misinterpreted the 1973 Anandpur Sahib resolution as a separatist move. The resolution was passed by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Punjab. The contentious part in Chapter 7 (Regional Aspirations) of the NCERT textbook titled Politics in India since Independence had said, The resolution was a plea for strengthening federalism, but it could be interpreted as a plea for a separate Sikh nation. It further said, A section of religious leaders raised the question of autonomous Sikh identity. The more extreme elements started advocating secession from India and the creation of Khalistan. The resolution also spoke of the aspirations of the Sikh Quam (community or nation) and declared its goal as attaining the bolbala (dominance or hegemony) of the Sikhs. SGPC questioned the chapter through a representation in April and demanded immediate withdrawal of the contentious portions. NCERT said that after receiving the representation from SGPC, it created a committee of experts to examine the issue, and as per the panels recommendations it decided to make certain changes to Page 123 of the textbook concerned. NCERT said the council resolved to drop the parts that said ... but it could be interpreted as a plea for a separate Sikh nation, and ...the creation of Khalistan from the said paragraphs. The soft copy of Class 12 political science textbook with changes is uploaded on the NCERTs website, NCERT said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Jersey Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary Zachariah Njeru is in the US to attend the World Bank-organized Global Affordable Housing Conference and to also woo Kenyans in the diaspora to invest in the Affordable Housing Programme. Shortly after arriving in the US on Saturday, the CS delivered a keynote address at an Expo held in New Jersey aimed at attracting the Kenyan diaspora to invest in the Affordable Housing Programme. In his address at the Jambo List Expo, CS Njeru encouraged Kenyans living in the United States to invest in the massive construction opportunities in Kenya as the Government moves ahead to build 200,000 affordable housing units annually for the next five years. The CS,who is accompanied by Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Charles Hinga, said the Government has availed several incentives for those investing as developers in the programne as well as those who buy houses through the initiative. The CS said the Government is committed to safeguarding the property and investment of all investors whether they reside in Kenya or outside the country. "The Government, through the Ministry of Lands, has undertaken many procedures to promote the safety and security of Kenyan's investment in real estate," said the CS. The Cabinet Secretary said that the Government has put in place several tax incentives to benefit both the investors as well as the buyers of the houses. Mr Njeru said the incentives include a mortgage relief on interest paid on a mortgage up to a maximum of Shs 300,000 per year, as well as a tax relief of up to Shs108,000 per year when saving for a home. Another incentive is the waiver of stamp duty for first-time owners under the AHP. For developers, the CS noted, the Affordable Housing Programme has a raft of tax benefits: VAT on construction inputs will only be 16 percent, leading to a reduction in construction costs of up to 9 percent. Corporate tax for developers building more than 100 houses will be limited to 15 percent and this is designed to contribute to the low prices of the houses. The Railway Development Levy for developers will be maintained at 1.5 percent, and there will be a restriction of interest expense deduction when computing taxable income where a foreign-controlled company has a debt-to-equity ratio exceeding 3:1, the CS said. Mr Njeru said the Government appreciates the huge demand for safe, reliable investment opportunities for the diaspora community, especially in the docket under the Ministry. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya Business U.S., Canada and Africa By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. He said besides the incentives he cited, the Government has created an online platform, Boma Yangu, which makes it easy to register and purchase AHP houses. The CS encouraged the Kenyans in the US to use the Boma Yangu platform to purchase affordable houses for themselves and their families back in Kenya. Diaspora remittances have been the largest source of foreign exchange to Kenya. According to Central Bank of Kenya statistics, diaspora remittances increased to Sh532.3 billion between March 2022-March 2023 up from Sh518 billion between March 2021- March 2022. CS Njeru said the Government is conscious of the fact that the Kenyan diaspora has always had a keen interest in land and housing investments. "There is a huge opportunity for us to partner with you and tap into your expertise and resources to grow this sector," said CS Njeru. CS Njeru has assured all Kenyans who contribute money to the programme that they will never be exposed to any risks. The National Council of Educational Research and Training on Tuesday announced the removal of references to a a separate Sikh nation and Khalistan from political science textbooks for Class 12. The Anandpur Sahib Resolution was a statement with a list of demands made by the Punjabi Sikh political party, the Shiromani Akali Dal, in 1973. (HT Archive) The action was taken after a representation from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) which sought the withdrawal of the content against Sikh community by misrepresenting Sri Anandpur Sahib resolution, NCERT said in a corrigendum issued on Tuesday. The Anandpur Sahib Resolution was a statement with a list of demands made by the Punjabi Sikh political party, the Shiromani Akali Dal, in 1973. The resolution affirmed the partys commitment to the Sikh religion and demanded greater autonomy for Punjab. It also demanded that the city of Chandigarh should be handed over to Punjab and that Punjabi should be given second-language status in neighbouring states. SGPC, in its resolution in April, said that the textbook, Politics in India since Independence, interpreted the 1973 Anandpur Sahib resolution as a separatist resolution, and demanded that the text must be removed immediately. A chapter in the book said that a demand of regional autonomy was raised under the resolution. The resolution also spoke of the aspirations of the Sikh Quam (community or nation), and declared its goal as attaining the bolbala (dominance or hegemony) of the Sikhs. The resolution was a plea for strengthening federalism, but it could be interpreted as a plea for a separate Sikh nation, the textbook read. A section of religious leaders raised the question of autonomous Sikh identity. The more extreme elements started advocating secession from India and the creation of Khalistan, the book added. Subsequently, NCERT formed a committee of experts to examine the issue and following recommendations it decided to make changes in the text. In its corrigendum, the council said it resolved to drop ... but it could be interpreted as a plea for a separate Sikh nation, and ...the creation of Khalistan from the above-mentioned paragraphs. The soft copy of Class 12 political science textbook with changes is uploaded on the NCERTs website, the corrigendum added. After India successfully hosted 59 international delegates at the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar from May 22 to 24, Pakistans Charge de Affairs (CDA) to India lodged a protest with all those countries who attended the event in the Valley, HT has learnt. Pakistan had lobbied with Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries invited to Srinagar to boycott the event on grounds that Jammu & Kashmir was disputed territory, but only Islamabads top strategic partner China, Egypt, and Oman did not attend the G20 meeting. Egypt and Oman are among the nine countries invited as guests by India for the September G20 Summit. Three travel industry representatives from Turkey and two travel industry representatives from Saudi Arabia attended the event though there was no official participation. Among OIC countries, Nigeria was represented by its deputy high commissioner and three delegates from the high commission, Bangladesh was represented by its high commissioner, UAE by one official and two travel industry representatives, and Indonesia by one embassy representative. Much to the chagrin of China and Pakistan, the United Nations was represented by its Headquarters, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), and the International Labour Organization (ILO). Read more: Why Parliament inauguration was a lost historic opportunity for the Opposition Despite Islamabad having no locus standi either in G20 or Srinagar, as external affairs minister S Jaishankar said on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers summit in Goa earlier this month, Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari went to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) on May 23 and addressed a meeting in Bagh to criticise the Narendra Modi government for hosting the Srinagar event. While thanking all-weather friend China, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey for ostensibly shunning the G20 Srinagar meeting, he slammed the Modi government for allegedly maligning Pakistan and the Kashmiri people. To be sure, China was the only country that publicly announced the boycott of the Srinagar meeting saying it was opposed to holding the meeting in what a Beijing spokesman termed as disputed territory. Apart from the J&K administration, including lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha, playing a vital role in the success of the G20 event in Srinagar, the G20 secretariat, the tourism ministry, and the national security agencies played their part in ensuring that the event was free of incident. HT has learnt that India had given a firm message to Pakistan that there would be a retaliation if any incident involving Pak-sponsored terrorists took place during the Srinagar event. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shishir Gupta Author of Indian Mujahideen: The Enemy Within (2011, Hachette) and Himalayan Face-off: Chinese Assertion and Indian Riposte (2014, Hachette). Awarded K Subrahmanyam Prize for Strategic Studies in 2015 by Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) and the 2011 Ben Gurion Prize by Israel. ...view detail After India successfully hosted 59 international delegates at the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar from May 22 to 24, Pakistans Charge de Affairs (CDA) to India lodged a protest with all those countries who attended the event in the Valley, HT has learnt. A cultural event underway during G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar. Pakistan had lobbied with Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries invited to Srinagar to boycott the event on grounds that Jammu & Kashmir was disputed territory, but only Islamabads top strategic partner China, Egypt, and Oman did not attend the G20 meeting. Egypt and Oman are among the nine countries invited as guests by India for the September G20 Summit. Three travel industry representatives from Turkey and two travel industry representatives from Saudi Arabia attended the event though there was no official participation. Among OIC countries, Nigeria was represented by its deputy high commissioner and three delegates from the high commission, Bangladesh was represented by its high commissioner, UAE by one official and two travel industry representatives, and Indonesia by one embassy representative. Much to the chagrin of China and Pakistan, the United Nations was represented by its Headquarters, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), and the International Labour Organization (ILO). Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant and chief coordinator for Indias G20 presidency Harsh Vardhan Shringla with foreign delegates. Despite Islamabad having no locus standi either in G20 or Srinagar, as external affairs minister S Jaishankar said on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers summit in Goa earlier this month, Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari went to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) on May 23 and addressed a meeting in Bagh to criticise the Narendra Modi government for hosting the Srinagar event. While thanking all-weather friend China, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey for ostensibly shunning the G20 Srinagar meeting, he slammed the Modi government for allegedly maligning Pakistan and the Kashmiri people. To be sure, China was the only country that publicly announced the boycott of the Srinagar meeting saying it was opposed to holding the meeting in what a Beijing spokesman termed as disputed territory. Apart from the J&K administration, including lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha, playing a vital role in the success of the G20 event in Srinagar, the G20 secretariat, the tourism ministry, and the national security agencies played their part in ensuring that the event was free of incident. HT has learnt that India had given a firm message to Pakistan that there would be a retaliation if any incident involving Pak-sponsored terrorists took place during the Srinagar event. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New York Nine years after the United Nations recognised June 21 as International Day of Yoga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the global community in celebrating the day at the UN headquarters in New York this year. The United Nations recognised June 21 as International Day of Yoga in 2014. (PTI) Csaba Korosi, president of the UN General Assembly, diplomatic representatives of almost the entire UN membership of over 190 countries, the mayor of New York, Eric Adams, US political leaders from the New York area, and top Indian-American diaspora figures in various domains will join Modi on the north lawns of the UN complex in New York on the morning of June 21, said a person familiar with the planning of the event. 177 countries had co-sponsored and supported the Yoga Day resolution at the UN in December 2014. The following year, the world saw the first celebrations. And now, the author of that idea will return to the UN to lead the celebrations and send a message, the person said, seeking anonymity. Also Read| Filled with humility and gratitude: PM Modi's tweet on 9 years of his government Indias permanent representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, who has earlier served as the chief of protocol of the foreign ministry in New Delhi, Indias permanent representative to UNESCO in Paris, high commissioner to South Africa and ambassador to Bhutan, and her team at the permanent mission of India in New York, are reaching out to counterparts to firm up the details of the event. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will, however, miss the event as he will be in Paris at the time to attend a conference on a new global financing pact. India has not only booked all the open spaces within the UN complex and the riverside promenade overlooking the Hudson river, but also parts of Roosevelt City and Long Island city to make space for over 2,000 people who are expected to participate in the event. A live feed of the yoga celebrations will be broadcast at Times Square, a few blocks away. The event will have a brief cultural component, with the UN choir performing. Modi and Korosi are expected to speak before the Indian Prime Minister leads the yoga event. The event will be inclusive. It will be international. It will attempt to showcase what India has to offer to the world. It will bring together the world, north and south, east and west, parties in conflict with each other, to send a message of oneness, said the person quoted above. In the week leading up to the Yoga Day celebrations, the UN will also see a special yoga exhibition inside its premises by Isha Yoga, a non-profit. Modi is expected to leave New York for Washington DC on June 21, soon after the event, to begin the bilateral leg of his visit. On June 22, President Joe Biden will host him for a State visit, which includes a ceremonial welcome at the White House, bilateral talks, and a State dinner. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on completing nine years of his government, on Tuesday said his every decision has been guided by the desire to improve the lives of people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi being welcomed as he arrives in the Lok Sabha chamber of the new Parliament building in New Delhi Sunday,(PTI) "Today, as we complete 9 years in service to the nation, I am filled with humility and gratitude. Every decision made, every action taken, has been guided by the desire to improve the lives of people. We will keep working even harder to build a developed India," he tweeted. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has planned a month-long campaign from Tuesday to celebrate the ninth anniversary with various mass connect programmes, with Modi himself scheduled to address a rally in Ajmer in Rajasthan on Wednesday. Senior BJP leaders, including Union ministers and chief ministers, had on Monday highlighted the government's achievements in a nationwide outreach. From India's "rising" global stature to emphasis on national security, welfare measures like housing and toilets for the poor, boost to piped water supply, infrastructure growth and efforts to ramp up the manufacturing sector, were among the initiatives cited at the press conferences they held in every state of the country. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON External affairs minister S Jaishankar asked visiting British minister Lord Tariq Ahmad to ensure security of India's diplomatic missions in the UK and prevent misuse of democratic freedoms. This came against the backdrop of the vandalisation of the Indian High Commission in London in March by pro-Khalistan supporters. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets UK MOS Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, in New Delhi.(S Jaishankar Twitter ) "Met with UK MOS Lord Tariq Ahmad today in New Delhi Underlined the obligation to ensure security of our diplomatic missions and prevent misuse of democratic freedoms," Jaishankar tweeted. Jaishankar said that he also discussed a broad range of issues ranging from the Free Trade Agreement and South Asia to Indo-Pacific and G20 with the visiting minister. India and the UK have had nine rounds of negotiations of the free trade agreement (FTA) since January last year aiming towards a comprehensive pact that is expected to significantly enhance the bilateral trading relationship which was worth an estimated GBP 34 billion in 2022. Recently, Britain's Chief Negotiator for the FTA Harjinder Kang was appointed the country's new Trade Commissioner to South Asia and Deputy High Commissioner for Western India, based in Mumbai. According to UK government statistics, India was the UK's 12th largest trading partner in the four quarters to the end of Q3 2022, accounting for 2.1 per cent of total UK trade. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail Rainfall and thunderstorm activity will likely continue over Northwest India during the next four days, the Indian Meteorological Department said on Tuesday. Scattered to fairly widespread rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning and occasional winds at 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is very likely over Northwest India till Thursday. The weather forecasting agency also predicted hailstorms at isolated places today over Rajasthan, till June 1 over Himachal Pradesh and till June 2 over Uttarakhand. A pedestrian crosses a busy road amid heavy rainfall, in Gurugram.(ANI) As the IMD forecast suggested heavy rainfall at isolated places in Rajasthan today, Udaipur witnessed dark clouds and strong winds in a sudden weather change in the evening. Jammu and Kashmir will also receive heavy rainfall tomorrow at isolated places. The meteorological centre in Srinagar said that the weather was mainly cloudy and rainy in J&K. The same weather pattern is expected to persist in J&K till June 02, said deputy director MeT, Mukhtar Ahmad. There are chances of light snowfall over higher reaches of the Kupwara, Bandipora or Sonamarg-Zojila axis. Similarly, Mughal Road and Sinthan Pass can also receive light snowfall, he said. Light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning is likely over Kerala, Lakshadweep and scattered rainfall over South Interior Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh during the next five days. Isolated places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana will likely receive heavy rain today; over Tamil Nadu, Coastal and South Interior Karnataka till May 31; and over Kerala till May 3. Meanwhile, the Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into some parts of Southwest Bay of Bengal, more parts of Southeast Bay of Bengal, the entire Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the Andaman Sea. Conditions are favourable for further advance of Southwest Monsoon into some parts of Maldives & Comorin area, some more parts of Southwest Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of Southeast Bay of Bengal, some more parts of Central Bay of Bengal and some parts of Northeast Bay of Bengal during next 2-3 days, the IMD said in its daily bulletin. 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 A day after Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot agreed to a joint fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in assembly elections later this year, Gehlot on Tuesday called upon party workers to exercise patience and wait for their opportunity to serve. Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot (PTI) On Monday, the two leaders held a four-hour meeting with the Congress leadership to iron out differences that have roiled the state unit for four years. The contours of the agreement werent immediately clear, but a senior Congress leader who asked not to be named said core issues have not yet been resolved completely. Talking to reporters before leaving for Jaipur, the CM said: I remember the words of Sonia Gandhi who at the Congress convention had asked party workers to have patience and they would get to serve the party in some way. I keep this in my heart and tell partymen to have patience. They would get the opportunity to serve the party in some way. So I call for patience, patience, patience. Asked if he expected Pilot to work with him now, the CM said: If he (Sachin Pilot) is in the party then why wont he do this. It is for the high command to decide what role one plays. The conflict between Gehlot and Pilot dates back to December 2018 when both lobbied for the CMs post after the Congress returned to power in Rajasthan. The repeated sniping between the two leaders came to a head again earlier this month, when Pilot launched a march to protest apparent inaction against corruption by the Congress government. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has confirmed that the chief of his party, Uddhav Thackeray, along with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar will attend the meeting of non-BJP parties in Patna on June 12. He also agreed with senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on fielding a common candidate on 400 to 450 seats against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut.(PTI) What Chidambaram had said is true. There are around 450 seats where if one-to-one (common) candidates are fielded (against the BJP) then the entire verdict on the country's politics will change, Raut told news agency ANI, adding the decision on this will be made on June 12 in the meeting. On Monday, Chidambaram said the work to bring non-BJP parties together ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election was going on and there is a possibility to field common candidates on at least 400 to 450 seats against the BJP. Our party [Congress] line is that all the non-BJP parties must get together as far as possible. If they come together, then it is possible that on 400 to 450 seats, we can field one common candidate against the BJP but that is still a desire; an aspiration, the former Union minister had said. He added that the opposition is beginning to realise the necessity to unite and put up a united opposition front against the BJP. The scheduled meeting is a result of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's attempts to present a unified non-BJP front ahead of the upcoming general elections. He had held talks with Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi to discuss a broad strategy and prepare the ground for the June 12 meeting. At least 18 parties were expected to attend the Patna meeting. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee suggested the meeting when she met Kumar in April. Banerjee, who has also backed Kumars One-On-One candidate strategy, invoked socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayans Total Revolution movement against the Congress government in the 1970s while suggesting the meeting in Patna. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Supreme Court on Tuesday permitted six people being investigated in the Chhattisgarh liquor to withdraw their challenge to crucial provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and prevented them from again approaching the court on this issue except for seeking bail and protection from arrest . The withdrawal was prompted by a statement by the court on Monday that it was not inclined to hear challenges to PMLA. On Monday, the court indicated that it was not inclined to entertain such petitions because a Supreme Court judgment by a three-judge bench in the Vijay Madanlal Chaudhary case on July 27 last year upheld all contentious provisions of PMLA. (ANI) A vacation bench of justices Bela M Trivedi and Prashant Kumar Mishra, while permitting the seven petitions to be withdrawn, said that filing of such petitions where constitutional validity of PMLA provisions are being challenged has become a trend. As most of these petitions also sought protection from arrest from the top court, the bench observed: This has become an alternate means to bypass approaching the high courts under Section 438 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for anticipatory bail. On Monday, the court indicated that it was not inclined to entertain such petitions because a Supreme Court judgment by a three-judge bench in the Vijay Madanlal Chaudhary case on July 27 last year upheld all contentious provisions of PMLA. The judgment was binding on courts and there was no reason for such petitions to be filed reopening the validity of the PMLA provisions, specifically Section 50 (power to issue summons and seek attendance) and Section 63 (punishment for giving false information), which already stood decided, it said. Appearing for two of the petitioners, Akhtar Dhebar and Chhattisgarh excise commissioner Niranjan Das, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi informed the court that he had instructions from his clients to withdraw the plea. The same request was made by senior advocate Siddharth Aggarwal appearing for two other accused, Achaljeet Singh Bhatia and Pinki Singh. The court permitted them to withdraw the petitions while granting them the liberty to apply for bail or seek orders for quashing of the enforcement case information report (ECIR). Two other accused, Abhishek Singh and Laxminarayan Aggarwal, were also allowed to withdraw their petitions. The petitions piggybacked on an order passed by the top court on March 28, where notice was issued on a petition filed by Congress leader of opposition from Madhya Pradesh, Govind Singh. The petition challenged the validity of sections 50 and 63 of PMLA as being violative of Article 20(3) of the Constitution, which protects a citizen from being compelled to be a witness against himself, and Article 21 that deals with an individuals right to life and liberty. The two provisions of PMLA required a person to speak truth on being summoned by the Enforcement Directorate and the testimony was admissible as evidence during trial. The top court is also hearing a review petition against the July 27 verdict filed by member of Parliament Karti P Chidambaram, who is also an accused under PMLA, where a notice has been issued in August last year. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta and additional solicitor general SV Raju who appeared for the Enforcement Directorate ( ED), informed the court that on May 16, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court, while directing the ED probe to continue against Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji, rejected the argument to reopen the July 27 verdict and held that merely because a review petition has been entertained against the verdict, the same will still be binding on the courts. ED began its probe into allegations of selective grant of liquor licenses in Chhattisgarh on a commission that surfaced out of a 2022 income-tax department charge sheet filed against Indian Administrative Service officer Anil Tuteja and others before a Delhi court. ED filed an affidavit last week in the Supreme Court detailing the status of probe against the accused. Unearthing corruption in the liquor scam, ED claimed that illegal profit of 2,000 crore was earned by a syndicate involving politicians, bureaucrats and private individuals during 2019-23. This money came through bribes collected from distillers and sale of unaccounted country liquor by state-run liquor vends, the federal agency said. Nairobi President William Ruto said the continent must establish a sustainable funding to accelerate the overhaul of its infrastructure. He said governments, the private sector and development partners must partner to further this cause. He noted that the lack of efficient transport system continues to impede investments. "This has made it costly to do business, thereby reducing the continent's competitiveness," he said. The President also called for the speeding up of the establishment of a common payment and settlement system to support trade between African countries. "The system will be designed to eliminate the challenges of cross-border payments; this will accelerate intra-Africa trade," he said. He made the remarks on Monday during the opening of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Council of Ministers Meeting and the African Private Sector Dialogue on AfCFTA in Nairobi. The President appealed to countries yet to sign and ratify AfCFTA to join its peers in fashioning the next global economic powerhouse. He said AfCFTA will stimulate commerce within Africa, generate jobs, enhance manufacturing and drive economic growth. If actualised by 2035, AfCFTA will help more than 30 million people escape extreme poverty. It will also expand intra-African exports by about 80 per cent. The President called on African leaders to strengthen the African Union by allowing it to negotiate on behalf of the continent "We can negotiate better if we are a unit." Comoros President and Chairperson of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government Azali Assoumani, Champion of the AfCFTA and former Niger President Issoufou Mahamadou, Secretary General of AfCFTA Wamkele Mene, Cabinet and Principal secretaries, the private sector among others were present. People who malign judges do not deserve mercy, the Supreme Court observed on Tuesday as it upheld a high court order of 10 days of prison for a 60-year-old man who circulated a fake complaint against a district judge in Madhya Pradesh on social media. The letter circulated by the contemnor was addressed to the law and legislative affairs department of Madhya Pradesh. (Representational image) Comparing the post circulated by Krishna Kumar Raghuvanshi as an assault on judicial independence, a vacation bench of justices Bela M Trivedi and Prashant Kumar Mishra said: If you do not get desirable order, that does not mean you will malign judicial officers. Judicial independence doesnt mean independence from executive alone. It also means there should be no interference from any outside persons. Also Read: Petitions against two PMLA provisions need to stop: Supreme Court Raghuvanshi was sentenced under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, by the Madhya Pradesh high court on May 15 following a reference made by additional district judge SPS Bundela of Bareli court, who was sought to be maligned by the contemnor. The district judge in July 2019 decided a case against Raghuvanshi, who runs a private temple, directing him to deposit the amount received as donation from devotees in a bank in the name of a trust. Instead of complying with the order, Raghuvanshi circulated a letter on WhatsApp, accusing the judge of corruption and abuse of authority in passing the order against him. The judge made a reference to the high court, seeking registration of civil and criminal contempt against Raghuivanshi for flouting the July 2019 order and for maligning the image, reputation and prestige of the court through social media posts that caused adverse impact in the due process of justice administration. The letter circulated by the contemnor was addressed to the law and legislative affairs department of Madhya Pradesh. In addition, a complaint was also filed against the judge at the Madhya Pradesh high court. Raghuvanshi tendered an unconditional apology to the high court and Supreme Court. His lawyer Akshay Sapra said Raghuvanshi should be shown mercy as he was not aware that he had stepped out of line. Judges in lower courts have to decide cases freely and must not be under pressure from any quarter, the top court said. We are here to decide law and not to show mercy, and that too, to such persons. Prior to initiating contempt proceedings, the high court had conducted an inquiry into the complaint against ADJ Bundela and found all charges to be incorrect. It was then that the high court decided to take a strict view of the contemnor, sentencing him to 10 days of simple imprisonment and a fine of 2,000. Raghuvanshi was taken into custody on May 27 and considering that he had already undergone nearly four days of sentence, he should be let off while enhancing the fine amount, Sapra pleaded. The court, however, told the lawyer: You cannot malign judicial officers by using social media. You should have thought twice before you made the complaint. It has damaged the reputation of the judicial officer. Let this be a lesson for others. Ten pilgrims on the way to Vaishno Devi temple were killed and 66 others sustained injuries on Tuesday morning after their bus skidded off the road and rammed into the railing of a bridge before falling off it at Jhajjar Kotli 35km from Jammu city, said officials. The troops of 137 CRPF battalion carried out the rescue operation (ANI) As per Jammu senior superintendent of police (SSP) Chandan Kohli, the bus was overcrowded as 75 pilgrims most of them from Bihar were travelling in a 54-seater bus. All the pilgrims on board the bus were asleep when the incident took place around 5.30am. The driver was also killed in the accident. We have registered a case in the accident under sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 304A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Jhajjar Kotli police station, said Jhajjar Kotli station house officer, inspector Ajat Manhas. The death toll in the accident may go up as two of the injured admitted at Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu are said to be in critical condition, said the principal of the hospital Dr Shashi Sudhan Sharma. The bus was on its way to Katra from Amritsar when it met with an accident at Jhajjar Kotli area on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway... Most of the pilgrims were on way to attend the mundan (a babys first head shaving) ceremony of one of the pilgrims son, said Kohli. Katra is a base camp for the pilgrims visiting Vaisho Devi temple atop the Trikuta hills. For the journey to Katra, the vehicle should have taken a left turn nearly two kilometers before the spot of the accident, said passengers. Why the bus was in Jhajjar Kotli, if they were on way to Katra remains a subject of investigation. Whether over speeding or a mechanical fault caused the accident also needs to be investigated, said the SSP. A local youth Vivek, who was on way to Narayana hospital, said that he saw the bus going down around 5,30am. I was on the way to the hospital when I saw this bus being driven at a high speed on a curve. It appears that either the driver lost control, or the brakes of the vehicle failed. I along with few other locals immediately went down to the site of the accident. After some time, police and CRPF officials also reached the spot and started rescue operations, he said. The troops of 137 CRPF battalion carried out the rescue operation to evacuate injured driver and passengers from the bus, which turned turtle and fell down from Jhajjar Kotli bridge on highway, the force said in a tweet. One of the pilgrims travelling in the bus said he felt a strong jolt before the bus fell off the bridge into the gorge. We were coming from Amritsar to Katra for the darshan of Mata Vaishno Devi. I had to perform mundan ceremony of my son, he said. Another pilgrim, a teenager, said: I was sleeping when the bus suddenly fell. There was chaos all around and no one had any idea what had actually unfolded. The bus was moving at a normal speed before it started moving in a zig-zag manner before we felt a strong jolt (when the bus hit the railing of the bridge). The deceased have been identified as Lalita Devi (30), Kunti Devi (50), Krish Sharma (12), Kailash Sharma (65), Rajinder Sharma (45), Phooli Devi, Juli Devi, Bimla Devi, Ganesh Sharma and Arvind Sharma. Condoling the deaths, lieutenant governor of Jammu & Kashmir Manoj Sinha said in a tweet: Extremely pained by the loss of lives in a tragic bus accident in Jhajjar Kotli, Jammu. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families & prayers for speedy recovery of the injured. Directed district administration to provide all possible assistance & treatment to the injured. Meanwhile, chief secretary Arun K Mehta, DGP Dilbagh Singh, ADGP (Jammu Zone) Mukesh Singh and other senior officials visited the Jammu GMC Hospital to enquire about the condition of the injured. On May 21, a 27-year-old woman was killed and 24 people were injured when a Rajasthan-bound bus carrying Vaishno Devi pilgrims overturned in Jammu & Kashmirs Reasi district. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Dehradun: Tension was palpable at Purola town in Uttarakhands Uttarkashi district a day after hundreds of people, including members of Hindu right-wing groups, staged a protest against an abduction attempt on a minor girl by two men, one of them a Muslim, people familiar with the development said on Tuesday. On May 27, the two accused were arrested. (Representational image) The protest on Monday which was supported by local Vyapar Mandal (market union) by observing a bandh turned violent after some protesters attacked shops and establishments of Muslim community. Following the incident, some Muslim families have reportedly shifted to other places. We are trying to identify the protesters who attacked shops owned by Muslims during the protest on Monday, Uttarkashi superintendent of police (SP) Arpan Yaduvanshi said. Strict action will be taken against them. The protest was held days after two men were arrested for allegedly attempting to kidnap a 14-year-old girl. Local traders have blamed people from a particular community who come from outside for business for rise in such cases. On May 26, a minor girl (14) sought direction to the local bus station from the two accused, said Khajan Singh Chauhan, in-charge, Purola police station. They took the girl near a petrol pump away from the main market area and called an auto-rickshaw. Sensing something amiss, a passerby raised an alarm following which the accused fled the spot, Chauhan said. Following the incident, a case under sections 363 (kidnapping), 366A (Procuration of minor girl) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act was registered at Purola police station on the same day. On May 27, the two accused identified as Ubed Khan (24), a local shopkeeper, and Jitender Saini (23), a motorcycle mechanic, were arrested, he said. Further investigation in the matter is underway. On Monday, protesters handed a memorandum to Purola sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), seeking verification of people coming from outside for business in the town. In the garb of trade in town, some people from a particular community have been indulged in immoral activities, such as drugs business, thereby polluting the atmosphere, the memorandum in Hindi, seen by HT, said. Durgeshwar Lal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator from Purola, said he would bring up the matter with chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. I condemn the recent incident in which a man from a particular community was trying to abduct a minor girl. Its not enough that he is behind bars now. Similar incidents have happened in the past too, said Lal. They are trying to disturb the harmony of the town. They come to town for trade and many from the same community follow them. It appears to be a conspiracy, he alleged. Virender Rana, a member of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, a Hindu right-wing outfit, alleged, Immoral activities are being carried out in our town by a particular community in the name of trade. They have settled here in recent years. A verification drive should be conducted to check their identity. Meanwhile, several Muslim families have reportedly left the town temporarily and moved to other places. Saleem (35), a garment-shop owner in Purola, has moved to his brothers house in Dehradun. We are being pressurised to leave the town permanently. A criminal has no caste and religion. We dont support him. The whole community shouldnt be targeted for the act of one person, he said. We got fearful that we may get attacked. My three daughters were crying. We didnt feel safe there Like us, around 30 families have left the town in fear. Only a few families from our community are living there now. Uttarkashi SP Arpan Yaduvanshi, however, denied reports of Muslim families leaving the town. Its not true that Muslim families have left the town. The law-and-order situation is under control. If any family left on a personal level, we cant say anything about it, Yaduvanshi said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A day after the lone Congress legislator in West Bengal crossed over to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), the latter on Tuesday maintained that though state level compulsions exist, but the national opposition unity talks remain on track. The lone Congress MLA, Bayron Biswas, crossed over to the ruling Trinamool Congress (PTI) TMCs Rajya Sabha leader Derek OBrien said that West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday maintained that all Opposition parties are together at the national level. On Tuesday, our leader Mamata Banerjee said we are all together at the national level. But the state parties have their own obligations, he said. Banerjees distinction between the politics in state and that at the national level comes amid efforts being made to bring Opposition parties together to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 general elections. In Bengal, the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) have an alliance against the TMC. Earlier in the day, however, the two parties blamed each other for working against the opposition unity. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh lashed out at the TMC for poaching the lone Congress MLA, Bayron Biswas. Three months after he was elected as a Congress MLA in a historic victory Bayron Biswas has been lured away by the TMC in West Bengal. This is a complete betrayal of the mandate of the people of the Sagardighi Assembly constituency, Ramesh tweeted. Such poaching which has happened earlier in Goa, Meghalaya, Tripura and other states is not designed to strengthen Opposition unity and only serves the BJPs objectives. Hitting back, OBrien tweeted: Despite Mamata Banerjees support Congress vows to fight Mamata Banerjee in Bengal Statement from Congress two weeks ago. Congress breaches trust on Opposition unity and then expects bouquets of roses! And about strengthening BJP? Grow up please. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Shiv Sena MP Shambhuraj Desai on Tuesday hit out at Lok Sabha member Vinayak Raut of Uddhav Thackeray's camp for claiming that 22 MLAs and nine MPs of the Eknath Shinde faction are in touch with them, asking if he can foresee the future and knows face-reading. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Vinayak Raut had claimed unrest in Shinde's Shiv Sena and that many lawmakers wished to leave the party because of a lack of development works in their constituencies. Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. Can Vinayak Raut see the future? Does he know face-reading? He says anything. There is no fact to what he says. We are all satisfied. Under the leadership of CM Eknath Shinde, we are working well. Vinayak Raut keeps saying things like this, we don't pay attention to him, Desai, a minister in the Maharashtra government, said. Raut had also claimed that Desai had conveyed a message to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray that the legislators of the Shinde faction had been feeling suffocated. Desai threatened Raut with legal action if he doesn't withdraw his statement. Vinayak Raut has made similar statements about me as well. The day before, I gave him two-day time. I have spoken with my legal advisor. If he doesn't withdraw his statement against me, he should prepare himself for legal action, Desai told ANI. Shiv Sena (UBT), in an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamna, repeated Raut's claim and said 22 MLAs and nine MPs from rival Shiv Sena were feeling suffocated due to "step-motherly treatment" by the BJP and could quit the group. Latching on to Shiv Sena MP Gajanan Kirtikar's remark that his party was getting step-motherly treatment, Saamana dubbed the Shinde group MLAs and MPs as hens and cocks imprisoned in the BJP coop and that it cannot be said when they could be slaughtered. Kirtikar, the Lok Sabha member from Mumbai, on Friday, said, We are part of the NDASo our work should be carried out accordingly, and (NDA) constituents should get a (suitable) status. We think we are being given step-motherly treatment. (With inputs from agencies) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Guwahati/Kolkata Union home minister Amit Shah met politicians, bureaucrats and civil society groups from both warring Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur on Tuesday, and later travelled to the worst-hit district of Churachandpur, in an attempt to quell the violence that has singed the northeastern state for close to a month now and killed at least 80 people. Union home minister Amit Shah in Churachandpur on Tuesday. (PTI) Shah arrived in Manipur on Monday night and held talks with chief minister N Biren Singh, senior officers, and governor Anasuiya Uikey. On Tuesday, he reviewed the security situation with senior officers of Manipur Police, the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and the Indian Army. In the evening, he also held an all-party meeting in Imphal. During the security meeting, the home minister said that peace and prosperity in Manipur was a top priority and instructed all officers to deal sternly with any activities disturbing the peace, a home ministry spokesperson said. Shah is expected to travel to the border town of Moreh and the hill district of Kangpokpi on Wednesday. Shahs meetings with Meitei and Kuki groups in Imphal and Churachandpur respectively underlined the deep ethnic divide as both communities demanded action against the other. Manipur has been convulsed by ethnic violence since May 3, with the bulk of the clashes between the Meitei community, which constitutes the majority of the states population and lives largely in Imphal, and the Kukis, who comprise 16%of the state and live largely in the hill districts. Shah began the day by meeting Meitei groups led by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) that submitted an 18-page memorandum. There were four main points in our submission including abrogation of suspension of operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups which are violating provisions of the agreement and are engaged in violence and also urged the minister not to consider any demand for separate administration, said Khuraijam Athouba, assistant media coordinator of COCOMI, an umbrella group of five organisations. The memorandum, a copy of which HT has seen, demanded action against poppy cultivation and narco terrorists, echoing allegations also voiced by chief minister N Biren Singh, also a Meitei, on Sunday, when he blamed Kuki militant groups for fuelling violence and said 40 Kuki terrorists were killed by security forces. Trouble first began in the state earlier this year when the state government unilaterally walked out of a tripartite peace accord with warring ethnic groups (the Union government was the third signatory). The Kuki groups blame the state forces for not protecting them. Shah also met representatives of the influential womens group, Meira Paibi predominantly made up of Meiteis who asked for a National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state. He said that discussions are underway to see if an NRC can be implemented, K Santi Devi, one of the women representatives who met Shah, told journalists in Imphal. At the end of his meetings in Imphal, Shah tweeted, Had a fruitful discussion with members of different civil society organisations They expressed their commitment to peace and assured that we would together contribute to paving the way to restore normalcy in Manipur. In the afternoon, Shah flew to the tribal district of Churachandpur, where he met Kuki organisations, at least five legislators from the community, and civil society groups. Shah was not accompanied in the Churachandpur meetings by Singh after tribal groups said they didnt want to be part of any meeting where the chief minster was present. As Shahs cavalcade drove into Churachandpur, women lined the streets, with some waiving the Tricolour. We told the home minister about our political demand of total separation from Manipur, and asked for the imposition of Presidents Rule as law and order has collapsed. Shah urged Kuki organisations to maintain peace as deliberations are held, and assured of an independent probe, said Ginza Vualzong, spokesperson of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), a Kuki organisation that met Shah. The ITLF spokesperson said that the home minister indicated he may come back in June, and bolster security. When we pointed out that we are constantly under attack which leaves us with no option but to defend ourselves, he said he will double the deployment of security forces along the border of the (Imphal) valley, Vualzong added. The Kuki Chiefs Association (KCA), another Churachandpur-based organisation, said it told Shah that locals had lost confidence in the state police. Our first demand was that state security forces deployed by Biren Singh should be removed. We also demanded Presidents Rule He said the first priority is restoration of peace, said Holkhomang Haokip, KCA vice-president. Shah returned to Imphal on Tuesday evening, and then met legislators from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, alliance partners National Peoples Party and Naga Peoples Front, and members of the opposition such as the Shiv Sena and Left parties. The Congress was not present at the meeting, with a party delegation meeting President Droupadi Murmu in Delhi. The home ministry spokesperson said that the delegations expressed their commitment to peace and assured that they would contribute to restoring normalcy in Manipur. The delegates urged the home minister for effective intervention to restore peace and normalcy, the spokesperson added. Eleven sportspersons from the state including Dhyan Chand awardee L Anita Chanu, Arjuna awardees N Kunjarani Devi, L Sarita Devi and W Sandhyarani Devi and Khel Ratna winner S Mirabai Chanu wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking restoration of peace. We have written to the PM seeking restoration of peace. If that doesnt happen soon, we will give back the awards given to us by the government, Anita Chanu said. At least 80 people have died and another 40,000 displaced by ethnic violence between the tribal Kukis, who mostly reside in the hill districts, and the Meiteis, the dominant community in Imphal Valley. Clashes between the Kukis and Meiteis first erupted on May 3 during a protest against a court-ordered tweak to the states reservation matrix, granting scheduled tribe (ST) status to the latter. Violence quickly engulfed the state where ethnic fault lines run deep, displacing tens of thousands of people who fled burning homes and neighbourhoods into jungles, often across state borders. The authorities quickly clamped a curfew and suspended internet, pumping in additional security forces to force a break in the spiraling clashes. Internet is still not back in the state. But tensions were simmering for much longer, owing to the state governments decision to exit the tripartite accord and move against some forest dwelling groups it termed as encroachers. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Farmer leader Naresh Tikait on Tuesday stopped the protesting wrestlers from throwing their medals into Ganga river and gave the government five days to act on the demands over sexual harassment allegations against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Protesting wrestlers sit at Har ki Pauri, in Haridwar district, Tuesday, May 30, 2023.(PTI) Bharatiya Kisan Union chief Naresh Tikait, who is also the brother of BKU spokesperson Rakesh Tikait, arrived at Har-ki-Pauri to lend support to the protesting wrestlers. "They (wrestlers) need to be practising on mats in stadiums but have been ill-treated and forced to sit at Jantar Mantar and now at sacred Ganga Ghat. In fact, action should be taken against Brij Bhushan. We are with truth and as farmers agitation had shown, sooner or later victory will be of truth," said Tikait. Some of India's top wrestlers demanding the arrest of their federation chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations arrived at the bank of river Ganga in Haridwar to 'immerse' their medals as a mark of protest. The wrestlers had been camping in New Delhi's Jantar Mantar since April 23 demanding action against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has denied any wrongdoing. Star wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia, who have been at the centre of the renewed protest against Singh, announced earlier today that they, along with other protesting grapplers, will hurl their medals into the holy river at 6 pm. "These medals are our life and soul. We are going to throw them in the Ganges. After that there is no point of living, so we will sit on a hunger strike until death at India Gate," she said in the statement written in Hindi. Tuesday happens to be Ganga Dussera in Haridwar, a day when a lot of people are there to offer prayers. TV visuals showed wrestlers sobbing and holding their medals close as they prepared to toss the medals into the river. Hours after the wrestlers announced their plan, the Haridwar police said they will not stop the wrestlers from entering the district or immersing the medals. Haridwar senior superintendent of police Ajai Singh said: The wrestlers are free to do anything. If they are coming to immerse their medals in holy Ganga, we wont stop them. Neither have I received any such instructions from my senior officials. 'No communication from govt' Punia told India Today that there has been no communication from the government side since their announcement to immerse their hard-earned medals in the river. Oppn leaders slams govt Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said the entire country is shocked and teary-eyed. The whole country is shocked. There are tears in the eyes of the whole country. Now the Prime Minister should leave his arrogance, Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi. Congress's youth wing chief Srinivas BV tweeted, Prime Minister, what is the crime of these daughters? And what is so special about your favourite Brijbhushan?? These medals are not bought, they have been won for the country by their hard work. The country's head has already bowed down in shame, now don't let them flow in the Ganges. Fast unto death at India Gate The wrestlers, who were removed by the Delhi Police from their Jantar Mantar protest site on Sunday, today said they sit on a hunger strike "until death" at the India Gate after immersing their medals in the Ganga. Delhi Police, however, is likely to not allow the aggrieved wrestlers to shift their sit-in to India Gate, reported PTI citing officials aware of the matter. "India Gate is not a protest site and we will not allow them (wrestlers) to protest there," PTI quoted a police source as saying. "They have not approached us till now with any such request. If they want to protest, they will have to submit a written communication to the DCP concerned, following which a call will be taken accordingly," he said. (With bureau inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Actor Kriti Sanon is awaiting the release of Om Raut's upcoming film Adipurush with co-stars Prabhas and Saif Ali Khan. Amid this, Kriti visited a temple to seek blessings for the movie's newly-released song Ram Siya Ram - reflecting Raghava (Prabhas) and Janaki's (Kriti Sanon) longing for each other after her abduction. The star travelled to the Panchavati in Nashik, where she sought blessing at the Sita Gufa and Kalaram temples with composers SachetParampara. Kriti chose an ethnic look for the special occasion. Kriti Sanon visits a temple to seek blessings for Adipurush new song, Ram Siya Ram. (Instagram) Kriti Sanon visits a temple in an exquisite Chikankari suit Kriti Sanon visited the Sita Gufa and Kalaram temples to seek blessings for the newly-released song from her film, Adipurush. The paparazzi clicked Kriti arriving at the Kalina airport - where she took a flight out of Mumbai, and a few clicks from her temple visit. The star's stylist also shared her stunning traditional look for visiting the temples in Nashik. She wore a lavender-coloured Chikankari sharara suit set for the occasion and looked exquisite in the ethereal ensemble from the shelves of designer Anjul Bhandari's eponymous label. Scroll through to see Kriti's pictures in the ethnic look. Kriti's Lucknow Chikankari sharara suit set features a kurta, sharara pants and a matching dupatta. While the star's Kalidaar kurta features a Keel and Jaalidar Border, pearls and sequins embellishments, full-length sleeves, a round neckline, and side slits, the sharara pants have a flared silhouette and matching adornments. Kriti styled the suit set with a lavender-coloured dupatta draped on her shoulder and adorned with sequin decorations and an embroidered border. Lastly, she accessorised the suit with juttis, polki floral earrings and a statement ring. Lastly, a centre-parted messy ponytail, darkened brows, pink lip shade, subtle eye shadow, mascara on the lashes, a dewy base, and rouged cheekbones rounded the glam picks. Anti-Tobacco Day, also known as World No Tobacco Day, is observed as a global initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use and to advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. Anti-Tobacco Day 2023: Date, history, significance, theme and celebration of World No Tobacco Day this year (PHOTO FOR REPRESENTATION PURPOSE ONLY) The objective of Anti-Tobacco Day is to educate the public about the health risks associated with tobacco use, including smoking and smokeless tobacco products. It highlights the importance of quitting tobacco and encourages governments, organizations, and individuals to take action against tobacco use. Date: Celebrated around the world every year on May 31, World No Tobacco Day was created by the Member States of WHO in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes. History and significance: In 1987, the World Health Assembly passed Resolution WHA40.38, calling for April 7, 1988, to be "a world no-smoking day." In 1988, Resolution WHA42.19 was passed, calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on May 31. This yearly celebration aims to raise awareness amid the global citizens about not only the dangers of using tobacco but also the business practices of tobacco companies, what WHO is doing to fight the tobacco epidemic and what people around the world can do to claim their right to health and healthy living and to protect future generations. Theme: On May 31, 2023, WHO and public health champions around the world will come together to celebrate World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) where this year's theme is We need food, not tobacco. Celebration: On this day, various activities and campaigns are organized worldwide to promote tobacco control. These initiatives include public awareness campaigns, educational programs in schools and communities, health screenings, and policy advocacy. The focus is on informing people about the dangers of tobacco use, supporting cessation efforts, and preventing youth from starting tobacco habits. Anti-Tobacco Day serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of tobacco on individuals, families, and communities. It aims to encourage smokers to quit and to prevent young people from starting the habit. By raising awareness and promoting tobacco control measures, Anti-Tobacco Day plays a vital role in reducing the burden of tobacco-related diseases and promoting a healthier society. Individuals can contribute to the cause by pledging to quit tobacco, supporting tobacco control policies and spreading awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco among their friends, family and communities. You may have questioned what the words "first milk", "pre-milk", "early milk" or "practise milk" meant if you've heard them and for the uninitiated, they all refer to colostrum, a type of nutrient-rich milk that comes before your regular breast milk. Whether you've noticed colostrum leaking onto your bra during pregnancy or you're thinking about breastfeeding and want to learn more, it's important to understand what colostrum is, how long it lasts and how much your newborn may require. Expert on benefits of Colostrum after a baby's birth, how it is different from breast milk (Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash) What exactly is colostrum? In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Tushar Parikh, Chief Consultant Neonatologist and Paediatrician at Motherhood Hospital in Pune's Kharadi, explained, Colostrum is a concentrated type of breast milk with immune-boosting benefits for your baby. It contains protein, salts, antibodies, and defensive characteristics that are all useful to your infant. Colostrum has more protein than conventional breast milk but less sugar, fat, and calories. If you're breastfeeding your baby, the first few days after she's born will be colostrum feeds, before your normal breast milk begins to flow. Advantages of colostrum for your newborn Breastfeeding can begin as soon as your baby is born. Though colostrum benefits all infants, Dr Tushar Parikh highlighted that preterm infants who receive it from their mother's breast have "significantly better health outcomes" than those who do not. The benefits include: 1. Aids in the development of your baby's immune system (contains antibodies and white blood cells). 2. Creates a thick layer on your baby's stomach and intestines to keep infections at bay and inflammation at bay. 3. Helps your infant pass meconium (the black first faeces) by acting as a laxative. 4. Aids in the prevention of jaundice and the removal of hazardous waste products. Learn more about jaundice and nursing. 5. Gives your baby's brain, vision, and heart the nourishment they need to flourish. 6. High in protein, salts and vitamins for full nourishment. 7. Complete nutrients that are easily digestible by your baby's tummy. It is the ideal nourishment for your infant. 8. Aids in the prevention of low blood sugar in infants. Distinction between colostrum and breast milk Dr Tushar Parikh said, During pregnancy, your breasts produce nutrient-rich first milk called colostrum. A few days after your baby is born, it transitions to transitional breast milk. Small amounts of colostrum, on the other hand, can be found in your breast milk for several weeks. He listed some important distinctions between colostrum and breast milk as: 1. Colostrum contains immunoglobins, which help to increase your baby's immune system and protect it from sickness. 2. Colostrum has twice as much protein as milk. 3. Colostrum has four times the zinc. 4. Colostrum has less fat and sugar, making it simpler to digest. 5. The colostrum is golden and thicker. He suggested, "Even if you only produce a tiny amount of colostrum, you should continue to nurse your baby as often as possible at this time. Your newborn's stomach is tiny and they only require a small amount of colostrum for the first few days. Since it is a highly concentrated food, your baby will only require a small amount, about a teaspoonful, at each feeding. Your infant may want to eat often, possibly every hour at first. After a few days, they'll start having fewer but longer feeds as your breasts begin to produce more "mature" milk. The longer you breastfeed, the more your baby's sucking stimulates your production, resulting in more milk." Dr Tushar Parikh concluded, Breastfeeding may appear instinctual, but this does not imply that everyone picks it up right away. Get comfortable and don't be too concerned if things don't go as planned at first. If it's extremely painful or if you or your kid is experiencing any other symptoms, don't be afraid to ask for assistance. A timely intervention can ensure a comfortable nursing experience and that your baby does not miss out on the superfood colostrum. Nairobi Kenya will deepen its relations with Russia to increase trade volumes. President William Ruto said trade between the two countries is still low despite the huge potential. He said the two countries will sign a trade pact that will give business the necessary impetus. The Head of State spoke on Monday at State House, Nairobi, when he hosted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The two leaders agreed on the need to reform the United Nations Security Council to make it more representative and more responsive to the needs of the 21st Century. President Ruto said Africa should be represented at the Security Council, the UN's top-decision making organ. "The continent can bring to the table rich ideas, suggestions and experiences that would serve the globe well," he explained. The President observed that Kenya and Africa count on friends like Russia in the creation of a new architecture at the Council. Russia is a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Others are the United States, United Kingdom, France and China. The Security Council also has 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. On the raging Russia-Ukraine War, President Ruto reiterated Kenya's steadfast position on respect for territorial integrity of member States as outlined in the UN Charter. "Kenya calls for a resolution of the conflict in a manner respectful to the two parties," he said. Lavrov praised the 60 years' friendship between his country and Kenya, saying Russia's relationship with the continent has a new momentum after the 2019 Russia-Africa Summit. He said science cooperation between the two countries has been growing. Lavrov was in Nairobi on his way to a meeting of the BRICs Ministers of Foreign and International Relations in Cape Town, South Africa. - Presidential Communication Service In his first overseas trip since taking over as Prime Minister (PM), Nepals Pushpa Kamal Dahal (also known as Prachanda) lands in New Delhi for a four-day trip on Wednesday. Two key developments are playing in the background. The first is a scam relating to the trafficking of Nepali nationals to the United States (US) as Bhutanese refugees. Several leaders of coalition partner Nepali Congress (NC) and the opposition Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist/CPN-UML) have been arrested. Between them, the NC and CPN (UML) have the requisite numbers to form the government. So, Prachanda who is in a coalition with the NC has to be sensitive to the demands for an impartial probe and punishment of the culprits, while not doing anything that jeopardises his administration. PREMIUM Prachandas primary objective is to obtain Indias support for his coalition while assuaging nationalist voices at home that he will not do anything against national interest. (REUTERS) The second is the jockeying for influence in Kathmandu by China, with its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Global Security Initiative, and the United States (US), with its Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant projects and the Indo-Pacific Strategy. Nepal is wary of participating in any initiative seen as anti-China, but the developments in Sri Lanka have also made it cautious about Chinese funding. In a balancing act, it has endorsed the MCC projects with caveats and also asked Beijing to fund BRI projects on a grant or concessional loan basis. Prachandas primary objective is to obtain Indias support for his coalition while assuaging nationalist voices at home that he will not do anything against the national interest. Irritants are unlikely to disappear soon, especially on the contentious boundary issue in the sensitive Himalayan region bordering Tibet. The matter should be put on the back burner until the right moment arises for talks. Instead, the visit needs to be anchored in the economic pillar of the relationship. Nepal has constructed two new international airports, one in Bhairahawa, near Lumbini, close to the Nepal-Uttar Pradesh border, and another in Pokhara. The former is financed by the Asian Development Bank and constructed by China; the latter is financed and built by China. If the airports, especially Bhairahawa, are not to become a white elephant, Indias approvals will be required for flight clearances. New Delhi should consider helping Nepal, especially for the Bhairahawa airport, which is important for operationalising the Buddhist Pilgrimage Circuit. The sector with the most potential for cooperation is hydropower. India is engaged in several projects in eastern Nepal. An Indian government firm is negotiating the development of a mega project on the Seti River in western Nepal. Unfortunately, a privately promoted project on the Karnali River is stuck. The 5,000+ MW bi-national Pancheshwar project on the Mahakali River is also at an impasse. Together, these projects represent 10,000 MW of hydropower generation and investments upwards of $10 billion. These projects need to be pushed in mission mode. Some of the differences, particularly on Pancheshwar, should be resolved expeditiously. Significant progress has been made in bilateral power trade between Nepal and India. Nepal sells power during the monsoon season on the Indian spot market. In 2022, Nepal raked in $80 million but was unhappy at Indias refusal to buy power from Chinese-promoted hydropower projects or even those that engage Chinese contractors. While the former restriction is by our power trade guidelines, the latter flies in the face of globally accepted procurement rules. The time has come to expand the cooperation into a trilateral or quadrilateral format. Nepals top demand will likely be permission for Nepal-Bangladesh power trade through transmission lines in India. The vision statement on cooperation, signed between the two countries during PM Sher Bahadur Deubas visit in April 2022, provides for this possibility. Bangladesh has agreed to buy 50 MW of power from Nepal; there is an agreement on a joint venture to develop a hydropower project in Nepal. Both are willing to use existing transmission lines connecting Nepal to the Indian power market and Bangladesh, or construct new ones. Power trade between Nepal and Bangladesh through India will open a sub-regional market for power. It will integrate the regions economies and represent a win-win situation. It may even pave the way for trilateral cooperation on projects such as the Kosi high dam and integrated river basin management between the three countries. With a focus on economic integration, connectivity and project delivery rather than on contentious issues both countries should look ahead with confidence. Ranjit Rae is former Indian ambassador to Nepal and author of Kathmandu Dilemma: Resetting India-Nepal Ties. The views expressed are personal I have always been ambivalent about Dubais restaurant scene. I know that most Indian visitors to the emirate regard it as a gourmet paradise. And Dubai itself has successfully created an image for itself and made people believe that it has some of the worlds best restaurants. Last year, Dubai persuaded Michelin to publish a guide to the city and to award stars to Dubais restaurants. The Taste With Vir: The Michelin guide to enjoying Dubai's restaurant scene(Pexels) Michelin is a no-nonsense kind of guide. So, it said what I thought should have been obvious to begin with. Not one restaurant in Dubai deserved the highest rating of three stars. (Singapore has three restaurants with that honour; Hong Kong had seven and even little Kyoto in Japan has six.) Only two Dubai restaurants deserved two stars. But 11 were good enough to get single stars. My view that Michelin had got it right was met with disdain and scepticism in Dubai where not only do they believe their own hype but they have also been misled by the over-generous estimation of other guides which have over-praised mediocre restaurants or have just applied local Dubai standards to judging restaurants. In Dubai, there is no bigger success than Zuma. Though Nobu has been around for 15 years (and does very well), it is Zuma (in itself a Nobu rip-off) that locals venerate. Every restaurateur wants to open a Zuma-type restaurant and you will find sushi on the menu of everything from steak houses to curry houses. To its credit, the Zuma sushi can be good. But it is junk sushi that rules in the rest of Dubai. Dubai has local favourites like the dismal Gaia that regularly comes near the top of regional lists. There is no tradition of negative restaurant reviews in the Dubai mainstream media so nobody writes an objective review. And restaurateurs and chefs believe their own publicity. Michelin has told the truth. For instance, restaurants like Zuma, Gaia and even Orfali (great fun but hardly the best restaurant in the Middle East!) have not got even a single star despite their standing in local and regional food listings. For that reason alone (apart from its global stature) Michelin deserves to be respected as the best guide to good food in Dubai. You could argue that I am pro-Michelin because it has finally given Dubais Indian restaurants the respect they deserve. The first guide gave two stars to restaurants by Yannick Alleno and Niko Romito, French and Italian chefs who had three-star restaurants in their home countries. You know what Michelin is like, they said in Dubai. It only honours Europeans. So imagine the general consternation last week when Michelin published its latest guide. Tresind Studio, a chef-driven Indian restaurant run by Himanshu Saini, became the third restaurant in Dubai to get two stars. Though great Indian chefs all over the world have got two stars for their restaurants in the past, they have since moved away from those stars. Srijith Gopinath left the two-star Campton Place in San Francisco and Gaggan Anand gave up his stars when he closed his restaurant during the pandemic. (He has since re-opened so the stars should be back in the next Michelin Guide to Thailand.) At present, Himanshu is the only Indian-born chef to have a two Michelin star restaurant. There is the brilliant Mano Thevar whose Thevar in Singapore has two stars but Mano is Malaysia-born and bred and cooks diaspora food rather than more typically Indian food. Tresinds sister restaurant Avatara also got a star and its chef Omkar Walve won Young Chef of the Year. All in all, it was a stunning endorsement of Indian food in Dubai. But there were also a lot of other great restaurants on the list of Michelin one-star places. Hakkasan (run by chef Andy Toh who has cooked in India before) takes the global Hakkasan menu and makes it Andys own. The star is well deserved. Torno Subito is Massimo Botturas attempt to capture the fun and glamour of sixties Rome. Its too casual to get two Michelin stars but I think it has the best Italian food in the city. (Though some would give that honour to Niko Romitos two-star restaurant). Tasca is the Dubai outpost of the Portuguese chef Jose Avillezs empire. I am a fan of Avillezs food and would recommend Tasca to anyone looking for an elegant lunch with serious food. Of the newcomers to Dubai, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal is the great chefs second-best restaurant after his flagship The Fat Duck. The chef in Dubai, Tom Allen, has taken Blumenthals legacy and made it resonate despite using only those ingredients that are locally available. It is, for my money, one of the three great restaurants in Dubai. The other two? Tresind Studio and Ossiano. In fact, though Ossiano retained a star, I reckoned it should have got two. I had dinner there last week and was blown away by the creativity and excellence of chef Gregoire Bergers cooking. His menu told the story of his childhood, from growing up in Brittany to travelling the world. Each dish captured an emotion. We had Japanese milk bread with a baton of foie gras which had started out as a foie gras candle (seeing is believing). The chefs first trip to New York was represented by a lobster hot dog that looked simple but was a masterpiece of ingenuity. A fresh Mediterranean mullet was cooked at the table in a salt crust. Im not sure how Michelin screwed up on the second star for Ossiano. But if you want the best modern French food in the region, Ossiano is where you should go. I ate at lots of other places last week in Dubai too. Ariana Bundy is a well-known Iranian chef and TV presenter. Arianas Persian Kitchen is her first restaurant and Michelin liked it so much that it gave it an award for being the Best Opening of the Year. Indians will enjoy it more than the usual hummus-shawarma Middle Eastern restaurants in Dubai because so much of our cuisine is influenced by Iranian food. We will recognise the flavours as well as many of the dishes. (It serves the original Iranian falooda.) There are many other restaurants in Dubai which I enjoy though they dont make it to lists of the top restaurants. Each time I go to Dubai Mall, I eat at Cafe De Paris, a branch of the famous Geneve restaurant. It is a single dish menu: Steak in a special sauce with thin chips. (There is a rival chain called LEntrecote, which is French, where the sauce is different but I prefer the Swiss original.) Its not expensive: It is a mall restaurant. But the service is always excellent and the steak sauce never disappoints. I like Milos too. This is a branch of the global American-Greek chain which serves sort-of-Greek food, steaks and fresh fish. Its large and booming but the service is outstanding and there is a real sense of hospitality about the place. It is like a cross between two other Dubai restaurants: Nammos and Gaia. But it's so much better than either. And theres always Nobu. The original Nobu at Atlantis has gone. (A restaurant by Bjorn Frantzen, the Swedish super-chef will take its place). But the largest Nobu in the world has opened on a higher floor in the same hotel and it is suitably glamorous. My favourite Nobu, however, is next door at Royal Atlantis, right by the beach. The menu is different. Who knew that Nobu made such great Wagyu sandos? And the Nobu classics like rock shrimp tempura are beautifully turned out. So yes, you can eat very well in Dubai. As Michelin has demonstrated, it is not quite a gourmet paradise. But it does have excellent restaurants at all price levels. (I have written at greater length about the Michelin awards ceremony in Rude Food this weekend.) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON I think we might exceed a one-to-one ratio of humanoid robots to humans, Elon Musk declared on March 1st. Coming from the self-styled techno king of Tesla, it was not so much a prediction as a promise. Mr Musks car company is developing one such artificially intelligent automaton, codenamed Optimus, for use at home and in the factory. His remarks, made during Teslas investor day, were accompanied by a video of Optimus walking around apparently unassisted. PREMIUM Fears over the job-displacing effects of technology are, of course, nothing new(Illustration: Shutterstock) Given that Mr Musk did not elaborate howor whenyou get from a promotional clip to an army of more than 8 billion robots, this might all smack of science-fiction. But he has waded into a very real debate about the future of work. For certain forms of AI-enabled automation are fast becoming science fact. Since November ChatGPT, an AI conversationalist, has dazzled users with its passable impression of a human interlocutor. Other generative AIs have been conjuring up similarly human-like texts, images and sounds by analysing reams of data on the internet. Last month the boss of IBM, a computing giant, forecast that AI will do away with much white-collar clerical work. On March 6th Microsoft announced the launch of a suite of AI co-pilots for workers in jobs ranging from sales and marketing to supply-chain management. Excitable observers murmur about a looming job apocalypse. Fears over the job-displacing effects of technology are, of course, nothing new. In early 19th-century Britain, the Luddites burned factory machines. The term automation first rose to prominence as the adoption of wartime innovations in mechanisation sparked a wave of panic over mass joblessness in the 1950s (see chart 1). Share of words in published in English-language books (The Economist) In 1978 James Callaghan, Britains prime minister, greeted the breakthrough technology of his erathe microprocessorwith a government inquiry into its job-killing potential. Ten years ago Carl Frey and Michael Osborne of Oxford University published a blockbuster paper, since cited over 5,000 times, claiming that 47% of the tasks American workers perform could be automated away over the next decade or two. Now even the techno-optimistic Mr Musk wonders what it would mean for robots to outnumber humans: Its not even clear what an economy is at that point. Although Messrs Frey and Osborne still have a few years to be proved right, and Mr Musk can be safely ignored for the time being, the earlier fears about job-killing technology never materialised. On the contrary, labour markets across the rich world are historically tightand getting structurally tighter as societies age. There are currently two vacancies for every unemployed American, the highest rate on record. Americas manufacturing and hospitality sectors report labour shortages of 500,000 and 800,000 respectively (as measured by the gap between job openings and unemployed workers whose last job was in the sector in question). Rage for the machine The immediate problem for advanced economies is, then, not too much automation but too little. It is exacerbated by the fact that, for large businesses, automating tends to be difficult to get right in practice. And it is likely to prove no easier with the latest buzzy AIs. The immediate problem for advanced economies is, then, not too much automation but too little. It is exacerbated by the fact that, for large businesses, automating tends to be difficult to get right in practice. And it is likely to prove no easier with the latest buzzy AIs. Mechanical arms on a factory floor performing repetitive tasks such as welding, drilling or moving an object have been around for decades. Robot usage historically centred on the car industry, whose heavy parts and large batches with limited variety are ideally suited to the machines. The electronics industry, with its need for precise but repetitive movements, was also an early adopter. More recently the list of industries which are embracing robots has lengthened, observes Jeff Burnstein, president of the Association for Advancing Automation, an American industry group. Advances in computer vision have made machines much more dexterous, points out Sami Atiya, who runs the robotics business of ABB, a Swiss industrial firm. Lightweight collaborative robots now work side-by-side with human workers rather than being caged off, and autonomous vehicles ferry objects from one place to another in factories and warehouses. At the same time, robot prices have tumbled. The average price of an industrial robot fell from $69,000 in 2005 to $27,000 in 2017, reckons Ark Invest, an asset manager. In December ABB opened a 67,000-square-metre mega factory in Shanghai where robots make other robots. Installation costs have come down, too, with new no code systems requiring no programming skills, notes Susanne Bieller, general secretary of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), another industry body. As a consequence of better technology and lower prices, the global stock of industrial robots grew from 1m in 2011 to nearly 3.5m in 2021 (see chart 2). Industrial robots and workers(The Economist) Sales at Fanuc, a large Japanese robot-maker, rose by 17% last quarter, year on year; those of Keyence, a Japanese company that acts as an automation consultant to the worlds factories, shot up by 24%. Although they are down from the frothy peaks of 2021, when chief executives sought alternatives to human workforces incapacitated by covid-19, robot-makers share prices remain a fifth higher than before the pandemic (see chart 3). Stockmarket indices(The Economist) For all that growth, however, absolute levels of adoption remain low, especially in the West. According to the IFR, even South Korean firms, by far the worlds keenest robot-adopters, employ ten manufacturing workers for every industrial robota long way from Mr Musks vision. In America, China, Europe and Japan the figure is 25-40 to one. The $25bn that, according to consultants at BCG, the world spent on industrial robots in 2020 was less than 1% of global capital expenditure (excluding the energy and mining sectors). People spent more on sex toys. The long lifetimes of industrial equipment limit how quickly older, dumber machines can be replaced with cleverer new ones, observes Rainer Brehm, who runs the factory-automation unit of Siemens, a German industrial giant. And most menial jobs in advanced economies these days are anyway in the services industries, where physical tasks are harder to automate (see chart 4). Employment by industry in the US(The Economist) The human body, with its joints and digits affording 244 planes of motion, is a marvel of versatility. A typical robot has six such degrees of freedom, notes Kim Povlsen, chief executive of Universal Robots, a manufacturer of industrial robot arms. The automation of office work has been similarly halting, for similar reasons of legacy systems and corporate inertia. In theory, digitisation should make it possible to remove most human involvement from routine tasks like ordering inventory, paying suppliers or totting up accounts. In practice, most businesses born before the digital era use a tangle of outdated and incompatible systems, notes Cathy Tornbohm of Gartner, a research firm. Rather than shell out on IT consultants to come and untangle the thicket, many firms prefer to outsource the menial office work to low-cost countries like India or the Philippines. IDC, another research firm, puts the market for software that automates unrewarding office tedium at $20bn a year, even less than is being spent on robots of the physical variety. Automatic for the people In time, further innovation is likely to remove some of those obstacles. For physical robots, this is well under way in machine-mad South Korea. Doosan Robotics, one of the countrys biggest robot-makers, has opened up its software to outside developers to create pre-programmed applications for its robots. These are now used for everything from making coffee to laying flooring on construction sites. Robert Chicken uses robotic arms to operate its deep fryers at its fast-food restaurants; to keep upfront investment for franchisees down, the company rents the robots out to them for around $900 a month, substantially less than the cost of a human operator. Naver, a South Korean internet giant, has a unit developing robot vehicles that can navigate busy environments with complicated layouts: an army of such bots already whizzes around delivering lunch boxes and parcels to its workers. In time, further innovation is likely to remove some of those obstacles. For physical robots, this is well under way in machine-mad South Korea. Doosan Robotics, one of the countrys biggest robot-makers, has opened up its software to outside developers to create pre-programmed applications for its robots. These are now used for everything from making coffee to laying flooring on construction sites. Robert Chicken uses robotic arms to operate its deep fryers at its fast-food restaurants; to keep upfront investment for franchisees down, the company rents the robots out to them for around $900 a month, substantially less than the cost of a human operator. Naver, a South Korean internet giant, has a unit developing robot vehicles that can navigate busy environments with complicated layouts: an army of such bots already whizzes around delivering lunch boxes and parcels to its workers. Office-process automation is also becoming more sophisticated. UiPath, a pioneer in automating mindless tasks such as copying and pasting information from one program to another, now offers other tools that extract data from paperwork using image-recognition algorithms or that map business processes by observing what workers do on their computers. Rob Enslin, UiPaths co-CEO, says the company already serves 10,000 clients. Power Automate, a tool from Microsoft that allows regular desk jockeys with little programming experience to automate tasks, such as expense or travel approvals, now has 7m monthly active users, says Charles Lamanna, who is responsible for many of the software giants automation products. Some businesses are tentatively beginning to embrace generative AI, too. However, as with robots and process automation, bedding in the new technology will not happen overnight. Allen & Overy, a law firm that in February launched a virtual legal assistant with ChatGPT-like powers, requires its lawyers to cross-check everything the bot spits out. CNET, a tech-news site, starting in November quietly published 73 articles written by a bot, first to the consternation and then the delight of journalists, after the articles were found to be riddled with errors. The AI technology that underpins chatbots could one day be a boon for automation, reckons Mr Lamanna. But getting from science fiction to science fact is one thing. Getting from there to economic fact is quite another. 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 Enjoy unlimited digital access with HT Premium Subscribe Now to continue reading Start 14 Days Free Trial Already Subscribed? Sign In China has launched a new three-person crew team to the country space station, including its first civilian astronaut, in an effort to expand its space programme. In fact, this is only a minor component of Beijing's massive space goals, which includes human landing on the moon by 2030. (ALSO READ: Countdown begins as China set to send civilian to space for first time) Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen on a billboard reading "China Dream, Space Dream" at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Monday, May 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) The new crew will help to improve the Chinese Tiangong space station, which it developed and sent into low Earth orbit at a height of 340 to 450 km. With this, Beijing hopes to compete with the United States-dominated International Space Station and emerge as a space power. China's declaration of a manned lunar mission coincides with the US's current Artemis moon mission. Nasa, the country's premiere space agency, has completed the first phase of the project and plans to send the first woman and first person of colour to the Moon by 2025. Chinese Tiangong space station vs International Space Station The International Space Station (ISS) is the outcome of a partnership between 15 countries and five space organisations, whereas Tiangong is entirely Chinese but welcomes outside input and collaboration. The ISS was established in 1998 and is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2031, whereas China finished its three-module Tiangong in late 2022 and intends to keep the orbiting outpost continuously staffed for at least a decade. The Chinese space station can house 3 to 6 crew members, whereas the ISS may house up to 13. Even as the ISS is believed to be larger and more powerful, the Chinese space station being the most recent contains new system and may be the sole space station in the future. ALSO READ: Chinese scientists planning to build a 3D-printed moon house using lunar soil China moon mission vs USA's moon mission The Chinese government revealed its plans for a crewed lunar landing on Monday. "We can clasp the moon in the ninth heaven," said Lin Xiqiang, deputy head of China's Manned Space Agency, echoing a poem by Mao Zedong. While specifics regarding its mission are yet to be revealed, authorities have stated that it would initially prepare for a "short stay on the lunar surface includin human-robotic joint exploration." China became the third country after the Soviet Union and the United States to launch a human space mission in 2003. The US previously said that it is resuming its lunar space programme, which includes human exploration. The country's most recent crewed trip to the Moon was the 12-day mission. Were going back to the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and inspiration We will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon, Nasa illustrated the goal of the mission. ALSO READ: Nasa confirms Russia will not leave ISS until 2028 Is Cold war rivalry returning? The announcement of a Chinese space mission, followed by that of the United States, is reminiscent of the Cold War-era space competition between the Soviet Union and the United States. The economic rivalry between Beijing and Washington appears to have moved to space. This also comes at a time when rivalry is growing on ground and analysts predict a conflict in space. A top US military official recently warned that the country is left with no choice but to prepare for a space confrontation 'because of Russia's aggressiveness and China's aim to become the dominant space power by mid-century'. Brigadier General Jesse Morehouse, the deputy director of strategy, plans, and policy at US Space Command said, "The United States of America is ready to fight tonight in space if we have to, The Guardian reported. A hungry black bear barged into the garage of a Connecticut bakery, scared several employees and helped itself to 60 cupcakes before ambling away. Workers at Taste by Spellbound in the town of Avon were loading cakes into a van for delivery on Wednesday when the bear showed up. There are between 1,000 and 1,200 black bears living in Connecticut, the state environmental agency says, with sightings last year in 158 of the states 169 towns and cities. The image shows the cupcakes that the bear destroyed. (Instagram/@tastebyspellbound) Bakery owner Miriam Stephens wrote in an Instagram post that she heard employee Maureen Williams screaming bloody murder and yelling that there was a bear in the garage. She also shared an image of the trays and half-eaten cupcakes lying on the pavement. Alongside, she also shared a detailed caption explaining the incident. Okay. Heres the real story. We have a loading garage in the back of our Avon shop for our Transit. Maureen was loading it with the last items before I was to leave. She was on the West Hartford side of the van, looked up and saw a bear staring at her from the South Windsor side. All of a sudden we hear her screaming bloody murder and then yelling theres a bear in the garage! She ran into the kitchen as fast as she could and slammed the door that goes into the loading area and held it tight. The bear then MOVED one of our fridges in front of the door. We all were stunned for a second trying to figure out what to do while she held the door shut. I immediately called 911. Lisa then had a brilliant idea to go out the front and get in her car to drive around back and she started beeping her horn like a crazy person. She finally got him out and Maureen ran to the garage to close it as fast as she could, she wrote. The cops showed up and our landlord has been working with DEEP. The bear destroyed 60 cupcakes and a bunch of coconut cakes. And that folks, is the bear story. Im so thankful Maureen was safe and wasn't hurt, as well as the rest of the team. We do not have video or pictures - that was the last thing on our mind, she added. Take a look at the Instagram post: Since being posted a day ago, the share has gathered more than 1,200 likes. It has also prompted people to post various reactions. Heres how Instagram users reacted: Glad you guys are ok - lets hope this bear isnt a gossip! joked an Instagram user. Bear necessities, joined another. That is SO scary!! So glad everyones ok, added a third. Holy macaroni!!!!! Definitely pretty scary!!! And now....the bear knows where the goods are!!!!!! wrote a fourth. Recently, the owner also shared a video of the incident. The video youve all been waiting for. Enjoy! A few facts: No bears will be harmed. They have not hurt anyone and will be totally ok. No need to worry! This video was 10 minutes that we cut to 30 seconds. So yes, all the facts we put out there are true. Why was our door up? Because we were about to make our shop deliveries. Were not irresponsible. They are more scared of us than we are of them. We all have had a good laugh about it at this point and think the bears are cute, she wrote as she posted the video. Take a look at the interesting video: The video prompted people to share various reactions. I mean- hes got good taste!! joked a Facebook user. I laughed everything funnier sped up! joined another. Kinda what I look like when I get cupcakes from you guys. I'm glad everyone is safe!! added a third. A new customer, wrote a fourth. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday urged Turkey to immediately finalize Sweden's accession to NATO, saying the Nordic country had already taken significant steps to address Ankara's objections to its membership. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a joint press conference with Sweden's Prime Minister at the F 21 military airbase in Kallax Heden, Lulea, Sweden, on Tuesday.(AFP) Blinken also rejected the suggestion that Turkey's approval of Sweden's NATO bid was linked to the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Ankara, even though U.S. President Biden on Monday alluded to a link between the two. Speaking at a joint press conference with the Swedish Prime Minister in Lulea, northern Sweden, Blinken said Washington was going to continue to work to complete Sweden's accession in time for a mid-July NATO summit that will bring together the heads of state of the alliance. "We believe the time is now and there's no reason for not moving forward," Blinken said. "Turkiye has raised important and legitimate concerns. Sweden and Finland both addressed those concerns," Blinken said. "We look forward to this process being completed in the weeks ahead. We have no doubt that it can be, and it should be and we expect it to be," he said. His comments came hours after Turkey called on Sweden to prosecute those responsible for projecting the flag of an outlawed group onto the parliament building in Stockholm, on the day of Turkish elections that extended President Tayyip Erdogan's rule. Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership last year, ditching long-held policies of military non-alignment following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Bids for membership must be approved by all NATO members but Turkey and Hungary have yet to approve Sweden's bid. Turkey ratified Finland's NATO accession in late March, but has continued to object to Sweden, saying Stockholm harbors members of militant groups it considers to be terrorists. Hungary has also not yet approved Sweden's bid. "We are in constant contact with our Turkish counterparts on this specific issue," said Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. We have a memorandum and we are fulfilling it and the very final part of that is actually being put in to force on June 1, the day after tomorrow, with a new piece of legislation in counter-terrorism. It's an important step and thereby we have done what we have told our Turkish friends. Russia launched a fresh "massive" wave of attacks on Kyiv in the early hours of Tuesday and air defence systems were engaging incoming targets, city officials said, as air raid sirens blared in several other regions. Russia-Ukraine War: Police experts examine fragments of a missile after Russia fired a barrage of missiles for the second time in 24 hours.(AFP) "A massive attack!" Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on the Telegram messaging app. "Do not leave shelters." Kyiv's military administration officials said that air defence systems were repelling the attacks. Falling debris hit several districts of the capital, including the historic Podil and Pecherskyi neighbourhoods. Klitschko said that a 27-year-old woman was taken to hospital after sustaining injuries in southwestern Holosiivskyi district. Russia has repeatedly attacked the Ukrainian capital in May using a combination of drones and missiles, mostly at night in order to inflict psychological distress on people, Kyiv's official said. The Tuesday strikes were Russia's 17th air assault on the capital this month and came after the city was attacked twice on Monday, including a rare daytime strike. Elizabeth Holmes, the former CEO and founder of the now-defunct health tech firm Theranos, has been ordered to appear in prison on Tuesday to begin serving an 11-year term after being found guilty of fraud and conspiracy. Her attempt to remain free was denied earlier this month by a federal appeals court. Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes arrives with her family and partner Billy Evans to be sentenced on her convictions for defrauding investors in the blood testing startup at the federal courthouse in San Jose, California, U.S., November 18, 2022.(REUTERS) Holmes, once lauded as a Silicon Valley innovator, will serve the jail sentence after being found guilty on four felony counts of fraud and conspiracy. She has been forced to pay $452 million in reparations in addition to her prison term. Elizabeth Holmes and the revolutionary health firm: The scandal in 5 points Elizabeth Holmes started Theranos in 2003 after dropping out of Stanford University at the age of 19. The company claimed to have created a game-changing technology that could perform extensive laboratory tests using only a few droplets of blood. This was a major assertion because typical lab procedures sometimes need bigger volumes of blood and can be intrusive. Theranos was able to attract around $1 billion in funding from investors, achieving a peak valuation of over $9 billion. Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and media magnate Rupert Murdoch were among the notable investors. However, contrary to the promises, Theranos' technology was discovered to be false. The blood tests did not operate as stated, resulting in inaccurate diagnosis and treatments. The company troubles culminated in a high-profile controversy. Holmes and former Theranos CEO Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani were charged with big fraud in 2018. Silicon Valley to Prison The location of the prison where Holmes will be held has not yet been revealed by the authorities. However, it has been reported that Holmes, who has been residing in the San Diego region while out on bail, would be required to go outside of California, most likely to Bryan, Texas. A Libyan court sentenced 23 people to death and another 14 to life in prison on Monday for their role in a deadly Islamic State militant campaign that included beheading a group of Egyptian Christians and seizing the city of Sirte in 2015. Representative image. (AFP) The Attorney General's office said in a statement that one other person was sentenced to 12 years in prison, six to 10 years, one to five years and six to three years while five were acquitted and three others died before their case came to trial. Islamic State's Libyan branch was one of the militant group's strongest outside its original territory in Iraq and Syria, taking advantage of the chaos and warfare that followed a 2011 NATO-backed uprising. In 2015 it launched an attack on the luxury Corinthia Hotel in Tripoli, killing nine people, before abducting and beheading dozens of Egyptian Christians whose deaths it featured in grisly propaganda films. After gaining territory in Benghazi, Derna and Ajdabiya in eastern Libya, the group seized the central coastal city of Sirte, holding it until late 2016 as it enforced a harsh regime of public morality backed up by brutal punishments. Mustafa Salem Trabulsi, head of an organisation for bereaved families of people killed or disappeared by the group said he had hoped that all the suspects would face the death penalty but he accepted the outcome. "My son is missing and my relative, my brother-in-law, was murdered in Sirte Square," he said. Speaking in court on Monday, Fawzia Arhuma said she welcomed the death sentences after her son was killed by the group at a power station near Sirte. "Today my son raised my head. Today I buried my son," she said. When Charleigh Chatterton, 27, gave birth to her daughter Alessia in Colchester there were no complications but six days later, she developed a rash on her stomach and was rushed to the hospital. Then, doctors diagnosed her with necrotising fasciitis and told her that she might not survive. The woman said that her rash was as hot as a boiled kettle and she developed flu-like symptoms.(Representational) "The doctors said my chances of survival were slim. I think I got diagnosed just in time," Charleigh Chatterton told BBC adding that her rash was as hot as a boiled kettle and she developed flu-like symptoms. Even after various tests, the doctors could not figure out the problem and then her condition rapidly declined as the woman was struggling to remain conscious. The scan revealed pockets of gas underneath her tissue after which the doctors realised that it could be necrotising fasciitis. According to CDC, necrotizing fasciitis is a "rare bacterial infection that spreads quickly in the body and can cause death" and is usually contracted through some kind of break in the skin. It can also enter the body after a blunt trauma. The woman then underwent surgery and doctors removed a large amount of dead tissue to stop the bacteria from spreading. She was kept sedated for three days and woke up to two large wounds on her stomach, BBC reported. After being discharged from the hospital after two weeks, she said, I'm still finding it quite difficult psychologically, but physically I'm doing really well. I've got some big scars and some nerve damage but I feel so lucky. I'm here and that's all that matters. I just want to get the message out because most people have never heard of it and early diagnosis can be the difference between life and death. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Nairobi United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has launched 'Oky Kenya', an adapted version of the world's first period tracker offline app, specifically designed for girls living in low- and middle-income countries like Kenya. The 'Oky Kenya' provides girls with appropriate and evidence-based information about their periods in fun, creative and positive ways. Its features include individualized period cycle trackers and calendars, tips, and menstruation information and it also functions offline; designed to work on lower-end smartphones, and is entirely free, without advertisements. Shaheen Nilofer, UNICEF Representative to Kenya said, girls have increasingly been searching via online on the important questions about their menstrual health but are not always accessing the correct information. "One of the main reasons girls are in search of information about menstruation is to dispel myths and misconceptions that often lead to anxiety, fear and shame," she said. "I would like to congratulate Oky Kenya for developing an innovative app for Kenyan girls, by Kenyan girls. This will help to break barriers and empower girls to take control of their own health and ultimately life." She added that the app will help break barriers and empower girls to take control of their own health and help them to dispel the myths and misconceptions on menstruation that lead to anxiety, fear and shame. Nilofer added that in many rural settings and informal settlements, especially where there is limited clean water and sanitation, menstruation can act as a barrier to girls' education, with girls missing school due to lack of access to sanitary products or fear of embarrassment. "Providing information about menstruation is critical for promoting gender equality and helping girls feel comfortable with the changes that they go through while still leading active lives," she added. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya ICT Innovation By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Furthering,its mission to be accessible and inclusive, the app also has a read-out functionality so girls with lower levels of literacy or vision impairment can obtain reliable menstrual health information. Oky Kenya can be downloaded from Google Play in English and Kiswahili in Kenya since it is available in the Google Playstore. Oky is also being customized to other countries, including Burundi, South Africa and Tanzania. The e information provided by the Oky Kenya app helps to remove these barriers and promote gender equality in education. This, in turn, can have a ripple effect on wider society, as educated girls and women are more likely to participate in the workforce, make informed decisions about their health, understand their options for family planning, and contribute to their communities. UNICEF supported the adaptation of Oky to provide information about menstruation tailored to the Kenyan context, in partnership with LVCT Health, the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education. Human body starts decomposing slowly after death. But in an interesting turn of events, the dead body of a nun named Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, is showing negligible signs of decay even four years after her death. While the chapel and catholics are hailing it as a 'miracle', an anthropology expert has claimed it to be not a rare happening. Lancaster's body was exhumed in April in Gower, a small town 40 miles north of Kansas City. (Twitter) Lancaster's body was exhumed in April in Gower, a small town 40 miles north of Kansas City. Thousands of people are arriving at the chapel of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles in Gower to pay their homage to the nun. Many of them are bewildered and proclaiming the nun as "miracle". Lancaster's body has been coated in a protective wax and being displayed in the chapel where visitors are even praying over her. ALSO READ| Jeff Bezos enjoys $4,000 wine along with fiancee Lauren Sanchez after engagement It just felt like the presence of God was there as soon as I went into the monastery. Its a true miracle. I really think that. God works in strange ways with miracles, Rita Cospelich, a visitor from Blue Springs, Missouri, told FOX4 and was quoted by New York Post. According to a report by New York Post, the remains of the nun were exhumed from a wooden coffin, to be put in a new shrine. The Benedictine nuns had expected to find bones of Lancaster in the coffin but they were shocked to see her preserved body. The nuns tried to keep the incident private but an internal email regarding the matter, got leaked online, creating headlines. Meanwhile, local administration are gearing up for the increasing number of visitors to witness the nun. Clinton County Sheriff Larry Fish highlighted the impact on local infrastructure due to the visitors. Fish said: We are going to put a very large pressure on our infrastructure that is not designed for it. As per reports, cops have created a mobile command center to deal with the crowd of travellers in the small town. Near the chapel, local administration has cleared land for creating parking space. The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph said: 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. Incorruptibility has been verified in the past, but it is very rare. There is a well-established process to pursue the cause for sainthood, but that has not been initiated in this case yet, the diocese added. Meanwhile, Rebecca George, an anthropology instructor at Western Carolina University in North Carolina, has said that the body's lack of decomposition is not a very rare occurrence. George highlighted un-embalmed bodies could stay preserved for many years, if allowed to. Coffins and clothing also help to preserve bodies, said George. "Typically, when we bury people, we don't exhume them. We don't get to look at them a couple years out. With 100 years, there might be nothing left. But when you've got just a few years out, this is not unexpected," she added. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday it had recorded 1,004 attacks on healthcare in Ukraine during the Russian invasion, the highest number recorded by the organisation in any conflict. Hostilities have killed thousands of civilians and displaced millions since Russia's invasion of Ukarine, according to UN figures(AFP) "The 1,004 WHO-verified attacks over the past 15 months of full-scale war have claimed at least 101 lives, including both health workers and patients, and injured many more," it said in an emailed statement. Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine over 15 months ago, starting the largest war in Europe since World War Two. Hostilities have killed thousands of civilians and displaced millions, according to UN figures. The WHO said it recorded 896 attacks on health facilities, 121 on transport, 72 on personnel and 17 on warehouses in Ukraine during the war. UK prime minister Rishi Sunaks grandfather reportedly helped Kenyan freedom fighters organise a revolt against British rule in the 1950s. The Daily Mail reported that Rishi Sunaks grandfather Ramdas Sunak was involved in training Kenyas Mau Mau fighters and equipping them with guerrilla techniques while being on the British payroll. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attends a press conference.(AP) Ramdas Sunak first worked as a clerk and then as a senior administrator in the finance and justice departments, the report claimed. He went to Kenyas Nairobi from Indias Punjab when he was young and participated in the countrys freedom movement through a childhood friend named Makhan Singh who also hailed from Punjab and became a prominent trade unionist in Kenya. Following Kenya's freedom, Ramdas Sunak moved to the UK after facing racism in the country. He later settled in Southampton where he helped to establish the Vedic Society Hindu Temple, the report further claimed. Who were Kenya's Mau Mau fighters? The Mau Mau fighters- a group of Kenyan nationalists- played a significant role in the struggle for independence from British colonial rule in the 1950s. The armed movement composed primarily of members of the Kikuyu ethnic group- largest in Kenya. The Mau Mau uprising began in 1952 against British colonial policies. The fighters employed various guerrilla tactics which included ambushes, raids, and acts of sabotage through which they targeted both colonial officials and loyalist Africans who supported the British administration. The British declared a state of emergency in 1952 and launched military operations against the Mau Mau fighters. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Kate Middleton faced heat for upstaging her father-in-law King Charles at the Chelsea Flower Show, a longtime favorite event in the royal diary, it was reported earlier this week. Following this, the Daily Mail reported that Kate Middletons popularity is unsettling for King Charles and his wife Camilla. Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, arrives for the Coronation of King Charles III, in London, Saturday, May 6 2023. King Charles III and Camila the Queen Consort, members of the Royal family and VIP's gathered at Westminster Abbey for the Coronation service.(AP) Royal expert Kate Mansey said that with the Chelsea Flower Show in particular, Kate Middleton was not competing with her in-laws. I think shes a great model for the monarchy [and] for the royal family, and they appreciate that, Kate Mansey said, adding, They wouldnt have had her there if they didnt think it would be brilliant, so I think theres a way they can all exist. A bit of glam and glitz from Catherine [is welcome]. Theres room for everybody. Royal expert Richard Eden claimed that after Queen Elizabeth's death royal aides wanted King Charles and Camilla to complete as many engagements as possible with Prince William and Kate. I think that was a chance to show that this was the future of the monarchy and its in safe hands, that sort of thing. Now that [Charles and Camilla] are King and Queen, it is slightly different. They want lots of attention for their causes and the things that they feel strongly about, so it could be a bit unsettling if they dont get their attention," Richard Eden said. In his memoir Spare, Prince Harry also claimed that King Charles was envious of Kate Middleton's media coverage and accused her and Prince William of "drawing attention away from him and Camilla". SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prince Harry and Meghan Markles time in UK is a chapter that may not be fully closed. Grant Harrold- King Charles butler from 2004 to 2011 said that the possibility is not off the table of the couple returning to Prince Harry's home country. Id never say never, he said, adding, 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. Prince Harry-Meghan Markle: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are seen. Meghan doesnt really have any family here as such. All her family are in the States, and thats where Harry has decided he wants to set up his home, Grant Harrold said. Prince Harry is always going to have an association with the UK and would never totally want to cut that off", he claimed, saying, Hell always want to keep his fingers in that pie, so to speak. Hell want to have that association with Britain just in case one day he does want to come back, and I dont think Harry will want to sever ties. Meanwhile, royal expert Tina Brown said that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were a huge asset as the royal family looks to modernize. They were a huge asset as a couple to the royals and I think they actually, they really needed them. I mean, they were the face of, you know, younger, connecting to the young of England. To have a woman of color in the royal family was, you know, a wonderful thing for the connection to a more diverse nation. So there was a need to have them back, I think. There is a need, I think, to have them back," Tina Brown said said. The couple stepped back as working members of the royal family in 2020 and relocated to the US that same year. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The brothers were at Kensington Palace. Prince Harry then decided to talk to his elder brother William and his sister-in-law Kate Middleton about Meghan Markle. At that time, he had been in a relationship with Meghan for a few months. Even though he had not told the couple, Prince Harry claimed in his memoir Spare that William knew something was going on and wanted to know more. Prince Harry: Britain's Prince William and Britain's Prince Harry are seen.(AP) After Prince George and Princess Charlotte had gone to sleep, Prince Harry made William and Kate swear to keep the news secret. He then told them that he was dating Meghan Markle. Prince Harry wrote, Their mouths fell open. They turned to each other. Then Willy turned to me and said F off. Prince William and Kate said that the news was impossible which left Harry baffled, the Duke of Sussex claimed. The couple told Prince Harry that they were fans of the show Suits, so they knew exactly who Meghan was. The Mirror reported, Harry recalls their first meetingadmitting he was more nervous for that introduction than he was the Queens. After a wait, the door opened, and there was my big brother, a bit dressed up. Nice trousers, nice shirt, open collar. I introduced Meg, who leaned in and gave him a hug, which completely freaked him out. He recoiled. Willy didnt hug strangers, whereas Meg hugged most strangers. The moment was a classic collision of cultures, like a flashlight-torch, which felt both funny and charming," Prince Harry wrote. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Russian lawmakers on Tuesday introduced a draft bill that would impose a ban on gender-affirming surgery, the latest move in the Kremlin-orchestrated crackdown on LGBTQ rights. The bill reflects an increasingly intolerant Kremlin stand on gender issues. (AP) The draft submitted by 400 members of the 450-seat lower house, the State Duma, would ban any gender-affirming surgery except that intended to treat "congenital physiological anomalies." Those exclusive cases will be regulated by dedicated medical panels that will be closely overseen by the government. The proposed legislation would also ban legal name and gender changes in public records and official documents. Pyotr Tolstoy, a senior lawmaker who is among the bill's authors, said it's intended to protect Russia with its cultural and family values and traditions and to stop the infiltration of the Western anti-family ideology. Also Read: Starbucks India sparks debate with trans inclusivity campaign The proposed bill, which is all but certain to win quick approval by the Duma and rubber-stamped by the upper house before Russian President Vladimir Putin signs it into law, reflects an increasingly intolerant Kremlin stand on gender issues. It comes along with an intensifying clampdown on free speech and human rights amid the Russian military action in Ukraine. Putin, who has initiated constitutional changes that among other things included an amendment defining the marriage exclusively as a union between a man and a woman, has repeatedly mocked LGBTQ rights, casting them as the trappings of a decadent West. In December, Putin signed a law that bans advertising, media and online resources, books, films and theater productions deemed to contain propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations. The law broadly expanded a 2013 ban on such propaganda aimed at minors that effectively outlawed gay pride marches. Rights groups have harshly criticized the law as a state encouragement of homophobia, intolerance and discrimination. A prominent Pakistani television journalist Sami Abrahim who went missing last week, reportedly over his public support for former prime minister Imran Khan, returned home after being released by his captors, his family and his employer said. Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan. Sami Abrahim's brother Ali Raza took to Twitter to confirm his release while BOL TV-where he works- confirmed his release in a news announcement as well. Sami Abrahim went missing when eight people in four vehicles intercepted his car on his way back home from work in Islamabad. They then took him away, according to his family but no one claimed responsibility for his abduction. Reports, however, claimed that the journalist was being held by the country's security agencies. Sami Abrahim has publicly opposed the government of Imran Khan's successor, Shahbaz Sharif for a long time. Imran Khan was in office in 2018-2022 and was ousted in a no-confidence vote in Parliament last year. Earlier this month, another pro-Imran Khan TV journalist, Imran Riaz, went missing and is yet to be freed. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Donald Trump finds himself in hot water once again, this time for his scathing remarks aimed at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his alleged role in Disney's supposed downfall into a "Woke and Disgusting shadow of its former self." But here's the twist: many of the changes that offended conservatives at Disney actually took place during Trump's own presidency. Former US President Donald Trump speaks during a Make America Great Again rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, on April 27, 2023. A combative Donald Trump made a rare live appearance on CNN on May 10, 2023, repeating his false claims about the 2020 election, hurling insults and mocking a former magazine columnist he was found liable of sexually abusing and defaming. Trump, during a one-hour "town hall" on the cable television network that he regularly denounced as "fake news" while in the White House, took questions on a broad range of subjects including the war in Ukraine, the debt limit, immigration and his multiple legal challenges. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP)(AFP) Taking to his Truth Social website on Sunday, Trump accused DeSantis of being too lenient with Disney since assuming office in 2018. He insisted that DeSantis "should have stopped" the alleged shift in Disney's culture "long ago" and claimed it would have been an easy task. However, it's worth noting that creative decisions causing controversy occurred during Trump's tenure as president, some predating DeSantis's governorship. Conservatives were particularly critical of the Star Wars films, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, released in 2017 and 2019 respectively. The protagonist Rey faced harsh scrutiny and was labeled a "Mary Sue," leading actress Daisy Ridley to denounce the attacks as "sexist." Racist comments were also directed towards characters Finn and Rose Tico, played by John Boyega and Kelly Marie Tran. Disney's attempt to address racial insensitivity emerged in June 2020 when it announced the transformation of the Splash Mountain ride. Originally based on the racially problematic movie Song of the South, the attraction underwent a revamp to center around The Princess and the Frog, featuring the empowering character Princess Tiana. Additionally, Disney+ introduced warning notices for racially insensitive material in beloved classics such as Peter Pan, Jungle Book, and Dumbo, actions that took place during Trump's presidency. The clash between Ron DeSantis and Disney ignited in March 2022, triggered by DeSantis's controversial Parental Rights in Education bill. This bill, often dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill, imposed restrictions on the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity in Florida schools, specifically targeting certain age groups. Disney publicly criticized this legislation, which set the stage for a contentious battle. In retaliation to the public criticism from Disney, DeSantis took decisive action by revoking the company's autonomy to govern its Florida parks. Disney countered, claiming that this move infringed upon its First Amendment rights, ultimately resulting in a legal confrontation. Uganda's president has signed into law anti-gay legislation prescribes the death penalty and imprisonment for up to 14 year for aggravated homosexuality sparking widespread criticism. A gay Ugandan couple cover themselves with a pride flag as they pose for a photograph in Uganda on March 25, 2023. (AP Photo, File) What does the new Ugandan anti-gay law says? The amended version of the bill signed by President Yoweri Museveni does not criminalise LGBTQ people, but it does mandate the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality," which is defined as sexual relations with HIV-infected people, minors, and other vulnerable people. ALSO READ | 'Don't Say Gay' to Monkey This Up: When Ron DeSantis exposed his anti-woke stand Supporters of the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 argue: 1. Asuman Basalirwa, who sponsored the legislation, said that the legislation is a manifestatio of Uganda's sovereignty and an embodiment of the cultural values of the country. He added the potential loss of international aid due to the enactment of the law can be mitigated, "I am ready to champion the cause of going to the Arab world to look for donor support. The Arab world, we will go to Saudi Arabia, we will go to Kuwait, we will go to Qatar, we will go to UAE, and this deficit which will be occasioned by these cuts can easily be replaced". 2. The speaker of Uganda's Parliament, Anita Among, stated that the bill safeguards the integrity of the family. She said, "As Parliament of Uganda, we have heeded the concerns of our people and legislated to protect the sanctity of family. We have stood strong to defend the culture, values and aspirations of our people", Africa News reported. 3. Archbishop of Church of Uganda, Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, welcomed the bill, saying it confirms current criminal code provisions and provides stronger protection for minors. He also said that homosexuality is not a part of Ugandan culture or religious beliefs, reported Critics of the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 argue: 1. The LGBTQ rights activists argued that the new regulation was unnecessary since the country already has harsh penalties for homosexuality. 2. In a joint statement, the United Nations AIDS programme, the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and the Global Fund expressed their worry about public health and the HIV response. Ugandas progress on its HIV response is now in grave jeopardy, the statement said. The Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 will obstruct health education and the outreach that can help end AIDS as a public health threat. That statement said adding that stigma and discrimination associated with the passage of the Act has already led to reduced access to prevention as well as treatment services" for LGBTQ people. 3. There are global calls for the immediate repeal of the law. The US president Joe Biden said, "I join with people around the worldincluding many in Ugandain calling for its immediate repeal. No one should have to live in constant fear for their life or being subjected to violence and discrimination. It is wrong". He also hinted about sanctions and restrictions. (Inputs from agencies) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa meeting with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on the side-lines of the first Russia-Africa Summit held in Sochi, Russia, in 2019. analysis In preparation for the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting and summit, the South African government has granted diplomatic immunity to all officials involved. The government has gazetted International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor's notice for the Diplomatic Immunity and Privileges Act to be granted to all international officials at BRICS-related events in South Africa. Clayson Monyela, the spokesperson for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, said Pandor's notice was "routine", and such notices were issued every time there was a similar international meeting in South Africa. The notice, signed on 19 May and gazetted on Monday, states that Vladimir Putin and his international counterparts will be granted immunities and privileges provided in terms of Section 6(1)(a) of the act. The act states that this immunity is granted to officials and experts of the United Nations, any specialised agency or organisation, and representatives of any state participating in an international conference or meeting convened in South Africa. Section 6(1)(a) of the act sets out that immunities "are specifically provided for in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, 1946, or the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the specialised agencies, 1947, as the case may be, in respect of the participation in conferences and meetings". The immunities and privileges in terms of the... Expressing concern at the revelations of a scam that involved Nepali politicians promising Nepali citizens a passage to the United States (US) under the cover of being Bhutanese refugees, the US has said that it welcomed tens of thousands of refugees between 2007 and 2016 from Nepal and there was no evidence of fraudulent activity regarding that process. The US, the State Department said, takes the integrity of its refugee programme seriously and investigates and reviews cases accordingly.(AFP) In its first set of comments on the issue, a US State Department spokesperson told HT that the current allegations of corruption and unlawful fabrication of refugee documents were concerning. The state department however commended the actions of the Government of Nepal to bring truth to light in accordance with the rule of law. Nepal is witnessing a major controversy with top leaders, including two former home ministers, bureaucrats, including secretary-level officers, and refugee leaders accused of seeking bribes from close to 900 citizens, promising to send them to the US, and fabricating refugee documents. Legal authorities have charged 30 people with treason, fraud, organised crime, and forgery. Also Read: Title 42 regulations expire with chaos on US-Mexico border. 10 key points you need to know about US immigration policy Close to 100,000 Bhutanese refugees made their way to refugee camps in Nepal via India in the late 1980s and early 1990s, accusing the Bhutanese government of engaging in discriminatory legal and political measures. With Bhutan refusing to take back the refugees for close to two decades, and India washing its hands off the issue, a few western countries, including the US, agreed to resettle refugees as a humanitarian gesture. While this process more or less ended in 2016, Kathmandu set up a committee to deal with the future of those who had been left behind. The scam revolved around the manipulation of this process. Asked about the USs expectations from Nepal, the spokesperson quoted above said, We understand that Nepali authorities are investigating the allegations and hope they will quickly determine what transpired, hold perpetrators accountable, and deter future corruption cases in accordance with the law and the Government of Nepals commitments to transparency and accountability. The US, the State Department said, takes the integrity of its refugee programme seriously and investigates and reviews cases accordingly. We can say that between 2007 and 2016, the United States welcomed tens of thousands of Bhutanese refugees formerly resident in Nepal as part of our global commitment to support refugees. The program has since ended, and there were no significant concerns regarding fraudulent activity associated with that resettlement process. Asked if the US government would set up its own investigation to examine genuine and fraudulent cases in this regard, the State Department spokesperson reiterated, The current allegations of corruption and the unlawful fabrication of refugee documents in Nepal is a matter for the Government of Nepal to investigate, as a sovereign democratic nation that has committed to transparency and accountability. In a recent interaction with the Kantipur, Nepals leading media group, when asked if American investigative agencies were involved in examining the scam, Nepals prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda had acknowledged that there was an international dimension to the issue since Bhutanese refugees had been resettled in third countries, and there was a natural interest in the international community, particularly in the US, about the process. But I dont think FBI (Federal Bureau of Investiation) is investigating this or is involved in this. I am sure there is interest. But no international power is involved in the investigation. The investigation is based on the initiative, assessment, capabilities of the Nepal government and Nepal police. 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 analysis The South African Reserve Bank has warned that perceptions that South Africa's 'neutral' stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict is a Potemkin one could have devastating consequences for the country's financial stability if secondary sanctions are imposed. The SA Reserve Bank made the stark warning in its bi-annual Financial Stability Review (FSR). "Since the release of the November 2022 FSR, two new risks have been added to the RVM [Risks and Vulnerability Matrix], namely (i) capital outflows and declining market depth and liquidity; and (ii) secondary sanctions amid heightened geopolitical polarisation," the FSR said. "The risk of secondary or indirect sanctions being imposed on South Africa if its neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine war is perceived as unconvincing has increased since the previous FSR... "Should this risk materialise, the South African financial system will not be able to function if it is not able to make international payments in USD and it could lead to a sudden stop to capital inflows and increased outflows," the FSR warned. That, in a nutshell, is the risk the government is taking with a "neutral stance" that most commentators regard as pro-Russian. Over 90% of South Africa's international payments are processed by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication system, or Swift. Exclusion from Swift would make such payments impossible, the FSR's lead author, Herco Steyn, was quoted as saying by Bloomberg. That would make it almost impossible to import things... The ibis Styles brand, renowned for its exceptional and unique designs at more than 560 hotels around the world, is growing thanks to a new addition at Munich Airport. The project officially got under way with the groundbreaking ceremony on May 30, 2023. The 358-room hotel is due to open in spring 2025. The owner of the building is Munich Airport, while Accor will operate the hotel under a management contract. The hotel will offer an open-plan lobby with a breakfast area, bar, restaurant and co-working space, as well as a gym and dedicated parking. The theme for the hotel's design will center on the Isar river in its many forms. An inviting haven a stone's throw from the airport guests at the new ibis Styles Munich Airport will arrive to find an extraordinary and modern design, inspired by the Isar, that alludes to the nature surrounding the airport. The central themes will revolve around woodland and water. Even the blue-green rectangular facade of the ibis Styles will call to mind the interplay of light and color to be found in the forests of Bavaria. The arrangement of the louvers will not only create an interesting design effect but will also make it possible to optimize the use of sunlight and shade inside the hotel. The color scheme will continue in the interior and be combined with abstract rippling and stone structures as well as representations of woodland motifs. The open-plan lobby will act as the heart of the hotel. It will offer a wide range of seating as well as a restaurant, a bar and a separate breakfast area, plus space for co-working. The plans also include a children's area and a self-service food market. In addition to the hotel's own parking facilities, the hotel at Munich Airport will enjoy excellent links to the public transit network. Groundbreaking marks official start of construction The groundbreaking ceremony took place at the site on May 30, 2023, and was attended by the partners involved. Nathalie Leroy, CFO of Munich Airport, said in her speech: "The ibis Styles Munich Airport will not only be a place of comfort and hospitality, but it will also be a key factor in the economy of the region. It will create new jobs and support local business. It will also help to consolidate Munich Airport's position as an international hub." Thiemo Willms, Vice-President of Development at Accor in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, added, "Munich Airport is one of the most important airport hubs in all of Europe. That makes us all the more proud to be working with our partners at Munich Airport to represent not only our ibis Styles brand but also the city of Munich with our design and our services." The new hotel will also be ideal for an overnight stay in case of an early morning flight as well as an overnight stay in case of a very late landing. With the opening of the ibis Styles Hotel, the offering directly at the airport is being extended to three hotels of different categories. Hotel website Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco announces that Stephane Gras will head up the team at the 277-room luxury Hotel in the heart of the Yerba Buena Arts District on Market Street. A graduate of the famous Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne in Switzerland, Gras is known for crafting unparalleled guest experiences all over the world. A seasoned hotelier, Gras has held roles in five different countries. His new role as General Manager at Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco marks his return to the United States where his career began in 1999 at Four Seasons Hotel New York. He has since held roles at Waldorf Astoria, New York, Four Seasons Hotel Austin, Four Seasons Newport Beach (formerly a Four Seasons hotel), Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Four Seasons Hotel Prague, Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence, Four Seasons Hotel Baku and most recently, Four Seasons Hotel Megeve in France. Over the past three years, Gras and his team positioned the unique collection of two hotels and nine restaurants as one of the most acclaimed European ski destinations. RM Woodworth & Associates (RMWA), a leading hospitality research and consulting firm, today announced that Jeremy R. Gilston has been promoted to vice president. Gilston's promotion recognizes his exceptional contributions, outstanding leadership and extensive expertise in the hospitality real estate industry. In his new role, he will assume a broader leadership role, overseeing key strategic initiatives and shaping RMWA's future. A graduate of the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, Gilston started his career in hospitality advisory work at LW Hospitality Advisors based in New York City. He then moved to Washington, D.C. for an acquisitions and asset management role with Excel group. Gilston was an early contributor to Kalibri Labs, establishing their real estate and investments platform. Most recently before returning to advisory work with RMWA, Jeremy was a portfolio manager for Brookfield Asset Management's 111-hotel extended stay platform, Brookwood Hotels, through its Blackstone acquisition. In addition to his promotion, Gilston recently completed his master's in real estate finance from Georgetown University, further enhancing his expertise and value to the company. This accomplishment has enhanced his knowledge and positions him at the forefront of industry trends and practices. Jeremy's continued dedication to professional growth showcases his commitment to delivering exceptional service to RMWA clients. View Jeremy R. Gilston's LinkedIn Profile Jeremy R. Gilston is a graduate of Cornell in Ithaca, New York - United States Melia Hotels International has announced changes to its senior executive team, effective June 5, 2023. The Palma-based international hotel company expands its Executive Committee and undertakes some changes and renovations, with the unanimous support of its Board of Directors. In the words of Gabriel Escarrer, Executive Vice President and CEO of Melia, we are proud of an executive management team that has helped us overcome two severe crises such as the financial crisis of 2008 and the recent Covid pandemic, and in these times of ongoing change and continuous evolution in the digital environment, we have seen the opportunity to update its structure and complement it by incorporating an external executive with a financial and technological profile and extensive experience, while maintaining our commitment to our internal talent, which has always been a competitive advantage for our Group". In this way, Pilar Dols, who until now has been the Chief Financial Officer and has a long and flawless career in the Company, is embarking on a new professional stage to lead the Escarrer family's "Family Office". As Escarrer highlights, "it is a great satisfaction that Pilar has accepted the challenge of leading the Escarrer Family Office, (which integrates the Group's significant shareholders), and I am sure that her financial expertise, her rigour, and the full trust that she has earned over so many years in the Company, are a guarantee of success in her new responsibility". In Pilar Dols' place, Melia has appointed a new Chief Financial Officer, Sonia Jerez, with a degree in Physics and Electronic Engineering and a long academic and professional career, with over 20 years as CFO in companies in a variety of sectors, especially in the aeronautical industry. For Gabriel Escarrer "Sonia Jerez is a great professional with the right background and with the strength and enthusiasm to tackle the multiple challenges that the current environment poses to tourism companies, an industry that she already knows well; her arrival represents the addition of external talent that enriches the reorganisation of our senior executive team, fundamentally based on the promotion of our employees". At the same time the Company announces that the Group's Chief Real Estate Officer (CREO), Mark Hoddinott, is leaving the Company at his own request after 25 years devoted to the Company, during which he has held several senior management positions. Hoddinott has driven major developments in areas as relevant as Administration, IT, Works or Procurement, and in recent years has led several projects to transform hotels and holiday destinations, being market pioneers, under his leadership, in the introduction of institutional capital in the Leisure hotel segment. On Hoddinott's decision to leave, Escarrer explains: Mark has been essential to the development of Melia Hotels International in recent years, and we will certainly miss his professionalism and his warmth, but we have decided to respect his desire to make a change in his career, in order to develop a private business project, and we wish him the best of luck in this endeavour". Meanwhile, Melia's Chief Legal & Compliance Officer, Juan Ignacio Pardo, has been appointed Chief Real Estate Officer, taking over the role from Mark Hoddinott, offering a renewed vision to drive the Company forward. As Gabriel Escarrer says: Juan Ignacio Pardo is a strong and versatile senior executive who, in addition to his legal education and expertise, has extensive experience in team and project management. Furthermore, he is highly regarded in the industry, having chaired the Tourism Commission of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce on behalf of Melia Hotels International". Juan Ignacio Pardo is also familiar with the Real Estate area, having started his career in the legal department of a construction company such as Dragados, a sector he has always remained related to. The Chief Legal & Compliance (CL&C) role will be taken over by Mariano Perez de Caceres, until now VP of the Group's Legal area. Escarrer emphasises his full confidence in the new senior executive and points out that Perez "naturally succeeds Juan Ignacio Pardo, after some extraordinarily complex years during which he has represented the Company in highly relevant projects as head of the Legal area, contributing with both his knowledge and outstanding leadership". The final move announced by the Company concerns the new Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), a newly created position that will be filled by Carlos Gonzalez, previously Vice President of Strategy. Like most of his colleagues on the top management board, Carlos has grown professionally in the Group, where he has held various roles over the past 26 years. Carlos Gonzalez also leads the Company's transversal digitalisation project, "Be Digital 360" and the Innovation area. For Gabriel Escarrer "with this appointment, Carlos Gonzalez rounds out the Senior Executive Team, of which he has been a member in recent years as VP of Strategy, bringing a strategic vision and a spirit that have greatly contributed to the successful handling of the pandemic and the strong recovery dynamic". Following the changes announced, the Melia Hotels International Senior Executive Team members are as follows: STR's global 'bubble chart' update through 20 May 2023 shows 85% of markets with growth in revenue per available room (RevPAR) compared to 2019. That percentage represents a high mark since measurements against pre-pandemic times began. STR's global "bubble chart" update through 20 May 2023 shows 85% of markets with growth in revenue per available room (RevPAR) compared to 2019. That percentage represents a high mark since measurements against pre-pandemic times began. More notably, however, the gains included a more significant contribution from occupancy growth, as half of all markets surpassed their 2019 comparables. Among all countries with a room supply of more than 50,000 rooms, Israel, Singapore, Greece, Italy, and Ireland led in RevPAR on an actual basis. Among those countries, Singapore has been a mainstay on the leader board, ranking in the top five for the five consecutive 28-day periods. Ireland joined the leaders for the first time in 2023, thanks to occupancy jumping to 85%. Occupancy rates in general are moving upward as summer approaches for most of the world, with 40 out of 48 countries in the 50,000-room group reporting occupancy rates above 60%. While Ireland led in the metric, Vietnam lagged with the lowest occupancy rate of 47.8%. The most recent 28-day period produced the strongest performance since STR began these global bubble chart updates in 2022, as 44 of 48 countries experienced significant RevPAR growth compared to the corresponding period in 2019. Nearly all countries (46 of 48) saw their average daily rate (ADR) surpassing 2019 levels, while an additional 18 countries reported growth in occupancy. This was the highest total in occupancy and RevPAR growth since the beginning of these updates. Among the bottom five performers in terms of RevPAR, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia faced significant declines compared to 2019, with drops of 26% and 20% respectively. It's important to note that Saudi Arabia's decline in performance can be attributed to seasonal adjustments caused by the shifting months of Ramadan. Excluding markets with fluctuating exchange rates, the top five performers in terms of RevPAR included the Italian Islands, Italy Central, Dusseldorf, Cologne, and Rio de Janeiro. Although German markets faced challenges throughout 2022 due to the absence of trade shows and conferences, the most recent 28-day period witnessed the resurgence of events, propelling two German markets to the top five. Market-level percentage changes waere in line with country-level trends, as 85% of markets exceeded their 2019 RevPAR level and over 50% witnessed growth in occupancy. While previous renditions of this blog indicated that RevPAR growth was primarily driven by ADR growth, the increasing number of markets experiencing occupancy growth signifies a more balanced recovery in the industry. This article originally appeared on STR. Wait! Before you go Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! 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If you have an existing print subscription, please make sure your email address on file matches your HudsonValley360 account email. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) says an investigation is underway into the source or sources of the Cholera outbreak in the country. "Technical teams from the Department of Water and Sanitation and the provincial and national Department of Health as well as relevant municipalities are carrying out water quality tests at distribution points and at water treatment works in areas where people have become infected," the department said. Giving clarity on the questions raised regarding drinking water quality in South Africa, amid the cholera outbreak at Hammanskraal in the City of Tshwane and Parys in Ngwathe Local Municipality, Free State, the department said it is also engaged in tracking and tracing of infections. The department also noted that cholera is not only spread through polluted water, but also through poor hygiene, eating contaminated food or by coming into contact with the faeces of an infected person. While the original source of the cholera infection has to date, not been located, the department said it is highly likely that the disease, which started in Hammanskraal is related to the pollution of water sources in the area from the City's Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Works upstream of Hammanskraal. According to the department, Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Works has not been well-maintained for many years, and has insufficient capacity to deal with the volume of waste water entering the works. The department said the Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Works is polluting the Apies River which flows into the Leeukraal Dam from which water is abstracted by the City's Temba Water Treatment Works. "The Temba Water Treatment Works is supposed to clean the raw water abstracted from the dam and treat it so that it is fit for human consumption. However, the water in the dam is so polluted that the Temba Water Treatment Works is not able to treat the water such that it meets the required standards for drinking water. "However, tests on the water from the Temba Water Treatment Works indicate that it does not contain cholera bacteria and that it can be used for other purposes such as personal hygiene, dishwashing and washing of clothes. For this reason, the City of Tshwane is using water tankers to supply the residents of Hammanskraal within the supply area of the Temba Water Treatment Works with drinking water," the department explained. The Green Drop report released by the department in 2022 indicated that the state of many municipal waste water treatment systems is deteriorating. "This means that many municipalities are discharging effluent from the waste water treatment works which does not meet the specified treatment levels, which in turn is resulting in pollution of the rivers and dams from which municipalities and water boards draw water in order to treat it before supplying it to communities," the department said. The department warned that the municipalities are not allowed by law to provide communities with water that does not meet the quality standards set by the South African Bureau of Standards. The department said some municipalities obtain treated water from water boards, while others have their own water treatment works. Tshwane Municipality receives treated water from two water boards, Rand Water and Magalies Water, as well as supplying residents in some areas with water from its own Water Treatment Works. Water from the Temba Water Treatment Works only supplies the Hammanskraal area in Tshwane. The department emphasised that water boards and municipalities are required to conduct regular tests in line with South African National Standard (SANS) 241, issued by the South African Bureau of Standards on the treated water that they supply to households. The department also confirmed that the tests carried out by Rand Water, Magalies Water and the City of Tshwane on the water being distributed from other water treatment works (other than the Temba Water Treatment Works), and the water tankers distributing drinking water in Hammanskraal, continue to indicate that "such water remains fit for human consumption." Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines South Africa Health Water By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "Gauteng residents may be assured that they can continue to consume water from their taps as long as their municipalities continue to indicate that the water being provided meets the requirements of SANS 241. The same applies to water supplied by municipalities throughout the country," the department said. Th department has urged public members to void consuming untreated water sourced from the rivers, dams, and streams because it contains raw (untreated) water, and is not suitable for human consumption. Ngwathe tap water safe for consumption Meanwhile, the department has confirmed that tap water in Ngwathe Local Municipality is safe for consumption. "The department has conducted water quality tests on all the sources of drinking water and can confirm that the analysis indicates that treated water reticulated to taps in the area complies with SANS 241 quality requirements and is therefore suitable for human consumption. Joyce Brewer, program manager for the county's Tobacco Free Community Partnership, explains the appeal and consequences of vaping at Thursday's Central Berkshire Regional School Committee meeting. CBRSD Introducing Vaping Intervention Programing The Central Berkshire Regional School District is concerned about the spread of vaping in the student body. It's hoping educational programming for parents and students will help deter its use. DALTON, Mass. The Central Berkshire Regional School District is looking at programming to inform its faculty, parents, and students of the hazards of vaping. There are a lot of programs available to educate and provide students the tools to prevent or quit vaping so the district is looking to Tobacco Free Community Partnership program manager Joyce Brewer for guidance, Superintendent Leslie Blake-Davis said at Thursday's School Committee meeting. Although there are only a couple known cases, the district is concerned about the number of students who are choosing to vape because of its health concerns. "We have a genuine concern. This doesn't happen often in [Central Berkshire Regional School District,]" Blake-Davis said. "We've had maybe one or two cases, but enough that we know this needs to be addressed. The other component of this that is very concerning for us is the amount of students that are vaping." The district is specifically interested in a program that looks at the issue through the lens that it is an addiction and introduce a student-led group similar to the student-led school climate improvement program No Place For Hate Brewer recommended the program Chapter 84 . The organization will come in and facilitate a student-led organization at a high school level that is advocating for student health and educating the students of the dangers of vaping. The other component that the district is exploring is having a support group for students who need help quitting through the American Lung Association's In-Depth Program. The school has vape detectors in its bathrooms but the district wants to do more to address the issue. Brewer noted that it is important the intervention not be disciplinary in nature The most effective solution is constant education to parents, students, and teachers about the chemicals in vapes that cause health concerns, how the addiction affects their friends, and the marketing techniques that the industry is using, Brewer said. Students are not supposed to be getting these products in Massachusetts because of a tobacco regulation bill that was passed in 2018, she said, but they are getting them from surrounding states or from parents who think vaping is safer than cigarettes. With marketing campaigns and educational programming informing youth of the hazards of smoking, cigarette use among youth has decreased, however, the industry is adapting, Brewer said in her presentation. The ideal time to start education in a school system or as an agency is as early as 6th grade because of reports of students starting to vape at the age of 9. This generation is experiencing the most difficult period ever due to COVID-19, the lack of socialization, and other stressors has caused many of them to say vaping helps them relieve stress, Brewer continued. Vaping, like smoking, sugar, and other things, is a sympathomimetic so users, she said, will "hit the top and then all of a sudden your down." The manufacturers have taken a page out of the tobacco industry's play book when it comes to marketing their products to youth. It has advertised the product as something that will relieve not only stress but common insecurities including weight loss, Brewer said. She said the tobacco industry uses three main tactics in an effort to hook kids to their products: selling sweet flavored products, making it cheap, and easy to get. Brewer presented an example of a vape that was confiscated from a student that would last 8,000 "puffs." The average amount of "puffs" from a cigarette is 12. One committee member noted how the product looks like a toy. When speaking to youth, Brewer said students expressed they would never smoke because it is "nasty" but the sweet flavors and chemicals in vaping make for a smoother hit that does not have the same effect. BRO MX Ordered to Comply With Conservation Restrictions NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The Conservation Commission gave BRO MX until July 28 to place signage marking conservation-restricted area they improperly mowed as well as hire a botanist to review the area. The commission on Thursday went over some conservation restrictions included in the deed of motocross track owners Jason and Jessica Langenback that they unknowingly violated. "The reason why you are on the agenda is that there have been suggested anomalies of the management and the use of the conversation restriction wetlands encroachment and things along those lines," Chairman Andrew J. Kawczak said. "So I am hoping this gets the conversation started." Specifically, the restrictions control mowing in a meadowed area as there are endangered insects and plants. The Langenbacks purchased the property in 2021. With only some guidance from the previous owner, they were unclear on the specifics of the wetland restrictions. Kawczak said this was clear per a conversation he had with the owners. "I just don't feel, based on our conversation, that you were in a position to know all of the elements of the restrictions," he said. "I don't know if the previous owner exposed you to those requirements when you acquired the property." Commissioner Heather Williams added that she had witnessed mowing in the restricted area of the property. Per their restrictions, the Langenbacks can only mow after Aug.1 at least every other year. The conversation then shifted to the nature of this observation and how the item ended up on the agenda. Commissioner Glenn Murray alleged that Williams and Kawczak were possibly overstepping their jurisdiction and at times trespassing on BRO MX property. Specifically, Murray felt Kawczak's conversation with the Langenbacks was inappropriate as it was not a scheduled Conservation Commission meeting that would have given BRO MX fair notice. Kawczak said he was on a neighboring site on Conservation Commission business and he was able to see the BRO MX property and observe. He said he was not trespassing. He did approach the owners and discussed the mowing restrictions that are included in the deed. Jessica said they had not been mowing at all as they just did not have time. She said they only decided to hire someone to mow after their conversation with Kawczak. "It is just very odd that Andy says we should mow and then Heather just happens to just drive by on this two-hour period in the past two years we mowed," she said. Jason Langenback also alleged that Kawczak held a bias against BRO MX, citing past involvement at a Planning Board meeting. Kawczak said he spoke out against a BRO MX application at a past Planning Board meeting only as a resident who lives more than 2,000 feet away. He said his only concern now is conservation. "I don't have anything against you," he said. "I want to see you succeed. I am just worried about the Wetlands Protection Act." The Langenbacks did say they want to comply. This still didn't sit well with Murray, who said he was having a hard time putting the timeline in order. He felt the state Department of Environmental Protection probably wouldn't have gotten involved if it wasn't for Kawczak's intervention. He also had major concerns about his meeting with the owners outside of the commission, as normally they would schedule an official meeting giving an applicant notice. "I can't make sense of this because truthfully a lot of this does not make sense to me," he said. He also alleged Kawczak and Williams violated the Open Meeting Law and held conversations outside of the public meeting forum. He went as far as to motion that Kawczak, Williams, and Commissioner Jennifer Dunning recuse themselves from the conversation and all other BRO MX business. The motion failed with only Murray and Robert Reynolds voting in favor and Jason Canales abstaining. Canales wanted to refocus the meeting and asked the commission to instead aim to correct the issue. "What can we do to help them or ask them to do to rectify what has been done," he said. "It already happened and we can't put the grass back." Jason Langenback said the state did contact him and requested that they hire a botanist to survey the area. This seemed at first to be a consequence of the Conservation Commission's findings, but it is actually built into their deed that a botanist visit the site every five years. At this point they are overdue. In other business, the commission approved an application from McCann Technical School to construct a new building to house its HVAC building Canales added that he thought clear signage marking the restricted area would go a long way in limiting access to the conservation area. After this is done, he felt it would be a good time for the commission to undergo a scheduled visit to the site. After a vote, Murray said he planned to file an Open Meeting Law violation and file with the state Ethics Commission. Gauteng Identifies 275 High-Risk Schools, Urges Action for Student Safety The Gauteng provincial education department has identified 275 schools in the province that are considered high-security risks for students, reports EWN. The majority of these schools are located in various townships across the province. This decision comes in the wake of a tragic incident where a grade 12 student from Ntsako Secondary School, Palesa Malatji, was raped and murdered while returning from school. To ensure the safety of students, Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane announced that the Gauteng crime wardens, also known as Amapanyaza, along with other resources, would be deployed to these high-risk schools. Chiloane emphasised the need for support beyond the school community, as schools can only protect students on their premises. He stressed the importance of collaboration with law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of learners and society as a whole. Cape Town Records Surge in Solar Applications Due to Load Shedding The City of Cape Town has reported a surge in applications for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations due to persistent power outages, reports TimesLive. In the first four months of 2023, there were 2,333 new applications, accounting for about 21% of all applications received since the city began promoting its small-scale embedded generation programme. The city highlighted that the number of applications in March and April exceeded the record set in February. The response indicates a strong market interest in Cape Town's incentives for businesses and residents to adopt solar PV generation capacity. The city is offering cash incentives for excess rooftop solar power and implementing a three-phase procurement plan to protect residents from rolling blackouts. This plan includes increasing the capacity of renewable energy through rooftop solar and a tender for dispatchable energy, as well as investing in a solar plant and battery project near Somerset West to provide load shedding protection during the day. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines South Africa Legal Affairs Health By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Medical Association Disappointed as Newborn Babies Placed in Cardboard Boxes The South African Medical Association (SAMA) is disappointed with a hospital in the North West province where newborn babies were placed in cardboard boxes instead of incubators, reports SABC News. The incident has sparked outrage, and a preliminary investigation report is expected soon. Two hospital employees have been suspended, leading to protests by health worker unions who argue that the problem stems from a lack of resources. Pictures circulating on social media showed babies in boxes, highlighting the dire state of the hospital. SAMA has expressed disappointment but noted that such incidents are not uncommon across the country. The suspension of hospital managers is still a possibility, but unions say they will fight tooth and nail to protect their members. More South African news President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured South Africans that government's immediate priority is to end the cholera outbreak and ensure safe water for all. In his weekly newsletter to the nation, the President said the recent outbreaks of cholera in Hammanskraal, Gauteng, and in the Free State have shown the importance of safe and effective water and wastewater management. The cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal and the Free State has claimed 24 lives, while hundreds more have been hospitalised. The President sent his condolences to those who lost their loved ones. "Disease outbreaks such as the cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal are made far worse in situations of poor governance, weak management and poor maintenance of infrastructure. We have a responsibility and are determined to remedy those shortcomings in a sustainable way and as a matter of urgency," he said. President Ramaphosa commended authorities for their efforts to speedily assist all those affected, including setting up a field hospital in Kanana in Hammanskraal, providing additional water tanking services to residents and going into communities to raise awareness about proper hygiene. "An investigation is underway into the source of the outbreak. Technical teams from the City of Tshwane, the Department of Water and Sanitation, and the national and provincial Departments of Health are carrying out water quality tests at distribution points and at water treatment works in the area. They are also tracking and tracing infections. "To date, the original source of the cholera infection has not been located. However, this waterborne disease is highly transmissible in conditions where there is inadequate access to clean water and sanitation facilities," he said. The President acknowledged that unreliable and poor quality drinking water has been a problem in Hammanskraal for many years. He said the Rooiwal waste water treatment works, which is upstream of Hammanskraal, has not been well maintained and has insufficient capacity to deal with the volume of waste water entering the works. The President highlighted that over the years, the Department of Water and Sanitation has issued many directives to the City of Tshwane to address pollution from Rooiwal. Regrettably, he said, these directives were not actioned. Consequently, the department initiated legal action to force the City to use its grant from national government to refurbish and upgrade the waste water treatment works. "While there must be full accountability for the failings that have resulted in the outbreak in Hammanskraal, at this time, we must focus on the problem at hand. We must stop the spread of cholera and take remedial measures to safeguard human health. "Generally, water quality in South Africa is of a high standard, which, according to our Water Research Commission, 'compares well with the best in the world'. It is important to note that the dual water systems supplied by Magalies and Rand Water to the Tshwane area meet national standards," he said. As we wait for the results of the investigation into the cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal, President Ramaphosa said it is critical that local government authorities continue to work closely with national government to address and overcome the immediate challenges with water quality in Hammanskraal. "It is encouraging that the City of Tshwane and the Department of Water and Sanitation are working together to ensure the various water supply systems meet drinking quality standards. Quality water and sanitation is fundamental to the dignity of every South African," he said. The President has asked the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, to make recommendations to strengthen the governance, management and regulatory framework for municipal water and sanitation services. This includes ensuring that national minimum norms and standards are comprehensive, adequately monitored and adhered to by all water service providers. Critical infrastructure grants Turning to municipalities, the President bemoaned the fact that councils underspend critical infrastructure grants. He said this is unacceptable. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines South Africa Health By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The Department of Water and Sanitation is working with municipal managers and technical teams across the country to ensure local councils use their water infrastructure grants effectively. "Support is being provided, among others, to water infrastructure projects like the Nooitgedacht water transfer treatment scheme in Nelson Mandela Bay, the Greater Mbizana Regional Bulk Water Scheme in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality, and a number of projects in Maluti-a-Phofung in the Free State and Emfuleni and Midvaal Local Municipalities. "National government and Umgeni Water are helping eThekwini metro to improve the management of its waste water treatment systems. Similarly, the Drakenstein municipality in the Western Cape and the Lekwa municipality in Mpumalanga are being helped to address waste water treatment system challenges," he said. As announced in the State of the Nation Address in February, the President reiterated that government is proceeding with a number of significant projects to improve the national bulk water resource infrastructure. 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 }} Hollywood Vampires have postponed the first three dates of their 2023 tour after frontman Johnny Depp sustained a painful injury to his ankle. On Monday (29 May), the day before the revived American rock supergroup were scheduled to kick off their tour, they announced the sad news that they would be rescheduling three concerts set for this week. Johnny has sustained a painful injury to his ankle following his recent appearances and has been advised by his doctor not to travel, they wrote in a statement shared on Instagram. He is devastated by this turn of events, but looks forward to resting up so all four Vampires can bring their absolute best to the tour in Europe. Their first three performances, which were expected to take place on Tuesday (30 May) in Manchester, New Hampshire, Wednesday (31 May) in Boston, Massachusetts, and Thursday (1 June) in Bethel, New York, will instead take place in July. All tickets will be honoured for the new dates: Boston on 28 July, Manchester on 29 July and Bethel on 30 July. The band, originally formed in 2012 by Depp and core members Alice Cooper and Aerosmiths Joe Perry, first shared in 2022 that they would be reuniting for a 2023 tour, along with rhythm guitarist Tommy Henriksen. Their revival announcement came days after the Pirates of the Caribbean actor won his defamation lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard. In June 2022, a jury found that Heard had defamed Depp on all three counts and awarded him $10m (8m) in compensatory damages and $5m (4m) in punitive damages. Heard was awarded $2m (1.6m) in compensatory damages, but no punitive damages. 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 During the recent world premiere of his new film Jeanne du Barry at the Cannes Film Festival, Depp addressed being boycotted by Hollywood following the trial. Did I feel boycotted by Hollywood? Youd have to not have a pulse at that point to feel [like], None of this is happening, this is actually just a weird joke youve been asleep for 35 years! Of course, when youre asked to resign from a film youre doing because of something that is merely a bunch of vowels and consonants floating in the air, you feel a bit boycotted, Depp said. 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 }} Johnny Depp has revealed that a painful ankle fracture is behind his band the Hollywood Vampires postponing their US tour dates. On Monday (29 May), the band told fans that the actor had sustained a painful injury, meaning they had to push back their three scheduled shows due to take place this week. Johnny has sustained a painful injury to his ankle following his recent appearances and has been advised by his doctor not to travel, they wrote in a statement shared on Instagram. He is devastated by this turn of events, but looks forward to resting up so all four Vampires can bring their absolute best to the tour in Europe. Posting a letter to fans on his own Instagram Story the same day, the 59-year-old explained the nature of his injury in further detail. It began as a hairline break but somewhere between Cannes and Royal Albert Hall, it got worse rather than better, he wrote. Several medical professionals have strongly suggested I avoid any and all activity for the moment and so am sadly unable to travel at this time. Depp had performed live at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday 22 May as part of a tribute concert dedicated to late rock artist Jeff Beck, with whom he was close friends. The gig, which also featured performances from acts including Eric Clapton, Ronnie Wood, Joss Stone, Rod Stewart and Gary Clark Jr, followed his attendance at Cannes Film Festival. The Hollywood Vampires are a supergroup founded in 2012 by Depp, Alice Cooper and Aerosmiths Joe Perry. They announced their plans to reform for a 2023 tour last year, for which they are being joined by rhythm guitarist Tommy Henriksen. Their first three performances, which were expected to take place on Tuesday (30 May) in Manchester, New Hampshire, Wednesday (31 May) in Boston, Massachusetts, and Thursday (1 June) in Bethel, New York, will instead take place in July. 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 All tickets will be honoured for the new dates: Boston on 28 July, Manchester on 29 July and Bethel on 30 July. Depp performing with Alice Cooper at a Hollywood Vampires show (Getty Images) Depp has been on something on a career comeback since winning his highly publicised defamation trial against ex-wife and fellow actor Amber Heard. In June 2022, a jury found that Heard had defamed Depp on all three counts. He was awarded $10m (8m) in compensatory damages and $5m (4m) in punitive damages, while Heard was awarded $2m (1.6m) in compensatory damages. He was a headline-making presence at Cannes Film Festival last week, where he promoted his new French-language movie Jeanne du Barry with his director and co-star Maiwenn. The project marked his first feature film release in three years. Depp himself has rejected the notion that this is a comeback for him, telling attendees at a press conference after Jeanne du Barrys opening night: I didnt go anywhere. I live about 45 minutes away from here, in fact, he said. Maybe people stopped calling, out of whatever their fear was at the time, but I didnt go nowhere. Ive been sitting around. Comeback is almost like Im going to come out and do a tap dance... dance my best and hope you approve. Thats the notion. Its a bizarre mystery. He also addressed his so-called boycott by Hollywood amid controversy surrounding his defamation trial, commenting: Did I feel boycotted by Hollywood? Youd have to not have a pulse at that point to feel [like], None of this is happening, this is actually just a weird joke youve been asleep for 35 years! Of course, when youre asked to resign from a film youre doing because of something that is merely a bunch of vowels and consonants floating in the air, you feel a bit boycotted. France Cannes 2023 Jeanne du Barry Photo Call (2023 Invision) In a four-star review for The Independent, critic Geoffrey Macnab said Jeanne du Barry was surprisingly great. Against the odds, Jeanne du Barry has turned out to be a subtle and well-crafted costume drama with plenty of satirical bite, he wrote. It has more in common with Stanley Kubricks Barry Lyndon than it does Pirates of the Caribbean, with Depp giving one of his more restrained and effective performances as the king who falls in love with a courtesan. His Louis is a taciturn, melancholy but commanding figure with a dark side. The film has yet to be given a UK release date. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} China has rejected a US request seeking a meeting between the defence chiefs of the two countries at an annual security summit to be held in Singapore in a signal that the ties between the two superpowers show no signs of thawing. Washington had issued an invite for talks between US defence secretary Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu in early May at the upcoming Shangri-La defence summit. Overnight, the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] informed the US that they have declined our early May invitation for secretary Austin to meet with PRC minister of national defence Li Shangfu in Singapore, Pentagon spokesperson General Pat Ryder said during the US Memorial Day holiday, reported the Wall Street Journal. The PRCs concerning unwillingness to engage in meaningful military-to-military discussions will not diminish [the Defence Departments] commitment to seeking open lines of communication with the Peoples Liberation Army, he was quoted as saying in the report. The Pentagon said it believes in open communication to ensure that competition does not veer into conflict. This comes a few days after White House spokesperson John Kirby hinted about the Defence Departments outreach for talks between Mr Austin and his Chinese counterpart, who took the office in March as the countrys new defence minister. However, he is among several Chinese officials sanctioned by the US in the past. He was added to the list in 2018 over charges of violating US sanctions by allegedly aiding the transfer of Su-35 fighter jets and S-400 air-defence missile systems to China from Russia. The anticipated meeting between the two nations was being closely watched in the backdrop of a spike in regional security tensions and growing trade disputes which have derailed chances of re-engagement by the worlds two largest economies. Analysts said the diplomatic snub to the US does not bode well. At a time of rising US-China tensions, General Lis refusal to meet his American counterpart will fray regional nerves even further, Singapore-based security analyst Ian Storey said. The two leaders will, however, be present in Singapore to attend the dialogue that is scheduled to begin on Friday, as defence officials and analysts will gather around for informal talks and take part in several side meetings. Mr Li and Mr Austin will likely hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from around the region. 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 }} Protesters of ethnic minority Muslims clashed with a large number of police in southwest China after they were blocked from worshipping in a mosque that they said authorities plan to demolish. Clashes broke out over the weekend outside the 13th-century Najiaying mosque in Yunnan province, which has a significant population of Hui ethnic group Muslims. The apparent crackdown on religious minorities comes amid Xi Jinpings wider campaign to sinicise religion and seek greater control. Videos and pictures on social media showed dozens of people clashing with lines of police officers in riot gear who appeared to block entry to the mosque. Scuffles broke out as angry worshippers tried to force their way in, following a verbal altercation with the forces deployed in huge numbers. Following an hours-long standoff with the police, people streamed into Najiaying mosque after law enforcement presence decreased. China is officially an atheist state, but the government formally recognises four religions and allows them religious freedom. They are Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity (Catholicism and Protestantism). However, under Mr Xis plans to ensure sinicisation, which broadly means bringing religions in line with Chinese character or influence on religions, authorities are cracking down on ethnic minorities. In a 2021 meeting of his Communist party, Mr Xi called for the promotion of the sinicisation of religion. Witnesses told CNN on condition of anonymity that thousands of Hui residents had gathered around the mosque on Saturday, with nearly 1,000 police officers deployed outside the mosque. After arriving at the mosque, we realised that they had driven the cranes into the compound and were ready for the forced demolition, the source said, adding that scaffolding for demolition has already been erected around the mosque. Ma Ju, a prominent Hui activist who moved to the US, claimed the police have arrested about 30 people, according to the network. Residents took turns to guard the mosque through Saturday and Sunday night, fearing demolition of some parts of the building. The mosque in Nagu in Tonghai county underwent an expansion recently to include a new domed roof and a number of minarets. In a 2020 judgement, a court ruled that any architectural additions to religious sites would be deemed illegal, ordering them to be demolished. Demolitions of parts of religious structures following the order have led to demonstrations among people. Police in Tonghai county urged protesters to voluntarily surrender to police by 7 June. Those who voluntarily turn themselves in and truthfully confess the facts of violations and crimes may be given a lighter or mitigated punishment, said the notice. Law enforcement authorities in Nagu township called the incident a serious obstruction of social management order while urging people to actively report protesters. Police have arrested dozens of people following the demonstrations and are expected to make more arrests. This was not the first time Hui Muslims were engaged in a tense standoff with Chinese law enforcement. in 2018, a sit-in protest lasting three days took place in Ningxia, a region in the northwest of the country, where thousands of Hui residents gathered to prevent the authorities from demolishing a newly built mosque. As a result of the protest, the local government decided to postpone the demolition. However, they later replaced the mosques domes and minarets with traditional Chinese-style pagodas. In the same year, three mosques were shut in Yunnan after they were considered to be illegal religious education. Activists for the Hui have said they are the latest ethnic group to be targeted by the Communist party, which has been cracking down on Muslim minorities. The alleged prosecution of Uyghur Muslims in northwestern Xinjiang has been widely reported. According to a 2020 census, there are 11.4 million Hui people in China, making it only the fourth-largest ethnic group after the Han Chinese, the Zhuang and Uyghur. The Hui is among 56 ethnic groups recognised by the country and are believed to be distant descendants of Arab and Persian traders. 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 }} India will send a number of officials involved in its cheetah reintroduction project on research trips to Namibia and South Africa so they can learn how to better handle the big cats, after a string of deaths. The countrys ambitious Project Cheetah plan seeks to restore a stable population of the worlds fastest land mammal by taking batches of them to India from African countries, but it has suffered a string of setbacks since the first animals arrived in September 2022. Six cheetahs involved in the project have died, including three out of four cubs born in India to one of the relocated females. The decision to soon send government officials to the African countries was announced after environment minister Bhupender Yadav met with Shivraj Singh Chauhan, chief minister of the central Madhya Pradesh state where the cheetahs of which 14 remain are housed, in Kuno National Park. The officials suggested exposure visits for the staff to learn more about how the cheetahs and the wildlife are best managed, principal chief conservator of forests JS Chauhan told The Independent. Theres a vast difference between the approaches taken by the Indian officials and wildlife staff in Namibia and South Africa, he said. The training visit aims to bridge the gap and provide the best possible handling of cheetahs brought to India, added Mr Chauhan. It is not immediately clear when the visits will occur and how many there will be, but they will happen in due course, the forest official said. Mr Chauhan added that the management aspect of handling cheetahs differs between the two continents, and India is looking to send its officials to learn the South African and Namibian perspective. Federal minister Mr Yadav said the Narendra Modi administration is looking to provide money and the necessary logistical support for the revival of the cheetahs in India, including plans for effectively conserving their population. Project Cheetah had been in the works for over a decade before it was finally launched by Mr Modi, who personally released the first animals into their enclosure. Asiatic cheetahs were declared extinct in India more than 70 years ago, and only a small number of specimens of the subspecies remain in Iran. The six deaths in the first nine months of the project include three cubs who died of sweltering heat and weakness within two months of their birth in Madhya Pradesh. They were born on 29 March and were said to be in good health in the initial days. Of the other three cheetahs to have died, one adult female succumbed to renal failure, while an adult male died of cardio-pulmonary failure and the third died of injuries sustained during an aggressive mating session with male cheetahs between March and May. With concerns of overcrowding in the existing enclosures, officials are now looking to ready another sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh as an alternative home for the cheetahs, Mr Yadav said on Monday. Officials at Kuno have released seven of the cheetahs into the wild from their enclosures, where they were initially placed after being brought to India to help with their acclimatisation and to assess their hunting skills. On Sunday evening, another female cheetah was released from her enclosure. Officials have played down the significance of losing three out of the four cheetah cubs born in India so far, arguing that cheetahs have a cub mortality rate of up to 90 per cent in the wild in Africa. All the remaining cheetahs in Kuno are presently fine and healthy, Mr Chauhan told The Independent. 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 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of stabbing a teenage girl multiple times and bludgeoning her to death in full public view in a case that has shocked the public in India. The incident occurred in the countrys capital New Delhi on Sunday and was recorded on CCTV. The footage showed a man stabbing the girl multiple times as locals passed by, with no one intervening. The attacker stabbed the victim at least 16 times before smashing her with a concrete block in an assault that lasted for nearly 90 seconds. The murder took place in north Delhis Shahbad Dairy area where the teen was planning to attend her friends sons birthday. Police have identified the suspect they arrested as Sahil Khan, and say he was the victims boyfriend. They were in a relationship, but yesterday they had a quarrel, a senior police official told news channel NDTV on Sunday. Residents alerted the police to the attack, who took the girl to hospital. She was declared dead on arrival. Police said they arrested the suspect from a relatives home in Bulandshahr city in the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh, reported the Hindustan Times. As soon as the police received the information about the womans death, Sahils parents were detained on Sunday night. We found that Sahil had been calling them, and on the basis of technical surveillance, a dedicated police team rushed for the identified location and nabbed Sahil near Bulandshahr, police special commissioner Dependra Pathak told the outlet. To ensure his arrest, his father was also taken with the police team, he said. He used to work as a mechanic for AC and refrigerators. Further investigation is underway... we will make sure the maximum punishment is given to the accused, deputy commissioner of police Suman Nalwa told news agency ANI on Monday. The police have booked a murder case under the relevant section of Indias criminal code. My daughter was stabbed many times... her head was also bludgeoned into pieces. We demand stringent punishment for the accused, said the girls father. The incident has drawn sharp reactions from the political fraternity, including Delhis chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who criticised the capitals lieutenant governor over the law and order situation. While Delhi has an elected local government, police and law and order matters are administered on a federal level, with the lieutenant governor being the Narendra Modi governments representative for the capital. A minor girl was brutally murdered in Delhi. This is very sad and unfortunate. The criminals have become fearless, there is no fear of the police. LG sir, law and order is your responsibility, do something, Mr Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi. Special commissioner Pathak said the police will leave no stone unturned to collect all evidence which would enable us to secure strictest possible punishment including death penalty for the accused. Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal told news channel News18 that several people saw the ghastly attack unfold, but did nothing because they have started feeling that nothing will happen, nothing will change. Delhi has become extremely unsafe for women and girls. I appeal to the central government to call a high-level meeting with the union home minister and the lieutenant governor of Delhi, Ms Maliwal said. The BJP labelled the incident as a case of love jihad a right-wing, Islamophobic conspiracy theory perpetuated without evidence that claims Muslim fundamentalists convert Hindu and Christian women to Islam through trickery, expressions of false love and even forced marriage. A few months ago, the Aftab-Shraddha case had shocked Delhi, now this case once again warns Delhiites to be aware of love jihad, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva told The Hindu newspaper in an apparent reference to the murder of a 27-year-old woman by her partner, Aftab Poonawala last year, in which the accused chopped her body to more than 30 pieces. It is regrettable that the Chief Minister of Delhi is trying to portray the brutal killing of a Hindu girl by Muslim youth as a law and order issue, whereas it is a case of love jihad, he said, without any evidence to prove his claims. 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 }} Indias federal home minister Amit Shah is on a visit to the north-eastern Manipur state where ongoing ethnic clashes this month have killed at least 80 people. The visit by the senior minister, who is prime minister Narendra Modis close aide, comes over three weeks after violence first broke out in the state that borders Myanmar. On 3 May, violence erupted after a Tribal Solidarity March was called by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM). The march was organised in protest against the demand for inclusion of the areas majority Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, following a 19 April Manipur High Court directive. Under Indian law some government jobs, college admissions and electoral seats from village councils to parliament are reserved for communities under the Scheduled Tribe category as a form of affirmative action to tackle historical structural inequality and discrimination. The Kukis have opposed the Meitei communitys inclusion in the list, fearing opportunity and job loss due to the groups demographically and politically advantageous position. The widespread violence, displacement of people and destruction of property that followed in recent weeks has been described as one of the worst ethnic flare-ups in decades. Mr Shah kicked off his three-day visit on Monday by visiting state capital Imphal to review the security situation and help restore peace in the state. A state-wide internet ban has also been in place to stop the spread of misinformation. Mr Shah is slated to hold a series of meetings with political and civil society leaders from both the Meitei and Kuki communities and visit Churachandpur, the site of some of the worst rioting on Tuesday, reported Press Trust of India (PTI). Officials announced on Tuesday that a compensation of Rs 10 lakh (9,730) each and a government job will be given to the families of those who died. The decision was taken at a meeting between Mr Shah and chief minister N Biren Singh on Monday night. The death toll from clashes has gone up to 80, officials said. The two leaders also decided to ensure that essential items such as petrol, LPG, rice and other food products will be made available in large quantities to cool down prices. A home ministry spokesperson said Mr Shah also held a meeting with the delegation of different civil society organisations in Imphal on Tuesday. Earlier on Sunday, Mr Singh said 40 Kuki insurgents were killed by government troops. It was not clear whether the figure was part of the overall death toll. The fight is not between communities, it is between Kuki rebels and government security forces, Mr Singh told reporters. According to PTI, clashes occurred after security forces began searching for weapons looted from police stations to curb the violence. Sapam Ranjan, a state government spokesperson, said violence was seen in some villages on Sunday, reported the Associated Press. Troops also fired in the air and lobbed teargas shells to disperse a mob that attempted to take weapons from a police station near Imphal, he said. He added 1,041 guns and 7,500 rounds of ammunition have been looted in recent weeks. Meanwhile in Delhi, hundreds of Kuki women gathered at Jantar Manar the national capitals designated protest site on Monday and demanded imposition of presidents rule in the state. When I woke up this morning, I saw our chief minister has said Kukis are terrorists... We have been made homeless in our own home, one of the protesters said from a dais, reported the Nagaland Post. We are Indians, our forefathers have been freedom fighters, another protester added amid chants of We Are Indians from the crowd. We are not illegal immigrants, she said. Also on Tuesday, a delegation from the opposition Congress party submitted a memorandum to president Draupadi Murmu. A high-level inquiry commission should be constituted headed by a serving or retired Supreme Court judge, the party said. The Union government must immediately take all possible measures to control and confine all militant groups and ensure that all armed civilian groups be stopped forthwith by taking appropriate action. "The government has surely forgotten us" says Daggafontein pensioner About 2,000 people living at three settlements near the City of Ekurhuleni's multi-billion rand Daggafontein Mega City Housing project say they want the homes and services they were promised. The housing project was initially launched in 2016, but construction at the site started in 2017. The project has since stalled due to issues with the previous contractor. The City says it expects to complete the project over a ten year period. Now residents at the three informal settlements say they are still waiting for confirmation that they will be housed once houses are built at the mega city project. They also want the municipality to improve their basic services immediately. The City of Ekurhuleni's multi-billion rand Daggafontein Mega Housing project was expected to be a flagship for affordable housing in the city. It was set to provide about 18,000 homes. The development site was initially launched in 2016, but construction at the site began in 2017. The cost for the development is expected to be well over the initial estimated R10-billion budget. The project had stalled due to lockdown in 2020 and resumed in 2021 until the previous contractor's contract lapsed in December 2022. The City has now mandated itself to complete the project over a ten year period. Now, more than five years after the project was launched, the building site appears to be far from complete, with only sewerage piping and tarred roads with no houses or signage at the site. A few hundred metres from the new mega development site are three informal settlements, namely Daggafontein, Kwasa Village and Anchor/N1. About 2,000 people live in the three settlements, according to community leaders. The residents say they have been waiting to hear if they qualify to be beneficiaries once houses are built at the mega city project. According to residents, the first phase of the housing project was expected to be completed by the end of 2019. Residents from the informal settlements protested in May 2022 to demand that they be given water, toilets and for electricity to be installed in their shacks. GroundUp has seen a letter, handed out to shack dwellers by an official from the infrastructure portfolio of Ward 76 in June 2022, stating that they are to benefit from the Daggafontein housing project. The City then also conducted a census of the settlements in July 2022 to determine how many households needed services like water and toilets. To date no additional services have been offered and the City has been mum on the mega housing project, say residents. At Daggafontein informal settlement, up to ten families share one chemical toilet. There are a few communal taps but residents say they were told that the City could only offer limited services because they are on privately owned land. Sisikazi Madhobe, 73, said she has been waiting for a house for decades. She said that some neighbours help her fetch water from a tap a few metres from her shack. She said she spends most of her pension money on repairing her leaking roof each winter. Madhobe said as the mega city project launched, officials from the City came to speak to them about the project. She said she and other elderly residents were given a verbal promise of houses in the new development. "I want the government to build me a house. I have sleepless nights worrying about whether l will ever get a house in this life. The government has surely forgotten us." she said. The Kwasa Village settlement is on land belonging to an independent primary school. While the settlement has over 500 shacks, some families live in abandoned mineworker houses. Penelope Nomaswazi said she moved here with her husband in 2001 and paid rent for the old mine worker home to the previous landowner. She said since the old owners left, they haven't had electricity or water. The toilet in the house does not work, so she has to use the communal chemical toilet shared with ten other families in the informal settlement. Nomaswazi said she was also promised a home in Mega City. Reverend Sharron Anne Dinnie of the Anglican Church, who owns the Kwasa land and primary school, said she acquired the 20-hectares from the previous owner, John Borat. "Our vision is to provide good education for vulnerable children. The municipality promised that it would move the occupiers to Mega City by now. The fact that this has not happened is standing in the way of the future of vulnerable children who deserve quality education. "I have sent emails to the municipality informing them of our intentions to build a High School but received no answers," said Dinnie. The N17 informal settlement is situated on an old farm next to the N17 freeway. Residents here complain that more than five families share one toilet, their shacks have no electricity and there are not enough taps. The area also has large old trees which have fallen and damaged some shacks. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines South Africa Urban Issues By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Letty Mnguni, chairperson of the N17 housing committee, said when the farm owner died in 1994, the informal settlement mushroomed. City of Ekurhuleni spokesman Zweli Dlamini confirmed that the occupiers from all three settlements are living on private land. "It would not make sense to provide permanent services to temporary settlements on privately owned land," he said. Asked why the Mega City housing project has stalled, Dlamini only said that the City was busy appointing a new contractor. "The contract given to TCT Civils and Construction lapsed in December 2022," he said. According to Dlamini the previous contractors had only completed roads, stormwater, water and sewer provision. However, residents say at a public meeting in 2021 they were promised 900 units by end of December 2022, which never materialised. Dlamini said the City has now mandated itself to complete the project over a ten-year period. Dlamini said the budget allocations for the project was as follows: R118 million in 2019, R62 million in 2020, R36 million in 2021 and R35 million in 2022. Dlamini did not respond to questions about how much the City had already paid to the previous contractors and how much would be allocated for the remainder of the project. 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 }} Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida has fired his own son from his role as an executive secretary amid public outcry over inappropriate photographs taken during a party at the premiers official residence. Shotaro Kishida, the prime ministers eldest son and his executive secretary for political affairs, invited a group of people including relatives to an end-of-year party on 30 December at the prime ministers official residence in Tokyo. Photos from the party were published by the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun, and showed Mr Kishidas son and his relatives posing on red-carpeted stairs in an imitation of the group photos typically taken of newly appointed cabinets, with Shotaro at the centre the position normally reserved for the prime minister. Other photos showed guests standing at a podium as if holding a news conference. The photos, which were published on 24 May, have been widely condemned and represent a significant embarrassment for the prime minister, whose flagging approval ratings had been temporarily boosted by the positive reaction to his hosting of the recent G7 summit. Mr Kishida initially responded by saying he had sternly reprimanded his son for the party, but this did little to stave off public criticism. In a statement on Tuesday, the prime minister said his son would be replaced in his official role by another secretary, Takayoshi Yamamoto, from 1 June. [Shotaros] actions last year in an official space were inappropriate for a secretary who is in an official position, so I decided to replace him to draw a line under this, Mr Kishida said. Of course, the responsibility for the appointment lies with me. I take it seriously, he continued, according to Japan Today. I want to fulfill my duties by addressing challenges that cannot be postponed and moving forward with determination. Mr Kishida senior acknowledged that he had also briefly greeted the guests at the party, but said he didnt stay on afterwards. A poll of the Japanese public carried out by the Asahi newspaper showed that three-quarters of respondents found the behaviour of the prime ministers son problematic. A separate poll by Nikkei showed the prime ministers support had fallen by five percentage points to 47 per cent. Mr Kishida appointed his son as policy secretary, one of eight secretarial posts under the prime minister, in October. The appointment itself drew criticism, with the opposition accusing Mr Kishida of grooming his son to be his heir. The row over the Tokyo party was not the first time the behaviour of the 32-year-old Mr Kishida had created a political headache for his father. Shotaro Kishida was earlier accused of abusing his official position after he was spotted using embassy cars for private sightseeing in Britain and Paris, and buying souvenirs for cabinet members at a luxury department store in London during a trip with his father. Chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno called the sons party at the official residence inappropriate, and promised to ensure proper management of the facility in future. Nobuyuki Baba, head of the opposition Japan Innovation Party, told Kyodo News that the prime ministers son should have acted with awareness of his position. 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 Japanese court on Tuesday ruled that not recognising same-same marriage violates the constitution, the second such decision that could pave the way for marriage equality. The Nagoya district court sided with a gay couple that argued that they didn't have equal treatment under the law. However, the court rejected a request by a couple that the government must pay them 1m ($7,100) each in compensation for the unequal treatment they face. Judge Osamu Nishimura in his ruling said the current system that excludes same-sex couples from legal protections for their relationship is "unconstitutional" and there is no room for "government discretion" in the matter. It was the second such ruling that found a ban against same-sex marriage unconstitutional, out of four cases over the past two years, which collectively add to pressure on prime minister Fumio Kishida's government to give more rights to the LGBT+ community. "This ruling has rescued us from the hurt of last year's ruling that said there was nothing wrong with the ban, and the hurt of what the government keeps saying," lead lawyer Yoko Mizutani told reporters. Not every case brought as part of the campaign has gone in favour of the campaigners, however. A court in Osaka last year ruled that the ban was not out of line with the constitution. The ban on same-sex marriage was later upheld by a Tokyo court. Asato Yamada, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said the courts ruling said clearly that not allowing same-sex marriage violates the guarantee of equal rights under Article 14 of the constitution. The judicial branch, on behalf of the rights of minorities, raised its voice and it will be a strong message to the government, he said. The message is that the government should resolve the problem immediately. Tuesday's ruling was celebrated by queer activists and supporters, who waved rainbow flags outside the court. Participants march during the Tokyo Rainbow Pride parade in April 2023 (REUTERS) Although opinion polls suggest nearly 70 per cent of the public supports same-sex marriage, the ruling conservative Liberal Democratic Party opposes it. Japan is the only member of the Group of Seven (G7) countries that doesnt recognise same-sex marriages or civil unions. Mr Kishida in February sacked an aide who sparked outrage by saying people would flee Japan if same-sex marriage was allowed. But the prime minister later in March said the country's ban on same-sex marriage is not discriminatory against queer people. He reiterated his position that a ban on same-sex marriage was "not unconstitutional and denied that he is prejudiced. I believe I do not have a sense of discrimination (on the issue), he said. And I have never stated Im against it. More than 300 Japanese municipalities covering some 65 per cent of the population allow same-sex couples to enter partnership agreements, albeit with limited rights. Partners cant inherit each others assets, for example, or have parental rights to each others children. Chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a press conference that the government did not believe the civil code and marriage laws were unconstitutional. With regard to issues surrounding the introduction of same-sex marriage, we believe it is important to pay close attention to the opinions of all parts of the public, he said. Additional reporting by agencies 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 Asian elephant who lost his foot to a snare trap when he was just a year old is able to walk, run and swim after being fitted with prosthetics. Chhouk, who is now 11 years old, had his foot amputated when he was caught in a poachers snare trap and was found severely malnourished with a dangerously infected wound. The orphaned animal was taken in by the Wildlife Alliance, a conservation organisation in Cambodia. It partnered with a UK-based group, Paradise Wildlife Park, that has been helping to fund the prosthetic foot. The prosthetic is made out of recycled rubber and needs changing roughly every six months as the elephant continues to grow in size. Cam Whitnall, 27, who runs Paradise Wildlife Park and Big Cat Sanctuary with his family, shared photos and video footage of Chhouks latest prosthetic being fitted, and said: Its amazing you cant help but smile. Its a really special moment, to see what were helping to conserve and help, not just Chhouk but all over the world. Its the best feeling in the world to help animals. The level of care that he gets is brilliant and he has a great life now. Theres no better feeling. Chhouk the elephant having his prosthetic foot fitted (Cam Whitnall / SWNS) The elephant was first rescued as an infant from the Srepok Wilderness Area in Mondulkiri in 2007. His infected foot was treated by rescuers and Paradise Wildlife Park rehabilitated the animal. Changing the prosthetics is no easy task for park rangers, Mr Whitnall explained, saying they have to use food as a bribe to get him to wear it. They use food and a clipping mechanism to get him to turn and adjust his body and are then able to give him a thorough look over to make sure there are no issues, he explains. Chhouk needs a new prosthetic foot every six months (Cam Whitnall / SWNS) The footage of Chhouk wearing a prosthetic leg shows him lifting his leg up to put his foot inside the large prosthetic. He also walks with the prosthetic while swinging his trunk. Mr Whitnall said that Chhouks room overlooks the enclosures of the lion and lemur and the elephant gets quite noisy at night. A prosthetic weighs approximately 20kg and funding costs are roughly 1,200 (Cam Whitnall / SWNS) One prosthetic weighs approximately 20kg and costs roughly 1,200 a year to maintain, Mr Whitnall said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Malaysia has detained a Chinese ship suspected of looting two British Second World War shipwrecks, authorities said. In a statement posted to Facebook the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said that a cargo ship had been detained for anchoring without permission at a position 20.1 nautical miles east of Tanjung Siang on Sunday afternoon. First Admiral Nurul Hizam bin Zakaria, state maritime director of Johor said the carrier registered from Fuzhou, China was arrested at 12.45pm for failing to submit any permission to anchor when inspected by a Malaysian maritime patrol boat which was carrying out routine operations in East Johor waters. The ship carried 32 crew members including 21 Chinese nationals, 10 Bangladeshi nationals and a Malaysian national, aged between 23 and 57 years old. Ammunition believed to be from the HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, which were sunk by Japanese forces more than 80 years ago, was then found on board during inspections, reported BBC News. The two war vessels were dispatched to Singapore during the war to shore up the Allies defence of Malaya, and were sunk by Japanese torpedoes on 10 December 1941. Their resting site is in the South China Sea, some 100km (60 miles) off the east coast of Malaysia. Historic shipwrecks have been targeted by scavengers for low-radiation steel and scrap metal for several years. On 22 May the New Straits Times reported that scavengers returned after an eight-year hiatus to plunder battlecruiser HMS Repulse and battleship HMS Prince of Wales. Speaking to the outlet, unnamed sources alleged that the Chinese vessel was also responsible for looting 90 per cent of other Second World War shipwrecks in the region. Earlier the British defence ministry had condemned the alleged raid as a desecration of maritime war graves. Maritime Malaysia said in its statement that it will continue to monitor and ensure East Johor waters are free from all illegal activities and will not compromise to take more decisive action. 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 former Canadian soldier has been extradited to Thailand over his role in a gangland killing. Mathew Dupre, 38, is wanted in the alleged murder of criminal gang member Jimi Singh Slice Sandhu in Phuket in February last year. Thailands central investigation bureau commissioner, Jirabhop Bhuridej, told reporters on Monday that Mr Dupre was flown to Bangkok to face murder charges. He was brought to Thailand on a special flight with a team from Bangkok onboard on Sunday at around 11pm, according to Bangkok Post. A Thai air force craft was used since commercial airlines declined requests, Thai police said. We have to get hold of the suspect so that he be prosecuted under the Thai judicial system, said state prosecutor Intranee Sumawong, adding that Dupre would not face the death penalty under the extradition bill. We have to ensure that there is security in Thailand and uphold our reputation that this country is safe to live in, she said. The flight landed at Bangkoks Don Mueang Airports Wing 6 terminal, used for domestic flights and which was temporarily closed for security reasons. On 4 February last year, two men shot Canadian gang member Jimi Singh Sandhu dead in the parking lot of his rented beachfront villa on Rawai Beach in the Muang district of Phuket. The two were filmed entering the villa by a security camera. Local police identified Dupre as one of the suspects. Two days later, the suspects left Thailand for Canada. On 11 February 2022, the Phuket Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Mr Dupre and his alleged accomplice on charges of premeditated murder. The second wanted suspect in the case, 36-year-old Gene Lahrkamp, died in a small-plane crash in Canada in May 2022. At the time of his death, Lahrkamp was one of the most wanted criminals in Canada with a bounty of 60,000 on his head. Jimi Slice Sandhu was born in India and raised in Abbotsford, British Columbia, where he later joined the United Nations gang. In 2016, he was deported. He, however, remained a leading member of the gang that was originally founded in 1997. 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 }} Limiting global warming to 1.5C is bottom of the list for global businesses desired outcomes at this years Cop28, new research has shown. The findings suggest the business world has a lack of confidence in the Glasgow Climate Pact pledge to keep 1.5C alive from Cop26 and that some markets have already priced-in exceeding the target, according to researchers from advisory firm East & Partners and consultancy Impact & Influence. The research, published on Tuesday, comes exactly six months ahead of the global climate conference Cop28 in Dubai in November. Scientists have warned that going beyond 1.5C will likely trigger irreversible tipping points that would lead to a collapse of life on Earth. It's alarming that 'keeping 1.5C alive' ranks so low among global corporates just two years after Cop26 Rishi Bhattacharya, Impact & Influence CEO The researchers, who spoke with more than 1,300 businesses after reaching out to the top 100 earning firms in 14 countries including the UK, found that the global business world is most concerned with having a stronger voice in discussions at Cop28. Business leaders across the majority of markets highlighted private sector engagement as the key theme for Cop28 that is most relevant to their business. This was followed by climate finance reform, green innovation and technology, biodiversity, inclusion, and finally keeping 1.5C alive. The findings have prompted concerns that businesses are losing sight of the bigger picture of helping to limit global warming to 1.5C. But they have also prompted calls for Cop28 organisers to provide global business leaders with a more significant platform in discussions. At the moment, business leaders feel sidelined in the climate discussions Paul Dowling, co-founder of East & Partners Its alarming that keeping 1.5C alive ranks so low among global corporates just two years after Cop26, said Rishi Bhattacharya, CEO and founder of Impact & Influence. This suggests they may be pricing in an overshoot. It is more important than ever to communicate the need for business to be part of the solution. With Cop28 in Dubai approaching, ensuring business involvement in the climate conversation is more crucial than ever, as their participation increases the likelihood of success in addressing climate change. Paul Dowling, co-founder of East & Partners, added: At the moment, business leaders feel sidelined in the climate discussions. This years Cop28 organisers would be wise to bring them to the table, not only to boost confidence in the process but also to harness the immense resources and innovation that the private sector can bring to the fight against climate change. Collaborative efforts between governments and businesses are essential for achieving our global climate goals not least keeping 1.5C alive. The research follows warnings from scientists earlier this month that the world is likely to breach 1.5C in the next five years. Professor Johan Rockstrom, of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, told the Innovation Zero Congress in London last week: 1.5C is not a target. I call this a physical limit. At 1.5C, we have five big tipping point systems that are likely to be crossed. One is the West Antarctic ice sheet. The other one is the Greenland ice sheet. The third one is all the tropical coral reef systems. The fourth one is abrupt thawing of permafrost in the boreal zone and the fifth one is the sea ice in the Bering Sea. These are likely to be crossed at 1.5C, but we dont know how many years can we stay beyond 1.5C before that tipping point is permanently occurring. The UN has said global greenhouse gas emissions must peak by 2025 at the latest and decrease by 43% by 2030 to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C (2.7F) above pre-industrial levels the target set in the Paris Agreement. Scientists say Earth is currently on track to warm by 2.5C by 2100 which will completely melt the big ice sheets, thaw permafrost, destroy rainforests and lead to a collapse of marine life while rendering around a third of the equator uninhabitable for humans. The researchers said they spoke to more than 90% of businesses from the top 100 by revenue in the UK, Brazil, Canada, US, China, Australia, India, Japan, Singapore, France, Germany, Kenya, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates during a two-week period ending on March 14. 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 court has ruled that Japans policy against same-sex marriage is unconstitutional a decision welcomed as a step towards marriage equality in the only G7 nation with no legal protection for same-sex unions. Nagoya District Courts decision was the second against same-sex marriage out of four cases over the past two years, and is likely to add to pressure to change the law in a country in which the constitution says marriage is between a man and a woman. Tuesday's ruling was greeted with cheers from the activists and supporters waving rainbow flags outside the court. Asato Yamada, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said the court's ruling said clearly that not allowing same-sex marriage violates the guarantee of equal rights under Article 14 of the constitution. It's a major step toward achieving marriage equality, he said. Opinion polls show some 70% of the public supports same-sex marriage, but it is opposed by the the conservative ruling Liberal Democratic Party of prime minister Fumio Kishida. More than 300 Japanese municipalities, covering some 65% of the population, allow same-sex couples to enter partnership agreements but these are limited in scope; partners can't inherit each other's assets or have parental rights to each other's children. Hospital visits are not guaranteed. Chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a press conference that the government did not believe the civil code and marriage laws were unconstitutional. With regard to issues surrounding the introduction of same-sex marriage, we believe it is important to pay close attention to the opinions of all parts of the public, he said. While Japan is considered relatively liberal, the LGBT+ community has been largely invisible because of conservative attitudes. Taiwan became the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriages in 2019. A new law would have to be passed in Japan before same-sex marriages could actually take place. The government pledged to pass a law promoting understanding of LGBT+ people before hosting the G7 summit earlier this month, but opposition from conservatives delayed it so much that a watered-down version was only submitted to parliament the day before the summit. Japan has come under increasing pressure to change, both from other G7 members but also from economic lobbies, with businesses arguing that greater diversity is needed for international competitiveness. LGBT+ activists and their supporters have increased their efforts to achieve an anti-discrimination law since a former Kishida aide said in February that he wouldn't want to live next to LGBT+ people and that citizens would flee Japan if same-sex marriage were allowed. Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report 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 college student has gone viral after sharing her two-hour commute to school, which includes a boat and train. Laurie, who goes by the username @lauren.wep, shared a photo montage on TikTok last week to document her commute. The slideshow, which had 25 photos, began with Laurie sharing that she gets up at 5.45am every day. She noted that she then makes her bed at 6.30am. Throughout the footage, the student showcased the commute from Millport, a town off the coast of mainland Scotland, to West College Scotland in Paisley, which is based in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. Speaking to The Independent, Laurie noted that while her commute is long, she knew this was going to be the case, since she lives on an island. She also acknowledged how shes gotten used to the length of her travel Its just became a custom, and a routine Ive learned to enjoy, she said. It gives me time to think and listen to music to pass the time, though with trains being canceled or timetable changes it can get a little frustrating. But its just what I have to do if I want my education. In the slideshow on her TikTok, she shared one photo of herself on a bus at 6.45am, before getting on a ferry at 7am. After getting her ticket and checking in, she also noted that her boat sets sail at 7am. Laurie went on to share a photo of the street she walks when getting off the boat at 7.15am. [I] walk up an unfairly steep hill, she wrote in the text over the montage. She then arrived at the next part of her commute, a train station, at 7.20am. Laurie went on to share a photo of her seat, as she noted that she gets on the train at 7.23am. She also said that by 8.10am, shes finally off her train, before walking to her campus at 8:15. She included a photo of the outside of her classroom, which she usually arrives at around 8:30 am. The TikToker joked that at this time, shed wait for class to open and stare into the distance. Throughout the photo montage, she documented the rest of her day, with her first class starting at 9am, before she had a break at 10am. After returning from the break at 10.20am, she said that this class ended at 11.50am She concluded her video by noting that she repeats her nearly two-hour commute when school is over, as she makes it back home by 2.50pm. In the comments of her slideshow, Laurie specified that when she goes into school, she spends around $19.27 a day to cover the cost of the train and ferry. She also poked fun at her commute in the caption, writing: Not once will I ever understand why I chose a college so far away, and why Ive chosen it again for next year. As of 29 May, the students video has more than 1.2m views, with TikTok users in the comments stunned at how long the commute is. They were also shocked about how many forms of transportation Laurie took to class. A commute?? girl this is a JOURNEY, one wrote. Casually hopping on a boat like that what. Taking EVERY mode of transportation, another wrote, while a third joked: Laurie why are you late ? Sorry my boat didnt show up. Other viewers poked fun at their own daily commutes and acknowledged how grateful they were for them, after seeing Lauries video. I will never take my 30 min commute for granted ever, one wrote. Oh my god it takes two hours for me to get to school too but I dont get on a boat, but its still so exhausting were so strong, another added. My commute is like a 25 minute walk and an hour and 15 bus [ride], Ill never complain again. a third wrote. Speaking to The Independent, Laurie shared that shes going to continue traveling to school when needed, as shes only going to college for one more year. She also noted that while the commute can be difficult at times, her sister has helped her through it, as shes been in a similar situation. The journey is incredibly tiring sometimes, especially after a few days in a row, she said. But my sister, Megan, really helps me get through it, as she commuted all the way up to Stirling, Scotland, which is around a three-hour commute by public transportation. Shes done it before and her persevering personality helps me get through it. 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 vet has issued a warning over allowing dogs to drink seawater while enjoying time at the beach over the bank holiday. Dogs that consume too much seawater can experience dangerous side effects if left untreated, including serious kidney and brain damage, and even death. The warning comes as Brits flocked to the UKs beaches to enjoy the spring bank holiday. As today (Monday 29 May) marks the start of half-term holidays, many families and their pets will also be spending time on the coast. Sean McCormack, head vet at tails.com, urged pet owners to keep a close eye in case their furry friends accidentally ingest seawater while splashing about in the surf. He said: Seawater contains a high balance of salt, approximately 35g of salt in every one litre. If your dog drinks too much, it can quickly become dehydrated and symptoms can worsen if your dog isnt provided with fresh drinking water. Even if you keep a watchful eye over your furry companion during your visit to the beach, it can be challenging to tell if they have been drinking seawater whilst splashing about, taking a dip and playing fetch in the water. The high levels of sodium chloride (salt) in the seawater can disrupt the fluid balance in your dogs body, drawing water from the blood into your dogs intestines. Dogs who have ingested too much seawater could start displaying symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, lethargy, lack of appetite, convulsions, increased heart rate, instability, excessive thirst or urination, and seizures. Dogs may accidentally ingest seawater while playing fetch and swimming (Getty Images/iStockphoto) McCormack continued: If you recognise these signs within your pup during your trip to the beach, you need to get them to the vet as soon as possible. If left untreated, they could suffer serious kidney damage, brain damage and rapid dehydration, which could prove fatal. Pet owners are encouraged to make their dogs take a break from being in the water every 15 minutes or so, so they can drink fresh water to rehydrate them. They should also limit beach outings to two hours to avoid their dogs accidentally swallowing too much seawater. 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 }} Gemma Collins has opened up about her future plans for motherhood, amid her battle with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and an underactive thyroid. The former The Only Way is Essex star dismissed the suggestion that she could use a surrogate to have children, declaring that she has the best doctors going to help her get pregnant when she is ready. Speaking to OK! Magazine at the Chelsea Flower Show recently, Collins, 42, admitted that she did not know if she sees herself ever having children in the future, despite having previously said she was desperate to have a baby with fiance Rami Hawash. Obviously Ive got PCOS and all of that, she said. I could have a child at 50. If Id had kids sooner, I would probably have been crazy, whereas now, Im Miss Organic, I can just be at Zen with the child. However, Collins said that going to mother and toddler groups has never interested her, unless they are in Knightsbridge, darling. Im happy to host my own one indoors or around the vegetable patch, she continued. A bit of organic pressed champagne! Its a lot having a kid. Its a big commitment but its also very rewarding. But my life will take me where itd going to take me. Its taken me this far and as sure as hell, its not over yet. Asked if she would consider having a child via surrogate, the TV personality said: I dont think Ill need too. Im The GC, honey. I can have the best doctors going. Ill just ring one up and say, Right, come on, get me pregnant! Collins also gave an update on her mental health and said she was off all anti-depression medication as it really clouded her judgement. In her 2021 documentary Gemma Collins: Self-Harm & Me, Collins revealed that she was always put off having children due to the fear that her depression and self-harming would make her an unfit mother. However, instead of taking medication to treat the condition, she now uses a device called the Flow Neuroscience Headset. The device, created by a Swedish company, uses electric pulses to increase brain activity and is currently being trialled by the NHS. Collins said: I do it in the morning when Im making a cup of tea. Its a head device programmed to an app on your phone and it stimulates the frontal area of the brain linked to depression. The Im A Celebrity star claimed the headset has so far helped to clear her head and bring her emotions back, which she said were numbed by anti-depressants. Ive got all my feelings again and I felt that my judgement was quite clouded. I didnt feel like I could see dodgy people around me. People were taking me for granted but my brain is so sharp now and Ive got no side effects, she said. I was desperate to get off medication but everyone is different and they need to consult their GP. But I was like, I dont want them in my life. Thats it. The National Lotteries Commission had withdrawn funding for animal welfare in 2022/23 The National Lotteries Commission has reintroduced animal welfare funding in its call for applications for 2023/24 after it withdrew funding for 2022/23. Animal welfare organisations are celebrating the reintroduction of lotteries funding and many have decided to apply. Animal welfare organisations said that the NLC did not understand the important role their organisations play in preventing the spread of disease in poor communities and also population control of stray animals. Animal welfare organisations are celebrating the National Lotteries Commission's (NLC) decision to include animal welfare in its call for applications for funding in 2023/24. This comes after the NLC withdrew animal welfare from its funding focus for 2022/23. Animal welfare organisations criticised the decision, GroundUp previously reported. The NLC in its latest call for applications said that its overall goal for funding animal welfare was to "to improve welfare of companion and working animals in a manner that reduces harms and contributes to the benefit, health and safety of poor communities". The interventions it will fund include affordable or free essential veterinary services for animals in poor communities (as well as mobile clinics), education and awareness programmes, advocacy campaigns, shelter provision, and animal welfare inspectorates. Karen de Klerk, chairperson of the Cape Animal Welfare Forum (CAWF), which represents about 60 organisations in the Western Cape, sent a proposal to the NLC in March this year, that requested the NLC to reintroduce funding for the animal welfare sector for the next funding period. De Klerk said in the proposal that funding for animal welfare is specifically important to limit the spread of diseases in impoverished communities, such as mange, worms, and ticks, as well as sterilisation of animals, and other medical campaigns such as mobile clinics. De Klerk told GroundUp that animal welfare organisations are struggling already and that the NLC withdrawing funding exacerbated the situation. She said that a big problem was that the NLC didn't understand everything animal welfare entailed. "It's not just about rehoming puppies and kittens," she said. Rather, it provided critical medical services for animals in impoverished communities. The withdrawal of funding also had a huge impact on the salaries of people working in the animal welfare sector. "That's a very important part of any NGO because you can't do anything without professionals," said de Klerk. Similarly, Marcelle du Plessis spokesperson for the Mdzananda Animal Clinic in Khayelitsha, said they would be applying for veterinarian salaries, animal welfare assistant salaries and essential new equipment. "Without the people in the organisation there is no help for the animals," she said. She said that it's difficult to get funds in the animal welfare sector, as it is not a top priority, for instance, corporate companies donating to charities. "Understandably, there are many human issues that need funding too," said Du Plessis. She said that the last time Mdzananda applied for funding from the NLC was in 2015. She said they had only received the funding two years after sending their application. "As a result of the lengthy process we decided not to apply when the next funding round opened. However, in the current economic condition we would have liked to apply last year and were disheartened by animal welfare not being included," said Du Plessis. She said many other organisations were also upset about the exclusion last year and those who relied on NLC funding suffered. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) spokesperson Keshvi Nair lauded the NLC's decision to include animal welfare funding. Nair said that the NSPCA does not receive any direct funding from the government and that this makes the inclusion of animal welfare funding "even more crucial". Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines South Africa NGO By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "Animals are sentient beings who deserve our compassion and protection. By including animal welfare as a funding category, the NLC is acknowledging the fundamental role that animals play in our lives and the responsibility we have towards their well-being. This decision will undoubtedly have a positive and lasting impact on countless animals in need across our nation," said Nair. NLC Commissioner Jodi Scholtz told GroundUp that the decision to "include animal welfare was made after careful consideration of the matter and a reassessment of community needs". Scholtz said that concerns raised by the animal welfare sector did factor into the decision to include it in the call for applications. "NLC aims to be a responsive funder while balancing the needs of the various worthy good causes we are mandated to support," she said. "While we regret the negative impact on the organisations affected, funding for a particular sub-sector is never guaranteed," said Scholtz. 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 runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing whatever your hay fever symptoms, its no surprise if youve had a flare-up recently. During spring, both tree and grass pollen is released into the air. If youre allergic to the proteins they contain, your nose, eyes, throat and sinuses can become swollen, irritated and inflamed. Many people are suffering from hay fever just now because the pollen count is high, thanks in part to climate change, says Dr Nisa Aslam, GP from Typharms Skin Life Sciences Foundation. Plus the pollen season is getting longer. The immune function plays an important role in an allergic reactions, she explains. People who suffer from hay fever often have a family history of not just hay fever, but also skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, which can often be borne out of problems with the immune system. The weather can also be a contributing factor in how badly youre affected. Some hay fever sufferers may be experiencing a sudden spike in their symptoms a bit earlier than usual, this may be due to the recent prolonged wet and windy weather, says Claire Nevinson, superintendent pharmacist at Boots. On a daily basis, rainfall tends to decrease pollen, but over a period of months, intermittent wet days tend to produce a more severe hay fever season overall. Conditions could be about to get even worse. A recent study by the University of Worcester, published in the Science of The Total Environment journal, warned that it could be one of the worst seasons for birch pollen on record. The severity is due to two things. Firstly, higher than average temperatures last June, when the pollen is produced, allowed greater potential for high pollen levels, says Dr Beverley Adams-Groom, senior pollen forecaster at the university. Secondly, birch trees have a biennial pattern of pollen production, one mild year and one severe year, and this year was already expected to be a high year. So what can you do if your hay fever is much worse than usual at the moment? The first step is to avoid exposure to the pollen that affects you the most. Allergens responsible for hay fever include grass pollens and tree pollens [spring and summer], weed pollens and fungal mould spores, says Dr Aslam. Watch the daily pollen forecasts. Dont go outside when the pollen count is high and keep all windows shut. Preventive medicines can help to reduce symptoms if you know in advance when youre going to be exposed to pollen. This can be a steroid nasal spray one to two weeks before symptoms start, says Dr Aslam. Alternatively, natural nasal sprays can help to prevent the symptoms of hayfever and other types of allergic rhinitis by forming a protective film in our inner nose, stopping allergens that we breathe in from trying to enter our respiratory system, she says. Similarly, ointments like Vaseline can act as a pollen trap. Apply a barrier balm of petroleum jelly around your nose to trap the pollen and help relieve dry and uncomfortable skin from repetitive nose blowing, Ms Nevinson says. Shower and change your clothes after you have been outside to wash pollen off and wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes. 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 }} Kohls customers have threatened to boycott the retailer over its Pride-themed clothing, less than a week after Target announced that it was removing some Pride Month merchandise. The department store recently launched its newest line of LGBT+ clothing, in honour of Pride Month in June. As noted on the Kohls website, the merchandise ranges from hats, shirts, and pants, with the colours of the Pride flag on it, for customers of all ages. However, shoppers have gone to social media to express their issues with some of the Pride clothing. More specifically, many Twitter users have criticised a grey onesie at Kohls, as they questioned the brand for selling this clothing item for babies and claimed that they were now boycotting the store. In case you need clothes for your Gay or Trans 3 month old, Kohls has you covered, online commentator ALX wrote, along with a picture of the onesie. Yes this is real. Kohls is pushing LGBTQ pride for babies. Please boycott them, a second wrote. ( NOW KHOLS #BOYCOTTKHOLS !!!! ) Why is Kohls selling Pride Merch for 3 month old babies? political columnist Benny Johnson added. As shown on the Kohls website, the grey onesie includes cartoons of people walking together and cheering. One member of the group also held up the Progressive Pride Flag, which is an updated version of the flag that features colours to represent transgender, Black, and brown people. The onesie comes with a pair of black pants, with a rainbow, striped pattern on them. According to the products description, the Pride Bodysuit Set was created to celebrate the joy that comes from living authentically and unapologetically during Pride month. A viral video shared to Twitter by Twisted Luck INC also showed a customer in a Kohls store, while looking at the Pride collection. As he claimed that this video was initially deleted from his TikTok due to hate speech, he held up and filmed some of the Pride-themed items for children and babies. Some of the clothing he showed included a rainbow shirt for a child, which specified the meaning of the letters LGBTGIA, and a rainbow tutu. As he claimed that these items were inappropriate for children, he went on to hold up other Pride-theme merchandise, including a mug that read: Be Proud of Who You Are. Along with Twisted Luck INC, many Twitter users compared Kohls decision to sell Pride Merch to Bud Light, who recently received backlash for its partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Critics also compared the brand to Target, as the retailer removed its Pride collection due to criticism from customers and threats to staff. Another woman named Morgonn also shared a video on Twitter to claim that Kohls was promoting transgender ideology to kids as young as three months old, with its onesie and rainbow pants. However, many people have still praised Kohls for its Pride merchandise and criticised shoppers who intend on boycotting the brand. Hey @Kohls dont listen to the homophobic nut bars. The majority supports #PRIDE and will support Kohls, one wrote. I needed some things for my kitchen today and I will NOT #BoycottKohls People wanna boycott kohls because of their Pride collection, another added. I love stanning kohls. Im gonna shop there even more now. A third added: Stand your ground @Kohls PLEASE dont remove a damn thing, dont let them win! The Independent has contacted Kohls for comment. On 24 May, Target first announced that it was pulling some of its Pride Month merchandise after several of its employees experienced inappropriate behaviour from upset customers. 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. 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. Several videos posted on social media have shown customers destroying Targets Pride Month displays and heavily criticising the retail company for including LGBT+ attire. Although the company did not specify which items it was removing, Reuters reported that the store pulled items from British designer Erik Carnells LGBTQ-focused brand Abprallen. On the Abprallen Instagram account, the designer who is trans and gay condemned the response that led to the decision to remove the items, while clarifying that the merchandise was created for Targets adult section and not for children. Not like theres real problems in the world. Gotta talk about this instead. Satanic panic and transphobia running riot. Eighties mindset without the cool clothes, Carnell wrote. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Scripps National Spelling Bee returns this week as students from around the United States show off their smarts at the 95th annual spelling competition. The 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee takes place at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. The event kicks off on Tuesday (30 May) with the preliminaries, followed by the televised quarterfinals and semifinals on Wednesday, and the finals on Thursday (1 June). This year, 231 spellers ranging in age from nine to 14 will compete for the Scripps $50,000 cash prize, a $2,500 cash prize from Merriam-Webster, and the coveted Scripps Cup trophy. The Scripps National Spelling Bee has been a yearly tradition for almost a century, beginning in 1925 when nine newspapers joined together to host a spelling bee. Since then, Scripps has released an annual list of hundreds of words that spellers are asked to study in preparation for the bee, split into three levels of difficulty. However, words featured in the spelling bee have become increasingly difficult over the years. Some believe that earlier spelling bees included simpler words to spell, such as knack and therapy, while recent participants have been required to spell words like appoggiatura and gesellschaft. In honour of the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee, heres a list of the 10 most difficult winning words since 1925. Read the list below to see if you understand their definitions and etymology. Gladiolus Year: 1925 Winner: Frank Neuhauser from Louisville, Kentucky was just 11 years old when he won the first Scripps National Spelling Bee. For his victory, he was awarded $500 in gold pieces and met then-president Calvin Coolidge. Meaning: Gladiolus is a genus of the perennial cormous flowering plants in the iris family. Named for its shape and appearance, the term gladiolus comes from the diminutive form of gladius, which means sword in Latin. Albumen Year: 1930 Winner: Helen Jensen, a 14-year-old from Iowa. Meaning: The white part of an egg, which contains the protein albumin. Its borrowed from the Latin albus, meaning white. 12-year-old Samir Sudhir Patel of Colleyville, Texas, leaps into the air after spelling a word correctly at the 2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee (Getty Images) Crustaceology Year: 1955 Winner: 13-year-old Sandra Sloss from Granite City, Illinois. Meaning: The study of crustaceans such as lobsters, crabs, and shrimp. Other names for crustaceology are carcinology, malacostracology, and crustalogy. A person who studies crustaceans is a carcinologist. Esquamulose Year: 1962 Winner: Nettie Crawford, age 13, of Roswell, New Mexico and Mike Day, age 14, of Hardin, Illinois were announced as co-champions after they both misspelled esquamulose after an hour of head-to-head competition as the finalists. Meaning: An adjective to describe something not covered in scales or having smooth skin. Its derived from Latin e- (not) and squamula (small scales). Ronald Walters of Onalaska, Wisconsin, is high-fived by his fellow competitors during the third round of 2018 Scripps National Spelling Bee (Getty Images) Staphylococci Year: 1987 Winner: Stephanie Petit, 13, from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Meaning: It is the plural form of a type of spherical bacteria causing staph infections. Staphylococcus comes from the modern Latin staphylo- + -coccus. Chiaroscurist Year: 1998 Winner: Jody-Anne Maxwell, 12 years old from Kingston, Jamaica, made history as the first non-American to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee and the competitions first Black winner. Meaning: A painter who uses light and shade rather than colour to create the illusion of volume. The word comes from the Italian chiaro (clear) and oscuro (obscure). Jody Anne Maxwell, 12, from Kingston, Jamaica, wins the 1998 Scripps National Spelling Bee (AFP via Getty Images) Appoggiatura Year: 2005 Winner: 13-year-old Anurag Kashyap from Poway, California. Meaning: A music note played as an embellishment on the main beat. From the Italian word appoggiare, meaning lean upon or rest. Scherenschnitte Year: 2015 Winner: Vanya Shivashankar, 13, of Olathe, Kansas was one of two co-winners at the 2015 spelling bee. Gokul Venkatachalum, 14, of Chesterfield, Missouri also came in first. Meaning: The art of cutting continuous paper designs. Scherenschnitte means scissor cuts in German. 2005 spelling bee winner Anurag Kashyap meets US President George W Bush at The White House in Washington, DC (Getty Images) Murraya Year: 2021 Winner: Zaila Avant-garde, 14, from Harvey, Louisiana became the first African-American contestant to win the spelling bee competition. Meaning: Murraya is a genus of flowering plants in the citrus family, Rutaceae. The word Murraya comes from New Latin and is named for 18th-century Swedish botanist, Johan Andreas Murray. Zaila Avant-garde becomes first African-American contestant to win Scripps National Spelling Bee (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Moorhen Year: 2022 Winner: Harini Logan, a 14-year-old from San Antonio, Texas, won the spelling bee after a tie-breaker round. Meaning: An aquatic bird of the rail family with small, roundish heads and a red pointed bill. They are a species of the genus Gallinula, Latin for little hen. Fans can watch the two-day event beginning with the semifinals on 31 May at 8pm eastern on ION, followed by the finals televised live on 1 June at 8pm eastern. 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 }} Twilight star Rachelle Lefevre has hit back at Targets decision to remove items from its Pride collection, with the actor revealing that she wont be bringing her non-binary child to the store for a while. The 44-year-old recalled how she and her seven-year-old first noticed the displays in their local Target in a video shared to her Instagram over the weekend. As she pointed out where the collection used to be, before it was taken down, she recalled her childs happy reaction to the merchandise. My seven-year-old, whos non-binary, saw it and said: Look, Mom. Its pride, look. Theyre going to celebrate me, she recalled. And because some people complained and threw some stuff to the ground, I dont know what happened, they have moved their Pride selection to the back of the store. She then tearfully shared that she wont be bringing her child to Target throughout the month of June, which is Pride Month in the US. So the next time my seven-year-old comes to Target, or rather, I cant bring them here anymore, at least for the entire month of June. Because if they walk in, and all the other people who walk in go, Whered it go? she said, referring to the Pride merchandise. [They] are going to realise that they are being successful in trying to erase them. Lefevre concluded her video by criticising Targets decision to take down the collection amidst backlash and threats to employees. We could do so much better than this, she said. Were not supposed to negotiate with terrorists. We can do so much better than this. In the caption, she also tagged Target, as she accused the brand of taking its performative allyship to the next level. She also claimed that the retailer could have handled the situation in a different way, as opposed to taking the Pride collection down. And dont anyone come back at me with it was a security issue because this is a billion dollar company if they really care, they can hire extra security but instead they chose to send the message that LGBTQ+ people arent worth protecting or fighting for, she added. Lefevre added a follow-up to the caption, in which she criticised anyone who wrote hateful, ignorant garbage in the comments of her video. She also encouraged those people to focus on finding more happiness in their lives. Im sorry for whatever happened to you to make you susceptible to such lies and made your heart so hardened with hate, I truly am and I suggest you use your precious life force to find joy and fill your days with more love and more joy because you clearly arent finding it here, the Homefront star wrote. The Independent has contacted Lefevre and Target for comment. On 24 May, Target first announced that it was pulling some of its Pride Month merchandise after several of its employees experienced inappropriate behaviour from upset customers. 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. 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. Several videos posted on social media have shown customers destroying Targets Pride Month displays and heavily criticising the retail company for including LGBT+ attire. Although the company did not specify which items it was removing, Reuters reported that the store pulled items from British designer Erik Carnells LGBTQ-focused brand Abprallen. According to the report, the backlash stemmed from Carnells other merchandise, which includes images of Satanic symbols such as pentagrams. On the Abprallen Instagram account, the designer who is trans and gay condemned the response that led to the decision to remove the items, while clarifying that the merchandise was created for Targets adult section and not for children. Not like theres real problems in the world. Gotta talk about this instead. Satanic panic and transphobia running riot. Eighties mindset without the cool clothes, Carnell wrote. Carnell then addressed the outrage over his Target collection, with the designer sharing a photo of the three items hed created for the companys adult section for Pride. He reflected on his partnership with Target, which he said began with the company informing him that some of his designs, such as Satan Respects Pronouns, would not be a good fit for the store. [Target] was observant enough and had the necessary critical thinking skills to realise that my use of occult imagery is as harmless as any horror movie targeted towards adults, but wanted my collection for adults to be a bit less gothic, he said. The UK-based designer also said that he has no desire to make any children trans or make any children gay, as he noted that being transgender or gay is not a choice [and] cannot be forced upon anyone. In a statement from Abprallen shared with The Independent, Carnell said he has been incredibly negatively impacted emotionally by the false narrative that his Target merchandise was meant for children. 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 }} Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Monday his son is resigning as his executive policy secretary to take responsibility for using the prime ministers residence for a private party at which the merrymaking was exposed in magazine photos that triggered public outrage. Shotaro Kishida, his fathers executive secretary for political affairs and eldest son, invited a group of people including relatives to a year-end party on Dec. 30 at the Prime Ministers Official Residence. Photos published by the weekly Shukan Bunshun magazine showing Kishida's son and his relatives posing on red-carpeted stairs in an imitation of the group photos taken of newly appointed Cabinets, with his son at the center the position reserved for the prime minister. Other photos showed guests standing at a podium as if holding a news conference. As secretary for (the prime minister's) political affairs, a public position, his actions were inappropriate and I decided to replace him to have him take responsibility, Kishida told reporters Monday night. He said his son will be replaced with another secretary, Takayoshi Yamamoto, on Thursday. Kishida acknowledged that he had briefly greeted the guests but said he didn't stay at the dinner party. He said he severely reprimanded his son for the party, but that failed to quell ongoing criticism from opposition lawmakers and public outrage which have pushed down his support ratings. Kishida appointed his son as policy secretary, one of eight secretary posts for the prime minister, in October. The appointment, seen as a step in grooming him as his heir, was criticized as nepotism, which is common in Japanese politics, long dominated by hereditary lawmakers. His son was previously his father's private secretary. It was not the first time Kishida's son has come under fire for making use of his official position for private activities. He was reprimanded for using embassy cars for private sightseeing in Britain and Paris and for buying souvenirs for Cabinet members at a luxury department store in London when he accompanied his father on trips. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno earlier called the son's party at the official residence inappropriate and promised to ensure proper management of the facility to prevent future misuse. The nearly 100-year-old building previously was the prime minister's office and became the living quarters in 2005 when a new office was built. 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 California appeals court said Tuesday that Leslie Van Houten, who participated in two killings alongside cult leader Charles Manson in 1969, should be let out of prison on parole. The appellate courts ruling reverses an earlier decision by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who rejected parole for Van Houten in 2020. She has been recommended for parole five times since 2016. All of those recommendations were rejected by either Newsom or former California Gov. Jerry Brown. California Attorney General Rob Bonta could ask the California Supreme Court to stop her release. Neither his office nor Newsom's immediately responded to requests for comment on whether they would do so. Van Houten, now in her 70s, is serving a life sentence for helping Manson and other followers kill Leno LaBianca, a grocer in Los Angeles, and his wife Rosemary. Van Houten was 19 at the time. Newsom has said that Van Houten still poses a danger to society. In rejecting her parole, he said she offered an inconsistent and inadequate explanation for her involvement with Manson at the time of the killings. The Second District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles ruled 2-1 to reverse Newsom's decision, writing there is no evidence to support the Governor's conclusions" about Van Houten's fitness for parole. The Governors refusal to accept Van Houtens explanation amounts to unsupported intuition, the judges wrote. Nancy Tetreault, Van Houtens attorney, said she expects Bonta to ask the state Supreme Court to review the lower courts decision, a process that could take years. In addition, Bonta will likely request a stay of the appellate courts ruling, Tetreault said. The high court could order Van Houten'S release while it decides on whether to grant the stay. I will, of course, vigorously oppose any stay, Tetrault said. And they could let her out during that process. ___ Taxin reported from Orange County, California. 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 auctioneer in Northern Ireland has been urged to stop the sale of a pencil which purportedly once belonged to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. The ornate silver-plated pencil is set to go under the hammer in Belfast next week as well as a signed portrait of the notorious dictator who led the regime responsible for the Holocaust. The pencil is estimated to sell for between 50,000 and 80,000, while the photograph is expected to sell for between 10,000 and 15,000. The chairman of the European Jewish Association, Rabbi Menachem Margolin, has written to Karl Bennett, managing director of Bloomfield Auctions, asking him to withdraw the items. He questioned whether the auction house would sell possessions belonging to a terrorist who committed an atrocity in Northern Ireland, such as the IRA bombing of La Mon hotel in 1978 on the outskirts of east Belfast which killed 12 people. In his letter to Mr Bennett, Rabbi Margolin said he is making a moral appeal. I am writing to respectfully ask you to withdraw these items from the auction. This is not a legal appeal to you Mr Bennett, but very much a moral one, he wrote. In comments attributed to you in a national newspaper, you say: But for me, as a high-end collector of militaria items, they preserve a piece of our past and should be treated as historical objects, no matter if the history they refer to was one of the darkest and most controversial in recorded history. We simply cannot fathom how a love trinket such as an engraved pencil or a signed photograph constitutes a historical object of any inherent historical value. The rabbi went on to say that in Europe and further afield, auction houses are buying and selling other items such as watches, ashtrays and even Wehrmacht toilet paper purported to have belonged to senior Nazis. The defence from Munich to Maryland is the same, these items are of historical interest. They are anything but, he wrote. Let there be no doubt, items of genuine historical interest do belong in museums or places of learning. This we fully support. But the buying and selling of items such as yours are dangerous on a number of fronts: they create a macabre trade in items belonging to mass murderers, the motives of those buying them are unknown and may glorify the actions of the Nazis, and lastly their trade is an insult to the millions who perished, the few survivors left, and to Jews everywhere. He concluded his letter: What is sold and to whom is a matter of public decency and moral responsibility at the end of the day. It is in this spirit of decency that I ask you again to withdraw the Nazi auction items, to send a message that some things particularly when so metaphorically blood soaked, should not and must not be traded. Earlier this week Mr Bennett defended the sale of the items, telling the PA news agency: I understand why some people may struggle to understand why items like these are sold and collected, but for me, as a high-end collector of militaria items, they preserve a piece of our past and should be treated as historical objects, no matter if the history they refer to was one of the darkest and most controversial in recorded history. These items give us concrete ties to the past so that we can never forget. A spokesman for Bloomfield Auctions said: Bloomfield Auctions is a specialist auction house for militaria across all centuries. All items are a part of history, and we shouldnt be writing history out of books or society. In my experience those who buy such items are legitimate collectors who have a passion for history. We do not seek to cause hurt or distress to any one or any part of society. All items have a story and tell of a particular time in history. 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 woman has admitted to killing her newborn baby with cling film after she was wrongfully convicted of his murder. Ineta Dzinguviene, 38, pleaded guilty to one charge of culpable homicide of her hours-old baby, Paulius Dzingus, after multiple psychiatrists found her to be of diminished responsibility at the time of the childs death due to her mental state. She had previously been found guilty of murdering the baby in 2011 but the conviction was overturned on appeal after she applied to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC) in 2020. Evidence showed Dzinguviene had diminished responsibility as a result of her mental state at the time of the crimes and the SCCRC agreed a miscarriage of justice may have taken place. Dzinguviene was also convicted of the same crime against her daughter, Paulina, whom she smoothered with a plastic bag, in her native Lithuania in 2009. After she was tried for the murder of baby Paulius in 2010, she was extradited to Lithuania to face trial for murdering Paulina where she pleaded guilty in 2012. Following this, she was returned to Scotland in order to serve her sentence for killing Paulius. Dzinguviene was seven months pregnant with Paulius in February 2010 when she arrived in Scotland to join her husband, who had taken up work as a lorry driver. But the High Court in Edinburgh heard from a narrative, read by prosecutor Alex Prentice KC, that Dzinguviene attempted to conceal the pregnancy and had emphatically denied she was pregnant. Paulius was born two months later in April 2010 and nobody outside of the hospital had seen the baby alive. The baby was killed that same month. He was found wrapped in a Tesco carrier bag in a suitcase behind a roll of carpet in a communal cupboard of the block of flats Dzinguviene lived in with her family in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. She was found guilty of murdering Paulius in 2011 and was sentenced to serve at least 15 years in prison. Dzinguviene had previously killed another baby, Paulina, in Lithuania, in 2009. She was extradited to Lithuania in 2012 after tradesmen found the remains of baby Paulina in an attic of the home where she lived. Her case was sent back to the High Court after significant new evidence about her mental state when she committed the crimes in 2009 and 2010 was uncovered by psychiatrists. While serving her sentence at HMP Cornton Vale, Dzinguviene was assessed by several mental health professionals who subsequently found she had both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) resulting from an abusive childhood and marriage. Psychiatrists assessing Dzinguviene found she could have dissociative episodes as a result of the PTSD and CPTSD as well as being in denial about her pregnancies. Dzinguviene told professionals of her deprived childhood, which was often abusive. You killed your baby boy. I accept you had diminished responsibility, but nevertheless, this is a very serious and tragic crime Lady Poole Her marriage was also abusive and she was subjected to emotional, mental and sexual abuse by her husband, the court heard. The court was also told that Dzinguviene was raped by her mothers boyfriend in 2003, resulting in a pregnancy. Psychiatrists believe this is where her PTSD and CPTSD originated from, and she compartmentalised this in order to cope with day-to-day life. Dzinguviene concealed her pregnancies and ultimately killed two of her five children because she did not want them to experience the same life that she had, the court heard. Delayed disclosures are understandable as an avoidance technique to avoid reliving traumatic events, Mr Prentice told the court. The prosecutor told judge Lady Poole that some amount of discount to the sentence would be appropriate. In summing up, Lady Poole said: You killed your baby boy. I accept you had diminished responsibility, but nevertheless, this is a very serious and tragic crime. Lady Poole deferred sentencing to June 20 following court social work reports being obtained. Dzinguviene was remanded in custody. 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 }} The UK is finally enjoying a spate of warm weather this bank holiday weekend, with parts of the country seeing temperatures 20C and higher. As such you might find yourself tempted to go for a dip as Britain heats up. However, its worth doing your research beforehand as the Environment Agency regularly provides updates on water quality across the country. The Swimfo website has an interactive map highlighting areas where the EA advises against bathing. Annual ratings classify each site as excellent, good, sufficient or poor based on measurements taken over a period of up to four years. Campaign group Surfers Against Sewage provides a similar map that also flags more recent sewage discharges. Below we look at more than a dozen locations around the UK where you should think twice before taking a dip, either due to sewage concerns or poor quality conditions for bathing. Blackpool North Blackpool North sand beach is opposite Blackpool Tower and between Central and North Piers. Water quality here was rated sufficient in 2018 and 2021, and good in 2019 but took a dive to poor last year. Bognor Regis (Aldwick) Aldwick is mostly a shingle resort beach with some sand exposed at low tide. There are eight sewer overflows spread out across the length of this beach with several more to the east and west. In 2019 and 2021 the water was rated as good but took a dramatic plunge in 2022 to poor. Bridlington South Beach Bridlington South Beach has one sewer overflow which discharges straight onto the beach while a long sea overflow was built in 2014 to transfer discharge from the Gypsy Race 1.1km out to sea. Water quality took a nose dive last year to poor after it was found sufficient in previous assessments. The Environment Agency highlights many of the locations on this list due to water quality concerns (Swimfo) Burnham Jetty North In 2020 the Environment Agency warned against swimming on Burnham-on-Seas main beach due to ongoing water quality concerns and that remains in place three years later. The Agencys Environment Manager Jim Flory said at the time: The Environment Agency has issued permanent advice against bathing at Burnham Jetty at Burnham-On-Sea. This advice is issued under the Bathing Water Regulations because water quality has been classified as poor for five consecutive bathing seasons at Burnham. Clacton (Groyne 41) This is another area where the EA has permanently advised against bathing. The spot in Essex was found to have been poor for five years running. The agency previously suggested pigeons were partly to blame for the conditions, with birds dropping faeces dropping into the water when they nest under the pier. Dunster North West A large pebble and sand resort beach backed by Chalets, Dunster North West faces into the Bristol Channel and is just east of the popular seaside resort of Minehead. A sewer overflow discharges directly into the sea in the middle of this beach. Bathing is not advised after previously sufficient water quality dropped to poor in 2022. Beach resort Weston Super Mare has a number of spots with poor quality water for bathing (Getty) Heacham Heacham or Stubborn Sands is a gently sloping sand beach fronting a popular Norfolk seaside resort. The sea is cloudy here due to tidal movements stirring up the sediment. There are no sewer overflows discharging directly onto the beach but there are long and short sea outfalls at Hunstanton. In 2018 and 2019 the water quality was deemed sufficient but has dropped to poor in the last two years. Ilfracombe Wildersmouth Wildersmouth beach is another Devon location where the EA permanently advises against bathing. In 2017 alone, 42 warnings were issued against swimming due to pollution risk. Instow Instow in North Devon is not a bathing beach and the public is advised not to go swimming, the local parish council says. It is another spot that has consistently had poor water quality and the EA does not believe it will meet the minimum standard in the foreseeable future. The council also warns that dog owners should bear in mind that if there are pollutants in the water that are potentially harmful to humans they are also potentially harmful to dogs. Surfers Against Sewage also shows recent sewage discharges across the country (Surfers Against Sewage) Kinghorn (Harbour Beach) Bathers are advised to avoid entering the waters of Harbour Beach in Kinghorn, Scotland, due to its poor annual classification. The beach is a mix of sand and rock pools and cliffs and stretches about 500m long. Scarborough South Bay Scarborough South Bay is a long, sandy resort beach located directly below the seafront and in one of Britains most famous seaside towns. There is a sewer overflow that discharges directly onto the beach, with two more at 800m and 2.5km away from the bathing water. Quality of the water was rated sufficient in 2021 but dipped back down to poor the year after. St Marys Bay (Kent) St Marys Bay is a shingle beach with large areas of sand flats. There are no sewer overflows discharging directly into St Marys Bay, however there are sewer overflows in the vicinity. Back in 2018 the water quality was considered good but dropped to sufficient the year after and then poor last year. Tynemouth Cullercoats The beach is enclosed by piers at each end, which means the area is a sheltered bay. Though no sewer overflows discharge directly at Tynemouth Cullercoats, there are discharges into the River Tyne, which meets the sea just south of the bathing water. Water quality here has been rated poor every year since 2018. Blackpool North is one of several areas where water quality took a dive last year (Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images) Weston-super-Mare Sand Bay A sand and shingle beach resort in North Somerset, approximately 5km wide and backed by sand dunes. There is a salt marsh at the northern end, and Sand Point Headland is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The outfall from Weston-super-Mare STW discharges to the sea at Black Rock 5km south of Sand Bay. Water quality was rated good in 2018, falling to sufficient the year after and then poor last year. Weston Main Located close to the popular seaside town of Weston-super-Mare, the main beach is a large stretch of sand with a pier. Two sewer overflows discharge directly into the sea here - one at the northern extent of the beach and one 2km to the south. The bathing water quality may also be affected by discharges from the surrounding urban catchment area. In 2019 it was rated as sufficient but fell to poor for the last two years. Wharfe at Cromwheel The short 160m stretch of the River Wharfe flowing through the West Yorkshire town of Ilkley is popular with swimmers and paddlers. A sewage discharge outlet is located within the designated bathing area at one of these beaches. Water quality was found to be poor in 2021 and 2022. Wolvercote Mill Stream Wolvercote Mill Stream is a bifurcation of the River Thames that splits from the main channel above Kings Lock, re-joining below Godstow Lock. The most recent water quality classification in 2022 rated it poor with bathing not advised. I really dont understand where xenophobia comes from. We have to know that were beads on one string, Olga Thafeni told a gathering celebrating Africa Day on Saturday May 25, 2023. Immigrant and South African women celebrate Africa Day together "South Africa has experienced many challenges in relation to migration and xenophobia. We are marking Africa Day by bringing together a diversity of women who live in Cape Town to speak about their commonalities as African women and to share their experiences." This is how the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR), Tusimame Wanawake, and the South African Women in Dialogue (SAWID) described their joint event held on Saturday with support from UNWOMEN at the IJR offices in Cape Town. About 50 people met under the theme "Social cohesion, human rights, diversity and uniting the women of Africa" - aimed at amplifying the peace-building voices of women on the continent. The event follows the commemoration on 25 May of the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU). People wore traditional clothing, listened to African music and shared Cape Malay chicken biryani and West African dishes such as jollof rice, dodo (plantains) and adalu (a bean and corn stew). "I'm a proud, black, rural, independent woman," said Jo-Anne Johannes, of Rural Women's Assembly, who grew up on a farm in Simondium. "Growing up in apartheid we were forced to work on farms, but I made a promise to myself that I will finish matric." "I also told my daughters they were not going to be farm workers. They have become teachers and social workers through my hard work. There are times we didn't have food while I was saving for their school fees, but I broke the cycle of poverty in my family." "We are suffering today because we have lost our ways. We need to go back to Ubuntu," said Vuyiswa Lamfiti. "I grew up in the back rooms of this area. My mother was a domestic worker. ... I kept on telling myself that one day I will have the same life as my mother's employer, and I've achieved that." Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines South Africa By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "I really don't understand where xenophobia comes from," said Olga Thafeni, who grew up in the Eastern Cape and now lives in Montague working as a carer. "We have to know that we're beads on one string - every adult, every child, male, female. No one has a right to discriminate against someone because we are equal." "Africa day is about getting rid of all colonialism, apartheid and borders in our hearts. Those things can exist in history books, but in our hearts lets remain Africans," said science and math teacher Paty Mudiayi of Tusimame Wanawake. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mudiayi said that when she first arrived in South Africa she had to humble herself. She worked for five years on Green Market Square even though she is an engineer. Later, the Scalabrini Centre organised jobs for people with a maths and science background and she went to teach for LEAP. "I'm an African in Africa and not Congolese ... We are Africans and we have one objective to get rid of poverty and borders. People put borders in their hearts, that's where xenophobia comes from," said Mudiayi. 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 new government crackdown on vape marketing will prevent the unacceptable targeting of children and young people, Rishi Sunak has said. Ministers have pledged to close a loophole allowing retailers to give free samples of vapes to children in England, amid concerns over the proportion of children trying e-cigarettes. The move comes days after the prime minister used an appearance on ITVs Good Morning Britain to express concern about his own daughters potentially being targeted by vape marketing. The government said that there will also be a review into banning retailers selling nicotine-free vapes to under-18s. There will also be a review of the rules on issuing fines to shops that illegally sell vapes to children, which the government said could make it easier for local trading standards officials to issue on-the-spot fines and fixed penalty notices. Ministers cited NHS figures from 2021 that showed that 9 per cent of 11-15-year-olds used e-cigarettes, up from 6 per cent in 2018. The prime minister said he was deeply concerned about an increase in children vaping and was shocked by reports of illicit vapes containing lead getting into the hands of schoolchildren. Our new illicit vape enforcement squad backed by 3m is on the case but clearly there is more to do. That is why I am taking further action today to clamp down on rogue firms who unlawfully target our children with these products. The marketing and the illegal sales of vapes to children is completely unacceptable and I will do everything in my power to end this practice for good. Chief medical officer professor Sir Chris Whitty called the decision to close the loophole a very welcome step. Whilst vaping can be an effective quitting tool for smokers, it is important that non-smokers are not encouraged to start vaping, he said. There has been a particularly worrying rise in the number of children using vapes, with companies clearly marketing these products at children using colours, flavours and cheap disposable options. Closing the loophole that allows companies to give out free samples of vaping products to under-18s is a very welcome step in tackling some of the harms caused by the vaping industry. We should continue to encourage smokers to swap to vaping as the lesser risk, whilst preventing the marketing and sale of vapes to children. The crackdown will also see the health risks of vaping included in Relationships, Sex and Health Education lessons, as part of the ongoing government review of the curriculum. Dedicated police school liaison officers will also work to keep illegal vapes out of schools. It follows the creation of the illicit vapes enforcement squad earlier this year. Health minister Neil OBrien called any marketing of vaping products to children shameful. He said the government would review the rules on issuing on-the-spot fines to shops that break the law by selling vapes to underage youngsters, and look into banning the sale of nicotine-free vapes to under-18s which we know can be a gateway to using nicotine products. Wes Streeting, Labours shadow health secretary, called the announcement a baby step. We have to act now to stop a new generation of kids getting hooked on nicotine, the Labour MP said. But the Conservatives voted down Labours plan to ban the marketing of vapes to children. This new announcement is a baby step when we need urgent action now. The next Labour government will come down like a tonne of bricks on those pushing vapes to kids. Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the charity Action on Smoking and Health, said the proposals were welcome but were not the tough action thats needed. She said the announcement needed to be followed by more detailed action. The most important immediate step the government could take now is to put a tax on the cheap disposables which are the vape of choice for children, as well as being bad for the environment, she said. Industry figures welcomed the government proposals. Gillian Golden, chief executive of the Independent British Vape Trade Association, said: The loophole allowing free samples to be distributed regardless of consumer age is a gap that no self-respecting business should ever have considered exploiting. Joe Murillo, chief regulatory officer of Juul Labs, said: Vapes have a role to play in helping adult smokers transition away from cigarettes, but more needs to be done to combat underage use of these products. We believe that government, regulators, and industry can collectively take action to reduce the access and appeal of vaping to those underage, including by restricting the sale and marketing of vapes to this group. 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 government's failed attempts to deport small boat migrants are merely leaving asylum seekers in limbo at a higher cost to the public, a damning United Nations report has found. It suggested that ministers should drop their refusal to consider claims from refugees who have passed through France and other safe countries because of the absence of deportation agreements. An eight-month audit of the UKs asylum system by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) found that Home Office staff were frustrated at being barred from considering small boat cases immediately when it was inevitable that these cases would be determined in the UK. They warned that failing attempts to declare boat migrants inadmissible for asylum merely caused unnecessary delays and inefficiencies, worsening the asylum backlog and driving up soaring costs for hotel accommodation. With the Rwanda deal held up by legal action and an EU-wide arrangement lost during Brexit, the UK has only deported six asylum seekers for passing through safe third countries in a year. Official figures show that since the government changed its rules in January 2021, 55,000 asylum seekers have been considered for inadmissibility but only 23 have been removed from the UK, while over 27,500 were subsequently admitted into the UK asylum process for substantive consideration. More than 170,000 asylum seekers are currently awaiting an initial decision on their claims, with the record figure rocketing by 50 per cent in a year. The UNHCRs report called for the government to re-evaluate policies that are slowing down asylum processing, in particular with regard to inadmissibility decisions that merely leave asylum seekers in limbo at a higher cost to the UK government. Vicky Tennant, the bodys representative to the UK, said: Fair and efficient asylum systems help ensure that refugees are able to access the protection they need and to start rebuilding their lives. Equally important, they help maintain public confidence by allowing governments to pursue arrangements for the return of people who are found not to have international protection needs. Flawed and inefficient screening procedures are currently undermining the UKs asylum capacity placing vulnerable people at risk and adding to the pressure on public resources. The UNHCR called for the government to stop suspending asylum processing for people who are not reasonably likely to be readmitted or transferred to other countries, saying the change would reduce demands on asylum support and accommodation and promote asylum seekers integration or return. Archbishop of Canterbury condemns Rwanda deportations It also said civil servants should not be made to waste time requesting deportations to countries that the UK does not have an agreement with. Internal Home Office guidance states that asylum seekers can be declared inadmissible if they are deemed to have a connection to a safe country that is not the UK or their home nation. It includes people who have travelled through countries like France, where the government argues they could have made an application for asylum before moving onwards to the UK. Examples given to civil servants include an asylum seeker who spent a couple of weeks in Brussels staying with friends whilst trying to find an agent to bring them illegally to the UK. An official who decides asylum claims told The Independent the situation was ludicrous, adding: Britain is an island, you have to pass through a different country. David*, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he considers cases that have been delayed for months before the Home Office gives up on the process all the time. We dont have any deportation agreements to deal with it, he added. In order to send people to another country, you need to have an agreement. The UNHCR warned of potential legal action over the process, saying that people are referred for inadmissibility consideration on the basis of brief screening interviews where they are asked questions about their route to the UK without being made aware of the reasons why, or the potential consequences of their answers. It also found that some asylum seekers arriving at airports were being wrongly flagged for simply changing planes on direct journeys to Britain. The report, based on eight months of research Home Office allowed UNHCR officials access to its internal records, interviews and small boat processing centres in 2021, called for an overall redesign of processes. It warned that Home Office staff were not adequately trained and overseen, that poorly designed systems were causing hours of wasted or duplicated work and that failings were causing numerous risks to the welfare of asylum seekers, including children and the victims of torture and trafficking. A Home Office spokesperson said: This report is based on an audit that took place in 2021 and early 2022. Since then, significant improvements have been made to the processing of small boats arrivals. Our staff are working relentlessly to safely register and screen unprecedented numbers of migrants arriving in the UK illegally. We are pleased that their professionalism was praised and thank the UNHCR for their report. *name has been changed to protect anonymity 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 }} James Cleverly will hold talks in Estonia and Norway over the coming days as Nato foreign ministers gather for an informal meeting in Oslo. The war in Ukraine is set to top the agenda at the Nato gathering, while it is also likely that Swedens accession will be discussed ahead of a key summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July. The Foreign Secretary will arrive in Tallinn on Tuesday for his first official visit to Estonia, where he is expected to meet members of the government and visit the Royal Navys HMS Albion in the Baltic Sea. While there, he is likely to stress the UKs desire for continued close co-operation on European security, including on support for Ukraine, which was invaded by its neighbour Russia last year, and the need to tackle illegal migration. In Estonia, across land, sea and air, British personnel are on the frontline protecting Europes security and deterring Russias cruel and catastrophic aggression, Mr Cleverly said ahead of the trip. As Nato allies, we are stronger than ever before unified against hostility and in defence of democracy and freedom. Not only is our military leading the way, our diplomats are working across the globe to galvanise our partners and strengthen international efforts to ensure (Russian President Vladimir) Putin faces the consequences of his barbaric actions. In Norway, Mr Cleverly is expected to use the informal meeting on Wednesday to push for Sweden to join Nato ahead of the summit in July. Objections from Turkey and Hungary have so far slowed the process for Swedish membership. Mr Cleverlys stop-off in Estonia will also see him speak to figures from the countrys technology sector and visit a school for children of Ukrainian refugees. 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 }} Downing Street has denied the row over the disclosure of Boris Johnsons WhatsApp messages and notebooks to the Covid inquiry is a cover-up. Pressure was moutning on Rishi Sunak to reveal the former prime ministers messages during the Covid crisis after an ex-mandarin said they were being withheld to spare ministers embarrassment. Lord Kerslake, the former head of the civil service, backed demands for the Cabinet Office to drop its refusal to hand over Mr Johnsons unredacted Whatsapps to the official Covid inquiry. He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme he agreed that protecting ministerial confidentiality was important but added: There is some cover-up going on here to save embarrassment of ministers. The Cabinet Office, which has supported Mr Johnsons refusal to reveal his private messages during the pandemic, was misguided on this occasion, said the peer. He added that it would be helpful if Covid chair Lady Hallett, who insists the messages are disclosed to establish the truth about Mr Johnsons handling of the pandemic, prevailed in this fight. But responding to Lord Kerslakes criticism, and asked whether there was a cover up, Rishi Sunkaks official spokesman said: No. We want to learn the lessons about the actions of the state during the pandemic, we want that to be done rigorously and candidly. The Cabinet Office now has until 4pm on Tuesday to respond to inquiry chair Lady Halletts request for messages and diaries belonging to Mr Johnson. The deadline was extended by 48 hours as the inquiry said it does not have Boris Johnsons WhatsApp messages or notebooks. The Covid-19 Inquiry has said that if the Cabinet Office still maintains its position that it does not hold Boris Johnsons material when the 4pm on Thursday deadline arrives, it must provide in substitute a witness statement from a senior civil servant to that effect. If ministers block the request to turn over official records, which show what was happening at the heart of government during the pandemic, the department faces being dragged to court. The government has so far refused to release some material, claiming it is "unambiguously irrelevant" to the inquiry. But Lady Hallett has argued she should be able to decide whether materials are relevant or not. No decision has been taken on whether to disclose the materials to the inquiry - ordered by Mr Johnson himself in May 2021. Lord Kerslake, who ran the civil service between 2012 and 2014, told BBCs Radio 4 Today show: Theres some cover-up going on here to save embarrassment of ministers. But theres also the Cabinet Office fighting for a principle of confidentiality. "I have to say I think theyre misguided on this situation. I actually think it would set a helpful precedent if Lady Hallett prevailed in this fight about the information. "We are in a bit of a mess at the moment, we dont really know whether WhatsApps been used as a decision-making tool or, indeed, as just an information-sharing device. Referring to former health secretary Matt Hancock handing over WhatsApp exchanges to Isabel Oakeshott from his time in cabinet, he added: "Weve got the extraordinary situation where Matt Hancock handed over a whole sheath of WhatsApp messages to a journalist without any apparent sanction under the official secrets act. Surely this case for seeing the documents in one of our most important inquiries, probably since Iraq, must be much more compelling than that." The Cabinet Office has already provided more than 55,000 documents, 24 personal witness statements and eight corporate statements to the inquiry. But the inquiry is also seeking unredacted messages between Mr Johnson and a host of government figures, civil servants and officials. The list includes Englands chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty, as well as then-chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance. Messages with then-foreign secretary Liz Truss and then-health secretary Matt Hancock are also requested, as well as with former top aide Dominic Cummings and then-chancellor Rishi Sunak. The inquiry has also asked for "copies of the 24 notebooks containing contemporaneous notes made by the former prime minister" in "clean unredacted form, save only for any redactions applied for reasons of national security sensitivity". Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An extraordinary row over Boris Johnsons WhatsApps risked descending into farce as the former prime minister said he was happy for his messages to be given to the Covid inquiry only for the government to say it did not have them. Downing Street was forced to deny allegations of a cover-up as it stuck by its stance that it should not be forced to release irrelevant material concerning the private lives of government staff. The head of the inquiry has already threatened possible criminal sanctions if the Cabinet Office fails to disclose Mr Johnsons diary entries and WhatsApp messages. Officials have now told the inquiry that they do not have all the documents that have been demanded. It came as Mr Johnsons spokesperson insisted that the former PM had no objection to handing over the evidence, adding that the decision to challenge the inquirys position on redactions is for the Cabinet Office. Follow The Independents live coverage for the latest updates The chair of the inquiry, Heather Hallett, has demanded a witness statement from a senior civil servant accompanied by a statement of truth confirming the documents are not held if the government fails to produce the requested messages, notebooks and diaries by 4pm on Thursday. Allies of the former prime minister are reported to have said that he gave his lawyers, who were paid for by the Cabinet Office, access to the material. It has emerged that legal advice given to the government last year, seen by Bloomberg, said documents recording discussions between ministers during the pandemic should not be disclosed because doing so would undermine the principle of collective responsibility. The advice also revealed that civil servants had graded documents sought by the Covid inquiry using a traffic light system, according to their political sensitivity. Rishi Sunak said his government was acting in a spirit of transparency and candour amid the row. But he has come under increasing pressure from senior Tories to find a way to end the dispute. Former business secretary Sir John Redwood told GB News: There has to be an agreement. The public will want reassurance that the inquiry can have all relevant information. And the Cabinet Office, and the ministers and senior officials involved, will obviously want to make sure that details of their private lives, or comments that arent really relevant to the inquiry, are protected from wider public view. Michael Heseltine told The Independent it was a complex situation, and said the demand could create the most incredible straitjacket on ministerial behaviour if they [ministers] have to account in public for everything they do in private. There is a balance somewhere in here, which is difficult to define, but I want to protect the ability of ministers to behave in a natural way, Lord Heseltine added. Rishi Sunak is under pressure to bring the dispute over the disclosure of Boris Johnsons WhatsApp messages to an end (PA Wire) Former justice secretary David Gauke said there may be scope for a compromise. Tensions between Mr Sunak and Mr Johnson erupted again last week after officials reported the former prime minister to police over fresh claims he had broken lockdown rules by hosting gatherings at his grace-and-favour home, Chequers. A phone call between the two men this week has been cancelled. As the Whatsapp row intensified, the former head of the civil service, Robert Kerslake, accused the government of a cover-up, saying: There is some cover-up going on here to save [the] embarrassment of ministers. Lord Kerslake told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that, while protecting ministerial confidentiality was important, it would be helpful if the inquiry prevailed in this fight. Labour said the evidence appeared to have gone missing and must be found and presented to the Covid-19 inquiry in order to avoid the whiff of a cover-up. The prime ministers official spokesperson denied the allegation of a cover-up, saying: No. We want to learn the lessons about the actions of the state during the pandemic, [and] we want that to be done rigorously and candidly. He said there was no requirement for the government to permanently store or record every WhatsApp, as messages related to decision-making are copied over to an official record. He added that it was down to individuals to decide what personal information they are able to hand over. A spokesperson for the former prime minister said: Mr Johnson has no objection to disclosing material to the inquiry. He has done so and will continue to do so. The decision to challenge the inquirys position on redactions is for the Cabinet Office. A Cabinet Office spokesperson said it was committed to its obligations to the Covid-19 inquiry and had already provided more than 55,000 documents, 24 personal witness statements, and eight corporate statements, adding that extensive time and effort has gone into assisting the inquiry fulsomely over the last 11 months. They continued: However, we are firmly of the view that the inquiry does not have the power to request unambiguously irrelevant information that is beyond the scope of this investigation. This includes the WhatsApp messages of government employees which are not about work but instead are entirely personal and relate to their private lives. Responding to the claims about the government having received legal advice not to disclose information that might undermine cabinet collective responsibility, a Whitehall source said the government would not be withholding any relevant information from the inquiry on those grounds. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The government looks set for unprecedented legal battle with officials in charge of the Covid public inquiry over the release of unredacted WhatsApp messages and diaries belonging to Boris Johnson. In a showdown over the ex-PMs communications with 40 top officials, the Cabinet Office has until 4pm on Thursday to respond to the demand from Lady Halletts public inquiry into the Covid crisis. The deadline has been extended from Tuesday, after officials claimed they do have all the documents demanded. The inquiry was told the Cabinet Office does not have in its possession either Mr Johnsons WhatsApp messages or Mr Johnsons notebooks. Delayed deadline aisde, there is little sign that Rishi Sunaks government is willing to shift from its position that the department has no duty to disclose unambiguously irrelevant material. Reports indicate that the government is unlikely to back down and hand over Mr Johnsons material worried about privacy issues and the precedent it would set for future ministers trying to discuss policy in confidence. So what happens if the Sunak government refuses to comply? Could government officials be liable to criminal proceedings? Could Mr Sunak and his ministers themselves be in serious trouble? Lady Hallett, insisting all the communications were of potential relevance to the inquiry, has threatened legal action against the government warning of criminal sanctions. The inquirys chairwoman said her request was made under section 21 of the Inquiries Act 2005 pointing out that failure to comply could be a criminal offence and punishable with a fine of up to 1,000 or even imprisonment for a maximum of 51 weeks. But the Cabinet Offices lawyers are thought to have advised officials that the inquiry does not have the power to demand all material with the Sunak government reportedly considering launching its own judicial review. WhatsApp messages belonging to Boris Johnson have been requested (PA Wire) So while the government is expected to at least reply to Lady Hallett by 4pm, it seems the dispute is destined to end up in court. What happens if a judge rules in favour of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry? It not clear who might be liable for criminal proceedings if the government continue to refused to comply with a court order. However, it appears unthinkable that the Sunak government would refuse to hand over material if it was lose a court case, with a Cabinet Office spokesperson insisting the department will hand over information in line with the law. It comes just weeks before the first public inquiry evidence sessions are expected to be held. It isnt clear whether it could delay proceedings or whether the chairwoman could get hearings under way while still battling the government in court. It is also unclear whether the Cabinet Office will now ask Mr Johnson to hand over his WhatsApp messages and notebooks. Lady Hallett rejected the request for an extension of time to 5 June 2023, but granted a short extension to 4pm on Thursday. Boris Johnson said to furious at Sunak government over material handed to police (PA Archive) Mr Johnson has insisted he does not object to disclosing his evidence to the Covid inquiry. The decision to challenge the inquirys position on redactions is for the Cabinet Office, said his spokesman. Whats the worst-case scenario for Mr Johnson? The PM is already under serious pressure over his actions during the Covid crisis battling to save his political career on several fronts. The inquiry wants to see his conversations with host of top figures. The list includes Englands chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty, then-chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, then-health secretary Matt, ex-strategist Dominic Cummings and then-chancellor Mr Sunak. Lady Hallett has also asked for copies of the 24 notebooks containing contemporaneous notes made by the former prime minister in clean unredacted form. Mr Johnson will be worried the material could prove highly embarrassing. The ex-Tory leader could scrape through the verdict of MPs investigating whether he lied to parliament over Partygate expected within weeks only to find himself on the defensive once again. While two police forces are still examining material on potentially rule-breaking events at Chequers and No 10, there is the possibility that the former PM could face a lengthy new police probe while having to face awkward public inquiry questions over his messages at the peak of the pandemic. Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak set for clear-the-air meeting (PA Wire) Mr Sunak was intially understood to be willing to hold a clear-the-air meeting with Mr Johnson later this week, with the former PM understood to be furious at the Cabinet Office for referring summaries of his diary entries on to the police. But a meeting is not scheduled to go ahead as it stands. As reported by the Sunday Times, junior minister Jeremy Quin, the Paymaster General, is understood to have approved the handing over of the same documents to the privileges committee investigating whether Mr Johnson lied to parliament. So will the government win its argument with the inquiry over the need for confidentiality? Former head of the civil service Lord Kerslake backed Lady Hallett and said there was a cover-up going on here to save embarrassment of ministers. On the Cabinet Office fighting for a principle of confidentiality, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: I have to say I think theyre misguided on this situation. I actually think it would set a helpful precedent if Lady Hallett prevailed in this fight about the information. Recommended Millions in Tory donations at risk as property developers hit back Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Daisy Cooper said that it looks like Rishi Sunak is too worried about upsetting Boris Johnson and his allies to do the right thing. Mr Sunak claimed government was acting in a spirit of transparency and candour. He told reporters on Tuesday: With regard to the specific question at the moment, the government is carefully considering its position but it is confident in the approach that its taking. A Cabinet Office spokesman said: We are fully committed to our obligations to the Covid-19 inquiry ... We will continue to provide all relevant material to the inquiry, in line with the law, ahead of proceedings getting under way. Close Sunak refuses to rule out court action against Covid Inquiry Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Boris Johnson has told the Covid-19 Inquiry that he is willing to hand over all unredacted WhatsApp messages including 2020 material from a previous phone discarded for security reasons. The former prime minister is under fire once again after it emerged on Thursday that he had only handed over Covid-related messages from May 2021 or later to Cabinet Office officials. In a letter to inquiry chair Baroness Hallett, Mr Johnson said he would today hand over all the material already given to the Cabinet Office in unredacted form to her team. Earlier, a minister said Rishi Sunaks legal bid to prevent the inquiry from obtaining WhatsApp messages sent by Boris Johnson to government colleagues during the pandemic was likely to fail. Science minister George Freeman , appearing on BBC Question Time , insisted the Cabinet Office decision to launch judicial review proceedings was not a cynical waste of time but admitted he thought the prospect of success unlikely. The Cabinet Office is seeking a judicial review of inquiry chairwoman Baroness Halletts order to release the documents, arguing it should not have to hand over irrelevant material. 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 }} Property developers that have donated millions of pounds to the Conservative Party are on strike amid claims the party is blocking new house building. Housebuilders and developers - who in the past have accounted for around a fifth of all donations - have turned off the taps. A Tory source told The Times: I think you might struggle to name a developer who is currently donating. It comes as the Home Builders Federation claims housebuilding in England is set to fall to the lowest level since the second world war. It has accused the government of having anti-development and anti-business policies which threaten to dramatically slow development. And in December the government was slammed by developers for scrapping building targets after a rebellion of backbench MPs. Ministers watered down local housebuilding targets to avoid what would have been the first major Commons rebellion of Rishi Sunaks premiership. The change made a centrally determined target to build 300,000 homes a year a starting point or goal. Councils can propose building fewer homes if they faced genuine constraints or would have to build at a density that would significantly change the character of their area. The Conservatives manifesto in 2019 set out a target to build 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s (AP) The rate of new homes being built has fallen every month since, and developers responded furiously. Rob Boughton, who runs one of the biggest developers in the southeast, Thakeham, said MPs should be ashamed for protecting a vocal minority at the cost of so many. Mr Boughton, whose company has donated nearly 1million to the party since 2017, wrote on LinkedIn: What happened to creating opportunity? These small-minded, selfish people just dont get it. In another post, he said: What hope do the aspiring [first-time buyers] have? Do they care about 20 to 45-year-olds in this country or not? And the founder of one of the countrys biggest housebuilders Redrow described the government as anti-housebuilding. In an interview with industry publication Building, Steve Morgan, who has given more than 1.25million to the Conservatives, said: Its almost like the government wants to destroy the industry. The pair last donated to the Conservatives last October. Another Tory source told The Times: They [the developer donors] are on strike. And is it any surprise? What a way to spit in their f***ing face. The Conservative party treasurer, Graham Edwards, is chairman of one of the UKs biggest property companies Telereal Trillium. A party spokesman said: "We have had a very healthy first half of the year for donations. Labour is hoping to capitalise on the governments record on housebuilding and has set out plans to give local officials sweeping new powers to buy land cheaply and develop on it. Party sources told The Guardian that if elected next year, they will pass a law to allow local development authorities in England the power to buy up land at a fraction of its potential cost if they want to build on it. It will let officials buy land under compulsory purchase orders without having to factor in the hope value a massive price premium granted to any land on which developers hope to secure planning permission. 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 will present the greatest challenge to the UKs overseas interests and economic security by 2030, according to an intelligence chief. Adrian Bird, the Chief of Defence Intelligence, said the UK must be alive to the challenges posed by China as it seeks to disrupt supplies of key technologies and materials, with an increasing threat from its military and spies. Mr Birds remarks came after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned that an increasingly authoritarian China poses the biggest challenge of our age and is the only country with both the means and intent to reshape the world order. China will compete more directly with the UK across our areas of interest and will be capable of disrupting supplies of key technologies and materials Adrian Bird The Government has faced pressure from MPs and peers to take a stronger stance towards China, including labelling the country a threat to UK security. Mr Sunak has argued the response must not be one of protectionism, with a need to engage with Beijing on a range of issues. Mr Bird, speaking to members of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), said Russia will remain the greatest threat to the UK mainland out to 2030 in the Euro-Atlantic region. He added it is also increasingly clear that Europes security is indivisible from that of the wider world, whether as the result of state activity, climate change or global health concerns. Mr Bird said: Just as our closest allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Singapore have all taken steps to counter Russias destabilising influence in Europe and support Ukraine, so the UK must be alive to the challenges being presented by China. China will compete more directly with the UK across our areas of interest and will be capable of disrupting supplies of key technologies and materials such as microprocessors, semiconductors and rare earth elements, its military, intelligence, space and cyber capabilities posing increasing threat. Within this world of increasing competition, we assess that China will present the greatest challenge to the UKs overseas interests and economic security in 2030. Mr Sunak unveiled the UK semiconductor strategy at this months G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, aimed at giving the country a competitive edge on the global stage and ensuring it is not reliant on China for technology advancements. Mr Bird warned that the pace of technological change will allow the UKs adversaries and competitors to achieve a rapid evolution in their capability to challenge the UK and our interests, adding: We must keep pace. He noted the UK should not assume we will have an overriding technological advantage in future conflicts. 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 }} More than 8,000 nursery and childcare staff have been absent as a result of mental health issues over the past five years, figures from the Scottish Conservatives claim. Freedom of information requests submitted to all of Scotlands 32 local authorities showed that absences caused by stress among early years staff has increased by 53% in the last five years. Between 2018-2019 and 2022-2023, 8,076 staff were absent due to stress of poor mental health, from 1,159 in 2018-19 to 1,779 in 2022-23. The party say the figure is likely to be higher as three councils did not respond to requests and four did not produce figures for 2022/23. Additionally, freedom of information does not apply to private sector nurseries and early education establishments. The figures are indicative of a Scottish childcare crisis, the party says, with more than nine in 10 councils unable to fully fund free childcare, according to the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA). The proportion of funded childcare places in partner settings was higher than the share of the budget used to pay for them, the organisation said in 2022. Independent nurseries make up a third of childcare providers whilst getting just a fifth of funding. It has been revealed that independent nurseries make up a third of providers for 1,140 hours free childcare despite only receiving a fifth of the funding, a freedom of information request by the NDNA revealed. Meghan Gallacher MSP, Scottish Conservative deputy leader and shadow minister for children and young people, urged the government to give staff the support that they need. These alarming figures point to a mental health crisis among early years and childcare staff under the SNP, she said. The rapidly rising number of stress-related absences is very worrying but also grimly predictable given the SNPs transparent and unacceptable neglect of Scotlands childcare sector. The rapidly rising number of stress-related absences is very worrying Meghan Gallacher The SNPs rollout of 1,140 hours free childcare has pushed businesses to the brink of collapse and has resulted in a mass exodus of childminders. The invaluable work of early years staff and childcare providers is transformative in allowing new parents like myself to return to work, boosting our economy and benefiting young families. Its a crying shame that our childcare providers are so underfunded and demoralised. Its little wonder that we are seeing so many off sick due to stress in these circumstances. Humza Yousaf cannot continue to short-change Scotlands childcare sector, especially when he wants to expand the provision offered to parents. The SNP must urgently up their game to ensure that early years and childcare staff are given the support that they need. The fifth applicant, Nastassja Jansen, was granted R10,000 bail Four former prison employees accused of helping Thabo Bester escape were denied bail on Monday. A fifth employee, Nastassja Jansen, was granted R10,000 bail. The criminal trial against the accused will begin on 20 June. A decision was handed down on Monday in the bail hearing for five of the eight accused in the Thabo Bester saga. Prison wardens Senohe Matsoara, Motenyani Masukela and Tieho Makhotsa, and CCTV technician Teboho Lipholo were denied bail. Former prison warden Nastassja Jansen was granted R10,000 bail. Matsoara, Masukela, Makhotsa and Lipholo face Schedule 5 charges of corruption and aiding an escape, among other charges. Jansen's charges are classified as Schedule 1. The magistrate explained that with Schedule 5 offences, the onus rests on the bail applicant to provide evidence that they should be released on bail. For Schedule 1 offences, the onus lies with the state to prove that the applicant should not be released on bail. Khabisi found that Matsoara, Makhotsa, Masukela and Lipholo did not provide sufficient evidence to satisfy the court that they will not interfere with state witnesses. But Khabisi said that the state's case against Jansen is "porous" and that the state did not prove beyond reasonable doubt that the interest of justice would not be served if bail was granted. Jansen was granted R10,000 bail and has to report to a local police station every Friday. She is not allowed to contact state witnesses or the investigating officers. According to the state's witness during the bail hearings, investigating officer Tieho Flyman, the accused were all involved with helping Bester escape. Matsoara was a supervisor on duty in the area of the prison where Bester was being held. He is accused of bringing a decoy body into the prison cell, starting the fire, and helping Bester leave the prison. He faces 13 charges. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines South Africa Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Lipholo, a CCTV technician, is accused of cutting power to the CCTV cameras on the night of the fire and placing the bag with the decoy body in a wheelie bin and wheeling it into the prison. He faces ten charges, including fraud and arson. Masukela, who is accused of letting the vehicle carrying the decoy body into the prison complex, faces five charges. Makhotsa and Jansen were both in the central control room on the night of the fire and are accused of opening the doors for Bester. Zolile Sekeleni, father to Nandipha Magudumana, is currently out on bail. He is accused of hiring the vehicle used to drive the body into the prison. Nandipha Magudumana and Thabo Bester are still in custody, having withdrawn their bail applications. The criminal trial against the accused will start on 20 June. 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 }} Ukraine has the right to project force beyond its own borders for self-defence, the UKs Foreign Secretary has said after reports of a drone attack on Moscow. James Cleverlys comments came after he gave a speech in Estonia in which he spoke about deterring Russian President Vladimir Putins aggression by strengthening our collective security, and made the case for Sweden to swiftly join Nato. Answering questions from the media afterwards, Mr Cleverly was asked about Tuesdays drone attack on Moscow and whether Ukraine had the right to attack Russian territory. He said: I dont have details, and I am not going to speculate about the nature of the drone attacks in Moscow. So what Im about to say are more general points, rather than on that specific incident. Ukraine does have the legitimate right to defend itself. It has the legitimate right to do so within its own borders, of course, but it does also have the right to project force beyond its borders to undermine Russias ability to project force into Ukraine itself. So legitimate military targets beyond its own border are part of Ukraines self-defence. And we should recognise that. That is not to say that I have any particular assessment over the attacks in Moscow, but more broadly military targets beyond its own border are internationally recognised as being legitimate as part of a nations self-defence. Russian air defences stopped eight drones converging on Moscow, officials said on Tuesday, in an attack Russian authorities blamed on Ukraine. The attack came as Russia continued its bombardment of Kyiv with a third assault on the Ukrainian capital in 24 hours. Ukraine made no immediate comment on the attack on Moscow, which would be one of its deepest and most daring strikes into Russia since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than 15 months ago. Meanwhile, Downing Street said it was confident no British-supplied equipment was used in the drone attack. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said he would not speculate on the origin of the attacks, adding: Obviously what we have seen are significant attacks on Kyiv in recent days, including on civilians. In his speech in Estonia, delivered alongside his Estonian counterpart Margus Tsahkna, Mr Cleverly said: Today, Margus and I discussed the Nato summit taking place in Vilnius in July. We agreed that we must bolster support for Ukraine and ensure that Nato adapts to an increasingly contested and volatile security environment. And I know that we both feel its important that Sweden joins us at the table in Vilnius too, as a fully fledged member of Nato, and as an important ally to us all. Swedish accession will make us all safer and stronger. Whatever Russia decides to do next in Ukraine, or indeed anywhere else, we are prepared James Cleverly Mr Cleverly said the UK was very proud to lead Natos enhanced forward presence in Estonia, adding: Lets remind ourselves that in 1726 Britain sent her then Baltic fleet to the coast of Tallinn to deter the Russian fleet from attacking Denmark and Sweden. History doesnt always repeat itself, but it does have a habit of rhyming. Admiral Sir Charles Wager and his fleets presence deterred Russia almost 300 years ago. And I hope that our presence here today will continue to do the same. As the great Lord Nelson observed, we cannot command the winds and the weather, but we can brace ourselves against the gales and ready ourselves for the storm to come. So whatever Russia decides to do next in Ukraine, or indeed anywhere else, we are prepared. And we will continue to cultivate the rich relationship between our two countries. The Foreign Secretary arrived in Tallinn on Tuesday for his first official visit to Estonia, where he met members of the government and visited the Royal Navys HMS Albion in the Baltic Sea. He will head to Norway on Wednesday for a gathering of Nato foreign ministers in Oslo, where he is expected to push for Sweden to join the military alliance before the summit in July. Objections from Turkey and Hungary have slowed the process for Swedish membership. 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 Libyan court sentenced 23 people to death for their role in a deadly Isis group campaign, including the beheading of a group of Egyptian Christians and seizing the city of Sirte in 2015. The appeals court in Libyas western city of Misrate on Monday also sentenced 14 others to life in prison in the same case, after they were convicted on the same charges, including damage to police facilities and public property. The court awarded a 12-year prison sentence to one person and 10 years to another six, including three minors, reported Al Jazeera, citing the attorney generals office. Five suspects were acquitted, while three died in the course of the trial, reported the outlet. The accused included those from Palestine, Sudan as well as Libya. They were in custody since 2016 and were found guilty for joining the terrorist group and the murders. Isis and other extremist groups exploited the chaos that engulfed Libya after the 2011 uprising that toppled and later killed long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi. They seized the coastal city of Sirte, Gaddafis birthplace, and other cities, including Derna in eastern Libya. The militants were eventually expelled from Sirte in December 2016 by forces fighting for the former UN-backed Government of National Accord Libyas interim government. Forces of east-based commander Khalifa Hifter reclaimed Derna two years later. Hundreds of alleged former Isis fighters remain incarcerated in Libyan prisons, many of whom are awaiting trial. As lawyers for the victims families, we see the verdict of the court as very satisfying and very just, said Lotfi Mohaychem, the advocate representing families of anti-Isis fighters killed in the battle for Sirte. The court sentenced those whose guilt was demonstrated and acquitted those against whom there was insufficient evidence, he told AFP. Additional reporting by agencies 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 }} Motorists driving in Alabama on Memorial Day were greeted by an Alabama Department of Transportation digital road sign advertising a white supremacist organisation. Images posted to social media showed the sign board displaying messages including Patriot Front US and Reclaim America. Patriot Front is a white nationalist organisation that, according to the Anti-Defamation League, was responsible for the vast majority of white supremacist propaganda incidents in the US in 2021. Reclaim America is one of the organisations mottos. Motorists driving on Interstate 65 on Monday near the town of Clanton noticed the messages on the sign and began posting to social media about their presence. AL.com reported that one driver reported the presence of the signs to a state trooper around 1pm. Captured these before the trooper waved me to go on, one motorist wrote on Twitter above photographs of the sign. How does this come about? Is it an inside job kind of thing? It also said Road Work Nightly or something on the third slide and it was an actual work zone that followed. Weird as hell. According to the Alabama Department of Transportation, the sign was hacked. A citizen alerted a nearby state trooper about the message, who then contacted ALDOT, John McWilliams, a public information officer for the departments West Central region, told AL.com. ALDOT personnel immediately responded and turned the message board off. No other message boards on I-65 were affected. Mr McWilliams said the Department of Transportation is investigating how the messages appeared. Alabama is not the only state in which messages of hate have appeared on digital road signs in recent weeks. A similar situation unfolded in Orlando, Florida, earlier this month, where a message board was programmed to read Kill all gays in the early hours of the morning. Police took charge of investigating that incident in its aftermath. 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 }} While Elizabeth Holmes spectacular fall has been pored over in countless news reports, documentaries, several books, and a TV miniseries, little is known about her marriage to hotel heir William Billy Evans. The couple met in the fall of 2017 at a Fleet Week charity event in San Francisco, as Holmes blood-testing business Theranos was under federal investigation. I was captivated by her childish wonder and authenticity, Mr Evans wrote in a gushing letter to the judge ahead of her sentencing last year. She listened more intently than anyone I had ever met. Mr Evans said that they remained friends for six months, and that he had been hesitant to dive in to a relationship due to unflattering reports of Holmes in the press. I was naturally conflicted, the person I knew did not align with the narrative others had crafted, he said. As Holmes billion-dollar tech startup crumbled around her, their relationship grew closer. He was a constant presence during her trial, conviction and sentencing to 11 years prison on four counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in California last year. Holmes reported to start her prison sentence at a federal prison in Bryan, Texas, on Tuesday. Heres what to know about Billy Evans. Who is Billy Evans? Mr Evans, 30, is an heir to Evans Hotels, a family-owned hospitality group based in the San Diego area. The business was founded in 1953 by his grandparents William and Anne Evans, and runs luxury boutique hotels, restaurants and wellness spas. Elizabeth Holmes and husband Billy Evans welcomed their first son in 2021 (Elizabeth Holmes sentencing memorandum) He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 2010 to 2015, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics, his LinkedIn profile shows. Mr Evans studied Chinese language and literature at Fudan University in Shanghai, China during this time. Mr Evans has worked at LinkedIn and Luminar Technologies, a self-driving car company, as a special projects manager, according to his LinkedIn profile. What do we know about their relationship? Holmes met Mr Evans in 2017 at a charity event in the Bay Area, around the time when she was under investigation for defrauding Theranos investors. The couple kept their relationship under wraps as Holmes was charged with fraud by the US Securities and Exchange Commission in 2018. They reportedly got engaged in 2019, and married that year in a private ceremony. He was 27 at the time, and she 35. In a recent New York Times interview, Holmes referred to Mr Evans as her partner. Elizabeth Holmes married Billy Evans in 2019. The couple have one child and are expecting their second (Elizabeth Holmes sentencing memorandum) Holmes gave birth to the couples first child, William Holmes Evans, in July 2021 while she was awaiting trial. Mr Evans attended every day of Holmes nearly four-month trial in San Jose, California, last year. The jury heard salacious details of Holmes relationship with Ramesh Sunny Balwani, Theranos former COO, as her defence lawyers sought to lay the blame for the companys demise on him. It was revealed just before her sentencing last November that Holmes was pregnant with a second child. She gave birth to her daughter Invicta in February. Holmes was accused in court documents of conceiving the child in an attempt to avoid prison. What has Billy Evans said about their relationship? In a 12-page letter to judge Edward Davila ahead of sentencing, Mr Evans wrote of the profound impact the relationship had left on him, while pleading for leniency. He shared photos of the couple hiking, sightseeing, and intimate family photos with their young son, and husky dog Balto. Her capacity to change the world is limitless, he wrote in the glowing testimonial. Elizabeth Holmes and Billy Evans with their husky Balto, who they say was carried off by a mountain lion (Elizabeth Holmes memorandum sentencing) He said the couple had spent six months living together in a truck after their San Francisco address was made public, travelling around national parks and sleeping under the stars. While this nomadic life was my idea, Liz embraced the frenetic beauty of it, and we often reminisce about how it was the favorite place we ever lived, he wrote. The peace and quiet out of the spotlight was refreshing. Walmart parking lots and rundown campgrounds gave us a much-needed solace. He also spoke in detail about the toll that the public attention had placed on Holmes, and her paranoia around going out in public. She walks through public places trying to hide, but it doesnt do much good, he wrote. Once we were five miles down a trail in a national forest and a passerby took out their phone to snap a picture. It is incessant. He also said he had been ostracised by friends and family due to the relationship, and that Holmes had been punished enough. We sleep with our shutters closed, missing the beauty of each sunrise to help insure our privacy. This will follow us for the rest of our lives. There is no avoiding the scorn that accompanies Elizabeth Holmes. Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes, center, arrives at federal court with her father, Christian Holmes IV, at trial in 2022. (Associated Press) In one memorable passage, Mr Evans told a story about Holmes searching for 16 hours in brambles and poison oak after Balto was apparently carried away by a mountain lion from their front porch. It was only once she saw his lifeless body that she could come to realise that he was gone, Evans writes. But that's Liz for you, she's constantly hoping and working towards the best outcome, even if it is unlikely. He pleaded with Judge Davila to sentence Holmes to a non-custodial sentence for the sake of their children. My heart is broken with the thought of spending any days away from Liz, for a future in which my son grows up with a relationship with his mother on the other side of glass armed by guards, he said in his memo. In a New York Times article published in May, reporter Amy Chozick was invited to spend time with the couple at their rental home in San Diego, on a family zoo outing, and shared meals with the family. Mr Evans reportedly stepped in to defend his wife at the suggestion they were being dishonest about turning over a new leaf. "Your question is, 'How do you say anything when everything you say is going to be doubted?' You just have to say it," he 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 }} A desperate search is underway to rescue potential survivors of an apartment building collapse in Davenport, Iowa. Part of a red brick building on the citys Main Street collapsed at around 5pm Sunday, with stunning photos showing at least one-fourth of the structures units destroyed. As of Monday morning, a total of eight people had been rescued from the wreckage. Davenport Fire Chief Michael Carlsten said during a press conference that no deaths have been reported and the number of potential missing remains unknown. Mr Carlsten added that the cause of the collapse has not been determined but residents had been placing several 911 calls reporting a strong smell of gas. Authorities found a gas leak after the collapse and water also had leaked throughout the floors of the structure. Rescue crews from the Iowa and Illinois Quad-Cities region are expected to wrap up operations today before entering the recovery phase of their response. Building resident Lexus Berry told The Quad-City Times that she narrowly escaped but her wife and cats became trapped as the building collapsed. Ms Berry had just taken pictures of a separation between a wall and the bathroom doorway before she tried to make it to safety. We both grab our cats, she grabbed one, I grabbed one, got to the door, Ms Berry told the outlet. I watched her, and everything just fell down and everything fell on top of me, and I barely made it out the door There was nothing left where I was standing at. Everything else was gone. Recounting the moments leading up to the collapse, second-floor resident Robert Robinson also told the Times that he walked outside for a smoke break and went back in as alarms went off. When we started to go back in the lights went out, he told the newspaper. All of a sudden everybody started running out saying the building collapsed. Im glad we came down when we did. Officials update to media, residents and onlookers after a partial building collapse on the 300 block of Main Street (AP) Emergency crews work the scene of a partial building collapse on the 300 block of Main Street, Sunday, May 28, 2023 (AP) Mr Robinson and his girlfriend were able to take the elevator down just in time, he said. This is horrible, he said. We dont have anywhere to go. Nothing to eat. Tadd Machovec, a contractor from Davenport, said he was inside and was working to put up a support beam when the building came down. Residents of the building had long complained about issues with it. Last year, nearly 20 permits were filed, mainly for plumbing or electrical issues, according to the Associated Press. The last permit for the building was filed on March 2 and had misc listed in the description. Emergency crews work the scene of a partial apartment building collapse in Davenport, Iowa (AP) The facade of the red brick building was ripped off, exposing the apartment units inside (AP) The first 911 call reporting the collapse came around 5pm on Sunday night. When first responders arrived, they found part of the back of the building, a mixture of residential and commercial spaces, collapsed. There were 84 units in the building, according to Davenport Mayor Mike Matson. When something like this happens here, and tragedy strikes, our responders immediately do their work and their job and I cant thank them enough, Mr Matson said in a press conference. Resident Todd Wilson said that he received a call from the city last year telling him to evacuate his apartment within 48 hours because bricks were falling off. What they did was they switched ownership and they gave them time to fix it, but they didnt do it properly, Mr Wilson told the Times. Emergency crews work the scene of a partial building collapse on the 300 block of West Third Street (Quad City Times) A school bus drives past the rubble after a building collapse on Sunday (Quad City Times) A working phone number for the building owner was not immediately available. Jennifer Smith said she learned of the explosion from her husband, who works for Mid-American Energy. He was on call and got called in for a building explosion downtown. We had no idea it was our building, she said. It sounds bad, but we have been calling the city and giving complaints since December. Our bathroom caved in December. Ms Smith said water damage has been apparent since they moved into their space in the winter. The company's co-owner, Deonte Mack, said fire crews were in the building as recently as Thursday for an inspection. The tenants told us the building was going to collapse, Ms Smith 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 }} Disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has begun her 11-year prison sentence after being found guilty of defrauding investors in her Silicon Valley blood-testing startup. She will serve her time at Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas an all-female facility that is located around 100 miles from Houston. The minimum security prison houses around 600 inmates, and runs a variety of programmes intended to prepare prisoners for life after incarceration, according to Camp Bryans handbook. Most of the inmates have been convicted of white-collar crimes, low-level drug offences, or harbouring illegal immigrants, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Among the inmates at Camp Bryan is Real Housewives of Salt Lake City reality TV star Jen Shah, who is serving six years behind bars for wire fraud. Shah has posted several blog entries from the prison, which she said does not have many kind people in this place. Former inmates include Jenna Ryan, the Texas real estate agent convicted of participating in the January 6 riots. Ms Ryan told how she passed her 60-day sentence eating bologna sandwiches and watching television, in a Twitter video after her release. Dawn breaks at the Federal Prison Camp where Elizabeth Holmes, the former founder and CEO of Theranos, is expected to arrive to begin her 11 year sentence for fraud relating to the defunct company Tuesday, May 30, 2023, in Bryan, Texas. (AP) According to the Wall Street Journal, John Carreyrous 2018 book Bad Blood which documented her rise and fall is available in the prison library. Inmates told the Journal they were eagerly anticipating Holmes arrival. Some people are like 'I want to be her friend, Tasha Wade, a current inmate, told the newspaper. Inmates are kept in dormitory style cells at Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas (Zoukis Consulting Group / YouTube) New inmates are required to undergo drug testing at the facility, and there are also a number of health and counselling services available to those who need it. Given that the facility largely houses non-violent offenders, security is minimal and inmates stay in dorm-style accommodation. Holmes day will begin at 6am, when inmates are woken up for meals and work; people failing to comply with the strict wake-up rules are subject to punishments. Federal Prison Camp Bryan, in Texas, is a minimum security facility where Elizabeth Holmes is due to begin her 11-year sentence for fraud (Federal Bureau of Prisons) Inmates are then counted at five different times during the day, when they must assemble in specific areas (once again, punishments are doled out to those who are not present at these times). The prison features a study, game room, and work programmes that see all inmates take part in a six-week course on the importance of efficiency in the workplace before they are placed into a role with some prisoners earning as little as $0.12 per hour in some assignments, including the kitchen, where all new inmates spend their first three months working. According to the handbook, All designated inmates are required to develop a financial plan to meet their financial obligations, which for Holmes will mean reparations of $452m. Among the activities on offer at the prison are arts and crafts courses, as well as leisure facilities such as a gym. Inmates are also encouraged to take part in technical courses, which cover everything from cosmetology to Microsoft-business applications, and small business management. How will Holmes keep in touch with her family? Holmes is married to Billy Evans, and the pair have two children, William, 2, and newborn Invicta. She lives around 100 miles from her family, who will be permitted to visit at weekends. Inmates at Camp Bryan are also permitted to take part in video sessions with their friends and family, according to the handbook, as well as to send and receive text messages. Prior to beginning her sentence at Camp Bryan, Holmes spent the weekend with her husband and children at the beach near the familys rented home in San Diego. 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 US-Canada border in Maine was temporarily locked down after a man sped his car toward the Canadian side without stopping and a Maine state trooper noticed a sign indicating there were explosives in the vehicle. The trooper shot at the car, which eventually stopped between the US and Canada entry points, and state troopers removed a man from the vehicle. The man, who escaped the shooting without injury, was identified as Tony Holford, 42, from Providence, Rhode Island. He was arrested at the scene and taken to Aroostook County Jail, where he was charged with aggravated reckless conduct, terrorising and failure to stop. The border - one of the busiest crossings into Canada - was temporarily closed following the incident, with authorities investigating throughout the night. However there has been no information as yet as to whether explosives were recovered from the vehicle. Authorities said that there was no danger to the public. The vehicle continued northbound without stopping, and the Trooper observed a sign indicating that the operator had an explosive device on-board, a statement from Maine State Police said. The Office of the Maine Attorney General and the Maine State Police are collaborating with Canadian authorities to investigate the incident. 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 Chinese fighter jet performed an unnecessarily aggressive manoeuvre in front of a US military plane over the South China Sea in international airspace, according to the Pentagon. Officials at the US Indo-Pacific command posted a video of the Chinese J-16 fighter involved in the incident last week, which forced a US RC-135 plane to fly through its wake turbulence. The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate safely and responsibly wherever international law allows, the statement released on Tuesday read. US slams actions of Chinese fighter jet which flew in front of US spy plane over international waters (Twitter/@INDOPACOM) In the video filmed from the cockpit, the Chinese fighter can be seen flying in front of the RC-135 planes nose, with the US plane then shaking in the turbulence it created. The US Indo-Pacific Joint Force will continue to fly in international airspace with due regard for the safety of all vessels and aircraft under international law. We expect all countries in the Indo-Pacific region to use international airspace safely and in accordance with international law, the statement added. The incident comes as relations between the two countries remain strained from a string of incidents, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosis trip to Taiwan last August, and the shooting down of a Chinese spy balloon in February after it flew over US military facilities. In December a Chinese military plane in international airspace came within 20 feet of a US Air Force plane, which was forced to take evasive manoeuvres to avoid a collision. US Indo-Pacific Command said that the Chinese Navy J-11 fighter jet performed an unsafe manoeuver during an intercept of a US Air Force RC-135 aircraft on 21 December. The incident took place as the US aircraft was lawfully conducting routine operations over the South China Sea in international airspace. The Independent has contacted the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC for comment. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An arrest has been made in the slaying of New Jersey councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour who was shot more than a dozen times as she sat in her car in February. Rashid Ali Bynum, 28, of Portsmouth, Virginia, was taken into custody on Tuesday morning with officials saying that he knew the victim from the Champions Royal Assembly Church in Newark. Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said that surveillance footage captured Mr Bynum allegedly running from the scene after the shooting of the 30-year-old. Eunice Dwumfour (ABC7) And she stated that Mr Bynums phone allegedly showed he had travelled from Virginia to New Jersey at the time of the killing, and the devices data showed it return immediately afterwards. Mr Bynum has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun and second-degree possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose. Prosecutors have not given any motive for the killing and refused to take any questions from reporters when the arrest was announced. A search of the victims phones revealed Bynum as a contact in Eunice Dwumfours phone with the acronym FCF, Ms Ciccone said. FCF is believed to be an acronym for the Fire Congress Fellowship, a church the victim was previously affiliated with. The prosecutor also said that the suspect fits a description given by a witness. Rashid Ali Bynum of Virginia has been arrested in connection with the February shooting death of New Jersey Republican Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour in Sayreville. (Middlesex County Prosecutors Office) Ms Dwumfour, a Republican, defeated a Democrat incumbent to win her seat in 2021 and was the first Black person ever elected to office in Sayreville. Her family had raised concerns about the lack of results from the police investigation into the killing. New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin addressed that situation and acknowledged that there had been a lot of questions about the failure to arrest anyone. I want you to know that the folks behind me and the folks in this community and across the state that work tirelessly on this investigation did so to ensure public safety and to ensure that those questions could be answered, Mr Platkin said on Tuesday. And I hope that today is the beginning of a healing process and also the beginning of a sense of justice for you. New Katsina State governor, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, has said his administration will do its best to improve the lives of victims of insecurity and give special support to women and girls. Radda said this during his inaugural address after taking the oath of office. "To the bandits, I say abandon your course and reintegrate into the society or face the full wrath of the law. I urge our youth to shun drug abuse, time-wasting and criminality. We will work with relevant law enforcement agencies to provide social order and overall security of the state," the governor said. He said his administration would introduce the treasury single account to consolidate the state's finances to strengthen accountability and close all loopholes in the state's financial system. He said he would also conduct a comprehensive staff audit to eliminate ghost workers and ensure public servants served the government judiciously. 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 }} At least nine people, including a one-year-old, were injured in a shooting that took place on Memorial Day at a boardwalk in Hollywood, Florida. Gunfire broke out before 7pm local time along the Hollywood Oceanfront Broadwalk between Johnson Street and Garfield Street on Monday (29 May). The shooting seemed to be a result of a dispute between two different groups, according to Hollywood Police Department public information manager Deanna Bettineschi. Videos from the incident on Monday (29 May) evening showed crowds of people running for cover as gunfire occurred. Police swiftly responded to the incident and began treating those who had suffered gunshot wounds. The victims include four children between the ages of one and 17 years old, as well as five adults between 25 and 65 years old. As of Monday evening, one victim was in surgery while eight others were stable. The Hollywood Police have arrested two people while searching for three additional suspects. Heres everything we know so far. How the shooting unfolded Gunfire suddenly erupted just before 7pm on Memorial Day (29 May) as individuals and families walked along the Hollywood Oceanfront Broadwalk near Johnson Street and North Broadwalk. The boardwalk, which is lined with shops and eateries, is a popular tourist destination as it is approximately 20 miles north of Miami. However, it was expected to be even busier due to the holiday weekend. The shooting occurred after two groups began having a dispute, according to Ms Bettineschi, the public information manager for the Hollywood Police. One witness, Jamie Ward, told the Associated Press that several young men were fighting in front of one of the stores when one pulled out a gun. Security camera footage from the boardwalk showed people frantically running and taking cover near a convenience store, a Ben & Jerrys and a Subway shop as the gunfire began. Another witness, Alvie Carlton Scott III, told the AP he was on the beach when he heard gunshots. Mr Scott said he hid behind a tree and then fled the area after a police officer told people to run. The mayor of Hollywood, Josh Levy, said in a statement that he was deeply saddened and angered by the shooting. People come to enjoy a holiday weekend on the beach with their families and to have people in complete reckless disregard of the safety of the public and to have an altercation with guns in a public setting with thousands of people around them is beyond reckless, Mr Levy said in a press conference. Footage posted to social media from witnesses showed law enforcement, first responders and good samaritans attending to victims of the shooting. The victims Police said nine people, including four children, suffered gunshot wounds. The victims were taken to Memorial Regional Hospital and Joe DiMaggio Childrens Hospital to be treated for their injuries. The names of the victims have not yet been released, though preliminary information indicated that the victims included a one-year-old child, three people under the age of 17, and five people between 25 and 65 years old. However, Yanet Obarrio Sanchez, a spokesperson for Memorial Healthcare System told USA Today that the hospital was tending to six adults and three children, it is unclear if the hospital was treating the 17-year-old victim as an adult. As of Tuesday afternoon, three of the nine victims were treated and discharged from the hospital. The six others remain in stable condition. The suspects The FBI and Hollywood Police Department are currently looking for three suspects of interest in connection to the shooting. Police have released photos of the people they are searching for. Police are seraching for three persons of interest (Hollywood Police Department/CBS Miami) Following the shooting, several people were detained and two people, Morgan Deslouches and Keshawn Stewart, were arrested on firearm-related charges. According to police, five firearms were recovered two of which were stolen from Texas and Miami. Mr Deslouches, 18, is charged with grand theft of a firearm, carrying a concealed firearm and removing serial numbers from a firearm. Mr Stewart, 18, is charged with carrying a concealed firearm. Ms Bettineschi said anyone with videos or photos from the incident should send them to hollywoodpdtips@hollywoodfl.org. 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 school teacher was killed in an apparent murder-suicide with her 10-month-old baby discovered crying and unharmed in a crib. Amanda Hicks, 26, was found stabbed to death on 27 May after police went to an apartment in Port St Lucie to carry out a welfare check that had been requested by the family of an adult male. Port St Lucie police say that when officers arrived at the home in Peacock Run Apartments they could hear the infant crying inside and when they entered discovered Hicks and the male - later identified as Hicks fiance, dead on the floor from a gunshot wound. The baby was removed from the property and placed with a family member. Investigators said in a statement that Hicks was killed by an adult male who then took his own life. Police say that Hicks and the unidentified 25-year-old were romantically involved. Amanda Hicks (Martin County School District) Port St Lucie Police Sgt John Dellacroce told Fox News Digital that the man had repeatedly called a family member who didnt pick up the phone - with the final call taking place at 11.50pm. About an hour later, the sound of a gunshot was captured on surveillance video. His family member didnt answer the phone and saw all these missed calls the next morning and tried to call him back but couldnt get a hold of him, Mr Dellacroce said. He said the relative called police to request a welfare check as soon as they say the missed calls the next morning. Hicks was a sixth-grade reading teacher at Dr David L Anderson Middle School in Martin County, school officials confirmed. In a message sent to parents and staff, school principal Darcia Borel said that Hicks death was a tragedy. It is with great sadness that we write to inform you about the tragic passing of one of our teachers, Ms Amanda Hicks, Ms Borel wrote. The Port St Lucie Police Department has confirmed that Ms Hicks was the victim of a homicide. While words will never be enough to convey the shock and sadness this news has brought to our school family, it is more important than ever to come together to support one another through our grief journey. 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 }} At least nine people were wounded in a mass shooting at Floridas Hollywood Beach on Memorial Day. The incident, which saw at least three minors among the wounded, took place at about 6.30pm ET in the area of the 1200 block of N Broadwalk on Monday evening. There were six adults and three children among those injured in the shooting, said Yanet Obarrio Sanchez, a spokesperson for Memorial Healthcare System. The victims were in stable condition and receiving treatment at the hospital, she said. It is a fluid situation, said Ms Sanchez, who added that a couple of minors were among the wounded. Hollywood Florida Police Department said that the incident started with an altercation between two groups, which escalated with shots being fired. Police have detained one person who is suspected to be involved in the shooting but said they were searching for another, who is believed to be a Black man with dreadlocks and wearing a black short-sleeve shirt and camouflage shorts. Please avoid the area of Johnson to Garfield Streets, as well as the Broadwalk, due to an ongoing shooting investigation. Heavy police presence in the area. If you are looking to reunite with a family member, we have set up a reunification area at Johnson St and N Ocean bus loop, tweeted the Hollywood Florida Police Department. The gunfire sent beachgoers running for cover on a day when the shorefront was busier than usual due to the Memorial Day holiday. CCTV footage from the moment when gunfire broke out shows dozens of terrified people frantically running away. In other videos posted from the aftermath of the shooting, emergency medical crews were seen responding and providing aid to multiple injured people. Witnesses posted online that the shooting took place outside Nicks Bar & Grill. A shooting on Hollywood beach just happened in front of me, multiple people shot with stray bullets, tweeted one eyewitness. Please avoid the area of Johnson to Garfield Streets, as well as the Broadwalk, due to an ongoing shooting investigation. Heavy police presence in the area. If you are looking to reunite with a family member, we have set up a reunification area at Johnson St and N Ocean bus loop HollywoodFL Police (@HollywoodFLPD) May 30, 2023 One person who was on the beach, Alvie Carlton Scott III, said he heard a number of gunshots suddenly and he took cover behind a tree. He said he fled the area after a police officer told people to run. Jamie Ward, who was also on the boardwalk, said several young men were fighting in front of the stores when one pulled a gun and started shooting. Hollywood mayor Josh Levy said in a statement: "Thank you to the good samaritans, paramedics, police and emergency room doctors and nurses for their immediate response to aid the victims of todays shooting. Mr Levy told WFOR-TV that paramedics had treated victims at the scene. Police are responding right now. We have victims treated by police and paramedics on scene and transported to the hospital, Mr Levy said. He added: It seemed like people might have gotten caught in the crossfire. But I cant verify that. Hollywood Beach is a popular leisure destination about 11 miles south of Fort Lauderdale and 20 miles north of Miami. 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 }} Nikki Alcaraz vanished without trace while on a roadtrip from her home in Tennessee to California with her boyfriend Tyler Stratton. Weeks after her last known contact with loved ones who shared grave concern for her safety, 33-year-old Ms Alcaraz was found safe in the Golden State with Mr Stratton, who was arrested on an unrelated outstanding warrant. But questions remain around the circumstances of her disappearance, which bore chilling echoes of the bombshell Gabby Petito case. Ms Alcaraz left her home in Tennessee with Mr Stratton to visit family in Orange County, California, earlier this month. When authorities and her family first put out appeals for information on her whereabouts, Ms Alcaraz was thought to have been last seen in the New Mexico town of Moriarty on 6 May. Two days earlier, sheriffs deputies in Torrance County pulled the couple over after receiving reports that Mr Stratton had assaulted Ms Alcaraz. The officers let them go without pressing criminal charges after Mr Stratton claimed he had also been hit. This week, officials indicated that Ms Alcaraz had been spotted again at a California Walmart on 27 May. Then, on the morning of 30 May, the couple were located together in the California town of Eureka. Heres what we know about the case: The trip Ms Alcaraz, a mother of two also known as Nikki Cunningham, departed from Cheatham County, Tennessee, in her 2013 Jeep Wrangler with Tennessee plates in late April bound for Orange County, to visit family. Ms Alcaraz was travelling with her boyfriend Mr Stratton and a pet dog. On 4 May, sheriffs deputies in Torrance County, New Mexico, pulled the couple over after receiving a report that he had struck Ms Alcaraz. Mr Stratton told authorities that he had also been hit, and both declined to press charges. Nikki Alcaraz, right, vanished while travelling from Tennessee to California with her boyfriend Tyler Stratton, left (Cheatham County Sheriffs Office ) Authorities later released photos showing Ms Alcaraz with a black eye, cuts on her face and severe bruising on her arms after the alleged assault. He beat her up pretty badly, her brother Josh Alcaraz told Fox5. A truck driver had to pull him off of her, call the police, the police picked him up, took him a couple exits down and dropped him off. She was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, and a broken hand or wrist. Ms Alcaraz was taken to a Super 8 motel in the town of Moriarty. A friend travelled from California and stayed with her overnight at the motel. The plan was for the friend to take her back to California. Nikki Alcaraz suffered a black eye after she was allegedly assaulted by her boyfriend Tyler Stratton (Cheatham County Sheriffs Office) On 6 May, Ms Alcaraz left the motel and told the friend she was going to try to find her boyfriend. Her family said this was the last time she has been seen alive. Her sister Toni Alcaraz told WKRN that she received a text on 8 May saying she was in Arizona, and planned to continue the trip to California. She didnt hear anything after that. Toni Alcaraz told the news site it was highly unusual not to hear from her for an extended period. Ms Alcarazs licence plate was picked up near Flagstaff, Arizona, on 9 May. Her phone has reportedly been switched off. This week, a Cheatham County deputy told News 2 that Ms Alcaraz was seen at a Walmart in Redding, California, on 27 May. A photo released by the county District Attorney General Ray crouch shows her selling her phone at an ecoATM. On Tuesday (30 May), Ms Alcaraz and Mr Stratton were located in Eureka at 7.15am, the Redding Police Department said in a news release. The Redding Police Department has been in contact with the Moriarty, New Mexico Police Department and confirmed Nikki is no longer considered a missing person, the release stated. On the same day, authorities released body camera footage from the 4 May incident, which showed both Ms Alcaraz and Mr Stratton with facial injuries. Missing person investigation Toni Alcaraz said she filed a missing persons report in New Mexico as that was where she was last seen. Josh Alcaraz said he feared that his sisters vehicle might have broken down in the desert or come off the road. "We would like everybody to keep their eyes open, and if you see the Jeep, if you see him, if you see her, call somebody. Call the police," he toldFox5. Officials in Cheatham County, Tennessee, were working with law enforcement agencies in New Mexico and California to try to locate Ms Alcaraz. Due to a history of domestic assault we believe she is in danger, the Cheatham County Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post appealing for information. Mr Crouch, the county DA General, told WKRN his office had requested a nationwide extradition for Mr Stratton, who was also missing. Mr Stratton was wanted on an unrelated arrest warrant for theft and begged for the publics assistance. Family clung to the hope of finding Ms Alcaraz alive. If you see the Jeep, if you see him, if you see her, call somebody, Josh Alcaraz told Fox5. Obviously, worst-case scenario is very present in the back of my mind. Im trying to hold out hope. Ms Alcaraz was described as 56 with brown eyes and black/brown hair. She also has several distinctive tattoos. Mr Strattons family reportedly did not file a missing person report, according to online reports. Gabby Petito comparisons The allegations of assault on a cross-country road trip have been drawing comparisons to the 2021 disappearance and murder of vlogger Gabby Petito. Petito set off from her home in New York in July that year with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie. The couple was pulled over in Utah by officers from the Moab Police Department on 12 August after receiving reports that Laundrie had struck Petito. They were allowed to continue separately after Laundrie claimed he had been hit by Petito. A photo of Gabby Petito showing blood and bruises on her face just before her and her ex-fiance Brian Laundrie were stopped by Moab police officers investigating a domestic abuse call (Parker and McConkie lawfirm) After a nationwide search and international media attention, Petitos remains were found in the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming in September. Laundrie later shot himself in the head and left a suicide note confessing to killing Petito. Petitos family is suing the Moab Police Department for failing to follow the law and protect her during the traffic stop. An independent review of the domestic assault incident found the officers had made several mistakes, and should have been classified as a domestic assault. Petitos family are also suing Laundries parents Chris and Roberta for emotional distress. 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 }} On 27, October, 2018, Robert Bowers, then 46, allegedly walked into the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and began shooting at worshippers. He allegedly killed 11 people before he was shot and wounded and surrendered to police. Mr Bowers now faces 63 federal counts, including 11 counts each of obstruction of free exercise of religion resulting in death as well as hate crimes resulting in death. He could face the death penalty if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty. Nearly five years have passed since the shooting, but Mr Bowers' trial is only now kicking off in earnest. The trial began on Tuesday and is expected to last until late July. Robert Bowers In the months leading up the shooting, Mr Bowers was allegedly spewing bigoted and antisemitic vitriol online, investigators say. He allegedly called immigrants "invaders" and posted racist memes, including some that accused Jewish people of being the "enemy of white people." On the day of the shooting he reportedly posted a message to a web forum, saying "I can't stand by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in." He then allegedly proceeded to murder 11 people at the synagogue. After his arrest, police learned that Mr Bowers had 21 weapons registered to his name. He was otherwise unknown to law enforcement. They then began to review Mr Bowers' online presence, finding an account on Gab a supposedly free speech oriented, right wing social media alternative to the likes of Twitter where he allegedly posted a steady slew of hate. His bio included the phrase "Jews are the children of Satan" and his posts consisted of anti-Jewish slurs and conspiracy theories, according to the New York Times. The conspiracy theories included allegations that Jewish people were smuggling Muslims into the US, and another showing an image of the Auschwitz concentration camp, with the photo doctored to make its infamous gate read "Lies Make Money." Days before the shooting he called then-president Donald Trump a "globalist" often a term carrying antisemitic implications and said "there is no #MAGA as long as there is a k*** infestation." The omitted word is a racial slur used against Jewish people. The Tree of Life Synagogue (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Police claim that after being shot and wounded at the synagogue, Mr Bowers said: These people are committing genocide on my people. I just want to kill Jews. His defence attempted to have that quotation barred from consideration at his trial, arguing he made the statement before he was read his Miranda warning. A judge denied the motion. The alleged gunman worked as a trucker before the shooting. Prosecutors are arguing that hate drove Mr Bowers' alleged attack on the synagogue. The depths of the defendants malice and hate can only be proven in the broken bodies of those killed, and through his hateful words, Assistant US Attorney Soo C Song said during her opening statement. Prosecutors claimed in an earlier filing that Mr Bowers allegedly harbored deep, murderous animosity towards all Jewish people. The defence after unsuccessfully arguing against the use of Mr Bowers' statements to police and for a change of venue have filed a notice of mental infirmity again his potential sentencing, according to court records. They claim Mr Bowers has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and epilepsy. His attorneys have also offered a plea deal in exchange for the removal of the death penalty. Close Video shows dramatic aftermath of building collapse in Iowa 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 }} Three men are still feared to be trapped under the wreckage of the residential building that collapsed in Davenport, Iowa, earlier this week - despite a search for survivors has been completed. Ryan Hitchcock, Branden Colvin and Daniel Prien remain unaccounted for five days after a large section of the six-story building collapsed. Relatives of Mr Hitchcock and Mr Colvin believe the men are in the rubble, while police say they have not been in contact with Mr Priens family. Authorities say a task force completed their search for survivors on Thursday 2 June and the city would move to begin taking down the remaining shaky structure. Questions about the history of the buildings structural integrity have risen. Ryan Shaffer told The Quad-Cities Times he gave at least three warnings that the structures instability could prove deadly. His first warning came in February, when he claims Mr Wold approached him with potential work to shore up the building but then decided to hire a cheaper firm instead. Just two days before the collapse, Mr Shaffer said he told construction workers: Get away, youre going to die. 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 woman who was rescued nearly 24 hours after the collapse of her apartment building in Davenport, Iowa, narrowly escaped getting caught up in a planned demolition. Her family are crediting her escape not to rescue crews but to people shouting her name from the street. Lisa Brooks was speaking with a relative on the phone when her six-storey apartment complex on 324 Main Street fell down on Sunday evening. Eight people were rescued within the first twelve hours of the tragedy, but there were no signs of Ms Brooks. For an entire day, family members hoped for a miracle amid reports by city officials that demolition was imminent as the structure was too unstable. But at the eleventh hour, Ms Brooks was rescued by firefighters after she managed to call her daughter and alert authorities to her whereabouts. Ms Brooks great-granddaughter Pauletta Joeanna told The Independent on Tuesday that Ms Brooks was unconscious for a long time. She attributed her great-grandmothers last-minute escape in part to family members who were at the scene. Dramatic footage posted by Ms Joeanna also shows Ms Brooks escape as she is lowered to safety by a firefighter. Shes at home, shes fine now. She had passed out under the couch and the only reason she woke up is because we were yelling her name, Ms Joeanna said. At a press conference on Tuesday, Davenport Mayor Mike Matson admitted that he does not know why Ms Brooks hadnt been found sooner despite the use of K-9 units to search for humans in the rubble. A common question is, why was she still there and why wasnt she found earlier? Im going to be completely transparent with you, I do not know. We do not know. But understand that I, and the city, are committed to finding out why, Mr Matson said. The mayor also confirmed that five tenants are unaccounted for. Two of them, Branden Colvin and Ryan Hitchcock, are believed to be in the building. On Tuesday morning, a crowd gathered in front of the building with signs reading Corruption Collapses Communities and chanting Save Branden, save Ryan! The transition into a recovery phase and plans for the demolition were announced not even 24 hours after the collapse, but authorities have since said they began the permitting process but will stage the demolition in a moderate and controlled manner at a later time. Firefighters rescue tenant Lisa Brooks (Pauletta Joeanna) Davenport residents in front of a building that collapsed on Sunday (AP) In the interest of public safety, the City has been continually evaluating the timing of the demolition of 324 Main Street since its initial collapse 36 hours ago, a city strategy officer told KWQC in a statement. Demolition is a multi-phase process that includes permitting and staging of equipment that will begin today. The timing of the physical demolition of the property is still being evaluated. The building remains structurally insecure and in imminent danger of collapse. Confronted by reporters, Mr Matson said that demolitions plans have been continuously evaluated but refused to address whether Ms Brooks rescue was a determinant factor in the reassessment. Emergency crews at the scene of a building collapse in Davenport, Iowa (AP) A firefigther combs trhough the rubble while searching for survivors (AP) Davenport Police Chief Jeff Bledel said that the department had contingency meetings on Monday night with the families of Mr Colvin and Mr Hitchcock, the men feared to still be in the building, to debrief the ongoing operations. Experts have said the structure built in the 1900s is extremely unstable. Because of the layout of the building, with the rear brick part holding together much of the steel structure, officials said there were likely no void spaces where trapped victims could have taken shelter. Authorities said its brittle condition is worsening with time and the possibility of another collapse is now imminent. We want to get everyone out, we want to do it right now, Fire Marshal J Morris said as he broke down in tears at Tuesdays press conference. So understand, its not that we dont want to do this ... its that we have to do it in a safe manner. Mayor Matson praised first responders for risking their lives with their swift response and decried criticism sparked after the search was called off. He said surgeons were performing trauma surgeries in the surroundings of the collapsed building and firefighters had gone inside void places that were extremely dangerous to get into, with the only focus to save lives. All of those folks got here in the middle of the night, immediately assessing ... [knowing] that thing is unsafe and going anywhere, he said. There heroes that have gone inside this building ... get off of that. Do you want to come at somebody? Here, Im standing right in front of you. Theyre the people who are saving lives. Protesters at the site of a building collapse in Davenport (Photos by Joseph Cress; Iowa City Press-Citizen, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK) A school bus drives past the wreckage (Quad City Times) The city has been in contact with the building owner Andrew Wold. Mr Morris said that state agencies are coordinating what agency will take the lead in the investigation but no criminal charges have been filed yet. Despite a myriad of reports from past and current tenants that the buildings conditions were unsafe, a structural engineer hired by the owner deemed the structure safe. Residents of the building had long complained about issues with it. Last year, nearly 20 permits were filed, mainly for plumbing or electrical issues, according to the Associated Press. The last permit for the building was filed on March 2 and had misc listed in the description. Resident Todd Wilson said that he received a call from the city last year telling him to evacuate his apartment within 48 hours because bricks were falling off. What they did was they switched ownership and they gave them time to fix it, but they didnt do it properly, Mr Wilson told The Quad-City Times. Jennifer Smith, whose business is located in the building, said she first heard about the explosion from her husband, who works for Mid-American Energy. It sounds bad, but we have been calling the city and giving complaints since December. Our bathroom caved in December, Ms Smith told the Quad-City Times. The tenants told us the building was going to collapse. Ms Smith said water damage has been apparent since they moved into their space in the winter. Her companys co-owner, Deonte Mack, said fire crews were in the building as recently as Thursday for an inspection. The Quad-City Times reports the builder owner is 41-year-old Andrew Wold. According to a profile published on the outlets website in 2016, Mr Wold is an avid real estate buyer with a large portfolio. I like to buy blocks, he said at the time. I like to be able to control the area, to kind of police it. A working phone number for Mr Wold was not immediately available. 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 }} Elon Musk is facing criticism from residents in Texas as the potential actions of his companies in the state have raised environmental concerns. In Bastrop County, locals said fast development activities by Mr Musks companies are affecting the ecology of the area, according to a new report in The Washington Post. In December 2021, Tesla officially moved its corporate headquarters from Silicon Valley to a large factory under construction outside of Austin, Texas. Mr Musks companies, rocket manufacturer SpaceX and tunnelling company Boring, are seeking state permission to dump treated wastewater into the nearby Colorado river, the report said. I love Elon, and we need more industry here, Judah Ross, a Bastrop real estate agent was quoted as saying to the outlet. I just dont want him to dump his poop in the river. The billionaires companies are expanding across Texas by setting up campuses. This includes SpaceXs rocket launchpad on the Gulf of Mexico and a giant Tesla factory in Austin, producing 5,000 Model Ys a week. Residents in Bastrop County said while they continue to admire Mr Musk, he is not being a good neighbour. I just have no faith that the leadership there values the environment and these shared resources, said Chap Ambrose, who leads a group of local residents pushing Mr Musks companies to slow down and address concerns about the environmental risks of the development. I would say, Im still a fan [of Elon], but I want him to do better here and be a good neighbour. Mr Musks building sites in the area have been hit by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) with several violations over poor erosion controls and other matters. Texass transportation department has also reprimanded Boring for building a driveway it said posed traffic-safety concerns. Bastrop County issued a violation over unauthorised wastewater holding tanks. Regarding the Boring Company, we have been regularly hounded by their staff and consultants to expedite and approve permit applications that are incomplete and not in compliance with regulations, the countys then-director of engineering and development, Robert Pugh, told a colleague in an email last summer, said the report. According to Mel Hamner, a Bastrop County commissioner, the growth is more than this county was ready to handle. Another local, Amy Weir, a property owner, said while Mr Musks companies have no doubt done amazing things, there was no need for them to reinvent wastewater treatment when the city was ready to handle it. Bastrop mayor Connie Schroeder urged Mr Musk and his companies to treat its wastewater at the citys new plant. We all know thats whats best for the Colorado, she said. According to Rajiv Patel, an environmental consultant sent by Boring, the company aimed to do that in the long run, but said a connection to the city plant didnt yet exist. Vaccination, the process of receiving a vaccine that provides immunity to a disease, is very important as under-five mortality rate is increasing in Nigeria. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Monday said it has vaccinated 30 million children in Nigeria in the last five years. UNICEF's Communication Specialist, Geoffrey Njoku, disclosed this while speaking during a two-day media dialogue in Kano State. The dialogue was tagged "The New Country Programme 2023-2027 and the Status of Implementation of the Child Rights Law (2023) in States." Mr Njoku said 30 million children were vaccinated between 2018 and 2022 as part of the organisation's country programme. He noted that the vaccinations were done through integrated campaigns against life-threatening diseases. He also said 58 million children were vaccinated against polio within the year under review while 22 million children also received two doses of Vitamin A in 2022. Vaccination in Nigeria Vaccination, the process of receiving a vaccine that provides immunity to a disease, is very important as under-five mortality rate is increasing in Nigeria. Nigeria's vaccination programme recognises the following for the routine immunisation of Children in Nigeria: BCG (Bacili Calmette Guerin), a vaccine against tuberculosis; OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine), a vaccine against poliomyelitis; DPT combination vaccine against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus; Hepatitis vaccine for hepatitis A and B; Measles vaccine; Yellow fever vaccine and supplemental vitamin A. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, a child is only considered fully vaccinated when they have received the aforementioned on their appropriate schedule. Despite these existing immunisation programmes, the number of children that are not immunised in Nigeria continues to remain high in the country for a variety of demographic factors. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Children Nigeria Health By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. According to the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) and National Immunisation Coverage Survey (NICS), 46 per cent of children were partially vaccinated between 2016 and 2021. Speaking at the dialogue, the representative of the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB), Federal Ministry of Information, Temitoye Falayi, said the country programme document focuses on key areas where the Nigerian government requires UNICEF's support, knowledge, and financial assistance. Mr Falayi said these areas include health, nutrition, basic education, and social policy advocacy. He urges journalists to improve their efforts in shedding light on the implementation of various policies put in place to better the lives of children. 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 ninth person has reportedly been rescued from the wreckage of a building collapse in Davenport, Iowa hours after officials claimed no one was known to be trapped and began laying plans for demolition. The rescue of Lisa Brooks was reported by The Quad-City Times early Tuesday morning. Her family said she had been unaccounted for since a large section of the six-storey red brick apartment complex collapsed around 5pm on Sunday. City officials acknowledged that the Davenport Police Department has yet to account for all known residents of the building in a news release Monday night. The release did not indicate how many people are unaccounted for, but Ms Brooks is presumed to have been on the list. Ms Brooks great-granddaughter Pauletta Joeanna told The Independent on Monday evening that she was still missing after she became trapped in the wreckage while she tried to escape the collapse. Ms Brooks, who lived in apartment 403, was on the phone with another relative when she suddenly hung up. According to The Times, Ms Brooks called her daughter from the fourth floor on Monday. The family then alerted rescue crews to her location. She was brought to safety using a bucket ladder and then taken to a hospital for evaluation. The outlet reported that the family members of two more people, Ryan Hitchcock and Brandon Colvin, fear they are still in the building. Earlier on Monday, city officials announced that the search would transition into a recovery phase and that demolition was planned for Tuesday morning. But in the nighttime news release, the timeline for demolition was vague. The building remains in imminent danger of collapse with the condition on site continuing to worsen, it stated. It is the opinion of the structural engineer that the debris pile is currently contributing to the stability of the building and that removal could jeopardize or accelerate the inevitable collapse of the building. Building officials are working with Valley Construction on a plan to safely dismantle and demolish the remaining structure. That release came as around 150 protesters gathered at the building to insist more work be done to locate anyone who could still be trapped in the wreckage, according to The Times. The director of Development and Neighborhood Services in Davenport, Rich Oswald, said that the necessity to demolish this building stems specifically from our desire to maintain as much safety for the surrounding areas as possible, according to CNN. The back of the apartment building, known as The Davenport, detached from the rest of the building, according to Davenport Fire Chief Mike Carlsten. The Sunday collapse led to a leak of natural gas and water which meant that emergency crews had to put their recovery efforts on hold until the leaks could be fixed, Chief Carlsten said on Monday. Residents will not be allowed to enter the building again because of safety concerns, officials said following the collapse, which destroyed entire rooms of some residents homes, leaving some with no place to live and with several losing loved possessions. Fred Voorhis, who served in the military for more than two decades, told KGAN that he lost all his memorabilia from his time in the Army as well as some of the medications he needs. He said he was sleeping at the time of the collapse. I opened up the door to my apartment and there was daylight. It was supposed to be a hallway, Mr Voorhis said, adding that he doesnt know where hell live now. Theres no backup plan, he told the outlet. 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 }} City officials in Davenport, Iowa, have admitted that three residents of the building that collapsed on 28 May are still unaccounted for after announcing plans to proceed with the demolition of the unstable structure. A rear section of The Davenport, a six-storey apartment complex on 324 Main Street, collapsed following reports the week before that bricks were falling off the building and several complaints from tenants about their living conditions. Nine people were rescued from the wreckage, according to Davenport Fire Chief Michael Carlsten. The ninth person rescued more than 24 hours after the collapse, was Lisa Brooks following statements by Mr Carlsten that no one was believed to be trapped under the wreckage. Shes at home, shes fine now. She had passed out under the couch and the only reason she woke up, its because we were yelling her name, Ms Brooks niece Pauletta Joeanna told The Independent. Authorities admitted at two separate press conferences this week that the Davenport Police Department has yet to account for all residents of the building. Three of them, Ryan Hitchcock, Branden Colvin and Daniel Prein, are feared to still be trapped inside as of Saturday (3 June). Search efforts were called on 29 May, less than 24 after the collapse, before they were resumed later in the week to rescue animals and search for the missing men. On 2 June, the city once again called off search efforts. Confronted by reporters on 2 June on why valuable time was lost in the 48 hours without search efforts, a division chief with one of the search task forces said that they had to wait for the building to settle as it was unstable for the first 24 to 36 hours. Davenport Mayor Mike Matson said on 30 May that demolitions plans have been continuously evaluated but refused to address whether Ms Brooks rescue was a determinant factor in the reassessment. Experts who spoke at the presser said another collapse was imminent if the demolition was delayed. Fire authorities have since said they began the permitting process but will stage the demolition in a moderate and controlled manner at a later time. Firefighters are seen rescuing Lisa Brooks from the Iowa building collapse (Pauletta Joeanna) Demolition is a multi-phase process that includes permitting and staging of equipment that will begin today, a city strategy officer told KWQC in a statement. The timing of the physical demolition of the property is still being evaluated. The building remains structurally insecure and in imminent danger of collapse. City Administrator Corri Spiegel said the building likely is filled with asbestos given its age, and the city will develop a plan to ensure workers and people in the area are protected when the remaining structure is demolished. Crowds have gathered in front of the building to protest demolition plans. Mr Colvins 18-year-old son and several other relatives and family members have been camping outside of the building in hopes of putting pressure on city authorities. Although the cause of the collapse has not been determined, some residents described the sound it created as an explosion. Mr Carlsten also said during a press conference that several 911 calls were placed by residents complaining about a strong smell of gas. Residents living in the area reported that the building was known to have problems, including visible water damage and hairline cracks on the walls. Heres everything we know about the collapse: What happened? Rescuers were called to the scene shortly before 5pm on 28 May. Mr Carlsten said the back of the apartment complex collapsed and had separated from the building, which houses apartments on the upper floors and businesses on the ground level. Building resident Lexus Berry told The Quad-City Times that she narrowly escaped but her wife Quanishia and cats became trapped as the building collapsed. Ms Berry had just taken pictures of a separation between a wall and the bathroom doorway before she tried to make it to safety. We both grab our cats, she grabbed one, I grabbed one, got to the door, Ms Berry told the outlet. I watched her, and everything just fell down and everything fell on top of me, and I barely made it out the door There was nothing left where I was standing at. Everything else was gone. Davenport residents listen to an official update on the building collapse on Monday morning (AP) A firefighter climbs through the wreckage of the collapsed building (AP) In the aftermath of the tragedy, first responders worked tirelessly to evacuate tenants, initially rescuing seven people from the wreckage. For the first 12 hours that authorities were unable to locate Quanishia, her wife stayed in the area, anxiously waiting for updates and holding onto hope that Quanishia had survived the ordeal. Search crews finally located Quanishia, who was trapped under debris, on 29 May. There was a lot of debris and things surrounding her and her legs were pinned down, Lexus told The Quad-Cities Times. They were able to get one leg out, but [her left] leg in order to get her out, they had to amputate it. Mayor Matson said trauma surgeons and first responders at the scene performed procedures to save lives. Like the Berrys, dozens of families who lived in the building lost their homes, belongings and pets. What caused the collapse? The cause of the collapse has not been determined, officials said. After responding to the scene, authorities found a gas leak after the collapse and water also had leaked throughout the floors of the structure. Rich Oswald, City of Davenport director of development and neighbourhood services, said that work was being done on the buildings exterior after reports of bricks falling from the building last week. On 31 May, the city released documents, including structural engineering reports, that show city officials and the buildings owner were warned that the parts of the building were unstable. A report dated May 24, just four days before the collapse, suggested patches in the west side of the buildings brick facade appear ready to fall imminently and could be a safety hazard to cars or passersby. The report also detailed that window openings, some filled and some unfilled, were insecure. In one case, the openings were bulging outward and looked poised to fall. Inside the first floor, unsupported window openings help explain why the facade is currently about to topple outward. Despite the warnings, city officials did not order that the estimated 50 tenants leave. Demolition plans laid as three tenants feared trapped under wreckage City officials said that the building is not salvageable and would be torn down. No residents will be allowed back into the building before demolition begins due to its unstable condition. The owner of the property has been served with a notice and order for demolition of the property, Council member Kyle Gripp said. The property is currently being secured by a contractor on site this afternoon and demolition is expected to commence in the morning. Fire Marshall J Morris said that authorities faced a challenging decision, as experts recommended a demolition as soon as permitting is obtained, while family members fear that their loved ones are still alive under the rubble. Johnnie Woods told The Des Moines Register that her nephew Branden Colvin, who lived in a fifth-floor apartment in the building, did not show up for a family gathering on Sunday night. The familys attempts to locate him since have been unsuccessful. Three men, Ryan Hitchcock, Branden Colvin and Daniel Prein, are feared to still be trapped inside (DPD) Ms Woods said a neighbour of Mr Colvins told her hed seen him moments before the collapse. Mr Colvins vehicle was also in the buildings parking lot and had to be towed after the tragedy. My other nephews and other people have been trying to call his phone, and hes not answering his phone, Ms Woods told the Register. So were assuming something, that he cant talk, his phone is dead, or something. Really, we dont know anything. Police have said Mr Colvin, Ryan Hitchcock and Daniel Prein had a high probability of being home at the time of the partial building collapse. Their names have been entered in the National Database for Missing People. A woman who police said is related to Mr Hitchcock noted during the press conference on 30 May that she agreed with demolition plans. I was completely mortified about the protests. These people raising a voice, and they dont know Ryan, Amy Henderson said. The city does have a plan and pushing for any delays ... its one more day that hes under there. Ryan wouldnt want anyone else to put their lives at risk unfortunately for someone who probably has not survived. Animal rescued, second search for trapped tenants The Humane Society of Scott County announced on 29 May that several animals were rescued and reunited with their humans. Search crews combed through an area of the building, which was deemed safe enough for a second search, but did not find any signs of human activity, they said. We recovered 6 cats, 2 snakes, and 1 lizard, which were all the pets reported on our form that werent in one of the apartments where the building collapsed, the non-profit announced earlier this week. Weve already reunited 4 cats, the 2 snakes, and the lizard with their owners, and the other two will be reunited shortly! The states search and rescue team, search dogs and cameras were again used on 1 June to continue combing the building for missing people. During a press conference on 2 June, officials said the search is now moving on to recovery. Building conditions Work to bring down the building comes amid questions about why neither the owner nor city officials warned residents even after a structural engineers report issued last week indicated a wall of the century-old apartment building was at imminent risk of crumbling. The revelation was the latest flashpoint following the partial collapse that has left some residents upset with city leaders over what they see as an inept response. Do I have regrets about this tragedy and about people potentially losing their lives? Hell yeah. Do I think about this every moment? Hell yeah. Mr Matson said on 1 June. I have regrets about a lot of things. Believe me, were going to look at that. City officials said they did not order an evacuation because they relied on the engineers assurances that the building remained safe. Experts have said the structure built in the 1900s is extremely unstable. Because of the layout of the building, with the rear brick part holding together much of the steel structure, officials said there were likely no void spaces where trapped victims could have taken shelter. Authorities said its brittle condition is worsening with time and the possibility of another collapse is now imminent. We want to get everyone out, we want to do it right now, Mr Morris said as he broke down in tears at a press conference on 30 May. So understand, its not that we dont want to do this ... its that we have to do it in a safe manner. Mayor Matson also praised first responders for risking their lives with their swift response and decried criticism sparked after the search was called off. He said surgeons were performing trauma surgeries in the surroundings of the collapsed building and firefighters had gone inside void places that were extremely dangerous to get into, with the only focus to save lives. All of those folks got here in the middle of the night, immediately assessing ... [knowing] that thing is unsafe and going anywhere, he said. There heroes that have gone inside this building ... get off of that. Do you want to come at somebody? Here, Im standing right in front of you. Theyre the people who are saving lives. Allegations of collapse warnings The city has been in contact with the building owner Andrew Wold. Mr Morris said that state agencies are coordinating what agency will take the lead in the investigation but no criminal charges have been filed yet. Despite a myriad of reports from past and current tenants that the buildings conditions were unsafe, a structural engineer hired by the owner deemed the structure safe. The facade of the red brick building was ripped off, exposing the apartment units inside (AP) Ryan Shaffer, the owner of a local masonry company, told The Quad-Cities Times that he was approached by the buildings owner Andrew Wold in February about providing work to shore up the structure - which had reportedly been the subject of many complaints from tenants in the months prior - during ongoing repairs. But when Mr Shaffer provided a quote upwards of $50,000, he claims Mr Wold turned it down because it was too expensive. The rear part of the building was left exposed after several apartments came down on Sunday evening (Quad City Times) He wanted to cut the cost by cutting out the shoring and supporting of the building, Mr Shaffer told the Times. I said, If we dont do it this way exactly, Im not putting my guys in there. Somebody is going to die. Months later, Mr Shaffer said Mr Wold reached out again last week. [Mr Wold] was calling us and asking for I-beams and stuff to support it, he said. I looked at it and was like, Theres no saving it at this point. Mr Shaffer said he drove by the site two days before the collapse and warned workers: Get away, youre going to die. Last year, the building submitted nearly 20 permits, mainly for plumbing or electrical issues. Last weeks permits inspection for framing before cover appeared to be approved when the complex came down around 5pm on Sunday but now appears as failed on the City of Davenport website, local news station KWQC first reported. When confronted about the change, a city spokesperson told the outlet that it was due to a computer glitch and that it should appear as incomplete but denied a Freedom of Information Act request for the physical documents. The Independent has reached out to the city for comment. Iowa court records reviewed by The Independent show that Mr Wold and Davenport Hotel LLC are listed as defendants in a civil enforcement action brought by the City of Davenport on 30 May. Mr Wold faces a $300 fine for failing to keep the building safe, sanitary and structurally sound condition, WQAD reports. It is unclear whether Mr Wold will have a chance to present his case before city officials before the fine becomes effective. Despite a myriad of reports from past and current tenants that the buildings conditions were unsafe, a structural engineer hired by the owner deemed the structure safe, officials said. Emergency crews work the scene of a partial apartment building collapse in Davenport, Iowa (AP) Jennifer Smith, whose business is located in the building, said she first heard about the explosion from her husband, who works for Mid-American Energy. He was on call and got called in for a building explosion downtown. We had no idea it was our building, Ms Smith told the Quad-City Times. It sounds bad, but we have been calling the city and giving complaints since December. Our bathroom caved in December. Ms Smith said water damage has been apparent since they moved into their space in the winter. Her companys co-owner, Deonte Mack, said fire crews were in the building as recently as three days before the tragedy for an inspection. The tenants told us the building was going to collapse, Ms Smith said. Assistance for the victims Several law enforcement agencies responded to the scene. An air ambulance landed at the site of the emergency on Sunday night to transport victims of the collapse, while K-9 units and search crews combed through the wreckage. A school bus drives past the wreckage after the building collapse on Sunday (Quad City Times) Mayor Mike Matson said at the earlier press conference that he had spoken to state governor Kim Reynolds, who offered her assistance in the response to the disaster. Gov Reynolds said the Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security and emergency management officials are also assisting in the response. This is an active scene, the mayor said. We will continue to work, continue to evaluate, with the whole purpose of trying to find people and trying to get them out. The city announced that each displaced household would be eligible for $6,000 in addition to a $5,000 state grant for households up to 200per cent of the federal poverty level. Financial support also will be available for businesses in the building and those nearby. 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 }} Joran van der Sloot, a convicted killer and the prime suspect in the Natalee Holloway case, has been attacked in the Peruvian prison where he is currently being held, his lawyer said. Van der Sloot is the prime suspect in the 2005 disappearance of the American teenager and is awaiting extradition to the US. His lawyer Maximo Altez told ABC News on Monday that the Dutch man is in the medical wing of a Peruvian prison after he was beaten. He said the beating was not related to the upcoming extradition. Mr Altez claimed the beating might have been connected to gang rules inside the Challapalca Prison in Peru. The 35-year-old Dutch national is currently serving a 28-year-long prison sentence for the 2010 murder of Stephany Flores in Lima and is the prime suspect in the disappearance of teenager Natalee Holloway. Van der Sloot once claimed he shoved Holloway so hard to the ground that she hit her head on a rock and died, according to court papers. Holloway had disappeared on the Caribbean island of Aruba in 2005 during a trip to celebrate her high school graduation. A judge declared her legally dead in 2012. 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, stated a federal affidavit cited by Fox News. Van der Sloot claimed that when she fell down, she hit her head on a rock and died as a result of the impact. Federal prosecutors said Van der Sloot claimed his father had helped him hide the body, but when he took the lawyer to the alleged location, there was no sign of Holloway. After the lawyer left the island, Van der Sloot allegedly told him that he had lied about the location. Van der Sloot was indicted on extortion and wire fraud charges in federal court in Alabama in 2010 in connection with a scheme to get money from her family in return for the location of her body. But the same year, he was also convicted of murdering a 21-year-old student Flores after meeting her at her fathers casino in Lima, Peru. Van der Sloot will temporarily be sent to the US to go on trial for the extortion charges before being sent back to Peru. If convicted in Alabama, he would return to the US in 2038 to serve an 40 additional years in a US prison. I was blessed to have had Natalee in my life for 18 years, and as of this month, I have been without her for exactly 18 years. She would be 36 years old now, the teens mother, Beth Holloway, said earlier this month in a statement. It has been a very long and painful journey, but the persistence of many is going to pay off. Together, we are finally getting justice for Natalee. 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 Tennessee woman who disappeared on a cross-country roadtrip with her boyfriend has been found safe in California, police say. Nikki Alcaraz, 33, and her boyfriend Tyler Stratton were located in the town of Eureka at 7.15am on Tuesday after a witness called to report a sighting, Redding Police Department said in a statement. Mr Stratton has been arrested on an unrelated outstanding warrant, Eureka police said. Ms Alcaraz left her home in Cheatham County in her black Jeep Wrangler with her Mr Stratton to visit family in Orange County, California, earlier this month. Her family said they developed grave concerns for her safety after the couple were pulled over by authorities in New Mexico for an alleged domestic violence incident. Nikki Alcaraz, right, vanished while travelling from Tennessee to California with her boyfriend Tyler Stratton, left (Cheatham County Sheriffs Office ) Officers let them go without pressing criminal charges after Mr Stratton claimed he had also been hit. Bodycam from the incident released on Tuesday showed both Ms Alcaraz and Mr Stratton with facial injuries. Ms Alcarazs disappearance attracted nationwide attention after drawing comparisons to the Gabby Petito case. In 2021, Petito and her boyfriend Brian Laundrie were pulled over in Moab, Utah, after police received reports of a domestic assault. Tyler Stratton has been arrested in California, after his girlfriend Nikki Alcaraz was reported missing on a cross country roadtrip (Eureka Police Department) The officers failed to press charges against Laundrie after he claimed he had also been hit, and he went on to murder the 22-year-old vlogger and dump her remains in the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Police said Ms Alcaraz who also goes by Nikki Cunningham was spotted in a Walmart in Redding, California, on 27 May. Then on Tuesday, Redding police announced she was located unharmed. The Redding Police Department has been in contact with the Moriarty, New Mexico Police Department and confirmed Nikki is no longer considered a missing person. Earlier, Ms Alcarazs sister, Toni Alcaraz told WKRN that she hadnt heard from her since she received a text message on 9 May saying she was planning to continue to California. Nikki Alcaraz suffered a black eye after she was allegedly assaulted by her boyfriend Mr Stratton (Cheatham County Sheriffs Office) The sister said that she spoke to Ms Alcaraz after the alleged assault and that she was crying and upset. Her eye was already turning black and you could tell she was beat up pretty bad, Toni Alcaraz told the news site. Photos released by the Cheatham County Sheriffs Department showed Ms Alcaraz with a black left eye after the incident. According to an incident report, Mr Stratton claimed he had also been hit, and Torrance County sheriffs deputies observed blood coming from his mouth. Ms Alcaraz was previously thought to have been last seen on the morning of 6 May at a Super 8 motel in the small town of Moriarty, New Mexico, about 40 miles east of Albuquerque. A license plate reader picked up Ms Alcarazs Jeep near Flagstaff, Arizona earlier this month, but police said her cellphone was out of service and untraceable. Then a Cheatham County deputy told News 2 that she was seen at a Walmart in Redding, California, on 27 May. A photo released by the county District Attorney General Ray Crouch shows her selling her phone at an ecoATM. In September 2021, Gabby Petitos remains were found in the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming after she disappeared on a road trip with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie. The couple was pulled over in Utah by officers from the Moab Police Department on 12 August after receiving reports that Laundrie had struck Petito. They were allowed to continue separately after Laundrie claimed he had been hit by Petito. An independent review of the domestic assault incident found the officers had made several mistakes, and should have been classified as a domestic assault. Laundrie later shot himself in the head and left a suicide note confessing to killing Petito. Petitos family are suing the Moab Police Department for failing to follow the law and protect her during the traffic stop. 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 }} Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has threatened to quit Twitter after Elon Musk promoted a sick account impersonating the Democratic politician. The New York congresswoman said that she was assessing what to do after the billionaire interacted with the fake account on his social media platform. FYI theres a fake account on here impersonating me and going viral. The Twitter CEO has engaged it, boosting visibility, Ms Ocasio-Cortez tweeted on Tuesday. It is releasing false policy statements and gaining spread. I am assessing with my team how to move forward. In the meantime, be careful of what you see. Ms Ocasio-Cortez reacted after Mr Musk, with whom she has had a series of public spats on Twitter, responded with a flames emoji to the fake AOC account tweeting, This might be the wine walking but Ive got a crush on (Elon Musk). This is disgusting even for Elon, tweeted journalist Aaron Rupar, who Ms Ocasio-Cortezs response. this is disgusting even for Elon (in case it's not clear, the "verified" account is not actually AOC) pic.twitter.com/t0yIvRXYeo Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 30, 2023 Last month, Ms Ocasio-Cortez hit out at Mr Musk as Twitter removed blue ticks and said the move could pave the way for major potential harm. When the Twitter boss announced last November that those who want to retain their blue ticks must pay $8 to the company, Ms Ocasio-Cortez mocked the move. FYI theres a fake account on here impersonating me and going viral. The Twitter CEO has engaged it, boosting visibility. It is releasing false policy statements and gaining spread. I am assessing with my team how to move forward. In the meantime, be careful of what you see. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 30, 2023 Lmao at a billionaire earnestly trying to sell people on the idea that free speech is actually an $8/mo subscription plan, she tweeted. The businessman then replied, Your feedback is appreciated, now pay $8. Lmao at a billionaire earnestly trying to sell people on the idea that free speech is actually a $8/mo subscription plan Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 2, 2022 The congresswoman has also previously claimed Mr Musk had meddled with her account. Ms Ocasio-Cortez complained that following a public argument, her Twitter account had seemingly stopped working properly. Yo (Elon Musk) while I have your attention, why should people pay $8 just for their app to get bricked when they say something you dont like? she tweeted. Mr Musk replied back at the Democrat and said, What can I say? It was a naked abuse of power. In December last year, Ms Ocasio-Cortez condemned Mr Musk after he suspended the accounts of half a dozen journalists who routinely reported on him and the social media platform. I get feeling unsafe, but descending into abuse of power + erratically banning journalists only increases the intensity around you, the Democratic lawmaker said. As someone who has been subject to real and dangerous plots, I do get it. I didnt have security and have experienced many scary incidents, she said. In fact, many of the right-wing outlets you now elevate published photos of my home, car, etc. At a certain point you gotta disconnect. Maybe try putting down your phone, she suggested. You first lol, responded Mr Musk. 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 }} President Joe Biden will welcome British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to the White House for an Official Working Visit next week on 8 June, the White House has said. In a statement, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Mr Biden looks forward to meeting with the prime minister to further deepen the close and historic partnership between the United States and the United Kingdom. Ms Jean-Pierre said the bilateral session will follow up on recent meetings between Mr Biden and Mr Sunak, who last saw each other at the G7 summit in Japan earlier this month. She added that the US and UK leaders will review a range of global issues, including their steadfast support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russias brutal war of aggression, as well as further action to bolster energy security and address the climate crisis, and discuss efforts to continue strengthening our economic relationship as we confront shared economic and national security challenges. The White House spokesperson also said Mr Biden and Mr Sunak will review developments in Northern Ireland as part of their shared commitment to preserving the gains of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. A spokesperson for the prime minister said the two men would spend their time together build[ing] on discussions the Prime Minister and President Biden have had in recent months about enhancing the level of co-operation and co-ordination between the UK and US on the economic challenges that will define our future, including securing our supply chains and transitioning to zero-carbon economies. It will also be an opportunity to discuss issues including sustaining our support for Ukraine as we build on the success of our G7 summit in the run-up to the Nato summit in July, the spokesperson added. Mr Sunaks visit to the White House will come during the second half of what will be a two-day visit to the US capital, during which he will also meet with top congressional leaders and business figures. He last visited the US in March when he travelled to San Diego for a meeting with Mr Biden and Australian leader Anthony Albanese regarding the Aukus agreement to supply Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. The prime minister and the US president also met in Belfast in April, and will meet again at the Nato leaders summit in Lithuania this summer. 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 }} The Russian and Chinese foreign ministers are expected to meet with their counterparts from the BRICS economic bloc in Cape Town on Thursday, a precursor to a larger summit of developing nations' leaders in South Africa in August that Russian President Vladimir Putin may attend while under indictment by the International Criminal Court. South Africa has suggested without saying explicitly that it won't arrest Putin, if he decides to travel for the main BRICS summit in Johannesburg, despite being obliged to do so as a signatory to the ICC's Rome treaty. BRICS is a bloc of emerging economies made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and their leaders, including China's Xi Jinping, have been invited to the Aug. 22-24 summit. Any Putin trip and the Kremlin hasn't said if he will attend would focus more attention on South Africa's relationship with Moscow. There are clear concerns in the West that Africa's most developed economy is aligning with Russia and pulling other developing countries along with it at a time of heightened global tensions. Those concerns burst into the open earlier this month when the U.S. ambassador to South Africa called a news conference in Pretoria and accused the country of supplying weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine. The South African government has denied the allegation, but the visit of a Russian cargo ship to South Africa's top naval base near Cape Town in December is under investigation. While South Africa hasn't yet stated its official position with regard to the arrest warrant for Putin, its foreign ministry said Tuesday that those traveling for Thursday's meeting of BRICS foreign ministers and the leaders who attend the main summit in three months' time would be afforded standard diplomatic immunity. But the privileges do not override any warrant that may have been issued by any international tribunal against any attendee of the conference, foreign ministry spokesman Clayson Monyela said, an indirect reference to Putin. It means the ICC arrest warrant would still be applicable if Putin visits in August, even if it is highly unlikely that South Africa would arrest him. The Russian president hasn't traveled to any country that is part of the international court treaty since he was indicted in March for war crimes relating to the abduction of children from Ukraine. Away from Putin, the main summit of BRICS leaders could be one of the most important in the bloc's short history, analysts say. There could be movement on two critical issues: BRICS could be expanded to admit new members like Saudi Arabia, Iran and United Arab Emirates. The bloc might also adopt a resolution on creating a BRICS currency. Those moves within a group containing Russia and China might be seen as "a direct economic challenge to the U.S., said William Gumede, an associate professor at the School of Governance at Johannesburg's University of the Witwatersrand and a BRICS analyst. "BRICS could look very different ... and (it) would just change the dynamics of world power, Gumede said. BRICS officials said in April that at least 19 countries including major oil producers Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates have applied to become members. South Africa Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor has also confirmed that a BRICS currency will be discussed. The discussions might start this week when Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang meet with Pandor and other counterparts from Brazil and India. Although there are complications with introducing a common currency in countries with vastly different economic setups, Gumede said a formal decision to pursue it could still be seen as a major political statement and an attempt to start the de-dollarization of parts of the world. The U.S. would have to respond, one way or another, Gumede said. The BRICS gatherings follow a summit of the Group of Seven leaders in Japan that was dominated by the U.S. and the world's other advanced economies extending sanctions against Russia as punishment for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and finding ways to counter the economic policies of China. While accusing South Africa of giving arms to Russia and going against its stated neutrality in the war in Ukraine, U.S. Ambassador Reuben Brigety also referred to the country's hosting of the upcoming BRICS meetings and how they had been framed by some within the bloc as the counterpoint to the G-7, the meeting of the other side. Brigety gave notice that the U.S. was watching. Our officials expressed quite serious concern of the explicit articulation of the BRICS configuration as a, quote, counterpoint to the G-7, Brigety said. Of course, South Africa is free to choose its diplomatic and economic partners however it chooses and so is the United States of America." This is not a matter of bullying as I often hear in this context. Its not a matter of threatening. This is how any relationship works. ___ Gerald Imray reported from Cape Town. ___ More AP news: https://apnews.com/ 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 }} Laura Loomer is being called out for vile and disgusting comments in which she described Casey DeSantiss battle with cancer as over exaggerated. Ms Loomer, a far-right anti-Muslim activist who twice ran unsuccessfully for Congress and was in 2018 banned from Twitter for hateful conduct, said Florida governor Ron DeSantis exaggerated his wifes battle with cancer in a desperate attempt to woo voters. The Donald Trump loyalist called for the release of Ms DeSantiss medical records to prove she is not being exploited as a campaign prop for her husbands political ambitions. They even used it in a 2022 campaign commercial which is very tacky, she tweeted, referring to Floridas first lady, who uses her middle name Casey, by her first name Jill. They are welcome to release the medical records though to show that they arent exaggerating. Especially since they want to use her as a campaign surrogate and cancer as a way to appeal to voters. Mr DeSantis announced in Octorber 2021 that his wife was diagonosed with breast cancer and revealed in March 2022 that she was cancer-free after undergoing surgery and treatment. Her battle with cancer inspired her to launch a fund for cancer research and care for Floridians and become a champion for fighting cancer, claimed her biography. You cant say my wife is a part of my campaign then also say you arent allowed to criticise her because she had cancer. Shes fair game, Ms Loomer said. The comments, raising doubts on Ms DeSantiss battle with cancer, have outraged even Trump supporters, with one describing her as a liability for him. Republican activist Laura Loomer shouts at Jack Dorsey as he speaks on stage during the cryptocurrency conference, Bitcoin 2021 (AFP via Getty Images) Claiming a young mother faked cancer is about the most reprehensible thing someone can do to score cheap political points, tweeted Conservative commentator John Cardillo. Trump and Susie Wiles have disgraced himself by not condemning this disgusting lie (sic). Ian Haworth, a Washington Examiner host, said: This is gross, even for you. Fox News contributor Joe Concha wrote: One of the most disgusting, vile, patently and intentionally dishonest tweets youll ever read... as Laura Loomer claims Casey DeSantis faked her own cancer. This is beyond insulting, even for this person. Michonne Walker, who claimed to be a Trump supporter, said her comments were too much and grotesque. Ms Loomer gained infamy for comments describing Islam as a cancer under the hashtag #proudislamophobe. In a 2017 tweet, she celebrated the deaths of migrants crossing the Mediterranean. Ms Loomer, who is Jewish, was barred from Twitter in 2018 after she attacked congresswoman Ilhan Omar and called her pro FGM [female genital mutilation] and that she was anti-Jewish. She was one of the controversial figures whose account was reinstated by Elon Musk following his takeover of Twitter. She was also in line for a role working on Mr Trumps campaign, The New York Times reported last month, citing people familiar with the former presidents conversations with his aides. His aides, however, raised concerns over Ms Loomers inflamatory views, saying they could backfire for the campaign. 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 }} U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, is planning to leave Congress due to his wife's illness by the end of this year, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The six-term Utah Republican will announce on Wednesday that he will likely leave office by the end of the year, leaving an open Republican seat on the House Appropriations and Intelligence committees. The person familiar with the matter spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly prior to the planned announcement. Under Utah law, Gov. Spencer Cox is tasked with calling a special election to fill a vacancy in Utah's 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses much of western Utah, spanning from the Salt Lake City metro to St. George. His departure is not expected to affect House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's ability to steer a tight Republican majority. The district is reliably Republican and Stewart defeated a Democratic challenger by more than 30 percentage points in 2022. Stewart, a U.S. Air Force veteran and author, was first elected in 2012 and collaborated with Utah's Elizabeth Smart on a memoir about her kidnapping. The 62-year-old Stewart was raised as a potential nominee for U.S. director of national intelligence during former President Donald Trumps administration. Last year, in an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Stewart demurred when asked about his future political plans, specifically whether he would challenge U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney or Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, both moderates. His resignation would immediately upend Utah's political landscape ahead of next year's election, creating a rare federal opening for ambitious Republicans. The Salt Lake Tribune first announced Stewart's plans to resign. 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 historic impeachment trial in Texas to determine whether Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton should be permanently removed from office will begin no later than August in the state Senate, where the jury that would determine his future could include his wife, Sen. Angela Paxton. Ken Paxton was immediately suspended from office after the GOP-controlled Texas House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted Saturday to impeach the three-term attorney general, who has been dogged by ethical and criminal accusations since taking office in 2015. The Senate unanimously adopted a measure Monday that called for the trial to begin not later than Aug. 28. Paxton is only the third sitting official in Texas' nearly 200-year history to be impeached. He called the House investigation that led up to his impeachment corrupt and has broadly denied wrongdoing. The raft of accusations against him include an indictment on securities fraud charges and allegations that he misused his office to try to thwart an FBI investigation into one of his donors. Angela Paxton has not publicly commented on the impeachment proceedings against her husband, nor has said whether she will recuse herself from the trial in the 31-member Senate, where she is one of 19 Republicans that frequently vote in lockstep. Removing Ken Paxton from office would require a two-thirds majority. The impeachment has blown wide open rifts in America's biggest red state between Republicans who are seen as the establishment particularly in the Texas House and hard-right conservative activists who have long backed Paxton. Paxton was easily reelected in November as Republicans extended their unbeaten streak in Texas statewide elections to 28 years. His defenders say voters have already made up their mind on whether he is fit for office despite the trail of accusations. Birth registration is a permanent and official record of a child's existence, and provides legal recognition of that child's identity. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), has said registering a child at birth could help in addressing population crisis in Nigeria. UNICEF's child protection specialist, Fatimah Adamu, while speaking during a two-day media dialogue in Kano Sate on Monday, said birth registration is the core part of identity document for every child. Ms Adamu said the first right of every child is the identification of the child at birth which she noted can be done through birth registration. "Birth registration helps in addressing a lot of issues like population, resource distributions, issues of planning, issues of access to services, hence it is important for every child to be registered at birth," she said. Ms Adamu said Nigeria is evolving from paper-based registration to digital birth registration which she described as a step forward "towards ensuring more children are registered at birth." She said UNICEF is providing support to Nigeria to ensure the success of the digital system. Birth registration in Nigeria Birth registration is the process of recording a child's birth. It is a permanent and official record of a child's existence which provides legal recognition of that child's identity. According to the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), only 57 per cent of children born in Nigeria are registered at birth with civil authorities. The survey shows that Lagos State has the highest number of birth registration with 94 per cent, closely followed by the FCT with 87 per cent. States with the lowest registration are Jigawa with 23.6 per cent and Sokoto with 22.5 per cent. The survey shows that three per cent of children under the age of five had their births registered, but do not have birth certificates. It also indicates that two out of every three mothers and caregivers of children aged below five years whose births were not registered did not know how to register births. It shows that the percentage of children under the age of five whose births are registered ranges from as high as 89 per cent for the richest wealth quintile to as low as 33 per cent for the poorest wealth quintile. 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 }} South Americas leaders were gathering Tuesday in Brazils capital as part of an effort by the Brazilian president to revive regional cooperation in energy, crime-fighting and the economy. The regional bloc previously known as Union of South American Nations, or Unasur, first gathered 15 years ago to boost cooperation between the 12 South American nations. But the group eventually fractured amid the continents political swings and polarization, and this is their first meeting in nine years. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva suggested at a news conference Monday that he might consider floating the idea of a regional currency to challenge the U.S dollar. But he said nothing would be decided during the meeting. The main idea is that we need to form a bloc to work together, Lula said. Seen by some as having a leftist bent, the regional bloc had fallen apart on disagreements over Unasurs leadership. The participation of Venezuelas authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro led several countries to withdraw, including Brazil in 2019 under Lulas predecessor, the rightist Jair Bolsonaro. A sign that political winds have turned once again on the continent the majority of its current presidents are leftist or centrist Lula met with Maduro on Monday, calling the bilateral meeting a historic moment for both countries. Aside from Maduro, another 10 South American presidents are attending the summit, as well as the leader of the Council of Ministers of Peru, where the president, Dina Boluarte, faces charges and cannot leave the country. Political analysts say Lula, a former trade unionist, sensed an opportunity for integration because of the political affinities of the regions current governments. The challenge, they say, will be having a bloc that can survive the regions political shifts and instability. 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 }} The American Civil Liberties Union is suing the state of Nebraska after lawmakers passed sweeping legislation that combined abortion restrictions with a bill targeting gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Opponents have argued that the measure unconstitutionally merged two unrelated measures into one, running afoul of a state constitutional provision that prohibits legislation from containing more than one subject. A lawsuit was filed in state court on 30 May by the ACLU and the ACLU of Nebraska on behalf of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland and the chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood North Central States. Nebraskas abortion restrictions an approximate 10-week abortion ban went into effect on 23 May. The law also directs the states chief medical officer who was appointed by the Republican governor to draft the rules for how young trans people and their families can access nonsurgical affirming healthcare. The legal challenge comes one week after Republican Governor Jim Pillen signed the bill into law during a ceremony where he compared healthcare for young trans people to Lucifer. 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, he said on 22 May. That is absolutely Lucifer at its finest. After an epic filibuster that blocked a gender-affirming care ban for nearly three months and successfully killed a proposed ban on abortion care at six weeks of pregnancy, state lawmakers in Nebraskas unicameral legislature this month broke through the legislative blockade and approved a measure that combined elements of both. The extraordinary maneuvers in the smallest legislative body in the country drew national attention, as lawmakers across the United States consider similar bills targeting abortion rights and LGBT+ people. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen appeared at a ceremony on 22 May to sign legislation banning abortion at roughly 10 weeks and restricting gender-affirming care for trans youth. (AP) Proponents of Nebraskas bill anticipated a legal challenge, as the states constitution prohibits legislation that combines unrelated measures under a so-called single subject rule: No bill shall contain more than one subject. Mindy Rush Chipman, ACLU of Nebraska interim executive director, said Nebraska senators failure to adhere to the single subject requirement was a rushed process that circumvented critical legislative guardrails. The bottom line is that senators do not get to pick and choose which constitutional requirements they will follow when making laws, she added. Ruth Richardson, CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, told reporters during a briefing on Tuesday that the law breaks through those constitutional guardrails in an egregious overreach of lawmakers abilities. Dr Sarah Traxler, an abortion provider and chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood North Central States, told reporters that state lawmakers showed a complete disregard for the health and bodily autonomy they purport to serve. Im appalled at this is where we are today, she said. The anti-abortion component has had an immediate effect, leaving patients confused as to whether they can receive abortion in the state, scared, and afraid to tell people closest to them that they are pregnant, Dr Trexler said. People now have to travel and find the money, time off work and childcare necessary to receive the critical care they deserve, she said. We are operating at capacity. Chelsea Souder, founder and director of Nebraska Abortion Resources, said the organisation has seen an increase in patients forced to leave the state to seek legal abortion care in states as far as Illinois and Minnesota. We are in this for the long haul and we are not giving up on Nebraskans, she said. Nebraskas office of attorney general has 30 days to respond to the complaint. The ACLU also is seeking emergency injunctive relief to temporarily block the law while the legal challenge plays out, to which a judge can respond at any time. 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 member of Gov Ron DeSantis Disney oversight board has resigned just three months into his tenure, Spectrum News 13 first reported. Michael Sasso, an Orlando-based attorney, was one of five people Mr DeSantis appointed to the board of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District after the state seized control of Walt Disney Worlds special tax district earlier this year. It is not yet clear why Mr Sasso, the managing partner of a law firm focused on election law and business and construction litigation, stepped down from the board late last week just days after Mr DeSantis appointed Mr Sassos wife, Judge Meredith Sasso, to the state Supreme Court. Mr Sasso has long been a close ally of Mr DeSantis, who has also appointed him to roles on the states Public Employees Relations Commission and the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Sixth District Court of Appeals. The Florida Bulldog reported last week that Mr Sassos resignation from the tourism oversight board may be linked to Ms Sassos new role on the state Supreme Court. The Independent has reached out to Mr Sasso for comment on this story. The oversight district Mr DeSantis established earlier this year is just the latest frontier in a long-running battle between Mr DeSantis and Disney, one of his states largest and most visible business entities. The conflict began when Disney spoke out against what opponents have called the Dont Say Gay law limiting speech about gender and sexuality in public schools, and has escalated in the months since. In February, Mr DeSantis struck a material blow against the company signing legislation revoking Disneys control of the Reedy Creek Improvement District that Disney had self-governed for decades. The law gave Mr DeSantis the power to appoint a five-person oversight board to govern the district, which Mr DeSantis filled with appointees including Mr Sasso. Disney, meanwhile, sued Mr DeSantis and other state officials in federal court last month for putting its business in danger and violating its free speech rights. 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 lawsuit reads in part. While the lawsuit plays itself out in the courts, Mr DeSantis has turned at least a portion of his attention away from matters in Florida as he runs for president. The governor, long touted as a possibly formidable rival to former President Donald Trump, launched his campaign with an event on Twitter last week. 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 }} Rosalynn Carter, the former first lady and wife of President Jimmy Carter, has dementia but continues to live happily at home, her family has announced. Ms Carter, 95, is enjoying spring in Plains and visits with loved ones despite the diagnosis, The Carter Center announced in a statement on Tuesday. Former President Jimmy Carter, 98, entered home hospice care in February of this year after a string of brief hospital stays. Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter (L) waits as US President Joe Biden leaves after he visited former US President Jimmy Carter, April 29, 2021, in Plains, Georgia. (AFP via Getty Images) Mrs Carter has been the nations leading mental health advocate for much of her life. First in the Georgia Governors Mansion, then in the White House, and later at The Carter Center, she urged improved access to care and decreased stigma about issues surrounding mental health, the statement read. One in 10 older Americans have dementia, a condition that affects overall mental health. We recognize, as she did more than half a century ago, that stigma is often a barrier that keeps individuals and their families from seeking and getting much-needed support. We hope sharing our familys news will increase important conversations at kitchen tables and in doctors offices around the country. And the statement added: As the founder of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, Mrs Carter often noted that there are only four kinds of people in this world: those who have been caregivers; those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers. The universality of caregiving is clear in our family, and we are experiencing the joy and the challenges of this journey. We do not expect to comment further and ask for understanding for our family and for everyone across the country serving in a caregiver role. Mr Carter, a Democrat, became the 39th US president when he defeated his predecessor Gerald Ford in 1976. He served a single term and was defeated by Republican Ronald Reagan in 1980. The Carter family is sharing that former First Lady Rosalynn Carter has dementia. She continues to live happily at home with her husband, enjoying spring in Plains and visits with loved ones. Full statement: https://t.co/FrpcYhPwn4 pic.twitter.com/Ng4mnAZiPS The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) May 30, 2023 He is the oldest living former president in US history and still lives in a modest home in the rural town of Plains, Georgia, a two-and-a-half-hour drive south of Atlanta. Mr Carter had a small cancerous mass removed from his liver in 2015. And in 2016, he announced that he would need no further treatment as his cancer had been eliminated by an experimental drug. The other living former presidents are Donald Trump, 76; Barack Obama, 61; George W Bush, 76; and Bill Clinton, 76. Mr Carter was a peanut farmer and a US Navy lieutenant before going into politics and serving one term as the governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his peace efforts around the world and is a long-time supporter of and volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. 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 }} Ted Cruz is facing backlash on Twitter from both sides of the political spectrum following his criticism of Ugandas stringent new anti-LGBT+ laws. On Monday, the Republican senator responded to a New York Times article on Twitter which described Ugandas new legislation as among the most restrictive of its kind in the world. The bill, signed into law by president Yoweri Museveni, does not criminalise those who identify as LGBT+, but still prescribes the death penalty for aggravated homosexuality. Aggravated homosexuality is defined as cases of sexual relations involving people infected with HIV as well as with minors and other categories of vulnerable people. The legislation said a suspect convicted of attempted aggravated homosexuality can be imprisoned for up to 14 years. Mr Cruz quote tweeted the New York Times article and wrote on the social media platform: This Uganda law is horrific & wrong. Any law criminalizing homosexuality or imposing the death penalty for aggravated homosexuality is grotesque & an abomination. ALL civilized nations should join together in condemning this human rights abuse. His tweet faced was criticised across party lines, by both the right and the left. While liberals accused Mr Cruz of hypocrisy, conservatives accused him allying with the left. Great, now call out @GovRonDeSantis for his law where teachers cant even say gay in the schools, wrote Twitter user Michael VanDeMar. Another user wrote: Um... hows the Texas GOP treating trans people this legislative session? Conservative user Joseph T Sibre wrote: Ted, seems to me your focus should be here at home working to get the unjustly punished J6 (January 6) prisoners out of jail. Im disappointed in you. Absolutely. Also, the response to this by your base should tell you a lot, wrote Joshua Reed Eakle of Students for Liberty. Respectfully, whats happening in Uganda isnt my concern or priority. My question is, why is it yours? Has your account been hacked? Why is this new talking point emerging? wrote Olivia P Walker. Just in time for Pride Month corporate Ted? asked user Jon Del Arroz. One user claimed Mr Cruz was up for re-election in a state thats bluer than it was when he first won election in 2012. Cruz is pro-LGBT, but only for folks who live outside the US and when its life and death. Otherwise, not so much, said Russell Drew. Last year, Mr Cruz faced criticism for saying that US Supreme Court was clearly wrong for legalising same-sex marriage in the landmark 2015 Obergefell v Hodges ruling. 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 the probe into whether former President Donald Trump or his advisers broke the law in their retention of documents including some potentially classified material from the White House nears its end, Mr Trumps legal team is said to be fearing disloyalty. The Daily Beast reported on Tuesday that the former presidents attorneys supposedly worry that some among them may decide to start talking to the Department of Justice, becoming witnesses in the case, as the attention of the agency turns to the actions of the legal team themselves. The probe into Mr Trumps handling of presidential records, including classified documents, exploded into the public eye last year when FBI agents raided Mar-a-Lago, Mr Trumps home and resort in Florida. Several current attorneys to Mr Trump who serve in varying capacities described a chaotic situation where much of the strategy is managed by Mr Trumps in-house counsel, Boris Epshteyn, and clashing personalities have led to a toxic environment all of which is occurring as the Justice Departments special counsel, Jack Smith, is said to be closing in on a decision regarding potential criminal charges in the case. Prosecutors appear to be turning up the heat on Mr Trumps lawyers which is fueling existing tensions within his legal team. Notes belonging to former federal prosecutor M Evan Corcoran, who is representing Mr Trump in the case, were handed over to prosecutors by a federal judge, citing the existence of a possible crime. Further, when lawyer Alina Habba was questioned during the New York attorney generals case regarding business fraud she declared she had looked everywhere at Mar-a-Lago for relevant papers, only for the classified documents to show up in the same place when the FBI searched the property. Several attorneys on Trumps team consider these two events as potential liabilities, The Daily Beast reports, given that prosecutors could pressure them to become witnesses against their client. Internal tensions have already led to the departure of Timothy Partlatore, who specifically blamed Mr Epshteyn for making the defence of the former president much harder than it needed to be. One source told The Daily Beast that there are a lot of lawyers and a lot of jealousy. Much of the internal criticism reported by the outlet relates directly to Mr Epshteyn and what is seen as his meddling, particularly in relation to the classified documents case. Boris pissed off all the Florida lawyers. People are dropping like flies. Everybody hates him. Hes a toxic loser. Hes a complete psycho, another source told The Daily Beast, who said the person could barely contain their anger while discussing the matter. Hes got daddy issues, and Trump is his daddy, they said. Several sources describe Mr Epshteyn as being protective of Mr Trump and demanding that all communication flows through him. Though another source told the outlet that while he tries to arrange and coordinate, everyone has the former presidents phone number and he calls you directly when he feels like it. While Mr Parlatore has spoken out on CNN about Mr Epshteyn doing everything he could to try to block us, to prevent us from doing what we could to defend the president, other Trump lawyers have played down that narrative. Ms Habba, also in an appearance on CNN, said: You have type A personalities. Were all lawyers, and not everybodys always going to get along. Meanwhile, Trump 2024 spokesperson Steven Cheung told The Daily Beast: Mr Parlatore is no longer a member of the legal team. His statements regarding current members of the legal team are unfounded and categorically false. In addition to the classified documents case, there are also impending cases in New York and Georgia, meaning that the sprawling legal team has to coordinate to avoid double-booking possible court appearances for the former president as well as coordinating with his current campaign for the White House. 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 whale suspected to be a Russian spy was spotted off Swedens coast on Sunday, after being first seen near northern Norway four years ago. Researchers had said that the whale- nicknamed Hvaldimir as a nod to the notorious Russian president Vladimir Putin- was thought to be a lost spy animal trained by the Russian Navy. The whale has been known to go up to boats to ask for food and play fetch and appears to be tame, suggesting he is used to interacting with humans. Hvaldimir was discovered by fishermen off the coast of northern Norway (NTB Scanpix/Norwegian Directorat) A timeline of where Hvaldimir has been spotted over the last four years: April 2019 Hvaldimir, was discovered with a harness attached to his body and a label that said Equipment of Saint Petersburg in April 2019. May 2019 The whale returned a phone to a woman whose iPhone fell out of her pocket into the water off the coast of Norway. The footage shows Hvaldimir emerging from the sea with a phone in his mouth. A video on Instagram shows the woman scratching Hvaldimir under the chin in appreciation. A Beluga whale wearing a Go Pro harness is seen in Norwegian waters in 2019 (Jorgen Ree Wiig) June 2019 Diving supervisor, Tom Ralph, said the whale pulled a knife from another divers scabbard and then backed away about a meter and just sat there with this knife in its mouth. November 2019 The whale was filmed playing catch with a group of South African rugby fans. He chased and returned the rugby ball using his mouth to the group of men. Man throws rugby ball for beluga suspected to be trained whale Hvaldimir May 2023 Hvaldimir has reappeared in Hunnebostrand off Swedens coast. We dont know why he has sped up so fast right now, Sebastian Strand, a marine biologist with the OneWhale organisation told the news agency. He added that it was particularly puzzling because the whale was moving very quickly away from his natural environment. It could be hormones driving him to find a mate. Or it could be loneliness as belugas are a very social species it could be that hes searching for other beluga whales. He told AFP that the whale is believed to be 13 to 14 years old and at an age where his hormones are very high. According to the Hvaldimir Foundation, the whale may have become dependent on humans due to hand-feeding and does not appear to be able to successfully hunt and feed for itself. Mr Strand said Hvaldimirs health seemed to be very good in recent years, as he continues to forage fish under Norways salmon farms. Belugas in the past have been used to guard naval bases, help divers, and find lost equipment, biologists said. The whales were reportedly trained by the Soviets during the Cold War to sniff out mines and torpedoes. A Russian military spokesperson denied in April that Hvaldimir was connected to a training programme while acknowledging that dolphins are sometimes used for military purposes. 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 }} It has been rare for Moscow to be targeted by drones during Russia's invasion of Ukraine but the capital has been told by one politician to prepare for "the new reality" of such attacks. Russian politicians say that among the areas hit was the Rublyovka suburb, where Russian President Vladimir Putin has an official residence, as well as numerous other members of Russia's political and business elite. Alexander Khinshtein, a prominent member of Russia's parliament from the ruling United Russia bloc, said three drones had been downed over three Rublyovka villages, one of which is located just 10 minutes' drive from Mr Putin's residence at Novo-Ogaryovo. Russia's Investigative Committee said that that drones had been downed over the Odintsovsky district, which includes Rublyovka. Rublyovka contains a collection of gated communities in the forests west of Moscow it once boasted some of the world's highest property prices. Beyond Mr Putin, former president Dmitry Medvedev and the current prime minister, Mikhail Mishustin, have been reported to own homes in Rublyovka. Residents across Moscow said they heard loud bangs followed by the smell of petrol. Some filmed a drone being shot down and a plume of smoke rising over the Moscow skyline. Its flying right over our house! yelled one man as he filmed a video of a drone gliding over suburban Moscow. A number of politicians used the strikes to attack the Russian Defence Ministry for allowing the drones to enter the capital's airspace and said that Moscow needed to increase its own strikes on Kyiv, which has been hit with a barrage of drones and missiles for three nights in a row. One Russian politician, Maxim Ivanov, claimed the Moscow drone strikes were the most serious assault on the capital since the Nazis, saying no citizen could now avoid "the new reality". "You will either defeat the enemy as a single fist with our Motherland, or the indelible shame of cowardice, collaboration and betrayal will engulf your family," he said. That approach was at odds with the one taken by Andrei Vorobyov, the governor of the Moscow region, who clearly sought to calm residents who would have been used to the war being far from their door. This morning, residents of some districts of the Moscow region could hear the sounds of explosions those were our air defences at work, he said in a social media post. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group who have been at the centre of some of the fiercest fighting of the invasion in eastern Ukraine hit out at the political elites in Rublyovka as being out of touch with the war on the ground and insufficiently committed to the war. Mr Prigozhin has been a constant thorn in the side of the Russian Defence Ministry and the country's military chiefs, repeatedly using his forces' position at the centre of the symbolic battle for the eastern city of Bakhmut to complain about the lack of ammunition and support for his troops and generally how many mistakes he believes officials are making around strategy. In an expletive-filled statement posted on Telegram by his press service, Mr Prigozhin blamed the drone strikes on senior military officials living in the suburb. "Why the f*** are you allowing these drones to fly to Moscow? Who gives a s*** that they are flying to your homes on Rublyovka! Let your houses burn," he said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Kremlin has lashed out at Kyiv in the wake of Moscow being targeted by a large-scale drone attack for the first time since its invasion of Ukraine began. The incident exposes the extent to which Russian president Vladimir Putins decision to invade Ukraine 15 months ago has come home to roost. Residents of some of the capitals most exclusive neighbourhoods woke to the sound of explosions as Moscow and its outskirts came under attack from the drones, which may have numbered close to 30. The Russian president appeared on state television to decry the attack, blaming Kyiv for trying to intimidate Russia, Russian citizens, and claiming that the attacks were focused on residential buildings. Mr Putin also admitted that, while Moscows air defence had worked in a satisfactory way, it was clear that our task is to plug the gaps in the system. He labelled the drone volley a terrorist attack and claimed it was carried out in response to what he described as an attack on a Ukrainian command centre in recent days, but he provided no evidence to support this assertion. We have spoken about hitting command centres [in Ukraine], he said. ... In response, the Kyiv regime has chosen a different path. Ukrainian officials denied any involvement. Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak rejected the idea that Kyiv had been directly involved in the attack, but said Ukraine was enjoying watching these events, and that he expected there to be more of them. Regarding the attacks: of course we are pleased to watch, and predict an increase in the number of attacks. But of course, we have nothing directly to do with this, Mr Podolyak said. Mr Putin claimed that Ukraine was provoking us into responding in kind. Russia is already doing so Moscow has stepped up its own barrage on Kyiv in recent weeks, hitting the capital 17 times in May with drones or missiles, mostly at night. That includes an assault early on Tuesday, the third on the city in 24 hours. Kyiv said four people had died across Ukraine, with 34 wounded including two children. But Tuesday marked only the second time the Russian capital had come under direct fire, after an apparent drone strike on the Kremlin earlier this month. Moscow blamed that, too, on Kyiv, and tried to claim it was an attempt to kill Mr Putin. As with this weeks attack, Kyiv denied any involvement. Russias Ministry of Defence said eight drones were shot down or diverted with electronic jammers on the approach to Moscow in the latest incident, although Russian media close to the security services stated that more than 25 drones had participated in the strikes. The defence ministry blamed the government of Volodymyr Zelensky, while the foreign ministry said that Russia reserves the right to take the harshest possible measures in response. Two people were injured in the Moscow attack, Russian officials said, while some apartment blocks were briefly evacuated, according to Moscows mayor. Russian politicians said that among the areas hit was the exclusive Rublyovka suburb, where Mr Putin has a residence along with numerous other members of Russias political and business elite. Alexander Khinshtein, a prominent member of Russias parliament from the ruling United Russia bloc, said three drones had been downed over three Rublyovka villages, one of which is located just 10 minutes drive from Mr Putins residence at Novo-Ogaryovo. Rublyovka contains a collection of gated communities in the forests west of Moscow, and once boasted some of the worlds highest property prices. As well as Mr Putin, former president Dmitry Medvedev and the current prime minister, Mikhail Mishustin, have been reported to own homes in Rublyovka. Residents across Moscow said they heard loud bangs followed by the smell of petrol. Some filmed a drone being shot down and a plume of smoke rising over the Moscow skyline. Its flying right over our house! yelled one man as he filmed a video of a drone gliding over suburban Moscow. A number of staunchly pro-war politicians used the strikes to attack the Russian Ministry of Defence for allowing the drones to enter the capitals airspace, and said that Moscow needed to increase its own strikes on Kyiv. One Russian politician, Maxim Ivanov, claimed that the Moscow drone strikes were the most serious assault on the capital since the Second World War, saying that no citizen could now avoid the new reality. The sabotage and terrorist attacks of Ukraine will only increase, said Mr Khinshtein, who called for a radical strengthening of defences. Do not underestimate the enemy! Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, whose soldiers have been at the centre of some of the fiercest fighting of the invasion so far in eastern Ukraine, hit out at the political elites in Rublyovka as being out of touch with the conflict on the ground and insufficiently committed to the war. Mr Prigozhin has been a constant thorn in the side of the Russian defence ministry and the countrys military chiefs, repeatedly using his forces position at the centre of the symbolic battle for the eastern city of Bakhmut to complain about the lack of ammunition and support for his troops and generally how many strategic mistakes he believes officials are making. In an expletive-filled statement posted on Telegram by his press service, Mr Prigozhin blamed the drone strikes on senior military officials living in the suburb. Why the f*** are you allowing these drones to fly to Moscow? Who gives a s*** that they are flying to your homes on Rublyovka! Let your houses burn, he said. While the strikes unnerved some Muscovites, Olga, who said she lived near the site of one of the drone collisions on Profsoyuznaya Street, told reporters that the strikes were logical, to be expected ... what else were we waiting for? Ukraines Western allies who are sending advanced weaponry to Ukraine as it prepares a long-anticipated counteroffensive to regain territory that Russia has taken during its invasion said they were monitoring the situation following the drone attack. The UKs foreign secretary, James Cleverly, said that Ukraine does have the legitimate right to defend itself, adding: It has the legitimate right to do so within its own borders, of course, but it does also have the right to project force beyond its borders to undermine Russias ability to project force into Ukraine itself. The White House said it was still gathering information on the reports of drone strikes in Moscow, while reiterating that Washington did not support attacks inside Russia. Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report This mornings attack on Moscow, reportedly by a swarm of up to 30 drones, demonstrates Ukraines increasing capacity, and willingness, to take the war to the Russian capital. This is not the first such assault. The Kremlin was hit by drones three weeks ago. Senior Western security officials described to me how they believed that airstrike, exposing an embarrassing vulnerability at the heart of Vladimir Putins power, had been carried out. According to their account, four drones, carrying small explosive payloads, were launched from a wooded area outside Moscow. One was detected by air defences and destroyed. Two got through to the target before being shot down, one possibly by rifle fire from the ground. The new administration said it would resume and pursue the case to a logical conclusion. The Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, on Monday said it would arraign the immediate past Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Doguwa, who was accused of killing three people, before a court of law. Mr Doguwa was alleged to have shot and killed three people during an election-related clash between his supporters and members of the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) in the Tudun Wada Local Government of the state. The campaign office of the NNPP was also razed during the fracas. Earlier this month, the immediate past Attorney General, and Commissioner for Justice of the state, Musa Lawan, said the government was dropping the murder charge originally filed against Mr Doguwa by the police. He said the government cannot substantiate the charges of criminal conspiracy, mischief by fire, and culpable homicide against lawmaker. Mr Lawan stated this after the police submitted a report of its investigation of the incident to the Kano State government for review and possible prosecution of Mr Doguwa and 14 others. Mr Doguwa, a member of the immediate past ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), had accused the police of bias, leading to a review of the investigation by the police authorities. Mr Doguwa was accused of the murder of three people believed to be the members of the opposition NNPP during the 25 February election in a violent confrontation between members of the NNPP and the All Progressives Congress (APC). Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Legal Affairs Nigeria By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The new governor is a member of the NNPP. "Based on the contradicted witnesses received, those that indicted were full of contradictions while others exonerated him (Mr Doguwa) according to the police investigation report submitted to the Kano State government. "After scrutiny, we cannot establish a murder charge against Alhassan Ado Doguwa and other accomplices including the police officers whose ammunition was intact after the incident. "By law, if you have a contradiction in evidence against a suspect, you can pick the one that exonerates him against the ones that have contradictions, this made us to arrive that we cannot charge them in court," Mr Lawan said while dropping the murder the murder charges against the lawmaker. But the new administration in the state said it will resume and pursue the case to logical conclusion. "In the same vein we shall investigate all cases of political violence that led to loss of lives and properties across the state in the last eight years. "The infamous case of Alhassan Ado Doguwa, who allegedly sponsored the maiming and murder of over 15 innocent souls in Tudun Wada Local Government will be pursued to its logical conclusion," the new governor said in his inaugural speech. 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 }} Moscow has claimed hundreds of Ukrainian troops have been killed after a major battlefield offensive against Russian forces was thwarted in the Donetsk region, the Russian defence ministry said today. At least 250 Ukrainian troops were killed, 16 tanks and infantry vehicles were destroyed, and 21 armoured combat vehicles were damaged in the skirmish, the ministry said. On the morning of 4 June, the enemy launched a large-scale offensive in five sectors of the front in the South Donetsk direction, the ministry said today. The enemys goal was to break through our defences in the most vulnerable, in its opinion, sector of the front but Ukraine did not achieve its tasks, it had no success, the Russian ministry said. It also shared a video claiming to show several Ukrainian armoured vehicles in a field blowing up after being hit. Officials in Kyiv have not commented on the Russian defence ministrys claims so far. It is not clear whether the attack was the start of a long-expected Ukrainian counteroffensive which Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine was ready for. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Watch as the mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, visits the city on Tuesday, 30 May, after Russia launched an overnight attack. Vladimir Putin's troops have launched three attacks on the Ukrainian capital in the last 24 hours. Kyiv's military administration has said that at least 20 Shahed drones were destroyed overnight by air defences. It comes after an apartment block in Moscow was damaged after drones hit several buildings on Tuesday, 30 May. Footage showed broken windows at flats near Moskvitina street in the city's south. Some residents were forced to evacuate their homes but later returned, Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. The mayor said two people were injured in the early morning attack, with one hospitalised. Russias defence ministry said that Ukraine targeted Moscow with eight drones. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Click here to sign up for our newsletters. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunaks Conservatives may yet find electoral salvation in the shy capitalist millennial generation, according to a new report. A new study from centre-right think tank Onward, after a survey of 8,000 people across the UK, suggests millennials - those aged between 25 and 40 - have a dim view of the government. Millennials are the first demographic cohort not to become more right-wing as they age, the report claims. That is down to a lack of home ownership, less stable employment and starting families later, it says. But the prime ministers apparent popularity among millennials, alongside evidence of some right-leaning economic instincts, could help the Tory party plot a path to winning the generation back, the reports authors suggest. Sebastian Payne, Onward director and one of the studys authors, said: Millennials are not becoming more right wing as they age, which is a serious long-term problem for the Conservatives. More home ownership and better jobs are critical to winning back their support but so too are taxes. They are shy capitalists who prefer lower taxes instead of the Government redistributing their income. Combined with their more positive attitudes towards Rishi Sunak, there is hope yet that millennials can be won back over. But they need optimism and hope for the future. Mr Sunak (pictured with his wife Akshata Murthy) is 25 points better-liked among voters in their 30s than the Tories more generally (Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street) The report was informed by the survey in April, as well as four focus groups in March. According to the study, 21% of millennials would back the Conservatives at a general election tomorrow, while 31% see the party as dishonest. But the data suggests Mr Sunak is more popular than his party, with the prime minister 25 points better-liked among voters in their 30s than the Tories more generally - something the report labels the Sunak effect. The authors say the key role the generation will play at the next election, with millennials currently making up 26% of the electorate and constituting the largest generation in 51% of parliamentary constituencies. The hope for the party, the report suggests, is understanding and not ignoring millennials priorities. When asked whether governments generally should prioritise equality or growth, this cohort prefers equality - as do Generation Z. But when asked whether they should keep more of their own money or pay more tax to support redistribution, they opt for lower taxes - similar to Boomers, the report suggests. Bim Afolami said winning back millennials is existential for the Conservatives (PA Media) It concludes: The Conservative Partys brand is particularly tarnished among 25-40 year-olds. Repairing it will require a focus on perception and policy. All political parties have to make choices about what electoral coalition is the most viable and millennials might not be a core part of the Tories base now, but they will be in the future. Bim Afolami, MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, said winning back millennials is existential for the Conservatives. Writing in the reports foreword, he said: It is not just because, as somebody born in 1986, I feel a personal stake in securing the support of my own generation. It is because younger people support the positive, pro-work, pro-aspiration, pro-housing Conservative values that I believe represent my party at its best. Harold Macmillan built homes for the 1960s generation. Margaret Thatcher and Nigel Lawson cut taxes on the aspirational and hard working. David Cameron ensured the party was both pro-environment and pro-business. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech 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 IndyTech email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} China plans to send astronauts to the moon before 2030 and expand operations of its space station. The announcement by the country on Monday comes as officials, including Nasa administrator Bill Nelson, have pointed out that the US and China might be engaged in a new-age space race. As China launched a new three-person crew for its Tiangong space station on Tuesday, Lin Xiqiang, the deputy director of the Chinese Manned Space Agency, confirmed the countrys goals to put boots on the moon before 2030 in a rare press conference. China will prepare for a short stay on the lunar surface and human-robotic joint exploration, he said. The US is pursuing plans to put its own astronauts back on the lunar surface by the end of 2025 as part of its ongoing Artemis missions. Mr Nelson said in January that the US was in a new space race with China, adding that geopolitical tensions between the two countries could extend to the moon. It is a fact, were in a space race, Mr Nelson told Politico. The US Department of Defense (DoD), in a 196-page report last year, detailed the state of Chinas space programme as of 2021. Beijings goal is to become a broad-based, fully capable space power. Its rapidly growing space program second only to the United States in the number of operational satellites is a source of national pride and part of Chairman Xi Jinpings China Dream to establish a powerful and prosperous China, the report said. Over the years, US laws have restricted cooperation and increased competition between the space ambitions of the two global powers. China has gone on to build its own space station after it was excluded from the International Space Station following US objections to the Chinese space programmes close ties to the Peoples Liberation Army. The US has also repeatedly expressed concerns about the motives behind some of Chinas space launches. China is developing other sophisticated space-based capabilities, such as satellite inspection and repair. At least some of these capabilities could also function as a weapon, the DoD said. Both China and the US are also reportedly working on developing ideas for permanent crewed bases on the moon. Last week, a top US military official also said the country is left with no choice but to prepare for conflict in outer space, citing Chinas ambition of becoming the dominant space power by 2050. Brigadier general Jesse Morehouse told reporters that the US was ready to fight tonight in space if we had to. Space power enables our way of life... It enables us to connect with each other over vast distances and its importance in advances in science and technology cannot be understated, Ben Ogden, a colonel in the US Army and the assistant professor of strategic space studies at the Center for Strategic Leadership, said last week. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech 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 IndyTech email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A vast plume has been seen coming out Enceladus, one of Saturns moons. The satellite is one of the best hopes for finding life outside our own planet. It has salty water and other conditions that leave scientists to believe that it could support alien life. Now the James Webb Space Telescope has watched a vast plume being ejected out of the planet. It found that the water shooting out of the planet is more than 20 times the size of the moon itself. Researchers already knew that jets of water were spurting out of Enceladus. But the vast size of the one found by Webb led researchers to wonder whether they had made a mistake. In this image, NASAs James Webb Space Telescope shows a water vapor plume jetting from the southern pole of Saturns moon Enceladus, extending out 20 times the size of the moon itself. The inset, an image from the Cassini orbiter, emphasizes how small Enceladus appears in the Webb image compared to the water plume. (NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, and G. Villanueva (NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center). Image Processing: A. Pagan (STScI)) When I was looking at the data, at first, I was thinking I had to be wrong. It was just so shocking to detect a water plume more than 20 times the size of the moon, said lead author Geronimo Villanueva of NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The water plume extends far beyond its release region at the southern pole. It wasnt only the scale of the plume that was shocking in the data, however. Researchers also found that the amount of water gushing out is surprisingly large: some 79 gallons spurt out each second, enough to fill an olympic swimming pool in a couple of hours. Scientists have already studied Enceladus in depth, in part because of the hope it presents for finding alien life. But most of those observations were conducted by the Cassini spacecraft, which flew around Saturn and its surrounding system, including taking a trip through the jets themselves. But the Webb telescope offers another, different look at Enceladus and other objects within our solar system, combining a general view with high sensitivity to give new insights into the moon and its plumes. The orbit of Enceladus around Saturn is relatively quick, just 33 hours. As it whips around Saturn, the moon and its jets are basically spitting off water, leaving a halo, almost like a donut, in its wake, said Villanueva. In the Webb observations, not only was the plume huge, but there was just water absolutely everywhere. Over time, researchers hope to keep watching Enceladus, with a view to learning more about how the jets and the water they are formed out of changes on the moon. Right now, Webb provides a unique way to directly measure how water evolves and changes over time across Enceladus immense plume, and as we see here, we will even make new discoveries and learn more about the composition of the underlying ocean, said co-author Stefanie Milam, from NASA Goddard. Because of Webbs wavelength coverage and sensitivity, and what weve learned from previous missions, we have an entire new window of opportunity in front of us. 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 }} Elon Musk arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for a surprise visit to China, his first in over three years. The Tesla boss gave little to no advance warning of the trip, which could have major ramifications for the electric car companys operations in Asia. Mr Musks first stop on the visit, which is expected to include a trip to Teslas Shanghai factory and meetings with a number of senior Chinese officials, was for talks with the foreign minister Qin Gang, who recently described relations with the US as being on cold ice. The Tesla and SpaceX chief was told that US-Chinese relations require mutual respect, with Mr Qin joking that the two sides should avoid dangerous driving, according to a ministry statement after the meeting. Mr Qin said China will unswervingly promote high-level opening up and create a market-oriented, law-based and internationalised business environment, according to the statement. Chinas development is an opportunity for the world. Chinas electric vehicle market has broad prospects for development, the ministry quoted Mr Qin as saying. China hosts Teslas first factory based outside of the United States, and the carmaker is known to have submitted applications to expand its production facilities in Shanghai, with the plans still awaiting approval. Mr Musk told CNBC earlier this month that there are some constraints on our ability to expand in China, adding: Its not a demand issue. Reuters reported in March that Mr Musk was seeking to meet Chinese premier Li Qiang, with the exact timing of his visit depending on his availability. Teslas Shanghai plant accounted for over half of the companys global production in 2022. Analysts speculated that Mr Musk might also want to use the trip to discuss Teslas full self-driving technology, which the electric car maker has been seeking to introduce in China for some time. Commenting on his China visit, some Twitter users wondered if the self-proclaimed free speech absolutist would face questions during his visit about the communist countrys harsh rules around censorship. Many foreign companies are also uneasy following raids on consulting firms and given the strained status of Chinese relations with Washington. Mr Musks visit also comes when Tesla is dealing with growing competition from Chinese car makers, including the countrys electric vehicle exports. Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that Tesla is closing in on a trial production of its revamped Model 3 sedan in Shanghai, which the carmaker hopes to compete more closely with rivals in the Chinese market. While Tesla has not revealed details on increasing output at its Shanghai plant, the company said it would build a battery farm in Shanghai to produce Megapack energy storage units. Ahead of his trip, the SpaceX boss also complimented Chinas space programme, calling it more advanced than most people realise. The Himalayas have been littered with a sea of rubbish seemingly left by past mountaineers. Footage filmed by Tenzi Sherpa shows discarded tents among other debris on the rocks. He described the scene as the "dirtiest camp he's ever seen." Moutaineers must pay a "garbage deposit" of thousands of dollars before climbing summits of more than 8,000m - the money is refunded if rubbish is returned when they come back down the mountain. Conservationist Luc Boisnard, who is on a cleanup of the mountains, told The Times that rubbish has been thrown into glaciers where it will "re-emerge in 200 years time." Sign up for our newsletters. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis wasted no time cementing his role as climate-denier-in-chief last week when on the first day of his campaign he boldly stated that he rejected the politicalization of weather. Stoking the culture wars that are certain to form the bedrock of his campaign, DeSantis fell back on the familiar deniers claim that climate change is normal and that environmental actions are nothing more than a sinister, woke, political effort to slash American freedoms. As governor of Florida, one of the US states most affected by rising seas, fiercer storms and unprecedented heat caused by global warming, DeSantis jihad against environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices is indeed not about the weather. Its about politics at the highest level. Flying in the face of common sense and basic fiduciary investment strategy, DeSantis is the leader of a group of politicians in 18 Republican-led states who are enacting laws and regulations that prevent their pension funds or any other financial organization from using ESG to protect against climate risk. The rules are costing the pensions and the retirees who hold them precious returns by reducing the number of Wall Street fund managers who can bid on them. There are three ironies that expose DeSantis strategy as a political roll of the dice, rather than a fundamental economic plan. One is the very Wall Street firms that the red states are targeting for being woke are part of the traditional Republican fundraising base, which is driving a wedge between moderate Republicans and extreme ones even deeper. A second is that many of these red states, such as Florida and Texas, are among the top beneficiaries of the renewable energy boom that they are railing against to protect their fossil-fuel interests. Texas, in particular, is No 1 in the US in developing wind energy, and a fast-closing second on California in solar. A third reason is that DeSantis record as governor of Florida, until he started the anti-ESG wars in 2021, is actually quite environmentally friendly. He signed into law the Florida Resiliency Program, which targets $640m in funds for raising sea walls and roads, and protecting wastewater treatment plants from climate change. And he has awarded more than $200m to projects to provide cleaner water to Floridians. On a national level, however, he has shown much less interest. As a Florida congressman for six years before becoming governor, his record on positive environmental votes was a mere 2 percent, according to the League of Conservation Voters. As an election issue, climate change and the transition to renewable energy from oil and gas wont be the red meat that feeds core voters on either side, such as abortion, law enforcement, immigration, or transgender rights. But by pointing the woke finger at anyone trying to either regulate environmental destruction or at least invest and plan for coming climate risk, DeSantis has succeeded where other, more liberal politicians have failed in at least putting global warming on the agenda. His fair-weather shifts with the political winds and polls aside, DeSantis can only hope his home state can make it through the campaign without a devastating disaster to call attention to just how reckless his position has become or could become on a national level. David Callaway is the founder of Callaway Climate Insights and a former editor-in-chief of USA Today THE government plans to award a 670m search and rescue contract to an Irish unit of the US-based Bristow group. The contract the value of which excludes VAT will run for 10 years for helicopter services and five for fixed-wing services. After five years, the fixed-wing services can be transferred to the Air Corps. Its the first time that fixed-wing services have formed part of the search and rescue contract. The government last awarded the search and rescue contract in 2012, with Texas-based CHC operating the service. Its 10-year contract was valued at 500m. Prior to that, the Air Corps had provided the rescue services. CHCs operation of the contract was marred by the deadly crash in 2017 of search and rescue helicopter R116 at Blacksod in Co Mayo. All four crew members were killed in the crash. The contract with Bristow will provide for the day and night-time operation of four helicopter bases in Sligo, Shannon, Waterford and Dublin. Both the helicopter and fixed-wing elements of the contract can be extended by the government to 13 years. The government said Bristow was selected as preferred bidder following a comprehensive procurement project undertaken by the Department of Transport that included an initial market engagement process, a prequalifying process, an initial request for tender, a negotiation process, and final evaluation of a best and final offer tender from the shortlisted bidders. Last year, Air Corps General Officer Commanding Rory OConnor insisted that the Air Corps would be the most cost-effective provider of a search and rescue service. The Air Corps' proposed spending 35m on two new helicopters, and needing an additional 8m per annum on maintenance, additional wages and training. Texas-based Bristow bills itself as the worlds leading provider of offshore energy transportation, search and rescue and aircraft support solutions to government and civil organisations worldwide. Bristows strategically located global fleet supports operations in the North Sea, Nigeria and the US Gulf of Mexico. In 2013, the company was awarded a 1.6bn (1.9bn) search and rescue contract in the UK. The RAF and Royal Navy had provided the service for the previous 70 years. It began operating the service in 2015. The group generates about 65pc of its annual revenue from services to the offshore energy sector, and just over half of its turnover is generated in Europe. A holding company for a number of hotels in the Press Up Entertainment group that is controlled by Paddy McKillen Jr and Matt Ryan made a 15m loss in 2021 as it was hit by Covid restrictions, newly-filed accounts for the business show. The accounts reflect the performance of well-known properties in the larger group, including The Dean hotel in Cork, as well as The Devlin and The Mayson hotels in Dublin. The accounts, signed off in April this year, show that revenue at the company behind the venues jumped to just under 17m in 2021 from 6.1m the previous year as the worst effects of the pandemic restrictions began to ease. Other income of 4.7m was attributable to government Covid grants received by the company during the period. While the company made a 759,000 operating profit in 2021, interest payments totalling 11.3m as well as 3.5m in depreciation and amortisation pushed it deep into the red for the year. The company had 45.8m in bank loans at the end of 2021, while the wider group had 173.4m. Press Up recently secured a 50m refinancing facility with Cardinal Capital. The 15m loss in 2021 compared with a 5.9m loss in 2020. The financial performance of the group [in 2021] was heavily impacted by trading restrictions that were out in place as a result of Covid-19, including a full closure of operations from 1 January 2021 to 2 June 2021, the accounts point out. In the period where the group was allowed to operate, it traded profitably. Of the revenue generated in 2021, 10.7m was from food and beverage sales, and 5.8m from accommodation. The accounts also show that its tangible assets, including the hotels, were valued at a total of 197.5m at the end of 2021. That was up from 128.2m at the end of 2020. The assets included both operational hotels and hotels under construction, as well as an 11.8m revaluation uplift. The wider Press Up group also operates the Butler Arms Hotel in Waterville, Co Kerry, as well as the Clarence Hotel in Dublin. It plans to open a Dean hotel in Belfast and another in Birmingham. Geita THE government has more than doubled budget allocation to the Rural Water Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) in Geita District for the 2023/24 financial year to carry out more water projects in the district. Geita District Ruwasa manager, Sande Batakanwa said at a Community Based Water Services Organisations (CBWSOs) meeting that the government had allocated 4.7bn/- for 2023/24 up from 2.2bn/- set aside in the previous year. Last year, the district planned to implement five large water projects and drill 13 deep wells. He said Ruwasa in Geita District has so far completed 70 per cent of the planned projects for the financial year 2022/23 where eight out of 13 wells are already providing water service. "In the next financial year, we have projects at five wards in the district namely; Nkome, Katoma, Nyamboge, Nzera and Lwezera." He added, Ruwasa in Geita District has already received a special drilling vehicle provided by the government through the Tanzania Covid Rescue Fund (TCRF) and it has already started working. "We are going to drill as many wells as we can, and the drilling machine provided to us by President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan will be stationed here in Geita," Mr Batakanwa said. He promised to cooperate with the leaders of CBWSOs to manage the implementation of the projects in order to achieve the objective of relieving mothers from the burden of fetching water. The councillor of Lwamugasa Ward, Mr Joseph Kapalatu, said the implementation of water projects by Ruwasa through the participatory method has made the community see itself as part of the projects and benefit directly. Consumer confidence is at its highest level in more than a year, but cost-of-living pressures mean people are curbing spending. Most people think the squeeze on household budgets has got further to go, according to the latest Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index. Consumer sentiment hit a 14-month high this month. It increased to 62.4 in May. The May reading represents a marked improvement on the 14-year low of 42.1 recorded last September. Massive budget surpluses building up in the Exchequer was cited as the main reason consumers felt more optimistic. Many consumers now expect some of these funds to be used to pay more financial supports to them to cope with rising costs. Economist Austin Hughes, who compiles the sentiment index with Core Research, said: It might be inferred that Irish consumers are increasingly aware of much increased domestic fiscal space highlighted by media reports referencing expected cumulative fiscal surpluses of 65bn over the next four years. The optimism in this country is in contrast to the US where the darkening mood of consumers is being attributed to a sense that the economy is set to weaken later this year. Another important factor being cited is repeated concerns around a possible debt default by the US government. But consumers in this country are still cautious on spending plans. Only one in five Irish consumers believe the worst of the cost-of-living-crisis is behind us. But three in five fear the financial squeeze on households will get worse, the index findings show. This means consumers who feel the cost-of-living crisis has not yet peaked outnumber those who feel the worst is behind us by roughly three to one. Mr Hughes said: Irish consumers remain scarred by the experience of the financial crisis of just over a decade ago, and this is reflected both in subdued sentiment readings and swollen savings rates at present. He said most Irish consumers see cost-of-living pressures still firmly embedded. While economic fears have eased markedly, household finances remain under pressure and this is weighing on spending plans, he added. The Indo Daily: Children of the Troubles My father was murdered in front of me when I was ten Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux are terrific as the incompetent schemers Howard Hunt and G Gordon Liddy White House Plumbers (Sky Atlantic and Now TV) is an unlikely drama, and an even unlikelier comedy. Its about how, in the early 1970s, two incredibly stupid and incompetent people were allowed to lead a burglary on the Watergate building and some other places. They were funded by the Committee to Re-elect the President (yes, CREEP). The president was Richard Nixon. Our two desperados as they no doubt would like to be called named their burglary scheme White House Plumbers, because plumbers stop leaks, right? Thats how clever they were. Not only were Howard Hunt and G Gordon Liddy stupid and incompetent, they werent very nice either. Liddy, in particular, was crazy, and a great admirer of the Nazis. But they were also lousy fathers and husbands. They were boastful. They were ruthless. They were totally convinced that they were patriots. So you watch this and youre going: This cannot possibly be true. But it is true, or very close to the truth. A caption at the start states: No names have been changed to protect the innocent because nearly everyone was found guilty. Now thats a disclaimer for you. Woody Harrelson, who also produced, is terrific and very funny as Hunt (the whole series is pretty funny). But Justin Theroux is almost too good as Gordon Liddy; manic, hyper-masculine, a lunatic abroad and a control freak at home. The Liddy role is any actors dream, and Theroux seizes it with both hands. The suggestion that Liddy became a rigid ubermensch because he was badly bullied at school is all too plausible. He longed to be an unassailable strongman. Instead he became a lawyer. A lawyer who believed that he was above the law. Hunt and Liddy were at the centre of what was to become the dominant scandal of American politics. In June 1972, they broke into the Watergate building in Washington DC, because it contained the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee. Their actions or at least what we now know of them were always against opponents of the Republican party. These actions included breaking into the California offices of the psychiatrist of Daniel Ellsberg, the man who leaked the Pentagon Papers. The Pentagon Papers were a secret history of American involvement in Indochina, and the war In Vietnam was raging at the time. Hunt and Liddys efforts at political espionage were farcical, thank God; if they had been more efficient we would never have learned about them. And the great achievement of White House Plumbers is that it plays all these events straight, which makes them even funnier, while at the same time dealing with the domestic tragedies gently, allowing these two fools their sincerity and, in a weird way, their sense of honour. This keeps you watching until the end. However, it is frightening to learn online that Liddys successful broadcasting career when he came out of prison laid the ground for right-wing pundits such as Alex Jones, the man who slandered the parents of the murdered children at Sandy Hook elementary school. Liddy became a hero of the American right into the 21st century. On such foundations were current American politics built, and thats not funny at all. Some people let everyone know whats going on in their lives on loud speaker. Photo: Picture posed/Getty Images One doesnt have to work hard at being an eavesdropper these days. Loud conversations are happening all around us. People with headphones over their ears are having full blown conversations with invisible people in the public arena, while others insist on making the two sides of their conversations public by using the speaker facility on their phones. The greatest offenders in this latter category are those of my own vintage. They like nothing better than to carry on their loudspeaker conversations in confined spaces. A favourite broadcasting spot is the train. Once they settle themselves in the inside seat beside the window, they think theyre in the privacy of the confessional. With the speaker at full volume, not only do they proceed to broadcast the gory details of their medical conditions or interpersonal struggles, the person at the other end is returning the compliment. There is a protocol to this. The callers will not start with deep, meaningful and salacious chats. As a warm-up, they will make some functional phone calls, usually to the significant other. I was treated to one such exchange recently. Hello, hello. Hold on till I put you on speaker. Are you up? Of course Im up, tis half twelve in the day. Did you sleep? I did. Im on the way home, Im on the train. I didnt think you were going to walk. How did you get on? Fine, he said theres no change. I could have told you that myself. How much did he charge you? The usual 150. An awful price to pay for nothin. Well, tis better than wonderin. I suppose. When will you be home? About half four. Ill be gone for a walk with Maureen. Yell have a hole worn in the road from walkin, the pair of ye. Tis better than havin a path worn to a heart consultant, like you. I suppose it is. OK, Ill see you later on. Alright so. Now that the mandatory call has been made, its time for the real chat. Hello, John. How are you? Grand, grand. I thought you were in Dublin. I was, Im on the train home. You had an early start so. I had. What did you make of that meetin last night? Well, did you ever hear such rubbish in your whole life? Listen to me, that wasnt rubbish at all, and if it was, it was rubbish with a purpose. What do you mean? Twas a delayin tactic, he was talkin down the clock, like a goalie delayin the puck out when his team is a point up. You see, he was missin a few of his cronies and he knew hed lose the vote on the date of the opening of the hall. He has his minister lined up to do it and wants to shoehorn the rest of us into suitin him. Hes dead set against the mayor doin it, hes the wrong political colour, do you see. The Civil War is still alive and well, no matter what sort of a coalition we have. That is mild in comparison to what you can hear. If there are any wannabe sociologists or budding Maeve Binchys out there, could I suggest you spend time travelling on intercity trains, particularly from mid-morning to evening; you will have enough material for a doctoral thesis and a series of novels. But it isnt just on trains these megaphone conversations can be heard, but from passing cars. The volume of the conversation doesnt matter when youre driving on the open road, but when in traffic, while you may not be heard, the voice coming through the car speaker system is loud and clear. Recently, I was walking along a narrow street in a nearby city when I was startled by the loud burr-burr, burr-burr of a ringing phone coming from a car mooching along in traffic beside me. When the driver answered the call, it was as if she turned on a verbal power hose. The woman on the incoming line was obviously a very annoyed member of the local tidy towns committee. Where were ye all this morning? I was outside the hall at cockcrow in my yellow jacket and my rubber gloves looking like an eejit. Not one person came along and there wasnt even as much as a Tayto bag to be picked up... what... last night ye did it last night? Why wasnt I told what do you mean the parish newsletter? Where would I see that, I havent been to mass since Covid. The traffic moved on and so did the story of the jilted tidy townswoman. I retired to a coffee shop where, thanks to the conversations of others, I had lots to reflect on, from the changing nature of community life to the long shadow of the Civil War. Four years on since its last election, the landscape in farming and wider afield has changed I remember reading an April Fools article in the wake of the IFA election scandal. The headline read: IFA presidential election cancelled due to lack of interest. It was funny at the time, less so today. With the election not taking place until the end of the year, theres still plenty of time for candidates to announce their intention to run, although the number of potential candidates is reducing week by week. The Association needs an election to ignite interest among members and the public. Passionate contenders setting out their vision for the future can help farmers focus on what they want from their farm leaders. An uncontested election serves no one well and many would say the Association has been in the doldrums for the past few years, no doubt impacted by the constraints of Covid. The cost of running a presidential campaign is eye-watering, even with some help from IFA HQ. Add to that the headwinds the sector is facing into, the increased public criticism and the reduced cache the role holds, and its not the attractive proposition it once was. The landscape in farming and wider afield has changed since the last election four years ago. The agri-foods role in keeping rural Ireland afloat during the post-Celtic Tiger economic downturn just a decade ago seems to have been forgotten by most. Now the talk from many, both inside and outside the sector, is how to rein it in. Read more Ciaran Moran: Contractors and farmers are in for some tough months of haggling ahead From the saviour of rural Ireland to... well, thats the problem no one seems to know exactly what the messaging to farmers and people in rural Ireland is. It seems to be a bit of we like what you do, but not how you do it, set against an undertone of ignore what you were told, the science has changed. The value of the agri-food sector was highlighted by Tirlan (formerly Glanbia) during the week, with its analysis that it is responsible for nearly 20,000 jobs in rural Ireland, but it was Metas layoff of 500 jobs that grabbed the headlines. Putting aside the increasing divergence and specialisation within the sector, the biggest challenge for the next IFA president will be communicating the positives of the sector. It has a huge role to play in helping reduce our emissions and is the only sector that can offer a solution in absorbing greenhouse gas emissions. Portraying it in a positive light will be tough as many push to shut it down. Now, more than ever, the IFA needs a president who is prepared for an uphill battle on a number of fronts. I have been running my elderly bachelor neighbours farm for years and they signed a letter leaving it to me. But now their nephew is back and says he is taking over. Where do I stand? According to the Minister, the bill seeks to modernise the area of veterinary medicines and medicated feed. Photo: Stock image The 24-hour cover provided to farmers by large animal vets is under threat and may not be viable for many practices due to changes in the regulation of some prescription-only medicines (POMs). Large animal vets expressed their concerns regarding the impact changes to the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2023 could have on their practices at a number of recent meetings. There are plans to bring in a prescription-only rule on the dispensing of antiparasitics, including wormers, pour-ons, fly control and flukicides, prohibiting pharmacists and qualified RPs in agricultural merchants from continuing in this trade as per usual. But it would allow for vets working outside of practices which provide 24-hour cover to prescribe antiparasitics. The threat to 24-hour cover is the latest setback for the Department of Agriculture after independent merchants and co-ops voiced their concern about the plans when announced in early 2022. Meetings between veterinary representatives and the Department of Agriculture are due to take place yesterday and Wednesday. According to Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue, the bill seeks to modernise veterinary medicines and medicated feed. In a statement to the Farming Independent, the Minister said he recognises the new regulations mark a step change for farmers, vets, pharmacists and licensed merchants, all of whom will play a key role in upkeeping the health of livestock. My focus on this has always been clear I want to address the challenge of antimicrobial and antiparasitic resistance, support the health and welfare of our livestock, thus improving productivity, and that farmers continue to have access to a range of sales points, thus helping competition. The proposed amendment was rejected by the Veterinary Council last week. However, the Minister has the power to implement the changes to the bill. Chair of the Veterinary Medicines Group in Veterinary Ireland, Conor Geraghty, said currently vets can only prescribe a prescription after a clinical examination of an animal or if they have a client-patient practice relationship which provides 24-hour cover. The amendment, he said, would allow prescriptions by vets not providing 24-hour cover. This, he said, would undermine the viability of many practices that provide 24-hour cover to farmers. Clinical calls are loss making for many practices, but its part of the wider service we provide, said Mr Geraghty. Its grossly unfair that one group of vets needs to provide 24-hour cover and another group doesnt it would be unsustainable for many practices. Ireland, he said, would be complete outliers within Europe on this regulation around prescribing. A spokesperson for the Veterinary Council of Ireland said: After careful consideration, the Veterinary Council of Ireland can find no justification to amend the definition of any other proper assessment of the health status of the animal or group of animals by a veterinarian contained in our Code of Professional Conduct. The introduction of prescription-only medicine status for antiparasitic medicines is a welcome opportunity to enhance informed parasite control programmes, facilitating a risk-based approach to parasite control and a move away from over-reliance on a dwindling repertoire of therapeutics towards the use of non-pharmaceutical mitigation. The epidemiological knowledge and expertise of a veterinary practitioner with a full and holistic understanding of the animal, environment and prevailing risk factors, reflected in the client-patient practice relationship set out in the Code of Professional Conduct, is crucial in stemming resistance to antiparasitic medicines. A new survey by the INHFA has highlighted that many farmers are unaware of key rules in the new ACRES scheme. It comes following discussions between the INHFA and Department of Agriculture staff on changes to how the ACRES 'scorecard' will be applied where turbary rights are being exercised. The change will see the area used for turbary being mapped out and scored separately. However, in a recent survey of members on how familiar they are with the detail in the new ACRES scheme, including the scorecard and proposed actions, only 11pc indicated they were very familiar, with 61pc stating they had some idea, but 22pc of farmers stated they had no idea. What this indicates is the very high level of work now needed around communication with farmers on what is required in the scheme," President Vincent Roddy said. Meanwhile, INHFA also surveyed is members on the proposed Nature Restoration Law and asked if there Are any circumstances where they would consider rewetting or rewilding existing farmlands. Some two-thirds of farmers that responded stated they would not, with a quarter indicating that they didnt know and 8pc indicating that it was something they might consider. "This confirms the high level of resistance to proposals in this Law that we continue to hear from our members both in person and through our branch meetings. It also indicates a growing awareness around the threats posed by this Law," Roddy said. It comes as Environment Minister Eamon Ryan accused opponents of the proposed Nature Restoration Law of scaremongering in relation to its impacts. Mr Ryan said much of the argument he had heard against it was inaccurate and was leading to unnecessary division. A lot of the commentary it seems to me is not reflecting what the actual law is saying, he said. I do think its very good to have debate on it and very good to listen to concerns, but it should be based on the facts, and the facts are different to some of the information being put out. Supporters of the law have said that much of Irelands early targets could be achieved through re-wetting projects already underway by Bord na Mona, which is rehabilitating lands it used to harvest peat. Mr Ryan said any impact on farmers lands would be negotiated and compensated for. No-one is going to be forced and they will have to be paid, he said. Why this Meath farmer will keep growing beans despite this years poor establishment Irish farmers should be encouraged to grow as much protein crops as possible to replace some of the imports from South America Passing of time: Vincent Macken in a field of direct drilled winter wheat on his farm in Kentstown, Co Meath. Photo: Damien Eagers Vincent Macken Tue 30 May 2023 at 03:30 Adolf Hitler and his mistress Eva Braun while dining (AP Photo/US Army Signal Corps from Eva Braun's album, File) Adolf Hitler pictured at the Berghof, which was widely looted The silver pencil was gifted to Adolf Hitler by Eva Braun A Belfast auction house is preparing to sell Hitlers inscribed silver pencil, a reminder that the Nazi dictators sister-in-law was Irish. An estimate of 50,000-80,000 has been placed on the pencil, which carries the initials AH on its butt. It was a birthday present from his girlfriend Eva Braun, who died with him in a bunker at the end of World War II. The inscription along the side notes the dictators birthday, April 20, and gives the year as 1941, when he was at the height of his powers. It finishes sincerely, Eva in German. Bloomfields auction house is selling the item on June 6, the anniversary of D Day which ultimately liberated Europe from Hitlers tyranny. The same auction house has sold items relating to Michael Collins for record prices. A side-on view of the pencil with inscription Karl Bennett, managing director of Bloomfields, said they expected interest from around the world. The importance of Hitlers engraved personal pencil lies in the fact that it helps to unravel a hidden piece of history, giving a unique insight into Hitlers personal relationships, which he scrupulously kept hidden from the public eye, he said. Pencil purported to have belonged to Adolf Hitler to go under hammer in Belfast The item is sold as owned and used by Adolf Hitler, and a personally signed photo from the 1920s is also due to go under the hammer, along with a fork from his special train and a wineglass and serving tray from the Berghof, or Eagles Nest, his retreat in the Bavarian Alps. Looting of Hitler-related material from the Berghof and the bunker where Hitler died was relatively common after the war, with all kinds of materials pocketed by Allied soldiers. Adolf Hitler pictured at the Berghof, which was widely looted Hitler has a number of Irish connections. It is claimed that an Irish soldier saved Hitler from being beaten to death in a riot in Bavaria in the early 1920s when the dictator was merely a right-wing agitator. Less well known is that Hitlers half-brother was a waiter and kitchen porter in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. Alois Hitler met his future wife Bridget Dowling at the Spring Show in Ballsbridge in 1909. She was the daughter of Eliza and William, a labourer, from Kilnamanagh, Co Dublin. Bridget and Alois later eloped and were found in the 1911 English census living in Liverpool, in a street later turned to rubble by the Luftwaffe. At that stage they had a month-old son, William, named after his grandfather. The inscription finishes sincerely, Eva in German After the relationship broke up, Bridget and her son relocated to the US while Alois toured Germany, touting his family connection to Hitler, born to their common father Alois Snr, after he took up with the family maid, Klara Polzi. William later served in the US Navy during the Second World War and was infamous because of his surname which he later changed to Houston. He has descendants living in the US today. Bridget meanwhile wrote a book, in which she claimed Adolf visited their home in Liverpool. There have been persistent rumours that Hitler, a talented watercolour artist, was turned down for a place at the Liverpool College of Art, a decision that could have changed history. The late Liverpudlian writer Beryl Bainbridge wrote a novel on the subject, entitled Young Adolf. Adolf Hitler and his mistress Eva Braun while dining (AP Photo/US Army Signal Corps from Eva Braun's album, File) Mr Bennett said he had established provenance and background details about the silver pencil that give me confidence that what Im selling is the actual item. He said he could understand distaste about Nazi memorabilia, which has occasionally given rise to controversy when particular lots were listed for auction in Dublin. They preserve a piece of our past and should be treated as historical objects, he said. No matter if the history they refer to was one of the darkest and most controversial recorded. Twins Mya and Zara Akinsowon (9) at the publication of the Census 2022 Summary Results. Photo: Jason Clarke Photography The Central Statistics Office (CSO) released the latest finds of Census 2022, which found that the average age of the population increased from 37.4 in 2016 to 38.8 in 2022. While in 2011, the average age was 36.1. The average age of the Irish population has increased by 1.4 years since 2016, while the proportion of the population identifying as Catholic has dropped by ten percentage points, new census data has found. Census 2022: The proportion of the population identifying as Catholic has dropped by ten percentage points Census 2022 found that Irelands population passed the five million mark for the first time since 1851 and now stands at 5,149,139 people, up 8pc since the last census. The number of people with dual Irish citizenship was 170,597, which represents a 63pc increase over the six-year period. People born in Ireland account for 37pc of this group. The largest groups of dual Irish citizens were Irish-UK, Irish-American, Irish-Polish and Irish-Australian. Among the Irish-UK citizens, 87pc were born outside Ireland. This was more balanced for Irish-American (55pc born outside Ireland) and Irish-Polish (50pc) citizens The CSO also found a drop from 87pc to 83pc in the proportion of people who reported their health was good or very good since 2016. Census 2022 RELIGION There was a fall in the proportion of the population who identified as Roman Catholic from 79pc (3,696,644) in 2016 to 69pc (3,515,861) in 2022. The No Religion category increased from 451,941 people to 736,210. The Church of Ireland category showed little change but remained the second largest religious category with 124,749 people (2pc). The Church of Ireland remained the second largest religion at 124,749, with its figures not notably rising or falling since the last Census. Mayo had the highest proportion of Roman Catholics at 80pc of the countys population, closely followed by Tipperary, Offaly, Roscommon and Galway County, all reporting 79pc. Dublin, meanwhile, had the lowest, at 53pc. EDUCATION AND THE IRISH LANGUAGE There were 150,000 people who finished education at age 15, a drop of 150,000 since 2016, while the number of people who finished full-time education when they were 25 years or older was up 48pc to nearly 375,000. The numbers who speak Irish increased by 6pc between 2016 and 2022 to 1,873,997. Of the people who said they could speak Irish, 623,961 spoke Irish daily within and outside the education system. POPULATION CHANGES Ireland's population increased by 8pc (387,274 people) to 5,149,139 in the six years between April 2016 and April 2022. All counties showed population growth, from 5pc in Donegal, Kilkenny, and Tipperary, to 14pc in Longford. The east of the country showed strong growth, with an increase in Meath of 13pc followed by Fingal (12pc) and Kildare (11pc). POPULATION BY AGE AND SEX The highest increase in population was seen in the over-70s at 26pc, while there was a 4pc fall in the numbers of people aged 25 to 39. The average age of the population increased from 37.4 in 2016 to 38.8 in 2022, continuing the trend of an ageing population from 2011 when it stood at 36.1. There were 2,544,549 males and 2,604,590 females in the country, or 98 men for every 100 women. CARERS The number of unpaid carers increased by 53pc to more than 299,000 between 2016 and 2022. There were increases in the proportion of the population providing unpaid care across most age groups. People aged between 50 and 59 were the group most likely to be providing regular unpaid care. It should he noted that there were a number of changes to the question on unpaid carers on the 2022 census form which may affect comparability with the previous census, the CSO warned. MARITAL STATUS Single people aged 15 and over made up 43pc of Ireland's population, compared with 41pc in 2016. There were more single men (52pc) than women (48pc), Married people, including those who were re-married and people in a same-sex civil partnership, accounted for 46pc of the population aged 15 vears and over, down from 48pc six years ago VOLUNTEERING In April 2022, 711,379 people reported that they regularly engaged in volunteering activities. The largest numbers of volunteers were in Sport followed by Community, Social/Charity, Religious and Political areas. Males were most likely to volunteer in a sporting organisation while females were more likely to volunteer in their community. CHILDCARE Just under one in three children under the age of 15 was in childcare in 2022. The most common type of childcare used was a creche or a similar facility. These provided care to 139.899 children in April 2022. The second most common type of childcare was provided by an unpaid relative or family member to 92,118 children. HOME OWNERSHIP The proportion of owner-occupied dwellings continued to fall, down from almost 70pc to 66pc in the 11 years from Census 2011 to 2022. The number of households who rented their accommodation from a private landlord rose by 7pc to 330,632 between April 2016 and April 2022. REMOTE WORKING AND COMMUTING Nearly 750,000 people a third of workers indicated that they worked from home for at least some part of their week. Four out of five business, media and public service professionals availed of remote working. The proportion of workers in the science, research, engineering and technology professionals group who ever worked from home was also high at 78pc. There was a 7pc increase in the number of people who cycled to work, bringing the number to more than 60,000. The number of people who drove to work increased by 4pc to 1.2 million between 2016 and 2022. There were 4pc fewer people commuting to work by train, Luas, or Dart. There were 176,276 unemployed people who had lost or given up their previous job The number of retired people increased to nearly 658,000, up by 21pc from 2016. BROADBAND Almost 80pc of households had a broadband internet connection in 2022 up from 71pc in 2016 and 64pc in 2011. TIME CAPSULE Of the 1.8 million occupied private households enumerated during Census 2022, 348,443 (19pc) completed the Time Capsule. The completion rate by county ranged from 16pc to 21pc. Complete data on the time capsule will be released in further reports to be released by CSO later this year. Todays publication is the first in a series of reports on Census 2022. The CSO said it will publish eight themed reports throughout the rest of 2023, that explore exploring a range of topics including housing, homelessness, religion, disability, and carers in greater detail". Small Area Population Statistics (SAPS) will also be published in September. Cormac Halpin, Senior Statistician in the Census Division, said: The publication of Census 2022 results could not have been achieved without the overwhelmingly positive response from the public and we thank everyone who completed their census form on April 3, 2022. We would also like to thank everyone involved in the Census 2022 campaign culminating in todays successful publication of the results. Charlie Bird has shared a health update with fans as he continues to battle Motor Neurone Disease (MND). The former RTE news correspondent was diagnosed with the condition in 2021. Mr Bird has been candid about the effect of the illness on his condition. He fully lost his voice due to the progression of the disease. In an update on his health issued online on Tuesday evening, Mr Bird said his health had deteriorated. I want to apologise to people who have supported me. I am still getting lovely letters and cards, but with my health situation, I can no longer respond personally, he said. Also, my crying episodes in public are getting worse. This uncontrolled crying is a symptom of my motor neurone. Despite his MND diagnosis, Charlie summited Croagh Patrick in April last year and raised more than 3.2m for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House in the process. Charlie Bird shares heartwarming memory of meeting his hero Bruce Springsteen Mr Bird appeared on Ryan Tubridys final Late Late Show last Friday night where he recalled how his appearance on the Late Late Show kickstarted the incredible fundraising campaign. He said: "Ryan, all of the madness of Climb with Charlie started here on the Late Late Show, when you asked me what was on my bucket list, he said. "But to be very honest, it was the support that came from all over the country and abroad that made it into the success it was and helped the raise the staggering 3.6m." Sharing an update on his health, Charlie said: "Physically I am not doing great. My motor neuron is spreading all over my bones. I can no longer dress myself without help from Claire. "And I have no idea how long more I will be mobile for. But mentally I am doing ok. For as long as I can I want to continue helping Pieta who are doing incredible work, also the Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association, he said. Mr Birds dreams came true earlier this month after his bucket list meeting with US rock legend Bruce Springsteen was realised. Charlie had said he wants Springsteens Land of Hope and Dreams played at his funeral the song his friend Daniel ODonnell sang for him on top of Croagh Patrick at the end of the Climb With Charlie challenge last year. During one of his performances at the RDS, Springsteen sang and dedicated Land of Hope and Dreams to Mr Bird. "Last evening, I was blown away brought to meet Bruce Springsteen backstage before concert, Mr Bird wrote. We had a couple of hugs, and I used my voice app to talk to him. Then he dedicated Land of Hope and Dreams to my friend Charlie Bird O God Bruce is a great human. My final wish has happened. A Ryanair flight attendant was proposed to by her boyfriend in Dublin Airport in front of a cheering crowd. A video posted to Twitter by bystander Vincent Hughes shows a man lifting his now-fiancee into the air as she holds a bouquet of pink flowers. Crowd cheers as man proposes to flight attendant in Dublin Airport The happy couple kiss and hug as a man plays on a nearby piano and the surrounding crowd claps and cheers. Mr Hughes, a radio presenter and producer based in Dublin, told the PA news agency he had been in Terminal 1 of Dublin Airport waiting for his son, who was coming in from Spain, when the proposal happened. He said: I had been listening to a guy playing the piano. His friend was holding a big bunch of flowers and was nervously watching the board for flight arrivals. Then the airport police came and helped him to move the piano nearer to the arrival door and then the wait was on. There was quite an audience when she finally came through the door and there were lots of oohs and ahhs and tears when she said yes. Brilliant. He captioned the footage: There is still romance in Ireland despite all that is going on. Dublin Airport tonight. What a lovely thing to do. Dublin Airport tweeted about the proposal, saying: Love was well and truly in the air in Dublin Airport last night as this Ryanair air hostess was surprised in T1 arrivals by her boyfriend (much to the excitement of the others waiting!). Congratulations to the very happy couple. Stephen Montgomery, the victim of the explosion which occurred while he was using a digger in Donegal A man killed in a workplace explosion in Co Donegal has been named locally as Stephen Montgomery. Mr Montgomery (43) was a married man with one grown-up child and was from Dunfanaghy. He was working at a house at a site at Bloody Forelands in Gaoth Dobhair and was breaking up rock. It is understood that he was operating machinery when an explosion occurred. The emergency services rushed to the scene while gardai sealed off the area. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) sent investigators to the site while members of the Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal Corps also attended the scene. Gardai evacuated the area and also closed roads leading to the scene of the explosion. Mr Montgomery's body was later removed to Letterkenny University Hospital where a post-mortem is due to take place. The exact details of how the tragedy occurred have not yet been released. Two other men were working at the site when the incident happened. However, it is understood they were not injured. A garda spokesperson confirmed they are investigating the incident involving an apparent explosion. A spokesperson said: "Gardai are currently at the scene of an apparent explosion at a location on the outskirts of Bunbeg, Co. Donegal, this afternoon Monday, May 29, 2023. "An Garda Siochana has evacuated the surrounding area and the Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal has been requested. The road is currently closed and local diversions are in place." The HSA has confirmed it is aware of the incident and has launched an investigation. Gaoth Dobhair parish priest Fr Brian O'Fearraigh was called to the scene to administer the last rights. The emergency services and An Garda Siochana arrived then and I just stood back, obviously, at that stage and let them do their work, he told RTEs Morning Ireland. The feeling in our local community is one of numbness and shock as news continues to trickle through about the tragedy that occurred. The untimely death of a construction worker in our community. Theres a sense of sadness and sorrow and our hearts go out to this gentlemans family and his colleagues and his workmates and his community as well and his extended family. We offer our deepest sympathies and our heartfelt condolences to all of them. Meanwhile, a minute's silence was held at yesterday's meeting of Donegal County Council in honour of Mr Montgomery. Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Liam Blaney, offered his condolences to the dead mans family. Italian police and emergency services were called to the scene in Genoa. File photo An Irish woman is in critical condition in a hospital in Italy following a fall from height in the north of country. The woman, believed to be in her 30s, fell several metres from a promenade at the the San Giuliano baths, in Genoa, at the weekend. Emergency services were called to the scene and the woman was rushed to the San Martino hospital, local media have reported. The circumstances of the fall are not yet clear. It is understood the woman was with an Irish friend at the time of the incident, and that she was awake but injured when first responders arrived on the scene. Italian police, the Carabinieri, collected statements from eye witnesses, it has also been reported. A spokesperson for the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs said: The Department of Foreign Affairs has not been contacted in relation to this matter but stand ready to provide consular assistance if requested. The familicide report was submitted to Justice Minister Helen McEntee in the summer of 2021. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire A long-awaited report on familicide, which involves cases of murder-suicide where one person kills multiple close family members, will finally be published almost four years after it was first ordered. The review on familicide and domestic homicide examines the experiences of families and the supports they have received since 2000. The report is also expected to examine international best practice for domestic homicide reviews. The Government first tasked child advocate Norah Gibbons with compiling the report in 2019. Ms Gibbons died in 2020 and senior counsel Maura Butler took over the review, which was initially expected by March 2021. It was finally submitted to Justice Minister Helen McEntee in the summer of 2021. It will be brought to Cabinet and published today after it is given to families. Ban on sale of vapes to children The sale of vapes to children will be banned by mid-July under new laws to be signed off by Cabinet. The new laws from Health Minister Stephen Donnelly will also restrict the type of shops that can sell vapes, as well as curbing how they can be advertised around schools and other venues attended by children and young adults. Vapes will no longer be sold in vending machines and temporary premises. Advertisement of vapes near schools and on public transport will also no longer be allowed. The new rules will have to be signed into law by President Michael D Higgins. This is expected to happen before the Dail rises on July 13. There is currently no mandatory age restriction on the sale and marketing of e-cigarettes and Minister Donnelly is concerned vaping leads to smoking. There are up to 16,000 different flavours of vapes, such as bubblegum and gummy bears, according to the World Health Organisation. The sale of e-cigarettes to adolescents is already banned in a number of European countries as there is evidence that adolescent nicotine exposure can have long-term consequences for brain development. Recent surveys of Irish school-aged children showed that at least 9pc of over-12s had vaped in the previous month. The UK is also planning a crackdown, including stopping retailers exploiting a loophole which allows them to hand out free vape samples to children. Places in Dublin suitable for home building The Departments of Housing and Transport have identified 14 locations in Dublin that are suitable for building homes and other intensive mixed-use development. They are: Adamstown; Ballymun; Barnhill/Kellystown; Cherrywood; Clonburris; North Fringe; Poolbeg West; Sandyford; Tallaght; Broombridge; City Edge; Dunsink; Jamestown and Charlestown; and Lissenhall. The Dublin Transport Orientated Development study, brought to Cabinet by Housing Minister Darragh OBrien, outlines the areas that are located close to existing or proposed high-capacity public transport, such as the Dart, MetroLink, Luas and BusConnects. Irish Embassy and state agencies to move in together in London The Irish Embassy and other Irish agencies in London will come together for the first time under one roof in a brand new Ireland House. The Embassy of Ireland and three state agencies Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland will be located on a single site in central London. The plans for the initiative will be brought to Cabinet by Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin. It is not clear how much the new Ireland House will cost, although the lease for the new site will be signed following due diligence under the Public Spending Code, with regular updates on the process, said a Government source. A viable option for the office has been found in central London by the programme oversight board, which began looking in 2019. An oversight committee will now be set up and will involve key Ireland House senior stakeholders. This will include the three state agency CEOs, and it will be chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs. There are already 21 Ireland House offices globally, so this will the 22nd. Meanwhile, the new ambassadors for Bulgaria and Israel will also be signed off by senior ministers today. A Dublin parish priest has appealed to his parishioners to object to the National Transport Authoritys (NTA) plans for a bus gate in Rathmines, south Dublin, which he claims would be a disaster for his 200-year-old church. In a letter to parishioners of St Mary Immaculate Refuge for Sinners, Fr Andrew OSullivan warned that the NTAs proposal for the Rathfarnham to City Centre Core Bus Corridor could have a dramatic impact as it would mean no cars could access the Rathmines church. Obviously funerals, weddings, baptisms, and all other celebrations would be directly impacted in a negative way. The elderly, invalids, and those with mobility issues, would be impacted negatively too, he said. Parish Priest 'gravely concerned' about proposed bus corridor He warned that the proposal as it currently stands without any exaggeration, could lead to an impoverishment of the services we provide as well as the church becoming redundant over time. His concerns are supported by Fine Gael senator Mary Seery Kearney, who said the bus gate will potentially have a catastrophic impact on the life of the church in Rathmines in terms of access to it and its wider social services. The Rathfarnham to City Centre Core Bus Corridor is part of the BusConnects programme which aims to ease congestion in the capital. Ms Seery Kearney said concerns about the bus corridor are not just confined to Rathmines. Elderly and people with disabilities are very distressed about the potential impacts across the bus corridors from Templeogue, Kimmage and Greenhills. They fear being isolated and stranded for hours every day. A spokesman for the NTA told Independent.ie three rounds of public consultation on the scheme have taken place and reports on those consultations are on the NTAs website. These provide details of how we notified people and what issues were raised with us during the process. Further comments were also received from community forums and residents meetings where issues raised were taken into account during the development of the scheme design, Dermot OGara said. A total of 2,729 submissions were received as part of the first consultation, 66 submissions were received as part of the second consultation and a further 949 submissions were received as part of the third consultation. Because the scheme has been formally submitted to An Bord Pleanala for its determination, it would not be appropriate for the NTA to comment on views or opinions expressed by other parties in relation to the proposals, the NTA said. Fr OSullivan told the Irish Independent that the public consultations, some of which were carried out online during the Covid-19 pandemic, took place before he became parish priest in Rathmines. Many people seem unaware that any consultation took place, he said. Local resident and Labour councillor Mary Freehill said the main objective of the bus gate is to discourage commuters from driving to work and that is why she thinks it is a good idea. But she said the proposed hours, 6am to 8pm each day, is excessive. I think its reasonable to expect to access the church on Saturday and Sundays. Tributes have been paid the renowned Irish artist Graham Knuttel who has died aged 69. Mr Knuttel was born in Dublin, in 1954, and his death has been confirmed by his family in a statement. "It is with great sadness that we write to let you know that Graham passed away peacefully on Saturday 27th of May, 2023, surrounded by his family, the family said. You will know that he engaged in life as he engaged in his art - that is to say, boldly and without reserve. He greatly valued the cut and thrust of debate and the vivid colours that satire and dark humour deliver. We know that he is grateful to you all for having made the connection. James Joyce seated in an armchair by Graham Knuttel Famed for his bold colours and devilish portrayals of the human condition, his canvasses have won him admirers around the world, including Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone, Bertie Ahern and Joanna Lumley as well as the Swiss Bank Corporation, Goldman Sachs International and Saatchi & Saatchi. He was synonymous with the excesses of the Celtic Tiger. His death comes just over one year after Mr Knuttel had a successful kidney transplant, having received the vital organ from his wife Ruth. Speaking to the Sunday Independent from his hospital bed in Beaumont at the time, the artist said: She was a perfect match. Thats amore. Its love. Words cant express how I feel. Its just too difficult. I guess now Ill have to behave when I go home. The operation came four years after he was rushed to St Vincents hospital with kidney failure. At the time he was also waiting for a new liver, which he received in 2020. President Michael D Higgins has offered his condolences to Mr Knuttels loved ones. "May I send my condolences to the family and friends of Graham Knuttel, who throughout his life made such a valuable contribution to Ireland's artistic community Artist Niall OLoughlin described Mr Knuttel as true gent in a social media post. 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 Irish Coast Guard has urged people to exercise caution when near the coast as the good weather continues over the coming days. Two males were rescued by the Irish Coast Guard on Tuesday evening after getting into difficulty in the water in north county Dublin. The Irish Coast Guard national operations centre received emergency calls regarding two males who were in difficulty in the sea at Malahide close to the Grand Hotel. While their exact age has not yet been confirmed, it is believed they are aged in their late teens or early 20s and were swimming when they were caught by a very strong current. The rescue team from Howth, who were just returning from a call, were tasked along with an RNLI inshore boat from Howth Harbour and Coast Guard Rescue 116. A passing boat which happened to be helmed by an off-duty member of the Howth Coast Guard team picked up the two people who were out of depth clinging to a mooring buoy. They were then dropped ashore to waiting Coast Guard shore crews, they did not require any further medical attention. The area in question is normally a red flag beach during lifeguard season which means it has been deemed too unsafe to swim. The Irish Coast Guard has urged people to exercise caution when near the coast as the good weather continues over the coming days. It added that it is encouraged by the quick response of the public recently to contact the Coast Guard at 112 or 999 when they see someone who may be in trouble. Housing charities have indicated that tenants are refusing to move out of properties as they have nowhere else to go. Photo: Aidan Crawley Two tenants renting a property in Dublin have been ordered to pay their landlord more than 37,000 in arrears. The tenants, who were living in a house in Clonskeagh, had racked up rent arrears of 41,000 and had their security deposit of 3,950 withheld. The rental watchdog, the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), ordered for the outstanding amount of 37,973 to be paid. The latest disputes published by the RTB show tenants have racked up significant arrears, while some refused to vacate properties after being served with valid eviction notices. Landlords who illegally evicted tenants and unfairly retained rental deposits were also the subject of complaints. A tenant renting an apartment in Howth, Co Dublin, was ordered to pay arrears of 12,500, while a woman renting a property from a housing body in Carndonagh, Co Donegal, was ordered to pay more than 8,000 in arrears. In another case, a landlord took a case against two tenants who had not paid him any rent for months. He said he received a notification last September from a member of the Housing Assistant Payment (HAP) scheme that the tenants had not been paying their contribution to the rent. Their HAP payments ceased as a result. The landlord, who owns a house in Dublin 11, said he contacted the respondent tenants by text and advised them a warning letter would be sent, followed by a notice of termination if the rent was not paid. The RTB ruled that he did not follow the correct procedure for issuing a notice of termination, but ordered for the tenants to pay the outstanding arrears of 7,700 at a rate of 500 per month. There were 22 disputes concerning tenants allegedly overholding after being issued with notices of termination. Housing charities have indicated that tenants are refusing to move out of properties as they have nowhere else to go due to a lack of rental and emergency accommodation. More than 4,300 notices of termination were issued by landlords in the last three months of last year. Of the total number of eviction notices issued, 43pc were to tenants in Dublin, with nearly 11pc in Cork and more than 6pc in Galway. Some landlords were ordered to pay damages after serving invalid eviction notices and failing to return deposits. In one case, the landlord of a property in Cork was ordered to pay 200 damages and return a security deposit of 1,000. For most of its 77-year existence, Bord na Mona was engaged in draining bogs and the mass cutting of peat. Now it has a new role as bog protector and restorer. A new draft EU law, called the Nature Restoration law, puts a major focus on rewetting bogs as an important part of restoring plant life and bird and animal habitats which have been destroyed over the past half century. This is not a uniquely Irish problem, as by some estimates, only 10pc of Europes bogs are not in good shape and bogs also have an important role tackling climate change because they act as natural carbon repositories. The EUs lawmakers are nearing agreement on the package which will apply across the 27 EU member states. Agreement is expected within weeks so the debate will soon become central to Irish public life. The timeframe for implementation is extremely short as the EU hopes action can begin from next year. The individual governments will have a deal of flexibility in how it is applied but the targets must be met. The issue has alarmed individual farmers and their representative organisations in the midlands and west of the country especially. Some Independent TDs, representing these rural areas, are very vocal in their opposition to the measure which is putting pressure on representatives from the two large coalition parties, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. The measure has the potential to seriously fracture the three-party Coalition. Last week, the Taoiseach said the proposals go too far. The issue is central to the Green Partys ambitions to tackle the fallout from climate change and begin restoring biodiversity which has been extensively destroyed. Supporters of the measure argue there is a deal of hysteria surrounding the topic and insist that Irelands national targets for environmental remediation actually exceed these EU proposals. Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue has said all the EU rewetting targets up to 2050 can be met using state land only. If that is borne out in reality, any kind of compulsion on farmers could be avoided. But farmers have other concerns related to this issue, including the impact of rewetting of state land on adjoining ground which they are farming. There are also upcoming changes in Common Agriculture Policy grants for peat farmland, with restrictions on land use in some cases. The Department of Agriculture are currently assessing these changes and individual farmers may not know details of these changes until later this year. So, it is a time of further change in many rural areas. But the final result does not have to be one of calamity. Everyone concerned must focus on conciliation and compromise. It is clear that Ireland must play a full part in overdue EU action on tackling the challenges of climate change and restoring seriously impaired biodiversity. But measures must also be fair to farmers and rural communities. US president Ronald Reagan laughs following a joke by Queen Elizabeth II at the De Young Museum in San Francisco during her visit in 1982. Photo: Bettmann/Getty Images New files released by the FBI outline a plot to assassinate the late Queen Elizabeth as she visited America. The memos date back to 1983 when the Queen visited California as guest of President Reagan. The FBI files detail that a phone call was made by a man who claimed that his daughter had been killed in Northern Ireland by a rubber bullet. The records further detail that 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 on to the royal yacht Britannia when it sails underneath, or would attempt to kill Queen Elizabeth when she visited Yosemite national park. Fionnan Sheahan is joined by Irish Independent journalist and royal expert Sinead Ryan, to look at the plots to assassinate the late Queen Elizabeth and to investigate the claims that Prince Charles could potentially have been overlooked to succeed Queen Elizabeth as head of the monarchy. Exhibition will feature a collection of more than 50 works by 40 Irish and International artists Market Scene by John OLeary (below) will be among the more than 50 artworks on display during the exhibition. Circus Visits Castletownroche by Sylvia Cooke Collis will be among the more than 50 artworks on display during the exhibition. A STUNNING exhibition of artworks by a host of leading Irish and international artists is set to be held in North Cork in conjunction with the forthcoming Mallow Arts Festival. The exhibition, curated by local accountant Colman Dalton and his wife Marie, will open at Mallows West End Art Gallery at 6pm on Wednesday, July 26 and will run for 10-days. It will feature more than 50 works by 40 artists on loan from the private collections of 18 art connoisseurs from across the country. Among the works on display will lithographs and drawings by internationally renowned artists including Vincent Van Gough, Henri Matisse, Louis Toffoli and Pierre De Belay, and paintings by Rodo Pissarrro, Frank Schneider and Emma Herland. The exhibition will have distinctly home-grown feel with numerous, predominantly 20th century works, by a number of well-known Irish artists including drawings by brothers Jack & WB Yeats, William Orpen, Walter Osborne and Sean Keating. It will also feature paintings by Irish artists including Mary Swanzy, Markey Robinson, James OHalloran Sylvia Cooke-Collis, George Campbell, Marrian Jeffares, Muriel Brandt and Alicia Boyle. Mr Dalton and his wife opened a gallery in Mallows landmark Clock House building for period during the 1990s, which held regular exhibitions. The gallery was something of a hobby for Marie and I. During that time, we got to know other Irish collectors, many of whom have kindly loaned us pieces for the forthcoming exhibition in July, said Mr Dalton. It will be the second exhibition Mr Dalton and his wife have curated under the umbrella of the Mallow Arts Festival. This years exhibition will be far more comprehensive as we have had more time to put it together. We are thrilled to be able to bring a collection of truly top-class Irish and international artworks to Mallow for this exhibition, which I have not doubt prove to be a huge attraction, said Mr Dalton. Admission to the exhibition will be free and Marie and I have issued an open invitation to the public to come along and enjoy this truly magnificent collection, he added. Mr Dalton said that two of the works on display, Theresas Flowers by James OHalloran and Mountain Stream County Wicklow by Fergus ORyan, will also be raffled off for charity on the opening night of the exhibition. The proceeds from the raffle will be split between the homeless charity Focus Ireland and the Cork-based H.A.R.T. animal rescue team. We are hoping that people coming along to the exhibition will enter the raffle and help support these two very worthy causes, said Mr Dalton. Tickets for the raffle can be purchased in advance from Karen on 087 696 7980, Margaret on 086 696 2577 or Colman (during office hours) on 022 21650 and various outlets in Mallow. Residents in Derrinagree appeal for urgent traffic calming measures before someone gets badly injured or killed UNLESS urgent traffic measures are put in place in the North Cork village of Derrinagree someone is going to get badly injured or killed. Thats the dire warning from local community activist Charlie Drake, who has appealed to local politicians to use their influence to get the Cork County Council to take immediate action to address the issue. Mr Drake told The Corkman he believes the current situation in the rural village, situated on a busy road between Newmarket and Millstreet, is quite simply an accident just waiting to happen. Derrinagree is a thriving village that has experienced significant population growth in recent years and its location near the N72 Mallow to Killarney road, one of the busiest in the county, means there is an ever-increasing amount of traffic passing through the village on a daily basis, said Mr Drake. Yet, the roads infrastructure hasnt changed in years, with the one exception being the removal of a hedge and a crash barrier put in its place. The village does not even have a proper footpath. We have parents and children walking to the local school each day with vehicles speeding past them. This is a frightening situation for them and should not be allowed to happen in this day and age, he added. One area of particular concern is what he called the disappearing road on a tight bend situated near the old Post Office building. The bend is so tight anyone motorist not familiar with it would struggle to keep control of their vehicle. Combined with a dip in the road at the bend, this is an accident waiting to happen, said Mr Drake. Mr Drake said repeated calls by him and other members of the local community for traffic calming measures and the realignment of the dangerous bend have fallen on deaf ears. Numerous approaches have been made to both local and national polticians about these issues, to no avail. At the very least we need illuminated traffic calming signs like those in other villages warning motorists they are traveling too fast in a built-up area, reminding them of their responsibility to pedestrians and other road users, said Mr Drake. He warned local public representatives that if priority is not given to the implementation of road safety measures in the village, the local community would vent their frustrations at the polling booth. I am appealing to all public representatives to give us a break and look after our needs. We need illuminated traffic calming signs on the approach to Derrinagree School from the N72 and at Moher Cross on the approach from Millstreet/Lower Keale Cross, well as the realignment of the dangerous disappearing road, said Mr Drake. With local and quite possibly general elections on the horizon, our call should serve as a reminder to all politicians from the community here in Derrinagree that those who do the work will get the votes, he added. With long-awaited legislation now being finalised to make e-scooters legal, it probably comes as a surprise to most motorists and pedestrians that they are not already so. With the sunny weather set to last into the bank holiday weekend, beach goers will be flocking to the shores with suncream in hand to cool off. This years bathing season starts on Thursday, June 1 and runs until September 15. Water quality is monitored by the local authority throughout the summer bathing season to make sure its safe for swimmers. Water quality is assessed as either Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor. Below is a list of the current water quality in every beach in Dublin. Blue Flag status Killiney Beach This long, stony beach with stunning views of Bray Head, Dalkey Island and Sorrento Terrace is popular swimming spot with Blue Flag status. It has an Excellent water quality rating as of May 5. Swimmers should be aware that there may be sudden large waves caused by the car ferries, while fishing is not permitted within the bathing area. Seapoint Seapoint is a sloping, sandy beach with areas of rocks along the coastline, known for its sailing, kayaking and swimming. The water quality is rated as Excellent, as of May 22. Swimmers should be aware that there may be sudden large waves caused by the car ferries and that there is no diving allowed from the platforms. Portmarnock Beach Velvet Strand in north Dublin is a long, open beach with sand dunes to the back of the beach. The popular Blue Flag beach had a water quality rating of Excellent in September and the next test sample is due later this month. Balcarrick Beach Balcarrick beach in Donabate is a sandy beach consisting of a large sand dune area. The north Dublin beach has a blue flag and a green coast award. The water quality was rated as Excellent in September last year and the next test sample is due later this month. Rush South Beach Rush South Beach in north Dublin is a sloping, sandy beach with a large sand dune area. There is a rocky headland to the North providing shelter to the beach, which has been awarded a Blue Flag. The water quality was rated as Excellent last September and the next sample test is due June 12. Excellent White Rock Beach White Rock is a small, sandy cove accessed down about 100 steps from Vico Road. It can also be accessed from Killiney beach at low tide. The beach has a water quality rating of Excellent, as of May 22. Forty Foot The historic bathing pool, a short walk from the James Joyce Tower in Sandycove, has been a popular swimming spot for the past 250 years. It has a water quality rating of Excellent, as of May 22. People cool down at the Forty Foot during the hot weather. Photo: Gerry Mooney Sandycove Beach Sandycove beach may be small, but it offers shallow water to paddle and lovely views. This seaside suburb is located around a pleasant harbour and is home to the famous Martello Tower. The water quality is rated as Excellent, as of May 22. Dun Laoghaire Baths This historic site, located close to the Peoples Park and Dun Laoghaire Town, was opened to the public in December 2022 after significant redevelopment of the site. The bathing spot has a water quality rating of Excellent, as of May 22. The redeveloped baths consist of a new 35-metre jetty with built-in seating, a changing shelter, a refurbished Edwardian Gazebo and a new walkway from Newtownsmith. Sandymount Strand Sandymount Strand is a 2km sandy beach with a gradual slope which makes it difficult for swimming. The strand has a water quality rating of Excellent, however, the public are urged to be aware of strong incoming tides. The popular promenade runs along the coast road from Sandymount Strand to Merrion Gates with views of the poolbeg towers and lighthouse. Shelly Banks Shelly Banks beach is located at the end of Southbank Road in Ringsend. The beach has a water quality rating of Excellent, as of May 22 Half Moon The bathing area at Half Moon is located about half way along the South Bull Wall. It is not a beach, however, the public can still access the water from the South Bull Wall. The water quality is rated as Excellent, as of May 22. North Bull Wall The bathing area is located along the North Bull Wall. Access to the bathing water, which is not a beach, is via the steps from the changing shelters. The water quality at the North Bull Wall is rated as Excellent, as of May 22. Dollymount Strand Dollymount Strand is the closest large beach to the city centre and is situated on North Bull Island. The popular bathing spot has an Excellent water quality rating, as of May 22. There is a wide variety of activities available which include walking, kite flying, rowing and canoeing. Claremont Beach Claremont Beach in Howth is a sandy, gently sloping north-facing beach. The water quality was rated as Excellent last September and the next sample is due later this month. Brook Beach Brook Beach in Portrane is a sandy beach in north Dublin on the Portrane Peninsula. There are strong currents located on the north end of the beach. The water quality was rated as Excellent last September and the next test sample is due June 12. Loughskinny Beach Loughshinny Beach in north Dublin is a small, sheltered, cove-like sandy beach. There is a small, active fishing harbour to the east of the beach. The water quality was rated as Excellent last September and the next sample test is due on June 12. Good Sutton Beach Burrow Beach in Sutton is a sandy, sloping beach facing mainly to the north. It is adjacent to the Baldoyle Estuary, which is regarded as an important wildlife area. The water quality at this beach was rated as Good in September and the next test sample is due later this month. Skerries South Beach Skerries South Beach is a long sandy beach, sloping towards the sea. The rocks of Red Island headland form the boundary at the northern end of the beach. The water quality was rated as Good last September and the next sample test is due on June 12. Poor Merrion Strand Merrion beach is a sandy beach with a slope which makes the water too shallow for swimming. Merrion Strand has a Do Not Swim water restriction in place since February 9 for a year due to water quality deterioration. The water was declassified in 2020 due to Poor water quality after it had been classified as Poor for five consecutive years. Merrion Strand is no longer a regulated bathing water, but continues to be monitored by Dublin City Council. Front Strand Beach Front Strand Beach in Balbriggan is a small, flat beach with an adjacent harbour. There is an all-season restriction on this beach which advises against bathing at this location for the entire bathing season. Front Strand beach was classified as having poor water quality following the 2022 bathing season. Tralee-based BioAtlantis researching development of natural ways to strengthen crops in face of climate change stresses as part of global CropPrime project A TRALEE-based firm is taking on a leading role in the international battle against the impacts of climate change on some of the globes most vulnerable regions. BioAtlantis, which produces naturally-derived compounds to aid plant, animal and human development, is now playing a key role in the European CropPrime research project. Its mission: Nothing less than the development of scientifically-innovative new ways of increasing crop yields under stressful conditions caused by climate change. Specifically, the research is probing the development of what is described as molecular priming technology to increase crop production with its application envisaged chiefly in parts of the world worst affected by rising temperatures and increased climate volatility wreaking havoc with tillage. Funded by up to 1 million under the European Unions HORIZON-Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions programme, CropPrime will focus on developing plant biostimulant products using natural compounds sustainably derived from marine and terrestrial sources, such as seaweed. This is exactly in the area of BioAtlantiss long-standing expertise, developing food and nutrients for plants and animals from natural sources like seaweed - reducing dependence on agro-chemicals. [CropPRime] will also develop RNA-based fungicides to reduce fungal infection in crops, a statement from the company, explaining the project work, said. The findings of this research will lead to the development of a new generation of sustainable agri-tech products that will help crop growers to prime and protect their crops against stressful, adverse weather conditions such as drought, heat, cold and water-logging, stresses that are increasing in incidence due to climate change. The project brings together expertise in plant systems biology, chemistry, genetics and biostimulant technology in Europe, Africa and South America, and the consortium will channel their efforts to bring sustainable solutions for crop protection to the grower. Crops assessed in this project will include strawberry and tomato. BioAtlantis is working in partnership on the project with leading plant research centres and academic institutions, including VIB-Plant Systems Biology, Ghent (Belgium), The James Hutton Institute (UK), Mendel University in Brno and the Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences (Czech Republic), the Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology (Bulgaria). BioAtlantis is an Irish-owned marine biotechnology company, employing over 50 people at its headquarters in Tralee, County Kerry. The company describes itself as a leading innovator in the Irish bioeconomy and sells in over 30 countries globally. Australian native with an adopted home of Sneem author Amanda Geard will launch her second book The Moon Gate this Friday, June 2. Australian native and Kerry based author Amamda Geard is the proud author of her second book, 'The Moon Gate' which she will launch at Listowel Writer's Week. The last few years surely must feel like some sort of wild dream for Australian native and now proud adopted Kerry resident, Amanda Geard, who this week will officially launch her second and highly anticipated book, The Moon Gate at the famous Listowel Writers Week on Friday, June 2, a festival that holds a special place in Amanda's heart. From moving to Sneem with her husband a few years ago where they bought and renovated an old house, to releasing her debut novel The Midnight House last May an acclaimed book that was a Richard & Judy Book Club pick to now, just days out from the official launch of book number two, its surely been a rollercoaster. When it's put to her that she's now the proud author of not one, but two books that are soon to be out in the world for people to read, Amanda laughed and said that her life has become, in her own words very unreal. The Moon Gate is again a multi-timeline mystery set largely between London and Tasmania with homage paid too to Amandas beloved Kerry too of course and moving between 1939, 1975 and 2004, readers will be be swept up in the tale of Libby Andrews and a story of love and war with Amanda promising lots of sacrifice and secrets and twists and turns for everyone to enjoy. Amanda had just received the hardbacks of The Moon Gate when I called and she spoke of her joy at getting to place The Moon Gate up alongside The Midnight House on her shelf. I was just flicking through it and then I put it next to The Midnight House on the shelf. It's a thing of beauty. It's lovely to see the final package after all the blood, sweat and tears that went into them, particularly the second book!" Amanda is very open about how hard she found it to write her second book, such was the success of her first one, describing it as pretty intense and nailed the analogy perfectly as a band trying to follow up their hit first album with another. "I definitely went through second album syndrome but it's great now to be out the other side, she laughed. "Unfortunately, it [the second book] was harder to write. It was really tough because there's not so much a sense of expectation from other people because you're still writing for yourself but you really do put more expectation on yourself that you're going to get to the end and that everyone's going to love it. Then of course you send it off to your editor and there was a lot of edits needed in the second book because you know, they don't buy the book, the buy the idea, she continued. One big plus to writing this latest one though was getting the chance to travel back home to her native Tasmania where a lot of the book is set. Being home and being to walk around a lot of the books locations in real life was a huge help to her getting the story out onto a page she said. "I went there to see my mom and I got up every morning and just started tapping away on the computer and I went to visit the sites that I was including in the book. That really helped because I think part of the difficulty in writing the second book was that it wasn't all set in Kerry, there was a lot of it set back home in Tasmania, she continued. "I hadn't been there [Tasmania] for a few years because of COVID so it was nice to get back. I really did enjoy writing something set in another place that I love, she said. With launch day at Listowel Writers Week this Friday, June 2 fast approaching, Amanda said she is so excited to launch her book at a place that first inspired her to start writing her first book. "I'm so excited [for publication day] and I couldn't think of a better place to launch it than Listowel Writer's Week. It's something I had really dreamed of and I'm pinching myself that it's something that I get to do. Writer's Week was the place where I first gleamed the inspiration to start writing so getting to launch The Moon Gate there feels like this beautiful full circle moment, she said. For those who enjoyed Amandas first novel, they will be delighted too to hear that a few familiar faces and Ballinn will pop up in this new book, something which she is already planning to do too in her upcoming third novel which she has recently begun work on. "I'm pretty excited to get into book three. I'm hoping, well I think, it will be set between Kerry of course and Northern Norway where I used to live. I'm pretty excited about the two locations and it will take the same format of secrets and sacrifice and what not." The Moon Gate will be available to buy online and all good book shops on June 8. Catherine Henry was found dead in her Bridge Street apartment in Dundalk on Wednesday of last week Gardai in Dundalk are conducting door to door inquiries as the murder investigation continues into the brutal killing of Catherine Henry in her Bridge Street apartment last Wednesday evening. The 62 year old mother was found in a pool of blood in her apartment, one of three in a converted shop, just doors from the soup kitchen where she had volunteered. The street was sealed off as gardai carried out technical investigations and a murder inquiry was launched after the post-mortem examination. While gardai have not disclosed details of the post-mortem for operational reasons, it has been reported in the national media that the victim had been violently assaulted and died as a result of blunt truma injuries. Although she had only moved to Bridge Street in recent years, Catherines death has sent shockwaves through the town. Floral tributes were left outside her home and she is fondly remembered by those who knew her through her volunteering with Irish Soup Kitchens, She was such an obliging lady, said Mark ONeill of Irish Soup Kitchen. He recalled that Catherine had volunteered at the kitchen when it first opened in Bridge Street. "She called in and said she was living a couple of doors down and wasnt doing anything so she wanted to give some time to helping people. He believes that she was originally from Dublin and had family connections with Drogheda. "We dont ask questions of people when they come in. I think she may have had some background in decorating or interior design as she was always doing the place up. Youd come in in the morning and she could have painted it a different colour. She was constantly doing things to improve the place. "I never heard anyone saw a bad word about her. She was very obliging. Nothing phased her, and she really really liked helping people. Mark said that if Catherine saw that someone was in need of clothing or shoes, she would sort them out. "She was absolutely fantastic, she went above and beyond, he said, revealing that Catherine had ended up helping him with the rota. "She had a great rapport with everyone, she got on with everyone. He said that he had been unable to get in contact with her when the soup kitchen opened in its new premises in Bachelors Walk and had learned of her death from a number of people coming in who knew her from Bridge Street. Gardai have appealed for witnesses, particularly anyone who was in the vicinity of Bridge Street, Dundalk on the afternoon/evening of Wednesday last May 23. Anyone with information is asked to contact Dundalk Garda Station 042 938 8400, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda station. Friends of Julien Pierre Harve Wester, the young French man who died recently in tragic circumstances, have come together to raise funds to help his heartbroken parents with the costs of bringing him home for burial. The 30-year-old, who worked in National Pen, had made many friends in Dundalk, particularly in the local music community. Mass was celebrated in his memory in St Patricks Cathedral on Friday. His funeral will take place in France and his friends are raising funds to help with the repatriation costs. Local musicians played in the town centre on Sunday afternoon in memory of the talented young musician who had arrived in Dundalk in September 2018 and quickly became a much loved member of the community. Born to Eric and Agnes, Julien was proud of his Breton heritage and often joked that he wasnt French. Juliens gift for music was well known in Dundalk and he was regarded as a passionate song-writer and composter. His best-known work Lovely Guinness will live on in the memories of those who knew him. He was a true artist in every sense of the word, with his long hair, rock voice and his own Irish soul. He was a night owl who relished spending time with fellow musicians who shared his passion for music and the creative process. Their sessions often went on well into the early hours of the morning and were filled with laughter, storytelling and amazing music. Ju, or Juju, as he was known, had a magnetic personality that drew people to him he was always curious and eager to make new friends. He had a penchant for the bustling pubs and nightlife of Dundalk and quickly fell in love with the town, adopting it as his own. Julien had trained as a chef and loved cooking and making Breton galettes for his friends. In National Pen, he was highly regarded by his colleagues who appreciated his hard work and skills. Julien will be remembered as a colourful character who brightened the lives of those who knew him. This was reflected in the large number of tributes paid to him since his untimely passing and in the numbers who attended the memorial Mass and the busk in his honour. Julien is survived by his heartbroken parents Eric and Agnes, sister Nolwenn and her husband Mari, brother Ivan and his bebe Aure, sisters and brothers Anne-Marie, Elodie, Louise, Joseph and Michel, his family of friends, work colleagues in National Pen and all who knew and loved him in Dundalk and France. Donations to the appeal to help with the repatriation costs can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-the-memory-of-julien 'Lonrach Solas the resident rescue helicopter at Sligo Airport in Strandhill but the new contract has been awarded to a new provider. The current operators of the Coast Guard Rescue service based at Sligo Airport has lost out in the awarding of a new search and rescue contract with a different company set to take over the role. The decision raises the issue of job losses. The service is currently operated by CHC Ireland, who in a statement said: It is with regret that we learned that CHC Ireland were unsuccessful in our bid to retain the IRCG Search and Rescue Aviation Contract for the next 10 years. CHC have served the people of Ireland for 20 plus years with great distinction. All of our staff have given 100% commitment to The IRCG and Ireland. Many have been recognised for their Life Saving missions with International bravery awards. We thank all our staff for their unflinching commitment to their duty. There will be no further comment at this time. The new ten year contract has been awarded to Bristow (Ire) Ltd. The contract will provide for the day and night-time operation of four helicopter bases including Sligo, alongside Shannon, Waterford and Dublin. In addition to the helicopter service, the new Coast Guard aviation service will, for the first time, also include a fixed wing aircraft element. Local Fine Gael TD, Frank Feighan has welcomed the decision by government to award the 10-year contract worth more than 670m. There was much concern regarding the future of the service at Sligo and I am glad that those fears are put to rest with this announcement. I want to thank my colleague Hildegard Naughton alongside the Tanaiste and now Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar for ensuring my calls and efforts to secure Strandhill as a rescue base was secured. I want to thank Minister Jack Chambers for his role in providing funding for the new service provider contract and to the manager and board of Sligo Airport for all their efforts in bring the facilities up to the new standards required, concluded Deputy Feighan. The May meeting of Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council got off to a rocky start as Councillor Joe Sullivan queried the legal standing of any decisions made on the day. Referencing some elements of Standing Orders, Cllr Sullivan noted that a vote had not taken place to hold the meeting at Blackwater Community Centre and questioned whether any decisions made there would be legally viable. Meanwhile, Councillor Willie Kavanagh noted that decisions had previously been made in Courtown and Wells House, while a lot of big decisions were made in a variety of locations when the members worked remotely during Covid. District Manager Philip Knight said that the issue had been raised with the County Secretary and he was of the opinion that there was no reason that they could not proceed with the meeting as planned. Councillor Oliver Walsh said he was very disappointed with how the meeting started, particularly given that it was the first meeting that had taken place in his locality. "We all understood at the outset that we would have meetings outside of Gorey. We agreed three years ago to come to Blackwater before Covid, he said. This is the first meeting I have had in my own parish. Director of Services Liz Hore clarified matters, saying that it had been decided at a previous meeting that the May meeting had taken place in Blackwater but that had not been a full resolution on it. She noted that the Section 183 discussion tabled meaning the discussion on the Courtown land swap proposal was a discussion brought as a matter of courtesy, explaining that any legal decisions on that matter needed to be made at a full County Council meeting. Councillor Sullivan said that rules are the rules and said he didnt accept the County Secretarys interpretation of them. Mr Knight said that the County Secretary had been referred to as the guiding authority adding that, on checking back through minutes of previous meetings, there were a number of meetings outside of the Civic offices for which resolutions were not sought. "I dont feel those exposes us to any risk of legal challenge, he said. Councillor Anthony Donohoe said that he was very disappointed for his colleague Cllr Walsh and sought clarity in order to move things along. "Are we in breach of standing orders or are we not and can this meeting proceed? Councillor Pip Breen recalled that it was agreed in 2021 that they would meet in the Blackwater venue, adding that he felt it was ok to proceed. Ms Hore reiterated that the meeting could proceed. She said that discussions regarding statutory business any prescribed business with a legal effect could be discussed in Blackwater and confirmed formally in Gorey next month. However, she said the only statutory business tabled for the May meeting was related to funding for Gorey Kilmuckridge. The legislative basis for the Section 183 decision takes place at a full County Council meeting so there is no issue making a recommendation on that here, she said. Wexford & District Wexford Arts Centre to serve as the towns tourist office for the summer months Wexford Arts Centre has become the new home of Failte Irelands seasonal Tourist Information Centre in Wexford for the summer months, while the vacant tourist office building at Crescent Quay is to be used as an organisational headquarters for Joe English (Meath County Council), Miriam Browne and Robin Bradley at the first Roundtable discussion on the Gig Economy which was held at the Wicklow County Campus, Clermont, Rathnew. CEO of Wicklow County Council Emer O' Gorman, Garreth Kelly and Siobhan Keogh at the first Roundtable discussion on the gig economy, which was held at the Wicklow County Campus, Clermont, Rathnew. Photo: Michael Kelly Guests and members of Wicklow County Council at the first Roundtable discussion on the gig economy, which was held at the Wicklow County Campus, Clermont, Rathnew. Photo: Michael Kelly WICKLOW Local Enterprise Office (LEO) recently hosted an initial roundtable meeting between a range of screen sector professionals and different agencies as well as financial institutions at Wicklow County Campus. The objective for the event was to demonstrate the importance of the gig economy in an Irish and global context and to articulate the value and vibrancy of the Irish Screen Sector and the importance of gig working or freelance working to the industry. The aim was to start a conversation with financial institutions and gain advice as to how those working in the sector can better represent themselves and demonstrate their ability to pay/repay loans and/or track savings. The meeting allowed for interesting dialogue between representatives from the screen sector and financial institutions, such as the pillar banks and local credit unions. The meeting was chaired by Emer OGorman, Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, who welcomed all delegates saying: The screen sector is a very important economic contributor and employs predominantly freelance workers. Im very happy to enable the start of a conversation around the need for equal access to finance solutions and housing in order to allow this sector to grow and thrive. A gig economy nowadays represents an environment in which temporary positions are common and organisations contract with independent workers for short-term engagements. The whole idea behind the gig economy for its supporters is that individuals can sell their work on a task-to-task basis. The gig economy represents either a promising economic model which would enable individuals to unleash their full potential and to be more creative as freelancers or it is a temporary and unsuitable ideal which needs to be regulated by competent policymakers. Driven by technological progress and globalisation, labour market dynamics are shifting rapidly. At the same time, fewer people are keen to engage as a full-time employee. On top of that, more and more organisations do not issue fixed contracts anymore. The gig economy also includes (and is sometimes called) the on-demand, peer or platform economy. Meanwhile, surprisingly little is known about the realities of gig work. Is it a liberating new form of self-employment or a new form of exploitation? There is a growing need to reflect on how society deals with these changes in a manner that protects and educates people operating in the gig economy. A sector such as content creation predominantly employs workers on fixed contracts, and this has implications for these workers when it comes to seeking a loan or mortgage where they are judged on their regular income. Following discussions between a number of agencies and screen professionals, a working group was formed late 2022 to discuss how this can be highlighted and remedied. The working group includes reps from Screen Ireland, Local Enterprises Offices from Wicklow and Meath, Wicklow County Council, the Department of Social Protection, Film and TV Crew Academy East and the Mid-East Regional Skills Forum. Parties assisting the working group include representatives from Screen Guild, Writers Guild, Screen Composer Guild, Screen Producers Ireland, SIPTU and Animation Ireland. This event aligns with the strategic objective in the Mid East Regional Enterprise Plan to develop the Mid East as a hub for the screen content creation sector. It is intended to follow this discussion with quarterly meetings to track progress on this initiative. Models taking part in the beach fashion show in Spanish Point, Co Clare Sustainable fashion designer Aoife McNamara set out to reconnect people with nature through her clothes and at the weekend, Mother Nature kindly responded with optimum conditions for whats believed to be Irelands first ever beach fashion show. International couturiers go to great lengths to showcase new collections in exotic places. Dior went to India for their Autumn 23 show and to Mexico to show Cruise 2024. McNamara showed at Paris Fashion Week last September and for Spring-Summer 23, she chose a west Clare beach to showcase her Blath Fiain collection inspired by wildflowers from the Burren, Irelands most biodiverse natural habitat. Spanish Point Beach provided the backdrop to the 12-look show and it was a case of no shoes required on Saturday night. Ireland's first ever fashion show on a beach Veteran model and agency owner, Celia Holman Lee, from Limerick, said she believed it was the first ever beach fashion show in the country and local musician, Susan ONeill, serenaded the models. Mother Nature is working with me, said a delighted McNamara as she watched the barefoot models take to the sand. This was the ninth collection from McNamara, and the 27 year-old Limerick School of Art and Design graduate introduced a number of collaborations with Irish textile producers, using recycled and regenerative materials. There was naturally dyed Irish linen from Emblem Weavers in Co Wexford and 100pc Irish wool from an organic sheep herd belonging to 19-year-old Ciaran McLoughlin of Ciarans Yarns in Trim, Co Meath. McNamara grew up in Limerick, and her latest collection reflects Burren wildflowers, with a pastel colour palette of yellows and lilacs, delicately hand-stitched flowers, materials eco-printed with botanicals and the use of natural fibres. Her collaborations include one with Fibreshed Ireland, a network of local textile artists working towards a regenerative fibre system based on local fibre, dyes and labour. Nature will always be my muse, said McNamara. When Im designing, I keep a soil-to-soil approach front of mind, holistically considering the end of a garments life before it is even created. I try and collaborate with many artists in different areas and I was looking for local processes. The collection is predominantly handmade in Ireland using eco-friendly materials and she works on pre-order basis, starting next Thursday. My vision is that all designs will be made solely with fibres that will eventually decompose into nutrients for a healthier ecosystem and in the meantime, they are quality sustainable pieces that will last people decades, she added. Celia Holman Lee at the show McNamara has been hosting events at her flagship thatched cottage store in Adare, Co Limerick, to educate her community of followers on ways to protect our natural world. Upcoming themes include darning and mending (July 1-2) and natural dyeing and paint-making (June 10-11). Stand-out pieces in Saturdays show included a primrose co-ord jacket with oversized shoulder pads and a puff sleeve paired with a matching skirt. There was also a two-piece made with recycled satin and the daisy co-ord pairing waistcoat and palazzo trousers in pinstripe yarn-dyed Irish linen. Prices start at 160 for a skirt rising to a long dress for 895. Tops are 170, while dresses cost from 395. Twins Rowan and Maslan Briggs (10), from Lackamore, Newport, Co Tipperary, play chess in the sunshine as it was revealed that the European School Chess Championships will be held in the University of Limerick in June 2024. Photo: Brian Arthur The hottest day of the year was recorded today in Co Clare, according to Met Eireann. Temperatures rose to 25C at a station in Inagh and 24.7C was recorded at the national forecasters manned station at Shannon Airport. This comes as the possibility of a heatwave cannot be ruled out next week as temperatures look set to hit 25C again this weekend and continue into next week. Met Eireann Forecaster Deirdre Lowe said a heatwave in Ireland would be classified as five consecutive days with a maximum temperature in excess of 25C. I dont think this week I think its just marginally not quite warm enough, but its possible next week, she told the Irish Independent. Ms Lowe said the highest temperatures over the coming days would be felt in the west of the country as well as in the midlands, but sunny spells would persist nationwide. Yasmin Khan at Teddys Ice-cream in Dun Laoghaire. Photo: Arthur Carron It will be mainly dry and sunny with light easterly breezes, and high temperatures between 19C and 24C will remain in place across the bank holiday weekend. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will be slightly warmer than today, with temperatures expected to hit 24C, she said. Ms Lowe said the country may experience highs of 25C on bank holiday Monday, and the good weather could continue into next week. Saturday may be a notch cooler but still good and sunny and temperatures will be quite warm on bank holiday Sunday and Monday possibly even warmer into the mid-20s early next week, she said. The current fine spell is due to the Azores anticyclone (high pressure system), which has shift from its normal position around the Azores, up to the north of Ireland. The shift in position has produced what is referred to as a blocking high pressure system as it blocks out the rainbelts in the Atlantic and diverts away the jet stream and low pressure systems to the north and to the south of Ireland. While Ireland basks in the sunshine, over southern Europe daytime heavy showers and thunderstorms will occur from Portugal over to Greece, Met Eireann said. However, the forecaster has warned that the sunny spell brings with it a UV index of seven, and it has urged members of the public to seek shade between noon and 3pm and to cover up with hats and long sleeve t-shirts. The Department of Agricultures Condition Orange Fire Danger Notice is also in place until June 6. "Ground conditions are quite dry so please do not ignite naked flames in any woodland or grassland areas. Never barbecue in parks, wildland areas or any site in close proximity to vegetation, trees etc. Most wildfires in Ireland are a result of human activities and are therefore avoidable, a spokesperson for the department said. Meanwhile, Yasmin Khan, of Teddys Ice-Cream in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, said she hopes to see an influx of customers as a result of the good weather. She said the ice-cream parlour was fully stocked with Flakes and cones to meet the expected surge in demand. Ireland's 7-day weather forecast (29th of May - 4th of June) Weve had a lovely week, its great to see this weather and I would hope it would stay like this until the end of August, she said. Its always exam time for the kids, thats when the good weather comes so hopefully theyll get a 99 for a treat when they finish their exams. Ms Khan said Irish people liked to eat ice-cream all year round but that there was something special about a 99 on a hot summers day. Its a bit of nostalgia, Ireland and the UK sell a lot of soft-serve ice-cream whereas in Europe its gelato in different flavours but we just love that plain, creamy ice-cream with the chocolate in it, she said. Addressing reports at the weekend that UK customers were finding Cadbury Flake now too crumbly for a 99, Ms Khan said the quality had deteriorated. Theyre definitely crumbly and flaky the quality is just not there like it used to be and the taste is not the same either, she said. We had this issue last year where we were losing about 45pc of what was in the boxes because it was just broken to bits. When youre famous for 99s and youre trying to serve something to somebody that makes them happy its weirdly personal for people how they eat their 99s. Some people take the Flakes out, some people put them in the middle of the cone. They have this little routine and ritual of what they do with it. Yasmin Khan and her father Brian of Teddy's Ice-Cream. Photo: Steve Humphreys If youre selling them an inferior product and it breaks in their hand or ruins their experience, sometimes youd end up putting two half-pieces of a flake into an ice cream and the loss was huge on them. She added: I dont know what the issue was, I dont think it was deliberate by any means but there is an issue. A Cadbury spokesperson said the company cared about its loyal customer base and took 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, they said. 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 sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused. Meet the firm behind our content. Visit their website to see how their services can help your business succeed. As the world continues to evolve, so do the factors that drive entrepreneurship and business success. For many Sikh entrepreneurs, faith and culture have become essential guiding lights on their journey through the business world. As a community, Sikh entrepreneurs have faced unique challenges and opportunities. On the one hand, they have had to fight against discrimination and prejudice in the business world, often facing setbacks due to their appearance or religious dress. However, on the other hand, they have also been able to draw on the strength of their community and the richness of their culture to build resilient and successful businesses that stand the test of time. One of the most prominent examples of Sikh entrepreneurship can be found in the story of Gurinder Singh Khalsa, who founded the Sikhs Political Action Committee (SikhPAC) in the United States to help promote Sikh political representation and enact change for Sikhs across the country. Through his work with SikhPAC, Khalsa has been able to help change the political landscape and increase representation for his community. Another example can be seen in the story of Harjit Singh, the founder of a successful construction company in Canada. Despite facing initial scepticism and discrimination, Singh was able to leverage his skill and reputation to build a thriving business that has become a mainstay in his local community. A deep commitment to faith and culture lies at the heart of these success stories. For Sikh entrepreneurs, these guiding principles are not just abstract concepts but tangible forces that shape their decisions and drive their approach to business. From the emphasis on community service and charitable giving to the focus on ethical business practices and honest dealings, Sikh culture provides a clear roadmap for business success. Despite these strong foundations, however, Sikh entrepreneurs face challenges and obstacles on their path to success. Discrimination and prejudice remain a persistent problem, with many Sikhs facing unfair treatment and exclusion in the business world. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted Sikh business owners, with many struggling to stay afloat and maintain their operations in the face of uncertainty and disruption. Moving forward, it is clear that more needs to be done to support Sikh entrepreneurs and empower them to succeed in the modern business landscape. In order to address these challenges and support Sikh entrepreneurs, it is essential to take a multifaceted approach. This includes advocating for greater inclusion and representation in the business world, promoting access to resources and funding, and providing support during times of crisis. In addition, a deeper understanding of Sikh culture and traditions is necessary to appreciate the contributions and potential of Sikh entrepreneurs fully. Sikh entrepreneurs continue to navigate the business world with faith and culture as their guiding light. They draw strength from their traditions, community, and unwavering commitment to ethical and honest business practices. It is essential that their stories of success are told and that their contributions to the world of business are recognised and celebrated. By doing so, we can collectively work towards a brighter future that recognises the unique challenges and opportunities of Sikh entrepreneurship and empowers entrepreneurs to succeed in their endeavours. At its core, however, this effort must be grounded in a deep respect for the role of faith and culture in the lives of Sikh entrepreneurs. As we look to the future of business and entrepreneurship in the years ahead, we must recognise the unique challenges and opportunities faced by this vibrant and dynamic community and work together to help foster a climate of growth, success, and inclusion for all. (Text and image: Khalsavox.com) New Delhi: S Chand Publishing reported a net profit of Rs 576 million in FY23 while the company achieved a significant milestone by becoming net debt-free in April 2023, with a net debt of Rs 60 million and a gross debt of Rs1,268 million. The company's working capital metrics reached their highest levels in its history, indicating efficient management of its operational funds. The company's consolidated revenues reached an impressive Rs 6103 million, reflecting its robust business operations and market demand for its educational products. EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) stood at Rs 963 million, highlighting the company's profitability and operational efficiency. Another noteworthy development was the reinstatement of the company's annual dividend after FY18, indicating its commitment to delivering value to its shareholders. With a strong foothold in CBSE/ICSE affiliated schools and WBSE affiliated schools, S Chand and Company has expanded its presence in state board affiliated schools across India, contributing to its growth and market penetration. The company's extensive portfolio boasts more than 11,000 book titles, catering to diverse educational needs. S Chand and Company also established a robust distribution system through over 3000+ channel partners, ensuring its products reach schools and educational institutions effectively. Additionally, the company has made strides in international markets by exporting print content to over 20 countries and digital content to 5 countries, demonstrating its global reach and expansion. Image: Wikimedia Commons A former top Chinese government scientist has said the possibility of a leak of COVID-19 virus from a laboratory should not be ruled out. As head of China's Centre for Disease Control (CDC), Prof George Gao played a key role in the pandemic response and efforts to trace its origins, reports BBC. China has so far rejected any claims that the virus had originated from a Wuhan laboratory. In an interview for the BBC Radio 4 podcast Fever: The Hunt for Covid's Origin, Prof Gao says: "You can always suspect anything. That's science. Don't rule out anything." A world-leading virologist and immunologist, Gao is now vice-president of the National Natural Science Foundation of China after retiring from the CDC last year. In a possible sign that the Chinese government may have taken the lab leak theory more seriously than its official statements suggest, Gao also tells the BBC some kind of formal investigation into the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) was carried out. "The government organised something," he says, but adds that it did not involve his own department, the China CDC. Kolkata/IBNS: Post pandemic, the stakes for the housekeeping department in any hotel has gone up many notches because travellers are now more cautious about hygienic aspects than ever before. To ensure that aspiring industry players are on top of the latest requirements, the Oxford University Press India launched the fourth edition of its bestseller Hotel Housekeeping - Operations and Management during the 5th National Housekeepers Convention, which was recently held in Bengaluru. The event coincided with the 8th-anniversary celebration of the Professional Housekeepers' Association (PHA). Present at the launch were co-authors G. Raghubalan and Smritee Raghubalan, along with Jayashree Nagaraj, Founder President & Chairperson, PHA; Vikram Kotah, CEO, GRT Hotels & Resorts; Dr. Anmol Ahluwalia, Cluster GM North Goa, Taj Hotels; Gaurav Miglani, GM, Taj Bangalore; Varun Handa, Karcher India; Ashwini Walawalkar, Country Head, TCFM; Meenu Tognatta, Ex Divisional Housekeeper, ITC Hotels. The co-authors shared their insights on the book's journey and its success as a bestseller. Hotel Housekeeping - Operations and Management covers a wide range of topics, including the role of housekeeping in hospitality operations, cleaning and maintenance of different surfaces, room layout and guest supplies, area cleaning, routine systems and records, pest and odour control, uniforms, laundry, flower arrangement, interior decoration, indoor plants, lighting, and contract services. The authors said that the new edition of the book has been extensively revised and updated to cover various contemporary themes in housekeeping such as the latest standard operating procedures (SOPs), formats, exhibits, and case studies. The book also focuses on Infection Prevention and Control Protocols for COVID-19. The book explores emerging trends in the field, such as nanotechnology, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and software. The book is suitably designed to cater to students pursuing undergraduate and diploma courses in hotel management, certificate courses in housekeeping, and postgraduate courses in accommodation operations. G. Raghugopalan, co-author of the book, and with over three decades of experience in the hospitality industry, said that the book not only covers the fundamentals of housekeeping but also offers valuable knowledge for students and professionals to excel in their roles. UNI Jammu: Ten people died and at least 40 injured when a bus ferrying pilgrims met with an accident and rolled down into a deep gorge on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Jhajjar Kotli here on the city outskirts. The bus ferrying pilgrims was on its way from Amritsar to Katra, said an official. He said that the driver lost control on the bus when it reached Jhajjar Kotli on Tuesday morning and it skidded off the road. The bus fell into a deep gorge, he said. Ten people have died and nearly 40 suffered injuries in the mishap, he added and said that a rescue operation is launched immediately by the police and locals. Five critically injured have been rushed to the Government Medical College and Hospital Jammu while others are admitted to Primary Health Centre Dansal. Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Avny Lavasa also confirmed the accident. (With UNI inputs) Image Credit: Facebook/Manish Sisodia New Delhi/IBNS: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday rejected the bail plea of former city Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the excise policy case, media reports said. The court said as quoted by India Today, "The allegations against Manish Sisodia are very serious. His behaviour is not right in this case. He can influence witnesses. "He had been the deputy chief minister and held 18 portfolios. Bail can't be granted to him." Sisodia was arrested on Feb 26 by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for alleged irregularities in Delhi's new liquor policy. He was also arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The probe into the alleged liquor scam started after the Delhi Lieutenant Governor ordered a CBI investigation. After the order, Delhis AAP government reinstated the old liquor policy in the national capital and blamed the LG for revenue loss of crores of rupees that would have come to the exchequer if the new liquor policy was not withdrawn. The CBI is investigating the alleged involvement of a "south lobby" consisting of businessmen and politicians in manipulating the Delhi liquor policy to benefit themselves, with the help of middlemen, traders, and bureaucrats. Image Credit: UNI New Delhi/UNI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday called on Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, who is on a three-day State visit. He said the King's visit, marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties, reaffirms the strong civilizational bond between the two nations. In a tweet, the EAM said: Honoured to call on King HM Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia. His visit, as our two countries celebrate the 70th anniversary of our diplomatic relations, reaffirms the strong civilizational bond between us. Today that is expressed in cooperation in heritage conservation, demining, water conservation and socio-economic projects. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the King will hold bilateral talks at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the evening. India and Cambodia enjoy warm and friendly relations marked by civilisational, cultural and economic linkages and deep-rooted people-to-people ties. The multifaceted relationship is based on shared cultural values, commitment to foster economic growth, collaboration in the fields of defence & security and convergence on regional and global issues, a statement said. India actively assists Cambodia in capacity building & human resource development through training slots under the ITEC and scholarships under ICCR. 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 being carried out under GoI funding. India has extended a grant of USD 1.5 million for purchase of demining equipment and has offered a line of credit worth USD 50 million Line of Credit for procurement of defence equipment from India. Customised training courses are conducted for Cambodian Army personnel in India and Mobile Training Teams from the Indian Army have been deployed to Cambodia for training Cambodian Army personnel. 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. King Norodom Sihamoni is accompanied by a 27-member high level delegation, including the Minister of Royal Palace, Vice President of the Senate, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and other senior officials from the royal palace and the ministry of foreign affairs. India and Cambodia established diplomatic relations in 1952. Image: UNI Imphal: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said he held a meeting with a group of women leaders (Meira Paibi) in Manipur and reiterated the significance of the role of women in the society of Manipur. In a social network platform, he said, Held a meeting with a group of women leaders (Meira Paibi) in Manipur. Reiterated the significance of the role of women in the society of Manipur. Together, we are committed to ensuring peace and prosperity in the state. He further said, Had a fruitful discussion with the members of the different Civil Society Organizations today in Imphal. They expressed their commitment to peace and assured that we would together contribute to paving the way to restore normalcy in Manipur. He held a series of talks since his arrival here on Monday to resolve the conflict in Manipur which has been raging since May 3 last. After arrival he discussed the situation with Governor Anusuiya Uiyke and Chief Minister of Manipur N Biren Singh, Cabinet ministers and officials. State official said the Governor met cross sections of the society including leaders of various women organizations, civil societies, and eminent personalities. The decision of the joint meetings between central and state leaders and officials was to restore normalcy and bring peace to the State at the earliest. It was decided to take necessary action to improve the law-and-order situation and build confidence among the public, state information office said. It was also decided to expedite relief measures and make essential items like petrol, LPG gas, rice and other daily requirements available to the common people. For all those who died, Rs 10 lakhs compensation , Rs.5.00 lakh to be borne by the State and Rs.5.00 lakh by Central government and a job to the next of kin will be provided. Telephone lines with the help of BSNL will be installed to dispel rumours. Amit Shah will also visit some places to meet the affected people. (With UNI inputs) Image: Pixabay Shivamogga: Five Muslim men assaulted a 20-year-old Hindu man for dropping his Muslim classmate at her house at Bhadravathi in Shivamogga district on Sunday, according to police. The incident comes in the wake of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's warning against moral policing in the state. The victim has been identified as Vinay Kumar. He is studying at Paramedical College in Bhadravati. He was beaten up by a team of Muslim men after a Muslim girl student took a drop from him as her sister met with an accident on Saturday, the police said. While the victims were returning, the group waylaid them and sought their identities and all of a sudden, they attacked Kumar, police said. The group also attacked Kumar's two friends, Abhi and Yeshwanth, when they rushed to the spot and tried to rescue him. The police have arrested four accused, and are in the hunt for the fifth, Shivamogga SP Mithun Kumar said. The Old Town Police has registered a case in this regard under IPC 506 (threatening with life), 504 (intentional insult), 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (guilty of rioting), 149 (offence committed by unlawful assembly) and 323 (assault). Stringent action against those who take law into their hands, SP said. (With UNI inputs) Canada NDP/ Image credit: Facebook page Ottawa/IBNS: The Canadian government has reportedly been requested by the New Democratic Party (NDP) not to deport 150 Punjabi students, who, according to the Canadian Border Security Agency (CBSA), arrived on fake college admission letters. The students, scheduled to be reportedly deported on May 29, said they were unaware of the fact that they had been by their immigration consultation agency in India that provided them fake documents. The NDP said in a statement released on Friday that the international students who were misled by dishonest recruiters shouldnt have to pay the price. Right now, students who came to Canada for their university education are under threat of deportation. I wrote to the minister (Immigration Minister Sean Fraser) on May 25 urgently calling for action to help these students who unknowingly received fraudulent travel documentation from bad actors looking to make money from their deceit, NDP critic for Citizenship and Immigration Jenny Kwan said. Considering Frasers response to the situation, Kwan said that pending deportations orders should be waived on the basis of misrepresentation and calling for an alternate pathway to permanent status for the students, she said. Calling for an alternate pathway to permanent status for the students, she said be it humanitarian and compassionate application process or a broad regularisation program. Some of these students paid international tuition fees to complete their studies, and have been living in Canada for half a decade and many are now reportedly working in essential frontline jobs. It is crucial that anyone who considers studying here can have confidence that they will be treated well and that our processes are trustworthy and fair. I urge the minister to act immediately to stop these unjust deportations, Kwan was reported to say. More than 700 Indian students, according to the Canadian Border Service Agency, are reportedly facing deportation after realizing that their educational institutions admission offer letters were fake. Most of these students had come to the country to study in 2018 and 2019. The fraud was discovered when the students applied for permanent residency in Canada. A Jalandhar-based agent, Brijesh Mishra was responsible for providing fake admission letters, and charged students thousands of dollars, according to media reports. (Reporting by Asha Bajaj) Image Credit: Twitter/Narendra Modi New Delhi/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held talks with visiting Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, during which the two sides discussed bilateral ties and ways to advance the partnership in capacity building, tourism, culture and defence among other things. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a tweet said: Providing a filip to India-Cambodia ties. PM @narendramodi held a warm meeting with H.M. King Norodom Sihamoni." Reviewed bilateral relations and discussed ways to advance India-Cambodia partnership in domains of capacity building, human resource development, tourism, culture and defence. Also exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues. It was a pleasure to interact with His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia today. We had a positive exchange of views on our close cultural and people to people ties and development partnership. @PeacePalaceKH pic.twitter.com/vx8H8wOYSO Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 30, 2023 Earlier in the day, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar held a bilateral meeting with the Cambodian King during which they held wide-ranging discussions on bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest. The Vice Presidents Office in a tweet said that the VP also recalled the warm welcome and good discussions during his visit to Cambodia for the India-Asean summit last year. Honble Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar met with His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, the King of Cambodia, and recalled the warm welcome and good discussions during his visit to Cambodia for India-ASEAN and East Asia Summits in November 2022. They had wide-ranging discussions on bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest. Honble Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar met with His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, the King of Cambodia and recalled the warm welcome and good discussions during his visit to Cambodia for India-ASEAN and East Asia Summits in November 2022. They had wide-ranging discussions on pic.twitter.com/XX75KhTLVa Vice President of India (@VPIndia) May 30, 2023 MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a tweet said the discussions covered capacity building, conservation of architectural monuments, defence cooperation including de-mining and parliamentary cooperation VP Jagdeep Dhankhar @VPIndia met H.M. King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia during the latters State visit to India. Discussions covered multiple areas of bilateral relations including capacity building, conservation of architectural monuments, defence cooperation including de-mining & parliamentary cooperation. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also called on the Cambodian King earlier in the day. Honoured to call on King HM Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia. His visit, as our two countries celebrate the 70th anniversary of our diplomatic relations, reaffirms the strong civilizational bond between us. Honoured to call on King HM Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia. His visit, as our two countries celebrate 70th anniversary of our diplomatic relations, reaffirms the strong civilizational bond between us. Today that is expressed in cooperation in heritage conservation, demining, pic.twitter.com/6s6H2IaE3C Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 30, 2023 Today that is expressed in cooperation in heritage conservation, demining, water conservation and socio-economic projects. India and Cambodia enjoy warm and friendly relations marked by civilisational, cultural and economic linkages and deep-rooted people-to-people ties. The multifaceted relationship is based on shared cultural values, commitment to foster economic growth, collaboration in the fields of defence, security and convergence on regional and global issues, a statement said. India actively assists Cambodia in capacity building and human resource development through training slots under the ITEC and scholarships under ICCR. 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 being carried out under GoI funding. India has extended a grant of USD 1.5 million for the purchase of demining equipment and has offered a line of credit worth USD 50 million Line of Credit for the procurement of defence equipment from India. Trade between the two countries for FY 2023-23 stood at USD 366 million and is growing. Indian investments in Cambodia are estimated at around USD 115 million primarily in pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and mining. King Norodom Sihamoni is accompanied by a 27-member high-level delegation, including the Minister of the Royal Palace, Vice President of the Senate, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and other senior officials from the royal palace and the Ministry of foreign affairs. India and Cambodia established diplomatic relations in 1952. The visit by the King to India comes after nearly six decades. The last visit to India was by King Norodom Sihanouk in 1963, the present Kings father. Earlier in the morning, the King was accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, after which he visited Rajghat to lay a wreath at the mausoleum of Mahatma Gandhi. Delighted to welcome King HM Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia. Our nations share deep historical and cultural ties, and we look forward to strengthening our friendship and cooperation even further. May his visit mark a new chapter in India-Cambodia relations. pic.twitter.com/S5Kb8g9CCw Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 30, 2023 President Droupadi Murmu will host a State Banquet in his honour this evening. Pixabay Peshawar: At least five Pakistani Custom officials were injured when unidentified attackers opened fire at them in Mattani area of Pakistan on Saturday, media reports said. Mattani police told Dawn News a customs team performing duty on the Indus Highway came under attack at around 22:20 hours. "Five of them sustained injuries in the attack, but all of them were out of danger, Jawad Khan, a Mattani police station official, told Dawn. He said the customs officials were attacked from two different locations on the main highway. He added that the customs personnel retaliated, but the armed men escaped. The injured people were rushed to hospital for treatment. Officials started searching the area after the attack. Twitter video grab Busan: The Baloch National Movement (BNM) South Korea Chapter on Sunday demonstrated in Busan city against Pakistan to mark 23rd anniversary of nuclear test conducted on Baloch land in the Chaghi region. The protest aimed to create awareness of the aftermath of the effect of the tests on the local residents and the environment, Baloch National Movement (BNM) said in the statement. The protesters distributed pamphlets to the people and informed them about the impacts of the nuclear tests and shouted slogans against Pakistan, reports ANI. @Bnm_SKchapter protests against #Pakistan 's nuclear tests in #Busan The protest aimed to raise awareness of the aftermath and impact of the tests on the local people and the environment.#NukeAftermathInBalochistan https://t.co/MYGG546iEn pic.twitter.com/CQt4ThMc4B BNM (@BNMovement_) May 28, 2023 During the demonstration, the protesters expressed concerns regarding the impacts of the nuclear tests in Korean and English. Hafsa Baloch was quoted as saying by ANI, Today, on behalf of BNM, we are protesting in Busan city against Pakistans nuclear tests in Balochistan in 1998. The tests were conducted on May 28 and May 30 at Ras Koh Mountain in the Chaghi region. According to a statement released by BNM, Hafsa Baloch stated that the effects of the tests badly damaged the entire region. She further said, After the tests, the entire region and surrounding areas remained radioactive for decades. Until today, people are facing deadly diseases and children are born with genetic diseases such as facial deformities, eye diseases, skin cancer and other health problems. She stated that the soil, environment and ecosystem have been destroyed due to the radioactive contamination from the nuclear tests. She said that the land has been completely deserted and ruined. Twitter video grab Gottingen: Baloch political activists in Germany recently demonstrated against Pakistan to mark the 23rd anniversary of the nuclear test conducted on Baloch land in the Chaghi region. The Baloch National Movement (Germany chapter) staged a protest and rally in Germanys Gottingen City on Sunday. On May 28, 1998, Pakistan carried out a nuclear test at Chaghai, Balochistan which led to severe aftermath effects in the region, reports ANI. Nadeem Saleem Baloch, the ex-Joint Secretary of Baloch BNM-Germany Chapter while highlighting the aftermath told ANI, Pakistan carried out five nuclear blasts, among which four were of 1 to 2 kilotons. The nuclear blast of Rasko Mountain was 40 kilotons. Video report by @Samibelutsch82 @bnm_deutschland Protest in Gottingen against the 1998 Balochistan nuclear test on May 28, 2023.https://t.co/OVP5uaGTWp#NukeAftermathInBalochistan BNM (@BNMovement_) May 29, 2023 Samul Baloch, vice president of the BNM Germany Chapter was quoted as saying by the news agency, Nuclear testing is a matter of great concern for the entire international community. It is an action that has far-reaching consequences, affecting not only the environment but also the lives of countless individuals. The testing of nuclear weapons in Balochistan by the Pakistan military raises serious questions about the nations commitment to global disarmament efforts. Balochistan, a region already grappling with numerous socio-political challenges, is now burdened with the presence of nuclear testing sites. The consequences of these tests are not limited to the immediate surroundings but extend beyond borders, impacting neighbouring countries and the overall ecosystem. The potential hazards to human health, the environment, and the delicate balance of nature cannot be ignored, she added. David Clarke/Unsplash Sukkur: The Hindu Panchayat of Kandhkot-Kashmore district recently demonstrated against the disappearance of a three-year-old boy in Pakistan's Jacobabad and Ghotki districts. The boy, Samrat Kumar, had gone missing from a locality, Mirzapur, in the Kandhkot-Kashmore district eight days ago. When police failed to locate the boy, the Hindu community along with the affected family, held demonstrations in the area over the next five days, reports Dawn News. His family told the police that dacoits riding a motorcycle had kidnapped the boy for ransom and took him away into the gangs-infested riverine area, the Pakistani newspaper reported. The Hindu Punchayat on Friday set up a protest camp at Ghanta Ghar Chowk in Kandhkot to press the police and the officials to find out the missing toddler. Meanwhile, Punchayat leaders condemned the area police for their failure in checking gangsters activities in upper Sindh where, they noted, criminals were kidnapping men, women and children at their whim and killing their hostages, reports Dawn News. Representational image on Wallpaper Cave Beijing/China: Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, recently met with China's Foreign Minister, Qin Gang, during his visit to Beijing on Tuesday. The Chinese Ministry released a statement confirming the meeting, where Qin Gang conveyed China's commitment to providing a better market-oriented, rule-of-law-based, and internationalized business environment for foreign enterprises. This marked Elon Musk's first visit to China since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The purpose of his visit was to strengthen Tesla's presence in the country, as his electric vehicle company had previously announced plans in April to construct a new battery factory in Shanghai, as per AFP reports. The upcoming facility will serve as Tesla's second factory in Shanghai, following the groundbreaking of its massive Gigafactory in 2019. However, Musk's close ties with China have attracted attention and scrutiny in the United States, particularly from President Joe Biden. In November, President Biden remarked that the executive's foreign connections were deserving of investigation. During the meeting, Elon Musk expressed Tesla's willingness to further expand its operations in China, as conveyed by the Chinese foreign ministry. This indicates the company's determination to solidify its position in the Chinese market, which has been a crucial focus for Tesla's growth strategy. Tom Def/Unsplash A 21-year-old Indian was shot dead in the US city of Philadelphia, media reports said. According to keralakaumudi.com, Jude was shot by unidentified assailants while he was returning from work on Sunday, reports Khaleej Times. According to reports, his parents migrated to the US more than 30 years ago from Keralas Kollam district. Jude was a student. An educational initiative called the "Digi-kaksha: A Sustainable Smart Govt School" was launched in Arunachal Pradesh on the 27th of May, 2023. This project was inaugurated at the Upper Primary School in NTC Deomali to overhaul the education system and bridge the gap between technology and education. What is Digi-kaksha all about The Digi-Kaksha has a 4K HD interactive android teaching board, which will revolutionise teaching and learning pedagogy. Digi-kaksha/ Twitter @ChownaMeinBJP Based on the CBSE curriculum, the smart school will have pre-loaded (offline and online) creative learning content for the learners from nursery to Class 12. Phonetics and animated and real-life concept videos will also be used to empower children with special needs at the early stages. Conceptualisation ADC Vishakha Yadav conceptualised the digi-kaksha project as a method to control drop-outs and bridge the gap between technology and students and make technology more accessible to them. Digi-kaksha/ Twitter @ChownaMeinBJP The following are the core points of the Digi-kaksha: Customised innovative lectures on 4K Interactive Android Teaching Board Volunteer-led Remedial evening classes Theme-based educative wall paintings (Swachh Bharat, Digital India) Building as a Learning Aid (BALA) Documentaries classes for students for anti-drugs, sanitation, etc Creative teaching tools (Live maps, online/offline mode, phonetics to aid specially-abled kids) Teacher's training and support for 5 years. Digi-kaksha/ Twitter @ChownaMeinBJP This attempt at transforming education through technological innovation and ensuring digital inclusion and empowerment in its wake is the first of its kind in any Government School in the state. Smart Classroom in Arunachal Pradesh Since 2017, there has been a push for digital education in Arunachal Pradesh. Chief Minister Pema Khandu had then launched the Adhunik Shiksha Yojana (Smart Classroom) in Itanagar. The Smart Classroom program that was introduced would work with added community computer hookups known as the K-Yan or Knowledge Yan sets. The K-Yan or Knowledge Yan system is an integrated community computer system which works as a computer, projector and television set in one unit. This system is being supported by the Education and IT Departments in the state as well as EdCIL in India. For more on news, sports and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Model Mahlagha Jaberi made a bold political statement with her outfit at the Cannes Film Festival last Friday to protest against the recent spate of executions carried out by the Iranian government. Took to Instagram with "#StopExecutionsInIran" The 33-year-old model, with over four million followers on Instagram, wore a black gown with a golden noose-shaped neckline. The dress, created by fashion designer Jila Saber, is dedicated to the people of Iran, Jaberi wrote on Instagram. She added the hashtag #StopExecutionsInIran. In the post uploaded to her Instagram account @mahlaghajaberi, Jaberi thanked her team and fashion designer Saber for helping her shine a spotlight on the events happening back in her country. "We wanted to make a fashion statement to observe the glamour of Cannes, but more importantly, to bring media attention to the wrongful executions of Iranian people," Jaberi wrote in her caption. "Unfortunately, political statements are not allowed at the film festival, and the security stopped me from showing the back of my dress, but the 'noose' meaning was well understood," she said in her post. She arrived in the statement outfit for the film "The Old Oak" screening at the festival, which attracts global celebrities, including stars from India. Revealed her entire outfit in another video She also uploaded another video of her outfit with the caption, "Dedicated to the people of Iran." The video shows her posing in a dark room while a sombre music track plays in the background. The back of her dress, which features a long train with the phrase "Stop Executions," can be seen in the clip. Executions in Iran Iran executes more people annually than any nation other than China, according to rights groups, including Amnesty International, but public executions are relatively rare, with almost all hangings carried out inside prisons. In July 2022, a man convicted of murdering a policeman was publicly hanged in the city of Shiraz. In December last year, Mohsen Rahnavard, who had taken part in the recent wave of anti-government protests, was executed in the city of Mashhad. He had been convicted of murdering militia agents. For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Meet Gloria Richards, a 34-year-old nanny who shares her captivating journey as she cares for the children of billionaires, enjoying luxurious travel and earning up to $2,000 (Rs 1.6 lakh) daily. Gloria discusses her role as a nanny for billionaires' children, bringing luxurious travel and earning her up to $2,000 (Rs 1.6 lakh) daily. US-based Richards dedicates half of her year to nannying for billionaires' kids alongside her work as an off-Broadway actor, making it her primary income source. Earning up to $2,000 daily for 12 to 15 work hours, Richards also enjoys travel and accommodation benefits. She once had a spontaneous introduction to a child she had to accompany on a private jet trip to Barbados. As a nanny, her responsibilities include accompanying children on international trips, managing their social schedules, and sometimes stepping in as a surrogate parent. "Ive had full-blown interviews where [parents] are like, Were looking for someone to raise our kids," she told CNBC. "They tell me they had kids to pass on their trust funds, [and that] Ill hang out with them after boarding school when they can drink." On one occasion, parents went as far as registering their child under Gloria Richards' last name at an Italian boarding school. While she enjoys extravagant experiences like traveling on yachts and private jets and driving luxury cars like Porsches and Teslas, being a black woman nannying white children in the world of the ultra-rich presents its challenges. Richards has witnessed her wealthy clients leave behind $3,200 steaks after just a single bite and make impulsive purchases of entire houses. However, despite their immense wealth, some attempt to evade paying her rightful salary. "Ill be in Switzerland, and theyre telling me they cant pay me for three weeks because they dont have cash," Richards says. "Thats also how they communicate when they dont like something you did. Theyll stop paying you." Facing unexpected challenges from her clients, the 34-year-old nanny has learned the importance of relying on the support of Madison Agency. With their assistance, she ensures timely payment of her earnings. Unsplash "Sometimes Im a shoulder to cry on. A second later, theyll turn on me," she says. Richards claimed she has also faced racism on the job. "Im a black woman, and there are many times that Im working for white families, and by the time the kids are six or seven, they have particular thoughts about people who look like me," she said. Despite the challenges, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks for Richards, who maintains control over her work by setting clear boundaries regarding her availability and workload. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. Today in History: May 31st is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are days 214 remaining until the end of the year. There are several notable events that happened on May 31 throughout history, and that's why it's an important day in Indian and world history. What Happened this Day in India History Events | Unsplash If you're wondering to know about what happened today in History? Then you're in the right place. On this day, there are several notable events that have occurred throughout Indian and world history. In this article, we have compiled a list of the important things that happened all around the world on May 31. Take a look: Today in History: What Happened This Day in India History Events World No Tobacco Day - May 31 World No Tobacco Day is observed annually on May 31st to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use and advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. It is organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners. The day aims to highlight the health risks associated with tobacco use, including its link to various diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory disorders, and other serious health conditions. It also emphasizes the economic and environmental impact of tobacco production and consumption. 1725 - Ahilyabai Holkar Birthday Ahilyabai Holkar, also known as Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar, was a prominent ruler of the Holkar dynasty in India. She was born on May 31, 1725, in the village of Chondi in present-day Maharashtra, India. Ahilyabai Holkar is remembered as one of the greatest female rulers in Indian history and a visionary leader. Ahilyabai Holkar inherited the throne after the death of her husband, Maharaja Malhar Rao Holkar, in 1767. She took over as the queen regent and ruled the Malwa region, which included parts of present-day Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, for three decades. What happened in World History on May 31 1912 - Last Known Person who survived the Titanic sinking passed away Millvina Dean was the last living survivor of the RMS Titanic disaster. She was born on February 2, 1912, in London, England, and passed away on May 31, 2009, at the age of 97. Millvina Dean was just a few months old when she boarded the Titanic with her parents and older brother. They were emigrating to the United States, where her father hoped to open a tobacco shop. However, tragedy struck on the night of April 14, 1912, when the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic Ocean. 1921 - Tulsa Race Massacre begins Beginning on the night of May 31, 1921, thousands of white citizens in Tulsa, Oklahoma descended on the citys predominantly Black Greenwood District, burning homes and businesses to the ground and killing hundreds of people. Long mischaracterized as a race riot, rather than mass murder, the Tulsa Race Massacre stands as one of the worst incidents of racial violence in the nations history. 1935 - 20th Century Fox Founded 20th Century Fox, originally known as 20th Century Pictures, was founded on May 31, 1935. The studio was established through the merger of Fox Film Corporation, founded by William Fox, and Twentieth Century Pictures, founded by Darryl F. Zanuck and Joseph M. Schenck. What Happened this Day in India History Events. Todays Highlight in History: - In 1790, President George Washington signed into law the first U.S. copyright act. - In 1859, the Big Ben clock tower in London went into operation, chiming for the first time. - On May 31, 1889, some 2,200 people in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, perished when the South Fork Dam collapsed, sending 20 million tons of water rushing through the town. -In 1962, former Nazi official Adolf Eichmann was hanged in Israel a few minutes before midnight for his role in the Holocaust. - In 1970, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake in Peru claimed an estimated 67,000 lives. - On May 31, 1996, Benjamin Netanyahu was elected as prime minister of Israel. What Happened this Day in India History Events Also on this day: In addition to these historical events on May 31 events, there is also the birthday and death of several notable individuals that you must know about. Famous People's Birthday on May 31 1979 - Vir Das Birthday Vir Das is an Indian comedian, actor, and writer who has gained significant popularity for his stand-up comedy performances and acting roles in both Bollywood and international projects. He was born on May 31, 1979, in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. Famous People's Death Anniversary on May 31 1934 - Kamala Surayya Death Anniversary Kamala Surayya, also known by her pen name Madhavikutty, was an influential Indian English poet and writer. She was born on March 31, 1934, in Punnayurkulam, Kerala, India, and passed away on May 31, 2009, in Pune, Maharashtra. List of important days in May 2023 List of Important Days in May 2023 May 2023 Important Dates Important Days in May 1 May International Labour Day 1 May Maharashtra Day 1 May Gujarat Day 1 May World Laughter Day 3 May Press Freedom Day 3 May World Asthma Day 4 May Coal Miners Day 4 May International Firefighters Day 6 May International No Diet Day 7 May World Athletics Day 8 May World Red Cross Day 8 May World Thalassaemia Day 9 May Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti 11 May National Technology Day 12 May International Nurses Day 14 May Mothers Day 15 May International Day of Families 17 May World Telecommunication Day 17 May World Hypertension Day 18 May World AIDS Vaccine Day 18 May International Museum Day 20 May National Endangered Species Day 21 May National Anit-Terrorism Day 22 May International Day for Biological Diversity 31 May Anti-Tobacco Day Month-wise Important Days List 2023 Important Days and Dates List 2023 January February March April May June July August September October November December This was all about the interesting and intriguing events that occurred on May 8! For more such informative content, keep following Indiatimes. Air New Zealand will now request that certain passengers weigh themselves before boarding international flights. This practice is already in place for domestic flights. The aviation industry is engaged in a significant discussion, and it will likely spark heated debates again. Air New Zealand will now weigh passengers flying to international destinations and their luggage before the flight. According to Air New Zealand, the Civil Aviation Authority has mandated that the passenger-weighing initiative be a mandatory survey. It aims to ensure safety and the efficient operation of aircraft. Between May 29 and July 2, passengers on specific Air New Zealand flights departing from Auckland International Airport will be requested to step on the scale. A spokesperson for Air New Zealand confirmed in an email to FOX Television Stations that the passenger scale is voluntary, and no one is required to participate. They assured that the collected data would remain completely anonymous for those who chose to do so. Air New Zealand's Load Control Improvement Specialist, Alastair James, said they weigh everything on the aircraft, including cargo, meals, and luggage. To determine the weight of customers, crew, and cabin bags, they rely on the average weights obtained from this survey. Maintaining proper weight and balance control is crucial for aircraft safety and efficiency, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Overloading an aircraft can lead to various issues, such as reduced climbing rate and angle, decreased cruising speed, compromised maneuverability, and the need for a longer takeoff run at higher speeds. Air New Zealand had previously conducted passenger weighing for domestic flights in 2021. Unsplash Air New Zealand emphasized that there is no cause for concern for those who may be hesitant. They assured customers that there were no visible weight displays and that the data collected was anonymous. Air New Zealand aims to obtain scale readings from over 10,000 customers as part of the survey. While stepping on a scale may seem daunting, the airline assures customers that there is no visible display of weight and that the privacy of individual readings is maintained. As Air New Zealand strives to gather data from many customers, their focus remains on enhancing safety and optimizing flight operations to deliver a seamless travel experience. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. An Iranian man required medical intervention to remove a deodorant tube he had inserted into his rectum. The 30-year-old individual sought medical assistance approximately two hours after the insertion, experiencing severe stomach pains. Doctors who treated him shared his case in a medical journal, where it was revealed that he had previously inserted an unidentified object into his rectum without complications. screenshot The examination of the man's anus did not show any signs of trauma, bleeding, or cuts. Still, medical professionals could not locate any part of the canister, according to the Visual Journal of Emergency Medicine. Due to the man's extreme pain, a rectal examination was not feasible, and an X-ray was used to determine the location of the can. He was then taken to the operating theater at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences emergency department, where surgeons made an incision in his abdomen and successfully removed the canister on the same day. Following the procedure, the man spent an additional day in the hospital and received a psychiatric evaluation before being discharged. The act of inserting objects into the rectum, known as anal play, is often associated with sexual pleasure due to the high number of nerves in the anus. It can stimulate the prostate for men, while for women, it can indirectly stimulate parts of the vagina. Surgery However, the anal play carries various risks, including objects getting stuck and potential bowel perforation, which can lead to life-threatening infections if digestive tract material spills into other body parts. The NHS advises individuals to engage in anal play safely by using objects with a flared base to prevent them from getting lost. Masturbate The medical journal study noted that the most common foreign bodies found in rectums are sexual devices, followed by glass bottles, foods, vegetables (such as cucumbers), and wooden objects. In a bizarre case, a man in the Czech Republic died after inserting a ping pong ball into his rectum and accidentally electrocuting himself during a self-pleasuring session. Experts have long cautioned about the dangers of foreign bodies perforating the bowel, which can lead to severe infections. Dr. Zubair Malik from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University recommends that a skilled surgeon or gastroenterologist should do the removal of rectal foreign bodies due to the high risks involved.' For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. At a time when Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin are busy working on sending humans to space, a Japanese startup is working on something less talked about, i.e. the risk and costs of doing so. That is exactly why it is working towards creating 'robot employees' to work in space. Japanese Startup Creating 'Robot Employees' gitai Japan startup Gitai's Chief Executive Officer Sho Nakanose is focused on labour costs. He believes its too risky and impractical for humans to assemble and inspect machinery in space, while equipment now used is far too expensive. The Japanese startup Gitai, which recently raised a new round of funding of $30 million, is expanding in the US as it seeks to create a robot workforce that will reduce the costs and risks of operating in space. The bottleneck of the space industry has been changing rapidly, Nakanose said in an interview with Bloomberg. Huge space companies such as SpaceX and BlueOrigin are solving the space transportation problem, and now the bottleneck has changed from transportation costs to operational costs. The Japanese startup's CEO envisions space robots that can handle routine work on the moon or Mars at a fraction of the cost of existing options, much like Musks SpaceX has brought down the expense of sending rockets into space. Gitais robot arms and rovers would provide safe and affordable labour and reduce operational costs by 100 times, he said. Tokyo-based Gitai just closed a 4 billion ($30 million) funding round to accelerate development of the remotely controlled robots. The company will use the money to staff up in the U.S., where its expanding to recruit engineers and prepare its robots for work in space, Nakanose said. Also Read: How Hyderabad-based Startup Skyroot Is Aiming To Become India's SpaceX Challenges Ahead For The Japanese Startup gitai Founded in 2016, the seven-year-old startups robotic arms and rovers can remotely perform routine construction work ranging from solar panel installation to welding, as well as inspect equipment and conduct maintenance and assembly tasks. But to succeed in space, they would need to also withstand and mitigate radiation exposure and work as efficiently as possible, as per Bloomberg report. We design and manufacture space robots, such as inchworm and robotic arms, and lunar robotic rovers, Nakanose said. We have successfully conducted our first tech demo inside the International Space Station in 2021. And we are conducting the next tech demo this time outside the ISS within this year. goetheweb Space startups around the world are flocking to the U.S., drawn by NASA contracts now pouring into private companies. NASA hopes that the money will form the building blocks of what will one day become a lunar economy a future where spacecraft carries people and scientific equipment to the lunar surface, and mine the moon for rare metals and data. The Japanese space market is limited, said Nakanose, speaking from his new base in Los Angeles. We decided to expand our business in the U.S. Gitais investors include affiliates of Global Brain, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Yamato Holdings. Also read: Meet Kam Ghaffarian: A Space Billionaire Who Is Racing To Land On Moon Before China For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here. The Russian defence ministry claimed that all the drones were intercepted. Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested two men for allegedly stabbing a 13-year-old boy to death over the ownership of a rubber slippers. The Commands Spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday. Hundeyin said the incident happened on Sunday around 6pm at Iganmu under the Bridge. READ ALSO: 14-Year-Old Remanded For Stabbing 17-Year-Old Neighbour To Death Over Girlfriend He said the Ijora Badia Police Division got the information from a concerned member of the public that some youths were mobilising to cause mayhem in the Iganmu area. The Spokesperson said the crisis was caused by the alleged killing of a 13-year-old boy identified as Ekene. Hundeyin said a patrol team immediately went to the scene and met the victim in the pool of his blood. The PPRO said, Information at the scene indicated that the victim was allegedly stabbed by two boys over a minor issue concerning ownership of rubber slippers. It was also gathered that the suspects escaped from the scene after committing the crime. A credible intelligence was emplaced which led to the arrest of the duo of Ahmed, 28, and Umaru Abubakar, 18. The victim was examined and a deep hole suspected to be injuries sustained from stabbing was seen on the right side of his chest. He was immediately rushed to the Ajeromi General Hospital for urgent medical attention. However, he gave up the ghost while receiving treatment. His corpse was evacuated to the Yaba General Hospital for preservation and autopsy. Hundeyin also said the scene was photographed, while suspects were taken to the station for interrogation, where they confessed to the crime. He said the deceaseds mother, Mrs Chizoba Agu, of Railway Line, Ijora Badia, came to the hospital and identified the deceased as her son. He said suspects would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti for discreet investigation. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has announced that 5,000 teachers will be employed to commence afternoon primary and secondary education system. This, according to him, will address problems of congestion and increase enrollment of out-of-school children. Zulum disclosed this on Monday in Maiduguri during his inaugural speech after taking an oath of office for second term. The governor said: Although we have built dozens of new mega-size schools and expanded existing schools with about 1,000 new classrooms, we are still faced with issues of congestion in classrooms, and with the worse problem of having thousands of out-of-school children despite being of school-ages. I am happy to announce that Borno State will soon commence afternoon primary and secondary schools system. I am appointing an implementation committee to work out modalities for starting the afternoon school system, and it (the committee) will be identifying pilot schools to be selected from some of our mega schools in Maiduguri which have good lightening systems. READ ALSO: Borno Govt. Announces New Compulsory Dress Code For Muslim Students Zulum explained that introducing afternoon schools would entail increased number of staff and for that, he had directed office of the Head of Service to carefully identify some well-certificated staff currently redundant at government secretariats, who will be trained in school orientation and can be deployed to hold non-teaching positions in afternoon schools. He furthered that security measures would be taken to ensure success of the afternoon schools, noting that classes might sometimes extend to early portions of the night. As part of measures to improve the standard of education in Borno State, Governor Zulum also announced a plan to recruit 5,000 teachers during his second term of office. The Professor however said other measures such as, mock examinations in secondary schools would be re-introduced and centers of excellence would be established to allow government to harness the potential of underprivileged children. The Labour Party has described President Bola Tinubus inauguration as a celebration of lies and deceits that have become the hallmark of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last few years. On Monday Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos was sworn in as the 16th democratically elected president of Nigeria at Eagle Square in Abuja. In a statement on Monday by the acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, the Labour Party expressed sadness at the declaration of the last election as fair by President Tinubu. LP noted that it considers this audacity as a slap on the faces of millions of Nigerians who voted their conscience but were robbed by a collective power of state institutions and brute bringandry unleashed on them. LP noted that, The Labour Party is disappointed with the inaugural speech made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu today which clearly exposed the shallowness and policy incongruity that his administration, while it lasts, is hoping to bequeath Nigerians. First, the President described the election that brought him to power as tough but fairly won. He also said that today was the proudest day of his life. However, we consider that speech as defective in many ways. Late President Umaru YarAdua, recall, on the inauguration of his government, did state that the election that brought him to power was flawed and imperfect but he promised that he was going to fix the electoral system. READ MORE: Inauguration: Ill Treat Obi, Atiku With Respect- Tinubu But today, Nigerians were aghast with the boldness and glee with which Tinubu declared his election as fair. We consider this audacity as a slap on the faces of millions of Nigerians who voted their conscience but were robbed by a collective power of state institutions and brute bringandry unleashed on them. Nigerians will not forget in a hurry that instruction by the then-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Tinubu to grab power and run with it, a directive that was effected on the February 25 election day. What was witnessed today was a celebration of lies and deceit, and that explains why the streets are like graveyards with no pomp and pageantry usually associated with a major feat like what we had today. Again, Labour Party, while campaigning told Nigerians that if given the privilege to preside, we will among other things change our economy from consumption to production and we will provided tangible ways we can achieve that policy. But listening to President Tinubu today reading a speech believed to have been penned by his team, it became obvious that we are returning to the 2015 era where we had great expectations but without any means achieving them. In the last eight years, Nigerians were constantly fed with the narratives that the previous government of the PDP brought economic and political calamity upon the nation. In all those years, the Buhari government made little or no effort to improve upon these challenges. Nigeria is again about to be confronted with a similar scenario if not a worse scenario. APC ruined this nation and we must not allow a worse situation again. We must wake up to our roles of holding accountable those in positions of authority. A member of the presidential guard brigade caused a stir on Monday morning when she collapsed at the parade ground shortly before the commencement of the inauguration programme. It was gathered that the young female soldier, whose identity was not disclosed, was swiftly taken to one of the nearby temporary clinics set up for emergencies at Eagle Square, where the swearing-in ceremony was taking place. Multiple sources that spoke with PUNCH NEWSPAPPER recounted witnessing the soldier showing signs of discomfort while on guard duty before collapsing. It happened so fast. When she slumped, there was panic. We thought she had died before she was carried on a stretcher to one of those mobile clinics around. READ MORE: Ill Review Monetary Policy; Old, New Naira Will Remain Legal Tenders Tinubu Some moments later, she was brought back but couldnt continue with her duty. In fact, she almost fainted again. I heard she has been rushed to one hospital, the source said. After some time, she regained consciousness but was unable to continue her duties and almost fainted again. It was reported that she was subsequently transported to a hospital for further medical attention. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control Agency (NAFDAC) on Friday arraigned a businessman, Sunday Chibuike, before the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly producing and selling an unregistered alcoholic drink, Japata Alcoholic Bitters. Chibuike and his company, Chigodson International Company Limited, were arraigned alongside one Ekpendu Chizurumoke, on six counts of producing counterfeit, fake drugs and unwholesome processed foods preferred against him by NAFDAC. The prosecutor, O.M. About, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on April 22, 2023. About told Justice Uelim Bogoro that the offence took place at No 30, Edegbami Offor Isheri-iri Street, and 1, Ashipa Road, Amule Bus Stop, Ayobo, both in Lagos State. READ ALSO: NAFDAC Destroys N4.2bn Worth Of Drugs, Beverages The prosecutor said the defendants were producing the said alcoholic drink by mixing adulterated drinks with marijuana but deceitfully labelled with another product label, in other to give the wrong impression that the alcoholic drink is an original one. According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Section 1 of the Counterfeit and Fake Drug and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap C34, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 3 (1){a) of the same Act. He also told the court that the offences contravened Sections 18 (a)(1) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and are punishable under Section 18(a)(i) of the same Act. The defendants however pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following their not-guilty plea, the prosecutor asked for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants pending trial. But counsel for the defendants, K. U. Ogujuiba, pleaded with the court to admit his clients to bail, adding that their bail applications have been filed and served on the prosecutor. In his response, the prosecutor told the court that he was served with the bail applications while in court and that he needed time to reply to the applications. Consequently, Justice Bogoro adjourned the matter till September 9, 2023, for trial, and ordered that the defendants be remanded in a custodial centre. A Toyota Camry. RQ 446 AAA Car belonging to the Zonal Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Comrade Seyi Bamidele has been stolen. The Car was reportedly stolen on Monday around 9 pm at the International Conference Center, University of Ibadan, the venue of the inaugural dinner held in honor of Governor Seyi Makinde. According to a statement made available to global hotline news by Bamidele said the matter has been reported at Sango Police Station. READ MORE: Commotion As Heavy Downpour Disrupts Makindes Inauguration Bamidele added that some valuable items, including, two Tecno mobile phones, the Pension credentials of his late mother, late Mrs. Omoladun Aderele Bamidele Other items in the stolen car were, a temporary drivers license, ATM cars, and about 20k cash. Recall that INFORMATION NIGERIA earlier reported that Governor Seyi Makindes inauguration was disrupted by heavy rain fall as he takes Oath of office for the second term in office. The Ondo State Police Command has arrested two suspects who allegedly stole the oracle of Irese community in Ifedore Local Government of the state and strangled a 90-year-old man, Ajayi Ajisegiri, to death. The nonagenarian before his death, was a chief priest, the custodian of the oracle and also the head of hunters in Irese community. The two suspects, Dada Ologundudu, 71, and John Samson, 27, were said to have conspired to steal the oracle and invaded the home of the Chief priest. One of the suspects, Ologundudu, a commercial motorcyclist popularly known as Kayefi, was said to have stolen the oracle from the Oke Mission residence of the custodian. READ ALSO: 53-Year-Old Father Of Seven Stabbed To Death In Lagos The Chief Priest who suspected Ologundudu approached him and warned him to return the oracle and threatened to inform the community leaders about the missing oracle if Ologundudu failed to return it. According to a source who spoke to Vanguard, the lifeless body of the Ajisegiri was found in his room, a day after he threatened to report the suspect to the entire community for stealing the communitys spiritual property, known as Osho Osi Ode which was kept in his custody. The suspects landlady, Mrs. Beatrice Ademeti, also confirmed that the deceased came to her house a day before the incident, warning the suspect to return the community oracle. Ademeti said the suspect claimed to be a herbalist and had been close to the deceased to know about the oracle before he eventually stole it. The motorcyclist cannot say hes not responsible for the death of Ajisegiri, because, on the night of the incident, I overheard the deceased shouting at the suspect, saying he gave him a day to return the communitys property he took in his room or else he would report the case to the whole town the next day, she said. The suspect later came back at night to give Baba three sachet of alcoholic drink which made the deceased sleep off. The next day around 8:00 am, l noticed the deceased had not opened his door which was unusual of him. I called other neighbours around and I explained to them that the deceased had not opened his door since morning, which made them force his door open. To our surprise, we found his lifeless body on the floor in his room with bruises and blood on his neck. It was gathered that the suspect tried to escape from the town after the death of the oracle custodian but he was apprehended by the people of the community who handed him over to the palace. The suspect was said to have initially denied stealing the oracle and killing the victim but he later recanted after he was threatened by the community leaders. Ologundudu told the community leaders where he hid the oracle after which it was retrieved in an uncompleted building with the help of the police detectives. The oracle was then taken back to the community shrine. The suspect was handed to the police detectives at Ijare Police Station while the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Akure, for further investigation. The Police Spokesperson, Funmi Odunlami, who confirmed the incident, said the two suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing of the deceased and stealing of the oracle. Socio-political commentator and former presidential aide to Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has commended the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Information Nigeria had earlier reported Tinubu, during his inaugural speech, said the subsidy is no longer sustainable in Nigeria. Reacting on Monday, Omokri, via Twitter, hailed President Tinubu, stating Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party would have acted same way if he emerged President READ ALSO: Fuel Subsidy Is Gone Tinubu Declares At His Inauguration He further urged all opposition parties to be patriotic and support the subsidy removal. Subsidy removal of the right move. I support it. We would have done the same thing if Waziri Atiku Abubakar had been inaugurated today. It is a bold move, and I urge all opposition parties to be patriotic and support subsidy removal while we vigorously and zealously pursue our case to unseat President Bola Tinubu democratically, Omokri tweeted. Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would deliver on his promise made to the Nigerian people. The lawmaker disclosed this in a statement on Monday, noting that the newly sworn-in president would take the country to the next level. According to him he has no doubt that Tinubu would unite Nigeria after coming out of a highly contested election, where he emerged victorious. He said, It gives me great pleasure to join millions of Nigerians at home and the world over on this great day where a great Nigerian, a dogged fighter, a democrat, a unifier and a nationalist, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is inaugurated as the 16th President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. READ ALSO: Inauguration: Ill Treat Obi, Atiku With Respect- Tinubu It has been a long walk. But with determination, resilience, tenacity, and doggedness, the Almighty God has made it possible. Nigerians have spoken on February 25, and today (yesterday), we are witnessing the inauguration of one of our finest and most strategic politicians in history as Nigerias president. I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever that President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will take Nigeria to the next level of good governance. I call on Nigerians both at home and abroad to join hands and support the Tinubu administration for a better Nigeria that works for all of us. Nigeria is the only country we can call our own. We must work together and give the new government the support it needs to succeed. Again, Tinubu has a capable and competent hand in Vice President Kashim Shettima. I believe that with VP Shettima beside him, President Tinubu has a worthy partner and would find it easy to govern the country. President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, received goodwill messages and letters of support and solidarity from several countries at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Recall that dignitaries, including presidents and top officials from countries of the world, were present at Eagles Square in Abuja to witness the inauguration of Tinubu as Nigerias president. Among the countries are United Kingdom, United States, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Brazil, South Korea, Israel, Cape Verde, Somalia and Nicaragua, according to a statement signed and made available to newsmen by Tunde Rahman. READ MORE: May 29: There Was Injustice Against Us, Peter Obi Won 2023 Election Yusuf Datti Insists Congratulating President Tinubu, the new UK High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, presented letters from British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, King Charles and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. Meanwhile, the US delegation, led by Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia L. Fudge, also paid a courtesy call to President Tinubu and had a brief bilateral discussion with him. The South Korean delegation also had bilateral discussions with Tinubu at a different session. Delivering a letter of invitation from South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol for Tinubu to visit their country soon, the delegation also sought sustained relations between the two countries. The Saudi Arabian delegation delivered a goodwill message from the Saudi Royal House to the Nigerian president. A special envoy of the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida equally paid a call on President Tinubu and extended a hand of support and fellowship, reads a statement released from the Presidents office and signed by his aide, Tunde Rahman. In the same vein, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a delegation that met with Tinubu and expressed willingness to work with the country in the area of fin-tech. Former Minister of Aviation and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Femi Fani-Kayode, has mocked the pastors and prophets who predicted that Bola Ahmed Tinubu would not be sworn in as the President of Nigeria. Recall that some Nigerian clerics had predicted prior to the elections that the former Governor of Lagos State would not emerge Nigerias President. Some also said the new president would die on the parade ground, others predicted that he would be arrested by security operatives while some said there would be reign of an interim government. However, in a Twitter post on Monday, Fani-Kayode described those who made such claims that Tinubu as false prophets and agents of satan. READ ALSO: Tinubu Values Loyalty, Stands By His Supporters Unlike Obi, Atiku Fani-Kayode Fani-Kayode tweeted: In Lamentations 3:33 the Holy Bible says, Who is he that sayeth a thing and it cometh to pass when the Lord God of Hosts has commanded it not? Where are all those false prophets and agents of satan who said @officialABAT would not be sworn in today and who boastfully proclaimed that someone else would be sworn-in in his stead? Where are those that said he would be arrested? Where are those that said he would die on the parade ground? Shame on you all! Phila Lorn is as Philadelphian as it gets. He was born at Jefferson Hospital and grew up at Seventh and Jackson. Hes cooked in this town for nearly the entirety of his adult life, albeit always behind the scenes until now. And yes, his first name is also a badge of city pride. Its pronounced Peela, which is my mothers broken English for Philadelphia, he says of the name his parents chose as a gesture of gratitude for the city where they took refuge in 1985 to rebuild their lives. Phila was born here the following year. You can hear the swagger of South Philly salt in Philas voice as he circulates through the jam-packed tables at Mawn. He greets guests who are happily nibbling lemongrass beef skewers, chile-flared soft-shell shrimp, and night market noodles, regaling them with sometimes harrowing tales of the struggles it took for him, his family, and his wife, Rachel Lorn, to finally arrive at this moment of opening their own place. Its a tableside conversation that quickly travels back a generation and across the globe to Cambodia, where his parents escaped the bloody Khmer Rouge regime, but not before losing close relatives to murder. Excuse my language, but its the truth..., Phila says. Advertisement But if ever a restaurant represented a generational leap in the pursuit of freedom, it is Mawn. The name means chicken in Khmer, Phila says, and they only ate chicken when there was no gunfire or bombs. Chicken represents peace time. That explains the feisty green feathered jungle rooster portrait that hangs in the dining room Rachel and Phila have taken over from the old Kalaya. And chicken is more than a symbol at Mawn. Its at the heart of some of the menus most delicious dishes, from the crisp, batter-free fried bird glazed in fish sauce caramel and Thai basil, to the crispy crackers of fried chicken skin served with house-fermented green chile hull sauce. All the rendered schmaltz from that chicken skin is part of the reason why Mawns chicken noodle soup, while infused with the Southeast Asian aromatics of ginger, scallion, and daikon, tastes like a mash-up of pho ga and the broth of a good matzo ball soup. Its also steeped with the bubbes secret of parsnip roots. It starts off Jewish, ends up Asian, says Phila, noting the influence of Rachels Jewish family roots. (The fried chicken skin is an indulgent nod to gribenes.) Rachel, the epitome of practiced grace as she cheerfully touches tables, is also a restaurant lifer. An East Falls native, she helped open Pod, worked for Zama (where she met Phila), and is now at the Logan Hotel, where shes the director of banquets. Phila worked for a dozen years learning Japanese cuisine at Zama and CoZara, along with time at 1225 Raw, Will BYOB, Stock, and Mighty Bread Co. He is quick to note that Mawn is not a Cambodian restaurant, per se, despite the many kreung-laced meats and punchy prohok sauces that electrify some of its best offerings. We have no rules, we do what we want and we own our own time, he says, explaining why their BYOB is only open four days a week for dinner until 9 p.m. (They also have an 18-month-old son named Otis). The approach also explains why the menu gleans from a multitude of Asian influences, from Burma to Laos, Vietnam, Japan, and Thailand. A few staff holdovers from the original Kalaya (since moved to Fishtown) have contributed, including a Thai crab fried rice rich with crustacean fat that is flat-out delicious. But, as Phila says, though he was born here, the Cambodian genocide literally shaped who I am now. And Mawns most inspiring dishes unapologetically tap the flavors that helped reshape that community in diaspora, as it worked its way up abroad from often difficult economic circumstances: A lot of Khmer food to me is survival food, he says. Growing up with limited resources while his parents both worked long hours in factories, dinners were often as simple as soy sauce, rice, and chicken. Philas exposure to Cambodian flavors was shaped by the smoky grills and pounded papaya salads of the Southeast Asian market at FDR Park, as well as his mothers cooking. Authentic Cambodian food to me is what my mom made from her memories with what we had: lime leaves, lemongrass, and prahok. You can taste the pride in those memories in dishes like the banh chow salad, savory coconut milk-turmeric crepes, not unlike crispy Vietnamese banh xeo, but cradled wet in a bowl already dressed with fish sauce beneath a flavorful pile of herbs, sprouts, chicken, and shrimp. Crunchy papaya salad is a direct nod to those childhood weekend picnics in FDR Park, while the sot koh offers his twist on grilled beef, his signature kreung spice blend marinating the meat with both galangal and guajillo chiles. Prohok, an essential Cambodian ingredient of fermented mudfish paste, is mixed with red chiles, coconut milk, and warm ground pork, then served as a dip with cabbage wedges for a satisfying Cambodian crudite. Prohok gets transformed into a Cambodian chimichurri with tomatoes, shallots, and vinegar for a zesty, herb-blasted companion to the sliced pile of grilled prime ribeye that is one of the restaurants most electric large sharing dishes. Also not to be missed: a cast-iron-seared daurade topped with hot sesame oil and herbs thats now one of my favorite whole fish in town. Some grilled fresh sardines Mawn ran as a special were considerably smaller but no less flavorful, served alongside a simple but potent classic dip of lime juice, pepper, and salt. The daurade, which borrows a Japanese technique, is one of several dishes inspired by Philas varied culinary journey. The crispy Japanese soft-shell shrimp with fish sauce caramel and Thai chiles is a legacy of his time at CoZara. The Burmese ginger and bitter melon salad, as well as the night market noodles with ground boar, with an assist from the crunchy ramen noodles made for him by his friends at Neighborhood Ramen, were inspired by his time at Stock. Ironically, despite billing itself as a noodle house and placing a special station in the dining room to assemble those dishes, I found the noodle options to be the least distinctive corner of this menu, satisfying enough but not particularly memorable. Philas duo of dessert options, though, were a hard miss. His nostalgic salute to the funnel cakes of his Oregon Avenue youth arrived soggy, and as for the rice pudding, even Phila conceded, sometimes it sucks ... Im not a pastry chef. Blunt honesty and self-awareness are among Philas most endearing traits. But most of the food here is also a thrill to eat, full of vivid, soulful flavors that add up to one of the most exciting openings in 2023. Thats why I have no doubt this promising new restaurant will continue grow, evolve, and refine its voice. It has already proven to be well worth the struggle. Mawn 764 S. Ninth St, Philadelphia; mawnphilly.com. No active phone. Best method for prompt contact is direct message on Instagram. Dinner Wednesday through Saturday, 4:30 to 9 p.m. Noodles and large plates, $18-$49. Wheelchair accessible through backyard entrance. About 70% of menu is gluten-free or can be modified. The SEPTA subway station underneath Clothespin at 15th and Market Street, following an overnight shooting on the platform that left one person critically wounded. Read more A young man was shot on a SEPTA platform near City Hall late Monday night, marking the fourth shooting on the transit agencys property in the last month. The shooting occurred just after 11:30 p.m. on the Market-Frankford westbound platform at 15th and Market Streets, across from City Hall, according to police. The 19-year-old man was shot once in the lower abdomen, according to police, and was taken by SEPTA officers to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where he remained in critical condition. No arrests have been made. Police are reviewing surveillance footage from the train station to identify the shooter, according to NBC10. Trains were temporarily bypassing the 15th and Market station overnight, but appeared to be back to normal on Tuesday. CBS3 reported that about two dozen kids were on the platform at the time of the shooting, which is the second to occur at a subway station this month. Wort Whipple, 14, was fatally shot on 52nd and Market Streets westbound Market-Frankford platform earlier in May after an altercation with a man wearing a face mask. Roxborough High School student Randy Mills was laid to rest last weekend following a fatal shooting May 25 on the Route 23 bus in Germantown, which was also prompted by an altercation with an armed man in a ski mask. And a week before that, two 18-year-olds were injured in a shooting in North Philadelphia, after gunfire erupted on the 33 bus, near 21st and Diamond Streets. SEPTA has announced it will begin using transit police to enforce a ski mask ban that has been on the books for decades, spokesperson Andrew Busch told The Inquirer earlier this month. The agency has also begun to roll out an artificial intelligence program on the Market-Frankford and Broad Street Lines that equips security cameras with software that can identify guns and alert law enforcement within seconds. Nurse practitioner Tarik Khan rushes back to his car after vaccinating a woman in South Philadelphia with an unused COVID-19 vaccine dose in 2021. Khan spent the entire evening administering unused vaccine doses to homebound individuals and their caretakers. Read more Tarik Khan doesnt get much sleep. The nurse practitioner-turned-House rep became a hometown hero distributing COVID-19 vaccines to some 900 homebound Philadelphians in the last two years before those shots which he calls angel doses expired. Getting home at 1 a.m. after driving across the city, he would chip away at his dissertation each night. The next day, hed do it all over again. Khan, who recently graduated with his Ph.D. from Penn, is still stretched thin; pulling 16-hour workdays shuttling between Harrisburg and his Manayunk/Roxborough home. Theres little time for anything else dating included. Hes too busy knocking on doors to check in on his neighbors, writing bills, and still working as a nurse on some days. That sense of urgency never stopped, said Khan, who was elected to the Pennsylvania State House last May after knocking on 10,000 doors. As a Philly native who started his career in acting, Khan is comfortable talking to people, whether as a frontline nurse delivering a shot or now as a politician checking in on his neighbors. I actually kept that [dissertation] schedule of working on policy for 30 minutes, said Khan to The Inquirer. I have close to three dozen bills, either that I wrote or was lead sponsor on in the House. That is a lot, especially for someone whos in their first term. Advertisement Toronto-based filmmaker Sami Khan (no relation) focuses on this nonstop work ethic in the documentary short, Angel Dose, which screened in Philadelphia last week. The stakes of delivering vaccines were high, but the director said he thinks about the film as a comedy about the pandemic, because Tarik is a funny guy. Theres even footage of his acting days. Sami Khan learned of the nurse from The Inquirers coverage of the Angel Dose program in 2021. The camera crew followed him for 15 months as he rushed to deliver COVID shots and began his campaign for state office. As he gave all his time and energy to this effort, his gray cat, Theodore, was dying. It was very tough, Khan said. I wanted to stay home with him, but there were leftover vaccinations and I had a list of people who really needed that medicine. The film shows Khan at his parents Northeast Philadelphia home, where he buried the cat in the Islamic tradition, facing Mecca. Tarik is a man with very few attachments, said the director. There is this really deep, emotional relationship that Tarik had with this other living thing. Im still really moved by that sacrifice Thousands of people are dying every day, and I can do something to help them. But doing that, I might not see my best friend. Khan still misses Theodore, but he also admits that his all-encompassing work schedule isnt great for any pet to handle. He hopes to adopt another cat in the future. For now, he wants to knock on more doors. Not to ask for votes, but just to chat. Being in a home, I feel like its sort of getting back to the roots of nursing, said Khan. Its carried on as Im going into peoples homes and knocking on the doors and asking about the issues that they care about. Angel Dose is available to stream for free on WHYY for the next 30 days. The Tortilla Press on Haddon Avenue in Collingswood in August 2006. Lydia Cipriani and her husband Mark Smith opened the place in July 2002, and just announced, in May 2023, that they would be closing permanently. Read more The Tortilla Press, among the early entries in Collingswoods restaurant row, closed last weekend after almost 21 years. The restaurant never recovered from the pandemic, said Lydia Cipriani, who with her husband, Mark Smith, opened the place in the former Collingswood Family Restaurant space in July 2002. She cited rising costs for food and labor, and their inability to raise menu prices a common lament among owners of BYOB restaurants who have no liquor sales to buffer them. (Asked in a 2016 interview how their business would be if they had a bar on Haddon Avenue, Smith replied: Id be on a boat in the Bahamas right now.) READ MORE: From 2016: Q&A with Mark Smith of the Tortilla Press Advertisement Collingswood, now home to at least 30 restaurants, is a dry town. Smith and Cipriani have a liquor license at Tortilla Press Cantina in Pennsauken, three miles away, which they opened in 2008. Business is good there and the restaurant is unaffected by the closing, Cipriani said. It was a great ride for as long as it lasted, Cipriani said. Back in 2002, Smith said, bankers had balked at their initial plans for an American bistro. The Plan B was a Mexican-influenced BYOB. Smith acknowledged that Tortilla Press cuisine was not authentic-authentic. I take a lot of my culinary training and have tweaked a lot of dishes. The things that we do that are authentic are on point. Usually, people that come in are pleasantly surprised that everybody can find something that theyre comfortable with. Philadelphia ended its vaccine mandate for city workers last week, less than a year after it went into effect. Read more Most Philadelphia municipal employees are no longer required to be vaccinated for COVID-19, Philadelphia officials said, ending a pandemic policy that went into effect less than a year ago. As of last week, only city workers with jobs that put them in contact with patients, such as doctors or nurses, must be vaccinated, said Sarah Peterson, a spokesperson for the city. Philadelphia changed its policy in response to the end of two national emergency declarations earlier this month and new recommendations from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. The relaxed city employee mandate complies with the health departments requirement that health-care practitioners in the city, with the exception of home-care workers, be vaccinated against COVID. The City updated its COVID-19 safety protocols to align with local health-care worker vaccination requirements while also recognizing that COVID-19 transmission has declined, Peterson said. Advertisement The week Philadelphia announced the vaccine mandate, in November 2021, the city reported 17 COVID deaths, and 91 hospitalizations, according to Philadelphias COVID dashboard. The city had one COVID death and five hospitalizations in the first week of May 2023, the most recent data available. The vaccine mandate for city employees was one of the few pandemic safety restrictions still in effect in Philadelphia. On May 10, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health ended a requirement that people wear masks in city hospitals, the citys last remaining mask mandate. READ MORE: You may soon be able to stop masking to enter Philly hospitals Philadelphias vaccine mandate applied to city contractors and about 22,000 unionized municipal employees, and its introduction prompted difficult negotiations with the four major labor unions representing city workers. Employees were originally supposed to be fully vaccinated by January 2022, but union concerns caused the city to delay the deadline repeatedly. The mandate didnt fully go into effect until the end of June 2022. By August, the vast majority of city workers had gotten their shots, and about 3,000 received exemptions. Fewer than 100 workers lost their jobs because they refused to comply with the mandate, the city reported. They would now be considered for city jobs if they applied, Peterson said. Despite its contentious rollout, the vaccine mandate ended with little fanfare, a sign of how concerns about COVID have faded in the intervening year and a half. READ MORE: The pandemic emergency declarations are officially over. Heres what that means for you. I cant remember the last time anyone heres had a conversation about the vaccine mandate, said Bret Coles, a spokesperson for AFSCME District Council 33, which represents about 10,000 city municipal employees. Coles was blase about the mandates end, saying most workers complied and those who sought exemptions were largely able to receive them. It wasnt really an issue with us at all, he said. Pennsylvania's Board of Nursing is taking steps to revoke the licenses of 18 individuals in connection with a nationwide scam in which Florida nursing programs sold fake degrees and transcripts to students. Read more In early November 2022, the FBI alerted Delawares Board of Nursing that an owner of four Florida-based schools sold fake college degrees to students who then used the phony credentials to get nursing licenses from states nationwide. Pamela Zickafoose, executive director of Delawares board, said she wasted no time. On Nov. 15, 2022, her board annulled the licenses of 26 nurses who had bought degrees for about $17,000 each. Among the 26 was a registered nurse from Philadelphia who obtained a license to practice in Delaware and in Pennsylvania, state records show. Federal authorities say the implicated nurses took a short cut to get degrees without taking any classes or completing the required clinical training. It took Pennsylvania six more months to act. On May 8, Pennsylvanias Board of Nursing sent a notice to that nurse and 17 others saying she had 30 days to contest allegations that she submitted a fraudulent associates degree in nursing when she applied to the board for a license in 2018. Advertisement Amy Gulli, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of State, which oversees the nursing board, said the 18 licensees now facing administrative charges must be given due process. She declined to say when the FBI first alerted Pennsylvanias board to the scam, citing a law prohibiting disclosure of confidential investigations. She said the states investigations generally take time. Federal authorities said they sent a list of implicated nursing students to licensing boards in every state. In early March, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced that its state Board of Nursing revoked the licenses of 20 nurses and nullified temporary licenses issued to 26 others. The state ordered them to immediately stop practicing and required the nurses to tell their employers. The search for bogus nurses across the country is ongoing. The investigation, dubbed Operation Nightingale, after Florence Nightingale, the British nurse credited as the founder of modern nursing, comes as the ranks of hospital nurses remains battered and thinned by COVID-19 and acts of violence against nurses, including at Einstein Medical Center and other hospitals in Philadelphia, are on the rise. So far, more than two dozen school operators and student recruiters, including two recruiters in South Jersey, have been charged in connection with the alleged distribution of more than 7,600 fake diplomas, netting more than $100 million. If convicted, they face 20 years in federal prison. A student licensed in Delaware paid $40,000 to a now-closed Florida school for two illegitimate degrees: He used one to apply to Delawares board to become a licensed practical nurse, or LPN, and the second degree to move up in stature as a registered nurse, Zickafoose said. Its egregious, said Zickafoose, a nurse for 42 years with an expertise in vocational education and training. Nursing education is very, very hard, and its that way for a purpose, because we are caring for peoples lives. In recent months, Delaware has annulled an additional nine nursing licenses, bringing the tally to 35, Zickafoose said. In Pennsylvania, for now, the 18 people all registered nurses, or RNs hold active licenses as of May 26. None of the 18 has a history of disciplinary action, according to an Inquirer review of the states licensure database. Reached by phone last week, Olasumbo Mary Akinmusire, the Philadelphia-based nurse whose license was annulled in Delaware, said she planned to fight Pennsylvanias administrative charges. She declined to answer additional questions, including where she was employed, saying she was busy at work taking care of a patient. Thats scary, said Wayne Reich Jr., chief executive director of the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, an advocacy group with 3,500 members out of about 230,000 registered nurses statewide. Its a fine line. You want to give an individual due process, but thats an additional 30 days someone who may not have legally obtained a license is still practicing in the state, Reich said. To date, there have been no reports of harm to a patient by an unqualified nurse, said Fernando Porras, a Miami-based assistant special agent with the Office of Inspector General-U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which partnered with the FBI to investigate. `Are you here for a degree? Porras said the investigation began in 2019 when an informant told the FBIs Baltimore field office that a recruiter from nearby Laurel, Md., offered to provide a diploma and transcript from a Florida nursing school for about $17,000. The price included tutoring to sit for the nurse licensing exam, without the need to take a single class or any clinical training. The tip led investigators to a Haiti-born nurse and entrepreneur, Johanah Napoleon, who ran four Florida schools. Porras said undercover agents walked into three schools and purchased degrees having no experience whatsoever. In one case, Porras said, a school official greeted the agent with, Hi, are you here for a degree? Its just mind-boggling, Porras told The Inquirer last week. This is a case that resonates. It hits home. It can affect any one of us. We have loved ones who are treated in the health-care space all the time and you wonder, is the person who is attending to mom and dad or a grandparent, are they properly trained? The prices for the fake diplomas, transcripts and exam tutoring, on average, ranged from $15,000 for a LPN and $17,000 for RN, though prices and deals varied, Porras said. There wasnt a menu where you would order and say, `Let me have two degrees with a side of fries, Porras said. Getting a nursing license is a rigorous process. First, a person must obtain either a diploma, an associates degree or a bachelors of science in nursing. The education involves hours of hands-on clinical training. Upon graduation, the would-be nurse must take and pass the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX), and then apply to a state board for a license. Of the 7,600 students who allegedly obtained fake diplomas, about 37%, or 2,800, passed the exam and obtained licenses, Porras said. Although its scary to think that any one of them passed, it was a smaller percentage, Porras said. A lot of them just gave up after trying and trying and trying. They paid that $17,000 in vain. Many of the students came from Caribbean or Africa countries and had worked in the nursing field in their country of origin. Some struggled with language skills or couldnt afford the time needed to successfully complete legitimate nursing programs in the United States, he said. Backdated phony degrees No students have been criminally charged in Operation Nightingale. If found to have submitted bogus degrees and transcripts, Pennsylvanias board can suspend, revoke or restrict their license and impose a civil penalty. Of the 18 registered nurses facing scrutiny, six currently hold temporary licensing permits. Federal prosecutors have charged 27 school operators and recruiters, including Stanton Witherspoon of Burlington County. Authorities allege that Witherspoon, a part-owner of now-closed Siena College of Health in Broward County, Fla., also helped orchestrate fraudulent diplomas and transcripts from that school. He founded the Nursing Education Resource Center, a Delaware limited liability company, and recruited students to buy phony credentials, steering them to Siena College, authorities allege. Witherspoons lawyer did not return a phone call and an email from The Inquirer. A reporter knocked on the door of Witherspoons Burlington Township home. A woman who answered the door said he was unavailable. He pleaded not guilty to wire fraud charges in February. He reportedly owns media outlets in the West African country of Liberia and hosts Spoon TV Live, a social media talk show. Witherspoon was allegedly part of a network of recruiters in New Jersey, Delaware, Texas, Maryland, New York and Florida who funneled students to now-closed Florida schools and got a financial cut. School operators such as Johanah Napoleon, of West Palm Beach, told authorities that her schools churned out thousands of fake diplomas and transcripts. Napoleons lawyer said he was out of the country and unavailable to comment, and The Inquirers efforts to reach Napoleon were unsuccessful. In November 2022, Napoleon pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health-care and wire fraud. As part of a plea agreement, in a sworn affidavit, she gave investigators a list of 4,989 students who did not complete the required program hours and clinical training necessary to obtain either a practical nursing diploma and transcript or a nursing associate in science degree and transcript, criminal court records show. All 18 of the licensees under scrutiny by Pennsylvanias nursing board were on that list. In their applications, they submitted degrees and transcripts from one of two schools run by Napoleon: Med-Life Institute-West Palm Beach or Palm Beach School of Nursing, an Inquirer review found. Floridas Board of Nursing terminated the program at Palm Beach School of Nursing in June 2017, prohibiting administrators from enrolling new students, because of low scores on the NCLEX exam. The state allowed students enrolled before June 2017 to finish out the program. As part of the scam, Porras said, the degrees and transcripts were often backdated. It was amazing because it was so blatant, Porras said. They would write a check in March 2020 for a diploma that they received in March 2016. By purchasing a degree, those licensed in Pennsylvania could expect to earn an average annual salary of $51,051 as a LPN and $76,000 as a RN. It falls on Pennsylvanias licensing board to verify the schools status when licensing nurses educated out of state. But in at least one of the 18 cases, an applicant from Upper Darby, Delaware County, submitted paperwork stating she enrolled in Palm Beach School of Nursing in January 2019 and graduated in December 2019, and the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing approved her registered nurse license in September 2020. Her license remains active, records show. The school had closed to new students in June 2017. Staff writers Abraham Gutman and Harold Brubaker contributed to this article. A 15-year-old boy is dead and four others were taken to hospitals after being rescued from the ocean at an unguarded beach in a federal park in New Jersey on Sunday. In total, six people were rescued from Sandy Hooks Beach B in the Gateway National Recreation Area between 4 and 5 p.m., National Park Service spokesperson Daphne Yun said. That beach is not designated as a swimming beach, and does not have lifeguards. National Park Services officers and EMS workers responded to the incident, and were assisted by nearby first responders from Sea Bright, Highlands, and Monmouth, Yun said. Two people were taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune Township, and three others went to Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch. The 15-year-old was among the group sent to Monmouth Medical Center, where he was declared dead. One other person rescued refused medical attention. Information about the condition of the survivors, as well as the boys cause of death, was not immediately available. Sandy Hooks Beach B is the first beach visitors encounter when entering the park. While it is unguarded, three other beaches C, D, and G did have lifeguards on duty over the Memorial Day weekend, Yun said. Those beaches are designated swimming beaches, and have lifeguards from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Labor Day. Drownings have occurred in the Sandy Hook area in recent years, including at least two in summer 2021. Yun said she was unaware of any drownings in the area last year. Police in Upper Darby say a 10-year-old student was duct-taped by Juliet Pratt, a bus driver for the school district. Read more A bus driver for the Upper Darby School District faces criminal charges for duct-taping a 10-year-old students ankles, prosecutors said Tuesday. Juliet Pratt, 55, has been charged with false imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child in connection with events on March 8 as she drove her usual bus route. Other charges, including unlawful restraint, were dismissed by a district judge at Pratts preliminary hearing earlier this month, court records show. Pratt was released after posting 10% of her $25,000 bail. Investigators were first notified of the alleged abuse by staff at Hillcrest Elementary, where the child is a student, according to the affidavit of probable cause for Pratts arrest. Advertisement Officers reviewed surveillance footage from Pratts bus, which showed her duct-taping the students ankles together as he sat buckled into his seat, the affidavit said. Pratt later returned to the student and placed tape on his chest. Detectives noted in their report that the student was not seen trying to leave his seat or moving erratically before Pratt taped him. When the bus arrived at the school, Pratt is seen in the video removing the tape with a seat belt cutter and throwing it in the trash, according to the affidavit. In an interview with police, Pratt admitted to duct-taping the student, and told detectives she had done so before. Pratts lawyer, Arthur Donato, said in an interview Tuesday that she did not intend to hurt the child by duct-taping him. She did so, he said, to protect this child and the other children around him because of the way he was kicking his legs. In retrospect, there might have been a better way to handle it, but not every time someone makes an error is it a crime, Donato said. These charges require her having an intent to hurt the child, and all she was trying to do was keep order on the bus. A spokesperson for the Upper Darby School District did not return a request for comment about whether Pratt was still employed as a bus driver. Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said Tuesday there was no excuse for Pratts conduct. Using duct tape on a child who was already fully restrained in the vehicles harness was not only inexcusable, it was also dangerous, he said. Had an accident occurred, this child would have been unable to free himself from the tape. Mayor Michael Nutter and family members who lost a loved one at the Salvation Army building collapse gather in a prayer circle on the one-year anniversary of the demolition disaster on June 5, 2014. Nutter apologized to the families and promised a public memorial dedicated to the victims. MICHAEL BRYANT / Staff Photographer Read more Since Jim Kenney became mayor, more than 3,000 people have been murdered in Philadelphia, mostly from gun violence. As I write this, more than 150 people have been killed so far in 2023. Now that weve chosen our likely next mayor Cherelle Parker I wonder if she has enough courage to commit to doing something her predecessor was reluctant to do. A quote from Mayor Kenney will underscore my point. Ive never met with any families in almost seven years in that regard, Kenney said in 2022. Ive met with some children who have been shot little babies who have been shot in cross fire Ive met with their families. But its not something that Ive done from the time that Ive started being mayor. I dont know if any mayor has done that. READ MORE: Mayors latest comments hurt thousands of families of homicide victims | Helen Ubinas Advertisement Actually, Kenneys three immediate predecessors said they met with the families of murder victims. Of course, its impossible to sit down with all grieving families, but those three mayors saw how important it was to try. They knew it was important to remind those families that our leaders cared. Thats not easy. When I was a crime reporter for the Philadelphia Tribune, I saw firsthand the devastation of gun violence. I sat in the living rooms of victims families listening to their grief, sometimes crying with them. It was stressful. It was heart-wrenching. I can understand why the mayor hasnt visited with victims families, but that does not excuse him. Because its what he signed on for when he was elected. Its part of the responsibility all our elected leaders accepted when they took their oaths of office. This subject came up during a recent interview I had with City Councilmember Cindy Bass on the abominable gun violence that has engulfed our city, and she said reaching out to those suffering families comforts them and lets them know someone cares. She does it, Councilmember Bass said: As someone who has visited a number of families and attended funerals, I dont see how you can do this job and not connect to people who are hurting. Now Ive been a registered Democrat since I was 18, and God help me, Im saddened by the way the city is being run by Democrats. It gives me no pleasure or joy to say it, but when people are being shot to death every day every single day the most our elected leaders can offer in the way of help is more and more tax dollars being poured into anti-violence programs of questionable efficacy. Im saddened by the way the city is being run by Democrats. Frankly, Im considering switching over to the Republicans. Im pretty conservative in my views and too much of a freethinker to go along with many progressive Democratic policies. I think some of those policies have contributed to the rampant gun violence on our streets, policies that look away from our nations Constitution. In the preamble of the U.S. Constitution, the founders talk about the importance of promoting domestic tranquility and general welfare. I think this is especially important in hopeless times. And were in pretty hopeless times right now. Far too many of our elected leaders appear to be either too disinterested, too disengaged, too distanced, or too uncaring about the state of the people who elected them to office. Again, they have a duty to promote general welfare and, like it or not, that includes letting them know, sometimes without cameras and the press hovering around, that theyre not alone in their suffering. When elected leaders meet with these families, it shows: Im not so busy running things that I cant make time to bind broken hearts. Im not so lofty that I cant feel what youre feeling. I was elected to be a servant of the people, not the other way around. Im not a fan of President Joe Biden, but he shows up: He met with the families of the victims of the Monterey Park, Calif., shooting, and with those crushed by the Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, N.Y., shootings. Those meetings had more to do with pushing national gun control and, in the case of the Buffalo shooting, a chance to expound on racial issues rather than offering comfort, but Biden did see those families face to face. I think that sense of hopelessness is a huge reason why the city sees such low voter turnout in elections. People have lost confidence in those needling them for their votes. They dont believe many of those aspiring for public office care about their grief and pain and tears. They need to know those aspirants arent too disinterested, too distanced, and too uncaring to take the time and fill their lives with hope in otherwise hopeless times. I hope our next mayor isnt too busy shouting into bullhorns or offering thoughts and prayers to do that. Larry Miller is a former special projects manager for Ceisler Media and Issue Advocacy. Before that, he was the police reporter for the Philadelphia Tribune. He is a lifelong resident of Philadelphia. Under a new leader, the Philadelphia Parking Authority is stepping up its efforts to address quality of life and traffic safety issues. Read more The new executive director of the Philadelphia Parking Authority, former Deputy Mayor Rich Lazer, wants to change the way Philadelphians think about his agency. Long reviled in many quarters of the city for its aggressive ticketing operation, the agency at Lazers urging is shifting its focus to tackling such quality-of-life issues as speeding and abandoned cars that have long vexed Philadelphians. If this pivot is successful, the parking authority could do more than just change its reputation; it could help make city streets safer for everyone, no matter how they get around. For one, Lazer has focused on addressing one of the citys long-standing problems: the plethora of abandoned cars on city streets. So-called ghost cars, which lack a readable license plate or vehicle identification number, had been a particular problem for residents, with the parking authority maintaining for years that ticketing them required the approval of a supervisor. Not anymore. Neighbors and safety advocates have cheered Lazers move, a rare instance of public support for the parking agency. Beyond the annoyance of taking up spots that should be turning over regularly, ghost cars, like cars possessing fake temporary tags, have also been linked to violent crime. In addition to making it easier to tow ghost cars, Lazer has also implemented a bike lane patrol, modeled after Torontos successful program. And this intervention is desperately needed. According to the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, eight cyclists died on city streets last year, the highest in over two decades. Keeping the citys bike lanes clear of obstructions is a critical step in bringing that number down. The parking authority can also be proud of the success of its speed camera program, which has succeeded in reducing speeding and saving lives along Roosevelt Boulevard, which was once known as the Boulevard of Death. Ideally, these cameras will be expanded to other troubled hot spots like Lincoln Drive, Kelly Drive, and Cobbs Creek Parkway. Advertisement In the near future, Lazer would also like to partner with the city to address what safety advocates call daylighting of intersections clearing vehicles that are parked too close to intersections, blocking the sight lines of drivers. That step helps ensure that motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians all have a reasonable view of whats coming before passing through intersections, something that isnt always the case in many city neighborhoods, thanks to illegally parked vehicles. Given that the city recently settled a lawsuit with disability rights advocates with a pledge to install 10,000 curb cuts over the next 15 years, ensuring that these interventions arent undermined by illegal parking is an important goal. These efforts align with Lazers (and new board chair Lynette Brown-Sows) stated intention to reorient the agencys goals toward public safety, rather than merely revenue generation. Thats another welcome change. It is no secret that Philadelphias motorists have strong feelings about the parking authority. Some of those negative feelings are deserved, and many are related to its hard-nosed approach to generating as much revenue as possible, and its penchant for spending it poorly. After a state takeover in 2001, the parking authority saw an increase in ticketing and revenues under former executive director Vince Fenerty and board chairman Joe Ashdale, who also served as the head of the painters union. The states auditor general labeled Fenerty an unchecked tyrant, and 10 of Ashdales relatives were hired by the parking agency. The parking authority became known as the last bastion of Republican patronage jobs. After Fenerty was accused of sexually harassing employees, the parking authority hired Republican State Rep. Scott Petri, who lacked the necessary experience prior to taking the position. While patronage hiring slowed under Petri, his inexperience showed. When Petri sunk millions of dollars into an ill-advised new towing headquarters, then-Councilmember Helen Gym wondered if it was malfeasance or monumental stupidity. While Lazer hasnt been directly involved in parking management before, he spent years working with the agency and other regional planning organizations during his tenure in the Kenney administration, and his early actions indicate that he has a strong understanding of the role. As a lifelong South Philadelphian, perhaps the section of the city most synonymous with illegal and hazardous parking jobs, Lazer has a firm grasp of the pace, rhythms, and challenges of city life. He also has known many of his agencys hardest critics for decades. Lazer will need to lean into that life story if he is to deliver the culture change around parking that the city and the parking authority desperately need. In 2015, I went to China to teach a course about schools and history. The first thing I learned was that the schools didnt really teach history at least not the way I understood it. They taught a sanitized, state-approved version, purged of anything remotely critical or controversial. Most textbooks downplayed or simply omitted the Great Leap Forward Mao Zedongs attempt to fast-track communism that instead caused millions to die of starvation and the Cultural Revolution, which displaced millions of others to forced labor camps in the countryside. And nobody spoke of the 1989 pro-democracy demonstrations at Tiananmen Square, where soldiers gunned down student protesters. In China, when I asked a prominent professor about these topics, he told me they were sensitive meaning, people kept quiet about them. But surely all nations suppress or discourage information that makes them look bad, he added. Did schools in my country address African American slavery, he asked, or the genocide of Native Americans? Yes, I replied. And not always, I admitted, or with less depth than we should. But we discussed them. The mark of a democracy is its ability to critique itself, I said. And that requires us to explore the dark and sad parts of our past, not just the bright and happy ones. The mark of a democracy is its ability to critique itself. I still believe that, of course. But if I was asked the same question about America today, Id give a very different answer. Across the country, our elected officials are trying to suppress history. And that reminds us that democracies can censor themselves every bit as much as autocracies can. Advertisement Witness the flurry of new state bills, all designed to restrict what schools can teach about America. Dozens of legislatures have introduced legislation to prohibit instruction on divisive concepts, especially racism and sexism. Echoing Floridas so-called Dont Say Gay law, other states have tried to bar discussions of gender identity. Even if some of these bills dont pass, they have created a chilling effect on classrooms across the country. None of these measures was imposed by a dictatorial regime, as in China. They were pressed by citizen groups like Moms for Liberty and signed into law by politicians like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. They are democratic attacks on democratic education. They are also not unique to America. In India, Hindu lawmakers and educators aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi have purged textbook information deemed too friendly to Muslims. Filipino leader Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. has called for the removal of material about human rights violations by his father, who preceded him as president. And under the rule of Jair Bolsonaro, Brazilian schools minimized the countrys history of slavery and tempered criticism of its 1964 military coup. Thats ironic because Bolsonaro like Modi and Marcos rose to power via the ballot box, not the gun. (Bolsonaro lost power the same way, when he was defeated seeking reelection.) A popular movement in Brazil called Escola sem Partido meaning schools without politics has campaigned for measures that would encourage students to film their teachers, provide a hotline for parents to complain about cultural Marxism in the schools, and reduce the time classrooms devote to Black and Native history. All of that follows the same playbook as conservative organizations in the United States, which have framed our schools as captives of a woke mob that is menacing democracy. In fact, these groups are suppressing the critical discussion that democracy demands. But they will continue to win the day until other people step up to challenge them. READ MORE: Want to save our democracy? Talk and listen to someone you dont agree with. | Jonathan Zimmerman Thankfully, some of that is already happening. Around the country, groups like Red Wine and Blue (thats really its name) have challenged school board candidates sponsored by Moms for Liberty. Most of all, it has rallied parents to support history and to fight censorship in our schools. Thats the democratic way. The wrong answer to right-wing pressure groups is to tell them to butt out of school politics, which is what Terry McAuliffe said during his failed gubernatorial bid in Virginia. The correct answer indeed, the only answer is for other citizens to butt in. We dont live in China, which is now squashing history in Hong Kong schools. Nor do we live in Russia, where textbooks have purged references to Kyiv and Ukraine. We live in a democracy. The big question is whether we will raise our voices loudly enough to defend it. Jonathan Zimmerman teaches education and history at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of Whose America?: Culture Wars in the Public Schools, which was published in a revised 20th-anniversary edition last fall by the University of Chicago Press. It is a privilege to be elected president of ANZIIF, an organisation that has a critical role to play across the Asia-Pacific Region. I look forward to working with the board and management to ensure strategic objectives are achieved and to contribute toward the ongoing professionalism of the industry, Bessell said. If CCI is unable to raise the required capital it will continue to operate for some years while current assets are used to fund operations, settle all known insurance claims, and any new claims that are made against existing policies which remain in-force, said CCIs chair Joan Fitzpatrick in a media statement early this month. Now, really, our property is just land value, Dowden said, as reported by ABC. You could drive past our shack, and it looks like it's still standing, but if you go and peer in the windows, you see it's just a shell of the place. There [are] no amenities, there [are] no cupboards, there's no toilet, [and] there's nothing in there. I know this might seem like a glib response but the reality is, and Ive mentioned that previously, you need to have worked this through before the event occurs because I think it is such a complicated decision to make, said Martin. While on the surface it seems very simple, we pay or dont pay, the actual implications of that are far reaching and way more complicated. Data revealed during the session showed that financial services firms, including insurance companies, have stacked up more cumulative penalties for misconduct since 2010 than any other industry. Andy Agathangelou, founder of Transparency Taskforce, presented the data during a short recorded video. Winchester, UK-based Agathangelou said while the data came from the UK he was sure the same pattern would apply to Australia. In a recent statement, Bupa APAC CEO Nick Stone said: We are proud of the work our RAP Working Group and First Nations Employee Network have undertaken with us to frame these commitments and embedded resulting actions across our business in recognition of their importance. We acknowledge that Bupa's support of The Voice to Parliament is an important step towards improving the long-term health and wellbeing of First Nations people. We extend a heartfelt thank you to all the first responders who have been working tirelessly to protect lives and property in the affected regions. Rest assured, anyone whose property or vehicle was damaged can contact their insurance representative when they are ready to start the claims process. Part of the deal will see Re Solutions current CEO Asaf Grinstein becoming the CEO of Guy Carpenter Israel. Grinstein will report to Dorothee Melis-Moutafis, Guy Carpenter Europe Interim CEO, while all colleagues under the Re Solutions brand will join the newly established team. Grinstein will lead all reinsurance business in Israel, as well as collaborate with other Marsh McLennan businesses including Marsh Israel, Mercer, and Oliver Wyman. New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! New York City Mayor Eric Adams has signed into law a bill to prohibit discrimination on the basis of a persons height or weight in employment, housing, and public accommodations, with some exceptions. The New York City Council passed the bill (Intro. 209-A ) earlier this month. The provision amends Section 8-101 of the citys Human Rights Law, adding height and weight to the list of characteristics that the city already protects from discrimination including race, religion and sex. The new measure takes effect November 22, which is 180 days after it was signed into law. We all deserve the same access to employment, housing, and public accommodations, regardless of our appearance, said Adams. It shouldnt matter how tall you are or how much you weigh when youre looking for a job, are out on the town, or trying to rent an apartment. This law will help level the playing field for all New Yorkers, create more inclusive workplaces and living environments, and protect against discrimination. This new local law creates an exemption for employers needing to consider height or weight in employment decisions only where required by federal, state, or local laws or regulations or where the Commission on Human Rights permits such considerations because height or weight may prevent a person from performing essential requirements of a job and no alternative is available or this criteria is reasonably necessary for the normal operation of the business. This new provision similarly permits consideration of height or weight by operators or providers of public accommodations. Covered entities under this law would have an affirmative defense that their actions based on a persons height or weight were reasonably necessary for normal operations. Among those testifying in February before the City Council in favor of the measure was Michelle Kraus who works for New York Lawyers for the Public Interest in its Disability Justice Program. I am very knowledgeable about people of short stature and their daily discrimination because I am a person with dwarfism, Kraus told lawmakers. I have experienced discrimination based on unalterable physical characteristics. People have immediately judged my abilities, competence, and intelligence based on my appearance. She testified that over time, people have been influenced to think people with visible differences are physically and mentally impaired, especially when portrayed in mainstream media as fantastical caricatures or inspirations that deserve the publics compassion and sympathy. It is easy to ignore individual qualities when impressions are solely based on appearance. The nonprofit Little People of America represents people with the genetic change called dwarfism and their families. LPA estimates there are 65,000 people in the U.S. with dwarfism. Weight Discrimination Also testifying was Substantia Jones, a fat liberation activist and a member of a demographic that she said endures many indignities and biases. She cited in particular discriminatory barriers to safe and serviceable seating for fat people. As an example, Jones pointed to New York Citys own CitiBike program featuring bikes with a weight limit of 260 pounds. There are people who exceed that weight limit utilizing CitiBikes, many of whom dont know this weight limit negates their insurance protections. This is wildly unsafe, she said. Jones said the city and CitiBike could make certain a portion of the bikes at all stationsor at least certain designated stationshave higher weight limits. Another advocate for the bill, Stacie Evans, told councilors she has dealt with workplace and healthcare discrimination because of her size. The sizeism Ive experienced on the job has taken many forms, ranging from an employer refusing to purchase an office chair that would fit and support my body to a supervisor who let me know she wouldnt support my application for a more public-facing role in the organization because seeing me as the face of the org would give the wrong impression.' Evans said. Stuart Appelbaum, president, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, said the new law will change workers lives for the better. As a union that represents thousands of workers in the fashion retail industry, we are acutely aware of how size discrimination impacts workers job opportunities, as well as their earning potential and career advancement opportunities. Workers come in all shapes and sizes and that is a good thing. Size discrimination is a social justice issue and a public health threat. People with different body types are denied access to job opportunities and equal wages and they have had no legal recourse to contest it. Worse yet, millions are taught to hate their bodies. As the global beacon of tolerance, it is only right that New York City is leading the national effort to end size discrimination with the signing of this law today, said New York City Councilmember Shaun Abreu, who sponsored the law. During the bill signing, NYC Mayor Adams was asked about criticism that the measure isnt going to protect obesity but could fight against health issues. Adams said he does not believe the measure is in opposition to health issues. Everyone knows that Im a person that believes in health, so when you talk about not discriminating against someone because of their body type, its not fighting against obesity, its just being fair. I think this is the right thing to do, Adams said. We are going to continue to talk about our progressive health agenda and science has shown that body type is not a connection to if you are healthy or unhealthy, and I think thats a misnomer that we are really dispelling. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are numerous factors that contribute to overweight and obesity conditions including genetics, environment, stress, food intake and activity levels, health conditions and medications. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity has continued to rise in the United States, with it now affecting 42.4% of adults and 18.5% of children. In addition, a 2008 study indicated weight/height discrimination in the U.S. has also been steadily increasing and reached 12% in 20042006, relatively close to reported rates of race and age discrimination. Similar Laws The New York City Commission on Human Rights is charged with the enforcement of the Human Rights Law, and with educating the public. The Commissions Law Enforcement Bureau is responsible for the intake, investigation, and prosecution of complaints alleging violations of the law. while its Community Relations Bureau provides public education about the Human Rights Law through borough-based community service centers and educational and outreach programs. In enacting this discrimination law, New York City becomes a member of a small group of other government that have similar protections. The state of Michigan has a law banning discrimination based on weight while several cities have laws against discrimination based on personal appearance or weight and height. These cities include San Francisco and Santa Cruz, California; Washington, D.C.; Madison, Wisconsin; Urbana, Illinois and Binghamton, New York, according to a 2020 report from doctors at Bostons Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital. In 2019, the Washington state supreme court ruled that obesity should be considered as covered under the states law against discrimination protecting employees with disabilities. While some state and federal courts in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi have recognized weight as a potential disability under federal and state anti-discrimination laws if it is caused by an underlying health condition, the vast majority of federal and state courts still hold that weight is not a disability under the federal Americans with Disability Act or its state-level equivalents, a recent analysis by the law firm Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak and Stewart. Topics New York The list of firms walking out of the Net Zero Insurance Alliance continued to grow this week, adding to an exodus as the industry struggles to navigate anti-ESG attacks led by the Republican Party. The latest round of defections includes Tokio Marine Holdings Inc., Japans largest insurer by market value, as well as Grupo Catalana Occidente. Others include UK giant Lloyds of London, MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings Inc. and Sompo Holdings Inc. Since Munich Re announced its decision to leave at the end of March, which it said was tied to the material legal risks of continued membership, the NZIA has started to look like the first major casualty of the GOPs campaign to wipe environmental, social and governance goals off the map. Even founding members including Allianz SE and AXA SA have walked away, after attorneys general from 23 states raised the specter of antitrust lawsuits targeting NZIA signatories. UPDATE: ESG-Bashing Triggers More Defections From Insurer Climate Group The firms have said they remain committed to reducing emissions, but are no longer comfortable doing so as part of the NZIA. The alliance is a sub-group of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, known as GFANZ, a coalition of global financial institutions committed to accelerating the decarbonization of the economy. Senior members of the GOP, meanwhile, have cheered the splintering of the NZIA. Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes said earlier this month that he and his colleagues are encouraged to see the departures from an alliance that was focused on a radical environmental agenda over the interests of its clients. We will continue to be vigilant and take legal action where necessary to protect Americans from the dangers of ESG. The political attacks are interfering with insurers independent efforts to price climate risk, which will harm policyholders, main street investors and local economies, a GFANZ spokesperson told Bloomberg last week. Michael R. Bloomberg, the founder of Bloomberg News parent Bloomberg LP, is co-chair of GFANZ together with former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney. With assistance from James Poole and Jason Scott. Photograph: Mount Fuji emerges through buildings in the Shinjuku district at dusk, in Tokyo. Photo credit: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg Related: Copyright 2023 Bloomberg. Topics Carriers Excess Surplus Lloyd's New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Alphabet Incs Google must pay $32.5 million in damages for infringing one of smart-speaker maker Sonos Incs 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 Googles 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 companys technology into its smart speakers. Sonos has called Googles 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. Topics California Google New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! The record $279 million whistleblower award issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission earlier this month stemmed from a bribery case against Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. The award from the regulators cash-for-tip program was related to the $1.1 billion settlement the company reached with U.S. authorities in 2019 over allegations that it conspired to make illegal payments to win business in five countries, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. The SEC declined to comment, while Ericsson did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. The regulator did not name the enforcement action underlying the award and did not identify the tipster in keeping with whistleblower protection rules. Ericsson in 2019 agreed to pay more than $1 billion to resolve probes into corruption, including the bribing of government officials in countries including China, Vietnam and Djibouti. New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Bankrupt Oxycontin manufacturer Purdue Pharma can shield its owners, members of the wealthy Sackler family, from opioid lawsuits in exchange for a $6 billion contribution to the companys broader bankruptcy settlement, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Tuesday. The New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said that U.S. bankruptcy law allows legal protections for non-bankrupt parties, like the Sacklers, in extraordinary circumstances. Judges Skeptical as Purdue Seeks Revival of Sackler Liability Shield in Bankruptcy Deal Purdue Pharma Judge Overrules DOJ to Approve $6 Billion Opioid Settlement Related: Frustration Grows Over Wait on OxyContin Makers Settlement Purdue has sought to use its bankruptcy case to resolve thousands of lawsuits, many filed by state and local governments, alleging that Oxycontin helped kickstart an opioid epidemic that caused more than 500,000 U.S. overdose deaths over two decades. Purdue has pleaded guilty to charges related to its opioid marketing, while its owners have expressed regret but denied wrongdoing. The Sackler family members have agreed to contribute up to $6 billion to a trust that will be used to pay the claims of states, victims of addiction, hospitals and others who have sued Purdue over its misleading marketing of Oxycontin. In exchange, the Sacklers will receive broad legal protection from lawsuits related to the opioid crisis. The Sackler contribution accounts for most of the cash payment in a broader bankruptcy settlement that Purdue values at more than $10 billion. A federal judge blocked that bankruptcy settlement in December 2021, ruling that it could not protect the Sackler family members from lawsuits because they were not bankrupt themselves, leading to Purdues appeal to the 2nd Circuit. Photo: (AP Photo/Toby Talbot, File) Topics Legislation New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! 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 fossil fuels. 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. Re-lated: Reinsurers Maintain Their Risk Aversion in June 1 Renewals, Howden Reports 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. The warmer Pacific has forecasters expecting a near-to-above normal hurricane season for waters around Hawaii, said Chris Brenchley, the director of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. That amounts to four to seven tropical cyclones in the region, but fewer could actually come ashore in the islands. Photo: Wilbur-By-The-Sea, on Floridas east coast, after Hurricane Nicole last November. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File) Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Hurricane Climate Change New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! A flight instructor and a student pilot died Friday when a small plane crashed at a south Florida airport, Palm Beach County authorities said. The crash at the Palm Beach County Park Airport in Lantana happened shortly after 11 a.m. Television helicopter footage shows the Cessna Skyhawk broken into several pieces well off the runway. Ana Diego Matias, 20, and instructor Stanley Sands, 76, died in the crash, according to the Palm Beach Post newspaper. Flightaware.com, an online flight tracking service, shows that the plane was taking off or had just taken off when it crashed. The flight records show that the single-propeller plane typically made several short flights each day, taking off and then returning to the Lantana airport or, occasionally, flying to other small airports in the area. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate along with the Palm Beach County sheriffs office. The airport serves small planes and is home to flight schools, advertising banner companies, repair shops and other aviation-related businesses. It is the second deadly crash this year: John Holland, 43, of Delray Beach and Michael Marshall Jr., 34 , of Boca Raton died when their Diamond DA40 crashed on March 5, according to news reports. Photo: This still image taken from video provided by WPTV shows emergency responders at the scene of a plane crash at Palm Beach County Park Airport near Lantana, Florida, on Friday. (WPTV via AP) Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Florida Aviation Numbers New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! A 25-year-old firefighter from South Carolina has died after part of a burning apartment building collapsed while firefighters were inside. Authorities said James Muller of the Irmo Fire District died Friday while he was providing aid during the response to a fire at Tropical Ridge apartments in Columbia. WLTX-TV reports that Muller, of Columbia, was one of seven firefighters who were taken to the hospital after the collapse. Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins said five firefighters from Columbia and two from Irmo had to be taken to the hospital. Two residents were also taken to the hospital, Jenkins said. In total, about 19 people were displaced from the damaged apartments. The American Red Cross is working with residents on lodging and other immediate needs. Chief Mike Sonefeld of the Irmo Fire District said Muller worked for the district for seven years and had a love and passion for the job. Firefighter Muller will be greatly missed amongst his firefighting family, Sonefeld said on Twitter. The fire is being investigated by the Columbia Police Department, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Richland County Fire Marshals Office and other agencies. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics South Carolina California regulators say the state is unlikely to run out of electricity this summer because of a big increase in power storage and a wet winter that filled the states reservoirs enough to restart hydroelectric power plants that were dormant during the drought. The nations most populous state normally has more than enough electricity to power the homes and businesses of more than 39 million people. But the electrical grid has trouble when it gets really hot and everyone turns on their air conditioners at the same time. It got so hot in August 2020 that Californias power grid was overwhelmed, prompting the states three largest utility companies to shut off electricity for hundreds of thousands of homes for a few hours over two consecutive days. Similar heat waves in 2021 and 2022 pushed the state to the brink again. State officials avoided blackouts by encouraging people to conserve energy and tapping some emergency gas-powered generators. The states electrical grid was strained in part because of a severe drought that left reservoirs at dangerously low levels, leaving little water available to pass through hydroelectric power plants. The water level in Lake Oroville got so low in 2021 state officials had to shut down a hydroelectric power plant that was capable of powering 80,000 homes. That wont be a problem this year after winter storms dumped massive amounts of rain and snow on the state. Plus, an additional 8,594 megawatts of power from wind, solar and battery storage will come online by Sept. 1, according to Neil Millar, vice president of Transmission Planning & Infrastructure Development for the California Independent System Operator. One megawatt of electricity is enough to power about 750 homes. I am relieved to say that we are in a much better position than what we were going into 2022, said Siva Gunda, vice chair of the California Energy Commission. The struggle to power the state during severe heat waves has been a problem for Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has aggressively moved the state away from fossil fuels. California gets much of its power now from sources like wind and solar. But those power sources are not always available. To avoid blackouts during heat waves, Newsom and the state Legislature spent $3. 3 billion to create a strategic reliability reserve. State officials used the money to extend the life of some gas-fired power plants that were scheduled to retire and to purchase large diesel-powered generators. Last September, when a severe heat wave pushed the statewide demand for electricity to an all-time high, this reserve generated up to 1,416 megawatts of energy. The reserve helps keeps the lights on. But it also goes against the states goal of having 100% clean energy by 2045. The state got 59% of its energy from non fossil-fuel sources in 2021, down from a high of 64% in 2019. State officials say the decrease is mostly because the drought reduced the amount of hydroelectric power available. One way to use solar power is to store it during the day and use it at night. Gunda said California is on track to have about 5,000 megawatts of battery storage available by June 1, an increase from just 250 megawatts in 2019. On Thursday, Newsom toured a battery manufacturing plant and touted his updated plan to ease the permitting process for new clean energy projects. I think the most important thing is to reinforce is we cant get it done unless we go big and bold. and weve got to address the barriers in our way, Newsom said. While officials say the state should avoid critical power shortages, they warn the weather could change things. Wildfires are also a threat to knock out key power transmission lines. Those things could still trigger a flex alert warning people to conserve energy. I would say that that folks shouldnt be surprised to see a flex alert, said Alice Reynolds, president of the California Public Utilities Commission. I mean, were talking about extreme heat, unusual events that are hard to manage. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics California Windstorm May 30, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signed legislation into law today making Minnesota the 23rd state to legalize and regulate the adult-use marijuana market. "This victory is especially satisfying," said NORMLs Deputy Director Paul Armentano. "The passage of this law is the result of years of grassroots activism by consumers and stakeholders, including Minnesota NORML and its founder - who himself was once a victim of cannabis prohibition. Those destructive policies will soon come to an end, and this summer Minnesota begins to process of righting past wrongs." The new law permits adults to purchase (up to two ounces from state-licensed retailers and/or 8 grams of concentrate and 800 milligrams worth of edible products), home-cultivate (up to eight plants, no more than four of which can be mature), and possess (up to 2 pounds in private) cannabis. The bill also facilitates the automatic review and expungement of records for those previously convicted of certain marijuana-related violations. Adults may legally possess cannabis on August 1, 2023. State officials at that time will begin the process of reviewing and expunging tens of thousands of marijuana convictions. By contrast, retail sales of cannabis products are not anticipated to begin until some time next year. State regulators with the newly created Office of Cannabis Management oversee licensing commercial cannabis growers, retailers, and delivery services. On-site consumption will be allowed at certain permitted events. Municipal officials will be able to impose regulations regarding the total number of cannabis businesses and their locations, but they may not prohibit their operations. Retail cannabis sales will be taxed at ten percent. Unlike legalization policies enacted recently in several other states, including Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York, the law does not provide language protecting those who consume cannabis at home from facing sanctions in the workplace if they test positive for cannabis metabolites on a drug screen. Minnesota will be the third state this year to enact marijuana legalization. Delaware lawmakers passed a pair of bills in April legalizing adult-use marijuana possession and establishing a system for the licensed sales of cannabis products. Under the new laws, adult-use possession became legal on April 23. State regulators must begin accepting retail business license applications by August 1, 2024. Maryland lawmakers also recently passed legislation to implement a voter-approved referendum legalizing the use and sale of marijuana products and expunging cannabis-related criminal records. Adults will be legally able to possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis and/or 12 grams of cannabis concentrates with no penalty beginning on July 1st. Existing medical cannabis dispensaries will be able to apply (for a fee) for dual licensure to sell to the adult-use market beginning this summer. State regulators must start approving additional marijuana business licenses by July 1, 2024. Additional information is available from the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management. NORML advocates for changes in public policy so that the responsible possession and use of marijuana by adults is no longer subject to criminal penalties. NORML further advocates for a regulated commercial cannabis market so that activities involving the for-profit production and retail sale of cannabis and cannabis products are safe, transparent, consumer-friendly, and are subject to state and/or local licensure. Finally, NORML advocates for additional changes in legal and regulatory policies so that those who use marijuana responsibly no longer face either social stigma or workplace discrimination, and so that those with past criminal records for marijuana-related violations have the opportunity to have their records automatically expunged. Find out more at norml.org and read the NORML Fact Sheets on the most common misconceptions and myths regarding cannabis and cannabis policies. 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. 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Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Redundancies at Canadian business services firm, Telus International were raised in the Dail on Tuesday in which the firm was accused of outsourcing jobs in the company's Cork office to Eastern Europe. Addressing the Taoiseach, Socialist TD, Mick Barry said that the team managing Telus' AirBnb account were being outsourced to Bucharest in Romania. While a number of jobs will remain in Cork, 22 roles have been relocated, with affected staff being offered alternative roles within the company. "These jobs should not be exported," Mr Barry continued. "This is a race to the bottom at its very worst." Speaking to the Irish Examiner, a spokesperson for Telus International confirmed that the company had informed a group of team members that their employment would cease, saying, "We are in consultation with the team members affected. We are unable to provide any specific details due to standard NDAs with all of our clients." "TELUS International is working to find assignments within other teams for affected team members and in instances where redeployment is not feasible or where team members have made the decision to seek employment elsewhere, we are supporting them with access to career planning services as well as dedicated wellness support. "These changes are not a reflection of our team members efforts." One of the staff members being redeployed is a social media support agent who has been working with Telus International since 2017. Speaking to the Irish Examiner, the staff member said he was one of a number of employees working on an AirBnb team that was impacted by the outsourcing of jobs to Bucharest, calling the new role he has been reassigned to a significant demotion. My paycheck for this month is already less than the previous, Ive been moved to a totally different job, one that I never wanted. The staff member also said that because he had been reassigned, he was not eligible for a redundancy package, with a number of employees being faced with a similar situation. The Department of Enterprise confirmed to the Irish Examiner that it received collective redundancy notifications in relation to potential redundancies at Telus International on three seperate dates between February and May 2023, with the most recent being received on Friday, May 26th. Employing more than 2,000 people in Cork and Dublin and more than 76,000 across its global operations, Telus International reported revenue of $686m (639.5m) in the first three months of 2023, up by $87m and reflecting a 15% increase year-over-year. Reiterating its full-year outlook for 2023, Telus International expects revenue of up to $3.03bn (2.82bn), representing revenue growth in excess of 20% on a reported basis. The Irish Examiner has contacted AirBnb for comment. Cork airport is set to welcome its one-millionth passenger of 2023 today as the airport prepares for a busy June Bank holiday weekend. As the peak summer season begins, more than 56,500 passengers are expected throughout the long weekend. Making a full recovery from pre-pandemic levels, passenger numbers this year represent a 3% increase since 2019, and a 13% rise in annual terms. This weekend will also see Ryanair commence two new routes from Cork Airport to Seville and La Rochelle, with both services operating twice weekly from Thursday, June 1st. The announcement follows Central Statistics Office data released yesterday that reported passenger numbers to be up by 4.2% on pre-pandemic levels, with 1,676,000 passengers arriving by air in Ireland last month. According to CSO statistician, Gregg Patrick, recovery has spread across all major air routes, with transatlantic travel rising by more than 40% in relative terms. Spain remains the most popular continental destination, with almost a quarter of a million passengers arriving on these routes in April, however, Great Britain was the most important destination for overseas travel to Ireland, with 634,500 passengers arriving on air and sea routes in April, up by almost an additional 100,000 annually. In addition, The latest Travel Bulletin released by the CSO showed that passenger numbers in Shannon Airport were up 33% on the same month in 2019. This summer, Cork airport is operating 44 direct routes to the UK and continental Europe, with Ryanair last December announcing its biggest ever summer schedule for Cork airport. In addition to La Rochelle and Seville, the airline also announced new routes to the East Midlands in the UK, Venice, and Rome. Cork Airport will have a record year for international travel, according to Daa chief executive Kenny Jacobs, revising up forecasts to 2.7m for 2023. Six months after taking up the role with responsibility for Dublin and Cork airports along with the Daa's international operations, Mr Jacobs said the aviation sector had rebounded strongly from the covid pandemic and he spoke confidently about its future. In an interview with the Irish Examiner, the Cork native and former marketing chief for Ryanair is clear Cork will likely experience further growth, potentially reaching capacity of 5m passengers by the end of the decade. "Cork is ahead of where it was in 2019," he said. "A huge amount of that travel from Ireland is outbound to sun destinations Spain, Portugal and Italy. "Cork will reach 2.7m passengers this year. Corks biggest-ever year was 2008 when it hit 3.2m but within that, over half a million was the Cork to Dublin route. So this year, it could be Corks biggest ever year for international travel. "With 2.7m this year, I could see it getting to 3.5m and even 4m pretty handily. Its a very busy airport. Loads of parking and lots of space in the terminal. Ryanair is constantly adding routes. We can see it being an airport of 5m passengers by the end of the decade or soon after." Cork Airport has a capacity for 5m passengers. Picture: Denis Scannell The popular Cork to Dublin flights operated by Ryanair and Aer Lingus Regional ended in 2011 when the M8 motorway dramatically cut driving times between both cities. However, Jacobs said there was a strong possibility such a route could be resurrected. "Id be amazed if it doesnt return at some point. It wont come back at the numbers it was. It was a route that had too much frequency and that can kill a route. Dublin as a transatlantic hub is really developing. Aer Lingus want to grow it further. Last week they announced Ohio as a new route. I would say people in Cork who dont go to Dublin would now have a new reason for a transatlantic flight. So, I would never say never. I could see it coming back." Jacobs said the key to growing traffic at Cork was European destinations. There is no reason why Cork should not have Lisbon, Madrid and Berlin on a year-round basis. They are the ones that I think need to be sustained across the summer and winter. "Everyone gets excited about Cork and New York but really it's Lisbon and Barcelona all year round. Somewhere like Copenhagen is also needed. They are the ones that are most attractive." Cork secured its first transatlantic flights in the years before covid with Norwegian-operated flights to the US east coast. Discussions around such flights are raised on a regular basis. "Could transatlantic happen, yes. But the European capitals year-round is the logical next step. Transatlantic carriers will look at Cork again but they just want to get through the summer and the winter. It will be next year before they look at Cork again. The runway can take transatlantic, so the infrastructure is there but as I said, Corks growth should be focused on Europe. Jacobs took over the role following a very difficult 2022 for Dublin Airport, where staff shortages resulted in massive security queues, something he is confident will not be repeated this year. Dublin Airport has been very stable so far this year, in that 92% of people have moved through security in 20 minutes or less. The summer will be busy in Dublin and you would never be complacent but we are much more confident that it wont be anything like last summer. "We now have 870 security staff. This time last year we had about 600. But within the 870 we have about 650 who are just looking at the screens as your bag goes by. Last year, that number was 300 so we have doubled the number in that area. Passengers queue to get into the Departures at Terminal 2, Dublin Airport last May. Picture: Colin Keegan The airport will be busy because we have a lot of flights departing at the same time but it wont be anything like last year. There will be no white tents, no metal barriers." With Dublin often operating at almost full capacity, there have been regular calls for routes to be more evenly distributed across regional airports like Cork, Shannon and Knock but it is not straightforward. "Many will say routes should be moved from Dublin to Cork or Shannon but does it work that way? No, it doesnt. Having worked on the airline side, its Dublin and then the regionals. So Cork is competing with Shannon. The airlines dont say 'I am going to take this route and move it to Cork and its going to work just as well'. The demand just doesnt transfer." Prior to the covid pandemic and the devastation it wrought on global travel and aviation, a key question regarding Cork Airport was its status with the Daa. Shannon Airport operates independently and many campaigned for a similar status for Cork. Jacobs has a different view. "Cork is still best placed in Daa," he said. "The recent runway project, the new electricity substations, new scanners, those investments are happening because it is part of the DAA and Cork would not be able to carry out those works at the same rate if it was independent. Cork is still free to do its own deals with airlines. It has full commercial autonomy so it benefits by being part of the Daa. It is not competing with Dublin for routes, its competing against Shannon. The runway reconstruction project was considered a major success and was carried out at a time when traffic was reduced due to covid restrictions. New C3 scanners, currently in operation at Dublin Airport, that move passengers through security faster and remove the need to scan liquids separately, will likely be installed in Cork in 2025. With much larger machines, they will require significant capital work to be carried out at Cork Airport's security section. The removal of the old terminal will also require significant planning and development. "At some point, the demolition of the old terminal will be on the agenda and that will allow us to put additional aircraft stands and a walkway into the main terminal. Its there that you have additional capacity." The old terminal at Cork Airport is to be demolished to make space for more aircraft stands. Picture: John Sheehan While positive for the future of aviation and traffic growth in Ireland, Jacobs is aware of moves in other countries to curtail air travel over environmental concerns. France has banned most internal flights given the improvements to its rail network. "The continental European approach towards banning internal flights and on top of that Germany France and The Netherlands going down the route of subsidising national rail tickets. We dont have that choice. We have to be careful that Ireland, as an island nation on the periphery of Europe, does the right thing for Irish travel and inward investment and jobs and we have to continue to support inbound and outbound connectivity. "You cannot get a train from Cork to the south of France as you can in continental Europe. It cant be a one-size-all." In what other country can you find donkeys so famous they have to hide from the paps (will the real Jenny please stand up)? Where but Ireland can you stay in a Medieval ring fort, a decommissioned lighthouse or a hobbit pod by the beach? Once you learn to love the tempestuous nature of the weather, there really is nothing like the Irish staycation. Unpredictable? Yes. Lack of preparation? A rookie mistake. Weve rounded up an easy checklist with all your staycation essentials items with a focus on sustainability. Pack a packing cube or ten First things first: invest in a set of packing cubes to maximise space and keep things in order. Think of it as a personal assistant without the wage per hour. Dungarvan-based brand Dust + Rock has a pack of 7 made from recycled PET bottles with a spill-free compartment for your liquids. Long-term luggage Less is more when it comes to your luggage. It may be easier in the short term to opt for a cheaper plastic suitcase but the hidden costs both to the environment and your back remain to be seen. Star Wars fans sailing to Skellig Michael or ornithology enthusiasts hoping to pick a puffin out of the crowd on the Saltee ferry will love Patagonias Great Divider 26l water-resistant boat bag. The brand offers a repair service to boot. Borrow, beg, dont steal The most sustainable luggage option is to borrow or use one you already have but if your suitcase has seen better days, its worth investing in a durable option that will last you for a long time. Try the Samsonite Ecodiver, 295 at Arnotts or the March Luggage cabin light, 107,99, from Carews in Limerick. If Instagram Reels are your bag, shop the Negative Nylon and Ecocraft Canvas styles from Paravel; both made from recycled plastic bottles and look like theyre straight out of a photoshoot. The Aoife tote bag. Want to avoid overpacking? Ditch the suitcase. Instead, try a large weekend bag like the Aoife Weekend to Tote, Gallery Tote To Backpack, 395, or the McWilliam holdall bag, 65 its hand made in Crosshaven by a family of sailmakers. Sustainable swimsuits As far as we know Wim Hof never said a cold dip couldnt benefit from a chic cover up and Donegal label Kahm Sustainable Swimwear has beautiful short-sleeved and long-sleeved swimsuits made from old carpets and fishing nets. Kahms Grace swimsuit For a more high-end Ibiza-inspired look, try Mona Swims. Think luxe metallic one pieces with racy cut-outs made from whisper-soft silk and ocean waste your DJ career awaits. Jeans and a nice top If its high time to prize the yoga pants from your body, step away from your twentieth pair of black leggings and opt for a loose fit pair of denims instead. Fresh Cuts Clothing stocks circular brand MUD Jean. The Easy Go girlfriend style, 129.95, is ethically made with organic cotton so its comfortable enough for long days exploring plus you can send them back when youre finished and the brand will extend the life cycle. Build a capsule wardrobe that will see you through your staycation, bearing in mind to pack for all eventualities. Layering will be your best friend for your staycation so start with a comfortable t-shirt, preferably something breathable in organic cotton. Irish brand GROWN Clothing stocks stylish unbleached organic cotton tees and sweatshirts ideal for trekking through the countryside or the bracing breeze of an Irish beach. Shoes, made for walking A comfy pair of runners is a non-negotiable and will work equally as well with jeans, a tee and a windbreaker as with a maxi skirt and camisole. Step away from the Vejas and go for Waterford-based brand, Sampla. Made from appleskin, these sneakers are 100% vegan. The windbreaker beneath your wings The best jacket is one you can whip off and easily fold up in your bag. Irish label Gym + Coffees new Kinney windbreaker, 75, will work with denims, chinos or yoga pants. If the weather is not on your side, invest in something waterproof like one of Ember & Earths seriously waterproof jackets, ethically made in Galway. The sustainable Irish brand is having a 50% off sale at the minute. Ready, set, click. Gym+Coffee Kinney Windbreaker in Orbit Elevated flip flops A stylish pair of flip flops will take you from the beach to the bistro for an evening meal and the Arica sandals in khaki, 53, from low impact brand Eco Alf are somehow pieced together from vegan polyester and algae. The mind boggles. Eco Alf flipflops Fast-drying beach towels No matter how balmy the weather is, a dip in the Atlantic requires a cosy wraparound towel and Stable of Irelands Swim linen towel, 130, is a multifunctional piece that can transform into a wrap dress, picnic blanket, a scarf or a sarong. Its fast drying, anti-microbial and absorbent to boot. Complete the look with the matching waterproof swim bag, 45, to store your towel in. Pre-book the local paps your star is already rising. Stable of Ireland swim towel Responsibly-made sunglasses Sunglasses are an absolute must for any Irish staycation. Kildare-based Raw Roots sunglasses use ethically-sourced hardwood and the San Miguel pair, 75 look twice as expensive as they are, not to mention the brand helps fund reforestation projects in Sub Saharan Africa. Pala has a great range of sunglasses online and is committed to fighting blindness with a percentage of profits going towards sight saving projects in Africa. Make it a midi skirt To transition from day to night, pack something effortlessly cool; a printed ankle-skimming midi skirt like the Rachel skirt from FeRi, 249, will stay in your wardrobe for years. Pair with sandals, a loose fit camisole and a denim jacket et voila, youre dinner ready. For a daytime look, match the skirt with a tucked-in tee like the Holding Nature one, 25 from Grown Clothing. FeRi's Green Rachel midi skirt. Denim days The ubiquitous denim jacket is our go-to staycation evening jacket vintage and oversized is always good. Try online charity shop Thriftify, which has a designer edit, or Tola Vintage, Nine Crows, Ani Vintage on Depop. The Harlequin have a nifty edit of denim jackets the more worn, the better when it comes to denim. If your runners are covered in mud from a day trekking through fields, pack the handwoven Arielle sandals, 185 from Sezane the neutral colour will complement any outfit. Nicki Hoynes strappy sandals are slow fashion done well with the added bonus of supporting an Irish woman entrepreneur. With some careful preparation, your Irish staycation can be every bit as magical as an overseas excursion. Best vintage stores Miss Daisy Blue (Cork) Tola Vintage (Dublin and Cork) Liberty and Jasmine (Cork) Hazel Nuts about Vintage (Kerry) Folkster (Kilkenny) Public Romance (Galway) Waterford Vintage Factory 35mm Vintage (Mayo) Vito Vintage (Limerick) Flea markets for treasure seekers Dublin: The Useless Project Galway: Flea Style Market Cork: York Street Clobber at Mother Jones Market Kilkenny: Mountain View Market Limerick: Milk Market We are back from our Spanish holibobs and absolutely pooped. Its only when you spend seven days in the company of your family you realise just how energetic the main characters are. Between Ted and Freds high-velocity lifestyles, my goal this week is to spend an hour alone in a darkened room, recovering from it all. If you are one of the many Irish people we met in Spain, may I extend apologies for my daily levels of panic around the pool. Due to Ted being a surprise sprinter, without any warning whatsoever, he can go from standing beside you to suddenly standing by the deep end, ready to cannonball into the water. I spent most days repeatedly screaming, Ted! No! and chasing him around the sun-loungers like something out of a Benny Hill film. Both my husband and toddler are quintessential high-energy extroverts. They thrive on being around other people, preferably as many as possible. Fred is genuinely happy to see acquaintances in supermarkets while I go to deep levels of subterfuge to avoid the dreaded energy drain of actual chats. During our holiday, Ted made many little friends, as kids do when thrown into a kiddy pool and told, go and make little friends. Of all the friends, Ted was the only one who kept going from morning to dinner time minus the need for downtime, nap time, or even just sitting staring into space time. One evening he was following the lead of a Spanish child who fancied himself as a breakdancer. Ted copied this child twirling around the mini-disco dancefloor for 90 minutes before this miniature Emilio Estevezs mother dragged him off to bed, much to his protestations. As Emilio bellowed arretez! arretez! the poor woman made eye contact with me, and as we exchanged a look of mutual understanding, she said, These two boys, no low battery. It stayed with me for the rest of the week because Teds batteries never really run down, and as tiring as it is, I adore him for it. From breakfast time until bedtime, he powers through, excited about life and mad to talk to as many people as possible. We are so lucky that he generally sleeps well through the night and isnt one for waking up early. I dread getting himself and his father up for school. But the lack of downtime during the day means you better have comfortable shoes on because youll be doing a lot of running. Much like fur gilets, nap times are a relic of the past. But unlike fur gilets, naps serve a very useful purpose: a midday breather and cup of tea. Because Ted is very much his own man, he has always been a bit allergic to the concept of holding hands with me while out and about. I do my own thing, he announced as I attempted to hold onto him going through Barcelona airport security. Before I knew it, he had done a legger and was being chased by three members of staff, all of whom failed to apprehend him. Eventually, I managed to nab him as he stopped to pet the sniffer dog, much to the relief of the panting airport workers in his hot pursuit. Shortly after we return home, I visit a relative, and we watch Ted run around the garden in circles for nearly an hour before he announces its time to go. He never stops, bless him, the relative notes with genuine affection. Not so long ago high energy in children was seen as something that should be contained, ordered, remedied. It was one of the things that never sat right with me as a teacher. More than once, I wondered if asking children to sit still and be quiet for hours every day was going against the very thing that makes kids, well, kids. I taught many always-on classes in my time and they were always my favourite, but at some point, I would have to interrupt the fun with a cluasthuiscint or a bit of aimsir chaite. I love hanging out with you guys, but sadly I have to teach you, I would apologise, and proceed to ruin their day by making them learn something. Fred often talks about having been one of those high-energy students, and it is easy to believe, especially at bedtime. Last night at 9.30pm I had just got Ted down after a day of serious cardio when Fred announced it was the perfect time for some Tina Turner Karaoke (Ar dheis de go raibh a hanam dilis). After multiple renditions of Simply The Best, I call it quits at 10.30pm, just as Fred gets into his flow. Do you ever wonder how birds fly? he muses as we tidy up the days carnage. At that moment, his phone rings. It is one of his fellow nightowl friends looking to have a big chat at this unearthly hour. Rather than silence the call and roll his eyes like a normal human being, Freds face lights up and he answers with genuine joy at the prospect of a midnight debrief. Fred still has the same energy he had when some poor wan like myself was trying to teach him the curriculum in the 90s. Life hasnt in any way dampened his spirits or drained his batteries, and I can only hope Ted is the same, that he is still approaching life with the same velocity in years to come. But I definitely wouldnt want to be the one trying to teach him the aimsir chaite. Estlin Luna wasn't born to make the last Census. She was tragically killed before this one. In the statistics that make up who and what we are as a nation, she wouldn't be recorded. Amongst the millions of facts and figures, she didn't exist. But Estlin's mother Amy was anxious that future generations would know about her beautiful little girl. Anxious that she too would be counted. So in the time capsule section of the form, a new feature this year, she shared Estlin's story. Tonight as we count those in our house and our family, we are thinking so much of our beloved little girl Estlin Luna, she wrote. She was tragically taken from us five years ago, just before her fourth birthday, in a car crash. Estlin was our firstborn child and the love of our lives." She was never counted in a census and so we are so relieved to be able to mention her here. "She was beautiful, creative, funny, so smart and clever and confident beyond her years. We were honoured to be her parents and honoured still to grieve her for the rest of our lives. "Estlin Luna, we carry you in our hearts, love always, Mommy, Daddy, Mannix and Lucie. Feeling such comfort today after filling in the time capsule section in the #Census2022 last night. Estlin never was counted in a census but 100+ yrs from now she will be remembered & our ancestors will be able to read about her. Just incredible. pic.twitter.com/ZL1eyZdUpZ AmyKDWall (@AmyKDWall) April 4, 2022 The timeless note touched the hearts of thousands who took to social media in an outpouring of support. Others too used the time capsule slot to share poignant memories of lost loved ones. Others wrote of their hope for the future. Some left notes to their future children, others hoped for a better world for theirs. We asked some Irish Examiner readers what they put in their time capsule. Ruth Cotter from Leixlip, Co Kildare shared a poem about her baby boy, Taidhg: We wrote about our son Taidhg who was born in 2021. He was born with only half a heart. Census time capsule from Ruth Cotter, Leixlip, Co Kildare. "He had hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and underwent open-heart surgery. He lived for five weeks before he passed. He was a magical little boy and I want everyone to know him and how brave he was. Kay Ward of Malin Head, Co Donegal, also used the time capsule to share an unimaginable loss. With a heavy heart I fill out this form for four children when I am a mother of five, she writes. Danai's mum Kay Ward describes her baby boy. Let the records show that my beautiful son Danai Ward existed and filled our lives from the 23rd of September 2017, until the moment he closed his eyes on the morning of the 1st of July 2020. "He would have been in playschool this year and we miss him more with every passing day. Thank you for leaving a space on this form, so that we could write his name and remember him this night. Andrew McGinley, whose children Conor, 9, Darragh, 7, and Carla, 3, were killed by their mother Deirdre Morley at their family home in Newcastle, Co Dublin in January 2020, shared a picture of his form featuring just his details on Twitter, noting it was a very lonely census. Ive gotten through birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas but it ends up being Census Day that floors me and beats the crap out of me Tomorrow is another day though and I will celebrate the lives of Conor, Darragh & Carla and remind you all again of their magnificence https://t.co/OdjYcXvpCm Conors Clips (@conorsclips) April 3, 2022 He told the Irish Examiner he wrote about his three children but that he wont be sharing the details of his time capsule. Parents too were remembered through the form: Kenneth Noonan from Athlone wrote about his late father; Stephanie OConnor from Cork city also wrote about her dad. I wanted future generations of our family to know how special my Dad was and how the world is a little bit darker without him." Orla Wright in Dublin used the time capsule as an opportunity to share her grandparents story. My folks are both unwell and my mum was too sad to write about a future they are losing so I transcribed a poem her dad had written for her mum in 1935, the year before they married. "He was a schoolteacher and university graduate, she was fun, loving and a friend to all her grandkids. It will be nearly 200 years old in 2122 and hopefully will keep everyone's memories alive. Orla Wright's census time capsule about her grandparents (right). Geraldine Kilduff from Mullingar used the space to introduce herself as an unacknowledged Thalidomider. Aged 63, still waiting for justice. Michelle Conaghan in Sligo pondered whether a cure for cancer would be available in 2122 while Yvonne Brewer Spillane in Cork was curious about many conditions: "Do Doctors know anything yet about properly supporting and treating people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)? Any cure yet for ME/CFS, Lyme Disease, Long Covid? Fiona Barry Kenneally describes her son Theos progress in facilities from CUH to Temple Street and uses her time capsule to campaign for carers: I look to the future and hope one day that carers will be valued for the great work they do for their own. Unsurprisingly, Covid-19 was a hot topic too with the focus on both the sorrow of the pandemic as well as the new experiences lockdown threw into their lives. We are just at the end of the pandemic. I didn't mind the two years at home I loved the peace and quiet, wrote Mary Martin from Drogheda. It was amazing what I learned to do on the computer. I'd have never 'zoomed' anyone if not for the virus. Sean OReilly in Galway said the experience changed the way people lived, worked and even died. Kilkenny resident Jennifer Butler shares her concern that set dancing could die out due to the pandemic. Set dancing is slow to return, as many older dancers are afraid of Covid. There is a concern set dancing will be lost and forgotten." The war in Ukraine was on many minds and it is mentioned often in their time capsules. Karl Horgan in Cork said he hoped those reading his time capsule in 2122 read this in a world where Ukraine is free, where tyranny is extinguished, that you have solved climate change, ended injustice and created unity. Beatrice Karaciovaite in Co Cavan shares a message of support for Ukraine. Beatrice Karaciovaite in Cavan said her family is from a former Soviet country: "We hope that when you read this 100 years on, Ukraine will be celebrating their 100-year anniversary of victory against Russia and the war, she wrote. Census enumerator, Imogen Forrest, said the war in Ukraine is just one of the struggles facing society today. I am acutely aware that as a country we have many hurdles to overcome. The pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the climate emergency have brought out the best in some of us, and the worst in others. Census enumerator, Imogen Forrest, said the war in Ukraine is just one of the struggles facing society today. The new Irish reflected on their adopted home too. Laya Little in Cork says there is warmth and generosity here. I came here because Im enamoured by the Irish. I hope that in 100 years it hasnt changed. That there are still rolling hills and chats around pints on any given night. I hope theres still a warmth and generosity in the people you meet in the shops. Lindita Jaupaj in Dublin says Ireland has been a safe place full of opportunities for her and she is proud to be an Irish citizen. Climate change and nature were also recorded. In Donegal, Denis Doherty told her descendants she has planted a small orchard for you at my cottage in Carndonagh (in the family since pre-Famine times). Lawrence in Dublin wrote yesterday I sowed a wildflower patch and Kerry man Charles Williams has planted trees around his farm in Killarney. I planted many trees around the farm over the past number of years, I hope many of them are still surviving long after I am gone, he wrote. Census time capsule from Ann Burke in Westport, Co Mayo. Ann Burke in Co Mayo hopes the global ecosystem is healthy in 100 years. I hope that humanity has managed to pull together to save and rewild this paradise of a planet we call home. Of course, pets are part of modern families and their role is prominent in many time capsules. Margaret O'Sullivan in Kerry wrote about her two dogs, Hunter and Roxy. Margaret OSullivan in Co Kerry shared details of Hunter and Roxy, a springer spaniel and a mixed terrier. Describing his family, Ivor OSullivan mentioned his newest companion. As I write this note, our new dog Canelo is laying at my feet, with her best friend Messi sitting next to Dolores. Dearbhla Quinn-Hemmings in Dublin documents all the pets in her family, including her parents cats. We have just adopted a lurcher (greyhound/lab) named Pepper (eight months old) and have a 13-year-old cat named Sadie who we adopted in May 2021. PS: My parents live at no 16 with two cats Oscar and Lily. Writings from well-known faces By Jen Stevens Louise McSharry, Zara King, and James Patrice The time capsule section of the 2022 census form sent many of us into a spin. What could we say to our future relatives that would give them an insight into our lives today? Did it need to be profound? Or funny? Or sweet? Or full of tiny details that are so hard for historians to find? We asked some well-known people to share what they wrote in theirs. James Kavanagh, Co-owner Currabinny and 'Irish Examiner' food columnist James Kavanagh. Picture: Brid O'Donovan I feel very lucky and liberated as a gay man in Ireland in 2022. I'd imagine if I read a Census form from an Irish gay man 100 years ago they'd be writing that they feel hunted, hated, isolated, and unwelcome. These, unfortunately, are not historical feelings for some people in the LGBTQ+ family. There are plenty of loud, ugly, modern bigots spreading the same lies and vibes their biggoted ancestors spread but this time, their target are our trans brothers and sisters. I hope whoever is reading this in 100 years reels in disgust and disbelief that there are still gross people in 2022 unnecessarily and exhaustingly throwing hate at a group of marginalised, innocent and gorgeous people. As a fairly liberated member of the LGBTQ+ family, it's not time to pull the ladder up, and it's always worth remembering that there is no LBG without the T. Zara King, new correspondent, Virgin Media News News correspondent, Zara King. As I write this in 2022 and you read it in 2122, something we will have in common is that feeling of gratitude. Please know that those small things really are the big things. Lots of love, Z. x Louise McSharry, broadcaster and podcaster, Catch Up with Louise McSharry Broadcaster and podcaster, Louise McSharry's, census entry. We are very lucky to live happily in a nice house with a peaceful family in a lovely part of Dublin which still has a sense of community. Technology is a huge part of our life; we sometimes worry if maybe too much. We are proud of the strides toward equality Ireland has made but we would like more progress, specifically in terms of classism, racism, and especially the abolition of direct provision which we are horrified by. We worry about climate change. We have two cats, Debbie and Dolly, which we adopted when I (Louise) had cancer. I am proud to have become entirely self-employed via my podcast (a relatively new media form). We teach our children to tell the truth, be kind, and accept people as they are. We would like better weather Wan the Bohs!'. Chupi Sweetman, jeweller Chupi Sweetman left a note for her future great grandchildren. I quit my job in fast fashion for one in diamonds because I wanted to make pieces of the future, so I loved the question in the census form. Life is so terribly busy in our nonstop world, its wonderful to take time and think about what kind of world we want to leave for our grandchildren. I thought about what I would have liked to have heard from my great-grandmother; I wrote about hope and love. I painted a story of our family as people, not just statistics. I described the hope of emerging from a pandemic and the horror of seeing a war in Ukraine. I wrote about the social change I have seen in my life; from marriage equality to the right to choose. I wrote about my darling daughter and how I hope that in one hundred years we will have a more equal world for women. I hope that when her grandchildren read it they will get a tiny taste of who we were, how we loved, and what we cared about. James Patrice, presenter on 'The Today Show' and 'Dancing with the Star' James Patrice sends a message of love, equality, tolerance, and kindness. Heres to a world of love, equality, tolerance, and kindness and heres to keeping her lit! (A bit cheesy I know, but I love the idea of a future generation seeing those words and not even having to question their place in society.) Carl Mullan, 2fm Breakfast with Doireann, Donncha and Carl Carl Mullan's time capsule. On the night of the 3rd of April 2022, we are also joined in our home by our female, black Labrador, Angie. She is the best girlie-wirlie in the whole world and she makes us laugh and smile every day. She makes our home complete, and we love her very much. Angie Mullan born 21/04/20. PS: Shes farting on the couch as I write this because today she ate a hash brown that she shouldnt have. Derval ORourke, Olympian and Irelands Fittest Family Coach Derval O'Rourke advised people to use time wisely with people they care about. There are four of us in our house and we like to spend our time on the water or near the water. Archie, who is three, likes to kiss people all over their faces and hug you around the neck and Dafne, who is six, has told us that she and Archie are planning on living with us in the house forever. Be careful with your time because you dont have that much and use it wisely with people you care about. An increasing trend in attempted cyberattacks on Irish hospitals poses a severe threat, according to a global cybersecurity firm. Just over two years on from the HSE cyberattack, there has been a 60% spike in the number of attempted attacks targeting hospitals and other healthcare services over the past two months. Healthcare organisations are being warned to remain vigilant and prioritise cybersecurity as an attack poses a serious threat to the provision of services, patient care, and data security. Smarttech247 monitors activity targeting a range of sectors and believes the recent surge in healthcare threats is a cause for great concern. The 2021 attack on the HSE caused havoc for patients, medics, and admin staff with the wide-ranging impacts lasting for months. A new threat has emerged on the dark net involving 'Phishing as a Service' kits which are specifically tailored to exploit the vulnerabilities within the health service. The 2021 attack on the HSE caused havoc for patients, medics and admin staff with the wide-ranging impacts lasting for months. Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the growing dependence on technology within healthcare by exploiting vulnerabilities to gain unauthorised access, disrupt operations and compromise patient data, said Smarttech247 CEO Raluca Saceanu. "The consequences of these attacks can be devastating, potentially jeopardising patient care, compromising privacy, and undermining the trust placed in healthcare institutions," she said. Ms Saceanu said Irish hospitals should prioritise cybersecurity by implementing robust security protocols, raising awareness among staff and investing in ongoing training and education. The government should be funding training programs, technological upgrades, and a collaborative platform should be established where threat intelligence can be exchanged, she added. Accommodation for asylum seekers will remain constrained despite 1,200 beds being found in recent weeks, an Oireachtas committee will be told on Tuesday. Officials are due to address the joint Oireachtas committee on children, equality, disability, integration, and youth on the handling of the migrant situation, along with local authority representatives. In her opening statement, the Assistant Secretary General of the Department of Integration, Carol Baxter, will tell TDs and senators that over 20,648 asylum seekers are now accommodated in the international protection system, compared with 11,000 this time last year. This, she will say, constitutes an unprecedented level of demand for IPAS [International Protection Accommodation Services] accommodation. Ms Baxter will add that accommodation has been sourced at Maynooth University during the summer and that work is beginning on rapid-build sites. We are currently working on a number of projects to purchase and build centres that would be State-owned, she will say. This is starting with rapid build projects at the Athlone and Knocklisheen IPAS centres as part of a proof of concept project being undertaken under the auspices of the Department of the Taoiseachs Accommodation Working Group. 5,880 beds for IP applicants Ms Baxter will tell the committee that the International Protection Procument Service (IPPS) has procured 5,880 beds for international protection applicants so far this year and has opened 145 emergency centres since January of last year. However, more than 2,500 beds have also been lost during this period as hotels, originally procured during the covid pandemic, pivot back to tourism. A further 92 beds are scheduled to be lost by 10 June, she will say. As of May 24, 217 adult males remained unaccommodated, and supply will be constrained into the future as it takes time to bring new projects onstream. Accommodation for 61,000 Ukrainians Her colleague Sheenagh Rooney, assistant secretary at the Ukraine Programme Management Office, will say that over 83,000 Ukrainians have come to Ireland, with 61,000 of those being assisted with accommodation. The department has spent over 976m on Ukraine accommodation and related costs since the Russian invasion in 2022, with the bill so far this year being almost 461m, the bulk of this going on accommodation. In recent weeks, the department has been paying out around 30m per week to contractors. Harris praises gardai Meanwhile, Justice Minister Simon Harris praised the garda response to a blockade of a facility for asylum seekers in Santry, north Dublin. Gardai dismantled the blockade over the weekend, having been criticised for not being active enough regarding protesters. I actually think the garda efforts and work over the weekend have been extraordinarily successful. I mean, the first job of An Garda Siochana is to keep people safe, is to ensure that peoples rights are upheld including the right to protest but absolutely ensuring that right never crosses into something youve absolutely no right to do. You have no right to behave in an unlawful fashion. You have no right to intimidate, no right to endanger, and you have no right to block or impede somebody trying to go around their business. Professor Philip Nolan has been appointed as the new chief executive of a funding agency by Higher Education Minister Simon Harris. Prof Nolan will be the new chief executive designate of the Research and Innovation funding agency, which will be created on the passing of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023. The new agency will fund research and innovation excellence in all disciplines across the spectrum of arts, engineering, humanities, mathematics, science, social sciences, technology, and others. Prof Nolan previously served as the president of Maynooth University and was deputy president of University College Dublin prior to that. He was also chair of Nphet's Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group throughout the covid-19 pandemic. Announcing the appointment on Tuesday, Mr Harris said: "I am delighted to announce the appointment of Prof Nolan, who will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role. This appointment marks a significant milestone in the establishment of the agency. It will allow for the operational and transitional work required to set up the agency proceed at pace, alongside the legislative process. The appointment of Professor Nolan will provide important continuity and leadership during the transitional period and the early stages of the new agency." Prof Nolan said: "I am honoured and excited to have been appointed by Minister Simon Harris TD as the CEO-designate of the new national research and innovation agency. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to drive a step change in public investment in research, and give us the talent, knowledge and expertise to address the major societal challenges and changes that we must confront over the coming decades." It is expected the new agency will come into operation in January 2024. Prof Nolans appointment is effective from Tuesday and he will assume the role for the formative years of the new agency. The Irish Cancer Society has called for VAT to be abolished on sun cream in Budget 2024 to make it more affordable. The charity's 'Cancer Matters' submission to Government urges them to invest in cancer prevention and treatment, timely access to diagnostics, and to relieve some of the out-of-pocket costs paid by people affected by cancer. Some of the key asks outlined include: Allocating 20m in the National Cancer Strategy to support and develop cancer services Abolishing VAT on sun cream to ensure that sun protection is more affordable Removing car parking charges to remove this extra layer of expense on cancer patients when they are financially vulnerable Guaranteeing women treated for cancer post-partum can postpone maternity leave during their treatment Increase the excise duty on a packet of cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco products by 5% Provide medical cards to all cancer patients upon diagnosis, until their treatment is finished Director of Advocacy Rachel Morrogh said: "Approximately 45,000 people will get a cancer diagnosis next year, and this number is expected to grow in the coming years. Timing is everything when it comes to diagnosing and treating cancer. "This is why we call for a protected cancer care pathway to ensure that people can access the diagnostic tests as and when they are needed, and access cancer treatment in a timely manner." Ms Morrogh said that the impact of cancer was being felt "more acutely" in 2023 due to the cost-of-living crisis and that the health service is "buckling under increased and sustained pressure." She added: "The Irish Cancer Society believes that Budget 2024 is an opportunity to positively impact the future and that this Pre-Budget Submission charts a course towards that." Specialist radiation therapist Debbie Kelleher spoke about the issues in accessing radiation therapy, and the significant emotional impact this is having on patients, their families, as well as staff. Dr Blaithin Moriarty, consultant dermatologist, also called for the abolishment of VAT on sunscreen products of SPF 30+ highlighting the importance of accessibility. A "significant majority" of social care programmes have now been successfully accredited after it emerged last summer that one private provider withdrew its applications for programme approval. The move by the Dublin Business School (DBS) to not seek accreditation left students in limbo last August after they learned they would not be able to register as social workers when they completed their studies. The Oireachtas education committee met on Tuesday to discuss the professional accreditation of health and social care professions, hearing from Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and CORU, the body responsible for regulating these professions. The committee also heard from representatives of universities, technological universities, and higher education providers, as well as from the Department of Further and Higher Education. Sinn Fein spokeswoman on higher education, Mairead Farrell, asked those attending how many courses and students have been affected by a lack of accreditation. QQI chief executive, Dr Padraig Walsh, confirmed 84 learners were affected by DBS last year. Of these, 50 students accepted a refund, eight transferred to another private college, 10 transferred to a full-time course that had been approved by CORU, and another eight transferred to other programmes. CORU chief executive, Ginny Hanrahan, told the committee that CORU has approved 73 courses, 30 of these have been for the social care workers. Improvement needed Patricia OSullivan from the Higher Education Colleges Association (HECA) said the withdrawal from accreditation last year prompted diverse stakeholder responses, student disruption, and uncertainty and risk for higher education institutions. It also highlighted the need for significant improvement in the current system overseen by both Professional, Statutory, and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs) and educational awarding bodies. Officials from the Department of Further and Higher Education said the withdrawal last summer has brought a renewed focus on the professional accreditation processes and highlighted areas where processes must be strengthened. "Higher Education Institutions have a responsibility to communicate clearly and transparently with their students in relation to the accreditation status of their programmes." The committee heard that the department understands that a significant majority of social care programmes have now completed the CORU process and have been successfully accredited. "The remaining small number of programmes are continuing through the process." An auctioneer in Northern Ireland has been urged to stop the sale of a pencil which purportedly once belonged to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. The ornate silver-plated pencil is set to go under the hammer in Belfast next week as well as a signed portrait of the notorious dictator who led the regime responsible for the Holocaust. The pencil is estimated to sell for between 50,000 and 80,000, while the photograph is expected to sell for between 10,000 and 15,000. The chairman of the European Jewish Association, Rabbi Menachem Margolin, has written to Karl Bennett, managing director of Bloomfield Auctions, asking him to withdraw the items. He questioned whether the auction house would sell possessions belonging to a terrorist who committed an atrocity in Northern Ireland, such as the IRA bombing of La Mon hotel in 1978 on the outskirts of east Belfast which killed 12 people. In his letter to Mr Bennett, Rabbi Margolin said he is making a moral appeal. I am writing to respectfully ask you to withdraw these items from the auction. This is not a legal appeal to you Mr Bennett, but very much a moral one, he wrote. In comments attributed to you in a national newspaper, you say: But for me, as a high-end collector of militaria items, they preserve a piece of our past and should be treated as historical objects, no matter if the history they refer to was one of the darkest and most controversial in recorded history. We simply cannot fathom how a love trinket such as an engraved pencil or a signed photograph constitutes a historical object of any inherent historical value. The rabbi went on to say that in Europe and further afield, auction houses are buying and selling other items such as watches, ashtrays and even Wehrmacht toilet paper purported to have belonged to senior Nazis. The defence from Munich to Maryland is the same, these items are of historical interest. They are anything but, he wrote. Let there be no doubt, items of genuine historical interest do belong in museums or places of learning. This we fully support. A signed portrait of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler is set to go under the hammer in Belfast next week (Bloomfield Auctions/PressEye/PA) But the buying and selling of items such as yours are dangerous on a number of fronts: they create a macabre trade in items belonging to mass murderers, the motives of those buying them are unknown and may glorify the actions of the Nazis, and lastly their trade is an insult to the millions who perished, the few survivors left, and to Jews everywhere. He concluded his letter: What is sold and to whom is a matter of public decency and moral responsibility at the end of the day. It is in this spirit of decency that I ask you again to withdraw the Nazi auction items, to send a message that some things particularly when so metaphorically blood soaked, should not and must not be traded. Earlier this week Mr Bennett defended the sale of the items, telling the PA news agency: I understand why some people may struggle to understand why items like these are sold and collected, but for me, as a high-end collector of militaria items, they preserve a piece of our past and should be treated as historical objects, no matter if the history they refer to was one of the darkest and most controversial in recorded history. These items give us concrete ties to the past so that we can never forget. The State may face damages claims after the Department of Social Protection (DSP) was found to have improperly gathered data through the controversial Public Service Card. The Data Protection Commission (DPC) ruled that the DPS infringed the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by failing to notify a complainant when they received their Public Service Card that in its use as a Free Travel Pass, personal data could be transferred to the Department of Social Protection. Free travel pass users were encouraged by the Government to use the Public Service Card to access their free travel entitlements. However, complainant Martin McMahon noticed that when he scanned his Public Service Card as a travel pass on public transport, the machine noted that the journey was being recorded. This notification prompted him to ask who was recording his data, where was it being held and what was it being used for? Complaint Mr McMahon, who is host of the Echo Chamber podcast, a campaigner, and employment status expert, submitted a complaint to the DPC in October 2019, alleging an excessive collection of personal data by the DSP when people used the Public Services Card as a Free Travel Pass. The DpC has now ruled that the complainant's personal data was not processed in a transparent manner. This infringed the principle of lawfulness, fairness and transparency, the judgement stated. It also found that the DSPs collection of the data was excessive, a contravention of Article 5(1)(c) of the GDPR and constituted an infringement of the principle of data minimisation. The DSP told the commission that it received personal travel data from the National Transport Authority to assess Free Travel usage for the administration, control and funding of the scheme. Such data received by the department up to February 2020 included journey transaction data, like the time, date and route. It also collected the Integrated Ticketing System (ITS) number, contained on an individuals Public Service Card. Although the number is generally non-identifying, it can be linked to the card-holder by the department. The commission considers the ITS number a unique identifier which constitutes personal data. Since Mr McMahons complaint was submitted in 2019, the department has collected less Free Travel data to include only basic, summary data. In a statement, the Department of Social Protection said it accepts the DPC's ruling, and that it no longer collects the ITS number. It is important to stress that the DPC did not make any order following from their investigation of this complaint, it said. Mr McMahon said that he will seek damages following the ruling. What they did was unlawful. I will be taking action. If I take an action Im putting a monetary figure on the damages. If I get awarded 10 and there were 50m of these journeys in 2019/2020, thats 500m. 'Important decision' Dr Eoin O'Dell, associate professor of law in Trinity College Dublin, said that the judgement was a very important decision and "will have important ramifications. He said that there is currently no precedent in Irish law to suggest whether a claim for damages through the courts following such a ruling would be successful. But British law has shown that data protection cases that turn on the distress caused rather than a specific loss as a result of the data processing have tended to fail. There have not yet been any Irish claims following a Data Protection Commission ruling that have gone to trial and judgement in Irish courts, he said. Theres very little Irish case law for breach of GDPR. The DPC ruling does not mean that there will automatically be a successful claim, Mr ODell said. But in the UK, cases that turn on distress you used my data in a terrible way and Im upset by the consequences those cases tended to fail. Whereas, you sold my data which is not the case here; you improperly profited from my data those cases tend to succeed. And weve had no equivalent case in Ireland yet to work out what the Irish response might be. The case establishes the important principle of data minimisation which both public bodies and private entities must now address and respect, he said. This is an important case that establishes an important principle," he said. The principle it establishes is that departments building these kind of systems have to respect the principal of data minimisation. The problem here was they [the Department of Social Protection] were asking for way too much information. There was absolutely no justification for it. 90% of the data, especially the identifiable data, that they were getting for the purposes of processing was not justified. All they needed to know was the number of passengers so as to be able to charge. All the rest was entirely unnecessary. You only collect as much data as is necessary and you only keep it for as long as is necessary. Its a common problem in most Government departments to collect too much data." The commission noted that the DSP now notifies individuals, at the time they receive their PSC-FT, that For control purposes the National Transport Authority will transfer usage data to the Department. Accordingly, no order needs to be imposed as DSP has already implemented the necessary measures in relation to transparency and proportionate and necessary data collection, the ruling said. This story was edited at 9.40pm on 20 May 2023 to include a response from the Department of Social Protection. "Any thoughts of escaping to a more natural life was regarded as being sinful. The idea of being unfaithful to your vocation was a step on the way to hell. It would be a mortal sin." These are the words of Mary, my mother. She was just 15 when she entered a convent in Ireland in 1950 and 34 by the time she finally managed to leave. She had been expressing doubts to her superiors since her early 20s but years of brainwashing and the very real fear of her and her family facing eternal damnation made breaking her vows seem impossible. Speaking to my mother, as well as to five other nuns and former nuns for my PhD research, gave me a glimpse into a way of life which no longer exists. Their often heartbreaking narratives paint a picture of a repressive and damaging regime which emphasised self-sacrifice and unquestioning obedience and where suffering and breaking the spirit supposedly brought you closer to heaven. For many who left the convent, the years of grooming, mind control and infantilisation made adjusting to secular life a significant challenge mentally, socially, emotionally and financially. Few were supported in this transition. The image of the evil nun has become almost a caricature in recent years, particularly in Ireland, where the fall-out from decades of abuse scandals has left a deep scar, radically changing perceptions of the Catholic Church. These womens stories offer an insiders perspective of life within the convent walls and hopefully provide a more nuanced view of just what it was like to wear the habit and then, eventually, to cast it aside. The women I spoke to were just children when they entered the convent, with hopes of making a better life for themselves but without any real understanding of what lay in store. Instead, they were manipulated and brainwashed. One woman was sexually abused by an older priest at the age of 15, while another had a mental breakdown and went on hunger strike in a cry for help which was ignored. The winds of change No study currently exists which specifically explores the testimonies of former women religious (both nuns and sisters) in Ireland, particularly those who entered religious life before the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). Instigated by Pope John XXIII and with an emphasis on aggiornamento (updating or modernisation), the Second Vatican Council was characterised by a spirit of renewal and self-reflection. The winds of change blowing from Rome ushered in a raft of seismic transformations throughout the Catholic Church. Following Vatican II, nuns gradually enjoyed more autonomy. For example, they could take more personal responsibility in decision-making, they were allowed to cultivate friendships within and beyond the convent, and could learn to drive (something that they had previously been unable to do). Before Vatican II, convent hierarchies were much more rigid. An individual nun had to surrender her will to her superior and was no longer in control of her destiny. A number of the women in my study (who, apart from my mother, I will not be identifying or using real names for) said that their lives and duties could vary significantly depending on whoever held that office. An unquestioning acceptance was expected and the emphasis was on self-sacrifice, renunciation of the self and conforming to life in community. My mother and the end of an era The six women Im working with entered a religious congregation in Ireland in the 1950s, when they were between 13 and 16. They grew up in different convents and worked as sisters and teachers in various schools in Ireland, England and East Asia. Four spent between 15 and 27 years in religious life before leaving and two remained. They are all now in their 80s. I felt very strongly that their stories needed to be captured before they were lost because, within the patriarchal Catholic Church, an archaeology of exclusion has rendered nuns almost invisible in the historical record. The voices of former nuns are afforded even less space. Religious women formed the largest and most powerful group of professional women in Ireland for much of the 20th century. And yet congregations of teaching sisters in Ireland have been in decline since the late 1960s. My investigation into these hidden lives began with my mother. Now well into her 80s, she still has a recurrent nightmare of not being able to escape the convent. I cannot remember when I first learned that my mother was a nun for almost two decades. My relationship to this aspect of her life story has evolved considerably. As a child, I think I adopted a position of active not knowing, feeling that my mothers status as a former nun was somehow shameful and made us different in small town Catholic Ireland where I grew up. A spoilt nun or a spoilt priest was the description for those who left their vocation (often described as the call to religious life). There was a stigma attached to such transgressions. At 15, the age my mother entered the convent. File picture Some of the women in my study kept this part of their past secret to all but close family. One woman avoided telling her children about her former identity until they were adults. As a teenager, I remember feeling a burning sense of injustice on my mothers behalf and was horrified at the idea of her confinement. She had consistently expressed doubts about her vocation, believing herself to be unsuited to life as a sister. How could her superiors turn a blind eye to her repeated requests to leave? At 15, the age my mother entered the convent, I prized my growing independence and found the idea of complete submission and erasure of self incomprehensible. As I grew older, I moved on to a deeper understanding of her former identity but still felt protective of her and was resistant to talking about it, in case she became an object of curiosity. But when it comes to families, all our stories get tangled up. My mothers story is a part of my story. My own daughter is now 15, and it brings home to me the vulnerability of being groomed, as one of the women describes her experience of entering the convent. Entering the convent While it is undoubtedly the case that some young women believed that they had a vocation and were answering the call from God, becoming a nun afforded opportunities for women in Ireland at a time when they were not visible in public life. The surge in vocations in Ireland continued until 1967 and can be attributed to a desire for education, professional opportunities, economic stability or a life of adventure as a missionary. Having a nun or priest in the family boosted a familys social capital. Religious life conferred a privileged identity within a powerful, transnational institution. The attraction to religious life could also be interpreted as a sign of women actively seeking an alternative to marriage and motherhood rather than a reaction to a lack of eligible bachelors. In the case of the women in my study, given that they were children when they entered (between 13 and 16) it is safe to assume they were not left on the shelf. Canvassing by religious orders was common at that time as getting vocations was key to an institutes growth and success. Nuns representing various Irish and international orders visited schools and sometimes local farms with large families as part of their recruitment drive, often showing alluring films of life on the missions. My mother remembers the nuns visit to her secondary school. She was 14 and beginning to think about where she might go as emigration was inevitable for so many people in rural Ireland at that time. She recalls being impressed by this nun who came from Italy, thinking that perhaps she had links with the pope. My mother said: She told us romantic stories about going to the missions, Africa in particular. I distinctly remember her showing us a photograph of a lovely nun dressed in white in a boat going down some river in Africa and having children with her and she was in charge of things. So immediately I thought, Well thats where Im going then because I have to go somewhere and that sounds wonderful. My aunt also joined, at 13. My mother remembers that my aunts legs did not reach the floor when she sat on her chair because she was so very young. While my mother was seduced by visions of a luminous missionary and informed by the wider economic context of needing to go somewhere, there were other, more personal, reasons for joining too. One woman I spoke to, who I am calling Louise, spent 16 years as a nun before leaving at the age of 32. For her, joining was about family dynamics and a difficult relationship with her mother. She said: Really I want to be sincere about this, when I decided to enter it wasnt that I wanted to be a nun as such or that I wanted to look after the poor or that I wanted to go to the missions. It really was to prove to my mum particularly that I was a good person. I remember thinking, if I do this they will know I am good. That was very important to me at the time. Christina, who spent 27 years in the convent, attributes her entry to what she describes as an illegitimate relationship with a predatory priest. She was just 15. Now 88, but with an energy that belies her years, she told me: "I knew that it was inappropriate But I thought it was a privilege at the time. I did. He was very versed in various things and French, he spoke French, you know, that sort of thing. I thought it was on the surface and personally, I thought it was an honour." She remembers when a particular order came to her school and made joining sound so fashionable and delightful that she thought, why not? Brainwashing and sin All of the women took simple vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Contact with the outside world was ruptured, letters in and out were read by their superiors. Convent life worked to erase a sense of individual identity through adherence to strict rules. My mother said you were not to speak about any part of your body and not to speak about your health in general and not to speak about well, not to speak to anyone, its better not to. The women were forbidden from forming special friendships (that was a big thing). You were not to talk your heart out to anyone. "You knew you shouldnt say, Im very lonely. I wish I could go home. That would be rather sinful to say a thing like that to one of your co-mates. So you were to be always in good humour, always smiling, always, you know, very respectful towards everybody and again on the surface You were really dumbed down in the sense of not being able to talk much, not to talk about your life in the world as they used to call it. So it was definitely a brainwashing thing " A nun in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican. The attraction to religious life could also be interpreted as a sign of women actively seeking an alternative to marriage and motherhood rather than a reaction to a lack of eligible bachelors. File photo: AFP / Alessandra Tarantino For my mother, who had been thriving at school, it was a shock to discover that the promise of a scholarship did not materialise. On entering she discovered that the order had in fact no secondary school and the new recruits were expected to progress to their final state examinations through self-study, a correspondence course and occasional evening input from the nuns in the primary school. We were sitting on butter boxes, upturned butter boxes, because they obviously found it hard to accommodate that number of us we must have been 30 at least and we had other butter boxes in which we had our belongings and we were all crowded into a very big dormitory in a house that was originally a factory. So therefore, it was spartan, the whole idea, the whole thing. The food was regular, but very poor quality And now when I look back at that, we were just herded in there as if we all had a vocation. What was a vocation, you know, at that age? You just knew nothing about it. No books, no stimulation Louise found the lack of stimulation stultifying. She told me: As there was no conversation with each other there was no way of enlightening each other in any way about life. We were totally sensory-deprived, that was it. We never listened to music, we werent allowed to read books, we never saw a paper, we were never allowed to listen to the radio, so that we were totally cut off from the outside world, as they would call it. The outside world, which of course was full of evil anyway. Louise said that once she regained her freedom she remembered the thrill of being able to buy and read books. Her house reflects this love of reading and I was struck by how articulate and methodical she was when describing her experience, even when speaking about the mental ill health she still suffers decades later. The legacy of such social conditioning is not easy to cast off. Christina, who entered the convent at 16 and left at 43, also lamented the censorship of reading materials which she believed stunted their development. She said: We were still treated like children. We always had to be assisted, watched. There was always somebody watching us And we had no books, no stimulation, so we were non-entities. Leave and be damned But if you wanted to leave, it was far from straightforward. On expressing doubts to a superior about their vocation the women might be told it was the devil tempting them, or that if they left they would be damned, or that through their higher calling, as one of the women put it, ones relations down to the third generation would achieve salvation through our fidelity. Or that they would never be able to pay back the congregation for what they had been given. And they would submit and stay on. Christina, who had confessed her relationship with the priest, was told if she left the convent she would be in hell for all eternity. Who wanted to be in hell for all eternity? You know, the pictures we saw of hell in those days were terrible. I dont even believe in hell now, she added. For Louise, the strain caused her to develop OCD and, in her late 20s, she had, in her words, a nervous breakdown. Following a period in hospital she said of her reluctant return to the convent: They just ignored my tears, they ignored my unhappiness. Then I decided Id go on hunger strike and I didnt know what hunger strike was but thats what I did I mean, that wasnt in my nature. That sort of rebellion wasnt in my nature and that went on for quite a while. "But do you know something? Ive often looked back on that and Ive thought, how inhumane they were. They would let somebody who was so unhappy and ignore their distress, totally ignore their distress. Throughout her 20s and early 30s my mothers desire to leave grew stronger and she dreamed of having a family. She recalls the longing she felt observing a scene of domesticity from her attic dormitory: "I used to look through a porthole, an attic window, as I was preparing to go into bed. I used to see a housewife or mother of a family, getting on about her, coming out to the clothesline was one of the things I noticed especially. And then the door of her kitchen would have been open and youd see the lights inside and youd get hints of family life. "In my own mind I compared that to the lonely bed I had to lie on from half past nine that night. And you would wonder why you couldnt have that a life full of warmth - and what misfortune you had to have a vocation when a family life was all you wanted. And any inclination you mentioned towards that was regarded as a temptation by the devil to spoil your vocation. Any thoughts of escaping to a more natural life was regarded as being sinful. The idea of being unfaithful to your vocation was a step on the way to hell. It would be a mortal sin. A teachers strike in 1969 provided a pause in a gruelling routine, allowing her time and space to think. By this time, she was 34 and the headteacher of a secondary school. The responsibility was empowering. She had begun to think for herself. "It was the first time in my life I could make a decision. Because I had come in too young and had been told what to do always, told what to think, what not to think and all that and I suddenly decided I am advising everybody and Im telling everyone what well do. Now why cant I tell myself what to do? "And during that strike I made up my mind that, no matter what, Im going. So I went up and I told the superior at that time, who was a nicer person, a very kindly person, and I said Ive been talking like this for years. And now Im not asking for advice anymore, Im just telling you that I must leave." Read More Clodagh Finn: Recalling a glorious nun who was scathing of church In the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council there was an exodus as many nuns worldwide left their congregations and returned to the world as lay people. Karen Armstrong has written extensively of her own climb out of darkness, documenting her departure from convent life in a series of memoirs. Many left with nothing and were ill prepared for life after. Research has drawn attention to this paradox of service, that there was little or no acknowledgement of the enormity of former nuns unpaid contributions, as teachers, as nurses or in other ministry, in the form of practical or financial support. The authoritarian and repressive aspects of convent life in the pre-Vatican II era have been linked to emotional deprivation, social isolation and psychological problems. Louise spoke of her humiliation of leaving with nothing but her crucifix and still wearing her nuns habit. She still feels bitter about the lack of care for her welfare. She said: "I knew I would never, never, never come back. Not only did I never go back but I never contacted them after I left, never and they never contacted me, not once to say how are you doing? Are you coping? An individual nun had to surrender her will to her superior and was no longer in control of her destiny. File photo: AP/Ariel Schalit "Now I was 32, I had entered at 16 and in terms of lifes experiences I was still 16. I had never handled money, I had never had to make a decision, I had never lived and taken care of myself." My mother jokes about feeling self-conscious wearing miniskirts, which were in fashion when she left in 1969, because her many years of praying had left rough patches of skin on her knees. Others spoke of the social awkwardness of not knowing who The Beatles were and of hair loss following decades of wearing a veil. Their leaving also had an impact on those who stayed. As communication was discouraged, they could not tell other sisters that they were leaving. According to one sister who remained: "When they decided to leave, they were told not to tell anyone. So they never told us, they just disappeared, you know, and I think that was awful. The bottom fell out of my world, was how another nun described hearing the news of a fellow sisters return to secular life. Are nuns human? Nuns occupy a contentious place within Irish collective memory. Are nuns human?, the title of a two-part documentary made for Irish television in 1971, reveals perhaps a longstanding ambivalence about the image of women religious. Nuns were responsible for historical injustices, colluding in oppressive narratives orchestrated by the dyad of Church and State. This is apparent from inquiries into the Magdalen Laundries and the mother and baby homes. The Clann Report, published in 2018, showed how the legacy of such abuse reverberated beyond Ireland, revealing that from the 1940s until the 1970s, in excess of 2,000 children were sent from Ireland to the US for adoption. This international adoption scheme was depicted in the Oscar-nominated film Philomena. The Clann Report raises the question of possible falsification of childrens deaths in institutions run by nuns to facilitate illegal adoptions. Yet, this is not the full story. Nuns also played a key role in advancing female education as well as social care. Portrayals of nuns as evil caricatures risk simplifying representations of the past, enabling State and Society to absolve themselves of their part in Irelands architecture of containment and the politics of shame. Nuns of St. Elisabeth visiting St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. Following Vatican II, nuns gradually enjoyed more autonomy. File photo: AP/Alessandra Tarantino Responding to the Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes in 2021, then Taoiseach Micheal Martin noted how the State and Society embraced a perverse religious morality and control, judgmentalism and moral certainty and issued an apology to the survivors of mother and baby homes. The nature of historical abuse crimes linked to the Catholic Church is also a global phenomenon that has become increasingly complex. But, according to Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, nuns have also suffered abuse within their own congregations and the sexual abuse of nuns by the clergy has even been acknowledged by the pope. Meanwhile, Vatican guidelines published in 2017 recognised abuse of power within womens institutes. My own research highlights the contrast which existed between the positions of power and privilege held by the religious orders in Irish society on the one hand and the hidden, self-sacrificing and often powerless life of the individual nun on the other. Im not bitter The churchs position today is far less secure than it was in the 1950s. Yet while institutional observance, as well as the proportion and total number of Catholics in the Irish population continues to fall (the proportion of people identifying as Roman Catholic has dropped from 79% to 69%, according to the results of the 2022 Census), it would seem that Catholicism remains coupled with Irish identity for over three quarters of the population. Many convents once a dominant symbol of faith and authority in Irish towns and cities lie derelict or are undergoing redevelopment. The ageing population of nuns tend to live in small groups in houses located within their local community. The former convent of the Sisters of St Clare. Many convents once a dominant symbol of faith and authority in Irish towns and cities lie derelict or are undergoing redevelopment. File photo: Valerie O'Sullivan Unlike the other women in the study who have eschewed any links with their previous life, my mother has been back in touch with some sisters from her former congregation in recent years. Reflecting on her former identity, she said: "Whereas Im not bitter, at the same time Ive come to the conclusion that it was all really badly done and that many people were harmed and that those of us who were educated had something to fall back on when we left, but others hadnt and were completely out of step with their age group and experienced an inability to find a job and to find a partner because they were older." Perhaps it helped that she met my father, started a family and created the more natural life that she imagined for herself looking out from her attic window. If the doomsayers are correct, and we face an existential threat from the galloping progress of artificial intelligence, then it already has the perfect access-all-areas pass into our brains by ever-increasing dependence on the internet and social media. The latest Growing Up in Ireland study found that excessive use by children impacts their wellbeing, leading to concerns over conduct and hyperactivity levels. It concluded that 99% of the cohort it is studying reached full saturation by the ages of 17-18. When I was 7, my parents bought the Childcraft books for me. It was a junior encyclopedia from the publishers of the World Book encyclopedia. World Book was another thing some parents purchased at huge expense and no small amount of sacrifice. If a family owned World Book, well now that was a cut above buttermilk. A declaration of war on ignorance. The World Book salesman called to your house several times before such a quixotic knowledge-seeking household could conceive of taking the plunge. That series of books cost more than most families earned in a month. My children cannot understand that level of investment. They have encyclopediae at their fingertips on their phones. Back in my day when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, these books were the price of a perfectly respectable secondhand car. Very few families owned two cars. Almost half of the lads I went to school with in the early 1980s grew up in homes with one or no car. Knowledge and information was very expensive in the early 1980s. All over Ireland parents invested in books, encyclopediae and other academic things. That was a choice made by people who did not get the chances or opportunities our children take for granted. These are the people who built the knowledge economy we have today. They were far-seeing; able to imagine a different place and willing to bring it about. My favourite story and lesson from those Childraft books describes tulipmania in Holland in the 17th century. Finance houses, consumers, investors. The Dutch were the most sophisticated people in the world yet bought and sold single tulip bulbs for prices exceeding the value of three-storey houses in Amsterdam. An economic mania, popular delusion, and madness of crowds. Today we have learned nothing. Our ignorance is amazingly relentless. We relentlessly insist and declare that houses are commodities. Investment products. Selling them back and forth to each other. Cheering when the price of houses rises. Downcast when the price of houses falls. Tulipmania. How many cycles of boom and bust must occur before this economic philosophy becomes ridiculous? As this tulipmania continues, important things are happening. The planet is warming yet still we here in prosperous and evolved, sophisticated 21st century Ireland are still driving SUVs without tow-bars. That caps it all off. If you own an SUV that does not have a tow bar you dont need a SUV. Farmers need 4x4s. And only some. If youre driving your children to cello lessons in an SUV that doesnt need a tow bar you need Childcraft. You look like an idiot. Sellotape your bank statement to your forehead if you desperately need to feel superior. Anything is better than these unnecessary SUVs and 4x4s. We need to find a more harmless model of capitalism and one-upmanship in this country. I am all for letting people sellotape house valuations and nett worth analyses to their foreheads. I will genuflect. It's childcraft. But our parents the people who educated us must be mortified. Michael Deasy, Bandon, Co Cork Failure to provide respite care for kids There is much talk about the chronic lack of respite care in Cork, however, this is just a symptom of the real problem. The HSE has a legal mandate to carry out an assessment of needs for a child within a specified timeframe, but there is no legal requirement to carry out the essential life-enabling services once they have been identified. This is like a person presenting at the hospital and being told that they have broken leg but that it cannot fixed because no-one is prepared to carry out the service. They are then being offered painkillers but they are not available either. Why can we not provide life-enabling services for our own vulnerable children are they lesser citizens? It certainly appears so. Joe Mason, Merrion Court, Cork In memory of Ava Twomey I am writing to honour the life of Ava Twomey who has died aged 13. It is only because of her suffering and the heroic campaigning of her mother, Vera, that medicinal cannabis is now legally available in Ireland. They achieved this despite the cruel, misguided resistance of politicians and doctors who still, based on prejudice and lack of knowledge, do all they can to block access to this life saving and transformative medicine. The people of Ireland owe a huge debt to Ava and her family. Peter Reynolds Chair, Cannabis Industry Council Ireland, Knocknagoshel, Co Kerry Magical Munsters miraculous victory Munsters Peter OMahony in action against Stormers in the URC final in Cape Town, South Africa. Picture: Sportsfile Munsters victory on Saturday must go down as one the greatest Irish sporting victories of all time. It has to be. From where Munster were at the start of the tournament its nothing short of a miracle. When they beat Glasgow that was enough for me. I thought that was one their toughest matches ever and I could not see how they could pick themselves up and perform to a high standard the following week. But what do I know about the Munster spirit within that camp? Indiana Jones would have found the travelling exhausting. There must be a record in there somewhere for a team to travel so many miles in such a short space of time. I cant imagine an English Premier League team doing it without complaining. You could go through that team and shower players with all kinds of plaudits but Peter OMahony must stand head and shoulders above everyone else. What a player; what a man. Well done Munster. We all knew you were capable of victory. Neil Carroll, Cork Salient lesson from hunger strike film This year marks the 25-year anniversary of the end of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. As a masters student at New York University Tisch School of the Arts, I watched the film Hunger (McQueen, 2008) depicting the H Block prison strikes in 1980-81 in one of my classes. There may be no better filmmaker for this event than Steve McQueen, a Briton with Caribbean roots who grew up in a household where the TV was turned off the minute Margaret Thatcher appeared. With protesters scolded by Thatcher as disruptive, the film takes pains to describe the measures taken by prisoners such as flooding the jail with their urine, the no wash practice, and the brutal beating they suffered at the hands of prison guards. After all, the IRA inmates and the McQueen family do share a common enemy: UK prime minister Thatcher and her conservative government from 1979 to 1990. With parents practicing medicine in Malaysia, a former British colony, I witnessed as a youngster the mayhem that ensued after the British left in 1965. Ethnic Chinese (25% of population) and Indians (15% of population) experienced discrimination unheard of during the colonial heyday. In 1982, a group of Hong Kong representatives went to China to ask for an extension of British rule beyond 1997 and got severely reprimanded by leaders of Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Hunger made me understand why the British were embraced everywhere in the world they ruled and loathed by their next door neighbour who share their looks and heritage. Mathilde Diaz, Long Island City, New York Different parties offer same choice The recent row, provoked by Fine Gael with their government partners Fianna Fail, looks like a bit of a ready-up, as both parties seek to distinguish themselves from one another in advance of the next general election. It calls to mind the Irish expression cath na mbo maol a phoney war. After 12 years in power for Fine Gael, supported by Fianna Fail for the last seven of them, it will be a challenge for both parties to convince the electorate that theyre not six of one and half a dozen of the other. John Glennon, Hollywood, Co Wicklow North Korea has notified neighbouring Japan that it plans to launch a satellite in the coming days, which may be an attempt to put its first military reconnaissance satellite into orbit. Defence minister Yasukazu Hamada said he ordered Japans Self Defence Force to shoot down the satellite or debris, if any enters Japanese territory. Japans coast guard said the notice it received from North Korean waterway authorities said the launch window was from May 31 to June 11, and that the launch may affect waters in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and east of the Philippines Luzon Island. The coast guard issued a safety warning for ships in the area on those dates because of the possible risks from falling debris. Our government strongly warns North Korea against a provocation that threatens peace in the region and urges it to withdraw its illegal launch plan immediately Japans coast guard coordinates and distributes maritime safety information in East Asia, which is likely why it was the recipient of North Koreas notice. To launch a satellite into space, North Korea would have to use long-range missile technology banned by UN Security Council resolutions. Its past launches of Earth observation satellites were seen as disguised missile tests. Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said the launch would violate UN resolutions and was a threat to the peace and safety of Japan, the region and the international community. Japan was already on standby for falling missile debris from North Korean launches earlier this year and has deployed missile defence systems such as land-to-air PAC-3 and ship-to-air SM-3 interceptors in southwestern Japan and in the East China Sea. Mr Matsuno said it was possible the satellite would enter or pass above Japans southwestern islands including Okinawa, where the US has major military bases and thousands of troops. South Korea warned on Monday that North Korea will face consequences if it goes ahead with its launch plan in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions that ban the North from conducting any launch using ballistic technology. Our government strongly warns North Korea against a provocation that threatens peace in the region and urges it to withdraw its illegal launch plan immediately, a ministry statement said. It said South Korea will cooperate with the international community to resolutely cope with any North Korean provocation. In a three-way telephone conversation later on Monday, the chief nuclear envoys of South Korea, the US and Japan agreed to cooperate to help promote a unified, resolute international response to a North Korean satellite launch. A TV screen shows a file image of North Koreas rocket launch during a news programme (Ahn Young-joon/AP/PA) They strongly urged North Korea to refrain from what they termed an illegal launch that would threaten regional peace, according to South Koreas Foreign Ministry. Japan issued a similar statement. China, North Koreas chief ally, renewed its call for a political settlement of tensions in response to the launch announcement. There is a reason why the situation on the Korean Peninsula has developed to how it is today, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing on Monday. We hope that all parties concerned will face up to the crux of the issue, strive for a political settlement, and address each others legitimate concerns through meaningful dialogue in a balanced manner. Earlier this month, North Korean state media reported leader Kim Jong Un had inspected a finished military spy satellite at his countrys aerospace centre and approved the satellites launch plan. Mondays launch notice did not specify the type of satellite. Last week, rival South Korea launched its first commercial-grade satellite into space. Experts say Mr Kim would want his country to launch a spy satellite before South Korea does. North Korea placed Earth observation satellites in orbit in 2012 and 2016. It does not notify neighbouring countries of its missile firings in advance, but has issued notices ahead of satellite launches in the past. While North Korea has demonstrated an ability to deliver a satellite into space, there are questions about the satellites capability. Foreign experts say the earlier satellites never transmitted imagery back to North Korea, and analysts say the new device displayed in state media appeared too small and crudely designed to support high-resolution imagery. Spy satellites are among an array of high-tech weapons systems Mr Kim has publicly vowed to develop. Other weapons systems on his wish list include solid-propellant ICBMs, nuclear-powered submarines, hypersonic missiles and multi-warhead missiles. The Norths satellite launch plan comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-launched more than 100 missiles, some of them nuclear-capable weapons that place the US mainland, South Korea and Japan within striking distance. North Korea argues its testing spree is meant to issue warning over expanded military drills between the US and South Korea, but observers say North Korea aims to modernise its weapons programme then win greater concessions from its rivals in future dealings. Last week, the South Korean and US militaries conducted large-scale live-fire drills near the border with North Korea as the first of five rounds of exercises marking 70 years since the establishment of their alliance. Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. North Korea has notified neighbouring Japan that it plans to launch a satellite in the coming days (Kyodo News via AP/PA) North Korea warned Monday that the U.S. and South Korea will face unspecified consequences for their war scenario for aggression on North Korea. Wed like to ask them if they can cope with the consequences to be entailed by their reckless and dangerous war gambles that are being staged under the eyes of the armed forces of (North Korea), the Norths official Korean Central News Agency said. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Saturday that he was ready to meet Kim Jong Un any time without preconditions and that he was making efforts to organize a summit as soon as possible. He was speaking at a conference dealing with the abductions of Japanese citizens to North Korea decades ago. The issue was only partially resolved and North Korea never provided a full account for those still believed held. North Korea on Monday urged Japan to show its sincerity about resuming talks, saying it is necessary to cool-headedly recall why past talks had failed to improve ties. The Nato-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo, KFOR, on Tuesday raised the number of its troops injured in fierce clashes with ethnic Serbs to 30. The Serbs had tried to take over the offices of one of the municipalities in northern Kosovo where ethnic Albanian mayors took up their posts last week. A statement said that 11 Italian soldiers and 19 Hungarian soldiers sustained multiple injuries, including fractures and burns from improvised explosive incendiary devices. It added that three Hungarian soldiers were wounded by the use of firearms but their injuries are not life-threatening. KFOR soldiers in Zvecan, northern Kosovo (AP) The Serbs clashed with Nato troops in Zvecan, 28 miles north of the capital, Pristina. Both parties need to take full responsibility for what happened and prevent any further escalation, rather than hide behind false narratives, said KFOR commander major general Angelo Michele Ristuccia. Ethnic Serbs plan to gather again on Tuesday. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic spent the night with his troops on the border with Kosovo. They were placed on the highest state of alert on his orders last week. KFOR soldiers guard a municipal building (Bojan Slavkovic/AP) Mr Vucic said 52 Serbs were injured in the clashes, three seriously. Kosovo police said four people were detained. The violence was the latest incident as tensions soared over the weekend when ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo tried to block recently elected ethnic Albanian officials from entering municipal buildings. Kosovo police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd and let the new officials into the offices. Serbia put the countrys military on high alert and sent more troops to the border with Kosovo. Kosovo and Serbia have been foes for decades, with Belgrade refusing to recognise Kosovos 2008 sovereignty. In a 2nd call today with Italy's DPM/MFA @Antonio_Tajani, I conveyed the deep gratitude of the Govt & people of the Republic of Kosova for @NATO_KFOR soldiers' valiant action to preserve peace in the face of violent extremism. I wish a full & speedy recovery to those injured. Albin Kurti (@albinkurti) May 29, 2023 The US and the European Union have stepped up efforts to help solve the Kosovo-Serbia dispute, fearing further instability in Europe as Russias war rages in Ukraine. The EU has made it clear to both Serbia and Kosovo that they must normalise relations if theyre to make any progress toward joining the bloc. Ambassadors of the so-called Quint France, Italy, Germany, the UK and US met prime minister Albin Kurti in Pristina, asking him to take steps to de-escalate and lower tensions, while strongly denouncing the Serbs violence against KFOR troops and journalists. Ultra-nationalistic Serb graffiti on Nato vehicles is a dark reminder in Kosovo. We stand for peace and security, said Mr Kurti after the meeting. Quint ambassadors are to meet Mr Vucic, and he is also meeting Russian and Chinese ambassadors to show he has support for his policies. The #NATO-led KFOR mission is closely monitoring the situation in the north of #Kosovo, and condemns all unilateral acts which risk escalating tensions further. Our 1st priority remains ensuring a safe & secure environment, in line with our UN Security Council mandate. pic.twitter.com/jWW56a460q NATO Kosovo Force - KFOR (@NATO_KFOR) May 26, 2023 Ethnic Serbs in Zvecan, Leposavic, Zubin Potok and Mitrovica, four municipalities in the north, held elections last month that were largely boycotted by ethnic Serbs. Only ethnic Albanian or other smaller minority representatives were elected to the mayoral posts and assemblies. 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. The US and most EU countries have recognised Kosovo as an independent state, but Serbia, Russia and China have not. Chinas foreign minister met Tesla chief executive Elon Musk on Tuesday and said strained US-Chinese relations require mutual respect, while delivering a message of reassurance that foreign companies are welcome. US-Chinese relations are especially tense after Washington shot down a Chinese balloon believed to be gathering intelligence and warned Beijing against supplying arms to Russia for its war against Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal reported China has rejected a request for its defence minister to meet the US defence secretary when both are in Singapore this weekend. We need to keep the steering wheel in the right direction of mutual respect, peaceful co-existence and win-win co-operation, Qin Gang told Mr Musk in Beijing, according to a ministry statement. A Tesla showroom in Beijing (Ng Han Guan/AP) The two sides should avoid dangerous driving, Mr Qin said. He gave no details of steps to improve relations. Mr Musks visit comes at a time when the ruling Communist Party is trying to revive investor interest in Chinas slowing economy. Foreign companies are uneasy following raids on consulting firms and given the strained Chinese relations with Washington. Mr Qin said China will unswervingly promote high-level opening up and create a market-oriented, law-based and internationalised business environment, according to the statement. Chinas development is an opportunity for the world Chinas development is an opportunity for the world. Chinas electric vehicle market has broad prospects for development, the ministry quoted Mr Qin as saying. China accounts for half of global electric vehicle sales and is the site of Teslas first factory outside the United States. Tesla opened the first wholly foreign-owned vehicle factory in China in 2019 after Beijing eased ownership restrictions to increase competition and speed up industry development. The Chinese statement quoted Mr Musk as saying Tesla was willing to expand its business in China and opposes decoupling, a reference to fears the world may split into multiple markets with incompatible products. Tesla did not respond to requests for information about Mr Musks visit to China. A panel of historians set up to review the 1972 attack on the Munich Olympics is beginning its three-year mission to examine what happened before, during and after the events of five decades ago, the German government said. In April, Germanys interior ministry named the eight-member international commission of experts, most based in Israel or Germany, as part of an agreement last year with relatives of the 11 Israeli team members who were killed by Palestinian militants. The panels first meeting was being held at the interior ministry on Tuesday. Interior minister Nancy Faeser said the events surrounding this terrible attack will finally be examined thoroughly and transparently. The research findings should deliver answers to the many unresolved questions, answers which the German government has owed the victims family members and the public for more than 50 years She said in a statement: The research findings should deliver answers to the many unresolved questions, answers which the German government has owed the victims family members and the public for more than 50 years. Her ministry said there would be regular publications and events. In September, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier apologised for many German failures before, during and after the attack, as he joined his Israeli counterpart and relatives of the murdered athletes at a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary. Days earlier, an agreement for the relatives to receive 28 million euros (24 million) in compensation headed off a threatened boycott of the event. The sum included much smaller payments made earlier. Germany also agreed to acknowledge failures by authorities at the time and to set up the expert review. On September 5, 1972, eight members of a Palestinian group called Black September clambered over the Olympic villages unguarded fence. A memorial to the athletes killed by Black September terrorists during the 1972 Munich Olympic Games (Alamy/PA) They burst into the building where the Israeli team was staying, killing wrestling coach Moshe Weinberg and weightlifter Yossi Romano. Some Israeli athletes managed to escape but nine were seized. The captors demanded the release of more than 200 Palestinians held by Israel and two German left-wing extremists in West German prisons. The attackers demanded a plane and safe passage to Cairo. After a day of negotiations, the attackers and their hostages were allowed to leave aboard two helicopters for the Fuerstenfeldbruck airfield, outside Munich. Sharpshooters at the airfield opened fire. The attackers threw a grenade into one of the helicopters carrying hostages, which exploded, and shot the hostages in the other helicopter. The botched rescue attempt also left a West German police officer and five of the attackers dead. Burma Anti-China Sentiment Surges in Myanmar With Wave of Protests and Attacks Letpadaung residents stage a protest against Chinas ties with the junta in Sagaing Region's Salingyi Township on May 7. / GSCB A series of anti-China protests and attacks on junta troops guarding China-backed pipelines took place on the heels of Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gangs visit to Naypyitaw earlier this month. Qin Gang held talks with junta boss Min Aung Hlaing on May 2, becoming the first top-level Chinese government official to meet with the regime leadership since the coup in 2021. A regime statement said that Qin Gangs visit not only displayed the friendship between Myanmar and China but also Beijings support for the regime on the international stage. Qin Gang also paid a call on former military dictator Than Shwe the same day. Than Shwe expressed hope that Myanmar and China would retain their longstanding pauk-phaw friendship, strengthen friendly cooperation, and work for more fruitful outcomes of bilateral relations, according to state-owned China Radio International. The visit was followed by anti-China protests in parts of Myanmar, with demonstrators calling on Beijing to stop supporting the regime. Two days after Qin Gangs visit, residents of Sagaing Regions Letpadaung, the site of a China-backed copper mine, burned a Chinese flag in protest against Beijings engagement with the regime. Locals in Sagaing Regions Yinmabin and Salingyi staged a similar protest on May 9, accusing China of complicity in atrocities against civilians committed by Myanmars military regime. Protests spread overseas with Myanmar expats demonstrating outside the Chinese Embassy in London on May 10. They held banners with the messages China is helping the military violate our human rights, Myanmars junta is a terrorist organization, Stop backing terrorists, China, get out of Burma, China, leave Burma alone, and Burmese resources are not for Chinese consumption. Last week, the anti-China demonstrations spread to San Francisco in the US, and Sagaing, Magwe, Yangon and Mandalay, where protesters burned Chinese flags and pictures of junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and the Chinese foreign minister. They also held banners reading China: Stop Killing Myanmar People by Supporting Fascist Criminals, China: Respect Myanmar People`s Voice, and Stop Supporting Fascist Criminals. The General Strike Coordination Body (GSCB), a network of anti-regime forces, also sent an open letter to Chinese communities around the world, asking Chinas government to stop supporting the regime and show sympathy for Myanmars people. As long as the Chinese government continues to support the regime and stand by it publicly, we will continue to organize anti-China protests, not only in Myanmar but also in foreign countries together with Myanmar expats there. We will step up our protests, Rose, a GSCB member, told The Irrawaddy. Since the foreign ministers visit, there have been three attacks on junta troops guarding China-backed oil and gas pipelines. On May 7, Natogyi Guerilla Force attacked junta troops guarding an offtake station for oil and gas pipelines in Natogyi Township in Mandalays Myingyan District. Resistance groups also attacked troops guarding pipelines in Mandalays Kyaukpadaung and Taungtha townships on May 21 and 22, respectively. Despite the protests, China is stepping up its engagement with the regime. Last week, Myanmar hosted an expo for Chinese goods in Naypyitaw with 300 merchants in attendance. Burma Illegal Mining Boom Poisoning Land, Feeding Myanmar Juntas War Machine: MMWN Bags of chemicals used for ore extraction, which are called fertilizer by local workers, are piled up at a rare earth mining site in Kachin State. / Maran The Myanmar Mining Watch Network (MMWN) has called for all mining operations in ethnic areas to cease, warning that a surge in illegal extraction since the 2021 coup is destroying the environment and communities. In a statement issued on Monday, the network said increased mining is evident in ethnic areas such as Kachin, Shan, Karenni, and Karen states, where extraction has intensified for resources such as gold, tin, nickel, steel, zinc, coal, jade, rare earth minerals, and platinum. The coup detat military council has allowed its allied militias to levy taxes, and the military dictator has declared itself a caretaker government, but doesnt respect the rule of law, the network said. Ethnic armed organizations are also becoming deeply involved in mining, it added. MMWN is a social network of 11 organizations established in 2016. With rule of law absent, the illegal mining boom had brought increasing loss of life due to landslides caused by huge machinery and drownings in pit lakes, plus more drug use around mining sites, forced displacement, and use of forced labor including child workers, the network said. Meanwhile, chemicals used in the mining are poisoning fields and water sources, leading to a scarcity of drinking water, agricultural land, various fish species in rivers, animals, medicinal plants, and other flora and fauna, it added. Illegal gold mining has increased tenfold in Kachin state since the military seized power in 2021, according to Kachin State Accountability Resource Governance group (K-SAG). A study released on Sunday by MMWN showed serious environmental and social impacts in Kachin State from an increase in gold-mining activity downstream of the Irrawaddy River confluence. The junta and an affiliated militia are granting permits and collecting taxes from gold miners here despite lacking any legitimacy to do so, the network stated. It added that revenue from mining was aiding the purchase of military equipment being used against civilians, and particularly ethnic peoples and other minorities. Mining for rare earth minerals has also increased sharply in northern Kachin State, bordering China, since the coup. Global Witness reported last August that there were just a handful of rare earth mining units in Kachin State a few years ago, but following the coup the numbers soared to 2,700, at almost 300 separate locations, covering an area the size of Singapore. If the mining continues at the current rate and manner, local communities in Kachin State are at a severe and fast risk of losing their livelihood, health, forest and water resources [while] Kachin cultural and historical heritage will disappear in the near future, MMWN said. Locals who have pushed back against the mining have suffered intimidation, assaults, and threats, while their requests for damage compensation have been denied, the network said. It also urged the civilian National Unity Government (NUG) to blacklist organizations that finance mining operations for the military regime, abolish laws that threaten natural resources, and implement a federal system to govern natural resources that respects indigenous peoples rights, including their right to participate in decision-making. Burma International Aid Urgently Needed in Cyclone-Hit Rakhine, Local Volunteers Say A man walks past destroyed buildings in Sittwe, in Myanmar's Rakhine State, on May 15, 2023 after Cyclone Mocha made landfall. / AFP Local volunteer groups providing relief aid for the most vulnerable populations in the worst-affected areas of cyclone-hit northern Rakhine State have called on international agencies to urgently deliver humanitarian assistance, saying they are struggling to meet victims long-term needs and cant cover all of the storm-affected areas. Cyclone Mocha brought lashing rain and winds of 195 km per hour (120 miles per hour) to Myanmar and neighboring Bangladesh on May 14, collapsing buildings and causing a storm surge that damaged farmland, roads, crops and wells. Myanmars junta has officially put the death toll at 148. The UNs humanitarian affairs office said it was seeking $333 million to help provide shelter, medical facilities, food and clean water in affected areas ahead of the rainy season. However, most international aid agencies say they are still waiting for the juntas approval to carry out assistance operations on the ground. A local volunteer who did not want to be identified for fear of reprisals from the junta said storm-hit communities need urgent humanitarian assistance from international agencies as local volunteer groups can only provide temporary or short-term assistance. We provided urgent aid including tarpaulin sheets to Thea Khon villagers in collaboration with three other groups. We also encouraged the distraught villagers to hold on until other help arrives. Thea Khon is one of the hard-hit villages in the state. Last week, the group also provided urgent food supplies to five villages in Pauktaw Township and four villages in Sittwe Township that were completely or partially destroyed by Cyclone Mocha. The truth is we have not been able to help every village because nearly all villages were damaged by the storm. Help from local groups alone wont be sufficient to enable a full recovery, he said. Local volunteer groups in Rakhine assisted the evacuation effort before Cyclone Mocha made landfall and continue to deliver urgent food supplies and materials to provide temporary shelter to the hardest-hit areas. We also suffered losses during the storm. Four vehicles including three ambulances were damaged, as was our office. But we are trying our best to provide assistance to people, he said. However, the group is concerned about the delay in humanitarian aid from UN agencies as local groups cannot handle the situation in the long term. Our group relies mainly on donations in order to help the storm-hit communities. We can only hold on for another month, a volunteer said. One local volunteer said that rising prices and limited funding have hindered their groups ability to provide sufficient aid, and many poor communities affected by the storm in Rathedaung and Kyauktaw townships are still waiting for aid to arrive. We want to continue to help storm-hit communities in remote areas where minority ethnic communities live [in Rakhine State] but we dont have enough funding yet, a volunteer said. Another local volunteer group made up mostly of members of Rakhines younger generation donated food supplies to storm-hit communities in Sittwe Township including a Rohingya village. We donated 15 rice sacks in Bayda Village on Saturday as we heard they ran out of food supplies, but I am worried that they will run out again, as the rations of rice are not sufficient, a spokesperson for the group said. The donated rice of 2 kg per family was only expected to last one day, as most of the families in the village have five to 12 members. We try our best to help the villages that desperately need urgent food supplies, but we saw some families have over 10 members in Bayda Village. So, the rice will last only one day for those families, he said. At least 23 people were killed and 97 fishing boats were destroyed in Bayda, also known as Bawgadip, one of the fishing villages in Bu Pin Village-tract, which has 393 households. The junta donated 300,000 kyats (about US$140) to bereaved families in Bayda for each loved one lost in the storm, according to local sources. We received two or three packets of instant noodles per family from the [junta] government, another villager said. Burma Japanese Rail Projects Helping Myanmar Junta to Move Troops: JFM Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing inspects Pyin Oo Lwin Railway Station in April 2022. / GLNM The Japanese government and corporations are bankrolling Myanmars junta through railway projects, according to Justice For Myanmar (JFM). The activist groups statement on Tuesday said rail improvement projects continue under military rule, based on public sources and leaked documents, including from the whistleblower Distributed Denial of Secrets (DDS) website. JFM said rail projects implemented by multinational corporations from Japan and the European Union support the junta as it uses trains to move its troops, arms and other supplies. Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF), a Spanish corporation, and Japans Mitsubishi Corporation are supplying trains to the junta. The Fujita Corporation, a subsidiary of Daiwa House, the Sumitomo Corporation and Nippon Signal Co Ltd provide track and station upgrades, bridgework, signals and other communication equipment. According to leaked tax filings from DDS, Fujita received 29.7 billion kyats (US$15 million) from the junta-controlled Myanma Railways for work on the Yangon to Bago link last year. Around 90 percent of Myanma Railways 30,000 staff joined the civil disobedience movement after the 2021 coup and refused to work under military rule. The Tekken Corporation and Rinkai Nissan Construction are working on the Bago to Nyaunglebin section while Tokyu Construction is involved on the Nyaunglebin to Taungoo link. The Toenec Corporation is working on signaling and communications upgrades, according to JFM. The group said these corporations have received millions of dollars from Myanma Railways under projects financed by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) loans that predate the 2021 coup. JICA told JFM that under the bilateral pre-coup agreement, the projects shall not be used for military purposes. However, the Japanese government and the corporations involved are unable to prevent misuse by the junta, JFM said. It cited a recent incident where the junta used boats donated by Japan specifically for civilian use to move troops in Rakhine State. Japan complained to the junta in April but no further statement has been made on the issue. JFM called on the Japanese government and businesses involved in railway improvement projects to suspend work until a federal democracy is established in Myanmar. Japan should stand with the people of Myanmar and fulfill its international obligations by imposing sanctions on the junta and its business interests and suspending all official development assistance projects in Myanmar, the group said. JFMs spokeswoman Ma Yadanar Maung said Japan is legitimizing the junta and providing resources that support its campaign of terror against civilians. Japan needs to get on the right track for the people of Myanmar, suspend all official development assistance projects and impose sanctions on the junta and its businesses, she said. She said Myanma Railway is part of the regimes cartel and the businesses should cut ties with it, abiding by international human rights obligations. JFM called on the Spanish government to investigate CAFs links with the junta and act if EU sanctions have been breached. Burma Myanmar Junta Troops Raid Magwe, Kill Three Civilians Moekwel village on Yay Lel Kyun was torched by junta troops. / Yay Lel Kyun Information Myanmar junta troops have killed displaced people in Yesagyo Township, Magwe Region, and burned shelters, according to residents. Troops have been raiding villages in Yay Lel Kyun, an island at the confluence of the Ayeyarwady and Chindwin rivers. They allegedly tortured and killed a resident who tried to put out a fire in Maegone village following an arson attack on Monday. Junta troops came from Yesagyo and stayed overnight in Mipuya village. They torched Maegone village and a man who tried to put out the fire was shot dead, said a resident. On Sunday morning, troops raided a camp where more than 100 displaced villagers were hiding. A civilian and resistance fighter were killed. Villagers were trapped in the forest. One was killed by a stray bullet and another was deliberately shot dead, said a member of Yesagyo Peoples Defense Force (PDF). Junta troops drowned a displaced villager during their raid on Yayyar village on Sunday. And a 38-year-old woman was killed by junta shelling on May 26 in Mipuya village. Around 200 troops have been raiding villages on Yay Lel Kyun since May 26. Some of the troops are from Light Infantry Battalion 256, according to Yesagyo PDF. More than 20 civilians have been seized as human shields, said the PDF. Yay Lel Kyun has around 50 villages of which more than 20 have been attacked. Some villages were entirely burned. Junta troops also looted valuables and destroyed vehicles and boats. More than 21,000 villagers have been displaced by junta raids, according to Yesagyo Information. Some villages were entirely torched. As they are raiding around the island, more residents are fleeing and need food, said a resident. The island raids continue. Myanmars Crisis & the World Myanmar Juntas Latest EV Push Conks Out on Start Line Visitors check out a Chinese-made electric vehicle at the Myanmar-China (Lancang) Economic Expo in Naypyitaw. Myanmars military regime preached the benefits of China-made electric vehicles (EVs) with an editorial in junta-controlled daily newspapers on Tuesday. Masquerading as an op-ed, the piece was nothing more than a promotional write-up for Chinese EVs including cars, motorbikes, three-wheelers, and bicycles. Chinese companies introduced their EVs at the Myanmar-China (Lancang) Economic Expo held from May 25-28 in Naypyitaw, the administrative seat of the regime. According to reports, the regime is also planning to sell mini-EVs to government employees by monthly installments. The editorial lists the specifications of the mini-EVs, saying they cost only a little more than 10 million kyats (around US$ 4,800 at the official exchange rate of 2,100 kyats per dollar) and boast a maximum speed of 55 kilometers per hour. Plugged into a 220-volt socket at home, they take only three to six hours to charge, claims the editorial, which also details the prices and pros of electric motorcycles, three-wheelers and bicycles. Even better, they will be available in the Myanmar market soon, the editorial/advert gushes. Likely parroting junta boss Min Aung Hlaing, the editorial argues that EVs will save Myanmar huge amounts of dollars spent on imported fuel. It also highlights the eco-friendliness of EVs in terms of carbon dioxide emissions and noise. EVs are lightweight because they have fewer parts, and their maintenance costs are relatively low, the advertorial continues. However, those who test-drove the mini-EVs at the expo told a different story. The vehicles chassis is so poorly built that the frame is likely to disintegrate if driven for long distances, they complained. Meanwhile the battery is of poor quality and only suitable for short city trips. They called the EVs typical China-made machines, meaning machines that break down after one days use. But these disadvantages pale beside a more fundamental challenge: How can people get enough electricity to charge EVs when they struggle even to charge their phones? Government employees also say they cant afford to buy EVs even by installments because of the high cost of living compared with their small salaries. The military regime still cant supply electricity around the clock, even in the commercial capital Yangon, but that hasnt stopped it from importing EVs and working to build charging stations since last year in a bid to fulfill one of coup leader Min Aung Hlaings most persistent fantasies. Yet despite the juntas continuous efforts to promote EVs, there is no sign of them growing in popularity among Myanmar people. Tuesday, May 30th, 2023 (7:21 am) - Score 1,800 Residents in the rural Powys (Wales) village of Llangedwyn including neighbours in Llanfihangel (and possibly others) have complained after their long-awaited rollout of a new full fibre (FTTP) broadband network, which was due to be built by Broadway Partners, was put on hold due to the UKs 5bn Project Gigabit scheme. Network operator Broadway Partners (Broadway Broadband), which is being supported by an investment of 145m from London-based sustainable investment manager firm Downing LLP (here), currently has a number of gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) builds in rural parts of Scotland and Wales (i.e. theyre aiming to cover 250,000 UK premises by around 2028). Many of their builds are being part funded by the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) under the UK Governments Project Gigabit programme, which is being overseen by the Building Digital UK (BDUK) agency. The same project also includes a major Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy (GIS) programme, which awards contracts to network operators that can extend gigabit services to large numbers of premises. One difficulty with the GIS and the GBVS is that they tend to focus on the same rural areas and so, in order to reduce conflicts and avoid duplicating the public investment (i.e. protect taxpayers money), voucher schemes that are still being developed often get disrupted (shelved/delayed) during new GIS related contract procurements. Weve covered various examples of this over the past couple of years. The aforementioned approach is necessary to help build up a stable picture of coverage and eligibility in each area, although there are such things as Voucher Priority Areas that can be used to avoid related voucher projects stalling this applies to active projects that are in delivery at the time of the pause, as well as any projects which are at an advanced stage of planning. Whats happening in Llangedwyn? Residents in the village and surrounding areas had long been trying to get Openreach to bring fibre broadband infrastructure into the area, albeit without much success. But in 2021 it appeared as if Broadway Partners, which at the time had connected 30 properties in nearby Bwylch Y Ddar and were looking to expand, would be able to solve the problem. Development of the project began soon after that, although progress is known to have been slow. Nevertheless, residents were left in a state of shock when they were informed, on 18th May, that Broadways planned FTTP rollout in Llangedwyn, and the neighbouring Llanfihangel community, had suddenly gone into limbo. The reshuffle of vouchers is a disaster for rural community like ours. Everything agreed, surveyed ready to go and now cancelled because of the new BDUK rules. What a comedy show, said Steve, a local resident. The Llangedwyn Community Broadband Scheme similarly noted: Aled Davies our County Councillor was at the meeting and was stunned by the news, and has promised a meeting with our MP, Craig WIlliams. Craig is Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, and it is important that we make him aware of the advanced stage of our project, which, if abandoned, would leave our communities as fibre orphans. Broadways Letter to Residents We understand everyone is waiting to hear the latest information regarding your project and build status in your area. Weve had to delay updates to progress lately due to us working through a significant issue that has arisen which we now have a full understanding of. Your full fibre project is now likely to be within scope of the Welsh wide procurement exercise, run by UK Government via BDUK. What this means is that instead of providers like Broadway delivering multiple small projects, these projects have been collated into procurement lots, covering larger geographical areas. BDUK will then be asking companies to tender for these. As a direct consequence of this decision, we have had to stop any further work whilst the tender process gets underway. Having already designed and in many cases started to build the network, we will of course be tendering for this work. However, the time scales for the tender process are yet to be confirmed but are expected to start in Summer 2023. While we acknowledge we have been slow to deliver your full fibre network, we had begun to catch up on lost time and have already spent a significant amount to get to this point. Therefore, we have asked that your project be re-issued as a voucher protected area, meaning it would be removed from procurement. This request is under consideration, and we have fortnightly updates with BDUK and will continue to push this. It goes without saying that well update you the moment we hear any news. We are so sorry to have to give you this update but and we hope very much to be able to return and carry on our work to bring future proof, full fibre broadband to the areas of Wales that need it most. The Co-Founder of Broadway Partners, Michael Armitage, told ISPreview that alongside the communities he was obviously disappointed that a number of our projects have been included in the BDUK procurement process and understood the impact that any delays would have on those concerned. We continue to lobby the Government to have projects taken out of procurement where we can deliver more quickly. Failing that, the tender process for the affected project areas in Wales is expected to begin later this year, and we hope that Broadway will be one of those responding, added Michael. The difficulty for Broadway is whether or not those larger contract LOTS are going to be too big for an operator of their size to bid on. At the time of writing, we dont know exactly which procurement process is being adopted by BDUK for this area, as there are several different types. However, Powys County Council (Croeso i Wefan Cyngor Sir Powys) did recently complain about BDUKs plan to designate all of Mid Wales as a Category C procurement area (here), which they fear could potentially exclude many Broadband Alternative Network Providers installing broadband schemes in the county, leaving only the largest providers capable of installing ultrafast broadband. Type C procurements reflect the Cross-Regional Single Supplier Framework (details), which is intended to target premises that are unsuccessfully delivered either via the usual Type A and B procurements. This may happen if, for example, no or no appropriate market interest has been received for Type A and B procurements. But the wide expectation is that only larger operators, such as Openreach or nexfibre (Virgin Media), may be able to bid on Type C. At the same time, the Welsh Government are also known to be separately exploring a new 70m procurement, which could be used to help upgrade broadband for 84,000 premises (i.e. those that cant yet get superfast speeds of 30Mbps+) in hard-to-reach rural areas (here). But little is known about precisely how that would work and where it would focus. However, given the seemingly advanced stage of Broadways work, the hope is clearly that BDUK may be able to designate it as a Voucher Priority Area. ISPreview did seek a comment from BDUK in the middle of last week, but were currently still awaiting their official reply. UPDATE 2nd June 2023 The announcement on 31st May 2023 that Broadway Partners had gone into administration adds an extra bit of context to the situation above (here), but weve also now had a response from BDUK via DSIT. The department confirms that the story above only relates to the pause on vouchers introduced as a result of changes to Project Gigabits procurement process (i.e. the move to focus on procurement lots covering larger geographical areas, as opposed to targeting individual providers who can deliver multiple small projects), although all of this may now be academic given the uncertain status of Broadway itself. Today Sunny. Becoming windy late. High 97F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph, becoming WSW and increasing to 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. Tonight Clear skies. Low 63F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. Tomorrow A mainly sunny sky. High 91F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. 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 Reddit 92 Email 158 Shares This sharing by 71 CA police agencies violates state law and could be used by other states to identify and prosecute abortion seekers and providers. ( Electronic Frontier Foundation ) SAN FRANCISCOSeventy-one California police agencies in 22 counties must immediately stop sharing automated license plate reader (ALPR) data with law enforcement agencies in other states because it violates California law and could enable prosecution of abortion seekers and providers elsewhere, three civil liberties groups demanded Thursday in letters to those agencies. The letters from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California (ACLU NorCal), and the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California (ACLU SoCal) gave the agencies a deadline of June 15 to comply and respond. A months-long EFF investigation involving hundreds of public records requests uncovered that many California police departments share records containing detailed driving profiles of local residents with out-of-state agencies. ALPR camera systems collect and store location information about drivers, including dates, times, and locations. This sensitive information can reveal where individuals work, live, associate, worshipor 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, said EFF Staff Attorney Jennifer Pinsof. Sharing ALPR data with law enforcement in states that criminalize abortion undermines Californias extensive efforts to protect reproductive health privacy. The letters note how the nations legal landscape has changed in the past year. Particularly since the Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade, ALPR technology and the information it collects is vulnerable to exploitation against people seeking, providing, and facilitating access to abortion, the letters say. Law enforcement officers in anti-abortion jurisdictions who receive the locations of drivers collected by California-based ALPRs may seek to use that information to monitor abortion clinics and the vehicles seen around them and closely track the movements of abortion seekers and providers. This threatens even those obtaining or providing abortions in California, since several anti-abortion states plan to criminalize and prosecute those who seek or assist in out-of-state abortions. Image by Simon from Pixabay 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. 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. Since 2016, sharing any ALPR data with out-of-state or federal law enforcement agencies is a violation of the California Civil Code (SB 34). Nevertheless, many agencies continue to use services such as Vigilant Solutions or Flock Safety to make the ALPR data they capture available to out-of-state and federal agencies. California law enforcements sharing of ALPR data with law enforcement in states that criminalize abortion also undermines Californias extensive efforts to protect reproductive health privacy, specifically a 2022 law (AB 1242) prohibiting state and local agencies from providing abortion-related information to out-of-state agencies. Via Electronic Frontier Foundation Published under Creative Commons License 3.0. Reddit 17 Email 227 Shares Chicago (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) Following in Victor Orbans neo-fascist goose-steps, Trump, DeSantis, and the GOP are imposing his Hungarian brand of Christian nationalism on America. In power since 2010, Orban now a fabulously wealthy kleptocrat turned Hungary from a functioning democracy into a corrupt, single-party, authoritarian oligarchy and provided a beacon for the MAGA Republican sedition caucus. Fashioning himself as a champion of illiberal democracy and a defender of Christendom against Muslims, progressives and the LGBTQ lobby, Orban hosted the Republican Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Budapest this May. The two-day CPAC fascist-fest, the second in Hungary in as many years, featured segments titled Make Kids Not War and No Country for Woke Men. A sign over the venue entrance read No Woke Zone, assuring Republicans they would be in a safe space. CPAC chairman ( who has been accused but not convicted of sexual harassment) Matt Schlapp echoed Orbans view that Western media is all-leftist and unsuccessfully tried to keep liberal journalists out of the conference. As reported by the Associated Press, Schlapp said that CPAC had decided to go Hungarian in their approach to the media, deciding for themselves who is a journalist and who is not a journalist when determining which outlets to allow into their events. Embed from Getty Images NATIONAL HARBOR, MD MARCH 02: Chairman of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Matt Schlapp speaks during the annual conference at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center on March 2, 2023 in National Harbor, Maryland. The annual conservative conference kicks off today with former President Donald Trump addressing the event on Saturday. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Orban re-shaped the Hungarian political system not through a Soviet-style police state though he has been accused of using Israels Pegasus spyware to tap the phones of opposing journalists, lawyers, and businessman but rather through quasi-constitutional changes. He and his Fidesz Party seized control of the judiciary, turned elections into a sham, passed racist immigration laws, crushed dissent, and demolished independent media outlets. He has further enforced his power over cultural, educational, and religious institutions to promote his Christian nationalist vision and reject gender insanity, multiculturalism, and hegemonic liberalism. The GOP in most red states already bears striking similarities to Orbans Fidesz party: from targeting migrants to whipping up nativist conspiracies, from packing the courts with right-wing extremists to rigging elections through purging voters and gerrymanders, from outlawing most abortions to discriminating against LBGTQ people, and from stoking white religious grievance to supporting Christian supremacy. In a recent survey, more than half of Republicans support Christian Nationalism. Pushing the faulty notion that conflates American and Christian identity, the ongoing Reawaken America Tour is a fanatically pro-Christian circus of MAGA lunatics like Mike Flynn, Eric Trump, Roger Stone, and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell alongside various conservative Christian pastors and Trump acolytes. They are promulgating Qanon conspiracies, anti-vaxx misinformation, and anti-Semitism along with an anti-democratic Christian Nationalist ideology that discriminates, excludes and persecutes non-Christians, immigrants or individuals who dont align with their dogmatic, bigoted understanding of religious identity. Reaching beyond the MAGA fringe and the red states, Orban and the GOP have their sights set on converting the federal government. Various contemptible Republican politicians have expressed support for Christian Nationalism, including Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz, Mike Pompeo, and Marjorie Taylor Greene. Just as Republicans aspire to federalize an abortion ban, Trump, DeSantis, and the GOP want to inflict Orbanism on all of America. Image by Tibor Janosi Mozes from Pixabay The Hungarian soft fascism strongman told the CPAC audience, to a standing ovation: Hungary is actually an incubator where experiments are done on the future of conservative policies. Hungary is the place where we didnt just talk about defeating the progressives and liberals and causing a conservative Christian political turn, but we actually did it. Orban dispenses that dictatorial dopamine hit that Republicans so desperately crave, but without Putins poisoned corpses and war crimes. At CPAC, Orban bragged that conservatives have occupied big European sanctuaries, which he listed as Budapest, Warsaw, Rome and Jerusalem. He complained that Washington and Brussels were still in the grip of liberalism, which he described as a virus that will atomize and disintegrate our nations migration, gender, and woke: these are all just variants variants of the same virus. Embed from Getty Images Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban addresses a keynote speech during an extraordinary session of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Balna cultural centre of Budapest, Hungary on May 19, 2022. The two-day CPAC meeting is being held in Europe for the first time. (Photo by ATTILA KISBENEDEK / AFP) (Photo by ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP via Getty Images) Orban wants to exterminate what he calls that virus in Europe and has dedicated himself to showing Republicans how to do the same here. An early Trump-influencer, Orban was the first European leader to endorse the sex abuser for president and was celebrated by Steve Bannon as Trump before Trump. During the refugee crisis of 2015, Orban built a huge, militarized, barbed-wire fence along Hungarys southern border. In 2021, Tucker Carlson still hosting his white-power-hour on Fox became Orbans premier American fluffer. He hosted a week of shows from Hungary that broadcast Orbans fascist light poison directly into American homes, depicting Hungary as a conservative paradise with strong pro-family, Christian policies that had conquered the migrant onslaught with a border wall. Orban expelled almost all asylum seekers from the country in defiance of both European Union law and the Geneva Conventions. He even locked up refugee children in cages with the enthusiastic support of Hungarian white supremacists. The Helsinki Human Rights Committee condemned this as cruel and inhuman. In true fascist style, Orban declared, Immigration brings increased crime, endangers the continents Christian culture and identity, and lets in the virus of terrorism. Apishly following his vile example, Trump and his advisor Steven Miller devised American jail camps for migrant families. Citing their similarities, Trump lavishly praised Orban in a 2019 oval office meeting. Exploiting images of Syrian refugees fleeing Russian violence, Orbans state-controlled media amplified or fabricated migrant criminality for shameless fearmongering just as Republicans and their MAGA propaganda outlets regularly ramp up the horror of a migrant invasion. Inflicting a Hungarian hell of persecution, racism and xenophobia upon racial, ethnic, and religious minorities: Orban refused to denounce the founder of the Fidesz Party when he branded the Roma, the largest minority group in Hungary, as animals, unfit to live among people. Embed from Getty Images BICSKE, HUNGARY SEPTEMBER 04: Migrants protest outside a train that they are refusing to leave for fear of being taken to a refugee camp from the train that has been held at Bicske station since yesterday on September 4, 2015 in Bicske, near Budapest, Hungary. According to the Hungarian authorities a record number of migrants from many parts of the Middle East, Africa and Asia are crossing the border from Serbia. Since the beginning of 2015 the number of migrants using the so-called Balkans route has exploded with migrants arriving in Greece from Turkey and then travelling on through Macedonia and Serbia before entering the EU via Hungary. The massive increase, said to be the largest migration of people since World War II, led Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban to order Hungarys army to build a steel and barbed wire security barrier along its entire border with Serbia, after more than 100,000 asylum seekers from a variety of countries and war zones entered the country so far this year. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) In what may be his most influential demagogic fabrication, Orban provided Trump, DeSantis and Republicans with an all-purpose, scapegoat an omnipotent demonic figure to be blamed for Hungarys and, in fact, all the worlds evils: George Soros. The Holocaust survivor is the Hungarian billionaire whose Soros Foundation financed Orbans own Oxford education as it did for many others. Soros also funded health, human rights, and pro-democracy projects. Orban devised a conspiracy theory, painting George Soros who was born in Hungary but hasnt lived there in decades as the global orchestrator of the refugee crisis, a nefarious international puppet master, writes Hungarian author and politician Zsuzsanna Szelenyi, in her 2022 book, Tainted Democracy: Viktor Orban and the Subversion of Hungary. As part of his 2010 election campaign, Orbans concocted Soros plan served as a faithful reprise of every single trope of anti-Semitic hatred, which casts powerful Jewish actors as the embodiment of all social and political diseases while creating an illusionary basis for the Hungarian war against migration. Orban named his draconian anti-immigration bill the Stop Soros law. Among other things, it outlawed helping immigrants claim asylum and apply for residence in Hungary. The Fidesz media machine trumpeted Orbans conspiracy theory and magnified it a thousand times. Ads and billboards screamed Soros wants to influence the whole world! and Soros may have killed his mother! Orbans political enemies became Soros hirelings, says Szelenyi. Nobody could escape hearing Soros name every day. Embed from Getty Images DAVOS, Switzerland: George Soros, Chairman of Soros Fund management speaks during the Riding the Next Democratic Wave conference, 23 January 2004 at the Congress Center during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. In a speech prepared for the WEF, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announced Today he was convening a new business summit in June In New York, to help refocus attention on development issues that have been overshadowed by the Iraq war and the US-led drive against terrorism.AFP PHOTO Philippe DESMAZES (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP via Getty Images) American vilification of Soros exploded after the Nazi brutality in Charlottesville. U.S. right-wingers claimed the violence was orchestrated and financed by Soros to tarnish the reputation of Trump, as if his despicable reputation could be tarnished any further. Before Tucker Carlsons unceremonious dumping from Fox, he made a documentary called Hungary vs. Soros: Fight for Civilization. Carlsons film accuses Soros of trying to undermine Hungarys migration success story by funding pro-refugee propaganda, opposing the border fence, and lobbying governments to open their borders. For years now, Republicans have demonized George Soros for anything they perceive as malevolent, woke, or corrosive to their cherished values. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called the NY District Attorney who indicted Trump, Soros-backed. Just last week, the malicious conspiracy-monger, Twitter owner Elon Musk a Trump fanboy who presided over the globally humiliating, technically disastrous DeSantis presidential launch crash asserted that Soros wants to erode the very fabric of civilization. Soros hates humanity. Bringing the slanderous Soros fiction to lizard-eating-its-own-tail absurdity, MAGA darling Kari Lake still denying she lost the Arizona governors race and auditioning to be Trumps VP sycophant trashed Ron DeSantis by tweeting The Kiss of Death Florida Governor Ron DeSantis endorsed by George Soros. Trump mocked the DeSantis presidential launch debacle by posting a monumentally stupid, fan-made video insinuating that DeSantis garnered support from Soros, Hitler, and Satan. Though it again exposed the unserious meaninglessness of the Soros accusations, the propaganda remains irresponsible and dangerous: Soros has endured countless death threats, including from Qanon crazies who have urged his execution. While continuing to flog Soros, Orban in 2022 went beyond his dictator-curious approach and openly embraced ethno-nationalistic racism. In an inflammatory speech in Romania, he denounced immigration from outside the existing boundaries of Europe, saying it was an effort to impose a mixed-race society on Hungary. One of his own close advisers Zsuzsa Hegedus resigned in protest, calling the speech worthy of Goebbels and pure Nazi. Though Orbans hatred of migrants as well as academics, globalists, and the Roma is the central Orban message, he and the Fidesz party, as part of their heterosexual pro-family Christian agenda, initiated attacks on gender ideology as early as 2010. The Orban government prohibited gay marriage via constitutional amendment and banned transgender people from receiving legal recognition. In public campaigns, Orban conflated homosexuality with pedophilia while his government defunded gender-studies programs at universities. In 2020 the Orban government criminalized any positive portrayal of LGBTQ people on TV and passed a law banning sex education involving LGBTQ topics in elementary schools. Nine months later, DeSantis as Florida governor slavishly signed a similar law, known as the Dont Say Gay bill. DeSantis press secretary, talking about the inspiration for the law admitted, We were watching the Hungarians. Convinced that teachers are brainwashing kids to be left-wingers, Orban wields state power to suppress academic freedom and dictate forbidden education topics from grade school to college. Orbans party railed against teaching multiracialism and racial tolerance, instead rewriting elementary school textbooks to proclaim that refugees entering the country are a threat because it can be problematic for different cultures to coexist. Education policy is the latest of Orbans obsessions passed along to Trump, DeSantis, and Republicans. Parroting Orban, Trump mendaciously denounced pink-haired communists teaching our kids and Marxist maniacs running our universities; Florida senator Marco Rubio called schools a cesspool of Marxist indoctrination; Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo predicted that teachers unions, and the filth that theyre teaching our kids will take this Republic down. Beyond the disingenuous words, Republicans are acting on these rhetorical fantasies. Over the past three years, legislators in 28 states have passed at least 71 bills controlling what teachers and students can say and do at school. A wave of library purges, subject-matter restrictions, and potential legal threats against educators has followed. Emulating Orban, Republicans are seizing control of the American classroom, seeing it as the ultimate battleground upon which this countrys future will be determined. Early in his career, Orban identified the universities as the primary institutional source of opposition. Extending his political rule, Orban placed most state universities under the control of close allies as part of his lamentably successful campaign to dismantle Hungarys liberal democracy and advance nativist ideology. DeSantis education advisor and anti-woke chatbot Christopher Rufo recently spent a month in Budapest as a fellow at the pro-Orban Danube Institute where he reportedly met with Orbans government. After returning from Hungary, he excoriated American schools as hunting grounds for pedophile teachers and suggested that parents have good reason to worry about gender, grooming and trans ideology in schools. Last September, Balazs Orban (no relation), the political director for the Hungarian prime minister, visited Florida where he praised DeSantis and likened his governing style to that of his own boss. DeSantis is imitating Orbans ideas to turn Florida into a MAGA utopia. The similarities between the two politicians have been embraced by the Hungarian media with headlines such as: Following Orban, the Republican governor of Florida. Replicating Orban, DeSantis House Bill 999 does more than repress academic freedom, it obliterates academic freedom. Admiring the legislation, The American Conservative called it Floridas Orban Renewal Project. Free expression and education advocate at PEN America Jeremy Young described it as almost an apocalyptic bill for higher education, one that is orders of magnitude worse than anything weve seen, either in the recent or the distant past. An abhorrent synthesis and expansion of previous unconstitutional Stop-Woke laws, House Bill 999 forbids Floridas public colleges and universities from offering majors or minors in CRT (critical race theory), intersectionality, or gender studies as well as any subject that engenders beliefs in those ideas. The bill also bans campus activities that espouse diversity, equity and inclusion or critical race theory rhetoric. Even the teaching of subjects like slavery and Native American genocide is restricted. The Republican campaign to dominate the ideology of schools will not remain confined to state law or the public sphere. Mainlining Orban, hard-right Representative Dan Bishop a member of the GOP insurrection caucus and Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton who urged Trump to use military force against the George Floyd protests have put forth a bill that would deny federal funding to public and private universities that promote CRT concepts. A vision of the Republican future, Victor Orban is Trump or DeSantis with 13 years in command. As authoritarian Orban clones, Trump, DeSantis and GOP politicians goose-step in unison with his policies in a 21st century crusade to make America Hungary a Christian nationalist autocracy steeped in racism, xenophobia, and the corruption of democracy. VANCOUVER, BC, May 30, 2023 /CNW/ - Capella Minerals Ltd (TSXV: CMIL) (OTCQB: CMILF) (FRA: N7D2) ("Capella" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has been granted exploration permits covering five priority gold-copper ("Au-Cu") targets on its Northern Finland Gold-Copper project. The Company's initial priorities will be on the evaluation of potential extensions to Outokumpu Oy's former Saattopora gold-copper mining operation ("Saattopora W permit"), together with initial diamond drill testing of the historical gold-copper Bottom of Till ("BoT") geochemical anomalies defined by Anglo American plc in the Killero area ("Killero E permit") (Figure 1). The Companys target areas lie adjacent to the Sirkka thrust zone, a well-mineralized structural corridor in the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt which hosts a number of recent exploration discoveries (such as Rupert Resources' Ikkari gold project1). The granted exploration permits allow the Company to undertake more detailed field evaluations - including ground geophysical surveys and diamond drilling - within the individual target areas. Engagement with local communities / stakeholders to discuss upcoming work programs will also be a priority over the coming months. Capella currently holds a 70% interest in the five target areas through a Joint Venture ("JV") agreement signed with ASX-listed Cullen Resources Ltd (ASX: CUL)("Cullen")(see Company News Release dated August 24, 2021). Figure 1. Locations of the five granted exploration permits (Saattopora W, Keisunselka, Jolhikko, Katajavaara, and Killero E) within the Northern Finland Gold-Copper Project. 1 References made to nearby mines and analogous deposits provide context for the Northern Finland Gold-Copper project but are not necessarily indicative that these projects host similar tonnages or grades of mineralization. Eric Roth, Capellas President and CEO commented: "I am very pleased to be announcing today the granting of exploration permits over key gold & copper targets within our former Aakenus reservation. The granted areas include our priority Killero E target, which consists of an historical copper-gold BoT anomaly delineated by Anglo American plc but which never saw follow-up drill testing. Indeed, given that BoT values exceeding 110 parts per million ("ppm") copper are considered to be anomalous in this part of the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt, the Killero E values of up to 5,962 ppm copper are truly significant. Given that drilling is optimally undertaken here under cold winter conditions, we currently expect first drilling of the Killero E anomaly to occur in Q1, 2024. I look forward to keeping all stakeholders updated as our exploration programs advance". Killero E Target Area The priority Killero E target area has been defined through a combination of: i) historical BoT gold-copper anomalies obtained from previous Anglo American plc exploration programs2, and ii) interpretation of data from the Companys own high-resolution drone magnetic survey completed in April 2022. The historical BoT data confirms an extensive copper-gold anomaly associated with a major NE-trending fault/shear zone, with the fault/shear zone also apparently displacing interpreted E-W trending mafic to ultramafic volcanic and/or intrusive rocks (Figure 2). Initial drilling will be designed to vector in to potential sources of the copper-gold anomalism. Figure 2. Killero E target areas as defined by combined geochemical (BoT) and geophysical (drone magnetic survey data) anomalies. 2 Historic geochemical results quoted for Killero are derived from GTK (Geological Survey of Finland) datasets. Whilst Capella has not performed sufficient work to verify the published data reported, the Company believes this information to be considered reliable and relevant. Qualified Persons and Disclosure Statement The technical information in this news release relating to the Northern Finland Gold-Copper project has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in NI 43-101, and approved by Eric Roth, the Company's President & CEO, a Director, and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mr. Roth holds a Ph.D. in Economic Geology from the University of Western Australia, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and is a Fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG). Mr. Roth has 35 years of experience in international minerals exploration and mining project evaluation. On Behalf of the Board of Capella Minerals Ltd. "Eric Roth" ___________________________ Eric Roth, Ph.D., FAusIMM President & CEO About Capella Minerals Ltd Capella is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of quality mineral resource properties in favourable jurisdictions with a focus on European base and battery metals projects. In Norway, the Company's focus is on: i) the advanced exploration-stage Hessjgruva copper-cobalt project and the adjacent Kongensgruve and Kjli projects in the northern Rros mining district, Trndelag province, ii) the discovery of satellite high-grade copper-cobalt deposits around the past-producing Lkken copper mine, Trndelag province, and iii) the discovery of new copper-cobalt deposits in the former Vaddas-Birtavarre mining district of northern Norway. The Company is also exploring the Northern Finland Gold-Copper project in the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt, together with JV partner Cullen Resources Ltd (ASX: CUL). A total of five exploration permit have now been approved, including the priority Killero Cu-Au target. In central Finland, the Companys focus is on the discovery of lithium and rare-earth element deposits at both its Perho reservation, in addition to an extensive package of properties in the broader Keliber district through a JV with European Energy Metals Corp (formerly Hilo Mining)(TSXV: FIN). Capella also retains exposure to exploration success in precious metals projects through its active Canadian Joint Ventures with Prospector Metals Corp. (TSXV: PPP) at Savant (Ontario) and Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd (formerly Yamana Gold Inc.) (TSX: AEM) (NYSE: AEM) at Domain (Manitoba). The Company also holds a 49% interest in the Sierra Blanca low sulfidation gold-silver project in Santa Cruz, Argentina, which is currently being explored by Austral Gold Ltd (TSXV: AGLD) (ASX: AGD). Cautionary Notes and Forward-looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. 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. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the future results of operations, performance and achievements of Capella, including the timing, completion of and results from the exploration and drill programs described in this release. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that such expectations will prove to be correct. All such forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions and analyses made by Capella in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. This information, however, is 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 information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from this forward-looking information include those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in Capella's most recently filed MD&A. Capella does not intend, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or revise the forward-looking information contained in this news release, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Tortola, British Virgin Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - May 29, 2023) - Sailfish Royalty Corp. (TSXV: FISH) (OTCQX: SROYF) (the "Company" or "Sailfish") is pleased to announce its operating and financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 ("Q1 2023"). All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated. Q1 2023 Highlights: Gold ounces earned of 360 for the three months ended March 31, 2023; Revenues of $676,478 for the three months ended March 31, 2023; Gross profit of $366,181 for the three months ended March 31, 2023; Net loss of $609,557 for the three months ended March 31, 2023; Repurchased for cancellation an aggregate of 93,600 common shares of the Company under the current normal course issuer bid for the three months ended March 31, 2023; and Declared a quarterly dividend of $0.0125 per common share which was paid on April 17, 2023. Paolo Lostritto, Chief Executive Officer of Sailfish, states that, "During Q1 2023, Sailfish received and sold 360 ounces of gold from the gold stream equivalent to a 3% NSR on the San Albino gold mine. Now that the Company has closed the recently announced silver stream (see press released dated May 25, 2023), the Company expects a commensurate increase in silver-related revenue starting this month." Summary of Q1 2023 Results: Three months ended March 31, 2023 Three months ended March 31, 2022 Condensed interim consolidated statements of comprehensive income $ $ Revenues 676,478 722,564 Gross profit 366,181 363,259 Net income (loss) (609,557 ) 203,454 Basic earnings (loss) per share (0.01 ) 0.01 Diluted earnings (loss) per share (0.00 ) 0.00 For complete details, please refer to the Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 and associated Management Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2023, available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or on the Company's website (www.sailfishroyalty.com). Subsequent to Q1 2023 Highlights: On May 25, 2023, the Company announced the closing of the silver stream with Mako Mining Corp. ("Mako") whereby the Company acquired a 24-month silver stream for $6 million in cash and an option to purchase subsequent silver produced from the San Albino mine or from concessions currently owned by Mako and processed through Mako's San Albino processing facility until production is no longer economically viable at the mutual agreement of Sailfish and Mako. Such option is exercisable after 12 of the 24-month term of the silver stream has passed for an additional $1 million. On May 25, 2023, the Company also announced the closing of a non-brokered private placement of unsecured convertible debentures (each a "Convertible Debenture") at a price of $1,000 per Convertible Debenture for gross proceeds of $4.1 million. See the Company's news release dated May 25, 2023 for further information. Subsequent to March 31, 2023, $1,898,834 was received from MGM USA. Subsequent to March 31, 2023, Sailfish cancelled 124,200 common shares. Subsequent to March 31, 2023, Sailfish purchased 30,600 common shares on-market which have not been cancelled. The Company may purchase an additional 2,692,586 common shares under the current normal course issuer bid. Subsequent to March 31, 2023, the Company received 32,880 ounces of silver pertaining to loan receivable payments. About Sailfish Sailfish is a precious metals royalty and streaming company. Within Sailfish's portfolio are three main assets in the Americas: a gold stream equivalent to a 3% NSR on the San Albino gold mine (~3.5 sq. km) and a 2% NSR on the rest of the area (~134.5 sq. km) surrounding San Albino in northern Nicaragua; an up to 3% NSR on the multi-million ounce Spring Valley gold project in Pershing County, Nevada; and a 100% interest in the Gavilanes Silver Project located in Durango State, Mexico. Sailfish is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "FISH" and on the OTCQX under the symbol "SROYF". Please visit the Company's website at www.sailfishroyalty.com for additional information. For further information: Paolo Lostritto, CEO, tel. 416-602-2645 or Bryan McKenzie, CFO, tel. 604-443-3834. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information Certain disclosures in this release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by words such as the following: expects, plans, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, projects, assumes, potential and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements also include reference to events or conditions that will, would, may, could or should occur, including, without limitation, statements regarding the expectation that the Silver Stream will provide a commensurate increased in silver-related revenue. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable, including that the Silver Stream will provide a commensurate increased in silver-related revenue. However, the forward-looking statements in this news release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements, including without limitation that the Silver Stream will not provide a commensurate increased in silver-related revenue. 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 outlook that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. VANCOUVER, BC, May 30, 2023 /CNW/ - Vizsla Silver Corp. (TSXV: VZLA) (NYSE: VZLA) (Frankfurt: 0G3) ("Vizsla Silver" or the "Company") is pleased to report results from five new drillholes targeting the recently discovered "La Luisa" Vein located ~700 metres west of the Napoleon Area resource, at its 100%-owned flagship Panuco silver-gold project ("Panuco") in Mexico. The new drill results expand the high-grade footprint at La Luisa to 350 metres long by 450 metres down dip. Additionally, surface mapping and sampling has identified a near surface exploration target located ~600 metres along strike to the northwest. Highlights NP-23-362 returned 916 grams per tonne (g/t) silver equivalent (AgEq) over 3.05 metres true width (mTW) (372 g/t silver, 5.82 g/t gold, 2.15 % lead and 3.15 % zinc) Including, 3,162 g/t AgEq over 0.59 mTW (1,418 g/t silver, 21.54 g/t gold, 5.35 % lead and 6.37 % zinc) (372 g/t silver, 5.82 g/t gold, 2.15 % lead and 3.15 % zinc) And 410 g/t AgEq over 3.20 mTW (93 g/t silver, 2.91 g/t gold, 1.37 % lead and 2.37 % zinc) Including, 1,054 g/t AgEq over 0.76 mTW (283 g/t silver, 7.41 g/t gold, 5.05 % lead and 3.91 % zinc) (93 g/t silver, 2.91 g/t gold, 1.37 % lead and 2.37 % zinc) NP-23-373 returned 426 g/t AgEq over 4.30 mTW (69 g/t silver, 3.62 g/t gold, 0.60 % lead and 2.75 % zinc) Including, 1,032 g/t AgEq over 0.77 mTW (210 g/t silver, 8.09 g/t gold, 1.21 % lead and 7.03 % zinc); and (69 g/t silver, 3.62 g/t gold, 0.60 % lead and 2.75 % zinc) NP-22-375 returned 734 g/t AgEq over 1.40 mTW (593 g/t silver, 0.78 g/t gold, 2.05 % lead and 1.91 % zinc) "The high-grade zone at La Luisa continues to grow at depth, where new drilling has now extended mineralization by an additional 125 metres down dip," commented Michael Konnert, President and CEO. "We remain encouraged by the high gold to silver ratios, which may suggest the top of a more extensive mineralized system at depth. Additionally, rock samples taken approximately 600 metres to the north of current drilling have discovered a wide high-grade vein expression, representing the possible continuation of La Luisa. Given the zone's developing grade width profile and excellent exploration potential to the north, there are currently two drill rigs turning at La Luisa." Details of the La Luisa vein discovery The Luisa Vein is located approximately 700 metres to the west of Napoleon in the southwest portion of the Panuco district. The structure has been mapped on surface for approximately 1,500 metres with an average strike of N30W and dip of 70 - 80 to the northeast. La Luisa does not currently host any resources. To date, Vizsla Silver has reported 20 holes from La Luisa outlining a mineralized footprint approximately 350 metres long by 450 metres down dip with a weighted average grade of 577 g/t AgEq (246 g/t silver, 4.37 g/t gold, 0.33 % lead and 1.18 % zinc) and average width 1.85 mTW. The upper levels of the vein are hosted primarily by rhyolite tuffs (the upper part of the regional lower volcanic sequence) , whereas deeper vein-intercepts occur in the more favourable diorite host rock. Initial shallow drilling at La Luisa returned significant gold concentrations with relatively low silver and base metals values. The higher gold to silver and base metals ratios observed are analogous to the previously reported shallow "gold rich" horizon at the southern end of Napoleon. Interpretations based on metal zonation and alteration at Napoleon suggest that the vein corridor has been tilted, with the southern extent being at the top of the mineralized horizon, near surface (see the Company's press releases dated December 16, 2021, and October 12, 2022, respectively). Deeper drilling at La Luisa, including holes NP-22-345 and NP-23-358 intercepted vein mineralization marked by higher silver concentrations, suggestive of shoot- or top-shoot elevation. In addition to drilling, recent surface mapping and sampling along strike to the northwest at La Luisa has confirmed a wider vein expression with higher silver and gold concentrations at surface (up to 428 g/t Ag and 1.54 g/t). This discovery further supports the hypothesis that mineralization is tilted to the southeast in a similar fashion to Napoleon (Figure 2). Vizsla Silver plans to mobilize a drill rig to test this high-priority target in the near-term. Vizsla Silver is currently exploring La Luisa with two drill rigs. Given the ongoing success of the local exploration model, the Company added a second rig to drill from the west side of the vein (Figure 3). This drilling from the west provided data to further refine our interpretations of previously reported vein intercepts for hole NP-22-345 (see the Company's press release dated March 20, 2023). The revised interpretation shows the high-grade intercept of 1,967 g/t AgEq over 2.45 mTW is a hanging-wall vein splay and not the main La Luisa vein. The estimated true widths ("TW") were recalculated for this hole considering the new interpretation. Drillhole From To Downhole Length Estimated True width Ag Au Pb Zn AgEq Vein (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) % % (g/t) NP-22-345* 511.65 515.70 4.05 2.45 1,286 9.76 0.90 2.35 1,967 HW 1 Includes 511.65 513.25 1.60 0.97 2,982 24.01 1.82 5.03 4,630 And 556.10 558.50 2.40 1.48 42 1.55 0.51 2.17 237 HW 2 And 586.40 590.50 4.10 1.30 42 4.05 0.24 2.93 426 La Luisa And 597.55 600.30 2.75 1.00 65 2.21 0.09 2.59 306 FW 1 NP-23-362 549.70 551.00 1.30 0.80 50 0.41 0.48 2.05 163 HW 1 And 618.25 626.30 8.05 3.05 372 5.82 2.15 3.15 916 HW 2 Includes 619.55 621.10 1.55 0.59 1,418 21.54 5.35 6.37 3,162 And 634.15 639.80 5.65 3.20 93 2.91 1.37 2.37 410 La Luisa Includes 635.10 636.45 1.35 0.76 283 7.41 5.05 3.91 1,054 NP-23-366 767.00 774.00 7.00 3.85 13 0.99 0.19 1.75 148 HW 1 And 665.65 666.30 0.65 0.38 35 0.51 0.08 0.40 83 La Luisa And 637.45 637.90 0.45 0.40 62 1.57 0.05 4.47 327 FW 1 NP-23-373 744.45 745.80 1.35 0.80 10 1.31 0.08 0.41 114 HW 1 And 607.25 613.65 6.40 4.30 69 3.62 0.60 2.75 426 La Luisa Includes 612.50 613.65 1.15 0.77 210 8.09 1.21 7.03 1,032 And 467.35 468.20 0.85 0.75 57 8.13 0.12 0.26 614 La Luisa And 492.00 494.45 2.45 1.40 593 0.78 2.05 1.91 734 FW 1 Table 1: Downhole drill intersections from the holes completed along the La Luisa vein. Note: AgEq = Ag g/t x Ag rec. + ((Au g/t x Au Rec x Au price/gram)+(Pb% x Pb rec. X Pb price/t) + (Zn% x Zn rec. X Zn price/t))/Ag price/gram. Metal price assumptions are $24.00/oz silver, $1,800/oz gold, $2,424.4/t lead and $2,975.4/t zinc. Metallurgical recoveries assumed are 93% for silver, 90% for gold, 94% for lead and 94% for zinc. Metallurgical recoveries used in this release are from metallurgical test results of the Napoleon vein (see press release dated February 17, 2022). *Previously reported March 20, reinterpreted and re-reported. Drillhole Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth NP-22-345* 403,026 2,586,786 450 234 -52.1 624.0 NP-23-362 403,022 2,586,784 450 220 -46.0 699.0 NP-23-366 402,386 2,586,315 413 50 -48.0 811.8 NP-23-373 402,387 2,586,315 412 63 -48.7 792.7 NP-23-375 403,146 2,586,454 451 245 -44.7 549.0 Table 2: La Luisa vein drillhole details. Coordinates in WGS84, Zone 13. *Previously reported March 20, reinterpreted and re-reported. About the Panuco Project The newly consolidated Panuco silver-gold project is an emerging high-grade discovery located in southern Sinaloa, Mexico, near the city of Mazatlan. The 7,189.5-hectare, past producing district benefits from over 86 kilometres of total vein extent, 35 kilometres of underground mines, roads, power, and permits. The district contains intermediate to low sulfidation epithermal silver and gold deposits related to siliceous volcanism and crustal extension in the Oligocene and Miocene. Host rocks are mainly continental volcanic rocks correlated to the Tarahumara Formation. The Panuco Project hosts an estimated in-situ indicated mineral resource of 104.8 Moz AgEq and an in-situ inferred resource of 114.1 Moz AgEq. An updated NI 43-101 technical report titled "Technical Report on the Mineral Resource Estimate Update for the Panuco Ag-Au-Pb-Zn Project, Sinaloa State, Mexico" was filed on SEDAR on March 10, 2023, with an effective date of January 19, 2023 was prepared by Allan Armitage, Ph. D., P. Geo., Ben Eggers, MAIG, P.Geo. and Yann Camus, P.Eng. of SGS Geological Services. About Vizsla Silver Vizsla Silver is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, focused on advancing its flagship, 100%-owned Panuco silver-gold project located in Sinaloa, Mexico. To date, Vizsla Silver has completed over 250,000 metres of drilling at Panuco leading to the discovery of several new high-grade veins. For 2023, Vizsla Silver has budgeted +90,000 metres of resource/discovery-based drilling designed to upgrade and expand the mineral resource, as well as test other high priority targets across the district. Quality Assurance / Quality Control Drill core samples were shipped to ALS Limited in Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico and in North Vancouver, Canada for sample preparation and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver and rock samples were shipped to SGS Lab in Durango Mexico for sample preparation and analysis. The ALS Zacatecas, North Vancouver facilities and SGS lab are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Silver and base metals were analyzed using a four-acid digestion with an ICP finish and gold was assayed by 30-gram fire assay with atomic absorption ("AA") spectroscopy finish. Over limit analyses for silver, lead and zinc were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with AA finish. Control samples comprising certified reference samples, duplicates and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's quality assurance / quality control protocol. Qualified Person In accordance with NI 43-101, Martin Dupuis, P.Geo., COO, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has reviewed and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. Information Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources The scientific and technical information in this news release was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The terms "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" used herein are in reference to the mining terms defined in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Standards (the "CIM Definition Standards"), which definitions have been adopted by NI 43-101. Accordingly, information contained herein providing descriptions of our mineral deposits in accordance with NI 43-101 may not be comparable to similar information made public by other U.S. companies subject to the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. You are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral resources will ever be converted into reserves. Pursuant to CIM Definition Standards, "inferred mineral resources" are that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Such geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. An inferred mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an indicated mineral resource and must not be converted to a mineral reserve. However, it is reasonably expected that the majority of inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated mineral resources with continued exploration. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Canadian standards, including the CIM Definition Standards and NI 43-101, differ significantly from standards in the SEC Industry Guide 7. Effective February 25, 2019, the SEC adopted new mining disclosure rules under subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SEC Modernization Rules"), with compliance required for the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021. The SEC Modernization Rules replace the historical property disclosure requirements included in SEC Industry Guide 7. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources". Information regarding mineral resources contained or referenced herein may not be comparable to similar information made public by companies that report according to U.S. standards. While the SEC Modernization Rules are purported to be "substantially similar" to the CIM Definition Standards, readers are cautioned that there are differences between the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Definitions Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral resources that the Company may report as "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared the resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. 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. SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release includes certain "ForwardLooking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forwardlooking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forwardlooking statements or information. These forwardlooking statements or information relate to, among other things: the exploration, development, and production at Panuco, including plans for resource/discovery-based drilling designed to upgrade and expand the mineral resource. Forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of Vizsla, future growth potential for Vizsla and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on 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. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of silver, gold, and other metals; no escalation in the severity of public health crises; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; Vizsla's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms. These statements reflect Vizsla's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information and Vizsla Silver has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the Company's dependence on one mineral project; precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in Mexico; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of public health crises; the economic and financial implications of public health crises to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine; general economic facts; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in Vizsla Silver's management discussion and analysis and other public disclosure documents. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information. Although Vizsla Silver has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Vizsla Silver does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law. VANCOUVER, BC, May 30, 2023 /CNW/ - Outback Goldfields Corp. (the "Company" or "Outback") (TSXV: OZ) (OTCQB: OZBKF) is pleased to announce that the Silver Spoon Exploration Licence (EL006951) has been granted near the world-class Fosterville gold mine in central Victoria, Australia. "We are very excited to finally have the highly prospective Silver Spoon Exploration Licence granted," commented Chris Donaldson, CEO. "The initial premise for Outback Goldfields was to explore for the next high-grade Fosterville-style gold deposit and there is no better place to explore than a project contiguous with Agnico Eagle's Fosterville tenements. We will kickoff our preliminary exploration efforts at Silver Spoon in the coming months with the goal of advancing the Crosbie target and defining additional drill targets." Highlights Strong land position between two high-grade gold mines: Silver Spoon is contiguous with Agnico Eagle's Fosterville exploration licences to the west and only 10 km north of Mandalay Resources Costerfield mine. Silver Spoon is contiguous with Agnico Eagle's exploration licences to the west and only 10 km north of Mandalay Resources Costerfield mine. Initial fieldwork planned at Silver Spoon: Systematic geological mapping together with soil geochemical surveys are being planned and will commence in the coming months. Silver Spoon Project The grant of the Silver Spoon Exploration Licence (EL006951) from the Victorian Government's Department of Earth Resources regulation has now been finalized. All native title obligations applicable to the licence have been resolved with a Land Use Activity agreement in place with the Taungurung Land and Waters Council Aboriginal Corporation (TLaWC). The Silver Spoon tenement is contiguous with Agnico Eagle's Fosterville tenements and centered 20 km southeast of their world class high-grade Fosterville gold mine (Figure 1). The Silver Spoon project straddles a significant north-trending structural corridor, the Heathcote Fault zone, that separates the Bendigo Zone to the west from the Melbourne Zone to the east (Figure 1). Deformed and faulted Ordovician turbidites of the Bendigo Zone host high-grade quartz-reef hosted gold mineralization at the Fosterville gold mine, located 20 km west of Silver Spoon. Previous exploration at Silver Spoon was focused on the Crosbie target, located near a contact with the Devonian aged Crosbie granite. The Crosbie granite is prospective for gold-antimony mineralization, a hallmark geochemical signature of the nearby Fosterville gold mine. The Crosbie target is marked by an open-ended, 900 by 300 metre, gold-in-soil anomaly with anomalous gold in rock-chip samples (Figure 1). Planning is underway to commence a systematic exploration program consisting of property-wide soil and rock geochemical surveys over prospective areas as well as to verify and expand on results from the Crosbie anomaly. Yeungroon Exploration Update The first batch of samples from the recently completed Yeungroon air-core drill program have been submitted to SGS labs for fire assay gold analyses. More sample batches to be sent over the coming weeks. Community Engagement Outback recognises the importance of open and honest community engagement in all our exploration activities. We approach all our exploration activities in a sustainable manner and ensure our activities comply with the Victorian Code of Practice for Mineral Exploration. As such, community consultation with local landowners has commenced and is ongoing. References Motton, N.T., 2002, Final Report for the period ending 22/3/2002, Toolleen Project EL3616, Annual Reports, https://gsv.vic.gov.au National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure This news release has been approved by Mr. Matthew Hernan (FAusIMM(CP), MAIG) an independent consultant and "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators. The data disclosed in this news release is related to historical exploration results. Outback has not undertaken any independent investigation of the sampling, nor has it independently analyzed the results of the historical exploration work in order to verify the results. Outback considers these geochemical results relevant as the Company is using this data as a guide to plan exploration programs. The Company's current and future exploration work includes verification of the historical data through new sampling. Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Silver Spoon project. About Outback Goldfields Corp.: Outback Goldfields Corp. is a well financed exploration mining company that is actively exploring its package of highly prospective gold projects located around the Fosterville Gold Mine in Victoria. The goldfields of Victoria are home to some of the highest grade and lowest cost mining in the world. ~signed Chris Donaldson, CEO and Director __________________________________________________________________________________________________ CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the Company's business and prospects; the Company's objectives, goals or future plans; resumption of trading in the Company's common shares; and the business, operations, management and capitalization of the Company. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic and social uncertainties; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals; those additional risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com; and other matters discussed in this news release. Accordingly, the forward-looking statements discussed in this release, including the resumption of trading, may not occur and could differ materially as a result of these known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting the companies. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except where required by law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2023) - District Metals Corp. (TSXV: DMX) (FSE: DFPP); ("District" or the "Company") is pleased to report that Bergslagen Metals AB (a 100% owned Swedish subsidiary of District) has received approval from the Bergsstaten (Mining Inspectorate) for the Tasjo nr 101 to 105 mineral license applications to explore for vanadium, nickel, molybdenum, zinc, and rare earth elements (REE) located in the Jamtland and Vasterbottens Counties, north-central Sweden (Figure 1). Similarly to District's Viken Property that controls 68% of the uranium-vanadium Viken Deposit, the Tasjo Property was assembled to target sedimentary rocks that are known to host critical energy metals and minerals. Tasjo Property Highlights: The Tasjo nr 101 to 105 mineral licenses cover an area of 15,625 hectares (ha) that are prospective for uranium, REE, phosphate, vanadium, molybdenum, nickel, zinc, and copper. In the Tasjo area, Cambro-Ordovician sedimentary units overlie the Proterozoic intrusive basement, which is a similar geological setting that hosts the Viken Deposit. The Tasjo Field was historically estimated to host 75 to 150 million tonnes grading 0.03 to 0.07% U 3 O 8 , 0.11 to 0.24% REE, and 3.75 to 7.5% phosphate (P 2 O 5 )1. This historical exploration target estimate is based on a 1964 Report by G. Armands, Swedish Atomic Energy Company, and the Company is not treating it as a current mineral resource estimate. The potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature, as there has not been sufficient exploration to define the target at this time; and it is uncertain that further exploration would result in the definition of a current resource. The magnitude of the exploration target was confirmed in a 2008 NI43-101 technical report by Andrew Browne of Geosynthesis Pty Ltd. Shallow historical drilling in the Tasjo area returned positive results for uranium, REE, and phosphate in the Ordovician lycophoria schist while the much thicker underlying Cambro-Ordovician Alum Shale (Viken Deposit host unit) was not fully explored2. The Tasjo area hosts one of the thickest units of Alum Shale in Sweden that can reach up to 400 meters in thickness due to folding and overthrusting2. Mineral License Tasjo nr 104 contains a historical drill hole completed by the Swedish Geological Survey (SGU) in 1979 that encountered Alum Shale from surface to the end of hole depth at 258.3 m. It was logged several years after drilling and the drill core was not assayed. There is currently a moratorium on uranium mining and exploration that was imposed in 2018. The Swedish Government has a positive stance on re-evaluating and lifting the moratorium. Garrett Ainsworth, CEO of District, commented: "Our acquisition of the Tasjo Property through mineral license application is part of District's strategy in building a portfolio of energy metals properties in Sweden. The Alum Shale is a potentially significant source of critical metals and minerals necessary for the green energy transition towards a low-carbon future at a time when domestic security of supply has become a priority for many European Countries. The Company and its consultants continue to monitor developments with regard to the lifting of the moratorium on exploration and mining of uranium in Sweden. District remains optimistic that the current Swedish government is committed to re-evaluating the moratorium and pursuing policies which are positive for Sweden and a low-carbon Europe." Background The Alum Shale in Sweden contains several of the innovation-critical metals and minerals used for the development of green technology needed to respond to the transition of zero-emission and electrification of society. Alum Shale are rocks where most of the constituent minerals originate from the sediments that were once deposited in the sea that covered large parts of Sweden, some 500 million years ago, which are now found at surface along the mountain edge of the Caledonian Front. Thrusting and deformation within the Alum Shale formation can result in thickening of over 100 m sequences. Alum Shale contains various concentrations of metals and minerals currently included in the European Union (EU) list of Critical Raw Materials. Over time, additional metals and minerals may also be added to the EU list, which are not currently considered critical but where innovations and accessibility can change the status of their importance. In the future, this may further strengthen the utilization of Alum Shale as a natural resource3. At the Tasjo area, Alum Shale of Upper Cambrian age is found within the Fjallbranna Formation and is overlaid by the Ordovician Norraker Formation (previous Graywacke-Shale Formation). The Norraker Formation was deposited in a hinge zone representing the transition from a limestone dominated shelf facies towards east and successively deeper marine environment towards west with turbidite facies epiclastic sediments. Due to tectonic deformation and thrusting the thickness of the Alum Shale locally becomes more than 300 m thick. At Tasjoberg, drill hole Kyrk-Tasjo 79001 (Figure 1) encountered Alum Shale from surface to a depth of 258.3 m, which was logged several years after drilling and was never assayed. The basal part of the overlying Norraker Formation is a calcareous, glauconitic, phosphatic sand- siltstone that is 5 to 8 m thick. It contains several coarse to fine repetitions until it passes into overlying siltstone and shale. This glauconitic-phosphatic unit is found throughout the Lower Paleozoic sequence from Skane to Jamtland on top of the Alum Shale Formation. In the Tasjo area this phosphatic Lycophoria unit is unusually thick (Figure 1). The phosphorus sediments are thought to have formed by upwelling of cold seawater onto a warmer shelf causing precipitation of apatite similar to phosphorite deposits. In 1957, AB Atomenergi (Swedish Atomic Energy Company) discovered anomalous uranium in the Tasjo Field in northernmost Jamtland close to the border to the Vasterbotten County. Uranium was found in glauconite-phosphorite shale within the basal Ordovician unit that is outcropping sporadically within an area of 20 to 30 km long and 10 km wide. In total 68 drill holes were completed from 1961 to 1964 by AB Atomenergi. The area has also been drilled by Stora Kopparberg AB (7 drill holes), SGU (38 drill holes), and Vattenbyggnadsbyran (41 drillholes), which totals 8,005 m of drilling. The investigations were focused on the Lycophoria Schist with little attention given to the Alum Shales2. Both Mawson Energy and Continental Precious Minerals held mineral licenses in the Tasjo area from 2005 to 2012 for uranium and vanadium. Mawson drilled 53 shallow holes at the Kronotorpet prospect, and Continental Precious Minerals drilled 378 m in four holes. Figure 1: Tasjo Mineral Licenses References 1 Armands, G., 1964: Geologiska undersokningar i Tasjo-omradet under 1963 och 1964 (in Swedish); AB Atomenergi KOP-102. [English translation: Geological investigations in the Tasjo area, 1963 to 1964]. The Company is not treating this historical exploration target estimate as a current mineral resource and a qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify this estimate as a current mineral resource. The historical exploration target estimate predates current CIM (Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum) categories, and Company is not aware of any more recent mineral resource estimate for the Tasjo Property. 2 Browne, A., 2008: Report on Current Resource Estimates for Klappibacken and Duobblon Uranium Properties, and Review of Tasjo Uranium Project, Northern Sweden. Prepared for Mawson Resources Limted by Andrew Browne of GeoSynthesis Pty Ltd. Report number 080204. Report date: 22 February 2008. 3 https://www.sgu.se/en/mineral-resources/mines-and-environmental-impact/alum-shale/ Technical Information All scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared by, or approved by Garrett Ainsworth, PGeo, President and CEO of the Company. Mr. Ainsworth is a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The data disclosed in this news release is related to historical drilling results. District has not undertaken any independent investigation of the sampling nor has it independently analyzed the results of the historical exploration work in order to verify the results. District considers these historical drill results relevant as the Company is using this data as a guide to plan exploration programs. The Company's current and future exploration work includes verification of the historical data through drilling. Mr. Ainsworth has not verified any of the information regarding any of the properties or projects referred to herein other than the Tasjo Mineral Licenses. Mineralization on any other properties referred to herein is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Tasjo Mineral Licenses. About District Metals Corp. District Metals Corp. is led by industry professionals with a track record of success in the mining industry. The Company's mandate is to seek out, explore, and develop prospective mineral properties through a disciplined science-based approach to create shareholder value and benefit other stakeholders. District is a polymetallic exploration and development company focused on the Viken and Tomtebo Properties in Sweden. The Viken Property covers 68% of the uranium-vanadium Viken Deposit, which is an asset with substantial exploration and development expenditures that resulted in the definition of large historic polymetallic resource estimates and positive economic studies in 2010 and 2014. The Viken Deposit is amongst the largest deposits by total historic mineral resources of uranium and vanadium in the world. The advanced exploration stage Tomtebo Property is located in the Bergslagen Mining District of south-central Sweden and is situated between the historic Falun Mine and Boliden's Garpenberg Mine that are located 25 km to the northwest and southeast, respectively. Two historic polymetallic mines and numerous polymetallic showings are located on the Tomtebo Property along an approximate 17 km trend that exhibits similar geology, structure, alteration and VMS/SedEx style mineralization as other significant mines within the district. For further information on the Tomtebo Property, please see the technical report entitled "NI 43-101 Update Technical Report on the Tomtebo Project, Bergslagen Region of Sweden" dated effective October 15, 2020 and amended and restated on February 26, 2021, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors "Garrett Ainsworth" President and Chief Executive Officer (604) 288-4430 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information This news release contains certain statements that may be considered "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. 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 statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" and any similar expressions. 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 management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. Forward-looking statements in this news release relating to the Company include, among other things, statements relating to the Company's Tasjo Property licenses to explore for vanadium, nickel, molybdenum, zinc, rare earth elements (REE) located in Jamtland and Vasterbottens Counties, north-central Sweden; the Company's planned exploration activities, including its drill target strategy and next steps for the Tasjo Property; and the Company's interpretations and expectations about the results on the Tasjo Property. 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 the Company believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances, as of the date of this news release, including, without limitation, assumptions about the reliability of historical data and the accuracy of publicly reported information regarding past and historic mines in the Bergslagen district; the Company's ability to raise sufficient capital to fund planned exploration activities, maintain corporate capacity; and stability in financial and capital markets. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of opinions, assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date such statements are made, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to risks associated with the following: the reliability of historic data on District's Properties; the Company's ability to raise sufficient capital to finance planned exploration (including incurring prescribed exploration expenditures required by the Tomtebo Purchase Agreement, failing which the Tomtebo Property will be forfeited without any repayment of the purchase price); the Company's limited operating history; the Company's negative operating cash flow and dependence on third-party financing; the uncertainty of additional funding; the uncertainties associated with early stage exploration activities including general economic, market and business conditions, the regulatory process, failure to obtain necessary permits and approvals, technical issues, potential delays, unexpected events and management's capacity to execute and implement its future plans; the Company's ability to identify any mineral resources and mineral reserves; the substantial expenditures required to establish mineral reserves through drilling and the estimation of mineral reserves or mineral resources; the Company's dependence on one material project, the Tomtebo Property; the uncertainty of estimates used to calculated mineralization figures; changes in governmental regulations; compliance with applicable laws and regulations; competition for future resource acquisitions and skilled industry personnel; reliance on key personnel; title matters; conflicts of interest; environmental laws and regulations and associated risks, including climate change legislation; land reclamation requirements; changes in government policies; volatility of the Company's share price; the unlikelihood that shareholders will receive dividends from the Company; potential future acquisitions and joint ventures; infrastructure risks; fluctuations in demand for, and prices of gold, silver and copper; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; legal proceedings and the enforceability of judgments; going concern risk; risks related to the Company's information technology systems and cyber-security risks; and risk related to the outbreak of epidemics or pandemics or other health crises, including the recent outbreak of COVID-19. For additional information regarding these risks, please see the Company's Annual Information Form, under the heading "Risk Factors", which is available at www.sedar.com. These factors and assumptions are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors and assumptions that could affect the Company. These factors and assumptions, however, should be considered carefully. Although the Company has attempted to identify factors that would cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in the forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Also, many of such factors are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable securities laws. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Metalite Resources Inc. (CSE:METL) (OTC:JNCCF) (Frankfurt:5VHA) ("Metalite" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an overview of its portfolio of assets obtained through the recent acquisition of Next Generation Resources Inc. ("NextGen") and provide an update on its lithium exploration activities in Liberia. Highlights The recent acquisition of NextGen provides the Company with control and access to a portfolio of properties in Liberia which are highly prospective in lithium, rare earth elements, base metals and gold in an under-explored portion of the West African craton. Metalite's portfolio of eight Reconnaissance Licenses (granted or pending as set out below) encompasses 3,228 km 2 which are distributed across the country targeting exploration hotspots with numerous occurrences of pegmatites, coltan, rare earth elements, base metals and gold occurrences mapped and reported by USGS. which are distributed across the country targeting exploration hotspots with numerous occurrences of pegmatites, coltan, rare earth elements, base metals and gold occurrences mapped and reported by USGS. Initial site visits, reconnaissance soil sampling, prospecting and mapping programs were completed in 2022. A total of 7,764 soil samples, and 137 rock samples were collected mostly from pegmatites. Samples are being analysed using a portable handheld XRF. Based on these results selected anomalous samples will be sent for geochemical analysis. 444 soil and 137 rock samples have been sent to the laboratory for analysis. Liberia first mover advantage for battery metals exploration. Geological Background of Liberia Metalite's portfolio of Liberian assets includes two active reconnaissance licenses and six Reconnaissance Licenses in various stages of renewal/application covering 3,228 km2 (Figure 1). The licences are located in favourable geologic settings that have the potential to host lithium and rare earth elements (REE) deposits in addition to gold and polymetallic base metal deposits. Prior to its acquisition by Metalite, NextGen had been actively investigating the LCT (Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum) Pegmatite potential of Liberia. Desktop studies and a compilation of historical geological, geophysical, and geochemical data was completed. Reconnaissance licence selection was based on the results of this work. Liberia is underlain by rocks of the west African craton and straddles the boundary between the Archean (3260-2850 Ma) and Paleoproterozoic (2150-1800 Ma) basement rocks. The Archean rocks in central and western Liberia are characterized by gneisses, locally migmatitic, which are infolded with supracrustal greenstone belts of metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks. In northern Liberia late-Archean granitoids intrude these strata. Eastern Liberia is underlain by Eburnean age tightly folded paragneiss, migmatite and amphibolite interpreted to be part of the Paleoproterozoic Birimian sequence (2200-2100 Ga). The prominent structural trend throughout most of the country is northeast to east-northeast. Along the coast to the southwest of the Archean basement is a north-northwest trending belt of Archean and Paleoproterozoic age metamorphosed sedimentary and mafic igneous rocks that were deformed during the much younger Pan African orogeny (580 Ma). Mineral Deposits of Liberia In comparison with other West African countries, the geology of Liberia is poorly understood and there has been limited recent systematic mineral exploration for most commodities, except gold. The mining sector in Liberia is currently dominated by iron ore, gold, and artisanal diamond production. Historically, Liberia was a major iron ore producer, exporting 20 million tonnes annually up until 1980; however, the civil war (1992-2003) resulted in the suspension of all mining operations. Iron ore production has since resumed and totalled 5 million metric tonnes from the Tokadeh deposit in 2021. The most economically significant gold deposits are associated with northeast-trending fault structures in both the Archean and Paleoproterozoic rocks (Figure 1). Liberian gold production totalled 252,708 troy ounces from the New Liberty and Kokoya deposits and artisanal sources in 2021. Diamond deposits, primarily exploited via alluvial and artisanal diamond mining, are widespread throughout the country. Production totalled 63,207 carats in 2021. Metalite Liberian Exploration Update In 2022, reconnaissance scale soil sampling and prospecting/mapping programs were initiated on five of Metalite's eight reconnaissance licences (granted or pending as set out above). A total of 7,764 soil samples and 137 rock samples were taken during the field program. All these samples are being analysed using a Niton XL3t 950 GOLDD+ XRF. Although XRF units are not capable of detecting lithium directly they are very effective at analysing for the suite of pathfinder elements commonly associated with LCT Pegmatites (B, Be, Cu, Cs, Hf, K, Nb, Rb, Ta, Sn, W and Zr) as well as gold, REE and polymetallic base metal deposits. After processing these results it is anticipated that selected anomalous samples will be sent to ALS Laboratories for geochemical analysis. 444 soil and 137 rock samples have been sent to the laboratory for analysis to date. The results of this work will be reported when all results have been received, and the data sets interpreted. Figure 1. Geology of Liberia and illustrating the location of Metalite's reconnaissance licences. Nimba North (P3) and Nimba South (P2) Reconnaissance Licenses The Nimba North and South reconnaissance licenses which are under application for an extension cover 616 and 562 km2 respectively, in Nimba County north-eastern Liberia (Figures 1 and 2). The bedrock geology consists of leucocratic gneiss to the west and Melanocratic gneiss, quartzite and iron formation units to the east. The contact between the two packages is marked by a northeast-trending fault zone that may be related to the Cestos shear zone located to the south where gold mineralization is known to occur. Numerous coltan (columbite-tantalite) and tin occurrences were documented in the area by the USGS in 1979 and recompiled in 2007. A total of 5,503 soil samples and 44 rock samples were taken in 2022 (Figure 1). Soil samples were taken at a depth of 40 cm on 500 m grid lines at 250 m intervals. Most of the rock samples were from pegmatite dikes. The results of the XRF analyses are pending. Figure 2. Nimba North (P3) and Nimba South (P2) license map illustrating geology, mineral occurrences, soil and rock samples Zorzor (P4) Reconnaissance Licence The Zorzor reconnaissance license which is under application for an extension covers 430 km2 in Lofa County, northern Liberia. The bedrock geology is dominated by granitic gneiss. To the northwest there is a large granite intrusion. A total of 1,838 soil samples and 26 rock samples were taken in 2022 (Figure 3). Soil samples were taken at a depth of 40 cm on 500 m grid lines at 250 m intervals. Most of the rock samples were from pegmatite dykes. Potential for LCT pegmatites and REEs within the migmatitic rocks within the granitic gneiss is high, particularly in proximity to the granite intrusion on the north boundary of the licence. Copper mineralization has been documented in the eastern part of the licence area. The results of the XRF analyses and are pending. Figure 3. Zorzor P4 license map illustrating geology, mineral occurrences, soil and rock samples Pleebo (P6) and Harper (P7) Reconnaissance Licenses The Pleebo (P6) and Harper (P7) reconnaissance licenses cover 186 and 107 km2 respectively, in Maryland County, south-eastern Liberia (Figures 1 and 4). The bedrock geology is dominated by quartz diorite schists with lesser units of mica schist and amphibolite. A total of 423 soil samples and 67 rock samples were taken in 2022 (Figure 4). Soil samples were taken at a depth of 40 cm at 100 m intervals. on reconnaissance grid lines. Most of the rock samples were from pegmatite dikes. The results of the XRF and laboratory analysis are pending. Figure 4. Pleebo P6 and Harper P7 license map illustrating geology, mineral occurrences, soil and rock samples. 2023 Exploration Strategy Metalite's 2023 exploration strategy is simple, cost effective and executable. Metalite plans to continue reconnaissance scale soil programs and integrate stream sediment sampling programs on its licenses going forward. In addition, initial mapping / prospecting programs are expected to be implemented. Active and historical artisanal mining sites are also planned to be mapped. Data will be collected digitally, and all samples analyzed using a Niton XL3t 950 GOLDD+ XRF. Once the XRF results have been interpreted selected samples will be sent to for further analyses. Management believes that this data will provide vectors used to delineate exploration targets for LCT Pegmatites, RREs, gold, and polymetallic base metal deposits. The information in this news release was compiled and reviewed by David Melling, P.Geo who acts as Metalite's Qualified Person, under National Instrument 43-101 rules for mineral deposit disclosure. Mr. Melling is a Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo) and a registered member of the Engineer and Geoscientists of British Columbia (no. 18999) a Recognized Professional Organization. Mr. Melling is Metalite's CEO and has sufficient experience relevant to the crystallization of lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) type pegmatite deposits under evaluation. About Metalite Resources Inc. Metalite Resources Inc. is a Canadian junior mineral exploration issuer uniquely positioned to generate incremental shareholder value through its vast battery metals focused license portfolio in Liberia, West Africa and an extensive precious metals focused project portfolio in NSW, Australia. The Company has 6 Australian projects covering over 600 sq km's in NSW and includes 67 historical mines and prospects focused on Gold and Silver, along with various indicator minerals that occur along with these precious metals. With the recent acquisition of Next Generation Resources, the Company has amassed a set of eight highly prospective licenses (either granted or pending grant) that show evidence of high-potential mineralization containing various lucrative metals, including Lithium, REEs, Cobalt, Nickel, Copper, Zinc, Aluminium and Gold. For further information please contact: Ryan Bilodeau (416) 910-1440 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. To learn more, please visit https://www.metaliteresources.com/ . Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements." All statements, other than statements of historic fact, that address activities, events or developments that Metalite believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate, "expect," and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may," "will," "can," "should," "could," or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of Metalite based on information currently available to Metalite. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of Metalite to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on Metalite. Forward looking statements in this press release include statements regarding the applications for reconnaissance licenses or extensions thereof and planned exploration activities and the timing thereof. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, failure to complete the extension and/or application process for certain exploration licenses and or the failure to keep granted licenses in good standing, failure to successfully complete financings, capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates, production rates varying from estimates, changes in world mineral commodity markets, changes in equity markets, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, equipment failure, unexpected geological conditions, imprecision in resource estimates, success of future development initiatives, competition, operating performance of facilities, environmental and safety risks, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain tenure to properties and/or necessary permits and approvals, and other development and operating risks. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Metalite disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although Metalite believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release VANCOUVER, BC, May 30, 2023 /CNW/ - Kainantu Resources Ltd. (TSXV: KRL) (FSE: 6J0) ("KRL" or the "Company"), the Asia-Pacific focussed gold mining company, is pleased to announce subscriptions and/or commitments for C$1,400,000 for the Company's offering (the "Offering") of a non-brokered private placement of Senior Convertible Debentures, also known as Convertible Promissory Notes (the "Notes"). Under the Offering, KRL holds subscriptions (or firm commitments to subscribe) for C$1,400,000, which is sufficient for the Company's current initiatives. The Offering enables KRL to accept subscriptions for total gross proceeds of up to C$1,800,000. Key Terms of the Offering: The Company will issue Notes to accredited investors to raise gross proceeds of up to C$1,800,000 , with subscriptions in hand and/or commitments to subscribe already for C$1,400,000 . , with subscriptions in hand and/or commitments to subscribe already for . Shares in Kainantu Resources Pte Ltd ("KRPL"), a Singapore registered company wholly owned by the Company, will be pledged as collateral. registered company wholly owned by the Company, will be pledged as collateral. The Notes will accrue interest at a rate of 10% per annum, compounded annually and will mature after a period of 36 months. After 12 months from the completion of the Offering, the Notes will be convertible into units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.08 per Unit. per Unit. Upon conversion, the Units will be comprised of 1 common share and 1 full warrant ("Warrant") allowing holders to acquire an additional share at $0.12 per share within 36 months of closing. per share within 36 months of closing. The Note contemplates a consolidation of KRL stock on a 2:1 basis prior to the 12-month anniversary of closing. After 18 months from closing, the Company will have an option to request conversion of 50% of debt to common shares if the share price has traded at or above $0.16 over a 60-day VWAP (and/or 100% if the share price trades at or above $0.24 for a 60-day VWAP). over a 60-day VWAP (and/or 100% if the share price trades at or above for a 60-day VWAP). The Note has no negative covenants on subordinate borrowing or asset disposition. The Note will close on or before June 10, 2023 . . The Note is subject prior approval of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") and contains such other customary terms as appropriate. Matthew Salthouse, CEO of KRL, commented: "This funding represents a significant milestone for Kainantu Resources as we continue to unlock the value of our exploration assets, with particular focus on the Kili Teke project and targets at Ontenu, adjacent to K92. On closing, funds will be immediately deployed to these two projects, which are key initiatives on the pathway to building intrinsic value across the KRL portfolio. KRL thanks our investors and stakeholders for their ongoing support." Use of Proceeds The net proceeds from the Offering are intended to be used, but are not limited to, the completion of the acquisition of the Kili Teke Project (which requires a further payment to Harmony Gold (PNG) Exploration Limited of US$400,000 as a condition of closing). In addition, proceeds will be used to advance exploration programmes, including focusing on specific high-grade drilling targets at Ontenu in KRL South. Proceeds will also be used for general working capital purposes. Further Deal Terms The Offering is expected to close on or before June 10, 2023 and the Company will provide an update on the private placement in due course. Completion of the Offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including acceptance of the TSX-V. In connection with the Offering, the Company may pay finder's fees to certain finders, which fees would be a cash payment of up to 7% of the gross proceeds raised by purchasers introduced by such finders, and the issuance of non-transferable compensation warrants up to 7% of the number of Units purchased by purchasers introduced by such finders (each, a "Finders Warrant"). Each such Finders Warrant will be exercisable for one common share at an exercise price of C$0.12 per common share at any time prior to 36 months following the closing date of the Offering and will be issued on substantially the same terms and conditions as the Warrants, except that the Finders Warrants will not be subject to an acceleration clause. Disclosure Current shareholders of the Company, Snowfields Wealth Management Limited ("SWML"), a private British Virgin Islands holding company controlled by Geoff Lawrence, a director of the Company, and Season Cove Limited ("SCL") a private British Virgin Islands holding company controlled by Iain Deay, will participate in the Offering. Accordingly, the participation of SWML and SCL in the Offering constitutes a related party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is exempt from the formal valuation and minority approval requirement under MI 61-101 as the fair market value of SWML and SCL's participation in the Offering does not exceed more than 25% of the market capitalization of the Company, as set forth in Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101. The Company may not file a material change report more than twenty-one (21) days before the expected closing date of the Offering, as the Company intends to close the Offering as soon as practicable. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Units, nor shall there be any sale of the Units in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The Units being offered will not be, and have not been, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, a U.S. person. Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. About Kainantu Resources (KRL) Kainantu Resources ("KRL") is an Asia-Pacific focussed gold mining company with three highly prospective gold and copper projects, KRL South, KRL North and the May River Project. All projects are located in premier mining regions in PNG. Both KRL North and KRL South show potential to host high-grade epithermal and porphyry mineralization, as seen elsewhere in the high-grade Kainantu Gold District. The May River project is in close proximity to the world-renowned Frieda River Copper-Gold Project, with historical drilling indicating the potential for significant copper-gold projects. KRL has a highly experienced board and management team with a proven track record of working together in the region; and an established in-country partner. KRL recently executed an agreement to acquire the Kili Teke project in the western highlands of PNG. Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Information This release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information in this news release relate to, among other things: the expected closing and use of proceeds of the Offering. These forward-looking statements and information reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include; success of the Company's projects; prices for gold remaining as estimated; currency exchange rates remaining as estimated; availability of funds for the Company's projects; capital, decommissioning and reclamation estimates; prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation); no labour-related disruptions; no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled construction and production; all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals are received in a timely manner; and the ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company cautions the reader that forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: fluctuations in gold prices; fluctuations in prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation); fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar); operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of mineral exploration; inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks and hazards; our ability to obtain all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in a timely manner; changes in laws, regulations and government practices, including environmental, export and import laws and regulations; legal restrictions relating to mineral exploration; increased competition in the mining industry for equipment and qualified personnel; the availability of additional capital; title matters and the additional risks identified in our filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com). Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described, or intended. Investors are cautioned against undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Bluejay Mining plc (AIM:JAY) ('Bluejay' or the 'Company'), the AIM, FSE-listed and OTCQB traded exploration and development company with projects in Greenland and Finland, is pleased to announce that it has commenced a diamond drilling programme (the 'Programme') at the Company's 100% owned Hammaslahti Copper-Zinc-Lead-Gold-Silver ('Cu-Zn-Pb-Au-Ag') Project ('Hammaslahti' or the 'Project') located approximately 35 kilometres ('km') southeast of the city of Joensuu in Eastern Finland. Highlights The first phase of the Programme will consist of 1500-2000 metres (' m ') of diamond core drilling focussed on the "E-lode" (' E-lode' ), a high-grade Cu-Zn-Pb-Au-Ag ore lode discovered in 2014 by Bluejay's 100% owned subsidiary, FinnAust Mining Finland Oy. The E-lode is located approximately 200m east from underground infrastructure of the former Hammaslahti mine and is comparable in grade and style of mineralisation to the ore-lodes that were mined historically. ') of diamond core drilling focussed on the "E-lode" (' ), a high-grade Cu-Zn-Pb-Au-Ag ore lode discovered in 2014 by Bluejay's 100% owned subsidiary, FinnAust Mining Finland Oy. The E-lode is located approximately 200m east from underground infrastructure of the former Hammaslahti mine and is comparable in grade and style of mineralisation to the ore-lodes that were mined historically. A series of planned drill fences will test the up-plunge and up/down-dip extensions of the E-lode, whilst also providing infill drilling, with the purpose of delineating a maiden resource estimate for this target. The previously announced discovery hole at the E-lode (refer to FinnAust Mining RNS dated: 21 July 2014) returned: 8.65m grading 2.2% Cu, 2.0% Zn, 0.5 % Pb, 47.5 grams per tonne ('g/t') Ag, 0.5 g/t Au starting from 194.35m depth down-hole in semi-massive to massive sulphides hosted at the contact between strongly hydrothermally altered rocks and sulphidic black shales. including 5.60m @ 3.2% Cu, 3.2% Zn, 81.1 g/t Ag, 0.9 g/t Au . The historical Hammaslahti mine was operated by the Finnish state mining company, Outokumpu Oy from 1971 to 1986. The open-pit and underground Hammaslahti mine, also held by Bluejay, produced a total of 7 million tonnes grading 1.16% Cu, 1.55% Zn, 0.59 g/t Au and 5.2 g/t Ag . . The polymetallic mineralisation at Hammaslahti is interpreted to be a partially re-mobilised volcanogenic massive sulphide ('VMS') type deposit. All known previously mined ore lodes at Hammaslahti (namely, the Z-, N- and S-lodes) remain open down plunge to the South. Bluejay Chief Executive Officer, Dr Bo Mller Stensgaard, commented: "The commencement of drilling at our Hammaslahti Project is aligned with the new strategy that we announced in a recent Strategic Review by Bluejay's Executive Chairman, Robert Edwards (see Bluejay RNS dated: 14 February 2023). It marks an important step towards a more balanced focus between our Finnish and Greenlandic assets and our intention to drive value creation across the entire Bluejay project portfolio. At modest expenditure we expect to be able to fast-track the near-mine exploration at Hammaslahti into a Mineral Resource Estimate for this brownfields site. The project benefits from excellent modern infrastructure, including high voltage power, heavy rail, and a double-lane paved highway adjacent to the former mine. "Building a resource on the undeveloped E-lode only 200m east of the former Hammaslahti mine has the potential to support the redevelopment of the down-plunge continuations of the formerly mined Z, N and S-lodes. These lodes were only mined down to a maximum depth of 450m due to internal regulations on the maximum permitted depths for development that were imposed by the previous operator during the 1970/80's. The mined ore lodes were therefore left open at depth - this has been confirmed in later drilling by Bluejay. In a future mining scenario, the shallow E-lode could provide an access point for the underground development of the down-plunge parts of the historically mined ore-lodes which would add significantly to the commercial viability of any near-mine discoveries". Figure 1: The mined Hammaslahti ore lodes (named S-, N- and Z-lode) all remain open down plunge. In 2014, Bluejay discovered a new ore lode ("E-lode") to the east of the former mine. The current drill programme is focussed on testing the up-plunge and up/down-dip extensions to the E-lode with the purpose of defining a maiden resource estimate for this target. The red grade shells show mineralisation exceeding 1% copper-equivalent ('CuEq'), much of which was mined by Outokumpu Oy. Assumptions used for the CuEq calculations were the current spot metal prices (as of 29th May 2023) of US$3.69/lb copper, US$1.06/lb zinc, US$0.94/lb lead, US$23.3/oz Ag and US$1963.6/oz gold, and metallurgical recoveries were assumed to be 100%. The blue shells represent confirmed extensions to previously mined ore lodes and/or newly discovered ore lodes based upon drilling by FinnAust Mining Finland Oy, a 100% owned subsidiary of Bluejay Mining plc. Figure 2: Drilling has commenced at the Hammaslahti Project. Experienced Finnish drilling contractor, MK Core Drilling Oy, were selected to undertake the Programme. Figure 3: The N-lode, one of three open pits (now flooded) at the former Hammaslahti Cu-Zn-Ag-Au mine operated by Outokumpu Oy from 1971 to 1986. Qualified Person The scientific and technical disclosure included in this announcement has been reviewed and approved by Joshua Hughes, MESci (Hons), Vice President Exploration, and a full-time employee of Bluejay Mining plc, who is also a Member and Chartered Professional Geologist ('MAusIMM CP(Geo)') of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, a Fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists ('FSEG') and a Fellow of the Geological Society of London ('FGS'). Mr Hughes has sufficient experience, relevant to the styles of mineralisation and type of deposits under consideration and to the activity that he is undertaking, to qualify as a Qualified Person ('QP') as defined by the AIM rules, and for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 ('NI-43-101') Standards of Disclosure of Mineral Projects. Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 ('MAR') which has been incorporated into UK law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. For further information please visit http://www.bluejaymining.com or contact: Kevin Sheil Bluejay Mining plc This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Ewan Leggat / Adam Cowl SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP (Nominated Adviser and Broker) +44 (0) 20 3470 0470 Tim Blythe / Megan Ray BlytheRay (Media Contact) +44 (0) 20 7138 3205 About Bluejay Mining plc Bluejay is listed on the London AIM market and Frankfurt Stock Exchange and its shares also trade on the OTCQB Market in the US. With multiple projects in Greenland and Finland, Bluejay has now secured four globally respected entities as partners on three of its projects, and exploration expenditure of up to $37 million contractually committed on three key projects, giving the Company and its shareholders both portfolio and commodity diversification in high quality jurisdictions. Bluejay's Dundas Ilmenite Project in northwest Greenland is fully permitted and undergoing further optimisation studies. The Company has agreed a Master Distribution Agreement with a major Asian conglomerate for up-to 340k tonnes per annum ('tpa') of its designed 440ktpa annual output. The Company has also mandated a major European bank to head the financing syndicate for Dundas. Bluejay, through its wholly owned subsidiary Disko Exploration Ltd., has signed a definitive Joint Venture Agreement with KoBold Metals to guide exploration for new deposits rich in the critical materials required for the green energy transition and electric vehicles (The Disko-Nuussuaq nickel-copper-cobalt-PGE Project). Disko Exploration Ltd holds two additional projects in Greenland - the 692 sq km Kangerluarsuk zinc-lead- silver project, where historical work has recovered grades of up to 45.4% zinc, 9.3% lead and 596 g/t silver and a summer drill programme is to commence on multiple large-scale drill targets; and the 920 sq km Thunderstone project which has the potential to host large-scale base metal and gold deposits. In Finland, Bluejay currently holds three large scale multi-metal projects through its wholly owned subsidiary FinnAust Mining Finland Oy. The Company has a Joint Venture Agreement with a mining major at its Enonkoski nickel-copper-cobalt Project in East Finland which has seen continued exploration and drilling since June 2021. Bluejay's drill ready Hammaslahti copper-zinc-gold-silver project hosts high-grade VMS mineralisation and extensions of historical ore lodes have been proven. The drill ready Outokumpu copper-nickel-cobalt-zinc-gold-silver project is located in a prolific geological belt that hosts several high-grade former mines. Bluejay has also signed a conditional agreement for a partial divestment in a fourth Finnish project. 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.rns.com. Vancouver, BC TheNewswire - May 30, 2023 - Recharge Resources Ltd. ("Recharge" or the "Company") (RR:CSE) (RECHF:OTC) (SL5:Frankfurt) announced today that it has completed 1,800m of a 8500m three line magnetotelleric geophysics survey at its Pocitos Lithium Brine Project on the Pocitos 1 and 2 blocks in Pocitos salar, Argentina. The survey will penetrate to at least 1-2,000m depth with the equipment being used by Southernrock geophysics. As previously announced, the basis for the NI 43-101 report is well underway after Recharges Qualified Person, Phillip Thomas set up the drill program in Argentina when he was there in November 2022 and again in January 2023 and most recently in May of 2023 to measure and review core, flow rates and assays to complete the NI43-101 compliant report. External hydrologists have also visited the project and inspected the site and core. The geophysics will greatly assist the additional drilling across the contiguous Pocitos 1 and Pocitos 2 blocks to determine the size of the potential resource as well as allow the confidence of the estimate to be moved from inferred to indicated and measured categories upon completion of this maiden NI 43-101. QP Phil Thomas, BSc Geol, FAusIMM MAIG, has spent the past 22 years exploring for lithium brines, including building and operating a pilot plant for production at Rincon Salar (sold to Rio Tinto for US$825 Million) as well as he and his team explored the Pozuelos salar, producing an indicated and inferred resource, from four exploration wells (recently sold to Ganfeng for US$962 million). Fig 1. Planned survey showing drill holes from 2018 and 2022 drill campaigns. Fig 2. Lines showing data acquired as at 27 May 2023 Fig 3. Geophysicists and technical team laying MT survey lines This is another milestone in the Company's endeavour to build up to a 20,000-tonne Ekosolve direct lithium extraction (DLE) plant at the Pocitos project in order to supply Richlink Capital Pty. Ltd. up to 20,000 tonnes of lithium chloride/carbonate per year, as previously announced under a letter of intent of offtake. CEO, David Greenway, summarised, "Recharge is pushing forward on all fronts with an inaugural NI 43-101, a pending drilling program, and a subsequent NI 43-101 resource estimate. Testing of extraction efficiency and lithium carbonate production at Ekosolves facility a University of Melbourne is progressing well. These developments should make for an exciting next period for Recharge and its stakeholders at the Pocitos lithium brine project. About Pocitos Lithium Brine Project The Pocitos Project is located approximately 10 km from the township of Pocitos where there is gas, electricity, and internet services. Pocitos (1 &2) is approximately 1,352 hectares and is accessible by road. Collective exploration totaling over USD $2.0 million developing the project, including surface sampling, trenching, TEM geophysics and drilling three holes that had outstanding brine flow results. Locations for immediate follow up drilling have already been designed and identified for upcoming exploration. Our next step is to do a Magnetotelleric geophysics survey to position the next drill holes. This survey will penetrate to more than 800m. Lithium values of up to 169 ppm from laboratory analysis conducted by Alex Stewart were recorded by during the projects drill campaigns as recent as December 2022. A double packer sampling system in HQ Diamond drill holes were drilled to a depth of up to 409 metres. The flow of brine was observed to continue for more than five hours. All holes had exceptional brine flow rates. Figure 4. Pocitos Lithium Claim Map Qualified Person Phillip Thomas, BSc Geol, MBusM, FAusIMM, MAIG, MAIMVA, (CMV), a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101 regulations, has reviewed the technical information that forms the basis for portions of this news release, and has approved the disclosure herein. Thomas is independent of the Company and is NOT a shareholder of Recharge Resources. Thomas visited the property to view the core between January 15th-22nd, 2023 and 8 May 2023 to determine if additional flow tests could be arranged. About Recharge Resources Recharge Resources is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on exploring and developing the production of high-value battery metals to create green, renewable energy to meet the demands of the advancing electric vehicle and fuel cell vehicle market. All Stakeholders are encouraged to follow the Company on its social media profiles and Instagram. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, David Greenway David Greenway, CEO For further information, please contact: Recharge Resources Ltd. Joel Warawa Phone: 778-588-5473 E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: recharge-resources.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding Recharges intention to continue to identify potential transactions and make certain corporate changes and applications. Forward looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits Recharge will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect managements current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including Recharges results of exploration or review of properties that Recharge does acquire. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and Recharge assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results differed from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Gratomic Inc. ("Gratomic", "GRAT" or the "Company") (TSXV:GRAT) (OTCQX:CBULF) (Frankfurt:CB82) announces that it has completed the final tranche of its non-brokered private placement offering of working capital units ("WC Units") at a price of $0.30 per WC Unit (the "Offering") with the placement of 1,515,000 WC Units for gross proceeds of $454,500. The Company raised a total of $4,602,689.40 pursuant to the Offering. Each WC Unit consists of one (1) Common Share and one (1) Common Share purchase warrant (a "WC Warrant"). Each WC Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) Common Share (a "WC Warrant Share") at a price of $0.45 per WC Warrant Share until between May 26 and May 29, 2025. A finder's fee of $16,800 was paid to an eligible intermediary and 56,000 broker warrants ("Broker Warrants") were issued. Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) common share of the Company at a price of $0.45 until May 29, 2025. The securities issued on this closing of the Offering are subject to a hold periods expiring between September 27 and September 30, 2023. Proceeds from the Offering will be used for general working capital and for operating capital for the Company's Aukam Project. The securities to be offered pursuant to the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About Gratomic Gratomic is a multinational company with projects in Namibia, Brazil, and Canada. Its aim is to become a leading graphite supplier and to secure a strong position in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain through developing its flagship Aukam graphite mine and ongoing exploration at the Capim Grosso property. Gratomic will continue to explore graphite opportunities that show the potential to produce the specific flake size and purity required for active anodes. Large quantities of high-quality vein graphite have been shipped for testing to confirm their suitability as anode material. Gratomic is confident that the test results will provide a unique competitive advantage in the desired target markets. The Company will continue to update the public on the status of these tests and will share results as they become available. On the January 25, 2023 Gratomic announced that it had entered into a LOI with Graphex Technologies to supply graphite through existing facilities and develop a downstream processing facility in the continental US. Gratomic has entered into a collaborative agreement with Forge Nano to use its patented atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology to coat the spherical graphite required in lithium-ion batteries. For more information: Visit www.gratomic.ca or contact: Arno Brand at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (416) 561- 4095 Sign up at www.gratomic.ca/contact/ to be added to our email list. For marketing and media information, please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. "Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release." Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com) LITTLETON, CO / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Ur-Energy Inc. (NYSE American:URG) (TSX:URE) (the "Company" or "Ur-Energy") is pleased to announce the successful startup of production flow from Header House 2-4 at our Lost Creek In Situ Uranium Facility in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. Production rates will continue to increase as additional header houses in Mine Unit 2 come online this year. Lost Creek production inventory will be sold into our remaining 2023 contract book of 180,000 pounds U 3 O 8 in the second half of the year. Beginning in 2024, the Company's total sales quantity under contract is 600,000 pounds U 3 O 8 annually, plus or minus a small, optional flex. We are also pleased to announce that construction of our Casper, Wyoming centralized services facility, shown below, is complete and will facilitate full laboratory and construction services for each of our mining projects. The centralized location will allow for reduced drive times and improved safety for our employees while reducing operating costs and increasing efficiencies. Steve Hatten, the Company's COO stated, "I am very excited to see the planning and hard work pay off for our long-standing and new employees with these achievements at Lost Creek and completion of our new Casper facility. This restart of normal operations at Lost Creek marks the first of a series of planned production areas scheduled for 2023 and 2024. We hope our return to commercial production also is the beginning of a resurgence of the uranium mining industry in the United States." About Ur-Energy Ur-Energy is a uranium mining company operating the Lost Creek in-situ recovery uranium facility in south-central Wyoming. We have produced and packaged approximately 2.7 million pounds U 3 O 8 from Lost Creek since the commencement of operations. Ur-Energy now has all major permits and authorizations to begin construction at Shirley Basin, the Company's second in situ recovery uranium facility in Wyoming and is in the process of obtaining remaining amendments to Lost Creek authorizations for expansion of Lost Creek. UrEnergy is engaged in uranium mining, recovery and processing activities, including the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of uranium mineral properties in the United States. The primary trading market for UrEnergy's common shares is on the NYSE American under the symbol "URG." UrEnergy's common shares also trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "URE." Ur-Energy's corporate office is in Littleton, Colorado and its registered office is in Ottawa, Ontario. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT John W. Cash, Chairman, CEO & President 866-981-4588, ext. 303 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws regarding events or conditions that may occur in the future (e.g., the timing for additional header houses to come online at Lost Creek and the rates at which production levels will increase; whether the Casper facility will reduce operating costs and increase employee safety as projected; ability to timely deliver into our sales agreements and whether the flex will be exercised) and are based on current expectations that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, inherently involve a number of significant business, economic and competitive risks, uncertainties and contingencies. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans," "expects," "does not expect," "is expected," "is likely," "estimates," "intends," "anticipates," "does not anticipate," or "believes," or variations of the foregoing, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "might" or "will be taken," "occur," "be achieved" or "have the potential to." All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are considered to be forward-looking statements. 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 be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements express or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates; failure to establish estimated resources and reserves; the grade and recovery of ore which is mined varying from estimates; production rates, methods and amounts varying from estimates; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals; inflation; changes in exchange rates; fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in development and other factors described in the public filings made by the Company at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date hereof and Ur-Energy disclaims any intent or obligation to update them or revise them to reflect any change in circumstances or in management's beliefs, expectations or opinions that occur in the future. SASKATOON, SK, May 30, 2023 /CNW/ - Star Diamond Corporation ("Star Diamond" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce that all of the nominees listed in the management proxy circular dated April 14, 2023 were elected as directors of the Corporation at its annual meeting of shareholders held on May 30, 2023 (the "Meeting"). Details of the voting results for the election of directors are set out below: Nominee Votes For Votes Withheld Number % Number % Ewan D. Mason 125,435,750 95.99 % 5,236,968 4.01 % Lisa K. Riley 128,041,551 97.99 % 2,631,167 2.01 % Larry E. Phillips 127,850,014 97.84 % 2,822,704 2.16 % Marilyn D. Spink 128,078,818 98.02 % 2,593,900 1.98 % In addition, shareholders also approved a resolution to re-appoint KPMG LLP as the Corporation's independent auditor and to approve the continuation and amendment and restatement of the Corporation's Shareholder Rights Plan. Voting results for all matters will be posted on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. At today's Meeting, the Chair of the Board, Mr. Ewan Mason, provided an update on the status of the Fort a la Corne mineral properties (the "Project") and the Buffalo Hills-JV: Fort a la Corne mineral properties Star Diamond continues to work with Rio Tinto Exploration Canada Inc. ("Rio Tinto Canada") on assessing alternatives regarding the Project. Although discussions are encouraging, and may be resolved shortly, there is no certainty that any agreement will be reached. Should negotiations prove successful, Management will determine the optimal strategic path going forward which would include the completion of a feasibility study. Buffalo Hills-JV Discussions are ongoing with Canterra Minerals Corporation ("Canterra") to determine possible future work programs. More detailed updates on activities at the Buffalo Hills-JV will be provided as they become available. About Star Diamond Corporation Star Diamond is a Canadian based corporation engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties. Shares of the Corporation trade on the TSX Exchange under the trading symbol "DIAM". Star Diamond holds, through a joint venture arrangement with Rio Tinto Canada (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto plc), a 25% interest in certain Fort a la Corne kimberlites (including the Star Orion South Diamond Project). These properties are located in central Saskatchewan, Canada, in close proximity to established infrastructure, including paved highways and the electrical power grid, which provide significant advantages for future mine development. The Company also holds a 50% interest in the exploration and evaluation properties and assets of the Buffalo Hills-JV located in north-central Alberta, Canada. Canterra holds the remaining 50% interest and is the operator of the Buffalo Hills-JV. Caution Regarding Forward-looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" and/or "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include but are not limited to: statements regarding Rio Tinto Canada's future plans and intentions including with respect to the Project; Rio Tinto Canada's review of alternatives with respect to the Project and the terms of any possible future agreement that may be reached between Star Diamond and Rio Tinto Canada regarding the Project. These forward-looking statements are based on Star Diamond's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Star Diamond and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific. Risks exist that forward-looking statements will not be achieved due to a number of factors including, but not limited to, developments in world diamond markets, changes in diamond prices, risks relating to fluctuations in the Canadian dollar and other currencies relative to the US dollar, the impact of changes in the laws and regulations regulating mining exploration and development, judicial or regulatory judgments and legal proceedings, operational and infrastructure risks, the ability to finance and the additional risks described in Star Diamond's most recently filed Annual Information Form, annual and interim MD&A. Vancouver, BC - TheNewswire - May 29, 2023 - Happy Creek Minerals Ltd. (TSX-V:HPY) (Happy Creek or the Company) announces that Mr. Michael Cathro has been appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Company on an interim basis effective immediately. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Peter Hughes, the former President and CEO for his service to the Company and wish him well in his future endeavors. About Happy Creek Minerals Ltd. Happy Creek is focused on making new discoveries and building resources in proximity to infrastructure on the Companys 100%-owned portfolio of diversified metals projects in British Columbia. The Companys Management, Board of Directors and Technical Advisors have solid expertise and depth in the mineral resource sector and capital markets. More information on the Companys projects can be found on the website at www.happycreekminerals.com. Indigenous Communities Happy Creek Minerals is committed to responsible mineral resource development. Our priority is to build and sustain mutually beneficial relationships with Indigenous Communities in the territories in which the Company explores. The Company operates with the principles and guidelines set out for COVID-19 that are established by provincial health and safety authorities to protect workers and the communities in which the Company operates. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Walter Segsworth Chairman FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Mike Cathro, Interim President, Chief Executive Officer Phone: 1-250-682-7168 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements that address capital costs, recovery, grade, and timing of work or plans at the Companys mineral projects. Forward-looking information may be, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", foresee, "plan", "planned", "continue", "expect", thought to, "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intends", "believe", opportunity, further and others, or which describes a goal or action, event or result such as "may", "should", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be undertaken, occur or achieved. Statements also include those that address future mineral production, reserve potential, potential size or scale of a mineralized zone, potential expansion of mineralization, potential type(s) of mining, potential grades as well as to Happy Creeks ability to fund ongoing expenditure, or assumptions about future metal or mineral prices, currency exchange rates, metallurgical recoveries and grades, favourable operating conditions, access, political stability, obtaining or renewal of existing or required mineral titles, licenses and permits, labour stability, market conditions, availability of equipment, accuracy of any mineral resources, anticipated costs and expenditures. Assumptions may be based on factors and events that are not within the control of Happy Creek and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, which may cause the actual results to materially differ, and/or any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Additional information on risks and uncertainties can be found within Financial Statements, Prospectus and other materials found on the Companys SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Although Happy Creek has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Happy Creek withholds any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by law. Highlights: Near-surface expansion drilling North of the Former Bussiere Mine intersected new significant gold zones grading up to 9.2 g/t Au over 17.9 metres (including 73.8 g/t Au over 1.0 metre and 77.1 g/t Au over 0.8 metre); 144 g/t Au over 1 metre and 1.82 g/t Au over 44.5 metres. (including 73.8 g/t Au over 1.0 metre and 77.1 g/t Au over 0.8 metre); 144 g/t Au over 1 metre and 1.82 g/t Au over 44.5 metres. Expansion drilling under the Creek Deposit intersected parallel gold zones grading up to 15.0 g/t Au over 5.8 metres (including 101 g/t Au over 0.8 metre) and 75.6 g/t Au over 1.0 metre. (including 101 g/t Au over 0.8 metre) and 75.6 g/t Au over 1.0 metre. Near-surface infill drilling at Creek Deposit intersected gold zones grading up to 9.2 g/t Au over 11.2 metres (including 87.1 g/t Au over 1.0 metre) and 2.3 g/t Au over 37.6 metres (including 62.8 g/t Au over 1 metre) . (including 87.1 g/t Au over 1.0 metre) and 2.3 g/t Au over 37.6 metres (including 62.8 g/t Au over 1 metre) All of these results will be included in the upcoming resource updates on the Courvan and Pascalis trend deposits expected in June. Over 45,000 metres of drilling completed already in the 2023 program at Novador. Three drills are active including two at Monique and one on regional exploration. TORONTO, May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Probe Gold Inc. (TSX: PRB) (OTCQB: PROBF) (Probe or the Company), is pleased to provide the final set of results from the 2022 Courvan Gold Trend resource drill program on its 100%-owned Novador property (the Property) located near Val-dOr, Quebec. Results from sixty-seven (67) drill holes, totaling 19,400 meters, have returned significant gold intercepts from surface to 650 meters vertical depth at the Bussiere and Creek deposits (see figure 1 and table of selected drill results below). These drilling results have yielded the thickest, highest-grade intervals to-date from the Courvan Trend, with hole CO-22-324 grading 9.2 g/t Au over 17.9 meters. The 2022 fall drill program at Courvan focused on both resource expansion and resource conversion drilling. An updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) is currently being calculated and will incorporate the newly released results. David Palmer, President and CEO of Probe, states, We have now received all the assays from our 2022 drill program. Once again, our drill results align with the remarkable success we have consistently achieved across the entire project, including Pascalis and Monique. We are seeing additional improvement in both grade and thickness and are achieving our objectives of resource improvement across all three deposits. With these final results, our primary focus now is to complete the resource updates for both Pascalis and Courvan, which is expected to be ready next month, and use these as the basis for an updated economic study. With the exceptional drill results that have been coming in from the 2022 program, we will evaluate potential increases in annual production, and will be working towards this for the remainder of the year. While we work on the updated resources and studies, our 2023 expansion program is advancing very well with over 45,000 metres completed towards future resource updates. We will continue to keep investors informed as these results come in. All sixty-seven (67) holes drilled to identify or confirm near-surface mineralization returned gold intercepts over 0.4 g/t Au, which is above the cut-off grade used in the 2021 pit-constrained resource estimate. Forty-three (43) holes returned gold intercepts with grade times thickness above 10.0 g/t Au. Infill drilling yielded significant results as expected, and expansion drilling near the Bussiere and Creek deposits identified new parallel gold zones. The Bussiere and Creek deposits remain open laterally and have been drilled at only shallow depths. The few holes drilled under 350 meters deep at the Creek deposit yielded positive results and indicate good expansion potential at depth. The latest drilling results continue to improve our 3D model of the mineralization at Courvan. The mineralization is characterized by a series of shallow-dipping East-West gold-bearing veins situated next to shear zones that cut across the Bourlamaque granodiorite batholith. The gold veins encountered are primarily composed of sulphide-bearing quartz-carbonate-tourmaline, and gold is typically associated with centimeter-scale pyrite masses within the veins, as well as zones containing 1% to 5% finely disseminated pyrite in the host rocks. Selected drill results from the fall 2022 Courvan Bussiere and Creek deposits drilling program are, as follows: Hole Number From (m) To (m) Length (m) Gold (g/t) Zone / Resource CO-20-149EXT 598.0 612.0 14.0 3.1 Creek / Expansion Including 604.4 606.0 1.6 24.8 Creek / Expansion CO-20-149EXT 678.9 682.8 3.9 3.3 Creek / Expansion CO-22-222 576.0 577.0 1.0 75.6 Creek / Expansion CO-22-256 73.00 94.7 21.70 1.1 Bussiere / Expansion Including 81.3 82.3 1.0 13.5 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-259 293.0 294.0 1.0 29.2 Creek / Expansion CO-22-259 467.2 478.5 11.3 1.3 Creek / Expansion CO-22-259 631.0 636.8 5.8 15.0 Creek / Expansion Including 631.0 631.8 0.8 101.0 Creek / Expansion CO-22-259 660.0 672.5 12.5 2.1 Creek / Expansion CO-22-259 755.5 756.5 1.0 51.2 Creek / Expansion CO-22-260 25.5 49.5 24.0 1.9 Bussiere / Expansion Including 38.8 39.7 0.9 34.9 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-263 170.5 187.0 16.5 0.5 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-266 59.0 72.0 13.0 0.5 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-268 255.8 257.8 2.0 4.7 Creek / Expansion CO-22-270 128.9 133.7 4.8 2.8 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-274 166.0 186.0 20.0 1.1 Creek / Infill CO-22-278 122.4 160.0 37.6 2.3 Creek / Infill Including 157.0 158.0 1.0 62.8 Creek / Infill CO-22-282 92.0 101.0 9.0 1.2 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-285 180.0 206.0 26.0 0.4 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-286 96.5 105.0 8.5 1.2 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-287 87.4 94.3 6.9 2.0 Creek / Infill CO-22-288 200.5 213.5 13.0 11.5 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-288 200.5 201.5 1.0 144.0 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-290 55.0 65.0 10.0 2.5 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-291 58.0 91.5 33.5 1.1 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-292 17.0 23.8 6.8 3.1 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-298 97.5 103.0 5.5 5.9 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-300 71.0 77.2 6.2 6.2 Creek / Infill Including 75.2 76.2 1.0 36.6 Creek / Infill CO-22-300 147.5 158.7 11.2 9.2 Creek / Infill Including 157.7 158.7 1.0 87.1 Creek / Expansion CO-22-302 56.2 56.9 0.7 21.5 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-304 100.5 112.0 11.5 1.0 Creek / Infill CO-22-304 123.0 135.5 12.5 2.0 Creek / Infill CO-22-305 48.5 49.5 1.0 13.3 Bussiere / Infill CO-22-305 69.0 80.5 11.5 1.3 Bussiere / Infill CO-22-306 57.0 63.0 6.0 2.6 Creek / Expansion CO-22-307 114.0 118.8 4.8 4.6 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-307 155.5 158.5 3.0 12.9 Bussiere / Expansion Including 155.5 156.5 1.0 38.0 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-307 173.0 218.5 45.5 1.8 Bussiere / Expansion Including 177.0 193.5 16.5 4.1 Bussiere / Expansion Including 177.0 178.0 1.0 57.6 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-309 116.2 133.0 16.8 0.9 Bussiere / Infill CO-22-311 10.9 16.8 5.9 3.4 Creek / Expansion CO-22-311 72.0 75.0 3.0 6.3 Creek / Expansion CO-22-311 99.0 111.0 12.0 2.4 Creek / Expansion CO-22-311 184.0 186.8 2.8 3.6 Creek / Expansion CO-22-311 190.9 193.0 2.1 5.2 Creek / Expansion CO-22-313 34.5 43.5 9.0 1.3 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-313 56.0 59.9 3.9 11.7 Bussiere / Expansion Including 56.0 59.9 3.9 41.6 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-314 110.4 113.2 2.8 4.9 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-315 29.3 38.7 9.4 1.3 Bussiere / Expansion Including 37.7 38.7 1.0 9.1 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-315 70.9 93.2 22.3 1.9 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-315 139.5 140.5 1.0 12.6 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-316 10.0 18.0 8.0 2.1 Creek / Expansion CO-22-317 14.1 39.4 25.3 0.6 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-318 18.5 41.0 22.5 1.0 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-320 72.8 74.4 1.6 6.0 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-322 54.0 74.5 20.5 1.1 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-323 35.0 60.0 25.0 1.9 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-323 69.0 74.5 5.5 2.1 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-324 63.1 81.0 17.9 9.2 Bussiere / Expansion Including 63.1 64.1 1.0 73.8 Bussiere / Expansion Including 71.6 72.4 0.8 71.7 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-326 134.5 135.5 1.0 18.2 Creek / Expansion CO-22-326 149.0 171.0 22.0 0.6 Creek / Expansion CO-22-327 16.3 17.1 0.8 21.9 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-327 81.5 104.0 22.5 1.4 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-328 60.5 65.5 5.0 4.9 Bussiere / Expansion CO-22-329 65.0 76.0 11.0 1.2 Bussiere / Expansion (1) All the new analytical results reported in this release and in this table, are presented in core length and cut to 100 g/t Au when needed. True width is estimated between 65 to 95 % of core length. Only grade times thickness above 10.0 g/t Au * m is reported Figure 1: Surface Map Courvan Gold Trend new drilling results About Probes Novador Project Since 2016, Probe Gold has been consolidating its land position in the highly prospective Val-dOr East area in the province of Quebec with a district-scale land package of 446 square kilometers that represents one of the largest land holdings in the Val-dOr mining camp. The Novador project is a sub-set of properties totaling 175 square kilometers hosting three past producing mines (Beliveau Mine, Bussiere Mine and Monique Mine) and falls along three regional mine trends. Novador is situated in a politically stable and low-cost mining environment that hosts numerous active producers and mills. Novador project includes gold resources totaling 2,038,900 ounces Indicated and 357,200 ounces Inferred for Monique and 1,128,100 ounces Indicated (historical, from the 2021 resources estimate) and 1,638,200 Inferred ounces (historical, from the 2021 resources estimate) for other deposits, including Pascalis and Courvan (see press release dated January 17, 2023). Qualified Person The scientific and technical content of this press release has been prepared, reviewed, and approved by Mr. Marco Gagnon, P.Geo, Executive Vice President, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Quality Control During the last drilling program, assay samples were taken from the NQ core by sawing the drill core in half, with one-half sent to a certified commercial laboratory and the other half retained for future reference. A strict QA/QC program was applied to all samples; which includes insertion of mineralized standards and blank samples for each batch of 20 samples. The gold analyses were completed by fire-assayed with an atomic absorption finish on 50 grams of materials. Repeats were carried out by fire-assay followed by gravimetric testing on each sample containing 3.0 g/t gold or more. Total gold analyses (Metallic Sieve) were carried out on the samples which presented a great variation of their gold contents or the presence of visible gold. About Probe Gold Probe Gold Inc. is a leading Canadian gold exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of highly prospective gold properties. The Company is committed to discovering and developing high-quality gold projects, including its key asset the multimillion-ounce Novador Gold Project, Quebec. The Company is well-funded and controls a large land package of approximately 1,500-square-kilometres of exploration ground within some of the most prolific gold belts in Quebec. The Company was formed as a result of the $526M sale of Probe Mines Limited to Goldcorp. On behalf of Probe Gold Inc., Dr. David Palmer, President & Chief Executive Officer For further information: Please visit our website at www.probegold.com or contact: Seema Sindwani Vice-President of Investor Relations This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +1.416.777.9467 Forward-Looking Statements Neither TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements" which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Companys future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as believes, anticipates, expects, estimates, may, could, would, will, or plan. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations. Risks, uncertainties, and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the Companys objectives, goals or future plans, statements, exploration results, potential mineralization, the estimation of mineral resources, exploration and mine development plans, timing of the commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to failure to identify mineral resources, failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves, the inability to complete a feasibility study which recommends a production decision, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, political risks, inability to fulfill the duty to accommodate First Nations and other indigenous peoples, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and those risks set out in the Companys public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. The International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan called on Monday for "a new way of working" to tackle war crimes in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Armed groups have plagued much of mineral-rich eastern DRC for three decades, a legacy of regional wars that flared in the 1990s and 2000s, and underreported conflicts simmer elsewhere in the vast central African nation. The ICC, operating since 2002, launched its first investigations in the northeastern Ituri region in 2004. The court since handed down three final sentences for crimes committed in the DRC. "We've had cases, we've had convictions -- but there is a truth staring at us in the face... the rapes have not stopped, the crimes have not stopped," Khan told reporters after meeting Denis Mukwege. Mukwege won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018 for his work on behalf of rape victims, and the two met at his hospital in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province. The ICC prosecutor, who also planned to visit Ituri, will complete his stay in the DRC in Kinshasa where he will meet with the authorities. "The message is: we need to find a new way of working in my view, not in the same way that we've been doing since 2004," the prosecutor said. He called for "stronger partnership" between the government, provincial governors, civil society, the African Union, the European Union and the United Nations to show a common will to put an end to crimes. Mukwege did not speak publicly during the visit, but has consistently called for an end to impunity and for "transitional justice" to stop the spiral of violence that has plagued eastern DRC since the 1990s. In the courtyard of his hospital, representatives of victims had gathered to welcome the ICC prosecutor, holding banners calling for justice. "SOS Justice -- we mourn our innocent brothers and sisters massacred en masse during the so-called liberation wars," read one of the signs. "At the ICC, we are only asking for justice," Felix Bafulwa, 63, whose father and brother were killed on October 28, 1996, told AFP. Neema Cikambasi, 43, recalled how rebels killed 11 members of her family that same day in October 1996. "The people killed were all buried in three mass graves." There are still dozens of victims to be heard, the appearance of witnesses has not yet taken place, nor have the closing arguments. It is difficult to foresee the end of the mass trial that opened in Conakry on 28 September 2022. Eleven defendants are in the dock, suspected of having played a role in the repression of an opposition rally that left more than 150 dead in 2009. As the eighth month of the trial draws to a close, the lawyers have decided to boycott the hearings from Monday 29 May. They are demanding legal aid for their clients and improved working conditions. Whether they represent the defence or the victims, they are putting up an unprecedented united front. The discontent had been brewing for several months, but was made public in a letter to the Minister of Justice on May 17. "The scope of the tasks, the complexity of the case and the time taken by the trial require the payment of additional fees that our clients are not in a position to bear," the lawyers wrote. "This is not serious" From Monday to Wednesday, three days a week, Paul Yomba Kourouma goes to the Dixinn criminal court to defend Aboubacar Diakite, known as "Toumba", a former aide-de-camp to Moussa Dadis Camara, head of the military junta at the time of the events. To date, Yomba has not received a single Guinean franc (GNF) from his client. After Toumba tried to kill his boss on 3 December 2009, "there was a price on his head", says Yomba. "He lost everything, he has absolutely nothing." The lawyer has now been designated by his colleagues as the spokesperson for the protest movement. "A trial of this nature is always subsidised by the State," he says, citing the trial of Hissene Habre in Senegal in 2015 as an example. "When I criticised the unpreparedness [of the trial in Conakry], I was told that everything was ready. But look at our working conditions, we're like schoolchildren. We can't even put in a computer and our things are on the floor. The tables reserved for the lawyers are too cramped, he complains, and there aren't enough of them. Some counsels find themselves seated as "spectators". "It's not serious", says Yomba. Counsels for the civil parties, on the other hand, are mainly focusing on the claims concerning their working conditions, which would be the easiest to satisfy. Although the trial has opened after a long wait of thirteen years, the authorities should not be given a pretext to stop it, they say. The impasse The Ministry of Justice is hiding behind an implacable logic. "The situation is simple. When you have an agreement with your client, your client is responsible for paying your fees, with one exception," explains its spokesman, Lansana Traore: the court-appointed lawyer who must be paid by the State. There is only one in this trial. As far as the other lawyers are concerned, "the State is not obliged to support [them]". A median solution could be proposed. "Following the actions they [the lawyers] have taken to [our] department, it is currently looking into the possibility of granting them bonuses," explains Traore. But while this not yet been approved by the ministry, it has already been rejected by the lawyers. "We are not people to be given bonuses, but to be respected and paid", says Yomba. The lawyer has become a star in Guinea, and even in the sub-region. He is renowned for his lyrical flights of fancy. As of 29 May, "the workers will no longer go to work", says this tenor of the bar. "The judges only have to judge if they can. We won't come back until [our demands] have been met, and we won't accept any promises, absolutely nothing. Yomba can't be harsh enough towards the Minister of Justice, Alphonse Charles Wright, whom he describes as a victim of "power fatigue". "He is someone we don't even recognise any more. It's help [that we're asking for], not begging for the benefit of our clients. That's the law. As announced, there was no hearing on 29 May. "No court-appointed lawyer will agree to take on this case, given the ill-treatment suffered by us," warns Yomba. And if some of them wanted to take the risk, they would be unable to avoid a deadlock, he says: "The trial will have to be done all over again, because the lawyers don't know the case file and they will need several months to study them. A trial short of funding The breakdown is of concern to the Guinean Organisation for the Defence of Human and Citizens Rights (OGDH), a civil party in the trial. Its communication officer, Alseny Sall, called on the authorities to find an urgent solution. "There is a risk disrupting the smooth running of this emblematic trial. We do understand the lawyers' demands. We hope that they will reach an agreement. It is in the interests of the ruling military junta which cannot afford to lose a trial, he says, that has made a major contribution to its international image. But the government's refusal to pay the lawyers could be masking a deeper funding problem. In mid-May, the authorities announced that the money would soon run out. According to the coordinator of the Steering committee for the 28-September 2009 trial, Sefore Milimouno, "the 13 billion 205 million GNF (approximately 1.4 million) mobilised as part of the fund for organising the trial have almost been used up. This budget was supposed to cover 8 months of trial. We thought it was not going to last" longer than that. On 12 May, the Minister of Justice pointed the finger at the governments technical and financial partners who, he said, have not provided the funding they had promised. "It is from the national development budget that the trial is being financed", explained Alphonse Charles Wright. In 2018, when the opening of the trial seemed imminent, the then Minister of Justice, Cheick Sako, announced a provisional budget of more than 78 billion GNF, or nearly 8 million euros. At the time, the Guinean government said it would provide 77% of the budget, the United States and the European Union 17% and 5.8% respectively. "After the last steering committee, some partners said they were going to support Guinea," tries to reassure Traore, the ministry spokesman. But Sall, from the OGDH, is less confident: "We have had discussions with most of the partners, the United States, the European Union... Their priorities may have changed. It's not very clear on their side. We have the impression that the United States has not earmarked any funds to support the trial directly. And the same goes for the European Union. In his view, a helping hand could come from the International Criminal Court (ICC). "The ICC could perhaps make a plea to these countries. Hearings on hold Sall wonders whether the initial funds were managed wisely". In February the Minister of Justice had to "bang his fist on the table and freeze certain bonuses [for officers responsible for securing court hearings]". The Minister of Justice boasts that he has managed to make savings: "We were talking about the deployment of 750 officers. Per week, that cost us GNF 419 million 700 thousand. It was colossal. I said we have to make sure that only the people mobilised in the field get their bonuses. We had to readjust the security plan. This is what was examined and adopted,", said the Minister on 12 May. For the time being, the trial has been suspended until 5 June. A militia leader accused of hacking civilians to death and other crimes during Sierra Leone's civil war in the 1990s has been released after serving his prison sentence, a court in the West African nation said. Allieu Kondewa was a leader of the pro-government Civil Defence Forces (CDF), a notorious paramilitary unit that recruited traditional hunters to fight rebels during the country's brutal 1991-2002 civil war. He was convicted in 2007 to a 20-year sentence on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, issuing collective punishment and recruiting child soldiers. He spent nearly 10 years in prison in Rwanda under a special agreement as war-ravaged Sierra Leone did not have proper detention facilities. The Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone, based in Freetown, said Monday that Kondewa was the second person convicted by the court to be released, after the CDF's "War Commander" Moinina Fofana was released in 2018 after completing a 15-year sentence. Kondewa had been imprisoned in Rwanda until 2018, since Sierra Leone did not have sufficient detention facilities to hold him. That year the court granted a conditional early release for him to serve the remainder of his sentence in his community in the southern Sierra Leone city of Bo, under strict oversight. The Sierra Leone civil war, financed largely by so-called blood diamonds, left 120,000 people dead and tens of thousands mutilated. As a parallel force to the regular army, the CDF fought rebels of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council. The CDF was alleged to have "eliminated" civilians suspected of collaborating with rebels, either through shooting them, hacking them to death or burning them alive. Several other people remain in prison after being sentenced to longer prison terms by the special court, including Charles Taylor, the former Liberian warlord convicted of fuelling the conflict in Sierra Leone. Taylor is currently serving a 50-year sentence in a British prison after being convicted in 2012 by a special court in The Hague over war crimes in Sierra Leone -- the first ex-head of state to be jailed by an international court since the Nazi trials at Nuremberg in Germany after World War II. To listen to the podcast, click on the "play" button below: In this episode, we dive right into the deep end of environmental international law by looking at the recent United Nations General Assembly resolution to request an advisory opinion from the ICJ on climate change. The resolution, which was championed by the small Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu, was eventually co-sponsored by 132 other states. It was a group of law students the Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC) who pushed this up the agenda, and it was eventually Vanuatu who brought it to the UN. Many small island nations in the Pacific are among the most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, Vanuatu has fallen victim to a number of devastating cyclones. Cyclone Pam which struck the island in 2015 caused widespread damage with costs climbing to more than 64% of their GDP. The question that Vanuatu is asking of the ICJ contains two parts. Firstly, it asks what the obligations of states are in regard to the protection of the climate for future generations, and secondly it asks what the consequences are for states that do not meet these obligations. To find out exactly what this all means and how Vanuatu is mounting their legal strategy, we spoke to Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh who is lead co-counsel for Vanuatu. With her help, we map out the road ahead for the potentially long proceedings at the ICJ. Thomas Buergenthal, an Auschwitz survivor who became a judge with the UN war crimes court in The Hague, has died aged 89, the German city where he lived after the war said Tuesday. The government of Goettingen, whose Thomas Buergenthal Centre houses the city library, said in a statement that he had "tirelessly dedicated himself to reconciliation and for human rights his entire life". Buergenthal was born in then Czechoslovakia in 1934 to a Jewish family that was forced to flee to Poland when the Germans invaded. Their odyssey would taken them to a ghetto, two work camps and the Nazi extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, where he was separated from his relatives as a young boy. "He fought for his survival in the camp and on the death march to Sachsenhausen," another Nazi concentration camp, which was liberated by Soviet troops in 1945, with Buergenthal one of the youngest survivors. A year later, Buergenthal was reunited with his mother in her birthplace of Goettingen where the two lived until 1951. After completing his schooling in Germany, he emigrated to the United States where he studied law. A specialist in international law and human rights, Buergenthal served as a judge on the International Court of Justice in the Hague from March 2000 until his resignation in September 2010. He was the sole dissenter in a key non-binding ICJ ruling in 2004 that a barrier built by Israel in the West Bank was illegal. Buergenthal said the decision did not seriously consider victims of "repeated deadly terrorist attacks in and upon Israel proper coming from the occupied Palestinian territory". In 2005, he attended ceremonies at Sachsenhausen with camp survivors from around the world marking the 60th anniversary of their liberation. He said that despite the lessons learned since 1945, the massacres in Rwanda, Cambodia and in the Sudanese region of Darfur showed society's capacity for barbarism. "Today 'never again' often means 'never again, until the next time'," he said. The dark secrets inside the closet are finally revealed, much to fans' excitement. In the brand new episode of "Doctor Cha," Uhm Jung Hwa and Myung Se Bin are brought together by an unexpected crisis. 'Doctor Cha' Episode 14: Cha Jung Suk's Biggest Obstacle "Doctor Cha" episode 14 begins with Cha Jung Suk's (Uhm Jung Hwa) mother's wrath after she discovers that her son-in-law has been cheating on her own daughter for the past twenty years. She resents Seo In Ho (Kim Byung Chul) for what he has done, which makes her unknown health condition even worse. Even the best doctors don't know what to do with her chronic pain. Meanwhile, Seo Yi Rang (Lee Seo Yeon) visits Choi Seung Hee (Myung Se Bin) in her office and asks for forgiveness for causing Choi Eun Seo's (So Ah Rin) injury. To show her remorse, she plans to withdraw from all the art schools she applied to and in return, Choi Seung Hee must break up with Seo In Ho to keep the peace around them. Cha Jung Suk & Choi Seung Hee's Truce It turns out that Choi Seung Hee has been researching for a cure for Cha Jung Suk's mother's illness without fail. She even reaches out to international doctors for help. However, this doesn't make her budge, saying that she still doesn't have any plans on forgiving her and Seo In Ho. Cha Jung Suk gets taken aback when the other still shows no hostility. Choi Seung Hee also tells Cha Jung Suk that they need to be more mature as adults, and put an end to their daughters' pain. This sends the latter to Seo In Ho's office to hand over the divorce papers. Seo In Ho's Retaliation The more Cha Jung Suk pushes, the more Seo In Ho pulls away. He refuses to sign the divorce papers and tells his wife that he's willing to empty his fortune if it means fighting with her in court. Because of this, Cha Jung Suk becomes even more determined. Seo In Ho then accuses his wife of harboring feelings for Roy Kim (Min Woo Hyuk), which the other refutes. On the other hand, Roy Kim delivers great news to Cha Jung Suk-he finally found his family that he's been looking for a long time. He asks Cha Jung Suk to come with at the precinct. Unfortunately, Roy Kim's family only wanted to meet him to make him their biological father's bone marrow donor, irking not only the doctor but also the viewers. Cha Jung Suk's New Obstacle Things get better for Seo Jung Min (Song Ji Ho) and Jeon So Ra (Jo Ah Ram). The two become supportive and more affectionate toward one another after their huge fight. Meanwhile, Cha Jung Suk's mother visits Choi Seung Hee, giving her a handwritten letter which tells her to live her own life without regrets for herself and for her beloved daughter. Choi Seung Hee, who's slowly opening her eyes to the naked truth, cries her heart out. She also wants to do the same thing; live an honorable life and find genuine happiness. At the end of the episode, Cha Jung Suk's world spins as she becomes dizzy and spits up blood, hinting at a new obstacle for the doctor. KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Son Seok Koo proved his popularity as he ranked first in the movie actor brand rankings, outshining Song Joong Ki. Want to see the celebrities who made it to the list? Then read on! Son Seok Koo Beats Song Joong Ki in Movie Actor Brand Rankings Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute officially announced the names of celebrities who made it to the Movie Actor Brand Reputation Ranking for May 2023. Topping this month's list is "My Liberation Notes" star Son Seok Koo, while Song Joong Ki and Ma Dong Seok came second and third, respectively. Based on the analysis, the research institute gathered 123,597,230 indexes of brand big data of 50 movie actors loved by consumers in Korea. The data collected started from April 29 to May 29 by measuring viewer participation, social media, and communication and community indices. In addition for a clearer understanding, the brand reputation index extracts brand big data and analyzes consumer behavior through reputation analysis algorithms. KCRRI's director said that after their meticulous research and observation, Son Seok Koo topped May 2023's brand reputation rankings with linked terms "gentle," "sexy," and "sweet" in his name, while his keywords analysis is composed of "Baeksang Arts Awards," "Nine Puzzle," and "model." After the three male stars occupied the top three spots, female stars Jeon Do Yeon and Kim Hye Soo ranked fourth and fifth in this month's rankings. Park Seo Joon, who made his silver screen return through "Dream" alongside IU, ranked sixth on the list, while Hyun Bin landed at No. 9. Top 50 Movie Actor Brand Reputation Rankings for May 2023 1. Son Seok Koo 2. Song Joong Ki 3. Ma Dong Seok 4. Jeon Do Yeon 5. Kim Hye Soo 6. Park Seo Joon 7. Kim Tae Ri 8. Heo Sung Tae 9. Hyun Bin 10. Jo Seung Woo 11. Jung Hae In 12. Kim Da Mi 13. Cho Jin Woong 14. Kim Nam Gil 15. Jeon Hye Jin 16. Park Bo Young 17. Ryu Jun Yeol 18. Han Ji Min 19. Lee Byung Hun 20. Lee Jung Jae 21. Honey Lee 22. Ra Mi Ran 23. Hwang Jung Min 24. Song Seung Heon 25. Yoo Hae Jin 26. Im Siwan 27. Choi Min Sik 28. Han Hyo Joo 29. Jin Seok Kyu 30. Gong Myung 31. Ha Jung Woo 32. Lee Sung Min 33. Gong Hyo Jin 34. Go Min Si 35. Jo In Sung 36. Jo Jung Suk 37. Park Sung Woong 38. Ahn Sung Ki 39. Yeo Jin Goo 40. Jo Woo Jin 41. Lee Jin Wook 42. Byun Yo Han 43. Jang Dong Gun 44. Cha Seung Won 45. Kang Ha Neul 46. Lee Dong Hwi 47. Ahn Jae Hong 48. So Ji Sub 49. Im Won Hee 50. Park Hae Jin IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Song Joong Ki, Kim Seon Ho, & Lee Joon Hyuk New Villains to Anticipate This 2023 For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article. Shai Collins wrote this. Apart from his small screen comeback, Kim Bum has been dominating various social media platforms and online communities these days. For what reason? Keep on reading to find out. Kim Bum's Visuals Never Decline to Wow the Public Currently playing the role of Lee Rang in the ongoing fantasy series "Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938," Kim Bum had a successful drama return this 2023. On various online portals, people discussed their excitement over the "Boys Over Flowers" star, who seems to have been amassing massive popularity. Kim Bum is one of the Korean heartthrobs that amaze people with his charisma, even during his rookie days. Interestingly, fans and viewers have noticed the incredible glow-up of Kim Bum as he trends online with his visuals. He has been captivating the audience with his stunning presence on and off the screen. With his slick, black hair, the male star has the public head over heels in love with his charms. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Kim Bum Confesses Why He Rejects to Headline Romance K-Dramas His new fashion pictorial with Cosmopolitan Korea is receiving love from fans as the "Law School" star exudes a suave look, while clad in different branded fashion pieces. Kim Bum Secretly Monitors Himself and Fans Online While working on his ongoing series, Kim Bum also leveled up his fan service, which proved that he is secretly eyeing the fans online. In his Instagram story updates, the "Ghost Doctor" actor shared and answered some tweets and comments from his fans. Upon seeing how attentive Kim Bum is these days to his supporters, fans got excited and worried for him. They are excited knowing that the "Fly High" actor is leveling his fan service by listening and answering to the fans' messages. Most of those are positive and funny comments. There were also times, when Kim Bum exchanged messages publicly, online, with his fans. He also revealed that he also reads foreign languages and translate them to know what the international fans are saying to him. While others were excited, some were worried as Kim Bum might get hurt by the negative comments he saw online. But the actor assured his supporters that those bad comments don't affect him anymore and just ignored them. Meanwhile, to see more of Kim Bum, catch him every Saturday and Sunday on tvN's "Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938." IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Kim Bum Has Girlfriend? 'Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938' Actor Makes Hilarious Revelation What can you say about Kim Bum's ongoing popularity? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments! For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars. Kdramastars owns this article. Shai Collins wrote this. The Church of Uganda has applauded President Museveni for assenting to the Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023. The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, says the law will go a long way in protecting children from harmful practices. He has however expressed reservations with the death penalty, saying the church supports life and thus in principle, it does not support the death penalty for aggravated defilement and aggravated homosexuality. The legislation imposes the death penalty in aggravated cases, which include having gay sex with someone below the age of 18 or where someone is infected with a life-long illness including HIV. The Archbishop has instead recommended the punishment of life imprisonment. He meanwhile says the law will not solve all the countrys challenges, asking Ugandans to examine their own hearts and repent of sexual greed. Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka has appealed against the Constitutional Court ruling that nullified the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Control Act of 2016 on grounds that it was passed without the required quorum in Parliament. In his notice of appeal, the Attorney General indicates that he is dissatisfied with the decision by the Constitutional Court delivered nullifying narcotics law. The Attorney General has now written to Constitutional Court requesting for a certified copy of the ruling and record of proceedings to enable them to formulate grounds of appeal in the matter. The appeal by the government arises from a 2017 successful petition filed by Wakiso Miraa Growers and Dealers Association Limited against the Attorney General. The miraa growers in 2017 challenged the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act for prohibiting and criminalizing the cultivation, possession, consumption, sale, distribution, transportation, and exportation of catha edulis (khat) commonly known in Uganda as miraa or mairungi by classifying it as a prohibited plant. Parliament had put in place this law to ban several drugs including cannabis , bush cocoa, and specifically mairungi on grounds that it is a psychoactive drug that contains cathinone and cathine, a substance known for several side effects such as increased blood pressure, a state of euphoria and elation with feelings of increased alertness and arousal. As a result, the petitioners told court that the prohibition was not backed up by any scientific evidence yet it had a disruptive effect on the livelihood, property, cultural, and social economic rights of the petitioners who are mairungi farmers, sellers, and consumers. Through their Chairperson Vincent Kizito, the petitioners indicated that the crop should be treated as a delicacy as it is a source of their family incomes and their childrens school fees, therefore it was unconstitutional for Parliament to ban mairungi. The United Nations (UN) and US have warned that Ugandas progress in tackling HIV is in grave jeopardy after the president approved the tough new anti-homosexuality legislation. In a joint statement, three of the worlds leading health campaign groups the US Presidents Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar), UNAids, and the Global Fund have said they are deeply concerned about the harmful impact of the legislation. The three bodies further note that an increasing number of people are being discouraged from seeking vital health services for fear of attacks and punishment. They say the law will obstruct health education and the outreach that can help end HIV/AIDs as a public health threat by 2030. According to the UNAIDs executive director, Winnie Byanyima, Global Fund chief Peter Sands and Ambassador John Nkengasong, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, Trust, confidentiality, and stigma-free engagement are essential for anyone seeking health care. Ugandas progress on its HIV response is now in grave jeopardy. The Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 will obstruct health education and the outreach that can help end AIDS as a public health threat. The stigma and discrimination associated with the passage of the Act has already led to reduced access to prevention as well as treatment services, the statement reads in part. They have appealed to the government to reconsider the Act so that Uganda may continue on its path to ensure equitable access to health services. Opposition Members of Parliament have condemned President Musevenis remarks cautioning National Resistance Movement (NRM) MPs to avoid using personal funds in their constituencies. Addressing the 10-day NRM parliamentary caucus retreat at National Army Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi, Museveni warned that this will keep them in the debt cycle. You will get leaders who are indebted. Indebted leaders are dangerous, Museveni warned. Now the opposition MPs accuse the president and his government of neglecting the service delivery that would have helped people at the grassroots who turn to their area MPs to fill the gaps. Nakawa East MP, Eng. Ronald Nsubuga Balimwezo says he cannot stop using his money to bring closer service delivery to the people who are in need. Buyaga West MP, Barnabas Tinkasimire, says the huge budgetary allocation to the State House has affected service delivery, forcing MPs to invest their own money in the constituencies to meet voters demands. Former Leader of Opposition also Gulu City Woman MP, Betty Ochan, says government borrows a lot of funds but it is surprising that the population of Uganda still lives in poverty. Busoga Kingdom Premier, Joseph Muvawala is joining over 6,000 Catholic pilgrims from St Joseph Cathedral, Rubaga Parish, Jinja who are trekking to Namugongo ahead of Martyrs Day celebrations on June 3. Father Kenneth Oromo, a communications official for the group tells kFM that their journey has been generally peaceful and safe despite a few injuries and the Tuesday afternoon rainfall which distracted them. He is hopeful that they will have their triumph entry at Namugongo by June 1. The situation is very good. We really thank the Red Cross team which is also moving with pilgrims and the other stakeholders in the health department that are also helping pilgrims on the way. Tomorrow we shall begin our journey again and we shall head to Seeta, Oromo told KFM. The annual event pays homage to the 22 Catholic and 23 Anglican Uganda Martyrs killed between 1885 and 1887 every 3rd June. Some religious leaders have expressed concern with the passing of the anti-gay law, saying the repercussions are likely to be intense. The presiding apostle of the born-again faith Federation Uganda, also senior pastor at Victory Christian Centre Church located in Ndeeba, Dr. Joseph Sserwadda, says more travel bans await Ugandan government officials abroad. Just yesterday the mover of the Bill, Asuman Basalirwa revealed that the US had revoked the visa of the Speaker of Parliament Anita Among. He has meanwhile implored the government to allow religious settings to establish recovery centers for victims of homosexuality. The joint force of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and Somali National Armed Forces have revealed that they have killed a number of Al-Shabaab terrorists who recently attacked their camp. The terrorists last week on Friday attacked the peacekeepers Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Buulo Mareer, approximately 120km southwest of Mogadishu in Lower Shabelle region and alleged to have killed over 100 soldiers. No clear report has been given to explain the extent of loss of troops and military equipment in the raid. However in a statement issued this morning on twitter by ATMIS, the force says they managed to successfully pursue the fleeing Al-Shabaab terrorists whom they have killed. They add that multiple weapons looted from the base have also been retrieved. The force has further committed to fight terrorism and work closely with the federal government of Somali, Federal member states and international partners to secure Somalia. #ATMIS and @SNAForce troops have successfully pursued the fleeing Al-Shabaab terrorists involved in the #ATMIS FOB attack in Buulo Mareer. A substantial number of the terrorists have been eliminated. The joint force has also retrieved multiple weapons looted from the FOB. #ATMIS remains committed to fighting terrorism and will continue working closely with the Federal Government of Somalia, Federal Member States, and international partners to secure #Somalia, the tweet reads. The US Department of State has announced that it is considering deploying existing visa restriction tools against Ugandan officials and other individuals for abuse of universal human rights following the passing of the Anti-Homosexuality Act. This comes just a day after the speaker of parliament, Anita Among announced that the president had signed into law the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. The law imposes the death penalty in aggravated cases, which include having gay sex with someone below the age of 18 or where someone is infected with a life-long illness including HIV. In a statement, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said the law not only undermines human rights, prosperity, and welfare of Ugandans but it also puts the countrys reputation at stake as a destination for investment, development, tourism, and refugees. The United States has now urged the government of Uganda to refrain from implementing laws that undermine human rights. I have also directed the Department to update our travel guidance to American citizens and to U.S. businesses as well as to consider deploying existing visa restrictions tools against Ugandan officials and other individuals for abuse of universal human rights, including the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons. Blinken said. By AFP US President Joe Biden on Monday slammed Ugandas draconian new law against homosexuality as a grave human rights violation, and threatened to cut aid and investment in the east African country. He called for the immediate repeal of the tough new measures, which state among other things that engaging in acts of homosexuality in Uganda would be an offense punishable with life imprisonment. The enactment of Ugandas Anti-Homosexuality Act is a tragic violation of universal human rights, Biden said in a statement, joining a chorus of condemnation after President Yoweri Museveni signed the measures into law. No one should have to live in constant fear for their life or being subjected to violence and discrimination, Biden said. It is wrong. Biden said he had asked his National Security Council to assess what the law means for all aspects of US engagement with Uganda, including services providing AIDS relief, and other assistance and investments. He said the administration would also consider slapping sanctions on Uganda and restricting the entry into the United States of people engaging in human rights abuses or corruption there. A man who sexually assaulted a sleeping woman and later left the house naked from the waist down has been jailed for 18 months. Kevin Cradden (33) of Johns Gate Apartments, Castlecomer Road, Kilkenny, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault at a house in Dublin on May 31, 2021. The case had been adjourned last December after evidence was heard to allow for the preparation of a probation report to assess whether Cradden poses a risk to society. Garda Daniel Hanlon told Kieran Kelly BL, prosecuting at that hearing last December that Cradden attended a barbeque at the house and a lot of alcohol was consumed. The court heard the injured party was a tenant at the house and that her ex-boyfriend, realising she had had a bit to drink, brought her to her bedroom and ensured she was tucked up in bed. The woman later told gardai that she woke up in the middle of the night and found someone in her bed, kissing her and with his hand down her underwear touching her vagina. She said she thought it was her ex, but realised quickly that it was a different person and said, Kevin? to which the accused replied, yes. The woman got up straight away and said she was very confused and not sure what was going on. She met her housemate outside the door who was aware and concerned that Cradden had gone into the bedroom, the court heard. The victims housemate then asked Cradden repeatedly to leave the house, and he eventually did so naked from the waist down. The housemate then called Cradden back so he could get dressed. Garda Hanlon said there was absolutely no way that the victim had led Cradden on or encouraged him in any way. Cradden has no previous convictions and has not come to garda attention since this assault. The woman wrote a victim impact statement which was read in silence by Judge Orla Crowe. Judge Crowe said the woman had indicated in her victim impact statement that the offence had taken away her sense of self-worth. She was distressed and had trust issues with everyone afterward, Judge Crowe continued. The judge said the offence was a considerable violation of her home, her personal space and her body. She accepted evidence that Cradden has no previous convictions and has not come to garda attention since and that he cannot explain what had happened that night. Judge Crowe said the offence warranted a headline sentence of four years before she reduced the prison sentence to three years in prison having taken into account the mitigating factors. The judge suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions including that he engage with the Probation Service for two years upon his release from prison. Judge Crowe said Cradden must also abstain from alcohol. She said it was clear that Cradden had issues when he is under the influence of alcohol. Karl Moran BL, defending, said Cradden was incredibly remorseful and has no memory of the incident. Mr Moran said his client had drunk six cans of Coors, that his friend gave him a further six cans, and that he also drank a cocktail and commented on how strong it was, saying he had double vision. The court heard Craddens friend gave a statement to gardai saying she asked him to leave the house two or three times, but he kept falling asleep. He was dumb drunk, she told gardai, describing how Cradden had left the house not realising he was unclothed. We called him back to the house because he was naked from the waist down and we didnt want him flashing anybody, she said. Craddens friend said he then asked a number of times if he could stay on the couch and did not know what had been alleged against him. Cradden wrote to his friend the following day on Facebook saying, Hey how are you, what happened last night, did I leave my phone at your house, I dont remember much. When his friend told him about the allegations, he sent a message saying, Im so sorry if I caused any harm, Ive no recollection of the night or of coming back here, the court heard. Gda Hanlon accepted that the offence was completely out-of-character for Cradden, who has a strong work history and has not drunk alcohol since the night in question. Letters from Craddens GP, mother, brother and sisters were presented to the court, with his family describing him as a loving, caring family member who had come home from abroad to care for his terminally-ill father. Mr Moran said Cradden would be eternally regretful, remorseful and apologetic for the pain, anguish and trauma he has caused the injured party. Cradden has brought shame and ignominy on himself, Mr Moran said, and his mental health has suffered significantly. The court heard that Cradden had a series of jobs with software companies but gave up his job due to the weight of this case and has had temporary employment since. Mr Moran said Cradden has actively engaged with counselling and had brought a sum of money to court as an expression of his remorse. Peer pressure has been identified as the number one deterrent of gum litter, according to the Gum Litter Taskforce (GLT), the national awareness campaign which will visit Kilkenny this summer. Research published today to coincide with the National Launch of the 2023 GLT Campaign revealed that negative perception by others was the primary reason that those surveyed no longer littered their gum waste (58%). Knowledge of the 150 fine was also a leading factor, followed by negative experience of chewing gum litter. The findings highlight the continued impact of the GLT, a joint initiative of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, Food Drink Ireland, and the chewing gum industry, which has played a key role in promoting proper gum litter disposal, since its launch in 2007. 87% of people now report proper gum disposal, versus 49% when the campaign began an increase of 77.5%. Now in its sixteenth year, the GLT campaign travels to local authorities and schools across the country hosting its Summer and Bin It! interactive Roadshows, which promote responsible gum disposal by highlighting the environmental impacts of gum and general litter. Kicking off in mid-June, this years Summer Roadshow will visit Kilkenny on July 13 as one of several local authority activations across the country. Demonstrating its continued resonance, last year 73% of those who interacted with the campaign reported learning new information about the impacts of gum littering. To date the campaign has seen gum reduce from over 26.4% of all litter, 8.6% in the most recent National Litter Monitoring Survey. However, work remains to be done to further reduce this, as just 46% of people can claim to have never dropped gum on the ground, demonstrating the continued importance of the awareness and behavioural change campaign. Speaking ahead of the campaigns launch in Merrion Square, Minister Ossian Smyth welcomed the latest research and the return of the GLT campaign for the second year of its fifth cycle: The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is proud to play a part in this important initiative. Since 2007, the Gum Litter Taskforce has helped to drive a significant shift in attitude towards gum litter; gum litter now stands at 8.6% of all litter according to the 2022 National Litter Monitoring Survey, a remarkable decrease from the 26.4% it stood at when the campaign first began. Each cycle of the campaign has delivered demonstrable progress in reducing gum litter on our streets, showing the impact that cross-collaborative initiatives such as this one can have. I look forward to continuing with our good work with industry and local authorities to build on the continued success of the GLT campaign to ultimately eradicate gum litter. This years campaign will see representatives from the Gum Litter Taskforce working with local authorities and communities to carry out education and awareness initiatives that demonstrate the proper means of gum disposal and raise awareness of the environmental and fiscal impacts of improper disposal. Then, in September, the Gum Litter Taskforces Bin It! education programme will travel across the country and deliver 60 performances a year to primary and secondary schools nationwide, with the ambition to visit 180 schools by 2025. This is in addition to useful lesson plan material that has been made available to almost 730 schools across Ireland. Labour Leader, Ivana Bacik made a whistlestop tour of Kilkenny City on Monday visiting both the Abbey Quarter and the Butler Gallery. Kilkenny basked in beautiful sunshine as the Labour leader took in the sights of the Marble City and did a walkabout in the city accompanied by a number of local Labour stalwarts. Councillor Tomas Breathnach who is the only Labour representative on Kilkenny County Council joined the entourage as did local area representative, Andrea Cleere and former county councillor, Sean O hArgain. The Labour leader said that she is hoping that the party will rebuild and grow locally and that the partys strong Labour tradition will be revived in the run up to the local elections next year and she is optimistic about how the party will perform and added that she hoped that the party would recruit new members locally over the coming months. During her visit to Kilkenny she said that she was really impressed with the Abbey Quarter and also commended the Butler Gallery where she viewed its current exhibition, The Disappointed Tourist. Ivana Bacik is no stranger to Kilkenny as her grandparents Charles and Edith Bacik lived in Rathmore House in Fiddown in Piltown and Ivana spent many happy times in South Kilkenny during her childhood and as a young adult. My grandparents Charles and Edith came over here in 1946 as my grandfather was involved in the Czech Resistance and was imprisoned by the Nazis during the water. During this time my grandmother stepped in and ran the glass factory they had, she said. Ivanas grandparents came to Ireland as refugees and her grandfather, who had links with the glass industry, was involved in the setting up of Waterford Crystal. Ivana recalls happy memories of visiting her grandparents in Piltown, before they died within six weeks of each other in 1990. My grandfather used to grow apples as a hobby and we used to loved going down to visit when they were alive, she said adding that still has several Dowley cousins living in the area. It is great to be back in Kilkenny, I have very happy memories from visiting over the years, she added. Sean O hArgain said he was delighted to welcome the party leader to Kilkenny and said that he hoped that the party would grow locally. Chinese authorities have revealed plans to land astronauts on the moon before 2030 another advance in what is increasingly seen as a new space race pitting the Asian autocracy against the United States and its democratic allies. The US aims to put astronauts back on the lunar surface by the end of 2025. Deputy director of the Chinese Manned Space Agency Lin Xiqiang confirmed Chinas goal at a news conference on Monday, but gave no specific date. China is first preparing for a short stay on the lunar surface and human-robotic joint exploration, Mr Lin said. We have a complete near-Earth human space station and human round-trip transportation system, complemented by a process for selecting, training and supporting new astronauts, he said. A schedule of two crewed missions a year is sufficient for carrying out our objectives, Mr Lin added. Chinas space agency also introduced the new crew heading to its orbiting space station in a launch scheduled for Tuesday, and said the station will be expanded. The Tiangong space station was said to have been finished in November when the third section was added. The fourth module will be added at an appropriate time to advance support for scientific experiments and provide the crew with improved working and living conditions, Mr Lin said. The trio being launched aboard the Shenzhou 16 craft will overlap briefly with the three astronauts who have lived on the station for the previous six months conducting experiments and assembling equipment inside and outside the vehicle. The fresh crew includes a civilian for the first time. All previous crew members have been in the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), the military wing of the countrys ruling Communist Party. Gui Haichao, a professor at Beijings top aerospace research institute, will join mission commander Jing Haipeng and spacecraft engineer Zhu Yangzhu as the payload expert. Speaking to media at the launch site outside the north-western city of Jiuquan, Commander Jing said the mission marked a new stage of application and development, in Chinas space programme. We firmly believe that the spring of Chinas space science has arrived, and we have the determination, confidence, and ability to resolutely complete the mission, said Commander Jing, a major general who has made three previous space flights. Chinas first manned space mission in 2003 made it the third country after the former Soviet Union and the US to put a person into space. The country built its own space station after it was excluded from the International Space Station, largely due to US objections over the Chinese space programmes intimate ties to the PLA. Space is increasingly seen as a new area of competition between China and the United States the worlds two largest economies and rivals for diplomatic and military influence. The astronauts Nass sends to the moon by the end of 2025 will aim for the south pole where permanently shadowed craters are believed to be packed with frozen water. Plans for permanent crewed bases on the moon are also being considered by both countries, raising questions about rights and interests on the lunar surface. US law tightly restricts cooperation between the two countries space programmes, and while China says it welcomes foreign collaborations, those have thus far been limited to scientific research. In addition to their lunar programmes, the US and China have also landed rovers on Mars and Beijing plans to follow the US in landing a spacecraft on an asteroid. Other countries and organizations ranging from the India and the United Arab Emirates to Israel and the European Union are also planning lunar missions. The US sent six crewed missions to the moon between 1969 and 1972, three of which involved the use of a drivable lunar rover that China says it is now developing with tenders in the private sector. While America currently operates more spaceports and has a far wider network of international and commercial partners than China, the Chinese programme has proceeded in a steady and cautious manner, reflecting the countys vast increase in economic power and global influence since the 1980s. A star that exploded in a galaxy just 21 million light-years from Earth is a red supergiant, an astrophysicist has said. The explosion was detected around 10 days ago and made headlines as astronomers raced to observe the once-in-a-decade supernova. Red supergiants are very large stars approaching the later stages of their stellar life. The supernova, dubbed SN 2023ixf, occurred in the Pinwheel Galaxy, and was first seen by an amateur Japanese astronomer on May 19. Dr Joanne Pledger, an astrophysicist at the University of Central Lancashire, identified the star as a red supergiant after quickly analysing the data she had gathered over the past decade on the Pinwheel Galaxy. She told the PA news agency: It was sheer luck that the supernova was in the galaxy I have studied over the last 10 years. It was a case of excitement and a mild panic of Quick, lets look at the data we have. When we identify a red supergiant star, we know it is in the later stages of its existence, but of course, we dont know when the supernova will happen it could be next year, or it could be in a million years. She said this is the closest supernova humanity has seen in more than a decade, making the event very exciting. Her findings have been sent to the Astrophysical Journal Letters where it is currently undergoing a peer-review process ahead of publication. Dr Pledger said the original (progenitor) star would have been about eight to 12 times the mass of the Sun, and somewhere between 30 to 50 million years old. The event was a type II supernova, which occurs when a massive star runs out of fuel and swells into a red supergiant. Our first view of supernova #SN2023ixf in M101 pic.twitter.com/LdzzTgrlVF University of Hertfordshire Observatory (@BayfordburyObs) May 21, 2023 Red supergiants stay alive for a few million years or so by burning different elements such as hydrogen or helium. Data from the Hubble Space Telescope indicates a large proportion of the region surrounding the stars core is rich in hydrogen, which Dr Pledger said is what is seen in the explosion. She said the brightness from the supernova is still visible in the night sky and can be seen with a relatively small telescope, around four inches long. Following the news of the event, amateur astronomers rushed to take images. Among them was retired physicist Dr Jane Clark, who said she photographed the exploding star from her home in Wales after reading reports on social media. Dr Clark, who is an observatory manager at Cardiff Astronomical Society, told PA: I moved my telescope across to the Pinwheel Galaxy as soon as I decently could, and tried for a photograph. I wasnt optimistic: these photos require skill and a bit of planning, but to my surprise the picture came out well. I tried my luck again on Tuesday night and obtained another picture. The supernova had brightened. By now it outshone all the hundred billion or so stars in this galaxy, except for the nucleus. Dr Pledger said it will take around two years for the brightness to fade away. After that, what will remain is a small but extremely dense object such as a neutron star, where a teaspoon of material weighs around 10 million tons. Dr Pledger told PA: Being able to examine a supernova and compare this to what is known as the progenitor star is extremely useful as it can inform evolution theory and reveal more about how stars are formed. This is just the start of the investigation and over the next few years we will closely monitor the supernova to record images and see how it develops. Meanwhile, Dr Clark said her night-time sleep is cancelled for the foreseeable future. She added: I will be out there again with my telescope and camera as long as the good weather holds. Minister for Justice Simon Harris has said there is a need for everyone to take a bit of a deep breath over rows within the coalition Government about budgetary measures. The comments come after his Fine Gael party colleagues and ministers of state Martin Heydon, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Peter Burke called for a tax cut of 1,000 euros for full-time workers earning 52,000 euros in an article published last Monday. This was seen to cause tension with their coalition partners, as the upcoming budget will be from Fianna Fail Finance Minister Michael McGrath. Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has defended the junior ministers actions and disputed the idea that the publication of the piece was a tactic to associate tax cuts with his party in the eyes of voters. Asked to characterise the health of the coalition, Mr Harris said: A political party in Government has expressed a political view, other political parties in Government will express political views. I can point to many examples of many different parties in this coalition and other coalition governments giving their views. The minister added: From time to time, political parties can obviously decide that they want to extol policy priorities for their party. But the fundamental issue here is the Government is cohesive, the Government is coherent from a policy point of view. He said the programme for government clearly outlines there will be a tax reduction in the budget. Speaking elsewhere, the Fianna Fail Housing Minister Darragh OBrien said tensions between his party and Fine Gael have been overplayed. Mr OBrien said he had the honour of working at Cabinet with colleagues from Fine Gael and the Green Party. He said: This government has worked very well together, very difficult times coming through the pandemic, cost-of-living crisis, war in Ukraine, very difficult decisions that have had to be made, and its been a very cohesive government and I expect that to continue. The events of the last week, I think, have been somewhat overplayed. Mr OBrien said the best place to put a budget together is at Cabinet taking in the views of all three parties. He said: The programme for government actually drives what were doing. That was an agreed programme for government by all three parties and that underpins what we will do in this forthcoming budget. Thankfully, were in a position where we do have a good economy, and that economy should serve our people as well. And we will make sure three parties in Government, that we put together a progressive budget again, that supports jobs, supports people, supports housing, and tackles the main issues that we have in our country right now. Earlier, his party colleague and minister of state Jack Chambers said he was surprised by a public call from three junior ministerial colleagues for tax cuts for middle-income full-time workers. I have to say I was surprised by the article, Im not sure who the people who penned it are trying to convince within Government because in the programme for government weve agreed to tax reductions, the Fianna Fail TD for Dublin West told RTE. He rejected claims from Sinn Fein that the reported coalition tensions caused by the opinion piece last week represented a fake fight. Weve also in the Fianna Fail manifesto, we were committed to reducing tax for middle-income earners, Mr Chambers said. But as part of the budgetary policy, its not as simplistic as throwing out figures five months out from a budget. Its a sophisticated process on getting the balance right. And Minister McGrath will co-ordinate that across Government. Im confident he will be trying to strike the balance from a Fianna Fail perspective. Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said it is a bit early to speculate on budget measures. The Fine Gael minister was asked by reporters in Co Monaghan if she supported Social Justice Irelands call to raise core social welfare rates by 25 euros in the next budget. Ms Humphreys said her priority has been to look after pensioners, people on disability and carers. She said: Its only at the end of May and its a bit early to be speculating on whats going to happen in the budget. I will work with my colleagues across Government, and last year I brought forward the biggest social protection budget in 14 years and I will certainly, and I know my colleagues in Government will want to support those most vulnerable and most in need. Ms Humphreys said: This Government has never been found wanting when it came to supporting people. She said all child benefit recipients would be getting an additional 100 euro top-up payment in June and added there will be an additional 100 euros for the back-to-school allowance. Wednesday: Warm, dry and sunny. Highest temperatures of 18 to 24 degrees. Mostly moderate northeasterly breezes will keep things slightly cooler in the east with highs there of 15 to 17 degrees. Wednesday night: Dry and mainly clear with lowest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees in mostly light northeast breezes. Thursday: Warm, dry and sunny once again with highest temperatures of 18 to 24 degrees. Once again though light to moderate easterly breeze will keep things temperatures slightly cooler on the east coast. Thursday night: Dry and clear with lowest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees in mostly light easterly breezes. Friday: Dry and warm in many parts, although there will be a little more passing cloud over the northern half of the country. Highest temperatures over the western half of the country will range from 21 to 24 degrees, while moderate easterly winds will keep highs over the eastern half of the country lower, ranging from 14 on the east coast up to 19 in the midlands. Current indications suggest that high pressure will continue to stick around over the Bank Holiday Weekend, remaining generally dry and sunny with temperatures reaching the high teens or low twenties away from the east coast and possibly reaching the mid-twenties in some western parts. Forecaster Alan O'Reilly said: "That high pressure is stubborn and doesnt want to move too far! "In other words staying dry and settled for next 7-10 days with bank holiday looking good at present. "If you are heading away from Ireland over the next 10 days many parts of Southern Europe will continue to thunderstorms and heavy showers, especially North Spain and Southern France." A set of valuable rings have been found at a popular hiking spot near the Kilkenny-Tipperary border, and the finder thinks the owner could be from Kilkenny. Joanne O'Dwyer has posted on Facebook to appeal to anyone who can help to try and reunite the jewellery with its rightful owner. The rings were found near Joanne's home about a week ago. Although admitting it might be a long shot, she's hoping the power of Irish social media links can get these lovely rings back to their owner. In her post Joanne says the rings may have fell out of a car when a lady stopped in to ask to use the toilet before going up Slievenamon on Sunday, May 7. Joanne described the woman as being in her 30s and driving a little white, sporty car that came from the Kilkenny direction. She adds that the rings are definitely not costume jewellery! If you have any idea who these rings might belong to, or if they are yours, please get in touch with Joanne on her Facebook post above! 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. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. (Kitco News) - Steppe Gold (TSX: STGO) has a lot of room to grow, said Aneel Waraich, executive vice president and director. Waraich spoke to Kitco in mid-May. Steppe Gold describes itself as Mongolias premier precious metals company. Steppe commenced production in 2020 from the ATO Gold Mine, Phase 1 oxide zone, comprising 160k oz Au. The company recently updated its ATO Phase 2 expansion project to approximately 103,000 ounces of gold per annum, with a 12 year mine life, for a total of 14 years to 2036 at all-in-sustaining cost of $850. "So we will essentially more than double our production profile from 2023 to 2025," said Waraich. "In 2025 onwards will produce over 100,000 ounces per year at an industry-leading cost of $850 to $900 all in cost." "That's more than our market cap...so a lot of growth opportunity. We think that the 12-year mine life will significantly grow as we continue to drill these deposits." Waraich said the company has a strong social licence to operate and strong with support from Mongolian investors. The company operates in Asia, a vital region for gold investors. The company notes that about 40% of shareholders are now based in Asia. Steppe is pursuing a dual primary listing in 2023 on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Exchange. With funding from operations, Steppe sees room to grow. Steppe partnered with state-owned Erdenes Alt Resource LLC announced to develop the highly prospective Khurentsav gold project that adjoins the Steppe Gold Uudam Khundii gold project. The company also acquired Anacortes Mining in 2023, which gives the company operations in both Peru and Mongolia. The new combined company will have a potential development profile of over 200,000 ounces and a resource base of over 4.5 million gold equivalent ounces. BARCELONA, May 29 (Reuters) - The European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, on Monday said he believed Russia will not be willing to negotiate while it is still trying to win the war in Ukraine, adding that he was "not optimistic" about what could happen in the conflict this summer. "I see a concentration of troops on both sides, the clear will of Russia to try to win the war," Borrell told an event in Barcelona. "(Russia) will not go to a negotiation until it has tried to win the war." He added that Russia has repeatedly signaled it would not cease the campaign until its military goals have been achieved. Borrell's comments came the same day Russia said its military had hit Ukrainian air bases and Ukrainian forces shelled industrial facilities inside Russia as both sides sought the upper hand ahead of what Kyiv hopes will be a decisive counter-offensive. "I'm afraid that between now and the summer, the war is going to continue. (Russian President Vladimir) Putin has amassed over 300,000 men there, twice as many as he had when he launched the invasion," Borrell told reporters after the event. Russia's military presence in Ukraine was "enormous" and it was still bombing Ukraine daily and destroying civilian infrastructure, he added. "I'm afraid that they don't do that without a plan. We have to be prepared, which means continuing to help Ukraine, because if we don't help it, Ukraine cannot defend (itself)," Borrell said. May 29 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index edged higher on Monday, extending its recovery from a near two-month low, as energy and financial shares gained ground after a deal was reached in Washington that could enable the U.S. to avoid defaulting on its debt. The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index (.GSPTSE) ended up 47.64 points, or 0.2%, at 19,967.95, after posting on Thursday its lowest closing level since March 28 at 19,774.08. Trading volume was lighter than normal with U.S. markets closed for Memorial Day. Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Sunday signed off on an agreement to temporarily suspend the debt ceiling and cap some federal spending. The deal "adds confidence to investors and markets who were worried (about a possible default)," said Barry Schwartz, a portfolio manager at Baskin Financial Services. The heavily-weighted financials group rose 0.4%, clawing back some of the losses from last week when some major banks disappointed with their corporate earnings. Monday's gains were led by Canadian Western Bank (CWB.TO). It rallied 5.5%. Energy was up 0.7% as the price of oil rose 0.5%. Polls opened in Canada's main oil-producing province Alberta in a tight election race that is expected to have a significant bearing on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's climate goals, which are already seen as lagging global peers. Among the sectors that lost ground was consumer discretionary. It was down 0.5%. SINGAPORE, May 30 (Reuters) - Bitcoin prices on the Australian arm of Binance, the world's largest crypto-currency exchange, were at a 20% discount to rival exchanges on Tuesday, in a sign customers were seeking to exit their positions quickly. The price of the world's biggest cryptocurrency, bitcoin , was around A$34,000 ($23,062) on Binance Australia, compared with around A$43,000 on BTC Markets, an Australia-based cryptocurrency exchange. Bitcoin was quoted around $27,790 outside Australia on other exchanges such as Bitstamp . "Due to the recent removal of fiat on-ramp services by our payment processor's banking partner, some Australian users have been withdrawing their AUD holdings from the platform in advance of the off-ramp closure on 1 June," a Binance spokesperson said in an emailed statement. "As a result, AUD pairs have experienced less liquidity which has impacted their pricing. We will be delisting remaining AUD pairs in line with the closure of fiat off ramp services." Earlier this month, the Binance unit said some customers in Australia will not be able to deposit or withdraw money after a third-party service provider cut off its service. The company said in April it would close its Australian derivatives business after relinquishing a financial services licence amid a regulatory probe into its operations. Binance, which accounts for as much as 70% of world trading in cryptocurrencies, has been battling regulatory suits and probes around the world. The company initially did business solely in crypto, enabling it to avoid the global banking system. But as Binance attracted more customers and hired more employees, its need for conventional bank accounts grew. It used Silvergate Bank, the U.S. lender that collapsed in March. The same month, New York's chief financial regulator took over another crypto-friendly bank, Signature Bank, where Binance was also a client. Binance has had limited success obtaining bank accounts for its small units. Most major banks turned the exchange down due to compliance concerns over crypto companies' source of funds, according to company messages and former executives, Reuters reported. ($1 = 1.4743 Australian dollars) 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) - Calibre Mining (TSX: CXB) announced on Tuesday that, following the commencement of mining at its 100% owned Eastern Borosi open pit mine in early April, ore deliveries to the Libertad processing plant commenced in May. The companys Eastern Borosi gold-silver property is located in the northeastern Nicaraguan low-sulphidation, epithermal district that hosts numerous high-grade, gold-silver vein systems. Importantly, Calibre said that vein systems hosting the current inferred resource of 4,418,000 tonnes at 4.9 g/t Au and 80 g/t Ag containing 700,500 Au ounces and 11,359,000 Ag ounces remain open to further expansion along with numerous undrilled targets. President and CEO Darren Hall stated, I am very pleased with the progress made at the Eastern Borosi mine complex, successfully transforming the exploration district to a production centre. The development of Eastern Borosi marks another significant milestone for the company which will positively contribute to our grade driven production growth as we reaffirm our 2023 guidance of 250,000 to 275,000 ounces. Calibre Mining is a Canadian-listed, Americas focused, growing mid-tier gold producer with a pipeline of development and exploration opportunities across Nevada and Washington in the USA, and Nicaragua. JOHANNESBURG, May 30 (Reuters) - South Africa's Standard Bank Group (SBKJ.J) funded renewable energy projects worth 55 billion rand ($2.79 billion) in 2022, exceeding its green financing target and putting it ahead of the world's top lenders, it said on Tuesday. Africa's biggest lender by assets earmarked 40 billion rand for sustainable projects last year, Kenny Fihla, its chief executive for Corporate and Investment Banking, said in slides prepared for journalists. However, in October he pegged that target at 50 billion rand. Standard Bank officials were not immediately available to explain the difference. Standard Bank has been regularly criticised by environmental advocates and activist investors for funding climate-polluting hydrocarbon assets on the continent. Some of its controversial projects include its advisory role in TotalEnergies' (TTEF.PA) 1,443-km (897-mile) East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and support for a major gas project in Mozambique. "Our financing of renewable energy is 439% greater than our financing of non-renewable energy," Filha said, adding this achievement was significant when compared with the world's largest financiers. At this rate it is tracking ahead of its 2026 target, he said. The lender has set a target to finance 250 billion to 300 billion rand worth of sustainable projects between 2021 and 2026 as part of a plan to cut its Scope 3 emissions, those caused by its financing of fossil fuel projects. While most of the banks in South Africa - Nedbank (NEDJ.J), FirstRand (FSRJ.J) and Absa Group (ABGJ.J), amongst the biggest on the continent - have distanced themselves from financing the EACOP pipeline, they have not moved away from coal. Most lenders except Nedbank have said they would reduce exposure to coal progressively given the developmental needs of the continent. "I think it's not a surprise that our exposure, as we sit now, to fossil fuel is higher," he said, but did not share a target on a cut-off to funding coal, oil and gas projects. It aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions from its portfolio of financed emissions by 2050. ($1 = 19.7125 rand) ZURICH, May 30 (Reuters) - Switzerland's Social Democratic Party has drawn up a proposal to shrink UBS (UBSG.S) assets after its takeover of Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) to reduce the risk of another expensive state-backed rescue, its lawmaker was quoted as saying on Tuesday. It was not clear, though, how much traction the proposal, which was presented by Samira Marti in an interview with Swiss newspaper Aargauer Zeitung, can get. The combined bank will have a balance sheet of around 1.5 trillion Swiss francs - roughly double the size of the Swiss economy, posing enormous risks to the country especially as it enjoys an implicit state guarantee, Marti said. The left-leaning party will propose to cap the bank's assets at half of Switzerland's gross domestic product, effectively forcing the new UBS to slash its assets to a quarter of their current level. "That would be a drastic reduction, but from the taxpayer's point of view, it's necessary," she said. The initiative first needs to be submitted to the Swiss cabinet, which will make a recommendation before the matter is discussed in parliament. Social Democrats are the second-biggest party in the lower house, but with only 39 of the 200 seats will need support of other parties. The Swiss People's Party, which has 53 lower house seats, joined the Social Democrats in rejecting the government's aid package for the merger last month and has also called for no more taxpayer-funded bailouts for banks. Still, the two parties would remain short of a majority and some analyst described the proposal as unrealistic and more about tapping into widespread public anger with banks ahead of national elections in October. UBS declined to comment. The lender is expected to close the deal with Credit Suisse "very shortly," Chairman Colm Kelleher said last week. Previously UBS Chief Executive Sergio Ermotti, who was brought in to steer the mega merger, has dismissed fears the new bank would be too big for Switzerland. "Even putting UBS and Credit Suisse together, we wont be at the top of the classification for international banks in terms of size," Ermotti told Italian business daily Il Sole 24 Ore last month. He has also said the business model of a bank and the risks it took on was more important than its actual size. An alternative, also considered by the Social Democrats, would be imposing higher capital requirements if the bank's assets rose above 50% of Swiss GDP. Any part of UBS's balance sheet above that threshold would require an equity ratio of 30% or more, Marti said of her party's proposal. "The aim is for UBS to become smaller," Marti told the newspaper. "We have to make improvements so that banks are less vulnerable in a crisis." Vancouver, Canada, 30.05.2023 (PresseBox) - Torq Resources Inc.(TSX-V: TORQ, OTCQX: TRBMF) (Torq or the Company - https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/torq-resources-inc/ ) is pleased to announce that the Companys CEO and Chair, Shawn Wallace, and Chief Geological Officer, Michael Henrichsen, will be providing a corporate update through a live webinar event, hosted by Red Cloud Financial Services, on June 7th, 2023 at 11:00 am PT / 2:00 pm ET. The presentation will include an update on drill programs, planned exploration and other upcoming catalysts. Torq would like to invite all shareholders and interested parties to register for the webinar and to participate in the live Q&A session at the end of the presentation. DATE: June 7th, 2023 TIME: 11:00 am PT / 2:00 pm ET REGISTER: https://redcloudfs.com/rcwebinar-ticker-trbmf/ About Torq Resources Torq is a Vancouver-based copper and gold exploration company with a portfolio of premium holdings in Chile. The Company is establishing itself as a leader of new exploration in prominent mining belts, guided by responsible, respectful and sustainable practices. The Company was built by a management team with prior success in monetizing exploration assets and its specialized technical team is recognized for their extensive experience working with major mining companies, supported by robust safety standards and technical proficiency. The technical team includes Chile-based geologists with invaluable local expertise and a noteworthy track record for major discovery in the country. Torq is committed to operating at the highest standards of applicable environmental, social and governance practices in the pursuit of a landmark discovery. For more information, visit www.torqresources.com. About Red Cloud Financial Services Inc. Red Cloud Financial Services Inc. is a comprehensive capital markets platform that provides a full range of unconflicted corporate access and media related services. Offering these services as a unified platform provides the ultimate value proposition for junior resources companies in their efforts to broaden their capital markets presence. Forward Looking Information This release includes certain statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information in this release are statements that relate to plans for future exploration programs. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different (either positively or negatively) from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by some of the principal forward-looking statements. See Torqs Annual Information Form filed March 27, 2023 at www.sedar.com for disclosure of the risks and uncertainties faced in this business. 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. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Sunny to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Burlington Stores (NYSE:BURL Get Rating) had its price objective decreased by Barclays from $221.00 to $213.00 in a report issued on Friday morning, The Fly reports. Several other brokerages have also recently issued reports on BURL. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on Burlington Stores from $260.00 to $225.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on Burlington Stores from $240.00 to $270.00 in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Burlington Stores from $219.00 to $233.00 in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on Burlington Stores from $214.00 to $235.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $250.00 target price on shares of Burlington Stores in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Burlington Stores presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $222.76. Get Burlington Stores alerts: Burlington Stores Stock Down 0.9 % Shares of NYSE BURL opened at $159.11 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $10.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.20, a PEG ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a current ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68. Burlington Stores has a 12-month low of $106.47 and a 12-month high of $239.94. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $186.43 and its 200-day simple moving average is $200.55. Insider Transactions at Burlington Stores Burlington Stores ( NYSE:BURL Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 25th. The company reported $0.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.93 by ($0.09). The company had revenue of $2.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.18 billion. Burlington Stores had a net margin of 2.77% and a return on equity of 41.79%. The firms revenue was up 10.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.54 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that Burlington Stores will post 5.82 EPS for the current fiscal year. In related news, Director William P. Mcnamara sold 500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.26, for a total value of $106,130.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 8,154 shares in the company, valued at $1,730,768.04. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, Director William P. Mcnamara sold 500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.26, for a total value of $106,130.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 8,154 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,730,768.04. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CMO Jennifer Vecchio sold 47,153 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $209.46, for a total value of $9,876,667.38. Following the completion of the sale, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 55,173 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,556,536.58. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.71% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Burlington Stores Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bank of Montreal Can raised its position in shares of Burlington Stores by 5.8% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 6,412 shares of the companys stock worth $1,222,000 after purchasing an additional 349 shares during the period. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund bought a new stake in shares of Burlington Stores during the 1st quarter worth $246,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Burlington Stores during the 1st quarter worth $751,000. Yousif Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Burlington Stores by 8.5% during the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 1,538 shares of the companys stock worth $280,000 after acquiring an additional 120 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Trust N.A. boosted its position in shares of Burlington Stores by 14.9% in the first quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 1,471 shares of the companys stock worth $268,000 after buying an additional 191 shares during the period. Burlington Stores Company Profile (Get Rating) Burlington Stores, Inc engages in the retail of off-price apparel and home products. It offers womens ready-to-wear apparel, accessories, footwear, menswear, youth apparel, baby, coats, beauty, toys, and gifts. It operates through the following segments: Ladies Apparel, Accessories and Shoes, Home, Mens Apparel, Kids Apparel and Baby, and Outerwear. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Burlington Stores Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Burlington Stores and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Devon Energy Co. (NYSE:DVN Get Rating) have been given a consensus recommendation of Hold by the twenty research firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $69.53. A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. Sanford C. Bernstein reduced their price objective on Devon Energy from $71.00 to $64.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 17th. Piper Sandler dropped their price target on Devon Energy from $87.00 to $82.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. StockNews.com lowered Devon Energy from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Wednesday, May 17th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Devon Energy from $70.00 to $59.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Devon Energy from $52.00 to $49.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Get Devon Energy alerts: Devon Energy Trading Up 0.4 % NYSE:DVN opened at $48.07 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 1.02. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $50.80 and a 200-day moving average of $57.43. The company has a market cap of $31.44 billion, a PE ratio of 5.24, a PEG ratio of 0.15 and a beta of 2.34. Devon Energy has a one year low of $44.03 and a one year high of $79.40. Devon Energy Cuts Dividend Devon Energy ( NYSE:DVN Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Monday, May 8th. The energy company reported $1.46 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.39 by $0.07. Devon Energy had a net margin of 31.39% and a return on equity of 47.42%. The company had revenue of $3.82 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.82 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.88 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Devon Energy will post 6.28 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be given a dividend of $0.72 per share. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.99%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th. Devon Energys payout ratio is currently 8.72%. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, EVP Dennis C. Cameron sold 8,292 shares of Devon Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.97, for a total transaction of $414,351.24. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 218,418 shares in the company, valued at $10,914,347.46. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.63% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Devon Energy in the 1st quarter worth about $364,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Devon Energy during the first quarter valued at approximately $188,000. Blair William & Co. IL lifted its position in Devon Energy by 52.1% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 99,120 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $5,861,000 after purchasing an additional 33,936 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. boosted its holdings in Devon Energy by 9.2% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 414,354 shares of the energy companys stock worth $24,500,000 after purchasing an additional 34,870 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board bought a new stake in Devon Energy in the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Institutional investors own 78.08% of the companys stock. Devon Energy Company Profile (Get Rating) Devon Energy Corp. engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas properties. It develops and operates Delaware Basin, Eagle Ford, Heavy Oil, Barnett Shale, STACK, and Rockies Oil. The company was founded by J. Larry Nichols and John W. Nichols in 1971 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, OK. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Devon Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Devon Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR Get Rating) has received a consensus rating of Hold from the twelve analysts that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $170.56. A number of equities analysts have commented on EXR shares. StockNews.com started coverage on Extra Space Storage in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Raymond James raised shares of Extra Space Storage from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and set a $185.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 4th. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on shares of Extra Space Storage from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 8th. KeyCorp dropped their target price on Extra Space Storage from $190.00 to $172.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, Bank of America started coverage on Extra Space Storage in a report on Monday, May 8th. They set a buy rating for the company. Get Extra Space Storage alerts: Extra Space Storage Trading Up 0.8 % Shares of Extra Space Storage stock opened at $146.58 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $19.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.02 and a beta of 0.54. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $153.68 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $155.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.82, a quick ratio of 0.27 and a current ratio of 0.27. Extra Space Storage has a fifty-two week low of $139.97 and a fifty-two week high of $216.52. Extra Space Storage Dividend Announcement Insider Buying and Selling The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a dividend of $1.62 per share. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.42%. Extra Space Storages dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 101.89%. In other Extra Space Storage news, CEO Joseph D. Margolis sold 5,000 shares of Extra Space Storage stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.07, for a total value of $800,350.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 15,144 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,424,100.08. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, EVP Gwyn Goodson Mcneal sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.00, for a total value of $246,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 32,290 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,295,560. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Joseph D. Margolis sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.07, for a total transaction of $800,350.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 15,144 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,424,100.08. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 7,150 shares of company stock valued at $1,154,088 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 1.55% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in EXR. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS raised its holdings in shares of Extra Space Storage by 0.3% in the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 22,703 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $3,699,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. boosted its holdings in Extra Space Storage by 1.6% in the first quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 4,156 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $677,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the period. Private Trust Co. NA lifted its stake in Extra Space Storage by 12.9% in the first quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 612 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $100,000 after buying an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Extra Space Storage by 5.6% during the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 1,404 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $289,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Texas Permanent School Fund raised its stake in shares of Extra Space Storage by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund now owns 19,028 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,801,000 after buying an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. 95.32% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. 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. Featured Articles 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. Constellation Software Inc. (OTCMKTS:CNSWF 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 86,300 shares, a growth of 25.8% from the April 30th total of 68,600 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 86.3 days. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In CNSWF has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. National Bank Financial raised their target price on shares of Constellation Software from C$2,750.00 to C$3,000.00 in a report on Friday, April 21st. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of Constellation Software to C$2,950.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 16th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of Constellation Software to C$3,100.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 16th. CIBC lifted their price target on Constellation Software from C$2,450.00 to C$3,000.00 in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Raymond James lifted their price target on Constellation Software to C$2,750.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 16th. Get Constellation Software alerts: Constellation Software Stock Performance Shares of CNSWF traded up $37.09 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $1,976.98. 600 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 592. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $1,918.31 and its 200-day moving average price is $1,744.20. The stock has a market capitalization of $41.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 82.41 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 0.63. Constellation Software has a 12 month low of $1,280.00 and a 12 month high of $2,138.00. Constellation Software Announces Dividend Constellation Software ( OTCMKTS:CNSWF Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 29th. The company reported $13.62 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $1.85 billion for the quarter. Constellation Software had a return on equity of 63.67% and a net margin of 7.15%. The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 14th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 6th were paid a dividend of $1.00 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, April 5th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.22%. Constellation Softwares dividend payout ratio is presently 16.67%. Constellation Software Company Profile (Get Rating) Constellation Software, Inc is a holding company, which acquires, manages and builds vertical market software businesses. It operates through the following segments: Public and Private Sector. The Public Sector segment focuses on government and government related customers. The Private Sector segment includes business units focused on commercial customers. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Constellation Software Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Constellation Software and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSE:TD Get Rating) (NYSE:TD) had its target price decreased by National Bankshares from C$94.00 to C$90.00 in a report issued on Friday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. National Bankshares currently has a sector perform rating on the stock. Several other research firms have also recently weighed in on TD. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$85.00 to C$83.00 in a research report on Friday. Fundamental Research set a C$104.14 price objective on shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th. CSFB decreased their price objective on shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$97.00 to C$94.00 in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. CIBC upgraded shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from C$100.00 to C$97.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, Scotiabank upgraded shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Toronto-Dominion Bank presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$93.54. Get Toronto-Dominion Bank alerts: Toronto-Dominion Bank Trading Up 1.1 % TSE TD opened at C$79.12 on Friday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of C$81.12 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$86.18. Toronto-Dominion Bank has a 12-month low of C$76.40 and a 12-month high of C$97.13. The company has a market cap of C$144.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.57, a PEG ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 0.84. Toronto-Dominion Bank Dividend Announcement Toronto-Dominion Bank ( TSE:TD Get Rating ) (NYSE:TD) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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. The firm had revenue of C$12.23 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$12.12 billion. Toronto-Dominion Bank had a net margin of 31.78% and a return on equity of 14.29%. Sell-side analysts predict that Toronto-Dominion Bank will post 8.7335456 EPS for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 10th will be given a dividend of $0.96 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 7th. This represents a $3.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.85%. Toronto-Dominion Banks payout ratio is currently 46.43%. Insider Activity In related news, Senior Officer Riaz Ahmed sold 37,832 shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank 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 transaction of C$3,367,426.32. Insiders own 0.10% of the companys stock. 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. Recommended Stories 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. Angola, IN (46703) Today Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. Hazy. High 81F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 57F. Winds light and variable. Fanning the flames of controversy, a recent Weverse Magazine article has sparked heated reactions among the BTS Army, and the broader K-pop fandom, as it is believed to throw subtle punches, or "shade," at BTS members Jimin and Suga. The article made a comparison of the two artists' individual successes, which ARMYs interpreted as a blatant slight against the achievements of these cherished Korean pop stars. How the Controversy Sparked The controversy sparked with the Weverse article, titled "Morgan Wallen is the most wanted man in music," that seemed to undermine the K-pop artists' accomplishments while glorifying those of Wallen, a country music star. The article, fans said, unceremoniously contrasted the dominance of Wallen's album "One Thing at a Time" with the apparent struggle of K-pop albums to clinch the top spot. This perceived slight has left fans feeling that their idols' achievements were belittled. ARMYs React: Dismay, Disappointment, Anger The backlash to the Weverse article was swift and widespread, with ARMYs expressing their disapproval across social media platforms. They highlighted the considerable contribution of BTS members, particularly Jimin and Suga, to the rise in HYBE's stock price. Fans took umbrage at the seemingly dismissive description of Jimin's debut track "Like Crazy" a Billboard's HOT 100 topper and Suga's booming solo world tour as "partial success." One of the aggravated fans took to social media to express their discontent, asserting: "HYBE's lack of professional conduct is deeply concerning. To cast shadows over their own artists is not only counterproductive, but it is also exceedingly unprofessional." Furthermore, the claim that Morgan Wallen is a victim of cancel culture, despite his history of uttering racial slurs and flouting COVID protocols, left fans even more infuriated. A fan lamented: "By painting Wallen as an innocent target, you are sending a disconcerting message to all fans, especially those of color, who support HYBE-affiliated groups." Questioning HYBE's Priorities Another sore point for fans was the perceived neglect of the pivotal roles played by BTS' Suga and Jimin in HYBE's success. In their opinion, the artists' hard-earned accomplishments were downplayed, while their own company unabashedly glorified a controversial western musician. In reaction to this, one vocal critic stated: "It's staggering to witness a platform associated with HYBE dishonor the very artists who have brought the company to its current stature. It feels like a slap in the face to every loyal fan." Discrimination & the Music Industry The contentious Weverse article has certainly ignited a tempest in a teapot. It raises probing questions about inherent biases in the music industry and the pressures that Asian artists face in their journey to global recognition. Follow and subscribe to KpopStarz for more K-pop news and lists. Cassidy Jones wrote this. KpopStarz owns this article. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. New Delhi, May 30: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has introduced an additional hill check for pilots operating to helipads at 10,000 ft during the Char Dham Yatra from this season onwards, keeping in view the safety of operation in the hilly areas. In October 2022, six pilgrims and a pilot were killed in a chopper crash near Kedarnath Shrine in Uttarakhand. Woman in Cockpit: DGCA Issues Show Cause Notice to Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, Head of Flight Safety. A senior official informed that under the safety measures, pilots operating in the Himalayan region will get specialised training under the new set of rules introduced by DGCA. After the last year's chopper crash that claimed seven lives and another incident that happened this year where an official of the Uttarakhand government was killed after coming in contact with a tail rotor, DGCA issued safety guidelines to all operators in the hill region. IAF Chopper Landing Video: Indian Air Force Aircraft Makes Precautionary Landing Near Bhind in Madhya Pradesh; No Casualty. Char Dham Yatra is one of the most popular pilgrimages attracting a large number of devotees from various parts of India. Kedarnath is one of these places. All four shrines are at high altitudes where extreme weather conditions can change rapidly. The Kedarnath pilgrimage started on April 25 this year. The chopper shuttle services also began on the same date by seven operators approved by DGCA after an inspection conducted from April 20-23. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 30 (ANI): Leading wind energy solutions provider Inox Wind has bagged an order for a 150 MW wind power project from NTPC Renewable Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC Green Energy, which is the renewable energy business vertical of NTPC. The project shall be executed in the state of Gujarat. Also Read | WhatsApp Feature Update: Business Users To Get Status Archive Feature, Heres How It Will Work. With this, the total orders from NTPC stand at 550 megawatt (MW) awarded till date to Inox Wind, according to a company statement shared with stock exchanges on Tuesday. Kailash Tarachandani, Chief Executive Officer of Inox Wind, expressed his gratitude towards NTPC REL for awarding this 150 MW project to Inox Wind. He also expressed the company's aspiration to cultivate a long-term partnership with NTPC, serving as their trusted supplier and contributing towards realisation of their ambitious renewable energy goals. Also Read | Shanghai Records Hottest May Day in Over 100 Years With Temperature at 36.1 Degrees Celsius. India has set ambitious targets for renewable energy, aiming to reach 175 GW by 2022 and 450 GW by 2030. To support these objectives, the government has launched initiatives like Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. In this favourable environment, Inox Wind said it was strategically positioned to thrive and contribute significantly to India's renewable energy goals. "As part of the order, Inox Wind will supply and install existing and new technology state-of-the-art wind turbine generators. Additionally, as part of the agreement, Inox Wind will be responsible for operation and maintenance (O and M) services for the project. This addition will contribute to the expansion of Inox Wind's O and M fleet, enhancing overall profitability," said Tarachandani. As a provider of comprehensive solutions across the wind power value chain, Inox Wind has said it has a substantial order book. The company's latest order further strengthens its position and supports its commitment to India's renewable energy agenda, it added. Inox Wind (IWL) is one of India's leading wind energy solutions providers servicing independent power producers (IPPs), Utilities, public sector undertakings and corporate investors. (ANI) (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 30: Vivekananda Global University, a NAAC A+ University, honored students, who secured 70 per cent or more marks in 12th (10+2) in the year 2023 at a glittering function held at the Maharana Pratap Auditorium on its campus. More than 1000 students participated in the 'Achievers Premier League' and all of them were awarded 'Appreciation Certificates and Gold Medals'. Also Read | European Space Agency Says Its JUICE Mission Is Ready To Study Jupiter and Its Icy Moons. Along with this, those students were also encouraged in this program, who have made achievements in various fields like entrepreneurship, art, music, sports, fashion, dance, design. VGU will also award a cash amount of Rs.5000 each to the top 20 students who have performed in academics as well as in other fields for their all round development. To make the students career oriented, VGU always organizes new types of programs etc. For these reasons, today VGU is emerging as a preferred institute at the national level for the students. At the beginning of the program, Dr Lalit K. Panwar, Chairperson of VGU and former Chairman of RPSC, while guiding the students, told that for success in life, it is very important for students to perform in all fields other than their course. Also Read | Condoms, Birth Control Pills for Newlywed Couples in Madhya Pradesh! Contraceptives Found Inside Make-Up Boxes Distributed to Brides at Mass Wedding in Jhabua (Watch Videos). Mentioning several incidents that took place during his tenure, he told how due to all-round development, he was able to reach this position today. VGU's Associate Vice President Dr. Ankit Gandhi said that every student is special and gifted and shows his abilities at the right time. While guiding the students, he said that they should not compare themselves with each other and should try to become a good human being. After this, motivational speaker Ankita Sharma, who has been Miss India Wheelchair pageant runner up in the year 2017-18, guided the students as the main speaker in the 'Achievers Premier League'. Ankita Sharma narrated the struggles of her life to the students and said that "Like any other teenager, I too was suffering through my life till I found myself in a wheelchair. But in spite of this I am present in front of you today as a strong, indestructible and immovable rock. My world was turned upside down but these major life changes did not stop me from making myself a new goal to rise above the wheelchair and create social awareness among wheelchair-bound people and today throughout this journey, I was felicitated as Woman of the Future, Jaipur Ratna, Women Achievers of Rajasthan and have been recognized as Miss India Wheelchair 2017-18. Addressing the program, VGU President Professor Vijay Vir Singh told the students about the importance of VGU's NAAC A+ Accreditation. Acquainting the students with the challenges and opportunities coming in the field of research in the development of any country, he said that today India does not have as much place in the field of education, especially in research, at the world level as it should be. Our country is still very backward in the field of technology, education and management because there is a lack of quality in our research work and it is very important to have quality in any kind of research. Today's era is technological era, special promotion should be given in technology and that can be possible only when we do technical research work. VGU CEO Shri Onkar Bagaria interacted with the students and told them on what basis they can choose the best university for their further education. He mentioned the parameters of perfect infrastructure, educated teachers, NAAC Accreditation, placement and innovation and entrepreneurship. At the end of the program, Vice President of VGU, Dr Shweta Choudhary, while addressing the students, told about the National Education Policy and its importance. She explained how inter-disciplinary mobility is possible in a multi-disciplinary university, which is VGU. She also informed that VGU is running more than 50 courses. During the career counseling session, the students were introduced to the challenges and opportunities in the fields of mass communication, engineering, medical, law, agriculture, management etc. The teachers of VGU also participated in the event. Various games and quizzes were organized there to boost the morale of the students. Not only Jaipur but students from other places like Alwar, Bharatpur, Dausa participated in this program. With the aim of making the students employment-oriented, VGU is going to implement the new National Education Policy from the new session, so that the all round development of the students can be done. The aim of the new education policy is not only to acquire knowledge but to achieve self-knowledge and if we achieve our self-knowledge then India will be able to become a knowledge superpower in the world. VGU is today one of the leading multidisciplinary private universities in India, awarded "A+" grade by NAAC. With more than 6000 students from almost all the states of India and 16 other countries, VGU is conducting more than 50 career-oriented programs at UG, PG and doctoral level with courses related to Agriculture, Engineering & Technology, Computer Courses like Science Applications, Architecture and Planning, Design, International Trade and Commerce, Management, Law, Humanities and Social Sciences, Journalism and Mass Communication are included. Along with this, VGU has conducted courses in both online and offline mode from this session. A lot of enthusiasm was witnessed among the students who participated in the 'Achievers Premier League'. While talking to the students present there, they told that today's program has been very effective and positive for us. After coming to this program, I got to know in detail about all the opportunities and challenges in the present day education world. Expressing their gratitude to VGU, the students said that by organizing this type of program, it will be easier for them to choose our course in future. (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) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 30 (ANI): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday said it conceptualised a lightweight and portable payment system that will be independent of conventional technologies and can be operated from anywhere by a bare minimum staff in order to be prepared to face such extreme and volatile situations such as natural calamities and war. According to the Reserve Bank of India's annual report of 2022-23, the payment system is expected to operate on minimalistic hardware and software and would be made active only on a need basis. Also Read | China Urges mutual Respect as Tesla CEO Elon Musk Visits. It added it would process transactions that are critical to ensure stability of the economy such as government and market related transactions. According to the report, the central bank also added, "Such a light weight and portable payment system could ensure near-zero downtime of payment and settlement system in the country and keep the liquidity pipeline of the economy alive and intact by facilitating uninterrupted functioning of essential payment services like bulk payments, interbank payments and provision of cash to participant institutions." Also Read | Ex-Pornhub.com Queen Mia Khalifa Posing Mid-Road in Nothing BUT a Shirt and Two Pigtails Is Taking Instagram by Storm (View Pics & Videos). It also said having such a resilient system is also likely to act as a bunker equivalent in payment systems and thereby enhance public confidence in digital payments and financial market infrastructure even during extreme conditions. The existing conventional payment systems like the real-time gross settlement (RTGS), National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT) and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) are designed to handle large volumes while ensuring sustained availability and hence they are dependent on complex wired networks backed by the advanced IT infrastructure, the report from RBI said. "However, catastrophic events like natural calamities and war have the potential to render these payment systems temporarily unavailable by disrupting the underlying information and communication infrastructure," it added. Therefore, the central bank said in the report that it was prudent to be prepared to face such extreme and volatile situations. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Imphal (Manipur) [India], May 30 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday met the Governor of Manipur Anusuiya Uikey during his four-day long visit to the state. Earlier in the day, Shah chaired a meeting with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and ministers of the state, senior leaders and officials here to assess the situation and plan further steps to restore normalcy in the region. Also Read | Canada: Thousands Evacuated Due to Halifax Wildfires. He held a meeting in the presence of Union Minister for State Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, and Intelligence Bureau chief Tapan Deka among other officials concerned in the state as well as the Centre. Soon after the Home Minister arrived in Imphal on his four-day visit to Manipur, the meeting was conducted as fresh violence hit the northeastern State a day ago. Also Read | Delhi Shocker: Garment Shop Owner Shot, His Two Sons Thrashed and Stabbed by Four in Laxmi Nagar (Watch Video). The meeting aimed at assessing the situation in Manipur and plan further steps to restore normalcy there. During his stay in Manipur till June 1, the Home Minister will hold several rounds of security meetings. The visit was scheduled as five persons, including a Manipur Police Officer, were killed, a Bharatiya Janata Party MLA's house was vandalised and over 1,000 arms and ammunition were reportedly looted by a mob from armouries of Manipur Rifles and IRB on Sunday while combined Central and state security forces gunned down more than 30 suspected Kuki militants in the state in last 48 hours. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lucknow, May 30 (PTI) Taking a dig at the Congress over the crisis in its Rajasthan unit, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya on Tuesday said now it becomes news when two leaders of the same party announce that they are going to fight elections together. Surya's reaction comes a day after the Congress asserted that Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, who have been in the midst of leadership tussle in the state, have agreed to fight the upcoming assembly elections unitedly. The assembly elections in Rajasthan are due later this year. Also Read | Delhi Girl Murder: New CCTV Video Shows Accused Sahil Talking to a Friend at Crime Spot Hours Before Brutal Killing of 16-Year-Old in Shahbad Dairy Area. "The condition of the Congress party is such that two leaders within the party are announcing to fight elections together and it is news. I wish them all the best but I can tell you that there is great anti-incumbency sentiment in Rajasthan and we will form a government there with two-third majority, Surya told PTI. The Bengaluru South MP was here to attend a programme to mark the completion of nine years of the BJP government at the Centre. Also Read | Delhi: Ancient Copper Wheel, Bone Needle, Kiln of Kushana Era Unearthed in Latest Excavation at Purana Qila Site. To a question on the rejection of AAP leader Manish Sisodia's bail, Surya said that this has busted the image of his (Sisodia's) party. "The AAP's image was built around the resolve of fight against corruption, while in reality it is a party that is neck deep in corruption," Surya, who is also the BJP's youth wing chief, said. "I'm confident that very soon prosecution will be able to prove its case and Manish Sisodia and other accused will be convicted," he said. Sisodia is in jail in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. On the recent Karnataka polls verdict, the BJP leader said he hopes that the state gets good and stable governance. I hope that they (Congress) do not throw away the mandate due to their internal fights. Karnataka needs good governance and I hope that the Congress will be able to deliver that," he said. The BJP will perform the role of a responsible opposition, he said, adding it's been two weeks since the conclusion of the elections but "I don't see any governance activity starting in Karnataka yet". On 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Surya said, "The people of India have seen the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi very closely which is why the number of seats which the BJP got in 2019 was higher than in 2014." "I can say this with confidence that in 2024, voters are going to give even more seats to PM Modi and he will become the Prime Minister for the third consecutive time," he added. Surya said that party's youth wing workers would launch "Jan Sampark Abhiyan" on bikes and also on foot in Uttar Pradesh and would meet "labharthi" (beneficiaries) of the central schemes for the poor and marginalised. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, May 30: A policeman allegedly consumed disinfectant after a heated argument with his senior at a police station in suburban Mumbai, an official said on Tuesday. The incident took place at Ghatkopar police station, following an argument between an assistant police inspector (API) and senior inspector on Monday night, the official said. API Balkrishna Nanekar had an heated exchange with the senior inspector and demanded to know why he had not been relieved despite his transfer to Pune three months ago, he said. Delhi Police Saves Man Who Live-Streamed Suicide Attempt on Facebook. To this, the senior inspector asked him to clear pending files of two cases if he wished to be relieved. Angered by the comment, Nanekar stepped out of the cabin and consumed disinfectant inside the police station premises, the official said. UP Police Save Life of Man by Tracking Suicide Note From His Instagram Post. On-duty officers rushed him to a nearby private hospital, where his condition is said to be stable, he said. Speaking about the incident, a senior officer said, 'There was some argument between the officer and the senior police inspector of Ghatkopar police station. We are verifying the facts.' No case has been registered in this regard and further probe is underway, the 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) New Delhi, May 30: Taking cognisance of the supplementary charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia in a money laundering case related to Delhi Excise policy case, Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday issued him summons for June 1. Special judge M K Nagpal issued summons after taking cognisance of the supplementary charge sheet for June 1. Manish Sisodia is to be produced before the court after the expiry of his judicial custody. The ED filed this supplementary charge sheet on May 4. No Relief for Manish Sisodia! Delhi High Court Denies Bail to AAP Leader in Excise Policy Scam Case, Says Allegations Serious in Nature. While in the supplementary charge sheet, the ED had alleged that a proceed of the crime of around Rs. 622 crore has been generated due to activities of the present accused Manish Sisodia. The supplementary charge sheet was filed by special public prosecutor Naveen Kumar Matta. Manish Sisodia To Remain in Jail as Delhi High Court Rejects AAP Leader's Bail Application in Excise Policy Scam Case. The supplementary charge has more than 2100 pages. The operating part has 271 pages. Sisodia was arrested by the ED in this case on March 9. Earlier he was arrested by the CBI on February 26. He is the 29th accused arrested in this case. The CBI has already filed the charge sheet in the matter. His bail in the CBI case was dismissed by the High Court on Tuesday. His bail in the money laundering case is pending before the High Court. Sisodia has moved regular and interim bail pleas both in the high court. He has moved interim bail on the basis of his wife's illness and seeks six weeks' bail in the matter. Earlier, the Trial Court had dismissed the bail plea of Manish Sisodia in a money laundering case. While dismissing his bail, Rouse Avenue Court had stated that "this case of economic offences having serious repercussions upon the general public and society at large as the evidence collected during investigation speaks volumes of his involvement in the commission of the said offence" Court also noted that some evidence is also alleged to have surfaced during the investigation to show that some part of the kickback or bribe amount received from South lobby was spent or utilized in connection with the election campaign of the AAP in Goa and some cash payments through hawala channels are alleged to have been sent to Goa for bearing the said expenses and even some fake invoices are alleged to have been created as a cover-up for the cash amounts transferred through hawala channels. It was stated that the above cash transfers were made as per instructions of the coaccused Vijay Nair, who was the representative of the applicant and the AAP and also the Media Incharge of AAP and looking after the work related to said elections and he also roped in a company named M/S Chariot Productions Media Pvt. Ltd. owned by the coaccused Rajesh Joshi to do the election-related advertising work and other jobs for the party during said elections, noted the court. "Thus, in view of the above background, the serious nature of the allegations made and the role played by the applicant in the above criminal conspiracy, his connection with the activities relating to the generation or acquisition and use etc. of the above proceeds of crime within the meaning of Section 3 of the PMLA and the oral and documentary evidence collected in support of the same and as placed for the perusal of the court, this court is of the considered opinion that even if the rigours and restrictions contained under section 45 of the PMLA are viewed and construed reasonably, the prosecution has still been able to show a genuine and prima facie case for the involvement of the applicant in the commission of the alleged offence of money laundering," it added. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 9 arrested Manish Sisodia in the liquor policy case, after hours of questioning at Tihar Jail. Sisodia was arrested by the CBI earlier in its ongoing investigation of a case related to alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD). (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 30 (PTI) Around 40 medical colleges across the country have lost recognition over the past two months allegedly for not following standards set by the National Medical Commission (NMC), official sources said on Tuesday. About 100 more medical colleges in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Assam, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry and West Bengal may also face similar action, they said. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: Around 19 People Drowned in UP Districts Since May 29 Evening, Say Police. The colleges were not found to be complying with the set norms and several lapses related to CCTV cameras, Aadhaar-linked biometric attendance procedures and faculty rolls were found during inspections carried out by the Commission, an official source said. According to government data, the number of medical colleges has increased significantly since 2014. Also Read | Wrestlers Protest: Congress Accuses Narendra Modi Government of 'Protecting' Accused of Sexual Exploitation, Questions PM's Claims on Women Security. There is an increase of 69 per cent in medical colleges from 387 before 2014 to 654 as of now, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar had told the Rajya Sabha in February. Further, there is an increase of 94 per cent in MBBS seats from 51,348 before 2014 to 99,763 as of now and an increase of 107 per cent in PG seats from 31,185 before 2014 to 64,559 as of now. To increase the number of doctors in the country, the government has increased the number of medical colleges and subsequently increased MBBS seats, she had said. The measures and steps taken by the government to increase the number of medical seats in the country include a centrally-sponsored scheme for establishment of new medical colleges by upgrading district/referral hospitals, under which 94 new medical colleges are already functional out of 157 approved. Reacting to his derecognition of medical colleges, experts from the medical field said the NMC is largely relying on the Aadhaar-enabled biometric attendance system for which it considers only the faculty which are on duty during daytime from 8 am to 2 pm. "But the working hours of doctors are not fixed. They have to work in emergency and at night shifts also. So the NMC's rigidity with the working hours has created this issue. Such micro management of medical colleges is not practical and the NMC needs to be flexible to such issues," an expert said. Another expert said, "The NMC is derecognising medical colleges believing there are deficiencies. At the same time, the NMC has also allowed the registration of students in such colleges, which is a contradiction. Moreover, such experiment is tarnishing India's image at the global level because India is the largest supplier of doctors and with such instances coming to light, the world will lose confidence in Indian doctors." (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Anantnag (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 30 (ANI): A civilian from Udhampur succumbed to his injuries on Monday after terrorists opened fire at him in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag, said the police. According to the police, the deceased has been identified as Deepu from Udhampur working at an amusement park near Janglaat Mandi in Anantnag. Also Read | Canada: Thousands Evacuated Due to Halifax Wildfires. The police said that the deceased succumbed to his injuries after he was taken to the hospital. "We have launched a search operation. Further investigation into the matter is underway," they added. Also Read | Delhi Shocker: Garment Shop Owner Shot, His Two Sons Thrashed and Stabbed by Four in Laxmi Nagar (Watch Video). Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir police arrested a terror associate of the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) during an operation in the Nagbal Chandoosa area of Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, said an official statement on Saturday. According to Jammu and Kashmir Police, the terror associate was identified as Mohd Ashraf Mir, a resident of Laridoora Chandoosa, Baramulla. During the search, police recovered one grenade from his possession. A case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Arms Act was registered against the accused at Chandoosa police station, they added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jammu and Kashmir [India], May 30 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha on Tuesday expressed grief over the loss of lives in a bus accident on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway and directed the district administration to provide assistance to the injured. At least ten people were killed and around 55 injured when a bus fell into a deep gorge, this morning. Also Read | Boyfriend Stabbed to Death by Girlfriend in Pune! College Girl Murders BF With Knife During Heated Argument in Wagholi. "Extremely pained by the loss of lives in a tragic bus accident in Jhajjar Kotli, Jammu. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured," read an official statement from the office of J-K LG. According to the statement, the district administration has been directed to provide all possible assistance and treatment to the injured. Also Read | ChatGPT for Cheating in Exam! Accused in TSPSC Paper Leak Case Used OpenAI Chatbot to Get Answers After Obtaining Question Papers Illegally, Say Report. According to officials, the bus was on its way to Katra from Amritsar when the incident took place near Jhajjar Kotli - about 15 km from Katra in Jammu district. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu, Chandan Kohli said that all the passengers have been evacuated and the rescue operation was almost complete. "10 people died and around 55 are injured. All have been evacuated. The rescue operation is almost complete. The SDRF team is also present on the spot," said the SSP. Kohli said that the injured were shifted to the hospital. He said that paramilitary teams and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) were engaged in evacuation and rescue operations. The SSP further added that the bus was carrying more passengers than the prescribed limit and all this will be probed. Assistant Commandant Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Ashok Choudhary said that a crane was brought to check if someone is trapped under the bus. "CRPF, Police and other teams are also here. Ambulances were called and the injured were immediately rushed to hospital. Bodies have also been taken to the hospital. A crane is being brought here to see if someone is trapped under the bus. A rescue operation is underway. We are being told that the bus was coming from Amritsar and that people from Bihar were on board. They perhaps lost their way to Katra and reached here," said Choudhary. Further 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) New Delhi, May 30 (PTI) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of giving long lectures on respect for women from the Red Fort and yet protecting those accused of harassing women. Kharge's remarks came on heels of weeks-long protest by wrestlers, who on Tuesday descended in Haridwar with a plan to immerse their medals in the Ganga. Also Read | China: Shenzhou-16 Mission Reaches Tiangong Space Station. He also asked why there was stubbornness on the part of the government in giving justice to the wrestlers, who have been agitating against WFI president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. "The daughters of India are saying that 'police and system' is no longer sacred. Everyone has seen in the last few days what has happened to the daughters who have brought laurels to the country. Also Read | Wrestlers Hand Over Medals to Farmer Leader Naresh Tikait, Give Five Days' Time to Government (Watch Video). "Modi ji gives a long lectures on respect for women from the Red Fort, but the one who is accused of sexual exploitation has full protection," he said in a tweet in Hindi. "After all, what is the stubbornness, why can't daughters get justice? Why only daughters are made to stand in the dock? Why were they turned helpless to flow their medals in Ma Ganga," Kharge asked. "Save the criminal, not 'save the daughter'. Hurt the pride of the country," the Congress chief said in another tweet. Wrestlers, many of whom Olympic medal winners, were on Sunday forcibly removed by police from their protest site on Jantar Mantar. The protesters reached Haridwar on Tuesday to flow their medals in the river but were stopped from doing by BKU's Naresh Tikait and other khap panchayat leaders. The grapplers have been demanding the immediate removal and arrest of Singh, against whom Delhi Police has registered two FIRs for alleged sexual exploitation. (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 30 (ANI): The Congress on Tuesday alleged there has been "a serious deficit" in the efforts of the BJP government in Manipur to contain "arson and violence" and sought a high-level inquiry commission headed by a serving or retired judge of the Supreme Court into the ethnic violence in the state. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, along with a delegation of party leaders, called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan and submitted a memorandum. Also Read | Another Political Crisis Brewing in Maharashtra? 22 MLAs and 9 MPs From Eknath Shinde-Led Shiv Sena Feeling Suffocated, Could Quit Party, Claims Saamana Editorial. The party said nearly 100 people have died due to ethnic violence and many more have gone missing. "More than 2000 houses have been either burned or destroyed. Some 10000 people, including women and children, are still living in relief camps and safer places without proper health and sanitation facilities. Thousands of people are rendered homeless and displaced. Almost all educational institutions are closed, denying education to students," the memorandum said. Also Read | No Relief for Manish Sisodia! Delhi High Court Denies Bail to AAP Leader in Excise Policy Scam Case, Says Allegations Serious in Nature. The party made 12 demands including firm and sustained efforts to control violence in every part of the state and immediate restoration of peace, harmony and normalcy. "A high-level inquiry commission should be constituted headed by a serving or retired Supreme Court judge. The Union government must immediately take all possible measures to control and confine all militant groups (including those under SoO) and ensure that all armed civilian groups be stopped forthwith by taking appropriate action," the party said. Congress said that villages near the foothills of both communities must be covered with adequate security so that armed militants do not intrude and disturb peace. "The Union government should take steps for the rehabilitation of all displaced persons at their original place or in safer areas with suitable security arrangements. Payment of dignified and reasonable compensation for loss of life, property, and all other things concerned to all the victims and affected persons," the party said. The Congress said that a special drive must be carried out to trace many numbers of missing people. "There is a need for immediate identification of those who have lost their lives and handing their bodies over to the bereaved families for the last rites. A special drive must be carried out to trace many numbers of missing people. A large number of children are living in the relief camps and special arrangements for the education of the students of the displaced families must be made." The party said that the state government must immediately take over the management and maintenance of all relief camps and provide proper health and sanitation facilities for all. "Disruption of transportation of goods and essential commodities through the National Highways and district headquarters must be stopped. The letter and spirit of the existing Constitutional provisions related to the state of Manipur must be protected, and the trust between communities should be restored through reconciliation and dialogue," the party said. The Congress said that thousands of "people dwelling in peripheral areas near hills and valleys are living under fear psychosis and facing sleepless nights". "Agricultural land and paddy fields are deserted, with no cultivators in sight before the onset of the monsoon. Daily wage earners are living in extreme agony," the party said. The memorandum was submitted on a day Home Minister Amit Shah is in Manipur. The party also addressed a press conference on the situation in Manipur. Party leader Jairam Ramesh lashed out at the Centre and state governments and alleged that the BJP's "politics of divide and rule" is responsible for the crisis in Manipur. "It's the RSS/BJP's politics of divide and rule that is responsible for the current crisis in Manipur. The last time Manipur burned was 22 years ago when BJP was ruling in the Centre. This time things have turned from bad to worse," Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jammu, May 30 (PTI) A man was arrested with 11 gram heroin in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, police said, adding 31 mobile phones and Rs 1.16 lakh in cash were also seized from him. Aziz Ahmed alias Sonu Chinese, a notorious drug peddler, was nabbed during a raid on his house in Rajouri town in the presence of executive magistrate deployed by district civil administration, police said in a statement. Also Read | Boyfriend Stabbed to Death by Girlfriend in Pune! College Girl Murders BF With Knife During Heated Argument in Wagholi. The statement said two electronic weighing machines, three cameras, three motors, four amplifiers, one inverter, one stabilizer and one speaker have also been recovered during the raid. "Some part of recovered property is suspected to be stolen in nature but exact use of mobile phones will be clear during investigation," the police said. Also Read | ChatGPT for Cheating in Exam! Accused in TSPSC Paper Leak Case Used OpenAI Chatbot to Get Answers After Obtaining Question Papers Illegally, Say Report. A case under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered against Ahmed, who was becoming notorious for peddling of narcotics in the town and was luring youth towards addiction. Rajouri Senior Superintendent of Police Amritpal Singh (IPS) said, "There is zero tolerance policy against peddlers and stringent action as per law of land will continue against them." "Parental surveillance at home is the first but most powerful form of preventive measure to save the youth and younger generation from falling into the net of addiction of drugs and narcotics," 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, May 30 (PTI) Leaders from BJP, AAP, and Congress on Tuesday met and condoled with the family members of the 16-year-old girl who was killed in broad daylight in the Shahbad Dairy area of northwest Delhi. The girl was stabbed over 20 times and bludgeoned to death by a youth in a busy bylane of Shahbad Dairy area as passers-by looked on in fear and disbelief. Also Read | Heart Attack Deaths: AIIMS Study Finds More Than 50% Patients Died of Cardiac Arrest or Stroke As They Couldnt Understand Seriousness and Delayed Hospital Visit. While AAP leader Atishi met the girl's family members, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced an ex-gratia sum of Rs 10 lakh to her kin to help them tide over the tragedy. "The Delhi government will provide an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the family of the victim and will try its best to get the culprit punished severely by the court. Best lawyers will be fielded for this case," Kejriwal in a tweet in Hindi announced. Also Read | Delhi Girl Murder: New CCTV Video Shows Accused Sahil Talking to a Friend at Crime Spot Hours Before Brutal Killing of 16-Year-Old in Shahbad Dairy Area. Atishi in her turn slammed Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena and alleged that "such incidents can be averted if LG takes responsibility." "Daughters of Delhi are facing violence every day. Such incidents can be averted only if the LG takes responsibility," she alleged. Another leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, Saurabh Bharadwaj, lashed out at the LG over the horrific killing saying the people of Delhi have "lost faith" in the national capital's law and order system. "We urge the LG to hold a press conference and give us the information on how many police stations he has visited so far. The LG has zero accountability. If this was some other country, people would start asking for the Home Minister's resignation. People don't wish to come forward to help because they think they will be falsely framed by the police," Bharadwaj alleged. Kejriwal too had on Monday urged Saxena to take strict action in the murder incident. The Delhi Police comes under the Union Home Ministry. The AAP which govern the city has been firm in its pursuit to wrest the control of police in Delhi to the elected government. BJP MP Hans Raj Hans who met the girl's family Tuesday morning said no amount of money can bring the family its daughter back. "The family has lost its world. Daughters are considered goddess Lakshmi. We can just console them and provide some financial help," Hans told reporters after meeting the victim's kin. The BJP delegation accompanying Hans extended its sympathy to the family and gave a "small interim financial support" to them, said a statement from the BJP's Delhi unit. Hans also condemned the AAP for "politicising" the murder and using it to score political brownie points. Delhi Congress President Anil Chaudhary, who also visited the family members of the victim, said "blame game begins" between Kejriwal and LG every time the "government is held accountable." "Several such incidents have happened since 2013 but whenever the government is held accountable, Arvind Kejriwal and the LG start their blame game," Chaudhary said. Meanwhile, DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal too met the girl's family. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jammu and Kashmir [India], May 30 (ANI): In a powerful display of unity and defiance against violence, candlelight marches were held in the twin districts of Anantnag and Pulwama in South Kashmir on Tuesday. The marches were organized to denounce the tragic killing of Deepu Sharma, a resident of Udhampur, in a heinous terrorist attack that shook the region. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: Around 19 People Drowned in UP Districts Since May 29 Evening, Say Police. A significant number of members from civil society gathered at prominent locations in Anantnag and Pulwama, carrying banners and candles as a symbol of their collective anguish and protest. The atmosphere was filled with somber determination as the participants expressed their grief and outrage over the senseless loss of life. Also Read | Manipur Violence: Amit Shah Holds Talks With State Leaders, Announces Compensation for Riot Victims. Deepu Sharma, who had been working with a circus at an amusement park in South Kashmir's Anantnag district, was brutally shot dead by terrorists on Monday evening. The news of his untimely demise sent shockwaves through the community and beyond, evoking a sense of sorrow and anger. The candlelight marches served as a platform for local citizens to voice their demands for justice and stern action against the perpetrators. The protesters firmly insisted that those responsible for this unforgivable crime be dealt with with an iron fist. Their call for justice echoed not only for their own community but also for the values of humanity at large. With banners held high and candles illuminating the night, the marchers united in their unwavering resolve to stand against terrorism and uphold the principles of peace and harmony. The solidarity displayed during the marches showcased the strength of the community and its determination to combat the forces that threaten their way of life. The tragedy that befell Deepu Sharma has underscored the urgent need for continued efforts to ensure the safety and security of every individual residing in the region. As the police investigate the incident, the community remains resolute in their pursuit of justice, hoping that those responsible will be swiftly apprehended and brought to face the full force of the law. Beyond the immediate grief, the candlelight marches also served as a poignant reminder of the resilience and spirit of the people of South Kashmir. Despite the heart-wrenching loss, the community united to send a powerful message that they will not be cowed by acts of terror. Their collective voice reverberated through the streets, emphasizing their determination to overcome adversity and create a future free from fear. As the candles flickered in the night, casting a warm glow on the faces of the marchers, their commitment to seeking justice for Deepu Sharma became a beacon of hope. Their unwavering solidarity stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit of a community determined to protect its own and ensure a brighter and more secure future for generations to come. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhubaneswar, May 30 (PTI) Tata Steel Mining Limited (TSML) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with French Cleantech company METRON, to design and implement an advanced energy management and optimisation platform for the company's Ferro Alloys Plant located at Athagarh in Odisha's Cuttack district. METRON is a leading provider of cloud-based energy management solutions. Also Read | Dog Attack in UP Viral Video: Eight-Year-Old Girl Critically Injured After Pitbull Dog Attacks Her in Meerut, CCTV Footage Surfaces Online. According to the MoU, the software solution developed by METRON will enable Tata Steel Mining monitor, analyse, and optimise energy consumption in real time and reduce carbon footprint across plant utilities. A company release said that it will help digitalise energy to decarbonise territories, optimise energy consumption, reduce costs, and improve overall operational efficiency. Also Read | Heart Attack Deaths: AIIMS Study Finds More Than 50% Patients Died of Cardiac Arrest or Stroke As They Couldnt Understand Seriousness and Delayed Hospital Visit. The cloud-based energy management and optimisation platform will provide real-time visibility of energy usage across the plant, allowing Tata Steel Mining to identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions to optimise energy consumption. The platform will use advanced analytics and artificial intelligence to provide predictive insights and recommendations, enabling the company to reduce energy consumption, and lower its carbon footprint. Pankaj Satija, Managing Director, Tata Steel Mining, said, "Our partnership with METRON reflects our commitment to energy efficiency and lower carbon footprint. We are excited to use their advanced energy management and optimisation platform at our Ferro Alloys Plant in Athagarh. We expect the platform to help us reduce energy consumption, improve operational efficiency and productivity. Tata Steel Mining had earlier inked pact with FluxGen Sustainable Technologies for digitisation of its water consumption through a digital dashboard at its Ferro chrome units and mines, 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) Singapore, May 30 (ANI): Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan who is on a three-day visit to Singapore visited the Spectra Secondary School and interacted with students and teachers to know more about the teaching-learning environment, and pedagogy, among others. "Happy to know that the school prioritises skills-based education and also focuses on encouraging learning at the pace suitable for every learner to prepare them for future workplaces," Pradhan tweeted. Also Read | Sex-Change Surgery in Lucknow: KGMU Transforms 15-Year-Old Girl Into Boy by Performing Two Procedures To Realign Patient's Genitals. On Monday, Pradhan met Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong on strengthening the existing cooperation between India and Singapore with a focus on deepening engagements in skill development. "Pleasure meeting DPM and Minister for Finance, Singapore, @LawrenceWongST. Fruitful discussions on strengthening the existing cooperation between India and Singapore and deepening engagements in skill development as well as technical and vocational education," Union Minister tweeted. Also Read | Jammu and Kashmir Road Accident Video: Seven Pilgrims Killed After Katra-Bound Bus Falls Into Gorge Near Jhajjar Kotli. He further added, "The emerging future is a world of unlimited opportunities. Both DPM @LawrenceWongST and I agreed to work together for mutual benefit, create opportunities for lifelong learning, build a future-ready workforce and also to make knowledge and skill development a key pillar of our strategic partnership." "During the meeting it was agreed to work together, aiming to create opportunities for lifelong learning, building a future-ready workforce, and making knowledge & skill development a key pillar of strategic partnership" Ministry said. During the meeting, Pradhan said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian Government launched the National Education Policy (NEP) in 2020. NEP 2020 is specifically focussing on providing early exposure to vocational education in middle schools, ensuring the market relevance of training as well as building the capacity of our institutions to provide technical and vocational education. He further informed the Government is also working towards integrating the skills qualifications framework with the higher education qualification framework and investing in developing short-term and long-term training programs to provide skilling, re-skilling and upskilling opportunities. The Minister stressed learning from the best practices of Singapore, collaborating and customizing it to meet Indian needs. Dharmendra Pradhan had an insightful discussion with Singapore's Minister of Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong. The Ministers had fruitful conversations on strengthening our skill development and vocational training linkages through all mechanisms for creating a seamless architecture for skilling and lifelong learning. Building on the outcomes of the G20 Future of Work workshop in Bhubaneswar, they also discussed ways in which India can leverage the expertise and knowledge of Singapore for addressing common challenges and transforming the Indian skills ecosystem. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Srinagar (Uttarakhand) [India], May 30 (ANI): Though the untimely rains and snowfall brought respite to the people from the oppressive heat, these rainfall events put the rare Himalayan herbs at risk. Scientists expressed concern that if this phenomenon continues for a few more days, many valuable herbs will reach the verge of extinction. Also Read | Jammu and Kashmir Road Accident Video: Seven Pilgrims Killed After Katra-Bound Bus Falls Into Gorge Near Jhajjar Kotli. According to the Director of High Peak Plant Research Centre, Prof MC Nautiyal, the Himalayas has been a storehouse of herbs that are rich in medicinal properties for ages. "The effect of climate change is being observed on these herbs. The rains and snowfall in the high Himalayan regions in the month of May are a sign of danger for medicinal plants," Prof Nautiyal said. Also Read | Balu Dhanorkar Dies: Congress Lone MP From Maharashtra Passes Away at Hospital in Delhi. He said that this time due to snowfall, rain and hailstorm, the temperature in the region in April and May has come down considerably, due to which the growth of these medicinal plants is slowing down. Dr Vijaykant Purohit Scientist, High Peak Plant Research Centre said that if the growth of these herbs remains slow, then the process of seed formation will also reduce. This deepens the crisis of medicinal herbs. "Farmers cultivating these herbs will be affected the most. The valuable wealth of the Himalayas will also reach the verge of extinction," he said. Earlier on Monday, India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Uttarakhand where it is predicted the possibility of rain and hailstorm in higher reaches of the state and rain and thunder in the plains. IMD predicted heavy rains in Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Rudraprayag and light rain in Bageshwar, Almora and Pithoragarh. The meteorological department also issued a warning of gusty winds blowing at a speed of 70 km. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Juneau (US), May 31 (AP) The US Coast Guard has suspended its search for four people missing after the fishing charter boat they were on was found partially submerged near the southeast Alaska community of Sitka. A fifth person was found dead Sunday. The search, which spanned more than 20 hours and covered about 2136.74 square kilometer was suspended Monday night, the Coast Guard said. Also Read | Afghanistan Customs Foils Human Hair Smuggling Into Pakistan. Kingfisher Charters on Sunday evening reported that a 9-metre aluminum charter vessel with five people aboard was overdue, the Coast Guard said in a statement. The boat was last seen earlier that day near Sitka. The Coast Guard found the boat partially submerged off an island about 16 kilometers west of Sitka on Sunday evening. It recovered the body of a man who was found in the water about 100 yards (91 metres) from the boat, Petty Officer Ian Gray said. Also Read | Imran Khan Will Be Tried in Military Court, Says Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah. Gray said the region was experiencing 1.8-metre to 3.35-metre seas on Sunday. "There was no immediate significant damage to the hull of the vessel to indicate that it ran aground or anything like that, Gray said Tuesday. Anyone with information about the incident has been asked to contact the Coast Guard. The cause of the incident remains under investigation. "Despite our best efforts and those of several partner agencies, we were not able to find the four remaining individuals," Capt. Darwin Jensen, whose area of responsibility with the Coast Guard includes southeast Alaska, said in a statement. "Suspending a search is never an easy decision. We extend our deepest sympathy to the loved ones during this difficult time." (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Athens, May 30 (AP) The death toll from a migrant boat sinking last week off the Greek resort island of Mykonos has tripled to nine after another six bodies were found in the sea and on a nearby island, authorities said Tuesday. Others remain missing. A coast guard statement said that divers on Tuesday found the bodies of four women and a man at a depth of 30 meters (100 feet) inside the sunken speedboat that had departed from Turkey. It said the body of an 18-year-old woman from the boat was also found Monday on a rocky stretch of coast on Antiparos, another island in the Cyclades group in the central Aegean Sea. Also Read | Afghanistan Customs Foils Human Hair Smuggling Into Pakistan. Their nationalities weren't made public. Two men survived the shipwreck and swam to shore on Mykonos. They told rescuers that up to 17 people had been on the boat, which would leave six still missing. They said none of the passengers had been wearing lifejackets. Also Read | Imran Khan Will Be Tried in Military Court, Says Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah. The plastic speedboat capsized and sank northeast of Mykonos on Friday, triggering an extensive rescue operation by air and sea. The bodies of two adult women and an adult man were recovered several hours later. Mykonos lies more than 150 kilometers (95 miles) from the closest point on the Turkish coast. Smugglers based in Turkey have frequently chosen open sea routes in recent years to try to avoid the heavily patrolled waters of the eastern Aegean, where several large Greek islands lie close to the Turkish coast. They head either for Italy or for the Cyclades. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad, May 30: Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Tuesday said that Imran Khan will be tried in a military court as the former prime minister was the "architect" of the May 9 incidents in which military and state installations were attacked by his party workers following his arrest in a corruption case. Appearing on a Dawn News show, Sanaullah also accused the 70-year-old chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party of personally carrying out the planning of the attacks on military installations before his arrest on the day. PIA Plane Seized in Malaysia: Pakistan's Boeing 777 Aircraft Seized at Kuala Lumpur Airport Over Non-Payment of Dues Worth USD USD 4 Million. There was evidence to prove the claim as well, the minister added. When asked if Khan would be tried in the military court, he said: "Absolutely, why shouldn't it? The programme that he made to target the military installations and then had it executed, in my understanding it absolutely is a case of a military court." Pakistan: Wild Poliovirus Detected in Environmental Samples, Says Health Ministry. The minister accused Khan of personally orchestrating the May 9 riots. "His supporters chanted a slogan that Imran Khan is our red line', and the planning and preparation were done on Imran Khan's initiative and instigation. He carried it all out. He is the architect of all this discord," he said. (The evidence) is documented, it is in tweets and his messages," he added. When asked how Khan was able to communicate with his party leaders even from jail, the minister replied: All this (planning) was decided before he went (to jail) that who will do what and where. And when he is arrested, what would be the strategy and duties'. All of this was decided. The minister's remarks come a day after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that there was no decision yet on Khan's trial under the stringent Army Act. He, however, said that he could not rule out such a possibility. "I don't rule out the possibility that he was the planner and knew everything (about May 9), Asif said. Khan has denied his involvement in the violence, saying he was in the jail when the mayhem took place. He has that the establishment plans to keep him in jail for 10 years in a sedition case. On May 9, violent protests erupted after the arrest of Khan by paramilitary Rangers in Islamabad. His party workers vandalised over 20 military installations and government buildings, including the Lahore Corps Commander House, Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad. The Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi was also attacked by the mob for the first time. Khan was later released on bail. The violence elicited a strong reaction from the government and military with vows of taking action against the culprits, leading to an ongoing crackdown against those involved. Law enforcement agencies have arrested over 10,000 workers of Khan's Pakistan party across Pakistan, 4,000 of them from Punjab. 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. The Punjab Police had previously claimed, citing a geo-fencing report, that Khan and his close aides allegedly coordinated efforts to storm the residence of the Lahore Corps Commander and other buildings. Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar, when contacted by Dawn, had confirmed the geo-fencing record and the alleged use of Khan's residence in Lahore for planning the attack on the Jinnah House. A senior officer, requesting anonymity, had told the newspaper that many important revelations had come from the analysis of the geo-fencing record: it was detected that 154 calls were allegedly made by Khan to party leaders and rioters to provoke them to attack. He had said the PTI chairman was the prime suspect who allegedly planned the attack on the house of the corps commander. The officer had said call records showed all phone calls were made on May 8 and May 9 the day of Khan's arrest to prepare workers to attack the building. On Friday, Sanaullah said that 33 suspects, 19 in Punjab and 14 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, were handed over to the military. On Monday, an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi directed the superintendent of the Adiala Jail to hand over eight suspects to the military for trial. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kyiv, May 30 (AP) A rare drone attack jolted Moscow early Tuesday, causing only light damage but forcing evacuations as residential buildings were struck in the Russian capital for the first time in the war against Ukraine. The Kremlin, meanwhile, pursued its relentless bombardment of Kyiv with a third assault on the city in 24 hours. The Russian Defence Ministry said five drones were shot down in Moscow and the systems of three others were jammed, causing them to veer off course. President Vladimir Putin called it a terrorist act by Kyiv. Also Read | Afghanistan Customs Foils Human Hair Smuggling Into Pakistan. The attack, while causing only what Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said was insignificant damage to several buildings, brought the war home to civilians in Russia's capital. Two people received treatment for unspecified injuries but did not need hospitalization, Sobyanin said, adding that residents of two high-rise buildings damaged in the attack were evacuated. Andrei Vorobyov, governor of the wider Moscow region, said some of the drones were shot down on the approach to Moscow. Also Read | Imran Khan Will Be Tried in Military Court, Says Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah. Ukraine made no direct comment on the attack, which would be one of its deepest and most daring strikes into Russia since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than 15 months ago. Putin said Moscow's air defense worked in a satisfactory way, but added it was clear what we need to do to plug the gaps" in the system. The Kyiv regime ... attempts to intimidate Russia, Russian citizens and strikes at civilian buildings," he said at a public event, responding to a question from the head of a Kremlin-allied think tank. "It is, of course, a clear indication of terrorist activity. Putin charged that Ukraine launched Tuesday's attack in response to Russia striking Ukraine's military intelligence headquarters in Kyiv over the weekend. But Andrii Cherniak, a Ukrainian intelligence representative, said the Kremlin's forces failed to hit the building because its missiles were shot down. Asked by The Associated Press whether there was high-level concern that the invasion of Ukraine was endangering Russian civilians, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said only that attacks on Russia reinforced the need to prosecute what the Kremlin calls the special military operation. A senior Russian lawmaker, Andrei Kartapolov, said the apparent purpose of the attacks was to unnerve the Russian people. It's an intimidation act aimed at the civilian population, he was quoted by Russian news site RBC as saying. It's designed to create a wave of panic. Russian political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said the Kremlin's policy is to play down the attacks. You ask, why is Putin behaving like this, does he really not understand and fear the consequences? she wrote in a Telegram post. Apparently he isn't afraid, and everything is built on the idea that has been voiced more than once about a patient people who will understand everything and endure everything. Moscow residents reported hearing explosions before dawn. Police were seen working at one site of a crashed drone in southwest Moscow. An area near a residential building was fenced off, and police put the drone debris in a cardboard box before carrying it away. At another site, apartment windows were shattered and there were scorch marks on the building's front. It was the second reported strike on Moscow since May 3, when Russian authorities said two drones targeted the Kremlin in what they portrayed as an attempt on Putin's life. Ukraine denied it was behind that attack. Last week, the Russian border region of Belgorod was the target of one of the most serious cross-border raids since the war began, with two far-right pro-Ukrainian paramilitary groups claiming responsibility. Officials in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar near annexed Crimea said two drones struck there on Friday, damaging residential buildings. Other drones have reportedly flown deep into Russia multiple times. In December, Moscow claimed it had shot down drones at airfields in the Saratov and Ryazan regions in western Russia. Three soldiers were reported killed in the attack in Saratov, which targeted an important military airfield. Before that, Russia reported downing a drone that targeted the headquarters of its Black Sea Fleet in the Crimean port of Sevastopol. Ukrainian military analysts, though unable to confirm Kyiv had launched the drones against Moscow, said the attack may have involved UJ-22 drones, which are produced in Ukraine and have a maximum range of about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles). Analyst Oleh Zhdanov said some UJ-22s are capable of reaching Moscow and beyond, although he noted they can fly only half as far and carry half the payload of the Iranian-made Shahed drones used in the war by Russia. Even so, Zhdanov told AP that the myth has been dispelled of the Russian capital's invulnerability. Since February, when a UJ-22 crashed 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Moscow, Ukrainian drones have repeatedly approached the Russian capital. The White House National Security Council said in a statement that it was still gathering information about what happened in Moscow, but generally we do not support attacks inside of Russia. It noted that Russia's bombardment of Kyiv was the 17th round of attacks this month, many of which have devastated civilian areas. A U.S. defense official said the drone strikes would not not affect the weapons aid packages the U.S. is providing Ukraine to include drone ammunition. The official said the U.S. has committed to supporting Ukraine in its effort to defend the country and Ukraine had committed to not using the systems inside Russia, so the aid would likely continue unchanged. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Ukrainian officials said Tuesday's pre-dawn air raid on Kyiv killed at least one person, wounded 11 others and sent residents scrambling into shelters again. At least 20 Shahed drones were destroyed by air defense forces in Kyiv in the latest attack. Overall, Ukraine shot down 29 of 31 drones, mostly in the Kyiv area, the air force said. Before daylight, buzzing drones could be heard in the city, followed by loud explosions as they were taken down by air defense systems. The heavy destruction in Kyiv contrasted with what was seen in Moscow. In the Ukrainian capital, burned-out cars, glass and debris littered the street outside a building where apartments were wrecked; in Moscow, only a few broken windows and scorched outer walls were evident, with repairs and repainting being done quickly to affected buildings. A woman in Kyiv's Holosiiv district was killed when she went onto her balcony "to look at drones being shot down, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a Telegram post. A high-rise in the same district caught fire after being hit by debris either from drones or interceptor missiles. The building's upper two floors were destroyed, and people were feared buried in the rubble, the Kyiv Military Administration said. More than 20 people were evacuated. Resident Valeriya Oreshko told AP that even though the immediate threat was over, the attacks had everyone on edge. You are happy that you are alive, but think about what will happen next, the 39-year-old said. A resident who gave only her first name, Oksana, said the whole building shook when it was hit, advising others: Go to shelters, because you really do not know where (the drone) will fly. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Moscow [Russia], May 30 (ANI): Several buildings in Moscow were damaged after a drone attack on Tuesday morning, said Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, TASS reported. Minor damage was caused to several buildings due to the UAV attack in Moscow. All emergencyMinor damage was caused to several buildings due to a UAV attack in Moscow. All emergency services of the city were at the site of the attack. services of the city were at the site of the attack. Sergei Sobyanin said that no one was injured during the incident and emergency services were carrying out an investigation regarding the incident. Also Read | Shanghai Records Hottest May Day in Over 100 Years With Temperature at 36.1 Degrees Celsius. TASS report said residents of several entrances were evacuated after the drone attack. Residents will be able to return to their apartments after work of the special services ends at the site. Sobyanin in a Telegram post wrote, "For safety reasons, during the work of emergency services, measures were taken to evacuate residents of several entrances in two houses that were hit by UAVs. Immediately after the end of the work of special services, residents will be able to return to their apartments." He also urged people to trust only official sources and not to disseminate unverified information, as per the TASS report. Also Read | Drone Attack in Moscow Videos: Several Buildings Damaged After 4-10 Drones Attack Russian Capital. Earlier this month, a Russian freight train derailed in the western region of Bryansk bordering Ukraine after an "explosive device" detonated on the rail tracks, the local governor said. "An unidentified explosive device went off, as a result of which a locomotive of a freight train derailed," Bryansk governor Alexander Bogomaz said on Telegram. Bogomaz said the device went off "on the 136th kilometre" of the railroad between regional hub Bryansk and the town of Unecha, towards the border with Ukraine. "There were no casualties," he added. Pictures shared on social media showed several of a train's tank carriages laying on their side and dark grey smoke billowing into the air at the site of the derailment, in the Bryansk region. The attack came a day after a Ukrainian strike killed four people in a Russian village in the Bryansk region. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad [Pakistan], May 30 (ANI): To express their anger against the enforced disappearance of Baloch youth by government agencies, a protest rally was organised in Balochistan, Pakistan vernacular media reported. Mama Qadeer, Chairman of 'Voice for Baloch Missing person' led the protest rally at Quetta Press Club. Also Read | Will Climate Change Cut off the Panama Canal?. Various student groups including the families of the missing persons took part in the protest and expressed their anger against the administration, as per Pak vernacular media. The year 2022 was a dreadful year for Balochistan as the forcibly disappeared record touched 629, extrajudicially killed 195 and tortured 187 people, according to the annual report released by Paank, the human rights organization of the Baloch National Movement. Also Read | Tiger Attack in Russia: Big Cat Pounces on Woman Relieving Herself in Bushes, Saved by Daring Husband. In April, earlier this year, Pakistan vernacular media Urdu Point reported that a protest rally in Quetta was organised by 'Voice for Baloch Missing Persons' against fake encounters and forced disappearances. The protesters called for the recovery of missing people. The report highlights the human rights situation throughout the year with infographics. According to this, in January 2022, there were 92 forced disappearances, 15 murders and one person was tortured by the Pakistan army. The protest rally was held in Quetta under the leadership of Mama Qadeer and Huran Baloch. A demonstration was held in front of the Quetta Press Club, as per the Urdu Point report. During the Eid celebrations in Pakistan, various groups and families of missing persons, student organizations, and political parties, held protests in Balochistan and Islamabad, demanding action on enforced disappearances, Balochistan Post reported. Demonstrators from diverse backgrounds called for the safe recovery of missing persons and an end to the long-standing issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, as per the news report. In Turbat, a protest against enforced disappearances was organised by the Baloch Students Organization (BSO) and families of missing persons, addressing "state oppression and violence towards the Baloch nation". The protesters said the primary purpose of their demonstration was to unveil the "state's oppressive" actions against the Baloch people on both national and international levels. They called on the civilised nations to take action to prevent further injustice and oppression faced by the people of Balochistan, Balochistan Post reported. The participants in the Turbat protest also underscored the need for the state to reassess its policies before the situation worsens further. They highlighted the resilience of the Baloch people, who have a long history of resisting oppression and are determined to ensure their survival. In Khuzdar, families of forcibly disappeared individuals held a protest on Eid and called for the safe return of their relatives and accountability for those responsible for the enforced disappearances. As per the Balochistan Post report, the protest, held at Shaheed Abdul Razzaq Chowk, was reportedly met with harassment from Frontier Corps personnel. Grieving families expressed their distress over forced disappearances by state authorities, opting to protest instead of celebrating Eid. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Patna, May 30: A probe has been launched after the Railway Protection Force (RPF) received a call threatening to blow up the Patna railway junction. The RPF, along with the General Railway Police (GRP), immediately swung into action late on Monday night and launched a search operation after the call, which turned out to be a hoax. Intensive search operations were carried out across all 10 platforms late on Monday night. The officials also searched the baggage of passengers on the platforms as well as in the trains that were arriving. The RPF also took the help of bomb and dog squads during the search operation. XXX Porn Clip Played at Patna Railway Junction's TV Screen, RPF Registers Case After 'Blue Film' Video Goes Viral! "On receiving a threatening call to blow up Patna Junction railway station, we immediately launched a search operation on all platforms, waiting halls, rest rooms, washrooms, clock room, parking area apart from the baggage of passengers on board trains as well as on the platforms. Nothing could be found," said Vipin Chaturvedi, inspector of RPF Patna. Bomb Threat to DPS: Delhi Public School Gets Another Threatening Mail, Turns Out To Be Hoax. The security agencies of Patna have received threatening calls in the past. The official said that they are on the high alert. "We have informed the higher authorities as well as Patna police. Efforts are on to trace the call," he said. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 30, 2023 11:51 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). The new law contains a provision that would punish "aggravated homosexuality" with the death penalty. The legislation has been met with broad international condemnation.Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed new anti-LGBTQ legislation on Monday. Also Read | Canada: Thousands Evacuated Due to Halifax Wildfires. Museveni "has assented to the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023. It now becomes the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023," the Ugandan presidency said on Twitter. Also Read | Delhi Shocker: Garment Shop Owner Shot, His Two Sons Thrashed and Stabbed by Four in Laxmi Nagar (Watch Video). Uganda's 'Anti-Homosexuality Act' Uganda's head of state had called on lawmakers to amend the bill, and a new draft of the legislation was presented earlier this month. The amended version clarifies that merely identifying as gay would not be cause for imprisonment. Museveni had also advised lawmakers to remove a provision that made "aggravated homosexuality" subject to capital punishment, but this suggestion was rejected by Uganda's parliament. The provision pertains to repeat offenders and those found to have had sex while HIV-positive. Uganda has not carried out capital punishment in many years. Same-sex relations were already illegal in Uganda under a law that dates back to the British colonial period. The new law introduces a 20-year sentence for "promoting" homosexuality. "With a lot of humility, I thank my colleagues the Members of Parliament for withstanding all the pressure from bullies and doomsday conspiracy theorists in the interest of our country," parliament speaker Anita Among said. However, Ugandan LGBT rights activist Clare Byarugaba said it was "a very dark and sad day for Uganda." "We shall continue to fight this atrocious legislation through the judiciary until human rights for all are upheld," she said. "We shall win, because as Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us, the moral arc of the universe always bends towards justice." Law draws international condemnation The new law has been widely condemned by rights groups and Western countries. US President Joe Biden slammed the new legislation, branding it a "tragic violation of universal human rights." He threatened to cut US aid and investment in Uganda, calling for the law's immediate repeal. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the UN's HIV/AIDS program and the US AIDS relief program all expressed concern over the harmful impact of the newly signed law. Amnesty International said that the law "flagrantly violates the human rights of LGBTI people in Uganda, including the right to a private life, protection against discrimination and the right to equal protection before the law." The British Foreign Office said it was "appalled" by the new law, while Canada's foreign minister called it "abhorrent, cruel and unjust." International partnerships under threat The new law has also jeopardized Uganda's international standing. "This law is contrary to international human rights law and to Uganda's obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, including commitments on dignity and non-discrimination, and the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment," EU foreign policy chief Josip Borrell said in a statement. "The Ugandan government has an obligation to protect all of its citizens and uphold their basic rights. Failure to do so will undermine relationships with international partners." When Museveni signed a less restrictive anti-LGBTQ law in 2014, Western governments suspended some aid, reduced security cooperation with Uganda and imposed stronger visa restrictions on its citizens. zc, sdi/kb (Reuters, AFP, AP) (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 30, 2023 06:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). On 28 May Mexicos national human rights commission (CNDH) raised concerns over allegations that deputy interior minister for human rights, Alejandro Encinas, had been spied on using Pegasus spyware. Analysis: The CNDH is the latest human rights organisation to raise concerns over the allegations, which were published as part of an investigation by the New York Times on 22 May. Although the investigation does not detail who was allegedly spying on Encinas a close ally of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador it does state that he was allegedly targeted using Pegasus. This follows other recent claims that the defence ministry (Sedena) has spied on civilians using Pegasus during the current administration. Although Lopez Obrador has downplayed the allegations, the incident will heighten scrutiny on the armys alleged use of Pegasus, as well as the amount of oversight the government has over Sedena, given the seniority of Encinas position. The CNDH issued a statement expressing concerns that these kinds of practices [spying] could target a high-level official, as well as ordinary citizens. The commission said it had been investigating spying, particularly using Pegasus, for months following complaints from human rights defenders (HRDs) and NGOs. However, it noted it has not found concrete evidence that the federal government was using Pegasus or engaging in spying. The New York Times said that Encinas was targeted by Pegasus as recently as last year, according to four people who spoke to Encinas about the spying and an independent forensic analysis. It recalled previous accusations by NGOs that the army has used Pegasus to spy on those investigating rights abuses and that Encinas has been critical of the armed forces. In a press conference on 23 May, Lopez Obrador said that Encinas had told him he had probably been spied on. He said he told Encinas not to give it any importance as his government did not spy on anyone. Human rights organisations including local human rights group Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustin Pro Juarez (Prodh) have criticised Lopez Obradors response to the allegations. Looking Ahead: Rights groups are calling for an investigation into the allegations surrounding the armed forces use of Pegasus. On 24 May, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Mexico tweeted that the new revelations, in addition to previous ones, deserve to be investigated in a diligent, independent, exhaustive and impartial manner by civilian bodies. On 29 May Venezuelas Presidenttravelled to Brazil where he was warmly welcomed by President, who signalled a rapprochement with the Maduro administration after the hostility that characterised bilateral ties under his predecessor,(2019-2023). End of preview - This article contains approximately 605 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options The authorities have arrested an individual believed to be linked to five Arizona shooting incidents over the weekend, which resulted in the tragic loss of four lives and one injury. The shootings, spanning across Mesa and Phoenix, transpired on Friday and Saturday, as detailed by official sources. The 20-year-old Iren Byers, the Arizona shooting suspect, was taken into custody on Sunday, facing four charges of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder in connection with the previous shootings, according to an official press release by the Mesa Police Department. Law enforcement officials have determined that Byers bears sole responsibility for the entire string of shootings, with his admission of guilt during questioning, as stated in the official statement. Amanda Martin, the Capital Unit Attorney Supervisor for the Maricopa County Office of the Public Defender, has confirmed to CNN via telephone that an attorney from the office, designated for on-call duty, has visited Byers. Byers will be legally represented by one of the attorneys affiliated with the office. READ NEXT: Arizona Shooting Kills 2, Injures 5 Why Did the Arizona Shooting Suspect Shoot the Victims? In Mesa, a 36-year-old woman was found with gunshot wounds at the Main and Stewart Streets intersection early on Saturday morning. Despite sustaining life-threatening injuries, she was in stable condition and was scheduled for surgery, NBC News noted. The shootings appear random, and the suspected Arizona gunman, Iren Byers, is believed to have had various motives, according to Mesa police spokeswoman Detective Brandi George. Authorities also suspect the presence of mental illness in the case. Byers admitted to shooting the injured woman, stating that he became upset after talking to her. Allegedly, he shot her in the face and shot her again when he realized she was still alive. In another incident, Byers encountered a man in Phoenix and claimed to have shot him in the head because he disliked fentanyl, as his brother had abused the drug. Byers told investigators that the victim was unarmed and posed no threat to him, prompting him to board a bus after the crime. At Beverly Park, a 41-year-old, Julian Cox, was found dead, while another 41-year-old, Stephen Young, was discovered deceased near a bus station on South Country Club Road. In addition, the body of John Swain, 40, was found in South Extension Road after 2 am while the police were searching the area. Byers allegedly shot the individual at Beverly Park because he discussed "blues," which refers to fentanyl-laced counterfeit opioid pills. Similarly, the victim found on South Country Club Road was shot by Byers because he wanted to smoke "blues," while Byers preferred weeds. The two men had encountered each other while using the light rail system. Meanwhile, Byers claimed he shot the man he encountered on the railway tracks near South Extension Road in the head because "he was homeless and not from around here." Byers "followed him to continue shooting him" even after the victim slid down a nearby hill, according to the probable cause statement Arizona Shooting Suspect Admitted the Killings and Is Cooperative with the Police In a collaborative effort between Phoenix and Mesa law enforcement agencies, it has been established, based on compelling evidence such as the 9mm firearm used in the shootings, the suspect's clothing, and his physical description, that a single shooter was responsible for all five incidents, as stated in the probable cause statement. During an unrelated arrest, Byers admitted to shooting all five victims and expressed his lack of intent to seek assistance for them, deeming them undeserving, according to the statement. Byers allegedly provided information to the police regarding the location of the handgun and clothes used during the crimes, KAKE noted. Detective Brandi George expressed her condolences to the families of the four victims in an email, stating, "We are saddened for the families of these four victims. Knowing that Iren Byers will have to face the consequences of his unjustified actions is the start of justice to be seen." Following his apprehension, Byers, the Arizona shooting suspect, has been booked by the Mesa Police Department and is currently being held without the possibility of bond. READ MORE: Escaped Inmate Found Dead in Ohio River This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: 4 dead in string of Mesa, Phoenix 'horrific' shootings - From FOX 10 Phoenix Amid mixed sentiments surrounding his socialist government's alleged human rights violations, President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela received a warm welcome from Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during his visit to the presidential palace in Brasilia. Lula greeted Maduro with a hug and a friendly backslap, and an honor guard met them. Lula expressed that Venezuela has historically been an exceptional partner for Brazil but cited political circumstances and past mistakes that prevented Maduro from visiting Brazil over the past eight years, per France 24. During a news conference, Lula emphasized the significance of Maduro's presence, acknowledging the improvement in bilateral relations. During the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro from 2019 to 2022, Brazil severed diplomatic ties with the Maduro regime and aligned itself with the United States and around 50 other countries in recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president. This move followed the widely criticized 2018 elections in Venezuela, which were deemed fraudulent. Since assuming office in January, Lula has pursued a foreign policy reform that includes reestablishing ties with Maduro's administration. Inviting Maduro to Brazil for a summit of South American leaders, Lula referred to the Venezuelan leader's arrival as the beginning of his political resurgence and a fresh chapter in the relationship between the two nations. Lula further expressed his belief that denying Maduro's legitimacy as Venezuela's president was unjust when he was elected by the people, condemning the prejudice against the neighboring country's government. Meanwhile, Maduro celebrated the start of a "new era" between Brazil and Venezuela, emphasizing the importance of unity between the two nations. READ NEXT: Brazil Criminal Gang Busted Over Plans to Attack Public Servants Maduro, Lula Slam US Sanctions on Venezuela During a regional South American conference in Brasilia on Monday, Venezuela's Maduro and Brazil's Lula took the opportunity to criticize the United States for imposing sanctions on their respective countries. Maduro expressed his hope that the conference would advocate for lifting these sanctions. Despite international recognition of Maduro as an authoritarian leader accused of suppressing free elections, Lula, a fellow socialist, came to his defense and criticized the United States for what he deemed "extremely exaggerated" sanctions, Reuters noted. Lula disclosed that he had discussions with the United States and fellow Social Democrats regarding the legality of Maduro's presidency and the "900 sanctions" Venezuela faces. He found it ludicrous that Maduro's status as the legitimate president of Venezuela is denied. Maduro Improves Relationships with Other Left-Wing Leaders Lula's recent embrace of the Maduro administration follows a broader trend among leftist leaders in the region seeking to repair relations with Venezuela, which was previously isolated by the international community due to allegations of political oppression and curtailment of civil liberties, according to Al Jazeera. In Colombia, under the leadership of left-leaning President Gustavo Petro, who assumed office in August 2022, there was a notable shift away from the aggressive approach adopted by his conservative predecessor Ivan Duque. This resulted in improved relations between Colombia and Venezuela. The two nations have taken steps to restore diplomatic ties and are actively working towards strengthening their relationship, including initiatives aimed at reducing barriers along their shared border. Petro and Maduro held a face-to-face meeting in Caracas, Venezuela, signifying a renewed engagement between the two countries in November. However, it is worth noting that both Colombia and Venezuela have recently announced plans to increase their military presence along the border, recognizing the area as a hotspot for various illicit activities. This move underscores the ongoing challenges in maintaining security and stability in the region. READ MORE: Guatemala Presidential Candidate Carlos Pineda Disqualified This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Lula's first day: Brazilian president meets with world leaders - From Al Jazeera English In his Memorial Day address delivered at Arlington National Cemetery, President Joe Biden has passionately called upon Americans to honor and remember the profound sacrifices made to safeguard democracy, according to USA Today. Emphasizing the unwavering commitment of the armed forces, Biden stressed that they have bravely fought and, if necessary, made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve American democracy. Following a solemn wreath-laying ceremony adorned with flowers and a patriotic red, white, and blue bow at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Biden highlighted the enduring impact of their service and the profound resonance it carries. The president also noted that it is the responsibility of every American to ensure that the sacrifices made were not in vain. He urged the nation to unite, emphasizing that the collective effort is essential for upholding the survival of democracy, the sanctity of the Constitution, and the preservation of "our decency." As he reflected on the fallen heroes, Biden reminded the audience that they are not merely the fortunate beneficiaries of their legacy. Instead, they must embrace the role of custodians of their mission and carry forward the flame of freedom. READ NEXT: Joe Biden Family Probe Pres. Joe Biden Mourns Son Beau's Death President Joe Biden commemorated Memorial Day with a heartfelt tribute, sharing his personal experience of loss and honoring the memory of his late son, Beau Biden, during his remarks at the Arlington National Ceremony, Fox News reports. Recognizing the indelible sacrifices made to defend America's democratic system, Biden underscored the importance of never forgetting those whose lives are memorialized by the array of flags, flowers, and marble markers adorned the hallowed grounds. He conveyed a poignant message: "Everyone here is somebody's mom or dad, brother or sister, wife or husband, friend or neighbor. Every headstone and marker is a life, a story, a loved one." Beau Biden, the eldest son of President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, tragically passed away from brain cancer in 2015 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Serving with the Delaware Army National Guard, Major Beau Biden had also been deployed to Iraq. The president often references his son's battle with cancer as the driving force behind his signing of the PACT Act, aimed at enhancing healthcare benefits for soldiers exposed to hazardous substances from "burn pits" during their service in Iraq. In a display of empathy for Gold Star families, President Biden acknowledged that the following day marked the eighth anniversary of his son's untimely death. His remarks served as a poignant reminder that the pain of loss endured by those who have lost loved ones in service to the nation never diminishes. Trump Wishes Memorial Day to Those Fighting' Misfits and Lunatic Thugs' Across the Nation While President Joe Biden honors the fallen soldiers, former president Donald Trump conveyed his good wishes for a tranquil and contemplative Memorial Day while also sharing his concerns about the current state of the nation, per The Hill. In a message posted on Truth Social, Trump expressed gratitude to those who sacrificed for the country. He extended his support to those actively combating the threats posed by terrorists, misfits, and individuals he referred to as "lunatic thugs" who, in his view, are working diligently from within to dismantle the greatness of the United States. Trump's message on his social media platform emphasized his belief that America is facing unprecedented peril. Urging his followers to remain vigilant, he called upon them to oppose what he called "communists, Marxists, and fascist pigs" at every opportunity, with the overarching goal of restoring America's greatness. READ MORE: US Default Deadline Adjusted This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: President Joe Biden leads tributes for fallen heroes on Memorial Day - From WFAA Vicious gangs like MS-13 have been a problem for El Salvador for years. Now, former Salvadoran President Mauricio has been sentenced to 14 years in prison on Monday for even negotiating with these gangs as the current Nayib Bukele administration continues its intense but widely popular gang crackdowns. Funes is now living in Nicaragua and was absent throughout his trial. However, El Salvador changed its laws and allowed trials to be held even if the defendant was not present. This meant that the government was free to prosecute the ex-president, with his trial beginning last April. According to the Associated Press, Funes was accused of illicit association and failure to perform his duties. This was in connection to his truce negotiation with the Salvadoran gangs back in 2012 while he was still in office. Former Funes administration security minister, Gen. David Munguia Payes, was also sentenced to 18 years in prison over his involvement in the negotiations. The former minister stated that his trial was full of irregularities and that he is a political prisoner. He also claims that the accusations against him have no foundation. Ex-President Funes himself released a statement following his sentencing, saying, "In my opinion, the sentence, insofar as it refers to me, is illegal, doesn't have legal foundation; the sentence of General Munguia Payes seem unjust to me," adding that the state failed to justify the charges against his former security minister. Mauricio Funes served as El Salvador's president from 2009 to 2014 before fleeing to Nicaragua and getting citizenship there in 2019. One of his administration's highlights was negotiating with these powerful street gangs like MS-13 to lower the homicide rate in exchange for benefits. However, the El Salvador Supreme Court ruled that these gangs were terrorist organizations in 2015. El Salvador Continues Brutal Crackdowns Against Violent Gangs So far, the violent crackdowns against these street gangs in El Salvador have been violent, and President Nayib Bukele announced that they are launching a new offensive last Sunday, which was just twelve days after a policeman was killed. READ NEXT: El Salvador Opens Mega Prison For Imprisoned Gang Members Police officer Maximo Vasquez was murdered by one of these gangs, and this has led to Bukele ordering 5,000 soldiers and 500 police to besiege the town of Nueva Concepcion, which has a big gang presence in a town with a population of 30,000 people, according to the Tico Times. The gang cell responsible for the policeman's murder was reportedly destroyed, and its leader was arrested. However, the country is still in a state of emergency, with Bukele ordering towns to be besieged by police and military on a regular basis to root out these gangs. El Salvador Gang Crackdown Has Now Resulted in 153 People Dying in Custody While Bukele's gang crackdowns have proven to be approved by the majority of the populace, human rights groups were crying foul over what authorities have been doing to gang members in custody. This includes the human rights group Cristosal, which just released a detailed 107-page report about the abuses done by Salvadoran authorities. According to The Guardian, the rights group confirmed that 153 people had died in custody since Bukele started the crackdowns. Of these deaths, 29 had been violent, while another 46 were considered as such. The group also added that most of the bodies of those who died showed torture, beatings, or strangulation. The group also has evidence to back up these claims of rights abuses, such as photographs and mortuary reports that showed that the bodies of those who died while in custody had "asphyxiation, [bone] fractures, significant bruising, lacerations, and even perforations." There were also signs that some of those who died in custody had died of malnutrition. READ MORE: El Salvador: Military and Police Surround Town to Root Out MS-13 Gang Members This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Alleged gang members arrive at new mega-prison in El Salvador - NBC News Mexico's ordeal with its Popocatepetl volcano, located near its capital, Mexico City, is not over yet. The 17,800-foot-tall volcano has raised alarm bells again as ash continues to fall like snow in nearby areas. The volcano previously had a lull in activities, but scientists have reported that activity picked up once again by Friday and Saturday, according to Aztec Reports. Since the Popocatepetl volcano started billowing, citizens have been on edge as the volcano has been spewing ash that has already covered four states, including Mexico state where the capital is. The ashfall has already disrupted flights and shut down airports around Mexico City. The other states affected by "El Popo" since it started billowing and having small eruptions last week are Puebla, Morelos, and Tlaxcala, all of which are in Central Mexico. The rumblings became such a cause for concern that it forced the government to declare a "yellow alert stage 3" on May 21, which was the last phase before red alert when an all-out evacuation of the surrounding area is ordered. Mexico Residents Still Worried About Possible Popocatepetl Volcano Eruption The Mexican government has called on citizens to remain calm as they are constantly monitoring the volcano. However, the BBC reported that residents are still very much worried that Popocatepetl would still erupt despite the brief lull last week. Volcanic ash has been blanketing parts of Mexico, especially in Central Mexico, with residents being forced to wear masks once again to avoid inhaling the toxic ash. They have also been told to remain calm and alert as the government continues to monitor the situation. READ NEXT: Mexico's Most Dangerous Volcano Emits Ash, Sparks Evacuation Warning So far, the Mexican government has already sent soldiers in advance to aid in the possible evacuation of the areas near Popocatepetl. The government has also already prepared evacuation routes and shelters in case a massive eruption occurs. Mexico Government Continues To Monitor Popocatepetl Popocatepetl is considered one of the most monitored volcanoes, as it might affect millions of people living near it, including one of the most populous cities in the world, Mexico City. The volcano can be seen from the capital as it continues to billow and spew toxic ash, raising concerns among the populace for a possible catastrophe. A team of scientists and even law enforcement have been monitoring the volcano as closely as possible since it first reawakened in 1994. This includes Nefi de Aquino, a former farmer who is now a member of the Puebla state police and is considered an expert on the volcano of sorts. He was already in his 40s when "El Popo" reawakened in 1994, and he was still a farmer living near the volcano at that time. However, VOA News reported that soon after, he became a police officer with one specific job, and that was to watch Popocatepetl and report everything he saw to authorities and scientists. The threat of "El Popo" was so big that it prompted a collaboration between residents, researchers, and scientists to constantly monitor the volcano and look for signs of a possible eruption. With this latest rumbling, de Aquino has been busy sending digital photographs and recording his observations. He is just one of the many who are working on the monitoring process, as scientists have also installed cameras and other devices to monitor "El Popo." READ MORE: Jalisco New Generation Cartel's Timeshare Fraud Network Sanctioned This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: This Week in Volcano News; Status of the Mexico City Volcano, Unrest at Bulusan - GeologyHub Yet another mass shooting has occurred in the United States, this time in Hollywood, Florida after several gunmen shot up a beach broadwalk, injuring nine people, including a one-year-old child and other minors. According to USA Today, gunfire erupted along a busy beach boardwalk filled with people in Hollywood, Florida during Memorial Day. Police soon responded at around 6:42 pm. When they arrived on the scene, they found nine people had been shot. Hollywood Police Department spokesperson Deanna Bettineschi stated that the victims were immediately transported to Memorial Regional Hospital and Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. Eight of those who were shot were in stable condition, while one required surgery. Videos of the Hollywood, Florida Memorial Day shooting incident soon surfaced on social media, and they showed emergency medical crews responding and providing emergency aid to several injured people. As for the minors, there were four reportedly shot, with ages ranging from 17 to a one-year-old baby. However, a police spokesperson confirmed that all of them were in stable condition. Meanwhile, the adults who were shot had ages between 25 and 65. Latest Florida Shooting May Be Because of Two Warring Criminal Gangs Hollywood Police Chief Chris O'Brien held a press conference soon after the victims were taken to the hospital. He admitted that thousands of people were in the area during the shooting, as it was a holiday. He also stated that dozens of police officers responded, including officers who were nearby. The Florida police chief also revealed that the shooting was the result of a confrontation between two criminal gangs. "It's unfortunate we have law-abiding citizens who come to our beaches and that gets interrupted by a group of criminals," he said. READ NEXT: Florida Killer Clown Case: Woman Pleads Guilty to Shooting Another Woman Dead One of the witnesses, Alvie Carlton Scott III, told the Associated Press that he was on the beach when the gunfire started. Soon after, Scott admitted that he hid behind a tree before fleeing the scene after a police officer told people to run. Another witness told the outlet that he saw "several young men" fighting in front of a convenience store. One of them pulled a gun and started shooting. At Least One Person of Interest in Florida Shooting Detained At least one gun was pulled during the confrontation, and it was not clear if both sides shot at each other. However, Hollywood police have already confirmed that at least one individual of interest has already been detained. According to CNN, police are still searching for an additional suspect. He is described to be a Black man with dreadlocks and wearing a black short-sleeve shirt and camo shorts. Police are also looking for several others involved in the altercation. The investigation is ongoing. The police have asked people to avoid the area where the shooting happened, which is near Johnson Street and North Boardwalk. Authorities have also set up a family assistance center nearby. 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: VIDEO: Shooting near beach in Hollywood, Florida sends beachgoers running - 10 Tampa Bay Self-Talk Tuneup Words have energy because of what they mean to us, which changes with the times. The Libra moon has us harmonizing with verbiage today. Be mindful of your vocabulary choices, especially in self-talk. What gives you energy? What brings you down? A conscious effort to improve how you speak to and about yourself will be life-changing. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Take the first step today and fate will shoulder some of the weight. As you work, youll open yourself up to new opportunities and possibilities. Youll do your part and put in the effort, then destiny will meet you halfway. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Even if its uncomfortable, take the time to address contrasting opinions and find some common ground. Who knows, you might just learn something new and deepen your relationships in the process! LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your mind is aglow and firing ideas, from the dreamy to the practical, logical, playful and more. The day will provide a steady stream of fuel to keep the intensity manageable and prevent you from flaming out. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Youll feel the need for more organization. Theres no method out there that will work perfectly for you. Youll do well to experiment with mixing and blending different systems to find one that fits where youre at these days. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). What youre considering will be done with the mindset of shooting your shot or, in other words, attempting something unlikely. If it takes very little effort, the only thing at stake is your confidence, which is high today, so you can afford the risk. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Avoid situations that come with giving others too much power over you. Everyone is learning. Dont assume that someone who has more experience than you in a certain area is going to know more than you in other areas. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Core qualities like determination, perseverance and resilience are what truly define someone. Even if someone is currently facing failure, if they have the grit and determination to keep pushing forward, thats what really matters. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). First, you notice something curious. Soon, youre interested and, if the subject is worthy, you quickly become fascinated. Everything will seem to speed up as you close in on your orbit. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Shocker -- loved ones dont always see eye to eye with you. Dont dive into differences; tiptoe instead. While its hard to tiptoe wearing clown shoes, add humor anyway. Youll laugh, then awkwardly waddle back to common ground. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). When you take a chance and it doesnt work out, as embarrassing or painful as this may be, its still a far better state than the apathy and boredom that comes of a risk-free life. Fortune favors the bold. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Youll have multiple points to tend to, which can only be handled one at a time. The first thing to do is list everything, then prioritize. The right order will be twice as productive than the wrong one. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You know what youre going for, and you could definitely get lucky and find it within a few attempts. But youll be much more successful if you give yourself more options. Find a dozen or 20, then choose the best. TODAYS BIRTHDAY (May 30). Youll be channeling your creative talents in new and exciting ways that will blow your own mind and impress all your friends. Youll also expand your social circle with quirky and fascinating folks who share your passions and values. More highlights: a career milestone and a positive change to your routine that will have you feeling like a superhero. Aries and Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 7, 10, 5, 38 and 16. CELEBRITY PROFILES: Idina Menzel will join Adam Sandler for a second time (the first was Uncut Gems) to star in the upcoming comedy You are SO Not Invited to my Bat Mitzvah. Equally at home in drama and comedy, she is perhaps best known for iconic vocal moments in musicals like Rent, Wicked and Frozen. Menzel is a versatile Gemini born when Mercury, Venus and Saturn were in Taurus, the sign of the voice. Her moon is in entertaining Leo. Holiday Mathis debut novel, How To Fail Epically in Hollywood, is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and ebook. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com. COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM A newly released rendering shows the concept for a six-story, 240-apartment building proposed on what is now an industrial lot on Southside Bethlehem. The Bethlehem City Council Community and Economic Development Committee on May 23 voted to send to the full council the developers request to rezone the lot to permit the apartment proposal to move forward. The nearly 4-acre parcel at 119 Technology Drive would be rezoned under the proposal from Industrial Redevelopment to Central Business. Council members earlier in May delayed voting on the rezoning, opting for the committee review. The council next meets June 6, when the rezoning ordinance is likely to come up for the first of two required votes on approval. Several residents spoke out at the committee meeting against the rezoning, arguing the property should remain in use for jobs rather than market-rate apartments. Kevin Serfass, vice president with North Whitehall Township-based Serfass Development & Acquisitions that is behind the proposal, continued to press his case before the council committee that the development would revitalize an underused property and bring in new residents who would support local businesses and the Southsides arts district. IQE in a September filing with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry said it planned to close its operation on the property by the end of 2024. The company is consolidating its activities to its site in Greensboro, North Carolina, city officials said. The real estate broker for the site said two years of trying to find a new industrial user have failed. Serfass estimated the investment in the new development being called The Emery Apartments at around $62 million, and said it would generate about $600,000 in new annual tax revenue and some 400 construction jobs. If the rezoning is approved, the proposed apartments would still need to proceed through the citys land development process before construction could proceed. The property was developed as a Bethlehem Technology Center. IQE was known as QED when it moved in from the Ben Franklin Technology Partners incubator at Lehigh University in 1994. A merger in 1999 created the name IQE. The company describes itself as a leading supplier of products and solutions for the semiconductor industry. Its history dates to the operations of the former Bethlehem Steel Corp., and the property is subject to an environmental covenant that bars residential uses there following industrial uses in the area dating to the 19th century. A DEP narrative of a Feb. 3 videoconference with Serfass and their environmental consultant, HDR, says the environmental covenant will be revised to permit the proposed residential use. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. You dont have to be a genius to manage money well, but it may take someone with expertise to make access to banking a tad easier and one Easton area teen with engineers for parents just might fit the bill. Meet Okezue Bell, the 17-year-old founder of Fidutam, a micro-financing, block-chain phone application created for the sole purpose of eliminating barriers to standard banking for people who qualify as asset-limited, income constrained, but employed (ALICE) and unbanked. In short, Fidutam gives loans to people who might not otherwise even qualify to open up a bank account at a formal bank or credit union, at no interest at all. And last month, the company received $15,000 through the Prudential Emerging Visionaries program to continue its work, which already supports some 750 unbanked people around the world, including in Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria and 100 users in the U.S., Bell said. The Emerging Visionaries program is hosted annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the social entrepreneurship network Ashoka, and advisory support from the Financial Health Network. The program recognizes young people between 14 and 18 years old across the United States for leading initiatives that result in fresh, innovative solutions to todays financial and societal challenges, according to the programs website. Twenty-five grant winners were named in February. Each earned a $5,000 award and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Emerging Visionaries Summit, where five of them, including Bell, were selected to pitch their businesses for advancing financial equity to a panel of judges. They were each, then, awarded $10,000 each. Fidutam is currently in its Beta stages, Bell said. According to a report by the Financial Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), in the U.S. alone, nearly 6 million households (4.6% of U.S. households) qualified as unbanked in 2021, which means no one in the household had access to a checking or savings account at a bank or credit union. Globally, the World Bank estimates no fewer than 1.4 billion fall under the umbrella of unbanked or underbanked. Its called the unbanked crisis, Bell said. That means thats how much economic potential is being lost, not just in America, but across the world, Bell said. And unfortunately, it happens to be most affecting people who are already in vulnerable situations refugees, oftentimes people of color and immigrants. Resolving roots of being unbanked The causes for being unbanked are numerous. They range from unexpected job loss and account closures to not meeting minimum banking requirements to open a bank account, or simply not having proper identification, and, in some cases, illiteracy. Fidutam works by resolving all of those obstacles from the start, Bell says. Fidutam users only need a phone, a selfie and a name. Then a program designed by Bell does the rest. Users approved to open a Fidutam account can receive a phone that runs the program from participating nonprofits that help Bell screen applicants. The user-provided selfie is used to generate a unique, encrypted account number and thats it, Bell said. Block-chain encryption is considered by some to be more secure than standard banking security systems because the data is decentralized, according to reports. Fidutam users can then begin requesting sums as high as $100 to use for individual needs or businesses. At the moment, the company is prioritizing applicants who identify themselves as future or current business owners and who intend to use the lending system to support their companies, Bell said. Members typically sign a one-year repayment agreement. Bell said he heard back from one Fidutam user in the Bronx, New York, who worked full-time as a machine operator in a factory. He said the member used her microloan to finance a purchase of plain, steel-toed boots, which she customized and then resold to her coworkers at a profit. Fifty dollars can be as useful as an individual chooses to make it, he said. And if an individual is really determined and supported appropriately, they can grow that investment pretty significantly. Outside of the U.S, in places like Kenya where $100 is worth ten times its U.S. value in Kenyan shillings, the impact of the program has crazy implications, Bell says. According to one unbanked Kenyan member piloting the program, having the unique, self-sovereign identity (SSI) code (or encrypted ID number) created by Fidutam allowed her to get more work as a birthing assistant because the code was considered equivalent to having a bank account. But Bell insists this is not banking for low-income people. Its a banking strategy in a time of economic crisis that could help low-income people gain enough capital to enter the formal banking system, he said: Were trying to integrate them into the economy, rather than create a new economy just for them. And then theres still the lingering question. What happens to loans that dont get repaid? Bell says his company eats the loss. I think thats one of the beauties of microloaning, he said. Its not a big deal if we lose $75 or $100. Now if we kept losing $100, it would be an issue but thats part of the reason were specific about the individuals we work with and why we work through on-ground nonprofits to help us vet individuals. Interested in learning more microfinancing? Heres a video to learn more about how the system is being used to benefit low-income and economically siloed individuals around the world. Founding Fidutam Learning new things is Okezue Bells passion. The evidence of that is scattered around his work room at his parents home in Palmer Township, where he keeps his wires and gadgets, books and 3D-printed, mechanical models of various prosthetics hes building. It only takes Bell a moment before hes off and chasing his next endeavor and taking what he learns to create a solution to someone elses problem, and founding Fidutam wasnt any different. The Fidutam that Bell works on today wasnt the original vision, he said. The company initially got its start as a credit card security program in 2020 for the sake of a high school business competition through the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), in which Bell and his classmate and cofounder Wisdom Ufondo came in fifth place. The duo didnt make it to the international portion, Bell says, but they were not disheartened. They knew they were on the right track, so they went back to the drawing board. The next year they not only made it to the international round, they also took the top prize. But something was still missing for Bell. He wanted to see a heftier social impact come from the company, he said. We were seeing so many, not only racial, but socioeconomic disparities still being perpetuated here in the U.S. and from the way I saw it, it all boiled down to finances and it boiled down to a lack of presence in traditional banking and the formal economy and things of that nature for unbanked people, Bell said. Some conversations on microlending with unbanked people in Uganda, showed Bell, who was the sole founder of the new business at this point, all he needed to see. The women were using the microlending system to support businesses as traditional birth attendants, so they could make a profit, he said. He took what he learned from those conversations, plus discussions with groups like Bank on Allentown, Bank on Chicago and JPMorgan Chase launched the latest version of Fidutam. Fidutam is a portmanteau of two latin words which roughly translate to security and safety. In his latest venture, Bell said, he was inspired to carry over the name because he wanted to keep the original inspiration for Fidutam alive. The idea for Fidutam idea was not mine, Bell said. I like to say it was actually the idea of unbanked people who voiced their concerns to me, and I only converted that into technology. In the fall, Bell says hell take his passions into pursuing math and electrical engineering through the Symbolic Systems Program at Stanford University. Bell graduated this month from Moravian Academy. Bell is also the founder of WeArm, a low-cost prosthetic arm Bell advises Perfect Day alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, the American Lung Association, the United Nations, and more on climate and education policy, and hosts STEM workshops that have reached more than 65,000 students across 42 countries and 75,000 students across 80 countries and 27 states overall. Hes also published graduate-level research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Research Science Institute and Harvard University. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Glenn Epps can be reached at gepps@lehighvalleylive.com or glenn_epps_on Twitter. A man brought a mobile phone into the Midlands Prison in his underwear. Rory Cooke, 24, of Coleman Lane, Arthurstown, New Ross, Wexford was charged with supplying a person with a telecommunications device at the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise on May 13 last. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the man had the phone wrapped in blu tack in his underwear at the prison. He said the man has no previous convictions. Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client was single and in the third year of an electrical apprenticeship. Shs said he had addiction issues in the past and had attended rehab for a time. The person he was visiting was serving a lengthy sentence, said Ms Fitzpatrick. She said her client is working night and day to ensure he completes his apprenticeship. He is putting his best foot forward, Ms Fitzpatrick said. She explained that her client was pleading guilty and had brought 1,000 to court. Judge Andrew Cody noted former Prison Governor Michael Donnellan had described contraband as the greatest scourge in Irish prisons. I regard this as a serious offence. These are not ones that I will take with a charitable contribution, he said. He said a strike out of charges was not an option for any case of bringing either drugs or phones into a prison. He sentenced the man to two months and suspended the sentence for three years. He fixed recognisance in case of appeal. An appeal was lodged after the case was heard. Men outnumber women in Laois where the population grew by 8% between 2016 and 2022 to 91,877, latest census figures reveal. The figures show there are 46,278 males to 45,599 females in the county, or 101 for every 100, in contrast with national picture which shows women outnumber men with 2,604,590 females to 2,544,549 males or 98 males for every 100 females. The 8% increase in population, 7,180 in Laois, is in line with the 8% rise nationally from 4,761,865 to 5,149,139. The latest release of 2022 census figures show the county populations average age has increased to 37.3 up from 35.6 in 2016 but lower than the national average of 38.8 up from 37.4 in 2016. The number of people aged 65 and over continues to grow. This age group increased by 25% to 11,978 in Laois, or 13% of the population, and by 22% to 776,315 at a national level since 2016. In 2022, 84% of people in Laois stated that their health was good or very good compared with 87% in 2016. This is a similar trend to the national figures, which showed a 4% decrease in the good/very good categories, from 87% to 83%. The proportion of separated and divorced people in Laois rose slightly, at 7% of the population (aged 15 and over), compared to 6% in 2016. The national comparison was 6% in both 2022 and 2016. In 2022, in Laois 71% of households owned their own home, with a further 24% renting. This compared with 66% of households owning their home nationally and 28% renting. There were 39,934 people at work in Laois in 2022, an increase of 6,393 people (+19%) on 2016. Nationally, there were 313,656 additional people (+16%) at work. A total of 10,088 people (aged 15 and over) worked from home at least one day a week in 2022 in Laois. This represented 25% of the workforce. The national figure was 32%. A new question for Census 2022 related to childcare. There were 20,408 children aged 15 and under in Laois in April 2022. Of these, 6,977 (34%) were in childcare, compared with 33% nationally. The number of dual Irish citizens in the county increased from 1,376 to 2,527 while non-Irish citizens accounted for 10% of the countys population. Nationally, dual Irish citizenship increased by 63% from 104,784 to 170,597 people and non-Irish citizens made up 12% of the population. The number of people (aged three and over) who stated that they could speak Irish in Laois was 33,538 compared with 32,485 in 2016. Within this figure 678 said they spoke Irish daily while 1,933 spoke Irish weekly. Nationally, 1,873,997 people stated they were able to speak Irish, with 71,968 speaking Irish daily and 115,065 speaking it weekly. In line with the national figures, 19% of households wrote a message in the Time Capsule in Laois. Commenting on the results, Senior Statistician in the Census Division, Conor Halpin said: Todays Census 2022 results provide us with unique and valuable insights into the Ireland that we live in today. The first group of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war in their homeland are due in Kill shortly. A definite arrival date is not known but its likely to be in about two weeks. According to Kildare County Council cathaoirleach Fintan Brett the former equestrian centre has undergone a significant transformation and one of the issues delaying the opening is the failure of the ESB to complete its work. The premises have been painted and a new kitchen, complete with a dumb waiter has been built. There is a service area and kitchenettes. A huge amount of work has been done there, said Cllr Brett adding that the vast majority of people living in the area will welcome the refugees. Initially it is expected that about 50 families or some 150 people will arrive. In all, some 340 people will be accommodated there in 165 pod-style rooms. Read more Kildare news ABOVE: Mary ODonnell, Assistant Principal, Celbridge Community School, Co. Kildare; Stephen Dunne, Assistant Principal, Colaiste na Mi, Navan, Co. Meath, Emma Farragher, Scoil Thomais, Castleknock, Dublin 15; Niall Farrell, St. Oliver's Community College, Drogheda, Co. Louth and Rebecca Morrissey, Lucan East Educate Together NS, Co. Dublin This week, Professor Anne Looney, Executive Dean of the DCU Institute of Education, announced the names of five primary and post-primary teachers who were awarded a two-year fellowship at the university, starting in September 2023. This initiative was developed to benefit the next generation of teachers and further enhance the quality of the teaching profession in Ireland. The inaugural Teacher Fellowship programme, launched in 2021, proved extremely successful and provided Teacher Fellows with a unique opportunity to support the development of students across a range of teacher education programmes, while also undertaking postgraduate studies to include a programme at Masters or PhD level. Over the past two years, Teacher Fellows worked with DCU academic staff to support student teachers on school placement, facilitated reflective tutorials, provided workshops and lectures across numerous programmes and modules, and developed online professional learning courses for teachers. The Teacher Fellows programme is coordinated by Dr. Shivaun OBrien, Associate Dean for Professional Development and Partnerships, who said: Over the past two years, I have thoroughly enjoyed working closely with the six Teacher Fellows. It was wonderful to see their passion and drive, as well as the extensive expertise that they brought to our learners, programmes, and staff teams. With dedicated study periods, each of the Teacher Fellows has also advanced significantly in their postgraduate studies. Teacher Fellows selected for the coming two years are as follows: Stephen Dunne has been a post-primary teacher of French and English since 2007 and has worked in Colaiste na Mi, an LMETB school in Navan, for the past eight years. Stephen has been a Year Head for the past seven years as part of his role as assistant principal. He is passionate about working with newly qualified teachers, promoting student voice and leadership, and improving teacher professional practice. He is currently completing his doctoral studies in teacher education, using online professional learning communities to develop social justice education values among newly qualified teachers. Emma Farragher from Co. Galway, has worked as a primary teacher since her graduation from St.Patricks College, Drumcondra, in 2014. She currently teaches 6th class at Scoil Thomais in Castleknock. In addition to her role as a class teacher, Emma is a member of her schools Droichead Professional Support Team and currently holds an acting Assistant Principal 2 position. Emma is a passionate advocate for creativity and playful learning. She is currently undertaking a Masters in Literacy Professional Practice at DCU Institute of Education where her research project explores the potential of arts-based pedagogies to support literacy teaching and learning. Niall Farrell from Co. Louth teaches Home Economics and Biology at St. Oliver's Community College, Drogheda. Niall completed his B.Ed. in St. Angela's College and M.Ed. with a specialism in Social Justice in Maynooth University. He is passionate about diversity and inclusion in education, particularly for the LGBTI+ community. Niall has facilitated CPD in this area to teachers and student teachers and works part-time with the Professional Development Support Service for Teachers as a Home Economics Associate. Rebecca Morrissey from Co. Kildare and has been a Primary School Teacher since 2014. She has worked in the UK, Qatar and for the past four years, taught in Lucan East Educate Together. Rebecca is incredibly passionate about child-led learning and about using innovative ideas to motivate and engage all learners. She is enthusiastic to continue to learn more about best practices and initiatives to enhance students learning experiences and to equip student teachers with a range of practical ideas to use in the classroom. Mary ODonnell is from Co. Donegal and has been teaching Chemistry, Maths and Science at post-primary level since 2014. She has worked in Celbridge Community School for the past eight years and she has held an assistant principal post in teaching and learning for five years. Over the past eight years Mary has facilitated Science and Maths methodologies in Maynooth University and she has worked on the PME courses in Maynooth University and DCU. Mary is passionate about the area of Learning to Learn and she has a particular interest in supporting new teachers to navigate their first few years in the classroom. Dr Anne Looney, Executive Dean at DCUs Institute of Education, said: Our teacher fellows are now an integral part of DCUs teacher education programmes. They bring their current school experiences to our lecture halls and workshops. They support our students in navigating the complexities of contemporary primary and post-primary classrooms with their wisdom from the chalkface. And while they are with us for the two years of their fellowship, the teacher fellows get the opportunity to study for a post-graduate qualification preparing them for the next phase of their careers. It's a win-win programme and we are really proud of the innovation, unique in Irish universities." 8m in Health Capital Funding for Kildare projects in 2023, as part of the Health Capital Plan, has been welcomed by Fine Gael Kildare South TD and Minister Martin Heydon. According to Heydon, this funding is crucial for advancing key infrastructural health projects in Kildare. The funding specifically relates to 2023 allocations and covers various important initiatives some of which are already ongoing, including advancements at Naas Hospital and St. Vincent's in Athy. A total of 3.66m is allocated to Naas Hospital to assist with renovations and increasing space around St Mary's in Naas and to complete a modular unit consisting of 12 single rooms to aid in the isolation of suspected Covid 19 and other cases. 600,000 has also been allocated to Naas Hospital progress plans for a new 50-bed Acute mental health unit to replace Lakeview. Mr Heydon said: "At St. Vincent's in Athy, 560k will be allocated to progress plans for renovating an existing vacant nightingale ward, converting it into a Day Care Centre. The existing Day Care Centre will be relocated to the refurbished area, and 1.2m will be allocated for a Community Nursing Unit, replacing existing capacity as per the Service Priority List. "An amount of 1.44m has been designated for the renovation of the existing dispensary building at Drogheda Street, Monasterevin. These works are ongoing and will provide accommodation for the return of the day care centre and primary care services for older people which will very welcome. "Furthermore, 300k will be directed towards renovating and converting the vacant Kilmeague Health Centre into a Community Daycare / Meals on Wheels facility to be operated by St. Vincent de Paul, while 50k will be utilized for a 10-bed High Support Community Residence in Kildare town "These projects have been eagerly awaited by their respective local communities, and I have been actively urging the HSE to make progress on them. The confirmation of these funds under the 2023 Capital Plan further strengthens the momentum to see them through this year, which is great news." With only weeks to go, Sea Sessions Surf and Music Festival have just announced they are building on their partnership with Atlantic Technological University with plans for a massive Surf Open at Tullan Strand, otherwise known as Surfers Paradise, in Bundoran Co Donegal. New for 2023, The ATU Surf Open will be hosted by surfings National Governing Body Irish Surfing and will see the best male and female surfers on the island compete against top international surfers from the likes of the UK, France, and Australia. Alongside the ATU Surf Open, the ATU Surf Expression Session will see surfers truly express themselves in a 'best move' contest. Last years ATU Surf Expression Session winners Vittoria Farmer (Australia) and Luke Dillion (UK) are coming back to try and win the ATU Surf Open. There will be a lot of local interest in Gearoid McDaid (Strandhill), who is currently aiming to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, having narrowly missed out on winning last years competition. With the explosion of surfing in Ireland, a host of young up and coming surfers have also been added to proceedings. Festival Director Ray ODonoghue says, The ATU Surf Open is very much an integral part of Sea Sessions and along with the beach sports, skating, and BMXing its the thing that sets us apart from all the other festivals. Not only have we a great music lineup with the likes of Kasabian, Becky Hill, and Groove Armada, but we also have a really talented bunch of Irish and international surfers lined up. We are delighted to be in partnership with ATU once again. Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU added, We are excited for this partnership as Sea Sessions attracts up to 10,000 young people annually and promoting culture, sport and the arts scene in our region is important to our university. The ATU Surf Open is a chance to experience the Atlantic and all its power, naturally fitting with the vision for Atlantic TU. This will be the 14th festival for Sea Sessions, having started way back in 2008. The festival takes place right by Tullan Strand (Surfers Paradise) in Bundoran and has hosted some of the biggest international acts on the circuit including Bastille, Dermot Kennedy, Paul Weller, Clean Bandit and Picture This, to name but a few. To find out more, please go to www.seasessions.com Small businesses in Leitrim are being encouraged to check their eligibility for a new support that could help them reduce their energy output. The Energy Efficiency Grant to aid small businesses on their sustainability journey was announced last week by Simon Coveney, T.D. Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The new support, available through Local Enterprise Office Leitrim, will enable small businesses to invest in technologies and equipment to make their businesses more energy efficient. The grant will be available to companies who through participation in the Green for Micro, GreenStart or SEAI Energy Audit programmes have identified the technology and equipment need & benefits. The grant will cover up to 50% of the costs to a maximum amount of 5,000. The scheme will reduce the impact of small businesses on the environment and may help them to reduce costs over time to enable them to become more competitive. Minister Coveney said; The Energy Efficiency Grant is another significant step in helping our small businesses to become more sustainable and to make a significant contribution to reducing their energy output. Everyone must make changes as we aim to become a more sustainable country and small businesses are no different. This grant will make it more feasible for small businesses to engage in this process and hopefully set them on a more sustainable path. The Local Enterprise Offices Green for Micro programme has enabled many small companies to take those first steps and now with the Energy Efficiency Grant they can continue that journey. Carol Gibbons, Manager of Regions and Local Enterprise, at Enterprise Ireland said; This new financial support will enable small businesses to take the next step on their sustainability journey. Increasingly, sustainability is seen as a core driver of future growth for small businesses, aligning them to changing consumer demands and ensuring access to business-to-business supply chains. It is important that business supports match this fundamental change and I am confident that the new Energy Efficiency Grant will assist companies across the country on their sustainability journey. Joe Lowe, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Leitrim; It is great to see this grant join the suite of practical and impactful supports offered by Local Enterprise Offices. It has been a very difficult year for businesses facing high energy and input costs. I would encourage any eligible business to investigate this grant, which offers a real opportunity to reduce your operating costs and boost resilience, while also lowering emissions and helping Ireland to meet our climate action targets. The Energy Efficiency Grant is another support from the Local Enterprise Offices for small businesses that enables them to increase their competitiveness and productivity. Small businesses are also able to avail of the Lean for Micro, Digital Start and Green for Micro programmes through their LEO that will all help small businesses to become more competitive and increase their productivity. www.localenterprise.ie/energy for more information on the new grant. Established in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices are the essential resource for any entrepreneur looking to start a business or any small business that is looking for support or advice to help them grow. Since their inception eight years ago, the Local Enterprise Offices have helped create over 25,000 jobs across the country. The LEOs work with thousands of client companies across Ireland in a diverse range of sectors offering mentoring, training, expert advice, and financial supports to small businesses. For more information see www.LocalEnterprise.ie A draft law that would outright ban vapes being sold to children is hoped to significantly reduce the number of young people who use them, a minister has said. Cabinet on Tuesday approved legislation that would ban e-cigarettes being sold to people aged under 18 at shops, and banned them from being sold from vending machines, mobile premises and events for children. It also plans to ban vapes being advertised around schools, on public transport, and in cinemas. Under the legislation, if somebody sells to a minor they would face a maximum fine of 4,000 euro or up to six months in prison for a first offence, and a maximum fine of 5,000 euro or up to 12 months in prison for subsequent offences. The Environmental Health Service is to be given more powers in order to enforce these laws. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said that the draft law would reduce the availability and the visibility of e-cigarettes for children and young teenagers. He warned that in some petrol stations and shops, people are bombarded with point-of-sale advertising that he believed was being targeted at children. Were acting to protect our young people from the harmful effects of nicotine, which impact on brain development and from the possible long term effects of vaping, he said. Were also acting on the on the evidence that vaping increases the likelihood that a child or a young teenager will smoke later on in life. He indicated that it wasnt looking at an Australia-style ban of vaping products at the moment, but said it would be reviewing point-of-sale advertising. Citing figure that nearly one in 10 children said they had vaped in the past 30 days, he said there werent targets being set for what they hoped the legislation would achieve, but said the proposal was essentially an outright ban that would have a very significant effect on the number of young people who vape. Minister of State for public health and wellbeing Hildegarde Naughton said that the aim of the legislation was to protect children amid concerns by parents and schools. As has been highlighted, the impact of nicotine on the developing brain is widely recognised, she said. We know vaping is harmful for younger people in relation to their brain development, but also the facts and the research is there that if you vape, you are five times more likely to go on and smoke cigarettes, and the evidence around that is absolutely clear and categoric around the health implications. Speaking before Cabinet, Tanaiste Micheal Martin welcomed the move, saying that he saw vaping as very dangerous, particularly for young people. Im really shocked at the manner in which its being marketed towards young people in particular, Mr Martin said, who introduced a tobacco-smoking ban in Irish workplaces in March 2004 while serving as minister for health. I welcome the Government's decision today on @DonnellyStephen's recommendation to ban the sale of e-cigarettes to under-18s. The tobacco industry is back via vaping and it's having a significant negative impact on children and young people. This legislation will help stop this. pic.twitter.com/Iyb7mJz4Ow Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) May 30, 2023 Mr Donnelly said Ireland is working with the EU on its amendment to the Tobacco Products Directive, expected to be published next year, which aims to introduce restrictions on vape labelling and flavours. Mr Donnelly said that although his preference was to do this on an EU-wide basis, if the legislation is delayed or watered down, legislation could be amended here at a national level. This is the conversation that Minister Naughton and I will be having at EU level: is to say what curbs can we put in in terms of plain labelling to get away from what I would view to be very child-friendly labels on some of them and undoubtedly child-friendly flavouring. Other countries have looked at these kinds of things, we need to look at them, and we want to pursue it, as we were saying, on a full (EU) basis first, but if that doesnt work, we will we will proceed ourselves as well. He said that disposable e-cigarettes were not covered by the legislation, but added that theres a corresponding issue, in that the nicotine levels in them can be very high. Mr Donnelly said the aim was to introduce the bill to the Houses of the Oireachtas and pass it as quickly as possible. Demonstration against TotalEnergies in Ecaussinnes, Belgium, October 9, 2022. NICOLAS MAETERLINCK / AFP Every week, Le Monde journalist Nabil Wakim, who hosts a podcast in French about the challenges posed by climate change to our society, answers listeners questions. "Hello. I notice that there is a lot of talk about taxing citizens, but little about taxing those responsible for the catastrophe, for example, oil companies. Do we know how to calculate the amount of their impact on global warming?" -- (Question asked by Victor). This is a very interesting question. Scientists have been looking at how to measure precisely how much the 21 biggest oil and gas groups would have to pay to offset the greenhouse gas emissions generated by their activity. The answer: $209 billion a year (193 billion) from 2025 to 2050. 1/ Why make fossil fuel companies pay? This study, published in May 2023, starts with a question. "Who should bear the cost of climate disasters caused by human activity?" asked the two authors of the study published in the scientific journal One Earth, which targets 21 oil, gas and coal companies. Governments, citizens, insurers? For Italian and American researchers Marc Grasso and Richard Heede, those responsible for greenhouse gas emissions must assume their moral responsibility under international environmental law and the "polluter pays" principle. "The recent progress in climate attribution science makes it evident that these companies have played a major role in the accumulation and escalation of such costs by providing gigatonnes of carbon fuels to the global economy while willfully ignoring foreseeable climate harm," they write. They also point out that, at the same time, many of these companies have disseminated false information to the public and financed active lobbying against climate policies. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Renewable energy projects are rising in number worldwide 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 ? 2/ How is this sum calculated? The authors propose a methodology for calculating the impact of these companies on the climate and the amounts they should repay. They start their calculations in 1988, the year in which the United Nations (UN) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) began its work. They support the idea that companies in the wealthiest countries should contribute more than those in the poorest. Given the long duration of their emissions, 11 private and public companies are expected to make the biggest contribution. At the top of the list is Saudi Arabia's state-owned Aramco ($42 billion a year), followed by America's ExxonMobil ($18 billion), Shell ($16 billion) and BP ($14.5 billion). France's TotalEnergies ranks eighth ($9 billion a year to 2050). This calculation includes companies' direct greenhouse gas emissions (for example, those associated with an oil rig), as well as their indirect emissions (for example, those of users of oil or gas products). You have 29.33% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. Members of the MS-13 and 18 gangs remain in an overcrowded cell at the Quezaltepeque prison, in Quezaltepeque, El Salvador, on September 4, 2020. YURI CORTEZ / AFP At least 153 people jailed since El Salvador instituted emergency powers in March 2022 to confront the country's powerful street gangs have died in state custody, according to a report released Monday by the human rights group Cristosal. None of those who died had been convicted of a crime they were accused of at the time of their arrest. There were four women among the victims and the rest were men. The deaths were the result of torture, and systematic and serious injuries, the report said. Nearly half of the victims suffered violent deaths. Some of the deaths showed signs they resulted from deliberate denial of medical assistance, medicine and food, including some deaths resulting from malnutrition. The deaths revealed punitive policies carried out by guards and prison officials. The report stated that such actions would have required authorization and backing by the highest level security officials. The government has not provided an official count of deaths among the incarcerated. The special powers approved by El Salvador's Legislative Assembly in March 2022 following a surge in gang violence suspend some fundamental rights, such informing someone of their rights at the time of arrest and the reason for their, as well as having access to a lawyer. Common graves Cristosal said it compiled the information through field work, including at common graves, and collecting documents from medical examiners. Investigators also interviewed victims' families and neighbors, as well as others who were jailed and later released. The organization called on the administration of President Nayib Bukele to answer about the conditions people are held under, respect due process, free the innocent, answer for those who have died, provide all available information to victims' families and end the measures implemented under the special powers. Officially, the government has arrested more than 68,000 people under the special powers since March 2022. More than 5,000 people have been freed because they could not convince a judge they were tied to criminal structures, according to authorities. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes The dark side of El Salvador's 'war on gangs' 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 ? Other human rights groups and foreign governments have condemned the government's actions and called for a lifting of what were supposed to be temporary measures. Bukele, however, maintains high levels of approval within El Salvador for his actions against the gangs. Le Monde with AP Celebration of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's re-election, Istanbul, Turkey, on May 28, 2023. EMRAH GUREL / AP The re-election of Recep Tayyip Erdogan as President of Turkey prompted the usual chorus of congratulations. From Joe Biden to Vladimir Putin, Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky, heads of state and government greeted the victory of the indomitable Turkish leader, in power for 20 years, over Kemal Kilicdaroglu. The leader of the opposition had been discreetly favored by Western leaders, whose relations with Erdogan have deteriorated sharply over the course of his successive terms in office, especially since the failed coup of 2016. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Turkey elections: Erdogan wins historic third term 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 ? With the election results known, Western leaders sought to make the best of a bad situation, but not without emphasizing the need for cohesion within NATO, whose enlargement to include Sweden is being blocked by Turkey. "I look forward to continuing to work together as NATO allies on bilateral issues and global challenges," tweeted US President Joe Biden. "Our common security is a future priority," stressed Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. In the event of a change of government, Kilicdaroglu seemed keen to ratify Sweden's accession to NATO. In contrast, Erdogan has demanded the expulsion of Kurdish militants who have taken refuge in this country. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he looked "forward to continuing [our] work together and preparing for the NATO summit in July." Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Turkey elections: The unsinkable Erdogan 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 ? Relaunching relations with Ankara's strongman Among European leaders, French President Emmanuel Macron was one of the first to publicly congratulate Erdogan, tweeting that France and Turkey had "immense challenges to face together," including the "return of peace to Europe, the future of [our] Euro-Atlantic Alliance, the Mediterranean." Once quick to denounce NATO's "brain death" due to Turkey's double standards, Macron could meet Erdogan as early as Thursday, June 1, if Erdogan attends the European Political Community summit near Chisinau, Moldova. The tone is just as conciliatory in Brussels, where the hope is to revive relations with Ankara's strongman. These have been fraught with tension ever since the Turkish leader's authoritarian drift, to the point where negotiations on Turkey's accession to the European Union (EU), launched in 2005, are now at a standstill. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was looking "forward to continue building the EU-Turkiye relationship. It is strategically important for the EU and Turkiye to work on advancing this relationship, for the benefit of our people." After half a dozen years of stormy relations between Europe and Turkey, is a breakthrough in sight? In March 2021, the European Council declared that "the EU is ready to establish contacts with Turkey in a progressive, proportionate and reversible manner in areas of common interest, subject to established conditions." For the time being", a European diplomat commented, "these conditions have not changed." You have 38.94% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva greet each other after a joint press conference at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia on May 29, 2023. EVARISTO SA / AFP Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met Monday, May 29, with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro, vowing a new era for a relationship that was severed under far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro. Considered a pariah in some quarters for his socialist government's alleged human-rights violations, Maduro was welcomed by an honor guard at the presidential palace in Brasilia, where veteran leftist Lula greeted him with a hug and a back-slap. "Venezuela has always been an exceptional partner for Brazil. But because of the political situation and the mistakes that were made, President Maduro spent eight years without coming to Brazil," Lula told a news conference. Brazil cut diplomatic ties with the Maduro government under President Bolsonaro (2019-2022), joining the United States and about 50 other countries in recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president after 2018 elections condemned by critics as a sham. Lula has restored relations with Maduro's government since taking office in January part of an overhaul of Brazil's Bolsonaro-era foreign policy. 'The start of Maduro's return' Lula, who invited Maduro to the Brazilian capital for a South American leaders' summit Tuesday, called his visit a "new moment" in Brazil-Venezuela ties and "the start of Maduro's return." "I always thought it was absurd for people who defend democracy to deny you were Venezuela's president, having been elected by the people," Lula said, condemning "prejudice" against the neighboring country's government. Maduro meanwhile hailed a "new era" in the countries' relations. "Brazil and Venezuela must be united, from now on and always," he said. The visit drew criticism from opponents. "Brazil is back to welcoming South American dictators with state honors," opposition Senator Sergio Moro wrote on Twitter. Lula, who previously led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, cultivated close ties with Maduro's predecessor and mentor, Hugo Chavez (1999-2013). Since returning to office, he has vowed to seek friendly relations with all countries across the board, cultivating closer ties with partners as disparate as China and US President Joe Biden's administration. But he has drawn criticism at times in the West for appearing overly cozy with Russia and China and lashing out at the United States and Europe for backing Ukraine in its war with Russia. Le Monde with AFP HE was, in his own words, going for an MOT but former Clonlara resident Dave Geoghegan was shocked to find that this particular heart check-up did not go according to the driver's handbook. Born to two Limerick natives and having lived in the Mid-West for several years, Dave had established himself as a skilled chef, working in renowned kitchens across Limerick. After settling in east Clare with his wife, Rhonwen and three children, Lana, Roan and Eile, he continued his culinary career and even took up teaching the profession in the College of Further Education and Training Hospitality Campus on Roxboro Road. However, the pandemic, which left no individual or community untouched across the globe, saw Dave's life change also. Due to the restrictions and strain placed on the health system during that time, the chef had received no tests on his heart for two years. Along this timeline was when Dave and his family left the Mid-West for somewhere even more remote, and saw their roots spread to Brandon on the Dingle Peninsula. Soon after, in August 2022, Dave found that a scan to look at his heart and nearby blood vessels, or echocardiogram as it is professionally known, was outsourced from UHL to Bon Secours in Tralee. He deemed this as lucky, since he now only lived 40 minutes from there. Remarking that on the day of his echo, immediately a technician told him you are going to be seeing the doctor. He knew there was something not right with one of my valves, Dave stated. With a mix of anxiety and determination, Dave embarked on his daily routine, heading to work at his popular new business venture in a nearby village, while carrying with him the weight of what the daunting tests might bring. An angiogram was next on the agenda in October 2022, where the Tralee doctor looked for blockages in his blood vessels by inserting a camera through his wrist. The test revealed a potential issue, and the doctor immediately alerted him, saying, I already know you are going to be having open-heart surgery. It turned out that Dave had a fused tricuspid valve, a birth defect that had gone unnoticed, leaving his aortic valve functioning at only 50% capacity. As a result, his heart had to work harder, causing the muscle to enlarge. With his case now moved to Cork University Hospital in January 2023, Dave revealed that he was dealing with the wonder of what was actually going to happen. Health-wise you become so much more aware of what's happening inside, he added. Meeting his new team of medical professionals in Cork, Dave replayed the meeting in his mind. I was talking a lot, I was nervous, and Rhonwen was scribbling tips and tricks down furiously. The piece that really was the shocker was when the doctor said you definitely won't see 60 (without procedure), and I was already 54. Slowly bringing the seriousness of the operation into sharp focus, if he was to continue on without the surgery, his doctor added, you could have two years left, but you won't have any quality of life. Reflecting on the delays caused by the pandemic, Dave felt grateful that he had gone for that check-up in March 2020. Otherwise, he said, I'd be trundling along, blindly oblivious considering the only symptom I had was unfitness, which he believed was an attribute to his hectic entrepreneurship and age. At my age you just think, maybe that's what happens when you're in your 50s, I'm not 25 anymore, he said, wryly. At the time, laughing about the striped pyjamas he had bought for the hospital took everyone's mind off the fact that the surgery was taking place on March 16, a familiar date for the family - Rhonwen's birthday. From invasive surgery, to ICU, where he was not breathing on his own, he praised the nurses, adding that they deserve a gold medal everyday, for their dedication to total strangers. Now, having recovered as quickly as he had hoped, Dave and his family are looking to put it behind them, and the chef emphasises the importance of being proactive in seeking regular check-ups. In a message to those who tend to postpone medical procedures, Dave shared the staggering statistic that his condition affects one in 40 people and is sometimes a contributing cause of sudden adult death syndrome, especially prevalent in men. With four children to love and look after, including his now grown-up daughter Allison, he urged everyone to try and seize a longer, fuller life. I'm the fortunate one, armed with the potential to live 10 to 15 times longer than my prognosis pre-op, he stated. But I had a solution to my situation. We have all lost close friends, family, colleagues, peers to illnesses too soon or without a way to win. Of the importance of getting checked, he said if you don't, you may not get [life's] extra portion. MANY tributes have been paid to retiring Judge Mary Larkin on both sides of the Limerick-Clare border. The judge who was a familiar face in courts in the city, Newcastle West and Kilmallock for almost a decade officially stepped down from the bench in Ennis on Sunday. Originally from Oughterard in County Galway, Ms Larkin was educated in UCG, now NUI Galway, and the Law Society of Ireland before being admitted to the roll of solicitors in 1976. She worked as a solicitor for 36 years - including setting up her own practice in Gort. Ms Larkin was seen as a pioneer in the field of family law. She became Judge Larkin in 2012 and Limerick would become her judicial home from 2013 where she had a particular fondness for Newcastle West Courthouse. Her last appointment was to the Banner County as the permanent judge for County Clare in 2021. Warm tributes were paid at a retirement function in Ennis on Friday and this Monday in Limerick Circuit Court. Judge Tom ODonnell said Ms Larkin was a good friend and colleague both as a solicitor and a judge. I wish her every health and happiness in her retirement. She wont let the grass grow under her feet. I gather there was quite the turnout in Ennis to wish her well and I would just like to add my good wishes as well, said Judge ODonnell. On behalf of himself and fellow State Solicitor Padraig Mawe, Aidan Judge said when Judge Larkin was leaving in 2021 he said two things to her, We're very, very sorry to lose a person of her calibre in County Limerick and if I knew the Clare solicitors as well as I thought I knew them, that they would welcome her with open arms and out in Ennis District Court last Friday was attest to that - it was packed. We all know her as a person of considerable compassion and she delivered justice without any affectation, pomp or ceremony. The reason she was liked universally was she insisted on being just to everybody. I think it is the mark of the woman, said Mr Judge. Julianne Kiely, president of Limerick Solicitor Bar Association, also said the huge turnout for Judge Larkin last Friday at Ennis District Court was testament to the support that she has amongst practitioners. All of the solicitors in Limerick city and county would like to congratulate Judge Larkin on her retirement. She was a popular and well-liked judge who showed compassion to those who appeared before her. During her time in Limerick she oversaw the civil, criminal and family courts and she ran her court efficiently and with respect for those that appeared before her. She brought her own unique style, character and energy to the bench and was fair to all. We would like to wish her all the best of luck for the future, said Ms Kiely. Judge Larkin might have one more sentence to hand down and Judge Tom ODonnell could be the one on the receiving end. In wishing her a happy birthday, Judge ODonnell said: She will be very cross I mentioned the fact that it is her birthday today! IT was last September when I first set foot on Irish soil. I didn't know what was in store for my family. It seemed as though our whole life was behind us - life before the war and during the war in Ukraine was all we knew. We did not have any sense of what our future might be. But, as soon as we arrived at the airport, it quickly became clear that the kindness of this nation is incredible. I have a very strong memory of the first meeting that was held for volunteers. I was there because I wanted to help send relief back to Ukraine and the meeting was organised by representatives of the Red Cross. I remember I cried because of their attention to me. I was overwhelmed that my needs were made the centre of attention. This story is about a simple - but very important thing - humanity. I kept asking myself the question, why should people help each other even if they dont know who they are helping? The only answer I can find is that, perhaps, just helping other people makes us truly human? In Ireland, there are a huge number of people who instinctively help other people just because they are in difficult life situations in different countries of the world. Some help with giving gifts, some donate their time, some share funds that could be spent on their own needs, others help with administrative issues or with logistics. Their way of offering humanitarian aid differs, but all of them are extremely important because they have that one simple goal - to help. A month or so later an ordinary autumn day became extraordinary when Helen Minogue from the Brothers of Charity Services, Ireland introduced me to Trish Dillon. It seems that everyone in Shannon knows this wonderful woman. Trish asked me about our organisation and, after a few minutes, we were both packing huge boxes with clothes for Ukrainian orphans, children and families, who had lost their homes. She told me about her amazing friends who support her charitable initiative and again I was overcome by the selfless generosity of people here. It was because of this first meeting with Trish Dillon that the Ukrainian Charity Fund Help from Hand-to-Hand started cooperation with Irish volunteers. So, together, we organised a shipment of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Then it carried on again and again, more and more, throughout November and December. And this is not down to our merit at all. We just met such wonderful people from all backgrounds Irish, Ukrainians who have been living in Ireland for a long time as well as Ukrainians under Temporary Protection. I must also mention the Association of Ukrainians in the Republic of Ireland and Ukrainian volunteers of Cork Shtab Pivdnya our partners who give us our logistic support. I will never forget Halyna Royko, who, without even knowing me, in a matter of minutes organised the transportation of humanitarian cargo to Ukraine. But the biggest surprise was yet to come. I did not expect that as Christmas was coming miracles were about to happen too. Trish called and told me about a lot of gifts and sweets for the Ukrainian children. As a result, more than one hundred small children had a Christmas party with Santa and presents. Time passed. Some requests were replaced by others. And again, the collected aid was sent this time for hospitals. We arrived at the truck loading point near Cork. There were already people packing boxes with special sets of products and other essential items. We decided to help with it. And in the course of the conversation it became clear that a well-known Irish politician, John Gilroy, helped pack and load the truck. He told us about his recent trip to Ukraine, about Ukrainian destroyed cities, about destroyed families and destinies, and about the consequences of shelling. We spoke about Ireland and Ukraine about similarities and differences. But that is a completely different story. THE UNIVERSITY of Limerick have taken their teaching to new heights as they launch the "world-first" Irish World Aviation Academy (IWAA) on their campus. Having joined hands with AirNav Ireland, UL's latest teaching tool was officially launched by An Tanaiste Micheal Martin, and Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers, and aims to become a "unique asset to aviation" in Ireland. The IWAA will be headquartered at UL, but it is said that its educational programs will extend to industry locations worldwide, through partnerships with industry professionals, university staff, and AirNav Ireland to deliver an "experiential and research-led education." It is said that the hopes for the academy is that it becomes a standard requirement for senior employment in the aviation sector and produce industry-ready graduates, as UL is "exceptionally well placed" to offer a model of embedded learning in partnership with AirNav Ireland. The launch of the academy was held at Dublin Airport's new Air Traffic Control Tower, and was attended, not just by An Tanaiste, but also Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers. Speaking at the event, An Tanaiste Micheal Martin commended the collaboration between UL and the aviation sector, citing the university's strong heritage in aviation. "The model is a good one and I know other industries are looking with interest at this collaboration with education as a model for future learning, innovation, and growth. "Universities are the birthplace of fresh thinking, innovation and business development, and our economy needs the ideas for the future that emerge from them." UL President Professor Kerstin Mey and AirNav Ireland CEO Dr Peter Kearney emphasized the academy's focus on innovation, learning, and seizing opportunities in the aviation sector. Professor Mey described the IWAA as a "world first" in both education and aviation, as it represents one of the few instances where a university and a commercial state company have joined forces to serve the sector's educational, research, and developmental needs. A man has been killed in a workplace accident following an apparent explosion in west Donegal this afternoon. The accident is understood to have happened in the vicinity of Cnoc Fola, near Bunbeg, with the man who lost his life understood to be operating a digger at the time. His identity has not been released as yet. Gardai and emergency services are at the scene. Gardai are currently at the scene of an explosion at a location on the outskirts of Bunbeg," reads a Garda statement. "An Garda Siochana has evacuated the surrounding area and the Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal has been requested. "The road is currently closed and local diversions are in place. The Health and Safety Authority have been notified. National Ambulance Service and Donegal Fire Brigade are also in attendance at the scene of the incident. An Garda Siochana is not in a position to confirm any casualties at this time. No further information is available at this time. Updates will be provided when appropriate." While ending FY23 with higher profits and revenue, Adani Ports on Tuesday announced its guidance for the fiscal year 2023-24. The Adani Group-backed ports flagship firm expects revenue to reach up to 25,000 crore in FY24, while EBITDA is expected at 15,000 crore. The company plans to achieve up to 390 MMT cargo volumes and reduce its net debt to 2.5x. As per the regulator filing, here is FY24 guidance by Adani Ports: - Cargo volumes during the period to be 370-390 MMT - Revenue for the period to be 24,000-25,000 crore. - EBITDA for the period to be 14,500-15,000 crore. - Net Debt to EBITDA to be reduced to ~2.5x. - Capex for the period to be 4,000-4,500 crore. In FY23, the company recorded the highest ever port cargo volumes of 339 MMT, registering a growth of 9% YoY. It said, APSEZ handled 300 MMT of cargo in just 329 days, surpassing the previous benchmark of 354 days in FY22. It needs to be noted that two of APSEZs ports (Mundra and Krishnapatnam) are featured in the top 10 ports of India for their annual cargo volumes. Also, Mundra continues to be the largest commercial port of India with cargo volumes of 155 MMT (150 MMT achieved in record 355 days vs 365 days in FY22). Adani Ports also said that Mundra and Krishnapatnam Ports saw the arrival of the largest ships while seven ports/terminals handled the largest parcel size vessels of their lifetime in FY23. For the full year FY23, Adani Ports consolidated net profit stood at 5,310.18 crore versus 4,886.03 crore in FY22. Revenue in the fiscal jumped to 20,851.91 crore in FY23 compared to 17,118.79 crore. Also, in the fiscal FY23, the company witnessed a record investment of 27,000 crore in FY23 primarily funded through internal accruals and the cash and cash equivalents with the company. Karan Adani, CEO and Whole Time Director of Adani Ports said, "The investments made along with the five bid wins during the year, will enable APSEZ to achieve its targeted cargo volumes of 500 MMT in 2025 and speed up the transition of the business model to a transport utility." Additionally, by the end of FY23, the company managed to maintain the net debt to EBITDA ratio at 3.1x (guided range of 3-3.5x). MUMBAI : The resolution professional overseeing the insolvency proceedings of Go First told the Delhi High Court on Tuesday that the lessors request to deregister the aircraft that have been leased to the airline, appears to be a deliberate attempt to obstruct the resolution process. At the hearing, six lessors, including Pembroke Aircraft Leasing, SMBC Aviation, CDB Aviations GY Aviation Leasing, Jackson Square Aviation, and BOC Aviation, submitted separate petitions against the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in an attempt to repossess their planes that were leased to Go First. The court has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday. Go First voluntarily filed for insolvency in a Delhi court on 2 May, and discontinued its operations starting 3 May. The company reiterated on Tuesday that flight operations will remain suspended till 4 June. The HC accepted the insolvency petition on 10 May. Go First has expressed its wish to restart operations and emphasized that the planes will be necessary to facilitate the resumption of services. The admission by the National Company Law Tribunal has put a six-month moratorium on payment of all dues, including the aircraft on lease to Go First. Hence, the lessors cannot take the planes back. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal also rejected a plea by a lessor seeking permission to take its aircraft back. Earlier, the lessors had written to the aviation regulator seeking possession of their aircraft. The DGCA, however, put on hold the lessors request. Harish Salve, appearing for the resolution professional argued that DGCA has done the right thing by not acting on the deregistering request, and both parties are free to move the NCLT to raise their claims. Deregistration of aircraft will scuttle the resolution process." Salve also argued that if the aircraft were returned to the lessors it will lead to job losses of more than 7,000 Go First employees. After hearing all the parties, Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju said the case will be further heard on Wednesday. Salve further said that if the lessors wanted to petition they could have done so by approaching the Supreme Court in accordance with the NCLAT order. The NCLAT in its order on May 22 while upholding the NCLT verdict rejected the lessors plea challenging the insolvency petition. The dispute arose when the debt-strapped airline filed for voluntary insolvency before the NCLT on May 2. The airline then informed that it would cancel all its flights due to the pending matter. The Interim Resolution Professional (IRP), currently managing the crisis-hit Go First, Tuesday informed Delhi High Court that returning aircraft to the lessors will render the airline "dead". Harish Salve, former Solicitor General of India who was representing the IRP, submitted before Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju that the return of aircraft to lessors will mark the end of the airline. This will scuttle the entire process. Look at the consequences. If the aircraft are returned, that's the end of this airline, it's dead. Thousands of people who are employed, right from the person who cleans and scrubs the floor of the office spaces, pilots, large people who work at check-in counters...." Salve said. "Airline is a very employment intensive industry. We have over 7,000 employees. My client has to take charge of all this, they will have priority. Ultimately its a question of money. These are all leased aircraft. Those issues have to be worked out," the senior counsel argued. The former Solicitor General said it is not that Go First has grabbed somebodys property illegally and wants to walk out. The IRP was responding to pleas by several aircraft lessors of Go First seeking deregistration of their planes by aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) so they could take them back from the airline. With a moratorium in force on financial obligations and transfer of assets of Go First in the wake of the insolvency resolution proceedings, the lessors are unable to deregister and take back the aircraft leased to the carrier. The lessors who have approached the high court are: Accipiter Investments Aircraft 2 Limited, EOS Aviation 12 (Ireland) Limited, Pembroke Aircraft Leasing 11 Limited and SMBC Aviation Capital Limited. The lawyers for the lessors had said they had approached the civil aviation regulator for deregistration of their aircraft but it rejected their pleas. They had said they have not received any communication from the DGCA, but having checked the status of their applications on the regulators website, they found their requests have been rejected. On Tuesday, fresh petitions of SFV Aircraft Holdings IRE 9 DAC Ltd, ACG Aircraft Leasing Ireland Ltd and DAE SY 22 13 Ireland Designated Activity Company were also listed. Go First stopped flying from May 3. The companys total dues to banks and financial institutions are around 6,000 crore. It had defaulted on payments of 2,600 crore to aircraft lessors and of 1,200 crore to vendors, as per the companys application for voluntary insolvency in the NCLT. Several Australian universities have banned or restricted the intake of students from select Indian states, according to reports in The Sydney Morning Herald. What lies behind these bans, and how will they affect the dreams of Indians planning to study in Australia? Mint explains: Which universities have placed a ban? Two Australian universities, Federation University in Victoria and Western Sydney University in New South Wales, stopped taking Indian students from some states in May. Federation University has barred students from Punjab, Haryana, J&K, Uttarakhand and UP. Western Sydney University has paused intakes from Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat for May and June. In April, at least four other unisVictoria, Edith Cowan, Torrens and Southern Crosstook similar measures. Two othersWollongong and Flindersamended their application process in March for foreign students from high risk" countries. Whats the reason for these restrictions? Universities say Indian students dropped out after taking admission in 2022 and moved to cheap vocational colleges. Such students have been labelled fraudulent" or non-genuine" by visa and college authorities. With the rise in such cases, the rejection rate for applicants has also risen to 20.1% from 12.5% in 2019. For India, it is 24.3%, the highest since 2012. The racket runs thus: Indian agents, who charge a fee, get students placed in expensive private colleges with a higher acceptance rate. Once the students arrive in Australia, they are moved to low-cost programmes by counterparts of Indian agents. View Full Image Graphic: Mint Are more Indians going to Australia to study? There was a surge in 2022-23, after a decline during the covid years. More than 52,000 Indians have been granted student visas in the first six months of this academic year, more than the total for 2021-22, at 42,627, according to department of home affairs of Australia. If the trend continues, it may surpass the previous high of 66,449 in 2018-19. Why were Indians dropping out? Experts say Indians are gaming two policies: permission to change college and relaxation in student working hours during covid. Students in Australia were earlier allowed to work for 20 hours a week, which was lifted during covid. Many students apparently started working full-time during covid and stopped going to college. Some moved to low-cost colleges, making hefty savings. The working hour relaxation ends on 30 June. The loopholes may also have been exploited by low-skill work visa seekers. How will the ban impact applicants? Even if short-term, the move could severely impact applications to Australia, says a visa consultant. It could create uncertainty among parents, bringing down the preference for Australia as an education destination. Its the 4th most visited country after the US, Canada and the UK by Indian students. Australia could have gone for policy changes instead of a ban, which will hit genuine applicants. Authorities could have disallowed change of institution or put a higher commencement fee to dissuade students from moving. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tauseef Shahidi Tauseef Shahidi has been with Mint since September 2020. He writes both data-based stories and longform features across beats. As he could not make up his mind to pursue one discipline, he became a journalist to dabble in everything. Read more from this author The ongoing Writer's Guild of America (WGA) strike has now created a major roadblock for the much-awaited Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) project, Deadpool 3, starring Ryan Reynolds. The movie has finally kicked off production but due to the ongoing writers' strike, Reynolds can't improvise any lines while filming on set. Deadpool 3 production hit by writers' strike The WGA strike might have a significant influence on Deadpool 3 production. Ryan Reynolds has been playing the titular antihero Wade Wilson since 2016. He has a tendency to make improvisation especially when it comes to his anti-hero 'Deadpool' movies, but he is unable to improvise or vary from the script this time due to ongoing WGA strike. Reynolds, who is considered a writer on the franchise, contributed to the original's script and has been credited as such on Deadpool 2. He is not permitted under the new strike rules to tweak the film in any way during its shoot. Reynolds as a producer can make subtle changes in the script as WGA rules allow producers to go for "casual minor adjustments in dialogue or narration made prior to or during the period of principal photography." However, in solidarity with the strike, this time the association has requested that producers refrain from engaging in writerly practises. Reynolds, who is a member of the writers guild, must follow WGA rules, else he can be expelled from the Guild itself. Impact of strike on Deadpool 3 production Deadpool 3 is scheduled to be released on November 8, 2024. The film is a sequel to the Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films from 20th Century Fox. It is the 37th instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Interestingly, Reynolds' first portrayal of Deadpool in X-Men: Origins: Wolverine reportedly took shape during 2007 Writer's Strike was largely influenced by the actor's own improvisation owing to a lack of screenplay guidance. Why are writers protesting? The writers are demanding fair compensation, improved working conditions, creative rights, and a bigger portion of the revenues generated by their work. Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltds (BHEL) financial results for the quarter ended March are not particularly bright, but the managements upbeat commentary on its business prospects has sparked interest in the stock. The shares of the state-run power equipment maker are up by 4%since the results were announced. In its earnings call, the management noted that the demand for coal-based thermal power plants gained traction after a gap of three years in FY23. View Full Image Graphic: Mint This comes on the back of increasing industrial activity, which has created demand for electricity. The companys thermal order pipeline is healthy and it is of help that competition is low in the segment. Coming to the thermal pipeline, we are looking at almost 3,700 MW where we are favourably placed," said the management. Furthermore, an additional 6,000 MW is under bidding stage. Beyond FY24, an order worth 9,000 MW is in the pipeline. BHELs total order book as of FY23-end was 91,336 crore. This means order book-to-sales ratio is about four times, providing good revenue visibility. Coming to BHELs March quarter results: consolidated operating revenue rose by just 3% year-on-year, hinting at muted execution. Last quarters revenue was 20% lower than March 2019 quarter (pre-covid levels). While gross margin is up year-on-year and sequentially, it was still 1,200 basis points below pre-covid levels, said Kotak Institutional Equities analysts. Its full-year margin performance is another damper. BHELs gross margin has fallen five times in a row. It was 30.2% in FY23 down from 44.2% in FY18. Most analysts are not quite excited about BHELs prospects and have cut their earnings estimates post-results. We cut our FY24E earnings per share by 80% due to lower margins in legacy orders and maintain our FY25E earnings per share of 5.5/share as we expect execution on new orders (high-margin projects with better payment terms) to gather pace," said ICICI Securities in a report on 28 May. Moreover, the thermal power projects are long gestation ones. Plus, out of the order backlog of close to 72,000 crore for power, about 17,000 crore worth of orders are slow-moving. BHEL continues to bid aggressively for incremental thermal orders. Order inflows remain benign, making it difficult to gauge the pace of margin recovery from hereon," said Kotaks analysts. Order inflow is a lesser problem as the pipeline of incremental ordering is healthy for the thermal, defense and transportation sectors. It is the difficulty of predicting profitability that is the constraint," they added. To be sure, thermal order inflow would not be at the same pace as seen in the earlier years given the focus on sustainability. Global push-back against thermal gives us conviction that any revival of thermal project tendering in India will have a limited shelf life," said analysts at Axis Capital in a report on 28 May. Axis has cut FY24 earnings per share estimates by about 5%. As such, it is crucial for BHEL to diversify into other areas. The company targets to increase its revenue contribution from the industrial segment from almost 21% in FY23. It is banking on orders from sectors such as defence, railways, nuclear and hydro. This quarter, BHEL and Titagarh Wagons Ltd won Vande Bharat order worth 23,500 crore. But given that tender value was reduced 12%, extent of profitability remains to be seen. BHELs shares are down by about 10% from their 52-week highs of 91.55 apiece in December. While the outlook of order inflows is healthy, execution remains the key factor that is to be tracked. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vineetha Sampath Vineetha Sampath is a chartered accountant and is experienced in the field of research analysis. She joined Mint's Mark to Market team recently and this is her first stint in journalism. Read more from this author Nvidia Corp on May 30 breached $1 trillion in market capitalization, making it the first US chipmaker to join the trillion-dollar club. The gaming and AI chip company, whose shares rose 3.8 per cent in trading before the bell on Tuesday, was valued at $1.03 trillion. AI took center stage after Nvidia stunned investors by reporting a quarterly profit of more than $2 billion and revenue of $7 billion, both exceeding Wall Street expectations. Meta Platforms Inc , valued at about $670 billion as of last close, clinched the trillion-dollar market capitalization milestone in 2021, while Apple Inc, Alphabet Inc, Microsoft Corp and Amazon.com Inc are the other U.S. companies that are part of the club. Wall Street analysts called Nvidia's forecast "unfathomable" and "cosmological", hiking their price targets in droves. The highest price target valued the company at about $1.6 trillion, on par with Google-parent Alphabet. Also Read: Nvidia Mcap at $1 trillion: Top 5 things to know about the US chipmaker Nvidia's chief executive officer Jensen Huang unveiled a new batch of products and services tied to AI, looking to further capitalise on the frenzy that resulted his wealth to soar by almost $7 billion billion last week to hit nearly $35 billion. "Given the valuation is well above the long-term average, there will be significant pressure to deliver high growth on a consistent basis ... there could be volatility in its share price to come," Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, said. Nvidia's shares rose about 25 per cent last week sparking a rally in AI-related stocks and boosted other chipmakers, helping the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index close on Friday at its highest in over a year. OpenAI-owned ChatGPT's rapid success has prompted tech giants such as Alphabet and Microsoft to make the most of generative AI, which can engage in human-like conversation and craft everything from jokes to poetry. Nvidia was co-founded in 1993 by Huang. It proved more successful than its peers at developing chips that turn computer code into the realistic images that computer gamers love, and rode out a wave of consolidation that saw its rivals acquired, bankrupted or merged into larger companies. Under Huang, the company then pushed its technology into new markets, such as data center servers and artificial intelligence processing a move thats proving prescient today. In less than a decade, Nvidias data center business has grown from $300 million in annual revenue to $15 billion. The chipmaker has won orders to equip giant computing factories by successfully arguing that graphics chips can handle AI workloads better than more standard processors. With inputs from Reuters, Bloomberg You may have heard anecdotes of friends and family members who packed their bags to pursue opportunities overseas, but planned to eventually settle down in India after retirement. The financial benefits for non-resident Indians become apparent when they earn in foreign currencies and convert them to Indian rupees to invest and save, leading to significant growth in rupee terms. Lets consider the case of individuals A and B, both aiming to accumulate a nest egg of 8.8 crore for a comfortable life in their sunset years. To achieve this, they would need to save approximately 4.67 lakh every year, starting at 30 years to retire at 60 with the desired corpus. Assume A earns 40 lakh per annum in India, while B works in the US with an annual package of $100,000. Some Indian tech professionals based in the US, whom we previously interviewed, asserted that a $100,000 salary in the US can provide a lifestyle akin to what 40 lakh would offer in India due to the difference in cost of living. Although A and B may enjoy similar lifestyles in terms of expenses, A must allocate a larger portion of her income toward retirement savings. In this case, A needs to invest 11.6% of her earnings, while B can contribute less than half of that amount or just 5.6% of her annual income, to achieve the target corpus. However, this financial advantage for NRIs dissipates if they decide to retire outside India, especially in developed countries. In such instances, the savings rate may need to exceed 11% to cover the higher cost of living in those countries. In this article, we delve into the experiences of four individuals who pursued better opportunities abroad but have either returned or are planning to return to India for retirement (see gfx). The primary motivation for most of the returnees is quite evidentthe desire to be surrounded by family and friends. Social security contributions in most parts of Europe typically range from 20% to 25% of the gross salary, at times even more. This includes various components such as health insurance, pension contribution and other social benefits such as unemployment insurance. The employer also contributes a portion to the social security benefits. Balamurugan Kandasamy, (37), who migrated to France nine years ago is planning to retire in India with the help of the pension he will receive from the French government. There are certain conditions members have to fulfil, say, a minimum period of stay in the country to get pension from the government. I will have that, and I would also earn some amount in foreign currency (euros) by renting my property here." Unlike India, properties in France can be managed easily by associating with a few agencies here," he added. Almost all participants have been investing significantly in the Indian stock market to build their retirement corpus, while a portion of it is invested in foreign markets for diversification. Mayur L, from Lucknow, and now a German citizen, is investing in India along with his wife to build a retirement corpus. Since medical and education costs are almost free, they park a significant part of their income towards savings and invest almost 90% in India, and 10% in the US (as of today). View Full Image Mint Varun Aggarwala, (36), and his wife both professors, decided not to apply for a green card in the US so that they could come back and settle in India. The family recently moved from New York to Navi Mumbai, and is happy with their decision. As a US resident, I couldnt invest in mutual funds in India. I found NPS (National Pension Scheme) a brilliant product with no constraints on the maximum amount and came at a very low cost. After moving to India, we started investing in mutual funds, mostly in passive funds. On the debt side, we max our savings in voluntary provident fund. We keep our portfolios simple," he said. The investments in the US stocks was retained to pay for the education costs of their children during their years abroad. Sumanta Banerjee, (70) who moved back after working in Dubai for almost two decades, could be a good case study on how to plan a smooth flight back to India. Banerjee, a chartered accountant, availed the services of his financial planner Kalpesh Ashar, a Sebi-registered investment advisor, to manage his money. Banerjee planned to transition his assets invested in Dubai at least two years before he moved to India. On asking if he is happy with his periodical income from investments set aside for retirement, he said: There is no limit of expecting more but I am more of a content person when it comes to money." He is now indulging time in his passion for writing and travelling. When an NRI returns, there are two laws that must be adhered to: Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and the Income Tax Act. Under FEMA, which differ from IT rules, the primary factor is the intent to settle in India rather than the residential statusperiod of stay in India, said Neetu Singh, director, direct taxation, Nangia & Co LLP. When it comes to I-T Act, one can be considered a resident not ordinary resident for 2-3 years during which global income is not taxed in India. During this period overseas income will not be taxed in the hands of RNOR, but she will be liable to disclose foreign assets in income tax returns. Then the individual becomes a resident and ordinary resident, or resident, when the global income is chargeable to tax in India. When liquidating assets abroad to move to India, it is advisable to consult a chartered accountant, to ensure the individual is not be liable to pay tax in both countries. If assets are liquidated after coming back, there is a specified period before which the sale proceeds have to be brought back to India as per FEMA rules. An expert will be in a better position to guide on such aspects on a case-to-case basis," added Singh. The 2020 Yes Bank crisis has reduced mutual funds (MFs) appetite for AT-1 bonds. Once among the biggest buyers of AT-1 bonds, MFs are now just about a fifth of what it earlier was, Economic Times reported. MF investments in AT-1 bonds crashed to 5,382 crore in April 2023, from 25,057 crore in January 2020," ET reported. Earlier, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) capped mutual fund investments in debt instruments, especially with reference to AT1 (Additional Tier-1) bonds. Accordingly, no mutual fund scheme will be allowed to invest more than 10% of its debt assets in such bonds and not more than 5% in the bonds of a single issuer What are AT-1 bonds? AT-1 bonds, also known as Additional Tier 1 bonds, are a type of debt instrument that banks issue to meet their capital requirements under Basel III regulations. These bonds have no maturity date and are perpetual. They can be called or redeemed by the issuer at their discretion. AT-1 bonds are riskier However, they are considered to be high-risk instruments because they absorb losses in the event of a bank's financial distress, and can even be written off or converted into equity if certain trigger events occur. This makes them riskier than other types of debt instruments, such as senior bonds or deposits, which are usually protected from write-downs. The AT-1 bonds of India's Yes Bank were written down in March 2020 after the Reserve Bank of India initiated a restructuring of the lender with some value attributed to the bank's equity. MUMBAI : HDFC Life Insurance Co Ltds foreign joint venture partner Abrdn Plc, on Tuesday put its remaining stake comprising 35.7 million shares on the block, marking its exit from Indias life insurance space after 23 years. It has valued its holding at 2,088.64 crore, or 563- 585 per share. Abrdn (formerly Standard Life Aberdeen Plc), through its subsidiary Abrdn (Mauritius Holdings) 2006 Ltd, owned a 1.7% promoter stake in HDFC Life as on 31 March. The Indian promoter HDFC Ltd owns a 48.65% in the private insurer. The Edinburgh-headquartered investor has offered to sell its shares at a discount of up to 3.75% to Tuesdays closing on the NSE. Bank of America is the sole bookrunner for Abrdns stake sale, Bloomberg reported. Among 23 private life insurers, HDFC Life is Indias second largest with a 7.8% market share. The company collected new business premium worth 23,876.54 crore in FY23, up 19% from 24,301 crore in the previous financial year. Through its JV with mortgage lender HDFC in 2000, Abrdn is the oldest foreign JV partner of a life insurer in India ever since the sector was liberalized in 1999. In July 2021, the UK-based investment management firm changed its name from Standard Life Aberdeen to Abrdn. However, soon after HDFC Lifes listing on the exchanges in November 2017, it started trimming its stake gradually. HDFC Life commands a market cap of 1.25 trillion. The first tranche of Abrdns stake sale began in January-March 2018, according to regulatory filings. Between January 2019 and June 2020, it slashed its stake by 18.96% to bring it down to 10.27%. During October 2020-June 2021, Abrdn lowered its stake further by 6.38%. In June 2021, Standard Life divested a 5% stake in the life insurance firm in two tranches for 672 and 673, respectively, to mop up 6,784 crore. In January-September 2022, Abrdns stake was down by 2.23%. It subsequently sold another 2.06% to bring its holding down to 1.7%, which was put on the block on Tuesday. Abrdn is also looking to exit its stake in HDFC AMC. On 16 August, 2022 Abrdn had sold 6% of its stake as a sponsor in the countrys largest mutual fund HDFC Asset Management Co., trimming its holding to 10.21% in the AMC. Subsequently, on 6 December, 2022, Abrdn Investment Management (formerly Standard Life Investments), announced its plan to offload its entire 10.2% stake in the mutual fund house. The other sponsor is HDFC, which holds a 52.59% stake. Abrdn plc is primarily engaged in managing investments in equities, multi-asset, fixed income, liquidity, sovereign wealth funds, real estate and private markets. New Delhi: Defence minister Rajnath Singh championed Indias growing global stature, attributing it to the countrys burgeoning economy and proactive governmental initiatives. Addressing the Indian diaspora in Nigeria on 29 May, Singh highlighted the increasing prominence of the Indian diaspora globally, commending the positive impact of the Indian community in Nigeria and expressing his faith in their capacity to uphold Indias image. The minister underscored Indias ambitious pursuit of self-reliance, termed Aatmanirbharta", drawing attention to Indias impressive advancements in the area of defence exports. Singh underscored the goal of Make in India, Make for the World", lauding the nations armed forces for their efficacy in addressing threats and challenges. The purpose of Singhs visit to Abuja was to participate in the inauguration ceremony of Nigerias president, Bola Tinubu. With more than 50,000 Indians residing in Nigeria, Indian-run enterprises have grown into substantial employment sources within the nation. . New Delhi: The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has intensified scrutiny of professionals hired by lenders to run bankrupt businesses, citing instances of alleged professional misconduct. The development highlights a major vulnerability in Indias framework for addressing industrial sickness, as evidenced by a series of orders issued by the regulator. IBBI issued more than 20 disciplinary orders targeting resolution professionals in May alone, with regulatory action ranging from calls to professionals to be more diligent to suspending their registrations for periods spanning from several months to two years in certain instances. In certain cases, a monetary penalty has also been imposed. IBBI has issued over 40 disciplinary orders since the beginning of January, about half of which have come in May. Since last May, the regulator has issued over 100 disciplinary orders, official data showed. The orders showed alleged misconduct, including suppressing facts in communications to lenders, overcharging the fee for resolution professionals, dereliction of duty, and gaps in the procedures followed in documenting valuation reports. In some instances, the disciplinary committee of the regulator has ordered an inspection of all the liquidation matters handled by a professional to probe cases of overcharging. The move comes as part of government efforts to make debt resolution of sick companies successful and to help revive investments. The Narendra Modi administration counts cleaning up of balance sheets of banks and corporations over the last few years as a major reform measure, which has made the industry more investment-ready. Rescuing sinking businesses and salvaging the investments deployed in them without further erosion in value is a priority for the government, and IBBI and the government are closely watching the outcome of bankruptcy resolution. Experts agree that individual insolvency resolution professional is a crucial vulnerability in the whole ecosystem of debt resolution. Lack of institutional support and depth of experience among some individual insolvency resolution professionals is a key concern for stakeholders, said Anoop Rawat, partner (insolvency and bankruptcy) at law firm Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. One way to tackle the capacity constraints related to debt resolution is to encourage insolvency professional entities to take up the mandate to administer bankrupt businesses. The regulator and professional services firms could engage and address issues relating to the legal liability arising from the entitys decisions so that they are more forthcoming in taking up this mandate," Rawat said. IBBI had in 2022 permitted firms to take up the mandate of administering businesses going through the bankruptcy process in place of individual professionals, given that an organization will have more internal controls and governance systems. At the moment, individual practitioners hired by lenders to run the process rope in firms for support services. As of March, there were more than 2,400 insolvency resolution professionals authorized to take up assignments. Besides suspending registrations, IBBI has also ordered the cancellation of registrations in nine cases so far, either for disciplinary reasons or for not being fit for purpose, official data showed. IPL 2023 is over with a nail-biting finish for the final between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT). While it was an extremely close call for CSK vs GT, the competition was rather one-sided in terms of the most ordered food on Swiggy. With 212 orders per minute, Biryani turns out to be the hands-down winner as the most ordered food during IPL 2023. While many Twitter users were intrigued to know if it was Veg Biryani or Non-Veg Biryani Swiggy was referring to, there was no immediate clarification on the same. The popular food delivery app had a bustling New Year's Eve 2023 as it managed to deliver an impressive 3.50 lakh orders of Biryani, making it the most sought-after item for celebratory meals. According to company sources, the app efficiently dispatched over 61,000 pizzas across the country by 10.25 pm, catering to the diverse culinary preferences of its customers. In a Twitter poll conducted by Swiggy, it was revealed that 75.4% of orders were placed for Hyderabadi Biryani, showcasing its immense popularity among food enthusiasts. Lucknowi Biryani followed closely with 14.2%, while Kolkata Biryani accounted for 10.4% of the orders. Apart from Biryani and Pizzas, Swiggy's Instamart witnessed a surge in orders for snacks as well. As of 7 pm on New Years Eve 2023, a staggering 1.76 lakh packets of chips had been ordered, demonstrating the desire for delectable accompaniments during the festive season. The homegrown food aggregator earlier achieved a significant milestone by turning profitable as of March. This development marks a major breakthrough for the food tech industry, which has long grappled with the challenges of high operational costs. Sriharsha Majety, the Chief Executive and Founder of Swiggy, attributed this success to the company's unwavering focus on innovation and effective execution. Majety, in a recent blog post, expressed gratitude towards the partners within Swiggy's ecosystem and emphasised their commitment to prioritising customer satisfaction. He highlighted the deep consumer love, industry-leading Net Promoter Scores (NPS), repeat orders, and high customer retention rates that Swiggy has achieved. In response to the wrestler's protest in Haridwar, BJP MP and chief of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Tuesday said that he cannot do anything in the matter and the Delhi Police is conducting the probe, in case anybody is found wrong, arrests will also take place. Brij Bhushan also mentioned that instead of immersing their medals in the Ganga river, the wrestlers chose to give it to Naresh Tikait. The remarks by the BJP leader came as India's top wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia are protesting against him, accusing him of sexually harassing many female wrestlers including minors. On Sunday, Delhi Police clamped down the protests while it was en route to the location of the inauguration of the new Parliament building. "Let the probe happen, it is in the hands of Delhi Police. If found wrong, then arresting will also take place," WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said in response to wrestlers protest in Haridwar. #WATCH | "Let the probe happen, it is in the hands of Delhi Police. If found wrong, then arresting will also take place," WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh reacts to #WrestlersProtest in Haridwar pic.twitter.com/GUE10wH6gP ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2023 Earlier today, the wrestlers reached Haridwar in an attempt to immerse their medals in the river Ganga as a mark of protest. The wrestlers also said that they will go fast unto death at India Gate for their demand of the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. But, soon farmer leader Naresh Tikait appeared on the scene and requested the wrestlers to not immerse the medals. While taking away the medals from the wrestlers, Naresh Tikait sought a five-day time from the protesting wrestlers. Meanwhile, a person named Amit Pehlwan, who claims to be the uncle of a minor girl who has accused Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment said that the protesting wrestlers are "misleading" his family and using them to frame Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The international governing body for wrestlers, United World Wrestling (UWW) condemned the Delhi Police action against the wrestlers and threatened that it might suspend the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) if its pending elections are not held within the stipulated time. Unveiling its fresh brand identity, private lender YES BANK on Tuesday (May 30) launched a new logo of the company and said it is set to roll out an integrated campaign with the tagline Life Ko Banao Rich - which represents the banks core focus of being a complete solution provider. In a media release, the bank said its dynamic new identity is designed to resonate with the evolving needs and aspirations of customers and enable people to live each day to the fullest. "I am delighted to present to you a refreshed identity of YES BANK, which resonates with the ethos and values we uphold, the emotional connection we have with our customers, and our motivation to provide them with a rewarding banking experience. Our campaign tagline Life Ko Banao Rich, reflects our objective to encourage customers to spend time and make memories with their loved ones, and leave their banking needs to us," said Nipun Kaushal, Chief Marketing Officer and Head CSR, YES BANK. As part of its refreshed identity, YES BANK has launched a vibrant new logo which carries forward the visual DNA of the bank and builds on it. "The design language is digitally friendly and reflects a brand which believes in being fluid. It depicts the bank's progressive spirit while staying true to its core values. The tick has been transformed into a soaring bird, which represents the Banks current position of soaring. The familiar blue and red colours that have been associated with the YES BANK logo have got a makeover as well; the red and blue have an electric tone, representing the high energy and innovation that the YES BANK of today stands for," the bank stated. "The revitalised identity extends across all customer touchpoints, such as the bank's headquarters, branches, products, digital platforms and communication materials. The campaign will underline the theme of Life Ko Banao Rich and will be promoted across social and digital media, OTT networks and television," YES BANK said. China launched a new crew for its orbiting space station on Tuesday, with an eye to putting astronauts on the moon before the end of the decade. The new crew consists of three persons, according to a report published by The Associated Press. The Shenzhou 16 spacecraft lifted off from the Jiuquan launch center on the edge of the Gobi Desert in northwestern China atop a Long March 2-F rocket just after 9:30 a.m. (0130 GMT) Tuesday. The crew, including China's first civilian astronaut, will overlap with three now aboard the Tiangong station, who will then return to Earth after completing their six-month mission. Space program officials on Monday said a third module was added to the station in November and they have plans to expand it along with launching a crewed mission to the moon before 2030, AP reported. After it was excluded from the International Space Station, China built its own space station due to US concerns over the Chinese space programs' intimate ties with the People's Liberation Army, the military branch of the ruling Communist Party. China's first manned space mission in 2003 made it the third country after the former Soviet Union and the US to put a person into space under its own resources. On the latest mission, payload expert Gui Haichao, a professor at Beijing's top aerospace research institute, will join mission commander Maj. Gen. Jing Haipeng, who is making his fourth flight to space, and spacecraft engineer Zhu Yangzhu. China has been investing billions of dollars into its military-run space program, aiming to close the gap and catch up with the United States and Russia in space exploration. China's Manned Space Agency announced that it will send its first civilian astronaut into space as part of the crewed Shenzhou XVI mission to the Tiangong space station today. New Delhi: India and Indonesia have completed a joint feasibility study on developing the strategically valuable Sabang port, according to persons aware of the matter. Sabang port, which is located in the province of Aceh, is roughly 700 km from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The successful development of this vital port would allow India easier access to the Malacca Straits, a narrow stretch of the sea between Indonesia and Malaysia and one of six chokepoints along the worlds maritime trading routes. A substantial chunk of the worlds good trade passes through the Straits, as does the vast majority of Chinas imports of energy. Developing the Sabang Port could bolster Indias military position vis-a-vis China in the Indian Ocean. In 2018, Indonesias then-coordinating minister for maritime affairs Luhut Pandjaitan said Sabang port would be fit to host both shipping vessels and submarines. His allusion to a possible military use for Sabang spurred a flurry of speculation about the strategic uses of the port for India. According to the persons cited above, India has completed a feasibility study detailing the prospects for the expansion and development of the port. The study is now being reviewed by Indonesia. However, progress on building the port has been slow and talks have been on for some years now. In 2018, both sides set up a task force to boost connectivity between Aceh province and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In this regard, the leaders appreciated the decision to set up a Joint Task Force to undertake projects for port related infrastructure in and around Sabang," the two leaders said in a joint statement during Prime Minister Narendra Modis first official visit to Indonesia. This development comes amid growing interest in infrastructure development projects in Indonesia from Indian firms. Mint had earlier reported how Indian firms were looking at involving themselves in building Indonesias new capital Nusantara. Indian companies are also currently in talks to develop a port in Western Sumatra, which would help improve economic ties between the two countries. Infrastructure should be at the core of the India-Indonesia partnership," said Gurjit Singh, who was Indias ambassador to Indonesia from 2012 to 2015. The leaders shared their views on the importance of intensifying infrastructure development in both countries and the mutual benefit of enhancing infrastructure development cooperation," said Modi and president Joko Widodo during their 2018 joint statement. The Leaders shared their views on the importance of intensifying infrastructure development in both countries and the mutual benefit of enhancing infrastructure development cooperation. In this regard, both Leaders welcomed the convening of the 1st India-Indonesia Infrastructure Forum which would enhance further infrastructure connectivity cooperation," said Modi and Widodo during their 2018 joint statement. New Delhi and Jakarta also created the India-Indonesia Infrastructure Forum (IIIF) in 2018 to foster links between the private sector in both countries. A second edition of the forum was held in 2019. New Delhi: India and Suriname are in talks to resolve the problem of illegal migration from India to the small South American nation. With a population of just over 612,000 citizens, Suriname is located on the northeastern coast of South America and is home to a large Indian diaspora. According to persons aware of the matter, Suriname is used as a stopover en route eventually to the US. This led Suriname to reintroduce visa requirements for travellers from over 20 countries, including India, in April. This development came just a year after Suriname lifted visa application requirements on a number of countries. Indias ministry of external affairs did not respond to a formal press query. In 2022, Surinames foreign ministry announced that the country was unilaterally removing visa requirements for all nationalities for visitors entering for tourism or family visits. Visitors were simply required to pay a $25 entry fee. The policy went into effect on 1 July 2022. The persons cited above stated that this policy had to be repealed as foreign nationals were entering Suriname in the hopes of migrating to countries like the US. An in-depth review has been made over the past few months by the Immigration Department, Directorate of National Security and Foreign Affairs. What we see is confirmation that visa-free travel is not being used for the purpose for which it is intended," the countrys Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin was quoted as saying in regional news outlets. This led to the reintroduction of visa requirements on numerous countries including India. We also look at the national interest. We dont want problems with other countries because we have become a conduit. We dont want to be seen as a country that facilitates human smuggling and illegal movement of people," Minister Ramdin was also quoted as saying. India and Suriname may take the matter up during their Joint Commission meetings later this year. Suriname is home to a large Indian diaspora, which has helped build closer cultural and people to people ties between the two countries. According to Indias ministry of external affairs, approximately 37% of the countrys population is of Indian origin. New Delhi has pushed to strengthen those ties. India invited Surinames Indian-origin President, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, to act as a Special Guest of Honour during this years Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention in January. The current global transfer pricing (TP) regime allows multi-national enterprises (MNE) to account for only a routine profit in a market or source jurisdiction for tax purposes and park a substantial portion of their super-profits in low tax jurisdictions (tax havens) using legitimate and layered structures. Over the last decade or so, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)/G20 countries, under their base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) project, have made a serious attempt to arrive at a framework to make the MNEs pay their fair share of taxes. During this decade, the digital economy also rapidly emerged as a mainstay business model, disrupting the global supply chain and mobility of resources. Globally, tax authorities endeavoured to adapt swiftly and stay in step with the evolving landscape. The OECDs Two Pillar approach emerged as the favoured means for navigating this new reality. India joined the Inclusive Framework of OECD and voiced the views of the Global South in these discussions. After many rounds of negotiations, the Two Pillars approach is on the brink of achieving a significant milestone in its journey. Pascal Saint-Amans, a former executive at OECD who spearheaded the project until last year, in his article in the Mint (11 May 2023), expressed hope that the negotiations would conclude under the Indian G20 presidency. At this juncture, it is valuable to reflect on the trajectory it has traversed thus far and critically evaluate whether it will successfully attain the intended objectives that it had set forth at the start of its journey. Pillar One focuses on allocating taxing rights among countries and seeks to undertake a coherent and concurrent review of the profit allocation and nexus rules. Even though this was originally planned to cover all digital companies, in its current form, it would cover only a few larger MNE groups (with a threshold of global revenue of $20 billion and profitability over 10%). Leaving aside many of the technical aspects on which there is still a need to build consensus, there are many aspects of Pillar One that would come in the way of its effectiveness: One, the allocation of taxing rights under the formulaic approach may not necessarily reflect the true economic activities or value creation in a market jurisdiction. Two, the amount to be reallocated (Amount A25% of profits over 10%) may be too little. India may receive too little allocation in return for withdrawing the equalisation levy. On the contrary, it may reallocate some genuine profits out of India. And three, it may entail significant complexity and administrative burden for both tax authorities and MNEs and is a likely magnet for litigation as there are too many subjective parameters. The mandatory and binding dispute resolution mechanism may compromise Indias sovereign right to (determine) tax. Pillar Two is a levy of top-up tax for the difference between the minimum rate of 15% and the MNEs effective tax rate (ETR). This is expected to benefit the advanced economies, which are victims of their own design of enabling MNEs to incorporate entities outside their home jurisdiction and artificially park profits in tax havens. For India, Pillar Two is inconsequential without a fair and strong Pillar One, and both should be implemented as a package because: One, Pillar Two will not address situations where foreign MNEs shift profits from India as the top-up tax would be payable in the headquarters jurisdiction, not India. Even the subject-to-tax rule (STTR) will not be of benefit due to its narrow scope. Two, India has a worldwide system of taxation for Indian MNEs, and strict residency rules discourage abusive and round-tripping structures. Three, India attracts investments based on its underlying economic strength and potential, balanced tax structure and the rule of law. Even after the reduction in 2019, corporate tax rates are well above 15%. As opposed to OECDs Two Pillar approach, the United Nations has a solution spearheaded by India. In April 2021, the UN Tax Committee finalised a tax treaty solution (Article 12B) for taxing income from automated digital services by withholding tax on a gross basis. This is likely to generate far higher revenues than the OECD approach and, more importantly, does not restrict sovereign taxing rights of source countries like India. However, this would wholly depend on bilateral agreements and the possibility of the home/residence country state agreeing to give up its taxing rights in favour of the source country. It is not that the OECD should abandon the Two Pillar approach, but it must be re-oriented to address the concerns of the Global South. India has always favoured a consensus solution that is simple to implement and comply with. At the same time, the solution should result in meaningful and sustainable revenue allocation to market jurisdictions, particularly for developing and emerging economies. It is worthwhile for OECD to align its efforts towards a simpler, sustainable, and flexible solution to elevate the chances of a deal. These are the authors personal views. V. Anantha Nageswaran, K. Balasubramanian and Smarak Swain are, respectively, chief economic advisor, joint secretary and director in the department of revenue, Government of India. Chita: A Memoir By Chita Rivera with Patrick Pacheco HarperOne. 320 pp. $29.99 - - - Broadway actress Chita Rivera waited 90 years to tell her story. And if it wasn't for the pandemic, which made it impossible for her to perform, she may not have gotten to it. Dance steps became key strokes. The result is "Chita," co-written with journalist Patrick Pacheco, a memoir that includes anecdotes about her stage roles and personal life, and that serves as an archive of the extensive creative network that nurtured and shaped her art. Even as a child, I knew that Rivera was one of American theater's most iconic stars and a larger-than-life figure who had forged a path for Latinas. "Chita," however, is more - and less - than what I imagined. Although the memoir has flashes of the verve and fire Rivera is known for, the narrative is surprisingly over-rehearsed, even flat. But although it may not be what choreographer Jerome Robbins calls "the real thing," it offers a telling account of how a Puerto Rican girl delivered into a low-income family during the Great Depression became "Chita Rivera: star." Born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero in 1933, Rivera was largely raised by her White (passing) mother after her father, a Puerto Rican musician, died when she was 7. Rivera grew up dancing, and in the late 1940s, her mentor, the Black dancer Doris Jones, secured Rivera an audition with the prestigious School of American Ballet. She was accepted, and a few years later, Rivera made the leap to Broadway. Upon her first big break in "West Side Story" (1957), she embarked on a career collaborating with the top names in theater, including Leonard Bernstein, Bob Fosse and Terrence McNally, eventually earning all of theater's major awards: three Tonys (with one being a 2018 lifetime achievement), Kennedy Center Honors (the first for a Latina performer) and a Presidential Medal of Freedom. Rivera had a stunning career. Since her work never extended far beyond the world of theater, her stated goal in "Chita" is to inform others about how she reached such heights. Yet, at its most affecting, "Chita" is also about the steep price that girls like Dolores pay to have such big dreams. Rivera rarely mentions race explicitly, but "Chita" suggests how it profoundly shaped her. She coped with ballet's nearly all-White environment by becoming the "class clown" and eventually abandoning her ambitions. While Rivera found more space in Broadway, feeling like an outsider persisted. When she auditioned for "Shoestring Revue," "a glance around the audition room confirmed I had no business being there. Standing next to me . . . were leggy, busty blondes in body-revealing dresses with slashes of red lipstick highlighting their pretty faces. And here was I, short, dark, dressed in a black skirt and leotards, and with a nose like 'a chicken's butt.'" Even after attaining fame, Rivera faced typecasting, which included repeatedly receiving offers to play madam or mistress roles and "Bye Bye Birdie" director Gower Champion fearing that hiring Rivera as a lead would "turn our Rosie into a Spanish omelet." These assumptions interfered not only with her professional opportunities but also with her sense of self. Like other Latino performers, Rivera initially tried to present herself as "less ethnic" by changing her name from Conchita del Rivero to "Chita O'Hara," later settling on a more digestible version of her own name. Even further, pressure to conform to White expectations split Rivera in two: the professional performer who wanted "to please" and the rebellious Puerto Rican whom Chita felt she must control to succeed. This rift is evident in the memoir's most vexing, if revealing, feature: the adoption of an alter ego named "Dolores" (Rivera's birth name), which fittingly means "pain" in Spanish. Rivera casts Dolores as her racialized id, tasked with doing what Chita at 90 (still) feels she can't do: talk back, be sexual and express "negative" emotions. In contrast to the public-facing Chita, who is "sweet and kind," Dolores "is a bat out of hell." If Rivera writes that her biggest secret is that she is "not nearly as nice as people think I am" - which also means she is more "Puerto Rican" than she has led on - the empty feeling at the heart of "Chita" is that she is not entirely her "self" here. This is, of course, by design. After all, the book is titled "Chita," not "Dolores." Yet, in the rare moments where Rivera allows her out, it is clear that Dolores is more than Chita's innermost self. She is a secret hiding in plain sight and is the ultimate reason Rivera became a star. With courage and determination, Rivera turned the body and culture others looked down on for not being "all-American" into a fierce source of creativity. In this way, Rivera brought theater a style and vitality that it had never seen before. She fused "Latino energy on the bustling streets of the Bronx" and the dazzling mambo dance scene with the art of ballet and the queer-infused American musical idiom she was part of inventing. She created the DNA of some of the most memorable characters in U.S. popular culture, the best-known being Anita of "West Side Story." Rivera placed such a strong imprint on Anita that Anita became the musical's most compelling character, and - unlike other roles in the musical - only women of color played this role in major future productions, regardless of medium. Rivera also fashioned "Chicago" murderer Velma Kelly into a sympathetic fighter and turned Rosie of "Bye Bye Birdie" into a willful Latina bent on fulfilling her hopes. At this stage of life, Rivera chose not to write a memoir that channels the power of all her selves. Yet "Chita" still shares the story of a girl who, despite not being blond and leggy, lit up a previously unimaginable path, making it easier for others to follow. And that, Dolores would agree, is the real thing. - - - Frances Negron-Muntaner is the Julian Clarence Levi professor in the humanities at Columbia University. She is the author of "Boricua Pop: Puerto Ricans and the Latinization of American Culture," among other publications. By Henry Hoke MCD. 176 pp. $25 - - - Don't let the fanged narrator of Henry Hoke's new novel scare you off. Yes, "Open Throat" is about a queer mountain lion, but only in the way "The Metamorphosis" is about a large bug. Give this sinewy prose poem a chance and you'll fall under the spell of a forlorn voice trapped in the hellscape of modern America. As fantastical as "Open Throat" sounds, Hoke was inspired by a true tale of feline adventure. Around 2012, a cougar - an actual cougar - was spotted prowling around Griffith Park in Los Angeles. Over the next decade, the 123-pound cat, designated P-22, became Hollywood's coolest, most elusive celebrity - the subject of chance encounters, branded merchandise and social media posts. Hobbled by traumatic injuries, P-22 was captured and euthanized in December. California Gov. Gavin Newsom called him an icon and an inspiration. Tickets to his memorial service at L.A.'s Greek Theatre reportedly sold out in hours. But Hoke's novel is far removed from that aura of fame and adoration. When we meet the cat, he's "a secret member of town." He hasn't had a proper meal for weeks and can't remember the last time it rained. He's thirsty and hungry - and transfixed by what he's seeing. The park draws all sorts of people looking for refuge or stealth. Through a thicket of branches that camouflage him perfectly, he watches a woman filming an S&M porno with her phone. "I try to understand people," the cat thinks, "but they make it hard." That's the purr of a classic perspective in American literature that stretches back to Huckleberry Finn, an outcast naif whose bewildered commentary plumbs our strange behavior, our extravagant passions, our senseless cruelty. "I see in the dark," the cat says. "I'm a good listener." But it's the combination of attention and naivete that charges his observations with unconscious profundity. "I think I'm a kind of poet," he says. Indeed. At his best, he's a furry Jenny Holzer. While licking his paws, he tosses off ironic lines that seem destined for display on walls and T-shirts: "I feel more like a person than ever because I'm / starting to hate myself." "I'm old because I'm not dead." Lying in a tree above a path, the cat eavesdrops on people walking through the park. "The hikers talk about their therapists," he says. "A therapist is something I want." The best ones, apparently, are in a faraway land called "new york." "I want to go to a place "where I won't be hated "where there are therapists running around "everywhere like deer and I can just find one and "catch it and pin it down "store it somewhere safe and visit it once a week." Another time, as the cat wakes up, two women are passing by with their huge water bottles. One complains that she can't find enough time in the day. He hears the other say, "that's just your scarce city mentality you have to work on that." "I'm not sure what a scare city mentality is," the cat thinks, "but I have it." Hoke coughs up these little hairballs of comic misunderstanding throughout "Open Throat," but it's the pathos that sustains his novel. The mountain lion speaks for a lonely, alienated generation. We can hear that plainly when he finds an abandoned cellphone and thinks, "phones don't work for me." It's not just that he can't hold it correctly. "Who would I call what would I say where would my / voice go," he wonders. "I have so much language in my brain / and nowhere to put it." Don't we all. Watching a pair of men have sex in his cave, the cat remembers his friendship with another male mountain lion who once shared a deer carcass with him. It's a recollection both sad and sweet - and slick with blood. "No deer lasts as long as you want it to," he sighs. That relationship gave him a vague sense of his queer identity, and its loss left him permanently bereft. Since the Fall, stories involving talking animals have been mercifully rare. It's become a conceit leashed so strongly to children's literature that four-legged narrators feel fundamentally juvenile. But every once in a while, a clever writer exploits that prejudice by placing a linguistically sophisticated animal in a thoroughly adult setting. The effects can be surreal, as in Kafka's "Metamorphosis"; satiric, as in Orwell's "Animal Farm"; or comic, as in Benjamin Hale's "The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore," about a very philosophical chimp. Loquacious dogs have featured in a couple of novels, too, but as the cat in "Open Throat" says: "Dogs don't do it for me." They are, perhaps, too fundamentally sentimental to produce the kind of unnerving effect I want from a speaking beast. Wisely, Hoke keeps this story short, but it's more than just a series of doleful observations. There is an actual arc to this plot, though it's so fragile I won't say more than that it's sparked by a horrendous crime against a group of people - "his people" - living in the park. Forced into the sprawl of Los Angeles - what he calls "ellay" - the cat creates a den under a mansion. "I look around at all the space I have and I think of "all the other space in this house and in every house "on this street and in all of ellay and I think how the "people of my town could be here too." He's just one more lost soul in the City of Angels. "If you feel alone in the world," he advises, "find someone to worship you." That's not the only bit of wisdom to chew on in this untamed book. During the final days of May and Mental Health Awareness Month, Laredo College emphasizes that mental health resources are invaluable every day of the year. The LC Counseling and Disability Services Department is working to highlight the powerful 988 initiative that is available to the community and work in tandem with the colleges highly-trained licensed counselors for the benefit and support of students. Its focus is to connect trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing suicidal, substance use, mental health crisis or any other kind of emotional distress. According to LC Counseling and Disability Services Director Adriana Craddock, 988 is a dialing code that became nationally available on July 2022 that connects anyone in an emergency mental health situation with licensed professionals who are there to listen and talk with those in need. The lifeline is a 24/7, free and confidential resource that can be an alternative to dialing 911 during times of need. Craddock said that in these moments, talking to someone may help verbalize the emotions and troubles running through ones mind. The causes of mental anguish can come from many sources including uncertainty over basic needs, work or school pressure, but LC staff can help guide a student to the local resources and help address mental health concerns. What I tell students is if its a little rock in your shoe, I use that example a lot, you move your foot around in your shoe and you keep walking. As you keep adding little rocks, the problems, the worries, the doubts, those are more rocks that affect your walking, Craddock said. Once you talk to us, we can start removing those so that youre more comfortable and able to focus on your success. With 988 providing support on a national level, it is also important for students to be aware that masters level counselors are available to help at both campuses. Office hours are Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon at the Kazen Student Center Room 132 in the Ft. McIntosh campus and in the Billy Hall Student Center room A208 at the South Campus. Listening is vital in helping one decompress and address the causes of mental anguish over separate periods of counseling. For students who may feel more comfortable speaking with a counselor in-person, Craddock said that both appointments and walk-ins are accepted, and the department doesnt turn any student away. For assistance regarding mental health, counseling or more information regarding accommodations, contact the LC Counseling and Disability Services Department via email at lcds@laredo.edu and counseling@laredo.edu or by calling 956-721-5137. Federal agents rescued a migrant from drowning in the Rio Grande, authorities said. On May 23, agents responded to a group of people crossing the Rio Grande illegally. Responding agents observed seven migrants in the area. A woman attempted to return to Mexico. However, she could not stay afloat, authorities said. As she disappeared under the murky water, three agents from the Laredo Sector Special Operations Detachment managed to pull her out of the river. Agents then administered CPR since she was non-responsive. Laredo Fire Department crews responded to the scene and took her to a local hospital for further medical attention. A new meteorologist has joined the Bayou City airwaves. The ABC 13 Houston weather team is expanding to six members with the addition of meteorologist Elyse Smith. She made her first appearance in Monday's newscasts, but viewers can watch her during weekend evenings alongside anchor Tom Abrahams. Smith will also spend some time out in the field on weekdays covering weather and climate issues. "To be able to contribute to a station, network and company whose values align with mine, especially when it comes to weather coverage and storytelling, is a dream realized," Smith wrote in a Facebook post. "I also have the opportunity to pioneer a role as weather reporter for ABC 13 which, if you know me, is something I love about this job." In a statement, ABC 13 Chief Meteorologist Travis Herzog congratulated Smith on joining his team. "We are thrilled to bring Elyse aboard with her passion for serving people and telling the weather and climate stories that matter most to our community," he said. "Expanding our weather team allows us to reach even more people on more platforms as viewers change the way they consume our weather information." Born and raised in Naperville, Ill., Smith told Herzog in a welcome interview that she was inspired to pursue meteorology while growing up in the tornado-prone midwest. "My mom would turn on the local news when there was bad weather coming, the tornado siren was going off, and she pointed to the meteorologist who knew why the tornado siren was going off and who could keep us safe," Smith said. "I just thought that was a super power. It seemed impossible to be able to predict the weather and I've just been fascinated by the weather ever since." A graduate of Valparaiso University in northwest Indiana, Smith holds a bachelor's degree in science in meteorology and a minor in math and theater. She is also a world champion Irish dancer and a certified broadcast meteorologist from the American Meteorological Society. For the last three and a half years, Smith worked at WRGZ in Buffalo, N.Y. She also interned with WGN Chicago's Tom Skilling and James Spann of ABC 33/40 WBMA in Birmingham, Ala., who Herzog called "titans in the TV weather industry." Smith was also mentored by ABC News Chief Meteorologist Ginger Zee, who surprised her with a special video message during her first newscast in Houston. "I am so proud a fellow Valpo grad made it all the way there to Houston," Zee said. "I'm so glad that I could have even a tiny part in connecting these two next parts of your life together. You are going to be outstanding." With Smith's addition to the team, Herzog revealed that Rachel Briers, who welcomed a baby girl earlier this year, will get some more time with her family on the weekends because she's moving to weekdays at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. "Rachel will also be producing additional weather content for us throughout the week and filling in as needed when others go on vacation," Herzog said. "So while you won't be seeing Rachel as often on the weekends, you'll be seeing her in a lot of different places during the weekdays this summer!" Oksana Smith / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm Two Texas bills that would've decriminalized marijuana and expanded medical marijuana access to tens of thousands have died in the Senate following Republican leadership's refusal to bring either to the floor for discussion. A bipartisan coalition of Texas lawmakers in March passed a bill through the committee stage that would effectively decriminalize weed within the state's borders. If passed into law, the bill sought to "remove the risk of arrest or jail time for low-level possession of cannabis and allow people to eventually erase cannabis issues from their criminal records." The House approved the decriminalization bill via a bipartisan vote in late April. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LONDON (AP) As Britains prime minister, Boris Johnson established an independent public inquiry into his governments handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now the inquiry wants to see, in full, what Johnson wrote to other U.K. officials as the outbreak raged but the government is fighting a demand to hand over the material. Inquiry chairwoman Heather Hallett, a retired judge, has asked the Conservative government, now led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, to produce full copies of Johnsons WhatsApp messages and notebooks, after initially being given redacted versions. Government officials said they only cut out material that was unambiguously irrelevant to the investigation, but Hallett wants to be the judge of that. She said the entire contents of the specified documents are of potential relevance to the lines of investigation being pursued by the inquiry. Hallett who has the power to summon evidence and question witnesses under oath set a deadline of 4 p.m. (1500 GMT) Tuesday for the government to hand over the documents, covering a two-year period from early 2020. But hours before the deadline, the government asked for more time, claiming it didn't have Johnsons WhatsApp messages or notebooks. Hallett denied a request to move the deadline to Monday, but agreed to extend it by 48 hours, until Thursday. The inquiry said if the WhatsApp messages and notebooks can't be produced, the government must provide witness statements from senior officials setting out what efforts have been made to find them. Sunak, who took office after Johnson left office in September to be succeeded, for a few weeks, by Liz Truss said the government had already handed over tens of thousands of documents to the inquiry and was considering next steps carefully. The government is worried about the precedent that disclosing Johnsons full, unredacted conversations might set. We are firmly of the view that the inquiry does not have the power to request unambiguously irrelevant information that is beyond the scope of this investigation, the Cabinet Office, a government department, said in a statement. "This includes the WhatsApp messages of government employees which are not about work but instead are entirely personal and relate to their private lives. Johnson's office said the former leader had no objection to disclosing material to the inquiry, but that decisions on redactions were for the Cabinet Office to make. Bob Kerslake, a former head of the civil service, said that the government was likely resisting disclosure to save embarrassment of ministers" an approach he called misguided. The U.K. has recorded more than 200,000 deaths among people with COVID-19, one of the highest tolls in Europe, and the decisions of Johnsons government have been endlessly debated. Johnson agreed in late 2021 to hold an inquiry after pressure from bereaved families. Halletts inquiry is due to investigate the U.K.s preparedness for a pandemic, how the government responded, and whether the level of loss was inevitable or whether things could have been done better. Public hearings are scheduled to start in June, and Johnson is among the senior officials due to give evidence. The inquiry has already landed Johnson in hot water. He was one of dozens of people fined last year for breaking his own governments pandemic lockdown rules in the so-called partygate scandal. Earlier this month, government-appointed lawyers helping Johnson prepare his submissions and testimony came across evidence of more potential breaches of COVID-19 restrictions. The new evidence relates to alleged visits to Chequers, the prime ministers official country retreat, as well as potential breaches in the leaders Downing Street residence. Civil servants reported the information to police, who say they are assessing the new evidence. Johnson denies wrongdoing. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAINT-LAURENT-DE-LA-PLAINE, France (AP) If time travel was possible, medieval carpenters would surely be amazed to see how woodworking techniques they pioneered in building Notre Dame Cathedral more than 800 years ago are being used again today to rebuild the world-famous monument's fire-ravaged roof. Certainly the reverse is true for the modern-day carpenters using medieval-era skills. Working with hand axes to fashion hundreds of tons of oak beams for the framework of Notre Dame's new roof has, for them, been like rewinding time. It's given them a new appreciation of their predecessors' handiwork that pushed the architectural envelope back in the 13th century. Its a little mind-bending sometimes," says Peter Henrikson, one of the carpenters. He says there are times when he's whacking mallet on chisel that he finds himself thinking about medieval counterparts who were cutting "basically the same joint 900 years ago. Its fascinating, he says. "We probably are in some ways thinking the same things. The use of hand tools to rebuild the roof that flames turned into ashes in 2019 is a deliberate, considered choice, especially since power tools would undoubtedly have done the work more quickly. The aim is to pay tribute to the astounding craftsmanship of the cathedral's original builders and to ensure that the centuries-old art of hand-fashioning wood lives on. We want to restore this cathedral as it was built in the Middle Ages," says Jean-Louis Georgelin, the retired French army general who is overseeing the reconstruction. It is a way to be faithful to the (handiwork) of all the people who built all the extraordinary monuments in France. Facing a tight deadline to reopen the cathedral by December 2024, carpenters and architects are also using computer design and other modern technologies to speed the reconstruction. Computers were used in the drawing of detailed plans for carpenters, to help ensure that their hand-chiseled beams fit together perfectly. Traditional carpenters had a lot of that in their head, Henrikson notes. It's "pretty amazing to think about how they did this with what they had, the tools and technology that they had at the time. The 61-year-old American is from Grand Marais, Minnesota. The bulk of the other artisans working on the timber frame are French. The roof reconstruction hit an important milestone in May, when large parts of the new timber frame were assembled and erected at a workshop in the Loire Valley, in western France. The dry run assured architects that the frame is fit for purpose. The next time it is put together will be atop the cathedral. Unlike in medieval times, it will be trucked into Paris and lifted by mechanical crane into position. Some 1,200 trees have been felled for the work. "The objective we had was to restore to its original condition the wooden frame structure that disappeared during the fire of April 15, 2019," says architect Remi Fromont, who did detailed drawings of the original frame in 2012. The rebuilt frame is the same wooden frame structure of the 13th century, he says. We have exactly the same material: oak. We have the same tools, with the same axes that were used, exactly the same tools. We have the same know-how. And soon, it will return to its same place. It is, he adds, a real resurrection. ___ John Leicester contributed to this report from Paris. Weekend Today Anchor/Reporter Xavier joined the Local 3 team in May of 2023 as a Reporter/Anchor. He is from Montgomery, Alabama, and is a huge Alabama Crimson Tide fan. (Roll Tide) Xavier is excited to cover stories in the Scenic City and beyond. Blood Assurance and the Chattanooga Lookouts are partnering for a competition against MEDIC Regional Blood Center in Knoxville and the Tennessee Smokies this week to raise their blood supply. Earlier in January, Nokian Tyres said the company aims to produce as many as four million tires per year in Dayton by 2024 You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Longford / Westmeath Fianna Fail TD Joe Flaherty has welcomed an agreement which will see community employment workers across various schemes receive a 5 per cent increase this year. The pay deal will benefit over 1,600 employees of organisations that manage Community Employment (CE), Tus, Rural Social Scheme (RSS) and Job Initiative (JI). Deputy Flaherty said: "While many of these workers weren't subject to FEMPI reductions, they haven't had a pay rise since 2008, an issue Fianna Fail campaigned on in opposition, and I'm pleased to say that in Government we have ensured that their voice has finally been heard. "We have delivered on our promise to ensure that the 1,641 staff, who work as supervisors, assistant supervisors and team leaders in the delivery of the CE, Tus, RSS and JI, are recognised for their important work in communities across the country. Under the agreement, these workers will receive an increase of 3% from 1 April 2023, which will be backdated, and a further 2% from 1 November 2023. "I am acutely aware that Community Employment Scheme workers provide vital services to communities throughout the country. This modest increase is in addition to a new mechanism for engagement on future pay determination."Resolving this issue has been a priority for my party for many years and I am pleased that a resolution has finally been arrived at. It's vital that the Government now continue to reform the Community Employment Scheme to ensure that it's an attractive option for participants and staff members.'' With the silage cutting season underway, the IFA is appealing to drivers of farming machinery and other road users to share the road safely. IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Chair Alice Doyle said its going to be a busy time on farms as farm contractors bring in silage. We are renewing our annual appeal for motorists to be on the lookout for tractors, trailers and other agricultural machinery exiting from fields and farmyards, she said. Alice Doyle said IFA is also asking anyone driving farm machinery, especially on rural roads, to cut back on their speed, not to get distracted and understand that around every corner could be a neighbouring family or friend out for a walk or a cycle. This is a very busy time of year for farmers. The number of tractors and trailers out using the roads will increase dramatically. I am asking all drivers to be on the lookout for tractors, trailers and other farm machinery on the road. If you are travelling behind farm machinery, please be patient and only overtake when its safe to do so. The new President of Local Ireland, the association representing local news publishers around the country, is Head of Irish Times Regionals Dan Linehan. Mr Linehan takes over the presidency from Declan McGuire, Managing Director of the Connacht Tribune. His appointment was confirmed at the recent annual general meeting of Local Ireland at Bloomfield House Hotel near Mullingar, Westmeath. Mr Linehan, who has served as Vice President of the organisation for the last two years, said: The coming years are a very important time for local publishers with many important issues to be addressed, including the implementation of the Future of Media Commission recommendations, defamation reform, the role and support for local publishers in public service reporting and helping publishers develop commercial digital offerings. Speaking at the AGM, Mr McGuire acknowledged the work done by the Executive in the past two years under the direction of Executive Director, Bob Hughes, on several projects related to the publishing industry but most especially the successful conclusion of the long-running campaign for the abolition of VAT on newspapers. He also wished Mr Linehan the very best in his new role as President of the association for the next two years. Mr Hughes thanked Mr McGuire for his leadership and support during his term of office and said he looked forward to working with Mr Linehan on the key policy priorities for the association, including Government supports, Government advertising, fair remuneration for content from the tech platforms and the reform of the legislation for defamation. Local Ireland members also elected Sean Mahon, Managing Director of the Southern Star, as Vice President for the next two years. Holly Willoughby should follow Phillip Schofield out the door of This Morning, Eamonn Holmes has said. Holmes, who previously presented ITVs flagship daytime show on Fridays with wife Ruth Langsford, predicted that Willoughby will not return to the sofa following Schofields bombshell exit. Schofield, 61, resigned from ITV on Friday and was dropped by his talent agency YMU after admitting to an unwise, but not illegal affair with a younger male colleague. The relationship took place while the TV star was still married to wife Stephanie Lowe and before he came out publicly. Following Schofields resignation, the show has been plagued by allegations of toxicity. Willoughby is due to return to the show on Monday June 5 after the half-term break, having taken an early holiday when news of Schofields departure emerged. 'Not only should Phillip go, but Holly should follow him close out the door.'@EamonnHolmes says I dont think you will ever see Holly Willoughby back on This Morning. pic.twitter.com/v3muxcg4iY GB News (@GBNEWS) May 30, 2023 Speaking on Dan Woottons GB News show on Monday morning, Holmes said: Not only should Phillip go, but Holly should follow him close out the door. I dont think you will ever see Holly Willoughby back on the couch. There are people who say for her its not about what Phillip did, for her its not about protecting the young fellow involved or whatever. There are people who are financial experts who will say this is about brand protection with her. Shes got her company and shes got advertising deals, which suspiciously looks like shes trying to distance herself from Phillip to protect those. Willoughby has lucrative deals with Marks & Spencer and Garnier and has a lifestyle brand called Wylde Moon. Representatives for Willoughby have been contacted for comment. Holmes, who said he was tossed out the door when he was given the boot from ITV, has alleged there was a total cover-up on This Morning over Schofields affair. He told Wootton: Those in authority had to know what was going on and they thought they would dodge a bullet with this, which they do, and they do constantly, because with Schofield talking about those who speak out against him, namely me, Amanda Holden and you (Dan Wootton), youll be included in the toxicity that goes on. Dr Ranj, of course, as well. And you simply sit there and think, No, mate. Youve had it all your way for too long. The shows former resident doctor, Dr Ranj Singh, has hit out at the daytime shows toxic culture, saying he raised concerns about bullying and discrimination two years ago when he worked there and afterwards felt like he was managed out for whistleblowing. On Saturday, ITV said it investigated the affair rumour in early 2020 but Schofield categorically denied it was true. Further to our statement last night, ITV can confirm that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in early 2020 ITV investigated, a spokesperson for the broadcaster said. Both parties were questioned and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours, as did Phillips then agency YMU. In addition, ITV spoke to a number of people who worked on This Morning and were not provided with, and did not find, any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour. Phillips statement yesterday reveals that he lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and to others over this relationship. In an Instagram post earlier on Monday, Schofield hit back at his critics, saying there was no toxicity on This Morning. He added: I hope you have noticed that its the same handful of people with a grudge against me or the show who seem to have the loudest voice. Referring to those comments, Holmes instead accused Schofield of toxicity. I think that Phillip is absolutely right about toxicity, he said. But, my friend, the toxicity is not with me, Dan Wootton, or anyone else. The toxicity is with you. He said Schofield created an atmosphere on This Morning where people hated him. He said: This nonsense that he wrote today about toxicity, about how (This Morning) is a happy place or whatever, holy God, what planet does this man live on? He created an atmosphere where people hated him. People would avoid him in the corridor. He didnt look at anybody, didnt know anybodys name. Holly doesnt know peoples names either. This is legendary within the production team, how distant they are and how they just dont care. Schofield has declined to comment on the claims following the interview on GB News. When This Morning aired on Monday, hosts Dermot OLeary and Alison Hammond and contributor Gyles Brandreth appeared to defend the show from the toxicity allegations. OLeary said: We all know we happen to be in the news at the moment and of course we appreciate that, but just from both of us, the whole team here, the crew, the guys downstairs, we love making this show for all of you. Hammond added: We really do and thats exactly what we are going to do, we are going to continue to do that. Brandreth, who was in the studio to review the news stories of the day, said: We are very happy to be here, can I say that as well? This is a happy place to work, I enjoy coming in here and have done since I began coming in. We are happy people in a happy place. Crime, Business & Finance By Long Island Published: May 30 2023 John Quadrino was sentenced to 41 months imprisonment and over $3.3 million restitution. Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, John Quadrino was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 41 months imprisonment and over $3.3 million restitution for directing a Ponzi scheme utilizing Princess Cut Industries, Inc., Sassy Jewelry Buyers, Inc. and Golden Glitter Trading, Inc. (collectively referred to as the Gold Purchasing Companies). Quadrino told investors that their money would be invested in the sale of gold, jewelry and diamonds, via the Gold Purchasing Companies. In reality, Quadrino never invested their money. In April 2018, Quadrino pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Anne T. Donnelly, Nassau County District Attorney, announced the sentence. The defendant blatantly stole the money of hard-working men and women in our community for the sole purpose of enriching himself until his Ponzi scheme collapsed under the weight of his lies, stated United States Attorney Peace. Todays prison sentence punishes the defendant for the financial ruin he has inflicted on investors who had trusted him. Dozens of investors handed over their savings to this defendant based on empty promises, and in the end, he personally spent and gambled away millions of dollars of their hard-earned money, stated District Attorney Donnelly. I commend our law enforcement partners at the FBI and U.S. Attorneys Office for their work securing todays prison sentence, and ensuring this defendant cannot further victimize anyone else. Quadrino represented to potential investors that the Gold Purchasing Companies were involved in the sale of gold, jewelry and diamonds to refineries and jewelers. He asked investors to invest large sums of money, for fixed periods of time, in exchange for a guaranteed, fixed rate of return at the end of the agreed upon time period. Quadrino never actually purchased gold, jewelry or diamonds in any significant quantities. Instead, Quadrino systematically engaged in a classic Ponzi scheme, over the course of five years, returning investor principal and interest from the investor capital of other victims. As a result, investors invested approximately $13.1 million with the Gold Purchasing Companies and suffered total losses of approximately $3.3 million. The defendant used investor capital to issue checks to himself and to pay for his personal gambling expenses. The governments case is being handled by the Offices Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorney Mark E. Misorek is in charge of the investigation with assistance provided by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Sotirhos of the Nassau County District Attorneys Office. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: May 30 2023 Jericho Middle School 8th grader Chloe Hu won for her artwork celebrating Hedy Lamarr, an actress and inventor. The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes (LMC) announced the nine winners of the 8th annual ARTEFFECT competition. The international competition challenges students to creatively interpret the stories of Unsung Heroes through original works of art accompanied by artist impact statements. LMC awarded the $6,000 Grand Prize to Celine Fong, an 11th grader at Rye Country Day School in Rye, New York. Over $10,000 in cash prizes was awarded to the eight other winning students across the high school and middle school divisions. The works of art submitted by our ARTEFFECT winners show their visionary thinking and the superior nature of their creative skills, said LMC Chief Executive Officer Norm Conard. Our team at the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes lauds the vivid imagination of these student champions and the excellence of their work. This is a unique competition where students are encouraged to explore the Unsung Heroes as role models as well as discover the relevance of their own art-making, said Dr. Toni Guglielmo, Director of ARTEFFECT. While learning about these individuals from across history, students also discover the impact of sharing these stories with their communities through their artworks. Fongs oil painting A Beacon of Hope depicts the story of Unsung Hero Abdol Hossein Sardari, an Iranian diplomat who saved thousands during World War II by secretly issuing passports in Nazi-occupied France. He was also the sole Iranian diplomat who remained in Paris during the occupation, where he convinced the Germans to exempt Jugutisa term for the descendants of Persian Jews who continued to practice Judaismfrom Nazi anti-Jewish measures. As a 21st century student and artist, I believe in the deep investigation of personal narratives to gain insight about change-making role models and engage with powerful stories that can refocus our evolving world, Fong wrote in her impact statement. In reaffirming the unacknowledged heroes from the past, we have the power to amplify their contributions, preserve their memories, and better comprehend our collective history to engender a well-informed future. In addition to taking home cash prizes, winners have their artworks and excerpts from their impact statements showcased on LMCs website, listed along with their sponsoring teacher. Additionally, the award-winning artworks are displayed in LMCs Hall of Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, a museum and research center visited by thousands annually from across the globe. The $3,000 High School Best in Show prize was awarded to 12th grader Breanna Zaborowski, who recently graduated from Hartland High School in the Detroit suburb of Hartland, Michigan. Zaborowskis mixed media artwork A Triple Threat presents a portrait of Unsung Hero Florence Kelley with narrative elements. As a social reform activist, Kelley spent decades inspecting, advocating and lobbying for safer factories, after which she helped found the NAACP with W.E.B. Du Bois. Her work brought about the 1893 Factory Act, the first state law in the U.S. prohibiting employment of children under 14, and the Meat Inspection and Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. Winning the $2,000 High School Second Place prize was Amelia Ghannam, an 11th grader at Hopewell Valley Central High School in Pennington, within Mercer County, New Jersey. Her entry Hiawatha, Uniter of the Iroquois is a chalk pastel drawing that honors Hiawatha. An Onondaga chief and skilled orator, Hiawatha helped unite the five nations of the Onondaga, Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga and Seneca into the Iroquois Confederacy. The recipient of the $2,000 Middle School Best in Show prize was 8th grader Jennet Koroglu from LaVilla School of the Arts in Jacksonville, Florida. Her digital artwork THERE IS NO BREAD! represents the bold actions of Unsung Hero Gareth Jones in a propaganda-style poster. Jones was a 20th century journalist who exposed the human-made famine, the Holodomor, that plagued Ukraine under Stalins rule. His work was met with resistance by both U.S. and Soviet media, and his death was at the hands of Stalins secret police in Japanese-occupied Mongolia. From Jericho, New York, Jericho Middle School 8th grader Chloe Hu won the $1,000 Middle School Second Place prize. Her artwork Genius Inventor Behind Beauty combines pencil and digital art to celebrate Hedy Lamarr, an actress and inventor whose discoveries aided the Allies in World War II and served as the basis for modern day Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. This technology, known as frequency-hopping spread spectrum (or FHSS), manipulates radio frequencies causing the signal to hop between frequencies, which disables an enemy from jamming a signal. New this year, LMC designated a $1,000 Spotlight Prize for entries celebrating Unsung Heroes previously underrepresented in the ARTEFFECT competition. This award went to Nora Morrow, an 8th grader at LaVilla School of the Arts. Her work Reaching for Vivien uses block printing ink on paper to commemorate Unsung Hero Vivien Thomas, a doctor whose medical research resulted in a surgical solution to blue baby syndrome. Thomas created the tools necessary to perform the surgery on a human and, within a year, over 200 successful operations were performed. Two students received $500 Certificate of Excellence prizes in the High School division. Emily Hammill, a 12th grader at Olympia High School in Olympia, Washington, received a certificate for her ceramic sculpture Voice of the People which honors Unsung Hero John Avery Lomax. Lomax was an American musicologist who documented and preserved American folk traditions and songs such as Home on the Range. Eleventh grader Emily Dalcamo of Sparta High School in Sparta, within Sussex County, New Jersey, celebrates Unsung Hero Virginia Apgar in her digital work The Apgar Score. Apgar was an obstetrical anesthesiologist and the inventor of the A.P.G.A.R. score, which determines a babys health one and five minutes after birth. Eighth grader Emily Leonard from LaVilla School of the Arts received a $250 Certificate of Excellence in the Middle School division. Leonards mixed media sculpture Future of the Sea pays homage to Unsung Hero Sylvia Earle, an American marine biologist. Earles work in conservation and advocacy includes the creation of Marine Protected Areas, where wildlife can thrive without human interference, and Tektite II, the first underwater habitat for humans. The ARTEFFECT judging panel consisted of LMCs executive leadership as well as visual arts experts at the Skirball Cultural Center, CalArts, Museum of Ventura County, and ArtCenter College of Design. Submissions for the next ARTEFFECT competition will open in November 2023. Visit the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes for more information. Community, Charity & Cause By Chris Boyle Published: May 30 2023 Julia Abbaticchio received the award for demonstrating civic responsibility, concern for others and participation in the enhancement of school and community relationships. William Floyd High School student Julia Abbaticchio recently received the New York State Retired School Administrators and Supervisors (NYSRSAS) Citizenship Award for demonstrating the qualities of civic responsibility, concern for others and participation in the enhancement of school and community relationships! The NYSRSAS present their Citizenship Award Certificate along with a check for $100 dollars to 11th-grade students from selected Long Island high schools. Students who received the award were nominated by their principals with input from their teachers and guidance counselor based on their civic participation and efforts that reflect concern for their school, community and fellow community members. This program is funded by donations from NYSRSAS executive board members. (Sharecast News) - London stocks were set for a muted open on Tuesday as traders return to their desks after the long weekend, amid hopes of a US debt deal. The FTSE 100 was called to open unchanged at 7,627. CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson said: "With both the US and UK markets closed yesterday, there was a rather tepid response to the weekend news that the White House and Republican leaders had agreed a deal to raise the debt ceiling, as European markets finished a quiet session slightly lower. "The deal, which lays out a plan to suspend the debt ceiling beyond the date of the next US election until January 1st 2025, will now need to get agreement from lawmakers on both sides of the political divide to pass into law. That could well be the hardest part given that on the margins every vote is needed which means partisan interests on either side could well derail or delay a positive outcome. "A vote on the deal could come as soon as tomorrow with a new deadline of 5th June cited by US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. "US markets, which had been rising into the weekend on the premise that a deal was in the making look set to open higher when they open later today, however markets in Europe appear to be less than enthused. "That's probably due to concerns over how the economic recovery in China is doing, with recent economic data suggesting that confidence there is slowing, and economic activity is declining." In corporate news, Unilever announced that chief financial officer Graeme Pitkethly plans to retire by the end of May 2024. The consumer goods giant said the board will now proceed with a formal internal and external search for his successor. Specialist international distribution and services group Bunzl said it had bought safety businesses in Brazil and Spain, taking its acquisitions total to 200 since 2004. The company said it had signed an agreement to buy Leal Equipamentos de Protecao, a specialised safety distributor in Brazil. Completion of the acquisition is subject to competition authority clearance. It also bought Irudek, a distributor of safety and personal protective equipment, specialising in fall protection equipment in Spain. No financial details were disclosed for either deal. (Alliance News) - Rishi Sunak will travel to Washington next week for talks with Joe Biden. The two leaders are expected to discuss trade issues although the idea of a full-blown deal has fallen by the wayside since the US President replaced Donald Trump in the White House as well as the war in Ukraine. The prime minister's official spokesman said: "The visit will be an opportunity to build on discussions the prime minister and President Biden have had in recent months about enhancing the level of co-operation and co-ordination between the UK and US on the economic challenges that will define our future, including securing our supply chains and transitioning to zero-carbon economies. "It will also be an opportunity to discuss issues including sustaining our support for Ukraine as we build on the success of our G7 summit in the run-up to the Nato summit in July." During the visit, on Wednesday and Thursday, Sunak will also meet congressional figures and US business leaders. Although a full-blown free-trade agreement between the UK and US is not on the agenda, the government is pushing to address specific trade issues and is also seeking closer partnerships with individual states including economic powerhouses California and Texas. "We are not seeking to pursue a free-trade deal with the US currently," the spokesman said. "We know that no trade partnership is more important than the one we have with the US, it's our largest trading partner. It's worth remembering the trade relationship, as it currently stands, is worth GBP279 billion already. We have achieved all of that without an FTA." Trade agreements have already been signed with North Carolina, South Carolina and Indiana, and the UK is speaking to Utah, Oklahoma, Texas and California. The two leaders have met frequently in recent months. Sunak travelled to the US in March for a meeting in San Diego with Biden and Australian leader Anthony Albanese to agree the Aukus submarine pact, and the prime minister and the US President also met in Belfast in April. Sunak and Biden both attended the G7 summit in Japan and are expected to be at the gathering of Nato leaders in Lithuania in July. By David Hughes, PA Political Editor Press Association: News source: PA Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Shit Towns of New Zealand titled the post, which is actually an extract from a book they released, NEW ZEALANDS WORST TOILETS. Six public toilets are so shit that they make the list, its not clear if whoever wrote it actually visited every toilet ranked, but Ill take their word on it. Manchester, VT (05254) Today Some sun this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. High 68F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low 49F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. 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. BOSTON -- The Celtics have a lot of big decisions to make this summer after an ugly Game 7 loss to the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals but their biggest one begins with Jaylen Brown. The team can offer Brown an extension worth five years and $295 million after he made second-team All-NBA this past season. While there may be some second-guessing about whether Brown deserves that kind of price tag after a rough series against Miami, Jayson Tatum left no doubt about where he stands in keeping Brown in Boston over the long haul. Its extremely important, Tatum said after Game 7. Hes one of the best players in this league, plays both end of the ball and still relatively young. Hes accomplished a lot so far in his career so I think its extremely important. DraftKings Massachusetts $200 Bonus Bets! CLAIM OFFER 21+. Physically present in MA. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. First-time depositors only who have not already redeemed $200 in bonus bets via OH or MA prelaunch offer. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as bonus bets that expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. See terms at http://draftkings.com/ma. Brown was also asked about his future following an ugly Game 7 loss that included a career-high eight turnovers and 8-of-23 shooting from the field and 1-of-9 shooting from 3-point range. I expected to win today and move on, Brown said. Thats what my focus was on and thats my focus has been on. We failed. I failed. Its hard to think about anything else right now, to be honest. Well cross that bridge when we get there. When pressed about his thought process going into expected extension talks with Boston, Brown kept his cards close to the vest after Game 7. You asked whats my thought process? Brown said. I really dont, you know, I dont even really know how to answer that question right now, to be honest. My thought process is take it one day at a time, focus on getting better. Focus on what the future holds and see where we are from there. I guess I dont know really know how to answer that. Brown remains under contract for one more season at $31.8 million and he would become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2024 if he does not agree to an extension with Boston. The Celtics will have the ability to offer Brown a five-year contract worth up to $295 million, which would be one of the biggest contracts in league history. The Celtics will be the only team that can offer Brown that kind of deal since he will be eligible for up to 35 percent of the salary cap from Boston compared to just 30 percent from other teams. Springfield - The Springfield Pride Parade Organization is excited to announce a weekend of celebrations and youth-centered community conversations beginning June 1, culminating in the 2nd Annual Pride Parade and Block Party on June 3, 2023. June 1, You Ball Fundraising Gala, Aria Ballroom at MGM Springfield, 1 MGM Way from 6 p.m. to midnight. Featuring: Celebrity DJ Kenneth Kyrell, Springfields own Malado, The House of Margiela. Hosted by: Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris & Wesley Days Jr. This formal attire fundraising event is Met Gala-inspired with a Faberge Egg theme. It will be an evening to celebrate and honor the regions LGBTQIA+ and ally business owners, professionals, and community leaders. The Faberge Egg was selected as the first You Ball theme because of its opulence and handcrafted art. Proceeds support LGBTQIA+ youth based initiatives. For tickets, tables, and sponsor information: www.springfieldprideparade.org/youball. June 2, Youth Community Panel. Noon to 1 p.m. Springfield K12 students will have the opportunity to speak directly with city officials, business owners, mental health professionals, and more, to discuss the needs of the LGBTQIA+ youth in Springfield, Massachusetts. This event is free and open to all students. www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-springfield-pride-parade-community-panel-tickets-626578762947 June 3, 2nd Annual Springfield Pride Parade. 10:00 a.m. line up, parade launches at 12 p.m. at Springfield Technical Community College, 1 Federal St. Participants can walk in groups, or create their own floats. Costumes and family participation are encouraged. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/571063615647. 2nd Annual Springfield Pride Parade - Block Party, 12:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Stearns Square - 52-98 Stearns Square. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. Event highlights feature a DJ, live music, dance performances, food and drink vendors, and retail booths. The Block Party will end with a performance from Trina Rockstarr. Editors note: This article has been updated to correct the last name of Carlos E. Lopez-Torres, as provided by the Massachusetts State Police. His body was recovered Tuesday. A Springfield man remains missing Tuesday after a crash between a boat and a jet ski on the Connecticut River on Sunday, according to Massachusetts State Police Spokesperson Dave Procopio. Police identified the missing man as Carlos E. Lopez-Torres, 51, of Springfield. The crash was reported around 7 p.m. Sunday on the Connecticut River in Northampton, according to police. Read more: Search for jet skier missing on Connecticut River to resume Tuesday Two boaters, a woman from Agawam and a man from Chicopee, were transported to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, according to Laurie Loisel of the Northwestern District Attorneys Office. The man was the driver of the boat. Police searched for the jet-ski driver until just before midnight on Sunday and began again on Monday using side-scan sonar equipment to detect anomalies or objects below the waters surface, Procopio said. They again searched until about midnight before stopping. They were expected to begin searching again Tuesday morning, Procopio said. Read more: Pair of brothers and volunteer tried to rescue fiery Chicopee crash victim The Route 5 Easthampton boat ramp is closed as police continue their search, according to Procopio. The Massachusetts State Police, Massachusetts Environmental Police, and local public safety agencies are working together to search for the man. Editors note: This article has been updated to correct the last name of Carlos E. Lopez-Torres, as provided by the Massachusetts State Police. The body of a 51-year-old Springfield man who went missing after a boat crashed into a jet ski on the Connecticut River Sunday was found in the river near South Hadley just before 1 p.m. Tuesday, Massachusetts State Police said. State Police had previously identified the man as Carlos E. Lopez-Torres. His body was found in a debris field at the bottom of the river, state police said. Officers used a remotely operated vehicle, controlled by an Environmental Police boat, to locate Lopez-Torres body. Lopez-Torres body was 15 feet underwater and about 150 feet from shore, police said. The state polices Underwater Recovery Team dove into the area to locate and bring Lopez-Torres body to the surface, the department said. Lopez-Torres was brought to shore and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner took custody of his body, police said. Police had responded at about 7 p.m. on Sunday to a call that a man, later identified as Lopez-Torres, on a jet ski collided with a boat in the Northampton section of the river. A Chicopee man and an Agawam woman on the boat were brought to Baystate Medical Center with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Police searched for Lopez-Torres, the jet-ski driver, until just before midnight on Sunday and began again on Monday using side-scan sonar equipment to detect anomalies or objects below the waters surface, Massachusetts State Police said. The cause of the crash and circumstances surrounding the incident are still under investigation by state police detectives and the Northwestern District Attorneys Office, police said. There have been no charges yet in the case, police stated. On Tuesday at around 9 a.m., several local and state agencies and departments were at Brunelles Marina in South Hadley to continue the search for Lopez-Torres with dive teams and boats but said his body may have moved in the river because of its flow. Eight boats and 16 divers from various departments moved their efforts from Easthampton to part of the river in South Hadley Tuesday, a spokesperson for Hampden County Sheriffs Office said. The team planned a coordinated grid for boats and divers to canvass sections of the river Tuesday, said South Hadley Fire Chief Robert Authier. Popovich added Environmental Police had been working with state police on side-scan sonar operations and were attempting to locate targets, or evidence related to the incident, in the water that divers would later look at more closely. Authier said the Connecticut River can be extremely deep, with some parts at 100 feet, while others at just 10 feet. Though where the crash happened was only in about 10 to 15 feet of water, according to Popovich, the lieutenant said the flow of the river could complicate things. Read more: Search for jet skier missing on Connecticut River to resume Tuesday Authier had said he was hoping to get Lopez-Torres family some closure Tuesday. The Department of Conservation and Recreation is handling the investigation into the incident, officials said. AGAWAM As bagpiper Susan Blanchette walked through orderly rows of bright white headstones, gleaming Monday in the sun, a family stopped her. Blanchette had come to the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery to play at the graves of two Marines. But as she walked with her drummer daughter, Elizabeth, members of the Wynn family had a request. Would Blanchette play her bagpipes in memory of James M. Wynn, asked that mans sister, Christine Wynn Maloney, and in memory of his brother, Robert Wynn, an Army National Guard veteran buried nearby. Would they pipe them out? asked Maloney. The answer was of course yes. She played Scotland the Brave over the grave of James M. Wynn, a Navy veteran of the Vietnam era who lived in Westfield. After the sound of the pipes faded into the hot afternoon, the family gathered around. Thank you. Thank you so much, Maloney said. Blanchette, who lives in Southwick, also played at the graves of Marine Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, killed in 2015 in a deadly attack on a reserve training center in Chattanooga, Tenn. And she played at the grave of Matthew J. Vieu, another Marine veteran from Chicopee who served two tours of Iraq, but came home with post-traumatic stress disorder and died by suicide in 2015. Gov. Healeys pledge The cemetery, opened in 2000, now holds 14,000 graves, cremated remains and memorial markers. Its what small towns do, Agawam Mayor William Sapelli said earlier Monday in his Memorial Day address at Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery. He described the busy day of parades and commemorations and of the banners hung out on Main Street. Observances of the nations 155th Memorial Day drew Gov. Maura T. Healey; state Sen John C. Velis, D-Westfield; State Rep. Nicholas A. Boldyga, R-Southwick; Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Maj. Gen. Gary W. Keefe, the adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard. Healey spoke with admiration of those who maintain the cemetery. Thank you for your loving stewardship of hallowed ground, she said. And she spoke of her administrations commitment to veterans. Gov. Maura T. Healey receives the American flag from a member of the Base Honor Guard at at Westover Air Reserve Base during the Memorial Day ceremony held at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican) We believe that military service is the highest form of service, she said. Healey, in her first Memorial Day as governor, met with individual veterans after the ceremony, including 99-year-old Miriam Silverman of Springfield, a Navy veteran of World War II. Velis, also a major in the Army reserves, recalled his tours of Afghanistan. Just as service members boarded planes to leave Afghanistan at the end of their tours, they paused in front of a mural dedicated to the fallen in that war. Velis said the mural exhorted returning veterans to Live lives worthy of their sacrifice. He told of a platoon he worked with that lost three men in April 2013. The next day, the platoon was to be Velis security detail for a mission to meet with local Afghani leaders. He tried to tell them to scrap the mission. To a man they said No sir, Were going. AGAWAM With nearly 100 days under his belt as the states first cabinet-level secretary of veterans services, Dr. Jon Santiago said Monday his office has hired nearly 40 people, doubling its capacity. By the end of this week, hell have visited each county in the state and has convened meetings with town and city veteran service officers. The only way to rebuild trust in the veterans community is to get out and meet people, he said. In some ways, that means building from the ground up. Before March 1, the agency was a series of departments housed within the larger Health and Human Services secretariat. But its also a turnaround given some recent events, Santiago said in an interview before the annual Memorial Day observance at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. Santiago referred to the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak at what was then called the Holyoke Soldiers Home. The outbreak killed more than 80 of the veterans living there, in a case that gained national headlines. Dr. Jon Santiago, secretary of Executive Office of Veterans Services, speaks Monday during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican) Santiago said the facility, now called the Massachusetts Veterans Home in Holyoke, has made great strides in infectious disease control, but the department needs a coordinated overall plan. Santiago is an emergency medicine physician, an Army Reserve major and former state representative who was on deployment to Syria late in 2022 when he started talking with Healey about his job. In May, Santiago announced $164 million in federal grant funding to the Executive Office of Veterans Services for construction at the Veterans Home in Holyoke, the first piece of funding in whats expected to to be a $375 million facility. The project includes 234 long-term care beds, nursing support and community spaces with construction expected to begin in June. Santiago said at the Veterans Home in Chelsea, a new 154-bed long-term care Community Living Center will open this summer. Healeys moves Last week, Gov. Maura T. Healey announced she is creating a Governors Advisory Council on Veterans Services. The bottom line is we want to make sure we are doing everything we can to provide for veteran service members across Massachusetts, Healey told reporters following the Memorial Day ceremony in Agawam. Healey said shell name members to the council soon. The governor said she wants it to be diverse, with members from various parts of the state and different generations and branches of service. I mean what I say, I want veterans at the table for every decision made across all secretariats, across all agencies, she said. State Sen. John C. Velis, D-Westfield, chairs the legislatures Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. A veteran and major in the Army Reserve, Velis represents a district that includes both the Agawam cemetery and the Veterans Home in Holyoke. He said the Advisory Council will make lawmakers jobs easier. We will get better stuff, better policies, better legislative initiatives coming to us, Velis said. Because it will be vetted. He also sees gains in raising the department to cabinet level. Velis said that will eliminate the tangled chain-of-command issues that led, he said, to the tragedy of 2020. Veterans need someone who can pick up the phone and talk to the governor, Velis said. The woman who police said was found dead at a Massachusetts car wash after a possible shooting has been identified. Jessenia Simmons, 45, of New Bedford, died after a potential shooting Monday, according to Fall River Police. She was found in one of the car wash bays at Globe Car Wash on Broadway in Fall River by first responders on Monday, officials said. A 911 call was made at 12:36 p.m. Monday regarding the possible shooting at the car wash, authorities said. Read more: Search for jet skier missing on Connecticut River to resume Tuesday The suspect, Angelo O. Leo, originally fled from the scene but turned himself in to police in Tiverton, Rhode Island about a half-hour later, police said. Officials said he will appear in a Newport County Court Tuesday as a Fugitive from Justice. If the defendant waives rendition, he could be transported to Fall River District Court for arraignment sometime [Tuesday], the Bristol County District Attorneys office said. Read more: Pair of brothers and volunteer tried to rescue fiery Chicopee crash victim The investigation remains ongoing. A Maine State Police trooper shot at a Rhode Island man suspected of carrying an explosive device while driving up I-95 near the Canadian border on Monday, authorities said. The Maine state trooper was trying to pull over the driver of a truck later identified as Tony Holford, 42, of Providence when he saw a sign indicating there was an explosive device on board his truck, Maine State Police said in a press release. At about 10:39 a.m., the state trooper tried to stop the truck headed north on I-95 in Houlton, the state police said, but he did not stop. Holford eventually stopped between the U.S. and Canadian ports of entry, where troopers demanded he get out of the vehicle. Holford instead drove the truck towards the Canadian Port of Entry, at which point Corporal Eric Paquette shot at him. Holford was not injured and later surrendered to the state police, officials said. Holford was medically cleared and taken to Aroostook County Jail, where he was charged with aggravated reckless conduct, terrorizing and failure to stop. This incident is being investigated by the Office of the Maine Attorney General, the Maine State Police and Canadian authorities, the state police said. A Massachusetts man was seriously injured after he fell 20 feet while rock climbing with friends in Albany, New Hampshire, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said. Jiwon Han, 25, of Cambridge, was rock climbing with friends when he fell near Sundown Ledge in Albany around 7:30 p.m. Sunday, officials said. Witnesses told officials Han was about 20 feet in the air when a piece of bolted protection released and caused him to fall. Both his legs were seriously injured, officials said. Conservation Officers responded along with members of Conway Fire/EMS and members of Lakes Region Search and Rescue (LRSAR). They were able to stabilize Han and take him by rescue litter to the parking lot by about 8:15 p.m., officials said. He was taken to Memorial Hospital in North Conway for evaluation and treatment. WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. The New England Air Museum will open its latest permanent exhibit, The Tuskegee Airmen: Their Untold Stories, Sunday, June 4. The exhibit details the first Black pilots to fight in World War II and their battles against the Nazis in the skies over Europe, and Jim Crow racism on the ground in home front U.S.A. The Tuskegee Airmen shattered barriers and redefined possibilities, said Museum President and CEO Stephanie Abrams. Their legacy embodies social activism, determination, and the unwavering power of the human spirit. It was an honor to interview these American heroes and their families, and through their stories continue to inspire future generations. Their accomplishments during the war helped bring about the integration of the military in the United States and inspired the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s. Included in the initial unveiling of the exhibit, Tuskegee Airman Eugene Richardson will give two talks about the history of the unit and his own experiences in World War II. Richardson will speak at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 4. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Tuskegee Airmen flew the famous P-51 Mustang fighter and painted the tails of their planes bright red to enhance identification. Those red-painted P-51s were a comfort for American bomber crews and the bane of German pilots who called them red-tailed devils. Starting in April 1943 when they first flew out of North Africa, the 99th Fighter Squadron just one of the Tuskegee units served as bomber escorts for the 15th Air Force over Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Poland and Germany. The pilots of the 99th are reputed to have never lost one of their charges in combat. During the month of June, the Commemorative Air Forces immersive Red Tails Theater will be showing its 160-degree panoramic film giving viewers the opportunity to see and feel what it was like in a Tuskegee Airmans cockpit during combat soaring through the clouds. The Commemorative Air Force will also raffle off three tickets for a flight in a red tail P-51 Mustang. All proceeds will go to the Commemorative Air Force to support its ongoing programs. The plane itself will be on display at the museum on June 3 and 4. Decrying what it called a callous and unnecessary decision that will jeopardize the health and safety of mothers and newborns, the Massachusetts Nurses Association condemned UMass Memorial Healths plan to close the birthing center at its Leominster campus. The nurses of Leominster Hospital are outraged by this announcement, as it shows a blatant disregard for our patients and our region, Miko Nakagawa, a nurse who works at the Leominster hospital, said in a statement released Tuesday. There is no medical or moral justification for this decision, which will have a devastating impact on families, particularly economically disadvantaged residents who lack the ability to travel long distances to receive care in Worcester or Gardner, said Nakagawa, who also co-chairs the local bargaining unit with the nurses association. The hospital said last week that it has submitted a preliminary plan, subject to regulatory approval, to close the birthing center at the Leominster campus of the UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton hospital Sept. 22. In a statement Friday, Steve Roach, president of UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital, referenced pervasive challenges shaping our health care environment, citing declining birth rates and staffing difficulties. In the unions statement, maternity nurse Amy Gagnon said three babies had been delivered at the birth center over the previous two nights. Gagnon also claimed the staffing shortages were an intentional attempt to streamline services and drive patients to Worcester, and that applicants have been told there are no jobs available or that hiring is frozen. A protest is planned for Tuesday, May 30 at 6 p.m. outside the hospitals Leominster Campus at the intersection of Nelson and North Main streets, according to the State House News Service. Officials from federal, state and local levels are expected to attend. Read more: UMass Memorial calls off planned merger with Heywood Hospital in Gardner Like all providers in the commonwealth, HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital must continually examine how we best deliver excellent and accessible care to the communities we serve, while responding to pervasive challenges shaping our health care environment, Roach said in the statement. Read more: Read the lawsuit MassLive filed against the University of Massachusetts Advocates called the planned closure part of a troubling trend of closures creating barriers to maternity care access especially affecting poor communities and people of color. I cant think of a more vulnerable population than pregnant women and newborns. Health disparities start before we are even born, and this is an example of how. In addition to how much money they have, it seems that the unspoken criteria for closure is the impacted peoples ability to fight back, Amy Ebbenson, clinical director for Worcester Addresses Childhood Trauma, said in the unions statement. We are taking services from babies now they literally cannot speak for themselves, Ebbenson said. If we are going to continue to allow hospitals to run as businesses, cutting services that arent making money, paying themselves seven-figure salaries and not being accountable to the communities they serve, the next generation will pay the price. The union promised to work with officials, community members and advocates in opposition to the planned closure to preserve this vital service. Police arrested a Springfield man who was wanted in connection with what authorities describe as an attempted 2022 Vermont murder. Monday at around 5 p.m., Springfield police responded to a report of two people with a gun near the 400 block of Franklin Street, according to department spokesperson Ryan Walsh. Authorities identified Johnathan Nazario, 20, of Springfield as one of the suspects from the call and detained him on Columbia Terrace. Hennessy Matos, 22, of Wilbraham, was identified as the second gun suspect. Police spotted and detained him near the intersection of Tracy and Liberty Streets. Springfield police recovered a discarded purse with more than $5,200 in cash, 14 grams of cocaine, marijuana and a loaded gun, officials said. Officers went on to place Nazario and Matos under arrest and charge them in connection with the findings. During their arrests, officers learned that Nazario was a fugitive from justice in connection to a September 2022 attempted murder with a firearm in Bennington, Vermont. Nazario was charged with several possession firearm possession charges, drug distribution and possession charges and a fugitive from justice on a court warrant charge. Matos was charged with multiple firearm possession charges and drug distribution and possession charges. Police will continue to search for a jet skier who went under water after colliding with a boat on the Connecticut River after a day-long examination of the river failed to locate the victim. The Massachusetts State Police, Massachusetts Environmental Police and local police and firefighters will return to the Connecticut River Tuesday morning to resume the search operation, which began on Sunday evening shortly after the crash occurred, said David Procopio, State Police spokesman. The boat and the jet ski collided at about 7 p.m. in the Northampton span of the river. The two boaters, a woman from Agawam and a man from Chicopee, were rescued by Environmental Police and brought to the state boat ramp on Route 5 and then transported to Baystate Medical Center, said Laurie Loisel, spokeswoman for Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan. The jet skier is believed to be a 51-year-old Springfield man. His name has not been released, Loisel said. Police searched the river until about midnight and resumed Monday morning. Procopio announced at about 6 p.m. that the operation had been concluded and the jet skier had not been found. Troopers and officers are deploying side-scan sonar equipment, which feeds a sonar image of the water column and river bottom back to a monitor on the boats. If any anomalies or objects are detected by the sonar, divers will enter the water to investigate further, Procopio said. The Route 5 Easthampton boat ramp is closed as police continue the search, Procopio said. Editors note: This article has been updated to correct the last name of Carlos E. Lopez-Torres, as provided by the Massachusetts State Police. His body was recovered Tuesday. About 10 different law enforcement departments converged on Brunelles Marina in South Hadley on Tuesday morning, hoping that after three days, officials can finally bring a Springfield family closure. Carlos E. Lopez-Torres, 51, of Springfield, has been missing since he collided with a boat while riding a jet ski on the Connecticut River on Sunday. Police responded around 7 p.m. on Sunday to a call that a man on a jet ski and a boat had hit each other in the Northampton section of the river. A Chicopee man and an Agawam woman on the boat were brought to Baystate Medical Center with serious but non-life threatening injuries, police said. Police searched for Lopez-Torres, the jet-ski driver, until just before midnight on Sunday and began again on Monday using side-scan sonar look below the waters surface, Massachusetts State Police said. Read more: Son of jet skier killed in boat crash was on nearby island with family during collision On Tuesday morning around 9, several local and state agencies and departments were at Brunelles Marina to continue the search for Lopez with dive teams and boats but said his body might have moved in the river because of its flow. Eight boats and 16 divers from various departments moved their efforts to part of the river in South Hadley Tuesday, a spokesperson for Hampden County Sheriffs Office said. The team planned a coordinated grid plan for boats and divers to canvass sections of the river Tuesday, said South Hadley Fire Chief Robert Authier. [Were] using a mapping system that the state rangers have ... they can track it so they know what areas [weve] actually covered, Authier said. Read more: Search for jet skier missing on Connecticut River to resume Tuesday The officials hope to search a couple square miles on the river Tuesday, said Lt. Dan Popovich, head of the state police Dive Unit. [Were going to do] some towbar searches; we put two divers on a 6-foot bar, and we pull them underwater behind the boat, said Popovich. We can cover more ground that way, and we do search patterns, kind of like mowing the lawn. Popovich added Environmental Police were working with state police on side scan sonar operations and were attempting to locate targets, or evidence related to the incident, in the water that divers would later look at more closely. Authier said the Connecticut River can be very deep, with some parts at 100 feet, while others at just 10 feet. Though where the crash happened is only in about 10 to 15 feet of water, according to Popovich, the river could complicate things. Read more: Springfield jet skier missing after Connecticut River crash in Northampton The problem is the flow in the river could move the body. So each day, were kind of starting over with areas that weve already covered. Were pretty much covering what we did yesterday and the day before, and adding on to it, said Popovich. To get Lopez-Torres family closure here today would be nice, said Authier. Following a 911 call about something hanging from a wind turbine at the Deer Island Treatment Plant on Monday morning, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority said the 100-foot tall turbine has been stopped and secured. But public access to the area will remain closed. A Southwest Airlines flight en route from Providence, Rhode Island to Baltimore, Maryland made an emergency landing at Bradley International Airport on Monday night. An airline spokesperson confirmed that the captain of Southwest Airlines flight 2547 decided to land at Bradley to have the aircraft mechanics reviewed. Procedure requires declaring an emergency to deviate from a filed flight plan and to land at an alternate airport, the spokesperson wrote in a statement. Its been more than 50 years since their brothers were killed in Vietnam, but Mary Rider and Elaine Fortuna have never forgotten. Riders youngest brother, Army Pfc. Robert Dowds, was killed May 5, 1970. Fortunas older brother, Marine Cpl. Robert R. Tolpa, was killed in 1968. On Monday, they joined in the Chicopee Memorial Day service and placed a wreath on the monument that remembers all 15 men from Chicopee killed in the war in Vietnam. It was one of a number of events held Monday to remember fallen veterans across Western Massachusetts. He was a great, great brother. He would do anything he could for anyone, Rider said. Her brother was the youngest of six and worked part-time at Balakiers Clothing before he joined the military, she said. Fortuna said her brother always wanted to be a Marine and joined the military as soon as he turned 18. She was 15 when he was killed. He was a fun-loving jokester, she said. Rider said she felt she should continue to attend Memorial Day events to remember her brother after the death of her mother, who faithfully attended them. She said she always feels a connection with other Gold Star families, veterans, city officials and others who go to the events. It is an honor that they havent been forgotten, Fortuna said. The ceremony, held at Veterans Plaza off Front Street, included speeches from state Rep. Shirley Arriaga, D-Chicopee, who is a U.S. Air Force veteran; Mayor John L. Vieau and Stephanie Shaw, the citys veterans services director. The Chicopee High School Junior Air Force ROTC joined with city veterans groups to bring military honors and wreaths were placed on the six monuments that honor city residents killed in different wars. In Westfield, residents lined Elm and Broad streets for the traditional parade ending at Parker Memorial Park, where former Army Lt. Col. Cathy Martin, now a member of American Legion Post 124, described the fear she felt serving with the 5th MASH Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Gulf War in 1990 and 1991. For me, it was absolutely terrifying, she said. But we did our jobs. Keith Buckout, a member of the Marine Corps League Westfield River Valley Detachment 141, spent the parade waving from the back of a Humvee. It waxes and wanes, he said of public turnout and attitudes. For a while after Vietnam, no one wanted anything to do with the military. Then there was a burst of support after the Gulf War and in the War on Terror. Now, I dont know. Tracy Award winner Brian Belanger (right) approaches to place a wreath at the War on Terror monument during Chicopee's annual Memorial Day ceremonies at Veterans Memorial Plaza. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 5/29/2023 West Springfield also held a parade, followed by a brief ceremony at the Town Commons on Park Street. Agawam held a parade and remembrance event after veterans and officials visited cemeteries and monuments across the city. In Springfield, a Mass was said and a wreath placed at St. Michaels Cemetery on Memorial Day. The city traditionally holds its Memorial Day remembrance on Friday in front of City Hall, where Thomas M. Baulton, director of Springfields department of veterans services, urged attendees to keep memories of the fallen alive. We love them in life as veterans, but let us not abandon them in death, Baulton said. If we can keep that alive, weve accomplished what we need to do as a country. Holyoke remembered its fallen at the War Memorial. Some of the other events were in East Longmeadow, Amherst, Ware, Hampden, Southwick, and Russell. In Chicopee, Arriaga needed a moment to compose herself, saying Memorial Day can be emotional for her. She also asked for a moment of silence to remember the more than 1 million people nationwide who have been killed in wars. It is of the utmost importance that we remember and honor brothers and sisters in arms who paid the ultimate price not only today but every day, Arriaga said. I want to personally thank all the families whose lives have never been the same since they lost a loved one in service to our country. Shaw, an Army National Guard veteran who served as a military police officer in Afghanistan, said Memorial Day has a personal and different meaning for each person. It reminds her of comrades who were killed. For Gold Star families, the day has a different meaning, she said. Vieau remembered those who were killed in war and at the same time thanked all those who are serving in the military. He recognized the seven Chicopee high school seniors who have signed up to join a branch of the armed services. He urged residents to support those who are serving. Chicopee will forever hold their memories close to our hearts, he said. Remember only our individual faith and freedom can keep us free. In movies about World War II, members of the Merchant Marine werent played by stars. Their heroism was rarely acknowledged. But people in Chicopee paused last week to recall the service of one of the thousands of men who took to the high seas in wartime to ferry essential goods and weapons. For too long, their contributions to the fight against fascism have been overlooked. It wasnt until 1988 that the Department of Defense decided that members of the Merchant Marine ought to be considered veterans of the armed services. It took another 35 years for the name of Matthew Kowal to be added, in a small separate plaque, to the Bullens Park Memorial. Family members who came to witness that belated tribute found it moving and meaningful. We all should. It took great courage to ship out aboard a merchant vessel, knowing that these fleets, because they carried weapons that would help the Allies win the war, were prime targets of Japanese and German submarines. As The Republicans Jeanette DeForge reported Monday, some 500 Merchant Marine ships were sunk in the year that Kowals vessel, the SS Henry Knox, was torpedoed on June 19, 1943, by a Japanese submarine and went down in the Maldives, south of India. Thirteen of its 42 crew members died, including Kowal, along with 13 of 25 armed personnel. More than 9,300 people serving on Merchant Marine ships died during the war. Some say the total number of people lost is closer to 11,320. Kowal was declared missing at sea at age 22, two months shy of turning 23. He had joined the Merchant Marines at the outbreak of war. Three younger brothers followed, enlisting with the Navy and Army. Matthew Kowal deserved to be remembered this week, as the nation paused for Memorial Day. Richard Kowal, a nephew, said he was stunned to learn that a family members service to the nation would be recognized, nearly 81 years later. First I was in shock and then I was happy and then I was grateful, Richard Kowal told DeForge. It was one thing for the defense department to retroactively declare merchant mariners to be veterans. It took a family push from the Kowal clan to put that status on display, with the new plaque. Some in years ahead may wonder why the name KOWAL, MATTHEW appears to be an afterthought on the monument at the Front Street memorial site. The Kowal name is part of Chicopees history of military service. Now and forever. FVC has announced its participation in GITEX AFRICA 2023 (www.GITEXAfrica.com), the continents largest and most inclusive tech and start-up inaugural event set to take place from 31st May till 2nd June 2023 in Marrakech, Morocco. Taking place for the first time in the African region, the event is set to welcome 500 exhibitors and 400 start-ups from 95 countries, with regional and international companies excited about the potential of the worlds rising tech continent, and the opportunities amplified by Africas ongoing Digital Transformation Strategy. The event aims to showcase the potential of Africas rapidly expanding digital economy and promote relationships and collaborations among various global tech pioneers and innovators, governments, startups, investors, and innovation hubs. This also opens a giant forum for all to explore new ventures in the worlds next biggest digital economy. FVC is a value added distributor (VAD) providing tangible solutions across vital areas of enterprise computing unified communications (UCC), Audio-Visuals (AV), Infrastructure and information security (Cybersecurity) and AI. With more than a decade of cross-domain expertise, they draw their strength from world-class channel partners across 50 countries. They are passionate about creating value in all that they deliver and empower their partners, vendors and clients with the next generation of technology that delivers results for them today. FVC being a transformation through technology expert, will highlight its latest technology solutions and services portfolio for businesses across the range of sectors including government agriculture, oil & gas, mining, technology, banking & finance, healthcare, telecommunications and education. The key vendors participating along with FVC in the Cyber Security & AI vertical includes Invicti, Cyble, Malwarebytes, C-Zentrix and IBM. FVCs participation in GITEX AFRICA 2023 testifies companies objective and commitment to support and contribute in the development of the regions digital economy by accelerating the digital transformation. Feeling thrilled about their participation, K Parag, Managing Director of FVC commented, FVC is excited to be part of GITEX AFRICA 2023 which is one of the largest all-inclusive tech event. Gitex Africa will amplify the continents digital aspirations and achievements. It is great to know that countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Cameroon, Benin, Togo etc are showing great interest in participating in the show. Prakash Krishnamurthy, Chief Sales Officer at FVC, says It is a pleasure and a great opportunity to be part of GITEX Africa. This will give us a clear platform to build our strong UCC, AV, Cybersecurity and AI & Cloud base in the African market. We are confident that we will be able to build a solid pipeline of business opportunities through our vast portfolio of technological affiliations during the event. Our best wishes to GITEX Africa for a smooth and successful event. Articles similaires In medical imaging, such as X-rays, MRI, CT, and ultrasound, contrast media or contrast agent is used to improve the image of a body part. To temporarily alter the way in which imaging devices or x-rays interact with the body, these substances are often used. As a result of the enhanced visibility of blood vessels, tissues, and organs, doctors are better able to make accurate diagnoses. In order to better differentiate structures or tissues of interest from the surrounding tissue, these substances are injected into the body prior to an imaging scan. Contrast media or contrast agent can be injected into a blood vessel, swallowed, sprayed into the urethra, or given via enema (rectally). Request Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/1210 We have an updated report [Version 2023] available. (The sample of this report is readily available on request. The report sample contains a brief introduction to the research report, a Table of Contents, a Graphical introduction of regional analysis, Top players in the market with their revenue analysis, and our research methodology.) The development of gas micro bubbles for use in MRI imaging is anticipated to fuel the expansion of the contrast media/contrast agent market The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disorders, and cancer, as well as the use of cutting-edge technologies like gas micro bubble technology in MRI imaging, are the primary forces propelling the development of contrast Media/contrast agent. The development of better medical imaging tools and the rising need for image-guided procedures and diagnostics are driving the expansion of this market. By 2030, the number of new cases of cancer is projected to rise to 21.7 Mn, and the number of deaths from cancer is projected to rise to 13 Mn, all according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). However, factors such as the high cost of contrast media injectors and adverse effects of contrast agents, such as kidney disease, are limiting the markets expansion. The expansion of the contrast media market is predicted to be fueled by the approval and introduction of novel agents with a favorable safety profile. In 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the use of Gadavist (gadobutrol) injection, made by Bayer AG, in conjunction with MRA to assess the presence of renal artery disease in both adults and children. Furthermore, the FDA approved GE Healthcares Visipaque (iodixanol) for diagnostic evaluation of patients aged 12 and up with suspected coronary artery disease via coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in May 2017. The contrast media/contrast agent market is anticipated to grow as a result of product launches and inorganic growth strategies such as acquisition and collaboration among market players The expansion of the market for contrast media/contrast agent is anticipated to be driven by the concentration of key players on product approvals and launches. For example, Bayer HealthCare introduced the Medrad Stellant Flex CT injection system in September 2019 so that they could provide patients with a system that is driven by the user, as well as patient-specific protocols and individualized imaging. Similarly, Bracco Diagnostics Inc., a division of Bracco Imaging S.p.A., released an adaptable and interactive media kit in July 2019 with the goal of improving the brands standing with users and attracting more doctors to recommend the service. The press release, patient brochure, and letter and referrers brochure in the media kit are all editable. In the first contrast agent for cardiac MR imaging in patients suspected of suffering from coronary artery disease, Bayer HealthCares Gadavist (gadobutrol) injection was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in July 2019. Clariscan, a gadolinium-based contrast agent developed by GE Healthcare and released in March 2017, helps radiologists better see anomalies in the brain, spine, and other tissues. An additional factor that is expected to contribute significantly to market expansion is the growing popularity of merger and acquisition strategies among market participants. Such an example is the December 2014 announcement of a partnership between nanoPET Pharma GmbH and Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation. The partnership allowed nanoPET to take the lead in developing contrast agents for use in basic and pre-clinical research. Detailed Segmentation : Based on the media type: Microbubble Contrast Media Barium-Based Contrast Media Gadolinium-Based Contrast Media Iodinated Contrast Media Based on the route of administration: Oral Intravenous Rectal Urethral Based on the indication: Neurological Disorders Cardiovascular Disorders Nephrological Disorders Gastrointestinal Disorders Musculoskeletal Disorders Oncology We Offer Customized Report, Click: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/1210 Rising rates of cancer and heart disease are expected to make North America the most lucrative region for the contrast media/contrast agent industry The market for contrast media/agent is dominated by North America, with Europe following close behind. Market growth in the contrast media/contrast agent in North America can be attributed to a number of factors, including: improved MRI techniques for the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases; an increase in the occurrence of cancer and cardiac disorders; improvements in diagnostic technology; and the rise in the occurrence of image-guided surgical procedures. In 2016, there were an estimated 1,685,210 new cases of cancer in the United States, as reported by the National Cancer Institute. The CDC also reports that in 2017, approximately 28.4 Mn new cases of heart disease were identified in the United States. Contrast media/agent market leaders include companies like Lantheus Medical Imaging, GE Healthcare, Bayer HealthCare, Bracco Imaging S.p.A., NanoPET Pharma GmbH, Guerbet Group, CMC Contrast AB, Daiichi Sankyo, and Subhra Pharma Private Limited. Purchasing the Contrast Media/Contrast Agent Market: Outlook for the worldwide Contrast Media/Contrast Agent market in both developed and emerging markets, both now and in the future. Both the market segment with the largest projected share and the market segment with the highest CAGR throughout the projection period. Countries and regions anticipated to experience the fastest development throughout the projected period. The most recent innovations, market shares, and business tactics used by the key market participants. Study examines emerging market trends as well as the likelihood that various trends will impact expansion. Analysis also discusses the factors, challenges, and opportunities that will have a significant impact on the global Contrast Media/Contrast Agent industry. Research includes a detailed analysis of market statistics as well as historical and current growth conditions in order to provide futuristic growth estimates. Purchase This Complete Business Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/1210 Table of Content Chapter 1 Industry Overview 1.1 Definition 1.2 Assumptions 1.3 Research Scope 1.4 Market Analysis by Regions 1.5 Contrast Media/Contrast Agent Market Size Analysis from 2023 to 2030 11.6 COVID-19 Outbreak: Contrast Media/Contrast Agent Industry Impact Chapter 2 Global Contrast Media/Contrast Agent Competition by Types, Applications, and Top Regions and Countries 2.1 Global Contrast Media/Contrast Agent (Volume and Value) by Type 2.3 Global Contrast Media/Contrast Agent (Volume and Value) by Regions Chapter 3 Production Market Analysis 3.1 Global Production Market Analysis 3.2 Regional Production Market Analysis Chapter 4 Global Contrast Media/Contrast Agent Sales, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2017-2023) Chapter 5 North America Contrast Media/Contrast Agent Market Analysis Chapter 6 East Asia Contrast Media/Contrast Agent Market Analysis Chapter 7 Europe Contrast Media/Contrast Agent Market Analysis Chapter 8 South Asia Contrast Media/Contrast Agent Market Analysis Chapter 9 Southeast Asia Contrast Media/Contrast Agent Market Analysis Chapter 10 Middle East Contrast Media/Contrast Agent Market Analysis Chapter 11 Africa Contrast Media/Contrast Agent Market Analysis Chapter 12 Oceania Contrast Media/Contrast Agent Market Analysis Chapter 13 South America Contrast Media/Contrast Agent Market Analysis Chapter 14 Company Profiles and Key Figures in Contrast Media/Contrast Agent Business Chapter 15 Global Contrast Media/Contrast Agent Market Forecast (2023-2030) Chapter 16 Conclusions Explore More Related Insights: Medical Imaging Reagents Market Diagnostic Radiopharmaceuticals And Contrast Media Market Iodine Market Analysis Contrast Media Injectors Market Life Science Microscopy Devices Market About Us: Coherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization focused on assisting our plethora of clients achieve transformational growth by helping them make critical business decisions. We are headquartered in India, having sales office at global financial capital in the U.S. and sales consultants in United Kingdom and Japan. Our client base includes players from across various business verticals in over 57 countries worldwide. We create value for clients through our highly reliable and accurate reports. We are also committed in playing a leading role in offering insights in various sectors post-COVID-19 and continue to deliver measurable, sustainable results for our clients. Contact Us: Mr. Shah Coherent Market Insights Pvt Ltd, 533 Airport Boulevard, Suite 400, Burlingame CA 94010, United States Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com United States of America: +1-206-701-6702 United Kingdom: +44-020-8133-4027 JAPAN: +81-50-5539-1737 INDIA: +91-848-285-0837 The global Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) market size is expected to reach USD 4,391.0 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 11.2% from 2023 to 2030, according to a new report by Coherent Market Insights Inc. The transplantation of multipotent hematopoietic stem cells sourced from peripheral blood cells, bone marrow, or umbilical cord blood into a patient is known as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The increasing number of hematopoietic stem cell transplants is anticipated to drive market growth in the forecast period. For example, as per the Transplant Activity Report by the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, the number of peripheral blood hematopoietic cell transplants (HCTs) carried out in the United States is as follows: Request Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/1250 We have an updated report [Version 2023] available. (The sample of this report is readily available on request. The report sample contains a brief introduction to the research report, a Table of Contents, a Graphical introduction of regional analysis, Top players in the market with their revenue analysis, and our research methodology.) Top Key Players: Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. CellGenix GmbH Regen Biopharma Inc. Lonza Group Kiadis Pharma Taiga Biotechnologies Inc. Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited Escape Therapeutics Inc. Bluebird Bio Talaris Therapeutics Inc. Marker Therapeutics Inc. Stempeutics Research Pvt Ltd. Detailed Segmentation : By Transplant Type: Allogeneic Autologous By Indication: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) Multiple Myeloma (MM) Other Non-Malignant Disorders By Application: Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Peripheral Blood Stem Cells Transplant (PBSCT) Cord Blood Transplant (CBT) We Offer Customized Report, Click: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/1250 Leukemia and lymphoma cases are increasing, which is propelling the market for hematopoietic stem cell transplants worldwide. Leukemia and lymphoma cases are increasing, which is propelling the market for hematopoietic stem cell transplants worldwide. The hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) market is expected to experience growth due to the rising demand for this procedure driven by the increasing incidence rate of leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma in the U.S. According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Societys 2019 report, approximately 176,200 individuals in the U.S. were diagnosed with these conditions, and 1,399,180 individuals were living with them. The lack of physical activity, obesity, and poor nutrition in economically developed economies such as the U.S. and Europe contribute to one-third of global cancer cases, according to the World Cancer Research Funds 2018 report. Additionally, the report states that leukemia predominantly affects individuals in middle age, with around 90% of cases developing as a result of aging. The market growth of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is likely to be hindered by the adverse effects it has on different organs and body parts such as the gastrointestinal tract, mouth, heart, and lungs. These side effects are usually linked to the conditioning regimen, while graft vs. host disease is considered a severe complication. GVHD is a common complication of allogeneic and reduced-intensity allogeneic stem cell transplantations, wherein the grafted cells attack and damage the patients healthy cells, considering them as foreign. Although a close match between donor and patient lowers the risk of GVHD, it cannot eliminate it completely. The disease can manifest in varying degrees of severity, from mild to life-threatening. The increasing prevalence of leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma has made North America the leading region in the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation market. In 2017, an estimated 172,910 individuals in the U.S. were diagnosed with these diseases, as reported by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. As a result, the use of stem cells for effective treatment has been on the rise in this region. The Asia Pacific region is anticipated to experience the highest growth rate during the forecast period due to the increasing number of hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) in the region. As an example, the Japanese Data Center for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation reported the following number of transplants conducted in Japan Purchasing the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Market: Outlook for the worldwide Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) market in both developed and emerging markets, both now and in the future. Both the market segment with the largest projected share and the market segment with the highest CAGR throughout the projection period. Countries and regions anticipated to experience the fastest development throughout the projected period. The most recent innovations, market shares, and business tactics used by the key market participants. Study examines emerging market trends as well as the likelihood that various trends will impact expansion. Analysis also discusses the factors, challenges, and opportunities that will have a significant impact on the global Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) industry. Research includes a detailed analysis of market statistics as well as historical and current growth conditions in order to provide futuristic growth estimates. Purchase This Complete Business Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/1250 Table of Content Chapter 1 Industry Overview 1.1 Definition 1.2 Assumptions 1.3 Research Scope 1.4 Market Analysis by Regions 1.5 Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Market Size Analysis from 2023 to 2030 11.6 COVID-19 Outbreak: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Industry Impact Chapter 2 Global Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Competition by Types, Applications, and Top Regions and Countries 2.1 Global Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) (Volume and Value) by Type 2.3 Global Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) (Volume and Value) by Regions Chapter 3 Production Market Analysis 3.1 Global Production Market Analysis 3.2 Regional Production Market Analysis Chapter 4 Global Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Sales, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2017-2023) Chapter 5 North America Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Market Analysis Chapter 6 East Asia Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Market Analysis Chapter 7 Europe Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Market Analysis Chapter 8 South Asia Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Market Analysis Chapter 9 Southeast Asia Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Market Analysis Chapter 10 Middle East Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Market Analysis Chapter 11 Africa Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Market Analysis Chapter 12 Oceania Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Market Analysis Chapter 13 South America Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Market Analysis Chapter 14 Company Profiles and Key Figures in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Business Chapter 15 Global Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Market Forecast (2023-2030) Chapter 16 Conclusions Explore More Related Insights: Cell Therapy Market Stem Cell Cartilage Regeneration Market Hunter Syndrome Treatment Market Lysosomal Acid Lipase Deficiency Treatment Market Personalized Cell Therapy Market About Us: Coherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization focused on assisting our plethora of clients achieve transformational growth by helping them make critical business decisions. We are headquartered in India, having sales office at global financial capital in the U.S. and sales consultants in United Kingdom and Japan. Our client base includes players from across various business verticals in over 57 countries worldwide. We create value for clients through our highly reliable and accurate reports. We are also committed in playing a leading role in offering insights in various sectors post-COVID-19 and continue to deliver measurable, sustainable results for our clients. Contact Us: Mr. Shah Coherent Market Insights Pvt Ltd, 533 Airport Boulevard, Suite 400, Burlingame CA 94010, United States Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com United States of America: +1-206-701-6702 United Kingdom: +44-020-8133-4027 JAPAN: +81-50-5539-1737 INDIA: +91-848-285-0837 by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, May 26, 2023 There is so much plastic in the world today that some of it mixes into the atmosphere and then plummets back to earth in rainfall. Now Australian Philanthropic organization Minderoo Foundation and M&C Saatchi Australia have teamed to measure plastic in rain to create a new weather metric. It purports to tell us how much plastic will fall from the sky on any given day. advertisement advertisement The partners are unveiling the new metric in Paris ahead of next weeks second session of negotiations (INC-2) of the UNs Plastic Treaty at UNESCO headquarters. The Plastic Forecast, developed with the help of scientists at Minderoo Foundation, combines research on atmospheric plastic with daily weather forecasts to estimate the daily plastic fall in an easy-to-understand weather report for Paris. The science to create the metric was developed by supporting partner, Collider, which created a suite of 3D plastic clouds that react to the live weather data. Dr. Tony Worby, Director of the Planet Portfolio at Minderoo Foundation, describes The Plastic Forecast as a watershed moment in environmental health. "Because many plastic particles are so tiny, you cannot always see the plastic waste and pollution that plague this planet, said Worby. The Plastic Forecast highlights this fact We believe this will be a powerful tool moving forward to generate widespread public support for an ambitious plastics treaty that puts a stop to unsustainable plastic production." In the lead up to INC-2, The Plastic Forecast will debut in Paris, and with help from M&C Saatchi, showing up next to weather reports, across social media and in the news - directing viewers to plasticforecast.com. The site will provide live updates on the weight of plastic falling on them that day, with weekly, monthly and yearly figures available. M&C Saatchi Executive Creative Director, Emma Robbins, said if the new metric sparks a reaction, fuels a conversation and ultimately influences the treaty then weve not just created an idea in the world, weve created some hope in the world too. And thats the kind of work you want to get up every day and do. by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, May 30, 2023 Recent research by Samba TV and HarrisX may shed further light on how consumers are likely to respond to Netflix having last week moved to cut off free password sharing and charge $7.99 for adding an outside-the-household user. On the upside, more than four in 10 of the 2,500 U.S. adults polled at the end of March said they would be willing to pay more to share their account with someone outside of their home, with 41% saying they would pay up to $10 more per month, and another 10% that they would pay up to $15 more. Furthermore, 64% of those currently sharing someone elses Netflix account said that they would subscribe themselves if Netflix banned free password sharing and the host doesn't pay extra to keep them on. Of those, 39% said they would start an account for the ad-supported tier and 25% to an ad-free tier. That includes 76% of Millennials and 75% of males. Among females, 55% said they would establish their own accounts. advertisement advertisement On the flip side, however, 37% of current Netflix subscribers said they would cancel their account if they could no longer share their password with people outside their home. That includes fully 52% of Gen Z and 51% of Millennials, and about a quarter of Gen X and baby boomers. In short, the password-sharing crackdown appears likely to spur cancellations among younger demographics in particular, but will likely help grow Netflixs new ad-supported plan, as well as drive significant new revenue via the added fees for sharing with viewers outside the account-holder household. The survey sample was representative of U.S. adults, and the results have a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, May 30, 2023 A 23-word statement signed by many top artificial intelligence business leaders, engineers, policymakers, experts and researchers states that reducing the "risk of extinction" posed by AI should be an international priority, and issues a new warning about the existential threat they believe AI poses to humanity. The statement reads as follows: "Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war." Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott are among those who signed the statement published by a San Francisco-based non-profit, the Center for AI Safety. Geoffrey Hinton, known as the Godfather of AI, is on the list of those who signed the statement. He announced his resignation from Google in a statement to the New York Times, pointing to bad actors that would use AI to do bad things. advertisement advertisement Hinton told the BBC that the dangers of AI chatbots were "quite scary," and that today they are not more intelligent than us, as far as he can tell, but they soon may be." Hinton resigned from Google, with the desire to communicate about the dangers of ChatGPT and similar products freely and openly. The statement is the latest attempt to slow the development of the controversial and complex technology. In March, Elon Musk, one of the initial board members and financial backer of OpenAI, signed a proposal recommending that companies training and developing AI tools should pause all work for at least six months. Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak, and more than 1,000 others signed an open letter that was posted online. This letter calls for all AI labs to immediately pause for at least 6 months the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai committed to an AI Pact in a meeting last week with Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for Internal Market. The meeting with top European Union officials, which took place on Wednesday, involves creating a set of voluntary rules or standards while formal regulations for applying AI are underway. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, May 30, 2023 Texas on Sunday became the latest state to pass a privacy bill that aims to enable consumers to exert more control over data about themselves. Unless vetoed by Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (SB 4) will require companies to allow residents to opt out of targeted advertising -- defined by the bill as serving ads to people based on their online activity over time and across nonaffiliated websites or apps. The measure also will obligate companies to honor universal opt-out tools -- such as opt-out signals that consumers can send through their browsers -- but only if the companies honor those signals in other states. Currently, four states -- California, Colorado, Connecticut and Montana -- have laws or regulations requiring companies to allow people to reject targeted advertising via a universal opt-out tool. As is the case in those other states, the Texas law only requires companies to honor universal opt-out mechanisms if consumers affirmatively activate the tools. advertisement advertisement The Texas bill also requires companies to tell residents what non-pseudonymous data has been collected about them, and delete that data upon request. Other states to pass comparable privacy laws this year are Iowa, Indiana, Montana, Tennessee and Florida. (The Florida bill hasn't yet been signed by Governor Ron DeSantis.) While that group of states all allow residents to wield some control over their data, only Indiana and Montana require companies to allow consumers to reject ad targeting based on pseudonymous data, such as information tied to cookies. Five other states -- California, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah and Virginia -- previously passed privacy laws that allow residents to reject behavioral ad targeting, including targeting based on pseudonymous data. Washington state recently enacted a broad privacy law regarding health data. That measure requires website operators, app developers and others to obtain residents' consent before collecting, processing or sharing information about medical condition, prescriptions, social or behavioral interventions, reproductive or sexual health information, biometric data and genetic data. The Texas law tasks the attorney general with enforcement, and doesn't empower consumers to sue over violations. If enacted, the law will take effect next July. LONG LAKE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) The Michigan Supreme Court will hear a dispute over the legality of using a drone to take pictures of a salvage yard near Traverse City. Aerial photos were used as evidence in a lawsuit against Todd and Heather Maxon, who were accused of violating a zoning ordinance and creating a nuisance with cars and other salvaged material in Long Lake Township. NEW YORK (AP) Sam Bankman-Frieds lawyers made meritless arguments in a bid to convince a judge to toss out criminal charges alleging that the FTX founder stole from investors in his multibillion dollar cryptocurrency fund, federal prosecutors said Monday. In papers filed in Manhattan federal court, prosecutors responded to early May filings in which Bankman-Frieds lawyers insisted that the United States overreached in its case against Bankman-Fried, making federal crimes out of regulatory issues. These motions are meritless, prosecutors wrote in a nearly 100-page filing. The charges track the relevant statutes and the defendants alleged misconduct falls within the heartland of what these statutes prohibit. Bankman-Fried, 31, has been living with his parents in Palo Alto, California, after posting a $250 million personal recognizance bond after his December extradition from the Bahamas. Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to charges that he cheated investors and looted customer deposits on FTX to make lavish real estate purchases, donate money to politicians and make risky trades at Alameda Research, his cryptocurrency hedge fund trading firm. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams has called it one of the biggest frauds in U.S. history. In March, new charges added to the indictment alleged that Bankman-Fried violated the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by directing the payment of $40 million in bribes to a Chinese official or officials to free up $1 billion in cryptocurrency that was frozen in early 2021. In requesting all charges be dismissed, defense lawyers said eight counts in the original indictment were too vague and non-specific to proceed to trial and that additional charges were barred by an Extradition Treaty between the U.S. and the Bahamas that prohibited charges not approved at the time of extradition. Prosecutors, though, asked Judge Lewis A. Kaplan to let all charges proceed. They said the claims against the original charges were legally sufficient and that permission is being sought from the Bahamas to permit the newest charges. Prosecutors wrote that they expect Bankman-Fried's lawyers to argue at trial that their client was not involved in Alamedas day-to-day activities and was unaware that Alameda borrowed large sums from FTX to repay its lenders. The defendants spending of misappropriated funds on political donations is probative of the defendants motive for defrauding FTXs customers and investors: the defendant wanted access to capital that he could use, in part, for political donations that would burnish his own image and improve the regulatory prospects of his business in the United States, prosecutors wrote. FTX entered bankruptcy in November when the global exchange ran out of money after the equivalent of a bank run. A trial is tentatively set for the fall. Attorneys for Bankman-Fried did not respond late Monday to emailed requests for comment. The Bay County Health Department will be hosting two local community engagement listening sessions to hear from agency partners and the public on matters related to chronic disease, specifically on food insecurity, housing instability and the built environment. These listening sessions are in partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and is a part of Michigans Social Determinants of Health Accelerator Plan to reduce the social drivers of chronic diseases while also supporting individuals with existing chronic conditions. The conditions in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship and age are known as the social determinants of health. They have a profound impact on health and influence the opportunities available to practice healthy behaviors, by enhancing or limiting ones ability to live a healthy life. MDHHS received funding from the CDCs National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention to support engagement with local communities to address conditions driving poor health outcomes. Northwood University is honored to announce former presidential candidate Benjamin S. Carson Sr. M.D. will keynote the inaugural President's Freedom Celebration on June 22. "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," Northwood President Kent MacDonald stated. "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." Carson founded and currently chairs the American Cornerstone Institute, rooted in the same core principles of faith, liberty, community and life. This "think-tank-do-tank" pursues common sense solutions that challenge conventional groupthink. Most people will recognize Carson from his 2016 presidential bid and, more recently, his service as the 17th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 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. In 1987, he successfully performed the first separation of craniopagus twins conjoined at the back of the head. He also performed the first fully successful separation of type-2 vertical craniopagus twins in 1997 in South Africa. "Dr. Carson exemplifies the greatest virtues Northwood promotes in our values-based education," stated Murray Kyte, vice president of advancement for Northwood University. "We are beyond grateful to have Dr. Carson come to Midland, Michigan, to celebrate Northwood's successes. We look to a bright future as we honor remarkable commitments from our supporters in a celebratory event with those who value free enterprise and limited government." Carson has received dozens of honors and awards for his achievements, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. He is also a recipient of the Spingarn Medal, the highest honor bestowed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He has been awarded over 70 honorary doctorate degrees. The U.S. News Media Group and Harvard's Center for Public Leadership named him among "America's Best Leaders" in 2008. Born in Detroit to a single mother with a third-grade education who worked multiple jobs to support their family, Carson was raised to love reading and education. He graduated from Yale University and earned his doctorate degree from the University of Michigan Medical School. "Dr. Carson's storied history embodies the notion that in America, hard work and persistence can help people transcend economic and educational barriers," Kyte added. "We are thankful for Dr. Carson's dedication to making our country a better place, one that embodies the timeless values set forth in Northwood's Code of Ethics including freedom, responsibility, empathy, spirituality, honesty, achievement, integrity, and respect. Please join us June 22 as we celebrate Northwood University and all who have supported America's Free Enterprise University since its inception in 1959." In addition to Carson's keynote address, the June 22 President's Freedom Celebration will include: State of the University address by President MacDonald. Recognition of this year's Wings of Freedom honorees. Strolling dinner featuring selections from Executive Chef Casey Rae and other regional chefs. 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. Regarding the keynote speaker, Carson has authored many books, four of which he co-wrote with his wife, Candy, with whom he proudly brought up children and grandchildren. He has written two children's books, "Why America Matters" and "Red, White, and Blue: Our Flag Matters to Me and You," to teach kids about our important American values. The President's Freedom Celebration will be immediately followed by a performance by Dave Fenley, an international touring artist who previously was a competitor on NBC's hit 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 northwood.edu/pfc. For more information and sponsorship opportunities, email Jen Carpenter at carpenterj@northwood.edu. BIG RAPIDS The National Society of High School Scholars recently announced that Big Rapids Public Schools student Isaac Anderson has been selected to become a member of the esteemed organization. The society recognizes top scholars who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, scholarship and community commitment. The announcement was made by NSHSS Co-founder and President James W. Lewis. Anderson is from Paris and has been a participant in the bowling and band programs at Big Rapids High School for several years. "On behalf of NSHSS and our co-founder Claes Nobel, a member of the family that established the Nobel Prizes, I am honored to recognize the hard work, passion and commitment that Isaac has demonstrated to achieve this exceptional level of academic excellence," said Lewis. "Isaac is now a member of a unique community of scholars a community that represents our very best hope for the future." NSHSS members automatically become lifetime members at the time of their initial membership. Each step along the way from high school to college to career NSHSS connects outstanding young scholars with the resources they need to develop their strengths and pursue their passions. "We are proud to provide lifetime membership to young scholars to support their growth and development," Lewis said. "We help students like Isaac build on their academic success by connecting them with learning experiences and resources to help prepare them for college and meaningful careers." Formed in 2002 by James W. Lewis and Claes Nobel, the National Society of High School Scholars recognizes academic excellence at the high school level and helps to advance the goals and aspirations of high-achieving students through unique learning experiences, scholarships, internships, international study and peer networks. Currently, there are more than 1,700,000 members in over 170 countries. For more information on the National Society of High School Scholars visit www.nshss.org. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has awarded 23 different county fairs grants for building improvements, with Huron County being one of the recipients. MDARD distributed over $1.5 million in funds to the counties, with Huron Community Fair receiving $78,996.67. "We are thrilled," said Clark Brock, board president for the Huron Community Fair. "We are always elated to get something like this, which allows us to spend just a little bit of our money but then do something that helps out the entire community." According to the press release from MDARD, the funds are for building and other capital improvements on the fairgrounds, like structural improvements to existing buildings and other renovations. "Our county fairs and expositions are often the first connection people have to Michigan agriculture and can be the place where our youth find a lifelong passion to farming and agri-food entrepreneurship," said Tim Boring, MDARD director. "These grants invest in our rural communities, support our fairs and expos and help encourage our future ag leaders to learn and grow." The grant will go toward putting down pavement throughout the midway and the parking lot. Brock noted that this will provide easier accessibility to the fairgrounds, especially for those who have mobility problems. "If you look at Huron County, we have a much older population and with that comes less mobility for some," said Brock. "This will provide a way for those who can't get around easier and make it much more accessible to them." The project will consist of adding pavement in the midway from where the bingo area is to the grandstand, paved parking and an easier accessible handicap area, and pavement around the bathhouse to make that easier to access. "It will all be done before the fair this year," Brock added. The first day of the Huron Community Fair is July 30 and it runs the full week until Aug. 5, at the Huron Community Fairgrounds in Bad Axe. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate IRONS The third annual Blessing of the ORVs event was hosted by the Manistee Forest ORV Club at Skinner Park in Irons on May 28. More than 500 off-road vehicles drove onto the grounds for an event focused on fellowship and safe travels. The event initially got off to a slow start and event organizers were concerned that numbers would be lighter due to extremely dusty conditions. However, by 12:30 p.m., attendance surpassed last years record and the grassy field was lined with ORVs the vast majority being side-by-sides, along with a fair share of motorized dirt bikes, three-wheelers, quads and a few Jeeps and trucks. There was no shortage of American flags as the stars and stripes waved from a number of parked vehicles at the Memorial Day weekend event. Club member Starr Daniels walked onto the weathered wooden wagon that served as a makeshift stage and the crowd fell silent. The ORV enthusiast and minister of the event held her notes in one hand and a microphone in the other as she began her sermon. Daniels described how riders of off-road vehicles commune with God as they explore the natural beauty found on the trails of northern Michigan. Some attendees held up cellphones to record the event while others bowed their heads when Daniels began to pray. Daniels said, Preserve us as we travel and explore this wilderness. Surround us with your loving care. Protect us from danger. Chrissy Streeter/News Advocate Trailhead That prayer was just one element in a day designed to create a sense of community while also promoting ORV safety. The Blessing of the ORVs is the main event sponsored by the Manistee Forest ORV Club, a subcommittee of the Irons Area Tourist Association. It was Lake County Sheriff Rich Martin who first recognized a need for local riders to take a more active role in advocacy and education. Five years ago, a few people in the ORV community approached Martin about opening up a few roads in Lake County that were not yet open for off-road vehicle traffic. According to Martin, the road commission was hesitant to open some of these roads at the time. The sheriff suggested that the riders formally plan and present a request at an ORV advisory board meeting. Two Lake County residents, Dave Titus and Howard Campbell, presented their argument to the board. Contention lingered about the decision so the sheriff suggested that the two men start an ORV club to provide resources for local riders. I would have to say seven out of 10 people that come up here and ride do not know the basic rules that theyre supposed to follow when riding the roads opened to ORVs. Most people dont educate themselves before they come out here, Martin said. Titus and Campbell ran with the idea to establish the club and they worked closely with Irons Area Tourist Association members. In the summer of 2019, around 140 vehicles rolled into the inaugural Blessing of the ORVs. Chrissy Streeter/News Advocate Education and outreach Titus and Campbell describe the event as their largest outreach activity. Throughout the day, attendees shopped the vendor tents and enjoyed food and refreshments alongside fellow riders under the pavilion. But by far the most popular feature of the day was when attendees were paired with club leaders and law enforcement for face-to-face, one-on-one time. Riders of all experience levels were given the opportunity to ask specific legal questions, such as regulations involving custom lighting accessories and speed limit on roadways. Outside the blessing event, the club also reaches out to the ORV community through social media. Over 7,200 people have joined the Facebook group which includes links to an up-to-date county ordinance and a master map for ORV riders. The club also has a partnership with the Lake County Sheriffs Office. According to Martin, local law enforcement is limited when trying to address specific trouble areas within the county with excessive ORV riding or excessive speed. Club leadership acts as a mediation group in these cases, investigating these trouble spots to find a solution. Nine times out of 10, they can resolve the issue and it doesnt require law enforcement to respond, Martin said. Chrissy Streeter/News Advocate Blazing a trail Education and cooperation are a large part of the clubs work but co-chairs Titus and Campbell also highlight advocacy. Both of us are very involved in the political side of the off-road organization. Both of us are very involved in different committees and groups, Titus said. When the club was initially created, the founders intentionally decided to name the group the Manistee Forest ORV Club rather than specifying Lake County in the title. We really dont see ourselves as just focused here. The dream is to have it like the old days of snowmobiles where you can drive across the whole state, Campbell said. Lake County was long known as a major destination for snowmobilists that brought in much-needed revenue to local businesses. As snow accumulations in the region dwindled over the years, snowmobile traffic has also decreased. Titus and Campbell believe the growth of the ORV lifestyle and the increasing popularity of side-by-sides has the potential to put the region back on the map. Its something you can do with your wife, your family, your kids. You can ride them, play with them year-round. They go just as good in the snow as they do the mud, Titus said. Titus and Campbell hope to build and connect a network of trails. To accomplish this, they assist other ORV clubs that are working to further develop trails and open roads in their local townships and counties. The two are big believers in the idea of interconnectivity and see how expanding and joining trails and roads across Michigan could benefit not only ORV riders but the small towns located along those routes. Titus said, In the very near future, you should be able to probably take off down by Grand Rapids and ride pretty much the entire state. Clear across the Mac bridge and beyond. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Provided graphics/National Weather Service Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Provided graphics/National Weather Service Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Most of northern Michigan is seeing extreme wildfire danger after continued low humidity and unseasonably warm temperatures, according to the National Weather Service. The area is expected to see highs in the upper 70s to low 80s this week with lows in the 50s at night. Manistee is forecasted to see mostly sunny skies each day this week with a chance of thunderstorms Wednesday. The Veterans Waterfront Park was packed with guests for Port Austin's Memorial Day Ceremony which saw fallen heroes and their families honored with flags, prayers, and a 21-gun salute. The National Anthem was performed by Destiny Booms with music throughout the ceremony performed by Huron Out and The New Day. The service had a guest speaker Linda Elandt who is a Gold Star Mother of Army Sgt Aaron Cutler Elandt who was killed in action on May 30, 2004. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BIG RAPIDS The National Association of Letter Carriers NALC Hunger Campaign donated 10,000 pounds of food to Project Starburst in May. On Saturday, May 13, people were asked to put non-perishable food in their mailboxes, and postal workers picked them up and dropped them off at Project Starburst. According to Angela Daily of the NALC, the initiative is during the summertime when donations are typically at their lowest. I think its a great feeling, there are a lot of people that have hunger problems because of finances. If youve ever been in that situation, a lot of the time I find people on my route that have been there before, end up giving more than people who have not been there in their lives, Daily said. Dailys branch covers Cadillac, Morley-Stanwood, Reed City, Hersey, Big Rapids, Paris and Rodney. It also includes Grand Rapids, and this year alone brought in 75,000 pounds of food for those areas. Itd be great if people would all leave a can of food in their mailbox, wed be able to stamp out hunger for an entire summer, Daily said. Diane Long of Project Starburst said it was amazing this year. We definitely want them to get some good kudos. It was amazing this year, 10,000 pounds of food that they collected for us. Its a lot more, last year was only 3,200, she said. Project Starburst receives upward of 5,000 pounds of food a month from Feeding America, so this donation was equivalent to a two-month supply. I was like, wow. This is just amazing, its actually the most that we have ever had from them, she said. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that people realize that many people are struggling with food right now. Despite the rising cost of food, Long pointed out the giving nature of this community. Its amazing, this community when they decide to give to people, they do a wonderful job about it, theres no doubt about it. They certainly do want to help out their neighbors, she said. Many of the families who come to Project Starburst are ALICE families, an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, meaning most of them are employed but still struggling to get by. The economic situation is hard on everybody at this point in time, whether its food, rent, gas, utilities, its difficult for a lot of families, Long said. Long thanked the postal workers and hopes this initiative continues providing food to those in need. Its amazing for us the amount of food that we get from this effort by the postal workers, honestly, because if they didnt pick up the food and take it back to the annex, Project Starburst wouldnt get it, she said. Its an awesome thing theyre doing for the community. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Two former employees at the State Department of Education filed separate federal lawsuits Tuesday against Republican State Superintendent Ryan Walters and his top aide, alleging they were wrongfully fired last week. Cheryl McGee, the agency's former executive director of school-based mental health, claims in her lawsuit she was fired after being accused of sharing an email with the media. Matthew Colwell, who was a program manager of school success, says he was fired for sharing information with a state representative and the attorney general's office that Walters' proposed teacher pay plan violated federal and state laws and could end up costing the state $18 million. Both lawsuits claim Matt Langston, Walters' chief policy advisor, sent an email last week to all employees at the agency threatening to terminate anyone who leaked internal documents to the press. Langston allegedly prepared the email in a format so that he could trap employees who shared the email with the media, McGee's lawsuit states. There were two purposes for this email. The first was to intimidate and chill the First Amendment rights of employees, McGee's lawsuit says. The second was to retaliate against employees who shared information about matters of public concern in the Department of Education with members of the press or outside officials. Mark Hammons, the attorney for both plaintiffs, described both of them as whistleblowers and said they are entitled to actual and punitive damages, as well as attorney fees. Justin Holcomb, a spokesman for the agency, said the lawsuits were without merit. These legal claims are absurd, frivolous and a waste of taxpayer time and money, Holcomb said in a text message to The Associated Press. It's a political stunt with no legal merit. Also on Tuesday, a third former employee at the agency filed a tort claim notice of her intent to sue for wrongful termination after she claims she was fired for speaking to her local school board. Janessa Bointy, a school counselor specialist, identified herself as a state employee but told the board she was speaking only as a concerned parent. Bointy is represented by The Center for Employment Law. Walters, a former public school teacher elected to the top public education job in November, has come under fire from members of his own party for his fiery rhetoric about banning books, fighting woke ideology in public schools and claiming teachers are indoctrinating children with liberal ideas. His agency released a jarring video last week portraying Walters as a crusader against woke ideology that many teachers said was misleading propaganda. The state's largest newspaper, The Oklahoman, in an editorial on Tuesday called for lawmakers to explore ways to force him from office. ___ Follow Sean Murphy on Twitter: @apseanmurphy This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate OSLO, Norway (AP) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday the time is now for Turkey to drop its objections to Sweden joining NATO but said the Biden administration also believed that Turkey should be provided with upgraded F-16 fighters as soon as possible. Blinken maintained that the administration had not linked the two issues but acknowledged that some U.S. lawmakers had. President Joe Biden implicitly linked the two issues in a phone call to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday. I spoke to Erdogan and he still wants to work on something on the F-16s. I told him we wanted a deal with Sweden. So lets get that done," Biden said. Still, Blinken insisted the two issues were distinct. However, he stressed that the completion of both would dramatically strengthen European security. Both of these are vital, in our judgement, to European security, Blinken told reporters at a joint news conference in the northern Swedish city of Lulea with Swedens Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. We believe that both should go forward as quickly as possible; that is to say Swedens accession and moving forward on the F-16 package more broadly. We believe the time is now, Blinken said. He declined to predict when Turkey and Hungary, the only other NATO member not yet to have ratified Swedens membership, would grant their approval. But, he said, we have no doubt that it can be, it should be, and we expect it to be completed by the time alliance leaders meet in Vilnius, Lithuania in July at an annual summit. Fresh from a strong re-election victory over the weekend, Erdogan may be willing to ease his objections to Swedens membership. Erdogan accuses Sweden of being too soft on groups Ankara considers to be terrorists, and a series of Quran-burning protests in Stockholm angered his religious support base making his tough stance even more popular. Kristersson said the two sides had been in contact since Sundays vote and voiced no hesitancy in speaking about the benefits Sweden would bring to NATO when we join the alliance. Blinken is in Sweden attending a meeting of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council and will travel to Oslo, Norway on Wednesday for a gathering of NATO foreign ministers, before going on to newly admitted alliance member Finland on Friday. Speaking in Oslo ahead of the foreign ministers' meeting, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the goal was to have Sweden inside the grouping before the leaders' summit in July. "There are no guarantees, but its absolutely possible to reach a solution and enable the decision on full membership for Sweden by the Vilnius summit, Stoltenberg said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Koreas attempt to put its first spy satellite into space failed Wednesday in a setback to leader Kim Jong Uns push to boost his military capabilities as tensions with the United States and South Korea rise. After an unusually quick admission of failure, North Korea vowed to conduct a second launch after it learns what went wrong. It suggests Kim remains determined to expand his weapons arsenal and apply more pressure on Washington and Seoul while diplomacy is stalled. South Korea and Japan briefly urged residents in some areas to take shelter after the launch. The South Korean military said it was salvaging an object presumed to be part of the crashed North Korean rocket in waters 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of the southwestern island of Eocheongdo. Later, the Defense Ministry released photos of a white, metal cylinder it described as a suspected rocket part. A satellite launch by North Korea is a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban the country from conducting any launch based on ballistic technology. Observers say North Koreas previous satellite launches helped improve its long-range missile technology. North Korean long-range missile tests in recent years demonstrated a potential to reach all of the continental U.S., but outside experts say the North still has some work to do to develop functioning nuclear missiles. The newly developed Chollima-1 rocket was launched at 6:37 a.m. at the Norths Sohae Satellite Launching Ground in the northwest, carrying the Malligyong-1 satellite. The rocket crashed off the Korean Peninsulas western coast after it lost thrust following the separation of its first and second stages, the Norths official Korean Central News Agency said. South Koreas military said the rocket had an abnormal flight before it fell in the water. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters that no object was believed to have reached space. North Korean media said the countrys space agency will investigate what it calls the serious defects revealed by the launch and conduct a second launch as soon as possible. It is impressive when the North Korean regime actually admits failure, but it would be difficult to hide the fact of a satellite launch failure internationally, and the regime will likely offer a different narrative domestically, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. This outcome also suggests that Pyongyang may stage another provocation soon, in part to make up for todays setback. Adam Hodge, a spokesperson at the U.S. National Security Council, said in a statement that Washington strongly condemns the North Korean launch because it used banned ballistic missile technology, raised tensions and risked destabilizing security in the region and beyond. The U.N. imposed economic sanctions on North Korea over its previous satellite and ballistic missile launches but has not responded to recent tests because China and Russia, permanent Security Council members now locked in confrontations with the U.S., have blocked attempts to toughen the sanctions. Seouls military said it boosted military readiness in coordination with the United States, and Japan said it was prepared to respond to any emergency. The U.S. said it will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland and the defense of South Korea and Japan. After the launch was detected, the South Korean government sent cellphone text messages urging residents of a front-line island off the west coast to move to safer places. Officials in Seoul, the capital, issued similar phone messages to city residents, but the country's Interior and Safety Ministry later said the Seoul alerts were sent in error. Seoul's mayor apologized for causing public confusion. Japan activated a missile warning system for Okinawa prefecture in southwestern Japan, in the rockets suspected path. Please evacuate into buildings or underground, the Japanese alert said. Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said Japan plans to keep missile defense systems deployed in its southern islands and in southwestern waters until June 11, the end of North Koreas announced launch window. KCNA didnt provide details of the rocket or the satellite beyond their names. Experts earlier said North Korea would likely use a liquid-fueled rocket as most of its previously tested long-range rockets and missiles have done. Though it plans a fuller investigation, the Norths National Aerospace Development Administration attributed the failure to the low reliability and stability of the new-type engine system applied to (the) carrier rocket and the unstable character of the fuel, according to KCNA. On Tuesday, Ri Pyong Chol, a top North Korean official, said the North needs a space-based reconnaissance system to counter escalating security threats from South Korea and the United States. However, the spy satellite shown earlier in the countrys state-run media didnt appear to be sophisticated enough to produce high-resolution imagery. Some outside experts said it may be able to detect troop movements and large targets such as warships and warplanes. Recent commercial satellite imagery of the Norths Sohae launch center showed active construction indicating North Korea plans to launch more than one satellite. In his Tuesday statement, Ri also said North Korea would test various reconnaissance means" to monitor moves by the United States and its allies in real time. With three to five spy satellites, North Korea could build a space-based surveillance system that allows it to monitor the Korean Peninsula in near real-time, according to Lee Choon Geun, an honorary research fellow at South Koreas Science and Technology Policy Institute. The satellite is one of several high-tech weapons systems that Kim has publicly vowed to introduce. Other weapons on his wish list include a multi-warhead missile, a nuclear submarine, a solid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missile and a hypersonic missile. In his visit to the space agency in mid-May, Kim emphasized the strategic significance of a spy satellite in North Koreas standoff with the United States and South Korea. Easley, the professor, said Kim likely increased pressure on his scientists and engineers to launch the spy satellite after rival South Korea successfully launched its first commercial-grade satellite aboard its domestically built Nuri rocket earlier this month. South Korea is expected to launch its first spy satellite later this year, and analysts say Kim likely wants his country to launch its spy satellite before the South to reinforce his military credentials at home. After repeated failures, North Korea successfully put its first satellite into orbit in 2012 and a second one in 2016. The government said both are Earth observation satellites launched under its peaceful space development program, but many foreign experts believe both were developed to spy on rivals. Observers say there has been no evidence that the satellites have ever transmitted imagery back to North Korea. ___ Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea said Tuesday it would launch its first military spy satellite in June and described space-based reconnaissance as crucial for monitoring U.S. reckless military exercises with South Korea. The statement came a day after North Korea notified Japan's coast guard that the launch, sometime between May 31 and June 11, might affect waters in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and east of the Philippines Luzon Island. Japan's defense minister warned its forces to shoot down the satellite or debris if any entered Japanese territory, and its coast guard issued a safety warning for ships that would be in the affected seas during the expected launch, citing a risk of falling debris. While North Koreas rivals have condemned the countrys planned launch as a banned test of ballistic missile technology, its less clear whether the satellite itself is advanced enough to support the Norths stated goals of tracking and monitoring U.S. and South Korean military activities in real time. Satellite images taken Tuesday analyzed by The Associated Press showed activity at a main pad at North Koreas Sohae Satellite Launching Station suggesting the satellites blast off would be soon. The images by Planet Labs PBC showed the massive orange gantry at the pad with its arms open. The gantry houses a rocket on the launch pad. Next to the gantry, a long, rectangular object could be seen with two other objects nearby. Those objects hadnt been seen in prior days images of the site and could potentially be rocket parts. All that movement taken together, along with the announcement of a pending launch, means one is likely imminent, said Dave Schmerler, a senior research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, which is part of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Schmerler said it was highly unusual for North Korea to be assembling the rocket in daylight, knowing that satellites overhead would be able to watch the site, as opposed to constructing it under a rail-mounted transfer structure as they have in the past. The point is that were seeing activity in a launch system that was designed to obscure activity, Schmerler told the AP. So this is new and interesting because its not using the usual processes. Meanwhile, North Korean workers also have quickly built in the span of a month a new launch pad just 2.7 kilometers (1.6 miles) southeast of the launch pad where all the activity Tuesday was seen. That site as well appears to have a rail-mounted transfer system, freshly paved asphalt, lightning towers, floodlights and a stand for cameras. Given that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un likely would attend the satellite launch, Schmerler said the missile site probably wanted to show off its new facilities. That also would allow them to have a second launch as well if North Korea chose to do so. When Kim shows up, hes not going to be underwhelmed. He should be fairly impressed they just threw this whole thing together, Schmerler said. Theyre going to use this. Now, when they use it, we dont know. The International Maritime Organization told the AP it received an email from North Koreas Maritime Administration that spelled out the countrys satellite launch plans, including the May 31-June 11 launch window and coordinates of areas where debris might fall. The pace of both North Koreas weapons testing and U.S.-South Korean joint military exercises have increased in past months in a tit-for-tat cycle. Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-fired about 100 missiles, including ICBMs designed to reach the U.S. mainland and a slew of launches it described as simulated nuclear attacks on targets in South Korea. North Korea has said its intensified testing activity is meant to counter its rivals joint military exercises as it continues to use those drills as a pretext to advance its arsenal of nuclear-capable weapons. In comments published by North Korean state media, senior military official Ri Pyong Chol criticized the combined U.S.-South Korean military exercises, which the North has long described as invasion rehearsals. He said North Korea considers space-based reconnaissance indispensable to monitor the military exercises. Last week, the South Korean and U.S. militaries conducted large-scale live-fire drills near the border with North Korea the first of five rounds of exercises marking 70 years since the establishment of their alliance. Washington and Seoul describe their regular military exercises as defensive and have expanded their training since 2022 to cope with North Koreas evolving threats. Ri said the expanding U.S.-South Korean drills and other military activities underline their sinister intention to prepare for preemptive military action against North Korea. He said the dangerous military acts by the U.S. and its forces created a concerning security environment that makes it necessary for North Korea to gather real-time, reliable information on military movements in the region. South Korea has warned that North Korea will face consequences if it goes ahead with the satellite launch in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, which ban the North from conducting any launch using ballistic technology. Space-launch vehicles for satellites share core technologies with long-range missiles that are built to deliver warheads aimed at destroying intercontinental targets. Its absurd to use our legitimate joint exercises, and the maintenance of the South Korea-U.S. joint defense posture to respond to advancing North Korean nuclear and missile threats, as an excuse to launch a reconnaissance satellite, South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said during a briefing. We strongly urge North Korea to immediately cancel its launch plans. Last week, South Korea launched its first commercial-grade satellite, which experts say could provide Seoul with key technology and expertise to place its first military spy satellite into orbit later this year and build more powerful missiles. Han Sung Geun, spokesperson of South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a briefing that the South Korean and U.S. militaries were closely watching North Korea over the possible satellite launch and other provocative military moves. He did not provide specific assessments about the potential capabilities of the North Korean satellite and refused to say whether the South Korean military was preparing for the possibility that debris could fall in nearby waters. Spy satellites are among an array of high-tech weapons systems Kim Jong Un has publicly vowed to develop. Other weapons systems on his wish list include solid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear-powered submarines, hypersonic missiles and multi-warhead missiles. North Korea placed Earth-observation satellites in orbit in 2012 and 2016, though their capabilities have been questioned. Foreign experts say the earlier satellites never transmitted imagery back to North Korea, and analysts say the new device displayed in state media in recent weeks appeared too small and crudely designed to process and transfer high-resolution imagery. ___ Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. ___ Find more AP coverage of the Asia-Pacific region at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KYIV, Ukraine (AP) A rare drone attack jolted Moscow early Tuesday, causing only light damage but forcing evacuations as residential buildings were struck in the Russian capital for the first time in the war against Ukraine. The Kremlin, meanwhile, pursued its relentless bombardment of Kyiv with a third assault on the city in 24 hours. The Russian Defense Ministry said five drones were shot down in Moscow and the systems of three others were jammed, causing them to veer off course. President Vladimir Putin called it a terrorist act by Kyiv. The attack, while causing only what Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said was insignificant damage to several buildings, brought the war home to civilians in Russias capital. Two people received treatment for unspecified injuries but did not need hospitalization, Sobyanin said, adding that residents of two high-rise buildings damaged in the attack were evacuated. Andrei Vorobyov, governor of the wider Moscow region, said some of the drones were shot down on the approach to Moscow. Ukraine made no direct comment on the attack, which would be one of its deepest and most daring strikes into Russia since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than 15 months ago. Putin said Moscow's air defense worked in a satisfactory way, but added it was clear what we need to do to plug the gaps" in the system. The Kyiv regime ... attempts to intimidate Russia, Russian citizens and strikes at civilian buildings," he said during a public event. "It is, of course, a clear indication of terrorist activity. Putin charged that Ukraine launched Tuesday's attack in response to Russia striking Ukraines military intelligence headquarters in Kyiv over the weekend. But Andrii Cherniak, a Ukrainian intelligence representative, said the Kremlins forces failed to hit the building because its missiles were shot down. Asked by The Associated Press whether there was high-level concern that the invasion of Ukraine was endangering Russian civilians, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said only that attacks on Russia reinforced the need to prosecute what the Kremlin calls the special military operation. Tatiana Stanovaya of the Carnegie Endowment said the Kremlins policy is to play down the attacks, reflecting Putin's belief voiced more than once that the Russian people were patient enough to "understand everything and endure everything. Moscow residents reported hearing explosions before dawn. At one site of a crashed drone in Moscow southwest, police fenced off an area near a residential building and put the drone debris in a cardboard box before carrying it away. At another site, apartment windows were shattered and there were scorch marks on the buildings front. It was the second reported strike on Moscow since May 3, when Russian authorities said two drones targeted the Kremlin in what they portrayed as an attempt on Putins life. Ukraine denied it was behind that attack. Last week, the Russian border region of Belgorod was the target of one of the most serious cross-border raids since the war began, with two far-right pro-Ukrainian paramilitary groups claiming responsibility. Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said a man was killed and two others were seriously wounded Tuesday by the Ukrainian shelling of a building hosting temporarily displaced residents of the region. Officials in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar near annexed Crimea said two drones struck there on Friday, damaging residential buildings. Other drones have reportedly flown deep into Russia multiple times. In December, Moscow claimed it had shot down drones that targeted military air bases in the Saratov and Ryazan regions in western Russia. Ukrainian military analysts, though unable to confirm Kyiv had launched the drones against Moscow, said the attack may have involved UJ-22 drones, which are produced in Ukraine and have a maximum range of about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles). Analyst Oleh Zhdanov said some UJ-22s are capable of reaching Moscow and beyond, although he noted they can fly only half as far and carry half the payload of the Iranian-made Shahed drones used in the war by Russia. Even so, Zhdanov told AP that the myth has been dispelled of the Russian capitals invulnerability. Since February, when a UJ-22 crashed 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Moscow, Ukrainian drones have repeatedly approached the Russian capital. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday the U.S. was still gathering information about the drone strike but reiterated that as a general matter the U.S. administration does not support Ukraine using American weaponry in Russian territory. We do not support the use of U.S.-made equipment being used for attacks inside of Russia, she said. Weve been very clear about that, and well continue to do that. And we have been clear not just publicly but privately clear with the Ukrainians." She declined to comment on whether administration officials have spoken to Ukraine officials about the Moscow incident. Jean-Pierre also noted that Russia on Tuesday launched its 17th round of airstrikes on the capital of Kyiv this month, noting that Russia started this unprovoked aggression, this unprovoked war against Ukraine." A U.S. defense official said the drone strikes would not not affect the weapons aid packages the U.S. is providing Ukraine to include drone ammunition. The official said the U.S. has committed to supporting Ukraine in its effort to defend the country and Ukraine had committed to not using the systems inside Russia, so the aid would likely continue unchanged. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Ukrainian officials said Tuesday's pre-dawn air raid on Kyiv killed at least one person, wounded 11 others and sent residents scrambling into shelters again. At least 20 Shahed drones were destroyed by air defense forces in Kyiv in the latest attack. Overall, Ukraine shot down 29 of 31 drones, mostly in the Kyiv area, the air force said. Before daylight, buzzing drones could be heard in the city, followed by loud explosions as they were taken down by air defense systems. The heavy destruction in Kyiv contrasted with what was seen in Moscow. In the Ukrainian capital, burned-out cars, glass and debris littered the street outside a building where apartments were wrecked; in Moscow, only a few broken windows and scorched outer walls were evident, with repairs and repainting being done quickly to affected buildings. A woman in Kyivs Holosiiv district was killed when she went onto her balcony "to look at drones being shot down, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a Telegram post. A high-rise in the same district caught fire after being hit by debris either from drones or interceptor missiles. The buildings upper two floors were destroyed, and people were feared buried in the rubble, the Kyiv Military Administration said. More than 20 people were evacuated. Resident Valeriya Oreshko told AP that even though the immediate threat was over, the attacks had everyone on edge. You are happy that you are alive, but think about what will happen next, the 39-year-old said. A resident who gave only her first name, Oksana, said the whole building shook when it was hit, advising others: Go to shelters, because you really do not know where (the drone) will fly. ___ Associated Press writers Vasilisa Stepanenko in Kyiv, Ukraine; David Rising in Bangkok; Tara Copp in Washington and Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed. Kozlowska reported from Tallinn. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine In a history spanning just several years, Fullstack Modular has developed a portfolio of successful and planned projects that range from a sleek, six-unit apartment building sandwiched in-between stately rowhouses, to a 32-story high rise with dozens of affordable units towering over a basketball arena and one of the nations busiest subway stations. In the companys soon-to-be home of Connecticut, however, such projects are at the center of one of the states most-heated political battles. Fullstack, a modular developer based in Brooklyns Navy Yard, turned many heads last month when it announced its decision to decamp to Connecticut a state with a long and well-established history of opposition to the very sort of dense, multi-family structures on which the company has built its brand. Just 2.2 percent of residential land in Connecticut is zoned to allow houses with four or more units as a right, according to an atlas developed by Desegregate CT, an advocacy group that favors denser and more affordable development. By contrast, nearly three-quarters of residential land is exclusively zoned to allow single-family housing. I was honestly so curious why they chose to move to Connecticut, Pete Harrison, the director of Desegregate CT, said of Fullstack's plans. Fullstacks business model is built around designing and constructing prefabricated building units or mods at the companys 100,000-square-foot Brooklyn factory. Those units are sold to developers, who have typically taken the lead in obtaining the necessary permits to complete the project. Upon its relocation to Connecticut, however, Fullstack is aiming to become more involved as the developer or co-developer on nearby projects, according to Roger Krulak, the companys founder and president. Krulak told CT Insider in a series of written responses to questions this month that Connecticuts reputation as being hostile to dense, affordable housing did not factor into the companys decision to relocate. He added that he was not aware of any existing mid-or-high-rise buildings in the state that were developed using modular construction. Hopefully, that will change in the near term, as we're talking to several developers in the area about potential projects now that we're nearby, Krulak said. Longtime advocates of reforming the states zoning codes, however, say that in many Connecticut towns, any effort to challenge the conventional thinking that favors spread-out, single-family housing is likely to run headlong into entrenched opposition. Just like a lot of public or private developers, theyre going to run into a lot of the anti-housing arguments its not pretty, its too dense, its out of character, Harrison said. Its certainly going to be a challenge to convince local governments to think about something new. Fullstacks decision to invest up to $12 million in developing its new headquarters in Hamden as well as a connection to New Havens Gateway Terminal was seen as a coup for Gov. Ned Lamonts economic development efforts, which have focused on bringing new companies and taxpayers into Connecticut. Lamont, a Greenwich Democrat, has also sought to spend up to $600 million to address the states housing shortage, though he has remained cool to more aggressive proposals that would force some towns particularly those with a history of excluding affordable housing to approve denser development. When asked whether the states restrictive zoning codes had come up during his administrations talks to lure Fullstack to Connecticut, Lamont said they had not. The governor also added that he expected Fullstack to play an active role in development of workforce housing in Connecticut which by definition is affordable to residents earning between 60 and 120 percent of an areas median income which is backed by $200 million in his proposed budget. Were building more housing in Connecticut today than anytime in this century, and they want to be a part of that, Lamont said, adding that he anticipated those projects to be focused in existing downtown areas. They do it faster, at less cost and its environmentally better sealed and saves you a lot on electricity and heat, the governor added. The growing popularity of prefabricated, modular buildings in the United States has been supported by developers, who see it as a way of speeding up construction and reducing the risk of cost overruns, according to Jin Ouk Choi, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. For the same reason, Choi said that some communities have embraced modular developments because they can cut down on noise, dust and other disruptions associated with larger construction projects. In southwestern Connecticut home to both booming cities such as Stamford as well the expensive, staid suburbs of Greenwich, New Canaan and Darien Fullstacks move has yet to spark conversations over potential developments, according to Francis Pickering, the executive director of the Western Connecticut Council of Governments. Pickering, who has voiced opposition to efforts to diminish local control over zoning, said that local leaders in the region have had more general discussions about utilizing new construction technologies, including modular development, and remain open to the idea. Its less about whether the three-four-five story building is built using modular construction and more whether the building is appropriate for the area, Pickering said. Krulak said that while Fullstacks modular units are often marketed by developers as affordable rentals, the companys new factory in Hamden will have the scale to develop models that meet a variety of building projects. Whether those mods are utilized for one building of 50 units or several buildings of 3-4 units, we're agnostic to where they find their permanent home, Krulak said. With Connecticut malls being sold at a comparatively brisk pace and vacancy rates at regional shopping malls nationwide at above 11 percent, economic and retail experts say the time has come for state officials to take a more proactive role. Four of Connecticut's 10 largest shopping malls have sold in the past four-and-half years and a fifth is likely to change hands after being auctioned off earlier this month. The recent online auction of the Crystal Mall in Waterford has once again brought into sharp relief the overall health of shopping malls in the state. Donald Klepper-Smith, an economist with DataCore Partners in South Carolina, said state officials have a vested interest in doing as much a possible to ensure the success of the retail sector in the state. "If the retail environment is not being executed properly, it results in lost sales tax dollars," Klepper-Smith said. But state officials are reluctant to take action and are more focused on other economic development priorities. Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Alexandra Daum told CT Insider that the health of the state's shopping malls is not among her top concerns. "I'm more concerned about the impact vacant downtown office space has on surrounding property," Daum said. "Malls sites are pretty much self-contained; you don't have houses located across the street. But with downtown office space, there's more of a direct impact for people in terms of the livability and environmental impact in the surrounding area." How is a mall's success or failure judged? One measure of it is how much retail space is vacant at any given time. Burt Flickinger, managing director of the New York City-based retail consulting firm Strategic Resource Group, said when a has less than 75 percent of its space leased, "that's often the borderline for financial viability." But mall owners often decline to reveal what kind of vacancy rates their properties have, contending the information is proprietary. The impact that a distressed shopping mall can have on a local economy can be far reaching, said John Clapp, an emeritus professor of real estate at UConn. "It is something that affects local employment and casts a blight on surrounding properties and to some extent the host community as a whole," Clapp said. "It's puzzling to me that DECD hasn't developed policies to address this." David Cadden, a professor emeritus at Quinnipiac University's School of Business, said one role that the state could play in addressing the mall issue is commissioning a study on what might happen if any of them were converted to some alternative use. "Just the arrival of malls had a negative impact on downtown businesses in communities, changing how a mall operates or converting it to some other use could have deleterious effect on the host communities," Cadden said. "It would be nice to know beforehand what the economic impact might be." The belief that state government has no place getting involved in the mall issue is naive, he said. "I don't think people realize how frequently state governments tip the scales in favor of those who have money in the economic development process," Cadden said. As an example, he noted how the state played a prominent role in converting the former Scovill Brass Works in downtown Waterbury into the $120 million Brass Mill Center, which opened in late 1997. Nearly two-and-half decades later, Brass Mill Center is a mall that is in need of an infusion of tenants and an upgrade of its physical plant. Mayor Neil O'Leary told Hearst Connecticut Media last year after Brass Mill Center was sold to Kohan Retail Investment Group of Great Neck, N.Y. that the mall has been failing steadily for the past 10 years. Klepper-Smith said Connecticut officials should view distressed shopping malls the way it view polluted commercial sites. "When you're talking about the environment, we have brownfields that are being repurposed for a new type of use," Klepper-Smith said. "And if we are repurposing manufacturing brownfields, it makes perfect sense to do the same thing for retail properties." Clapp said the prices at which Connecticut malls have been sold "are so cheap that the buyers can afford to hold onto them for a long time" without making dramatic improvements to the property or significantly increasing occupancy levels. "It's what is called holding for an option," he said. "The buyers are able to generate enough income from a mall's remaining tenants and get enough reductions in property taxes that these properties remain profitable for quite a while. They are holding on until some good future option presents itself." Daum said there are DECD community investment programs that could be used for improvements that might benefit mall properties under the right circumstances. But for a plan like that to happen, she said "it would need hit a lot of policy goals across the board, but the possibility exists." "There are tools that could be used to prod mall owners to be more proactive, according to Clapp. One idea, he said, would be to require that contracts entered into when malls are sold contain "a clause with an expiration date." "It would give the new mall owner a reasonable period of time to make improvements, make changes or come up with some sort of alternative use," Clapp said. "A 'use it or lose it' clause." Another public policy option, he said, could be to institute a tax on long-term vacant space. Daum said suggestions that public policy measures could be used to fix distressed malls or push mall owners toward action are problematic at best. "I think you've got to be really careful limiting what people can do with their own property," she said. "These are large very buildable plots of land. Sooner or later, somebody is going to look at these properties and see and opportunity to do some with the land that makes sense." Flickinger said another public policy move that Connecticut officials might consider trying is creating economic development zones in communities that host troubled malls. Economic development zones, or Opportunity Zones as they are sometimes called, allow people to invest in distressed areas. They are designed to spur economic growth and job creation in communities while providing tax benefits to investors. Another option Connecticut officials might consider, Flickingar said, is encouraging hospitals and other health care organizations to locate some of their operations in vacant mall space in an effort to increase foot traffic. "It's a trend known as Medtail," he said. According to data from CoStar Group, the proportion of leased medical space in retail buildings has grown from 16 percent in 2010 to 20 percent now. An example of medtail in Connecticut is being done at the Meriden Mall where Yale New Haven Health is looking to turn a 179,285-square-foot, two-story former Macys spot into a comprehensive ambulatory center. Plans for the facility were announced in 2021, but Yale New Haven officials said Friday that the project is still in the planning stages. "Like many health systems across the country, Yale New Haven Health is facing headwinds stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and the current economic climate," a statement released by healthcare organization said on Friday. "We are being very thoughtful in our planning and will update everyone as we move forward. Another potential adaptive use for converting vacant mall space into something more useful is being tried in the Boston area. California-based Alexandria Real Estate Equities has submitted plans to convert the Watertown Mall into a 24.5-acre lab campus, with a multi-building project that would span nearly 1 million square feet. Biotech laboratory space is also in high demand in Connecticut, particularly in the New Haven area. But Daum questioned whether a similar proposal would work in Connecticut. "Construction costs aren't all that much different when compared to Boston," she said. "But it would be hard to justify building new lab space when rents are comparatively lower." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GREENWICH Fashion apparel retailer Express has been cutting costs as it grapples with ongoing losses. But it is still opening stores, and one of its new establishments shows that Connecticut remains an important market for the company. An Express Edit store debuted on May 19 at 181 Greenwich Ave., in Greenwich, an opening that highlights the downtown thoroughfares perennial appeal to national retailers. It also demonstrates Express confidence in the Edit establishments, which are based on a concept, launched in 2020, of opening smaller-format stores on busy streets a departure from the companys mall-based history. Express Edit stores are located in high-traffic areas that offer a convenient shopping experience, and Greenwich is a great addition to the Edit portfolio, Express said in a written statement. High-traffic locations are a powerful way for Express to continue to reinvigorate the brand and introduce the brand to new customers for their consideration. While the Edit stores are compact, the Greenwich stores 12,000 square feet make it the largest among the Edit establishments. It is about 20 miles southwest of the other Edit store in Connecticut, at 125 Main St., in Westport, a location that opened in June 2021. Within the northeast, there are also Edit establishments in Manhattans SoHo and Flatiron neighborhoods, Boston, and Newton, Mass. When opening an Express Edit, the brand evaluates the available real estate in desired markets given goals of new customer acquisition and re-acquisition of lapsed customers, Express added in its statement. As Express continues to see success with the Edit fleet, the brand will evaluate their expansion strategy, opening stores strategically in targeted locations. Although Express officials express optimism about the Edit stores, the Columbus, Ohio-based company is still facing significant headwinds. For the quarter ending April 29, it reported a loss of about $73 million and a 15 percent decline in net sales from the same period last year. The reduced consumer spending, increased price sensitivity in discretionary categories and aggressive promotional activity across the industry that began in 2022 continued into the first quarter of this year and negatively impacted our performance, Express CEO Tim Baxter said in a news release Wednesday. We continued to take corrective actions to address the imbalances in our women's assortment architecture and delivered sequential improvement in womens sales as the quarter progressed. However, we experienced a deceleration in our men's and outlet stores businesses due to softness in traffic and against the backdrop of record volume in the first quarter of 2022. Baxter also noted that, we are taking aggressive action to reduce expenses and improve the operating efficiency of our business. As a sign of the cost-cutting, the Express store at Stamford Town Center mall closed in February. There are still Express stores at several other Connecticut malls, with locations at Connecticut Post Mall in Milford, Danbury Fair, Westfarms on the West Hartford-Farmington line, and Westfield Trumbull. In addition, there are Express Factory Outlet establishments at Clinton Premium Outlets and The Shoppes at Buckland Hills in Manchester. Among other developments, Express and WHP Global announced Wednesday the completion of their joint acquisition, for $75 million, of menswear retailer Bonobos from Walmart. The sole Bonobos store in Connecticut is located at 53 Greenwich Ave., a couple of blocks from the new Edit store. This is an important step in the transformation of our company and a compelling addition to our brand portfolio, Baxter said. EAST HAVEN Police have identified the 20-year-old Madison man killed in a crash on Foxon Road early Saturday as Nathan Santos. Santos was killed when his vehicle struck a utility pole in the area of 134 Foxon Road in East Haven around 1:30 a.m. Saturday, according to police spokesperson Capt. Joseph Murgo. "We would like to extend our deepest condolences to Nathans family and friends during this difficult time," Murgo said in an email Sunday. According to Murgo, Santos was driving west on Foxon Road in the area of Circle Drive when his vehicle crossed the double yellow lines and struck a utility pole. He was later pronounced dead at Yale New Haven Hospital, Murgo said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUSTIN, Texas (AP) On the way to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton becoming a rising figure in the GOP, his wife, Angela, used to entertain crowds with a guitar and a song. I'm a pistol-packin' mama, and my husband sues Obama, she sang at campaign events and Republican clubs in Texas. When it came time for the high school teacher and guidance counselor to launch her own political career, a $2 million loan from her husband propelled Angela Paxton to a narrow victory for a state Senate seat in the booming Dallas suburbs. Once elected, she filed bills to expand his office's powers, and approved budgets over his state agency and salary. Now, Sen. Paxton is a key figure in the next phase of Ken Paxton's historic impeachment: as a juror in a Senate trial that could put her husband back in office or banish him permanently. It's a role that raises an ethical cloud over the Senate proceeding. State law compels all senators to attend, but is silent on whether she must participate. If it were a trial in the justice system, she would be completely required to (step aside), said Kenneth Williams, professor of criminal procedure at the South Texas College of Law in Houston. Its a clear conflict of interest. The trial is to start no later than Aug. 28, and it promises to be quite personal for Angela Paxton. The 20 articles of impeachment brought against Ken Paxton include sweeping charges of abuse of office and unethical behavior. They include a bribery charge related to an extramarital affair with an aide to a state senator. Another suggested Angela Paxton was involved in the installation of $20,000 countertops at their home, paid for by a political donor. Angela Paxton hasn't said if she'll recuse herself from the trial. She declined comment when approached by The Associated Press outside the Senate chamber on Monday. State Rep. Andrew Murr, who led the impeachment investigation in the state House, declined to say if he thinks Angela Paxton should step aside. The Senate gets to set the rules, he said. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick tightly controls the Senate and its 19-12 Republican majority. He suggested to a Dallas television state before last week's House impeachment vote that Angela Paxton will participate in the trial. I will be presiding over that case and the senators all 31 senators will have a vote, Patrick told WFAA-TV. Well set the rules for that trial as we go forward and well see how that develops. Asked Tuesday whether Sen. Paxton would participate in the trial, Patrick declined comment, saying he could not take questions about the impeachment proceedings. The state constitution requires a two-thirds vote of the chamber to convict. But there is little historic precedent in drafting impeachment trial rules, and nothing with a similar spousal conflict, Williams said. In nearly 200 years of Texas history, Ken Paxton is just the third official to be impeached and the first statewide official impeached since Gov. James Pa Ferguson in 1917. There's no legal mechanism to force Angela Paxton out of the trial like there would be a criminal trial, Williams said. It's up to her ethical standards and compass, basically, Williams said. The trial comes not only after Paxton was overwhelming reelected in November, but so was his wife, who cruised to a second term backed by wide support among conservative activists. They included Jonathan Saenz, president and attorney of Texas Values, who has worked closely with the senator on legislation, including a bill she carried this year that banned sexual content in public school libraries. He said Sen. Paxton has earned the right to decide what she thinks is best in this situation. Senator Paxton is certainly in the highest category of elected officials in how she treats people and her position. I have high confidence in her moral compass in coming down on the side of what she thinks is best, Saenz said. The Paxtons come to each other's aid in politics and legal fights. Angela pushed Ken to chase his political ambitions in his first run for a House seat in 2002. In 2018, she touted Ken's political expertise and advice in her first campaign for the Senate. That included the $2 million loan from his reelection campaign in a bruising Republican primary. One of Angela Paxton's first moves as a state lawmaker was filing a bill to give the attorney general's office new powers over licensing exemptions for investment advisers. Ken Paxton was indicted in 2015 for failing to register as an investment adviser while raising money for a technology startup where he was invested and being paid. He has yet to go to trial on the felony charge. Angela Paxton insisted her bill had nothing to do with his criminal charges, but legal experts said it struck near the heart of his indictment. The bill ultimately failed. In 2022, Angela was the get-away driver from their house when Ken jumped in the family truck to avoid a process server with a subpoena in a federal abortion lawsuit. Angela Paxton isn't the only lawmaker with a potential conflict of interest at trial. The House impeachment articles accuse Paxton of using state Sen. Bryan Hughes as a straw requestor for a legal opinion that protected a political donor from property foreclosure. Hughes has not addressed whether he expects to be called as a witness or if he will recuse himself. He did not respond to requests for comment Monday. Ken Paxton and his allies, from former President Donald Trump to Texas grassroots organizations, have called the House impeachment process a politically motivated sham, rushed through in the final week of the legislative session. The suspended attorney general now hopes for a fighting chance in a Senate controlled by Patrick. When Patrick first endorsed Angela Paxton in that tough 2018 primary, he called her a dynamic conservative leader and a person of integrity deeply rooted in her Christian faith. Patrick this year appointed her vice-chair of the Senate State Affairs committee, and to seats on the powerful finance and education committees. Mark Phariss, the Democrat who lost to Angela Paxton by 2 percentage points in 2018, noted her sharp political instincts. He predicted she won't step aside from a trial. My assumption is she will not recuse herself. Because she does not seem to distance herself from her husband, either when she ran for office in 2018 initially or at any time subsequently, Phariss said. ___ Associated Press reporter Acacia Coronado contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate JERUSALEM (AP) Palestinian gunmen shot and killed an Israeli man on Tuesday near the entrance to a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli army said. The Israeli military said the man was shot near the settlement of Hermesh, in the northern West Bank. Local officials identified the man as Meir Tamari, a 32-year-old resident of the settlement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent his condolences to the family and said forces were pursuing the gunmen in order to settle accounts with them. Dimiter Tzantchev, the European Union's ambassador to Israel, condemned the attack, calling it a "cowardly and brutal act of violence." The incident came a day after Jewish settlers erected a religious seminary in a nearby dismantled settlement outpost and was the latest in more than a year-long surge of violence that has wracked the West Bank. During that time, Israel has expanded near-nightly military raids throughout the area in response to an increase in Palestinian attacks. The fighting has picked up since Israel's new far-right government took office in late December. At least 117 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 targeting Israelis in those areas have killed at least 21 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. The new Israeli government includes several prominent settler leaders in top positions. It has made the expansion of the settlements a top priority. On Monday, Jewish settlers erected a religious school in a dismantled outpost in the northern West Bank after Israels government lifted a ban on settlements in several areas evacuated as part of Israels 2005 withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. In March, Israel repealed the act that barred Israelis from entering the areas. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GUILFORD Since April, its been salad days for The Greenery, a kind of mobile salad bar parked on Broad Street on the Green. The food truck offers fresh salads and wraps, plus baked goods including brownies and chocolate chip cookies. A steady flow of regulars stopped by on a breezy afternoon, one with a pair of nosey golden retrievers in tow, fitting in with what the purveyor called the mobile eaterys laid back style. Chef and owner Josh Elman promises crisp, fresh greens. I always say to people, no soggy greens for me, he joked. Elman runs the refurbished truck with a helper during the week, and on weekends his wife, Lauren Ford, lends a hand. The couple, who live in Guilford, say they feel very welcome in town. We are loved right now, loved by everyone around town, Elman said. Guilford loves to support Guilford. Elman has been elbow-deep making some 160 salads on a few mornings for school staff members and town employees, as part of the towns wellness program since May 17. Hes been making his signature salads for every school from the elementary through the high school, said Ford. Plus, Elman said, for all the guys in the yellow trucks like the town workers that was 125 salads and for folks in Town Hall. First Selectman Matt Hoey had a Caprese salad. I had the mozzarella and tomato salad with chicken and it was absolutely delicious, he said, adding the healthful lunches are paid for through the employee benefits and their health insurance company. Elmans also a regular vendor at Guilford Little League games at Adams Middle School, where he offers a kids menu with tuna salad and chicken bacon ranch wraps, plus cookies, candy bars and cotton candy. Another fan, Jeanette Frink of Madison, was curious when she first discovered the food truck and said shes been back nearly a dozen times, ordering wraps and salads and extra dressing on the side, her favorite being the lemon vinaigrette. I saw this truck and I was like, 'it looks like it was selling salads,' she said. So I went up, saw the menu it was interesting and I told the guy, Im not really a food truck person but this looks really good. Im a big salad person, so I cant stand looking, flicking through a limp salad thats kind of going gross, she said. But when she orders one of Elmans salads, she said, Its never like that. Its always crunchy and fresh. I love it. The best-seller, the Santa Fe, is topped with crunchy tortilla strips and spicy pepperoncini slices, served with a Elmans own chipotle ranch dressing on the side, which has a sweet, smoky flavor with a kick. Other offerings include Caesar, cobb, wedge, Caprese, Greek and baby kale salad with apples and walnuts. Most of Elmans dressings are housemade, using his own recipes. But Elman will purchase some prepared dressings, such as an excellent Caesar, he said. He is loyal to a few brands, Certain ones I like to get, like good ones that I already know are awesome, that Ive used in the past, that Ive learned to love. And he trusts his palate: Ive been a chef for 17 years, he explained. Any salad on the menu can be made into a wrap, and the whole create-your-own menu is what makes people so happy, Elman said. They offer patrons a menu on a clipboard where they can pick out items for a custom salad, almost like at a salad bar. I joke and say, just fill out and chill out,' Elman said. Ford chimed in, And nobody wants to be that pain person at a restaurant where they have to ask the wait staff [for] 100 things. The couple use locally-sourced greens and produce in season. Now they use microgreens from Guilford Greens. Theres a lot just from local farmers and stuff, Elman said. Patrons can add grilled chicken, Louisiana-style shrimp, tuna salad, hard boiled eggs or blackened tofu which Elman said tastes just like roasted chicken to their greens. Elman got the idea for a salad truck when his wife was working from home during the pandemic and she craved salads. Were laughing because every day shes like, I just want a big salad, I just want a big salad. Theres no place to get a salad around here, Elman recalled. So, finally I was like, say less, I got this. I make my salads big, he boasted, and one can easily feed two. Elman is also proud of his business card that reads: dishwasher, owner, chef. People laugh so hard at that. Im like, I do everything, he said. Elman has worked in restaurants since he was a teen. My first job was in Guilford at Annas Temptations when I was like 15. Im 37 now. Ive worked all over. He worked at Madisons Portofinos Pizzeria for 10 years, then in a San Diego pizzeria. His latest job was at MiKro Depot in Hamden, where he was the kitchen manager and chef. For this venture, Elman bought the truck from friends who own by Life Bowls in Madison. But it was a project to get it ready, because it sat for like three years, he said. They didnt use it. He did work on the engine, redid the interior and installed new refrigeration and shelving. Ford, who works remotely in a corporate job during the week, said she looks forward to working on the truck. Its great being here with him on the weekends because you could see the small-town community love, the vibe we have with regulars that we see all the time, she said. Yeah, people love the husband-wife aspect of the business, Elman interjected. They know us now, we know them, she said. People will drive by our house, and theyll see the truck and theyll honk. BEIJING Prospects for a renewed high-level military dialogue between China and the U.S. remain dim, with Beijing saying their defense chiefs will not hold a bilateral meeting while both are attending a weekend security conference in Singapore. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Tuesday blamed the U.S., saying Washington should earnestly respect Chinas sovereignty and security interests and concerns, immediately correct the wrongdoing, show sincerity, and create the necessary atmosphere and conditions for dialogue and communication between the two militaries. Mao gave no details, but tensions between the sides have spiked over Washingtons military support and sales of defensive weapons to self-governing Taiwan, Chinas assertions of sovereignty to the contested South China Sea and its flying of a suspected spy balloon over the U.S. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is scheduled to address the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, while Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu will speak at the gathering on Sunday. Austin met privately with Li's predecessor, Wei Fenghe, at last year's Shangri-La Dialogue, which appeared to do little to smooth relations between the sides. In his address to the forum, Wei accused the U.S. of seeking to contain China's development and threatening to assert its claim to Taiwan by military force. Chinese leader Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden met on the sidelines of the Group of 20 meeting of large economies in November in Indonesia, but contacts have proceeded only sporadically since then, with only side meetings on neutral territory. Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled a visit to Beijing in February after the U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon that had crossed the United States. He later met with the Communist Party's senior foreign affairs adviser Wang Yi in Austria. China refused to take a phone call from Austin to discuss the balloon issue, the Pentagon said. Always beset by mistrust and accusations, communications on the military level have yet to show signs of improvement. Beijing also was angered by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wens April stopover in the U.S. that included an encounter with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. China's People's Liberation Army holds military exercises and sends fighter jets, drones and ships near the island to advertise its threat to attack and wear down Taiwan's defenses. China also protests movements of U.S. Navy ships and aircraft through the Taiwan Strait and close to Chinese-held islands in the South China Sea, dispatching its own ships and planes and raising the possibility of confrontations or collisions. An Air Force two-star general who was convicted of abusive sexual contact in a court-martial last year will retire as a colonel, in a rare instance of knocking an officer down two ranks, the service announced Tuesday. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall chose to demote William Cooley, who was previously the head of the Air Force Research Laboratory, following the officer's conviction on forcibly kissing his sister-in-law, according to a statement from Air Force Materiel Command. Cooley's retirement will be effective Thursday. "The Department of the Air Force expects its leaders to embody our core values, and holds them accountable if they fall short of expectations," the command said in the statement. Read Next: VA Benefits, Troop Pay Looking Safer as Congress Weighs Debt Ceiling Deal Cooley, who was accused of sexually assaulting his sister-in-law after a family barbecue in 2018, was the first Air Force general ever to face a military trial. The case was seen as a sign of a slow but sure shift away from a military culture that allowed high-ranking officers to act with impunity. Cooley was charged with three counts of violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice. In the April 2022 court-martial, he was convicted on only one count of abusive sexual contact related to the accusation that he forcibly kissed his sister-in-law. The two counts he was found not guilty of related to allegations that he also groped her. A military judge sentenced Cooley to forfeit $54,550 in pay and to receive a letter of reprimand, far short of the maximum sentence of seven years' confinement and losing all pay and benefits. Demoting Cooley to colonel means he will now get less retirement pay than he would have received as a major general, an Air Force Materiel Command spokesperson confirmed to Military.com -- a difference of tens of thousands of dollars annually. Cooley, whose defense team maintained that the only thing that happened between him and his sister-in-law was a consensual kiss, appealed his case to the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals. The court's docket shows a hearing was scheduled for May 1. The status of the appeal now that he is retiring is unclear. The civilian attorney who represented Cooley during his court-martial did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment Tuesday. -- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel. Related: What a General's Court-Martial Means for the Military's 'Old Boys' Club' WASHINGTON A U.S. military aid package for Ukraine that is expected to be announced this week will total up to $300 million and will include additional munitions for drones, U.S. officials said Tuesday. The drone ammunition comes after new attacks by unmanned aircraft targeted Moscow. There has been no suggestion that U.S.-made drones or munitions were used in the recent attacks on Moscow, and U.S. officials have repeatedly said that Ukraine has agreed not to use any American-provided weapons for attacks on Russian soil. The Kremlin blamed Kyiv for Tuesday's attack, but Ukrainian officials had no direct comment. But the new aid package comes at a tense moment in the war. The latest drone attack on Moscow follows Russia's seizure of the eastern Ukrainian city Bakhmut after a nine-month battle that killed tens of thousands of people. Ukraine is also showing signs that its long-awaited spring counteroffensive may already be underway. The Russian Defense Ministry said five drones were shot down in Moscow and the systems of three others were jammed, causing them to veer off course. President Vladimir Putin called it a terrorist act by Kyiv. A U.S. defense official said the drone strikes would not affect the weapons aid packages the U.S. is providing Ukraine, to include drone ammunition. The official said the U.S. has committed to supporting Ukraine in its effort to defend the country and Ukraine had committed to not using the systems inside Russia, so the aid would likely continue unchanged. All of the U.S. officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because the latest aid package has not yet been publicly announced. U.S. officials did not provide details on the drone munitions in the new aid package or specify which unmanned aircraft would use them. The Defense Department has given Ukraine a variety of unmanned aircraft over the last year, for both surveillance and attacks, including at least two versions of the Switchblade, a so-called kamikaze drone that can loiter in the air and then explode into a target. Other more sophisticated drones can drop munitions, but the U.S. has been reluctant to publicly share details about those. Also included in the newest package will be munitions for Patriot missile batteries and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), Stinger missiles for the Avenger system, mine-clearing equipment, anti-armor rounds, unguided Zuni aircraft rockets, night vision goggles, and about 30 million rounds of small arms ammunition, said the U.S. officials. The aid greatly resembles other recent U.S. packages, which have focused on providing Ukraine more ammunition for the weapons systems it has and helping it prepare for a counteroffensive to push back against Russian gains over the past year. 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 that its underway. Including the latest aid, the U.S. has committed more than $37.6 billion in weapons and other equipment to Ukraine since Russia attacked on Feb. 24, 2022. This latest package will be done under presidential drawdown authority, which allows the Pentagon to take weapons from its own stocks and quickly ship them to Ukraine, officials said. Officials said the U.S. is expected to announce the aid as soon as Wednesday. Tuesday's strikes on Moscow were the second drone strikes on the city since May 3, when Russian officials said two drones targeted the Kremlin in what they portrayed as an attempt on Putins life. Ukraine denied it was behind that attack. U.S. intelligence officials were still trying to ascertain if Ukraine had any involvement in or prior knowledge of Tuesdays drone attack in Moscow, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Last week, the Russian border region of Belgorod was the target of one of the most serious cross-border raids since the war began, with two far-right pro-Ukrainian paramilitary groups claiming responsibility. The U.S. conveyed after that incident that American-made weaponry must not be used inside Russia, according to a U.S. official familiar with the sensitive communications. The message was very clearly understood, according to the official. Officials in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar, near annexed Crimea, said two drones struck there on Friday, damaging residential buildings. Other drones have reportedly flown deep into Russia multiple times. Ukrainian military analysts, though unable to confirm Kyiv had launched the drones against Moscow, said the attack may have involved UJ-22 drones, which are produced in Ukraine and have a maximum range of about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles). U.S. officials struck a delicate balance in responding to the drone strikes, reiterating support for Ukraine while stressing that the U.S. opposes Ukrainians using American weapons in Russia. They noted that Russias bombardment of Kyiv on Tuesday was the 17th round of attacks this month, many of which have devastated civilian areas. Lee reported from Oslo. Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Tara Copp contributed to this report. SEOUL, South Korea North Korea said Tuesday it would launch its first military spy satellite in June and described space-based reconnaissance as crucial for monitoring the United States reckless military exercises with South Korea. The statement came a day after North Korea notified Japan's coast guard that the launch, sometime between May 31 and June 11, might affect waters in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and east of the Philippines Luzon Island. Japan's defense minister warned its forces to shoot down the satellite or debris, if any entered Japanese territory, and its coast guard issued a safety warning for ships that would be in the affected seas during the expected launch, citing a risk of falling debris. While North Koreas rivals have condemned the countrys planned launch as a banned test of ballistic missile technology, its less clear whether the satellite itself is advanced enough to support the Norths stated goals of tracking and monitoring U.S. and South Korean military activities in real time. The pace of both North Koreas weapons testing and the U.S.-South Korean joint military exercises increased in past months in a cycle of tit-for-tat. In comments published by North Korean state media, senior military official Ri Pyong Chol criticized the combined U.S.-South Korean military exercises, which Pyongyang has long described as invasion rehearsals. He said North Korea considers space-based reconnaissance indispensable to monitor the military exercises. Last week, the South Korean and U.S. militaries conducted large-scale live-fire drills near the border with North Korea the first of five rounds of exercises marking 70 years since the establishment of their alliance. Washington and Seoul describe their regular military exercises as defensive and have expanded their training since 2022 to cope with the Norths evolving threats. Ri said the expanding U.S.-South Korean drills and other military activities underline their sinister intention to prepare for preemptive military action against North Korea. He said the dangerous military acts by the U.S. and its forces created a concerning security environment that makes it necessary for Pyongyang to gather real-time, reliable information on military movements in the region. South Korea has warned that North Korea will face consequences if it goes ahead with the satellite launch in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, which ban the North from conducting any launch using ballistic technology. Space-launch vehicles for satellites share core technologies with long-range missiles that are built to deliver warheads aimed at destroying intercontinental targets. Its absurd to use our legitimate joint exercises, and the maintenance of the South Korea-US joint defense posture to respond to advancing North Korean nuclear and missile threats, as an excuse to launch a reconnaissance satellite, South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said during a briefing. We strongly urge North Korea to immediately cancel its launch plans. Last week, South Korea launched its first commercial-grade satellite, which experts say could provide Seoul with key technology and expertise to place its first military spy satellite into orbit later this year and build more powerful missiles. Han Sung Geun, spokesperson of South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a briefing that the South Korean and U.S. militaries were closely watching North Korea over the possible satellite launch and other provocative military moves. He did not provide specific assessments about the potential capabilities of the North Korean satellite and refused to say whether the South Korean military was preparing for the possibility that debris could fall in nearby waters. Spy satellites are among an array of high-tech weapons systems North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has publicly vowed to develop. Other weapons systems on his wish list include solid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear-powered submarines, hypersonic missiles and multi-warhead missiles. North Korea placed Earth-observation satellites in orbit in 2012 and 2016, though their capabilities have been questioned. Foreign experts say the earlier satellites never transmitted imagery back to North Korea, and analysts say the new device displayed in state media in recent weeks appeared too small and crudely designed to process and transfer high-resolution imagery. Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-fired about 100 missiles, including ICBMs designed to reach the U.S. mainland and a slew of launches it described as simulated nuclear attacks on targets in South Korea. North Korea has said its intensified testing activity is meant to counter its rivals joint military exercises as it continues to use those drills as a pretext to advance its arsenal of nuclear-capable weapons. Warning: This story includes discussion of suicidal ideation and details of a suicide attempt. It was a cold March day in Poland, and no one had seen Spc. Austin Valley in hours. Valley, 21, had sent his parents a suicide note. During a frantic search, soldiers followed footprints in the snow into the dark woods, where they heard gurgling noises. It was Valley, a young infantryman, attempting to hang himself. The soldiers swiftly cut him down, and his unit sent him back to Fort Riley, Kansas. Read Next: On the Front Lines with a Ukrainian Artillery Unit Exactly 30 days after the suicide attempt in Poland, Valley died by suicide outside of his girlfriend's apartment 60 miles from Fort Riley -- the Army base where his family assumed he was getting the help he needed and was under proper supervision. The following day, his parents took him off life support. Valley served in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. He was the assigned driver for Command Sgt. Maj. Ryan Dilling, the top enlisted leader for the battalion. The unit's response to Valley's first attempt to kill himself raises questions over whether the Army's suicide prevention efforts provide clear, concise response plans for units. His parents believe he never got the care he needed at Fort Riley. Military.com reviewed numerous text messages between Valley and soldiers in his unit, including noncommissioned officers responsible for his well-being, and interviewed three soldiers in his unit. It also reviewed GPS records tracking Valley's movements in the days leading to his death; his mental health care appointment schedule, provided by his parents; and the 911 call after his suicide. It remains unclear whether Valley ever received inpatient care: His parents say no, but the Army will not say, citing medical record confidentiality. Valley also appears to have had little supervision after his suicide attempt, and his command allowed him off base for hours at a time. Over the course of Easter weekend, he was granted a four-day pass, according to his parents. Valley was tasked with texting a noncommissioned officer once a day to check in. He was also on a so-called "no weapons profile," meaning he was forbidden from handling military firearms. Before his death, Valley loved to spend time outdoors fishing and hunting, and had been a talented trap shooter in high school. He always knew he wanted to be in the Army, according to his family. In the fourth grade, he was given an assignment on what he wanted to be when he grew up. On the top line, he wrote "Army," and used the rest of the space to draw an airplane with the word "Army" on the side and a paratrooper jumping out. "Some days are better than others. I'm just trying to keep busy," his father, Erik Valley, told Military.com. Stephanie Valley, his stepmother, is an intensive care unit nurse and a first lieutenant in the Army Reserve. But she recently submitted a letter resigning her commission. She believes the Army failed her son. "They're backed up in their appointments; they don't have enough manpower. At one point, they sent him away because they were so busy that day," Stephanie Valley told Military.com. "The Army just didn't do its job. [It's] black and white." Erik Valley, Austin's father, holds his hand right before he is taken off of life support. (Photo provided by family) Lt. Col. Jefferson Grimes, a division spokesperson, declined to comment to Military.com on whether Valley was ever provided supervision or inpatient care, citing federal medical privacy law. "Mental health concerns and suicide ideations are taken seriously, and help is provided as quickly as possible either through an on-site mental health professional or in-person appointments," Grimes said in a statement to Military.com. The Army doesn't have a uniform policy on how long to monitor soldiers after a suicide attempt or what that watch should look like, giving commanders broad latitude to respond how they see fit, based on a Military.com review of numerous Army behavioral health and suicide prevention policies. The service has been promising for nearly three years to consolidate existing guidelines and overhaul its suicide prevention policies. A string of delays was first detailed by Army Times. In 2020, the Army gave a statement to CBS News vowing more resources and better prevention efforts. Nearly a year later, the Army issued a servicewide message that revised regulations were coming in the fall of 2021, only for a press release to come out that November shifting the timelines to early 2022. But the new rules and resources never came. However, the current rules are strict on ordering units that soldiers under watch, such as Valley after his attempted suicide, should never be left alone. "He had an attempt. That's a serious, serious matter," said Robert Alvarez, founder of the Uniformed Services Justice and Advocacy Group, which provides legal counsel and other services for troops and vets. Alvarez, who worked as a military mental health counselor at Fort Carson, Colorado, told Military.com it was "a miracle" that Valley survived the first suicide attempt in Poland and that he should have been monitored long term. "He should've been put in patient care for maybe a couple of weeks for observation," he said. Even after his suicide attempt, Valley made frequent trips off base after returning to Fort Riley, often to a storage facility, a Walmart and a park, among other places -- all 30 minutes or more outside of base. Much of that travel was on weekends, according to GPS records. On the day he died by suicide, he drove to his girlfriend's apartment in Topeka, Kansas. Valley's check-ins with a staff sergeant who was seemingly in charge of providing supervision, based on screenshots of the messages, consisted of him texting "up" once per day and the NCO "liking" the update. "Part of this is it's a bureaucratic mess. How to respond can be confusing, and it's for sure not intuitive for a young soldier or junior leader," one command sergeant major told Military.com on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the press. "There's a bunch of websites, pamphlets and sources. "The Army's heart is in the right place, but it needs to simplify response," the sergeant major said. Valley's parents said it appears he did not get any in-patient mental health care at Fort Riley following his suicide attempt in Poland. The Army declined to provide any details on Valley's care and suggested just before publication that Military.com file a request for confidential medical records. Valley did have several outpatient behavioral health visits, but all with different care providers and on a scattered schedule, according to health records provided to Military.com by his parents. He had appointments scheduled for April 5, April 6 and April 11, the day he died. Valley was also interested in getting care outside of the Army -- even willing to pay out of his own pocket -- but he told his parents that his unit discouraged it, saying he wasn't authorized to seek care outside the Army's network. Generally, there is no Army rule prohibiting soldiers from getting outside medical care if they pay out of pocket. He did eventually make an appointment with a civilian clinic, but he died before that visit. "We have to open up the network so soldiers can get care off post. Soldiers are being told they can't go off post," Tara Fields, a former Army mental health clinician, told Military.com. "A lot of these stressors come from the military, so it makes sense to open up resources ... especially when the system can't handle the demand." The Army has a lack of mental health care providers. It's a servicewide issue Army Secretary Christine Wormuth has brought up to Congress on multiple recent occasions. The problem is caused by a confluence of factors, including pay that's not competitive with the civilian sector, or at times even with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Many Army bases are also in rural and somewhat remote locations such as Alaska, and the onboarding process for health professionals sometimes takes months. Grimes said Fort Riley has initiatives aimed at making sure mental health appointments for soldiers are completed as soon as possible. "This includes, but is not limited to, creating developmental positions with appropriate oversight for counselors that are still receiving their clinical hours for independent practice; utilizing non-clinical resources in conjunction with [behavioral health] including Chaplain and Military and Family Life Counselors (MFLC) providers; and, when appropriate, allowing soldiers to receive off-post care with approval," he said. The military has long struggled with suicide in the ranks, a trend that slightly outpaces the general population. As it searches for ways to reduce the deaths, senior leaders in the Army have pointed to tackling quality-of-life issues as key to boosting morale -- identifying and removing poor leaders, granting soldiers more generous parental leave, and improving the quality of barracks, some of which have had mixed results. Veterans and service members experiencing a mental health emergency can call the Veteran Crisis Line, 988 and press 1. Help also is available by text, 838255, and via chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net. -- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon Related: These Troops Bought Guns on Base. Then They Used the Firearms to Take Their Own Lives. Chuck Norris turned 83 years old in 2023 and is (literally) still kicking, working his Navasota, Texas, ranch. At some point, you have to wonder if there's something in the water -- and if you ask him, there is. You might not be able to roundhouse a snot-nosed punk like Chuck, but if you get thirsty trying, you can now refresh yourself with his CForce bottled water. This isn't your ordinary bottled water; it literally bursts forth from a 23,000-year-old Ice Age aquifer hidden deep under his Lone Wolf Ranch. According to the CForce site, the ground underneath Norris' ranch formed a special kind of volcanic rock, which filtered the rainwater of the next few thousand years, purifying it and infusing it with minerals and electrolytes. The water really does shoot from the ground. Norris and his wife Gena discovered the water while looking for alternate irrigation sources to use on the ranch. Instead of finding a well, they found an artesian spring of clean, potable water. The couple reportedly learned the kind of water coming from the ground was rare, so they decided to bottle it at the source (using recycled plastic bottles) and sell it to support their charity, Kickstart Kids. (CForce Natural Artisan Bottled Water) We're not saying that drinking the same water from the same source will give you the power to rescue prisoners of war in Vietnam, fight Bruce Lee in his prime or battle Satan's emissary (all of which Norris has already done), but we also can't prove that it won't. What it definitely will do is help children learn the values, discipline and quality of character through karate that helped Chuck Norris become the intimidating but beloved figure he is today. Norris founded Kickstart Kids in 1990 with the help of then-President George H.W. Bush. Since then, the charity has empowered more than 110,000 at-risk children through karate. Chuck Norris karate. Do we want a generation of American children who can kick through a car windshield? Absolutely. As for yourself, drinking Chuck Norris' water won't help you survive firing a bazooka into a bad guy at point-blank range (the bad guy will die, but it will definitely kill you, too), but at least you'll have the hydration needed to stop an invasion of the USA. -- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on LinkedIn. Keep Up With the Best in Military Entertainment Whether you're looking for news and entertainment, thinking of joining the military or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to the Military.com newsletter to have military news, updates and resources delivered straight to your inbox. 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. Note that while images are loading this option will not be available but will be automatically activated when the animation has loaded. Once active you can spin the image/change the animation by moving your mouse or finger on the image left/right or by pressing the [ or ] keys. The button switches to move mode so that you can use your mouse/fingers to move the image around the screen as with other media types. The button, or the P key will start playing the animation directly, you can interrupt this by using the mouse or finger on the image to regain manual movement control. Controls - 3D Stereoscopic images If a stereoscopic 3D image is opened in the viewer, the 3D button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "3D settings" menu. 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 BENZIE COUNTY, MI A woman died after she was hit by a vehicle while riding a bicycle in Northern Michigan. 9&10 News reports the crash occurred when a 21-year-old Payton Burch of Interlochen was riding her bicycle on Fewins Road near Lake Ann Road in Benzie Countys Inland Township at 1:20 a.m. on May 27. She was hit by a vehicle driven by a 64-year-old Grawn man, the TV station reported. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Deputies say alcohol is not considered a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation. The name of the driver involved in the crash has not been released. READ MORE: Driver dies after speeding off I-94 ramp, crashing into retaining wall Missing 23-year-old woman found dead in Upper Peninsula 70-year-old worker dies after being hit by vehicle in Ingham County When police lights flash, sometimes drivers run. Sometimes people die. Thats what happened to 15-year-old Jordan Jarrell of Jackson when the driver of the vehicle he was a passenger in at 1:40 a.m. on April 28 hit the gas after Jackson County sheriffs deputies tried to stop them. The Jeep flipped. Jarrell and another 15-year-old were launched through the window. My baby never intended for this to happen, Jarrells mother, Shawndra Mundinger, said at her sons April 30 vigil. The next week, Micah Damon Cross II, 19, of Ypsilanti tried to lose police who attempted to stop him over for reckless driving. His vehicle instead struck an innocent motorist, injuring a 42-year-old mother and her two children, 9 and 5. Cross then crashed into a utility pole. His vehicle rolled and caught fire. He died. Adrenaline and accelerators pump when suspects flee, but rarely do they escape. Occasionally, however, they or pursuing officers crash, ending the lives of passengers, police, innocent civilians, and most often, themselves. After the fires are extinguished, cars towed and funerals held, it can be hard to balance the loss of life with the need for a dangerous high-speed chase. Yet, they still happen. A review of fatal police pursuits reported by MLive identified five this year and six in 2022. According to the most University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute Michigan Traffic Crash Facts data, police pursuits played a role in more than 3,223 Michigan crashes between 2017 and 2021. At least 60 people died, an average of 12 per year. Acknowledging the danger, theres a growing trend in policing: let the bad guys go. State police policy tells troopers they will face no consequences for failure to initiate or continue a high-speed pursuit. Other policies reviewed by MLive explicitly ban officers from initiating chases for minor traffic violations or misdemeanors. About 20 years ago, you try to outrun a cop, theyre gonna chase you, said 40-year police veteran and former Detroit Police Chief James Craig. Letting suspects go is controversial and I know a lot of police officers, especially the young ones, resist it. Detroit Police officers check out the damage to a car involved in a police chase on Wednesday, June 24, 2015 in Detroit. A driver accelerated to more than 70 mph on a residential street in Detroit while fleeing officers before striking and killing two young children and injuring three other children and an adult, police said. (Steve Perez/Detroit News via AP) Craig strengthened the Detroit police vehicle pursuit policy in 2017, in part responding to a June 24, 2015 chase during which a suspect with a passenger in a Chevrolet Camaro tore through a neighborhood just before dusk and struck five people, killing Makiah Jackson, 3, and Michaelangelo Jackson, 6. The kids were riding scooters on the sidewalk. Three other children and a woman were injured. Pursuing officers said they believed they saw one of the fleeing suspects holding a gun, although no weapon was ever recovered. Under the revised 2017 policy, that chase would have never been authorized. It said police may only initiate or participate in a vehicle pursuit where there is probable cause to believe the suspect committed a violent felony. Im very pro policing, all the way, Craig said. But part of it is being able to balance, and most agencies now have adopted policies that dont allow for pursuits for traffic infractions and misdemeanors -- most. Craig said one of the controversies that emerged when his department tightened its policy was that it conflicted with existing policy of state police, who also patrolled the city. Their policy was that they could pursue for any reason, he said. Damon Grimes on ATV. Photo courtesy of family and Fieger Law Firm. State police in August 2017 temporarily suspended all police pursuits for misdemeanors and traffic violations in Detroit in response to blowback it faced after ex-Trooper Mark Bessner killed 15-year-old Damon Grimes. Bessner fired his Taser at Grimes, who was fleeing on an ATV, causing Grimes to crash into a pickup and die. The state in 2019 settled a civil lawsuit related to the death for $12 million and Bessner is still serving a 5- to 15-year sentence after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter. The vehicle pursuit policy inconsistency didnt just exist between state police and local law enforcement in Detroit. Related: Dash-cam captures fatal Kentwood police chase State police troopers chased a driver who tried to flee a traffic stop for speeding on March 11, 2017. A Kentwood police officer witnessed the suspect and police vehicle speed past, but he didnt help. We have a no-pursuit policy unless theres a serious felony that, if you allowed them to escape, would be a danger to the community, said then-Kentwood Chief Thomas Hillen said. Michigan state police since released a revised vehicle pursuit policy in 2022. Its a little more liberal than Detroits but also states a civil infraction or traffic violation on its own isnt sufficient to justify a pursuit. Another felony, other than fleeing eluding, must have been committed, or the driver must pose significant immediate risk to the officer or others. Related: 9 videos highlight the dangers of high-speed police chases Its difficult to gauge how similar or different police pursuit policies actually are, since most arent published and are exempt from public records request laws. Hamtramck Police Chief Anne Moise would only say, we do have a pursuit policy that is in accordance with all applicable laws. Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer told MLive his agencys eight-page policy is confidential but pursuit practices have changed dramatically over the last couple years. We terminate, even when its a felony, when it reaches the city limits like most of these do, said Dwyer, who started his career as an officer with the Detroit Police Department in 1962. Take property crimes. You used to pursue on all auto thefts. We terminate on auto thefts now. Dwyer said the modern approach to police chases is much different than it was a decade ago. It was not uncommon to pursue vehicles at a high rate of speed until they lost control and crashed -- or you just lost them in traffic or something, he said. Today, a determination is made, sometimes in a matter of seconds, to terminate, by either the officers themselves or watch commanders. Obviously, its cutting down on crashes is cutting down on lawsuits, cutting down on injuries, the list goes on ... Whats more important, a life or getting somebody who stole a car? Related: Deadly state police pursuits more likely in Black communities, lawsuit claims Saline police, who were involved in the May 5 fatal pursuit of a 19-year-old, continue to investigate whether department policy was followed. The department policy states a pursuit is justified when theres: a potential threat to life or infliction of great bodily harm, a potential escape of a perpetrator who poses a significant threat to the lives and safety of others and in crimes in progress requiring the immediate presence of a police officer. Pursuits or emergency runs related to subjects involved in serious offenses are viewed as more justifiable than those involving persons suspected of only traffic or other misdemeanor violations, the policy says. Following an internal investigation, the Jackson County Sheriffs Office determined deputies followed policy related to the pursuit that led to the death of a 15-year-old and injuries to four other teens on April 28. An internal investigation was conducted by the Sheriffs Office to determine if deputies were in compliance with departmental policy, which is standard procedure, Jackson County Sheriff Gary Schuette said. The investigation determined that the deputies followed procedure in this instance. The sheriffs office declined to share its vehicle pursuit policy. The policy itself is for internal purposes only, Jackson County Sheriffs Capt. Kevin Hiller said. Policies themselves have become stricter in nature, and thats just because of the inherent dangers that come along with pursuits in todays world, he said. Theres so many factors that a deputy has to take into account when deciding whether or not to pursue. Theres always a danger of a loss of life if a pursuit ... goes wrong. Hiller said the Jackson County chase policy takes into account weather conditions, time of day, nature of the offense and traffic, among other factors. Unlike some policies across the state, Jackson County doesnt prohibit pursuits for any specific reasons, such as minor traffic offenses. Other department policies that are available online, including for Grand Rapids and Muskegon police, require a fleeing driver to have committed a violent felony or be posing an immediate violent threat. Still, many fatal pursuits begin with an attempted stop for something minor, seemingly contradicting the intent of many police policies. Of 22 fatal police chases since 2014 analyzed by MLive, only three involved drivers suspected of violent felonies, including two attempted murders and an endangered person, who it turned out was already dead in the suspects trunk. In two pursuits, police attempted to stop suspected stolen vehicles, one driver had been involved in a hit-and-run crash prior to the chase and the remaining 16 pursuits began with traffic violation, usually speeding, running a stop light, stop sign or reckless driving. Tim Dees, a law enforcement columnist, trainer and former 15-year Reno, Nevada police officer, has traveled the nation speaking with officers about pursuit policies. He said old approaches are sometimes hard to break. Cops generally want to pursue, he said. Theres no getting around the fact that its really cool, and its fun and its exhilarating. Cops want to catch the bad guys. Thats what drives them, their reason for being and they dont like having this authority or this tool taken away from them. When departments enact a no-pursuit policy, Dees said it seems to inevitably leak to the public and embolden criminals. And at that point the cops, rightfully or otherwise, believe the bad guys are laughing at them, Dees said More on MLive: My baby never intended for this to happen Man killed during police chase identified as 19-year-old from Ypsilanti 9 videos highlight dangers of high-speed pursuits Deadly state police pursuits more likely in Black communities, lawsuit claims Trooper charged with manslaughter after pursuit of teen on ATV A 35-year-old woman accused of spray painting a swastika and the phrase Azov on a Royal Oak synagogue last month allegedly told police she hoped people would blame the racist on a Ukrainian militia, according to the Associated Press. Earlier this month, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald charged Randi Nord, of Clinton Township with ethnic intimidation and malicious destruction of of a building after she allegedly vandalised the Woodward Avenue Shul synagogue. Members of the synagogue discovered the vandalism on April 28 and Nord was arrested on May 1. During a court hearing earlier this month, Royal Oak Detective Dan Pelletier testified that Nord allegedly told him she committed the hate crimes in hopes that people would blame it on a Ukrainian militia known as Azov Regiment. Officials in Russia have portrayed Azov as having neo-Nazi beliefs. Nord also hoped it would sow seeds of anger toward the U.S. government for its role in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Pelletier went on to testify that Nord had previously lived in Serbia for two years and only returned to Michigan in March. Pelletier said family members reported being threatened by Nord and that she was homeless. Nord has also been charged in connection with an arson at a Scientology center in Farmington Hills that took place on March 15. The judge in that case has ordered a competency evaluation. It is unclear when Nord will be back in court. READ MORE: Northern Michigan campground evacuated as officials battle 80-acre forest fire Bicyclist dies after being hit by vehicle in Northern Michigan Michigan woman hospitalized after self-driving Tesla crashes into tree A woman has been arrested after a Wisconsin man was killed in a Memorial Day shooting near the Michigan border. The Marinette County Sheriffs Office is investigating the shooting, which occurred at a home in Amberg around 8:09 p.m. on Monday. William H. Freed of Amberg was found dead at the scene. Amberg is located less than 30 miles from Michigans Upper Peninsula. Deputies did not say if the woman was related to the man or if she is a suspect in the shooting. The investigation is ongoing. There is no threat to the public, deputies said. The Niagara Police Department assisted at the scene. READ MORE: Bicyclist dies after being hit by vehicle in Northern Michigan Driver dies after speeding off I-94 ramp, crashing into retaining wall Missing 23-year-old woman found dead in Upper Peninsula ANN ARBOR, MI - Amid two other labor disputes, the University of Michigan reached a deal with the skilled trade workers union on May 26. The union includes about 500 university employees spread between the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses. It consists of electricians, plumbers, carpenters and other skilled trades. ANN ARBOR, MI -- A court hearing for an Ann Arbor stabbing was adjourned for the second time on Tuesday after the victim allegedly arrived at court under the influence. Tyler Oliveria, 46, appeared before the 15th District Court on Tuesday, May 30, for a preliminary examination before Judge Erane Washington. Oliveria has been charged with one count of assault with intent to murder in connection with a stabbing that took place around 9 a.m. on Monday, April 17, inside a home on the 2300 block of Pauline Boulevard. During the incident, a 42-year-old Ann Arbor man was stabbed in his left shoulder. He was treated at the University of Michigan Hospital for injuries not believed to be life threatening and then released. Read more: Man charged in Ann Arbor stabbing The hearing was adjourned after the prosecution discovered their witness also the stabbing victim arrived unable to take the stand. Its possible hes under the influence, said Nimish Ganatra, assistant Washtenaw County prosecuting attorney. I had the officer in charge talk with him in the hallway and that conclusion is confirmed that it would not be appropriate to put him on the stand this morning. Lorne Brown, the deputy chief public defender, pushed back on the request for an adjournment, asking instead for the case to be dismissed. The preliminary examination was set to reveal the victim was an avid drug user and Oliveria stabbed him in self-defense, he added. The first preliminary hearing, which took place on Tuesday, May 16, had been adjourned when Oliveria refused to appear before the court. The consequences of his actions were he kept himself in jail, Brown said. The consequences of the client-witness actions is that he will keep my client in jail. There should be some sanction for appearing before court high. It was unclear what substance the witness was allegedly under the influence of. Washington granted the adjournment, pointing out that the witness had appeared before court sober at the previous hearing, when Oliveria did not appear before court. Oliveria will next appear before court on Tuesday, June 13. Read more from The Ann Arbor News: Burning cardboard started fire that destroyed 2 Ann Arbor buildings $4 million food stamp fraud ring leads to 3 arrests in Michigan Nu2U Again in Saline expands its operations while staying true to its mission ANN ARBOR, MI -- At least one person was injured and seven displaced after a Memorial Day fire destroyed two buildings in Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor fire crews were called to the 800 block of North Maple Road shortly before 6 p.m. on Monday, May 29, for a three-alarm structure fire. When crews arrived, they found a well-involved duplex with fire spreading to four vehicles and an adjacent duplex. All four vehicles were destroyed in the fire, which had been spreading toward a nearby church, but was stopped by fire crews. One person was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, fire officials said. Three cats were also taken to an emergency veterinarian. An additional cat and one reptile unaccounted for as of Monday evening. The fire was caused by a duplex resident burning cardboard in a fire pit located between the building and a detached garage. It is against city regulations to burn trash or anything other than natural wood, according to fire crews. Campfires must be at least 25 feet from any structure. Both duplexes were a total loss, fire crews said. Damages totaled roughly $1.1 million between buildings and contents. Seven people were displaced. Fire investigators were there until roughly 2 a.m., officials said. The Ann Arbor Fire Department was assisted by fire crews from Scio Township, city of Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor Township, Pittsfield Township, Dexter Area, Chelsea Area, Northfield Township, Saline Area and Superior Township, as well as the Ann Arbor Police Department, Huron Valley Ambulance and HART. Read more from The Ann Arbor News: Nu2U Again in Saline expands its operations while staying true to its mission Bicyclist dies after being hit by vehicle in Northern Michigan New summer rail-bike adventure trips near Traverse City off to busy start BURTON, MI Burton held its annual Memorial Day parade and celebration, honoring veterans on Monday, May 29. The parade began at 1 p.m. on South Center Road between East Atherton Road and East Bristol Road, ending at Burton City Hall, where a Memorial Day service and celebration was held. Community members lined the streets to watch, sitting in folding chairs and on blankets. Some held umbrellas to block the sun while others sat under canopies. Parade participants waved and threw candy to spectators as they walked by. Flint resident Tracy Krumm said he has been attending the citys parade for about 15 years. Today is based on what our veterans have done for us, what they continue to do, Krumm said. If it werent for our veterans, we wouldnt be able to come here and have this fun. ... You see all different types of people. Everybody gets along good. Its celebration, everybodys celebrating. Burton Mayor Duane Haskins said having the community come out to the parade to honor Memorial Day is heartfelt. Were here today for one reason, and thats for all the people that served in our armed forces, they gave the ultimate sacrifice, Haskins said. They gave their lives so we can actually enjoy today and have our freedoms today. Haskins walked in the parade himself, greeting spectators along the route. The parade is a lot of work, theres a lot of people that put a lot of work into it, Haskins said. And to still have one of the largest parades in Genesee County is another accomplishment that were very proud of. The Burton Veterans Memorial is located near City Hall and Haskins said it is a staple of the town. We really care for our veterans, and we care for all those who gave their lives, Haskins said. Just to pay tribute to that and families whether its sons, daughters, moms, dads just to really say thank you. We really appreciate the ultimate sacrifice. So, its very special. The celebration following the parade included a memorial service, car show, food trucks and activities for children and families, including inflatables. Read more at The Flint Journal: Linden honors veterans in annual Memorial Day parade Federal grant set to support mental health services in Genesee County Michigan motorcyclist seriously injured after crashing into the back of police cruiser Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter. GRAND RAPIDS, MI A festival featuring music, a maker exhibition and an innovation expo with gaming and esports competitions is returning to Grand Rapids this fall. Confluence Festival will take place Sept. 22-23 at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids. Previously, the event was held at Calder Plaza. Brian Cohen, the festivals executive director, said 2023 is a big year for Confluence. It marks our third realization of the event and, as always, we have an extraordinary array of programs and events scheduled for the weekend, he said in a statement. Highlights include the return of our esports tournament, free outdoor concerts, robot parades, as well as yet-to-be-revealed special programs and surprises. Our new location sets the stage for an exciting future full of new opportunities and remarkable potential. In addition to showcases on music, innovation and makers, the festival is set to feature a robotics event with middle and high school robotics teams as well as an area for children focused on science, technology, engineering, art and math. Our move to the heart of the city reflects the incredible response weve received from the community, Cohen said. Producing a festival in an iconic location like Rosa Parks Circle is a big responsibility and one we take very seriously. Well deliver an elevated event thats worthy of Grand Rapids. Event partners include Atomic Object, Consumers Energy, Ferris State University, Grand Rapids Magazine, Grand Valley State University, New Belgium Brewing, Spartan Innovations, Technology Council of West Michigan, Titos Vodka, and Warner Norcross + Judd. More details about the music lineup and additional programming will be announced in the coming weeks on the festivals website and social media, according to a news release. 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: Philanthropist David Frey honored as visionary leader by Grand Action 2.0 $10M in grant contracts from Kent County to benefit youth development programming Muskegon community says farewell to 102-year-old elementary school closing this summer High schoolers invited to apply to Kentwood Police Departments youth academy for hands-on training KENT COUNTY, MI A motorcyclist was critically injured Monday, May 29, after crashing into a brick retaining wall, Wyoming police said. The motorcyclist, a 50-year-old Wyoming man, was found unconscious after the 7:45 p.m. crash at Buchanan Avenue SW near 39th Street. The motorcyclist was taken to an area hospital after suffering serious injuries. Initial investigation showed he lost control of his motorcycle and struck the retaining wall. The victims name has not been released. Wyoming police continue to investigate, police said. Read more: Michigans deep-fried solution to beating Mexico in the asparagus market See photos from the Greater Muskegon Memorial Day parade 2023 KENT COUNTY, MI A Walker police officer is on leave pending the outcome of an investigation into a shooting over Memorial Day weekend. The police officer, who was off duty, was involved in a shooting around 3:10 p.m. Saturday, May 27, in the city of Chicago, Walker police said. We have been in contact with the Chicago Police Department who continues to investigate the incident, Chief Keith Mankel said in a news release. The police officer and another person were injured in the incident and taken to an area hospital for treatment. Police said their injuries were not life-threatening. Walker police did not provided additional information about the circumstances surrounding the shooting. However, Chicago police said the 23-year-old off-duty police officer shot himself in the hand and seriously wounded a 25-year-old man when a gun he was handling went off in a room at Hotel Chicago in River North, the Chicago Sun Times reported Saturday. The 25-year-old man was shot in the abdomen and two firearms were recovered at the scene. Chicago police are investigating the shooting as an accidental discharge and the officer is no longer in custody. The officer has been with the Walker Police Department for about a year, the news release 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. Read more on MLive: Driver flees after crashing car into house 4 vacant Grand Rapids properties could be redeveloped into affordable family homes Fire guts Century Foundry plant in Muskegon Heights KALAMAZOO, MI -- The city of Kalamazoo is looking for input on how to reimagine and improve Milham Park, a site with an interesting past and an area where the city has recently invested money. The city of Kalamazoo is asking for citizen ideas for ways to improve Milham Park at an open house from 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday, June 1 at Milham Park, 607 E. Kilgore Road. As we create a master plan, we want to know what youd like to see in any future improvements, a city news release states. Our team will be at Milham Park to talk about ideas an what the future could hold at one of the citys most beloved and historic parks. The first meeting was held last week. Thursdays meeting will be open house-style, and people are invited to come whenever its convenient. In 1910, the city of Kalamazoo purchased a 60-acre parcel of land from John Milhams estate for $5,000. It was developed and opened as a public park in 1911, per the Kalamazoo Public Library. In 1926, a zoo opened at the park, housing peacocks, foxes, owls, swans, monkeys, raccoons, rabbits, black bears, and more. Reptiles were added in 1935, and the zoo remained for several decades until it closed in the late 1970s, the library article says. More recently, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources removed the dam from Portage Creek in 2021, returning the flow to a more natural state and improving trout habitat. In February, a new playground costing over $500,000 opened at Milham Park. The city of Kalamazoo is in charge of managing and making improvements at parks within its borders, and citizen input in the past has helped city officials decide on things like splash pads and other features at park locations. The city of Kalamazoo is also focusing on one of its goals of adding more parks. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter. Also on MLive: RV camper dumps raw sewage in Kalamazoo park, city cleans it up Whites Road to close for work, will reopen with fewer lanes See renderings of how downtown Kalamazoos streets will be reconfigured Want to be Kalamazoo mayor? Process begins to run for city office in 2023 Lincoln is coming back to Kalamazoo in statue form on 167th anniversary of visit See the 23 food vendors, 13 acts coming to Lunchtime Live! Fridays in Kalamazoo New quadruple rainbow spotted in paint at Kalamazoo intersection BENTON HARBOR, MI The death of a man in police custody was caused by an accidental overdose, an investigation found. Douglas Lee Davis Jr., 48, was arrested for a drug charge on Friday, March 10, and he died hours later at a hospital, Michigan State Police said previously. He died from an accidental overdose of methamphetamine when he swallowed a plastic baggie a meth, MSP said in a May 30 news release. Related: Man who died in police custody had plastic baggie in his stomach No criminal charges will be issues against law enforcement officers because there were no criminal actions, the Berrien County Prosecutors Office said. The ruling follows a forensic pathology report, an autopsy, toxicology results, review of video footage and interviews, the MSP release said. Davis started vomiting and appeared ill while in a holding cell in the Berrien County Jail. He was taken to a hospital where he went into cardiac arrest and died. He was arrested for a federal parole violation warrant and delivery of methamphetamine. The Southwest Enforcement Team arrested Davis after they arranged an undercover buy for methamphetamine. The amount of meth Davis tried to sell to the undercover detective was smaller than the agreed upon amount, police said. Davis attempted to run before police caught and arrested him, and he did not tell police where the rest of the meth was. Police thoroughly searched Davis, but did not find any on him. Related: Southwest Michigan man dies after drug arrest, police investigating cause A home security camera shows Davis running away from police, while moving his hand from his pocket to his mouth, the MSP release said. Officers asked Davis if he swallowed drugs, which he denied. He showed no distress before he was taken to the jail, where he did have a medical issue, the release said. Police again asked him if he swallowed drugs, to which he said yes. David was immediately taken to a hospital by ambulance, the release said. A small piece of a plastic baggie was found in Davis stomach during the autopsy, the release said. No excessive force was used, according to body-worn and dashboard cameras, the release 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: Same old lakeside bar, Red Dock opens for 2023 with new owners Kalamazoo County student named 1 of Michigans 2 Presidential Scholars for 2023 WMU brings Jurassic era to life with Dinosaur Park expansion plans CASS COUNTY, MI A vehicle crashed into a house early Tuesday, May 30, near Dowagiac. The driver, a 29-year-old Indiana man, suffered minor injuries. No one in the house was hurt. The crash happened around 1 a.m. on Old M-62 near Hunt Drive in Cass Countys Silvercreek Township, sheriffs deputies said. Investigation showed that the vehicle was going west on Old M-62 when it left the road, went through a yard and crashed into the house. The driver was evaluated at the scene for minor injuries but refused further treatment. He had used his seat belt. The crash is under investigation. Read more: Shot fired during road-rage confrontation, Walker police say WMU brings Jurassic era to life with Dinosaur Park expansion plans Driver flees after crashing car into house SAGINAW TOWNSHIP, MI Add the Saginaw Township-based Strawberry Festival to the list of annual traditions set to return after a pandemic-driven hiatus. Once a 50-year tradition aimed at raising funds for the elderly, the summertime event was a no-go in 2020, 21 and 22 as organizers followed health guidelines to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The Strawberry Festival will return from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, at Community Village, 3200 Hospital. The outdoor event will feature tents and picnic tables on the facilitys property. As is tradition, the event will feature live musical performances, carnival games, food trucks, a silent auction, and all things strawberry including the popular shortcake served with vanilla ice cream. The scheduled music lineup includes performers Marty Viers and Count N Change. The neighbors and the community really love it, said Robin Rappley, administrator at Community Village. Everybody is always excited to come to it, so were happy to bring it back. While admission is free, attendees hungry for the strawberry shortcake must pay a $7 donation, she said. Rappley said the proceeds will benefit residents of Community Village, a living facility that houses senior citizens with limited means. Staff typically purchases clothing, household needs as well as holiday and birthday gifts for the residents there. Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw. Read more on MLive: Attendance at new, 334-acre Saginaw park off to fast start, officials say Michigans longest-serving flight nurse to retire after 34-year sky-bound career Fishing festival returning to Saginaw Townships Haithco Lake FRANKENLUST TWP, MI A former chairman of the Bay County Republican Party has died during a motorcycle ride for charity. About 2:50 p.m. on Saturday, May 27, Michigan State Police troopers responded to the fatal crash on Westside Saginaw Road near Delta Road in Bay Countys Frankenlust Township. SAGINAW, MI In April, a Saginaw man was allegedly on his way to set his childs mothers house ablaze with a bag full of Molotov cocktails. Before the man or the woman he was with could light the makeshift fuses, police who were happening by stopped and arrested the pair, resulting in them facing criminal charges at the state level. A month later, the male defendant has had his case upgraded to the federal level. Leslie D. Burton, 41, had his initial appearance in federal court on May 26, during which U.S. District Magistrate Judge Curtis Ivy Jr. informed him he was charged with possessing a weapon not registered with the National Firearms Act. The charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. According to an affidavit penned by an ATF special agent, Michigan State Police troopers were on patrol in Saginaw the morning of April 12 when they saw Burton and Carrie R. Peterson, 35, walking on Gallagher Street near Elmwood Avenue. Burton was carrying a large, white plastic bag, which the troopers saw him toss into a yard as they drove past. The troopers turned around and stopped Burton and Peterson for littering, the affidavit states. Both Burton and Peterson were clad in all-black clothing, which was also turned inside out. Troopers recovered the plastic bag, finding inside it five Molotov cocktails made from plastic Faygo and Aquafina bottles. The bottles contained a yellowish liquid, the odor of which indicated it was gasoline. Each bottle also had a hole in its cap with a rag hanging from it. On searching Burton, they found a lighter on him but no smokable products such as cigarettes, the affidavit states. The house of Carrie Peterson at 3236 Lowell St. in Saginaw, which burned April 8, 2023. Read his Miranda rights, Burton told troopers Petersons house at 3236 Lowell St. had burned down a few days prior. That fire, he said, was caused by his childs mother throwing Molotov cocktails into Petersons house. The spot where troopers stopped Burton and Peterson is about 50 yards from Burtons childs mothers home, the affidavit states. The MSP Bomb Squad responded to the scene to process the potentially explosive devices. Saginaw Fire Marshall Derron Suchodolski confirmed a fire at Petersons Lowell Street residence occurred the morning of April 8. The structure was left a total loss, though there were no injuries. Though he described the fire as suspicious, Suchodolski said its origin remains under investigation as of May 30. Burton and Peterson on April 14 were arraigned in Saginaw County District Court on charges of possessing or manufacturing an incendiary or explosive device with malicious intent. The charge is a 15-year felony. The arraigning judge set each defendants bond at $35,000 cash-surety or 10%. As such, the defendants needed only post $3,500 or go through a bonding agency and pay them a fee of 25% of that 10%, meaning their minimum bonds were $875. Burton was freed from jail on April 17, though 11 days later, Buena Vista Township police arrested him again on three firearm charges and a count of domestic violence. He has since been arraigned on those charges as well. Peterson was released from jail on April 28. A preliminary examination for Burton and Peterson was scheduled to take place May 26. Instead, the prosecution indicated they would be dismissing Burtons charges due to his related federal case, while Peterson waived her right to the hearing and was bound over to Circuit Court for further proceedings. Peterson is not charged federally. Burton remains in custody without bond, a detention hearing scheduled for 3 p.m. on May 30. Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw. Read more: Saginaw residents arrested with Molotov cocktails had planned to burn down home, prosecutors say Saginaw teen charged after allegedly shooting at police, robbing 2 stores, stealing 6 vehicles Teen arrested after shooting at Saginaw police, numerous armed robberies Complaints detail overcrowding, ailing cats at Amazing Grace Animal Rescue in Saginaw County SAGINAW, MI In the summer of 2021, Andre L. Lindsey Jr. went to tell his father and namesake he was going to be a grandfather. Rather than a mood of celebration, what followed was Lindsey Jr. opening fire on his father, killing him. With Lindsey Jr. learning hes to spend at least the next half-century behind bars for patricide, the mystery remains as to what prompted him shoot his father seven times. Even so, with the son showing no remorse at his sentencing, one of his aunts professed her forgiveness. Lindsey Jr., 28, on Tuesday, May 30, appeared before Saginaw County Chief Circuit Judge Darnell Jackson for sentencing. After a few hours deliberation, a jury in March found Lindsey Jr. guilty of second-degree murder, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, and three counts of felony firearm. Jackson asked Lindsey Jr. if he had anything to say for himself before he imposed sentence. No, sir, Lindsey said, the only time he spoke during the hearing. The judge then allowed Gwendolyn Lindsey, aunt of the convict and sister of his victim, to speak. This tragedy really hurt me and my family in the worst way, she said. I cant explain the stress, emotion, and how Im feeling right now. Andre Lindsey Jr. hurt his father. This is something you have to make peace with, Andre Lindsey Jr. She said her brother, Andre L. Lindsey Sr., took care of his son and gave him all he could. She described him as a protector, father, brother, uncle, friend, and so much more. I forgive you, though, Lil Andre, she said. I know in my heart thats what my brother wanted me to do. I forgive you. Jackson described the killing of Andre Lindsey Sr. as a tragic and sad event and offered his sympathy to his family. The judge then sentenced Lindsey to 50 to 75 years in prison, along with two concurrent terms of 6.3 to 15 years. Jackson also sentenced Lindsey to three two-year stints, which are concurrent to one another but consecutive to the other three, longer terms. Jackson gave Lindsey applied no jail credit to the six terms, as he was on parole when he killed his father. This means at least 52 years will have to pass before Lindsey Jr. is eligible for parole. During the trial, defense attorney Rico D. Neal and Saginaw County Assistant Prosecutor Shellbe A. Sanborn agreed that Lindsey Jr. went to his uncles house in the 400 block of South 10th Street around dusk on July 1, 2021, where his father Andre Lindsey Sr., 49, also went. In her closing argument, Sanborn cited testimony from several of Lindsey Sr.s siblings in stating the father and son got into an argument on a porch. They walked off the porch toward a grassy area, with Lindsey Jr. going into the street and opening fire on his dad with a handgun. He then took off running down the street, pursued in a vehicle by one of his aunts. The aunt caught up to her nephew several blocks away, at which point she no longer saw him with a gun. I said, Boy, youre going to prison for the rest of your life. You done killed your daddy, boy, the woman testified. The aunt testified she heard Lindsey Jr. telling someone to come get him. Moments later, a speeding vehicle pulled up and carted Lindsey Jr. away. Lindsey Sr. was conscious when police and paramedics arrived at the scene. Police testified he and other witnesses were uncooperative. He didnt want his son to get in trouble, Sanborn said. He told witnesses at the scene, Dont tell them it was my son. Tell them it was a drive-by. He wanted to protect his son despite his betrayal. Lindsey Sr. survived in a hospital for days, unable to speak but able to write. When investigators visited him, he wrote he didnt know who shot him. Lindsey Sr. died on July 15, 2021. Police arrested Lindsey Jr. on July 7, 2021. Interviewed by police the same day, Lindsey Jr. said he and his father were smoking on the porch when his dad was suddenly shot. He denied being the shooter. I still cant believe my dad got shot, he told police. I wanna know who did it. I would never do nothing like this to my dad. Never. My dads my best friend, man. Defense attorney Neal maintained there was no proof his client perpetrated the shooting. He said Lindsey Jr. went to his uncles house to tell his father that he would soon be a grandfather. Who was there on the porch? Just him and his father, Neal said. Other family members were at various locations inside the house, inside the house across the street. What happened on the porch between him and his father? What happened? No witnesses testified as to what the argument was over. Neal theorized maybe Lindsey Sr. had a weapon of his own, adding that witnesses testified he ran off the porch and charged at his son, closely followed by his own brother. While police recovered eight spent shell casings and one live round at the scene, all .45-caliber Winchester rounds fired from the same gun, they did not find the gun itself. They also did not identify four potential witnesses at the scene. Of the witnesses who spoke to police at the scene, none said Lindsey Jr. was the shooter, though one of his aunts gave a physical description of the assailant. In March 2016, Lindsey Jr. was sentenced to six to 12 years in prison on convictions of assault with intent to commit great bodily harm, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, and felony firearms. He received credit for about 11 months already served. The Michigan Department of Corrections paroled Lindsey Jr. on April 14 of 2021. On the day of his fathers shooting, Lindsey Jr. was considered a parole absconder by the MDOC. In addition to his son, Lindsey Sr. was survived by two daughters, a stepson, a significant other, and numerous siblings, cousins, nephews, nieces and extended family members. His hobbies included bingo, enjoying family time with his entire family, hanging at the car wash with his boys, and watching sports, his obituary states. Andre loved to cook, and he was a beast on the grill. He will be missed by family and friends who loved him dearly. Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw. Read more: Saginaw man guilty of killing father he was named after in July 2021 shooting Jury deliberating if Saginaw man killed father when he went to tell him he would be a grandfather My dads my best friend, Saginaw man accused of killing father told police Saginaw man charged with murder in dads shooting death Saginaw man dies 2 weeks after allegedly being shot by son named after him Saginaw parolee charged with shooting his father SAGINAW, MI Saginaw School Board Trustee and Treasurer Ruth Ann Knapp has been honored with the University of Idaho Alumni Associations Silver and Gold Award. According to Knapp, the Silver and Gold Award was created in 1982 and recognizes living alumni with a distinguished record of achievement and service in their specialized area of endeavor. In what marked a rare school board meeting absence, she said she was joined at the May 12 ceremony by her family and a former college roommate. Being seen as a way to bring honor and recognition to the university, recipients in the past have been awarded based on record of achievement and service including career accomplishments, service to their career organizations, voluntary efforts in charitable causes, efforts which have improved the cultural, social, political or economic well-being of society, prior recognition and honors and artistic, innovative or technical accomplishments. One look at Knapps community-involvement resume showed that she was more than qualified for the recognition. I truly appreciate the honor, Knapp said. It is a way to show a good example of what a U.I. Vandal should be- involved in the community, involved in helping people. Knapp was born in Michigan but was relocated to a farm close to Melba, Idaho, where she grew up. She earned two bachelors degrees in music education and education from the University of Idaho in 1966. She said after launching her teaching career in Beaverton, Oregon and spending a summer at the National Music Camp in Interlochen, MI, she made a permanent move that subsequently triggered a career in Saginaw Public School District that lasted over 40 years. Knapp works closely with the district as a school board trustee, treasurer and previously president. In her time with the district, Knapp served as K-12 music coordinator, fine arts coordinator and was involved in the Saginaw Education Association- twice serving the Michigan Music Education Association as president as well as the founder of its Archives and Government Relations Program. Since her formal retirement from teaching in 2010, Knapp said she continues to volunteer with the NAACP and served as 2nd Vice President and education chair in addition to her work with the Afro Academic Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics. In 2022, Knapp joined the Saginaw Intermediate School District board and was also appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the State Fire Safety Board, representing the Michigan Association of School Boards. Upon receiving the Silver and Gold Award, Knapp confessed she hadnt heard much about the honor before, instead choosing to focus on serving the community she lived in. Its kind of interesting, I didnt know there was such an award at first, said Knapp. Theyve been doing this since 1980 and I believe Im going to be a representative of the oldest class theyve given it to so far, chronologically. Other recognitions Knapp has been honored with include being named Administrator of the Year for work with the Michigan Youth Arts Festival, Music Teacher of the Year and Award of Merit, Most Valued Member and Saginaw Hero award of the NAACP of Saginaw, as well as Michigan State Music Teacher of the Year. Knapp said she does still keep in contact with the university and particularly the Lionel Hampton School of Music, to which she said she had recently donated a Besson euphonium. Other instruments she said she has donated include a collection of rain sticks and a 100-year-old ukulele which her family had passed down. For more information on the University of Idaho Alumni Association Awards and biographies of past recipients, including Ruth Ann Knapp, visit: uidaho.edu/alumni/awards. Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news pages or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw. More from MLive: Saginaw Countys top educational honors: 2023 valedictorians, salutatorians Michigan beekeepers to visit Fremont as bees return home after pollinating almond crops in California Longtime Bay City elementary teacher, Kristin Brashaw, says education through play is key Nexteer to host Generation Next: Embedded Coding Scholarship Competition Saginaw Promise Foundation names 66 student awardees, increase in scholarship funds Online version of Hot Times activity guide launched in Saginaw ANN ARBOR, MI Dexter High School celebrated their 2023 prom last Friday at the Michigan Unions Rogel Ballroom. The Starry Night themed prom featured dancing, caricature artists, a photo booth, charcuterie and sweets. LANSING, MI Three Michiganders are under arrest in connection with a $4 million interstate food stamp fraud ring, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Tuesday. Travis Newby, 39, of Detroit; Derriun Williams, 23, of Detroit; and Vanessa Williams, 47, of Highland Park were arrested and arraigned last week in what the AG says is the first major case for her offices new Organized Retail Crime Unit. We are partnering with businesses and law enforcement in every corner of this state, said Nessel, who expects more defendants as the investigation continues. And well hold people who commit these crimes accountable to the fullest extent of the law. The trio face felony charges for being part of this ring, which allegedly involved illegally obtaining electronic benefit (EBT) card data from 8,000 people residing in California, Washington, Michigan and other states. In Michigan, people were allegedly using the cards to make fraudulent purchases from Sams Club stores in Metro Detroit. A local police agency led the AGs office to the ring late last year, said assistant AG Eric Sterbis. Because Newby, Derriun Williams and Vanessa Williams are being charged under Michigans Continuing Criminal Enterprise law, they could each face 20 years in prison. We are talking about not hundreds of dollars or thousands of dollars, Nessel said, but were talking about millions of dollars in losses at a time. Eight search warrants executed last Wednesday resulted in substantial material seizures related to the alleged crimes and their suspects, Nessels office said. The ring is believed to have 10 or more people. Retail fraud costs retailers in Michigan more than $1 billion annually, Nessel said, and retailers nationwide approximately $45 billion. The AGs retail crime unit was established in January to target criminal organizations that steal from retailers and repackage products to sell for a profit. This first-in-the-nation team, Nessel said, includes two full-time assistant attorneys general. Her team currently has eight to 12 ongoing investigations, she said. We anticipate that through these prosecutions and criminal asset forfeiture, Nessel said, that this unit will be self-funding within only a few years of operation. Read more from MLive: These 8 road projects begin this week across Michigan Michigans deep-fried solution to beating Mexico in asparagus market Free up-north summer lecture series focused on climate, environment See where billon-dollar electric vehicle projects are landing in Michigan As a child, Nina Wimberley would call her mother from school almost daily complaining she wasnt feeling well. Whether she was picked up from school or not, she would often feel better as the day went on. Looking back, she blames the diesel school buses that took her to school and sat outside the building in the morning. Ive always had really bad asthma and really bad allergies, Wimberley told listeners during a roundtable discussion on the benefits of deploying electric school buses throughout Michigan. Id tell my teacher, Oh I have a really bad headache, oh, you know I cant really participate, and shell have to call my mother and then by the time my mom comes, Im feeling much better because Im not in that area where youre dropped off with all that air pollution. Wimberley was among a dozen participants who joined the electric school bus roundtable hosted by The Electrification Coalition and the World Resource Institutes Electric School Bus Initiative this month. As a project coordinator for the Southeast Detroit Environmental Vision, she uses her background in environmental science to help educate on the health impacts of emissions and possible solutions to reducing greenhouse gases. Environmental advocates call the move from diesel to electric school buses a critical climate action. Typical school buses are heavy-duty vehicles that emit large amounts of harmful diesel exhaust, which disproportionately contribute to poor air quality and accelerate the climate-warming greenhouse effect. Meanwhile, electric school buses create zero tailpipe emissions and less than half the overall greenhouse gas emissions. More than two dozen Michigan school districts have already used funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to fund their transition to electric school buses. Nationally, more than $1.4 billion in public funding has been awarded, with another $400 million available under the 2023 EPA Clean School Bus Program. Advocates say the move to electric can be costly up-front but has numerous long-term benefits. Here are some of those benefits, as explained during the May school bus roundtable. Climate Cory Connolly, climate and energy advisor for Michigans Office of Climate and Energy, said further adopting electric school buses will help to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Of the 480,000 school buses nationwide, about 1% were electric last year. By converting all of buses to electric, advocates sat theres potential to reduce greenhouse gases by 8 million tons per year. In Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has set a goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, and to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030. Replacing diesel buses with electric vehicles is part of that plan, with a goal of having 100% of new bus purchases be electric by 2030. Health Pollution from diesel fumes has been linked to asthma and other health conditions. Diesel exhaust pollution presents real health and development dangers to our young people, to students, drivers, teachers, and the communities that those buses are in, said U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn. We know that diesel air pollution is linked to asthma and other conditions that harm young peoples health. Advocates who were highlighting the health benefits of electric school buses noted a 2022 study that found concentrations of air pollutants on diesel buses were as much as 5-10 times higher than average levels. They also referenced a 2011 study in Washington, which found schools that replaced their diesel buses saw reductions in doctor visits for asthma and pneumonia. Education It would make sense that students benefit from missing fewer days due to being sick. One study found recipients of funding for clean school buses saw higher school attendance equivalent to six additional students per day. There has also been evidence of a link between clean school buses and higher test scores. A 2019 study evaluating Georgia schools that moved toward electric buses found improvements in both academic scores and aerobic capacity. Equity Low-income populations, minorities, and children living in inner cities experience more emergency department visits, hospitalizations and deaths due to asthma than the general public, according to the CDC. Its likely not a coincidence, advocates noted, that low-income students are more likely to take the bus to school (70%) than non-low-income students (45%). Those disparities are in-part why state and federal leaders have said theyre prioritizing communities that have been underserved and/or overburdened by pollution. About 99% of selected districts for the latest series of grants are those serving low-income, rural or Tribal students. Economy Electric school buses have higher up-front costs than diesel buses. Dean Transportation previously estimated that most electric school buses are in the $400,000 range, compared to around $100,000 for their diesel counterparts. But advocates say the electric buses can be the cheaper option over the life of the vehicle due to factors including lower fuel and maintenance costs, and possible revenue streams to counter expenses. The up-front cost of school buses will continue to decline, as will cost for charging infrastructure, and we know that school buses have the opportunity to reduce fueling and maintenance costs significantly over the lifetime, Connolly said. Some of those costs can be offset by the current federal grant and rebate opportunities, as well as potential vehicle-to-grid revenue. That means the buses, when not in use, could be used for energy storage and emergency power and schools could be compensated for those services. Electric buses in Michigan Michigans first electric school buses hit the road in 2019, with 17 buses purchased through a pilot program and dispersed between Zeeland, Ann Arbor, Gaylord, Kalamazoo, Oxford, Roseville and Three Rivers public schools. In 2022, the EPA awarded $54 million in rebates to cover around 138 EV buses across 25 school districts across the state. Michigan received the second-most rebates, representing almost 6% of the $965 million in national funding. Michigan school districts selected to receive EV bus rebates include: Pontiac City School District Jackson Public Schools Dearborn City School District Ypsilanti Community Schools Homer Community Schools Ubly Community Schools Beecher Community School District Britton Deerfield Schools Chesaning Union Schools Pellston Public Schools Harbor Beach Community Schools Cassopolis Public Schools Hopkins Public Schools Bessemer Area School District LAnse Area Schools Alcona Community Schools Mayville Community School District Pentwater Public School District Sand Creek Community Schools Ojibwe Charter School Armada Area Schools Au Gres-Sims School District Unionville-Sebewaling Area School District However, there was more interest. Only about 30% of applications were selected for the program. The application period for the next wave of clean school bus grants is open until the end of the day Aug. 22. Selected districts will be notified between November 2023 and January 2024, with awards likely to go out shortly thereafter. Questions about the program can be emailed to cleanschoolbus@epa.gov, with a subject line of Clean School Bus NOGO Question. Read more on MLive: See where billon-dollar electric vehicle projects are landing in Michigan Michigans deep-fried solution to beating Mexico in asparagus market Free up-north summer lecture series focused on climate, environment Michigan pays bills for violent crime victims. But only a sliver see funding. 30.05.2023 LISTEN Face of Bono Fie is a beauty pageant program that educates Ghanaians and the global community about the various cultural values and heritage in the Bono regions of Ghana. The pageant is one of the major events in the timeline of the upcoming festival and homecoming dubbed Meko Bono. On Saturday 13th May to 15th May a number of outstanding ladies took part in the official audition. Appreciation to City Aroma, Sunyani for hosting the auditions. The ladies partook and completed the final phase of the audition process. As part of the grooming, the ladies were taken through; Catwalk training, Communications, Cultural Training and among the numerous activities also included workout sessions, hair and makeup class. These ladies are ready for the final test to determine who makes it to the competition. Among the numerous ladies who showed their interest in the pageant, these are the 13 qualified contestants who made it to the next stage with their codes and respective towns: Abenaa- Abesim (FB1) Nana Yaa -Techiman (FB2) Sika -Abesim (FB3) Awurama -Sunyani (FB4) Adwoa Foriwaa - Kotokrom(FB5) Nana Adwoa -Sunyani ( FB6) Owusuaa -Dormaa (FB7 ) Afia Konamah -Sunyani (FB8) Duodu - BEREKUM (FB9) Adwubi (Techiman) - FB10 Afia - Dormaa (FB11) Nana - Techiman -FB12 AKOSUA - Odumasi (FB13) The contestant will be opened to a lot of opportunities throughout the journey as they will get massive exposure, build the best network in the three Bono regions: Bono, Bono East and Ahafo. There will be training and retraining, fan trips and new skills acquisition, among others. However, some of the specified packages for contestant and winners are; A. CONTESTANTS All contestants will receive certificates of participation and souvenirs from sponsors Winners of various tasks take home trophies or citations. B. OVERALL WINNER Crown and sash Cash Prize (to support Projects) Official Bono Tourism Ambassador Other Ambassadorial Deal Mentorship Modelling Contract Wardrobe sponsorship for 1 month Souvenirs From Sponsors Electronic Appliances C.RUNNER UPS (1st and 2nd) Sash and crown Cash Prize Mentorship Special Souvenirs from sponsors Electronic Appliances Also here are the various phases for results (100%) accumulation and choosing of winners. Public Votes - 40 % This is general voting by the public to show their support as well as verify their favorite contestant through a Shortcode (USSD). Main Judges (Grand finale) - 30% This session can be described as the results the main judges will accumulate during all performances at Grand finale. Tasks - 20 % This is percentage will be accumulated by rate derived from Special task by contestants Organizing committee - 10% This will be based on activeness in participation in other activities, behavior, among other. This team is led by the Chaperone. Finally, we know the general public will love to have a fair knowledge of our timelines and event schedules: 30.05.2023 LISTEN The Women's wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper East Region, has condemned the alleged use of clay by some Northern girls as sanitary pads. A viral video purported to be an interview with one Ms Etonam Sey, the Founder of Inspire Today Foundation on some television networks in Ghana, including Ghana Television (GTV), alleged some Northern girls used clay as sanitary pads. The NDC in a statement said We are stating unequivocally that it's a lie, and not even in the ancient days did girls of northern Ghana ever use clay as substitute for sanitary pads. If we may ask, in what form is this clay, and how will that clay absorb their flow? How will that clay be placed in underwear? How thick or thin is that clay? Specifically, which part of northern Ghana, region and community? A statement signed by Madam Fawzia Abagnabama Yakubu, the Regional Women's Organizer of the NDC and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga, requested to know girls who used the clay, as it posed Serious health concerns. As much as the girls of the school you visited appreciate your kind gestures and efforts to aid and improve their menstrual hygiene, we would not take such wicked falsehood in the name of advocacy to help others, the statement said. The statement indicated that Such wicked falsehood is an affront to the dignity of Northern girls, hence, we demand proof of such claims or an unqualified apology via the same platforms and means within seven days, as she used in peddling such falsehood. Madam Yakubu in the statement also indicated that Anything short of the aforementioned demands, we shall advise ourselves accordingly. The statement noted that as the world prepared to observe World Menstrual Day, We will want to use this opportunity to call on government to either reconsider the current tax rate on sanitary pads or use the tax exemption law to exempt taxes on sanitary pads to make them affordable. The Government should also consider adding monthly quota sanitary pads to our Free Senior High School girls, to help them peacefully go through the natural cycle without hindrance to class attendance, the statement said. They also appealed to producers and importers of sanitary pads to produce affordable but quality sanitary pads, to specifically target students and pupils to enable them to have easy access to affordable pads. GNA 30.05.2023 LISTEN The Dagomba Chief of the Tamale Technical University and Executive Director of Dagbon Advocacy Network, Naa Nurudeen Ibrahim has joined calls for government to remove nuisance taxes on sanitary pad and other mentrual products. According to him, the high cost of the product in the market is as a result of the high taxes placed on the products. Naa Nurudeen breakdown the taxes on the products such as processing fee, Import Vat, Special Import levy, Inspection fee, Covid-19 health recovery levy, ECOWAS Levy, EXIM levy, Newwork Getfund, Import duty on sanitary pad, Network charges Vat, African Union import levy and several others. He bemoans that sanitary pad has become a scarce product in deprived communities and among girls from poor homes due to the high cost. Addressing Journalists at the DASA Palace as part of the Mensural Hygiene Day Celebration, he revealed that some girls use rags, towels whilst others absent themselves from classes during the mensuration period. Feeding and other basic needs is already a problem to these girls and access to sanitary pad of late has added more headache to these young women, some of them beg or borrow pads from friends during mensuration, this practice is common in boarding schools. When these taxes are removed by government a pack of the product is likely to be Gh5, am taking this opportunity on behalf of students in Ghana to appeal to government to adhere to the numerous calls, she stated. He called on the State Executive, organizations and the media to collectively pressure government to revoke a number of the taxes. Naa Nurudeen used the opportunity to appeal for sanitary pads for onward distribution to school girls at the Tamale Technical Institute (TTI) and other underprivileged women in some communities. 29.05.2023 LISTEN Dr. Clement Apaak, the deputy ranking Member of the Parliament's Education Committee is demanding the source of funding for the "One Student, One Laptop" initiative. Speaking during the 60th Anniversary of Hohoe Evangelical Presbyterian Church yesterday, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia reiterated the initiative by touting governments' achievement in the education sector. Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, on May 27, announced a plan to supply laptops to senior high school students, effectively replacing traditional textbooks. In reaction, the Builsa South Member of Parliament stated, This has not come to the notice of the Committee so we are wondering where the resource will mobilize the resources from because we are talking about in excess of 1.3 million students in the secondary schools. So each student is going to have a laptop. I am sure you can anticipate the quantum of resources." We are not even talking about the maintenance, the durability and the quality. So the issue is where will the funds come from, that is the big one, the Builsa South lawmaker asked on Starr News. He continued: Our second question also is with the one teacher one laptop policy not all the teachers have received their laptops. Although that has been paid for because the money we are being told is drawn from GETFund. So if you have not been able to conclude the laptop per teacher what is the guarantee that you are going to be able to do for 1.3 million students? Where is the money coming from we need to know. As part of the Menstrual Hygiene Day celebration, Brave Foundation has announced its significant contribution towards menstrual equity through the Brave Sanitary Pad Fund initiative to ensure that over 500 girls in some of Ghana's most deprived regions have access to sanitary pads for a whole year. According to the team, the Brave Sanitary Pad Fund - School Adoption Program is a unique program that helps identify girls and young women between 13-24 years in dire need alongside menstrual hygiene and sexual reproductive health education. Our 505 beneficiaries, chosen via a thorough needs assessment, will be provided with a total of 60,600 disposable sanitary pad units across the span of one year. Marking the day, Brave celebrated with beneficiaries from the Apedwa SDA Primary School, in collaboration with Medley Choir Ghana as part of the School Adoption Program, which forms part of their support for the 505 girls across selected regions. The beneficiaries include 100 girls each from North-Eastern Christian Academy, Yendi, Northern region, and Our Lady of Apostles College of Education, Cape-Coast, Central region; 150 girls across three Cluster of schools in Ahafo region; 100 girls from Kyabobo Girls SHS, Nkwanta, Oti region; and 55 girls from Apedwa SDA Primary School, Eastern region. The key partner and supporter for the majority of the free provision of disposable sanitary pads is Planera UK, producers of Fluus flushable sanitary pads. Fluus' flushable pads are unique because they are not only user-friendly but also environmentally friendly, setting a new standard for menstrual hygiene products globally. The remaining sanitary pad units will be supplemented through an innovative business model of retailing for revenue-generation for impact. The initiative also has Transmed Ghana Ltd, the exclusive distributor for Always Sanitary Pads in Ghana as partners, who will provide Always pads at a discounted wholesale price to support the revenue generation for the Support Fund. The initiative is calling on the public to support this cause by making direct donations or purchasing sanitary pads for personal use and/or sanitary pad care kits to be donated directly to girls within the School Adoption Program. Donations can be made to Project Brave Foundation, First National Bank Acc. No.: 62001179060, Branch: Tema Community 11. For purchasing, please follow us @BravePadFund on all our social media platforms for updates. Chief of Adanwomase, Nana Kojo Ntiamoa Panin has constructed 3-unit classroom block for the students and staff of the Adawomase R/C primary school with ancillary facilities. Nana Kojo Ntiamoa Panin on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 handed it over to people of the community. Speaking at a durbar to officially hand over the classroom block to the school and community, Nana Kojo Ntiamoa Panin said, the construction of the project is an exhibition of his commitment and priority towards quality education in his town. He also used that opportunity to urge the traditional leaders, teachers and parents to guide and strengthen the moral values of the school children as that is one of the surest ways to enable them become competent future leaders whiles government continue to give priority to education and pupil in the country. Nana Kojo Ntiamoa panin said the chiefs and traditional leaders also have a responsibility to provide a comfortable teaching and learning environment for the students, therefore the need for the construction of classroom blocks. Chief Executive of the Kwabre East Municipal Assembly, Hon. Opoku Agyeman Bonsu in his speech lauded the Adanwomase chief for his kind gesture and passion to improve quality education in the community. According to him, even though the Nana Addo-led NPP government is doing its maximum best to provide the needed logistics to enhance quality education in the country, chiefs, opinion leaders and stakeholders in education must support the agenda. He however expressed his appreciation to the Adanwomase chief Nana Kojo Ntiamoa Panin for their dedication and contribution to education in his community. Hon. Opoku Agyeman Bonsu called on the various communities in the Municipality to emulate same and also extend a hand of friendship to teachers posted to them, so as to curb the issue of teachers refusing postings to some parts of the country. He then again encouraged parents and guardians to enrol their children of school-going age in schools and also strive to get the best education for their children. The Hon. MCE continued to advise Adawomase citizens to give more support to their Chief in his vision for quality education and other developmental projects. Head teacher of the Adanwomase R/C School Madam Mercy Ewudzie behalf of the teachers, staff and students thanked Nana Kojo Ntiamoa Panin and his elders for their continuous assistance to the school over the years. She assured them of proper handling of the classroom block to make learning attractive to children in the community. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the just-ended Kumawu by-election, Kwasi Amankwaa, has appealed to residents of Ashanti Region to align with the NDC since the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has denied them their share of the national cake. He believes the NPP rather pretend to show concern for the region only when elections are about to be held and neglect them when the polls are over. His concerns come after ongoing road projects in the Kumawu constituency were halted, barely 24 hours after a by-election was held to elect a new MP for the area. Ahead of the polls, roads in the area were seen being shaped over night raising concerns that the government was using that as a vote-buying tool to get the electorates to vote for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate. Speaking to Kwame Minkah on Dwaboase on TV XYZ on Monday, Mr. Amankwaa confirmed the road project has been halted and urged the government to get the contractors back to work. According to him, the NPP led by its national executives embarked on serious vote-buying ahead of the by-election and continued with the sharing of rice and clothes among other items. Mr Amankwaa contended that the monies could have been used for skills training for the youth or venture into projects aimed at reducing poverty in the area. They have stopped the road projects at Bodomase and other areas. They [the NPP] keeps disappointing the people. This is the time our people in the region should avoid the NPP and join the NDC, he said in Akan. NDC is a party that has vision and cares about the welfare of my people [the Ashantis], he added. The government did not do anything for the people of Kumawu until our MP (Philip Basoah) died and they realised they had to woo the people with goodies to win a by-election. Delayed Projects Kwasi Amankwaa said the Akufo-Addo government promised the people of the Ashanti Region major projects like roads which must be fulfilled. Currently, pressure is mounting on the government to start some interchange projects in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi, especially at Suame. The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), has appealed to the government to expedite the processes for work to commence on the Suame Interchange Project which has been delayed for about three years. Despite President Akufo-Addos ceremonial groundbreaking in October 2022, work on the project is yet to commence. It is for this reason that Chairman Wontumi has pleaded with the President to ensure that work on the Suame interchange begins on time so the party can win in the region in the 2024 elections. We are only begging the President to ensure that work begins on the Suame interchange. We know he cannot fulfil all his promises but at least he must at least start work on this project so that people vote for him in 2024, he said. -myradioxyz.com The Ghana Netherlands Business and Culture Council (GNBCC), and the European Chamber of Commerce have affirmed Ghana's position as the leading destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and trade with the highest competitiveness score in West Africa. These organisations, however, noted that Senegal and Ivory Coast were fast gaining ground and Ghana had to redouble her efforts to remain competitive. Mr Tjalling Wiarda, General Manager of the Ghana Netherlands Business and Culture Council, and Mr Nicholas Gebara, Executive Director of the European Chamber of Commerce were speaking during an expert panel webinar to mark European Union Day held at the Institute of International Affairs, Ghana (GhIIA.org). The webinar was organized as part of the celebrations to mark European Day and in recognition of the long period of trade relations between Europe and Ghana. It was also an attempt to tap into the knowledge of the European Chambers of Commerce on how Ghana was competing in attracting European businesses and investments compared to its peers in sub-Saharan Africa. They said despite major challenges, Ghana remained an oasis of peace and security in the West Africa sub-region and thus continued to be a preferred destination. They agreed that the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the siting of the AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra presented a bullish opportunity for growth in the economy. Mr Gebara said, What any European company is looking for is ease of access to large markets in Africa. So, if I can trade with Ghana, and through that gain access to the 300 million ECOWAS market as well, it will be attractive. He said the modification and the implementation of the Companies Act along with the introduction of the Insolvency Law and the Bankruptcy Law was an indication of efforts to streamline the regulatory framework essential for any business entity registered and operating in Ghana. He, however, noted that consultations could be deepened to ensure that the business community is carried out. Mr Gebara said even though other countries seem to have lax regimes and were thus inching up in the volume of trade, it was becoming evident that their lack of standards on issues like human rights, quality standards, and climate issues was in the long-term leading to unsustainable growth. Mr Wiarda, however, said Ghana had to do more to become more attractive with the AfCFTA framework, otherwise, companies would move their bases to other African countries as entry points. The General Manager said for instance more had to be done to bring to life the free zones concept as the current feedback from prospective companies indicated that the costs of setting up were a bit higher compared to other markets. He further noted that Senegal and Ivory Coast were making great strides in attracting businesses, and indeed the port of Abidjan was becoming preferred for trade to the Sahelian region. He stressed that the cost of doing business in Ghana was very high and this was on the basis that a foreigner required USD 200,000 as capital before setting up a business in Ghana as compared to Nigeria which was USD 50,000. Mr Wirada said Kotoka was now the most expensive airport for airlines to land in Africa, and the fifth most expensive in the world, therefore, more was needed to be done if Ghana wished to put in place an airbridge for produce, as Kenya had achieved for Naivasha to Europe. He said Ghana could take very useful lessons from countries like Vietnam, Rwanda, Suriname, and Morocco on the needed reforms to boost competitiveness. GNA The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has promoted four officers for bravery and selflessness during a rescue mission to save three other colleagues who were attacked by unknown assailants in Bawku on 3rd April this year. The three officers whose car came under fire from unknown gunmen on their way to buy food were thirty-year-old Assistant Inspector Eric Ayidiya, stationed at the Polimakom border post, and Forty-two-year-old Inspector Lawrence Afari, stationed at Kulungugu post, both of whom got injured and received treatment at the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital. A third officer, forty-two-year-old Inspector Philip Motey, died from injuries sustained during the attack. He was laid to rest last Saturday. The officers who rescued their colleagues: Chief Superintendent (C/Supt.) Michael Brewu Ampofoh was promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Immigration. Assistant Inspector Harris Quartey was promoted to the rank of Inspector; Immigration Control Officer (ICO) Wisdom Elorm Addo was promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector, whilst Assistant Immigration Control Officer Grade II Emmanuel Forson was promoted to the rank of Assistant Immigration Control Officer Grade I. All four officers also received citations, certificates and plaques, recognising their work. The Controller-General of Immigration, Kwame Asuah Takyi, in an address, said on the evening of April 3, 2023 at about 19:51 hours, Chief Superintendent Michal Brewu Ampofoh, received a distress call from one Assistant Inspector Eric Afari who informed the Bawku Command of the attack by the unknown gunmen who fired several shots at their vehicle, killing Inspector Phillip Motey and injuring two others. Mr Takyi commended Chief Superintendent Ampofo and the three others for their swift response despite the perilous situation. Quickly, Chief Supt. Ampofoh and team of other three officers rushed to the scene while keeping touch with Assistant Inspector Laurence Afari through his phone, receiving directions and reassuring them that help was coming until the team got there while it shocked me as well as many others how the immigration response team got there faster in spite of the danger on their way, he said. He encouraged other officers to follow the example of the four by not turning their backs on fellow colleagues when their assistance was needed especially, in volatile areas of duty such as Bawku. All security personnel should hold and teach that we must not turn our backs on our colleagues in any way or form when our help is most needed. I say this because we all know about the situation in the Bawku area and the danger that the conflict poses to security officials and residents as a whole, he said. On her part, Mrs. Adelaide Anno-Kumi, the Chief Director at the Ministry of Interior, in an address, on behalf of the Minister, Ambrose Dery, commended the immigration service for recognising the heroic move by the four officers as stipulated in regulation 171D (2016) L.I. 2245 of the Ghana Immigration Service. Madam Anno-Kumi hinted that Government via the Ministry of Interior recognised threats faced by immigration service officers who worked around the clock to ensure that the country's borders were safe and protected against all forms of cross border crimes. She added that government would continue to retool the service to execute its mandate as expected. The newly promoted Michael Brewu Ampofoh at a media interview said though he was pleased with the recognition for his hard work, he saw this award and promotion as an extra duty which required more efforts and commitment. day in day out when we are promoted from one rank to the other it is an additional responsibility which is a paradigm shift in your behaviour, your operations, your attitudes towards work, how you respond to such calls, he said. GNA Senegalese youths clashed with security forces in Dakar on Monday near the home of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who faces a rape trial and was returned to the capital by police at the weekend. Sonko, who came third in presidential polls in 2019 and has announced he will run again, is seen by observers as a thorn in the side of President Macky Sall and has repeatedly criticised the authorities. Groups of youths attacked security forces who were deployed in large numbers in the area around Keur Gorgui, where Sonko lives, AFP journalists said. They also burned tires on one of the capital's main arterial roads nearby, and set up makeshift roadblocks in adjacent streets. Security forces responded by firing tear gas, and later blocked roads leading to Sonko's home. Sonko, a keen user of social media, has not posted on his Twitter accounts since police in southern Senegal forcibly returned him to Dakar on Sunday. His silence has given rise to a flood of speculation over whether he will be placed under house arrest. No government official has commented on his situation. "The restrictions on freedom of movement imposed on Ousmane Sonko without notice are illegal and must end," rights group Amnesty said in a statement on social media. A supporter of Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who has a significant youth following, runs from teargas during a protest in Dakar over Sonko's arrest ahead of the final verdict in his rape trial. By JOHN WESSELS (AFP) Sonko, who has declared his intention to run in presidential polls in 2024, faces being ruled ineligible if convicted in his rape trial, which he has attacked as politically motivated. Tensions have been rising ahead of the verdict which is due on Thursday. Sonko's supporters have frequently rallied to his defence, leading to incidents and unrest since the case began in 2021. That year, his arrest contributed to several days of riots that left at least a dozen people dead. Menstrual challenges are a common issue in Ghana, particularly. The lack of menstrual products, menstrual change rooms, and proper disposable systems are major challenges many girls in Ghana face in their quest to manage their period. According to a report by UNICEF, only 36.7% of girls and women in Ghana have access to clean menstrual hygiene products, 19.4% use unhygienic materials such as rags, leaves, or old cloths, and 44.8% of schools in Ghana have separate toilets for girls and boys, which makes it very difficult for them to manage their period while in school. 70% of girls in Ghana miss five days of school every month, according to a report by WaterAid. It is against this background that Advancing and Harnessing Opportunities for Youth (AHOY) Africa and The Orange Girl Foundation have donated sanitary materials to students at the Bremang-Jukwa Catholic School in the Central Region of Ghana as part of their effort to end period poverty and promote good menstrual hygiene among girls. The project which took place on May 26, 2023, at the community center brought together some parents, the chief of the community, the PTA chairman, teachers and the Ghana Education Service girls coordinator. The team donated menstrual cups and cloth pads to the girls in the community who are missing school due to period poverty. According to the group, access to menstrual hygiene products has become a big challenge in the community, affecting girls education which calls for the need to tackle the issue amicably. Speaking with Nanayaa Amoako Baffoe, the team leader, she said "girls in the community resort to various means, including sleeping with visitors who come into the communities for funerals and other purposes for as little as 20 cedis to enable them to afford basic things such as sanitary pads. Some of the parents take the girls to nearby hospitals for family planning methods to protect them from their mini-hookup services. This is disheartening and quite disturbing because their education and health are at risk." She added that their intervention has produced great results indicating that, when they last visited the community in 2021, the school had recorded five teenage pregnancy cases, but after their intervention, there has not been any recorded case since 2022. "We decided to go back to the community to measure our progress, and it has been refreshing. I am excited about the new development, and I am hopeful it will remain the same till the next time we return," she noted. She stressed that theres a need to respond to menstrual health issues, particularly the sex for pad canker, which has become a hindrance to girls education. Mr Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has revealed that he is aware of some nefarious activities against him and his supporters. In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Monday, May 29, shortly after the new Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu was inaugurated, Mr. Obi noted that plots by his opponents will backfire. "I am aware of some evil designs being hatched against me and my supporters in the coming months." He further reveal that part of the plan was to confuse his party's supporters in order to reduce their numbers. Mr. Obi also voiced concerns about efforts to defame his character. "Campaigns of calumny are being perfected to defame my character and diminish my hard-earned integrity, he lamented. Despite the negative plans, Mr. Obi remained steadfast in his commitment to a better Nigeria. "No evil campaign will alter the substance of my character; nor diminish my patriotic commitment to a better Nigeria, he said. Meanwhile, the newly inaugurated President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has promised to work with his political opponents. Tinubu stated, "I promise to respect and adore my political opponents and pull them along in decisions that will benefit the nation." 2023 Presidential candidate for the Nigerian Labour Party, Peter Obi, has urged the judiciary to be impartial in the election petition before it. He has alleged that there was electoral malpractice including rigging in the election which he believes would have favoured him. The case is currently before the court, and on Sunday, May 28, a day before the swearing-in of Bola Tinubu as President of Nigeria, Mr. Obi called on the judiciary to remain independent and resist any attempts to be controlled by the government of the day. In a series of tweets, the former Anambra State Governor emphasized the need for the judiciary to maintain its integrity and independence in handling the election cases presented before it. We expect that the Nigerian judiciary will use the election cases now before it to reaffirm its independence and integrity. It has to do so, for all our sakes and for itself," he stated. Mr Obi called on all Nigerians to remain peaceful and law-abiding, irrespective of their reservations about the current state of the polity. He emphasized that disagreements should be handled with civility. No matter the depth of anyone's reservations about what is going on in the polity today, no matter the real and imagined provocations, and no matter the disagreement out there, he noted. Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic is meeting one ambassador after another to address increased concerns of escalating violence in Kosovo, after Nato peacekeepers were injured while defending town halls in northern Kosovo against angry Serbian protesters. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell late Monday condemned the clashes in which about 25 Nato peacekeeping soldiers were injured, calling the violence against Nato peacekeepers "absolutely unacceptable" and urging dialogue. On Monday, several Italian and Hungarian soldiers were the subject of unprovoked attacks and sustained trauma wounds with fractures and burns due to the explosion of incendiary devices," said Kfor, the Nato-led peacekeeping mission to Kosovo, in a statement. Serbia n President Aleksandar Vucic said that 52 Serbs were injured, three of them seriously, and put the army on the highest level of combat alert. Vucic will meet Tuesday with the ambassadors of the United States, France, Italy, Germany and Britain known as the Quint group as well as the head of the EU in Pristina, and will also have separate meetings with the ambassadors of Finland, Russia and China. Ongoing tensions The clashes come amid increased tension after ethnic Albanian mayors took office in northern Kosovo's Serb majority area on Friday, following elections in April that the Serbs boycotted. While ethnic Albanians make up more than 90 percent of the population of Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008, Serbs make up a majority in the north of Kosovo. They have never accepted Kosovo's independence, and have demanded the implementation of an EU-brokered 2013 deal for the creation of an association of autonomous municipalities in their area. Serbs demand that the Kosovo government remove ethnic Albanian mayors from town halls and allow local administrations financed by Belgrade resume their work. On Friday, three out of the four ethnic Albanian mayors had to be escorted to their offices by police, who were pelted with rocks and responded with tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters.Nato soldiers Serbs targeting Nato On Monday in the town of Zvecan, Serb protesters clashed with police and threw tear gas and stun grenades at Nato soldiers. Some spray painted Nato vehicles with the letter Z, referring to a Russian sign used in war in Ukraine. In Leposavic, close to the border with Serbia , US peacekeeping troops in riot gear placed barbed wire around the town hall to protect it from hundreds of angry Serbs. NATO peacekeepers also blocked off the town hall in Zubin Potok to protect it from angry Serbs. No incidents were reported on Monday in North Mitrovica, the fourth town where the mayor is contested. (with newswires) The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ashanti Region has expressed disappointment at the New Patriotic Partys Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiakos (Chairman Wontumi) plea to the government to fast-track processes for the commencement of work on the Suame Interchange. The NDC contends that the plea by Chairman Wontumi indicates that NPP has nothing to offer the people of the Ashanti Region in terms of infrastructure. The NPP executive said the Suame Interchange project remains a major concern for the residents of the Ashanti Region, hence government should prioritize its construction and completion. But responding to Chairman Wontumis plea, the NDCs Ashanti Regional Chairman, Augustus Kwesi Andrews says the government has failed the residents of Ashanti Region. I am very disappointed at what Chairman Wontumi is doing. We all know that the Ashanti Region is the stronghold of the NPP and now the chairman of the NPP is begging his own government to speed up projects in Ashanti Region. This shows that the NPP is taking the people for granted. They went to Kumawu begging, and we all know the results that came out from Kumawu. Gradually, they are losing the Ashanti Region to the NDC. Chairman Wontumi in his plea emphasized that the project is of great importance to the people of the Ashanti Region and should be prioritized by the Akufo-Addo-led government. President Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the project in October 2022, but work is yet to commence on the site. The project upon completion will consist of a four-tier interchange at the current Suame Roundabout, with overpasses at the Abrepo, Krofrom, Anomangye, Magazine New Road and Abusuakruwa junctions. It will be the first four-tier interchange in the Ashanti Region and the second in the country, after the Pokuase Interchange in the Greater Accra Region. Citi Newsroom Residents of Teshie have massed up in the area to protest the deplorable roads. Residents of Teshie, a vibrant community located in Accra have been grappling with severe deterioration of their town roads. The state of these roads has triggered concerns among commuters who lament the negative impact it has on their daily lives. All we are asking for is for the road to be fixed. I visited the workshop to fix my car twice just this week. You can imagine what we are going through as residents. We have been neglected for long. The potholes are even more than galamsey sites, a road user lamented in a Citi News interview. When Citi News Kennedy Twumasi visited various communities in Teshie, it became apparent that roads in the area were in deplorable states presenting numerous challenges to motorists and pedestrians. The residents have thus hit the streets today, May 30, 2023, to demand a fair share of the national cake. Meanwhile, the Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly has announced the immediate commencement of rehabilitation works on several inner roads in Teshie. The Assembly says inner roads in Tsuibleoo, LEKMA to Adjorman roundabout, Fertilizer Road, and King Kortey Road will be rehabilitated immediately. The Assembly also disclosed its commitment to address the poor conditions of the inner roads in Greda Estates, Teshie Laskala, and the entire Coffee Street at Teshie after the initial rehabilitation projects are completed. As I speak, a contractor is on-site to immediately begin work on the following roads: Tsuibleoo Road, from LEKMA to Adjorman roundabout, Fertilizer Road, King Kortey Road, which is the third road, from Mamfe Junction to Yoomo Specs, which is 1.2 kilometres long, and the Numo Mashie Road, from Mobile to Tsuibleoo Last Stop. These projects will begin immediately. However, these are not the only roads that we will be working on. Others include the entire Coffee Street and others, the MCE, Mordecai Quarshie, told the media on Monday. Citi Newsroom The Ghana National Association of Authors and Publishers (GNAAP) says it will set up a committee to scrutinize all books written by its members going forward. This, according to the group, is to prevent instances where members publish textbooks that vilify others and have the tendency to erupt confusion. Last week, social media went agog when the content of a history book for basic schools published by Excellence publication and Stationary Limited highlighted the disadvantages of Christianity. The deputy minister of Education, John Ntim Fordjour, condemned the publication and described it as obnoxious and misconceived, in a tweet. Addressing the media in Kumasi, the Ghana National Association of Authors and Publishers apologized on behalf of their member for such an error. We admit that the content and the style of expression was a little above the learners for whom the message was intended. We accept in good faith the criticism of all stakeholders and render unqualified apology to the Ministry of Education, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment , Students, Christian Council of Ghana , and everyone who finds the statement obnoxious, President of GNAAP, John Akwasi Amponsah pleaded. Whilst pleading with the public, GNAAP plans to institute a committee to scrutinize textbooks in the country. In order to ensure the quality development of books for the advancement of education following what has happened, we resolve henceforth to introduce and internal assessment committee to ensure adherence to standards, curriculum and best international practice. 3news.com 30.05.2023 LISTEN Khaleej Times article Modern Floors Expands Presence as Basil David Anthony Takes Dubai by Storm published on 29th May 2023 by the middle east biggest news platform features Modern Floors CEO Basil David Anthony. MODERN FLOORS is a UK trademarked flooring brand which wholesales & retails the Best Quality Affordable Artificial Carpet Grass , AstroTurf , Vinyl(PVC/SPC) Tiles(LVT) , Carpet Tiles , Adhesives and other indoor and outdoor flooring products used for both Residential & Commercial spaces. With over 5 years experience in the flooring industry, an Amazon approved brand distribution and physical & online distribution across more than 10 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia & North America, MODERN FLOORS products are top rated worldwide. The company was founded in 2017 by Basil David Anthony a Ghanaian-British seasoned entrepreneur & philanthropist in his home at Batsonaa, Spintex Road, Ghana and from March 2021 to April 2022 within a 13 month period opened 4 showrooms for the flooring brand across the capital city of Accra, Ghana MODERN FLOORS in December 2022 launched its first Location outside the shores of Ghana in Middle East, Asia. The new location is strategically situated within the busiest building construction material and home decor hub in the United Arab Emirates luxurious commercial city of Dubai. For more information about Modern Floors and its upcoming ventures, please visit its official website: www.modernfloorsghana.com Originating at www.khaleejtimes.com North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 30.05.2023 LISTEN Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has argued that it is outrageous for the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral to demand $100 million when it has nothing to show after spending $55 million already. The managers of the Cathedral Project have indicated that they are in need of $100 million to import steel to continue with the project. Describing the latest development as outrageous, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has called on the Board of Trustees to explain to Ghanaians how it managed to spend $55 million only to create the worlds most expensive pit in Accra. Instead of the outrageous demand for US$100million to import steel, the Board of Trustees should be explaining to Ghanaians why only a measly 37.9% of taxpayer funds went into actual construction much against industry best practice; they should be rendering full account of how all the categories of funds raised locally and internationally have been used; and how they still managed to create the worlds most expensive pit, the North Tongu MP said in a post on Facebook. According to Okudzeto Ablakwa, transparency, and truth continue to elude managers of the National Cathedral Project. In his post on social media, the lawmaker disclosed that out of the US$58.14million of public funds unconstitutionally withdrawn without parliamentary approval for Akufo-Addos cathedral project, only a fraction of US$22.07million went to the contractors, RIBADE JV for actual construction. Read more below: Ghanaians are not angry enough. It is absolutely incredible that with the avalanche of scandals which cannot even fit into the worlds most expensive pit as infamously created in central Accra by the controversial cathedralists they now have the sheer audacity to be demanding US$100million to import steel. In any case, per their own sordid track record, there is no guarantee that if they are ever given US$100million, all that money will be used for its advertised purpose. Ghanaians will be shocked to discover this morning that out of the US$58.14million of public funds unconstitutionally withdrawn without parliamentary approval for Akufo-Addos cathedral project, only a fraction of US$22.07million went to the contractors, RIBADE JV for actual construction. According to documents submitted to Parliament when we demanded a detailed breakdown of how the US$58.14million (GHS339,003,064.86) was spent, the contractors provided comprehensive analysis of how they utilized the US$22.07million received between January 2021 and February 2022 when they had to suspend work for lack of funds even though far more money had been released from government coffers, albeit on the blindside of Parliament. (See copies attached). This really means that out of the US$58.14million of taxpayer funds wrongfully released for Akufo-Addos cathedral, more than US$36million was expended on other items other than their core function of construction. We now know that only a paltry 37.9% of total public funds released was handed over to the contractors. I must add, however, that many experts agree that the contractors equally have serious questions to answer as what they have delivered with US$22.07million is extremely suspicious. One needs to consider that the US$58.1million in issue, represents only taxpayer funds. Other categories such as donations from churches, corporate institutions, SOEs, His Eminence the Chief Imam, many other individuals and their opaque fundraising operations in the USA have all not been added. Note that owners of the multiple structures demolished are still waiting to be compensated. Others are in court demanding justifiable compensation. It is also imperative to state that contrary to the mendacious claims by Executive Director, Dr. Paul Opoku Mensah on Okay FM that: two floors have already been constructed underground,the contractors, RIBADE JV, report to Parliament that they have only carried out excavations. I must add that our field visits to the site do not show completed underground floors; all we have seen is a massive pit in the centre of the city as the venerable Bishop Dag Heward-Mills put it in his famous resignation letter. Obviously, transparency and truth have never been in such short supply. Instead of the outrageous demand for US$100million to import steel, the Board of Trustees should be explaining to Ghanaians why only a measly 37.9% of taxpayer funds went into actual construction much against industry best practice; they should be rendering full account of how all the categories of funds raised locally and internationally have been used; and how they still managed to create the worlds most expensive pit. For God and Country. 30.05.2023 LISTEN The Minority in Parliament has issued a press release reacting to reports of plans by government to sell parts of the countrys stake in Jubilee Oil Holdings Limited (JOHL) to the Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA). The issue of the divestment of part of Ghana's stake in Jubilee Oil Holdings Limited (JOHL) has been a matter of intense discussion in the media these past few days. It has been alleged by the Minister of Energy, Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh that GNPC under the Chairmanship of Mr. Freddie Blay is working on a transaction to relinquish about 50% of the shares of JOHL to PetroSA, the state-owned oil company of South Africa. According to the Minority, this action sounds at odds with the value of the JOHL assets to the State and does not advance the interest of the Ghanaian people. In its press release signed by its leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, it is demanding that governments see to it that any plans for the divestment of Ghanas stake in Jubilee Oil Holdings Limited are stopped. The Minority wants the countrys shares held by JOHL to be transferred to GNPC without any further delay. By this statement, the Minority calls on the Akuffo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government to transfer the shares held by JOHL to GNPC without delay, in order that Ghanaians can be assured that appropriate oversight is being exercised on these assets by Parliament and other stakeholders. This will only go a long way to ensure proper accountability and effective monitoring of the revenues accruing from our petroleum resources, parts of the Minoritys press release said. Read the full press release from the Minority below: Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has once again made a startling revelation about the National Cathedral project. The MP in a post on Twitter has disclosed that the contractor in charge of the project received US$22.07 million out of the US$58.1 million of taxpayers funds illegally withdrawn from the public purse. National Cathedral contractor, RIBADE JV received only US$22.07million out of the US$58.1million of taxpayer funds illegally withdrawn for the project. Ghanaians are not angry enough. It is absolutely incredible that with the avalanche of scandals which cannot even fit into, Okudzeto Ablakwa shared in his post. The Minority Caucus in Parliament is urging the government to listen to advise and suspend the National Cathedral project to stop the project from imposing additional financial burden on the Ghanaian taxpayer. The Minority insists that the project lacks transparency and no additional funds should be released to the Board of Trustees especially with Ghana facing economic difficulties. Below is the post from Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and documents to back his latest claim. According to recorded history, at the peak of Asanteman glory, circa 1800 JAMAN was one of their tributary states. Their Chief Nana Adinkra made a golden stool for himself and the Asantehene Osei Bonsu sent and collected the golden stool to Kumasi. Resentment and rebellion broke out in Jaman and Nana Adinkra was nearly destooled. Urged on and led by his own sister the Queen Mother, ASUAMA, another golden stool was carved out of pure gold for Nana Adinkra and this time round Otumfuo Osei Bonsu sent a very arrogant pompous chief, ANANTA HENE as leader of a delegation to Jaman, to retrieve the golden stool. Nana Adinkra convened a big durbar and it was chaotic. Speaker after speaker condemned the Asante delegation and Nana Adinkra ordered that each of the five man delegation should be DECAPITATED immediately. Killing a messenger does not mean killing the message. Otumfuo could not sit in Kumasi with this violent insult to his majesty. He took three years to mass up an imperial Army of 200,000 troops and invaded JAMAN. Historians call that war as ADINKRA WAR. Nana Adinkra committed suicide before Asante troops could capture him. Reader, we practicing lawyers are glorified messengers of our clients to advance their interests in Court. I was in my office when Valentine Nana Agyeiwaa popularly known as AFIA SCHWARZENEGGER called me: Captain, lawyer Maurice Ampaw says I have sex with dogs I want you to sue him. Come to the office, Afia.. She came, and after listening to her I wrote a Demand Notice to the lawyer, for a fee, which Afia paid. On her instructions, I went to Tema High Court accompanied by two of my junior lawyers, and told the Court that Applicant chairman Wontumi was not in Court, his lawyer was not in Court, we have not been served with any application, so my lord, strike out the application with costs, which was done. Two or three radio stations called me and asked me questions on this matter including Kwame Nkrumah Tekesse's OKAY FM and I said just this, no more no less. My elder brother timber merchant Ernest Kwame Apraku is dead so I left Accra Thursday for Berekum for the One Week. I was even asleep in the car returning to Accra on Sunday night when a good Samaritan called me: Captain what have you done that Maurice Ampaw is castigating you like that on Wontumi TV? Next morning a friend sent me transcript of the effusions by Maurice Ampaw and I listened and listened over and over again should I reply him? He said he has a platform, so he is warning me, if I am a man this and thatunfortunately I am just a court going lawyer. I am not a journalist, I have no platform, I am just a freelance writer. Editors choose at their pleasure to publish what I write. I bow to you, Maurice Ampaw. You are privileged to have a slot on Wontumi TV. Just because I went to the High Court to render a professional service for a client you lambast me that I am a failure in this and failure in that? You said I was a failure as a soldier, made a coup. As a lawyer you should CHECK your FACTS. I enlisted as a soldier on 2nd November 1977 in Intake 20 and after two weeks training at Teshie during which I was Steeple Chase champion. I was sent to Royal Military Academy Sandhurst UK where I was given the Best Overseas Cadet Award in RCC 17-1978. When I got back as Lieutenant I served in Michel Camp, served as ADC to Army Commander General Quainoo and saw action in Lebanon where I built NKRABEAH WALL in F-14 at Kafr Dunin. I was arrested by military Intelligence for planning a coup and charged with military equivalent of TREASON which is MUTINY. I had no lawyer to defend me at the General Court Martial but even so I was acquitted and discharged at the level of SUBMISSION OF NO CASE by the General Court Martial presided over by group Captain J A Kotei. I was convicted of MISCONDUCT and jailed. I was in prison for 11 months, and released by the coup on 31st December 1981. J. J. Rawlings for his own reasons arrested and detained me without any trial for 6 months, promoted me CAPTAIN while I was in prison and compulsorily released me from the Ghana Army. Is that a profile of a failed soldier ? Did you say I am a failure in law? I was called to the Bar in 1986 and God has kept me on my feet all these 37 years. The incoming Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo is my mate at the Ghana Law School and the current Attorney General is my junior at the Bar by over 10 years. By the Grace of God I am the head of my own law firm with 15 active daily Court going lawyers, operating from a three storey building at Asylum Down as our chambers. Is this the profile of a failed lawyer ? You said I am a failed politician. As MP for Berekum, I was very active in Parliament debates, with my face on TV several times speaking on the floor of Parliament. I was in regular touch with all the 36 communities in Berekum Constituency, going there at least once every two weeks. I have no doubt in my mind that if NPP were to be selecting Parliamentary Candidate by every card bearing member voting in the Primaries instead of the money crazy delegates concept like I would be MP for Berekum for a very long time. As Deputy Minister for Local Government and Interior I visited every district in Ghana, constantly in touch with the people, with my boss Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, my mate at Legon. Peter Ala Adjetey's Vetting Committee erroneously disqualified me from contesting for NPP Flagbearer, and I lost elections to be NPP General Secretary does that mean I am a failure in politics? You concluded that I am a failure in life. By the Grace of God I was educated in Achimota School and I took a law degree at Legon in 1977. Some of my mates at Legon Law Faculty were Supreme Court Judge Nene Angaleh, Togbe Hodo V President of Volta Regional House of Chief. I was the President of Commonwealth Hall for Trinity Term 1976/77. By the Grace of God I live in my own house a hen coop in Kasoa, by the Grace of God I have four children, all of them University Graduates, Hyebere who went to Mfantispim, KNUST and lectured in China for 10 years, Adom who went to Akosombo International, Legon University and now post graduate law student in London, UK; Divine who went to Achimota, did law in Kumasi and now a very busy top divorce and criminal lawyer in Nkrabeah and Associates and finally my fourth born, product of Achimota School and a practicing medical doctor at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. Go to Berekum, where I live in my own small cubicle Exodus 14:14 Villa. My mother's people have made me Head of Family of the Nana Yaw Woro Royal Family with over 2000 members. By the Grace of God my father in law's daughter who has slept beside me for FORTY years holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Legon, and manages my Hotel in Kasoa. When you see her especially in slit and kaba, with voluptuous endowment at right places and you say I am a failure in life ? By the Grace of God I was President of Brong Ahafo Citizens Union in Accra for fours years and President of Berekum Citizens Union in Accra for 6 years. I have written 115 full stage scripts, and I am the Founder/Leader of the Theatre Mirrors Drama Society for 37 full years with a track record of 1,500 public performances. I was President of the Ghana Union of Theatre Societies for 10 years. Maurice Ampaw, were you being thoughtless and reckless when you said I am a failure in life? Maurice Ampaw, the other day a whole Brigadier General in Ghana Army did me a favour, and I called to thank him. I said to him: May God Bless you. May you become a Major General.. he cut me short. I don't want to be a Major General. I want to be like you!!!! To God be the Glory. I have ONE burning request to my Maker, that God should give me the opportunity to sing my signature song: M'atwan Awurade Anim at a function, covered, live, by CNN, beamed to the whole world It is GREAT to be alive. To God be the Glory. By Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey With God all things are possible, more so when we dream and commit everything to His authority and using the acumen He has endowed us with. While some dream, busy about how to address societal challenges, others prefer traversing on the tangent of it is not possible and remain stuck there malice contaminating their thinking. The digitisation project which Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia rolled out has gone a long way in making life comfortable for us; the enhancement of transactional activities being the most outstanding of the feats thereof. Mobile phone interoperability, now a feature of our business terrain, is now something taken for granted, many having forgotten how life was before its advent. The pre-interoperability days were characterised with enormous inconveniences. Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia thought to himself it is possible and set to work about surmounting the hurdle via technology even as naysayers spread the vile of impossibility. It has worked out and today all are enjoying the dividends of interoperability, the product of digitisation. After the initial failed attempt at issuing all citizens with identification cards with biometric features, the it is possible spirit of Dr. Bawumia was triggered and today we are endowed with a world-class Ghana Card to which passports, driver's licences and other critical documents are linked. We recall the it's impossible stance of the killjoys when the special travel document feature of the Ghana Card was announced by the originator, Dr. Bawumia. Like the free SHS when it was announced, the it's impossible cacophony rendered the atmosphere. Eventually it came to pass and not knowing which direction to take, there was a momentary silence from the propaganda desk of the naysayers. Let us not allow politics to stand between us and our ability to think out innovations which can alter lives positively. The it is possible mantra associated with Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia played out in the life of a Ghanaian traveller last week, his testimonies constituting basis of a major news story in yesterday's issue of this newspaper. Coming on the heels of the efforts to discredit the digitisation dream of the Vice President and its execution, the testimony of the University of Cape Coast senior lecturer who was saved by a Ghana Card in Hamburg, Germany when his passport was not on him, has put paid to the mischief-powered skepticisms of naysayers that it is impossible. The beneficiary of the Ghana Card has lauded the digitisation project after travelling on a Ghana Card back home from Germany. Let our compatriots relishing mischief-laden propaganda come off that tangent and love Ghana because with leaders who dream big, It is possible to move this country forward towards the achievement of our national goals regardless of all odds. With optimists such as Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia leading the charge, it is indeed possible to change the fortunes of this country including the mindset of the mischievous elements. Source: Daily Guide There has been a car crash at Gomoa Okyereko on the Kasoa to Winneba Highway in the Central Region. The accident has claimed the lives of as many as 16 passengers. Meanwhile, 20 others have sustained various degrees of injuries and have been rushed to the hospital. The accident involved a Yutong bus travelling from Liberia to Liberia Camp with passengers near Budumburam with a fuel tanker. According to information gathered, the accident occurred on Tuesday dawn when a fully packed Yutong bus crashed into a fuel tanker owned by Goodness Energy. The driver of the Yutong Bus who is alleged to have been sleeping lost control of his steering when the bus reached Gomoa Okyereko. The bus veered from its lane and crashed into the fuel tanker on the other lane. Thanks to the intervention of officers of the Ghana Police Service and the National Fire Service, the 20 critically injured persons have been sent to the Winneba Specialist and Trauma Hospital Mortuary where they are receiving treatment. Meanwhile, the bodies of the 16 deceased persons have been deposited at the morgue of the hospital. Fighting flared again in Sudan on Tuesday despite the latest ceasefire pledges of the two warring generals that are meant to allow desperately needed aid to reach besieged civilians. Both the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces formally agreed late on Monday to extend by five days a US and Saudi-brokered humanitarian truce that was frequently violated over the past week. Since the extension was announced, more fighting was reported by residents, including "clashes with various kinds of weapons in southern Khartoum" and fighting in Nyala in the state of South Darfur. Fighters of the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces seen on April 23, 2023 in greater Khartoum. By - (Rapid Support Forces (RSF)/AFP/File) The army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, paramilitary RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, again accused each other of violating the truce and claimed to only be responding to enemy aggression. The war has killed at least 1,800 people, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. More than a million have been displaced and nearly 350,000 have fled to other countries, the UN says. Residents have been hiding from street combat and roaming looters in the capital city of more than five million, nearly 700,000 of whom have fled, according to the United Nations. Sudanese people fleeing the violence prepare to depart on buses from al-Sittin road in the south of Khartoum on May 30, 2023. By - (AFP) Since the fighting broke out on April 15, both generals have committed to a series of truces. Although some Sudanese have used relative lulls in the fighting to escape, aid has only been allowed to trickle in. The United Nations warned on Monday that Sudan has become one of the highest alert areas for food insecurity, requiring "urgent" action from the international community. The rainy season is set to start soon, threatening to make parts of the vast northeast African country inaccessible and raising the risks of malaria, cholera and water-borne diseases. Malnourished children Map of Sudan and neighbouring countries. By Sophie RAMIS (AFP/File) Sudan was already poverty-stricken before the war, with a third of its 45 million-strong population relying on aid. Long power cuts were a daily reality and the healthcare system already on the verge of collapse. After more than six weeks of brutal warfare, over half the population -- 25 million people -- are in need of aid, according to the United Nations. Among them are 13.6 million children, including 620,000 suffering from severe acute malnutrition, "half of whom may die if not helped in time". Entire districts of Khartoum no longer have running water, electricity is only available for a few hours a week, and three quarters of hospitals in combat zones are out of service. Destroyed vehicles are pictured outside the burnt down headquarters of Sudan's Central Bureau of Statistics in the south of Khartoum on May 29, 2023. By - (AFP) What few health facilities still operate have practically run out of medicines and equipment and have to purchase fuel at up to 20 times its pre-war price to keep generators running. Humanitarian aid workers have been pleading for weeks for access to worst-hit Khartoum and Darfur to replenish depleted and looted supplies. But with staff and transport blocked by fighting and shipments stuck in customs, aid agencies have so far only managed to deliver small quantities of food and medicine to conflict areas. Fears of 'civil war' Youths ride in a donkey-drawn cart near the burnt-down headquarters of Sudan's Central Bureau of Statistics, in the south of Khartoum on May 30, 2023. By - (AFP) The situation is particularly dire in Darfur, the vast western region already ravaged by two decades of war and civil strife, where about a quarter of Sudan's population lives. Activists and observers warn that Darfur civilians continue to be attacked, entire districts have been burned to the ground, and tens of thousands have been forced to flee into neighbouring Chad. Amid the chaos, the region has been all but cut off from the world, with only sporadic access to power and the internet. The UN has warned for weeks that fighting in Darfur's major cities between the army and the RSF has also drawn in local militias, tribal fighters and armed civilians. Darfur's governor Mini Minawi, a former rebel leader, has urged citizens to "take up arms" to defend their property. People carrying their belongings walk down on a street in Omdurman, the capital's twin city in war-torn Sudan, on May 29, 2023. By - (AFP) Sudan could descend into "total civil war", warned the Forces for Freedom and Change, the main civilian bloc ousted from power by Burhan and Daglo in a 2021 coup. "We must arm ourselves," a Darfur resident told AFP. "It's an impossible situation. People are completely alone, they're being attacked in their homes and they can't do anything." Another resident contacted by AFP warned that statements urging civilians to join the fighting are "totally irresponsible" and "a very dangerous call that can lead us into civil war". 30.05.2023 LISTEN Dear Mrs Usula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, The immense benefit of the mobile money system is not in doubt. It is described by a research source as the most preferred digital payment method in Ghana. But what seems to be missing is a regulator. An ongoing, ordeal I am being subjected to by Vodacash has led me to the conclusion that Ghana urgently needs an Ombudsman/Ombudsperson to assist mobile money customers when there is a dispute, perhaps borrowing from the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) concept. However, if there is already such an office in Ghana, then it should make its presence known and felt. My harrowing experience has compelled me to make this an open letter, in case others have also gone through a similar hassle by any mobile money service. In short, a wrongful Vodacash prompt requesting my PIN, has caused me to lose money I can ill afford and the company doesnt seem prepared to assist me to get a refund. What has turned into a puzzling, drawn-out saga began this way: On Tuesday, 9 May, 2023: I sent my ward to Zodiac Pharmacy, at Dansoman Estate, to buy some items for me. I paid by mobile money, using Vodacash, Vodafone Ghanas money transfer system and I got the following receipt/message on my phone: (Transaction number:) 0000004818937046 Confirmed. GH364.00 sent to (a Zodiac pharmacy number) on 2023-05-09 at 15:52:05. Your Vodafone Cash balance is . Reference: Ms Yeboah-Afari. Then some five minutes later, I got a prompt on my phone requesting confirmation of my ID. Thinking it was to do with the Zodiac transaction, I keyed in my PIN. But, to my dismay, the receipt that came stated: 0000004818964724 Confirmed. GHS368.37 Paid to D010000 FIRST ATLANTIC BANK LIMITED. On 2023-05-09 at 15:57:48. Reference: MAINevening. Clearly the prompt I had received asking for my PIN, had been sent to my phone by someones mistake! I had unwittingly supplied my PIN and paid a bill I knew nothing about! But, I wondered, how on earth did someones transaction bill cross into my space for me to receive that prompt? In summary: My transaction that day was with Zodiac, and I paid them GH364.00. I had not bought anything costing GHS368.37 from any entity. I have never had any business with the First Atlantic Bank. I have absolutely no idea what the Reference: MAIN-evening means, or relates to. Yes, I was wrong to respond to the prompt to confirm my PIN, but how was I to know that Vodacash would facilitate a wrong request for my PIN as evidently happened? Nevertheless, my expectation was that when the parties to that mystery transaction, and Vodacash, had reconciled their accounts, they would realise that someone had been billed by mistake and a wrongful payment deducted. I reasoned that way because, for example, on the occasions when an ATM has gone faulty and money has not been dispensed despite issuing me a receipt, it doesnt take long for my bank, the GCB Bank Ltd, to notice the error and refund my account. But evidently, there is no such self-monitoring system with the mobile money services. Its some three weeks now, and still no sign of my money being paid back! Trying to lodge a complaint has been extremely tiresome. Eventually, I got through and on Wednesday, May 10, a Customer Care agent called back and assured me that they would look into the matter; and I would hear from them within five working days. On Friday, May 12, I got a text message indicating that the problem had been solved or so I thought. So I sent the following response: Subject: Incident ID: 1-1QR1HR3K Ms A.Yeboah-Afari, wrongful Vodacash deduction In response to my complaint, with the above Incident ID, I have received a message saying it has been resolved. Thanks very much. When do I get the refund, please? But there was no response. On Monday, May 15, I went to the Vodafone office at Dansoman Estate, Accra, to lodge my complaint in person. An agent explained that if the money was still in the recipients account there was a possibility of a refund, otherwise he didnt think I could get my money back, as I had provided my PIN. On Tuesday, May 23 Vodafone sent me another, repeat, text: Dear Customer, your reported complaint with incident ID 1 1R12650W has been resolved. For further enquiries, visit https://bit.ly/ASK_TOBi, or send an email to [email protected] for corporate issues. Thank you. Yet, as at the time of writing this article, I havent received any reply to three emails to Vodafone. I guess that their your reported complaint has been resolved is their code for we take no responsibility for this problem. But is that fair? My communications with Vodafone indicates that to the agents they dont make mistakes; that once I had entered my PIN, the fault is mine, not theirs. Strangely, despite having made it clear that the transaction I had initiated had been with Zodiac Pharmacy, one agent even told me that they had checked with the First Atlantic Bank and had been told that I had initiated the transaction myself, at the Unicom Chemist Ltd! Surely, somebody at Vodacash should understand that Zodiac Pharmacy and Unicom Chemist are two very different entities?! Even more curious, the two messages informing me that the complaint has been resolved now seem to have vanished from my phone! Still, fortuitously, I got another proof that same period that Vodacash can, and does, make mistakes! On April 27, I had paid my Ghana Water Company Ltd (GWCL) bill for March, by Vodacash and got a receipt immediately, but I didnt get, as expected, another immediate receipt, from GWCL, too. To my shock, on May 15, when GWCL sent my April bill, the March bill had been included, meaning that they had still not received from Vodacash the money I had paid on April 27! To me this is clear proof that Vodacash does make mistakes! Its just that they dont want to accept responsibility. Obviously, on May 9, if I had not just done a Vodacash transaction, I would not have received that intruder prompt. Definitely, if I had received a prompt out of the blue, I would have ignored it. It appears to me that there is big loophole in the mobile money system if an unknown telephone number can enter another customers space, leading to a wrong prompt, causing loss to an unsuspecting customer. In my view, my continuing ordeal demonstrates that Ghana needs a regulator or Ombudsman to ensure assistance for customers if, and when, they find themselves in my May 9 situation leading to a loss of GH368.37 for no goods bought or services rendered! Vodacash should kindly explain why I received that May 9 prompt, at that particular time. And I need my money back! Utility services customers have the PURC to assist with complaints, and evidently, the mobile money sector, too, would benefit from having such a regulator. Honourable Minister, who knows how many other mobile money customers have suffered similar losses, enabled by a wrongful prompt? Sincerely, [email protected] In a Sudanese school turned makeshift hospital, a volunteer doctor hooks up a patient lying on a desk to an intravenous drip while nurses hand out medicines donated by neighbours. As war has raged for six weeks and shuttered or destroyed many clinics, this school building in Omdurman, Khartoum's twin city across the Nile, has become an emergency healthcare centre. A chalk message written on a blackboard outside says the volunteer-run field hospital provides free general medical care, minor operations and other services. The volunteer medics treat children and people with diabetes, hypertension and other chronic illnesses, which are "now 10 times deadlier than bullets," said the doctor, Mohammed al-Taher. Young activists have taken matters into their own hands since fighting erupted on April 15 between the army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces of his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. Map of Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, showing the state of hospitals. By Sylvie HUSSON, Jonathan WALTER (AFP/File) In times of relative peace, the activists, known as local "resistance committees", used to organise pro-democracy protests. Now they collect water and food and run makeshift clinics for patients with nowhere else to go. The public health sector has long been fragile in Sudan, where 65 per cent of the population lives in poverty. Now it faces compounded challenges, with three quarters of hospitals in combat zones out of service, according to the country's doctors' union. 'Bring medicine' People at the reception desk of the Medani Heart Centre hospital in Wad Madani, the capital of the Al-Jazirah state in east-central Sudan, on May 25, 2023. By - (AFP/File) The fighting has left 12,000 dialysis patients at risk of dying as hospitals have run out of medication and fuel to power generators, the union said. Since the war erupted, at least 1,800 people have been killed. More than a million have been displaced within Sudan and nearly 350,000 have fled to other countries. The fighting has also led many health professionals to flee and driven a "real brain drain", says the UN World Health Organization. Remaining medical staff are now teaching volunteers to tend to the wounded. "We train young people in first aid in case they are faced with wounded people in the midst of combat," Taher said. A patient is transported on a gurney at the Medani Heart Centre hospital in Wad Madani, the capital of the Al-Jazirah state in east-central Sudan, on May 25, 2023. By - (AFP/File) Maha Mohammed is one of many volunteers looking after fellow Sudanese citizens in need. She runs the small field hospital's pharmacy, its shelves sparsely stocked with medicine and serum bags. The young woman in a black abaya pleaded for "more donations" as the bulk of food and medical aid have either been looted or remain stuck at the sites of violent battles. 'This war will pass' A hospital ward in Sudan's North Darfur region treating people wounded in combat, seen in a picture from April 19, 2023 and obtained from aid group Doctors Without Borders. By Ali SHUKUR (MAdecins sans FrontiAres (MSF)/AFP/File) The fighting has impeded the delivery of the humanitarian aid that 25 million people -- over half the population -- now desperately need, according to the UN. Aid workers, who count 18 deaths among their ranks, say it is difficult for aid to flow despite the multiple ceasefires that have been agreed and quickly violated. In a "major breakthrough", the World Food Programme said Monday that it had begun reaching thousands of Khartoum's trapped residents. Mohammed said that "we must help each other before expecting foreign help. I urge people who have medicine at home to bring it here." At the hospital, two women stood behind a window, registering new patients lined up in the courtyard. Shattered glass in an abandoned hospital in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, in a picture from May 1, 2023. By - (AFP/File) "Our neighbourhood is under fire, many hospitals had to close," volunteer Ashraf told AFP. "So people come here to get free treatment from doctors in the neighbourhood." There are fears that the summer rainy season will soon bring seasonal epidemics like malaria, which wreaks havoc in Sudan every year, while a shortage of drinking water could drive a cholera outbreak. The rains will also make parts of Sudan hard to reach, according to aid agencies. But Ashraf remained optimistic that his home country, which has been ravaged by multiple civil wars and military coups since gaining independence in 1956, will also overcome the current turmoil. "This war will pass," he said. "We have seen many crises in Sudan, and each time we think: this will be the last. But this one will end too." 30.05.2023 LISTEN Remorse-looking Dr Michael Kpessa-Whyte has been cautioned and discharged by the Supreme Court for contempt. He was convicted for contempt by a five-member panel of the Supreme Court after pleading guilty to three charges. The former Shai Osudoku parliamentary aspirant of the opposition National Democratic Congress, was summoned by the apex court to show cause why his tweet, in which he described the highest court of the land as a "stupid court", did not constitute a case of contempt. The panel, chaired by Justice Mariama Owusu has Justices Lovelace Johnson, Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Samuel Asiedu, and George Kingsley Koomson as members. The university lecturer was charged with scandalising the Supreme Court, ridiculing the Supreme Court, and prejudicing the highest court of the land. His lawyer, Dr Justice Srem Sai, pleaded for leniency on his clients behalf during the Tuesday (30 May 2023) hearing. He begged the court to temper justice with mercy in its sentencing with a promise that his client would never again, in the rest of his life, utter such words at the court. Dr Srem Sai also said his client would, henceforth, defend the integrity of the Supreme Court, its justices and the judiciary. Dr Kpessa-Whyte first pleaded guilty then changed his plea to guilty with explanation before finally pleading guilty to the charges. The court has gone into chambers to decide on his sentence. Last week, Dr Kpessa-Whyte 'sincerely apologised' to the Supreme Court of Ghana over the tweet, which he said was meant for the Supreme Court of the United States of America but had been linked to Ghana's by the Ghanaian media. In a statement, Dr Kpessa-Whyte said he nonetheless takes full responsibility for his tweet and offered an unreserved apology to Ghanas Supreme Court following a summons to him to appear before the judicial body to show cause why he should not be held in contempt for describing the court in that manner. The Research Fellow with the History and Politics Section at the Institute of African Studies (IAS) tweeted on the back of the Ghana Supreme Courts declaration of the election of Mr James Gyakye Quayson of the Assin North consituency, as unconstitutional. In that tweet on Friday, 19 May 2023, Dr Kpessa-Whyte said: They have succeeded in turning a Supreme Court into a Stupid Court. Commonsense is now a scare commodity. He noted: A major element in the death of democracies is partisanship in the delivery of justice. Our judges need lessons in political philosophy and ethics, he added. A few days after that tweet, Dr Kpessa-Whyte tweeted again to delink his tweet from Ghanas Supreme Court following some prompts. He said: "Thanks to all who have asked questions about my May 19th, 2023 tweet. For the avoidance of doubt, I follow judicial decisions in many countries and, so, the said tweet cannot be pinned to Ghana. It has more to do with developments elsewhere including the US. We live in a global village. The Supreme Court, by a unanimous decision, ordered parliament to expunge the name of Mr Gyakye Quayson from the roll of MPs. The court, on Wednesday, 17 May 2023, declared as unconstitutional, the election of Mr Gyakye Quayson as MP for Assin North. A resident of Assin Bereku in the Central Region, Mr Michael Ankomah Nimfa, dragged Mr Quayson to court to restrain him from holding himself as MP after a Cape Coast High Court in July 2021 annulled his election as Assin North MP. The petitioner had prayed the apex court that James Gyakye Quaysons continuous stay in office despite a High Court judgment annulling his election offended the Constitution, and was not fair to the people of Assin North. The Cape Coast High Court had ruled that Mr Quayson owed allegiance to another country other than Ghana at the time of filing his nomination forms to contest the 2020 polls. The embattled MP had been challenging the decision by the high court at the Supreme Court. In a retraction and apology statement issued on Thursday, 25 May 2023, Dr Kpessa-Whyte said: "I sent out a tweet on May 19, 2023, at 9:59 am, that shared my reflections on insights from a book by David A. Kaplan (2018) 'The Most Dangerous Branch: Inside the Supreme Courts Assault on the Constitution', and recent attempts by some Democrats in the US to increase the number of Justices at the Apex Court from nine to thirteen. "I have observed that Ghanaweb and other media publications sought to associate my tweet with the decision of the Supreme Court in the Assin North matter, as stated on the face of the summons to show cause, but honestly, at the time of my tweet, I had no knowledge of the Supreme Courts decision as at 9: 59am when I did the tweet." The lecturer continued: "The said tweet has resulted in the invocation of the powers of the Apex Court in our country for me to appear and show cause, because the tweet has scandalised the Apex Court of our land and has brought the dignity of the court into disrepute." "Sincerely, the tweet was not done with the intent to scandalise or denigrate a revered institution such as the Supreme Court of Ghana for which I have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration. These are consequences I never intended, although I do accept responsibility that, I could have exercised better judgment in my choice of words," he also confessed. "Please permit me to state unequivocally that I have no reason to slander our Supreme Court, and I hereby sincerely apologise unreservedly for any pain and discomfort my tweets may have caused the Chief Justice, the Supreme Court, and the entire judiciary," je said, adding: "I hereby retract the tweet in question; accordingly, the tweet has been deleted completely and I pray for forgiveness." Classfmonline.com There is no mistake in the adage that wonders will never end because unexpected events are happening all across the world. How does an ambulance for the Ghana Health Service get into the car market in Dubai? Since many Ghanaian hospitals lack adequately maintained ambulances, which frequently results in the death of many patients, how can the government of Ghana explain this? Ghana is a very depressing nation, and the fact that crimes, including corruption, are committed without consequence has created the opportunity for more crimes to be perpetrated every day. According to "Ohene David," Don Tilo, a friend of his from Dubai, decides to go for a walk to see if he can buy a car. While he was at the auto market, he noticed ambulances from the Ghanaian health service that were for sale. Ohene David encouraged Don Tilo to speak to Ghanaians so that others may hear from him since he doesn't want to be accused of creating a phony or editing the video. As Mr. Tilo described his find, he walked over to an ambulance bearing the inscription, "Radiology Specialist Ambulance, Ministry Of Health, Funded By World Bank." What is going on under this administration, and nobody is saying anything? Everyone can see the text that reads, "GHANA NATIONAL AMBULANCE SERVICE, TIMELY CARE SAVES LIVES," because the man moved his recording to the top of the vehicle. The Toyota Hiace ambulance has an emergency dialing number 112 behind it. When I did my research on the number, it was confirmed on the website "Treks Medics International" that the emergency dial call for an ambulance in Ghana is 112 or 193. The web address for further information: https://trekmedics.org/database/ghana-2/ This suggests that the video is real and that the government of Ghana's ambulance, which is scheduled to be in the nation, has been moved to a car market to be sold. Who is responsible for this crime? I'm confident that the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, would release a compelling narrative to defend the government as soon as the video begins to become viral on social media because this administration never accepts responsibility for any wrongdoings. How can the government behave so carelessly when hospitals around the country need ambulance service? Is the manufacturer selling the ambulance because the Ghanaian government was unable to obtain funding to pay for it? If so, why does it state that the World Bank is providing the funding? Or are they attempting to raise money for the 2024 elections they are aware they can never win? I'm so confused that I have no idea what to say. To eliminate any possibility of doubt, Don Tilo, the man who found the ambulance for sale, walked closer to it and asked someone to take a picture of him close to the ambulance, so that Ghanaians will know he is in Dubai. He again repeated the action, this after stretching his leg out to touch the rear tire of the vehicle. The broad line colors of Ghana's flag and coat of arms are visible to all, proving that the video is authentic. Such crimes undermine our nation, if the World Bank learns about them. I'll leave this embarrassing case to Akufo Addo's government and Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, the health minister, to explain to Ghanaians how the ambulance got up in the Dubai automobile market. 30.05.2023 LISTEN Professor Michael Kpessah Whyte, a lecturer at the University of Ghana has been cautioned and discharged by the Supreme Court. This is after he was found guilty of contempt by the Supreme Court on his own admission. Following a tweet days ago in which he described Supreme Court as "stupid court", Prof. Kpessah Whyte has been dragged before the Supreme Court to answer for his actions. The former candidate for Shai Osudoku constituency on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) before a five-member panel presided over by Justice Mariama Owusu pleaded guilty. In court today, the defendant begged the court to temper justice with kindness because he had already purged himself of his actions and publicly apologised for his comment. His counsels, Justice Srem-Sai and Lawyer Godwin Tamakloe made a strong case for his pardon. Kpessa-Whyte has been cautioned by the Supreme Court and discharged. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) primary is expected to be a highly contested one, with each candidate vying for the chance to represent the party in the 2024 general elections. Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia today picked his nomination forms May 30, 2023 at the party headquarters through his campaign team members, Sammi Awuku and Fred Oware. Dr. Bawumias decision to pick up nomination forms is seen as a significant move, as he is widely considered to be one of the frontrunners in the race. In recent weeks, Dr. Bawumia has been busy crisscrossing the country, meeting with party executives and engaging with grassroots supporters as well as opinion leaders. Observers say that Dr. Bawumias campaign has been focused on his record of delivering on key government programs, such as the One-District-One-Factory initiative and the Planting for Food and Jobs program. In a recent interview, Bawumia emphasized the importance of unity within the party, stating that we need to come together as a party and focus on the common goal of winning the 2024 general elections. The Vice president was picking forms after former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, through his agents picked his forms yesterday May 29. Other candidates who have already picked their nomination forms include former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko, former General Secretary of the NPP, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, former Member of Parliament for Mampong, Francis Addai-Nimo, and economist and former minister, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku. The remaining potential candidates are former Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, and former Minister of Railways, Joe Ghartey. The primary election will take place on Saturday, November 4, 2023. Dr Bawumia has been championing the government's digitalization agenda to spur economic growth, and he is widely respected for his economic prowess and ability to articulate government policies. Mr Kyerematen, on the other hand, is a household name in the NPP and comes from the party's stronghold. As the former Minister of Trade and Industry, he engineered the establishment of car assembly plants in Accra. Dr Akoto, a stalwart of the NPP, is expected to woo delegates with the Planting for Food and Jobs and Rearing for Jobs and Export programmes, which were flagship social intervention programs aimed at reducing import and making Ghana self-sufficient in food production. Mr Agyarko is also determined to take the party to the next level with his good policies on energy and the economy. Meanwhile, Dr Apraku's team believes that his experience is essential to turning around the fortunes of the country. Francis Addai-Nimo's supporters have also urged delegates to choose a candidate who has not served in the current government. As curiosity grows on who will earn the party's nomination, the NPP expects a competitive race with qualified individuals who are willing to fulfill the needs of the nation and transform Ghana's economic landscape. As the race heats up, all eyes will be on the NPP primary, which is expected to attract significant media attention and public interest. DGN online 30.05.2023 LISTEN Leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ghana, John Dramani Mahama has congratulated new Nigeria President H.E Bola Ahmed Tinubu following his inauguration. In a statement on Facebook, the former President of Ghana admonished the new Nigerian President to take advantage of the opportunity to reset the narrative of the country and give hope to Nigerians. Your inauguration presents an opportunity to reset the Nigerian narrative and give hope to the Nigerian people that your great nation can rise to play the leading role on our continent that destiny has bestowed on her, John Dramani Mahama said in his statement. The former Ghana President further noted that he firmly believes that H.E Bola Ahmed Tinubu will use his good office as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to consolidate the integrity and unity of the country and also work with ECOWAS for sustained peace and stability in West Africa. I wish you a successful tenure as you strive to improve Nigeria's economy, create decent and sustainable jobs for our youth, and deepen democracy in Nigeria, Mahama noted. AngloGold Ashanti Ghana has issued a press release to provide an update on the illegal miners still trapped underground in the Obuasi Mine. This follows reports that about 300 illegal miners have been trapped in one of the shafts belonging to AngloGold's Obuasi Mines at Anwiam in the Obuasi East District. In its release, AngloGold Ashanti Ghana said it is working with various security services to ensure that persons underground the mine exit safely. Obuasi Gold Mine's management team has notified the relevant authorities and public security services and is working closely with them. The intrusion of illegal miners into underground areas remains a significantly dangerous activity and AngloGold Ashanti Ghana is working alongside authorities to ensure that only authorized mine personnel and contractors can access underground work areas, parts of the release said. According to the release, unauthorized persons underground are able to exit on foot, via the existing ramp, through the main access of the mining area. AngloGold Ashanti Ghana notes that no person underground has been confined in any way and the main exit ramp from the mine remains open. On Monday, May 29, seven illegal miners exited through the main access point on foot and are in the custody of the Ghana Police Service. Any unauthorized person underground is encouraged to leave the mine at any time by the exit points where public security personnel remain on standby, the release added. Meanwhile, AngloGold Ashanti Ghana has assured the public that the safety and security of its employees and community members remain its top priority. The mining company adds that it stands ready to provide any assistance required by the authorities in ensuring the safe exit of any unauthorized persons underground. In numerous regions around the world, including Ghana, menstrual equity emerges as a pressing issue that profoundly impacts the lives of countless girls. The implications of high taxes on sanitary pads for girls attending basic school in Ghana are extensive and significant. When taxes inflate the cost of sanitary pads, it places an additional financial burden on families with limited resources, making these essential products less affordable. Consequently, girls and their families encounter difficulties in obtaining sufficient sanitary pads, resulting in substantial challenges in effectively managing menstruation. First and foremost, the repercussions of high taxes on sanitary pads in Ghana particularly harm girls attending basic school, jeopardizing the achievement of menstrual equity. These taxes drive up the price of sanitary pads, making them less affordable for families with limited financial means. As a result, girls and their families face difficulties accessing an adequate supply of sanitary pads, leading to various adverse consequences. One of the primary consequences is the frequent absence of girls from school due to the lack of access to affordable sanitary pads. To avoid the embarrassment and discomfort associated with inadequate menstrual hygiene management, girls often choose to stay home during their menstrual periods. Such absences have a detrimental impact on their educational progress and overall academic performance. The unaffordability of sanitary pads forces girls to resort to unhygienic alternatives, increasing the risk of infections such as urinary tract infections and reproductive tract infections. These health issues can have lasting implications for their well-being and reproductive health. Moreover, the inability to effectively manage menstruation due to high taxes on sanitary pads contributes to feelings of shame and embarrassment among girls. The associated stigma leads to decreased self-esteem, social isolation, and psychological distress. High taxes on sanitary pads perpetuate gender inequality by placing an additional burden on girls. Menstruation is a natural process, and the unaffordability resulting from taxes disproportionately affects girls, hindering their full participation in school activities and social life. The lack of access to sanitary pads hampers girls' ability to reach their full potential. It undermines their academic performance, diminishes their prospects of academic success, pursuing higher education, and seizing career opportunities. Furthermore, when sanitary pads become prohibitively expensive due to taxes, some families prioritize other essential needs over purchasing them for their daughters. This leads to increased dropout rates among girls as they struggle to manage menstruation effectively without access to affordable sanitary pads. Dropping out of school carries long-term consequences for their future prospects and perpetuates the cycle of poverty. Additionally, inadequate access to sanitary pads compels girls to resort to unhygienic materials or even forgo attending school altogether during their menstrual periods. This disrupts their education, exacerbates educational disparities between girls and boys, and impedes their full participation and engagement in classroom activities. Insufficient menstrual hygiene management resulting from unaffordable sanitary pads also contributes to poor hygiene practices. Girls may resort to reusing unsanitary materials or opting for unhygienic alternatives, thereby increasing the risk of infections, skin irritations, and other health issues. These health problems affect their overall well-being and hinder their ability to concentrate and perform well in school. Furthermore, girls who cannot afford sanitary pads often experience social stigma and shame associated with menstruation. This has a negative impact on their self- esteem, mental health, and social interactions. The prevailing stigma surrounding menstruation further perpetuates harmful cultural beliefs and practices, marginalizing girls and limiting their participation in various aspects of society. By reinforcing existing gender disparities, high taxes on sanitary pads perpetuate gender inequality. This disproportionate burden on girls hinders their ability to fully participate in education. Menstruation is a natural process that should not impede girls' access to education and opportunities. However, the financial strain resulting from high taxes exacerbates gender disparities and curtails girls' potential for personal and professional growth. In order to alleviate the effects above, the government should consider reducing or eliminating taxes on sanitary pads to make them more affordable for all. This would alleviate the financial burden on families with limited resources and ensure that girls have access to essential menstrual hygiene products. Advocacy efforts and policy reforms can be undertaken to promote tax reduction or exemption specifically for sanitary pads. Governments can introduce subsidies or price controls on sanitary pads to make them more affordable. This can involve providing financial assistance to manufacturers or retailers to lower the cost of sanitary pads or setting maximum prices to prevent excessive price hikes. These measures would enable families to purchase sanitary pads at a reduced cost, making them more accessible to girls in need. Schools play a crucial role in addressing the issue of unaffordable sanitary pads. Governments and educational institutions should allocate resources to supply free sanitary pads to girls in schools. This ensures that girls can manage their menstruation without financial constraints and reduces the likelihood of absenteeism and academic disruptions. Collaborations with NGOs and private sector companies can help provide the necessary resources for this initiative. Efforts should be made to improve the availability and accessibility of sanitary pads, particularly in rural areas and low-income communities. Governments can establish distribution networks, partner with local NGOs or community organizations, and make sanitary pads available in public spaces such as schools, health centers, or community centers. This ensures that girls have easy access to sanitary pads when needed, regardless of their geographical location or socioeconomic background. Encouraging local production of sanitary pads can help reduce costs and increase availability. Governments can provide incentives or support to local manufacturers, stimulating the production of affordable and high-quality sanitary pads within the country. This approach not only ensures a sustainable supply of sanitary pads but also creates employment opportunities and reduces dependence on imported products. Comprehensive education programs are vital to raising awareness about menstrual health and hygiene practices. Governments should implement educational initiatives that provide information on proper menstrual hygiene management, debunk myths and stigmas surrounding menstruation, and promote positive attitudes and behaviors. This education should be incorporated into school curricula to normalize the topic and provide comprehensive information to both girls and boys, reducing stigma and fostering supportive environments. Collaboration with private sector companies, NGOs, and other organizations is essential to address the issue of high taxes on sanitary pads. Partnerships can focus on subsidized distribution, awareness campaigns, research, and advocacy efforts, leading to lasting change. By working together, stakeholders can pool resources, expertise, and networks to tackle the issue comprehensively and ensure sustainable solutions. Engaging local communities, especially women and girls, in decision-making processes and initiatives is crucial. Governments should involve them through community workshops, participatory programs, and the formation of local support groups. This ensures that solutions are culturally appropriate, meet the specific needs of the community, and empower women and girls to actively participate in finding and implementing solutions. Accurate data collection on the impact of high taxes on sanitary pads and the menstrual hygiene practices of girls and women is important. This data can inform evidence-based policies and interventions, identify areas of need, and monitor the effectiveness of implemented measures. Governments should invest in research and data collection initiatives to have a comprehensive understanding of the issue and adjust strategies accordingly. Participation in international forums and advocacy for the elimination of taxes on sanitary pads is essential. Governments can collaborate with other nations, share best practices, and contribute to global efforts to ensure affordable and accessible menstrual hygiene products for all. Collaboration with international organizations, such as UNICEF or UNFPA, can provide additional support, technical assistance, resources, and advocacy to governments. Governments can provide targeted financial support to low-income families specifically for the purchase of sanitary pads. This can be in the form of cash transfers, vouchers, or subsidies to alleviate the financial burden on families and ensure that girls have access to the menstrual hygiene products they need. In conclusion, the issue of high taxes on sanitary pads in Ghana has significant implications for girls attending basic school. It affects their access to affordable sanitary pads, educational opportunities, health, and overall well-being. Governments, in collaboration with various stakeholders, should prioritize addressing this issue by implementing policy reforms, providing subsidies, improving availability and accessibility, promoting education and awareness, and engaging local communities. By ensuring menstrual equity, we can empower girls and enable them to reach their full potential, breaking the barriers imposed by unaffordable sanitary pads. EMMANUEL KWAME APPIAH CONTACT 0547664440 EMAIL [email protected] Hello Ghana and the entire world to the next two gentlemen to take over the government of Ghana next year. Introducing the in-coming flagbearer of ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Hon. Kennedy Agyapong a.k.a. Tinubu of Ghana. Just like it is Tinubus time to be President of Nigeria so is Hon. Kens time to be President of Ghana. My proposed running-mate for him is in the person of Dr. Mike Ocquaye Jnr who is a lawyer by profession, Ghanas former Ambassador to India and son of Ghanas former Speaker of Parliament by name Prof Mike Ocquaye. By this, he will be the first from the Ga tribe of Ghanas capital of Accra to become Vice President as well as their first President too. With Hon. Ken, he will become the first President of Ghana aiming to reverse Ghanas human resource PHD sociological ill of PULL-HIM-DOWN (which Im partially a victim of from Akwesi Osei-Nti, adjunct lecturer at Linnaeus Univ in Sweden) into a positive sub-culture of PATRIOTISM, HONESTY & DISCIPLINE. Although, BNI (Ghanas National Security Agency) used their usual trick of National Security Issue to make a receptionist at Hon. Kens radio station of Oman FM in Accra to turn down my audience of torture report during one of my torturing experiences in 2014 from BNI and their alliance members, I hope things changes now. In 2007, when President Kufuor was about to finish his tenure, current President Nana Akufo-Addo ask that President Kufuor leaves office with his full package including his vice President to allow a fresh team to take over. Similarly, this year 2023, I call on Prez Nana Addo to also do same and leave office with his package including his Vice President Bawumia and allow a new team. With these two, is surely GHANA ONE TOUCH! Since it is in the political blood of NPP to help people reconstruct their lives, I hope these men help me too when they get elected by NPP delegates and Ghanaians for after all I have a masters degree in Danquah-Busia-Kwesi Ansu Political Family of United Party (UP) and grant me a Deputy Ministerial post in any of the following Ministries that applies to my skill and knowledge set: Foreign Affairs; Social Protection; Local Government & Rural Development; Education; Information; Communication; Employment. What matters, is actually belonging to an organization that celebrates you and appreciate your value rather than being among a people that only tolerate your existence. BNI led Nkrumah Fraternity want me to negatively stand in for my maternal grandpa Kwesi Ansu (godfather of anti-Nkrumah politics in pre and post-independence Ghana and brainchild behind formation of United Party of Ghanas current ruling NPP) for allegedly, in his contribution to Ghanas democratic process during Ghanas first regime, offending Nkrumah. As such taken me as their Prisoner of War (PoW) from age 3 and totally controlling my life, destroying, persecuting, torturing, repressing and dehumanizing me in scapegoatism. If that be the case then I also have to positively stand in for him as well in the Danquah-Busia or UP political tradition and benefits thereof since life is a mixture of positive and negative for even both the Holy Spirit and Satan have their residence on Earth performing their respective duties to man as life comforter (like NPP) whiles the other as life discomforter (region of BNI, NDC and their Nkrumah folks). Hon. Ken originates from an ethnic group known as Denkyira (Ghanas first Kingdom) and that is where my maternal grandpa Kwesi Ansus Mansen people come from. The Mansens came about when there was a royal succession dispute at Denkyira making one of the Princes to secede. So my grandfathers lineage originates from Denkyira royal family. The Mansens formed a Kingdom with Dormaa people a similar group led by a Prince from Akwamu (Ghanas first Empire) with similar succession dispute. My grandfathers lineage belongs partially to the Dormaa group too via royal marriage but because of the sociologically matrilineal nature of our inheritance, our cousins the Agyeman Badus lead the Dormaas and together we form the Dormaa Kingdom (the name Dormaa was adopted because they were in the majority. A portion of Dormaas left to form Gyaman Kingdom after fleeing from Ashanti wars) with both sides royal gates to the Kingship throne which my grandfather ex-Mansenhene and ex-Dormaa Krontihene (King Maker) made me a Child King when I was a little over one and Messiah of the Mansen people as I was their first King of Dormaa Kingdom. He also bequested all his riches to me that the PNDC Military government now NDC with BNI, Nkrumah Fraternity and Dormaa-Gyaman forces confiscated to form Wamfie Rural Bank and used some to fund my life destruction especially my last 12 years total or complete or full destruction. On Mike Ocquaye, I must say like I am exact replica and perfect genetic extension of my maternal grandpa Kwesi Ansu so is Mike Ocquaye Jnr to the father. Prof. Mike Ocquaye, a former Head of Political Science Dept of my alumni of University of Ghana, Legon (although he never taught me in political science when I offered the course up to two years from 2000 to 2002 and drop it to focus on Psychology and Sociology since he only taught level 400 students) was among key personalities of the UP political family I heard discussing on Ghana Television when I was growing up back in Staff Village, Legon of how my grandfather Kwesi Ansu set the agenda for the formation of UP by merger of other regional parties with NLM at a time Nkrumah tried to abolished NLM with the Avoidance of Discrimination Law after independence. Mike Ocquaye Jnr being a lawyer will permit a balance with his legal perspectives in governance to that of Hon. Ken who is purely a business man and can propel Ghanas economy to the desired level. Since Nigeria are the leaders of West Africa and shares intimacy with Ghana making Ghana a miniature Nigeria, it is no surprise that whatever happens in Nigeria is repeated in Ghana. The Nigerian ruling party, All Progressive Congress (APC) for the first time in Nigerias history broke the 8 year tenure of office. Likewise their sister party in Ghana which is Ghanas ruling NPP will equally do so. The similarities between Nigerias new President Tinubu and Ghanas In-Coming President Kennedy Agyapong are mind blowing. By comparative analysis, Tinubu is the bank ruler of APC just like Hon Ken is for NPP. He was the party chairman just like Hon Ken is the de-facto party chairman of NPP. He never served in government just like Hon. Ken also never served in government. He was a former governor of his constituency the Lagos State just like Hon. Ken is also a Member of Parliament for his own constituency too. Tinubu and his Vice are Muslims whiles Hon. Ken and his proposed Vice are Christians. Both Tinubu and Hon. Ken are globally renowned business moguls, controversial figures, pragmatics and powerful institutions by themselves in their various countries. Both have waited inordinate amount of time for their turn. By: Kennedy Osei-Tutu (a.k.a Kofi Ken-Nedy Osei-Tutu; nickname: Kofi Rawlings) (Ghana Democracy Campaigner against Dominance of Organized Followers of Nkrumah & founder of unregistered Ghana Agenda Setting for Development) 30.05.2023 LISTEN Peter Notsu-Kotoe, the ranking member of the parliamentary education committee has said government should focus on tackling the numerous challenges facing secondary education in Ghana. This follows the comment by Vice President, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia that government through the Ministry of Education is in a position to replace textbooks with laptops in senior high schools across the country following the introduction of the 'One Student One Laptop' initiative. In reaction, Mr. Notsu-Kotoe stated that the move is a misplaced priority and should be reevaluated. There are a number of challenges that the government is unable to solve. We dont have enough money to pay for the supply of foodstuffs to senior high schools so the students are poorly fed. The challenge of accommodation, the teacher is teaching over 80 pupils in the same class which is a violation of the teacher-pupil ratio so if we want to introduce the supply of laptops, it is a good idea but it is wrong at this time because we are not able to solve the challenges, he told an Accra based Citi FM. Vice President, Dr. Bawumia said at the 60th Anniversary celebration of the Hohoe Evangelical Presbyterian Senior High School in the Volta Region that government will soon roll out the 'One Student One Laptop' initiative. He added that the administration intends to carry out the policy before the end of 2023. A number of organisations, including the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), have already expressed doubt about the policy citing several issues. Gaborone, Botswana, 29 May 2023 (ECA) - Landlocked Developing Countries, currently experiencing economic and infrastructural challenges, need increased technical and financial support to achieve sustainable development, leaders have called during the High-level Africa regional review meeting of the Vienna Programme of Action (VPoA) for Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) which opened in the Botswana Capital, Gaborone. In a video message at the opening of the meeting, Acting Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Antonio Pedro, said while African LLDCs have made some notable development progress, this has not been substantial enough to reach the goals and targets set out in the VPoA. Nonetheless, the limited progress made does not mean achievements should go unnoticed. For example, LLDs have improved access to electricity from 24 to 37 per cent between 2014 and 2020, and an economic growth forecasted at 5.3 per cent for 2023. Furthermore, work was underway to further unlock progress, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Successful implementation of the AfCFTA would allow for enhanced regional cooperation and economic integration on the continent and would directly address some of the challenges that LLDCs faced over the years particularly regarding the reduction of transit costs, he said, noting that peculiar challenges arising from their lack of access to the sea, as well as inadequate transport infrastructure were some of the challenges faced by LLDCs. We will have to continue our critical work addressing the unique challenges facing LLDCs, and we must do so together, Mr. Pedro told participants, adding that the challenges of a majority of African LLDCs were compounded by a recurrent incidence of conflicts, political instability and un-receding high levels of poverty and inequality. Africa is home to 16 of the worlds 32 landlocked developing countries, 13 of which are also Least Developed Countries (LDCs). The two-day meeting being held under the theme, From Vienna to Kigali: towards a new decade of partnerships for a transformative Programme of Action for LLDCs' ' will review the implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action in Africa. Organized by the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) jointly with the ECA and the Government of Botswana, the meeting is being attended by Ministers and senior government officials from ministries dealing directly with the implementation of the VPoA. The regional level meeting precedes the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) slated for 2024 which will comprehensively review the implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action for LLDCs. Addressing the review meeting, High Representative and Under-Secretary- General Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Rabab Fatima, said the United Nations General Assembly has adopted an ambitious Call for action to accelerate the implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action to help LLDCs effectively implement the VPOA and achieve sustainable development. Clearly, the targets and aspirations of the VPOA, the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 are far off-track, Ms. Fatima noted, adding that, We must double-pace our efforts to turn things around. The 3rd LLDCs Conference provides us with an opportunity to do that. Ms. Fatima said Africa must leverage the once-in-a-decade opportunity of the 3rd LLDC conference to mobilize global support and solidarity to strengthen partnerships to transform the lives and livelihoods of 533 million people in 32 landlocked countries. For his part, Botswana Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Molebatsi Molebatsi, said LLDCs should not be left behind in sustainable development but need financing for better connectivity to implement the Vienna Programme of Action and to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. Calling for the successor Programme of Action of the VPoA to be an accelerator in achieving the SDGs, Mr. Molebatsi, bemoaned that Africas LLDCs are locked out of global trade. There is a need to work together to ensure the overcoming of the common challenges we have. The use of the latest technologies will go a long way in helping us achieve this objective, said Mr. Molebatsi. On May 26, 2023, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) officially opened nominations for candidates who wish to lead the great elephant tradition as flagbearer for the 2024 general elections. This administrative process does not only pave the way for presidential hopefuls to express interest but also places a huge burden on party delegates to select a leader who possesses exceptional qualities capable of breaking the eight-year cycle of power alternation that has characterized our elections in the fourth republic. So far, several names have been mentioned as possible contenders. However, Vice President Dr. Bawumia stands out among his opponents in a league of his own. By unraveling the letters within Bawumia's name, this article will unveil a tapestry of unparalleled attributes that set him apart, elevating him as the prime choice for the NPP and the future of Ghana. From his Brilliance and Ambition to his Winning and Unifying spirit, Bawumia encapsulates a unique blend of qualities that make him the ultimate candidate to lead the NPP and Ghana towards a prosperous future. B stands for Brilliant: Dr. Bawumia's brilliance is a shining attribute that has consistently served the NPP party, and the Government of Ghana. His exceptional intellect and analytical prowess have played a pivotal role in shaping policies, driving economic growth, and steering the nation towards progress. First, his successful career as an astute academic with first class bachelors degree, masters degree and a PhD in Economics is evidence of his exceptional brilliance. His academic publications on macroeconomics, international economics, development economics, and monetary policy are highly cited materials for researchers across the globe. He has been pivotal in the formulation of the brilliant manifestos presented by the NPP since 2008. His brilliant performance as a star witness for the NPP during the 2012 election petition as well as his stellar public economics lecture series before the 2016 elections are still fresh in the minds of party folk. In Government, Dr. Bawumia has significantly contributed to the formulation and implementation of key economic policies, notable digitalization programs, international economic relations and effectively communicating and defending government policies during critical periods. Dr. Bawumias quality as a brilliant person makes him a preferred candidate who Ghanaians would be comfortable to rely on to solve unforeseen complex challenges, and to formulate and implement excellent policies that will improve the lives of people. A stands for Ambitious: Dr. Bawumia is an ambitious leader who has a clear vision for the future of Ghana and the NPP. He has articulated his vision of building a prosperous and inclusive Ghana that leverages on its human and natural resources, embraces innovation and technology, and fosters good governance and accountability. His dreams extend far beyond political rhetoric, as he aspires to achieve tangible progress in areas such as economic growth, infrastructure development, and social welfare. Dr. Bawumia's grand aspirations for a prosperous Ghana are unmatched, making him the ideal candidate to lead the NPP forward. His actions and advocacy have always championed the agenda of breaking the eight-year cycle of power alternation. He has demonstrated his ambition by resigning his job as Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana and Resident Representative of the African Development Bank for Zimbabwe to partner President Akufo-Addo as vice presidential candidate of our great party. It is his unending determined ambition that drives his leadership to see a prosperous Ghana under the leadership of the NPP. W stands for Winner: Dr. Bawumia is a winning candidate. As a vice presidential candidate who has been part of the winning ticket of the NPP in two consecutive elections (2016 and 2020), Dr. Bawumia is the only contender who has a record of electoral victories at the highest level of Ghanaian politics. On the other hand, some of his contenders have records of losing internal primaries with no single experience at the general elections. Dr. Bawumias winning attribute is a strong one particularly considering that our main opponent from the NDC is John Mahama who also has a history of winning an election. However, Dr. Bawumia stands above John Mahama because his winning is more recent (2016 and 2020) than that of John Mahama (2012) coupled with the fact that his two victories were against John Mahama. Thus, by harnessing his winning quality, Dr. Bawumia offers the NPP a strong chance to mobilize support, capture the imagination of the electorate, and break the eight for the NPP to steer Ghana towards a future of prosperity and progress. U stands for Unifier: Dr. Bawumia is a unifying figure who can bring together different factions and regions of the party and the country. He has shown his ability to work harmoniously with President Nana Akufo-Addo as his running mate and vice president, as well as with other members of the government and parliament. He has also demonstrated his commitment to national unity by promoting peace and tolerance among different religious and ethnic groups in Ghana, especially between Christians and Muslims. His unifying spirit has made him a preferred choice of several fronts in the party including over 100 MPs who have declared their support for his presidential bid, as well as several party executives, youth groups, and traditional leaders. By embracing Dr. Bawumia's unifying quality, the NPP strengthens its position in the 2024 elections. A united party, guided by a leader like Dr. Bawumia who prioritizes inclusivity, coalition building, and national reconciliation, stands a higher chance of securing electoral victory. Bawumia's unifying quality resonates with voters who seek a leader capable of bridging divides, fostering cohesion, and steering Ghana towards a future marked by unity, progress, and prosperity. M stands for Modern: In today's rapidly evolving world, a leader who embraces modernity and is forward-thinking is essential for the success of any political party. Dr. Bawumia is a modern politician who understands the needs and aspirations of the Ghanaian people, especially the youth and women. Dr. Bawumia's modernity reflects his ability to envision and adapt to the changing landscape of governance, economics, and technology. He understands the importance of staying ahead of the curve and embracing innovative solutions to address the challenges faced by Ghana. For instance, he saw the significance of medical drones at a time when the main opposition party (NDC) said the technology was to be used to spy on people's privacy. He has also advocated for policies and programs that empower the youth and inner cities, such as free senior high school education, Zongo development fund, among others. I stands for Influential: Dr. Bawumia is an influential personality who commands respect and admiration from both local and international stakeholders. He has been recognized as one of the most influential vice presidents in Africa by various media outlets and organizations. He has also represented Ghana at various regional and global forums and established strong relations with various foreign leaders and partners. His influential personality emanates from his unwavering commitment to integrity. Throughout his career, he has maintained an impeccable track record of honesty, transparency, and accountability. Bawumia's unwavering adherence to ethical principles builds trust among the electorate, assuring Ghanaians that their interests will be protected under his leadership. A stands for Achiever: Bawumia's remarkable track record of achievements further solidifies his standing as the best candidate for the NPP. From spearheading initiatives to digitize the economy and promoting financial inclusion to implementing policies that have positively impacted the lives of Ghanaians, his accomplishments speak volumes about his ability to deliver tangible results. His track record of success, particularly in the areas of economic stewardship, infrastructure development, and social interventions, positions the NPP as a party that can deliver on its promises and drive positive change. This result-oriented leadership style and ability to achieve tangible outcomes inspire confidence among party members and voters, enhancing the NPP's prospects in the upcoming elections. In conclusion, these are some of the qualities that make Dr. Bawumia unique and outstanding from his opponents in the NPP presidential primaries and the 2024 general elections. Dr. Bawumia is the best choice for NPP in 2024 because he has the qualities that the party needs to win and to continue the legacy of President Nana Akufo-Addo. He is a naturally born leader whose name spells out his leadership qualities. He is brilliant, ambitious, a winner, a unifier, modern, influential, and an achiever. He is the hope of the NPP, the legacy of President Nana Akufo-Addo and Ghana. He deserves the support and vote of every NPP delegate at the presidential primaries and Ghanaian citizens during the general elections for a prosperous and progressive Ghana. Thank you! Written by: Dr. Issah Imoro ([email protected]) 30 May 2023 The Abuakwa North Municipal National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) in the Eastern Region of Ghana has on Monday 29th May, 2023 toured two basic schools to sensitize the pupils on menstrual hygiene practices as the world marks menstrual hygiene month and also donated sanitary pads and educational materials to them. The entourage, which was led by Mr Amaniampong Frank, Municipal NASPA President, visited Obodaase and Tontro M/A Junior High Schools. Personnel from the Municipal Health Service and Ghana Education Service accompanied the team for the sensitization process. Speaking in an interview with journalists, Mr Amaniampong Frank explained that the gesture was necessitated by the pupils' inability to afford the sanitary pads and resort to unsuspecting adults for such benevolence which sometimes result in unwarranted sexual affairs and its negative consequences such as teenage pregnancy and sexually related diseases. He added that some of the girls absent themselves from school during their menstrual period due to the non-availability of sanitary pads depriving them of quality education which goes a long way to affect socio-economic development of the country. Mr Amaniampong Frank further pleaded with Government institutions, Non-Governmental Organizations, stakeholders and all well-meaning individuals to come to the aid of the vulnerable girls as the world marks the month. Miss Elizabeth Gabiam, Municipal NASPA Vice President on her part thanked Honourable Gifty Twum-Ampofo MP for Abuakwa North also the Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Honourable Alhaji Umar Babs Bodinga and all those who supported the project from diverse ways and said, their contributions have gone a long way to put smiles in the faces of the pupils. The Women's Commissioner of Abuakwa North NASPA, Madam Fawziatu Idrisu also expressed satisfaction with the pupil's participation and added that more of such education will be organized frequently in the Municipality. 30.05.2023 LISTEN African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) wishes to call on President Bola Tinubu to declare his assets in accordance with Paragraph 11 of Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution and make it public as a way of committing to the genuine fresh beginning he promised Nigerians. AFRICMIL believes that declaring his assets and making it public would place Mr Tinubu on a much higher moral pedestal than his predecessors who were not on record to have taken any significant action regarding this constitutional obligation. Besides the moral capital that accompanies such a rare gesture, Mr. Tinubu would be seen to have reinforced belief in the Renewed Hope agenda on which his governance plan is anchored, and which was the mantra at every turn in his campaign trail. The anti-corruption agenda of the Tinubu administration remains vague even though in his inaugural speech President Tinubu said his administration would take proactive steps such as championing a credit culture to discourage corruption while strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of the various anti-corruption agencies. AFRICMIL looks forward to a more detailed and unambiguous anti-corruption programme and is ready to work with the Tinubu administration to tame the vicious monster of corruption currently ravaging the country. Before we get a full understanding of the new administrations trajectory on fighting corruption, we would like to propose to President Tinubu that an important tool for enhancing transparency and accountability and reducing corruption is whistleblowing. We are disappointed at the failure of the immediate past government to enact a whistleblowing and whistleblower protection law, even though it introduced the whistleblowing policy as one of its anti-corruption strategies in December 2016 and approved a draft whistleblower protection bill in December 2022. To address this disabling lapse, we are using this opportunity to call on this administration to take steps to sign the whistleblowing and whistleblower protection bill into law without further delay. A whistleblowing law would boost the confidence of citizens to report fraud, block leakages and increase the revenue which the new administration badly needs to sustain effective governance at this time. AFRICMIL also calls on former president, Muhammadu Buhari, to declare his assets and make it public as a token gesture of redemption for his severely diminished integrity. This is not the first time AFRICMIL would be requesting elected officers to publicize their assets records as a mark of upholding transparency and accountability in governance through personal example. In 2011, AFRICMIL dragged the Code of Conduct Bureau to court seeking an order compelling the CCB, within the ambit of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act, to make available to the public the asset declaration form of President Goodluck Jonathan. In 2017, AFRICMIL again sued the CCB for refusal to make available the asset details of principal officers of the National Assembly since 2011. Following the unfavorable judgment of Justice Adamu Abdu-Kafarati of the Federal High Court, AFRICMIL took the matter to the Appeal Court. The case has yet to be heard. AFRICMIL will not relent in its advocacy for good governance through activities that are targeted at holding public officers accountable. Chido Onumah, PhD Coordinator In the presence of the Ambassador of France to Nigeria and ECOWAS, HE Ms. Emmanuelle Blatmann, two financing agreements totaling 20 million were signed by HE Dr. Omar Alieu Touray the President of the ECOWAS Commission, and HE Ms. Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, French Minister of State for Development, Francophonie, and International Partnerships, on May 29 2023 in Abuja, Nigeria. This financing is dedicated to the implementation of two projects, respectively, the 11 million Support to the Local Milk Regional Strategy aiming at developing local dairy value chains in West Africa; and the 9 million Support to the West African Food Security Storage Strategy, increasing to 17 million the total amount of French support for this critical project. This additional funding is crucial in the context of a worsening food crisis in the region. His Excellency, Dr. Omar Alieu TOURAY, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, stated that the various technical and financial support provided by France to ECOWAS through the AFD Group has enabled the region to support various areas, among which are: the implementation of the ECOWAS agricultural policy (ECOWAP), the creation and implementation of the regional energy market, the health sector, and the development of the activities of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID). He specifically commended the support that the AFD Group has given over the past 10 years which amounts to a total of 135 million including 75 million in delegated European funds to implement regional projects and programs dealing with critical issues of vulnerabilities and crises affecting the region (food security, livestock and transhumance conflicts, Sanitary and phytosanitary, climate smart Agriculture and sustainable agriculture). The projects implementation will be performed by the ECOWAS Commission, through its Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (RAAF). The project activities will be carried out in the ECOWAS region extended to Chad, Mauritania and Cameroon. This support from the French Development Agency, AFD, is part of our collective efforts to strengthen the regional response to food security and nutrition challenges, as well as fostering economic and social development in the region, explained the French Minister of State. Commending the extent of the ongoing partnership between AFD and ECOWAS, the Minister of State said that this support fully contributes to ECOWAPs priority on food sovereignty. This is also in line with one of the priority objectives that France intends to support in Africa, as HE President Emmanuel Macron stated during the French Presidential Development Council on May 5 2023. Mr. Joseph Oduro-Buabeng, NCCE Director, Tano North reading Civic Message to the pupils 30.05.2023 LISTEN The Annual Citizenship Week Celebration is one of the National Commission for Civic Educations flagship programmes which targets basic school pupils across the country. The 2023 target nationwide is 8080 schools while Tano North quota is 30 schools which will be selected across the nine educational circuits. The Municipal Director for NCCE Tano North, Mr Joseph Oduro-Buabeng together with the Municipal Director for Centre for National Culture (CNC) Tano North launched the week-long celebration at Koforidua M/A JHS on Friday 26th May 2023. Mr. Joseph Oduro-Buabeng elucidated the importance of the Citizenship Week to the pupils. He said it gives them the opportunity to interact with people who have excelled in their chosen occupations and to serve as role model for them. He said the commission is using the celebration to instil in them the spirit of good citizenship to enable them become responsible leaders and ensure adherence to national values such as patriotism and respect for authority. He said the NCCE theme for the year 2023 which also serves as 30 years of the existence of the Commission is 30 Years of Consolidating Constitutional Democracy: Building National Cohesion through Civic Education and Participation in Local Governance. He however, explained that the Citizenship Week is being celebrated under the sub theme 30 Years of Consolidating Constitutional Democracy and Building National Cohesion: The Role of the Ghanaian Child. Mr. Richard Owusu, the Municipal Director for Centre for National Culture (CNC) who was the resource person on his part thanked the Commission for embarking on such education, especially at a time when there is so much moral decadence in the country. He said the theme for the week celebration is timely and appropriate to encourage the pupils to be law abiding. He tasked them to respect people in authority, especially their teachers. He further urged the students to desist from the habit of destroying school property as well as eschewing social vices. He said corruption is destroying the moral fibre of society as it has become normal for one to pay bribes if not curtailed will cause the youth to go astray. Open forum The students appealed to the Commission to visit the school regularly to give them such education which will shape their minds and also remind them of their civic rights and responsibilities. They urged the Commission to speak to the government to pay their school caterers for them to return and resume cooking. They recommended to the Commission to speak for them at Assembly meetings for their classroom to be fixed with ceiling fans as the room becomes hot when the sun scorches. The war waged by the Ethiopian Federal Government and Eritrea against the Tigray regional government, which lasted from November 2020 to November 2022, caused massive devastation. Multiple war crimes were reported and there were claims of genocidal intent . A starvation campaign led to the death of at least 300,000 civilian victims. One of the places that managed to escape the destruction was the Dabba Selama village. Located in Tigray's Dogu'a Tembien district, the village is composed of four settlements, home to about 5,000 people. These settlements are scattered around one of Ethiopia's oldest monasteries. Located on an isolated, elevated, flat ridge, the community is highly dependent on agriculture. We've published a book on the Dogu'a Tembien district, based on 25 years of geographical research in the district. In January 2023, after the war had ended, we returned to the district to continue research on the society and environment. We focused on 10 villages in Dogu'a Tembien, one of which is Dabba Selama . The residents of Dabba Selama consider themselves lucky. Other villages became targets for military attacks. In four of the 10 villages, massacres of civilians occurred . Women and girls were victims of sexual violence perpetrated by military forces. Homes, schools and farm products were deliberately destroyed. Even though the war front moved past Dabba Selama several times, the community suffered less than the other villages we studied, thanks to their geographical isolation, strong community bonds and agriculturally productive landscape. Isolated During our interviews we understood that there was no warfare in the village itself and no direct civilian casualties. Unlike the nine other villages we visited, the interviewees in Dabba Selama did not mention children or elders dying from hunger. Because the village and monastery are in rugged terrain, some 20km from the nearest road, Ethiopian and Eritrean armies marched through the settlements just once and did not stop in it. The community's grain stores and other assets weren't looted, burned, or purposefully ruined by soaking or admixing of soil, as in other communities. The farmers had food even during the critical period. Many of them could afford to buy some (expensive) additional food or medications. It is also fortunate that the one time the soldiers crossed the village, they didn't notice the monastery beyond an overhanging cliff and nobody informed them of its existence. Otherwise, they might have invaded it. The armies believed that the Tigray leadership was hiding in caves and other inhospitable locations. They also set out to destroy Tigray's historical sites . Strong social bonds Those interviewed said that, despite the suffering, people helped each other. This contrasts with other villages we visited where the big complaint was that social bonds had become much weaker. Interviewing members of the community in the uplands around Dabba Selama. In Dabba Selama, community bonds were strong even before the war, like most remote villages. People typically helped each other with cereals or money, and this continued. The community including village leaders shared what they had, so people survived. In other villages, leaders sometimes diverted aid or supplies to their family members. Food stocks When the war broke out, the village had some food in stock. The farmlands in Dabba Selama, especially those on the high plain, are relatively productive and farmers had cereals in their granaries. Not far from the village, at the foot of steep slopes, there are springs. The farmers use these for small-scale irrigation. With its rugged terrain, good rainfall and warm temperatures, the area is also suitable for keeping livestock. Many farmers from the village traded fruit, selling it at nearby markets when there was no active fighting. Ability to hide At the end of 2020, when the war front came close to Dabba Selama, the farm households abandoned their homesteads. They fled to the gorges and mountains with their livestock, flatbread and food supplies, including flour, spices, coffee and salt. Before leaving, the farmers dug pits in the ground and hid the grain bags they had in their houses. Old men, who are traditionally perceived to be less exposed to brutalities by the military, took the responsibility to supervise the houses in the village. Fortunately the fighting did not come close. In nearby villages, this strategy went wrong and it's reported that elders were massacred , but not so in Dabba Selama. Tough times This is not to say the residents of Dabba Selama did not endure hardship. The community struggled to produce food. Many farmlands in Dabba Selama were not cultivated on time in 2021 and 2022 due to the war. It was difficult to get seeds and fertiliser. Farmers mainly sowed teff grass (Eragrostis tef) in the absence of other seeds. Compared to other crops, teff gives lower yields per farmland area. The seed shortage was partly due to hunger. Many households had to eat the grain seeds they had conserved from previous harvests. Crops were poorly managed because of the war, and the yield of 2022 was worse than any year at peace time, given the total absence of agricultural inputs. In addition, reforestation areas and natural forests were affected by wood harvesting and charcoal preparation made necessary by poverty. Over the 30 years before the war, a strong effort had been made to regreen Tigray as part of sustainable land management . Finally, owing to the blockade on the region, commodities were expensive for the villagers. At the worst point, the sale price of an ox would barely purchase 50kg of grain. Only the better-off residents could afford the market prices. Natural and social capital Ultimately though, Dabba Selama has suffered less from the human-made starvation than other villages in Tigray due to its isolation and its location. The village had a good economic situation, allowing farmers to maintain their social capital and social bonds. Jan Nyssen received funding for the field campaign from NASA-Harvest through the University of Maryland (grant number 80NSSC17K0625). Biadgilgn Demissie, Emnet Negash, Hailemariam Meaza, Sofie Annys, Tesfaalem Gebreyohannes, and Zbelo Tesfamariam do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. By Jan Nyssen, Professor of Geography, Ghent University And Biadgilgn Demissie, Postdoctoral researcher, Universite Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) And Emnet Negash, Doctoral researcher, Ghent University And Hailemariam Meaza, Assistant Professor, Mekelle University And Sofie Annys, Postdoctoral researcher, Ghent University And Tesfaalem Gebreyohannes, Associate Professor at the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Mekelle University And Zbelo Tesfamariam, Assistant Professor, Mekelle University Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin has reacted to the misconception that lawmakers are wealthy. On the contrary, he said lawmakers are struggling to survive. The Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu stated that many MPs are overburdened with debts due to their unshakable loyalty to their constituency. Speaking in an interview on the Adom TV Badwam Show, he dispels the notion that MPs live lavish lives, indicating that anyone who suggests differently is spewing lies. A lot of MPs are in debt; if someone tells you that MPs are rich, they are deceiving you. Many of us have made tremendous sacrifices for the sake of our constituents, which has left us in dire financial situations, remarked Mr. Afenyo-Markin. The legislature noted that while many affluent people support MPs in the Western countries to serve their constituents well this is not the case in Ghana. He noted that MPs would have to dip their hands deep into their pockets or look for other funding means to meet the insatiable needs of the constituents they serve. According to Afenyo-Markin, the situation makes Ghanaian politicians more financially vulnerable and indebted. In light of these circumstances, Mr Afenyo-Markin urged Ghanaians to support MPs to ease the burden of meeting the development needs of the people. The mysterious remains of the Tollund Man, who died over 2,500 years ago but was remarkably preserved in a Danish bog, continue to fascinate historians and archaeologists today. According to a tweet on Tuesday, May 30, by Historic Vids, "Tollund Man, a Dane who died 2500 years ago. His body was discovered in 1950, and was so well preserved he was briefly mistaken by authorities as a recent murder victim." The peat cutters who discovered the corpse in May 1950 in a peat bog near Silkeborg, Denmark "lay 60 m (200 ft) away from firm ground, buried under 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) of peat, his body arranged in the fetal position." The surprising state of preservation revealed details about the man's final moments. He wore "a pointed skin cap of sheepskin and wool, fastened under his chin by a hide thong, and a smooth hide belt around his waist. Additionally, a noose made of plaited animal hide was drawn tight around his neck and trailed down his back." Carbon dating revealed he died around 400 BC at about age 40. The cause of death has been determined as by hanging. Scholars believe the man was a human sacrifice, rather than an executed criminal, because of the arranged position of his body, and his eyes and mouth being closed." Despite spending more than two millennia in the bog, the natural preservation abilities of peat allowed the Tollund Man's undecayed remains to survive largely intact. TV3s broadcast journalist, Johnnie Hughes is asking Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia to leave the SHS students out of his digitization drive. He urges the Vice President to prioritize fundamental needs such as textbooks and feeding for the children. Hughes emphasized the importance of addressing these basic necessities before embarking on ambitious digital projects like the One Student, One Laptop initiative Bawumia wants to embark on. During the JohnnysBite show on 3Fm, he highlighted the delay in providing textbooks for the new curriculum, expressing concern that the implementation, which was intended to adopt a learner-based approach, had not been completed even after more than five years. He said, You have not finished giving the children textbooks for the new curriculum. You have not finished changing the structure in the classroom because you say the new curriculum is going to be learner-based from 2018 till today, you havent finished. More than five years. The journalist also drew attention to the ongoing strike of school feeding caterers, pointing out that the government's plan to digitize the school feeding program suggests it is out of touch with the reality on the ground. There is another one that also says we are digitizing the school feeding program. The Vice President on an occasion said were digitalizing school feeding. Is the Vice President aware that the school caterers have been on strike? Or he doesnt know? The school feeding caterers have been on strike! he exclaimed. Moving on, Mr Hughes questions the rationale behind the Vice President's previous remarks about using QR codes to purchase food (waakye) ignoring the practical realities of daily life that will throw defeat his idea. Was it not the same Vice president who told us that were going to use QR codes to go and buy Aunty Muni Waakye? Do we buy waakye with QR code? What kind of waakye is that? Or well now order the waakye from the Google Play store? Whats going on? He added, The basic things that we have to do, we have failed to have those basic things and were always making promises. Weve grown past that - Ghanaians have seen through all those things. Mr Hughes highlighted past unfulfilled promises of Dr. Bawumia including the "One Teacher, One Laptop" and "Every Child with a Tablet" initiatives, as well as every "Ghanaian to have a bank account." He criticized the government for failing to deliver on these commitments and stressed the importance of prioritizing essential services over unfulfilled ambitious projects. One teacher, one laptop we no finish. Every child will have a tablet, we no finish. Every Ghanaian will have a bank account, we no finish. Therell be no home in this country by 2018 that will have toilet or water problems, we no finish. Well convert all roads in Ghana to concrete roads, we no finish, he expressed. The journalist concluded by urging Vice President Bawumia to focus on resolving fundamental challenges. Lets do the basic things and tell your boss to stop talking about free water and free electricity because we are paying painfully for it, he said. Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo flared anew this weekend after Kosovo's police raided Serb-dominated areas in the region's north and seized local municipality buildings. There have been violent clashes between Kosovo's police and NATO-led peacekeepers on one side and local Serbs on the other, leaving several people injured on both sides. Serbia raised combat readiness of its troops stationed near the border and warned it won't stand by if Serbs in Kosovo are attacked again. The situation has again fueled fears of a renewal of the 1998-99 conflict in Kosovo that claimed more than 10,000 lives and left more than 1 million homeless. The ongoing conflict between Serbia and Kosovo stems from deep-rooted ethnic tensions and divergent perspectives on the region's status. No formal control Kosovo, predominantly inhabited by ethnic Albanians, was previously a province of Serbia but declared independence in 2008. However, Serbia refuses to recognize Kosovo as an independent state and maintains its claim over the territory, despite having no formal control. The international community is divided on this matter, with approximately 100 countries, including the United States, recognizing Kosovo's independence. On the other hand, Serbia has garnered support from Russia, China, and five European Union nations - Spain, Slovakia, Greece, Cyprus and Hungary . This impasse has prevented full stabilization of the Balkan region since the violent conflicts of the 1990s and has left tensions simmering. Recent Escalation The latest flare-up in the Serbia-Kosovo conflict is the result of a boycot of local elections in northern Kosovo by Serbs, who form the majority in that region. Consequently, newly elected ethnic Albanian mayors, backed by Kosovo's riot police, assumed office last Friday. The Serbs attempted to resist this transition, leading to the deployment of tear gas by the police to disperse them. This standoff intensified on Monday when Serbs staged a protest in front of municipal buildings, sparking fierce clashes with Kosovo peacekeepers and local police. The election boycott was preceded by the collective resignation of Serb officials, including administrative staff, judges, and police officers, in November 2022. Ethnic Conflict The underlying ethnic conflict in Kosovois is deeply rooted in history. Serbia regards the region as integral to its statehood and religion. Numerous medieval Serb Orthodox Christian monasteries are located in Kosovo, and Serb nationalists consider the 1389 battle against the Ottoman Turks, which was fought there, a symbol of their national struggle, although historians disagree about who was the actual winner. In contrast, Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority views the region as their country and accuses Serbia of occupation and repression. In 1998, ethnic Albanian rebels launched a rebellion against Serbian rule, leading to a brutal response from Belgrade. This prompted a NATO intervention in 1999, which resulted in Serbia's withdrawal from Kosovo and the establishment of international peacekeepers' control. Persisting tensions Tensions persist between the Kosovo government and the Serb population, primarily concentrated in the northern part of the country, who maintain close ties with Belgrade. Efforts by the central government to exert more control in the Serb-dominated north often face resistance from the Serbs living there. Mitrovica, the main town in the north, remains effectively divided between an ethnic Albanian part and a Serb-held part, with minimal interaction between the two communities. Additionally, smaller Serb-populated enclaves exist in the south of Kosovo, while tens of thousands of Kosovo Serbs reside in central Serbia, having fled together with retreating Serb troops in 1999. International initiatives Numerous international initiatives have aimed to find a resolution between the former wartime adversaries, Serbia and Kosovo. However, a comprehensive agreement has yet to be reached. EU officials have mediated negotiations to normalize relations between the two, resulting in several agreements on paper but limited implementation on the ground. Some progress has been made, such as the introduction of freedom of movement within the country. Proposed solutions, including border changes and land swaps, have been met with resistance from many EU countries due to concerns that they may trigger similar conflicts in other ethnically diverse areas of the Balkans, potentially leading to further instability. Lack of willingness to compromise The Serbia-Kosovo conflict is shaped by the leadership and positions of key figures in both nations, characterized by nationalist sentiments and a lack of willingness to compromise. In Kosovo, Albin Kurti has emerged as a prominent figure, having risen from a student protest leader to a political prisoner in Serbia. Kurti now leads the government in Kosovo and assumes the crucial role of the primary negotiator in EU-mediated talks. Known for his staunch support of Kosovo's unification with Albania, Kurti remains firmly opposed to any compromises with Serbia. On the other side, Serbia is led by President Aleksandar Vucic, a populist leader who previously served as the information minister during the war in Kosovo. Vucic, once an ultranationalist, now advocates for a compromise-based solution, emphasizing the need for a lasting agreement. He asserts that Serbia will not settle unless it gains something from the negotiations. Accelerated negotiations International officials are eagerly anticipating accelerated negotiations and a potential solution in the coming months. The normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo is crucial for their respective paths towards EU membership. Without a major breakthrough, prolonged instability, economic decline, and the constant potential for clashes loom over the region. It is important to note that any Serbian military intervention in Kosovo would undoubtedly lead to a clash with NATO peacekeepers stationed in the area. Belgrade maintains control over Kosovo's Serb population, and the dispute must be resolved for Kosovo to become a functional state and a member of the United Nations. (With agencies) 30.05.2023 LISTEN The Senior Pastor of The Alabaster International Ministry, Prophet Dr. Kofi Oduro has described the Akufo Addo-led government as the worst to ever happen to Ghana. In a viral video on social media, the outspoken evangelist asserted that the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led administration has completely failed Ghanaians. I want to tell my president, your expertise cannot fix this, from now until 7th December 2024 your excellency, you will go down in history as the worst in the 4th republic," Prophet Dr. Kofi Oduro said. He added that the average Ghanaian has gone through severe suffering and unbearable pain under the Akufo Addo-led administration with no end in sight. Its been six and half years of pain and agony, six and half years of bleeding and bloodshed, we need help, and that help no human can give, Prophet Dr. Kofi Oduro stated. Prof. Godfred Bokpin 30.05.2023 LISTEN Economist and Professor of Finance at the University of Ghana Business School, Prof. Godfred Bokpin has indicated that President Akufo-Addo was right on Sunday when he noted that the deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will not put an end to the countrys problems. I think [Sunday] there was an honest admission from the President that merely having an IMF programme doesnt mean our problems will just disappear. The IMF itself admits that their programme cannot do everything for us and therefore we need to complement some of the measures that are in the IMF programme with our own homegrown measures, Prof. Godfred Bokpin said in an interview with TV3. Despite acknowledging that the $3 billion Extended Credit Facility (ECF) secured from the IMF will help Ghana in many ways, the economist is not confident about its long-term impact. According to him, it is likely that Ghana wont be able to restore macroeconomic stability by 2026. We cannot get done solely by implementing the IMF programme. That said, I think having an IMF programme is good news for us because at least it provides us with the leverage to be able to turn things around in the shortest possible time. Of course, we may not be able to restore macroeconomic stability by 2026 but having macroeconomic stability is not an end in itself, it is a means to an end and therefore how do you move from economic stability to create economic transformation and inclusive productivity growth? That is where the challenge is, Prof. Godfred Bokpin argued. Citing the measures of the IMF programme, the structural reforms it comes with, and its quantitative indicative targets, the Professor of Finance notes that Ghana has a lot of work to do. He insists that this is the only way the country can recover from the economic crisis and get back on the path of progress and growth. A routine DNA test for a US visa application has blown the cover of a long-held family secret and now threatens to destroy a 15-year-old marriage. According to a post by Kofi Noel on social the woman, who requested anonymity to protect her children, has been living with the secret. "I have three kids with my husband but the first child's real dad is my ex-boyfriend," the woman confided. She dated her ex-boyfriend in high school but they went apart when she couldn't afford tertiary fees at the time the young man attended University of Ghana. In 2005, the lady said she met the man who is now her husband. She added, "He asked me to go to school and he will take care of the cost. She gained admission into the University of Ghana where she rekindled her love romance with her ex-boyfriend and got pregnant. She told her husband the pregnancy was his who also accepted and preceded to legally marry her. Now, the father who is an entrepreneur in the United States is preparing to take the first child abroad for education but a DNA test for their 15-year-old's US visa application has revealed the painful truth. "The embassy rejected the application just last week. I saw the refusal letter in my email. Their reason was that the DNA of my first child and my husband does not match," the woman said. Her husband is demanding to see the DNA results after giving him excuses for a month. "He has warned me to stop calling him until I email him the DNA results. He doesn't talk to me now. My world is falling apart and I don't know what to do again," she said. The woman is hoping to find a way to falsify DNA test results to maintain the status quo, despite the legal and ethical issues. "I am in a mess and I need help to come out of this situation even if the result of the DNA could be reversed I am ready to pay for it," she said. John Dumelo, the 2020 National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso West Wougon in the Greater Accra region, has explained he stopped pounding fufu after the 2020 elections. During his electioneering campaign, the actor-turned-politician showed a lot of benevolence, including pounding fufu and braiding her for some constituents, which many saw as a ploy for votes. However, after the elections, some of his supporters noticed that he stopped performing such acts of kindness. In a recent question and answer session on Twitter, a user asked Mr Dumelo why he stopped pounding fufu after the election. Why did you stop pounding fufu after the election, the tweep queried. In response, Dumelo revealed that the person he pounded fufu for had migrated from his constituency. "The lady I pounded the fufu for moved to Kasoa," he said in his response. Dumelo, who is aspiring to lead the Ayawaso West Wougon NDC again in the 2024 general elections, did not elaborate further on the matter. John Dumelo, who contested the seat for the first time was able to bridge the votes margin but lost the contest. Lydia Seyram Alhassan, who contested on the ticket of the NPP, retained the seat with 39,851 votes, representing 51.36% while John Setror Dumelo had 37,478, equivalent to 48.30% of the total vote cast. Meanwhile, the farming enthusiast says he is very optimistic about winning the seat for the NDC in 2024. Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has officially declared his intention to contest the flagbearer position of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) after picking up the presidential nomination form of the Party in Accra, on Tuesday. Mr Fred Oware, a Senior Advisor to Dr Bawumia, picked up the nomination form on behalf of the Vice President at the Party's headquarters at Asylum Down after paying the GH50,000 nomination fee. He was accompanied by Mr Sammy Awuku, a former Youth and National Organiser of the NPP and other leading members of the Party as well as some supporters of the Vice President. Dr Bawumia is one of seven aspirants who have so far picked up the nomination forms to contest in the Party's presidential primaries slated for November 4, this year. Already, Mr Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko, a former Energy Minister, Mr Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, a former General Secretary of the NPP, Mr Francis Addai-Nimo, a former Member of Parliament for Mampong, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, an Economist cum corporate executive and Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, a former Minister of Food and Agriculture, have all picked up the nomination form to contest the Party's flag bearer slot. Also, Mr Kwadwo Poku, an Energy Expert, has picked up nomination form to contest the presidential candidate slot. Addressing the media, on Tuesday, Mr Poku said tackling youth unemployment and improving local governance would be high on his agenda should he get the nod to lead the NPP as the flag bearer and ultimately, President of Ghana come 2024. Meanwhile, Mr Evans Nimako, Director of Elections of the NPP, said the leadership of the Party was, so far, impressed with progress of the exercise. He indicated that the Party considered the election of a flag bearer as a serious business because we are electing our presidential candidate who is going to be the president of Ghana come January 7, 2025. Mr Nimako assured flag bearer hopefuls of the Party's commitment to create a transparent, levelled-playing field for the election for all prospective candidates. We expect them (flag bearer hopefuls) to conduct a campaign that is civil, that is within the rules and regulations, he said. The NPP, on Friday, May 26, opened nominations for the election of its presidential candidate for the 2024 general election. The exercise is expected to end on June 24, 2023. The one-month exercise kick-starts the processes for the final leg of the party's internal elections to elect a presidential candidate for the NPP slated for Saturday, November 4, 2023, to contest on the ticket of the Party in the 2024 general election. Party bigwigs, including Mr Alan Kyerematen, former Trade Minister and Mr Kennedy Agyepong, MP for Assin Central, who have all made their intentions to contest for the Party's flagbearer slot are expected to pick up their nomination forms in the coming days. GNA Senegal has long been lauded for its reputation for calm and stability in the volatile region of West Africa. But the country now finds itself bracing for a showdown as firebrand opposition leader Ousmane Sonko faces the outcome of a trial for alleged rape. Few people in this country of nearly 17 million are lukewarm in where they stand on Sonko. The 48-year-old has fired up the country's disaffected young, portraying them, and himself, as victims of the "state mafia." At the apex of this corrupt elite, Sonko says, is a "monster" -- President Macky Sall, Senegal's suave-tongued two-term head of state, whom he accuses of plotting a dictatorship. Sonko also rails against France, the former colonial power, and as a father of six and husband of two wives presents himself as a defender of religion and traditional values. He has called for a tougher penalties against same-sex relations. Tensions in Dakar are high after Sonko declared on Tuesday he was being "illegally detained" ahead of the verdict of the rape trial on Thursday and urged the public to protest en masse. "Everyone should rise up as one, because power should remain with the people," he said. Deadly protests broke out in Dakar in 2021 after Sonko was accused of rape. By Seyllou (AFP/File) He called for a "national resistance movement" to defend democracy and freedoms. When Sonko was arrested in 2021, several days of clashes left at least 12 people dead. Several more have died in sporadic violence this year, including a fatality this weekend. Divisive Sonko has ascended to the position of presidential challenger after coming third in the 2019 elections. He campaigned on a pan-Africanist platform as the champion of the PASTEF-Patriots party, which he created in 2014. He won 15 percent of the vote, which -- for a political newcomer -- was widely seen as a remarkable achievement. Sall won 58 percent of the vote. For supporters of the president, Sonko is a rabble-rouser who has poisoned political discourse and sown instability. Senegal. By Jonathan WALTER (AFP) Sonko's approach "is the antithesis of our democratic culture and traditions," said Yoro Dia, one of the president's advisors. Sonko is stoking the prospect of violence in order to escape justice, Dia said. He described Sonko as "the Trojan Horse of the Salafists," whose puritan, ultra-orthodox form of Islam contrasts with Senegal's more tolerant Sufi mysticism. Massage Debate over Sonko sharpened after he was charged in 2021 with raping a beauty salon employee, leading to a case whose every detail is being avidly followed by the public. Sonko denies all charges against him and said he went to get a massage for a chronic back problem. He said he asked a preacher if Islam "permitted (a man) to be massaged by women who are not his spouses." He compares himself to Sall critics before him, who he said, were sidelined by manipulation of the justice system. Accuser: Beauty salon worker Adji Sarr says Sonko raped her and issued death threats. By SEYLLOU (AFP) But he has reserved his worst vitriol for his accuser, Adji Sarr, describing her as a "brain-damaged monkey." She says she received death threats. Sonko refused to attend the first two hearings in the trial, citing what he called security worries, and instead holed up in the southern city of Ziguinchor, where he has been mayor since 2022. He was detained by the security forces on Sunday as he led a so-called "caravan of freedom" of supporters back to Dakar. In Ziguinchor, many residents said they were divided over the trial. Amadou Badji, a 75-year-old pensioner, said Sall had been targeting Sonko for the past five years "simply because he raises hope." But 33-year-old coffee seller Algassim Diallo said that "the country has been taken hostage for the past two years by a tale about rapes... It's time to move on." The Police officer accused of killing his lover at Adum in the Kumasi Metropolis of the Ashanti Region has been officially charged with murder. The murder charge follows advice from the Attorney General's office to the prosecution. This was revealed by the prosecuting officer ACP Kofi Blagozi when the Asokore Mampong District court sat on the case on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. The plea of the suspect, Inspector Ahmed Twumasi was again not taken after his second appearance at the court. He will reappear before the court on June 20, 2023. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kofi Blagodzi, Head of Legal and Prosecutions at the Ashanti Regional Police Command told the court presided over by Mr Samuel Buaben Quansah that, they have received advise from the Attorney General's office and so have officially charged the suspect with murder. He told the court that, the Inspector General of Police IGP Dr Goerge Akuffo Dampare has taken interest in the case for justice to be served without delays. ACP Blagdezi assured the court that, the prosecution will be ready with their investigations and begin the committal process by the next adjourned date. Agitations by family in court Dozens of family members of the late Maa Adwoawho before the trial clashed with security officers at the forefront of the Asokore Mampong District Court after they attempted beat up the suspect. The family members who had besieged the court premises ahead of the trial were stopped by police after they tried to lynch the suspect for killing their daughter. Friends and family members of the deceased who thronged the court to witness the trial process were sighted crying profusely as they alleged a plot by the Police to delay the trial of the suspects. Murder Inspector Twumasi shot 26-year-old Victoria Dapaah popularly called Maadwoa at close range multiple times killing her instantly. The incident occurred on Thursday, 20 April 2023 around 9:30pm. The victim was said to have been shot six times in her head, neck, chest and stomach by Inspector Twumasi for allegedly cheating on him. The suspect took to his heels in a Pragya tricycle after the crime was committed. He was later arrested and put before the Asokore Mampong District court for the first time on April 26, 2023. The District Cocoa Officer for Bekwai District in the Ashanti Region, Mr Prince Kofi Amaoko says illegal mining activities in the area are hampering the progress of cocoa farming in the area. Mr Amoako who has expressed doubt about the future of cocoa farming in the country due to the uncontrolled felling of cocoa trees by illegal miners has called for immediate action to protect cocoa farms. He said this during an event to educate cocoa farmers dubbed "Cocoa Rally" at Pampaso community on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Speaking to Nancy Boamaah, a student of OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies at the sidelines of the event, Mr Prince Kofi Amaoko said Ghana will suffer if authorities allow cocoa farms to be destroyed by gold miners. He charged all Ghanaians to support the fight against galamsey in cocoa growing areas as a form of deliberately protecting national pride. "I am calling on all and sundry to join the campaign in sensitising farmers about the economic, nutritional and health benefits derived from cocoa cultivation as against the immediate benefits that galamsey seeks to promise. "Cocoa continues to be our national pride and we must deliberately protect it. It has a great measure of nutritional and health benefits, and it must be made part of the daily meals of all. Lets take advantage of this niche crop and protect it for posterity," he said. Some of the cocoa farmers who were at the event commended the District Cocoa officers for the education. They said the event was an eye-opener as it paved the way for the farmers to get important information on cocoa farming. They however called on the government to stop the menace of illegal mining on cocoa farms. Hundreds have flocked to the National Identification Authoritys Headquarters in Accra in hopes of registering for the Ghana Card before the SIM card re-registration deadline on May 31. Undeterred by the GH280 fee required to obtain the card, these desperate registrants have chosen to disregard previous opportunities presented to them over the years. Some individuals expressed their frustration with the registration process. One of them, Diana Amoano, said, The way they are doing things is not right. We are all doubting if we can get our Ghana Card today. Though it was free over the years, we were very busy with work and other stuff. We dont even get time to do many things. So its not our fault that we are doing it now. We are not sure what they are telling us, but we hope we will get our cards today. Im aware that tomorrow is the deadline, but until I get my Ghana Card, I cant register my SIM card, which is why Im still here. In response to these concerns, Professor Ken Agyemang Attafuah, the CEO of the National Identification Authority, acknowledged that there is little that the Authority can do beyond providing the current premium registration centres and opportunities in the past. He said that despite facing financial constraints, the NIA is committed to fulfilling its mandate efficiently. He added that there are about 2 million citizens above the age of 14 to be captured, while plans are advanced for those below the age of 15. We have about 2 million citizens above the age of 14 to be captured on the Ghana Card. Despite the financial constraints, we are committed to fulfilling our mandate, he stated. A team of military and police personnel have been deployed to restore calm following the arrest of some 48 illegal miners who were trapped in a mine shaft belonging to AngloGold Ashanti in Obuasi. The youth besieged the Obuasi police station to demand the release of their colleagues who were trapped in the shaft mine and later arrested. Armed men with armoured vehicles are currently stationed at the police station. They fire gunshots to disperse the angry youth who vowed not to return to their various homes until their colleagues are released. According to some of the illegal miners, some of their colleagues are still trapped in the shaft, adding that they will return to the shaft to mine after the release of their colleagues as the mining is their source of income. The miners reportedly entered the underground shaft in search of gold deposits but were unable to come out after all exit routes were closed. AngloGold Ashanti in a statement on May 30, refuted claims that the 300 illegal miners trapped in one of the company's mine shafts are confined and unable to exit. It explained that the trapped miners have not been confined and can exit on foot via the existing ramp from the mine. Unauthorized persons underground are able to exit on foot, via the existing ramp, through the main access of this mining area. No person underground has been confined in any way and the main exit ramp from the mine remains open. Obuasi Gold Mine's management team has notified the relevant authorities and public security services and is working closely with them, the mining firm said in its statement. -citinewsroom 30.05.2023 LISTEN The Board and Management of the Koforidua Senior High Technical School (SECTECH) have indefinitely suspended some 85 students of the school following the brutal attack on students and teachers of the New Juaben Senior High School. The attack, which happened on Sunday, May 14, 2023, left four students of the New Juaben Senior High School and the schools chaplain badly injured. Personnel of the Ghana Police Service who were called in during the attack managed to arrest four students of SECTECH to commence their investigations. The schools disciplinary committee, which also began independent investigations into the attack while liaising with the police, managed to identify six students who masterminded the attack and were immediately handed their sanctions. According to Citi News sources within the school, the disciplinary committee met all 85 students to interrogate them before submitting a report to the schools board, which then recommended and sanctioned the decision to suspend the students indefinitely. Majority of the students, who are final year students, will however be given the opportunity to write their final WASSCE exams. The fate of a student who was hit in the head with a machete during the attack and partially paralyzed and receiving treatment back home in Sehwi Wiaso hangs in the balance as the disciplinary committee awaits his full recovery before he takes his turn at the committee for his punishment. Meanwhile, Citi News sources within the school have confirmed that the students will be made to pay for the full cost of all damaged items at the New Juaben Senior High School. This was part of the recommendation from the schools board. In addition, the board also recommended the demotion of all prefects in the school for failing to pick up signals of the brutal twin attack that faithful day. Ugandan activists called on international donors to impose sanctions on rights abusers after President Yoweri Museveni signed an anti-gay law described as one of the world's harshest. The veteran leader defied warnings that approving the much-criticised bill against homosexuality would strain ties between Kampala and key foreign partners and aid donors, including Washington. Among other harsh measures, the new law prescribes a death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality" in certain circumstances, though Uganda has not carried out capital punishment for several years. The move has trigged calls for a tough response from Uganda's diplomatic and financial backers. "This is a key time for stakeholders, such as the US and the EU, to move forward with sanctions against Ugandans implicated in human rights abuses," a coalition of Ugandan activist groups said in a statement late Monday. They warned that the "dangerous and discriminatory" law would further crimp freedoms for civil society under Museveni, whose rule has become increasingly authoritarian since he took power in 1986. "Creating new crimes like these are a well-known way to engineer a legal basis to throw those with divergent views behind bars," said Clare Byarugaba from Chapter Four Uganda, one of the groups calling for sanctions. She said the law would also discourage members of the LQBTQ community from seeking treatment for HIV and would "devastate the fight" against the disease in Uganda. United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said Tuesday that he was "very concerned" by the new law, saying "no one should be penalized, jailed, criminalized for whom they love". "The secretary-general has been very clear and continues to call on all member states to uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," Guterres's spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters, suggesting that some UN work in Uganda could be halted because of the law. 'Undermine relationships' Ugandan lawmakers have stood firm against western criticism over the bill since it was introduced to parliament in March, even if it meant cuts to foreign aid or other repercussions. US President Joe Biden on Monday said it was "a tragic violation of universal human rights" and threatened to cut aid and investment if the bill was not repealed. Biden said he had asked his National Security Council to assess what the law means for "all aspects of US engagement with Uganda", including services providing AIDS relief and other assistance and investments. He said the administration would also consider sanctions against Uganda and the restriction of entry into the United States for people engaging in human rights abuses or corruption there. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the Ugandan government was obligated to uphold the rights of all its citizens, and "failure to do so will undermine relationships with international partners". In 2014, donors slashed aid to Uganda after Museveni approved a bill that sought to impose life imprisonment for homosexual relations, which was later overturned. The Netherlands froze a seven-million-euro subsidy to Uganda's legal system, while Denmark and Norway redirected around six million euros each towards private-sector initiatives, aid agencies and rights organisations. The US also cut aid and trading rights over that bill. Though criticised abroad, the latest anti-gay law has enjoyed broad support in the conservative country, where lawmakers defended the measures as a necessary bulwark against Western immorality. Homosexuality was criminalised in Uganda under colonial laws, but there has never been a conviction for consensual same-sex activity since independence from Britain in 1962. Prof. Joseph Tufuor Kwarteng, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Business and Social Sciences Education, University of Cape Coast says he sees nothing wrong with the Basic 4 textbook reveals the negative impact of missionary religions. He however condemns the singling out of Christianity. According to him, education is meant to teach students facts without attaching religious sentiments. "Religion deals with faith, and every faith has its contentions, but most are not spoken about. We don't bring faith issues into education. Education deals with issues as they are," he shared. Speaking on GBC Radio Central's Morning Show Tuesday, 30th May 2023, he averred that "I'm surprised we're fixated on the negatives, but just the preceding page of the textbook, it states the contributions of religion towards the development of Ghana, so why would we hammer only on the negatives and not the positives in the same book." The Curriculum and Instruction Scholar furthered that he sees nothing wrong with the points raised in the textbook except point two which says 'Christianity has led to an increase in poverty'. He noted that there is a direct link between religion and laziness which contributes to poverty in Ghana and Africa. According to him, religion makes people lackadaisical in their attitude towards finding practical ways to improve their undesirable living conditions. "Whatever has been written in the book, I think nothing is wrong with it, except point two of the disadvantages of religion that singles out Christianity. That could have been changed, and there wouldn't have been any problem," Prof. Kwarteng stated. He stressed that "if we were to critically analyse what is written in the textbook, we would agree with its contents. Today Tuesdays, you can visit some churches, and people are all over praying, and the same is done through to Sunday." "A little love, a little money. So, a little prayer, a little work, then, we can make progress. The Bible says whatever one does shall prosper. It means we need to do something with our hands. If we concentrate all our efforts on prayer, things won't get better." He continued, "This conversation mentions Pastors since we are talking about Christianity. Some pastors normally encourage their flock to commit everything to God and prayer. We need to give towards the building of the Church of God. Why is it that the God that gives does not build His church? You've to think about it scientifically. If you don't do anything, nothing happens". "So, for that point, I don't personally see anything wrong with it, but to single out a particular religion is the problem. The book could have made a blanket statement that, that is how all religions are", Prof. Kwarteng intimated. Professor Ransford Gyampo, a Senior Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to respect the sanctity of the Electoral Commission and other independent institutions in the country. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, May 30, Prof. Gyampo expressed his concerns over a memo from the Electoral Commission's Director of Human Resources, requesting the submission of Curricula Vitae (CVs) of senior management of state agencies. In his post, the outspoken lecturer wrote, "Dear President Akufo Addo, Why do you want to do this to an Independent Commission? It appears under your tenure, you are doing everything you can to decimate the independence of all independent institutions, but to what end?" He went on to highlight the history of Ghana's Fourth Republic, stating that President Akufo-Addo is currently the "worst President in promoting the sanctity of the independence of the Electoral Commission." Prof. Gyampo also criticized the lack of courageous people around the President, capable of advising him against such actions. He recalled a time when Dan Botwe, then-General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), could boldly tell President Kufuor to back off from usurping the procurement powers of the Electoral Commission. He urged the President to "leave office and leave the sanctity of our independent institutions intact." Prof. Gyampo warned that this practice is not worth emulating or repeating, particularly given its negative optics concerning the trust issues of the Electoral Commission. The political science expert called on the Electoral Commission to also resist any attempts to subjugate itself under the Executive President. As an independent commission, he emphasized that it is backed by law to maintain its autonomy. In response to the memo from the Electoral Commission's Director of Human Resource, Prof. Gyampo said, "This demand is unnecessary, and its optics for the quest to deal with the independence deficit of the Electoral Commission are bad." Some female Junior High School Students in the Ashanti Region have revealed that they resort to the use of second-hand diapers called 'fose' diapers, napkins and toilet rolls during their menstruation period in school. They narrated the difficulties they go through to get a sanitary pad which is very expensive. "I sometimes encounter my menses unaware when I am in school, and mostly I am not able to buy sanitary pad because it is too expensive. So what I do is that I buy 'fose' diaper or toilet roll. But because those materials are not fit for purpose, I sometimes soil my uniform with blood when I have a heavy flow, and then run to the house," a form three JHS student (name withheld) said during an interactive session at the 'Sister Sister' event organised for basic school children in Ashanti region by Mace, a social enterprise based in Ghana. The Sister Sister event which was held at the Wesco Practice School in Kumasi to commemorate the International Menstrual Hygiene Day was under the theme: "We Are Committed. In Ghana, for instance, the price of sanitary pads continue to soar especially in recent years due to high taxes. This has significantly resulted in period poverty affecting countless women and girls who are unable to afford or access sanitary products which adversely impacts their education, health, and overall well-being. According to the United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF), nine (9) out of every 10 girls in rural Ghana miss school during their menstrual periods. This is due to the lack of access to sanitary pads and basic facilities to manage their periods. It is against this backdrop, Mace - as part of its many interventions has come up with the Sister Sister project to address period poverty and menstrual hygiene in young girls. According to the Founder of Mace, Ms. Soteria Aba Yedua Ntim-Adu, the project is intended to address period poverty amongst young girls in public schools in deprived communities in Ghana through the provision of sanitary pads and comprehensive education on menstrual health and feminine hygiene. She expressed her dedication to the health and empowerment of women and girls in Ghana. "Every girl deserves the right to manage their periods with dignity and we need to take action and invest more in menstrual hygiene, we can create a world where no girl is left behind due to period poverty," she stated. Ms. Ntim-Adu noted that Mace is actively working towards breaking the barriers that hinder women's progress and ensuring they have the requisite support to lead healthy and dignified lives. The philanthropist and entrepreneur described as crucial for individuals and organizations to come together to fight against period poverty in Ghana. The students during the 'Sister Sister' event had the opportunity to learn about proper menstrual hygiene practices, the importance of using hygienic materials, and how to manage their periods in a healthy and dignified manner. They were also taught how to make menstrual bracelets to track their menstrual cycle. As a token of support, over 200 girls in attendance were provided with a 2 months supply of sanitary pads. The event also encouraged open dialogue on menstruation to break the social taboos and misconceptions surrounding this natural process. Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund (TSE:CHE.UN Get Rating) declared a monthly dividend on Tuesday, May 30th, TickerTech reports. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 27th will be given a dividend of 0.05 per share on Tuesday, June 27th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.14%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 30th. Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund Stock Performance Shares of TSE:CHE.UN traded down C$0.01 during trading on Monday, reaching C$8.40. The stock had a trading volume of 124,448 shares, compared to its average volume of 405,454. The firm has a market capitalization of C$973.14 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.94 and a beta of 1.56. Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund has a 52 week low of C$6.65 and a 52 week high of C$10.19. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of C$7.85 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$8.83. The company has a quick ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 180.06. Get Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms recently commented on CHE.UN. CIBC cut their target price on shares of Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund from C$12.00 to C$11.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. National Bankshares upped their target price on shares of Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund from C$11.50 to C$12.50 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 16th. Raymond James cut shares of Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and dropped their price objective for the company from C$12.00 to C$11.00 in a research note on Monday, February 27th. Scotiabank dropped their price objective on shares of Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund from C$10.50 to C$10.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 9th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund from C$10.00 to C$11.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 24th. About Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund provides industrial chemicals and services in Canada, the United States, and South America. It operates through Sulphur Products & Performance Chemicals (SPPC), Water Solutions & Specialty Chemicals (WSSC), and Electrochemicals (EC) segments. The SPPC segment removes and/or produces merchant, regenerated, and ultra pure sulphuric acid, sodium hydrosulphite, elemental sulphur, liquid sulphur dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, sodium bisulphite, and sulphides. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE:SAH Get Rating) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest during the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,710,000 shares, a decrease of 16.4% from the April 30th total of 3,240,000 shares. Currently, 21.1% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 394,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 6.9 days. Insider Activity In other news, President Jeff Dyke sold 86,596 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.80, for a total transaction of $4,399,076.80. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 814,199 shares of the companys stock, valued at $41,361,309.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Sonic Automotive news, CFO Heath Byrd sold 3,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.07, for a total value of $189,245.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 168,622 shares in the company, valued at $9,117,391.54. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, President Jeff Dyke sold 86,596 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, April 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.80, for a total transaction of $4,399,076.80. Following the completion of the sale, the president now owns 814,199 shares in the company, valued at $41,361,309.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 101,432 shares of company stock valued at $5,200,693 over the last three months. 40.95% of the stock is owned by insiders. Get Sonic Automotive alerts: Institutional Trading of Sonic Automotive Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC raised its stake in Sonic Automotive by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC now owns 18,200 shares of the companys stock worth $897,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its position in shares of Sonic Automotive by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 11,976 shares of the companys stock valued at $651,000 after buying an additional 248 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC raised its position in shares of Sonic Automotive by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 29,209 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,587,000 after buying an additional 258 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its position in shares of Sonic Automotive by 5.2% in the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 5,720 shares of the companys stock valued at $210,000 after buying an additional 281 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Inspire Investing LLC raised its position in shares of Sonic Automotive by 6.1% in the 1st quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 5,029 shares of the companys stock valued at $273,000 after buying an additional 290 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 52.50% of the companys stock. Sonic Automotive Stock Performance Shares of NYSE SAH traded up $0.07 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $41.80. 209,400 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 359,048. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $47.57 and its 200-day simple moving average is $50.76. The company has a quick ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.24. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 65.31 and a beta of 1.82. Sonic Automotive has a twelve month low of $34.17 and a twelve month high of $62.26. Sonic Automotive (NYSE:SAH Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.84 by ($0.51). The company had revenue of $3.49 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.55 billion. Sonic Automotive had a return on equity of 33.13% and a net margin of 0.27%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.33 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Sonic Automotive will post 6.78 earnings per share for the current year. Sonic Automotive Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.29 per share. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.78%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th. This is a boost from Sonic Automotives previous quarterly dividend of $0.28. Sonic Automotives dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 175.00%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Benchmark lowered their price objective on shares of Sonic Automotive from $71.00 to $58.00 in a research report on Monday, May 1st. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Sonic Automotive from $33.00 to $35.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 28th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Sonic Automotive in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Sonic Automotive from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $60.00 to $55.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 21st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Sonic Automotive has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $49.33. Sonic Automotive Company Profile (Get Rating) Sonic Automotive, Inc operates as a automotive retailer. Its services include sales of both new and used cars and light trucks, sales of replacement parts and performance of vehicle maintenance, warranty, paint and repair services and arrangement of extended service contracts, financing, insurance, vehicle protection products and other aftermarket products for automotive customers. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Sonic Automotive Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sonic Automotive and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alan B. Lancz & Associates Inc. purchased a new position in DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (NYSE:DD Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor purchased 2,178 shares of the basic materials companys stock, valued at approximately $164,000. Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its stake in DuPont de Nemours by 6.5% during the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 24,319,952 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,225,726,000 after buying an additional 1,482,656 shares during the last quarter. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC boosted its stake in DuPont de Nemours by 25.3% during the third quarter. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC now owns 5,863,691 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $295,530,000 after buying an additional 1,183,622 shares during the period. Macquarie Group Ltd. boosted its stake in DuPont de Nemours by 8.7% during the third quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 7,915,513 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $398,949,000 after buying an additional 635,732 shares during the period. Boston Partners boosted its stake in DuPont de Nemours by 4.4% during the third quarter. Boston Partners now owns 12,500,001 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $634,062,000 after buying an additional 522,086 shares during the period. Finally, Alyeska Investment Group L.P. purchased a new position in DuPont de Nemours during the first quarter worth $29,835,000. 71.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get DuPont de Nemours alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth DD has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on shares of DuPont de Nemours from $103.00 to $84.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Barclays decreased their target price on DuPont de Nemours from $76.00 to $72.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on DuPont de Nemours from $85.00 to $75.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Mizuho decreased their target price on DuPont de Nemours from $85.00 to $81.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on DuPont de Nemours from $72.00 to $79.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $78.36. Insider Transactions at DuPont de Nemours DuPont de Nemours Stock Up 1.1 % In other news, insider Michael G. Goss sold 2,374 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.46, for a total transaction of $155,402.04. Following the sale, the insider now owns 13,345 shares in the company, valued at $873,563.70. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink . Insiders own 0.50% of the companys stock. DuPont de Nemours stock traded up $0.73 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $68.33. The stock had a trading volume of 2,021,742 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,119,316. The company has a market cap of $31.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.93, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 3.29 and a quick ratio of 2.57. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $68.23 and its 200-day moving average price is $70.51. DuPont de Nemours, Inc. has a 52 week low of $49.52 and a 52 week high of $78.40. DuPont de Nemours (NYSE:DD Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The basic materials company reported $0.84 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.81 by $0.03. DuPont de Nemours had a return on equity of 6.34% and a net margin of 43.63%. The business had revenue of $3 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.94 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.82 earnings per share. The companys revenue was down 8.4% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that DuPont de Nemours, Inc. will post 3.64 EPS for the current year. DuPont de Nemours Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.36 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 30th. This represents a $1.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.11%. DuPont de Nemourss payout ratio is 12.49%. About DuPont de Nemours (Get Rating) DuPont de Nemours, Inc operates as a holding company engaged in the development of specialty materials, chemicals, and agricultural products. It operates through the following segments: Electronics & Industrial, Water & Protection, and Corporate & Others. The Electronics & Industrial segment supplies differentiated materials and systems for a broad range of consumer electronics including mobile devices, television monitors, personal computers and electronics used in a variety of industries. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (NYSE:DD Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for DuPont de Nemours Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for DuPont de Nemours and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Banco Bradesco S.A. (NYSE:BBDO Get Rating)s share price fell 4.7% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $2.64 and last traded at $2.64. 6,041 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 74% from the average session volume of 23,493 shares. The stock had previously closed at $2.77. Banco Bradesco Stock Performance The company has a market cap of $28.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.48 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $2.47 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $2.45. Get Banco Bradesco alerts: Banco Bradesco (NYSE:BBDO Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The bank reported $0.07 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $9.82 billion during the quarter. Banco Bradesco had a net margin of 9.54% and a return on equity of 11.66%. Banco Bradesco Increases Dividend Institutional Investors Weigh In On Banco Bradesco The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 13th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.0035 per share. This represents a $0.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.60%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 2nd. This is a boost from Banco Bradescos previous monthly dividend of $0.00. Banco Bradescos dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 9.68%. Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in shares of Banco Bradesco by 6.2% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 154,532 shares of the banks stock valued at $365,000 after acquiring an additional 9,051 shares during the period. Ethic Inc. boosted its position in shares of Banco Bradesco by 25.1% in the first quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 154,750 shares of the banks stock worth $365,000 after purchasing an additional 31,066 shares during the period. KCS Wealth Advisory purchased a new stake in shares of Banco Bradesco in the first quarter worth $158,000. Morgan Stanley raised its position in shares of Banco Bradesco by 5.0% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 154,868 shares of the banks stock valued at $400,000 after purchasing an additional 7,312 shares during the period. Finally, Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. purchased a new position in shares of Banco Bradesco during the 4th quarter valued at $50,660,000. Institutional investors own 0.01% of the companys stock. About Banco Bradesco (Get Rating) Banco Bradesco SA engages in the provision of financial and insurance services. It operates through Banking, and Insurance segments. The Banking segment includes banking activities. The Insurance segment covers auto, health, life, accident and property insurance, and pension plans aw well as capitalization bonds. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Banco Bradesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Bradesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Becker Capital Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Koninklijke Philips (NYSE:PHG Get Rating) by 58.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,268,143 shares of the technology companys stock after acquiring an additional 468,355 shares during the quarter. Becker Capital Management Inc. owned about 0.14% of Koninklijke Philips worth $19,009,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of PHG. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in Koninklijke Philips by 59.6% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 4,430,980 shares of the technology companys stock worth $135,277,000 after purchasing an additional 1,655,150 shares during the last quarter. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD boosted its holdings in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 306.4% in the 4th quarter. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD now owns 1,944,063 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $29,142,000 after acquiring an additional 1,465,665 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its holdings in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 16.7% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 8,245,236 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $251,727,000 after acquiring an additional 1,178,744 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its holdings in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 127.8% in the 4th quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,983,701 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $29,783,000 after acquiring an additional 1,113,072 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 476.3% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,283,821 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $39,289,000 after acquiring an additional 1,061,054 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 10.17% of the companys stock. Get Koninklijke Philips alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have recently commented on PHG shares. Societe Generale raised shares of Koninklijke Philips from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, April 25th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Koninklijke Philips in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein assumed coverage on shares of Koninklijke Philips in a research report on Tuesday, March 7th. They set a market perform 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 assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $16.79. Koninklijke Philips Price Performance Shares of NYSE PHG traded up $0.03 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $19.50. The companys stock had a trading volume of 586,024 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,779,030. Koninklijke Philips has a 1-year low of $11.75 and a 1-year high of $26.05. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.34 billion, a P/E ratio of -7.97 and a beta of 0.91. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $19.27 and a two-hundred day moving average of $17.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 1.29. Koninklijke Philips (NYSE:PHG Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Monday, April 24th. The technology company reported $0.24 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.19 by $0.05. Koninklijke Philips had a negative net margin of 11.63% and a positive return on equity of 6.29%. The company had revenue of $4.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.99 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.32 earnings per share. Koninklijke Philipss revenue was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Koninklijke Philips will post 1.09 EPS for the current fiscal year. Koninklijke Philips Cuts Dividend The firm also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 12th were paid a $0.9387 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 11th. Koninklijke Philipss payout ratio is -37.96%. 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. Recommended Stories 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. Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSE:TD Get Rating) (NYSE:TD) had its price target trimmed by BMO Capital Markets from C$85.00 to C$83.00 in a research report sent to investors on Friday, The Fly reports. Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Scotiabank raised shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. National Bank Financial reduced their price target on shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$98.00 to C$94.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. Cormark reduced their price target on shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$105.00 to C$98.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. CSFB reduced their price target on shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$97.00 to C$94.00 in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. Finally, National Bankshares reduced their price target on shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$98.00 to C$94.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Toronto-Dominion Bank has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$93.54. Get Toronto-Dominion Bank alerts: Toronto-Dominion Bank Price Performance TSE TD opened at C$79.12 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average is C$81.12 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$86.18. Toronto-Dominion Bank has a 12 month low of C$76.40 and a 12 month high of C$97.13. The stock has a market capitalization of C$144.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.57, a PEG ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 0.84. Toronto-Dominion Bank Announces Dividend Toronto-Dominion Bank ( TSE:TD Get Rating ) (NYSE:TD) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, March 2nd. The company reported C$2.23 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of C$2.16 by C$0.07. Toronto-Dominion Bank had a net margin of 31.78% and a return on equity of 14.29%. The company had revenue of C$12.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$12.12 billion. As a group, analysts anticipate that Toronto-Dominion Bank will post 8.7335456 EPS for the current year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 10th will be paid a $0.96 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 7th. This represents a $3.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.85%. Toronto-Dominion Banks dividend payout ratio is currently 46.43%. Insider Buying and Selling at Toronto-Dominion Bank In other Toronto-Dominion Bank news, Senior Officer Riaz Ahmed sold 37,832 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 6th. The shares were 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 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. Featured Articles 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. Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (TSE:BAM Get Rating) (NYSE:BAM) shares hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as C$41.37 and last traded at C$41.68, with a volume of 159840 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at C$42.69. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, TD Securities restated a buy rating and issued a C$47.00 price target on shares of Brookfield Asset Management in a research report on Thursday, February 9th. Get Brookfield Asset Management alerts: Brookfield Asset Management Stock Performance The stock has a market cap of C$17.27 billion and a PE ratio of 7.34. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 3.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 152.62. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of C$43.28 and a 200 day moving average price of C$46.09. Brookfield Asset Management Increases Dividend About Brookfield Asset Management The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be paid a $0.434 dividend. This represents a $1.74 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.15%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 30th. This is a positive change from Brookfield Asset Managements previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. Brookfield Asset Managements payout ratio is 29.38%. (Get Rating) Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. provides alternative asset management services. It serves institutional investors, including sovereign wealth funds, pension plans, endowments, foundations, financial institutions, insurance companies, and individual investors. The company was incorporated in 2022 and is based in Toronto, Canada. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Brookfield Asset Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brookfield Asset Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Burlington Stores (NYSE:BURL Get Rating)s stock had its maintains rating reiterated by equities researchers at 1-800-FLOWERS.COM in a research note issued to investors on Friday, Benzinga reports. Other analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Burlington Stores from $275.00 to $250.00 in a research report on Friday. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Burlington Stores from $219.00 to $233.00 in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. Loop Capital increased their price target on shares of Burlington Stores from $220.00 to $225.00 in a research report on Friday. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Burlington Stores from $219.00 to $259.00 in a report on Monday, February 27th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on shares of Burlington Stores from $214.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, March 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Burlington Stores has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $222.76. Get Burlington Stores alerts: Burlington Stores Price Performance NYSE:BURL traded down $4.87 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $154.24. 1,338,555 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,001,214. Burlington Stores has a 12 month low of $106.47 and a 12 month high of $239.94. The company has a fifty day moving average of $186.43 and a 200 day moving average of $200.55. The company has a quick ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68. The stock has a market cap of $10.01 billion, a PE ratio of 40.91, a PEG ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 1.10. Insiders Place Their Bets Burlington Stores ( NYSE:BURL Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 25th. The company reported $0.84 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.93 by ($0.09). Burlington Stores had a return on equity of 41.79% and a net margin of 2.77%. The company had revenue of $2.13 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.18 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.54 EPS. The firms revenue was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts anticipate that Burlington Stores will post 5.82 EPS for the current fiscal year. In other news, Director William P. Mcnamara sold 500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $212.26, for a total value of $106,130.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 8,154 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,730,768.04. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, Director William P. Mcnamara sold 500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $212.26, for a total value of $106,130.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 8,154 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,730,768.04. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CMO Jennifer Vecchio sold 47,153 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.46, for a total transaction of $9,876,667.38. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer now owns 55,173 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,556,536.58. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.71% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BURL. Bank of Montreal Can raised its holdings in Burlington Stores by 5.8% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 6,412 shares of the companys stock worth $1,222,000 after purchasing an additional 349 shares during the last quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund bought a new stake in shares of Burlington Stores in the 1st quarter valued at $246,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Burlington Stores in the 1st quarter valued at $751,000. Yousif Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Burlington Stores by 8.5% in the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 1,538 shares of the companys stock valued at $280,000 after acquiring an additional 120 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Trust N.A. increased its stake in shares of Burlington Stores by 14.9% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 1,471 shares of the companys stock valued at $268,000 after acquiring an additional 191 shares in the last quarter. Burlington Stores Company Profile (Get Rating) Burlington Stores, Inc engages in the retail of off-price apparel and home products. It offers womens ready-to-wear apparel, accessories, footwear, menswear, youth apparel, baby, coats, beauty, toys, and gifts. It operates through the following segments: Ladies Apparel, Accessories and Shoes, Home, Mens Apparel, Kids Apparel and Baby, and Outerwear. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Burlington Stores Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Burlington Stores and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSE:CM Get Rating) (NYSE:CM) had its price target increased by National Bankshares from C$62.00 to C$64.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday, BayStreet.CA reports. They currently have a sector perform rating on the stock. A number of other equities analysts also recently commented on the company. CSFB decreased their target price on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$65.00 to C$60.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 16th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$69.00 to C$72.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday. Scotiabank boosted their price objective on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$65.00 to C$66.00 in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$56.00 to C$58.00 in a research report on Friday. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$70.00 to C$69.00 in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of C$65.14. Get Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce alerts: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Stock Up 0.1 % Shares of CM stock opened at C$57.60 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average of C$56.73 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$58.59. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has a 52 week low of C$53.58 and a 52 week high of C$71.10. The company has a market cap of C$52.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.47, a PEG ratio of 27.22 and a beta of 1.04. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Increases Dividend Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce ( TSE:CM Get Rating ) (NYSE:CM) last issued its earnings results on Friday, February 24th. The company reported C$1.94 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of C$1.66 by C$0.28. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce had a return on equity of 9.89% and a net margin of 22.77%. The company had revenue of C$5.93 billion during the quarter. Analysts expect that Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce will post 6.9480198 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 28th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, June 28th will be given a $0.87 dividend. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.04%. This is an increase from Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces previous quarterly dividend of $0.85. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 27th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces dividend payout ratio is 67.73%. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director Victor George Dodig purchased 34,850 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 16th. The shares were bought at an average price of C$57.65 per share, with a total value of C$2,009,102.50. 0.06% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Company Profile (Get Rating) Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund (OTCMKTS:CGIFF Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest during the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 247,600 shares, a drop of 19.9% from the April 30th total of 309,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 6,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 37.0 days. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades CGIFF has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. National Bank Financial lifted their price objective on shares of Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund to C$12.50 in a report on Monday, May 15th. Desjardins raised their price target on shares of Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund from C$12.50 to C$13.00 in a research report on Friday, May 12th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund from C$10.00 to C$11.00 in a research report on Friday, February 24th. Scotiabank dropped their price target on shares of Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund from C$10.50 to C$10.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 9th. Finally, Raymond James raised shares of Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, May 12th. Get Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund alerts: Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund Stock Performance Shares of OTCMKTS CGIFF traded up $0.13 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $6.18. The companys stock had a trading volume of 12,800 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,577. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $5.81 and a 200 day moving average price of $6.52. Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund has a one year low of $4.93 and a one year high of $7.64. About Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund engages in the provision of portfolio of industrial chemicals and value-added services. It operates through the following segments: Sulphur and Water Chemicals, Electrochemicals, and Corporate. The Sulphur and Water Chemicals segment markets sulphuric acid, liquid sulphur dioxide, sulphur, sodium hydrosulphite, sodium bisulphate, zinc oxide and a variety of inorganic coagulants used in water treatment. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Credit Suisse FI Large Cap Growth Enhanced ETN (NYSEARCA:FLGE Get Rating)s stock price traded down 1.1% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $809.53 and last traded at $809.53. 3,100 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 352% from the average session volume of 686 shares. The stock had previously closed at $818.83. Credit Suisse FI Large Cap Growth Enhanced ETN Trading Down 1.1 % The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $809.53 and a 200-day simple moving average of $809.53. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Credit Suisse FI Large Cap Growth Enhanced ETN Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Credit Suisse FI Large Cap Growth Enhanced ETN and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (NYSE:ELF Get Rating) were up 4.5% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $106.34 and last traded at $105.79. Approximately 179,250 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 82% from the average daily volume of 974,146 shares. The stock had previously closed at $101.28. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades ELF has been the subject of several analyst reports. Bank of America raised their price target on shares of e.l.f. Beauty from $75.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, April 17th. Cowen increased their price target on e.l.f. Beauty from $36.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, February 16th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on e.l.f. Beauty in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on e.l.f. Beauty from $83.00 to $87.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 25th. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their target price on e.l.f. Beauty from $100.00 to $110.00 in a report on Thursday, May 25th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $87.50. Get e.l.f. Beauty alerts: e.l.f. Beauty Stock Performance The stock has a market cap of $5.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 91.24, a P/E/G ratio of 6.24 and a beta of 1.50. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $87.83 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $70.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 2.81 and a quick ratio of 2.06. Insider Buying and Selling Institutional Investors Weigh In On e.l.f. Beauty In other news, CEO Tarang Amin sold 39,740 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $88.47, for a total value of $3,515,797.80. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 286,964 shares in the company, valued at $25,387,705.08. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . In related news, CEO Tarang Amin sold 39,740 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.47, for a total transaction of $3,515,797.80. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 286,964 shares of the companys stock, valued at $25,387,705.08. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, insider Kory Marchisotto sold 28,775 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $69.82, for a total transaction of $2,009,070.50. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 143,885 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,046,050.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 252,162 shares of company stock worth $19,624,844 in the last quarter. Insiders own 8.20% of the companys stock. A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. increased its holdings in e.l.f. Beauty by 7.6% during the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 6,765 shares of the companys stock worth $174,000 after buying an additional 476 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its stake in shares of e.l.f. Beauty by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 428,775 shares of the companys stock worth $11,076,000 after purchasing an additional 4,476 shares during the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. raised its holdings in shares of e.l.f. Beauty by 12.4% in the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 41,711 shares of the companys stock worth $1,077,000 after purchasing an additional 4,617 shares during the period. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in e.l.f. Beauty in the first quarter valued at approximately $342,000. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in e.l.f. Beauty by 53.3% during the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 26,424 shares of the companys stock valued at $683,000 after purchasing an additional 9,189 shares during the period. 95.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. e.l.f. Beauty Company Profile (Get Rating) e.l.f. Beauty, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of cosmetic and skin-care products. The company focuses on the e-commerce, national retailers, and international business channels. Its brands include elf, elf skin, WELL People and KEYS soulcare. The company was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Oakland, CA. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for e.l.f. Beauty Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for e.l.f. Beauty and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Financial Partners Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 4,847 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock, valued at approximately $349,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. My Personal CFO LLC bought a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth $35,000. VitalStone Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter worth $36,000. Miller Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 101.3% during the 4th quarter. Miller Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 481 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 242 shares during the period. Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter worth $40,000. Finally, Godsey & Gibb Inc. acquired a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter worth $52,000. 75.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, EVP Rupert Vessey sold 50,385 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.06, for a total transaction of $3,378,818.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 47,751 shares in the company, valued at $3,202,182.06. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Up 0.1 % Several analysts recently commented on BMY shares. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday, March 6th. They set a hold rating and a $62.00 price objective on the stock. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Bank of America raised their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Atlantic Securities raised their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Finally, Barclays dropped their price target on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $66.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Monday, May 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $79.43. Shares of NYSE:BMY traded up $0.09 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $63.91. The company had a trading volume of 1,132,703 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,996,468. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $68.20 and its 200 day moving average price is $71.49. The stock has a market cap of $134.27 billion, a PE ratio of 18.61, a P/E/G ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.44. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1-year low of $63.16 and a 1-year high of $81.43. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.05 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.98 by $0.07. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 51.75% and a net margin of 15.95%. The business had revenue of $11.34 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.50 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.96 earnings per share. Bristol-Myers Squibbs quarterly revenue was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.06 EPS for the current fiscal year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 1st. Investors of record on Monday, April 10th were issued a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.57%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is currently 66.47%. 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. Featured Stories 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. Lloyds Banking Group plc (NYSE:LYG Get Rating) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 7,610,000 shares, a decline of 17.6% from the April 30th total of 9,230,000 shares. Currently, 0.1% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 12,960,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.6 days. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Lloyds Banking Group Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Waldron Private Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Lloyds Banking Group in the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Great Diamond Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Lloyds Banking Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Lloyds Banking Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Ascent Group LLC acquired a new stake in Lloyds Banking Group during the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, BOK Financial Private Wealth Inc. acquired a new stake in Lloyds Banking Group during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,000. 2.15% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Lloyds Banking Group alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts recently issued reports on LYG shares. Credit Suisse Group dropped their price objective on shares of Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 70 ($0.87) to GBX 69 ($0.85) in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. StockNews.com raised shares of Lloyds Banking Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, May 15th. Barclays raised shares of Lloyds Banking Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, February 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 61 ($0.75) to GBX 56 ($0.69) in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Finally, Berenberg Bank upped their price objective on shares of Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 55 ($0.68) to GBX 58 ($0.72) in a research note on Friday, February 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $57.29. Lloyds Banking Group Trading Down 0.4 % Lloyds Banking Group Increases Dividend Shares of Lloyds Banking Group stock traded down $0.01 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $2.23. The stock had a trading volume of 9,189,300 shares, compared to its average volume of 10,950,774. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $2.33 and a two-hundred day moving average of $2.34. Lloyds Banking Group has a 12-month low of $1.70 and a 12-month high of $2.63. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.83. The firm has a market cap of $36.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 1.28. The business also recently disclosed a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 14th will be issued a $0.076 dividend. This is a positive change from Lloyds Banking Groups previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.04. This represents a dividend yield of 5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th. Lloyds Banking Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 40.00%. Lloyds Banking Group Company Profile (Get Rating) Lloyds Banking Group Plc is a financial services company, which engages in the provision of banking and financial services. It operates through the following segments: Retail, Commercial Banking, Insurance and Wealth, and Other. The Retail segment offers broad range of financial service products, including current accounts, savings, mortgages, motor finance and unsecured consumer lending to personal, and small business customers. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Lloyds Banking Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lloyds Banking Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MPC Container Ships ASA (OTCMKTS:MPZZF Get Rating) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 259,700 shares, an increase of 27.9% from the April 30th total of 203,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 5,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 50.9 days. MPC Container Ships ASA Price Performance Shares of OTCMKTS MPZZF traded up $0.02 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $1.88. The stock had a trading volume of 2,200 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,082. The company has a 50 day moving average of $1.65 and a two-hundred day moving average of $1.69. MPC Container Ships ASA has a twelve month low of $1.25 and a twelve month high of $2.92. Get MPC Container Ships ASA alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, DNB Markets downgraded MPC Container Ships ASA from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 7th. About MPC Container Ships ASA MPC Container Ships ASA engages in the provision of container tonnage, with a focus on small to mid-size containerships. It is involved in the operation of a portfolio of container ships serving intra-regional trade lanes on fixed-rate charters. The company was founded on January 9, 2017 and is headquartered in Oslo, Norway. See Also Receive News & Ratings for MPC Container Ships ASA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MPC Container Ships ASA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nabors Industries Ltd. (NYSE:NBR Get Rating)s stock price traded down 5% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $85.41 and last traded at $85.93. 49,284 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 78% from the average session volume of 226,701 shares. The stock had previously closed at $90.45. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Citigroup dropped their price target on shares of Nabors Industries from $200.00 to $140.00 in a research note on Friday, May 19th. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Nabors Industries from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $175.00 to $165.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on shares of Nabors Industries from $195.00 to $176.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Susquehanna lowered their target price on shares of Nabors Industries from $135.00 to $110.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Nabors Industries from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Nabors Industries presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $155.00. Get Nabors Industries alerts: Nabors Industries Trading Down 3.6 % The company has a market cap of $831.79 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -5.67 and a beta of 2.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.40, a current ratio of 1.87 and a quick ratio of 1.61. The firms fifty day moving average price is $106.78 and its 200-day moving average price is $138.76. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nabors Industries About Nabors Industries Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of NBR. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in Nabors Industries by 29.1% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 32,194 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $3,925,000 after acquiring an additional 7,265 shares in the last quarter. KB Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in Nabors Industries in the first quarter worth about $802,000. State Street Corp raised its position in Nabors Industries by 15.2% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 479,970 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $58,512,000 after acquiring an additional 63,266 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP raised its position in Nabors Industries by 147.1% in the first quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 25,637 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $3,125,000 after acquiring an additional 15,262 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Nabors Industries by 3.9% during the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 166,344 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $20,279,000 after buying an additional 6,195 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.98% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) Nabors Industries Ltd. engages in the provision of platform work over and drilling rigs. It also provides performance tools, directional drilling services, tubular running services, and innovative technologies. It operates through the following business segments: U.S. Drilling, Canada Drilling, International Drilling, Drilling Solutions, and Rig Technologies. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Nabors Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nabors Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Navios Maritime (NYSE:NM Get Rating) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report released on Friday. Navios Maritime Stock Down 2.6 % NM stock opened at $1.71 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.58. Navios Maritime has a twelve month low of $1.53 and a twelve month high of $3.57. The companys 50 day moving average is $1.81 and its two-hundred day moving average is $1.94. The stock has a market cap of $27.25 million, a P/E ratio of 0.62 and a beta of 1.63. Get Navios Maritime alerts: Navios Maritime (NYSE:NM Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 9th. The shipping company reported $0.28 earnings per share for the quarter. Navios Maritime had a net margin of 31.38% and a return on equity of 101.85%. The company had revenue of $52.62 million for the quarter. Institutional Trading of Navios Maritime About Navios Maritime A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NM. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its holdings in shares of Navios Maritime by 83.4% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 908,070 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $3,296,000 after acquiring an additional 412,836 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Navios Maritime in the 1st quarter valued at $328,000. Engineers Gate Manager LP grew its position in Navios Maritime by 155.5% in the 1st quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP now owns 112,258 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $407,000 after buying an additional 68,324 shares during the last quarter. XTX Topco Ltd purchased a new position in Navios Maritime in the 1st quarter valued at $202,000. Finally, Privium Fund Management UK Ltd purchased a new position in Navios Maritime in the 4th quarter valued at $72,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 15.68% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) Navios Maritime Holdings, Inc is a seaborne shipping and logistics company, which engages in the transport and transshipment of dry bulk commodities including iron ore, coal, and grain. It operates through the Dry Bulk Vessel Operations and Logistics Business segments. The Dry Bulk Vessel Operations segment transports and handles bulk cargoes through the ownership, operation, and trading of vessels, freight, and forward freight agreements. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Navios Maritime Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Navios Maritime and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Orient Overseas (International) Limited (OTCMKTS:OROVY Get Rating) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 500 shares, an increase of 25.0% from the April 30th total of 400 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.5 days. Orient Overseas (International) Stock Performance Shares of Orient Overseas (International) stock traded up $0.18 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $65.02. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,000 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,885. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $96.28 and a 200-day simple moving average of $89.76. Orient Overseas has a 1-year low of $64.55 and a 1-year high of $180.48. Get Orient Overseas (International) alerts: Orient Overseas (International) Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 25th will be given a dividend of $22.75 per share. This is a boost from Orient Overseas (International)s previous dividend of $12.85. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 24th. This represents a dividend yield of 52.77%. Orient Overseas (International) Company Profile Orient Overseas (International) Limited, an investment holding company, provides container transport and logistics services in Asia, Europe, Australia, North America, and internationally. The company offers supply-chain management and distribution services; and containerised shipping services in various trade lanes comprising Trans-Pacific, Trans-Atlantic, Asia/Europe, Asia/Australia, and Intra-Asia trades. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Orient Overseas (International) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Orient Overseas (International) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PagSeguro Digital (NYSE:PAGS Get Rating) had its price objective increased by Evercore ISI from $11.00 to $12.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday, The Fly reports. Several other equities analysts also recently weighed in on PAGS. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on PagSeguro Digital from $9.50 to $10.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Barclays initiated coverage on PagSeguro Digital in a report on Thursday, May 11th. They issued an overweight rating and a $16.00 price objective for the company. Citigroup raised PagSeguro Digital from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $12.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on PagSeguro Digital from $12.00 to $10.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on PagSeguro Digital from $15.00 to $14.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, PagSeguro Digital currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $12.81. Get PagSeguro Digital alerts: PagSeguro Digital Stock Performance NYSE:PAGS opened at $10.44 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $3.44 billion, a PE ratio of 11.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.61. PagSeguro Digital has a fifty-two week low of $7.51 and a fifty-two week high of $19.49. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $9.77 and a 200-day moving average price of $9.50. Institutional Inflows and Outflows PagSeguro Digital ( NYSE:PAGS Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 2nd. The company reported $0.24 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.22 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $752.91 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $759.47 million. PagSeguro Digital had a return on equity of 17.06% and a net margin of 9.73%. Research analysts predict that PagSeguro Digital will post 0.95 EPS for the current year. Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Capital World Investors increased its holdings in shares of PagSeguro Digital by 15.1% in the first quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 20,291,708 shares of the companys stock valued at $406,848,000 after purchasing an additional 2,666,516 shares during the period. Sylebra Capital Ltd raised its position in PagSeguro Digital by 3.5% in the first quarter. Sylebra Capital Ltd now owns 13,295,793 shares of the companys stock valued at $113,945,000 after purchasing an additional 443,953 shares during the period. Nuveen Asset Management LLC raised its position in PagSeguro Digital by 41.3% in the third quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 9,118,704 shares of the companys stock valued at $120,640,000 after purchasing an additional 2,667,094 shares during the period. Point72 Asset Management L.P. raised its holdings in shares of PagSeguro Digital by 44.7% in the 4th quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 8,864,150 shares of the companys stock valued at $77,473,000 after buying an additional 2,739,474 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of PagSeguro Digital in the 4th quarter valued at $70,207,000. 52.50% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About PagSeguro Digital (Get Rating) PagSeguro Digital Ltd. is engaged in the provision of financial technology solutions focused on consumers, individual entrepreneurs, micro-merchants, small companies and medium-sized companies in Brazil. Its business model covers the following pillars: Multiple digital payment solutions; In-person payments via POS devices that sell to merchants; Free digital accounts; Issuer of prepaid cards to clients for spending or withdrawing account balances, and Operating as an acquirer. See Also Receive News & Ratings for PagSeguro Digital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PagSeguro Digital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen SA (OTCMKTS:PWZYF Get Rating) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 138,200 shares, an increase of 18.3% from the April 30th total of 116,800 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 200 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 691.0 days. Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen Price Performance Shares of PWZYF stock remained flat at C$9.60 during mid-day trading on Monday. The business has a 50-day moving average of C$7.08 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$5.73. Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen has a 12-month low of C$9.22 and a 12-month high of C$9.60. Get Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen alerts: Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen Company Profile (Get Rating) Recommended Stories POWSZECHNY Zaklad Ubezpieczen SA provides life and non-life insurance products and services in Poland, the Baltic States, and Ukraine. It operates through Corporate Insurance, Mass Insurance, Group and Individually Continued Insurance, Individual Insurance, Investments, Banking Activity, Pension Insurance, Baltic States, Ukraine, Investment Contracts, and Other segments. Receive News & Ratings for Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Randstad (OTCMKTS:RANJY Get Rating) saw a large growth in short interest in May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 300 shares, a growth of 50.0% from the April 30th total of 200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 12,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.0 days. Randstad Stock Down 0.3 % Shares of RANJY traded down $0.07 on Monday, reaching $25.16. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,000 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,336. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. Randstad has a twelve month low of $20.52 and a twelve month high of $33.52. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.22 billion, a PE ratio of 9.04 and a beta of 1.23. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $27.54 and a 200-day moving average of $29.62. Get Randstad alerts: Randstad (OTCMKTS:RANJY Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The business services provider reported $0.56 earnings per share for the quarter. Randstad had a net margin of 3.20% and a return on equity of 20.71%. The company had revenue of $6.99 billion for the quarter. Equities analysts predict that Randstad will post 2.02 EPS for the current year. Randstad Cuts Dividend Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 31st were paid a $1.2508 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 30th. This represents a yield of 7.84%. Separately, Barclays cut shares of Randstad from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, February 17th. About Randstad (Get Rating) Randstad NV engages in the provision of solutions in the fields of flexible work and human resources services. It operates through the following segments: North America, France, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Belgium & Luxembourg, Iberia, Other European Countries, Rest of the World, Global Businesses, and Corporate. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Randstad Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Randstad and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO Get Rating) from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a report published on Friday morning, The Fly reports. A number of other analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. CLSA upgraded shares of Rio Tinto Group from an underperform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Monday, March 13th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Rio Tinto Group in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Rio Tinto Group from a buy rating to a conviction-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. Sanford C. Bernstein raised shares of Rio Tinto Group from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Finally, BNP Paribas cut shares of Rio Tinto Group from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, February 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Rio Tinto Group presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $5,790.00. Get Rio Tinto Group alerts: Rio Tinto Group Stock Performance Shares of NYSE RIO opened at $61.12 on Friday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $64.68 and a 200-day simple moving average of $69.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.64. Rio Tinto Group has a 1 year low of $50.92 and a 1 year high of $80.51. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Rio Tinto Group Rio Tinto Group Company Profile Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 14,580,619 shares of the mining companys stock worth $1,000,231,000 after purchasing an additional 156,138 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its position in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 58.9% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 12,899,694 shares of the mining companys stock worth $1,037,135,000 after purchasing an additional 4,783,488 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors lifted its position in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 4.2% during the 1st quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 8,484,992 shares of the mining companys stock worth $682,195,000 after purchasing an additional 344,145 shares during the last quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 14.4% during the 4th quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 6,247,953 shares of the mining companys stock worth $444,853,000 after purchasing an additional 787,650 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 26.9% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 5,475,787 shares of the mining companys stock worth $440,253,000 after purchasing an additional 1,161,737 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 10.43% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) Rio Tinto Plc engages in the exploration, mining, and processing of mineral resources. It operates through the following business segments: Iron Ore, Aluminium, Copper and Diamonds, Energy and Minerals, and Other Operations. The Iron Ore segment supplies global seaborne iron ore trade. The Aluminium segment produces bauxite, alumina and primary aluminum. Read More 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. SandRidge Energy, Inc. (NYSE:SD Get Rating) gapped down prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $14.32, but opened at $14.00. SandRidge Energy shares last traded at $13.71, with a volume of 109,419 shares trading hands. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of SandRidge Energy in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Get SandRidge Energy alerts: SandRidge Energy Price Performance The stock has a market capitalization of $504.79 million, a P/E ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 2.34. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $14.81 and a 200-day simple moving average of $16.06. SandRidge Energy Dividend Announcement SandRidge Energy ( NYSE:SD Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 15th. The oil and natural gas company reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $56.11 million during the quarter. SandRidge Energy had a return on equity of 37.95% and a net margin of 96.37%. The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 7th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 24th will be issued a dividend of $2.00 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 23rd. Hedge Funds Weigh In On SandRidge Energy Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in SD. Credit Suisse AG lifted its position in SandRidge Energy by 1.8% during the third quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 41,404 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock valued at $675,000 after buying an additional 727 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in shares of SandRidge Energy by 3.3% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 24,514 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock worth $354,000 after buying an additional 793 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its stake in shares of SandRidge Energy by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 21,522 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock worth $310,000 after buying an additional 836 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of SandRidge Energy by 1.3% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 83,948 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock worth $1,430,000 after buying an additional 1,104 shares during the last quarter. Finally, KB Financial Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of SandRidge Energy by 4.8% in the 1st quarter. KB Financial Partners LLC now owns 33,582 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock worth $538,000 after buying an additional 1,536 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 17.42% of the companys stock. About SandRidge Energy (Get Rating) SandRidge Energy, Inc is an oil and gas company. It engages in acquisition, development, and production activities. The company was founded by Noah Malone Mitchell in 1984 and is headquartered in Oklahoma, OK. Read More Receive News & Ratings for SandRidge Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SandRidge Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Shell plc (LON:SHEL Get Rating) have received an average rating of Buy from the eleven ratings firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is GBX 2,813.40 ($34.77). Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Credit Suisse Group reiterated a top pick rating on shares of Shell in a research report on Tuesday, February 7th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 3,000 ($37.07) price objective on shares of Shell in a research report on Wednesday, May 17th. Royal Bank of Canada set a GBX 2,900 ($35.84) price objective on Shell in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price objective on Shell from GBX 2,987 ($36.91) to GBX 2,854 ($35.27) in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised Shell to an overweight rating and reduced their target price for the stock from GBX 2,625 ($32.44) to GBX 2,405 ($29.72) in a report on Tuesday, March 21st. Get Shell alerts: Shell Stock Down 1.3 % SHEL opened at GBX 2,321.50 ($28.69) on Thursday. Shell has a 1-year low of GBX 1,908.60 ($23.59) and a 1-year high of GBX 2,613.50 ($32.30). The stocks fifty day simple moving average is GBX 2,386.28 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 2,394.07. The company has a current ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 43.54. The stock has a market cap of 158.33 billion, a PE ratio of 484.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.28 and a beta of 0.63. Shell Dividend Announcement About Shell The business also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 26th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 18th will be given a dividend of $0.29 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 18th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.99%. Shells payout ratio is 1,913.58%. (Get Rating) Shell plc operates as an energy and petrochemical company Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, the United States, and Rest of the Americas. The company operates through Integrated Gas, Upstream, Marketing, Chemicals and Products, and Renewables and Energy Solutions segments. It explores for and extracts crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids; markets and transports oil and gas; produces gas-to-liquids fuels and other products; and operates upstream and midstream infrastructure necessary to deliver gas to market. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Shell Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shell and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Commonwealth Bank of Australia (OTCMKTS:CMWAY Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest in the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 25,600 shares, a drop of 23.4% from the April 30th total of 33,400 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 67,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.4 days. Commonwealth Bank of Australia Stock Up 1.3 % Shares of OTCMKTS CMWAY traded up $0.83 during trading on Monday, hitting $64.64. The company had a trading volume of 31,800 shares, compared to its average volume of 39,736. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $65.74 and a 200 day simple moving average of $69.35. Commonwealth Bank of Australia has a 12 month low of $58.14 and a 12 month high of $78.96. Get Commonwealth Bank of Australia alerts: About Commonwealth Bank of Australia (Get Rating) Recommended Stories Commonwealth Bank of Australia engages in the provision of banking and financial services. It operates through the following segments: Retail Banking Services, Business Banking, Institutional Banking and Markets, New Zealand, Corporate Centre and Other, and Wealth Management. The Retail Banking Services segment provides home loan, consumer finance, and retail deposit products and servicing to all retail bank customers and non-relationship managed small business customers. Receive News & Ratings for Commonwealth Bank of Australia Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Commonwealth Bank of Australia and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Spears Abacus Advisors LLC lowered its holdings in SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEARCA:GLD Get Rating) by 12.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 25,535 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 3,678 shares during the period. Spears Abacus Advisors LLCs holdings in SPDR Gold Shares were worth $4,332,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of GLD. Toronto Dominion Bank lifted its position in shares of SPDR Gold Shares by 83.0% during the 3rd quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 3,095,139 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $478,711,000 after buying an additional 1,403,492 shares during the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC raised its stake in shares of SPDR Gold Shares by 3.6% during the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 2,546,209 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $431,939,000 after purchasing an additional 88,556 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its stake in shares of SPDR Gold Shares by 256.0% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,142,717 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $206,432,000 after purchasing an additional 821,773 shares during the period. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. increased its stake in SPDR Gold Shares by 20.2% in the 4th quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 978,771 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $166,038,000 after acquiring an additional 164,256 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in SPDR Gold Shares by 134.7% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 934,636 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $168,842,000 after acquiring an additional 536,327 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 37.94% of the companys stock. Get SPDR Gold Shares alerts: SPDR Gold Shares Price Performance NYSEARCA GLD traded up $0.95 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $181.87. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,125,069 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,816,645. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $185.18 and a 200 day moving average of $176.12. SPDR Gold Shares has a one year low of $150.57 and a one year high of $191.36. SPDR Gold Shares Company Profile SPDR Gold Trust (the Trust) is an investment trust. The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold bullion, less the Trusts expenses. The Trusts business activity is the investment of gold. The Trust creates and redeems Shares from time to time, but in one or more Baskets (a Basket equals a block of 100,000 Shares). Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GLD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEARCA:GLD Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for SPDR Gold Shares Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SPDR Gold Shares and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Temple Bar Investment Trust PLC (LON:TMPL Get Rating) announced a dividend on Tuesday, May 9th, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 1st will be given a dividend of GBX 2.30 ($0.03) per share on Friday, June 30th. This represents a dividend yield of 1%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 1st. The official announcement can be viewed at this link. Temple Bar Investment Trust Price Performance Shares of LON:TMPL opened at GBX 227.50 ($2.81) on Tuesday. Temple Bar Investment Trust has a 1-year low of GBX 195.20 ($2.41) and a 1-year high of GBX 249.50 ($3.08). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.28, a current ratio of 9.95 and a quick ratio of 3.68. The business has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 231.18 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 232.04. The company has a market capitalization of 698.74 million, a PE ratio of -4,540.00 and a beta of 1.17. Get Temple Bar Investment Trust alerts: Temple Bar Investment Trust Company Profile (Get Rating) Featured Articles Temple Bar Investment Trust PLC is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by RWC Asset Management LLP. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United Kingdom. It seeks to invests in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. The fund primarily invests in stocks of companies across all market capitalizations, which are constituents of the FTSE 350 Index. Receive News & Ratings for Temple Bar Investment Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Temple Bar Investment Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. India's largest lender, State Bank of India, had received Rs 2,000 currency notes worth Rs 14,000 crore in deposits after the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) move to withdraw the high-value currency notes from circulation. The announcement was made by SBI's chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara, on the sidelines of SBI's foreign currency bonds listing ceremony at GIFT-IFSC in Gandhinagar. According to The Hindu, Khara said, "Around Rs 14,000 crore worth of Rs 2,000 currency notes have come into the accounts as deposits, while notes worth Rs 3,000 crore were exchanged through the branch network. Generally, we are about 20 percent of the market." Moneycontrol could not independently verify this news development. RBI on May 19 announced it had withdrawn Rs 2,000 banknotes from circulation in a surprise move. Regardless, notes of Rs 2,000 denomination will continue to be legal tender. Also Read | Rs 2,000 notes: Most banks insist on customers filling separate forms for note exchange However, the withdrawn currency note of Rs 2,000 continues to be a legal tender, and there was a "fairly wide window given for exchange" that took away the anxiety from the mind of the people, Khara added, as per the report. The Rs 2,000 banknote was introduced by the central bank in November 2016 in order to meet the currency requirement of the economy after the demonetisation of all Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination banknotes. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept Coal India Limited (CIL) has increased the prices of its high-grade coal by 8 percent, the company has said in a regulatory filing. This is the first time since 2018 that the countrys largest coal miner has revised its coal prices, which will be applicable for all its subsidiaries as well. "The Board of Directors of CIL at its meeting held on May 30 has approved revision of non-coking coal prices w.e.f. 00:00 hours of May 31, 2023. The Board has approved the price increase of 8 percent over the existing notified prices for high grade coal of grade G2 to G10. This will be applicable to all subsidiaries of CIL, including NEC for regulated and non-regulated sectors," the state-owned company said in its filing. CIL is expecting to earn a revenue of Rs 2703 crore for the balance period of financial year 2023-24 and all add-ons would be as per the extant practice, it further stated. Moneycontrol was the first to report on May 11 that CIL is likely to increase coal prices due to its plan of increasing the wages for its non-executive staff. On May 23, CIL said it has reached an agreement with its 2.38 lakh strong non-executive workers over the revision of wages. Under the agreement reached, a 19 percent minimum guaranteed benefit from July 1, 2021, on emoluments (basic, VDA, SDA & attendance bonus) and a 25 per cent increase in allowances have been granted, Coal India said in a filing to exchanges. Also read: MC Interview | Don't expect shortage of coal, imports will continue to increase: Coal Secretary. The wage revision added an additional liability of nearly Rs 6,000 crore on the CIL. Wages of non-executive workers, who account for 94 per cent of CILs workforce, are revised every five years. Notified coal prices were last revised by CIL in January 2018. The increase back then was effectively 11 percent. For 2025-26, the PSU has set a production target of 1 billion tonnes. The hike in coal prices is now likely to have an impact on India's power tariffs as well. Coal-fired electricity contributes anywhere between 73-77 percent in meeting Indias power demand, which is growing at about 6.4 percent annually. Tata Consultancy Services outgoing CEO Rajesh Gopinathan penned an emotional note to employees as he prepares to step down on May 31, after six years at the helm of the company. In a note sent on May 29, Gopinathan recounted the high points during his tenure, stating that the software firm grew revenues by $10.4 billion and returned $27.3 billion to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks. He reflected on his 22 years in the company in an email to employees, stating that the company's best days are ahead, a day before he steps down as the CEO and hands over the baton to K Krithivasan on June 1. I wish Krithi the very best as he takes over the TCS baton and charts the way forward to our $50 billion aspiration, I am confident that TCS' best years are ahead, and I look forward to cheering all of you and your continued success from outside, he said. The outgoing CEO said in the letter that they have set the gold standard in the industry for financial performance, and that it was TCS focus on operational rigor, strategic transformation, innovation, and profitable growth has helped TCS grow revenues from $17.5 billion in March 2017 to $27.9 billion in March 2023. He added that during this time, TCS' market capitalisation has gone from $74 billion to $143 billion. Gopinathan looked back on his time at the company, saying that this week marks the culmination of his two-decade-long journey with TCS. I will step down from my role as CEO & MD on 31 May, 2023. It has been an absolute privilege to lead our company in the last six years, which have been a period of tremendous growth and transformation for all of us. During his tenure, Gopinathan said the company undertook redefinition of the service portfolio and market positioning to integrate its offerings, developed newer capabilities and services, and increased engagement with clients. We also undertook an ambitious redefinition of TCS' service portfolio and market positioning by introducing the Business 4.0 and Growth & Transformation frameworks to integrate our technology services offerings with greater focus on business value delivered," he said. "Awareness, articulation and amplification of the value we deliver is going to be critical for our success in the years ahead...In a world of Al and automation, our ability to continuously enhance and leverage contextual knowledge is what will differentiate us and position us as the partners of choice for our customers," he added. Gopinathan stressed on the companys focus on Agile, Automation and cloud, terming the company capitalising on the cloud opportunity as helping it emerge as top global partner of all three leading cloud providers. Combining this with increasing investments and focus on our field sales teams helped us expand our customer base across markets and increase the number of customers, contributing more than $100 million in annual revenue from 35 to 60, he said. TCS lifer Gopinathan will stay on till September to smooth over the transition for his successor, K Krithivasan, who takes over the mantle of CEO on June 1. Gopinathan's abrupt exit took all stakeholders by surprise, considering the storied IT firm has had just 4 CEOs in its 55-year history FC Kohli, S Ramadorai, N Chandrasekharan, and then Gopinathan. It also comes at a particularly fraught time for the IT industry at large, which is facing a slowdown amid increasing headwinds. "I am grateful to have had the privilege to helm the TCS journey for the last six years, and carry on the proud legacy of Mr Kohli, Ram and Chandra. I want to especially thank Chandra, our Chairman, for his mentorship over the years," Gopinathan said. Moneycontrol reported in March that this was due to a confluence of factors, finally precipitating his exit. Dredging Corporation of India Ltd (DCI) is targeting a 12 per cent growth to hit the turnover of more than Rs 1,300 crore in the ongoing financial year, MD & CEO S Divakar said. To achieve the goal, the company is looking to participate in new dredging tenders and also planning to enter new markets, Divakar told PTI. "Our turnover was at Rs 1,164 crore in FY22-23. It is the highest ever turnover since inception of the company. Going forward, we are now targeting the new milestone of over Rs 1,300 crore in the ongoing financial year," he said. When asked about the factors that would contribute to the company's growth, the CEO said the scope of dredging activity in the country is expected to grow significantly in the months to come as government's focus is on deepening and widening navigational channels of major ports, and developing the inland waterways for improving the intra & inter EXIM trade. The company is eyeing to tap the new dredging works of several ports such as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority, New Mangalore Port Authority, Mormugoa Port Authority and Deendayal Port Authority, and also looking to carry out dredging activities of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). "We have also requested our clients to revisit the contracts signed years back as the cost of fuel and labour has gone up significantly and the contracts are being corrected in line with current market situations. All these will definitely contribute to the growth of company's revenues in this (financial) year," Divakar said. Based in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCI) caters to the dredging and allied services to ports, Indian Navy, fishing harbours and other maritime organisations. Apollo Hospitals Enterprise reported a net profit of Rs 146 crore for the quarter ended March, up 50.5 percent from Rs 97 crore in the same period of the previous year. However, the bottom line fell significantly short of the analyst's estimate of Rs 198 crore. Growth in the fourth-quarter was be aided by a favourable base, strong seasonality and better occupancy. Revenue for the quarter increased by 21.3 percent to Rs 4,302.2 crore, which was in line with expectations of Rs 4,302.7 crore. In the corresponding quarter of the previous year, the company's revenue was Rs 3,546.4 crore. Operational performance still remained under pressure due to investments made towards the company's Apollo Healthco business. As a result, EBITDA ( Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) margin eroded to 11.4 percent as against 13.1 percent in the base quarter. The company's Digital Health business reported an EBIT (Earnings before interest and taxes) loss of Rs 84.4 crore, higher than the Rs 74.2 crore loss in the previous quarter. In the corresponding quarter last year, the arm's EBIT loss was at Rs 8 crore. In the previous quarter, Apollo's management had guided that losses in its HealthCo arm had peaked in Q4 and would move towards recovery, with a breakeven expected in the second half of FY24. Since losses for the digital arm widened on quarter in Q4, analysts and investors will be on the watch for the management's commentary on its digital business and outlook for the hospital segment The company had also guided that it will fund the losses at Apollo HealthCo from internal accruals over the next six months, which means the margin pressure for the hospital major is likely to sustain on a year-on-year basis in the coming quarters. Shares of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise also reacted negatively to the news and erased their early gains to settle nearly 1 percent lower at Rs 4,599.15 on the NSE. A close look at the S&P BSE 500 companies has found that at least 45 of them have the potential to generate an additional wealth of Rs 68,900 crore for their shareholders, according to a study by the Institutional Investor Advisory Services India Limited (IiAS). This evaluation takes into consideration the financial statements of FY22 and incorporates announced acquisitions and capital expenditure (capex) after the balance sheet date. While companies have been returning more cash to shareholders (through dividends and buybacks) in FY22, cash balances continue to build up for corporate India. Based on the FY22 financials, adjusted for announced acquisitions and capex in FY23, 45 of the S&P BSE 500 companies can return more than Rs 689 billion to their shareholders, which is almost 41 percent of their on-balance-sheet cash for the fiscal year-end, IiAS said in a note. IiAS provides independent opinion, research and data on corporate governance and ESG and issues voting recommendations on shareholder meetings for about 1,000 companies. Out of the total excess cash of Rs 68,900 crore, it was observed that five companies - TCS, Siemens, ITC, Hero MotoCorp, and Sun TV - account for 56 percent of this amount. Collectively, these companies hold an excess cash balance of Rs 37,800 crore, representing approximately 47 percent of their total cash as of March 31, 2022. Providing further insights, TCS has an excess cash of Rs 66 per share, while Hero MotoCorp, despite its average performance, has an excess cash of Rs 3,840 crore, equivalent to Rs 192.2 per share. Among the identified firms, the excess cash in four companies can lead to an incremental dividend yield exceeding 10 percent, with two of them being public sector enterprises (PSUs). If the excess cash of Ircon International is distributed, it could result in an incremental dividend yield of around 46 percent. Similarly, for RITES, the excess cash would contribute to an additional dividend yield of approximately 14 percent. In the case of Sun TV, the excess cash of Rs 2,490 crore accounts for roughly 16 percent of the dividend yield. For VSTIND, the excess cash of Rs 520 crore would correspond to an approximately 11 percent dividend yield. There are five companies where the excess cash amounts to over Rs 500 per share in terms of incremental dividend. These companies are Bosch Ltd, Honeywell Automation India Ltd, Abbott India, 3M India, and Lakshmi Machine Works Ltd. Notably, Honeywell Automation has an excess cash value exceeding Rs 1,600 per share, resulting in an incremental dividend yield of 5 percent. Out of the 45 companies, 28 have the potential to pay incremental dividends, accounting for 50 percent of their cash balances. Moreover, among these 28 companies, six have excess cash that represents over 75 percent of their on-balance-sheet cash as of March 31, 2022. Indias trade ministry expects exports to China to increase over the next 4-5 months on the back of marine products and gems and jewellery shipments, as the government moves to battle the countrys widening trade deficit, sources said. Efforts are on. We are reaching out to trade missions through events. With China the challenge with marine products is now removed and exports are picking up. There were a lot of challenges regarding shrimp as exports were stuck. All that is now removed, a senior government official told Moneycontrol. China had suspended imports from 99 Indian seafood processing and exporting units over Covid concerns in 2020. Constant dialogue, efforts by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), and Chinas economy opening up post Covid, led to the suspension being lifted in 2023. India exports frozen shrimp, fish, cuttlefish, squid, dried items, as well as live and chilled items. Of these, frozen shrimp is the largest marine export to China. Gems and jewellery exports to China have also been picking up. The Chinese market is reviving slowly and the opening up of the Chinese economy will help Indian exports, the official said. The commerce ministry is carrying out an internal assessment of all other sectors to analyse why their exports to China have declined. We are looking at how much of the decline in exports to China was due to Covid closure, how much was non-Covid closure, and with its market opening up, are there different signals, the source said. For this fiscal, in 4-5 months we will assess the trend of exports to China, identify export push, and assess if the plan to reduce the trade deficit is going in the right direction. We will also see what the export pickup will be in 4-5 months in terms of orders and shipments and design a further strategy, he said. India's trade deficit with China widened in FY23, due to the rise in imports and a fall in exports, according to the commerce ministry data. Exports to China declined 28 percent to $15.3 billion in FY23, while imports rose 4.16% to $98.51 billion during the last fiscal year. The trade deficit widened to $77.6 billion in FY23 from $72.9 billion in FY22. Also read: Elon Musk expected to visit China this week, meet officials Imports from China have increased as it supplies critical inputs, including active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and renewables. China is the worlds largest producer and exporter of APIs and many Indian pharmaceutical companies depend on imports of the ingredients to produce various formulations. Also read: Indian manufacturing can meet US demands as it looks beyond China: Indian-American entrepreneur However, if China is exporting intermediary goods, and we are adding value and exporting them, then there is no issue, the official said. India is looking to set up smaller petroleum refineries to achieve its ultimate goal of 450 million metric tonne per annum refining capacity in the country, Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Tuesday. Addressing an energy summit organised by Indo-American Chamber of Commerce and Industry here, Puri said smaller refineries pose lesser hurdles like land acquisition and others. His statement comes against the backdrop of stuck plans of IndianOil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum to set up a 60 million metric tonne per annum (MMTPA) capacity refinery at Ratanagiri in Maharashtra. At present, India has a refining capacity of 252 MMTPA. "(Setting up new large) refineries are high cost (proposition). We are looking a large number of up to 20 million metric tonne per annum capacity refineries which are smaller ones. If we make it too big then land acquisition and other issue come up," Puri said. The minister said India can plan to have 300 MMTPA capacity. "We need to take few more policy decisions for taking it up to 450 MMTPA (target)," he added. India will become an energy hub and is going in the green direction, Puri stated adding that "we need refineries as those would make petrochemicals, green hydrogen etc." About the biofuel blending with petroleum products like petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel, he said, "All kind of experimentation is taking place. It is not that it is done in laboratory. It is the marketplace where it is done." He cited the example of blending one per cent biofuel with aviation turbine fuel and expressed happiness over its impact on agriculture, calling it transformational. Operating Partner Essar Capital Sunil Jain also stressed on the need for energy transition by adding more and more renewable energy capacity like solar, wind and green hydrogen. He stated that India would require USD 500 billion investment in next eight years till 2030 to achieve its target of 500 GW of green energy. Jain stressed on the need for change in energy consumption pattern or mix with increasing share of renewables in that to make the country and the world sustainable. Speaking on energy transition and the evolution of the country's energy mix, Pankaj Kalra, CEO, Essar Exploration and Production Ltd said,"Over the past two years, India has witnessed a remarkable increase of over 13 per cent in gas production YoY (year-on-year), showcasing a very healthy upward trend." "We take immense pride in our significant contribution of nearly 65 per cent to India's overall CBN (Coal Bed Methane) production, and we have our firm plans to expand our production by almost five times in the next three to five years and contribute five per cent of India's overall production," he stated. Kalra said the share of gas has been the cornerstone and is expected to rise from 6.7 per cent to 15 per cent by 2030. The Indian government could have received a dividend of more than Rs 1 lakh crore from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for 2022-23 if not for a tweak in the central bank's risk buffer. On May 19, the RBI's central board of directors approved the transfer of Rs 87,416 crore as dividend to the government. While this was nearly double the Rs 48,000 crore estimated by the government in the 2023-24 Budget as dividend from the central bank and state-owned lenders, the RBI's board decision to raise the Contingency Risk Buffer to 6.0 percent from 5.5 percent deprived the government of another Rs 31,000 crore or so. According to Moneycontrol calculations, had the RBI's board maintained the Contingency Risk Buffer at 5.5 percent, the dividend to the government would have been Rs 1.2 lakh crore. "The ECF (economic capital framework) requires the Contingent Risk Buffer (CRB) to be maintained in the range of 5.50 percent to 6.50 percent of the size of the balance sheet. The Central Board approved that CRB may be maintained at 6.00 percent of the size of the balance sheet of the Reserve Bank for the year 2022-23. Accordingly, a provision of Rs 1,30,875.75 crore was made and transferred to CF (Contingency Fund) during the year," the RBI said in its annual report for last year, released on May 30. The annual report did not mention why the risk buffer was raised to 6 percent. Moneycontrol has reached out to the RBI for a comment on the same. The Contingency Risk Buffer comprises the RBI's provisions to cover any potential risks be it credit, operational, financial, or related to monetary stability. The Bimal Jalan-led expert committee, in August 2019, had recommended the RBI maintain this buffer in the range of 5.5-6.5 percent of its balance sheet. Since then, the RBI's board has always taken the lower bound, or 5.5 percent, as the level of its CRB. The RBI's annual report showed that it made a record provision of Rs 1.31 lakh crore in 2022-23. But had the risk buffer been left unchanged at 5.5 percent, the RBI's provisions would have been lower by around Rs 31,724 crore. As at the end of 2022-23, the RBI had assets amounting to Rs 63.45 lakh crore and Available Realised Equity the sum of the central bank's capital and balances in the contingency, asset development, and reserve funds of Rs 3.81 lakh crore, amounting to 6 percent of assets. If the Contingency Risk Buffer was left unchanged at 5.5 percent, the Available Realised Equity needed would have been just under Rs 3.49 lakh crore. According to economists, the RBI's board may have raised the risk buffer to 6 percent keeping in mind that 5.5 percent is the minimum requirement. Further, it could also have been a precautionary move as a number of central banks have reported negative equity positions due to losses on their bond and FX portfolios piling up. With Indias economic prospects looking bright, businesses from the United Kingdom are looking closely at the Asian giant for talent, supply chain integration and as a market, the Chief Executive Officer of the UK India Business Council said. In terms of whatworld's happening on the ground, in terms of the level of interest from business looking at India, I've never known a moment of more positivity in the economic relationship and flow between the two countries, Richard McCallum told Moneycontrol in an interview. We think that's a very bright picture in India, he said. There is a lot of interest from the UK businesses in defence, advanced manufacturing, technology, digital services and education, he said. There are also areas for collaboration like robotics, artificial intelligence and green technology where the UK is among the leaders, as well as digital public infrastructure where India is a pioneer. The UKIBC, which is planning conferences around technology and showcasing the Indian consumer to UK businesses, is also helping companies that are seeking to diversify by moving their supply chains to India, especially in manufacturing and advanced manufacturing. Among our companies, we see a really, really strong appetite to engage with India, whether it's from research and development, or talent, or a supply chain integration perspective. And we're helping companies right now diversifying some of the manufacturing away from markets like China to India. India has over the recent years focused on boosting its domestic manufacturing sector by attracting businesses that are seeking to shift away from China. Focus on defence Defence is an area where there is a commercial opportunity on both sides, a common geopolitical strategic narrative and huge potential, the UKIBC CEO said. I think there's a huge amount the UK and India can do together in defence. We understand that this is not about selling India equipment, this is about co-creating equipment in India, about co-developing, about making an India and making in India for the rest of the world eventually. There is a lot of interest from the UKIBC industry members about collaborating with Indian businesses, including from a group of 22 UK defence companies, he added. India-UK FTA on track In terms of the timing, the India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) is making good progress, McCallum said. The majority of chapters have been closed. I think, quite sensibly, no one's committing to any arbitrary deadlines on this, he said. Business and government are optimistic, there's good political will behind it. And I think, you know, when the fifth and sixth largest economies in the world try and do an FTA, it's important to take the time to get that right, it won't always be easy. The UKIBC has been playing a very important role in the process by sharing with both governments what businesses want following detailed consultations. India and the UK launched negotiations for an FTA in January 2022. The proposed pact is aimed at doubling trade between the two countries by 2030. The ninth round of negotiations for it concluded last month. There has already been good progress on the trade front, McCallum said, citing a 45 percent jump in the year ending September. The countries are on track to double trade by the end of the decade. Also read: Next round of talks for India-UK trade agreement to be held in June Little impact of UK visa move The UK governments recent announcement to disallow students from bringing their dependents into the country is disappointing but wont impact overall movement into the UK, the CEO said. We don't think it'll affect the majority of Indians seeking to study in the UK. The post-study work visa, which has been a huge success, remains in place. There's no limit to the number of Indian students who can study in the UK. We have a large group of universities in our membership, and they all want to encourage more Indian students to study in the UK, he added. To lower overall migration, the UK recently said that international students can no longer bring their families including children or elderly parents with them. The move is expected to come into force in 2024. At the same time, there will be some exceptions for students undertaking post-graduation courses that are deemed research programs. Student mobility has been a big positive development in the UK-India story, McCallum said. I'm a migrant, I live in India, I work in India, I feel very strongly about this. And we need to remind all stakeholders of the benefits of student mobility, he added. Also read: India Renews Push for Easier Visa Norms for Its Companies in UK To be sure, the UK is incredibly open to students and workers from India, McCallum said. The post-Brexit new immigration policy puts Indian nationals at par with their European Union counterparts in terms of migration. Moreover, a large chunk of the visas issued by the UK are to Indians. An area that needs more work is bringing UK students to India, whether for summer school or semester exchange. Because it's really important, I think the people in the UK understand the changes that are happening in India and get a sense of how relevant and how important this market is going to be in their lives. Shares of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank ended 6 percent higher at Rs 36.95 on May 30, after the bank said RBI was withdrawing nominee director from the board. The stock hit a 52 week high of 36.95 per share on the NSE. P.N. Raghunath, then General Manager at RBI's Bengaluru Regional Office, had been appointed as Additional Director on the bank's board. However, in a recent letter dated May 29, 2023, the RBI informed Ujjivan Small Finance Bank that Mr. P.N. Raghunath would cease to be an Additional Director with immediate effect. Ujjivan Small Finance Bank has been on an upward trajectory since the start of the new financial year 2023-24. Over the past week, the bank's share price has risen from approximately Rs 28 to Rs 36 per share, delivering a remarkable return of around 30 percent to its shareholders. Year-to-date, the small finance bank's shares have provided 25 percent return to its investors. In a recent earnings report, Ujjivan Small Finance Bank announced a significant increase in its net profit for the March quarter. The bank's net profit jumped by more than two-fold to Rs 309.50 crore, attributed to higher core income and a write-back in provisions. For the fiscal year 2022-23, the bank reported a net profit of Rs 1,099 crore, a notable improvement from the loss of Rs 414 crore recorded in the previous year. During the reporting quarter, Ujjivan Small Finance Bank witnessed a 36 percent growth in its core net interest income, amounting to Rs 738 crore. This increase was driven by a 33 percent rise in the loan book. The bank's net interest margin saw a slight narrowing of 0.85 percent. Managing Director and Chief Executive Office, Ittira Davis stated that the bank aims to decrease the proportion of micro loans from the current 71 percent, which may lead to a 5-6 percentage point dip in net interest margins to 9 percent in the fiscal year 2023-24. Ujjivan Small Finance Bank's performance in all aspects has contributed to its impressive financial results. The bank has demonstrated steady business expansion, improvement in asset quality, and reduced credit costs. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. The Madras High Court on May 25 held that the resident welfare association (RWA) does not have a role to play in the sale or transfer of apartment titles. This includes charging a surplus maintenance fee for prospective homebuyers or owners who intend to resell their apartments. After quashing a writ petition filed by Ankur Grand Owners Association in Chennai, the court ruled that the collection of transfer fees by the RWA, whenever an apartment is sold, is illegal. Experts say the judgment will be a precedent for other states like Karnataka where homebuyers face similar issues. Homebuyers in Bengaluru told Moneycontrol that today, several RWAs in the city refuse to share no-objection certificates unless the apartment owner pays the transfer fee before resale. "The order clearly states that such interventions should not be permitted," one of them said. What happened? In 2009, 60 apartments were handed over to the RWA in Chennai and the following year the association raised the maintenance charges from Rs 25 to Rs 50 per square foot. One of the buyers, Roshini Kiran Davey, purchased her apartment in 2013 and paid a transfer fee of Rs 1.47 lakhs to the RWA. In 2013, another homebuyer Ashish Davey, purchased an apartment, however, refused to pay the transfer fee. Following this, Roshni Davey demanded a refund of the transfer fee paid by her. The matter reached the district registrar's office, which amended the section in the associations bylaws about the collection of transfer fees and further asked the RWA to refund the amount. The association then further moved the Madras High Court for relief. Court finding Referring to the Right to Property, the bench said that such rights are protected by the competent authorities, especially during the intervention of RWAs. "The RWA cannot take the law into their own hands to deprive the basic right of the owners to live in their apartments. Thus, charging excess or collecting maintenance fees is illegal," the order said. Justice SM Subramaniam, presiding over the bench, added that the purpose of an RWA is to maintain the apartments and common areas, and cannot intervene during resale or transfer of apartment titles. It is a constitutional right that cannot be infringed upon at the instance of the association, the order concluded. What is a sale deed or transfer of apartment titles? At the time of every fresh sale or resale of an apartment, a sale of agreement is executed between the seller and the buyer, which also transfers the title of the property to the buyer. After the sale deed is submitted to the RWA, the association issues a share certificate to transfer the undivided share of the common areas to the new buyer. The issue at large Advocates say the order passed by Madras High Court will be a precedent for other states, especially Karnataka. Dhananjaya Padmanabachar, a homebuyer in Karnataka, has faced a similar issue while buying an apartment in Bengaluru. However, he said the transfer fee of Rs 25,000 requested by the RWA was later adjusted with the maintenance fee. Vittal BR, an advocate at the Karnataka High Court, said that several RWAs in Chennai and in Bengaluru continue to collect transfer fees from new homebuyers. In other cases, they charge extra maintenance fees from the new tenants, he said. The impact When the RWA gets involved in apartment transactions, it frequently causes delays because the prospective buyer reconsiders the purchase decision after being faced with extra fees. And in some cases, Vittal said, the RWAs also prevent the resale of the apartment unless the previous owner pays the transfer fee or extra charges. The Madras High Court judgment will stop such incidents, he added. Legal experts say that the ruling clearly points out the sale of agreement is a contract between the prospective buyer and seller, and the RWA cannot intervene in this matter. "Additionally, the homebuyers must be aware that while reselling their apartment, they can sale it as a freehold asset without any intervention from the RWA," Vittal pointed out. [content] [title]Miffed Management[/title] [body]Rumour has it that a mutual fund company brass is pretty miffed with the industry lobby. The executives' company is part of the body, but apparently, he is so infuriated that he is seeking a replacement of the entire organisation! But, pray why? Well, the allegation is that the body is working for just the top 4-5 AMCs and not for all members. The executive believes the body is not being fair to distributors as well as investors. Expect the campaigning to continue, as the gentleman says he does not fear losing his job. Game on! [/body] [/content] [content] [title]A Choice That Never Was[/title] [circularimage][/circularimage] [body]Fintwit seems to have cracked the mystery of a finfluencer deciding to move away from the Indian securities market and focus on the US securities market (and even crypto, going by his posts). He had claimed in his video that it had become too much for him to handle both the markets. Therefore, he was choosing the latter. But news that has come out this week showed that there were other more 'compelling' reasons. The truth is that it was never his choice, the regulator has forced him out of the market for a year because he was allegedly charging for services he was not registered to provide. [/body] [/content] [content] [title]The Rights Issue Conundrum[/title] [circularimage] [/circularimage] [body]This private bank had announced its rights issue plans around a year ago. The bank urgently needs the money to shore up capital and convince the regulator that its finances are stable. Yet, the plan has not taken off for many months. It appears that a section of the shareholders who have strong representation on the board do not want the rights issue at this point due to an ongoing power struggle. The management is struggling to convince the faction that time is running out and it would be prudent to end the tug-of-war, at least for now. A crucial board meeting by the end of this month may offer some answers. Watch this space... [/body] [/content] [content] [title]Sarkari Rivalry[/title] [circularimage] [/circularimage] [body]Tension is brewing up between the two ministers of this department. "Yeh apas mein hi ladte ladte mar jayenge (they will die of infighting)," says an official close to the developments. The two are rarely seen together in public. People say that at times what they individually say about future policy is different. Recently, one of them was kept waiting to meet a guest. There were whispers that the guest was held up in the other's office. Then there are murmurs that the latter is angling to fill bigger shoes, come next year. He is said to be spending more time politicking now, rather than pushing policy. While the senior stays away from the daily duels of politics, the junior relishes the art of muck-racking against the opposition. [/body] [/content] [content] [title]Turbo Charge Ministry[/title] [circularimage] [/circularimage] [body]Renewable energy has been one of the pet projects of the Modi regime since it came into power nine years ago. But the last few years have been choppy for the industry which has struggled to stay on course to execute projects and add capacity to meet the target set by the government. But looks like the government is tightening the screws. At an industry forum, a senior minister recently warned the private sector that delays would not be tolerated and developers will be penalised. The public sector is facing more heat with the government now having set goals for central PSUs to bid out 50 GW or projects every year. That's not all, companies like NTPC, SECI, NHPC and SJVN have been given individual targets of 10-15 GW. The targets are steep to say the least and buzz is that top executives from these CPSUs turned to the parent ministry for help. Apparently, some of them argued that what they had planned to do in 3 years is now expected to be done in a year! "How can we do it?" The ministry we are told, was in no mood to listen to excuses. The officials were handed a copy of the order and told something similar to a famous brand's slogan- Just do it! [/body] [/content] [content] [title]Will It? Wont It? Sebi on TER proposals[/title] [circularimage] [/circularimage] [body]The deadline to submit responses to SEBIs consultation paper to rationalise and reimagine the total expense ratios in the mutual funds industry, is just a few days away; June 1. Our interactions with fund houses so far have told us that they are fine with most of the proposals. But there are 2 proposals that the Rs 40 trillion Indian mutual funds industry is concerned about. The proposal to include the brokerage costs in the total expense ratio and performance-linked fee model. While the industry is divided on the first of these two contentious proposals (Is the MF industry even getting Rs 3,500 crore worth of research?, sneered an MF industry veteran to us recently), the industry is more or less united about the second contentious proposal; the performance-linked fee. This is tougher to implement because performance data would need to be calculated for each individual investor, at the time of exit, keeping in mind her investment tenure. Aside from logistics, the MF industry might have to invest a lot of time, money and patience in educating investors about how fund management fees would be deducted at redemption time. SEBI, too, appears to be cautious on this approach. All eyes are on the next SEBI Board meet when it is expected to finalize these proposals. [content] [title]Bourse Matters[/title] [circularimage] [/circularimage] [body]The second week of Friday expiry it seems has come as a relief to some of the employees of a stock exchange. The bourse had relaunched its Sensex and Bankex derivative contracts with Friday expiry and May 19 was the first expiry day with a turnover of Rs 527.6 crore. On May 26, the second expiry day, turnover went a little over Rs 17,344 crore. Insiders tell us that this has given some hope to people at the exchange. There were worries that if this strategy of relaunching the products with a new expiry day, did not take off there may potentially have been some lay-offs. The new CEO is trying in earnest, and raising the hopes and expectations at Asias oldest stock exchange it seems! [/content] Also, spare a moment to tell us what you think of this series. Send your hosannas and howls to the same email address. Mensa Brands, the roll-up e-commerce company founded by former Myntra CEO Ananth Narayanan, has fired at least 200 employees across divisions, with India Lifestyle Network (ILN) being the most affected, according to three people aware of the developments. The company has however said the numbers are less than 30. Mensa Brands has a total team strength of 750-800 employees. The downsizing at the fastest unicorn in India comes at a time when several investors and market players have flagged signs of a slowdown in the roll-up e-commerce market. ILN was part of Times Internet, which Mensa acquired in December 2022. After the acquisition, companies like MensXP, iDiva, and Hypp became part of Mensa's growing portfolio. "Employees from ILN were called for a one-on-one session with the human resource (HR) executives and were asked to leave the very next day. Some employees had received two months' pay as compensation," one of the people cited above said. The decision was despite Narayanan assuring ILN's employees that they would not be let go when acquisition talks were materializing. "Employees were asked to go because their personal performance was suddenly unsatisfactory for Mensa, which admitted that ILN's growth has been lackluster," the person added. A Mensa Brands spokesperson has however denied that the numbers were as much as 200. ILN is committed to providing the best content to its consumers and industry-leading services to its client partners. To enhance efficiency post integration, we restructured some teams that impacted a few positions. This activity affected less than 30 team members in ILN and there have been no layoffs in other parts of Mensa till date. We are fully dedicated to supporting those affected by providing each of them up to three months salary, extended health insurance and support in finding new roles, the spokesperson added. Mensa runs a model similar to the US-based Thrasio, which buys profitable, well-reviewed online sellers on Amazon and turbocharges their growth with technology, marketing and product growth chops as it builds a house of brands. Between October 2021 and December 2022, the Tiger Global-backed company has acquired at least 17 companies, but has gone slow on its acquisition spree after that. MyFitness, Dennis Lingo, Villain are among Mensa's notable acquisitions. With the latest decision, Mensa joins a growing list of new-age companies that have been firing employees as they look to become a leaner team, increase efficiencies and extend their cash runway as investors demand startups to become profitable. Several large startups like Meesho, Swiggy, ShareChat and more have also let go off hundreds of employees as the pave their path towards profitability. In total, about 6,150 startup employees have been let go so far this year alone. And since 2022, around 24,500 workers have been sacked, according to Moneycontrol's layoffs tracker. The layoffs come despite Mensa claiming to be profitable and having raised over $200 million from investors such as Accel, Alpha Wave Global (previously known as Falcon Edge), Prosus and several others. When Mensa raised $135 million in November 2021, it was valued at over a billion dollars within just six months of its existence. GlobalBees, GOAT Brand Labs, Evenflow, Powerhouse 91, 10Club and Upscalio are the other players in the roll-up e-commerce field. State-owned NMDC on Tuesday said it has slashed iron ore lump and its fines rates by Rs 300 and Rs 450 per tonne, respectively. It has fixed the price of lump ore at Rs 3,900 per tonne and fines at Rs 3,560 a tonne, the country's largest iron ore miner said in a regulatory filing. Lump ores or high-grade iron ores contain 65.53 per cent Fe (iron), while fines are inferior-grade ores with 64 per cent and less iron content. In the last price revision announced on April 29, NMDC fixed the rate of the lump at Rs 4,200 per tonne and that of fines at Rs 4,010 a tonne. The prices are effective from May 29 and exclude royalty, district mineral fund (DMF), National Mineral Exploration Trust (DMET), cess, forest permit fee and other taxes, the company said. According to research firm SteelMint, "This price cut has brought NMDC iron ore prices to a 6-month low. The reduction is attributed largely to falling steel prices, which is a result of a weak global market. However, in the domestic market steel prices are higher compared to global prices. A price correction in the local market is expected soon". Iron ore is one of the key raw materials used in the manufacturing of steel, and any movement in its prices has a direct impact on rates of steel, an alloy widely used in segments such as construction, infrastructure, automobile and railways. Hyderabad-based NMDC (formerly known as National Mineral Development Corporation) under the Ministry of Steel contributes around 17-20 per cent to India's total iron ore production. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept If private sector banks suffered most number of frauds in the fiscal year 2022-23, then their public sector peers had to bear the biggest brunt of it in terms of the fraud amount, the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) annual report showed. "An assessment of bank group-wise fraud cases over the last three years indicates that while private sector banks reported the maximum number of frauds, public sector banks continued to contribute maximum to the fraud amount during 2022-23," the report said. The maximum number of frauds were reported in the category of digital payments (card/internet). However, in terms of value, frauds have been reported primarily in the loan portfolio. Also read: Major banks warn customers against engaging with fake social media handles The report also showed that there was a 55 percent decline in the amount involved in the total frauds reported during 2021-22 over 2020-21. Further, the report highlighted that proportionately, the decline in the total amount involved in frauds continued during 2022-23, with a reduction of 49 per cent over 2021-22. "While small value card/internet frauds contributed maximum to the number of frauds reported by the private sector banks, the frauds in public sector banks were mainly in loan portfolio," the report said. Due diligence The apex bank had advised banks to carry due diligence of the processes involved. "In order to improve data reliability in Fraud Monitoring Returns (FMR) submitted by banks, they were advised to carry out proper due diligence and ascertain the involvement (with credible proof/ evidence) before including/ adding name(s) of the non-whole time Director(s) in the Fraud Monitoring Returns /Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (FMR/CRILC) while reporting fraud /non-cooperative borrower," the report said. Earlier, RBI executive director Ajay Kumar Choudhary raised concerns on online banking frauds. Also read: RBI ED Ajay Kumar Choudhary raises concerns over banking frauds "Multiple initiatives have been taken via RBI to educate people regarding online frauds. Data privacy law will help further to tackle online fake messages frauds," RBI Executive Director Ajay Kumar Choudhary said at conversation at Moneycontrol's inaugural India Fintech Conclave (IFC) on March 7. The comments are significant in the backdrop of rising number of banking frauds and text-message based phishing attacks. In line with this, several banks have alerted customers to not engage with fake social media handles purporting to represent them. The official handles of HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank warned customers to not share their personal details with the fake handles. BlackRock, the world's largest asset management company (AMC), has reduced the fair value of Byju's, the world's most-valued edtech startup, by 62 percent. This is the second time BlackRock has reduced the fair value of Byju's since October 2022. BlackRock, which holds less than 1 percent, has pegged the value of its 2,279 shares in the company at $4,043,471, effectively estimating Byju's fair value at $8.4 billion as of March 31, 2023. As of April last year, the company estimated Byju's valuation to be north of $22 billion, according to the AMC's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). According to the filings, BlackRock also sold shares in Byju's during the period. Byju's declined to comment. Inc42 first reported about the development. To be sure, these adjustments to fair values are typically based on AMC's internal assessment of the macro and microenvironment. They do not necessarily indicate a permanent markdown in the startup's overall valuation. Blackrock also holds only a minority stake in the company and thus has access to limited information about the company's operations. The markdown, however, comes at a time when Byju's is gearing up for a massive fundraise worth almost a billion dollars, its second flat funding round, from a clutch of investors in the Middle East and the US. The company has already raised $250 million through structured instruments and is finalising another $700 million in equity. The funding, if it goes through, will give Byju's some relief as it has been renegotiating terms with its lenders, who also demanded part prepayment of the $1.2 billion Term Loan B it had raised in November 2021. Byju's has been in hot water over the last 15 months as the company has been making headlines for accounting irregularities, alleged mis-selling of courses, and mass lay-offs. The company has laid off over 3,500 employees in the last 12 months as it was hit by a double whammy of drying venture capital funding and slowing demand for online learning services. Byju's is also looking to get its tutoring services unit--Aakash Educational Services, which it acquired in April 2021 for nearly a billion dollars, listed on India's stock exchanges at a valuation of $3-4 billion. But, the company has also held exploratory merger talks for Aakash with its biggest rival Unacademy, Moneycontrol reported exclusively earlier in March. Founded almost a decade back by Byju Raveendran, a former teacher, and his wife Divya Gokulnath, Byju's has raised over $5 billion in funding from equity and debt investors to date. It last raised a $250 million round in October at a flat $22 billion valuation. The company recently also saw India's financial probe agency Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducting searches at its offices in Bengaluru. Bengaluru-headquartered fintech soonicorn Kinara Capital, which focuses on financial inclusion of small business entrepreneurs, is on the prowl for funds again and is looking to mop up around $150 million to $200 million, multiple industry sources in the know told Moneycontrol. "Yes, Kinara is back in fund raise mode. They are in discussions with investment bank Edelweiss Financial Services as advisors. Edelweiss had helped the firm in its last round as well," said one of the persons above. Two other persons confirmed the proposed transaction, and one of them added that Kinara Capital needed fresh growth capital. All the three persons above spoke to Moneycontrol on the condition of anonymity. ALSO READ: Growth-hungry NBFCs want a bigger share of MSME loan market In response to an email query from Moneycontrol, Hardika Shah, Founder and CEO, Kinara Capital said, "For over a decade, Kinara Capital has demonstrated scale and profitability as a leading MSME lender, especially by providing access to collateral-free credit. As we continue to grow, we will diversify our product offerings to meet the vast credit demand in the MSME sector. For this, we are looking for growth capital to expand financial inclusion to the much deserving, but the much underserved, MSME sector of India. Moneycontrol has sent an email query but could not elicit an immediate response from Edelweiss Financial Services. This article will be updated once we hear from the firm. Kinara: Funding, founder, stats & more Kinara has raised over $500 million in capital (equity and debt), from India-based and global investors. Currently, its major equity investors include Gaja Capital, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation (MSDF), Patamar Capital and GAWA Capital. Last year, Kinara raised $52 million in equity funding from Nuveen, Triple Jump, and British International Investment (BII). Launched in 2011, the firm is headquartered in Bengaluru and has 125 branches servicing MSMEs in 100+ cities across six states in India with an employee strength of 1,600. It has 40 plus lending partners and specializes in collateral-free credit for the sub-INR 10 lakhs market space. Kinara has reported profitability for eight years and with AUM of Rs 2,600 crore in May 2023, it is planning on reaching AUM of Rs 6,000 crore in the next couple of years. As part of the diversification of its product portfolio, the fintech is doubling its commitment to women entrepreneurs with HerVikas program and introducing Green Finance products. Prior to launching Kinara Capital, Hardika spent two decades as a management consultant with Accenture, driving billion-dollar client projects across multiple industries around the globe. She has a decade of involvement in the social entrepreneurship field as a mentor with Santa Clara University, Stanford University, Accenture Development Partnerships, the Acumen Fund and Columbia Business School. ALSO READ: Women at the helm of Indias fintech space The slew of top-deck exits at IT major Wipro continues, with two senior vice-presidents being the latest to exit the company, with the latest being the heads of Wipros healthcare and manufacturing verticals. Mohd Haque, a senior vice-president who was also the head of the Healthcare and Medical Devices division at Wipro, will be leaving the company in June. Haque, who had been with the company for nearly 13 years, was also Wipros inclusion and diversity lead for Americas. Along with Haque, SVP and head of the manufacturing and hi-tech business unit Ashish Saxena is also exiting the company after nearly six years. This was first reported by the Times of India. This comes on the heels of Vice President Gurvinder Sahni leaving the company to become the Chief Marketing Officer at Persistent Systems. In a statement to Moneycontrol, Wipro confirmed the exits. Wipro can confirm that Mohd Haque will be leaving the company in June. Ashish Saxena and Gurvinder Sahni have left Wipro to pursue other opportunities. We thank them for their years of leadership and contribution, a Wipro spokesperson said. Haque and Saxenas exits mark at least 14 top-deck exits at Wipro in less than a year, even as the company undertakes promotions regularly to bump people to vice president and senior vice president. Brazil country head Douglas Silva, Japan country head Tomoaki Takeuchi, Australia and New Zealand MD Sarah Adam-Gedge, Middle East MD Mohammed Areff, as well as Wipro Americas 2 CEO Angan Guha all exited the company late last year. Guha went on to become the CEO of Birlasoft. In 2023, the company has so far seen the exits of Chief Operations Officer Sanjeev Singh, Americas 2 CFO Nithin V Jaganmohan, India head Satya Easwaran, iDEAS business head Rajan Kohli, and Americas 1 CFO Kamini Shah, along with Sahni, Haque, and Saxena. Singh went on to become the CEO of CMS Infosystems, Jaganmohan the CFO of Xoriant, Kohli the CEO of CitiusTech, and Shah the CFO of Birlasoft. Promotions Earlier this year, the company promoted 61 people to the position of vice-presidents and 12 to senior vice presidents, which took the total number of VPs and SVPs to 275 the most promotions the company had ever made. In an interview to Moneycontrol after the companys earnings last year, Chief HR Officer Saurabh Govil maintained that the companys top-level attrition is in single digits and not something that the company is worried about. We have also onboarded a lot of new leadership talent into the organisation with critical expertise. It's a good mix right now. We have about 275-odd people of the rank of VP and above. In January, we promoted 60 people to VP internally, he had said. A male passenger onboard an Air India flight from Goa on Monday physically assaulted a crew member and the unruly passenger was handed over to the security personnel after landing at the Delhi airport, according to the airline. In recent months, there have been multiple incidents of unruly passenger behaviour onboard aircraft and the latest incident happened onboard flight AI882 enroute from Goa to Delhi. "The said passenger verbally abused the crew members and then went on to physically assault one of them on board. On landing at Delhi airport, the passenger continued with the unprovoked, aggressive behaviour and was handed over to the security personnel. We have also reported the incident to the regulator," an Air India spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday. Further details about the incident could not be immediately ascertained. "Safety of our crew and passengers is of utmost importance to us and we strongly condemn this unruly behaviour of the passenger. We will offer all support to the affected crew members," the spokesperson said. Earlier this month, Air India imposed a two-year flying ban on an individual who caused physical harm to two female cabin crew members onboard a Delhi-London flight on April 10. An unruly air passenger can face flying ban for varying periods under the regulations of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). As per the rules, unruly passenger behaviour can be classified into three levels. Unruly behaviour such as physical gestures, verbal harassment and unruly inebriation are classified as Level 1 while physically abusive behaviour like pushing, kicking or sexual harassment are classified as Level 2. Life threatening behaviour such as damage to aircraft operating systems, physical violence like choking and murderous assault are considered as Level 3. Depending on the level of unruly behaviour, an internal committee set up by the airline concerned can decide on the duration for which an unruly passenger can be banned from flying. The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed the bail plea of former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in the excise policy scam being probed by the CBI. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma denied the relief to the AAP leader, who was arrested on February 26, saying the allegations against him are very serious in nature. The high court, while pronouncing its verdict on the bail plea, said Sisodia is an influential man and the possibility that witnesses could be influenced if he is released on bail cannot be ruled out. The CBI had arrested Sisodia for alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 following several rounds of questioning. He has challenged the March 31 order of a trial court which had dismissed Sisodia's bail plea in the matter, saying he was "prima facie the architect" of the "scam" and had played the "most important and vital role" in the criminal conspiracy related to alleged payment of advance kickbacks of Rs 90-100 crore meant for him and his colleagues in the Delhi government. He is also in custody in a related money laundering case. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), a division of GMR Airport Infrastructure Limited, on May 30 issued a traffic advisory in coordination with the Delhi Traffic Police, informing travellers that there would be diversions at two locations close to Delhi Aerocity as a result of ongoing construction on the Aerocity Flyover and the widening of the stormwater drain. According to the proposal, the first diversion is already in place and is at the Pullman Hotel/Andaz Hotel Turn on the Northern Access Road. The second diversion would be in place from June 1, immediately after the Aerocity Metro traffic light leading to Central Spine Road. Northern Access Road near Pullman Hotel/Andaz Hotel Turn: For traffic moving from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2/Terminal 3, the lanes of the Northern Access Road roadway at the turning of the Andaz Hotel will be shut down. Traffic heading towards Terminal 2/Terminal 3 from Terminal 1 has been diverted to the newly constructed 3-lane corridor adjacent to the previous route. Through entry gates 2 and 3, vehicles entering Aerocity and Delhi Metro buses will continue to be permitted to use a single lane on the previous route. Traffic signal of Aerocity Metro towards Central Spine Road: A single lane of 250 metres in length, running from the Aerocity signal to the new traffic light on Central Spine, will be open to allow for the construction of the Aerocity Flyover and the enlargement of the storm-water drain. Only traffic from Mahipalpur and Aerocity travelling towards the Terminal 3/Terminal 2 region is allowed to use this lane. Aerocity/Mahipalpur traffic aiming to reach Terminal 3/Terminal 2 must make a mandatory left turn at the next signal towards the south direction, then a right turn after 500 metres towards the west direction, merging with traffic aiming to reach Terminal 3/Terminal 2 from Radisson Circle. The flow of traffic from Terminals 3, 2, and 1 towards Terminal 1, Gurgaon/Delhi hasn't been changed. The advisory said DIAL and the Delhi Traffic Police have put in place the necessary signages and traffic management measures to ensure a smooth flow of traffic during these diversions. More than 12 years after the disaster that closed Japans Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, the country will soon dispose of one of the most enduring legacies of the disaster. Some 1.3 million metric tons of water, most of it used to cool the radioactive material at the core of the plant, will be filtered and cleaned up before being pumped slowly to sea once a 1-kilometer (0.6 mile) pipe is completed in the coming weeks. It may take decades to trickle out the water at a pace slow enough to keep radioactive concentrations at sufficiently low levels but that hasnt prevented bitter opposition from some of Japans Pacific neighbors. Continuing with ocean discharge plans at this time is simply inconceivable, Henry Puna, secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum intergovernmental group, wrote earlier this year. I fear that, if left unchecked, the region will once again be headed towards a major nuclear contamination disaster at the hands of others. China has also condemned the plan, while South Korean nuclear experts will be doing their own monitoring of radiation levels. These widespread fears are spurious. Theres zero risk to human life from releasing Fukushimas contaminated water at sea under the plan proposed by Tokyo Electric Power Co. Drinking a glass of it direct from the outflow pipe would expose you to about as much radiation (from trace quantities of the hydrogen isotope tritium) as youd get from eating a dozen bananas. Once further diluted in the vast waters of the Pacific, the radioactivity decreases to homeopathic levels. The 1.3 million metric tons of water that Tepco needs to get rid of sounds like a lot but the Pacific Ocean holds roughly 500 billion times that amount. At the same time, Japan of all countries should be empathetic in dealing with the sometimes irrational opposition that nuclear energy can generate. For decades, US nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers visiting local ports had to give authorities 24 hours notice so that geiger checks could be carried out despite more than 1,000 dockings passing without incident. A 20-minute unapproved arrival in 2001 prompted the countrys foreign minister to temporarily call off such visits. In the 1960s, even agreed visits often prompted thousands of demonstrators to turn out. That unique political environment is inseparable from the fact that Japan is the only nation which has had atomic weapons used against it. You would have expected the nation that razed Hiroshima and Nagasaki to be a little accommodating of local sentiments on this issue. Even so, the USs observance of the radiological theater around ship visits was a potent example that, in diplomacy, listening and pragmatism are usually more important than being right. Pacific nations have a similar history. Though no country has suffered the death toll that Japan endured from nuclear weapons, the dozens of bombs tested in the Marshall Islands released energy about 5,000-times greater than that of those dropped on Japan. It has been left with a grim legacy of cancers and birth defects. Most Pacific nations became independent from their former colonial powers in the late 1970s and early 1980s, at a time when both the US and Japan were looking to the regions vast spaces as a dump for radioactive waste. Fighting against those policies and establishing a nuclear-free zone south of the equator was a foundational event for many young nations, quite as much as pacifism was in post-war Japan. Some circumspection earlier in the process might have paid off. It took Chinas aggressive diplomacy in the region before Japan, the US and Australia started to reverse decades of neglect and began making serious attempts to woo and listen to Pacific island governments. As recently as 2015, then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a delegation of island leaders meeting some 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Fukushima plant to support Japan's effort without being misled by rumors. That sort of scolding response was thankfully absent in his successor Fumio Kishidas summit on the sidelines of the Group of Seven meeting earlier this month with Prime Minister Mark Brown of the Cook Islands. Pacific leaders, in turn, appear to have been mollified by the greater transparency and dialogue. Theres a lesson here for nuclear advocates, too. Its common now for supporters of an enhanced role for nuclear energy to dismiss the safety regulation around atomic plants as an unnecessary and costly imposition that must be swept away, sparking a renaissance of atomic power. Thats an unrealistic and ultimately counterproductive ambition. Every form of major infrastructure has to deal with public opinion, and in a democracy you dont get to rule whether your opponents arguments are valid enough. Thats a problem for renewables as much as nuclear. Europe closed nine factories for wind turbine parts between 2018 and 2022, according to BloombergNEF, as demand slumped in a region that has effectively outlawed onshore wind farms from swathes of its territory. Still, the solution isnt to gripe about the injustice of it, but to work with the regulation we have and seek changes where we can to build the clean energy the 21st century needs. If Japans problems with the Pacific serve to reinforce this lesson, thats no bad thing. David Fickling is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering commodities, as well as industrial and consumer companies. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Credit: Bloomberg India is mid-way through its year-long G-20 presidency. Having taken over from the last years G-20 chair and fellow middle-income country, Indonesia, this is the first time that developing nations have had the opportunity to steer the agenda and propose solutions to global challenges. The multilateral grouping G-20 comprises the worlds 19 nations alongside European Union and is important as it represents two-thirds of the worlds population, 85 percent of the worlds GDP and 75 percent of international trade. As the G-20 chair, India can showcase its leadership to the world. It comes at a time when the world is increasingly challenged by the devastating effects of the pandemic; wars and civil strife in Europe and Africa, alarming rise in temperatures, and worldwide debt soaring to new heights. Taking the proverb Well begun is half done, very seriously, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said while assuming the G-20 presidency last year, Indias G20 agenda will be inclusive, ambitious, action-oriented, and decisive. Similarly, India had also endeavoured to utilise its G-20 presidency to give resonance to the voice of the Global South. Reaching the halfway mark of its presidency offers a chance to take stock of the achievements so far and to discuss what remains to be achieved in the coming days. It is also an opportune time to contemplate coordinated policy responses to major problems facing the world. Climate Challenges Already there exists a dichotomy between the developed nations and emerging markets; the latter find themselves caught between efforts to limit global temperature rises to 1.5C under the 2015 Paris Agreement and the need to industrialise for realising their socioeconomic goals. The challenges of the two worlds developing and developed, to meet their respective climate goals, become pronounced for India as the G20 Chair. But it is easier said than done, countries facing climate challenges are also staring at a livelihood crisis. At the heart of the Global South is climate finance along with technology transfer and capacity building. But, climate finance is another grey area even after an agreement at COP 27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, to establish a Loss and Damage (L&D) Fund to assist countries, particularly those vulnerable to the impact of climate change. As uncertainty looms over the sources to meet such gigantic requirements under this climate fund, the G-20 must consider the utility of innovative finance solutions and prepare a roadmap for their introduction and accelerated implementation. Divided World Another major challenge before Indias G-20 presidency is the rising tensions between the great powers over Ukraine which threaten to undermine the G-20. A global energy and food crisis has compounded the miseries of populations across the globe, with a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable sections, such as people living in Least Developed Countries (LDCs). At the recently concluded G-7 Summit in the Japanese city of Hiroshima, members issued a statement on Ukraine, hitting Russia with more sanctions, but failed to highlight a path towards dialogue and ending the war. This is a warning sign for the rest of Indias G-20 presidency for this could affect a broader consensus and may eventually compromise the summit declaration. In a fractured world order, it is essential that alternative groupings do their bit to safeguard multilateralism. Mini-laterals such as India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) come to mind when talking about parallel organisations that can salvage multilateralism. The historic opportunity presented to the G-20 troika India-Brazil-South Africa to shape the G20 over the next two and half years could be instrumental in finding a long-lasting solution to pressing problems facing humanity. In light of the challenges faced by the world in the post-Covid world order, it is imperative that the global community outlines its commitment to a growth story that is responsible and sustainable. Without undermining, the importance of integrating sustainability by leveraging the 3Cs of Community, Culture, and Conservation for responsible consumption, the salience of another C i.e., of consumers cannot be ignored. Despite being part of successive G-20 agendas since the Global Financial Crisis in 2008, consumer protection surprisingly is a missing link in Indias G20 goals. Bringing consumer protection and welfare to the G20 agenda can help promote sustainable economic growth, ensure fair competition and prevent crises and address global issues. Attaining the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development can also be achieved through prioritising consumers interests. As we go past the halfway mark of Indias G20 Presidency, there are immense opportunities to foster global cooperation in the backdrop of a scenario, where getting the act together is imperative for common progress. Mihir Shekhar Bhonsale is an Assistant Policy Analyst and Jayesh Mathur is a Senior Research Associate at CUTS International, a global public policy think and action tank. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Nvidia Corps market value jumped $207 billion in the two days after the US chip designer on May 24 gave an amazingly good revenue outlook following a season of bad news for the semiconductor industry. Yet theres a handful of other technology companies that may benefit even more from the race to embrace artificial intelligence. There are numerous ways to put this forecast and subsequent reaction into context. The sales figure is 53 percent more than analysts had expected, and 33 percent higher than the companys previous record achieved in March last year. The first-day pop was the third-largest gain in US history, while the two-day gain eclipsed the market cap of all but 48 stocks across the globe. Among those companies dwarfed by the $200 billion jump in Nvidias value are two of the most-important enablers of the AI revolution. Between them, Koreas SK Hynix Inc. and Boise-based Micron Technology Inc command 52 percent of the global market for dynamic random-access memory. Combined, theyre worth just $140 billion. Their only rival, Samsung Electronics Inc, accounts for 43 percent of the DRAM industry just one of at least four global sectors it leads while it trades at $317 billion. If the generative AI sector is going to take off, as Nvidia and its clients believe, then established giants like Microsoft Corp and newcomers such as OpenAI are set to pound on the doors of Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron. Machines that crunch reams of data, analyse patterns in video, audio and text, and spit out replicas of human-created content are going to need memory chips. In fact, AI companies are likely to buy up more DRAM than any other slice of the technology sector in history. The reason for this demand for memory chips is quite straightforward: Nvidias AI chips differ from standard processors by inhaling huge amounts of data in a single gulp, crunching numbers in one go, then spitting out the results all at once. But for this power advantage to be realized, they need the information to be fed into the computer quickly and without delay. Thats where memory chips come in. Processors dont read data directly from a hard drive thats too slow and inefficient. The first choice is to keep it in temporary storage within the chip itself. But theres not enough room to hold much here chipmakers prefer to devote this precious real estate to number-crunching functions. So, the second-best option is to use DRAM . When youre processing billions of pieces of information in a single go you need that data close at hand and delivered quickly. A lack of adequate DRAM in a system will slow down a computer significantly, neutralizing the value of spending $10,000 on the best processors to run sophisticated chatbots. Which means that for every high-end AI processor bought, as much as 1 Terabyte of DRAM may be installed thats 30-times more than a high-end laptop. Such hunger for memory means that DRAM sold for use in servers is set to outpace that installed in smartphones sometime this year, according to Taipei-based researcher TrendForce Corp. These systems also need to be able to save large amounts of their output nearby so that it can be read and written quickly. Thats done on NAND Flash, the same chips used in smartphones and most modern laptops. Samsung is the global leader in this space, followed by Japans Kioxia Holdings Corp. (a spinoff from Toshiba Corp.) and SK Hynix. Together, DRAM and NAND accounted for $8.9 billion of revenue at Samsung last quarter, far outpacing the $4.3 billion Nvidia got from its data-center business that includes products used for AI. To put that in context, though, this was the worst performance for Samsungs memory division in seven years, and its AI-related memory sales are only a fraction of total revenue. Both figures are set to grow. For every high-end AI chip sold to customers, another dozen DRAM chips will be shipped, and that means more revenue for Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron. As Nvidia grows, so too will these three companies that collectively control 95 percent of the DRAM market. Theres no doubt the AI revolution is here, with makers of cool chatbots, ubiquitous search engines and high-powered processors among the biggest winners. But those churning out boring old memory chips wont be left out either. Tim Culpan is a technology columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. Based in Taipei, he writes about Asian and global businesses and trends. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Credit: Bloomberg The European Parliaments Internal Market Committee and the Civil Liberties Committee had proposed a draft AI regulation text on May 11, 2023. The draft regulation could become binding rules to regulate specific Artificial Intelligence use-cases like biometric identification and categorisation, predictive policing, and general-purpose AI in the EU. Negotiations with the European Council and member countries to finalise the law will begin after the European Parliament endorses the same and the law is expected in 2025. Last week, OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman said there are technical limits to their ability to comply with the proposed obligations and they may halt services like ChatGPT in Europe if they could not comply with the upcoming legislation. He withdrew his statement later after meeting with lawmakers in the EU. But his earlier statement raises several pertinent questions about the future of AI regulation and its impact on technological innovation in this space. Technology companies are worried that the EU's AI Act may overregulate and curb innovation in technology that is still evolving. OpenAI is not alone here. Google CEO Sundar Pichai also met EU officials last week to discuss AI and they agreed to enter into a voluntary pact on AI. In EUs Sights: AI Foundational Models The proposed regulation emphasises the need to regulate foundational AI models. Foundational AI models provide general and versatile outputs that can be customised for a specific use-case. For example, Large Language Models (LLMs) are deep learning foundational AI models trained to analyse and predict text. In simple terms, it can understand a question and predict an answer based on the data it has. LLMs are the foundational architecture of use-cases like chatbots and translation software. A website that offers customer support through a chatbot only has to acquire an LLM and feed it a training data set, and it will develop the ability to engage with customers. In most cases, customers have to choose from multiple prompts to elicit a trained response from the chatbot. ChatGPT goes one step further because it is trained on a vast pool of data, and equipped to predict and answer queries beyond prompts. The EU proposal cites the complexity and uncertainty of foundational AI models, and the lack of control that stakeholders down the AI value chain have as the rationale for regulating foundational AI models. In simple terms, a website providing customer support through a chatbot has limited control over the foundational LLM it is built upon. So, a harm-based approach that seeks to mitigate risks as and when they arise may prove to be ineffective when concerns stem from the foundational architecture itself. The EU looks to create AI guardrails for the foundational model to address this. Big Techs Regulation Worry: Disclosing Training Data Technology companies are particularly worried about the EU proposal on transparency under Article 52. Article 52 imposes transparency obligations on certain AI systems including foundational models and companies like OpenAI fear that it may require them to disclose trade secrets and copyrighted material used to train systems. Training datasets could reveal sensitive information about unique business strategies that give AI models an advantage over its competitors. They are also IP assets that companies develop with considerable investment of time and resources. Companies are apprehensive that disclosure and third-party assessments may dilute IP protection. Similar concerns were raised in India when the Telecommunications Engineering Centre (TEC) published a draft template for AI fairness assessment in December 2022. AI companies have an uphill task ahead of them to restore and maintain public trust in AI. OpenAI did not disclose training data used to train the latest model GPT-4 citing - competitive landscape and safety implications. The decision to be secretive about GPT-4 training data drew criticism from several fronts. OpenAI decided not to disclose data considering the changing competitive landscape with Google unveiling Bard, and other generative AI models like Baidus Ernie Bot and Alibabas chatbot expected to enter the fray soon. However, it is also important to build trust with the public and regulators. Googles decision to enter into a voluntary pact with EU lawmakers until the AI Act comes into force is a positive step towards building trust. Similar discourse might play out in India soon as the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) looks to regulate AI within the upcoming Digital India Act. The Minister of State, Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that rules under the law will regulate high-risk AI systems, a category that the EU AI Act also carves out. A graded approach to segregate intermediaries based on their activity, and a combination of minimal regulatory guardrails and self-regulation in the form of voluntary pacts or conduct codes could balance AI risk mitigation and Indias ambition to become a one trillion dollar digital economy by 2026. Varun Ramdas is a technology policy researcher working at the intersection of emerging technology, public policy and society. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. After the unprecedented violence, arson and attacks on Pakistan Army properties all over the country on May 9, the Army has undertaken a crackdown on prominent leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Former Ministers Shireen Mazari, Fawad Chaudhry, Asad Umar and Shah Mehmood Qureshi were arrested. The jailed ex-ministers found the heat of incarceration in Adiala Jail intolerable, and announced that they were leaving politics. Others resigned from positions of office. Former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Quereshi is still under arrest. Others closely involved in executing the violence after Imrans May 9 arrest like Murad Saeed and Hammad Azhar went underground. The Kings Party Founded in April 1996 and claiming to be Pakistans only non-family party in mainstream politics, PTI sought to create a welfare state, the Riyasat e Madina, where the state would strive for equality of all. These lofty ideals remained on paper during Imran Khans three-plus years in power. The PTI had limited initial success in general elections failing to win a single seat in 1997. Imran Khan won one seat in 2002. The 2008 election was boycotted. It was only from 2011 onwards, as Pakistans powerful military establishment and the higher judiciarys distaste of the Nawaz & Shehbaz Sharif families intensified, that Imran Khan was seen as a possible option for engineering a new Kings Party into power. In the 2013 elections, PTI received over 7.5 million votes (16.9 percent), making it second in the number of votes and third in terms of seats won (35). Its prolonged sit-ins in 2014-15 had the blessings of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) spy-masters, Lieutenant Generals Shuja Pasha and Zaheer-ul-Islam. Rise And Fall In the 2018 elections, the PTI came to power with 149 seats (out of 272) in the National Assembly, getting 16 million votes (31.8 percent of the votes polled). The Armys hybrid construct had come into effect, with the declaration of results being made impervious to poll observers at the last minute. Electable feudals, mostly from south Punjab, were nudged to join PTI. The PTI is now being dismantled the same way it was brought into power. After the May 9 incidents, these electables have been the first to quit PTI. There has been talk of a ban on PTI. The Federal Government can do so, using Section 15 of the Political Parties Order, 2002 (PPO), if PTI is found to be operating in a manner prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan or is foreign aided. A gazette notification has to be referred to the Supreme Court within 15 days. Under Sec 16 of the PPO, members of the banned party stand disqualified as legislators for the rest of their terms. They cannot contest elections for four years thereafter. Fixing Imran Good And Proper Imran Khan stands isolated but defiant, refusing to condemn the May 9 violence despite being nudged by his mentors in the higher Judiciary to do so. His personal charisma has not ebbed. Social media support remains high. New canards of alleged rape of detained women workers of PTI have been floated, to seek international sympathy. However, the Shehbaz Sharif government is sparing no efforts to bring out his lies and past U-turns. Tellingly, Health Minister Qadir Patel has just revealed Imrans medical report, prepared after his arrest on May 9, which showed dependence on regular cocaine intake and hinted at mental instability. General Asim Munir, whom Imran has been publicly naming and shaming, is determined to fix him good and proper this time. Imran is likely to be tried in military courts for planning and instigating the May 9 incidents. He may be arrested at an appropriate moment thereafter, ruling out judicial relief. He would be disqualified from taking part in elections. Another Kings Party? Nevertheless, a view persists, that Imrans narrative challenging the military establishments dominance will remain a strong factor, resonating among urban youth and the new middle class in the next elections, whenever these are held. Meanwhile, a new faction of erstwhile PTI politicians is being encouraged to coalesce, under the umbrella of Jahangir Khan Tareen, sugar baron-cum-industrialist who was instrumental in bringing Imran to power in 2017-18 but fell out with him later. This rump faction of PTI may not enjoy mass popularity but could serve as the new Kings Party. Apart from keeping the election results credible, it could be part of a hung parliament, along with other mainstream parties, the PML (N) and PPP, which the Army would be comfortable with, as long as Imran is kept out. Rana Banerji is a former Special Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. The Congress has projected unity to take on the BJP in the assembly polls in Rajasthan but "core issues" between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his bete noire Sachin Pilot remain unresolved, according to sources close to Pilot. The Congress on Monday said the two leaders have agreed to the party's "proposal" and will fight the upcoming assembly elections unitedly, having left all issues to be resolved by the high command. However, the sources said Monday's meeting of Gehlot and Pilot with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi did not result in any resolution of the "core issues" between the two Rajasthan bigwigs. They also said Kharge and Rahul Gandhi first met Gehlot for two hours and then met Pilot separately after which all the leaders posed together for photographs at Kharge's residence. Interestingly, despite the meeting being held in the same house, the leadership held discussions with Gehlot and Pilot separately. Also, for the media bite outside Kharge's 10 Rajaji Marg residence last night, while both Gehlot and Pilot walked out with general secretary organization K C Venugopal, they remained silent and did not speak to the media. Their body language also did not exude any bonhomie. The meeting came close on the heels of Pilot's "ultimatum" that he would launch a state-wide agitation if his three demands of the state government were not met by the end of this month. The sources close to Pilot said the demands that he has raised, especially with respect to the action against alleged corruption during the previous Vasundhara Raje government, remain unresolved. They said Pilot was firm on his demands, and post-meeting if the Gehlot government does not act on them, he would continue to press for the causes he has taken up. Pilot's two other demands were reconstituting the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and making fresh appointments in it, and compensation for those affected by the cancellation of government recruitment exams following paper leaks. Gehlot's remarks that the party high command is strong and it will never offer any position to any leader or worker to pacify him, also created problems ahead of the meeting. On Gehlot's swipe, leaders close to Pilot said it is not about seeking personal positions but the issue of corruption and paper leaks is far more important which needs to be resolved on priority. The party on Monday sought to project that all was fine in its Rajasthan unit. Addressing reporters after the meeting at Kharge's 10, Rajaji Marg, residence, Venugopal had said, "Both the leaders Ashok ji and Sachin ji agreed to the proposal on these things." Asked what proposal he was talking out, Venugopal had said, "Both have left it to the (party) high command." Gehlot and Pilot have been engaged in a power tussle since the Congress formed government in the state in 2018. In 2020, Pilot led a revolt against the Gehlot government after which he was removed from the posts of the party's state unit president and deputy chief minister. Last year, an attempt by the high command to effect a leadership change in Rajasthan had failed after Gehlot loyalists dug their heels in and did not allow a legislature party meeting to take place. Pilot had last month defied a warning from the party and went ahead with a day-long fast targeting Gehlot over his "inaction" on alleged corruption during the previous Raje government. Since assuming power in Rajasthan in 2018, the Congress party has convened four meetings with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his bete noir Sachin Pilot to address and reconcile the internal divisions. However, in the past, the truce between the two leaders has proven to be short-lived, with conflicts and tensions resurfacing on multiple occasions. The fourth and most recent meeting took place on May 29, where the party's high command summoned Chief Minister Gehlot and his former deputy Pilot, to resolve the festering feud between them. The four-hour-long meeting was chaired by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, in the presence of general secretary KC Venugopal and former party president Rahul Gandhi. Additionally, Sukhjinder Randhawa, the party's Rajasthan in-charge, was also in attendance at the meeting. Political commentators say that the recent meeting marked a decisive turning point in putting to an end the conflict. The central leadership has assumed control, and Mallikarjun Kharge has been granted authority to make the final decision regarding the party's political affairs for the upcoming elections. Earlier, things were not in black and white. The party leadership was going with assurances to both leaders. While Pilot was promised that he would become Chief Minister, they allowed Gehlot to continue. Now with the party president having the authority means both will have to abide by the directions, said political analyst Rasheed Kidwai. Citing the recent example of the Karnataka elections, Kidwai said, MLAs authorised Kharge to make the decision, and he announced Siddaramaiah as the chief minister. Though DK Shivakumar was also a strong aspirant, he had to fall in line with the decision. Meanwhile, sources said that Kharge and Rahul Gandhi initially held a two-hour discussion with Gehlot, followed by a separate meeting with Sachin Pilot. The Rajasthan Chief Minister expressed concerns about the challenges posed by Pilots demands regarding alleged corruption in the previous Vasundhara Raje government. As a result, Gehlot sought intervention in the matter, said sources. In response, Kharge advised Gehlot to take the necessary action as required. Additionally, during the meeting, Pilot received assurances that his demands would be addressed before the upcoming elections. Pilot was also given a signal indicating that he would once again be entrusted with leading the party in the state. This development positions him as the frontrunner for the chief ministerial post in the next elections, sources added. End of the clash? December 2018: After the Assembly elections, the divide between Gehlot and Pilot grew. Many gathered outside the office of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee calling for Pilot to be made chief minister. Despite this, the senior leadership chose Gehlot for the chief ministers post. Rahul Gandhi intervened and held meetings with both leaders, leading to a visible thaw in their strained relationship. August 2020: Sachin Pilot and his supporters once again visited Delhi, expressing their disappointment with Ashok Gehlot's leadership. Party veteran Ahmed Patel and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi intervened and calmed the 45-year-old leader. September 2022: During preparations for the Congress party's presidential polls and the announcement of Ashok Gehlot as the party candidate, a crisis erupted in Rajasthan. Over 90 MLAs loyal to Gehlot threatened to resign if Sachin Pilot was chosen as the next chief minister. Gehlot declared that he wouldn't contest for the post. KC Venugopal had to intervene. He urged both leaders to participate in the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which was entering the state. May 2023: The political conflict between Gehlot and Sachin Pilot escalated once again. Pilot organised a march from Jaipur to Ajmer, seeking action against corruption in the previous BJP government and the issue of paper leaks. The party intervened once again and facilitated reconciliation between the two leaders. In what may appear to be a scene straight out of Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma starrer Ladies vs Ricky Bahl, three women in China's Shanghai teamed up to trap and expose a man who posed as a love interest and cheated them of 100,000 yuan (about Rs 12 lakh). The man has now been sentenced to two and a half years in jail, the South China Morning Post reported. The three women, who became friends during the police investigation and the following court case, later went on an overseas trip together after the man was imprisoned. According to reports, on February 10, the women went to a police station in Shanghai to file a case against He Shiwei for cheating them. The man, they claimed, borrowed money from them and never repaid them. The women claimed that they got to know of each other only a day before approaching the police when one of them, Chen Hong, began to get suspicious of He and checked his phone after he fell asleep drunk. She then found multiple messages from a woman named Xiao Fan asking him why he was rejecting her calls. It turned out that Xiao lived with He and the man would usually come over to her flat to sleep. Chen also discovered that He had promised marriage to both of them. I was so outraged! My hands were shaking, Chen told the publication. On February 10, Chen was contacted by a third woman who claimed to be He's girlfriend. The same afternoon, when He woke up, Chen confronted him and demanded he return the money he took from her. When He refused to do so, hours later, all the three women were at the police station filing a complaint. It was then that they realised that they had been "sharing" a boyfriend. He had been dating Zhao since 2021, Xiao since June 2022 and Chen since October 2022, SCMP reported. During the investigation, the police found out that He was unemployed and had been using the money from the women to pay off his debts. Interestingly, at the end of March, when a police officer called them with an update on the case, he got to know that the three women were on holiday abroad together. We got along well during the trip. It was so much fun," Chen told the publication. Residents of a Spanish village achieved an impressive feat during this weekend's local elections by completing the whole voting process in just 30 seconds. With just seven registered voters, residents of Villaroya, a small village in the La Rioja province of Spain, managed to complete everything under half a minute, surpassing their own previous record of 32 seconds. Salvador Perez, the incumbent mayor of Villaroya, who has held his position since 1973, making him one of the longest-serving mayors in Spain, spoke to local media, expressing confidence in securing the majority of the seven votes, stating, "I don't know if I'll get all seven votes, but it's almost certain that I will." The success of the swift voting process can be attributed to the exceptional readiness of Villaroya's residents. Perez remarked that the villagers are "very well trained" and had eagerly anticipated the opening of the polling booths. They wasted no time in casting their votes as soon as the polls opened on the morning of the elections. To the amazement of onlookers and election officials, the entire voting process in Villaroya was completed in a mere 29.52 seconds, marking it as the fastest voting result in Spain. The village proudly claimed the title of the first seat in the country to finish voting, setting a new standard for efficiency and speed in local elections. While the achievement of Villaroya's residents is undoubtedly impressive, Mayor Perez humorously acknowledged that a sense of competition with another Spanish village, Illan de Vacas in Castilla-La Mancha, may have motivated his fellow constituents. Illan de Vacas has only three registered voters. The local elections in Spain serve as a test run for the parliamentary polls scheduled to take place at the end of the year. Twelve of the country's seventeen regional parliaments and 8,000 town and city halls are in polls. A UK-based woman has warned against cooking eggs in a microwave after the viral TikTok hack exploded in her face, quite literally, and left her with severe skin damage. Shafia Bashir, 37, decided to try an egg-cooking recipe that is being widely circulated on TikTok, according to a report in The Independent. Bashir boiled a mug of water and dropped an egg in it. She then put the mug in the microwave for a couple of minutes. However, when she took the mug out of the microwave and put a cold spoon on the egg, it exploded like a fountain and burned Bashirs face. Horrifying images that the Greater Manchester resident later shared on social media show her skin peeling from her face. A mum was left with her skin peeling from her face after she cooked eggs in a microwave that exploded while trying out a viral TikTok 'hack'. Shafia Bashir, 37, was in "absolute agony" when making a poached egg after following a recipe she found on social media #News pic.twitter.com/OcSbdLYQFm Random (@Name__And_Shame) May 29, 2023 Bashir described it as the most excruciating pain she has experienced in her life. I just dont want anyone else going through that, because it is trending on TikTokIt was the most excruciating pain in my life, she said. As soon as I put the cold spoon in, it exploded like a fountain and it scalded me, she added. Bashir put her face under the tap while looking for immediate relief, and then went to the emergency room after getting a friend to look after her daughter. My face has healed now, luckily with no scars. I used Vaseline, Sudocrem, whatever I could get my hands on, she said. The 37-year-old further explained that she had been using the same hack to cook eggs for three years without incident. My ex-mother-in-law told me about it. She told me how to make a poached egg in the microwave. I had been doing it for three years. I boiled the kettle, half-filled the mug with water, put salt inside, the egg inside, and microwaved it for a minute. It wasnt cooked, so I put it in for another minute, she said. After it happened, I put my face under the tap for 20 mins. But the burning lasted for 12 hours. It just didnt stop. Bashir said she issued a warning against cooking eggs in microwave because she does not want anyone else to experience the agony she did. It was a terrifying time for me. I was in absolute agony, the UK woman cautioned. Billionaire Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez celebrated their engagement in Cannes, south of France, last week soon after they made a grand entrance on the Amazon founders $500 million superyacht. The couple hosted an intimate meal at Le Petite Maison, a Mediterranean restaurant located on Palm Beach in Cannes, People reported. Jeff Bezos was reportedly joined by his sister Christina Bezos Poore and her husband Steve Poore. The small group sat under a vine-covered gazebo with a view of the Mediterranean and enjoyed an exquisite menu, the magazine quoted sources as saying. They reportedly enjoyed zucchini blossoms with parmesan cheese and a $4,285 (Rs 3.54 lakh) bottle of red Burgundy wine (Dugat-Py Grand Cru from Domaine Bernard). Bezos, 59 and Sanchez, 53, have reportedly been dating since 2018, but only went public with their relationship once his divorce from his first wife MacKenzie Scott was finalised in 2019. Rumours about their engagement began swirling when Lauren Sanchez, an Emmy award-winning journalist, was spotted with a 20-carat diamond ring on her finger last week, Page Six reported. The power couple arrived in the superyacht at the resort town of Cannes, which attracted global celebrities for the recently-concluded Cannes Film Festival 2023. The luxury boat, named Koru, is believed to be the largest sailing yacht in the world. The vessel completed its construction recently, five years after it was commissioned in 2018, and made its maiden voyage in April. The front of the superyacht reportedly features a mermaid figure that resembles Lauren Sanchez. Bezos also brought his support yacht, Abeona, to Cannes, along with Koru. In Cannes, Bezos and Sanchez were seen at a magazine party at the Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc, and at a private mansion party for Hollywood filmmaker Martin Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon, according to the Page Six report. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept An Iranian-origin model made a strong political statement against executions in her country by sporting a gown with a noose around her neck at the Cannes Film Festival last week. Mahlagha Jaberi, who has over four million followers on Instagram, wore a black gown with a golden noose-shaped neckline. The dress, created by fashion designer Jila Saber, is dedicated to the people of Iran, Jaberi wrote on Instagram. She added the hashtag #StopExecutionsInIran. She arrived in the statement outfit for the screening of the film "The Old Oak" at the festival which attracts global celebrities, including stars from India. View this post on Instagram A post shared by MAHLAGHA (@mahlaghajaberi) We wanted to make a fashion statement to observe the glamour of Cannes, but more importantly, to bring media attention to the wrongful executions of Iranian people, she said in another social media post. Unfortunately, political statements are not allowed at the film festival and the security stopped me from showing the back of my dress, but the noose meaning was well understood. Iran executes more people annually than any nation other than China, according to rights groups including Amnesty International, but public executions are relatively rare with almost all hangings carried out inside prisons. In July 2022, a man convicted of murdering a policeman was publicly hanged in the city of Shiraz. In December last year, Mohsen Rahnavard, who had taken part in the recent wave of anti-government protests, was executed in the city of Mashhad. He had been convicted of murdering militia agents. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept The Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) for Go First argued on May 30th that the airline's cash-strapped situation led its lessors to approach the Delhi High Court instead of availing the remedy to approach the Supreme Court against the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal's (NCLAT) order. Harish Salve, representing the IRP as King's Counsel, contended that the aircraft lessors initiated "parallel proceedings" despite a clear directive from the NCLAT to approach the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) regarding the status of aircraft leases terminated before the moratorium. Salve raised concerns about the potential consequences of the Delhi High Court's order, which directed the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to release the aircraft to the lessors. He argued that such an order would undermine the insolvency process and result in a permanent halt to the company's operations, leading to significant job losses. Salve emphasized the interconnectedness of the insolvency proceedings and the proceedings before the Delhi High Court, asserting that any order issued by the High Court would directly impact the ongoing insolvency process. He further stated that the IRP, acting as a replacement for the company's management, has the right and responsibility to continue running the airline as a going concern, which necessitates the availability of aircraft. Sandeep Sethi, a Senior Advocate also representing the IRP, echoed Salve's arguments, highlighting that the Supreme Court has consistently advocated for minimal interference in insolvency proceedings. The case has been adjourned until May 31st, during which the DGCA is expected to present its side of the case to the court. On May 26th, the aircraft lessors contended that the denial of deregistration by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was "illegitimate." Their lawyers stated that they had approached the civil aviation regulator to request deregistration of their aircraft, but their pleas were rejected. The lessors argued that, according to the Irrevocable De-registration and Export Request Authorisations (IDERA), it was mandatory for the DGCA to deregister the aircraft upon their request. On May 24th, the DGCA informed the court that the application by the aircraft lessors to repossess their aircraft had not been officially rejected. Instead, it was put on hold due to the ongoing moratorium. Aircraft lessors, including Pembroke Aviation, Accipiter Investments Aircraft 2 Ltd, EOS Aviation, and SMBC Aviation, filed a writ with the Delhi High Court, seeking directions to release the planes leased to the financially distressed airline. The writ requested the court to instruct the DGCA to deregister the aircraft currently leased to Go First. On May 22nd, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) upheld the NCLT's order admitting Go First's plea for insolvency. The appellate tribunal directed the aircraft lessors to approach the NCLT with relevant applications to determine the possession of the aircraft. The lessors had challenged the NCLT's order, alleging that Go First was attempting to utilize the insolvency process to retain assets it did not own. On May 10th, the principal bench of the NCLT in Delhi accepted Go First's voluntary plea to initiate an insolvency resolution process. The tribunal appointed an IRP, suspended the board, and imposed a moratorium on the airline's financial obligations. Rabbi Ezekiel Isaac Malekar, who leads Delhis Judah Hyam Synagogue, represented the Jewish faith at the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28. A lawyer by profession, he said that he went to the new parliament building for the multi-faith prayer ceremony as an Indian citizen rather than as someone who represented Judaism. Also read: New Parliament Building inauguration Highlights: New Parliament will become witness to rise of Atmanirbhar Bharat, says PM Modi Who is Ezekiel Isaac Malekar? Malekar, a native of Pune, served in the Indian Air Force. During his stint there, he pursued an under graduate course in economics as an external candidate at a university. Since he was interested in law, he enrolled in the Indian Law Societys (ILS) law college Pune to obtain a degree. It was a tough time. I used to attend college in the morning and then rush to work. I couldnt attend many lectures because of work. However, I managed to pass the law exam, Malekar recollected. While in Pune, Malekar was secretary of the Succath Shelomo Synagogue and participated actively in its activities. He studied scriptures of other religions such as Hinduism, Christianity and Islam out of curiosity. Malekar also learnt Sanskrit to understand the Hindu scriptures better. Malekar moved to Delhi in 1980 upon securing a job at the health ministry. I was eligible for official accommodation, but the community elders wanted me to live in the cottage next to the synagogue and take care of it, said Malekar. He has lived there since then, taking care of the 67-year-old synagogue and the 100-year-old Jewish cemetery. The Rabbi-lawyer After having worked with the Central government for many years, while being a Rabbi, he took up an assignment in the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). He fondly recollects working with the former chief justice of India M N Venkatachaliah when he was Deputy Registrar (Law) at the NHRC. Malekar said, Justice Venkatachaliah is a role model to me. He and his wife would visit the synagogue regularly. He would insist that I leave work early on Friday evenings so that I could return to the synagogue for Sabbath. He was also a legal adviser of the ethics committee of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College and Hospital. After his retirement from the government job, Malekar decided to dedicate his time to the administration of the synagogue and did not take up a law practice. The revolutionary rabbi Since the Jewish population in India is fast dwindling, it became apparent that it may be difficult to get a 10-member male quorum to perform the Friday Sabbath at the synagogue. Malekar took the bold decision of including adult females in the quorum to perform Friday Sabbath. Many traditional and orthodox Rabbis were against this and refused to visit the synagogue. I told them it was their sweet wish whether to come or not, the synagogue will function this way, Malekar said. Malekar also invites people from all religions to attend his Friday Sabbath. One must learn to understand all religions. If they dont like something, they can choose not to read it. But it shouldnt mean that they reject whatever good is said in its text, Malekar noted. Also read: PM Modi responds to Shah Rukh Khans video on new Parliament building At the inauguration of the new parliament building When Malekar was invited to recite Torah at the inauguration ceremony of the new parliament building, he did not just feel honoured but also duty-bound to honour the Indian Constitution. I was there as a religious leader, but first I am a citizen of India, it was an event honouring the constitutional democracy of the country, Malekar notes. Having first recited the Hebrew prayer at the multi-faith prayer ceremony, Malakar noted that he recited the preamble of the Indian Constitution when Prime Minister Narendra Modi installed the Sengol sceptre in the parliament building. He said, India is a true republic of religions. Jews came to India 2,000 years ago. This is the only country where they did not have to face anti-Semitism and persecution. We see India as our motherland. Mumbai Police issued a fresh prohibitory order on Monday, forbidding the gathering of five or more individuals in a single location, as well as processions and various other activities. This order, issued by Vishal Thakur, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) of Mumbai Police, is a standard measure taken by law enforcement authorities whenever they anticipate potential disruptions. Mumbai Police had last issued a prohibitory order in April. New restrictions on public gatherings in Mumbai came into force on May 28 and will stay in place till June 11. Here is what will be prohibited in Mumbai until June 11, 2023: i) Any assembly of five or more persons, ii) Any procession of any persons iii) Any use of loudspeakers, amplifying instruments, musical band and bursting of crackers in any procession by the assembly. However, the following activities are not prohibited under the new restrictions: (a) Marriage ceremony and matrimonial functions etc. (b) Funeral assemblies and procession on the way to crematoriums/burial places. (c) Statutory meetings of companies, clubs, co-operative societies, other societies, and associations. (d) Social gatherings and meetings of clubs, co-operative societies, other societies, and associations to transact their normal business. (e) Assemblies in or around Cinema houses, theatres or any place of public amusement for the purpose of watching films, dramas or performances as the case may be. (f) Assemblies in or around courts of law and offices of the Government and local bodies in the discharge of Governmental or Semi-Governmental functions. (g) Assemblies in or around schools, colleges and other educational institutions for academic activities. (h) Assemblies in factories, shops, and establishments for normal trade, business and callings. (i) Such other assemblies and the processions as may be permitted by Zonal Deputy Commissioners of Police, Brihanmumbai and their supervisory officers. A woman who nannies for the children of the ultra-rich has opened up about the perks and drawbacks of her job. Gloria Richards, 34, spoke to CNBC Make It about her lucrative side gig as nanny for billionaires a job which takes her around the world in private jets and earns her up to $2,000 (Rs 1.6 lakh) a day. US-based Richards spends half of each year nannying for billionaires kids to supplement her income as an off-Broadway actor. Her job as a nanny earns her 80 to 90% of her annual income. Richards gets paid up to $2,000 per day for 12 to 15 hours of work, besides having her travel and accommodation covered. She recalls how one time, she was introduced to her charge just minutes before she became their chaperone on a private jet trip to the Barbados. As a nanny, she is typically expected to accompany children on their trips abroad, coordinate their social calendars and, in many cases, act as a stand-in parent. Ive had full-blown interviews where [parents] are like, Were looking for someone to raise our kids, she says. They tell me they had kids to pass on their trust funds, [and that] Ill hang out with them after boarding school when they can drink. One time, parents even registered their child under her last name at an Italian boarding school. Although she has travelled on yachts and private jets and driven Porsches and Teslas on the job, navigating the world of the ultra-rich comes with its own set of challenges, especially for a Black woman nannying white children. Richards has watched her clients abandon $3,200 steaks after a single bite and buy entire houses on a whim but despite being among the richest of the rich, they sometimes try to avoid paying her salary. Ill be in, like, Switzerland, and theyre telling me they cant pay me for three weeks because they dont have cash, Richards says. Thats also how they communicate when they dont like something you did. Theyll stop paying you. The 34-year-old has been blindsided more than once by her clients, and thats why the backing of Madison Agency is essential for her. The agency helps her get her dues in time. Sometimes Im literally a shoulder to cry on. A second later, theyll turn on me, she says. Richards has even faced racism on the job. Im a Black woman, and there are many times that Im working for white families, and by the time the kids are six or seven, they have very specific thoughts about people who look like me, she explains. But the perks seem to outweigh the negatives, and setting firm boundaries helps Richards dictate how much and how long she is willing to work. Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk is expected to visit China this week, three people with knowledge of the matter said, in what would be his first trip to the country in three years. Musk is expected to meet senior Chinese officials and to visit Tesla's Shanghai plant, two of the sources said. It was not immediately clear who Musk would meet and what they would discuss. The people with knowledge of the trip declined to be named as the matter is private. Tesla and China's State Council Information Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reuters reported in March that Musk was planning a trip to China and seeking a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang as early as April, with the exact timing subject to Li's availability. China is Tesla's second-largest market after the United States, and its Shanghai plant is the electric carmaker's largest production hub. Musk also owns social media platform Twitter, which is banned in China, although some people access it via virtual private networks (VPNs). The trip would mark Musk's first in China since he set the internet abuzz by dancing on stage during an event at Tesla's Shanghai factory in early 2020. It would also come at a time when Tesla is grappling with multiple issues, including intensifying competition with Chinese automakers that are exporting their China-made electric vehicles as demand in the world's largest auto market weakens. Tesla has not yet given any update on its plans to increase output by 450,000 vehicles a year at its Shanghai plant, although it said in April it would build a factory in Shanghai to produce Megapack energy storage products. The company has submitted plans to local authorities to expand capacity for producing powertrains at the Shanghai plant to 1.75 million units annually. China's state planner has been struggling with a capacity glut in its auto industry with more than 100 players and has been cautions about approving new production capacity. Musk told CNBC earlier this month that "there are some constraints on our ability to expand in China." He added: "It's not a demand issue." In the same interview, Musk said tensions between the United States and China "should be a concern for everyone." Tesla is building a plant in Mexico expected to produce a lower-cost electric car built on its next-generation platform. A private jet used by Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk has arrived in Beijing, according to a Reuters witness. Musk is expected to meet senior Chinese officials and visit Tesla's Shanghai plant, sources have said, in what would be his first trip to China in three years. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Musk had arrived in China. Musk's private jet, a 2015 Gulfstream G650ER, was shown leaving Alaska on Tuesday morning Asia time before crossing over Japan and South Korea, according to ADS-B Exchange, a flight aggregation website. The jet with its identifying tail number could be seen at Beijing Capital International Airport on Tuesday, according to the Reuters witness. China is Tesla's second-largest market after the U.S., and the Shanghai plant is the electric car maker's largest production hub. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept The bill hammered out by US leaders to prevent the country from a catastrophic default on its debts will face one last hurdle this week: Passing Congress. Top Republicans and Democrats scrambled Monday to secure congressional support for the measure, with President Joe Biden feeling "very good" about its prospects despite having just days left before the government starts running out of money. The deal, finalized Sunday by Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy after weeks of frantic negotiations, faces opposition from the progressive and hard-right wings of their respective parties. Ultra-conservative Republicans feel McCarthy should have secured far deeper spending cuts in exchange for raising the debt ceiling and allowing the government to keep borrowing money. The left wing of the Democratic Party is equally unhappy that Biden agreed to any spending limits at all. The House Rules Committee will meet Tuesday to set the parameters for the upcoming vote, now scheduled for Wednesday. -- Delay tactics -- Biden and McCarthy both say they believe the bill will pass the House and then move swiftly to the Senate. "I never say I'm confident what the Congress is going to do. But I feel very good about it," Biden said Monday, adding that he had spoken to lawmakers. But organized dissent could force some nerve-shredding delays. The key deadline is June 5 -- when, according to Treasury estimates, the government will no longer have the funds required to pay all its debts and bills. If that scenario morphs into a full-fledged default, the repercussions would be disastrous for the US and wider global economy. The basic framework of the deal lifts the federal debt ceiling, which is currently $31.4 trillion, for two years enough to get past the next presidential election in 2024. In return, the Republicans secured some limits on federal spending over the same period. As they finalized the text Sunday, Biden and McCarthy both went into hard-sell mode to shore up support in their parties. Biden's message to dissident Democrats, he said Monday: "Talk to me." -- Win, win -- Both Biden and McCarthy were backed by vocal spin operations insisting the agreement clearly represented a victory for their side. "You want to try to make it look like I made some compromise on the debt ceiling -- I didn't," Biden told reporters. McCarthy, for his part, touted the agreement as a "historic series of wins." But like Biden, McCarthy will have to quell members of his own party who aren't keen on the bill. "I want to raise the debt ceiling. It'd be irresponsible not to do it," Senator Lindsey Graham told Fox News Sunday. "But what I will not do is adopt the Biden defense budget and call it a success," Graham said, calling for bigger increases to the Pentagon's budget than currently agreed. "I will not be intimidated by June 5." In reality, the agreement represents a mutual climb down of sorts from Democratic and Republican negotiators. Biden had initially refused to negotiate over spending issues as a condition for raising the debt ceiling, accusing the Republicans of taking the economy hostage. And the big cuts that Republicans wanted are not there, although non-defense spending will remain effectively flat next year, and only rise nominally in 2025. McCarthy's wafer-thin majority in the House will require significant Democratic backing to balance out Republican dissent. One Republican tweeted out a vomit emoji in response to the deal, with another calling it "an insult to the American people." At the same time, a member of the House Progressive Caucus, Ro Khanna, said a large number of fellow Democrats were still "in flux as to where they're going to be on this." Democrats hold the majority in the Senate, but individual senators could try and hold up the bill with amendment votes that would bring the process perilously close to the June 5 deadline. One element likely to rile Democratic environmental hawks was the surprise inclusion of a measure to accelerate completion of an oil pipeline project that has been stalled by green concerns. Both the House and Senate are expected to return on Tuesday, after a long holiday weekend. Russia launched a fresh "massive" wave of attacks on Kyiv in the early hours of Tuesday and air defence systems were engaging incoming targets, city officials said, as air raid sirens blared in several other regions. "A massive attack!" Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on the Telegram messaging app. "Do not leave shelters." Kyiv's military administration officials said that air defence systems were repelling the attacks. Falling debris hit several districts of the capital, including the historic Podil and Pecherskyi neighbourhoods. Klitschko said that a 27-year-old woman was taken to hospital after sustaining injuries in southwestern Holosiivskyi district. Russia has repeatedly attacked the Ukrainian capital in May using a combination of drones and missiles, mostly at night in order to inflict psychological distress on people, Kyiv's official said. The Tuesday strikes were Russia's 17th air assault on the capital this month and came after the city was attacked twice on Monday, including a rare daytime strike. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Ukraine air defence forces destroyed more than 20 drones in Russia-launched overnight air attacks on Kyiv, the military administration of the Ukrainian capital said early on Tuesday. Calling it a "massive" attack launched in several waves, Serhiy Popko, the head of Kyiv's military administration, said on the Telegram messaging app that Russia conducted the assault using Iranian-made Shahed drones only. It was the third attack on the city in 24 hours. It was not immediately known how many drones Russia launched. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Ukraine launched one of its biggest ever drone attacks on Moscow on Tuesday though all of them were destroyed by air defence systems, Russia's defence ministry said. The attack came just weeks after the Kremlin was hit in a drone strike that Russia blamed on Ukraine. Here is what we know so far: Russia's defence ministry said that Ukraine was behind the drone attack on Moscow. It said it had shot all the drones. The defence ministry said that eight drones had attacked the Russian capital. Baza, a Telegram channel with links to the security services, said that more than 25 drones were involved. News site RBC cited a source as saying that "more than ten" drones had been shot down by anti-aircraft systems. Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that two people had sought medical assistance after the strike. No deaths were reported. Russia's Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said several drones had fallen on buildings in Moscow, inflicting minor damage. It said it was investigating the strike. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept William J. ONeil, an early and successful practitioner of computer-aided stock analysis who shared his strategy in a best-selling book and Investors Business Daily, which he founded in 1984, has died. He was 90. His death was announced Monday on the website of William ONeil & Co., the Los Angeles-based investment-management firm he opened in 1963. No details were provided. ONeil was an innovator in compiling, analyzing and publishing data on stock movements. He concluded that hot stocks of the past shared seven characteristics that, when correctly applied today, could identify the biggest winners of tomorrow. Everything ONeil does with the computer is his own invention, Martin Mayer wrote in his 1969 book, New Breed on Wall Street. He quoted ONeil as saying, I believe in the next three to five years the computer will be the big thing in the securities market. You go through fads in this business, and the computer is the next one. Even after using his trading profits to buy a seat on the New York Stock Exchange in 1964, ONeil and his charts and graphs remained in California, far from the central nervous system of the finance industry. Staying Focused I never pay any attention to the parade of experts voicing their personal opinions on the market, he wrote in How to Make Money in Stocks: A Winning System in Good Times or Bad, first published in 1988. It just creates entirely too much confusion and can cost you a great deal of money. His view of stock-picking as a winnable game contrasted with that of efficient-market proponents such as Burton Malkiel, a former professor of economics at Princeton University, who maintained that a blindfolded chimpanzee throwing darts at the stock listings can do as well as a professional portfolio manager. ONeil called his investment strategy CAN SLIM, an acronym for its seven components and the signals he looked for: current quarterly earnings per share up 25% or more; annual earnings per share up 25% or more for three consecutive years; new products, management or market highs; shares outstanding of fewer than 25 million; leader or laggard status in its field; institutional shareholders; and market direction. Accurate Forecasts On two occasions when his analysis pointed to imminent bull markets, ONeil paid for full-page advertisements in the Wall Street Journal to trumpet his forecast. The first was in March 1978, the start of a six-month rally in in equities. The second, in February 1982, preceded one of the most famous bull markets in history, lasting five years. With the money he made as an investor, ONeil founded Investors Daily, now Investors Business Daily, which began as a Monday-to-Friday newspaper loaded with charts and data that feed the CAN SLIM method. William ONeil & Co. sells research to about 350 major institutional clients, according to its website. Its broker-dealer business was renamed ONeil Securities Inc. in 2010. ONeil Global Advisors, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor, was launched in 2019. With his wife, Fay, ONeil established the ONeil Center for Global Markets and Freedom in 2008 at his alma mater, Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He also funded a chair in business journalism at SMUs Meadows School of the Arts and a professorship in markets and freedom at its Cox School of Business. The donations reflected, in part, his determination not to become part of the East Coast establishment. Southern Strategy You need a Harvard or Stanford somewhere in the South, ONeil said, according to a 2010 Dallas Morning News article. If SMU keeps upgrading and improving itself, it could emerge as that. William J. ONeil was born on March 25, 1933, in Oklahoma and was raised in Texas, graduating from high school in Dallas. He earned a bachelors degree in business administration from SMU in 1955. He began his career as a stockbroker in 1958 in the Los Angeles office of Hayden Stone & Co. There, he developed his computerized study of what made stocks successful and, according to a biography on his website, quickly became the top-performing broker. ONeil said following his own rules in early 1962 led him to sell all his stocks, with no idea the market was headed for a real crash that spring. Independent Thinker When he continued to bet on falling prices for some stocks, including building-materials manufacturer Certain-Teed Products Corp., I got into trouble with Hayden Stones home office on Wall Street, he wrote. The firm had just recommended Certain-Teed as a buy, and here I was going around telling everyone it was a short sale. He founded William ONeil & Co. in 1963 after recording a 20-fold increase in his own account. Jack Schwager, in 1989s Market Wizards, said ONeil parlayed a $5,000 investment into $200,000 through three consecutive bets: on discount chain E.J. Korvette Inc. to fall, on Chrysler Inc. to rise, and on Syntex Corp., maker of a compound used in birth-control tablets, to increase. When he was 30, ONeil bought a seat on the NYSE. Early on, William ONeil & Co. managed money for clients with at least $75,000. For investors who couldnt meet that minimum, ONeil started a fund in 1966 that within two years had about $10 million in assets, according to an article in the New York Times. Top Fund The ONeil Fund soared 116% in 1967 to make it that years most successful mutual fund, as measured by FundScope, a monthly magazine. The Times, reporting on ONeils stellar year, called him a shy 35-year-old Texan who pores over computer data on 2,050 stocks listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Amex thats the entire list to see which 100 or so are likely to provide the best opportunity for increasing his funds asset value. ONeil struggled to maintain the funds stellar performance, and by the time he sold it in 1975, its assets had shrunk to $6 million from a peak of $49 million, according to the Los Angeles Times. In 1992, ONeil opened another fund, called New USA, which swiftly attracted $170 million from investors, the Los Angeles Times reported. It gained 67% through 1996, outperforming the average growth fund but not the S&P 500. In 1997, ONeil sold the funds assets to Boston-based MFS Investment Management. May 30, 2023 Drones Strikes In Moscow - Missile Strikes In Ukraine Today the Russian government revealed some numbers and information about its 'Special Military Operation'. Today's 'clobber report' by the Ministry of Defense leads with this (machine translation): During the day, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out group strikes using long-range high-precision air-launched weapons at central decision-making points where, under the guidance of specialists from Western intelligence agencies, terrorist acts were planned on Russian territory. All assigned objects are hit. 'Central decision-making points' are ministries and main headquarters. These had so far not been targets. More to that below. Defense Minister Shoigu had a conference call with the military command and noted: "Russian forces continue to inflict an effective fire impact on the enemy. Its losses this month alone totaled over 16,000 troops, 16 aircraft, 5 helicopters, 466 drones, over 400 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, and 238 field artillery pieces and mortars," Shoigu said during a conference call. He added that 196 HIMARS rockets, 16 HARM rockets and 29 Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles were intercepted and destroyed during the reviewed period. The numbers are, with the exception of the downed Storm Shadows, largely consistent with the numbers from the daily 'clobber report' in my spreadsheet. But I have only counted 17 reported Storm Shadow kills over the last month. I do not know where Shoigu's 29 is coming from. Shoigu also spoke of targets of the recent drone attacks in Ukraine (machine translation): The deliveries of equipment and weapons to Ukraine are increasing. We monitor the volumes and routes of supply and, if identified, strike. In recent days, large warehouses of Western weapons in Khmelnytsky, Ternopil and Nikolaev have been destroyed, the American Patriot anti-aircraft missile system in Kyiv has been hit, the Minister of Defense said. "The military support of Ukraine only delays the hostilities, but cannot affect the outcome of the special military operation," the head of the military department is sure. On today's drone strikes in Moscow he said (machine translation): This morning, the Kiev regime carried out a terrorist act in the Moscow region. I will note, on civilian objects. It involved eight aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles. They are all amazed. In Moscow, three drones were suppressed by electronic warfare, lost control and deviated from their intended targets. Five more were shot down in the Moscow region by the Pantsir anti-aircraft missile and gun system, the Minister of Defense said. Other people had claimed up to 20 drones. But there was little damage and no reports of any casualties. Also today was the third large drone and missile strike on Kiev within 24 hours. The were a total 17 strikes on Kiev in May 2023. I do not believe that Ukraine's claim of shooting down all missiles and drones is in any way reasonable. There will be a lot of damage in places Kiev does not want to talk about. The air defense in Kiev and elsewhere is exhausted and likely to soon run out of missiles. That will certainly increase the effectiveness of Russian strikes. President Putin seemed to confirm that today's attack on a 'central decision-making points' hit the headquarter of military intelligence in Kiev: Mark Sleboda @MarkSleboda1 - 13:28 UTC May 30, 2023 Putin confirms recent Russian missile strike on Kiev regime military intelligence, under Budanov, which had claimed credit for several recent assassinations & terrorist bombings of civilians in Russia. Budanov is a pretty nasty piece of s***. In a recent interview with Yahoo his threats were certainly not within the frame of any law: The implication is that Budanovs intelligence service, more commonly known by its Ukrainian acronym HUR, was behind a string of audacious and lethal attacks inside Russian territory or what the Kremlin considers to be Russian territory. These include the August car-bomb assassination of Daria Dugina, daughter of Russias notorious far-right theorist Aleksandr Dugin, in central Moscow, and the suspected truck bombing in October that partially dismantled the Kerch Bridge, Russias only direct link from the Black Sea to occupied Crimea. U.S. intelligence has attributed Duginas killing to the Ukrainian government, although not specifically to the HUR. Asked about this allegation, Budanov said, Dont continue with that topic. All I will comment on is that weve been killing Russians and we will keep killing Russians anywhere on the face of this world until the complete victory of Ukraine. Budanov should note that the old warrior tale has been updated to: "Live by the sword, die by the dagger missile." Posted by b on May 30, 2023 at 14:36 UTC | Permalink Comments next page next page This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Facebook Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Morgan-Taylor Thomas/Reporter-Telegram Show More Show Less 3 of 3 A Hawaiian Bros Island Grill is coming to Midland, according to the Facebook page Maybe in Midland-Odessa. The page reports that the fast-food restaurant will be located next to Raising Canes off Loop 250 and west of Midkiff Road (across from Midland Park Mall). On May 1, 1865, thousands of newly freed Black people gathered in Charleston, S.C., for what may have been the nation's first Memorial Day celebration. Attendees held a parade and put flowers on the graves of Union soldiers who had helped liberate them from slavery. The event took place three weeks after the Civil War surrender of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and two weeks after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. It was a remarkable moment in U.S. history - at the nexus of war and peace, destruction and reconstruction, servitude and emancipation. But the day would not be remembered as the first Memorial Day. In fact, White Southerners made sure that for more than a century, the day wasn't remembered at all. It was "a kind of erasure from public memory," said David Blight, a history professor at Yale University. In February 1865, Confederate soldiers withdrew from Charleston after the Union had bombarded it with offshore cannon fire for more than a year and began to cut off supply lines. The city surrendered to the Union army, leaving a massive population of freed formerly enslaved people. Also left in the wake of the Confederate evacuation were the graves of more than 250 Union soldiers, buried without coffins behind the judge's stand of the Washington Race Course, a Charleston horse track that had been converted into an outdoor prison for captured Northerners. The conditions were brutal, and most of those who had died succumbed to exposure or disease. In April, about two dozen of Charleston's freed men volunteered to disinter the bodies and rebury them in rows of marked graves, surrounded by a wooden, freshly whitewashed fence, according to newspaper accounts from the time. Then, on May 1, about 10,000 people - mostly formerly enslaved people - turned out for a memorial service that the freed people had organized, along with abolitionist and journalist James Redpath and some White missionaries and teachers from the North. Redpath described the day in the New-York Tribune as "such a procession of friends and mourners as South Carolina or the United States never saw before." The day's events began around 9 a.m. with a parade led by about 2,800 Black schoolchildren, who had just been enrolled in new schools, bearing armfuls of flowers. They marched around the horse track and entered the cemetery gate under an arch with black-painted letters that read "Martyrs of the Race Course." The schoolchildren proceeded through the cemetery and distributed the flowers on the gravesites. Other attendees entered the cemetery with even more flowers, as the schoolchildren sang songs including "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "John Brown's Body." "When all had left," Redpath wrote, "the holy mounds - the tops, the sides, and the spaces between them - were one mass of flowers, not a speck of earth could be seen; and as the breeze wafted the sweet perfume from them, outside and beyond, to the sympathetic multitude, there were few eyes among those who knew the meaning of the ceremony that were not dim with tears of joy." The dedication ended with prayers and Bible verses from local Black ministers, followed by speeches from Union officers and Northern missionaries, a picnic on the racecourse and drills by Union infantrymen, including some African American regiments. The observance didn't end until sundown. And then, Blight said, the event was forgotten. Not right away - but within a few decades, any recollection persisted merely as rumor, in verbal anecdotes. The reason, he said, is that "by the middle and end of Reconstruction, the Black folks of Charleston were not creating the public memory of that city." The portrayal of the Civil War and its aftermath was controlled in the South by groups such as the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Ladies' Memorial Association, as well as Confederate veterans, Blight said. "The Daughters of the Confederacy were the guardians of that narrative," said Damon Fordham, an adjunct professor of history at The Citadel, a military college in Charleston. "And much of that was skewed toward the Confederate point of view." Blight chronicled the 1865 Charleston ritual in his 2001 book "Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory," based on evidence that Fordham helped him uncover. Blight had been researching the book in 1999, in an archive of the Houghton Library at Harvard University, when he found a collection of papers written by Union veterans that contained a description of the May 1, 1865, events in Charleston. If the description was accurate, Blight said, he knew that "that event in Charleston deserves its own full commemoration, just because of the poignancy of it, the sheer scale of it." But first he had to corroborate it. One of the first places he contacted was the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture at the College of Charleston. "I called up the curator there," Blight recalled, "and I said, 'I just found this in a collection of veterans materials. Have you ever heard of this story?' And the guy said, 'No. That never happened.'" The "guy" was Fordham, who at the time was a graduate student at the college and a research assistant at Avery. Despite his doubts, Fordham knew the center had microfilm of the Charleston Courier, a daily newspaper from that time, so he checked it. "About two hours later, he called me back, and he said, 'Oh my God, here it is,'" Blight said. It was a Courier article from May 2, 1865, "describing this extraordinary parade on the old planters' racecourse." Blight went on to find more proof, including an illustration of the fenced cemetery that was published in Harper's Weekly in 1867. "Pretty soon I had all these sources that no one had ever bumped into, so one thing kept leading to another," he said. "But even people in Charleston said, 'No, never heard of it.' That shows the power of the erasure of public memory over time." In the book, Blight describes a 1916 letter written by the president of the Ladies' Memorial Association in Charleston, replying to an inquiry about the May 1, 1865, parade. "A United Daughters of the Confederacy official wanted to know if it was true that blacks and their white abolitionist friends had engaged in such a burial rite," he wrote. "Mrs. S.C. Beckwith responded tersely: 'I regret that I was unable to gather any official information in answer to this.'" In the 1880s, the bodies of the Union soldiers, the "Martyrs of the Race Course," were exhumed and moved to Beaufort National Cemetery. The horse track closed shortly after that, and the 60 acres of land became Hampton Park, named for Wade Hampton III, a Confederate general and Charleston native who became governor of South Carolina in 1876. Hampton enslaved nearly 1,000 people before the war, and his governorship was supported by the Red Shirts, a White paramilitary group that violently suppressed the Black vote. By the end of the century, no vestige of the racecourse, the cemetery or the 1865 parade remained. More spring graveside memorials followed the one in Charleston. Several occurred in towns across the country in the spring of 1866, and many of these places - such as Columbus, Miss., whose commemoration became annual - claim to have held the original Memorial Day observance. Officially, the nation recognizes Memorial Day as having started in Waterloo, N.Y. In Charleston, the freed people didn't have the power to develop an annual tradition after 1865. But the city now recognizes itself, regardless, as the holiday's birthplace. "On May 1, 1865, a parade to honor the Union war dead took place here," reads a state historical marker erected in Hampton Park in 2017. "The event marked the earliest celebration of what became known as 'Memorial Day.'" This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 AP Show More Show Less 2 of 3 AP Show More Show Less 3 of 3 MIAMI (AP) A white man was sentenced to probation in South Florida Tuesday for pulling a gun and yelling racial slurs in a traffic confrontation with a group of Black teenagers protesting housing inequality on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2019. As part of a deal with with prosecutors, Mark Bartlett, 55, pleaded guilty to a hate crime and aggravated assault and also agreed not to possess a firearm for a decade, the Miami Herald reported. Bartlett must also perform 300 hours of community service and take anger management classes and racial sensitivity training. Bartlett could have faced decades in prison, but Miami-Dade County Judge Alberto Milian granted Bartlett a withhold of adjudication, which means Bartlett will avoid a formal conviction. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Pennsylvania restaurant owner who screamed death threats directed at then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi while storming the U.S. Capitol was sentenced on Tuesday to more than two years in prison. Pauline Bauer was near Pelosi's office suite on Jan. 6, 2021, when she yelled at police officers to bring out the California Democrat so the mob of Donald Trump supporters could hang her. In January, U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden convicted Bauer of riot-related charges after hearing trial testimony without a jury. The judge sentenced her to two years and three months of imprisonment, giving her credit for the several months she already has served in jail, court records show. Prosecutors had recommended a prison sentence of six years and six months for Bauer, 55, of Kane, Pennsylvania. Bauer was part of the mob that forced police officers on the East Plaza to retreat. After forcing her way into the Capitol, she accosted officers who were trying to secure the Rotunda, shoving one of them, and yelled at police to bring them out or were coming in, according to federal prosecutors. Theyre criminals. They need to hang, she screamed. Bring Nancy Pelosi out here now. We want to hang (her). Bring her out." Other rioters shouted threats against Pelosi while they roamed through the Capitol. Bauers threat to hang Speaker Pelosi was real, imminent, and placed the Speaker of the House in danger, prosecutor James Peterson wrote in a court filing. Bauer traveled from her north Pennsylvania home to attend then-President Donald Trump's Stop the Steal rally in Washington on Jan. 6. She had attended a Stop the Steal rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a day earlier. She came to Washington with at least five other people who have been charged in the Capitol riot, including co-defendant William Blauser, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge. Last year, McFadden ordered Blauser to pay a $500 fine but didnt sentence him to any term of incarceration or probation. McFadden convicted Bauer of all five counts in her indictment, including a felony charge that she obstructed the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress that certified President Joe Bidens 2020 electoral victory. Defense attorney Komron Jon Maknoon said Bauer never intended to interfere with the process of certifying the Electoral College vote. She genuinely regrets her past actions and doesn't pose a threat to the public, her lawyer said. "The international spotlight showcasing her at her worst has deeply affected her," Maknoon wrote. Prosecutors said Bauer lied during her trial testimony, giving a bogus explanation for her confrontation with police and claiming she didn't remember threatening Pelosi. Bauer has used sovereign citizen extremist rhetoric and filed nonsense" court documents while defending herself, prosecutors said. More than a year before the trial, McFadden ordered Bauer to be jailed for several months for violating conditions of her release. She had claimed the court has no authority over her and told the judge that she doesnt want any lawyering from the bench. During an interview in 2021, Bauer said her arrest on Capitol riot charges led to a mixed reaction from neighbors in Kane, a small town on the edge of the 517,000-acre Allegheny National Forest. A lot of people say that theyre proud of me for standing up for my rights, she told The Associated Press. Bauer said her restaurant, Bobs Trading Post, was thriving before the COVID-19 pandemic. She became known in her hometown as an outspoken critic of lockdown measures that cost her business. More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes for their conduct on Jan. 6. More than 500 of them have been sentenced, with over half receiving terms of imprisonment ranging from one week to 18 years. A Midland parent is suing Greenwood Baptist Childrens Learning Center, claiming caregivers at the day care caused her 3-year-old son physical, emotional and psychological harm, according to a complaint filed by the Button Law Firm. The mother claimed caregivers at the day care left her son in a kitchen pantry with the lights off, sprayed him with toxic disinfectant and forced him to sit next to a trash can for an excessive amount of time. The lawsuit also claims that the day care violated state laws by waiting several days to report the incidents to the mother and the state of Texas. An investigation into the November 2022 incident conducted by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission revealed that the boys mistreatment was common practice among caregivers with many of the children at the day care, the lawsuit states. According to the suit, the state agencys investigation substantiated the mothers claims and cited Greenwood Baptist Childrens Learning Center for breaking childcare licensing laws, ranging from lack of competency to inappropriate discipline methods and accessibility of toxic chemicals to children. The complaint says that the churchs board, director and staff were aware of the frequent mistreatment of children at the daycare. The suit says leaders at the church intentionally ignored numerous reports that put an unimaginable number of children at direct risk of serious harm or injury, the lawsuit alleges. One of the daycares caregivers saw her own child restrained to a chair with a seat belt as a form of punishment, which led to her speaking out about the facilitys abusive actions. The suit cites board members acknowledged the numerous incidents at the day care were just adding up after seeing several incidents in a short timeframe. We are disturbed by the abusive and negligent treatment that our clients young son endured at Greenwood Baptist Childrens Learning Center, Button Law Firm attorney Russell Button stated in a press release. We are committed to holding the day care accountable and, hopefully, in the process of this lawsuit, protect other children in the Midland community from suffering similar traumatic experiences. The Reporter-Telegram made attempts to reach the daycare for comment, but received no response. NWS: Rainfall in Midland trails rest of region in May National Weather Service: Midland rainfall trails rest of West Texas region in May Saudi Arabia goes it alone at OPEC+ with million-barrel cut Saudi Arabia will make an extra 1 million barrel-a-day oil supply cut in July, taking its... Master Gardeners: Time to plant sweet potatoes The Permian Basin Master Gardeners provide a breakdown on growing your own sweet potatoes. Master Gardeners: Advice for our late blooming gardeners Master Gardeners: Those in the second half of their lives in Midland and Odessa can try their... Out and About: Texas Tech's Centennial Celebration in Midland Out and About with Julie Donnelly: The Texas Tech Centennial Celebration Mobile Tour wrapped up... Bunche Elementary hosts second StoryWalk The May 18 StoryWalk event at Bunche Elementary featured the award-winning childrens book... Development Wells report for June 3 The Development Wells report for Texas Railroad Commission Districts 7C, 8 and 8A. Energy industry hopes for even more permitting reform While oil and gas representatives are pleased with the permitting reforms contained in the... Young Womens Leadership Academy student Shwetha Jayakumar is on to Round 3 at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The Reporter-Telegram Spelling Bee champion spelled pschent during the first round of the national bee. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines pschent as the headdress of the later Egyptian pharaohs formed of the two crowns worn by the respective pharaohs of Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt before the union of the country under one rule. Jayakumar then defined "waiver," which is the "act of purposely giving up a known claim or right." Jayakumar will return to the microphone later Tuesday for Round 3. Should she spell that word correctly, she will make Wednesdays quarterfinals. The winner of the regional spelling bee in Odessa -- Ajay Gundlapalli -- also advanced to Round 3. The representatives of Midland and Odessa in the Texas House voted differently Saturday on the impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. State Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland, voted against the adoption of impeachment articles, while state Rep. Brooks Landgraf voted in favor. The entire body of the House approved the resolution by a vote of 121-23. Ultimately, I voted against the resolution, Craddick wrote in a statement. My vote today is not a statement as to whether or not I believe General Paxton is guilty or innocent of the allegations in the Articles of Impeachment. Rather, I voted against the resolution as I believe the process is just as important as the end result. Landgraf wrote on his Facebook page, Attorney General Paxton has been a fierce defender of Texas sovereignty, and this vote was not about the good work he has done. But this is Texas, and no one regardless of their past victories or future ambitions should be above the rule of law. I know that my vote wont be popular with everyone, but I voted on principle, not political expediency. The Texas Tribune reported Saturday that the vote temporarily removes Paxton from office over allegations of misconduct that included bribery and abuse of office. Attention next shifts to the Texas Senate, which will conduct a trial with senators acting as jurors and designated House members presenting their case as impeachment managers, the Texas Tribune stated. -- Statements from state Reps. Tom Craddick and Brooks Landgraf about voting on articles of impeachment regarding Attorney General Ken Paxton. Today, the Texas House of Representatives acted on a resolution to issue Articles of Impeachment against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. This resolution was filed in the House on May 25. The resolution was considered by and voted out of the House General Investigating Committee on May 25. After the announcement of the filing, the House of Representatives was then given a transcript of a hearing of the same committee held on May 24. Prior to the announcement of the resolution being filed, Members of the House were not made aware an impeachment was being considered unless they were the five serving on the committee, which considered the resolution. The resolution presented to the House included 20 counts of impeachment. However, the vote before the body was merely once to issue articles of impeachment or not. I have heard from constituents across the district regarding this matter. I read the transcript of the hearing and listened to the arguments debated in the Texas House both for and against issuing the articles of impeachment. In doing so, I found there to be a lack of due process, which is consistent with prior articles of impeachment issued by the body. General Paxton was not allowed to present evidence, participate in the process or even refute the allegations before the committee or full House. Furthermore, when the debate was taken up there were time limits for the presentation, the debate and the speeches. This is all not consistent with the processes utilized before by the House. Ultimately, I voted against the resolution. My vote today is not a statement as to whether or not I believe General Paxton is guilty or innocent of the allegations in the Articles of Impeachment. Rather, I voted against the resolution as I believe the process is just as important as the end result. - State Rep. Tom Craddick (R-Midland) -- After thorough review of the evidence provided by investigators and prayerful consideration, I voted today to send forth articles of impeachment regarding Attorney General Ken Paxton for a full trial in the Texas Senate. To be clear, this was not a vote to oust anybody from office, but vote to send the articles of impeachment to the Texas Senate. The Texas constitution which I took a solemn oath to preserve, protect and defend does not allow the House to determine guilt in impeachment proceedings. It authorizes the Senate to hold a public trial with all the rights of due process. The Senate will decide whether or not to remove Attorney General Paxton from office. The purpose of impeachment proceedings is to protect the State of Texas, not to punish anyone. The articles of impeachment that were approved by the Texas House (with the support of more than 70% of House Republicans) detailed 20 separate charges ranging from abuse of power, multiple violations of Texas law, to misappropriation of public resources and obstruction of justice. Attorney General Paxton has been a fierce defender of Texas sovereignty, and this vote was not about the good work he has done. But this is Texas, and no one regardless of their past victories or future ambitions should be above the rule of law. I know that my vote wont be popular with everyone, but I voted on principle, not political expediency. - State Rep. Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) on his Facebook page. Bank of Guam to defer payments for consumer loan and personal credit cards in Guam and Rota NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) A church associate of a pastor and town councilwoman who was gunned down in her SUV outside her home in February was arrested Tuesday on murder and gun charges, New Jersey prosecutors said. Rashid Ali Bynum, 28, of Portsmouth, Virginia, was linked to the death of Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour, 30, after investigators traced his travels from his cellphone and vehicle location data on Feb. 1, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said at a news conference. He also matched the description of the gunman given by neighbors in Sayreville, where Dwumfour had served on the council for about a year. Tuesdays announcement came nearly four months after she was found gunned down in her white SUV outside her rented townhome, while her 11-year-old daughter heard the shots from inside. Her death on Feb. 1 sent the community reeling. Dwumfour was a pastor in a prosperity gospel church, Champions Royal Assembly, that is based in Nigeria, and she got married there in November to a fellow pastor from Abuja. She was also an officer of a related entity, the Fire Congress Fellowship, that has a branch in Virginia. Bynum was listed in her cellphone contacts under that groups acronym. Court records and tax filings suggest that church finances in the U.S. were tight. Dwumfour had been named in a series of landlord-tenant disputes in Newark dating from 2017 to 2020 involving the fellowship, which had seen its income drop from about $250,000 in 2017 to just $350 in 2020. Dwumfour, who grew up in Newark, had lived in Virginia at one point, and family lawyer John Wisniewski said Bynum had lived in Sayreville. But beyond that, he did not know the nature of their relationship and the prosecutor declined to discuss a possible motive. Sayreville Mayor Victoria Kilpatrick a political ally who decided not to run for reelection as the slaying went unsolved took some comfort that the killing did not appear politically motivated, but was troubled by the apparent link to a church to which Dwumfour was deeply devoted. "The fact that it was connected to that component of her life is even more saddening to me because you look to God for light and protection. So to know that that was the connection hurts, but at the same time, evil can lurk anywhere, she said. Dwumfours father and family pastor learned of the arrest just ahead of the news conference and declined to comment afterward. While they welcome the arrest, they have even more questions today than there were before, Wisniewski said. Her new husband, Peter Ezechukwu, is no longer in the U.S. We have an alleged murderer in custody in Virginia, but now they are trying to also understand the relationship, how this person came to target Eunice, what was the rationale, Wisniewski said. Bynum was arrested in Chesapeake City, Virginia, without incident, authorities said. It was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer or when he might be extradited to New Jersey. Dwumfour, a Republican, was elected to her first three-year term in 2021, when she ousted a Democratic incumbent. Colleagues recalled her as a soft-spoken devout Christian who could maintain her composure in contentious situations. ___ Follow Legal Affairs Writer Maryclaire Dale on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Maryclairedale This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PITTSBURGH (AP) Robert Bowers carried out the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history when he killed 11 people and injured seven others by storming a Pittsburgh synagogue and shooting everyone he could find. On that, everyone agrees. Even though Bowers defense acknowledged at the outset of his federal trial Tuesday that he was the gunman, they hope to spare the suburban truck driver from a possible death sentence over the Oct. 27, 2018, massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue. Bowers shot every person he saw" that day in the building, his lead lawyer, Judy Clarke, said in her opening statement. But she questioned whether Bowers had acted out of hatred, as prosecutors contend, or an irrational belief that he needed to kill Jews to save others from the genocide he claimed they were enabling by helping immigrants come to the U.S. He had what to us is this unthinkable, nonsensical, irrational thought: that by killing Jews, he would attain his goal, Clarke said. There is no making sense of this senseless act. Mr. Bowers caused extraordinary harm to many, many people. Prosecutors who rejected Bowers' offer to plead guilty in exchange for taking the death penalty off the table opened their case by describing the terror he sowed as he moved through the synagogue, opening fire indiscriminately. Jurors heard a 911 call played by Tree of Life Rabbi and attack survivor Jeffrey Myers, who took shelter in the first minutes of the attack. I hear people screaming, he said on the call, his voice shaky and urgent. The person is still shooting. On the witness stand, Myers testified that he was in front of the congregation at the start of the service and, after hearing gunfire in the lobby, urged worshippers to flee if they were able and told those who were elderly and frail to lie down or hide. He wiped away tears as prosecutor Eric Olshan asked him about a portion of the 911 recording in which he could be heard whispering. I was praying, Myers explained, adding after a long pause: I expected to die. He said he was trying to decide whether to make a last phone call or video for his wife, but decided that leaving such a legacy wouldnt be fair to her." Instead, he stayed on the line with 911 and prayed an ancient Jewish profession of faith. I thought about the history of my people, how weve been persecuted and hunted and slaughtered for centuries, and how all of them must have felt the moments before their death, and what did they do, Myers testified. He said he knew some of his congregants had been killed, and I asked God to forgive me because I couldnt save them. Prosecutors say Bowers made incriminating statements to investigators and left an online trail of antisemitic statements that they say shows the attack was motivated by religious hatred. Police shot Bowers three times before he surrendered. The depths of the defendants malice and hate can only be proven in the broken bodies of the victims and his hateful words, Assistant U.S. Attorney Soo C. Song told the 12 jurors and six alternates hearing the case. Song described in detail how worshippers from three congregations who shared the synagogue Dor Hadash, New Light and the Tree of Life arrived that Sabbath to pray and socialize in what should have been a safe place. As she spoke, some of the survivors in the somber courtroom dabbed tears. Bowers, seated at the defense table, showed no reaction. The jury also heard a 911 call from congregant Bernice Simon, who reported were being attacked! and that her husband, Sylvan Simon, had been shot. Bernice Simon was shot while still on the line her last, labored breaths clearly audible. Bernice, are you still with me? Shannon Basa-Sabol, the dispatcher who took the call, asked in the recording, There was no answer. Neither of the Simons survived. In a filing earlier this year, prosecutors said Bowers harbored deep, murderous animosity towards all Jewish people. They said he also expressed hatred for HIAS, founded as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, a nonprofit humanitarian group that helps refugees and asylum seekers. Prosecutors wrote in a court filing that Bowers had nearly 400 followers on his Gab social media account to whom he promoted his antisemitic views and calls to violence against Jews. In the long run-up to the trial, Bowers lawyers did little to cast doubt on whether he was the gunman and instead focused on trying to save his life. As an indication that the trials guilt-or-innocence phase would be almost a foregone conclusion, they spent little time during jury selection asking how potential jurors would reach a verdict. Instead, they focused on the penalty phase and how jurors would decide whether to impose the death penalty in a case of a man charged with hate-motivated killings in a house of worship. The defense lawyers, who recently said Bowers has schizophrenia and brain impairments, probed whether potential jurors could consider factors such as mental illness or a difficult childhood. The families of those killed are divided over whether the government should pursue the death penalty, but most have voiced support for it. The three congregations have spoken out against antisemitism and other forms of bigotry since the attack. The Tree of Life congregation also is working with partners on plans to overhaul its current structure, which still stands but has been closed since the shootings, by creating a complex that would house a sanctuary, museum, memorial and center for fighting antisemitism. The death penalty trial, which is being presided over by Judge Robert Colville, is proceeding three years after now-President Joe Biden said during his 2020 campaign that he would work to end capital punishment at the federal level and in states that still use it. His attorney general, Merrick Garland, has temporarily paused executions to review policies and procedures, but federal prosecutors continue to vigorously work to uphold death sentences that have been issued and, in some cases, to pursue new death sentences at trial. ___ Associated Press reporter Michael Rubinkam in northeastern Pennsylvania contributed to this report. ___ AP 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. BEIRUT (AP) Lebanese troops rescued a Saudi citizen kidnapped over the weekend in Beirut and reportedly held for ransom, the army said Tuesday. Mushari al-Mutairi was released in a special operation along the Lebanon-Syria border, where the kidnappers held him hostage, a statement by the Lebanese military said. It gave no further details. Lebanon's caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said nine people were detained during the operation that ended with al-Mutairi's release. Authorities have not identified any of the suspected kidnappers or said whether they are thought to belong to an organized group. The area where al-Mutairi was rescued is known to be a haven for criminals, smugglers and drug dealers. Kidnapping for ransom and car theft are common in northeast Lebanon. Saudi ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Bukhari thanked the Lebanese authorities for al-Mutairi's release, adding that he was on his way to the embassy after undergoing medical tests that showed he is in good health. Al-Mutairi was kidnapped after midnight Saturday in Beirut. State-run Saudi TV station Al-Ekhbariya said that the kidnappers demanded a $400,000 ransom for al-Mutairi, who works for Saudi national airlines Saudia. Later on Tuesday, an army statement said troops had carried out more raids in the eastern city of Baalbek, targeting the homes of other people wanted for questioning over their suspected roles in the kidnapping. The army said that troops also raided an illegal drug factory in the city run by people suspected of involvement in the abduction. It said some of them escaped the factory and then opened fire on a nearby army post, which led to a shootout but there were no casualties. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said in comments released by his office that the government is determined to guarantee the security of its citizens as well as foreigners. Local Lebanese media reported that al-Mutairi was released during an operation by the armys intelligence division in the northeastern district of Hermel. Mikati congratulated the army on the operation's success and called on Arab tourists to visit the crisis-hit country adding that Lebanon will not be used for any attack against Arab countries. Lebanon has been facing a crippling economic crisis since 2019. Three-quarters of its 6 million people have fallen into poverty. See the images of North Koreas launch pad activity as it prepares its first spy satellite See the images of North Koreas launch pad activity as it prepares its first spy satellite View Photo SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea said Tuesday it would launch its first military spy satellite in June and described space-based reconnaissance as crucial for monitoring U.S. reckless military exercises with South Korea. The statement came a day after North Korea notified Japans coast guard that the launch, sometime between May 31 and June 11, might affect waters in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and east of the Philippines Luzon Island. Japans defense minister warned its forces to shoot down the satellite or debris if any entered Japanese territory, and its coast guard issued a safety warning for ships that would be in the affected seas during the expected launch, citing a risk of falling debris. While North Koreas rivals have condemned the countrys planned launch as a banned test of ballistic missile technology, its less clear whether the satellite itself is advanced enough to support the Norths stated goals of tracking and monitoring U.S. and South Korean military activities in real time. Satellite images taken Tuesday analyzed by The Associated Press showed activity at a main pad at North Koreas Sohae Satellite Launching Station suggesting the satellites blast off would be soon. The images by Planet Labs PBC showed the massive orange gantry at the pad with its arms open. The gantry houses a rocket on the launch pad. Next to the gantry, a long, rectangular object could be seen with two other objects nearby. Those objects hadnt been seen in prior days images of the site and could potentially be rocket parts. All that movement taken together, along with the announcement of a pending launch, means one is likely imminent, said Dave Schmerler, a senior research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, which is part of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Schmerler said it was highly unusual for North Korea to be assembling the rocket in daylight, knowing that satellites overhead would be able to watch the site, as opposed to constructing it under a rail-mounted transfer structure as they have in the past. The point is that were seeing activity in a launch system that was designed to obscure activity, Schmerler told the AP. So this is new and interesting because its not using the usual processes. Meanwhile, North Korean workers also have quickly built in the span of a month a new launch pad just 2.7 kilometers (1.6 miles) southeast of the launch pad where all the activity Tuesday was seen. That site as well appears to have a rail-mounted transfer system, freshly paved asphalt, lightning towers, floodlights and a stand for cameras. Given that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un likely would attend the satellite launch, Schmerler said the missile site probably wanted to show off its new facilities. That also would allow them to have a second launch as well if North Korea chose to do so. When Kim shows up, hes not going to be underwhelmed. He should be fairly impressed they just threw this whole thing together, Schmerler said. Theyre going to use this. Now, when they use it, we dont know. The International Maritime Organization told the AP it received an email from North Koreas Maritime Administration that spelled out the countrys satellite launch plans, including the May 31-June 11 launch window and coordinates of areas where debris might fall. The pace of both North Koreas weapons testing and U.S.-South Korean joint military exercises have increased in past months in a tit-for-tat cycle. Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-fired about 100 missiles, including ICBMs designed to reach the U.S. mainland and a slew of launches it described as simulated nuclear attacks on targets in South Korea. North Korea has said its intensified testing activity is meant to counter its rivals joint military exercises as it continues to use those drills as a pretext to advance its arsenal of nuclear-capable weapons. In comments published by North Korean state media, senior military official Ri Pyong Chol criticized the combined U.S.-South Korean military exercises, which the North has long described as invasion rehearsals. He said North Korea considers space-based reconnaissance indispensable to monitor the military exercises. Last week, the South Korean and U.S. militaries conducted large-scale live-fire drills near the border with North Korea the first of five rounds of exercises marking 70 years since the establishment of their alliance. Washington and Seoul describe their regular military exercises as defensive and have expanded their training since 2022 to cope with North Koreas evolving threats. Ri said the expanding U.S.-South Korean drills and other military activities underline their sinister intention to prepare for preemptive military action against North Korea. He said the dangerous military acts by the U.S. and its forces created a concerning security environment that makes it necessary for North Korea to gather real-time, reliable information on military movements in the region. South Korea has warned that North Korea will face consequences if it goes ahead with the satellite launch in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, which ban the North from conducting any launch using ballistic technology. Space-launch vehicles for satellites share core technologies with long-range missiles that are built to deliver warheads aimed at destroying intercontinental targets. Its absurd to use our legitimate joint exercises, and the maintenance of the South Korea-U.S. joint defense posture to respond to advancing North Korean nuclear and missile threats, as an excuse to launch a reconnaissance satellite, South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said during a briefing. We strongly urge North Korea to immediately cancel its launch plans. Last week, South Korea launched its first commercial-grade satellite, which experts say could provide Seoul with key technology and expertise to place its first military spy satellite into orbit later this year and build more powerful missiles. Han Sung Geun, spokesperson of South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a briefing that the South Korean and U.S. militaries were closely watching North Korea over the possible satellite launch and other provocative military moves. He did not provide specific assessments about the potential capabilities of the North Korean satellite and refused to say whether the South Korean military was preparing for the possibility that debris could fall in nearby waters. Spy satellites are among an array of high-tech weapons systems Kim Jong Un has publicly vowed to develop. Other weapons systems on his wish list include solid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear-powered submarines, hypersonic missiles and multi-warhead missiles. North Korea placed Earth-observation satellites in orbit in 2012 and 2016, though their capabilities have been questioned. Foreign experts say the earlier satellites never transmitted imagery back to North Korea, and analysts say the new device displayed in state media in recent weeks appeared too small and crudely designed to process and transfer high-resolution imagery. ___ Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. ___ Find more AP coverage of the Asia-Pacific region at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific By KIM TONG-HYUNG and JON GAMBRELL Associated Press Why do Kosovo-Serbia tensions persist? View Photo BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo flared anew this week after Kosovos police raided Serb-dominated areas in the regions north and seized local municipality buildings. There have been violent clashes between Kosovos police and NATO-led peacekeepers on one side and local Serbs on the other, leaving dozens of people injured on both sides. Serbia raised the combat readiness of its troops stationed near the border and warned it wouldnt stand by if Serbs in Kosovo were attacked again. The situation has again fueled fears of a renewal of the 1998-99 conflict in Kosovo that claimed more than 10,000 lives and left more than 1 million homeless. WHY ARE SERBIA AND KOSOVO AT ODDS? Kosovo is a mainly ethnic Albanian populated territory that was formerly a province of Serbia. It declared independence in 2008. Serbia has refused to recognize Kosovos statehood and still considers it part of Serbia, even though it has no formal control there. Kosovos independence has been recognized by about 100 countries, including the United States. Russia, China and five EU countries, most of them with separatist regions of their own, have sided with Serbia. The deadlock has kept tensions simmering and prevented full stabilization of the Balkan region after the bloody wars in the 1990s. HOW DID SERBIAS ALLIES REACT? Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the situation in Kosovo was alarming and that it could provoke another conflict in the heart of Europe. A huge explosion is being prepared in the center of Europe, in the place where, in 1999, NATO attacked Yugoslavia, violating every imaginable (international) principle, he said, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. China said that it was closely following the developments. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning urged NATO to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrityof the relevant countries and truly do what is conducive to regional peace. WHATS THE LATEST FLARE-UP ABOUT? Serbs boycotted last months local elections held in northern Kosovo, where they are a majority. Last Friday, newly elected ethnic Albanian mayors moved into their offices with the help of Kosovos riot police. Serbs tried to prevent the new mayors from taking over the premises, but the police fired tear gas to disperse them. On Monday, Serbs engaged in fierce clashes with NATO peacekeepers, leaving more than 50 rioters and 30 international troops injured. The election boycott followed a collective resignation by Serb officials from the area, including administrative staff, judges and police officers, in November 2022. WHAT IS NATO DOING IN KOSOVO? Till this week, some 3,800 NATO troops were stationed in Kosovo, primarily on peacekeeping duties, but also to watch over the borders, especially the one with Serbia where Belgrade has currently been beefing up its troop presence. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday the alliance had sent 700 more troops to Kosovo to help quell violent protests and had put another battalion on standby in case the riots spread. HOW DEEP IS THE ETHNIC CONFLICT IN KOSOVO? The dispute over Kosovo is centuries old. Serbia considers the region the heart of its statehood and religion. Numerous medieval Serb Orthodox Christian monasteries are in Kosovo. Serb nationalists view a 1389 battle against Ottoman Turks there as a symbol of its national struggle. Kosovos majority ethnic Albanians view Kosovo as their own country and accuse Serbia of occupation and repression. Ethnic Albanian rebels launched a fight to rid the country of Serbian rule in 1998. Belgrades brutal response prompted a NATO intervention in 1999, which forced Serbia to pull out and cede control to international peacekeepers. HAVE THERE BEEN ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THE DISPUTE? There have been constant international efforts to find common ground between the two former wartime foes, but there has been no final comprehensive agreement so far. EU officials have mediated negotiations designed to normalize relations between Serbia and Kosovo. Numerous agreements have been reached, but were rarely implemented on the ground. Some areas have seen results, like introducing freedom of movement within the country. WHO ARE THE MAIN PLAYERS? Both Kosovo and Serbia are led by nationalist leaders who have shown no readiness to compromise. In Kosovo, Albin Kurti, a former student protest leader and political prisoner in Serbia, leads the government and is the main negotiator in EU-mediated talks. He was also known as a fierce supporter of Kosovos unification with Albania and is against any compromise with Serbia. Serbia is led by populist President Aleksandar Vucic, who was information minister during the war in Kosovo. The former ultranationalist insists that any solution must be a compromise in order to last and says the country wont settle unless it gains something. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? International officials are hoping to speed up negotiations and reach a solution in the coming months. Both nations must normalize ties if they want to advance toward EU membership. No major breakthrough would mean prolonged instability, economic decline and constant potential for clashes. Any Serbian military intervention in Kosovo would mean a clash with NATO peacekeepers stationed there. ___ A previous version of this story misspelled the name of Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning. By DUSAN STOJANOVIC Associated Press BERLIN (AP) Three patients died in a fire that broke out overnight at a hospital in a town just outside Vienna, Austrian authorities said Tuesday. Police said they suspect a cigarette set off the blaze. The fire broke out in a fourth-floor room at the hospital in Moedling, and rescuers were unable to save three men who were in that room, Matthias Hofer, a spokesman for Lower Austria provinces health agency, told the Austria Press Agency. A woman was slightly injured. Authorities were alerted shortly before 1 a.m. to the fire, which filled the internal medicine ward with smoke. Around 90 patients were evacuated, with some being moved to other parts of the hospital and others transferred to a clinic in nearby Baden. The fire was extinguished by 3 a.m. Evidence points to a cigarette having been the cause, police spokesman Stefan Loidl told APA later Tuesday. Investigators believe that the fire started in the bed of a 75-year-old man who was a heavy smoker. The rooms window had been tilted open for ventilation. The man was one of the victims, along with two others aged 78 and 81 in the four-patient room. The fourth patient wasnt in the room at the time and wasnt harmed. Malta says it didnt find migrant boat in distress alerted by NGOs Malta says it didnt find migrant boat in distress alerted by NGOs View Photo BARCELONA, Spain (AP) Authorities on the European island nation of Malta have contested accusations made by a group of nongovernmental organizations a day earlier regarding a migrant boat in distress. Following multiple verifications of reported position through multiple searches, no boat was sighted in the reported position, the Armed Forces of Malta said in an email to The Associated Press on Tuesday. On Monday, four rescue groups operating in the central Mediterranean accused Maltese authorities of coordinating the return of around 500 people to eastern Libya where they were subsequently imprisoned, in violation of international maritime law. The group of migrants, including 55 children and pregnant women, had been trying to reach Europe on May 23 aboard a rusty iron fishing vessel when they reported to Alarm Phone a hotline for migrants in distress that they were adrift and taking in water, according to the NGO. Communicating by satellite phone, the migrants shared their GPS location with Alarm Phone multiple times, showing they were in international waters inside Maltas area of search and rescue responsibility. Alarm Phone say they relayed their position and distress to Maltese authorities repeatedly, but received no confirmation that a rescue operation had been launched. Humanitarian rescue ships and plane also searched for the vessel in vain. Alarm Phone lost contact with the migrants on the morning of May 24. Two days later, Alarm Phone says relatives of the migrants reported they had been returned to Benghazi, Libya, and imprisoned. The International Organization for Migration and the U.N. Refugee Agency told The Associated Press that 485 people were brought back to Benghazi by a vessel belonging to the self-styled Libyan National Army, a force in the east of the country led by military commander Khalifa Hifter. IOM spokesperson Safa Msehli said that the migrants were taken to the Qanfouda detention center, but couldnt confirm that it was the same group of people reported by Alarm Phone. Both U.N. agencies have repeatedly condemned the return of migrants and refugees to Libya, saying the lawless nation shouldnt be considered a safe place for disembarkation as required by international maritime law. In their emailed statement, Maltese authorities added that they have no jurisdiction over any autonomous actions conducted in international waters. ___ Follow APs coverage of migration issues at https://apnews.com/hub/migration By RENATA BRITO Associated Press Broadband Internet Meeting In Tuolumne County View Photos Sonora, CA The State of California is hosting a meeting in Tuolumne County this afternoon where leaders from a seven-county region are discussing challenges and opportunities related to broadband internet expansion. It is at the new Tuolumne Resilience Center on Bay Avenue. The federal government will be announcing billions of dollars in state allocations in the next few months available via the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. Len De Groot, Information Technology Project Manager for Tuolumne County government, helping to coordinate the countys broadband efforts, says the federal money will help fund last mile broadband connections to underserved areas. He adds, One of the requirements is for California to develop a Digital Equity Plan. The state has been gathering information from counties, municipalities, tribes, and others to find out who is most affected by the digital divide, what they need, and what they can do to address it in the most practical way. Todays meeting features a mix of county government leaders, internet service providers, and state and federal officials. The meeting opened with a welcome from Tuolumne County District Four Supervisor Kathleen Haff. Cole Przybyla with the California Department of Technology is serving as the event moderator. Przybyla previously led Tuolumne Countys broadband efforts as the Director of Innovation and Business Assistance. Other early speakers were Darcie Houck with the California Public Utilities Commission and Marina MacLatchie with the National Telecommunication Information Administration. Tuolumne County Supervisors Ryan Campbell and Jaron Brandon also spoke on the importance of broadband in relation to things like economic development and education. The afternoon will include a mix of breakout sessions, networking, and information gathering. De Groot concludes that there is optimism in Tuolumne County, and the region, about broadband opportunities, adding, It is not going to be easy, but I think we can accomplish a lot. The reality is that there are still a lot of people who do not have (high-speed internet) service. We need to be very strategic in our approach. We have seen internet service providers (ISP) stepping up to the plate and are interested and participating, and the county is doing everything it can to help ISPs be successful in that process. After the State of California learns how much BEAD money it will receive from the federal government, it must submit its Digital Equity Plan by the end of the year, incorporating information from the various regions. Lebanons army says Saudi citizen kidnapped in Beirut released following special operation View Photo BEIRUT (AP) Lebanese troops rescued a Saudi citizen kidnapped over the weekend in Beirut and reportedly held for ransom, the army said Tuesday. Mushari al-Mutairi was released in a special operation along the Lebanon-Syria border, where the kidnappers held him hostage, a statement by the Lebanese military said. It gave no further details. Lebanons caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said nine people were detained during the operation that ended with al-Mutairis release. Authorities have not identified any of the suspected kidnappers or said whether they are thought to belong to an organized group. The area where al-Mutairi was rescued is known to be a haven for criminals, smugglers and drug dealers. Kidnapping for ransom and car theft are common in northeast Lebanon. Saudi ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Bukhari thanked the Lebanese authorities for al-Mutairis release, adding that he was on his way to the embassy after undergoing medical tests that showed he is in good health. Al-Mutairi was kidnapped after midnight Saturday in Beirut. State-run Saudi TV station Al-Ekhbariya said that the kidnappers demanded a $400,000 ransom for al-Mutairi, who works for Saudi national airlines Saudia. Later on Tuesday, an army statement said troops had carried out more raids in the eastern city of Baalbek, targeting the homes of other people wanted for questioning over their suspected roles in the kidnapping. The army said that troops also raided an illegal drug factory in the city run by people suspected of involvement in the abduction. It said some of them escaped the factory and then opened fire on a nearby army post, which led to a shootout but there were no casualties. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said in comments released by his office that the government is determined to guarantee the security of its citizens as well as foreigners. Local Lebanese media reported that al-Mutairi was released during an operation by the armys intelligence division in the northeastern district of Hermel. Mikati congratulated the army on the operations success and called on Arab tourists to visit the crisis-hit country adding that Lebanon will not be used for any attack against Arab countries. Lebanon has been facing a crippling economic crisis since 2019. Three-quarters of its 6 million people have fallen into poverty. Israeli army says Palestinian gunmen kills Israeli civilian in West Bank shooting View Photo JERUSALEM (AP) Palestinian gunmen shot and killed an Israeli man on Tuesday near the entrance to a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli army said. The Israeli military said the man was shot near the settlement of Hermesh, in the northern West Bank. Local officials identified the man as Meir Tamari, a 32-year-old resident of the settlement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent his condolences to the family and said forces were pursuing the gunmen in order to settle accounts with them. Dimiter Tzantchev, the European Unions ambassador to Israel, condemned the attack, calling it a cowardly and brutal act of violence. The incident came a day after Jewish settlers erected a religious seminary in a nearby dismantled settlement outpost and was the latest in more than a year-long surge of violence that has wracked the West Bank. During that time, Israel has expanded near-nightly military raids throughout the area in response to an increase in Palestinian attacks. The fighting has picked up since Israels new far-right government took office in late December. At least 117 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 targeting Israelis in those areas have killed at least 21 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. The new Israeli government includes several prominent settler leaders in top positions. It has made the expansion of the settlements a top priority. On Monday, Jewish settlers erected a religious school in a dismantled outpost in the northern West Bank after Israels government lifted a ban on settlements in several areas evacuated as part of Israels 2005 withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. In March, Israel repealed the act that barred Israelis from entering the areas. Florida police search for 3 gunmen who wounded 9 at crowded beach on Memorial Day View Photo HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) Police launched a search Tuesday for three suspects they believe to be the gunmen who opened fire along a crowded Florida beachside promenade on Memorial Day, wounding a 1-year-old and eight others while sending people frantically running for cover. Hollywood police sought the publics help in identifying the gunmen, who ran from the scene during the chaos of hundreds of people fleeing for their lives and diving for cover as shots hit bystanders. Two people involved in the altercation that led to the shooting Morgan Deslouches and Keshawn Stewart, both 18 have been arrested on firearms charges, police said. Five handguns have been recovered, with one of them reported stolen in the Miami area and another in Texas, they said. Police and witnesses said the shooting began as a group of people fought in front of a busy stretch of shops on the Hollywood Oceanfront Broadwalk about 7 p.m. Monday. The sound of gunshots sent witness Alvie Carlton Scott III ducking for cover behind a tree before he fled on foot at the command of a police officer. Another witness, Jamie Ward, said several young men were fighting when one of them pulled a gun and started firing. One witness told police that she recognized a group of young men in the area later Monday as being involved in the shooting, according to an arrest report. When an officer approached the group, he noticed one of the men, later identified as Deslouches, trying to hide a black backpack. The officer reported that he ordered the man to sit and then took the mans bag. Inside, the officer found a 9mm handgun loaded with seven rounds, the report said. Meanwhile, a detective was transporting witnesses to be interviewed when he spotted Stewart walking down a street, an arrest report said. Earlier, a witness had taken photos and video of Stewart and one of the shooting suspects. The witness told police the shooting suspect had given Stewart a gun. When the detective stopped and searched Stewart, the detective reported finding a fully loaded 9mm handgun in Stewarts backpack. The shooting upended busy holiday weekend festivities at the popular beach destination where there was already a heavy police presence to oversee the big crowds. Police spokesperson Deanna Bettineschi said four children between the ages of 1 and 17 were hit, along with five adults between 25 and 65. Six of those shot remain hospitalized in stable condition, while three have been released, police said. The names of those wounded have not been released. Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy said that he was deeply saddened and angered by the shooting. Dozens of officers are assigned to the beach on busy holiday weekends and that meant there was an immediate response and multiple people were detained, Levy said in a statement. People come to enjoy a holiday weekend on the beach with their families and to have people in complete reckless disregard of the safety of the public and to have an altercation with guns in a public setting with thousands of people around them is beyond reckless, he said. Videos posted Monday evening on Twitter showed emergency medical crews responding and providing aid to multiple injured people. Hollywood Beach is a popular beach destination about 11 miles (17 kilometers) south of Fort Lauderdale and 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Miami. The beach was expected to see more visitors than usual because of the Memorial Day holiday. Deslouches is charged with grand theft of a firearm, carrying a concealed firearm and removing serial numbers from a firearm. Hes being held on $20,000 bail. Stewart is charged with carrying a concealed firearm and was being held on $15,000 bail. Jail records didnt list attorneys for Deslouches or Stewart. By TERRY SPENCER Associated Press DeSantis kicks off presidential campaign in Iowa, vows to fight back against Trump DeSantis kicks off presidential campaign in Iowa, vows to fight back against Trump View Photo CLIVE, Iowa (AP) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stepped into Iowa on Tuesday for the first time as a Republican presidential candidate and stepped up to Donald Trump, vowing to fight back against the former president as the GOPs 2024 campaign enters a new phase. Until now, the 44-year-old Republican governor whose slogan is Never Back Down had largely avoided any direct confrontation with Trump, his chief Republican rival, who has in turn unleashed a torrent of fierce attacks against DeSantis for much of the year. DeSantis was initially cautious while addressing an energetic crowd of roughly 500 gathered inside a suburban Des Moines church. But speaking to reporters afterward, he pushed back against Trump in a way he had not before on the national stage. Im going to fight back, he declared, taking aim at Trumps recent criticism of his leadership during the pandemic. Hell, his whole family moved to Florida under my governorship. Are you kidding me? He accused Trump of essentially abandoning America First principles on immigration, supporting pandemic-related lockdowns and generally having moved left on key issues. DeSantis comments came six days after a stumbling Twitter announcement that raised questions about his readiness for a national campaign. Beyond the glitchy launch, DeSantis opens his campaign looking up at Trump in the polls amid persistent questions about the Florida governors ability to connect with voters in person. Its unclear whether Republican primary voters will like the sharpening tone between the two Republican heavyweights. Kim Riesberg, 59, who attended DeSantis campaign kickoff at Eternity Church in Clive with her husband, said she voted for Trump in 2016 and in 2020, but is not necessarily committed to him this time around. DeSantis is a little softer, said Riesberg, of Dallas Center, Iowa. And more appealing to the masses. Since Trump and DeSantis are competing for the same job, she understands it might be a bitter race. But at some point, I would like to see them on the same team. Riesberg may have to wait awhile. Trump and his allies unleashed a fresh round of anti-DeSantis attacks on Tuesday as well. The former president shared new polls on social media noting that he is the heavy favorite in the GOP primary. He also took aim at DeSantis leadership during the pandemic, writing that Florida was third WORST State in Deaths by Covid. So why do they say that DeSanctus did a good job? New York had fewer deaths! Trump wrote on his social media platform. At the same time, a pro-Trump super PAC was running ads on Iowa television accusing DeSantis of wanting to raise taxes, an accusation DeSantis has denied. The feud will have an opportunity to play in public as the week progresses, with both men courting voters in key states on the presidential primary calendar. DeSantis early state blitz continues with four Iowa stops scheduled for Wednesday. Hell begin in conservative western Iowas Sioux City before moving to Council Bluffs and the manufacturing and college city of Pella in east-central Iowa before the finale in Cedar Rapids. He has a full day of campaigning in New Hampshire on Thursday and South Carolina on Friday. Over the weekend, hes expected to return to Iowa to attend a fundraising event for Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst. Trump, who was already scheduled to be in Iowa on Thursday, added a couple of stops in the state to his schedule for Wednesday, ensuring he would overlap with DeSantis for a time. Trump will tape a radio appearance in Des Moines before attending a GOP legislative dinner. DeSantis met with evangelical pastors Tuesday ahead of his evening speech at the church, where he largely received an energetic response as he called for a revival of American greatness. The crowd was especially receptive to his focus on conservative cultural issues, particularly gender identity, which he has targeted with legislation that bans instruction or classroom discussion of LGBTQ+ issues in Florida public schools for all grades. It is wrong for a teacher to be telling a young student that they may have been born in the wrong body or that their gender is a choice, DeSantis said. Our country is going in the wrong direction. We can see it and we can feel it, DeSantis told the crowd in the church auditorium plastered with red, white and blue signs proclaiming a Great American Comeback. Hundreds more watched from an overflow room. In his hourlong speech, DeSantis included a handfuls of indirect jabs at Trump. He said the nation needs a disciplined, energetic president who will spit nails and fight the needed battles every single day over an eight-year period. Trump, of course, would be limited to one term. He also said Republicans would end their culture of losing only by making the 2024 election a referendum on President Joe Biden. Trump, with his big personality and legal entanglements, has essentially made every election a referendum on himself. But while speaking to reporters and a small group of supporters in another room afterward, DeSantis addressed the feud head on. He noted that he avoided criticizing Trump while he was in the White House. When we disagreed, I never bashed him publicly because he was taking all this incoming from the media, the left, and even some Republicans. And the whole collusion was a total farce. And he was treated very, very poorly. And that bothered me, and it still bothers me to be honest. So, I never really would air those disagreements, DeSantis added. Well, now hes attacking me over some of these disagreements, but I think hes doing it in a way that the voters are going to side with me. There are signs the attacks could be wearing on voters who might otherwise support Trump. Jack Spoonemore, a 20-year-old of Adel, Iowa, attended DeSantis appearance to see what energy the Florida governor would bring. He said he supported Trump in 2020, but hes interested in checking out other candidates. Im not a huge fan of the shade, he said of Trumps attacks on DeSantis. By STEVE PEOPLES, HANNAH FINGERHUT and THOMAS BEAUMONT Associated Press LGBTQ+ activists call for new strategies to promote equality after Target backlash View Photo RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Following Targets announcement last week that it removed products and relocated Pride displays to the back of certain stores in the South, activists in the LGBTQ+ community are calling for new campaigns to convince corporate leaders not to cave to anti-LGBTQ+ groups. We need a strategy on how to deal with corporations that are experiencing enormous pressure to throw LGBTQ people under the bus, said California state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, a member of the LGBTQ legislative caucus. We need to send a clear message to corporate America that if youre our ally if you are truly our ally you need to be our ally, not just when its easy but also when its hard, he said. While the retailer said its actions were aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of its employees after protesters knocked over Pride signs and confronted workers in stores, the controversy comes at a time when conflict over LGBTQ+ rights is simmering. Nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures around the country this year. At least 18 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The hostile environment has prompted some groups to hire security consultants to advise them on activities planned for Pride Month, which begins on Thursday. We are forced to think differently about how we handle security at our events and whether or not we can post our staffs names and emails on our website, said Janson Wu, executive director of GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, a nonprofit legal rights organization based in Boston. Debra Porta, executive director of Pride Northwest, in Portland, Oregon, said there have been discussions about a possible boycott, a letter-writing campaign and other actions directed at Target, but plans for an organized protest havent yet materialized. Because the news is fairly new, more actions may be announced, especially as Pride Month gets here, said Porta. Target isnt the only company grappling with public criticism. Bud Light is still dealing with fallout from its partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, who in April posted a picture on Instagram of a beer can with her face on it. In response to the hate-filled and transphobic backlash that followed, the company said it never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people, but didnt directly address the rhetoric or signal clear support for Mulvaney. Bud Lights parent company, Anheuser-Busch, is tripling its U.S. marketing spending this summer as it tries to restore lost sales. In early May, several gay bars in Chicago stopped selling Anheuser-Busch products to protest the companys response. Chicagos 2Bears Tavern said the companys response shows how little Anheuser-Busch cares about the LGBTQIA+ community, and in particular transgender people, who have been under unrelenting attack in this country. Since Anheuser-Busch does not support us, we will not support it, said the company. Sidetrack, the largest gay bar in the Midwest, did the same, saying Anheuser-Busch wrongfully validates the position that it is acceptable to acquiesce to the demands of those who do not support the trans community and wish to erase LGBTQ+ visibility. In Florida, Disney has been engaged in a legal battle with Gov. Ron DeSantis since the company expressed its opposition to the states classroom limits on discussing gender identity and sexual orientation. And the Los Angeles Dodgers announced last week that a satirical LGBTQ+ group called the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will again be welcome at the teams annual Pride Night nearly a week after the team rescinded its original invitation, citing backlash from conservative Roman Catholics and politicians who accused the group of mocking the Christian faith. Nows not the time to back down, said Brian K. Bond, executive director of PFLAG, an organization founded in 1973 to advocate for LGBTQ+ people and their families. I think both business and us as citizens need to look within ourselves into new strategies. The old models arent necessarily working, he said. Some people remain concerned about the impact of Targets Pride displays on children, said Victoria Cobb, president of The Family Foundation of Virginia, a conservative, faith-based organization in Richmond. Target is paying the price for telling kids to be discontent with their bodies, putting ideology ahead of the interests of investors, and creating a hostile store environment for parents with children, Cobb said in a statement. In a Richmond Target store on Sunday, Pride merchandise was prominently displayed at the front of the store. Brenda Alston, a 75-year-old retiree, said she bought a pair of rainbow sandals to show support for the LGBTQ+ community and for Target. If you come in the store and this is not what you support, keep on walking and get what you need in another part of the store, Alston said. Who are you to tell me what to buy and what Target should offer their customers? Still, some see the hostility toward Target and other retailers as just the latest obstacle in a decades-long struggle for equality. To me, this is a sign that were winning, said Derek Mize, a gay attorney who lives in an Atlanta suburb with his husband and two children. I think that these people moaning about our visibility are the last breaths of a dying prejudice, he said. Society is changing, and most people are not concerned about Target selling an LGBTQ shirt. ___ Selsky reported from Salem, Oregon. By DENISE LAVOIE and ANDREW SELSKY Associated Press Prosecutors say Sam Bankman-Frieds arguments to dismiss cryptocurrency charges are meritless View Photo NEW YORK (AP) Sam Bankman-Frieds lawyers made meritless arguments in a bid to convince a judge to toss out criminal charges alleging that the FTX founder stole from investors in his multibillion dollar cryptocurrency fund, federal prosecutors said Monday. In papers filed in Manhattan federal court, prosecutors responded to early May filings in which Bankman-Frieds lawyers insisted that the United States overreached in its case against Bankman-Fried, making federal crimes out of regulatory issues. These motions are meritless, prosecutors wrote in a nearly 100-page filing. The charges track the relevant statutes and the defendants alleged misconduct falls within the heartland of what these statutes prohibit. Bankman-Fried, 31, has been living with his parents in Palo Alto, California, after posting a $250 million personal recognizance bond after his December extradition from the Bahamas. Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to charges that he cheated investors and looted customer deposits on FTX to make lavish real estate purchases, donate money to politicians and make risky trades at Alameda Research, his cryptocurrency hedge fund trading firm. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams has called it one of the biggest frauds in U.S. history. In March, new charges added to the indictment alleged that Bankman-Fried violated the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by directing the payment of $40 million in bribes to a Chinese official or officials to free up $1 billion in cryptocurrency that was frozen in early 2021. In requesting all charges be dismissed, defense lawyers said eight counts in the original indictment were too vague and non-specific to proceed to trial and that additional charges were barred by an Extradition Treaty between the U.S. and the Bahamas that prohibited charges not approved at the time of extradition. Prosecutors, though, asked Judge Lewis A. Kaplan to let all charges proceed. They said the claims against the original charges were legally sufficient and that permission is being sought from the Bahamas to permit the newest charges. Prosecutors wrote that they expect Bankman-Frieds lawyers to argue at trial that their client was not involved in Alamedas day-to-day activities and was unaware that Alameda borrowed large sums from FTX to repay its lenders. The defendants spending of misappropriated funds on political donations is probative of the defendants motive for defrauding FTXs customers and investors: the defendant wanted access to capital that he could use, in part, for political donations that would burnish his own image and improve the regulatory prospects of his business in the United States, prosecutors wrote. FTX entered bankruptcy in November when the global exchange ran out of money after the equivalent of a bank run. A trial is tentatively set for the fall. Attorneys for Bankman-Fried did not respond late Monday to emailed requests for comment. By LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press Papua New Guinea says security treaty with Australia has been delayed over certain provisions Papua New Guinea says security treaty with Australia has been delayed over certain provisions View Photo CANBERRA, Australia (AP) Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape said a proposed security treaty with Australia has been delayed over certain wordings and provisions, a week after the strategically important South Pacific Island nation signed a new security pact with the United States that sparked protests. Marape informed Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles of the delay on Monday on the sidelines of an international forum in South Korea, the Papua New Guinean leaders office said in a statement Tuesday. Marape told Marles, who is also defense minister, that the treaty is a work in progress and required the PNG side to consult our domestic processes and sovereign laws in relation to certain wordings and provisions, the statement said. Marape conveyed his apologies to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the delay, the statement said. In January, the two leaders pledged in a joint statement to conclude substantive negotiations on the treaty by the end of April. The treaty, which would enhance security cooperation and acknowledge that the neighboring nations share a mutual strategic interest in a safe, stable, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, was expected to be signed in June. Marape told Marles that Papua New Guinea in no way would compromise its excellent existing bilateral relations with Australia, its most generous aid donor, the statement said. Marles office later said he and Marape had discussed expanding their nations partnership in areas including defense, security, visa processing and labor mobility. We have a proud history of working together in the interests of the region, it said in a statement. Australia and the United States are working to counter Chinas increasing influence in South Pacific nations including Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guineas location just north of Australia makes it strategically significant. It was the site of fierce battles during World War II, and with a population of nearly 10 million people, is the most populous Pacific Island nation. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken flew to the Papua New Guinean capital, Port Moresby, last week to sign a new bilateral agreement. The State Department said the pact provides a framework to improve security cooperation, enhance the capacity of Papua New Guineas defense force and increase regional stability. The full agreement will be made public once politicians in both countries have an opportunity for input, likely in a couple of months. Last week, Marape said the pact is mutually beneficial and secures our national interests in becoming a robust economy in this part of the world. But the agreement sparked student protests in the second-largest city, Lae. And many in the Pacific are concerned about the increasing militarization of the region. The announcement of the delay in the agreement between Australia and Papua New Guinea came as Albanese prepared to fly to Singapore to give the keynote address on Friday at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, a leading regional security forum. He said on Tuesday he would use his address to outline Australias vision for a stable, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Australia is committed to expanding and deepening ties with our partners in Southeast Asia to address shared challenges and ambitions, Albanese said in a statement. By ROD McGUIRK Associated Press Hawaii reopens popular stretch of Waikiki beach after endangered monk seal pup weans View Photo HONOLULU (AP) A young Hawaiian monk seal has weaned and relocated, allowing a stretch of a popular Hawaii beach to reopen Tuesday after it was made off-limits to protect the endangered pup while it nursed. Hawaii officials last month cordoned off a large stretch of a popular Waikiki neighborhood beach to protect the seal mother, named Kaiwi, and her days-old pup, named Pualani. State conservation and and resources enforcement officers kept around-the-clock watch. The birth of an endangered seal at one of Hawaiis most popular tourism hubs highlighted the tension between protecting the islands fragile ecosystems and maintaining access to the pristine white-sand beaches that attract millions of visitors each year. Kaimana Beach is next to a mid-sized hotel and is a favorite swimming and sunbathing spot for locals and visitors. Starting six years ago, monk seals have occasionally given birth there, setting the stage for conflict between seal mothers and beachgoers. Authorities took extra care after a California tourist got too close to a mother-pup pair last year, and was pulled underwater by the mother, leaving cuts on the 60-year-old visitors face, arms and back. Officials have cordoned off part of Kaimana Beach when pups were born before, but the protected area this spring was much larger. Monk seal mothers are protective of their nursing pups. Authorities said it would be best if swimmers frequented one of Oahus many other shorelines until the pup weaned. After weaning over the holiday weekend, Pualani was relocated to an undisclosed location. Pualani was the fourth pup born at Kaimana Beach since 2017. Future births and pre-weaning periods there will likely prompt a resumption of a broad cordon and a 24-hour overwatch, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources said in a statement. Fewer than 1,600 Hawaiian monk seals remain in the wild and it is a felony to disturb them. US military complains of unsafe, aggressive move by Chinese fighter jet View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. military said Tuesday that a Chinese fighter jet flew aggressively close to a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft over the South China Sea, forcing the American pilot to fly through the turbulent wake. The Chinese J-16 fighter pilot flew directly in front of the nose of the RC-135, which was conducting routine operations in international airspace last Friday, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement. It called the Chinese move an unnecessarily aggressive maneuver. U.S. defense leaders have complained that Chinas military has become significantly more aggressive over the past five years, intercepting U.S. aircraft and ships in the region. And tensions with China have only grown in recent months over Washingtons military support and sales of defensive weapons to self-governing Taiwan, Chinas assertions of sovereignty to the contested South China Sea and its flying of a suspected spy balloon over the U.S. In a further sign of the tensions, China said its defense chief will not meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin when the two men attend a security conference in Singapore this coming weekend. Austin is scheduled to address the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, while Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu will speak at the gathering on Sunday. Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said China informed the U.S. that it was declining Austins invitation to meet while they were at the conference. He said Beijings concerning unwillingness to engage in meaningful military-to-military discussions will not diminish the Defense Departments commitment to seeking open lines of communication with the Chinese army. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Tuesday blamed the U.S., saying Washington should earnestly respect Chinas sovereignty and security interests and concerns, immediately correct the wrongdoing, show sincerity, and create the necessary atmosphere and conditions for dialogue and communication between the two militaries. In a visit to the Indo-Pacific last summer, U.S. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the number of intercepts by Chinese aircraft and ships in the Pacific region with U.S. and other partner forces has increased significantly over that time, and the number of unsafe interactions has risen by similar proportions. China frequently challenges military aircraft from the U.S. and its allies, especially over the strategically vital South China Sea, which China claims in its entirety. Such behavior led to a 2001 in-air collision in which a Chinese plane was lost and pilot killed. Beijing deeply resents the presence of U.S. military assets in that region, and regularly demands that American ships and planes leave the area. In the statement Tuesday, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said America will continue to fly, sail, and operate safely and responsibly wherever international law allows, and expects all other countries to do the same. By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press Why Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons impeachment fight isnt finished yet View Photo AUSTIN, Texas (AP) The Texas Legislature already made one historic move with its impeachment of Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton. Another one is coming. The GOP-led House of Representatives on Saturday approved 20 articles of impeachment on sweeping allegations of wrongdoing that have trailed the states top lawyer for years, including abuse of office and bribery. The vote immediately suspended Paxton from office. But the intraparty brawl in the nations largest conservative state, one that even drew political punches Saturday from former President Donald Trump, is far from over. The Republican-controlled Senate will hold a trial of Paxton next, and he and his allies hope conservatives there will save him. One member of that chamber is his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, and she could cast a vote on her husbands political future, which is now in jeopardy in part because of bribery allegations linked to his extramarital affair. THE SENATE Impeachment in Texas is similar to the process on the federal level: After the House action, the Senate holds its trial. The Senate announced Monday that the trial will start no later than Aug. 28. The House needed just a simple majority of its 149 members to impeach Paxton, and the final 121-23 vote was a landslide. But the threshold for conviction in the Senate trial is higher, requiring a two-thirds majority of its 31 members. If that happens, Ken Paxton would be permanently barred from holding office in Texas. Anything less means Paxton is acquitted and can resume his third term as attorney general. Paxton bitterly criticized the chambers investigation as corrupt, secret and conducted so quickly that he and his lawyers were not allowed to mount a defense. He also called Republican House Speaker Dade a liberal. The Senate is led by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Like Paxton, he is a Republican who has closely allied himself with Trump, and he has driven Texas right-wing political and policy push for the last decade. Patrick has yet to comment on the impeachment or the Houses allegations. The Senate will set its own trial rules, and Patrick said Tuesday that will include sworn testimony from witnesses. It could also consider whether to excuse Angela Paxton from voting due to conflict of interest. Angela Paxton on Monday declined comment on the impeachment, and on Tuesday, Patrick wouldnt say if Paxton would participate in her husbands trial in the Senate. He had suggested before the House impeachment vote that all 31 senators would vote in the trial. The impeachment charges include bribery related to one of Paxtons donors, Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, allegedly employing the woman with whom he had the affair in exchange for legal help. Another Republican senator with a potential conflict is Sen. Bryan Hughes. The House impeachment articles accuse Paxton of using Hughes as a straw requestor for a legal opinion used to protect Paul from foreclosure on several properties. State law requires all senators to be present for an impeachment trial. REPUBLICAN ON REPUBLICAN Paxtons impeachment has been led from the start by his fellow Republicans, in contrast to Americas most prominent recent examples of impeachment. Trumps impeachments in 2020 and 2021 were driven by Democrats who had majority control of the U.S. House. In both cases, the charges they approved failed in the Senate, where Republicans had enough votes to block conviction. In Texas, Republicans have large majorities in both chambers, and the states GOP leaders hold all levers of influence. Paxton called for Republicans to rally to his defense during Saturdays vote in a peaceful protest at the Capitol. That echoed Trumps call for protests of his electoral defeat on Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob violently stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Paxton spoke at the rally in Washington that day before the insurrection. Trump joined the fray in Texas on Saturday, posting on social media a warning to House members that I will fight you if they voted to impeach. A few hundred Paxton supporters came to watch from the gallery. House Republicans didnt seem to care. Sixty of them, 71% of the chambers GOP caucus, voted to impeach. Republican Party Chairman Matt Rinaldi, a Paxton ally, said the party would have to rely on the principled leadership of the Texas Senate to restore sanity and reason. The move to the Senate could give Paxtons grassroots supporters and national figures like Trump time to apply more pressure. YEARS IN THE MAKING The impeachment reaches back to 2015, when Paxton was indicted on securities fraud charges for which he still has not stood trial. The lawmakers charged Paxton with making false statements to state securities regulators. But most of the articles of impeachment stem from his connections to Paul and a remarkable revolt by Paxtons top deputies in 2020. That fall, eight senior aides reported their boss to the FBI, accusing him of bribery and abusing his office to help Paul. Four of them later brought a whistleblower lawsuit. The report prompted a federal criminal investigation that in February was taken over by the U.S. Justice Departments Washington-based Public Integrity Section. 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, as well as firing, harassing and interfering with staff who reported what was going on. The bribery charges stem from the affair, as well as Paul allegedly paying for expensive renovations to Paxtons Austin home. The fracas took a toll on the Texas attorney generals office, long one of the primary legal challengers to Democratic administrations in the White House. In the years since Paxtons staff went to the FBI, the state attorney generals office has become unmoored by the disarray. Seasoned lawyers have quit over practices they say aim to slant legal work, reward loyalists and drum out dissent. In February, Paxton agreed to settle the whistleblower lawsuit brought by the former aides. The $3.3 million payout must be approved by the Legislature, and Phelan has said he doesnt think taxpayers should foot the bill. Shortly after the settlement was reached, the House investigation began. TEXAS HISTORY Paxton was already likely to be noted in history books for his unprecedented request that the U.S. Supreme Court overturn Bidens defeat of Trump in 2020. He now is one of just three sitting officials to have been impeached in Texas. Gov. James Pa Ferguson was removed in 1917 for misapplication of public funds, embezzlement and the diversion of a special fund. State Judge O.P. Carrillo was forced from office in 1975 for personal use of public money and equipment and filing false financial statements. ___ Bleiberg reported from Dallas. By JIM VERTUNO and JAKE BLEIBERG Associated Press Associated Press Writer Federal authorities say they have uncovered a scheme to lure Filipino teachers to the United States with false promises of jobs in Texas school districts, charging five people with conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and fraud. Two former West Texas public school administrators and an elementary school principal also face charges that they sponsored work visas for dozens of the teachers in exchange for free trips to Asia. The Friday indictment accuses Florita and Noel Tolentino and their company Omni Consortium of persuading the Filipinos to pay them $10,000 each, promising there were well-paying teaching jobs waiting for them in the United States. The teachers also were told they would receive permanent residency status and could bring their families with them, prosecutors said. Omni took money from 273 Filipino teachers since 2002, but fewer than 100 ever received positions with school districts, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandy Gardes told the El Paso Times for a Saturday story. The immigrant teachers were housed in groups of 10 to 15 in unfurnished properties, and most had to sleep on the floor or on mattresses, according to court documents. The Tolentinos told the teachers they would be deported if they complained about not having jobs or tried to seek employment on their own. Florita Tolentino, Noel Tolentino, Angelica Tolentino, Cesar Librodo and Owen Cruz were charged with conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and visa fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering. An answering service for Florita and Noel Tolentino's Houston-based company told The Associated Press no one was available for comment on Saturday. Former Socorro Independent School District Interim Superintendent Mario Aguilar and his wife, Magdalena Aguilar, an elementary school principal in the district, are charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation in aid of racketeering. Raye Lokey, the former associate superintendent for human resources for the Ysleta Independent School District, faces the same charge. The Aguilars and Lokey were free on Saturday on $25,000 bond each. Each faces up to five years in prison if convicted. They made no comment during a Friday court appearance, answering only basic questions from a judge. When contacted by telephone at their home in El Paso on Saturday, the Aguilars told The Associated Press they had no comment. According to the indictment, Omni paid for a November 2002 trip to the Philippines and China for Mario Aguilar and other Socorro administrators. In December 2002 and February 2003, the district applied for visas for 26 teachers. Mario and Magdalena Aguilar visited Asia at Omni's expense in March 2003, and Socorro applied for visas for 42 teachers, prosecutors said. Ysleta employees took an all expense paid trip to the Philippines in November 2002, and Lokey applied for visas for 63 teachers a few months later, according to the indictment. Twenty-nine of the Filipino teachers currently work in Ysleta, and 12 are working in Socorro, the newspaper reported. Both districts are located in El Paso. A few others had jobs in other West Texas districts, Gardes said. Magdalena Aguilar has been suspended with pay from her position, district officials said. "I am shocked. I don't know what to say," Socorro school board president Brenda Castaneda told the newspaper. "All I can say is that we will cooperate and see that the right thing is done here." Gardes said all the teachers are in the United States legally, and those that don't have jobs are being protected by the federal government. WASHINGTON (AP) Under fire from conservatives, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy worked furiously Tuesday to sell fellow Republicans on the debt ceiling and budget deal he negotiated with President Joe Biden and win approval in time to avert a potentially disastrous U.S. default. Meeting behind closed doors over pizza for more that two hours at the Capitol, McCarthy walked Republicans through the details, fielded questions and encouraged them not to lose sight of the bill's budget savings, even though they are far less than many conservatives wanted. Were going to pass the bill, McCarthy said as he exited the session. The hard-fought measure is now headed to a House vote Wednesday. Quick approval by both the House and Senate would ensure government checks will continue to go out to Social Security recipients, veterans and others, and prevent financial upheaval worldwide by allowing Treasury to keep paying U.S. debts. Overall the 99-page package restricts spending for the next two years, lifts the debt limit and includes policy changes such as new work requirements for older Americans receiving food aid and approval of an Appalachian energy pipeline that many Democrats oppose. The House Rules Committee on Tuesday voted 7-6, with two Republicans opposed, to advance the measure to the floor, signaling the tough vote still ahead. With few lawmakers expected to be fully satisfied, Biden and McCarthy are counting on pulling majority support from the political center, a rarity in divided Washington, to prevent a federal default. Some 218 votes are needed for passage in the 435-member House. Leaders of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus lambasted the compromise as falling well short of the spending cuts they demand, and they vowed to try to halt passage by Congress. A much larger conservative faction, the Republican Study Committee, declined to take a position. Even rank-and-file centrist conservatives were not sure, leaving McCarthy desperately hunting for votes. Biden was speaking directly to lawmakers, making more than 100 one-on-one calls, the White House said. Top administration officials are heading to Capitol Hill to brief Democrats privately ahead of Wednesdays planned vote. Late in the day, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the spending restrictions in the package would reduce deficits by $1.5 trillion over the decade, a top goal for the Republicans trying to curb the debt load. But in a surprise that could further erode Republican support, the GOP's drive to impose work requirements on older Americans receiving food stamps ends up boosting spending by $2.1 billion over the time period. That's because the final deal exempted veterans and homeless people, expanding the food stamp rolls by some 78,000 people monthly, the CBO said. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said it was up to McCarthy to turn out votes from some two-thirds of the Republican majority, a high bar the speaker may not be able to reach. Still, Jeffries said the Democrats would do their part to avoid failure. It is my expectation that House Republicans would keep their promise and deliver at least 150 votes as it relates to an agreement that they themselves negotiated, Jeffries said. Democrats will make sure that the country does not default. McCarthy could expect no help from the far right. This deal fails, fails completely, and thats why these members and others will be absolutely opposed to the deal, Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., the chairman of the Freedom Caucus, said, flanked by others outside the Capitol. We will do everything in our power to stop it. Ominously, the conservatives warned of potentially trying to oust McCarthy over the compromise. Theres going to be a reckoning, said Rep. Chip Roy of Texas. Despite the late-night meeting at the Capitol, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said after the healthy debate she was still a no. Liberal Democrats decried the new work requirements for older Americans, those 50-54, in the food aid program. And some Democratic lawmakers were leading an effort against a surprise provision to greenlight a controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline natural gas project through Appalachia. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said she appreciated that Biden was able to minimize the extreme demands Republicans made on spending, but she raised serious concerns about the food stamps and other environmental policy changes. She also had this warning for McCarthy: He got us here and its on him to deliver the votes." Wall Street was taking a wait-and-see approach. Stock prices were mixed in Tuesday's trading. U.S. markets had been closed when the deal was struck over the weekend. Overall, the package is a tradeoff that would impose some federal spending reductions for the next two years along with a suspension of the debt limit into January 2025, pushing the volatile political issue past the next presidential election. Raising the debt limit, now $31.4 trillion, would allow Treasury to continue borrowing to pay the nations already incurred bills. All told, it would hold spending essentially flat for the coming year, while allowing increases for military and veterans accounts. It would cap growth at 1% for 2025. Policy issues were raising the most objections. Questions were also being raised about the unexpected provision that essentially would give congressional approval to the Mountain Valley Pipeline, a natural gas project important to Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., that many Democrats and others oppose as unhelpful in fighting climate change. The top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, said including the pipeline provision was disturbing and profoundly disappointing. But Manchin on Tuesday touted the pipeline project as something we know we need. The House aims to vote Wednesday and send the bill to the Senate, where Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Republican leader McConnell are working for passage by week's end. Schumer called the bill a sensible compromise. McConnell said McCarthy deserves our thanks. Senators, who have remained largely on the sidelines during much of the negotiations between the president and the House speaker, began inserting themselves more forcefully into the debate. Some senators are insisting on amendments to reshape the package from both the left and right flanks. That could require time-consuming debates that delay final approval of the deal. For one, Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia planned to file an amendment to remove the pipeline provision. But making any changes to the package at this stage seemed unlikely with so little time to spare. Congress and the White House are racing to meet the Monday deadline now less than a week away. That's when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the U.S. would run short of cash and face an unprecedented debt default without action. A default would almost certainly harm the U.S. economy and spill around the globe, as the world's reliance on the stability of the American dollar and the country's leadership fell into question. ___ Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani, Seung Min Kim, Farnoush Amiri, Darlene Superville and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report. BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) The prosecutor in Argentina who is leading the investigation into the failed assassination attempt against Vice President Cristina Fernandez called on Monday for the three detained suspects to face trial and said there is so far no evidence that points to political financing or planning of the alleged crime. Fernandez, a former president (2007-2015) who remains politically powerful, harshly criticized the prosecutor, and the justice system as a whole, claiming there didnt seem to be any interest in investigating who could have been behind the Sept. 1, 2022 assassination attempt. Prosecutor Carlos Alberto Rivolo said the main investigation into the case was over and called for the judge in charge of the case, Maria Eugenia Capuchetti, to bring the three suspects to trial. The main suspect in the case is Fernando Sabag Montiel, who is accused of attempting to open fire close to Fernandez outside her home last year. Television images from the scene showed how the trigger of the gun was pulled but the bullet failed to leave the guns chamber. Brenda Uliarte, Sabag Montiels girlfriend, is also detained as a presumed participant in the crime as well as Nicolas Carrizo. The prosecutor said the three suspects planned the attack on the vice president and said there was no evidence that they received financing for the assassination bid nor that they were following orders. It is important to indicate that all the evidence collected so far does not support the existence of any kind of organization, political party, or partisan individuals or groups who may have financed, planned, covered up, or in any way contributed to the investigated crime, Rivolo wrote. Rivolo said the investigation into the possible involvement of others in the assassination attempt should continue separately in order to avoid prolonging the procedural situation of the individuals accused here, who are currently deprived of their freedom. Fernandez criticized Rivolos decision, saying he completely disregards assessing everything related to the lines of investigation that point to individuals beyond Uliarte, Sabag Montiel and Carrizo. Throughout the investigation, Fernandez and her allies have criticized the prosecutor and other judicial officials for what they said appeared to be an effort to not look beyond those immediately responsible for the assassination attempt. The vice president had even pointed to leaders of the opposition for their possible involvement. I have said it a thousand times: neither Capuchetti nor Rivolo wanted to investigate the assassination attempt, and now they intend to close the investigation with a speed they have never shown in any other case, Fernandez wrote in a post on her website in which she publishes photos of the judge and prosecutor. President Alberto Fernandez has demanded on several occasions that the justice system expedite the investigation into those who may be behind the failed attack. Fernandez, the vice president, has long been critical of the countrys justice system, saying prosecutors and judges act as operators for powerful business interests. That criticism only increased after she was convicted to six year sin prison and a lifetime ban from holding public office in a corruption case in December. The sentence still needs to be revised by higher courts. As I have said, for CFK, there is and will be no justice, neither as an accused nor as a victim, Fernandez wrote, using a common acronym for her name. They want me imprisoned or dead. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) A rare drone attack jolted Moscow early Tuesday, causing only light damage but forcing evacuations as residential buildings were struck in the Russian capital for the first time in the war against Ukraine. The Kremlin, meanwhile, pursued its relentless bombardment of Kyiv with a third assault on the city in 24 hours. The Russian Defense Ministry said five drones were shot down in Moscow and the systems of three others were jammed, causing them to veer off course. President Vladimir Putin called it a terrorist act by Kyiv. The attack, while causing only what Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said was insignificant damage to several buildings, brought the war home to civilians in Russias capital. Two people received treatment for unspecified injuries but did not need hospitalization, Sobyanin said, adding that residents of two high-rise buildings damaged in the attack were evacuated. Andrei Vorobyov, governor of the wider Moscow region, said some of the drones were shot down on the approach to Moscow. Ukraine made no direct comment on the attack, which would be one of its deepest and most daring strikes into Russia since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than 15 months ago. Putin said Moscow's air defense worked in a satisfactory way, but added it was clear what we need to do to plug the gaps" in the system. The Kyiv regime ... attempts to intimidate Russia, Russian citizens and strikes at civilian buildings," he said during a public event. "It is, of course, a clear indication of terrorist activity. Putin charged that Ukraine launched Tuesday's attack in response to Russia striking Ukraines military intelligence headquarters in Kyiv over the weekend. But Andrii Cherniak, a Ukrainian intelligence representative, said the Kremlins forces failed to hit the building because its missiles were shot down. Asked by The Associated Press whether there was high-level concern that the invasion of Ukraine was endangering Russian civilians, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said only that attacks on Russia reinforced the need to prosecute what the Kremlin calls the special military operation. Tatiana Stanovaya of the Carnegie Endowment said the Kremlins policy is to play down the attacks, reflecting Putin's belief voiced more than once that the Russian people were patient enough to "understand everything and endure everything. Moscow residents reported hearing explosions before dawn. At one site of a crashed drone in Moscow southwest, police fenced off an area near a residential building and put the drone debris in a cardboard box before carrying it away. At another site, apartment windows were shattered and there were scorch marks on the buildings front. It was the second reported strike on Moscow since May 3, when Russian authorities said two drones targeted the Kremlin in what they portrayed as an attempt on Putins life. Ukraine denied it was behind that attack. Last week, the Russian border region of Belgorod was the target of one of the most serious cross-border raids since the war began, with two far-right pro-Ukrainian paramilitary groups claiming responsibility. Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said a man was killed and two others were seriously wounded Tuesday by the Ukrainian shelling of a building hosting temporarily displaced residents of the region. Officials in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar near annexed Crimea said two drones struck there on Friday, damaging residential buildings. Other drones have reportedly flown deep into Russia multiple times. In December, Moscow claimed it had shot down drones that targeted military air bases in the Saratov and Ryazan regions in western Russia. Ukrainian military analysts, though unable to confirm Kyiv had launched the drones against Moscow, said the attack may have involved UJ-22 drones, which are produced in Ukraine and have a maximum range of about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles). Analyst Oleh Zhdanov said some UJ-22s are capable of reaching Moscow and beyond, although he noted they can fly only half as far and carry half the payload of the Iranian-made Shahed drones used in the war by Russia. Even so, Zhdanov told AP that the myth has been dispelled of the Russian capitals invulnerability. Since February, when a UJ-22 crashed 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Moscow, Ukrainian drones have repeatedly approached the Russian capital. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday the U.S. was still gathering information about the drone strike but reiterated that as a general matter the U.S. administration does not support Ukraine using American weaponry in Russian territory. We do not support the use of U.S.-made equipment being used for attacks inside of Russia, she said. Weve been very clear about that, and well continue to do that. And we have been clear not just publicly but privately clear with the Ukrainians." She declined to comment on whether administration officials have spoken to Ukraine officials about the Moscow incident. Jean-Pierre also noted that Russia on Tuesday launched its 17th round of airstrikes on the capital of Kyiv this month, noting that Russia started this unprovoked aggression, this unprovoked war against Ukraine." A U.S. defense official said the drone strikes would not not affect the weapons aid packages the U.S. is providing Ukraine to include drone ammunition. The official said the U.S. has committed to supporting Ukraine in its effort to defend the country and Ukraine had committed to not using the systems inside Russia, so the aid would likely continue unchanged. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Ukrainian officials said Tuesday's pre-dawn air raid on Kyiv killed at least one person, wounded 11 others and sent residents scrambling into shelters again. At least 20 Shahed drones were destroyed by air defense forces in Kyiv in the latest attack. Overall, Ukraine shot down 29 of 31 drones, mostly in the Kyiv area, the air force said. Before daylight, buzzing drones could be heard in the city, followed by loud explosions as they were taken down by air defense systems. The heavy destruction in Kyiv contrasted with what was seen in Moscow. In the Ukrainian capital, burned-out cars, glass and debris littered the street outside a building where apartments were wrecked; in Moscow, only a few broken windows and scorched outer walls were evident, with repairs and repainting being done quickly to affected buildings. A woman in Kyivs Holosiiv district was killed when she went onto her balcony "to look at drones being shot down, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a Telegram post. A high-rise in the same district caught fire after being hit by debris either from drones or interceptor missiles. The buildings upper two floors were destroyed, and people were feared buried in the rubble, the Kyiv Military Administration said. More than 20 people were evacuated. Resident Valeriya Oreshko told AP that even though the immediate threat was over, the attacks had everyone on edge. You are happy that you are alive, but think about what will happen next, the 39-year-old said. A resident who gave only her first name, Oksana, said the whole building shook when it was hit, advising others: Go to shelters, because you really do not know where (the drone) will fly. ___ Associated Press writers Vasilisa Stepanenko in Kyiv, Ukraine; David Rising in Bangkok; Tara Copp in Washington and Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed. Kozlowska reported from Tallinn. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora met with journalists this week to pledge his partys support for media freedom and vow to combat hate speech in the run up to Zimbabwes August elections. In a meeting at MDC-T headquarters in Harare, Mwonzora emphasized that hate speech was a major trigger of violence in past elections. He said the media plays an important role in fighting hate language by exposing it. We will support the press in the fight against hate speechOnce we fight that we will fight violence, Mwonzora said. He promised journalists that any violence, from any political party, would be exposed. Mwonzora expressed full support for press freedom and journalists rights, promising unfettered access for media to cover his partys activities. There must be freedom of expression, freedom of conscience and opinion, he said. The MDC-T leader called on the media to provide fair and even-handed coverage of all political players in the elections. The press must ensure an even playing fieldYou report things as is at my rallies, Mnangagwas rallies and Chamisas rallies, Mwonzora said. Article continues below these jobs... Work In Zimbabwe Latest Jobs Sales Personnel on 5 June 2023 PG Industries Zimbabwe is a [] Client Relationship Officer on 5 June 2023 Willbey Solutions is a [] Sales Executive on 5 June 2023 Farchis Panel Beaters and [] Salesperson on 5 June 2023 Trivety Global Media is a [] He also voiced concerns about the prosecution of opposition figures for allegedly communicating falsehoods. The meeting between Mwonzora and journalists was organized by several media and press freedom organizations, including the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists. Perfect Hlongwane of ZUJ said the aim was for political parties and media to find one another and reduce suspicion ahead of the crucial elections. Breaking News via Email Yves here. Many, including many readers, have been keen about the idea that global population levels will stall out and hopefully decline, and with it, reduce resource demand. This article contends that the transition may result in even higher commodity consumption. By Pedro Naso, Postdoctoral researcher Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Timothy Swanson, Andre Hoffmann Chair Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID). Originally published at VoxEU In the coming century, the global economy will experience an unprecedented convergence of two trends, as the worlds population reaches its peak while simultaneously approaching near-zero levels of growth a combination that will invert both the population pyramid and dependency rates. This column examines this transformation within the context of changes to the global economys fundamental methods of production. High levels of dependency and the relative scarcity of labour may induce a shift in the methods of production from labour-based R&D back to a reliance on natural resources. The global economy is going to pass through a severe population problem over the coming century, resulting from the simultaneous peak in global population levels with near-zero population growth (Roser et al. 2013, Giovanni and Tena Junguito 2023). This conflation of world firsts is seen in Figure 1, which shows that global population is projected to reach a peak of approximately 11 billion individuals in the year 2100, at the same time that population growth is forecast to be moving asymptotically to zero. Figure 1 World population growth, 1750-2100 The important consequence of this coincidence is the comparative inversion of the population pyramid, as the incoming cohorts of young people progressively diminish relative to the size of previous cohorts. The impact of the inversion is captured in the concept of an increasing dependency rate: the proportion of the population over 70 years of age relative to the working population. Over the past half-century, this proportion of dependents to workers stayed below 10%; in future, it will grow to 30%. This is seen in Table 1, in which the UN projects global dependency rates rising to previously unseen levels (UN 2015). It is remarkable how stable the dependency rate has been over the past half-century, fostered by ongoing growth in population in many parts of the world. The precipitous decline in global population growth since the 1960s reverses this outcome, with sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia the only regions of the world forecast to avoid rapidly declining population growth rates in the near future. In certain parts of the more developed world, the dependency rate is forecast to approach 4050% (Aidt and Swanson 2020). What does this change portend for the worlds resources? What are the important changes in store for the world economy? Table 1 UN dependency rate forecasts In a set of recent papers, we and our co-authors have been investigating the potential consequences of this demographic inversion in regard to its impact on global resource scarcity, using the case study of land scarcity for agriculture as our context (Lanz et al. 2017, Naso et al. 2020, Naso et al. 2022). Malthus of course hypothesised in the 19th century that demographic factors would drive future food scarcity. More recent hypothesises suggest that the silver-lining of this reversal in population growth might be a new era of reduced pressure on global resources. In our series of papers, we investigate this hypothesis in the context of an integrated assessment model combining and integrating the growth in land use, food consumption, population growth, technology, and standard economic production. We find that there is good reason to be concerned about how population growth interacts with resource pressure. Our MAVA model builds on the endogenous growth models of Galor (2011), and integrated assessment models such as Nordhaus and Boyer (2003), but focuses on issues of food and resource (land) use together with those of population, production, and technology. In the MAVA model, the use of land, labour, and capital is necessary to produce the food by which the population is sustained; the resulting labour pool is then allocated across six sectors (agriculture, production, education, land maintenance, and R&D). The combination of these six sectors produces an integrated production model that is then fit to observed variables over a 50-year timespan, 19602010. The models fit to historical data (see Figure 2) demonstrates that all of these observables have moved together relatively smoothly over these five decades. Figure 2 Interestingly, the most notable difference between the performance of these sectors over these five decades lies in the decreasing rate of resource use (i.e. land in agricultural production) relative to the expansion in the global population. Although population increased by a factor of three (from about 2.5 to 7.5 billion) over this 50-year period, the amount of land in use in agriculture increased by only about 10% (from about 1.4 to 1.6 billion km2). The reason that food and population could grow at such a rate while the growth in land use slowed lies in the growth in total factor productivity in agriculture, which increased by a factor of more than two. We deduce from this that the main reason that Malthus prediction of population-driven food scarcity has proved inaccurate in the past is the fact of technological change in agriculture, which enabled technology to substitute for resources. In the case of agriculture, it is estimated that there is a fixed stock of about 2.1 billion hectares of arable land on earth, so the rapid population expansion over the two centuries since Malthus prediction incentivised the substitution of labour-based methods of production for these fixed resources. The agricultural R&D sector would have been one of the labour-based sectors that was so incentivised. We can envision how this resource-augmenting process might have played out if population growth had not begun to slow in the 1960s. In Figure 3, we see that the forecasted increase in land use in the 21st century would be about 10% compared to a near 100% increase in global population. Although technological innovation becomes increasingly costly to produce in our model, the R&D sector continues to generate resource-augmenting technical change into the future, assuming the demographic structure remained constant. Figure 3 So, how does a resource problem arise when we assume increased dependency rates? It arises because the decline in population growth is indicative of a general decline in growth across the economy. As in all endogenous growth models, MAVAs forecasts are particularly driven by the increasing cost of childrens education, the impact of this cost on population growth, and its implied increase in dependency rates (altogether labelled the demographic transition). But when the population sector is integrated with other sectors of the economy (as in MAVA), this demographic transition is seen within a gradual slowdown in growth across all major parts of the global economy: food, land use, capital, consumption, and productivity (Figure 4). The entire system is moving in a very different direction than in the past, as observed across the economy in the years since 1960 (Maestes et. al. 2023). Figure 4 What does this change in direction imply for resource scarcity? Resource scarcity has been less of an issue over the past two centuries of population growth due to the increasing prevalence of labour and the relative low cost of education-enabled R&D-based production methods. A future with a high cost of education and resultant lower growth in the work force implies revisiting those choices regarding the preferred methods of production, relying less on labour-based R&D and more on resources. The future goes back. How this occurs may be seen in the MAVA forecast set out in Figure 5, in which the economys labour market allocation is simulated under conditions of both the long-standing dependency rate (i.e. about 7%), and the now increasing rates (i.e. towards 30%) set out in Table 1. The shifting out of the dashed lines in Figure 5 demonstrate the sectors in which greater labour allocations occur, principally in agriculture, agricultural R&D, and increased land use. The labour share in the remainder of the economy remains relatively unchanged (general R&D) or falls somewhat (education). These changes in the economy demonstrate how the economy is shifting away from its previous reliance on R&D in advancing growth in production, and back towards the natural resources on which it once relied. Figure 5 In Figure 6, the striking impact of increased dependency is summarised: it shows that the main effect of increased dependency is an increase in the relative resource intensity of the economy with little impact on the economy otherwise. At base, all of these phenomena are being driven generally by the coming era of increased dependency rates. But the specific consequence of this change is a relative shift in emphasis away from technology-based production methods and towards more resource-based methods of production. Hence, increased resource scarcity will turn out to be a consequence of lower rates of population growth rather than higher levels of population. Figure 6 In short, the coming century contains a population problem that should be of great concern because of the ongoing momentum that will cause global population to crest just as global population growth hits its nadir. This means that the resource scarcity problem foreseen by Malthus will become most severe just as the technological solutions provided in the past become most costly to produce. Ironically, the population problem foreseen by Malthus is one where declining population growth rates may be the primary reason for substantial increases in global resource scarcity. Authors note: The authors wish to thank the Andre and Rosalie Hoffmann Foundation for their long-running support of this work, and the MAVA Foundation for its role in administering the Human Niche project. We also wish to thank the long list of co-authors, collaborators and colleagues on the project over the past dozen years, who receive individual notice in the authors lists and acknowledgements in our papers listed below. See original post for references The dirty e word expropriation is doing the rounds once again in Mexico, this time in relation to a highly strategic stretch of railroad in the countrys south east. Life is getting harder for businesses in Mexico under its unpredictable president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (aka AMLO). That is message of a recent Bloomberg piece. In recent days, the AMLO government has revoked a railroad concession belonging to Ferrosur, a subsidiary of Group Mexico, a huge mining and infrastructure conglomerate majority owned by Mexicos second richest man, German Larrea. According to Bloomberg, it has also scuppered US lender Citis attempted sale of its Mexican subsidiary, Citibanamex, to, of all companies, Group Mexico. The problems began on Friday May 19, when AMLO deployed marines to occupy three sections of railroad operated by Ferrosur in the south-eastern state of Veracruz. Officials described the measure as temporary, in the public interest and relevant to national security. The government also issued a decree identifying large infrastructure projects such as the Mayan train project as matters of national security. This comes on the heels of a raft of new mining reforms that could also affect the operations of some mining companies in Mexico, including Group Mexico. Mexicos Inter-Oceanic Corridor The railroad is needed to complete an Inter-Oceanic Corridor on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, a narrow stretch of land between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. The $12.9 billion project is meant to help boost economic opportunities in Mexicos poorer southern states as well as offer an alternative to the Panama Canal. Roughly 300 kilometres in length, it will link up Mexicos Pacific and Atlantic coasts with both freight and passenger rail travel. The Corridor will include highways, three airports, ten industrial parks, a gas pipeline and a fibre-optic network. If completed, it will represent by far the most important infrastructure project of AMLOs presidency. AMLO justified his decision to revoke Ferrosurs concession on three grounds: Group Mexico doesnt own the railroad tracks, but rather has a concession to operate them. Private property can be legally expropriated, but recovering a concession of the nation is very different, AMLO said, even though his decree cited an expropriation law. That concession, which had been gifted by the Zedillo government as part of its privatisation drive in the late 90s, can be revoked at any time. The government is considering paying market-value compensation to Group Mexico for the temporary occupation, but Larrea had demanded a payment of 9.5 billion pesos ($540 million), which AMLO described as abusive. Needless to say, investors are not impressed. Its not exactly inviting for the government to seize a railroad, said Roger Horn, a senior strategist at SMBC Nikko Securities America in New York. This is bizarre even for this administration, where AMLO has for the most part negotiated with the private sector to achieve his policy goals. It didnt take long for the reverberations to spread. Two days after AMLOs decree, US lender Citi announced it was cancelling its sale of its Mexican subsidiary, Citibanamex, to Grupo Mexico, the last remaining potential buyer for the 130-year-old bank. According to Bloomberg, the $7 billion deal fell through because Larrea had privately sought assurances that the banking sector wouldnt become a target of AMLOs interventions. When no guarantee was forthcoming, he decided not to move forward with the acquisition. AMLO had already placed conditions on any deal for Banamex, including that it be backed by Mexican capital and that it does not lead to large-scale layoffs. This had the effect of reducing the pool of potential buyers. It is also true and this is something that much of the international media coverage conveniently leaves out that a huge amount of uncertainty still hangs over the true size of Citibanamexs liabilities as well as its ongoing litigation costs following numerous scandals, primarily involving the defunct shipping company Oceanografia (which we covered in January 2022). According to an article by Mexican news website La Silla Rota in February, the unresolved lawsuit had already shaved billions of dollars off Citibanamexs value. Now, Citi is stuck with little option but to activate plan B: to sell shares of its Banamex unit in an initial public offering. But that wont happen until at least 2025. In the meantime, Citibanamexs deposit base continues to shrink while its annual revenues for 2021, the last year for which Citi published results for the unit, were down by my more than half on where they were a decade ago. AMLO himself has expressed an interest in the Mexican government taking a stake in the bank, saying he will urge Mexicos finance minister to start talks over a possible public-private partnership with Citi. As for Larrea and Group Mexico, they are considering their options: Group Mexico Transportation continues to analyze the scope and effects of the [AMLO governments] occupation decree, in order to determine which actions to take If an agreement is not reached in the negotiation, the temporary occupation will ultimately lead to a deterioration of the company, its employees, customers, and the free market. Little Sympathy for Larrea Outside of Mexicos investor class, Larreas troubles are unlikely to elicit much in the way of sympathy. After all, his company was responsible for Mexicos worst ever mining disaster, the Buenavista Copper Mine toxic spill of 2014, as I reported at the time for WOLF STREET: On August 6 the Buenavista del Cobre mine belonging to Larreas flagship company, Grupo Mexico, the countrys largest mining and infrastructure company, spewed 10 million gallons (40,000 cubic meters) of copper sulfate acid into the Sonora and Bacanuchi rivers, turning the waterways orange and poisoning the water supply of 24,000 people in seven communities along the rivers. The fallout has been devastating. Even today, nine years after the disaster, thousands of people still have no access to fresh water or medical services; cases of illnesses primarily respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders, skin conditions and high levels of heavy metals in the blood have skyrocketed. Local farmers can no longer cultivate their land or sell their traditional products in the region, out of fear of contamination. Communities continue to demand justice, remediation, reparations, and assurances that this will never happen again. Immediately after the spill Grupo Mexico was fined a measly $2 million. Through Mexicos environmental agency SEMARNAT, the company was supposed to set up a trust fund of around 2 billion pesos (just over $100 million) to remediate the harm caused to local inhabitants and the environment. But many residents say they never saw a peso. A medical clinic was partially built and abandoned. Only two of 36 promised water purification plants are operating. A $307 million economic reactivation plan was never activated. This is not the first time that Larrea had shown callous disregard for the occasionally destructive externalities of his line of business. In 2006, a methane explosion in the Grupo Mexico-owned Pasta de Conchos coal mine left 65 miners trapped underground. Only two of the 65 bodies were found before the decision was made to call off the search, just five days after the explosion. During that time neither then-Mexican president Vicente Fox, nor Larrea, visited the mine or interacted with the families. In fact, not a single Grupo Mexico shareholder bothered to show up. This is why there is such little sympathy for Larrea outside of the usual business-friendly circles. In fact, no one put it better than veteran journalist Denise Maerker, who is anything but an AMLO aficionado. Speaking in a TV panel discussion in which all of the other panellists were defending Larrea and accusing AMLO of recklessly expropriating Grupo Mexicos assets, she said: The person this (railroad) is being taken from is not just anybody. What is the defining characteristic of German Larrea? Well, he is a man who always gets what he wants. Indeed, I think this is the first time he hasnt. Hes a person who had a small problem at his mining company in which 40 million litres of copper sulphate poured into the rivers Bacanuchi and Sonora, contaminating an entire region and bankrupting a large number of dairy farmers and brown sugar and chilli growers. Do you think he paid any compensation? Do you think the state had the capacity to negotiate with him? I hear the points about the manner (in which AMLO has gone about this) which includes calling in the armed forces Is this the new way in which the government will resolve problems? Its too early to tell just yet. That said, this is an expropriation that makes sense in light of the governments project and even more so when you consider that (Larrea) is a person whom we already know has never been concerned about the community, who has never obeyed the rules, who has got what he has wanted in contravention of the law time and time again. The expropriation also makes sense given the ambition and potential benefits of the AMLO governments infrastructure projects in Mexicos impoverished southern states, Maerker said: If you see what the government has invested in the area, the idea of building an Inter-Oceanic railway, the investment being poured into the two ports and the development proposed, it all makes sense. I dont know if it will actually happen, but if it works out well it will be extraordinary. US Complaints About Mexico Spending Money on Mexican Citizens As I reported in my recent piece, Chinese Companies Are Taking Advantage of United States Nearshoring Strategy By Setting up Shop in Mexico, some of the money flowing into transportation and infrastructure projects in southern Mexico is coming from China. By pouring money into renewable energy projects and infrastructure projects like Pemexs new Dos Bocas refinery in Tabasco, the semi-fast Mayan train project and the port of Veracruz, China hopes to expand its presence, influence and activity in Mexico, just as it has across the rest of Latin America. By contrast, Washington is rapidly losing patience with the AMLO governments proclivity for spending money on social programs and signature infrastructure projects, according to a recently leaked document from the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Instead, the document says, it should be spending more on furthering US interests in the region. From The Intercept: President Lopez Obradors federal budget for 2023 gives priority to social spending and signature infrastructure projects, rather than the investments needed to address bilateral issues with the US such as migration, security, and trade, reads the document from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence Lopez Obradors government has also placed major emphasis on infrastructure and development projects in Mexico. The projects include a new international airport and a railway that will connect the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, which seeks to compete with the Panama Canal. Another major project, called the Maya Train, is reaching completion. The controversial project, which seeks to traverse the Yucatan Peninsula, has received ire from left- and right-wing critics alike for its environmental damage. It has already taken out vast sectors of the rainforest. What AMLO has been doing has been investing in infrastructure projects in the south of the country, Earl Anthony Wayne, who served as U.S. ambassador to Mexico from 2011 to 2015, told The Intercept. Thats less of a priority for us the United States because we trade mostly with the center and northern parts of the country where all the productive enterprises are. Fortunately, the AMLO government is putting the welfare and development of Mexicos poorest regions above the strategic interests of its northern neigbour. But as it takes a more active role in the economy, US and European companies are threatening to limit their investments. The president of Mexican business chamber Coparmex, Jose Medina Mora, told Bloomberg that as much as $35 billion could be left on the sidelines as a result of AMLOs latest actions, based on conversations he has had with business groups from the US, Spain, Canada and Germany. But this sort of threat has been heard countless times during AMLOs tenure, yet investment continues to pour into the country. If it didnt, where else would it go, given that Mexico is a vital cog in the US governments nearshoring ambitions? Nashvilles third-graders have experienced significant challenges during their short lives. As kindergarteners, their education was disrupted by COVID-19. Theyve since experienced a deadly shooting at a private school in their community, and many are now facing the possibility of being held back. The retention risk stems from a 2021 state law seeking to boost literacy by focusing on a grade seen by experts and educators as significant in determining a childs future academic success. Per the law, public school third-graders who dont score high enough on the English language arts portion of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program standardized test must receive specified academic interventions in order to be promoted to the fourth grade. Those who score in the approaching category of the TCAP must attend summer school or receive tutoring in the fourth grade in order to advance. Those who score below must fulfill both requirements. Students who opt into summer school must maintain a 90 percent attendance rate. Those who score approaching and attend summer school must demonstrate adequate growth for it to count although the state didnt clarify what that meant until May 19, when the Tennessee Board of Education defined it as showing at least 5 percent improvement on a post-test assessment. Some students, including those with disabilities or suspected disabilities, those who have been previously retained, and those who are new English learners, are exempt from the law. Eligible students can appeal a retention decision with the Tennessee Department of Education. I think the best word to use for it is chaos and just overall confusion, says Sara Morrison, a Metro Nashville Public Schools third-grade teacher. The timeliness of all of it has seemed extremely unrealistic. And now, I feel like all of that is coming to fruition as far as no one really knows whats going on. There are still all these questions. Parents are furious. MNPS students received their initial TCAP scores on May 22. Those who didnt score high enough retested in the following days, attempting to land a better score. The initial results showed that 29.7 percent of MNPS students scored high enough to be promoted without academic interventions. The breakdown of each TCAP category (before retesting) shows that 11.1 percent of these students exceeded expectations, 18.6 percent met them, 34.4 percent scored in the approaching category and 37.9 percent fell below expectations. Those who retested received their new scores on Friday. (The Scene was not able to obtain the official numbers before sending this article to press.) Statewide, roughly 60 percent of third-graders faced possible retention based on their scores. Both the TDOE and MNPS tout academic gains, but the numbers still indicate that the majority of Nashvilles students and Tennessees students are not proficient in reading at least as far as the test defines proficiency. Critics argue that the TCAP is more complex than necessary and that it isnt a fair way to assess students reading abilities. I had a parent on the phone with me at 7:45 last night panicking about her daughter being held back, says Morrison. This student, like many others, has demonstrated reading proficiency in other areas. Morrison says shes in the gifted student program, scored highly on benchmark testing and memorized an entire school play. She is at risk for retention, says Morrison, and its just wild to me. The law has rippling effects. Summer plans have been in limbo as parents determine whether their students need to take summer classes. For some parents, these plans might include out-of-state custody arrangements or lost summer camp deposits. (YMCA Camp Widjiwagan will refund deposits for students affected by this law.) School staff must prepare for a summer program catering to thousands of students. Some educators are unsure how this could affect school capacity and staffing in the coming school years if large numbers of third-graders are retained. Melodie Madden Adams son was affected by the law. She says he had trouble sleeping and was terrified of not getting to be with his friends next year. The stress was awful. Her son passed the test, but I dont think it would have happened without all the interventions that we did on our own, like the tutoring and all of the extra hours that he should have been playing outside, says Madden Adams. She also emphasizes how well teachers handled helping parents and students navigate the process. Many hoped state lawmakers would repeal the third-grade retention law during this years legislative session they didnt. After much consideration and public pushback, state leaders added another benchmark test to be considered in retention decisions, but that provision wont kick in until next school year. On May 24, as reported by Tennessee Lookout, a joint fiscal review committee extended the states contract with British company NCS Pearson, the testing vendor that administers the TCAP tests. Theyre also giving the vendor an additional $39 million, increasing the contract to $132 million. Seeing lawmakers and people who maybe have not been in the classroom since they were a student in college or high school, let alone ever taught a class, make these decisions for these kids it seems very unfair, says Morrison. Defeating is a really good word to describe it. Update, May 31: According to a spokesperson, around 11 percent of MNPS students scored "proficient" on the retest, and another 10 percent boosted their scores from "below" to "approaching." Additionally, on May 30, the TDOE appeal window opened eligible families have until June 30 to appeal for a promotion to fourth grade." If your third-grader cant pass a standardized test, she cant go on to fourth grade, even if shes getting A's and B's in all her classes. Sixty percent of Tennessee third-graders didnt score high enough on the test to pass on to fourth grade. This in itself is a shitshow disaster. But the sample test? If this is an example of what third-graders have to get right? Its a mess. Take, for instance, this question on page 27. A student is supposed to indicate Which change, if any, is needed to the underlined text? The text reads Next month Wendy said, I will go to Australia. She could hardly wait! The choices are: Next month Wendy said, I will go to Australia. Next month, Wendy said, I will go to Australia. Next month Wendy said, I will go to Australia. No change The correct answer in the options given is B: Next month, Wendy said, I will go to Australia. But why should we assume that Wendy and she are the same person? Another correct change could be: Next month Wendy said I will go to Australia," if the she is saying what Wendy told her and not Wendy herself. I could imagine a kid or anyone, really knowing grammatical construction but not being sure if there were two people being referenced here or one. And if it seems obvious to the kid that there are two people in this example, none of the answers is right. As School Year Ends, Families of Third-Graders Contend With Chaos Parents are furious over retention law that could lead to many Nashville students being held back In another section, were supposed to indicate what a character means when she says, Dust bunnies in ketchup is what they taste like. One of the choices is they taste like soil, and another is they taste terrible. How are those not both correct? If your kid is a very literal thinker, hes going to have problems with this test. Does that mean he cant read or write or comprehend things at a third-grade level? Of course not. Should your kid be held back in third grade because a test is kind of sloppily written? How much disrespect do you have to have for Tennesseans to hinge their elementary school progress on an important test and then not have every portion of the test be clear? I went to the TDOE website to learn how parents can appeal the holding back of their kids. In the section about having your kid attend summer camps it reads: During the summer, rising kindergartners through rising 9th graders can also participate in the summer camps offered over the course of four weeks to cover litearcy [sic] and math. I took a screenshot because who would believe this? Third-graders have to be able to spell or their lives are ruined, but TDOE cant handle literacy? This is shameful. It's like me showing up to your house covered in piss and dirt talking about how bad you smell that level of shameful. In a now-deleted tweet, the TDOE wrote: TN Families: Learn more about the multiple pathways to help your child can move on to 4th grade and the strong supports that are available this summer. I think we have a duty to ask ourselves if we think the TDOE could pass the TCAP test. I dont know how to experience this or explain it as anything less than open disdain for Tennessees third-graders. If one group has to follow the rules or they get in trouble and another group doesnt and is constantly showing off how they dont have to follow the rules, then I read that as the second group expressing disdain for the first group. If third-graders have to be able to read and write comprehensible sentences and spell things correctly, but TDOE doesnt, that feels like contempt. Were not asking kids to play by the grammar rules we all live by, because clearly TDOE doesnt live by those rules. But they have the right to enforce them. Lots of people believe that this is all part of Gov. Bill Lees plan to bolster private education at the expense of public education by making public education so onerous and stupid that parents yank their kids and put them into less harmful situations. But not every school district has a nearby private school alternative. Also, has there been any other moment in Lees tenure when he seemed capable of coming up with a nefarious plot? No. Hes certainly gotten suckered into others nefarious plots. (See: Hillsdale College.) But plan his own? No, this is one of the most passive people to walk upright. He is the plastic-bag-flitting-in-the-wind of governors. Flunking third-graders for grammar standards you dont make the people in your administration hold to is the same move as passing all these anti-trans and anti-gay bills when you have dressed in drag yourself. Heres the thing: If all I saw from Gov. Lee and the TDOE was impeccable professionalism and real thoughtfulness about education, then I would believe that 60 percent of third-graders failed this test because their skills arent up to par. But what I see instead are examples that the test is unclear and that the TDOE cant comport itself up to the standards set by this flawed test. Some kids may have flunked this due to genuinely not having the skills tested for, but just based on my looking through the sample test, I think its clear that some kids clearly didnt do well because they couldnt guess which inadequate answer was the one the test-writer wanted. And the people in charge of picking out the test demonstrably dont have the skills the test is supposed to be testing for, so how can we feel confident that the test they picked out is actually giving us useful information about childrens skill sets? Its like if you took an art class and the teacher was constantly critiquing your use of red, and then you find out that the teacher is color blind. Sure, you might actually suck at using red, but how would the teacher know, and why should you be penalized for the teachers inability to teach you proper techniques for red use? Why are Tennessees third-graders being punished for TDOEs failures? (As prepared - translated from Norwegian) Thank you, Anniken, for the introduction, And a big thank you also to you, Kate, and the Norwegian Atlantic Committee. Thank you very much for the invitation. Dear all, There is no better place to be than here, in Oslo, in Norway. A NATO country I know quite well. And I look forward to Anniken showing me and all NATO Foreign Ministers everything this capital city has to offer. We meet in a beautiful city. In a beautiful season. But in a far more dangerous world than in many decades. Great power competition is on the rise. Our values and democracies are under pressure. And there is war in Europe. President Putin's war of aggression against Ukraine marks the end of the world as we knew it. What we choose to do and choose not to do now will determine what the world will look like for decades to come. This new reality has sunk in for most people. NATO countries and our partners have taken important decisions. We are now approaching the NATO Summit in Vilnius. It will be an important meeting, with many important issues on the agenda. First, Ukraine. When NATO leaders meet, I expect them to confirm and step up our support for Ukraine. In words and in deeds. NATO allies have made significant and decisive military contributions. Armoured vehicles, air defence, ammunition. And just in recent weeks, the United Kingdom has provided long-range cruise missiles, and several NATO allies have announced that they will begin training Ukrainian pilots. We have stepped up our support. I expect that there will be more announcements and new decisions in the run-up to and at the Summit. We are now working on a multi-year assistance program for Ukraine. It will help them transition from the old Soviet-era to the modern NATO standards and equipment. And it will help get them closer to NATO. Wars are unpredictable. We do not know when and how this war will end. But what we do know is that when it ends, we must ensure that history does not repeat itself. We must not allow President Putin to continue to chip away at European security. For this, we need a framework that ensures Ukraine's long-term security. There will be some challenging discussions among allies in the run-up to Vilnius. Including on security guarantees or assurances for Ukraine. And their desire for NATO membership. I cannot anticipate the outcome of the discussions. But what is clear is that all NATO allies agree that NATO's door is open. Everyone agrees that Ukraine will become a member. And everyone agrees that it is Ukraine and NATO member states that decide, not Russia. But the most important thing right now is that we make sure Ukraine prevails. That is our most important task. Otherwise, there will be no future to discuss. That is why I am absolutely sure that when NATO's leaders gather in Vilnius, the message will be that we will stand by Ukraine, for as long as it takes. Another important issue at the Summit will be the continued strengthening of our collective defence. Since Russia annexed Crimea and attacked eastern Ukraine in 2014, we have carried out the biggest reinforcement of our collective defence since the Cold War. From major operations beyond our borders, to collective defence at home. From lighter, mobile forces, to large and heavier battle formations. From low readiness, to high readiness. And not least, from declining defence budgets, to rising defence budgets. So we were prepared when the war came. Both to support Ukraine, but also to strengthen our own deterrence. In Vilnius, NATO leaders will agree on detailed plans for the defence of Europe. These are defence plans of all allied countries. They set precise requirements for what capabilities individual allies must provide. And what forces are required. This is necessary. It is a new reality. There is war in Europe. All this is part of the transformation and strengthening of NATO that has been underway since 2014. Restructuring NATO over the past decade, to prepare NATO for the next decade. It costs money. In Vilnius, we must put in place a stronger commitment to NATO's two percent target. Two percent should no longer be a ceiling we aim for. But a floor we build on. A minimum. The third important issue is China's rise, and the importance it has for our security. China is a regime that does not share our values. It threatens its neighbours. Boycotts countries that do not do as it says. And not least, we see that China is cooperating more closely with Russia. China's growing military, economic and political importance affects most of what NATO does. Our collective defence. The security of our infrastructure. Our investments in technology. And also the cooperation with our partners in the Indo-Pacific region. NATO will continue to be an Alliance for North America and Europe. This reflects a reality where it is becoming clearer that our security is not regional, it is global. Let me conclude by saying that it is very gratifying that Finland has become a member of NATO. And that I am completely confident that Sweden will soon follow. It has only been a year since they applied for membership. The process has gone historically fast. Sweden is much safer now than before they applied. With security guarantees from many NATO countries. And with neighbouring Finland now a NATO ally. So it is completely unthinkable that NATO would not react if someone were to threaten or attack Sweden. Dear all, We live in a more dangerous world. We must be prepared for new crises. And unexpected things can happen. We must have a strategy to handle uncertainty. And the best strategy we can have is for North America and Europe to continue to stand together in NATO. Then we will be safe. (Natural News) The Associated Press (AP) has once again been caught spreading fake news, this time about upset Target customers who are allegedly behaving violently at stores due to the retail chains pedophilic pride clothing line for children and babies. The AP, which used to be a trusted source for news or so we all thought published false claims and wild conspiracy theories about George Floyd-style riots allegedly happening at Target stores as angry parents supposedly engaged in violent confrontations while issuing threats to workers over the perverted apparel. Before quietly removing said claims from its fake news reporting, the AP told its readers that Target yanked or relocated LGBTQ merchandise featured prominently in Pride Month displays due to these made-up threats and actions, which never actually happened. The Associated Press has removed uncredited claims, without telling readers, reported Just the News about the APs sleight of hand, which did not go unnoticed. (Related: If there is any demographic out there that strongly leans towards violence whenever it gets upset, it is left-wing narcissists.) The AP is no better than Target: Theyre both run by child groomers pushing LGBT perversion The original AP headline claimed that Target removes some LGBTQ merchandise from stores ahead of June Pride month after threats to workers. The story following it opened as such: 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. The next day, the AP quietly changed the headline to state that Target becomes latest company to suffer backlash for LGBTQ+ support, pulls some Pride month clothing. The new opening paragraph, which Breitbart News said was stealthily rewritten, now reads as follows: 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 Tuesday. 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.' In response to questions about the change, the APs Vice President of Corporate Communications Lauren Easton tried to claim that as her fake news agency continued to report out the story, we were able to provide more specific examples of the incidents that took place and we updated the story accordingly. There was no actual retraction, nor did Easton or anybody else at the AP provide any further clarity as to how the original reporting got it all so, so wrong. This suggests that the AP knowingly reported fake news, and after encountering backlash itself quietly made a few changes without formally addressing the glaring lies it originally published. Keep in mind that before the blowout, Target was prominently displaying so-called tuck friendly womens swimwear, meaning it has a special design for tucking the male body parts of trans women who, as the AP wrote have not had gender-affirming operations to conceal their private parts. In other words, in front of the whole world, including children, Target sells and displays fetish merchandise, wrote John Nolte from Breitbart. Target is doing business with Satanists to pervert your children into easily exploitable targets of sexual abuse. It is as simple as that. Nolte further added that any individual or corporation that launches any type of campaign to prematurely sexualize children is guilty of child abuse, is a threat to children, and is undoubtedly grooming them for abuse. This includes both Target and the AP. The latest news about the left-wing medias penchant for lying can be found at Deception.news. Sources include: Breitbart.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Black activists at the grassroots level have distanced themselves from the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement after it was revealed that the group is now nearing insolvency supposedly due to corruption. The Washington Free Beacon first broke the news, citing tax documents from the activist group. The outlet reported that the BLM Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF) the movements national arm blew through two-thirds of the $90 million raised after the death of George Floyd in 2020. It also suffered a massive drop in donations in its 2022 fiscal year filing. BLM Grassroots, a coalition of 26 local BLM chapters once closely allied with BLMGNF, blasted the latters mismanagement of funds in a statement. It pointed its finger at co-founder and trained Marxist Patrisse Cullors for the groups collapse. Established in 2020, BLM Grassroots broke away in 2022 as several liberal states cracked down on the foundation for widespread compliance issues. The plummeting of donations to [the BLMGNF] is further evidence that donors want to fund the work, not high-priced consultants, BLM Grassroots said, adding that it is now engaged in a fight for the soul of BLM. BLM Grassroots continues to fight on the front lines for justice every day while simultaneously fighting to get out the facts, despite [BLMGNFs] well-funded efforts to discredit the organization, their hard work and integrity. Melina Abdullah, BLM Grassroots director, admitted that she had no idea the BLMGNF was squandering charitable funds before the two groups split. At the time, I didnt know anything about dollars coming in or about whos getting paid what, she said during an appearance on the Roland Martin Unfiltered podcast. We view BLM as a movement, so Ive been less vocal about whats been happening inside of BLM that I, frankly, have nothing to do with. Cullors used BLM money to benefit close friends and family The Free Beacon also disclosed that during the tax year ending June 2022, BLMGNF spent more than $10.5 million on high-priced contractors. Interestingly, many of these contractors share close ties with Cullors stoking rumors of embezzlement. In one instance, two companies run by Patrices brother Paul raked in $1.6 million for professional security services for BLM last year. Paul also collected a $126,000 salary for his work as BLMs head of security. This gig also entailed protecting a $6 million mansion in Los Angeles the foundation secretly purchased with donor cash in 2021. (Related: Black Lives Matter financially imploding as founder and her family reportedly pillage funds.) Shalomyah Bowers, Patrices close associate who she handpicked to lead BLMGNF, also siphoned off $1.7 million in donated funds to his company Bowers Consulting in the 2022 tax year. The firm had provided management and consulting services to BLM, according to the Free Beacon. Patrice chose Bowers to helm BLMGNF when she stepped down in May 2021. However, this proved to be the breaking point between the national group and the local BLM chapters including BLM Grassroots under the purview of Abdullah. Back in September 2022, BLM Grassroots filed a lawsuit against Bowers and the national arm of the movement under his leadership. The coalition accused Bowers of using the foundation as his personal piggy bank to fraudulently siphon $10 million in fees to his consultancy. [Bowers] continued to betray the public trust by self-dealing and breaching his fiduciary duties, the lawsuit said. His actions have led BLM into multiple investigations by the Internal Revenue Service and various state attorney generals, blazing a path of irreparable harm to BLM in less than 18 months. BLM Grassroots statement also alluded to this lawsuit, claiming that usurpers in charge had seized control of the donated assets meant to fund the movement. It added: The boots-on-the-ground, everyday people who birthed, built and who fuel the movement were locked out of their social media, which had millions of followers who once relied on the platforms for vital information. Visit BlackLies.news for more stories about the corruption within the BLM movement. Watch this video that explains why BLM is a race-baiting scam. 3 This video is from the Puretrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: BLM received almost $83B from corporations, report says but wheres the money? Black Lives Matter given $16 million in taxpayer-funded grants to continue hating Whites. BLM co-founder denies using funds to purchase four homes, calls accusers racist and sexist. REVEALED: BLM leaders squandered millions on a California mansion they tried to keep secret. Sources include: FreeBeacon.com LAProgressive.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) International Man: In practically every country, the allowable limit for cash withdrawals and transactions continues to be lowered. (Article by Doug Casey republished from InternationalMan.com) Further, rampant currency debasement is lowering the real value of these ridiculous limits. Why are governments so intent on phasing out cash? What is really behind this coordinated effort? Doug Casey: Let me draw your attention to three truths that my friend Nick Giambruno has pointed out about money in bank accounts. #1. The money isnt really yours. Youre just another unsecured creditor if the bank goes bust. #2. The money isnt actually there. Its been lent out to borrowers who are illiquid or insolvent. #3. The money isnt really money. Its credit created out of thin air. The point is that cash is freedom. And when the State limits the utility of cashphysical dollars that dont leave an electronic trailthey are limiting your personal freedom to act and compromising your privacy. Governments are naturally opposed to personal freedom and personal privacy because those things limit their control, and governments are all about control. International Man: Governments will probably mandate Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) as the solution when the next real or contrived crisis hitswhich is likely not far off. Whats your take? What are the implications for financial privacy? Doug Casey: CBDCs are proposed as a solution, but in fact, theyre a gigantic problem. Government is not your friend, and CBDCs are not a solution. If they successfully implement CBDCs, it would mean that anything you buy or sell, and any income you earn, will go through CBDCs. You will have zero effective privacy. The Authorities will automatically know what you own, and theyll be in a position to control your assets. Instantly. Theyll be able to add CBDCs to the accounts of favored people and subtract from or block access to the accounts of those who arent. Digital dollars will be easy to implement since everybody already has a government ID and a Social Security account. Everybody has a smartphone. Soon everybody will have a CBDC account as well. If you lack any of these things, it will certainly ding your oncoming Social Credit Score. Ill go so far as to say that Central Bank Digital Currencies and digital health passports may be the most dangerous threats to the freedom and independence of the average human being in modern history. They will allow the State to easily control where you can go, what you can do, and what you can own. Theyre both very big deals, and theyll be daily facts of life. In todays world, its increasingly dangerous to say things that run counter to whats considered politically correct. If you cant say something, its much harder to do something. And indoctrination through education and the media are making it hard to even think. We will soon be living in a society where you can neither think, say, nor do anything that isnt PC. Again, the problem is promoted as a solution. Its much like what happened during the great COVID hysteria, which was a relatively minor problem from a medical point of view. The State solution was mass lockdowns and mass vaccination. The solutions were much worse than the problem. In any event, free speech is dying with cancel culture, trigger warnings, safe spaces, and penalties for so-called hate speech. Free speech should be an absoluteincluding so-called hate speech. Id like to reemphasize that although hate speech is typically impolite, unpleasant, and acrimonious, it is, perhaps paradoxically, a good thing. Why? Because it allows you to identify whats going on in the mind of the person who utters it. And I would much rather know what somebodys thinking and what somebodys likely to do than have a tight lid put on so-called hate speech. I prefer knowing who Im dealing with and what they think and feel. International Man: Its not just financial privacy but privacy across the board that is being buried. Cellphones, so-called smart appliances, electric vehicles, social media, and other electronic devices create an all-encompassing surveillance system that most people voluntarily opt into. What is really going on here? Doug Casey: Its been said that while art imitates life, life also imitates art. Especially when we look at George Orwells famous novel, 1984. In the book, Big Brother had ubiquitous video screens monitoring what the plebs did. We now have hundreds of millions of cameras all around the worldnot counting billions more in smartphones. Universal surveillance is making for very grim times. Recently, Klaus Schwab of the World Economic Forum said that everything will be transparenta euphemism for darker things. But dont worry: you have nothing to fear, he said, if you do nothing wrong. Thats ridiculous. Its exactly what the Stasi, the KGB, and the Gestapo said. I wonder if Schwab would be willing to have a camera observe him in his bathroom and bedroom, when he visits his safe deposit box and has a private conversation with friendsor fellow conspirators? Of course not. Transparency is only for the potentially dangerous plebs, who may not share the views of their betters. One of the differences between a civilized society and a primitive, barbaric society, is privacy. In primitive societies, privacy doesnt exist. You have paper-thin walls in your hut. Everybody sees everything you do and everybody you talk to. One of the nice things about civilization is that you can get away from other people and keep them from observing you. Privacy is one of the central elements of civilization itself. Eliminating privacy, whether it be personal or financial, is not only an aggression against individuals but destructive of civilization itself. Schwabs transparency is a regression towards barbarism. International Man: It seems privacy is dead for most people. If that is the case, what comes next? Where is this trend headed? Doug Casey: The first time that it became apparent to me on a personal level was at a police station in D.C., where I was paying a fine for some traffic violation. I got to chatting with the cop in back of the computer screen. This was a long time ago, in the late 70s. And as we talked, he said, in a friendly way, Look, you dont have any idea how much information we have on youbut its a lot. He wasnt trying to intimidate me; he was just observing a fact. And that was a long time ago. About 25 years ago, Larry Ellison, the head of Oracle Corporation, came out and made a shocking statement to the effect of Privacy doesnt exist, forget about it. At the time, I thought it sounded like Ellison approved of it, but now I dont think that was the case. He was just pointing out a reality. Most recently, Arnold Schwarzenegger made an ad during the COVID hysteria. He said, To hell with your freedom, encouraging people to stop protesting about getting their shots. Children no longer say, Hey, its a free country, when one says or does something that another doesnt like. People have been programmed not to take privacy seriously. Worse, theyre now suspicious of it and passively accept the fact that it doesnt exist. With Chinas Social Credit System, everything you do, everywhere you go, and even everything you say is recorded and reported. Were going to get our own version. Youll be rewarded or punished according to what the ruling elite think is good or bad. So the question is: when, if ever, will this trend turn around? Well, Im not sure its any longer a question of when. Its more a question of ifat least within a reasonable time frame. The trend is not only still in motion but accelerating. A lack of privacy means a lack of freedom. And a lack of freedom is what characterizes a serfalthough in todays world, youre a serf with a high standard of living. International Man: How can the average person protect their privacy and limit their exposure to State and corporate surveillance? Doug Casey: Limit airing your personal thoughts and actions on Facebook, LinkedIn, and similar types of social media. Its all accessible to anybody and makes it much easier for the State to control you. In my case, Ive made part of my living by doing the opposite of what you should do. I understand its a contradiction. Its the path that Ive chosen. But from a personal freedom point of view, its not a wise path. Im reluctant to say so, but Id advise others not to choose it. It amounts to painting a target on your back. At this point, if you want to maximize your personal freedom, you ought to consider living in a country where youre not a citizen. Thats because governments consider citizens to be their subjects, their assets, their property. However, when youre a foreign citizen living in a foreign country, the local government tends to consider you a non-threat, almost a non-person. Sad to say, in todays world, from a personal freedom point of view, youre better off not living in your own country. That certainly includes the US and Canada. From a financial point of view, its very important that you own and hold physical gold and silver, physically in your own possession, as opposed to electronically. Paper or electronic accounts are fine for speculating. But you want to have a considerable cache of the physical metals for safety. Plus, at some point, they will revert to day-to-day money. Lastly, put a layer of protection between you and the bad guys. Dont be afraid to use corporations and trusts in the right jurisdictions. Create barriers to make it harder for the bad guys to find out who owns something and where that person really is. Read more at: Internati0nalMan.com (Natural News) For Dr. Lee Merritt, the world is in a spiritual war but its being waged on the physical plane. This, she said, was engineered by the globalist Satan worshipers, who do not worship the God of creation. One of the things that this creepy religion believes in is that people would have to agree with their depopulation measures so they could easily get away with it, she told Pastor Leon Benjamin in the recent B-Alert News episode on Brighteon.TV. Merritt cited as an example the most massive genocide project the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandate. They are never going to force-vaccinate people by tying them down and injecting them. You have to one way or another say okay. That somehow relieves them of their karmic debt, said Merritt, who got canceled after criticizing the face mask mandate. When they told us that a virus spread all over China, killing people, they didnt lie. What they didnt tell us is that in Latin, virus means toxin or poison. It does not mean a little germ that comes out of your mouth and floats out and infects other people. She added that this was because they had a plan to implement measures to mitigate the virus by standing six feet apart from each other and wearing masks. You see, thats a great anti-human agenda. These are people that really want to destroy Earth and us with it. (Related: Doctors Lee Merritt and Ben Tapper slam CDC over late admission that masks and PCR tests are USELESS Brighteon.TV.) The orthopedic and spinal surgeon also pointed out that the extinction program has been going on for a while, citing the poison that is being dumped on us via the chemtrails early on, poisoning the people from the sky to the food supply. We have so much evidence for this, like the Harvard University doctors that were paid to lie about what was causing heart attacks and that the sugar industry was realizing that it was carbohydrates that were associated with the increased incidence back in the 60s, she said. Every time a doctor would try to bring this up and write an article, these guys from Harvard would denigrate the paper. All it took was a few words for them and nobody ever looked at that stuff anymore. She further linked the depopulation agenda to how pathologists concealed the real reason for deaths at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The said medical professionals would not conduct autopsies as these could spread coronavirus, according to protocols. Finally, in June of 2021, there was a publication of over 360 cases of dead COVID-19 patients and the conclusion of these specialists these people that are paid to know what caused you to die was they do not have an idea what was killing people, Merritt disclosed. Thats a pretty shocking admission. Merritt: The attack on humanity is not yet over According to Benjamin, it is good that people are starting to wake up and come together to expose the people who have been lying about the depopulation agenda of the global elites. He said they are colluding with mainstream media, publications, state actors and politicians. I hate to say it. I ran for Congress in 2020 and 2022 because I was thinking of serving the people and getting in to solve problems. But these people dont want to solve any problems. They just want to be in front of the camera to lie and then say, Look, we just cant figure out whats going on,' the pastor lamented. Merritt concurred and encouraged the listeners to continue making a stand because the mandates are not over and theyre just counting coup, finding out how many how people they actually hurt with the vaccine and whats going to be the death count as they plan their next move. And one of the ways they do it is they distract you with nonsense. Its like the magician who waves his left hand while hes picking your pocket with the right, she added. Visit Depopulation.news for more stories related to the depopulation agenda of the global elites. Watch the full May 22 episode of B-Alert News with Leon Benjamin featuring Dr. Lee Merritt below. Catch new episodes of the program every Monday at 10:00 a.m. on Brighteon.TV. More related stories: Dr. Lee Merritt: Mask wearing was never about controlling the virus. Merritt Medical Hour with Dr. Lee Merritt: Trump creating continuity programs to ensure preservation of government structures Brighteon.TV. Dr. Kee Merritt: COVID-19 is a DNA war against humanity Brighteon.TV. Sources include: Brighteon.com 1 Brighteon.com 2 (Natural News) The Regime is Now Punishing the Conservative Families. (Article by Jim Hoft republished from TheGatewayPundit.com) And we know the Republican Party will say nothing, and we know the GOP lawmakers will ignore this blatant lawlessness, and we know the media will cheer. The Associate Press reported this tragic news today. According to our previous reporting: ** Over 90% of the J6 defendants are low to middle class and cannot afford private attorneys ** At least 80% of the FBI arrests were of protesters who were waved in the US Capitol on January 6 and committed no violence. The regime wants them ruined. And now we know the regime wants their families ruined. Via the AP. Less than two months after he pleaded guilty to storming the U.S. Capitol, Texas resident Daniel Goodwyn appeared on Tucker Carlsons then-Fox News show and promoted a website where supporters could donate money to Goodwyn and other rioters whom the site called political prisoners. The Justice Department now wants Goodwyn to give up more than $25,000 he raised a clawback that is part of a growing effort by the government to prevent rioters from being able to personally profit from participating in the attack that shook the foundations of American democracy. An Associated Press review of court records shows that prosecutors in the more than 1,000 criminal cases from Jan. 6, 2021, are increasingly asking judges to impose fines on top of prison sentences to offset donations from supporters of the Capitol rioters. Dozens of defendants have set up online fundraising appeals for help with legal fees, and prosecutors acknowledge theres nothing wrong with asking for help for attorney expenses. But the Justice Department has, in some cases, questioned where the money is really going because many of those charged have had government-funded legal representation. Most of the fundraising efforts appear on GiveSendGo, which bills itself as The #1 Free Christian Fundraising Site and has become a haven for Jan. 6 defendants barred from using mainstream crowdfunding sites, including GoFundMe, to raise money. The rioters often proclaim their innocence and portray themselves as victims of government oppression, even as they cut deals to plead guilty and cooperate with prosecutors. Their fundraising success suggests that many people in the United States still view Jan. 6 rioters as patriots and cling to the baseless belief that Democrats stole the 2020 presidential election from Donald Trump. The former president himself has fueled that idea, pledging to pardon rioters if he is elected. Markus Maly, a Virginia man scheduled to be sentenced next month for assaulting police at the Capitol, raised more than $16,000 from an online campaign that described him as a January 6 P.O.W. and asked for money for his family. Prosecutors have requested a $16,000-plus fine, noting that Maly had a public defender and did not owe any legal fees. He should not be able to use his own notoriety gained in the commission of his crimes to capitalize on his participation in the Capitol breach in this way, a prosecutor wrote in court papers. Our Christian faith teaches us to show mercy on the disadvantaged and those suffering. The Corporal Works of Mercy are found in the teachings of Jesus and give us a model for how we should treat all others, as if they were Christ in disguise. The Gateway Pundit and our amazing readers have raised over $2.0 million for the January 6 families. We continue to raise money for these political prisoners and their families. This past week Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison for standing outside the US Capitol on Jan. 6. He committed no violence. He had no plans to overtake the US Capitol. His group had no planning sessions on taking over the US government. Rhodes committed no violence. The regime sentenced him to 18 year in federal prison. They called it seditious conspiracy because of some smack he posted online weeks earlier. The Gateway Pundit helped raise money for Stewart. Was this wrong? Meanwhile, Democrat rioters are getting paid by the government Will any Republican have the strength to stand up and speak out against this lawlessness? Will any Americans stand up against this evil? The mainstream media will cheer this news. Or they will nod in agreement. Yet, they sleep at night. Read more at: TheGatewayPundit.com (Natural News) Chicago-area public schools require that students provide proper health documentation before enrolling unless, of course, they are illegal migrants, in which case there is no health documentation necessary. Now that Title 42 has ended and the United States is being flooded with tens of thousands of new illegal migrants daily, these people are having to go somewhere, including Chicagoland which is seeing a massive influx in illegal migrant children being enrolled without paperwork at area public schools. One local mother by the name of Jennifer Preston told Fox & Friends First this week that it is hypocritical for school administrators to force legal children to provide health documentation while allowing illegal children to flout the rules. Right now in the school district in which we live, we have to provide residency, citizenship, health records and vaccination records on an almost annual basis, Preston told viewers. I have a child right now, and I must have five emails in my inbox stating that my child cannot return to school next year without a specific vaccine. So its certainly inconsistent with what theyre allowing for the migrant children coming into the Chicago public schools. (Related: Americas homeless shelters are now so full of illegal migrants that there is no more room at the inn for homeless Americans.) How long will it be until the entire country is taken over by illegal migrants? One elementary school in the Little Village area is set to enroll up to 50 illegal migrant children, while another nearby high school is set to take in about a dozen this coming fall. Because Chicago is a sanctuary city for illegal aliens, these illegal migrant children should feel right at home as they take over the citys public schools and put other children at risk of catching communicable diseases. You can be compassionate, but you cant be foolish, said another Chicago-area resident at a recent meeting to discuss whether or not a local college should be turned into temporary housing for these illegal migrants and their families. We are inviting in everyone like a magnet, said another one. Everyone come here, collect all your freebies. We are going to give it to you. Every sucker in here is going to pay for it. On and on parents complained about the left-wing citys decision to become a resettlement zone for untold thousands of illegal migrants fresh across the border. It starts in the inner city and fans out from there to suburbs like the one where Preston lives, Preston having told Fox that it is only a matter of minutes until her childrens schools are invaded. I would expect that they would be coming here legally and be bound to the same guidelines and principles and laws that all of our own children as taxpaying citizens are, Preston said. After years of suffering through extreme Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) restrictions, Preston finds it extremely hypocritical for government and school officials to not only be taking in all these untested illegal migrants, but also allowing them to attend classes without having received the same vaccines that legal children had to take. This is a major inconsistency, Preston told the cable news outlet, adding that she does not believe that Southern state governors are supporting racist, xenophobic policies by trying to address the border crisis on behalf of American citizens. Preston says she finds this double standard very offensive, adding that there should be some level of law and order when dealing with all these invaders. We had so many restrictions and policies in place a few years ago to the far, far extreme, Preston said. And Im not suggesting we go back there at all, but there must be something consistent with what we are making our taxpaying U.S. citizens and residents do that is consistent with bringing in migrants. More related news coverage can be found at InvasionUSA.news. Sources for this article include: FoxNews.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) The Department of Transportation (DOT) recently awarded a $15 million grant to a county in Maryland for the purchase of hydrogen-powered buses. CleanTechnica reported that the grant was awarded to the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT). The money will be used to purchase 13 hydrogen fuel cell buses to replace 13 diesel-powered counterparts in the countys Ride On fleet, the report added. The MCDOT had to compete with other transit agencies to secure this grant last summer, given that the Federal Transit Administration only had a limited budget of $1 billion for transit modernization. The 13 hydrogen-powered buses aim to hit the roads of Montgomery County by 2025. According to MCDOT, the fuel cell buses are expected to offer longer mileage and faster refueling times compared to other battery-electric buses. When the day ends, they will be based at the MCDOTs Equipment Maintenance And Transit Operations Center in Rockville. The structure is also undergoing a green transformation in a bid to become the largest self-sustaining bus depot in the country. But this is not the first time the MCDOT has dabbled in green energy endeavors. It previously partnered with AlphaStruxure to build the nations largest solar-plus-storage bus fleet charging station, the Brookville Smart Energy Bus Depot. AlphaStruxure is a joint venture between Schneider Electric and the global investment firm Carlyle Group. According to CleanTechnica, this facility aims to accommodate up to 70 electric buses by 2026. The depot operates through an energy-as-a-service contract, which according to the outlet allows energy consumers to access clean power without upfront capital costs, benefiting from a stable and predictable energy supply and reduced costs. The hydrogen that will power the buses purchased via the grant currently comes from natural gas. Another way to produce hydrogen is through an electrochemical process that splits water into its two components hydrogen and oxygen. However, this process requires huge amounts of energy that renewable sources may not be able to provide sufficiently enough. It also yields a small amount of hydrogen only around five percent of total production. Hydrogen projects open up potentials for hydrogen fraud Writing for Watts Up With That, Eric Worrall noted how hydrogen projects could open up opportunities for hydrogen fraud. He cited Australias Hydrogen Headstart initiative as one example that could turn into a criminal money-making endeavor. When you think about it, hydrogen fraud makes a lot of financial sense as a criminal money maker. There is no way green industries can produce affordable hydrogen which can challenge the cost of producing hydrogen from fossil fuel, so you need a certificate to prove your absurdly expensive hydrogen has the correct green pedigree, he wrote. But hydrogen is fungible nobody can tell post production whether the hydrogen came from steam reforming fossil fuel, renewable electrolysis or even nuclear powered thermochemical processes. Maybe regulators could cast some doubt using isotopic analysis, but there would likely be enough natural variation for plausible deniability. Worrall predicted that nations with high levels of corruption and lax enforcement will become the global leaders in certified green hydrogen production. But they will get mad and start slinging accusations of racism when anyone demands to inspect their renewable-powered hydrogen production plants. (Related: Aussie govt to spend $1.32B on hydrogen power project, but fears of hydrogen fraud loom.) He continued that taxpayers money spent on hydrogen production is a complete waste of effort, because if a hydrogen market actually does develop, it will be dominated by hydrogen fraud. NewEnergyReport.com has more stories about hydrogen energy. Watch this video to learn more about a technology that turns liquid waste to green hydrogen. This video is from the Family of Israel Foundation channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: NextEra will use solar power to produce green hydrogen. Saudi Arabia starts shift to green fuel production, builds $5B hydrogen plant. Aussie researchers develop new way to turn seawater into hydrogen fuel no desalination necessary. Green and clean: Energy-efficient water purification system developed by scientists. UK to build first hydrogen fueled homes by April. Sources include: CleanTechnica.com Twi-global.com WattsUpWithThat.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Texas RINOs are attempting to remove Attorney General Ken Paxton through an impeachment vote by alleging some weak corruption charges that center around allegations of aiding a wealthy political donor, conducting a sham investigation against whistleblowers, and covering up his wrongdoing in a separate federal securities fraud case against him. Ken Paxton is a staunch conservative and a strong supporter of former President Trump. (Article republished from Revolver.news) The real reason they want to impeach Paxton could have something to do with this: Why are they trying to impeach Texas Attorney General @KenPaxtonTX? One month ago as reported by @mirandadevine in the NYPost, Paxton announced his new investigation into whether Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson misled Texans on the efficacy and safety of their vaccines pic.twitter.com/yvIniYe8YL TexasLindsay (@TexasLindsay_) May 27, 2023 Paxton lashed out against this impeachment sham and called on his supporters to fight. MSN: Paxton has denied the charges and on Friday lashed out against his critics, saying that removing him from office would be a gift for President Joe Biden and his Democratic agenda. Staking out a position on the far right on divisive cultural issues, Paxton has sued the Biden administration nearly 50 times attempting to halt what has he labeled as unlawful tyrannical policies on issues including immigration, gun rights and business regulation. The five-member Texas House General Investigating Committee voted unanimously on Thursday to recommend that Paxton be impeached and removed from office. They are showcasing their absolute contempt for the electoral process. Every politician who supports this deceitful impeachment attempt will inflict lasting damage on the credibility of the Texas House, said Paxton, who easily won reelection last year after fending off a Republican primary challenge from George P. Bush, a scion of two former presidents. The committee has heard testimony from its investigators about several years of alleged abuse of office by Paxton, including that he provided friend and donor Nate Paul, a Texas real estate developer, with FBI files related to the bureaus investigation into Paul. The impeachment articles also allege Paxton engaged in bribery when Paul hired a woman with whom Paxton was having an extramarital affair. As of yesterday, Paxton has officially been impeached by the House, and we have yet to see what happens next. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) impeached by Texas House of Representatives 121-23 pic.twitter.com/wlNtCgGlB2 Acyn (@Acyn) May 27, 2023 RINOs are doing the heavy lifting for the left. Both are determined to undermine the MAGA movement and target anyone who stands by the principles of putting America First. The Texas House has scheduled the vote for Saturday to decide the fate of Ken Paxton and MAGA is fired up and ready to defend him at all costs. Don Jr. put out this tweet, basically declaring war between the GOP establishment and MAGA: What the RINOs in the Texas State House are trying to do to America First patriot Ken Paxton is a disgrace. MAGA stands with @KenPaxtonTX against this RINO/Dem led witch hunt!!! https://t.co/YRhoUdqCjw Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 26, 2023 Former Dem turned America First warrior Vernon Jones echoed Don Jr.s statement in his own powerful tweet: If Republicans in Texas go against Ken Paxton, the America First movement will go against them. We will go to war with the RINO establishment and primary them out to pasture. If you RINOS cast a yea vote to impeach @KenPaxtonTX, you better get ready to #HitTheRoadJack! pic.twitter.com/8xj2PniQTm Vernon Jones (@VernonForGA) May 27, 2023 Conservative influence Kam is calling out RINO and liberal in GOP clothing Dade Phelan whos leading the charge against Paxton. Everyone watch this. RINO @DadePhelans impeachment against Ken Paxton is illegal. We have supported @KenPaxtonTX through 2 re-elections. Dade is attempting to overturn an election. He belongs in California. Vote him out in March. pic.twitter.com/qPM9juRWeR Kambree (@KamVTV) May 27, 2023 But it was President Trump who delivered the most brutal blow to Dade with two blistering posts on Truth Social. Dade is the allegedly drunken fool leading the charge against Paxton. This is how he showed up on the floor of the Texas House three sheets to the wind. The @RSLC pissed away $290K of their donors money to help get @DadePhelan elected. This drunk fool is now leading the charge to impeach @KenPaxtonTX. Dont give RSLC another penny until they drop this guy. pic.twitter.com/NomTTONsvK Arthur Schwartz (@ArthurSchwartz) May 27, 2023 Ted Cruz is with Paxton. 1/x What is happening to @KenPaxtonTX is a travesty. For the last nine years, Ken has been the strongest conservative AG in the country. Bar none. No attorney general has battled the abuses of the Biden admin more ferociouslyand more effectivelythan has Paxton. Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 27, 2023 Paxton is fighting this mess. I am beyond grateful to have the support of millions of Texans who recognize that what we just witnessed is illegal, unethical, and profoundly unjust. I look forward to a quick resolution in the Texas Senate, where I have full confidence the process will be fair and just. pic.twitter.com/fEiAroA2DW Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) May 27, 2023 Read more at: Revolver.news (Natural News) Newly released data show that not a single healthy young person under the age of 50 has died from the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) in Israel, ever. The Israel Ministry of Health (MOH) admitted in response to a formal request from an attorney that there have been zero deceased of 18-49 years of age with no underlying morbidities, meaning anyone under age 50 who was not already seriously ill with a pre-existing health condition has ever died from the disease. Such an admission affirms what many skeptics have been saying all along about the fact that COVID was never a threat to healthy people. The disease was blown entirely out of proportion, in other words if not completely fabricated as a cover story for just another flu season combined with new health-destroying government tyranny such as mask mandates and forced lockdowns. Zero is a very, very clear number, and cannot be subject to interpretation, said Yoav Yehezkelli, a specialist in internal medicine and medical management who formerly held lectures in the Department of Emergency and Disaster Management at Tel Aviv University. Why were all the extreme measures of school closures, vaccination of children, and lockdowns needed? (Related: In 2021 at the height of covid, the Israeli government was caught faking efficacy data on the Pfizer jab, which was known at the time to be dangerous.) Elderly people already close to end of life were the only people who died from COVID The retrieval of these admissions is credited to attorney Ori Xabi, who filed a freedom of information request as part of an investigation into the Israeli Ministry of Healths (MOH) COVID pandemic policies, which were among the harshest in the world. Xabi requested information about the average age of people who supposedly died from COVID, as well as their vaccination status at the time of death. He also specifically asked the MOH to reveal how many COVID patients with no underlying health conditions died from the disease. Xabi learned that the average age of COVID-jabbed people who died in Israel was 80.2 years old, and 77.4 years old for the unvaccinated. In other words, very old people with already failing bodies due to age were the only people who died from COVID in Israel. The MOH was quick to emphasize concerning the matter that its data is only partial, relying on information voluntarily reported by patients or their relatives. It also only captures cases that the MOH investigated epidemiologically. [T]he available information does not necessarily reflect the health status of the patient, the MOH wrote in its response, explaining that it does not have access to patients medical records. This is a strange response considering the MOH back in 2020 told the Israeli Knesset, Israels parliament, that it uses an intelligence system that contains the most extensive information possible about deceased COVID patients, including any underlying diseases they had. A PDF document dated June 7, 2020, states that the MOH provided data to the Special Committee for the New COVID Virus showing that 298 people had supposedly died that day as of 4:30 pm, and that almost all of these cases were elderly people with preexisting health conditions. The ministrys intelligence system has data on gender, age, district of residence, and the underlying diseases of the deceased, according to the document, The Epoch Times reporting, citing the document and other information it obtained directly from Xabi. The system showed that about 94 percent of the deceased were 60 years or older and that there were no deceased with zero underlying diseases. The latest news about the covid scam and its ongoing unraveling can be found at Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com NaturalNews.com Knesset.gov.il (Natural News) Employees of e-commerce giant Amazon based in Seattle are planning to protest job cuts and return to office (RTO) orders through a walkout. ABC News reported that the protest is planned for May 31, two days after Memorial Day and a week after the tech giants annual meeting. Plans for the lunchtime walkout were drafted after an RTO mandate requiring employees to show up three days per week. However, the outlet added that the protest is contingent on at least 1,000 Amazon employees from the companys Seattle headquarters agreeing to participate. According to the report, more than 20,000 workers have signed a petition urging the Jeff Bezos-founded Big Tech firm to reconsider the RTO policy. Moreover, some employees have complained of Amazons slowness in addressing its impact on climate change which the May 31 protest will also tackle. The company said in a statement that it respects its employees rights to express their opinions. Amazon Senior Vice President for Communications Drew Herdener, meanwhile, said there has been good energy at the companys Seattle headquarters and its other urban centers since more employees returned to the office. ZeroHedges Tyler Durden remarked that the news of the protest has Bezos very bothered. He sarcastically pointed out: Because thats a great way to not land yourself on the layoff list complain about working, and then walk out of your job. Well eagerly await to see whether or not enough brain-dead Amazon employees decide to help meet quorum, putting their job on the line for what were sure will ultimately turn out to be a meaningless protest. Amazon in the midst of layoffs and the protesters are next Durden noted that Amazon is in the midst of a string of layoffs just like many other U.S. companies. ABC News backed up his remarks, pointing out that these job cuts have occurred broadly, in numerous divisions. The layoffs have encompassed the companys advertising, human resources, gaming, retail, consumer devices and Amazon Web Services departments. The Seattle-based tech firm has cut 27,000 jobs since November. Aside from this, it has also ended entire projects including the healthcare endeavor Amazon Care and the Amazon Smile philanthropic program. Amazon gave 20,000 employees a nasty Christmas present in the form of layoffs back in December of last year, the Western Journal reported at that time. The outlet cited ComputerWorld, which in turn received the news from an anonymous source with knowledge of the mass layoffs. News of the December 2022 layoffs lined up with a November 2022 report by the New York Times hinting at massive personnel changes at Amazon. There is a sense of fear among employees in the company as the news has come out, said another source directly told about the job cuts the largest in the companys history. There is no specific department or location mentioned for the cuts; [they are] across the business. (Related: Amazon to fire 20,000 employees the largest staff reduction in companys history.) According to this same source, they were informed that the layoffs were a result of over-hiring during the pandemic and the need for cost-cutting as the companys financials have been on a declining trend. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy confirmed the job cuts in a statement to employees. Our annual planning process extends into the new year, which means there will be more role reductions as leaders continue to make adjustments, he wrote. Those decisions will be shared with impacted employees and organizations early in 2023. Visit JeffBezosWatch.com for more stories about Amazon. Watch this clip from the Rudyk Report about Amazons layoffs below. This video is from the Rudyk Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Amazon shuts off ALL fulfillment center solar panels after spate of fires, electrical explosions. Amazon to fire 10,000 employees in biggest layoff in companys history. Amazon, DHL reduce cargo flights as consumer demand weakens. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com ABCNews.go.com WesternJournal.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) In the name of keeping children safe from mass shootings and other such threats, the Dallas Independent School District (ISD) has launched a new pilot program with a company called Davista that uses artificial intelligence (AI) robots to monitor each and every student at all times, and report back to the mother ship whenever a student deviates from his baseline behavior. A chilling, real-life manifestation of the type of futuristic, dystopian technologies portrayed in movies from the past, Dallas ISDs AI scheme will remove all personal privacy from every students life. Using a complex and advanced algorithm, each childs behavior will be monitored and recorded continuously for use in predicting what that child might do at some point in the future. Much like what was depicted in the 2002 sci-fi action film Minority Report, Dallas ISD aims to identify pre-crime activity with students in order to punish the ones who display behaviors that administrators, or in this case the AI robots they tasked with spying on students, find suspicious. The alarm that the surveillance system will sound is triggered not by a concerned parent or teacher or administrator, but by a computer that targets, tracks, and predicts the future behavior of children under its never-blinking electronic eye, explains Joe Wolverton, II, JD, writing for The New American. (Related: Will Dallas ISDs AI surveillance robots force students to become white-hating, left-wing automatons?) If students photos and personal data gets leaked to the dark web, Dallas ISD will be complicit in criminal offenses against minors The fact that Dallas ISD is openly bragging about this new AI spying system is nothing short of chilling. Administrators in the district clearly think they are above the law and seem to be overlooking the fact that if anything goes wrong with the system, their own heads will be on the chopping block. Imagine for a moment that a hacker invades the system and pulls all the data on students, many of whom are underage, in order to leak it to the dark web. Dallas ISD will quickly find itself criminally culpable for this offense, which is more than likely to occur at some point. Would the apologies of the administration of the school district be sufficient to satisfy the concerns or squelch the rage of parents whose children now have their images available to anyone with access to the internet? Wolverton asks, noting that a virus or Trojan horse could render such a scenario entirely possible. In a cost-benefit analysis of this project, have the costs been reasonably calculated, and have they been made with an eye to protecting the innocence of the children being recorded? One wonders if Dallas ISD has even informed students parents about the technology and what it entails. Have they been briefed on the precise calculations the system utilizes to detect what administrators consider to be deviations from a childs baseline behavior? And what does baseline behavior, even mean, in such a context? Have they been briefed on whether parents will be afforded access to the images recorded by the system? Wolverton further asks. Have they been briefed on exactly who will have access to that data? Have the names of the programmers and developers been made known to parents so that they can determine the character of those who will be collecting and controlling images of their children? Parents with students enrolled at Dallas ISD schools need to be made aware of the new technology, as well as informed about their rights and how they can go about holding the administrators behind it responsible for invading their childrens privacy. The AI takeover of the world seems to be accelerating. To keep up with the latest, visit FutureTech.news. Sources include: RonPaulInstitute.org TheNewAmerican.com NaturalNews.com [M]edia polling from Harvard-Harris showing that Americans hold almost diametrically opposing viewpoints from those that news corporations predominantly broadcast as the official truth. (Natural News) (Article by J.B. Shurk republished from GatestoneInstitute.org) Americans have correctly concluded that [with the Russia Hoax and suppressing reported influence peddling in Hunter Bidens laptop ] journalists and spies advanced a fraud on voters as part of an effort to censor a damaging story and help Biden win. Nevertheless, The New York Times and The Washington Post have yet to return the Pulitzer Prizes they received for reporting totally discredited fake news. and have yet to return the Pulitzer Prizes they received for reporting totally discredited fake news. Under the current approach to journalism, it is the New York Times that receives a Pulitzer for a now debunked Russian collusion story rather than the New York Post for a now proven Hunter Biden laptop story. Professor Jonathan Turley, George Washington University Law School, Twitter, May 15, 2023. that receives a Pulitzer for a now debunked Russian collusion story rather than the for a now proven Hunter Biden laptop story. Professor Jonathan Turley, George Washington University Law School, Twitter, May 15, 2023. The government apparently took the publics censorship concerns so seriously that it quietly moved on from the collapse of its plans for a disinformation governance board within the DHS and proceeded within the space of a month to create a new disinformation office known as the Foreign Malign Influence Center, which now operates from within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Although ostensibly geared toward countering information warfare arising from foreign threats, one of its principal objectives is to monitor and control public opinion and behaviors. As independent journalist Matt Taibbi concludes of the governments resurrected Ministry of Truth: Its the basic rhetorical trick of the censorship age: raise a fuss about a foreign threat, using it as a battering ram to get everyone from Congress to the tech companies to submit to increased regulation and surveillance. Then, slowly, adjust your aim to domestic targets. Democrat Senator Michael Bennet has already proposed a bill that would create a Federal Digital Platform Commission with the authority to promulgate rules, impose civil penalties, hold hearings, conduct investigations, and support research. Effectively, a small number of unelected commissioners would have de facto power to monitor and police online communication. Should any particular website or platform run afoul of the governments First Amendment Star Chamber, it would immediately place itself within the commissions crosshairs for greater oversight, regulation, and punishment. power to monitor and police online communication. Should any particular website or platform run afoul of the governments First Amendment Star Chamber, it would immediately place itself within the commissions crosshairs for greater oversight, regulation, and punishment. Will this new creation become an American KGB, Stasi or CCP empowered to target half the population for disagreeing with current government policies, promoting wrongthink, or merely going to church? Will a small secretive body decide which Americans are actually domestic terrorists in the making? US Attorney General Merrick Garland has gone after traditional Catholics who attend Latin mass, but why would government suspicions end with the Latin language? When small commissions exist to decide which Americans are the enemy, there is no telling who will be designated as a threat and punished next. It is not difficult to see the dangers that lie ahead. Now that the government has fully inserted itself into the news and information industry, the criminalization of free speech is a very real threat. This has always been a chief complaint against international institutions such as the World Economic Forum that spend a great deal of time, power, and money promoting the thoughts and opinions of an insular cabal of global leaders, while showing negligible respect for the personal rights and liberties of the billions of ordinary citizens they claim to represent. If Schwabs online army were not execrable enough, advocates for free speech must also gird themselves for the repercussions of Elon Musks appointment of Linda Yaccarino, reportedly a neo-liberal wokeist with strong WEF affiliations, as the new CEO of Twitter. In an America now plagued with the stench of official snitch lines, censorship of certain presidential candidates, widespread online surveillance, a resurrected disinformation governance board, and increasingly frequent criminal prosecutions targeting Americans who exercise their free speech, the question is not whether what we inaudibly think or say in our sleep will someday be used against us, but rather how soon that day will come unless we stop it. Now that the government has fully inserted itself into the news and information industry, the criminalization of free speech is a very real threat. (Image source: iStock) If legacy news corporations fail to report that large majorities of the American public now view their journalistic product as straight-up propaganda, does that make it any less true? According to a survey by Rasmussen Reports, 59% of likely voters in the United States view the corporate news media as truly the enemy of the people. This is a majority view, held regardless of race: 58% of whites, 51% of black voters, and 68% of other minorities all agree that the mainstream media has become their enemy. This scorching indictment of the Fourth Estate piggybacks similar polling from Harvard-Harris showing that Americans hold almost diametrically opposing viewpoints from those that news corporations predominantly broadcast as the official truth. Drawing attention to the divergence between the publics perceived reality and the news medias prevailing narratives, independent journalist Glenn Greenwald dissected the Harvard-Harris poll to highlight just how differently some of the most important issues of the last few years have been understood. While corporate news fixated on purported Trump-Russia collusion since 2016, majorities of Americans now see this story as a hoax and a fraud. While the news media hid behind the Intelligence Communitys claims that Hunter Bidens potentially incriminating laptop (allegedly containing evidence of his familys influence-peddling) was a product of Russian disinformation and consequently enforced an information blackout on the explosive story during the final weeks of the 2020 presidential election, strong majorities of Americans currently believe the laptops contents are real. In other words, Americans have correctly concluded that journalists and spies advanced a fraud on voters as part of an effort to censor a damaging story and help Biden win. Nevertheless, The New York Times and The Washington Post have yet to return the Pulitzer Prizes they received for reporting totally discredited fake news. Similarly, majorities of Americans suspect that President Joe Biden has used the powers of his various offices to profit from influence-peddling schemes and that the FBI has intentionally refrained from investigating any possible Biden crimes. Huge majorities of Americans, in fact, seem not at all surprised to learn that the FBI has been caught abusing its own powers to influence elections, and are strongly convinced that sweeping reform is needed. Likewise, large majorities of Americans have serious doubts about Bidens mental fitness to be president and suspect that others behind the scenes are puppeteers running the nation. Few, if any, of these poll results have been widely reported. In a seemingly-authoritarian disconnect with the American people, corporate news media continue to ignore the publics majority opinion and instead relentlessly advocate those viewpoints that Americans reject. When journalists fail to investigate facts and deliberately distort stories so that they fit snugly within preconceived worldviews, reporters act as propagandists. Constitutional law scholar Jonathan Turley recently asked, Do we have a de facto state media? In answering his own question, he notes that the news blackout surrounding congressional investigations into Biden family members who have allegedly received more than ten million dollars in suspicious payments from foreign entities fits the past standards used to denounce Russian propaganda patterns and practices. After Republican members of Congress traced funds to nine Biden family members from corrupt figures in Romania, China, and other countries, Turley writes, The New Republic quickly ran a story headlined Republicans Finally Admit They Have No Incriminating Evidence on Joe Biden.' Excoriating the news medias penchant for mindlessly embracing stories that hurt former President Donald Trump while simultaneously ignoring stories that might damage President Biden, Turley concludes: Under the current approach to journalism, it is the New York Times that receives a Pulitzer for a now debunked Russian collusion story rather than the New York Post for a now proven Hunter Biden laptop story. Americans now evidently view the major sources for their news and information as part of a larger political machine pushing particular points of view, unconstrained by any ethical obligation to report facts objectively or dispassionately seek truth. That Americans now see the news media in their country as serving a similar role as Pravda did for the Soviet Unions Communist Party is a significant departure from the countrys historic embrace of free speech and traditional fondness for a skeptical, adversarial press. Rather than taking a step back to consider the implications such a shift in public perception will have for Americas future stability, some officials appear even more committed to expanding government control over what can be said and debated online. After the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in the wake of public backlash over First Amendment concerns, halted its efforts to construct an official disinformation governance board last year, the question remained whether other government attempts to silence or shape online information would rear their head. The wait for that answer did not take long. The government apparently took the publics censorship concerns so seriously that it quietly moved on from the collapse of its plans for a disinformation governance board within the DHS and proceeded within the space of a month to create a new disinformation office known as the Foreign Malign Influence Center, which now operates from within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Although ostensibly geared toward countering information warfare arising from foreign threats, one of its principal objectives is to monitor and control public opinion and behaviors. As independent journalist Matt Taibbi concludes of the governments resurrected Ministry of Truth: Its the basic rhetorical trick of the censorship age: raise a fuss about a foreign threat, using it as a battering ram to get everyone from Congress to the tech companies to submit to increased regulation and surveillance. Then, slowly, adjust your aim to domestic targets. If it were not jarring enough to learn that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has picked up the governments speech police baton right where the DHS set it down, there is ample evidence to suggest that officials are eager to go much further in the near future. Democrat Senator Michael Bennet has already proposed a bill that would create a Federal Digital Platform Commission with the authority to promulgate rules, impose civil penalties, hold hearings, conduct investigations, and support research. Filled with disinformation specialists empowered to create enforceable behavioral codes for online communication and generously paid for by the Biden Administration with taxpayers money the special commission would also designate systemically important digital platforms subject to extra oversight, reporting, and regulation requirements. Effectively, a small number of unelected commissioners would have de facto power to monitor and police online communication. Should any particular website or platform run afoul of the governments First Amendment Star Chamber, it would immediately place itself within the commissions crosshairs for greater oversight, regulation, and punishment. Will this new creation become an American KGB, Stasi or CCP empowered to target half the population for disagreeing with current government policies, promoting wrongthink, or merely going to church? Will a small secretive body decide which Americans are actually domestic terrorists in the making? US Attorney General Merrick Garland has gone after traditional Catholics who attend Latin mass, but why would government suspicions end with the Latin language? When small commissions exist to decide which Americans are the enemy, there is no telling who will be designated as a threat and punished next. It is not difficult to see the dangers that lie ahead. Now that the government has fully inserted itself into the news and information industry, the criminalization of free speech is a very real threat. This has always been a chief complaint against international institutions such as the World Economic Forum that spend a great deal of time, power, and money promoting the thoughts and opinions of an insular cabal of global leaders, while showing negligible respect for the personal rights and liberties of the billions of ordinary citizens they claim to represent. WEF Chairman Klaus Schwab has gone so far as to hire hundreds of thousands of information warriors whose mission is to control the Internet by policing social media, eliminating dissent, disrupting the public square, and covertly seed[ing] support for the WEFs Great Reset. If Schwabs online army were not execrable enough, advocates for free speech must also gird themselves for the repercussions of Elon Musks appointment of Linda Yaccarino, reportedly a neo-liberal wokeist with strong WEF affiliations, as the new CEO of Twitter. Throughout much of the West, unfortunately, free speech has been only weakly protected when those with power find its defense inconvenient or messages a nuisance. It is therefore of little surprise to learn that French authorities are now prosecuting government protesters for flipping-off President Emmanuel Macron. It does not seem particularly astonishing that a German man has been sentenced to three years in prison for engaging in pro-Russian political speech regarding the war in Ukraine. It also no longer appears shocking to read that UK Technology and Science Secretary Michelle Donelan reportedly seeks to imprison social media executives who fail to censor online speech that the government might subjectively adjudge harmful. Sadly, as Ireland continues to find new ways to punish citizens for expressing certain points of view, its movement toward criminalizing not just speech but also hateful thoughts should have been predictable. From an Americans perspective, these overseas encroachments against free speech especially within the borders of closely-allied lands have seemed sinister yet entirely foreign. Now, however, what was once observed from some distance has made its way home; it feels as if a faraway communist enemy has finally stormed Americas beaches and come ashore in force. Not a day seems to go by without some new battlefront opening up in the war on free speech and free thought. The Richard Stengel of the Council on Foreign Relations has been increasingly vocal about the importance of journalists and think tanks to act as primary provocateurs and propagandists who have to manipulate the American population and shape the publics perception of world events. Senator Rand Paul has alleged that the DHS uses at least 12 separate programs to track what Americans say online, as well as to engage in social media censorship. As part of its efforts to silence dissenting arguments, the Biden administration is pursuing a policy that would make it unlawful to use data and datasets that reflect accurate information yet lead to discriminatory outcomes for protected classes. In other words, if the data is perceived to be racist, it must be expunged. At the same time, the Department of Justice has indicted four radical black leftists for having somehow weaponized their free speech rights in support of Russian disinformation. So, objective datasets can be deemed discriminatory against minorities, while actual discrimination against minorities free speech is excused when that speech contradicts official government policy. Meanwhile, the DHS has been exposed for paying tens of millions of dollars to third-party anti-terrorism programs that have not so coincidentally equated Christians, Republicans, and philosophical conservatives to Germanys Nazi Party. Similarly, California Governor Gavin Newsom has set up a Soviet-style snitch line that encourages neighbors to report on each others public or private displays of hate. Finally, ABC News proudly admits that it has censored parts of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s interviews because some of his answers include false claims about the COVID-19 vaccines. Essentially, the corporate news media have deemed Kennedys viewpoints unworthy of being transmitted and heard, even though the 2024 presidential candidate is running a strong second behind Joe Biden in the Democrat primary, with around 20% support from the electorate. Taken all together, it is clear that not only has the war on free speech come to America, but also that it is clobbering Americans in a relentless campaign of shock and awe. And why not? In a litigation battle presently being waged over the federal governments extensive censorship programs, the Biden administration has defended its inherent authority to control Americans thoughts as an instrumental component of government infrastructure. What Americans think and believe is openly referred to as part of the nations cognitive infrastructure as if the Matrix movies were simply reflecting real life. Today, Americas mainstream news corporations are already viewed as processing plants that manufacture political propaganda. That is an unbelievably searing indictment of a once-vibrant free press in the United States. It is also, unfortunately, only the first heavy shoe to drop in the war against free speech. Many Chinese-Americans who survived the Cultural Revolution look around the country today and see similarities everywhere. During that totalitarian reign of terror, everything a person did was monitored, including what was said while asleep. In an America now plagued with the stench of official snitch lines, censorship of certain presidential candidates, widespread online surveillance, a resurrected disinformation governance board, and increasingly frequent criminal prosecutions targeting Americans who exercise their free speech, the question is not whether what we inaudibly think or say in our sleep will someday be used against us, but rather how soon that day will come unless we stop it. After all, with smartphones, smart TVs, smart appliances, video-recording doorbells, and the rise of artificial intelligence, somebody, somewhere is always listening. Read more at: GatestoneInstitute.org (Natural News) Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has warned that his country would preemptively fire nuclear missiles at Ukraine if the West ever tried to arm it with nukes. Medvedev, who currently serves as the deputy head of the Russian Security Council, gave this warning to the United States and its allies in the Western world while speaking at a press conference in Vientiane, Laos. There are some irreversible rules of war. If it comes to [the deliveries of] nuclear weapons [to Ukraine], a pre-emptive strike will have to be carried out, warned Medvedev, who rebuked the West for failing to grasp that this is a real possibility that Moscow would be willing to follow through on. (Related: Ex-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warns that the world is on the verge of a NUCLEAR WORLD WAR III.) It will happen, under certain circumstances, he said. Medvedev further warned that the conflict in Ukraine, which has now been going on for 15 months, will escalate even further as soon as Kyiv receives Western-made fighter jets, such as the American F-16. Unless the West stops, these arms shipments will only progress further and further until maybe even nuclear weapons are brought over to Ukraine. It will mean that a missile with a nuclear warhead will come flying to them, said Medvedev. Medvedev warned conflict will last for decades if US continues to intervene Medvedev was in the middle of discussing the massive amounts of weapons, ammunition and other military equipment Ukraine has been receiving from its Western allies since the beginning of Russias special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. This treasure trove of military equipment includes Soviet-made MiG29 fighter jets, anti-aircraft systems, tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, rocket launcher systems, artillery pieces and millions of rounds of artillery. The U.S., Medvedev noted, operates largely within the field of its pragmatic interests. They do not wage a war, they are making money instead, he added, accusing the U.S. of intentionally prolonging the conflict for profit while at the same time trying to eliminate their centuries-long enemy. As far as Europe is concerned, it is a strange story for me, said Medvedev. They keep heating up tensions with their decisions. Europe has gone mad. Medvedev also suggested that continued Western intervention will only prolong the conflict, possibly for decades. This conflict will last for a very long time. For decades, probably, he said. This is a new reality. 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 is referring to the fact that Moscows current position on diplomacy with Ukraine is that it could not trust any truce with the current government in Kyiv, headed by President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Kremlin believes that Ukraine will violate any kind of ceasefire or peace it brokers with Zelensky, and so the very nature of the current government of Ukraine would have to be overthrown first. [Negotiations] with the clown Zelensky [are impossible], said Medvedev, who insisted that, no matter how long it takes, Ukraine would eventually 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. Learn more about the possibility of nuclear war caused by the conflict in Ukraine at NuclearWar.news. Watch this episode of the Health Ranger Report as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses, among other topics, how Russia and the U.S. are playing a dangerous game of nuclear escalation. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Medvedev calls for physical elimination of Zelensky following failed assassination attempt on Putin. Russian authorities threaten NUCLEAR REVENGE after drones explode over Putins residence. Former Russian President Medvedev once again threatens to nuke Britain in unhinged rant. Russia ready to defend itself with any weapon, including nuclear Medvedev. Former Russian President Medvedev threatens nuclear holocaust over Ukraine, says WWIII wont be fought with tanks, aircraft. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk Reuters.com TASS.com Newsweek.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) All eyes are on Ukraine right now, which the Russian government says is littered with biological weapons laboratories run by the Pentagon and other United States-based deep state operations. But did you know that U.S.-run biolabs are also a problem elsewhere throughout the world? New reports explain that a number of countries in the Asia-Pacific region of the world are frustrated that the U.S. is conducting biological weapons experiments on their land and the same thing is reportedly occurring in Africa as well. Last December, several members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines asked their countrys congress to investigate biological weapons activity by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) at the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL) in the city of Tarlac. According to the request, the US DoD Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) had apparent and disguised objectives in the Philippines, which could have failed to meet the national interests of Manila, reported Financial Express. The members of the Parliament of the Philippines demanded that the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, and Department of National Defense (DND) thoroughly investigate the activities of the U.S. military in the country. There is also a call in the Philippines to have these government bodies issue a full report about what they find, as many local citizens are wondering why the DTRA, rather than the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is running the civil and agricultural cooperation agreement with the Asia-Pacific country. (Related: The Pentagons plan was to use its biolabs in Ukraine to attack Russia.) The U.S. government is like a genocidal maniac with a bottomless bank account (thanks to the Feds money-printing and usury scam) A similar situation occurred in Indonesia not too long ago when the government there declared the U.S. military-led Naval Medical Research Unit Two (NAMRU-2) to be inexpedient and useless. In short, the Indonesian government demanded that the U.S. operations cease immediately, resulting in the DoD having to move all its unfinished business in Indonesia to nearby Cambodia. Then there are the heinous U.S. bioweapons experiments taking place throughout Africa, which the Ministry of Health of a certain Central African state says is likely responsible for the human-caused outbreak of an Ebola-based virus last September. The artificially generated germ, which was reportedly created in Sudan, is said to be fully identical to a virus that was circulating throughout Africa during the epidemic crisis of 2012. That epidemic, as you may recall, was met with relief by the U.S.-based Metabiota company, which has gotten a lot of independent media press in recent years for its involvement in the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. According to a report published by the non-profit Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Consortium (VHFC), the employees of the Metabiota company did not keep biological safety requirements during the activities to counter the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone in 2015; they also did not report on the involvement of several US DoD experts in the counter-virus procedures, reported Financial Express, further reporting that Metabiotas biological safety procedures had received heavy criticism from the World Health Organization (WHO). The specialists of the Pentagon were reported to have been dispatching the biological samples of the Ebola virus to the United States. Many post-Soviet states, including not just Ukraine but also Georgia, are also the grounds for U.S.-based biological weapons activities. One facility in particular, located in the so-called Lugar Center of Tbilisi, deals with deadly pathogens such as anthrax, tularemia, and a variety of highly contagious hemorrhagic fevers such as the Crimea-Congo disease. More of the latest news about the U.S. governments assault on humanity can be found at BigGovernment.news. Sources include: FinancialExpress.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Documents obtained by The Federalist show that students at The University of Texas at Austins Global Disinformation Lab are behind the Global Disinformation Indexs (GDI) report blacklisting independent media outlets such as The Federalist, the New York Post, the Daily Caller, and the Washington Examiner. Internal communications show that the academics who run UT Austins Global Disinformation Lab are, as you might expect, rabidly anti-conservative. The more than 1,000 pages of evidence that The Federalist obtained demonstrate a pro-leftist agenda at the lab, which declared the following 10 media outlets, all of which lean conservative, as the riskiest in terms of spreading misinformation and disinformation: 1. American Spectator 2. Newsmax 3. The Federalist 4. American Conservative 5. One America News 6. The Blaze 7. Daily Wire 8. RealClearPolitics 9. Reason 10. New York Post Conversely, the top 10 least risky media outlets include the usual left-wing suspects, which are not even worth mentioning as you can probably guess what many of them are anyway (hint: they include the loudest and most well-known corporate media names). (Related: American taxpayers are inadvertently funding all this censorship without even knowing it.) If you pay taxes, youre funding censorship The stated purpose of the GDI is to remove the financial incentive to create disinformation, with the core output being the dynamic exclusion lists mentioned previously. In other words, the minds behind GDI hope to financially cut off the independent media at the knees while propping up the legacy media. GDI makes money by selling its list subscriptions to various marketing organizations, which use the information to pull advertising dollars from the risky media outlets, effectively starving them of the funding they need to continue their operations. One such marketing organization that has done just that is Xandr, a Microsoft-owned company that used GDIs exclusion list to limit advertising dollars to conservative-leaning media outlets. Since being exposed, however, Xandr has reportedly stopped using the blacklist for such purposes. We also now know that GDI gets funding from the National Endowment for Democracy, which between 2020 and 2021 funneled more than half a million dollars into the scheme. Also in 2021, the State Departments Global Engagement Center awarded GDI $100,000 collected from American taxpayers. Up until now, it was not known that UT Austin students are largely behind this so-called Censorship Industrial Complex. We knew that the federal government under fake president Joe Biden was involved, along with basically the whole of Silicon Valley, but the UT link flew under the radar. The Federalist connected a few dots, filed a public records request, and voila: It became known as of February that UT Austin students have been leading the charge to blacklist the independent media from behind the curtain. Citing confidentiality of trade secrets and certain commercial or financial information, UT Austin is refusing to disclose the actual methodology and research it is using to compile these blacklists. Even so, it is undeniably clear that a left-wing bias is driving the agenda. The internal documents from the University of Texas GDIL show that the Global Disinformation Index, in essence, paid the state university to manage student workers who would then apply the GDI methodology to rate the various media outlets and write the final report, writes The Federalists Margot Cleveland. The students received minimum training for the project. When GDIL struggled to meet the deadlines, the lab manager, Sally Dickson, stepped in to help with the ratings, with everyone rushing the reviews of the various media outlets. At the conclusion of the project, UT Austin retained the surplus funds GDI was paid for the work. The latest news about the Censorship Industrial Complex can be found at Censorship.news. Sources include: TheFederalist.com NaturalNews.com 200 hectares of forest and trails protected on the southern flank of the Sutton Mountains Sutton, Quebec The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and Au Diable Vert are expanding one of Quebecs largest protected areas on private land by nearly 200 hectares, with the addition of three newly acquired properties. These properties will consolidate a vast ecological corridor that stretches across the border to the heart of Vermont. These acquisitions are of prime environmental importance, given their size and location, and the biodiversity they foster. The properties are located in a key ecological corridor. Wide-ranging animals, such as black bear, bobcat and moose, depend on these vast protected areas for food and reproduction, and to move around. Climate change is forcing many species to slowly migrate north, which is made difficult for land animals and plants when forests are not connected. The vast ecological corridor in question extends from Mount Mansfield in the south, in the state of Vermont, to Mount Orford in the north, in Quebec. The corridor is not only vital to nature; it is also important to local communities by purifying water and attracting large numbers of tourists keen to connect with nature. The regions natural attractions and stunning landscapes draw visitors from near and far, boosting the local economy. It is essential for NCC and its partners to conserve nature while making it accessible. Au Diable Vert and Les Sentiers de lEstrie invite hikers of all levels to explore the forest in this magnificent part of the province. To facilitate this, Les Sentiers de lEstrie is upgrading certain trails that weave through the new properties, while Au Diable Vert will create new trails for hiking enthusiasts to enjoy. For trail maps and activities, visit their websites: This project showcases how NCC is accelerating the pace of conservation in Canada. In the past two years alone, NCC has influenced the protection of more than one million hectares (almost twice the size of Prince Edward Island), coast to coast to coast. Over the next few years, the organization will double its impact by mobilizing Canadians and delivering permanent, large-scale conservation. In the face of rapid biodiversity loss and climate change, nature is our ally. There is no solution to either without nature conservation. When nature thrives, we all thrive. Acknowledgements This conservation success was made possible thanks to several financial partners: The Government of Quebec, through a grant of more than $53 million over four years allocated to NCC for its Partenariat pour les milieux naturels project. The Government of Canada, through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program, part of Canadas Nature Fund. Private donors, including the Anderson family, Ewa Dorynek Scheer and Bill Triolet, who have chosen to protect their land by partnering with NCC, as well as the Sweet Water Trust. A portion of this project was donated to NCC under the Government of Canadas Ecological Gifts Program. This program provides enhanced tax incentives for individuals or corporations who donate ecologically significant land. Appalachian Corridor also provided valuable support, assisting with the environmental assessment of the properties. Quotes Conservation is a team effort: it takes partnerships with local groups, municipalities, governments, property owners and companies to succeed. NCC is delighted to team up with Au Diable Vert and Les Sentiers de lEstrie for this project. Both organizations share our desire to showcase our beautiful natural environment while protecting the regions ecosystems. Cynthia Patry, Project Manager, Nature Conservancy of Canada Au Diable Vert has been happy to work with NCC over the past several years. Our projects have allowed us to collaborate with the overlapping goals of conservation, as well as interpretation and access. By working together, we were able to acquire and protect large sections of wilderness that would have been much more challenging without this collaboration. Jeremy Fontana, Co-owner, Au Diable Vert From its founding, Les Sentiers de lEstrie has been dedicated to preserving our trails. This long-term collaboration will make it possible to restore the connectivity of a large part of our network. Such conservation efforts help us to protect and enhance our environment and carry out our mission. Julie Denis, new Executive Director, Les Sentiers de lEstrie Ecological corridors are essential to conserving our biodiversity. I am proud that our government can contribute to this important acquisition. We must continue to protect our territory for the benefit of our wildlife and citizens. I would like to salute all those involved in this project of great value for the environment and for biodiversity conservation. Benoit Charette, Minister of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks and Minister Responsible for the Laurentides Region The acquisition of this land is very positive for the citizens of Sutton and the surrounding area. Several hectares were already protected in this area, with many trails developed. New trails will be added on the newly acquired land and many others will be upgraded. Moreover, knowing all the well-being that we get from practising physical activities in nature, this is excellent news! Isabelle Charest, Minister Responsible for Sports, Recreation and the Outdoors and Member for Brome-Missisquoi Only by engaging in a whole-of-society approach, can we hope to tackle the crisis of climate change and biodiversity loss. By working with partners such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Sentiers de lEstrie, Au Diable Vert and the generous landowner, Mr. William O. Triolet, we are helping to protect the natural environment and connect Canadians with nature in Quebec and across the country. Through programs like the Natural Heritage Conservation Program and the Ecological Gifts Program, the Government of Canada is making progress toward its goal of conserving a quarter of lands and waters in Canada by 2025, working towards 30 percent of each by 2030. The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Congratulations to Au Diable Vert, Les Sentiers de lEstrie, and Nature Conservancy Canada on their continued conservation efforts in Sutton, QC. Thank you, Mr. William O. Triolet, for your generous land donation that will help preserve our natural heritage for generations to come in the Appalachian corridor. Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Member of Parliament for Brome Missisquoi, Quebec Facts The eastern wood pewee, a small bird designated a species of special concern in Canada according to the Species at Risk Act (SARA), and the spring salamander, assessed as vulnerable in Quebec according to the Act respecting threatened or vulnerable species and threatened according to SARA, have been observed on at least one of these properties. These forested properties nearly double the size of the protected area on the southern flank of the Sutton Mountains, from 250 hectares to nearly 450, with NCC and Au Diable Vert acquiring 97 and 90 hectares, respectively. The properties will be added to the Green Mountains Nature Reserve, considered one of the few regions in southern Quebec where large tracts of undeveloped land remain relatively intact. About The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is the countrys unifying force for nature. NCC seeks solutions to the twin crises of rapid biodiversity loss and climate change through large-scale, permanent land conservation. As a trusted partner NCC works with people, communities, businesses and government to protect and care for our countrys most important natural areas. Since 1962, NCC has brought Canadians together to conserve and restore more than 15 million hectares. In Quebec, close to 50,000 hectares have been protected. With nature, we build a thriving world. To learn more, visit natureconservancy.ca. Au Diable Vert is an award winning, four-season, 230-hectare mountain resort in Sutton, Quebec. Perched on an alpine pasture between the summits of Mont Sutton, Jay Peak and Owl's Head, it offers a full range of eco-accommodation and people-powered seasonal activities, as well as a large network of hiking trails. Les Sentiers de lEstrie inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting hiking by providing forest trails. Crossing a large part of the Eastern Townships, from south of Sutton to Richmond, including the Stoke mountains to the east, its trail network of over 200 kilometres offers extraordinary hiking possibilities. All of this is possible due to the precious collaboration of land owners giving access to their properties and the support from its members, partners and many volunteers. The Government of Quebec through the Projet de partenariat pour les milieux naturels (PPMN). The PPMN is a four-year grant of more than $53 million from the Government of Quebec to the Nature Conservancy of Canada. It provides support for voluntary conservation initiatives to ensure the protection of natural areas of interest by establishing financial partnerships with conservation organizations in the province. The PPMN thus aims to develop and consolidate Quebec's network of protected areas located on private land. The Government of Canadas Natural Heritage Conservation Program (NHCP) is a unique public-private partnership to support new protected and conserved areas by securing private lands and private interests in lands. The program is managed by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). Federal funds invested in the program are matched with contributions raised by NCC and its partners, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the countrys land trust community. Sweet Water Trust was a charitable foundation devoted to the protection of wilderness. Over the last three decades, it made more than 650 grants in support of forever-wild land protection, working with nearly 90 partners to conserve more than 310,000 acres of wildlands across the Northern Appalachians. In 2022, Sweet Water Trust became the Sweet Water Fund, an endowment fund supporting Northeast Wilderness Trusts work to conserve forever-wild landscapes. Appalachian Corridor is a non-profit conservation organization celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2022. Its mission is to protect the natural environments of the Appalachian region of southern Quebec. Through the implementation of its conservation strategy, Appalachian Corridor provides local communities with the means to maintain and restore a living environment that respects the ecology of the region, from a sustainable development perspective. A total of 17 local organizations are affiliated members of Appalachian Corridor and together they contribute to accelerating and increasing the conservation projects carried out on the territory. Since the beginning of its activities, the extent of the areas protected by Appalachian Corridor and its partners totals more than 16,200 hectares of land protected forever equivalent to more than the surface area of the city of Granby. The Quebec Ecological Corridors Initiative (QECI) was launched by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) in 2017 to accelerate the conservation of natural areas connected by ecological corridors. The initiative is coordinated by NCC and led by a group of 10 organizations. The group offers a collective approach to land use planning and advises provincial and municipal governments, woodlot owners, farmers and other key stakeholders. The group also carries out mobilization, capacity building, recognition and support activities throughout southern Quebec. Learn More Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/NCC_CNC | twitter.com/NCC_CNCMedia Find us on Facebook - 30 - Anne Guay The notoriously invasive kudzu vine, which spreads at a rate of 1 foot per day and has the potential to become a serious pest, may soon be found in the Midwest US. Invasive Kudzu Vine Guns for Midwest US The Great Lakes were named as kudzu's next frontier by experts at Purdue University-Fort Wayne in a report that was released earlier this year. The hardy vine known as kudzu was first introduced to the United States from Asia as a decorative plant before being utilized to stop erosion. Kudzu also produces huge, fragrant purple blooms and brown, hairy seed pods in addition to its beefy vines. It quickly became out of control and was taken off the Agricultural Conservation Program's list of permitted species. It was declared a "noxious weed" by Congress in 1998 and is now referred to as "the vine that ate the South," according to a reference book jointly created by National Park Service and US Fish and Wildlife Service. Rapid Spread at 1 Ft Per Day Speed is the plant's main weapon, according to Jordan Marshall, a Purdue University-Fort Wayne professor of plant biology as well as the study's lead researcher. According to Marshall, the kudzu vine can climb over other plants and grows quite quickly. In essence, it shades out the other plants as it spreads over them. And it's at this point that we start to notice tree losses, ground cover, and other supposed-to-be-there elements. According to The Nature Conservancy, kudzu vines can mature at a height of up to 100 feet and grow up to a foot each day. Additionally, kudzu spreads swiftly due to the unusual manner its root systems form. Kudzu spreads its seeds on its own, unlike most plants that depend on the wind or other creatures to do so. According to Marshall, they usually grow and reproduce vegetatively, starting from the roots and then developing new roots for their vines. The study by Marshall and Kovach-Hammons was recently published in the MDPI journal Plants. Invasive, Cascading Impact Other plant life is smothered by kudzu growth, which has a cascade effect on the ecology. According to Marshall, wherever there is an obvious decline in plant species or diversity, there will be a chain effect on wildlife and insects, which will subsequently have an impact on bird and large mammal populations. As plants start to decline, it actually starts to cascade down. Kudzu has spread over the southern US and much of the eastern shore since it was originally introduced over a century ago. Infestations have been identified in five Michigan counties as well as northern Ohio and northern Indiana, according to a published report from the Great Lakes Echo. Marshall thinks that kudzu was accidentally introduced to Michigan communities by humans, not by natural spread, because of the significant gaps in the established infestations. Also Read: Endangered Plant Cattails Taken Home in Bundles, Illegal Harvesters in New York Charged Warm Temperatures or Summer Season As the temperature surrounding the Great Lakes grows warmer, the battle against kudzu will only become more difficult. In regions with hot summers and mild winters, the plant thrives. It will keep spreading as it grows so well, according to Marshall. The environment and climate are ideal for kudzu to continue expanding. Nevertheless, there are methods for preventing kudzu. Marshall thinks it's best to take action right away to prevent the plant from spreading further. According to Marshall, to kill the root crowns, people must really go out, chop the vines and pull out roots. It is not an easy procedure that can be completed in a single day or even in a single year. Depending on the size of the infestation, it may take several years of pulling and monitoring to completely eradicate kudzu because its seeds can survive for a long time in the ground, The Hill reports. Related Article: Supergenes, High Temperatures Promote Spread of Common Ragweed, Allergens at Higher Levels Authorities are looking into possible suspects-some say they could be protesters-who may have used fluorescein to color the Grand Canal in Venice. The enigma of the material that altered the color of the water in Venice's canals has been largely solved by Italian officials after its mysterious emergence a few days ago. Grand Canal Tinted with Non-Toxic Green Fluorescein An investigation was started after a small section of Venice's famous Grand Canal turned shockingly green over the weekend. As stated by Veneto's governor Luca Zaia, samples taken by firefighters and examined by the regional environmental protection agency quickly indicated there was no pollution threat. The examination of the water samples confirmed the presence of fluorescein, a non-toxic coloring chemical most frequently utilized in eye exams. According to the local daily La Nuova Venezia, 250 grams of fluorescein are all that is required to achieve the effect witnessed on Sunday. Fluorescein is readily available online. A teaspoon can dissolve an excessive dose if the person pouring it does not immediately see the outcome. Authorities are Investigating the Suspects The individual or people that colored the waterways are still unknown to Italian authorities. Locals, media outlets, and city officials all speculate that it might be a protest by environmentalists. According to city councilman Andrea Pegoraro, environmental activists are probably to blame for the recent attacks on Italian cultural heritage sites, CNN reports. Ultima Generazione (Last Generation), one of these groups, denied involvement. The organization is well-known for attention-grabbing actions like painting a Botticelli picture black and dousing the Trevi Fountain in Rome with dilute charcoal to turn it black to urge Italian politicians to conserve and preserve the environment in the same way that they do art. Two bare-chested campaigners covered themselves in the mud last week outside the Italian Senate to draw attention to the misery of Emilia Romagna, which has been devastated by devastating floods made worse by climate change. According to the outlet, no organizations have as of yet claimed to be accountable for tinting the water on Sunday, according to People. Also Read: Michigan River Contaminated with 2000 Gallons of Liquid Waste from Packaging Plant 1968 Fluorescein Incident Turning Venice's waters green with fluorescein as a form of environmental protest has happened before. The dye was first used on the Canal on June 19, 1968, by Argentine eco-artist Nicolas Garca Uriburu to color the Grand Canal waters of Venice. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art via Quartz, the purpose of the activity, which for one day changed the appearance of the Italian city, was to raise awareness of the interdependence of nature and society and to advance ecological consciousness as an essential component of culture. Uriburu advanced this concept considerably in 1970, turning the Grand Canal in Venice, the Rio de la Plata in Buenos Aires, the Seine in Paris, and the East River in New York all green. 2016 Rio Olympic Pool Incident was Algae However, during the 2016 Olympic Games, the pool water changed color from a beautiful blue to a marshy green due to an algal overgrowth brought on by the venue's high temperatures and lack of wind. One of the hypotheses put up for the Venice Canal color change also involved the presence of algae, however, the water tests finally ruled it out, Quartz reports. Related Article: Pacific Ocean Turns Pink Off California Coasts for Scientific Experiment Aylsham artist creates icons as an aid to prayer Aylsham artist creates icons as an aid to prayer Iconographer and Aylsham Catholic parishioner Judith James is set to hold an exhibition of her work in St Peters Church in Corpusty, in North Norfolk, this summer. Nvidia has unveiled a new DGX GH200 AI supercomputer, underpinned by its new Grace Hopper superchip and targeted toward developing and supporting large language models. DGX GH200 AI supercomputers integrate Nvidias most advanced accelerated computing and networking technologies to expand the frontier of AI, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said in a blog post. The supercomputer, according to Huang, combines the companys GH200 Grace Hopper superchip and Nvidias NVLink and Switch System, to allow the development of large language models for generative AI language applications, recommender systems, and data analytics workloads. Nvidias DGX GH200 uses the NVLink interconnect technology to combine 256 Grace Hopper superchips into a single graphics processing unit (GPU) in order to extract 1 exaflop of performance and 144 terabytes of shared memory nearly 500 times more memory than the previous generation NVIDIA DGX A100, which was introduced in 2020. The chip maker will emulate the strategy it took with its DGX Pods in making the new supercomputer available. Earlier in March, Huang said the company struck a deal to make its DGX systems available through multiple cloud providers, rather than installing the necessary hardware on-premises. Currently, Microsoft, Meta, and Google Cloud have access to the new supercomputer, the company said. Nvidia also said the new Grace Hopper superchip that fuels the DGX GH200 AI supercomputer is in full production mode and systems with the superchip are expected to be available later this year. The company also said that it was using the new Grace Hopper superchip to help SoftBank design next-generation distributed data centers that will be capable of handling generative AI and 6G applications. These data centers will be distributed across Japan, the companies said in a blog post. Earlier in March, the company had launched new data processing units (DPUs) and GPUs, including the BlueField 3 DPU. Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev By Express News Service We stand today on the threshold of a new Bharat, poised spectacularly to re-establish its mark on the world. The respect that Bharat currently commands across the globe stems from a vision that has been all-encompassing focused not only on growth and development for the nation but also equally on restoring and reviving the core of Bharat our spiritual ethos. I commend the nations leaders and the Honourable Prime Minister for their dedicated effort and leadership in moving Bharat forward on these vital aspects. The Heritage of Yoga Bharat boasts the richest of spiritual heritages a tradition not limited by the boundaries of religion, beliefs, sects, or communities. This is a culture that has produced countless saints, sages, and mystics who have explored the depths of human consciousness and offered ways and methods for every individual to find their highest potential, through the science of yoga. The importance and impact of yoga are being understood globally like never before, with Bharat being acknowledged as its fountainhead. The declaration of the International Day of Yoga by the United Nations, as proposed by Prime Minister Modi in 2014 and accepted by 177 member nations, was a very significant step in this regard. Every year, this day serves as an occasion to highlight the benefits of yoga, encourage its practice, and foster health, harmony and peace among individuals and communities. Spiritual Renaissance In addition to the establishment of yoga in the international arena, it has been especially heartwarming to note Prime Minister Modis efforts in spearheading the revival of the glorious centres of our rich heritage and culture. The transformation of Kashi with the establishment of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, the mega Char Dham project which includes the development of the Kedarnath and Badrinath temples, and the restoration of the famous Somnath temple in Gujarat and the Mahakal temple in Ujjain are efforts that will benefit the citizens of the country, and reinforce Bharat as a vibrant hub for spiritual learning and growth on the global stage. In Harmony with Nature The Indian spiritual tradition offers a unique perspective on the relationship between the individual and the universe. Rather than seeing these as separate entities, tradition has always emphasised the interconnectedness of all things and the fundamental unity of existence. This consequently brings about respect for all life, becoming the basis for sustainable development and environmental conservation. Several environmental initiatives have flourished during Prime Minister Modis tenure. The allocation of INR 19,000 crore for the rejuvenation of 13 rivers, an impact of the Cauvery Calling movement, is essential for water security for Indias population. The NamamiGange Programme to clean the Ganges, with an emphasis on abating pollution, is a commitment to preserving Indias most sacred river. All of us must stand up and commit to do our part to preserve the environment and foster a greener future for India. Inclusive Development In a vast country with myriad facets like our beloved Bharat, it is imperative that development is not only multi-dimensional but also simultaneously all-inclusive, accessible, and sustainable. The Honourable Prime Minister has been recognised worldwide for creating initiatives that fuel economic growth, while also bringing about holistic well-being for all. Initiatives on one side have propelled India into the digital age, leveraging technology for inclusive growth and transparent governance on the other side serve to ensure that all sections of society are included in the nations financial growth. Infrastructure and development projects, and collective awareness projects like the Swachh Bharat campaign, have aimed to raise the bar on living conditions across the country. 75 years, Rising India It is a matter of overwhelming pride and joy that in the 75th year of our independence, we stand so spectacularly poised on the world stage. It is also a tremendous opportunity for us, particularly in the year of the G20 Chairmanship, to take the lead in crucial agendas like that of soil restoration and climate change. We may enumerate and debate the success, or not, of individual initiatives. The trajectory of the nations progress, however, cannot be denied. A trajectory fuelled by a vision of a new and vibrant Bharat. A vision that has undoubtedly impacted more than a billion people, but more importantly, has inspired as many across the country and the world. One Earth. One Family. One Future. We stand today on the threshold of a new Bharat, poised spectacularly to re-establish its mark on the world. The respect that Bharat currently commands across the globe stems from a vision that has been all-encompassing focused not only on growth and development for the nation but also equally on restoring and reviving the core of Bharat our spiritual ethos. I commend the nations leaders and the Honourable Prime Minister for their dedicated effort and leadership in moving Bharat forward on these vital aspects. The Heritage of Yoga Bharat boasts the richest of spiritual heritages a tradition not limited by the boundaries of religion, beliefs, sects, or communities. This is a culture that has produced countless saints, sages, and mystics who have explored the depths of human consciousness and offered ways and methods for every individual to find their highest potential, through the science of yoga. The importance and impact of yoga are being understood globally like never before, with Bharat being acknowledged as its fountainhead. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The declaration of the International Day of Yoga by the United Nations, as proposed by Prime Minister Modi in 2014 and accepted by 177 member nations, was a very significant step in this regard. Every year, this day serves as an occasion to highlight the benefits of yoga, encourage its practice, and foster health, harmony and peace among individuals and communities. Spiritual Renaissance In addition to the establishment of yoga in the international arena, it has been especially heartwarming to note Prime Minister Modis efforts in spearheading the revival of the glorious centres of our rich heritage and culture. The transformation of Kashi with the establishment of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, the mega Char Dham project which includes the development of the Kedarnath and Badrinath temples, and the restoration of the famous Somnath temple in Gujarat and the Mahakal temple in Ujjain are efforts that will benefit the citizens of the country, and reinforce Bharat as a vibrant hub for spiritual learning and growth on the global stage. In Harmony with Nature The Indian spiritual tradition offers a unique perspective on the relationship between the individual and the universe. Rather than seeing these as separate entities, tradition has always emphasised the interconnectedness of all things and the fundamental unity of existence. This consequently brings about respect for all life, becoming the basis for sustainable development and environmental conservation. Several environmental initiatives have flourished during Prime Minister Modis tenure. The allocation of INR 19,000 crore for the rejuvenation of 13 rivers, an impact of the Cauvery Calling movement, is essential for water security for Indias population. The NamamiGange Programme to clean the Ganges, with an emphasis on abating pollution, is a commitment to preserving Indias most sacred river. All of us must stand up and commit to do our part to preserve the environment and foster a greener future for India. Inclusive Development In a vast country with myriad facets like our beloved Bharat, it is imperative that development is not only multi-dimensional but also simultaneously all-inclusive, accessible, and sustainable. The Honourable Prime Minister has been recognised worldwide for creating initiatives that fuel economic growth, while also bringing about holistic well-being for all. Initiatives on one side have propelled India into the digital age, leveraging technology for inclusive growth and transparent governance on the other side serve to ensure that all sections of society are included in the nations financial growth. Infrastructure and development projects, and collective awareness projects like the Swachh Bharat campaign, have aimed to raise the bar on living conditions across the country. 75 years, Rising India It is a matter of overwhelming pride and joy that in the 75th year of our independence, we stand so spectacularly poised on the world stage. It is also a tremendous opportunity for us, particularly in the year of the G20 Chairmanship, to take the lead in crucial agendas like that of soil restoration and climate change. We may enumerate and debate the success, or not, of individual initiatives. The trajectory of the nations progress, however, cannot be denied. A trajectory fuelled by a vision of a new and vibrant Bharat. A vision that has undoubtedly impacted more than a billion people, but more importantly, has inspired as many across the country and the world. One Earth. One Family. One Future. Preetha Nair By Express News Service NEW DELHI: In what appears to be an end to a long-pending feud between Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, the two leaders have agreed to fight upcoming elections united, the Congress said on Monday. We have decided to fight elections united. Definitely, we will win the elections in Rajasthan. Both Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot have unanimously agreed with the proposal, said Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal after party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhis four-hour-long discussion with Gehlot and Pilot. After its successful outing in Karnataka, the Congress high command has now turned its focus on faction-ridden Rajasthan. Both Gehlot and Pilot have been at loggerheads over power-sharing for a long time. The meeting assumes significance as Kharge is holding a meeting with the sparring leaders for the first time after he assumed the Congress president post in October last year. The party is looking to diffuse the long-pending leadership crisis in Rajasthan as it doesnt want to squander its chances in the upcoming assembly polls. Senior party leaders had earlier told this newspaper that the party is looking to emulate the Karnataka peace formula in Rajasthan, too. Though Gehlot met Kharge at his residence at around 6 pm, Pilot joined the meeting an hour later. According to sources, Kharge and Rahul Gandhi Gandhi held discussions with Gehlot for about half an hour, after which the partys in-charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Randhawa was called in. Signaling that all is not still well, Gehlot told the media that the party's high command is strong and it will never offer any position to any leader or worker to pacify him. Sources said that the meeting was necessitated as Pilot has given an ultimatum to the government of his own party, setting a deadline of May 31 for addressing his three demands. Furthermore, CM Gehlot recently dismissed one of Pilots demands as an indication of a lack of intellect. Last month, Pilot put the party in a tight spot by announcing a daylong protest to seek action on corruption cases of the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government and accused Gehlot of not bringing them to book as promised. With assembly elections a few months away, Pilot has intensified his attack against the Gehlot government over the issue of inaction on corruption. NEW DELHI: In what appears to be an end to a long-pending feud between Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, the two leaders have agreed to fight upcoming elections united, the Congress said on Monday. We have decided to fight elections united. Definitely, we will win the elections in Rajasthan. Both Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot have unanimously agreed with the proposal, said Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal after party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhis four-hour-long discussion with Gehlot and Pilot. After its successful outing in Karnataka, the Congress high command has now turned its focus on faction-ridden Rajasthan. Both Gehlot and Pilot have been at loggerheads over power-sharing for a long time.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The meeting assumes significance as Kharge is holding a meeting with the sparring leaders for the first time after he assumed the Congress president post in October last year. The party is looking to diffuse the long-pending leadership crisis in Rajasthan as it doesnt want to squander its chances in the upcoming assembly polls. Senior party leaders had earlier told this newspaper that the party is looking to emulate the Karnataka peace formula in Rajasthan, too. Though Gehlot met Kharge at his residence at around 6 pm, Pilot joined the meeting an hour later. According to sources, Kharge and Rahul Gandhi Gandhi held discussions with Gehlot for about half an hour, after which the partys in-charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Randhawa was called in. Signaling that all is not still well, Gehlot told the media that the party's high command is strong and it will never offer any position to any leader or worker to pacify him. Sources said that the meeting was necessitated as Pilot has given an ultimatum to the government of his own party, setting a deadline of May 31 for addressing his three demands. Furthermore, CM Gehlot recently dismissed one of Pilots demands as an indication of a lack of intellect. Last month, Pilot put the party in a tight spot by announcing a daylong protest to seek action on corruption cases of the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government and accused Gehlot of not bringing them to book as promised. With assembly elections a few months away, Pilot has intensified his attack against the Gehlot government over the issue of inaction on corruption. Jitendra Choubey By Express News Service NEW DELHI: India, along with 14 other countries, has reached positive outcomes in the negotiations for the Supply Chain Agreement within the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). This development is a step forward in signing an eventual agreement and marks a significant achievement for consumers, workers, and businesses across all 14 nations. Moving forward, India and the other countries will engage in domestic consultations and conduct a comprehensive legal review to finalise the text of the agreement for signature. During the ministerial meeting, Piyush Goyal, the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and Textiles, commended the negotiating team for delivering an agreement that benefits all parties involved. Goyal emphasized the potential of this agreement to enhance the integration of economies and supply/value chains within the IPEF. He called for swift implementation of all action-oriented cooperative and collaborative elements identified in the agreement. Indias decision to align with the IPEF, a trade framework proposed by the United States and supported by 14 countries, is an alternative to the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) involving 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific. India is under pressure to join this trade bloc in order to contribute to its success and avoid potential isolation. The IPEF is structured around four pillars: Trade (Pillar I), Supply Chains (Pillar II), Clean Economy (Pillar III), and Fair Economy (Pillar IV). India has joined Pillars II to IV of the IPEF while maintaining observer status in Pillar I. All eyes are on India to see if it will formally join the trade pillar, although no updates have been provided as of yet. Alternative to China Indias decision to align with the IPEF is an alternative to the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership involving 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific NEW DELHI: India, along with 14 other countries, has reached positive outcomes in the negotiations for the Supply Chain Agreement within the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). This development is a step forward in signing an eventual agreement and marks a significant achievement for consumers, workers, and businesses across all 14 nations. Moving forward, India and the other countries will engage in domestic consultations and conduct a comprehensive legal review to finalise the text of the agreement for signature. During the ministerial meeting, Piyush Goyal, the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and Textiles, commended the negotiating team for delivering an agreement that benefits all parties involved. Goyal emphasized the potential of this agreement to enhance the integration of economies and supply/value chains within the IPEF. He called for swift implementation of all action-oriented cooperative and collaborative elements identified in the agreement.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Indias decision to align with the IPEF, a trade framework proposed by the United States and supported by 14 countries, is an alternative to the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) involving 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific. India is under pressure to join this trade bloc in order to contribute to its success and avoid potential isolation. The IPEF is structured around four pillars: Trade (Pillar I), Supply Chains (Pillar II), Clean Economy (Pillar III), and Fair Economy (Pillar IV). India has joined Pillars II to IV of the IPEF while maintaining observer status in Pillar I. All eyes are on India to see if it will formally join the trade pillar, although no updates have been provided as of yet. Alternative to China Indias decision to align with the IPEF is an alternative to the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership involving 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific By PTI NEW DELHI: The NCERT has dropped references to the demand for a separate Sikh nation Khalistan from the class 12 political science textbook following objections from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), according to top education ministry officials. The SGPC had last month alleged that the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) misrepresented historical details about Sikhs in its Class 12 political science textbook. The Sikh body's objection pertained to the mention of the Anandpur Sahib resolution in the book "Politics In India Since Independence". The dropped sentences are -- "the resolution was a plea for strengthening federalism but it could also be interpreted as a plea for a separate Sikh nation" and "the more extreme elements started advocating secession from India and the creation of 'Khalistan'". The statements have been rewritten as "the resolution was a plea for strengthening federalism." "Representation from SGPC was received regarding withdrawing objectionable content against the Sikh community by misrepresenting Sri Anandpur Sahib resolution. A committee of experts was constituted by NCERT to examine the issue and the decision was taken on the basis of the recommendations of the panel," said Sanjay Kumar, School Education Secretary, Ministry of Education. "A corrigendum has been issued by NCERT. While the physical books for the new academic session have already been printed, the changes will reflect in the digital books," Kumar added. The Anandpur Sahib resolution was a document adopted by the Shiromani Akali Dal in 1973. The resolution affirmed the party's commitment to the Sikh religion and demanded greater autonomy for Punjab. It also demanded that the city of Chandigarh should be handed over to Punjab and that Punjabi should be given second-language status in neighboring states. Dropping several topics and portions from the NCERT textbooks had last month triggered a controversy with the Opposition blaming the Centre of "whitewashing with vengeance." At the heart of the row was the fact that while the changes made as part of the rationalisation exercise were notified, some of these controversial deletions weren't mentioned in them. This led to allegations about a bid to delete these portions surreptitiously. The NCERT had described the omissions as a possible oversight but refused to undo the deletions, saying they were based on the recommendations of experts. It has also said the textbooks are anyway headed for revision in 2024 when the National Curriculum Framework kicks in. However, later NCERT had changed its stand and said "minor changes need not be notified." Among the references that were dropped from class 12 history textbook were certain portions on Mahatma Gandhi and how his pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity "provoked Hindu extremists", and on a ban on the RSS. "Gandhiji's death had a magical effect on communal situation in the country", "Gandhi's pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity provoked Hindu extremists" and "Organisations like RSS were banned for some time" are among the portions deleted from the textbook. The portions referring to the Gujarat riots were also dropped from class 11 sociology textbook, months after NCERT removed the reference to the 2022 communal violence in two class 12 textbooks. NEW DELHI: The NCERT has dropped references to the demand for a separate Sikh nation Khalistan from the class 12 political science textbook following objections from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), according to top education ministry officials. The SGPC had last month alleged that the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) misrepresented historical details about Sikhs in its Class 12 political science textbook. The Sikh body's objection pertained to the mention of the Anandpur Sahib resolution in the book "Politics In India Since Independence".googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The dropped sentences are -- "the resolution was a plea for strengthening federalism but it could also be interpreted as a plea for a separate Sikh nation" and "the more extreme elements started advocating secession from India and the creation of 'Khalistan'". The statements have been rewritten as "the resolution was a plea for strengthening federalism." "Representation from SGPC was received regarding withdrawing objectionable content against the Sikh community by misrepresenting Sri Anandpur Sahib resolution. A committee of experts was constituted by NCERT to examine the issue and the decision was taken on the basis of the recommendations of the panel," said Sanjay Kumar, School Education Secretary, Ministry of Education. "A corrigendum has been issued by NCERT. While the physical books for the new academic session have already been printed, the changes will reflect in the digital books," Kumar added. The Anandpur Sahib resolution was a document adopted by the Shiromani Akali Dal in 1973. The resolution affirmed the party's commitment to the Sikh religion and demanded greater autonomy for Punjab. It also demanded that the city of Chandigarh should be handed over to Punjab and that Punjabi should be given second-language status in neighboring states. Dropping several topics and portions from the NCERT textbooks had last month triggered a controversy with the Opposition blaming the Centre of "whitewashing with vengeance." At the heart of the row was the fact that while the changes made as part of the rationalisation exercise were notified, some of these controversial deletions weren't mentioned in them. This led to allegations about a bid to delete these portions surreptitiously. The NCERT had described the omissions as a possible oversight but refused to undo the deletions, saying they were based on the recommendations of experts. It has also said the textbooks are anyway headed for revision in 2024 when the National Curriculum Framework kicks in. However, later NCERT had changed its stand and said "minor changes need not be notified." Among the references that were dropped from class 12 history textbook were certain portions on Mahatma Gandhi and how his pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity "provoked Hindu extremists", and on a ban on the RSS. "Gandhiji's death had a magical effect on communal situation in the country", "Gandhi's pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity provoked Hindu extremists" and "Organisations like RSS were banned for some time" are among the portions deleted from the textbook. The portions referring to the Gujarat riots were also dropped from class 11 sociology textbook, months after NCERT removed the reference to the 2022 communal violence in two class 12 textbooks. Shruti Kakkar By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea seeking relaxation in the eligibility criteria for admission to IITs, NITs, and other premier institutes through joint entrance examination (JEE). According to the eligibility criteria, only those students, who have achieved a minimum of 75% or have secured a position among the top 20 percentile scorers, in board exams are eligible for counselling. Laying emphasis on the fact that these matters fall within the realm of education, a vacation bench of justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and KV Vishwanathan while binning the plea said: 2016, 2017, 2018, this condition has always been there that students must have secured 75%. This is not a matter we want to get into. These are education matters. We have to defer it to experts. In an attempt to convince the bench to accede to the reliefs sought in the plea, counsel for the students submitted before the bench that failure of National Testing Agency (NTA) to relax the criteria after Covid had violated the fundamental rights of the students. Notably, the Bombay High Court earlier this month had rejected the plea preferred by students seeking relaxation in the criteria, noting that the eligibility condition was not arbitrary in any manner. The HC said, Just because relaxation was granted in the previous three years due to Covid, the students are not entitled to continue to claim relaxation. Also in top court Plea challenges ban on donor gametes A plea has been filed in the SC challenging the rules issued by the Union health ministry which prohibit donor gametes to couples desirous of having children through surrogacy on the ground that it frustrates provisions of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, which gives the right of parenthood to infertile couples Ex-cop in SC for interim bail in Antilia case NEW DELHI: Former police officer Pradeep Sharma, who has been in custody in connection with the Antilia bomb scare case and the killing of businessman Mansukh Hiran, has approached the Supreme Court seeking interim bail on humanitarian grounds. Hiran is an automobile parts dealer linked to car that was found with explosives outside Mukesh Ambanis residence (Antilia). Sharma, who was accused of helping his former colleague Sachin Waze in eliminating businessman Mansukh Hiran, was arrested in 2021. He was charged with criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence in the case. Urging the SC bench to grant him bail, Senior Advocate Aabad Ponda told the court that he was seeking bail on humanitarian grounds since his wife was not well. NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea seeking relaxation in the eligibility criteria for admission to IITs, NITs, and other premier institutes through joint entrance examination (JEE). According to the eligibility criteria, only those students, who have achieved a minimum of 75% or have secured a position among the top 20 percentile scorers, in board exams are eligible for counselling. Laying emphasis on the fact that these matters fall within the realm of education, a vacation bench of justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and KV Vishwanathan while binning the plea said: 2016, 2017, 2018, this condition has always been there that students must have secured 75%. This is not a matter we want to get into. These are education matters. We have to defer it to experts. In an attempt to convince the bench to accede to the reliefs sought in the plea, counsel for the students submitted before the bench that failure of National Testing Agency (NTA) to relax the criteria after Covid had violated the fundamental rights of the students. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Notably, the Bombay High Court earlier this month had rejected the plea preferred by students seeking relaxation in the criteria, noting that the eligibility condition was not arbitrary in any manner. The HC said, Just because relaxation was granted in the previous three years due to Covid, the students are not entitled to continue to claim relaxation. Also in top court Plea challenges ban on donor gametes A plea has been filed in the SC challenging the rules issued by the Union health ministry which prohibit donor gametes to couples desirous of having children through surrogacy on the ground that it frustrates provisions of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, which gives the right of parenthood to infertile couples Ex-cop in SC for interim bail in Antilia case NEW DELHI: Former police officer Pradeep Sharma, who has been in custody in connection with the Antilia bomb scare case and the killing of businessman Mansukh Hiran, has approached the Supreme Court seeking interim bail on humanitarian grounds. Hiran is an automobile parts dealer linked to car that was found with explosives outside Mukesh Ambanis residence (Antilia). Sharma, who was accused of helping his former colleague Sachin Waze in eliminating businessman Mansukh Hiran, was arrested in 2021. He was charged with criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence in the case. Urging the SC bench to grant him bail, Senior Advocate Aabad Ponda told the court that he was seeking bail on humanitarian grounds since his wife was not well. Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday told Britains visiting Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, and UN Tariq Ahmad that Britain was obliged to provide security to Indias diplomatic missions. We discussed a broad range of issues from Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and South Asia to Indo-Pacific and G20. I underlined the obligation to ensure the security of our diplomatic missions and prevent misuse of democratic freedoms, Jaishankar said after meeting Lord Tariq Ahmad. India had raised concerns when Khalistani supporters vandalised the Indian High Commission in London and brought down the Indian Flag on March 19 this year. I was delighted to meet with my dear friend Jaishankar in Delhi. We discussed the importance of strengthening our long-standing bilateral relations and progressing the FTA, Ahmad said. He is also the British Prime Ministers Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict. Ahmad also said India and the UK share a long friendship and common values. During the course of the day, he met foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra and G20 chief coordinator Harsh Vardhan Shringla among others. After visiting New Delhi and Jodhpur, he will now head to Hyderabad. Building on the 2030 roadmap for India-UK future relations, we are deepening our collaboration on science, technology, bringing new innovations to both our nations, Ahmad said. The visit comes as the US and India continue to make progress towards a mutually beneficial FTA which will boost India and the UKs trading relationship, which was worth 36 billion pounds in 2022. NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday told Britains visiting Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, and UN Tariq Ahmad that Britain was obliged to provide security to Indias diplomatic missions. We discussed a broad range of issues from Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and South Asia to Indo-Pacific and G20. I underlined the obligation to ensure the security of our diplomatic missions and prevent misuse of democratic freedoms, Jaishankar said after meeting Lord Tariq Ahmad. India had raised concerns when Khalistani supporters vandalised the Indian High Commission in London and brought down the Indian Flag on March 19 this year. I was delighted to meet with my dear friend Jaishankar in Delhi. We discussed the importance of strengthening our long-standing bilateral relations and progressing the FTA, Ahmad said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He is also the British Prime Ministers Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict. Ahmad also said India and the UK share a long friendship and common values. During the course of the day, he met foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra and G20 chief coordinator Harsh Vardhan Shringla among others. After visiting New Delhi and Jodhpur, he will now head to Hyderabad. Building on the 2030 roadmap for India-UK future relations, we are deepening our collaboration on science, technology, bringing new innovations to both our nations, Ahmad said. The visit comes as the US and India continue to make progress towards a mutually beneficial FTA which will boost India and the UKs trading relationship, which was worth 36 billion pounds in 2022. By PTI IMPHAL: As part of his mission to broker a lasting peace in the troubled Manipur state, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Tuesday met a cross-section of Kuki and Meitei leaders and civil society groups besides top security officers to seek a solution to the spate of ethnic clashes which has plagued the state. Shah on Tuesday also visited Churachandpur, the scene of some of the worst rioting in the recent ethnic conflict which broke out in Manipur earlier to hold talks with Kuki leaders. He also held a series of discussions with different Meitei groups, women and prominent personalities earlier during the day in Imphal before flying to the Kuki-dominated Churachandpur district. Later in the night, he also held an all-party meeting and a meeting with the top brass of central police forces, Manipur police and the army and ask them to ensure peace. In Imphal, Shah held consultations on Tuesday with stakeholders starting with a breakfast meeting with a group of women leaders at Raj Bhavan as part of his initiative to bring peace to the violence-hit state. "Held a meeting with a group of women leaders (Meira Paibi) in Manipur. Reiterated the significance of the role of women in the society of Manipur. Together, we are committed to ensuring peace and prosperity in the state," Shah tweeted. According to a home ministry spokesperson, Shah had a (separate) meeting with prominent personalities in Imphal in the morning who assured their commitment to peace and also conveyed that they would work towards restoring peace in the state. After that he met several CSO groups and prominent personalities from the Meitei community at the Secretariat before leaving for Churachandpur. "Had a fruitful discussion with the members of the different civil society organisations today in Imphal. They expressed their commitment to peace and assured that we would together contribute to paving the way to restore normalcy in Manipur," he added. After meeting Shah, Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) coordinator Jeetendra Ningomba said they requested the Union Home Minister to take appropriate measures to protect the territorial and administrative integrity of the state. He said that Shah had assured the delegation of no compromise on Manipur's territorial integrity. Another group award-winning international and national sportspersons from Manipur including Anita Chanu and N Kunjrani Devi on Tuesday tried to meet him and later said at a press conference that they will return the prizes given to them by the government if the state's territorial integrity is compromised. Shah who was accompanied by the IB chief and Home Secretary, held three rounds of talks with various groups such as Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) and other civil society organisations. He also met five Kuki MLAs from the BJP. The Home Minister requested the Kuki society to maintain peace and assured he would send in more security personnel if needed to ensure the safety of common people, he added. ITLF secretary Muan Tombing told PTI, "He (Shah) told us that the CBI will be entrusted with carrying out a detailed probe to find out the reasons behind this prolonged clash. Besides, a judicial enquiry will also be announced." Tombing said his group "demanded separation from Manipur" and also sought "President's Rule" in the state. After coming back from Churachandpur, Shah Later in the evening, held an all-party meeting in Imphal. The Home Minister also reviewed the security situation with senior officials of Manipur Police, central police forces and the Indian Army. "Peace and prosperity of Manipur is our top priority," he said and instructed the officials to strictly deal with any activities disturbing the peace. Manipur has been hit by ethnic conflict for nearly a month and witnessed a sudden spurt in clashes and firing between militants and security forces on Sunday, after a relative lull for over a fortnight. The death toll from clashes has gone up to 80, officials said. The Home Minister who flew into Imphal on Monday night was accompanied by the Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Director of the Intelligence Bureau Tapan Kumar Deka. Earlier in the day, the government announced it will provide a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of those who died in the ethnic conflict and a job to a family member. The compensation amount will be borne equally by the Centre and the state, an official release said. The decision was taken at a meeting between the union Home minister and Biren Singh in the presence of some members of the council of ministers on Monday night. During the meeting, it was also decided to ensure that essential items such as petrol, LPG, rice and other foodgrains will be made available in large quantities to cool down rising prices. Shah will visit Moreh and Kangpokpi areas Wednesday. He will interact with the delegations of various local groups in Moreh followed by meeting with civil society organisations in Kangpokpi. Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan in Pune said that challenges in Manipur have not disappeared, but expressed hope that things will settle down in some time while noting the ongoing situation in the North Eastern state is not related to insurgency. "We are helping the state government with the problem," he added. "I would like to say that the Army and Assam Rifles have done an excellent job there and may have saved a large number of lives. Hopefully, this will settle and the government there will be able to do the job with the help of CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) etc," the CDS said. IMPHAL: As part of his mission to broker a lasting peace in the troubled Manipur state, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Tuesday met a cross-section of Kuki and Meitei leaders and civil society groups besides top security officers to seek a solution to the spate of ethnic clashes which has plagued the state. Shah on Tuesday also visited Churachandpur, the scene of some of the worst rioting in the recent ethnic conflict which broke out in Manipur earlier to hold talks with Kuki leaders. He also held a series of discussions with different Meitei groups, women and prominent personalities earlier during the day in Imphal before flying to the Kuki-dominated Churachandpur district.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Later in the night, he also held an all-party meeting and a meeting with the top brass of central police forces, Manipur police and the army and ask them to ensure peace. In Imphal, Shah held consultations on Tuesday with stakeholders starting with a breakfast meeting with a group of women leaders at Raj Bhavan as part of his initiative to bring peace to the violence-hit state. "Held a meeting with a group of women leaders (Meira Paibi) in Manipur. Reiterated the significance of the role of women in the society of Manipur. Together, we are committed to ensuring peace and prosperity in the state," Shah tweeted. According to a home ministry spokesperson, Shah had a (separate) meeting with prominent personalities in Imphal in the morning who assured their commitment to peace and also conveyed that they would work towards restoring peace in the state. After that he met several CSO groups and prominent personalities from the Meitei community at the Secretariat before leaving for Churachandpur. "Had a fruitful discussion with the members of the different civil society organisations today in Imphal. They expressed their commitment to peace and assured that we would together contribute to paving the way to restore normalcy in Manipur," he added. After meeting Shah, Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) coordinator Jeetendra Ningomba said they requested the Union Home Minister to take appropriate measures to protect the territorial and administrative integrity of the state. He said that Shah had assured the delegation of no compromise on Manipur's territorial integrity. Another group award-winning international and national sportspersons from Manipur including Anita Chanu and N Kunjrani Devi on Tuesday tried to meet him and later said at a press conference that they will return the prizes given to them by the government if the state's territorial integrity is compromised. Shah who was accompanied by the IB chief and Home Secretary, held three rounds of talks with various groups such as Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) and other civil society organisations. He also met five Kuki MLAs from the BJP. The Home Minister requested the Kuki society to maintain peace and assured he would send in more security personnel if needed to ensure the safety of common people, he added. ITLF secretary Muan Tombing told PTI, "He (Shah) told us that the CBI will be entrusted with carrying out a detailed probe to find out the reasons behind this prolonged clash. Besides, a judicial enquiry will also be announced." Tombing said his group "demanded separation from Manipur" and also sought "President's Rule" in the state. After coming back from Churachandpur, Shah Later in the evening, held an all-party meeting in Imphal. The Home Minister also reviewed the security situation with senior officials of Manipur Police, central police forces and the Indian Army. "Peace and prosperity of Manipur is our top priority," he said and instructed the officials to strictly deal with any activities disturbing the peace. Manipur has been hit by ethnic conflict for nearly a month and witnessed a sudden spurt in clashes and firing between militants and security forces on Sunday, after a relative lull for over a fortnight. The death toll from clashes has gone up to 80, officials said. The Home Minister who flew into Imphal on Monday night was accompanied by the Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Director of the Intelligence Bureau Tapan Kumar Deka. Earlier in the day, the government announced it will provide a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of those who died in the ethnic conflict and a job to a family member. The compensation amount will be borne equally by the Centre and the state, an official release said. The decision was taken at a meeting between the union Home minister and Biren Singh in the presence of some members of the council of ministers on Monday night. During the meeting, it was also decided to ensure that essential items such as petrol, LPG, rice and other foodgrains will be made available in large quantities to cool down rising prices. Shah will visit Moreh and Kangpokpi areas Wednesday. He will interact with the delegations of various local groups in Moreh followed by meeting with civil society organisations in Kangpokpi. Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan in Pune said that challenges in Manipur have not disappeared, but expressed hope that things will settle down in some time while noting the ongoing situation in the North Eastern state is not related to insurgency. "We are helping the state government with the problem," he added. "I would like to say that the Army and Assam Rifles have done an excellent job there and may have saved a large number of lives. Hopefully, this will settle and the government there will be able to do the job with the help of CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) etc," the CDS said. Jaishankar lauds UN peacekeepers for their contribution towards maintaining peace, security New Delhi, May 29: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday lauded the United Nations peacekeepers for their contribution towards maintaining peace and security and saluted their courage, dedication and commitment. Jaishankar lauds UN peacekeepers for their contribution towards maintaining peace, security May 20 marks the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.Jaishankar tweeted, "On the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, salute the courage, dedication and commitment of UN Peacekeepers around the world. Appreciate their contribution towards maintaining peace and security and recognise their many sacrifices."For the past 75 years, United Nations peacekeepers have worked to save and change lives in the world's most fragile political and security situations, according to a statement released by the UN. Since 1948, over two million uniformed and civilian personnel have helped nations to transition from war to peace.The theme of the 75th anniversary of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers is "Peace begins with me" recognizing the service and sacrifice of peacekeepers, past and present, including over 4200 who have given their lives under the UN flag. In the statement, the UN further said, "It also pays tribute to the resilience of the communities that we serve, who continue to strive for peace despite many obstacles."Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a message called United Nations peacekeepers as the "beating heart" of the UN's commitment to a more peaceful world. He stated that UN peacekeepers for 75 years have supported people rocked by conflict and upheaval across the globe.Guterres in the statement said, "Today, on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, we honour their extraordinary contributions to international peace and security. Since 1948, more than two million peacekeepers have served in 71 missions, helping countries navigate the difficult path from war to peace. They are also critical to the protection of civilians caught up in the chaos of these deadly conflicts, providing a lifeline of hope and help in some of the most dangerous contexts imaginable."He said that more than 4,200 peacekeepers have lost their lives serving under the UN flag. UN Chief said that they stand in sympathy and solidarity with their families. He said that today more than 87,000 peacekeepers from 125 countries serve in 12 operations.He further said, "They face rising global tensions and divides, stagnating peace processes, and more complex conflicts. Despite these obstacles, and working with a wide range of partners, peacekeepers persevere. To people living under the shadow of conflict, our teams of Blue Helmets represent hope."ANI29 May 2023 Shared Recently! Individual directors should not have any conflict of interest, says RBI Governor Mumbai, May 29: Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das on Monday said individual directors should not have any conflict of interest which may hamper their objectivity and independence. Individual directors should not have any conflict of interest, says RBI Governor While conveying RBI's expectations from the boards of directors of banks and explaining the multi-dimensional responsibility of individual directors, the Governor said, "It is the responsibility of the Board to ensure that policies are in place to identify potential conflicts of interest and deal with them." He was addressing the conference of directors of banks organised by the central bank for the private lenders in Mumbai.In this respect, Shaktikanta Das said it is necessary that 'independent' directors are truly independent; that is, independent not only of the management but also of controlling shareholders while discharging their duties.Das said they have to always remember that their loyalty is to the bank and no one else."Directors should keep watch on actual or potential related party transactions. They are expected to ask pertinent questions and obtain the required information from the management before taking decisions," the RBI Governor said, adding, "I am not advocating any confrontation, but only stressing the need for the required level of alertness among all directors."In the matter of the role of chairperson, board committees and managing director or chief executive officer, the Das said, "The role of chairperson is akin to the captain of a ship. For the chairperson to be able to navigate the board discussions and functions in the right direction, he/she should possess the requisite experience, competencies and personal qualities."He said chairpersons should encourage open and honest discussions which, at times, can be critical of the proposals recommended by the management."Fostering an environment where dissenting views can be freely expressed and discussed is what will ensure objectivity - an absolute necessity for long-term sustainable performance of a bank," he added.ANI29 May 2023 Shared Recently! IPL 2023: Shubman Gill ends season on high, continues love affair with Narendra Modi Stadium Ahmedabad , May 29: Star Gujarat Titans (GT) batter Shubman Gill created a unique batting record during his side's Gujarat Titans' Indian Premier League (IPL) final clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday. IPL 2023: Shubman Gill ends season on high, continues love affair with Narendra Modi Stadium In the match, Gill scored 39 off 20 balls. His knock consisted of seven fours. Gill's knock had a strike rate of 195.00. He looked all set for a big one but Ravindra Jadeja dismissed him, with assistance from MS Dhoni's lightning-fast hands behind the stumps.Gill has the second-highest amount of runs in a single IPL season at a single venue. Gill's love affair with his team's home arena of Narendra Modi Stadium continues.At the Narendra Modi Stadium in IPL 2023, Gill scored 572 runs in nine innings, with two centuries and three fifties and a best score of 129. These runs have come at an average of 71.50.The most runs at a single venue in an IPL season are scored by Virat Kohli, who had smashed 597 runs at the Chinaswammy Stadium in Bengaluru in the 2016 season in nine innings, with three centuries and four fifties at a venue.Gill has ended the IPL 2023 with the Orange Cap on his head, becoming the youngest player to do so.In 17 matches, he has scored 890 runs at an average of 63.57 and a strike rate of 158.08, with three centuries and four fifties and best score of 129.He has the second-highest runs by a player in an IPL season. At the top is Virat, who scored 973 runs at an average of 81.08 in 16 innings, with four centuries and seven fifties. Gill has overtaken David Warner, who scored 848 runs for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2016 season, which they won and Jos Buttler, who scored 863 runs for Rajasthan Royals in the 2022 season.Gill also has the fourth-highest boundary count in an IPL season. He has hit 85 fours and 33 sixes, a total of 118 boundaries.At the top is England's Jos Buttler, who scored 128 boundaries, with 83 fours and 45 sixes in the 2022 season for Rajasthan Royals.Gill also has the second-highest boundary count by an Indian, with Virat Kohli at the top with 121 boundaries, consisting of 83 fours and 38 sixes.Coming to the match, GT's innings is in progress.CSK won the toss and opted to field first.Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI) Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w/c), Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande and Maheesh Theekshana.Gujarat Titans (Playing XI) Wriddhiman Saha(w), Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Hardik Pandya(c), Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad and Mohammed Shami.ANI29 May 2023 Shared Recently! Best Crypto Picks In 2023: Breaking Down Chainlink, Polkadot, and New Meme Crypto, Caged Beasts ATK, New Delhi, May 29: Although Bitcoin (BTC) stormed onto the scene as the leading cryptocurrency in 2013, altcoins have been hot on its heels, following suit and catching up to the fame and success of the original crypto coin. Best Crypto Picks In 2023: Breaking Down Chainlink, Polkadot, and New Meme Crypto, Caged Beasts When so many exciting projects are launching every day, it can be hard to know which ones hold the most potential. However, we've done our research, and this article outlines why Chainlink (LINK) is sure to rise in 2023 while also asking if Polkadot and (BEASTS) can compete.Why Is Chainlink Sure To Rise In 2023?Chainlink (LINK) is a services platform aiming to connect us with the Web3 world of tomorrow. According to its , Chainlink (LINK) has a reliable, tamper-proof network that uses decentralization, premium data, cryptographic proofs, and trusted nodes to connect accurate and available data/APIs to any smart contract. Via this platform, users can build on a flexible framework, retrieve data from any API, integrate with any blockchain, and connect with existing systems.Chainlink (LINK) has a large community of developers working on the project, all with the shared goal of building Chainlink into a public space for the benefit of the entire blockchain ecosystem. Using open-source technology, Chainlink (LINK) is a collective platform with community at its heart. Due to these appealing factors, Chainlink (LINK) is likely to keep rising in popularity throughout 2023.Polkadot vs. Caged BeastsRising star cryptocurrency Polkadot (DOT) is a solid top 20 coin, unwaveringly ranking highly amongst its altcoin competitors. Interestingly, Polkadot (DOT) has Parachains connected to it, which are heterogeneous blockchains interoperable with the Polkadot Network and other Parachains. Any apps or services on Polkadot (DOT) can securely communicate across these chains and, as a result, form the basis for a truly interoperable decentralized web.Through Polkadot (DOT), cross-blockchain transfers of any type of data or asset can take place. By connecting to Polkadot (DOT), users have the ability to interoperate with the huge variety of blockchains that exist on the Polkadot network. On this network, a common set of validators secure multiple blockchains, providing Polkadot users with economies of scale.Meanwhile, Caged Beasts (BEASTS) is a coin with rebellion at its heart. This new presale is storming onto the scene, ready to shake up traditional finance and change the world as we know it. According to this presale, mainstream banking is like a cage to us, and instead, we should break free and embrace decentralized finance.One main feature that sets decentralized finance apart from traditional banking is its focus on community. This is why Caged Beasts place its community at the forefront of the coin. Through community events, competitions, social media platforms, and bonuses, Caged Beasts draw its community together with its sights set on rejecting traditional banking. With a future composed of NFTs, charity donations, and social stunts, Caged Beasts (BEASTS) has huge potential that rivals even the likes of Polkadot (DOT) and Chainlink (LINK).It is currently gearing up for Stage 1 of its presale - by signing up via email, and you will be notified when it starts, offering the best ROI!Click To Know More About Caged BeastsWebsiteTwitterTelegram(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI29 May 2023 Shared Recently! Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan meets Singapore Minister Kim Yong, discusses future readiness of workforce Singapore, May 29: During his 3-day visit, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan met Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry Min Gan Kim Yong earlier today. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan meets Singapore Minister Kim Yong, discusses 'future readiness of workforce' The two sides held a discussion on industry's role in the skilling ecosystem as well as in ensuring the future readiness of the workforce.In a tweet on Monday, the official Twitter account of Singapore in India wrote, "Part of his 3-day visit to, Indian Edu and Skills Dev and Entrepreneurship Min @dpradhanbjp met @MTI_Sg Min Gan Kim Yong earlier tdy. They had a good discussion on the industry's salient role in the skilling ecosystem and in ensuring the relevance and future readiness of the workforce."Union Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan embarked on his three-day visit to Singapore on Sunday to strengthen existing ties and explore the possibility of widening the scope of bilateral engagement in education and skill development.During his visit, Dharmendra Pradhan will be meeting members of the Indian diaspora and Odia Association. The Minister will also be interacting with the IIT and IIM alumni in Singapore, according to an official statement of the Ministry.India and Singapore have a long-standing partnership in the field of skill development. One of the focus areas of the Education Working Group under our G20 Presidency is promoting lifelong learning and the future of work.ANI29 May 2023 Shared Recently! White Shark raises USD 16 million to develop and deploy the worlds fastest self-evolving blockchain PNN, New Delhi, May 29: White Shark, the first Made in India Layer 1 public blockchain, has announced the successful completion of a USD 16 million funding round. White Shark raises USD 16 million to develop and deploy the world's fastest self-evolving blockchain The investment will be used to further develop and deploy their groundbreaking blockchain technology, which aims to revolutionize the industry with its speed, intelligence, and versatility.With a vision to make blockchain accessible, secure, and cost-effective for the masses, businesses, and government entities, White Shark's innovative platform incorporates advanced features such as smart blocks, smarter AI, and side chains. These capabilities enable seamless integration across various sectors, including governments, corporates, and MSMEs.White Shark's AI based self-evolving blockchain has garnered significant attention in the industry for its unprecedented speed and adaptability. The company's cutting-edge technology enables rapid iterations and improvements, making it the fastest self-evolving blockchain in the world.The founding team behind White Shark consists of visionary industrialists who have achieved tremendous success in building multi-million dollar businesses. Shantanu Dixit, Avani Shantanu Dixit, Rizwan Shaikh, Kaustubh Dixit, Aneesh Rajani, bring a wealth of experience to the company, with a combined expertise in business strategy, technology, and cybersecurity.Rizwan, the Chief Technology Officer of White Shark, is renowned as one of Asia's top cyber security experts and one of India's best ethical hackers. His deep knowledge and expertise in the field have been instrumental in the development of White Shark's robust security measures.White Shark's journey began in 2017 when the team embarked on extensive research and development to create a revolutionary blockchain solution. Since then, the company has made significant strides in its quest to make blockchain technology more accessible and user-friendly.Looking ahead, White Shark aims to deploy NO CODE DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM, further expanding the reach and adoption of blockchain technology. By simplifying the development process, White Shark is committed to driving mass adoption and empowering individuals and businesses worldwide.White Shark is the first Made in India Layer 1 public blockchain, offering the world's fastest AI based self-evolving blockchain technology. With a focus on accessibility, security and cost-effectiveness, White Shark aims to revolutionize blockchain adoption for governments, corporates, and MSMEs. The company's visionary founders and top-tier Tech experts are committed to driving innovation in the blockchain industry. White Shark has now started their social media handles to communicate with people.WebsiteInstagram(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI29 May 2023 Shared Recently! Chinas restrictions on flow of academic data sparks concerns among researchers globally Beijing, May 29: Recently introduced restrictions on the flow of academic and health data from China have sparked concerns among researchers globally, Nature reported. China's restrictions on flow of academic data sparks concerns among researchers globally According to researchers, the new rules and uncertainty surrounding them are discouraging international collaborations with scientists in China.Others fearing that access to information could be stymied have been choosing to not work on projects related to China or its citizens, Nature reported.According to the article, China is also mulling to place limits on the amount of human genetic data that can be sent to other nations. Joy Zhang, a sociologist at the UK's University of Kent, said that China does not want its scientists to collaborate freely as they used to with people of other nations."The signal has been very clear that China does not want its scientists to collaborate as freely as they used to with foreigners," Joy Zhang said, according to Nature.Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) came into effect in China in November 2021. The law is designed to stop companies and others who collect data on individuals from misusing their customers' personal information.The suite of regulations, which have been introduced gradually since 2021, includes cybersecurity assessments of personal information and genetic data sent overseas, and restrictions on the export of biotechnology know-how in CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology, synthetic biology and crop breeding. China is also considering limits on the amount of human genetic data that can be sent to other countries, the article said.Joy Zhang called privacy protections a "necessary development" in China and noted that many hospitals in China lack the cybersecurity infrastructure to safeguard patient data against privacy violations.Another measure that was implemented in China in 2022 was that the companies and institutions that send personal data, like customer details or information on clinical-trial participants to people outside China must undergo a data-export security assessment, according to Nature.The assessments conducted by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) have been designed to protect personal data and sensitive information related to national security. Chinese companies and universities planning to export data need to either apply for certification or have a contract with the receiving organization that guarantees the data will be stored appropriately and processed only as specified in the contract.Joy Zhang called the rules problematic for international researchers whose work depends on access to data or collaborators in China. According to the article, organizations in China were given six months to comply with the export requirements.One resource affected by the new rules is China's largest academic database - China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI).CNKI documents include millions of Chinese-language journal articles, master's and PhD theses, conference proceedings, newspapers, government statistics and patents, Nature reported.In April, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure suspended foreign access to portions of its database, including annual statistics collected by provincial governments, national census data, conference proceedings and theses. The CNKI said that the decision of suspension was taken according to the new rules on data export.ANI29 May 2023 Shared Recently! Bull-run prevails as Sensex jumps 345 points; banking stocks lead rally Mumbai, May 29: Benchmark indices on the domestic equity market extended their bull run as investors' sentiment improved from strong global cues. There is a possibility of ending of the logjam over the US debt ceiling. US President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy are slated to meet Tuesday to discuss a way to break the logjam. Bank stocks lead the rally on Monday. Bull-run prevails as Sensex jumps 345 points; banking stocks lead rally BSE 30-share Sensex went up 345 points and settled higher at 62,846 while NSE Nifty surged 99 points and ended at 18,599. Nifty had an intra-day high of 18,641. The Bank Nifty hit a fresh all-time high at 44,483. BSE banking index eventually ended 0.7 per cent higher at 44,312.With the exception of IT and oil and gas, all other sectoral indices ended in the green with the metal index going up to 1 per cent on Monday.In Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei went up 317 points, Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 195 points, S and P ASX gained 60 points and Thailand Set surged 10 points on Monday.In US markets, Dow Jones gained 328 points, Nasdaq surged 278 points, S and P/BMV and NYSE were trading in the positive territory and S and P 500 went up 54 points.In European markets, Amsterdam Exchange, BEL, CAC and Deutsche Borse were trading in the negative territory, FTSE 100 was up 56 points and Madrid was in the negative territory.The domestic institutional investors (DIIs) turned net buyers on Friday with Rs 1,840.98 crore and foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were also buyers with Rs 350.15 crore.The local currency settled at 82.64 (provisional) against the US dollar, registering a fall of 4 paise over its previous close.The shares of State Bank of India closed with 1.47 per cent up at Rs 594.60 apiece on Monday. The board of directors of the largest lender in the country declared a dividend of Rs 11.3 per equity share for the financial year 2023, translating to a dividend of 1,130 per cent.Sandeep Gupta, Senior Group VP and Head of Dealing and Advisory, Broking and Distribution, MOFSL, said, "Bank Nifty has been the biggest outperformer in recent months as good buying interest is seen across financial stocks. The Index made a new all-time high of 44483 mark today, compared to its previous high of 44,151 made in December 2022."Earning momentum continued for Banking stocks as most banks reported strong results.He said, "Apart from further expansion in margins, asset quality too continued to improve. Loan book growth has been healthy across segments. The Index is witnessing a strong breakout and could see further momentum from hereon and the Index can now head towards 45000 to 46000 zones in coming sessions."Deepak Jasani, Head of Retail Research, HDFC Securities, said, "Nifty held on to steady gains to end higher on May 29. At close, Nifty was up 0.54 per cent or 99.3 points at 18598.7. Volumes did not expand even as Nifty keeps surging higher."Speaking on global stocks, he said, "Trading volumes were light, with the US, UK and several European markets closed today for holidays. Nifty rose on May 29 with an upgap following the debt ceiling agreement over the weekend. 18696 is the next resistance for Nifty while 18508 could be a support."On the lines of domestic stocks ending higher, Siddhartha Khemka, Head for Retail Research, Motilal Oswal Financial Services, said, "Domestic equities edge higher following global optimism after the US government reached a tentative agreement to raise the debt ceiling and avert a default... Broader markets along with all major sectors too ended in green. Only oil and gas, and IT closed lower."He said Indian markets are seeing strong momentum driven by banking and other heavyweight stocks. "We expect the uptrend in Nifty to continue and expect it to head toward its life-high levels on the back of positive global cues, consistent FIIs buying, and healthy corporate earnings," he added.India's overall foreign exchange reserves declined USD 6.05 billion to USD 593.477 billion in the week that ended on May 19, 2023, data released by the Reserve Bank of India on Friday showed. Last week, it was near USD 600 billion and had hit a one-year high.India's foreign currency assets, the biggest component of the forex reserves, declined by USD 4.65 billion to USD 524.945 billion.Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services, said, "The domestic benchmarks experienced a strong rally and came close to their lifetime highs, primarily driven by positive global cues and robust predictions of domestic economic growth."He said an in-principle approval from US leaders for raising the US debt ceiling generated optimism among global investors, who are now anticipating the next monetary plan of the Federal Reserve and economic data points.ANI30 May 2023 Shared Recently! High-level discussions will be held with Delhi over sharing Yamuna water: HP CM Shimla, May 29: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has said that high-level discussions will be held for the Memorandum of Understanding between Delhi and Himachal Pradesh governments regarding Yamuna river water sharing. High-level discussions will be held with Delhi over sharing Yamuna water: HP CM Himachal CM met his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi on Sunday evening and discussed various common issues between both states, said Sukhu's office in a statement.Both Chief Ministers discussed electric supply for the upcoming Bulk Drug Park in Una district with the support of the Bhakra Beas Management Board. They also discussed water sharing agreements of the Renuka and Kishau hydro projects and their speedy completion, said the statement.ANI30 May 2023 Shared Recently! Wuhan pressing hundreds of Chinese firms to repay their debts in rare public warning: CNN Business Hong Kong, May 29: Largest city in central China -- Wuhan -- has publicly demanded that hundreds of local companies repay their debts, in an extremely rare move that highlights the dire financial situation many of the country's municipal governments are facing amid economic uncertainty, CNN Business reported. Wuhan pressing hundreds of Chinese firms to repay their debts in rare public warning: CNN Business The city's finance bureau said in a Friday statement published by the official Changjiang Daily newspaper that a total of 259 companies and entities owed it more than 100 million yuan (USD 14 million) combined. It urged them to pay their overdue debts as soon as possible.The debtors or guarantors include state or privately-owned companies, government departments and think tanks, according to official media outlets quoting a screenshot of the newspaper.The finance bureau said it was unsuccessful in collecting the debts and was offering rewards to anyone able to provide useful information about the debtors' financial assets.The public announcement by Wuhan, which was at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic that began in late 2019, is highly unusual and underscores the fiscal challenges facing China's local governments.Chinese leader Xi Jinping's zero-Covid campaign has exhausted the budgets of many cities and provinces, after they spent billions of dollars on frequent Covid lockdowns, mass testing and quarantine centres before last December's policy U-turn. According to CNN Business, a real estate crash has exacerbated the problem, as local governments rely heavily on land sale revenues.Analysts estimated China's outstanding government debts surpassed 123 trillion yuan (USD 18 trillion) last year, of which nearly USD 10 trillion is so-called "hidden debt" owed by risky local government financing platforms.Due to tightening budgets, some cities have already slashed medical benefits to seniors, which sparked protests, according to CNN Business. Other vital services are at risk.Wuhan's debt collection announcement came just days after the official financing arms of Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, struggled to raise enough money to pay what they owed their bondholders. Yunnan is one of the most indebted provinces in the country, with its outstanding debt to fiscal income ratio hitting more than 1,000 per cent last year, CNN Business said.Wuhan and Kunming are not the only city governments revealing the extent of their debt problems. According to CNN business, Guizhou, one of China's poorest provinces, publicly admitted defeat in April in trying to sort out its finances and appealed to Beijing for help to avoid default.In Wuhan, the debtors included major companies such as Dongfeng Wuhan Light Vehicle, which is controlled by the city's state asset regulator, and Uni-President Enterprises, a Taiwanese food and beverage giant with significant operations in mainland China.ANI30 May 2023 Shared Recently! TN farmers worried as wild animals destroy standing crops Chennai, May 29: Farmers in districts like Erode, Perambalur, and Nilgiris are in despair after the wild animals have wreaked havoc by destroying the crops that were ready for harvesting. TN farmers worried as wild animals destroy standing crops Owing to abundant rainfall last year, almost all the dams brimmed with water in the state leading to a good crop of millets, paddy and maize. However, farmers told IANS that even though the produce was good, the presence of deer and wild boars have led to the destruction of these crops.K. Krishnasamy, a farmer in Perambalur, told IANS, "I had sown millets in a four-acre farm and it was a good crop. However, wild deer that forayed into my field at night destroyed the crops. More than half of the millets have been destroyed by the deer and at times wild boar. I have already complained to the forest department and officials are expected to reach my farm and conduct an inspection. I am expecting compensation from the state government regarding this."Farmers want the forest department to help them in electric fencing of the farms. However, forest department is reluctant as after the death of wild elephants due to electrocution in Salem district recently, there have been complaints that the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution company (Tangedco) is not properly conducting inspection of these fences and that the high power passing through these fences have led to the death of wild animals including elephants.Periyakaruppan, a farmer at Salem, said, "The state forest department has to do something to prevent the wild animals from entering our fields and destroying our crops. Providing compensation is one thing and preventing the destruction of crops is another."With the menace of wild animals foraying into the fields continuing and the human- animal conflict reaching its peak, the farmers are urging the forest department to provide them security and to preserve the crops.In villages like Nattaramangalam, Chettikulam, Eachankadu, Marudhadi, Padalur, Irur and Kurur, in Perambalur district, shallots have been the major crop. Farmers in these villages have been growing shallot crops three times a year but the wild animals entering the farms and destroying the crops have led to the farmers suffering heavily.Shanmugavadivelu, a farmer of Shallot while speaking to IANS said, "The wild boars enter our farm land and destroy it. They don't eat the shallots but destroy the entire crop. We have to check whether the crop insurance is working and we are expecting compensation from the forest department."IANS30 May 2023 Shared Recently! We will fulfil all promises made before election: Karnataka Minister Satish Jharkiholi Belagavi, May 29: Karnataka minister Satish Jharkiholi said in Belgavi on Monday that the state government is working on implementing the guarantees made before the elections. We will fulfil all promises made before election: Karnataka Minister Satish Jharkiholi Jharkiholi said, "It is our responsibility to implement the guarantees announced by us. Did the opposition say they will give guarantees? Is the CM from BJP or JDS? It has been only 15 days since our government came to power. Experts are deciding who to give Rs 1,000, Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000 to. It is not like distributing guarantee cards which were done during elections. We will work towards implementing the guarantees".Further, the PWD minister said, "It is not possible to give a guarantee scheme to everyone like throwing a guarantee card from door to door in an election. We will identify the needy, the poor and implement the guarantee scheme".The people of the state have a lot of expectations from our government. We will fulfill all the promises we made in the elections. We are ready to fulfil the guarantee, but the opposition is creating confusion. It is we who gave the guarantee, not them! It takes time to fulfill the guarantees. Preparations have already been made for the implementation of the project, we will implement It", he added.Significantly, the Congress government, having secured 135 seats in the assembly, recently came to power. Congress's Siddaramaiah became the Chief Minister and DK Shivakumar the Deputy CM .ANI30 May 2023 Shared Recently! Vande Bharat train to help realise transformation through transportation goal of PM Modi: Assam CM Guwahati, May 29: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday attended the flagging off of Northeast India's first Vande Bharat Express train by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the video-conferencing mode at a ceremony held at Guwahati Railway Station. Vande Bharat train to help realise 'transformation through transportation' goal of PM Modi: Assam CM Connecting Guwahati with New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, the Vande Bharat Express, a semi-high-speed train built with indigenously developed technology, would cover a distance of approximately 411 kilometres within a span of 5 hours and 30 minutes.Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sarma said the Vande Bharat Express train would play a major role in shaping the Prime Minister's goal of "transformation through transportation" for the country's Northeastern region.The Chief Minister added the Prime Minister deserved praise from all quarters for his efforts aimed at overall growth and development in the Northeastern region.The state-of-the-art Vande Bharat Train is fitted with the modern train collision avoidance system (TCAS), also known as Kavach, and comes with numerous amenities such as bio-vacuum toilets, 360-degree revolving chairs, divyang-friendly washrooms and seat handles, among others, and is designed to provide an experience similar to that of air-travel to the passengers.Also, the Prime Minister today also dedicated to the nation the newly-electrified 199-kilometre stretch of railway tracks connecting New Bongaigaon - Dudhnoi - Mendipathar and the 238-kilometre stretch between Guwahati and Chaparmukh.Under the current PM Modi-led government at the Centre, Sarma said the roadways, railways and waterways connectivity in the Northeast had witnessed a never-before-seen modernization push.ANI30 May 2023 Shared Recently! Decoded: How Botox drug enters brain cells, causes paralysis Sydney, May 29: Scientists have decoded how injections from Botox drug, majorly used to smoothen wrinkles and reverse ageing, are able to breach brain cells, leading to paralysis or even death. Decoded: How Botox drug enters brain cells, causes paralysis The injectable drug Botox was originally developed to treat people with the eye condition strabismus, but was quickly found to alleviate migraine, chronic pain, and spasticity disorders.Currently, it's regularly used in plastic surgeries and is commonly known as a cosmetic treatment to smooth wrinkles.The Botulinum neurotoxins used in Botox are a highly poisonous substance produced by bacteria Clostridium Botulinum. The toxin disrupts communication between neurons, leading to muscle paralysis.While in small, this therapeutic doses can ease muscle spasms, treat migraines or, reduce wrinkles, high doses can cause botulism -- a potentially fatal disease with few treatments.Researchers from The University of Queensland (UQ) discovered the specific molecular mechanism by which the highly deadly Botulinum Neurotoxin type-A, enters neurons."We used super-resolution microscopy to show that a receptor called Synaptotagmin 1 binds to two other previously known Clostridial Neurotoxin receptors to form a tiny complex that sits on the plasma membrane of neurons," said Professor Frederic Meunier at UQ's Queensland Brain Institute."The toxin hijacks this complex and enters the synaptic vesicles which store neurotransmitters critical to communication between neurons."Botox then interrupts the communication between nerves and muscle cells, causing paralysis."The research, published in The EMBO Journal, can help block interactions between any two of the three receptors to stop the deadly toxins from getting into neurons, Meunier said.Dr. Merja Joensuu from the Institute said that how the neurotoxin worked to relax muscles has previously been difficult to track."Clostridial neurotoxins are among the most potent protein toxins known to humans," Dr. Joensuu said."We now have a full picture of how these toxins are internalised to intoxicate neurons at therapeutically relevant concentrations," she added.IANS30 May 2023 Shared Recently! Modi brought alive concept of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas: Yogi Adityanath Lucknow, May 29: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said here on Monday that for the first time in nine years under the Modi government, facilities and benefits were extended to all without discrimination. Modi brought alive concept of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas': Yogi Adityanath "We brought alive the concept of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas' in the true sense of the term and people received benefits of government schemes without any bias. During the pandemic, the government gave medicines and vaccines without differentiating between caste or religion or even asking one's identity. The benefits of 'Har Ghar Nal', 'Ujjwala' and free ration are for all without any discrimination," he said.Yogi Adityanath was addressing a Press conference along with Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri where both the leaders listed the achievements of the Modi government in the past nine years and also the work done by the BJP-ruled state.Hardeep Singh Puri said that health services were being made available to all under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana which was unprecedented in itself. Nearly 37 crore people in the country have benefitted from this, he said."Through the Kisan Samman Nidhi, farmers are now directly getting the benefits in their bank accounts. Street vendors are also among the beneficiaries," he said.He further said that India had grown to be a world leader where economy is concerned."This is a new Bharat that has come alive under the leadership of Narendra Modi. We are the fifth largest economy in the world," he added.Yogi Adityanath said that Uttar Pradesh had created an environment conducive to industrial and infrastructure growth in areas related to highways, expressways, railways, public transport and waterways."The 'One District One Product' scheme has proved to be a game changer for the economy in UP," he said.The chief minister said that the Ram temple construction in Ayodhya, makeover in Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Mathura and the hosting of Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj have instilled a sense of pride in every Indian.He further said, "In the past nine years, we have seen India transform into a global leader. World leaders are breaking protocols to show their respect to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as was seen recently in by the heads of Papua Guinea and Australia."Yogi Adityanath said that in the past nine years, India had managed to secure our borders, crush terrorism and Naxalism. He added that India was moving towards a new era which was reminiscent of Ram Rajya.IANS30 May 2023 Shared Recently! Power Book II: Ghost S3 set for OTT release in India: Michail Rainey Jr, Mary J Blige speak about their roles Mumbai May 29: 'Power Book II: Ghost', a sequel and spin-off to 'Power', is gearing up for its third season premiere in India. Tariq St.Patrick, played by Michail Rainey Jr., will be at a crossroads in the sequel, torn between making an identity for himself and defending his family. Tariq, fearful of his legacy, will discover some startling realities about his past while attempting to secure his future. 'Power Book II: Ghost S3' set for OTT release in India: Michail Rainey Jr, Mary J Blige speak about their roles Talking about his character Tariq St. Patrick, lead actor Michail said, "Obviously, the life that Tariq is living has a lot of obstacles. One is him being away from his family. That's tough for him. Since the beginning of the show he hasn't really had anybody to confide in. But now shit is getting real for him and it's tough. He doesn't have a sister, he doesn't have a mom, and he doesn't have a grandma. That's definitely a big obstacle for him.""The second one is just trying to stay free. Stay out of the legal trouble in this game. One more obstacle is that he is working for someone really dangerous this season. He has some really big shoes to fill. Like I said, they killed Mecca, so they have to fill those shoes. We'll see how that works," he added.Actress Mary J Blige shared how she relates to her character and said, "Well, she's relatable to me. I've known Monet all my life. I've hung out with Monet. I was 16-years-old hanging with 36-year-old drug dealing women that were my friends. They kept me close. I was quiet and I loved them. And I look at my mom like Monet, minus some of the drugs. She was a single parent mother, raising her kids in the 'hood. She had three jobs, trying to figure it out, by any means necessary. She would hurt people over her children. That's basically pretty much every mother I know, where I'm from."Created by Courtney A. Kemp, the series stars Michael Rainey Jr., Woody McClain, Shane Johnson, Mary J. Blige, Gianni Paolo, Method Man, Lovell Adams-Gray, Paige Hurd, and Brayden Weston.'Power Book II Ghost S3' will stream from June 2 on Lionsgate Play.ANI30 May 2023 Shared Recently! BJP CMs discuss people-centric schemes during meeting with PM Modi New Delhi, May 29: Chief Ministers of Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states on Sunday shared feedback about work being done by them and talked about efforts to expand the reach of central schemes in their meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, sources said. BJP CMs discuss people-centric schemes during meeting with PM Modi The Chief Ministers discussed the roadmap to take welfare schemes to the last mile and there was a general review of preparations of Lok Sabha polls next year, the sources said.The meeting was held on a day the Prime Minister inaugurated the new building of Parliament.Those who were present in the meeting included BJP chief JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, his two deputies Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brijesh Pathak, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, Goa CM Pramod Sawant, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.Gujarat Chief Bhupendra Patel, Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha were also present.With the Narendra Modi government having completed nine years in office in two successive terms, the BJP is reaching out to people with the achievements of the government.Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the new Parliament House to the nation on Sunday. Earlier in the day, he installed the Sengol with Nandi at the top facing East-West direction in the new Parliament House. He also lit up the diya and offered flowers to the Sengol.Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister remarked that there are few moments in every nation's history that are immortalized and said May 28, 2023 was such a day. "People of India have given themselves a gift for the Amrit Mahotsav", he said.PM Modi said the new Parliament building was a symbol of the aspirations of the people for making India a developed country.ANI30 May 2023 Shared Recently! Ollie Robinson, James Anderson to miss Englands one-off Test against Ireland London, May 29: Pacers James Anderson and Ollie Robinson have been ruled out of England's one-off Test against Ireland at Lord's starting from Thursday, with both on course for returning to full fitness at the start of The Ashes from June 16 onwards. Ollie Robinson, James Anderson to miss England's one-off Test against Ireland Robinson limped during Sussex's County Championship match against Glamorgan last week, experiencing irritation in his Achilles tendon, while on the other hand, Anderson suffered a groin strain during Lancashire's match against Somerset earlier this month.Both of these players have not bowled since then and there are also concerns over Ben Stokes, the all-rounder who had an injury-affected stint with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Head coach Brendon McCullum, speaking at the Lords' as his side gathered for summer's first training session, insisted his team would be ready to "play the cards you are handed". This could include the first Test outing for Mark Wood this year, who was rested during New Zealand Test series in spring and had an IPL stint with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)."We have got a couple of niggles, so we are just monitoring those at the moment," McCullum told Sky Sports as quoted by ESPNCricinfo."Every team that goes into a series has got a couple of little things that you need to work through, but we are pretty confident we will have a good squad to be able to pick from. For the first Ashes Test, I think [Anderson and Robinson] should be fit. They would not be fit for this one against Ireland. We will just have to monitor it over this next sort of while, but we have got some great options right throughout the squad.""Stokesy is progressing well too. He looks really fit as well, looks in great order and has a big smile on his face. He is delighted to be back around the group and as our leader, having that sort of energy he brings is fantastic, so again we'll monitor that and see what happens.""I think he will bowl at some stage throughout the summer, yeah, no doubt. He is a world-class allrounder and if he is able to bowl, fantastic. If not, we will find a way," concluded McCullum.McCullum said that he disagrees with people's claims about the lack of depth in English cricket."When I first took over this job, people said there was not much depth in English cricket and I disagree with that completely. I think there is an immense amount of depth. There is no point in being concerned. You just deal with what you have got and play the cards you are handed. I am confident we will have a good squad to pick from right throughout the summer, and we will see how we go," said McCullum.England is heading into their new season with their game and reputation transformed under a year of the Stokes-McCullum pair, having won 10 of their last 12 Test matches, with their last match being a one-run loss against New Zealand in February, which reinforced their "no fear" style of cricket.Although the team's first obstacle will be to defeat an Ireland squad that humiliated England for 85 runs in their most recent outing at Lord's in 2019, McCullum conceded that the Ashes are already on the team's minds."It has been a great year, this will be a big summer. There will be a lot of eyeballs on us, not just in the UK but also around the world, and that is what you want to be involved in. Who knows if we are going to win this summer but we are going to go into it with the right attitude, the right environment, and the right team which believes it has got a chance," said the coach."We are a team that knows how we want to play now, and we are not afraid to lose, which is quite a remarkable trait, and that is led by the skipper and some of the senior players as well. If we do play how we want to play, we give ourselves the best opportunity and we have got the talent to put world-class teams under pressure," added McCullum.Regarding the strengths of the team's composition and whether England will be able to play their newly emancipated brand of cricket in the full glare of an Ashes summer against a talented Australian team, McCullum remained phlegmatic."Look, Australia is a very good line-up, right? They have world-class bowlers and have been a very good team for a long period of time. They will be a formidable challenge for us, but it is a challenge we are really looking forward to," he said."It is what you want to play sport for, right? You want to be playing against the best, in the biggest series and on the biggest stage, and there is no greater opportunity than what lies in front of us in the next six to eight weeks.""From our point of view, we do not go into it prescribed with our method, it is about trying to ensure we are nice and free of mind, and being able to live in the present and deal with what comes our way. If it is a high-scoring rate, great. If it is not, that is great too. We will just see what happens," concluded McCullum.Squad against Ireland Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.ANI30 May 2023 Shared Recently! Study finds how excessive salt consumption associated with cognitive disorders, high blood pressure Tokyo, May 29: Dementia is described as a loss of cognitive functioning, which included thinking, remembering, and reasoning, and it is quite common in Japan. At the moment, treatment satisfaction for dementia is among the lowest, and no medication therapy to cure the condition is available. With the world's population increasingly ageing, the discovery of dementia prevention and treatment medications is crucial. Study finds how excessive salt consumption associated with cognitive disorders, high blood pressure Cognitive impairment has been linked to the consumption of excess table salt, a ubiquitous food seasoning. High salt (HS) intake can also lead to hypertension. To prevent adverse health outcomes, the World Health Organization recommends limiting salt intake to less than 5 g per day. The involvement of angiotensin II (Ang II)--a hormone that plays a key role in regulating blood pressure and fluid balance--and its receptor "AT1", as well as that of the physiologically important lipid molecule prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 and its receptor "EP1" in hypertension and neurotoxicity is well-recognized. However, the involvement of these systems in HS-mediated hypertension and emotional/cognitive impairment remains elusive.To this end, a recent study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology thoroughly evaluated the aspects of HS-mediated hypertension and emotional/cognitive impairment. The study was performed by a team of collaborating researchers from Japan, and has shown how hypertension, mediated by the crosstalk between Ang II-AT1 and PGE2-EP1 causes emotional and cognitive dysfunction.Author Hisayoshi Kubota from Fujita Health University's Graduate School of Health Science comments, "Excessive salt intake is considered a risk factor for hypertension, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. However, studies focusing on the interaction between the peripheral and central nervous system have not sufficiently investigated this association."According to the published data, the addition of excessive phosphates to the protein "tau" is primarily responsible for this emotional and cognitive consequences. The findings are particularly noteworthy because tau is a key protein of the Alzheimer's disease.The team first loaded laboratory mice with an HS solution (2 per cent NaCl in drinking water) for 12 weeks and monitored their blood pressure. "The effects of HS intake on emotional/cognitive function and tau phosphorylation were also examined in two key areas of the mouse brain--the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus," explains Prof. Mouri. Next, they also studied the involvement of the Ang II-AT1 and PGE2-EP1 systems in the HS-induced hypertension and neuronal/behavioral impairment.The results were remarkable and encouraging The brains of the experimental mice had several biochemical alternations. At the molecular level, besides the addition of phosphates to tau, the researchers also observed a decrease in the phosphate groups linked to a key enzyme called "CaMKII"--a protein involved in brain signaling. Moreover, changes in the levels of "PSD95"--a protein that plays a vital role in the organization and function of brain synapses (connection between brain cells)--were also evident. Interestingly, the biochemical changes were reversed after the administration of the antihypertensive drug "losartan." A similar reversal was observed after knocking out the EP1 gene.Overall, these findings suggest that angiotensin II-AT1 and prostaglandin E2-EP1 systems could be novel therapeutic targets for hypertension-induced dementia.ANI30 May 2023 Shared Recently! MP CM Chouhan distributes offer letters to selected applicants at mega job fair in Bhopal Bhopal, May 29: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan distributed offer letters and approval letters of schemes to selected applicants at Mega Job Fair and Shramik Chaupal organised in Bhopal on Monday. MP CM Chouhan distributes offer letters to selected applicants at mega job fair in Bhopal During this, Principal Secretary of Department of Technical Education, Skill Development and Employment Manu Shrivastava said that the names of over 3,000 applicants were registered in the mega job fair out of which 640 applicants were selected by various organisations in the job fair.Speaking on the occasion, CM Chouhan said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is concerned about the employment of the youth. Along with this, he is also focused on skill upgradation of the youth. Today, 640 youth got employment in the mega job fair."Employment is very important. On one hand, there are employers who need skilled persons, while on the other hand there are youths who want employment. A mega job fair was organised for such youth who need jobs. The Prime Minister organises employment fairs every month. A massive campaign to provide employment is going on in the country, the chief minister said.He added, "Efforts are being made to provide employment in different companies and to increase investment in Madhya Pradesh too. Madhya Pradesh is becoming a textile hub. Along with this, it is also becoming a hub of automobiles and pharma. Work is also going on in the food processing sector."PM Mitra Mega Park will start in Dhar district. Work is going on at a fast pace in the IT sector too. Employment will increase with the upcoming new investments in the state, Chouhan said.Besides , the CM expressed his gratitude to those institutions which have given employment to the youths.He also gave detailed information about Mukhyamantri Seekho Kamao Yojana (Learn and Earn Scheme) on the occasion. Talking about labour welfare, CM Chouhan said four Shramodaya Vidyalaya have been opened in the state where only children of labourers study.There is a target of the state government for recruiting one lakh government posts in the state till August 2023. After its completion, the recruitment for 50,000 posts will be done further, he added.ANI30 May 2023 Shared Recently! J-K: LG Manoj Sinha inaugurates Jambu Zoo at Nagrota Jammu, May 29: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday inaugurated the Jambu Zoo at Nagrota and said that the new addition to the tourist destinations of J-K will attract both local residents and tourists visiting the Union Territory. J-K: LG Manoj Sinha inaugurates Jambu Zoo at Nagrota "Spread over the 70-hectare area, the new addition to the tourist destinations of J-K UT attracts both local residents and tourists visiting Union Territory," LG Sinha said.On the occasion, Lt Governor congratulated the people of Jammu and Kashmir and all the stakeholder departments. He also acknowledged the hard work of all the workers engaged in the construction of Jambu Zoo, the official statement mentioned.Jambu Zoo was taken up under the Languishing Project of the state government. LG further announced free entry for all in the zoo for the duration of one month."This much awaited addition to the tourist destinations of J-K UT, spread over 70 ha area in the phase-1, was taken up under Languishing Project and it shall attract both local residents and tourists visiting Union Territory," J-K LG Sinha said.The scenic beauty around the first-of-its-kind full-fledged zoo in the UT will make it a unique tourist destination and has the potential to boost tourism in the region, he added.He further stated that Jammu and Kashmir have entered a new era of opportunities with the successful completion of the G20 Summit in Union territory."With the successful conduct of the G20 Summit, J-K UT has entered a new era of opportunities. It is a rare moment and the world is applauding J-K's saga of development. We must work together to keep pace with the rest of the states and contribute to the significant task of Viksit Bharat 2047," he said.The LG also said that the youth are the architects of New Jammu Kashmir."Our youth are the architects of New Jammu Kashmir and we are seeing a steady rise in youth entrepreneurs, who are working with dedication to build a prosperous society and preserve our civilizational-cultural values and our commitment to peace," he said.On the occasion, LG Sinha also said that the G20 Summit and reformative youth-centric endeavours of the UT Government have opened up endless opportunities for the socio-economic empowerment of the youth of Jammu and Kashmir."Within just one year, more than 82,000 business units have been established, providing 2.85 lakh youth with direct employment opportunities. Under Mission Youth, we have extended handholding to 70,000 young boys and girls to become self-reliant," he said.He said that under Languishing Project, J-K UT has successfully completed 1500 projects which were pending for the last 10 to 20 years.Our cities are being transformed into smart cities and our villages are getting more integrated into the mainstream development. The basic infrastructure is being strengthened to realize the potential of every region, the Lt Governor said.He also announced that the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams will be opened and dedicated to the people on June 8.ANI30 May 2023 Shared Recently! Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan meets Singapores Deputy PM, agree to create opportunities for lifelong learning New Delhi, May 29: India and Singapore agree to create opportunities for lifelong learning, building a future-ready workforce, during Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's visit to the latter nation, the Ministry of Education said. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan meets Singapore's Deputy PM, agree to create opportunities for lifelong learning Pradhan, who is on a three-day visit to Singapore, met Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday on strengthening the existing cooperation between India and Singapore with a focus on deepening engagements in skill development."Pleasure meeting DPM and Minister for Finance, Singapore, @LawrenceWongST. Fruitful discussions on strengthening the existing cooperation between India and Singapore and deepening engagements in skill development as well as technical and vocational education," Union Minister tweeted.He further added, "The emerging future is a world of unlimited opportunities. Both DPM @LawrenceWongST and I agreed to work together for mutual benefit, create opportunities for lifelong learning, build a future-ready workforce and also to make knowledge and skill development a key pillar of our strategic partnership.""During the meeting it was agreed to work together, aiming to create opportunities for lifelong learning, building a future-ready workforce, and making knowledge and skill development a key pillar of strategic partnership" Ministry said.During the meeting, Pradhan said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian Government launched the National Education Policy (NEP) in 2020. NEP 2020 is specifically focussing on providing early exposure to vocational education in middle schools, ensuring the market relevance of training as well as building the capacity of our institutions to provide technical and vocational education.He further informed the Government is also working towards integrating the skills qualifications framework with the higher education qualification framework and investing in developing short-term and long-term training programs to provide skilling, re-skilling and upskilling opportunities. The Minister stressed learning from the best practices of Singapore, collaborating and customizing it to meet Indian needs.Dharmendra Pradhan had an insightful discussion with Singapore's Minister of Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong. The Ministers had fruitful conversations on strengthening our skill development and vocational training linkages through all mechanisms for creating a seamless architecture for skilling and lifelong learning. Building on the outcomes of the G20 Future of Work workshop in Bhubaneswar, they also discussed ways in which India can leverage the expertise and knowledge of Singapore for addressing common challenges and transforming the Indian skills ecosystem.Pradhan had the opportunity to have a greater overview of the best practices and models being followed in Singapore for the training of the workforce. Both the Ministers agreed to advance mutual priorities in skills, create new opportunities for lifelong learning and collaborate together for the benefit of our countries as well as other emerging economies.Later in the day, Dharmendra Pradhan visited Spectra Secondary School. He interacted with students and teachers to know more about the teaching-learning environment, and pedagogy, among others.The Minister was happy to know that the school prioritises skills-based education and also focuses on encouraging learning at a pace suitable for every learner to prepare them for future workplaces, the Ministry said.ANI30 May 2023 Shared Recently! China shows off military wares in Southeast Asia Beijing, May 30: China is getting back into the groove of marketing arms at defense exhibitions in Asia, after a long absence because of COVID-19. China had a strong presence at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition in Malaysia, with the biennial event better known as LIMA 2023. China shows off military wares in Southeast Asia China had both military platforms of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and commercial companies exhibiting at this popular show on the tropical island of Langkawi in the Strait of Malacca. These twin efforts illustrated how China really is a superpower with an ever-expanding footprint in Southeast Asia and beyond.On the apron at Langkawi International Airport were eight J-10C fighters of the PLA Air Force's (PLAAF) August 1st aerobatic team. It was the first time this team - named for the founding date of the PLA on 1 August 1927 - had performed overseas since COVID hit, or flown its new J-10C fighter aircraft overseas. The PLAAF started operating the J-10C in April 2018, and the single-engine J-10 represents a backbone of the PLAAF.As for the PLA Navy (PLAN), it dispatched a Type 052D destroyer to LIMA 2023 for the very first time. Anchored offshore, the Type 052D destroyer Zhanjiang was only commissioned in March 2022, so barely a year old. This particular destroyer features a lengthened flight deck (the variant is unofficially called the Type 052DL) so that it can better accommodate Z-20 naval helicopters operated by the PLAN.Since the first Type 052D warship was commissioned in 2014, a total of 22 have been produced for the PLAN to date. They have not been exported, but the type is being marketed to overseas buyers, as evinced by brochures available at last year's Zhuhai Airshow in southern China.One Chinese warship type that has been exported successfully is the Type 054A frigate. Indeed, LIMA 2023 witnessed the maiden visit of a Pakistan Navy (PN) Type 054A/P frigate. The brand new PNS Shah Jahan displacing 4,000 tonnes was on its delivery voyage from Shanghai, after being turned over to the PN in a ceremony on 10 May.China has built four Type 054A/P Tughril-class frigates for Pakistan via two separate contracts signed in 2017 and 2018. PNS Shah Jahan represented one of the two final two vessels, with Pakistan the only export recipient of the frigate type so far. China has enjoyed great success in arms sales to Southeast Asia too. Indeed, Malaysia, the host of LIMA 2023, showcased the two Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) - KD Keris and KD Rencong - of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN). These 68m-long vessels were constructed by China and commissioned from 2020 to 2022; they marked the first time that Malaysia had turned to China for new warships.Interestingly, the second pair of LMS was supposed to be constructed in Malaysia by Boustead Naval Shipyard, but that plan was changed due to the domestic shipbuilder's woes in constructing six frigates in conjunction with French shipbuilder Naval Group. China ultimately built all four LMS, instead of the first two as originally conceived. Nonetheless, the RMN told ANI that Malaysia will look elsewhere for a second batch of LMS. The first batch of Chinese LMS has experienced problems in heavy seas because of their size, plus they are not particularly capable in terms of weaponry or payload capacity. Therefore, Malaysia is looking for a Western-built LMS that is larger and heavier, with Turkish and European contenders leading the way.Elsewhere in Asia, China recently delivered a Type 071E landing platform dock - naval terminology for an amphibious warfare ship that possesses a flight deck and an internal well deck that accommodates landing craft or hovercraft - on 17 April. The 20,000-tonne vessel HTMS Chang arrived in Thailand later that month. This Thai sale was significant as it was the largest warship China has ever sold overseas. Thailand has turned into a major customer for Chinese defense equipment, buying tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, amphibious assault vehicles, surface-to-air- missiles, rocket launchers and more.However, the junta government in Bangkok is paying a price for its close relations with China. In May, the US Department of Defense formally declined Thailand's ambition to buy F-35A fighters. Robert F. Gordec, US Ambassador to Thailand, informed Thailand of this decision recently, citing a US assessment that the Thai air force does not possess the necessary infrastructure, airbase security, runways, maintenance capabilities and personnel to operate the high-tech F-35A. Likely the ambassador was just being polite - of more concern would be Thailand's close links with China, despite it being a treaty ally with the USA. Washington DC instead offered Thailand F-16 Block 70 or F-15E fighters, and promised to consider Thailand's case in ten years' time.Returning to LIMA 2023, most of the large Chinese state-owned defense conglomerates were present. These included Norinco that specializes in land equipment; China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) focusing on electronic equipment such as radars; China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC); and China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corporation. The latter is an umbrella defense company that represents other companies for defense exports.Most products exhibited by these companies - generally denoted by scale models and mock-ups - have been seen before. However, of interest was a model of an S26T diesel-electric submarine displayed in the CSSC booth. The model has been seen plenty of times before, for CSSC is building one such submarine for the Royal Thai Navy (RTN).ANI asked a company representative how this submarine contract is proceeding, and was told, "Everything is going smoothly." This goes to show just how untrustworthy Chinese sales pitches are, for this project is mired in difficulties. When the USD 430 million contract was signed in 2017, China and Thailand assumed this submarine - of which a second and third could be ordered in the future - would be powered by German-built engines. The propulsion units in question were MTU 12V 396 SE84 engines, but Germany decided to ban the sale of such engines to China, even though their ultimate destination is Thailand.Germany cited an EU arms embargo, although the country has not bothered to enforce such sanctions on China before now. The PLAN is a lucrative customer for German submarine and warship engines, but what has changed is greater scrutiny on arms embargoes to places like China and Russia after President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.With Germany refusing to grant an export license for these MTU engines, CSSC has been scrambling around to offer indigenous Chinese power plants instead. This solution will prove less than satisfactory for Thailand, and Beijing is now trying to convince the customer to accept its unproven alternative. If Bangkok cannot be persuaded, China faces the very real prospect of having this submarine sale cancelled for breach of contract. More than 50% of the 1,850-tonne S26T has been completed, after first steel was cut on 4 September 2018.A spokesman for the RTN said, "Although the submarine procurement project may have some obstacles, we will try to solve the problem as best as possible, and affirm that every project undertaken by the Royal Thai Navy is transparent and verifiable..." The Pakistan Navy was planning to use the same MTU engines on its eight Chinese- designed Hangor-class submarines. However, with that engine sale also blocked by the German government, Pakistan has reportedly agreed for China to fit indigenous CHD620 engines instead.Because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, European countries like Germany have belatedly cracked down on the transfer of military technologies to Russia and China. As can be seen from its strong presence at LIMA 2023, China has made impressive headway in the pursuit of arms sales in Southeast Asia and beyond. Unfortunately, this has not translated into any softening of its belligerent behaviour in places like the South China Sea, nor in its loose control over rogue Chinese vessels.For example, even as LIMA 2023 was being held, an illegal Chinese salvage operation was occurring off the Malaysian coast inside the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Chinese vessel was salvaging scrap steel, aluminum and brass from World War II wrecks, namely the battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battlecruiser HMS Repulse.Both warships were sunk by Japan on 10 December 1941, with the loss of 840 lives. The dredging crane Chuan Hong 68 was bringing up scrap metal from these wrecks, but in so doing, plundering war graves. China is particularly interested in the high- quality steel of such wrecks since it was produced before nuclear weapons were detonated. Such "low background steel" is ideal for making sensitive particle detectors, Geiger counters and the like. Chuan Hong 68 is also wanted by the Indonesian authorities for plundering the remains of sunken Dutch warships in the Java Sea.Rather surprisingly for the normally docile Kuala Lumpur government, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) swiftly detained the China-registered Chuan Hong 68 and its 32-man crew for failing to possess an anchoring permit. The MMEA found war-era scrap metal and cannon shells aboard the grab dredger. Simultaneously, another Chinese research vessel was inside Vietnam's EEZ, escorted by five and sometimes as many as twelve Chinese vessels. This was the most significant intrusion in the area since 2019, which led to a three-month standoff between China and Vietnam at that time. Xiang Yang Hong 10 entered Vietnam's EEZ on 7 May, close to gas blocks operated by Russian firms.Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, assured nobody by saying, "Relevant ships of China carry out normal activities under China's jurisdiction. It is legitimate and lawful, and there is no issue of entering other countries' exclusive economic zones."Later, another Chinese research vessel, Jia Geng, entered Vietnam's EEZ in the South China Sea. This is part of Beijing's doubling down on efforts to harass Vietnam's exploration for oil and gas in the Vanguard Bank area. Elsewhere, the Chinese survey vessel Haiyang Dizhi Liuhao intruded without authorization into Palau's EEZ in the Western Pacific. It entered on 24 May, just two days after the USA and Palau concluded a bilateral Compact of Free Association. Indeed, this trespass could be interpreted as a mark of China's displeasure at theagreement.The path of this survey ship indicates it may be interested in the SEA-US undersea cable, which connects Palau to Guam and the Philippines. David Panuelo, former president of the Federated States of Micronesia, had previously warned that China had an unhealthy interest in Palau's marine resources and telecom cables. According to Article 246 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), coastal states "have the right to regulate, authorize and conduct marine scientific research in their EEZ and on their continental shelf".This is logical, but the same UNCLOS article goes on to say "Coastal states shall, in normal circumstances, grant their consent for marine scientific research projects by other states or competent international organizations in their EEZ or on their continental shelf to be carried out in accordance with this Convention exclusively for peaceful purposes and in order to increase scientific knowledge of the marine environment for the benefit of all mankind."China might be a signatory to UNCLOS, but it arrogantly decrees it is above such laws. Article 9 of the 1998 Law of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on the EEZ and the Continental Shelf, says, "Marine scientific research by any international organization, foreign organization and individual in the EEZ and the continental shelf of the PRC must be subject to the approval of the competent authorities of the PRC and must conform to the laws and regulations of the PRC." In other words, China has full veto over international law, to which it is a signatory.Nor does China feel the need to gain permission from others to conduct research in the EEZs of sovereign states. China is a powerful force on the global arms market, and the PLA is foraying farther afield. Unfortunately, as part of this relentless growth, Beijing is unafraid to runroughshod over those smaller than itself. Although China's motto is "win-win relationships", its behaviour demonstrates that "might is right" is a far more accurate description.ANI30 May 2023 Shared Recently! Ugandas President signs harsh anti-LGBTQ law including death penalty Kampala [Uganda], May 30: President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni has signed a new law, one of the world's toughest anti-homosexuality measures, drawing widspread criticism from within the country and internationally, Al Jazeera reported. Uganda's President signs harsh anti-LGBTQ law including death penalty Anita Among, Speaker of Parliament, said in a Twitter post, "I now encourage the duty bearers under the law to execute the mandate bestowed upon them in the Anti-Homosexuality Act.""The People of Uganda have spoken, and it is your duty to now enforce the law in a fair, steadfast, and firm manner," the post read.Same-sex relationships were prohibited in more than 30 African nations, including Uganda, but the new law goes considerably further in its discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people, Al Jazeera reported.It mandates a 20-year term for "promoting" homosexuality and prescribes for death penalty for certain behaviour, such as engaging in gay sex when HIV positive.The approval of the law comes despite opposition from Western governments, businesses, and human rights activists, Al Jazeera reported.The Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 was one of six pieces of legislation that Museveni's office confirmed the president signed into law on Sunday.Earlier this month, lawmakers passed a new draft of the legislation, pledging to resist any outside interference in their efforts to protect Ugandan's values Western immorality, Al Jazeera reported further.The amended version said that while "engaging in acts of homosexuality" would be an offence punishable with life imprisonment, identifying as gay would not be criminalised.Pepe Julian Onziema, a human rights activist, as quoted by Al Jazeera from Kampala, said that he is "horrified" for himself, his community, and the state of human rights in the country."This act is a repeat of legislation that already exists, only this one takes it a notch higher in legalising hate, homophobia, transphobia and alienating a section of Uganda's citizenry, so that worries me on many levels," he said."This makes the already existing fear worse. It has triggered a lot of traumas of many LGBTIQ community members who have faced violence even before this law and in the whole passing of this law, there's already been violence. This has already caused a lot of paranoia, fear and people reliving traumas of what this could mean," Onziema said as quoted by Al Jazeera.ANI30 May 2023 Shared Recently! Researchers discover distinct patterns of pre-existing brain health characteristics in stroke patients Cincinnati, May 30: Extensive research has helped identify risk factors for acute stroke, but there is still a lack of information on what stroke patients' brains look like on a population level, according to a study. Researchers discover distinct patterns of pre-existing brain health characteristics in stroke patients The results of the first large-scale assessment of radiographic brain health in stroke patients in a community will be presented by University of Cincinnati researchers at the European Stroke Organisation Conference (ESOC) 2023, May 24-26 in Munich, Germany."Imaging can be an objective manifestation of the presence and severity of clinical factors such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and kidney failure," Achala Vagal, MD, professor of neuroradiology at UC 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.ANI30 May 2023 Shared Recently! Mirae Asset Mutual Fund Launches Mirae Asset Silver ETF PRNewswire, Mumbai, May 30: Mirae Asset Mutual Fund, one of the fastest-growing fund houses in India, today announced the launch of Mirae Asset Silver ETF (An open-ended scheme replicating/tracking Domestic Price of Silver). Mirae Asset Mutual Fund Launches Mirae Asset Silver ETF The New Fund Offer (NFO) opens on May 29, 2023 and closes on June 06, 2023. Scheme re-opens for continuous Sale and Repurchase on June 12, 2023. Listing of ETF units on stock exchanges i.e. BSE and NSE will be done within 5 days from the date of allotment. will be managed by Ritesh Patel. During the NFO, an investor can invest a minimum of Rs. 5,000 and in multiples of Re. 1 thereafter.To counter adverse movements in a particular asset or asset classes, investors can achieve effective diversification in their portfolios by incorporating alternative investments such as commodities. In India, investing in gold and silver ETFs are two most prominent investment strategies to gain exposure in the commodity segment without the need to trade commodities or derivatives. These ETFs provide investors with the opportunity to invest in precious metals in the digital format instead of investing in physical gold and silver. To varying degrees, both gold and silver may provide a hedge in a potential economic or market downturn, as well as during sustained periods of rising inflation.The Asset Under Management (AUM) of commodity-based have seen an uptick in the past 3 years* with AUM increasing at a 35 per cent CAGR rate from INR 10,081 Crores to INR 24,718 Crores. With Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) allowing ETFs based silver, 8 silver-based ETFs were launched by Houses in the year 2022 which are now managing assets worth INR 1,785 Crores.Source AMFI data and Ace MF as on 30th April 2023.*Past 3 years Period is April 2020 to April 2023Why to Invest in Silver ETF- Silver tends to act as hedge against the inflation and rising dollar movement also unlike Gold, Silver has significant usage in industrial applications.- There are several trends driving up silver demand, including consumer electronics growth, investment in 5G infrastructure and rising silver use in the green economy - especially in solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.- In last 5 years, Silver has given return of 13.1 per cent v/s 12.3 per cent by Nifty 50 Index and 13.0 per cent by Gold (As on April 30, 2023).- ETF is a relatively low-cost and easy option to take exposure in silver as it provides the convenience of buying and selling on stock exchanges just like stocks- For last two years i.e. 2021 and 2022, the demand for silver has exceeded the supply, however, the price has not moved significantly due to other macro-factors. Cooling down of factors will bring back attention to supply deficitSiddharth Srivastava, Head - ETF Product, Mirae Asset Mutual Fund, said, "Silver is widely considered to be a relatively in times of economy turmoil and a good hedge against dollar, just like gold. In addition to these factors, silver price has found support from its growing use in industrial settings, which now accounts for roughly half of the silver annual demand. These factors make silver a very compelling asset to be included in an investor's portfolio either from a long-term point of view or for tactical allocation based on various technical indicators."Mirae Asset Silver ETF will be benchmarked on the basis of domestic silver price based on the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) silver daily spot fixing price.Product Label and DisclaimersMirae Asset Silver ETF is suitable for investors who are seeking -- Investors seeking returns that are in line with the performance of silver over the long term, subject to tracking errors.- Investments in physical Silver of 99.9 per cent purity (fineness)*Investors should consult their financial advisors if they are not clear about the suitability of the product.BSE/NSE Disclaimer Every person who desires to apply for or otherwise acquires any unit of this Fund may do so pursuant to independent inquiry, investigation and analysis and shall not have any claim against the Exchange whatsoever by reason of any loss which may be suffered by such person consequent to or in connection with such subscription/ acquisition whether by reason of anything stated or omitted to be stated herein or any other reason whatsoeverStatutory Details Trustee Mirae Asset Trustee Company Private Limited; Investment Manager Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) Private Limited (AMC); Sponsor Mirae Asset Global Investments Company Limited.The information contained in this document is compiled from third party and publically available sources and is included for general information purposes only. There can be no assurance and guarantee on the yields. Views expressed by the Fund Manager cannot be construed to be a decision to invest. The statements contained herein are based on current views and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Whilst Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) Private Limited (the AMC) shall have no responsibility/liability whatsoever for the accuracy or any use or reliance thereof of such information. The AMC, its associate or sponsors or group companies, its Directors or employees accepts no liability for any loss or damage of any kind resulting out of the use of this document. The recipient(s) before acting on any information herein should make his/her/their own investigation and seek appropriate professional advice and shall alone be fully responsible/liable for any decision taken on the basis of information contained herein. Any reliance on the accuracy or use of such information shall be done only after consultation to the financial consultant to understand the specific legal, tax or financial implications.Please consult your financial advisor or mutual fund distributor before investing.For further information about other schemes (product labelling and performance of the fund) please visit the website of the AMCMutual fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme-related documents carefully.(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI30 May 2023 Shared Recently! Search My Expert bridges the skills gap with the launch of an innovative online marketplace PNN, New Delhi, May 30: In a bid to address the apparent skills gap faced by enterprises and professionals,, a leading digital marketplace, has unveiled its innovative online platform. Search My Expert bridges the skills gap with the launch of an innovative online marketplace This revolutionary marketplace aims to connect skilled vendors and professionals with businesses and individuals seeking their services.The newly launched online platform provides a golden opportunity for businesses and individuals to access a vast pool of talented vendors and professionals to meet their digital service needs. By leveraging the expertise of these skilled individuals, Search My Expert offers a platform that optimizes time and energy expenditure, resulting in efficient and cost-effective solutions.Recognizing the growing demand for alternative work solutions that are fast, cost-efficient, and flexible, Search My Expert is committed to bolstering this trend through its online marketplace. The platform serves as a facilitator, assisting both vendors and companies in securing work solutions tailored to their specific requirements.Simranjeet Singh, the Co-Founder of Search My Expert, expressed his belief in providing equal access to top talent, irrespective of geographical or budgetary constraints. Singh stated, "Our mission is to revolutionize the way B2B digital services are accessed and delivered within India, fostering a thriving ecosystem of collaboration and growth."The primary focus of Search My Expert is to cater to enterprise needs in the realm of digital services, including digital marketing, SEO, web design, and website creation. By providing these essential services, Search My Expert aims to reshape the way organizations operate, paving the way for a digitally transformed future.Founded in 2023 by Simranjeet Singh, Search My Expert is an innovative organization consisting of a team of young professionals, entrepreneurs, and vetted vendors. The team's combined expertise and proven success in delivering exceptional projects at cost-effective rates and with heightened efficiency have formed the cornerstone of this groundbreaking venture.The launch of Search My Expert's online marketplace marks a significant step forward in bridging the skills gap prevailing in the market. With this platform, businesses and individuals can access a wide array of digital services and connect with skilled professionals to fulfil their specific requirements. The result is a thriving digital ecosystem that fosters collaboration, innovation, and sustainable growth.Co-Founder Name Simranjeet SinghEmail - contact@searchmyexpert.comWebsite -(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI30 May 2023 Shared Recently! Sikh Regiment: Legacy of Valour and Bravery in Indian Army Punjab, May 30: Inspired by Guru Nanak Dev's teachings of selfless service, strife for justice, and honesty, Sikh youth have contributed the largest number of recruits to the Indian armed forces. From the snowclad Himalayan mountains to the sultry jungles of the Seven Sisters in the North-East to the shimmering sands of the unrelenting Thar desert in the West, the Sikh personnel in uniform have been guarding our country's frontiers for generations, Khalsa Vox reported. Sikh Regiment: Legacy of Valour and Bravery in Indian Army Their courage never wavers, and their spirit never dampens. As they stand tall and resolute, their inherent, indomitable spirit helps them to endure everything with a grin and a wink, it said.The Sikh community's contribution to the Indian Army dates back to Maharaja Ranjit Singh's time when he raised the 'Khalsa' which was considered one of the most formidable and disciplined armies around that time, Khalsa Vox reported.Khalsa Vox is an online digest that brings the latest in Punjab politics, history, culture and heritage.In lieu of this raw courage and unflinching bravery, many Sikhs were recruited into British Indian Army in the colonial period. The movie 'Kesari' depicts the heroic fight of 'Last Man, Last Round' by 21 Sikh soldiers who defended the Saragarhi Fort (KPK, former NWFP) in 1897, Khalsa Vox reported.Each of them was awarded the Indian Order of Merit (the highest award that was given to Indian soldiers serving in the British Indian Army).The Sikhs fought gallantly on various battlefields in the First and Second World Wars. The 14th Ferozpur Sikhs, also called The Sikh Pioneers, were particularly applauded for their valour and sacrifices (1846-1922) and were awarded medals like the Victoria Cross for their gallantry.In all, 83005 Sith Soldiers lost their lives and another 109,045 were wounded in the two World Wars, Khalsa Vox reported.'War is a conserver of the Khalsa, peace a dissolvent', so, it can be said that Indian Army has kept the spirit of 'Khalsa' alive. From time immemorial, war has been a necessary stimulus for the Sikhs. As Guru Gobind Singhji said"The Sikhs of Govind shall bestride horses, And bear hawks upon their hands; The Turks who behold them shall fly; One shall combat a multitude And the Sikh who thus perishes; Shall be blessed forever."Sikh soldiers continued to serve in the Indian Army even after independence in 1947. Punjab, even today, is known as the 'sword arm of the nation'. They have not only contributed to the Indian Army in large numbers at different ranks, but it also has special regiments for Sikhs, and officers from this community have and still are heading Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force (IAF) as service chiefs, Khalsa Vox reported.The Sikh regiment remains the most decorated regiment of the Indian Army in terms of gallantry awards and good service medals; 10 Victoria Crosses, 2 Param Vir Chakras (Lance Naik Karam Singh, Kashmir Operations, 1948 and Subedar Joginder Singh, Chinese Aggression, 1962) 14 Mahavir Chakras and 68 Vir Chakras. Battalions of the Sikh Regiment have always distinguished themselves in independent Indian Wars. The motto of this regiment is 'Nishay Kar Apni Jeet Karon' (With determination, I will be triumphant) and that of the Sikh Light Infantry, 'Deg Teg Fateh', means prosperity peace, and victory in war!Subedar Joginder Singh, abo known as the man who fought the Chinese to death, refused evacuation despite being wounded in October 1962, Indo-China war. His war cry was 'Wahe Guruji da Khalsa, Wahe Guruji di Fateh'. He was subsequently severely wounded and captured by Chinese troops, but not before killing several soldiers single-handedly. He was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, Khalsa Vox reported.Major General Rajinder Singh (Sparrow) has been awarded the Mahavir Chakras twice (1947, Indo-Pak war, advance and capture of Jhanger and 1965, for exceptional gallantry in the second Indo-Pak war). According to military history, his men fought continuously for 15 days destroying 250 enemy tanks, setting a new record.Arjan Singh, Marshall of IAF, was the first Sikh to rise to the rank of field Marshall in 1965. In 2002, he was conferred the rank of Marshall, the first and only five-star officer of the IAF. In 1965 he was summoned to the Defense Minister's office for an air support request against Pakistan forces, he replied, "...in an hour" and true enough to the Punjabi tradition of keeping their word at any cost, the IAF struck Pakistani offensive 'in an hour'.General Bikram Singh became the second Sikh to command the 1.3 million-strength Indian Army in 2012.Admiral Karambir Singh Nijjar became the first Sikh Navy Chief in March 2019, Khalsa Vox reported.Air Chief Marshall, Dilbagh Singh started his RIAF career as a pilot in 1944. His flying career spanned from Spitfire to training and raising the first MIG-21 squadron in India. He became the Chief of air staff from 1981-1984.General Joginder Jaswant Singh was a third-generation soldier and the first Sikh to lead the Indian Army as he became the 11th chief of Army staff in 2005.Subedar Major (Honorary Captain) Bana Singh is the recipient of Param Vir Chakra for gallantry during Siachen Operation in 1987. The peak which was conquered by him has been named 'Bana Top' in his honour, Khalsa Vox reported.These are just a handful of Sikhs who have done their community and country proud. The Sikhs have made it their 'mantra' to follow the teachings of their Guru by defending their country and countrymen, whatever it takes. They will always protect their country as they have been doing for centuries. Thus, it can easily be said that 'Punjab is the right hand of India and Sikhs, the muscles of this right hand'.ANI30 May 2023 Shared Recently! French Open: Former finalists Stephens, Pavlyuchenkova advance; Svitolina makes winning return Paris, May 29: Former finalists Sloane Stephens, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Marketa Vondrousova started their respective campaigns on a winning note while Ukraines Elina Svitolina made a victorious comeback to Grand Slam action at the French Open on Monday. French Open: Former finalists Stephens, Pavlyuchenkova advance; Svitolina makes winning return The 2018 finalist Sloane Stephens took out No.16 seed Karolina Pliskova 6-0, 6-4 in 1 hour and 24 minutes in a first-round matchup between two former Top 3 players in women's singles.The 2021 finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova soon joined her in the second round, racing past Linda Fruhvirtova 6-2, 6-2 in 70 minutes while the 2019 finalist Marketa Vondrousova dismissed Alycia Parks 6-4, 6-0 in 71 minutes to start her campaign on a positive note.The former World No.3 Svitolina made a victorious comeback to Grand Slam action by toppling No.26 seed Martina Trevisan of Italy 6-2, 6-2 to book a spot in the second round of the clay-court major.In her first Grand Slam event since the 2022 Australian Open, Svitolina continued her resurgent return from maternity leave by ousting last year's Roland Garros semifinalist Trevisan after just 70 minutes of play. Trevisan was also a Roland Garros quarterfinalist in 2020.It was a dominant display by Svitolina, who is now 10-0 in first-round matches at the French Open. Three-time Roland Garros quarterfinalist Svitolina never faced a break point against Trevisan, who cracked the Top 20 earlier this year.Minutes apart, Madison Keys and Kayla Day both secured passage to the second round of women's singles, where they will square off in an all-American showdown.Keys, the No.20 seed, beat Estonian Kaia Kanepi 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, while qualifier Day ousted French wildcard Kristina Mladenovic 7-5, 6-1.Playing against former World No.1 Pliskova, Sloane Stephens raced to a 6-0 lead inside 33 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier.Stephens extended her head-to-head against Pliskova to 5-1 overall and 2-1 on clay. Their last meeting was also at Roland Garros, with Stephens winning 7-5, 6-1 in the 2021 second round.Pliskova, whose clay preparation has been marred by a knee injury that forced her out of Madrid, was slow to get going. A one-sided first set saw her lose just her second 6-0 set at the Grand Slam level, and first since defeating Yanina Wickmayer 6-2, 0-6, 8-6 in the first round of Wimbledon 2016. During it, the Czech committed 11 unforced errors and won just seven points on serve.Stephens, by contrast, was able to consistently steer the ball into awkward positions for Pliskova and found 10 winners to five unforced errors.Pliskova's woes continued in the second set, and after a pair of double faults, she faced a break point to fall behind 3-1. But in the nick of time, she came up with a pair of superb drop shots to escape. Hitting with greater power and intent, Pliskova seemed on the verge of levelling the match when she broke Stephens to lead 4-3.But No.30-ranked Stephens quelled this comeback attempt, putting away a neat volley to break back for 4-4. Serving to stay in the match, Pliskova relapsed into her first-set form, sending a routine backhand long -- her 31st unforced error of the day -- on Stephens' first match point.IANS31 May 2023 Shared Recently! All women can travel for free in govt buses: Ktaka minister Bengaluru, May 30: Karnataka Minister for Transport Ramalinga Reddy announced on Tuesday that all women can travel free of cost in the government buses in the state. All women can travel for free in govt buses: K'taka minister He made the announcement while speaking to reporters after holding a meeting with Managing Directors of four divisions of the Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC)."The women can travel free of cost in government buses. There are no conditions. In our manifesto, we have not mentioned any conditions on scheme applicable for APL or BPL card-holders. State-wide women can travel at free of cost," he said."I have spoken to MDs and discussed pros and cons of the scheme. I will submit the report of the meeting, including the cost and other details to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in this regard. CM Siddaramaiah has already discussed it with the Principle Secretary of Transport department," minister Ramalinga Reddy explained."The cabinet meeting is scheduled on Wednesday. The details would be discussed in the cabinet and CM Siddaramaiah will make the announcement in this regard after the cabinet meeting," he stated."I have also discussed the losses incurred during the Coronavirus pandemic. Ours' is a reputed transport corporation in the country. Four transport corporations under the ministry have got more than 350 awards and 240 units are working. There are 23,978 vehicles, more than 1.04 lakh staff. Everyday 82.51 lakh people travel in state-owned buses and the revenue generated everyday is Rs 2,31,332," he said.IANS31 May 2023 Shared Recently! Rarely is it the ones who die young who leave such an abundance of tales, wisdom and sage advice. But Scott Bennett, the state senator from Champaign who died suddenly last month at the age of 45, gave his colleagues all that and more. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Partly cloudy skies during the morning hours will become overcast in the afternoon. Hazy. High around 85F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Clear skies with a few passing clouds. Low 58F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. A rare drone attack jolted Moscow before dawn, causing only light damage but forcing evacuations as residential buildings were struck in the Russian capital for the first time in the war against Ukraine In a recent Fertility and Sterility review, researchers summarize the available evidence on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in sperm selection. All relevant articles were obtained from PubMed Central, Web of Science, and MEDLINE-Academic databases. A total of 261 articles were found in the initial search; however, based on the inclusion criteria, 34 articles were selected. Study: Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Sperm Selection a Systematic Review. Image Credit: Inna Dodor / Shutterstock.com Importance of sperm selection Globally, over 100 million individuals encounter issues related to infertility, with the male factor contributing to up to 50% of these cases. Semen analysis, which is associated with the investigation of sperm morphology, motility, and DNA integrity, is essential for the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of male factor infertility. Based on various parameters, embryologists face the daunting task of selecting a single sperm from millions in a sample, a laborious process at a high risk of selection errors. Semen parameters are strong prognostic indicators of fertilization and pregnancy outcomes. If the analysis indicates that the semen parameters are suboptimal, assisted reproductive technologies (ART) can be applied to help the sperm overcome the female reproductive tract barrier, thereby improving the likelihood of conception. The success rates of ART have remained relatively low globally due to the lack of proper sperm selection. Despite technological advancements, the final sperm selection is primarily performed manually by an embryologist following the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Sperm selection is crucial, as a single sperm is required for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The WHO has provided guidance for proper sperm selection based on the morphology, including sperm head length, presence/absence of vacuole, and circularity, as well as motility. However, embryologists do not have adequate time to assess an entire sperm holistically, which might impact the success of ART. Here, AI could be applied to improve the efficiency of sperm selection. AI and machine learning for sperm selection Previous studies have indicated that AI can consistently and effectively identify an embryo with optimal developmental and implantation potential. AI can also reduce the embryologists time and effort associated with visual assessment and manual embryo grading. Machine learning algorithms are capable of processing large data sets, similar to the bulk of data evaluated during embryo assessment. Therefore, this technique can be applied to automate the sperm selection process by coupling genetic and visual data. Implementing AI and machine learning algorithms in the ART laboratory could significantly improve the embryologists sperm selection capabilities. Favorable sperm morphology is characterized by a smooth and oval head, absence of large/multiple vacuoles, acrosome covering 40-70% of the head, the slenderness of the midpiece, and residual cytoplasm up to one-third of the size of the head. AI algorithms can standardize and expedite sperm analyses based on the available models. Moreover, sperm morphology in combination with deep learning algorithms, could be evaluated with an accuracy of around 98%. The performance of AI and machine learning algorithms depend on the quality of the training dataset images. To obtain greater accuracy in these systems, they must be trained with larger and high-quality sperm imaging data. In some cases, sperm cells are highly susceptible to damage in the sperm head, which leads to chromosome aberrations, DNA fragmentation, and telomere shortening. Male fertility is inversely associated with DNA fragmentation index (DFI), which is extremely important for sperm selection. Techniques such as single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE), terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase UTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL), and sperm chromatin structure assay are used to detect DNA fragmentation. Scientists have developed machine learning algorithms by training the system with sperm images linked to associated DFI values. This standardized system can accurately evaluate the quality of a single sperm based on the trained dataset, thereby eliminating any concerns regarding human subjectivity. Embryologists use holographic imaging, computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA), and microfluidic platforms to determine sperm motility. CASA is a high-throughput method that evaluates large amounts of sperm at the sample level but does not analyze simple sperm motility. This can be resolved with the development of a mathematical model based on the three-dimensional (3D) helical motion of tail beating. High-resolution holographic imaging techniques allow scientists to assess the tail-beating patterns in free-swimming sperm. Multiple data on sperm motility linked to CASA, microfluidic chips, and holographic imaging are used to train the AI system, coupled with other male fertility parameters to select optimal sperm for ART. Thus, applications of AI and machine learning techniques have significantly improved conception rates and successful pregnancy outcomes following ART. In a recent study published in European Heart Journal Open, researchers evaluate the impacts of population-level cardiovascular disease (CVD) screening on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The effects of receiving an invitation for screening, positive test results, prophylactic treatment initiation, enrollment in surveillance schemes at surgical departments, and preventive surgical repair on HRQoL were assessed. Study: The impact of population screening for cardiovascular disease on quality of life. Image Credit: Koldunov / Shutterstock.com Background Two large cardiovascular screening trials including the VIVA and DANCAVAS trials, have recently been published and offer potentially pivotal evidence for improving the prevention of CVD. The risk-benefit ratio of CVD screening must be determined and any potential harm must be identified and measured. Sources of harm include physical discomfort from screening, as well as subsequent therapy and psychological discomfort from risk awareness and enrollment in surveillance programs. Both sources can be measured using generic HRQoL instruments such as the EuroQoL. Unbiased estimates of the potential harm of CVD screening are particularly important from an ethical and policy-making standpoint, as decisions by health authorities are increasingly based on quality-adjusted life years (QALY). About the study A difference-in-difference (DID) study design that included the event date, event status, smoking status, and HRQoL data from two large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was used for the current study. Taken together, this study included 33,769 males residing in South Denmark between 60 to 74 years of age who were randomized to CVD screening or no screening between 2014 and 2019. Socioeconomic and demographic data were obtained from the national registry. Repeated HRQoL measurements were obtained for up to three years using EuroQol scales such as the EuroQol 5-dimension profile index (EQ-5D-5L) to assess anxiety/depression using the preference weights for Denmark and the EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQVAS) to evaluate overall health. The mean values for changes in scores in the events following CVD screening were calculated. The impact of five CVD screening-generated events was evaluated. These included being invited for CVD screening; receiving test results, the initiation of preventive treatment, enrollment in surveillance schemes to assess surgical repair requirements, and preventive surgical repair. The comparators were assessed based on the actual event dates in the event group and were synthesized for the no-event groups based on the means for the event groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) balanced baseline differences in covariates and compared the matched and unmatched results. Individuals were sent invitation letters, including the EuroWoL questionnaire, to participate in the study. Willingness to participate was inferred from the individuals responses to the questionnaire. Results The attendees were reportedly slightly better off HRQoL-wise than non-attendees on all EuroQol scales. In regard to the receipt of test results, initiating prophylactic therapy, being recruited in surveillance schemes, and surgical restoration, CVD screening did not significantly impact HRQoL. However, a minor effect of being recruited for CVD surveillance schemes on emotional discomfort was observed in the unmatched data but not in the matched data. Receiving invites to attend CVD screening significantly lowered emotional distress by 2% and increased HRQoL by 3% in the matched and unmatched analyses. A tendency was observed for improved global health over time among individuals testing negative in the unmatched data. This corresponded to a 1% change from baseline and significantly impacted global health in the matched data with a 2% increase as potential reassurance on health. Initiation of preventive treatment such as antithrombotic medications, statins, and antihypertensives negatively impacted global health by 3%. This impact was only observed in the physical health domain, rather than the general QoL or emotional domains, thus indicating that the effect could be due to medication side effects. Enrolling in surveillance schemes increased emotional discomfort by 7% in the unmatched analysis and reduced to 5% in the matched data. In regard to surgical-type repair, both the no-event and event groups showed identical patterns over time for all the scales. Preventive surgical repair did not affect HRQoL, which would otherwise cause serious harm. Conclusions Individuals who attended the CVD screening had better HRQoL than non-attendees. The frequently reported negative effects of CVD screening on health-related QoL could not be confirmed. Among CVD screening-generated events, only two consequences of reassurance effects after negative screening tests and slightly negative effects on emotional distress after being recruited in surveillance programs were observed; however, the events did not impact the overall HRQoL. New UCLA-led research suggests that patient mortality rates, readmissions, length of stay, and health care spending were virtually identical for elderly hospitalized patients who were treated by physicians with Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degrees. While both traditional, or allopathic, medical schools and osteopathic medical schools provide the same rigorous health education, osteopathic training adds a more holistic, hands-on component involving manipulation of the musculoskeletal system for instance, the use of stretching and massage to reduce pain or improve mobility. These findings offer reassurance to patients by demonstrating that they can expect high-quality care regardless of whether their physicians received their training from allopathic or osteopathic medical schools." Dr. Yusuke Tsugawa, senior author associate professor of medicine in the division of general internal medicine and health services research at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and associate professor of health policy and management at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health The study will be published May 30 in the peer-reviewed Annals of Internal Medicine. Both types of physicians are licensed to practice medicine in every state. Currently about 90% of practicing physicians hold MD degrees and 10% have DO degrees. But the latter group is rapidly growing due to an increasing number of osteopathic medical schools, with their numbers having swelled by 72% between 2010 and 2020 compared with a 16% increase in MDs during the same period, and their ranks are expected to continue expanding. In addition, osteopathic physicians are more likely than their MD counterparts to serve patients in rural and underserved areas. The researchers relied on four data sources: a 20% sample of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, amounting to about 329,500 people aged 65 years and older who were hospitalized between Jan. 1, 2016 and Dec. 31 2019; Medicare Data on Provider Practice and Specialty; a comprehensive physician database assembled by Doximity, and the American Hospital Association's annual survey on hospital characteristics. Of the patients, 77% were treated by MDs and 23% were treated by DOs. The researchers found that patient mortality rates were 9.4% among MDs vs. 9.5% among DOs, patient readmission rates were 15.7% vs. 15.6% respectively, healthcare spending was $1004 vs. $1003, and lengths of stay were 4.5 days for both. The results are similar because both types of medical schools deliver rigorous, standardized medical education and comply with comparable accreditation standards, including four-year curriculums mixing science and clinical rotations, Tsugawa said. The study does have some limitations, the researchers write, primarily the fact that they focused on elderly Medicare beneficiaries who were hospitalized with medical conditions, so the results may not apply to other population groups. In addition, they limited outcomes to specific measures of care quality and resource use, so these findings may not generalize to other outcomes. But the findings "should be reassuring for policymakers, medical educators, and patients because they suggest that any differences between allopathic and osteopathic medical schools, either in terms of educational approach or students who enroll, are not associated with differences in quality or costs of care, at least in the inpatient setting," the researchers write. Additional study authors are Dr. Atsushi Miyawaki of UCLA and the University of Tokyo; Dr. Anupam Jena of Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital and the National Bureau of Economic Research; and Dr. Nate Gross of Doximity. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Aging (R01AG068633) and the Social Science Research Council. Previous research has highlighted the importance of brain-lung interaction in critically unwell individuals. However, further investigation is needed to understand the pathophysiological linkages between the lungs and brain to develop neuroprotective-type ventilatory treatments for individuals with acute brain injury (ABI), provide advice on conflicting therapies for individuals with concomitant lung and brain injury, and increase predictive modeling efforts to improve tracheostomy and extubation decisions. In a recent editorial published in the journal BMC Pulmonary Medicine, researchers review evidence on the crosstalk between the lung and brain and identified potential areas for further research. Study: Brain-lung crosstalk: how should we manage the breathing brain? Image Credit: Prapat Aowsakorn / Shutterstock.com How do the lungs and brain interact? ABI can precipitate lung injury and modulate pulmonary physiology through several mechanisms, including elevated intracranial pressure (ICP), systemic inflammatory response, hormonal dysregulation, catecholamine surges, and dysregulated central breathing control. Additionally, arterial blood gas derangements and systemic inflammation can precipitate secondary brain injury. Long-standing cognitive deficits and mood disorders occur frequently after acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). One phase II randomized controlled trial (RCT) showed that a strategy based on continuous brain tissue oxygen (PbtO 2 ) and ICP led to less cerebral hypoxia and fewer deaths among individuals suffering from severe trauma to the brain. As a driver of blood flow to the brain, the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO 2 ) is essential in ABI. Researchers have also investigated different ventilator variables and their associations with ABI results. ARDS is frequently reported among critically ill ABI patients and can result in adverse consequences. However, ARDS investigations have excluded individuals with neurological illnesses, notably those with increased ICP. The risk of ICP increases due to pulmonary protective ventilation, prone position (PP), or increased positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) levels among individuals with ARDS and ABI. According to recent research, protective lung ventilation was used more frequently in ABI between 2004 and 2016. Nevertheless, only 53% of clinicians utilized 4.0-6.0 ml/kg of predicted body weight (PBW) for ABI patients with a partial pressure of oxygen (PaO 2 )/fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO 2 ) ratio less than 150. One recent RCT reported no significant impact of protective lung ventilation on brain self-regulation and ICP levels in most patients. However, 22% required protocol interruptions due to prolonged ICP rises. Several studies assessing the impact of positive end-expiratory pressure on ICP have yielded conflicting results. For example, some studies have reported that cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) and ICP are mediated by PEEP-based reductions in average arterial pressure and cardiac output. Comparatively, other studies reported that PEEP-mediated ICP increases tend to occur among individuals with poor pulmonary conformity. In addition, the recently published SETPOINT-2 multicenter RCT among mixed stroke individuals reported no significant benefits of performing tracheostomy in the initial five days. Notably, 22 individuals who underwent tracheostomy in the later period could wean from mechanical ventilators and did not need tracheostomy placements. Future perspectives on the brain-lung crosstalk ABI patients comprise 25% of individuals requiring MV. However, there is scarce evidence to guide ventilatory targets in this population. Cerebral and pulmonary pathophysiology are intimately connected through complex and often bi-directional pathways that remain unclear. Different arterial blood gas targets may be needed in some patients to minimize secondary ischemic brain injury, optimize ICP, or enhance cerebral perfusion. A recent European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) consensus statement acknowledges uncertainties and the paucity of evidence regarding ventilator targets and parameters for patients with ABI. Optimal PaO 2 and PaCO 2 ranges remain to be determined for ABI patients. The potential benefits of targeting therapeutic PaCO 2 ranges in specific ABI subpopulations must be studied. Given their impaired airway defenses and decreased degree of consciousness, ABI patients frequently need to be mechanically ventilated. Thus, further prognostic clarification is required to inform tracheostomy and extubation decisions. The recent prospective-design ENIO trial reported a 19% failure rate for extubation within five days; however, the low precision of the score indicates that correctly forecasting extubation success remains a challenge. The indications and optimal timing for tracheostomy placement continue to be debatable. Conclusions The editorial highlights lung-brain interactions and identifies important areas for further research. Additional studies are needed to emphasize novel findings on the pathophysiological lung-brain interplay, inform MV techniques in ABI, aid in assessing the lung-brain dispute, and enhance predictive models used to guide tracheostomy and extubation decisions. Researchers will delve into the latest research in diabetes, obesity, reproductive health and other aspects of endocrinology during the Endocrine Society's ENDO 2023 news conferences June 15-18. The Society also will share its Hormones and Aging Scientific Statement publicly for the first time during a news conference on Friday, June 16. Reporters will have an opportunity to hear from members of the writing group that drafted the statement on the research landscape. Other press conferences will feature select abstracts that are being presented at ENDO 2023, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting. The event is being held at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill. News conferences will be livestreamed for those who are unable to attend in person. To register to view the news conferences, visit endomediastream.com. Journalists can register to attend and learn more about the meeting on our website. News conference schedule: Thursday, June 15 Reproductive Health (11:30 a.m. CT): Researchers will discuss increased mortality risk in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), post-cycle therapy's potential to help recovering anabolic steroid users regain their ability to produce testosterone, and heightened body image concerns among women with PCOS. Obesity (2 p.m. CT): Featured studies will explore the limits of body-mass index measurements, food security and metabolic syndrome in the Latina population, and the effectiveness of anti-obesity medications for breast cancer survivors. Friday, June 16 Debut of the Society's Hormones and Aging Scientific Statement (9:30 a.m. CT): Experts will discuss aging's effects on the endocrine system, including testosterone, thyroid health, bone health, diabetes, and menopausal symptoms. Saturday, June 17 Hormones and Technology (9 a.m. CT): Researchers will discuss a phase 1 study results for an orally administered robotic pill, a meta-analysis on closed-loop insulin delivery systems designed to automate aspects of diabetes management in children and teens, and how families of children with diabetes could be using continuous glucose alarms to better protect against dangerous blood glucose lows and highs. Endocrine-disrupting Chemicals (10 a.m. CT): Studies will examine the ways polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure can raise the risk of cognitive disorders in future generations, how dioxin exposure can harm thyroid function, and the effects of prenatal phthalate exposure on fetuses and newborns. Diabetes (11:30 a.m. CT): Researchers will share studies on a type of intermittent fasting that improves blood sugar levels, the challenges athletes with type 1 diabetes face in managing blood sugar levels, and the rising rate of type 2 diabetes diagnoses among youth in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Register to attend the news conferences at endomediastream.com. Credentialed journalists will be given priority to attend. Recordings will be available on the Society's website following the event. The government is set to announce a subsidy of Rs 2.5 lakh on electric vehicles. These subsidies will be available on cars, e-buses, and e-bikes. This initiative promotes green fuel in the country. According to sources, under this package, a majority of funds will be allocated to electric two, three-wheelers, and buses used for public transportation. The government is going to take up this proposal as a part of the Fast Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and Electric Vehicles) India (FAME-2) scheme. Under this scheme, the central government is providing a subsidy that is distributed to different states. On the other hand, some states are also providing these subsidies on their behalf. For example, the Maharashtra government is giving a subsidy of Rs 5,000 per kilowatt on e-vehicles. The state government has announced in its electric vehicle policy that a subsidy of up to Rs 1.5 lakh can be given to the first 10,000 buyers for purchasing a four-wheeler electric vehicle. This adds up to a subsidy of Rs 2.5 lakh. The Delhi government has announced a subsidy of Rs 1.5 lakh on e-vehicles. This will be provided to the 1,000 buyers of these vehicles. The Yogi Adityanath government has also announced subsidies for e-bikes and e-buses. The initial purchase of 25,000 automobiles under the programme will receive a subsidy of Rs 1 lakh, according to the UP government. If the Centers subsidy is also taken into account, the exemption will rise to Rs 2 lakh. top videos In this race, the Gujarat government is offering an electric car discount of up to Rs. 1.5 lakh. These discounts will be provided on the first 10,000 electric vehicles sold. The overall exemption would rise to Rs 2.5 lakh if the central governments subsidy of Rs 1 lakh were applied to it. The same is the case with the Uttarakhand government, the state government will be giving a subsidy of Rs 1.5 lakh whereas if you add up the centres subsidy of 1 lakh then you will get a total discount of Rs 2.5 Lakh. Oil prices fell more than 4% on Tuesday on concerns about whether the U.S. Congress will pass the U.S. debt ceiling pact and as mixed messages from major producers clouded the supply outlook ahead of the OPEC+ meeting this weekend. Brent crude futures settled down $3.53, or 4.6%, at $73.54 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) was down $3.21, or 4.4%, from Fridays close, to $69.46 a barrel. There was no settlement on Monday because of a U.S. public holiday. Some hard-right Republican lawmakers said they might oppose a deal to raise the debt ceiling in the U.S., the worlds biggest oil user. Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy remained optimistic the deal would pass. Biden and McCarthy forged an agreement over the weekend that must pass a divided U.S. Congress before June 5, the day the Treasury Department has said the country will not be able to meet its financial obligations, which could disrupt financial markets. McCarthy on Tuesday urged members of his party to support the deal. The big elephant in the room is the continued drama over the debt ceiling," said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group. Until we get the votes, the market is going to be on edge." The House Rules Committee is due to consider the 99-page bill at 3 p.m. (1900 GMT) on Tuesday, ahead of votes in the Republican-controlled chamber and the Democratic-led Senate The debt deadline nearly coincides with the June 4 meeting of OPEC+ - the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia. Traders were uncertain about whether the group will increase output cuts as a slump in prices weighs on the market. Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman last week warned short-sellers betting that oil prices will fall to watch out" in a possible signal that OPEC+ may cut output. However, comments from Russian oil officials and sources, including Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, indicate the worlds third-largest oil producer is leaning toward leaving output unchanged. top videos In April, Saudi Arabia and other members of OPEC+ announced further oil output cuts of around 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd), bringing the total volume of cuts by OPEC+ to 3.66 million bpd, according to Reuters calculations. Chinese manufacturing and service sector data out later this week will also be scrutinised for cues on the fuel demand recovery in the worlds top oil importer. The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) will be releasing the Gujarat board 12th arts and commerce result 2023 tomorrow, May 31, at 8 am. Students will soon be able to check their results on the official website at gseb.org, once it is declared. To download the state 12th board arts and commerce results, candidates need to submit their roll number, date of birth, and other information on GSEBs result website. GSEB HSC 12th Arts Commerce Result 2023 Live Updates GSEB conducted the Gujarat board 12th exams from March 14 to March 29. Students will have to secure at least 35 per cent marks in every subject and overall to pass the Gujarat board 12th arts and commerce exams. The board also has grading system which includes A1 grade for those who receive 91 per cent or more, A2 grades are given to those who receive 91 to 80 per cent, B1 grades to those who receive 80 to 71 per cent, and B2 grades are issued to those who receive 70 to 61 per cent. Also read| Gujarat 10th Results 2023: Surat Twins Score 570/600 in GSEB SSC Board Exam Students can also access their GSEB HSC result 2023 via SMS if the website crashes or there is a server problem. To download the results, students have to type GJ12S followed by a space and then the respective seat number. They have to send the typed message to 58888111. Within a few seconds, students will receive their GSEB 12th results on their phones. top videos Those unhappy with their scores will be given the option to apply for a re-evaluation or rechecking process. The Gujarat board will provide all information about the re-evaluation procedure soon after the declaration of the final result. For the re-evaluation process, students will have to submit an essential fee to request the Gujarat board to recheck their answer scripts. GSEB announced the 12th board result for the science stream on May 2 at 9 am. About 1,06,347 students took the exams out of around 1.07 lakh students who registered for the Gujarat HSC 12th board exams this year. The class 12 exams for the Gujarat board were conducted from March 14 to March 31, while the practical exams commenced on February 20 and ended on February 28. The Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) will release the Class 12 Results 2023 for the arts and commerce streams likely by today, May 30. Once the results for both streams are declared, students will have the option to access their scorecards through the official websites, namely jac.jharkhand.gov.in or jacresults.com. There will be multiple methods available for students to check their respective scorecards. JAC 12th Result 2023 Live Updates Students can also refer to alternative websites including jac.nic.in, jharresults.nic.in, results.gov.in, indiaresult.com, and examresults.net. Apart from this, if one website does not work, students can see their results on different sites. JAC 12th Results 2023: How to Check To check the JAC Class 12 results 2023 for the arts and commerce stream on the official website, follow these steps: Step 1 - Visit the official website of the Jharkhand Academic Council at jac.jharkhand.gov.in. Step 2 - Look for the Results" section on the websites homepage. Step 3 - Click on the appropriate link for either JAC 10th Result" or JAC 12th Result," based on the examination you have appeared for. Step 4 - You will be redirected to a new webpage specifically for result checking. Step 5 - Enter your roll number and roll code in the designated fields provided. Select the Get Result" or Submit" button. Step 6 - The JAC Board Exam Result for the arts and commerce stream will be displayed on your screen. If needed, you can print out or download the result for future reference. JAC 12th Results 2023: How to check via SMS Step 1 - Open the messaging program on your phone. Generate a new message. Step 2 - Type JAC12" followed by your Roll Number, separated by a space. Step 3 - Send the message to the number 56263. Step 4 - You will receive an SMS containing your Jharkhand Board 12th Result 2023 information. JAC 12th Results 2023: How to check via DigiLocker app Step 1 - Go to the official website of DigiLocker at digilocker.gov.in. Step 2 - If you dont have an account, click the Sign Up" option and create a new account by providing the necessary details. Step 3 - Use your login information to access your account if you already have one. Step 4 - Once logged in, navigate to the education section. Step 5 - Look for the option related to the Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) or JAC Class 12 Result. Step 6 - Click on the respective option and provide the required details such as your roll number, registration number, and any other necessary information. Step 6 - After entering the details, click on the Submit" or Get Result" button. Step 7 - Your JAC Class 12 Result will be displayed on the screen. top videos Step 8 - You can download and save the result for future reference if desired. In 2022, the arts stream witnessed an impressive pass percentage of 97.43 per cent, while in the commerce stream, as many as 92.75 per cent of students successfully cleared the exams. While in 2021, the overall passing percentage for the board was 90.71 per cent, with a significant number of 3,31,056 students appearing for the class 12 board examination. The National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has dropped two lines referring to the Anandpur Sahib resolution of 1973 from Class 12 political science textbook on request of the top Sikh body, which found this content objectionable". According to officials, upon receiving a series of representation from the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), regarding removal of objectionable content relating to Sri Anandpur Sahib resolution misrepresenting Sikh community", a committee of experts was constituted. The committee, upon studying the text, recommended dropping it from the chapter. The requests were first made by the SGPC this April. The lines dropped from chapter-VII Regional Aspirations from rationalised Class 12 political science textbook are But, it could also be interpreted as a plea for a separate Sikh nation (from para 1)"; and (from para 2) the more extreme elements started advocating secession from India and the creation of Khalistan". The first para talks about the 1970s when a section of Akalis began to demand political autonomy for the region. This was reflected in the resolution passed at their conference at Anandpur Sahib in 1973.The resolution also spoke of the aspirations of the Sikh quam (community) and declared its goal at attaining the bolbala (dominance or hegemony) of the Sikhs. The resolution was a plea for strengthening federalism, but it could also be interpreted as a plea for a separate Sikh nation, the paragraph in the textbook states. The para, following this, further talks about the resolution, which it states had a limited appeal among the Sikh masses. After the Akali government had been dismissed in 1980, the Akali Dal launched a movement on the question of distribution of water between Punjab and its neighbouring states. A section of the religious leaders raised the question of autonomous Sikh identity. The more extreme elements started advocating secession from India and the creation of Khalistan," reads the second para. top videos This textbook was based on the 2005 curriculum framework and was developed in 2006, said officials. In March, a row had erupted on changes being made silently" in the NCERT political science, sociology and history textbooks of Classes 10, 11and 12 without putting these on the list of rationalised syllabi. These deletions included important topics refering to Nathu Ram Godse and the Mughal history, among others. Its now or never. And the Opposition knows this. The idea of a joint candidate against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha elections 2024 is gathering weight in the fissured ranks, with one perquisite uniting regional parties the Congress must stay out of their seats. From Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal to Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh, regional leaders feel the Congress must stick to seats it can definitely win and not muddy the waters by putting up candidates in all seats. While the logic might make sense to the high command, its the state units that need convincing, and even cajoling. The proposal of a joint candidate in 2024 general elections originated with Bihar CM and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar ahead of the June 12 Opposition meeting in Patna. Meeting Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi on May 22 the second such meeting in the last one-and-a-half months Kumar is said to have stressed on all against one strategy. The idea gained momentum with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee backing it while congratulating the Congress on its Karnataka election win. The time has come for a joint Opposition candidate, the Trinamool Congress chief said. Similar proposals had come to naught before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, but this time, it has in-principle agreement from most parties that hold turfs in states that send sizeable MPs to the Lok Sabha like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. The biggest hump would be a seat-sharing plan agreeable to all. In West Bengal, the TMC would not want the Congress to put up candidates in constituencies except the ones it can win, like Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary in his stronghold Murshidabad. How the grand old party will likely respond to such a condition from Mamata Banerjee was reflected in Jairam Rameshs tweet on Tuesday. Three months after he was elected as a Congress MLA in a historic victory Bayron Biswas has been lured away by the TMC in West Bengal. This is a complete betrayal of the mandate of the people of the Sagardighi Assembly constituency," he said. Three months after he was elected as a Congress MLA in a historic victory Bayron Biswas has been lured away by the TMC in West Bengal. This is a complete betrayal of the mandate of the people of the Sagardighi Assembly constituency. Such poaching which has happened earlier in Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 30, 2023 Similarly, in Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadavs Samajwadi Party feels the Congress would just end up wasting votes and that its best it stays out. For the Congress, the idea has limited appeal. It has proposed the same for years now in Amethi and Rae Bareli, which is one of the reasons it had been winning these Lok Sabha seats. At a press conference in Mumbai, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said: We have been working on the proposal for one Opposition candidate in at least 450 seats. Its a work in progress. The biggest roadblock would be its own state units. Take the example of the recent Ordinance on Delhi by the Centre. The idea of the Opposition, including Congress, siding with the Aam Aadmi Party against the BJP-led central government is simply not palatable to the Punjab and Delhi units that were wiped out by the Arvind Kejriwals 10-year-old party. The sentiment was conveyed to the high command following a meeting of Punjab and Delhi Congress units to discuss support for AAP on the issue. We are dead against the idea of supporting AAP. I have already made public why there are reasons the Ordinance must not be opposed, senior Delhi Congress leader Ajay Maken told News18 recently. top videos Given its reaction to the Ordinance, no points for guessing if the Delhi Congress would be willing to not put up candidates against the AAP in the seven Lok Sabha seats of the national capital. Self-interest has always trumped larger interest, more so in politics. Will joint opposition candidate be a non-starter in 2024 too? Leonardo DiCaprio is spending some quality time with his friends. The Oscar winner was spotted on a yacht along the coast of Sardinia, surrounded by some pals. In the photos emerging from his weekend excursion, Leonardo is seen taking in the loving sights of the sea from onboard the vessel with some of his buddies, as per TMZ. This top-deck outing comes just days after he was spotted on another yacht with actor and friend Tobey Maguire. It happened during his stay at Cannes for the promotion of his upcoming movie Killers of the Flower Moon. During his grand appearance on the red carpet of the prestigious film festival, Leo managed to make some time for a quick rendezvous with friends. This comes at a time when media reports suggest the Titanic actor had been shunning his party pals away owing to his romance rumours with supermodel Gigi Hadid. A report by Radar Online previously claimed Leos fans are quite unhappy after getting the cold shoulder from the actor. A source close to the Titanic fame also claimed Leo is, way less available for poker nights and hangouts, and friends are blaming Gigi for monopolizing all of his time." The linkup rumours surfaced after Gigi and Leo reportedly went on a date together in New York. If the rumour mill is to be believed, the duo have been spending quality time alone frequently. They hang out for dinner and chill together in hotel rooms or private residences often for days at a time," the source added. If that wasnt enough, it seems Leo is also quite distracted from making plans for his summer cruises. Leos normally arranging the summer cruises by now, with him and the guys and a few bikini-clad ladies. But hes let that slip, too, and is talking about some solo vacation time with just himself and Gigi," added the insider. Both Gigi Hadid and Leonardo DiCaprio have neither denied nor confirmed their link-up rumours. The supermodel shares a daughter with former One Direction member Zayn Malik, who was recently to Selena Gomez. Meanwhile, Leonardo plays the lead role in Martin Scorseses crime drama Killers of the Flower Moon, which is set in the 1920s. The plot revolves around the murder of Osage Natives after oil is found on their land and the FBI investigation that follows suit. The movie has already been screened at the Cannes 2023, it will hit the big screens on October 6. Arjun Bijlani paid a visit to Mumbais Siddhivinayak Temple. The actor sought the blessings of Bappa for his upcoming serial Pyaar Ka Pehla Adhyay: Shiv Shakti. The actor was accompanied by the upcoming shows producer, Prateek Sharma of Studio LSD. Sharing glimpses of the temple visit online, the actor urged his fans to show their support and make the serial a success. Hey, friends! Just wanted to update you all that I visited the Siddhivinayak temple yesterday to seek blessings for my new show Pyaar Ka Pehla Adhyay: Shiv Shakti, which begins shooting tomorrow in the holy city of Banaras! As always, I need your love and blessings to make this project a success, so please keep me in your prayers! Thank you all for your support, Arjun wrote in an Instagram post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Arjun Bijlani (@arjunbijlani) Soon after the post surfaced online, Arjuns fans rallied to the comment section, sharing their wishes for the upcoming project. Fellow actors and friends also dropped their messages for the actor. Actress Nia Sharma expressed her joy, commenting, Many congratulations," while Surbhi Chandna wrote, Best wishes JUNNN. Actor Rajniesh Duggall commented, All the best AB, always!!" The outpouring of love and support from fans and industry colleagues has added to the excitement around the upcoming show. Pyaar Ka Pehla Adhyay: Shiv Shakti is reported to be a spinoff of the popular show Pyaar Ka Pehla Naam Radha Mohan, which stars Shabbir Ahluwalia and Neeharika Roy. There are rumours that Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Mein actress Ayesha Singh was contacted to portray the female lead opposite Arjun. However, an official confirmation from the makers is still awaited. While details about the plot of the show remain under wrap, the makers have begun shooting for the project in Uttar Pradeshs Varanasi. Arjun Bijlani has been known for his appearances in serials like Meri Aashiqui Tum Se Hi, Naagin, Left Right Left, and Miley Jab Hum Tum among others. Pyaar Ka Pehla Adhyay: Shiv Shakti will also mark the return of Arjun to full-fledged fiction after nearly four years. The actor, who was last seen in Colors TVs Ishq Mein Marjawan in 2019 had been busy with hosting duties on various reality shows. One of the most popular television shows, Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin, starring Neil Bhatt, Ayesha Singh, and Harshad Arora, has been successful in holding viewers attention with its interesting storyline. Reportedly, the popular series is looking forward to taking a significant time leap, and the original cast will bid farewell. Now as per the latest reports, Fahmaan Khan has been roped in to play a major character in the series post-leap. According to an India Forums report, Fahmaan Khan will take over following the 20-year jump. The publication mentioned that Fahmaan will begin filming for the show once his current project Dharampatni concludes. Further details about his character are still awaited. However, the actor or his team is yet to make an official announcement regarding the same. Earlier, there were rumours that the actor was approached for Bigg Boss OTT 2. But the portal claimed that Fahmaan Khan was not very keen on participating in the reality show and wanted to focus on his acting career. Fahmaan Khan is currently seen as Ravi Randhawa opposite Kritika Singh Yadav in the Ekta Kapoor show, Dharampatni. It is slated to go off air next month. Speaking to ETimes about this, Fahmaan said, I dont like to be associated with never-ending shows. I want to move on to new characters and learn from them. When an actor plays a character for a long period, there is a risk of becoming predictable. Endings are an inevitable part of the journey. I enjoyed playing Ravi Randhawa in the show. I believe the story has run its course, and prolonging it would only make it seem stretched." Fahmaan Khan made his television debut in 2017 with Kya Kassor Hai Amala Ka. He rose to fame with his portrayal of Aryan Singh Rathore alongside Sumbul Touqeer in Imlie. He was recently seen in a music video Beirada with Hiba Nawab. Meanwhile, the popular television show Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin has achieved a remarkable run of over two years. Recent reports indicate that the lead actors are scheduled to shoot their final episode on June 15. The ongoing storyline revolves around a complex love triangle involving Sai (portrayed by Ayesha Singh), Virat (played by Neil Bhatt), and Satya (performed by Harshad Arora). Following a significant time leap, the plot is expected to shift its focus towards Sai and Virats children, Vinu and Saavi. Exploring themes of duty and fidelity in love, this series draws inspiration from the Bengali daily soap, Kusum Dola. Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin airs on StarPlus at 8 pm. Ankit Bathla is back to screens with his new show titled Kundali Milan. Premiered on Monday (May 29), it is a love story which gets disrupted by superstition. In an exclusive interview with News18 Showsha, Ankit talked about his character and revealed he is playing a man who has just returned to India from London. This show is about Kundali, marriage and love. My character has come from London. He wants to marry the love of his life. He is a very dedicated guy in terms of love but something happens and he is told that their Kundalis do not fit well and if a girl marries him, she will die after 90 days. He does not believe in any of this and defies it," Ankit told us. However, Ankit also clarified that the show is not spreading superstitions. It is not about superstition. I think we have a lot many people in our society who believe in such things. Yash, my character, does not believe in this. Even I dont believe in this. But (in the show), situation is such that he is made to believe this. But thats what the fun is when everyone will get to know what will happen after 90 days," the actor added. Prior to Kundali Milan, Ankit featured in several shows including Love Lust and Confusion, Beta Hi Chahiye and the superhit Thapki Pyar Ki among others. However, when he decided to become an actor, his parents werent very happy about it. Why? Because he was already working with a multinational corporation with a handsome pay. I have never been told that this is not the right career option for me by anybody other than (laughs) my parents and relatives initially. I was working with an MNC and had a handsome pay. They were like, kyu chorr kar jaa raha hai? But after that, there was no looking back," he shared. I had to run from my house. I eloped on 15th August. (laughs) I got independence on that day and then I moved to Mumbai. I still remember, my first show was Sammaan Ek Adhikar where I was paid Rs 1500 a day," the 34-years-old actor said. As a very conservative family, my parents would always believe that it is better to do what you are doing right now. From the societal standard, acting isnt a very stable profession. I was already making enough money while I was working with the MNC. I am an Economics (Hons) graduate. They thought it was the best option for me. So I could not convince them any further and thats when I left and moved to Mumbai," he added. However, the Kundali Milan actor expressed that even though his parents were not very supportive of his decision earlier, they are very proud of him today. My biggest victory was when my father put my photo as his display picture on WhatsApp. It may sound very small to people today but for my father it was a very big thing. He is a very strict father and also not very familiar with WhatsApp. He took an effort to do this and it was the happiest moment for me," Ankit concluded. Union Home Minister Amit Shah who is on a mission to restore peace in strife-torn Manipur, held a series of meetings with political and civil society leaders from both the Meitei and Kuki communities and visit Churachandpur, the site of some of the worst rioting earlier this month, on Tuesday. Shah, who flew in to Imphal last night accompanied by home secretary, had held a meeting with chief minister N Biren Singh, as well some of his cabinet colleague, intelligence and security officials on Monday late night to take stock of the situation. The meeting, sources told PTI, decided on a series of relief measures as well as steps to augment supplies in this north-eastern state to cool down prices of essential commodities which have soared since ethnic violence began earlier this month. Had a fruitful discussion with the members of the different Civil Society Organizations today in Imphal. They expressed their commitment to peace and assured that we would together contribute to paving the way to restore normalcy in Manipur. pic.twitter.com/ao9b7pinGf Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 30, 2023 Why the Clashes? Kukis have been demanding a separate administration for districts they live in, failing which they have also asked for Presidents rule being imposed on the state. Manipur, afflicted by ethnic conflict for nearly a month witnessed a sudden spurt in clashes and firing between militants and security forces on Sunday, after a relative lull for several weeks. The death toll from clashes since ethnic rioting began on May 3 has gone up to 80 according to officials. Army and paramilitary personnel have been conducting combing operations in the Imphal valley and surrounding districts, an official said. The Army operation is aimed at confiscating illegal caches of arms, he said. Ethnic clashes, first broke out in Manipur after a Tribal Solidarity March was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest the Meitei communitys demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The violence was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipurs population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts. Around 140 columns of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles, comprising over 10,000 personnel, besides those from other paramilitary forces, had to be deployed to bring back normalcy in the northeastern state. A Deeper Look From the beginning of this year, unrest resurfaced in Manipur for multiple reasons. On May 3, unprecedented violent clashes, attacks and arson broke out at various places during a Tribal Solidarity March called by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) to oppose the demand for inclusion of the Meitei community in the ST category, according to an IANS report. Acting on a writ petition filed by the Meetei (Meitei) Trade Union, the Manipur High Court acting Chief Justice M.V. Muralidaran on April 19 had directed the state government to submit the recommendation for inclusion of Meitei (Meetei) community in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list to the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry. The High Court order said: The issue of inclusion of the Meetei/Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes list of the Constitution is pending for nearly ten years and above. No satisfactory explanation is forthcoming from the side of the respondent State for not submitting the recommendation for the last 10 years. Therefore, it would be appropriate to direct the respondent state to submit its recommendation to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs within a reasonable time." The High Court order snowballed into a major controversy with thousands of tribals turning up for the Tribal Solidarity March in 10 hill districts on May 3 called by a student body. Earlier a civil writ petition filed by eight members of the Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union led by union secretary Mutum Churamani Meetei had sought the issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the first respondent (Manipur government) to submit a recommendation in reply to the Union Tribal Affairs Ministrys letter dated May 29, 2013. According to the Meitei and other agitators, the influx of outsiders from both inside and outside the country, including people from Myanmar, Nepal and Bangladesh, has significantly affected the identity, culture, economy, administration and the environment of Manipur. The Meitei community is demanding inclusion in the list of ST. Those demanding ST status claimed that there is a need to protect the valley inhabited by the Meitei community while tribals living in Manipurs hill area have already been protected as Scheduled Tribe category status. The BJP led government in Manipur has claimed that the process is on to include Meiteis in the ST list. The Central government, on December 11, 2019 at the height of the agitation against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), introduced the ILP (Inner Line Permit) system to strictly monitor the movement of outsiders in the state and to protect the interests of the indigenous people. The ILP under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, is an official travel document that allows an Indian citizen to visit the states where ILP is enforced for a limited period of time and with a specific purpose. Manipur has witnessed a series of agitations for the past several months with many women, students and youth bodies and civil society organisations agitating against the state governments alleged delaying tactics" in introducing the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state, and in the functioning of the Manipur State Population Commission (MSPC). Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had said that his government is ready to implement the NRC in the state but to do that, approval from the Central government is required. He said that the state government has already constituted the MSPC and it would identify the immigrants in the state based on the cut-off year of 1961. People of Myanmar seeking asylum in Manipur is a different issue. At any cost, we would protect the demography as well as the tradition and culture of the indigenous people of the state," Singh said. Meanwhile, the Manipur government earlier decided to identify those Myanmarese refugees who have sought asylum in the northeastern state, and keep them at the designated detention centres. So far, around 5,000 immigrants, including women and children, have fled from conflict-hit Myanmar after the military took power in the neighbouring country in February 2021. An official said that the Manipur government has recently constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by Tribal Affairs and Hill Development Minister Letpao Haokip after thousands of Myanmarese crossed over to the state due to the armed conflict near the Indian border areas between the Myanmar Army and the Peoples Defence Force. The hills account for 90 per cent of the states area and 10 per cent population while the valley occupies 10 per cent land. In the valley, there are Hindu, non-tribal Meitei communities while the hills are inhabited largely by the Christian Naga and Kuki-Zomi communities. In another development, the North East Students Organisation (NESO), an apex body of eight major students organisations of seven northeastern states, had in May condemned the Manipur governments action evicting the indigenous settlers belonging to the Zo community and the violent incidents that followed. The tribals were evicted on the pretext that they are settling on reserve forest whereas the fact is that these indigenous settlers have been residing in these areas for ages." The government of Manipur has to take into account that these are the indigenous communities of northeast and have inhabited these lands from their forefathers and they are not illegal immigrants from Nepal or Bangladesh," NESO chairman Samuel B. Jyrwa and General Secretary Mutsikhoyo Yhobo said in a joint statement. Violence Spill Over Effect Two Mizoram districts Aizawl and Saitual share around a 95 km border with Manipur, which has also 204 km and 225 km inter-state borders with Assam and Nagaland respectively. Many tribal and non-tribal communities specially the Meitei, Naga, Kuki, Mizo, Chakma are living in different northeastern states presenting a complex linguistic mosaic with over 200 dialects. The northeastern region is home to 45.58 million people (2011 Census). The indigenous tribals constitute around 28 per cent of the population and they mostly speak in their mother tongue or their indigenous language. The tribals and non-tribals belong to Hindu, Christian and Muslim communities with different lifestyles, cultures, traditions and languages. Any kind of negative incident involving one or two communities in a particular state often has a counter-effect in other states of the region causing ethnic trouble. top videos Besides the insurgency, Naga-Kuki, Meitei versus other tribals, Chakma versus other tribals, and numerous other ethnic conflicts have claimed thousands of lives and damaged huge property during the past many decades in the northeastern region. IANS, PTI contributed to this report Over the past few days, various reports have quoted sources familiar with the British royal family as saying that there is speculation that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may be facing a difficult divorce in the near future. Over the past few weeks, rumors of marital troubles between the couple have been circulating, and these rumors appear to have been substantiated by former royal butler Paul Burrell and Lady Colin Campbell. Paul Burrell, who was Princess Dianas butler until her passing in 1997, has stated that Prince Harry is remaining in the marriage solely to witness the growth of his children, Archie and Lilibet, as per a report by Sky News Australia. Am I the only person in the UK that is thinking, has Harry finally woken up to the truth? Has he finally seen the truth of what his wife is doing and that hes been brainwashed and mesmerised by her beauty or something? Because we all know that, but he doesnt seem to see it, Mr Burrell told GB News. It is believed that Burrell no longer has a relationship with either Prince Harry or Prince William following the publication of his book, A Royal Duty," in 2003. The book revealed intimate details about the life of Lady Diana. In response to the books publication, her sons issued a passionate and unprecedented statement denouncing it as a cold and overt betrayal." The statement pleaded with Burrell to cease the publication of the book. Amid the development, lets look at Harry and Meghans relationship so far: How They Met Harry and Meghans first meeting was not conventional. Prince Harry first saw Meghans photo on social media, thanks to a mutual friend who shared a picture of her using the Snapchat dog filter. This friend, believed to be either Violet von Westenholz or Mischa Nonoo, set them up on a blind date in July 2016 while Meghan was in London for Wimbledon, as per a report by Town and Country Magazine. Prince Harry was late for his first date with Meghan because he was stuck in traffic: I didnt know him, so I was like, oh, this is what he does? I was just not interested in that. [Then when he walked in], he was so sweet [and] genuinely embarrassed pic.twitter.com/Ux7Aig1mCr Dionne Grant (@DionneGrant) December 8, 2022 Meghan, being from the United States, didnt have many preconceived notions about Prince Harry before they met. She emphasized that she wanted to know if he was a kind person before considering a relationship. Prior to their date, Meghan also checked out Harrys secret Instagram account, which showcased beautiful photography and his time spent in Africa. Their first date had a slightly rocky start as Harry arrived late after being stuck in traffic. However, despite this, there was an immediate chemistry between them. Things Move Fast After their initial meeting, Harry and Meghans relationship progressed rapidly. They went on a second date, with Meghan being the one who was late this time. Just a few weeks later, Prince Harry invited Meghan to join him on a trip to Africa. They continued to date quietly for about four months until news broke on October 31, 2016, that Prince Harry was dating an American actress. Sources reported that Harry was extremely happy and infatuated with Meghan. In November 2016, an interview with Meghan was published in the Vancouver Sun, where she discussed her collaboration with Reitmans, her charity work with World Vision, and her holiday plans. Although she did not mention Harry in the interview, she expressed her happiness and gratitude. During this time, Harry had already introduced Meghan to his father, Prince Charles, and according to the documentary Harry & Meghan," his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, was the first senior family member that Meghan met. On November 8, 2016, Prince Harry released a formal statement confirming his relationship with Meghan. In the statement, he also addressed the intense media scrutiny and online harassment that Meghan had been facing, urging the press and social media trolls to stop the abuse directed at his girlfriend. Engagement, Wedding & Royal Step Back After enjoying New Years in London, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle embarked on a romantic trip to Norway, their first public vacation together. Harry planned the trip so they could witness the Northern Lights, adding to the enchantment of their relationship. In early 2017, Harry introduced Meghan to his sister-in-law Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte at Kensington Palace, and according to reports, they got along wonderfully. On November 27, 2017, after months of speculation, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement. The couple expressed their joy and happiness, accompanied by a celebratory photoshoot and a formal interview. Their wedding, held at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018, captivated the world as millions of people watched the ceremony. Meghan looked stunning in a Givenchy gown for the ceremony and a stylish Stella McCartney dress for the reception at Frogmore House. The guest list included high-profile figures like Oprah, the Beckhams, and members of the royal family. Their first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, was born on May 6, 2019. In January 2020, Harry and Meghan announced their intention to step back from their roles as working royals. After negotiations, they reached an agreement with the royal family, allowing them to pursue private business arrangements while refraining from using the word royal" in their professional branding. By the end of March 2020, Harry and Meghan officially transitioned to their new lives, settling in Santa Barbara, California, with Archie. They have since embarked on various projects, including signing deals with Netflix and Spotify, and launching their non-profit organization, Archewell. On Valentines Day in 2021, the couple shared the exciting news that they were expecting their second child. They expressed their joy and released a heartwarming portrait to celebrate the announcement. Oprah Interview & Lilibet top videos In a landmark interview with Oprah Winfrey, the couple opened up about their experiences and decisions. The interview garnered immense attention, with 17.3 million viewers tuning in live. During the two-hour conversation, Meghan and Harry covered a range of topics, including their royal wedding, the gender of their second child (a baby girl), and their reasons for stepping back from their senior roles in the royal family. On June 4, 2021, the couple announced the birth of their daughter. Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born at The Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California. Her first name, Lilibet, is a tribute to her great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, as it was her childhood nickname. Her middle name, Diana, honors the late Princess of Wales, Harrys mother, who was dearly loved by many. One notable feature of the recently inaugurated new Parliament building in New Delhi is the presence of a Foucault pendulum, which is suspended in its Constitutional Gallery section. The design and installation of this pendulum were undertaken by the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) located in Kolkata. What exactly is the Foucaults pendulum and why has it been installed in the new Parliament building? News18 explains: The original Foucaults pendulum, named after the 19th-century French scientist Leon Foucault, is a simple experiment aimed at demonstrating the rotation of the Earth. When Foucault conducted this experiment in 1851, it provided the first direct visual evidence that the Earth rotates on its axis. What is the Foucaults Pendulum? The Foucault pendulum is a captivating scientific apparatus consisting of a heavy mass suspended from a long cord, allowing it to swing in any direction. Interestingly, it also rotates in relation to the Earths surface, as per Britannica. Back in 1851, the French physicist Jean-Bernard-Leon Foucault created the first of these pendulums in Paris. One example featured a 28-kilogram iron ball suspended from a 67-meter steel wire inside the dome of the Pantheon. By initially pulling the ball to one side and then releasing it, Foucault set it in motion, causing it to swing in a specific plane. The remarkable thing about Foucaults pendulums was that they demonstrated, in a laboratory setting, the Earths rotation on its axis. How Does it Work? According to the Britannica report, a Foucault pendulum is a fascinating apparatus that swings in a back-and-forth motion within a specific plane. However, the Earth rotates underneath it, creating relative motion between the two. At the North Pole (latitude 90 N), when viewed from above in the plane of the pendulums suspension, the Earth appears to rotate counterclockwise once every 24 hours (to be precise, once every 23 hours 56 minutes 4 seconds, which is the length of a sidereal day). Consequently, the pendulums plane, also viewed from above, seems to rotate clockwise once a day. In the Northern Hemisphere, a Foucault pendulum always rotates clockwise, with a decreasing rate as its location gets closer to the Equator. The original Foucault pendulums in Paris, for example, rotated clockwise at a rate exceeding 11 per hour, taking approximately 32 hours for a complete rotation. The rotation rate depends on the latitude. At the Equator (0 latitude), a Foucault pendulum does not rotate, while in the Southern Hemisphere, the rotation is counterclockwise. The mathematical expression for the rate of rotation of a Foucault pendulum is equal to the rate of Earths rotation multiplied by the sine of the latitude. Since the Earth completes a 360 rotation in approximately 24 hours (a sidereal day), its rate of rotation is about 15 per hour. This corresponds to the rotation rate of a Foucault pendulum at the North or South Pole. For instance, at a latitude of 30 N (e.g., Cairo or New Orleans), a Foucault pendulum would rotate at a rate of 7.5 per hour, as the sine of 30 is equal to one-half. In essence, the rate of rotation of a Foucault pendulum at any given location matches the component of Earths rotational speed perpendicular to the Earths surface at that specific point. What About the Foucaults Pendulum in the Parliament? According to The Hindu, the recently installed pendulum in the new Parliament building was created by the National Council of Science Museum (NCSM) in Kolkata. The pendulum stands at a height of 22 meters and weighs a massive 36 kilograms, making it the largest of its kind in India, as reported by the Indian Express. A Moment of Pride for @ncsmgoi !A Foucault Pendulum has been installed by @ncsmgoi at the new Parliament building on May 28, 2023.#AmritMahotsav #MyParliamentMyPride pic.twitter.com/LPtA1ddN4W National Council of Science Museums-NCSM (@ncsmgoi) May 29, 2023 It takes the pendulum a total of 49 hours, 59 minutes, and 18 seconds to complete one full rotation. Tapas Moharana, the person in charge of the project, told the Indian Express that all the components of the pendulum were manufactured in India. Moharana took approximately 10 to 12 months to create the pendulum after receiving a call from the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) last year, inquiring about the possibility of such a creation. The pendulum has been constructed using gunmetal and is equipped with an electromagnetic coil to ensure smooth movement, Moharana added. As mentioned in The Hindu, setting up such a pendulum is a challenging task as one must strive to ensure that its motion is primarily influenced by gravity alone. top videos The newspaper also reported that the first public installation of a similar pendulum was commissioned by Punes Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics in 1991. The NCSM later installed another pendulum of this kind at the Queensland Science Museum in Brisbane. E Islam, who worked on these installations and later headed Kolkatas Birla Industrial and Technological Museum, was quoted by the newspaper, As expected from theory, the pendulum at Pune apparently turned 4.86 per hour clockwise, while in Brisbane it turned 6.92 per hour anticlockwise. The success of our new design was thus unmistakably established by experimental results from both hemispheres." Its not a corporate war, but a conflict among dairy cooperatives of India, after Tamil Nadu became the latest state to raise objections against Gujarat-based Amuls entry into the state. Despite a no non-compete clause among cooperatives, which allows them to hold multiple state licences, the conflict with the Gujrat-based milk cooperative is being driven by politics and regional protectionist behaviour that the country has been experiencing over the past four months. According to the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, any multi-state cooperative society may, by a resolution passed at a general meeting by a majority of members present and voting, promote one or more subsidiary institutions, which may be registered under law, for the furtherance of its stated objectives. India has 1,525 registered societies from 1986 under the Multiple State Cooperative Societies (MSCS). Of 1,525, Gujarat has 41, and Tamil Nadu has 94, with Maharashtra topping the chart with 585, according to the Ministry of Cooperation. According to industry experts, 76-year-old Amul has its units across states for years, and with the multi-state cooperative licence, it is not legally incorrect to sell milk and curd in a market like Bengaluru. They further said a healthy competition among cooperatives will not hurt anyone, instead it will create a choice for consumers and also give boost to both cooperatives and benefit farmers. A senior economist, who is also a member of a state cooperative federation, said with no non-compete clause, cooperatives source and operate in any state of their choice for which they only need a multi-state cooperative society licence. Presence of more than one cooperative or business does not harm the consumers or the farmers, instead, it gives them options. It has been the foundation of economic liberalisation or free trade policies. Creating boundaries or barring entry of a cooperative to another state would only affect the ease of doing business for all, the economist added. Amul is the most successful milk cooperative in the country, but it does not harm any other organisation, he stressed. Another industry expert said Amul has over two dozen products, and sells milk at different price points. It has created a different mechanism for itself over a period of time. So, it is a consumers choice if they want to buy their products. What are the Objections against Amul? The objections from states such as Karnataka and Tamil Nadu against Amul came pouring, especially during the run-up to state assembly elections. Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin recently wrote to home minister Amit Shah, who also holds the charge of the cooperation ministry, against Amuls entry into the states milk shed area. It has been a norm in India to let cooperatives thrive without infringing on each others milk-shed area. Such cross-procurement goes against the spirit of Operation Flood and will exacerbate problems for the consumers given the prevailing milk shortage scenario in the country. This act of AMUL infringes on Aavins milk shed area, which has been nurtured in true cooperative spirit over decades. This move by Amul will create unhealthy competition between cooperatives engaged in procuring and marketing milk and milk products, said CM Stalin. On a similar note, in April, Karnataka Congress chief and now the deputy chief minister, DK Shivakumar said the state did not need Amul as it had better milk brand Nandini. However, the Amul-Nandini row fizzled out with the assembly election in the state getting over. Indias Milk Revolution top videos In 2007, the Father of Milk Revolution, Verghese Kurien, in an article Indias Milk Revolution: Investing in Indias Rural Producer Organisations wrote, As of 2004, milk was processed and marketed by 170 district-level unions, federated into 22 state-level marketing federations. Over the years, brands created by the cooperatives have become known for quality and value. Among the brands that have earned consumer confidence are Amul (Gujarat), Vijaya (Andhra Pradesh), Verka (Punjab), Saras (Rajasthan), Nandini (Karnataka), Milma (Kerala), and Gokul (Kolhapur). Each has become a market leader in its state of origin and also has significant presence in other states. The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), as mentioned earlier, is the largest food company in India. The success of GCMMF proves that cooperatives can successfully compete with multinational companies. Kuriens article was published by the World Bank in a compilation of ideas called Ending Poverty in South Asia: Ideas That Work. A man died in Delhi after his car allegedly fell off an under-construction flyover in the Barapullah-Noida Link Road area on Monday. As per the police, Jagandeep Singh (42) fell 30 feet to the ground leading to his death. The incident occurred around 8.30 pm on May 26 when Singh, a resident of Krishna Nagar in Delhi, was driving home after work from Noida. Police suspect that Singh got confused with the route and drove towards the under-construction flyover. Upon receiving information about the accident, the fire brigade, Delhi Disaster Management Authority and the crime team of the Delhi Police reached the spot and found the man in the driving seat of the car which had fallen off the under-construction flyover, a senior police officer said. The man was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him dead, the officer said, adding Singh is survived by his wife and their two children. top videos (With PTI Inputs) The biggest loss for any parent is the loss of their child and that was very evident from the faces of the parents of 16-year-old Sakshi as they walked out of the mortuary after identifying the dead body of their daughter. Sakshi was killed in the broad daylight on Sunday. According to the preliminary post-mortem report, the 16-year-old girl was stabbed at least 16 times and her head was smashed with a rock. All this happened while people were watching the dastardly attack happen in front of their eyes. The entire incident was captured on CCTV and at least 13 people saw the attack happen and not one was able to gather the courage and intervene. Speaking to News18, Sakshis father said that his daughter would have been alive if any one of the bystanders would have gathered the courage to go ahead and stop Sahil. A report in Hindustan Times stated that hardly anyone wished to be identified as an eyewitness to this crime. Shahbad Dairys goons are notorious across the city and we do not dare to encounter them, Sunita Mathur, a local, was quoted. A resident whose son was allegedly captured in the CCTV footage, however, said that he should have tried to save the victim instead of watching helplessly. My son was so frightened when he got back home, but any brave effort by him could saved the girl, Indra Dev said. The man spotted in the footage was called by the police for questioning. Sakshi had just passed her class 10 exams and wanted to become a lawyer but her dreams were crushed by her alleged boyfriend. In the investigation that has happened till now, it has been revealed that Sakshi and Sahil were in a relationship for the last eight months. Just a few days ago, Sahil suspected that Sakshi was talking to her ex-boyfriend Praveen and hence was enraged. Sahil then confronted Sakshi on Saturday, leading to a massive fight. Sakshi threatened him to leave her alone or else she will go to the police. This agitated Sahil even more, and he decided to kill Sakshi. top videos After killing the 16-year-old, the accused claimed that he went to Rithala and threw the weapon used in the crime. He then decided to flee to Uttar Pradeshs Bulandshahr. Sahil changed two buses to reach the house of his paternal aunt. The 20-year-old accused was arrested from Bulandshahr and brought back to national capital. He was presented in front of the court on Tuesday. The police was granted two-day custody of Sahil. Keeping in view the flight safety in hilly areas, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has introduced additional stringent measures for pilots operating helipads at 10,000 ft during the Char Dham yatra from this season onwards. As per the new guidelines, pilots flying choppers in the Himalayan region will get specialised training under the new set of rules introduced by DGCA, news agency ANI reported quoting a senior official. In October 2022, six pilgrims and a pilot were killed in a chopper crash near Kedarnath Shrine in Uttarakhand. In another similar incident that happened this year, an official of the Uttarakhand government was killed after coming in contact with a tail rotor. In view of such accidents, DGCA issued safety guidelines to all operators in the hill region. top videos Char Dham Yatra is one of the most popular pilgrimages attracting a large number of devotees from various parts of India. Kedarnath is one of these places. All four shrines are at high altitudes where extreme weather conditions can change rapidly. The Kedarnath pilgrimage started on April 25 this year. The chopper shuttle services also began on the same date by seven operators approved by DGCA after an inspection conducted from April 20-23. The Delhi High Court on Tuesday rejected the bail plea filed by former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) investigation into the excise policy of the Delhi government. Sisodia, however, will move Supreme Court to seek relief in the case. The single-judge bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, while denying bail to Sisodia, noted that the allegations against him are serious in nature." The allegations against the applicant are very serious in nature. The excise policy was formed at the instance of the South Group, and benefits were given to them with mala fide intention," said Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma. The high court also acknowledged Sisodias high position and the serious allegations of misconduct against him. The court has also not examined the decision of the government, but there are serious allegations of misconduct against the applicant," said the court in its order. The court further highlighted Sisodias influence and his role as the Deputy Chief Minister and holding multiple portfolios, stating that the possibility of witnesses being influenced cannot be ruled out. Sisodia had challenged a previous order by Special CBI Judge M K Nagpal, who denied him bail and referred to him as the architect" of the criminal conspiracy. The Central Bureau of Investigation, opposing the bail plea, argued before the high court that Sisodia misused his official position and introduced changes to the Excise Policy under the influence of the South Group, with the help of his close associate Vijay Nair. The CBI, through Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S V Raju, also alleged that Sisodia misused his powers and introduced favorable provisions in the new policy to facilitate the monopolization of the liquor trade in Delhi, resulting in kickbacks of Rs 90 to Rs 100 crores for the South Group. Sisodias lawyer, Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan, argued that the CBI had no evidence to show his clients involvement in the alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy. The court order stated that Sisodia was not only an architect but also the brain behind various provisions in the policy, including the profit margins for wholesalers and eligibility criteria for wholesalers. It further mentioned that these decisions were made without proper discussions and deliberations, and the concerned department of excise was not consulted. top videos In April, Delhis Rouse Avenue Court had also dismissed Sisodias bail plea in the liquor policy case. Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26 for alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy, which has since been scrapped. Two Nigerian nationals were arrested for allegedly swindling a woman of Rs 1.80 crore on several pretexts after befriending her through Instagram, police here on Tuesday said. According to police, the victim was a local woman who reported the matter on April 10 at Manesar Police Station. In her complaint, the woman said she was cheated of 1.80 crores by a man who she had met on Instagram last year. The man had introduced himself as a British Airways pilot, she told police. The accused talked to me regularly. One day last year he said he was sending a gift parcel for me which contained an iPhone, jewellery, and other items. Later, on December 6, a man called me saying a parcel had arrived in my name and I have to pay Rs 35,000 in tax to get it," the woman said in her complaint, according to police. The victim deposited the money in a bank account shared by the man, but was kept being asked for more money by his so-called friend, who demanded it in the name of different fees such as United national anti-terrorist clearance or some penalty, police said. She realised it was a fraud, she had paid Rs 1.80 crore to the man, police said. The victims daughter has appealed to the police to help them recover the lost money so that the family can repay its bank loans and money borrowed from relatives. After the womans complaint, a team of Cyber Crime investigated the matter and arrested two men from Delhis Nihal Vihar Phase-2 area on Monday. The accused were identified as Nigerian nationals Ebuka Felixi and Chukwaka Ewere who were living in the outer Delhi area from where they were arrested. A chequebook, 16 bank passbooks, 25 ATM cards, seven mobile phones with as many SIM cards, one laptop, one scooter, and Rs 10,000 cash found in their possession were seized by police. top videos Both were produced in a city court and were taken on a four-day police remand. The two are also the members of the same gang which was busted by police on May 11. We have taken them on police remand and are questioning them," said Varun Dahiya, ACP, Crime. The Delhi High Court Tuesday issued notices to its Registrar General, the city government and the police in order to decide which court shall hear the plea of the minor wrestler, who is among the seven female grapplers who have accused Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment. The issue arose as the cases related to sexual offences against minors have to be heard by a special court set up under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Patiala House Court is the jurisdictional court for hearing POCSO cases. However, the cases involving legislators are heard by a special MP/MLA court which is on the premises of Rouse Avenue Court. The women wrestlers have filed a plea before a trial court seeking monitoring of the investigation and recording of the statement of the alleged victims before the court. A similar plea was also filed by the wrestler who is a minor. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal issued notices on the plea by wrestlers who are above 18 years of age. A session judge referred the minors case to the high court to decide the issue. On Tuesday, Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma issued notices to the Registrar General, the Delhi government and Delhi Police and asked them to respond to the plea while listing it for further hearing on July 6. Senior advocate Narender Hooda represented the minor wrestler in the matter. top videos The police had earlier informed the trial court that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the allegations against Singh, a BJP MP. It had told the trial court that statements of all seven victims were recorded under Section 164 CrPC before a magistrate. The wrestlers, who were protesting at Jantar Mantar before they were detained by police on Sunday and removed from the protest site, have been demanding the arrest of Singh, accusing him of sexually exploiting several women grapplers including the minor. The Delhi Police have filed two FIRs, including one under section 10 (punishment for aggravated sexual assault) of the POCSO Act against the BJP MP, who has denied all the charges. Under Indias first-ever Chairmanship, the 22nd Summit of the SCO Council of Heads of State will be held virtually on July 4, 2023, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the chair. India assumed the rotating chairmanship of the SCO at the Samarkand Summit on September 16, 2022. All SCO member states, including China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, have been invited to attend the Summit. Additionally, Iran, Belarus, and Mongolia have been invited as Observer States. Turkmenistan has also been invited as the guest of the Chair, following SCO tradition. The Heads of the SCO Secretariat and the SCO RATS will be present, along with the Heads of six international and regional organizations who have also been invited. Towards a SECURE SCO The theme of the Summit is Towards a SECURE SCO," with the SECURE acronym coined by the Prime Minister at the 2018 SCO Summit, representing Security, Economy and Trade, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity, and Environment. These themes have been emphasized during Indias Chairmanship of the SCO. New Pillars of Cooperation India has established new pillars of cooperation under its Chairmanship, including startups and innovation, traditional medicine, digital inclusion, youth empowerment, and shared Buddhist heritage. Additionally, India has worked towards fostering stronger people-to-people ties that celebrate the historical and civilizational bonds among member nations. This includes various socio-cultural events hosted by Varanasi as the first-ever SCO Cultural and Tourist Capital for 2022-23. top videos India Hosted 134 Meetings Indias Chairmanship of the SCO has witnessed extensive activity and mutually beneficial cooperation among member states. A total of 134 meetings and events, including 14 Ministerial-level meetings, have been hosted by India. India remains committed to playing a positive and constructive role in the organization and looks forward to a successful SCO Summit, marking the culmination of its Chairmanship. A non-Muslim worker was shot dead by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists on Monday when he had gone to a market for purchasing milk in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. The worker, identified as Deepu from Udhampur district of Jammu region, was working in a circus that was camping at Janglaat Mandi area which was provided security, they said. The circus people had their own security as well. The victim had gone to a nearby market to purchase milk when two motorcycle-borne youths fired three bullets at him from a close range at 8.30 pm, police said. The worker was taken to the hospital where he was declared brought dead, they said. ADGP Vijay Kumar was closely monitoring the situation and directed the district police to intensify their search to nab the killers at the earliest. A little-known outfit, Kashmir Freedom Fighter, believed to be a shadow outfit of banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the killing. Terrorists fired upon one civilian namely Deepu R/O Udhampur working at private circus mela at the amusement park near Janglaat Mandi in #Anantnag. He was taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, the Kashmir Zone Police tweeted. Police said a case has been registered and an investigation is going on. top videos Former J-K chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the murder of Deepak. Pained by the news of yet another targeted attack against a civilian in Anantnag area of South Kashmir. The murder of Deepak who worked with a travelling circus to earn an honest living is an abomination & I condemn this militant attack unreservedly. May Deepaks soul rest in peace, he said. At least 10 people have lost their lives and 55 others got injured after the bus they were travelling in fell off Jhajjar Kotli bridge into a deep gorge in Jammu, officials said on Tuesday. The bus was going from Amritsar to Katra when it fell into a deep gorge. SSP Jammu Chandan Kohli said the bus was carrying more passengers than the prescribed limit. SSP Kohli said the bus was going towards Mata Vaishno Devi and rolled down the Jhajjar Kotli bridge. The critically injured were shifted to Government Medical College and Hospital, while other injured were being treated at local PHC. #WATCH | Bus accident in Jammu | 10 people died and around 55 are injured. All have been evacuated. Rescue operation is almost complete. SDRF team is also present on the spot. The bus was carrying more passengers than the prescribed limit and will be probed during the probe: SSP pic.twitter.com/z1RiZTzkwn ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2023 CRPF personnel, SDRF, police and other teams carried out a rescue operation. A crane was also brought to see if more people are trapped under the bus, Assistant Commandant CRPF Ashok Choudhary said. The death toll was seven initially but later rose to 10. Choudhary added, We are being told that the bus was coming from Amritsar and that people from Bihar were onboard. They perhaps lost their way to Katra and reached here". In another such incident on Monday, 10 people, including two children, died on the spot and three persons were injured after a car was crushed in a head-on collision with a private bus in T Narasipura taluk of Karnatakas Mysuru, police said. The incident took place near Kuruburu village on Kollegala-T Narasipura main road. According to the police, the car was completely crushed due to the impact of the accident in what seems to be a head-on collision between the two vehicles. The injured were rushed to hospital. The deceased, said to be from Sanganakallu in Ballari district, were returning from BR Hills in an Innova car they had hired when the incident took place, a police officer said, adding that they had their train ticket reserved from Mysuru back to Ballari in the evening. The private bus was said to be on its way towards Kollegala. top videos In another incident from Rajasthans Jhunjhunu, eight people died and several others were injured after a tractor trolley going towards Mansi Devi overturned. Jhunjhunu District Collector Kushal Yadav said the incident took place at around 6:30 pm. A minor boy was lynched and two others were injured in Maharashtras Parbani after they were brutally assaulted by a mob who mistook them for goat thieves, officials said on Tuesday, adding four people have been arrested in the case. Following the incident which took place on Saturday, the police have registered a case against a total of six individuals involved. Four of the accused have been arrested, including Akram Patel, the former sarpanch of the Gram Panchayat, who is allegedly the main perpetrator in this case, reports said. According to reports, a 14-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries while two other teens were in serious condition. Police confirmed that all the victims, including the deceased, are minors and were beaten on suspicion of being goat thieves. Speaking to reporters, officials said they have invoked the murder section 302 of the IPC against the accused. Eight were booked out of which four have been arrested till now," an officer said. Officials stated that a video of the incident has been obtained, and they are currently working on identifying the individuals involved in the attack. Further investigation is underway, police said. Harjinder Singh Dhami, Chief of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), a body which manages gurdwaras of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, condemned the incident calling it a heinous crime is a blot on humanity, whose culprits deserve strict punishment." He said the police should identify & arrest all the culprits & ensure that strict & exemplary punishment is given to them." SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami strongly condemned mob lynching of minor Sikh Kirpal Singh (14), who was killed at Ukhlad village in Parbhani district of Maharashtra. Two more minor Sikhs, Avtar Singh (16) & Arun Singh (15) have been seriously hurt in this incident. This pic.twitter.com/JNPAR02BJg Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (@SGPCAmritsar) May 30, 2023 The incident comes years after the alleged lynching of three persons in Maharashtras Palghar in 2020. Three men from Kandivali in Mumbai were traveling to Surat in Gujarat to attend a funeral on the night of April 16, 2020 when their car was intercepted by a mob in Gadchinchile village and they were attacked and killed. The victims were identified as Chikne Maharaj Kalpavrukshagiri, 70, Sushil Giri Maharaj, 35, and Nilesh Telgade, 30. top videos The mob reportedly mistook the men for child kidnappers. The case has been recommended for a CBI probe by the Maharashtra government. Amit Shah In Manipur: An incident of gunfire took place in the Sugnu in violence hit Manipur on Tuesday, according to CNN-News18 reports leading to the relocation of approximately 100 Kukis from Sugnu to Tengnoupal as a precautionary measure. Furthermore, an attempted arson attack has also reported at New Checkon. The incidents comes as Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a security review meeting in Imphal with senior officials from the Manipur Police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the Indian Army. In a tweet, he emphasised that Peace and prosperity" remain the governments top priority and instructed authorities to strictly deal with any activities disturbing the peace." As Manipur continues to reel under ethnic unrest, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached the violence-hit state to try and restore peace by hammering out a solution between the warring communities. Shah, who flew to a tense but peaceful Imphal on a special flight, chaired a meeting on Monday night with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, along with state ministers, other senior leaders, and officials to assess the situation on the ground. In the meeting, it was decided that the central and Manipur state government will a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to those who died during the ethnic conflict. The compensation amount will be equally borne by the centre and the state, officials said, adding that a member of the family of those who died in the rioting will also be provided with a job. The Union Home Minister will hold several rounds of meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday to find a solution to the ethnic conflict and plan further steps to restore normalcy in the region. Manipur Violence Latest Updates: Reviewed the security situation in Manipur in a meeting with senior officials of the Manipur Police, CAPFs and the Indian Army in Imphal, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in a tweet after the high-level meet. Peace and prosperity of Manipur is our top priority, instructed them to strictly deal with any activities disturbing the peace," he added. Reviewed the security situation in Manipur in a meeting with senior officials of the Manipur Police, CAPFs and the Indian Army in Imphal. Peace and prosperity of Manipur is our top priority, instructed them to strictly deal with any activities disturbing the peace. pic.twitter.com/RtSvGFeman Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 30, 2023 An incident of gunfire was reported in Sugnu region, according to latest inputs. Around 100 Kukis have been safely relocated from Sugnu to Tengnoupal as a precautionary measure. Additionally, there was an attempted arson attack reported at New Checkon. Union Home Minister had a meeting with a delegation of leaders from various political parties in Imphal, Manipur. Had a meeting with a delegation of leaders from various political parties in Imphal, Manipur. pic.twitter.com/5WtEq48Jvf Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 30, 2023 Shah also held a held a meeting with eminent personalities and delegation of the Civil Society Organisations in Churachandpur. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri @AmitShah held a meeting with Prominent personalities and delegation of the Civil Society Organisations in Churachandpur, Manipur.@HMOIndia @PIB_India @airnewsalerts @DDNewslive pic.twitter.com/AhXfVOwYlU Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) May 30, 2023 After meeting President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said that the party has submitted a memorandum demanding her intervention in the Manipur issue so that normalcy can be brought urgently and also assured her support to take any initiative to restore peace, normalcy and harmony. In a tweet, Kharge said, It is with a deep sense of loss and hurt that we humbly submitted a memorandum to the President of India, for her kind intervention so that the extraordinary situation confronting Manipur can be redressed and normalcy can be brought in urgently. As a responsible political party, the Congress is ever ready to lend support to any initiative to restore peace, normalcy and harmony in Manipur. We humbly submit the following 12 demands for immediate action. Only then there will be peace in the state." Senior IPS officer Rajiv Singh, currently working as an inspector general with the CRPF, has been sent to Manipur and likely to be appointed in a key post to handle the prevailing security situation in the state. According to an official order, Singh, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Tripura cadre, has been sent to Manipur on inter-cadre deputation for three years. "The undersigned is directed to refer to the subject cited above and to convey the approval of Appointments Committee of the Cabinet for Inter-cadre deputation of Shri Rajiv Singh, IPS (TR:93), presently working as IG, CRPF, from Tripura cadre to Manipur cadre for a period of three years from the date of joining, in relaxation of the policy as a special case in public interest," the union home ministry order said. The ministry also directed the CRPF to relieve Singh immediately to enable him to take up his new assignment. Sources said Singh is likely to be given a key responsibility for handling the prevailing situation in Manipur. Soon after the violence broke out in the state on May 3, the central government appointed former chief of the CRPF Kuldiep Singh as a security adviser to the Manipur government. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Tuesday said challenges in Manipur have not disappeared, but expressed hope that things will settle down in some time while noting the situation in the north-eastern state now is not related to insurgency. Chauhan was in Pune on Tuesday to review the passing out parade of the 144th course of the National Defence Academy (NDA). Asked about the situation in Manipur, he told reporters that, The Army, Assam Rifles were deployed in Manipur before 2020. Since the challenges of the northern borders were far more, we were able to withdraw the Army. Since the insurgency situation had normalised, we were able to do that." The situation now in Manipur is not related to insurgency". It is a clash between two ethnicities and a situation of law and order, he said. We are helping the state government with the problem," the CDS said. I would like to say that the armed forces and Assam Rifles have done an excellent job there and may have saved a large number of lives. Though the challenges in Manipur have not disappeared, it will take some time. Hopefully this will settle and the government there will be able to do the job with the help of CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) etc," he said. Officials said that in the meeting with Home Minister yesterday, the Manipur government also decided to set up dedicated telephone lines which will be used to dispel rumour mongering which has largely affected the process to calm down the situation and bring peace in the troubled state. Shahs meeting also decided to ensure that essential items such as petrol, LPG gas, rice and other food products will be made available in large quantities to cool down prices. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday began consultations with stake-holders which started with a breakfast meeting with a group of women leaders, as part of his initiative to bring lasting peace in the violence-hit state. The home minister also held a meeting with delegations of civil society organisations as part of his outreach. Held a meeting with a group of women leaders (Meira Paibi) in Manipur. Reiterated the significance of the role of women in the society of Manipur. Together, we are committed to ensuring peace and prosperity in the state," Shah Tweeted after the meeting. Union Home Minister Amit Shah who is on a mission to restore peace in strife-torn Manipur, will hold a series of meetings with political and civil society leaders from both the Meitei and Kuki communities and visit Churachandpur, the site of some of the worst rioting earlier this month, on Tuesday. In an earlier meeting with CM Biren Singh and others, Shah, who flew into Imphal last night accompanied by the home secretary, took stock of the situation. The meeting, sources said, decided on a series of relief measures as well as steps to augment supplies in this north-eastern state to cool down prices of essential commodities which have soared since ethnic violence began earlier this month. Sources said Kuki leaders and MLAs, many of whom had left for neighbouring states, may be flown in for talks with him. Curfew has been relaxed in East and West Imphal for 6 hours in the morning. The curfew will be relaxed from 5 am to 11 am. Manipur, afflicted by ethnic conflict for nearly a month witnessed a sudden spurt in clashes and firing between militants and security forces on Sunday, after a relative lull for several weeks. The death toll from clashes since ethnic rioting began on May 3 has gone up to 80 according to officials with three people succumbing to injuries on Monday and two being killed by firing by militants on Sunday. Army and paramilitary personnel have been conducting combing operations in the Imphal valley and surrounding districts, an official said. The Army operation is aimed at confiscating illegal caches of arms, he said. At least 25 miscreants with arms, ammunition and grenades have been rounded up by Indian Army and paramilitary forces across ethnic-strife-riven Manipur, officials added on Monday. A spokesperson for the defence forces said a number of people were detained with weapons after fresh incidents of firing and clashes broke out in and around Imphal Valley on Sunday. "Swift action by the Army averted loss of precious lives and multiple incidents of arson," the statement said. The Defence PRO also said that Sugnu and Serou villages of Kakching district witnessed violent clashes on Sunday which saw the army intervening to rescue people affected. "Villagers of both communities were stranded in pockets under the protection of security forces. In a major evacuation drive organised by Army and Assam Rifles in coordination with Police, State administration and Civil Society Organisations, nearly 2000 Meitei villagers were evacuated from Serou to Pangaltabi Relief Camp," he added. While aerial surveillance cover was given by UAVs, Mine Protected Vehicles and area domination patrols were put in place on ground to ensure safe and incident free evacuation, the official said. "Similarly, nearly 328 Kuki villagers were safely evacuated to Sajik Tampak from Sugnu," he added. Earlier on Sunday, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had said nearly 40 armed militants involved in torching houses and firing at civilians have been killed by security forces since they began an operation to bring peace to the northeastern state beset by ethnic rioting. Around 140 columns of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles, comprising over 10,000 personnel, besides those from other paramilitary forces, had to be deployed to bring back normalcy in the northeastern state. Ethnic clashes, which have claimed over 80 lives besides injuring 300 others, first broke out in Manipur after a Tribal Solidarity March was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest the Meitei communitys demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The violence was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations. top videos Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipurs population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts. (With inputs from agencies) The scenic Konkan Railways is expected to get its first Vande Bharat in June as the semi-high speed train between Mumbai and Goa is all set for its launch, officials aware of the matter told News18. The trial for the train between Madgaon in Goa and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CST) in Mumbai has been underway since the last few days. The train is likely to transform the journey between Indias financial capital, Mumbai, and the tourism hub, Goa. A couple of trains are already connecting Mumbai and Goa but this train will be the fastest to cover the journey in just around seven hours, the Konkan Railway official told News18 on condition of anonymity. So far, the travel time between the two stations is about eight to nine hours minimum. The official, however, refused to speak on the details about the expected inauguration date and the proposed route, saying these details are yet to be finalised". The Beauty Called Konkan Railway The Konkan Railways is considered to be one of the most scenic train journeys that connect Mumbai and Mangalore as it passes through Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. It is a coastal strip of land bound by the Sahyadri Hills on the east and Arabian Sea on the west. The first train was flagged off on January 26, 1998 on the Konkan route. This year, it completed 25 years of service. The total length of the Konkan Railways is around 750 km that also includes the Goa-Mumbai route. With 72 stations en route, the journey takes the train through rivers, valleys and mountains. In the entire stretch, there are 91 tunnels covering a distance of 85 km. The longest tunnel in the route is the 6.5 km long Karbude Tunnel near Ratnagiri. Further, the route also has 342 curves and 1,880 bridges, including 179 major bridges and 1,701 minor bridges. There are 372 road crossings as well. About Mumbai-Goa Vande Bharat The Vande Bharat fully AC train will be the fastest in the Mumbai-Goa route. The nearly 600-km journey between Mumbai and Madgaon has a number of scenic locations. Vande Bharat will be a fully AC train that will be in addition to the existing trains. It will enhance the travel experience of the passengers as it crosses the lush Western Ghats and the scenic Konkan region, the official quoted above said. They also said the route is single line and is a challenging one. A Vande Bharat on this route had been a long pending demand. Union Minister of State for Railways Raosaheb Danve had said in March that the semi-high speed express train will soon be operated on the Mumbai-Goa route. This will be the first Vande Bharat for the Konkan Railway. Successful trials on these routes are a milestone for us. Goa is a tourist spot and has a rush almost always. The train has been a long pending demand and will help in easing the passenger load in this route, they said. Fourth Vande Bharat for Mumbai So far, three Vande Bharat trains are operating from Mumbai - one each for Gandhinagar, Shirdi and Solapur. This will be the fourth train from Indias financial capital. India currently has 18 pairs of Vande Bharat trains with the latest one being Guwahati to New Jalpaiguri, which was launched on Monday. Earlier this month, Odisha got its first Vande Bharat operational between Puri and Howrah. top videos Apart from three from Mumbai, at least six pairs of Vande Bharat trains are operational from Delhi. The national capital is connected with these semi-high-speed trains with Dehradun, Ajmer, Varanasi, Katra, Bhopal, and Amb Andaura. Two pairs of Vande Bharats are operating from Chennai for Mysuru and Coimbatore. Vande Bharat is also operational on the Bilaspur-Nagpur, Howrah-New Jalpaiguri, Secunderabad-Tirupati, Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod routes. In top news of the day, the accused in the shocking Delhi Shahbad Dairy murder case said he had no regrets" for carrying out the crime; in other news, former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodias bail plea was rejected by the Delhi High Court in the excise policy case. Delhi Murder Accused Has No Regret, Bought Knife to Kill GF from Ukhand; Police Gets 2-Day Custody | Latest Shahbad Dairy murder accused Sahil (20) had allegedly bought the knife to stab his girlfriend from Uttarakhands Haridwar nearly 20 days ago, police sources told News18. The sources further said that the 16-year-old victim had threatened to go to the police if Sahil, an AC repairman by profession, did not keep his distance. A report by NDTV quoted police as saying that she even used a toy pistol to scare him away. READ MORE Excise Policy Scam: Delhi HC Rejects Manish Sisodias Bail Plea; AAP Leader to Move SC For Relief The Delhi High Court on Tuesday rejected the bail plea filed by former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) investigation into the excise policy of the Delhi government. Sisodia, however, will move Supreme Court to seek relief in the case. READ MORE Joint Candidate in 2024? Oppn Ready to Go All In, But Cong May Not Agree to Stay Out of the Way Its now or never. And the Opposition knows this. The idea of a joint candidate against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha elections 2024 is gathering weight in the fissured ranks, with one perquisite uniting regional parties the Congress must stay out of their seats. READ MORE Its The Last Part of My Career: Emotions Run High for MS Dhoni After Leading CSK to IPL 2023 Title MS Dhonis eyes were shut and head was slightly bowed down when Ravindra Jadeja took guard to face the final ball of IPL 2023. The tens of thousands of fans had their smartphones out to capture the winning moment, for either team at the stage, and there was a slight delay as Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya had a chat with Mohit Sharma before the final ball of the tournament. The delay only increased the tension and it got very noisy when Mohit seemed ready to ball. READ MORE When Saroj Khan Recalled Her Major Fallout With Salman Khan: Roti Allah Deta Hai Tu Nahi An old video of late choreographer Saroj Khan talking about her fallout with Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has surfaced on the internet. In the video, Saroj claimed that Salman was apparently upset" with her because she gave better dance steps" to Aamir Khan in their 1994 classic Andaz Apna Apna. READ MORE top videos Moscow Suffers Minor Damage as Drones Attack Russian Capital The mayor of Moscow said that a drone attack on Tuesday caused minor damage to the Russian capital with no reported casualties, news agency AFP reported. This morning, at dawn, a drone attack caused minor damage to several buildings. All the citys emergency services are on the scene () No one has been seriously injured so far," Moscows mayor Sergei Sobyanin was quoted as saying by AFP. READ MORE Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said peace and prosperity" is the governments top priority in violence-hit Manipur and instructed authorities to strictly deal with any activities disturbing the peace." The statement came amid reports of fresh violence in the northeastern state including a firing at Sugnu in Kakching district, prompting relocations of around 100 Kukis and an attempted arson attack in Imphals New Checkon area. Reviewed the security situation in Manipur in a meeting with senior officials of the Manipur Police, CAPFs and the Indian Army in Imphal," the Union Home Minister said in a tweet after the high-level meet. Peace and prosperity of Manipur is our top priority, instructed them to strictly deal with any activities disturbing the peace," he added. Chief Minister N Biren Singh also attended the meeting. Reviewed the security situation in Manipur in a meeting with senior officials of the Manipur Police, CAPFs and the Indian Army in Imphal. Peace and prosperity of Manipur is our top priority, instructed them to strictly deal with any activities disturbing the peace. pic.twitter.com/RtSvGFeman Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 30, 2023 The Union Minister held a series of high-level meeting in Imphal, including a security review with Indian Army, Manipur police and CAPF, a stake-holder meeting with women leaders over breakfast and prominent emminents and delegation of the civil society leaders in Churachandpur. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri @AmitShah held a meeting with Prominent personalities and delegation of the Civil Society Organisations in Churachandpur, Manipur.@HMOIndia @PIB_India @airnewsalerts @DDNewslive pic.twitter.com/AhXfVOwYlU Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) May 30, 2023 Held a meeting with a group of women leaders (Meira Paibi) in Manipur. Reiterated the significance of the role of women in the society of Manipur. Together, we are committed to ensuring peace and prosperity in the state," Shah said in an another tweet. He also held a meeting with a delegation of leaders from various political parties in Imphal. Had a meeting with a delegation of leaders from various political parties in Imphal, Manipur. pic.twitter.com/5WtEq48Jvf Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 30, 2023 Amit Shahs Manipur Visit Accompanied by the IB chief and home secretary, Shah arrived in Manipur via helicopter to address the ongoing situation. As part of his efforts to bring peace to the northeastern state, he engaged with church leaders and intellectuals from the Kuki community to better understand their concerns and grievances amidst the series of clashes between the Meiteis and Kukis. The Union Home Minister is scheduled to visit the Moreh and Kangpokpi areas on Wednesday. In Moreh, he will engage in interactions with delegations from various local groups, while in Kangpokpi, he will meet with Civil Society Organisations. Subsequently, a security review meeting will be held by the Home Minister in Imphal. Rs 10 Lakh Compensation of Those Died in Manipur Violence In a significant development, the government has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for those who lost their lives during the ethnic conflict in Manipur. Additionally, a job will be provided to a family member of the deceased as well. Officials have clarified that the compensation amount will be shared equally between the central government and the state. This decision was made during a late-night meeting between the Union Home Minister and Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday. The move demonstrates the governments commitment to addressing the situation and providing support to the affected individuals and their families. Fresh Violence Meanwhile, incident of gunfire was reported in Sugnu region, according CNN-News18 reports. Around 100 Kukis have been safely relocated from Sugnu to Tengnoupal as a precautionary measure. Additionally, there was an attempted arson attack reported at New Checkon. The incidents are the latest since the sudden escalation in clashes and gunfire between militants and security forces on Sunday after a relatively calm period of over two weeks. Manipur has been grappling with ethnic conflict for nearly a month. The death toll resulting from these clashes has now risen to 80, according to officials. Rumours of Army Stationed in an Around Imphal False: State Govt The State Home Department issued a statement clarifying against a rumour of an order regarding Indian Army to be stationed in and around Imphal. There is a rumour being circulated that the army will be stationed in and around Imphal. The same is incorrect and false," the official statement read. No step will be taken by any agency without the consent of the State Government," it added, asking citizens not to believe or spread such rumours. The ethnic clashes in Manipur originated from a Tribal Solidarity March organised on May 3 in the hill districts, aimed at protesting the Meitei communitys demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Since then, the region has been plagued by recurring waves of unrest, culminating in a recent round of clashes that claimed at least five lives on Sunday. Prior to the violent outbursts, tension had been brewing due to the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, leading to a series of smaller agitations. top videos In Manipur, the Meitei community constitutes approximately 53 percent of the population and predominantly resides in the Imphal Valley, while the tribal Nagas and Kukis make up another 40 percent and inhabit the hill districts. To restore normalcy in the northeastern state, approximately 10,000 personnel from the Indian Army, Assam Rifles, and other paramilitary forces were deployed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia on Tuesday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and exchanged views on culture, people-to-people ties, and development partnership between the two countries. It was a pleasure to interact with His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia today. We had a positive exchange of views on our close cultural and people-to-people ties and development partnership, PM Modi tweeted after meeting King Sihamoni. PM Modi met the King of Cambodia, who is on his maiden State visit to India from May 29-31. It was a pleasure to interact with His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia today. We had a positive exchange of views on our close cultural and people to people ties and development partnership. @PeacePalaceKH pic.twitter.com/vx8H8wOYSO Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 30, 2023 Prime Minister and His Majesty, King Sihamoni underscored the deep civilizational ties, strong cultural and people-to-people connect between both countries," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. Prime Minister assured His Majesty of Indias resolve to strengthen the bilateral partnership with Cambodia across diverse areas including capacity building," the statement added. The Cambodian king thanked Prime Minister Modi for Indias ongoing initiatives in development cooperation and conveyed his appreciation and best wishes for Indias Presidency of G-20. MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the meeting between PM Modi and King Norodom Sihamoni was warm. He said that both leaders reviewed bilateral relations and discussed ways to advance the India-Cambodia partnership in various domains. Reviewed bilateral relations and discussed ways to advance the India-Cambodia partnership in domains of capacity building, human resource development, tourism, culture and defence. Also exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues," Bagchi tweeted. A warm welcome to an honored guest from a civilisational sister country!President Droupadi Murmu received King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia at Rashtrapati Bhavan and hosted a banquet in his honour. The President said that the visit of King Sihamoni demonstrates the importance pic.twitter.com/nCPoYFsF1B President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) May 30, 2023 top videos On Tuesday, King Sihamoni also met President Droupadi Murmu. The two leaders discussed ways to further the cultural and civilisational connection between India and Cambodia. Agenda covered furthering the cultural & civilisational connect between India & Cambodia. Also discussed ways to enhance development cooperation and people-to-people ties," MEA spokesperson said. A preliminary probe into the killing of a minor girl in northwest Delhis Shahbad Dairy revealed that the accused was enraged after his break-up with the victim and the fight between them a day earlier triggered the horrific act, police said on Monday. The accused, Sahil (20), was arrested from Bulandshahr after a call from his aunt to his father was traced to a location in Uttar Pradesh, they said. A senior police officer said the accused suspected the victim of having an affair with her ex-boyfriend and had allegedly threatened her a few days ago that he would kill her. #BreakingNews | #DelhiMurder: News18 accesses postmortem details of the 16yr-old victim; 34 stab wounds found, and her skull ruptured from stone slabFmr IPS @yashoazad says crimes of passion will go on. Sensitisation important?@AnvitSrivastava | @maryashakil #NewsEpicentre pic.twitter.com/cHYNz67EAE News18 (@CNNnews18) May 29, 2023 Initial probe also revealed that Sahil had suspicion that she had started talking to her former boyfriend and got into a relationship with him. He had also apparently threatened to kill her, he said. Sahil brutally killed the 16-year-old girl Sunday evening by stabbing her over 20 times and bludgeoning her to death with a cement slab. In all, the girl, Sakshi, was found to have 34 injury marks on her body and her skull was ruptured. The final autopsy report is awaited, police said. Read More: 34 Stab Wounds And A Ruptured Skull: Blow-by-blow Account of Brutality That Unfolded in Shahbad Dairy During investigation, police checked the CCTV footage of the area and spoke to the victims family who said she was going around with a boy named Sahil. We reached his place and the boy was found absconding. Technical surveillance was mounted. We questioned his relatives and worked on all technical aspects. A phone by his aunt (bua) to his father informing him about Sahils sudden arrival helped police to nab him from Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh. His medical examination was conducted and by Monday night, he will reach Delhi, following which police will further interrogate him, a senior police officer said. The accused had switched off his mobile phone after the incident and headed for his aunts house in Bulandshahr in a bus, police said. Another police officer, part of the investigation, said when Sahil was questioned about his relationship with the victim, he said he was with her since June 2021. According to the police, there was a delay of about 25 minutes in informing the police about the incident. None of the bystanders made a PCR call and it was a police informer who alerted the police about the incident, following which a police team was rushed to the spot around 9.30 pm. Police said the victim had told her parents that she had been staying with one of her friends, Neetu, who has two children and lives in one-room set, police said. Sakshi was staying with her friend for the past 15 days. The girl had stopped talking to Sahil a few days ago, and had had a fight with him a day before she was killed, they said. The girl was in relationship with Sahil since 2021, but of late they often fought over things and shared a strained relationship. She eventually stopped talking to him and wanted to end her relationship with him, but he kept approaching her and wanted to reunite with her, the officer said. top videos Even on Saturday, they had a fight which further worsened their relation. This could be the reason behind the murder, he said. Police are also trying to know more about a tattoo the victim had on her hand bearing the name Praveen" which they say could also be a cause of frequent fights between Sahil and the girl and her eventual killing. Andrea Kevichusa made heads turn at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival with her mesmerizing Naga style. Alongside filmmaker Kivini Shohe, both representing Nagaland, they have captivated the attention of fashion enthusiasts and industry insiders alike. Their presence added a touch of cultural diversity to the glitz and glamour of the event. Andrea Kevichusa had graced the red carpet for the premiere of Todd Haynes film, May December, in a show-stopping ensemble. She exuded elegance and grace in a breathtaking black sequinned dress crafted by MoonRay, the renowned fashion brand founded by Karishma and Avantika Swali in 2021. The dress not only accentuated Andreas impeccable sense of style but also showcased her confidence and individuality. See her pictures- View this post on Instagram A post shared by CarolAndrea Kevichusa (@andreakevichusa) Styled by the talented duo, Edward Lalrempuia and Asu Lkr, Andrea Kevichusas look was a perfect blend of contemporary fashion and traditional Naga elements. What caught everyones attention was her choice of accessoriesa necklace and earrings that paid homage to her roots in the Angami Naga tribe. These exquisite pieces added a touch of authenticity and cultural pride to her ensemble, making a powerful statement on the global stage. The black sequinned dress embraced Andreas figure flawlessly, highlighting her natural beauty and radiant personality. Every step she took on the red carpet exuded confidence and grace, leaving onlookers in awe. The intricate detailing and impeccable craftsmanship of the dress showcased MoonRays commitment to creating exquisite pieces that embody both modernity and tradition. Andrea Kevichusas appearance at Cannes not only showcased her undeniable talent but also celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Nagaland. It serves as a reminder of the importance of embracing ones roots and incorporating them into the global fashion landscape. Andrea Kevichusas Naga style at Cannes has made a profound impact on the fashion industry. Her choice to incorporate traditional elements into her ensemble while embracing contemporary fashion highlights the importance of cultural representation on a global platform. Andreas presence at the festival serves as an inspiration for aspiring fashion enthusiasts and reaffirms the significance of celebrating diversity in the world of fashion. Apoorva Lakhia, a well-known filmmaker, recently revealed that Amitabh Bachchan would make people climb three floors to meet him. He recalled in an interview that at Janaks, where Amitabhs office used to be earlier, the lift would never be working. He would always have to climb stairs to meet the actor. In an interview with Sidharth Kannan, the Shootout At Lokhandwala director said, One day before I had meeting with Amit ji and I am standing outside and smoking. Suddenly his car comes, and you know how he walks. He puts his head down and walks. And he is walking, walking and gets into lift and goes up. So, I tried to go into the lift, they didnt let me go up. They shut the door and it didnt come down only. I am pressing the button, third floor is not coming down. So, I go up eventually. I had my pista and badam which was offered to me. I go and said sir I thought the lift was broken every time. He said, Appu the thing is na that when a person comes to offer me a film I like him to walk up and see who he is going to meet? Let him see Prakash Mehra, Manmohan Desai, Yash Chopra, Rishikesh Mukherjee all of these guys who have worked with from the first film and by the time he goes up money is of not importance. Apoorva described Amitabh as special and said, He asked me to work with him when he knew I had no work, because Id worked with Abhishek before. None of Abhisheks films were doing well and he was still working, but I wasnt. Money wasnt even discussed. He just wanted to give me a chance. In the same interview, the director talked about many other things including the casting of Vivek Oberoi in Shootout At Lokhandwala. He said he was getting calls to replace Vivek. Currently, he is promoting the second season of the web series Crackdown. BTS ARMY, it is happening! BTS has announced their plans for 2023 FESTA and it looks like we are in for an epic celebrations. This year, BTS comprising members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook completes 10 years since their debut, making this years celebrations extra special. On Tuesday night IST (Wedensday, 12 am KST), BTS took to their group social media handle and released their plan for FESTA 2023. Like every year, theyve released a road map that is filled with surprises for fans. This time, theyve adopted a board game format, with gifts awaiting every corner and a set of dices in the centre. The celebrations kick off on May 31. Fans can expect new content to drop on June 2, June 3, June 7, June 8, June 9, June 10, June 11, June 12 and June 13. However, the celebrations dont end there. BTS has something planned for June 14, June 16 and June 17 as well. Check out the poster below: BTS fans took to Twitter to express their excitement and begin the countdown to the anniversary date. We're gonna be so purplified, borafied, Bangtanfied and ARMYfied during FESTA 2023. so spoiled. pic.twitter.com/Vd4NSLEO8y JRJOT7 (IA) (@LetsBeGoodHuman) May 30, 2023 IT'S BTS FESTA 2023 FOR REAL pic.twitter.com/l5dyW27wZK (SLOW) (@eternalhyyh) May 30, 2023 A few fans also began speculating the activities are being planned in the coming days: 2023 BTS FESTA 31/5 - ARMY? *sus*2/6 - re-watch concert?3/6 - movie, documentary re-watch?7/6 - song? video contents?8/7 - recorded videos, practice videos?9/6 - ARMY?? *sus*10/6 - dinner party?11/6 - message/pictures 12/6- letters?13/6 - the event at the island +more? pic.twitter.com/F4clSdCSHx Aryaa (busy) (@tear_ot7) May 30, 2023 YOU ARE TELLING ME WE COULD HAVE A BTS FESTA DINNER 2023???? pic.twitter.com/JoPT2Qm67A Carolyne (@mhereonlyforbts) May 30, 2023 thats N Seoul Tower whatre they doing there? pic.twitter.com/1OiemX6NSt Via (@pockettangerine) May 30, 2023 For the unversed, BTS made their debut on June 13, 2013. Over the years, the K-pop group has gone through many hardships but have held each other together tightly and climbed the ladder of success. They have shattered several records in South Korea and internationally, even bagging three Grammy nominations. Director Onir, known for his strong voice for the LGBTQ community, has unveiled the first poster for his highly anticipated film, Pine Cone. The film serves as a powerful advocate for true representation of the LGBTQ community in cinema coming from lived experiences. The film is set to open South Asias largest queer film festival, Kashish, on 7th June, promising to captivate audiences with its layered love story of a Gay man as he navigates through love, loss and desire. The first poster of Pine Cone offers a glimpse into the intense emotions that engulfs the film. Painted as an art piece, it features the lead actors Vidhur Sethi and Sahib Verma in an intimate and tender moment, symbolising the depth and complexity of the love and desire. With Pine Cone, filmmaker Onir continues to champion the LGBTQ community, reinforcing the importance of authentic representation in cinema. Speaking of it, Onir said, Pine Cone is a very special film to me as the process started when the Ministry of Defence did not approve one of my scripts that was inspired by a real story. So we started working on this story in 2021 so that we continue telling our stories and overcome resistance to our identity. Pine Cone comes from memories of love , loss , deceit and forgiveness. Forgiving the world, that special person and oneself and celebrating the beauty of our journey the rainbow journey. The film showcases three stories told from the lens of the life of the lead character Sid Mehra, as he navigates relationships in his quest for love. What sets this film apart is its unique narrative structure, with the stories unfolding in reverse chronological order, spanning the years 2019, 2009, and 1999. It promises to be a heartfelt exploration of love, relationships, and self-discovery. Lavani dancer Gautami Patil has been making headlines for quite some time now. The folk artist, who enjoys massive fan following in Maharashtra, was recently embroiled in a controversy, revolving around her surname. This began after Rajendra Jarad Patil, who identified himself as the Maratha Coordinator, asked her to not use the Patil surname. He further claimed that otherwise her shows will be banned in the state. Soon after this, several people came out in support of Gautami including politician Yuvraj Sambhaji Raje Chhatrapati. But in the latest turn of events, the politician has backed down from his support and announced the reason for the same through a Facebook post. Going by Yuvrajs Facebook post, he claimed that earlier a journalist informed him that an artist was being intimidated. The politician wrote that it is wrong to threaten a female artist and thats why he earlier supported Gautami. However, the politician further claimed that he wasnt aware of Gautamis art form, at the time of his support. But now, after he has learned about it all, he feels that it destroys the culture of Maharashtra. In addition, he concluded by claiming that such art doesnt deserve protection. It must be noted that social media users have criticised the politician for backing away from his stance and commented that there are important issues in this country which deserve his attention. In case you are wondering, earlier the politician cited the example of Maharani Tarabai Bhosale while supporting the artist. In his conversation with TV9, Rajendra Jarad Patil, claimed that Gautamis real surname is not Patil but Chabukswar. Therefore, he believed that she was defaming Patils, by using it as her last name. He said, Otherwise, her programme will not be allowed in Maharashtra, and I directly warned her. To which Gautami broke her silence and responded by saying, My surname is Patil, I will only use the surname Patil, I dont care what anyone is saying. My programme is cultural. This isnt the first time that Gautami has grasped the limelight over a controversy. Sometimes back she got into trouble because of one of her events that was held at Indira Gandhi School Ground. This ground is close to the AIIMS Hospital and Research Center in Aundh, Pune. People questioned the administration about how they allowed such a loud event in the vicinity of the hospital. Marathi actress Pooja Katurde is best known for playing the role of the female lead in Hrudayee Preet Jagate. She has also amassed a sizable fan base with her performances in the daily soap Sang Tu Ahes Ka, Bhakharwadi and others. The actress is currently looking forward to her upcoming web series Gemadpanthi directed by Santosh Kolhe. Planet Marathi unveiled the trailer of Gemadpanthi on Sunday. Pooja will be seen in a new avatar which is unconventional compared with her previous roles. Speaking of the trailer, it is evident that she will be playing the role of an escort girl. This role also required her to use explicit language and essay some intimate scenes as well. Social media users are not at all impressed with the glimpse and many commented that there was nothing novel for which they can watch the series. A user commented that Planet Marathi has released hit films like Raan Baazaar and it doesnt look like that Gemadpanthi will be able to match the former. Pooja, Savita Malpekar, Digambar Naik, Rahul Maghdhum, Meera Sarang, Upendra Limaye, and others will be seen in prominent roles in the series. Chaitanya Sardeshpande and Shiddesh Bhabal have written the storyline while Rohit Nagbhid has composed the music. Watch the Gemadpanthi trailer here: Apart from Gemadpanthi, Pooja also has another web series titled, Cryptomania in her pipeline. Lokesh Aggarwal, Muskaan Kataria, and others have been roped in to play pivotal roles. The team has kept the rest of the details under wraps. The series is touted to be a psychological thriller. The series narrates the life of a young orphan who is trying to escape his past and begins working with some people to start a new Cryptocurrency. The series is being produced by Dropout Media and U/A Studios and is said to be in the pre-production stage. Sara Ali Khan and Vicky Kaushal starrer Zara Hatke Zara Bachke have been trending ever since the trailer has released. The film is getting a lot of positive responses from the audience. Amid this director Laxman Utekar, in an interview, reacted to a question when asked why he did not cast Katrina Kaif in the film. The director immediately said that Katrina Kaif doesnt fit in the role. He was quoted saying, Meri language Katrina ko samajh aayegi tabhi kar paunga (laughs). Aapko lagta hai Katrina kabhi small town ki heroine lagegi (I can do only if Katrina understands my language. Do you think Katrina will look like a small town heroine)? If we get a good script, I would love to work with Vicky and Katrina. He also said that he will get the couple on board if something interesting comes. I wouldnt get them onboard this time because Zara Hatke Zara Bachke is in a different space and I feel Katrina ka joh aura hai and personality hai, mujhe personally laga nahi ki voh ek middle-class joint family ki bahu lag sakti hai. Agar future mein aisa kuch banega joh unko suit karega toh kyun nahi (The aura and personality Katrina has I personally didnt feel she can look like a middle-class joint family daughter-in-law. If there is anything in the future that will suit them then why not), he added. Currently, the lead actors are in Lucknow to promote the film. They have been traveling a lot for the promotion. Zara Hatke Zara Bachke is releasing on June 2. Talking about the film, it is set in Indore, with Vicky playing the role of Kapil and Sara essaying the character of Soumya. The small-town story starts with the couple head-over-heels for each other. However, life takes a turn a few years later, with the couple constantly fighting. They eventually file for a divorce but there seems to be a catch. On the work front, Katrina Kaif will be next seen in Merry Christmas and Tiger 3 with Salman Khan. She was last seen in PhoneBhoot. Be it work or wedding preparations, Parineeti Chopra is juggling her commitments effortlessly. The actress who was earlier spotted in Rajasthan with her fiance Raghav Chadha for scouting wedding locations has now returned to Bombay. Earlier this afternoon, the actress was spotted in Bandra. The paparazzi captured her. Parineeti looked pretty in a pristine white outfits. Keeping it comfy and breezy, she looked summer ready. She donned one of her brightest smiles and completed her look with a single pony tail and black sunglasses. She even flaunted her engagement ring. Earlier last week, Parineeti Chopra revealed how she fell in love with her fiance Raghav Chadha. The Bollywood star and the AAP leader Raghav Chadha got engaged in a private ceremony in New Delhi on May 13. In an Instagram account, Parineeti shared that she knew Raghav was the one" after they met over breakfast. Sharing a series of unseen photos from her engagement ceremony, Parineeti wrote, When you know, you know. One breakfast together and I knew - I had met the one. The most wonderful man whose quiet strength would be calming, peaceful and inspiring. His support, humour, wit and friendship are pure joy. He is my home. Our engagement party was like living a dream - a dream unfurling beautifully amidst love, laughter, emotion and loads of dancing! As we hugged those we loved dearest and celebrated with them, emotions overflowed. As a little girl in awe of princess stories, I had imagined how my fairytale would begin. Now that it has, it is even better than I had imagined. Parineeti and Raghavs engagement ceremony took place at the Central Delhis Kapurthala House and was attended by around 150 guests, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Parineetis cousin, global icon Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Rumours of Raghav Chadha and Parineeti Chopras wedding started in March after they were spotted together in Mumbai. However, a report in ETimes suggested that the couples love story began last year. The sparks flew between Parineeti and Raghav on the sets of Chamkila. Parineeti was apparently shooting in Punjab for the film and Raghav had gone on the set to meet her as a friend. The two eventually fell in love. For the unversed, Raghav and Parineeti have known each other for a very long time. According to multiple reports, the duo studied together in London School of Economics. Meanwhile on the work front, Parineeti will next be seen in Imtiaz Alis Chamkila where she would be seen sharing screen space with Diljit Dosanjh. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. U.S.: President Joe Biden condemned Uganda's new anti-gay law on Monday. Biden said in a statement that the United States will evaluate the implications of the law "on all aspects of U.S. engagement with Uganda." Ahead of the release of the highly anticipated romantic comedy Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, the lead stars of the film Sara Ali Khan and Vicky Kaushal visited Lucknow and offered their prayers to Lord Shiva. The film is all set to hit the theatres on June 2nd. Sharing a photo from their visit, Sara wrote , Jai Bholenath . Have a look at the photo : Speaking of Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, the trailer of this romantic comedy has received love from audiences and the songs have also captured a special place in the hearts of fans. One of the songs, sung by Arijit Singh, has even reached the top of the charts. Earlier, at the red carpet of IIFA, Vicky sang the romantic song while Sara gestured and expressed her emotions from behind him. Sara lookes beautiful in a red decolletage crop top paired with a ruffled sari, while Vicky looked dapper in a monochrome tux. Check out the video right here: Helmed by Laxman Utekar, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke has been set in Indore, with Vicky playing the role of Kapil and Sara essaying the character of Soumya. The small-town story starts with the couple head-over-heels for each other. However, life takes a turn a few years later, with the couple constantly fighting. They eventually file for a divorce but there seems to be a catch. The trailer also revealed that Zara Hatke Zara Bachke will be bringing back Tum Kya Jano Mohabbat Kya Hai from Rishi Kapoors Hum Kisise Kum Naheen. Talking about the film, Vicky Kaushal had earlier shared at a press conference, Its a theatrical release for both of us after a long time. We were discussing that our theatrical releases before this were pre-Covid. I was telling Sara the same thing while coming here. Its a great film to bring to the theatre because its a true family film, something youll enjoy watching with your entire family. Apart from Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, Vicky and Sara have a few other releases in the pipeline. Vicky Kaushal be seen in Sam Bahadur and is rumoured to be seen in Shah Rukh Khan-led Dunki. Sam Bahadur is directed by Meghna Gulzar whereas Dunki is directed by Rajkumar Hirani. Meanwhile, Sara Ali Khan will be seen in Metro In Dino with Aditya Roy Kapur. The film will be directed by Anurag Basu. This will mark their first collaboration. Suniel Shetty, who had an illustrious career of over three decades, recently shared a significant challenge he encountered during the early stages of his acting career. During an interview on Shantanus podcast, The BarberShop, the actor recounted a tough experience following the release of his debut film Balwaan in 1992. A renowned critic not only criticised Shettys acting abilities but also made a derogatory remark suggesting he should return to selling idlis". Moreover, the critic declared that Suniel Shetty would never succeed in the industry. This deeply impacted the actor, leading him to question his decision to pursue a career in acting. However, Suniel Shettys film turned out to be a blockbuster and a great success. Despite being accepted as an action hero by the audience, he felt disheartened by several publications unfair" remarks. The De Dana Dan actor believed that such criticism was unjust because every aspiring actor envisions themselves as the next Amitabh Bachchan. The film was a blockbuster, my film was a hit. Suniel Shetty was accepted as that action hero, but heres someone, the most powerful publication writing, saying go back home. I said This is not fair because every kid believes that he is the next Mr Bachchan," he said. During the same interview, Suniel Shetty revealed that he used to frequently get calls from the underworld". However, he never felt afraid and handled the situation on his own. Reflecting on the past, Suniel Shetty shared, We were at a time when the underworld was rambling here (in Mumbai). You know I used to get calls saying, I will do this, I will do that. I used to abuse back. I had cops telling me, Listen, youre crazy. You dont understand, theyll get upset and they could do anything. I said, What? Im not wrong, protect me. What have I done? So thats the background I came from. The actor also disclosed that his family remains unaware of these incidents, stating that he had never revealed the extent of his actions to his kids, Athiya and Ahaan. He told that he had been involved in some intense situations, where he even sustained injuries. It was in those moments that Suniel Shetty believed time is the best healer," particularly when it comes to fitness. Today, Suniel Shetty is regarded as one of the leading actors in the industry, with numerous blockbuster films to his credit. At the age of 31, the actor embarked on his acting career with the movie Balwaan, where he starred alongside Divya Bharti. The film was directed by Deepak Anand. Shetty continues to enjoy a massive fan following and remains a prominent figure in Bollywood. Furthermore, his children, Ahaan Shetty, and Athiya Shetty, have also entered the acting profession, following in their fathers footsteps. Meanwhile, Suniel Shetty recently made an appearance in the web series Dharavi Bank and Hunterr: Tootega Nahi Todega. Currently, he is engaged in filming for the third instalment of Hera Pheri, where he will reportedly reunite with Paresh Rawal and Akshay Kumar. R Sarathkumar is considered one of the most popular actors in the Tamil film industry. He has worked in various films throughout his career across several languages in South India. Currently, he is doing character and villain roles. Apart from being an actor, he has also been an active individual in politics. He is the founder of the regional political party, All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK), in Tamil Nadu. R Sarathkumar has been in the news for his comments during a recent political meeting in Madurai. R Sarathkumar claimed that he will live up to 150 years if he is made Chief Minister in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections. He said, I am 69 years old now, but I feel like a 25-year-old youth. I will live for 150 years. I have learned the strategy, if you elect me as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in the 2026 elections, I will tell you all the secrets of how to live for 150 years." Sarathkumar said that the leader should be the one who has a strong resolution towards development and should be the one who prioritises nationality first. He added that all of these things require effort, honesty, physical strength and mental strength. The actors comments are going viral on social media. While some people have appreciated him, others have started creating memes based on his comments. Some are even saying that, as a public figure, one should not make such claims to rise to the post of Chief Minister. In 2007, Sarathkumar founded the All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK) in Tamil Nadu, claiming to carry on K Kamarajs beliefs. He was also a former MLA from the Tenkasi constituency. From 2006 to 2015, Sarathkumar also served as the president of the Nadigar Sangam for three consecutive terms. Sarathkumar has worked as a writer, director, and producer in the South cinema. He has acted in popular films, like Sarathi, Myna, Remo, Ponniyin Selvan 1 and Varisu A video of Vicky Kaushal singing Vande Mataram with fans gathered to watch CSK vs GT on Monday is now going viral. The actor made his way to Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad with his Zara Hatke Zara Bachke co-star Sara Ali Khan. Videos and photos from the IPL Final of Vicky have already gone viral showing him having the best time. And now, a new video of the actor from the stadium has fans attention. In the video, Vicky was seen enjoying the match from the stands when the song Vande Mataram began playing. While the crowd was heard joining in, Vicky was also seen enthusiatically joining in. The Uri: The Surgical Strike star was seen wearing a casual outfit at the match. Watch the video below: Besides the video of Vickys singing video, photos of Vicky and Sara watching the match also went viral. While the final few overs of Gujarat Titans had Sara and Vicky cheering, they were in shock to see Rashid Khon lose his wicket in the last ball of the innings. Photos of the actors watching from the stands surfaced online, with Sara visibly surprised by his wicket whereas Vicky appeared heartbroken by the wicket. Khan got out on a duck. On the work front, Vicky and Sara are coming together for Zara Hatke Zara Bachke. Directed by Laxman Utekar, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke is set in Indore. Vicky plays the role of Kapil whereas Sara plays the character of Soumya. The small-town story starts with the couple head-over-heels for each other. However, life takes a turn a few years later, with the couple constantly fighting. They eventually file for a divorce but there seems to be a catch. The film is produced by Dinesh Vijans Maddock Studios and is scheduled for release on June 2, 2023. An old video of late choreographer Saroj Khan talking about her fallout with Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has surfaced on the internet. In the video, Saroj claimed that Salman was apparently upset" with her because she gave better dance steps" to Aamir Khan in their 1994 classic Andaz Apna Apna. The video, which is now going viral on Reddit, is from Sarojs old interview with Zoom. In the video, Saroj explained how she had a major fallout with Salman, so much so that the actor refused to work with her. I will not work with you once I become the top hero in the industry," Salman allegedly told Saroj, according to her claims in the video. Saroj claimed that Salman Khan didnt work with her for a very long time because he was allegedly hurt" that Aamir Khan got star moves" in the Rajkumar Santoshis film, while he was given a dhol to dance with. I did exactly what my director told me. If you felt bad then Im very sorry. You wont work with me? Roti Allah deta hai Tu nahi deta hai," Saroj said in the video. News18.com cannot confirm the authenticity of the video. Several years later, the two decided to bury the hatchet. In an interview with Mid-Day in 2019, Saroj Khan had revealed how Salman Khan promised to work with her after she was not getting any film offers. When we met, Salman asked me what I was doing nowadays. So I told him honestly that I dont have any work [film offers], and that I am teaching Indian classical dance to young actresses. Upon hearing that, he said, Now, you will work with me. I know he is a man of his word, so he will keep his promise, she had said. The last song choreographed by Saroj Khan was Tabaah Ho Gaye from Karan Johars production Kalank. The song was picturised on Madhuri Dixit. Saroj Khan passed away in July 2020. WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY 2023: May 31 is observed as World No Tobacco Day to spread awareness among the public about the harmful effects of tobacco. This day was first observed in the year 1987 by the World Health Organization (WHO), to inform individuals about the alarming epidemic of tobacco use. According to the statistics by health researchers and medical professionals, more than 8 million people around the world died due to tobacco usage every year and this massive toll can be prevented by avoiding this injurious practice. It has also been observed that those having smoking habits are more likely to develop severe disease with COVID-19 compared to non-smokers. The theme for this years World No Tobacco Day is We Need Food, Not Tobacco." ALSO READ: World No Tobacco Day 2023: How Tobacco Smoke Can Affect Your Lungs, Heart and Fertility If you are struggling to quit tobacco, herere some useful tips to avoid this injurious habit. Move over chai pe charcha. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is now gearing up for tiffin pe charcha or khane pe charcha not only to mark nine years of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, but also to drum up support in Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Party functionaries said tiffin pe charcha, which basically implies discussion over a meal, will be part of the BJPs mass outreach programme, which will start from Tuesday (May 30) in UP. The mass programme will focus on all 80 LS seats, especially the one which the BJP lost in the last LS polls. ALSO READ | Overwhelming View is PM Narendra Modi Will Be Re-elected in 2024: Chris Wood of Jefferies Union ministers, state ministers, members of legislative assembly (MLA) and all party functionaries will take part in what the party calls one-of-its kind 30-day programme. SOCIAL MEDIA BATTLE On May 29, the party organized a grand training session for more than 600 volunteers and social media influencers. At the workshop, the volunteers were trained to highlight nine years of the Modi government at the Centre, also highlighting the development works carried out in Uttar Pradesh during the Yogi governments tenure. The social media influencers will target all 80 Lok Sabha seats, said Dharampal Singh, BJPs state general secretary, who recently explained the roadmap at a meeting in SR College in Bakshi Ka Talab area of Lucknow. ON GROUND Other than battling it out on social media to build the partys image ahead of the LS polls, officials said the party has planned rallies at all seats between June 10 and June 20. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda, Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, among others, are expected to take part. The MLAs have been assigned the task to gather a crowd of at least 10,000 each from their regions. Under the mass public outreach programme, the special focus, officials said, will be on the 18 LS seats which the BJP lost in 2019. ALSO READ | OPINION | Five Reasons why Narendra Modi will return as the Prime Minister in 2024 top videos For these seats, we have planned a special public connect programme, where party leaders and workers will hold discussions over meals, labeled as tiffin pe charcha or khane pe charcha. Party leaders, including MLAs and others, will visit influential families of the region and have discussions over meals with their families. Around 200 families of actors, scientists, freedom fighters, doctors, sportspersons and others have been identified, officials added. The campaign is seen as one of the BJPs key measures to boost its mass connect in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls scheduled next year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday greeted people on the statehood day of Goa, describing the state as an exquisite blend of serenity and vibrancy which continues to inspire with its unique culture and enduring spirit. A former Portuguese colony, Goa became a part of India in 1961 and was made a Union Territory, which also included Daman and Diu. top videos It became a full-fledged state on this day in 1987. It is Indias smallest state by area and is a favourite tourist destination. Modi tweeted, Best wishes on Goa Statehood Day! Goa, an exquisite blend of serenity and vibrancy, continues to inspire with its unique culture and enduring spirit. I pray for the well-being and prosperity of Goans and hope they continue to strengthen Indias development trajectory." Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Wednesday address a rally in Rajasthans Ajmer district, the first major event in a month-long outreach campaign by the BJP to mark its nine years in power at the Centre. Rajasthan, where the ruling Congress is caught in a leadership tussle between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, goes to the polls this year-end. Modi will travel by helicopter from Kishangarh airport to the holy town of Pushkar, where he will offer prayers at the Brahma temple and visit the ghats, according to party leaders. He will then travel by helicopter to Kayad Vishram Sthali on the Jaipur road to address the rally. Union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and Kailash Chaudhary, and other BJP leaders from Rajasthan will attend the meeting. Ajmer North MLA Vasudev Devnani said BJP workers from 45 assembly and eight Lok Sabha constituencies are being mobilised for the rally. The constituencies fall in the districts of Ajmer, Nagaur, Tonk, Bhilwara, Rajsamand, Jaipur and Pali. Of these 45 assembly seats, 21 are held by the Congress, 19 by the BJP, three by independents and two by the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party. Over the past few weeks, Modi has also visited Rajsamand and Sirohi. This BJP event comes soon after the Congress leadership at the Centre held discussions with Gehlot and Pilot in an effort to patch up their differences ahead of the assembly polls later this year. The party claimed that the two leaders agreed to fight the elections unitedly. top videos BJP leaders have already held press conferences in several states already to mark Modis nine years as prime minister. The PMs rally will flag the beginning of a series of party meetings as part of a major outreach campaign. As AAP Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal arrives in Chandigarh on Wednesday, the Bhagwant Mann cabinet is set for expansion with the addition of two new ministers. Keeping the upcoming local body polls in mind, the ministers expected to be inducted hail from Muktsar and Jalandhar. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, MLA from Lambi, and Balkar Singh, MLA from Kartarpur, are set to be sworn in as ministers in the Bhagwant Mann cabinet on Wednesday morning, according to sources. However, there are also reports stating that Inderbir Singh Nijjar, the Local Government minister, has resigned from the Cabinet. The government has sent a letter requesting time from Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit for the oath-taking ceremony, which is scheduled to take place in the morning. The letter was sent late in the evening as discussions within the party continued regarding the selection of the new ministers to be inducted. Touted as a giant killer" during the 2022 state elections, Gurmeet Singh Khudian defeated the late Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who had held the position for five terms. Since the government was formed, there has been speculation about Khudians inclusion in the cabinet. Meanwhile, Balkar Singh played a pivotal role in securing a significant triumph for the Aam Aadmi Party in the recent Jalandhar Lok Sabha by-elections. The impending induction of ministers in the Bhagwant Mann cabinet marks the third expansion during the 14-month tenure of the Aam Aadmi Party in the state. top videos Arvind Kejriwal is scheduled to arrive in Chandigarh on Wednesday evening where he will join a gathering of all ministers, MLAs, and MPs (both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha) from the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab. The dinner event, hosted by Punjab Chief Minister Mann, serves the purpose of not only maintaining a positive atmosphere among party leaders but to also inform them about the ordinance the party believes was introduced by the BJP to assert control over officers in Delhi. La presidenta de la republica, Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, intervino, a traves de un video, en la reunion de jefes de Estado y de Gobierno de America del Sur, que se realiza en Brasilia, a iniciativa del presidente Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, sobre el proceso de integracion. pic.twitter.com/UeZH6RPrUr A day after the ruling BJP swept the Uttar Pradesh legislative council bypolls, BSP supremo Mayawati on Tuesday lashed out at the Samajwadi Party for fielding dalit and OBC candidates in the polls despite knowing that the numbers were stacked against them. She also accused the Akhilesh Yadav-led party of ignoring these sections when it was in power. The saffron party had sailed comfortably in the legislative council bypolls held on Monday with both its candidates Manvendra Singh and Padmasen Chowdhary posting comfortable wins over Samajwadi Partys (SP) Ram Jatan Rajbhar and Ramkaran. In the by-elections held yesterday for two seats of the UP Legislative Council, despite the defeat being certain, the SP fielded Dalit and OBC candidates in the election and got them defeated, while ignoring them when they (SP) were in power proves that the conspiracies of the SP towards these classes has not changed even a bit," Mayawati tweeted in Hindi. Cautioning these backward sections against the nefarious designs of the Samajwadi Party, she said in another tweet, Dalits, other backwards and marginalised people have suffered a lot due to such narrow and hateful politics of SP and their governments. Thats why there is a dire need for these sections to be always careful to avoid such losses in future, this is the appeal of the BSP," she said. The opposition unity suffered a blow in the MLC bypolls with Congress legislators not casting their votes, while the lone BSP MLA could not make it to Lucknow to exercise his voting rights. top videos Based on its numerical strength in the legislative assembly, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was comfortably placed to secure victory for both its candidates. The SP had entered into the fray at the last moment apparently to give a message that it would not give a walkover to the ruling party. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has decided to construct twin towers near the new Secretariat in Hyderabad to accommodate all the heads of departments (HODs) and their staff. The decision was made during a review meeting chaired by the chief minister, focusing on the upcoming Telangana State Formation Day celebrations and the construction of the twin towers, with the presence of ministers, the chief secretary, and officials relevant. The chief minister instructed the officials to build offices for all the HODs near the secretariat, considering their regular visits once the construction of the new secretariat is completed. He requested details about the total number of HODs and their staff and inquired about suitable government sites near the secretariat. The construction of the twin towers, aiming to provide a centralized space for all the HODs, will commence once the location is confirmed. Emphasizing the significance of the Telangana State Formation Day celebrations, which will last for 21 days, the chief minister urged the officials to organize the event on a grand scale starting from June 2. Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari briefed the CM on the preparations being made by the respective departments for daily programs during this period. Expressing satisfaction with the working environment in the secretariat, K Chandrasekhar Rao asked about the facilities in the newly constructed building. After concluding the review meeting, he visited the under-construction martyrs memorial situated opposite the secretariat. The chief minister inspected the ongoing work on foot and provided instructions to the officials from the Roads and Buildings department, as the project was nearing completion. He advised them to place the statue of Telanga Talli in a spacious area in front of the memorial and to construct beautiful fountains on either side of the statue. top videos Furthermore, he directed the officials concerned to ensure comfortable access and minimize traffic issues for visitors during the 21-day celebrations of the Telangana State Formation Day. Additionally, he inspected the bridges being constructed at BRK building to facilitate smooth vehicular movement after the inauguration of the new secretariat. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she wrote a letter to the Centre seeking permission to visit peace-loving people of Manipur". Addressing a press conference in Howrah, the TMC supremo said her letter requesting permission to visit prompted Union Home Minister Amit Shahs visit to the violence-affected region. I also wrote a letter seeking permission to visit Manipur and talk to the peace-loving people of Manipur. Since I wrote a letter, thats why he (Union HM Amit Shah) did that. Despite visiting Manipur, he isnt speaking with the people of the state," she was quoted as saying. #WATCH | "I have been saying for so many days that they should visit Manipur. So many people died, the country must be told how many people died in the state and what's the situation in Manipur": West Bengal CM pic.twitter.com/QdIU4ltkA0 ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2023 I have been saying for so many days that they should visit Manipur. So many people died, the country must be told how many people died in the state and whats the situation in Manipur", she said. Officials have said the Banerjee has been closely observing the situation in Manipur. In the past week, Banerjee accused the BJP of attempting to replicate Manipur-like conflicts" in West Bengal. Her statements reflect her concerns regarding potential attempts to instigate similar unrest in her own state. Meanwhile, Shah chaired an all-party meeting at the Chief Minister N Biren Singhs residence in Imphal as part of his efforts to engage with various stakeholders and find a resolution to the conflict, according to latest inputs. Had a meeting with a delegation of leaders from various political parties in Imphal, Manipur. pic.twitter.com/5WtEq48Jvf Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 30, 2023 The Union Home Minister visited Churachandpur, the scene of some of the worst rioting in the recent ethnic conflict which broke out in Manipur earlier this month, to hold talks with Kuki civil society leaders. Accompanied by the IB chief and home secretary, Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Manipur via helicopter to address the ongoing conflicts between the Meiteis and Kukis. His agenda includes meeting with church leaders and intellectuals from the Kuki community to gain insight into their grievances and work towards establishing peace in the northeastern state. top videos In a significant development, the government has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the victims who lost their lives during the ethnic clashes in Manipur. Additionally, a job will be provided to a family member of those affected by the violence. The financial burden of the compensation will be shared equally between the central and state governments, as confirmed by officials. Late Monday night, a meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Singh took place, leading to these decisions. Aam Aadmi Party convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal met Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary and veteran political leader Sitaram Yechury at the Leftist outfits headquarters at Gopalan Bhavan in the capital to solicit support in the Rajya Sabha when the Centres recent controversial transfer-posting ordinance is presented as a bill. Throwing his weight behind AAP against the ordinance, Yechury said, As far as the CPI(M) is concerned, we opposed the ordinance on May 20 itself, a day after the ordinance was issued. We said that this is against our Constitution and democracy. And, it also amounts to contempt of courtthat the court has given a verdict and you are reversing that in this manner through an ordinance. Federalism is one of the foundational pillars of our Constitution. The Modi sarkar is destroying the federal structure, the relationship between the Centre and the states, and there have been assaults of many kinds on the rights of the state. And the brazen manner in which this ordinance was brought is a violation of the Constitution and we are opposing it. And whenever there is an opportunity to vote against it in the Rajya Sabha or elsewhere, we are committed to voting against it." The central government promulgated an ordinance this month to create the National Capital Civil Services Authority to decide on postings and transfers of bureaucrats and make the lieutenant governor the final arbiter over such matters. It effectively took away the elected Delhi governments executive and legislative power over services awarded to it by a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court after an eight-year-long battle with the Centre. Sitaram Yechury, who played a key role in drafting the common minimum programme of the UPA 1 government in 2004, had a special message for all non-NDA opposition parties. We appeal to all other parties, this is not about political partiesCPI(M), AAP, or Congress. The issue is to fight the assault on the constitutional structure of the country. If we dont do that, we run the risk of not just an autocratic government at the Centre, but even worse, a regime with fascist tendencies," he said. He went on to target opposition parties who have not yet declared their opposition to the ordinance. We appeal to all, especially to those parties who are yet to oppose this ordinance. We appeal to these partiestoday this has happened with the Delhi government, tomorrow it can happen to our own state government. It can happen with the Rajasthan government, or Himachal Pradesh where Congress is ruling, or regional parties that are ruling in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, or Tamil Nadu. All these governments face a threat. To destabilise governments of opposition parties, the Modi government can go to any length, and this has to be stopped," he said. The veteran Marxist leader has a special word for the Congress party. We appeal to all, especially the largest opposition party, the Congress, to come forward and support opposition parties in this endeavour to safeguard the Constitution and fight against those who are launching an assault on our Constitution," said Yechury. It must be noted that the Congress party, the largest in the opposition space, is yet to take a decision on whether or not to support arch-rival AAP on the Centres May 19 ordinance. The grand old partys state units in Delhi and Punjab have been vocal in their opposition to any support for AAP. However, the partys top brass is yet to take a call on this. Four days ago, on May 26, Kejriwal had also sought an appointment with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi and is still waiting to hear back. When asked about the opposition of some leaders of the Congress, the AAP chief said, From whatever I have read in newspapers, their leaders are saying they will not support KejriwalKejriwal is this, Kejriwal is that. However, this is not about Kejriwal. This is about the countrys democracy, the insult of the people of Delhi, the Constitution. I would request them to forget about Kejriwal, let them not support Kejriwal. However, standing with the people of Delhi against the Modi government as they have been insulted and robbed of their rightstoday they have done this with DelhiAs Yechury Sahab said, tomorrow, if they bring such an ordinance against the Rajasthan government, we will oppose it." While the AAP delegation consisted of its Rajya Sabha members Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha and Delhi minister Atishi, former CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, and politburo members Brinda Karat, MA Baby, and A Vijayaraghavan were part of the meeting. Sources say talks between the two parties were restricted to the issue of the Delhi ordinance and did not delve into matters of opposition unity ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Yechury pointed out that his party had already taken a stand against the ordinance. On May 25, the partys 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, it said. Taking special note of the Congress, the CPI(M) mouthpiece said, The Congress party should stop dithering about its stand. The animosity towards Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP cannot determine its position. This is not about any individual leader or a single party this is a basic attack on democracy and federalism." top videos Thanking the CPI(M), Kejriwal said, I came to seek the support of Sitaram Yechury ji, his team, CPI(M), for us in the Rajya Sabha. And I thank him from the bottom of my heart that he has expressed support for the people of Delhi." Since April 21, the AAP convener and Delhi chief minister has travelled to West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Telangana, galvanising the support of opposition parties to vote against the bill when it is introduced in the Rajya Sabha. He has already met Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, former Maharashtra CM and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, former union minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, and Telangana CM and Bharat Rashtra Samithi chief K Chandrashekar Rao. His refrain has been the same: If all the non-BJP parties come together, this bill can be defeated, and that is why I am meeting party leaders one after the other, asking for their support. When this bill is brought inside Parliament, they may stand with the people of Delhi, and get justice for the people of Delhi. This is a betrayal of the people of Delhi." Top artificial intelligence (AI) executives including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Tuesday joined experts and professors in raising the risk of extinction from AI", which they urged policymakers to equate at par with risks posed by pandemics and nuclear war. Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war," more than 350 signatories wrote in a letter published by the nonprofit Center for AI Safety (CAIS). As well as Altman, they included the CEOs of AI firms DeepMind and Anthropic, and executives from Microsoft and Google. Also among them were Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio - two of the three so-called godfathers of AI" who received the 2018 Turing Award for their work on deep learning - and professors from institutions ranging from Harvard to Chinas Tsinghua University. A statement from CAIS singled out Meta, where the third godfather of AI, Yann LeCun, works, for not signing the letter. We asked many Meta employees to sign," said CAIS director Dan Hendrycks. Meta did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The letter coincided with the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council meeting in Sweden where politicians are expected to talk about regulating AI. Elon Musk and a group of AI experts and industry executives were the first ones to cite potential risks to society in April. Weve extended an invitation (to Musk), and hopefully hell sign it this week," Hendrycks said. Recent developments in AI have created tools supporters say can be used in applications from medical diagnostics to writing legal briefs, but this has sparked fears the technology could lead to privacy violations, power misinformation campaigns, and lead to issues with smart machines" thinking for themselves. The warning comes two months after the nonprofit Future of Life Institute (FLI) issued a similar open letter, signed by Musk and hundreds more, demanding an urgent pause in advanced AI research, citing risks to humanity. Our letter mainstreamed pausing, this mainstreams exctinction," said FLI president Max Tegmark, who also signed the more recent letter. Now a constructive open conversation can finally start." AI pioneer Hinton earlier told Reuters that AI could pose a more urgent" threat to humanity than climate change. top videos Last week OpenAI CEO Sam Altman referred to EU AI - the first efforts to create a regulation for AI - as over-regulation and threatened to leave Europe. He reversed his stance within days after criticism from politicians. Altman has become the face of AI after his ChatGPT chatbot stormed the world. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet Altman on Thursday, and EU industry chief Thierry Breton will meet him in San Francisco next month. Google Photos is a cloud-based photo storage and sharing service provided by the tech giant Google. It offers users a convenient platform to store, organize, and access their photos and videos from various devices. Downloading all your photos from Google Photos is a simple process that allows you to have a local copy of your precious memories. Heres a step-by-step guide on how to download all your photos from Google Photos: Visit your Google Account and navigate to the Data and privacy" section. Scroll down to find the Download or delete your data" option and click on it. On the Download or delete your data" page, locate and click on Download your data." Under the CREATE A NEW EXPORT" section, click on Select data to include." To deselect all data, click on Deselect all." Scroll down and select the checkbox next to Google Photos" to include your photos in the export. Scroll further down and click on Next step." In the Choose file type, frequency, and destination" section, go to the Destination" option. From the dropdown menu, select your desired destination, such as Send download link via email," Add to Google Drive," Add to Dropbox," Add to OneDrive," or Add to Box." Scroll down to the Frequency" option. If you want to download your photos only once, choose Export once." Alternatively, if you want Google to automatically send your photos every two months, select Export every 2 months for 1 year." Scroll down to the File type and size" section. Choose between a .zip or .tgz file format. In the File size" option, select the largest file size available to avoid receiving your photos in multiple files. Click on Create export" to initiate the download process. top videos Please note that Google may take some time, ranging from hours to days, to complete your export. Once the export is ready, you will receive an email notification. If you have chosen recurring exports, Google will create a download file every two months and notify you accordingly. Additionally, you have the option to cancel the export by clicking on the Cancel export" button. A bride in Maharashtra was trapped inside her apartment buildings elevator for about half an hour when she was headed to her wedding venue. The woman got stuck with her family members in the lift on Monday night and was rescued after about half an hour. A video of the incident has been widely shared on the Internet. The clip shows a group of people crowded around the elevators door as the bride and others including children are stuck inside it. After a few minutes, the door of the elevator opens and the stranded people are seen rushing out in a state of panic. One of the women is seen gasping for air possibly due to suffocation inside the small lift. The video shows a child, who was also trapped in the lift, sitting on a chair and feeling breathless as people offer him water. The bride too seems to have been traumatised by the incident and guests are seen trying to calm her down. Bride headed to wedding venue gets stuck in lift of Bhayander buildinghttps://t.co/u39F4cg9VM pic.twitter.com/AC77L7djdF TOI Mumbai (@TOIMumbai) May 30, 2023 According to TOI, the bride, her three sisters, and two of her minor relatives went inside the elevator in the evening to get to a flat on the first floor from the ground floor. However, after they pressed the button, the lift did not reach the first floor and got stuck in between. This caused those inside the elevator to panic. The relatives present at the scene tried to free the bride and others but to no avail. top videos Following this, the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) fire brigade was called to rescue the bride. The fire brigade personnel were successfully able to bring the lift to the first floor after which all those stuck inside could be freed, the report added. This isnt the first time someone got stuck in an elevator on their wedding day. In February this year, a couple got trapped in a lift for two hours when they were going to attend their reception at a hotel in North Carolina. The elevator got stuck between the first and the second floor which caused the couple to miss their wedding reception. The two were later rescued after firefighters reached the spot. In a spectacular display of his superpowers, Ravindra Jadeja once again donned his cape and soared high to help the Chennai Super Kings clinch their record-equalling fifth IPL trophy in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. With the fate of the match hanging by a thread, Jadeja unleashed his mighty bat and unleashed a thunderstorm of boundaries, smacking two consecutive sixes on the final two deliveries of the nerve-wracking last over. As the ball soared into the stands, the crowd erupted in wild cheers, and Jadeja dashed across the field at the Narendra Modi Stadium, spreading joy and celebration like confetti. Amidst the uproar, Jadejas wife Rivaba, was present at the stadium, cheering on her husband with unwavering enthusiasm. After the match concluded, Rivaba, who serves as a BJP MLA, joined him on the field to express her congratulations. The moment was captured by cameras, showing Rivaba embracing Jadeja with a beaming smile. This heartwarming scene resonated deeply with online fans, who dubbed it a picture-perfect moment that surpassed even the most enchanting moments of Bollywood romance. Check out how fans reacted to the beautiful moment shared by Jadeja and his wife post CSKs spectacular win in the IPL 2023 final. Seems like Jadejas wife has won the real trophy," remarked one user, while another expressed, **** all bollywood romances, this is real love and happiness" F*ck all bollywood romances, this is real love and happiness pic.twitter.com/BY9LNBWLTV SwatKat (@swatic12) May 29, 2023 No flying kisses, no long Instagram post, just a Hindustani wife welcoming her husband who have just won a battle pic.twitter.com/mUyMDX5vzA EngiNerd. (@mainbhiengineer) May 29, 2023 Moments of the match jadeja dedicated this trophy to dhoni .Jadejas wife got emotional after victory came to hug jadeja after win and also met captain ms dhoni pic.twitter.com/t4sr8AFQnM Rahul Singh Rajput (@Rahul7573singh) May 29, 2023 Lovely picture of Jadeja with his wife Rivaba! The real Gujratis who won last night. This is actual love #IPL2023Final #GTvsCSK pic.twitter.com/ppSntIqjo6 Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) May 30, 2023 top videos What A Lovely Picture Sir #Jadeja With His Wife. pic.twitter.com/B6Tgsvrj1b Aadvika (@aadvika_) May 30, 2023 Meanwhile, in a moment that stole the spotlight, and quite possibly the entire league, MS Dhoni hoisted Jadeja with watery eyes, giving us a glimpse of their bromance. It was Jadejas thrilling performance in the final over that made this epic moment possible for CSK on this blockbuster night! So much so, that Jadeja couldnt resist making it his Insta DP, immortalising their bond in a perfect way. In a jaw-dropping comeback after a disastrous season last year, the mighty Chennai Super Kings snatched their fifth IPL title! They conquered the reigning champions, the Gujarat Titans, right in their own den. In a sweet revenge, the nail-biting finale saw the superhero all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja, channeling nerves of steel in a mind-blowing final over. And guess what? The charismatic MS Dhoni couldnt contain his emotions and gave Jadeja the bear hug of a lifetime, lifting him off the ground! It was a Dhoni-Jadeja spectacle, the stuff dreams are made of, capping off the IPL 2023 with a bang. Just then, this incredible moment turned out to be the perfect Instagram display picture for Jadeja, who wasted no time in swapping it for an iconic snapshot to commemorate the occasion. So, take a look at this picture-perfect ending of the Indian Premier League (IPL) that left the CSK fans cheering and the rest of the league in awe. Isnt this the epitome of their unbreakable bond and camaraderie? You decide! Ravindra Jadeja's new Instagram DP. pic.twitter.com/ea4AlYyyh9 Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 30, 2023 Jadejas DP.Competition intensifying for Dhonis BFF. Jadeja, Pandya or Kohli? pic.twitter.com/XMoEdP3ob9 Gabbar (@GabbbarSingh) May 30, 2023 Without a shred of doubt, Jadeja not only dedicated his match-winning innings to Thala, but he also took to social media to pour his heart out. Its a case where gestures fall short, and words step in to do justice! Just hours after the CSK triumph in the IPL 2023, the 34-year-old shared delightful pictures of the post-victory celebrations with his wife and the legendary Dhoni. With a heartfelt caption that read, We did it for the one and only MS DHONI. Mahi bhai aapke liye toh kuch bhi" top videos We did it for ONE and ONLY MS DHONI. mahi bhai aapke liye toh kuch bhi pic.twitter.com/iZnQUcZIYQ Ravindrasinh jadeja (@imjadeja) May 30, 2023 In the midst of all the excitement, Jadeja conjured up magic not only with his bat but also with the ball on the epic finale night. He struck a vital blow by dismissing GT opener Shubman Gill, thanks to Dhonis lightning-fast stumping. The vintage Thala was at his best, leaving everyone in awe of his timeless, trademark style. Would you like to taste a platter of sizzling hot silkworm served with your choice of vegetable, including bamboo shoots? If thinking about it makes you hungry, you should head to Assam, where silkworm is a delectable traditional delicacy known as Eri Polu. North Eastern cuisine represents unique combination of mouthwatering delicacies with indigenous lifestyle of its inhabitants. Native people in NE India prefer both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food options that are readily available, however this region of the country has a food culture that is more inclined towards vegetarianism, and if given the option, the majority of people will choose a non-vegetarian cuisine over a vegetarian one. Some of the foods are too spicy to handle, even if the majority of preparations are generally bland and popular! Different states in the North Eastern region have distinctive eating cultures, which may seem strange to someone from another location. The highest populated state in the North Eastern India, Assam too has several traditional food delicacies that has distinctive ingredients prepared with traditional recipe passed down from one generation to another. One of the traditional indigenous food items used by the various ethnic groups of Assam and North East is Eri Pulu or silkworm. It is not only food; it is silk with a distinct identity all over the world. While there are several other species of Polu/larva in NE India, aside from Pat Polu/Bombyx mori, Eri Polu, sometimes referred to as Andy or Irandi, is the only domesticated larva. People raise these larvae for two major purposes: first, to obtain silk, then, to consume. The Assamese ethnic groups prepare Polu in a variety of ways as a delicacy. Some of those delectable traditional recipes are from the Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts Matak-Maran population. If you ever want to try Eri Polu/Silkworm in traditional form you can try these recipies: 1. Eri Polu/Silkworm with Pumpkin: Fried pumpkin with Eri Polu: First, In a pot, cook the Eri polu nest in water with a teaspoon of soda. Remove the Eri polu from the nest after it has been boiling. In a pan, heat the mustard oil, then brown some onions in it. Salt and turmeric to taste, along with ginger and garlic paste. Potato and pumpkin cubes should be fried until they are halfway done. Cook it with a little boiling water added. When the potatoes, pumpkin, and eri polu are done, add a few coriander leaves, turn off the heat, and serve immediately with rice. top videos 2. Eri Polu/Silkworm with Bamboo shoot: Garlic, green chilli, and onion are diced, and some mustard oil is heated in a skillet. Add the Eri Polu pieces and saute them thoroughly before the onions are fully cooked. Add salt, bamboo shoots with their water, ginger and garlic paste, and polos that have been cooked correctly. You can serve this recipe with rice once it has reached a boil. All of the non-avian dinosaurs were confined to a geologic era called the Mesozoic. This was divided into three periods: the Triassic, the Jurassic and the Cretaceous. The latter went out with a bang; a mass extinction marked the end of the Cretaceous period 66 million years ago. Birds were the only dinosaurs who survived the catastrophe. Advertisement Their brethren had a good run. The earliest dinosaurs evolved around 243 to 231 million years ago during the Triassic period. A time of great reptilian diversity, the Triassic gave way to the Jurassic about 199 million years before the present. Prior to that transition, most carnivorous dinos were small-bodied. Dilophosaurus was a sign of bigger things to come. The beast roamed what's now Southwestern North America early in the Jurassic period, about 183 to 193 million years ago. Dilophosaurus measured over 20 feet (or 6 meters) long, making it the biggest known North American land animal alive at the time. Compared to many of the flesh-eating dinosaurs who'd existed beforehand, this thing was a giant. So it's weird that the "Jurassic Park" Dilophosaurus is small enough to ride shotgun in actor Wayne Knight's jeep. Get ready for a luxurious twist in the Indian chai scene as new chai walas (tea sellers) emerge on the streets of Mumbai. Meet Amit Kashyap and Mannu Sharma, the masterminds behind the Audi Chaiwala phenomenon. The duo is breaking away from the conventional chai stalls. You read that right. These tea sellers actually sell tea in an Audi. Their venture, aptly named On Drive Tea, has captured the attention of people on the internet. Amit and Mannu have transformed their Audi into a mobile tea heaven, also adding a touch of elegance to Mumbais crowded streets. Every day, they arrive at their designated spot on the Lokhandwala backroad, setting up their stall inside the high-end luxury car, ready to serve customers a steaming hot cup of chai. The news of the Audi Chaiwala gained traction, thanks to a viral video on Instagram showcasing their innovative setup. The trunk of their Audi has all the essentials a loving cup of tea needs. The clip goes on to show people stopping by to taste what the buzz is all about. People couldnt help but share their thoughts on this out-of-the-box initiative, leading to thousands of views and a wide range of reactions. Some found it fascinating, applauding the chaiwalas fresh approach, while others remained sceptical. Chai bech ke audi le li ya Audi le li isiliye chai bechni pad rahi hai (Did they sell tea and bought an Audi or are they selling tea because they bought an Audi?), humorously wrote one user, commenting on the chaiwalas choice of vehicle. Another user quipped, Bass itna ameer banna hai (I just want to be this rich). top videos A comment read, Petrol ka kharcha nikal jaata hoga (The cost of petrol would be covered).. On Drive Tea also has a digital presence, with an Instagram account that shares posts and customer reviews. While they share the behind-the-scenes of their tea stall in some posts, the comment part of their social media account is a battleground for differing ideas, ranging from hilarious to critical. Nonetheless, tea lovers are certainly drawn to this blend of luxury and their favourite beverage. A Chinese social media influencer died soon after he live-streamed himself drinking several bottles of strong alcohol on Douyin, Chinas version of social media app TikTok. The death of influencer Sanqiange (or Brother Three Thousand) sparked debate in China regarding enforcement of regulations on so-called challenges and competitions being hosted on these platforms. Sanqiange, who is also known by his real-life surname of Wang, took part in PK - an online challenge - on May 16 facing off against another fellow influencer. During the challenge, he drank at least four bottles of Baijiu - a Chinese alcoholic drink with a typical alcohol content of between 30% to 60% and live-streamed the results on his Douyin channel. Almost 12 hours later, Wang died. The PK challenge involves one-on-one battles where influencers compete to win rewards and gifts from viewers. The one who loses is punished and in Wangs case the punishment was drinking Baijiu. I dont know how much he had consumed before I tuned in. But in the latter part of the video, I saw him finish three bottles before starting on a fourth. The PK games ended at around 1 am and by 1 pm, (when his family found him) he was gone, Zhao was quoted as saying by China-based Shangyou News. His friend said Wang was a decent and straightforward person and he earlier filmed himself participating in similar contests which involved alcohol consumption and posted them on Douyin. The viral video showcasing Wangs last challenge went viral on Chinese social media, but has since been removed. In the past few years, the live-streaming industry in China has grown rapidly, creating a market where influencers strive to sell products in real-time on social media. Wangs death is expected to fuel debate about industry regulations, as authorities are concerned about extravagant lifestyles of some streamers and their unconventional challenges. top videos Last year, Chinese broadcasting authorities implemented regulations prohibiting individuals under the age of 16 from tipping streamers and limiting their access after 10 pm. The National Video and Television Administration and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism also took steps to ban certain misbehaviors by livestreamers, including encouraging vulgar interactions and spreading rumours among fans, Chinese state media reported. Police clashed with residents of a majority-Muslim town in Chinas Yunnan province over the weekend as they tried to halt the demolition of a domed roof from a centuries-old mosque, CNN-News18 said. Police officers in riot gear beat back a group of demonstrators toward the gate of the Najiaying Mosque in Tonghai County as they protested the governments move. The mosque is a revered place of worship for the Mandarin-speaking ethnic Hui Muslims living in Yunnan, videos shared on social media showed. Police were later seen retreating from the area as demonstrators staged a sit-in outside the mosque gate. A court judgement pronounced in 2020 ruled that some of the mosques recently undertaken renovations were illegal and ordered their demolition. Following the clashes, local mobile phone service was cut off signalling that there is a possibility of crackdown. Tonghai County police asked those involved to surrender themselves before June 6 if they wanted a lighter punishment. The Najiaying Mosque dates back to the 13th century and was built during the Ming Dynasty. The mosque was expanded on several occasions and in 2019 one part of the mosque was declared protected for cultural reasons. China has clamped down on the religious and faithful with more vigour under the rule of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi has demanded that religious communities should remain loyal to the Communist Party of China (CPC). Xi has also intensified the surveillance of religious leaders. China this month launched a database of religious teachers officially approved by their respective communities. The database includes details of approved Islamic, Protestant and Catholic religious teachers. China has clamped down on Islam and Christianity because it fears that these religions can be agents of foreign influence. It has restricted international exchanges and donations and remodelled buildings which did not appear Chinese. top videos Hui Muslims in Yunnan were not as affected as Uyghurs in Xinjiang but the recent clashes show that the crackdown will impact several religious communities. Hui Muslims, according to a report by the Washington Post, also were spared the excesses of the Cultural Revolution launched by former Chinese president Mao Zedong, as Hui Muslims cooperated with the government but the recent clashes show that the space for cooperation could be shrinking. Human rights and press freedom are issues of dialogue between two friends, India and the United States, in which they can learn lessons, said US ambassador Eric Garcetti in an exclusive interview with CNN-News18 on Tuesday. We have been engaged and we will continue to be engaged on the values I believe India stands for and the US stands for. We have challenges with our press, we have challenges with our religious freedom, we have challenges with hate crimes, racism. So this is really dialogue two friends are engaged on and to learn lessons about not whether bad things happen, because they do in complex societies, but how we react to them and how we prevent them from happening in the first place, he said. India had this month slammed the US State Departments 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom that criticised the country for not upholding the rights of minorities, terming it motivated and biased. In its annual report recently, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) again called on the US Department of State to designate India as a country of particular concern. The body said that the Indian government at the national, state and local levels promoted and enforced religiously discriminatory policies in 2022. Those included laws targeting religious conversion, interfaith relationships, the wearing of hijabs and cow slaughter, which negatively impact Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits and Adivasis (indigenous peoples and scheduled tribes). top videos The countrys ranking has slipped to 161 out of 180 nations on the World Press Freedom Index, according to a report released by Paris-based Reporters Without Borders this month. Indian government representatives have on several occasions panned the agenda-driven" ratings issued by some international agencies. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) remains in touch with Pakistans authorities in order to pave the way for a board meeting before a financing program expires at the end of June, the IMF mission chief for Pakistan said. Ordinarily, a board meeting on a review of the program would require a prior staff-level agreement, which in Pakistans case would unlock $1.1 billion in financing for the cash-strapped South Asian nation as part of a $6.5 billion IMF package. The staff-level agreement has been delayed since November, with more than 100 days gone since the last staff-level mission to Pakistan, the longest such delay since at least 2008. This engagement will focus on the restoration of foreign exchange proper market functioning, the passage of a FY24 budget consistent with program goals, and adequate financing," IMF mission chief Nathan Porter said. On Sunday, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan will share its budget details with the fund. He added that he would like the IMF to clear its 9th review before the budget, which is due to be presented in early June, as all the conditions for that had already been met. They have asked for some more things again, we are ready to give that too, they say that give us budget details, we will give it to them," Dar said in an interview with Geo TV. He said it would not work for Pakistan if the IMF combined the 9th and 10th review of the bailout, adding, We will not do it, (we) see this is (as) unfair." top videos Porter said that broadly speaking, overcoming the present economic and financial challenges would require sustained policy efforts and reforms for Pakistan to regain strong and inclusive private-led growth." While the IMF does not comment on domestic politics, Porter said it hopes a peaceful way forward is found in line with the Constitution and the rule of law," referring to Pakistans political instability. The 39-year-old Indian chief priest of Singapores oldest Hindu temple was sentenced to six years in jail on Tuesday for pawning over SGD 2 million (USD 1.5 million) of ceremonial jewellery repeatedly from a prominent temple, according to a media report. Kandasamy Senapathi was employed by the Hindu Endowments Board as a priest at Sri Mariamman Temple in the downtown Chinatown district from December 2013 until he resigned on March 30, 2020. He pleaded guilty to two charges of criminal breach of trust by dishonest misappropriation and two charges of transferring criminal proceeds out of the country, Channel News Asia reported. Another six charges were considered in sentencing, it said. Senapathi, an Indian national, was caught when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, throwing the regular audit timing off and revealing the missing jewellery. In 2014, he was entrusted with the keys and combination number code to the safe in the temples holy sanctum, which contained 255 pieces of gold jewellery owned by the temple, with a book value of about SGD 1.1 million. Senapathi began pawning pieces of the jewellery in 2016, taking them to pawn shops and later redeeming them by using money he obtained from pawning other pieces of temple jewellery. In 2016 alone, Senapathi pawned 66 pieces of gold jewellery from the temple on 172 occasions, the report said. He continued this practice between 2016 and 2020, redeeming all the jewellery and returning it to the temple without anyone knowing whenever an audit was scheduled. Once the audit was completed, he would pawn the jewellery again to return the borrowed money. Senapathi got SGD 2,328,760 from pawn shops between 2016 to 2020, of which he deposited some into his bank account and remitted about SGD 141,000 to India. In March 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, the temple had to delay an external audit because of the circuit breaker measures forbidding non-essential activity in the country. During the June 2020 audit, Senapathi told a member of the temple finance team he did not have the key to the safe and said he had likely left the key in India while visiting family. However, when the staff member insisted that the audit be done, Senapathi eventually confessed that he had taken the jewellery for pawning. In the end, all the jewellery was returned to the temple, and the temple suffered no loss, the prosecutor said. The member of the temples finance team later filed a police report. Senapathi resigned from his post as he felt guilty for pawning the temples jewellery, added the prosecutor, who asked for seven years jail, pointing to the high pawn value of the jewellery involved. Defence lawyer Mohan Das Naidu said it all started when Senapathi wanted to help a friend raise funds for cancer and to help schools and temples in India. He said Senapathis intention was never to deprive the temple of its jewellery, but he was caught up in this vicious cycle of pawning and redeeming, pawning and redeeming. In sentencing, the judge said he could not ignore that the case involved about SGD 2 million, a significant amount and higher than any previous similar cases. In a statement after the hearing, the Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) said it had commissioned a gold audit after the incident at its four temples Sri Mariamman, Sri Srinivasa Perumal, Sri Sivan and Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman. top videos The audit confirmed that all jewellery was adequately accounted for. An expert goldsmith also certified that the jewellery Senapathi had returned was authentic. HEB has further tightened its governance and internal controls to ensure its charitable assets remain protected, the report quoted the board as saying. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Monday he will remove his son from the position of his secretary due to inappropriate behaviour" at the official residence. https://youtube.com/shorts/puYrRqmZ5Jw?feature=share The decision comes after a magazine reported last week that Shotaro Kishida had invited relatives to the official residence for a party last year, with photos of some pretending to hold a press conference and one lying down on red-carpted stairs. His behaviour last year at the public space was inappropriate for a political secretary, and we have decided to replace him," Kishida told reporters. Shotaro will resign on June 1, he added. top videos Kishida had reprimanded his 32-year-old son, but criticism erupted from opposition parties, which called for his removal. Kishida had already come under fire because of his son, who used official cars while traveling in Europe to buy souvenirs for ministers. After battling plummeting approval ratings late last year, the government saw support jump to 46 percent in May, before the magazine report about the party was published, according to public broadcaster NHK. Kishida has lost four ministers in three months over allegations of financial irregularities or links to the controversial Unification Church. A Libyan court on Monday condemned to death 23 jihadists convicted of fighting with the Islamic State group in the north African country during chaos that followed dictator Moamer Kadhafis fall, the prosecutors office said. This was the first group of 320 alleged IS jihadists to be tried and sentenced. IS had captured the central coast city of Sirte in 2015, setting up a stronghold before being driven out the following year by forces loyal to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord in power at the time. Fourteen other accused were sentenced to life in prison, after the trial that began last August in the western city of Misrata, the prosecution statement said. The accused were Palestinian, Sudanese and Libyan. All had been in custody since December 2016 and were convicted of joining a terrorist group, as well as murder. The court found nine others guilty of those same charges and sentenced them to terms of between three and 12 years in prison, the prosecution statement said, adding five were acquitted. In addition, the court sentenced three minors to 10 years in prison each, said lawyer Lotfi Mohaychem, who represented families of anti-IS fighters killed in the battle for Sirte. The suspects appeared in the dock clad in blue prison overalls, bearded and with shaven heads. Relatives of those killed in the Sirte battle filled the packed the courtroom. As lawyers for the victims families we see the verdict of the court as very satisfying and very just," Mohaychem said. The court sentenced those whose guilt was demonstrated and acquitted those against whom there was insufficient evidence." When the verdicts were read, cries of joy and applause filled the room along with shouts of, God is greatest" and, The blood of the martyrs has not been spilled in vain". Mostafa Salem Trabelsi, who described himself as the uncle of one of the victims and father of another who is disappeared, said he felt relieved despite the pain". top videos Libya was plunged into more than a decade of chaos and lawlessness following the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that led to the removal and killing of longtime dictator Kadhafi. Dozens of militias and jihadist groups took advantage of the power vacuum, with IS setting up base in Sirte and the eastern town of Derna before being driven out with the help of US-led air strikes. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan will have to appear before the joint investigation team (JIT) probing the attack on Lahore Corps Commander House (Jinnah House) on May 9 on Tuesday afternoon. The former prime minister has been asked to respond to his summons and present himself at the Qilla Gujjar police headquarters, the Dawn reported. Imran Khan will be questioned in a case which was registered with the Sarwar Road police station and is related to the May 9 attacks. He has been nominated in the case for giving support to the attackers who set the Jinnah House when he was under the custody of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Al-Qadir graft case earlier this month. Imran Khans arrest set Pakistan ablaze and its major cities resembled scenes from a civil war as PTI cadres clashed with pro-government cadres and the police. The PTI cadres attacked army installations and setups. Imran Khan is required to attend the office of the DIG Investigation to join the investigation proceedings entrusted to the JTI formed by the Punjab government, the summon notice accessed by the Pakistan-based media outlet said. Lahore DIG (investigation) Kamran Adil, who is heading the JIT and police chief Bilal Siddique Kamyana confirmed that the PTI chief was summoned for questioning. The Dawn said that Imran Khan will be questioned to determine the level of his personal involvement in the attack on Jinnah House. Several other senior PTI leaders and cadres were also named in the FIR. PTI leader Dr Yasmin Rashid and fashion designer Khadija Shah have already been arrested in connection with the attack. top videos Meanwhile, Imran Khan alleged that the caretaker Punjab government was mistreating female PTI cadres in prison. Khan also alleged that female cadres were rapes but did not provide any evidence. SSP Anoosh Masood visited Kot Lakhpat jail on Monday where Rashid and Shah are being held after Imran Khan raised the allegations. She is also heading one of the 53 JITs to conduct probes into cases which were filed following the May 9 attacks in Lahore. She will be probing attacks on police, Askari Tower and other sensitive installations. The mayor of Moscow said that a drone attack on Tuesday caused minor damage to the Russian capital with no reported casualties, news agency AFP reported. This morning, at dawn, a drone attack caused minor damage to several buildings. All the citys emergency services are on the scene () No one has been seriously injured so far," Moscows mayor Sergei Sobyanin was quoted as saying by AFP. Officials speaking to Russian news agency RIA said one drone struck the upper floors of a residential building in southwest Moscow and another unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) struck a 24-story apartment block in the same area. Later, another building was said to have been struck in the attack. According to a statement by Moscow Region Governor Andrey Vorobyov on his Telegram channel, air defenses successfully intercepted and shot down multiple drones approaching the city. This morning, the Kiev regime has launched a terrorist drone attack on the city of Moscow. Eight aircraft-type drones were employed in the attack. All enemy drones were downed, the Russian defence ministry said. Three of them were suppressed by electronic warfare, lost control, and deviated from the intended targets. Five more UAVs were shot down by the Pantsir-S SAM system in the Moscow region, the ministry further added. At least 25 UAVs were involved in the morning attack but Moscows air defence successfully intercepted and downed most of them. Some of these UAVs got entangled in trees and wires due to their extremely low altitude, news platform Baza citing the Russian defence ministry said. This is the second drone attack on Moscow after a drone attack was conducted earlier on the Kremlin on May 3. Russia accuses Ukraine of carrying out the drone attack but it denies responsibility for the May 3 attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at that time said Ukraine did not attack the Kremlin or Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, a report by the New York Times last week said that American intelligence agencies suspect Ukrainian involvement behind the attack on the Kremlin on May 3. The officials told the news outlet that it remains unclear whether Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky or his top officials were aware of the operation. The report said that some officials believe that Zelensky was not aware. The report said a loose grouping of Ukrainian units could be working together to carry out small-scale operations inside and outside Russia, citing American intelligence agency officials. top videos It also said that these units could have operated independently or with partners under their command, without much supervision from Zelensky and other highly-placed Ukrainian officials. American officials believe that the Ukrainians were responsible for the assassination of Daria Dugina, the daughter of a prominent Russian nationalist, the killing of a pro-Russian blogger, Vladlen Tatarsky, and the number of attacks carried out last week on towns near Russia-Ukraine border like Belgorod. " " The Bernese Mountain Dog is strong and muscular, as it was bred to work. xkunclova/Shutterstock Some of the biggest dog breeds are also some of the best dogs in the world. Despite their intimidating size, they're easygoing and have big hearts. They're known as gentle giants. Many also are extremely protective of their families, and when fully grown can weigh as much as 170 pounds (77 kilograms)! So that begs the question: What is the biggest dog in the world? And is there a difference between large dog breeds and giant dog breeds? Advertisement Professional dog breeders created a standardized measurement system, which defines large dogs as weighing at least 50 pounds (22.6 kilograms) and having a minimum height of around 24 inches (61 centimeters). Giant breeds are a minimum of 100 pounds (45.3 kilograms), and as you can imagine, their proportions are even greater. Many giant breeds are considered working dogs, which means they were bred for a specific purpose such as herding, hunting or protection. While some of them can be a lot to handle, many like the Great Pyrenees are known for being gentle giants. So dog lovers, let's take a look at some of the world's biggest dog breeds according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). Eleven are listed here in alphabetical order, plus a couple of Guinness World Record holders for good measure. Police in Floridas Hollywood Beach on Monday afternoon (local time) responded to reports of multiple people shot, including at least 3 minors, according to a report by US-based news outlet CBS. BREAKING: There are reports of a mass shooting on Hollywood Beach in Florida. According to CBS, at least seven people were shot and some of the victims are young children.Permitless carry became law in the state in April. pic.twitter.com/C8P7iGhxaR Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) May 30, 2023 The report said that nine people were transported to nearby hospitals, one person was taken into custody and one person was still at large in the 1200 block of N. Boardwalk where the mass shooting occurred. It was later reported that the victims were transported to Memorial Regional Hospital and Joe DiMaggio Childrens Hospital. The CBS report citing footage from helicopters said multiple police cruisers and other vehicles including a crime scene van and fire-rescue trucks have reached the area. According to a live cam in the area, whose footage has been shared in social media, individuals were seen fleeing the scene in a state of panic. Police officers have closed one roadway and set up a perimeter, the report said. They have asked people to avoid the Hollywood Beach area spanning from Johnson to Garfield Street, including the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk, until the investigation is concluded. Hollywood Beach is a popular beach destination about 17 kilometres south of Fort Lauderdale and 32 kilometres north of Miami. The beach was expected to see more visitors than usual due to the Memorial Day holiday. top videos Thank you to the good Samaritans, paramedics, police and emergency room doctors and nurses for their immediate response to aid the victims of todays shooting, Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy said in a statement, according to CBS. Officials speaking to CBS News said the an altercan began between two groups which later escalated to shots being fired. NATO said Tuesday it was deploying more forces to northern Kosovo after 30 of its peacekeepers were injured in clashes with ethnic Serb protesters, while the European Union called for an urgent de-escalation of tensions. The commander of the Allied Force Command in Naples, Admiral Stuart Munsch, said the move was a prudent measure to ensure that KFOR (the NATO-led Kosovo Force) has the capabilities it needs to maintain security". An extra multinational battalion of reserve forces had also been put on notice to be ready to reinforce KFOR if necessary, NATO said in a statement from its southern Italian base. The situation in the northern Kosovo town of Zvecan remained tense Tuesday with ethnic Serbs gathered outside the town hall that a crowd had tried to storm Monday. Kosovo police had repelled them with tear gas, before the NATO-led peacekeepers intervened. The soldiers at first tried to separate protesters from the police, but later tried to disperse the crowd using shields and batons, an AFP journalist said. Several protesters responded by hurling rocks, bottles and Molotov cocktails at the soldiers. Many Serbs are demanding the withdrawal of Kosovo police forces, as well as the ethnic Albanian mayors they do not consider their true representatives. Kosovos ethnic Serb minority boycotted local elections in the north in April, allowing ethnic Albanians to take control of the local councils despite a tiny turnout of less than 3.5 percent. - De-escalate tensions - EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Tuesday urged the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia to immediately de-escalate tensions, saying the clashes were absolutely unacceptable". He said he had spoken to Kosovos Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Alexander Vucic to tell them to avoid any further unilateral action". I asked both parties to urgently take measures to de-escalate tensions immediately and unconditionally," he said. Borrell said Kosovos authorities needed to suspend police operations focused on municipal buildings in north Kosovo and ethnic Serb protesters should stand down. He warned that the EU was discussing possible measures to be taken if the parties continue to resist proposed steps towards de-escalation." Vucic said 52 demonstrators were hurt in Mondays clashes, three of them seriously". Five Serbs were arrested for taking part in the clashes, according to Kosovo police. On Tuesday, an AFP journalist saw NATO peacekeepers in full riot gear stopping several hundred Serbs from entering Zvecan town hall. Three armoured vehicles of the ethnic Albanian Kosovo police whose presence always stirs controversy in Serb-majority northern areas remained parked in front of the town hall. KFOR had said the 30 hurt peacekeepers from Hungary and Italy, according to their governments had injuries including fractures and burns from improvised explosive incendiary devices". - Deceitful propaganda - It said the soldiers had responded to unprovoked attacks of a violent and dangerous crowd" whilst carrying out their mandate in an impartial manner. Both parties need to take full responsibility for what happened and prevent any further escalation, rather than hide behind false narratives," it said. But Russia, Serbias traditional ally, accused the West of deceitful propaganda", saying the Serbs had been trying to defend their legitimate rights and freedom peacefully". Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, but Belgrade and Moscow have refused to recognise it. Kosovo is mainly populated by ethnic Albanians, but the Serbs who make up around six percent of the population have remained largely loyal to Belgrade, especially in the north where they are a majority. After last months election boycott, the EU and United States urged Kosovos prime minister not to install the newly elected ethnic Albanian mayors, but he went ahead. Vucic met Tuesday in Belgrade with ambassadors of the so-called Quint five powerful NATO members that focus on the Western Balkans but also announced meetings with representatives of Russia and China. top videos One-sided moves from Pristina bring violence against the Serb community, which distances us from lasting peace and stability in the region," the Serbian president wrote on Instagram after the meeting with Western diplomats. Swift withdrawal of false mayors and members of Pristinas so-called special forces is a condition of preserving peace in Kosovo." Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has cut off contact with Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi, according to sources in the Pakistan government. Sources said the last contact between the two leaders was 10 days ago, after which Khan has not been responding to the Presidents messages. ALSO READ | Pak Govt Fascist, Worse than: Imran Khan Lashes Out Over Economic Meltdown, Crush PTI Plans | Exclusive Sources said that the President had discussed the successive desertion of the party by PTI leaders after the May 9 violence with Khan and advised him to adopt a defensive strategy in the current political situation. In the wake of the violence after the Khan, several big names are seen quitting the party. News18 had earlier reported how Khan had lost at least 35 leaders between May 9 and 23. Khan, according to sources, is upset with Alvi for not doing his bit to save the PTI. Alvi belongs to Khans PTI. Alvi also signed the Supreme Court (Review of Judgements and Orders) Bill, 2023 that provides the right of appeal under Article 184 of the Constitution, which was not available in the past, on May 26, bringing the law into effect. Sources claimed that Alvi did not consult with Khan the move, which was seen as bowing down to the ruling alliance, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), said sources. THE NEW LAW Pakistans government enacted a new law to provide the right of appeal against conviction by the Supreme Court under its original jurisdiction, possibly creating an opportunity for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to challenge his disqualification. Sharif was disqualified in 2017 by a five-member bench of the apex court, but he couldnt file an appeal as there was no law to challenge the judgment of the top judiciary. ALSO READ | Pakistan Enables Appeals for SC Convictions, Boosts Ex-PM Nawaz Sharifs Challenge to his Disqualification top videos The law applies to past verdicts as well. According to the statement of objects and reasons of the bill, it is necessary to ensure the fundamental right to justice by providing for meaningful review of judgments and orders passed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the exercise of its original jurisdiction under Article 184. Ahead of the BRICS foreign ministers meeting and summit, the South African government has granted diplomatic immunity to all participating officials, including Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putins immunity ahead of the BRICS summit in August is crucial in response to the International Criminal Courts (ICC) arrest warrant against the Russian leader for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Read More: Will Putin Be Arrested for War Crimes? Heres Why Wests Wishes May Not Come True The global court issued a warrant against Putin in March, marking the first such warrant for a leader among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Moscow has denied the accusations of war crimes. Putin is scheduled to attend the BRICS summit in South Africa, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. However, due to South Africas membership in the ICC, there is a requirement to detain him if he visits. Following the issuance of the ICC warrant, Putin has refrained from traveling abroad, except for a trip to Iran after the onset of the Ukraine conflict last year. On Monday, the South African government published a notice in the gazette, reported by the South African publication Daily Maverick, regarding the Diplomatic Immunity and Privileges Act being granted to all international officials attending BRICS-related events in the country. A spokesperson for South Africas Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) stated that Pandors notice was considered routine and that similar notices were issued for international meetings in South Africa. There are two upcoming events related to the BRICS group. The first is the BRICS Ministerial Meeting scheduled for June 1 and 2 in Cape Town. The second event is the 15th BRICS Summit set to take place in Johannesburg from August 22 to 24. This latter event has generated controversy in South Africa due to the expected attendance of Putin. Although the Hague-based ICC issued the warrant in March, it lacks its own police force to enforce its orders and relies on the police forces of other countries to arrest the indicted individuals. This poses challenges to executing arrests based on ICC indictments. One obstacle to Putins arrest is that neither Russia nor the United States is a member of the court. As long as Putin avoids visiting countries that are ICC members, he remains immune from arrest. top videos (With agency inputs) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday called on Turkeys re-elected leader to drop his objections to Swedens membership in NATO, urging movement on ratification before an alliance summit in July. Two days after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won a new term, meaning he will enter his third decade in power, Blinken said on a trip to Sweden that Stockholm had addressed Turkeys concerns over joining the group. The time is now to finalise Swedens accession," Blinken told a news conference with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in the northern Swedish city of Lulea. We urge both Turkey and Hungary which also has not yet ratified to ratify the accession as quickly as possible," Blinken said. There is no reason for any further time. Sweden is ready now." We look forward to this process being completed in the weeks ahead. We have no doubt that it can be and that it should be and we expect it to be," Blinken said, declining to say if the process would be complete before the July 11-12 NATO summit in Vilnius. Sweden and Finland which historically stayed militarily non-aligned to avoid conflict with their giant neighbour have both formally sought NATO membership after Russia last year invaded Ukraine, which had tried unsuccessfully to join the alliance and its joint security guarantees. NATO decisions must be unanimous and Erdogan had used his leverage to press the two Nordic nations on the presence of Kurdish militants, considered by Ankara to be terrorists. While Finland joined in April, Turkey has yet to give the green light to Sweden citing in part a protest in which a far-right activist burned the Islamic holy book the Koran. Hungary whose hard-right government has tense relations with much of the European Union has also refused to give its blessing to Sweden although it is largely seen as following Turkeys lead. top videos Blinken played down any link between Turkeys green light to Sweden and a potential sale of F-16 fighter-jets, though President Joe Biden appeared to draw a link in remarks to reporters after a congratulatory call to Erdogan. Malaysia once again impounded a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Boeing 777 aircraft with passengers on board over payment of dues amounting to $4 million, following a Malaysian court order. Top sources in the Pakistan government, however, tried to downplay the issue, saying dues are regular after a lease process. ALSO READ | PIA Flight Ready for Departure Impounded by Malaysia, Alternate Arrangement Being Made for Passengers The aircraft was acquired by the PIA on lease from Malaysia. The plane was stopped at the Kuala Lumpur airport. The plane was released after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs intervened and assured the Malaysian authorities of payment of dues. WHAT HAPPENED IN 2021? A PIA aircraft with 170 passengers on board was held back at the Kuala Lumpur Airport on January 15, 2021, on the orders of a local Malaysian court over a legal dispute in a UK court between PIA and another party. The litigation was initiated due to non-payment. The leasing company had filed a case against PIA at the London High Court in October 2020 over its failure to pay leasing fee worth around $14 million, which had been pending for six months. A PIA aircraft has been held back by a local court in Malaysia taking one sided decision pertaining to a legal dispute between PIA and another party pending in a UK court. The passengers are being looked after and alternate arrangements for their travel have been finalized. PIA (@Official_PIA) January 15, 2021 As soon as the company received the information of the PIA flight 895s scheduled landing in Malaysia, it appealed to a local court to seize the aircraft, as per the international civil aviation leasing laws, sources added. top videos On January 26, 2021, the PIA informed the London High Court that it paid the amount to Peregrine Aviation Charlie Ltd in the case pertaining to two jets leased to it by the Dublin-based AerCap. Following the incident, alternative arrangements for passengers travel were made. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks paternal grandfather Ramdas Sunak was involved in training the Kenyan fighters against the British rulers. The Mau Mau rebellion of the 1950s led to at least 25,000 deaths. The Mail on Sunday in a report said Ramdas Sunak moved from Punjab to Nairobi as a young man and taught fighters against the British government guerilla techniques. Sunak Sr. was on the payroll of the colonial government and worked as a clerk and then a senior administrator in the finance and justice departments in Kenya. He was also a trained accountant. The report also said that Ramdas Sunak was affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The development was reported as the Sunak administration paid 20 million compensation to 5,000 elderly Kenyans who were subjected to abuse and war crimes at the hands of the British rulers during the uprising which lasted for more than eight years. Former US president Barack Obamas grandfather Hussein Onyango Obama was also among those Kenyans who were tortured by the Britishers because they suspected him to be a Mau Mau rebel. Rishi Sunaks grandfather became involved in the fight for Kenyan freedom through Makhan Singh, a childhood friend from India who became a prominent trade unionist in Kenya and a sympathiser of the Mau Mau rebels, the Mail on Sunday said in its report. However, Ramdas left Kenya when Indians were subjected to racism following its independence. He reached the UK in 1971 where his sons were already pursuing their higher studies in the university. top videos He helped set up the Vedic Society Hindu Temple in Southampton during his final years. Rishi Sunak was born in 1980, the year Ramdas Sunak passed. A footage of Sunak in 2019 - then UKs finance minister - making chapatis in the kitchen of the temple went viral when he campaigned for the UK PM and Conservative Party chiefs position. YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. Ucoms mobile voice service subscribers can now enjoy a starting rate of 2.99 AMD per 1 MB when travelling to more than 65 European and popular coastal destinations, including Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Spain, Montenegro, Egypt, and Georgia, when connecting to the respective operators in these countries. To benefit from the offer, one should simply activate the new Internet in Roaming 8GB bundle at just 24500 drams by dialing *121*15# and pressing the call button. This new bundle, the largest available, remains valid for 14 days. At Ucom, we understand the importance of staying in touch with your close ones and, why not, even colleagues while traveling, particularly during the busy holiday season. The 2.99 AMD/MB roaming rate allows customers to stay connected and share memorable travel experiences, having a large volume of internet at an affordable price, said Ralph Yirikian, Director General of Ucom. Moreover, until August 31st, subscribers who do not activate any bundle will automatically benefit from a reduced roaming rate of 9 AMD/MB instead of the previous rate of 15 AMD/MB for internet when traveling to Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Spain, and Montenegro, and connecting to the respective operators. Additionally, the 9 AMD/MB rate remains applicable indefinitely when connecting to operators such as Orange in Egypt, Geocell/Magticom in Georgia, du in the UAE, and T-Mobile in the USA. It is important to note that the roaming service must be activated before departure from Armenia by dialing *121# or using the Ucom mobile application. One just needs to stay connected and enjoy seamless communication wherever the travels take with Ucom's affordable roaming rates. YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is constantly ready to discuss the unblocking of regional connections, but the issue of a corridor will not be discussed, Deputy PM Mher Grigoryan has said. He said the corridor is a red line for Armenia. Grigoryan noted that Armenia has been stating that issues related to unblocking can be discussed as part of two highly important concepts. First, the infrastructures that we are referring to must be Armenias sovereign infrastructures, and second, the Republic of Armenia must have complete jurisdiction over these infrastructures. Weve always been ready within the framework of these principles, and we stand ready to develop the topic, and eventually unblocking, which I believe has important significance for Armenia too. But no issue of a corridor will be discussed, thats a red line for us, Grigoryan said. The 2020 Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire agreement, signed between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia, contains a term on unblocking of regional connections. Clause 9 of the agreement states, in part, All economic and transport connections in the region shall be unblocked. The Republic of Armenia shall guarantee the security of transport connections between the western regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in order to arrange unobstructed movement of persons, vehicles and cargo in both directions. Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev has been generating a false narrative claiming that this clause entitles his country to have a corridor through Armenias territory into Nakhchivan. Armenia has repeatedly denied any such deal, noting that Azerbaijans illegal demands constitute a threat and encroachment against Armenia's territorial integrity. At the same time, Armenia has numerously said that it is ready to open regional connections in line with its national laws and jurisdiction. UPDATE May 30, 2023 5:05 PM CDT A California appeals court ruled Tuesday that Charles Manson's youngest follower should be released from prison, reversing Gov. Gavin Newsom. The 2-1 decision by the Second District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles said Leslie Van Houten "has shown extraordinary rehabilitative efforts, insight, remorse, realistic parole plans, support from family and friends, (and) favorable institutional reports," the San Francisco Chronicle reports. She has been in prison for more than 50 years. Attorney General Rob Bonta could step in to ask the state Supreme Court to block Van Houten's release, per the AP; his office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Mar 30, 2022 8:26 AM CDT California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday blocked parole for Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten, reversing a panel's recommendation that she be freed after spending a half-century in prison. Van Houten, 72, "poses an unreasonable danger to society if released from prison at this time," Newsom said in his parole review, per the AP. It was the fifth time that a California governor has rejected her release. Her attorney, Rich Pfeiffer, disputed that view and said the decision will be appealed in court. He accused Newsom of rejecting parole because he's worried about "his political future" and noted that Van Houten has a spotless prison disciplinary record. "We're not fighting [over] Leslie being a good person. She's proven that through her actions for [a half-century]," he said. Van Houten is serving a life sentence for helping Manson and others kill Los Angeles grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary, in August 1969. Van Houten was 19 when she and other cult members fatally stabbed the LaBiancas and smeared the couple's blood on the walls. The day before, other Manson followers, not including Van Houten, killed pregnant actress Sharon Tate and four others. In his rejection letter, Newsom noted that Van Housen had undergone therapy, earned educational degrees, and taken self-help classes in prison and had shown "increased maturity and rehabilitation." But Van Houten also has "gaps in insight" that continue to make her a danger to society, Newsom said. Van Houten has had 21 parole hearings since 1982. Most parole boards denied her bid for freedom. But five panels have recommended her release since 2016, saying she'd expressed remorse and was no longer a threat to public safety. Newsom rejected a recommendation made last November. He previously reversed parole recommendations in 2019 and 2020. In February, the California Supreme Court refused to hear Van Houten's appeal of the 2020 rejection. Previous Gov. Jerry Brown rejected Van Houten's parole in 2016 and 2018. Manson died in 2017 of natural causes at a California hospital while serving a life sentence. (Read more Leslie Van Houten stories.) UPDATE May 30, 2023 1:30 AM CDT Almost a year later, Apple's $50 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit regarding the company's much-maligned "butterfly" keyboards has received final approval from a US federal court, Engadget reports. Judge Edward Davila says the settlement, which does not require Apple to admit wrongdoing, is fair, adequate and reasonable." MacBook users who were impacted are eligible to receive between $50 and $395 in compensation; the deadline to claim class membership has passed, and more than 86,000 claims for payments were received. Jul 20, 2022 3:19 PM CDT If you bought a MacBook laptop between 2015 and 2019, Apple might owe you up to $395. The company has agreed to pay $50 million to settle legal action brought by customers in seven states over its "butterfly" keyboards, the BBC reports. The keyboards were notorious for having problems, including sticky and unresponsive keys, after even a single speck of dust or other debris got inside. Customers accused Apple of knowingly selling MacBook, MacBook Air, and Macbook Pro laptops with defective keyboardsand providing replacement keyboards with the same issues. The keyboards, which used a wing-like hinge instead of the standard scissor hinge under keys, were discontinued in 2020. Apple has not admitted wrongdoing, and the "settlement agreement means it likely never will," the Verge notes. The agreement, which still needs to be approved by a judge, covers customers in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, reports Reuters. Lawyers say customers can expect payouts of up to $395 for people who had to replace multiple keyboards, $125 for those who replaced one keyboard, and $50 for those who replaced single keycaps. According to court papers, around a third of the $50 million settlement will go toward legal fees. (Read more Apple stories.) After Russia issued an arrest warrant for him on Monday, apparently over expressions of support for Ukraine, Sen. Lindsey Graham proposed a way to resolve the issue. "Here's an offer to my Russian 'friends' who want to arrest and try me for calling out the Putin regime as being war criminals: I will submit to jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court if you do," the South Carolina Republican said Monday. "Come and make your best case," he added, per Politico. "See you in The Hague!" A short video released by the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who met with Graham on Friday, had caught Russia's ear. In it, Graham said "the Russians are dying" and called US military aid to Ukraine "the best money we've ever spent." The comments were made at different points in the conversation but placed together in the edited version of the video, per CBS News. Zelensky's office later released video of all of Graham's comments, without editing. Graham, who early in the invasion suggested Russia deal with President Vladimir Putin the same way Rome handled Julius Caesar, said Monday he'd wear the arrest warrant "as a badge of honor." (Read more Lindsey Graham stories.) An 18-year-old was lost at sea hours after arriving in the Bahamas on a high school graduation trip last week. Cameron Robbins, who was celebrating with classmates their recent graduation from University Lab High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was on a pirate-themed sunset cruise Wednesday night when he went into the water, USA Today reports. Videos of the incident show him jumping overboard, and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force said it was investigating reports that he did so on a dare, WBRZ reports. In the videos, a life preserver can also be seen with Robbins in the water. Despite immediate search efforts being launched, however, Robbins has not been found, and the search was called off Friday night after 325 square miles were covered. "We were informed by the RBDF this evening that they were suspending the active search efforts pending further developments, and were not requesting further Coast Guard assistance after notifying the Robbins family," the US Coast Guard says in a statement. "We offer our sincerest condolences to Cameron Robbins family and friends." Robbins' family had flown to the Bahamas, but returned home after the search was called off. "In this time of grief, we thank our family, friends, and well-wishers for granting us the privacy we need to properly remember our son and mourn his loss," they said in a statement. Robbins' vacation was planned by a travel company specializing in graduation trips, and was not sanctioned by his alma mater. (Read more Bahamas stories.) North Korea said Tuesday it would launch its first military spy satellite in June and described space-based reconnaissance as crucial for monitoring the United States' "reckless" military exercises with rival South Korea. The statement came a day after North Korea notified Japan's coast guard that it plans to launch a satellite sometime between May 31 and June 11, and that the event may affect waters in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and east of the Philippines Luzon Island. The AP reports that Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said he ordered Japans Self Defense Forces to shoot down the satellite or debris if any entered Japanese territory. Senior North Korean military official Ri Pyong Chol berated the combined US-South Korean military exercises, which Pyongyang has long described as invasion rehearsals. He said North Korea considers space-based reconnaissance as "indispensable" to monitor in real time the "dangerous military acts of the US and its vassal forces," which he says are "openly revealing their reckless ambition for aggression." Last week, South Korean and US militaries conducted large-scale live-fire drills near the border with North Korea as the first of five rounds of exercises marking 70 years since the start of their alliance. Ri said that the expanding US-South Korean military exercises, combined with US plans to send nuclear-capable submarines to dock in South Korea and increased activities of US reconnaissance aircraft, underline a "sinister intention" to prepare for pre-emptive military action against the North. While Washington and Seoul describe their regular military exercises as defensive, they have expanded their training since 2022 to cope with the Norths evolving threats. While previous missile and rockets tests have demonstrated North Koreas ability to deliver a satellite into space, there are questions about the capabilities of its satellites. Foreign experts say the earlier satellites never transmitted imagery back to North Korea, and analysts say the new device displayed in state media in recent weeks appeared too small and crudely designed to process and transfer high-resolution imagery. (Read more North Korea stories.) Russia says Ukraine sent at least eight drones to Moscow in an early morning "terrorist attack." There were no serious injuries and only minor damage to buildings reported Tuesday, the BBC reports, noting Ukraine has denied involvement. Russia said all drones were intercepted. "Three of them were suppressed by electronic warfare, lost control and deviated from their intended targets. Another five drones were shot down by the Pantsir-S surface-to-air missile system in the Moscow region," according to the defense ministry. City residents took to social media to describe explosions beginning around 6:30am local time. The attacks came in some of Moscow's wealthiest neighborhoods, including in a western part of the city where Russian President Vladimir Putin has a home. Putin was working at the Kremlin, according to a spokesperson. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said two people sought medical assistance after two residential buildings were struck, per the BBC and Washington Post. He added residents were evacuated but have since returned home. "Of course we have no direct involvement," said Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, though he added Ukraine was "pleased to watch" the events unfold, per the BBC and Reuters. The head of Ukraine's military intelligence, Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, had warned of revenge following a spate of Russian drone attacks on Kyiv over Sunday and Monday, which left at least one person dead. "All those who tried to intimidate us, dreaming that it would have some effect, you will regret it very soon," Budanov had said, per the BBC. "Our answer will not be long." Kyiv said four people died and another 34 were injured around Ukraine as a result of Russian attacks on Tuesday, per Reuters, showing Ukrainians have much more to fear than those in Moscow. But Tuesday's drone attacks serve to bring the war closer to home for Russians. "Lawmaker Maxim Ivanov called it the most serious assault on Moscow since the Nazis," as Reuters reports. He added no citizen could avoid "the new reality." "You will either defeat the enemy as a single fist with our Motherland, or the indelible shame of cowardice, collaboration, and betrayal will engulf your family," he said. (Read more Russia-Ukraine war stories.) YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan said he discussed the illegal Azerbaijani blockade of the Lachin Corridor during his meeting with his Slovenian counterpart Urska Klakocar Zupancic on May 30. During our meeting we discussed the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor, Simonyan said in his statement for the press after the meeting. For about a half year, the entire population of Artsakh is living in conditions of food crisis and humanitarian crisis. Given Bakus growing aggressive rhetoric, we expect targeted reactions by our international partners, Simonyan added. Simonyan said that Armenia highly values the continuous development of relations and expansion of multi-sector cooperation with Slovenia. Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two states, and I think our bilateral cooperation has big potential for development. My colleague also mentioned this, we concur over this issue. We also attach importance to cooperation between our parliaments, pointing out the role of the friendship groups in the two parliaments, he said. The work for launching dialogue over visa liberalization was also discussed. The parties also discussed the Armenian-Slovenian economic cooperation and emphasized the need for implementing economic and investment projects. The Speaker of Parliament thanked Slovenia for supporting a group of children from Artsakh/Nagorno Karabakh in October 2022 with the psychological and social rehabilitation program for children affected in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The program has been extended for another two years, Simonyan said. During the meeting Speaker Simonyan reiterated Armenias readiness to consistently contribute to the establishment of peace and stability in the region. Simonyan stressed that Armenia will continue to make efforts in the direction of further strengthening and enhancing the cooperation with Slovenia, expecting support from Slovenia in establishing peace in the region. During the meeting I said that Armenia doesnt have any territorial claims against any of it neighbors and I asked my colleague to support Armenias steps aimed at peace in all international platforms. I am happy to note that I received a positive answer, because my colleague also attaches great importance to peace, Simonyan said. In 2019, when a white beluga whale showed up off of Norway, experts suspected it was a spy whale that had defected from the Russian military. Scientists also feared the creature wouldn't be able to survive very long on its own after a lifetime in captivitybut now, four years later, the whale has not only survived but also made its way to a new Scandinavian country: Sweden. Per the Washington Post, the whale, since named Hvaldimira combo of "hval," which means "whale" in Norwegian, and the popular Russian name Vladimirhas spent a "few years bumming around the Norwegian coast," most recently turning up last week in the Oslo Fjord, near the populous capital city. That sighting worried Norway's Directorate of Fisheries, which quickly issued an advisory to help keep Hvaldimir safe. "The risk that the whale may be injured due to human contact has ... become significantly greater," the advisory notes, asking locals to leave it aloneespecially people in boats, who should "keep a good distance to avoid the whale being injured or, in the worst case, killed by boat traffic." Then, on Sunday, the whale was seen near Hunnebostrand, in southwestern Sweden, reports the Guardian. Experts have a couple of theories on what has spurred Hvaldimir to seek out more populated areas, including the whale's urge to find a mate. Hvaldimir, believed to be around 13 or 14 years old, is "at an age where his hormones are very high," marine biologist Sebastian Strand of OneWhale, a nonprofit "created expressly for protecting the health and welfare of Hvaldimir," tells the Guardian. "Or it could be loneliness, as belugas are a very social species." It's believed Hvaldimir hasn't seen another beluga since he showed up in Scandinavian waters four years ago. Despite researchers' initial worries that Hvaldimir wouldn't be able to fend for himself on his own, he appears to be in "very good" health, per Strand, who notes the whale has been foraging for fish near Norway's wild salmon farms. The food supply near Sweden isn't as ample, however, and Strand says they've already noticed Hvaldimir dropping some pounds. The current debate centers on whether to capture him to keep him safe or allow him to continue to roam free. "Everyone has the best intentions for him," wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta tells the Post. Russia, meanwhile, has never officially acknowledged Hvaldimir's espionage background, despite directorate suspicions he'd been trained to spy by the Russian navy. (Read more whale stories.) Ralph Yarl, the Missouri teen shot last month by a white homeowner in Kansas City after he rang the wrong doorbell, has since been recuperating in private from his traumatic brain injury. Over Memorial Day weekend, however, the 17-year-old made what the AP says was his first big public appearance since the shooting: at an event to raise money and awareness for brain injury survivors. Ralph, along with family members and friends, showed up Monday at Kansas City's Loose Park for the Going the Distance for Brain Injury run/walk as part of "Team Ralph," which sported neon-green T-shirts, per KCTV. "It's important for Ralph to see that he is not alone," his aunt, Faith Spoonmore, tells the Kansas City Star. "We want him to see there are people still living good lives, even after this." Ralph's mother tells KCTV that the event, a decadeslong Memorial Day tradition in Kansas City, wasn't a physical challenge for Ralphshe and her son walk 2 to 3 miles every other day togetherbut that he did struggle with anxiety beforehand. "Socially, it's still hard for him," Cloe Nagbe says. "I'm glad he was able to overcome this." Ralph didn't speak during the event, but he could be seen ambling about, hugging other participants and smiling. Nagbe, meanwhile, did speak, giving an update on her son's recovery, per ABC News. "Everybody's asking me, 'Have you gone back to work yet, has Ralph gone back to school yet?' That's not the case. A brain injury is a process, it's not an event. It takes time." Spoonmore says Ralph has been living with her since the shooting, as he's "not comfortable" going back to his home, near where he was shot. He has also suffered from migraines since the shooting, which have kept him from playing the clarinet and bassoon like he used to, and he now tends to isolate himself more, Spoonmore adds. "He's not doing the things that he loves to do, and it's like he's a shell," she tells ABC. Andrew Lester, the 84-year-old man accused of shooting Yarl, who was 16 at the time and had gone to the wrong house to pick up his younger siblings, has been charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action, both felonies. Lester pleaded not guilty and was released on a $200,000 bond. His next court date is set for Thursday. (Read more Ralph Yarl stories.) A ninth person was removed from a partially collapsed apartment building in Davenport, Iowa, on Monday, more than 24 hours after rescue efforts began. Footage showed 52-year-old Lisa Brooks speaking to protesters from an upper-floor window of the six-story building after city officials claimed the search and rescue operation had shifted to a recovery effort, NBC News reports. The uninjured woman reportedly hid under a couch after the initial collapse. "Get her out!" protesters chanted before rescue workers used a fire truck crane to get Brooks to solid ground. Many took her appearance as a sign that others could still be in the building, which officials had planned to demolish as soon as Tuesday in what NBC describes as a "relatively unusual" rush. Hours earlier, Davenport Mayor Mike Matson and Fire Chief Mike Carlsten told reporters that rescuers and search dogs had combed through the building and weren't aware of anyone still inside, per the Des Moines Register. About a dozen people were immediately escorted from the structure after the collapse occurred around 5pm Sunday, while seven others were rescued soon after. An eighth person was rescued shortly before Brooks. Quanishia White-Berry, hospitalized in critical condition, had remained conscious for hours while pinned under rubble, her wife Lexus Berry tells NBC. Berry says the couple had noticed cracks forming in their fourth-floor unit on Saturday. The following day, the cracks had grown to the point that the couple decided to gather their pets and leave. "I went to open up the door and blinked, and everything just caved in on us," Berry says. She adds her 24-year-old wife disappeared in a cloud of dust, while she was left on "a plank of laminate floor," just big enough to stand on. "Everything around me was gone." At least one other person was hospitalized as a result of the collapse. Carlsten, who spoke at a Monday morning news conference, said he didn't know the man's condition, per the New York Times. Officials didn't provide any other information on injuries. They'd planned to demolish the building due to the "imminent danger of [further] collapse," though Matson said that decision would be reevaluated following Monday's rescues. (Read more building collapse stories.) Elizabeth Holmes is now in Texas, and she won't be leaving the state for years. The Theranos founder reported to federal prison Tuesday afternoon to begin serving her 11-year, 3-month sentence. Federal law demands she serve at least 85% of that. The 39-year-old will serve her time at Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, where she'll be among a population of up to 720 white-collar and non-violent female offenders (including one former Real Housewife). The Guardian reports she showed up casually dressed and smiled as she entered. The camp "lacks the fencing and strict rules of higher-security prisons," per the Guardian. Indeed, the Wall Street Journal notes her prison room likely won't have bars or a door but rather an open entrance. Holmes has also been ordered to pay $452 million in restitution to the wealthy investors she defrauded, but as the BBC explains, they shouldn't get their hopes up. Experts tell the BBC that restitution in the US is "largely symbolic" these days, as few people actually have the means to pay the amount owed. Holmes has claimed she can't even pay her lawyers in full. Prosecutors have likely started to seize any assets she does have, and she'll continue to chip away at the sum while in prison. The federal prison camp she'll be at requires that prisoners work, and pays them between 12 cents and $1.15 an hour. Randy Zelin of Cornell Law School expects she'll make about $6 a month, and says half that total will go to her victims. A poignant line from the AP, which notes the Bryan prison camp is "located about 100 miles from Houston, where she grew up aspiring to become a technology visionary along the lines of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs." Some of her relatives still live in the area, notes NPR. Holmes has most recently been living in San Diego with partner Billy Evans and their two children, a nearly 2-year-old son and a 3-month-old daughter. They're permitted to visit every weekend, and children under 10 can sit on their mother's lap. This story has been updated with photos and to reflect that Holmes turned herself in. (Read more Elizabeth Holmes stories.) A Mississippi boy shot by a police officer after he'd called 911 is now speaking out. Aderrien Murry's interview with Good Morning America and GMA3 aired Tuesday; in it, the 11-year-old described how it felt to be shot in his Indianola home in the early morning hours of May 20. "It felt like a Taser, like a big punch to the chest," Aderrien said. He noted he was "bleeding from my mouth," and that he recalled singing a song to himself as he ran outside to his mother, Nakala Murry. That song, per Aderrien: "No weapon formed against meprosper shall," which ABC News notes is inspired by a biblical verse. Murry says she asked her son to call for help after spotting an "irate" ex-boyfriend standing outside of their home at around 4am. She says Aderrien first called 911, then his grandmother, who dialed the police herself. Greg Capers, the officer who showed up at the home and fired the shot that hit Aderrien, has been suspended. Meanwhile, the family's attorney, Carlos Moore, tells the Independent it's been difficult retrieving information from city officials on what transpired. "I think they shot first and asked questions second," Moore says. "There's no way a trained officer should have feared for his life when an 11-year-old boy approaches with no weapon in his hands." Moore adds that Aderrienwho was released from the hospital and is recovering at home after suffering a collapsed lung, lacerated liver, and broken ribsis doing "as well as can be expected," but that the boy is now "fearful of the police." The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is continuing its probe of the shooting and will share its findings with the state's attorney general, per NPR. "This can't keep happening," Aderrien's mother said at a press conference last week, per the New York Times. "My baby almost lost his life." (Read more police shooting stories.) A host of tech industry leaders published a stark warning about the real dangers of artificial intelligence Tuesday. The statement published by the nonprofit Center for AI Safety reads, "Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war." An explanatory preface says in part that "it can be difficult to voice concerns about some of advanced AIs most severe risks," and that this "succinct statement" is meant to "open up discussion." Signatories include Dr. Geoffrey Hinton, an AI pioneer who left a consultancy with Google when he felt the company threw caution to the wind to compete with ChatGPT, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The New York Times notes that other signees include Yoshua Bengio, who along with Hinton is considered a "godfather" of artificial intelligence, and Google DeepMind chief exec Demis Hassabis. The Times also points out that this statement comes at a pivotal moment, when concerns over AI's incredible growth are causing fears of how it could be used to "spread misinformation and propaganda" in addition to eliminating jobs. This is the second such warning from major players in the AI sphere; a lengthier letter published in March was signed by the likes of Tesla co-founder and Twitter owner Elon Musk. That statement called for a six-month "pause" in AI development, because "[powerful] AI systems should be developed only once we are confident that their effects will be positive and their risks will be manageable." Some American politicians have concerns of their own: Just two weeks ago, Republican Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming asked the Secretary of Interior and Secretary of Energy to block staff access to AI tools for security reasons. (Read more artificial intelligence stories.) The wife of former President Jimmy Carter is suffering from dementia, the Carter Center shared in a Tuesday statement. "She continues to live happily at home with her husband, enjoying spring in Plains [Georgia] and visits with loved ones," reads the statement, which notes the 95-year-old has been a "leading mental health advocate for much of her life." It continues: "First in the Georgia Governors Mansion, then in the White House, and later at The Carter Center, she urged improved access to care and decreased stigma about issues surrounding mental health. One in 10 older Americans have dementia, a condition that affects overall mental health. We recognize, as she did more than half a century ago, that stigma is often a barrier that keeps individuals and their families from seeking and getting much-needed support. We hope sharing our family's news will increase important conversations at kitchen tables and in doctors offices around the country." Carter founded the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers and noted that every person on Earth falls into one of four categories: "those who have been caregivers; those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers," per the statement. "The universality of caregiving is clear in our family, and we are experiencing the joy and the challenges of this journey." The family says no further comment will be made. (Read more Rosalynn Carter stories.) Archaeologists in northeast China have unearthed a World War II "horror bunker," reports LiveScience. Researchers at the Heilongjiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology say the underground location was part of the largest research site used by the Japanese army's notorious Unit 731. This particular cluster of bunkers was built in 1941 near the city of Anda in Heilongjiang province; it, along with a test field and above-ground facilities, and is thought to have been the site of human experiments through the war's end. Under the banner of Unit 731, some 12,000 adults and childrenamong them Chinese, Korean, Russian, and American captiveswere subjected to gruesome experiments. Per LiveScience, they were "killed inside spinning centrifuges, injected with diseased animal blood, zapped with X-rays, vivisected without anesthesia, and kept inside low-pressure chambers until their eyeballs burst." What the archaeologists have found thus far includes one U-shaped facility measuring 108 feet long and 67 feet wide, reports the South China Morning Post. The purposes of the interconnecting rooms haven't been determined yet, but they're thought to have served purposes ranging from dissection rooms to dining areas. The Independent reports the scientists stationed at the facility were studying the impact of pathogens on people, and used the research to spread typhoid, cholera, and plague throughout China. Part of the purpose of doing some of the work underground was to prevent pathogen spread. Unit 731 destroyed the Anda site in August 1945, and its precise location was lost for decades. Archaeologists have been working at the site since 2019. (Read more discoveries stories.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a delegation of lawmakers from Argentinas Senate and the Chamber of Deputies led by legislator Guillermo Andrada, the Chair of the Armenia-Argentina parliamentary friendship group. Pashinyan welcomed the delegations visit and attached importance to the continuous development of the Armenia-Argentina relations, the Prime Ministers Office said in a readout. PM Pashinyan was pleased to note the principled positions voiced around sensitive matters for Armenia in the Senate of Argentina and praised the members of the friendship group for their active work in this regard. I hope the bilateral political, economic and cultural dialogue will continue to develop and strengthen as a result of your visit, the Armenian Prime Minister said. The Argentine lawmakers underscored the role of the Armenian community in further strengthening cooperation with Armenia. Andrada added that they will continue to actively contribute to the expansion of partnership in various sectors. Issues of regional significance were also discussed. Issues related to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh resulting from the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan and Azerbaijans policy of ethnic cleansing against the population of Nagorno Karabakh were discussed. Pashinyan and the Argentine legislators stated that the Azerbaijani governments aggressive rhetoric and attempts to disrupt the negotiations process are inadmissible. Addressing the issues of the rights and security of the people of Nagorno Karabakh was highlighted. YEREVAN, 30 MAY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 30 May, USD exchange rate up by 0.35 drams to 386.52 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.11 drams to 414.89 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.04 drams to 4.78 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 3.72 drams to 480.41 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price up by 21.92 drams to 24206.37 drams. Silver price up by 0.26 drams to 287.62 drams. Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, May 30th, 2023, Chainwire A decentralized token that will shape gaming as we know it today is going live on Ethereum blockchain on May 31st with the support of key Web3 leaders. The QWAN, a gaming token enabling a decentralized economy for all gamers globally, is launching with the support of The QWAN Foundation and with Banger being onboarded to The QWAN Ecosystem as the first major gaming platform. The QWAN is a native token for gaming platforms and an expanding ecosystem of related platforms, hubs, services, and communities. With its decentralized community-led governance model supported by The QWAN Foundation, The QWAN works as a shared currency to shape the future of the global gaming industry and culture through a unified economy. Third parties can integrate The QWAN as an open and permissionless digital token, increasing the appeal of any application or platform. Under the hood, The QWAN creates a unique gaming ecosystem that aims to empower gamers by rewarding their engagement in various gaming experiences. Through incentives and opportunities for ownership, The QWAN encourages gamers to discover rewards across ecosystems and involvement in community governance processes as part of their organic experience within their day-to-day gaming. Gamers can access various opportunities to earn, trade, own their digital assets, and have a say in the governance of the gaming ecosystems future at large. By engaging all stakeholders, The Qwan aims to shape the future of gaming from the bottom up versus the traditional top-down approach, unlocking value across all segments of the gaming industry. The launch is supported by strategic guidance from partners such as Horizen Labs Ventures (HLV), which is the leading Web3 advisory and solutions provider, supporting some of the most prominent brands, protocols, and startups in the space. HLVs proven track record includes names such as Yuga Labs, The Sandbox, Jam City, Dust Labs, Animoca Brands, and many others. We are excited about QWAN and its potential to positively impact and shape game economies, powering new utilities and a community-led governance that can appeal to existing Web2 gamers, said Rohan Handa, Founding Member and SVP of Business Development at HLV. With the gaming token being adopted and integrated by the Banger platform, we believe QWAN can onboard the next wave of users to Web3 and push the gaming industry forward. Banger, the gaming platform and marketplace, will be the first to adopt and integrate the QWAN token and support the vision of The QWAN Foundation. Given the open and permissionless nature of The QWAN, many more players in the gaming industry can be expected to onboard the ecosystem and announce the integration of the token. We are thrilled for Banger to integrate The QWAN as its key gaming token and offer our gamers the opportunity to enhance their gaming experience. With The QWAN, our offering becomes very unique in the market and allows us to provide gamers with an experience that cant be found elsewhere, said Borja Villalobos, Banger CEO. The Qwan (QWAN) will be listed on the 31st of May starting at 10:00 EST on a number of different exchanges, such as MEXC, AscendEX, or BTSE, amongst others, at a listing price of $0.15 For more information on QWAN and The QWAN Foundation, visit www.theqwan.io About The QWAN The QWAN is a global gaming token offering decentralized community-led governance. It is designed to empower gamers and shape the future of the global gaming industry through its decentralization and community-led governance model. The QWANs unique structure allows for governance throughout The QWAN DAO along with spending opportunities and rewards across The QWAN Ecosystem, composed of gaming platforms, Web2 and Web3 games, and other industry players. As an open-source and permissionless digital token, The QWAN can be integrated into any platform, application, or game, catering to a passionate and growing community of gamers that knows no boundaries. Contact Hunter Williams coms@theqwan.io Manu Fernandez/AP Nvidia has joined the exclusive club of companies with a $1 trillion market capitalization as the chipmaker benefits from the growing use of artificial intelligence. Nvidia Corp. joins tech titans like Alphabet, Apple and Microsoft in the $1 trillion club. Its stock rose 5% in Tuesday trading, eclipsing $408 per share. Since its initial public offering in 1999, the stock is up roughly 33% annually compared with an average annual gain of 7% in the benchmark S&P 500 index over the same time. STAMFORD A federal court ruling Tuesday opens the door for settlement of thousands of lawsuits against Purdue Pharma that allege it fueled the opioid crisis with deceptive marketing of its top-selling prescription drug, OxyContin a deal that will protect the company owners, members of the Sackler family, from future lawsuits. In return, the proposed settlement would provide $6 billion to fight opioid addiction and assist victims of the drug crisis. With its ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed a December 2021 decision by a district judge who found that a bankruptcy judge who approved Stamford-based Purdues settlement plan did not have the authority to grant protections from opioid-related lawsuits to the Sackler family members who own Purdue. The proposed legal safeguards for the Sacklers have long divided the parties involved in Purdues bankruptcy, which began in September 2019. The Sackler families believe the long-awaited implementation of this resolution is critical to providing substantial resources for people and communities in need, Sackler family members who own Purdue said in a statement Tuesday. We are pleased with the courts decision to allow the agreement to move forward and look forward to it taking effect as soon as possible. The latest version of Purdues settlement plan still needs to secure approval from a bankruptcy judge before it can be finalized. In total, Purdue values its plan at more than $10 billion. That amount factors in other components, including the development and distribution, by Purdue's planned successor company, of medicines to reverse opioid overdoses and treat opioid-use disorder that Purdue officials said could be worth several billion dollars. The Second Circuits ruling is a victory for Purdues creditors, including the states, local governments, and victims who overwhelmingly support the Plan of Reorganization, Purdue said in a statement. Our focus going forward is to deliver billions of dollars of value for victim compensation, opioid crisis abatement and overdose rescue medicines. Our creditors understand the plan is the best option to help those who need it most, the most fair and expeditious way to resolve the litigation, and the only way to deliver billions of dollars in value specifically to fund opioid crisis abatement efforts. Debate over legal protections for Sacklers For two-and-a-half years after Purdues filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Connecticut and several other non-consenting states fervently opposed an agreement with the company. Among the signs of their discontent, they appealed a bankruptcy judges approval in September 2021 of Purdues settlement plan because they were unhappy with the terms proposed by the company and the Sacklers who own the firm. In addition to their dissatisfaction with the proposed payout of about $4.3 billion, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and the other non-consenting states attorneys general had other objected. In particular, they criticized the approval by the bankruptcy judge, Robert Drain, of the plans stipulation for third-party releases that would have forced them to relinquish their claims against the Sacklers. The Sacklers, who did not personally file for bankruptcy, have denied allegations from Tong and other attorneys general that they have misused the bankruptcy process to shield themselves from liability. But after a wave of negotiations during the first two months of 2022, Connecticut and the other non-consenting states forged a deal with Purdue and the Sacklers that was announced in March 2022. The settlement amount increased to $6 billion. Approximately $95 million would be allocated to Connecticut, with those funds intended to support prevention and treatment initiatives. What this decision (from the Second Circuit) does not change is the fact that Connecticut led our sister states to a $6 billion settlement that will fund critical treatment and prevention efforts across the country, and will give direct relief to families of victims and survivors of addiction, Tong said in a statement Tuesday. Our settlement was both significant and imperfect there will never be enough justice to match the depths of pain and suffering the Sackler family caused. But we recognized that we had pushed this as far as we could, and that it was necessary to get communities, victims and their families the resolution and billions of dollars funding desperately needed to save lives and fight the opioid epidemic. As a result of the agreement that it joined last year, Connecticut did not participate in the appeal before the Second Circuit. But if Purdue's case were to come before the U.S. Supreme Court, Connecticut has reserved its right to continue its opposition to third-party releases, according to Tongs office. In July 2021, Tong testified before a Congressional committee in support of bankruptcy law reforms to close a loophole that he said the Sacklers were exploiting to evade accountability for their role in the opioid crisis. Purdue and the Sackler family destroyed thousands of lives in their relentless pursuit of profit. They cravenly sought to hide behind (the) countrys broken bankruptcy code to escape justice and shield their blood money, Tong added in his statement. The U.S. District Court refused billionaire wrongdoers the right to exploit our bankruptcy laws, and we will firmly stand behind that decision should this matter come before the U.S. Supreme Court. I believe Judge (Colleen) McMahon was right in the District Court. Non-consensual third-party releases (for the Sacklers) are wrong, and I believe the law should not, and does not permit them. But the Second Circuit decided otherwise. Today, the Department of Justice, through its bankruptcy-focused U.S. Trustee program, stands as the most-prominent holdout, among a tiny number of remaining opponents of the settlement plan. The Justice Department did not immediately say whether it would appeal Tuesday's ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. A spokesperson declined comment Tuesday. The Justice Departments opposition and the uncertainty about the bankruptcys end point has upset many relatives of opioid victims and survivors of opioid addiction. They worry about further delays or even missing out entirely on the personal-injury funds that are included in the settlement plan. Eligible claimants would each receive between $3,500 and $48,000, for a total of up to $750 million. Im very angry. How can the Department of Justice just appeal this and let all of this time go by? Norwalk resident Dede Yoder, whose son died from an overdose of fentanyl and carfentanil at age 21 in 2017, after being prescribed OxyContin as a teenager, said in March. It doesnt make sense to me. It keeps adding insult to injury The longer it takes, it just makes it worse and worse. As Purdues bankruptcy carries on, Connecticut has already secured hundreds of millions of dollars from settlements with other companies implicated in the opioid epidemic. Those funds are being disbursed across varying multi-year timelines. other agreements, it will receive a total of about $300 million from pharmaceutical distributors Cardinal, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen, as well as drugmaker Johnson & Johnson. This article contains reporting from The Associated Press. As the minimum wage rises this week to the once-holy-grail level of $15 an hour in Connecticut, another potentially explosive action for economic equity is quietly moving through the state legislature. And it has a lot of support from both sides of the aisle. It's an idea to prod corporations to hand out shares of their stock to rank-and-file employees -- enough to make a real difference in people's lives. Imagine if you worked at, say, Walmart on the retail floor and you received 300 of your employer's shares, a total package worth $43,000 today. Not options that would require a run-up in stock prices before you saw any value -- actual shares in Walmart worth tens of thousands of dollars. Or Raytheon, or Home Depot, or CVS or General Dynamics or any other publicly traded company with significant operations in Connecticut. Most people would call that a game-changing benefit because it would give you assets, not just an income bump. It could happen under a bill that has seen little discussion in 2023, but advanced out of the tax-writing Finance Committee by a 51-0 vote. Sen. John Fonfara, D-Hartford, the panel's co-chair, is the lead author of the bill, based on a plan developed by Robert Patricelli, a Simsbury executive who launched three health care companies and has a high profile in economic development in Connecticut. Patricelli is working with U.S. Rep. John B. Larson, D-1st District, on a much more sweeping federal version, what he calls the SHARE Plan, which also has bipartisan support in Congress. The Connecticut bill would give large, publicly traded companies a break on the state corporate earnings tax. They would not have to pay the 10 percent surcharge for ten years in exchange for conferring 300 shares of stock to at least 80 percent of Connecticut-based employees, none of them in the top tier of pay at the company. No company would be required to participate and that's why the bill has little opposition in addition to support from lawmakers who know that a benefit of 300 shares is no small deal to regular employees. Hey, Home Depot shares closed Friday at $292. "We wanted it to be meaningful and we wanted it to be a potential game-changer for some of these families," Patricelli told me last week. More unequal than income The beauty of the idea is that it would give significant, real value to rank-and-file workers without costing their employers an equivalent amount of cash. Issuing more stock does dilute the value of existing shares, of course, but it's not a cash outlay for the corporations giving it out -- and they see other benefits, chiefly employee loyalty and retention. It won't work for every company -- some will not see enough of a tax break to make it work, for example -- but Patricelli and Fonfara see the stock sharing bill as tapping into the "multiplier effect" of financial markets to address asset inequality rather than passing yet another social spending program that won't really affect the balance of wealth. "Were not taking it from someone and giving it to someone else," Fonfara said. "Now the employee is incentivized to stay in order to get this benefit." Patricelli, in testimony on the bill in April, told the Finance Committee, "The top 10 percent by wealth owns 88 percent of corporate equities and mutual funds, while the bottom 50 percent owns just 0.7 percent. The top half owns more than 99 percent of all stock! Thats where the wealth is in America its in stock." And the divide is all the more pronounced in Black and Latino communities because even if minority workers make a middle-class income, they often haven't had generations to accumulate assets such as home equity, savings and mutual funds. "We cant fully deal with race without dealing with wealth," Patricelli told the committee. He's well known in Connecticut not only for founding Value Health Inc., which traded on the New York Stock Exchange, and Women's Health USA; but also as co-chairman of the Commission on Fiscal Stability and Economic Growth, along with James Smith of Webster Bank, in 2017 and 2018. That group was part of a bipartisan push to save the state's then-faltering economy -- and it must have done something right because the left and the right both criticized its recommendations. Another CT innovation Politically, the stock-sharing bill lacks opponents but also doesn't have a lot of people willing to go to the mat for it in the waning days of the session. "It's an intriguing idea that's worth further study," Adam Joseph, spokesman for Gov. Ned Lamont, said. House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, and GOP Leader Vin Candelora both said they'd be willing to see it come up on the floor of the House if it makes it to the lower chamber from the Senate -- but of course, time is running out. Likewise, Chris DiPentima, CEO of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, said his member companies that would be affected offered no objections to it after an earlier version of the bill was changed from wording that punished companies for not offering the shares. "It may be right for some businesses, it may be wrong for other businesses," DiPentima said, adding that it could be a strong recruiting tool. "Unfortunately were up there with some other priorities that hopefully would have been done by now," DiPentima said, referring to bills CBIA is trying to advance or kill. "But we support it." An earlier version would have given a break on the state personal income tax to workers who received the shares -- but that was opposed by Lamont's budget chief, Jeffrey Beckham. As it stands the stock sharing bill would cost the state a portion of the corporate earnings tax surcharge, which totals about $80 million a year, after 2026 when the credits would start. If the state finally retires the decade-old "temporary" surcharge, companies would see an equivalent tax credit. Passing this bill in the next eight days before the 2023 session expires would bring another Connecticut innovation to the all-important battlefield of asset equity, along with baby bonds. "This could be the beginning of movement on the national bill," Patricelli said. It comes with little risk and it just might spark progress by aligning regular workers' interests to company performance, the way employee stock ownership plans do. Fonfara talked about finding a $2 stock that ballooned last year to $340. "I wont have another one like that ever," he said, "but the point is you can." A bill legislators say is intended to strengthen anti-discrimination laws is so vague it could be used to support pedophiles, according to one Christian family values organization. According to state Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, co-chair of the legislatures judiciary committee, the bill revises the states definition of sexual orientation to specify gender attraction. When you're talking about gender attraction, that has nothing to do with age, he said. A separate portion of the bill clarifies existing state law to include age as a basis for discrimination, but Winfield said the two sections are not related. That's not related to a sexual attraction, he said. So I just don't know how they made this crazy leap. The bill specifically defines sexual orientation as a person's identity in relation to the gender or genders to which they are romantically, emotionally or sexually attracted. Peter Wolfgang, executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut, the bill is vague enough to allow interpretation on the basis of age. What's in the bill is identity in relation to the genders theyre attracted to and that's our concern is the vagueness of that language and how that could be interpreted in the future by some judge, he said. People who identify as minor-attracted persons, the MAPs themselves, they see themselves in that and they are organized. Without more precise language making this clearer that, no this doesn't open the door for minor-attracted persons somewhere down the line, you could have a ruling by a judge or ruling by an administrative agency saying that this law does include them, Wolfgang said. In a blog post about the bill on the organizations website, the FIC wrote that, Marriage is between a man and a woman. Male and female he created them. Laws that say otherwise undermine the very legitimacy of law itself. Winfield said Wolfgang and others are using the issue as a cultural wedge, and noted that sexual assault of children is a crime. . I don't even think it's a stretch, he said. I don't think you can read into the bill what they're suggesting. How someone gets there, I don't know. During a meeting with reporters Tuesday, Speaker of the House Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, said he was appalled that it's a problem for anybody in this building. According to the organization's website, the vision of the Family Institute of Connecticut is to see citizens, institutions and government acknowledge and encourage the vital role of the family and to once again see the Judeo-Christian principles that are articulated in the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution re-employed in our society and its public policy. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The state Port Authority is planning to request an additional $30 million in bonding to complete the state pier project, pushing the total cost to $300 million. The goal of the state pier project is to upgrade the facility to accommodate a wind power hub servicing offshore wind farms that would bring power to Connecticut and the region. The project was originally supposed to cost $93 million, but costs had already ballooned to $255.5 million before the state Port Authority voted Tuesday to ask the state for an additional $30 million. Of that $255.5 million, $77.5 million has been borne by Eversource and rsted, the power companies that will run the windfarms and pier once they are built. That $77.5 million contribution will increase by $23.75 million, a bit more than half of the additional $47 million cost of the project. The Port Authority will request the other half, $23.5 million, plus a $6 million contingency from the state. Of the additional $47 million, rsted and Eversource have agreed to contribute $23.75 million and we will be seeking the other half of $23.5 million from the state plus an additional 6.5 million for an owner's contingency, Port Authority Executive Director Ulysses Hammond told the Port Authority Board Tuesday. That would bring the total cost of the state pier north of $300 million. No one has been able to explain to my satisfaction or the rest of the delegations satisfaction, how a $93 million project became almost a $300 million contract, nearly tripling in cost, Rep. Holly Cheeseman, R-East Lyme, said Tuesday. There is hope of recouping some of that cost, as Port Authority Executive Director David Kooris explained during an interview. NEO, which owns the offshore areas in which the wind farms will be built, will pay the state $2 million a year, and Gateway, which manages the state pier on behalf of the Port Authority, will pay back a portion of its revenue once the operation is up and running. In addition to that, it is our expectation that there will be times when rsted does not have an active wind project utilizing the facility, Kooris said. In those situations, they will seek out other wind developers to use the facility. If that does happen, we expect that there would be significant revenue from that and so there's a mechanism whereby we share that revenue with NEO. The first wind project, which had been expected to be operational this year, will consist of 12 turbines supplying energy to 70,000 homes on Long Islands south fork. Two years later, another 65 turbines are expected to provide energy to 350,000 homes in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Another 84 turbines should go operational that year, providing energy to 600,000 homes in New York state. The state pier would act as a staging ground for all those projects during both construction and operation. Cheeseman said that during a Tuesday morning call between the Port Authority and a bipartisan group of lawmakers that there were some general comments about difficulties, things that were unanticipated. Hammond said Tuesday that the cost increases were intended to cover work on a foundation wall, the piers heavy-lift platform, and all of this work is scheduled to be completed by October, leaving only dredging in late fall. Eversource announced last week its intention to sell its share of the three offshore wind farms to rsted, but Kooris said it has no bearing on us or our partnership. We certainly view it as positive given rsteds history in the industry and see no downsides associated with it whatsoever, he told the board. Seabury Maritime, a contractor on the project, was recently fined $10,000 by the Office of State Ethics for undisclosed lobbying before the Connecticut Port Authority. Its the second such fine imposed on Seabury in two years. Seabury and the Port Authority are also reportedly the subject of a federal investigation into its 2018 selection of Gateway as manager of the pier on behalf of the Port Authority. Seabury Capital, which owns Seabury Maritime, was paid $700,000, including a $523,000 success fee for choosing Gateway, three months after Henry Juan III of Greenwich, a managing director at Seabury, had resigned from the Port Authority board. When asked earlier this year if he was concerned about the investigation, Hammond said, We're concerned but not constrained. John Raoux/AP NORFOLK, Va. (AP) The U.S. Coast Guard said Tuesday that it's searching for a man who fell from a cruise ship off the coast of Florida. The 35-year-old passenger fell from the Carnival Magic ship about 185 miles (300 kilometers) east of Jacksonville on Monday, the service said in a statement. The Coast Guard is searching from the air and water. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW HAVEN From used syringes and human waste to drug users overdosing near school grounds, some public school teachers are voicing concern for their and their students safety at John C. Daniels School, which is next to a methadone clinic. Despite commitment from the city to address the issues, teachers and some Board of Education members pressed the administration to come up with a more concrete safety plan. Jane Roth, a special education teacher at Daniels, and Marianne Maloney, a math teacher at New Haven Academy, echoed those messages to the school board. The JCD community is greatly impacted by the domino effect of this crisis, Roth said, referring to homelessness and drug addiction problems nationwide. And one of the most egregious conditions, Roth said, still exists today, despite pleading for help with the city two years ago. In order to ensure safety for students and staff, (a building manager who arrives at 7 a.m.) must clear the area surrounding the school of syringes and other drug paraphernalia, she said. He also cleans the area, which is used as a public toilet of human waste and urine. The Daniels teacher said a four-page email chronicling details about hazardous and safety concerns with pictures was sent to the city and school administrations two years ago but very little was done since, and there hasnt been any long-lasting solution. Some of the incidents she mentioned included break-ins to staff members' vehicles, people overdosing in the parking lot, people camping out in the parking lot and attempted robberies of bus drivers. When asking for an update, Roth said, all the teachers got was were working on it. After two years, the John C. Daniels community has earned and deserves a far better response than the cold, callous response: were working on it, Roth said. Mayor Justin Elicker said its the issue that he along with other departments and schools have been working on for many years. He said the city installed a fence that separates the school from the field, and that the conditions have improved. Elicker said he recently had a conversation with the New Haven Public Schools' chief of operations about raising that fence in the alcove area where people have been sleeping. He said despite the fence being locked and additional cameras and lighting, people still can breach the area. Its important to underscore that there are people that are struggling very much in our community and its important for us to provide more services to them, he said, noting Elm City COMPASS, a crisis-intervention emergency response team, soon will expand. The mayor said the city also is in conversation with the APT Foundation about possible relocation of its methadone clinic. Under the Long Wharf revitalization blueprint, people on all sides appeared cautiously optimistic that the plan will house a new facility for those services. The facility likely would be on property adjacent to the One Long Wharf building, where the methadone clinic currently has its headquarters and provides health services in a total of 40,000 square feet of space. I think we all can agree that around a elementary school is not the best site for APTs services, he said. APT does own the building so we cant just tell APT to leave. Lastly, Elicker said there has been a police presence at the school for a year-and-a-half during drop-off and pick-up times. He acknowledged that more work is needed. Maloney, also a chief steward of the teachers union, said after the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools, the vacant property invited a population thats not compatible with a school campus. Our teachers come to that building every day prepared to open young minds to wonder but in order to enter, they face the harshest realities of our city, as do our children, Maloney said. We can take back that campus. It will take an intense, concerted effort for a limited period of time to reset the boundaries and redefine school as a sacred space. Board of Education member Edward Joyner said Daniels School isnt the only school thats surrounded by some of the worst features of urban living, and the city should identify those schools and prioritize creating safety barriers. No one should have to go school in fear, no child should have to look out the window and see some of the things you would see in some of the spaces that our children are educated in, Joyner said. Were not going to do any good by pointing fingers and making this a big political issue. Darnell Goldson, one of the two elected school board members, said the city needs to increase police presence at the scene and install more lighting so that these people dont feel comfortable in the shadow of that building shooting up in the evening. However, Goldson said some of the problems are internal he said he received complaints about students smoking marijuana and cigarettes in schools and about a teacher having to take a week off from school after being harassed by students. Theres no way a student should be able to smoke weed at any of our schools and get away with it, Goldson said. We cant just continue to say its an issue thats important to us and were going to continue to try to fix it, he continued. We need to fix it. ... I hope that we have some sort of master plan from this administration. NEW HAVEN Jonathan Pineiro stood alongside his luggage on a Union Station platform Tuesday morning, waiting to board a train that would carry him to Grand Central Terminal in New York City. Pineiro, 27, a commuter from Manhattan, said he was unfamiliar with a provision in Gov. Ned Lamont's two-year, $50.5 billion recommended budget that proposes to reduce service of the New Haven Line to 86 percent of pre-pandemic levels, potentially resulting in dozens fewer daily trains running between Connecticut and New York City. But after hearing details of the governor's proposal, Pineiro quickly expressed his dissatisfaction. "A lot of people do rely on the trains, and to know now that the trains will be more packed, it will bring discouragement," Pineiro said. "Things happen on a train, too. Lets say a train gets delayed, its already rough how it is. To add extra stuff to it, (such as) less trains, its rough." As Connecticut lawmakers mull Lamont's spending plan and whether to roll back service for two of the state's commuter rail lines, Pineiro and other riders are speaking out against the idea, arguing that it would sour the experience of taking the train and push more passengers to using motor vehicles as their primary form of transportation. In addition to the New Haven Line, the Shore Line East route, currently operating at two-thirds of its pre-pandemic levels between New Haven and New London, would be pared back even further under Lamont's proposal, to 44 percent of its earlier levels. The governors office has pointed to the sluggish pace at which riders have returned to both routes as the region has emerged from the pandemic. The states newest commuter route, the Hartford Line, has seen a more robust return to its ridership and would not face any cuts under the governors budget. New Haven resident Sean McAvoy said reducing the state's rail service would be a "terrible idea." According to McAvoy, railcars traveling along the New Haven Line already are crowded, and reducing the number of trains would exacerbate congestion and discourage ridership. "Do they want it to be standing-room only? Do they want us to be stuffed in there like sardines?" McAvoy, 39, said. "Thats not what were looking for." "Rail has a hard enough time in this country, and the more difficult or unpleasant you make it for people, the harder its going to be to justify an expansion of that service or even its maintenance in the future," McAvoy added. "Youre only driving more people toward cars at that point anyway." McAvoy also said he believes that slashing rail service could hinder the city's economy by deterring commuters from seeking housing near the train station. New Haven continues to undergo a boom in development, but new housing units could become less attractive and harder to fill if Lamont's cuts are approved, according to McAvoy. "It doesnt take a lot of change in terms of numbers to affect extraordinary change in terms of experience," McAvoy said. "For those who rely on (rail), the worse you make the commuting experience, the more theyre going to seek housing in a community elsewhere. If anything, we need more trains, not fewer." Angela Douglas, a New Haven resident who uses the train "just about all the time," said cutting rail service could impact a person's ability to get to work in a timely fashion. "I dont think they should do that because the world is going too fast," Douglas said. "They want everybody to get to work, and to (reduce) the trains is going to make it a little hard for everybody to get there on time." Rail advocates and some lawmakers have argued that the proposed cuts are a shortsighted effort to save money that will only serve to further discourage ridership at a time when the state is turning toward mass transit as a way of reaching its long-term goal of slashing greenhouse gas emissions. New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said last week that "clearly reducing service to New York and other stops in between is not a good thing. "I understand that there are always budgetary challenges," the mayor added. "We should be going in the opposite direction, of improving the frequency of service." Edward Valente, a Metro-North conductor, told the Metropolitan Transporation Authority during its May 24 meeting the New Haven Line has been "trending in the right direction" after ridership and service levels crashed during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our customers like the fact that life is returning to normal," Valente said. But Lamont's plan to curtail service would derail that progress, according to the conductor. "Do you remember the old days of packed cars with commuters and families standing in the aisle?" Valente asked the board. "Well, unless something happens, it will be worse but add severe gaps in service as well." Last summer, the state expanded service for the New Haven Line by introducing new weekday express trains as part of its TIME FOR CT initiative, designed to deliver faster trains and improved travel time. As more people return to rail service, they want faster trains, more options, and increased services, Lamont said in a July 2022 news release announcing the express trains. This is all part of the TIME FOR CT initiative, and we are delivering on our promise of improving rail service in Connecticut." NEW HAVEN A city resident has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from his involvement in five carjackings, officials say. In a release, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut said Tihaja Ortiz-Tucker, a 19-year-old New Haven resident, pleaded guilty to three counts of taking a motor vehicle from a person by force, violence, and intimidation and one count of conspiracy. The U.S. attorney's office said Ortiz-Tucker and others posed as interested buyers of motor vehicles advertised by Connecticut residents on Facebook Marketplace. "On three occasions, Ortiz-Tucker and his co-conspirators arranged to meet in person with the victim-sellers for the purported purpose of test driving and purchasing the motor vehicles," it said. "At the conclusion of the purported test drives, Ortiz-Tucker and his co-conspirators stole, at gunpoint, the vehicles, as well as certificates of title, bills of sale, and other ownership documents." On at least two occasions, the U.S. attorney's office said, Ortiz-Tucker posed as the legitimate owner of stolen motor vehicles, advertised them for sale on the OfferUp online platform, and sold them to unwitting purchasers. The U.S. attorney's office said Ortiz-Tucker also participated in two carjackings of Uber drivers in May 2022. "In both instances, an Uber driver picked up the carjacker in New Haven and drove to Wallingford where the cars were taken from the Uber drivers at gunpoint," it said. "Both cars were later recovered in the same area of Hamden." The U.S. attorney's office said Ortiz-Tucker was arrested on July 22, 2022, noting the carjacking charges carry a maximum term of improsonment of 15 years per count, and the conspiracy charge has a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. It said Ortiz-Tucker's sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 22. The U.S. attorney's office said Ruben Montano, a 20-year-old New Haven resident, pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and admitted that he participated in one of those carjackings in July 2022, as well as the subsequent sale of the vehicle. It said Montano is detained in state custody on unrelated charges and is scheduled to be sentenced July 31. YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. On May 30, the Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Armenia, Armen Grigoryan, participated in a panel discussion with Hikmet Hajiyev, the Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of Azerbaijan, in the framework of the "GLOBSEC 2023 Bratislava Forum", in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, during which he presented the position of the Armenian side regarding the Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Security Council, Armen Grigoryan particularly addressed the issues regarding the international mechanism on the security and rights of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, the delimitation and border security processes of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, and the unblocking of regional communications. The secretary emphasized the need for a constructive position of Azerbaijan in the negotiation process, calling to refrain from maximalist aspirations. Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media NEW HAVEN A man and his two dogs were rescued from Long Island Sound on Tuesday, officials say. Dan Coughlin, New Haven Fire Department's assistant chief of operations, said the department was called just before noon Tuesday for a report of a man in the water with two dogs holding on to a flotation device in the water near Lighthouse Point Park. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) Police launched a search Tuesday for three suspects they believe to be the gunmen who opened fire along a crowded Florida beachside promenade on Memorial Day, wounding a 1-year-old and eight others while sending people frantically running for cover. Hollywood police sought the public's help in identifying the gunmen, who ran from the scene during the chaos of hundreds of people fleeing for their lives and diving for cover as shots hit bystanders. Two people involved in the altercation that led to the shooting Morgan Deslouches and Keshawn Stewart, both 18 have been arrested on firearms charges, police said. Five handguns have been recovered, with one of them reported stolen in the Miami area and another in Texas, they said. Police and witnesses said the shooting began as a group of people fought in front of a busy stretch of shops on the Hollywood Oceanfront Broadwalk about 7 p.m. Monday. The sound of gunshots sent witness Alvie Carlton Scott III ducking for cover behind a tree before he fled on foot at the command of a police officer. Another witness, Jamie Ward, said several young men were fighting when one of them pulled a gun and started firing. One witness told police that she recognized a group of young men in the area later Monday as being involved in the shooting, according to an arrest report. When an officer approached the group, he noticed one of the men, later identified as Deslouches, trying to hide a black backpack. The officer reported that he ordered the man to sit and then took the man's bag. Inside, the officer found a 9mm handgun loaded with seven rounds, the report said. Meanwhile, a detective was transporting witnesses to be interviewed when he spotted Stewart walking down a street, an arrest report said. Earlier, a witness had taken photos and video of Stewart and one of the shooting suspects. The witness told police the shooting suspect had given Stewart a gun. When the detective stopped and searched Stewart, the detective reported finding a fully loaded 9mm handgun in Stewart's backpack. The shooting upended busy holiday weekend festivities at the popular beach destination where there was already a heavy police presence to oversee the big crowds. Police spokesperson Deanna Bettineschi said four children between the ages of 1 and 17 were hit, along with five adults between 25 and 65. Six of those shot remain hospitalized in stable condition, while three have been released, police said. The names of those wounded have not been released. Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy said that he was deeply saddened and angered by the shooting. Dozens of officers are assigned to the beach on busy holiday weekends and that meant there was an immediate response and multiple people were detained, Levy said in a statement. People come to enjoy a holiday weekend on the beach with their families and to have people in complete reckless disregard of the safety of the public and to have an altercation with guns in a public setting with thousands of people around them is beyond reckless, he said. Videos posted Monday evening on Twitter showed emergency medical crews responding and providing aid to multiple injured people. Hollywood Beach is a popular beach destination about 11 miles (17 kilometers) south of Fort Lauderdale and 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Miami. The beach was expected to see more visitors than usual because of the Memorial Day holiday. Deslouches is charged with grand theft of a firearm, carrying a concealed firearm and removing serial numbers from a firearm. He's being held on $20,000 bail. Stewart is charged with carrying a concealed firearm and was being held on $15,000 bail. Jail records didn't list attorneys for Deslouches or Stewart. For the past several weeks, the hottest subject of debate in Newtown has been a pair of books almost never checked out of the library. On one side are parents who claim a pair of young adult books are overly graphic and should be removed from the shelves at Newtown High. On the other side are parents, students and activists who defend the books and see attempts to ban them as overreach and censorship. Recent Board of Education meetings have become increasingly tense, with spirited public comment from both sides and a deadlocked vote among board members that seems to have stoked passions even further. On Facebook, arguments over the book challenges have been fierce and often nasty. "It's kind of tearing the community apart," superintendent Christopher Melillo told CT Insider. Though Connecticut hasn't seen as intense a book-banning push as states such as Florida and Texas have, the national trend has arrived conspicuously, with recent challenges not only in Newtown but also in Westport, Darien, Brookfield, Fairfield, Guilford and other towns. In most cases, challenges have concerned books addressing gender identity and sexuality, many of which have been at the center of controversies nationwide. Overall, the Connecticut Library Association has identified 38 active book challenges across the state, up from about nine at this time last year, CLA president Douglas Lord said. "Not since I've been a librarian have we seen this level of baloney with book challenges and censorship types of activity," Lord said. "In my lifetime or career it's not really precedented." H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media A community divided In Newtown, the fiercest book-banning debate anyone in town can remember began earlier this spring, when a handful of parents ("nine or 10," estimates the superintendent) filed formal challenges of two books: a graphic novel called "Flamer" that chronicles a queer Filipino-American teen bullied for his race, his weight and his effeminate presentation and another called "Blankets" that depicts a young man's struggles with religion, relationships and sexual abuse. The local library media specialists at Newtown High found no obvious problem with the books, both of which have been widely acclaimed, and neither did a special committee made up of the principal, the media specialist, two teachers and an assistant superintendent, who unanimously voted to keep both on the shelves. Melillo, the superintendent, also saw no reason to remove the works and endorsed the findings of the committee. When the issue reached the Board of Education, however, it proved more divisive, splitting roughly along party lines. Democratic members have mostly defended the graphic novels and argued students be allowed to make their own choices. Republican members, who hold a four-to-three majority on the board, have described the books as obscene and explicit, suggesting students below a certain age should need parental consent to read them. "Graphic content call me a prude by all means is not appropriate for young children," Republican board chair Deborra Zukowski said at a public meeting, citing a scene in "Flamer" describing masturbation. Many of the parents and elected officials who want to remove the books insist they don't have the problem with the LGBTQ themes in "Flamer," only its sexual content. But those who defend the book see a nationwide wave of challenges to stories with LGBTQ characters and wonder what banning the graphic novel and others like it would signal to queer students. "It's a terrible message," said Tim Stan, a Newtown parent who identifies as bisexual and says he wishes he'd been able to read "Flamer" as a child in the 1980s. "Attempts to ban this kind of literature is really like an attempt to further marginalize the LGBT community and kind of erase our existence." Melillo notes that the argument is more theoretical than practical. "Flamer," which was published three years ago, has never been checked out of Newtown High's library, while "Blankets" was checked out only once, in 2015. As the superintendent sees it, those trying to pull the graphic novels are enforcing a double standard, opposing books that offend them personally, while leaving a range of other works that might bother people of different identities or political persuasions. He says parents are welcome to choose what their kids do and don't read but shouldn't impose those preferences on other families. "You can't have it both ways," Melillo said. "When it fits into your values, you can't say everyone else has to conform, but when it's against your values you can't then say, 'Take it off the shelf.'" At the most recent Board of Education meeting, most, though not all, community members who spoke did so in support of the books, painting efforts to remove them as censorship. Still, when it came time to vote, the three Republican members present (one was absent) came down against keeping them on the shelves without restriction, resulting in a three-to-three deadlock. Far from resolving the issue which is expected to come in front of the board again as soon as next week the vote seems to have increased tension in town. On Facebook, the Newtown Republican Town Committee accused book banning opponents of "extreme name-calling" as well as "middle fingers being used toward elected volunteers, hollering, chanting" and in one case throwing something at a board member. Dan Grossman, a Newtown parent who has argued fiercely against restricting the books, describes the fight as "a matter of life and death." "What the Board of Ed is in essence doing is saying they value for certain people to not be uncomfortable over the literal lives of marginalized community members," Grossman said. "Because we know that the suicide rate is high [for LGBTQ children], and we know that's because of a lack of empathy and understanding and caring." Beatrice, a Newtown High sophomore who asked to have her last name withheld, said she's frustrated that students haven't had a louder voice in the debate over what books they can read. The attempt to restrict access to "Flamer" and "Blankets," she says, suggest the adults are out of touch with today's teenage experience. "It says that they're not very well-informed on what goes on in the schools," Beatrice said. "These are topics that we have to talk about because these are things that go on in high school kids' lives, and to not talk about it just because it's a touchy subject is not a great choice." Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media A statewide (and nationwide) trend Lord, who has worked as a librarian for about three decades, says he had almost never encountered a serious book-banning challenge until about two years ago, when the challenges began to trickle in. In Fairfield, the local library decided against removing a teen novel called "Let's Talk About It" after some parents challenged it. In Darien, parents objected after a picture book featuring a gender nonconforming character was taught in a second-grade classroom. In Guilford, residents called for parental notification for books they regarded as vulgar and inappropriate. In Westport, parents sought to ban "Flamer" and two other books dealing with gender identity from the local high school, before a committee voted to keep them on the shelves. In Brookfield, residents have targeted one of those same books, titled "This Book is Gay," claiming it was not age-appropriate. As far as Lord knows, this wave of book challenges is the largest since the Red Scare of the 1950s. "Speaking for the librarians of the state, it's disheartening," he said. So far, Lord knows of only one instance in which a book was removed from library shelves following a challenge, though books have also been banned in other settings, including state prisons. Connecticut's spike in book challenges makes the state part of a broader national trend. In a recent report, PEN America found 1,477 instances of books being banned during the first half of the 2022-23 school year alone, while the American Library Association tracked 1,269 attempts to censor library books and resources in the 2022 calendar year, nearly double the total in 2021 and the most in more than 20 years of tracking. Both PEN America and the ALA found that books written by or about LGBTQ people or people of color were far more likely to be challenged or banned. The ALA lists a graphic memoir called "Gender Queer," written by a non-binary and asexual cartoonist, as the most challenged book of 2022, followed by a memoir from a queer journalist called "All Boys Aren't Blue," then Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye" and "Flamer." In some Republican-controlled states, legislators have contributed to the trend toward book challenges, pushing laws that restrict what materials teachers are allowed to present in class. In Florida, a 2022 law requires that school boards maintain a searchable list of books on library shelves, to help facilitate challenges. In Connecticut's Democratic-controlled legislature, however, lawmakers have gone the opposite direction, proposing to subsidize "sanctuary libraries" that make available books that have been challenged or banned. "Our students, library officials and educators deserve to teach and learn without being dragged into politics," state Rep. Matt Blumenthal, D-Stamford, said last month. "We must continue to stand up against efforts, here and across the country, to censor or ban books from our libraries." 'I'm hoping it phases itself out' In Newtown, the Board of Education is expected to meet again this week to vote on the books again, this time with all seven members present. Zukowski, the board chair, said in an email that since the most recent meeting board members met with the district's library media specialists, who "provided a lot of clarity." Still, she wouldn't say whether their perspectives had changed her stance that the two challenged books should be restricted. "My focus and that of my colleagues is not removal of books but rather a compromise that addresses the core concerns of most of our community members," she said. "The meeting with the library media specialists helped provide information related to possible compromises." Many of those who oppose restricting the books worry that if the current challenges are successful, more will follow. Smith, who has one child at Newtown High and another who graduated several years ago, said he's already heard rumors about which books parents will flag next. "What I worry about is that there's a slope to it," Smith said. "If these two challenges come through it makes it easier to challenge more next time." Lord isn't pleased to see the rise in book challenges, but he doesn't expect it will last forever. In the same way that activism against masks and against "critical race theory" surged and then sputtered, he thinks book bans will fade over time, as proponents move on to the other things. Or at least that's what he wants to believe will happen. "I'm hoping that it kind of phases itself out, that people just get bored with this," Lord said. "I'm really hoping that it goes away of its own accord." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has scrapped a decadeslong government-funded subsidy that has helped reduce the price of gasoline, leading to long lines at fuel stations Tuesday as drivers scrambled to stock up before costs rise. As people rushed to buy gas in major cities like Abuja and Lagos, marketers have more than doubled the price at the pump from the usual 40 cents per liter, resulting in a surge in the price of transport. Tinubu announced the removal of the subsidy moments after his inauguration as president on Monday, signaling his administrations plan to finally end an initiative that officials said cost the Nigerian government an estimated 18.39 billion naira ($39.8 million) daily in 2022. He did not say when it would take effect, but the immediate past government had planned to end the initiative by June 30. Nigerias oil refineries are struggling, with production sinking to multidecade lows amid massive oil theft, meaning Africas top oil producer depends on imported refined petroleum products. The government, however, pays part of the price per liter to marketers to cover the landing costs and reduce the pump price for consumers. The subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources, Tinubu said of his first decision as president. We shall instead rechannel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions. The resulting hike in gasoline prices could cause more hardship in a country where many already are struggling to cope with record unemployment and poverty levels and inflation that is at an 18-year high. The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers called on the government to take extra caution in view of the ... unintended consequences on the ordinary citizens. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the state oil firm, lauded the move and urged people to not buy more than they need. The rush to buy gasoline resulted in the price of transportation more than doubling in major cities. A trip of 20 minutes that I normally go for 400 naira (86 U.S. cents) is now 1,000 naira ($2.1), said Gabriel Imoke, a Lagos resident. The panic-buying could last for weeks, with gasoline marketers expected to hoard the commodity as they watch prices to avoid loss, said Uwadiae Osadiaye, senior vice president, energy and industrials at FBNQuest Merchant Bank. The subsidies are not affordable from a fiscal standpoint, said Osadiaye, adding that Nigeria borrows to fund the initiative. Rather than a one-time rollback, however, the government should consider phasing out the subsidy gradually to cushion the effects on the public and increasing welfare programs, he said. There would have to be an adjustment period and a change in consumption pattern, maybe in lifestyle for Nigerians, Osadiaye said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate JOHANNESBURG (AP) The Russian and Chinese foreign ministers are expected to meet with their counterparts from the BRICS economic bloc in Cape Town on Thursday, a precursor to a larger summit of developing nations' leaders in South Africa in August that Russian President Vladimir Putin may attend while under indictment by the International Criminal Court. South Africa has suggested without saying explicitly that it won't arrest Putin, if he decides to travel for the main BRICS summit in Johannesburg, despite being obliged to do so as a signatory to the ICC's Rome treaty. BRICS is a bloc of emerging economies made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and their leaders, including China's Xi Jinping, have been invited to the Aug. 22-24 summit. Any Putin trip and the Kremlin hasn't said if he will attend would focus more attention on South Africa's relationship with Moscow. There are clear concerns in the West that Africa's most developed economy is aligning with Russia and pulling other developing countries along with it at a time of heightened global tensions. Those concerns burst into the open earlier this month when the U.S. ambassador to South Africa called a news conference in Pretoria and accused the country of supplying weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine. The South African government has denied the allegation, but the visit of a Russian cargo ship to South Africa's top naval base near Cape Town in December is under investigation. While South Africa hasn't yet stated its official position with regard to the arrest warrant for Putin, its foreign ministry said Tuesday that those traveling for Thursday's meeting of BRICS foreign ministers and the leaders who attend the main summit in three months' time would be afforded standard diplomatic immunity. But the privileges do not override any warrant that may have been issued by any international tribunal against any attendee of the conference, foreign ministry spokesman Clayson Monyela said, an indirect reference to Putin. It means the ICC arrest warrant would still be applicable if Putin visits in August, even if it is highly unlikely that South Africa would arrest him. The Russian president hasn't traveled to any country that is part of the international court treaty since he was indicted in March for war crimes relating to the abduction of children from Ukraine. Away from Putin, the main summit of BRICS leaders could be one of the most important in the bloc's short history, analysts say. There could be movement on two critical issues: BRICS could be expanded to admit new members like Saudi Arabia, Iran and United Arab Emirates. The bloc might also adopt a resolution on creating a BRICS currency. Those moves within a group containing Russia and China might be seen as "a direct economic challenge to the U.S., said William Gumede, an associate professor at the School of Governance at Johannesburg's University of the Witwatersrand and a BRICS analyst. "BRICS could look very different ... and (it) would just change the dynamics of world power, Gumede said. BRICS officials said in April that at least 19 countries including major oil producers Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates have applied to become members. South Africa Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor has also confirmed that a BRICS currency will be discussed. The discussions might start this week when Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang meet with Pandor and other counterparts from Brazil and India. Although there are complications with introducing a common currency in countries with vastly different economic setups, Gumede said a formal decision to pursue it could still be seen as a major political statement and an attempt to start the de-dollarization of parts of the world. The U.S. would have to respond, one way or another, Gumede said. The BRICS gatherings follow a summit of the Group of Seven leaders in Japan that was dominated by the U.S. and the world's other advanced economies extending sanctions against Russia as punishment for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and finding ways to counter the economic policies of China. While accusing South Africa of giving arms to Russia and going against its stated neutrality in the war in Ukraine, U.S. Ambassador Reuben Brigety also referred to the country's hosting of the upcoming BRICS meetings and how they had been framed by some within the bloc as the counterpoint to the G-7, the meeting of the other side. Brigety gave notice that the U.S. was watching. Our officials expressed quite serious concern of the explicit articulation of the BRICS configuration as a, quote, counterpoint to the G-7, Brigety said. Of course, South Africa is free to choose its diplomatic and economic partners however it chooses and so is the United States of America." This is not a matter of bullying as I often hear in this context. Its not a matter of threatening. This is how any relationship works. ___ Gerald Imray reported from Cape Town. ___ More AP news: https://apnews.com/ This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 George Frey/AP Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Rick Bowmer/AP Show More Show Less 3 of 3 SALT LAKE CITY (AP) U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, is planning to leave Congress by the end of this year due to his wifes illness, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The six-term Utah Republican will announce on Wednesday that he will likely leave office by the end of the year, leaving an open Republican seat on the House Appropriations and Intelligence committees. The person familiar with the matter spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly prior to the planned announcement. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo flared anew this week after Kosovos police raided Serb-dominated areas in the regions north and seized local municipality buildings. There have been violent clashes between Kosovos police and NATO-led peacekeepers on one side and local Serbs on the other, leaving dozens of people injured on both sides. Serbia raised the combat readiness of its troops stationed near the border and warned it wouldnt stand by if Serbs in Kosovo were attacked again. The situation has again fueled fears of a renewal of the 1998-99 conflict in Kosovo that claimed more than 10,000 lives and left more than 1 million homeless. WHY ARE SERBIA AND KOSOVO AT ODDS? Kosovo is a mainly ethnic Albanian populated territory that was formerly a province of Serbia. It declared independence in 2008. Serbia has refused to recognize Kosovos statehood and still considers it part of Serbia, even though it has no formal control there. Kosovos independence has been recognized by about 100 countries, including the United States. Russia, China and five EU countries, most of them with separatist regions of their own, have sided with Serbia. The deadlock has kept tensions simmering and prevented full stabilization of the Balkan region after the bloody wars in the 1990s. HOW DID SERBIA'S ALLIES REACT? Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the situation in Kosovo was alarming and that it could provoke another conflict in the heart of Europe. A huge explosion is being prepared in the center of Europe, in the place where, in 1999, NATO attacked Yugoslavia, violating every imaginable (international) principle," he said, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. China said that it was closely following the developments. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning urged NATO to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity "of the relevant countries and truly do what is conducive to regional peace. WHATS THE LATEST FLARE-UP ABOUT? Serbs boycotted last months local elections held in northern Kosovo, where they are a majority. Last Friday, newly elected ethnic Albanian mayors moved into their offices with the help of Kosovos riot police. Serbs tried to prevent the new mayors from taking over the premises, but the police fired tear gas to disperse them. On Monday, Serbs engaged in fierce clashes with NATO peacekeepers, leaving more than 50 rioters and 30 international troops injured. The election boycott followed a collective resignation by Serb officials from the area, including administrative staff, judges and police officers, in November 2022. WHAT IS NATO DOING IN KOSOVO? Till this week, some 3,800 NATO troops were stationed in Kosovo, primarily on peacekeeping duties, but also to watch over the borders, especially the one with Serbia where Belgrade has currently been beefing up its troop presence. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday the alliance had sent 700 more troops to Kosovo to help quell violent protests and had put another battalion on standby in case the riots spread. HOW DEEP IS THE ETHNIC CONFLICT IN KOSOVO? The dispute over Kosovo is centuries old. Serbia considers the region the heart of its statehood and religion. Numerous medieval Serb Orthodox Christian monasteries are in Kosovo. Serb nationalists view a 1389 battle against Ottoman Turks there as a symbol of its national struggle. Kosovos majority ethnic Albanians view Kosovo as their own country and accuse Serbia of occupation and repression. Ethnic Albanian rebels launched a fight to rid the country of Serbian rule in 1998. Belgrades brutal response prompted a NATO intervention in 1999, which forced Serbia to pull out and cede control to international peacekeepers. HAVE THERE BEEN ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THE DISPUTE? There have been constant international efforts to find common ground between the two former wartime foes, but there has been no final comprehensive agreement so far. EU officials have mediated negotiations designed to normalize relations between Serbia and Kosovo. Numerous agreements have been reached, but were rarely implemented on the ground. Some areas have seen results, like introducing freedom of movement within the country. WHO ARE THE MAIN PLAYERS? Both Kosovo and Serbia are led by nationalist leaders who have shown no readiness to compromise. In Kosovo, Albin Kurti, a former student protest leader and political prisoner in Serbia, leads the government and is the main negotiator in EU-mediated talks. He was also known as a fierce supporter of Kosovos unification with Albania and is against any compromise with Serbia. Serbia is led by populist President Aleksandar Vucic, who was information minister during the war in Kosovo. The former ultranationalist insists that any solution must be a compromise in order to last and says the country wont settle unless it gains something. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? International officials are hoping to speed up negotiations and reach a solution in the coming months. Both nations must normalize ties if they want to advance toward EU membership. No major breakthrough would mean prolonged instability, economic decline and constant potential for clashes. Any Serbian military intervention in Kosovo would mean a clash with NATO peacekeepers stationed there. ___ A previous version of this story misspelled the name of Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) NATO will send 700 more troops to northern Kosovo to help quell violent protests after clashes with ethnic Serbs there left 30 international soldiers wounded, the alliance announced Tuesday. The latest violence in the region has stirred fear of a renewal of the 1998-99 conflict in Kosovo that claimed more than 10,000 lives, left more than 1 million people homeless and resulted in a NATO peacekeeping mission that has lasted nearly a quarter of a century. The clashes grew out of a confrontation that unfolded last week after ethnic Albanian officials elected in votes overwhelmingly boycotted by Serbs entered municipal buildings to take office. When Serbs tried to block them, Kosovo police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. More violence followed on Monday when Serbs clashed with police and NATO peacekeepers. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said an additional reserve battalion would be put on high readiness in case additional troops are needed. "These are prudent steps, said Stoltenberg, who made the announcement in Oslo after talks with the Norwegian prime minister. The NATO-led peacekeeping mission in the region is known as KFOR and currently consists of almost 3,800 troops. Also Tuesday, KFOR's multinational peacekeepers used metal fences and barbed-wire barriers to reinforce positions in a northern town that has become a hot spot. The troops sealed off the municipal building in Zvecan, where unrest on Monday sent tensions soaring. A former province of Serbia, Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence is not recognized by Belgrade. Ethnic Albanians make up most of the population, but Kosovo has a restive Serb minority in the north of the country bordering Serbia. Stoltenberg condemned the violence and warned that NATO troops would take all necessary actions to maintain a safe and secure environment for all citizens in Kosovo. He urged both sides to refrain from further irresponsible behavior and to return to EU-backed talks on improving relations. The United States and most European Union nations have recognized Kosovo's independence from Serbia while Russia and China have sided with Belgrade. China on Tuesday expressed its support for Serbias efforts to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Moscow has repeatedly criticized Western policies in the dispute. In response to the confrontation last week, Serbia put the countrys military on the highest state of alert and sent more troops to the border with Kosovo. The Serbs protested again Monday, insisting that both ethnic Albanian mayors and Kosovo police must leave northern Kosovo. The confrontations worsened when Serbs attempted to enter the municipal offices in Zvecan, 45 kilometers (28 miles) north of the capital, Pristina. They clashed first with Kosovo police and then with the international peacekeepers. In a video message issued Tuesday evening, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said the mayors elected on April 23 are the only ones who have the legitimacy to be at the municipal buildings and to the citizens service. Instigators of the violence have been identified, according to the prime minister, who named some Serb businessmen who oblige their employees to protest. In Kosovo, power is won through elections, not with violence and crime, he said. The United States and the EU recently stepped up their efforts to negotiate an agreement between Serbia and Kosovo, fearing instability as Russias war rages in Ukraine. The EU has made it clear to both Serbia and Kosovo that they must normalize relations if theyre to make any progress toward joining the bloc. We have too much violence in Europe already today. We cannot afford another conflict, the EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, told reporters Tuesday in Brussels. As a first step to easing tensions, he said, Kosovo police should suspend the operation focusing on municipal buildings in the north, and violent protesters should stand down. In response to the recent unrest, NATO has decided to increase its KFOR troops with the deployment of operational reserve forces for the Western Balkans, a statement said, without specifying a number. Another unit will be on standby "to be ready to reinforce KFOR if necessary." A statement issued Tuesday by KFOR said 30 soldiers 11 Italians and 19 Hungarians were hurt, including fractures and burns from improvised explosive incendiary devices. Three Hungarian soldiers were wounded by the use of firearms, but their injuries were not life-threatening, the statement added. Serb officials said 52 people were injured, including three seriously. Four protesters were detained, according to Kosovo police. Both parties need to take full responsibility for what happened and prevent any further escalation, rather than hide behind false narratives, KFOR commander Maj. Gen. Angelo Michele Ristuccia said. Belgrade and Pristina have blamed each other for the escalation. Meanwhile, ambassadors from the so-called Quint countries France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the U.S. met Monday with Kurti in Pristina and on Tuesday with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade. Vucic later also met with the ambassadors in Serbia of Russia and China. In a statement from his office, Vucic expressed immense dissatisfaction and strong concern over what he described as international tolerance of Kurti's actions that fueled violence against Serbs. Urgent measures to guarantee the security of the Serbs in Kosovo are a precondition for any future talks, Vucic insisted. Kurti has thanked KFOR troops for valiant action to preserve peace in the face of violent extremism. Russia and China both have sharply criticized Western backing for Kosovo's independence. Russian President Vladimir Putin often has cited the precedent of NATO bombardment of Serbia in 1999 to justify his unlawful annexation of parts of Ukraine. 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 and paved the way for the establishment of the KFOR peacekeeping mission. ___ Semini reported from Tirana, Albania. Associated Press writers Dusan Stojanovic and Jovana Gec in Belgrade, Serbia; Lorne Cook in Brussels; and Nicole Winfield in Rome, contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Helmut Fricke/AP Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Helmut Fricke/AP Show More Show Less 3 of 3 BERLIN (AP) A central figure in a German tax evasion scandal was convicted on Tuesday and sentenced to more than eight years in prison, the second verdict against him in the space of a few months. The Wiesbaden state court convicted German lawyer Hanno Berger of three counts of tax evasion and gave him a sentence of eight years and three months, German news agency dpa reported. In addition, it ordered the confiscation of nearly 1.1 million euros (nearly $1.2 million) of his assets. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BEIJING (AP) China launched a new three-person crew for its orbiting space station on Tuesday, with an eye to putting astronauts on the moon before the end of the decade. The Shenzhou 16 spacecraft lifted off from the Jiuquan launch center on the edge of the Gobi Desert in northwestern China atop a Long March 2-F rocket just after 9:30 a.m. (0130 GMT) Tuesday. The crew, including Chinas first civilian astronaut, will overlap briefly with three now aboard the Tiangong station, who will then return to Earth after completing their six-month mission. A third module was added to the station in November, and space program officials on Monday said they have plans to expand it, along with launching a crewed mission to the moon before 2030. China built its own space station after it was excluded from the International Space Station, largely due to U.S. concerns over the Chinese space programs intimate ties with the People's Liberation Army, the military branch of the ruling Communist Party. Chinas first manned space mission in 2003 made it the third country after the former Soviet Union and the U.S. to put a person into space under its own resources. On the this latest mission, payload expert Gui Haichao, a professor at Beijings top aerospace research institute, will join mission commander Maj. Gen. Jing Haipeng, who is making his fourth flight to space, and spacecraft engineer Zhu Yangzhu. The crew will stay aboard the station for around five months, during which they will conduct scientific experiments and regular maintenance. The mission comes against the background of a rivalry with the U.S. for reaching new milestones in space. That has been largely friendly, but also reflects their sharpening competition for leadership and influence in the technology, military and diplomatic fields. American spending, supply chains and capabilities are believed to give it a significant edge over China, at least for now. China has broken out in some areas, however, bringing samples back from the lunar surface for the first time in decades and landing a rover on the less explored far side of the moon. The U.S., meanwhile, aims to put astronauts back on the lunar surface by the end of 2025 as part of a renewed commitment to crewed missions, aided by private sector players such as SpaceX and Blue Origin. In addition to their lunar programs, the two countries have also separately landed rovers on Mars, and China plans to follow the U.S. in landing a spacecraft on an asteroid. YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received the delegation headed by the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, Urska Klakocar Zupancic, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister welcomed the visit of Mrs. Zupancic to Armenia and expressed confidence that it will give a new impetus to the further development of cooperation between the two countries. Nikol Pashinyan emphasized the expansion of both political and economic cooperation. The Prime Minister considered active cooperation at the parliamentary level, including on international platforms, necessary. Urska Zupancic expressed Slovenia's readiness to expand relations with Armenia in various directions. The interlocutors touched on issues of regional importance. In particular, Nikol Pashinyan and Urska Zupancic emphasized the need to stop Azerbaijan's illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor, as well as its aggressive rhetoric. The Prime Minister presented details about the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, emphasized the importance of addressing the rights and security issues of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh under the internationally guaranteed dialogue mechanism. The Prime Minister presented the approaches of the Armenian side regarding the settlement of existing key issues. Nikol Pashinyan and Urska Zupancic also highlighted the activities of the EU Civilian Mission in Armenia, which contributes to the regional peace and stability. CANBERRA, Australia (AP) Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape said a proposed security treaty with Australia has been delayed over certain wordings and provisions, a week after the strategically important South Pacific Island nation signed a new security pact with the United States that sparked protests. Marape informed Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles of the delay on Monday on the sidelines of an international forum in South Korea, the Papua New Guinean leaders office said in a statement Tuesday. Marape told Marles, who is also defense minister, that the treaty is a work in progress and required the PNG side to consult our domestic processes and sovereign laws in relation to certain wordings and provisions, the statement said. Marape conveyed his apologies to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the delay, the statement said. In January, the two leaders pledged in a joint statement to conclude substantive negotiations on the treaty by the end of April. The treaty, which would enhance security cooperation and acknowledge that the neighboring nations share a mutual strategic interest in a safe, stable, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, was expected to be signed in June. Marape told Marles that Papua New Guinea in no way would compromise its excellent existing bilateral relations with Australia, its most generous aid donor, the statement said. Marles' office later said he and Marape had discussed expanding their nations' partnership in areas including defense, security, visa processing and labor mobility. We have a proud history of working together in the interests of the region," it said in a statement. Australia and the United States are working to counter Chinas increasing influence in South Pacific nations including Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guineas location just north of Australia makes it strategically significant. It was the site of fierce battles during World War II, and with a population of nearly 10 million people, is the most populous Pacific Island nation. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken flew to the Papua New Guinean capital, Port Moresby, last week to sign a new bilateral agreement. The State Department said the pact provides a framework to improve security cooperation, enhance the capacity of Papua New Guineas defense force and increase regional stability. The full agreement will be made public once politicians in both countries have an opportunity for input, likely in a couple of months. Last week, Marape said the pact is mutually beneficial and secures our national interests in becoming a robust economy in this part of the world. But the agreement sparked student protests in the second-largest city, Lae. And many in the Pacific are concerned about the increasing militarization of the region. The announcement of the delay in the agreement between Australia and Papua New Guinea came as Albanese prepared to fly to Singapore to give the keynote address on Friday at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, a leading regional security forum. He said on Tuesday he would use his address to outline Australias vision for a stable, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Australia is committed to expanding and deepening ties with our partners in Southeast Asia to address shared challenges and ambitions," Albanese said in a statement. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate UNITED NATIONS (AP) The U.N. nuclear chief stressed Tuesday that the world is fortunate a nuclear accident hasnt happened in Ukraine and asked Moscow and Kyiv to commit to preventing any attack on Europes largest nuclear power plant and make other pledges to avoid the danger of a catastrophic incident. Rafael Grossi reiterated to the U.N. Security Council what he told the International Atomic Energy Agencys board of governors in March: We are rolling a dice and if this continues then one day our luck will run out." The IAEA director general said avoiding a nuclear accident is possible if five principles are observed at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, where fighting on seven occasions, most recently last week, disrupted critical power supplies, the last line of defense against a nuclear accident. Grossi respectfully and solemnly asked Ukraine and Russia to observe the principles, saying IAEA experts at Zaporizhzhia will start monitoring and he will publicly report on any violations: Ban attacks from or against the plant, especially targeting reactors and spent fuel storage areas. Ban the storage of heavy weapons or presence of military personnel that could be used for an attack. Ensure the security of an uninterrupted off-site power supply to the plant. Protect all structures, systems and components essential to the plants operation from attacks or acts of sabotage. Take no action to undermine these principles. Grossi asked the 15 Security Council members to support the five principles, stressing that they are to no ones detriment and to everyones benefit. The Kremlins forces took over the plant after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy opposes any proposal that would legitimize Russias control. Neither the Russian nor Ukrainian ambassador gave a commitment to support the principles. Ukraines U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya accused Russia of continuing to actively use the nuclear plant for military purposes." He said Russia has mined its perimeter and is responsible for shelling that has inflicted serious damage on parts of the plant, undermining its safety. He claimed 500 Russian military personnel are at the plant along with heavy weapons, munitions and explosives. The threat of dangerous accident as a result of these irresponsible and criminal actions hangs over us, he said. Kyslytsya said Ukraine takes note of Grossis five principles but urges him to add several more, starting with the withdrawal of all Russian personnel from the Zaporizhzhia plant, guarantees of uninterrupted power to the plant from Ukraine, and a humanitarian corridor to ensure that Ukrainian and IAEA personnel at the plant can be rotated safely. Russias U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia denied that Russia has ever attacked the Zaporizhzhia plant, placed heavy weapons there or stationed military personnel at the plant to carry out an attack from its territory. He accused Ukraine of shelling the plant and said Russia will take the most severe measures to respond to any Ukraine attack. Nebenzia insisted that nuclear safety remains a priority for Russia and urged the IAEA to "openly condemn Ukraines actions, which have repeatedly brought the world to the brink of a nuclear catastrophe. Britains U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward said an IAEA report in February confirmed the continuing presence of Russian military troops, equipment and land mines. New imagery shows Russian forces have established sandbag fighting positions on the roofs of several of the six reactor buildings, she said. This indicates that they have integrated the actual reactor buildings of Europes largest nuclear power plant into tactical defense planning. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield urged council members to support the five principles, but accused Russia of demonstrating flagrant disregard for them. To make matters worse, recent news reports indicate that Moscow has disconnected Zaporizhzhia's vital radiation monitoring sensors, which means the plants data is now being sent to the Russian nuclear regulator," she said, This is a clear escalation of Russias efforts to undermine Ukrainian sovereignty and authority over the Zaporizhzhia plant, Thomas-Greenfield said. And this undermines our ability to have confidence in the level of nuclear safety at the plant. Grossi, asked whether he felt he had received commitments from Russia and Ukraine to the five principles, replied that the council meeting showed there is a consensus on the fact that no nuclear accident should happen. The important thing is that the minimum common denominator, which are these basic five principles, have been widely supported and there was no voice opposing them, he said. This indicates that what we are saying is something no one has a contradictory view upon. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense has again released disinformation. May 30, 2023, 10:22 Azerbaijan again falsely accuses Armenia of border shooting STEPANAKERT, MAY 30, ARTSAKHPRESS: In a statement, the Azerbaijani military falsely accused the Armenian forces of firing at Azerbaijani positions overnight May 29-30. The Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan has spread disinformation as if the units of the [Republic of Armenia] Armed Forces opened fire against the Azerbaijani combat positions located in the northeastern and eastern parts of the border zone overnight May 29 and 30, the Armenian Ministry of Defense said in a statement on social media. Rahman Adedoyin, the owner of Hilton Hotel Ile-Ife in Osun, has been sentenced to death by hanging over the murder of Timothy Adegoke, a postgraduate student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), in 2021. Oyebola Ojo, the Osun chief judge, gave the ruling on Tuesday after the hotelier was found guilty in the case. Adedoyin was sentenced to death alongside two others who were found guilty of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The judge ordered the forfeiture of the hotel and the Hilux bus used to convey the deceased to the dumping ground. Ojo also ordered Adedoyin to pay the school fees of the two children of the deceased. Adegoke was said to have traveled from Abuja to write an exam at a distance learning centre of OAU in Moro, Osun state, on November 5, 2021. He had lodged in Adedoyins hotel. The student was, however, declared missing two days later only to be found dead. The police would later arrest Adedoyin and the six suspects said to be staff members of Hilton Hotels and Resort, Ile-Ife where the deceased lodged. In March 2022, Waheed Oluogun, a consultant pathologist at Osun State University Teaching Hospital, told the court that the masters student died of a severe haemorrhage secondary to severe traumatic injury. While exhuming the body, it was found to be completely wrapped in a bloody stained duvet without exposing any part of the body, Oluogun had said. It was found in a supine position with two different ropes, one around the neck, the one around the ankles. There were maggots found around the left side of the head up to the entire left upper limb. The body was taken to the mortuary section of UNIOSUN Teaching hospital, Osogbo. The body was identified by his brother, Adegoke Olugbade. At our teaching hospital, we planned for post mortem examination to know the cause of death. On the 22nd November 2021, 7 pathologists came for the examination. A former Aviation Minister and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, has described Nigerias new President, Bola Tinubu, as courageous, committed and focused. Speaking with journalists in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital on Tuesday, Fani-Kayode said, Tinubu is resilient, focused, clear thinking and has clear objectives and understanding of what he needs to do. I had the privilege of working with him [Tinubu] together with so many other people during the course of the campaign. He is very courageous man who is committed to his course. The former minister said that Nigerians were in good hands, describing the inauguration as very historic. So it is now time for everyone whether a friend or a foe to rally around the new administration and support president Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make Nigeria great. It is a time for us to come together, to build bridges, forget past differences and try to make Nigeria a better place, he added. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Recep Tayyip Erdogan on being re-elected as Turkish president in their phone call on Monday, TASS reported, citing the Kremlin press service. May 30, 2023, 12:28 Putin, Erdogan hold phone call STEPANAKERT, MAY 30, ARTSAKHPRESS: "Vladimir Putin warmly congratulated Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his re-election as head of state, stressing his great contribution to the development of Russian-Turkish relations in a constructive and mutually beneficial way," the Kremlin said. During the conversation, the Russian and Turkish leaders also noted that "the support expressed by the Turkish people to their leader opens up additional prospects for expanding practical bilateral cooperation on various tracks." "Having thanked for the congratulations, the President of the Republic of Turkey, in turn, confirmed his commitment to further joint work on the entire current agenda. They agreed to continue personal contacts," the Kremlin added. Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has cautioned oil marketers to avoid imposing needless hardship on the citizens through creation of artificial fuel scarcity in the state and beyond. The warning is coming barely hours after reports of arbitrary increase in the pump price of fuel and artificial scarcity by marketers in the state which followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubus declaration to end fuel subsidy in the country. The Governor is seriously concerned about reports of sudden fuel scarcity in different parts of the state. This is totally uncalled for. He asks fuel marketers to immediately discharge fuel to the public under the normal pricing system since they had bought what they currently have at subsidised rates, according to a Government House statement by his spokesman, Rafiu Ajakaye, in Ilorin on Tuesday morning. Creating artificial scarcity amounts to intentional misrepresentation of the statement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on the question of fuel subsidy. The people should not be made to undergo any hardship. The Governor urges the marketers to desist from anything that qualifies as economic sabotage of the people. Hoarding fuel bought at subsidised price and creating panic in the state is opportunistic and will not be condoned. His Excellency the Deputy Governor Mr. Kayode Alabi will be leading a task force to ensure that no fuel marketer causes undue hardship to the citizens in Kwara State. Fuel stations are to note that the Task Force will dip into their pits. Any filling stations found to be hoarding fuel will have their Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) revoked, among other penalties, the statement warned. The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has said the labour movement is open and ready to dialogue with the President Bola Tinubu-led administration on the fuel subsidy issue. It, however, urged the federal government, in the interest of the country and its people, not to dictate on such a matter or engage in manipulating the outcome of such consultations. TUC made this known in a statement signed by its President, Festus Osifo, and Secretary General, Mr Nuhu Toro, on Tuesday in Lagos, urging the government to tarry a while on the issue. The union was reacting to Tinubus Monday inaugural speech, where he mentioned that the fuel subsidy was no longer justifiable and was gone. In the statement, TUC said: We dare say that this is a very delicate issue that touches on the lives, if not the very survival of, particularly the working people, and hence ought to have been treated with utmost caution. Also, it should have been preceded by robust dialogue and consultation with representatives of the working people, including professionals, market people, students and the poor masses. Accordingly, we hereby demand that President Tinubu should tarry a while to give room for robust dialogue, consultation and stakeholders engagement, just as he opined in his speech, until all issues and questions and there is a host of them are amicably considered and resolved. Nigerian workers and indeed masses must not be made to suffer the inefficiency of successive governments. Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has taken a swipe at oil marketers in the state for swiftly increasing the price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise known as petrol, following a mere pronouncement that had not taken effect. Gov Diri on Tuesday, who directed oil marketers in the state against hoarding and price hike, warned that his administration will take stern measures against any filling station that flouted the directive. He described as wicked for oil marketers in the state to swiftly seek to profiteer at the detriment of the people. It was gathered from residents that filling stations in Yenagoa, the state capital had immediately shut down after the pronouncement and later at night started dispensing at N400 per litre. Diri said, The government had received reports that filling stations in the state capital had hiked the pump price of petrol above the usual price of between N193 and N250 per litre and now being sold at N500 per litre and above. Marketers in the state are said to have reacted to the pronouncement of President Bola Tinubu during his inauguration on Monday that the Federal Government subsidy on petrol was gone. The Presidency, however, issued a clarification statement on Tuesday that the removal of the subsidy had yet to take effect. He noted that the pump price of petrol is a significant determinant of the cost of goods and services in the country and that his administration would not allow the people of Bayelsa to suffer undue hardship from the profiteering activities of greedy businessmen. Diri said he had directed the Ministry of Mineral Resources and the petroleum task force in the state to shut down any filling station hoarding the product or caught selling above the usual price. He said: I have directed the relevant ministry and the states task force on petroleum to ensure that all filling stations sell petrol within the usual price range. I have equally directed that any filling station that flouts this directive or fails to revert to the usual price be shut down. We will take further stern measures against any station that defaults. This directive takes immediate effect. Former Big Brother Naija reality star, Tope Adenibuyan, popularly known as Teddy A, has revealed that he and his colleague, Bamike Olawunmi, aka Bam Bam, were fighting for about two weeks before he proposed marriage to her. He said he almost broke up with Bam Bam before he later changed his mind and proposed to her after advice from his personal assistant and brother. Teddy A disclosed this on the latest episode of the The Honest Bunch audiovisual podcast co-hosted by actor, Nedu. He said, We [Bam Bam and I] were fighting for about two weeks. Yeah, we were almost done. We were actually pretty much done. I come talk to my PA say come o, I no fit end this thing like this na. Make we get closure. So, that night, I come reason say, o boy you don dey with this girl from Big Brother till now. All these things happening, you want to just suddenly go away? O boy, you dey craze o. I come call my brother for Yankee, say, how far? This na wettin I want do, wettin you think? He come say, how do you feel? I said, bro, I feel like Im about to throw up because I cant explain the emotions. He come say, bro do this thing na. Omo, if you no do am, you go regret o. I said, okay. He said he later went to Bam Bams house and planned a surprise proposal for her with the assistance of her manager and PA after pranking her that the Lagos State Governor wanted to see her. Teddy A and Bam Bam got married in November 16, 2019, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The couple welcomed their first child in 2020, and in 2022 they announced the birth of their second child. King Charles III of the United Kingdom has congratulated Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima on their inauguration as the president and vice-president. In a statement on Monday, King Charles said he looked forward to building a deeper relationship between the UK and Nigeria. Dear Mr. President, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to you on your inauguration as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to send you every possible good wish as you assume the many responsibilities of your office, the statement reads. As Commonwealth partners with a deep bond, I look forward to building an even stronger friendship between our countries during your Presidency. A UK delegation headed by Helen Grant, the prime ministers trade envoy to Nigeria and special envoy on girls education, and Richard Montgomery, British high commissioner to Nigeria, represented the monarch at the inauguration. My priority is to strengthen our bilateral trade and investment partnership, to the mutual benefit of our two great nations, and I look forward to working alongside the new administration to further that goal, Grant said. In this, the land of my father, I hold a great affection for its people, and my work in ensuring every girl gets 12 years of quality education will also remain at the top of my Nigerian agenda. Montgomery added that the UK would work with the new administration to support a more prosperous and resilient Nigeria, and strengthen partnership on trade, development, and security. A chieftain of Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-cultural organization has said the President-elect, Bola Tinubu can release Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, during his inauguration. Isiguzoro made the remark while backing Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State for urging Tinubu to release Kanu. Soludo had said he would appeal to Tinubu to release the IPOB leader if President Muhammadu Buhari failed to release him. The Ohanaeze Secretary-General, said releasing Kanu was part of its demands from Tinubu. He urged Tinubu to ensure that Igbos are accommodated in his incoming administration. Speaking, Isiguzoro said: Its only Tinubu that will release Nnamdi Kanu because he was once an activist during the NADECO days. So, he understands the plight of political activism, so Soludos appeal is the expectation of Ndigbo. On assuming power on May 29, Tinubu can release Nnamdi Kanu from the Eagles Square, and we are going as an Igbo delegation to the inauguration. Our two cardinal points and demands are clear, millions of Igbos will storm Abuja on May 29 to ensure that Igbos are accommodated in playing a leading role in Tinubus administration. He has what it takes to bring the best brains in ensuring that his administration succeeds. The second request is that the millions of Igbos who will be in Abuja for the inauguration and supporting the president will be looking forward to jubilating when we hear him say in his inaugural speech that he has granted presidential pardon to the leader of IPOB. The release of Nnamdi Kanu from the Eagles Square will turn the sympathy they have for other presidential candidates towards Kanu. The release of Kanu from the Eagles Square will be a Sunami that would sweep across the length and breadth of Nigeria and make his government of the administration of the masses. The Osun State Government has on Tuesday threatened to seal off filling stations in the state hoarding petrol. This was contained in a statement signed by the states governor spokesman, Olawale Rasheed. It was reported the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu during his inaugural speech at Eagle Square on Monday, immediately after he was sworn in. Any fuel station found guilty of hoarding fuel to create artificial scarcity shall be sealed off and operators prosecuted for the crime of economic sabotage, Adeleke said. It added that the removal of fuel subsidy by Tinubu has caused unnecessary hardship for the people of the state. This deliberate action is not only inhumane but unpatriotic and will not be allowed by the government. To this end, the Special Monitoring Team on fuel scarcity set up by His Excellency, Governor Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke headed by the Chief of Staff, Hon Kazeem Akinleye is still effective and shall not condone any form of economic sabotage. As from today, May 30, 2023, the Committee shall begin special monitoring of all the filling stations across the state in collaboration with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders, it added. However, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has supported the decision of Tinubu on the removal of fuel subsidy. The head of the company, Mele Kyari explained that the company had been spending a significant portion of its profits on the product subsidy. However, he assured Nigerians that there was no need for panic buying as the company had enough product to supply the country for the next 30 days. Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, has directed the immediate freezing of all accounts of the state government and those of its agencies domiciled in every bank and financial institution across the state and around the federation. He has also dissolved all boards of Abia State government agencies and parastatals and ordered the heads of all the dissolved agencies and parastatals to subsequently hand over to those next in line to them. The governor gave the orders in a statement he issued through his media office on Monday, which was signed by Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity. The directive read in part, With this notice, all banks and other financial institutions in the country are directed to immediately seize from honouring any cheque, document, instrument or directive of any kind not expressly approved by or emanating from him. Similarly, Governor Otti has directed the immediate dissolution of all boards of the Abia State Government agencies and parastatals and subsequently ordered the chief executives of these organisations to hand over to those next in line to them. The reporter gathered that the news of the sack of the former chief executives of the dissolved boards sparked celebration among staff of such agencies, especially those who were owed some months of salary arrears. Less than 24 hours after he handed over the reins of power to Bola Tinubu, former president Muhammadu Buhari was hosted to a special durbar by a large crowd in Daura, his hometown. There was plenty pomp, pageantry and celebratory gymnastics on display. A durbar is a festival that normally holds during Eid el Kabir and Eid el Fitri celebrations. It begins with prayers, followed by a parade of the emir and his entourage on horses. Bashir Ahmed, Buharis former special assistant on digital media, described the event held on Tuesday as a special Durbar celebration hosted by the Emir of Daura in honour of the former president. In pictures and videos shared on his Twitter page, sonorous traditional sounds permeate the air. Men on horseback stir dust into the clouds, with energetic dance moves to go with it all. How to welcome your son after eight years serving the country as its commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Ahmed wrote. Orji Uzor Kalu, chief whip of the senate, says he will not step down for anybody in the race for office of the senate president. Speaking with reporters on Tuesday in Abuja, Kalu, a former governor of Abia, said he is in talks about his bid with Abdulaziz Yari, a senate president hopeful and former governor of Zamfara. The chief whip said the outcome of their meetings will be unveiled soon. I wont step down for anybody. We are talking with governor Yari. Our group and his group are talking, intimate talk and partnership. We will make sure that no one zone can produce the senate presidency, he said. Like I used to tell people, no one zone can produce the president of Nigeria. What we are trying to do with Senator Yari is a united partnership that will work for Nigeria. In the coming days or weeks, that partnership will be unveiled, so we are in serious talks. I cannot deny it Yari is a friend of mine and Im his friend and we have decided to talk. We have been speaking for the past four weeks and the result will be unveiled by our sponsors, he has his sponsors and I have my sponsors. So the sponsors will come together to decide what direction this partnership will be. Ill be very happy to reveal what the sponsors will say. Kalu said he and Yari are seeking to protect the integrity of the senate and support the new administration of President Bola Tinubu. The position of Kalu and Yari is contrary to the stance of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The ruling party had nominated Godswill Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs, for senate president. Azerbaijani forces violated the ceasefire on May 30, firing small arms and mortars in two different areas, the Artsakh Ministry of Defense said in a statement. May 30, 2023, 14:11 Azerbaijani forces violated the ceasefire, firing small arms and mortars. Artsakh Ministry of Defense STEPANAKERT, MAY 30, ARTSAKHPRESS: The shooting took place in the northern and eastern directions of the line of contact. As of 11:40, the Azeri forces fired seven 60mm mortar shells at one of the positions of the Defense Army of Artsakh. The Artsakh military didnt suffer any losses. The Russian peacekeepers were briefed on the shooting. As of 1pm Tuesday, the situation on the line of contact is relatively stable. Barely 24 hours after his inauguration, President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday afternoon, arrived at his office at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. The President hosted at least 40 Heads of State at the Banquet Hall on Monday afternoon and he did not resume at his office until Tuesday (today). Tinubus motorcade pulled up at the forecourt of the Villa at 02:38 pm Tuesday where he was received by Vice President Kashim Shettima; Speaker of the House of Representative, Femi Gbajabiamila; Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele; Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari; and the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Tijjani Umar. Others are the former Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Wale Edun; Mr Dele Alake and Hon. James Faleke. Minutes before his entrance, the new Commander-in-Chief inspected the Quarter Guard at the presidential gate. After Tinubus first meeting today, the presidency is expected to announce key principal officers of the new administration including his Chief of Staff, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, National Security Adviser and Spokesperson. Ukraine has imposed 50 years of sanctions on Iran for aiding Russias invasion with military equipment. Ukraines parliament announced this in a Telegram post on Tuesday. The sanction includes a ban on exports of military and dual-use goods to Iran and the suspension of economic and financial obligations in favour of residents of Iran. Also, the sanctions bar Iranian aircraft from flying through Ukraines airspace and ban Iranian goods from transiting through Ukraine. Russia has ramped up attacks on Ukraines capital Kyiv this month with Iran-manufactured Shahid drones, destroying infrastructure and civilian deaths. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had on Wednesday asked the Iranian people not to be accomplices in Russian terror. He stated that his forces had shot down about 900 of more than 1,160 drones used against Ukraine, figures that have likely risen during Russias barrage of aerial attacks in the days since. Iran has supplied Russia with military hardware, including the Shahed loitering munition that Russia has launched at Ukraine by the hundreds. The US and the EU have imposed sanctions against Iran for supplying Russia with these drones. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, former governor of Kano, has revealed why he didnt attend the inauguration ceremony of Abba Kabir Yusuf, his successor. On Monday, Yusuf was sworn in as the 19th governor of Kano at the Sani Abacha stadium. Speaking during an interview published by BBC Hausa on Tuesday, Ganduje who travelled to Abuja for the inauguration of Bola Tinubu as president, said he didnt attend the ceremony back home because he and his successor were members of different political parties. He said he wanted to prevent their supporters from clashing during the event. The inauguration ceremony is made up of two things. First is the handing over of documents of how the state was governed including completed projects and those that are yet to be completed. Second is the swearing in like you saw, Ganduje said. Therefore if the political parties of the outgoing and incoming governors are different, its not necessary for the outgoing governor to attend the inauguration ceremony because sometimes if this is done, chaos erupts as a result of clash between supporters, he added. The former Kano governor said he is not looking for any appointment in President Tinubus cabinet. I am not looking for any appointment. But, if I am offered any, I would take it, he said. I wish him (Tinubu) well and will continue to pray to Allah to help him because people voted for him because of the belief that he will emulate the things he did in Lagos state while he was governor and because he is a true democrat. His victory is also our victory because we supported him. The New Jersey Legislature last week passed a scaled-down version of a bill that takes aim at so-called boom parties, those late-night gatherings in out-of-the-way places where people blast music from cars fitted with stacks of speakers mounted in the trunk. The Assembly voted 73 to 0 in favor of the measure (A4686) that would set fines for vehicles that violate the states Noise Control Act. The bill, previously approved by the state Senate, would set fines ranging from $250 for a first offense to $1,000 for a third, and now goes to Gov. Phil Murphy for his approval or veto. A man armed with a gun held up a Walgreens store in South Jersey and made off with $5,100 in cash Monday night, according to police. The man entered the store on East Broad Street in Bridgeton shortly before the location was set to close at 10 p.m. and asked to use the restroom, Bridgeton Police said. Authorities said he pulled a gun a short time later and demanded money from a cashier. The robber told employees in the Cumberland County store to open the safe while he held them at gunpoint, police said. No injuries were reported. Police released a security camera image of the alleged robber, who was described as about 6 feet tall, with a stocky build, wearing a tan Nike zip-up hoodie with black lining and black zippers, gray sweatpants and white sneakers. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Bridgeton Police at 856-451-0033 or share anonymous tips online at bpd.tips. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. When New Jersey students get home from school each day, they are speaking languages that criss-cross the globe from the African language Afar, to the Indian language Marathi and the Nigerian language Yoruba. New Jerseys K-12 students speak more than 190 different languages at home, in a sign of the states growing diversity, according to the latest state Department of Education data. Some of the languages are ones you might frequently overhear at the grocery store, including Spanish, Arabic or Korean. But other languages spoken by New Jersey students are rare globally, like Afar, an African language spoken by less than 3 million people worldwide, or Cree, a language indigenous to Canada thats considered vulnerable for extinction by UNESCO, an agency within the United Nations. Firefighters have gained the upper hand on a now 150 acre fire that has been burning in a wildlife management area in Gloucester County since Monday night, officials said. Though the fire at White Oaks Wildlife Management Area in Franklin and Monroe townships grew from 100 acres at 11 p.m. Monday, it is 60% contained as of 11 a.m, the state Forest Fire Service said. The blaze was 0% contained late Monday night. No structures are in danger, no roads are closed and no one has been asked to evacuate, the forest fire service said. Today crews will continue to monitor and improve containment lines in addition to extinguishing any hotspots near the fire perimeter, fire officials said late Monday morning. White Oaks Wildlife Management Area is about 2,909 acres in between the White Horse Pike and Black Horse Pike. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. A Jersey City fire in a vacant multi-unit building that spread to an adjacent apartment building was quickly doused Tuesday afternoon, a city spokeswoman said. Jersey City firefighters responded to Montgomery Street after 2 p.m., and by 3 p.m. it went to four alarms. The fire appears to have started in the back of 234 Montgomery St., which is vacant and under construction, Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said Tuesday afternoon. The fire then extended to 236 Montgomery. The fire was knocked down around 4:15 p.m. The Jersey City Fire Department is working with Red Cross to relocate four adults and one child from 236 Montgomery. Four firefighters suffered injuries that are not considered life-threatening due to the collapsed stairs and were taken to a local hospital. There were no injuries to civilians, she said. Wallace-Scalcione urged drivers to avoid Montgomery, particularly between Jersey Avenue and Grove Street as firefighters and responders continue work at the scene. UPDATE: No weed taken in N.J. dispensary burglary, cops say as they look for clues Police are investigating the theft of a large amount of cash and cannabis products from a New Jersey dispensary on Memorial Day. By Carlos Hernandez I had the honor of serving as the president of New Jersey City University for 19 years. I retired in 2012 and was humbled to receive the title of President Emeritus in 2013. Prior to serving as the president, I had the privilege to serve as provost, vice president for Academic Affairs, and assistant to the president under my predecessor, William J. Maxwell. Before joining the administration, I served as a tenured member of the Psychology Department. In total, I retired after 39 of service at what was, when I arrived in 1973, Jersey City State College and later New Jersey City University. Those years, and subsequent 10 years of work as an executive presidential search consultant, have given me the opportunity to experience how public higher education has evolved and responded to the educational, economic, social, political and cultural forces that shape the course of our nation. Indeed, public higher education has often taken a leadership role in determining the evolution of these very forces. New Jersey City University along with its sister institutions of the state college and university system have helped shape the personality, culture and economic fortunes of New Jersey. Distinctive missions at each of these institutions have produced a variety of approaches to meet the local, state, regional, and national educational needs and goals. Consciously deciding to remain in Jersey City and Hudson County, the urban mission of NJCU has been a source of pride, program development, academic offerings, and community engagement. Desiring and deserving an opportunity to attain a college degree, generations of students from economically and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds have attended NJCU, have graduated, and have contributed to the health, vitality, and rich culture of the state. This has been a mission and challenge the university has proudly embraced; a mission that is as important today as it was when the institution was founded in 1927. My undying support and belief in this mission prompt me to write this letter. I am not familiar with the details of what led to the turmoil and crisis that currently beset NJCU. It pains me professionally and personally to learn that such a crisis could have developed without action being taken much earlier. I trust that current investigations will identify where planning and decision making were faulty and where corrective action should have been taken to avert the existential threat the university now faces. I know there are those who believe the solution to this, as well as other problems that exist at other institutions, is to return to a centralized system of higher education led by a chancellor and board of higher education. I have worked long enough in New Jersey under both the former centralized approach to governance as well as under the decentralized system established in 1994 by Gov. Whitman to state without the slightest hesitation that the former stifled innovation, growth, and excellence while the later allowed the public institutions to mature, flourish, and greatly expand their contributions to the states economy and well-being. I ask that NJCUs mission not be further jeopardized due to poor leadership by the former administration, and regrettably by the apparently inattentive stewardship by its Board of Trustees. Certainly, the university must act with all haste to introduce measures to refocus its energies, talents, and resources to the core mission and values which have sustained it for almost 100 years. Only then can the trust in its leadership and future direction be restored. I firmly believe that the resources requested by the university should be responded to in the affirmative. I hope for an enlightened decision and commitment by the governor and Legislature to this request to restore this vitally important mission. I am certain that whatever immediate oversight measures are put in place by the state, along with the universitys focus on its core mission, will help correct a course that has led to this crisis. New Jersey City University must be given this opportunity to continue to advance and realize the educational goals and needs of so many deserving New Jerseyans. Carlos Hernandez holds the title President Emeritus of New Jersey City University. He served as president from 1993 to 2012. Send letters to the editor and guest columns for The Jersey Journal to jjletters@jjournal.com. President of the United States Joe Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a telephone conversation discussing bilateral relations as well as the cooperation within the framework of NATO to enhance the transatlantic security, the White House said in a statement, Tass informs. May 30, 2023, 15:28 US, Turkish presidents discuss bilateral ties, NATO cooperation White House STEPANAKERT, MAY 30, ARTSAKHPRESS: "President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. called President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today to congratulate him on his re-election as President of Turkey," the statement reads. "They expressed their shared commitment to continue working together as close partners to deepen cooperation between our countries and people." "They also discussed their readiness as NATO Allies to address regional and global challenges, including strengthening transatlantic security at the NATO Summit in Vilnius," according to the White House. The 2023 NATO Summit is scheduled to be hosted by the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius on July 11-12. Biden told journalists on Monday that he earlier discussed with Erdogan Swedens possible accession to NATO adding that he intended to continue consultations with the Turkish president next week. Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO on May 18, 2022, but Turkey immediately blocked their bids to get into the US-led bloc, demanding that the Nordic countries declare Kurdish organizations as terror groups and extradite individuals accused of terrorism or complicity in the 2016 failed coup attempt in the country. In order to settle these issues, Turkey, Finland and Sweden signed a memorandum before a NATO summit in 2022, stipulating specific steps that these two Nordic countries should take as viewed by Turkey. The Turkish parliament approved a bill on ratifying a protocol on Finlands NATO membership on March 30. Helsinki was officially admitted into the North Atlantic alliance as its 31st member on April 4. I always knew I was different. I mean, it was obvious. Growing up first-generation Filipino American in a mostly white Central Jersey town, I was one of only a handful of Asians in my school district. None of my friends spoke Tagalog. And none of them seemed embarrassed to bring their lunch to school, for fear of their packed pinakbet (mixed vegetable dish sauteed in fish sauce) drawing a crowd with its smell. Though any cultural weight I felt became heavier in adulthood. My parents still bring up my career choice journalism?! and how I didnt become a nurse or engineer, as so many good Filipino kids do. Any arguments that the pen is just as mighty as the scalpel went unheard. These stereotypes are well-documented in pop culture. Overbearing Asian parents, language barriers and strange foods, blah, blah. But as May is AANHPI (Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander) month, Ive been reflecting more candidly on the challenges of straddling the realms of America and Southeast Asia. And Ive realized theres a nuance to being Filipino American that Im not sure many people understand. Its the journey to peace, to breaking free of cultural and generational patterns to earn my place in this country regardless of family members constant jabs. Its how Ive learned to be okay with loved ones not being okay with my decisions, specifically because its not what Filipinos do. First, a word so many Americans take for granted: Independence. In my culture, women are not meant to be independent. After were done depending on our families, were passed on to our future husbands. Every decision is influenced by an elder, or a man. Naturally, my parents were extremely strict with my sister and me. Sleepovers, parties, hanging out with friends all were rarities, causing many friendships to shrivel. I instead had a duty or responsibility to the household. Cleaning, cooking, taking care of my parents; it seems Filipinos give birth to children solely to assure they have caretakers when theyre older. I realize other cultures function similarly, but I can speak first-hand to the constriction of always being told walang ya ka, or you have no shame, whenever I tried to speak my piece. I lived like this until after I graduated college with my second degree in 2021, and got a job with a dream company. One big problem: The job required me to move to Alabama, 1,000 miles away. My parents didnt care if it was an opportunity of a lifetime they forbid it, my technical status as an adult never factoring in. Its not part of our culture, my mother said, of me trying to fly the coop. Babae ka lang, or youre just a girl, is what my dad said whenever I tried doing something on my own. To be clear, I love my parents very much, and respect the challenges theyve faced. Both grew up extremely poor in the Philippines. As children, they worried about their next meal. Their families could barely scrape up enough money for shoes, clothes or textbooks. My parents worked hard so they could leave the Philippines, find a better life and work to send money to their families back home. They both went to college and did everything they could to start a new life in America, even though neither spoke a whisper of English. Once they met and had my sister and me, they sacrificed to provide for us we had a roof over our heads, food on the table and a great education. My sister Lindsey and I. (Lauren Musni | NJ Advance Media) I am eternally grateful for all of this. Still, I didnt want to live with them forever. In that moment in 2021, I knew that if I didnt break the cycle Id be with them for the rest of their (or my) lives. I remember my mom telling me, Either you listen to us and follow our rules, or you can leave. Thats precisely what I did. I packed a backpack and walked out the door, my parents yelling at me as I left. I stayed at a few friends houses and my boyfriends apartment in the months leading up to the new job. My departure brought great shame to my family, so I was regularly reminded. Relatives messaged me to return home, that I was making a huge mistake, that I was selfish and didnt care about my parents. My dad barely spoke to me for months and I spoke to my mom here and there, but never resolved the situation. Do you know what it feels like to be shunned? It stings. Its isolating. I felt like my family would never forgive me. All at once, I was figuring out how to live away from family and how to be an adult without any guidance or support from the people I always turned to. But I didnt give in. I made my bed and Id lie in it. While it pained me to know my loved ones felt I was ungrateful, I knew I couldnt live the life I wanted until I left. Once I began my new job in Alabama, I told myself that this was all part of the process. I talked about everything with my boyfriend (who came with me to Alabama), who had his own struggles growing up half-Filipino. He kept reminding me that it may hurt now, but in a few years, well all look back on this moment and laugh. While Im not exactly chuckling now, Ive made peace with the fact that, in my parents eyes, Ill always be wrong because Im their child. The parents are always right no matter what. And thats okay, I cant control how they think. But I can control my life, and how I live it. If it means a lifetime of varying levels of disapproval, so be it. Thankfully, my family and I are in a better place now. I moved back to New Jersey just a few months later because of complications with COVID a sure relief for all parties and took this position at NJ Advance Media last year. Another dream job (my editor may or may not have added this). Though it took time for the tension to wear off. More challenging conversations were had; my mother basically gave me an intervention last year, finally talking about what happened and how wrong she still thinks it was. But this time, I spoke up. I think theyve finally accepted me and my decisions even though they dont understand them. Ill take it. Im proud to be Filipino. The culture taught me to look at the jar half full instead of half empty, to work hard, to be resilient and my God, the food. But as AANHPI month lifts many Asian cultures onto a pedestal and (rightfully) celebrates them for their contributions to this country, many families are still figuring out how to reconcile their past traditions with the desires of their U.S.-raised children. Its a push-and-pull Ive fought my entire life. Still, I wouldnt trade it. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Lauren Musni may be reached at lmusni@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Laurengmusni. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christies second run for president will likely be announced within two weeks, putting him on a collision course with his former friend, former President Donald Trump, the early favorite to win the Republican party nomination, NJ Advance Media has confirmed. Ahead of an official announcement, Christie allies have formed a super PAC, Tell It Like It Is, which was first reported in the New York Times. Rashid Ali Bynum, 28, of Portsmouth, Virginia, was arrested Tuesday, May 30, 2023, and charged with murder in the killing of Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour outside her townhouse on Feb. 1. A Phillipsburg man is in county jail for allegedly sexually assaulting a person at gunpoint, Warren County Prosecutor James Pfeiffer said. Police said the silver revolver they believe the man used during the attack was actually reported stolen out of Pennsylvania some time before. Qasim Woods, 41, is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and tampering with evidence, as well as aggravated sexual assault, possession of a weapon, making terroristic threats and receiving stolen property. 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. In the most literal sense, youll have to look hard to spot New Orleans in the locally shot adaptation of the Stephen King horror yarn The Boogeyman. Sharp-eyed viewers might catch a shot or two of McDonogh 35 High School in the citys St. Bernard area and thats about it, as recognizable locations go. Figuratively, though, the city is very much a part of director Rob Savages horror film. We wanted this to feel like Anytown, USA like every Stephen King movie, Savage said. You want it to feel like it could be anywhere, like it could be your hometown. But when I first got to New Orleans, the aesthetic qualities were so powerful, I was really pushing to get more and more of that in the movie. There were the moss-draped trees, for example. The alluring architecture. The supernatural sense of a place suspended in time. This article explores the 20 easiest countries to immigrate to from the US. You can skip our detailed analysis and proceed directly to the 5 Easiest Countries To Immigrate To From US. The number of Americans living abroad has been steadily increasing, with millions of American citizens choosing to reside and work in various countries worldwide. These expatriates form a significant demographic comparable to some of the most populous states in the United States. American Expatriates: Insights and Estimates According to the State Department, around 8.7 million Americans (excluding military personnel) live in over 160 countries worldwide. If these individuals were to be grouped in a single state, their combined population would be comparable to the 12th most populous state in the United States, between New Jersey and Virginia. During "Overseas Americans Week" in March 2016, envoys from the Association of Americans Resident Overseas (AARO) received updated estimates from the State Department. These figures indicated that approximately 8.7 million Americans have chosen to reside and work in various countries. This number is equivalent to the combined populations of major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Tucson. It underscores the significance of considering the impact of legislative decisions on this substantial demographic. While these numbers are approximations, they provide valuable insights into the global dispersion of American citizens. It is important to mention that detailed breakdowns by country or region are currently not available, unlike previous estimations from the early 2000s and 2011. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) of the United States issued a report in 2018 that presented estimations regarding the population of US citizens residing outside the country. The report specifically categorized these individuals based on geographic regions as of April 21, 2015. As per the report, the estimated number of American residents in each region was as follows: Africa (231,854), East Asia and Pacific (1,135,114), Europe and Eurasia (2,027,914), Near East (1,019,457), South Central Asia (618,772), and Western Hemisphere (3,706,577). Combining these figures gives an approximate total of 8.7 million American citizens living abroad. According to data from Immigrant Invest, in the second quarter of 2022, 580 American individuals relocated to foreign countries and voluntarily renounced their citizenship. This number represents a threefold increase compared to the figures recorded in 2021. Over the past five years, 1,473 American citizens with a net worth of $2 million have chosen to depart from the United States. Factors Facilitating US Citizens' Immigration Several factors motivate US citizens to seek immigration opportunities in foreign countries. Economic factors such as job prospects, higher salaries, and favorable business conditions can be strong driving forces. Political considerations may also play a role, including dissatisfaction with domestic policies or seeking a different political climate. Social and personal factors, like desire for new cultural experiences, better quality of life, retirement community preferences, or reuniting with family members in other countries can contribute to the decision to immigrate. Here are some key factors that can lead to easiest immigration from the USA: Favorable immigration policies Accessible visa application procedures Efficient processing times Lenient eligibility criteria Job opportunities in the destination country Skilled worker programs Bilateral agreements Language and cultural similarities Family or marriage connections Retirement and investor programs Educational and study opportunities Geographic proximity Political stability and safety When it comes to the business or investment aspect of US citizens' immigration, multinational companies like Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY), FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE:FCN), and Ernst & Young Global Limited (EY) can provide valuable services and guidance. Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) specializes in talent management and executive recruitment, assisting individuals in finding suitable positions and establishing businesses in their new country of residence. Meanwhile, FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE:FCN) and Ernst & Young Global Limited (EY) are renowned professional services firms offering a wide range of expertise, including business consultancy, audit, and advisory services. Investors planning to immigrate from the US can leverage the comprehensive business consulting services provided by Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY), FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE:FCN), and Ernst & Young Global Limited (EY), which can navigate complex international tax and regulatory landscapes, optimize business operations, and ensure compliance with local laws. 20 Easiest Countries To Immigrate To From US create jobs 51/Shutterstock.com Methodology To gather information for this article, we adopted a consensus-driven method that involved conducting thorough research from various sources (Insider, Wander Onwards, Boundless, Visa Guide, and Nomad Capitalist) to determine the easiest countries to move to from the US. To ascertain the top countries, we devised a structured scoring system. Each country identified through our research sources was awarded a single point if it was mentioned once in the consensus two, if it was mentioned twice and so on. By employing this approach, we generated a definitive compilation of the 20 easiest foreign countries to move to that we present below. 20. Panama Insider Monkey Score: 1 People hailing from any of the 50 nations recognized as "friendly" to Panama can relocate to this country with their immediate family and obtain a permanent residency visa. By investing a minimum of $80,000 in a reforestation project officially endorsed by the government, individuals can secure a temporary resident visa that remains valid for 5 years. 19. Barbados Insider Monkey Score: 1 Barbados presents the Special Entry and Residence Permit (SERP), an opportunity for foreign investors seeking to relocate to the captivating Caribbean island. Through the SERP, high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) can obtain permanent residence by making a minimum investment of $2,000,000 in Barbados-based properties or other investments. The duration of the permit varies based on age and special skills: individuals aged 60 and above can acquire an indefinite SERP. 18. Georgia Insider Monkey Score: 1 According to Passports.IO, obtaining Georgian citizenship through investment in real estate involves meeting specific criteria. This includes purchasing non-agricultural property in Georgia valued at a minimum of USD 100,000. To proceed, you must provide supporting documentation to verify your investment, whether in real estate or a newly-formed Georgian company. Additionally, obtaining a clean criminal record report from your local police agency is a mandatory requirement. Fulfilling these prerequisites will set you on the path towards acquiring Georgian citizenship through your investment in real estate or a new Georgian company. Georgian immigration law is lax for citizens of certain countries, including the US. 17. Thailand Insider Monkey Score: 2 For individuals planning to relocate to Thailand for a duration exceeding three months, there are several legitimate avenues to explore. These include moving to Thailand for employment purposes, pursuing educational opportunities, entering into marriage with a Thai citizen, or seeking retirement in the country through its retirement visa program. Individuals above the age of 50 who wish to retire in Thailand have the option to apply for a Thailand Retirement Visa. This visa is specifically designed to cater to the needs of retirees, offering them the opportunity to enjoy their golden years in the captivating country of Thailand. 16. Indonesia Insider Monkey Score: 2 To relocate to Indonesia, acquiring a KITAS (Kartu Izin Tinggal Terbatas) is a prerequisite. The KITAS acts as a residence permit card that grants a one-year stay in Indonesia, with the option of extension prior to its expiry. Depending on the purpose of your intended stay, various types of KITAS are available for selection. The most common KITAS options for immigration include the Work Visa KITAS, Family Visa KITAS, Retirement Visa KITAS, and Student Visa KITAS. By carefully choosing the appropriate KITAS category that aligns with your specific needs, you can smoothly proceed with your plans to relocate to Indonesia. 15. Montenegro Insider Monkey Score: 2 Montenegro's Golden Visa program provides an attractive opportunity for investors looking to obtain residency in this beautiful country. As per Visa Guide, the program offers flexibility with investment options ranging from 250,000 for real estate to 450,000 for business or real estate developments. Montenegro is an appealing destination not only for High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) but also for retirees seeking a high-quality lifestyle. With its stunning landscapes, pleasant climate, and emerging economy, Montenegro offers a desirable environment for those looking to relocate and enjoy the benefits of its Golden Visa program. 14. Malta Insider Monkey Score: 2 As noted by Premier Consultancy Group, the Malta Golden Visa program offers an enticing opportunity for investors seeking permanent residency in Malta. With an investment threshold of $140,000, participants can apply for the Malta Permanent Residency Programme (MPRP) and obtain a Maltese permanent residence permit. To qualify for the MPRP, investors must either make an investment of 100,000 or purchase property valued at a minimum of 300,000 in Gozo/South of Malta or 350,000 in the rest of Malta. This program provides a pathway for individuals to gain long-term residency in Malta, renowned for its favorable business environment and attractive lifestyle options. 13. Saint Lucia Insider Monkey Score: 2 Saint Lucia offers a promising and hassle-free avenue for individuals seeking a smooth transition out of the US. The application process for Saint Lucia's citizenship by investment is typically completed within two to three months, involving a non-refundable contribution of $100,000 to the Saint Lucia National Economic Fund. As an alternative route, prospective applicants can obtain St. Lucian citizenship by making a minimum investment of $200,000 in pre-approved real estate or by investing in enterprise projects. 12. Grenada Insider Monkey Score: 2 Grenada provides US citizens with a convenient route for immigration, distinguished by its unique advantages. As highlighted by Henley & Partners, Grenada stands as the sole Caribbean nation with a citizenship by investment program that holds an E-2 Investor Visa Treaty with the USA, allowing individuals to qualify for a non-immigrant visa application, subject to meeting the requirement of continuous residency in Grenada for a period of three years. 11. Dominica Insider Monkey Score: 2 Dominica has a very lenient immigration pathway for those seeking a new home. The process entails a minimum investment or donation of $100,000, with a processing time of around three months. One notable advantage is the option to include family members, such as spouses, unmarried dependent children under 31, and elderly parents and grandparents aged 65 and above. Citizenship by descent is also available for future generations. Obtaining citizenship grants the right to live, work, and study in Dominica. Single applicants have two choices: a non-refundable contribution to the Economic Development Fund of $100,000 or an investment in approved real estate valued at a minimum of $200,000. It is one of the easiest Caribbean countries to immigrate to from the United States. 10. St. Kitts and Nevis Insider Monkey Score: 2 St. Kitts and Nevis offers a compelling immigration opportunity for US citizens in search of a favorable destination. By participating in the citizenship by investment program, individuals can secure citizenship and embrace the advantages of residing in these captivating Caribbean islands. The process typically entails making a qualifying investment in either real estate or the Sustainable Growth Fund. For the real estate option, the minimum investment required is $200,000, and for the donation option, the minimum contribution is $150,000. 9. Antigua and Barbuda Insider Monkey Score: 2 Antigua and Barbuda's Citizenship by Investment program offers seamless immigration options for those seeking to relocate. Through the National Development Fund (NDF) pathway, individuals or smaller families can obtain citizenship with a $100,000 contribution and $30,000 in processing fees. Larger families can contribute $125,000, with an additional $15,000 processing fee per dependent. Alternatively, the real estate route requires a minimum investment of $400,000. 8. Greece Insider Monkey Score: 2 The Greece Golden Visa program presents an easy pathway for individuals seeking permanent residency in a European country. By making a minimum investment of almost $267,791 (250,000) in the private real estate sector in Greece, applicants can avail themselves of one of the most favorable terms within the European Union. Within a mere two months, successful applicants will be granted a permanent residence permit, opening doors to numerous benefits and opportunities. Greece's Golden Visa program provides a seamless and efficient route to secure permanent residency in Europe through strategic investment in the thriving Greek real estate market. 7. Australia Insider Monkey Score: 2 US citizens who meet the eligibility criteria for various visa subclasses have a straightforward path to migrate to Australia. Australia offers a range of visas to eligible individuals, including employer-sponsored, general skilled migration, distinguished talent, student and graduate, business, and family visas. Each visa subclass has its own specific requirements and application process. The diverse visa options cater to different circumstances, allowing US citizens to explore opportunities and make a smooth transition to their new life in Australia. These factors make Australia one of the easiest countries to move to for US citizens. 6. New Zealand Insider Monkey Score: 2 For Americans interested in relocating to New Zealand or seeking temporary employment opportunities, there are various visa options to consider. Those aged 18-30 can take advantage of working holiday visas, which allow them to spend up to 23 months in New Zealand. Work visas provide the opportunity to live and work in the country for a designated period, with some visas potentially leading to permanent residency. Resident visas offer additional benefits, including access to state-funded public services, property ownership rights, and the ability to stay in New Zealand indefinitely. Click to continue reading and see the 5 Easiest Countries To Immigrate To From US. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: none. 20 Easiest Countries To Immigrate To From US is originally published on Insider Monkey. If the bill passes the Legislature, it would not take effect until July 1, 2024, giving lawmakers another session to tweak rules. The House Commerce Committee on Tuesday sent the bill to the House floor; the House and Senate would need to agree to any changes before sending it to Gov. John Bel Edwards for his signature. Several other states have passed or are considering passing similar laws, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers in Congress have introduced legislation targeting social media use by kids and teens. McMath said he worked with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, on changes to the bill that the House panel adopted Tuesday. The bill as originally drafted would have required social media companies to ensure users are 16 or older, get parental consent for users younger than 16, set curfews for users under 16 and added other restrictions to those users' accounts. Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeff Landry speaks during a campaign forum, Wednesday April 26, 2023, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Baton Rouge, La. Keeping our community informed is a top priority for us at the Cayuga County Health Department. Our staff works hard to make sure that the community has accurate and up-to-date information in a variety of different places to reach as many people as possible. We utilize many forms of media (newspaper, radio, TV, social media) to get the word out about local news, events, emergency notifications, ongoing programs and services we offer. If you have limited access to the internet, TV, newspaper or radio, the easiest way to get health-related information is to call our main number at (315) 253-1560. This number is answered by Health Department staff during normal business hours, Mondays through Fridays. Any calls or inquiries to our office not during business hours are recorded by our answering service, including weekends and holidays. We are just a phone call away and are happy to assist you. For those who have access to the internet, you can reach us and learn more about our programs in several ways. The simplest way is to email your question or concern to cchealth@cayugacounty.us. Once your email is received, you should receive a response within one to three business days. The Health Department website can be found at cayugacounty.us/health. The purpose of our website is to make information about programs and services more easily accessible. The website is updated on a regular basis and should serve as a great resource for the community. Local news is available in our "News Flash" section located in the middle of the page, by clicking the "NEWS" tab. All of our press releases are also posted there. In addition to the Health Department website being a resource, "Notify Me" is a service through the site where residents can sign up to receive text messages or emails regarding a variety of topics, including our press releases. This is one way to ensure you do not miss out on any upcoming events, clinics or urgent news. During some situations we may need to communicate with a specific group of individuals or with a large group quickly. In those situations, we use Hyper-Reach, which is a service through the Cayuga County 911 department. Landlines are part of the service, but cellphone numbers can be registered. Recently, we used Hyper-Reach to notify residents who were impacted by boil water orders. The system can narrow down the notification down to street level or send a notification out to everyone in the county. To sign up, visit signup.hyper-reach.com/hyper_reach/sign_up_page_2/?id=12642. The Cayuga County Health Departments presence on social media includes our Facebook page and a newly created Instagram page. These allow us to communicate daily and quickly with the community. By liking our Facebook page or following our Instagram, you can see our posts in your feed. We encourage you to share and comment on our posts. Utilizing this free social media resource has been beneficial in getting news out to residents. In addition to Facebook and Instagram, we also have a YouTube channel titled, "Cayuga County Health Department." Providing information in different ways is important to us. We understand that people learn differently and want to make sure our information is available in different ways. Most recently, we have been filming our own informational and testimonial videos to share news about our programs. You do not need to have a YouTube account to view our channel or videos. Search for "Cayuga County Health Department" and you will find us. Our education and outreach efforts involve a variety of different methods for us to reach as many people as possible. We table at community events, attend health fairs, write articles for the local newspaper, send press releases to different media outlets (print, radio and TV) and make information available online. We are working hard to keep the community informed. William F. Buckley has been called the patron saint of American conservatism. Many were surprised in 1996 when he argued for the legalization of all drugs in his National Review. He titled his piece: The War on Drugs Is Lost. After that initial bombshell, he devoted many columns to his crusade to end what he called the insanity of attacking drug abuse as a crime rather than as a condition in need of treatment. He spelled out the details of the damage being done. Many of his followers were shocked and accused him of aligning himself with radicals on the far left. Five years later, in 2001, Portugal became the first nation to decriminalize the possession and use of all drugs, including heroin and cocaine. Since legalization has been the law there for over 20 years, results have been extensively studied. The positive outcomes that Buckley predicted have been confirmed. Benefits fall into a number of categories. First is the issue of rates of addiction and overdose deaths. While drug abuse and death rates have continued to rise in the rest of Europe, Portugals rates have continued their overall decline since legalization. For example, the percentage of deaths among the population of Scotland is 50 times higher than Portugals. Before legalization, they were about the same. Further, the prevalence of drug abuse has always been closely associated with crime. Police, the courts and the prison system have been freed from a tremendous burden in Portugal, leaving resources available to deal with other crimes. The percentage of inmates in correctional facilities for drug offenses has dropped from 40% to 16%, while rates of imprisonment on drug charges have risen in the rest of Europe. And the rate of street crimes associated with drug use remains high elsewhere, but has dropped dramatically in Portugal. Cayuga County overdoses down last year; fatalities lowest since 2015 Three key overdose statistics decreased in Cayuga County last year after reaching highs in 2021, a promising sign for recent efforts to combat And, in spite of the fears of some that legalization would lead to increased overall drug use, the opposite has been the case, especially among young people. Drug use rates there are now among the lowest in Europe. Recently, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Switzerland have also gone the route of total drug legalization. Here in the United States, Oregon became the first state to take the leap. In 2020, voters there overwhelmingly passed measure 110, which decriminalized small quantities of all drugs. No other states have yet followed suit. But change is in the wind. Lawmakers have become aware of the catastrophe of ever-increasing drug overdose death rates, which now exceed 100,000 victims nationwide per year. This is 10 times higher than the rates when Buckley began his crusade. It is apparent that Buckley was correct. The war on drugs has been lost. But now it is generating casualties across all social classes, not just among the poor and people of color. The drug crisis now hits close to home for almost all of us, even members of Congress. Change is taking the form of state-by-state efforts to reduce deaths and implement treatment. Lawmakers in many states, both liberal and conservative, are moving toward dealing with drugs as a public health problem instead of a law enforcement problem. The Texas House of Representatives voted last month to decriminalize test strips to check drugs for fentanyl, the potent opioid that is often mixed into heroin and greatly increases the risk of death. Other states have reduced drug-related criminal penalties and approved needle exchange programs. Some have redirected funds from law enforcement to treatment programs. The verdict from Portugal is that decriminalization is important because it reduces the stigma of drug addiction, moving people out of the shadows and allowing for treatment. But the impressive improvements have resulted from a multifaceted attack, including visible public service promotion of awareness, high-quality treatment programs, intensive outreach into schools to educate children on the dangers of addiction, needle exchange programs, training in the use of the lifesaving drug Narcan, and the building of clubhouses and recreational facilities for addicts and their families. Two nonprofit organizations in the Auburn area have been tirelessly working for more than half a decade to implement these very changes: The Heroin Epidemic Action League and Nicks Ride 4 Friends. These organizations are providing a clubhouse, support meetings, outreach and educational programs, and many other services to combat this plague and to save lives. Our community is fortunate that these courageous and hardworking people are taking action now and not waiting for slow-moving changes at the governmental level. They deserve our wholehearted support. Authorities said an Onondaga County man was charged after shooting at a decoy turkey that law enforcement officers were monitoring in the town of Niles. According to a news release from the state Department of Environmental Conservation, three members of the Environmental Conservation Police were conducting a turkey decoy detail in the town of Niles when "a familiar subject pulled up and shot the decoy out the drivers side window of his pickup truck while his 14-year-old son watched from the passenger seat." The DEC said the shooter, John A. Rio, 49, of Jordan, is well known to two of the officers "as someone who repeatedly fails to comply with New York State Environmental Conservation Law." Rio was ticked for possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle and shooting from a public highway, both misdemeanors, with the tickets returnable to Town of Niles Court. The DEC said that additional charges may follow, pending consultation with the Cayuga County District Attorneys Office. The Gipsy Kings featuring Nicolas Reyes are traveling to Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana. The Catalan rumba, flamenco, salsa and pop group that's beloved on the world music stage will perform at the venue at 5400 West 29th Ave. in Gary on Friday, Sept. 29. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the 21+ fully seated show. The group is known for playing the traditional music of the Spanish Romni people, reflecting the history of the Gitanos, a gypsy tribe in Iberia, Portugal and southern France. The band led by Nicholas Reyes has been making music for more than 30 years. The Gipsy Kings have sold more than 14 million albums and dominated the World Music charts. "This iconic legacy began when Nicolas father, Jose Reyes, formed a celebrated flamenco duo with Manitas de Plata (which boasted fans as famed as Miles Davis and Pablo Picasso). When the pair parted ways, the elder Reyes became even more popular upon starting his own band, backed by his son, called Los Reyes," Hard Rock Casino said in a press release. "In later years, Nicolas headed out on his own and began playing in the town of Arles in the south of France. He traveled throughout the country, busking on the streets of Saint-Tropez, playing wherever he could. Having adopted the perpetual motion of the gypsy lifestyle, his band eventually translated 'Los Reyes' and became the Gipsy Kings." The acclaimed band won the Grammy Award for Best World Music Album in 2013. "The bands music went on to fuse with popular culture. In addition to the accolades above, the traveling Gipsy Kings have played some of the worlds greatest stages, from the Hollywood Bowl to Royal Albert Hall as well as hitting the big screen," Hard Rock Casino said in a press release. "Their rendition of 'Hotel California' was included in the film 'The Big Lebowski' and the HBO series 'Entourage.' The 2010 film 'Toy Story 3' featured a Gipsy Kings version of the movies popular, Randy Newman-penned theme, 'Youve Got a Friend in Me.' The Gipsy Kings recently featured in a 'Big Lebowski' spinoff 'The Jesus Rolls' with Reyes appearing in person with the director and star, John Turturro, for some of the promotion." The Gipsy Kings have attained a great deal of commercial success. "The Best of the Gipsy Kings" charted for more than a year, reaching platinum status. Tickets start at $49.50. For more information, call 219-228-2383 or visit hardrockcasinonorthernindiana.com. MICHIGAN CITY The proposed 114-lot Woodland Ridge subdivision is cruising toward approval by enthusiastic city officials. We like the development. We like the idea of the development, Plan Commission Secretary Geraldine McCabe-Miele said. The commission voted unanimously last week to forward the primary plat to the City Council for approval. It would be the first subdivision of its size built in the city in about half a century. Developer Mike West, representing Green Development Ventures and Allen Edwin Homes of Portage, Michigan, said the latter built its 10,000th house in December after 27 years in business. The company is on track to build 800 to 900 this year. The new subdivision would be built in three phases over four to six years, depending on demand, West said. The first phase, on the northern portion of the property, would be for 54 houses. The second and third phases would be on the southern and eastern portions of the site. A 32-acre parcel is under option at 4842 N. 900 West, along Woodland Avenue and near Pahs Road. The area near there is expected to see additional business development to meet the demand of additional residents, Planning and Development Director Skyler York said. Each Woodland Ridge ranch house would be 1,400 to 2,200 square feet, likely starting at $280,000, West said. The company plans to sell the homes to middle-class buyers. That market segment is in short supply in the city, according to recent housing studies. The houses would feature three to five bedrooms, two or three bathrooms, and two- or three-car attached garages. The company has 15 to 20 designs to choose from. The city requires 2.6-acre parks for a subdivision of this size, but York is recommending that the city approve a smaller park, of one-third acre, for this development. West said the pocket park would be between lots 109 and 110 and feature a playground, pavilion, benches, picnic tables under the pavilion, and open space. We do things that are used, that are easy to maintain, he said, to reduce costs for the homeowners association and the homeowners. Another deviation from the citys planning codes would be to require homeowners to plant trees in their front yards instead of on the citys right of way. That avoids roots causing problems with the sidewalks. West is asking permission to put sidewalks on only one side of the street while making sure the subdivision is easily walkable throughout. A sidewalk would bisect the park to allow easier access to it. McCabe-Miele asked several questions about accessibility and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. I know the state standards and federal standards dont require it, but I would urge you to consider it, she said. When they really make a way for people with disabilities to use things, the demand is there. West said the company has experience in customizing houses to suit customers needs. Mayor Duane Parry said the citys bus service would adjust routes to serve the subdivision as needed. May 30, 1993 In the conflict between business interests and low-level radiation risks, business won out at Auburn Steel last week. Now the Quarry Road plant, which will shut down its furnaces tomorrow, faces one of the largest low-level radioactive waste disposal dilemmas in New York state. Beginning on May 17, Austeel executives faced a choice between shutting down or continuing to operate the furnaces after they discovered low-level radioactive material had slipped past a sensitive gauge and entered the steel plant. They decided to maintain production, cranking out finished steel and producing 17 tons of radioactive-contaminated dust a day. "There's a lot of business considerations, employee considerations," said senior vice president Martin Fanning. "Customers depended on us. For some customers, we are the sole source. We had to keep going for business reasons." Fanning and state health, labor and environmental officials met with media at the Auburn Holiday Inn Friday to elaborate on the radioactive incident that occurred at Austeel two weeks ago. State officials reiterated that the low-level radioactivity posed no threat to employees or the community. They said that Auburn Steel had taken proper steps to inform state agencies and that a plan for proper disposal of nearly 13 truckloads of mixed radioactive and hazardous dust was being drawn up. Gov. Eric Holcomb has selected a state agency leader who helped oversee management of the Gary Community School Corp. to fill a vacancy on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Wes Bennett, head of the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance since 2017, will take up his new post June 26 as one of five IURC commissioners working to ensure that Indiana utilities provide Hoosiers safe and reliable service at just and reasonable rates. "As the commissioner of the DLGF, Wes has built a reputation as a respected leader and a knowledgeable, thoughtful and trustworthy state partner to communities all across Indiana," Holcomb said. "His career experience in successfully managing government finance will serve him and our state well navigating the complex industry of utility regulation." Bennett, a former 12-year clerk-treasurer for the town of Plainfield in central Indiana, was responsible at DLGF for managing the state's property tax assessment system, including review and approval of tax rates and levies for all local government units. His duties included service on the Indiana Distressed Unit Appeals Board, which has acted since 2017 in place of a locally elected school board in Gary as part of a successful state effort to right the finances of the formerly cash-strapped school district. Bennett said he's honored to be selected by the governor for his new post serving Indiana utility customers and providers. "My previous roles in the private and public sectors will serve me well as we move the state forward toward cleaner, more efficient and reliable energy-delivery systems and methods," Bennett said. Holcomb is expected to select a new DLGF leader in the near future. Gallery: Get to know the state symbols of Indiana State Aircraft: Republic Aviation P-47 Thunderbolt State Bird: Cardinal State Flag State Flower: Peony State Fossil: Mastodon State Gun: Grouseland Rifle State Insect: Say's Firefly State Language: English State Motto: "Crossroads of America" State Nickname: The Hoosier State State Pie: Sugar Cream Pie (unofficial) State Poem: "Indiana" State River: Wabash State Seal State Snack: Indiana-Grown Popcorn State Song: "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" State Stone: Limestone State Tree: Tulip tree EAST CHICAGO A man who shot an 18-year-old Monday night told detectives he was not sure if he unthinkingly shot the victim or if the victim was charging toward him, according to recently filed charges. Robert Allison was charged with voluntary manslaughter in the death of Christian Ogbomon, of Hammond, Police Chief Jose Rivera said Tuesday. Officers were called out at 12:17 a.m. to the 3700 block of Euclid Avenue for the report of a gunshot victim, East Chicago police Lt. Brian Paine said. Rivera said they found Ogbomon on the second-floor balcony of an apartment building. An autopsy was performed Monday and the manner of death is homicide, according to a release from the Lake County Coroner's Office. Documents allege Ogbomon was invited to the apartment by one of Allison's children. He entered the apartment by climbing up to the second floor balcony and entering through the balcony door. He had been to the home once before when Allison was not home. Portage cop injured during pursuit involving 15-year-old girl with loaded handgun, report says After taking possession of the gun, the officer reportedly told the group, "it was a quick way to get shot since he had his hand near the gun, and it appeared he was trying to conceal or retrieve it." Allison told police he had left the apartment and when he came back, he heard "screaming and hollering" and shouted to ask what was going on, according to charging documents. He went to open the door to the room where he heard the noise coming from. His daughter pushed the door back and told him not to enter. He said he thought his daughter was telling him not to come in because she was having sex with Ogbomon, so he said he forced his way into the room. Allison said it was dark in the room and he couldn't tell if Ogbomon was coming toward him or if he had an instinctual reaction to grab his gun and shoot, court documents allege. He pulled his weapon and fired one shot. He said he then called 911 and told dispatchers he thought someone had broken into his house and had shot him. Gallery: Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail April Wright Fallon Stone Kecelyn Sydner Hilario Torres Jr. Shawn Washington Steven Petrisko Roosevelt Pickett Jr. Andre Patterson Kenneth Mack Jr. Rachel McKinney Patrick Noonan Bradley Kelly Jason Howard Tena Johnson Leslie Hawkins Chanel Copeland Tameera Dillon Elvee Evans III Totianna Gaston Olivia Blakeley Steven Bogner Kristina Bohn Tammy Berry Christopher Arroyo Melvin Pumphrey III Dakota Robinson Michael Sullivan Shauntwain Johnson Karley Jensen Cali Huerta Cindy Irons Jack Hampton John Huber Chauncey Hackett Jr. Antwon Butler Aundra Butler MICHIGAN CITY An argument between two men Saturday night ended with one man and the other arrested for murder, according to the Michigan City Police Department. Lt. Steve Westphal identified the dead man as Joseph Davis, 52. He said the accused assailant is Jonathan Regis Lamont Smith, 31. The men were arguing at a residence in the 400 block of York Street when Smith pulled out a gun and shot Davis in the torso, Westphal said. Police officers responding to the scene provided initial medical aid to Davis. He was transported by LaPorte County EMS to Franciscan Hospital for emergency care, then flown to Memorial Hospital in South Bend for advanced medical treatment. Despite these efforts, Westphal said, Davis died during surgery as a result of his injuries from the shooting. Smith subsequently turned himself in at the Michigan City police station about two hours after the incident. Smith was booked into the LaPorte County Jail on one count of murder. His initial court hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in LaPorte Superior Court 1. Police are asking residents near the shooting location to check any exterior video cameras to see if they recorded it. The time frame to check is 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. Saturday, Westphal said. Anyone with relevant video, or any other information about the case, is urged to contact Detective Sgt. Melissa Sopher at 219-874-3221, ext. 1049, or msopher@emichigancity.com. 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 CROWN POINT The 16-year-old shot to death late Sunday during an apparent prank with a firearm was identified Tuesday by the Lake County Coroner's Office as Jason Paholik of Crown Point. An autopsy was done Monday and the manner of death is pending, the coroner's office said. Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. had said the boy was shot in the chest around 11:40 p.m. Sunday and died at the scene, despite life-saving efforts initiated by county police officers and a Crown Point Fire Rescue ambulance crew. The initial investigation indicates that the gun was fired by an 18-year-old who initially was transported to Franciscan Health Crown Point for evaluation and subsequently taken into custody. The 18-year-old and Paholik were with friends near a firepit in the backyard of a house in the 12000 block of Burr Street when the older one pulled out a firearm as a prank, Martinez said. He did not elaborate on the nature of the prank, but it caused the weapon to discharge, striking Paholik in the chest and killing him. UPDATE: Man who shot 18-year-old in East Chicago believed victim had broken into apartment, documents allege Officers were called out at 12:17 a.m. Monday to the 3700 block of Euclid Avenue for a report of a gunshot victim, police said. As part of their initial investigation, county police found a backpack at the scene with a firearm inside. The weapon was sent for examination by the Lake County Crime Lab, Martinez said. The name of the 18-year-old has not yet been released. Martinez said the incident remains under investigation. He's also asking anyone with additional information about it to contact the Lake County Sheriff's Department. "The Lake County Sheriff's Department extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victim during this tragic time," he said. Gallery: Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail April Wright Fallon Stone Kecelyn Sydner Hilario Torres Jr. Shawn Washington Steven Petrisko Roosevelt Pickett Jr. Andre Patterson Kenneth Mack Jr. Rachel McKinney Patrick Noonan Bradley Kelly Jason Howard Tena Johnson Leslie Hawkins Chanel Copeland Tameera Dillon Elvee Evans III Totianna Gaston Olivia Blakeley Steven Bogner Kristina Bohn Tammy Berry Christopher Arroyo Melvin Pumphrey III Dakota Robinson Michael Sullivan Shauntwain Johnson Karley Jensen Cali Huerta Cindy Irons Jack Hampton John Huber Chauncey Hackett Jr. Antwon Butler Aundra Butler CROWN POINT Men and women who return from military duty may still be waging an inner battle. Many of our soldiers are struggling for peace, Angela Tucker said. Tucker, keynote speaker at the Memorial Day service in Crown Point, serves as suicide prevention coordinator at the Adam Benjamin Jr. VA Clinic. She asked those who came Monday to remember veterans who died serving their country, but to also keep in mind many veterans who return to then die by their own hand. *There are 18 suicides per day nationally," she said. "More die from suicide than from war." Tucker said the VA Clinic, which offers suicide prevention among its services, was greatly helped by a law passed in February. It provides free emergency medical care and 30 days free follow-up care to veterans who find themselves in suicide crisis. She asked the audience to pass along to three people the number of the suicide crisis line: dial 988, then press 1. The invisible scars run deep. Veterans who return can feel like lost sheep, Tucker said. The service at historic Maplewood Cemetery, under a clear blue sky and high temperatures, included several speakers, veterans, and local and state officials. It began with a parade from Joliet Street to the cemetery entrance. Boy and Girl Scouts and the Crown Point High School Royal Regiment band were among the participants. Opening remarks at the service were made by American Legion Post 20 Commander Kevin Dvorak. He spoke of the history of Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day, after the Civil War. The holiday has continued to be a day to use flags and flowers to honor the graves of those who paid a personal price for us and our nation. Dvorak spoke of the partnership shared by the city and the American Legion for more than 100 years. We honor all heroes not just on Memorial Day and whether they died in a domestic situation or in a combat zone. It all comes with danger, he said. Other speakers included Mayor Pete Land; U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Hammond; and U.S. Rep Mark Takano, D-Calif., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. Invocation and the closing prayer was given by Perry McLemore of Southlake Christian Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Brian Jeffrey of Post 20. A floral tribute was presented by Gold Star Family Alan and Lana Roach in honor of their son, Alan Jon A.J. Roach. Before the service, Gail Smith of Crown Point was one of dozens of residents who sat in folding chairs or stood waiting for the parade to pass by. Smith said her dad, who has since died, served in what was called the U.S. Army Corps in World War II, and now her son is serving in the Air Force as a test pilot. She said she tries to come every year to the parade and service. Its one of those holidays that is humbling," she said. "Just to think that they people gave up their lives to make it better for us. After the memorial service, family and friends of Nick Idalski gathered at the cemeterys eternal light, Heroes Are Eternal. We come here every year, Nathan said. Brothers Nathan and Steve Idalski said their youngest brother was 23 when he was killed June 21, 2005, by sniper fire in Iraq. Nick had been serving in the Army and was close to returning home. Friend Matt Dutton of DeMotte said he and Nick talked each other into serving. Dutton said he recalls the last phone conversation with his friend, who told him he was proud to be serving his country and wanted to continue serving: He said he was willing to die for his country. *Editor's note: This story has been corrected from an earlier version. *There are 18 suicides per day nationally," she said. "More die from suicide than from war." LAPORTE LaPorte Community School Corp. has announced Alice Tallackson and Kirt Lawson as its 2023 Teachers of the Year. Tallackson, who teaches kindergartners at Crichfield Elementary School, was selected as the Elementary Teacher of the Year. The 24-year education veteran "ensures that her kindergarten classroom is a safe and caring environment where her students are introduced to hands-on activities that enrich their learning experience," according to the district website. At the North American Monarch Institute, she co-wrote a Project Based Learning grant, Marvelous Monarchs Unit, for all four kindergarten classes at Crichfield. The project's goal was to learn about the monarch butterfly population and ways that her students, as well as the community, could learn about and help the endangered population of butterflies. Their work is displayed at the annual Sunflower Fair in September. Mrs. Tallackson is such a patient, caring, and gifted teacher," Principal Tearsa Schable said. "Her students, parents, and colleagues adore her because of her work ethic, ability to effectively communicate, and that she always puts kids' needs first." Tallackson is also leader of the Crichfield Reading Committee, which began in 2016. This program unites the student body behind a common goal: motivate students to read in the hopes that they will develop a love of reading. Tallackson also takes part in such events as Crichfield Family STEAM Night, Christmas Cougar Care-a-Van, Trunk or Treat, Give Back Nights and Playground Nights. She is a Social Emotional Learning Champion, partnering with counselors to help students master valuable life skills and achieve their goals. Tallackson said she has been inspired by former teachers and hopes to pass along the same passion for lifelong learning to her students. Lawson, head of the Building Trades program at LaPorte High School, was selected as the Secondary Teacher of the Year. The 29-year educator and his students have built 23 houses, a pavilion at Ben Rees Park, two Habitat For Humanity homes, projects at LaPorte County Parks, a garage at Kesling Park for the girls softball field, the ticket-taker shelter for Schreiber Field, and assisted with the Shagbark picnic shelter. Additional projects include roofing the Luhr Park Nature Center and dugouts at Clark Field, spreading mulch at Bluhm Park and Creek Ridge Park, renovating the building for Worthy Women Recovery Center, assisting retired teachers with small home projects, and rebuilding the exterior of the Santa House. I really do not think his fellow teachers or people in our community know what Kirt Lawson does for students outside the school day," Principal Scott Upp said. "His generosity of time and resources for our students is impressive." Lawson started a nonprofit, NWI Fishing Fundamentals, to help encourage underprivileged children to spend time outdoors and learn the sport of fishing. They are given equipment and fishing events are held to provide them instruction. Lawson also started a fishing club at LaPorte High School, ensuring that any student that wants to participate has the equipment they need. He acknowledges the differences in abilities and encourages students to leverage their strengths through teamwork and collaboration, according to the website. Lawson said he is grateful for the teachers who have inspired him along the way, so he has not taken a single day of his teaching career for granted. Digging yourself out of poverty can be tricky. So can asking for help. After completing the program in April, Pathway to Hope graduate Camari Williams shared the ways the program helped her family progress to a more financially stable life. Founded in 2011, Pathway to Hope is offered by the Salvation Army to help families break the cycle of poverty. Offered throughout Northwest Indiana, the program aims to provide a network of support, sense of community and spiritual guidance, as well as job training, health services, childcare and education, legal services and more. Social Services Case Manager Mary Bosch shared the story and struggles of Camari Williams. Williams, 25 and married with two children and one on the way, approached Bosch in October of 2022 asking for help. I am tired of being broke, I need assistance in getting my family to a better place. We do not want to live like this anymore, Williams told Bosch. Pathway to Hope helped Williams organize a six-month journey by defining four primary goals: managing her budget, finding a solution for her asthmatic son, becoming financially sufficient and making vehicle repairs. Each of the goals were broken down into smaller, more manageable steps. The first goal, managing the family budget, included cutting out unnecessary expenses, such as eating out often, the use of Adobe programs and cable television. That resulted in $800 saved every month and a decreased phone bill from $140 to $80. The second goal was finding a solution for Williams' asthmatic son. After several trips to the hospital for asthma attacks, Williams tried to solve the issue by asking her landlord if the carpet in their apartment could be changed. When the landlord refused, Pathway to Hope helped connect Williams with resources to find affordable housing with hardwood floors. Fortunately, the family was able to relocate to a new living situation in January of 2023. Her son hasn't needed to go to the hospital since December of 2022. The third goal included becoming financially sufficient. As a result of her budgeting changes, Williams was able to start paying down her credit card debt. With her tax refund check this year, she is now debt free. The fourth goal involved making repairs to the family vehicle. Although budget changes allowed more financial wiggle-room, repairs outweighed the worth of the vehicle. Williams' family was able to purchase a new vehicle with a loan suited to their new budget. The next step is working with a realtor to improve Williams' credit score. The family hopes to look for a new home in the coming year. The Salvation Army was also able to provide Williams with diapers for her baby and a monthly food box. PHOTOS: Memorial Day 2023 in Portage PORTAGE Honoring the nations war dead includes working to ensure that surviving veterans get the services theyve earned, members of the state and federal House Veterans Affairs Committees said during the annual Memorial Day service. We must always remember those who have given their lives in service to our country, to honor their sacrifice by working to create a more perfect America, U.S. Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., said. Soon, 1 out of every 5 veterans, 20% of our veterans, are going to be women. Weve got to make sure the health care they receive is every bit as good and as comprehensive as their male counterparts. Takano acknowledged that some members of the service, particularly members of minority groups, werent always welcomed home from their military service. Even when some Americans didnt love them back, these service members of all different backgrounds believed that our country was worth fighting for and that we were worth sacrificing their lives for." We are the greatest country on Earth not because we think of ourselves as the perfect country but as a country that strives always for a more perfect union, he said. Takano was chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee when Frank Mrvan joined Congress in 2020. Frank hit the ground running, Takano said, and became chairman of the Subcommittee on Technology Modernization. Thats kind of a high-falutin term. You may be scratching your head and wondering, what does the chairman of the Subcommittee on Technology Modernization do? Its a very important job. The subcommittee provides oversight over integration of electronic medical records between the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. Im sad to say there have been some tragedies as a result of that lack of continuity and smooth transition, Takano said. Frank inherited a problem when he got to Congress. Weve tried three times before and spent billions of dollars and frankly wasted billions of dollars. Im happy to tell you Frank has displayed excellent leadership, writing the VA Electronic Health Records Transparency Act and the VA Expiring Authority Act to solve two pieces of this problem. Mrvan, D-Hammond, didnt mention his subcommittee work in his remarks. Very often Memorial Day gets confused as a day of sales or barbecues, but "today we are here to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice, he said. Sometimes those families also have made the ultimate sacrifices by their sons or daughters not coming back. We are the greatest country in the world based on what we believe in: Democracy. Mrvan said honoring those who sacrificed their lives for the country involves making sure the veterans who survive receive the benefits they were promised. As we are on Veterans Affairs, as your member of Congress, my job and my mission is to make sure health care is accessible, mental health care is accessible, that we tackle veterans suicides, that we make sure there is mental health access, Mrvan said. Were here today to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, but let us never forget those Gold Star families who still live in our communities, in Portage, in Northwest Indiana, and give them access to the support they need. For Mayor Sue Lynch, Frank is a true fighter for our veterans. Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage, a member of the Indiana House Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee, said he wants to help soldiers learn how to be civilians again and to provide the resources they need to do so health care, families, good jobs and the opportunity to live the American dream that they fought so hard for. Fire Chief Randy Wilkening honored veterans but particularly first responders like Frank Gilbert, a firefighter/paramedic who died 26 years ago from injuries suffered during an ambulance call. He was our only firefighter who died in the line of duty, he said. I could talk about Frank and all the things he accomplished all day long. Gilbert was an active member of the U.S. Naval Reserves. Firefighters laid a wreath in the morning at Gilbert Park in his memory. In my hat, I always keep this funeral card from Franks funeral, Wilkening said as he removed the card to show it to the audience. PHOTOS: Memorial Day 2023 in Portage SAN FRANCISCO Near the end of Elizabeth Holmess criminal trial, her lawyers submitted into evidence her punishing self-improvement plan. 4 a.m. Rise and thank God, the handwritten memo began. Exercise, meditation, prayer, breakfast (whey and, as she spelled it, bannanna) followed. By 6:45 a.m., a time when slackers were still fumbling for the alarm clock, she was at the office of Theranos, the blood-testing company she founded in 2003. Ms. Holmes had many rules at Theranos: I am never a minute late. I show no excitement. ALL ABOUT BUSINESS. I am not impulsive. I know the outcome of every encounter. I do not hesitate. I constantly make decisions and change them as needed. I speak rarely. I call bullshit immediately. It worked. Ms. Holmess resolve was so forceful, and fit so neatly into the Silicon Valley cliche of achieving the impossible by refusing to admit it was impossible, that it inspired belief right up to the moment on Monday when a jury officially convicted her of four counts of fraud. JUNIUS Amy Chait can only imagine how crowded some of the new service areas along the Thruway will be this holiday weekend. She sat at a counter at the compact, redesigned Junius Ponds service area, between Syracuse and Rochester, and recalled her trip to Massachusetts to pick up her daughter from college. When I was going east, the one that was like this was packed, Chait said while taking a break on a recent weekday before she and her daughter Anna continued the drive west to Ann Arbor, Mich. It was on a Friday afternoon. It was like you couldn't even move. Twenty-seven Thruway service areas will be replaced or revived under a $450 million overhaul that began in 2021 and is set to continue through 2025. As of Memorial Day weekend, six new travel plazas have opened while 10 others remain closed for construction. Travelers say they appreciate the clean, bright look of the new rest stops, which feature a different mix of restaurants including Shake Shack, Chick-fil-A and Popeyes. But they wonder why some redesigned service areas, like Junius Ponds and Indian Castle near Utica, are so small. Their size, combined with the shutdown of so many travel plazas for construction, has led to long lines on busier travel days. Its also led to questions about whether the network is ready for the summer travel crush. In the short term, I have concerns about how it's impacting our tourism season and making sure we just have adequate facilities to handle the amount of people coming into New York, said Assemblyman Michael Norris, a Lockport Republican and Thruway commuter. The Thruway Authority and the developer, Applegreen Limited, defended the pace given the complexity of the project and nagging supply-chain delays. The authority acknowledged the reopening of some plazas, including Clarence and Pembroke, is behind schedule and said it has prodded Applegreen to finish as quickly as possible. The entities say the new service areas were designed with different sizes based on historic patterns of use and crowding at the smallest centers should ease as more facilities come online. We understand that this is an inconvenience to our motorists, authority spokeswoman Jennifer Givner said. However, we ask for their patience during this project. It's incredibly complicated. Not many construction projects like this exist with 27 separate buildings over 570 miles. Use drove new sizes Then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo unveiled the project in his 2018 State of the State address. The rest stops had opened in the 1950s and were last remodeled or replaced in the 1990s. The winning bid came from Empire State Thruway Partners, operated by Applegreen. The Irish company promised to cover the $450 million cost to replace 23 service areas, and renovate four others, in exchange for a 33-year rest stop concessions lease. Fuel service at the plazas is on a separate contract with the authority. The project promised modern plazas, updated restrooms and food selections, rebranded convenience stores, better Wi-Fi and extra electric-car chargers. There were several size levels based on traffic and sales data at the existing stops, ranging from 3,900 to 20,100 square feet. This is standard retail practice, said Charles Lindsey, a University at Buffalo associate professor of marketing. Stores that are too big are unnecessarily costly to maintain, while stores that are too small make for unhappy customers. Theyre trying to find the sweet spot and maximize both efficiency and effectiveness, he said. To limit the inconvenience, planners barred the closing of two consecutive rest areas. Only when work finished at one rest area could an adjacent area be shut down. Applegreens contractors began work on the first service areas in 2021. Since then, six have reopened. Eastbound Clifton Springs and westbound Junius Ponds are the plazas closest to Buffalo that have been replaced. The Clarence and Pembroke rest stops were shuttered in July 2021. They were scheduled to reopen last August and October, respectively, but both won't come online until the end of June. In the meantime, travelers heading east from Buffalo must wait for the as-yet-unrenovated Scottsville service area, near Rochester, to stop. Crowding at some stops Clifton Springs, east of Scottsville, is one of the large new service areas. Opened in March, it has a Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Shake Shack and Applegreen market featuring Taste of NY items such as maple syrup and Nelson Farms jam. A recent visit found a worker on a ladder installing the sign for a future Auntie Annes pretzel shop. Trey Byrge, a long-haul truck driver from Tucson, Ariz., taking a load to Massachusetts, said he appreciated how well-kept the service area was. He also liked the food selection. It's usually, like, Burger King. Youre stuck with the same old, same old, said Byrge. That's what made me come here. I saw the Chick-fil-A. I was like, I'm gonna get Chick-fil-A. Aryell Williams, a Utica-area resident bottle-feeding her 8-month-old son, Jack, recalled the prior rest stops as dumpy and old and said she doubted the authority would ever upgrade them. Its really nice, almost homey in a way, said Williams. The Clifton Springs building is 3 times the size of the new Junius Ponds, which is 5,740 square feet. At Junius Ponds, theres not much space between the 25 or so indoor seats, the smaller-scale Applegreen market and the lines and waiting areas for the Starbucks and Shake Shack, though outdoor seating helps in warmer weather. Part of the problem is the westbound service areas on either side, Chittenango and Seneca, are closed except for the fuel stations. Anna Chait, who regularly drove the Thruway between Michigan and Mount Holyoke College, questioned the timing. I just think they should have done it systematically not closing all of them at once, she said. Because I was driving this in December and, like, I just didn't stop in the whole of New York because I couldnt. Sitting nearby at Junius Ponds were Linda Cecere and Diana Wenz. The sisters from Geneva had come to try a Shake Shack milkshake. They loved their shakes but had questions about the project. Why is it taking so long on the other ones? Wenz said. You can't even go to the bathroom on the way to Syracuse. What is the problem? I thought they were all supposed to be done. I figured theyd be done by the travel season, Cecere added. 'Unforeseen circumstances' The Thruway Authority said travelers will enjoy a modern service-area network once the project is completed by 2025. The authority and Applegreen cited supply-chain delays that began during the pandemic and said the war in Ukraine and last winters devastating storms in Western New York also slowed the pace of construction. In fact, the main contractors are seeking $260 million taxpayer bailout for project overruns, a request that remains under review in Albany. While we had hoped to have more renovated service areas open for the summer 2023 travel season, unforeseen circumstances and complexities in the construction process necessitated the phased approach, Applegreen spokeswoman Paula Chirhart emailed. Applegreen and the authority defended the different plaza sizes. They said smaller rest stops such as Junius Ponds easily will handle their typical crowd volumes once more reopen. Its important to note that many of the previous larger-sized buildings were highly underutilized. They had vast eating areas that were often sectioned off by the operators because they were never used and there was too much space to clean given challenges associated with staffing levels, the authoritys Givner said. And they said the best way to handle the construction of new service areas was the staggered closure of the existing service areas, including restroom facilities. They noted fuel is still offered at the shuttered stations and motorists wont see two of them in a row. Better planning possible? Do the service areas have enough employees to keep the buildings clean and to keep lines at the restaurants moving? Applegreen said hiring is a priority for the company. Between new site openings and staffing up for the peak summer season, we expect to significantly increase our staffing levels to ensure a quality guest experience, Chirhart said. UBs Lindsey wonders whether it was possible to open larger travel plazas first, or to place public portable toilets at the shuttered rest areas. Should the sequence have been different? Should we have done a better job anticipating the bottlenecks and, because of that, maybe built some temporary space? he asked, such as flex space at smaller site. State Sen. Tim Kennedy, a Buffalo Democrat who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee, said hes heard complaints about the smaller service areas and hes seen them for himself. The authority has assured him the crowding issues will resolve themselves as work progresses. I share the frustrations with the community that sees these new rest areas going up, but they're not complete, Kennedy said. We want to get that process expedited as quickly as we can. We want these new rest areas online. And we want them to serve the public as the public deserves. LONDON On an upper floor in Romilly Saumarez Smiths 18th-century house in the Stepney neighborhood of east London is a small closet that the Smiths understand was used to powder the wigs of the homes original owners. Now the 30-square-foot space is packed with a jewelers bench and other equipment, racks full of tools, piles of notes and sketches, and the works-in-progress of her intricate, lyrical creations. But one recent afternoon, it was not Ms. Saumarez Smith but the jeweler Laura Ngyou, one of Ms. Saumarez Smiths assistants, who was working at the bench. In 2002, Ms. Saumarez Smith, now 69, was diagnosed with a rare form of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis that has left her paralyzed from the neck down, although she can speak without aids and has retained some feeling. She initially carried on, she said in a recent interview at her home, but when her fine motor skills failed in 2007, she thought her career as a maker was over. A difficult few years followed, but then in 2010 she realized collaborations could enable her to continue bringing her creative imaginings to life. The police arrested the parents of a 3-month-old girl who was found dead in the woods near a Bronx highway on Sunday night. The baby, whom the police identified as Genevieve Comager, was pronounced dead at the scene, a wooded, trash-strewn area near West 161st Street and the Major Deegan Expressway, the police said. Genevieves father, Damion Comager, 23, was arrested on Monday night and charged with murder, manslaughter and concealment of a human corpse. The babys mother, Ivana Paolozzi, 20, was also arrested and charged with concealment of a human corpse and obstructing governmental administration, according to the police. A spokeswoman for the medical examiners office said the cause of the babys death was still under investigation on Monday evening. GEORGETOWN, Guyana A 15-year-old student accused of deliberately setting a fire in a girls school dormitory in Guyana that killed 18 of her schoolmates and a 5-year-old boy was charged on Monday as an adult with 19 counts of murder. The defendant appeared virtually at a hearing in a court south of the capital, Georgetown, and she was ordered held in custody pending further court proceedings. Investigators accused the girl, who was not identified, of igniting the blaze at Mahdia Secondary School in anger with the administrator over the confiscation of her cellphone. The government boarding school serves remote Indigenous villages in the countrys southwest. The student was not allowed to enter a plea to the charges and will make a second court appearance on July 5, when state and defense lawyers will indicate whether they are ready to start a preliminary trial. If found guilty, the student could face life in prison. KYIV, Ukraine Russia targeted the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, with yet another wave of attack drones early Tuesday, killing at least one person, setting residential buildings ablaze and extending a day of terror for the citys residents. For the second night in a row and the 17th this month, explosions in different parts of Kyiv jolted people out of bed and sent them scurrying for cover as Moscow launched a new assault on the city of 3.6 million. Ukraines Air Force said on Tuesday that air defense teams shot down 29 of 31 Iranian-made drones launched by Russia overnight, with most targeting Kyiv. A 33-year-old woman was killed by falling debris during the attack and at least 13 people were injured, Ivan Vyhivskyi, the acting chief of the National Police, said in a statement. They beat prisoners relentlessly and tortured them with electric shocks, waterboarding and mock executions. Three people died in their custody. Yet such was their sense of impunity, the Russians who seized control of a detention center in southern Ukraine last year and filled it with 200 detainees were careless about concealing their identities. Last week, Ukrainian prosecutors announced war crimes charges against four members of the Russian National Guard the commander who ran the detention facility and three of his subordinates. They were accused in absentia for cruel treatment of civilians and violating the laws of war. The case is one of the first to emerge from months of investigations by Ukrainian prosecutors in the southern region of Kherson, which Russian forces occupied for more than eight months until they were forced out by a Ukrainian counteroffensive in November. Investigators say they have uncovered hundreds of crimes that were carried out under the Russian occupation, including executions and deaths in custody, torture, sexual violence and beatings in the recaptured areas. Henry said hes had plenty of experiences like that. They just put me next to someone doing pirouettes, he said. Or people try to fit me into a box. And if they dont fit me into the box, I dont get to dance. His work with Miller, though, has been an actual collaboration. Miller agreed. Hes a thought partner, and his creativity is unlimited, she said. Much of what Miller supplied was a concept, an idea about the prehistoric origins of art, a frequent topic for her. While she doesnt put Henry in a box, she does frame him with wooden boards to help viewers see what she calls his micro-movements and also as a canvas for the artist Sharone Halevy, who paints on the boards during the performance. But more than framing distinguishes song from Henrys previous token appearances. Those, he said, were all they gave of me. This one is all of me. And who is that? A devoted father of two teenagers. A mentor who creates a safe space where men can express ourselves emotionally and who helps teach others to navigate through the chaos. A person who believes his most important mission is extending what I know in life to reduce the hurt and turmoil that my people go through most important, that is, next to the dance form being done damn right. When filming on the final season of Succession wrapped this winter, the actor Jeremy Strong flew to the Danish fishing village where he and his wife have a home. Alone, he went for a walk on the beach. I watched the sunset and tried to say goodbye to a character Im sure will always be with me, will always be part of me, he said. For Strong, who began filming the HBO drama seven years ago and won an Emmy for playing Kendall Roy, this was a happy ending. An actor of unusual commitment, he works to give himself over to a role entirely. And with Kendall, the wounded son of Logan Roy (Brian Cox), a brutally successful media mogul, he felt that he had. But for the character, Succession, created by Jesse Armstrong, concluded on bleaker terms. Kendall began Sunday nights finale episode believing that he would emerge as the chief executive of a giant conglomerate. But the final scene, which also took place at the waters edge, also at sunset, left Kendall numb, friendless, bereft. At least eight drones targeted Moscow today in the first attack to hit civilian areas in the Russian capital a potent sign that the war is increasingly reaching the heart of Russia. All of the drones were intercepted, Russian officials said; however, at least three residential buildings were damaged and two residents were injured. Russia blamed Ukraine for the assault, describing it as a terrorist attack. An adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said Kyiv was not directly involved, but was happy to watch. The assault came after yet another overnight bombardment of Kyiv by Russian forces, which left one person dead, and reflects the dialed-up tensions and shifting priorities ahead of Ukraines expected counteroffensive. Ukraine has increasingly been reaching far into Russia-held territory, while Moscow has been adjusting its tactics in an effort to inflict significant damage on Ukraines capital. The most significant impact of todays attack is likely to be psychological. It could force Muscovites to confront the reality of Russias war in Ukraine, which many have worked hard to block from their daily lives. Every morning, as millions of Americans light up the gas stoves in their kitchens to heat some water or griddle their hash browns, they arent just sending delicious breakfast smells wafting through their homes. The blue flames also emit harmful pollutants like nitrogen dioxides, as well as planet-warming gases. So a team of scientists from Stanford recently embarked on a testing tour of New York City apartments to better understand the extent of the pollution and how it flows from room to room in peoples real homes. Its part of a 10-city study that is already showing how contaminants can quickly drift into living rooms and bedrooms, sometimes far beyond the stoves that created them. Concerns over the health and climate effects of gas-burning stoves have already prompted some cities and states to seek to phase out natural gas connections in new buildings, and the federal government has also moved to strengthen efficiency standards for gas stoves. But the issue has become a polarizing one. Last week in Washington, Republicans convened a hearing of the House Oversight Committee examining the Biden administrations regulatory assault on Americans gas stoves. New Yorks Peking duck enthusiasts have had reason to be on edge lately. In the fall, a kitchen fire knocked down Decoy, the small, sunken rathskeller below RedFarm in the West Village that once served what many people considered the finest version of the dish in the city. The restaurant is expected to survive, but it probably wont reopen until this summer. The fire followed the Covid closings, when Peking duck almost the definition of a restaurant dish was impossible to find. And the pandemic came right after the failure and bankruptcy of the Midtown beachhead of DaDong, a Beijing-based chain that couldnt seem to replicate the formula that makes its lean, golden birds so widely respected in China. But there is good news at last. Juqi, in Flushing, Queens, is the first United States edition of a restaurant with about 20 locations in Beijing, all of which specialize in the cuisine of that city. And while it is nice to have a new place to eat zha jiang mian and jiaozi, not to mention cumin lamb and crab-flavored fish, the most impressive item on the menu is the Peking duck. I dont know another restaurant in the city that clears the classic Peking duck hurdles all the fine points of roasting, carving and serving so consistently and satisfyingly. Electric cars may be taking over global roads in top gear but the most-awaited innovation in personal mobility space remains a flying car. While a number of brands and organisations are working towards making these a reality, a Hyundai official has now said it is possible for cars to take to the skies by the end of the ongoing decade. There is enormous potential in allowing cars to lift off and add wings to a motorist's dreams of commuting in the air on a daily basis. The closest the world has come to this is in the form of eVOTL or electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft which is also popularly referred to as flying car. And while there have been a few successful test flights undertaken already, it is not a simple matter of turning the ignition and setting off for the clouds. Hyundai UK top boss Michael Cole recently told TopGear.com that it is possible for such vehicles to become a practical reality for the world by the turn of the decade. We could see some intra-city type application with the Urban Air Mobility for cargo, but maybe for passengers. But thats towards the end of this decade and obviously smaller scale," he reportedly said. Also check these Cars Find more Cars Hyundai I20 7.46 - 10.96 Lakhs* *Ex-showroom price Add to compare Check latest offers Hyundai Kona Electric 23.79 - 23.98 Lakhs* *Ex-showroom price Add to compare Check latest offers UPCOMING Hyundai Exter 6 - 10 Lakhs* *Expected Price View Details Hyundai Venue 1197 cc | Petrol | Manual | 17.52 kmpl 7.53 - 12.72 Lakh* *Ex-showroom price Add to compare Check latest offers Hyundai I20 N Line 9.84 - 11.9 Lakhs* *Ex-showroom price Add to compare Check latest offers Hyundai Ioniq 5 44.95 Lakhs* *Ex-showroom price Add to compare Check latest offers The potential is enormous but so are the challenges. The first batch of flying cars for individuals could be single or double-seat versions even if those meant for ferrying cargo are slightly bigger. And scale would be crucial too which means these would be super expensive for the private buyer once put on the market. And then there is the biggest question of them all - how to regulate air traffic for personal mobility? A paper published by US aviation regulator shed some light into the ecosystem that will eventually be required to allow for flying vehicles to take to the skies, including vertiports. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under US Department of Transportation calls for dedicated corridors monitored and even potentially governed by Cooperative Operating Practices or COP. First Published Date: Members of the Sackler family, the billionaire owners of Purdue Pharma, will receive full immunity from all civil legal claims current and future over their role in the companys prescription opioids business, a federal appeals court panel ruled on Tuesday. The ruling gives the family the sweeping protection that it has been demanding for years, in exchange for payment of up to $6 billion of the familys fortune to help address the ongoing ravages of the opioid crisis. It removes a major hurdle for that money, plus the companys initial outlay of $500 million, to be dispensed to states and communities for addiction treatment and prevention programs, needs that soared during an epidemic that has grown far beyond abuse of Purdues signature prescription painkiller drug, OxyContin. Unless it is successfully appealed to the Supreme Court an unlikely prospect, legal experts said the new ruling will close the door on Purdues hotly contested bankruptcy restructuring, which began nearly four years ago. The bankruptcy is at the core of a plan intended to resolve thousands of opioid cases against the company nationwide, plus roughly 400 against individual Sackler family members. The computer I had in my dorm room was a Macintosh Classic II, with a nine-inch screen that heralded a future when machines would become ever more portable. I was supposed to use the Mac for my schoolwork in linguistics, though I spent many nights writing fiction; I had secret and not entirely formed ambitions of being a writer. Now I carry in my pocket a tiny device that, in addition to everything the Classic II did, can play movies, deliver the news, give directions, send money, book airline tickets and check my royalty statements. It also recognizes my face, listens to everything I say, stores my health records and tracks my location. What I mean to say is that the future was both what I imagined and nothing like what I imagined. Here, too, highways are a good analogy. They dont move in straight lines; they twist and turn; they have offramps that can lead in unexpected or perhaps dangerous directions. In 1999, while trying to write my first novel, I went to work for an internet start-up that competed with Google, Yahoo and AltaVista in the search-engine field. I remember spending hours each day running queries on our site and comparing them with results on competitors sites. The goal was to deliver the best, fastest and most relevant search results for customers. But a couple of years later, a Google engineer noticed that data logs from users searches were more revealing than the search queries themselves, an insight that effectively transformed Google from a simple search engine into a data company. Google began to sell targeted advertising and turned privacy into a commodity, launching what the scholar Shoshana Zuboff calls surveillance capitalism. Californias tech companies have since brought unprecedented connection and convenience to our lives, linking us with loved ones thousands of miles away and delivering information on everything from unclogging the kitchen sink to real-time election results. At the same time, they have collected so much user information that theyve managed to confine us to ideological bubbles, calling free will into question and eroding democratic governance. If you want to know the future, the saying goes, look to California. This is a place that tries out new ideas all the time, and on a scale rarely seen anywhere else. But while California has an exceptional purchase on the future, its also vulnerable to the same exclusionary tendencies that exist elsewhere in the nation. Theres a longstanding friction here between an idealistic push for progress and a nostalgic pull toward the past. Ms. Ciccone did not offer a motive for the killing. She said the investigation was continuing and declined to take questions. She was joined at the news conference by other law enforcement officials; Ms. Dwumfours father and sister; and a minister from Ms. Dwumfours parents church. John Wisniewski, a lawyer for Ms. Dwumfours family, said they were relieved to know that somebody was being charged and going to be held accountable. But because they did not know anything about Mr. Bynum or what might have motivated him, they had a number of questions, he said. Theyre really struggling with the why, Mr. Wisniewski said. Ms. Dwumfour was shot while she was in her car outside the complex of apartment buildings and duplexes where she lived in Parlin just before 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 1, the authorities said. The car rolled down a steep incline before crashing into two cars at the bottom of the hill, the police said. Officers responding to reports of a shooting found Ms. Dwumfour with several gunshot wounds, and she was pronounced dead at the scene, the authorities said. At the news conference, Ms. Ciccone described some of the evidence that led to Mr. Bynums arrest, including security video from the murder scene, location data from his cellphone and electronic toll information that traced his route from Virginia to New Jersey and back. No other state gives its attorney general the power to take control of a local police department, said James E. Tierney, a former attorney general of Maine who works with the National Association of Attorneys General to train lawyers new to the position. It is only the second time that a New Jersey attorney general has exercised that power, and it is the first takeover precipitated by accusations of civil rights abuses. Its a very dramatic thing to do, Mr. Tierney said. The takeover represents a bold attempt to answer a quandary that has long confounded cities and states across the country and boiled over in 2014, when a police officer in Ferguson, Mo., shot and killed Michael Brown: how to fix deep-rooted cultural problems and repair trust in a police department with a history of abuse, particularly in Black and Latino communities. Mr. Platkins move will test whether progressive ideas about law enforcement, many of which have been adopted in other cities wrestling with the same issues, can both restore faith in the police department and tamp down crime. Were taking an enlightened approach to law enforcement in ways that are evidence-based. And its working, Mr. Platkin said. There isnt much evidence for the alternative. Federal civil rights investigators and officials in other states are watching Mr. Platkins actions in Paterson closely, said Alex del Carmen, the court-appointed special master overseeing the Puerto Rico Police Department, which has operated under a federal consent decree since an investigation in 2011 found officers used excessive force and discriminated against racial minorities. As he acknowledged, the story was unusual because it had started with his own experience with Sherry-Lehmann, a New York store that had long been venerated. He wrote that Sherry-Lehmann was to wine what Tiffany & Company is to jewelry and F.A.O. Schwarz was to toys. The store, in an Art Deco-ish building on Park Avenue at East 59th Street, has name recognition. Many New Yorkers who dont know wine know about Sherry-Lehmann. So do connoisseurs. One of the reasons I went there was it had such a good reputation, and it had a broad array of the wines I like from France and Italy an assortment, reasonably priced, Stewart told me. I would never dream of paying more than $100 a bottle, and there were good wines there at $15 or $20 a bottle. But there are times when you cannot judge a store by what you see at the counter. Sherry-Lehmanns problems predated the pandemic, but he told me that the company was uniquely hurt when New York, that most extroverted of cities, became an introvert. The customer base on the Upper East Side left town, debilitating the companys bottom line, Stewart told me. This, in a year when alcohol sales jumped 2.9 percent, the largest annual increase in more than 50 years, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The problem for Sherry-Lehmann was that Champagne stopped flowing because large gatherings like weddings and holiday parties were out of the question. For people who know their wine, Sherry-Lehmann was something more than a retail store with Park Avenue respectability. It was like a broker handling commodities futures. Just as there are corn futures and soybean futures, there are wine futures, which struck me as a concept a business reporter would love. You are either with us or against us. This dictum has sorted humans into opposing camps for centuries. Cicero is said to have spoken these words to Julius Caesar. Political leaders across the globe still use them to rally support. With great-power tensions rising and wars raging, the idea of neutrality these days may seem to many people anachronistic at best and amoral at worst. But we must make space for staying neutral to preserve our own humanity. Today, there are a great many places where neutral humanitarian action is under grave threat. Taking sides in conflict is a natural impulse. It is also something that my organization, the International Committee of the Red Cross, cannot do. If we did, it wouldnt be possible to provide humanitarian assistance to people across the worlds most contentious theaters of armed conflict. Heres the problem: Civilians affected by armed conflict whether in Ukraine, Sudan or Syria are not always receiving the assistance they deserve. Worse, theyre being injured and killed in the crossfire or when combatants violate the laws of war. A few months ago, while meeting with an A.I. executive in San Francisco, I spotted a strange sticker on his laptop. The sticker depicted a cartoon of a menacing, octopus-like creature with many eyes and a yellow smiley-face attached to one of its tentacles. I asked what it was. Oh, thats the Shoggoth, he explained. Its the most important meme in A.I. And with that, our agenda was officially derailed. Forget about chatbots and compute clusters I needed to know everything about the Shoggoth, what it meant and why people in the A.I. world were talking about it. The executive explained that the Shoggoth had become a popular reference among workers in artificial intelligence, as a vivid visual metaphor for how a large language model (the type of A.I. system that powers ChatGPT and other chatbots) actually works. A bipartisan deal to suspend the federal debt ceiling advanced on Tuesday night toward a climactic House vote despite a rebellion by hard-right Republicans who said the party was squandering a chance to force fundamental changes in government spending. In the legislations first test, the House Rules Committee voted to clear the way for debate on the plan to be held Wednesday. Seven Republicans voted to send the measure on, while two others joined with Democrats to oppose doing so. Not one Republican should vote for this bill, Representative Chip Roy, a Texas Republican and influential member of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus, said hours before the committee vote. We will continue to fight it today, tomorrow, and no matter what happens, theres going to be a reckoning about what just occurred unless we stop this bill by tomorrow. Mr. Roy and Representative Ralph Norman of South Carolina, another ultraconservative member of the panel, broke with their party to oppose allowing the plan to be considered, but a third right-wing Republican on the committee, Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, voted to move it to the floor despite some misgivings. On Monday morning, hours after part of a century-old apartment building crumbled onto a downtown street, officials in Davenport, Iowa, said they were not aware of anyone still trapped in the rubble. That afternoon, as cleaved-off brick from the unsteady structure left the insides of units exposed, the city announced that its Fire Department had turned over control of the site and that recovery work had begun. Demolition, they said, was expected to commence the next day. But by nightfall on Memorial Day, it was clear that Davenport leaders had badly miscalculated: After protesters gathered at the site, rescue crews found a resident inside the building and pulled her to safety. The immediate question I know people are asking is, How did she get there? And why wasnt she found earlier? Mayor Mike Matson said Tuesday as officials acknowledged that more people remained missing. I am totally transparent with you. I do not know. We do not know. The facts surrounding the shooting are mostly undisputed. Judy Clarke, one of the lawyers representing Mr. Bowers, 50, said there was no disagreement that he killed 11 congregants that October morning, adding that he had caused extraordinary harm to many, many people. But before the jury can consider the death penalty, the panel must decide whether Mr. Bowers is guilty. He is facing 63 federal charges, including 11 counts of hate crimes resulting in death and 11 counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death. This stage of the trial is likely to be dominated by the governments case, with prosecutors describing how Mr. Bowers carried out his rampage and detailing the hate that they argue fueled it. Mr. Bowerss lawyers have offered to resolve the case with guilty pleas on all counts, in exchange for a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of release, but federal prosecutors have rejected these offers. If Mr. Bowers is found guilty, proceedings will follow to determine whether he should be sentenced to death. That is when his lawyers are expected to make their case, arguing that even if he did commit the murders, Mr. Bowers does not deserve to be put to death. Soo C. Song, one of the prosecutors, began her opening statement by describing how each of the victims arrived at the synagogue on Oct. 27, 2018, most of them older people in the sanctuary and refuge of their holy place. The 22 people at the synagogue that morning, half of whom would be killed, were from three different congregations: Tree of Life, New Light and Dor Hadash. The Torah text, Ms. Song said, was on the imperative to welcome the stranger. Beijing (Gasgoo)- On May 29, iFLYTEK, the Chinese intelligent speech solution provider, and the Chinese automaker Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC) signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation framework agreement in Hefei, Anhui Province. Signing ceremony; photo credit: iFLYTEK Per the agreement, built on JMC's overall layout in the automotive industry and iFLYTEK's expertise in automotive intelligence, the collaboration will focus on deepening cooperation in intelligent interaction, intelligent sound effects, smart cockpits, and intelligent driving. Utilizing the power of iFLYTEK's newly launched "Spark Desk" AI cognitive model, the duo will work to enhance the human-vehicle interaction experience and optimize JMCs supply chain deployment, while promoting the technological reserves and application of smart cockpits, autonomous driving, and domestically produced chips. In terms of smart cockpits, iFLYTEK's intelligent voice interaction system offers a multi-round, multi-user, multi-area, and multimodal intelligent human-vehicle interaction paradigm. With the integration of the "Spark Desk" AI cognitive model, communication will become more natural and human-like. Moreover, Spark Desk can help iFLYTEK customize a dedicated knowledge base for each vehicle, allowing the vehicle to introduce and guide users in specific scenarios. By loading specialized manuals, it enables features such as vehicle control guidance, maintenance, repair service access, and service integration, connecting the automaker with users and transforming from service experience to operational value. Notably, the cooperation with JMC represents iFLYTEK's attempt to apply its "Spark Desk" cognitive model onto intelligent vehicles, providing a solid foundation for further exploration and innovation in the automotive industry. Allies of former Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey have formed a super PAC to support him in the nascent Republican primary, as he makes preparations for a likely campaign kickoff in the next two weeks, according to an official with the group and others briefed on the matter. Mr. Christies candidacy is likely to to focus in part on drawing a stark contrast with former President Donald J. Trump. Mr. Christie supported Mr. Trump in 2016 and worked with him during his presidency, but they split over Mr. Trumps claims on election night in 2020 that the race was stolen from him. People who have been close to Mr. Christie for years are leading the outside group, Tell It Like It Is, which is laying the groundwork for an imminent announcement, one of the people briefed on the matter said. Brian Jones, an aide who advised Senator John McCains presidential bid in 2008 and Mitt Romneys in 2012, will run the effort. William P. Palatucci, a longtime adviser to Mr. Christie and a Republican National Committee member, will be the chair. Another long-serving adviser to Mr. Christie, Russ Schriefer, will oversee messaging as a senior adviser; and Brent Seaborn, a veteran data guru, will focus on voter targeting. The stop was the first in a three-state, 12-city tour that Mr. DeSantiss team hopes can begin the arduous process of chipping away at former President Donald J. Trumps advantage in early polls of the 2024 Republican primary race. Mr. DeSantis did not mention Mr. Trump by name in his speech. But he left little doubt about some of the areas in which he planned to draw contrasts with the former president in the coming months, including how each leader handled the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic more than three years ago and his ability to win in 2024. Later, in a news conference, he sharpened the contrast. The former president is now attacking me saying that Cuomo did better handling Covid than Florida did, Mr. DeSantis said, referring to former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York, a Democrat. I can tell you this. I could count the number of Republicans in this country on my hands that would rather have lived in New York under Cuomo than lived in Florida in our freedom zone. Hell, his whole family moved to Florida under my governorship, are you kidding me? Mr. DeSantis added later of Mr. Trump. For millions of Americans with federal student loan debt, the payment holiday is about to end. Legislation to raise the debt ceiling and cut spending includes a provision that would require borrowers to begin repaying their loans again by the end of the summer after a yearslong pause imposed during the coronavirus pandemic. President Biden had already warned that the pause would end around the same time, but the legislation, if it passes in the coming days, would prevent him from issuing another last-minute extension, as he has already done several times. The end of the pause will affect millions of Americans who have taken out federal student loans to pay for college. Across the United States, 45 million people owe $1.6 trillion for such loans more than Americans owe for any kind of consumer debt other than mortgages. The economic impact of the pandemic has faded since President Donald J. Trump first paused student loan payments in March 2020. Many Americans lost their jobs at the outset of the public health crisis, undercutting their ability to repay their loans on time. The number of jobs in the United States now exceeds prepandemic levels. Why It Matters: Some Republicans want to prioritize aid to Taiwan. Ms. Hsiaos statement rebuts arguments by a few Republican lawmakers and former U.S. officials that the United States should decrease weapons aid to Ukraine in order to prioritize building up Taiwans defense capabilities and U.S. military resources aimed at countering China. Senator Josh Hawley, Republican of Missouri, is making this argument, as is Elbridge Colby, a Pentagon official in the Trump administration who has advised Mr. Hawley. They say some of the same missile and weapons systems that Taiwan needs for preventing a potential Chinese invasion including Javelins, Stingers and Patriots are being sent to Ukraine. The fastest way for the weapons to reach partner nations is through a process known as the presidential drawdown authority, which allows the U.S. government to transfer arms from the Pentagons stockpiles. But those reserves have been depleted by aid to Ukraine. Those current and former Republican officials also say Taiwan should take priority in receiving weapons that roll off production lines years in the future. Ms. Hsiao said she is not concerned about that since Taiwans weapons orders are on a separate track from those of other governments. Background: China wants Taiwan under its rule, eventually. Ms. Hsiaos main big-picture point is that China is watching Russias invasion of Ukraine closely and drawing lessons from it. The greater the cost to Russia, the less likely it is that China will take similar steps, the thinking goes. Our best hope is that Beijing also takes the lesson that aggression will not succeed, that there will be tremendous international pushback against aggression, she said. China is Russias most powerful partner, and the two nations declared their relationship had no limits before President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Xi Jinping, the leader of China, has continued to show support for Mr. Putin, but so far has refrained from giving weapons aid to Russia, U.S. officials say. This shows that China is being cautious about running afoul of sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and other nations. Like Chinese leaders before him, Mr. Xi has asserted that Taiwan must eventually come under the rule of China. But senior Biden administration officials say there is no intelligence indicating Mr. Xi has explicitly laid out a timeline for this. Ms. Hsiao said Taiwan does not have evidence of a specific timeline either. Whats Next: Taiwan is ramping up its own preparedness. The U.S. government is determined to turn Taiwan into a porcupine, an entity bristling with weapons that would be too painful to attack. Ms. Hsiao said Taiwan is aware of the need to build up military deterrence while assuring China it wants to maintain the status quo rather than declaring independence. She noted that Taiwan is increasing the length of its compulsory military service for men from four months to one year; is working with the United States to improve military training; and is creating the capability to service F-16 fighter jets on its own. Rosalynn Carter, the wife of former President Jimmy Carter and a longtime advocate for greater access to mental health care, has dementia, the Carter Center said on Tuesday. The announcement came just over three months after the center said that Mr. Carter, who at 98 is the longest living president in American history, had decided to forgo further medical treatment and would enter hospice care at the couples home in Plains, Ga. The center said on Tuesday that Mrs. Carter, 95, continues to live happily at home with her husband, enjoying spring in Plains and visits with loved ones. We recognize, as she did more than half a century ago, that stigma is often a barrier that keeps individuals and their families from seeking and getting much-needed support, the center said. We hope sharing our familys news will increase important conversations at kitchen tables and in doctors offices around the country. I spent my college years at U.C. Berkeley and got my first job in the heart of San Francisco, before the electric scooters and delivery robots descended. I eventually moved to New York, seeing California only in short spurts during the holidays, watching the hills roll by on my way to and from the airport. Ive been back now for about six years, watching my kids develop their own personal relationships with this state. With every re-entry into California, Ive encountered a new version of the state. Ive watched it become drier and more expensive. Ive marveled at its natural beauty, my eyes never quite adjusting. Ive watched neighborhoods crop up, spreading deeper into the suburbs, while cities have struggled to build. So much seems to have changed in such a short time: We have been reshaped by fire and drought and tech and money and politics. As someone who lives here, and has lived here before, and before that, I wonder how the state will continue to transform. What Californias will my kids discover as they grow? Thats the lens through which I envisioned the California issue, which will be published online this week and will be available in print on Sunday. What does the future of this state hold? And what does its future mean for the rest of the country? I worked with a talented team of editors and writers, many of whom live or have lived in California. The issue explores Silicon Valleys obsession with A.I., how YIMBY-ism is reshaping housing in the Bay Area and the shifting political landscape in the San Joaquin Valley. It also dives into the states evolving relationship with extreme bouts of wet and dry, the future of Californias ability to set policy in other states, Southern Californias embrace of Latinidad and what the states history can tell us about where were headed. Voters in Alberta, the oil-rich western province that is a bastion of conservatism in Canada, kept its conservative government in power on Monday but substantially reduced the number of seats it holds in the legislature, data from Canadas national broadcaster indicated. The result, while a win for conservatives, is likely to be seen as a rebuff of the politics of Danielle Smith, the hard-right leader of the United Conservative Party who has been Albertas premier for seven months. Ms. Smith came to power after the party effectively rejected a more moderate conservative, Jason Kenney, as premier over his refusal to end pandemic restrictions and vaccine mandates. That revolt, led by a socially conservative wing of the party, reflected the anger in Canada that also led to the formation of a truckers convoy that paralyzed Ottawa, the national capital, for nearly a month. The views of Ms. Smith, a former radio talk show host and newspaper columnist who previously led another conservative party, are firmly aligned with that faction. She has declared that the unvaccinated were the most discriminated-against group shed seen in her lifetime and suggested that police officers who enforced pandemic measures had committed crimes. In May, a video surfaced of her likening people who chose to be vaccinated to Germans who came to support Hitler. As wildfires buffeted western Canada on Tuesday, a blaze on the opposite end of the country in Halifax, Nova Scotia, has forced the evacuation of more than 16,000 people, compounding the national anxiety over out-of-control wildfires upending peoples lives. Video footage of downtown Halifax late Sunday showed a dense plume of smoke enveloping the city, the sun an apocalyptic red, as a fire northwest of the city raged, spreading the smoke. The blaze broke out in an area that is about 15 miles from Halifax and that is home to many suburban professionals and families. Wildfires have broken out throughout western Canada, including British Columbia, and hardest hit has been Alberta, an oil- and gas-producing province sometimes referred to as the Texas of the North. Earlier this month, the province declared a state of emergency. Climate research suggests that heat and drought associated with global warming are major reasons for bigger and stronger fires. Ten years ago, Emine Kilic was focused on raising her two children at home in Istanbul when she decided to set up her own clothing company to help support her family. Her business, started with an interest-free government-backed loan for female entrepreneurs, now employs 60 people and exports to 15 countries, said Ms. Kilic, who has an elementary-school education. She credited a powerful motivator who inspired her to transform her life President Recep Tayyip Erdogan calling him a champion for women. Thanks to my president, I became the boss of my own company, said Ms. Kilic, 38. She said she had voted for him for years and did so again to help him secure another presidential term on Sunday. To beat back the most serious political threat to his two-decade tenure as Turkeys dominant politician, Mr. Erdogan counted on the fervent support of an often underappreciated constituency: conservative religious women. BERLIN Germanys coalition government was always an awkward trio of center-left Social Democrats, climate-conscious Greens and pro-business Free Democrats. Yet in the heady days after their election victory in 2021, the parties vowed to stick to a tradition of consensus-driven politics, keeping the drama behind closed doors. Those doors have now swung open. In recent days, the parties have engaged in an unusual level of public sniping over a wonkish bill with the seemingly humble aim of reducing fossil fuel emissions from heaters in homes and other buildings. While the stakes would seem relatively minor, the level of vitriol has been anything but, reflecting a new era in which Germanys once-staid politics have turned more fractious. No one is predicting a collapse of the coalition. But the public sparring has raised questions over how Germany will meet commitments to Europes climate goals as well as Chancellor Olaf Scholzs ability to maintain effective stewardship of Europes most powerful economy. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Li Auto announced on May 29 via its WeChat account that it has deployed 25 own-brand supercharging stations nationwide, and had access to over 534,000 third-party charging piles. The company said it will continue to accelerate the construction of infrastructure networks to provide convenient and worry-free charging experiences. Photo credit: Li Auto Each Li Auto supercharging station is equipped with three 250 kW 2C fast charging piles and one 480 kW 4C ultra-fast charging pile. At the Auto Shanghai 2023, Li Auto said it planned to commence trial operation of the first 25 supercharging stations by the end of May and would open them to all electric vehicle owners. Meanwhile, the company also introduced its 800-volt fast charging solution, which allows its battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to achieve a driving range of 400 kilometers with just a 10-minute charge. By simultaneously advancing their extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) and high-power charging (HPC) BEVs, the company is embarking on a new chapter. Its goal is to establish a diverse model portfolio consisting of one super flagship vehicle, five EREVs, and five HPC BEVs by 2025. The BEV solution offered by Li Auto incorporates an 800-volt electric drive system utilizing the third-generation silicon carbide power modules, batteries with 4C charging capabilities, a thermal management system designed to function across a wide temperature range, and a fast charging network. Li Auto endeavors to build over 300 fast charging stations along highways by the end of 2023, covering four major economic zones including the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta region, the Great Bay Area, and the Chengdu-Chongqing region. By 2025, the company aims to build more than 3,000 charging stations across China, which would cover 90% of the country's major cities and highways. Dozens of NATO peacekeepers were injured this week in northern Kosovo when they clashed with ethnic Serbs, raising fears of a larger escalation between Serbia and Kosovo. The violence came after Kosovos ethnic Albanian leadership sent heavily armed security forces to take control of town municipal buildings, the latest turn in a dispute that has roots going back to the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s. Kosovo, where a majority of the population is ethnic Albanian and Muslim, declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, almost a decade after NATOs bombing campaign that drove Serb forces, responsible for years of brutal mistreatment of ethnic Albanians, from Kosovo. Since then, the two countries have clashed over Kosovos treatment of its minority ethnic Serb population. Jean Hannah Edelstein, an assistant at The Observer from 2007 to 2009, said Mr. Cohen was not alone in his behavior. She recalled her editor hitting her with a sex whip as she walked by. Over one boozy lunch, she said, the same editor offered to help her career and suggested that she pose naked to promote her book. Several journalists said Mr. Cohens reputation for groping was far from secret, and five women said he had groped them after work at pubs, including one who said he had groped her five or six times in 2008. Another woman, a freelance journalist who had recently been homeless and had depression, said she had met Mr. Cohen at a pub in 2010 to discuss her career. As they chatted, she said, he suddenly kissed her on the mouth and pressed his erection against her thigh. She said she fled. I just remember walking along Waterloo Bridge and thinking, I cant go to The Guardian with this. Who would they believe? she said. He was one of their stars, and I was a freelance journalist with mental health issues. Ms. Brooke, the investigative journalist, said she had initially dismissed her encounter with Mr. Cohen at the 2008 awards ceremony as a one-off drunken mistake and didnt take it further. (Nick Cohen got drunk and slapped my ass ugh! she wrote in her diary the next day.) But she said that now I know that this is a pattern of behavior over 20 years. I think its really important to speak out. Moscow came under a drone attack early Tuesday, according to Russian officials, the first strike to hit civilian areas in the capital and another sign that the war in Ukraine is increasingly touching the heart of Russia. Here is what we know about the attack. What happened? Explosions were reported in Moscow early on Tuesday morning, with Russias Defense Ministry saying that at least eight drones had targeted the capital and the surrounding region. All of the drones were intercepted, the ministry said in a statement, saying that electronic jamming measures forced some to deviate from intended targets and that others had been shot down outside the city limits by air defenses. It did not specify what the targets may have been. A barrage of attack drones were downed over Moscow on Tuesday, the first time civilian areas of the Russian capital have been touched directly by the Ukrainian conflict and a signal that a distant war may soon begin to feel somewhat less so for ordinary Russians. The physical damage was minimal, limited to shattered apartment windows and some minor injuries in an upscale neighborhood, but the psychological impact may prove far bigger for a citizenry that to date has been able to go about daily life with little thought for the bloodshed taking place over the border. If the goal was to stress the population, then the very fact that drones have appeared in the skies over Moscow has contributed to that, wrote one pro-war Russian blogger, Mikhail Zvinchuk, who posts under the name Rybar. The drones, numbering at least eight, came as Russia has been engaged in a particularly sustained aerial assault on Ukraines own capital, Kyiv. And while President Vladimir V. Putin blamed Ukraine for what he branded terrorist activity, no one was killed in Moscow on Tuesday. The same could not be said for Kyiv, where one person died in the Russian attacks. For days, Venetians have wondered what caused a swath of their citys famous Grand Canal to turn bright green. On Monday, the authorities had an answer: Test samples of the water confirmed that the canals bright new hue was caused by fluorescein, a chemical often used to find leaks during underwater construction. Now, Italian officials are investigating how the chemical got into the canal. The regional environmental agency for the state of Veneto, which includes Venice, confirmed the presence of fluorescein in the canal near the Rialto Bridge and said a complete analysis of the water samples would be completed in the next few days. Still, officials do not know who or what was behind the color. Luca Zaia, the president of the Veneto region, said on Facebook on Monday that the possibility of copycats was worrying. A United Nations operation to avert a catastrophic oil spill in the Red Sea by salvaging a decaying supertanker off the coast of Yemen is moving forward this week after years of delays. The oil tanker, the FSO Safer, holds more than one million barrels of oil, about four times the amount leaked in the disastrous Exxon Valdez spill of 1989. A crew that plans to inspect the rusting tanker set sail on Monday from Djibouti in East Africa to the port of Hudaydah on Yemens west coast, arriving on Tuesday. The tanker is moored north of the port city and was once the site of fierce battles in the countrys eight-year-old war, which created one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises. If all goes as planned, the teams inspection will pave the way for an operation to transfer the oil to a seaworthy tanker purchased by the United Nations this year. Pupils in Gortnamona National School have become experts in the battle to save our natural world, and have been named as the Global citizenship school of the year for 2023. Ms Morrissey and the Green team in the school are very proud of their efforts, and a delegation travelled to Kilkenny to accept their regional award. There was great excitement however, when they were also announced as the overall National winner! The team have been focusing mainly on energy consumption, and have come up with innovative ideas to raise awareness.They have also worked on raising awareness of other social justice issues, such as fair trade, and the UN sustainable development goals. Their code: Be noble, think global! Another delegation will travel to Dublin shortly to claim another award - The 'Our world' Irish aid awards will be held in UCD in June, the school has been named as a finalist, and the team will be keeping their fingers crossed again! A defendant who was a small cog, but a cog nonetheless in a significant criminal venture was handed down a 15 month sentence, but had it suspended for three years at Longford Circuit Criminal Court. Patrick Clyne (47), of 22 The Hollows, Longford entered a plea of guilty to the charge of possession of a car engine at Teemore Industrial Estate, Granard on March 14, 2017. Garda Padraig Fahey outlined the details of the case to the court. The officers said the defendant was one of three people to come to Garda attention in respect of a raid on multiple premises in 2017. Garda Fahey said whereas one was already prosecuted another person, Edward Stokes, the main party in the eyes of the State, absconded to the UK. The prosecution said Mr Clyne was reckless rather than active in his involvement in the matter. Garda Fahey said in 2015 an investigation commenced when a member of the public entered a Garda station in Kerry. They were going to buy a vehicle from Edward Stokes and put a deposit down. After making enquiries they realised the vehicle had been clocked by 100,000 km. They tried to withdraw from the sale and get the deposit back, but the vendor refused. Garda Fahey said a wider investigation led to a number of vehicles parked at a derelict site in Edgeworthstown. The witness said up to six of those vehicles, mostly Ford Transits, were stolen. On March 14, 2017 six other locations were searched, among them an industrial unit at Teemore Industrial Estate, Granard. Mr Clyne was working in this unit. The court was told a number of engines were on the floor of the unit. Vans were stolen in England and shipped to northern Ireland with false number plates. Damaged or old Transits were bought in Ireland and the identity of the stolen vehicles was switched with the legitimate vehicles. These were in turn chopped and the parts sold online. The VIN numbers were ground down and re-stamped. The officer outlined an extensive investigation that led them to Edward Stokes and Amadeusz Dziubinski. Although most of the engines found on the floor of the industrial unit Mr Clyne was working in had their VIN numbers scored off, one was identifiable. This was the engine the defendant pleaded guilty to possessing. The court was told it was stolen in the UK a year before, but the owner did not engage with the investigation. Mr Clyne was working for the man who was not before the court. Although he had not been a financial beneficiary of the sales of the stolen vehicles he did facilitate online sales, brought the vehicles for VRT testing and allowed the use of his bank account for online transactions. The defendant's counsel said Mr Clyne, despite coming from a good family, had racked up a debt of 5,000 after abusing drink and drugs. The court was told the defendant borrowed money off the main party, Mr Stokes. He cooperated with the investigation, and had no relevant convictions. The state accepted the plea of guilty was significant as there were 47 witnesses listed in the book of evidence into the significant criminal enterprise. The court heard the main protagonist was still at large, despite the extensive work undertaken in the Garda investigation. Counsel described Mr Clyne as a good family man adding: In all circumstances the offending is deserving of prison, but I am asking you not to impose it immediately. In his summation Judge Kenneth Connolly spoke of the substantial and expensive investigation into the elaborate criminal scheme. He said whereas Mr Clyne was a relatively small cog, he is a cog nonetheless. The judge said the defendant was very foolish to allow his bank account to be used by another person and this was a significant factor. With regard to Mr Stokes the judge noted: The warrant is still live, so he may be back to face the music in due course. Judge Connolly said rehabilitation should be at the heart of any sentence imposed. The judge set the headline sentence in the mid-range at two-and-a-half years. He described it as an unusual case as someone who had no material gain from the venture, no relevant previous and was otherwise a good family man should not have been involved in the criminal venture. Judge Connolly noted Mr Clyne was back working in gainful employment and said he was impressed the defendant had gotten out of the situation he was in. The judge mitigated the original sentence to one of 15 months in prison, but said he would suspend it for a period of three years on condition the defendant keep the peace, have not contact with Edward Stokes or Amadeusz Dziubinski and pay the sum of 750 within six weeks to the local council charity. It was a week of finals with seven in all with prize money in excess of 2k being divided out around most of the tracks with some brilliant displays from Offaly dogs too. Racing in the UK brought the first round of the English Derby where the Irish dogs dominated proceedings. Another magical week of racing with super crowds in attendance. Early Week Racing First final of the week, in Enniscorthy on Monday, with the running of the ON1 April unraced stake won last year by Roanna Daisy. The 3k first prize went to Gowran trainer Paul Hennessy as Dairyhill Stella (Ballymac Best- Dairyhill Josie) showed why she was 4/5 fav when winning by two lengths in 28.77(20 slow). Dairyhill was the class greyhound in this stake winning four of the five rounds with considerable ease. Shelbourne, Thursday, in the final of the This Runs Deep A4 stake, Ballyhoe Samhain (Cushie Jet - All Time Low) was first home in 29.00 by one length at 2/1 with a cheque of 1.75k going to Miss Mairead McCarthy. Two Offaly winners on the supporting card, both for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman and both in A5 contests. Coolemount Polly was his first winner in 29.05 by a head at 3/1. His other winner was Highview Rosie who stopped the clock at 28.95 by four lengths at 1/1 fav. Back to Enniscorthy, in the final of the GRI Spring A4 stake, Woolies Yankee (Jaytee Yankee - Woolies Cheyenne) won the 3k first prize in 29.40 (20 slow) by a short head for Larry Ellard. Friday racing Kilkenny, first round of the Mary Ramsbottom Memorial ON2 unraced stake, four heats, all won in smart times, with the fastest being Hey Champ in 29.31 (20 slow) by five lengths at 5/2 for Tommy Flynn. Newbridge staged one of their big nights of the year, the final of The Friends Of Newbridge A1 550 Derby, the 3.5k purse went to Prince Lucius (Crash - Limini) in a super 29.97 by two lengths at 7/4 for Navan based trainer Oliver Bray Lucius was in top form all through this stake as he went through it unbeaten and a well deserved winner. It was a super night for Oliver Bray as he had the winner of the big race in Shelbourne too, in the final of the Islandbridge Open Sprint, Gallant Knight (Droopys Sydney - Silver Penny) won by a short head at 3/1 in 18.91 with another 3k going to the Meath trainer. In the first round of the GRI Summer AO stake, seven heats with Hawkfield Blue going fastest for Newbridge owner Jerry Connors and trainer Keeley McGee in a super 28.17 by nine lengths at 6/4 fav. In Tralee, in the final of the Lee Strand A3 550 stake, Allowdale Icon (Droopys Sydney - Allowdale Coco) was on the winners podium with a handsome cheque of 6.5k going to Daniel and Eimear Roche in 29.85 (10 fast) by two lengths at 9/4. Saturday Racing In Cork, in the final of the Curraheen Park A2 Spring Derby, Montana Fantasy (Droopys Sydney -Droopys Cuckoo) took the right night to win her only round of this stake and claim the 8.5k first prize in 28.47 by two lengths at 5/1 for owners Martin and Barry OReilly with local trainer John Linehan at the helm. In the first round of the Deadly Kennels Open 750, won last year by Ballybough Champ for Murt Leahy, four heats all won in top class times. Kinturk Road set the standard for Liam Dowling in 41.84 by two lengths at 2/1. First Offaly winner on Saturday night was in Dundalk as Benazzi win an S5 400 yard race for Edenderry owners Keith and John Duffy in a swift 21.36 by two lengths. Galway hosted the first round of an A4 sweepstake, four heats with Cappaneale Lulu easily delivering the fastest run for Birr owners Micheal Pardy and Jack Carroll in 29.13 (10 slow) by four lengths at 4/6 fav. One Offaly winner in Mullingar, in the final of an ON2 unraced contest, Ekin Su (Droopys Sydney - Zola Princess) was even money fav when winning by three lengths in 29.77 (50 slow) with the 500 cheque going to Edenderry owner Paul and David Hanlon. Eight magnificent heats in the second round of the Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks in Shelbourne Park. Last years winner Rafa Mofo has certainly laid down the gauntlet when winning her heat in a super 27.96 by eight lengths at 1/1 fav. The Murt Leahy trained bitch is certainly not going to relinquish her trophy without a battle. Breaking the 28.00 barrier has only been done a handful of times and shows the quality of this exceptional bitch. Surely the track record is within her grasp. Next best on the clock was Quivers Magic for Adam Dunford in 28.25. One Offaly winner in Waterford, in the semi-finals of the Bergin Monumental Works A3 stake, Greizman was first back in kennels for Keith Duffy in 28.87 by one length at a short 4/7 fav with Robert Gleeson training. English Derby The first round of the Star Sports/TRC English Derby got underway this week with heats being run on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. At declaration stage thirty one Irish dogs were entered but four were withdrawn due to injury, Irish hopes rested with the remaining twenty seven, all with a chance. Thursday was a super night at the Towcester track in Northamptonshire for the Irish dogs with eleven going into traps with all eleven qualifying. We had a brilliant six winners with two for Brendan Mathews and four for champion trainer Graham Holland. Holland's proudest probably being last years champion Romeo Magico who was back to his best coming from off the pace to win by half a length in 29.43. Other winners were Romeo Hanzo, Cryptopunk and Swords Rex for Holland and Undulation and As I Say for Mathews. Friday, another three Emerald Isle winners, with Clona Duke the stand out performer in round one when breaking the track record in Towcester for Holland. Having already won the Juvenile Derby in Shelbourne last October and the Select Stakes in Waterford last month he certainly laid down a firm marker that he is the dog to beat when stopping the clock at a new marker of 28.76. Holland had a double on the night with Gaytime Nemo in 28.95. Liam Dowling completed the trio of winners as Ballymac Marino won by nine lengths in 28.95. Two more Irish winners on Saturday night, Dowling was back on the winners podium with Ballymac Joey in 29.17 and Beepers Lariat brought our winning numbers to eleven in the first round for Jack Kennelly in 29.53. Of the twenty seven Irish dogs who started the week twenty four qualified which is a remarkable return and certainly puts us in the frame to retain the trophy in English dog racing blue ribbon event. Sunday racing Two Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar both for the Joness kennel in Moneygall. In an A5 grade Lingrawn Lola won for Mary Jones in 30.28 (70 slow) by one length at a big price of 14/1. Also in an A5 race Lingrawn Focus won for Liam Jones in 29.72 (50 slow) by five lengths at 4/1. At the evening meeting in Kilkenny, in the final of the Champion Open unraced stake.It was a brilliant win for Offaly dog Carrick Fergie (Dorotas Wildcat - Droopys Zero) in 28.76 (20 slow) at 3/1 with the 15k first prize going to Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn with Rathangan trainer Gleeson training. A super win and certainly a bright future ahead for this young dog. Upcoming Events Friday, semi-finals of the Mary Ramsbottom Memorial unraced in Kilkenny and second round of the GRI Summer AO in Shelbourne. Saturday, semi-finals of an A4 sweepstake in Galway, quarterfinals of the Irish Oaks in Shelbourne, final of the Bergin Monumental Works A3 in Waterford and second round of the English Derby in Towcester on both Friday and Saturday. Tribune Offaly dog of the week Another easy decision this week as Carrick Fergie won the final of the Champion Open Unraced Stake in Kilkenny on Sunday for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn. Well deserved dog of the week. Offaly Winners There were nine Offaly winners this week. Congratulations to all who contributed in any small way. BROOMFIELD, Colo.Pleasure products distributor Eldorado Trading Company is celebrating the retirement of longtime sales account manager Jeff Waterstreet. A Colorado transplant, Waterstreet first joined Eldorado in August 1977. As one of the 12 employees in the original Boulder location, he worked in the warehouse, packing orders. At the time, Eldorado was stocking smoke products. By 1980, Waterstreet was offered a job in sales and began working with retail stores. Waterstreet sold smoke products for Eldorado for nine years, before the distributor shifted their focus to adult pleasure products in 1989. Derek DalPiaz, Eldorados sales and marketing director, shares, Jeff has been a blast to work with. Hes always in a good mood and has the best one-liners ever! He also is a wealth of knowledge about everything adultproducts, vendors, customers, and the history of Eldorado and the industry. He will be missed, and the office just wont be the same. Im very happy that Ive had time to work with him and get to know him. I wish him the best in retirement. Eldorado CEO Wanda Garland recalls, Jeff evolved with Eldorado over the last 46 years, from our early days distributing smoking accessories and throughout all our time within the pleasure products industry. Jeff is quite a character and has a great sense of humor. We couldnt have asked for a more loyal and dedicated worker! He has been an integral part of the company for a very long time and will be missed. Heres to Jeff and may he have a great retirement! Eldorado celebrated Waterstreets retirement with a commemorative plaque and cupcakes for the entire Eldorado team. He and his wife Sherry plan to move to move Kansas to be closer to their family. When asked for a quote for his final PR, Waterstreet chose to reference the Grateful Dead: What a long, strange trip its been. THE former Texas site in Tullamore is in the process of being demolished. The old store which was once a hive of activity, has lain idle for a long number of years. It is now being knocked to the ground to make way for a major branch of a well known supermarket chain. In 2018 the Texas and Tesco sites at Kilbride Plaza were acquired by two prominent local businessmen, Tony Flanagan of Weavermay and Seamus Kane of Cayenne Holdings. Both have different plans for their respective sites and fencing was recently erected dividing both sides. The Texas site is zoned 'Town Centre' and an 'Opportunity Site'. In the original planning application submitted by Weavermay, the proposal was for one single-storey dual-height 1,664 sq. metre retail store to include an off licence. A three storey 874 square metre retail/office unit and a two-storey 281 sq metre cafe. Car and bicycle parking was included in the plan. At that time, Tony Flanagan, Director of Weavermay, said, ''the addition to Tullamore of a supermarket would be a great regeneration of footfall for the town centre and its existing retailers.'' He stressed that the ''proposal is an opportunity to revitalise this town centre site.'' However, the council requested a redesign of the site and contended that the proposal by Weavermay may have been at variance with the requirements of the Urban Development and Building Heights, Guidelines for Planning Authorities, given what it said was "the lack of diversity of uses proposed, the lack of housing and the lack of density." Despite this planning approval for the site was granted to Weavermay in 2022. Below an image of the plan submitted by Weavermay for the former Texas site in Tullamore Work is currently continuing at pace and a substantial part of the buildings have already been pulled down. Bulldozers, diggers and workmen have been on-site since the end of last week and the demolition is expected to be completed in the near future. Work at the site will be welcomed by locals, as the area had become a serious eyesore in the centre of Tullamore. The general air of dereliction did no favours for the town especially in Tidy Towns adjudications. Once a vibrant and bustling retail centre with attracted people from all over the country it had become a sad and lonely sight in recent years. In 2008 a plan by Navan businessman Eamonn Duignan to build a giant shopping centre came to nothing. That particular plan incorporated the former Texas and Tesco stores and faced out onto William Street with Pennys to be the anchor tenant. The economic crash happened soon after and the plans were put on hold indefinitely. In March 2018 CarVal the US investment group took control of the portfolio of Eamonn Duignan. Mr Duignan's company, Inverine Plc, had accumulated vast debts and CarVal appointed Ken Farrell of Deloitte and Touche as receiver until it was bought in 2018 by the two local businessmen. 5 Guarantees Will Be Fulfilled At Any Cost: New Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah In His First Press Conference OPINION: How Did Congress Win Karnataka? Feature lekhaka-Balbir Punj Undoubtedly, Congress victory in the recent elections to Karnataka Assembly is decisive. But the BJP's defeat is ambiguous, there was no erosion in its vote share. The party lost the Government, without ceding any part of its popular base to the victor. The Congress got 42.88 percent of popular vote, the highest any party has obtained in an assembly election since 1989. In 2018 assembly poll, the Congress's vote share was 38.14 per cent and that of BJP 36.35 per cent. An almost five percent upswing in Congress favour during this assembly elections helped it to garner 55 additional seats. Most of the analysts have attributed BJP's defeat to its corrupt, communal and hegemonic image. According to this narrative, the '40 percent commission sarkara' aphorism stuck to the vanquished Government. The Congress, in contrast, was viewed as a bulwark against these corrosive traits. In addition, the Congress had tempted the voters with freebies. These analysts have got it all wrong. The fact is none of these promised freebies and allegations could corrode BJP support base. The BJP too had its matching free goodies basket. If the BJP leaders had a venal image, so did the Congress leadership. In 2014, a Lokayukta complaint was lodged against Mallikarjun Kharge alleging that he owned assets worth Rs 50,000 crore, disproportionate to his known sources of income. On 20 April, 2023, the Karnataka High Court dismissed an appeal D.K. Shivakumar against the handling of a case of disproportionate assets by CBI. As many as 50 cases are still pending in the Lokayukta against former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. How did the Congress get the incremental vote share and a hefty increase in the number of seats it got? The winner, poached on Janta Dal (Secular), whose vote share collapsed to 13.3 percent from 18.3 percent. The bulk of the votes, JD(S) lost to Congress were of Muslims. And this massive vote shift had nothing to do either with the policies of JD(S) or alleged BJP corruption. Nehru-Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi, however, gave an archetypal Marxist twist to the verdict. He termed it as a battle "between the strength of crony capitalists and that of the poor masses." He also coined a new divisive election slogan, 'Jitni abaadi, utna haq' (the rights of any group are proportionate to its population share), a mischievous move to divide Hindus in various sub-castes. Economic issues didn't figure in the campaign. Karnataka is emergence as the third largest state economy in the country was hardly a part of electoral discourse. Between 2017-18 and 2022-2023 the state registered a record growth rate of 68 per cent. The electoral narrative, set by the Congress, was focused entirely on communal issues. The Congress also pandered to Karnataka sub-nationalism, fanning fissiparous tendencies. Congress's official twitter handle described the election as a battle for Karnataka's "sovereignty". It also tried to exploit parochial sentiments- pitting South against North India. Any support to BJP was equated with acquiescence to North Indian domination. The Congress manifesto promised to ban organisations such as Popular Front of India (PFI) and Bajrang Dal. It was a ploy to communalise polls. The PFI is already banned by the Union government, and the party's invocation of Bajrang Dal was to further extend the Congress long time narrative of 'Hindu terror'. Opponents of BJP use familiar cliches and tropes to demonise BJP. Such exercises have a template. The BJP is accused of raising contentious identity issues, pushing a majoritarian agenda and ignoring development and economic questions. However, in real, political parties, claiming to be 'secular', appeal to the most fundamentalist instincts of minorities, particularly Muslims, create a fear psychosis, communalise the eco-system, and garner their votes. In such a scenario, many voters don't judge political parties on the basis of their performance or policies. It's the fear and distrust which drives them while exercising their electoral choices. The arena of competitive politics reverberates with political untouchability, and baseless suspicion. The minds get closed and ears hear things which were never said. The eco-system resonates with social tensions, prejudices and building a collective angst. In 2022, the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government had banned hijab in pre-university colleges across the state, when Islamic fundamentalists made a determined effort to push Muslim girls back to medieval times. The same year, the BJP government passed laws against religious conversions. The BJP government's decision to scrap four percent reservation for Muslims under the Other Backward Classes category was painted as another onslaught on Muslims. The Constitution doesn't allow reservation along religious lines. The Congress has promised to restore reservations. All these moves galvanised the Muslim voters against BJP. Apart from these irritants, some developments outside Karnataka - restoration of peace and normalcy in Kashmir valley following the abrogation of Articles 35 A & 370, construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya and abolition of triple Talaq - further alienated fundamentalist sections of Muslims from the BJP Muslim voters, who moved away from JD(S) to Congress, did so, with the sole intention of defeating BJP. They weren't influenced either by the corruption or inefficiency of the incumbent Government, or promised freebies by the Congress. The BJP slipped on two counts. It failed to set the narrative. It didn't focus on its development record. If it's performance during its four years in office, been better, it would have helped it to add new voters to its kitty. Some of the BJP apologists have tried to paint the Karnataka loss as a routine one. Anti-incumbency is not an iron law of political nature. Several government's, including those led by the BJP, have returned to power in recent times. The BJP signature tune, 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas', is in line with the spirit of the Constitution, and reflects Indian ethos of "...Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niramaya..." (May everyone be happy), but has hardly any bearing on electoral outcome. (Mr. Balbir Punj is a Former Member of Parliament and a Columnist. He can be reached at: [email protected]) Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of OneIndia and OneIndia does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, May 30, 2023, 16:34 [IST] As G20 Summit Kicks-Off In Srinagar, Security Detail Like Never Before 10 Killed, Several Injured After Bus Travelling From Amritsar To Katra Falls Into Gorge India oi-Deepika S At least ten people were killed, while 30 others were injured after a bus skidded off a bridge and fell into a gorge on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway near Jhajjar Kotli on Tuesday. The bus, carrying pilgrims from outside Jammu and Kashmir, was on its way to Katra when the tragic incident took place. The bus was carrying 75 passengers to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. Katra is the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the famous shrine atop Trikuta hills. "The bus was going from Amritsar to Katra, towards Mata Vaishno Devi, and rolled down the Jhajjar Kotli bridge. Around 10 people died and around 30 were injured. The injured people have been shifted to a hospital. All other teams - paramilitary teams and SDRF - are helping the Police. Locals are helping too so that people can be evacuated and rescued," SSP Jammu, Chandan Kohli told reporters. "The bus was carrying more passengers than the prescribed limit and will be probed during the investigation," he added. Recommended Video Jammu: Katra bound bus falls into gorge, 10 people lose their lives | Oneindia News According to the police, the incident took place when the victims were returning from a religious program held at Mansa Mata temple. The accident happened approximately one kilometer away from the temple. Soon after the local villagers rushed to the spot and helped the police in the rescue operation. Initial reports say, the driver appeared to have lost control of the tractor-trolley, resulting in a collision with a pole and the subsequent fall into a gorge. The injured have been rushed to the Government Medical College in Jammu. Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha condoled the loss of life in the Jammu bus accident. "Extremely pained by the loss of lives in a tragic bus accident in Jhajjar Kotli, Jammu. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured. Directed district administration to provide all possible assistance and treatment to the injured," tweeted the Office of LG J&K. In a similar incident, a 27-year-old woman was killed and 24 people were injured when a Rajasthan-bound bus carrying Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims overturned in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. The incident took place on May 21. India will have its first hypersonic missile in five to six years: BrahMos Aerospace CEO Accidental Firing Of BrahMos Missile Into Pakistan Cost India Rs 24 Crore: Centre India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The accidental firing of a BrahMos combat missile into Pakistan in March last year, led to a loss of Rs 24 crore, the Union Government told the Delhi High Court. The submission was made while justifying the dismissal of three IAF officers including a Wing Commander for gross negligence. While opposing a petition by Wing Commander Abhinav Sharma against his termination from service, the Centre in its affidavit said that the trial of the three officers by a court martial law was inexpedient, especially considering the sensitive nature of the evidence on record and also the fact that the international community was interested to know the importance of the practical details regarding the firing of the missile. "Considering the sensitive nature of the subject matter having widespread ramifications for the security of the State, a conscious and considered decision was taken in good faith to terminate the service of the petitioner under the President's pleasure clause. Such a decision has been taken in the Indian Air Force after 23 years as facts and circumstances of the case warranted such action," the Union Government told the court. The petitioner challenged the termination order issued against him under Section 18 of the Air Force Act, 1950. He was posted as an engineering officer at the time the incident took place. In his petitioner Sharma said that he was imparted professional and practical training only for duties which are purely of maintenance in nature and not on conduct of operations. He also said that he performed all his duties as per the Combat SOP governing the operations and that the cause of the incident was solely operational in nature. Defending the decision, the Centre said that the decision was actuated by public interest with any mala-fide. The Centre also said that the petitioner was accorded all opportunities during the proceedings of the Court of Inquiry. "Likewise, it was also decided that initiation of action under Section 19 of the Air Force Act, 1950 read with Rule 16 of the Air Force Rules, 1969 by issuing a Show Cause Notice for dismissal/removal from the Service would bring the sensitive and secret issues in full public domain which would be prejudicial to the security interests of the State. Accordingly, a considered decision was taken by the competent authority to terminate the services of the petitioner and two other above stated officers under Section 18 of the Air Force Act, 1950, which stipulates that 'every person subject to the Air Force Act, 1950 shall hold office during the pleasure of the President," the reply by the Centre also said. On March 9 last year, India accidentally fired a BrahMos missile into Pakistan, with human error causing the unprecedented incident. Two days later, India attributed the incident to a malfunction during routine maintenance. While Pakistan registered a protest, both sides however managed to avoid a hostile or escalatory tone. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, May 30, 2023, 8:52 [IST] After AIIMS Nightmare, India Takes Up Task To Fortify Its Digital Infra India oi-Sanjeev Nayak The Defence Cyber Agency (DCA), a tri-service command of the Indian armed forces tasked with handling cyber security threats, is carrying out an exercise to test resilience of India's cyber infrastructure from cyber attacks, mainly from China, amid escalating cyber threats. All three services -- the Army, Air Force and Navy -- along with the DCA, are participating in the week-long exercise. It aims at assessing the durability of the country's critical civilian and military infrastructure with the threat of cyberattacks from China and other adversaries intensifying daily. This is one more step towards India's theaterisation of the armed forces. Hectic efforts are on for seamless integration of the operational capabilities of all the three services of Indian military. The integrated theatre commands are the war-fighting entities which would fight jointly on both borders and also focus on cyber-warfare. India experienced one of the worst cyberattacks when China-based hackers pounced upon five servers of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi on November 23 last year. Subsequent cyber post-mortem revealed that the malware designed to steal medical records had been implanted in the servers as far back as 2014. The cybersecurity drills involve the participation of various branches of national security, all focused on evaluating the effectiveness of the protective firewalls that safeguard India's vital infrastructure. While the government maintains a discreet stance on the matter, these efforts underscore the significance placed on fortifying India's critical assets against potential cyber threats. Army raising new units to tackle cyber warfare unleashed by China, Pak On the military front, during the Pakistani retaliation to the 2019 Operation Bander, the adversary targeted the 25-infantry division of the Indian Army stationed in Poonch. Operation Bander was initiated by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on February 26, 2019, to eliminate a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The IAF conducted this operation in response to the killing of 40 CRPF troopers in Pulwama on February 14, 2019, by a Jaish suicide bomber. As part of their retaliation, Pakistan launched missiles at the Indian Army's brigade in Poonch on February 27, 2019. Although the Indian national security agencies and tri-services network are safeguarded through air gap measures and standalone servers, the Union government servers managed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) frequently face cyber attacks and compromises from adversaries seeking to obtain confidential information and intelligence using implanted malware. In response to the expanding digital landscape of the Indian economy, security strategists are evaluating the national networks to enhance their resilience by implementing more robust firewall architecture. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, May 30, 2023, 13:08 [IST] Amit Shah Holds Talks With Manipur Leaders, Announces Compensation For Riot Victims India oi-Prakash KL By Pti Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday visited Churachandpur, the scene of some of the worst rioting in the recent ethnic conflict which broke out in Manipur earlier this month, and held talks with Kuki civil society leaders. He also held a series of discussions with different Meitei groups, women groups and prominent personalities earlier during the day in Imphal before flying to the headquarters of the hill district by the same name. Among others, Shah who was accompanied by IB chief and union Home Secretary, met political and social leaders from the Kuki community to understand their grievances and find ways to bring peace to the northeastern state, which has witnessed a series of clashes between Meiteis and Kukis. He held three rounds of talks with various groups such as Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) and other civil society organisations. He also met five Kuki MLAs from the BJP. "We demanded total separation from Manipur -- both political and geographical. We also sought President's Rule as the law and order has totally collapsed in the state," ITLF secretary Muan Tombing told PTI. The Home Minister on his part, requested the Kuki society to maintain peace for the "next 15 days" with an assurance of sending more security personnel for the safety of common people, he added. Asked why Shah mentioned only "15 days", Tombing said, "He told us that the CBI will be entrusted with carrying out a detailed probe to find out the reasons behind this prolonged clash. Besides, a judicial enquiry will also be announced." Earlier in the day, the government announced it will provide a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of those who died in the ethnic conflict and a job to a family member. The compensation amount will be borne equally by the Centre and the state, an official release said. The decision was taken at a meeting between the union Home minister and Chief Minister N Biren Singh in the presence of the council of ministers on Monday night. During the meeting, it was also decided to ensure that essential items such as petrol, LPG, rice and other foodgrains will be made available in large quantities to cool down rising prices. In Imphal, Shah held consultations on Tuesday with stakeholders starting with a breakfast meeting with a group of women leaders at Raj Bhavan as part of his initiative to bring peace to the violence-hit state. "Held a meeting with a group of women leaders (Meira Paibi) in Manipur. Reiterated the significance of the role of women in the society of Manipur. Together, we are committed to ensuring peace and prosperity in the state," Shah tweeted. After that he met several CSO groups and prominent personalities from the Meitei community at the Secretariat before leaving for Churachandpur. "Had a fruitful discussion with the members of the different civil society organisations today in Imphal. They expressed their commitment to peace and assured that we would together contribute to paving the way to restore normalcy in Manipur," he added. After meeting Shah, Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) coordinator Jeetendra Ningomba said they requested the Union Home Minister to take appropriate measures to protect the territorial and administrative integrity of the state. "We also demanded immediate abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Kuki militant groups and devise effective counter-terror actions. Besides, we asked for replacement of Assam Rifles for their softness towards the Kukis," he added. He claimed that Shah had assured the delegation there would be no compromise on Manipur's territorial integrity. Another group - award winning international and national sportspersons from Manipur - on Tuesday tried to meet him and later said at a press conference that they will return the prizes given to them by the government if the state's territorial integrity is compromised. The signatories to this include L Anita Chanu (Dhyan Chand awardee), Arjuna awardees N Kunjarani Devi (Padma Shri), L Sarita Devi and W Sandhyarani Devi (Padma Shri awardees) and S Mirabai Chanu (Padma Shri). "If Home Minister Amit Shah does not give us an assurance about the protection of the integrity of Manipur, we will return our awards given by the Indian government," Anita Chanu said at a press conference in Manipur's capital. After coming back from Churachandpur, Shah Later in the evening, held an all-party meeting in Imphal. The Home Minister also reviewed security situation with senior officials of Manipur Police, central police forces and the Indian Army. "Peace and prosperity of Manipur is our top priority," he said and instructed officials to strictly deal with any activity disturbing the peace. Manipur has been hit by ethnic conflict for nearly a month and witnessed a sudden spurt in clashes and firing between militants and security forces on Sunday, after a relative lull for over a fortnight. The death toll from clashes has gone up to 80, officials said. The Home Minister who flew into Imphal on Monday night was accompanied by the Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Director of the Intelligence Bureau Tapan Kumar Deka. Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan in Pune said that challenges in Manipur have not disappeared, but expressed hope that things will settle down in some time, while noting the ongoing situation in the North Eastern state "is not related to insurgency". "We are helping the state government with the problem," he added. "I would like to say that the Army and Assam Rifles have done an excellent job there and may have saved a large number of lives. Hopefully this will settle and the government there will be able to do the job with the help of CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) etc," the CDS said. Amit Shah To Hold Series of Meetings in Manipur, Address Media Tomorrow India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Union Home Minister will hold a series of meetings on Tuesday to assess the situation in Manipur. On Monday, Shah chaired a meeting with Manipur CM, Biren Singh along with other state ministers. During the meeting he evaluated the situation in the violence-hit state. The state has been witnessing violent clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities since May 3. Shah will address the media on Wednesday and announce the measures that have been initiated to control the ongoing situation. He will fly out of Manipur on Thursday. Meanwhile CM Singh has said that there are 38 vulnerable areas which have been identified in the state. The Central Armed Police Forces personnel have been deployed in those areas to prevent any untoward incident. He also urged the people of the violence-hit state to world towards bringing normalcy. Manipur Violence: Army Picks Up Eerie Details About Upping Violence Since the ethnic clashes began 75 lives have been lost. The violence broke out following a Tribal Solidarity March which was organised in the hill district on May 3. They are protesting the Meitei community's demand for Schedule Tribe status. The violence was also preceded by the tension over the eviction of the Kuki villagers from the reserve forest lands which has led to a series of agitations. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, May 30, 2023, 9:50 [IST] Break-Up, Frequent Fights: Cops Dig Reasons Behind Delhi Teens Murder India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The Delhi Police has revealed that the reason behind the murder of the 16-year old by Sahil was due to a breakup. He has told the police that he was enraged following a fight with the victim, which took place a day earlier. This has led to the gruesome killing of the teen, the police also said. The probe revealed that the victim had been in a relation with Sahil since 2021. However there were frequent arguments and this has strained their relationship. Following this the girl stopped talking to Sahil. The police said that he had made several attempts to reconcile, but all of them failed. The relationship only worsened following a fight they had on Saturday and this was the reason behind the murder, an official told OneIndia. The police also investigating a tattoo on the victim's hand that read, 'Praveen.' This could have also been a reason why the two argued so much. Recommended Video Delhi Sahil Sakshi Case: Understanding the Psychology of killers | Delhi Horror | Oneindia News Sahil was arrested from Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh. A call from his aunt to his father helped the police trace him. Delhi Murder Accused Has No Regret, Bought Knife To Kill Girlfriend From Uttarakhand "As soon as the police received the information about the woman's death, Sahil's parents were detained on Sunday night. We found that Sahil had been calling them, and on the basis of technical surveillance, a dedicated police team rushed for the identified location and nabbed Sahil near Bulandshahr. To ensure his arrest, his father was also taken with the police team, " Special Commissioner of Police, Dependra Pathak said. The CCTC footage showed Sahil pinning the victim to a wall and repeatedly stabbing her. He is seen jabbing the knife into her 16 times and then kicking her and then slamming a cement slap on her repeatedly. The detailed postmortem report is yet to come out. The police have registered a case of murder against Sahil. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, May 30, 2023, 11:23 [IST] Directors: Ben Berman and Kirk Johnson Length: 170 minutes without commercials. Airs: Part 1 premieres Tuesday, May 30, at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Part 2 premieres Wednesday, May 31, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN. Most Similar To: The Last Days of Knight, Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? Grade/Ranking: Low 40s out of 121 30 for 30 Installments, which Id give a high B or B+ on my 30 for 30 grading curve. Review: I really liked The American Gladiators Documentary, but not for the reasons I expected. What I thought was going to be a short, breezy nostalgic look back at something I enjoyed from my childhood actually doesnt spend too much time trying to cash in nostalgia. Nor does the film spend too much time focusing on some of the negative aspects of the show such as steroid usage, insufficient healthcare, and unfair compensation for the Gladiators. So with those topics getting modest amounts of airtime, what fills up the three hours? The bulk of The American Gladiators Documentary focuses on the murky and not well-known origin of the concept, and the even murkier relationship between the two cofounders. The documentary centers around co-founder John Ferraro, the frontman for Gladiators whose entire life (even now) revolves around the American Gladiators. We see Ferraro pitching an American Gladiators movie to Hollywood, something he says is the one thing that has professionally evaded him (the plot in the screenplay sounds awful, for what its worth). We also learn of ventures like an American Gladiators dinner theater that existed in Orlando for several years after the television show ended. Ferraro, a charismatic character who was once an Elvis Presley impersonator and still hasnt lost that look, is a compelling character to guide us into the history of the show. But as the film progresses, hints are dropped that there is much more to this story. Ferraro dodges questions about his cofounder, Dann Carr. His answers are very short and measured when discussing Carr, his role, and current status. As the film dives into the up and downs of American Gladiators memorable run, we are given more morsels of intrigue on the mystery of Carr. Phone conversations between Ferraro and the director are played where Ferraro continues to try to steer the production away from pursuing or talking to certain people and looking into certain things that would bring them closer to Carr. At the end of the first installment we get a great hook for the second part of the documentary when Ferraro refuses to answer questions about why Carr is not in the film and walks off the interview. The film then flashes some text about some things the production has uncovered about Ferraro and Carrs current relationship and why Carr has been hard to track down. Part II of the film moves the Ferraro and Carr storyline off the back-burner as the documentary pivots a bit towards being more of an investigative documentary. Berman himself becomes a character in the film, as his quest to find Carr and the truth of his history with Gladiators takes front stage. The American Gladiators Documentary was produced by VICE Studios. If you are familiar with their brand of documentary content you can sense that nostalgia was never the aim of this film. In fact, co-director Ben Berman was quite clear on that in a recent interview in Eerie Time News. I didnt want to do just a straight-up nostalgia documentary. I wanted to look into it and see if theres an actual story that could be interesting. The other co-director, Kirk Johnson, shared the same vision. From the same interview: Its more about a real journey. A lifes journey for Johnny and Danny, he said. I see it more as a real story as opposed to information. That aspect, as opposed to who was best in events like jousting or tug-of-war, also excited Johnson. We wanted a less-campy, Hollywood version of this story, he said. We welcomed the twists and turns as we uncovered them. Ultimately, the films pivot away from the show and characters themselves does pay off. The filmmakers incrementally try various tactics in hopes of finding Carr and figuring where his relationship with Ferraro went south. Pieces of the truth trickle in, and its a pretty enjoyable ride to be on as it comes together. I imagine some viewers will have preferred a short one-hour nostalgic documentary in the mold of This Was the XFL, but I think many will enjoy the investigative journey which goes down a bit smoothermixed in with modest portions of American Gladiators footage and behind the scenes stories. I really thought Berman and Johnson did well with the film. Three-hour or longer 30 for 30 installments are tough to pull off, but the directors really stuck the landing in centering the film around Ferraro and Carr and the rocky history of their relationship. They threaded a very thin needle in delivering the backstory and nostalgia viewers are tuning in for, but primarily focusing the storytelling on a very basic human story that I think most will engage and connect with. Perhaps some viewers would have preferred the American Gladiators, the contestants, the history of the show and the business around the show, and those crazy games to have been further dissected and explained. However, I think most will agree the mystery the documentary focuses on delivers just enough intrigue and excitement to warrant the diversion from just a straight-up nostalgia documentary. We Are United: DK Shivakumar's First Reaction On Being Declared Dy CM Congress Delegation Meets President over Manipur Issue, Seeks Probe By Inquiry Commission India oi-Deepika S A Congress delegation-led by Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to President Draupadi Murmu regarding the situation in Manipur. The memorandum highlighted the violent clashes in the state over the past few weeks, saying that "the Union government must immediately take all possible measures to control and confine all militant groups (including those under SoO) and ensure that all armed civilian groups be stopped forthwith by taking appropriate action." The Congress has put forth 12 demands, including setting up a high-level inquiry commission, headed by a serving or retired Supreme Court Judge. It also demanded steps for rehabilitation of displaced persons, identification of those who have lost their lives or are missing, and the payment of dignified and reasonable compensation to all victims and affected persons. This comes amid Union Home Minister Amit Shah's four-day visit to the state, where he will holding a series of meetings with stakeholders to take stock of the situation in Manipur. Situation In Manipur Nothing To Do With Counter-Insurgency: CDS "The letter and spirit of the existing Constitutional provisions related to the state of Manipur must be protected, and the trust between communities should be restored through reconciliation and dialogue," the Congress said. The grand old party highlighted a trust deficit between the people and the administration and law enforcement agencies. The party also pressed for an immediate redressal saying that without fixing this, it would be extremely difficult to bring back normalcy to the state. "At this critical juncture, without resorting to blame games, there is serious deficit in the efforts of the state government to contain the arson and violence. If firm action were taken on the 3rd May evening to prevent the arson in the hill districts, the situations would not have deteriorated this badly," the memorandum read. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, May 30, 2023, 13:13 [IST] Yasin Malik Vs Bin Laden: What The Delhi HC Said Delhi Excise Scam: HC Denies Bail To Manish Sisodia; AAP Leader To Move SC India oi-Deepika S The Delhi high court on Tuesday denied bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia in a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case related to the alleged excise policy scam in Delhi. A single-judge bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma ruled that Sisodia is a powerful person and could influence witnesses if released on bail. "The allegations are very serious in nature. The accused was a public servant... We have not examined the excise policy nor the power of the government. However, the applicant being a powerful person, there is the possibility of him influencing the witnesses," the Court said. The high court acknowledged Sisodia's alleged role as the mastermind behind the plan to increase profit margins to 12%. The court noted that the allegations against Sisodia are highly serious, indicating a conspiracy in the formulation of the policy to gain unfair advantages. Recommended Video AAP leader Manish Sisodias bail in CBI case rejected by Delhi High Court | Oneindia News However, Sisodia is likely to move the Supreme Court against this high court order. Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26 for alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 following several rounds of questioning. The CBI claimed that Sisodia and other AAP leaders granted liquor licenses to certain traders in exchange for bribes. The probe agency alleged that the excise policy was tweaked and the profit margins were changed in a manner that benefited certain traders and kickbacks were received in exchange for the same. Central agencies ED and the CBI have registered cases in relation to the alleged scam after Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena recommended a CBI probe based on a report by the Delhi Chief Secretary. The report claimed that Sisodia violated statutory provisions and notified a policy that had significant financial implications. 'Settlement was done, compensation PayTM-ed': Man who urinated on Air India co-flyer Family of Delhi cop who died after being stabbed by a thief to get Rs 1 crore compensation Bengaluru man who was denied Rs 1 change by bus conductor gets Rs 2,000 relief from consumer court Re-marriage of widow not ground to deny compensation under Motor Vehicle Act: Bombay HC Govt Announces Compensation Package For Those Killed In Manipur Clashes India oi-PTI The central and Manipur state government have decided to give a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to those who died during the ethnic conflict in Manipur, officials said Tuesday. A member of the family of those who died in the rioting will also be provided a job. The compensation amount will be equally borne by the Centre and the state, officials added. The decision was taken at a meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and chief minister N Biren Singh on Monday night. The decision to announce a compensation package was taken at that meeting, officials said. Recommended Video Manipur Violence: Govt announces compensation for family of those killed in clashes | Oneindia News Officials said it had also been decided to set up dedicated telephone lines which would be used to dispel rumour mongering which had largely affected the process to calm down the situation and bring peace in the troubled state. Congress Delegation Meets President over Manipur Issue, Seeks Probe By Inquiry Commission Shah's meeting also decided to ensure that essential items such as petrol, LPG, rice and other food products will be made available in large quantities to cool down prices. The home minister who flew in to Imphal on Monday night is accompanied by the Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Director of the Intelligence Bureau Tapan Kumar Deka. Shah will hold a series of meetings with political and civil society leaders from both the Meitei and Kuki communities and visit Churachandpur, the site of some of the worst rioting earlier this month, on Tuesday. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, May 30, 2023, 16:02 [IST] In Chilling Murder Case Of Delhi Teen, Accused Tells Cops, No Regrets India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The gruesome murder of a 16-year old girl in Delhi has left the nation in shock. Following the murder, 20-year old Sahil was arrested from Uttar Pradesh on Monday and he was interrogated overnight. Sahil is an AC repairman and during his interrogation, he is said to have told the police he has no regrets. The police have learnt that the two had been dating since 2021, but the girl had tried breaking off the relationship recently, which eventually led to the horrific murder. Sahil attacked her in full public view when she was off to attend the birthday party of her friends son. Following the murder, he had discarded the knife and then took a bus to Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh. Officials tell OneIndia that during the interrogation, Sahil told the cops that he was enraged as the girl was ignoring him for sometime now. Recommended Video Delhi Sahil Sakshi Case: Understanding the Psychology of killers | Delhi Horror | Oneindia News Break-Up, Frequent Fights: Cops Dig Reasons Behind Delhi Teens Murder The girl is also said to have threatened to complain to the police if he did not keep his distance. She had even used a toy pistol to scare him away. A day before the gory murder the duo had fought and Sahil had suspected that she may have been involved with a former boyfriend. The police are also probing to find out if Sahil had changed his name to befriend the victim. The girl had 34 wounds on her body and her skull was ruptured. The detailed post-mortem report is yet to come out. Key Planner Of Mumbai 26/11 Attacks Dies In Pakistan Jail India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Abdul Salam Bhuttavi, who helped plan and prepare the Mumbai 26/11 attacks has died in jail, while serving a sentence for terror funding. Bhuttavi was designated a terrorist by the United Nations Security Council in 2012. He was arrested and charged with terror financing by Pakistan years after being convicted with Lashkar-e-Tayiba founder, Hafiz Saeed's brother-in-law Abdul Rehman Makki. He was sentenced to 16 and a half years in jail. Bhuttavi had served as the head of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba when Saeed was detained in Pakistan in 2008 The announcement said that Bhuttavi had died of a heart attack in a jail in Sheikhupura in Pakistan's Punjab province. The Lashkar-e-Tayiba also issued a video showing visuals of the funeral of the 78-year old terrorist. Indian Intelligence officials confirmed to India the death of the terrorist. When Bhuttavi was sanctioned, the US treasury department said that he had been responsible for fundraising, recruitment and indoctrination of Lashkar-e-Tayiba operatives for 20 years. Mumbai 26/11: The Importance Of Extraditing Tahawwur Rana "Bhuttavi...helped prepare the operatives for the November 2008 Mumbai attacks by delivering lectures on the merits of martyrdom. Bhuttavi has issued fatwas authorizing LeT/JuD's militant operations, has instructed group leaders and members, and is responsible for LeT/JuD's madrassah network," the US had said in a statement. "Bhuttavi has served as the acting emir of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba/Jamaat-ud-Dawa (LeT/JuD) on at least two occasions when Saeed has been detained. Saeed was detained days after the November 2008 Mumbai attacks and held until June 2009. Bhuttavi handled the group's day-to-day functions during this period, and made independent decisions on behalf of the organization. Saeed was also detained in May 2002," the UN Security Council had said in a statement while designating Bhuttavi. Major Changes In Karnataka Police Force: Dayanand Is New Bengaluru Commissioner India oi-Vicky Nanjappa There are major changes that have been enforced in the police force in Karnataka, following the takeover by the Congress in the state. C H Pratap Reddy, Director General of Police and Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru city has been transferred with immediate effect. He has been posted until further orders as the DGP, Internal Security Division, Bengaluru in a vacant post. The government announced that M A Saleem, additional director general of police and special commissioner (traffic) has been promoted and has been posted until further orders as the Director General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, Special Units and Economic Offences Bengaluru. He has replaced K V Sharath Chandra from the concurrent charge, the order read. B Dayanand has been posted until further orders as the Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru City. Karnataka: 24 Out of 32 Ministers Have Pending Criminal Cases K V Sharath Chanra has been posted as additional director general of police, intelligence, the government order also read. The Karnataka elections were held on May 10 and the results of the same were declared on May 13.The Congress won with a thumping margin ousting the BJP which were ruling the state before the elections. Siddaramaiah took over as the chief minister, while D K Shivakumar was made his deputy. A host of decisions are expected in the next couple of weeks as the seat of power shifted from the BJP to the Congress. Pakistan Protests Against G20 Participants For Attending Srinagar Event India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Pakistan's Charge de Affairs to India is learnt to have lodged a protest with all countries which took part in the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar from May 22 and 24. While Pakistan had lobbied with Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries invited to Srinagar to boycott the event, only China, Egypt and Oman stayed away. Three travel industry representatives from Turkey and two travel industry representatives from Saudi Arabia attended the event, although there was no official participation. Nigeria which is part of the OIC was represented by its deputy high commissioner and three delegates from the high commission. Bangladesh was represented by its high commissioner, UAE by one official and two travel industry experts, and Indonesia by an embassy representative. The United Nations was represented by its Headquarters, the World Tourism Organisation, UN Environment Programme, World Travel and Tourism Council and the International Labour Organisation. To be sure Pakistan has no locus standing in the G20 or in Srinagar. China in fact was the only country which publicly announced the boycott of the Srinagar event saying that it was opposed to holding the meeting in what it termed as disputed territory. G20 Delegates Enjoy Shikara Ride In Dal Lake Prior to the event, India had conveyed a strong message to Pakistan that there would be retaliation if any incident involving Pakistan sponsored terrorists took place during the G20 event. The event was in fact successfully conducted by India with New Delhi hosting 59 delegates at the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting. Air India pee gate victim lashes out at Mishra on 'peed on herself' comment Asim Hussain arrested for molesting woman had claimed he was assaulted for not chanting Jai Shri Ram Bengaluru man who was denied Rs 1 change by bus conductor gets Rs 2,000 relief from consumer court Passenger On Air India Flight Verbally Abuses Crew Members, Handed Over To Security Personnel India oi-Deepika S A passenger on board an Air India flight to Delhi was handed over to security personnel for his unruly behaviour, the airline said on Tuesday. In the incident, which took place on flight AI882, a passenger verbally abused the crew members and then went on to physically assault one of them on board. "A passenger on our flight AI882 on May 29 behaved in an unruly manner. The said passenger verbally abused the crew members and then went on to physically assault one of them on board. On landing at Delhi airport, the passenger continued with the unprovoked, aggressive behavior and was handed over to the security personnel. We have also reported the incident to the regulator," the Air India spokesperson said. In a similar incident, Air India had imposed a two-year flying ban on an individual who caused physical harm to two female cabin crew members onboard a Delhi-London flight on April 10. Earlier, on 26 November on a New York-Delhi flight, an inebriated co-traveller allegedly urinated on a 70-year old woman. Another similar incident happened on 6 December on an Air India flight from Paris to India. Following a series of recent incidents involving unruly behaviour of passengers, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued an advisory to all airlines, asking them to focus on unruly passengers that have potential of compromising the safety of aircraft operations. "In the recent past, DGCA has noticed a few incidents of smoking in aircraft, consumption of alcoholic beverages resulting in unruly behavior, altercations between passengers and sometimes inappropriate touching or sexual harassment by the passengers on board the aircraft during the flight, wherein post holders, pilots and Cabin Crew members have failed to take appropriate actions. Such incidents have potential of compromising the safety of aircraft operations," the DGCA said. Levels of Unruly Behaviour DGCA regulations provide for classifying unruly passenger behaviour into three levels and such people can face flying ban for varying periods. Level 1: Unruly behaviour such as physical gestures, verbal harassment and unruly inebriation Level 2: Physically abusive behaviour like pushing, kicking or sexual harassment Level 3: Life threatening behaviour such as damage to aircraft operating systems, physical violence like choking and murderous assault. Plea In SC Seeks Cooling Off Period for Retired Judges to Accept Post-Retirement Appointments India oi-Vicky Nanjappa There has been mounting criticism about retired judges accepting post-retirement sinecures. Following this a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a cooling off period of two years before any returned judge of the Supreme Court or High Court can accept a political appointment. The petition was filed by the Bombay Lawyers Association with the objective of upholding the independence of the judiciary, rule of law and the principles of reasonableness as well as to save the democratic principles and the basic aim and object of the Indian Constitution. Te petitioner association alleged a violation of the fundamental rights enshrined under Article 14, 19 and 21. "Under Articles 32 and 226, the Supreme Court and the high courts enforce fundamental rights of the citizens as enshrined in Part III of the Constitution of India. Being foundations of the democratic edifice of Indian society, both these articles have been declared by the apex court as part of the basic structure of the Constitution of India. Unless these constitutional courts are perceived by the citizenry as independent and impartial, and free from any kind of influence of the executive and any other form of economic, political and social considerations, the enforcement of fundamental rights would remain dead letters," the petition said. Gyanvapi Mosque Case: Supreme Court Stays HC Order Allowing Scientific Survey Of Shivling The petitioners also spoke an out the recent appointment of former Supreme Court judge, Justice Abdul Nazeer as Andhra Pradesh governor. It is evident, the petitioner has claimed from the actions of the executive that the executive was not likely to bring any law prescribing a cooling off period for retired judges of the Constitutional courts before which they would be barred from accepting political appointments. "An independent judiciary is responsible for upholding the rule of law which is considered as a prerequisite for a democratic form of government. That is why the independence of the judiciary has been declared as part of the basic structure of the Constitution. Hence, the acceptance of political appointments by judges of the Supreme Court and the high court after retirement without any cooling off period is adversely affecting public perception about the independence of the judiciary... The objective of the separation of power appears to be defeated if judges of constitutional courts accept political appointment just after their retirement," the petition said. The petition also said, "the post-retirement appointment of judges may threaten or undermine judicial independence. This is because some judges are offered post-retirement employment by the government. It is often feared that a judge who is nearing retirement could decide cases in a manner that pleases the government in order to get a favourable post-retirement position. If a judge decides highly controversial and contested cases in favour of the government and then accepts a post-retirement job, even if there is no actual quid pro quo, would this not lead to the public perception that the independence of the judiciary is compromised." There has been mounting criticism about retired judges accepting post-retirement sinecures. Following this a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a cooling off period of two years before any returned judge of the Supreme Court or High Court can accept a political appointment. The petition was filed by the Bombay Lawyers Association with the objective of upholding the independence of the judiciary, rule of law and the principles of reasonableness as well as to save the democratic principles and the basic aim and object of the Indian Constitution. Te petitioner association alleged a violation of the fundamental rights enshrined under Article 14, 19 and 21. "Under Articles 32 and 226, the Supreme Court and the high courts enforce fundamental rights of the citizens as enshrined in Part III of the Constitution of India. Being foundations of the democratic edifice of Indian society, both these articles have been declared by the apex court as part of the basic structure of the Constitution of India. Unless these constitutional courts are perceived by the citizenry as independent and impartial, and free from any kind of influence of the executive and any other form of economic, political and social considerations, the enforcement of fundamental rights would remain dead letters," the petition said. In 11 Points, the Verdict of the Supreme Court on Maharashtra Crisis Explained The petitioners also spoke an out the recent appointment of former Supreme Court judge, Justice Abdul Nazeer as Andhra Pradesh governor. It is evident, the petitioner has claimed from the actions of the executive that the executive was not likely to bring any law prescribing a cooling off period for retired judges of the Constitutional courts before which they would be barred from accepting political appointments. "An independent judiciary is responsible for upholding the rule of law which is considered as a prerequisite for a democratic form of government. That is why the independence of the judiciary has been declared as part of the basic structure of the Constitution. Hence, the acceptance of political appointments by judges of the Supreme Court and the high court after retirement without any cooling off period is adversely affecting public perception about the independence of the judiciary... The objective of the separation of power appears to be defeated if judges of constitutional courts accept political appointment just after their retirement," the petition said. The petition also said, "the post-retirement appointment of judges may threaten or undermine judicial independence. This is because some judges are offered post-retirement employment by the government. It is often feared that a judge who is nearing retirement could decide cases in a manner that pleases the government in order to get a favourable post-retirement position. If a judge decides highly controversial and contested cases in favour of the government and then accepts a post-retirement job, even if there is no actual quid pro quo, would this not lead to the public perception that the independence of the judiciary is compromised." Political Slugfest In MP Over Collapse Of Saptarishi Idols In Ujjain India oi-Sanjeev Nayak With the Assembly elections just 6 months away, the collapse of Saptarishi idols, installed at the Mahakal Lok corridor in Ujjain, due to gusty winds has taken political colours in Madhya Pradesh with the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress trading charges against each other. Spread across around 1 km, the corridor is developed on the premises of famous Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain. Unfortunately, six out seven of Saptarishi (seven sages) idols of around 10-feet tall were badly damaged and fell down as strong winds swept through the area on Sunday evening. However, nobody was injured in the incident despite the presence of a large number of visitors. The facility was shut for a few hours immediately after the incident that occurred around 4 pm and was reopened at 7 am. The gusty winds, however, claimed the life two persons elsewhere in Ujjain. Congress has obviously seized the opportunity and launched a war of words on social media against the Shivraj Singh government in the State pushing BJP into a defensive position. Taking to Twitter, State Congress chief Kamal Nath said, "The sub-standard construction should be probed and the people involved in it should be punished." Making a scathing attack on the ruling dispensation, his predecessor Arun Yadav said, "The BJP government is not even sparing gods. This incident at the Mahakal Lok corridor smacks of corruption." Another party leader Digvijay Singh tweeted, "There is no such scheme in which BJP has not done corruption." Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has ordered an inquiry into the incident. "I am getting the matter inquired and have sought a report," Chouhan told reporters on Monday on the sidelines of an event to mark nine years of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. Meanwhile, Kamal Nath has constituted his own seven-member inquiry committee, including five sitting MLAs from the State, to look into the incident. Right from the inception of the project, both the Congress and BJP has been feuding over taking credit for the project. While CM Chouhan credited his government for conceptualising the project in 2017 at a cost of Rs 95 crore, Kamal Nath said it was in August 2019 that his government drew the sketch of the Mahakal Temple and allocated Rs 300 crore for it. Just a week after it was inaugurated, Ujjain's Congress MLA Mahesh Parmar approached the MP Lokayukta alleging financial irregularities in the construction, following which notices were issued to 15 officials. MP Home Minister Narrotam Mishra said, "Congress is now only left at Twitter and TV... they never help out, did you see Kamal Nath go to even one place during the Covid era? Were Kamal Nath and Digvijay Singh seen distributing ration, medicines? The loss caused was due to a natural calamity and will be compensated by the concerned agency." Beautifully designed, the corridor -- one of the longest in the country -- has around 108 aesthetically ornate pillars made of intricately-carved sandstones that depict the Anand Tandav Swaroop (a form of dance of Lord Shiva), 200 statues and murals of Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the first phase of the Mahakal Lok corridor project in October last year. The total cost of the project is Rs 856 crore with the first phase costing Rs 351 crore. Companies from Gujarat have been engaged in the work of creating the idols and constructing the corridor. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, May 30, 2023, 11:13 [IST] Does the Variety social media team know something about Sage Steeles future at ESPN thats not in their actual reporting? The magazine put out a story Tuesday on Steeles ongoing lawsuit against the network, headlined ESPN Anchor and Vaccine Skeptic Sage Steeles Free Speech Battle With Disney Heats Up. But the way they initially presented it on social media had Steele no longer with ESPN. The story itself is largely a recapping of Steeles lawsuit (which was filed last April, citing the companys reaction to her vaccine mandate comments on Jay Cutlers podcast), opinions from various lawyers (including Steeles lawyer Bryan Freedman, who also represents Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon), comparisons of this to Disneys own ongoing legal fight with Ron DeSantis and the Florida government, and a discussion of how Steele and ESPN are currently in mediation (with that window closing on June 12). But on both Twitter and Facebook, Varietys initial posts (deleted on Twitter after 90-plus minutes, still live on Facebook more than two hours later) called Steele a former ESPN anchor, which is not the case at this point (she was even hosting SportsCenter as usual on the network Tuesday): Mistakes happen, of course. And this one was corrected (at least on Twitter), where Varietys subsequent tweets on this correctly identified Steeles current status: ESPN Anchor and Vaccine Skeptic Sage Steele's Battle With Disney Heats Up https://t.co/1Hlqm33Y8d Variety (@Variety) May 30, 2023 ESPN anchor Sage Steele is waging a free speech legal battle against Disney over her anti-vaxx comments. The conflict echoes the media giant's free speech fight against Ron DeSantis.https://t.co/ZRms88Z5jq Variety (@Variety) May 30, 2023 But this is certainly an interesting mistake, and it maybe adds even more to the conversation about Steele (seen above in 2019) potentially leaving ESPN. As has been repeatedly noted with her lawsuit, its quite unusual to see a current employee taking legal action against their network, with those suits more frequently coming from former employees. And Steele has continued to receive prominent on-air assignments despite the lawsuit. (On that front, she claims in the suit that some assignments she was pulled from after her comments represented punishment, with ESPN responding by saying thats not punishment without docked pay, and airtime is a protected casting decision; well see how that lawsuit is resolved, but Steele is certainly getting a lot of ESPN airtime at the moment.) But its certainly possible to see these sides parting ways, and the Variety social media posts here maybe add to that discussion even more, even if they were just innocent mistakes. [Variety] Should Be A Limit To Politics: Jaishankar On Opposition Boycott Of New Parliament Launch Watch Me When I Get Back: Jaishankar Subtly Tells Rahul Gandhi What Not To Do Abroad Prevent Misuse OF Democratic Freedoms: Jaishankar Tells British Minister India oi-Vicky Nanjappa External Affairs Minister, Dr. S Jaishankar asked visiting British minister, Lord Tariq Ahmad to ensure the security of India's diplomatic missions in the UK. He also urged the minister to prevent misuse of democratic freedoms. This comes in the backdrop of the vandalisation of the Indian high commission in London by pro-Khalistan groups in March. "Met with UK MOS Lord Tariq Ahmad today in New Delhi... Underlined the obligation to ensure security of our diplomatic missions and prevent misuse of democratic freedoms," Jaishankar said in a tweet. Met with UK MOS Lord @tariqahmadbt today in New Delhi. Discussed a broad range of issues, from FTA and South Asia to Indo-Pacific and G20. Underlined the obligation to ensure security of our diplomatic missions and prevent misuse of democratic freedoms. pic.twitter.com/BuhrZ7zRp4 Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 29, 2023 He also said that he discussed a broad range of issues ranging from the Free Trade Agreement and the South Asia to India-Pacific and G20 with the minister. Should Be A Limit To Politics: Jaishankar On Opposition Boycott Of New Parliament Launch India and UK have had nine rounds of talks on free trade since January last year. Both countries are aiming towards a comprehensive pact that it expected to significantly enhance the bilateral trading relationship, which was worth around GBP 34 billion in 2022. Recently Harjinder Kang was appointed as the chief negotiator by Britain. According to statistics by the UK government India was UK's 12th largest trading partner in the four quarters to the end of Q3 2022. This accounted for 2.1 pe cent of total UK trade. Farmer Leader Naresh Tikait Stops Wrestlers From Immersing Medals In Ganga India oi-Prakash KL Farmer leader Naresh Tikait on Tuesday prevented the protesting wrestlers from immersing their medals into the river Ganga in Haridwar. He has given five days time to the government to meet the demands of the grapplers who have been demanding the arrest of WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations. The country's top wrestlers had reached Haridwar to immerse their medals in the river Ganga as a mark of protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. However, Tikait stopped the protest and took their medals with him. "They (wrestlers) need to be practising on mats in stadiums but have been ill-treated and forced to sit at Jantar Mantar and now at sacred Ganga Ghat. In fact, action should be taken against Brij Bhushan. We are with truth and as farmers' agitation had shown, sooner or later victory will be of truth," Hindustan Times quoted Naresh Tikait, brother of BKU spokesperson Rakesh Tikait, as saying. #WATCH | Protesting wrestlers return from Haridwar after Farmer leader Naresh Tikait intervened and sought five days time from them. pic.twitter.com/JQpweCitHv ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2023 Tikait said that the entire Indian government is trying to save the WFI chief. "There will be a Khap meeting tomorrow," he added. "These medals are our lives, our souls. There would be no reason to live after throwing them in the Ganga today. So, we will stage a hunger strike until death at India Gate after that," read the joint statement by protesting grapplers in Hindi. We Will Throw Our Medals In River Ganga Today: Protesting Wrestlers The protestors have claimed that the Prime Minister calls them their daughters, but did not even once show his concern for the grapplers. "Rather, he invited Brij Bhushan Singh to the inauguration of the new Parliament building. He even posed for photographs in bright white clothes. We have been stained by this brightness," the statement said. #WATCH | Uttarakhand: Wrestlers reach Haridwar to immerse their medals in river Ganga as a mark of protest against WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations.#WrestlersProtest pic.twitter.com/WKqSJQyaH0 ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2023 "The President, who is a woman herself, sat barely two kilometres away and watched. She didn't say anything. We don't need these medals any more because this system does its own propaganda by hanging them around our necks and putting a mask on us," it said. "They then exploit us, and put us in jail if we protest," it added. #WATCH | Protesting Wrestlers in Haridwar to immerse their medals in river Ganga as a mark of protest against WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations. #WrestlersProtest pic.twitter.com/4kL7VKDLkB ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2023 The wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshee Malikkh, and Bajrang Punia have been demanding the arrest of the Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over alleged sexual harassment of female athletes, including a minor. On the other hand, the Haridwar police said that they will not stop the wrestlers from entering the district or immersing the medals. SCO Summit Under Indias Chairmanship On July 4; PM Modi To Chair The Meet India oi-Prakash KL The 22nd Summit of the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) Council of Heads of State will be held in the virtual format on 4 July and it will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday. All the SCO member states including China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have been invited to attend the Summit. In addition, Iran, Belarus and Mongolia have been invited as observer states, the statement said. As per SCO tradition, Turkmenistan has also been invited as the guest of the chair. "Heads of the two SCO Bodies - the Secretariat and the SCO RATS - will also be present. Further, Heads of six international and regional organizations have also been invited, viz. UN, ASEAN, CIS, CSTO, EAEU and CICA," the press release stated. The theme of the Summit is 'Towards a SECURE SCO'. The SECURE acronym was coined by the Prime Minister at the 2018 SCO Summit and stands for Security; Economy and Trade; Connectivity; Unity; Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity; and Environment. These themes have been highlighted during India's Chairmanship of SCO. The Ministry of External Affairs further stated, "India has set up new pillars of cooperation under its Chairmanship - Startups and Innovation; Traditional Medicine; Digital Inclusion; Youth Empowerment; and Shared Buddhist Heritage. In addition, India has worked towards fostering greater people to people ties that celebrate the historical and civilizational bonds between our nations. These include the various socio-cultural events hosted by Varanasi under the framework of the first-ever SCO Cultural and Tourist Capital for 2022-23." The press release further said that India's Chairmanship of SCO has been a period of intense activity and mutually beneficial cooperation between member states. India has hosted a total of 134 meetings and events, including 14 Ministerial-level meetings and remains committed to play a positive and constructive role in the organization, and looks forward to a successful SCO Summit as the culmination of its Chairmanship, the press release added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, May 30, 2023, 18:52 [IST] KP Sharma Oli to be Nepal's new Prime Minister; likely to take oath on Friday Security Issues To Dominate Modi-Prachanda Parleys India oi-Sanjeev Nayak In his first bilateral overseas tour since he assumed office in December last year, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' is coming to India on a four-day official visit starting tomorrow. A variety of agreements related to energy, agriculture, trade & connectivity, health, education and development are on the agenda for talks between the two neighbours. However, one more area which is expected to generate a lot of heat during Prachanda's bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is security related issues. India would certainly like to extract an assurance from the visiting Prime Minister that Kathmandu won't allow itself to serve as a platform for anti-India activities. According to a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement, Prachanda's visit will fortify the ongoing tradition of high-level exchanges between the two countries under the 'Neighbourhood First' policy. Over the years, bilateral cooperation between the two neighbours has solidified, and his visit further underlines the significance both nations attach to their deepening partnership. However, the Modi-Prachanda talks hold immense importance, particularly in light of recent media reports suggesting potential conspiracies to use Nepal's soil for anti-India operations. Diplomatic sources have suggested that Prachanda is likely to declare Nepal's commitment to refraining from endorsing any activities that pose a threat to India. Amid growing security concerns associated with China's escalating presence in the Himalayan region, India is eager to enhance its relationship with Nepal. Although PM Modi may not directly refer to China's expansionist strategies in Nepal, he will emphasise the need for Nepal to remain vigilant against elements that could harm Indo-Nepalese relations. Prachanda to visit India on first foreign trip as Nepal PM soon: Reports India's anxiety stems primarily from China's aggressive infrastructural expansion under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which includes Pakistan and Nepal, and its proposal to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan. PM Modi's focus will be on bolstering cooperative efforts between India and Nepal regarding shared security issues. During the visit, the Nepalese Prime Minister will meet President Droupadi Murmu and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar too. Subsequently, he will visit Ujjain and Indore in Madhya Pradesh, where he is expected to discuss cleanliness initiatives and waste management systems. During his visit, India and Nepal are also all set to ink pacts on the construction of transmission lines and power trade, in addition to cooperation in the fertiliser sector. The two leaders will discuss a potential Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), which will facilitate more efficient cooperation in criminal cases. This builds on the progress from last month's first round of MLAT negotiations on criminal matters between the two countries, involving MEA representatives, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the Ministry of Law. The presence of an extradition treaty signed in October 1953 will support these discussions. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, May 30, 2023, 14:50 [IST] Situation In Manipur Nothing To Do With Counter-Insurgency: CDS India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The situation in Manipur is a result of a clash between two ethnicities and has nothing to do with counter-insurgency, Chief of Defence Staff, Anil Chauhan said. The state has been witnessing violent clashed for nearly a month now, which was sparked by the eviction of Kuki villagers, from the reserve forest land. The violence has also led to a series of smaller agitations. "The situation in Manipur is nothing to do with counter-insurgency and is primarily a clash between two ethnicities. It's a law and order kind of situation and we are helping the state government," the CDS said. "We've done an excellent job and saved a large number of lives. The challenges in Manipur have not disappeared and it will take some time but hopefully, they should settle down," he also said. Amit Shah To Hold Series of Meetings in Manipur, Address Media Tomorrow On Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the state and took stock of the situation. He met with chief minister N Biren Singh. Shah will be in the state for another day before he returns to Delhi. He also met with top army officials, civil society organisations and influential community leaders to finalise a plan to curb the ethnic violence in the state. On May 3 clashes broke out in Manipur following a Tribal Solidarity March to protest against the Meiteis, who comprise 64 per cent of the state's population. They have been demanding for Schedule Tribe status which has been opposed by the Kukis. Over 70 persons have died in the violence and property worth crores has been torched. Thousands have also been forced to evacuate. Why US Is Keen On Making India Part of NATO Plus Bloc India oi-Sanjeev Nayak Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled US visit next month, US House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has proposed that India should become a member of NATO Plus. The high-level panel stated that India's inclusion as the sixth member in NATO Plus would help counter Chinese aggression and boost international security. North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Plus is a security arrangement that brings together NATO countries and five aligned nations -- Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel and South Korea. The main reason behind the US being so interested in inclusion of India in the bloc is attributed to ensure seamless intelligence sharing between the group countries and New Delhi would get easy access to the cutting-edge military technology without any delay. India is already an important member of the Quad group, which includes Japan, Australia and the United States. In a meeting last week, the US committee overwhelmingly adopted a policy proposal to enhance Taiwan's deterrence. The proposals include strengthening NATO Plus by roping in India as a member of the bloc. The panel is led by chairman Mike Gallagher and ranking member Raja Krishnamoorthi. The committee holds that imposing economic sanctions on China in the event that it plans to attack Taiwan is the most effective way for key allies such as the G7, NATO NATO+5, and Quad members to participate and negotiate a joint response. Broadcasting this message publicly has the added benefit of bolstering deterrence, it added. Fact Check: Have NATO Troops Entered Ukraine To Fight The Russians? "Much as we do joint contingency planning for warfighting, we need to coordinate with US allies in peacetime," it stated. To achieve this, the Committee recommended that Congress approve legislation akin to the STAND with Taiwan Act of 2023, which requires the crafting of an economic sanctions package to be used in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan. "Winning the strategic competition with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and ensuring the security of Taiwan demands the US strengthen ties to our allies and security partners, including India. Including India in NATO Plus security arrangements would build upon the US and India's close partnership to strengthen global security and deter the aggression of the CCP across the Indo-Pacific region," the panel recommended. Why WFI Chief Is Not Being Arrested? Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee India oi-Prakash KL West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday questioned the government, asking why WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has not been arrested, yet. He is facing sexual harassment allegations from seven grapplers and the country's top wrestlers have been protesting against him for over a month, demanding his arrest. "Our wrestlers were beaten up and tortured. I talked to wrestlers and extended our support to them. We are in solidarity with them," said West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. "...a person is accused of physical assault, why he is not being arrested? 'Puja-path' happens only when humanity is worshipped...," she added. On the other hand, the protesting wrestlers have said that they will throw their medals in the river Ganga in Haridwar today at 6 pm and go on a fast unto death at the India Gate. We Will Throw Our Medals In River Ganga Today: Protesting Wrestlers Talking about the Manipur issue, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slammed Union Home Minister Amit Shah saying that he was not speaking to the people of the violence-hit state of Manipur. She claimed that Shah decided to visit Manipur after she wrote a letter seeking permission to visit the trouble-hit state. "I also wrote a letter seeking permission to visit Manipur and talk to the peace-loving people of Manipur. Since I wrote a letter, that's why he (Union HM Amit Shah) did that. Despite visiting Manipur, he isn't speaking with the people of the state," Banerjee said. Recommended Video Delhi Wrestlers Protest: Wrestlers to throw medals in The Ganga, sit on hunger strike| Oneindia News The Bengal CM also demanded the government reveal the number of deaths in Manipur in connection with the violence. "I have been saying for so many days that they should visit Manipur. So many people died, the country must be told how many people died in the state and what's the situation in Manipur," she added. Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in strife-torn Manipur on Monday night to try to restore peace by hammering out a solution between the warring communities. On Monday, Shah chaired a meeting with Manipur CM, Biren Singh along with other state ministers. During the meeting, he evaluated the situation in the violence-hit state. The state has been witnessing violent clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities since May 3. Fact Check: Old Photos Give Twist To Ongoing Wrestlers Protest Shah will address the media on Wednesday and announce the measures that have been initiated to control the ongoing situation. He will fly out of Manipur on Thursday. The violence broke out following a Tribal Solidarity March which was organised in the hill district on May 3. They are protesting the Meitei community's demand for Schedule Tribe status. The violence was also preceded by the tension over the eviction of the Kuki villagers from the reserve forest lands which has led to a series of agitations. So far, 75 lives have been lost. Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Arrives In San Francisco For 10-day US Visit International oi-PTI Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived here on Tuesday for a three-city US tour during which he will interact with the Indian diaspora and meet American lawmakers. He was received at the airport by Indian Overseas Congress chairperson Sam Pitroda and other members of the IOC. Gandhi had to wait for two hours at the airport for the immigration clearance, party sources said. While he was waiting in the queue, several people who were travelling with him in the same flight clicked selfies with him. When people asked him why he was standing in the queue, Gandhi replied, "I am a common man. I like it. I am no longer an MP." Starting with San Francisco where he is scheduled to interact with students at the prestigious Stanford University, Gandhi will address a press conference and have meetings with lawmakers and think tanks in Washington DC. The 52-year-old Congress leader is also likely to address Indian Americans and interact with Wall Street executives and university students during his week-long tour of the USA. He is slated to conclude his trip with a public gathering in New York on June 4. The interaction would take place at the Javits Center in New York. Last week, Indian Overseas Congress chairperson Sam Pitroda said Gandhi's visit is aimed at promoting shared values and a vision of "real democracy". "The purpose of his (Gandhi's) trip is to connect, interact and begin a new conversation with various individuals, institutions and media, including the Indian diaspora that is growing in numbers in the United States and abroad to promote the shared values and vision of the real democracy with a focus on freedom, inclusion, sustainability, justice, peace and opportunities world over," Pitroda said in a statement. Gandhi received a new ordinary passport on Sunday, two days after a Delhi court gave its clearance. The former Congress president, who had applied for an ordinary passport after surrendering the old diplomatic passport issued to him when he was a member of parliament, is set to travel to San Francisco in the United States on Monday evening on a three-city tour. Gandhi was disqualified as an MP in March following his conviction and two-year sentence by a Gujarat court in a defamation case over his Modi surname remark. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, May 31, 2023, 0:15 [IST] Kerala Plus Two Result 2023 Date: DHSE Kerala +2 Result By May 25 On keralaresults.nic.in; Details Inside Malayalam Actor Harish Pengan Passes Away At 49 Kochi oi-Prakash KL Malayalam actor Harish Pengan, who was receiving treatment for liver disease, passed away at a private hospital on Tuesday. He was aged 49. The actor was undergoing treatment at Ernakulam's Amrita Hospital. He was recently hospitalised after he had complained of abdominal pain. The doctors had suggested a liver transplant and his twin sister had come forward to be the donor. However, it required Rs 30 lakh for it following which his friends started raising funds. Actor Unni Mukundan had appealed people to extend financial help to his family. On his social media page, he wrote, "Harish ettan is not well. Kindly pool in whatever is possible. I have done my bit. He has been extremely professional and humane with me during the shoot of meppadiyaan and shefeekinte sandhosham." The actor had also shared contact details. Unfortunately, Pengan's condition deteriorated and he passed away at 3.25 pm today, the IANS reported. His family have reportedly informed that the last rites will be performed on Wednesday. The Malayalam actor has worked in movies such as 'Maheshinte Prathikaaram', 'Shefeekkinte Santhosham', 'Honey Bee 2.5', 'Vellaripattanam', 'Jaane Mann', 'Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey', 'Priyan Ottathilanu', 'Jo and Jo', and 'Minnal Murali'. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, May 30, 2023, 20:21 [IST] Ottawa is promising more than $95 million to help Indigenous families get information about missing or murdered loved ones. As operations on the Miller Fire near Sedona appear to be winding down, forest officials are bringing in additional firefighters to help manage a blaze closer to Flagstaff with the goal of supporting forest health. Coconino National Forest spokesperson Randi Shaffer said two teams of hotshots, the Mormon Lake Hotshots and the Flagstaff Hotshots, are now lending a hand on the Volunteer Fire, about 16 miles west of Flagstaff. A type 3 incident management team is expected to take over management of the Volunteer Fire on Thursday, which is burning within the area of the two-year old Rafael Fire burn scar. That means there is not really potential for explosive growth on that fire, Shaffer told the Arizona Daily Sun. Forest managers are now utilizing both the Volunteer Fire and the Wilbur Fire west of Clints Well to support forest health, burning down and dead trees. Both fires have not grown substantially since last week. That type 3 team had been managing the Miller Fire up until Tuesday. The Miller Fire is now 31% contained, but Shaffer said fire activity is minimal within the fire. And given the minimal activity, as well as the difficult terrain within the area it is burning which prevents firefighters from approaching the blaze, Shaffer said forest officials decided to stand down several groups that had been working on the Miller Fire. As of now, just one hand crew and a helicopter are working the Miller Fire, which is measured at 30 acres in size. Fire crews spent the last several days checking previously installed fire line along the south side of the fire in addition to aerially checking fire behavior. Crews are now installing cameras around the fire so fire officials can keep an eye on things without having to dedicate crews to the fairly inactive blaze. Hot spots within the Miller Fire are expected to persist in the area throughout the coming weeks due to high temperatures and weather conditions. Since terrain within Secret Canyon and Maroon Mountain, where the Miller Fire is burning, prevents firefights from accessing the fire safely, Shaffer said crews have been scouting the area, identifying access routes, staging areas and helicopter landing sites. Such information could prove invaluable in the case of another more impactful fire within the Secret Mountain Wilderness area. Crews have also been checking on native wildlife and archaeological and heritage sites, at times cutting trees in those areas in order to protect them from future fires. Last week, a significant area around the Miller Fire was closed to visitors to allow firefighting operations to continue unimpeded. But that closure area has since been reduced. Still, officials ask forest visitors to check for area closures prior to any excursion and abide by all posted signage. The fire was first reported on May 20, but due to weather conditions, aerial resources were not able to confirm the fire until Monday, May 22. There are no structures threatened by the fire. While the Temporary Flight Restriction located in the Miller Fire area will likely be lifted soon, the use of drones is still prohibited in Forest Service wilderness areas, including the Secret Mountain Wilderness Area. BBC Sport 31 May 2023 Novak Djokovic has stood by the political message he wrote on a camera lens about Kosovo, saying it is an issue he "stands for". Community members, including a local school board and the mayor, are mourning the loss of a local couple, two days after police say their landlord shot and killed them outside their Stoney Creek home. Eurasia Review 05 Jun 2023 By Celia Belin, Majda Ruge and Jeremy Shapiro* America is changing and US foreign policy is changing with it. For most.. The former U.S. congresswoman (R-Wyo.) and House leader told graduates of her alma mater that America cannot remain a free nation if the truth is abandoned. Newsy 01 Jun 2023 ViewOn Wednesday, the House voted by a 314117 margin in favor of H.R. 3746, which, if signed into law, would raise the debt.. Oneindia 15 May 2023 Turkey is heading towards a second round of elections as the current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has failed to secure 50% of.. Conservative MP Erin O'Toole says Canada's spy agency has told him he was the target of Chinese interference intended to to discredit him and promote false narratives about his policies while party leader. Sri Lanka has been granted an extension of the credit facility signed March 2022, with India providing access to a USD 1 billion credit facility until March 2024. Extension of the credit facility will allow Sri Lanka to continue importing essential commodities. The signing ceremony took place today in the presence of State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe, senior officials from the Sri Lankan Ministry of Finance, and representatives from the High Commission of India in Colombo. The officials of the State Bank of India participated in the event virtually from India. The credit facility, initially provided by India last year, enables Sri Lanka to procure urgent supplies of fuel, medicines, food items, and industrial raw materials according to the governments requirements and priorities. This extension is part of Indias comprehensive assistance to Sri Lanka, totaling approximately USD 4 billion last year, in line with its Neighbourhood First Policy. 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Rome: Director Martin Scorsese is currently on a tour of Italy following the conclusion of the Cannes Film Festival. During his visit to Rome, he had the honour of meeting Pope Francis and made an exciting announcement, as reported by 'Variety'. Scorsese revealed his intention to create a film centred around the life of Jesus Christ. Scorsese was recently at the Cannes Film Festival, where his film with Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, 'Killers of the Flower Moon', received a long-standing ovation after being screened. "I have responded to the Pope's appeal to artists in the only way I know how: by imagining and writing a screenplay for a film about Jesus," Scorsese said on Saturday during a Rome conference at the Vatican, according to multiple reports quoted by 'Variety'. 'And I'm about to start making it', the director added, suggesting that this could be his next film. Also on Saturday, before attending the conferencetitled 'The Global Aesthetics of the Catholic Imagination'Scorsese and his wife Helen Morris met Pope Francis during a brief private audience at the Vatican. The Jesuit publication 'La Civilta Cattolica' and Georgetown University organized the conference. Antonio Spadaro, the editor of the religious periodical, said on the publication's website that during their conversation at the conference, Scorsese alternated between references to his films and personal anecdotes and explained "How the Holy Father's appeal 'to let us see Jesus' moved him." Scorsese, as noted by 'Variety', cited his admiration for Pier Paolo Pasolini's "The Gospel According to St Matthew." He also discussed the significance of his own 1988 epic 'The Last Temptation of Christ' and the 'subsequent step in his research on the figure of Jesus' represented by his smaller-scale 2016 drama 'Silence', which depicted the persecution of Jesuits in 17th-century Japan. That film was screened in 2016 at the Vatican. Francis, the first Jesuit pope, is known to have joined the Jesuit order with the hope of becoming a missionary in Japan. (With IANS inputs) The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, concluded a three-day visit to Egypt with an urgent call for support for people fleeing Sudan -- and the countries hosting them -- and for the borders to remain open to those escaping the conflict. More than 170,000 people have entered Egypt since the conflict started on 15 April -- many through Qustol, a border crossing that Grandi visited close to the end of his trip. The country hosts around half of the more than 345,000 people who have recently fled Sudan. At the border, Grandi met newly arrived refugees and Egyptian border authorities. "I heard harrowing experiences: loss of life and property on a huge scale," Grandi said. "People spoke of risky and expensive journeys to arrive here to safety. Many families have been torn apart. They are traumatized and urgently need our protection and support." Grandi also met with the Egyptian President, General Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, and discussed how best to support refugees and mobilize resources for host countries, not least Egypt. "I commend Egypt for its long-standing commitment to providing a safe haven to those fleeing violence," Grandi said. "The government, the Egyptian Red Crescent and the people have been very generous in supporting arrivals. We urgently need to mobilize more resources to help them to maintain this generosity." Prior to this conflict, Egypt was already host to a large refugee population of 300,000 people from 55 nationalities. Upon registration with UNHCR, refugees and asylum-seekers have access to a wide range of services including health and education. UNHCR's emergency cash assistance programme started during the last week. UNHCR recently released the Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan, which seeks to mobilize $470.4 million to support refugees, returnees and host communities in Egypt, the Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia and South Sudan. Around 25 per cent of this appeal will be allocated to Egypt to support the work of 25 partners for six months. So far, the appeal is barely funded. The High Commissioner appealed for borders to be kept open for people who need to cross into Egypt and other countries hosting those fleeing Sudan. Grandi redoubled his call for urgent diplomacy to secure meaningful peace between the two warring factions in Sudan, safe passage for civilians in the country as well as humanitarian aid entering. While in Egypt, Grandi also met with the Secretary General of the League of Arab States, as well as the Minister of Interior. Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will visit the USA and Cuba during his 10-day foreign trip from June 8 to 18. The external affairs ministry granted the approval for the trip on Tuesday. Chief Minister's Office has confirmed that he will leave for his foreign trip on June 6. Speaker A N Shamseer, finance minister K N Balagopal, Planning Board vice-chairman V K Ramachandran, chief secretary V P Joy, principal secretary to chief minister K M Abraham and various IAS officials will also accompany Pinarayi on the trip to the US. During his US tour, he will participate in the expatriate meet of Loka Kerala Sabha in New York. The CM will hold talks with World Bank officials on June 12. NoRKA (Non-Resident Keralaites Affairs) vice chairman P Sreeramakrishnan and a team of officials are also expected to attend the conference of Loka Kerala Sabha. Health minister Veena George, Planning Board vice chairman, chief secretary and CM's principal secretary, health department secretary will accompany him to Cuba. The Kerala government aims to seek Cuba's cooperation in health sector. Earlier, the Centre had denied permission for CM's UAE tour which was scheduled from May 7 to 11. Rejecting permission, the centre contended that the programme is not so important to be attended by the Kerala Chief Minister. This year, Riga will host the Spring General Assembly of the European Junior Doctors (EJD), organized by the European Junior Doctors (EJD) and the Latvian Junior Doctors Association (LJDA). The EJD is the umbrella organization representing the interests of young doctors in Europe since 1976. This is the first time that member state representative LJDA is organizing this event, which will bring together delegates from 24 Member countries and representatives of German truck maker Daimler and Japans top automaker Toyota said Tuesday they will work together on new technologies, including using hydrogen fuel, to help fight climate change. The companies said Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp., whose top stakeholder is Daimler Truck, and Hino Motors, the truck maker in the Toyota group, will merge. Daimler Truck and Toyota Motor Corp. will equally invest in the holding company of the Mitsubishi-Hino merger, they said without giving a dollar amount for the deal. The companies plan to cooperate in reducing carbon emissions and developing other technologies such as autonomous driving, net-connected services and electric vehicles. This collaboration among our four companies is a partnership for creating the future of commercial vehicles in Japan and the future of a mobility society, said Toyota Motor Corp. Chief Executive Koji Sato. The two truck companies will work on commercial vehicle development, procurement and production to become globally competitive, the executives said. We at Daimler Truck are very proud of our products, because trucks and buses keep the world moving. And soon they will even do so with zero emissions, said Daimler Truck Chief Executive Martin Daum. Todays announcement is a crucial step in making that future work economically and in leading sustainable transportation. Daimler Trucks has its North American headquarters in Portland, where it employs about 2,600 in corporate roles, research and engineering, and production of Western Star trucks. Automakers are rushing to keep up with the global shift toward less polluting vehicles and to help in other ways to combat climate change. Commercial vehicles like trucks and buses are major contributors to auto emissions. In some cases rivals are joining forces to gain a a competitive edge and cut costs through economies of scale of by sharing knowledge and resources. It is hard to go at it alone. Working together is crucial, Sato said, Fuel cells power Toyotas buses in Japan but its strength has been in hybrids, which have both electric motors like EVs and gasoline engines. Consumer acceptance of battery powered EVs has come faster than expected, Toyota officials say, and the company is hard at work on rolling out EVs in various markets. Details of the merger, including shareholding ratios, the company name and its structure will be worked out over the next 18 months, the companies said. They aim to sign a definitive agreement by early next year and close the transaction by the end of 2024. The deal still needs shareholders and regulatory approval. The deal is a chance for a fresh start at Hino, chief executive Satoshi Ogiso said, after the companys image was marred by its disclosure last year that it had systematically falsified emissions data beginning as early as 2003. We will unite our aspirations to support mobility and contribute to society and hand in hand accelerate advanced technology development to overcome the increasingly fierce global competition, he said. -- The Associated Press All seven teenagers who escaped from a Snoqualmie, Washington, juvenile detention center Sunday have been found and taken into custody with three of them arrested in Clark County, the sheriffs office said. The teens, ranging from 15 to 17 years old, assaulted a staffer at the King County facility, stole an SUV and fled just after midnight that morning. By Sunday night, three of the teens and the stolen SUV had been located in Burien, a Seattle suburb about 30 miles from Echo Glen Childrens Center, the medium/maximum-security facility bordered by natural wetlands. One of them, Timothy Hernandez-Ebanks, was convicted of a murder in Burien when he was 13. Hernandez-Ebanks, now 16, previously escaped from Echo Glen with three other teens in January 2022. On Monday night, a family member of one of the escaped teens called 911 to report that the remaining four escapees were at their home near Walnut Grove Park in Vancouver. The teens criminal histories included convictions for murder, assault and robbery. The family member told the teens to leave, and they did, leading deputies to search the neighborhood in unmarked cars while two unmanned aircraft scanned the area from above, according to the sheriffs office. Deputies found the group on foot near Northeast 76th Avenue and 61st Way. The Southwest Washington Regional SWAT team helped arrest the teens, who tried to flee when they noticed police. Three were arrested by deputies and Vancouver police, while the fourth made it back to the family members house, where he was taken into custody. The four teens were booked at Clark Countys Juvenile Detention Hall. Authorities released the names of five out of the seven juveniles who escaped. In addition to Hernandez-Ebanks, they included Diego Torres-Topete, Daniel D. Navarro, Jessy J.L Krikorian Jr., and Ramon P. Chaves Jr. Savannah Eadens; seadens@oregonian.com; 503-221-6651; @savannaheadens When we printed the first chapters of our Publishing Prejudice project in October, I pledged I would keep readers updated on our progress toward building more equitable and inclusive news coverage. Today, we publish the third major installment of the project, in which investigative reporter Rob Davis examined The Oregonians historical coverage and wrote in detail about the newspapers flawed and exclusionary reporting on the flooding of Vanport and the destruction of Albina, which disproportionately harmed Black residents. Davis first two investigations covered the early years of the daily newspaper, then under the control of Henry Pittock and Harvey Scott, who championed white men and denigrated women and people of color. Davis also examined The Oregonians painfully inadequate and inaccurate coverage during the unconstitutional imprisonment of people of Japanese ancestry during World War II. At publication in fall 2022, I apologized for the news organizations failures in the past and do so here again without reservation. My apology on behalf of the newspaper cannot match, in significance, the decades of prejudice from our past. But we believe acknowledging our errors is an important step toward healing. Here are updates from the six months or so since the project published: Were continuing our search for a diversity, equity and inclusion editor for the newsroom. This role was envisioned last summer as an editor to help us direct more inclusive news coverage, arrange for training, analyze our beats and articles for implicit bias, manage our summer internship program, keep tabs on promising job candidates, and develop best practices for hiring and retention (some of this would depend, of course, on the interests and talents of the person in the role). Our initial posting for the DEI editor role did not reach a broad enough audience. So we are retooling the position and plan to reopen the search soon. (Our parent company, Advance Local, hired a vice president of diversity and inclusion in January.) We know that having diverse perspectives in our newsroom makes our journalism more accurate and inclusive. Our goal is to at least reflect the diversity of the community we serve. Last fall, I imprecisely said a quarter of our newsroom staff was racially or ethnically diverse. To be precise, it was 23%. Currently, we are at 21.5%. We lost one diverse reporter, leaving us relatively stable but not heading in the direction of reflecting Oregon, where one in four residents is diverse, or the tri-county area, where one in three people is racially or ethnically diverse. We now have 14 newsroom employees who identify as racially or ethnically diverse out of 65 journalists, two of whom are Black. This is not to say we have not added important new skills and perspectives to our newsroom. One new reporter, for instance, has the lived experience of being an immigrant to this country. Two new hires are fluent in Spanish, a critical area we identified as a priority to help us report stories within the growing Latino communities in Oregon. The Oregonian/OregonLives newsroom also took part in internal sourcing audits. The intent is not to establish quotas for including diverse voices but to identify areas where, again, we are not present in the communities we serve. We want to hear from a wide range of perspectives across age, gender, race and ethnicity and that is the path to telling the factual story of how Oregon is changing. The initial 2022 audit results show we quoted white people in news and feature stories at a rate that outpaces metro area demographics: 78% of sources quoted vs. 69% of the population. We quoted slightly more men than women, and we fell short in reflecting voices from people under 30. We quoted Latino sources only about 4% of the time when Latinos make up about 14% of the metro areas population. While those results may simply reflect the makeup of government, politics and other staples for news sources, it reveals gaps for us to focus on. I also acknowledge the results, from November-December, are not definitive as we encountered technical challenges. We anticipate conducting future audits to track progress. We also committed to listening sessions with community groups. This has been more complicated than anticipated, partly because it is new. We spent considerable time explaining our intent, an indication that trust does not necessarily exist in great measure between our news organization and some communities. We are working to establish that trust. Our first session, with a nonprofit that works within Latino communities, was in May. We heard that people felt our coverage was extractive, that is we dropped in, got what we needed and disappeared. Some expressed frustration that stories from the community tended to fall into heroes or villains: an up from the bootstraps story or a crime brief. Wheres the vast middle ground? Where are the success stories and the everyday joy? Overall, it was excellent feedback. I also said I would keep you updated on new beats or changes in coverage. I am happy to say we have expanded community coverage through our diversity reporter Austin De Dios and other writers. Recent examples include his coverage of the end of Ramadan at a local mosque and new Spanish language narration at the air show. We have added an environmental justice beat. Reporter Gosia Wozniacka is particularly interested in disparate environmental impacts on marginalized communities. An example is her account of how alerts about dangerous wildfire smoke in the air were not provided in the languages, such as Spanish, that many Oregonians speak. We have daily newsroom conversations about how to approach coverage with an equity lens, how to broaden coverage into diverse communities and how to ensure our readers are hearing a range of voices. If you missed the earlier installments of this important project, I hope you spend some time with them, as difficult as the racism is to confront. With this chapter, we wrap up our reporting to focus on building out coverage of the issues of today. We anticipate many terrific story ideas will come from our community listening sessions. If you have an idea about a story that hasnt been told or see an issue that is undercovered, we want to hear from you. Email me directly at tbottomly@oregonian.com or equity@oregonian.com. Nvidia has joined the exclusive club of companies with a $1 trillion market capitalization as the chipmaker benefits from the growing use of artificial intelligence. Nvidia Corp. joins tech titans like Alphabet, Apple and Microsoft in the $1 trillion club. Its stock rose 5% in Tuesday trading, eclipsing $408 per share. Since its initial public offering in 1999, the stock is up roughly 33% annually compared with an average annual gain of 7% in the benchmark S&P 500 index over the same time. Last week the maker of graphics chips for gaming and artificial intelligence reported a quarterly profit of more than $2 billion and revenue of $7 billion, both exceeding Wall Streets forecasts. Industry experts believe Nvidia, based in Santa Clara, California, could be an early look at how AI may reshape the tech sector. The company was founded in 1993 and initially focused on 3D graphics and gaming. Co-founder Jensen Huang remains the companys president and chief executive. Nvidia has a small marketing and engineering office in Hillsboro. Huang is a graduate of Aloha High School and Oregon State University. Last fall, he pledged $50 million to build a new supercomputer research center in Corvallis. Nvidias chips are used in applications ranging from robotics and the metaverse to medical imaging and video analytics. AI chips are designed to perform artificial intelligence tasks faster and more efficiently. While general-purpose chips like CPUs can also be used for simpler AI tasks, theyre becoming less and less useful as AI advances, a 2020 report from Georgetown Universitys Center for Security and Emerging Technology notes. Rival Intel, like other big tech companies, has been caught flat-footed by the rapid advance of artificial intelligence technology. It doesnt have chips that have the capabilities Nvidia offers and risks being left behind as artificial intelligence advances. Intels market capitalization stands at $125 billion, one-eighth of Nvidias value. -- The Associated Press Fire crews worked overnight to keep the 300-acre blaze west of Eugene at bay, and as of Tuesday morning the fire perimeter remained intact. Investigators are still assessing the cause of the fire, dubbed the 7k Fire, the Oregon Department of Forestry said in a statement. The 7k Fire appeared Friday afternoon 12 miles southwest of Veneta and 15 miles west of Eugene in Lane County. Wind and steep terrain spurred the fires growth, officials said. Most of the flames are on privately owned land, but several scorched acres are federally owned. Windy conditions kept the fire active until about midnight Tuesday, the fire department said. Fire activity stalled as conditions improved, allowing crews to subdue flames around the perimeter. A steep portion at the east side of the fire has been difficult to reach, the fire department said. Cool temperatures Tuesday are predicted to keep the fire under control. Around 300 firefighters are battling the blaze. As areas of Oregon declare the beginning of fire season, officials warn residents to prepare and familiarize themselves with evacuation procedures. The Oregon Department of Emergency Management outlined precautions to take ahead of the summer. Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744 Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe. The U.S. has approved more than $42 billion in federal student loan debt forgiveness for more than 615,000 borrowers in the past 18 months as part of a program aimed at getting more people to work in public service jobs, the U.S. Department of Education said this week. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is open to teachers, librarians, nurses, public interest lawyers, military members and other public workers. It cancels a borrower's remaining student debt after 10 years of public interest work, or 120 monthly payments. The program is separate from President Joe Bidens student debt relief plan, which would wipe away or reduce loans for millions of borrowers regardless of what field they work in. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering whether that plan can go ahead. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, known as PSLF, was launched in 2007, but stringent rules meant that more than 90% of applicants were rejected, the Department of Education said in 2019. In October 2021, the government temporarily relaxed the requirements, making it easier for people to apply and be approved. Those relaxed requirements ended in October 2022. However, borrowers who want to increase their payment count have another opportunity to do so. They can apply for the one-time account adjustment until the end of the year. Through the one-time account adjustment, borrowers with direct loans through the William D. Ford program will have similar benefits to those that were available under the limited PSLF waiver. Borrowers who do not have direct loans can consolidate and receive PSLF credit for prior payments as part of this adjustment, as long as they submit a consolidation application by the end of 2023. One of the people who benefited from the PSLF waiver was Beth Bourdon, an assistant public defender in Orlando, Florida. Bourdon had about $57,000 of student loans forgiven in February 2022. Previously, because her loans had been acquired through the Family Federal Education Loan Program, Bourdon didnt qualify for relief. But when the waiver took effect in October 2021, she successfully applied. I kept checking and re-checking the site, and one day I went and the balance was zero, Bourdon said. Two days later I got the official letter. With the exception of one two-year period, Bourdon has worked in public interest law since 2005. She said she made payments of about $417 every month from June 2008 to October 2021, when she consolidated her loans and applied for PSLF. Public defenders, we dont get paid a lot, she said. When peoples student loans hit, theyre faced with a really hard decision. Can I remain doing this job I love or will I have to go to a civil firm to try to make money? The PSLF helps try to retain talented people who would otherwise go somewhere else. Bourdon said the cancellation gives her breathing room. She added that she personally talked about 10 people she knows through the process of applying for forgiveness via the waiver, and that several have already received cancellation. Its so great knowing how relieved I was, for my friends to have that kind of relief too, she said. Starting July 1 of this year, the Education Department will implement changes designed to make the PSLF application process easier. Some of the changes were previously included in the waiver. Heres what you need to know if you want to apply: WHO QUALIFIES? If you are or were previously employed at least 30 hours per week with the following types of organizations, you qualify: Government organizations at any level (U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal). This includes the U.S. military, all work in public education, and full-time volunteer work with AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps. Any not-for-profit organization that is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. If you work for a not-for-profit organization that is not tax-exempt, you may still qualify for PSLF if the organization provides certain types of qualifying public services such as emergency management, legal aid and legal services, early childhood education, service to individuals with disabilities or the elderly, public health, including nurses and nurse practitioners, public library and school library services, and public safety such as crime prevention and law enforcement. To demonstrate that your job in public service qualifies you for forgiveness, youll file an employer certification form with your servicer, listing jobs youve held. You must have direct loans or consolidate other federal student loans into a direct loan. You must also make 120 qualifying payments or 10 years of payments. WHICH STUDENT LOANS ARE ELIGIBLE? Any federal student loan received under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program is eligible. If you have either a Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) or a Federal Perkins Loan, youll need to consolidate those into direct loans with your servicer. Payments made on these loans before you consolidated them do not count as qualifying PSLF payments. Private student loans are not eligible. HOW CAN I APPLY? You can apply to the program using the PSLF help tool. If you want to do it manually, you can print and mail a PSLF form. HOW CAN I CONSOLIDATE MY DEBT INTO A DIRECT LOAN? First, visit studentaid.gov to see if you have loans made under the Federal Family Education Loan or Perkins Loan Program. Those are the loans youll consolidate. Next, apply online or by mail. The process is free and takes about six weeks to complete, but you can submit the Public Service Loan Forgiveness form after consolidation is complete. WHAT COUNTS AS A QUALIFYING PAYMENT? A qualifying monthly payment is a payment that you made after Oct. 1, 2007, while you were employed by a qualifying employer. The 120 qualifying monthly payments dont need to be consecutive. For example, if you have a period of employment with a non-qualifying employer, you will not lose credit for prior qualifying payments. WHAT ABOUT THE PAYMENT PAUSE? Student loan payments are currently paused because of the COVID pandemic. Payments are set to resume, along with the accrual of interest, 60 days after the current Supreme Court case about student loan forgiveness is resolved. If the case hasnt been resolved by June 30, payments will start 60 days after that. Borrowers will get credit toward PSLF for payments they would have made during the pause as long as they meet all other qualifications for the program, according to the Education Department. For the qualifying payments to show in your account, you must submit a PSLF form that certifies your employment during the pause. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROGRAM? As of mid-April of this year, more than 615,000 borrowers have qualified for forgiveness under the limited PSLF waiver, which ended in October. Some borrowers who submitted their applications prior to the end date may continue to have their applications processed from the waiver period. WHO CAN I CONTACT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS? If you have a specific question about your application, its best to call or email a representative. For general questions about student loans, the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) hosts a contact center that allows borrowers to live chat, call or email. ___ The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) President Joe Biden marked Tuesdays eighth anniversary of one of the saddest days of his life, the death of his son Beau, by attending a memorial Mass and visiting his gravesite. Biden, his wife, Jill, and other family members prayed for Beau Biden during the Mass at St. Joseph on the Brandywine, the Roman Catholic church where the president worships during weekends at his home near Wilmington, Delaware. Afterward, the family visited Beau Bidens gravesite in the church cemetery. The first lady carried a bouquet of flowers. The president later traveled to Veterans Memorial Park in New Castle for his annual tradition of paying his respects and laying flowers. Beau Biden was 46 when he died of brain cancer in 2015. His father was vice president. The eldest of Biden's three children, Beau Biden served two terms as Delaware attorney general before declaring a run for governor. Many saw in him the same aspirations that brought his father to the White House. In fact, Joe Biden often says his son is the one who should have been president not him. Beau Biden also served in Delawares Army National Guard, including a deployment to Iraq, where the president says he was exposed to toxic gases from pits where the military burned waste. Biden has linked his son's cancer to his exposure to burn pits. Beau Biden is the son of Joe Biden and his late first wife, Neilia, who was killed in a 1972 car crash that gravely injured Beau and younger brother Hunter and killed their baby sister. Beau Bidens daughter, Natalie, graduated from high school on Sunday, with her grandparents in the audience. She will attend her fathers alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, in the fall. While Tuesday's remembrance of Beau Biden was private, the president publicly mourned his son on Monday during a Memorial Day address at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, just outside Washington. For Biden, his son's death and the annual holiday honoring Americans who paid the ultimate sacrifice serving the United States in uniform are inextricably linked. He told the audience that Tuesday marks eight years since we lost our son Beau." As it is for so many of you, the pain of his loss is with us every day, but particularly sharp on Memorial Day. Its still clear, Biden said Monday. Tomorrow is his anniversary. But so is the pride Jill and I feel in his service, as if I can still hear him saying, Dad -- its my duty, Dad. Its my duty. Duty. ___ This story has been corrected to show Arlington National Cemetery is in Arlington, Virginia, not in Washington. They tend to you when youre sick. They serve you meals when you dont have the time or energy to do it yourself. They help you get to where you need to go. They assist you with your finances. And they help you look and feel your best. Service workers play a vital role in American society. Many say theyre hanging on by a thread as pandemic restrictions ease and governments declare the end of covid as a public health emergency. Were all still struggling, said Cierra Swain, a 28-year-old wheelchair agent at Chicago Midway Airport, citing increasing hours and a lack of benefits. Conditions have gotten worse. The pandemic presented a major shift for office workers required to work from home during nationwide city shutdowns. Since then, many employers have introduced more-flexible working arrangements. But service workers many of whom were on the front lines during the height of the pandemic say they have been left behind. Staffing shortages, burnout, low pay, few to no benefits, and unpredictable schedules are magnified by the emotional exhaustion some feel from risking their lives during the dangerous days of the pandemic. More than 111.5 million people work in the service industry, representing nearly 72 percent of non-farm employees, according to April data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released this month. That includes workers in trade, transportation and utilities as well as those in education, health and hospitality. While some service workers have made progress, there is still a lot that employers and policymakers need to do to improve prospects for these workers, said Elise Gould, senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute, a think tank that advocates for low- and middle-income workers. Its about thinking broader about what kind of work environment we want to create for all workers, she said. Theres no reason to leave any workers behind. In the hospitality industry, "the antidote is a deeper roster," said Jason Story, a workplace specialist at the Midland Business Alliance with experience in the field. However, the antidote isn't always attainable for businesses in Midland. Most workers in the service industry are in their 20s and are going off to college or want to pursue other careers, he said. Even then, workers want something closer to a standard 40-hour work week. But service industries don't always have stability, said Kathy Weaver, branch owner of the temp agency Spherion in Midland. "They want a stable schedule," Weaver said. "They don't want to work first shift one day, then second shift the next day, and back to first shift." Scheduling weeks in advance can alleviate some of the stress around differing shifts, Story said. "We may not be able to do as much about when we need to work, but certainly we can keep them from being overworked," he said. The service industry doesn't have a human resources department that can keep people engaged, Story said. If a business has one, he said it is most likely busy juggling other roles like legal and onboarding. Story said workers seek engagement at their jobs and feedback on whether they're applying a necessary service, which he said is a new phenomenon. "Some of that comes from how much engagement we do in social media," Story said. "We post something and then we want to see how many people notice us and respond to that." Service workers seeking to change industries often head towards manufacturing, Weaver said. She estimates at least half of the workers stay in the field after working for three months. However, it's not for everyone. "As long as they have some longevity even in their service work, they'll probably be a pretty decent employee," she said. "But sometimes they get in a place and it's not for them." After the pandemic, Story said people paused from the "hyper-focused" state they were in to review their life and what they wanted to achieve. "They're challenged to think differently and to think about other parts of life, their value systems and what they're looking for out of life or their workplace," he said. "And they go back to the workplace looking for that as well." Many companies experienced record profits during the pandemic on the back of their workforce, which is only getting squeezed, said Mary Kay Henry, international president of the Service Employees International Union, which represents about 2 million workers. That created a pivotal moment for workers who felt they deserved more. The pandemic shined a bright light on how broken our economy is and how its never worked for essential and care workers, she said. Thats why were seeing workers come together to reject the status quo. A growing worker movement continues to expand three years after the outbreak of the pandemic. Bank tellers at Beneficial State Bank, a community development bank serving California, Oregon and Washington state, unionized in 2020, ending a 40-year hiatus of union activity in the sector. And in the past two years, workers at Starbucks, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Trader Joes, an Apple store and an Amazon warehouse created the first unions at their retailers, demanding better pay, benefits and working conditions. Chipotle and Starbucks say theyre working to improve worker benefits, investing in technologies to make jobs easier and boost pay. Beneficial State Bank said it voluntarily recognized the union and plans to listen to workers. For many workers, pay is the central issue. Swain, the wheelchair agent, said shes putting in more unexpected mandatory overtime than ever. As a result, shes unable to plan her days and is often exhausted before pulling an 11-hour shift starting at 2:45 a.m. the next day. She says its because of understaffing. The lack of health-care benefits doesnt help. She walks up to 20,000 steps a day at work. We are not robots. By the end of the day Im ready to get home and just get off my feet because theyre sore. Lizzet Aguilar, a 42-year-old cashier at a McDonalds franchise in Los Angeles, was fired after going on strike with her co-workers over alleged poor safety protections during the height of the pandemic. Shes in the process of being reinstated following a state labor commissioner ruling and is now speaking up about another issue she finds deeply concerning, what she calls wage theft. They dont pay us for breaks like theyre supposed to, she said in Spanish. Thats a dollar we budgeted. It does make a huge difference. McDonalds says the allegations dont reflect its work environment. The company said it worked closely with public health experts and the Mayo Clinic to implement more than 50 safety procedures and added benefits during the pandemic. Cindy Rojas, a supervisor at a franchise in Sacramento, said she felt supported by the company and her franchise owner who helped her buy a house. Others are coping with reduced work hours. Nail salons often unexpectedly cancel work shifts if there arent enough customers, said Menuka Simkhada, a nail technician in New York City. The lack of hours led her to get a second job. But even when she works 40 hours, the 36-year-old struggles to support her two kids because she doesnt make minimum wage. She does collect commissions and tips, which she said some employers take from technicians who do get minimum wage. Its just basic needs. What we are asking is not a lot, she said in Nepali, through an interpreter. Benny Mathew, a nurse in the emergency department at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, said a strike earlier this year secured some improvements, including increased salaries and enforceable terms for more staff. But staffing continues to be an issue, with nurses often doing the jobs of two people. Meanwhile, emergency rooms continue to be overcrowded. The pressure comes after a stressful period for nurses, who regularly saw 20 to 30 deaths a day during the height of the pandemic, Mathew said. At the time, he said, he was convinced hed eventually catch covid and die. What happens is you go home defeated, he said about the staffing shortage. You feel like you couldnt do your job. . . like youre a failure. And that stays in your mind. Montefiore Medical declined to comment. Musu King, a nurse at Lincoln Medical Center in New York City, said understaffing has left nurses vulnerable to violence from patients frustrated by long waits. That plus low pay led many to quit. The health care system said it has initiated staff retention programs, is working to hire employees and is investing in employee wellness and continuing education programs. But King is skeptical. If things arent done, I will change my profession entirely. . . for my own family and sanity, she said. Its very frustrating. . . nursing was supposed to be a respectable profession. Flight attendants are also dealing with staffing problems exacerbated by the pandemic, said Susannah Carr, an attendant and Association of Flight Attendants-CWA member in the greater New York area who asked to keep her employer unnamed due to company policy barring employees from speaking to the media. Carr said that for safety purposes, airlines cut some specialty services on some flights during the height of the pandemic. That allowed them to reduce the number of attendants per flight. But since then, airlines have revived services such as serving elaborate desserts on international flights without bringing back flight attendants, she said. And since not all flights have returned, planes are full. The large number of disruptive passengers also continues to be a major issue. Flight attendants are stretched thin, she said, adding that having additional attendants improves safety. At Lake Michigan Credit Unions South Division branch in Wyoming, Mich., one of the biggest problems is that the busy location often gets a large proportion of Spanish-speaking customers but has very few bilingual tellers, two workers said. There are days Im the only teller on the line that speaks Spanish, so Ill have a whole line form just for me, said Anaisa Sanchez, a 21-year-old teller at the bank. Its very stressful. You want to give these people the best help you can, but you have four more people waiting for you so you have to hurry. Ivan Diaz, a former member service representative who was fired from the bank shortly after its union formed in January, said bilingual employees were often asked to help other departments with Spanish-speaking customers even if they didnt know how to properly translate specific financial terms. He has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board over his firing. Youre putting more stress on people who are bilingual. . . and the customers arent getting what they need, the 25-year-old said. To aid service workers' plight, policymakers and employers should prioritize flexible working relationships, said Harvard Business School professor Joe Fuller, co-head of the schools Managing the Future of Work project. They should audit policies that hurt or disincentivize workers and pursue programs that will support anyone who can and wants to work, he added. Meanwhile, employers should understand workers' needs and pain points and respond by easing their struggles. Companies should regularly collect feedback and gather data on why people leave, he said. People leave because they dont have opportunity, Fuller said. Someone is willing to give them a dollar more and theres no reason to stay. In a celebration of excellence in writing, 20 Saginaw Valley State University students and one faculty member were recognized for their writing achievements during the 2023 University Writing Awards ceremony in April. The University Writing Awards has a long history at SVSU, spanning 25 years with nearly 400 students recognized for their creativity, clarity and effectiveness in writing. The Braun Awards for Writing Excellence at SVSU were established through a gift from Hugo E. Ted and Ruth Braun to create incentives for outstanding student writing and opportunities for student writers to be recognized and published. The Braun Awards for Writing Excellence celebrated five students: Jack Glonka, an economics major from Shelby Township. Amelia Corne, a teacher education major from Birch Run. Jordan Purchase, a finance major from Bay City. Emily Kuch, a nursing major from Bay City. Hanna Schroeder, an exercise science major from Essex, Canada. The Diane Boehm Writing Award for e-Portfolios are presented annually to outstanding students to recognize the creative and effective integration of writing and multimedia. Diane Boehm, director emerita of the SVSU Writing Center, established and funds the award. The graduate-level award was presented to Jenna Mandernach, an occupational therapy major from Holly. The undergraduate award for classroom portfolio was presented to Mia Michalski, a graphic design major from Bay City. The undergraduate award for work portfolio was presented to Taylor Hart, a professional and technical writing major from Essexville. Gabrielle Bourgeois, a marketing major from Macomb, won the Seitz Creative Writing Scholarship, which is awarded to juniors or seniors with a major or minor in creative writing. The scholarship was established and is supported through gifts from Jim and Melissa Seitz. The Tyner Prizes for Writing Excellence are presented annually in three categories fiction, poetry and nonfiction to work nominated by faculty in the humanities: art, communication, English, modern foreign languages, music and theatre. This years winners were: Nonfiction Garrett Lewis, a history major from Marquette. Fiction Megan Draper, a creative writing major from Marne, east of Grand Rapids. Poetry Lita Weekley, a professional and technical writing major from Mason. The Robert S.P. Yien First Year Writing Awards showcase outstanding work by first-year composition students in ENGL 080 and 111. Yien served as SVSUs vice president for academic affairs for 27 years prior to his retirement. This years winners were: ENGL 111: Research Sofia Giulianelli, a pre-nursing major from Washington, in Macomb County. ENGL 111: Analysis Jack Yaek, an accounting major from Richmond, northeast of Detroit. ENGL 111: Narrative Emily England, a graphic design major from Marion, between Clare and Cadillac. ENGL 111: Argument Charleze Oliver, a pre-health professions major from Millington. ENGL 111: The Wolff-Harmon Award Trinity Greer, a general business major from Alma. ENGL 111: Narrative, Honorable Mention Travis Thurlow, a cell, molecular, and biomedical major from Birch Run. ENGL 111: The Wolff-Harmon Award, Honorable Mention Muhammadi Sayid Kabiito, a neuroscience major from Kamapala, Uganda. The Ming Chuan Endowed Multilingual Writing Award is presented to an SVSU student whose native language is not English. The awards purpose is to recognize outstanding undergraduate writing. This years winner was Evangeline Cruz, a communication major from Detroit. In addition to the student awards, one faculty member was honored. Warren Fincher, an SVSU professor of sociology, won the Innovative Writing in Teaching Award, which recognizes outstanding teaching of writing across SVSUs campus. Writing submissions were judged by a collection of 16 SVSU faculty and staff from the University Writing Committee and other SVSU departments. The University Writing Program at SVSU provides students with resources to develop their writing and critical thinking skills, and it encourages both faculty and students to value the art of writing by creating activities and programs across campus. The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Tereasa Nims. Monday, May 29 8:46 p.m. - A deputy made telephone contact with an Ingersoll Township woman who was reporting her ex-husband's refusal to follow a child custody agreement. A report was taken, and the woman was referred to the courts for further assistance. 9:46 p.m. - A deputy contacted a 64-year-old Lee Township man who wanted to report an assault that occurred four days prior. The man wanted the incident to be documented. 1:05 p.m. - A 39-year-old Clare man called to report that his 13-year-old son ran away from his residence. A deputy checked the 13-year-old's mother's Midland residence. Nobody was home. He called the mother, who advised that her son was with her and the Clare police were aware of this fact. The man was notified of the deputy's findings and was told to handle this through Friend of the Court. 3:57 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Village of Sanford residence regarding a domestic assault. A 29-year-old Sanford woman said she was assaulted by her 13-year-old son. The boy was lodged at the Juvenile Care Center without incident. The report was turned over to probate court. 12:13 a.m. - A deputy was sent to a Warren Township home to check on a 13-year-old girl who had called a relative stating she was upset over an argument with her father. Contact was made with the father and the 13-year-old, who both confirmed there was an argument but no assault. The 13-year-old went to her grandmothers house for the night. More Information Activities of the Midland County Sheriff's Office during Memorial Day weekend 2023 See More Collapse Sunday, May 28 11:41 p.m. - A 28-year-old woman was taken into custody after law enforcement assistance was requested on a Hope Township roadway. The woman was turned over to Gladwin County deputies without incident on a warrant. 8:50 p.m. - A 32-year-old woman called 911 to report that her neighbors were shooting guns and the noise was too loud in Midland Township. Contact was made with a 25-year-old man, who was determined to have a proper backstop and to be shooting safely. The man said he was done shooting for the day. 8:50 p.m. - Deputies conducted a traffic stop at a Lincoln Township location and discovered that the 49-year-old female driver had a misdemeanor warrant out of Midland County. She was arrested and was lodged at Midland County Jail without incident. 4:28 p.m. - Deputies responded to a drunken driving injury crash involving a single motorcycle in Edenville Township. The driver, a 59-year-old Edenville Township man, and the passenger, a 63-year-old Edenville Township woman, were transported to the emergency room via ambulance for injuries suffered in the crash. A report was completed and was forwarded to the prosecutor for review. 1:37 p.m. - A 37-year-old Warren Township man was arrested in Gladwin County for a civil bench warrant out of the 75th District Court. A deputy was dispatched to an Edenville Township location to take custody of the man and transport him to Midland County Jail. Saturday, May 27 11:16 p.m. - Deputies were sent to Midland Township for a report of a suspicious man looking in the windows of a business while a cleaning crew was working. The man was seen walking away prior to deputies arrival. Deputies checked the area but were unable to locate the man. The female caller and her co-worker were escorted to their vehicle and left safely. 10:43 p.m. - A Greendale Township gas station employee reported that $85.99 in gasoline was stolen by an unknown driver who left in an unknown direction. There are no suspects. 7:46 p.m. - A deputy spoke with a Lee Township man about his civil options for gaining custody of his daughter. The man was directed to probate court but did not like the answer given. Friday, May 26 11:55 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Greendale Township location regarding a littering complaint. Deputies contacted the 26-year-old male caller. He showed the deputies where trash had been dumped on his property. Deputies do have a suspect, but this is still under investigation. 11:32 p.m. - A 50-year-old man and his 18-year-old son were arrested for warrants following a traffic stop in Jerome Township. The 50-year-old was also cited for driving without a license. A report will be forwarded to the prosecutor. 9:43 p.m. - A 41-year-old woman called 911 with questions regarding her 67-year-old roommate who wanted her to be evicted from a Porter Township house. The eviction process was explained to both parties. 9:10 p.m. - A deputy was dispatched to the Isabella County Jail to pick up a 22-year-old man with two failure-to-appear warrants out of the 75th District Court. The man was transported to the Midland County Jail without incident. 8:42 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence regarding a 57-year-old Lee Township man assaulting his 63-year-old wife. Minor injuries occurred. The man was arrested for domestic assault and transported to the Midland County Jail without incident. A report was turned over to the prosecutor. 6:13 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Warren Township residence regarding a 58-year-old man stating that a 44-year-old man wouldn't stop calling him. Deputies spoke with the 44-year-old, who agreed to stop calling. 6:26 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Lincoln Township business regarding a 47-year-old man reporting that his 42-year-old wife assaulted him. It was discovered that the woman had a personal protection order against the man, and the man was violating his conditional bond. The man was arrested and lodged at Midland County Jail without incident. A report is being sent to the prosecutor. 4:20 p.m. - The Midland County Sheriff's Office Detective Bureau received a referral from the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services regarding concerns for a 9-year-old boy while he was at home. After a Child Protective Services investigation, however, no information was discovered suggesting any criminal incident. 4:17 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township location for a report of a suspicious vehicle. The deputies located the vehicle partially parked in the roadway and contact was made with the driver, a 34-year-old Midland man. The man was arrested for an outstanding warrant out of Midland County and was lodged at the Midland County Jail without incident. 3:36 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Mills Township residence regarding a 34-year-old woman reporting that she was scammed out of $2,550. The woman wanted the incident to be documented. 10:24 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence regarding an online fraud. A Lee Township woman reported being scammed out of $6,000. The woman is working with her bank regarding the incident. MEXICO CITY (AP) The United States Treasury sanctioned more than a dozen people and businesses in China and Mexico Tuesday that allegedly helped provide machines used to make counterfeit prescription drugs in the latest efforts to confront trafficking of the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl. Those targeted for sanctions were all involved in one or another with the sale of pill press machines, molds and other equipment drug cartels use to produce counterfeit pills. Treasurys sanctions target every stage of the deadly supply chain fueling the surge in fentanyl poisonings and deaths across the country, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson said in a statement. Among those sanctioned were Chinese pill press supplier Youli Technology Development Co., Ltd. of Huizhou, China and three affiliated Chinese citizens. Treasury said the company had shipped pill press machinery to people in the U.S. involved in making counterfeit pills. The U.S. sanctions also target related companies Yason General Machinery Co., Ltd. and Yason Electronics Technology Co., Ltd, both of Shenzhen, China. Yason has allegedly worked with a Mexico-based pill equipment supplier who had provided equipment to a Sinaloa cartel-linked person. This individual used the machines to create superlabs in Mexico with the capacity to produce millions of fentanyl-laced pills weekly, the Treasury Department said. Chihuahua, Mexico-based Mexpacking Solutions, which sells pill presses and other equipment is allegedly controlled by a Sinaloa cartel pill press provider, according to the Treasury. Three individuals related to the company were also sanctioned. The sanctions imposed by Treasurys Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) freeze assets of the companies and people in the United States. They also prohibit U.S. citizens and businesses from any transactions with the targeted entities. In April, U.S. prosecutors announced indictments against members of Mexicos Sinaloa cartel over its production and trafficking of fentanyl. Synthetic opioids have been blamed for tens of thousands of U.S. deaths annually in recent years. While U.S. authorities have said that Mexico is cooperating, including in some of the sanctions against Mexican citizens announced Tuesday, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has repeatedly denied that Mexico produces the powerful drug. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - The security crisis in Burkina Faso since 2015 displaced thousands of people but as of 23 May 2023, more than 20,457 households, comprising 125,227 people had returned to their places of origin, Prime Minister Apollinaire Joachimdon Kyelem de Tambela, told Parliament on Tuesday in his state of the nation address Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The Commander of Sudan's Armed Forces on Tuesday paid a surprise visit to troops on the fields in Khartoum, the national capital, where he announced his army had not yet used all its capabilities against the militia Rapid Support Forces Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Top government and security offiials met here Tuesday' to monitor the situation in the west coast regions, where the second phase of a military operation against smugglers and traffickers has begun Poland is calling for the immediate imposition of EU sanctions on Belarus, Poland's ambassador to the European Union has said. "Without sanctions on Belarus, sanctions against Russia have no rational sense," Andrzej Sados told reporters in Brussels on Tuesday. He added that the issue had been raised at an EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting. "We had informed (the FAC - PAP) about the ongoing attack on our border, also with the nefarious use of minors and children. We told about the involvement of Belaruskali, a manufacturer of potash fertilizers, in... a system in which camps for illegally deported Ukrainian children are being created in Belarus," Sados reported. Sados also said that he had told EU ministers about Poland extending restrictions to 365 representatives of the Belarusian authorities, as well as Belarusian and Russian entities. "I think that the situation at the moment is so complex and so tense that everyone can see, including the Swedish presidency (of the Council of the European Union - PAP) and the European Commission, that there is no way to maintain this state of affairs any longer, that we are not adopting sanctions against Belarus, which is the largest a loophole in our sanctions system," Sados said. (PAP) Resolute to Sell Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper Mill to Affiliate of Atlas Holdings The Thunder Bay mill in Ontario, Canada, produces market pulp and newsprint grades of paper. The Thunder Bay mill in Ontario, Canada, produces market pulp and newsprint grades of paper. May 30, 2023 - Resolute Forest Products Inc., a subsidiary of Domtar Corporation and a part of the Paper Excellence Group, today announced that it has entered into an asset purchase agreement to sell its Thunder Bay pulp and paper mill in Ontario, Canada, to an affiliate of Atlas Holdings. The Thunder Bay mill produces northern bleached softwood kraft and northern bleached hardwood kraft pulp, along with newsprint and directory grades of paper. Resolute will continue to operate its sawmills and woodlands operations in Northwestern Ontario. At the closing of the transaction, the parties will enter into certain ancillary agreements, including a long-term woodchip and biomass supply agreement pursuant to which Resolute will continue to provide chips and biomass to the Thunder Bay mill. "The mill is an exceptional asset," said Remi G. Lalonde, Resolute's president and chief executive officer. "I am confident that the dedicated and talented team in Thunder Bay will have a prosperous future, and I sincerely wish them all the best." According to Atlas Holdings, Thunder Bay will operate as a standalone company and a member of Atlas' global family of manufacturing and distribution businesses "We are extremely excited about the opportunity at Thunder Bay," said Atlas Principal Daniel Merriam. "Atlas is the ideal owner to take this great operation into its next chapter, as a strong and independent company. As always, we will partner with strong local leadership to strengthen Thunder Bay's operations, to serve Thunder Bay's customers in a highly responsive fashion, and to strongly support the local and regional community. We recognize Thunder Bay's historic and unique position in Ontario and the broader pulp and paper industry." The sale of the Thunder Bay mill is a requirement under the consent agreement entered into between Domtar Corporation and the Canadian Commissioner of Competition and registered with the Canadian Competition Tribunal in connection with its review of Domtar Corporation's recent acquisition of Resolute. The transaction, expected to close in the second half of the year, is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of closing conditions, including obtaining required regulatory approvals. Resolute is a global leader in the forest products industry with a diverse range of products, including market pulp, tissue, wood products and papers, which are marketed in over 60 countries. The company owns or operates some 40 facilities, as well as power generation assets, in the United States and Canada. SOURCE: Resolute Forest Products and Atlas Holdings Photo: (Photo : MONEY SHARMA/AFP via Getty Images) Sikkim, a little state tucked away in the Himalayas, is renowned for its stunning scenery, wide variety of ethnic groups, and rich cultural history. However, a shrinking population and a falling birthrate threaten its distinct character and future. While India as a whole is on track to surpass the United States as the most populated nation ever, Sikkim's government has turned to financial incentives to get its citizens to have more children. Sikkim's Three-Pronged Strategy Aims to Reverse Birthrate Decline India's population growth is characterized by stark regional disparities. While certain underdeveloped northern states considerably contribute to the country's total population growth, other regions, especially in the south, exhibit aging populations and falling birthrates similar to those of East Asia and Western Europe. Due to insufficient economic prospects, many young men and women in Sikkim are forced to look for work outside of the state, delaying marriage and decreasing the number of children born. Unlike many rural parts of India, Sikkim has empowered women with greater freedom and higher labor force participation rates, leading to career-focused choices and fewer early marriages.The Lepchas, the Bhutias, and the Hindu Nepalis, three of Sikkim's dominant ethnic groups, are deeply concerned about the cultural fabric's survival. According to New York Times, the state's population is facing a substantial reduction due to a low birth rate of 1.1, significantly below the national average of 2, and a low replacement level of 2.1, endangering its cultural variety. The Sikkim government has responded by implementing a three-pronged approach to stop the birthrate's decline. It has been providing financial incentives for childless couples of reproductive age seeking in vitro fertilization (IVF) therapy since August. Couples with one kid may also be eligible for a monthly allowance of about $80 if they have further children. Civil servants are also being enticed with salary increases, yearlong maternity leaves, and even babysitting services if they expand their families. Read Also: US Median Age for Giving Birth Hits 30 as College-Educated Women Defer Motherhood Cash Incentives and I.V.F. Treatment to Reverse Birthrate Plunge Sikkim believes that IVF therapy would help individuals who want to have children, even though many nations have tried to increase birthrates with varying degrees of success. The first IVF procedure costs around $3,600, and the government pays for the second procedure, which costs about $1,800. But the government must fight against the pervasive stigma attached to IVF, which includes untrue claims that children born via the technique are produced in "plastic boxes" or are not genetically connected to their parents. According to Times of India, officials have initiated mass media education efforts to inform the public about the advantages and reality of IVF in an effort to debunk these myths and protect their way of life. According to The Quint, over 100 couples have chosen IVF treatment since the policy's introduction, and the number of applications is growing.Yogesh and Rupa Sharma, a couple who have made numerous unsuccessful attempts, eagerly embraced the opportunity that the government offered. Mr. Sharma openly shares his family's I.V.F. journey, aiming to encourage others to consider the treatment as a viable option. The battle for Sikkim's survival is underway as the state grapples with the urgent need to boost birthrates to preserve its rich cultural heritage. With cash incentives and I.V.F. support, the government hopes to reverse the declining population trend and ensure a sustainable future for Sikkim's diverse communities. Related Article: Child Population in Japan Continues to Fall For 41st Straight Year; COVID Pandemic a Factor in Decline Photo: (Photo : Chase Castor / Getty Images) Ralph Yarl, the courageous teenager who survived a mistaken shooting, showcased his resilience and determination as he participated in a Memorial Day event to raise awareness and support for the cause of brain injuries. Yarl, who sustained a traumatic brain injury when he was shot in the head and arm, joined his family and fellow survivors at the "Going the Distance for Brain Injury" event held on Monday in Overland Park, Kansas. The inspiring gathering aimed to raise funds for individuals affected by brain injuries and shed light on the urgent need to prevent such incidents, particularly those resulting from gun violence. Ralph Yarl for Brain Injury Cause According to the Associated Press, Yarl, only 17 years old, became the center of attention as he walked alongside his loved ones, friends, and other survivors during the Memorial Day event at Loose Park in Kansas City, Missouri. Despite enduring the physical and emotional challenges posed by his traumatic experience, Yarl displayed remarkable strength and resilience as he championed the cause of brain injury awareness. Over a thousand participants, including a prominent group known as "Team Ralph" donning neon green T-shirts, enthusiastically rallied behind Yarl to show their support and solidarity. The event provided an opportunity for Yarl's mother, Cleo Nagbe, to address the audience and deliver an impassioned speech highlighting the lingering effects of traumatic brain injuries and the urgent need to prevent them. Nagbe emphasized the importance of raising awareness to eliminate the underlying causes, specifically gun violence, which tragically led to her son's injury. With heartfelt determination, Nagbe called for collective action to ensure that no other family endures the pain and suffering caused by brain injuries. Yarl's journey toward recovery has not been without obstacles. Debilitating migraines, balance issues, emotional turmoil, and the trauma of the shooting have taken a toll on the young survivor. However, his participation in the Memorial Day event served as a beacon of hope and inspiration for other survivors and their families. According to ABC News, Yarl's aunt, Faith Spoonmore, expressed her hope that the overwhelming support and love from the community would help Yarl see the inherent goodness in people and bolster his spirit as he continues his recovery. Additionally, Spoonmore stated that Yarl, who was shot in his own neighborhood, is not emotionally prepared to return home and has been residing with Spoonmore and her family. Spoonmore shared that Yarl feels uneasy about going back to the area and his own house, despite the fact that it holds cherished memories for him. It is regrettable that he is unable to find comfort in his own home due to the traumatic incident. Read Also: Indiana Dr. Caitlin Bernard Fined for Speaking Out on Abortion of 10-Year-Old Rape Victim Overcoming Challenges and Inspiring Others The mistaken shooting incident occurred on the evening of April 13 in Kansas City, Missouri, when Yarl accidentally went to the wrong address to pick up his siblings. As previously reported by CNN, Andrew Lester, an 84-year-old white man, was charged with felony assault in the first degree and armed criminal action in connection with the shooting. Despite the global attention the incident garnered and subsequent rallies and protests in the Kansas City area, Lester pleaded not guilty and was released on bond. Yarl's participation in the Memorial Day event not only shed light on the personal struggles faced by individuals with traumatic brain injuries but also underscored the importance of community support and advocacy. By coming together and participating in events like these, survivors, their families, and compassionate community members can work hand in hand to promote awareness, prevention, and support for brain injury causes. As Yarl walked among the crowd, his presence symbolized resilience, courage, and the unwavering determination to overcome adversity. His story serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive measures to prevent mistaken shootings and traumatic brain injuries. Through raising awareness, supporting survivors, and advocating for change, communities can strive to eliminate the tragic impact of brain injuries and create a safer and more inclusive society for all. Related Article: U.S. Coast Guard Concludes Search for Louisiana Teen Who Went Overboard in Bahamas Cruise Hamad International Airport in Qatar has selected DataDirect Networks (DDN) to provide advanced data storage solutions to enhance its security measures. Hamad International Airport commenced Phase B of its expansion plan in January 2023, which will increase the airport capacity to over 70 million passengers annually. With this increased volume of travelers, the airport asserted that close-circuit television (CCTV) is an essential part of the passenger safety infrastructure for the airport. DDNs solutions were chosen because of the combination of performance, scalability and cost effectiveness. DDNs EXAScaler 7990 systems with IntelliFlash 6200 systems were implemented to meet both primary and secondary recordings with 100+ petabytes of storage capacity. ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write(' ') } // --> ') } else if (width >= 425) { console.log ('largescreen'); document.write('') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> At the start of 2018, DDN made a multi-year, multi-million-dollar investment in the State of Qatar by establishing a local sales and support team, a state-of-the-art performance and compatibility test lab, and partnerships with the best regional technology organizations. This was due to the surge in demand for content optimized storage technology in this area. Suhail Kadri, senior vice president of technology and innovation at Hamad International Airport, said, As the airport continues to grow rapidly, safety and security of our passengers travelling to, from and through Hamad International Airport remains a top priority. Data is an integral enabler for our digital transformation agenda, hence partnering with DDN, which has a strong understanding of modern data storage demands, [and]supports our commitment toward offering an innovative, safe and smart airport experience. Laurent Thiers, vice president of DDN Storage, commented, We are very excited to support Hamad International Airport and provide solutions to its complex scale-out storage and IT requirements. With over 100 petabytes of our file and block storage systems already delivered, DDN answers the challenge by providing storage systems that deliver unrivalled throughput, reliability, scalable capacity and consistency. Laurent continued, DDN is very pleased to be a technology partner for Hamad International Airport, as it is at the forefront of high-resolution camera deployments. DDNs solutions can confidently, diligently and easily deploy truly scalable storage systems and efficiently and safely implement online video archives designed to hold months-to-years of security camera with significantly fewer systems, [and]less network infrastructure, space and power. Read more of the latest security updates from the passenger terminal industry, here. Catholic Conversion; Why Infallibility?; Limbo; Catholicism & Exegesis; Salvation(?) by Faith Alone?; St. Cardinal Newman & Pope St. Pius X 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 5: Convert Syndrome] The gingerbread house-part 1 So many Catholic conversion stories have a cerebral emphasis. [p. 247] Yes, because Catholicism is a thinking mans religion: the opposite of the small sub-group of Protestant fundamentalism, which is anti-intellectual. In many cases, it was a matter of learning things one had never been taught, and reading from a perspective other than Protestant. That process is cerebral. In my case, it was learning a lot about Church history and development of doctrine that I had never been taught. Historical facts are not touchy-feely / warm fuzzy experiential. One has to learn it and think about it. But there are lots of different types of conversion stories. The appeal of Catholicism is like the gingerbread house in Hansel & Gretel. It presents a startling contrast between whats on the outside and whats on the inside. Theres the yummy exterior, which is the baitbut once inside, theres the cannibalistic witch. [p. 247] Sure, if one converts based on mere ideals and outward appearances, and relying on human beings to never let one down, then they will be in for a big disappointment. Catholicism is blessed on the ground with massive ignorance and nominalism and hypocrisy just as Protestantism is. Its the dumb mans approach to think that everything will be perfect. The wise convert understands the biblical teaching that the Church has flawed people in it, but that God is at work to guide His Church on the level of doctrines and dogmas and moral teaching. They convert because they believe the doctrines to be true, as opposed to thinking that all Catholics will be perfect saints. Nothing comes close to the Catholic Church in these regards. We alone have preserved the full moral teaching of the Bible and the apostles. Everyone else has compromised and caved, to one degree or another (on abortion and divorce and cohabitation and contraception and so-called gay marriage, and now, an increasing euthanasia and even infanticide in the most liberal states). This is a major reason why I am a Catholic. I got tired of Church groups that compromised on serious moral issues. They convert to Catholicism before they experience Catholic parish life. Like the gingerbread house, this sets up a dichotomy between Catholicism on paper and the church on the ground. [p. 247] One simply looks around for a good, orthodox, pious parish where the people actually believe and practice Catholicism. Its not difficult: at least not in urban areas. Occasionally, it may be difficult to find a good parish close by. Avoid the theological liberal garbage like the plague . . . By comparison, theres nothing ironic about reading yourself into evangelicalism or Calvinism because, initially, the primary question is whether its true. [p. 248] Thats not different from a standard, serious conversion to Catholicism by someone who was already a solid Protestant. Im answering as I read, and I already wrote above: They convert because they believe the doctrines to be true, . . . [S]ome converts already had a background in liturgical churches (Lutheran, Anglican, Episcopalian). It comes as no surprise when they convert to Catholicism since their religious background predisposed them in that direction. [p. 248] I was as unliturgical and low-church as one could be. It wasnt about going where I felt comfortable, but following truth where I thought it led, regardless of touchy-feely / oh-so-familiar feelings. On a related note, several converts had a background that was irreligious or nominally religious or nominally Protestant. Once again, it comes as no surprise that their background makes them susceptible to Catholicism inasmuch as they never had a strong, intellectually well-informed evangelical standard of comparison. [p. 248] In my case, the churches I attended were intellectually sound (the pastor who married us had a doctorate in education), with a love of apologetics, such as from C. S. Lewis and Francis Schaeffer and Walter Martin, and the notion that Jesus was Lord of all of life. I did street witnessing at the Ann Arbor Art Fair (University of Michigan) for ten years, all through the 80s. One cant succeed in doing that at all without making a total fool of oneself if one is anti-intellectual. Its one of the hotbeds of radical secularism and left-wing politics in the country: and my parish now is located there. But Hays still tried to lie about my background, as if it were anti-intellectual (he had a rather brief and superficial experience with Evangelicalism [13 years!]reading popularizers and attending emotive, anti-intellectual churches. . . . a shallow brand of Evangelicalism: 9-9-06). Bishop James White tried to pull the same schtick in December 2004, and described me as one who has given very little evidence, in fact, of having done a lot of serious reading in better non-Catholic literature to begin with (see the books I had actually read as a Protestant). I had been a Protestant apologist, for heavens sake, and did anti-cult research (still posted on my blog) and outreach in the early 80s. I did a radio show, teaching about Jehovahs Witnesses on the big evangelical station in Detroit in 1989. Thats thinking stuff. People like Hays simply cant believe that anyone at all intelligent or well-read or knowledgeable in Christianity could possibly become a Catholic. So we see him perpetually rationalizing away the reasons for such conversions. But he failed. E for effort and also for performance . . . I use myself as an example because I know my own conversion story very well. But my overall point is that, if he can twist and distort my story that much, surely he did so with many others, too. My conversion to Catholicism was built upon the many true elements of Protestantism, that had taught me so much, and for which I am very grateful. The gingerbread house-part 3 Whats so great about infallibility, anyway? You dont have to be infallible to be right. We hold many fallible but true beliefs. [p. 253] Whats great about it is that it allows for certainty that one is believing in truth. The Bible (especially Paul) is very big on truth. The word truth appears 103 times in the NT in RSV. Assured[ly] appears three times, may know sixteen times, confident[ly] six times, knowledge 48 times, wise 36 times, and wisdom 51 times. Infallibility is the same sort of thing. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would guide us into all the truth (Jn 16:13), and Paul taught that the Church was the pillar and bulwark of the truth (1 Tim 3:15). The apostles and elders at the Jerusalem council said that their decision seemed good to the Holy Spirit (Acts 15:28). For a more linguistically equivalent assertion of infallibility, we see a passage like this one: 2 Corinthians 13:5-6 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are holding to your faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed you fail to meet the test! [6] I hope you will find out that we have not failed. God likes His followers being certain, assured, confident, knowledgeable, wise, and adhering to infallible doctrinal proclamations, such as are present in Catholicism. He doesnt like the (sought after, gloried in!) uncertainty, doctrinal chaos and indifferentism, and theological relativism that is so pervasive in Protestantism. The gingerbread house-part 4 The Church didnt compile the Bible. [p. 258] Yeah, we know. It ratified or sanctioned or authorized it by her authority, so that the issue would henceforth be settled. More of that dreaded infallibility and certainty . . . The gingerbread house-part 6 The church can be indefectible even though denominations are defectible, because the church is instantiated in different denominations at different times and places. When they outlive their usefulness, the church is then instantiated in newer denominations. [p. 261] And where is this novel notion found in the Bible? Sectarianism and division are everywhere and always condemned in the NT. [Chapter 6: Development of Doctrine] No hard feelings, right? For centuries, grieving parents were told that unbaptized babies went to Limbo rather than heaven. While thats better than hell, it also means the parents will be permanently separated from their deceased children. Even if the parents are ultimately saved, they occupy a different place than their children. [p. 266] Rather, Rome came down firmly on both sides of the issue at different times. [p. 268] Limbo was never established doctrine. See: Has Limbo Been Relegated to Limbo?: It Never Was Definitive Teaching [12-28-07] Jay Dyer: Intellectual Limbo Re Catholic Belief in Limbo (with Dr. Robert Fastiggi) [7-24-20] Cardinal Muller on Catholicism and Protestantism Cardinal Muller represents the conservative, intellectual wing of the hierarchy. [p. 269] In other words, he is simply an orthodox Catholic. Its nice to see Hays finally acknowledge that there is a human being who is not a flaming liberal dissident (in his mind) as part of the hierarchy. But any of us orthodox apologists are just deluded dopes supposedly out of touch with the actual Catholic Church. Hays disagreed with Cardinal Mullers statement: The visible Church is the concretization of the Word of Gods incarnate presence in Jesus Christ by replying, It is in Catholic ecclesiology, but not in NT ecclesiology. Oh yes it is. I dealt with this in reply #18: 1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. Acts 8:3; 9:1, 4-5 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. . . . Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. . . . And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting; Rome claims the ability to bypass transparent, responsible methods of exegesis and substitutes the sheer ecclesiastical authority to posit the meaning. [p. 274] No she doesnt. There are only seven to nine Bible passages that the Catholic Church has definitively and finally interpreted See: The Freedom of the Catholic Biblical Exegete / Interpreter + Bible Passages that the Church has Definitively Interpreted [9-14-03]. Surely, any Calvinist has at least that many passages that they think prove their beloved TULIP false doctrine, and which in their minds could have no other possible interpretation. For example, all Calvinists seem to think that Romans 9 is an unanswerable, unquestionable confirmation of their novel doctrines on double predestination (I saw this confidence exhibited just last week online). Its not, as I showed: Romans 9: Plausible Non-Calvinist Interpretation [4-22-10]. But my main present point is that its not only Catholics who say you cant interpret verses a, b, c, other than as x (in the Catholic case, for only 7-9 passages) Protestants do it, too. So why wrangle about things that are a wash? The classic Protestant position isnt salvation by faith alone but justification by faith alone and salvation by grace alone. [p. 278] John Calvins pretty classic and he wrote about one of Protestantisms favorite passages (Ephesians 2:8-9): For by grace are ye saved. This is an inference from the former statements. Having treated of election and of effectual calling, he arrives at this general conclusion, that they had obtained salvation by faith alone. First, he asserts, that the salvation of the Ephesians was entirely the work, the gracious work of God. But then they had obtained this grace by faith. On one side, we must look at God; and, on the other, at man. God declares, that he owes us nothing; so that salvation is not a reward or recompense, but unmixed grace. The next question is, in what way do men receive that salvation which is offered to them by the hand of God? The answer is, by faith; . . . When, on the part of man, the act of receiving salvation is made to consist in faith alone, all other means, on which men are accustomed to rely, are discarded. (Commentary on Ephesians 2:810; my italics) St. John Cardinal Newman Set your lie meters. They will be going crazy, for sure . . . Newman resembles Luther inasmuch as both developed one-man belief-systems to resolve their personal religious quest. [p. 280] This is sheer nonsense: ignorant as it can be. Newman was in complete accord with the tradition of Catholicism, and even his thesis on development that Hays relentlessly lies about and mischaracterizes, was directly derived from St. Vincent of Lerins in the 5th century. Luther, on the other hand, was a revolutionary, who had already rejected at least fifty Catholic beliefs and traditions and practices by 1520, before he was excommunicated. The theory of development was necessitated by the increasing strain between the appeal to tradition and innovations in Catholic theology. Innovations that lacked a documentable pedigree in primitive tradition. [p. 280] This is garbage, too, and I have refuted it again and again. See, in particular, my editing of replies to the virulently anti-Catholic and anti-Newman Anglican anti-Catholic George Salmon, and my own replies to Salmons anti-Newman damnable lies. The theory of development solved one problem by creating another problem. It severed Catholic theology from any traditional moorings. Catholic theology is now adrift. It has no fixed center or boundaries. Catholic theology is now the theology of whoever the current pope happens to be. Like a chameleon, Catholic theology changes colors to match the shade of the current pope. [p. 280] In Hays vain and highly fanciful imagination, development of doctrine is supposedly equivalent to evolution of dogmas. He seems constitutionally unable to comprehend how dead wrong this is. The former is fully accepted by the Catholic Church and involves no essential change. The latter involves essential change into something different and is condemned by the Church. Now, if indeed, Newmans development was so supposedly radical and novel, how is it that the pope most known for being traditional and anti-modernist, Pope St. Pius X, was such a big advocate of it? It so happens that an Irish bishop defended Newman from the false charges that he was a modernist and a liberal, and that his theory of development was no different than modernist evolution of dogma which Pope St. Pius X had condemned (and that he was condemned by his encyclical Pascendi). The documents title is: Cardinal Newman and the Encyclical Pascendi Dominici Gregis, and it was written by Edward Thomas ODwyer, Bishop of Limerick (1908). Here is an excerpt: (3) With regard to the theory of the development of Christian Doctrine, two questions entirely distinct from one another have to be considered in relation to Newman: (a) is his theory admissible according to the principles of Catholic Theology, and (b) is it covered, or touched in any wise, by the condemnations of the recent Encyclical. The first of these questions I leave on one side now, venturing merely to express, with all submission, my personal opinion, little as it is worth, that in its broad outlines it is thoroughly sound and orthodox, and most serviceable for the interpretation of the facts of the history of dogma. As to the second, I cannot see how there can be room for doubt. Newmans whole doctrine was not only different from that of the Modernists, but so contrary to it in essence and fundamental principle, that I cannot conceive how, by any implication, it could be involved in their condemnation. Nothing less than an explicit statement by the supreme authority of the Holy See would convince me to the contrary. I see no common ground in both systems. The word development is the only thing which they hold in common. They do not mean the same thing by Christianity, by dogma, by religion, by Church. They do not start from the same first principles, and consequently they are as separate as the poles. Pope St. Pius X himself in the same year: 1908 (on 10 March) wrote a letter to Bishop ODwyer, thoroughly approving of his pamphlet. Here are some excerpts: We hereby inform you that your essay, in which you show that the writings of Cardinal Newman, far from being in disagreement with Our Encyclical Letter Pascendi, are very much in harmony with it, . . . Moreover, as far as that matter is concerned, his way of thinking has been expressed in very different ways, both in the spoken word and in his published writings, and the author himself, on his admission into the Catholic Church, forwarded all his writings to the authority of the same Church so that any corrections might be made, if judged appropriate. Regarding the large number of books of great importance and influence which he wrote as a Catholic, it is hardly necessary to exonerate them from any connection with this present heresy. . . . what the Modernists do is to falsely and deceitfully take those words out of the whole context of what he meant to say and twist them to suit their own meaning. We therefore congratulate you for having, through your knowledge of all his writings, brilliantly vindicated the memory of this eminently upright and wise man from injustice: . . . Would that they should follow Newman the author faithfully by studying his books without, to be sure, being addicted to their own prejudices, and let them not with wicked cunning conjure anything up from them or declare that their own opinions are confirmed in them; but instead let them understand his pure and whole principles, his lessons and inspiration which they contain. They will learn many excellent things from such a great teacher: in the first place, to regard the Magisterium of the Church as sacred, to defend the doctrine handed down inviolately by the Fathers and, what is of highest importance to the safeguarding of Catholic truth, to follow and obey the Successor of St. Peter with the greatest faith. [link] When I dropped this bombshell on David T. King: without question the loudest-mouthed, most arrogant and obnoxious, rude anti-Catholic Ive ever met, he never again tried to reply to me (and it has remained that way for almost twenty years now). For more details, see: Was Cardinal Newman a Modernist?: Pope St. Pius X vs. Anti-Catholic Polemicist David T. King (Development, not Evolution of Doctrine) [1-20-04]. Hays has created a wholly fictional, imaginary landscape whereby Pope St. Pius X supposedly opposed Newmans development of doctrine and regarded him as a modernist. That couldnt be any more opposed to the truth than it is, as I just documented. If Hays had read this paper of mine in 2004, he could have never argued anything this stupid and removed from reality. David T. King sure learned to cease spouting his ignorant nonsense about Cardinal Newman. Once bitten, twice shy . . . Romes clouded crystal ball A Catholic might object that Im burning a straw man. Sure, Catholic doctrine changes. No one disputes that. Some changes represent a development of doctrine. In other cases, the tradition wasnt infallible to begin with. Im aware of those caveats. [p. 286] Good. A ray of hope and some desperately needed nuance . . . *** 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. Trying to keep up with all of the latest Windows 11 features can be confusing, especially during the Microsoft Build rush in May when Microsoft releases new features, then announces others. This year was no different, with Microsoft unleashing a torrent of new Windows 11 features ranging from practical to fantastical. But whats coming, and when? Microsoft now releases new features in what are colloquially known as Moments. These Moments can occur at any time, which makes it even more confusing. Windows 11s Moment 3 was unveiled at Build with a host of exciting new features coming very soon but Microsoft also tipped off even more goodies that are due at a future date. Well outline which new Windows features are arriving in the current Moment 3, and which will be sent to your PC later on. The Windows 11 Moment 3 features The Moment 3 features, which well outline below, are considered optional and will not arrive until June unless youve previously opted in to receiving new features early. Theyll arrive in whats known as the June 2023 optional non-security preview release for Windows 11, probably due on Patch Tuesday, or June 13. Theyll arrive without fanfare, but will almost certainly require a reboot after a background installation. If youd like these new features early, you can. Simply go to the Windows 11 Settings menu, then Windows Update. Select Get the latest updates as soon as theyre available, and toggle the switch to on. Microsoft has typically released smaller quality-of-life features as part of the individual Moments, and Moment 3 is no exception. Microsoft tested these features publicly earlier this month as part of the Insider Preview 22621.1776 (Release Channel) beta, and now has published them as a final release. Wider Widgets: One of the more interesting additions to Windows 11 is a tweak to Widgets, which will allow more room for user-configured apps. Widgets will be wider three columns, instead of two and Microsoft promises a more personalized feed, too. Microsoft has shown off a new Widgets picker, which will provide a small preview of what the user-picked widget will look like, and guidance to find even more widgets. (The picker, though, may be delayed.) Widgets will widen within Windows 11. Microsoft Sensor settings: Some laptops have presence sensors, automatically dimming your screen when you walk away and locking your PC to secure it. A new setting in Settings > Privacy & security > Presence sensing will allow you to manage this. VPN icon: Youll see a small shield icon in the Taskbar when youre surfing on one of our best VPNs. Windows 11 will add a small shield icon if you have a VPN enabled. Microsoft USB4 Hubs and Settings: Intel-based laptops usually connect to Thunderbolt docks. USB4, though, is a nearly identical feature found mainly on AMD Ryzen laptops. Regardless, this new Windows Settings page provides information about the systems USB4 capabilities and the attached peripherals. Bluetooth expansion: Windows 11 will now support Bluetooth Low Energy Audio, a low-power audio standard supported by earbuds like the Galaxy Buds2 and Buds2 Pro. Account badging: You may not like it, but you may see a small exclamation point (!) attached to your account name in the Start menu, alerting you for when your Microsoft account needs attention. This has been associated with helpful reminders, aka ads, for other Windows features. Live caption language expansion: Live captions are one of the handier new features of Windows 11, providing subtitles for content that dont always have it. Live Captions will now be provided in 10 additional languages, including Chinese, various English dialects, and French, German, Spanish, and more. Based upon what Microsoft released in the earlier preview, we believe that youll see the following smaller changes as part of the Moment 3 release, too: New Print Screen shortcut: We documented how the PrtScn key will now open the Snipping Tool app. We documented how the PrtScn key will now open the Snipping Tool app. OneDrive storage indicator: Youll see the full amount of storage space allocated to all of your OneDrive subscriptions show up in the Accounts page within the Windows 11 Settings app. Youll see the full amount of storage space allocated to all of your OneDrive subscriptions show up in the Accounts page within the Windows 11 Settings app. 2FA copying: If you have a phone connected to your PC via Phone Link, you can now automatically copy any two-factor authentication (2FA) codes you receive from other services. If a service sends you a 2FA code, you should be able to click and copy it from Phone Link. Microsoft Touch keyboard options: The new Settings > Time & language > Typing > Touch keyboard setting allows you to show the touch keyboard always, never, or only when you disconnect the hardware keyboard. This is handy for devices like the Microsoft Surface Pro lineup, which include detachable hardware keyboards. The new Settings > Time & language > Typing > Touch keyboard setting allows you to show the touch keyboard always, never, or only when you disconnect the hardware keyboard. This is handy for devices like the Microsoft Surface Pro lineup, which include detachable hardware keyboards. Clock seconds: Dying to see the actual seconds in the System Trays clock app? Now you can. Dying to see the actual seconds in the System Trays clock app? Now you can. Bing Chat AI shortcut in search: Just like the Bing Chat shortcut in the search box after its been clicked, you should now see a small Bing Chat icon in the search box. That should change to your corporations icon if youre logged in with a corporate account. Just like the Bing Chat shortcut in the search box after its been clicked, you should now see a small Bing Chat icon in the search box. That should change to your corporations icon if youre logged in with a corporate account. Content Adaptive Brightness Control: If you own a two-in-one or a laptop, this feature may light or dim regions of the display depending on the content. Its not quite HDR, but close. New Windows 11 features beyond Moment 3 Microsoft has also disclosed additional features that will be coming to Windows 11, but at an undisclosed future time. Some weve seen or expect to see in Windows Insider beta code, while others may be pushed to Windows PCs via the Moments mechanisms. WinRAR support: WinRAR, 7-Zip, GZ and other compression formats are being integrated into Windows, thankfully. Microsoft expects that this will be available to test soon, with a full Windows 11 release for decompressing these files in September. The company hopes to let you create rar, zip, and other archives sometime in 2024. Windows Copilot: The big new feature of Build, Windows Copilot will bring AI within Windows. Microsoft promises youll see Windows Copilot in June, but hasnt said how. Wed expect this to be a fairly major Windows Insider build. Windows Copilot is an AI-powered sidebar for your PC. Mark Hachman / IDG Taskbar app ungrouping: Windows 10 allows you to show multiple apps on the Windows taskbar, individually labeled. Windows 11 is gaining that back, too. This feature debuted in a Insider build (Dev Channel) release this week, hopefully meaning that well see this before long. Right-clicking to close a Taskbar app: A related Taskbar trick will allow you to right-click a Taskbar app and kill the process, as you would from Task Manager. Windows Backup: Microsoft is testing Windows Backup in an Insider (Dev Channel) build. Windows Backup saves files, folders (and their layout locations on your desktop!), apps and more to the cloud, then reinstates them on a new PC. RGB lighting controls: You may not own a bunch of blinged-out PC peripherals with colored lights running up and down like a Christmas tree, but for those who do, we salute you. Microsoft said this week that its adding RGB lighting controls to Windows, providing standardized settings for an industry badly in need of them. Investors, perhaps searching for a foundation upon which to lay their AI investments, appear to have found one: Nvidia, whose market capitalization Tuesday makes it the first trillion-dollar chip maker. At press time, Nvidias stock price had jumped to $409.76 per share, giving it a market capitalization of $1.014 trillion. Nvidias fortunes soared last week, when the company reported net income of $2.04 billion on revenue of $7.192 billion. Surprisingly, revenues fell 13 percent from a year ago. Investors ignored that, however, as Nvidia estimated that the current quarter would bring in $11.0 billion in revenue, an almost unheard-of quarter-over-quarter increase. Wall Street sent shares soaring from about $303 to just under $380 overnight. Although a number of chip companies, big and small, have invested in AI, Nvidia is seen as perhaps the largest and most viable vendor right now. Most AI functions require large amounts of repetitive computational power and memory to operate inand Nvidias GPUs are primarily the chief driver on the consumer side. At Microsoft Build, for example, Nvidia said that its RTX GPUs will add Max-Q low-power inferencing for AI workloads. Nvidia also announced a partnership with Mediatek to provide a graphics/AI chiplet, though just in the automotive space. Nvidia spent most of Computex talking about its enterprise announcements, however, including that what Nvidia calls its GH200 Grace Hopper Superchip is in full production for AI workloads across the globe. Theres a war going on out there in AI, and Nvidia today is the only arms dealer out there, Srini Pajjuri, a managing director at investment firm Raymond James, said according to Yahoo Finance. So as a result were seeing this huge jump in revenues. Thats not necessarily true, of course. Rival AMD is also trying to push into AI, with chief executive Dr. Lisa Su telling analysts that AI was the chief strategic priority at the company. AMDs Ryzn AI and Intels Meteor Lake will add AI, too. For right now, however, investors dont care. Nvidia is pushing its chips into AI, and Wall Street is pushing its chips onto Nvidia. The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has inaugurated an advanced command centre, the latest in its cybersecurity infrastructure, established to ensure the delivery of a safer digital financial industry. Dubbed the Financial Industry Command Security Operations Centre (FICSOC), the move comes in the face of increased cybersecurity risks in the country and across the world. The facility is the first of its kind, funded and owned by a central bank in the sub-region. It also forms a core part of BoGs efforts to share threat intelligence, create industry situational awareness and improve the incident-response of regulated institutions. In 2018, the BoG issued cyber and information security directives for banks and other regulated institutions with the expectation that all regulated financial institutions would implement the required security management system controls to ensure the delivery of a safer digital financial industry. Implementation of the directive was phased over 36 months, with thorough effective monitoring and supervision among the regulated banks. As these institutions worked toward full implementation of the directive, the BoG said it became necessary to establish an industry security information and event management system (SIEMS) to enable these institutions implementing SIEMS to send logs and alerts, aggregate information and reports. It is against this backdrop that the bank initiated the Financial Industry Command Security Operations Centre project. The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who was guest of honour at the inauguration event, reckoned that the project will contribute to improving cybersecurity issues among financial sector institutions and beyond. He said the use of digital technologies continues to transform the business models of financial institutions with new revenue and value-producing opportunities: While these digital technologies support banking services and enable banking strategies, the underlying security vulnerabilities pose key cyber risks among those institutions. Cybersecurity risks may impair operational capabilities and threaten the viability of financial institutions. Likewise, the contagion of cyber risk in a financial system is heightened by the extent of interconnectedness; and therefore any severe cyber-attack could threaten the financial systems stability, he added. According to the Vice President, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision the primary global standard for prudential regulation of banks has recognised the evolving nature and scope of cyber risks, and called on banks to improve their resilience to cyber threats and incidents in line with the national cybersecurity strategy of countries. It is to enhance cyber resilience in the Ghanaian banking and financial industry, he said, that the BoG issued its Cyber and Information Security Directive (CISD) in October 2018 which largely defines the industrys approach to cybersecurity defence and response. The directive required that each regulated financial institution implement a SIEM technology that provides real-time analysis of the security alerts which network, hardware and applications generate, and create a Security Operations Centre (SOC) to be operated by designated employees to serve as its cyber nerve-centre. The BoG was to establish an industry SIEM system to receive logs/alerts, aggregate information and reports from each institutions SIEM. These requirements, he said, formed the FICSOC projects foundation. As of April 2023, he said, all commercial banks had been connected to the FICSOC; and reporting of cyber threat intelligence in the form of FICSOC alerts and FICSOC advisories is being communicated to these banks. FICSOC is a threat intelligence-sharing platform designed for secure sharing and collaboration, as well as to facilitate the analysis and prioritisation of risks, the allocation of resources, and the understanding of threats tailored to each regulated financial institution and the banking industry. With a coordinated approach between the regulator and member banks, he said, FICSOC will support regulated financial institutions to collaboratively fight cybersecurity threats while maintaining independence and confidentiality in day-to-day operations. For his part, the Bank of Ghana Governor, Dr. Ernest Addison, observed that the FICSOC will help provide real-time visibility into cyber threats and attacks targetting the banking sector. To this end, he said, BoG and the cybersecurity authority are collaborating to improve the banking sectors cybersecurity posture. In particular, he stated, the two institutions are discussing various ways to approach the implementation of the Cybersecurity Act 2020, Act 1038, for the sector. Source: B&FT Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) will start the imposition of an upfront 12.5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on the customs value of taxable goods at all ports of entry with effect from Tuesday, June 6, this year. The development will affect importers of taxable goods who are not registered to charge VAT. It is applicable to taxable goods imported into the country for home consumption, taxable uncustomed goods forfeited and auctioned and taxable goods on transfer from bonded facilities. It means importers of taxable goods who are not registered with the authority for tax will pay the upfront VAT in addition to the import duties and other taxes on the total value of the goods imported. It follows the amendment of the VAT Act, 2013 (Act 870) which imposed the upfront payment of VAT by unregistered importers as an administrative measure to enhance the performance of VAT. These came to light when the GRA engaged media practitioners on the implementation of the 12.5 per cent upfront payment in Accra last Thursday. Not a new tax The Commissioner of the Domestic Tax Revenue Division of the GRA, Edward Gyambrah, explained that the move was a compliance tool and not a new tax. He stated that all those who were tax compliant would not be affected. Ahead of the implementation of the amended law, the Commissioner said the GRA had engaged various stakeholders, including the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), the Institute of Freight Forwarders and the Custom Brokers Association of Ghana, among others. Mr Gyambrah further stated that the law which was passed in 2020 was aimed at ensuring parity in the pricing of goods on the market to ensure fairness, as VAT registered taxpayers charged the tax on their imported goods on the domestic front. He said it would help identify unregistered importers of taxable goods who did not charge VAT on their domestic supplies and ensure tax compliance as importers of taxable goods were required to register with the GRA and file their tax returns as well as make it easy to identify non-compliant taxpayers. Low VAT Mr Gyambrah noted that the VAT paid upfront could be recovered when the importer finally registered with the GRA, filed tax returns and paid all taxes due the state. The Commissioner of Domestic Tax Revenue said the GRA was embarking on various initiatives to meet its annual revenue target of GH106 billion for the 2023 fiscal year. Listing some of the policies aimed at helping the authority to meet its revenue target, he mentioned the amended tax laws such as the income tax, excise duty tax and the growth and sustainability levy. Mr Gyambrah said aside from the upfront VAT imposition, other initiatives to ensure tax compliance included e-VAT invigilation and mystery shopping. He said the tax net had been widened also to cover the gaming, betting and lottery industry and the night economy. The Commissioner of Domestic Tax Revenue added that the authority had intensified the prosecution of tax defaulters to increase voluntary tax compliance. He said the move had become necessary as the countrys VAT contribution to the total tax receipts, which was less than 20 per cent, was one of the lowest on the continent. When it comes to VAT, our peer countries are contributing more than 30 per cent. Togo and Ivory Coast are contributing about 50 per cent, Mr Gyambrah averred. Sanctions A member of the technical committee for the implementation of the Upfront Payment of VAT, Wiseborn Koranteng, said persons who failed to apply for registration were liable to a penalty of not more than two times the amount of tax on taxable supplies payable from the time they were required to apply for registration until they filed an application for registration with the Commissioner General of the GRA. He added that persons liable for the payment of upfront VAT included importers of taxable goods who were required to register for VAT, but who had failed to register. Mr Koranteng said unregistered importers of goods became liable when they imported taxable goods with a custom value of GH200,000 and above per consignment. He said the law, however, provided that the upfront payment might be recovered in six months after the importer had registered for the tax and filed a return. He indicated that VAT compliance had traditionally been a challenge due to the informal nature of transactions in the economy. Some importers, Mr Koranteng said, though registerable for VAT purposes, were currently not in the VAT net. Such importers, because they did not pay import VAT at the port of entry, did not charge the tax when they supplied goods on the domestic front, thereby undercutting the market and denying the state its due revenue. Source: graphiconline.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 The vetting of Chief Justice nominee, Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkonoo, was not short of combative exchanges, entrenched political posturing and subtle accusations, with contentious issues such as contempt of court, citizenship and judicial independence taking centre stage. With the National Democratic Congress (NDC) member, Prof. Michael Kpessa-Whyte, being summoned to appear before the Supreme Court tomorrow for allegedly making contemptuous comments against the court, contempt was a major subject of scrutiny by some NDC members on the Appointments Committee. The Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, and the MP for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu, particularly, raised concerns about the use of the power of contempt by the Supreme Court, describing it as an abuse by the apex court. However, Justice Torkornoo justified the use of contempt by the Supreme Court, describing it as a necessary tool to protect the dignity of the administration of justice and ultimately the democracy and peace of the country. The Supreme Court is the ultimate voice of authority for the entire judicial stream. If the Supreme Court is not alert and alive to its responsibility to ensuring that the justice systems are not denigrated beyond boundaries, those below us are likely to suffer more, she said. Mr Sosu was of the opinion that the Supreme Court had in recent times had the penchant for summoning people for contempt for making disparaging comments about decisions of the court, a situation he said was not the practice in other common law jurisdictions such as the USA, Canada and the UK. However, Justice Torkonoo disagreed and said it was not the case that the Supreme Court had consistently been summoning people for contempt, adding that the power of contempt had always been with the court but the court sparingly used it unless it was necessary. She noted that during her 35 years of legal profession, she could only remember the Supreme Court summoning people for contempt on not more than five occasions. Another aspect of contempt which came up had to do with the lack of clear guidelines or rules of court on how judges could apply the power of contempt. The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Chairman of the Committee, Joseph Osei Owusu, suggested to the nominee that it was necessary for the judiciary to set up rules on contempt, just as Parliament had standing orders on how it exercised its power of contempt, a suggestion the nominee said she would be ready to explore when approved by the House. Contempt cases Contempt of court featured prominently during the two presidential election petitions adjudicated by the Supreme Court in 2012 and 2020. During the 2012 Election petition, the Editor of the Daily Searchlight, Kenneth Agyei Kuranchie, and a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) communication team, Stephen Atubiga, were sentenced to 10 and three days imprisonment, respectively, for contempt of court for making prejudicial comments about the petition, while the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, and a member of the partys communications team, Hopeson Adorye, were slapped with GH5,000 and GH2,000, respectively, for the same offence. A former Deputy Attorney-General (A-G) and MP for Bolgatanga East, Dr Dominic Akurutinga Ayine, was also cited for contempt during the 2020 election petition for making some disparaging remarks against the court and was ordered by the court to retract them and apologise. Arguably, the best example of the Supreme Courts use of the power of contempt was the infamous Montie trio case the two radio panellists and a programme host - who were sentenced to four months imprisonment each in July 2016 for scandalising the court. The two panellists - Alistair Tairo Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn - and the host, Salifu Maase, alias Mugabe, were also ordered by the apex court to pay GH10,000 each or in default serve an additional one month in prison. Citizenship On citizenship, the issue of whether a birth certificate was proof of Ghanaian citizenship became topical, with the Minority Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agboza, taking a position that a birth certificate should be proof of citizenship. That was, however, rejected by Justice Torkornoo who affirmed the Supreme Courts decision in 2020, which held that a birth certificate was not proof of citizenship and subsequently dismissed a suit by the NDC asking the court to order the EC to accept the birth certificate as source document for voter registration. She said unlike other countries, Ghana did not confer citizenship on persons born in the country but by their lineage. According to her, a birth certificate recorded place of birth and helped to determine nationality but was not proof of nationality. Ones nationality is derived from the information on the birth certificate. It is not the evidence of nationality, it is the beginning of appreciating how your nationality must be determined, she said. Source: graphiconline.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 The government will next academic year supply all senior high schools (SHSs) with laptop computers with in-built textbooks, the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has said. He said the initiative would save the country the colossal sum of money spent on printing textbooks, adding that it would also lead beneficiary students into the new world of data, modern systems and innovations. Dr Bawumia was speaking at the 60th anniversary celebration of the E.P. SHS, Hohoe (HEPSS), in the Volta Region last Saturday on the theme: HEPSS @ 60, Reflections on our journey and inspiring new directions, the role of stakeholders. Commendation The Vice-President commended the school for its high academic standards and level of discipline over the decades, saying HEPSS was one of the best second cycle institutions in the country. He also paid glowing tribute to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana (EPCG), for its immense contribution to education and civilisation in the country such as the establishment of HEPSS, which Dr Bawumia said had produced men and women of substance for the nation in the past 60 years. He further commended the schools cadet corps for their brilliant drills and display of gallantry, and pledged to personally take up the supply of their uniforms. Free SHS policy On the Free SHS policy, the Vice-President said since its inception, enrolment had increased from 800,000 to 1.4 million, saying it was a positive indication of an all-inclusive access to education. In addition, he said, there was also a gender parity in the system, citing the case of HEPSS which has 1,491 boys and 1,878 girls. Dr Bawumia said infrastructural development in SHSs was high on the agenda of the government to enable more students to access quality education. He advised the students to study diligently towards a brighter future, saying if you aim high and put your minds to it, you will achieve your goals. The Vice-President donated GH50,000 to the school. The Headmaster of the school, Franklin Amesimeku, said HEPSS, which was established in 1961 with 55 students, had grown to become one of the most iconic citadels of academic learning in our part of the world. He said discipline was a core value of the school and that out of the 928 candidates it presented for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in 2022, 865 had between aggregates seven and 24, qualifying them to various tertiary institutions. And those who got grades 25 to 30 can equally further their education because they passed in all the core subjects, the headmaster added. He, however, appealed to the government and other stakeholders to help address the age-long problem of acute water shortage in the school, including the construction of dormitories and other infrastructural projects. The school prefect, Kwesi Prosper Attara, also expressed concern over inadequate furniture in the classrooms, which he said compelled students to sit in pairs on mono desks during lessons. At the dining halls, Master Attara said students were forced to eat in turns due to the lack of furniture. The event was graced by the Paramount Chief of Gbi, Togbega Gabusu VII. Source: graphiconline.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 The government has been asked to continue the processes towards the review of Article 243 (1) of the 1992 Constitution for the election of municipal and district chief executives (MDCEs) on the ticket of political parties. An amendment of that nature will boost inclusive representation and enable the country to realize the essentials of good governance and help accelerate national development. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CBS Consulting, Dr Valentin Kwasi Mensah, who made the call during a webinar by the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG) on May 25, underlined the need for urgent local government reforms after practising the current regime for more than 30 years. Article 243 (1) of the 1992 Constitution should be amended, for the election of municipal and district chief executives. If political parties engaging in the election of municipal and district chief executives is not acceptable, then we are denying ourselves of an important factor for development and controlling corruption, he said. The government between 2018 and 2019, pursued the amendment of Article 55(3) to enable multiparty participation in the districts and 243(1) for the election of MDCEs, to reform the local governance system and devolve more power and resources to the local communities. The context However, the national referendum scheduled for December 17, 2019, was truncated for lack of adequate public knowledge and broad-based consensus on the reforms. Since then, both the government, led by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), have restated their commitment to reset and pursue local governance reforms. While the NPPs agenda on local governance reforms include the direct and popular election of MDCEs and the legalisation of political parties participation, the opposition NDC proposes the election of MDCEs devoid of political parties involvement. Dr Mensah maintained that there was enough consensus at both political and citizen levels to have MDCEs elected into office by the people; the challenge, therefore, was the involvement of political parties. He explained that having the election should be the priority of all but ensuring political participation was crucial to accelerate development in the country. He added that there was a need for the country to pursue a vigorous national decentralisation programme by allowing citizens to decide who led them at the district assembly level. Economic consequences The CEO was speaking on the topic, The economic consequences of Ghana's cultural values and public policies: a critical appraisal of formal and informal institutions. Given Ghanas slow pace of development, he said the country needed to adopt experiences and lessons from Singapore and South Korea to transform and change its fortune for the better. A key to identifying the causes of poverty and stagnation in low-income economies may be found in the experiences of economies that escaped from the same trap. Thus, the experiences of Singapore and South Korea are relevant, he said. Towards that, he said, the fundamental values proposed by Ghana Beyond Aid should be reduced to a maximum of five and presented to Parliament for public debate and review to attract the attention of the nation. He said the implementation of the Ghana Beyond Aid initiative had suffered because its fundamental values had not been adopted for the country. We need effective public communication to ensure the citizens are inculcated with the values of the Ghana Beyond Aid initiative, he said. He said due to the importance of productivity and savings for development, special efforts should be made to reduce the time and resources spent on unproductive rituals. He added that the financial regulatory environment must be enhanced to facilitate savings and investment on the stock exchange and in other financial institutions. Source: Graphiconline 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 Sixteen(16) people are feared dead in a ghastly accident at Gomoa Okyereko on the Accra-Cape Coast highway in the Central Region. A Youtong bus with registration number GT 5866-L and a Goodness Energy Fuel Tanker with registration number WR 2063-10 collided head-on resulting in the death of sixteen people at Gomoa Okyereko at about 5:00 am on Tuesday morning. The bus was traveling from Abidjan to Buduburam while the tanker was filled with petrol, traveling from Accra heading towards Takoradi. The cause of the accident is not readily known, but the rescue team from the Ghana National Fire Service is at the scene. As a result, the road has been blocked to traffic as security agencies on-site work around the clock to restore normalcy. 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 The Deputy Attorney-General & Deputy Minister for Justice of Ghana, Diana Asonaba Dapaah, says ECOWAS region must thoroughly interrogate the reason for the recent unconstitutional change of government in some countries in the region in bid to stem the tide. Diana Asonaba Dapaah, stated this in an exclusive interview with Voice of Nigeria at the end of the 2023 international conference of the ECOWAS Court in Banjul, the Gambia. She said the unconstitutional change of government in some countries in West Africa must be strongly condemned. Coup or unconstitutional change of government unequivocally must be condemned, we need to interrogate and explore what have been the possible causes of the unconstitutional changes. Clearly, as it has been indicated, the whole idea of democracy cannot be self-sustaining unless we move from rhetoric to practice, what we mean by that, that there will be political will and not just engaging in fanciful philosophies and ideas. What is the reflection of democracy good governance, rule of law in the life of the ordinary person on the street? That for me is the question that as leaders we must face and interrogate impartially and practically. Dapaah said that faithful adherence to constitutional principles must be the bedrock of governance as those in authority must not be permitted to manipulate and subvert the constitution for their own ends. She said anybody aspiring to power must do so through the constitutional processes which are based on the cardinal principle that government must be with the consent of the people. According to Dapaah, it is not enough for a state to say that it has all in place the policies, the legislation that reflect the constitutional convergence principles. It means a lot of things; it is not just about taking arms to overthrow government, but even the fact that using pseudo law in ways to change what is the role of the people in itself can amount to unconstitutional change of government. And so there is whole spectrum and the various roles that need to be played by us. Top of it for me is political leadership that will translate the philosophies, the ideas into realty that the citizenry will feel part of the democracy we are practicing and a reflection of the will of the people. Dappaah attributed the manipulation of law by some leaders to amend the constitution to achieve their desire to elongate the term in office because of the large number of uneducated populace. Education is very key, for the people who claim that the citizenry clamour for elongation of term, the issue is that are they aware or educated on what the effect of that. Unfortunately, some of these positions on elongation arguably thrive on the large uneducated populace, and for me that is a key thing we need to look at education of the people. Education will do so many things; education for instance, will disabuse the mind of the incumbent from thinking that he is the only wise person within the state and it is the same education that will inform the citizenry to balance the scale of the impact of going through constitutional change and making an informed decision. On measures taking by ECOWAS to deter coup in region with the recent unconstitutional change of government in three West African countries, Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso, Dappaah expressed satisfaction by the action taking so far to stem the tide from spreading to other countries in the region. She said apart from sanctions, ECOWAS must interrogate the root causes of these unconstitutional changes. We need to interrogate other issues other incidentals to the whole idea of unconstitutional change and then measure whether the sanctions that we have taken are actually have been helpful and I think these are some of the conversations that are coming up. Is it just about sanctions, what about the root causes, could we have better alternatives? But, clearly ECOWAS could not have looked on unopposed and for me it is a giant stride for them to take this intervention, to state out clearly that we are minded, that we are interested in any form of unconstitutional change of government. The four-day conference with the theme; ECOWAS Zero for Unconstitutional Change of Government also recommended effective sanctions against perpetrators of unconstitutional Change of government, including coup plotters and their supporters. 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 Ghana and Korea have agreed to develop a strategic partnership based on technology, agriculture and education. The focus on these three key sectors reflects the shared vision of both countries to deepen collaboration and leverage their expertise and resources for mutual growth and progress. The strategic partnership is expected to harness technology for innovation, enhance agricultural productivity, and promote educational opportunities. By combining forces in these areas, Ghana and Korea are poised to drive economic development and secure a prosperous future for their citizens. Courtesy call The two nations came to the agreement when the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on the South Korean Prime Minister, Han Duck-soo, on the sidelines of the International Conference for the 60th Anniversary of Korea's five-year Economic Development Plan in the capital Seoul. Briefing the Daily Graphic from Seoul, Mr Ofori-Atta said; "It has been a very insightful trip, crowned with a productive meeting with Prime Minister Duck-soo. The minister said the strategic partnership would accelerate economic growth, generate employment opportunities, and strengthen trade relations between the two countries. He said the partnership held tremendous potential for knowledge sharing, technology transfer and capacity building. Ghana stands to benefit from Korea's advancements in technology, while collaboration in agriculture can address food security challenges, increase productivity and promote sustainable practices, Mr Ofori-Atta added. The Finance Minister said the focus on education underscored the importance of equipping the workforce with the skills required for the future job market. Mr Ofori-Atta expressed optimism about the strategic partnership, emphasising the positive impact it would have on both economies. "By leveraging technology, agriculture and education, we can achieve sustainable growth and shared prosperity," he stated. For his part, Prime Minister Duck-soo expressed optimism that the partnership would yield great benefits for both nations. He also thanked the Ghanaian delegation for the visit to South Korea. Source: graphiconline.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 The New Patriotic Party (NPP), at its Steering Committee (SC) meeting held on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, approved the timelines for holding parliamentary primary election at Assin North for the by-election. The approved timelines are as follows: Opening of Nomination - Wednesday May 31, 2023 Closing of Nomination - Thursday June 1, 2023 Election - Wednesday June 7, 2023 The Party has also approved detailed Rules and Regulations to govern the conduct of the parliamentary primary election which would be made available to stakeholders. However, Nomination Forms will be available at the Constituency Party Office for purchase. Assin North seat declared vacant Parliament of Ghana has officially declared the Assin North seat as vacant. This was communicated by the Clerk of Parliament in conformity with the ruling by the Supreme Court on the eligibility of James Quayson as Member of Parliament for the area. The Clerk in a memo to the Electoral Commission stated: In the exercise of the power conferred and the duty imposed on the Clerk to Parliament by section 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana (Amendment) Act, 1996 (Act 527), I, CYRIL KWABENA OTENG NSIAH, Clerk to Parliament do hereby formally notify you of the occurrence of a vacancy in the Assin North Constituency necessitated by the Judgement of the Supreme Court dated 17 May 2023 vide Writ No. J1/11/2022 issued in respect of James Gyakye Quayson in the case of Michael Ankomah Nimfah vrs James Gyakye Quayson. The Electoral Commission of Ghana and the Attorney-General request you to take appropriate consequential action as required by law. The Supreme Court by a unanimous decision ordered Ghanas Parliament to expunge the name of James Gyakye Quayson from its records as the Member of Parliament for the Assin North constituency on May 17. The Court on, Wednesday, 17 May 2023, declared as unconstitutional the election of Mr Gyakye Quayson as MP for Assin North saying he held dual citizenship as at the time he filed to contest the 2020 elections Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A Philadelphia man was sentenced Tuesday to a minimum of 22 months in state prison for his role in trying to flee from a drug-laden car on Interstate 81 in a hijacked Pennsylvania State Police patrol car last summer. Malik Clover, 32, was sentenced to an aggregate 22 months to four years for his role in the Aug. 4 incident, in which co-defendant Hanif Hall managed to commandeer the patrol car, pick up Clover, and make a chaotic but short-lived escape from the scene of a traffic stop in Silver Spring Township. Both men were apprehended after a several-hour manhunt at separate locations off Route 11. Clover, with a last known address in the 5500 block of Cambridge Street in Philadelphia, has been in custody since the August incident. He pleaded guilty to flight, resisting arrest and conspiracy charges in December. But his attorney, Tobias Brown, acknowledged in court Tuesday more prison time is likely coming for Clover, as he is due to be sentenced in August on separate federal drug charges. Those counts appear to be based on the methamphetamine, heroin and other drugs found during a search of the car Clover and Hall were driving during the initial stop. Attempts to reach Clovers attorney in the federal case were not successful for this report. Online court dockets show Clover pleaded guilty in April to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. The underlying Aug. 4 incident began when State Police Trooper Scott Markley saw a gray Nissan Sentra with Kentucky plates pass by his location on I-81 with window tints that prevented him from seeing in the vehicle. Markley began tailing the car and stopped it after he said that he saw the driver tailgating another vehicle in front of it. Markley said that as he walked up to the drivers side of the car, he smelled marijuana, according to a subsequent search warrant application. During a subsequent conversation with the driver, later identified as Clover, and the passenger, Hall, the trooper stated that he asked for consent to search the vehicle and the men, now outside the car, said no. While Markley was awaiting a police back-up unit, the warrant application continued, Clover re-entered the passenger side of the Sentra. As Markleys attention turned to trying to get Clover back out of the car, police said, Hall worked his way back to Markleys squad car and jumped into the drivers seat. As Markley ran to the passenger side of the squad car as Hall pulled away, Clover escaped on foot, to be picked up by Hall seconds later. That started a brief, but chaotic, police pursuit in Middlesex and Silver Spring townships. Hall exited 81 at Exit 52, in Middlesex Township, police said, and at the bottom of that ramp Clover made his escape on foot from the still-moving squad car, running onto a nearby Harrisburg Pike motel property where he was later found hiding in a laundry room. Hall turned north on Route 11, where the PSP car was eventually surrounded by responding police in the midst of busy daytime traffic and became disabled. Hall then fled on foot as well, and was caught a short time later behind a shed in the 7000 block of Carlisle Pike. Hall, 31, with a last known address in Harrisburg, pleaded guilty to state charges of flight, reckless endangerment and unauthorized use of police lights and sirens earlier this month. He is currently scheduled to be sentenced in August. The federal drug charges lodged against Hall are still pending in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, online dockets show. Cumberland County Judge Matthew Smith, in ordering Tuesdays sentence, noted the proscribed term falls within the standard range of state sentencing guidelines based on Clovers prior criminal record and the severity of the new charges he pleaded to. A man was critically injured in a Sunday evening stabbing in Harrisburg, police said. The stabbing was reported around 6 p.m. on the 1100 block of South 13th Street, Lt. Kyle Gautsch said. A man was taken to a hospital with multiple stab wounds. Police said the stabbing appeared to be a targeted act. No arrests have been made as of Tuesday, but Gautsch said police are following leads. Anyone with information can call Harrisburg police at 717-558-6900, or submit a tip through CrimeWatch. READ MORE: Man who died at Dauphin County jail was put in smock, told he can freeze: lawsuit 1 seriously hurt in central Pa. ATV crash: state police By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN, The Associated Press A Pennsylvania restaurant owner who screamed death threats directed at then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi while storming the U.S. Capitol was sentenced on Tuesday to more than two years in prison. Pauline Bauer was near Pelosis office suite on Jan. 6, 2021, when she yelled at police officers to bring out the California Democrat so the mob of Donald Trump supporters could hang her. In January, U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden convicted Bauer of riot-related charges after hearing trial testimony without a jury. The judge sentenced her to two years and three months of imprisonment, giving her credit for the several months she already has served in jail, court records show. FILE - This image from Metropolitan Police Department body-worm camera video and contained in the Statement of Facts supporting an arrest warrant for Pauline Bauer, pointing second to left, taken in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (Justice Department via AP, file)AP Prosecutors had recommended a prison sentence of six years and six months for Bauer, 55, of Kane, Pa. Bauer was part of the mob that forced police officers on the East Plaza to retreat. After forcing her way into the Capitol, she accosted officers who were trying to secure the Rotunda, shoving one of them, and yelled at police to bring them out or were coming in, according to federal prosecutors. Theyre criminals. They need to hang, she screamed. Bring Nancy Pelosi out here now. We want to hang (her). Bring her out. Other rioters shouted threats against Pelosi while they roamed through the Capitol. Bauers threat to hang Speaker Pelosi was real, imminent, and placed the Speaker of the House in danger, prosecutor James Peterson wrote in a court filing. Bauer traveled from her north Pennsylvania home to attend then-President Donald Trumps Stop the Steal rally in Washington on Jan. 6. She had attended a Stop the Steal rally in Harrisburg, Pa., a day earlier. She came to Washington with at least five other people who have been charged in the Capitol riot, including co-defendant William Blauser, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge. Last year, McFadden ordered Blauser to pay a $500 fine but didnt sentence him to any term of incarceration or probation. McFadden convicted Bauer of all five counts in her indictment, including a felony charge that she obstructed the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress that certified President Joe Bidens 2020 electoral victory. Defense attorney Komron Jon Maknoon said Bauer never intended to interfere with the process of certifying the Electoral College vote. She genuinely regrets her past actions and doesnt pose a threat to the public, her lawyer said. The international spotlight showcasing her at her worst has deeply affected her, Maknoon wrote. Prosecutors said Bauer lied during her trial testimony, giving a bogus explanation for her confrontation with police and claiming she didnt remember threatening Pelosi. Bauer has used sovereign citizen extremist rhetoric and filed nonsense court documents while defending herself, prosecutors said. Pauline Bauer leans against a wooden statue outside Bob's Trading Post, her restaurant in Hamilton, Pa., July 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Kunzelman, file)AP Photo/Michael Kunzelman More than a year before the trial, McFadden ordered Bauer to be jailed for several months for violating conditions of her release. She had claimed the court has no authority over her and told the judge that she doesnt want any lawyering from the bench. During an interview in 2021, Bauer said her arrest on Capitol riot charges led to a mixed reaction from neighbors in Kane, a small town on the edge of the 517,000-acre Allegheny National Forest. A lot of people say that theyre proud of me for standing up for my rights, she told The Associated Press. Bauer said her restaurant, Bobs Trading Post, was thriving before the COVID-19 pandemic. She became known in her hometown as an outspoken critic of lockdown measures that cost her business. More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes for their conduct on Jan. 6. More than 500 of them have been sentenced, with over half receiving terms of imprisonment ranging from one week to 18 years. Martin Scorsese has another film about Jesus in the works, he reportedly revealed during a visit to the Vatican. The director met with Pope Francis on Saturday before going to the Global Aesthetics of the Catholic Imagination conference in Rome, according to Variety. I have responded to the Popes appeal to artists in the only way I know how: by imagining and writing a screenplay for a film about Jesus, Scorsese said at the conference, according to Variety, which cited multiple reports. And Im about to start making it. Scorsese, 80, previously directed 1988s The Last Temptation of Christ, which stars Willem Dafoe as Jesus. He also co-wrote and directed 2016s Silence starring Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver as Jesuit priests. The filmmaker did not release plot details for his new movie. Scorseses announcement comes nearly two decades after Mel Gibson released The Passion of the Christ in 2004. Gibson has long been linked to a sequel, but his team pushed back on reports that production would begin soon, according to The Guardian. Earlier this month, Scorsese premiered his latest film, Killers of the Flower Moon, at Frances Cannes Film Festival to a nine-minute standing ovation. The 1920s-set movie, starring longtime Scorsese collaborators Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, centers on the Osage Nation murders in Oklahoma. Killers of the Flower Moon is schedule to arrive in theaters and on Apple TV+ in October. Scorsese, a 14-time Oscar nominee, won best director in 2007 for The Departed and is known as well for films such as Goodfellas, Gangs of New York, Raging Bull and The Wolf of Wall Street. Peter Sblendorio of the New York Daily News wrote this story. 2023 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. It has been around a year since Dan and Cathy McLaughlin, of central North Carolina, began showing their documentary called Healthy Hope at a series of film festivals around the country. The stars in this movie are Muscadine grapes, which are native to the southeastern United States and still grow mostly in an area from Delaware to Florida but also as far west as Texas and Missouri. It is the first native grape species to be cultivated in North America and continues to thrive largely because they are tolerant of insect and disease pests; thus, homeowners dont have to worry about spraying them with pesticides. Many vineyards are growing the grape, and North Carolina producers such as Duplin Winery, Cypress Bend Vineyards and Cauble Creek Vineyard have helped grow their following thanks to the Muscadine grape. It can be made in a variety of styles, from sweet to dry. But the grapes appearance in the 55-minute film has only an indirect relationship with the wines; instead, the focus is on an extract from Muscadine that can help fight cancer, inhibit metastatic cancer growth, reduce inflammation, and improve overall health. Having worked in the North Carolina Wine and Grape industry for several years, Dan and Cathy were asked in 2019 to attend a Wake Forest University Deans Forum about the grape. There, they heard about the research and met with various doctors who have worked on different aspects of the research for almost two decades. When we attended the Deans Forum at Wake Forest University, Dr. Patricia Gallagher [a professor in the Department of Surgical Sciences, Hypertension and Vascular Research] had such a wonderful presentation, along with the opportunity to meet the graduate students who were conducting research on what was happening with the extract, Dan explained. The research teams hopefulness really ignited a passion in us over the two years it took to create the documentary. We later learned that the funding was running low, and so we thought it would be good to create an informational piece that would highlight the progress in this natural product. We had so much information, it went from a short video to a longer format documentary. While neither of them had any background in film-making (both worked in the insurance industry for years and then in 2015 created a research and marketing firm for the beverage industry called CLINNEAM LLC), they decided to take a shot with a film that could get the word out to doctors, patients and the general public. It was shown during 2022 at a dozen film festivals, including in Winston-Salem and Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Cleveland, Atlanta and Dallas. Dan said it was named best documentary at six of the festivals. Said Dan about the response to the documentary, which features six researchers from five universities (NC State, Wake Forest, Morgan State, Howard and Johns Hopkins), We have been getting some traction and feedback, which is exciting. A very unexpected ride for us. Below is the trailer to the film, which you can rent for $9.99 at this link. You can find more on the documentary and the overall project at this link. This year, Dan said they have been talking with doctors and trying to reach out to them about what we found and creating a network of, I guess call them cancer fighters who are who are looking at natural products, who dont have that taboo about it or dont feel that pharmaceuticals are the only way to go, he said. We kind of introduce them and we show the film, and when they see it theyre like oh, can you get me in touch with this person? So thats now going on in the background, which has been really cool. Weve set up a little network of like-minded individuals who are researchers who said, you know, Id like to try something like this, and that theyre now looking at different [things] they can do within their own community. The McLaughlins also spent time at several different fruit and vegetables shows and conferences, talking to mostly growers, where they have shown the film and answered questions. In short, they continue to spread the word, making those in the grape and wine industry more familiar with the potential power and scope of the extract, and letting things jell in individual medical settings as folks network and seek grant money to fund more research. Meanwhile, they continue to find those intrigued by the possibilities of identifying a natural product that can assist in reducing the numbers: As of 2018, according to the World Health Organization, cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, accounting for an estimated 9.6 million deaths. Thats one in every six deaths. In 2023, roughly 2 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States, according to the National Cancer Center. An estimated 297,790 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer; prostate cancer is the leading cancer diagnosis among men and the second most common diagnosis overall with 288,300 expected cases. Mark Hoffman is a small fruit Extension specialist at NC State University and a participant in the documentary. We are definitely discovering people who are like, well, why wouldnt we try this? " Dan said, referring to the Muscadine extract. We try everything else. Lets put it through the same test. Among the groups Dan said he was trying to connect with was Cancer Moonshot, established in 2016 to accelerate scientific discovery in cancer, foster greater collaboration, and improve the sharing of cancer data. President Biden announced two new goals for the initiative last year: to reduce the cancer death rate by half within 25 years and improve the lives of people with cancer and cancer survivors. This all started when Dan said he was looking for grant money for his work with Fine Wines of NC, a 501(c)(3) that he and his wife helped create. That group is geared toward education on the states wine and wineries in addition to staging an annual competition. So I kind of had my eyes on the grants homepage, said Dave, who would send links to those looking for grant money to fund Muscadine research. As we kept hearing about the story, it was like, well, theyre still not getting any money. They just need somebody to help tell the story for them. Thus, the seed for the documentary was planted. Meanwhile, the states wineries continue to build momentum. At the 2023 intrastate competition in mid-April, 44 wines ended up with golds, including four double golds. Another 69 wines received silver medals and 28 were given a bronze. Per the criteria on the Fine Wines website, all of the judges are at least level 3 Advanced sommeliers; judges taste blind; there is no discussion during judging and judges turn over their notes and scores to each winery. All wines are expected to be 100% grown and vinified in North Carolina. Cathy and I love to watch the Tour de France each year, and we take notes on the small towns that they go through as suggestions for our next trip to France, Dan said. We always watch where the pack, or peloton, is located in the race, and weve been doing the same with the competition. Early on, the pack was in the bronze medal areas, which for our competition means a Well Made Wine - No Flaws. Then the peloton moved into the silver category and has slowly progressed into the top range there over the last few years. Silvers are Very Good - a wine with special qualities. And this year the peloton came screaming in to the finish line. Forty-four golds is a real testament to the quality wines being produced here. Dr. Valerie Odero-Marah is the executive director, Center for Urban Health Disparities Research & Innovation, at Morgan State University and another voice in 'Healthy Hope.' Best in Show was a Viognier from Stony Knoll Vineyards, in Dobson, the birthplace of the states Yadkin Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA). Neighbor Surry Cellars was recognized for best red, a 2019 Tannat Reserve. The Fine Wines showcase of the 12 best wines included three from Raffaldini Vineyards and two each from Shelton Vineyards and Marked Tree Vineyard. More: Penn State Extension to offer hands-on training in wine microbiology Pa. wine competition spreads around its awards to producers around the state Argentinas winemaking legend chose path of enology rather than physics. The rest is history. On the heels of Chick-fil-A opening more restaurants in central Pa., we now have some insight into just how popular the chain actually is. The Atlanta-based company generated $18.8 billion in sales at its U.S. restaurants in 2022, up 13% over the previous year. That puts it behind competitors McDonalds and Starbucks, according to QSR magazine. Obviously, those figures translate into a whole lot of chicken sandwiches. Recently, Chick-fil-A shared the breakdown as part of an annual global impact review. It sold 2.1 billion guests a whopping 527 million sandwiches in 2022. Chick-fil-A also reported it opened 138 new locations last year and selected 100 new operators as well as entering new markets in Puerto Rico and Hawaii. The chain is rapidly expanding in central Pa., where it recently opened a restaurant at the Lower Allen Commons in Lower Allen Township. Several more are in the pipeline including at the Mills at Shepherdstown Crossing in Upper Allen Township and at least two in Dauphin County at 5101 Jonestown Road in Lower Paxton Township and 3951 Union Deposit Road in Susquehanna Township. Its also proposing to improve traffic at its Swatara Township restaurant. During an Upper Allen Township meeting late last year, Brent Edmiston, a developer for Chick-fil-A, hinted at the reason behind the expansion. We feel like as we look long term, we want to have other restaurants in the market to take pressure off our existing restaurants, he said. On average, the chains stand-alone restaurants generate about $8.6 million per unit, up nearly 8% from the year before. Chick-fil-A operates about 2,800 locations in the United States. In recent years Chick-fil-A has focused on expanding its drive-thrus. To combat long wait times it is adding drive-thru lanes to existing stores, opening more drive-thru-only locations and testing express mobile ordering pickup lanes. Chick-fil-A uses the same chicken recipe its founder, the late S. Truett Cathy, invented in 1964 at his suburban Atlanta diner, dubbed Dwarf House, using a pressure cooker and peanut oil. The lightly breaded chicken on a buttered toasted bun with two pickles remains the backbone of Chick-fil-As simple menu. The restaurants, which are closed on Sundays following the owners Christian values, also serve chicken nuggets and strips, along with waffle-cut fries and milkshakes. READ MORE: By Wendy Ruderman, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) In early November 2022, the FBI alerted Delawares Board of Nursing to a scheme in which an owner of four Florida-based schools sold fake college degrees to students who then used the phony credentials to get nursing licenses from states nationwide. Pamela Zickafoose, executive director of Delawares board, said she wasted no time. On Nov. 15, 2022, her board annulled the licenses of 26 nurses who had bought degrees for about $17,000 each. Among the 26 was a registered nurse from Philadelphia who obtained a license to practice in Delaware and in Pennsylvania, state records show. It took Pennsylvania another six months to act. On May 8, Pennsylvanias Board of Nursing sent a notice to that nurse and 17 others saying she had 30 days to contest allegations that she submitted a fraudulent associates degree in nursing when she applied to the board for a license in 2018. Amy Gulli, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of State, which oversees the nursing board, said the 18 licensees facing administrative charges must be given due process. She declined to say when the FBI alerted Pennsylvanias board to the scam, citing a law prohibiting disclosure of confidential investigations. She said the states investigations generally take time. Federal authorities said they sent a list of implicated nursing students to licensing boards in every state. So far, more than two dozen school operators and student recruiters have been charged in connection with the alleged distribution of more than 7,600 fake diplomas, netting more than $100 million. If convicted, they face 20 years in federal prison. Its egregious, said Zickafoose, a nurse for 42 years. Nursing education is very, very hard, and its that way for a purpose, because we are caring for peoples lives. In recent months, Delaware has annulled an additional nine nursing licenses, bringing the tally to 35, Zickafoose said. In Pennsylvania, for now, the 18 individuals all registered nurses, or RNs hold active licenses as of May 26. None of the 18 has a history of disciplinary action, according to an Inquirer review of the states licensure database. Reached by phone last week, Olasumbo Mary Akinmusire, the Philadelphia-based nurse whose license was annulled in Delaware, said she planned to fight Pennsylvanias administrative charges. She declined to answer additional questions, including where she was employed, saying she was busy at work taking care of a patient. Thats scary, said Wayne Reich Jr., chief executive director of the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, an advocacy group with 3,500 members out of about 230,000 registered nurses statewide. Its a fine line. You want to give an individual due process, but thats an additional 30 days someone who may not have legally obtained a license is still practicing in the state, Reich said. Fast-growing Texas and Florida had the biggest increases in the number of births last year, while a dozen other states half of them in the South continued to rebound from pandemic lows. In the United States as a whole, however, the number of births has plateaued after a modest increase following the worst of the pandemic, according to preliminary data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Births increased in only 15 states from 2021 to 2022, compared with growth in 43 states between 2020 and 2021. More detailed statistics, which could shift slightly, are due for release June 1. Overall, the new data shows the continuation of a long-term trend toward fewer births in the United States, said Phillip Levine, an economics professor at Wellesley College who studies birth trends. Births were down more than 650,000 or 15% over the past 15 years. Were back where we started before COVID hit, Levine said. Births are still declining, albeit perhaps at a slower pace. There certainly is no reason to stop sounding the sirens on the long-term decline in births in the United States. Without an increase in immigration, that trend could mean an older population, a smaller workforce and diminished economic productivity. Thats true even in Texas, where second-generation immigrants and women under 30 in general are increasingly postponing parenthood. In the United States as a whole, the number of births has plateaued after a modest increase following the worst of the pandemic, according to preliminary data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Dreamstime/TNS)TNS Illinois, Pennsylvania and Michigan, states where the overall population is declining, experienced the largest decreases in births. In Texas and Florida, the number of births was up 4% in 2022 compared with 2021. In terms of overall population, they are the fastest-growing states as of mid-2022, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates. In Texas, births increased by almost 16,000, compared with an increase of 5,400 between 2020 and 2021. In Florida the increase was about 8,200 compared with 6,600 the previous year. Other states with increases between 2021 and 2022 were Georgia (about 1,900), North Carolina (1,200), New Jersey (795), Arizona (526), Virginia (361), Tennessee (359), Delaware (353), South Carolina (302), Maryland (272) and Kentucky (262). Kansas, Idaho and Alaska had increases of fewer than 100 each. Nationally, there were 700 more births in 2022 than there were in 2021. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of births increased by 51,000. Floridas increase in births is partly a reflection of more people moving to the state, but also higher birth rates after a dip during the depths of the pandemic, said Stefan Rayer, population program director at the University of Floridas Bureau of Economic and Business Research. Even in Florida, however, the long-term trend is bending downward, with birth rates for Black, white and Hispanic women well below the peaks in the mid-2000s. Arizonas increase of about 500 births, about half the number of the previous years increase, may already be turning into a small decrease in early 2023, State Demographer Jim Chang said. Illinois had the biggest drop in births, about 4,400, almost four times the previous years drop of 1,100. Pennsylvania and Michigan (both about -2,800) and New York (-2,300) saw births decline in 2022 after increases between 2020 and 2021. It was a different story between 2020 and 2021, when New England states saw the largest increases. New Hampshire, Connecticut and Vermont had the largest percentage increases, according to final 2021 birth data released earlier this year. Only North Dakota has bucked the overall trend of fewer annual births since 2007. Despite a drop in 2022, the state still had about 800 more births in 2022 than it did in 2007. As North Dakotas fracking industry in the Bakken Formation has grown in that time, it has attracted more young people of childbearing age, said Kevin Iverson, a demographer in the state Department of Commerce. In Texas, some lawmakers are worried about too many babies being born without the health and social services infrastructure to support them. Prenatal care is already difficult to find, especially for poor women in rural areas of Texas, and the state recently enacted a strict abortion ban. Texas state Rep. Claudia Ordaz Perez, a Democrat representing part of El Paso, has called Texas one of the most dangerous states in the nation to have a baby, citing high maternal mortality and low rates of health insurance. Like other Western states, Texas has seen a recent decline in birth rates because of a downturn in immigration from Mexico and fewer births to young women in general, according to a 2021 report by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Some attribute declining birth rates to more women recognizing that they can find success and fulfillment working outside the home whether or not they decide to become mothers. There might be unique explanations for each little squiggle in fertility trends, but the world is going to have to adjust to reality of permanent below-replacement fertility, said Charles Hirschman, a professor emeritus at the University of Washington who studies fertility trends He cited recent work by Frances Goldscheider, a sociologist at the University of Pennsylvania. We have successfully had the first gender revolution with women almost reaching parity in traditional male roles, but there has been little progress in bringing men into participating equality in household and child-rearing roles, Hirschman said. Tim Henderson of Stateline.org wrote this story. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a national nonprofit news organization focused on state policy. 2023 States Newsroom. Visit at stateline.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. More: Which names are expected to be most popular for babies in Pa. this year? Spike in baby injuries and deaths in Pa. hospitals alarms patient safety agency A Powerball ticket worth $500,000 was sold in Lebanon County, according to the Pennsylvania Lottery. Lottery officials said the Powerball with Double Play ticket was sold for the Saturday, May 27, 2023, drawing. LOS ANGELES In four months, the gavel will fall, and the states first CARE Courts will be in session. Seven counties opted for an Oct. 1 rollout of the law that orders each county to create special courts, whose judges have the authority to order voluntary treatment plans for individuals with untreated schizophrenia and related disorders. The CARE Act, signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom last September, requires counties to come up with the bureaucratic mechanisms that will support the goal of easing an epidemic of severe mental illness on the streets and in communities. Were deep in the weeds, thinking about what will be the daily lives of the people who engage in this work, said Luke Bergmann, the behavioral health director for San Diego County. Among the many challenges of the CARE Act is developing a manageable workflow for disparate groups. For every individual appearing in the court, there will be the clerks who processed the petitions that initiated the proceedings, the outreach teams that found the individual and served the paperwork, the psychiatrists who prepared a treatment plan, defense attorneys who will represent the individual, behavioral health clinicians who will present the plan and the judges who will negotiate its implementation. In addition, there will be insurance companies that pay for the plan, administrators who manage the paperwork associated with the plan and healthcare providers who execute the plan. The first group San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Francisco, Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Glenn reflects the geographic and demographic diversity of California. Their courts will serve as a template for Los Angeles and the 50 other counties. (L.A. County will open its court on Dec. 1; the rest of the state has until Oct. 1, 2024.) Family members who have loved ones with severe mental illnesses gather at the Capitol in support of California Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposal for CARE Court, an effort to expedite treatment for those with severe conditions. (Anita Chabria/Los Angeles Times/TNS)TNS Many counties will be playing catch-up with a crisis that has gone unchecked for decades. County supervisors and behavioral health directors describe a neglected system with an unknown number of people who may be eligible for a CARE Court. The state has estimated that 7,000 to 12,000 people will qualify for a treatment plan. The range is so broad, officials say, in part because the law allows roommates or family members to initiate an assessment of a family member suspected of having a severe mental illness. Some counties are concerned that they will be overwhelmed by families who have been unable to seek assistance caring for individuals with mental illness by laws that protect their rights and privacy. They are braced as well for the frustration from families whose requests are denied for not meeting the criteria specified by the law. Those brought into a CARE Court must be 18 or older, diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders and not currently being treated. Were just not sure who this law will bring to the door, said Veronica Kelley, Orange Countys behavioral health director. Orange County estimates it will receive petitions for about 1,500 people the first year, with about 1,000 of them meeting the courts criteria. Of those, officials estimate, nearly 300 are expected to agree to a treatment plan without having to be brought into CARE Court, leaving 700 for the court to monitor for at least a year. One of the smaller counties, Stanislaus, has identified 150 people who will qualify based on frequent emergency room visits. Beyond that, said county Supervisor Terry Withrow, its anyones guess. Such estimates are critical for counties needing to hire staff at a time when the state is experiencing a shortage of behavioral health workers. Meeting that need will be harder on rural counties, which have fewer providers capable of working with people suffering from acute mental illness. In a small county, its not like staffing will grow to meet capacity, especially when it comes to administration and management, said Joe Hallett, behavioral health director for Glenn County, 60 miles north of Sacramento. Instead, we just add these new responsibilities to the existing workload. Health directors like Hallett are looking to lawmakers in Sacramento for continued advocacy and support. Glenn County will receive nearly $1.4 million in early allocations. Startup funding for the CARE Act was $57 million. The state budgeted $26 million to be divided among the first group of counties as they work out whatever kinks arise in implementation. Another distribution of $31 million will be shared among all counties in advance of full implementation in 2024. While Orange County received one of the highest allocations $7.1 million Kelley is concerned about lawmakers resolve keeping the CARE Act fully funded. Thats good for one year, she said, but for the ensuing year, we dont know. Funding behavioral health services was one reason Riverside County signed up early, said Jeff Van Wagenen, the countys chief executive officer, who argues that it has not received support from the state commensurate with its population growth. The first allocation of $6.6 million will help, but what comes after the first year is unknown. One of the concerns of CARE Court is that it could be the latest unfunded mandate from the state, he said. Reflected in Sacramentos budget for CARE Court is the presumption that the initial counties will work out kinks in the legislation so that other counties can start up their courts at less expense. This means answering a number of mundane yet critical questions left unaddressed by the law itself. For instance, who should serve the petition and transport individuals to the court? While behavioral health departments may seem the logical choice, Bergmann is concerned that it creates a conflict of interest when the agency bringing the person to court represents the interests of the party who petitioned the court. Enlisting law enforcement for this task is equally problematic for encounters on the street that will likely require more trust than authority, he said. Building that trust is one reason why Orange County is making provisions for its staff to help family members fill out the petitions that the court needs to initiate the intervention. We imagine a loved one at wits end agitated, frustrated and tired for all they have been through getting to this moment, Kelley said. So, the court staff has to be ready for that. Were also trying to get the $433 filing fee waived. Thats a lot of money. To help families understand the process, Riverside County is developing an app that will chart individual progress through the CARE system. The county also might conduct remote civil hearings, so that someone living in Blythe, for instance, would not have to go to court in Riverside, 170 miles away. All we need is a table, chair and laptop, Van Wagenen said. So we could buy a van and convert it into a mobile courtroom. This would avoid the problem of having to store property or board pets for those who are experiencing homelessness. Homeless people create a unique dilemma for counties required to hold a case management hearing within two weeks of determining the validity of the applicants petition. We will need more than 14 days to find the person and to try to get them to agree to treatment, Kelley said. What if a person has moved to a different county? We cant extend all our resources, trying to find them. Were not investigators. Hallett, with Glenn County, has similar concerns. The two-week window is really, really fast to find someone, do outreach and process a report, he said. A month would be more reasonable. Yet lawmakers wrote the law with the intention of pressuring counties to act quickly, leaving counties to meet that timeline or pay a price. The CARE plan is like a settlement agreement between the county and the respondent, said Jacqueline Wong-Hernandez, chief policy officer for the California State Assn. of Counties. Once a plan is in place, the petitioner falls away, and an agreement to comply has to be struck between the county behavioral health department and participants in the court. The stakes for not meeting the 14-day deadline are high. If the court finds the county to be noncompliant, a $1,000-a-day sanction per case can be levied. Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, calls the counties efforts so far very promising. Not only does the legislation hope to change the arc of lives of some of the most vulnerable among us, but it also represents a culture shift in how we collectively as a system do business, which will take time and repetition. Frankly, he said, it is our responsibility to do better. As much as behavioral health directors welcome the CARE Act, they emphasize that additional work is required to address broader and deeper problems in the states behavioral health system. Were moving too quickly, Kelley said. Give us five years, which is how long the county needs in order to build anything. Without the infrastructure, these programs wont be as successful as the Legislature wants, and we might lose people whom we could be serving in the process. Newsom hopes to address this deficiency by creating new revenue streams for housing and services, but his proposals are contingent on voters and will take years to put in place. Were standing at the front door, Bergmann said. Were painting it, were putting in windows, were outlining it with mother of pearl, and yet when we walk in, we find a building without a roof. Thomas Curwen of the Los Angeles Times wrote this story. 2023 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. More: Births continue to decline in most states: Does Pa. match that trend? Debt ceiling deal: Whats in, whats out of the agreement in principle The U.S. Coast Guard has ended the search for a Louisiana teenager who went overboard from a sunset cruise in the Bahamas Wednesday night, according to news sources. The conclusion of the search was announced on Saturday after a two-day effort led by the Royal Bahamas Defense Force, but there was no mention if a body was found. Cameron Robbins, 18, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was staying at the Atlantis Paradise resort in Nassau along with other teenagers as they were celebrating their recent high school graduation. Robbins just graduated from University Lab School, which operates as part of LSU, days before. But the trip was not a school-sanctioned event, according to reports from NBC News and WBRZ. The group landed in the Bahamas on Wednesday and went on a pirate-themed sunset cruise called Blackbeards Revenge. The Royal Bahamas Defense Force contacted the Coast Guard at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday after there was a report of a man falling off Blackbeards Revenge and entering the water, according to a news release. U.S. Coast Guard District Seven deployed multiple search and rescue assets in response to an agency assistance request from our partners in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, said Lt. Commander Matthew Spado, Coast Guard liaison officer to the Bahamas within the release. Our Coast Guard command center and aircrews based in Miami supported RBDF search and rescue efforts since the initial report Wednesday evening, and continued through Friday evening. Looking for Robbins, search and rescue crews covered more than 325 square miles. The ship was near Athol Island, northeast of Nassau, when videos captured Robbins jumping from the boat and swimming with a life preserver nearby. After Robbins went missing, the boat stayed in the area that night for hours as people looked for Robbins, according to reports. Currently, The Royal Bahamas Police Force is investigating claims that Robbins went overboard due to a dare, WBRZ reported. We were informed by the RBDF this evening that they were suspending the active search efforts pending further developments, and were not requesting further Coast Guard assistance after notifying the Robbins family, Lieutenant Commander Matthew Spado, Coast Guard liaison officer to the Bahamas, said in a statement within the release. We offer our sincerest condolences to Cameron Robbins family and friends, Spado added. Anyone with new information is encouraged to contact the Coast Guards District Seven. Read More: By BILL BARROW, The Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) Former first lady Rosalynn Carter has dementia, her family announced Tuesday. Carter, 95, remains at home with former President Jimmy Carter, who has been at home receiving hospice care since early this year. She continues to live happily at home with her husband, enjoying spring in Plains and visits with loved ones, the family said via The Carter Center, the global humanitarian organization the couple founded in 1982 after leaving the White House. Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, speak at Grand Rapids Community College's Ford Fieldhouse as part of the Diversity Lecture Series Monday, Sept. 22, 2014. (Cory Morse | MLive.com, file)Cory Morse | MLive.com Married nearly 77 years, the Carter are the longest-married first couple in U.S. history. The family noted in its statement that Rosalynn Carter has spent her long public life advocating for individuals and families affected by mental illness and for those in caregiving relationships with loved ones. Mrs. Carter often noted that there are only four kinds of people in this world: those who have been caregivers; those who are currently caregivers; those who will be caregivers; and those who will need caregivers, the statement reads. The universality of caregiving is clear in our family, and we are experiencing the joy and the challenges of this journey. We do not expect to comment further and ask for understanding for our family and for everyone across the country serving in a caregiver role, the statement said. The Carters have been visiting only with family and close friends since the former presidents announcement in February that he would forgo further medical intervention after a series of short hospital stays. The family has not disclosed any specific diagnosis for either the former president or the former first lady. The Carters have described themselves as full partners throughout his political career and their long public life that followed. Rosalynn Carter campaigned vigorously for her husband in his bids for Georgia governor and the presidency. She used her platform to prioritize mental health awareness, working to address the stigma attached to the condition. That emphasis became part of The Carter Centers expansive public health platforms. Eleanor Rosalynn Smith was born in Plains on Aug. 18, 1924. It was Jimmy Carters mother, a nurse, who delivered her in her familys home. Lillian Carter brought her young son back a few days later to visit, allowing the future president and first lady to meet as preschooler and newborn. They were married July 7, 1946. Multiple motorists traveling on Interstate 65 on Monday near Clanton, Alabama, reported transportation signs displaying messages for a group identified as a white supremacist organization. Images on social media showed large digital traffic signs displaying the words Patriot Front and reclaim America. One driver, heading north on I-65, stated on Twitter that a Alabama state trooper waved me to go on. How does this come about? Is it an inside job kind of thing? It also said Road Work Nightly or something on the third slide and it was an actual work zone that followed. Weird as hell. Another motorist told AL.com that she reported the sign to a state trooper at about 1 p.m. A spokesman for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency referred questions to the Alabama Department of Transportation. John McWilliams, public information officer for ALDOTs West Central Region, said a contractors portable message board on I-65 in Chilton County was hacked. A citizen alerted a nearby state trooper about the message, who then contacted ALDOT, McWilliams said. ALDOT personnel immediately responded and turned the message board off. No other message boards on I-65 were affected. McWilliams said officials plan to investigate how the messages appeared. The Southern Poverty Law Center identifies Patriot Front, based in Texas, as a white nationalist hate group which formed in the aftermath of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, on August 12, 2017. According to the Anti-Defamation League, Patriot Front is responsible for the vast majority of white supremacist propaganda distributed in the United States since 2019. A year ago, graffiti beneath the 12th Court North bridge in Fountain Heights, Ala., appeared with Patriot Front US spray painted in blue and red letters. A Lebanon County man was airlifted from the scene of an ATV crash over Memorial Day weekend, police said. Jose E. Gerena-Santiago, 48, of Newmanstown, was driving west on Elm Street in Jackson Township when he turned left and tried to go through an underpass around 6:40 p.m. Sunday, according to Pennsylvania State Police. State police said Gerena-Santiago failed to make the turn and crashed into the concrete underpass. Gerena-Santiago was airlifted with serious injuries. State police said the ATVs passenger, 36-year-old Holly L. Gerena, of Newmanstown, was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. READ MORE: Man who died at Dauphin County jail was put in smock, told he can freeze: lawsuit Blow darts used to kill bird in Middletown: police Pennsylvania has its first commonwealth-wide diversity officer in more than a decade. Governor Josh Shapiro announced Tuesday the appointment of Norman Bristol Colon as the Commonwealth Chief Diversity Officer, where he will lead diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across all state agencies. Bristol Colon is currently the chief diversity officer for the Department of Community and Economic Development and chair and founder of the Pennsylvania Latino Convention (PALC). No matter what you look like, where you come from, who you love, or who you pray to, you have a place here in Pennsylvania, and I am building an Administration that represents the entire Commonwealth and brings Pennsylvanians together, said Shapiro. Norman Bristol Colon has years of experience working to advance equity and inclusion in government, and together, we will work to make sure no community in our Commonwealth is left behind as we continue bringing people together to deliver real results for Pennsylvania. Shapiro, in a press release, touted research linking diversity, equity, and inclusion to success in organizations. Bristol Colon said he was honored to be able to work in a transcendental position. Pennsylvania is more diverse than ever before, he said. In moving forward to a shared prosperity, embracing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging values is fundamental to our Commonwealths future. Bristol Colon has served in senior positions with governors of both parties. He was executive director of the Governors 2020 Census Complete Count Commission at the Department of State during the Wolf Administration and executive director of the Governors Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs for Governors Rendell and Corbett. The last time the Commonwealth had a statewide diversity officer was under Gov. Rendell who left office in 2011. A South Fork man is behind bars after police say he admitted to killing an Altoona man who had gone missing, according to news sources. Austin Kline, 22, has been charged with criminal homicide in the death of 55-year-old Richard Morgan, who went missing on May 25, according to WTAJ. Morgan was reported missing by his son. When authorities began investigating, they identified Kline as a suspect and found Morgan dead at Klines home, along Lake Street in South Fork, on May 26, according to reports from WJAC and WTAJ. Morgan was pronounced dead that night by Cambria County Coroner Jeff Lees, while authorities spent hours at the home from Friday evening into Saturday morning. Kline was interviewed and confessed to killing the victim at his home, police said. An autopsy revealed that Morgan had been shot multiple times and was assaulted as he suffered from blunt force trauma, WTAJ reported. In addition to criminal homicide, Kline was also charged with felony aggravated assault, two counts of tampering with evidence, and one count of abuse of a corpse, according to reports. Currently, Kline is being held in the Cambria County Prison. Read More: By PETER SMITH, The Associated Press PITTSBURGH (AP) The federal jury trial of the suspect in the nations deadliest antisemitic attack is scheduled to get underway Tuesday morning, four and a half years after the shooting deaths of 11 worshipers at a Pittsburgh synagogue. Twelve jurors and six alternates chosen Thursday after a month of questioning of more than 200 jury candidates will hear the case against Robert Bowers. The jurors include 11 women and seven men. Bowers, 50, could face the death penalty if convicted of some of the 63 counts he faces in the Oct. 27, 2018, attack at the Tree of Life synagogue building. The attack claimed the lives of 11 worshipers from three congregations sharing the building, Dor Hadash, New Light and Tree of Life. Charges include 11 counts each of obstruction of free exercise of religion resulting in death and hate crimes resulting in death. Robert Bowers could face the death penalty over the killing of 11 worshipers at a Pittsburgh synagogue. (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation via AP, File) Prosecutors have said Bowers made antisemitic comments at the scene of the attack and online. In proceedings before and during juror questioning, the defense has done little to cast doubt on whether Bowers was the gunman, instead focusing on preventing his execution. Bowers, a truck driver from the Pittsburgh suburb of Baldwin, had offered to plead guilty in return for a life sentence, but federal prosecutors turned him down. Bowers defense attorneys also recently said he has schizophrenia and brain impairments. As an indication that the guilt-or-innocence phase of the trial seems almost a foregone conclusion, Bowers defense team spent little time in the jury selection process asking how potential jurors would come to a verdict. Instead the team focused on the penalty phase and how jurors would decide whether to impose the death penalty in a case of a man charged with hate-motivated killings in a house of worship. The defense probed whether potential jurors could consider factors such as mental illness or a difficult childhood. The families of those killed are divided over whether the government should pursue the death penalty, but most have voiced support for it. The trial is taking place in the downtown Pittsburgh courthouse of the U.S. District Court for Western Pennsylvania, presided over by Judge Robert Colville, an appointee of former President Donald Trump. Bowers also injured seven people, including five police officers who responded to the scene, investigators said. In a filing earlier this year, prosecutors said Bowers harbored deep, murderous animosity towards all Jewish people. They said he also expressed hatred for HIAS, founded as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, a nonprofit humanitarian group that helps refugees and asylum seekers. Prosecutors wrote in a court filing that Bowers had nearly 400 followers on his Gab social media account to whom he promoted his antisemitic views and calls to violence against Jews. The three congregations have spoken out against antisemitism and other forms of bigotry since the shootings. The Tree of Life Congregation also is working with partners on plans to overhaul its current structure, which still stands but has been closed since the shootings, by creating a complex to house a sanctuary, museum, memorial and center for fighting antisemitism. A contractor working on upgrades to Ephratas sewage treatment plant died two days after suffering injuries when he fell into an empty concrete holding tank on the property. Roy Bautista, 35, of Mission, Texas, died Saturday of multiple traumatic injuries, the Lancaster County coroners office said. Bautista was rushed from the plant on South Reading Road to Lancaster General Hospital last Thursday with unspecified injuries after a rescue effort that took more than an hour to complete. The accident occurred at 2:24 p.m., according to Ephrata police. First responders to the scene found that the contractor, part of a crew working to replace roof panels on the clarifier tank at the plant, had fallen from the roof into the tank, which is about 20 feet deep. Medical professionals used ladders to climb down into the tank and start treating hm. He was then hoisted out by an aerial truck. More: 16-year-old in custody after swan swiped from N.Y. pond is found killed Pa. restaurant owner going to prison for threats made during Capitol riot 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? 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. Albert C. Lin, Professor of Law, University of California, Davis This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. There wont be any rain clouds in sight this week as temperatures grow steadily hotter, forecasters said. Temperatures will peak in the upper 70s on Tuesday but could reach the low 90s by Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters said central Pennsylvanians may see smoke moving into the area on Tuesday from wildfires in Nova Scotia. Highs are expected to reach the low 80s Wednesday and upper 80s on Thursday. Forecasters said each day between Tuesday and Friday will be sunny, dry and warm. Forecasters said temperatures will stay near 90 on Saturday, then drop into the low 80s on Sunday. According to the NWS, Saturday has a chance of showers and thunderstorms between about 28 p.m. Today Sunny, with a high near 79. Tonight Clear, with a low around 48. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 82. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 87. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Friday Sunny, with a high near 92. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 63. 888poker XL Spring Series $200K Event Reaches Final Table; $20K Mystery Bounty Won! May 30, 2023 Matthew Pitt Editor The 888poker XL Spring Series is nearing its conclusion, with the $500,000 guaranteed Main Event right around the corner. 888poker players are hitting the tables in huge numbers as they attempt to hit form in time for that Main Event, giving them the best chance of becoming the series' biggest winner. Germany's "BTC23" will fancy their chances of experiencing glory in the Main Event after taking down the $35,000 XL Spring #14 Mystery Bounty 8-Max event over the weekend. A field of 744 exchanged $55 for the chance to become an XL Spring Series champion, ensuring the $35,000 guarantee was surpassed by $2,200. The two largest mystery bounty prizes were won by players that fell short of the final table. Romania's "PopicuSTAR" crashed out in 13th, but not before capturing a $1,750 bounty payment. Brazilian "kelsen.lab" fell in 16th yet walked away with the most money of any other player, thanks to pulling out $4,121 worth of mystery bounties before they dusted off their stack. All but two of the eight finalists saw four-figure sums land in their 888poker accounts; "julianopk10" and "M.Baranov" being that duo. One by one, the field thinned, with the eliminations of "TtAaKeE," "Zer0013," "guizones27," and "EduAraujo" bowing out in success. Those exits left "BTC23" heads-up against "WalnutPix" of the United Kingdom. It was "BTC23" that came out on top, and they padded their 888poker bankroll with $4,297, leaving "WalnutPix" to clinch a $3,445 runner-up prize. $35,000 XL Spring #14 Mystery Bounty 8-Max Final Table Results Place Player Country Bounties Prize Total Prize 1 BTC23 Germany $574 $3,723 $4,297 2 WalnutPix United Kingdom $717 $2,728 $3,445 3 EduAraujo Brazil $685 $2,009 $2,694 4 guizones27 Brazil $128 $1,477 $1,605 5 Zer0013 Lithuania $160 $985 $1,145 6 TtAaKeE Brazil $335 $689 $1,024 7 M.Baranov Ukraine $207 $492 $699 8 julianopk10 Brazil $96 $344 $440 Never Miss an 888poker Tournament Again 888poker has an incredible schedule of poker tournaments for players of all skill and bankroll levels. The PokerNews Online Tournament Calendar allows you to see all of the upcoming tournaments for 888poker, so you will never miss out ever again! "Scholomance" Leads the $200,000 Mystery Bounty With Nine Remaining Only nine players remain in contention to become the 888poker XL Spring Series $200,000 Mystery Bounty champion, and it is Montenegro's "Scholomance" who is in pole position to become the tournament's champion. 888poker ambassador Ian "Simpioni" Simpson was one of the 848 unique entrants in the field, but the popular streamer came unstuck in 104th place, and logged off empty-handed. The eight stars that have navigated their way to the final table have each locked in at least $2,030 from the main prize pool, and at least $755 worth of mystery bounties. "tehnats," the player currently occupying third place in the chip counts, pulled out a $6,000 mystery bounty on their way to the final table. They already have $6,955 guaranteed plus whatever they bank from their finishing position. Win up to $10K Free With 888poker's Card Strike Feature The biggest bounty, one weighing in at an eye-popping $20,000, has been won. Thirteenth-place finisher "NoGanoUnFlip" of Argentina reeled in $21,540 worth of bounties before bowing out. The eventual champion will secure $17,299 for their efforts, and it is "Scholomance" who looks on course for that sum as they sit down with the chip lead. However, there are only 13 big blinds separating the leader from fourth place, so the title is far from won. Cards are back in the air from 7:00 p.m. BST, with the 888poker Twitch channel streaming all of the action from the first pitched cards to the elated champion being announced. Of course, PokerNews will have a full recap of the final table action for you on May 31. $200,000 XL Spring #19 Mystery Bounty Final Table Chip Counts Place Player Country Bounties Chips Big Blinds 1 Scholomance Montenegro $755 2,676,602 45 2 Fishermanl95 Romania $940 2,211,290 37 3 tehnats $6,955 1,991,053 33 4 nuncanemvi Brazil $1,340 1,892,948 32 5 SimOnK Lithuania $2,266 1,684,552 28 6 jpgomides123 Brazil $970 1,642,328 27 7 Weezyspecs91 United Kingdom $940 1,121,111 19 8 Diguiry Brazil $755 870,116 15 Issam Benhaddou is the Winamax SISMIX Champion (62,250) May 30, 2023 Matt Warburton Live Reporter The 5,500 dirham Winamax SISMIX Main Event, running at the Casino de Marrakech at the El Saadi Resort, has now wrapped up and a new champion has been crowned. Issam Benhaddou has been crowned the champion. He takes 937,500 dirham for his efforts (86,250). Benhaddou outlasted a field of 1,900 entrants to win the tournament. According to Hendon Mob, Benhaddou has $17,724 in live tournament winnings. His previous biggest prize was 46,000 dirhams in the WSOPC Marrakech event in 2020. This, then, is by far his most impressive and lucrative score. After only around 10 minutes of heads-up play, Benhaddou got the better of Christophe Beyer to win the tournament. Beyer made a bluff that didn't pay off before shoving his short stack from the button and getting called by his opponent. Benhaddou held up to end what has been an intense, exciting and fun five days of poker. Luis Cabello of Spain came third for 520,000 dirham, Ewen Trevidy came fourth for 370,000 and Mehdi Chaoui came in fifth place for 270,000 dirham. Gonzalo Serrano came sixth for 200,000 dirham, and Alexis Plumet came seventh for 145,000 dirham. SISMIX Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize (MAD) Prize (Euros) Winner Issam Benhaddou Morroco 937,500 86,250 2 Christophe Beyer France 787,500 72,450 3 Luis Cabello Spain 520,000 47,840 4 Ewen Trevidy France 370,000 34,040 5 Mehdi Chaoui Morocco 270,000 24,840 6 Gonzalo Serrano Spain 200,000 18,400 7 Alexis Plumet France 145,000 13,340 The final table is set WWinner's Interview "There are a lot of things going through my mind right now," said Benhaddou. "Most of all I'm very pound of my performance, and it makes me so happy to win at home." "I'm a local, typical, authentic and original product. So I can't be anything but happy." "My secret is that I called my mom at every break. She prayed for me so I can win my triple barrel bluffs. And I tried to manage my game, to put pressure on when needed, and it worked for me." "I had a good energy. After my Day 1b, I went to the swimming pool to chill and relax to be in the best conditions for the rest of the tournament." Bustouts Happen Fast on the Final Day The first few hours of the final day were nothing short of intense. Of the 18 players who returned to the felt, Adil Oubaaous was the first to his the rail. Less than 10-minutes later, Rui Tiago Pinto Campo and Jordi Garcia had both joined him, followed by Javier Ortiz and Enis Chetita, all within the first hour of play. Action didn't slow down after that. The all ins continued to come with relentless speed. Victor De Sa Camboa was on the wrong end of a bad beat and was knocked out by Alexis Plumet. Then, Rachid El Yaacoubi hit trips, only to find himself outkicked by Benhaddou's, who was also holding trips. Inigo Naveiro lost an all in against Ewen Trevidy to bust in 11th place and then Antoine Guidez lost a flip against Mehdi Chaoui to bust in 10th. Sylvain Neyroud, who started the day as chip leader, was involved in a huge all in and got his kings cracked by Benhaddou to bust in 9th place. By this point, Benhaddou was accumulating chips and positioning himself nicely for what was to come. His stack was further improved when he got it in good to eliminate Mohamed Mehalleg in 8th place to bring about the final table redraw. When the final table began, Benhaddou had 30,000,000 chips and close to a 2-1 chip lead over second place Luis Cabello. Mehdi Chaoui SISMIX Final Table Action Benhaddou continued his reign, winning a coinflip against Alexis Plumet, who was the first to leave the final table. Gonzalo Serrano was the next to go. He shoved pocket sixes and was called by Cabello, whose tens held up to send Serrano to the rail. Winamax Pro Mehdi Chaoui got it in ahead against Benhaddou, but Benhaddou hit trips to knock Chaoui out of the tournament in 5th place. With four remaining, Benhaddou still had the chip lead. Christophe Beyer closed the gap when he doubled up through Trevidy and then again through Benhaddou. Trevidy then got it in against Cabello, whose pocket jacks held up to knock Trevidy out of the tournament. Just a few minutes later, however, Luis Cabello busted when he got his cards in behind against Beyer and lost. SISMIX Heads-Up Christophe Beyer went heads up against chip leader Benhaddou. Despite his lead, Benhaddou was happy to make an even spilt deal with Beyer to leave 150,000 dirham to play for. The heads-up battle lasted only a matter of minutes before Benhaddou picked off Beyer's bluff to get well ahead. After a shove and a call, it was all over. Benhaddou was crowned the SISMIX Main Event champion. Sharelines Issam Benhaddou bulldozed his way to victory in the 2023 Winamax SISMIX Marrakech Main Event. Updated 1/13/23 Ladies and gentlemen, She's Back. Miley Cyrus has returned to music with her single "Flowers" as a present for her ex-husband Liam Hemsworth on his birthday. As Liam celebrates his 33rd, Miley will probably celebrate with 33 million+ streams. The song samples Bruno Mars' "When I Was Your Man", which Liam allegedly dedicated to Miley at their wedding. Miley's song appears to be a direct response...where Bruno says "I should've bought you flowers/and held your hand", Miley rebuttals with "I can by myself flowers/I can hold my own hand." We are officially in Miley's single, self-love era and I, for one, am here for it. Watch the music video here: Leading up to the New Year, posters and billboards popped up all over town. Phrases like shes coming and I can love me better than you can adorned the sides of buildingsA sign from Columbia Records that something big is coming: rock goddess and former Disney sensation Miley Cyrus is back. After the 2020 release of the Plastic Hearts, fans have been eagerly anticipating her return to music andthe tour. Since the album, Cyrus has finalized her divorce from Liam Hemsworth, hosted multiple New Years Rockin Eves, and been the face of Gucci campaigns galore. Shes amped look after look, but the one thing weve been missing isthe album. On January 13, Smiley will release Flowers the first single from her upcoming album, Endless Summer Vacation the same day asher ex-husbands birthday. Absolute badass-girlboss behavior. According to promo posters, self-loving lyrics include digs like I can buy myself flowers. I can take myself dancing. and I can hold my own hand. In a leaked mood board for Cyrus album, its rumored that collabs like Harry Styles, Rosalia, Billie Eilish and Finneas have been mentioned. In her new music video, Miley, Selena Gomez, and Paris Hilton are also expected to recreate the 2006 iconic shot of Paris, Britney Spears, and Lindsey Lohan. The album, set to release on March 10, will be our album of the summer. Cyrus powerhouse vocals and edgy sound is our generations version of Stevie Nicksso its safe to say were all totally thrilled about whats sure to be her legendary comeback. - Global Times On the day that Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui visited Moscow on the last leg of his European trip, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) ran an article that completely contradicted the facts and even fabricated stories. Such behavior that attempted to impose its own views and practices on others is in fact obstructing the peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Facts have proven that blindly fueling the fire can only escalate the conflict and cause more harm to people. The article began by stating that the Chinese envoy carried a clear message that "US 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," accusing China of trying to split the West. However, what the WSJ received was a denial from Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. On May 27, Kuleba said in a video message that after the article appeared, he immediately contacted his colleagues in the European capitals visited by Li. None of them confirmed that negotiations about what the WSJ suggested were held. In response to this, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning stated on Monday that she noted that the Foreign Minister of Ukraine publicly said that he contacted other parties and no country said Li made the remarks reported by the WSJ. Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, noted that Kuleba is well aware of China's influence, and it is impossible for a Chinese envoy to express such views. China's goal is to promote peace talks, and the 12-point peace proposal has clearly stated its ideas and suggestions. Therefore, the rumors spread by the US media are just an attempt to discredit the role played by the Chinese envoy in mediating the Russia-Ukraine conflict. "From the perspective of the US, it only hopes that China can do one thing - to make Russia withdraw its troops. In US' logic, if Russia is not doing this, China is not fulfilling its international responsibilities," Song said. The expert stressed that the initiator of the Russia-Ukraine conflict is the US, but it keeps blaming China, which China will not accept. "It is impossible for Washington to change its stance on this issue. Hence, we need to clarify the facts and prevent international community being misled by rumors," Song said. Zhang Hong, an associate research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, also said when Li met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, he specifically emphasized the UN Charter and international law, which shows that China respects the UN Charter and international law in resolving the Russia-Ukraine issue. This is one of the important principles for resolving the issue. China upholds its responsibility as a major country and promotes peace talks between Russia and Ukraine based on international law, rather than taking sides as the West claims. Spreading false information will also harm Ukraine. Ukraine has become the biggest victim of this conflict. Moreover, the Ukraine crisis is actually a crisis of the Europe. As long as it continues, the security threat to Europe will not be eliminated. "We are in the same global village, and no one should incite war or hinder mediation out of its own selfish interests. The dissemination of false information by the US media is actually obstructing the peaceful resolution of the conflict," Zhang stressed. The rumor-mongering WSJ has remained silent despite being slapped in the face, and these US media outlets only cater to US politicians, selectively reporting without regard for the facts and objective truth. They often spread rumors, but choose to remain silent when they are debunked. This reveals their hypocrisy. The US' so-called freedom of speech is actually freedom of spreading rumors. China and the US have completely different approaches when it comes to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The US continues to touch the red line and add fuel to the fire, while China is advocating for peace talks and actively mediating, trying to solve the problem through diplomatic means. Washington sees the Russia-Ukraine conflict as a geopolitical tool, using it to undermine globalization, revive NATO, and hijack Europe's diplomatic and security autonomy. It is clear that in the eyes of the US, the Russia-Ukraine conflict is used to sustain its global hegemony, and it does not want to quickly end the conflict. The suffering of the Ukrainian people means nothing to it. Kyle Busch held off Denny Hamlin through a series of late restarts to win the chaotic, caution-filled NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway just outside of St. Louis in overtime Sunday. Bubba Wallace brought out the 11th and final yellow when his brake rotor let go with five laps remaining. Busch won a green-white-checkered shootout to the finish. There also were two red flags to go with a two-hour weather delay that caused the mid-afternoon race to finish in the twilight. Hamlin finished second while Joey Logano, the winner a year ago in the Cup Series debut at the track, got around Kyle Larson on the final lap to finish third. Martin Truex Jr. rounded out the top five ahead of Ryan Blaney, last weeks winner at Charlotte. Read moreKyle Busch holds off Denny Hamlin for NASCAR Cup Series win outside St. Louis A Graniteville teenager was killed in a Memorial Day shooting. Amari Williams, 19, of Graniteville died following a shooting around 7:20 p.m. on Redd Street and Tennessee Avenue in Aiken County, Aiken County Coroner Darryl Ables said in a media release. According to a release from the Aiken Department of Public Safety, officers responded to a shooting incident and located a vehicle parked in the roadway in front of the Reed Street park with Willams inside. Ables said Willams sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was transported to Aiken Regional Medical Centers where he died. Williams will be autopsied in Newberry. The case is being investigated by the coroners office and the Aiken Department of Public Safety. Anyone with any information on the shooting is asked to call ADPS at 803-642-7620 or submit an anonymous tip online at www.cityofaikensc.gov/offices/public-safety/crime-tip/. COLUMBIA When tens of thousands of U.S. Marines landed on the 8-square-mile Japanese island of Iwo Jima in 1945, some troops carried and operated cameras. Some 50 Marines, known officially as combat cameramen, shot footage of training, medical treatment and combat throughout the Pacific campaign, documenting key moments in history including the Battle of Iwo Jima. Unfortunately for that moment in history, those aging cans of film are not immune to the ravages of time. Frozen storage can only prolong the film's life somewhat. Now a project at the University of South Carolina is providing hope for preserving those rare wartime images, converting the film they shot sometimes under extreme conditions to a new format which will simultaneously make these snippets more accessible to researchers and the public alike. Archive specialists at USC have partnered with the Marine Corps history division to digitize more than 19,000 decomposing cans of film dating from World Wars I and II to the mid-1980s and add the footage to USC's public online archive. The cooperative includes visual records from Iwo Jima and other Pacific battles from World War II that might otherwise soon be lost. The U.S. Marine Corps Film Repository Project has taken almost seven years, but researchers hope to finish by the end of 2023. The endeavor has included roughly a half dozen pickup truckloads of film from the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Va., a few thousand volunteer internship hours from 30 students and data from more than 14,000 clips being scanned and catalogued. Though it's not quite finished, USC's Moving Image Research Collections now has more than 4,000 videos available from the Marine archive, including more than 80 from Iwo Jima. Greg Wilsbacher, USC Libraries news film and military collections curator, visited Quantico in 2016 for research and to inspect the Marine film inventory. He eventually reached an agreement with the Marine Corps to take on the philanthropic task of preserving and archiving aging films that would have otherwise decomposed in storage. Until recently, someone would have had to make an appointment with Quantico to see that footage. "It's something I think we understood was important to the state of South Carolina for a lot of reasons," Wilsbacher said, noting Parris Island, the recruit depot in Beaufort County where more than 200,000 Marines went through basic training during World War II alone. The front lines Marines and other U.S. troops shot visual records during combat throughout World War II. But, for decades afterward, any comprehensive understanding of those records was hard to come by. Stock footage would reach audiences through documentaries and as B-roll in news programs, but it lacked context, Wilsbacher said. Audiences would not know who exactly they were looking at, what exactly they were doing or why. The goal of the USC project is to provide people with that context, he said. Nearly 70,000 Marines landed on Iwo Jima beginning on Feb. 19, 1945. Among other feats, the Marines laid claim to a piece of the island Mount Suribachi where the iconic black-and-white photo of them raising a U.S. flag was taken. A staged reenactment of the flag-raising, which occurred just four days into the battle and captured in the Pulitzer Prize-winning photo by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal, is a small part of a larger story. It remains one of the handful of truly iconic photos snapped on the U.S. side of World War II. "To place that flag up there was a real symbol of American accomplishment, of hope that this war may in fact be over soon," Scott Kaufman, a history professor at Francis Marion University in Florence, said of the image. "Those individuals all became heroes, even though they didn't want to be seen as heroes, because of the American mindset." The ongoing project at USC offers the chance of better preserving and providing increased access to a vast amount of footage of less famous hours from the conflict, potentially giving historians evidence that could help them better understand what transpired. One of the last major island conflicts in the Pacific war, the Battle of Iwo Jima raged for over a month, becoming the bloodiest battle in Marine Corps history. More than 20,000 soldiers on both sides were killed, nearly 6,000 of them Marines. During that time, Marine combat cameramen shot the Iwo Jima footage that now is in USC's collections. The cameramen were assigned to engineering or medical units or to the front lines, Wilsbacher said. The films show Marines receiving medical care, being evacuated off the island to hospital ships, as well as daily activities such as building command posts or unloading and sorting equipment on beaches. The process Starting on Catawba Street in Columbia in a facility just south of USC's campus, the digitization project goes well beyond the scope of Iwo Jima. As of May 2023, roughly 19,000 frisbee-shaped cans of 16mm and 35mm film from World War I through the late Cold War era have been transferred to the Moving Image Research Collections from Quantico. More than 11,000 digitized films are expected to go online. A Moving Image Research Collections staff member, like Ryan Handley or Jack Porter, inspects each frame of each film to watch for stains or damaged edges. They run the films by hand through a large scanner connected to their computers, then through digitization software to sharpen the video footage and clean up any audio. Another staff member, Maya Beckley, processes the digital files through cataloguing software to read and organize the "text" of the films, taking note of dates and times, subject descriptions and cameramen. The films are stored in disc-shaped cases with holes for ventilation. After staff and student-interns inventory, bar code and inspect the films, they're stored and organized in a 22,000-square foot, walk-in-refrigerator-like vault as their long-term preservation requires them to stay cool and dry. Beyond just converting and preserving the clips, the Moving Image Research Collect wants to identify and label as much of the historical information in the films as possible, such as Marine Corps units and equipment. While the Marines manually scan film for this information, they have also partnered with researchers in USC's College of Engineering and Computing Department to use artificial intelligence to recognize text and identify units, individual Marines, airplanes and ships. Marines may have names on the sides of their helmets or stenciled on their uniforms, for instance. Artificial networks can help the MIRC scan footage for this as well as identify ship names, hull numbers and tail numbers on planes. "What ancestry.com has done for genealogy is what digitization is doing for American history more broadly, so I'm really thrilled this is happening," Kaufman said of digitization projects like the Marine Corps repository. "It gives the average American a connection to history and I hope makes them more interested not just in World War II but in history more generally, so they can see where we were, where we are and where we might be going." Sponsors for the U.S. Marine Corps Film Repository Project include area Marine Corps Leagues, the Parris Island Historical and Museum Society, the Columbia-based Dorothy Smith Charitable Foundation and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation in Triangle, Va. Click here for more news from Columbia, S.C. Saudi Arabia says it will reduce how much oil it sends to the global economy. It's took a unilateral step Sunday to support the sagging cost of crude after two earlier cuts in supply by major producing countries in the OPEC+ alliance failed to push prices higher. The Saudi cut of 1 million barrels per day starts in July. The other OPEC+ oil producers agreed to extend earlier production cuts through next year. Analysts say the Saudi cut would likely push up oil prices in the short term and that gasoline will become a bit more expensive. That the Saudis felt another cut was necessary underlines the uncertain outlook for fuel demand in the months ahead. Read moreSaudi Arabia is slashing oil supply. It could mean higher gas prices for US drivers Revolutionary War reenactors demonstrate their weapons during part of a battlefields tour put on four times a year in Berkeley County to provide education and tourism on the county's role during the war. Here, they are shown at Fort Fair Lawn, an earthen fort built by the British at the headwaters of the Cooper River to control the major transportation corridor at the time and guard against Patriot incursions toward what was then Charles Town, which had fallen to the British in May 1780. File/Warren L. Wise/Staff An army of attorneys from across the U.S. will descend on Charleston's federal courthouse this week for a closely watched trial involving manmade environmental toxins and the company that created Post-it Notes and Scotch Tape. Read moreCharleston's 4 Corners of Law is epicenter for high-stakes chemistry test. Jurors wanted. Montanas congressional delegation is reviving bills to undo the consequences of a 2015 Endangered Species Act lawsuit thats angered the states logging industry. Republican Reps. Matt Rosendale and Ryan Zinke have partnered with Sen. Steve Daines on a bill to reverse the endangered species review requirements affirmed in a 2015 lawsuit known as the Cottonwood decision. A ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals determined that the U.S. Forest Service must review management plans whenever an area was identified as critical wildlife habitat or significant information about an endangered species became available. The Canadian lynx was the subject of the lawsuit. U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, is advancing a bill, on which he previously partnered with Daines. In the House, the Committee on Natural resources advanced a cottonwood bill sponsored by Rosendale. The Forest Information Reform Act, FIR for short, exempts the Forest Service from having to review its management when new endangered species information surfaces. In a March hearing, Rosendale faulted review standards, post-Cottonwood, for killing a logging and vegetation project in the Lewis and Clark National Forest near Lincoln. We had the Stonewall project in the Helena Lewis and Clark national forests, and that would have managed, specifically managed, vegetation to benefit wildlife, specifically, Rosendale said at the livestreamed hearing. But cottonwood inspired litigation delayed the project. That hearing featured a witness Jonathan Wood, vice president of law and policy at the Bozeman-based, Property and Environment Research Center. Wood testified that delaying projects like Stonewall created environmental consequences, namely that small diameter trees and brush left untouched increased fire risk, harming air quality and water quality. A second Montana witness, Ryan Bronson, government affairs director for Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, testified that Stonewall would have reduced the forest canopy and improved grazing on federal land. Bronson suggested a pattern of elk increasingly migrating away from federal land to private agriculture and industrial forest land where habitat was better. I would say that probably the declining condition of the forest has a lot to do with this graph that we see here, where we used to have probably 20 times more forest being harvested, which created brows, which created that understory that they would actually be able to consume instead of having the old growth forests which wildlife just cannot, Rosendale said. I'm not a biologist. So, what wildlife will we find in these old forests that are choked out with dead falls? There wasnt much wildlife to be found in unlogged areas. Stonewall was a 24,000-acre project that included a 706-acre logging area, 406 acres of tree thinning and 269 acres of prescribed burning. A mile of new road was involved, along with the reconstruction of 25 road miles. Stonewall limped into court with eight different site-specific exemptions by the Forest Service, which the court characterized as avoiding compliance with elk habitat requirements. Conservationists sued, not only over the elk issue, but also because the Forest Service didnt reinitiate evaluation of grizzly bear matters. Montana logging has declined sharply over the past 30 years. Softwood lumber production was 317 million board feet in 2022, less than half of what production was 20 years earlier, according to the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana. The state produced 1.3 billion board feet of lumber in 1987. By comparison, Oregon produces 5.2 billion board feet annually, Idaho 1.7 billion, Texas 1.3 billion. The day before the House Committee on Natural Resources advanced the FIR Act, Tester joined a cottonwood bill separate from what Republicans in Montanas delegation were partnering on. Testers staff described the bill as allowing already approved recreational programs, fuel reduction and fire management programs, and restoration programs on USFS lands to continue without having to go through the formal re-consultation process every time that FWS makes designation changes. Tester is up for reelection in 2024. His previous collaborator on undoing the consequences of Cottonwood was Daines. However, Daines is now chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, which makes unseating Tester a priority. The Charleston County School Board has voted to pick Eric Gallien to be the district's next superintendent. The board voted 6-2 to enter into contract negotiations with Gallien, currently a superintendent in Wisconsin. He is the only remaining finalist in the search to lead the state's second-largest school district after two candidates withdrew last week. The board discussed Gallien's candidacy in a closed session May 30 and then took a vote after resuming the meeting in public. Trustees gave no public explanation of their votes. Board chairwoman Pam McKinney said in an interview that Gallien impressed her. She liked his answers to a focus group's questions last week in Charleston and feels good that his 100-day plan includes meeting and hearing from the community before making any changes. "We are impressed with the fact that he wants to analyze first," she said. Even though Gallien was the board's only remaining candidate, McKinney said she is convinced he was the best candidate. She was open to restarting the search but felt confident voting for him. "He understands and stated that 'I know this will be a challenge, I accept the challenge,'" she said. Board member Keith Grybowski said he thinks Gallien will provide stability to an unstable situation. Grybowski said he was most impressed by what Gallien said about how he will work with the board. "I think the board is looking for someone that they trust and can work with," he said. "We've got some big challenges coming up." Grybowski said he was confident in his vote. Board members Carlotte Bailey and Edward Kelley voted against the motion to begin negotiations. The two did not respond to requests for comment. Board member Leah Whatley was absent. Whatley said in a text message that she wasn't ready to comment publicly. Other board members did not respond to requests to comment. Gallien, 53, declined through a CCSD spokeswoman to speak with a reporter until after contract negotiations were finalized. Im excited about this next step in the selection process and honored to be the candidate of choice to lead CCSD forward, Gallien said in a press release issued by the district. I strongly believe in my ability to bring impactful, positive change to the students, families, and educators of CCSD and look forward to getting to work. If negotiations are successful, Gallien will succeed Don Kennedy, who has served temporarily as superintendent since Gerrita Postlewait resigned suddenly in December 2021. A previous school board interviewed search firms last year but decided to leave the hiring up to the new board because all nine seats were up for election. In March, the new board hired BWP and Associates to run the search. A total of 44 candidates applied and BWP recommended seven to the board. On 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 six votes of support. The other three did not have majority support. The board did not immediately disclose the names of the newly named finalists and told The Post and Courier on May 23 that the names couldn't be released yet. State law that says all search materials related to the final three applicants for a public position are public records, and an attorney for the S.C. Press Association told the paper the district should have made the names public upon request once the board selected three finalists. The candidates ended up being named in an anonymous post to a parent Facebook group. The next day, the district announced the names of two of the three. The district didn't disclose the name of the third candidate until its announcement that the board was negotiating with Gallien. The third candidate was Kenneth Bradshaw, the superintendent in Augusta, Georgia's Richmond County School System. Bradshaw and Charles McNulty, the Pulaski County Special School District superintendent in Little Rock, Ark., both withdrew from consideration before making their planned visits to Charleston for final interviews. The district said they pulled out after their names were publicly posted before they had a chance to tell their current districts. They didn't respond to requests for comment. Gallien toured the district last week before news of the other two candidates' withdrawal was known. He interviewed with the board a final time, visited three schools, took questions from a focus group and attended a community meet-and-greet at Burke High School. He became superintendent in Racine in 2018. Prior to that, he served as the district's deputy superintendent for five years. Jane Barbian, the Racine school board's president, said she has a good relationship with Gallien. "We worked well together," she said. "He has done a lot of good things for our district." Barbian credited his ability to build partnerships with business leaders and expand the district's academies, which offer high schoolers an opportunity to gain experience in areas they'd like to explore as careers. He also developed a facilities plan for the district and worked to secure support for a referendum to pay for the plan, she said. Racine is a small district, with about 16,000 students. Barbian said the superintendent there has to navigate urban, suburban and rural areas, something Gallien touched on in his focus group interview as experience that would be an asset for him in Charleston. "We're sad to see him go," she said. According to a news release from the district, Gallien is a Marine Corps veteran who saw combat in Operation Desert Storm. He has a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, two masters degrees from Alverno College and a bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Gallien began his education career as a teacher assistant and then became a classroom teacher. He's served as a principal and district leader. Prior to working in Racine, Gallien worked in Milwaukee Public Schools leading turnaround efforts at academically struggling schools. 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. He has family that lives in South Carolina and his grandmother grew up in the Charleston area. Gallien has two daughters, three sons and five grandchildren. Following negotiations, the board is expected to vote on his contract. McKinney said she didn't know when that might occur. COLUMBIA For 41 years, the Richland County Coroner's Office has worked to identify the remains of a patient who died in South Carolina's State Hospital in 1982 after being unable to give her own name and was buried as Jane Doe. On Mother's Day, May 14, they got their answer the patient is Virginia Higgins Ray, a North Carolina mother of four. The four-decade-old cold case was solved after Debbie Glennon, Ray's daughter, responded to a boosted Facebook press release targeting North Carolina, where forensic genealogy firm FHD Forensics had traced Ray's family tree based on her DNA. Glennon told the coroner's office she thought the then-unidentified woman in the photos on Facebook was her mother. DNA testing by the Richland County Sheriff's Department DNA Lab confirmed Glennon was correct, establishing Ray's identity on May 19. Now, Ray's remains will be returned to her family in Western North Carolina. "We are now going to send her home," said Bill Stevens, deputy coroner and director of anthropology, during a May 30 press conference. Stevens said he hopes the case will bring attention to other unsolved cases and make families of missing people aware of modern resources. Ray's family "never gave up hope" that she would be found, her sister Carrie Wingler said during the press conference in Columbia. Ray went missing when she was 38 years old while living in Yadkinville, N.C., about 25 miles west of Winston-Salem. Her home town is also just off Interstate 77, 165 miles due north of Columbia. She loved her children dearly, Wingler said about her late sister in a May 30 interview. Wingler called Ray a "beautiful person" and a "loving sister." Ray was admitted into the State Hospital in Columbia after being found on a local street during an "episode of psychosis," Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford said. She was diagnosed with schizophrenia. In 1982, she suffered a grand mal seizure and a fall, leading to her death. COLUMBIA A Richland County gas station owner was arrested May 29 on murder charges after allegedly shooting a 14-year-old boy he had accused of shoplifting bottles of water. Dozens of people gathered outside the gas station the afternoon of May 29, protesting the shooting and calling for a boycott of the store. Cheers erupted when Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford, addressing the crowd near the gas pumps, said Chow had been charged with murder. The store was vandalized later in the evening with the name of the teen shot and killed spray-painted on the the storefront. On May 28, at around 8 p.m., deputies found Cyrus Carmack-Belton lying on the side of side of Springtree Drive in northeast Richland County, near Dentsville, with a gunshot wound in his back, according to an incident report. Carmack-Belton was pronounced dead at a local hospital, the sheriffs department said. Rick Chow, who owns the Shell gas station on Parklane Road near Springtree Drive, had accused Carmack-Belton of shoplifting from his store that evening, Sheriff Leon Lott said in a news conference May 29. "We have no evidence (Carmack-Belton) stole anything whatsoever," Lott said. After arguing with Choe inside the store about whether Carmack-Belton had stolen bottles of water, the teen left and took off running. Chow's son, then Chow, chased him, Lott said, and the store owner allegedly shot Carmack-Belton in the back as he was running away. "Even if he had shoplifted four bottles of water, which he had taken out of the cooler and then put back even if he had done that, that's not something you should shoot anybody over, much less a 14-year-old," Lott said. "You just don't do that." Deputies recovered a gun near Carmack-Belton's body, found about 500 feet from the Shell station, but the fact that he died of a gunshot wound in the back suggests he was running away when he was shot, not brandishing a gun at Chow, Rutherford said during the news conference. "It's not an overnight process," county spokeswoman Susan O'Cain said May 30. "That is the path that we're moving down." Three fights in three days Around 2:45 p.m. on May 26, deputies arriving at the jail were told two detainees had stabbed each other with makeshift knives, or shanks. A detainee pushed through a group of inmates playing cards and began to stab another detainee with two homemade knives, according to a deputy's report of the incident. In response, the detainee being attacked took out a shank of their own and stabbed back. One detainee was taken to the hospital with unspecified injuries, while the other had only a minor wound. Less than 24 hours later, at noon May 27, deputies were called back to the jail for another fight, this time involving multiple detainees in the medical dorm. A group surrounded one detainee, whom they began punching. One of the other detainees picked up a red plastic chair and hit the inmate, who fell to the ground while the others continued punching and kicking him. One person with a small cut was taken to a local hospital. The Sheriff's Department did not specify how many detainees were involved in the fight, but two unnamed people were attacked. Deputies were also called to the jail late May 25 after a detainee was injured in another fight, leaving him with cuts on his legs, arms and hands, as well as a cut and knot over his right eye and swelling all over his face, according to a report of the incident. The jail had a rash of stabbings in April and May, with the Sheriff's Department investigating six people stabbed over the course of two months, most in detainees' cells but some in other parts of the jail, such as the holding bay. Architectural historian Brittany Lavelle Tulla has already uncovered a lot of compelling information about Upper King Street in downtown Charleston. Did you know, for instance, that from 1899-1952 the site of buzzing wine bar Vintage Lounge was home to a Jewish immigrant-owned shoe store? Or that another Jewish immigrant, this one from Germany not Poland, sold shoes down the road in the two-story storefront where diners now crowd into The Rarebit for Moscow mules and patty melts? At one point in the first half of the 20th century, nearly every single storefront on Upper King Street was occupied by a Jewish-owned business, with many of the owners making the second story their permanent residence. Lavelle Tulla wants these stories to be recognized on a national level. With support from the Charleston Jewish Federation and the Preservation Society of Charleston, she is raising money to fund the research that it will take to place Upper King Street on the National Register of Historic Places. Lavelle Tulla, whose BVL Historic Preservation Research firm uncovers the history of properties and houses across the Lowcountry, became enthralled with Upper King Street after completing two recent projects. One dove into the history of the Read Brothers building at the corner of King and Spring streets, and the other focused on a once-vacant lot across the street that is now home to the Hoffler Place apartments and Vietnamese restaurant Pink Bellies. It kind of became this informal gateway to Upper King Street, Lavelle Tulla said. It just revealed a very important part of Charlestons story that we havent quite recognized in the way we should. Before the apartments were built, the Hoffler site had been vacant for decades, but once held the Lincoln Theatre, the citys longest-running theater welcoming African Americans during segregation. Hurricane Hugo damage in 1989 led to its being torn down. Researching that property helped her uncover a thriving business district that was known as Little Jerusalem. Those living and working in the area included African American families, immigrant Jewish families, Greek merchants, Chinese immigrants and others. Lavelle Tullas research led to a new historical marker recognizing both Lincoln Theatre and Little Jerusalem, work that has built a platform for her bid to place Upper King Street on the National Register of Historic Places. The Charleston Jewish Federation, a nonprofit that raises funds and provides grants to local Jewish institutions, is accepting donations that will fund further research efforts. The project hits close to home for Rebecca Engel, chief development officer of the Charleston Jewish Federation. Her great-grandfather Sam Solomon was the founder of the Sam Solomon Company, which first opened at 526 King St. in 1909. The store operated in two locations on Upper King Street for more than 50 years, selling jewelry, appliances, toys, sporting goods, housewares and clothing before moving to a location on East Bay Street. Were here because of what they did, what they built here, Engel said. It honors the legacies of those families and gives us a chance to show our gratitude for what they did. Freida Sokol remembers walking by the many Jewish merchants on Upper King Street as a little girl. Later in life, she married Joe Sokol, whose father Morris opened Morris Sokol Furniture in the 1920s after years of peddling his wares on the streets. The original shop was about half the size of the iconic building that still stands at 510 King St. Before it closed in 2015, Morris Sokol Furniture included a 10,000-square-foot storage room attached to a two-story showroom. For Frieda Sokol, whose late husband Joe ran the business until he was 83, national recognition of the district would help preserve the stories of the local businesses in the area. It would mean a lot, Sokol said. Theres so much history about how these people came over from another country (and) couldnt speak a word of English. The National Register of Historic Places is authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. It is part of a nationwide program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate and protect America's historic and archeological resources. Properties are evaluated based on age, integrity and significance. Charleston has several sites and districts currently protected by the National Register of Historic Places, including Charlestons French Quarter and Historic districts, neither of which include Upper King Street. Researchers will need about $120,000 to complete the project, according to the Charleston Jewish Federations donation website. GOOSE CREEK Tim Scott came home on a Sunday to field questions about his nascent presidential bid from a largely friendly audience of supporters. South Carolinas junior senator held a town hall meeting here on May 28, Scotts first appearance in his home state since announcing his candidacy for nation's top office six days earlier. And the Republicans theme to an audience at New Life Christian Fellowship was consistent with his previous messages about American pride and possibility throughout his Faith in America tour. All things are truly possible, because weve all been blessed with the greatest citizenship on earth, Scott, 57, said. Being an American citizen is hard to articulate with words in the English dictionary. The best way to articulate what we are as American citizens is how we live our lives. Scott announced he was seeking the GOP nomination for president on May 22 during a rally at Charleston Southern University. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis threw his hat into the ring on May 24, joining former President Donald Trump; former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley; former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson; tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy; and conservative radio host Larry Elder. Scott spent the days since his official announcement going through the traditional routine of most presidential candidates visiting tone-setting states Iowa and New Hampshire. He toured a Christian school and held a town hall in Iowa on May 25. Scott followed that up a day later by meeting with business leaders, the faith community and Republican women in New Hampshire. Still, he has significant ground to make up even in his home state if hes to become the first African American to secure the GOPs presidential nomination. According to a poll by National Public Affairs, a full-service strategy and consulting firm, President Trump remains the frontrunner in the 2024 South Carolina Republican presidential primary. But his lead over DeSantis, while still substantial, has dipped from a 22-point margin to 15 points since April. Haley is third at 15 percent, five points ahead of Scott (the only other candidate in double digits). He needs the support of our country, Michael Cortright of Summerville. What impresses me about him, is last week he went to a Christian academy and prayed with the student body. I like DeSantis because he stood up against Disney but (Scott) has Christian ideals. And we all need that. And all the bickering back and forth all need to be able to agree to disagree. Audience members submitted written questions as they flowed into the churchs main hall. Scott maintained positions hes taken throughout the months before announcing his presidential run, including his isolationist stance with regards to foreign policy and that America isnt an inherently racist nation. Other specific questions pertained to his: - Approach to improving police: Better training, better resources and the best wearing the badge. - First executive order as president: If you want cleaner energy and a cleaner environment, you drill (for oil) in the United States of America. You cannot have a safe America if we are depending bullies or dictators to set the price of our energy especially when we have plenty of it in our own soil. We should not be begging anyone in the Middle East for what we can produce at home. - Stance on American southern borders: Build a wall. Dont talk about it build a wall. Scott spoke for almost exactly one hour before greeting audience members, some of whom walked away with the same opinions with which they entered. Id heard him before and just wanted another opportunity, said Rob Harris of Monks Corner. I like whats hes saying and I hope he has a chance because I think he really wants to make a difference. But theres a long way to go, thats for sure. SPARTANBURG COUNTY The county's proposed $289 million budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 includes pay raises for employees. The budget is scheduled for final reading by County Council on June 19. If approved, employees would receive a 3 percent increase in cost of living with an additional 1 percent for personnel with the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office. "There is more revenue than we had last year and it's probably from the fact we have more residential houses with more property tax revenue coming in," County Councilman Bob Walker told The Post and Courier. "We are not increasing taxes. The budget will have some salary increases for county employees that vary from one department to another." Walker said the additional 1 percent raise for county law enforcement along with the overall 3 percent raise is designed to retain personnel since it's becoming more difficult to retain sheriff's deputies because surrounding counties pay more. "It's an area that for us is hard to handle to get people," Walker said. The proposed budget spends $7 million on road and bridge projects and $689,329 on developing plans for a new pet resource center during fiscal 2023 -24. County Communications Manager Scottie Kay Blackwell said it hasn't been determined when construction would begin on the new pet resource center and a location for the center has not been finalized. "We will need to get through the conceptual design with cost estimates before we firm up a timeline for construction," Blackwell said. "Best case scenario is that we have broken ground by this time next year." The county will use $5 million in American Rescue Plan funds towards funding the pet resource center project. Blackwell said a search for a director of animal welfare services to operate the center continues. In 2011, the county ended its partnership with the Spartanburg Humane Society, sending its stray animals instead to Greenville County Animal Care. In April 2022, Greenville County Animal Care announced it would no longer accept Spartanburg County's stray animals beginning June 30, 2022. The agreement was extended to continue taking animals while Spartanburg County found an alternative. "Our recommended budget accounts for our transition into animal welfare services and will provide funds needed to prepare for the planning of a new pet resource center," County Administrator Cole Alverson said. PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-30 23:56:24 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 354 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Bath & Body WorksMichael Wu, Bath & Body Works' Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary Last week Bath & Body Works' Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary Michael Wu was honored with the Corporate Leadership Award from the Asian American Bar Association of New York. The Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) is a not-for-profit professional membership organization of attorneys focused on issues affecting the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.The Corporate Leadership Award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and achievement in promoting diversity, inclusion and the elimination of bias in the legal profession. The AABANY recognized that Michael Wu has helped pave the way and advance the AAPI community in the legal and corporate spheres.Wu joined Bath & Body Works in May 2021 as Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary. He oversees the legal, ethics and compliance, regulatory compliance and trade compliance teams.Wu is a four-time public company general counsel and corporate secretary with nearly 30 years of experience in growth companies and retail. He has deep expertise in corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, compliance and risk management, as well as in securities, merger and acquisition and international expansion.Prior to joining Bath & Body Works, Wu served as chief legal officer and corporate secretary for Madewell, a division of J. Crew, where he drove the company's preparation for an initial public offering and spin-off. He previously served as general counsel at Carter's, a leading children's apparel brand; Rosetta Stone, an education technology software company; and Teleglobe, an international telecommunications company.Wu earned his undergraduate degree from Emory University and his juris doctorate degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. Wu serves on the advisory boards of the Georgetown Law Corporate Counsel Institute and the Asian American Bar Association of New York. He is also a member of the Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association board of directorsView additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Bath & Body Works on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Bath & Body WorksWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/bath-body-works Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Bath & Body Works 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. PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-30 06:00:27 Press Information Published by ACN Newswire +65 6304 8926 e-mail https://www.acnnewswire.com/ # 840 Words ACN Newswire+65 6304 8926 ADELAIDE, AUS & SAN DIEGO, May 30, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - Avance Clinical, the leading award-winning Australian and North American CRO that offers ClinicReady and GlobalReady for early phase biotech companies to speed up the path to regulatory approval, says early phase oncology studies are increasingly more complex and demand more patients. Avance's ClinicReady and GlobalReady service platforms offer significant benefits to product development in oncology.According to Avance Clinical's Chief Scientific Officer Gabriel Kremmidiotis who is part of the Avance Clinical team attending ASCO:"Recently, Phase I clinical trial designs in Oncology patients have become more elaborate and include elements of dose escalation, dose expansion and assessment of drug combinations. This, in addition to the increasing number of new emerging therapeutics, has increased the demand for fast progress through the early phases of development and a greater demand for access to patients." "Utilizing Australia's regulatory environment and high-quality oncology experts, Avance Clinical is able to facilitate a fast project launch and seamless transition across different parts of modular oncology protocol designs. Studies start in Australia and, at appropriate stages, expand to the US as determined by patient accrual number requirements for each study." "Retaining the majority of backend services (biostatistics, data management, pharmacokinetics and medical writing) in Australia ensures the highest degree of financial benefit for our clients through the Australian R&D tax incentive." Avance Clinical CEO, Yvonne Lungershausen, Chief Scientific Officer Gabriel Kremmidiotis, and Head of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Jorgen Mould are featured in a new Global Health video on Reuters news service about the importance of quality clinical trials as part of the drug development process.The Global Health program brings together 100 leaders and executives from various sectors of the Private and Public Healthcare Industry.Avance Clinical CEO, Yvonne Lungershausen and Executive VP North American Operations John Mann attended the Global Health Summit and Yvonne was a leading panelist.Avance Clinical is at the cutting edge of clinical trial technology and has recently been ranked as the world leader in decentralised clinical trials (DCT) technology adoption by GlobalData and Clinical Trial Arena in the CRO sector.The report found 46% of Avance Clinical's trials incorporated some elements of DCT technologies in 2022 including telemedicine, remote monitoring, and digital data collection. The DCT report also noted that Avance Clinical's staff training in the latest technologies was a key factor in the ranking. See the full report here. https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/features/year-in-review-dct-2022/ Avance Clinical's unique GlobalReady offering enables biotechs that have completed early-phase trials in Australia to rapidly and seamlessly transition to the US in preparation for FDA approvals, all with the one CRO and dedicated teams across both regions, which reduces time and cost and delivers quality data.There are currently more than 280 Phase III global trials that have conducted their Phase I study in Australia, which demonstrates Australian data acceptability with the FDA and other major regulatory authorities. More than 40 biotech clients are now taking advantage of Avance Clinical's GlobalReady program.This seamless GlobalReady journey is designed so biotechs can:- Take advantage of the Australian early-phase clinical trial landscape (No IND and 43.5% tax rebate)- Transition or expand into North America for later phases - without changing CROs (retain study knowledge and processes/team)- Seamlessly operationalize global dose-escalation and dose-expansion trials across the two regions- Harness significant speed and cost advantages- Be assured of quality data - transferable and readily acceptable by the FDA and other regulatory authoritiesBook a meeting with Avance Clinical at ASCO https://www.avancecro.com/event/asco-2023-chicago-il/ Book a meeting with Avance Clinical at BIO Booth #2884 https://www.avancecro.com/event/4602/ Find out more:Learn about the Australian Advantage here https://www.avancecro.com/the-australian-advantage/ For more information about the benefits of running your next study with Avance Clinicalcontact us: enquiries@ avancecro.com About Avance ClinicalAvance Clinical is the largest premium full-service Australian and North American CRO delivering quality clinical trials, with globally accepted data, in Australia, New Zealand and the US for international biotechs. The company's clients are biotechs in their drug development phases that need fast, agile, and adaptive solution-oriented clinical research services.Frost & Sullivan AwardsAvance Clinical, a Frost & Sullivan Asia-Pacific CRO Market Leadership Award recipient for the past three years, has been providing CRO services in the region for more than 24 years.Pre-clinical through to Phase I and BeyondAvance Clinical offers pre-clinical consultancy services with their experienced ClinicReady team right through to Phase I and beyond clinical services leveraging significant Government incentive rebates of up to 43.5% and rapid start-up regulatory processes that are available in Australia. With experience across more than 110 therapeutic indications, Avance Clinical can deliver world-class, high-quality, internationally accepted data suitable for FDA and EMA review.TechnologyAvance Clinical uses state-of-the-art technology and gold-standard systems across all functional areas to provide clients with the most effective processes. Medidata, Oracle, Zelta, Veeva and Medrio are just some of Avance's technology partners.Media Contact:Avance ClinicalKate Thompsonmedia@ avancecro.com PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-30 16:01:43 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 976 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / EvokAI Creative Labs Inc. (TSXV:OKAI) ("EvokAI" or the "Company"), a leading MedTech AI-powered company dedicated to the development of transformational and innovative technologies for the healthcare sector, is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition (the "Acquisition") of Head Instruments Oy ("Head"), a Finnish MedTech company creating smart medical devices and solutions to improve patients' quality of life and support medical professionals in their work. The Acquisition was previously announced on April 24, 2023."With the acquisition of Head, EvokAI gains access to its cutting-edge technologies, including advanced neural interfaces, data-driven disease modeling, and personalized treatment solutions. These innovations have the potential to significantly transform the diagnosis, monitoring, and therapeutic interventions for Parkinson's disease patients, addressing critical unmet needs in the field," stated Alejandro Antalich, CEO and Director of EvokAI Creative Labs."This strategic move reinforces our commitment to revolutionize healthcare and underscores our belief in the transformative power of artificial intelligence in improving patient care. Parkinson's disease affects millions of people worldwide, causing a range of motor and non-motor symptoms that significantly impact quality of life. Only in the United States the expenses to public health systems reaches $25 billion every year1. With patents already granted in the United States and United Kingdom and actively used in clinics in Austria, Finland and Germany, we are now ready to land in North America to reduce the tremendous burden that movement disorders generate to the American society," added Antalich."Head has gained widespread recognition for its groundbreaking innovations in the field of Parkinson's disease. Head's exceptional team of researchers, engineers, and medical professionals has developed a revolutionary technology aimed at improving the lives of patients affected by this debilitating neurological disorder. We are delighted to welcome Head to our family to amplify the impact of our technologies, ultimately benefiting individuals living with Parkinson's disease and their families," concluded Antalich.With offices in Oulu, Finland, Head's advanced technologies and solutions provide means for accurate analysis of the magnitude of movement disorders and their response to medication. Other causes of movement disorders include dystonia, various diseases causing tremors, Tourette's syndrome, congenital CP (Cerebral Palsy) or MS (Multiple Sclerosis). Already used in university hospitals and by renowned neurosurgeons across Europe, the novel device and AI-based solution is also meant to be wirelessly connected to deep brain stimulation equipment, so that the monitor can automatically control brain synchronization based on observed symptoms. Involuntary movement of a body region, which may be oscillatory and can often be considered tremor, is a common and frustrating disorder. Visual observation by a neurologist dominates an assessment of the movement of a body region in clinical practice. All people, healthy or disordered, have tremor at some extent and determination of its development over time or under treatment is not possible, because a movement of a body region of a person at one moment cannot reliably be compared with that of another moment. Although technical measurements of the movement of a body region have been attempted, they are complicated, inefficient and insufficient.Pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition, the Company acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding securities of Head in consideration of the issuance of an aggregate of 3,724,674 common shares of the Company ("EvokAI Shares") to former securityholders of Head. The EvokAI Shares issued in connection with the Acquisition are subject to a contractual hold period expiring May 31, 2024. Up to an additional 1,769,406 EvokAI Shares may be issuable to the former securityholders of Head upon Head achieving certain milestones on or before March 30, 2025.About EvokAI Creative Labs Inc.EvokAI is a MedTech AI-powered company dedicated to the development of transformational and innovative technologies for the modern healthcare sector. We deploy machine learning models to search medical data and uncover insights to help improve health outcomes, patient experiences, drug development, preclinical and clinical decisions and provide more accurate diagnoses. EvokAI tailors its AI algorithms across the whole healthcare system, from hospitals, private clinics, research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, to medical professionals, patients, healthy individuals aiming at preventing any kind of disease and beyond, protecting the aging genome.On behalf of the Board of Directors of EvokAI Creative Labs Inc.Alejandro AntalichCEO & DirectorFor more information, please contact:EvokAI Creative Labs Inc.Alejandro AntalichChief Executive OfficerEmail: hello@ evokailabs.com Phone: +358 50 5512 848Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Generally, any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information or statements. The forward-looking information or statements in this news release may relate, among other things, to: the anticipated benefits of the Acquisition to the Company and its shareholders; the future growth potential of the Company on a post-Acquisition basis; the intention to scale operations; the a PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-30 13:31:10 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 857 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Forward Water Technologies Corp. ("Forward Water" or the "Company") (TSXV:FWTC) announces a non-binding letter of intent that outlines the terms of a proposed business relationship with Mead & Hunt, a leading architecture and engineering firm based in the United States.Together, Forward Water and Mead & Hunt structured a mutually beneficial business relationship to help enable the rapid commercialization of Forward Water's Forward Osmosis (FO) process to address client needs. Forward Water guides project support with its FO expertise, design know-how, and technical assets. Mead & Hunt provides extensive supply chain connections, engineering design experience, capabilities to fabricate the needed treatment equipment, as well as an established customer pipeline.By partnering, both Forward Water and Mead & Hunt can rapidly deliver a robust and unique process to enable an array of customer applications. Tom Bachman, EPC Group Leader for Mead & Hunt comments "Mead and Hunt is pleased to support this new technology that is on the cutting edge for water conservation." Also Jeff VanVoorhis, EPC Vice President for Mead & Hunt comments "While our ability to engineer, procure, and construct large projects brings a turnkey solution to FWTC clients, Mead & Hunt clients also benefit from our synergistic partnership because of the expanded solutions our firm can offer through access to FWTC's patented technology." Forward Water's CEO and President, C. Howie Honeyman comments "With Mead & Hunt in a position to utilize its expansive design and fabrication capabilities, integrate pre- and post-treatment equipment, and leverage its customer base, Forward Water will be able to provide complete end-to-end solutions for a broad spectrum of usage of the FO technology." About Forward Water Technologies Corp.Forward Water Technologies Corp., a publicly traded Canadian company, uses its patented Forward Osmosis technology to save the earth's water supply. Founded by GreenCentre Canada, a leading technology innovation centre supported by the government of Canada, the Company's technology reduces challenging waste streams while simultaneously returning fresh water for re-use or surface release. The Company's mandate is to focus on the large-scale implementation of its technology in multiple sectors, including industrial wastewater, oil and gas, mining, agriculture and ultimately municipal water supply and re-use market sectors. In addition, the Company has initiated early-stage R&D for the treatment of food and beverage process streams.For more information, please visit www.forwardwater.com About Mead and HuntMead & Hunt's technologies provide pathways to achieve sustainable water solutions, manage resources long term, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, power our future, and help clients reach their goals. Founded in 1900, Mead & Hunt has since expanded significantly in size and geographic reach. The firm, with a team of nearly 1,200 professionals in more than 40 offices and a fabrication facility, supports several key markets including water, energy, aviation, transportation, food and beverage, federal, state and local governments, in addition to providing diversified engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services. Mead & Hunt is positioned to deploy Forward Water's FO technologies as part of its portfolio.For more information, please visit www.meadhunt.com Contact InformationFor more information or interview requests, please contact:C. Howie Honeyman - Chief Executive Officer416-451-8155Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.Forward-Looking StatementsCertain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws including statements regarding the impact the relationship with Mead & Hunt will have on the Company's business and the ability for the Company to achieve its growth strategy and business plan. 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, the ability to scale the technology and the adoption of the technology by potential customers.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 impacts from the coronavirus or other epidemics, general economic conditions in Canada, the United States and globally; unanticipated operating events; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; stock market volatility 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.Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.SOURCE: Forward Water Technologies Corp. PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-30 16:30:32 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 281 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 EL RENO, OK / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Gemini Coatings, a 100% employee-owned wood coatings manufacturing company, has entered into an agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Rudd Company, Inc., an independently owned wood coatings manufacturer based in Seattle, Washington."Rudd Company was established in 1912 and has built trusted brands with a robust product line," said Chris Hicks, President/CEO of Gemini Coatings. "Their reputation for innovation, reliability and customer service is a perfect fit with our own values and mission. We relish the opportunity to expand our range of solutions for our customers." Gemini Coatings has been a leading wood coatings manufacturer for nearly 60 years, with a focus on interior and exterior coatings for professional wood finishers, distributors and consumers. The acquisition of the Rudd and Glitsa brands further enforces Gemini's mission of providing an Unrivaled Customer Experience' through exceptional service, reliable product quality, advanced coating technology and trusted technical expertise."This acquisition will add value for current Rudd and Glitsa customers through our knowledgeable sales and technical teams as well as access to Gemini's current family of brands," said Hicks. "We look forward to building those relationships as well as the ability to offer our current customers, independent retailers and distributor network the opportunity to explore new products in both the Rudd Wood Finishes and Glitsa Wood Floor Finishes product lines." About Gemini CoatingsGemini manufactures and distributes wood coatings across North America with seven manufacturing and distribution facilities. Gemini has supplied paint companies, industrial wood coatings distributors and OEM wood coatings users for nearly 60 years. For more information, visit Gemini-Coatings.com CONTACT:Lauren Daughety(405) 817-0420lauren@ theguildfactor.com SOURCE: Gemini Industries PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-30 19:36:08 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 840 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / LyondellBasellTrisha Conley Executive Vice President, People and Culture Imagine a company in which people get up and go to work every day completely invested in what they do. They look forward to the camaraderie they experience with their fellow team members. They feel empowered to be entrepreneurial, have room to innovate, and deliver significant value to customers and society. The work they do is impactful - as they strive to create a better, more sustainable future for all. This is the culture we are building at LyondellBasell.LyondellBasell has historically been a good place to work, and we are building on this strong foundation. Our new culture will support the implementation of our new strategy: to grow and upgrade the core, build a profitable circular and low carbon solutions business, and step up our performance and culture. To be successful, we need strong leaders to guide employees through this change. As leaders, we must model the behaviors we want to see, create an environment people are drawn to work in, and set the right expectations for performance.In my view, these leadership qualities are critical to enabling cultural transformation:1. Model the way - According to the 2021 Trust Barometer Special Report, six in 10 job seekers choose their employer based on their beliefs. As leaders, we must believe in the mission and then embed it in everything we do. Our CEO, Peter Vanacker, has set a clear strategy and purpose for the company, and we recently rolled out a new set of corporate values. This clarity makes it easier for employees to decide if our corporate values align with their own, enabling them to bring their authentic self to work every day. I am excited to be part of the transformation Peter and our Executive Team are driving and look forward to helping employees feel the same.2. Be accessible - I have an open invitation for all employees to set up time to come talk to me and give me a chance to get to know them better, many of whom have taken me up on my offer. To me, this means our new culture is already working. I would ask all leaders in the company to take this approach - make connections, listen, share more and be present for not only your team, but for everyone you work with across the company.3. Do not tolerate mediocre performance - As a leader, we must be clear and consistent about performance expectations. The status quo may have worked in the past, but not so much going forward. Outstanding leaders ensure their employees understand what is expected of them and are willing to act decisively if they fall short. Employees know when not everyone pulls their own weight, and tolerating an ongoing imbalance in workload sends the wrong message internally.4. Have fun - Having fun at work is essential to employee motivation, inciting an entrepreneurial spirit, and building strong, cohesive teams. We spend enough hours doing our job and should have a little fun in the process. A great example of this was at a recent People & Culture team lunch, the Human Resources Leadership Team and I organized an informal flash mob right in the middle of my opening comments. Most of our team were wondering what just happened, but this led to a room full of laughter and smiles, and showed the team that we prioritize having fun. We did have fun - you could feel it in the room, and those who didn't attend felt they had missed out on a fun experience where their leaders were "being real." When I think about what this company will look like in 10 years, I see a company in which this new culture we are talking about has taken root and become part of the fabric of the organization. When you walk into any LyondellBasell manufacturing site or office location, you will feel it. We attracted and retained top diverse talent globally - leaders who care about their people, know what is going on in their lives and respect work/life balance. As a result of this embedded culture, we exceeded our ambitious sustainability targets and created tremendous value for our shareholders. The journey we are on is exciting, and while I know we will enjoy the process, I also look forward to the future, when we get to look back and appreciate just how far we have come as an organization.To all the current leaders at LyondellBasell, we need your help to champion our new culture and facilitate this transition for all employees. If you are not yet a leader in our company, but believe in our purpose, are passionate about helping us write our company story and want to help lead our cultural transformation, please visit LYB careers to find the opportunity that best fits you.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from LyondellBasell on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: LyondellBasellWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/lyondellbasell Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: LyondellBasell PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-30 22:42:22 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 757 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SINGAPORE / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / DBOE, a prominent Option DEX initiative, is delighted to announce the appointment of distinguished mathematician Vladimir Barzov to its esteemed advisory team. Leveraging his exceptional proficiency at the convergence of mathematics, technology, and finance, Barzov assumes a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of DBOE's decentralised option trading platform.DBOE is an Option DEX project that provides a secure and capital efficient platform for decentralised option trading, ensuring the safety of both buyers and sellers without the need for custodial services.DBOE was established in 2022 with the goal of solving the complex over-collateralisation issue in the Decentralisation Finance (DeFi) space to be more capital efficient and driving the higher adoption of DeFi in every day.Vladimir Barzov's ProfileVladimir is a math whizz with 3 IMO gold medals under his belt, placing him in the top 20 of IMO "Hall of Fame". He earned a dual degree in Math and Economics from MIT and an MBA from INSEAD. He has worked for majors like Goldman Sachs and Google across the US, Japan, Switzerland and Singapore. Vladimir was an early pioneer in crypto, having launched a Bitcoin centralised derivatives trading venue back in the distant 2013, when leverage, lending, and fast streaming protocols were not a familiar sight in the crypto space. Although the project turned out to be before its time, it paved the way for a lot of the product and technology learnings that underpin the DBOE platform design today.Success marker for DBOEVladimir joined DeFi Board Options Exchange (DBOE) as a professional advisor in March 2022. His guidance focuses on the mathematical aspects given their complexity, namely: pricing models, volatility surface management, and overall risk management. He also advises on the product design specifications, which must cater to the demands of both retail and institutional clients. Vladimir's involvement has greatly enhanced the robustness of the product.David Nguyen, one of the founding members of the project and who has worked with Vladimir in the past, was particularly excited to welcome him to the team on account of his expertise and experience in both options trading and trading platform design. In his own words: "the DBOE community is honoured to have Vladimir Barzov advising the project. His exceptional thought leadership and visionary insights will help the project achieve its ambitious goal of providing a secure and highly efficient decentralised option trading platform".Advising DBOE for a safe Web3 Option trading platformWhen approached by one of the founding members, Vladimir shared that "DBOE's unique approach to risk management and capital efficiency intrigued [him]". He was particularly interested in the project's ambition - and unique approach - to delivering the entire trading pipeline onto the blockchain: from matching to clearing to final settlement, which has so far eluded many previous attempts by other teams.DBOE's core competitive advantage is bringing a traditional order book (CLOB) onto the blockchain, which till date remains the holy grail and last unsolved problem that has prevented DeFi projects from being "fully Defi".This approach offers scalability with minimal capital requirements for buyers and sellers, surpassing other matching and liquidity providing mechanisms in both capital efficiency and security. DBOE's option design is also innovative, simplifying the complex margining process adopted by traditional exchanges and brokers. The absence of counterparty risk eliminates the need for an insurance fund typically required by centralised exchanges.On DBOE's potential for success, Vladimir remarked: "There are many interesting problems involved with making an options market liquid, safe and secure. DBOE stands out not only in their approach to risk management and product design but also in their approach to user experience and community building. The geographic focus and the unique product design give them a first mover advantage in the space, and while a lot has already been done, there is still a long road ahead as the blockchain itself is young. I will thoroughly enjoy journeying together with DBOE down this path." With the recent launch of ETH Options on the mainnet and a planned go-live date of mid-June 2023, featuring a hundred percent on-chain Central Limit Order Book (CLOB), DBOE is primed to revolutionise the industry by providing unparalleled transparency, liquidity, and opportunities for decentralised finance. The future looks incredibly promising as DBOE continues to push boundaries and redefine the landscape of decentralised option trading.Press ContactName: Anne Vu - Public RelationsMobile: (65) 8878 8589Email: inbox@ dboe.io Website: http://www.dboe.io SOURCE: DeFi Board Options Exchange (DBOE) PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-30 13:00:59 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1034 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Mako Mining Corp. (TSXV:MKO)(OTCQX:MAKOF) ("Mako" or the "Company") announces positive drill results on its La Segoviana concession ("La Segoviana" or Concession), located approximately 17 km to the north of the company's 100% owned San Albino gold mine which is currently in commercial production. In addition, results of fluid inclusion studies from the Colorado School of Mines ("CSM") confirm the orogenic nature of gold mineralization across the 28 km of strike contained within the Company's 188 square kilometer (km2) land package in northern Nicaragua.Highlights of this press releaseSan Luis - New Discovery41.99 g/t Au and 28.7 g/t Ag over 2.10 m (1.4 m ETW)Contained within a larger zone of 17.99 g/t Au and 12.5 g/t Ag over 5.0 m (3.2 m ETW)Identified additional style of gold mineralization - stockwork/breccia zoneFluid inclusion studies by the CSM confirm the orogenic nature of gold mineralization within the land packageFrank Powell, Mako's Senior Exploration Manager announces that "We are very excited to initiate drilling outside of the San Albino/Conchitas area and to start assessing our 188 km2 land package. There are very few places in the world where you can sample high grade gold over 10's of kilometers of strike that have not been previously drilled or explored with modern exploration techniques. The fact that we have discovered similar shallow high-grade gold 17 km away from a producing mine, with dozens of high-grade gold occurrences in between, leads us to believe that we have a burgeoning gold district on our hands".Reconnaissance geological mapping and sampling has identified numerous gold bearing structures outside the San Albino/Conchitas areas that have never been drill tested (see map below). At La Segoviana, detailed sampling and mapping of recent, small-scale underground and surface workings confirmed near surface, high-grade gold mineralization at several prospects situated approximately 17 km north of San Albino Mine (see press release dated March 24th, 2022). Sampling and mapping in this area indicates significant strike potential over a linear distance of 6.4 km.The initial 1,000 m exploration drilling program is focused on known surface mineralization within this north-trending mineralized corridor at three prospects: La Reforma, San Luis and Minas America, with the goal of assessing the overall mineralization geometry, grade continuity and mineral resource potential.The discovery drill hole, LS23-04, located at the San Luis prospect and collared below known mineralization in a recent, small scale underground working, intersected an interval of 41.99 g/t Au and 28.7 g/t Ag over 2.1 m (1.4 m ETW), starting at a vertical depth of 34 m. This interval indicates high grade gold is associated with a sub-vertical, banded quartz vein. A quartz stockwork/breccia zone occurs above the banded vein, with anomalous gold assays ranging from 0.15 g/t Au to 0.91 g/t Au. The entire zone including quartz stockwork/breccia averages 17.99 g/t Au and 12.5 g/t Ag over 5.0 m (3.2 m ETW). The quartz stockwork/breccia zone appears to be a new style of gold mineralization, which has not been observed at San Albino and will require additional drilling to characterize its significance. It is common in orogenic districts to have variations in gold occurrences based on local structure and host rocks. The host rocks in this area are similar to the San Albino schist; however, they have a fairly high proportion of interbedded metavolcanic material in the black schists.Drill hole LS23-03 is collared 28 m northwest from the discovery hole and intersected the stockwork zone, mentioned above grading 6.06 g/t Au and 9.2 g/t Ag over 1.2 m (1.1 m ETW). See table below.At the La Reforma prospect located approximately 370 m northeast of the discovery hole, the Company completed two drill holes. Both holes intersected a fault zone with low grade or anomalous gold. Further mapping of gold showings and local faulting has since been completed and additional drilling is planned over the coming days.Drilling is currently underway on the Minas America prospect located approximately 2 km to the south of the discovery drillhole, where the vein is gently dipping to the northwest, further onto our concessions, consistent with the regional orientation.The Company is collaborating with the Colorado School of Mines through a consulting agreement to gain access to top research professionals and facilities and is sponsoring a master's thesis to characterize and further investigate the styles of mineralization and structural controls within the Company's mining concessions to further guide the exploration efforts.Following recent field visits and a detailed analysis of fluid inclusions, Dr. Ben Frieman, Ph. D., Research Assistant Professor, Department of Geology and Geological Engineering at CSM commented:Investigations on the style and character of mineralization in the San Albino, Las Conchitas and La Segoviana areas have revealed the gold-bearing vein systems were emplaced along structurally controlled zones relatively deep within the crust during earlier mountain building episodes. These deposit types are termed orogenic gold deposits.Orogenic gold deposits are significant for the following reasons:They account for approximately 1/3 of the world's gold production1.They tend to form in clusters along regionally extensive fault systems. Thus, it is common to find a series of economic deposits at regular, tens of kilometer-scale spacing.Some of the most important gold districts in the world, such as the Mother Lode Deposit in California or the Kalgoorlie Goldfields in Australia are classified as orogenic gold deposits.Table: Assay Results Reported in This Press ReleaseNote: The mineralized intervals shown above utilize a 1.0 g/t gold cut-off grade with not more than 1.0 m of internal dilution. *Widths are reported as drill core lengths. **Estimated True Width is estimated from interpreted sections.Qualified PersonJohn M. Kowalchuk, P.Geo, a geologist and qualified person (as defined under NI 43-101) has read and approved the technical information contained in this press release. Mr. Kowalchuk is a senior geologist and a consultant to the Company.On behalf of the Board,Akiba LeismanChief Executive OfficerAbout MakoMako Mining Corp. is a publicly listed gold mining, development and exploration company. The Company operates the high-grade San Albino gold mine in Nueva Segovia, Nicaragua, which ranks as one of the highest-grade open pit gold mines globally. Mako's primary objective is to operate San Albino profitably and fund PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-30 16:01:19 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 527 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 BROWNSVILLE, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Lic. Olga Patricia Sosa Ruiz, the Head of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, recently conducted an official tour of the NovaLink maquiladora in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. She verified the guaranteed working conditions for the more than 1,800 employed at this industrial complex. Lic. Ruiz has expressed a desire to get to know the companies under her jurisdiction. She accepted the invitation to visit the NovaLink Matamoros facilities during her statewide tour and see for herself the working conditions and culture built by the NovaLink staff.NovaLink TourOlga Patricia Sosa Ruiz, the Head of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, tours the NovaLink factory in Matamoros, Mexico. Accompanied by Jose Ives Soberon Mejia, the General Director of the Labor Conciliation Centers in Tamaulipas, as well as Juan Villafuerte, the General Secretary of SJOIIM, Roberto Mattus, the General Director of INDEX Matamoros, and the staff from NovaLink, Secretary Ruiz conducted an extensive goodwill inspection of the facilities.Secretary Ruiz stressed the importance of upholding labor rights as a cornerstone of labor humanism. She highlighted the directive of Governor Americo Villarreal Anaya to foster collaboration among companies, unions, and workers. Secretary Ruiz had the opportunity to meet many NovaLink employees during her tour as well as meet and discuss current issues with Roberto Hinojosa, Head of Human Resources, and Jason Wolfe, President/CEO."It was a great pleasure to have Secretary Ruiz select NovaLink as a company she would like to visit. We take our role in the Matamoros community very seriously and are honored to have received such high praise from Secretary Ruiz and her office. I enjoyed the opportunity to discuss issues facing our community that have the potential to stifle growth and how I feel she could play a major role in assisting our city and the state to be the recipient of the many growth and infrastructure opportunities that are present. I look forward to working with Secretary Ruiz and sharing ideas on how we can improve the relations between the government, unions and companies in our state," said Wolfe.Expressing satisfaction with NovaLink's productivity and commitment, Secretary Ruiz commended the company for providing nearly 2,000 families with decent and secure employment. She also highlighted the exemplary Tamaulipas workforce, both men and women, who contribute to the company's success."We are very pleased to see such a productive Mexican company established in Matamoros and providing decent and safe work for almost 2,000 families, and this is also due to the high quality of the Tamaulipas workforce, both men and women, who work in a committed and professional manner," said Secretary Ruiz, referring to the NovaLink workforce, where women are the majority with 60 percent of the total workforce.NovaLink is a best-in-class solution for domestic and international manufacturers seeking operations with proximity to the U.S. For information on NovaLink, please visit their website: https://novalinkmx.com Contact Information:MICHAEL DILLONVice President Marketing and Business Developmentmdillon@ novalinkmx.com 956-621-7362Jason WolfePresident and CEOjwolfe@ novalinkmx.com 956-621-7362SOURCE: NovaLink PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-30 12:30:16 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1044 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 [NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA]TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / One Bullion Limited ("One Bullion") and Goldrange Resources Corp. ("Goldrange") are pleased to announce that they have entered into a non-binding letter of intent (the "LOI") setting out the initial terms of a proposed business combination between the parties (the "Transaction"). Goldrange is a private company existing under the laws of Ontario that currently holds interests in the properties known as the La Debo and Tienko Projects located in Cote d'Ivoire, West Africa, and the formerly Barrick Gold-held Golden Heights Project located along the Lake Victoria Greenstone Belt in Tanzania, East Africa (collectively, the "Goldrange Projects"). One Bullion is a private company existing under the laws of Ontario, which currently holds interests in the former B2 Gold Vumba and Maitengwe Greenstone Belts in Northern Botswana and the northern extension of the Kraaipan Greenstone Belt in southern Botswana formerly held by Harmony Gold (collectively, the "One Bullion Projects").Property Interests of the Resulting IssuerUpon closing of the Transaction, One Bullion (the "Resulting Issuer") will directly or indirectly hold the property interests set forth below.Goldrange ProjectsThe flagship La Debo Project in Cote d'Ivoire is a Brownfields exploration project hosting a number of identified target zones with potential for economic gold mineralisation. To date an extensive program of regional methodical exploration in the form of mapping, soil sampling, trenching, pitting and drilling has been conducted, resulting in the identification of target zones. Only two of these areas have been drilled to an advanced status, resulting in a National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") Preliminary Economic Assessment dated October 10, 2016 entitled "J3139-JOFEMA, La Debo Au, Cote d'Ivoire" prepared by the MSA Group (Pty) Ltd. Open pit mining and processing assumptions have indicated that the deposit has "reasonable prospects for economic extraction". Detailed exploration on the other regional La Debo gold target areas remains ongoing.The Tienko Project in northern Cote d'Ivoire has undergone extensive advanced exploration, resulting in several delineated mineralised target corridors as identified in a NI 43-101 Technical Report entitled Tienko Project, Republic of Ivory Coast dated 30 September 2021 prepared by QP Dr. Deon Vermaakt.The Golden Heights Project in the Lake Victoria Greenstone Goldfields of northwest Tanzania is the site of extensive legacy workings. The mineralised reefs have a combined strike length of 8 km and have never been drill tested at depth. Core drilling is planned for the third quarter of 2023.In aggregate, more than US$16 million has been spent on the Goldrange Projects to date through historical exploration investment and current exploration and drilling.One Bullion ProjectsOne Bullion has a beneficial interest in 9 prospecting licences in Botswana, Southern Africa. Seven of the licences have been issued to the One Bullion's 100 % owned subsidiary, Premier Gold Resources (Pty) Ltd. These seven licences are collectively referred to as the Marcelle Group Project, comprising the Kraaipan, Vumba and Maitenge Projects. Two of the Kraaipan licences are 100% owned by Gouta Resources in which One Bullion also has a 100% interest.The Kraaipan Project is situated in southern Botswana on the prospective Kraaipan Greenstone Belt, which straddles the border between Botswana and South Africa. One Bullion controls 100 % of nine licenses covering almost 3,000 km2 of this gold belt. The South African Portion of the Kraaipan Greenstone Belt is mined and operated predominantly by Harmony Gold. The belt is known to host economic gold in several deposits, with the Kalgold mine being one of the most well known in the region with over 3 million ounces of gold resources. Artificial Intelligence (AI) targeting, using magnetic and gravity data through computer learning, was conducted on the Kraaipan Gold Project to delineate prospective follow up targets.Numerous target areas were generated, which otherwise may not have been identified due to the thick aeolian Kalahari sands overburden. The AI results were then confirmed with a 1,177 km IP geophysical survey, which yielded more than 49 linear km of potential greenstone belt targets. One Bullion intends to further narrow down the targets with follow-up exploration inclusive of a 20,000 metre drilling program to launch in Q3 2023.The Vumba Project is situated in northeastern Botswana and consists of one license located on the Vumba Greenstone Belt of the Zimbabwe Archean Craton. Legacy and recent exploration has included the digging of 92 trenches and 16 pits, as well as the drilling of 111 RC and 25 diamond holes. Wireframing and 3D block modelling was conducted on the historic drill data. In 2019 the identification of five historical adits by One Bullion led to the sampling of adit stockpile material and on the back of these encouraging results, a recent follow up diamond drilling program confirmed gold at depth. One Bullion intends to explore further by drilling the remaining 5 km strike length of the ore body.The Maitengwe Gold Project1 is also situated in northeastern Botswana and consists of two licenses located on the Maitengwe Greenstone Belt of the Zimbabwe Archean Craton. Grab samples were taken from different outcropping lithologies which had gold contents of up to 4.94 g/t Au. AI targeting was further conducted on the Maitengwe Gold Project to delineate prospective follow up targets. Further IP geophysical surveys indicated potential continuous mineralisation over a lengthy strike distance. Several gold target areas have been identified and will be followed up in Q4 2023 with drilling.The Aruba Project is situated in southern Botswana and is primarily comprised of the Molopo Farms Complex ("MFC"). The Complex is known to have been emplaced during the same geological period as the world renowned multi PGM and chromite Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa. The MFC is underexplored due to Kalahari overburden. However PGM and Ni-Cu discoveries have become evident along its margins. In addition the Aruba Project has exposure to the Transvaal Supergroup, which currently hosts more than 70% of the world's economic manganese deposits. At present, the Aruba assets are subject to a proposed transaction where One Bullion intends to sell its interest in the Aruba Project for an aggregate of 13,000,000 common shares of Silverfish Resources Inc. ("Silverfish"), representing approximately 48.5% of its issued and outstanding shares (the "Silverfish Transaction"), PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-30 12:00:31 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1005 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Roscan Gold Corporation ("Roscan" or the "Company") (TSXV:ROS)(FSE:2OJ)(OTCQB:RCGCF) is pleased to announce additional exploration results from 12 Reverse Circulation ("RC") holes totaling 1,963 meters at Kabaya (KB3).These step-out RC holes have expanded the strike length of mineralization at KB3 to 600 meters from 300m (Figure 1), with a width of 100 meters. It remains open at depth and laterally with a plunging angle of approximately 10 towards south. Additionally, these results indicate an increase in mineralization of about 70 meters below the existing 1,500-dollar pit shell. To fully capture the potential of the KB3 extensions of the gold mineralization, further infill and deeper drilling is required to enhance the resource estimation.The cumulative gold strike length at KB1-KB2 and KB3 currently spans 1,800 meters, with a width ranging from 150 meters (KB1-2) to 100 meters (KB3). The mineralization extends to a depth of 150 meters to 250 meters at KB2.A 500-meter gap exists between KB3 and KB1-2, and the primary gold mineralization in this area has not been thoroughly explored or tested to its full extent.Drilling Highlights: KB3 Reverse Circulation Drill Holes1.62 gpt gold over 24 m from drill hole RCDBS22-0134b from 26mIncluding 3.36 gpt gold over 5m from 28 m2.27 gpt gold over 7m from drill hole RCDBS22-0136 from 27mIncluding 7.12 gpt gold over 1m from 32mAnd 1.47 got gold over 15m from 160m.Including 3.96 gpt gold over 1m from 161mIncluding 3.18 gpt gold over 1m from 169 m1.13 gpt gold over 7m from drill hole RCDBS23- 0146 from 133m 31.37 gpt gold over 1m from drill hole RCDBS23-0147 from 137mNotes: 1: True width yet to be determined; 2: Table 1 - Assay Highlights, 3: 0.5gpt used as cut-off with 2m internal dilution, 4: No top-cut.Nana Sangmuah, President and CEO, stated, "As part of our 2023 work program, we have completed approximately 17,000 meters of drilling in the main resource areas, as well as tested new targets outside the current resource footprint. These results should be available in the coming weeks.Drilling at Kabaya continues to expand the footprint of the gold mineralization, which bodes well for further resource growth. The positive results obtained beneath the existing K3 pit shell, within the fresh rock, are particularly encouraging as they suggest the presence of a larger mineralized system. This development strengthens our confidence in the untapped potential of the area." Figure 1: Kabaya gold deposit, KB3 drilling plan view, gold contouring envelopes projected to the surface and drill hole locations. The Kabaya gold mineralization is disseminated and associated with a strong kaolinization. The gold host rock alternates between tuffaceous and greywacke facies crosscut by younger dolerite sills and dykes (Figures 2 and 3). At KB3, the higher-grade zone does not appear at the surface and, from the longitudinal section, the mineralization is plunging around 10-15 to the South. This relatively higher grade has not been captured in our resource estimation (Press Release June 8th, 2022).Figure 2: Kabaya gold deposit, KB3 satellite North, section A 1390700N Figure 3: Kabaya gold deposit, KB3 satellite North, section A 1390600N The Kabaya mineralization is part of the prolific regional Siribaya-Mankouke-Seko structural corridor (Figure 4). It is located on the Eastern edge of this major structure as well as Mankouke South gold body. Roscan's large land package has a strategic position covering a substantial portion of this significant structural corridor by over 25km, including the splays around the intrusive pluton of Disse, where several mineralized bodies were discovered.Figure 4: Roscan permit map showing Airborne Magnetic geophysics, the resources zones, targets under development and nearby gold deposits Drilling and Analytical ProtocolRoscan uses Geodrill Reverse Circulation (RC) to drill until maximum 170m to reach the target. In 2021, (holes RCDBS21-026 to RCDBS21-048), the samples were sent for preparation and 50g fire assays to Bureau Veritas Bamako laboratory and since January 2022, the samples are sent to the ALS Laboratories in Bamako, Mali and assayed at their analytical facilities to Ouagadougou for 2 kg Bottle Roll with atomic absorption finish including tail analysis by fire assays for results more than 0.05ppm. Roscan applied industry-standard QA/QC procedures to the program using reference materials, blanks, standards, and duplicates.Table 1: Drillhole Highlights at Kabaya KB3 (Dabia South)Table 2: Drillhole ID of Kabaya KB3 (Dabia South)Qualified Person (QP) and NI 43-101 DisclosureGreg Isenor, P. Geo., Director for the Company, is the designated Qualified Person for this news release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") and has reviewed and verified that the technical information contained herein is accurate and approves of the written disclosure of same.About RoscanRoscan Gold Corporation is a Canadian gold exploration company focused on the exploration and acquisition of gold properties in West Africa. The Company has assembled a significant land position of 100%-owned permits in an area of producing gold mines (including B2 Gold's Fekola Mine which lies in a contiguous property to the west of Kandiole), and major gold deposits, located both north and south of its Kandiole Project in West Mali.For further information, please contact:Nana SangmuahPresident & CEOTel: (902) 832-5555Email: info@ Roscan.ca Forward Looking StatementsThis news release contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, and other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, including those risks set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis as filed under the Company's pr An estimated 45,000 North Dakota children will be eligible for food assistance this summer under a program funded through federal coronavirus pandemic aid. The Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer program benefits two groups: children ages 0-5 whose households receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, and school-age children who are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. The program is run through the state departments of Public Instruction, and Health and Human Services. Online applications are at https://ndsummerebt.nd.gov. Separately, HHS is urging parents and caregivers to make sure children are current on immunizations before the start of the next school year in the fall. "Many pediatric and family practice clinics throughout the state are already booking wellness and physical activity appointments into the next few months," the agency said. "Making an appointment now ensures that your child is ready for the upcoming school year." North Dakota school immunization rates have been dropping in recent years due primarily to the pandemic, according to HHS. More information about school immunization requirements is at bit.ly/43trW3k. PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-30 22:35:20 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 710 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 RUEIL-MALMAISON, FRANCE / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Schneider ElectricThe three-part programme, first developed for Schneider Electric employees, is now available for free for companies worldwideAttendees learn how to future-proof their businesses and accelerate their decarbonization journeysSchneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, announced that the Schneider Electric Sustainability School is open for enrolment. Free to access, the digital platform provides a range of interactive courses aimed at equipping companies and professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to improve their sustainability performance.First launched internally to educate Schneider Electric employees to better support the company's partner ecosystem, the three-part programme is now available externally for professionals and companies of all sizes, empowering them to take a first step towards a more sustainable future.Decarbonizing the economy is a business opportunityThe 2015 Paris Agreement sparked a movement across the economy to reduce or eliminate carbon emissions. A recent Gartner survey found that 87% of business leaders expect their sustainability spending to increase in the next two years.But despite this growing commitment to decarbonization, a sizeable knowledge and skills gap remains a barrier to progress. Furthermore, companies are increasingly relying on partners with expertise in the field of sustainability to support them in decarbonizing their operations.Schneider Electric operates as an Impact Company, placing sustainability at the core of its business to achieve a positive, lasting impact on the planet and society. With Electricity 4.0 at the heart of programme, the Sustainability School compliments and strengthens this commitment, supporting partners in accelerating climate action across three core pillars: Strategize, Digitize and Decarbonize.Recognizing that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often lack the knowledge and tools required to establish climate targets, measure impacts such as carbon emissions, and benchmark and disclose progress, the comprehensive training platform is designed to support them in embarking on their decarbonization journey. Over three chapters, it covers a range of topics from energy efficiency and renewable energy to the circular economy and sustainable transportation.Chapter 1: Understanding sustainability and the risks involved [intake now open]In the first chapter, attendees will learn the basics of sustainability, including the science and jargon behind it and why it is crucial for businesses to take environmental, social and governance factors (ESG) seriously.Chapter 2: Discover how to take sustainable action as a company [Launching Q3, 2023]The second chapter focuses on how SMEs can build a decarbonization strategy, including information on easy-to-implement tools that can support them in decarbonizing their own operations and that of their customers.Chapter 3: Leverage sustainable skills to increase business opportunities [Launching Q1, 2024]The third chapter summarizes the key knowledge and tools learnt throughout the programme - from energy efficiency to decarbonization - to support attendees in putting the theory into practice."The Sustainability School for partners is our big next move to prove that companies can not only do business that is better for the planet but can also fundamentally improve their performance by doing so," Sorouch Kheradmand, Head of Partner Sustainability at Schneider Electric said. "We are proud to announce the launch of our new online courses, which are designed to educate and inspire individuals and organizations to adopt sustainable practices. Sustainability is at the heart of our business, and we believe that education is key to driving change and creating a more sustainable future." To embark on your sustainability journey, register for the Schneider Electric Sustainability School here.About Schneider ElectricSchneider's purpose is to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On. Our mission is to be your digital partner for Sustainability and Efficiency. We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, end-point to cloud connecting products, controls, software and services, across the entire lifecycle, enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries. We are the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partnership ecosystems that are passionate about our shared Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values. www.se.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Schneider Electric on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Schneider ElectricWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/schneider-electric Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Schneider Electric PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-30 13:01:01 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 996 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Strategic Relationship Bolsters Confidence in NEXT; Expands Japan's Clean Fuels InitiativeHOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Sojitz Corporation and its subsidiary, Sojitz Corporation of America ("Sojitz"), and NEXT Renewable Fuels, Inc. ("NEXT") are pleased to announce that Sojitz and NEXT have entered into a strategic relationship whereby Sojitz has made a strategic investment in NEXT. Following this investment, Sojitz and NEXT plan to work together to advance NEXT's proposed 750 million gallon per year renewable diesel ("RD") and Sustainable Aviation Fuel ("SAF") facility at Port Westward, OR.These activities are anticipated to include:Facilitating delivery of NEXT SAF into the Japanese market and to Japanese airlines in coordination with United Airlines, an existing shareholder and strategic partner.Assisting in the technical design, engineering and construction management of NEXT's Port Westward facility.Utilizing Sojitz's extensive worldwide network to help NEXT build out the sourcing, procurement, and transportation of low carbon RD and SAF feedstocks.Working closely with NEXT to build on Sojitz's strategic investment to raise significant anchor investments into the construction equity of the Port Westward facility, contingent upon NEXT meeting certain milestone targets."We are thrilled to be working with Sojitz on developing our world-scale RD and SAF facility at Port Westward," said Christopher Efird, CEO and Chairperson of NEXT. "We feel that Sojitz can be an excellent resource with demonstrated expertise of the Japanese aviation market, a worldwide presence across numerous business units, and a deep understanding of, and active business in, many of the types of feedstocks that NEXT seeks to use in the production of its fuels." NEXT aims to produce sustainable fuels from biomass feedstocks like used cooking oil, animal tallows, and waste vegetable oils. The Port Westward facility is expected to use HEFA technology, which is currently the only commercially available method for producing SAF from biomass sources. NEXT plans to produce up to 50,000 barrels of SAF or RD per day, or 750 million gallons per year. In addition to its SAF and RD facility, NEXT is exploring other clean fuel business opportunities, including producing clean hydrogen and renewable natural gas, procuring low-carbon feedstocks to produce next-generation renewable fuels, and engaging in a range of other decarbonization initiatives."The Sojitz Group is working toward a decarbonized society through its Sustainability Challenge long-term vision for 2050," said Koichi Yamaguchi, CEO of Sojitz Americas. "We will contribute to the decarbonization of the airline industry by expanding the supply of SAF and by developing a supply chain and system for Japanese airlines." Sojitz is a Japanese conglomerate trading and investment company. Sojitz has strength in the aviation field, including a more than 60-year relationship representing Boeing in the Japanese market. In addition, Sojitz has experience in a wide range of other areas, including chemical trading and project structuring for facility construction. Using this expertise, Sojitz will support the supply of SAF to Japanese airlines as they seek to reduce their carbon footprints.As the global trend toward decarbonization accelerates, the aviation sector faces an urgent need to respond in kind. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) led the implementation of the CORSIA emissions reduction framework, which requires airlines to reduce or offset their emissions from international flights to 15 percent below 2019 levels. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aviation, SAF is an essential alternative to conventional aviation fuel, and demand is expected to grow rapidly.MEDIA CONTACTNEXT Renewable FuelsMichael Hinrichs805-453-1346michael@ nextrenewables.com Sojitz Corporation, Public Relations+81-3-6871-3404About NEXTNEXT is a next generation fuels company dedicated to sustainably producing clean, low-carbon fuels. The company is permitting and developing a 50,000 barrel-per-day / 750 million gallon-per-year RD and SAF refinery in Oregon with easy multi-modal access to the West Coast demand markets. The project is advancing through permitting and expects to begin construction upon completion of an Environmental Impact Statement currently underway with the US Army Corp of Engineers. RD and SAF are high-margin liquid transportation fuels worldwide and there is an urgent global demand for increased supply. Last November, United Airlines announced an agreement to invest up to $37.5 million in NEXT through their sustainability-focused venture fund called United Airlines Ventures ("UVA"). UAV is a first-of-its-kind sustainability-focused ventures fund that targets startups, upcoming technologies, and concepts that will complement United's goal of net zero emissions by 2050 - without relying on traditional carbon offsets such as voluntary offsets or planting trees. To learn more about NEXT, please visit www.nextrenewables.com About SojitzSojitz Corporation was formed from the union of Nichimen Corporation and Nissho Iwai Corporation, both companies that boast incredibly long histories. For more than 160 years, our business has helped support the development of countless countries and regions. Today, the Sojitz Group consists of approximately 400 subsidiaries and affiliates located in Japan and throughout the world, developing wide-ranging general trading company operations in a multitude of countries and regions. To learn more about Sojitz, please visit https://www.sojitz.com/en/ NEXT Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsAll statements other than statements of historical facts contained in press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "plan," "project," "forecast," "predict," "potential," "seem," "seek," "future," "outlook," "target" or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding estimates and forecasts of other financial and performance metrics, projections of market opportunity and market share. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of NEXT's management and are not p PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-30 13:00:52 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 410 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 A sweet but balanced flavor of rich creaminess with a buttery vanilla finish and 20 grams of proteinABILENE, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Chike Nutrition is welcoming the Summer months with their newest flavor, Chike Sweet Cream Protein Iced Coffee, launching May 30 - a refreshing protein iced coffee to sweeten each moment.Chike Sweet Cream Protein Iced Coffee20 grams of protein, 2 shots of espresso, 2 grams of sugar Chike Sweet Cream Protein Iced Coffee was introduced as an exclusive, seasonal flavor for grocery store customers last summer. After vast popularity and many customer requests to make it available everywhere, Chike Sweet Cream Protein Iced Coffee officially joins the list of flavors that Chike Nutrition offers online.Each sip offers a sweet but balanced flavor of rich creaminess with a buttery vanilla finish and an unmistakable kick of creamy protein coffee. Every serving has 20 grams of non-GMO whey protein, two real espresso shots, two grams of sugar, and an irresistible taste. Chike Sweet Cream Protein Iced Coffee is perfect for breakfast, a pre-or post-workout boost, an afternoon snack, or in recipes."We love meeting our customers where they are in their health journey, and every new flavor gives us a new opportunity to do just that! We're pretty obsessed with Chike Sweet Cream, and it's exciting that it's now available everywhere. Chike Sweet Cream hits the (sweet) spot, and is the perfect addition for Summer," said Mac Mascorro, Brand Manager of Chike Nutrition.One of the perks of being a part of Chike Nutrition's Subscribe & Save program is that every subscriber receives a sample of each new flavor before it is released. Jaime N., a verified subscription customer, commented, "This is my favorite flavor! I've never downed an iced coffee THAT fast." Warmer days are upon us and ahead of us, so cool off and sweeten each moment with Chike Sweet Cream Protein Iced Coffee. Chike Sweet Cream Protein Iced Coffee can be found in grocery stores and online.About Chike NutritionChike Nutrition is based in Abilene, Texas, and proudly manufactures and produces all nine (and counting!) of their current flavors, ensuring the quality and consistency that Chike Nutrition demands in their products. You can find all the flavors on Chike Nutrition's website and follow new and exciting recipes, flavor launches, and more on Instagram and Pinterest. Learn more about Chike in their exciting new overview video.Contact Information:Mac MascorroBrand Managermac@ ilikechike.com SOURCE: Chike Nutrition PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-30 16:30:30 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 480 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Travel App Visited Compiles Over 1.66 Million Users' Data to Determine the Most Famous Greek and Roman DestinationsTORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / The travel app Visited by Arriving In High Heels Corporation has released a list of the top 10 Greek and Roman ruins to visit. The data is based on over 1.7 million users who have marked which ancient sites they have been to.Most Visited Ancient SitesVisited, available on iOS or Android, allows users to mark off where they've been and plan dream getaways based on travel lists, experiences, personalized travel map and inspirational photos. Picking a travel destination just got a lot easier with the Visited app.According to Visited, the most popular Greek and Roman ruins around the globe are found mostly in Rome, Athens and area. "While it is not surprising that the top list includes sites in Rome and Athens, what was interesting that Bath, England made it to the top 10 list of most visited Greek/Roman ruins, and that Turkey's Ephesus did not," explained the founder of the popular travel app, Anna Kayfitz.The Coliseum is the top ancient ruin to visit. The Coliseum is the largest ancient amphitheater ever built and was the site of Rome's famed gladiator matches.Pantheon is a former Roman temple and one of the best-preserved Roman ruins. The site in Rome is the second most visited ruin to visit.The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient hilltop citadel that includes the Parthenon.Castel San Angelo also known as the Mausoleum of Hadrian was once the tallest building in Rome and is now a historic museum.Arch of Titus is the fifth most visited destination on the list. The honorific arch in Rome was built in the 1st century AD.The Forum of Caesar was built by the Roman leader Julius Caesar in Rome in 46 BC.Ancient Agora of Athens is an ancient Greek agora - or gathering place - located northwest of the Acropolis.Forum of Trajan was the last of the Imperial fora - or public meeting places - to be constructed in ancient Rome.Bath is a site with ancient Roman baths located in Bath, England.Palatine Hill and Stadium is an open-air museum and the centermost hill of the 7 hills of Rome.To browse more top travel lists, see the most popular destinations, and create a personalized travel map, users can download Visited on iOS or Android.Get the full Visited 2022 travel report for more travel stats with the most visited destinations based on U.S. and international travelers. To learn more about the Visited Map App, visit https://visitedapp.com About Arriving In High Heels CorporationArriving In High Heels Corporation is a mobile app company with apps including Pay Off Debt, X-Walk, and Visited, their most popular app.Contact InformationAnna KayfitzCEOanna@ arrivinginhighheels.com SOURCE: Arriving In High Heels Corporation NASCON Allied Industries Plc, makers of Dangote Salt and Seasoning, has confirmed the appointment of Thabo Mabe as its substantive managing director, the company said Tuesday. The board of directors of the salt manufacturer disclosed in a statement that it arrived at the decision at a meeting on 26 May. Mr Mabe has been functioning in an acting capacity as the managing director of the company since 12 February, succeeding Paul Farrer, who resigned a month earlier. He is a graduate of Chemistry and Mathematics from Fort Hare University, South Africa, where he completed a Bachelor of Science in 1986. Between 1987 and 1989, he was a developmental chemist (adhesives) at Chemicals and Research Care South Africa. Mr Mabe was the process controller of Home Care Unilever South Africa from 1989 to 1991, later becoming the quality assurance manager, serving in that capacity for two years. He later served as the operations manager between 1993 and 1996. He was later appointed as the manufacturing director and later vice president Supply Chain for Unilever HPC in 2004. He was appointed to the Board of Directors and CEO of Unilever Nigeria Plc in 2010, the document stated. Mr Mabe joined Dangote Group as the MD/CEO of Dangote Flour Mills Plc in 2014 before moving on to oversee the rice business of the Group, the statement added. Meanwhile, NASCON also announced the appointment of Fatima Aliko-Dangote as a non-executive director, having previously served as the executive director, commercial operations at the company. In her previous role, she led the development and execution of NASCONs commercial sales and marketing strategy, with oversight for branding, logistics and transportation. Ms Aliko-Dangote was formerly an associate at Banwo & Ighodalo, a law firm. She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association. She was previously a technical specialist at NASCONs strategy unit and served as the executive assistant to the group executive director, Business Development and Portfolio Management at Dangote Industries Limited. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has dissolved the Disciplinary Committee in charge of the Park Management System (PMS). The dissolution of the PMS Committee, headed by Mukaila Lamidi, popularly known as Auxillary, was contained in a statement issued in Ibadan on Monday by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Segun Ogunwuyi. According to the statement, the dissolution is with immediate effect. READ ALSO: The statement reads, I have the directive of the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Gov. Seyi Makinde, to inform you of the dissolution of the Disciplinary Committee, Park Management System with immediate effect from today, Monday, 29th May 2023. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has assumed duty in his office at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa Abuja. The presidents convoy arrived the front arcade of the Villa office at about 2:30 p.m. where he received a special military salute at the diplomatic gate. Mr Tinubu was received by the Vice President Kashim Shettima, who had earlier assumed duty, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila. Also present to receive the president were the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) Godwin Emefiele, the Group Managing Director of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari, and Executive Secretary of Nigeria Midstream and Downstream petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, among others. Mr Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, immediately went into a meeting with his officials. The president and Mr Shettima were sworn-in on Monday in Abuja. They took over from former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. During his inaugural address shortly after taking the oath of office Nigerias 16th leader, Mr Tinubu took some far-reaching decisions among which was the scrapping of fuel subsidy. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigeria is a state party to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement but was among the last of 54 countries to sign due to uncertainties about the deals impact on its domestic market. The free trade agreement will hopefully drive the continents industrialisation agenda and bring prosperity to Africans. But Nigerias dependence on crude oil exports and the challenges facing its manufacturing sector could suppress the benefits. The country must engage strategically with key partners like China, and negotiate mutually beneficial deals that can increase its competitiveness under the AfCFTA. Such negotiations could be part of a broader Nigerian strategy on China in an increasingly multipolar world, a recent study by Dataphyte in Nigeria says. Nigeria has Africas largest economy, and theres a misconception that this gives it an unfair advantage in the AfCFTA. With over 200 million people, it is also Africas most populous country. Nigerias export basket is dominated by oil and gas products, with crude oil making up over 70 per cent of its exports in 2022. This commodity dependence has negatively affected the countrys socio-economic indicators. Nigerias low industrial base and unconducive operating environment mean that in the near term, it will participate in the AfCFTA mainly as a consumer market. A 2023 study on the AfCFTAs beneficiaries estimated a welfare gain of $146.12 million for Nigeria and $1.46 billion for South Africa, because of the latters much higher manufacturing capacity. These difficulties led to groups such as the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria contributing to the countrys delay in signing the agreement. This reluctance contrasts with Nigerias Afrocentric policy and the major role its officials played in actualising the free trade deal. China is projected to benefit significantly from the agreement, even though a fully implemented AfCFTA could see trade diverted away from China as African countries do business with each other. Efforts to increase the production of goods and services on the continent may benefit China as a source of intermediate goods and machinery. In 2017, McKinsey estimated that there were over 10,000 Chinese-owned firms in Africa, so China is well positioned to take advantage of a local manufacturing boost. The increased demand for intra-African trading infrastructure can also be met by Chinese contractors experienced in deploying such projects in Africa. The continent has surpassed Asia as the largest destination for Chinese construction projects. Nigeria and China have strong relations, with Nigeria being Chinas top African export market in 2021 and the second largest in 2022. As Nigerias largest import partner, China contributed significantly to Nigerias trade deficit of $11.1 billion in 2021. Since joining Chinas Belt and Road Initiative in 2018, Nigeria has been a key destination for Chinese construction, investment and trade, receiving around US$7.5 billion in Chinese foreign direct investment from 2013-21. In January, Chinas Ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun, underscored the countries strong trade and investment ties. However, China seems the more strategic of the two. In 2017 for example, Nigeria asked Taiwan to relocate its representative office away from Abuja just a day after China announced a US$40 billion investment plan in Nigeria. Nigeria denied any link between the events. Its Parliament has in fact actively scrutinised Chinese activities. In 2016 it criticised certain firms and, in 2020, launched an investigation into Chinese loans. Nigeria must work better with China to strengthen its position in the AfCFTA. With foreign investment and knowledge transfer, China can help Nigeria improve its infrastructure and support its manufacturing sector. China already understands and successfully navigates Nigerias complex operating environment. So promoting manufacturing investment to the Chinese private sector may be easier than for other investors. China also understands the capacity gaps in Nigerias manufacturing sector and can help fill them in the medium to long term. But China also has its interests to protect, such as more jobs for its workers, easy access to raw materials, and selling more goods as Africa gets richer. Navigating these diverse interests and finding opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation should be a pillar of a Nigerian strategy on China. Such a strategy will need to consider the evolution of Nigeria-China relations and both countries expectations of each other in order to address Nigerias growing dependency on China. Chinese-operated Special Economic Zones in Nigeria make it difficult to boost local manufacturing something a strategy should confront. Twenty-eight thousand Nigerians reportedly lost their jobs in the textile industry due to cheaper Chinese imports. African nations have shown varying levels of agency in their relations with China, but China still appears to be setting the agenda. Nigeria could provide leadership to other countries on the continent in this regard. Understanding China better, clarifying its interests and leveraging it to benefit Africans is crucial for Africa as geopolitical tensions rise. The continent must proactively explore opportunities presented by Chinas Belt and Road Initiative to meet the AfCFTAs infrastructure needs. The implications of bilateral trade treaties like the China-Mauritius free trade agreement will need to be examined closely. Nigeria has faced foreign policy challenges both in and outside Africa. Its needs under the AfCFTA should drive more strategic engagement with China. If President Bola Tinubus new government accepts the task of providing leadership in Africa-China affairs, this could launch a new era in Nigerias external relations. Teniola Tayo, Consultant, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and Muhammed Badamasi, Associate, Aloinett Advisors (This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish). Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, on Monday said it would arraign the immediate past Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Doguwa, who was accused of killing three people, before a court of law. Mr Doguwa was alleged to have shot and killed three people during an election-related clash between his supporters and members of the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) in the Tudun Wada Local Government of the state. The campaign office of the NNPP was also razed during the fracas. Earlier this month, the immediate past Attorney General, and Commissioner for Justice of the state, Musa Lawan, said the government was dropping the murder charge originally filed against Mr Doguwa by the police. He said the government cannot substantiate the charges of criminal conspiracy, mischief by fire, and culpable homicide against lawmaker. Mr Lawan stated this after the police submitted a report of its investigation of the incident to the Kano State government for review and possible prosecution of Mr Doguwa and 14 others. Mr Doguwa, a member of the immediate past ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), had accused the police of bias, leading to a review of the investigation by the police authorities. Mr Doguwa was accused of the murder of three people believed to be the members of the opposition NNPP during the 25 February election in a violent confrontation between members of the NNPP and the All Progressives Congress (APC). The new governor is a member of the NNPP. READ ALSO: Based on the contradicted witnesses received, those that indicted were full of contradictions while others exonerated him (Mr Doguwa) according to the police investigation report submitted to the Kano State government. After scrutiny, we cannot establish a murder charge against Alhassan Ado Doguwa and other accomplices including the police officers whose ammunition was intact after the incident. By law, if you have a contradiction in evidence against a suspect, you can pick the one that exonerates him against the ones that have contradictions, this made us to arrive that we cannot charge them in court, Mr Lawan said while dropping the murder the murder charges against the lawmaker. But the new administration in the state said it will resume and pursue the case to logical conclusion. In the same vein we shall investigate all cases of political violence that led to loss of lives and properties across the state in the last eight years. The infamous case of Alhassan Ado Doguwa, who allegedly sponsored the maiming and murder of over 15 innocent souls in Tudun Wada Local Government will be pursued to its logical conclusion, the new governor said in his inaugural speech. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Gov. Doug Burgum has appointed University of North Dakota student Sadie Hanson to a second one-year term as the student representative on the state Board of Higher Education. Hanson is pursuing a masters degree in public administration while also working as a social media and marketing intern for UNDs Nistler College of Business & Public Administration. She graduated from UND in May with bachelors degrees in marketing and public affairs. Sadie has proven to be a capable leader and an effective voice for students in the rapidly changing world of higher education, Burgum said in a statement. Hansons second term on the board begins July 1. The Grand Forks Red River High School graduate was among three students nominated by the North Dakota Student Association as required by the state constitution. The board has eight voting members appointed by the governor, including one student, and two nonvoting members who represent North Dakota University System faculty and staff. The board oversees the systems 11 public colleges and universities. The venue of the Presidential Inauguration ceremony on Monday in Abuja became a ground for the display of colourful aso-ebi by friends and relatives of the President and his Vice. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that different groups from different parts of the country adorned themselves in beautifully made fabrics to add life to the event. Kemi Babalola, who was part of one of the aso-ebi groups, said it was a sign of solidarity for the new president and the vice president. She said the dress code, which is common in the South-western part of Nigeria, was an age-long practice that had reinvented itself over the years. We chose a dress code to identify with the new administration. It is our way of saying we are in support of President Tinubus emergence and I believe it is the same with the other aso-ebi groups here today, she said. Idris Abdullahi, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member, who was also adorned in a particular dress code said using uniform for any event adds colour. NAN reports that aso-ebi is a Yoruba word that connotes family cloth. It has, however, gone beyond being used by family members to friends and well-wishers and it can be used during gatherings including weddings and funerals. The practice, which was common among the Yoruba-speaking people in Nigeria, has gained prominence in other parts of the country. NAN reports that aso-ebi can be made from very cheap fabrics or very expensive ones depending on available resources, occasion or place. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A Professor of Energy and Electricity Law at the University of Lagos, Yemi Oke, on Monday warned marketers against hoarding of petroleum products. Mr Oke said it is unpatriotic and will certainly become counter-productive for any marketer to attempt or contemplate hoarding petroleum products. Fuel queues returned to Nigerian cities on Monday as many motorists scrambled to get petroleum products hours after President Bola Tinubu announced that the government will put an end to the fuel subsidy regime. Mr Tinubu had, in his inaugural address at Eagle Square, Abuja, declared that there would no longer be a petroleum subsidy regime as it was not sustainable. He said the current 2023 budget only has provision for the fuel subsidy till June, adding that the funds meant for subsidies will be diverted to the creation of public infrastructure, education, health care and jobs. Mr Oke, in a statement Monday night, said the administration of the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari, already decided to put an end to the subsidy regime by June. The new President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu simply emphasized that the current supplementary budget even makes no provisions for subsidy beyond June. It is risky for any marketer to attempt to hoard the product because the new regime allows marketers to bring in products and sell at rates suitable to them, which may even drive prices lower, he said. Mr Oke explained that a deregulated petroleum regime simply means that any prudent marketer can bring in products, and may sell at cheaper rates to edge out unscrupulous, greedy and unpatriotic marketers. He noted that the margin of subsidised petroleum and open-market rates is not as substantial, and may even be sold at slightly cheaper rates compared to the current rate. Also lending credence to the likelihood of market forces throwing up slightly cheaper or moderately higher petroleum product rates is the recently commissioned Dangote Refineries, he argued. Nigerians should definitely expect an abundance of petroleum products, particularly Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) and will diligently manage their consumption patterns. Market structures will modulate prices and may drive supply high (northwards) and prices low (southwards). Business prudence demands that the current supplies should not be distorted by unpatriotic marketers who might want to create needless artificial scarcity. Doing this will surely be counterproductive aside from being criminal and reprehensible, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Protocols Permit me to begin this address by expressing my immense gratitude to God. I am also most grateful to the great people of Enugu State for the opportunity they have given me to serve them as their governor. I will forever be grateful to you for this honour. Let me also thank all those who contributed to the success of this governorship struggle. It began as a tiny conception, as small as the mustard seed. Today, it has acquired a life of its own. Time constrains me from naming all of you, one by one, who contributed to the maturation of this idea. However, let me be quick to put on record the invaluable contributions of the immediate past governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi, Gburugburu The Great, to what we are celebrating today. Posterity will certainly be kind to you for your deep sense of patriotism. To you all, I remain forever grateful. Today is a historic day in the life of Ndi Enugu. Again, providence is placing Enugu State at the threshold of history. As offspring and heirs of a great historical heritage, we are aware of our proud and lofty past. Right on this soil, our forebears worked relentlessly for the greatness of Nigeria. We are inheritors of centuries of pedigree of a hardworking, industrious and brave Igbo race. Our forebears toiled to produce the coal that powered Europe and grew her economy, extracting the black gold locked inside the bowels of the earth. We thus cannot be repositories of this great history and yet be laden with poverty and want. It will be unacceptable for us to be heritages of those massive resources that are still buried in the bowels of our soil and yet be trapped in underdevelopment. It is a contradiction of immense proportion which we are poised to unravel. We cannot afford to delink from our glorious past. The soil of Enugu boasted of a retinue of great leaders and committed followers. The legendary Dr. Michael Okpara, whose astounding leadership qualities later got celebrated, decades after, in Ivy League universities like Stanford, demonstrated the component of his leadership ability right here on the soil of Enugu. The soil of Enugu has always been a fertile ground for the growth of leadership. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Akanu Ibiam, and others who administered Igboland, right from this soil of Enugu, exhibited memorable leadership, aided by the great support offered them by our people. They administered a great people who gave their leadership abilities ample and fertile soil to flourish and flower. These are the testaments that point to the fact that greatness runs in our DNA. This is the sort of greatness that the soil of Enugu breeds. For six months, I traversed the length and breadth of Enugu State visiting the 68 development centres that make up this land of history. During this time, I listened to you, saw your challenges in the midst of considerable resources and felt your pains, but I saw that you remained hopeful of a better tomorrow. Two very instructive anecdotes explain the future that is here today for Ndi Enugu. One is the narrative of an imaginary youth, whom I shall call Emeka, who plies his craft right here on the soil of Enugu State. Like many young men who struggle with existential survival issues in Nigeria, life was becoming an excruciating and lost battle to Emeka. He had gone through the unease of struggling to study and here he was, with a certificate that looked worthless. So Emeka decided to join the now popular Japa movement. Life must be blooming on the other side of Europe, he thought. So he was enfolded into a ship that travels on the Mediterranean. Hope was beginning to build in him. As the ship taking him to a new life he had conjured, that hope suddenly evaporated. The ship sunk and the Mediterranean Sea swallowed Emeka and his lofty dream. Conversely is the other youth whom I shall call Ikechukwu. Like Emeka, life was troubling for him too. He scarcely could make ends meet. He also struggled to go through school. Life was tough. However, he suddenly woke up to the creative genie in him. Ikechukwu, with friends on Ogui Road, was able to develop an app and before he knew it, entered his creative genius products in a global contest. All of a sudden, he won a prize in Dubai and the World stood still for that hitherto hopeless boy previously roaming the streets of Enugu. The above anecdotes spoke to the power of ideas, as against the escapist belief in the redemptive power of Japa. The two of them Emeka and Ikechukwu lived in this same city. The question that our administration is asking is, how many of Ikechukwus do we want to produce? How do we stem the tide of the Emekas? How do we address the hopelessness among Enugu youths? Beyond anecdotes, what qualifies me to stand before you today is the conquest of the can-do spirit, the type manifested by Ikechukwu. I am an Enugu boy whose creative energy saw him through all his existential life battles and brought him to where he is today. Like Ikechukwu, while growing up, I struggled against the tides of adversities that made the future look bleak. Failures and frustrations dogged my way. I worked as a shop attendant at Alaba Market in Lagos, struggling to stave off all kinds of negative manifestations of an inclement environment. Like a determined swimmer, I swam against the tides of these adversities to embark on my scholarly journey. In 2008 when we began operations at Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited, I came into that industry as a backbencher. The DNA of exploits and creativity that is innate in every nwa Enugu was my driving force. It pushed me to go beyond the limits of expectations in the industry. A few days ago, I resigned as the CEO of Pinnacle. By the time I was leaving, Pinnacle Oil and Gas had conquered all odds, displacing the incumbent in the petroleum industry within a short time. We succeeded in driving the upstart of yesterday into reaching the Pinnacle of the downstream oil sector. The youths of Enugu State will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the tomorrow that is now here today. We want to expose our youths to the skills required to grasp the emerging future and create opportunities for the genius in them to flourish. We also want to invoke and instill in them the can-do spirit that is innate in the Igbo man. Enugu will rubbish Japa, not by legislation but by creatively addressing the challenges to the future of our youths. We will equip our youths with e-commerce, fintech and cyber-security skills, such that they will become globally interconnected, and can indeed Japa all over the world by providing services online through their e-commerce skills. They will be champions of the globe without necessarily having to leave Enugu. I am standing before you today pregnant with ideas on how to rescue our youths and indeed the whole of Enugu State from the threats against our existence. You can trust me. I will be operating from the vantage of transcendental values and not narrow interests. That is what we are driven by. I will not let you down. We believe that the only purpose of leadership is to bring the best out of every one of us. You are why all these are possible. As we enter the threshold of history with this signing of a social contract with Ndi Enugu, we are immensely aware that the contract also has the spirits of our ancestors as witnesses. They hear us as we proclaim our resolve to transform the lives of our people. Gods supervening eyes are also watching us. My prayer is that every citizen of Enugu State will remember today and be glad that we took a bold step forward for the benefit of our children unborn. There is no doubting Enugus capacity to recreate the iconic wonderment of economic prosperity and phenomenal growth witnessed in Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. Our will is strong and unshakeable. We are also acutely aware that where there is a will, there is always a way. When their forebears conceived the models of Dubai and Singapore some few decades ago, they too began to sow their tomorrow like a tiny seed as we are doing today. At that moment, the conceivers of the dreams appeared like some theatre jesters. Today, those countries have become models of the wondrous depth of human capacity. Today, we too are announcing the conception of same humongous dream, right here on the soil of Enugu State. All the ingredients needed to actualize this dream are present in us. Today, God is bestowing upon us a leadership that keys into those yearnings and aspirations. Take notice that this administration will be business unusual. Tough decisions will be taken. Those decisions will however be taken in the best interest of Ndi Enugu and Enugu State in general. You will constitute the driving force of every action we take as your representatives. We will serve you with every fiber of our being and devote all our energy and your resources to working for you and your interests. Our driving force and governance philosophy will be always based on transcendental values. We will invoke the spirit of enterprise, the creative energy of our people and the remarkable industry on the streets of Enugu State to create the difference in governance. We will pursue an economic growth that is unrivalled in this part of the country. We will tap into the limitless resources of the private sector to provide world-class infrastructure and productive sector growth. We will retool and re-energize our agriculture/agro-allied sector. We will unlock our rural economy through the implementation of Special Economic Zones and Special Agro-allied Processing Zones. The commerce and industry sector will help us to kick-start this drive. We also plan to provide a N100 billion revolving fund for our SMEs in partnership with the Private Sector and other Development Financial Institutions. In the area of Information and Communication Technology, (ICT), we will provide a Tier 4 Hyper Scale Data Centre to attract hyper-scale businesses like Amazon, Google, Netflix, Tik Tok and Microsoft. Our creative industry will be lifted from its old glory and be positioned as driver of our developmental dream. We will set up a film village and, working with stakeholders in the industry, ensure that our state becomes the destination of choice for tourists, attracting not less than 3 million visitors each year. The sporting sector will transmute under us from a solely recreation sector into a revenue earner. We will invest highly in it with an eye on returns into the Enugu economy. We also have robust, cross-cutting programmes in the social services sector. Education, for us, is a key driver of our developmental effort. Our intervention will boost the access to and understanding of ICT in our early child learning and schools. We will increase the focus on vocational education in our secondary schools, while reemphasizing civic and moral values. In the healthcare sector, our aim is to ensure that rural, semi-rural and urban Ndi Enugu have access to primary healthcare facilities, without any hindrance. We will partner with private investors in building specialist hospitals, so as to attract Nigerians who fly outside the country on health tourism. Our objective here would be to make Enugu a medical tourism destination. In the area of water, Ndi Enugu are aware of our promise to ensure availability of water in our homes in the Enugu metropolis in 180 days time. We reiterate this promise here. Furthermore, we will waste no time in replicating same feat in Nsukka, Udi and Awgu axis. Sanitation and hygiene are also areas where this administration wants to pluck its low-hanging fruits. In the next 100 days, our administration will ensure that our streets are cleared of refuse. We will also ensure that existing landfill sites are relocated and further ensure that they are harnessed for wealth creation. Urban renewal is key to us as an administration. We will pursue an infrastructural revolution in Enugu State by turning our state into one huge construction site. We will prioritize road construction and infrastructural renewal ensuring that our roads are well paved. Where necessary we shall construct flyovers and dualise roads as a remedy to any gridlocks. We shall run an inclusive government designed to accommodate all citizens of Enugu State. Our transportation blueprint is comprehensive and holistic. We will have a multi-modal transportation system, a monorail to connect cities in Enugu and even go a step further by partnering with other governments in the Southeast in connecting us with our sister states. We are committed to the strengthening of our institutions. The judiciary, legislature and public services will receive the needed propellers as lifters of our dream. We will provide the right enablement to ensure justice is dispensed as speedily as possible. In this regard, we will digitize and digitalize the judiciary, so as to make the management and procedures in our courts more efficient. Our approach to tackling insecurity in Enugu State will be by adopting the kinetic and non-kinetic models and approaches. We will strengthen community policing architecture; neighbourhood watch and forest guards. In this mode, we will deploy modern technology such as CCTV cameras and others, as well as establishing a command-and-control centre in Enugu State, so as to track perpetrators of crime who we will pursue and bring to justice. The most logical question that must be playing in corners of your lips as you listen to me is, how do we source the funds to jumpstart this massive governmental ambition? We have critically studied different financing models, a number of which we will deploy. The first, as I have earlier itemized, is that we will open Enugu State up for the influx of investments and investors. Our ambition is to have our state as the corridor where the private sector migrates and plays. We will strengthen internally generated revenue, not by increasing tax rate arbitrarily but by expanding the tax net, plugging loopholes of leakages, as well as by operating a lean and agile government. We will also, within our first 100 days in office, convene a Diaspora and Investors Forum where we will market all the productivity sectors in the state through showcasing our huge investment potentials. Our government will also organize what is called the Diaspora Bond where we will securitize remittances from abroad. In this regard, remittances will no longer be for consumption alone but for production. Government will create a platform for securing those remittances so the investors have security for their funds. The governance philosophy of our administration will be based on transparency, accountability and fund traceability. Part of this philosophy is collaboration and partnership with CSOs and the private sector. To demonstrate how persuaded we are about doing this, as I leave here now, I will head for the office to perform my first executive task as your governor. That task will be to sign Executive Order 001. It is called the Citizens Charter. It demands that we manage your money, the peoples money, in the peoples interest. This Charter holds me and members of my team to account on your funds. The Citizens Charter mandates us to provide detailed information on our public financial management system, report our revenue to you in detail and ensure that we adequately capture our expenditure. The Charter demands, in the same vein, that our expenditure is consistent with government priorities. In line with the Public Financial Management (PFM) system, we will also ensure implementation of programmes and projects that deliver value for our money, factoring due process and public procurement laws into them. In closing, let me invite the people of Enugu State to accompany our administration on this journey into prosperity. This is not time for politics. It is not time for passion as well. It is time for the sowing of the seed for the Enugu of our dream. Each Enugu son and daughter should ask themselves the question: what sort of future do we desire for our children? In answering the question, we must begin to work together to forge that future of our dream. Posterity will not forgive us if we fail. The tomorrow we professed is here. It is a signpost of what the tomorrow of our children and their childrens children will be. Like Martin Luther King Jr., I have a dream of an Enugu State that is second to none for development in Nigeria and Africa. Here on the soil of Enugu are hidden innumerable potentials for future greatness. They may look as tiny as the mustard seed but they carry within their pods energies that can move mountains. All we need do is tap the soil and out of it will sprout the seeds for the activation of the Enugu of our dream, the driver of a greater Nigeria. My charge to all of us today is that Enugu must take back what it has always represented. What carves us out for this role is an acute sense of industry, as well as the pride of our people which will enable us wax stronger as the future decades roll by. So, let us commit to our sense of enterprise, joined together in brotherhood and sisterhood, to form that filial bond that has been known to be the raw materials for building great nations, a cohesive people and society. This is what ties us. Like King said, I have a dream that one day, beginning from today, every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight. Ultimately, the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. It is our hope. It is the summary of our pact with Ndi Enugu. It is the faith that will propel developmental actions in every minute of our tenancy at the Lion Building. Again, to parody King, it is with this faith that we will transform the jangling discords of our state into a beautiful symphony of development. It is our creed. It is our pact. May God help us. God bless Enugu State. Tomorrow is indeed here! Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The former leader of Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Reuben Fasoranti, has congratulated President Bola Tinubu as he assumed office on Monday as Nigerias 16th leader. Mr Fasoranti, however, warned the new president not to leave any room for failure. In a statement made available to journalists in Akure on Tuesday, Mr Fasoranti, 97, who stepped down as the leader of Afenifere on account of his advanced age and handed over to Ayo Adebanjo, said he was writing on behalf of himself and the group. Your trajectory to the podium today has been long and tortuous, but the arduous path has only made the victory sweet, he said. More importantly, the sweet victory is not without its burden, the whole world knows that you are prepared for the job, and therefore there should be no excuse for failure. Today, Nigeria is facing a myriad of challenges in multiple fronts that require urgent and decisive actions. These include the exceptionally high level of insecurity, poor and nosediving economy, derelict infrastructure, youth unemployment and the hydra-headed corruption among others. I have gone through your Renewed Hope 2023 -Action Plan for a Better Nigeria publication and after listening to your maiden broadcast, I am convinced that if the plans enunciated in the speech and personal manifesto are religiously and meticulously implemented the challenges will be mitigated and Nigeria will surely be a greater nation. In selecting your team, please pick the best that Nigeria can offer and I believe that this country is well endowed with the human resources that can turn her fortunes around. Choose men and women of impeccable character, competence and capacity and post them to their areas of maximum benefit for the nation. It is my prayer that the good Lord will grant you the wisdom, zeal, strength of character, good health and the courage of your conviction to steer the ship of our great nation to the promised shore of peace and prosperity. You can count on the unalloyed support of Afenifere throughout your tenure. Be assured of my warmest regards always. Mr Adebanjo had led a faction of Afenifere to support Peter Obi of the Labour Party in the presidential election. READ ALSO: Afenifere crisis reopens as Fasoranti disagrees with Adebanjo on Tinubu election In February, Mr Adebanjo suspended the spokesperson of the group, Jare Ajayi, and another officer for issuing a congratulatory message after Mr Tinubu was announced winner of the presidential election. But Mr Fasoranti dissociated himself from Mr Adebanjos antagonism of Mr Tinubu, saying his successor was on his own. He then went ahead to overrule Mr Adebanjo on the suspension of the officers, saying it was unfair and that he was not consulted before the action was taken. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Former President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed sadness over the death of the Founder of DAAR Communications, Raymond Dokpesi. Mr Jonathan, in a condolence message issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Ikechukwu Eze, in Abuja on Tuesday, said Nigeria has lost a true patriot and fair-minded nation builder. Mr Dokpesi, who was the founder of Raypower FM radio station and AIT, died on Monday at a hospital in Abuja. The former president said Mr Dokpesi was a successful entrepreneur, media mogul and philanthropist, who took the art of giving to a new level and made significant contributions to human progress. Mr Jonathan, who was one of the early sympathisers to visit the Dokpesi family in Abuja on Monday, said that he cultivated the kind of friendship with the deceased that stood the test of time. He was a humane businessman and philanthropist who took the art of giving and human relations to a new level. As a patriot and politician, he exemplified the virtues of loyalty, justice and service. A team player and bridge builder, High Chief Dokpesi played the kind of politics that promoted friendship, ethnic cohesion and national unity. He will be remembered for his works of charity, devotion to his faith and inspiring leadership, especially serving as a trailblazer who pioneered private broadcasting and played a major role in advancing media freedom in Nigeria, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Yusuf Gagdi, one of the aspirants for the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, says President Bola Tinubu will right some wrongs of the past by appointing the right people into different positions. Mr Gagdi stated this in a congratulatory message on Tuesday to Mr Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima on their inauguration. The lawmaker said Mr Tinubu will appoint competent people to revive the economy. The new president has the capacity to right the wrongs of previous administrations and ensure that competent hands are engaged to revive comatose sectors of the country, he said. Mr Gagdi expressed confidence in the ability of Mr Tinubu to deliver on the promise of democracy to the Nigerian people because his track record shows excellence and dedication to duty. Meanwhile, Tajudeen Abbas, another speakership candidate has also congratulated the president and vice president. He stated that the duo have what it takes to deliver on their promise. I am hopeful and optimistic that Nigeria will be better under these two leaders of ours. They came to office ready to deliver, and I am sure they will deliver. I will like to call on Nigerians to support the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, irrespective of party affiliations, so that our country will be great again, Mr Abbas said. Mr Tinubu was sworn in on Monday as the 16th President. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate has amended the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Act to accommodate two years imprisonment without option of fine to any individual who writes false petition or gives false information to officials of the commission. The ICPC amendment bill was proposed by the Senate Committee on Anti Corruption and Financial Crimes chaired by Kwari Abdu (Kaduna North) and a report of the committee was presented at the plenary on Tuesday. Under the ICPC Establishment Act, provisions are made for the protection of anybody who gives information to the commission in respect of an offence committed or likely to be committed by any other person. Mr Abdu while presenting the committees report at plenary proposed two years imprisonment with option of N100,000 fine as punishment for anybody making false allegation against any individual. When the report was thrown for debate, Adamu Ailero (Kebbi Central) opposed the recommendation of the Senate Anti Corruption Committee on the ground that the punishment was too lenient. He proposed that the option of a N100,000 fine should be removed from the punishment recommended for making false allegations against any individual. Punishment of 100,000 for making false allegations against public officers is too small. Many people are suffering as a result of that. Even we senators are still suffering from that. The section should be substituted with five years imprisonment without option of fine. While Mr Ailero was speaking, many of the senators echoed that the punishment for making false allegations through petitions or other means should be between five to ten years imprisonment without option of fine. READ ALSO: Senate amends ICPC Act to include two years jail term for writers of false petitions Responding, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said it is better to leave the punishment without option of fine in order to protect innocent people from being victimized. Mr Lawan submitted that if there is no option of fine, those who want to commit the offence will have to think twice. The senate president therefore passed an amendment of the ICPC Act to award two years imprisonment for making false allegations against any individual. It is to make the ICPC better. I believe that we have done a very good job by doing the scrutiny we did, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Protocol. I accept with humility the responsibility which the good people of Delta State have bestowed upon me to serve as their governor for the next four years. I accept it with a resolve to do MORE to ADVANCE the State to new heights in leadership and socio-economic development. 2. I stand before you today filled with hope and confidence about our future. As the longest-serving Speaker of the House of Assembly, I have learnt the importance of setting the priorities of government, communicating the goals and outcomes of policies and programmes, and partnering with the executive for their successful implementation. I am therefore, well positioned to deliver good governance to our people. 3. But before proceeding further, I wish to pay tribute to my predecessor, His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for his patriotism and deep sense of public service. Governor Okowa took over the mantle of leadership of this State at a very precarious time in the history of our country. In addition to the massive disruptions caused by COVID-19, the country went through two recessions at different times in the last eight years. But thanks to Governor Okowas discipline, wisdom, prudent management of the economy, and political insight, Delta State not only survived, but it also came out stronger. Indeed, I celebrate Governor Okowa for his fiscal discipline, and groundbreaking strides in human capital development, infrastructure renewal, technical and vocational education, as well as peace building. 4. It would be wrong of me if I fail to also acknowledge the roles played by the founding fathers of the State, military and civilian, whose sacrifice and dedication helped to nurture the state from infancy. It goes without saying that the State flourished under the current democratic dispensation that began in 1999. In this regard, their Excellencies, Chief James Onanefe Ibori and Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan deserve special commendation for their vision and tenacity of purpose. 5. Today marks the beginning not only of a new administration, but of an era that will advance Delta State to greater heights in people-centred policies, human capital development, and infrastructure renewal. With what has been achieved by the immediate past administration, the new government is poised to ADVANCE the state through the MORE agenda, which stands for: Meaningful development; Opportunities for all; Realistic reforms; and Enhanced peace and security. 6. Consequently, the new administration will seek to: Foster sustainable economic growth and private sector job creation; Boost human capital; Build an enabling infrastructure; Enhance governance and accountability systems for improved service delivery; and Strengthen public financial management. 7. In furtherance of these objectives, the existing entrepreneurship development programmes will be sustained and expanded to encourage the creation of more small-scale businesses, thus creating jobs and, consequently, reducing crime and anti-social activities among our vibrant youth population. 8. We will also enhance the existing social investment programmes for the benefit of the poor and vulnerable groups, including widows and People Living with Disabilities, through microcredit, training, and business networking. We shall further develop empowerment programmes for women associations, particularly in the rural areas. 9. This administration will ensure the completion of all ongoing projects roads, bridges, schools, and other physical infrastructure. As you all know, government cannot do it alone. Hence, we shall build a conducive environment for public-private partnership investments in virtually all sectors of the economy. 10. In the agricultural sector, we shall develop the agricultural value chain, which is a major driver of sustainable economic growth. This administration will spare no effort to ensure that the development of agro-industrial parks is accelerated, given their potential to generate employment opportunities, create wealth, reduce unemployment, and improve food security. 11. The recent approval of the Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA), for Koko and Kwale is a welcome development because this project has the capacity to unleash the growth potentials of the State. With the Board already in place, we shall immediately take steps to make it fully operational and attract investors to the zone. 12. Delta State has been relatively peaceful in the last eight years. However, recent security breaches in the Warri area are troubling. This administration with the aide of security agencies will take decisive steps to ensure that the situation does not degenerate. 13. Furthermore, Warri the commercial nerve centre of the State, will be given special attention under this administration. The process has already commenced with the establishment of Warri, Uvwie, and Environs Development Agency (WUEDA). Before the ongoing Storm Water Project will be completed, government will commence efforts at giving Warri and its environs a total facelift. Similarly, the ongoing rehabilitation work on the Warri Township Stadium will be expedited. 14. The Civil Service will be accorded top priority to boost its efficiency and enhance its service delivery. In addition, merit will be the yardstick for elevation into top management positions to encourage the entry into and retention of the best brains in the public service. Furthermore, this administration will render all the necessary support to the judiciary to enable it carry out its functions without let or hindrance. CONCLUSION 15. Your Excellencies, my dear good people of Delta State, the issues that confront this administration are not new. They are about improving the quality of life of our people, about building bridges of social cohesion, about giving our people the hope of a better tomorrow, and about accelerated development. And it demands creative thinking, proactive action, and exemplary leadership from me and all those who will have the privilege to serve as elected officials and political appointees. 16. I pledge to run an open and responsive government that meets the needs and aspirations of our people. I represent consolidation and advancement; consolidation because I am continuing from where the previous government stopped, and advancement because I am advancing Delta State to greater heights in inclusive economic growth, human capital development, infrastructure renewal, and peace and security. I am committed to making life richer, better, and more fulfilling for our people. 17. To my former colleagues in the Sixth and Seventh Assemblies, I whole-heartedly thank you for your support. My appreciation also goes to the fathers of faith for your prayers and counsel. And to our revered traditional rulers, I thank you for your prayers, words of wisdom and advice. I will continue to count on your support. 18. In conclusion, I covet the prayer of all of you for the wisdom to lead, and the divine enablement to achieve the goals that we have set for this administration. The tasks we face are tough, the choices not easy. But with your support and prayers we shall get the job done. 19. God bless Delta State. 20. God bless us all. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The new Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, has ordered the freezing of all bank accounts operated by the state government. Mr Nwifuru, sworn in as the states fourth governor on Monday, announced this in a statement by his spokesperson, Monday Uzor. The statement was made available to reporters on Tuesday. Mr Uzor, who served as spokesperson of the outgone Deputy Governor of the state, Kelechi Igwe, was reappointed by the new governor shortly after his inauguration. All the commercial banks where these accounts are domiciled must comply, he said. His Excellency, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has directed the immediate freezing of all state government accounts domiciled in various banks with effect from Tuesday, 30th May 2023, the statement read in part. Consequently the governor directs the bank managers of all the banks that operate government accounts to immediately comply by ensuring that no payment is made from any government accounts till further notice, it added. Mr Nwifurus directive was coming hours after he was inaugurated as the state governor. The new governor, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, is the immediate past Speaker of the State Assembly. He succeeded Governor Dave Umahi, who won an election to represent Ebonyi South District in the 10th Senate. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The newly sworn-in governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, on Monday fired all government officials appointed by his predecessor, Abdullahi Ganduje. My Yusuf issued an executive order sacking all political appointees heading government MDAs and companies. He also dissolved all boards of MDAs, companies and institutions of higher learning with immediate effect. The decision affects public officers appointed into organizations that are tenure based and whose tenure has not expired as stipulated by relevant laws governing their appointments. The governor also directed security agencies in the state to immediately take over all public properties sold during the Ganduje administration I am announcing, today, that all these public places and assets that were immorally plundered and sold by the Ganduje administration should be taken over by law enforcement agencies, led by the Police, the DSS, Civil Defense, and Hisbah pending the final decision of government, he said. Lands in and around schools, religious and cultural sites, hospitals and clinics, graveyards and green areas, and along the city wall of Kano, as well as other landed properties and assets belonging to Kano State within and outside the state (sold) to their cronies and agents, the executive order stated. He announced that a Judicial Commission of Inquiry would be instituted to ensure that all perpetrators and those that aided and abetted them are brought to justice. Meanwhile, the governor also set up a Taskforce on Refuse Disposal, Evacuation of Drainages and Streets Cleaning (Operation Nazafa) comprising of yet to be unveiled different stakeholder groups. In the coming days, I will officially launch a state-wide campaign with self-help groups to drive the operation. In the next few weeks all the dumps will be cleared, all our streets will be clean, all our drainages will be desilted and a sustainable system of maintaining the cleanness and clearing the dumps will be in place, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The parent company of six Dollar General stores in North Dakota facing total penalties of $2.5 million related to work safety violations is contesting those findings, according to U.S. Department of Labor representatives. Dollar General stores in Casselton, Garrison, Hillsboro, Killdeer, Minot and Tioga were inspected by Occupational Health and Safety Administration investigators in the final three months of 2022 after state fire marshals found hazards at four stores and complaints were received about two others. The hazards were related to blocked exits, doors and electrical panels, as well as improperly mounted or blocked fire extinguishers, and carts overly stacked with merchandise. Dollar General stores have become an important fixture in many communities across the state in recent years as the number of grocery stores dwindles. The company has contested all the citations at all North Dakota locations, according to Scott Allen, regional public affairs director for the Labor Department. He added the cases will now go before the Independent Occupational Review Commission for review. Dollar Generals headquarters in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, did not respond to specific questions or offer a representative to comment, but issued a statement saying it is committed to providing a safe work environment and shopping experience. We regularly review and refine our safety programs, and reinforce them through training, ongoing communication, recognition and accountability, the statement reads. When we learn of situations where we have failed to live up to this commitment, we work to timely address the issue and ensure that the companys expectations regarding safety are clearly communicated, understood and implemented. At the 2745 E. Burdick Expressway Dollar General location in Minot, OSHA inspectors allege that six employees were exposed to toxic vapors from a Dec. 30, 2022, incident in which chemical containers ruptured and mixed. Potential fines related to the Minot store amount to over $477,000. The agency said Dollar General failed to provide adequate safety training and equipment for employees to handle the incident. On May 24, the North Dakota News Cooperative visited the Garrison, Killdeer and Minot locations in an attempt to discuss the potential violations with employees and managers. Workers at the stores were reluctant to comment, but complained about understaffing. At the Garrison location, which faces over $401,000 in fines, the storeroom of this location was overstocked at the time of the visit, with limited space for an employee to move through carts stacked high with merchandise. Fines at the Killdeer location could amount to over $549,000. A manager indicated the store had only three workers, including himself. Casselton store fines would potentially be over $401,000, Hillsboro over $401,000 and Tioga store fines over $352,000, if they are upheld. Other inspections at Dollar General stores in late 2022 included locations in Maine, Ohio and Wisconsin. The Labor Department has assessed over $21 million in penalties from 240 inspections at Dollar General locations across the country since 2017. The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) on Monday said it has vaccinated 30 million children in Nigeria in the last five years. UNICEFs Communication Specialist, Geoffrey Njoku, disclosed this while speaking during a two-day media dialogue in Kano State. The dialogue was tagged The New Country Programme 2023-2027 and the Status of Implementation of the Child Rights Law (2023) in States. Mr Njoku said 30 million children were vaccinated between 2018 and 2022 as part of the organisations country programme. He noted that the vaccinations were done through integrated campaigns against life-threatening diseases. He also said 58 million children were vaccinated against polio within the year under review while 22 million children also received two doses of Vitamin A in 2022. Vaccination in Nigeria Vaccination, the process of receiving a vaccine that provides immunity to a disease, is very important as under-five mortality rate is increasing in Nigeria. Nigerias vaccination programme recognises the following for the routine immunisation of Children in Nigeria: BCG (Bacili Calmette Guerin), a vaccine against tuberculosis; OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine), a vaccine against poliomyelitis; DPT combination vaccine against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus; Hepatitis vaccine for hepatitis A and B; Measles vaccine; Yellow fever vaccine and supplemental vitamin A. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, a child is only considered fully vaccinated when they have received the aforementioned on their appropriate schedule. Despite these existing immunisation programmes, the number of children that are not immunised in Nigeria continues to remain high in the country for a variety of demographic factors. According to the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) and National Immunisation Coverage Survey (NICS), 46 per cent of children were partially vaccinated between 2016 and 2021. Speaking at the dialogue, the representative of the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB), Federal Ministry of Information, Temitoye Falayi, said the country programme document focuses on key areas where the Nigerian government requires UNICEFs support, knowledge, and financial assistance. Mr Falayi said these areas include health, nutrition, basic education, and social policy advocacy. He urges journalists to improve their efforts in shedding light on the implementation of various policies put in place to better the lives of children. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), has said registering a child at birth could help in addressing population crisis in Nigeria. UNICEFs child protection specialist, Fatimah Adamu, while speaking during a two-day media dialogue in Kano Sate on Monday, said birth registration is the core part of identity document for every child. Ms Adamu said the first right of every child is the identification of the child at birth which she noted can be done through birth registration. Birth registration helps in addressing a lot of issues like population, resource distributions, issues of planning, issues of access to services, hence it is important for every child to be registered at birth, she said. Ms Adamu said Nigeria is evolving from paper-based registration to digital birth registration which she described as a step forward towards ensuring more children are registered at birth. She said UNICEF is providing support to Nigeria to ensure the success of the digital system. Birth registration in Nigeria Birth registration is the process of recording a childs birth. It is a permanent and official record of a childs existence which provides legal recognition of that childs identity. According to the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), only 57 per cent of children born in Nigeria are registered at birth with civil authorities. READ ALSO: The survey shows that Lagos State has the highest number of birth registration with 94 per cent, closely followed by the FCT with 87 per cent. States with the lowest registration are Jigawa with 23.6 per cent and Sokoto with 22.5 per cent. The survey shows that three per cent of children under the age of five had their births registered, but do not have birth certificates. It also indicates that two out of every three mothers and caregivers of children aged below five years whose births were not registered did not know how to register births. It shows that the percentage of children under the age of five whose births are registered ranges from as high as 89 per cent for the richest wealth quintile to as low as 33 per cent for the poorest wealth quintile. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Officials of the State Security Service (SSS) Tuesday morning prevented officials of the anti-graft agency, EFCC, from gaining access to the latters Lagos headquarters in Ikoyi, Lagos. As of the time of this report, all the EFCC officials at the office in Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, were prevented from accessing the building by SSS officials, PREMIUM TIMES learnt. They even placed an armoured tank just to scare us away, one EFCC official told this newspaper. PREMIUM TIMES later learnt that two armoured vehicles were actually placed by the SSS to essentially scare and deter the officials from the building. The armoured vehicles are believed to have been brought in in the early hours of Tuesday. Sources in both agencies said there has been an ongoing controversy between both agencies over the ownership of the building on 15A, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. However, the building was shared by both agencies up until yesterday when EFCC officials who were present closed from work. None of them, including those who observed Mondays public holiday, expected to witness what they met on Tuesday. The EFCC was yet to speak about the incident as of the time of this report. Its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, did not return calls or reply a message by this reporter. READ ALSO: However, SSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya told PREMIUM TIMES that his agency was the rightful owner of the building. He claimed that the agency did not bar EFCC officials from entry on Tuesday but said the building belonged to the SSS. It is not correct that the DSS barricaded EFCC from entering its office. No. It is not true, he wrote in a statement sent in response to our enquiry. The Service is only occupying its own facility where it is carrying out its official and statutory responsibility. A source at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja told PREMIUM TIMES that the SSS had about two weeks ago notified the anti-corruption agency of its plans to fully take over the building. However, none of the two agencies has officially confirmed this notification and EFCC officials at the Lagos office were not informed of such. The Ikoyi building Located in the highbrow Ikoyi area of Lagos, the building on 15A Awolowo Road serves as the Lagos head office of the EFCC. The office is headed by the zonal head of the EFCC in Lagos. It is separate from the EFCC office in Okotie-Eboh, also in Ikoyi, which also houses the agencys detention centre in Lagos. However, even though the EFCC uses the Awolowo Road building as its Lagos head office, the SSS had always used part of the building for its operations until Tuesday morning when it appears to have taken full control. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has urged the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja to dismiss a petition challenging his candidature in the 25 February election on the basis of alleged double nomination of Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the poll. Mr Tinubu won the 25 February presidential election on the platform of the APC, but his election is being challenged in court. The alleged double nomination of Mr Shettima, first for the Senate, and later as vice-presidential candidate in the same election cycle, forms one of the grounds upon which Mr Tinubus victory is being challenged. One of the three pending petitions the one filed by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) urged the court to nullify Mr Tinubus election due to the flawed process of nominating Mr Shettima as the presidents running mate. Mr Tinubu, while submitting his presidential nomination form to INEC in June 2022, chose Ibrahim Masari, a politician from former President Muhammadu Buharis home state of Katsina, as a placeholder for the substantive vice-presidential candidate who would later be Mr Shettima. The party, whose presidential candidate, Chichi Ojei, scored 25,961 votes, argued that Mr Tinubu was not properly sponsored by the APC due to his fielding of Mr Shettima as his vice-presidential candidate for the election. The APM asked the court to declare Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who came second in the election, as the winner, instead of Mr Tinubu. Tuesdays proceedings At the resumed hearing of the petition on Tuesday, Mr Tinubu and Shettimas lawyer, Wole Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, drew the courts attention to the Supreme Courts decision last Friday, dismissing a suit filed by the PDP to challenge Mr Tinubus candidature on the same grounds of Mr Shettimas alleged double nomination. Mr Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said he was duty-bound to assist the court in all circumstances and to bring to the courts attention decisions of the courts from other divisions which relate to any matter pending before your Lordships. In this particular petition that has just been called which the sole issue is the nomination of the 4th respondent (Mr Shettima) which we represent, we are aware that your noble brothers of the Supreme Court on Friday May 26, gave a decision on this matter, Mr Olanipekun said. Promising to provide the court with copies of the Supreme Court decision on the matter, Mr Olanipekun suggested that there was no basis of going into full trial of the suit when a similar issue had been determined by the Supreme Court. Responding to the issue, APMs lawyer, Shehu Abubakar, sought an adjournment to enable him study the Supreme Court verdict with a view to understanding its effect on the pending case. Other lawyers to respondents in the case INEC, APC represented by Abubakar Mahmoud, a SAN, and Lateef Fagbemi, a SAN, agreed with Mr Olanipekuns submissions. Last Friday, the Supreme Court dismissed the PDPs suit challenging Mr Shettimas alleged double nomination. The PDP had argued that 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. The PDP said Mr Shettima had yet to withdraw his senatorial candidature as of the time Mr Tinubu chose him as his vice-presidential flagbearer. The court adjourned the APM petition until 2 June for further hearing. The court said the adjournment is to enable Mr Olanipekun to furnish the court with copies of the Supreme Court judgement dismissing the suit challenging Mr Shettimas nomination. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senator-elect from Imo West, Osita Izunaso, has said it is his turn to be the next Senate president. Mr Izunaso urged President Bola Tinubu and leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to reverse the earlier endorsement of Godswill Akpabio as the next senate president and endorse him for the position considering his sacrifices for development of the party since the formation stage to the stage it is today. The senator elect made the call on Monday while speaking with journalists shortly after the Interdenominational service held at the Ecumenical Centre, Abuja. Mr Izunaso, a former National Organising Secretary of APC, claimed that he is the most qualified person to lead the upper legislative chamber among the contenders for the senate presidency. Aside from Messrs Izunaso and Akpabio , other senators-elect aspiring for the senate presidency are Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), Sani Musa (Niger) and Patrick Ndubueze (Imo). Struggle Mr Izunaso said he was part of the founding members of the APC who sacrificed their time and energy for the growth of the party from the formation stage. He said during the formation stage when the party seemed to have no chances of winning , he was part of those that committed their time to hold the party tight. I am a founding member of APC, we traveled to Lagos every weekend for good six months during the formation stages, to coin the name and get it right, we designed the logo, bringing together components of other parties making up the proposed APC then before going for registration in the Corporate Affairs Commission. Governor Fashola is alive today, he knows all I am saying because he was part of the whole thing from day one. We conducted 36 governorship primaries, there was not a single litigation, why, because we did the right thing. You will agree with me that is what it means to show capacity. You know we battled a sitting president, therefore, we needed to do everything right to wrestle power from them. So if I could hold the party at that level from its formation stage when we didnt even know we were going to win, why wont I be able to lead the Red Chamber effectively as senate president? So for me, I can actually say, it should be a payback time for me, having sacrificed my time, energy, scarce resources and services for the APC. I think it is only fair and just for the party to think it wise to compensate me, I think the time is now. Having served selflessly without blemish through rain and shine, during turbulent times when there was no ray of hope for the party, I think I deserve to be compensated; and having contested election and fortunately returned to the Senate, I think I am well qualified to vie for the position of the senate president, and why wont I seek for it and why wouldnt APC in their wisdom not consider and compensate me? Ive paid my dues in the party, I have sacrificed a lot enough to earn me adequate compensation from the APC; if I am not qualified, that should have been a different ball game. The Imo Senator-elect added that he was part of the individuals who funded the APC from formation stage to where it is today. READ ALSO: Senate refers Buharis request for refund of N22 billion to states on road projects to committee The people dragging the position of Senate President with me today were in PDP, they were not in APC, they castigated the party then as dead on arrival during the formation stage, and recall, PDP did everything within their powers then to frustrate the registration of the party at the Corporate Affairs Commission because they were in power. We formed and funded the party, nurtured and ran it through its formation stage till today. some of them just joined the Party about four to five years ago. Yes, it is said the more the merrier, so, we heartily welcome them to APC, but if we hadnt sustained the party and won, they may not have joined, Mr Izunaso said. The election of the next senate president will hold during the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly on 13 June. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, says members of the upper legislative chamber have shown commitment to work with the administration of Bola Tinubu. Mr Lawan stated this at the resumption of the plenary session on Tuesday. The Senate at an emergency session on Saturday amended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act to raise the total advances the bank can make to the federal government from five per cent to 15 per cent. The Senate at the emergency meeting also passed a bill to extend the implementation of the 2022 supplementary budget to 31 December, 2023. Mr Tinubu and Kashim Shettima were sworn-in as president and vice president of Nigeria on Monday. The senate president at the resumption of the plenary session congratulated Messrs Tinubu and Shettima on their victory in the last presidential election. He prayed to God to guide and protect them throughout their years in the office. We congratulate the President , Bola Ahmad Tinubu, GCFR, and his Vice President, Distinguished Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON for the swearing in of the two leaders yesterday, he said. We pray for more guidance, protection and we commit ourselves to the one or two weeks that we have to work with your administration. Mr Lawan also congratulated state governors that were sworn-in on Monday. He prayed to God to guide and protect them throughout their years in the office. READ ALSO: Its my turn to be senate president Izunaso insists Let me equally congratulate all the 28 governors that were sworn-in yesterday across our nation. We pray to Almighty God to guide them and protect them. The ninth Senate will end by June for the senators-elect to be inaugurated into the 10th Senate. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja on Tuesday admitted documents in evidence accusing President Bola Tinubu of drug offences in the United States. The court accepted the documents as exhibits in the case filed by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, to challenge Mr Tinubus victory in the 25 February election. Alleging widespread irregularities during the presidential election and Mr Tinubus ineligibility to contest the election, Mr Obi is also asking the court to nullify his victory. Mr Tinubu was sworn in as Nigerias president on Monday, although the cases challenging his election will not be decided until September. When the suit came up on Tuesday, Mr Obis lawyer, Jibrin Okutepa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, tendered some court documents purporting to be the US courts decision awarding $460,000 fine against Mr Tinubu for illicit drugs trafficking imposed by the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. The suit marked:93C 4483 was between the United States of America and Mr Tinubu. Mr Okutepa also tendered documents to aid Mr Obis case of double nomination being pushed against the vice president, Kashim Shettima. Obis first witness testifies After the five-member panel of the court led by Haruna Tsammani admitted the documents in evidence, Mr Okutepa called his clients first witness. The witness, Lawrence Nwakaeti, said he deposed to a witness statement on 20 March at the courts registry in Abuja. Mr Nwakaeti, a lawyer, told the court that he voted during the 25 February presidential election at his polling unit at Umuezeala Village Square, Ihiala in Anambra State. In his depositions, Mr Nwakaeti said Mr Tinubu was fined in the US for allegedly trafficking in narcotics. But under cross-examination by Wole Olanipekun, Mr Tinubus lawyer, Mr Nwakaeti said he would be surprised to know if Mr Tinubu was not fined in the documents he tendered to the court. Responding to Mr Olanipekuns enquiry if the witness had been to the US, Mr Nwakaeti answered in the affirmative. Specifically, he said he had visited Michigan in 2003. Also, APCs lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi, a SAN, asked Mr Nwakaeti if he was aware that a formal clearance report was issued by a legal attache of the US embassy, absolving Mr Tinubu of any wrongdoing concerning the alleged crime. In his response, Mr Nwakaeti said he was not aware of any clearance report in favour of Mr Tinubu. After the witness concluded his testimony, the court adjourned Mr Obis petition until Wednesday for further hearing. Background As part of the grounds of the petition, Mr Obi argued that Mr Tinubu, at the time of the (presidential) election, was not qualified to contest the election. He based this claim on the grounds that the Mr Tinubu was fined $460,000 for an offence involving dishonesty, namely narcotics trafficking imposed by the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, in case no:93C 4483 between the United States of America and Bola Tinubu. Concerning the alleged non-qualification of Mr Shettima, Mr Obis lawyer, Mr Okutepa told journalists on Tuesday the facts of his case were different from the Supreme Courts decision dismissing PDPs contention against the vice president. The petitioner had argued in court filings that the law provided that a presidential candidate shall nominate another person as his associate who is to occupy the office of vice president. He recalled that Mr Tinubu had nominated Mr Shettima as his vice-presidential candidate on 14 July 2022 while the latter was still representing Borno Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly. He added that the APC nominated Mr Shettima as its candidate for Borno Central Senatorial District as of 15 July 2022, while already chosen by Mr Tinubu as his running mate. Mr Obi said Mr Shettima should not have allowed himself to be nominated in more than one constituency. He said this was a violation of the provision of the Electoral Act. He vowed to prove in court that APCs purported sponsorship of Messrs Tinubu and Shettima while the latter was still representing Borno Central Senatorial district, rendered their candidacy invalid. He added that for this reason, the votes purportedly recorded for Mr Tinubu at the presidential election were/are wasted votes and ought to be disregarded. The petitioner also contended that Mr Tinubu was not duly elected by majority of the lawful votes cast at the time of the election. He argued that Mr Tinubu did not win the majority of lawful votes cast in each of at least two-third of the states of the federation and the FCT, Abuja. Mr Obi, who came third in the presidential race, urged the court to declare him president or order a fresh poll. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Senate Chief Whip, Orji Kalu, says he is in talks for possible alignment with the Senator-elect, Abdulaziz Yaris camp for the position of 10th Senate Presidency. Mr Kalu, who represents Abia North Senatorial District, stated this during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday. A former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio and a Senator representing Kano North, Barau Jibrin are the preferred choice of President Bola Tinubu for the senate president and deputy senate president. Also in the race is Osita Izunaso, the senator-elect for Imo West. Mr Kalu, who said he would not step down for anybody, added that he was mulling an alignment with Yaris camp. Well, I cannot step down for anybody. Yes, you are right. We are talking with Yari. Our group and his people are talking. We are in intimate partnership and talking to make sure that no one zone can produce a senate president. Like I used to tell you, no one zone can produce a president for Nigeria. Its the same thing for senate president. What we are trying to play with Sen. Yari is a united partnership that works for Nigeria, he said. Mr Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State, is the senator-elect for the Zamfara West senatorial district. Mr Kalu further stated that in the coming days and weeks, those partnerships would be unveiled. You will see what the partnership looks like. We are in serious talks. Yes, I cannot deny it. Yari is a friend of mine and Im his friend, and we decided to talk together. We have been talking for the past four weeks and the talks will be unveiled by our sponsors. He (Yari) has his sponsors and I have mine. So the sponsors will come together to decide what direction this partnership will go, he said. Mr Kalu, a former governor of Abia, said he would be very happy to follow what the sponsors would say, adding that Mr Yari also would be happy to follow what the sponsors would want them to do. We are two gentlemen; both of us are not hitting the nail. We are only thinking of the integrity of the senate and to support President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima who are our colleagues. If you, press people, are thinking that what happened during Saraki will also happen now. No, it will never happen again in Nigerias political life. We remember we cited a section of the law that there must be two-thirds of the senators before you are sworn in. Few people sitting somewhere and making decision on who become the senate president is no longer functional. What is functional is for all of us to sit together and decide on who gets what. Its a game; its a contest, and we will congratulate whoever wins. If we win, let people congratulate us; if other people win, we will also congratulate them. They are our colleagues. We will be together in the next four years in the chamber. We are not enemies; its a contest, he said. Mr Kalu assured that the 10th senate would not disappoint Nigerians. We are not going to disappoint Nigerians. We are capable of representing ourselves. Whether Yari-Kalu or Kalu-Yari, we will not disappoint Nigerians. We will give Nigerians what they want. We will support the federal government and Nigerians will not be disappointed, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print WASHINGTON (AP) When President Joe Biden declares Russia's Ukraine war "genocide," it isn't just another strong word. Calling a campaign that's aimed at wiping out a targeted group "genocide" not only increases pressure on a country to act, it can oblige it to. That's partly because of a genocide treaty approved by the U.N. General Assembly after World War II, signed by the United States and more than 150 other nations. The convention was the work of, among others, a Polish Jew whose family was murdered by Nazi Germany and its accomplices. The advocates pushed for something that would make the world not just condemn but actually prevent and ensure prosecution for future genocides. In comments Tuesday, Biden accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of trying to "wipe out the idea of even being a Ukrainian." Other world leaders have not gone as far. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said Russia's behavior in Ukraine "doesn't look far short of genocide," but the U.K. has not officially used the term, saying only a court can make such a designation. A look at what's involved in that decision, and what it means when a world leader declares a genocide: WHAT DOES 'GENOCIDE' MEAN? It's a surprisingly modern word for an ancient crime. A Jewish lawyer from Poland, Raphael Lemkin, coined it at the height of World War II and the Holocaust. Lemkin wanted a word to describe what Nazi Germany was then doing to Europe's Jews, and what Turkey had done to Armenians in the 1910s: killing members of a targeted group of people, and ruthlessly working to eradicate their cultures. Lemkin paired "geno," a Greek word meaning race, and "cide," a Latin word meaning kill. Lemkin dedicated his life to having genocide recognized and criminalized. In 1948, after Adolf Hitler and his accomplices systematically murdered 6 million Jews in Europe, the U.N. General Assembly approved the Convention on the Prevention of the Crime of Genocide. WHAT'S THE LEGAL DEFINITION? Under the genocide convention, the crime is trying to destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, in part or in whole. That includes mass killings, but also actions including forced sterilization, abuse that inflicts serious harm or mental suffering, or wrenching children of a targeted group away to be raised by others. IS RUSSIA COMMITTING GENOCIDE IN UKRAINE? The case may hang in part on Putin's own words. Russian forces are widely accused of carrying out wholesale abuses of Ukraine's civilians, including mass killings. Those would be war crimes. But do they amount to genocide? It's all about intent, argues Bohdan Vitvitsky, a former U.S. federal prosecutor and former special adviser to Ukraine's prosecutor general. "Any attempt to determine whether the crimes committed by Russian troops in Ukraine are driven by genocidal intent must necessarily focus on the statements of Russian President Vladimir Putin," Vitvisky wrote for the Atlantic Council think tank this week. Putin long has denied any standing for Ukraine to exist as a separate nation, or Ukrainians as a separate people. He cites history, when Ukraine was part of the Russian empire, and later of the Soviet Union. In a long essay last year, "On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians," Putin made clear the depth of his determination on the matter. He called the modern border dividing Russia and Ukraine "our great common misfortune and tragedy." Putin and Russian state media falsely call Ukrainian leaders "Nazis" and "drug addicts." Putin has called his military campaign in Ukraine one of de-Nazification. Gissou Nia, a human-rights lawyer who worked on war crime trials at the Hague, points to two alleged acts by Russia in Ukraine as also possibly showing intent of genocide: Reports of deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia, and an account, from Ukraine's government, of Russian soldiers telling 25 detained women and girls in Bucha that the Russians aimed to rape them to the point that they never bear any Ukrainian children. WHY DOES IT MATTER IF WORLD LEADERS USE "GENOCIDE" TO DESCRIBE RUSSIA'S ACTIONS? Embedded in the genocide convention is an obligation that the U.S. and other signers of the treaty have treated warily if they acknowledge a genocide is occurring, they're committed to ensuring investigation and prosecution, at the least. People and countries committing genocide "shall be punished," the treaty declares, seeking to crush any wiggle room. U.S. leaders for decades dodged using the word "genocide" to avoid increasing the pressure on them to act as mass killings targeted classes of people or ethnic groups in Cambodia, Bosnia, Iraq, Rwanda and elsewhere. Regretting his failure to do more to stop the killing of 800,000 ethnic Tutsis by Hutus in Rwanda in 1994, Bill Clinton in June 1999 became the first U.S. president to recognize an act of genocide as it was playing out, saying Serb forces carrying out a deadly campaign against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo were attempting genocide. NATO intervened, lobbing 78 days of airstrikes that forced Serbian fighters' withdrawal from Kosovo. An international tribunal charged Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic with war crimes, although Milosevic died before his trial concluded. Starting in 2005, world also leaders embraced in principle responsibility for collective action to stop genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Atrocities and targeted campaigns against groups continue around the world, however, and the so-called responsibility to protect is seldom invoked. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE U.S. DOES DECLARE RUSSIAN ACTIONS TO BE GENOCIDE? U.S. leaders long have feared that acknowledging genocide would require them to intervene, even to send in troops, with all the risks, costs and political backlash that would entail. It's been a main reason leaders limit themselves to angry statements and humanitarian aid. Biden is adamant the U.S. will not use its own military to confront Russian forces on behalf of Ukraine. Doing so would risk World War III, he says. He and allies in Europe and elsewhere already are intervening by sanctioning Russia and by sending weapons and other support to Ukraine for its defense. Biden and other Western leaders also have called for war crimes trials. The International Criminal Court already has started an investigation. But longstanding U.S. opposition to the International Criminal Court, over worries that U.S. troops could face prosecution there one day, complicates such prosecutions. So can Russia's veto power on the U.N. Security Council. And practically speaking, bringing Putin before a court is a long shot. In the past, Americans' opposition to entanglement in foreign wars also has helped discourage U.S. leaders from doing more to stop possible acts of genocide. But Russia's invasion of a neighboring country and brutality against Ukraine's people have angered Americans in a way that genocidal campaigns in Cambodia, Kurdish areas of Iraq and elsewhere did not. A recent poll by the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 40% of people in America believe the U.S. should have a "major role" in ending Russia's invasion. Just 13% think the U.S. shouldn't be involved at all. ___ Photos: A devastating walk through Bucha's horror The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Tuesday, prevented members of the House from debating the removal of the subsidy by the new Bola Tinubu administration. Several lawmakers had shown interest to debate a motion of urgent public importance moved by Jide Jimoh (APC, Lagos) on the subsidy. However, Mr Gbajabiamila did not allow debate. Mr Tinubu had on Monday pronounced that petroleum subsidy no longer existed. His pronouncement caused instant shock in the petroleum downstream sector as queues appeared at fuel stations in major cities across the country. Moving the motion, Mr Jimoh said the president is a concern senior citizen whose agenda is to favour the downtrodden for the purpose of humanity. He commended Mr Tinubu for his pronouncement on the subsidy regime during his inauguration speech adding that the position of the president is consistent with the law as there is no provision for fuel subsidy in the 2023 Appropriation Act. After Mr Jimoh presented his motion, several lawmakers indicated interest to speak on the motion but the speaker put the motion to vote and ruled. Mr Gbajabiamila, a close ally of the president, deliberately prevented members from speaking on the motion. When the members protested, the speaker said he had hit the gavel and could not reverse himself. After the speaker put the question, Ugonna Ozurigbo (PDP, Imo), still raised a point of order, noting that his constituents in Imo State expect him to speak. It would not be right and good for my constituents to see thisI think it is very important that you should give us a little time to discuss and express our feelings on this motion that was brought on, he said. Responding, Mr Gbajabiamila said the lawmakers can make comments on subsidy at any point in the course of the session even though it is not going to have relevance to the motion. He added that at least it would be on record that they spoke even though it is not going to be relevant. There is no breach of privilege. We have hit the gravel, and we cannot go back. As we go along, for anyone that wants to speak on the issue of subsidy, I am giving the leeway even though it would fall on the sword of relevance, and may not be relevant to be talking about subsidy on another motion. But you can go ahead to talk about subsidy after talking about the issue at hand, he said. Resolutions Following the motion, the House resolved to salute Mr Tinubus courage and boldness to serve the country with honesty and integrity. It also congratulated the president for his readiness for the national task ahead and his service to humanity. The House appealed to Nigerians to remain patient, resilient and prayerful so that the president can deliver on his promises. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja on Tuesday admitted the final results of the 25 February election declaring Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Nigerias president-elect. A five-member panel of the court headed by Haruna Tsammani received the documents after they were tendered by Atiku Abubakars lawyer, Eyitayo Jegede, on Tuesday. The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, on 1 March declared Mr Tinubu winner of the 25 February presidential election. But Mr Tinubus declaration triggered multiple lawsuits seeking to upturn his victory. Mr Tinubu was sworn in as Nigerias president on Monday while the cases challenging his election continue in court. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku, who came second in the race, urged the court to nullify Mr Tinubus victory on account of alleged electoral fraud. Atiku urged the court declare him president or order a fresh election. At Tuesdays hearing heralding the commencement of full trial, Atikus lawyer, Mr Jegede, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), tendered before the court final declaration of results from the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The petitioner is also praying the court to upturn Mr Tinubus victory on account of the latters inability to secure 25 per cent of lawful votes cast in the FCT as statutorily required. The lawyer to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abubakar Mahmoud; Mr Tinubus lawyer, Wole Olanipekun; and APCs lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi, did not object to the documents. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on Tuesday said it will ensure that filling stations sell petroleum products in compliance with the law to prevent hardship on Nigerians. The commission made this known Tuesday in a statement signed by Babatunde Irukera, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer. Nigerians have had difficulty getting petrol at filling stations since Monday after President Bola Tinubu announced governments plan to put an end to the subsidy regime. The government said subsidy payment will be scrapped because it is not sustainable. PREMIUM TIMES reported how fuel queues returned to filling stations in major cities across the country, including Lagos and Abuja. On Tuesday, Mr Irukera said that the commission has identified a significant and potentially inexplicable emerging increase and lengthening of wait-times in procuring fuel at filling stations in certain locations across the country. The emerging hardship on motorists and other consumers, the statement said, invariably impedes commerce, traffic and presents other difficulties, unintended consequences and financial constraints for citizens. The Commission said it is in engagement with the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA); the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA); and Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN). The outcome of these engagements between the top-level Executives of the Commission and these other relevant entities, as well as key operatives, demonstrates that, there is no operational basis or sufficiently diminished/acute reduction in product availability at both supply and retail points in the value chain to justify the hardship and constraints otherwise emerging, the statement said. The Commission adopts the Advisory issued by NMDPRA on May 29, 2023, advising consumers not to engage in panic purchases or otherwise stockpiling products in a manner inconsistent with regular periodic purchases and consumption. Petroleum products are generally flammable and require transportation, dispensation, consumption and storage in strictly controlled and regulated manners. Any contrary approach to these strictly regulated manners constitutes danger and risk of significant losses, even fatality. As such, and in accordance with the assurances of the NMDPRA and MOMAN that existing supplies are not insufficient for regularly established consumption levels, the Commission encourages consumers not to modify their regular purchase and consumption patterns. Compliance The statement stated that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018 (FCCPA) prohibits deceptive or unconscionable business practices; obnoxious practices or unscrupulous exploitation of consumers by companies, trade associations, and even individuals; and any mutual understanding or decisions with a purpose or effect that prevents, restricts or distorts competition, specifically, and particularly including price-fixing or limiting distribution or supply. It noted further that section 108 (1) prohibits any arrangements that unduly limit the production, transportation, storage and or supply of products, including for the purpose of enhancing price; while section 127 (1) prohibits supplying products at prices or on terms that are manifestly unfair, unreasonable or unjust. The Commission has today agreed with LASCOPA, (and its expanding participation) on a Joint Inter-Agency Task Force to enforce the provisions of the law, ensure compliance and prevent hardship on citizens, the statement said. The Commission possesses the will and desire, and is committed to the strictest enforcement of the law. Product marketers have been informed that any infringement which distorts the market or enables others to exploit consumers and perpetuate inconvenience will be subject to the aggravated and highest spectrum of penalties where evidence supports violation. Organised marketing or trading associations/platforms such as MOMAN and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) are in particular invited to note this and their collective and individual possible exposure in the event of evidence-supported violations. The commission said it will continue to engage and update consumers, adding that Nigerians can also provide credible information about any conduct or practices they experience which they perceive to be a possible violation of the law. Such information may be sent through our normal channels, in particular, contact@fccpc.gov.ng, the statement said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate on Tuesday approved over N1 trillion for the 2021 and 2022 budgets of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The total amount approved is N1,413,991,634,495.65 for 2021 and 2022 fiscal appropriation years of the commission. While N485,794,575,131 was approved for 2021, N928,297,049,364.65 was approved for 2022. Passage of the budget was sequel to a report of the Senate Ad hoc Committee on NDDC presented at the plenary. The ad hoc committee chaired by Yusuf Yusuf (APC, Taraba Central) was constituted by the Senate to review expenditures of the NDDC in 2021 and 2022 by management of the commission without approval from the senate. Mr Yusuf while presenting the report at the plenary complained that details of revenue and expenditures of the NDDC in 2021, 2022 and 1st quarter of 2023 were not provided by the concerned authorities in the ministry of finance. He said the refusal of the authorities to provide the information could not allow the committee to ascertain whether the funds expended by management of the NDDC during the years under review followed financial regulations and conform to the bidding thresholds. The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, condemned the refusal of the Ministry of Finance and Accountant General of the Federation to provide necessary documents to the ad hoc committee. The 9th senate will end on 11 June, 2023. Recommendations The ad hoc committee recommended: -That the Senate should direct its committee on Niger Delta Affairs to resolve the crisis between the NDDC Board and its management in order to ensure that the commission is legally compliant in all processes and focus on achieving its mandate That the Senate mandates its committee on Niger Delta Affairs to wade in and resolve the obvious trust deficit between the NDDC Board and its management to ensure that the commission is legally compliant in all processes and focus on achieving its mandate, the recommendations read. -That the Adhoc Committee notes that without approval and regularising the 2021 and 2022 budget estimates, the Commission cannot operate the already approved Appropriation of the 2023 budget estimates as required by the provisions of the Public Procurement Act requiring the approval and performance of the previous years; and -That in view of NDDC not meeting its contractual obligations which are liable to preponderance of litigation and considering the fate of about 40 million people in Niger Delta region, the Adhoc Committee hereby urges that the Senate do consider and approve the 2021 and 2022 budget proposals of the Niger Delta Development Commission as recommended by the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, earlier considered at the plenary and referred to this Adhoc Committee to investigate, and for further legislative action. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday, tendered tons of electoral documents before the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja where he is challenging President Bola Tinubus victory in the 25 February 25 election. Atiku is prosecuting a petition seeking to upturn Mr Tinubus victory on account of substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 and the constitution, among other complaints. Nigerias electoral commission, INEC, declared Mr Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Nigerias president-elect on 1 March, after he defeated Atiku who came second in the race. Another petition by the candidate who came third in the election, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, is also pending before the court. The third petition was filed by a party, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), which polled inconsequential number of votes in the election. Mr Tinubu was sworn in as Nigerias president on Monday, while aggrieved parties continue pursuing their separate cases to challenge his victory. Atiku and the PDP jointly filed a petition before the court against Mr Tinubu, the Vice President Kashim Shettima, the APC, and INEC. In aid of their suit, the petitioners Tuesday presented tons of electoral documents comprising data from the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines that were deployed for the conduct of the 25 February presidential election. At the beginning of hearing on Tuesday, Atikus lawyer, Eyitayo Jegede, tendered printouts of data from the BVAS machines comprising polling units results sheets from the 36 states of the country and Abuja. Mr Jegede, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), informed the five-member panel of the court chaired by Haruna Tsammani that the documents were certified true copies of the data obtained from the BVAS machines. The lawyer also tendered records of collected permanent voters cards from the electoral umpire. Earlier, Mr Jegede tendered the final results of the presidential election that declared Mr Tinubu president-elect. Owing to the agreement reached by the lawyers to parties in the suit not to object to official documents obtained from INEC, respondents lawyers Wole Olanipekun (Mr Tinubu), APCs lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi for APC, and INECs Abubakar Mahmoud did not object to the documents. Thereafter, the suit was adjourned until Wednesday for further hearing. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerian stocks accelerated at their swiftest pace so far this year on Tuesday as the main equity index rose by 5.2 per cent and the value of shares appreciated by over N1.5 trillion. Analysts say the jump was helped by positive sentiments that followed new policy directions by the new administration in the country. Investors warmed to President Bola Tinubus planned economic reforms, particularly his resolve to scrap costly fuel subsidies and unify Nigerias multiple exchange rates, with transaction volume increasing by 133 per cent and turnover more than doubling. NGX 30, the index that measures the top 30 companies on the Nigerian Exchange in terms of liquidity and market capitalisation, expanded by 5.6 per cent. That was the sharpest growth rate since November 2020. Unusual for the market, at least six stocks each added as much as 10 per cent, the highest daily upper price movement allowed by the bourse. We see more room for extended bargain hunting among listed corporates as investors look to reinvest dividends received across fundamentally sound stocks, said analysts at United Capital in their outlook note for this week seen by PREMIUM TIMES. More risk-averse investors will look to book some profit off profitable positions, they added. Market breadth, an indicator of investor sentiment towards trade, was positive as 64 gainers were reported compared to 14 decliners. The all-share index grew by 2,771.9 basis points to 55,738.4, while market capitalisation climbed to N30.3 trillion. Year to date, the index has yielded 8.8 per cent Top Five Gainers Zenith Bank appreciated by 10 per cent to close at N29.70. Transcorp Hotels enlarged by 10 per cent to end trade at N8.25. Nigerian Breweries rose to N42.35, notching up 10 per cent in the process. Jaiz Bank went up by 10 per cent to N1.10. FCMB completed the top 5, climbing by 10 per cent to N4.62. Top Five Losers Ikeja Hotel led losers, declining by 10 per cent to close at N2.16. NCR shed 9.8 per cent to end trade at N2.76. Tantalizers fell to N0.23, losing 8 per cent. Julius Berger slumped to N29, recording a 7.94 per cent depreciation. International Energy Insurance closed at N1.20, going down by 7 per cent. Top Trades Altogether, 1.1 billion shares estimated at N15.8 billion were traded in 9,916 deals. Access Holdings was the most active stock with 199.6 million of its shares worth N2.4 billion traded in 963 deals. FBN Holdings shares of 127.9 million units, priced at N1.7 billion, exchanged hands in 213 transactions. Transcorp had 95.7 million shares valued at N309.2 million traded in 525 deals. UBA traded 24.9 million shares estimated at N831.5 million in 542 transactions. GTCO traded 76.4 million shares valued at N2.2 billion in 728 deals. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has asked Nigerias secret police, the State Security Service (SSS), to end the blockade of the Lagos office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The president, in a statement by his media aide, Tunde Rahman, gave the directive on Tuesday after he was briefed on the action of the SSS at the EFCC office in the Ikoyi area of Lagos. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the SSS placed two armoured vehicles to scare and deter the commissions officials from the building. The armoured vehicles are believed to have been brought in in the early hours of Tuesday. Sources in both agencies said there had been an ongoing controversy between both agencies over the ownership of the building at 15A, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. SSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya told PREMIUM TIMES that his agency was the rightful owner of the building. Mr Tinubu, who just assumed duty on Tuesday after his inauguration on Monday, said if there were issues between the two important government agencies, they would be resolved amicably. The Ikoyi building Located in the highbrow Ikoyi area of Lagos, the building at 15A Awolowo Road serves as the Lagos head office of the EFCC. The office is headed by the zonal head of the commission in Lagos. It is separate from the EFCC office in Okotie-Eboh, also in Ikoyi, which houses the agencys detention centre in Lagos. Even though the EFCC uses the Awolowo Road building as its Lagos head office, the SSS had always used part of the building for its operations until Tuesday morning, when it appeared to have taken full control. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Truly, the challenges before the Tinubu government are enormous at a time the economy is comatose. And the options available to him are more like the Devils alternative: whichever option he embraces, there will be unpalatable consequences at least in the short run. The Friday, 26 May Supreme Court dismissal of the appeal of the Peoples Democratic Party seeking the disqualification of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the 25 February presidential election, over an alleged double nomination of his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, essentially removed the last hurdle to his inauguration on 29 May. This means in essence that those who cannot bear the thought of Tinubu and Shettima as president and vice president respectively will have to find a way of adjusting to the reality that they will be stuck with the duo till August (at the earliest), when the Supreme Court is expected to rule on the challenges to the INEC-declared outcome of the election. We are, of course, assuming that there will be no other unforeseen variable in-between. Given the numerous controversies that have dogged virtually every aspect of Tinubus life over the years, it could be argued that while the Asiwaju of Lagos has his passionate supporters, no leader in the countrys political history has come to office with as much baggage as he carries. To make matters worse, he rarely directly responds to the allegations against him. Rather, he sends hordes of trolls and surrogates, who sometimes offer contradictory explanations to the accusations, and at other times shout down journalists who honestly demand to know the truth about those claims. That he has been able to survive the serial controversies that have dogged him over the years should be a caution to his opponents that it will be extremely naive of anyone to underestimate him. Tinubu not only survived the numerous burning landmines laid on his way during the APC presidential primary, to emerge as the partys flag bearer, but was also declared the winner of the election by INEC and eventually inaugurated as president, despite doubts in some quarters. So what are the options for those who cannot bear the thought of Tinubu being their president for sundry reasons? It should be pointed out that Shettima, the vice president-elect, is also mired in controversies from the import of his mean mien to alleged links to Boko Haram, to being a gaffe machine whenever he gets lost in rhetorical flourishes, while playing the self-anointed role of a successor to the late Maitama Sule, the Kano-born First Republic politician famed for his oratory. As no reasonable person would recommend violence as an option, it seems that there are basically three options available to Tinubus refuseniks: The first is to adopt the late Uncle Bola Iges philosophy of siddon look and hope they will sit out his government. The second option is to hinge their hopes on a possible conjuncture of intervening variables that will truncate his rule, such as the Supreme Courts sacking of his government. The third option is to wax spiritual and seek consolation that he may actually be a tainted vessel that God wants to use to bring positive changes to Nigeria. After all, the Holy Bible is replete with examples of God using the scums of the society, such as prostitutes or the most undesirables, such as Paul (who was a persecutor of the Christians before his conversion), as vessels to do His work. It is however not only from the scriptures that we find Gods mercy equipping those we may regard as undesirables, with the tools to do His work. There are also scholars who believe that people regarded as not having the desirable character traits may actually be better equipped for effective leadership. For instance, Rob Asghar, author of the book, Leadership is Hell, in a 14 November 2014 article on Forbes online, entitled Why Bad People Make the Best Leaders has argued that contrary to what our intuition and leadership gurus tell us, the best leaders often come from those we call bad people. He argued that while the best human beings are collaborative, compassionate, empathetic and free of most defects of character the best leaders usually are not. As he puts it: When will we admit it? Effective leaders are less like Santa Claus handing out gifts, less like Mother Teresa blessing sick people, and more like Kobe Bryant coolly sticking a dagger into the heart of an opponent as he drops a three-point buzzer beater to win a tight game. the struggle to capture his presidency started in earnest even before INEC declared him the winner and various instrumentalities were (and are still being) used by the various contending forces in this struggle: tale bearing, conspiracy theories and playing the ethnic and religious cards. Tinubu has the option of which of the contending forces he wants to align with. Similarly, the influential book, Cradles of Eminence: Childhoods of More Than 700 Famous Men and Women (2020) by Victor Goertzel et al. made pretty much the same point. In the book, the authors revealed that the biggest stage leaders had unhappy childhoods, which, in turn, fuels their desire for what Steve Jobs, the late co-founder of Apple Computers, would call a desire to make a dent in the universe. That unhappiness, the authors noted, also fuels the nasty streak in them which, in turn, drives their determination to get things done. One of the narratives about Tinubu was that he was so poor that he had to be self-taught during his basic education years. Just as his critics, Tinubu also has a number of options: One, the struggle to capture his presidency started in earnest even before INEC declared him the winner and various instrumentalities were (and are still being) used by the various contending forces in this struggle: tale bearing, conspiracy theories and playing the ethnic and religious cards. Tinubu has the option of which of the contending forces he wants to align with. Two, where does Tinubu want to locate himself between his triumphalist supporters (the BATists) and the resistant and refusenik groups? In his keynote speech at the inaugural lecture on Saturday, 27 May, former Kenyan president, Uhuru Kenyatta, appealed to then incoming president of Nigeria to unite the country, irrespective of the ethnic, political and religious cleavages that may exist. The contest is now over and the hard work of building a prosperous and unified Nigeria now begins. Upon assuming the office of president, you would be wise to transcend from tactical politics of an election and assume your role as Nigerias vision bearer. This may be easier said than done. Despite being inaugurated as president, the contest between the triumphalist BATists and a coalition of anti-Tinubu forces will simmer for a while, especially with what many regard as an insult from Shettima who claimed, during the inauguration lecture, that the election that brought them to power (whose outcome is being contested in the court) is the freest and fairest in the countrys political history. Tinubu said he would vigorously fight corruption but how can he do this when many Nigerians sneer that the phrase fighting corruption seems to sound odd on his lips, given the questions about the sources of his wealth and the other controversies in which he is steeped in? Three, security is a major challenge. But how can Tinubu fight separatist agitations, especially in the South-East; banditry in the North-West, herdsmens terrorism across the country; and Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorism in the North-East, when any solution he throws at each of these problems is likely to oxygenate our traditional fault lines? Four, Shettima has indicated that two of the immediate challenges facing the new government would be removing fuel subsidy and sorting out the prevailing multiple exchange rate regimes. But how can a government that has come to power with an unprecedented crisis of legitimacy be able to do so without compounding its problems? Five, Tinubu said he would vigorously fight corruption but how can he do this when many Nigerians sneer that the phrase fighting corruption seems to sound odd on his lips, given the questions about the sources of his wealth and the other controversies in which he is steeped in? Truly, the challenges before the Tinubu government are enormous at a time the economy is comatose. And the options available to him are more like the Devils alternative: whichever option he embraces, there will be unpalatable consequences at least in the short run. Jideofor Adibe is a professor of Political Science and International Relations at Nasarawa State University, Keffi and Extraordinary Professor of Government Studies at North Western University, Mafikeng South Africa. He is also the founder of Adonis & Abbey Publishers and can be reached at 0705 807 8841(Text or WhatsApp only). Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Following the successful swearing into office of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday 29 May, attention has shifted to the 13 June inauguration of the 10th Senate and the House of Representatives. With particular reference to the Red Chambers, the race for Senate Presidency is going down the wire with the pendulum swinging rhythmically by the day. The constant changes in permutation are direct fallout of increasing concerns by elected senators, top leadership echelons of the political parties especially the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and other strategic stakeholders about the credibility, suitability and public perception of the incoming Senate leadership. In spite of the consensus meeting which allegedly settled for Godswill Akpabio as the adopted candidate for the plum position, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Gas and Housing, Senator Osita Bonaventure Izunaso has maintained that he still very much aspires to lead the Senate of the 10th National Assembly in the best interest of the nation. It is believed by many that Izunaso as the Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly will give the nations apex legislative body a clean and fresh breath. The Imo West Senator himself is convinced that his credentials, experience and impeccable record are critical factors that would lead to his eventual triumph at the election come 13 June, 2023. Being an unabashed supporter of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian nation as well as fellow Senators, members of the House of Representatives, his party, APC and the people of Nigeria, Izunaso has vowed to make them proud if given the opportunity to serve as the number three citizen. There is a groundswell of expectations that the National Assembly needs a leadership imbued with the hallmarks of competence, experience, capacity and integrity, comparable to any in the advanced world. Based on present reality, Izunaso is the highest ranking Senator from the South-south and South-east with a robust legislative and National Assembly experience stretching down to 1992 when he served as the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of House of Representatives to 1999 when he was appointed as the Chief Press Secretary to the President of the Senate. In 2003, he was deservedly elected as an honourable member of the House of Representatives. Four years later in 2007, he was elected as the Senator representing Imo West senatorial district. In a recent statement, Senator Izunaso called on the leaders of the APC to douse the prevailing tension generated by the controversial zoning arrangement already heating the political atmosphere of the country by coming up with another formula that would guarantee unity, justice and national cohesion. According to him, the President and the APC hierarchy under the chairmanship of Senator Adamu Abdulahi, should as a matter of importance, come up with a new zoning arrangement that would not only produce the best among the Senators and House of Representatives members-elect as their presiding officers, but be seen by Nigerians and the world at large as meeting the best practices in legislative norms and satisfying the political exigencies of the country. Izunaso added that the expectations of Nigerians and the entire world are high on the incoming administration. As such, no effort should be spared by the present political leaders of the country in meeting the yearnings of the people. The senator who is also a journalist-cum lawyer said he agrees with the position of the National Working Committee (NWC) on the need for further and better consultations by all the necessary stakeholders of the party in reaching a workable zoning formula for the principal officers of the National Assembly. The APC-NWC had last Tuesday, noted with respect the outcome of the meetings held between the then President-elect and the leadership of the NWC and called for further and better consultation with necessary stakeholders in order to ensure the support of the aspirants to the National Assembly leadership positions and members of the party nationwide. Izunaso said further that the ascendance of Tinubu to the Presidency of the most populous black nation in the world has already raised the hope of a better and greater Nigeria in all aspects, particularly in the enhancement of democracy and good governance, across the globe. According to him, the outcry, protests and gang-ups which erupted following the informal and formal announcement of the provocative zoning formula showed that the arrangements were not satisfactory to the overwhelming majority of the newly elected legislators and Nigerians generally, stressing that it should therefore be discarded without any further delay. The NASS lawmaker insisted that what the country needs is a brand new National Assembly chaired by a competent, capable and experienced man of proven integrity, without any blemish whatsoever. Izunaso who served as a lawmaker in both the House and the Senate between 2003 and 2007 remarked: In all of these periods, I was one of the most outstanding committee Chairmen in both the Green and Red chambers. As a consummate party man, I joined the nations best of eggheads like Babatunde Raji Fashola, and our erudite Baba, Chief Bisi Akande in the formation of the APC in 2014. After the birth of the party, I served meritoriously as the National Organising Secretary of the party. It would also interest you to know that during the five years of my tenure as the National Organising Secretary of APC, there was no single litigation over our congresses both for party primaries and party executives. I was fair, just, adroit and meticulous in all my activities. Looking for a complete and loyal party man, I am the best. If competence, as in what our father, the President desires in his planned Government of National Competence is the criterion, I am not just the most competent, I am the most capable, creative and organised senator among the contestants. If you want to go with the mood of the nation, requiring a government of National Unity, I am an Igbo man from South-east, the most marginalised zone in Nigeria, I am the most qualified, Izunaso pointed out. Izunaso stated further: Equally, if you want to go with the Not-Too-Young Act, one of the greatest achievements of President Muhammadu Buharis regime, I am the youngest of all the aspirants, the face of the youths, representing the most agitated demography in the country today. It is me. I am indeed the best and the next person for Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Emi Lokan! I am the person that can give the Senate a clean and fresh image needed to give us a new Nigeria promised to Nigerians by the greatest democrat of our time, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am the best and most suitable for the Senate President of the 10th National Assembly, he canvassed. The widespread agitation for fairness and equity by allowing the Southeast to produce the next Senate President through Senator Izunasos choice as the most suitable candidate was re-echoed by the Coalition of Arewa Civil Society Groups. The coalition after its stakeholders meeting resolved that zoning the Senate presidency to the South East was an answer to power exclusion and marginalisation. Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna on Friday, Muhammad Aminu Abbas, spokesperson of the Coalition said they were worried that the clamour for separation of power was rooted in the perceived political power exclusion and that the zoning arrangement of the leadership of the 10th National Assembly released by the national leadership of APC, had allegedly failed to address this agitation from the south-East. The group stated that for political stability and democratic consolidation, APC and the new administration should take cognisance of the fact that The Southeast geo-political zone has two APC governors while the South-South has only one APC Governor (Cross-River State). They said it is equally pertinent to note also that from 1999 till date, the South-South geo-political zone has produced a Vice-president and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the person of President Goodluck Jonathan, and none from South-East. Again South-South has produced two APC National Chairman in the persons of Chief John Oyegun and Adams Oshiomhole, and none from South-East. On the strength of the above observations, it is an incontrovertible fact that South-East has not produced any top leader under APC at the centre, the coalition stressed. The coalition declared: In order not to sacrifice party loyalty, commitment and dexterity to build the party, we unanimously endorse Senator Osita Izunaso for the office of the Senate President for the 10th Senate. Senator Bonaventure Osita Izunaso, a barrister of Law and the Senator representing Orlu Senatorial District in Imo State is, by all standards a seasoned legislator with more than 10 years of legislative experience both in the House of Representatives and in the Senate. He has held various positions in the Senate including Senate Committee Chairman on Gas Resources and has served as a member of different Committees in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives. His combined experience in the private and public sector, having served as an administrator, Board Chairman and Member of different Boards and Governing Councils across the country makes him the most eligible candidate for the job of a Senate president. We dare say that with his training as a lawyer with an LLM, Senator Bonaventure Izunaso has the requisite knowledge and academic capacity to superintend over the Red Chamber. It is clear that the distinguished Senator has taken time to prepare himself for this job and there is no excuse whatsoever to sidestep him. It will be a great oversight and injustice to overlook this qualified and competent Senator in favour of another Senator. The South-East should be carried along and compensated for the support they have given the APC in the past and present dispensation. We must not neglect the population and demographic dividends of the South-East region in the political calculation of the ruling APCAgain, the entrepreneurial spirit of the Igbo man makes the region a fertile ground for economic development and independence for the entire country. Neglecting an important region like the South-East politically will have negative social and economic consequences. In view of the above, we genuinely recommend Senator-Elect Senator Osita Izunaso to the 10th Senate for the office of the Senate President, we urge his party, APC and the other Senators-elect to consider him and support him. In achieving this, we have also resolved to reach out to the 41 other Senators elected by opposition parties for their support. We present an ideal personality, full of vigour on a set mandate, former legislator, and former National Organising Secretary of the APC, as a credible and capable person to lead the 10th Senate. We will also organize a Jumaat Prayer at the Central Mosque, Abuja for Senator Osita Izunaso on Friday after submitting our position/support paper at the APC secretariat. To all the Senators-elect, Your support for him is your contribution to saving and consolidating our democracy, the Coalition of Arewa Civil Society Groups added. All in all, Senator Izunaso stands out as an untainted man with the requisite education, experience, character and political dexterity to preside over the affairs of the Senate. And unlike some others, he comes without any fraud or criminal case attached to his name. Besides, he is a gentlemanly political chess player who diligently goes about his affairs quietly without making noise. If elected, he will definitely turn out to be the ultimate trump card of APC and the President for the crucial post. Added to that, Senator Izunaso has amply paid his dues in APC as a consistent and loyal party man who has built political networks across the country. Again, the fact that his home State, Imo is one of the two APC-controlled states in the Southeast zone is a major advantage for him and the APC. This is an evident edge over two other senators from Southern region, Godswill Akpabio and Orji Uzor Kalu, whose states Abia and Akwa-Ibom are under the grips of the opposition PDP and the Labour Party respectively. From all indications, Senator Izunaso is a safer and more reliable choice for Senate Presidency who towers above other contenders from South in terms of credibility, experience and party loyalty. * Margaret E. Ekpenyong, a woman activist and public affairs analyst wrote this piece from Port-Harcourt. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Governor of Taraba State, Kefas Agbu, on Tuesday sacked the 16 local government councils caretaker chairmen in the state. In a statement, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Yusuf Sanda, said the dissolution took effect from 29th of May 2023. The tenure of the chairmen ended in March this year but was extended to three months by the last administration. The governor directed the local council chairmen, to hand over all government property in their possession to the Head of Local Government Administration, HOLGA of their respective councils with immediate effect. Reacting to the news the chairman of ALGON in the state, Bala Bako, thanked the immediate past governor, Darius Ishaku, for the confidence he had in them by extending their tenure. We thank God and the the past governor for giving us the grace and opportunity to serve the people of Taraba so if today you are asked to step down there is nothing to be worried about, he said. On his part, the immediate past permanent secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, said he was proud of what the council chairmen achieved. Mr Yero thank them for their cooperation throughout the period of his tenure at the bureau. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Horror films love to work in phases. The late 90s saw the successful resurgence of the Slasher with Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and Halloween: H20 among others. Then came the early aughts and horror was taken back to the gritty and tough-to-watch terror films of the 1970s. These are films that are so unrelenting in their horrific imagery, theyre often dubbed torture porn as they seem to relish the pain inflicted upon the hapless protagonists. I like to call them Terror Films or Survival Films because by the end of it, youre left feeling that youre glad to be alive and not those poor sons of bitches you just watched butchered on screen. Notable entries in this little early 2000s sub-genre were flicks like High Tension, Hostel, and Saw with varying mileage of success. But one particular low-budget film imported from the land down under would withstand the test of time (and a mediocre sequel) as one of the scariest and most disturbing films of the decade - Wolf Creek. British gal-pals Liz (Cassandra Magrath) and Kristy (Kestie Morassi) are traveling across Australia with their friend Ben (Nathan Phillips). The next leg of their journey will see them traveling cross country through the outback from Broome to Cairns in a cheap barely-running car. Camping out along the way, the trio stop off at Wolf Creek National Park to view the large crater, but when they return to their car they discover their watches have stopped and the vehicle is dead as a stone. As darkness settles in, the seemingly kindly outback hunter Mick comes upon them and offers to tow them to his camp where he can fix their vehicle. But they soon discover this random act of kindness was in fact just the beginning of a living nightmare. Itd been some years since I last sat down to Wolf Creek and I was amazed to see how affecting it still is nearly 20 years later. I remember sitting in the theater long after the credits rolled just stunned by what I saw but also so unnerved I needed to cleanse myself with whatever stupid comedy was also playing at the time. I dont remember that comedy, but I still remember coming home and still feeling the need to process what I saw. Not that it was so horrifying that I couldnt handle it, but its sheer intensity was so unsettling and realistic I needed time to digest it and come around to the fact that it was (and still is) one of the best horror films of the 2000s. Shot digitally, the film has a pseudo-documentary quality making it look almost like one of your average vacation home videos (albeit with a lot better production values and cameras). With the HD video styling, it gave the film a modern edge of grime and girt akin to what 16mm was able to do for Tobe Hoopers The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. And like Texas Chain Saw, the film wisely takes its time to set up the characters and let you get to like them before the unrelenting terror begins. The film also subverts your expectations with Mick, an unsettling combination of Steve Irwin/Crocodile Dundee charm and earnest friendliness with the unrelenting savagery of the worst serial killer imaginable. You can hope for the best for these characters as they struggle to outwit their captor and survive, but you know deep down things arent going to end well. Watching Wolf Creek again after many years away I was amazed and glad to see that it was still such an unnerving and intense experience. Writer/Director Greg McLean crafted a tightly wound and tense script and brilliantly executed it, never wasting a second of footage. Casting choices were perfect with Nathan Phillips delivering the devilish charm, Kestie Morassis Kristy is that smart friend everyone should listen to (but no one does), and Cassandra Magrath stepping in as the quintessential horror tough-girl survivor Liz who thinks fast on her feet. The real star of the film is John Jarratt as our man Mick. Seemingly friendly and affable, he can become terrifying on a turn of a dime as he relishes every ounce of terror he inflicts. Its one hell of a villainous performance, to say the least! And like Texas Chain Saw Massacre, I had forgotten that Wolf Creek actually has very little on-camera gore with the most savage moments saved for the shocking ending. Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray Wolf Creek comes home to terrorize your Blu-ray collection with a new 2-Disc set from Via Vision. Limited to 1000 units, this edition offers up both the Theatrical Cut and Unrated Cuts with individual Blu-rays in a clear two-disc case. Each disc is Region Free (tested on multiple setups without issue). Also included is a packet of six art cards. The cards and the Blu-ray case are bundled together with a hard cardboard stock lenticular slipcase. The discs load to animated main menus with traditional navigation options. Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, on Tuesday, appointed a former commissioner of Environment in the state, Enobong Uwah, as the new secretary to the state government (SSG). Mr Uwah was, before his appointment, the chairman of the Uyo Capital City Development Authority. He was the secretary of the governors campaign organisation. In a statement on Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary, Government House, Nathaniel Adiakpan, also named Ekerete Udo the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor. Mr Udo is returning to the government, having served Mr Enos predecessor, Udom Emmanuel, in the same capacity for eight years. The statement also named Anietie Usen, a multiple award-winning journalist, technocrat and author of the popular book Village Boy as Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media and Publicity. Mr Usens experience in the media spanned decades, having worked for Punch newspaper and later in the Newswatch Magazine as a pioneer reporter, where he rose rapidly to become the general editor He was the General Manager of Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation, Uyo the publisher of the Pioneer Newspaper and the head of Corporate Communications in the Niger Delta Development Commission, Port Harcourt. Mr Usen was the head of media and publicity of the governors campaign organisation. Other appointees are Otobong Edemidiong as chief protocol officer and Uduak Inam as economic adviser to the governor. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has announced the appointment of Chidiebere Onyia as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG). Mr Mbah made the announcement in a statement he issued himself on Tuesday. I have just appointed Prof. Chidiebere Onyia (as the) new Secretary to the State Government (SSG), he said in the statement, which was posted on his verified Twitter handle. This is Mr Mbahs first appointment after being sworn in as the states fourth governor on Monday. Mr Onyia, until his appointment, was the managing director of the United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Facility. He was also the lead strategy advisor for the Federal Government of Nigeria and World Bank Group Power Sector Recovery Programme and had, over the years, rendered services to different international organisations and countries, among them the United Nations, Germany and Russia. He is a visiting professor of education at Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, and a former visiting professor at the University of Nigeria Nsukka. He serves on the governing council of two private Nigerian universities. He holds a bachelors degree in Biological Sciences, a masters degree in curriculum and instruction, MBA and a doctorate in educational leadership. He also had a post-doctoral scholarship in education policy from the Ivy League Peabody College, Vanderbilt University. The new SGG has over 25 years of experience in leadership, innovation, strategy, institutional reforms and research and has received numerous international and national awards and accolades for leadership excellence and outstanding contributions to the education sector. He is well-published and a certified educational consultant, researcher, presenter and author of many books. He was a member of the Transition Committee, which developed an actionable plan for Mr Mbahs administration based on his manifesto to the states people. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Osun State High Court has sentenced the owner of Hilton Hotel and Resort, Ile-Ife, Abdulrahman Adedoyin, to death by hanging over the murder of a post-graduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Timothy Adegoke. The hotelier was sentenced to death alongside two others found guilty of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Mr Adegoke, a Business Administration (MBA) student, travelled from Abuja to Ile-Ife to sit for his examination. He lodged in the hotel, where he hoped to stay out the period of the examinations but was declared missing by the police on 7 November 2021. A few days later, the Osun State Police command released a statement disclosing that the 37-year-old student had been found dead. The details of the circumstances of his death were not disclosed in the statement. While the hotel owner and three others were sentenced to death, three other staff members of the hotel, namely; Magdalene Chiefuna, Lawrence Oluwole and Adedeji Adesola, were discharged and acquitted by the court. The court also slated the judgement for the sixth staff for Wednesday. Mr Adedoyin, chairman of the hotel, was charged alongside six of his staff; Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle and Adedeji Adesola. The defendants faced an 18-count charge of murder, conspiracy, and oath of secrecy. While delivering her judgement on the case, the Chief Judge of Osun State, Adepele Ojo, held that the circumstantial evidence available to the court pointed to the killing of Mr Adegoke while being a guest at the hotel owned by Mr Adedoyin. The judge added that Mr Adedoyins decision not to enter the witness box did not help him, as the circumstantial evidence had shifted the burden of proof on him. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The police on Tuesday in Ibadan paraded 78 suspects arrested for allegedly planning to wreak havoc in the city over the sack of the leaders of a roads transport group. The state government had earlier on Monday evening announced the suspension of the Disciplinary Committee of the states Parks Management System, which the state government had set up to manage motor parks in the state. The committee is led by a political enforcer, Mukaila Lamidi, also known as Auxiliary. The suspension of the committee had caused anxiety in Ibadan where disputes among road transport unions usually led to mayhem. A member of the disbanded group was reportedly killed during a shootout with the police on Tuesday. The police made this known while parading 78 persons believed to be members of the dissolved PMS for unlawful possession of firearms, ammunition and other criminal instruments. Trouble started in the state after the announcement of Auxiliarys sack through a statement by the governors Chief of Staff, Segun Ogunwuyi. On Tuesday, the police besieged Auxiliarys hotel where they said they recovered arms and ammunition. The suspended transport union leader was reported to have escaped with some of his boys during the encounter. While speaking during the parade, the state commissioner of police, Adebowale Williams, told journalists that his men went to Auxiliarys hostel acting on intelligence of his plans to unleash mayhem. Sequel to the above, on Tuesday 30/05/2023 in a strategic intelligence coordinated raid around his location at Diamond Hotel, Alakia-Isebo, under Egbeda LGA, (78) Seventy-Eight suspected hoodlums who had perfected plans to unleash mayhem at the early hours of today at major parts of the Metropolis were arrested in possession of sophisticated firearms, (724) Seven Hundred and Twenty-four Cartridges assorted charms, (33) Thirty-three Mobile Phones, and a cash sum of about (N3,450,000) Three Million Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira Only. The police boss said sophisticated firearms were recovered from the hotel rooms and in the trunk compartment of parked vehicles within the hotel. Exhibits recovered from the suspects are one AK-47 Riffle, four (4) AK-47 magazines, Eighty four (84) live AK-47 Ammunitions, Nineteen (19) pump action riffles, one Barreta Pistol, Seven Cut-to-size Gun, one English made Barrel Gun, Seven Hundred and twenty four (724) live cartridges, 25 cutlasses, Seven Jack knives, thirty three(33) mobile phones, one Samsung Laptop, Charms, One Mazda Bus, One Toyota Sienna, Cash sum of Three Million, Four Hundred and fifty thousand naira, (N3,450,000.00). Worthy of note is that, though the PMS Chieftain was able to escape with some of his boys during the gun duel with the Police, However a member of the group was neutralized in a gun duel with the Police. Recall that the same group was alleged to be responsible for the attack on (14) Fourteen members of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) along Agodi axis under Ibadan North-East LGA enroute the venue of yesterdays Inaugural celebrations. Furthermore, in line with Standard Operational Procedure, all recovered items were properly Documented, packaged and recorded for onward forensics analysis and for evidence purposes in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and all other relevant laws. READ ALSO: Oyo Governor Makinde dissolves cabinet In furtherance of the above, Oyo State Police Command under the constructive leadership of CP Adebowale Williams psc (+)fdc reiterates its unwavering commitments towards tackling criminal rascality, hooliganism and blatant disregard for the rule of law. Mr Williams called on members of the public to cooperate with the police by providing useful information to help apprehend the sacked PMS chairman. Moving forward, residents shall witness high octane patrols, coordinated stop and search along designate points across the nook and cranny of the State. Also, the CP has directed Area Commanders to personally lead convoy patrols and rings of supervision of police operatives within their respective areas of jurisdiction. In cases of emergencies, the Command can always be reached through these emergency control room numbers: 615(Toll free) (Oyo State Security Trust Fund), and Oyo State Police Command Emergency lines 07055495413 and 08081768614. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print DUBLIN, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "North America Digital Health Market and Trends 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Teleconsultation in the form of video and audio calls has gained importance among medical professionals and patients in the U.S. and Canada Digital health trends like remote patient monitoring, telemedicine, and health apps are driven by technologies such as artificial intelligence, AR/VR, and big data, shaping the global market. Consumers are increasingly open to telehealth and teleconsultation services, primarily for prescription refills, minor illnesses, and mental health conditions. However, according to report, telemedicine usage for emergencies, physical therapy, and annual checkups remains low, with less than one-third of U.S. respondents utilizing these services in 2022. Video visits were the preferred virtual health approach for physicians, followed by chat via digital apps and physician-to-physician consultations. In Canada, respondents showed willingness for digital health services, particularly digital prescription transfers and accessing personal health information online. Virtual consultations and video calls were preferred, with telephone calls and online chat being the most used virtual visit approaches. Minor illnesses, health follow-ups, and prescription refills were the top reasons for virtual visits, while mental health sessions and routine check-ups still leaned towards in-person visits. Although digital health solutions are gaining popularity among patients and medical professionals, certain challenges still prevail Although digital health solutions are gaining popularity among patients and medical professionals, certain challenges still prevail. The rising appeal of digital health tools has led to their demand not only among patients but also among medical professionals globally, and North America is no exception to this. The USA has seen high demand for advanced healthcare solutions, such as online therapy sessions, sleep monitors, blood pressure monitors, among others, with more than two-thirds of consumers indicating that they plan to use more than one digital health app in the future as of 2022, according to the report. Health apps and wearables are also now popular among consumers in the USA who use them multiple times a day or at least once daily, mainly for evaluating sleep, weight, and for exercise and monitoring heart rate. More than one-third of surveyed physicians in the U.S. claim that communication is more effective in person than virtually, while close to one-third of physicians believe that clinical considerations are also more effective in person rather than online, as of March 2022. In Canada, most surveyed respondents indicated that they use at least one digital health service, with more than one-third of respondents accessing personal health information digitally as of November 2022. Furthermore, more than half of surveyed healthcare providers in the U.S. use telehealth because it is easy to reach out to patients and allows flexibility in working remotely, with tech issues and difficulty in examining patients being the top challenges that more than half of surveyed physicians faced while using telehealth as of May 2022. Budget and return on investment, along with workforce shortages, were some other barriers that healthcare organizations faced when trying to reach the ideal digital health state as of February 2023. Companies Mentioned Calm IBM My fitness pal National Health Service (NHS) Omada Planet fitness Proteus Digital Sweatcoin Well Doc Questions Covered in the Report: What were the preferred ways of accessing telemedicine among adults in the USA in 2022? in 2022? What were the main reasons for using health applications cited by adults in the USA as of January 2023 ? as of ? What were the top benefits among patients and healthcare providers for using in May 2022 ? ? What were the digital health services that respondents in Canada showed the most interest as of November 2022 ? showed the most interest as of ? What was the type of health information that respondents in Canada have access to virtually in November 2022 ? Countries Covered: Canada USA Key Topics Covered: 1. Management Summary 2. Global Overview and Trends in Digital Health, May 2023 (1 of 5) (1 of 5) Overview and Trends in Digital Health, May 2023 (2 of 5) (2 of 5) Overview and Trends in Digital Health, May 2023 (3 of 5) (3 of 5) Overview and Trends in Digital Health, May 2023 (4 of 5) (4 of 5) Overview and Trends in Digital Health, May 2023 (5 of 5) (5 of 5) Digital Health Market Size, in USD billion, 2022 & 2032f Leading Digital Technology Investments Made in Digital Healthcare, in % of Healthcare Leaders, March 2022 Healthcare Services That Healthcare Leaders Are Offering vs Those They Are Willing to Offer in 3 Years, in % of Healthcare Leaders, February 2023 (1 of 2) (1 of 2) Healthcare Services That Healthcare Leaders Are Offering vs Those They Are Willing to Offer in 3 Years, in % of Healthcare Leaders, February 2023 (2 of 2) (2 of 2) Total Digital Health Funding, in USD billion, & Factors Leading to the Decline of Digital Health Funding, 2020-2022 Total Digital Health Funding, by Region, in USD million & Number of Deals, in Absolute Number, Q4 2022 Total Digital Health Funding, by Segments, in USD billion & Number of Deals, in Absolute Number, Q4 2022 Breakdown of Deals Among Investors, in % of Investors, Q4 2022 Share of Healthcare Leaders Who Believe Virtual Care Had or Will Have the Biggest Impact on Improving Care, in %, February 2023 Share of Trust in Predictive Analytics Across Clinical Settings, by Region, in % of Healthcare Leaders, March 2022 Adoption of Predictive Analytics in Clinical Setting, by Country, in % of Healthcare Leaders, March 2022 Share of Adults Who Used Health Apps, in %, February 2022 Level of Positive Impact That Healthcare Executives Believe AI Will Have on Their Organization in the Future, in % of Healthcare Executives, 2022e Share of Healthcare Executives for Whom IT/Security Breaches Are Primary Concerns About Disinformation Attacks, in %, 2022e Share of Healthcare Leaders Who Want to Partner Outside Their Healthcare System & Types of Organizations They Want to Partner With, in %, February 2023 Share of Patients Who Enrolled or Are Likely to Enroll in Receiving Electronic Bills from Their Healthcare Providers, in %, 2022 3. North America 3.1. Regional Overview and Trends in Digital Health, May 2023 3.2. USA Share of Physicians Who Believe Select Elements Work Better in-Person Than Virtually, in %, March 2022 Breakdown of Physicians Who Believe Digital Health Solutions are Beneficial, in %, 2022e Top Virtual Health Approach Implemented by Physicians, in % of Physicians, March 2022 Top Healthcare Areas Where Technology Will be Beneficial, in % of Physicians, 2022e Top Digital Health Solutions Physicians are Enthusiastic About, in % of Physicians, 2022e Frequency of Using Health Apps Among Adults, in % of Adults, January 2023 Top Reasons for Using Health Applications, in % of Adults, January 2023 Top 10 Mobile Health and Fitness Applications, by Downloads, in Millions, 2022 Share of Adults Who are Concerned About Privacy of Their Health Data on Their Smartphone Apps, by Generation, in %, January 2023 Frequency of Using Health Wearables Among Adults, in % of Adults, January 2023 Share of Wearable Owners Willing to Share Their Health Data, in %, 2022e Share of Respondents Who Accessed Healthcare via Telemedicine at Some Point in Their Lives, in %, 2022 Share of Respondents Aged 55+ Who Used Telemedicine, in %, 2022 Breakdown of Respondents Who Prefer in-Person Care vs Telemedicine, by Categories, in %, 2022 Preferred Way of Accessing Telemedicine Among Adults, in % of Adults, 2022 Top Benefits Among Patients for Using Telehealth, in % of Patients, May 2022 Top Benefits Among Healthcare Providers of Using Telehealth, in % of Healthcare Providers, May 2022 Top Challenges That Healthcare Providers Faced While Using Telehealth, in % of Healthcare Providers, May 2022 Impact of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning on Select Healthcare Outcomes, in % of Healthcare Executives, July 2022 Top Effects of Virtual Health on Access to Care for Underprivileged Groups, in % of Physicians, March 2022 Top 3 Barriers Hindering Organization's Ability to Reach Ideal Digital Health State, in % of Health System Leaders, February 2023 3.3. Canada Share of Respondents Who Showed Interest in at Least One Digital Health Service, in %, November 2022 Types of Digital Health Services Respondents are Interested in, in % of Respondents, November 2022 Share of Respondents Who Accessed Their Personal Health Information Online, in %, November 2022 Types of Personal Health Information That Respondents Have Access to Online, in % of Respondents, November 2022 Virtual Visit Types That Respondents are Most Interested in, in % of Respondents, November 2022 Top Reasons for Choosing Virtual Visits Over In-Person Visits, in % of Respondents, November 2022 Preferred Virtual Visit Type as per Health Encounters, in % of Respondents, November 2022 For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/j3t13b About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Laura Wood | +353-1-481-1716 | [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets Global Automotive Supplier helps grow next-gen STEM talent and develop clean mobility solutions DETROIT, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (AAM), (NYSE: AXL) is helping grow young engineering talent and improve electric vehicle efficiency through a Visionary Sponsorship of the EcoCAR EV Challenge. In the four-year student competition, university teams compete by engineering next generation battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and use automation and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) to create new vehicle features and technologies that decarbonize the automotive industry. "AAM has a long history of supporting STEM education at all levels and helping grow the next generation of automotive talent," said David C. Dauch, AAM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "As a Visionary Sponsor of the EcoCAR EV Challenge, we are helping students learn about sustainable mobility and fuel their engineering passion." AAM's four-year sponsorship is comprised of financial contributions as well as "In-Kind Credits" such as software and engineering support. Most significantly, AAM is supplying five college teams with its premier 3-in-1 configurable platform electric drive unit. This next-generation EDU combines a high-speed motor, compact gearbox and integrated inverter, offering a 40-percent reduction in packaging space. AAM's EDU provides best-in-class improvements in mass and volumetric efficiency, power density and reduced power loss. It also has the potential to improve range further helping EVs create a carbon footprint advantage. Through its sponsorship, AAM is developing relationships with premier engineering talent a total of more than 2,600 diverse students from across North America are participating in the EcoCAR EV Challenge. AAM plans to host a winter workshop at its Detroit Campus in early 2024 where students can see firsthand the innovative products and processes being developed by AAM engineers. To learn more about the EcoCAR EV Challenge, visit its website. About AAM: As a leading global Tier 1 Automotive and Mobility Supplier, AAM (NYSE: AXL) designs, engineers and manufactures Driveline and Metal Forming technologies to support electric, hybrid and internal combustion vehicles. Headquartered in Detroit with more than 80 facilities in 18 countries, AAM is Bringing the Future Faster for a safer and more sustainable tomorrow. To learn more, visit aam.com. Media Contacts: Christopher M. Son Charlotte Fisher, Vice President, Marketing & Communications Director, Communications & Community Relations (313) 758-4814 (313) 758-2411 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. Reimagined conference focused on the future of the wealth management business attracted 1,000 financial professional participants New firm name and brand to be announced during June 21st livestream event PHOENIX , May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Advisor Group, the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, today announced the successful conclusion of the firm's first ever NXT Conference, held at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, May 23-25. The hybrid conference attracted nearly 1,000 in-person and virtual financial professional attendees and featured unique future-focused content and experiences. In addition to its full educational and networking agenda, the conference served as an opportunity to announce the date of a live-stream presentation to unveil the new brand for the combined Advisor Group network. Replacing the firm's Wealth Management Symposium, NXT 2023 evolved to meet the changing needs of the industry and focus on the financial professional of tomorrow who, regardless of their age, are committed to long-term success by serving next generation clients. The event brought together forward-thinking experts who explored emerging industry trends such as use of AI technologies, the changing workplace, and the future of productivity and teams; and guided attendees on preparing their businesses and personal skills for what lies ahead. The firm also announced the creation of their NextGen Advisor Council and held the council's first meeting in Louisville prior to the conference start. The NextGen Council is sponsored by EVP of Corporate Strategy Dimple Shah and will help create structure, focus, and connectivity around Advisor Group's commitment to aligning firm strategy with the needs of next generation financial professionals and their clients. Council members will play a leadership role in helping Advisor Group determine where and how they focus efforts to serve and amplify the NextGen community. "This year's conference was a future-forward event aimed to inspire and educate all advisors who are currently or would like to serve NextGen clients," said Jamie Price, CEO of Advisor Group. "In speaking with the advisors in attendance, I repeatedly heard they were already making plans to incorporate the lessons from our speakers and the targeted breakout sessions into their practices. I'd like to thank the financial professionals who took the time out of their busy schedules to join us, as well as our terrific strategic partners and home office staff who make events like these possible." Future-forward keynote speakers and breakout sessions To equip advisors with the tools they need to meet the evolving needs of today's clients, while setting themselves up to expand their reach into the next generation, NXT's schedule incorporated a range of business experts, futurists, and financial services experts as speakers. Keynotes included: Dr. Sahar Yousef and Professor Lucas Miller , faculty members at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business, where they teach the popular MBA course "Becoming Superhuman: The Science of Productivity and Performance." , faculty members at UC Berkeley's of Business, where they teach the popular MBA course "Becoming Superhuman: The Science of Productivity and Performance." Mike Walsh , is CEO of Tomorrow, a consultancy designing companies for the 21 st century. He is a leading authority on disruptive innovation, digital transformation, and new ways of thinking. , is CEO of Tomorrow, a consultancy designing companies for the 21 century. He is a leading authority on disruptive innovation, digital transformation, and new ways of thinking. Smiley Poswolsky, a renowned workplace belonging expert who helps companies foster belonging and human connection in a hybrid workforce. Additionally, the event incorporated targeted breakouts sessions aligned with four tracks: Providing Holistic Wealth Management Solutions Growing Your Business Adding Time & Capacity to Your Day Elevating Client Experiences & Adding New Clients "This event was designed entirely for the financial professionals in attendance," said Greg Cornick, President, Advice and Wealth Management. "We intentionally selected speakers and curated content that would have the biggest impact for advisors focused on the financial industry of tomorrow. Our goal was to provide a different experience than what they usually see at conferences and give them new ideas and perspectives from inside and outside of our industry." Date announced for livestream brand announcement During her mainstage general session presentation at NXT, EVP, Marketing and Communications Jen Roche provided a sneak peek at the new brand platform and announced that Advisor Group would be hosting a public live stream event to announce the new name and branding for the firm and it's eight wealth management firms. The livestream will take place on June 21, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET. Registration is available online through this link. "Our new brand is being designed with a vision for the future in mind," said Ms. Roche. "We're building something that we hope will represent the advisor of tomorrow while honoring the heritage, culture, and strength that brought us to where we are today. We can't wait to share our new name and brand with the world." In April, Advisor Group announced plans to simplify its business structure by consolidating the firms in its network under one new brand. This move will enhance the financial professional experience and reduce complexity through a unified platform, technology stack, procedures, and support model, without the need for repapering of client accounts. About Advisor Group Advisor Group, Inc., a portfolio company of Reverence Capital Partners, is the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, serving approximately 11,000 financial professionals. The firm is mission-driven to support the strategic role that financial professionals can play in the lives of their clients. Cultivating a spirit of entrepreneurship and independence, Advisor Group champions the enduring value of financial professionals. For more information visit https://www.advisorgroup.com . Securities and investment advisory services are offered through the firms: FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., Triad Advisors, LLC, Infinex Investments, Inc., and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, and members of FINRA and SIPC. Securities are offered through Securities America, Inc., American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc., and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co., broker-dealers and member of FINRA and SIPC. Advisory services are offered through Arbor Point Advisors, LLC, American Portfolios Advisors, Inc., Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management, Inc., Securities America Advisors, Inc., and Triad Hybrid Solutions, LLC, registered investment advisers. Advisory programs offered by FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., Securities America Advisors, Inc., Triad Advisors, LLC., and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., are sponsored by VISION2020 Wealth Management Corp., an affiliated registered investment adviser. Media Inquiries Joseph Kuo / Donald Cutler Haven Tower Group [email protected] or [email protected] 424 317 4851 or 424 317 4864 SOURCE Advisor Group Let me come clean first thing. I did have to watch the first thirty minutes of Risto Jarvas Time of Roses three times before I really got the hang of what is going on in the film. Set in the year 2012, but with a pop art visual style that is undeniably 60s, the film is brisk and somewhat elliptical in the way it sets up its plot and its vision of the future. It doesnt really stop to explain, and it expects you to keep up. The film, originally released in Finland in 1969 and in limited U.S. release in 1970, is an example of speculative fiction pointedly commenting on the present-day society in which it was made with the added distance of sci-fi to make the critique a little more palatable. But, with a film set at a future date thats already the past for todays viewers, and which features constant references to historical events that are speculation on the filmmakers part about how the end of the 20th Century might play out, it can be a bit tricky to parse. Our main character, Raimo (Arto Tuominen), is a historian and propagandist at the Institute of History in a future Helsinki where class conflict has been officially eradicated and intellectual progressives run things with an air of smug satisfaction. Raimo is certainly smugly satisfied as he sets out to recount the life of a nobody for a primetime TV presentation. He picks the life of a salesgirl who moonlighted as a cheesecake model and did a little acting. The model, Saara (Ritva Vespa), died in an on-set accident, run over by a car. (In a bizarre twist of fate, director Risto Jarva was killed in real life by a car accident in 1977, one year after his fictional character was to die.) Raimo is manipulated by two colleagues, one flirtatious (Tarja Markus, made up with remarkably weird and spiky eyelashes) and one grimly idealistic (Eero Keskitalo). They push Raimo toward using Kisse, a doppelganger for Saara also played by Ritva Vespa, in his film. Kisse is a worker in a nuclear power plant where the workers are starting to act collectively and threaten a strike. In this version of 2012, strikes are not only antiquated but they threaten the image of modern society as a perfect utopia. The main difficulty I had with Time of Roses is that while the premise and conflict are actually fairly clear, I had trouble figuring out exactly why any of the characters were doing what they were doing. I was never quite sure why Raimo was compelled to make a documentary about a random dead woman: what did it do for his career or how did it burnish the Institutes vision of society? And I was never really sure why exactly the strikers wanted to entangle Raimo and Kisse: was it to create a scandal, or to make the influential propagandist sympathetic to the workers cause by planting a smart, sexy worker in his orbit? The film ends without answering these questions, choosing instead to focus on Raimos calculated single-mindedness and how it leads to tragedy. I wouldnt say that Time of Roses is poorly written, but it is opaquely written in a way that made me confused and annoyed more than intrigued. Your mileage may vary, especially considering that the film is quite stylishly designed, shot, and edited. It was also clearly constructed with a great deal of intelligence. The films vision of the future does echo elements of things that were to come. The dissolution of East Germany in the 1980s is mentioned in a history doc, although the details are not quite spot-on. Raimo is shown ordering a dessert from a video screen, which isnt exactly DoorDash, but feels close enough. Plus, a sequence with nightclub patrons dancing quietly to music in headphones is a clear model for the silent discos and silent raves that caught on in the 2000s. Time of Roses is so visually unusual, so daring in its construction, and so ambitious thematically that, despite my quibbles with the plot, I am compelled to support it. Its certainly not your standard-issue love story. Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray Time of Roses is presented on a Region A-locked Blu-ray, in a standard keepcase. A booklet is included, featuring some stills, an essay by Ville Suhonen, and excerpted writings from director Risto Jarva. The disc loads to a video menu with clips from the film. The Climate Action Reserve issues carbon credits to AgriCapture for conserving native grasslands and preventing greenhouse gas emissions on a West Texas ranch. NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AgriCapture is issued the first-ever avoided grasslands conversion carbon credits in Texas through a partnership with the property's landowner and the Texas Agricultural Land Trust to protect soil carbon and ensure that the property's native grasslands will not be converted. The credits were issued by the Climate Action Reserve (CAR), a globally trusted carbon market offset registry, to a Bailey County ranch. Located in the High Plains of the Texas Panhandle, the area is recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a New Dust Bowl Zone, where preserving native grassland habitats and preventing land use conversion is especially critical. AgriCapture makes history as the first project in Texas to receive carbon credits for grasslands conservation. Tweet this "We are proud to deliver the first avoided grasslands conversion carbon credits in the history of the state of Texas and thrilled that AgriCapture's programs will unlock significant value for Texas landowners," says AgriCapture Board Member and Texas landowner, Kam Kronenberg. Based in Nashville, AgriCapture was created by a group of agriculture specialists, passionate environmentalists, and economists to combat climate change through sustainable agriculture. AgriCapture verifies Climate-Friendly agricultural practices on farms, ranches, and grasslands to track environmental benefits and boost profitability for agricultural partners across the country. AgriCapture's Avoided Grasslands Conversion Project is dedicated to protecting native grasslands and ranches from conversion to cropland, allowing the land to naturally sequester carbon, and prevent agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To facilitate the generation of carbon credits, AgriCapture methodically collects data on soil types, vegetative cover, land use history, and ranch operations to submit for registry verification and credit issuance under CAR's Grasslands Protocol. The AgriCapture team quantifies avoided GHG emissions and monitors ranch operations to protect underground carbon storage. The Texas Agricultural Land Trust (TALT) partnered with AgriCapture on the Bailey County project and holds the conservation easement that will protect the land from being converted or developed. The easement contains provisions that make the property eligible to receive carbon credits for sequestering and storing soil carbon, as well as eliminating emissions that would be associated with crop production. "We believe this bellwether project could result in future carbon credit revenue streams for agricultural landowners in Texas and beyond," said TALT CEO Chad Ellis. "We are excited about what these new carbon markets will mean for working lands families, and we look forward to sharing our learning with landowners as this project progresses." Despite constant threat of development and conversion to cropland, native grasslands provide critically important wildlife habitat, filter water flowing into aquifers, rivers, and lakes, and naturally sequester over a third of land-based carbon. Grasslands conservation carbon credits incentivize landowners to protect underground carbon storage within their grasslands. Corporate supporters of the Avoided Grasslands Conversion Project will offset company GHG emissions while preserving disappearing native grasslands. About AgriCapture AgriCapture is a leading agricultural technology company that enables farmers and landowners to identify and implement climate-friendly practices and capture value for their positive climate impact. AgriCapture rigorously collects field level data and monitors field operations to generate carbon credits and Climate-Friendly Rice products. By providing farmers, ranchers, and landowners with tools to monetize their carbon sequestration and emission reductions, we enable them to conserve natural resources while increasing profitability. For more information about our climate-friendly practices, visit us at www.agricapture.com. Contact: Megan Garvey Phone: (859) 317- 0789 Email: [email protected] SOURCE AgriCapture Kevin Bong appointed Senior Managing Director, Chief Investment Strategist and Head of Singapore EDMONTON, AB, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo) is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Bong as Senior Managing Director, Chief Investment Strategist and Head of Singapore. Mr. Bong, who brings with him 20 years of global portfolio construction and capital allocation experience, will assume his new role August 14. Kevin Bong appointed Senior Managing Director, Chief Investment Strategist and Head of Singapore (CNW Group/Alberta Investment Management Corporation) Mr. Bong will be responsible for setting overall investment strategy including total portfolio management, dynamic and tactical allocation, currency and cash management, and a pan-asset class strategy with a focus on geographic diversification and thematic investing. In addition to his global responsibilities, he will also set the strategic direction of our team in Singapore. "I am delighted to welcome Kevin to AIMCo, and I am certain that he will make an immediate impact, given his long-standing track record in total portfolio management and, as a supportive collaborator with the investment partners that we work with in the Asia-Pacific region," said Marlene Puffer, Chief Investment Officer, AIMCo. "Kevin's extensive global experience will serve our clients well as we enhance our total portfolio activities and as we deepen our footprint, our partnerships, and our investments in Asia and around the world." Mr. Bong joins AIMCo from the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) where he was a Global Leadership Group Managing Director and Director of the Economics & Investment Strategy department responsible for articulating GIC's strategic outlook, determining asset exposures and benchmarks, and optimizing capital allocation for the portfolio. Mr. Bong is currently a Board Director of the Pacific Pension & Investment Institute (PPI), a Board Director of the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds (IFSWF), a Co-opted Investment Committee Member for the National University of Singapore (NUS) Board of Trustees, and an Investment Committee member for the Tote Board. Mr. Bong holds degrees in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science and Management Science (Finance) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and he is a CFA charter holder. AIMCo is among Canada's largest and most diversified institutional investment managers with $158 billion of assets under management. AIMCo invests globally on behalf of 17 pension, endowment and government fund clients in the Province of Alberta. AIMCo manages more than 30 pools of capital on behalf of these clients. With offices in Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, London and Luxembourg, our more than 200 investment professionals bring deep expertise in a range of sectors, geographies and industries. For more information about AIMCo please follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter. SOURCE Alberta Investment Management Corporation BRISBANE, Australia, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Amsterdam emerged victorious over Tel Aviv as the world's most innovative small city, according to the annual Innovation Cities Index Small 200 city rankings, released on Monday by 2ThinkNow. Basel, Frankfurt, and Dusseldorf followed closely behind in the small cities category. Christopher Hire, Director, 2ThinkNow Christopher Hire, Presenting Innovation Cities Index Results at Data Conference, Brisbane, Australia Meanwhile, Silicon Valley comfortably surpassed Berlin, Stockholm, Dubai, and Munich to claim the top spot in the global medium city category. The Innovation Cities Index: Small 200 and Medium 200, which are globally recognized population-adjusted city rankings for innovation, were unveiled. The rankings utilize the same 162 indicators as the Innovation Cities Index, encompassing various aspects of the cities' innovation ecosystems. These indicators measure areas such as startups, economic and social indicators, sustainability, walkability, bicycle friendliness, and transportation options. We wanted to acknowledge the remarkable efforts of trade boards and economic teams in repeatedly winning business over larger cities. Most city rankings are not population-adjusted, and while size does have network effects, these results are intriguing. That's why we are sharing our research," said Christopher Hire, Director Data at 2ThinkNow. " Hire further added, "We particularly felt that small cities with populations under a million were not receiving sufficient recognition for their efforts. Hence, we introduced the Small 200 to assist them in benchmarking their performance better and identifying when they were 'punching above their weight.'" Additionally, the rankings for small and mid-size cities in the United States were released on Monday. These rankings exclude the largest metropolises in the country, providing a preferable alternative for innovators who prefer to remain within their state rather than relocating to New York or Chicago. Honolulu, Albany, Ventura, Albuquerque, and Charleston secured the top positions in the United States Small Scale cities list, representing diverse states. In the U.S. Mid-Size cities category, Miami, Philadelphia, Portland, Austin, and Las Vegas emerged as winners. The analysts noted that the United States-specific rankings were influenced by cities lack of transportation options and heavy reliance on cars, leading to adjustments in the population cutoff point. 2ThinkNow's annual rankings are one of the most comprehensive assessments of their kind worldwide. Researchers from over 180 countries rely on results each year. The city rankings provide researchers with a means to evaluate the conditions for innovation. In addition, 2ThinkNow's algorithmic city rankings enable cities to monitor and enhance their global performance over a decade. Cities with favorable innovation conditions experience lower unemployment rates, higher incomes, and greater cultural success in attracting talent. Ultimately, higher per capita income can contribute to reduced inequality. For more information and access to the new city rankings, visit the Innovation Cities Index website. Innovation Cities Index: Small 200 Top 20 Amsterdam Tel Aviv Basel Frankfurt Dusseldorf Quebec Rotterdam Gothenburg Geneva Tallinn Edinburgh Hamilton Albany Malmo Nuremberg The Hague Ventura Salzburg Florence Essen Innovation Cities Index: Medium 200 Top 20 San Francisco - San Jose Berlin Stockholm Dubai Munich Vienna Seattle Montreal Milan Vancouver Copenhagen Miami Philadelphia Oslo Osaka - Kobe Dublin San Diego Brisbane Helsinki Hamburg Innovation Cities Index: USA Small Cities Top 10 Honolulu Albany Ventura Albuquerque Charleston Ann Arbor Allentown Boulder Anchorage Knoxville Innovation Cities Index: USA Mid-size Cities Top 10 Miami Philadelphia Portland Austin Las Vegas Newark Baltimore Oakland Orlando Sacramento Media contact: Chris Hire [email protected] +61730126723 SOURCE 2ThinkNow BEIJING, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from China Daily: The Chinese river dolphin known as "the panda of the waters" is revered as both a symbol of the Yangtze River's ecosystem and an important part of the exotic wildlife portfolio that has earned the global scientific community's respect for China's biodiversity. A Chinese river dolphin and her baby. Yang He / For China Daily Yang He, a Party member and ecological photographer who specializes in the species, shared his story of protecting the Chinese river dolphin during a Party meeting in Wuhan on Tuesday. Shortly after 12 noon on Feb 9, 2022, while taking photos on the bank of the Yangtze downstream from Yichang city, Yang spotted a Chinese river dolphin struggling to free itself from a tangle of rope and plastic. He immediately realized the seriousness of the creature's plight and quickly zoomed in with his camera to observe that the dolphin's tail was ensnared in rope, putting it in danger of drowning. Yang called Yichang city's Fishery Law Enforcement Inspection Team and urgently requested help. Minutes later, a team of four rescuers jumped onto a speedboat and rushed to the nearby ship lock. They quickly contacted the local maritime affairs bureau, urgently requesting all nearby river traffic be halted in order to avoid harming the dolphin. The bureau responded by immediately issuing an emergency instruction to the crews of waiting vessels to pause their operation. The rescue team arrived on the scene at 12:50 and found the frightened dolphin in an extremely agitated state, but within two minutes they managed to cut off the rope and plastic and safely return the animal to watery freedom. Shortly thereafter the waiting ships were notified and the busy river resumed its normal posture. But the story didn't end there. Yang kept thinking about the little Chinese river dolphin and he was delighted when they renewed their acquaintance. "It seems the dolphin can recognize me. Whenever I go to the riverside to take pictures, it always appears in front of my lens," said Yang, who believes the creature has a sense of spirituality. Yang used the dolphin's rescue date as its identification number "209". One month later he noticed that it still had marks on its tail and hadn't fully recovered, but was able to jump out of the water and catch fish. Two months after that, 209's injury was fully healed but had left a noticeable scar. "The scar makes it easy for me to quickly distinguish that dolphin from the others," said Yang. He subsequently noticed that 209 had a growing belly and soon a lively baby was seen frolicking at her side. "She had a baby and even brought it to see me. Seeing the Chinese river dolphin mom cuddling her baby was very heartwarming, just like us humans," said Yang, who named the youngster "429" in honor of the date he first photographed it. In March of this year Yang discovered through his lens that 209's belly had grown again, and her appetite had increased. "She's going to have another baby!" he exclaimed with delight. Yang isn't the only one to fall in love with these beautiful creatures. Wang Ding, a researcher at the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has spent a lifetime studying Baiji dolphins and Chinese river dolphins. Wang said that under reduced external disturbances the reproductive capacity of Chinese river dolphins is still relatively strong and they can give birth to two litters every three years as confirmed by Yang's photos of 209. In 2006 the functional extinction of the Baiji dolphin became a permanent hurt in Wang's heart, underlining the importance of protecting endangered species before it's too late and making sure Chinese river dolphins inhabit the Yangtze for generations to come. The situation is severe, as their number has been rapidly declining. In the early 1990s there were around 3,600. By 2006 the population had shrunk to around 1,800, and in 2017 there were only about 1,012. However, a scientific survey conducted in 2022 revealed its population in the river hit 1,249, an increase which is a historical turning point for their numbers. After the functional extinction of the Baiji dolphin in 2006, the Chinese river dolphin became the only aquatic mammal in the Yangtze River. The "smiling angels" have lived and thrived in the Yangtze for 50,000 years and continue to serve as an accurate gauge of the river's ecological health. To protect the Chinese river dolphin and other endangered aquatic species, the Chinese government established the Baiji Dolphin National Nature Reserve and the Tian-e-zhou Oxbow Semi-natural Reserve. The Tian-e-Zhou Nature Reserve in Hubei province is the country's first translocated sanctuary for cetaceans. In 2021 the Chinese river dolphin was elevated to the highest level of protection after being designated a national first-class protected animal by the State Council of China. This is a significant step towards the conservation and restoration of the Yangtze River's ecosystem, and demonstrates the government's resolute commitment to preserving the unique biodiversity of the region. Zhang Lei, Chen Huijun, Zhao Lin and Lou Yaling contributed to this story. SOURCE China Daily BOSTON, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Relationships play a vital role in our personal health, longevity, and life satisfactionyet recent studies show Americans are increasingly lonely and socially isolated. With support from Einhorn Collaborative, the Foundation for Social Connection (F4SC), Harvard University's Human Flourishing Program, and Healthy Places by Design have launched "Building Connected Communities," a two-year initiative to foster social connection in communities across the country. "Our goal is to lift up effective local solutions so we can all learn from successes." Jillian Racoosin Tweet this Building Connected Communities image (PRNewsfoto/Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness) The Surgeon General's recent advisory, Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, calls attention to the importance of social connection for individual health and on community-wide metrics of health and well-being, especially the significant consequences when social connection is lacking. Facing a crisis of connection deepened by the COVID-19 pandemic, many local leaders and organizations have taken steps to address loneliness and social isolation in their communities. These have included programs that build social networks or foster civic engagement and neighborhood improvements that encourage people to gather and interact, as well as public policies and business interventions that bolster social connection. But local leaders are also voicing a need for additional guidance and support to develop and deploy effective strategies. Guided by this need, Building Connected Communities will focus on identifying, developing, and deploying evidence-based tools, best practices, and resources that local leaders can use to strengthen social connection across all ages and stages of life. "Across the country, communities are taking steps to increase social inclusion and a sense of belonging among residents," said Jillian Racoosin, Executive Director of the Foundation for Social Connection. "Our goal is to lift up effective local solutions so we can all learn from their successes." While the project will explore solutions across the lifespan and all demographics, it will have a specific focus on at-risk populations, such as youth and adolescents, as well as members of the BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disability communities. These various groups have strengths in building community and connection, but they have also experienced social isolation and loneliness at higher rates. The initiative began by surfacing effective local solutions for building social connection, starting with a series of forums throughout March and April 2023, with special convenings in Atlanta, Georgia; Hennepin County, Minnesota; San Antonio, Texas; and Bangor, Maine, to gather ideas and insights from community leaders. (Have a community story to share with us? Submit your tips to help local leaders here.) "We all have an innate yearning and capacity for connection, and it's crucial to our individual and collective thriving from the earliest years of life through adulthood," said Jonathan Gruber, Strategy Lead at Einhorn Collaborative. "Locally led solutions can play a powerful role in fostering socially connected and cohesive communities and addressing the many challenges that get in the way." Next, the Building Connected Communities team will translate its research insights into an action guide designed to provide decision-makers and community builders with a road map for promoting the kinds of social connection that contribute to collective flourishing in their communities. As future companion resources, the guide will also identify steps philanthropy and business leaders can take to improve social connectedness, including leveraging their influence and resources to design products, invest in programs, implement new systems, and advocate for policy change. In the fall, Building Connected Communities will convene a national conference at Harvard, hosted by Harvard's Human Flourishing Program and Foundation for Social Connection in collaboration with Einhorn Collaborative and Healthy Places by Design. This event will bring together thought leaders and researchers working in the field of loneliness and social isolation alongside civic and community leaders from communities across the country. The event will feature a session led by U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. Additional distinguished speakers include Robert Putnam, Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, and United States Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT). By fostering dialogue between scholars and ground-level practitioners, Building Connected Communities will have the potential to build further the field of social connection and human flourishing research. While significant research on the physical, mental, and societal impacts of social isolation and loneliness exists, there is little evidence-informed research on systemic and community-level approaches to fostering connection. "Social disconnection is the defining challenge of our time," said Dr. Tyler VanderWeele, director of the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard. "This research will help us identify the connective threads running through our communities and how we can best weave them together to strengthen our social fabric." The Building Connected Communities conference, an expansion of F4SC's annual End Social Isolation and Loneliness Action Forum, will take place October 12-14th, 2023, amplifying the action guide and providing opportunities for new insights and collaboration. This event is designed to elevate social connection in global health and public policy forums and act as a springboard for the movement of social connection in America and encourage stakehoder groups to test community-led strategies in 2024 and beyond. To learn more about Building Connected Communities and how you can get involved, contact the Foundation for Social Connection at [email protected]. Foundation for Social Connection Einhorn Collaborative The Human Flourishing Program at Harvard's Institute for Quantitative Social Science Healthy Places by Design SOURCE Foundation for Social Connection LONDON, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Highlights Appointment of Ignacio Bustamante , currently CEO of Hochschild Mining PLC, strengthens operational leadership on portfolio company level Ignacio Bustamante will join on 28 August 2023 and lead base metals globally, heading Appian's operations in this strategically important area Brings significant experience and understanding from leading London -listed mining company and deep relationships in Latin America and other key jurisdictions Demonstrates Appian's ability to attract industry-leading talent to support growth Appian Capital Advisory LLP ("Appian" or the "Company"), the investment advisor to long-term value-focused private capital funds that invest solely in mining and mining-related companies, today announces the appointment of Ignacio Bustamante as Head of Base Metals, based in London. Upon stepping down as Hochschild Mining CEO, Bustamante will commence his role with Appian on 28 August 2023. Ignacio will be a key member of the Company's leadership team with responsibility for Appian's base metals portfolio globally. In particular, he will oversee Appian's operations and growth strategy across all base metals, with responsibility for acquisitions, development and operations. Base metals and decarbonization commodities, including zinc, copper and nickel, remain a core focus for Appian, and Ignacio will play a central part in strengthening the Company's position in this area. His appointment also demonstrates Appian's ability to attract industry-leading talent to further support the Company's technical arbitrage capabilities. Ignacio is a senior mining executive and currently CEO of Hochschild Mining PLC, a leading London-listed silver and gold mining business operating in the Americas. A Peruvian national, he has significant experience managing operations in Latin America, with particularly strong leadership expertise and an extensive knowledge of financial and operational management. He joined Hochschild in 1992 and, prior to his appointment as CEO in April 2010, served as COO and General Manager of its Peruvian operations. Between 1998 and 2003 he was CFO and Board member of Cementos Pacasmayo, an affiliate of Hochschild. Between 2003 and 2007 he worked for Zemex Corporation, a subsidiary of Cementos Pacasmayo, based in Atlanta, Georgia, serving first as CFO and Vice President of Business Development and then President. Ignacio is a Board member of Aclara Resources, Scotiabank Peru, Profuturo AFP, Colegio Roosevelt, and Chairman of the Silver Institute. He holds a BSc in Business and a BSc in Accounting from Universidad del Pacifico in Peru and an MBA from Stanford University. Michael W. Scherb, Founder and CEO of Appian, commented: "Ignacio is a fantastic addition to the Appian team and will play a key role in developing our base metals business. His significant management and operational expertise will be invaluable as we embark upon our next phase of growth, while his deep experience and relationships in Latin America will support our expansion in the region. As one of the most experienced and respected mining executives globally, Ignacio's appointment also reflects the strength of Appian's business and its ability to attract market-leading talent. Base metals remain a core focus for Appian and we are incredibly well placed to benefit from the energy transition and drive robust investor returns." Guillermo Kaelin, Managing Partner of Appian, commented: "Having known and worked with Ignacio for over 15 years, he will be a significant addition to the business, bringing a wealth of experience from one of the world's leading mining companies. Base metals remain strategically important for Appian, and Ignacio's vision and expertise will play a central role in advancing this important part of our portfolio." Ignacio Bustamante said: "Appian is the leading private capital provider in the mining sector and it is a really exciting time to join the business. Base metals remain in high-demand, and Appian's unique strategy and value-add capital provide a compelling blueprint to unlock value and support demand for these critical commodities." About Appian Capital Advisory LLP Appian Capital Advisory LLP is the investment advisor to long-term value-focused private capital funds that invest solely in mining and mining-related companies. Appian is a leading investment advisor in the metals and mining industry, with global experience across South America, North America, Australia and Africa and a successful track record of supporting companies to achieve their development targets, with a global operating portfolio overseeing 6,300 employees. Appian has a global team of 65 experienced professionals with presences in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Lima, Belo Horizonte, Montreal, Dubai and Perth. For more information please visit www.appiancapitaladvisory.com, or find us on LinkedIn, Instagram or Twitter. SOURCE Appian Capital Advisory LLP DENVER, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Founded by seasoned architect and passionate education proponent, Vaishali McCarthy, un-funded.com is a novel crowdfunding platform designed to alleviate persistent budget shortfalls in public schools nationwide. Empowering those looking for resources to finance a broad range of facility infrastructure projects, unfunded matches needy schools with donors eager to make a positive impact. Unfunded transforms public school funding, one donation at a time. Architect Designs and Builds Innovative Solution to Public School Budget Woes: un-funded.com Architect Designs and Builds Innovative Solution to Public School Budget Woes: un-funded.com "There's a specific term used for items that don't make it into a taxpayer bond, even if those items are crucial for a school to function well: unfunded," McCarthy explained. "And since that's how these schools often feel, we decided it was a great name to honor their struggle. There is a vast disparity in the quality of school facilities across our nation, with some students who benefit from state-of-the-art buildings and equipment, while others are left to cope with outdated and sometimes unsafe environments. We're trying to change that." According to a recent report*, American school districts are spending around $110 billion annually on maintenance, operations, and capital construction, yet an estimated $195 billion is what is actually needed to maintain a decent standard for educational facilities. This funding shortfall is what unfunded aims to address with a unique approach that shifts the power dynamics of school funding. Rather than waiting for governmental allocations, grants, or bond approvals, communities can now take direct action to improve their local schools. And while the initial focus is on large-scale facility improvements such as new equipment, environmental systems, or security measures unfunded can benefit projects of all sizes. The platform offers two main modes of donation. Donors can contribute directly to a specific campaign, or opt for a recurring donation that goes into a general pool: the "Help Once, Help Many" approach. General funds are distributed to ongoing campaigns in need, while targeted donations go directly to the crowdfunding schools designated by the donor. "Any improvement, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in the educational experience of a child," McCarthy said. "We believe that every child deserves to learn in an environment that is safe, comfortable, and conducive to learning. That should be obvious. But what hasn't been so obvious is how we get the funds to provide these facilities. Unfunded is a great answer." The unfunded platform also plans to contribute a portion of its proceeds to charities that align with its mission, such as No Kid Hungry and organizations that support mental health and fight homelessness among students. McCarthy envisions Unfunded eventually growing into a community-based, pay-it-forward system, where local contractors and architects can lend their expertise to help schools. Currently, unfunded is championing two specific campaigns: one for a new playground in Iowa and another for a facility extension in Seattle. Learn more about these campaigns and the platform by signing up for the newsletter and following unfunded on social media: Facebook, Instagram. *Facts sourced from 21st Century School Fund, the international WELL Building Institute, and the National Council on School Facilities, 2021 State of our Schools. About unfunded Founded by Vaishali McCarthy, licensed architect and board member of a branch of the Colorado Department of Education, unfunded is an innovative online platform dedicated to addressing the chronic underfunding of U.S. public school infrastructure. Unfunded unites communities in need and connects schools with donors, facilitating impactful change in educational environments across the nation. Learn more at: www.un-funded.com. Media Contact: Vaishali McCarthy, Founder 1-303-801-0079 [email protected] SOURCE unfunded New managing director to bring Arete's independent fiduciary and stewardship services to more customers NEW YORK, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Arete Capital Partners, a boutique, special-situation advisory and capital firm, is pleased to announce the addition of Managing Director Stuart Kaufman. Based out of Chicago, Illinois, Kaufman will enable Arete to expand its services and mission of bringing empathy to the restructuring industry to help successfully navigate more customers through the often painful and difficult process. Arete welcomes Stuart Kaufman "We are very excited to have Stuart join us at Arete as we continue to expand our independent fiduciary and stewardship services to companies experiencing significant growth pains, complex organizational change, or existential crisis," said Arete co-founder Shawn Hassel. "Stuart brings a wealth of experience in a diverse set of industries that makes him an ideal fit for our firm as we continue to help companies solve complex problems by driving pragmatic solutions focused on creating value and maximizing returns for our clients." Kaufman is an accomplished leader with more than 25 years of experience advising businesses during periods of distress and transition. He is well versed across industries including automotive, hospitality, healthcare, oil & gas, power generation & distribution, manufacturing, logistics, financial services, aviation, telecommunications, and e-commerce. Prior to joining Arete, Kaufman worked at notable advisory firms including Portage Point Partners and Alvarez & Marsal. He has served as chief restructuring officer (CRO) and acted as interim CEO and CFO for several companies experiencing operational and financial distress. Stuart specializes in advising clients through operational and financial improvements, developing and implementing value creation plans, balance sheet restructurings in and out of court, interim management, capital markets, and lender advisory services. "Stuart's broad-based experience and ability to look at problems from the angles of all constituents to develop and implement optimal solutions aligns with our philosophy that acting with humility and empathy and working through collaboration in the transactional world of restructuring can result in better outcomes, greater organizational growth, and tremendous success for our clients," said Arete co-founder Grant Lyon. "The addition of Stuart to our team underscores our commitment to partnering with stakeholders for operational performance enhancement and value maximization backed by decades of real-world experience. He will play a crucial role in helping us achieve our objectives with his expertise and leadership." About Arete Capital Partners Arete Capital Partners is a boutique, special-situation advisory and capital firm that provides independent fiduciary and stewardship services to companies experiencing significant growth pains, complex organizational change, or existential crisis. Arete's team combines decades of professional experience and empathy to reduce risk when working on the frontlines with partners in various industries. Further information is available at aretecapitalpartners.com . Media Contact: Lori Zywiak 7034087472 [email protected] SOURCE Arete Capital Partners ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. today announced the acquisition of Nashville, Tennessee-based Bernard Benefits and Bernard Healthcare Financial Planning, subsidiaries of Bernard Health. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Bernard Benefits is a health and employee benefits brokerage firm with a focus on small group businesses in Tennessee, Indiana and Texas. Bernard Healthcare Financial Planning advises individuals and families on health insurance coverage. Brian Tolbert, Matt Kleymeyer and their team will remain in their current location under the direction of Robby White, head of Gallagher's South Central region employee benefits consulting and brokerage operations. "Bernard complements our existing employee benefits offerings and represents an excellent cultural fit," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO. "I am very pleased to welcome Brian, Matt and their associates to Gallagher." Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG), a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Gallagher provides these services in approximately 130 countries around the world through its owned operations and a network of correspondent brokers and consultants. Investors: Ray Iardella, VP - Investor Relations Media: Paul Day, Communications Manager 630-285-3661/ [email protected] 630-285-5946/ [email protected] SOURCE Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. VANCOUVER, BC, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Atmofizer Technologies Inc. (the "Company" or "Atmofizer") (CSE: ATMO) (OTCQB: ATMFF) is pleased to announce its interim financial results for the three months ending March 31, 2023. All amounts are expressed in United States dollars unless otherwise noted. CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS On November 29, 2022, the Company announced its recent Business Development in the Forced Area Market (HVAC). The Company continues to transition the business to its most valuable addressable market to integrate the agglomeration technology into existing forced air systems. During the first quarter of 2023, the Company further refined its prototype design to maximize its agglomeration performance for its HVAC application. The Company through its testing at an accredited third-party lab that the design of its prototype that achieves material improvements to the results is the one that Company received a US patent on. For reference, the allowed patent application, titled, "Ultra-Fine Particle Aggregation, Neutralization and Filtration" (US Patent Application No. 11,291,939) provides broad protection for important aspects of Atmofizer's air purification technology. The Notice of Allowance from the USPTO is directed to a new design that delivers ultra-fine particle agglomeration and nanoparticle reduction performance in larger air ducts with faster-moving air, using less parts. The Company continues to work with Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning ("Four Seasons"), in Chicago, Illinois, one of the largest privately owned HVAC service providers in the United States. With the completion of the last phase of comprehensive third-party laboratory tests the Company plans to complete a commercialization agreement in the second quarter and work towards its first sales of this new product line in 2023. On January 12, 2023, the Company implemented the share consolidation of one post-consolidation common share for twenty pre-consolidation common shares. The number of shares and relevant information including but not limited to the share price, number of warrants ("Warrants"), stock options ("Options") and restricted stock units ("RSUs") and exercise price per warrant and options presented in these interim financial statements had been retroactively adjusted accordingly. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS FOR THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2023 Revenue for the first quarter of 2023 was $600 compared to $210,000 in the prior period. The Company is actively working on the development of its HVAC business in 2023. The sales in the first quarter represent sales of its A500 units which are being done as opportunities present themselves. The Company incurred $0.3 million in expenses during the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to $6.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2022. The decrease of $6.2 million decrease in expenses was driven by decreases in share based payments of $4.6 million, amortization of $0.2 million, consulting sees of $0.6 million, salaries and wages of $0.2 million, professional fees of $0.2 million, and R&D of $0.1 million and other expenses of $0.3 million). During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recorded net loss of $0.3 million compared to a net loss of $6.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The decrease of $6.2 million decrease in expenses was driven by decreases in share based payments of $4.6 million, amortization of $0.2 million, consulting sees of $0.6 million, salaries and wages of $0.2 million, professional fees of $0.2 million, and R&D of $0.1 million and other expenses of $0.3 million). LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES The Company's activities to date have been funded through equity financings and the Company expects it will continue to be able to utilize this source of financing until it develops sufficient cash flow from operations. As of March 31, 2023, the Company had working capital deficiency of $815,386. The Company established the ATM Program in February 2022 which allows the Company to issue and sell up to C$5 million of Common Shares from treasury to the public, from time to time, at the Company's discretion. To date, the Company has issued 4,198,075 Common Shares for gross proceeds of C$2,619,396 under the ATM Program as of the date of this MD&A. During the first quarter of 2023, the Company sold 1,668,500 common shares under the ATM Program with gross proceeds of $194,193 (CA$261,318). In connection with the share issuance of 1,668,500 common shares, the Company paid a commission of $4,854 (CA$6,533). There can be no assurances the Company will be successful in its endeavors. If such funds are not available or other sources of finance cannot be obtained, the Company may be forced to curtail its activities to a level for which funding is available or can be obtained. About Atmofizer Technologies Inc. Atmofizer's consumer and industrial solutions are based on its patent-protected and patent pending technology for ultrafine particle agglomeration and neutralization. This capability creates a revolutionary and more efficient method for addressing the wide range of dangerous nano-scale particles, viruses and bacteria that are too small to be effectively managed by conventional HEPA filters and ultraviolet lights. Atmofizer plans to disrupt the air treatment industry by improving air safety and purification efficiency while lowering customers' operational costs. Atmofizing air refers to the process of using ultrasonic acoustic waves to agglomerate (cluster together) small particles into a larger target that is then radiated by ultraviolet light to neutralize their harmful properties. Using units that atmofize air in tandem with HEPA filters can make the HEPA filters work more efficiently, enable the use of a less-powerful filter and result in a cleaner and longer-lasting filter that reduces operating costs and is less of a health hazard to clean or replace. Atmofizer is patent-pending and patent-protected sole source of technology to atmofize air and is applying its proprietary technology in consumer and industrial air purification products currently manufactured under the Atmofizer brand, as well as in retail and commercial devices produced by other companies that integrate Atmofizer technology into their own products under license. Atmofizer's owned and licensed product lines include wearable, portable and mobile use for personal air treatment, as well as larger systems to handle higher air volumes for commercial, industrial, institutional and residential applications. Forward-Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "likely", "should", "would", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "proposed", "estimate", "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar words, expressions and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy. The forward-looking information contained herein includes, without limitation, the services and functions of EMC and the business and strategic plans of the Company. By their nature, forward-looking information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. A variety of factors, including known and unknown risks, many of which are beyond our control, could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information in this press release including, without limitation: the Company's ability to comply with all applicable laws and governmental regulations relating to its commercial products; the ability of the Company to protect its intellectual property; impacts to the business and operations of the Company due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the conflict in eastern Europe; having only a limited operating history, the ability of the Company to access capital to meet future financing needs; the Company's reliance on management and key personnel; competition; changes in consumer trends; foreign currency fluctuations; and general economic, market or business conditions. Additional risk factors can also be found in the Company's continuous disclosure documents, which have been filed on SEDAR and can be accessed at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this press release and is based on the beliefs, estimates, expectations and opinions of management on the date such forward-looking information is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. SOURCE Atmofizer Technologies Inc. When did you first start to take notice of A24? Even if you're not a massive buff or the type to focus on production houses before watching a film, odds are there's at least one A24 film you're either in love with or marginally fond of. With the recent rapturous reception that Everything, Everywhere All At Once received during award season, more people than ever have found themselves drawn into A24's ever-expanding web of brilliant content. Although the brand cut its teeth in the world of film, A24 has recently begun to probe into television with its critically acclaimed Netflix series Beef. All of the success that A24 has enjoyed over the last decade is bound to leave people with a handful of questions. What is the ceiling for this seemingly unstoppable film studio? Is there anything A24 can't do? Oh, and how did A24 become such a force so quickly? In the video linked above, Vox answers the last question. These out-of-the-box automations deliver complete Level 1 and Level 2 CIS Benchmark compliance for Cisco network and security devices DALLAS, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BackBox, the world's most trusted network automation company, has released 178 new CIS Benchmark Compliance Automation Templates for Cisco firewalls, routers, and other network devices. These templates enable CIS compliance and their release coincides with Cisco Live!, taking place from Sunday, June 4 through Thursday, June 8 in Las Vegas. "We hope attendees will visit us at booth 421-H in the Cisco Live! Security Village to see our new CIS Benchmark compliance automations written specifically for Cisco," said Andrew Kahl, CEO of BackBox. "These automations quickly identify non-compliance, help networks become compliant, and automatically report on and remediate configuration drift out of compliance." Device backups with 1-click restore, simplified OS updates and vulnerability patching, and compliance remediation to prevent configuration drift are critical areas of integration between BackBox and Cisco. The BackBox Network Automation Platform complements Cisco with a full suite of automation capabilities that enable pre- and post-checks on the update process, as well as simplified backups and restores should an update fail. Similarly, the BackBox API allows easy enterprise integration for streamlined processes like device discovery, inventory, and compliance. The BackBox Network Automation Platform includes a library of over 2,000 pre-built automations for network and security devices. BackBox adds new pre-built automations every month, many specifically oriented around mitigating the increased cybercrime activity the company has seen related to network infrastructure vulnerabilities and breaches. These templates are available to all BackBox customers through the Automation Library. Users can load them via API or file import from the UI, without updating to a new version of BackBox. "In addition to providing broad CIS benchmark compliance for all Cisco devices, BackBox provides automated disaster recovery for Cisco network and security devices, including backup verification and comparison-based change alerts," said Josh Stephens, Chief Technology Officer of BackBox. "BackBox also dynamically collects inventory data and captures device information details for capacity planning." BackBox has also released updated CIS Compliance Automation Templates for Check Point and Fortinet. These templates are available in the free trial version of the software, available on the company website. Stephens will be presenting in the Security Village Theater on Tuesday, June 5 at 2:00 p.m. and Wednesday, June 6 at 3:30 p.m. Stephens will demonstrate how to leverage network automation to strengthen network security and implement continuous improvement of network security hygiene. Stephens will also present at Tech Field Day Extra on Thursday, June 7 at 11:00 a.m. PT. The presentation will be streamed live on https://techfieldday.com/event/clus23/. Attendees can learn more about BackBox and schedule time with BackBox representatives to learn more about how BackBox can automate Cisco implementations here: https://backbox.com/cisco-live-2023. Related: About BackBox BackBox is a Network and Security Device Automation Platform that supports over 180 vendors, with thousands of pre-built automations and a scripting-free way to build new ones. Enterprises and managed service providers worldwide trust BackBox to automate and audit anything an admin could do manually, with reliable automations that are flexible, scalable, and contextually aware. From backups and OS updates to configuration compliance, BackBox gives you confidence that your automations will deliver the expected outcome every time. To learn more, visit www.backbox.com/product. SOURCE BackBox CHICAGO and NEW YORK, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BDT & MSD Partners today announced that Dina Powell McCormick has been appointed Vice Chairman & President of Global Client Services and a Partner of the firm. In this newly created position, Powell McCormick will join the senior leadership of the firm, drawing on her years of experience in the public and private sectors to broaden and deepen the firm's relationships throughout its global client network. Powell McCormick joins BDT & MSD Partners from The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., where she was Global Head of Sovereign Business, focused on growing the franchise and broadening the firm's network with some of the world's most important institutional investors. She also held the role of Global Head of Sustainability and Inclusive Growth, playing an instrumental role in furthering the firm's investment goal of advising and financing clients on climate finance investment opportunities, and served on the firm's Management Committee and the Firmwide Client and Business Standards Committee. "I am thrilled to join BDT & MSD, a merchant bank with a unique legacy and mandate to serve the holistic needs of founders and family business owners," said Dina Powell McCormick. "I look forward to working alongside Byron, Gregg, Michael and the team to deliver the firm's differentiated offerings to clients around the world." "I have had the pleasure of knowing Dina for many years as a colleague and trusted partner. She has an incredible breadth of experience and has been widely recognized for her many achievements across business, philanthropy, impact investing, and government. I am proud to welcome her to the team and I know she will be a tremendous asset to our business in support of our valued client relationships," said Gregg Lemkau, Co-Chief Executive Officer of BDT & MSD Partners. "I have long admired Dina's accomplishments across the private and public sectors. Over the course of her highly distinguished career, she has demonstrated a tireless commitment to her clients, building strong and trusted relationships with many of the world's leading families, founders, and long-term oriented investors," said Byron Trott, Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of BDT & MSD Partners. "She will be an exceptional addition to our BDT & MSD team and the business we are building together." Powell McCormick initially joined Goldman Sachs in 2007, and from 2007 to 2017 she served as Head of the firm's Impact Investing Business and served in various roles during that period, including Head of the Urban Investment Group, President of the Goldman Sachs Foundation, and President of Goldman Sachs Gives. She led the development of Goldman Sachs' inclusive growth initiatives, including 10,000 Women, 10,000 Small Businesses, and One Million Black Women programs that have positively impacted the lives of tens of thousands of female entrepreneurs and small business owners around the world. Earlier in her career, Powell McCormick served in the U.S. government for more than a dozen years, including as Assistant to the President for Presidential Personnel and Senior White House Advisor, as well as Assistant Secretary of State and Undersecretary for Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy. In 2017, she served as Deputy National Security Advisor. She is currently Chairman of the Robin Hood Foundation Board, Trustee of the National Geographic Society Board, Trustee of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Member of the Board of Mount Sinai Hospital, and a Member of the Board of the Atlantic Council. Additionally, she is a member of the Advisory Council of the Harvard Kennedy School Center for Public Leadership and the Stanford University Freeman Spogli School. About BDT & MSD Partners BDT & MSD Partners is a merchant bank with an advisory and investment platform built to serve the distinct needs of business owners and strategic, long-term investors. The firm is distinguished by its decades of experience advising at the intersection of founders, families, and businesses, as well as by its differentiated capital base and culture of aligned investing. Since 2010, the firm's affiliated funds have deployed more than $50 billion across their investment strategies. BDT & MSD Partners was established in 2023 through the combination of BDT & Company, the merchant bank to the closely held, founded in 2009 by Byron Trott, and MSD Partners, a premier investment firm that since 2009 has invested on behalf of Dell Technologies Founder Michael Dell and his family, and other like-minded investors. For more information, visit www.bdtmsd.com. BDT & MSD Partners Sara Evans / Matthew Glasser T: (312) 529-6548 / (312) 385-2883 E: [email protected] SOURCE BDT & MSD Partners International Survey Conducted by Belong.Life and the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center Highlights Need for Real-life Quality of Life Assessments as Additional Endpoints in Clinical Trials 71% of Cancer Patients Unaware of Heightened Thrombosis Risks Associated with Cancer NEW YORK, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Belong.Life, a leading global provider of high-engagement patient communities and care platforms, today announced that the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has published two abstracts in its 2023 Annual Meeting Abstract Book based on data aggregated from the Belong Beating Cancer Together app. The abstracts provide key insights into significant challenges for oncology patients, including impaired quality of life and the increased risk of developing a cancer associated thrombosis event. The first study (abstract 6592) examined the prevalence of restrictive behavioral practices among cancer patients, analyzing restrictions related to interactions with others, visiting public places and more. The second study (abstract e18774) explored patients' awareness of the heightened risk of developing a cancer associated thrombosis (CAT) event, a potentially fatal complication in which the pro-coagulation properties in cancer cells along with anti-cancer treatments contribute to the development of blood clots. The data for these studies was collected on Beating Cancer Together, the largest high-engagement digital community for people with cancer and their caregivers, used by one in ten cancer patients in the United States. "Our aggregated real-world data uncovers critical observations, enhancing the understanding of true patient journeys and providing invaluable insights for physicians, patients and the global oncology ecosystem," said Belong.Life CEO Eliran Malki. "We are grateful to our researchers and clinicians for shedding light onto crucial issues in cancer care, as well as to the committed Belongers who took the time to participate in these studies. Belong is dedicated to continue utilizing technology to empower and support patients around the world." The first study analyzed 1,395 patients receiving active cancer therapy who reported their real-world behaviors through a questionnaire validated by the oncology division of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and distributed internationally on Belong's Beating Cancer Together platform. In a questionnaire that included nine daily life restrictions, 73% of patients reported at least one limitation in their daily activities, and 22% reported following more than half of the constraints listed in the survey. Daily life restrictions included avoiding sun exposure (779, 58%), international travel (417, 33%), visiting indoor public places (malls, etc.) (431, 33%), hair dyeing (271, 23%), domestic tourism (284, 22%), contact with friends and family (231, 18%), contact with children and grandchildren (202, 16%), visiting outdoor public spaces (190, 15%), and contact with pets (135, 10%). "Most quality-of-life assessments used today do not measure patients' ability to maintain normal daily activities during treatment, rather they focus on rigid health-related criteria," explained Belong.Life Medical Director and Co-author of the study, Dr. Daniel Vorobiof, "This study highlights for pharmaceutical companies, medical researchers and clinical investigators the importance of including real-life quality of life assessments as additional endpoints in clinical trials." "Quality of life cannot be evaluated solely by studying signs and symptoms. The goal of cancer therapy is to provide patients with the ability to conduct a full and meaningful life. However, too many of our patients restrict their daily activities in ways that conflict with this goal," said Prof. Ido Wolf, Head of the Oncology Division at Tel Aviv Medical Center. "Part of this behavior stems from misconceptions of the patients and families, but part is related to instructions and disinformation provided by us, the medical teams. The medical community should address this issue by educating both the patients and the health care community." The second study analyzed cancer patient awareness surrounding CAT risk. The presence of a CAT can greatly impact a cancer patient's clinical outcomes, making it critical for patients and caregivers to be aware of their increased risk. The study showed that 71% of patients were not aware of their CAT risk at the time of the survey. The majority (51%) of verbal information patients received on CAT risk was from medical staff, while family and friends provided mostly internet and social media guidance (73%). This points to a pronounced need for education and awareness of CAT risk factors, sign and symptoms, and available diagnostic imaging and treatment approaches. "These global studies stress the importance of reliable patient education during the cancer journey," added Belong.Life Medical Director and Co-author of both studies, Dr. Daniel Vorobiof. "Lack of validated information and exposure to misconceptions can negatively affect patients' quality of life and put their health and safety at risk. Additionally, it is crucial for medical researchers and those involved in clinical trials to incorporate real-world data and measurements into their endpoints to appropriately gauge patients' real-life experiences." ASCO's annual meeting is taking place from June 2 6 both virtually and in-person in Chicago, IL. About Belong.Life Belong.Life is a global healthtech provider of high-engagement patient communities and care platforms, supporting millions of patients worldwide. Belong's mission is to improve the quality of life and care of patients worldwide through technology, engagement, data and AI. Among Belong.Life's brands are the world's largest social and professional networks for cancer patients (Belong - Beating Cancer Together) and multiple sclerosis patients (BelongMS), as well as additional tailored communities for Psoriasis, Crohn's , Obesity (select countries) and more. With the launch of Dave, Belong.Life has introduced the world's first real-time conversational AI oncology mentor for cancer patients. All of Belong's products and services are multilingual, HIPAA, GDPR and ISO compliant. For more information visit https://belong.life. Follow Belong on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Media Contact: FINN Partners for Belong.Life Aviva Sapir [email protected] @SapirAviva 1-929-588-2014 SOURCE Belong.Life The Company Plans to Reach Group Profitability by the End of 2023 HANGZHOU, China, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BEST Inc. (NYSE: BEST) ("BEST" or the "Company"), a leading integrated smart supply chain solutions and logistics services provider in China and Southeast Asia, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023. Johnny Chou, Founder, Chairman and CEO of BEST, commented, "We delivered exceptionally strong financial improvements in the first quarter of 2023 despite the traditionally slow first quarter and lingering impact from COVID. We significantly improved our bottom line by narrowing our net loss by 32.2% year over year, with BEST Supply Chain Management delivering profitability for the quarter and BEST Freight turning profitable in February and March. "We have seen a strong recovering trend in consumer consumption post-COVID pandemic and demand for Freight services is increasing. In addition, many enterprises are developing into multiple sales channels to expand their market coverage and the demand for integrated logistics service partners with higher-level service capabilities is escalating. Our dedication to service quality, digital transformation, and customer satisfaction in the past quarters have made us more resilient and placed BEST in a strong position to quickly respond to the increasing market demand. "During the first quarter, BEST Freight's recovery accelerated with total Freight volume growing by 5.1% year over year. This uptick has continued in April with volume further increased by 20.3% year over year and this growth momentum is expected to continue throughout 2023. BEST Supply Chain Management maintained robust growth as well. In the first quarter, its revenue increased by 7.7% year over year and its gross margin expanded to 8.2%. "As economy in the Southeast Asia recovered rapidly, the volume of its e-commerce business also surged and boosted the growth of cross-border activities. With our adjusted business strategy and realigned organization, BEST Global has significantly enhanced its service capabilities and became more resilient to take on this growing market opportunity. In the first quarter, BEST Global's cross-border volume increased by 60% quarter over quarter and its parcel volume started the fast recovering trend. "Moving through 2023, we are confident that our commitment to operational excellence, combined with the synergistic opportunities across our core business lines will improve BEST's overall competitive position and drive sustainable growth and profitability," concluded Mr. Chou. Gloria Fan, BEST's Chief Financial Officer, added, "With effective cost controls and operating efficiency improvements, our Group's gross margin has improved by 3.8 percentage points and net loss narrowed by 32.2% year over year for the first quarter of 2023. In addition, both BEST Freight and BEST Supply Chain Management generated positive cash flow from their operations during the quarter. We had a solid balance of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and short-term investments of RMB3.2 billion at the end of the first quarter. Through our continued focus on service quality, digital transformation and synergies among our business lines, we expect to achieve Group profitability by the end of 2023." FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS[1] For the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2023: [2] Revenue was RMB1,715.3 million ( US$249.8 million ), compared to RMB1,802.6 million in the first quarter of 2022. The decrease was primarily due to lower Global volume, which caused by the lingering impact of the COVID and reduced volume from some major e-commerce platforms. was ( ), compared to in the first quarter of 2022. The decrease was primarily due to lower Global volume, which caused by the lingering impact of the COVID and reduced volume from some major e-commerce platforms. Gross loss was RMB8.5 million ( US$1.2 million ), compared to gross loss of RMB76.8 million in the first quarter of 2022. The improvement was primarily due to improved operating efficiency, the majority of which was attributable to BEST Freight and Supply Chain Management. Gross Loss Margin was 0.5%, compared to 4.3% in the first quarter of 2022. was ( ), compared to gross loss of in the first quarter of 2022. The improvement was primarily due to improved operating efficiency, the majority of which was attributable to BEST Freight and Supply Chain Management. was 0.5%, compared to 4.3% in the first quarter of 2022. Net Loss from continuing operations was RMB257.6 million ( US$37.5 million ), compared to RMB379.9 million in the first quarter of 2022. Non-GAAP Net Loss from continuing operations [3] [4] was RMB245.5 million ( US$35.8 million ), compared to RMB359.2 million in the first quarter of 2022. was ( ), compared to in the first quarter of 2022. was ( ), compared to in the first quarter of 2022. Diluted loss per ADS [5] from continuing operations was negative RMB12.38 (US$1.8) upon implementation of our ADS ratio change on April 4, 2023 , compared to negative RMB18.4 in the first quarter of 2022 . Non-GAAP diluted loss per ADS [3][4] from continuing operations was negative RMB11.77 ( US$1.71 ), compared to negative RMB17.34 in the first quarter of 2022. was negative upon implementation of our ADS ratio change on , compared to negative in the first quarter of 2022 . was negative ( ), compared to negative in the first quarter of 2022. EBITDA[6] from continuing operations was negative RMB218.9 million ( US$31.9 million ), compared to negative RMB315.3 million in the first quarter of 2022. Adjusted EBITDA[3][5] from continuing operations was negative RMB206.8 million ( US$30.1 million ), compared to negative RMB294.6 million in the first quarter of 2022. BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS[7] BEST Freight Despite the first quarter seasonality and the lingering effects of COVID, BEST Freight showed swift recovery. BEST Freight's volume for the quarter increased by 5.1% year over year. Its gross loss and net loss narrowed by 96.4% and 53.6%, respectively, both year over year. BEST Freight's e-commerce volume contributed 21.5% of its total volume. Looking ahead, BEST Freight will continue to develop digital transformation to improve its operating efficiency, leverage BEST Supply Chain Management customer base to capitalize on additional opportunities and develop the fulfillment franchise to further increase BEST Freight's service network. BEST Supply Chain Management During the first quarter of 2023, the Company continued to grow its distribution capabilities ("Cloud OFCs") while expanding our service coverage into auto-parts and pharmaceutical markets. As a result, its revenue and distribution volume increased by 7.7% and 18.2% year over year, respectively. BEST Supply Chain Management's gross margin for the first quarter of 2023 was 8.2%, improving by 3.9 ppts year over year with a net profit of RMB 0.4 million. As BEST Supply Chain Management remains the center of our synergistic logistics ecosystem, we have been focusing heavily on the digital transformation to improve our operating efficiency and enhance system interconnectivity with our customers. This differentiates our market offerings and brings us additional competitive advantages. At the same time, we will continue to develop and accelerate BEST Supply Chain Management's franchised fulfillment capabilities to further expand the network and improve its service capabilities. BEST Global Post COVID, economy of the Southeast Asia recovered rapidly and the volume of its e-commerce business surged. The growth of cross-border activities between China and the Southeast Asia also accelerated. The volume of BEST Global's cross-border business increased in Q1 by approximately 60% quarter over quarter and its coverage for small- and medium-sized enterprises in Southeast Asia increased by approximately 15% year over year. With our adjusted business strategies and realigned organization, BEST Global has significantly enhanced its service capabilities and started recovering its parcel volume. We expect BEST Global to continue its fast recovery and growth throughout 2023. Others The Company continued to wind down its Capital business line and expects to complete the wind-down by the end of 2023. Key Operational Metrics Three Months Ended % Change YOY March 31, 2021 March 31, 2022 March 31, 2023 2022 vs 2021 2023 vs 2022 Freight Volume (Tonne in '000) 1,945 1,683 1,769 (13.5 %) 5.1 % Supply Chain Management Distribution Volume (Tonne in '000) 270 330 390 22.2 % 18.2 % Global Parcel Volume in Southeast Asia (in '000) 30,841 38,390 27,053 24.5 % (29.5 %) FINANCIAL RESULTS[8] For the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2023: Revenue The following table sets forth a breakdown of revenue by business segment for the periods indicated. Table 1 Breakdown of Revenue by Business Segment Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 March 31, 2023 (In '000, except for %) RMB % of Revenue RMB US$ % of Revenue % Change YOY Freight 1,092,814 60.6 % 1,051,873 153,165 61.3 % (3.7 %) Supply Chain Management 408,962 22.7 % 440,254 64,106 25.7 % 7.7 % Global 268,709 14.9 % 197,028 28,689 11.5 % (26.7 %) Others[9] 32,100 1.8 % 26,107 3,801 1.5 % (18.7 %) Total Revenue 1,802,585 100.0 % 1,715,262 249,761 100.0 % (4.8 %) Freight Service Revenue was RMB1,051.9 million ( US$153.2 million ) for the first quarter of 2023, compared to RMB1,092.8 million in the same period of last year; Freight service revenue decreased by 3.7% year over year primarily resulting from the wind-down of UCargo business units. ( ) for the first quarter of 2023, compared to in the same period of last year; Freight service revenue decreased by 3.7% year over year primarily resulting from the wind-down of UCargo business units. Supply Chain Management Service Revenue increased by 7.7% year over year to RMB440.3 million ( US$64.1 million ) for the first quarter of 2023, up from RMB409 million in the same period of last year, primarily attributable to an expanded customer base and increased volume from existing customers. ( ) for the first quarter of 2023, up from in the same period of last year, primarily attributable to an expanded customer base and increased volume from existing customers. Global Service Revenue decreased by 26.7% year over year to RMB197 million ( US$28.7 million ) for the first quarter of 2023 from RMB268.7 million in the same period of last year, primarily due to the impact of COVID and reduced volume from some major e-commerce platforms. Cost of Revenue The following table sets forth a breakdown of cost of revenue by business segment for the periods indicated. Table 2 Breakdown of Cost of Revenue by Business Segment Three Months Ended % of Revenue Change YOY March 31, 2022 March 31, 2023 (In '000, except for %) RMB % of Revenue RMB US$ % of Revenue Freight (1,170,314) 107.1 % (1,054,635) (153,567) 100.3 % (6.8ppt) Supply Chain Management (391,207) 95.7 % (404,350) (58,878) 91.8 % (3.9ppt) Global (285,678) 106.3 % (249,204) (36,287) 126.5 % 20.2ppt Others (32,225) 100.4 % (15,538) (2,263) 59.5 % (40.9ppt) Total Cost of Revenue (1,879,424) 104.3 % (1,723,727) (250,994) 100.5 % (3.8ppt) Cost of Revenue for Freight was RMB1,054.6 million ( US$153.6 million ), or 100.3% of revenue in the first quarter of 2023. The 6.8 ppts decrease year over year in cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue was mainly due to higher volume and improved efficiency. ( ), or 100.3% of revenue in the first quarter of 2023. The 6.8 ppts decrease year over year in cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue was mainly due to higher volume and improved efficiency. Cost of Revenue for Supply Chain Management was RMB404.4 million ( US$58.9million ), or 91.8% of revenue in the first quarter of 2023. The 3.9 ppts decrease year over year in cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to improved operating efficiency and customer structure optimization. ( ), or 91.8% of revenue in the first quarter of 2023. The 3.9 ppts decrease year over year in cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to improved operating efficiency and customer structure optimization. Cost of Revenue for Global was RMB249.2 million ( US$36.3 million ), or 126.5% of revenue in the first quarter of 2023. The 20.2 ppts increase year over year in cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to lower parcel volume. ( ), or 126.5% of revenue in the first quarter of 2023. The 20.2 ppts increase year over year in cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to lower parcel volume. Cost of Revenue for Others was RMB15.5 million ( US$2.3 million ), or 59.5% of revenue in the first quarter of 2023representing a 40.9 ppts decrease year over year basis. Gross loss was RMB8.5 million (US$1.2 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared to gross loss of RMB76.8 million in the first quarter of 2022. Gross Margin was negative 0.5%, compared to negative 4.3% in the first quarter of 2022. Operating Expenses Selling, General and Administrative Expenses were RMB247.7 million (US$36.1 million) or 14.4% of revenue in the first quarter of 2023, compared to RMB255.0 million, or 14.1% of revenue in the first quarter of 2022. There was a one-off charge of RMB36.9 million in the first quarter of 2023. Excluding this one-off charge, SG&A expenses decreased by 17.3% year over year due to reduced employee headcount. Research and Development Expenses were RMB28.7 million (US$4.2 million), or 1.7% of revenue in the first quarter of 2023, compared to RMB33.2 million, or 1.8% of revenue in the first quarter of 2022, primarily due to reduced employee headcount. Share-based Compensation ("SBC") Expenses included in the cost and expense items above were RMB12.1 million (US$1.8 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared to RMB20.7 million in the first quarter of 2022. In the first quarter of 2023, RMB0.04 million (US$0.01 million) was allocated to cost of revenue, RMB0.5 million (US$0.08 million) was allocated to selling expenses, RMB10.5 million (US$1.5 million) was allocated to general and administrative expenses, and RMB1.1 million (US$0.2 million) was allocated to research and development expenses. Net Loss and Non-GAAP Net Loss from continuing operations Net Loss from continuing operations in the first quarter of 2023 was RMB257.6 million (US$37.5 million), compared to RMB379.9 million in the first quarter of 2022. Excluding SBC expenses, amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions, Non-GAAP Net Loss from continuing operations in the first quarter of 2023 was RMB245.5million (US$35.8 million), compared to RMB359.2 million in the first quarter of 2022. Diluted loss per ADS and Non-GAAP diluted loss per ADS from continuing operations Diluted loss per ADS from continuing operations in the first quarter of 2023 was negative RMB12.38 (US$1.8) upon implementation of our ADS ratio change on April 4, 2023, compared to negative RMB18.4 in the same period of 2022. Excluding SBC expenses, amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions and gain from appreciation of investment, non-GAAP diluted loss per ADS from continuing operations in the first quarter of 2023 was negative RMB11.77(US$1.71), compared to negative RMB17.34 in the first quarter of 2022. A reconciliation of non-GAAP diluted loss per ADS to diluted loss per ADS is included at the end of this results announcement. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin from continuing operations Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations in the first quarter of 2023 was negative RMB206.8 million (US$30.1 million), compared to negative RMB294.6 million in the same period of 2022. Adjusted EBITDA Margin from continuing operations in the first quarter of 2023 was negative 12.1%, compared to negative 16.3% in the same period of 2022. Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Short-term Investments As of March 31, 2023, cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments were RMB3,171.8 million (US$461.9 million), compared to RMB5,261.1 million as of March 31, 2022. In 2022, the Company bought back approximately US$200 million (RMB1.4 billion) aggregate principal amount of its existing Convertible Senior Notes due 2024. Net Cash Used In Continuing Operating Activities Net cash used in continuing operating activities in the first quarter of 2023 was RMB163.2 million (US$23.8 million), compared to RMB304.1 million of net cash used in continuing operating activities in the same period of 2022. The decrease in net cash used in operating activities was mainly due to the decreased net loss in the first quarter of 2023. SHARES OUTSTANDING As of May 18, 2023, the Company had approximately 396.8 million ordinary shares outstanding[10]. Each American Depositary Share represents twenty (20) Class A ordinary shares. As previously announced, effective from April 4, 2023, the Company has changed the ratio of its American Depositary Shares to its Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.01 per share, from the original ADS ratio of one (1) ADS to five (5) Class A ordinary share, to a new ADS ratio of one (1) ADS to twenty (20) Class A ordinary shares. FINANCIAL GUIDANCE The Company confirms its guidance for total revenue between RMB9.0 billion and RMB9.5 billion for the full year of 2023. This forecast reflects the Company's current and preliminary view based on its current business situation and market conditions, which are subject to change. WEBCAST AND CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION The Company will hold a conference call at 9:00 pm U.S. Eastern Time on May 30, 2023 (9:00 am Beijing Time on May 31, 2023), to discuss its financial results and operating performance for the first quarter of 2023. Participants may access the call by dialing the following numbers: United States : +1-888-317-6003 Hong Kong : 800-963976 or +852-5808-1995 Mainland China : 4001-206115 International : +1-412-317-6061 Participant Elite Entry Number : 5937235 A replay of the conference call will be accessible through June 15, 2023 by dialing the following numbers: United States : +1-877-344-7529 International : +1-412-317-0088 Replay Access Code : 2605618 Please visit the Company's investor relations website to view the earnings release prior to the conference call. A live and archived webcast of the conference call and a corporate presentation will be available at the same site. ABOUT BEST INC. BEST Inc. (NYSE: BEST) is a leading integrated smart supply chain solutions and logistics services provider in China and Southeast Asia. Through its proprietary technology platform and extensive networks, BEST offers a comprehensive set of logistics and value-added services, including freight delivery, supply chain management, and global logistics services. BEST's mission is to empower business and enrich life by leveraging technology and business model innovation to create a smarter, more efficient supply chain. For more information, please visit: http://www.best-inc.com/en/. SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as BEST's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. BEST may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about BEST's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: BEST's goals and strategies; BEST's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; BEST's ability to maintain and enhance its ecosystem; BEST's ability to compete effectively; BEST's ability to continue to innovate, meet evolving market trends, adapt to changing customer demands and maintain its culture of innovation; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and other countries in which BEST operates, and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in BEST's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and BEST does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES In evaluating its business, BEST considers and uses non-GAAP measures, such as non-GAAP net loss/income, non-GAAP net loss/profit margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, EBITDA, and non-GAAP Diluted earnings/loss per ADS, as supplemental measures in the evaluation of the Company's operating results and in the Company's financial and operational decision-making. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures that help identify underlying trends in the Company's business that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of the expenses and gains that the Company includes in loss from operations and net loss. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information about its operating results, enhance the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects and allow for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by the Company's management in its financial and operational decision-making. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Measures to the Nearest Comparable GAAP Measures" in the results announcement. The non-GAAP financial measures are provided as additional information to help investors compare business trends among different reporting periods on a consistent basis and to enhance investors' overall understanding of the Company's current financial performance and prospects for the future. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, U.S. GAAP results. In addition, the Company's calculation of the non-GAAP financial measures may be different from the calculation used by other companies, and therefore comparability may be limited. Summary of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Income Statements (In Thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 2023 RMB RMB US$ Revenue Freight 1,092,814 1,051,873 153,165 Supply Chain Management 408,962 440,254 64,106 Global 268,709 197,028 28,689 Others 32,100 26,107 3,801 Total Revenue 1,802,585 1,715,262 249,761 Cost of Revenue Freight (1,170,314) (1,054,635) (153,567) Supply Chain Management (391,207) (404,350) (58,878) Global (285,678) (249,204) (36,287) Others (32,225) (15,538) (2,263) Total Cost of Revenue (1,879,424) (1,723,727) (250,994) Gross Loss (76,839) (8,465) (1,233) Selling Expenses (54,926) (53,817) (7,836) General and Administrative Expenses (200,054) (193,890) (28,233) Research and Development Expenses (33,175) (28,697) (4,179) Other operating income/(expense), net 2,640 (1,366) (199) Loss from Operations (362,354) (286,235) (41,679) Interest Income 15,618 21,678 3,157 Interest Expense (26,422) (17,621) (2,566) Foreign Exchange Gain 4,845 14,724 2,144 Other Income 16,109 5,224 761 Other Expense (27,476) (651) (95) Gain on change in fair value of derivative - 5,392 785 Loss before Income Tax and Share of Net Loss of Equity Investees (379,680) (257,489) (37,493) Income Tax Expense (219) (138) (20) Loss before Share of Net loss of Equity Investees (379,899) (257,627) (37,513) Share of Net Loss of Equity Investees - - - Net Loss from continuing operations (379,899) (257,627) (37,513) Net gain/(loss) from discontinued operations (284) - - Net Loss (380,183) (257,627) (37,513) Net loss attributable to non- controlling interests (20,878) (13,428) (1,955) Net Loss attributable to BEST Inc. (359,305) (244,199) (35,558) Summary of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands) As of December 31, 2022 As of March 31, 2023 RMB RMB US$ Assets Current Assets Cash and Cash Equivalents 533,481 1,210,856 176,314 Restricted Cash 399,337 399,832 58,220 Accounts and Notes Receivables 691,324 693,003 100,909 Inventories 16,480 12,408 1,807 Prepayments and Other Current Assets 777,842 697,671 101,589 Shortterm Investments 725,043 69,190 10,075 Amounts Due from Related Parties 76,368 64,692 9,420 Lease Rental Receivables 43,067 33,485 4,876 Total Current Assets 3,262,942 3,181,137 463,209 Noncurrent Assets Property and Equipment, Net 784,732 753,971 109,787 Intangible Assets, Net 75,553 80,591 11,735 Longterm Investments 156,859 186,859 27,209 Goodwill 54,135 54,135 7,883 Noncurrent Deposits 50,767 47,426 6,906 Other Noncurrent Assets 75,666 78,803 11,475 Restricted Cash 1,545,605 1,491,945 217,244 Lease Rental Receivables 40,188 37,917 5,521 Operating Lease Right-of-use Assets 1,743,798 1,590,694 231,623 Total noncurrent Assets 4,527,303 4,322,341 629,382 Total Assets 7,790,245 7,503,478 1,092,591 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current Liabilities Long-term borrowings-current 79,148 48,044 6,996 Convertible Senior Notes held by related parties 522,744 516,049 75,143 Convertible Senior Notes held by third parties 77 76 11 Shortterm Bank Loans 183,270 334,131 48,653 Accounts and Notes Payable 1,430,004 1,497,933 218,116 Income Tax Payable 1,563 1,646 240 Customer Advances and Deposits and Deferred Revenue 277,737 278,800 40,596 Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities 1,145,654 1,099,530 160,104 Financing Lease Liabilities 11,873 1,379 201 Operating Lease Liabilities 544,262 541,998 78,921 Amounts Due to Related Parties 1,315 720 105 Total Current Liabilities 4,197,647 4,320,306 629,085 Summary of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Cont'd) (In Thousands) As of December 31, 2022 As of March 31, 2023 RMB RMB US$ Non-current Liabilities Convertible senior notes held by related parties 522,744 516,049 75,143 Long-term borrowings 381 20 3 Operating Lease Liabilities 1,292,057 1,160,544 168,988 Financing Lease Liabilities 26,024 1,102 160 Other Noncurrent Liabilities 18,752 38,046 5,540 Long-term Bank Loans 928,894 918,870 133,798 Total Noncurrent Liabilities 2,788,852 2,634,631 383,632 Total Liabilities 6,986,499 6,954,937 1,012,717 Mezzanine Equity: Convertible Non-controlling Interests 191,865 191,865 27,938 Total mezzanine equity 191,865 191,865 27,938 Shareholders' Equity Ordinary Shares 25,988 25,988 3,784 Treasury Shares - (4,283) (624) Additional PaidIn Capital 19,481,417 19,493,515 2,838,476 Accumulated Deficit (18,934,860) (19,179,059) (2,792,687) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income 124,464 118,583 17,267 BEST Inc. Shareholders' Equity 697,009 454,744 66,216 Non-controlling Interests (85,128) (98,068) (14,280) Total Shareholders' Equity 611,881 356,676 51,936 Total Liabilities, Mezzanine Equity and Shareholders' Equity 7,790,245 7,503,478 1,092,591 Summary of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (In Thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 2023 RMB RMB US$ Net cash used in continuing operating activities (304,096) (163,187) (23,762) Net cash used in operating activities (304,096) (163,187) (23,762) Net cash (used in)/generated from continuing investing activities (879,542) 683,000 99,453 Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities (879,542) 683,000 99,453 Net cash (used in)/generated from continuing financing activities (145,284) 117,619 17,127 Net cash (used in)/generated from financing activities (145,284) 117,619 17,127 Exchange Rate Effect on Cash and Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash (23,555) (13,222) (1,925) Net (decrease)/increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash (1,352,477) 624,210 90,892 Cash and Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Period 5,316,148 2,478,423 360,886 Cash and Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at End of Period 3,963,671 3,102,633 451,778 Cash and Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash from continuing operations at End of Period 3,963,671 3,102,633 451,778 RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP MEASURES TO THE NEAREST COMPARABLE GAAP MEASURES For the Company's continuing operations, the table below sets forth a reconciliation of the Company's net (loss)/income to EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin for the periods indicated: Table 4 Reconciliation of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 (In RMB'000) Freight Supply Chain Global Others Unallocated[11] Total Net Loss (80,238) 376 (111,867) (20,362) (45,536) (257,627) Add Depreciation & Amortization 19,316 8,648 9,232 509 4,952 42,657 Interest Expense - - - - 17,621 17,621 Income Tax Expense - - (11) 149 - 138 Subtract Interest Income - - - - (21,678) (21,678) EBITDA (60,922) 9,024 (102,646) (19,704) (44,641) (218,889) Add Share-based Compensation Expenses 1,852 788 650 20 8,783 12,093 Adjusted EBITDA (59,070) 9,812 (101,996) (19,684) (35,858) (206,796) Adjusted EBITDA Margin (5.62 %) 2.23 % (51.77 %) (75.40 %) - (12.06 %) Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 (In RMB'000) Freight Supply Chain Global Others Unallocated[12] Total Net Loss (173,111) (20,768) (70,976) (57,376) (57,668) (379,899) Add Depreciation & Amortization 20,257 10,484 5,110 13,317 4,391 53,559 Interest Expense - - - - 26,422 26,422 Income Tax Expense - 12 18 189 - 219 Subtract Interest Income - - - - (15,618) (15,618) EBITDA (152,854) (10,272) (65,848) (43,870) (42,473) (315,317) Add Share-based Compensation Expenses 2,953 1,822 2,428 143 13,337 20,683 Adjusted EBITDA (149,901) (8,450) (63,420) (43,727) (29,136) (294,634) Adjusted EBITDA Margin (13.7 %) (2.1 %) (23.6 %) (136.2 %) - (16.3 %) For the Company's continuing operations, the table below sets forth a reconciliation of the Company's net (loss)/income to non-GAAP net Income/(loss), non-GAAP net Income/(loss) margin for the periods indicated: Table 5 Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Net (Loss)/Income and Non-GAAP Net (Loss)/Income Margin Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 (In RMB'000) Freight Supply Chain Global Others Unallocated[13] Total Net Loss (80,238) 376 (111,867) (20,362) (45,536) (257,627) Add Share-based Compensation Expenses 1,852 788 650 20 8,783 12,093 Non-GAAP Net Loss (78,386) 1,164 (111,217) (20,342) (36,753) (245,534) Non-GAAP Net Loss Margin (7.45 %) 0.26 % (56.45 %) (77.92 %) - (14.31 %) Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 (In RMB'000) Freight Supply Chain Global Others Unallocated[14] Total Net Loss (173,111) (20,768) (70,976) (57,376) (57,668) (379,899) Add Share-based Compensation Expenses 2,953 1,822 2,428 143 13,337 20,683 Non-GAAP Net Loss (170,158) (18,946) (68,548) (57,233) (44,331) (359,216) Non-GAAP Net Loss Margin (15.6 %) (4.6 %) (25.5 %) (178.3 %) - (19.9 %) For the Company's continuing operations, the table below sets forth a reconciliation of the Company's diluted loss per ADS to Non-GAAP diluted loss per ADS for the periods indicated: Table 6 Reconciliation of diluted loss per ADS and Non-GAAP diluted loss per ADS Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 (In '000) RMB US$ Net Loss Attributable to Ordinary Shareholders (244,199) (35,558) Add Share-based Compensation Expenses 12,093 1,761 Non-GAAP Net Loss Attributable to Ordinary Shareholders (232,106) (33,797) Weighted Average Diluted Ordinary Shares Outstanding During the Quarter Diluted 394,377,251 394,377,251 Diluted (Non-GAAP) 394,377,251 394,377,251 Diluted loss per ordinary share (0.62) (0.09) Add Non-GAAP adjustment to net loss per ordinary share 0.03 - Non-GAAP diluted loss per ordinary share (0.59) (0.09) Diluted loss per ADS (12.38) (1.80) Add Non-GAAP adjustment to net loss per ADS 0.61 0.09 Non-GAAP diluted loss per ADS (11.77) (1.71) [1] All numbers presented have been rounded to the nearest integer, tenth, or hundredth, and year-over-year comparisons are based on figures before rounding. [2] In December 2021, BEST sold its China express business, the principal terms of which were previously announced. As a result, China express business has been deconsolidated from the Company and its historical financial results are reflected in the Company's consolidated financial statements as discontinued operations accordingly. The financial information and non-GAAP financial information disclosed in this press release is presented on a continuing operations basis, unless otherwise specifically stated. [3] Non-GAAP net income/loss represents net income/loss excluding share-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions, and fair value change of equity investments (if any). [4] See the sections entitled "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Measures to the Nearest Comparable GAAP Measures" for more information about the non-GAAP measures referred to within this results announcement. [5] Diluted earnings/loss per ADS, is calculated by dividing net income/loss attributable to ordinary shareholders as adjusted for the effect of dilutive ordinary equivalent shares, if any, by the weighted average number of ordinary and dilutive ordinary equivalent shares expressed in ADS outstanding during the period. [6] EBITDA represents net loss excluding depreciation, amortization, interest expense and income tax expense and minus interest income. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA excluding share-based compensation expenses and fair value change of equity investments (if any). [7] All numbers presented have been rounded to the nearest integer, tenth, or hundredth, and year-over-year comparisons are based on figures before rounding. [8] All numbers represented the financial results from continuing operations, unless otherwise stated. [9] "Others" Segment primarily represents Capital business units [10] The total number of shares outstanding excludes shares reserved for future issuances upon exercise or vesting of awards granted under the Company's share incentive plans. [11] Unallocated expenses are primarily related to corporate administrative expenses and other miscellaneous items that are not allocated to individual segments. [12] Unallocated expenses are primarily related to corporate administrative expenses and other miscellaneous items that are not allocated to individual segments. [13] Unallocated expenses are primarily related to corporate administrative expenses and other miscellaneous items that are not allocated to individual segments. [14] Unallocated expenses are primarily related to corporate administrative expenses and other miscellaneous items that are not allocated to individual segments. SOURCE BEST Inc. Boardable named among best workplaces INDIANAPOLIS, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Boardable has been named to Inc. magazine's annual Best Workplaces list. Featured in the May/June 2023 issue and prominently featured on Inc.com, the list is the result of a comprehensive measurement of American companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces and company culture, whether operating in a physical or a virtual facility. Boardable Ranks Among Highest-Scoring Businesses on Inc. Magazine's Annual List of Best Workplaces for 2023 Tweet this Boardable named among best places to work. Nonprofit boards are responsible for furthering the missions of their organizations, but organizational friction and communication barriers, especially in today's hybrid work environments, make this increasingly difficult. Boardable is the board management solution designed specifically for nonprofits, by a team that is just as passionate as serving on nonprofit boards as their customers. Boardable's software helps leaders, administrators, and board members remove friction from collaboration and renew focus on their missions in order to drive more positive change in the world. After collecting data from thousands of submissions, Inc. selected 591 honorees this year. Each company that was nominated took part in an employee survey, conducted by Quantum Workplace, which included topics such as management effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth, and overall company culture. The organization's benefits were also audited to determine overall score and ranking. Jeff Middlesworth, CEO at Boardable, says, "At Boardable, one of our company values is to 'Live the Mission.' We live and breathe our mission by serving on boards ourselves because we are passionate about both serving our customers authentically and driving positive change in the world." "Being named to Best Workplaces is an honor that only a small fraction of companies have been able to claim," says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. "Proving to the world that you're a magnet for talent and have a culture that keeps teams engaged, productive, and proud to come to work is a truly remarkable achievement." About Boardable Boardable empowers nonprofit organizations to continue driving positive change in the world. Founded by experienced board executives, Boardable's board management solution removes friction so non-profit organizations can focus on what's important their purpose and mission. Boardable serves nonprofit organizations in over 40 countries worldwide ranging from Charities, Educational Institutions, and Healthcare. Learn more at www.boardable.com. About Inc. Media The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com . About Quantum Workplace Quantum Workplace, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is an HR technology company that serves organizations through employee-engagement surveys, action-planning tools, exit surveys, peer to-peer recognition, performance evaluations, goal tracking, and leadership assessment. For more information, visit QuantumWorkplace.com. SOURCE Boardable "Humans In Space" program co-hosted by Boryung, Axiom Space and Aurelia Institute to explore three interdisciplinary pillars of healthcare, lifestyle, and platform in hopes of shaping the future of interplanetary civilization. Boryung aims to expand the space healthcare ecosystem, establishing the company as a global industry leader. SEOUL, South Korea, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Boryung, South Korea's leading healthcare investment company, has launched a global space initiative called "Humans In Space" together with Axiom Space (the only commercial company leveraging the ISS to build the world's first commercial space station, Axiom Station) and Aurelia Institute (nonprofit spinoff from MIT Space Exploration Initiative) as co-hosts. The Humans In Space program aims to foster an ecosystem of innovative minds working to advance human activities in space. The program will kick start with the Challenge launch in May, followed by the Symposium in late October. 'Humans In Space' Emblem The Humans In Space Challenge is a global competition for researchers and innovators from relevant fields. Based on the three carefully selected themes "Human Healthcare," "Human Lifestyle" and "Human Place" participants will identify various challenges faced by humanity in space and propose solutions to address them. The Challenge winners will be awarded investments and research awards alongside opportunities to participate in tailored mentorship programs led by space experts and engage with an expansive network of prominent venture capitals, space agencies, national research institutions and industries. Renowned space figures from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the European Space Agency (ESA), Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Stanford University will actively engage in the evaluation process and mentorship programs to support the growth of Challenge applicants. "We are thrilled by the overwhelming support and enthusiasm received from our esteemed global partners as we forge a collaborative global space ecosystem. Together with our partners, we will be exploring diverse avenues to nurture and advance groundbreaking ideas that safeguard and elevate human existence both in space and on our precious Earth," stated Jack Dongjoo Lim, Head of Boryung's New Portfolio Investment (NPI) Group. "In synergy with our esteemed partners, Boryung remains steadfast in realizing its profound vision of becoming an indispensable force in interplanetary civilization," added Lim. "At this particularly exciting moment in humanity's evolution into a spacefaring species, it's more important than ever that we foster a global community of interdisciplinary leaders and visionaries for space health," said Ariel Ekblaw, CEO of Aurelia Institute. "We are proud to partner with Boryung and Axiom in this endeavor, and eager to see the new ideas the applicants will bring to the Humans In Space Challenge." The Challenge will be concluded at the grand Humans In Space Symposium where awardees will be selected by a panel of esteemed judges. The Symposium will also bring together innovators, experts, investors and government agencies, and will facilitate discussions and networking opportunities to advance the global space ecosystem. "We believe it's important to engage people around the world to help us develop innovative solutions for the challenges in space and how space affects the human body", said Dr. Lucie Low, Axiom Space Chief Scientist for Microgravity Research. "Together Boryung, Aurelia Institute and Axiom Space are working to conduct meaningful science in space for the benefit of all and through the Humans In Space Challenge we aim to contribute to our growing knowledge of ourselves and our place in the universe." Boryung has been actively pioneering advancements in space healthcare since 2022. Through the inaugural Care In Space Challenge, Boryung invested in six startups focused on space healthcare. Building upon the previous year's success, this year's program aims to amplify the scale and broaden the themes of the Care In Space Challenge. While the 2022 Challenge focused on securing healthcare technologies for individuals residing in space, Humans In Space now covers a much more expanded scope of research and development to encompass everyday elements as well as the utilization of space environments for applications on Earth. To achieve this goal, Boryung has introduced two additional agenda's alongside "Healthcare", namely "Lifestyle" and "Platform" in space. Continuing from last year, Boryung will lead the "Healthcare" aspect, seeking to discover transformative space health technologies and research. Aurelia Institute will explore various solutions under the theme "Lifestyle," building upon years of internal research on making humanity a space-faring species. Axiom Space, a pioneering company expanding access to space and enabling more nations, individuals, researchers, and organizations to work in microgravity for the betterment of humanity, will lead the "Platform" agenda. This partnership signifies a deepened bond between Axiom Space and Boryung, following their agreement to form a joint venture last month. Axiom Space recently succeeded in the launch of Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2), its second all private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission spanned over eight days and consisted of a series of over 20 experiments centered on human health and the Earth's atmospheric conditions. Notably, Saudi Arabia made history through this mission by sending astronauts to space for the first time since 1985, marking a gap of 38 years. It also became the first Arab country to send a female astronaut and, as a nation that had not previously participated in the construction of the ISS, it set a record by having two astronauts aboard the ISS simultaneously. The mission also involved engagement with 12,000 students, which further highlights Saudi Arabia's dedication to nurturing the next generation's interest in space exploration Applications for the 2023 Humans In Space Challenge will be open from May 23 to July 28. After a series of evaluations, the semi-finalists who will be presenting at the Virtual Pitch event will be announced early August. Finalists who will be presenting at the Symposium will be selected during the Virtual Pitch event, which will be held early September. These finalists will be mentored by esteemed industry leaders prior to their live pitch in the Symposium, where the final awardees will be selected. The Humans In Space Symposium is scheduled to take place in late October in the U.S. More information on the Humans In Space Challenge and Symposium can be found at www.careinspace.com . About Boryung Boryung is a healthcare investment company founded in 1957 and headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. Following the company's mission to become an indispensable contributor to human health, the company has expanded their business portfolio to the space healthcare industry. Recognizing space as a new realm for growth, Boryung acknowledges the increasing number of individuals anticipated to embark on prolonged space missions, highlighting the importance of ensuring human survival in the hostile space environment. Hence, the company believes there will be substantial opportunities to foster new technologies and meet the emerging needs in this field. About Axiom Space Axiom Space is building history, guided by the vision of a thriving home in space that benefits every human, everywhere. The leading provider of human spaceflight services and developer of human-rated space infrastructure, Axiom Space operates end-to-end missions to the International Space Station today while developing its successor, Axiom Station a permanent commercial destination in low-Earth orbit that will sustain human growth off the planet and bring untold benefits back home. About Aurelia Institute Aurelia Institute is a nonprofit space architecture R&D lab, education and outreach center, and policy hub dedicated to building humanity's future in space. At the cusp of humanity's next metamorphosis into a spacefaring species, Aurelia Institute offers near-term innovation in habitat design and open access community-building and workforce development through our annual program of zero-g flights and orbital technology demonstrations. Together with Aurelia Foundry, the Aurelia ecosystem supports development and investment in next-gen space tech that will improve access and contribute to a life worth living in space. Aurelia aims to develop the infrastructure, technologies, markets, and policies that will help us scale humanity's horizons from early space stations in LEO to the fullness of a principled interplanetary civilization, while profoundly benefiting life on Earth. SOURCE Boryung NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Boxabl is pleased to announce that it has been invited to showcase its Boxabl Casita at the U.S. Housing Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Innovative Housing Showcase on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The Innovative Housing Showcase is a three-day event featuring new building technologies and solutions that make housing more innovative, resilient, and affordable for American families. More than 20,000 people, including policymakers, housing industry representatives, media, and the public, are expected to attend. Boxabl to Showcase its Casita in Washington D.C. on the National Mall, June 9th-11th. Tweet this Boxabl to Showcase its Casita in Washington D.C. on the National Mall June 9 11th, 2023 "It is with deep appreciation and great excitement that Boxabl has been invited back to this prestigious event at our Nation's Capital," says CEO / founder Galiano Tiramani. "I can think of no better place to showcase our Casita than the seat of our Federal Government." This is a great opportunity to showcase our product to government officials in person while exhibiting how Boxabl can bring high-quality, well-designed, affordable homes to the masses. The Boxabl Casita can be found next to the Air and Space Museum and is available for tours and meet and greets from June 9th to to11th the 9:00 AM- 6:00 PM. Boxabl's mission is to revolutionize the standard of housing construction and affordability with its innovative, technology-based solution to mass-produce homes through advanced manufacturing. What further differentiates Boxabl from other modular home builders is the ability to deliver homes in a compact design, no longer requiring expensive and wide load permits. SOURCE Boxabl VANCOUVER, BC, and TORONTO, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - BZAM Ltd. (the "Company" or "BZAM") (CSE: BZAM) (US-OTC: BZAMF), a leading Canadian cannabis producer, is pleased to announce its financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 ("Q1 2023"). These filings are available for review on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. All financial information is provided in Canadian dollars except where otherwise indicated. Q1 2023 Highlights: Achieved record quarterly gross revenues of $35.0 million for Q1 2023, an increase of 41% quarter-over-quarter (Q1 2023 vs. Q4 2022); for Q1 2023, an increase of 41% quarter-over-quarter (Q1 2023 vs. Q4 2022); Achieved record quarterly net revenues of $24.1 million for Q1 2023, an increase of 40% quarter-over-quarter (Q1 2023 vs. Q4 2022); for Q1 2023, an increase of 40% quarter-over-quarter (Q1 2023 vs. Q4 2022); Expanded market share to be ranked as the 6th largest producer in Canada according to Hifyre; according to Hifyre; Reduced adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") to 43% of sales, down from 59% Q4 2022. Management Commentary: Matt Milich, CEO of the Company, stated: "We delivered strong net revenue growth in Q1 2023, from both the full impact of our November merger and the Company's organic sales growth. Further to the progress we made in Q1 2023, we continue to execute on our plans to improve margin and reduce SG&A, including the headcount rationalization and cost savings measures we have just implemented this month, which we expect to generate about $2.5M in annual savings across both cost of goods sold and SG&A." "We are looking forward to a robust second half of the year. We continue to leverage our industry leading lab and innovation folks, with the launch of over 20 new products across Canada in the next six months. And, we continue to build momentum in the export market, having received our EU GMP certification earlier this month, we are executing on distribution agreements in Germany and the UK with branded products expected to land in the UK market by Q4 this year." Q1 2023 Financial Highlights: Select Key Financial Metrics Q1 2023 Q4 2022 % Change Gross Revenue 34,970 24,789 41 % Net Revenue 24,097 17,227 40 % Total Cost of Sales 21,138 24,380 (13 %) Gross Profit/(Loss) 2,959 (7,153) 141 % Adjusted SG&A (1) 10,436 10,084 3 % Adjusted SG&A as a % of Net Revenue(1) 43 % 59 % (26 %) Adjusted EBITDA (1) (3,904) (6,828) 43 % Adjusted EBITDA as a % of Net Revenue(1) (16 %) (40 %) (59 %) (1) Adjusted SG&A and Adjusted EBITDA are non-IFRS financial measures not defined by and do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS; please refer to "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" in this press release for more information. Gross and Net Revenue: The increase in gross revenue quarter-over-quarter was primarily driven by the dramatic growth in the Company's brand and product portfolio as a result of the merger between BZAM Holdings Ltd. and The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. in November 2022 (the "November Merger"), as well as organic sales growth and increased demand for products under the TGOD and Highly Dutch brands. Following their transition to the Company's inhouse sales team, Highly Dutch and TGOD sales increased by 22% and 33% from Q4 2022, respectively. Gross Margin/Profit: Overall gross margin for Q1 was 12%, which represents an increase in gross profit of 141% quarter-over-quarter as a result of increased revenue resulting in better cost absorption and reduced inventory provisions in the quarter. SG&A: Achieved an adjusted SG&A (excluding one-time non-recurring costs) of 43% of sales in Q1 2023, down from 59% in Q4 2023. This was primarily as the result of increasing revenues while driving costs down by reducing headcount, renegotiating service level agreements with its respective vendors, and maintaining cost discipline in line with corporate objectives. Operational Highlights & Outlook: The Company is focused on improving operating cash conversion from streamlining operations, continuing to implement cost containment initiatives, and continuing the evolution of automation. The Company believes it can continue to increase its topline revenue, improve margins and generate positive cash flow as a result of the synergistic impacts of the November Merger. During the first quarter, the Company: Expanded its recreational market share to 5.2% in March 2023 from 2.0% in March 2022 , as per Hifyre data; from 2.0% in , as per Hifyre data; Transitioned Wyld production to the Company's Pitt Meadows Facility and ceased all production at the Puslinch Facility in readiness for its sale. The Company expects to complete that sale within the next 12 months; Progressed negotiations with prospective buyers for the Company's Maple Ridge Facility. The Company expects to receive gross proceeds of $3 to $4 million for the sale. Following quarter end, on May 11, 2023, the Company announced that its subsidiary, The Green Organic Dutchman Ltd., received EU-GMP certification for its facility in Ancaster, Ontario. This certification permits the Company to export certain medicinal cannabis products to numerous global markets, and allows the Company to execute on existing strategic distribution agreements that were established in anticipation of the certification, including agreements in Germany and the United Kingdom. On May 29, 2023, the Company received a waiver with respect to the EBITDA financial covenant, requiring achievement of positive EBITDA (as defined by the lender), under the Fourth Amendment for its Revolver Loan. Under the waiver, the effective date of the requirement to achieve positive EBITDA was moved from April 30, 2023 to July 31, 2023. Investor Conference Call to Discuss Q1 2023 Results: Management will host a conference call with analysts on May 31, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results. To instantly join the conference call, please use the following URL to easily register yourself and have your phone connected into the conference call automatically: https://emportal.ink/42u0bYn. Alternatively, participants may access the call by dialing 1-416-764-8688 (Toronto) or 1-888-390-0546 (North America); Conference ID 24157341. For those unable to participate on the live call, a replay of the call will also be available through June 7, 2023, by dialing 1-416-764-8677 or 1-888-390-0541 (Passcode: 157341#). About BZAM Ltd. BZAM Ltd. (CSE: BZAM) (US-OTC: BZAMF) is a leading Canadian cannabis producer with a focus on branded consumer goods, innovation, quality, consistency, integrity, sustainability and transparency. The BZAM family includes core brands BZAM, TGOD, ness, Highly Dutch Organic, TABLE TOP, and partner brands Dunn Cannabis, FRESH and Wyld. BZAM operates facilities in BC, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, as well as retail stores in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Regina, Saskatchewan. BZAM's Common Shares and certain warrants issued under the indentures dated June 12, 2020, October 23, 2020, and December 10, 2020, currently trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") under the symbols "BZAM", "BZAM.WR", "BZAM.WA", and "BZAM.WB" respectively.. BZAM's Common Shares trade in the U.S. on the OTCQX under the symbol "BZAMF". For more information, please visit www.bzam.com Non-IFRS Financial Measures This Press Release contains certain financial and operational performance measures that are not recognized or defined under IFRS (the "Non-IFRS Measures"). As there are no standardized methods of calculating these Non-IFRS Measures, the Company's approaches may differ from those used by others, and this data may not be comparable to similar data presented by other licensed producers of cannabis and cannabis companies. As such, users are cautioned that these measures should not be construed as alternatives to measures determined in accordance with IFRS, including net income (loss) and gross profit, as measures of profitability or as alternatives to the Company's IFRS-based Consolidated Financial Statements. For an explanation of these measures to related comparable financial information presented in the Consolidated Financial Statements prepared in accordance with IFRS, refer to the discussion below. The Company believes that these Non-IFRS Measures are useful indicators of operating performance and are specifically used by management to assess the financial and operating performance of the Company. These Non-IFRS Measures include, but are not limited, to the following: "Adjusted SG&A" refers to sales (including marketing), general and administrative expenses excluding severance costs, any write downs and one-off restructuring costs. Adjusted SG&A is a useful measure as it removes expenses that are not expected to recur in the following year. "Adjusted EBITDA" has been identified by the Company as a relevant industry performance indicator. Adjusted EBITDA is a Non-IFRS Measure used by management that does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Management defines Adjusted EBITDA as loss for the period, as reported, excluding foreign exchange gains and losses, finance costs, accretion expenses, finance income, revaluation loss (gain) of contingent consideration, loss (gain) on disposal of assets, impairment (reversal of impairment) charge for non-financial assets, loss on derecognition of investment in joint venture, expenditures incurred in connection with research and development activities, debt modification, impairment loss on remeasurement of disposal group, gain on disposal of subsidiary, realized fair value adjustment on sale of inventories, unrealized gain on changes in fair value of biological assets, provisions and impairment of inventories and biological assets, share based compensation, depreciation, amortization, legal provisions, ERP implementation costs, restructuring costs and transaction costs. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information as it is a commonly used measure in capital markets to approximate operating earnings. The Company provides the Non-IFRS Measure as supplemental information and in addition to the financial measures that are calculated and presented in accordance with IFRS. The Non-IFRS Measure is also presented because management believes such measures provide information which is useful to shareholders and investors in understanding its performance and which may assist in the evaluation of the Company's business relative to that of its peers. Management believes the Non-IFRS Measure is a useful financial metric to assess the Company's operating performance on a cash basis before the impact of non-cash items, and on an adjusted basis as described above. However, such Non-IFRS Measure should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for or as an alternative to, and should only be considered in conjunction with, the most comparable Non-IFRS Measure. Non-IFRS Measures should be considered together with other data prepared in accordance with IFRS to enable investors to evaluate the Company's operating results, underlying performance and prospects in a manner similar to the Company's management. Accordingly, these Non-IFRS Measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Cautionary Statements This news release includes statements containing certain "forwardlooking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law ("forwardlooking statements"). Forward looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements about future net revenue, margins, cost savings, and positive cash flows, statements about future EBITDA, statements about future production quantity and timing, statements about the offering of any particular products by the Company and statements regarding the future performance of the Company, statements about funding availability, statements about growth and delivery of products, and statements about the level of demand for BZAM's products, statements relating to obtaining final EU GMP certification and generating any revenue in Germany or the United Kingdom, statements relating to when actual exports of the Company's products will occur into Germany or the United Kingdom, statements relating to the Company's sale of facilities in Maple Ridge, BC and Puslinch, Ontario, and statements relating to the expected gross proceeds of the Company's sale of facilities. Forwardlooking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "should", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forwardlooking statements throughout this news release, such as assumptions that the Company's financial trajectory will continue, the Company not having any issues with regulators, cultivation patterns at the Company's facilities continuing and there not being significant disruptions in cultivation such as disease or shortages in resources, the Company being insulated from supply chain issues and inflation affecting the global economy, the Company being able to access the capital markets and existing lenders for necessary funding, when necessary, demand for the Company's products continuing as expected and based on past trends, there being no material issues or delays in the Company receiving EU GMP certification, the Company being able to sell its facilities in Maple Ridge, BC and Puslinch, Ontario. Forwardlooking 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 (including market conditions) and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forwardlooking statements, including those risk factors described in Management's Discussion and Analysis and the Company's most recent Annual Information Form filed with Canadian securities regulators and available on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information or forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. Neither the CSE nor the CSE's Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of CSE) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE BZAM LTD. FORT NOVOSEL, Ala., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - (NYSE: CAE) (TSX: CAE): CAE today announced that CAE Defense & Security has been awarded a contract from General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) to support Flight School Training Support Services (FSTSS) at Fort Novosel (formerly Fort Rucker), Alabama. The contract, valued at US$455M, supports the recent US$1.7B award to GDIT by the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) for simulation capabilities and training support services to prepare initial entry-level and graduate-level rotary wing flight training at Fort Novosel. Under the terms of the 12-year contract, CAE will build and deliver new full-flight simulators for the CH-47F and UH-60M platforms to meet the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence's rotarywing simulation services requirements. In addition to owning and operating the new training devices, CAE will also implement CH-47F and UH60M software configurations for reconfigurable collective training devices. Located at the U.S Army Aviation Center of Excellence (USAACE), the FSTSS program represents the world's largest helicopter simulation training program, replacing the former Flight School XXI (FSXXI) program, which supported simulation and training for nearly two decades. The FSXXI program trains approximately 3,900 Army aviators annually, bringing Initial Entry Rotary Wing (IERW) and graduate-level pilots, crews and units to a higher level of proficiency. "Proven U.S. Army training success at our Dothan Training Center for fixed-wing aviators and the expertise delivered through Flight School XXI and Advanced Helicopter Flight Training Services at Fort Novosel allows CAE to expand our trusted training solutions with the FSTSS program," says Daniel Gelston, Group President, CAE Defense & Security. "It is our honor to provide training and simulation to all Army pilots, both fixed- and rotary-wing, to enhance mission readiness." About CAE At CAE, we equip people in critical roles with the expertise and solutions to create a safer world. As a technology company, we digitalize the physical world, deploying simulation training and critical operations support solutions. Above all else, we empower pilots, airlines, defence and security forces, and healthcare practitioners to perform at their best every day and when the stakes are the highest. Around the globe, we're everywhere customers need us to be with more than 13,000 employees in more than 200 sites and training locations in over 40 countries. CAE represents 75 years of industry firststhe highest-fidelity flight, mission, and medical simulators, and personalized training programs powered by artificial intelligence. We're investing our time and resources into building the next generation of cutting-edge, digitally immersive training and critical operations solutions while keeping positive environmental, social and governance (ESG) impact at the core of our mission. Today and tomorrow, we'll make sure our customers are ready for the moments that matter. Read our FY22 Annual Activity and Corporate Social Responsibility Report Follow us on: Twitter @CAE_Inc and @CAE_Defence LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/cae LinkedIn Defense & Security www.linkedin.com/company/cae-defence-&-security CAE Contacts: General Media: Samantha Golinski, Vice President, Public Affairs & Global Communications,+1-514-341-2000, ext. 7939, [email protected] Investor Relations: Andrew Arnovitz, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Enterprise Risk Management, +1-514-734-5760, [email protected] Trade Media: Wendy Stough, Senior Manager, Marketing and Communications, +1-813-233-6409, [email protected] SOURCE CAE INC. CHARLES TOWN, W.Va., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Honorable Maria Sophia Aguirre, Ph.D., a distinguished Ordinary Professor of Economics and researcher in the field of finance, family, and economic development, will be appointed the third President of Catholic Distance University on July 1, 2023. The university's Board of Trustees unanimously elected Dr. Aguirre following a national search launched after longtime President, Dr. Marianne Evans Mount, announced her wish to retire at the end of the 20222023 academic year. Dr. Maria Sophia Aguirre A tenured faculty member at The Catholic University of America, Dr. Aguirre has 30 years of teaching and research experience, while holding leadership positions at the academic program level, department and school levels, as well as the university at large. She was a Fulbright scholar in 20122013. After completing Accounting and Business Administration degrees in Argentina, Dr. Aguirre worked in accounting and commodities trading in Chicago for several years before earning an M.A. and then a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Notre Dame with concentrations in monetary and fiscal policies and international financial markets. She has represented countries, including the Holy See, in international organizations, and served the U.S. President and Secretary of State as a presidential appointee confirmed by Congress in the capacity of Commissioner and Adviser for two presidential terms. Dr. Aguirre has testified before Congress in the U.S. and in several other countries, and has lectured and published extensively both domestically and internationally. Since leaving government, Dr. Aguirre has worked to develop and implement Integral Economic Development (IED), an interdisciplinary approach to economic analysis that recognizes the role of social relationshipsfirst manifested by the familyas key drivers of economic activity. Dr. Aguirre's research, and the two master's degree programs in Integral Economic Development she founded, have led to successful collaboration with a variety of business leaders, academicians, technologists, and policy makers on six continents, improving the lives of millions of people in the developing world. She is currently on leave at the University of St. Thomas in Houston conducting research on the application of IED to artificial intelligence and virtual reality. "In searching for a successor to our great President, Dr. Marianne Mount, CDU struck gold in recruiting Dr. Aguirre," said CDU's Board Chair, Stephen Pryor. "Sophia Aguirre is a visionary academic leader with a track record of successful academic innovation, as well as pioneering economic research that is Catholic Social Teaching (CST) in action. As CDU implements its new CST curriculum in the U.S. and Latin America, her international experience, fluency in Spanish, and research background will be game changers," Mr. Pryor said. Marianne Mount Lauded for Leadership President Dr. Marianne Evans Mount has served CDU for 40 years. Under her leadership, CDU has grown from a catechetical institute with a staff of two to the world's only exclusively online Catholic university, with accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission and The Association of Theological Schools. Dr. Mount served as Education Director from 1983 to 1985, Executive Director from 1985 to 1996, Executive Vice President from 1997 to 2008, and as President since 2008 after earning her Ph.D. at Virginia Tech. Under Dr. Mount's leadership, CDU is implementing an innovative new curriculum in Catholic Social Teaching, enabled by the largest grant received in the university's history, as well as new academic partnerships that will foster enrollment growth and offer students an expanded range of academic programs. In reflecting on the contributions of President Mount, Mr. Pryor noted that "Marianne Mount has been a remarkable servant leader who has devoted her entire professional career to advancing the mission of CDU. Under her leadership, CDU has built a reputation as a pioneer in online theological education that is completely faithful to the teachings of the Church. Dr. Mount was recently appointed as a consultor to the Vatican's Dicastery for Culture and Education in recognition of her many contributions to the innovative realm of Catholic distance education. As she hands over the reins to Dr. Aguirre, the CDU community looks forward to an exciting future as a global trendsetter in online Catholic education." Dr. Aguirre's vision for CDU builds on the foundation laid by her predecessor. "Under the leadership of Dr. Mount, the university has forged an impressive path and is now positioned for growth that will include curriculum development in mission-related fields, a larger global footprint, and a new agenda of institutional research through CDU's proven online pedagogy. I am honored, grateful, and humbled by this opportunity to lead CDU on the next stage of its journey," she said. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Mary Kate White, Director of Communications, Catholic Distance University, 300 S. George St., Charles Town, WV 25414 [email protected]; 304-724-5000, ext. 717. To learn more about CDU, visit cdu.edu. SOURCE Catholic Distance University A bumper tally even by contemporary American standards, courtesy of the holiday weekend. Among the first reports of gun violence over the holiday weekend happened Friday afternoon, when Telemundo Chicago cameras caught a confrontation between two groups of people on Chicago's North Avenue Beach, NBC Chicago reported. The altercation led to gunshots but no injuries. Although Friday's shooting resulted in no injuries, more than eight people were killed and at least 32 others were injured in Chicago shootings over the long weekend, according to NBC Chicago. Reports of shootings dotted the rest of the U.S., though the total number does not appear to be an outlier for a holiday weekend. The U.S. averages about 57 gun-related homicides per day, according to a Pew Research Center analysis. In Baltimore around 3:30 p.m. Friday, an argument between two men led to gunfire, which injured five people, officials confirmed to NBC News. It's sometimes said that the next civil war in the U.S. would look more like "The Troubles" of Northern Ireland in the 1970s than the cleanly-mapped front lines of the last civil war. In the worst year in Northern Ireland, 472 people (from a population of about 1.5 million) were killed in violence there, a rate of 31 deaths for every 100,000 people; it was about 10 in every 100,000 people over the 1970s as a whole. The U.S. has about 25,000 homicides a year (about 20,000 using guns), for a rate of about 7.5 deaths for every 100,000 people. The methodologies used to assign Northern Ireland deaths to political violence have historical rigor; for the contemporary U.S., it's oil on the water, with some cities having longstanding homicide rates that make even 1972's Derry look like Disneyland. So while one should be on the lookout for Stochastic Troubles, don't panicunless you're in Jackson or New Orleans. LONDON, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- James de Roany has been awarded the title of "Most Innovative CEO in the Sustainable Packaging Industry" in the Business Worldwide Magazine 2023 CEO Awards. The Awards aim to identify and honour the most respected C-level executives across the globe, across a range of different sectors. The awards themselves do not focus on a company's success, as many do. Instead, the spotlight is on the individuals who make the corporations tick namely senior executives such as CEOs, Managing Directors, Directors and senior-level management. The intention is to give a worthy individual the recognition they deserve, using their example to inspire others to achieve similar success. James de Roany built his career managing vineyards. Having spent many years in the industry and travelling the world, he began to think about what could be done differently to lessen the impact on the environment. Following COP21, he set about researching alternative materials to glass and plastics, and after years of R&D the Green Gen Bottle was born. Formed from a special composite based on plant fibres and bio-sourced resin, it presented an entirely new way to package and transport liquids. Having produced the first bottle using long fibre flax, James de Roany and his team began to explore other options, releasing the Green Gen Bottle to rave reviews and securing their first customer, cognac house A. de Fussigny in early 2023. Speaking to Business Worldwide Magazine, James de Roany explained, "I've sent many bottles to places all around the world. Today, we have to think differently. After the amphora, the cask and the bottle, it's time to find alternative packaging solutions. Our ambition is to shake up the design of a type of packaging that's existed for several centuries." To find out more and follow the next chapters of this ground-breaking company's story, visit the website here: https://en.greengentechnologies.com/ Further information about the Business Worldwide CEO Awards can be found at https://www.bwmonline.com/awards About Business Worldwide Magazine Business Worldwide Magazine is the leading source of business and dealmaker intelligence throughout the world. Our quarterly magazine and online news portal enable an established audience of corporate dealmakers to track the latest news, stories and developments affecting the international markets, corporate finance, business strategy and changes in legislation. This readership includes of CEO/CFO - Banks, Corporate Lawyers, and Venture Capital/Private Equity Companies to name a few. Contact David Jones Awards Department E: [email protected] www.bwmonline.com SOURCE Business Worldwide Magazine LONDON, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Last night in London, Champagne Armand de Brignac 'Ace of Spades' kicked off a unique experience as a part of Beyonce's RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR. As a luxury champagne known for spectacular occasions and lasting impressions, Armand de Brignac is the champagne of choice to celebrate success in style. For the tour, a specially designed Armand de Brignac viewing platform has been created for an intimate group of VIP guests. In London, guests included Shawn 'JAY-Z' Carter, Damson Idris, Jess Glynne, and Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior. Inspired by Armand de Brignac's iconic metalized bottle, the space features a customized gold wrap and a bar for guests to enjoy the flagship cuvee Brut Gold a multi-vintage cuvee that expresses vibrant fresh fruit character and layers of complexity. The Ace of Spades Brut Gold Experience for the RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR will be live at the remaining tour dates in Europe and North America, giving the friends of the champagne Maison unparalleled access to this year's most anticipated live performance globally. You can download a link of images from HERE. Photo Credit: Shareif Ziyadat Photo Caption: The Ace of Spades Brut Gold Experience at Beyonce's RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR ABOUT CHAMPAGNE ARMAND DE BRIGNAC Champagne Armand de Brignac is a range of prestige cuvees that offer uncompromising quality and taste. Drawing upon more than 250 years of experience in the region, the winemaking team create each distinctive champagne with exquisite attention to detail, including the selection of only the most emblematic vineyards, taking solely the first and freshest portion of the cuvee press and blending a unique trio of vintages. Each bottle is expertly finished by hand. A small and highly skilled team touch a bottle from pressing the fruit to departure from the cellars in France. The result is a champagne that echoes unparalleled luxury and craftsmanship. Champagne Armand de Brignac is co-owned by Shawn 'JAY-Z' Carter and Moet Hennessy. ABOUT CHAMPAGNE ARMAND DE BRIGNAC "ACE OF SPADES" BRUT GOLD The first release from Armand de Brignac, the Brut Gold remains the most iconic cuvee in the range. Peach, apricot, and red berry aromas are followed by crystalized citrus, orange blossom and hints of brioche. The palate is rich with cherries, exotic fruits and a touch of lemon, vanilla, and honey. The mouth feel is soft and creamy, with a hint of toastiness, from the unique Armand de Brignac dosage which is aged for one year in French oak barrels. Please enjoy Armand de Brignac responsibly. SOURCE Champagne Armand de Brignac Company Continues Review of Strategic Alternatives for its Other European Businesses SAN ANTONIO, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCO) (the "Company") today announced agreements to sell its businesses in Italy and Spain to subsidiaries of JCDecaux SE. Gross proceeds from the two separate all-cash transactions total approximately EUR 75.1 million, or US$ 80.5 million1. The all-cash consideration represents a combined transaction multiple of approximately 9.62x Segment Adjusted EBITDA3 contribution based on twelve months ended December 31, 2022, and 7.04x based on twelve months ended March 31, 2023. The Company intends to use the anticipated net proceeds from the sales, after payment of transaction-related fees and expenses, to improve its liquidity and increase the financial flexibility of the business, subject to any limitations set forth in its debt agreements. "The sale of our businesses in Italy and Spain is another important step forward toward our goal of optimizing our portfolio in the best interests of our shareholders," said Scott Wells, Chief Executive Officer of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. "Together with the previous sale of our Swiss business, we will have generated approximately $175 million5 in total gross proceeds while exiting three lower-margin and / or lower-priority European markets. The Board continues its review of strategic alternatives for our other European businesses, and we remain focused on executing our strategic priorities in our America and Airports segments." The sale of the Company's business in Italy is expected to close imminently, and the sale of its business in Spain is expected to close in 2024, upon satisfaction of regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions. The Company has hedged the anticipated proceeds from the sale of its business in Spain to mitigate the risks related to foreign currency fluctuations. There can be no assurance that the strategic reviews of our other European businesses will result in any additional transactions or particular outcomes. The Company has not set a timetable for completion of these processes and may suspend these processes at any time. About Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCO) is at the forefront of driving innovation in the out-of-home advertising industry. Our dynamic advertising platform is broadening the pool of advertisers using our medium through the expansion of digital billboards and displays and the integration of data analytics and programmatic capabilities that deliver measurable campaigns that are simpler to buy. By leveraging the scale, reach and flexibility of our diverse portfolio of assets, we connect advertisers with millions of consumers every month across more than 500,000 print and digital displays in 22 countries. Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "forecast," "goals," "potential," "targets" and similar words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Any statements that refer to expectations or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, such as statements about the satisfaction of closing conditions for, or otherwise closing, the sale of our Italy and Spain businesses; the use of the proceeds therefrom; the continuing review of strategic alternatives for our other European businesses; our expectations of optimizing our portfolio; our expectations with respect to our Americas business; our business plans and strategies; and our liquidity are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and are difficult to predict. Various risks that could cause future results to differ from those expressed by the forward-looking statements included in this press release include, but are not limited to: the failure to satisfy the conditions to close, or otherwise close, the sale of our Italy and Spain businesses; our inability to obtain the benefits from hedging the proceeds from the sale of our Spanish business; the impact of the continued strategic review of our other European businesses and assets; our inability to complete any other transactions with respect to our other European businesses and improve our portfolio; continued economic uncertainty, an economic slowdown or a recession; our ability to service our debt obligations and to fund our operations, business strategy and capital expenditures; the impact of our substantial indebtedness, including the effect of our leverage on our financial position and earnings; the difficulty, cost and time required to implement our strategy, and the fact that we may not realize the anticipated benefits therefrom; the impact of future dispositions, acquisitions and other strategic transactions; risks of doing business in foreign countries; fluctuations in exchange rates and currency values; volatility of our stock price; the impacts on our stock price as a result of future sales of common stock, or the perception thereof, and dilution resulting from additional capital raised through the sale of common stock or other equity-linked instruments; our ability to continue to comply with the applicable listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange; the restrictions contained in the agreements governing our indebtedness limiting our flexibility in operating our business; and certain other factors set forth in our other filings with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated, or if no date is stated, as of the date of this press release. Other key risks are described in the section entitled "Item 1A. Risk Factors" of the Company's reports filed with the SEC, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events or otherwise. _______________ 1 Figures based on prevailing exchange rates on May 30, 2023. 2 In aggregate, the Company's Italian and Spanish businesses contributed approximately US$ 129.1 million to Europe-South revenue and US$ 8.4 million to Europe-South Segment Adjusted EBITDA3 for the full year ended December 31, 2022. 3 Segment Adjusted EBITDA is a GAAP financial measure that is calculated as Revenue less Direct operating expenses and SG&A expenses, excluding restructuring and other costs. Restructuring and other costs include costs associated with cost savings initiatives such as severance, consulting and termination costs and other special costs. 4 In aggregate, the Company's Italian and Spanish businesses contributed approximately US$ 135.1 million to Europe-South revenue and US$ 11.5 million to Europe-South Segment Adjusted EBITDA3 for the twelve months ended March 31, 2023. 5 Figure based on prevailing exchange rates on May 30, 2023, for the Spain and Italy transactions and on December 21, 2022, for the Switzerland transaction. SOURCE Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. Institutional Investing Platform MORGAN MONEY Connects to Clearwater's State-of-the-Art Investment Accounting and Reporting Platform BOISE, Idaho, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Clearwater Analytics (NYSE: CWAN), a leading provider of SaaS-based investment management, accounting, reporting, and analytics solutions, and J.P. Morgan Asset Management today announced a strategic partnership that will integrate Clearwater with the MORGAN MONEY global trading platform, allowing permissioned users to easily navigate between both systems. The joint solution will make it easier for financial professionals to have a global, connected view of their investment portfolios and empower them to make real-time investment decisions on the Clearwater and Morgan Money platforms. Corporate treasurers frequently access multiple systems to invest in a combination of money market mutual funds and separately managed accounts. To transform this complex, siloed process into a simple, user-friendly experience, the integration of Clearwater and J.P. Morgan Asset Management's Morgan Money platform will help empower institutional investors to easily log in to the joint solution and gain a consolidated view of balances, exposures, and counterparty risks. Users of the solution can put insights into action to understand how trades might impact their portfolio. As a result, corporate decision makers can easily make smarter investment decisions, all done intuitively via a holistic view of their holdings. "J.P. Morgan Asset Management is committed to delivering innovative solutions that simplify investment decisions for our clients," said Paul Przybylski, Global Head of Product Strategy and Morgan Money at J.P. Morgan Asset Management. "The integration of Clearwater Analytics and Morgan Money represents a significant step towards achieving that goal. By leveraging Clearwater's analytics platform, institutional investors can view comprehensive, real-time insights into their portfolios and the broader money market mutual fund landscape. This collaboration combines J.P. Morgan's asset management expertise with Clearwater's powerful investment accounting technology, delivering an advanced solution that streamlines the investment process, enhances transparency, and ultimately enables our clients to make informed decisions with confidence." "Our collaboration with J.P. Morgan's Morgan Money platform demonstrates our commitment to providing a powerful combination of cutting-edge technology and deep financial expertise, enabling investors to navigate the complexities of the current market environment with confidence," said Scott Erickson, Chief Revenue Officer at Clearwater Analytics. "By leveraging our integrated platform, clients gain access to robust analytics and actionable insights that streamline their investment decisions. As a result, investors are able to make informed choices, enhance portfolio performance, and ultimately drive long-term success in the face of today's dynamic market conditions." To learn more about the Clearwater Analytics and Morgan Money solution, speak to an expert today. About J.P. Morgan Asset Management J.P. Morgan Asset Management, with assets under management of $2.67 trillion (as of 3/31/2023), is a global leader in investment management. J.P. Morgan Asset Management's clients include institutions, retail investors and high net worth individuals in every major market throughout the world. J.P. Morgan Asset Management offers global investment management in equities, fixed income, real estate, hedge funds, private equity and liquidity. For more information: www.jpmorganassetmanagement.com. J.P. Morgan Asset Management is the marketing name for the asset management businesses of JPMorgan Chase & Co., and its affiliates worldwide. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading financial services firm based in the United States of America ("U.S."), with operations worldwide. JPMorgan Chase had $3.7 trillion in assets and $303 billion in stockholders' equity as of March 31, 2023. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management. Under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands, the Firm serves millions of customers in the U.S., and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients globally. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com. About Morgan Money Morgan Money is J.P. Morgan Asset Management's institutional investing platform. A multi-currency, open architecture trading and risk management system, the platform is designed to deliver a seamless customer experience, centered on operational efficiency, end-to-end system integration, and effective controls to allow customers to invest when, where and how they want securely. Its intuitive platform allows customers to view aggregated account information across their entire portfolio, conduct in-depth risk analysis, model potential trades and compare available investment options. This platform is designed for clients, by clients embedding their needs and priorities into its core capabilities. Additional information is available at Morgan Money. About Clearwater Analytics Clearwater Analytics (NYSE: CWAN), a global, industry-leading SaaS solution, automates the entire investment lifecycle. With a single instance, multi-tenant architecture, Clearwater offers award-winning investment portfolio planning, performance reporting, data aggregation, reconciliation, accounting, compliance, risk, and order management. Each day, leading insurers, asset managers, corporations, and governments use Clearwater's trusted data to drive efficient, scalable investing on more than $6.4 trillion in assets spanning traditional and alternative asset types. Additional information about Clearwater can be found at clearwateranalytics.com. SOURCE Clearwater Analytics North America's longest-running tour operator is offering departures throughout 2024 to commemorate the 80th anniversary PAWTUCKET, R.I., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With it being the week of Memorial Day, Collette wants to remind travelers that they'll be offering a special version of its "Memorials of World War II" tour in 2024 to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. On June 6th, 1944, 160,000 courageous Allied troops set out to liberate Europe from the Nazis, storming the beaches in Normandy, France. Collette wants to remind travelers that they'll be offering a special "Memorials of World War II" tour in 2024. Tweet this D-Day Memorial An unforgettable journey of discovery and remembrance awaits travelers as they travel between London, Normandy and Paris on the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. They'll explore London's connections to World War II during a city tour focused on The Blitz. Cross the English Channel, retracing the parallel journey the Allied troops took on June 6th, 1944. Have a chance to immerse themselves in the history of Normandy's D-Day Landing Beaches and visit the Normandy American Cemetery. Visit Saint-Mere-Eglise, the first French town liberated from the Nazis and learn about the brave paratroopers who parachuted into Normandy on the night of June 56, 1944.The journey concludes in Paris, the City of Light with a festive dinner cruise along the Seine River. There are plenty of departures remaining for the special edition tour, with dates ranging throughout 2024 from March 17 to October 11. Travelers can secure their spot on the "Memorials of World War II" tour for prices starting at $3,499. "Collette's 'Memorials of World War II' tour is special," said Jaclyn Leibl-Cote, chief customer experience officer at Collette. "Throughout 2024, our travelers will have the opportunity to take this journey honoring the 80th anniversary of D-Day, traveling along the same paths as the near 160,000 Allied troops who battled for European freedom on June 6, 1944. The visit to Normandy is always an emotional one. It is such a moving experience to set foot on the same sand as so many heroes did that day." About Collette: As the longest-running tour operator in North America, Collette is the company travelers can trust. Leading with integrity, Collette's comprehensive travel protection plan, flexible tour pacing, and strong relationships within the travel space set it apart. The happiness of its travelers has been its roadmap since 1918 and today Collette offers over 160 tours to all seven continents and five distinct travel styles, including small group touring and river cruises. This third-generation family-owned business is dedicated to giving back in both local and global communities through its social responsibility platform. For more information, visit www.gocollette.com or call 1(800) 340-5158. Media Contact: Sam LaFrance, Collette Phone: 401.426.3710 [email protected] SOURCE Collette Vacations ConcertAI's TeraRecon Inc. recognized as an ISO 27001:2022 certified company. CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TeraRecon, the advanced visualization and clinical AI SaaS category leader, today announced that it has been recognized as an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 27001:2022 company, continuing its commitment to information security, cybersecurity, and privacy protection. The ISO is an independent, international organization that sets the global standards for security and safety. ISO 27001 is a part of the ISO 27000 family of standards, which are all related to information security. ISO 27001 requires organizations to have a robust information security management system consisting of documented processes for managing sensitive company information, HR processes, and IT systems. Receiving the ISO 27001:2022 certification is further evidence that TeraRecon prioritizes data security and is investing in the infrastructure to protect customers' and their patients' information. This certification ensures that TeraRecon: Continually assesses, minimizes, and eliminates risks and vulnerabilities; Is compliant with the highest standards for information security; Has an internal culture of security, so all employees prioritize information security; and Demonstrates operational excellence when it comes to all IT, HR, and information processes. "This certification is the latest milestone in our information security roadmap to continuously demonstrate our commitment to data security. Everyone at TeraRecon is deeply dedicated to protecting data, and our ISO 27001:2022 certification reflects our continuous efforts to offer our customers safe, secure, and innovative healthcare solutions, whether it be our Intuition product, the Eureka Clinical AI Platform, or the many integrated third-party partner algorithms," said Dan McSweeney, President of TeraRecon. Learn more about Intuition 4.7 here - https://www.terarecon.com/advanced-visualization Learn more about the Eureka Clinical AI platform capabilities and algorithms that span across neurology, radiology, cardiology, oncology, and more: https://www.terarecon.com/artificial-intelligence About TeraRecon: Serving 1,300 clinical sites globally, TeraRecon, a ConcertAI company, is a Best in KLAS solution provider for AI-empowered radiology, oncology, cardiology, neurology, and vascular surgery. Awarded the 2020, 2021, and 2022 KLAS Category Leader for Advanced Visualization, TeraRecon solutions are independent of any one manufacturer's imaging equipment or PACS system, allowing a single, unified, and simplified clinical workflow that can improve efficiencies and deliver actionable physician-guided insights. For more information, visit us at https://www.terarecon.com/ About ConcertAI: ConcertAI is the leader in Real-World Evidence (RWE) and AI technology solutions for life sciences and health care. Our mission is to accelerate insights and outcomes for patients through leading real-world data, AI technologies, and scientific expertise in partnership with the leading biomedical innovators, health care providers, and medical societies. For more information, visit us at https://www.concertai.com/. Media Contact: Megan Duero, [email protected] SOURCE ConcertAI SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Conscious Capital Growth (www.ccgro.com) lands another achievement, this one based on the stellar career of company managing partner Christo Demetriades, who was recently named 2022-2023 Doug Ducey Entrepreneur of the Year by EO (Entrepreneur's Organization) Arizona. Christo Demetriades has spent decades building entrepreneurial businesses, particularly franchises, all over the world. Tweet this Christo Demetriades was named the 2022-2023 Doug Ducey Entrepreneur of the Year Award by EO (Entrepreneur's Organization) for his decades of achievement and his commitment to improving communities through entrepreneurship. Christo has spent decades building entrepreneurial businesses, particularly in franchising, all over the world, starting in South Africa, where he grew up and attended college. In 2001 he came to the United States, established himself in Phoenix, Arizona, and continued his track record of building businesses, creating jobs, and impacting the community. Now as a managing partner at Conscious Capital Growth, a business accelerator, he and the company's A-list team help entrepreneurs in franchising achieve their business goals and dreams. "I think I was the most surprised person in the room that night," said Demetriades. "It was an honor to be among the other nominees who have done so much to create businesses and grow the economy here in Arizona. Receiving the award was very unexpected, particularly with the other nominees being such rock stars." EO president Nora Hayzlett presented the award stating, "Christo has not only demonstrated exceptional business acumen through the innovative growth and success of his current enterprise, Conscious Capital Growth. He embodies the qualities of a true leader in both the community and his profession. He has fostered a culture of collaboration, making a tangible impact on socio-economic development. He generously shares his expertise to mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs." To be considered for this honor, nominees must embody an entrepreneurial spirit and inspire others by demonstrating a strong commitment to fostering entrepreneurial growth. They must not only have achieved great success with their business but also have contributed to Arizona's reputation as a hub for entrepreneurship. This includes creating an iconic business recognized as an industry leader. "All of us at Conscious Capital Growth are proud of Christo receiving this well-deserved award. I'm personally grateful for his expertise in business acceleration and entrepreneurial energy that inspires both our highly accomplished team and the leaders at our portfolio companies," said Heather Elrod, managing partner. About Conscious Capital Growth Conscious Capital Growth, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is an acquisition and growth accelerator firm focused on the franchise industry. The company's unique platform includes experienced leaders, industry advisors, instant infrastructure, access to capital, and a decades-long track record of success in Wellness, Beauty, Pet, Services, Food & Beverage, Education, Recruiting/Executive Placement, and Consumer Package Goods & Retail. (www.ccGRO.com). 2023 Conscious Capital Growth. Some of the brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies and are used for identification purposes only. SOURCE Conscious Capital Growth Passengers aboard the March 5, 2020 Costa Luminosa voyage have a right to join this class action & obtain compensation. Tweet this In April 2020, Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. filed a class action lawsuit in federal court in Florida against Costa Cruise lines. The class action lawsuit alleged Costa Luminosa set sail from Ft. Lauderdale on March 5, 2020, despite the fact that Costa Cruise Lines knew at least one passenger from its previous voyage had shown COVID symptoms. When passengers expressed hesitation about travelling on the cruise, Costa Cruise Lines misrepresented that the vessel was completely safe and that passengers would not be allowed to cancel their trip without forfeiting money they already paid. Three days after the vessel left Ft. Lauderdale, the CDC issued a warning that "U.S. citizens, particularly travelers with underlying health conditions, should not travel by cruise ship." Yet, passengers onboard the Costa Luminosa were not advised of this. Instead, passengers embarked across the Atlantic in a ticking time bomb, which resulted in numerous deaths. Our class action complaint against Costa Cruise Lines seeks compensatory and punitive damages. Joanne Preston, a Massachusetts resident who was on this cruise said: "Of the many cruises I've been on, this one had a life altering effect on me. I was one of the people that was escorted off of the Costa Luminosa in Marseille, France ahead of everyone else, and then called ahead of everyone else getting off of the plane in Atlanta and then being informed that I had Covid. I was then detained for several days. It was extremely scary." The U.S. filed class action was ultimately dismissed because of a forum selection clause contained in the passenger ticket contract that said that any claims had to be brought against Costa Cruise Lines in Italy. Now, three years later, the Italian Court has approved the class action case, in an order you can view here. This means all passengers aboard this ill-fated cruise have a right to join this class action and obtain compensation including reimbursement of the cost of the cruise as well as compensation based on unfair commercial practices and ruined holiday. Importantly, if any passenger wants to join the class action, they must do so by September 15, 2023. If you were on this voyage and want to join the class, please click here and enter your information. SOURCE Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. RESTON, Va., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NeoSystems, a full-service strategic outsourcer, IT systems integrator and managed services provider to the government contracting market, announced today that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Kathlyn Gibbs, Vice President of Partners and Alliances for NeoSystems, as a 2023 Women of the Channel Power 80 Solution Provider a subset of prominent executives selected from the CRN 2023 Women of the Channel list. The CRN 2023 Women of the Channel honorees bring their creativity, strategic thinking, and leadership to bear, turning their unique talents toward driving success for their customers and technology partners. The annual Power 80 Solution Provider list honors the most influential women in leadership at some of the country's most prominent solution providers, based on their remarkable expertise, channel advocacy and contributions to building solution provider businesses that thrive. The women who populate the Power 80 Solution Provider list have gone above and beyond with their extraordinary commitment to the IT channel community, implementing strategies that have accelerated the success of their customers and technology partnersand the broader channel ecosystem as a result. Gibbs, who has been in her role for a little over a year, is focused on building an expansive ecosystem of strategic technology partners, resellers, hosting and referral partners to deliver a differentiated portfolio of managed IT, hosting and security products along with essential corporate services to government contractors. The program, called the NeoNetwork, provides financial incentives to referral partners, a high-value teaming process for business development, expanded technical support for architecting and deploying solutions, and a new channel enablement portal. "We are ecstatic to announce this year's honorees and shine a light on these women for their significant achievements, knowing that what they've accomplished has paved the way for continued success within the IT channel," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "The channel is stronger because of them, and we look forward to seeing what they do next." "Kathlyn is doing an amazing job for NeoSystems," said Brad Mitchell, President and CEO of NeoSystems. "With her strategic approach, we have been able to dramatically grow our partner network since she was named to lead our channel and partnership efforts. Building our partner and alliance ecosystem through Kathlyn's leadership is crucial to accelerating our goal of aggressively expanding our capabilities." The 2023 Women of the Channel list will be featured in the June issue of CRN Magazine, with online coverage found at www.CRN.com/WOTC. About NeoSystems NeoSystems, based in the Washington, D.C area, is a full-service strategic outsourcer, IT systems integrator and managed service provider for the government contracting market. NeoSystems provides core solutions to more than 600 client companies and their 100,000+ client employees with its outsourced services by implementing hundreds of fully integrated financial, business and cyber management systems through best-of-breed technology and in-depth domain expertise in Accounting & Finance, IT, HR, Security and Hosting (SSAE SOC1 & SOC2, ITAR). For more information, visit https://www.neosystemscorp.com. Follow us on LinkedIn. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end-users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter and LinkedIn . 2023. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company LLC. All rights reserved. SOURCE NeoSystems LLC IronConnect's Dealer Management Software Pairs with Dealer Spike's Website Design and Digital Marketing for a Seamless Inventory Experience WILSONVILLE, Ore., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As dealers seek to stay ahead of their competitors, it is essential to have an advanced digital solution which provides an exceptional customer experience while streamlining internal operations. This strategic partnership between Dealer Spike, a LeadVenture brand, and IronConnect allows dealers market their units to the correct audience whether that is a customer or another dealer on the IronConnect platform. This integration allows dealerships to manage their inventory more efficiently while providing a seamless customer experience. "Our partnership with IronConnect delivers an advanced integration solution that will help Dealer Spike's agriculture, construction, truck and trailer dealers streamline their operations which will allow for business growth," said Jason Lehman, LeadVenture's Vice-President of Sales. "By integrating our website platforms with IronConnect's comprehensive inventory management solution, we can provide a streamline experience for dealerships and their customers." This partnership unites Dealer Spike's expertise in web design applications and its digital marketing toolset with IronConnect's comprehensive suite of dealer management solutions for a more efficient inventory posting and selling experience. "IronConnect's inventory management solution is designed to help dealerships operate more effectively and allows the maximizing of margins on every deal. By integrating with Dealer Spike's platform, we can make this process easier for our customers, and allow them to utilize the full suite of solutions we offer on every unit in their inventory including IronAdvisor, our market data analysis tool," said AJ Neifert, President of IronConnect. This advanced inventory solution from Dealer Spike and IronConnect is available to all agriculture, construction, truck, and trailer dealerships on the Dealer Spike platform nationwide. IronConnect is an equipment dealer focused company that offers solutions to dealers in the agriculture, construction, truck, and trailer markets. The IronConnect platform allows every dealer in North America a place to sell, source, or trade equipment on a private wholesale marketplace. In addition to our wholesale marketplace, we also offer IronAdvisor, an equipment evaluation tool that gives real time insights on market transactions/pricing. Our portfolio of products gives equipment dealers the tools they need to better manage and move their inventory. Dealer Spike is focused on helping dealers in multiple industries increase sales, and service profitability, though distinctive web solutions and powerful digital marketing tools. Dealer Spike is a brand of LeadVenture, the market-leading SaaS provider of digital dealer solutions across 10 industry verticals, including powersports, marine, recreational vehicle, pre-owned auto, agriculture and more. Serving more than 50,000 dealer rooftops worldwide, LeadVenture provides dealers with dealer management systems, digital retailing, digital marketing, e-catalog solutions, online storefronts, and numerous layered apps such as inventory management, lead management, email marketing, e-commerce and many more. To learn more about IronConnect, contact Troy Terwillinger, Dir. of Sales, 402-416-3140, [email protected] , or visit www.IronConnect.com To learn more about Dealer Spike, contact Tom McHugh, Sr. Sales Manager, 800-288-5917, [email protected], or visit www.DealerSpike.com. SOURCE LeadVenture Alse (Alice) Young, a resident of Windsor, Connecticut, was the first person executed for witchcraft in America, the judiciary documents showed. She was hanged at the gallows in Hartford in May 1647. The judiciary noted the panic over witchcraft in Hartford was smaller than the one in Salem, Massachusetts, but started four decades earlier. The last witchcraft trial in the state happened in 1697 and resulted in the charges against Wallingford residents Winifred Benham and her teen daughter being dismissed. Witchcraft continued to be listed as a capital crime until 1750. The Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project, a group of advocates and ancestors of those convicted, said in a statement a total of 34 victims were indicted on witchcraft charges in Connecticut during the 1600s. THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DigiKey, a leading global commerce distributor offering the largest selection of technical components and automation products in stock for immediate shipment, has been awarded the prestigious Top Projects Award from Finance & Commerce for its Product Distribution Center expansion (PDCe). The award recognizes achievements in the construction industry and community that were completed in Minnesota in 2022. DigiKey received the Top Projects award from Finance & Commerce for its Product Distribution Center expansion (PDCe) construction project. "This award is an important recognition of the talent and teamwork that went into designing, building and operating DigiKey's new Product Distribution Center expansion," said Chris Lauer, vice president, order fulfillment at DigiKey. "The new facility highlights our commitment as a company to the highest levels of customer service and innovation, and our continued investment in our local community and the state of Minnesota." In 2022, DigiKey opened the 2.2 million square foot PDCe, one of the largest warehouses in North America, to scale capacity to keep up with skyrocketing ecommerce demand. The PDCe was designed with growth in mind, allowing plenty of room to expand as order volume continues to rise, as well as increasing the number of new products offered, and stored in the facility, for customers' design and manufacturing needs. There are over 27 miles of automated conveyor belt in the new facility, and an average product order will travel more than 3,200 feet inside the building. At 70 feet high and four levels, the facility also includes over 50,000 sprinkler heads and 1,925 tons of cooling, lighting, cabling and software to run the entire system. It also has its own storm sewer and run-off ponds so as not to contribute to any flooding or storage concerns in the community. The project included a skyway called "the Skybridge" to connect the existing headquarters building with the new PDCe, which spans 328 feet across Barzen Avenue. The new and old systems are connected via a conveyor that crosses the Skybridge. The interfacility connection allows DigiKey to efficiently transport products from the old warehouse to the new warehouse. The PDCe was designed by Minnesota-based Widseth. McShane Construction served as general contractor on the project, and more than 80 subcontractors were hired to help complete the job. KNAPP, a leader in warehouse logistics and automation, partnered with DigiKey on the internal automation and operational equipment. "Finance & Commerce Top Projects represent the best of the region's build environment honoring the best building and construction projects in Minnesota," said Bill Gaier, publisher of Finance & Commerce. "Every year, the projects seem to increase the creativity, level of difficulty and innovative construction technique. We are proud to honor each of these winners." The Top Projects award recognizes the developers, designers, builders and financiers who are quite literally building our community. Finance & Commerce Top Projects is a yearly look back at the excellent work that's happened in the previous year and marvel at how these plans and projects remade the landmarks of the past or established the landmarks of the future. Projects are judged for their degree of difficulty, creativity in design, innovative construction techniques, cooperation among contractors and management, and sustainability efforts. For more information on DigiKey, visit www.digikey.com. Visit www.finance-commerce.com/top-projects/ for additional information about the Finance & Commerce Top Projects Awards. About Finance & Commerce For 134 years, Finance & Commerce has delivered economic development, commercial real estate and construction industry news to Minnesota's regional business leaders, developers and housing and community advocates. We provide the business community with in-depth analysis in our Beyond the Skyline podcast, host thought leadership programs that provide industry insight on topics ranging from clean energy to affordable housing and offer the region's only Development Trackers of real estate, apartment, and hotel development. Our award programs center on the region's construction and real estate business, bringing together the entire development community, and our Top Projects program is one of the area's largest events celebrating women in the industry. About DigiKey DigiKey, headquartered in Thief River Falls, Minn., USA, is recognized as the global leader and continuous innovator in the cutting-edge commerce distribution of electronic components and automation products worldwide. We get technical by providing more than 14.9 million components from over 2,400 quality name-brand manufacturers with an industry-leading breadth and depth of product in stock and available for immediate shipment. DigiKey also supports engineers, designers, builders and procurement professionals with a wealth of digital solutions, frictionless interactions and tools to make their jobs more efficient. Additional information can be found at digikey.com and on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn. Editorial Contact Megan Derkey Bellmont Partners +1 612-255-1115 [email protected] SOURCE DigiKey PLYMOUTH, Minn., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dakota Supply Group (DSG), a leading distributor of innovative products and services, proudly celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for its new facility in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on May 16, 2023. This momentous occasion signifies the commencement of construction and introduces DSG's fifth location in Wisconsin, reinforcing its commitment to exceptional service in the region. The facility is scheduled to open in the Fall of 2023. DSG has broken ground for a new facility in Eau Claire, Wisconsin the facility is scheduled to open in Fall of 2023. Tweet this DSG has broken ground for a new facility in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Situated at 3413 Truax Court, Eau Claire, the new 30,000-square-foot facility boasts a strategic location with convenient access from Hwy 312/North Crossing and Hwy 12/North Clairemont Ave, with plans to open in the Fall of 2023. DSG has been serving customers in Eau Claire for several years, and establishing this new facility is a significant step towards providing a world-class customer experience in this vital market. The expanded range of services will cater to electrical, plumbing, on-site sewer, water, and well needs, as well as HVAC, and telecommunications requirements in the area's growing industries. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by esteemed guests, including Luke Hanson, Executive Director of the Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corporation; Mark Lewis Dylan Schmidt from General Contractor CFBSI; Bill Johnson, Developer from choice-commercial; David Minor, President & CEO and Kaylynn Winegar of the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce; Christina Thrun, Executive Officer of the Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association, along with DSG's executive and regional leadership team. "We are thrilled to expand our presence in the Eau Claire area with the introduction of this new facility. By enhancing our accessibility for Eau Claire customers, we aim to elevate our commitment to exceptional service further," said Paul Kennedy, President and CEO of DSG. "The Eau Claire area is experiencing remarkable growth, and we are delighted to support this development while upholding DSG's dedication to excellence." As one of the Midwest's leading distributors, DSG offers a comprehensive range of products and services across multiple industries, including electrical, plumbing, HVAC/R, utility, communications, automation, waterworks, and on-site sewer, water, and well solutions. DSG is a 100% employee-owned company with over 1000 employee-owners spread across 54 locations in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. For more information about Dakota Supply Group and its offerings, please visit www.dsgsupply.com. SOURCE DSG - Dakota Supply Group GRANTS PASS, Ore., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, May 19, Dutch Bros and its customers came together for the 17th annual Drink One for Dane day to raise awareness of ALS. In honor of those efforts, the Dutch Bros Foundation has donated $2.5 million to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) to help its work in ALS research, care, advocacy, and educational and professional programming. The Dutch Bros Foundation has donated $2.5 million to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) to help its work in ALS research, care, advocacy, and educational and professional programming. "The funds raised on May 19th will help support the Healey ALS Platform trial, clinical data collection from over 2000 people living with ALS and 48 MDA/ALS Care Centers among other activities. This funding will make a significant impact as we continue progress made with the first therapy for a genetic form of ALS just recently approved by the FDA. Dutch Bros continues to feed hope for our community," said Sharon Hesterlee, Ph.D., Chief Research Officer, Muscular Dystrophy Association. Drink One for Dane began after Dutch Bros co-founder, Dane Boersma, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The Boersma family and Dutch Bros started Drink One for Dane as a way to increase awareness of the disease, raise support for those affected, and to support research to find treatments and cures for ALS. "The love for Drink One for Dane day continues to invigorate and inspire our support for the important work the Muscular Dystrophy Association does," said Katie Hutchinson, vice president of philanthropy at Dutch Bros Coffee. "Making a massive difference one cup at a time is what Dutch Bros is all about and we're so thankful that our customers believe in that mission alongside us." *Total funds donated includes additional donations from franchisees, customers, community members, and vendors during the Drink One for Dane campaign. About Dutch Bros Dutch Bros Coffee is a drive-thru coffee company dedicated to making a massive difference one cup at a time. Headquartered in Grants Pass, Oregon, where it was founded in 1992 by Dane and Travis Boersma, it's now sharing the "Dutch Luv" with more than 700 locations in 14 states. Dutch Bros serves specialty coffee, smoothies, freezes, teas, an exclusive Dutch Bros Rebel energy drink and nitrogen-infused cold brew coffee. Its rich, proprietary coffee blend is handcrafted from start to finish. In addition to its mission of speed, quality and service, Dutch Bros is committed to giving back to the communities it serves. Through its Dutch Bros Foundation and local operators and franchisees, the company donates several million dollars to causes across the country each year. To learn more about Dutch Bros, visit www.dutchbros.com , follow Dutch Bros Coffee on Instagram , Facebook , Twitter , & TikTok , and download the Dutch Bros app to earn points and score rewards! About MDA Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is the #1 voluntary health organization in the United States for people living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related neuromuscular diseases. For over 70 years, MDA has led the way in accelerating research, advancing care, and advocating for the support of our families. MDA's mission is to empower the people we serve to live longer, more independent lives. To learn more visit mda.org and follow MDA on Instagram , Facebook , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , and YouTube . SOURCE Dutch Bros Coffee Element Critical Named Gold Winner for Top Business to Business (B2B) IT Vendor of the Year VIENNA, Va., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Element Critical, an award-winning colocation and interconnection provider, proudly announces that the company has been honored as a Gold winner in the 18th Annual Globee Awards for Information Technology in the Top B2B IT Vendor of the Year category. Element Critical is a Gold winner in the 2023 Globee Awards, named a Top B2B IT Vendor of the Year. These esteemed global awards celebrate outstanding achievements in information technology and cybersecurity. They acknowledge vendors who demonstrate excellence through their advanced, ground-breaking products, solutions, and services, thereby raising the industry standards in all aspects of technology and cybersecurity. This recognition highlights the remarkable contributions made by Element Critical and their commitment to driving innovation in the field. "We are immensely proud to receive this esteemed accolade from the Globee Awards, recognizing Element Critical as a Gold winner in the 2023 Globee Awards for Information Technology," states Ken Parent, CEO. "This achievement underscores our foundational purpose to deliver the core IT infrastructure solutions in a consultative and personalized manner that ensures our customers continue to grow with us. We have always had a steadfast commitment to meeting the diverse needs of today's business and technology leaders." The judging process for the 2023 Globee Awards for Information Technology involved the active participation of over 600 judges from diverse corners of the globe, representing a broad spectrum of industry experts. These esteemed judges contributed their expertise to evaluate and assess the submissions received. The Information Technology World Awards welcomes participation from organizations in the Information Technology and Cyber Security sectors, as well as their end-users worldwide. "I am honored to congratulate the remarkable winners of the 2023 Globee Awards for Information Technology," says San Madan, President of Globee Awards. "Your dedication, innovation, and impactful contributions have set new standards of excellence in the IT industry. Your accomplishments inspire us all and reinforce the transformative power of technology. I commend each winner for their relentless pursuit of excellence and their unwavering commitment to driving progress in the digital era. May your success continue to propel the IT industry forward and inspire future generations of innovators. Congratulations once again on this well-deserved recognition!" See the complete list of 2023 winners here: https://globeeawards.com/information-technology/winners. About Element Critical Element Critical is among the fastest-growing data center service providers in the United States, with locations in Chicago, Austin, Houston, Silicon Valley, and Virginia. Led by an executive team comprised of industry veterans, the award-winning company boasts an expanding portfolio of hybrid-ready facilities in strategic markets across the country and a steadfast commitment to meeting the diverse needs of today's business and technology leaders. For more information, visit www.elementcritical.com. About the Globee Awards The term "Globee" is a combination of the words "global" and "business." The Globee Awards were formed to honor organizations of all types and sizes from around the world for their achievements in various business and technology-related categories. The awards were created to provide a platform for recognizing and promoting excellence in industries and sectors that are shaping the future of business. The Globee Awards presents recognition in nine programs and competitions, including Globee Awards for American Business, Globee Business Awards, Globee Awards for Cybersecurity, Globee Disruptor Awards, Golden Bridge Awards, Globee Awards for Information Technology, Globee Awards for Leadership, Globee Awards for Sales, Marketing, Service, & Operations, and Globee Awards for Women In Business. For more information on the Globee Awards, visit https://globeeawards.com. Media Contact: Maya Lindsay [email protected] SOURCE Element Critical MIAMI, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Basbas, the leading lower-ABV herbal spirit from Ibiza, today announced the highly anticipated launch of its Batch 003. Following the success of its first two releases, Basbas is offering the first 300 bottles of this release by reservation only. "After the sell-out success of our first two releases, we're excited to offer Batch 003 to our loyal customers and new hierbas enthusiasts alike," said Paul Geller, CEO of Holy Seed Beverage Group, Basbas' parent company. "Our unique blend of botanicals, dating back to the 16th Century, combined with our commitment to sustainability and quality, has been embraced by consumers and judges alike. We believe Batch 003 will be a testament to that continuing tradition." Basbas has quickly established itself as a leader in the hierbas spirits category, thanks to its unique blend of botanicals, regionally protected provenance, and premium process. The company has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, particularly since its partnership with the International Music Summit and graduation from InvestBev's Sprout Accelerator, which have come just as Batch 003 reaches North American shores. Customers can add themselves to the waitlist at masbasbas.com. For the Conscious Consumer Basbas has carved out a niche among drinkers who care about what they put in their bodies, but still enjoy the social benefits of full-ABV spirits, due to its herbal ingredients and supremely accessible flavor. Basbas turns every meal into a ceremony and every ceremony into a celebration. The Most Awarded in the World Basbas has been the recipient of more than a dozen gold medals at prestigious international tasting events, including the Double Gold and Consumer Choice Award at SIP, and a 95 Point rating at The New York International Wine and Spirits Competition. These awards recognize Basbas' commitment to quality and sustainability, further solidifying the brand's position as a leader in the industry. A Direct-to-Consumer Success Story Basbas has also experienced significant success in its direct-to-consumer sales. The company's two-time sold-out status in the past year alone has fueled direct-to-consumer sales, thanks in part to its category-defining marketing campaigns. Its email list has grown to tens of thousands as customers eagerly await Batch 003. This success has allowed Basbas to connect with customers directly and build a loyal following, independent of retail partnerships. "Our team is incredibly proud of the success we've achieved with our first two releases, and we're excited to do it again," said Mr. Geller. A New Category with Historic Importance First distilled in the 16th century by monks living in northeastern Spain, hierbas was often used as a remedy. The monks used a base of wild anise, then extracted essential oils from other medicinal herbs like rosemary, juniper, and sage into the alcohol. To this day, the spirit is protected by a handful of families in the Balearic Islands and is present at practically every toast, meal, and celebration in Ibiza, La Isla Blanca, but remained relatively unknown outside of the Balearic region until Basbas' initial foray into US markets. Ibiza: Setting Trends for 50 Years The '70s peace movement found a home on the island when it gained its reputation as a bohemian vacation destination for tastemakers from across the globe. The wild mystique drew Woodstock-era icons like Bob Marley. Joni Mitchell wrote her iconic album "Blue" on the island, and Nico mused that the mystical island was an inspiration for some of the Velvet Underground's most important work. Once again, the island finds itself trendsetting, as the next generation of tastemakers take a renewed look at the island's pristine beaches and find iconic wellness brands like The Standard and Six Senses thriving. These visitors are discovering Basbas as they explore the island's rich heritage and vibrant culture. About Basbas Basbas is the leading premium hierbas, a spirit that blends a unique mix of botanicals and a secret lower-ABV process to create a smooth, sophisticated taste. The company is committed to sustainability, using only natural ingredients farmed and foraged on the island of Ibiza. Basbas is quickly becoming a category leader in the herbal spirits market and is poised for continued growth in the coming years. Hi-Res Imagery: https://app.air.inc/a/b3ZyZqD1y Contact Taylor Foxman CEO, The Industry Collective Email: [email protected] Phone: +1 (609) 432-2237 SOURCE Basbas Sleep tourism is one of the biggest travel trends of 2023, with more than 40% of respondents reporting poorer sleep since the pandemic Emma's relaxing, restful sleep hotels are located in Sydney, Australia and Taipei, Taiwan and The sleep company will expand in the sleep tourism space later this year NEW YORK, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Emma The Sleep Company is embracing the flourishing trend of sleep tourism by opening two bespoke sleep hotels: one in Sydney, Australia and the other in Taipei, Taiwan. As more travelers seek out a truly restful experience during their vacation, these unique hotels provide a revolutionary travel experience on two different continents. The Growth of Sleep Tourism The Emma Sleep Hotel in Sydney, Australia Sleep has become a recurring topic of concern and interest since the onset of the pandemic. In a study conducted by the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, it was discovered that 40% of respondents reported a decline in sleep quality compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. The global health crisis has undoubtedly affected people's sleep patterns and highlighted the importance of restful slumber for overall well-being. By embracing sleep tourism, travel enthusiasts can now satisfy their wanderlust while also nurturing their physical and mental well-being. Sleep tourism fosters an appreciation for the importance of relaxation and rejuvenation, acknowledging the crucial role that sleep plays in sustaining a healthy lifestyle. "At Emma, we believe that a great night's sleep should be accessible to everyone" said Dr. Dennis Schmoltzi, Co-Founder and CEO of Emma The Sleep Company. "We're immensely proud to be the first sleep brand to open its own dedicated sleep hotels in Australia and Taiwan. Our goal is to offer travelers the chance to immerse themselves in relaxing environments with award-winning Emma sleep products, and to unlock the transformative power of rest for their overall well-being." Introducing the Emma Sleep Hotel in Sydney Upon arrival, guests are greeted by the Snoreman, setting the tone for a memorable and sleep-focused adventure. The Rest-Ception area provides a cozy space for guests to settle in and unwind, and an onsite snooze-ologist will be available to provide personalized 1:1 sleep consultations, offering valuable insights and guidance to optimize guests' sleep habits. Every room is kitted out with Emma's award-winning mattresses and beds, and a sleep-inspired movie catalogue is available onscreen. Guests are also invited to select their perfect Emma pillow based on their preferences. On the hotel's roof terrace, the immersive experience continues with custom cocktails based on Emma's sleep expertise. Throughout the hotel, a calming playlist provides the perfect ambient backdrop for relaxation and enjoyment. For more information about the hotel in Sydney, click here. Emma Sleep Hotel in Taipei Emma is collaborating with Monka Hotel in Taipei to introduce the first Emma Sleep Hotel in Asia. Situated close to the iconic Longshan Temple, the hotel underwent a complete transformation under Emma's supervision. Not even the exterior of the building remains untouched it was painted to resemble one of Emma's iconic delivery boxes, setting the tone for the unique experience within. Every room within the hotel is fitted with award-winning Emma products, ranging from the beds to the pillows, ensuring a truly immersive Emma sleep experience for all guests from beginning to end. For more information about the hotel in Taipei, click here. Support Materials and Images About Emma The Sleep Company: Emma The Sleep Company is a founder-managed company and the world's leading Direct-to-consumer sleep brand. Founded in 2013 by Dr. Dennis Schmoltzi and Manuel Mueller in Germany, the company is active in more than 30 countries and achieved a turnover of EUR 873 million (USD 869 million) in 2022, a growth rate of 35 percent from the previous year. Emma products are sold via an omnichannel approach, including D2C/online, marketplaces, and more than 3,500 brick-and-mortar stores. Emma successfully collaborates with over 200 retailers. Emma's 1,000+ team members are working across the world, with offices in Frankfurt (Germany), Manila (Philippines), Lisbon (Portugal), Mexico City (Mexico), and Shanghai (China). For more information about Emma The Sleep Company, please visit news.emma-sleep.com. SOURCE Emma - The Sleep Company Premium Chocolate Brand Gives Sweets & Snacks Attendees a Sneak Peak of Its Highly Anticipated New Seasonal Shapes Line INDIANAPOLIS, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Endangered Species Chocolate, the mission-based chocolate brand, will debut its new line of seasonal chocolate shapes during The 2023 Sweets & Snacks Expo, Booth #10888, later this month. This product launch marks Endangered Species Chocolate (ESC)'s first venture into seasonal gifting space and is slated to roll out the first of four seasons to retailers nationwide for Valentine's Day 2024, followed by Spring, Halloween, and Winter. Endangered Species Chocolate Launches New Seasonal Gifting Line at Sweets & Snacks Expo The new chocolate-shaped line will consist of a 48% milk chocolate, 3.5oz pouch and a 60% dark chocolate, 3.5oz pouch; each pouch will have 14 season-inspired pieces. Be Mine Mix - Timed for Valentine's Day; this mix consists of koala, bear, and heart shapes. - Timed for Valentine's Day; this mix consists of koala, bear, and heart shapes. Hello Spring Mix - This seasonal spring mix features butterfly, bumblebee, and tulip shapes. - This seasonal spring mix features butterfly, bumblebee, and tulip shapes. Not So Spooky Mix - This Halloween chocolate mix includes hallowing wolves, bats, and pumpkins. This Halloween chocolate mix includes hallowing wolves, bats, and pumpkins. Merry Mix - This holiday-centric mix spotlights penguins, polar bears, and trees. All ESC chocolate is Fairtrade, Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, kosher, and dark chocolate products are also vegan. "We are thrilled to approach holiday seasons in a whole new way with this exciting new product line," shared Whitney Bembenick, the Chief Revenue Officer of Endangered Species Chocolate. "These playful animals and nature-inspired shapes symbolize our ongoing mission of giving forward and will help us appeal to a larger, multigenerational audience." For more information about Endangered Species Chocolate or to purchase the bars visit www.chocolatebar.com . About Endangered Species Chocolate Founded in 1993, Endangered Species Chocolate (ESC) set out to craft premium chocolate with a mission to "give forward" to conservation efforts around the globe. Every product we craft, ingredient we source, and cause we support is rooted in one fundamental difference that has set us apart since we began our journey. This difference is an unwavering dedication to doing good, better. From the way we make our chocolate, to the way we work with communities, and all the ways we make a meaningful positive impact on the world, this commitment to doing good, better, remains at the heart of who we are three decades later. Our products cultivate a nourished and inspired community and through donating 10% of annual net profits to impactful organizations, we have contributed over $3.1 million to our global partners since 2016. SOURCE Endangered Species Chocolate LOS ANGELES, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Entrepreneur and philanthropist George L. Pla received an honorary doctorate during Commencement 2023 at Cal State LA and was praised by Mayor Karen Bass for his contributions to Los Angeles. A Cal State LA alumnus, Pla is the founder, president and CEO of Cordoba Corporation, a nationally recognized civil engineering, program and construction management firm. He is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and author whose business and civic activities focus on enhancing and empowering communities throughout California. Photo: Honorary doctorate recipient George L. Pla was joined by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass at Cal State LA Commencement 2023 on May 24. (Credit: Jill Connelly/Cal State LA) Cal State LA and the California State University Board of Trustees conferred an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during the Commencement ceremony for the College of Ethnic Studies and College of Natural and Social Sciences on May 24. The ceremony took place during the culmination of Cal State LA's 75th anniversary. "In recognition of his generous contributions to the campus and decades of commitment to the city of Los Angeles, the Board of Trustees of the California State University and California State University, Los Angeles are proud to confer upon George L. Pla the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters," said Cal State LA President William A. Covino, moments before he and Cal State LA Provost and Executive Vice President Jose A. Gomez placed a doctoral hood on Pla. Pla and Cal State LA leaders were joined onstage at the ceremony by Los Angeles Community College District Chancellor Francisco C. Rodriguez, Long Beach City College Superintendent-President Mike Munoz and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Bass, who is an alumna of Cal State Dominguez Hills and was once a student at Cal State LA, applauded the Class of 2023 on their achievement and congratulated Pla on receiving the honorary degree. "George Pla is a great example of an individual who has built a very successful business rooted in values that move our society forward, never just focused on himself," Bass said during the ceremony. "Something else I hope graduates will emulateyou can be successful as an individual but never forget your community." After accepting the honor, Pla delivered a moving address to the graduates, sharing his inspiring story of crossing the border into the United States from Tijuana, Mexico, with his family at age 5 and learning English while growing up in Boyle Heights. He was the first in his family to graduate from college, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Cal State LA in 1972 and a Master of Public Administration from USC in 1974. "As an immigrant, I know this is a land of opportunity," Pla said to the graduates. "And you, my friends, should take advantage of the opportunities in front of you." Pla serves as the governor's appointee to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission, which is helping prepare for the 2028 Summer Olympics, and serves as the commission's president. He served on the California Science Center Foundation Board of Trustees and led the planning of Cordoba Corporation's historic transport of the space shuttle Endeavour through the streets of Los Angeles in 2012. He is a co-founder of the City Club, a premier private club in Los Angeles that embraces and reflects the diversity and spirit of the city and coauthored a book, entitled Power Shift: How Latinos in California Transformed Politics in America, which recounts the history of Latino political empowerment in California and beyond. A generous donor to Cal State LA, Pla has made a commitment to fund the George L. Pla Latino Leadership and Policy Forum at the university. His philanthropic efforts extend to national institutions, including Cordoba Corporation's commitment to supporting the Latino history initiatives at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Pla is an inaugural member of the Cal State LA President's Council. In 1991, he was honored as Cal State LA's Alumnus of the Year, and in 2016, he received the Joe Shapiro Humanitarian Award at Cal State LA's Billie Jean King & Friends Awards Gala. In 2017, he was awarded the Presidential Medallion, the university's highest honor, bestowed upon individuals who have displayed outstanding leadership and extraordinary service to the Cal State LA community. During his remarks, Pla emphasized the importance of appreciating family and friends, and asked the Class of 2023 to stand and thank their families for the support they've provided them on their journey to earning their degrees. "Influence and impact will never be accomplished by you alone," Pla said. "I encourage you to always reach out to family and friends who love and support you and tell you the truth!" Media Contact: Cal State LA Communications and Public Affairs 323-343-3050 [email protected] SOURCE Cal State LA Eighth annual scholarship awarded to two Americans and two Canadians majoring in STEM fields of study SAN DIEGO, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In honour of this year's International Women's Day theme, "#EmbraceEquity", ESET, a globally recognized digital security company, is proud to announce the winners of ESET North America's Eighth Annual Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship. Angelina Xu and Angel Yin- Hua Hsu from the United States and Jane Zeng and Zafina Mahmood from Canada have each been selected as the winners of the scholarship for their academic excellence and commitment to the field of cybersecurity, which they beautifully articulated in their entry essays. Designed to help address the underrepresentation of women in the cybersecurity field, the annual Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship provides $10,000 scholarships to two women in the United States and $5,000 scholarships to two women in Canada majoring in a STEM field of study. Celeste Blodgett, Vice President of Human Resources at ESET, could not be prouder of the outcome of this year's annual scholarship, "We have seen a 40% increase in application submissions in the US, with Canadian entries up by about 250% from years prior," she said. "It is utterly striking and exciting to see the significant increase in the number of young women pursuing careers in cybersecurity, sciences, engineering, and coding at young ages. We are honored to support these four young women on their academic journeys and bring them one step closer to achieving their goals." Learn more about the winners of the 2023 ESET Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship below: Angelina Xu, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Angelina is currently in her second year at MIT and holds a 5.0 average. As a member of her high school Biology Club, Science National Honor Society, and Ridge Research Club, Angelina has advocated for more opportunities in science and research for her peers by talking to senior staff members about eliminating registration fees for STEM competitions. This advocacy work resulted in reduced financial barriers to STEM education during COVID-19. After her freshman year at MIT, Angelina held a summer internship at the Waksman Institute of Microbiology where she was able to successfully publish four novel DNA sequences to the international NCBI database. In the future, Angelina hopes to develop algorithms that can identify and quarantine malicious software before it can cause any damage to a network or system. "A major challenge facing the cybersecurity industry is the shortage of skilled professionals. As a woman in STEM, I am aware of the obstacles that I may face in the field," said Angelina. "However, I am determined to overcome these challenges and become a leader in the industry. I believe the most successful teams are diverse in their perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds. Committed to encouraging and supporting other women to pursue careers in STEM, I hope to become a leader and mentor." Angel Yin- Hua Hsu, Harvard University Angel was inspired to follow a career in cybersecurity when her grandmother, who worked all her life and saved every penny to raise five children under harsh living conditions, lost her life savings in a widespread cybersecurity attack, targeting the retirement accounts of senior citizens. As the daughter from a low-income, working-class family pursuing a degree in computational sciences at Berkeley at the time, she was deeply angered by this incident. Since then, Angel has continued to focus on the cybersecurity path at Harvard. Now, a 4.0 graduate student at Harvard University, Angel is supporting underprivileged students in achieving higher education through CashCourse, a social impact program, which earned her the Merrill Lynch Global Recognition Award. In 2017, Angel also founded MindMatters, a platform matching disadvantaged STEM students with educational and professional opportunities. MindMatters has since launched a technology-focused branch, offering courses in cybersecurity and information sciences, statistics, and mathematics free of charge to 2,300+ low-income students. "Upon graduation from my master's in cybersecurity, I hope to leverage my knowledge of information security sharpened at Harvard to develop pipeline programs to support women interested in cybersecurity who are currently in school, recent graduates, or mid-career transition by setting up mentor-mentee matching platforms, connecting women who are interested in cybersecurity careers to female cybersecurity professionals to share knowledge and provide guidance in obtaining professional opportunities," said Angel. Jane Zeng of Vaughan, Ontario Jane is in her final year of high school and plans to attend the University of Waterloo's Honours Software Engineering program in September 2023 to pursue a Bachelor of Engineering and Mathematics. During high school, Jane served as a front-end developer and full stack engineering intern, a programmer on a FIRST Robotics team, and a developer for her school's student information app. She is also president of the school's STEM BEYOND club, which is dedicated to exploring real-world STEM applications and sharing extracurricular opportunities for all students, especially minority groups. Jane is well versed in React and JavaScript and passionate about protecting internet and social media users against online predators. "I want to pursue a career in software engineering because it will provide me with the tools to create safer platforms and protect people's dignity online. ESET's Women in Cybersecurity scholarship will now help me do this, as well as make every effort to support other women pursuing similar careers in STEM," said Jane. "Along with pursuing my career goals, I am passionate about sharing my story and experiences to inspire and motivate women in STEM." Zafina Mahmood of Vaughan, Ontario Zafina has been accepted to attend the University of Toronto to study engineering. She is part of the International Baccalaureate Program, and this past year was awarded the Principal Honor's Roll and the Computer Science award. Furthermore, she placed in the top 25% in PicoCTF, a cybersecurity competition organized by Carnegie Mellon University. As a leader of the computer science club, she took the initiative to coordinate training sessions for computing contests that helped her lead and evaluate Maple Hackathon. In addition, Zafina set up a workshop where women students had the opportunity to meet with computer scientists and get inspired by their work. She excels in programming in Java and Python and uses JavaScript, HTML, and CSS in her work. Zafina looks forward to creating a safe space for women in STEM during her career. "From my personal experiences, I understand what it feels like to be forgotten by the technology I use daily. ESET's advocacy towards an equitable space in technology for women to combat these issues, aligns with my own passion for promoting inclusivity within STEM," said Zafina. "With the support of ESET, I hope to fund my education for a degree in computer engineering to earn the qualifications which will allow me to succeed." With the Annual Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship, ESET aims to help address the underrepresentation of women working in cybersecurity. It is ESET's strong belief that if true gender equity is to be achieved, it is essential for society to provide economic opportunity in spaces where women are underrepresented. "I look forward to witnessing how this momentum, marked by positive change, will continue to lead to the advancement of women in STEM," says Blodgett. Learn more about the Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship here. About ESET For more than 30 years, ESET has been developing industry-leading IT security software and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, and consumers worldwide from increasingly sophisticated digital threats. From endpoint and mobile security to endpoint detection and response, as well as encryption and multifactor authentication, ESET's high-performing, easy-to-use solutions unobtrusively protect and monitor 24/7, updating defenses in real time to keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. Evolving threats require an evolving IT security company that enables the safe use of technology. This is backed by ESET's R&D centers worldwide, working in support of our shared future. For more information, visit www.eset.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. SOURCE ESET SOLANA BEACH, Calif., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EVOTEK - the premier enabler of digital business, today is pleased to announce that CRN , a brand of The Channel Company , has named EVOTEK to its 2023 Solution Provider 500 list. EVOTEK Recognized on CRNs 2023 Solution Provider 500 List CRN's annual Solution Provider 500 ranks North America's largest solution providers by revenue and serves as the gold standard for recognizing some of the channel's most successful companies. This year's list of companies represents combined revenue of more than $475.9 billion, and the honorees are among the top influencers impacting today's IT industry and the global technology supply chain. EVOTEK has ranked on this list every year since its' first full year in business in 2015, starting at #424 out of 500 companies. They are now ranked 71st out of 500 companies. "I want to thank and congratulate the entire team at EVOTEK for making our company who we are today and for helping make such a huge dent in our industry in such a short time," said EVOTEK's CEO and Founder, Cesar Enciso. "It is such an honor to be recognized in the top 100 integrators in North America." "It's a distinct honor to recognize CRN's 2023 Solution Provider 500. These are today's top technology integrators, strategic service providers, and IT consulting firms, making this list the go-to resource for creating strategic partnerships among technology vendors and today's top-performing IT solution providers," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "My heartfelt congratulations go out to each of these companies for the significant impact they make on the continued growth and success of the IT channel." CRN's 2023 Solution Provider 500 list will be available online at www.CRN.com/SP500, and a sampling of the list will be featured in the June issue of CRN Magazine. About EVOTEK EVOTEK is North America's premier enabler of secure digital business focused on innovation. With an integrated set of technical domains, including Platforms, Security, and Networks, EVOTEK provides a cohesive approach to digital initiatives while driving business impact. In addition to architecture and engineering, EVOTEK offers advisory services and strategic sourcing to help bridge the gap between IT and business, reducing functional silos and facilitating alignment. EVOTEK was named Inc. Magazine's "Best Places to Work" in 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2023. In addition, for seven consecutive years, EVOTEK was listed in The San Diego Business Journal's "Best Places to Work" and recognized in CRN's "Solution Provider 500" list, CRN's "Next-Generation 250" list, CRN's "Triple Crown" and highlighted as CRN's "Top 150 Growth Companies". Follow EVOTEK: LINKEDIN, FACEBOOK, and TWITTER About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter , LinkedIn, and Facebook . 2023 The Channel Company, LLC. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. The Channel Company Contact: Natalie Lewis The Channel Company [email protected] Contact: Mike Mayo EVOTEK (858) 362-5083 [email protected] SOURCE EVOTEK This beluga whalethought to be a Russian spy animalwas first noticed off the coast of Norway in 2019 wearing a harness labeled Equipment St Petersburg and outfitted with a camera mount. It's speculated that the animal may have escaped a Russian navy holding pen. Recently, the whale, nicknamed Hvaldimir, was seen off Sweden's southwestern coast. From The Guardian: "We don't know why he has sped up so fast right now," said Sebastian Strand, a marine biologist with the OneWhale organisation, adding that it was particularly puzzling because the whale was moving "very quickly away from his natural environment". "It could be hormones driving him to find a mate. Or it could be loneliness, as belugas are a very social species it could be that he's searching for other beluga whales." Strand said the whale, believed to be 13-14 years old, is "at an age where his hormones are very high". The closest population of belugas is located in the Svalbard archipelago, which lies midway between the northern coast of Norway and the north pole. The whale is not believed to have seen a single other beluga since arriving in Norway in April 2019. NEW YORK, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As per Zion Market Research study, The epoxy composite market size is set for rapid growth over the forecast period. In terms of revenue, the global epoxy composite market accounted for USD 38.33 Billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 60.24 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.35% during the forecast period. Report Link with All Related Graphs & Charts: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/epoxy-composite-market Epoxy Composite Market: Overview The composite materials are made using a common thermostat resin known as epoxy. It is used in several concrete repairs, composite parts, and structures due to its beneficial properties such as low shrinkage, good adhesion to substrates, strong mechanical properties, good performance at high temperature, superior electrical properties, and resistance to corrosive liquid & environments. Owing to all these properties, epoxy composite materials are extensively used in load-bearing applications that include oil & gas, aerospace, automotive, marine, and construction industries. Get a Free Sample Report with All Related Graphs & Charts (with COVID 19 Impact Analysis): https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/epoxy-composite-market Our Free Sample Report Includes: 2023 Updated Report Introduction, Overview, and In-depth industry analysis COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak Impact Analysis Included 219 + Pages Research Report (Inclusion of Updated Research) Provide Chapter-wise guidance on Request 2023 Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share & Trends Includes an Updated List of tables & figures Updated Report Includes Top Market Players with their Business Strategy, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis Zion Market Research methodology Key Industry Insights & Findings of the Epoxy Composite Market Reports: As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the global epoxy composite market is expected to grow annually at a promising CAGR of around 7.35% during the forecast period 2023-2030. In terms of revenue, the global epoxy composite market size was valued at around USD 38.33 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 60.24 billion by 2030. in 2022 and is expected to reach by 2030. The global epoxy composite industry is projected to grow due to the increasing demand for lightweight and durable materials in various end-use industries such as aerospace, automotive, construction, and electrical and electronics Based on end-user industry, the automotive and transportation segment held the largest market share in 2022 Based on fiber type, the glass fiber segment held the dominating market share in 2022. Based on region, the Asia-Pacific region held the dominating market share in 2022. Zion Market Research published the latest report titled "Global Epoxy Composite Market By Manufacturing Process (Compression Moldings, Filament Winding, Resin Transfer Molding, Resin Injection, Pultrusion, And Lay-Up), By Fiber Type (Carbon Fiber, Glass Fiber, And Others), End-Use Industry (Aerospace & Defense, Automotive & Transportation, Electrical & Electronics, Marine, Sporting Goods, Wind Energy, Pipe & Tank, And Others), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2023 2030" into their research database. Industry Dynamics: Epoxy Composite Market: Growth Drivers Surge in demand for lightweight and durable materials in various end-use industries to drive the growth of the market. The global epoxy composite market is being driven by various factors that are contributing to its growth. One of the primary drivers of the market is the increasing demand for lightweight and durable materials in various end-use industries such as aerospace, automotive, construction, and electrical and electronics. Epoxy composites offer a high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and good mechanical properties, making them an ideal choice for these industries. Additionally, the growth of wind energy generation and the increasing use of epoxy composites in the marine industry are also contributing to market growth. The wind energy sector is witnessing significant growth worldwide, and epoxy composites are widely used in wind turbine blades due to their lightweight and high-strength properties. Epoxy Composite Market: Restraints Extortionate production cost of epoxy composite might hinder the growth to some extent. Despite the significant growth potential, the epoxy composite market faces certain restraints that may hinder its growth. One of the major restraints is the high cost of production associated with epoxy composites, which limits their usage in some industries. Moreover, the lack of standardized testing methods and quality control procedures for epoxy composites can also be a challenge for market players. Directly Purchase a Copy of the Report @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/buynow/su/epoxy-composite-market Epoxy Composite Market: Opportunities Rising trend of green buildings create ample opportunities for the industry. The global epoxy composite industry is expected to offer numerous opportunities for growth and expansion in the coming years. One of the major opportunities in the market is the increasing use of epoxy composites in the construction industry. Epoxy composites are widely used in the construction of bridges, tunnels, and other infrastructure projects due to their high strength, durability, and resistance to harsh environmental conditions. Moreover, the growing trend of green buildings and sustainable construction practices is also expected to drive the demand for epoxy composites in the construction industry. Additionally, the increasing demand for lightweight and fuel-efficient vehicles is expected to create significant opportunities for epoxy composite manufacturers in the automotive industry. Epoxy composites are widely used in automotive parts such as hoods, fenders, and doors, due to their high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance. Epoxy Composite Market: Challenges Non-biodegradable nature and environmental concerns about epoxy composites might act as a challenge. The global epoxy composite industry also faces certain challenges that need to be addressed. One of the major challenges is the environmental concerns associated with the disposal of epoxy composites. Epoxy composites are not biodegradable, and their disposal can lead to environmental pollution. Moreover, the availability of raw materials used in the production of epoxy composites can also be a challenge for market players, as it can lead to supply chain disruptions and affect market growth. Furthermore, the complexity of the manufacturing process of epoxy composites can also be a challenge for new entrants in the market. Global Epoxy Composite Market: Segmentation The global epoxy composite market is segmented based on manufacturing process, fiber type, end-use industry, and region. Based on manufacturing process, the market is segmented into Compression Moldings, Filament Winding, Resin Transfer Molding, Resin Injection, Pultrusion, and Lay-Up. Based on fiber type, the epoxy composite industry is segmented into carbon fiber, glass fiber, and others. The glass fiber segment held the largest market share in 2022 and is further predicted to grow remarkably during the forecast period. The glass fiber segment is a major contributor to the global epoxy composite market and is expected to exhibit strong growth in the coming years. The growth of this segment can be attributed to the increasing demand for lightweight and high-strength materials in various end-use industries such as aerospace, automotive, and construction. E-glass fiber, being the most widely used type, is expected to maintain its dominance in the market due to its excellent mechanical properties and relatively low cost. However, the demand for high-performance fibers such as S-glass fiber is also expected to increase, particularly in the aerospace and defense industries. Additionally, the development of new glass fiber formulations with improved properties is expected to further drive the growth of the glass fiber segment in the market. Based on end-user industry, the market is segmented into Aerospace & Defense, Automotive & Transportation, Electrical & Electronics, Marine, Sporting Goods, Wind Energy, Pipe & Tank, and others. The automotive and transportation segment held the dominating market share in 2022 and is further predicted to grow notably during the forecast period. The automotive and transportation segment is a significant end-user industry of the global epoxy composite market, and it is expected to exhibit strong growth in the coming years. The growth of this segment can be attributed to the increasing demand for lightweight materials with high strength and stiffness, which can reduce the weight of vehicles and improve their fuel efficiency. Epoxy composites find wide applications in this industry, such as in the manufacturing of body panels, structural components, and interiors. The growth of electric vehicles and the increasing investment in the development of smart and connected vehicles are also expected to drive the demand for epoxy composites in this segment. Furthermore, the increasing investment in the development of transportation infrastructure, such as high-speed rail networks and airports, is expected to further boost the demand for epoxy composites in this industry. Get More Insight before [email protected]: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/epoxy-composite-market List of Key Players in Epoxy Composite Market: Hexcel Corporation SGL Group Huntsman Corporation Gurit Holding AG Solvay S.A. Toray Industries Inc. Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation Sumitomo Bakelite Co. Ltd. Park Electrochemical Corporation Cytec Solvay Group. Axiom Materials Inc. Aditya Birla Chemicals Hexion Inc. Nanya Plastics Corporation Alpha Owens-Corning (AOC) LLC (AOC) LLC Hindoostan Composite Solutions Composite One LLC Teijin Limited Owens Corning Composite Engineering Inc. Key questions answered in this report: What are the growth rate forecast and market size for Epoxy Composite Market? What are the key driving factors propelling the Epoxy Composite Market forward? What are the most important companies in the Epoxy Composite Market Industry? What segments does the Epoxy Composite Market cover? How can I receive a free copy of the Epoxy Composite Market sample report and company profiles? Report Scope: Report Attribute Details Market size value in 2021 USD 38.33 Billion Revenue forecast in 2030 USD 60.24 Billion Growth Rate CAGR of almost 7.35% 2023-2030 Base Year 2022 Historic Years 2016 2021 Forecast Years 2023 2030 Segments Covered By Manufacturing Process, By Fiber Type, By End-Use Industry, and By Region Forecast Units Value (USD Billion), and Volume (Units) Quantitative Units Revenue in USD million/billion and CAGR from 2022 to 2030 Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa, and Rest of World Countries Covered U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, GCC Countries, and South Africa, among others Companies Covered Hexcel Corporation, SGL Group, Huntsman Corporation, Gurit Holding AG, Solvay S.A., Toray Industries Inc., Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Sumitomo Bakelite Co. Ltd., Park Electrochemical Corporation, and Cytec Solvay Group. Other notable players include Axiom Materials Inc., Aditya Birla Chemicals, Hexion Inc., Nanya Plastics Corporation, Alpha Owens-Corning (AOC) LLC, Hindoostan Composite Solutions, Composite One LLC, Teijin Limited, Owens Corning, and Composite Engineering Inc. Report Coverage Market growth drivers, restraints, opportunities, Porter's five forces analysis, PEST analysis, value chain analysis, regulatory landscape, market attractiveness analysis by segments and region, company market share analysis, and COVID-19 impact analysis. Customization Scope Avail of customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/custom/5684 Free Brochure: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/requestbrochure/epoxy-composite-market Recent Developments In September 2020 , Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd. announced the development of a new low-dielectric epoxy composite material for use in high-frequency applications. This new material is expected to be widely adopted in the communication and electronics industries due to its excellent electrical properties and low cost. Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd. announced the development of a new low-dielectric epoxy composite material for use in high-frequency applications. This new material is expected to be widely adopted in the communication and electronics industries due to its excellent electrical properties and low cost. In January 2021 , Sika AG acquired Kreps LLC, a leading manufacturer of reinforcing fiber composite systems based in the U.S. This acquisition is expected to strengthen Sika's position in the epoxy composite market and provide a wider range of solutions to its customers. Regional Dominance: Asia-Pacific region to dominate the global market during the forecast period. Based on region, the Asia-Pacific region held the largest epoxy composite market share in 2022 and is further projected to grow exponentially during the forecast period. The Asia Pacific region is one of the fastest-growing markets for epoxy composites globally, and it is expected to exhibit significant growth in the coming years. The growth of the market in this region can be attributed to the increasing demand for lightweight and high-strength materials in various end-use industries, such as aerospace, automotive, and construction. The region's growing population and rising disposable income are also driving the demand for infrastructure development, such as housing, transportation, and energy, which further boosts the demand for epoxy composites. Additionally, the increasing adoption of electric vehicles and the growth of the wind energy sector is expected to drive the demand for epoxy composites in the Asia Pacific region. The presence of major market players, the availability of low-cost labor, and the favorable government initiatives supporting industrial growth also contribute to the growth of the epoxy composite market in this region. Global Epoxy Composite Market is segmented as follows: Epoxy Composite Market: By Manufacturing Process Outlook (2022-2030) Compression Moldings Filament Winding Resin Transfer Molding Resin Injection Pultrusion Lay-Up Epoxy Composite Market: By Fiber Type Outlook (2022-2030) Carbon Fiber Glass Fiber Others Epoxy Composite Market: By End Users Outlook (2022-2030) Aerospace & Defense Automotive & Transportation Electrical & Electronics Marine Sporting Goods Wind Energy Pipe & Tank Others Epoxy Composite Market: By Region Outlook (2022-2030) North America The U.S. Canada Europe France The UK Spain Germany Italy Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Southeast Asia Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa GCC South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa Browse Other Related Research Reports from Zion Market Research HVAC Equipment Market : The global HVAC equipment market size was worth around USD 130.1 Billion in 2022 and is predicted to grow to around USD 221.61 Billion by 2030 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 6.12% between 2023 and 2030. 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Browse through Zion Market Research's coverage of the Global Heavy Industry Industry Follow Us on: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube About Us Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting-edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, and company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the client's needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us. Contact Us: Zion Market Research 244 Fifth Avenue, Suite N202 New York, 10001, United States Tel: +1 (844) 845-5245 USA/Canada Toll-Free No. +1 (855) 465-4651 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1605489/Zion_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Zion Market Research SHANGHAI, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 25th Bakery China, the largest exhibition in the bakery and confectionery industry worldwide, wrapped up in Shanghai, which marks a significant milestone in the recovery of the industry. The exhibition attracted more than 2,000 brand manufacturers from 30 countries and regions, and over 380,000 visits from 109 countries and regions, exploring new opportunities for industry development. Bakery China 2023 On-site Photo "Bakery China has been dedicated to creating a domestic and international trade exchange platform for the industry since its inception. On Bakery China's 25th anniversary, we are officially moving to a new venue - NECC, Shanghai. With this move, our aim is to create a more segmented, diverse, and convenient platform for trade exchange, which will take us to the next level and enhance business trade, industry communication, and knowledge sharing. Every participant will truly experience the vibrant prosperity and innovation of China's bakery industry." said Zhang Jiu Kui, Chairman of China Association of Bakery and Confectionery Industry. This year, the exhibition covered over 280,000 square meters, exceeding the peak of previous exhibitions by 30% with an optimized setting and scale. More than 2000 exhibitors, including some renowed brands, such as Arla, DMK, Sinodis, Vandemoortele, Bridor, GEA, Fritsch, Panasonic, Linxis, Intralox, Rademaker, and Rondo, released more than 10,000 new products onsite. Exhibitors and industry peers have witnessed new trends in the baking and confectionery industry, such as the increased focus on product matrices by more brands, as well as the rise of new styles of Chinese baking and pre-made bakery products. Bakery China has been an important channel for industry and cross-industry smart communication. The event also featured over 100 conferences, theme activities, competitions and demo shows held both online and offline. Various national and international industry competitions like World Bakery Competition China, Louis Roosevelt Cup China, World Chocolate Maters China etc., were held to cultivate talent in the bakery industry. In addition, the Bakery China Innovation Award was presented to recognize the industry's most innovative products, powered by the Bakery China brand. iBakeryChina is the online platform for online matchmaking, communications, talent hunting, market trends, and thoughts exchange. To date, over 3,000 company online shops have been launched, with over 13,000 products hitting the shelves and over 500,000 buyers, to provide an industrial online e-commerce solution in bakery industry. About Bakery China Bakery China, organized by the China Association of Bakery and Confectionery Industry and Bakery China Exhibitions Co., Ltd. was launched in 1997. Bakery China is the leading event in APAC that serves the entire value chain of the bakery and confectionery market. SOURCE Bakery China Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates ambitious entrepreneurs who are building bolder futures. CLIFTON, N.J., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) has announced that Srini Penumella, CEO of Spruce Technology, was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023 New Jersey Award finalist. Now in its 37th year, Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive business awards for transformative entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies who are building a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous world for all. Srini Penumella was selected by an independent panel of judges. Entrepreneurs were evaluated based on their demonstration of building long-term value through entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth, and impact, among other core contributions and attributes. Regional award winners will be announced on June 12, 2023, during a special celebration. The winners will then be considered by the National judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, which will be presented in November at the Strategic Growth Forum, one of the nation's most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award. The Entrepreneur Of The Year program has recognized more than 11,000 entrepreneurs throughout the US since its inception in 1986, and it has grown to recognize business leaders across 145 cities in over 60 countries around the world. About Spruce Technology Spruce Technology is an award-winning consulting firm with over 16 years of experience across a huge range of technology services in the public and private sectors. Through our proven track record of seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technology with practical business strategies and our unwavering commitment to integrity, we have earned recognition as trailblazers in the industry. About Entrepreneur Of The Year Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth, and prosperity that transforms our world. The program engages entrepreneurs and connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of the Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. Visit ey.com/us/eoy . Media Contact Kristen Mazza, [email protected] SOURCE Spruce Technology Inc AUSTIN, Texas, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- FHD Forensics is pleased to join with the Richland County Coroner's Office and Genealogy For Justice to announce the resolution of a 40-year quest to identify a woman who died in a Columbia, South Carolina hospital in 1982. Richland County Coroner's Office Anthropology team with FHD Forensics investigative genetic genealogist Valerie Kemp at a Columbia, South Carolina missing persons event in February. From left to right, Dr. Madeline Atwell, RCCO Deputy Coroner - Anthropology; Rachel Baker, RCCO Deputy Coroner - Anthropology; Kemp; and Dr. Bill Stevens, RCCO Deputy Coroner - Director of Anthropology. (Genealogy For Justice photo) Wilkesboro, North Carolina native Virginia Higgins Ray died in a Columbia, South Carolina hospital in 1981 and remained unidentified for 42 years. She was recently identified using genetic genealogy. The FHD Forensics investigation was underwritten by Genealogy For Justice's Dean and Tina Linn Clouse Memorial Fund. (Ray family photo circa 1961) Richland County's State Hospital Jane Doe was a patient who died on February 15, 1982, after being admitted without a name due to a mental health crisis. In spite of an exhaustive campaign to determine her identity at the time, she remained unidentified for more than four decades. FHD Forensics began an investigation to name her last fall. The woman has now been identified as Virginia Clyde Higgins Ray, a native of Wilkesboro, North Carolina. According to her family, Mrs. Ray was a loving, devoted mother and a devout Christian who delighted in her children. When receiving the news that her mother had died decades ago, one of Virginia's daughters said she had been searching extensively for her mother since she was just a girl. "My mother's case was solved on Mother's Day," said Debbie Glennon. "It was the 42nd Mother's Day since I saw her last. There are no words to express my gratitude." FHD Forensics' work to identify Virginia Ray was a collaborative effort and included the Richland County Coroner's Anthropology team led by Dr. Bill Stevens, as well as three private forensic labs. FHD's Valerie Kemp was project genealogist and sister organization, Genealogy For Justice provided the funding. Kevin Lord of Saber Investigations performed bioinformatics engineering for the case. "It took several tries to get us to the finish line with the fragile, degraded DNA in this case," said Allison Peacock, President of FHD Forensics. "And the genealogy analysis was even more complex than the laboratory work." "The close-knit quality of Mrs. Ray's small North Carolina community was reflected in her family tree of almost 4400 individuals. Most of her genetic matches traced to not one, but to several of eleven common ancestor couples," she explained. The investigation was underwritten by Genealogy For Justice's Dean and Tina Linn Clouse Memorial Fund , named for a young couple murdered in Texas in 1980. Dean and Tina were identified in late 2021 using the same technology applied to this case. Virginia's identification was the very first case chosen by the memorial fund's advisors because of the Clouse family's shared experience of having a loved one with schizophrenia, the same mental illness suffered by Mrs. Ray. When asked about memories of her mother, Glennon said in spite of the decades, all of her children have the very same way of remembering her. "One memory of my mother that every one of my siblings and I share is of sunshine and picnics," she emphasized. "When we each think of our memories of our mother - it was always sunny and it was always good." A fundraising campaign to replenish the memorial fund will launch next month in collaborations with popular genealogy mystery writer Nathan Dylan Goodwin. Tax-deductible donations for other cold case genetic genealogy investigations can be made on the FHD Forensics and Genealogy For Justice websites. For More Information: Cyndi Despault FHD Forensics, LLC (512) 270-1301 [email protected] SOURCE FHD Forensics Premier Healthy Snacking Solutions Provider Expands with Leading National Brand MINNEAPOLIS, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Flagstone Foods ("Flagstone"), one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of private label snack nuts and trail mixes in North America, announced today that it has acquired Emerald Nuts ("Emerald") from Campbell Soup Company (NYSE: CPB), adding one of the leading snack nut brands in the United States to Flagstone's portfolio. Over its almost 20-year history, Emerald has built a reputation for quality and innovation, known for items such as grab-and-go 100 calorie packs and assorted glazed nut products. Emerald Nuts As a leading healthy snack manufacturer, Flagstone operates three plants, located in Robersonville, North Carolina; El Paso, Texas; and Dothan, Alabama. Flagstone's more than 800 team members source, process, package and distribute nuts, trail mixes, and other wholesome snacks to premier retail customers across the country. The company was acquired by Atlas Holdings in 2019 and in late 2022 hired CEO Harry Overly to accelerate the company's growth as a snacking solutions provider. "Flagstone Foods has long been trusted by the nation's premier retailers to provide the highest quality snacks. Emerald has been providing high-quality branded snack nuts since 2004 and is now the go-to option for consumers seeking better-for-you snacking on the go. Adding Emerald Nuts to our portfolio establishes a new avenue for Flagstone to service our customers with innovative snack products and unites two industry leaders with a shared commitment to the highest levels of product quality and innovation. Our Flagstone team is excited to welcome Emerald as a transformative acquisition to our portfolio and we're looking forward to continuing to drive growth for both Flagstone and our retail partners," said Harry Overly, Chief Executive Officer of Flagstone Foods. Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP served as legal advisor and Piper Sandler & Co. served as financial advisor to Flagstone. About Flagstone Foods Flagstone Foods is a premier manufacturer of snack nuts, culinary nuts, trail mixes and other nut-based snacks servicing the nation's top retailers in the club, mass, grocery, drug, limited assortment and convenience channels. The company is a leading private label manufacturer and produces nut products under the Emerald Nuts brand, which has been a recognized leader in innovative, high-quality nut snacks since 2004. The company also manufactures ingredients for commercial use, provides contract manufacturing services to branded food companies and offers a wide array of value-added services including consumer insights, global sourcing and commodity advising and product development. For more information, visit: flagstonefoods.com and emeraldnuts.com. SOURCE Flagstone Foods BEIJING, May 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On a sweltering Friday afternoon, cranes periodically maneuvered over a massive construction site in northwest Beijing's Haidian district. Inside the walled-up site, trucks and machines roared, though with very limited noise. At the first glance, this was just a typical scene of major construction sites ubiquitous in many places across China amid the rapid recovery of economic activities following the country's decisive victory against the COVID-19 epidemic. Yet, another busy scene just several meters across the street from the construction site put into context the unique nature of the project. Outside the Zhongguancun (ZGC) Exhibition Center, police officers were busy guiding traffic and scores of people wearing business attire and flashy badges lined up for security checks under a large white tent. Inside the gate, a massive logo showed unmistakably what was taking place: "2023 ZGC Forum." The forum, first launched in 2007 in Zhongguancun, dubbed China's "Silicon Valley," has become a state-level platform for global scientific and technological (sci-tech) innovation exchanges and cooperation. After 13 editions, the forum has garnered considerable national and global influence and the country is striving to further expand its scale and global profile. The construction work across the street is for the permanent venue of the ZGC Forum. Development of both Zhongguancun and the ZGC Forum has been at the forefront of China's robust, intensifying efforts, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, to enhance sci-tech innovation capabilities and bolster sci-tech self-reliance and strength so as to foster new growth drivers and new strengths in face of fierce international competition. Xi attaches great importance to sci-tech innovation. A book of his discourses on sci-tech self-reliance and strength has recently been published, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday. The book contains 50 relevant discourses by Xi, some of which were published for the first time, according to Xinhua. From 'China's Silicon Valley' to 'Global ZGC' On Thursday night, Xi sent a congratulatory letter to the 2023 ZGC Forum. He 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. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has attached great importance to the forum as well as Zhongguancun. In September 2013, led by Xi, members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee visited the Zhongguancun Science Park and held a group study, the first time such a study has been held outside the central authority's seat at Zhongnanhai. Presiding over the group study, Xi stressed importance of science and technology in enhancing national strength. "We must enhance awareness of unexpected challenges and grab the opportunity of the science and technology revolution. We cannot wait, hesitate or slack," Xi said. In 2019, Xi sent a congratulatory letter to the 2019 ZGC Forum, saying that with the accelerating new round of sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation, innovation, development and cooperation with win-win results have become an inevitable trend. Then in 2021, Xi delivered a speech via video at the opening ceremony of the forum, stressing that China attaches great importance to sci-tech innovation. He noted that Zhongguancun is China's first national independent innovation demonstration zone, and the ZGC Forum is a state-level platform for global sci-tech innovation exchanges and cooperation. Such support and leadership from the top leader have led to rapid development in Zhongguancun, which has become a flagbearer of China's innovation. Total revenue of enterprises in the demonstration zone reached 8.7 trillion yuan in 2022, which is 3.5 times that of 2012, according to official data. Due to supportive measures, more than 300 multinationals have set up regional headquarters and research centers and more than 130 Fortune Global 500 companies have established branch offices in the zone. Some in China no longer describe Zhongguancun as "China's Silicon Valley," but "Global Zhongguancun." Thanks to the achievements in Zhongguancun, Beijing as a whole has also become a crucial hub in the global innovation network, ranking third globally in the number of "unicorn" companies and topping the Nature Index global science city rankings six consecutive times. In 2022, 293 new tech companies were established each day in Beijing, meaning a new tech firm was born every five minutes or so on average during the year. The ZGC Forum has also seen remarkable achievements over the past decade or so, attracting thousands of industry players and scholars from around the world. This year's forum, for example, has attracted guests from more than 80 countries and regions and nearly 200 international organizations and institutions, and about 120 top experts from around the world, including 17 Nobel Prize laureates. For businesses, the ZGC Forum offers a great platform to learn about latest global trends and advances in cutting-edge technologies as well as to showcase latest innovation results, according to Qi Xiongdong, chairman of Qi An Xin Group, a cybersecurity firm. "If a new technology is not released at the ZGC Forum, it will not be adopted as quickly," he said. Beyond the ZGC Forum, China has also created a favorable environment for innovation nationwide with supportive measures in a wide range of areas such as talent, Qi told the Global Times. "China is doing very well in terms of sci-tech innovation," he said, while noting that the country puts heavy emphasis on innovation as a primary driving force for high-quality development and on sci-tech self-reliance and strength. Innovation as primary driving force In the report to the opening session of the 20th National Congress of the CPC in October 2022, Xi stressed that innovation will remain at the heart of China's modernization drive. He said that the country will accelerate the implementation of the innovation-driven development strategy, with faster pace to achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology. Sticking to innovation-driven development is also a crucial part of Xi Jinping Thought on the Economy. Over the past several months, Xi has at various major occasions stressed sci-tech innovation. While presiding over a group study session of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee in February, Xi urged strengthening basic research to consolidate self-reliance and strength in science and technology. While taking part in a deliberation with his fellow deputies from the delegation of Jiangsu Province to the first session of the 14th National People's Congress in March, Xi said that to open up new areas and new arenas in development and foster new growth drivers and new strengths in face of fierce international competition, China should ultimately rely on sci-tech innovation. Under the innovation-driven development strategy, China has made great strides in bolstering its independent sci-tech innovation capabilities. In 2022, China moved up to the No.11 spot in the Global Innovation Index released by the World Intellectual Property Organization, compared to No.34 in 2012. China's investment in research and development (R&D) jumped three times from 1 trillion yuan ($144 billion) in 2012 to 3 trillion yuan in 2022. The number of R&D personnel also exceeded 6 million in 2022, maintaining the world's No.1 for many years. China has also taken the lead or moved to the forefront in many areas of cutting-edge technologies such as 5G, new-energy vehicles, quantum competing and artificial intelligence. A series of recent major development also offered more proof of China's rapidly rising sci-tech innovation prowess. On Sunday, China's first home-grown passenger jet, the C919, made its first commercial flight. Last week, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization adopted a decision concerning the establishment of a Category I Institute on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education in Shanghai, which, once approved, would be the first Category I institute in China. Shenzhou-16 spacecraft carrying three taikonauts has been lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Tuesday morning, heading for China Space Station in 1st crewed mission after station enters application and development phase. Committed to international cooperation While focusing on boosting its sci-tech self-reliance and strength, China has also been actively promoting international cooperation. In his congratulatory letter to the 2023 ZGC Forum, Xi said that 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. 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. "China has an incredible mix of expertise and experience," Bill Gates, co-founder of US-tech giant Microsoft and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said in a speech at the ZGC Forum on Friday, noting China's commitment in investing in sci-tech innovation, according to a video the Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission shared with the Global Times. "China will be able to make unique contributions to sharing its technologies." The ZGC Forum plays several major roles in terms of boosting sci-tech innovation in China as well as promoting sci-tech exchanges and cooperation globally, Wang Peng, a research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. "Through the platform, we can better learn about breakthroughs in fronter sci-tech fields, which offers a clear direction for domestic sci-tech innovation to tackle bottleneck problems," he said. Highlighting China's commitment to promote global sci-tech exchanges, the country has recently held many forums and expos in various places for domestic and global businesses. In the latest example, in addition to the ZGC Forum, the China International Big Data Industry Expo 2023 also kicked off in Guiyang, Southwest China Guizhou Province on Friday, where many foreign businesses expressed solid confidence in China's development. "Panasonic's business in the Chinese market has maintained a good momentum of development. We have high expectations for the Chinese market and are expanding new business," Guang Wei, director of BDA product marketing sales at Panasonic, told the Global Times on the sidelines of the Big Data Expo 2023 in Guiyang. Such a sentiment has also been echoed by many at the ZGC Forum, where many foreign businesses and scholars talked about the vast potential and opportunity China presents. And they are about to further see a greater potential in China through a bigger platform. With construction work for the permanent site of the ZGC Forum expected to wrap up in August 2023, the 65,000-square-meter venue with modern, green and high-tech features will officially open its doors to welcome more domestic and global guests for next year's forum. SOURCE Global Times DUBLIN, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Warehouse Management Systems Market Size, Segments, Outlook, and Revenue Forecast 2022-2028 By Deployment Type, Component Type, Tier Type, Function Outlook, End-user, and Region" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Warehouse Management Systems Market is expected to record a positive CAGR of ~15% during the forecast period (2022-2028) and reach a revenue of US$ 7 Bn by 2028. This growth is owing to the development of digital technology in global logistics, including delivery of key performance indicators (KPIs), enhanced supply chain flexibility, and cost-cutting, which have pushed Third-Party Logistics (3PL) and the supply chain sector to adopt warehouse management systems along with the rising e-commerce and customer online purchasing behaviors are anticipated to enhance demand for the warehouse management system. WMS demand is expected to increase significantly as a result of switching supply chain strategies used by product manufacturers and rising consumer demand, especially in the transport & logistics, and retail industries. One of the key factors driving the market expansion is the requirement for manufacturers to automate warehouse management procedures and reduce costs globally. The system's capacity to deliver goods as quickly as possible via the shortest shipping routes could be the cause of the system's skyrocketing demand. Real-time WMS software solutions are rapidly being utilized as a result of a significant shift in consumer purchasing behavior for effective order processing, picking, packaging, shipment tracking, and route planning in the e-commerce industry. WMS enables businesses to swiftly adjust to the shifting client needs in the e-commerce and online retail space. According to International Trade Administration, an agency in the United States Department of Commerce in 2020 states that of the two consumer focuses, retail consumer goods e-commerce is by far the most dynamic and successful. In 2020, it accounted for 18% of all retail sales worldwide. By 2024, it is anticipated to rise at a rate of over 1% annually, reaching almost 22% of all retail sales worldwide. Small-scale companies frequently utilize old techniques to run their warehouses. The adoption of WMS is hindered by large initial investments and significant deployment investments. The adoption of WMS by small-scale enterprises is additionally constrained by the additional expenses associated with license purchases, upgrades, and employee training during the deployment process. Small-scale industries, however, are not aware of the advantages of WMS, which presents a problem for the market's players. Despite the initial turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, steady market expansion was made possible by the booming e-commerce sector and a more useful understanding of the benefits of WMS. Additionally, the crisis has quickened the industry's adoption of WMS as well as other warehouse automation solutions. Scope of the Report The Global Warehouse Management Systems Market is segmented by Deployment Type, Component Type, Tier Type, Function Outlook, and End-user. In addition, the report also covers market size and forecasts for the four regions. The revenue used to size and forecast the market for each segment is USD Billion. By Deployment Type On-premise Cloud-Based By Component Type Hardware Software Services By Tier Type Advanced WMS (Tier 1) Intermediate WMS (Tier 2) Basic WMS (Tier 3) By Function Outlook Labor Management System Analytics & Optimization Billing & Yard Management Systems Integration & Maintenance Consulting Services By End User Automotive Food & Beverages Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals E-commerce Chemicals Electricals & Electronics Metals & Machinery Retail & Consumer goods Education Transportation & Logistics Manufacturing Others By Geography North America ( USA , Canada , Mexico ) ( , , ) Europe ( Germany , UK, France , Spain , Italy , Rest of Europe ) ( , UK, , , , Rest of ) Asia Pacific ( China , Japan , South Korea , India , Indonesia , Australia , Rest of Asia Pacific ) ( , , , , , , Rest of ) LAMEA ( Latin America , Middle East , Africa ) Key Companies Infor Oracle SAP SE Softeon Tecsys IBM Corp Fishbowl Manhattan Associates 3PL Central LLC Korber AG Blue Yonder Group, Inc Microsoft Dynamics 365 Key Trends by Market Segment By Deployment Type- Cloud-based segment held the major market share in 2021 due to its 100% web-based feature and accessibility from any device with an internet connection. Regardless of the size and complexity of the organization using WMS, advancements in cloud-based services are expected to accelerate the adoption of WMS software. Medium-sized and small-sized firms, which do not require the adoption of complex warehouse technologies and high-speed automation, are primarily responsible for the growing demand for cloud-based systems According to 3PL Central LLC, a WMS solutions provider predicted that cloud-based warehouse management solutions is anticipated to grow and are projected to reach US$ 8.1 billion by 2028. This growth is being fuelled by the adoption of cloud-based WMS, especially among small and medium-sized businesses, as a result of consumer demand and e-commerce By Component Type- The software segment accounted for the highest market share in 2021, mostly due to the growing use of WMS software by small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) globally. Since online software is convenient to use, most developed and developing countries prefer to utilize it, which now has led to the software segment dominating the market In November 2021 , Fishbowl, a software company, developed a new online version of its inventory management software By Tier Type- Advanced WMS (Tier 1) held the major market share in 2021 owing to the maximum level of interconnectivity and functionality of advanced wms. Advanced WMS includes and fully integrates the main functions like slotting, labor management, transportation management, and yard management. Tier 1 WMS frequently provides the option to configure business rules within the system. Customization is enabled by the software without the need for extra, specialist programming which enables more seamless upgrading In April 2015 , a new powerful warehouse management system from IQMS has already been released. This directed pick-and-put-away distribution system is based on rules and is believed to be competitive with Tier 1 WMS systems. Tessy Plastics Corp., Blue Horseshoe, and IQMS worked together to create Advanced WMS as a supply chain management consultant project By Function Outlook- Systems Integration & Maintenance segment held the major market share in 2021, due to various functions that WMS performs such as receiving and storing inventory, optimizing order selection and shipping, and making recommendations on inventory replenishment. Businesses can more effectively monitor and optimize their operations by integrating warehouse management systems with other effective software programs Organizations might obtain accurate and comprehensive information about warehouse management, transportation, and distribution, and utilize that knowledge to make better decisions by integrating warehouse management systems with transportation management systems. Additionally, it allows for better use of the fleet and other essential resources By End-User- The transportation and Logistics segment held the major market share in 2021, due to the expansion of e-commerce sector, rising income levels, and the quick adoption of WMS. According to the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), the leading global association for supply chain management professionals, in 2022 stated that United States business logistics costs (USBLC) grew by 22.4% to US$1.85 trillion , nearly 8% of the US$23 trillion GDP predicted for 2021 business logistics costs (USBLC) grew by 22.4% to , nearly 8% of the GDP predicted for 2021 Logistics and supply chain organizations are rapidly implementing WMS to streamline their processes and boost productivity and efficiency in their warehouses. The segment will continue to expand as consumers are becoming more aware of the advantages of having a well-integrated WMS, such as efficient warehouse operations to match rising demand By Geography- Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing market during the forecast period due to the robust economic growth and ongoing advancements in inventory management and warehouse management systems, businesses are investing extensively in these systems to maintain growth and boost productivity. According to the Ministry of Commerce, in 2021, stated that Chinese companies already run more than 1,900 abroad warehouses with a combined floor area of 13.5 million square meters According to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry India, which administers two departments, the Department of Commerce and the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade, in 2021 reported that about 14% of India's GDP is currently invested in logistics. In developed countries such as the US, Hong Kong , and France , the ratio of logistics costs to GDP is around half (4-5%) that in India (6-9%) Conclusion The market for warehouse management systems is anticipated to continue growing at a substantial rate of ~15% owing to the recent developments in global logistics, including delivery KPIs, enhanced supply chain flexibility, and cost-cutting, which have pushed 3PL and the supply chain sector to adopt warehouse management systems. The warehouse management system market is expanding due to rising e-commerce and customer online purchasing behaviors. Foreign investments in developing economies are being fuelled by several factors, including favorable trade conditions, progressive government policies, and lower company taxes. Consequently, one of the main areas for WMS market growth is in emerging nations. Though the market is highly competitive with ~ 500 participants, few global players control the dominant share and regional players also hold a significant share. Major Companies Mentioned in the Report Infor Oracle SAP SE Softeon Tecsys IBM Corp. Fishbowl Manhattan Associates 3PL Central LLC Korber AG Blue Yonder Group, Inc. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Notable Emerging Companies Mentioned in the Report Deposco Aptean PULPO WMS Portable Intelligence Leafclover Technology Padis mbH Frequently Asked Questions What is the Study Period of this Market Report? The Warehouse management systems Market is covered from 2017 - 2028 in this report, which includes a forecast for the period 2022-2028 What is the Future Growth Rate of the Warehouse management systems Market? The Warehouse management systems Market is expected to witness a CAGR of ~15 % over the next 6 years What are the Key Factors Driving the Warehouse management systems Market? Recent developments in global logistics, including delivery KPIs, enhanced supply chain flexibility, and cost-cutting, have driven 3PL and the supply chain sector to adopt warehouse management systems. Which is the Largest Deployment Segment within the Warehouse management systems Market? Cloud held the largest market share of the Warehouse management systems Market in the Deployment Segment in 2021 For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/axdf3c 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 Info-Tech's research shows that by addressing their unique cybersecurity challenges, government departments and agencies can improve their ability to attract and retain cybersecurity professionals, even with increased competition from the private sector. TORONTO, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Governments worldwide are becoming increasingly digital, leading to more prevalent and more diverse cyberattacks. These attacks impact governments, businesses, and individuals by compromising critical infrastructure; disrupting essential services, power, and communications systems; and leaving people without access to the resources they need. To help government security leaders take proactive steps to address these challenges and protect citizens from the potentially devastating digital and real-world impacts of a cyberattack, global IT research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group has published its new blueprint, Addressing the Cybersecurity Talent Shortage in Government. Info-Tech Research Groups Addressing the Cybersecurity Talent Shortage in Government blueprint outlines a holistic approach that IT leaders can utilize to tackle the unique challenges governments face when attracting and recruiting cybersecurity professionals. (CNW Group/Info-Tech Research Group) This research-backed industry resource, designed to guide IT leaders and organizations in navigating specific challenges, explains that digital transformation and technologies have been integrated into all aspects of public sector operations, fundamentally changing the way services are delivered and how value is provided to citizens. This transformation also involves a cultural shift, as government departments and agencies must continually challenge traditional processes and adapt to new ways of working. Info-Tech's research further highlights that digital transformation is creating new attack surfaces through the new technologies, systems, and processes it introduces within government departments and agencies, leading to the following obstacles: Expanded Digital Landscape and Cyberthreats Digital transformation in government involves the integration of new technologies, systems, and processes that lead to increased exposure to cyberthreats such as malware, ransomware, and other forms of cybercrime. Digital transformation in government involves the integration of new technologies, systems, and processes that lead to increased exposure to cyberthreats such as malware, ransomware, and other forms of cybercrime. Cultivating a Cybersecurity-Aware Culture New challenges make it essential for government departments and agencies to foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness within their workforce through providing regular training and promoting a shared responsibility to maintain digital security. New challenges make it essential for government departments and agencies to foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness within their workforce through providing regular training and promoting a shared responsibility to maintain digital security. Addressing the Cybersecurity Talent Gap The growing complexity of cyberthreats necessitates a skilled cybersecurity workforce in government. However, a shortage of cybersecurity talent makes it challenging to effectively combat these threats and safeguard digital infrastructure. The growing complexity of cyberthreats necessitates a skilled cybersecurity workforce in government. However, a shortage of cybersecurity talent makes it challenging to effectively combat these threats and safeguard digital infrastructure. Enhancing Cyber Resilience and Security To mitigate the risks of cyberthreats, government departments and agencies must prioritize the creation of robust cybersecurity strategies, invest in employee training, and collaborate with external parties to enhance their cyber defense capabilities. The research further explains that attracting and retaining top talent is a significant challenge for government agencies for several reasons, including their limited ability to offer competitive salaries, career growth and development, autonomy, and flexibility. Candidates may also see their rigid bureaucratic processes as a drawback. "Governments must take proactive measures to enhance their cyber resilience as they become more digital," says Paul Chernousov, research director at Info-Tech Research Group. "A common challenge is getting the entire organization on board with cybersecurity measures, resulting in an insufficient understanding of strategies and technology, as well as difficulty in maintaining a skilled and engaged workforce." Info-Tech's research offers the following "three pillars for protection" approach that government departments and agencies can use to address the cybersecurity challenges caused by digital transformation: Create a Cybersecurity Culture Every employee plays a crucial role in safeguarding the organization's digital assets. Fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration throughout the organization can create a shared responsibility for cybersecurity. Implement a Cybersecurity Workforce Development Strategy A cybersecurity workforce development strategy ensures security, compliance, and efficiency. Governments should implement a comprehensive cyber workforce strategy that includes acquiring individuals with the necessary skills and expertise and investing in innovative training programs and educational partnerships. Harness Artificial Intelligence Investing in advanced technologies such as AI and machine learning can help detect threats more quickly and accurately. They can even assist with recruitment. Info-Tech's three pillars for protection approach will help government agencies define the skills gap in their cyber workforce and build a development plan that includes strategies that fully empower skilled employees to resist cyberthreats. Download the Addressing the Cybersecurity Talent Shortage in Government blueprint to learn how government security teams can better attract and retain cybersecurity professionals to protect national security and reduce organizational risk. For media inquiries on the topic or to get exclusive, timely commentary from Paul Chernousov, a public sector subject matter expert, please contact [email protected] About Info-Tech Research Group Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading information technology research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT professionals. The company produces unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For 25 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with IT teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations. Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and over 200 IT and industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected]. SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Hawke Media announced the acquisition of Leverage Marketing, an industry leading digital marketing agency. This acquisition marks a major step forward in the growth journey of both companies. "We are incredibly excited at the opportunity to team up with Leverage Marketing," said Erik Huberman, CEO and founder of Hawke Media. "Leverage is a serious force in the marketing world and the benefits of combining forces are going to create some serious impact for our mutual clients and the marketing world at large." Today, Hawke Media announced the acquisition of Leverage Marketing, an industry-leading digital marketing agency. Tweet this Hawke Media acquires Leverage Marketing. "Leverage Marketing and Hawke Media are excited to join forces in a collaboration that promises to unlock unprecedented growth potential for our customers," states Bob Kehoe, CEO of Leverage Marketing. "This alliance will provide our customers with access to pioneering industry tools, empowering them to excel in optimizing customer acquisition and retention strategies across various channels." Hawke Media has quickly become one of the most respected names in marketing thanks to its innovative approach and commitment to results. The company has worked with some of the world's biggest brands such as K Swiss, Proactiv, Red Bull & Crocs. With this acquisition, Hawke Media adds Leverage Marketing's advanced use of software to streamline performance marketing and services to its repertoire of offerings. This will enable Hawke Media's clients to gain a competitive edge by leveraging cutting edge marketing tactics that are tailored specifically to their business needs. The combination of these two companies is a perfect match - each brings something unique but complementary to the table that can help their clients succeed on all fronts. With this acquisition, Hawke Media looks forward to bringing its expertise in performance marketing together with Leverage Marketing's e-commerce platform capabilities for unparalleled innovation in digital marketing solutions. While the company has worked with many ecommerce companies, the capabilities of the brand do not stop there. Leverage like Hawke works with any company that is looking to generate leads and launch their business into the next level online. "We have always been committed to helping our clients achieve success through effective marketing strategies," said Huberman. "With this acquisition, we are taking another big step towards fulfilling that mission." Leverage Marketing is a full-service digital marketing company. The brand tackles everything from data analytics to strategic planning to the complete execution of the digital marketing strategies it creates. Leverage Marketing also has a long track record of success working with top brands such as Berkshire Hathaway, GORUCK, Belle Medical, and Brett Robinson Vacation Rentals across multiple industries including retail, technology, and finance. Besides earned media, paid media, and consulting, Leverage is also expert-level at integrating CRM systems into a company's marketing platform. With this partnership, these two industry powerhouses will be able to offer more comprehensive solutions for their clients than ever before - from driving growth through data-backed strategies to managing complex customer journeys across multiple platforms. "We couldn't be more excited about what this partnership means for our customers," said Kehoe. "It gives them access to an unmatched suite of services from two experienced teams who understand the significance of keeping businesses fresh and forward-thinking in today's world." This strategic move further solidifies Hawke Media's position as a leader in performance marketing while allowing both companies' customers access to cutting- edge technologies designed specifically for their needs - helping them reach their goals faster than ever before! Contact: Alyssa Mosher Public Relations Manager [email protected] 1714 16th St, Santa Monica, CA 90404 (310) 451-7295 SOURCE Hawke Media Dynamic load demonstration with European Automotive OEM now complete Joint demonstration activities progressing with Global Tier One Automotive Supplier Demonstration plan with Hercules Electric Mobility now includes maximum load testing at motor manufacturer VANCOUVER, BC, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Hillcrest Energy Technologies (CSE: HEAT) (OTCQB: HLRTF) (FRA: 7HIA.F), a pioneering clean technology company offering transformative power conversion technologies and state-of-the-art control system solutions, is pleased to provide an update to shareholders. Dynamic Load Bench Demonstration Success Hillcrest is pleased to announce the successful completion of dynamic load bench tests involving Hillcrest's cutting-edge 250-kilowatt, 800-volt SiC inverter with a prominent European Automotive Original Equipment Manufacturer (European OEM). This momentous phase of testing evaluated the impacts of Hillcrest's revolutionary Zero Voltage Switching (ZVS) technology on a high-power dynamic load using a high efficiency motor of the European OEM and confirmed the integration of Hillcrest's technology with their motor. A live demonstration, attended by representatives of the European OEM, was hosted at Systematec GmbH's facility in Germany. The exceptional test results showcased a marked advantage in electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) characteristics and inverter efficiency. The European OEM is currently analyzing the results and will propose the next phase of co-development activities in the coming weeks. The successful completion of this latest demonstration represents further validation of Hillcrest's technology and significant progress on this important opportunity for collaboration and future growth. Global Tier One Supplier Development Program The Company continues to make progress on the previously announced joint development project with a Global Tier One Automotive Supplier for a powertrain system that incorporates a customized version of the Hillcrest SiC traction inverter, which leverages Hillcrest's proprietary ZVS inverter technology to solve many common challenges faced by today's EV powertrains by enabling a reduction in overall vehicle weight, increased payload, and greater range capability. The Company announced completion of the first milestone in April 2023. The second milestone, consisting of maximum-load demonstration testing with a specialized motor provided by the Global Tier One Automotive Supplier, is scheduled to commence in June at Hillcrest's R&D lab in Vancouver. Upon completion, the third milestone will commence and include a series of on-site demonstrations at the customer's facilities later this year. Upon successfully completing all milestones, the companies anticipate entering into a definitive commercial agreement. Hercules Electric Mobility Hillcrest previously announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hercules Electric Mobility, Inc. in October of 2022 and provided a progress update to shareholders on March 23rd, 2023. The collaborative effort focuses on integrating and demonstrating the Hillcrest ZVS inverter in a Hercules electric powertrain, which is expected to enable the powertrain to operate at higher power levels and higher switching frequencies without compromising efficiency. Upon successfully completing all milestones outlined in the MOU, the companies anticipate entering into a definitive commercial agreement. To allow for a more extensive testing and integration program, the collective technical teams previously revised the demonstration plan to include an intermediate test phase with Hercules' motor supplier. This test phase will then be followed by system testing with Hercules' electric powertrain. This enhanced approach will allow Hillcrest to obtain more robust integration and test data at power levels of up to 350kW, crucial data that will impact this and other development programs. In addition to the Hercules project, Hillcrest also intends to pursue further collaboration with the motor manufacturer on the potential integration of Hillcrest ZVS inverters into motors provided to their other market segments, including automotive OEMs. "We have successfully demonstrated the core value and the potential of the Hillcrest ZVS traction inverter with two customers, with another demonstration scheduled to be completed within a few weeks," stated Hillcrest's Chief Executive Officer, Don Currie. "In the months ahead, Hillcrest will continue to demonstrate the remarkable capabilities of our proprietary ZVS inverter by conducting a series of progressively advanced testing protocols with various customer systems. This strategic approach is designed to address a variety of industry needs and will showcase the efficiency, reliability and performance of our innovative technology." Mr. Currie continued, "The completion of these demonstrations in the months ahead with an expanding list of customers will enable us to accelerate and broaden our pursuit of co-development and definitive commercial agreements." The Hillcrest SiC traction inverter harnesses the power of our proprietary Zero Voltage Switching (ZVS) technology platform. Extensive lab tests and simulations have showcased substantial improvements in system-level efficiency, performance, and reliability for electric systems such as electric vehicles and stationary energy generation and storage systems. Financing the future The previously announced engagement with Craig-Hallum Capital Group (Craig-Hallum) as the Company's capital markets advisory and investment banking firm in the U.S. is progressing through the due diligence process. "Craig-Hallum is a well-respected and accomplished firm, deeply connected to the technology sector. We intend to work with them to focus on accessing the institutional market in the U.S. for the capital required to execute on our short-, medium- and long-term business objectives. Craig-Hallum is also providing advisory services focused on a potential future co-listing or full-listing on a senior U.S. exchange. We believe the completion of a U.S. listing would be expected to have a substantial positive impact on the Company's valuation." stated Hillcrest CEO, Don Currie. Investor Relations Initiatives Hillcrest is pleased to announce the addition of Market One as a new provider of investor marketing services across North America. Their team brings more than 60 collective years of capital markets experience to public company marketing. During the 9-month term of the engagement, they will provide a variety of services including the production of interviews, articles and other digital marketing content for distribution on platforms such as BNN Bloomberg and Benzinga. In addition to the new engagement with Market One, Hillcrest has expanded its marketing and investor relations initiatives over the past year to create greater exposure for the Company to a global audience. Current service providers include Connecticut-based IMS Investor Relations, Munich, Germany-based General Research, and Vancouver-based Jemini Capital. These providers are collectively creating exposure for the Company to a global audience. The company will continue to provide updates as milestones are met and material events occur. About Hillcrest Energy Technologies Hillcrest Energy Technologies is a clean technology company delivering high-value, high-performance power conversion technologies and digital control systems for next-generation powertrains and grid-connected renewable energy systems. From concept to commercialization, Hillcrest is investing in the development of energy solutions that will power a more sustainable and electrified future. Hillcrest is publicly traded on the CSE under the symbol "HEAT," on the OTCQB Venture Market as "HLRTF" and on the Frankfurt Exchange as "7HIA.F". For more information, please visit: https://hillcrestenergy.tech/. NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAS REVIEWED OR ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information Some of the statements contained in this news release are forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "expects," "intends," "is expected," "potential," "suggests" or variations of such words or phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "should," "would," "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this news release. The forward-looking information reflects our current expectations and assumptions and is subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any anticipated future results, performance or expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. No assurance can be given that these assumptions will prove correct. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control. Investors are advised to consider the risk factors under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's MD&A for the year ended Dec. 31, 2021, available at www.sedar.com for a discussion of the factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance and achievements to be materially different from any anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. SOURCE Hillcrest Energy Technologies Ltd. Elizabeth Holmes, the Theranos founder who took billions from investors on the promise of blood-analyzing technology that didn't work, will finally begin serving her 11-year prison sentence today. Holmes once declared that they "don't put pretty people like me in jail" and fortified that assumption in ruthless fashion before and during her trial. Lawyers for Holmes attempted to delay the start of her prison sentence by asking that she remain free while she appeals her conviction, but the Ninth Circuit of Appeals denied her request, ruling that Holmes has not raised a "substantial question" of law or fact about her case. It is unclear how long Holmes will be at the prison camp in Bryan, Texas, but The Wall Street Journal reportsthat many inmates are released early from the facility for good conduct and participation in prison programs, including training Labrador puppies for work as service dogs, or working in the facility's kitchen, which pays 12 cents an hour. The children she had in hopes of keeping herself out of prison will be able to visit her on the weekends and "will be able to sit on her lap." Even a fawning profile from the magically gullible New York Times couldn't save her. The latest offering through Hitachi Application Reliability Centers empowers data-driven leaders with trustworthy, secure and reliable data. SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hitachi Vantara, the modern infrastructure, data management and digital solutions subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), today introduced Hitachi Data Reliability Engineering (DRE), a suite of consulting services helping organizations improve the quality and consistency of business-critical data. Amid a surge of data from connected devices and applications, organizations are challenged with increasingly complex data environments. For more information on Hitachi Data Reliability Engineering, visit: https://www.hitachivantara.com/en-us/services/application-reliability-centers.html According to a recent report, "Following an era of the 'data hoarding' mentality defined by volume, organizations are now facing the reality that business insight is often directly constrained by the integrity of the datasets that are served to less-technical business users." The many faces of observability clarifying the role and function of data observability, 451 Research, part of S&P Global Market Intelligence1 For many CXOs once determined to accumulate vast amounts of data, the issue of reliability in datasets for non-technical users is apparent and becoming an imperative. With a secure, self-service approach, DRE allows organizations to embed quality data into applications, enhancing internal processes and customer-centric business strategies. About Hitachi Data Reliability Engineering Combining cutting-edge tools and proven DataOps processes, Hitachi DRE employs metadata engineering, data lineage, data cost optimization, self-healing mechanisms and AI-driven automation to provide visibility, reliability and resilience throughout the data lifecycle. Ensuring high-quality data systems and pipelines, Hitachi DRE's automated and secure self-service approach helps to deliver consistent, trustworthy data. "Many of our customers are grappling with the unprecedented volume and complexity of their data environments and simply don't have the resources to maintain trustworthy, highly functional data to fuel their complex analytics and modern application needs," said Roger Lvin, president, Digital Solutions at Hitachi Vantara. "Hitachi DRE is Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) for data. Addressing the incredible pace of Generative AI and tsunami of data from connected devices, it has become an imperative to manage data pipelines safely and accurately through AI-driven automation. Hitachi DRE's brand-new approach allows our customers to regain control of their data and maximize the value it provides to their organization." As AI and machine learning fuel an increasingly data-driven world, customers and partners look to Hitachi DRE to maximize the value derived from their data. "Penske has dramatically expanded data and analytics initiatives to optimize its fleets with repair recommendation and predictive maintenance applications where historical maintenance records and real-time data are analyzed to make better decisions about our operations and proactively avoid unscheduled downtime," said Rohit Talwar, vice president-Software Engineering and Digital Experience at Penske Transportation Solutions, a leading global transportation services provider. "Hitachi Vantara has been a key partner to not only build these solutions but continuously improve them. As we continue to digitize and implement new solutions, our data landscape becomes increasingly complex and services like Data Reliability Engineering can help us ensure we're getting the most out of our data, and ultimately, our people and our machines." "Enterprise data teams require a new approach to support data reliability needs that goes far beyond the current generation of data quality tools. Acceldata has been enabling enterprises with a comprehensive data observability platform for the entire supply chain of data, with data reliability, data platform spend intelligence, and operational intelligence," said Rohit Choudhary, founder and CEO at Acceldata, the market leader in enterprise data observability. "Hitachi Vantara's Data Reliability Engineering is a fantastic complement to the Acceldata Data Observability Platform as we offer customers a comprehensive solution to maximize the value of their data." Connect With Hitachi Vantara About Hitachi Vantara Hitachi Vantara, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., delivers the intelligent data platforms, infrastructure systems, and digital expertise that supports more than 80% of the Fortune 100. To learn how Hitachi Vantara turns businesses from data-rich to data-driven through agile digital processes, products, and experiences, visit hitachivantara.com. About Hitachi, Ltd. Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society through the use of data and technology. We solve customers' and society's challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products. Hitachi operates under the business structure of "Digital Systems & Services" - supporting our customers' digital transformation; "Green Energy & Mobility" - contributing to a decarbonized society through energy and railway systems, and "Connective Industries" - connecting products through digital technology to provide solutions in various industries. Driven by Digital, Green, and Innovation, we aim for growth through co-creation with our customers. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2022 (ended March 31, 2023) totaled 10,881.1 billion yen, with 696 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 320,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com. HITACHI is a trademark or registered trademark of Hitachi, Ltd. All other trademarks, service marks, and company names are properties of their respective owners. SOURCE Hitachi Vantara Corporation The company continues to offer award-winning internship program to more than 85 collegiate students AUSTIN, Minn., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods, a Fortune 500 global branded food company (NYSE: HRL), is proud to welcome the newest class of inspired interns to its award-winning summer internship program. The company is hosting 87 college students who represent over 40 colleges and universities throughout the United States. Hormel Foods is proud to welcome the newest class of inspired interns to its award-winning summer internship program. For multiple years in a row, Vault has recognized Hormel Foods which converts 75% of its interns into full-time team members for having one of the nation's best internship programs. Last year, the company was ranked No. 5 in the retail and consumer product category and No. 13 for tech and engineering internships. "We are thrilled to welcome our impressive class of summer interns," said Amy Sheehan, director of talent acquisition at Hormel Foods. "Our internship program is an excellent opportunity for those looking to build a career with us and experience all that working for an industry-leading Fortune 500 company can offer. It's exciting to see how every year we can build on this program and continue to elevate the experience for our intern classes." Throughout the duration of the 10-week program, interns experience real business scenarios within every functional group of the company including sales, marketing, analytics, operations, engineering, IT, R&D, quality control, corporate communications, insights and innovation. Each Hormel Foods summer internship is paid, with interns typically gaining 40 hours of experience per week. The program, which officially kicked off May 30, will run through Aug. 4. Sheehan and her team have created a hands-on experience for these students, providing them with opportunities to work with all levels of management. The Hormel Foods family of companies has created one cohesive internship program across the organization that provides a consistent experience and allows the interns to see the many career paths across the entire organization. The summer interns can be found working at the corporate headquarters, in regional sales offices throughout the country, and with various Hormel Foods production facilities. "We have worked hard to build our impressive program and provide our interns with a best-in-class experience," Sheehan said. "We are committed to providing these professionals with the experience they need and expect from us as a global company. We are excited to be working with this talented group and look forward to the valued contributions they will be making throughout the summer." ABOUT HORMEL FOODS Inspired People. Inspired Food. Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $12 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Planters, SKIPPY, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Justin's, WHOLLY, Hormel Black Label, Columbus, Jennie-O and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best Employers" list by Forbes magazine for three years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired companies, has appeared on the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list by 3BL Media 13 times, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement Inspired People. Inspired Food. to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and http://csr.hormelfoods.com/. Contact: Media Relations Hormel Foods 507-434-6352 [email protected] SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation Specially designed 8-week course features sessions about advancing US eye care, growing ECP practices, and improving the patient experience. LEWISVILLE, Texas, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ophthalmic lens technology leader HOYA Vision Care announced today its 'Summer Learning Series' of free webinars for eye care professionals (ECP) and their practices. From June 7 through July 26, 2023, HOYA will host eight specially designed courses hosted by in-house product and training experts. ECPs can register today for individual or all the webinars. Four sessions offer ABO credits to advance ECP attendees' continuing education. HOYA's Visionary Alliance members will earn 200 extra points for each webinar attended. Each will start at 6:00 p.m. CDT, and recordings will be available to all members who cannot attend live. The Summer Learning Series was inspired by direct feedback from ECPs as part of a customer research study staff education and training led the responses. "We are excited to continue offering independent, visionary ECPs ways to grow their skills and enhance their practices," said Matt Pope, Sr. Director of Marketing at HOYA Vision Care. "These focused sessions will help our customers but also all ECPs around the country to learn about and address important challenges within our industry." HOYA's Summer Learning Series will be led by HOYA training and product experts, Ed Repp, Michael Gatti, Kelly Rosemann and AJ Ramirez and hosted by Ashley Brennan. The series is comprised of the following sessions: Sun Protection for Every Season June 7, 2023 6:00 pm CDT (+ABO Credits) Discover both photochromic and polarized sun options as solutions for year-round protection. We will review the patient benefits of polarized sunglasses and photochromic lenses. Register here. Discover both photochromic and polarized sun options as solutions for year-round protection. We will review the patient benefits of polarized sunglasses and photochromic lenses. Register here. HOYA'S Sun Portfolio June 14, 2023 6:00 pm CDT Protect your patient eyes from sunup to sundown with HOYA'S Sun Solutions, from light-adaptive and polarized lenses to fashionable tints, mirror coatings, and everything in between. Register here. Protect your patient eyes from sunup to sundown with HOYA'S Sun Solutions, from light-adaptive and polarized lenses to fashionable tints, mirror coatings, and everything in between. Register here. Lens Compensation: It Matters June 21, 2023 6:00 pm CDT (+ABO Credits) The lens' prescribed power isn't necessarily the prescription the patient sees. This course will discuss the importance of position of wear (POW) measurements and how compensated lenses improve your patient's vision. Register here. The lens' prescribed power isn't necessarily the prescription the patient sees. This course will discuss the importance of position of wear (POW) measurements and how compensated lenses improve your patient's vision. Register here. HOYA's Single Vision Portfolio June 28, 2023 6:00 pm CDT Old technology, traditional single vision lenses do not meet your patients' demanding needs for overall quality vision. In this course learn how HOYA'S Single Vision can improve patient visual quality. Register here. Old technology, traditional single vision lenses do not meet your patients' demanding needs for overall quality vision. In this course learn how HOYA'S Single Vision can improve patient visual quality. Register here. A Better Visual Experience with Progressive Lenses July 5, 2023 6:00 pm CDT (+ABO Credits) Addresses the importance of continuous advancements in progressive lens design technologies and, the need to improve progressive lens wearers' experience. Register here. Addresses the importance of continuous advancements in progressive lens design technologies and, the need to improve progressive lens wearers' experience. Register here. HOYA'S New Media Optics Portfolio July 12, 2023 6:00 pm CDT Between cell phones, computers, tablets, TVs, and other digital screens, most people spend an average of 8 to 10 hours a day looking at screens. HOYA's new media optics lenses can help combat symptoms of digital eye strain. Register here. Between cell phones, computers, tablets, TVs, and other digital screens, most people spend an average of 8 to 10 hours a day looking at screens. HOYA's new media optics lenses can help combat symptoms of digital eye strain. Register here. The Second Pair Is the New Primary Pair July 19, 2023 6:00 pm CDT (+ABO Credits) Develop talking points to increase your multiple-pair sales. We will follow the patient's journey through your practice and highlight key moments to educate patients on the benefits of a second pair. Register here. Develop talking points to increase your multiple-pair sales. We will follow the patient's journey through your practice and highlight key moments to educate patients on the benefits of a second pair. Register here. Enhance the Patient Journey July 26, 2023 6:00 pm CDT The journey of the patient begins before they ever step foot in your office. We'll utilize Personalized Vision Solutions techniques to help maximize your business and improve the patient experience within your practice. Register here. About HOYA Vision Care For over 60 years, HOYA Vision Care has been a global leader in the eyeglass lens business. With a presence in more than 50 countries, HOYA Vision Care has proven expertise in lens designs and freeform surfacing technology, combined with a leading position in high-performance, quality AR coating. HOYA Vision Care's solid market portfolio includes VISION EASE, SEIKO, and PENTAX optical lenses, as well as innovative products such as Yuniku, the world's first vision-centric, 3D-tailored eyewear. The company employs over 16,000 employees worldwide, with mass production facilities in Asia & Europe and over 40 local Rx laboratories globally. For more information, visit hoyavision.com . About HOYA Corporation HOYA Corporation is a global technology and med-tech company and a leading supplier of innovative high-tech and medical products. HOYA is committed to becoming a leading company in niche markets through creativity and innovation. As part of this philosophy, we continue to research and develop quality products utilized in the healthcare and information technology fields. Founded in 1941 in Tokyo, Japan, HOYA has over 160 offices and subsidiaries worldwide and currently employs a multinational workforce of over 37,000 people. For more information, please visit hoya.com. Media Contact: Cherie Gifford HOYA Vision Care, North America Phone: (972) 221-4141 [email protected] SOURCE HOYA Vision Care The new commercial, which was developed by the creative agency GUT, lays outwith sarcasmhow these days, many consultancies are trying to keep up with the AI trend. It highlights the importance of Globant's deep expertise in bringing together Artificial and Human Intelligence to deliver unique and innovative solutions. NEW YORK, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Globant (NYSE: GLOB), a digitally native company focused on reinventing businesses through innovative technological solutions, announced today the launch of "I AI", its new commercial from the "Stuck in Consultancy" saga. Developed together with the agency GUT Buenos Aires, the ad uses sarcasm to expose consultancies that want to quickly jump into the AI world. AI is generating a vital revolutiontransforming the present and future of business and our daily life. It has already proven its power to reinvent organizations and industries positively while increasing their human capacity. With vast expertise in developing digital experiences and delivering AI-based solutions, Globant cleverly employs humor in this commercial to talk about this trend and emphasizes the importance of bringing together the best of Artificial and Human Intelligence to become the most innovative partner. "As part of the 'Stuck in Consultancy' saga, this new commercial not only showcases Globant's commitment to challenging traditional norms and paving the way for innovative solutions but also draws upon our extensive experience in the field", claims Wanda Weigert, Chief Brand Officer at Globant. "If you bring together AI knowledge with great teams that understand the potential of the technology and the needs of each organization, you get a unique partner that delivers truly exceptional experiences." "We have been building our AI portfolio since 2015 with the AI Studio and products like Augoor, Genexus Next, StarMeUp, and MagnifAI. All of them speak to our deep knowledge and experience to create value for organizations worldwide," adds Martin Migoya, CEO and Co-founder at Globant. "We will continue to scale up our Artificial and Human Intelligence power to influence every area, industry, and business for the better." Furthermore, Matias Lafalla and Ramiro R.Gamallo, DGC & Partners for GUT, add: "In the world of consultancy, it is common for brands to work with more than one consultant over the yearseven simultaneously. From the agency, we took on the challenge of collecting previous experiences that Globant clients had with their competitors, and we recreated them with an ironic, humorous tone." Globant's focus on AI started back in 2015 when it first launched a specific AI Studio and started investing in several strategic initiatives. During this time, the company has introduced and evolved key products and platforms deeply rooted in AI, such as StarMeUp , Magnify , Augoor and Genexus Next . Complementing its product portfolio, Globant has also consolidated its AI-offering and initiatives into an end-to-end program called MINDS to have a solid outlook on best practices across several industries. To see the ad, please click here . Agency: GUT Buenos Aires Client: Globant Product: Globant Campaign: Stuck in Consultancy Film: TBD Territory: Global Launch date: May 2023 Founder: Gaston Bigio CCO & Partner: Joaquin Cubria ECD & Partner: Ramiro Gamallo / Matias Lafalla ECD: Laura Rapela / Diego Fernandez Posada/Juan Pablo Lufrano Managing Director: Paula Medina Rivero CD: Gaston Gual CD: Alex Romero Creative Copywriter: Haroldo Moreira Art Director: Julian Amarillo Group Account Director: Meme Traverso Lizarraga International Account Supervisor: Bernardita Musa Head of Production: Florencia Albizzati Agency Producer: Mariana Jauregui Creative Manager: Paula Akel Head of Design: Rosario Munoz CSO: Javier Quintero Head of Digital & Data: Ezequiel Gori Nastasi Social Strategist: Gonzalo Paz Production Company: Rebolucion Director: Luis Gerard CEO: Ezequiel Ortiz Executive Producer: Pilar Capurro Producer: Cecilia Cardenes DOP: Javier Julia Post Production coordinator: Mariano Olivari Color grading: Armaleo Editor: Jeronimo Perez VFX: Da8 Mix and Sound Design: Porta Estudio Client Representatives: Chief Brand Officer: Wanda Weigert EVP, Global Marketing: Todd Krugman Global Marketing Strategy: Emiliano Horcada Campaign Manager: Ivanna Gimenez About Globant We are a digitally native company that helps organizations reinvent themselves and unleash their potential. We are the place in which Innovation, Design and Engineering meet at scale. With more than 27,000 employees, we are present in 25 countries and 5 continents. We work for companies such as Google, Electronic Arts and Santander, among others. We were named a Worldwide Leader in CX Improvement Services by IDC MarketScape report. We were also featured as a business case study at Harvard , MIT , and Stanford . , , and . We are members of The Green Software Foundation (GSF) and the Cybersecurity Tech Accord. Contact: [email protected] Sign up to get first dibs on press news and updates. For more information, visit www.globant.com . About GUT An independent agency founded by Gaston Bigio and Anselmo Ramos that offers disruptive and visceral creativity for brands with courage. GUT Network is the #1 independent agency at Effie Latam for two consecutive years (2020/2021) and it is an Ad Age A-Lister (2021). It won 2 Grand Prix at Cannes 2021/2022 and it was awarded at The Clios, D&AD, The International ANDY Awards and Circulo de Creatividad Argentina for its work for clients such as Popeyes, Mercado Libre, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Tim Hortons, Noblex, Skol, Heinz, Google and Headspace. GUT was also recognized this year as the #4 D&AD Independent Agency of the Year and as the #2 Cannes Lions Independent Network of the year 2022. GUT has offices in Buenos Aires, Miami, Toronto, Sao Paulo, LA, Mexico City and Amsterdam. www.gut.agency SOURCE Globant The International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC) which is led by the Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates , in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, will provide the law enforcement community with a global platform to coordinate efforts and enhance cooperation in the fight against crimes that affect the environment. I2LEC announced the pledge during the 32nd session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, which was held last week at the Vienna International Centre. VIENNA, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The I2LEC pledge, presented by the Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), gained support from more than 20 countries and civil society organizations from across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia and North and South America. The pledge was conceptualized by the Global Expert Working Group which gathers representatives of the UAE Ministry of Interior, UNODC and its partners to provide strategic guidance to I2LEC, a platform coordinating global law enforcement community's response to climate change. The side event, organized on the occasion of the 32nd session of the UN CCPCJ, was a panel discussion between senior officials of the UAE, the UNODC, INTERPOL and the Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI). During the discussion, the panellists highlighted the importance of giving law enforcement agencies the means to effectively address crimes that affect the environment, including by supporting further research and analysis into the patterns, trends and impacts of such crimes. They also stressed the importance of involving the international law enforcement community in the climate change dialogue, to better anticipate and mitigate related challenges that may impact law enforcement operations. Presenting the I2LEC pledge, H.H. Lieutenant General Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the United Arab Emirates said: "Law enforcement agencies face a constant dual imperative: to combat the criminal threats of today and to pre-empt the challenges of tomorrow. There is perhaps no bigger challenge we collectively face than the threat posed by climate change. This harsh reality needs to be recognized on a global scale in order to ensure better management of rapidly evolving and challenging climate change scenarios. The wide support that I2LEC pledge has received from more than 20 Member States and international partners immediately after its launch makes us very optimistic about the success of our combined response to this challenge. Under the strategic guidance and directions of the UAE's leadership, the I2LEC pledge continues to be circulated throughout the international community for further endorsement, with the aim of gathering the broadest possible support to the initiative by raising global awareness, enhancing international and interagency cooperation, operational and research capacities, as well as encouraging law enforcement agencies to transition to low-carbon models, among other priorities. We expect it to serve as a model framework for increasing global law enforcement community's resilience to climate change." The UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior further described the pledge as a unique opportunity to raise the profile of law enforcement agencies' role in climate change mitigation, ahead of the COP28 that will be hosted in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 30 November to 12 December 2023. Ms. Ghada Waly, Director General of the UN Office at Vienna and Executive Director of UNODC commented on the unveiling of the I2LEC pledge: "Organized crime poses a major threat to our environment, with organized criminal groups around the world are exploiting the environment and its resources. This exploitation has a serious impact on our ecosystems and on the lives of millions of people who depend on these natural resources for their livelihoods. It is our hope that the I2LEC pledge announced by the UAE will serve as a call to action for the global law enforcement community to foster greater cooperation in the fight against crimes that affect the environment. UNODC stands ready to support law enforcement agencies in their efforts, by contributing its research capacity as well as the wealth of experience and expertise available under its Global Programmes that focus on crimes that affect the environment and the international legal framework including the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the United Nations standards and norms relevant to law enforcement mandates and functions." The pledge is currently being circulated by the UAE Ministry of Interior to gather the broadest possible support for I2LEC. Among its main priorities, the initiative aims to increase awareness and knowledge about crimes that affect the environment and their impacts to better inform law enforcement policies, strategies, practices and operations; enhance law enforcement agencies' capacity as well as interagency and international cooperation to prevent and combat such crimes, and to effectively carry out their mandates and functions in the context of evolving and emerging challenges posed by climate change; and encourage the adoption of sustainable practices by law enforcement agencies. In addition to I2LEC, the UAE Ministry of Interior has established the Secure Communities Forum (SCF) which, in partnership with the Joint Environmental Unit (JEU) of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), has launched one of the world's first training programmes dedicated to educating frontline first responders and law enforcement officers on the impacts of climate change for routine emergencies and disaster scenarios. Drawing upon international expertise in the law enforcement, climate, public safety and humanitarian fields, it offers a much-needed universal training on the evolving challenges of climate change. Trainees will receive a certificate from the SCF and the UN JEU upon completion of the training modules. Access to the training can be found here: https://learning.eecentre.org/course/view.php?id=44 SOURCE International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC) DALLAS, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty, the leading luxury brokerage in North Texas, is proud to represent 233 Woodland Hills Drive, a sprawling, French-style chateau in the heart of Sherman, Texas, less than 75 minutes from Dallas and just 28 minutes from Lake Texoma and its recreational pursuits. In Texas' tech hub near Dallas, a French manor with theater, gym, wine cellar and special garage for Harley-Davidsons Tweet this One magnificent manor: Inspired by the great French chateaux, 233 Woodland Hills Drive, in the growing tech hub of Sherman, Texas, near Dallas, is represented by Ota Vozeh and Leigh Calvert of Briggs Freeman Sothebys International Realty for $3,200,000. In a gated community and sited on 5.68 rolling acres, the 9,780-square-foot mansion offers five bedrooms and eight baths. It is resplendent in interior details that include colonnades, Corinthian columns, ceilings with groin vaults and domes and a unique manor-house fireplace in the grand foyer. Each room tells a story, augmented by intricate millwork, imported doors, elegant chandeliers and ornate railings. Gather friends and family in the two-story living room, then challenge them to an after-dinner game of chess in the paneled game room. Feel like Julia Child as you cook in the French-inspired island kitchen for casual meals in the breakfast room and lavish dinners in the formal dining room. Hobbies and passions will be enjoyed in the wine cellar, billiards room, pub-style wet bar and theater-style media room. A convenient elevator accesses both floors. The spacious primary suite, with a focal-point fireplace in the bedroom and a private balcony overlooking the grounds, is a most relaxing escape. In its sumptuous bath, an arched window of stained glass glows over a soaking tub, while two large closets with boutique-style built-ins provide ample storage. Health and wellness are yours with the light-filled gym, soothing sauna, sparkling swimming pool and bubbling spa. Even motorcycles will be pampered in a special garage area with a Harley-Davidson theme. The home, built in 2004, has been meticulously maintained and updated, including a new roof, fresh flooring and replaced HVAC units. The property is zoned for two lucky horses. Sherman is a charming Texas town that mixes history with high tech. Founded in 1846, today it offers superior infrastructure and an ideal location, directly in the path of the rapid northward expansion of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The largest economic-development project in Texas history is underway in Sherman: Texas Instruments has broken ground on a $30 billion, 3,000-job microchip facility that will be among the largest factories in America. Tech-manufacturing giant GlobalWafers will open a Sherman plant in 2025. 233 Woodland Hills Drive is represented by Ota Vozeh and Leigh Calvert of Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty for $3,200,000. Photos, a video and full details are at briggsfreeman.com. LINK TO IMAGES https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/37qw6a2my58g2zpwx3kos/h?dl=0&rlkey=mx1otjjlet5vdtbcz785ur5nx LINK TO VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m03WlIOMlMI SOURCE Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty CHICAGO, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Infrastructure Engineering Inc. and Affiliates (IEI), an award-winning design, construction inspection and program management consulting firm, today announced the addition of three new shareholders. "IEI's new shareholders are talented professionals that will drive long-term value creation," said Michael Sutton, IEI's Chief Executive Officer. Kashif Khan, IEI's President, commented, "I'm thrilled that IEI's new owners are seasoned engineers that have made unique contributions to the success of the firm. IEI is poised for a bright future, and I look forward to collaborating with these additional owners to ensure that IEI reaches its full potential." IEI's additional owners are: Infrastructure Engineering Inc. announces new shareholders, Ken Smorynski, Aaron Patterson, and Maike Rodriguez. Tweet this Ken Smorynski, PE, SE is a licensed professional engineer and structural engineer in Illinois and is a 10-year veteran of the firm with nearly 30 years of professional experience. In his current role as Vice President Illinois, he is responsible for staff development, business development, client relations, contract management and day to day activities of design, construction engineering and inspection, and program management teams. Aaron Patterson, PE is a registered professional engineer in Illinois and has more than 15 years of A/E/C industry experience with over a decade at IEI. As IEI's Vice President of Business Development (BD), Aaron is responsible for IEI's local and national business development strategy, working with its six offices to enhance client relationships, market growth and bottom-line performance. Maike Rodriguez, PE has nearly 20 years of transportation experience with a 6-year tenure at IEI and is a licensed professional engineer in New York and New Jersey. As Vice President of Operations New York and New Jersey, he oversees IEI's design, program management and construction inspection staff along with the day-to-day operations across both states. About Infrastructure Engineering, Inc. and Affiliates: Infrastructure Engineering, Inc. and Affiliates (IEI) is a multi-disciplinary consulting firm that focuses on the delivery of design engineering, program management, and construction engineering and inspection services. IEI cultivates diverse types of engineering projects from conception and planning through implementation. The firm's goal is to create sustainable infrastructure necessary to build and connect communities, improve quality of life, and encourage economic development. IEI is a DBE/MBE certified firm. Visit IEI's website at www.infrastructure-eng.com for more information. SOURCE Infrastructure Engineering Inc. and Affiliates (IEI) WARWICK, R.I., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ready or not, hurricane season is upon us. NOAA is predicting a "near-normal" Atlantic Hurricane Season with 12 to 17 named tropical storms and 5 to 9 hurricanes. But, as we know, a storm doesn't have to be named to ruin a vacation. So, InsureMyTrip, a NOAA Weather-Ready Nation WRN Ambassador, is committed to helping travelers prepare for weather-related concerns. InsureMyTrip's Hurricane Educational Center now includes more information to better assist travelers with their upcoming trips. The content hub also offers access to travel data, a free travel guide eBook, videos, and other resources. Travel insurance coverage can be confusing, especially when extreme weather comes into play. One major thing to keep in mind buy travel insurance early. Once a storm starts forming, it is considered a "foreseeable event" and insurance coverage will no longer be available to cover losses related to that storm. How Hurricane Coverage Works Travel insurance is an effective and cost-efficient way to cope with the risk of travel during hurricane season and to help guard against potential financial losses. When it comes to severe weather, insurance may enable travelers to receive reimbursement of pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs if they must cancel a trip due to severe weather-related issues covered under the trip cancellation benefit. Here are some scenarios that may trigger travel insurance coverage: My flights are grounded due to a hurricane: Many plans may cover a traveler when common carriers - such as airlines and cruise lines - cease service due to weather. The cessation of services must be for a certain number of hours, usually 24-48. My resort is in the path of a hurricane: A few plans may cover when the traveler's destination is under a NOAA-issued hurricane warning. * A hurricane damaged my hotel or resort: Many plans may cover a traveler when a hotel, resort, or vacation rental is devastated and made uninhabitable by a storm. A hurricane damaged my home: Many plans may offer coverage when the primary home of a traveler sustains destructive storm damage that renders the home uninhabitable. I changed my mind: For the flexibility to cancel a trip for reasons other than those listed as "covered reasons" on a policy, a traveler may consider Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) protection. CFAR is an optional time-sensitive benefit available on some plans that allow a traveler to cancel a trip for any reason, up to 48 hours before the scheduled departure. Reimbursement is usually 50-75% of the prepaid, non-refundable trip cost. A traveler must meet specific eligibility requirements and must purchase a policy with CFAR within 14-21 days of making an initial trip payment or deposit. Hurricanes and Airline Cancellation Policies Flight cancellation policies vary by airline and circumstance. When an airline cancels a flight due to bad weather, most will try to rebook passengers on the next available flight. Airlines are not required to reimburse travelers for losses incurred as a result of a canceled flight due to weather. Travelers concerned about protecting pre-paid, non-refundable trip expenses should consider travel insurance. Travelers interested in learning more about insurance plans for travel during hurricane season can visit www.InsureMyTrip.com or call 1-800-551-4635 to speak with a licensed travel insurance agent. *Included on some comprehensive travel insurance plans, the NOAA-issued hurricane warning must be issued for the traveler's destination within of the traveler's scheduled departure. The cancellation must also be more than 14 days after the traveler's effective date for trip cancellation coverage. This means that there would not be coverage for a hurricane warning issued within the 14-day period after your policy goes in Hurricane Travel Insurance Expert: Meghan Walch [email protected] About InsureMyTrip It's simple. InsureMyTrip finds you the right travel insurance plan, every time. InsureMyTrip is the authority on travel insurance. We are committed to empowering travelers to make the best possible insurance decisions by leveraging our technology, data intelligence, and expertise. InsureMyTrip is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau. SOURCE InsureMyTrip New Venture to Assist Minority Small Business Growth, Expansion BOSTON, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Interise, a national non-profit headquartered in Boston, has partnered with The Urban League of Springfield and Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts to offer NextStage Minority Business Entrepreneur Academy and NextStage Accelerator powered by Interise. "We are excited to bring these programs to our small business community as they are the heart of each town and city in the region", said Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts Interim CEO & President Dr. Keith Motley. Interise is launching Next Stage Minority Business Entrepreneur Academy and NextStage Accelerator in partnership with the Urban Leagues of Springfield and Eastern Massachusetts. "NextStage Minority Business Entrepreneur Academy and NextStage Accelerator will provide a welcomed boost to Springfield area minority-owned small business, and we are grateful for this partnership with Interise and Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts," added Urban League of Springfield Consultant/CEO & President Yvette M. Frisby. The programs will use Interise's StreetWise MBA curriculum with an emphasis on procurement readiness and provide minority-owned small businesses with the knowledge, know-how and networks needed for business growth and expansion. "These programs are yet another way to provide much-needed assistance to minority-owned small business owners located in key cities throughout the state of Massachusetts," said Interise CEO Darrell Byers. "We are honored to partner with Urban League of Springfield and Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts on this important initiative." Nationwide approximately 10 to 18% of small businesses are BIPOC-owned, while less than 1.5% of BIPOC-owned small businesses are successful in securing contracts. Securing long-term contracts provides predictable revenue, a critical success factor for any small business. Historically, Interise companies become-contract ready through StreetWise'MBA' program. Companies that have completed these programs have achieved greater success procuring contracts with an average increase in revenue of 36% and a job creation rate 4x that of the private sector. Byers added, "We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to develop a more inclusive economy in Massachusetts by helping BIPOC-owned small businesses secure government and corporate contracts. The Federal Infrastructure Bill alone comprises a total spending of more than $3 trillion over the next five to ten years." The program will be offered throughout the Commonwealth with a focus on Gateway Cities and is funded through a $3 million earmark from the Federal American Rescue Plan Act in a spending bill signed by former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker. The first cohorts began in April in Holyoke, Worcester County and Merrimack Valley and subsequent cohorts will launch in Pittsfield, Fall River, New Bedford, Lynn, and Springfield in the next few weeks. The programs will also launch in Boston and Brockton later this year. NextStage Accelerator will be offered in both English and Spanish while NextStage Minority Business Entrepreneur Academy will be in English only. About Interise Interise (www.interise.org) builds diverse and inclusive local economies through small business development, supporting the growth of minority-owned small businesses and small businesses located in low- and moderate-income communities. Interise contributes to inclusive economic development through its national research on the growth of established small businesses and its award-winning business development programs. As Interise companies grow, they contribute to local job creation and build community wealth. Interise companies historically create new jobs at five times the rate of the private sector and are responsible for the creation of over 30,000 new jobs. Interise partners with government agencies, anchor institutions, and business associations to offer the StreetWise 'MBA' program in more than 80 cities nationwide. Strategic Growth Partners include the Kauffman Foundation, the TD Bank Foundation, the Wells Fargo Foundation and the Prudential Foundation. About The Urban League of Springfield, Inc. The Urban League of Springfield, Inc., serves the African American Community in Greater Springfield by advocating for and providing model services that enhance the academic and social development of young people and families, promoting economic self-sufficiency, and fostering racial inclusion and social justice. About The Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts The Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts (ULEM) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and one of the oldest affiliates within the National Urban League movement. Since 1919, the doors opened to the at-large Boston community and surrounding metropolitan area residents, ULEM has been employing a multi-point strategy to deliver services and programs which aim to increase self-reliance, specifically in the area of workforce and economic development. SOURCE INTERISE PITTSBURGH, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create a pillow cover that would offer support for the head and neck while sleeping or napping," said an inventor, from Staten Island, N.Y., "so I invented the HAND PILLOW. My design would provide added comfort for individuals who sleep with their hand under their head." The patent-pending invention provides a new and novel design for a pillow cover. In doing so, it offers additional support while sleeping or napping. As a result, it increases comfort and it prevents the hand from becoming numb due to lack of circulation. The invention features a compact, lightweight and portable design that is easy to use so it is ideal for households, travelers, etc. Additionally, it is producible in design variations. The original design was submitted to the New Jersey sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 21-NJD-2550, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com. SOURCE InventHelp Twitter has walked away from the EU's voluntary code of standards and practices regarding the spread of disinformation. However, that doesn't release the social media company from obeying a law set to go into effect this August. In this BBC article, an EU official is quoted stating just that: Thierry Breton, who is the EU's internal market commissioner, announced the news on Twitter but warned the firm new laws would force compliance. "Obligations remain. You can run but you can't hide," he said. Twitter will be legally required to fight disinformation in the EU from 25 August, he said, adding: "Our teams will be ready for enforcement." Twitter has not confirmed its stance on the code or responded to a request for comment. Musk's approach to content moderation has certainly been intentional, and while his bungled purchase of Twitter for $44B has certainly not been a visible success, maybe using the service to cater to dictators is his lemonade from lemons. This story on DailyKos certainly points that way: As Reuters reports, it just so happens that Musk is in China today, negotiating with the same government that creates that disinformation, for an expansion of his factories in that country. Musk, in addition to supporting massive growth of Russian state-authored propaganda on Twitter, has also offered a "peace plan" that would hand large parts of Ukraine over to Russia. A year before the invasion Musk announced that he was hoping to open a factory and establish dealerships in Russia. It's easy to view Musk's purchase of Twitter for $44B as a massive mistake; as an ego-driven move to seize control of a social media platform by a conspiracy-prone tyrant whose social skills are considerably less than those of a rotting stump. But Musk may well see the whole thing as a large investment in his future. Owning Twitter gives him another way to show his friendliness to authoritarian dictators in countries where propaganda is the only news anyone is allowed to watch. When it comes to spreading lies, he wants them to know that he's on their team. Perhaps money was not enough to buy his way into some of these countries, but free propaganda and censoring opposition might be! The brothers were held in prison for six months in 2017 based on the accusation declared invalid on Monday (29) SAO PAULO, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, the 29th, the CVMthe Brazilian body equivalent to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reached a majority verdict to acquit Joesley and Wesley Batista of insider trading, that is, of using privileged information in financial market operations. The Batista brothers are controlling shareholders of J&F Investimentos, Brazil's largest business group, with ownership stakes in JBS (the world's leading food producer), among other companies in Mining, Pulp, Banking, Energy, Payment Services, Personal Care and Home Care. The claim which has just been denied caused both businessmen to be kept in pretrial detention for six months in 2017 and 2018. Other executives of the group and companies controlled by the Batistas have also been cleared in three lawsuits that investigated price manipulation, insider trading, violation of fiduciary duty and abuse of power of control. Director Flavia Perlingeiro took the records under advisement and must present the missing vote within 60 days. The other directors voted for the defendants in all three cases. During the Board vote that led to this conclusion, CVM Director Otto Lobo, the process rapporteur, highlighted that it was adequately demonstrated that the defendants could not have foreseen the approval of their cooperation agreements, let alone the subsequent media leaks and resulting market impacts. Director Joao Accioly, who concurred with the rapporteur's stance, sharply criticized the prosecutors, dismissing the notion that the executives could have predicted market behavior, or the consequences of their operations, based on a leak they clearly had no knowledge of. Agency President Joao Pedro do Nascimento and Director Alexandre Rangel also reached the conclusion that Joesley and Wesley Batista were not involved in insider trading. The procedure, initiated in 2017, aimed to investigate whether the entrepreneurs had engaged in financial market transactions in anticipation of the potential repercussions of their plea bargain being leaked to the press. The majority of the Board, except for the Director who requested to review the case files and has yet to cast her vote, attested that the group companies' exchange operations were legitimate. They also concluded that the sale of JBS shares was solely driven by an urgent need to bolster J&F Investimentos' cash reserves, rather than the alleged anticipation of a price drop following public disclosure of the cooperation agreement. Furthermore, accusations of unfair practices in Banco Original's interest derivative operations were also dismissed. J&F Investimentos, their holding company, declared that "the CVM vote has rectified the injustice committed against the group its controllers, reaffirming the fairness and legitimacy with which J&F, its executives and controlled companies have always operated in the financial market." SOURCE J&F Investimentos INDIANAPOLIS, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Spot, one of the fastest-growing third-party logistics companies in North America, is pleased to welcome John Carsello as Chief of Staff. In this position, Carsello will be responsible for a wide range of internal initiatives, working alongside Spot's executive leadership team. This newly created position is critical to the fulfillment of Spot's mission to execute its strategic plan, and to further empower the company's people and technology to optimize delivery for its customers and carriers. Carsello will report to Spot's Co-Founder, Andrew Elsener. John Carsello, Spot Chief of Staff "We are excited to welcome John to our team," said Elsener. "His experience is a solid fit for the next stage of Spot. As we continue to grow, he will be a critical member of our leadership team and help ensure our operations are developed and structured in the smartest way possible to allow us to accelerate our mission and achieve our goals." Carsello is a seasoned business leader with 20 years of experience. Prior to joining Spot, Carsello was a partner at Hammond, Kennedy, Whitney & Company (HKW) where his responsibilities included the identification, valuation, structuring and due diligence of the company's investment opportunities. He also served as a board member or Chairman of several HKW portfolio companies, where he was tasked with driving strategy, identifying operational and market opportunities, and building high-performing teams. Preceding HKW, he was an analyst at Norwest Equity Partners and in investment banking at Credit Suisse First Boston. He also previously served on the board of Indiana University's Kelley School of Business Alumni Association. "I'm thrilled to be joining Spot at this critical time in the industry and look forward to driving the efforts to efficiently maximize the company's service offerings for customers and carriers alike," said Carsello. "As Chief of Staff, it's my responsibility to ensure Spot operates like a well-oiled machine optimizing processes, increasing organizational effectiveness, and strengthening the efforts of the remarkable team. The company's culture, people and technology are a testament to its incredible success, and I look forward to contributing to its continued growth." Carsello received a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business and an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife and their three children. Outside the office, he enjoys traveling, watching his kids at various activities, and mentoring collegiate students as they shape their careers. He is a frequent guest speaker and volunteer at the Kelley School of Business and Butler University's Andre B. Lacy School of Business. About Spot As one of the fastest-growing logistics companies in North America, Spot is built on relationships, combining 24/7 support with proven, passionate, and dedicated team of logistics professionals. Spot provides custom, tailored logistics solutions for shipping challenges through relentless effort, industry knowledge, and advanced technologies. Established in 2009 with the vision that there is a better way to move freight, Spot has more than 600 employees across its U.S. locations in Indianapolis, Indiana, Charlotte, North Carolina, Tempe, Arizona, Tampa, Florida, and Chicago, Illinois. For more information, visit Spot's website at spotinc.com and follow Spot on social media: Facebook (Spot), Twitter (SpotFreight), LinkedIn (Spot Freight), Instagram (spotfreight), and TikTok (spotfreight). MEDIA CONTACT: Kris Nielsen Director, Marketing [email protected] SOURCE Spot Freight WASHINGTON, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Medicare Fraud Prevention Week kicks off on June 5 and ends on June 11. Now in its second year, the national observance was established by the Administration for Community Living's (ACL) Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program to raise awareness about Medicare fraud and educate people about what they can do to protect themselves. Fraud can happen to anyone, so it's important that people are aware of the types of Medicare scams that are occurring. Tweet this Medicare Fraud Prevention Week starts 6/5! Medicare Fraud Prevention Week runs 6/5-6/11 15 second Medicare Fraud Prevention Week Clip 30 second audio for Medicare Fraud Prevention Week starting6/5 "Each year, Medicare loses an estimated $60 billion due to fraud, errors, and abuse," says director of ACL's Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling Rebecca Kinney, who is responsible for overseeing the national SMP program. "Fraud can happen to anyone, so it's important that people are aware of the types of scams that are occurring in communities across the country." Examples of common scams include: Getting billed for services or medical supplies that are never received. Being prescribed tests and services that are unnecessary. Receiving bills for services that are already covered by Medicare. With offices in all 50 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, SMP provides free, unbiased one-on-one assistance to Medicare beneficiaries. Local team members teach people how to prevent Medicare fraud and assist beneficiaries with billing errors and disputes. If a beneficiary suspects they have been a victim of Medicare fraud, a team member will work with them to report it to the correct state and federal agencies. For more information on how to prevent Medicare fraud and to find a local SMP office, visit SMPresource.org. About Senior Medicare Patrol Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is a national program of the Administration for Community Living, an operating division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SMP's mission is to work with Medicare beneficiaries, family members, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse. SMP has offices in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information on the program's history, funding, and outcomes, visit ACL.gov. Media Contact: Nicole Liebau, SMP Resource Center Director [email protected] SOURCE SMP National Resource Center The only canned cocktail dedicated to spice unveils refreshed visual identity and branding elements to showcase its unique spice and fruit flavor combinations LIVINGSTON, N.J., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- KickStand Cocktails today announced it will be available directly to consumers across the country through Speakeasy, a leading e-commerce and fulfillment solution for alcohol brands, in time to spice up summer. Through this partnership, KickStand Cocktails and its portfolio of vodka-based spicy canned cocktails will now be available to more than 220 million consumers with pre-orders available now and product shipping mid-June at www.kickstandcocktails.com. KickStand Cocktails now shipping nationwide in time for summer. "We are thrilled to be able to provide the only portfolio of spicy canned cocktails to millions of consumers beginning this week," said Darren Rovell, Founder and CEO, KickStand Cocktails. "The outpouring of positive response from consumers in our retail markets expedited our approach to make it more widely available. As the only offering that dedicates itself to spice, we're proud to fill a void in the market with our refreshing and delicious flavors with varying spice levels to meet the needs of every consumer." Along with its expanded distribution, KickStand Cocktails will introduce a refreshed look with the evolution of its visual identity to accentuate its distinctive pepper and fruit blends. The updated designs will be featured across product and packaging, as well as a renewed digital and social presence. The new look will also be rolled out across retail markets with its first introduction at Universal Music Group's "Music is Universal" four-day music celebration in Nashville during one of the largest pop culture moments in country music. KickStand Cocktails will make its home at 5th and Broadway to welcome more than 200,000 music fans to Music City from June 8 June 11, along with other KickStand Cocktail-sponsored events, including: THURSDAY, JUNE 8 SUNDAY, JUNE 11 : "Music is Universal" presented by Universal Music Group will feature sets by its incredible roster of talent. Guests will be treated to KickStand Cocktails and other surprises as KickStand Cocktails helps kick off the summer concert months across country music. Events are open to the public with some special private night events. Please keep an eye out to win your way in on Instagram @KickStandCocktails. 5 th & Broadway, 5036 Broadway, Nashville . : "Music is Universal" presented by Universal Music Group will feature sets by its incredible roster of talent. Guests will be treated to KickStand Cocktails and other surprises as KickStand Cocktails helps kick off the summer concert months across country music. Events are open to the public with some special private night events. Please keep an eye out to win your way in on Instagram @KickStandCocktails. 5 & Broadway, 5036 Broadway, . MONDAY, JUNE 12 : W Hotel rooftop industry event hosted by KickStand Cocktails. Music by Dee Jay Silver will bring the industry and locals together to celebrate the culmination of one of the biggest weeks in country music with their own rooftop event featuring drink specials and giveaways. The exclusive event will be open to a few lucky promotional winners and hotel guests who can visit @KickStandCocktails on Instagram for more information. KickStand Cocktails is available in four crushable flavors: Roasted Jalapeno Cucumber, Charred Pineapple Poblano, Smashed Raspberry Serrano, and Torched Peach Chipotle, with four-pack and variety pack options and across retail in Arizona, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. To place your pre-order, please visit www.kickstandcocktails.com or join the conversation on Instagram @kickstandcocktails or Twitter @drinkkickstand. ABOUT KICKSTAND COCKTAILS KickStand Cocktails is the only canned cocktail solely dedicated to spice. Made with vodka, fruit juice and natural flavors, KickStand Cocktails contain: 105 calories, no added sugar, 3g carbs and 5.5% ABV in four clean flavors: Roasted Jalapeno Cucumber (mild), Charred Pineapple Poblano (medium), Smashed Raspberry Serrano (medium) and Torched Peach Chipotle (hot). For more information visit www.kickstandcocktails.com and join the conversation on Twitter @drinkkickstand and Instagram @kickstandcocktails. SOURCE Kickstand Cocktails Global specialty pharmaceutical company supports Dream Foundation's work to provide comfort, closure, and inspiration at the end of life. BEDMINSTER, N.J. and SANTA BARBARA, Calif., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kyowa Kirin, Inc., an affiliate of Kyowa Kirin. Ltd., a global specialty pharmaceutical company, has extended its support of Dream Foundation - the only national dream-granting organization for terminally ill adults, fulfilling more than 34,000 final Dreams across the United States and Puerto Rico. The renewed commitment marks the seventh year of Kyowa Kirin and Dream Foundation working together to make final Dreams come true and will extend through 2024. Since their initial partnership in 2017, Kyowa Kirin and Dream Foundation have brought 100 final Dreams to life. These Dreams have been fulfilled in a range of ways, including family vacations to Disneyland - helping families make final memories to be cherished, to meetings with personal heroes - bringing a sense of completeness and joy, and the provision of tablets and laptops - to reunite loved ones. In addition to making final Dreams come true, the partnership has allowed U.S.-based Kyowa Kirin employees to be directly involved in Dream deliveries, where they meet Dream recipients and their families and celebrate their lives and final Dreams. This dedication aligns with Dream Foundation's mission to fulfill the final Dreams of terminally ill adults and their families, a critical part of end-of-life care. "Kyowa Kirin's continued commitment to our mission is miraculous," says Dream Foundation's Chief Executive Officer, Kisa Heyer. "Year after year, Kyowa Kirin and its employees have shown a dedication and passion for our Dream recipients, delivering Dreams that directly impact and improve the lives of the recipient and their families." Sandy Vaziri, one of Kyowa Kirin's Regional Sales Managers, appears in "Language of Dreams," a 2020 film by award-winning director Peter Sasowsky, produced by Dream Foundation. The film is a celebration of life itself, what it means to be human and the redeeming power of supporting each other through difficult times. "At Kyowa Kirin, we strive to have a profound impact on patients' lives. That purpose starts with the novel therapies we discover and deliver and extends into the communities we are a part of," says Lauren Walrath, VP, Public Affairs, North America. "Medical advances can help many patients live with and manage disease. But for those who face a terminal diagnosis, we are glad to offer a final chance to spend time with their loved ones, doing something very special. We believe those moments matter a great deal." Dream Recipients must be at least 18 years old, have a life expectancy of twelve months or less, and lack the resources to achieve their Dreams on their own. To apply for a Dream, please visit dreamfoundation.org/how-to-apply. About Dream Foundation: Dream Foundation, the only national dream-granting organization for terminally ill adults, fulfills final Dreams that provide inspiration, comfort and closure at the end of life. With the support of a nationwide network of volunteers, hospices, health care organizations and committed donors, Dream Foundation has served more than 34,000 final Dreams since its inception in 1994. Dream Foundation receives no state or federal fundingwe rely solely on private donations. To support our mission please visit DreamFoundation.org/donate. About Kyowa Kirin Kyowa Kirin strives to create and deliver novel medicines with life-changing value. As a Japan-based global specialty pharmaceutical company with a more than 70-year heritage, the company applies cutting-edge science, including expertise in antibody research and engineering, to address the needs of patients across multiple therapeutic areas such as nephrology, oncology, immunology/allergy, and neurology. Across its four regions Japan, Asia Pacific, North America and EMEA/International Kyowa Kirin focuses on its purpose, to make people smile, and is united by its shared values of commitment to life, teamwork, innovation, and integrity. Learn more about Kyowa Kirin North America at https://kkna.kyowakirin.com/. SOURCE Dream Foundation STOCKHOLM, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomberg announced today that Lannebo Fonder AB, an independent Nordic investment manager of 19 funds, has adopted Bloomberg Buy-Side Solutions offerings, including Bloomberg AIM, a leading order and investment management solution, and PORT Enterprise, Bloomberg's advanced portfolio and risk analytics solution. Lannebo Fonder AB will utilize Bloomberg AIM to streamline and future proof its order management operations as it scales and completes a refresh of its operating model design. PORT Enterprise delivers industry-leading risk and attribution models, as well as detailed portfolio analytics. With an integrated portfolio and order management system, Lannebo Fonder AB can better manage its portfolios across the investment lifecycle. PORT Enterprise also offers centrally administered batch reporting capabilities. "We're heavily focused on future-proofing our tech stack and systems architecture at Lannebo Fonder AB," said Jessica Malmfors, Chief Executive Officer, Lannebo Fonder AB. "Adopting the robust Bloomberg Buy-Side Solutions set enables us to further integrate and automate our portfolio analytics and order management operations, while continuing to best serve our clients and grow our business." "Bloomberg is proud to provide clients like Lannebo Fonder AB with solutions that enable efficiency and connectivity across the investment lifecycle," said Raquel Alves, Global Head of Buy-Side OMS, Bloomberg. "We're looking forward to continuing to grow our relationship and provide reliable and integrated solutions, powered by the quality of data and analytics that is synonymous with Bloomberg." Bloomberg Buy-Side Solutions delivers front-to-back technology workflows for the investment lifecycle through a suite of integrated offerings. Bloomberg AIM is a leading order and investment management solution with multi-asset decision support and portfolio management, order management, trade compliance and post-trade workflows. Bloomberg AIM is used by nearly 15,000 professionals at over 900 client firms globally to manage more than $22 trillion in assets. PORT and PORT Enterprise provide portfolio and risk analytics with advanced risk and return attribution models across 15,000 firms globally empowering clients to gain deeper insights into portfolios. Together, these solutions manage integrated workflows of more than 200 shared clients, including over 100 of the world's top asset managers by AUM. For more information, visit Bloomberg Buy-Side Solutions . About Lannebo Fonder AB Lannebo Fonder is a leading independent fund management company in Sweden. Since the start in 2000 Lannebo Fonder has been a pioneer in the Swedish fund management industry. As of today Lannebo Fonder manages 19 funds with a total AUM of SEK ~75 billion. The company is focused on active management of funds and invests in equities and corporate bonds mainly in the Nordics. About Bloomberg Bloomberg is a global leader in business and financial information, delivering trusted data, news, and insights that bring transparency, efficiency, and fairness to markets. The company helps connect influential communities across the global financial ecosystem via reliable technology solutions that enable our customers to make more informed decisions and foster better collaboration. For more information, visit Bloomberg.com/company or request a demo . SOURCE Bloomberg New Holland Construction to work with LeadVenture to provide Dealers with Award-Winning Branded Websites and Digital Marketing Services WILSONVILLE, Ore., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LeadVenture, the market leader of digital dealer solutions, has partnered with New Holland Construction North America, a brand of CNH Industrial, as the exclusive preferred provider of websites to its growing nationwide dealer network. With the agreement, LeadVenture will provide various industry-leading online products and digital marketing tools. Through LeadVenture's ARI Network Services and Dealer Spike brands, New Holland Construction dealers will be provided "New Holland Construction Branded Zone" sites. These experiences exclusively feature New Holland's equipment eliminating competing brands. In addition, dealers will continue to have access to LeadVenture's digital tool kit including inventory management, SEO, SEM, geofencing, retargeting, and social media marketing. "Enhancing the online experience and capabilities for our dealers is imperative as we continue to grow the New Holland Construction brand in North America. It is also a major step in providing a seamless and consistent experience for the customer's New Holland Construction buying journey," states Tyler Mills, head of New Holland Construction North America. Through this partnership, LeadVenture provides New Holland Construction dealer with the benefit of increased brand awareness and an enhanced consumer shopping experience in the construction equipment market. "We are excited to partner with New Holland and its dealer network. We are confident our commerce-enabling digital tools in conjunction with their innovative products will lead to a better experience for dealers and customers," says Amit Chandarana, LeadVenture's Senior Vice President, Head of OEM Partnerships. "It was evident from this year's ConExpo, New Holland is creating a buzz in the industry." New Holland Construction will roll this program out to its North American dealers toward the end of April 2023. LeadVenture is the market-leading SaaS provider of digital dealer solutions across 10 industry verticals, including powersports, marine, recreational vehicle, pre-owned auto, agriculture and more. Serving more than 50,000 dealer rooftops worldwide, we provide dealers with dealer management systems, digital retailing, digital marketing, e-catalog solutions, online storefronts, and numerous layered apps such as inventory management, lead management, email marketing, e-commerce and many more. To learn more about LeadVenture, visit www.leadventure.com SOURCE LeadVenture INDIANAPOLIS, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) will attend the Goldman Sachs 44th Annual Global Healthcare Conference, June 12-13, 2023. Anat Ashkenazi, Lilly executive vice president and chief financial officer, will participate in a fireside chat on June 12 at 4:20 p.m., Eastern time. A live audio webcast will be available on the "Webcasts & Presentations" section of Lilly's Investor website at https://investor.lilly.com/webcasts-and-presentations. A replay of the presentation will be available on this same website for approximately 90 days. About Lilly Lilly unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. We've been pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150 years, and today our medicines help more than 51 million people across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world's most significant health challenges, redefining diabetes care, treating obesity and curtailing its most devastating long-term effects, advancing the fight against Alzheimer's disease, providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders, and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With each step toward a healthier world, we're motivated by one thing: making life better for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable. To learn more, visit Lilly.com and Lilly.com/newsroom or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. F-LLY SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company CHICAGO, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The live cell imaging industry is poised for significant growth and advancements in the near future. With continuous advancements in imaging technologies and the increasing importance of understanding cellular dynamics and processes in real-time, the demand for live cell imaging solutions is expected to surge. The industry will witness the development of more sophisticated imaging techniques, such as super-resolution microscopy, multi-photon microscopy, and light sheet microscopy, enabling higher resolution and deeper imaging capabilities. Additionally, the integration of live cell imaging with other technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning will provide advanced analysis and interpretation of cellular data. Furthermore, the rising application of live cell imaging in various fields such as drug discovery, developmental biology, cancer research, and neuroscience will drive the market growth. The availability of user-friendly and cost-effective live cell imaging systems will also contribute to wider adoption across research institutions and biopharmaceutical companies. Overall, the future of the live cell imaging industry holds immense potential for ground-breaking discoveries and deeper insights into the dynamic world of cellular biology. Live Cell Imaging Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $2.7 billion in 2023 and is poised to reach $4.3 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 10.2% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The global live cell imaging market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.2% during the forecast period. The growth of this market is driven by continuous technological advancements in live cell imaging instrumentation, including improved microscope designs, better fluorophores, and more sensitive detectors. These innovations enable enhanced imaging capabilities, better signal-to-noise ratios, and increased experimental throughput, leading to expanded applications and adoption of live cell imaging technologies. Download an Illustrative overview: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=163914483 Browse in-depth TOC on "Live Cell Imaging Market" 293 - Tables 50 - Figures 305 - Pages Live Cell Imaging Market Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $2.7 billion Estimated Value by 2028 $4.3 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 10.2% Market Size Available for 20212028 Forecast Period 20232028 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Product & Service, Application, Technology, and End User Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America (LATAM) and Middle East and Africa (MEA) Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Increasing adoption of live cell imaging technologies in emerging markets Key Market Drivers Growing availability of funds for research The cell biology segment accounted for the largest share, by application in the live cell imaging market in 2022. By application, the global live cell imaging market has been further categorized as cell biology, stem cells, developmental biology, and drug discovery. The cell biology segment held the largest share of the global live cell imaging market in 2022. This can be attributed to the increasing research activities in cell biology. Live cell imaging plays a crucial role in this research by allowing scientists to observe dynamic cellular events, such as cell division, migration, and signalling, in real-time. The increasing research activities in cell biology drive the demand for live cell imaging solutions. The time-lapse microscopy segment accounted for the largest share of the technology segment in the live cell imaging market in 2022. Based on technology, the global live cell imaging market has been segmented into time-lapse microscopy, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), high content screening (HCS), and other technologies. The time-lapse microscopy segment held the largest market share in 2022. The large share of this segment can be attributed to the real-time visualization of cellular dynamics, advancements in imaging technologies, increasing research focus on cellular dynamics, and drug discovery applications. The North America region catered the largest share of the live cell imaging market in 2022. The live cell imaging market in North America has experienced significant growth in recent years, showcasing a robust expansion trajectory, owing to the well-established research infrastructure, strong pharmaceutical and biotech industry, increasing government support for life science research, technological advancements in live cell imaging, and collaborative initiatives contribute to the growth of the live cell imaging market in the North America region. Additionally, North America faces a significant burden of chronic diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases in the region drives the demand for live cell imaging techniques for both research and clinical applications. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=163914483 Live Cell Imaging Market Dynamics: Drivers: Growing adoption of high-content screening techniques in drug discovery Rising incidence of cancer Growing availability of research funds Restraints: High cost of high-content screening systems Opportunities: Increasing adoption of live cell imaging technologies in emerging markets Applications of HCS in personalized medicine Challenges: Maintaining cell viability and cellular environment in cell cultures Image analysis and data management Key Market Players: Key players in the live cell imaging market include Danaher (US), ZEISS Group (Germany), Nikon Corporation (Japan), Olympus Corporation (Japan), PerkinElmer Inc. (US), Sartorius AG (Germany), Agilent Technologies, Inc. (US), Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (US), Etaluma, Inc. (US), CytoSMART Technologies (Netherlands), NanoEnTek Inc. (South Korea), GE Healthcare (US), Bruker Corporation (US), Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) (US), Merck KGaA (Germany), Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (US), Blue-Ray Biotech Corp. (Taiwan), CYTENA GmbH (Germany), Nanolive SA (Switzerland), Abberior (Germany), Phase Holographic Imaging (PHI) AB (Sweden), Cytoskeleton, Inc. (US), Corning Incorporated (US), KEYENCE Corporation (Japan), and Aligned Genetics, Inc. (South Korea). Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=163914483 Recent Developments: In February 2023 , Nikon Corporation launched the Nikon Spatial Array Confocal (NSPARC) detector for AX systems. This detector enables high-resolution imaging of live tissue with minimal phototoxicity. , Nikon Corporation launched the Nikon Spatial Array Confocal (NSPARC) detector for AX systems. This detector enables high-resolution imaging of live tissue with minimal phototoxicity. In January 2022 , CytoSMART Technologies launched Omni Pro 12, adding to the Omni live cell imaging product portfolio. Live Cell Imaging Market Advantages: Real-Time Visualization: Live cell imaging allows researchers to observe and analyze cellular processes in real time, providing dynamic and detailed insights into cellular behavior. This real-time visualization helps in understanding cellular dynamics, interactions, and responses to stimuli. Non-Invasive Imaging: Live cell imaging techniques are often non-invasive, allowing researchers to study cells without causing significant disruption or damage. This non-invasiveness preserves the natural state of cells and enables long-term monitoring of cellular processes without interfering with their functionality. High Spatial and Temporal Resolution: Live cell imaging techniques offer high spatial and temporal resolution, allowing researchers to capture fine details and rapid changes within cells. This level of resolution is crucial for studying dynamic cellular events, such as cell division, migration, signaling, and intracellular trafficking. Multi-Parameter Analysis: Live cell imaging enables the simultaneous analysis of multiple parameters within cells, such as protein localization, cellular morphology, and gene expression. This multi-parameter analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of cellular processes and their interplay. Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis: Live cell imaging facilitates both quantitative and qualitative analysis of cellular behavior. Researchers can quantitatively measure parameters such as fluorescence intensity, cell motility, and protein dynamics, providing quantitative data for statistical analysis. Additionally, qualitative observations and visualizations help in elucidating complex cellular phenomena. Advancements in Imaging Technologies: The live cell imaging market benefits from continuous advancements in imaging technologies, including improved microscope systems, sensitive detectors, and fluorophores. These advancements enhance imaging capabilities, enabling higher resolution, longer imaging durations, and better signal-to-noise ratios. Application in Diverse Research Areas: Live cell imaging finds applications in various research areas, including cell biology, developmental biology, neurobiology, pharmacology, and cancer research. It contributes to the understanding of disease mechanisms, drug discovery, and the development of personalized medicine. Integration with Other Technologies: Live cell imaging can be integrated with other technologies, such as image analysis software, high-content screening systems, and automated cell culture platforms. This integration enhances data analysis, throughput, and automation, increasing efficiency and productivity in research workflows. These advantages position the live cell imaging market as a crucial tool in advancing our understanding of cellular biology, driving discoveries, and accelerating advancements in various fields of biomedical research. Live Cell Imaging market - Report Highlights: The market size is updated for the base year 2022 and forecasted from 2023 to 2028 by studying the impact of the recession on the overall live cell imaging industry. The new edition includes the impact of the recession on the live cell imaging market (especially the region-wise impact in the geographic analysis section) in 2022. There is a variation in the growth rate of the market due to the ongoing recession. Additional points such as technology analysis, trends/disruptions impacting customers' businesses, pricing analysis, value chain analysis, supply chain analysis, ecosystem analysis, patent analysis, key conferences and events (2022-2023), list of key regulatory bodies, regulatory landscape, Porter's Five Forces analysis, key stakeholders, the influence of stakeholders on buying decisions, and buying criteria among end users have been added in the market overview chapter. The new edition of the report provides updated financial information till 2022 (depending on availability) for each listed company in a graphical representation. This will help in the easy analysis of the present status of profiled companies in terms of their financial strength, profitability, key revenue-generating region/country, and business segment focus in terms of the highest revenue-generating segment. Recent developments help us to understand market trends and the growth strategies adopted by players in the market. Tracking the portfolios of prominent market players helps analyze the major products in the live cell imaging market. The new edition of the report provides an updated products & services portfolio of the companies profiled in the report. Key market strategies/right to win, market share analysis for 2022, revenue share analysis of key market players from 2020 to 2022, and competitive leadership mapping have been added in the competitive landscape section of the report. The new version of the report includes competitive leadership mapping for companies operating in the market. This new section is an output of a comprehensive study of the key vendors offering live cell imaging products & services. The top 25 vendors were shortlisted from a list of 50+ vendors, and these were evaluated based on market share/ranking and product footprint, rated and positioned on a 2x2 quadrant, referred to as Company Evaluation Quadrant, categorizing them as Stars, Emerging Leaders, Pervasive Players, and Participants. The new version of the report includes the startup/SME evaluation quadrant for 8 companies operating in the live cell imaging market. This updated section is an output of a comprehensive study of the key startup vendors offering live cell imaging products & services. The top 8 vendors were shortlisted from a list of 50+ vendors, and these vendors were evaluated based on their product portfolio and business strategy, rated and positioned on a 2x2 quadrant, referred to as Competitive Leadership Quadrant, categorizing them as Progressive Companies, Starting Blocks, Responsive Companies, and Dynamic Companies. In the new edition of the report, the Rest of the World is segmented into Latin America and the Middle East and Africa . Country-level markets for Brazil and the Rest of Latin America in the Latin American region have been added. Related Reports: Cell Culture Market - Global Forecasts to 2028 Microscopy Market - Global Forecasts to 2027 Cell Analysis Market - Global Forecasts to 2027 Cell-based Assays Market - Global Forecasts to 2025 Oxidative Stress Assay Market - Global Forecasts to 2025 About MarketsandMarkets: MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/live-cell-imaging-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/live-cell-imaging.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Logicalis US, a leading IT solution and managed services provider, today announced that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, named the company to the 2023 Solution Provider 500 list. This marks the seventh year Logicalis has been recognized on the annual list, which ranks North America's largest solution providers by revenue and serves as a leading resource to identify some of the channel's most successful companies. "It is an honor to be recognized once again by CRN on the Solution Provider 500," said Jon Groves, CEO of Logicalis US. "Our continued inclusion speaks to the ongoing success our employees are driving as Architects of Change. I look forward to our continued growth as we leverage new business and technology solutions to enable digital transformation for our customers." With a combined revenue of more than $475.9 billion, this year's honorees are among the top influencers impacting today's IT industry. Logicalis was recognized for consistently strong performance as an accelerator of digital transformation and change for companies across verticals and regions. "It's a distinct honor to recognize CRN's 2023 Solution Provider 500. These are today's top technology integrators, strategic service providers, and IT consulting firms, making this list the go-to resource for creating strategic partnerships among technology vendors and today's top-performing IT solution providers," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "My heartfelt congratulations go out to each of these companies for the significant impact they make on the continued growth and success of the IT channel." CRN's 2023 Solution Provider 500 list will be available online at www.CRN.com/SP500, and a sampling of the list will be featured in the June issue of CRN Magazine. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn , and Facebook. About Logicalis US We are Architects of Change. We help organizations succeed in a digital-first world. At Logicalis, we harness our collective technology expertise to help our clients build a blueprint for success, so they can deliver sustainable outcomes that matter. Our lifecycle services across cloud, connectivity, collaboration and security are designed to help optimize operations, reduce risk and empower employees. As a global technology service provider, we deliver next-generation digital managed services, to provide our clients with real-time visibility and actionable insights across the performance of their digital ecosystem including: availability, user experience, security, economic performance and sustainability. Our 7000+ 'Architects of Change' are based in 27 countries around the globe, helping our 10,000+ clients across a range of industry sectors, create sustainable outcomes through technology. Logicalis has annualized revenues of $1.7 billion, from operations in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Africa. It is a division of Datatec Limited, listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, with revenues of over $4.6 billion. For more information visit https://us.logicalis.com SOURCE Logicalis Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center initiated plans more than a year ago to recruit a senior executive who would be focused on diversity, equity and inclusion, just one part of the longtime institution's efforts to bolster its diversity leadership. That national search concluded Tuesday, when Roswell Park announced the hiring of Buffalo Deputy Mayor Crystal Rodriguez-Dabney as its chief diversity officer and senior vice president. In that role, Rodriguez-Dabney will be a top leader at Roswell Park with influence over diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across every team and department at the cancer center. Rodriguez-Dabney, who has been deputy mayor and chief of staff since April 2022, will join Roswell Park at a critical juncture. The cancer center has come under scrutiny after stories in recent months from The Buffalo News and the Investigative Post website on Roswell Park's history of discrimination lawsuits and the institution's efforts to address those issues quietly and far from public view. Roswell Park spokesperson Annie Deck-Miller said Rodriguez-Dabney will begin in her new role "in a few weeks." Rodriguez-Dabney, a lifelong Buffalo resident, will remain deputy mayor and chief of staff through mid-June, city spokesperson Michael DeGeorge said. "Crystal Rodriguez-Dabney is exceptional in so many ways," Roswell Park President and CEO Candace S. Johnson said in a statement. "She brings tremendous insight and openness to her work to ensure a voice for everyone, and is the ideal person to lead our team in building on Roswell Park's remarkable growth in supporting diversity, equity, inclusion and access for our patients, our team members and our community." In a statement, Rodriguez-Dabney said that her career, which spans across law, higher education, government and public service, has been centered around diversity, equity and inclusion. Rodriguez-Dabney, an attorney, has an advanced certification in diversity and inclusion from Cornell University and has held key leadership posts in City Hall and at SUNY Buffalo State University. "Dr. Johnson and her leadership team have set a promising foundation at Roswell Park, and I'm excited to build upon those initiatives," she said. "We have an incredible opportunity to further elevate and expand Roswell Park's work to create opportunity both inside and outside the cancer center." A critical time Rodriguez-Dabney's appointment comes at an important time for Roswell Park. At least 15 former employees have filed lawsuits since 2015 that accuse Roswell Park of discrimination based on race, gender or disability, a review of court records found. Roswell Park has paid at least $4.67 million to settle six of those cases, according to public records. Roswell Park has paid $4.67 million to settle discrimination lawsuits, faces more complaints Fifteen lawsuits claiming employment discrimination based on gender, race or disability have been filed against Roswell Park over the last eight years. To date, The Buffalo News has found the cancer center has paid at least $4.67 million to settle six of the cases. As concerns surfaced in recent years about how employees of color were treated at Roswell Park, the board of directors in early 2021 hired an outside law firm to advise a newly created board diversity committee. While that law firm finished a diversity report last year and shared it with board members in a closed-door session, Roswell Park and its board have refused to make the report public. And two weeks ago, Michael L. Joseph, an influential developer and political donor in Western New York, resigned from his longtime post as board chair after his development company was hit with a racial discrimination lawsuit. Gov. Kathy Hochul who holds significant appointment authority over the board of the public-benefit corporation elevated board member Leecia Eve to the role of interim board chair. Eve, a Buffalo native and prominent, politically connected attorney, is the first woman and first person of color to serve as board chair. Will change come to Roswell Park board following chair's resignation? Michael L. Joseph is gone, but questions remain about the board, its membership and what the new leadership means for its future direction. At a special board meeting Tuesday, Eve made about three minutes of opening remarks before the meeting moved into executive session to discuss a "legal assessment of organizational structure and policies and procedures." "I know we have lots of work ahead of us," Eve said during her remarks. "We already serve a wonderful institution. And as wonderful as that institution currently is, I believe her best days are yet to come, in service of our patients, the broader community we serve and in support of all the team members who make it happen each and every day." 'Innovative leader' This is the second time in a year that Roswell Park has hired a Buffalo deputy mayor. In mid-September, the cancer center hired former Deputy Mayor Ellen Grant for the newly created role of executive director for corporate social responsibility and community education. In Rodriguez-Dabney, Roswell Park is getting an experienced diversity leader who observers saw as having the potential to rise up even higher in the city's political ranks. In 2016, Mayor Byron W. Brown appointed Rodriguez-Dabney as the city's first chief diversity officer. In that role, Rodriguez-Dabney spearheaded the creation of the Beverly Gray Business Exchange, an incubator space for minority- and women-owned enterprises and veteran-owned businesses. She also led the crafting of the city's transgender employee policy, served as a founding representative on the Racial Equity Roundtable of Greater Buffalo; oversaw the implementation of Buffalo's Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative; and engineered public/private sector collaboration for diversity, equity and inclusion. Roswell Park hired a firm to investigate allegations of racism. It's kept the findings secret After Roswell Park received an anonymous letter raising concerns about how its employees of color were treated, it hired an outside firm to investigate. The hospital won't release the findings. In 2018, she became chief of staff to Buffalo State President Katherine S. Conway-Turner. In 2020, she took on the additional role at Buffalo State of chief diversity officer, where she oversaw the equity and campus diversity program. In a statement issued by Roswell Park, Conway-Turner said Rodriguez-Dabney brings "outstanding talents, creative energy and firm understanding of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion to Roswell Park." "Her ability to galvanize differing voices and guide community understanding on issues related to DEI will provide outstanding leadership to her new campus and will help lead Roswell Park into the future," Conway-Turner said. Rodriguez-Dabney remained in those roles at Buffalo State until she returned to City Hall last April. Former staffer returns to City Hall as chief of staff and deputy mayor Mayor Byron Brown has named attorney Crystal Rodriguez-Dabney as his new deputy mayor and chief of staff. In a statement Tuesday, Brown said that Rodriguez-Dabney brings experience, talent and integrity to the position at Roswell Park, where he believes she will become a strong voice for the cancer center, its employees and the community. In addition, he said she will be "greatly missed in city government." "She will continue to be an innovative leader in proposing and implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives," Brown said. "She has provided exceptional guidance and stability in some of the toughest times our city has seen." Roswell Park's plans to recruit a senior leader for diversity, equity and inclusion surfaced more than a year ago in board meeting minutes on March 24, 2022. Applications for the position began to flow in to Roswell Park by the Sept. 1 board meeting, according to minutes. By December, the cancer center was selecting top contenders for interviews, which were scheduled to begin in January, minutes show. Roswell Park board member Gail Mitchell, who co-chaired the search committee for the appointment, said in a statement Tuesday that Rodriguez-Dabney stood out among the field. "Her passion for expanding opportunities for others is matched by a record of successfully enlisting partners to work together toward making her vision of a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture a reality," Mitchell said. LONDON, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The human body is quite complexed in nature. With rapid advances in the medical science, various technologies have been developed with an aim to understand and assess the internal structures of our bodies. One such technology is the Magnetic Resonance Imaging i.e., MRI. In this technique, radio waves and powerful magnetic waves are used create detailed images of the internal structures of the human body. It enables healthcare providers to diagnose various ailments as they can easily visualize soft tissues, organs, along with the central nervous system. The business intelligence report on Magnetic Resonance Imaging System by Brandessence Market Research offers granular insights into the key growth drivers, opportunities, restraints, and challenges. It includes a scrutiny of the industry trends, market size, historical statistics, and future projections. A detailed analysis of the major segments, geographies, and competitive terrain is also included in this study. The report aims at providing industry-specific insights, market trends, and strategic recommendations for stakeholders operating in the MRI system market. It serves as a valuable resource for decision-making, investment planning, and identifying growth opportunities in this rapidly evolving market. Key Takeaways Growing occurrence of chronic ailments and increased need for early disease diagnosis are aiding market expansion. By construction type, the close segment is reckoned to amass notable gains due to their high efficiency. Europe to lead the industry in terms of volume share owing to the rising R&D investments, growing disposable income levels, and increased health cognizance. The Magnetic Resonance Imaging System Market is anticipated to garner significant returns over 2022-2029. Get Sample of [email protected] https://brandessenceresearch.com/downloadSample/PostId/286 Elaborating the Key Trends and Dynamics of Magnetic Resonance Imaging System Market The growing occurrence of chronic ailments, increased need for early disease diagnosis, and influx of advanced technologies in the disease diagnosis sector are primarily augmenting industry outlook. Besides, increase in the geriatric population base, growing R&D activities in the field, along with rise in healthcare spending across numerous nations are creating lucrative opportunities for this marketplace to prosper. Moreover, rising health cognizance among the masses, increased cancer research activities, and rapidly improving healthcare infrastructure are adding momentum to the progression of this business vertical. Major Growth Drivers Growing pervasiveness of chronic ailments- There has been a growing prevalence of chronic ailments including cardiovascular disorders, neurological conditions, and musculoskeletal disorders across the globe. Surge in the geriatric population base, unhealthy lifestyle trends, rising pollution levels, and genetic issues, among others are some of the major factors leading to the increased frequency of these ailments. MRI plays a pivotal role in diagnosing and monitoring these conditions due to its ability to provide detailed images of soft tissues, organs, and structural abnormalities. This is stimulating the overall dynamics of this business sphere. Surge in the elderly populace- The geriatric population is highly vulnerable to a wide array of chronic diseases. This is due to the fact that our organs and immune systems becomes weak as we age. Elderly individuals often require more frequent medical imaging to diagnose age-related conditions and monitor their overall health. MRI systems are essential tools in geriatric care as they can provide comprehensive information about various diseases and help guide treatment decisions. These factors together are adding traction to the development of this market. Challenges Dearth of proper infrastructure- MRI is a highly specialized diagnostic technique which requires high end infrastructure and skilled professionals. But many medical facilities are not equipped with adequate infrastructural facilities due to budget constraints or accessibility issues. Healthcare facilities located in rural settings do not have skilled technicians and the required equipment to conduct MRI tests. This is obstructing the growth of this marketplace. Competitive Landscape of Magnetic Resonance Imaging System Market The prominent players defining the competitive terrain of this business sphere are Fujifilm Holdings, General Electric Company, Siemens Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., Koninklijke Philips Healthcare, Shimadzu Corporation, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation, CareStream Health Corporation, Medtronic Pvt. Ltd., Alltech Medical Systems America, Aspect Imaging, Aurora Imaging, ESAOTE, Fonar Corporation, Hitachi Medical Systems Europe, Medonica, Ningbo Xingaoyi Magnetism, Paramed Medical Systems, Shenzhen Anke High-Tech, Time Medical Systems, and Others. Segmental Assessment By construction type, the close segment is reckoned to amass notable gains over 2022-2029. This is ascribed to the high efficiency of closed MRI systems as compared to their traditional counterparts. Based on magnetic field strength type, high field magnetic strength segment is expected to garner substantial revenue over the estimated timeframe. This is attributable to the growing adoption of these systems in medical research related activities. Get Methodology @ https://brandessenceresearch.com/requestMethodology/PostId/286 Geographical Analysis and Landscape Middle East & Africa Magnetic Resonance Imaging System Market The industry in MEA is slated to capture a high revenue share over the stipulated timeline. This is ascribed to the growing occurrence of chronic disease, increased elderly population base, and rising medical expenditure. Besides, elevating demand for early disease diagnosis and treatment is another factor spurring market expansion in this region. Europe Europe is poised to lead the industry in terms of volume share. This is credited to the rising R&D investments, growing disposable income levels, and increased health cognizance. Moreover, the rapidly evolving healthcare infrastructure, favourable medical reimbursement scenario, and widespread technological innovations are adding significant traction to the industry progression. Opportunities in this Industry Rising awareness about MRI benefits- MRI has gained immense prominence across the globe. With increasing burden of diseases, there is a rising need for efficient diagnostic and treatment techniques. MRI facilitates accurate and fast paced diagnosis of numerous chronic diseases. Healthcare providers and patients are getting awareness of the wide array of benefits pertaining to MRI which in turn is increasing its adoption worldwide. Major developments in Magnetic Resonance Imaging System Market Acquisitions In 2020, Siemens Healthineers, a global medical technology company, completed the acquisition of Varian Medical Systems, a leading manufacturer of radiation oncology treatment and software solutions. In 2021, Canon Medical Systems Corporation, a leading provider of medical imaging systems, announced its acquisition of DelftHold BV. DelftHold BV is a Dutch company specializing in the development of innovative MRI technologies. Porter's Five Forces Analysis Threat of New Entrants: The threat of new entrants in the MRI system market is relatively low. Developing and manufacturing MRI systems requires substantial investments in research and development, specialized manufacturing capabilities, and regulatory compliance. Established companies have strong brand recognition, extensive distribution networks, and economies of scale, creating barriers for new entrants. Additionally, the high level of technical expertise and knowledge required in this field acts as a deterrent for potential competitors. Bargaining Power of Suppliers: Suppliers in the MRI system market, such as manufacturers of components and raw materials, generally have moderate bargaining power. While there may be a few key suppliers for certain critical components, MRI system manufacturers often have multiple sourcing options. They can negotiate favourable terms, maintain strong relationships with suppliers, or even vertically integrate certain production processes. The availability of alternative suppliers and the ability to switch suppliers mitigate the supplier's bargaining power to some extent. Bargaining Power of Buyers: The bargaining power of buyers in the MRI system market can vary based on factors such as the size of the customer, purchasing volume, and competitive landscape. Large healthcare institutions or hospital networks may have more negotiating power due to their purchasing leverage. However, the critical nature of MRI technology for accurate diagnosis and patient care can limit buyer power. Additionally, the long-term relationships between manufacturers and customers and the high switching costs associated with changing MRI system providers can also impact buyer bargaining power. Threat of Substitutes: The threat of substitutes in the MRI system market is relatively low. MRI technology offers unique advantages in non-invasive imaging, detailed soft tissue visualization, and functional imaging capabilities. While alternative imaging modalities such as CT scans and ultrasound exist, they have different applications and limitations compared to MRI. The availability of close substitutes is limited, reducing the threat of substitution and maintaining the demand for MRI systems. Competitive Rivalry: Competitive rivalry in the MRI system market is moderate to high. The market is characterized by several established companies with a global presence. Intense competition exists in terms of product innovation, performance, pricing strategies, and service offerings. Companies invest in research and development to introduce advanced features, improve image quality, and develop specialized applications. Brand reputation, customer relationships, and after-sales support also play significant roles in competitive positioning within the market. On Special Requirement Acute Repetitive Seizures Market Report is also available for below region: North America U.S, Canada Europe Germany , France , U.K., Italy , Spain , Sweden , Netherland, Turkey , Switzerland , Belgium , Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific South Korea , Japan , China , India , Australia , Philippines , Singapore , Malaysia , Thailand , Indonesia , Rest Of APAC Latin America Mexico , Colombia , Brazil , Argentina , Peru , Rest of Latin America Middle East and Africa Saudi Arabia , UAE, Egypt , South Africa , Rest Of MEA Purchase Copy of Report @ https://brandessenceresearch.com/Checkout?report_id=286 Related Reports: Brandessence Market Research & Consulting Pvt ltd. 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Follow Us: Linkedin M & A Advisory: Merger & Acquisition, and Capabilities Blog: How Mergers and Acquisitions Can Fuel Your Business Growth Top Yeast Manufacturing Companies To Watch Out For in 2023 Top 10 Spirulina Companies Characterizing the Industry Landscape Top Aerogel Companies 2023 by Market Share Top 10 Whiskey Companies Who are Making it Big in 2023 Top 10 Collaborative Robot Companies Characterizing the Industry Landscape Top Blockchain Security Companies to Watch Out for in 2023 Prime Healthcare SaaS Companies that are Bringing a Technological Evolution in the Medical Sector Top Autonomous Truck Companies Characterizing the Industry Dynamics Top 10 Players in the eVTOL Aircraft Industry Contact: Mr. Vishal Sawant Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Corporate Sales: +44-2038074155 Asia Office: +917447409162 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1392316/BEMR_Logo.jpg SOURCE Brandessence Market Research And Consulting Private Limited Nurses believe the decision by UMass Memorial Health to close this vital service will jeopardize the health and safety of mothers and newborns in the Greater Leominster and Fitchburg Communities Nurses are not alone in their position as local, state and federal policymakers have scheduled a protest opposing the closing outside the facility on Tuesday, May 30 at 6 p.m. LEOMINSTER, Mass., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- UMass Memorial Health, the largest health system in Central Massachusetts, has recently announced its intention to close the Birthing Center located at UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital's Leominster Campus, a program that serves as the primary maternity program for residents throughout the communities of Greater Leominster and Fitchburg. In the last decade, we have seen the loss of no less than 10 such maternity unit closures, each of which was evaluated by the Department of Public Health and subsequently deemed essential to preserving the health of those communities. Above is a map detailing those closures. The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), which represents nurses who work on the Leominster campus, as well as thousands of nurses within the UMass Memorial Health system, strongly oppose the closure and view it as a callous and unnecessary decision that will jeopardize the health and safety of mothers and newborns of the Northern Central Mass. region, resulting in mothers being forced to deliver babies in overcrowded hospital emergency departments, or worse, on the side of highways leading to faraway maternity services. "The nurses of Leominster Hospital are outraged by this announcement, as it shows a blatant disregard for our patients and our region," said Miko Nakagawa, RN, a nurse at Leominster Hospital and co-chair of the nurses local bargaining unit with the MNA. "There is no medical or moral justification for this decision, which will have a devastating impact on families, particularly economically disadvantaged residents who lack the ability to travel long distances to receive care in Worcester or Gardner." "I am honestly shocked that they want to try and close this service," said Amy Gagnon, a maternity nurse who has worked in the Birthing Center for the last 12 years, including a long and exhaustive shift over the weekend, "The last two nights alone, we had three deliveries, where are these people supposed to go? These are not just patients to us, they are members of our community. They are our friends and neighbors. We have families who know us and trust us as we have delivered all of their children. There are families who lack the means to travel long distances for the care we provide. I hate to think of what will happen to these folks if they are allowed to close the center." "As a native of this region both my husband and I were born at this hospital, and as a mother who gave birth to my two children here, I consider it an honor and a privilege to be there for the families we care for every day at what is the most exciting and life-changing moments of their lives," explained Tara Corey, RN, a nurse at Leominster Hospital for the last eight years, with the last three working in the Birthing Center. "I am both saddened and alarmed that our employer wants to strip this community of this service, and the impact this will have on our patients. I would never want to abandon my patients at this critical time in their lives, and I can't understand why UMass would want to do that to this community." Nurses in the hospital's emergency department are also concerned about their ability to care for mothers and newborns without the Birthing Center. "We struggle now with our emergency department staff to care for our current patient population, and it can take hours to find ambulances to transport patients who need to go to other hospitals. Under these conditions, I don't see how we could safely manage a mother and baby without the specialized skills and experience of our labor and delivery staff. It's downright scary," said Samantha Rahaim, RN, a nurse in the hospital's busy emergency department. The Leominster nurses also take issue with the hospital's rationale for closing the service, where UMass claims it is due to staffing shortages. The nurses are clear that whatever problems that exist with staffing the unit are by design, as hospital management for years has understaffed the hospital as a means of increasing revenue at the expense of patient care. Over the years, the MNA has filed dozens of grievances with management over their failure to recruit appropriate staff in all areas of the hospital, including the maternity unit. As Gagnon explained, "They have been purposely withholding jobs for over a year to claim they have no staffing when we have documentation of experienced nurses being told that there were no jobs or that jobs were frozen. I have been fighting with upper management for over a year to get these nurses hired and trained, it's all part of their plan to streamline services to drive patients to Worcester and not what is best for the community." UMass's strategy is well known by the MNA, as its members have watched hospital systems across the state purposefully starve services so that they can later claim the service is no longer viable and must be closed. Nurses Not Alone in Their Opposition to Closing, Community Members Voice Similar Concerns Following the announcement by UMass Memorial Health, nurses learned that they are not alone in their opposition to the closing, as residents, community advocates and policymakers have all raised serious concerns about the decision and its impact on the community. This includes members of the Joint Coalition on Health (JCOH), a prominent volunteer-led, grassroots coalition of community members and advocates formed in 1998 to address social determinants of health, and to pursue actions to address the health needs of the residents of Northern Worcester County. "If there was ever a time that we need to come together as a community and fight, this is it," said Eladia Romero, a Leominster resident. "This is personal for me. Nine years ago, I delivered my son via emergency c-section at Leominster Hospital and then we were rushed to the UMASS NICU to save his life. Had I been forced to drive to Worcester that day my son would not be here today. We must stand together and do all we can to stop this closure." "As a longtime resident of Fitchburg and a community advocate for the region, I'm incredibly frustrated that we are seeing hospital services contract at a time when we desperately need them to expand," said Tara Rivera, a resident of Fitchburg and JCOH member. "UMASS has decided that people, many of whom are living in poverty, should travel even further for services. This seems immoral. Also, as a woman with an MBA, frankly, the numbers just don't add up. How can hospital leadership continue to reward themselves so lavishly while claiming to be running in the red? If it's about stigma against poor communities, then it's ethically abhorrent. If it's poor management, then the UMass Board of Directors needs to revisit their obligation to place the needs of the community first and consider replacing management." "I can't think of a more vulnerable population than pregnant women and newborns. Health disparities start before we are even born, and this is an example of how. In addition to how much money they have, it seems that the unspoken criteria for closure is the impacted people's ability to fight back. We are taking services from babies now- they literally cannot speak for themselves. If we are going to continue to allow hospitals to run as businesses, cutting services that aren't making money, paying themselves seven figure salaries and not being accountable to the communities they serve, the next generation will pay the price," stated Amy Ebbeson, LCSW, a resident of Rutland and Clinical Director for Worcester Addresses Childhood Trauma. "The news of this closure feels like a knife in the back of our community. Especially for our poor and BIPOC community. We all know that these are the people who will suffer most. My own daughter gave birth at Leominster and barely survived the delivery. If she had needed to travel to Worcester, it is likely she would have died," said Irene Hernandez, a member of the Pocasset Wampanoag Tribe of the Pokanoket Nation and community advocate. "We hear hospitals talking about equity. We see them hiring DEI consultants and managers. But at the end of the day, decisions such as this reveal the truth about commitment to equity. Will UMass prioritize executive pay over the lives of historically, marginalized communities? Or will they live up to their oath 'to do no harm'?" Closure of Maternity Services Follows Dangerous Trend for Commonwealth According to a White Paper on maternal services in Massachusetts published by MNA's Congress on Nursing Practice, the decision by UMass to close this service follows a trend by other healthcare corporations in the state to close vital community-based programs and services as a means of funneling their patients to larger and more profitable major medical centers. Maternity services have been a specific target for these closures, creating what the March of Dimes has characterized as "maternity deserts", meaning regions where residents lack appropriate access to needed maternity care, particularly for those serving poorer communities and people of color. In fact, last year a Special Legislative Commission on Racial Inequalities in Maternal Health in Massachusetts issued a report that highlighted how racial minorities are negatively impacted by inequitable policies and practices, including the lack of access to appropriate maternal care. Leominster and Fitchburg have been characterized as Gateway Cities, moderately-sized urban centers subject to economic challenges, and issues of inequity, particularly for people of color and low economic means, the very populations to be placed most at risk by the closure of the Birthing Center. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 700 women die each year in the United States from pregnancy-related complications. Approximately 3 in 5 of these pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. Non-Hispanic Black women are 3.3 times likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause compared to non-Hispanic white women. Another 50,000 women a year have severe pregnancy complications or severe maternal morbidity. Researchers have identified factors that contribute to pregnancy-related deaths including limited access to transportation; health facility factors such as lack of appropriate personnel or services; provider factors such as lack of continuity of care; and system-level factors including access to care. "Once again, we are as a community in the position of begging for the basic services that our tax dollars fund. It feels like a never-ending barrage of insult to injury with no accountability in the face of continued cost to the community and the degradation of the quality of care and health outcomes," said Susan Buchholz, who is a resident of Ashburnham, member of JCOH and a Bloomberg Johns Hopkins MPH Fellow. "We need state leadership to step in and hold nonprofit hospitals accountable. Existing safeguards via the Attorney General's office and DPH, although well intended, are not working and need a massive overhaul. There is so much wisdom in the community but the loudest voice in the room is always coming directly from the C suite." As the community comes together in opposition, the state legislative delegation is taking action with the scheduling of a protest outside the hospital on Tuesday, May 30 at 6 p.m. Under state law the hospital must provide 120 days' notice of its intent to close a service and the Department of Public Health is required to hold a public hearing to allow the community and other stakeholders to voice their concerns about the closure. In the coming weeks the MNA intends to work with members of the community, local, state and federal officials and other advocates to mobilize broad based opposition to the closure in the hopes of convincing the leadership of UMass Memorial Health to preserve this vital service. MassNurses.org Facebook.com/MassNurses Twitter.com/MassNurses Instagram.com/Massnurses Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 25,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on healthcare issues affecting nurses and the public. SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association CoSo Health to work with U.S. Endovascular and others to reach the U.S. market DENVER, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CoSo Health today announced signing a U.S. distribution agreement with Medinol for EluNIR, a new generation, thin-strut drug-eluting stent (DES). Medinol is a global leader in the development of innovative implantable medical devices. U.S. Endovascular sells peripheral and coronary devices nationwide. CoSo Health is changing the way medical devices are distributed and sold. Through its sales rep-light model, innovative cloud-based logistics platform and customized delivery model, CoSo Health cuts waste from the supply chain. The announcement comes at a time when hospitals, payers and outpatient facilities are seeking ways to reduce surgical costs. "We are extremely excited to partner with CoSo Health to expand our reach within the U.S.," said Jeff Roach, Chief Commercial Officer at Medinol. "We are both innovators Medinol with world-class implantable device technology and CoSo Health with logistics and distribution. Together, we are disrupting the distribution of drug-eluting stents through a direct-to-end user model that brings tremendous economic value to purchasers." The EluNIR DES offers excellent clinical outcomes and an outstanding safety profile. Its best-in-class metal-to-artery ratio and ultra-durable polymer coating, along with a unique delivery system, combine to provide a new standard in treatment capabilities. Successive generations of EluNIR are coming to the global market soon. About CoSo Health CoSo Health is redefining the healthcare supply chain with an innovative online platform, customized logistics solutions and supply networks that more efficiently source, warehouse, and distribute medical supplies and devices. Customers include hospitals, integrated delivery networks, ambulatory surgery centers, office-based labs and others seeking a fast and flexible system of obtaining best-in-class medical devices and supplies without costly overhead. Visit www.cosohealth.com or contact CoSo Health Chief Executive Officer Jae Lee at [email protected] About Medinol At Medinol, we are aggressively changing paradigms in how disease states are diagnosed and treated. Whether designing cutting edge devices for stenting multiple areas of the body, dramatically reducing complications in Structural Heart procedures or providing real time insights into the physiological metrics of the human body through implantable sensors, we boldly reassess current technology and procedures and look years into the future to pioneer new devices to broaden the reach of physicians both physically and geographically. For more information, see www.medinol.com. SOURCE CoSo Health CHICAGO, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Micro Injection Molded Plastic Market by Material Type (LCP, PEEK, PC, PE, POM, PMMA, PEI, PBT), Application (Medical, Automotive, Optics, Electronics), and Region (North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, MEA, South America) - Global Forecast to 2028", size was USD 1.2 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 2.1 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 11.4%, between 2023 and 2028. Browse in-depth TOC on "Micro Injection Molded Plastic Market" 163 Tables 45 Figures 185 Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=81256553 Micro injection molding enables the production of lightweight plastic components with complex geometries, offering opportunities to replace heavier metal parts. This can contribute to overall weight reduction in vehicles without compromising on strength or performance. Particularly for high-volume production, micro injection molding can be a cost-effective manufacturing technique. It appeals to medical device manufacturers because it can swiftly and effectively produce huge quantities of small, complicated parts. PEEK is projected to register the highest CAGR, in terms of value, of the global Micro injection molded plastic during the forecast period. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a high-performance thermoplastic polymer that exhibits excellent mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties. PEEK is widely utilized in a variety of sectors, including aerospace, automotive, and electronics, but it has also become very popular in the medical industry. In the medical business, PEEK material is in high demand for micro injection molded plastic applications. Factors such as strength and durability, chemical resistance, design flexibility and long stability drive the market for PEEK in micro injection molded plastic market. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=81256553 Automotive is estimated to be the second-fastest growing application of the micro injection molded plastic, in terms of value, during the forecast period. The automotive segment is estimated to be the second-fastest growing application of the micro injection molded plastic market during the forecast period. The global automotive industry is also influenced by various trends such as the shift towards electric and hybrid vehicles, increasing demand for connectivity and autonomous driving features, and the growing popularity of shared mobility services. Multiple functions can be integrated into a single component using micro injection molding. This is crucial in automobile applications because there isn't much room. Manufacturers can cut assembly time, costs, and system performance by combining several parts into a single micro-molded component. All these factors drive the demand for Micro injection molded plastic in automotive application. Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region, in the overall micro injection molded plastic market, during the forecast period Asia Pacific is home to some of the fastest-growing economies, such as China, India, and Southeast Asian countries. The economic growth in these countries drives medical, automotive, and electronics industries, which drives the demand for micro injection molded plastic. Also, the rising disposable income and increasing population in this region contributes to an increased expenditure on healthcare. Countries such as India and China have low-cost labor which attracts major automotive manufacturers to set up an operational plant in these countries. All these factors are driving the market for micro injection molded plastic in the Asia Pacific region. The key players profiled in the report include Accumold LLC (US), Paragon Medical (US), SMC Ltd. (US), Spectrum Plastics Group, Inc. (US), Isometric Micro Molding, Inc. (US), Makuta Micro Molding (US), Precikam Inc. (Canada), MTD Micro Molding (US), among others. Browse Adjacent Market: Resins and Polymers Research & Consulting Related Reports: Injection Molding Machine Market - Global Forecast to 2027 Plastic Injection Molding Machine Market- Global Forecast to 2025 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insights: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/micro-injection-molded-plastic-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/micro-injection-molded-plastic.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Raw Selection has placed a COO for MiddleGround Capital's Portfolio Company, Lindsay Precast. Jack Burns, Principal, lead the search. LEEDS, England, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MiddleGround Capital announced that Chris Beecher will be joining their portfolio company as COO, effective May 2023. Chris Beecher will be joining Lindsay Precast from Northwest Pipe Company, where he was a VP of Operations. Chris will be bringing his experience in acquisition integration, multi-site management, and business development to the firm to support them in the operations of their new acquisitions and the growth of multiple sites. Additionally, Chris' experiences that will benefit Lindsay Precast moving forward include: Significant multi-site management experience Significant Pre-Cast experience Exceptional leadership & team-building skills About Raw Selection: We specialize in executive search, working exclusively with lower and middle-market Private Equity firms and their Portfolio Companies across Europe and North America. We support Private Equity firms to secure talent for their investment and operations teams and to identify proven senior executives for their Portfolio Companies. When it comes to recruiting senior executive talent for your business, our approach is one of meticulous search and due diligence. So much so, we de-risk recruitment for all our retained clients. We are so confident in our approach that we are prepared to offer a money-back guarantee on our services. Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Raw Selection KNOXVILLE, Tenn., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Workers sickened during the cleanup of the catastrophic 2008 coal ash spill in East Tennessee have reached a confidential settlement with Jacobs Solutions, bringing an end to more than 10 years of litigation and 300 lawsuits. Greg Coleman, Milberg Senior Partner and lawyer for the plaintiffs, said in a joint statement with Jacobs Solutions that, "After years of litigation and lengthy negotiations, the parties have entered into a confidential settlement agreement which will resolve all of the cases." Workers sickened during the cleanup of the catastrophic 2008 coal ash spill in Kingston, TN have reached a settlement. Tweet this Mr. Coleman recognized the efforts of Milberg coal ash team members Billy Ringger, Mark Silvey, Adam Edwards, Will Ladnier, Alex Honeycutt, Ginny Whitener, Alex Straus, Jonathan Cohen, Kelsey Davies, Nita Gorman, Dawn Holt, Jackie Frasure, and Celia Hastings in the precedent-setting cases, which claimed that workers developed health problems caused by a coal ash spill at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Kingston plant in Harriman, Tennessee. After the spill on December 22, 2008, TVA hired Jacobs to assist with the six-year cleanup project. Jacobs was responsible for sitewide safety and health. At least 50 of the 900 cleanup workers have died and many are sick. Beginning in 2013, workers began filing lawsuits against Jacobs alleging personal injuries from exposure to fly ash at the spill site. More than 200 workers and 100 workers' spouses filed claims. In 2018, a federal jury ruled that Jacobs breached its contract with TVA and its duty to protect the cleanup workers from known carcinogens in the fly ash. That verdict linked the workers' exposure to 10 health conditionsincluding lung cancer, skin cancer, leukemia, pulmonary disease, and respiratory conditionsand set the stage for them to seek monetary damages. On two occasions, Jacobs asked the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to grant it immunity from being sued because it was a TVA contractor. Both times, the court rejected the contractor's immunity arguments. Although TVA, a quasi-government organization, was not named as a defendant in the Kingston coal ash lawsuits, the Court's second ruling on the matter also raises the possibility that TVA could face similar lawsuits in the future. "We made law twice in the 6th Circuit," said Mr. Coleman. "Not only was a general causation verdict won but now, TVA and any entity that produces coal ash and manages it are open to claims, whereas prior to this case, there was no chance of that happening." In the firm's proud tradition of effectuating meaningful change through the courts, Milberg's Environmental and Toxic Torts Litigation group has helped thousands of individuals and businesses negatively affected by man-made disasters, both in the United States and abroad, including the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the Huntington Beach oil spill, the Eastman Chemical Company steam pipe explosion, and Brazil's Samarco dam disaster. About Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC: Since 1965, Milberg has recovered over $50 billion for our clients, set groundbreaking legal precedents, and prompted meaningful changes in corporate governance. The firm has a long history of standing up to corporations on behalf of workers, including cases against Fortune 500 companies. Media Contact: Karine Lim [email protected] SOURCE Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC A federal mediator has been called in to assist with the DFCI MV nurses' negotiations for a first MNA contract as DFCI refuses to provide adequate pay and benefits METHUEN, Mass., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The registered nurses of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Merrimack Valley, represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, will hold an informational picket on Friday, June 2 after calling in a federal mediator to help resolve negotiations in which DFCI refuses to help ensure high-quality patient care by agreeing to a fair nurse contract. Informational Picket Details Date: Friday, June 2, 2023 Time: 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Location: Outside Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Merrimack Valley at 5 Branch St., Methuen, MA. Details: Nurses who care for oncology patients at DFCI MV voted to join the Massachusetts Nurses Association in July 2022 to secure a protected voice in all decisions impacting their work and nursing practice. Nurses are seeking fair pay and equal benefits as DFCI Boston nurses, allowing DFCI MV to maintain the nurses necessary to provide critical patient care. "Our nurses are dedicated to our patients and play a key role in providing advanced cancer and blood disorder treatments," said Kerrin Albert, Infusion RN at DFCI MV. "A fair nurse contract will give us a stronger voice in ensuring safe patient care conditions and the pay and benefits we need to retain the highly qualified nurses DFCI MV needs." "Dana-Farber has refused to compensate Merrimack Valley nurses appropriately for the complex oncology care we provide and the commitment we show to our patients," said Kate Mitchell, FNP-BC, AOCNP at DFCI MV. "Our clinic will lose nurses to other oncology centers and patients will find it harder to receive the care they deserve if Dana-Farber does not listen to its nurses and agree to a fair and reasonable contract." "The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that nurses are in high demand because of the important direct patient care we provide and the challenges we face providing that care," said Errin D'Arcangelo, Oncology Nurse Navigator at DFCI MV. "If Dana-Farber is unwilling to provide the benefits and retirement protections nurses need, they will look elsewhere. We can defy cancer together if Dana-Farber nurses caring for patients are respected and appreciated." DFCI MV opened in 2020 with 24 exam rooms and 32 infusion bays. The location offers expanded cancer and blood disorder care and outpatient services for adult patients in the region. The MNA is the largest union and professional organization of nurses and healthcare professionals in Massachusetts. It represents more than 25,000 members in healthcare facilities across the state, including nurses at 70 percent of the Commonwealth's acute care hospitals. The MNA is led by a board of directors that is directly elected by its membership and consists of frontline nurses and healthcare professionals. MassNurses.org Facebook.com/MassNurses Twitter.com/MassNurses Instagram.com/MassNurses Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 25,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public. SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association DENVER, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Morris Animal Foundation announced it is funding 10 new fellowship studies, with two of the studies funded by longtime donor Sally R. McIntosh. The studies will focus on a variety of topics, including deadly infections in dogs, immune response disorders in horses and amphibian conservation. The awards provide critical support to promising young veterinary scientists. Researchers will study biomarkers in the blood of African buffalo to potentially provide fast and accurate ways to diagnose bovine tuberculosis and help control the spread of this common disease in animals. "Our Fellowship Training program is one of the most impactful investments we can make for animal health research," said Dr. Kathy Tietje, Chief Program Officer at Morris Animal Foundation. "We are delighted to be able to support these highly qualified candidates at this critical juncture in their careers." The projects are slated to begin this year. Grant recipients and their projects include: Dr. Moreno Passos Barbosa's and Dr. Isidoro-Ayza's studies are specifically funded by Sally R. McIntosh. McIntosh wanted to provide fellowship funding to support applicants from historically marginalized groups interested in studying dog and wildlife health, stating that she hopes to make "a tiny dent" in diversifying the animal health research community. McIntosh made her first gift to Morris Animal Foundation to advance greyhound health research in 2009 and since then, has expanded her support into other areas of animal health research, including wildlife health. About Morris Animal Foundation Morris Animal Foundation's mission is to bridge science and resources to advance the health of animals. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Denver, it is one of the largest nonprofit animal health research organizations in the world, funding more than $149 million in nearly 3,000 critical studies across a broad range of species. Learn more at morrisanimalfoundation.org . SOURCE Morris Animal Foundation NEW YORK, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE: MPW) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws. Class Period: July 15, 2019 to February 22, 2023 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: June 12, 2023 No obligation or cost to you. Learn more about your recoverable losses in MPW: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/medical-properties-trust-lawsuit-loss-submission-form?id=39918&from=4 Medical Properties Trust, Inc. NEWS - MPW NEWS CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Medical Properties Trust, Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the Company masked the distressed state of its tenants through sale-leaseback arrangements which were essentially round-robin transactions in that they allowed debt-saddled tenants to meet their obligations in the short-term; (ii) the Company fraudulently transferred hundreds of millions of dollars in what amounted to a bailout of financially distressed tenants; (iii) the Company concealed its fraudulent transfers with fake construction projects with purportedly high capital expenses, despite the fact that the Company entered into "triple-net leases," which meant that its tenants were obligated to pay a significant portion of expenses, such as real estate taxes, insurance, and maintenance; and (iv) as a result, the Company's public statements, including those with respect to the Pennsylvania Properties, were materially false and misleading at the time they were made. WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Medical Properties Trust you have until June 12, 2023 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff. NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Medical Properties Trust securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees. HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the MPW lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/medical-properties-trust-lawsuit-loss-submission-form?id=39918&from=4. ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: J. Klein, Esq. 535 Fifth Avenue 4th Floor New York City, NY 10017 [email protected] Telephone: (212) 616-4899 www.kleinstocklaw.com SOURCE The Klein Law Firm WASHINGTON, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- During a ceremony at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid on Tuesday, Spain became the 25th country to sign the Artemis Accords. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson participated in the signing ceremony for the agency, and Diana Morant, Spain's science and innovation minister, signed on behalf of Spain. Pedro Sanchez, President of Spain, Julissa Reynoso, the U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra, and Karen Feldstein, NASA Associate Administrator for International and Interagency Relations, also were in attendance. The Artemis Accords establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations, including those participating in NASA's Artemis program. "The United States and Spain's partnership in space has been on display for decades, but today we bring it to new heights," said Nelson. "As the newest member of the Artemis Accords family, Spain will safeguard our shared ideals by helping ensure that humanity's rapid expansion into space is done peacefully, safely, and transparently." "Space is an example of international collaboration and a priority for our country's vision," said President Sanchez. "We are witnessing a commitment by the Government of Spain to a key sector that generates opportunities and high-quality employment, which is a priority and strategic area, essential to help and protect our society." NASA, in coordination with the U.S. Department of State, established the Artemis Accords in 2020 together with seven other founding member nations. The Artemis Accords reinforce and implement key obligations in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. They also reinforce the commitment by the United States and signatory nations to the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices and norms of responsible behavior that NASA and its partners have supported, including the public release of scientific data. Additional countries will sign the Artemis Accords in the months and years ahead, as NASA continues to work with its international partners to establish a safe, peaceful, and prosperous future in space. Working with both new and existing partners will add new energy and capabilities to ensure the entire world can benefit from our journey of exploration and discovery. Learn more about the Artemis Accords at: https://www.nasa.gov/artemisaccords SOURCE NASA The developer of a solar project in the Town of Busti is counting on more than $3.3 million in tax breaks from the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency for the $17.6 million venture. Dennis Ryan's ESG Energy Holdings wants to construct a pair of 5-megawatt solar arrays, using 66 acres of land adjacent to the Cummins Engine plant in Jamestown. Sign up for the Buffalo Next free newsletter The News' Buffalo Next team covers the changing Buffalo Niagara economy. Get the news in your inbox 5 days a week. The Busti Solar project, which has been in the works since 2018, would be located at 4542 Baker St. Extension, on property owned by STB Beverages and RCO Builders. The total site is 109 acres, but only part of it would be used, with the rest to be sustainably managed as forest through a conservation plan. ESG is asking the CCIDA to approve $1.72 million in property tax savings through a 25-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes, as well as $1.41 million in sales tax savings on purchases of equipment and materials and $220,100 in mortgage-recording tax breaks. The project received a special-use permit from the town and initial environmental approval, although the CCIDA must still conduct its own review and public hearing. If approved, construction would begin in the late summer or fall of this year, with completion in summer 2024. "Were excited to move forward," Ryan told the CCIDA board. NEW YORK, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking (Natixis CIB) has closed a US$364 million financing for a portfolio of a solar photovoltaic utility-scale and PMGD plants in Chile, owned and operated by Solek Holding SE (Solek) (the "Sponsor"). The portfolio has a combined capacity of approximately 284MWdc. Natixis CIB acted as Sole Debt Structuring Advisor for a US$ 75 million mezzanine facility, Sole Lead Arranger for a US$55 million PMGD bridge-loan facility, co-Lead Arranger for a US$19 million LC Facility, as well as co-Global Coordinator Placement Agent and Green Issuance Coordinator for a US$178 million private placement. A $37 million bridge loan was separately provided. Natixis CIB acted as Sole Lead Arranger, Sole Placement Agent and Debt Structuring Advisor for the mezzanine facility, Sole Lead Arranger and Bookrunner for the PMGD bridge-loan facility, as well as Global Coordinator Placement Agent alongside BNP Paribas for the private placement. The Sponsor's portfolio consists of 190MWdc solar projects which operate under Chile's special regime for distributed generation projects (known as "PMGD"), entitling the projects to sell their energy output at the regulated stabilized price, and a 94MWdc utility-scale solar PV facility. "This is Natixis's fourteenth PMGD financing in four years, and the first to combine senior bank debt, a USPP, and Mezzanine debt. In aggregate, Natixis has financed or arranged approximately US$1.8 billion to support the development of PMGD renewable power generation projects in Chile. The transaction exemplifies our true "one-stop-shop" approach and our commitment to the PMGD subsector, with a handful of other PMGD transactions currently in our pipeline. We look forward to continuing to support the Sponsor in its growth in the region and to support Chile's continuous efforts toward energy transition", said Aitor Alava, Managing Director and Head of Infrastructure & Energy Finance, Latin America at Natixis CIB. Diego Rausei, Chief Investment Officer Latin America at Solek, commented: "We were glad to work with Natixis and other firms on this highly structured, comprehensive financing that will allow us to consolidate our portfolio in Chile. As a fast-growing renewable energy company, expanding our investor base with world-class, long-term view institutions is a key component of our strategy, as we continue developing our projects in Latin America and Europe". Anthony Ferraro, Managing Director and Head of Debt Capital Markets, Americas, Natixis CIB, said: "We are honored to have the opportunity to execute another creative financing solution for a leading solar developer in Chile and add another 284 MW of renewable energy to the Chilean grid. Renewable energy remains a core focus for Natixis CIB and the capital markets will continue to serve an important role in providing permanent debt capital to accelerate the energy transition. On the U.S. private placement, Natixis leveraged its market expertise to deliver delayed funding up to 18-months providing Solek with committed long-term takeout financing as the portfolio matures into operations." The PMGD regime was created in 2005, with the goal of incentivizing more distributed and greener electricity generation. The projects in the portfolio will contribute to Chile's broader energy transition as the country gradually retires coal plants on its way towards the long-term goal of carbon-neutrality. Once all projects in the Sponsor's portfolio enter operations, the facilities will be capable of producing more than 750,000 MW hours of clean electricity annually. About Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking is a leading global financial institution that provides advisory, investment banking, financing, corporate banking and capital markets services to corporations, financial institutions, financial sponsors and sovereign and supranational organizations worldwide. Our teams of experts in around 30 countries advise clients on their strategic development, helping them to grow and transform their businesses, and maximize their positive impact. Natixis CIB is committed to aligning its financing portfolio with a carbon neutrality path by 2050 while helping its clients reduce the environmental impact of their business. As part of the Global Financial Services division of Groupe BPCE, the second largest banking group in France through the Banque Populaire and Caisse d'Epargne retail networks, Natixis CIB benefits from the Group's financial strength and solid financial ratings (Standard & Poor's: A, Moody's: A1, Fitch: A+, R&I: A+). Press contacts: Tara Flanagan, Prosek Partners Tel: +1 646 818 9022 [email protected] cib.natixis.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/natixis-corporate-investment-banking/ https://www.youtube.com/user/Natixisvideos https://podcast.ausha.co/green-momentum Our information is certified with blockchain technology. Check that this press release is genuine at www.wiztrust.com. SOURCE Natixis LONDON, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NATO and Atticus Partners co-sponsored a panel discussion on Strategic Communications in the Fight Against Disinformation on Wednesday morning in the House of Commons. The panel included Bob Seely MP, Mariia Zolkina, Research Fellow for International Relations at the London School of Economics, Andy Pryce, Head of Counter Disinformation at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, and Dominic Nicholls, Associate Defence Editor for The Telegraph, chaired by Atticus Partners' Aliona Hlivco. The event was attended by politicians, diplomats and defence attaches, academics, media, NGOs, students and industry. The discussion focused on Russian hybrid warfare technical, including dis- and misinformation, especially applied in its war on Ukraine. "The old active measures KGB model of undermining Western society, demoralisation [] destabilisation, normalisation. The Russian military [] has effectively got a six-stage operation rather than a four-stage," said Bob Seely MP, Foreign Affairs Select Committee member and Chair of the Ukraine and Russia All-Party Parliamentary Groups. "That for me shows the influence of Putin, the presidential administration and the FSB, or the former KGB, on Russian military thinking. And so that's why modern concepts of Russian warfare is stuff that's almost been dictated to the Russian military in order to force them to think more creatively about the use of war." Mariia Zolkina, Ukrainian researcher and political analyst, spoke on the invasion of Crimea in 2014 stating, it "was unfortunately the biggest Russian political diplomatic success, or disinformation success, after 2014 because Russia persuades not only people in non-Western societies, but also unfortunately a significant share of political elites in the West." "We all are [] on the front line of the disinformation war," said Dominic Nicholls. "[Social media trolls will] discredit me as a journalist [] They'll discredit the paper. They'll discredit the Western press. They'll aim to discredit the message and it's like fighting smoke." Andy Pryce spoke on the use of disinformation by Russia stating: "There's been a range of [...] different narratives, they're aimed at one thing and that's accelerating compassion fatigue for Ukraine. Compassion fatigue is a real thing, we see it with lots of conflicts around the world, lots of disasters around the world and there has been serious academic studies that demonstrate that this really has impact on people, and so the meta goal for the Russians is to accelerate this." SOURCE Atticus Partners WASHINGTON, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Qatar America Institute for Culture (QAIC) serves as a vital and unique bridge between Qatar, the United States, and the larger Arab and Islamic worlds. Ongoing cultivation of artistic expression and cultural dialogue has risen to new heights in 2023. International Women's Month, National Arab American Heritage Month, and Ramadan all presented myriad opportunities to grow and nurture a broad and growing audience online and offline. Celebrations at QAIC's historic abode, as well as additional partnering opportunities, including at the Library of Congress, the White House, UNRWA USA, Qatar Foundation, Howard University, Women Ambassadors Foundation and the Embassy of the State of Qatar, serve to strengthen the ties that bind us. Art, culture and dialogue not only transcend geographic borders, but they also erase them. QAIC's 2023 participation in the Dupont Circle's BID monthly ArtWalk, now places us aside esteemed galleries and museums, including the Phillips Collection and the Middle East Institute's Arts and Culture Center. Since joining this decades-long monthly neighborhood initiative, visitors to QAIC have more than tripled. These evenings welcome new friends of all ages, backgrounds and levels of familiarity with Arab art, culture and foods. It is this kind of community outreach, entwined with rich partnerships with Qatar Museums, VCUarts Qatar, the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, and many others, that makes Qatar America Institute for Culture just that: Qatar-America! Yet another way to eliminate boundaries and bridge cultures, and to cement the institute as a D.C. landmark, is a rare jewel at QAIC: the one-of-a-kind Perfumery Museum, a journey through the senses and an introduction to the history, science, and stories behind this form of art from the East and the West. QAIC's signature programs continue to be strong, with special events highlighting Arab creatives including the renowned Refugee Olympic Team swimmer and UNCHR Goodwill Ambassador, Yusra Mardini, as well as award-winning filmmaker, Oualid Mouaness. QAIC's inaugural IMPART Artist Grant awardees' work was reviewed in The Washington Post following an exhibition organized in partnership with fellow non-profit gallery, IA&A at Hillyer in March. At the same time, six olfactory art experts and artists joined a week-long QAIC-sponsored delegation to Doha, Qatar, for a first-hand educational and cultural experience. The delegates will participate in a Perfumery Symposium during QAIC's IMPART Summit and Design Festival this coming October. The pinnacle of events was the United & Empowered: Arab and Gulf Women Leaders Eid Dinner Reception, supported by partners such as Advancement of Arab & Gulf Women in America, Bentley and Cartier. Women from eleven different Arab nations, led by the women ambassadors from Kuwait, Mauritania, Tunisia and the United States, joined together in growing bonds of friendship. Looking toward the next half of 2023, while reflecting on the past half, QAIC could not achieve all it has done and will do without the strong leadership it is so lucky to have. From the newest member of QAIC board of directors, George Rudenauer, to eight new advisory council members including, Sheikha Alanound Al Thani, Dr. Amal Al Malki, Dr. Safwan Masri, Dr. Susan L. Karamanian, Deborah Sawaf, Nancy Brimhall, Dr. Khalid Al Jufairi, and Najwan Nayef, QAIC is extremely honored and grateful to grow its family of ambassadors in Qatar and the United States. Together, these achievements show a tightly aligned, productive and proactive QAIC, poised for what is shaping up to be a very successful year. As QAIC continues to move through 2023, the focus on technology and the arts will intertwine all upcoming programs. Events to watch for and join include the opening of Pearls of Wonder: a digital era, the QAIC Summer Festival, the Annual IMPART Summit: Congress for Creatives and Design Festival. The Qatar America Institute for Culture (QAIC) is a Washington, D.C.-based independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that creates, curates and executes programs and research that amplify the prominence of all forms of art and culture from the United States, Qatar and the larger Arab and Islamic worlds. To learn more about QAIC, please visit qataramerica.org. For more information or images for press, please contact Susan Barrows Libby, Director of Communications, [email protected]. Join the conversation @qataramerica on Instagram using the hashtags #QatarAmerica #QAIC #TechnologyAndTheArts SOURCE Qatar America Institute for Culture With 90% of Organizations Reporting an Identity-Related Breach in the Last 12 Months, the Identity Defined Security Alliance Provides Insights to Help Reduce Risk DENVER, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Identity Defined Security Alliance (IDSA), a nonprofit that provides vendor-neutral resources to help organizations reduce the risk of a breach by combining identity and security strategies, today unveiled its 2023 Trends in Identity Security report, based on an online survey of over 500 identity and security professionals. This report provides a deep dive into the progress organizations are making in defending against the rapid increase in cyberattacks and the approaches large companies are taking toward security and identity. Identity-related incidents continue to plague organizations with an alarming 90% reporting one in the last 12 months, a 6% increase from last year's report. As identities continue to significantly grow, identity stakeholders are faced with an increasing number of barriers without the needed support from leadership. A staggering 49% report that their leadership teams understand identity and security risks and proactively invest in protection before suffering an incident, while 29% only engage and support after an incident. "As cloud adoption, remote work, mobile device usage, and third-party relationships drive up the number of identities, more and more organizations are suffering from identity-related incidents," said Jeff Reich, Executive Director, IDSA. "Protecting digital identities has never been more important in the fight against increasingly savvy cyberattacks. And while managing and securing identities continues to be called out as a top priority by organizations, meaningful shifts in proactive investment and leadership are necessary to reduce risk." Protecting digital identities has never been more crucial as cyberattacks rapidly increase in sophistication and volume. Organizations need to ensure only the right people have access to the right data, networks, and systems and that they use technologies effective at preventing malicious actors from gaining access to sensitive information. The research finds that as the number of identities increases, more businesses are suffering identity-related incidents and are prioritizing securing them as a critical priority. Securing these identities remains a significant challenge for most organizations and security outcomes are a work in progress. Key Research Findings: Number of barriers and a lack of proactive investment from leadership presents biggest challenge Top two barriers for security teams are identity frameworks being complicated by multiple vendors and different architectures (40%) and complex technology environments (39%) Respondents also identified insufficient budget (30%), a lack of expertise (29%), standards (26%), people (25%), and governance (23%) as barriers Only 49% of identity stakeholders said their leadership teams understand identity and security risks and proactively invest in protection prior to an incident Identity growth continues, making identity a top security priority 55% report that the adoption of more cloud applications is the main reason for an increase in the number of identities Other critical factors driving identity growth were identified as the rises in remote work (50%), mobile device usage (44%) and third- party relationships (41%) 86% of respondents say managing and securing identity is one of the top five priorities of their security program 2023 trends are impacting identity security 89% of businesses are somewhat or very concerned that new privacy regulations will impact identity security 98% of respondents report AI/ML will be beneficial in addressing identity-related challenges, with 63% stating the number one use case is identifying outlier behaviors Social media is a key concern for businesses, with 90% saying they were slightly or very worried about employees using corporate credentials for their social media accounts Investments in security outcomes improving, but still a work in progress 96% of identity stakeholders said that security outcomes could have lessened the business impact of incidents 42% of respondents said implementing MFA for all users could have prevented or minimized the effect of incidents, followed by timely reviews of access to sensitive data (40%) and privileged access (34%) 97% reported that they are planning to further invest in security outcomes in the next 12 months Identity Defined Security Alliance Resources The Identity Defined Security Framework , collaboratively developed by leading vendors, solution providers and practitioners, provides vendor-neutral best practices and security outcomes for improving the security of digital identities. According to the report, 96% of organizations believe that the IDSA's Identity Defined Security Outcomes may have prevented or minimized the impact of the breaches they suffered. Included with each Identity Defined Security Outcome are vendor-neutral implementation approaches, which are well-defined patterns that combine identity and security capabilities. To view the full library of outcomes, visit https://idsalliance.wpengine.com/outcomes-approaches/ . To download the full report, visit https://www.idsalliance.org/white-paper/2023-trends-in-securing-digital-identities/. Identiverse 2023 Join panelists from Target, Comcast, Intuit, Dimensional Research and the IDSA as they discuss the 2023 Trends in Securing Digital Identities on Tuesday, May 30 from 2:30 pm - 3:20 pm PT . To learn more about IDSA and the Identity Defined Security Framework, please visit booth #1008. Survey Methodology Dimensional Research conducted an independent online survey of IT security and identity professionals in the United States. A total of 529 qualified individuals completed the survey. A variety of questions were asked on history with identities and security, current plans, and other topics. Certain questions were repeated from similar surveys conducted in 2021 and 2022 to enable trend analysis. All are directly responsible for IT security or identities at a company with more than 1,000 employees and are very knowledgeable about both IT security and identities. About the Identity Defined Security Alliance The IDSA is a group of identity and security vendors, solution providers, and practitioners that acts as an independent source of thought leadership, expertise, and practical guidance on identity-centric approaches to security for technology professionals. The IDSA is a nonprofit that facilitates community collaboration to help organizations reduce risk by providing education, best practices, and resources. For more information on the Identity Security Alliance and how to become a member, visit www.idsalliance.org. Follow the IDSA: Join the Community: https://forum.idsalliance.org/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/idsalliance LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/identity-defined-security-alliance/ Blog: https://www.idsalliance.org/blog/ Media Contact: Angelique Faul Silver Jacket Communications 513.633.0897 [email protected] SOURCE Identity Defined Security Alliance (IDSA) Q1 2023 Business Highlights Selected for an award of up to $7.1 million in non-repayable project-level government grants from Emissions Reduction Alberta for the Empower Calgary Facility. Executed a definitive take-or-pay offtake agreement with McAsphalt for the exclusive sale of 100% of liquid asphalt production from the Empower Calgary Facility for a minimum term of 5 years. Signed a long-term lease agreement for 3.98 acres located in Rocky View County for the Empower Calgary Facility. VANCOUVER, BC, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Northstar Clean Technologies Inc. (TSXV: ROOF) (OTCQB: ROOOF) ("Northstar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has filed its first quarter 2023 unaudited financial statements and management's discussion and analysis on SEDAR for the three months ended March 31, 2023. These documents are also available on the Company's website at www.northstarcleantech.com. The Company would like to remind its stakeholders that it has scheduled a virtual investor webcast to discuss these results and to provide an update to the investment community tomorrow Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at 14:00 PDT / 17:00 EDT. Details are provided below. Financial references are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise specified. Mr. Aidan Mills, President & CEO and Director of Northstar, commented, "We've continued the momentum from the last year with strong progress in Q1 2023. I'm incredibly proud of the Northstar team for helping provide the Company the opportunity to secure up to $7.1 million in non-repayable project-level government grants from Emissions Reduction Alberta ("ERA"). This award has provided strong validation that our work to divert asphalt shingles from landfills back into the circular economy has not gone unnoticed and that governments value the work we're doing and are willing to invest." "Progress on the Empower Calgary Facility also advanced on several fronts, including signing a long-term lease for the future site of the facility, a short distance from the City of Calgary's East Landfill and our landlord receiving conditional development permits. Work by the landlord has already begun on site and is moving along well." "Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, we successfully completed liquid asphalt R&D testing with major manufacturers, and we are now in the midst of product manufacturing and quality testing with this same group of major manufacturers." "Our focus continues to be on progressing the Empower Calgary Facility while conserving capital. On April 19, 2023, we closed an upsized non-brokered private placement of $2.73 million which provides significant runway for us to continue to focus on securing a non-dilutive funding structure to supplement the ERA government grant," concluded Mr. Mills. Q1 2023 Highlights January 2023 The Mook Group of Companies (the "Landlord") for Northstar's site for its Empower Calgary Facility received its conditional development permit from Rocky View County, a municipal district in Alberta adjacent to the City of Calgary . The Mook Group of Companies (the "Landlord") for Northstar's site for its Empower Calgary Facility received its conditional development permit from Rocky View County, a municipal district in adjacent to the . February 2023 Selected for an award of up to $7.1 million in non-repayable project-level government grants from ERA for the Empower Calgary Facility. Selected for an award of up to in non-repayable project-level government grants from ERA for the Empower Calgary Facility. February 2023 Received notice from the Canadian Patent Office that its patent application was approved for fast track due to the Company's green technology. Received notice from the Canadian Patent Office that its patent application was approved for fast track due to the Company's green technology. February 2023 Signed a long-term 15-year lease agreement (with two renewal options of 5 years each) with the Landlord for an industrial-zoned property of 3.98 acres located in Rocky View County, as the site for the Company's Empower Calgary Facility. Signed a long-term 15-year lease agreement (with two renewal options of 5 years each) with the Landlord for an industrial-zoned property of 3.98 acres located in Rocky View County, as the site for the Company's Empower Calgary Facility. March 2023 Announced the execution of a definitive take-or-pay offtake agreement with McAsphalt for the exclusive sale of 100% of liquid asphalt production from the Empower Calgary Facility for a minimum term of 5 years. The commercial terms were unchanged from the binding term sheet. Announced the execution of a definitive take-or-pay offtake agreement with McAsphalt for the exclusive sale of 100% of liquid asphalt production from the Empower Calgary Facility for a minimum term of 5 years. The commercial terms were unchanged from the binding term sheet. March 2023 Successfully completed liquid asphalt R&D testing with major manufacturers and progressed to product manufacturing and quality testing. Successfully completed liquid asphalt R&D testing with major manufacturers and progressed to product manufacturing and quality testing. March 2023 Received an Environmental Awareness Award from the Waste Management Association of British Columbia . Subsequent to Q1 2023 April 2023 Announced a non-brokered private placement of up to $2.0 million . Announced a non-brokered private placement of up to . April 2023 Announced the upsizing of the non-brokered private placement to up to $2.3 million . Announced the upsizing of the non-brokered private placement to up to . April 2023 Closed an upsized non-brokered private placement of $2.73 million . Closed an upsized non-brokered private placement of . April 2023 Announced updated preliminary project economics and internal capital estimate for the Empower Calgary Facility. Announced updated preliminary project economics and internal capital estimate for the Empower Calgary Facility. May 2023 Provided update on site development work at the Empower Calgary Facility. Provided update on site development work at the Empower Calgary Facility. May 2023 Announced completion of milestones required to commence detailed engineering of the Empower Calgary Facility. Virtual Investor Webcast Details Topic: Northstar Clean Technologies First Quarter Financial Results Webcast Date: May 31, 2023 Time: 14:00 PDT / 17:00 EDT Webcast URL: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/8916845129112/WN_VaIt952eSISUsa2fZZAO-Q Approximately two hours after the Q&A session has ended, an archived version of the webcast will be available via the webcast URL above. About Northstar Northstar Clean Technologies Inc. is a Canadian-based clean technology company focused on the sustainable recovery and reprocessing of asphalt shingles. Northstar has developed a proprietary design process for taking discarded asphalt shingles, otherwise destined for already over-crowded landfills, and extracting the liquid asphalt for use in new hot mix asphalt, shingle manufacturing and asphalt flat roof systems, and aggregate and fiber for use in construction products and other industrial applications. Focused on the circular economy, Northstar plans to reprocess used or defective asphalt shingle waste back into its three primary components for reuse/resale at both its Empower Pilot Facility in Delta, British Columbia and its first commercial scale up facility in Calgary, Alberta. As an emerging innovator in sustainable processing, Northstar's mission is to be the leader in the recovery and reprocessing of asphalt shingles in North America, extracting the recovered components from asphalt shingles that would otherwise be sent to landfill. For further information about Northstar, please visit www.northstarcleantech.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, Aidan Mills President & CEO, Director Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The TSXV has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. This press release may contain forwardlooking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which forwardlooking information reflects the Company's current expectations regarding future events. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements concerning: (i) Northstar's ability to finalize and secure the ERA grant award; and (ii) Northstar's ability to become a leader in the recovery and reprocessing of asphalt shingles in North America. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including risks related to factors beyond the control of the Company as well as those risks and uncertainties which are more fully described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the final prospectus of the Company dated June 18, 2021 and in the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis and other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company's profile on SEDAR. Further, the ongoing labour shortages, high energy costs, inflationary pressures, rising interest rates, the global financial climate and the conflict in Ukraine and surrounding regions are some additional factors that are affecting current economic conditions and increasing economic uncertainty, which may impact the Company's operating performance, financial position, and future prospects. Collectively, the potential impacts of this economic environment pose risks that are currently indescribable and immeasurable. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly, are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, unless required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. SOURCE Northstar Clean Technologies Inc. Chef Alexis Quaretti was godfathered into the program by Oceania Cruises' Vice President of Culinary Eric Barale, making Oceania Cruises the only major cruise line to have two Master Chefs of France MIAMI, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Oceania Cruises , the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, is proud to announce that Chef Alexis Quaretti, Senior Culinary Director, has been inducted into the prestigious echelons of the Maitres Cuisiniers de France. Quaretti joins Oceania Cruises' Vice President of Culinary Eric Barale, who served as Quaretti's godfather into the program. As such, Oceania Cruises is the only major cruise line to boast two Master Chefs of France. Chef Eric Barale and Chef Alexis Quaretti During Brunch Service in The Grand Dining Room on board Oceania Cruises newest ship, Vista The association of Master Chefs of France was established in 1951. Its goal is to support and promote French culinary arts around the world. This mission is embodied by the chef members, as they are ambassadors of French cuisine and culture and are responsible for relaying this heritage to their apprentices. "It's truly remarkable to have two Master Chefs of France leading our culinary team," said Frank A. Del Rio, President of Oceania Cruises. "Chef Eric and Chef Alexis are both long-standing members of the culinary team, Eric being one of the first members of Oceania Cruises' culinary family and Alexis joining us shortly after in 2004. The palpable kinship and passion throughout the culinary team prove that Oceania Cruises not only serves The Finest Cuisine at Sea but also has the finest culinary team at sea." "Being inducted into the Master Chefs of France is truly one of the biggest honors of my career, and I sincerely look forward to being part of this prestigious organization," said Alexis Quaretti, Senior Culinary Director at Oceania Cruises. "I have always been proud to represent French culinary ideals and am lucky to be able to bring the best of the best to Oceania Cruises. I would like to thank my friend and colleague Chef Eric Barale for being my godfather throughout the process and providing me with constant guidance and advice throughout my career." Driven by the desire to make Oceania Cruises a destination for pleasure-seekers in search of one-of-a-kind experiences, Quaretti has created a menu of universal world flavors with his own French expertise and unique fondness for diverse products. His ever-changing menus celebrate the freshest ingredients and are inspired by his home country of France as well as his world travels. As the line's recipe development manager, Quaretti has designed, made and tested every dish served on an Oceania Cruises' ship. He and his talented team create approximately 300 new recipes each year to constantly revitalize and reinvigorate the onboard menus. For additional information on Oceania Cruises' small-ship luxury product, exquisitely crafted cuisine and expertly curated travel experiences, visit OceaniaCruises.com, call 855-OCEANIA or speak with a professional travel advisor. About Oceania Cruises Oceania Cruises is the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line. The line's seven small, luxurious ships carry a maximum of 1,238 guests and feature The Finest Cuisine at Sea and destination-rich itineraries that span the globe. Expertly curated travel experiences aboard the designer-inspired, small ships call on more than 600 marquee and boutique ports in more than 100 countries on seven continents on voyages that range from seven to more than 200 days. The brand has a second 1,200-guest newbuild, Allura, on order for delivery in 2025. With headquarters in Miami, Oceania Cruises is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., a diversified cruise operator of leading global cruise brands which include Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. About Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) is the leading global cruise company that operates Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. With a combined fleet of 30 ships and more than 60,000 berths, NCLH offers itineraries to nearly 500 destinations worldwide. NCLH has seven additional ships scheduled for delivery across its three brands, adding over 19,000 berths to its fleet. To learn more, visit www.nclhltd.com SOURCE Oceania Cruises Survey reveals 54% spend more than half their budget on acquisition, versus 13% who spend more than half on retention NEW YORK, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second year in a row, marketers continue to allocate more of their budget for acquisition marketing versus retention marketing, despite consumer spending uncertainty, and that new customer acquisition can cost five times more than retaining an existing one. The results are from a survey of 221 business-to-consumer (B2C) marketing executives. It revealed that 54% allocated more than half their marketing budget to new customer acquisition, versus 13% who allocated more than half their budget to customer retention. The remaining 33% of respondents said they split the acquisition/retention budget equally. The Optimove 2023 Survey of B2C Marketers was designed by Optimove and fielded by Survey Monkey in the second quarter of 2023. The 2023 results show little or no change from the results of an Optimove 2022 marketers survey fielded: 52% allocated more than half to customer acquisition, 15% allocated more than half to customer retention, and 33% said they split the budget equally. The results are reported as consumer spending remains flat. According to the April 10th Beige Book Report issued by the U.S. Federal Reserve, "Consumer spending was generally seen as flat to down slightly amid continued reports of moderate price growth." Plus, trend results of three recent Optimove surveys show that consumers' planned shopping budgets are unpredictable. In August 2022, nineteen percent (19%) of consumers planned on spending more, February 14%, and 22% in March 2023. While respondents continue to allocate more to acquisition than retention, conversely, they say marketing tactics that deliver the best return on investment are 1) retention/churn prevention, and 2) increasing customer lifetime value (CLV). The greatest percent of respondents (28%) did note that shifting marketing resources towards retention, customer-led marketing, and increasing CLV will deliver the highest impact and growth to their companies. This compared to 13% of marketers who felt that acquiring new customers would have the most business impact. Said Pini Yakuel, CEO of Optimove, "This survey reveals that marketers know that retention marketing delivers a better ROI than acquisition marketing. But, there are issues that could hold marketers back from shifting more budget to customer-led retention marketing. Many have some difficulty adapting new technologies that drive deeper connections and personalization to their consumers. Of note is that many marketers still need a crucial core ingredient to highly effective retention marketing: optimizing first- and zero-party data to create highly personalized experiences for customers." The results also showed that almost half of marketers (49%) do not have a strategy for collecting zero-party data, while 42% do not have a strategy for first-party data. Yakuel added, "For marketers, making a sharp pivot from acquisition to retention marketing starts with deep, real-time analytics of first- and zero-party customer data. It is executed with real-time, personal communication with each customer. It is critical to rely on marketing to a known customer in the face of consumer spending uncertainty." About the survey: The Optimove 2023 Survey of Business to Consumer Marketers queried 221 senior level marketing executives in the second quarter of 2022. The survey was designed by Optimove and fielded by Survey Monkey. Respondents included executives at companies with the following retail models: digital-first multi-brand, wholesale manufacturers, traditional multi-brands, digital-first direct to consumer, and traditional direct to consumer retailers with brick-and mortar outlets. Respondents included CEOs, CMOs and SVPs of marketing. About Optimove: Optimove is the first Customer-Led Marketing Platform. Its solutions ensure that marketing always starts with the customer instead of a campaign or product. Customer-Led Marketing has been proven to deliver brands an average increase of 33% in customer lifetime value. It is the only Customer-Led Marketing Platform powered by the combination of 1) rich historical, real-time, and predictive customer data, 2) AI-led multichannel journey orchestration, and 3) statistically credible multitouch attribution of every marketing action. Optimove provides industry-specific and use-case solutions for hundreds of leading consumer brands including BetMGM, SodaStream, Pennsylvania Lottery, Papa John's, and Staples. SOURCE Optimove - Originally acquired by Oxford as a development and investment opportunity in 2021, the transaction highlights continued institutional demand for best-in-class biomanufacturing space - BOSTON, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Oxford Properties Group ("Oxford"), a leading global real estate investor, asset manager and developer, today announced the sale of 149 Hayes Memorial Drive, a newly built, 140,000 square foot state-of-the-art GMP facility in the Boston submarket of Marlborough, MA, for US$91 million. The property was acquired by Cambridge, MA based, leading biotechnology company Moderna, Inc. ("Moderna"). 149 Hayes GMP life sciences facility in Boston (CNW Group/Oxford Properties Group Inc.) Originally acquired by Oxford in 2021 as a 24-acre parcel of vacant land, Oxford developed the site into a two-story purpose-built biomanufacturing facility with market-leading building specs. Designed to accommodate a range of manufacturing processes, 149 Hayes features 36' maximum clear heights, four loading docks and multiple freight elevators. The facility is anticipated to open in late 2024 after substantial buildout and expected to generate over 200 new jobs in the City of Marlborough by 2026. "This transaction perfectly encapsulates Oxford's investment strategy and our capabilities as a developer," commented Chad Remis, Executive Vice President, North America, Oxford Properties. "We acquired the property with high conviction in the continued demand for best-in-class biomanufacturing space in the Boston area and an intention to create value through our development capabilities, and thanks to our team, we delivered. "While initially developed with a plan to lease the asset and hold for the long term, Moderna's unsolicited offer to acquire the property allowed us to expedite our business plan execution. It is also evidence of the ongoing demand for cutting-edge GMP facilities which is a segment of the life sciences market that Oxford has purposefully cultivated deep expertise within. Our goal is to help our customers advance their science by providing the required and highly technical real estate infrastructure. Oxford has multiple ways of doing so, whether through traditional leases, ground-up and purpose-built development, sale and leaseback transactions." Oxford maintains a strong conviction in biomanufacturing as an integral part of the growth of its global life sciences business. Oxford's existing North American cGMP portfolio spans 1.4 million square feet with an additional development pipeline of approximately 600,000 square feet. This holistic approach seeks to provide firms the complete breadth of the required and highly technical real estate infrastructure to research, develop then manufacture the life changing therapeutics of tomorrow. Oxford's North American cGMP platform and pipeline stands at 11 facilities across six markets, with the largest concentration in the Boston region. Boston is the world's leading life sciences market with unparalleled research universities, funding, and talent. In 2022, the Boston Metro area ended with US$6.7 billion in life sciences venture capital funding, its second-highest annual total behind 2021 and a 40% increase compared to the 2019/2020 average. Similarly, Boston received over US$3 billion in funding from the National Institute of Health, trailing only the Greater New York Metro area nationally. "While life sciences growth nationally has moderated after multiple record years, activity remains consistently above pre-pandemic levels. Furthermore, Boston continues to be an unparalleled market in terms of concentration of talent, capital and research innovations, and we will continue to deliver high-quality real estate infrastructure to support Boston's growth and position as the global leader in life science," said Christie Chen, Director of Investments at Oxford. "This strategic transaction with Moderna is a testament to our life science strategy and highlights the strength of institutional demand for high-quality biomanufacturing space." In total, Oxford's Boston cGMP platform and pipeline spans four facilities. Oxford owns two fully leased facilities 92 Crowley (Marlborough, MA; 120,000 sq ft) and 33 New York Avenue (Framingham, MA; 113,000 sq ft), and two recently completed development projects, 23 Sycamore Avenue (Medford, MA; 108,000 sq ft) and 172 Middlesex Turnpike (Bedford, MA; 140,000 sq ft). Active in the life sciences industry since 2017, Oxford's global life science business has grown across the top-ten North American life science markets, the UK and continental Europe. Its life sciences portfolio encompasses 8 million square feet of completed properties, conversion projects and ground-up development and includes R&D labs and cGMP facilities. Since the start of 2021, Oxford has invested over US$3 billion in global life sciences and has identified a further US$5 billion of follow-on development opportunities. Oxford Properties [email protected] About Oxford Properties Group Oxford Properties Group ("Oxford") is a leading global real estate investor, asset manager and developer. It builds, buys, and grows defined real estate operating business with world-class management teams. Established in 1960, Oxford and its portfolio companies manage approximately C$86 billion of assets across four continents on behalf of their investment partners. Oxford's owned portfolio encompasses office, logistics, retail, multifamily residential, life sciences, hotels, alternatives and credit in global gateway cities and high-growth hubs. A thematic investor with a committed source of capital, Oxford invests in properties, portfolios, development sites, debt, securities and real estate businesses across the risk-reward spectrum. Together with its portfolio companies, Oxford is one of the world's most active developers with over 70 projects currently underway globally across all major asset classes. Oxford is owned by OMERS, the Canadian defined benefit pension plan for Ontario's municipal employees. For more information on Oxford, visit www.oxfordproperties.com. SOURCE Oxford Properties Group Inc. Fourth-Generation SBC Leader Addresses Causes for Decline in New Video Series Urging Denomination to Pursue Renewal, Revitalization and Revival LAKE FOREST, Calif., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pastor Rick Warren, founder of Saddleback Church, best-selling author of The Purpose Driven Life and Coordinator of the global Finishing the Task coalition, today announced the launch of a four-part video series addressing the unprecedented decline of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). "SBC at the Crossroads" begins its staggered release today with, Part 1: "Denial or Revival?" Grieved by the largest decline of the SBC in more than a century, Warren believes the loss of nearly a half million members over the past year shouldn't be ignored. In the short video series, he suggests some of the contributing factors which have led to the SBC's decline, and offers a biblical pathway for revitalizing individual hearts and churches, resulting in denominational renewal and revival. "The SBC is in crisis," said Warren. "Over the course of 17 years, the denomination has lost 3 million members. This isn't a glitch or the result of a pandemic; it's a trajectory we've been on for a while. Some SBC leaders seem unable to admit it or talk about it, but denial is dishonesty. We should be worrying about it." Acknowledging that the causes of decline in the SBC are many and complex, Warren firmly believes that the principles the Holy Spirit laid out in starting the early Church are the pathway to revitalization. Drawing on his experience working with thousands of churches over the past 43 years, he asserts the Convention must remember its foundation, repent and return to the things that once made it strong and healthy. Warren's new video series will focus on the biblical pathway for revitalizing hearts, churches and the denomination. Titles include: Part 1: "Denial or Revival?" (available now) Contributing factors to the 17-year decline of the denomination and biblical steps to recovery and revitalization; Part 2: "What is a B.A.P.T.I.S.T.?" Baptists' historic identity and the 7 unique distinctives that once made the SBC a powerhouse of Great Commission growth; Part 3: "New Testament Case for the Ministry of Women" New Testament passages that support the Great Commission ministry of women following a three-year study; and Part 4: "Acts 1-2 Twelve Step Recovery for Churches and the SBC" Holy Spirit-led principles from Scripture that reveal a pathway for renewing churches to revive a declining denomination. "If something is worth saving, you fight for it," explained Warren. "My Southern Baptist roots are deep. I have Southern Baptist pastors on both sides of my family going back four generations. They brought me to Christ, they educated me in college and seminary, and they supported me in ministry. I urge the SBC to reflect on Revelation 2:5, which says, 'Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.'" Earlier this month, Warren was installed as first-ever Chancellor of Spurgeon's College of London, the leading evangelical college in the United Kingdom, founded by esteemed Baptist preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Dr. Warren's appointment was due in part to the fact that his understanding of the meaning of ordination and conviction from Scripture on ministry leadership are identical to Spurgeon's published views. Pastor Warren is scheduled to give a 3-minute appeal to SBC messengers from the Convention floor at the Annual Meeting in New Orleans on the afternoon of June 13, 2023. To learn more about Pastor Rick Warren's stand for the renewal, revitalization and revival of the SBC and/or be informed of the release of each video in the four-part series, visit SBCStand.com . Guests to the site will find related video transcripts, essays, interviews and other multi-media content. About Pastor Rick Warren Rick Warren is the founding Pastor of Saddleback Church in California, which grew to over 30,000 weekly attendees across 19 locations, including four international campuses and via streaming online hosting listeners from around the world. He is currently serving as Coordinator of Finishing the Task, a global coalition of churches, denominations, Christian organizations, mission agencies and media working together toward the Great Commission goal of ensuring that everyone everywhere has access to a Bible, a believer and a body of Christ by 2033 A.D., which will be the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus' resurrection and the foundation of the Christian church. Warren has a Bachelor of Arts degree from California Baptist College, a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. MEDIA CONTACT: A. Larry Ross, (469) 774-6362 [email protected] SOURCE Pastor Rick Warren These new age-appropriate Kindness for Kids cards inspire children to help shine a light on the importance of paying it forward. NEW YORK, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- After the 9/11 tragedy in 2001, our world was reminded just how simple it was to show kindness to each other. It also taught us that kindness can change lives and bring unity to a brokenhearted world. Twenty-two years later, PayItForward911.org seeks to continue to honor the heroes and the lives lost with one goal: to "never forget". The challenge? Children today didn't experience the September 11th attacks, nor were they able to witness the power of kindness and unity in the weeks and months after 9/11. Pay It Forward 9/11 has a solution. Teachers, counselors, principals and parent/teacher organizations are invited to join in the campaign through "11 Days of Kindness" student activity card decks to help children learn how to pay it forward. Each deck is 11 cards, one kindness action per day, and the reverse of the card explains "Why it's good for you" (giver) and "Why it's good for them" (recipient). Purchase kindness card decks for family, a classroom, a grade level or even an entire school. Anyone can also make a donation , and card decks will be sent on the donor's behalf to teachers in our Pay it Forward 9/11 network. Donations ensure kindness is paid forward and one of America's darkest days is remembered in a brighter light. "Let's recall how America was united after the 9/11 attacks," said founder Kevin Tuerff. "Join together with your neighborhood friends, scouting troop, house of worship, or classroom to plan acts of kindness and remember lives lost on September 11th." To purchase: Payitforward911.org/kids . Orders of 100 or more are discounted by 20 percent. About Pay It Forward 9/11: Created in Austin in 2002 to honor compassionate Canadians in Newfoundland and Labrador, Pay It Forward 9/11 was started by an airline passenger stranded there to honor those killed in the 9/11 attacks. The "11 Days of Kindness" campaign encourages acts of compassion, much like the stranded airline passengers from 90 countries who received food, clothing and shelter, for five days. Pay it Forward 9/11, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization registered in New York. SOURCE Pay It Forward 9/11 A new type of farmers market could be coming this summer: One that sells legally grown pot. As licensed marijuana cultivators and retailers work their way through the unexpectedly slow and complicated process of getting brick-and-mortar dispensaries open, they will be able to join forces to sell their products at legal cannabis farmers markets this summer, according to the Office of Cannabis Management. John Kagia, OCM Director of Policy, announced the plan at a town hall meeting with the Cannabis Association of New York last week. . The cannabis farmers markets would be a way to help marijuana growers, who have been stung badly by the slow rollout of the legal pot marketplace across the state. Many growers harvested crops last year expecting to sell their marijuana to store operators on the verge of opening. Instead, with only a handful of legal stores open statewide, and none in Western New York, the growers had a crop and no one to sell it to. "It allows the growers to get to consumers who are going to be buying legal regulated products and it allows you to sell products more quickly across the state," Kagia said. The markets will provide a way for legal weed cultivators to move the glut of product they've had sitting in storage as they wait for licensed retail dispensaries to open. There are only 13 legal dispensaries up and running in the state. "We spent a lot of time trying to figure out a way in which we can get the biomass that you have produced into consumers' hands," he said. It's being called the New York Cannabis Growers Showcase and it allows a minimum of three growers and one retailer to organize events where they can sell cannabis flower and pre-rolled cannabis cigarettes at non-storefront locations. Cannabis growers and sellers will be able to stage events anywhere in the state, and will not be bound to the district in which they're licensed. The state cannabis office has not put a limit on how many growers and retailers can participate in an event. But the cannabis farmers markets could face hurdles. The biggest could be that municipalities will have to grant approval for growers to hold one in their community. Many details are still being worked out at the state level, and it will probably take about another month before the program is official, the OCM said. It will be a pilot program, which the state will consider making permanent, it said. Licensed cannabis farmers have been begging state cannabis officials for help getting their product into the hands of consumers, with many saying they are in distress and nearing bankruptcy with no place to sell the millions of dollars in product they invested in and have been sitting on since the fall harvest. "The farmers built this industry on their backs," said Jeanette Miller, a cultivator in Newfane, at an OCM meeting earlier this month. Cultivators like Miller said they took on significant risk to grow the state's first legal cannabis crop and feel like they've been hung out to dry by the state. Small operation farmers said they put their livelihood on the line with the state's promise of a cannabis market, but the state's slow and problematic rollout has meant there was no cannabis market to sell their product to when crops were ready. "I've taken out extra loans and lines of credit against my farm to try and keep going and now it's time to plant seeds," said Miller. "I don't think people understand when you talk about seeds that are $3, $4, $5 and $10 per seed." Kerry Trammel, secretary of the Cannabis Association of New York's Cultivation Committee, said she has had to give up space she's spent $50,000 leasing in order to pay her bills. Were struggling to survive," she said. With momentum building to remove e ntrenched directors, management is caught redhanded and continues to insult shareholders with last-minute attempts to paper over a larming misrepresentations and governance failures Nickel 28 forced to admit that Mr. Philip Williams , the so-called "Lead Independent Director", is NOT an independent director Only the Pelham Nominees will bring accountability to the Nickel 28 boardroom - shareholder presentation posted to www.savenickel28.com Questions or need voting assistance? Shareholders with questions or who need voting assistance may contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group at 1-877-452-7184 (416-304-0211 outside North America ) or by email at [email protected] NEW YORK, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Pelham Investment Partners LP ("Pelham", "we", "our" and similar pronouns), a New York-based investment fund and the single largest shareholder of Nickel 28 Capital Corp. (formerly Conic Metals Corp.) (TSXV: NKL) (FSE: 3JC0) ("Nickel 28" or the "Company"), reminds shareholders that voting only the YELLOW Proxy will result in positive change at Nickel 28. Pelham is encouraged by the significant outpouring of support it has received from fellow shareholders who have had enough of the existing board's shameless efforts to entrench themselves, seemingly at any cost. Vote ONLY the YELLOW Proxy ! Pelham reminds shareholders that it has designed the YELLOW Proxy as a "universal" proxy, meaning that all of the Pelham Nominees, as well as the nominees of management , are included as voting options for the upcoming annual general and special meeting of shareholders of the Company, currently scheduled for June 12, 2023 (including any adjournment or postponement thereof, the "Meeting"). Pelham determined to provide shareholders with a universal proxy as the practice of utilizing a universal proxy in a contested meeting is becoming increasingly recognized as a governance best practice. Regardless of the outcome of the litigation spurred by the Board's self-serving decision to reject Pelham's advance notice of nominations, votes cast using the YELLOW proxy will count. If Pelham's nominees are able to stand for election, votes cast for those nominees on Pelham's YELLOW proxy will count. If Pelham's nominees are not able to stand for election, withhold votes cast against the current directors on Pelham's YELLOW proxy will count. Despite management's efforts to disenfranchise shareholders with legal manoeuvres, including by indicating that they will not consider our five highly-qualified and independent nominees (the "Pelham Nominees") at the Meeting, we believe that the decision to reject our advance notice of nominations was wrong and we will be arguing our case to give shareholders a voice to effect much-needed change at the Company. While no outcome of litigation is certain, we believe in the equity of our cause, and are confounded as to how management could possibly consider that disenfranchising shareholders is in the best interests of the Company and in keeping with their fiduciary duties as directors. Even though management was in possession of the identities of the Pelham Nominees, and was certainly aware that the Meeting would be contested by our submission of an advance notice of director nominations under the Company's articles, management chose not to provide for our nominees on their form of proxy (for reasons that should be readily apparent to shareholders). Accordingly, shareholders are able to vote for the Pelham Nominees or management nominees, or any combination thereof, on the YELLOW Proxy ONLY . This also means that the YELLOW Proxy may be voted to both " WITHHOLD " votes in respect of management's nominees, as well as vote " FOR " the Pelham Nominees. Pelham urges shareholders to vote only the YELLOW Proxy, regardless of how shareholders intend to vote, and regardless of the outcome of the pending litigation, and disregard any proxies or voting instruction forms received from management. Management Lowers the Bar Caught red-handed in the midst of significant and long-standing governance failures and misleading disclosure (exposed by Pelham), management has retreated from its false position that Mr. Philip Williams, the so-called "Lead Independent Director", is independent. Only after Pelham exposed management's serious misrepresentations in this regard have they finally acknowledged that Mr. Williams does NOT meet the definition of an "independent" director. Even still, management's recently announced supplement to its management information circular buries this glaring and inconvenient truth behind pages of inflammatory and baseless disparaging statements about Pelham and its intentions, and outright fails to disclose this significant fact in its latest news release. Management continues to refuse to properly address the numerous significant misrepresentations contained in its management information circular including those that are dependent on the fiction that Mr. Williams is independent, such as its numerous and significant misrepresentations that the board is somehow "majority independent", as well as calling into serious question the decisions of the so-called "independent" directors. It should also be noted that the Board appears to think simultaneously that: (i) technical disclosure deficiencies in Pelham's advance notice of nominations - which were known to management and were subsequently corrected in Pelham's information circular released on May 24, 2023 are sufficient grounds to deny shareholders the opportunity to vote for Pelham's nominees; while (ii) material disclosure deficiencies in the Company's management information circular including with respect to management's nominees (and which management didn't even fully correct with their circular supplement issued May 29, 2023) are somehow perfectly acceptable. This double standard speaks to the Board's real motivations denying shareholders an opportunity to hold them accountable by preventing shareholders from choosing an alternative management team for the Company. Pelham believes that management has limited options for appropriately dealing with the tumbling house of cards they've built for themselves, and so the only recourse available to them that serves their strategy of entrenchment is to "deflect and misdirect". Faced with the truth of Mr. Williams' lack of independence and rather than engage with Pelham on the significant governance issues facing the Company, the board is again behaving in its own selfinterest. Most recently, in addition to burying the truth about Mr. Williams at the back of their most recent circular supplement, management chose to lower the bar rather than put forward an appropriate director slate that complies with the Company's own board mandate, the Company chose to remove the board mandate's protective requirement that the board have at least three independent directors. Shareholders should understand by now that this latest act by management is nothing but window-dressing, in an attempt to shore up votes amid growing shareholder outrage. Indeed, the Company's board mandate also requires that the board meet at least four times per year , and yet the management information circular disclosed that the board met only twice in the last year (and received exorbitant compensation for those limited efforts). Pelham looks forward to management's next announced amendment to the troublesome board mandate. Only the Pelham Nominees will hold the Company to a higher standard one that the Company is certainly capable of meeting and shareholders deserve but not under current management . Shareholder Presentation - Learn More About the Pelham Nominees and Our Case for Change Shareholders are urged to visit www.savenickel28.com where they can learn more about Pelham and the Pelham Nominees. Shareholders can also review a new shareholder presentation that sets out the case for change and Pelham's vision for a higher standard at Nickel 28. Vote the YELLOW Proxy Today Time is of the essence. In order to ensure your vote is counted at the Meeting, please ensure that your YELLOW Proxy or voting instruction form is received prior to the proxy voting deadline of 9:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on June 7, 2023. Even if you have already voted using a blue management proxy or voting instruction form, you have every right to change your vote and support the nomination of our nominees, or the withholding of votes against management's nominees, or any combination thereof. A later-dated YELLOW form of proxy or voting instruction form automatically revokes any and all previously submitted forms of proxy or voting instruction forms. Shareholder Questions For any questions or voting assistance, shareholders should contact Pelham LP's strategic shareholder communications advisor and proxy solicitation agent, Laurel Hill Advisory Group ("Laurel Hill") at 1877452-7184 (416-304-0211 outside North America) or by email at [email protected]. Shareholders can also visit savenickel28.com for more information, and sign-up to stay up to date. About Pelham Pelham Investment Partners LP is private investment firm located in New York, managed and founded by Edward (Ned) Collery in 2021. We are long-term and value-oriented investors. Pelham, the single largest shareholder of the Company, has held an investment in Nickel 28 since the firm's founding in 2021. Additional Information This news release is issued in connection with a solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of Pelham and not on behalf of management of Nickel 28. Pelham filed an information circular dated May 21, 2023 (the "Pelham Circular"), which contains certain important prescribed information concerning Pelham and its nominees, as well as information about the background and reasons for the solicitation. The Pelham Circular and YELLOW form of proxy is available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Pelham has retained Laurel Hill as its strategic shareholder communications advisor and proxy solicitation agent. All costs incurred for any solicitation will be borne directly by Pelham. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and to the extent legally permissible, Pelham may seek reimbursement from Nickel 28 for the expenses it incurs in connection with this solicitation, including proxy solicitation expenses and legal fees, in connection with a successful reconstitution of the Board. Pelham does not intend to submit the question of such reimbursement to a vote of shareholders of the Company. Pelham notes that it expects that any such expenses will be substantially less than the expenses that Management has forced the Company to incur to defend Management from an otherwise avoidable proxy contest. Proxies may be solicited by mail, facsimile, telephone, telegraph, internet, in person, by advertisements and by any other manner permitted by law. No person is authorized to give information or to make any representations by or on behalf of Pelham other than those contained in this Circular and, if given or made, such information or representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized by Pelham to be given or made. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Pelham Circular, neither Pelham nor, to its knowledge, any of its nominees, nor any of their respective associates or affiliates, has any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the commencement of Nickel 28's most recently completed financial year, or in any proposed transaction which has materially affected or will materially affect Nickel 28 or any of its subsidiaries. Neither Pelham nor, to its knowledge, any of its nominees, nor any of their respective associates or affiliates, has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the Meeting, other than as set out herein or in the Pelham Circular. To the knowledge of Pelham LP, Nickel 28's head office is located at 155 University Avenue, Suite 1240, Toronto, Ontario M5H 3B7 and its registered address is located at Suite 2500, Park Place, 666 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2X8. A copy of this news release may be obtained under Nickel 28's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Information disclosed in this news release may contain forward-looking information. All statements and information, other than statements of historical fact, included in this news release contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forwardlooking words such as "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe" or "continue" or similar words and expressions or negative variations thereof. Statements containing forwardlooking information in this news release include statements regarding activities, events or developments that Pelham expects or anticipates may occur in the future, expectations regarding the Meeting, and what Pelham expects its nominees will do if elected to the Board. Although Pelham believes that the expectations reflected in statements containing forward-looking information made by Pelham in this news release to be reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Material factors or assumptions that were applied in formulating the forward-looking information contained herein include the assumption that the business and economic conditions affecting the Company's operations will continue substantially in the current state, including without limitation with respect to industry conditions, general levels of economic activity, continuity and availability of personnel, local and international laws and regulations, foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates, inflation, taxes that there will be no unplanned material changes to the Company's operations, and that the Company's public disclosure record is accurate in all material respects and is not misleading (including by omission). Pelham cautions that the foregoing list of material facts and assumptions is not exhaustive. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Pelham and there is no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which statements containing forward-looking information are based will occur or, even if they do occur, will result in the plans, results or performance expected. We caution readers of this news release not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information contained in this news release, which are not a guarantee of performance, events or results and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. These factors include, among other things, actions taken by the Company in connection with the Meeting, risks under material contracts of the Company, the outcome of any proceedings that may be commenced in connection with the Meeting, the content of subsequent public disclosures by the Company, general economic conditions, legislative or regulatory changes, changes in capital or securities markets, and those risks and uncertainties detailed in the continuous disclosure and other filings of Nickel 28 with applicable Canadian securities regulators. These are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any of Pelham's forward-looking information. Other unknown and unpredictable factors could also impact outcomes. Statements containing forward-looking information in this news release are based on Pelham's beliefs and opinions at the time the statements are made, and there should be no expectation that such forward-looking information will be updated or supplemented as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise, and Pelham disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by applicable law. SOURCE Pelham Investment Partners LP SAN DIEGO, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Phanes Therapeutics, Inc. (Phanes), a clinical stage biotech company focused on innovative drug discovery and development in oncology, today announced that it has appointed Rita Laeufle, MD, PhD, as Chief Medical Officer, effective June 1, 2023. Dr. Laeufle has more than 18 years of experience in clinical development in oncology and will oversee the clinical advancement of Phanes' pipeline. "We are excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Laeufle as Chief Medical Officer of Phanes. Dr. Laeufle has played a key role in supporting our clinical programs during the past seven months as our Chief Medical Adviser," said Dr. Ming Wang, Founder and CEO. "Phanes has built a strong pipeline and initiated Phase I clinical trials for two lead molecules, PT199 for solid tumors and PT886 for gastric, gastroesophageal junction and pancreatic adenocarcinomas, respectively. The third lead molecule PT217 for small cell lung cancer and other neuroendocrine cancers is also expected to enter Phase I clinical trial soon. Dr. Laeufle's expertise will accelerate the clinical development of these programs. With Dr. Laeufle's appointment, Phanes is well positioned to make important impacts in delivering innovative therapies for cancer patients." Dr. Laeufle is a board-certified surgical oncologist with extensive experience in drug development in oncology across the pharma and biotech industry. Prior to joining Phanes, Dr. Laeufle served as Chief Medical Officer at Imugene Biotech, responsible for developing B-cell activating immunotherapies (neoHERIZON study). Dr. Laeufle was also the Chief Medical Officer at Oncolytics, leading clinical development of immune-oncology studies from Phase I to registration pathway in breast and gastrointestinal cancers where she led the ongoing BRACELET-1 and GOBLET studies. Previously, Dr. Laeufle held several senior leadership positions, including Vice President of clinical development & medical affairs at SFJ Pharmaceuticals. Earlier Dr. Laeufle worked at Genentech as Senior Medical Director in medical affairs for gastrointestinal disease. She was responsible in her preceding role as Senior Medical Science Leader at Roche in Switzerland for bevacizumab in breast cancer, where she was the lead scientist to maintain the approval for the metastatic breast cancer indication for Avastin in combination with Paclitaxel. Other leadership roles Dr. Laeufle held in the industry were in pharmacovigilance for oncology and drug development for infectious disease at Novartis. Dr. Laeufle completed general surgical training at Buckland Hospital in England, University Hospital Basel in Switzerland and "Staedtisches Krankenhaus" Ueberlingen in Germany. She was trained in surgical oncology at "Staedtisches Krankenhaus" Singen in Germany. Dr. Laeufle got her MD degree from medical school at Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg i.Br. Germany where she also received her PhD degree in oncology research on Erb-2/neu. ABOUT PHANES THERAPEUTICS Phanes Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical stage biotech company focused on innovative drug discovery and development in oncology. Currently, it has three assets at clinical stage, including its best-in-class monoclonal antibody (mAb) program, PT199, and two first-in-class bispecific antibody programs, PT886 and PT217. Both PT886 and PT217 have been granted orphan drug designation by FDA. Its pipeline also includes humanized mAbs, biparatopics, and single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) against multiple tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) that are suitable for ADC and CAR-T applications, respectively. The company has built a strong pipeline by leveraging its proprietary technology platforms: PACbody , SPECpair and ATACCbody to develop novel biologics that address high unmet medical needs in cancer. PACbody, is a proprietary approach for constructing bispecific antibodies without using protein engineering so that the antibody molecules maintain native structures with superb CMC characteristics. SPECpair allows mAb-like manufacturability of bispecific antibodies with native IgG-like structures, and ATACCbody is a technology for targeting solid tumors using immuno-oncology molecules with modulated activities designed to minimize the risk of cytokine release syndrome. For more information about Phanes Therapeutics, please visit www.phanesthera.com For business development or media inquiries, please contact [email protected] SOURCE Phanes Therapeutics PITTSBURGH, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC) announced today that Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Robert Q. Reilly will discuss business performance, strategy and banking at 11 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, June 13, at the Morgan Stanley US Financials Conference in New York City. The following will be accessible at www.pnc.com/investorevents: a link to the live webcast; related materials, including cautionary statements regarding forward-looking information, also available prior to the start of the webcast; and a webcast replay available for 30 days. The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com. CONTACTS: MEDIA: Tim Miller (412) 762-4550 [email protected] INVESTORS: Bryan Gill (412) 768-4143 [email protected] SOURCE The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. ATLANTA, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ProgenaCare Global today announced it was named 2023 Global Exporter of the Year, a distinctive honor for three 2023 GLOBE Award recipients, by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). Managed by the Department's International Trade team, this state-led awards program highlights Georgia companies that expanded sales to new international markets in the previous year. This was ProgenaCare Global's first year being recognized as a GLOBE Award recipient. Bert Jones, Chairman of ProgenaCare Global, celebrated the accomplishment. "It's such an honor to be named 2023 Global Exporter of the Year and to receive the GLOBE Award on behalf of ProgenaCare Global and all of our team members. When we realized the power of this new technology, we knew we had to find a way to get it out to the world. We changed the name of the company and set about to get it in the hands of the world's doctors." ProgenaCare Global, headquartered in Marietta, Georgia, is a purpose-driven medical device company leveraging cutting-edge advances in biomaterials and digital technologies to provide effective, affordable, advanced wound care solutions to patients across the socioeconomic spectrum around the world. In 2022, the company began exporting ProgenaMatrix, the first and only commercially available human keratin matrix for wound care, to Africa, South America and the Middle East. ProgenaCare Global's exports have been central to establishing strong healthcare and medical partnerships while maintaining the company's mission to bring highly effective wound care to patients everywhere in a financially sustainable way to permanently improve lives and change the status quo of the industry. According to co-founder and Executive Vice President of Global Partnerships & Business Development, John Daniel, "Our work has taken us to many places including Africa; namely Tanzania and Zanzibar. Now we're getting work started in Uganda and Rwanda and expanding in the Middle East. We've also had the honor to treat wounded warriors and civilians in Ukraine through a humanitarian trip in March, so it is a privilege that we were recognized by the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Governor's office, and all those who have been supporting us." The GLOBE Awards program began in 2014 to recognize local businesses contributing to Georgia's economic growth through global trade. Since then, GDEcD has presented 323 GLOBE Awards to companies across 46 Georgia counties. The winners built successful market entry strategies demonstrating their commitment, determination, and willingness to leverage export resources. For more information on this year's awards, visit here . "The 2023 GLOBE Awards highlight just a few of the Georgia small and medium-sized businesses that are exploring growth opportunities through international trade," said GDEcD Deputy Commissioner of International Trade, Mary Waters. "This is one of the best parts of the job for me and for my team -- getting to recognize the hard work of Georgia businesses. It's really rewarding to know that technologies and products coming out of the state of Georgia are helping to heal and change the world. It's really a privilege to recognize ProgenaCare Global for their international efforts." ProgenaCare Global was founded in 2008 by biopolymer scientist Dr. Tom Barrows, PhD and medical device entrepreneur John Daniel, with primary funding by Bert Jones. Wound care and regenerative industry leader Howard Walthall serves as the CEO. ProgenaCare Global, a Better Right NOW! organization is part of an expanding global network of companies focused on employing a new economic model called Social Benefit Targeted Capitalism, to provide sustainable improvement in the lives of individuals through healthcare, agriculture and education. Footage for use in story development can be found by visiting this link. SOURCE ProgenaCare Global LOS ANGELES, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Resecurity, Inc. (USA) a global cybersecurity solutions provider protecting Fortune 500 and government agencies worldwide, has announced that it will participate in GITEX Africa 2023, the continent's largest inclusive tech event, from 31 May to 2nd June 2023. The event will take place at the Exhibition Center in Marrakesh, Morocco, bringing together thousands of technology professionals, law enforcement, industry experts, and thought leaders to showcase the latest trends, products, and solutions in the ICT industry. GITEX AFRICA is held under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, under the authority of the Moroccan Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform and hosted by Digital Development Agency (ADD). Resecurity is excited to showcase its innovative cybersecurity solutions at the event, including its advanced digital identity protection & e-government protection, cyber threat intelligence (CTI), cyber forensics and incident response services, and cutting-edge endpoint protection technologies. Visitors to the Resecurity booth #7C-45 will have the opportunity to meet with the cybersecurity experts, who will be on hand to provide information on the latest industry trends and answer any questions attendees may have about the company's products and services. GITEX AFRICA is an annual pan-African tech event that brings together a diverse group of stakeholders, including tech titans, governments, SMEs, startups, coders, investors, and academia. The event, held in Marrakesh, Morocco, features a curation of emerging technologies from fintech, e-commerce, cloud, IoT, AI, telecom, and cybersecurity. The main objective of GITEX AFRICA is to accelerate collaboration and explore new ventures that will shape the vision for a more sustainable, inclusive, and tech-driven digital economy in Africa. The event aims to showcase the limitless possibilities of the continent, powered by tech-savvy youth, corporates, and ambitious governments. GITEX AFRICA offers a range of exhibition sectors and conferences, including an interactive global showcase of innovations and the latest tech, outcome-focused conferences, product launches, and networking opportunities with industry leaders. Attendees can meet leading experts, entrepreneurs, and innovators who share their insights and ideas and discover the latest trends and opportunities in the technology industry. According to Mr. Drissi Mohammed Melyani, the Director General of the Digital Development Agency in Morocco, Africa's capacity for technology is boundless, and the time to take action is now. One of the key features of GITEX AFRICA is the amazing lineup of major tech CEOs who reveal their perspectives on the current challenges and the next frontier of innovation. This allows African global leaders and investors to address the region and explore ways of leveraging technology to drive growth and development. Resecurity's team will showcase the company's products and services throughout the event, providing attendees with a unique opportunity to learn more about cybersecurity developments and explore new solutions to protect their businesses from advanced cyber threats. "We are thrilled to be participating in GITEX Africa," said Gene Yoo, CEO of Resecurity. "This is a great opportunity for us to showcase our latest innovations in cybersecurity and engage with industry professionals from across the continent. We are committed to providing our customers with the best possible cybersecurity solutions in multiple domains (including fraud prevention, threat intelligence, digital forensics, endpoint and identity protection, managed threat hunting), and we look forward to sharing our expertise and knowledge with esteemed attendees at this great event." Resecurity is a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions, specializing in advanced threat intelligence, identity protection, digital forensics and managed threat response services. The company's mission is to help businesses and organizations of all sizes protect their networks, data, and assets from cyber threats. With a team of world-class cybersecurity experts and a commitment to innovation and excellence, Resecurity is poised to be at the forefront of the industry for years. Recently Resecurity products have been also named a Gold Winner by the 2022 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards in North America. Resecurity products and services received Gold recognition across 3 categories in highly competitive categories such as cyber threat intelligence (CTI), threat hunting, and third-party risk management (TPRM): GOLD WINNER for Cyber Threat Intelligence in North America: Resecurity Context Cyber Threat Intelligence Platform GOLD WINNER for Third Party Risk Management (TPRM) in North America: Resecurity Risk Supply Chain Risk Management Platform GOLD WINNER for Threat Hunting in North America: Resecurity Hunter Research & Development Resecurity has been recognized by Frost & Sullivan as a Leader in the Cyber Threat Intelligence Market and has been included as the top Cyber Threat Intelligence Platform (TIP) Provider globally. The company has recently been highlighted in the latest Global TIP Market Report 2022 and External Risk Mitigation Platforms (ERMM) providing information about the most successful CTI and digital risk management industry players. The Frost & Sullivan report details the organization's market research, identifying trends in the market and top vendors and tools in the market. In addition to its threat intelligence platform, Resecurity provides incident response services to help organizations respond to and recover from cyber-attacks. Resecurity's incident response team is available 24/7 to assist clients with identifying and containing security incidents. The team uses a combination of technical expertise and strategic planning to help clients minimize the impact of security incidents and restore their operations as quickly as possible. Resecurity's commitment to helping organizations stay ahead of cyber threats has earned the company a reputation as a trusted partner in the cybersecurity industry. With its extensive experience in threat intelligence and incident response, Resecurity is well-equipped to help organizations of all sizes and industries protect their assets and reputation against cyber threats. For more information about Resecurity and its cybersecurity solutions, please visit the company's website at www.resecurity.com. For more information about GITEX Africa and how to attend, please visit the event's official website at www.gitexafrica.com. About Resecurity Resecurity is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified platform for endpoint protection, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence. Known for providing best-of-breed data-driven intelligence solutions, Resecurity's services and platforms focus on early-warning identification of data breaches and comprehensive protection against cybersecurity risks. Founded in 2016, it has been globally recognized as one of the world's most innovative cybersecurity companies with the sole mission of enabling organizations to combat cyber threats regardless of how sophisticated they are. Most recently, Resecurity was named as one of the Top 10 fastest-growing private cybersecurity companies in Los Angeles, California by Inc. Magazine. An Official Member and a Gold Sponsor of InfraGard National Members Alliance (INMA), AFCEA, NDIA, SIA, FS-ISAC and the American Chamber of Commerce in Saudi Arabia (AmChamKSA), Singapore (AmChamSG), Korea (AmChamKorea), Mexico (AmChamMX), and UAE (AmChamDubai). To learn more about Resecurity, visit https://resecurity.com. SOURCE Resecurity MONTREAL, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Resolute Forest Products Inc., a subsidiary of Domtar Corporation and a part of the Paper Excellence Group, today announced that it has entered into an asset purchase agreement to sell its Thunder Bay (Ontario) pulp and paper mill to an affiliate of Atlas Holdings. The transaction, expected to close in the second half of the year, is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of closing conditions, including obtaining required regulatory approvals. Resolute will continue to operate its sawmills and woodlands operations in Northwestern Ontario. At the closing of the transaction, the parties will enter into certain ancillary agreements, including a long-term woodchip and biomass supply agreement pursuant to which Resolute will continue to provide chips and biomass to the Thunder Bay mill. "The mill is an exceptional asset," said Remi G. Lalonde, Resolute's president and chief executive officer. "I am confident that the dedicated and talented team in Thunder Bay will have a prosperous future, and I sincerely wish them all the best." The sale of the Thunder Bay mill is a requirement under the consent agreement entered into between Domtar Corporation and the Canadian Commissioner of Competition and registered with the Canadian Competition Tribunal in connection with its review of Domtar Corporation's recent acquisition of Resolute. Advisors BMO Capital Markets is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Resolute, and Stikeman Elliott LLP is serving as its legal advisor. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information Expectations with respect to the closing are forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those suggested by these statements for a number of reasons, including either party's failure to satisfy the closing conditions and other factors impacting the paper industry or the mill. About Resolute Forest Products Resolute Forest Products is a leading producer of a diverse range of wood, pulp, tissue and paper products, which are marketed in 60 countries. The company operates some 40 facilities, as well as power generation assets, in the United States and Canada and has third-party certified 100% of its managed woodlands to internationally recognized sustainable forest management standards. Resolute has received regional, North American and global recognition for its leadership in corporate social responsibility and sustainable development, as well as for its business practices. Headquartered in Montreal (Quebec), the company is a subsidiary of Domtar Corporation and a part of the Paper Excellence Group. To learn more, visit www.resolutefp.com. SOURCE Resolute Forest Products Inc. The growth of the global RF Isolator market is driven by factors such as surge in demand for wireless communication systems and increase in demand for Industry 4.0, telecommunication, military, healthcare and automation end use industry. PORTLAND, Ore., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "RF Isolator Market By Type (Drop-In Isolator, Microstrip Isolator, Co-Axial Isolator, and Surface Mount Isolator), Application (800 to 900 MHz, and 1950 to 2000 MHz) and End User (Electronics, IT, Telecommunications, Military, Healthcare, and Other): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20232032". According to the report, the global RF Isolator industry generated $0.7 billion in 2022, and is anticipated to generate $1.3 billion by 2032, witnessing a CAGR of 5.9% from 2023 to 2032. Request PDF Brochure: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/10017 Prime Determinants of Growth There is growth in demand for RF isolators due to the increase in need for reliable signal isolation and interference prevention in wireless communication systems. The need for RF isolators becomes essential to prevent interference between competing signals as the use of wireless communication devices increases in crowded urban areas. Furthermore, advancements in semiconductor technology are expected to enable the development of more efficient and smaller RF isolators that are more affordable and accessible to a wider range of applications. The high cost of RF isolators remains a significant barrier to their growth and adoption in the market despite these advancements. However, the adoption of Industry 4.0 and increase in automation in manufacturing are expected to create new opportunities for RF isolators in industrial applications, where reliable and efficient communication systems are critical for optimizing the production process and reducing downtime. Report Coverage & Details: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20222032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $0.7 billion Market Size in 2032 $1.3 billion CAGR 5.9 % No. of Pages in Report 260 Segments covered Type, Application, End User, and Region. Drivers Growth in demand for wireless communication systems drives RF isolator market growth. Advances in the semiconductor industry pave the way for improved RF isolators. Opportunities Industry 4.0 and automation in manufacturing create an opportunity demand for RF isolators in industrial applications. Restraints High cost of RF isolators. Covid-19 Scenario The COVID-19 pandemic had a mixed impact on the RF isolator market. The increased demand for wireless communication systems due to remote work and virtual learning had driven the need for reliable signal isolation, which had increased the demand for RF isolators. The increase in adoption of Industry 4.0 and automation in manufacturing had created new opportunities for RF isolators in industrial applications. The RF isolator market is expected to continue to grow due to the increase in demand for wireless communication systems and the need for reliable signal isolation and interference prevention in a range of industries as the world recovers from pandemic. The co-axial Isolator segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Based on type, the co-axial isolator segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly half of the global RF Isolator market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, as it has high demand for the development of new 5G technologies that can support emerging applications such as 5G and Industry 4.0. However, the drop-in isolator segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 6.65% from 2023 to 2032, as it is expected to rise significantly as emerging markets continue to invest in advanced technologies such as 5G and internet of things (IoT). The 1950 to 2000 MHz segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Based on application, the 1950 to 2000 MHz segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than three-fourths of the global RF Isolator market revenue, owing to the advancements in technology, and increase in demand for state-of-the art communications system for military. Moreover, the same segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 5.98% from 2023 to 2032, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, owing to increase in use of wide-bandgap semiconductors such as gallium nitride (GaN) and silicon carbide (SiC) which enables the creation of smaller, more efficient, and reliable components, ultimately driving the demand for RF isolators. The telecommunications segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Based on end user, the telecommunications segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than one-fourth of the global RF Isolator market revenue, owing to the advancements in 5G technology, which caters the installation of new base stations and antenna globally. Moreover, the same segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 6.38% from 2023 to 2032, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, owing to increase in the design of microwave and millimeter-wave systems, including point-to-point links and radar systems, which require high-frequency operation and isolation to prevent signal reflections and interference from affecting system accuracy. Buy This Report (260 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://bit.ly/3OHpMct North America to maintain its dominance by 2032. Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for more than one-third of the global RF Isolator market revenue and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 6.10% from 2023 to 2032, owing rapid expansion of aerospace and defense industries in the region, as aerospace and defense industries rely heavily on electronic communication and radar systems, which need RF isolators to ensure reliable operation. Companies such as Kete Microwave Electronics Co.,Ltd. have been able to capitalize on this growth by offering a range of X-band RF isolator and circulator products that cater to various applications, including space research, broadcasting satellites, and fixed communication service satellites. Leading Market Players: - ADMOTECH Inc. Atlantic Microwave Bird Technologies Cernex Inc. Quantic Corry DiTom Microwave ECHO Microwave JQL Technologies Corporation Kete Microwave Electronics Co.,Ltd. Narda-MITEQ The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global RF Isolator market. These players have adopted different strategies such as acquisition, branding, new product launches, collaborations, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario. Key Benefits for Stakeholders This report provides a quantitative analysis of the market segments, current trends, estimations, and dynamics of the rf isolator market analysis from 2022 to 2032 to identify the prevailing rf isolator market opportunities. The market research is offered along with information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities. Porter's five forces analysis highlights the potency of buyers and suppliers to enable stakeholders make profit-oriented business decisions and strengthen their supplier-buyer network. In-depth analysis of the rf isolator market segmentation assists to determine the prevailing market opportunities. Major countries in each region are mapped according to their revenue contribution to the global market. Market player positioning facilitates benchmarking and provides a clear understanding of the present position of the rf circulator isolator market players. The report includes the analysis of the regional as well as global rf isolator market trends, key players, market segments, application areas, and market growth strategies. RF Isolator Market Key Segments: Type Drop-In Isolator Microstrip Isolator Co-Axial Isolator Surface Mount Isolator Application 800 to 900 MHz 1950 to 2000 MHz End User Electronics IT Telecommunications Military Healthcare Other By Region North America (U.S., Canada ) (U.S., ) Europe ( France , Germany , Italy , Spain , UK, Rest of Europe ) ( , , , , UK, Rest of ) Asia-Pacific ( China , Japan , India , South Korea , Rest of Asia-Pacific ) ( , , , , Rest of ) LAMEA ( Latin America , Middle East , Africa ) Want to Access the Statistical Data and Graphs, Key Players' Strategies: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/rf-isolator-market/purchase-options Trending Reports in Semiconductor and Electronics Industry (Book Now with 10% Discount + COVID-19 Scenario): RF Filter Market is projected to reach $48.1 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 16.6% from 2022 to 2031. RFID Market is projected to reach $31.5 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 10.2% from 2022 to 2031. RF Power Dividers Market is projected to reach $1.50 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.6% from 2021 to 2030. Radio Frequency Front End Market is projected to reach $69.9 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 13.8% from 2022 to 2031. RF Switches Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2027. RF Receiver Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032. About Us: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 [email protected] Web: www.alliedmarketresearch.com Allied Market Research Blog: https://blog.alliedmarketresearch.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/3950895/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Allied Market Research NEW YORK, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Jakubowitz Law announces that an investigation into potential securities fraud allegations has commenced on behalf of shareholders of RH (NYSE: RH) To be contacted by a member of our team, fill out the form: https://claimyourloss.com/securities/rh-class-action-loss-submission-form/?wire=4 Further details on the investigation: The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. RH, the holding company behind retailer Restoration Hardware, announced on February 3, 2023, that "our previously unaudited financial statements for the three months ended April 30, 2022, the three and six months ended July 30, 2022, and the three and nine months October 29, 2022 (collectively the 'Prior Financial Statements') should no longer be relied upon due to material unintentional errors in certain of these financial periods with respect to our calculation of basic and diluted net income per share." Based on this news, shares of RH fell by more than 7.3% in intraday trading on February 6, 2023. Jakubowitz Law is vigorous in pursuit of justice for shareholders who have been the victim of securities fraud. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: JAKUBOWITZ LAW 1140 Avenue of the Americas 9th Floor New York, New York 10036 T: (628) 895-0423 F: (212) 537-5887 SOURCE Jakubowitz Law 2023 Fellowship Recipient, Alexis Picard, to work with ACLU of Illinois CHICAGO, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ropes & Gray today announced the creation of the Ropes Impact Fellowship, a public-interest fellowship supported through nonprofit Equal Justice Works, a longtime partner of the firm in advancing public interest work. The Ropes-named fellowship follows the firm's longstanding tradition of funding public interest fellowships through Equal Justice Works by using fee awards from significant public interest litigation. "Ropes & Gray is proud of our longstanding relationship with Equal Justice Works and our support of its fellows. We are especially proud this year to kick off the first Ropes Impact Fellowship," said Chris Conniff, pro bono co-chair and partner at Ropes & Gray. "The fellowships complement Ropes & Gray's mission to 'practice with purpose' a commitment to making a positive difference for our clients, our communities, and our own people." The 2023 Ropes Impact Fellow is Alexis Picard, a graduate of Harvard Law School. During her fellowship, Alexis will work with attorneys from the ACLU of Illinois' Corrections Reform Project, as well as other juvenile justice allies and advocates, to file lawsuits against some of the most egregious juvenile detention centers in the state. These lawsuits will seek relief for the inhumane and unconstitutional conditions of confinement that children as young as 10 years old experience at these juvenile detention centers. Alexis will seek input from system-impacted youth, their families, and other community-based organizations to ensure her litigation strategies meet community needs and complement other advocacy efforts. Her work intersects with pro bono litigation brought by Ropes & Gray's own lawyers, including against the State of Iowa over failures to provide mental health care for children, and, separately, prevailing for a plaintiff class of juveniles incarcerated at the Boys State Training School in Eldora, Iowa. Plaintiffs alleged the school had denied them mental health treatment and subjected them to excessive punishment, in violation of the U.S. Constitution. Beyond the courtroom, Alexis will also use non-litigation strategies, such as a public education campaign, to inform the public, press, and political stakeholders about the conditions in these facilities. "Reforms to juvenile incarceration practices, which are excessively punitive and dehumanizing, are desperately needed," Alexis said. "I'm committed to working with juvenile justice advocates, system-impacted children, and their families to ensure that children are afforded their fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution." "Equal Justice Works provides a platform for young lawyers to make significant changes in our communities and I look forward to watching Alexis' proposal come to life and help so many young people in need," Chris said. Doug Hallward-Driemeier, litigation & enforcement partner, said: "Our announcement today represents Ropes & Gray's long-term institutional commitment to being part of the change we need. The Ropes Impact Fellowship will be a force-multiplier for years to come. We look forward to seeing Alexis excel." "We are incredibly excited to welcome yet another Equal Justice Works Fellow through the generous support of the Ropes Impact Fellowship," said Verna Williams, CEO of Equal Justice Works. "Through her project, Alexis will increase access to justice for Illinois youth in juvenile detention centers, and we know this important work will make a lasting impact on the issue of juvenile justice and on the broader community." Ropes & Gray has already sponsored seven Equal Justice Works Fellows. Fellows include: Faith Barksdale , The Innocence Project. Faith's project focused on driving reform of prosecutorial oversight in targeted jurisdictions nationwide by reviewing and adopting best practices to prevent wrongful convictions. , The Innocence Project. Faith's project focused on driving reform of prosecutorial oversight in targeted jurisdictions nationwide by reviewing and adopting best practices to prevent wrongful convictions. Jenna Lauter , co-sponsored with Advance, works with the New York Civil Liberties Union. Jenna's project is focused on addressing family separation and surveillance through the child welfare system. co-sponsored with Advance, works with the New York Civil Liberties Union. Jenna's project is focused on addressing family separation and surveillance through the child welfare system. Bobby Hunter , ACLU Racial Justice Program. Bobby's project focused on implementing replicable state campaigns to reform court debt collection practices through strategic litigation and community partnerships. ACLU Racial Justice Program. Bobby's project focused on implementing replicable state campaigns to reform court debt collection practices through strategic litigation and community partnerships. Anna Nguyen , co-sponsored with Pfizer, Greater Boston Legal Services. Anna's project focused on addressing the ongoing issue of exploitation of Vietnamese immigrants in the Greater Boston workforce. co-sponsored with Pfizer, Greater Boston Legal Services. Anna's project focused on addressing the ongoing issue of exploitation of Vietnamese immigrants in the workforce. Corina Scott , Center for Appellate Litigation in New York . Corina's project provides post-conviction legal services and legislative advocacy on behalf of incarcerated survivors of domestic violence who are eligible for resentencing or a new trial in New York state . , Center for Appellate Litigation in . Corina's project provides post-conviction legal services and legislative advocacy on behalf of incarcerated survivors of domestic violence who are eligible for resentencing or a new trial in . Brett Stark , co-sponsored with Pfizer, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York . Brett's represented unaccompanied immigrant youth in family and immigration court, and collaborated with health care professionals to create a comprehensive plan to address the diverse needs of youth survivors of torture, trafficking, and violence.#China A rare albino panda managed to capture the workers of the Chinese reserve.
APPSI HR SERVICE PVT. LTD. (@Appsihrservice) May 30, 2023
There is not a single dark spot on the skin of the white panda, so it looks more like a polar bear. the staff of the reserve noted that the animal is perfectly healthy. she's about 5-6 pic.twitter.com/1Qmky5HxPe